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A site tour is planned on Monday to examine a trail into the Lee Metcalf Wilderness in southwestern Montana that is ground zero for a lawsuit by a private landowner against the U.S. Forest Service.

Wonder Ranch LLC, of Dallas, sued the Forest Service in 2014 arguing that the agency had no right to claim an easement along the Indian Creek Trail, which crosses a portion of the ranchs 80-acres. The owners of the ranch are identified in court documents as Chris Hudson and Eugenia (Hudson) King.

The ranch is located about 23 miles southeast of Ennis in the Madison Valley.

The Forest Service placed a claim on Wonder Ranchs deed in 2011 after the ranch owners put up a sign declaring use of the route was by permission only.

We objected, they did not remove the signs, so we filed a statement of interest, said Jan Bowey, appeals and litigation coordinator for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Thats what the lawsuit is about.

Since then the parties have dueled in U.S. District Court Judge Sam Haddons courtroom over who is in the right, ending with oral arguments in August.

The Forest Service claims it has a prescriptive easement across the property because of long-time use for access to cut timber, graze cattle and recreation, dating back to at least the early 1900s.

The location is one of two main access points to the 259,000-acre Lee Metcalf Wilderness in the Madison Valley. The trail connects to Taylor Creek, a main tributary to the upper Gallatin River. Its also a popular wildlife highway, funneling elk between the two areas. Thats the main reason the access point draws a lot of use by elk hunters in the fall.

The trail crosses about a quarter of a mile of the Wonder Ranch before reaching the forest boundary. In that short stretch, though, the trail is only 100 feet from two private cabins.

The Forest Service proposed an alternate route in 2008, but neighboring landowners who use the trail along with members of the public raised objections that prompted the agency to abandon the proposal.

The current owners of the Wonder Ranch, which is named after government trapper Denny Wonder who homesteaded the 80 acres in 1936, bought the property in 2000.

According to court documents the Forest Services own correspondence dating back to 1960 recognizes that public access across the ranch is at the landowners discretion, termed neighborly accomodation. Attempts by the agency to acquire an easement beginning in 1960 were turned down by two Wonder Ranch owners.

The ranch owners also rejected a Forest Service proposal to move the trail closer to Indian Creek and shield it from the view of the homes, proposing instead to reroute the trail across a high bluff that the Forest Service deemed too dangerous and unsustainable.

When Judge Haddon will rule and whether his decision could affect hunter access to the Indian Creek area this fall and into the future is unknown.

Public access to public lands has been a hot-button issue across Montana and the West for decades. Many of the cases that end up in court are the result of new landowners disputing what has been historic public use of old roads and trails and even bridges used to access rivers.

Usually these are dealt with at the regional level, Bowey said. Most are negotiated.

In her 15 years with the agency, Bowey said this was the first such dispute she has handled that went to court.
In an election year when big-ticket races from president to governor top Montana ballots, the contests that get pushed down the page are for who writes the scripts for Montanas laws and budget.

There are 125 state legislative districts on the line this year. In three months, the winners will be dealing with tightening state tax revenues and weighty environmental issues.

Inside today, we present a voter guide to these races.

In all likelihood, the states revenue surplus, created whenever state government collects more taxes than it spends, will be significantly less than the $300 million projected at the end of the 2015 Legislature. Revenues from oil, gas and coal are down significantly. Montana farmers are seeing an historic plunge in grain and cattle prices, which will likely cut agriculture-related tax revenue as well.

Its going to be harder to fund basic government services like public education, but also extraordinary projects, like the state infrastructure plan Montanas governor and Legislature havent been able to agree on this decade.

The future of Colstrip will get attention, as lawmakers determine whether the state should assist a community that in four years or less will see half the units of one of the Wests largest coal-fired power plants shut down. That shutdown is related to another potential challenge for Montana government: the federal Clean Power Plan and its call for Montana to cut its carbon dioxide emissions nearly in half.

Theres sure to be a push for equal pay for women, as well an effort to broaden family leave and childcare benefits for working families.

And, if past legislative sessions are any indication, there will be a debate about whether management of federal lands should be transferred to the state.

The Gazette presented legislative candidates with questions about the above-mentioned issues. We asked more than 70 would-be lawmakers from Gardiner to Plentywood to weigh in. This guide features the answers, unedited, of the 49 who accepted the offer. Our only requirement was that each answer be no more than 100 words. We have also listed the names of those who didnt respond.

Voters can vote in person at their county elections office beginning Oct. 11. Absentee ballots will be mailed out Oct. 14. The final day of voting is Nov. 8.
Despite drawing inspiration from ghouls, goblins, ghosts and more, Magic City Monster Con isn't all about being scared or scaring others.

"People think you're a psycho killer if you like horror. That's not the case. We just have a really odd sense of humor," event organizer Laurie Walsh said. "I think real life is scarier than horror movies."

Saturday marked the second day of Billings' first ever Magic City Monster Con, a three day event at the Red Lion Hotel and Convention Center on Mullowney Lane featuring actors, merchandise vendors, magic shows and other events catering to fans of science fiction and horror, Walsh said.

Though Saturday happened to be Walsh's birthday, she said someone else was on her mind at Monster Con. Mike Daem, a friend of Walsh's and attendee of horror-themed events in Billings, was killed in a Sept. 26 car crash.

"He would've been here," Walsh said.

A silent auction was organized to raise money for Daem's three children, and attendees could mention his name and have half their ticket price donated toward the fundraising for Deam's family, Walsh said.

Walsh said the idea for putting together Magic City Monster Con came five years ago when she attended a similar event in Minneapolis called Crypticon.

It was there that Walsh was able to get a closer look at how the event was put together and make observations about the setup and atmosphere, she said.

Since then Walsh said she's had a role in putting together horror-themed events like Zombie Prom and Zombie Walk in what she described as a buildup to Monster Con.

Speaking Saturday afternoon, Walsh said she was pleased with how the event came together, but hoped turnout would pick up after a quiet opening night on Friday.

Clothing, tattoos, jewelry and memorabilia were all on display at vendor tables. More than half of the vendors came from out of state, with some coming from as far north as Canada and as far south as Texas, Walsh said.

Monster Con brought in actors like Danny Hicks of "Evil Dead 2," Thom Mathews of "Return of the Living Dead," Linnea Quigley of "Return of the Living Dead" and Montana's own Dirk Benedict, who played Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck in "The A-Team" TV series and Lt. Starbuck in the original "Battlestar Galactica" movie and TV series. In addition to selling merchandise, actors participated in Q&A sessions.

A dance and costume contested were scheduled for later Saturday night, Walsh said.

The final day of Magic City Monster Con will begin at 11 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.
AMERICAN CANYON  Allison Nagel had finished unpacking boxes and moving into her new home when she decided to get started on her Little Free Library, the first of its kind in American Canyon.

When we moved here, that was one of the first things I wanted to do, said Nagel from her living room. Get moved in, get settled and create a Little Free Library.

She had wanted one of her own since she saw her first Little Free Library in the Atlanta area.

But it wasnt until she and her husband, Korey, bought a home just off Donaldson Way last year that they were in a position to become part of a national and worldwide movement to promote reading and fostering community.

I really wanted something that was community driven, said Nagel.

The very first Little Free Library was established in Wisconsin seven years ago. Since then, the small wooden boxes filled with free books, often situated on the front yards of homes, have multiplied across the U.S. and the world.

As of June, there were over 40,000 Little Free Libraries in more than 70 countries, according to the Little Free Library website. Seven of them are in the city of Napa, including one outside the offices of the Napa Valley Register.

The Nagels contribution, named the AmCan Corner Little Free Library, is similar to others, both in look and purpose.

It is red and white in color, and made from reclaimed wood. It houses a modest collection of assorted books on two shelves.

Anyone can take a book anytime. They can return it, or replace it with a different book.

Other than the fact that they share the word library, the little free ones dont function like their larger, public counterparts.

I try to tell people, You dont have to bring it back, said Nagel. Pass it on to somebody else.

One time, a woman who had borrowed a book apologized to Nagel for not returning it sooner. Nagel let her know that wasnt necessary. She added the non-return policy was especially in effect for childrens books.

If they love it for five years and read it every night, keep it! she said.

Nagel was motivated to have her own Little Free Library because reading has been a big part of her life.

The daughter of a retired kindergarten teacher, Nagel has volunteered her time to work with adult learners seeking to improve their literacy.

She also loves the way Little Free Libraries can bring people together.

There is something about this that fosters that sense of community, she said, being able to do these kinds of exchanges, and share with neighbors what youre reading and making books easily accessible, getting books into the home.

The AmCan Corner Little Free Library was born out of good will, too.

When Nagel set out last year to build hers, she contacted American Canyon High School to see if she could hire someone to construct it.

Teacher Tony Farina responded and put her in touch with three of his students: Chloe Buntas, Jose Lopez-Herrera and Jules Riddle.

The students constructed and painted the Little Free Library at no cost to Nagel.

It was such a cool thing for them to do, said Nagel. I thought it was neat for them to volunteer their time.

The AmCan Corner Little Free Library includes a small metal plate bearing the names of the students and Farina to honor their contributions.

Nagel has experienced other demonstrations of community as a result of her library.

After she put the word out on social media about the project, bags of books started showing up on her doorstep.

Shes had no difficultly keeping the shelves full, thanks to the overstock of books in her garage.

Other residents have expressed praise and thanks for Nagels efforts.

I absolutely love the LFL, said Rhee Geraldizo. I love the simple idea of picking up or dropping off a book or two and with no lines, no library card, no fuss.

Geraldizo said if shes looking for a specific author, I just go onto Facebook and see whatever update LFL has provided or just message LFL and I get an answer within 24 hours if not immediately, she said.

She has borrowed many books since the AmCan Corner Little Free Library opened in April. Currently, I have two in my possession, said Geraldizo. The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult, and Birthright by Nora Roberts.

Nagel says the Little Free Library is perfect for a small town like hers. American Canyon is still that smaller, close-knit community where its a good thing to have.

Geraldizo, who has lived here for nearly 20 years, agrees with Nagel.

I think its great for the neighborhood, she said. Our community is very small, and we all know each other. But if we dont, something as simple as the LFL brings like-minded folks together.

The two women met in person when Nagel went to the local Farmers Market one Sunday towing her predecessor to the Little Free Library  a childs wagon filled with books, which Nagel occasionally takes to her daughters school, Napa Junction Elementary.

I was able to meet Allison and thank her for taking on and maintaining the library, said Geraldizo. She does such a great job.
Since the exposure of millions of unauthorized accounts opened by Wells Fargo N.A., the national banking chain has faced $185 million in fines, fired more than 5,300 workers and seen its chief executive face withering criticism by federal officials in Washington.

But in the years before the fines and sanctions, other Wells Fargo employees took their employer to court to call attention to alleged wrongdoing at its banks  and some paid with their jobs. One of those whistleblowers was Yesenia Guitron, who was fired from the companys St. Helena branch in 2010 after less than two years on the job. She then unsuccessfully sued the bank in federal court for retaliatory behavior and discrimination.

Now, as stories proliferate about sham accounts in relatives names, unneeded credit cards issued without customers knowledge, and other shenanigans that padded bankers commissions and kept them afloat in an atmosphere of unrealistically high sales goals, Guitron  who never returned to banking after leaving Wells Fargo  describes herself as the least surprised of witnesses to the fallout.

The only way to meet your goals in that situation is if you game the system. Nobody did anything to stop it, she said last week of the misconduct she called the inevitable result of a Wells Fargo directive that its workers upsell customers with as many extra products as possible  regardless of their need or understanding of them  or else face poor performance reviews or even the loss of their jobs.

Guitron spelled out her allegations in a 2010 lawsuit against Wells Fargo in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, but the court declined to award her damages, ruling that banks sales targets  even if unreasonable  were not illegal and could still be used to measure job performance. An appeal in 2015 also failed, leaving the divorced mother of two with an $18,000 legal bill.

The banks sales yardsticks are at the heart of a controversy that gained attention in December 2013, when a Los Angeles Times investigation revealed endless pressure on Wells Fargo staff to cross-sell everything from ordinary savings accounts to bank cards, mortgages and wealth management  all generating extra fees and locking customers firmly to the company.

Quotas on so-called daily solutions were strict, with bankers in larger cities required to sign up visitors for as many as 15 new products per day. Executives with the banking giant highlighted its cross-sale ratio, the number of products sold to individual customers, which in recent years has reached about six per person.

Even in St. Helena, with only 6,000 residents and a shallower customer pool, there was little relief from company sales targets, according to Guitron, who joined the local branch in March 2008 after previously working for Westamerica, Bank of the West and Bank of America.

We would have morning meetings  they called it the powwow  where they would emphasize the product of the day, she recalled on Monday. Her branch manager challenged all the bankers and reminded them, You have to make eight solutions a day.

Each banker needed to come up with a minimum of eight solutions a day; if a banker finished their eight a day by noon, they got to go home early. There was a big emphasis on tellers to get cheeks on chairs, meaning to send them to a bankers chair.

Three months after her hiring in St. Helena, Guitron noticed a colleague opening and closing accounts without telling customers, Guitron said in the federal complaint she filed in August 2010, seven months after leaving Wells Fargo.

In an interview with the Register, Guitron described a scale of commissions for each service an employee sold to a customer, from $8 for opening a basic checking account to $25 for selling a premium account requiring a higher balance. Since a banker could score $3 to $5 for each debit card issued to a customer, some employees would quietly issue as many as 10 cards in the same persons name  pocketing the commissions even for cards that were never activated or used, she said.

I started noticing a very clear pattern of accounts opening and closing for the same customer, with no explanation, recalled Guitron.  People would come back (to the branch) because they said, Im getting collection calls because I have a credit card from Wells Fargo that I never opened, recalled Guitron. The annual fee for rewards was charged against the card, and then six months out, these accounts would get charged off and go to collection agencies who said You owe money, and then the customers would say No, I didnt do that.

So then the bankers would say it was identity theft  and then sell them identity theft protection. These customers were being juiced left and right.

By March 2009, she began complaining to her supervisor, who still works for Wells Fargo in private banking, about the co-workers continued opening of rogue accounts and the number of customers receiving service charges for bank accounts they had never approved, according to court documents. But her alerts to superiors up the chain of command  first to human resources officers, then to regional and area managers, and finally an email to CEO John Stumpf  brought no end to the repeated opening of unnecessary accounts, Guitron said.

That August, Guitron later told the federal court, the tide turned against her within the St. Helena bank. She received a negative performance review, two managers accused her of having an affair with a colleague, and she was required to make written requests to leave the bank branch, even to take her daughter to or from day care, according to her complaint.

The end came in January 2010, when her boss ordered Guitron to clear her desk and then escorted her from the St. Helena building, according to the former banker and court records. When another bank manager called Guitron a few days later to claim the firing was a misunderstanding and that she should return to work, she declined, leaving the bank to record her departure as a resignation.

Seven months after she was forced from Wells Fargo, Guitron and another St. Helena employee, Judi Klosek, sued both Wells Fargo as well as the St. Helena manager personally. I felt a bit like Erin Brockovich, little me going up against big Wells Fargo, Guitron said Monday.

But in July 2012, the federal court ruled against them, saying that Wells Fargos sales targets, even if unreasonable, affected all employees equally and did not target Guitron alone.

Despite their assertions to the contrary, Plaintiffs have not introduced evidence that Defendants inconsistently implemented their personnel management policies, or that others who performed similarly were not given such warnings, District Judge Claudia Wilken wrote in her ruling. The court also turned aside Guitrons claims that bank managers had harassed and discriminated against her based on her being divorced and a single parent.

After Guitron recounted her experiences in St. Helena during a Tuesday interview for CBS This Morning, Wells Fargo sent the network a statement saying we do not tolerate retaliation against team members who report their concerns, but agreeing with the courts ruling against its former employee.

On Friday, Wells Fargo issued a statement to the Register.

Wells Fargos culture is committed to the best interests of our customers, providing them with only the products they want and value. We also are committed to having a supportive, caring, and ethical environment for team members, the bank said.

We regret and take full responsibility for the incidents in which customers received a product they did not request, as that is inconsistent with the values and culture we strive to live up to every day.

We have made fundamental changes to help ensure team members are not being pressured to sell products, customers are receiving the right solutions for their financial needs, our customer-focused culture is upheld at all times and that customer satisfaction is high. This includes our recent announcement that we are ending all product sales goals for the retail bank, effective October 1st.

The judge did dismiss Yesenia Guitrons claim and we agree with the judges finding that her claims of retaliation had no merit, the bank said.

The experience marked the end of a banking career for Guitron, who since 2011 has worked as the property manager for an affordable housing complex in St. Helena. Even in her current line of work, she said, traces of suspicious bank activity continue to cross her desk.

I verify tenants eligibility each year, including looking at bank account assets, she said. To this day I continue to see tenants have a brand-new account number every year and when I ask why, they say, Oh, the banker told me there was a problem with the old account, so they had to close it and start a new one. So I still see this happening today.

In the years since Guitron left Wells Fargo, the accusations she made have been amplified by numerous others.

On Sept. 8, Los Angeles county, city and federal regulators imposed a combined $185 million in fines against Wells Fargo for creating more than 2 million unauthorized bank and credit card accounts. The company also agreed to pay back $2.6 million in fees connected with unasked-for products, California and Illinois have suspended their investment activities with the firm for the next year.

Six years after Guitron tried to take on Wells Fargo nearly singlehanded, hundreds of others are teaming on a federal class-action lawsuit seeking $7.2 billion from the bank for firing or disciplining those who refused to open fake accounts. Nearly 1,000 plaintiffs have signed onto the suit in the Central District in Southern California, according to their lawyer, Jonathan Delshad.

It wasnt hard to meet those goals  all they had to do was open 10 accounts for their mom and 30 more for their sister, he said of Wells Fargos sales practices.

Stories such as Guitrons show the need not only to restore the losses of Wells Fargo customers but to do justice to employees who had to face down the bank alone, according to Delshad.

Theyre sufficiently upset that for years theyve tried to tell the story and no ones been listening, he said Thursday. Unfortunately, I feel theyre being left in the dust because all the focus is on the customers. Wells Fargo has said thousands of times they would make things right by the customer, but they havent said anything about making things right by their former employees, people who were fired simply because they werent meeting the quotas.

We know a different story now; we know the extent of the fraud. Anyone looking at this case from the 5,000-foot level can see that when you have 5,300 people getting fired across the nation, something was going wrong at the top that was being pushed down.

Back in the Napa Valley, Guitron has shared the story of her whistleblowing experience with the New York Times, CBS and other media outlets, hoping that accountability for the scandal goes beyond the mostly rank-and-file bank workers who have lost their jobs.

Stumpf, Wells Fargos CEO, has faced tough questioning in the past month by the Senate Banking Committee and the House Financial Services Committee, which on Sept. 29 pressed him on what senior managers knew about allegedly illegal sales practices and when any concerns were disclosed.

Earlier, at a Sept. 20 hearing, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told Stumpf to resign and give back the money you took while the scam was going on. Senators also dismissed assertions that senior Wells Fargo executives were unaware of the wrongdoing until 2013, despite whistleblowers pointing to the opening of suspect bank accounts years earlier.

Obviously theyre protecting the bad guys because they produced money for the company, said Guitron. I know it happens across the nation, not just this little town. My hope is that banking goes back to the way it used to be, where you served the customers and helped them achieve their financial goals, not your financial goals.

That would be my wish. If Wells Fargo wanted to make things right, they would stop protecting these people.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Montanas Supreme Court is doing a good job, according to lawyers and judges who have had cases before the states sole appellate court over the past two years.

The most recent court satisfaction survey, conducted last month, shows that an overwhelming majority of 461 respondents agreed that the court is doing a good job on 10 performance points.

93 percent said the court issues opinions in a timely manner and is timely in completing its overall workload.

80 percent said court decisions are based on the law and applicable facts. Among judges and law school faculty nearly 100 percent said the court followed the law and applied facts correctly.

Asked whether court opinions explain deviations from precedent and the adoption of new developments in the law, nearly 100 percent of judges and law professors agreed they did, along with 72 percent of appellate attorneys.

The court also got high marks for treating attorneys and judges with respect and being fair in handling attorney disciplinary cases.

The most striking change is the courts timeliness. Back in 2008, the first time the court conducted such a survey, only 38 percent of respondents said the court was working on a timely basis. Back then, appeal times could be measured in years, rather than months. In 2008, only 67 percent of respondents said the court explained deviations from precedent, compared with 74 percent who answered the September 2016 survey.

But in November of 2008, Mike McGrath was elected chief justice after he pledged to clear up the courts backlog. Court performance measures show that McGrath accomplished that goal, and with the help of the six other justices, has maintained a speedier work flow.

According to statistics from the Supreme Court Clerk Office, the court logged 806 new cases in 2015, closed 783 cases and carried over 599. As of Jan. 1, only two appeals were more than 180 days old and no original filings were that old.

Among the cases filed in 2015, were 378 civil appeals, 261 criminal appeals, 154 cases filed directly in the high court and 13 disciplinary actions. The clerks statistics note that 268 cases involved parties representing themselves instead of using an attorney.

McGrath is seeking a second eight-year term this November, and is unopposed for re-election. A former Montana attorney general and Lewis and Clark County attorney, McGrath made good on his promise to get the court functioning faster and more effectively. Under his leadership, even attorneys who bring adversarial cases before the court tend to agree that the court is doing a good job.

Thats great news for Montanans. Justice delayed is justice denied. To have meaningful access to the court, Montanans must have timely access and the assurance that the high courts decisions will be clear and based on our laws.

To learn more about the 2016 Bench and Bar Survey, see the link with this guest opinion at billingsgazette.com. The survey was sent electronically to 980 District Court judges, law school faculty and adjunct faculty and appellate attorneys in cases that concluded with court opinions between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2016. The response rate (all anonymous) was 47 percent, including 37 judges, eight faculty and 401 attorneys. Response rates in past years have been slightly lower.
Voters feeling overwhelmed sifting through 17 state initiatives on the Nov. 8 ballot are getting guidance from the Napa County Board of Supervisors on topics ranging from taxes to plastic bags.

They will still have to crack open the 224-page voter information guide to see such details as legal language for all of the proposed laws. But they will have the countys advice on eight of the propositions following Board votes last week.

Given the Board can take positions on statewide issues only by unanimous vote, it stayed away from some controversial issues. For example, it took no stand on Proposition 64 to legalize marijuana.

But, without comment, the Board supported Proposition 55, which would extend the statewide Proposition 30 income tax on people earning more than $250,000 annually to 2031.

Supervisors recommended approval of Proposition 67 to allow the states single-use plastic bag ban at stores to become law. That came as no surprise, given the county and its cities have already passed similar plastic bag bans.

Even if voters overturn the state law, local plastic bag bans will remain in force.

But supervisors oppose Proposition 65. It is related to Proposition 67, in that the state plastic bag ban requires grocers and retail stores to charge at least 10 cents for paper bags. Proposition 65 would take the proceeds from the stores and redirect it to a state environmental fund.

Critics have speculated Proposition 65 is a plastic bag industry effort to tie a successful Proposition 67 up in legal issues or break the alliance between environmentalists and grocers over the plastic bag ban.

Its meant to confuse people, Supervisor Diane Dillon said. Its meant to look really good, Oh, the bag proceeds go to environmentalists, but it has some danger to it.

Supervisors recommend passing Proposition 59, which favors overturning the U.S. Supreme Courts Citizens United decision that removed certain limits on campaign spending by corporations and unions.

A successful Proposition 59 wouldnt affect the national law. Rather, it is an advisory measure urging the state to back efforts to strike down Citizens United by changing the U.S. Constitution. Such efforts have yet to go very far.

But it gives the Legislature some backbone when it comes to looking at this in the future, if it comes to a Constitutional amendment, Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht said.

Supervisor Keith Caldwell brought up the issue of Proposition 59.

It sounds like a great thing  campaign financing, not only how crazy its gotten at the federal level, but at the state level, Caldwell said. I dont know how many pamphlets I received from independent PACs in just our local Assembly race in June. I would sometimes receive three or four a day.

The Board supports Proposition 54 requiring the state Legislature to post bills on the Internet 72 hours before passing them. Supervisor Mark Luce at an earlier meeting said its kind of like applying state open meeting laws for local governments to the state.

Supervisors also supported Proposition 52 on MediCal hospital fees and the Proposition 56 cigarette tax to fund health care. They opposed Proposition 53 that would require state voter approval before the state could sell revenue bonds exceeding $2 billion.

Stands taken by Napa County can be used by initiative sponsors on endorsement lists, county Housing and Intergovernmental Affairs Director Larry Florin said.

It is helpful in some campaigns to have the counties listed, Florin said.

To see the complete California Official Voter Information Guide, go to http://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/
Get your questions ready and break out your walking shoes because the doctor is in. The national Walk with a Doc program, which promotes healthy physical activity by inviting people to take a walk with a local doctor, kicked off at the Napa Valley Vine Trail on Saturday morning.

Ive been wanting to do something like this for a while, said Dr. Lynette Leighton, who led the first walk. Leighton, the assistant director of womens health at OLE Health, said that the important thing about Walk with a Doc is that it encourages people to exercise. While walking, people are more than welcome to ask the doctor questions and each month, the Napa walks will have a different theme.

Leighton was chosen to lead this first walk because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and she has had breast cancer herself. That being said, the atmosphere wasnt clinical  it felt more like a group of new friends walking together, talking.

I had no idea what to expect, Leighton said. Im just happy everyones out walking.

The idea of introducing Walk with a Doc to Napa and, more specifically, as a Napa Valley Vine Trail program, was floated to the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition about 18 months ago, said Coalition Executive Director Philip Sales. After that, the organization partnered with OLE Health, which is planning to open a location nearby the Hartle Court Vine Trail entrance, and began recruiting doctors, he said.

This is a good idea, said George Velucci, a recently retired primary care physician who participated in the walk. Velucci said that he has always encouraged his patients to go out and walk because it is healthy and free.

You just need the time, he said. You dont need the money.

Next time he is going to try to bring his dogs, Velucci said. Adopting a dog is a good way to start an exercise program because youre committed to taking them out, he said.

The volunteers at the Napa County Animal Shelter had that same idea in mind when they brought three adoptable dogs along on the walk.

People that adopt dogs are more likely to exercise, said Ed Matovcik, one of the volunteers. Not only do they promote physical health and activity, he said, but theyre also a mood lifter.

The walk was also a good opportunity to get the dogs out of the shelter and socialize them, said Cheryl Meyer, volunteer. It also is a great way to get the dogs some exposure and help them get adopted, she added.

All three dogs  Woody, Hootie and Dakota  had their adopt me vests on during the mile long walk.

Following the walk, participants were able to try to win a raffle, could help themselves to some water and were even given reusable water bottles and pink ribbon stickers. Handing out the goodies was Melissa Serpa, volunteer coordinator with Napa Valley Vine Trail. Serpa, who helped organize the event, said that she thought it was pretty successful.

Oh, I loved it, said Susanne Costanzo. Costanzo said she recently started riding her bicycle on the Vine Trail to get to work some days. The new habit helps her deal with work pressures and the views are beautiful, she said. When asked if she would attend Novembers Walk with a Doc, Costanzo said, Absolutely.

Upcoming walks will be held the first Saturday of each month and meets at 9 a.m. at the Hartle Court Vine Trail Shelter just down the street from Farmers Market.

On Nov. 5, Dr. Paul Sweigert of Red Bike Medicine will lead the walk. The topic of discussion will be diabetes. On Dec. 3, Dr. RosaLee Kamper of OLE Health will lead the walk. The topic will be nutrition and eating healthy around the holidays.
Reader Ken Davisons letter of Sept. 2 ("Disheartened, baffled and concerned by support for Clinton") ends with the statement that he will vote for Trump, reluctantly, while holding my nose. He might do better to open his ears instead.

In an election like this one, with two flawed candidates, its important to assess the true severity and meaning of their relative flaws. In a 40-year career of public service, Clinton has been scrutinized repeatedly for a wide variety of alleged wrongdoings, yet the worst formal conclusion brought against her is that she used extremely poor judgment in her handling of emails as Secretary of State. Many of the investigations launched against her, such as the Benghazi hearings in House committee, have been rather obvious partisan witch-hunts, repeatedly exposing no evidence of wrongdoing on her part.

Donald Trump, on the other hand, has profited from his numerous bankruptcy filings, very clearly enriching (him)self through the support of the people (he) has deceived, to use Davisons words about Clinton. He has ripped off the little people, like the supplier of pianos to Trump Towers, and arrogantly refused to pay what was promised to them. His career has been devoted to self-service, never to helping others  he will not release his tax records before the election, which should say volumes about the true nature of his financial dealings. If it made him look good, he would release the info.

Think about it: a life devoted to public service versus a life amassing a fortune in the real estate business. Trump has never had to endure any kind of public scrutiny, and is now actively dodging the tradition of financial transparency that has been honored by every presidential candidate before him. It is not a stretch to conclude that anyone choosing to believe that Clinton is inferior to Trump is either not paying attention, or is biased against her for some other reason. Davison speaks of voters pathological need to see a woman in the White House in their lifetime, at any cost. Really? This kind of thinly veiled misogyny has been an ugly historical backdrop to the American political scene, and it is reflected in many mens refusal to weigh these two candidates using the same set of scales.

Mr. Davison accuses Clinton of willful and openly bold dishonesty  has he checked out Trumps performance in Mexico last month, praising the Mexican people to their leader during the day, then bragging that he will make them pay for his wall the same evening?

Trump has shown he will insult and disrespect anyone at any time, including the parents of a slain war veteran. He speaks of being viciously attacked by people who are simply criticizing him, and he has resorted to schoolyard bullying, in public, to deride those who have run against him, or who challenge his misleading statements. The man is an egocentric, thin-skinned loose cannon, using a refusal to be politically correct as a smokescreen for being juvenile, degrading to others, and lacking any hint of the statesmanship a president must have to avoid Bush-like policy disasters.

Mr. Davison declares that he is disheartened, baffled, concerned, and finds Hillary supporters to be mind-boggling and heart-wrenching. Trump doesnt baffle you? You arent concerned that a proto-Fascist with no political knowledge or experience, willing to incite his followers to physically attack hecklers, wants to be your commander-in-chief, with his finger on the nuclear trigger?

This is not cancer versus polio  its cancer versus the common cold. You can let go of your nose now, and use all your sense and senses to help the country stay healthy.

Joe Wilcox

Napa
UP

Historic endowment. Rocky Mountain College announced a $1.6 million endowment gift to fund Montana student scholarships. The donation comes from the Jack Ellis Haynes and Isabel May Haynes Foundation, created by the family known for their historic Yellowstone Park photo store.

DOWN

Fewer students. Fall enrollment figures show that Montana State University Billings again saw a decline in full-time-equivalent students. The part-time student head count increased, mostly because of dual-credit courses offered to Billings high school students. Also on the upside, freshman retention improved slightly and the university has new efforts to help this years freshmen stay to complete degrees.

UP

Hi-tech classroom. MSU Billings dedicated its second Technology Enhanced Interactive Learning room, thanks to a significant contribution from Western Security Bank, according to Chancellor Mark Nook.

DOWN

TV overload. Yes, there really are more political ads running in Montana, according to research by the Center for Public Integrity. Between January 2016 and Oct. 3, Montana television stations carried 38,868 ads on the state gubernatorial race. Only the Missouri governors race put more ads on the air: 64,756.

UP

Partial payment. Rocky Mountain Power, the company that owns the power plant in Hardin, paid $798,679 in delinquent 2015 taxes, according to Big Horn County Treasurer Jody Guptill. The company still owes $1.18 million in 2014 taxes, which are supposed to repay the $12 million in bonds issued in 2006 by the city of Hardin to build infrastructure for the plant.
Pitt was on a private jet from France to Los Angeles with his wife and actress Angelina Jolie and children when he started screaming, prompting Jolie to file for divorce days later, it had been reported.

Jolie has filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences while seeking physical custody of six children.

The LA County Department of Children and Family Services looked into allegations that Pitt physically abused Maddox and notified the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), which turned to the FBI.

Law enforcement sources said the FBI never opened an official investigation and that the agency should not have been involved in the first place, reports tmz.com.

The bureau's official position is that it is still gathering facts.

Sources close to Jolie said the actress would refuse to co-operate with police if Pitt was prosecuted.

Maddox, 15, was not injured and law enforcement sources said there was no way to conclusively prove Pitt intentionally inflicted harm on his son, tmz.com reported

Pitt and Jolie have since agreed to a temporary custody arrangement, which allowed him to see his kids since Jolie filed for divorce.

--IANS sug/rb/mr

( 227 Words)

2016-10-09-15:58:09 (IANS)
This is for the first time in seven years that the quantum ofdischarge has reached this level, officials said. The inflow isestimated to be between 6,000 to 9,000 cusecs.

The Irrigation Department has issued a warning to people livingin the downstream villages not to go near the river as it is likelyto swell in the next three to four hours after opening the gates. "We toohave asked farmers not to venture into fields on the river bank andnot to take cattle for grazing in low lying areas," police said.

Since last night, the district has received a record 35 mm of rainwhile in some pockets in Humnabad and Basavakalyan, it exceeded 65mm. It can cause damage to crops, he said.

"Weather forecasters say there is a chance of rainfall in thecoming two days also," Joint Director of Agriculture K. Ziaullah said.UNI SD MSP CS 1925

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0285-970526.Xml
The Jharkhand Police on Saturday arrested a Naxal zonal commander and his two associates from Basmata village under Masalia Police Station in Dumka district and seized detonators, transistors and Rs. 35,000 cash from their possession. The Dumaka Police have identified the commander as Naxal think tank Kanchan Da, alias, Awadh Kishore, who is carrying a bounty of Rs. 10 lakhs, and his associates as Gopal Rai and Okil Murmu. Kanchan, a member of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), was allegedly involved in many dreadful incidents. 1980s, according to police, Kanchan was working with the Home Guard, and joined Naxals after the death of his father in 1997. At present, he was looking after his organisation's affairs in Dumka, Godda, Jamtara and Pakur districts, and had been working as a think tank to recruit youth in Santhal Pargana division into his organisation. Dumka Superintendent of Police (SP) Prabhat Kumar told ANI, "The district police and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) carried out a joint operation and arrested hardcore Naxal rebel Awadh Kishore Yadav, alias, Awadh Chandra Yadav, alias, Kanchan Da, alias, Mota, alias, Suresh Da, and his two accomplices Gopal Rai and Okil Murmur." The SP further said the Naxal zonal commander was involved in many dreadful incidents, including the murder of Shamshad Ansari, the then Station House Officer of the Shikaripara Police Station at Pokharia in 2008; in the murder of the then Pakur SP, Amarjeet Balihar, and five police personnel in Jamuni village under Kathikund police range in 2013; and killing of eight polling officers, along with a policemen, during the 2014 general elections at Sarsajol village under Shikaripara Police Station among others. He was also involved in the encounter between police and Naxals on September 10, 2010 in Kathikund's Taldanga Hills, in which the then Station House Officer of the Jama Police Station Satanand Singh and three other policemen were killed; while his role is being probed into the murder case of Sister Valsa John in Pakur district's Amrapara block in 2015, said the SP. Prabhat Kumar said, Kanchan is expert in operating arms and has taken training in Giridih, while his two associates were also involved in many Naxal incidents." (ANI)
There will be no heavy vehicle traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway today in view of the visit of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice T S Thakur to Ramban. A traffic police spokesman said that in view of the visit of Justice Thakur, it has been decided not to allow any heavy vehicle, including trucks and buses, from Srinagar and Jammu on the highway, linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country. He said this decision was taken as a precautionary measure to prevent any traffic jam on the highway besides considering the security aspect. However, light vehicle traffic will continue from both sides, he said. Similarly Gujjar and Bakarwals would also not be allowed on the highway along with their live stock. The Gujjar and Bakarwals are taking their live stocks from Kashmir to Jammu for winter. Justice Thakur along with four Supreme Court judges is on two-day visit to his home district Ramban on the highway since yesterday. He is scheduled to inaugurate Justice D D Thakur Memorial Library in the District Court Complex Ramban today.UNI BAS CJ ADG 1030 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-970891.Xml
The State Government has announced an exemption in payment of Karnataka Road Tax for other State vehicles visiting Mysuru during the Dasara festival. In a notification issued on October 6, the Transport Department said vehicles from other States entering Karnataka to visit Mysuru have been exempted from payment of tax from October 5 to 31. Transport Department officials said vehicles mentioning Mysuru in their route map will be given exemption. The move is expected to boost arrival of tourists in Mysuru to participate in the Dasara festivities, which began on October 1 under the shadow of the Cauvery dispute. Though the number of tourists visiting Mysuru has been rather low in the first few days of Dasara, stakeholders in the tourism industry are hopeful of an increase in footfalls in the coming days. Already, hotels that were complaining of hosting only a few lodgers at the start of the festival, have reported 80 per cent bookings during the weekend. Many hotels have full bookings for October 10 and 11, the last being the Jamboo Savari day. Also, the city police, which had lifted the ban on entry of private vehicles to the Chamundi Hills after the Chamundeshwari Temple authorities complained of poor footfalls, were forced to reimpose the ban after a large number of private vehicles swamped the hilltop, creating an acute shortage of parking space.UNI BSP CS 1049 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0284-970946.Xml
Lucknow is virtually turning into a fortress in view of the one-hour long special visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi here to celebrate Dussehra on October 11. The officials of the elite Special Protection Group (SPG) have taken their position and were monitoring the security to be made at the Aishbagh Ramlila ground where Mr Modi will attend the religious programme. As the day will be the eve of Moharrum and Lucknow has a past history of sectoral clashes during the processions, the security personal are taking no chance in making fool proof security. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Lucknow Mayor Dinesh Sharma will welcome the PM. The PM is expected to reach Lucknow by 1810 hrs and the spectators would be allowed to enter the venue from 1630 to 1730 hrs and against the crowd of 25,000 only 5000 would be allowed to enter. The PM will perform arti and will make a small speech and same evening he will return to New Delhi. In Lucknow around 45 Led big screens would be put up at different crossings so that people can watch the live coverage of the function. UP Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Akhikesh Yadav are likely to welcome the PM at the airport. The visit of Mr Modi to attend the religious function gains importance in view of the coming crucial Assembly polls in UP in next three months time. The PM's speech at the function could also give enough impetus to the BJP's poll tirade in UP with focus on terrorism and the opposition attack on the government over politicisation of the surgical strikes. Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police , Lucknow zone , A Satish Ganesh, who is incharge of PM's security, said the 25-kilometre route between Amausi airport and Aishbagh had been divided in five zones and 10 sectors. The police administration has been directed that commuters should not face difficulties during Mr Modi's visit to Lucknow and to make sure smooth traffic, the district administration will stop the traffic only for eight minutes when The PM's convoy will move towards Aishbagh Ramlila ground. UNI MB SHS ADG 1114 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-970953.Xml
To provide safe drinking water to people in Jammu and Kashmir, the government has decided to set up five mobile and one state level Water Testing Laboratories (WTL) in the state. An official spokesman said that five mobile WTL and one state level WTL are being established to test the cleanliness and purity of potable water in state. He said that the government is also working to establish 9 more water testing laboratories at district levels in Kashmir division in the next phase. Meanwhile, Minister for Public Health Engineering (PHE), Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Choudhary has asked the concerned to lift the water samples and test it on daily basis so that safe drinking water is supplied to people in the state. The spokesman said that the minister has urged upon the concerned to monitor the functioning of Water Supply Schemes and to regularly test the quality of water being provided to people. He asked them to stop supply of water from the schemes which do not fulfill the parameters of safe drinking water and provide drinking water through water tankers to these areas. The minister said that the Central Government would provide new Water Supply Schemes in lieu of the schemes whose water is not fit for consumption. He said that the Department would introduce third party monitoring system to counter-check the quality of water so that safe potable water is provided to people. Asserting that people have pivotal role in keeping the water sources clean and hygienic, he also directed the concerned to keep a strict vigil over the cleanliness of all water sources. The teamwork of all stakeholders is required to maintain the quality of potable water, he added. The spokesman said that taking stock of problems being confronted to field staff, the minister assured them that their genuine issues would be looked into for early redressal. He asked the concerned for projecting factual report with regard to water testing.UNI BAS CJ ADG 1148 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-970955.Xml
A murder accused escaped from local divisional jail by giving a slip to the police here. Police said here today that the prisoner Mohammed Kaleem was lodged in the jail on the charge of murdering his wife. The prisoner made good his escape from the jail by dodging the police when he came out from his jail ward on the pretext of easing himself late last night. A manhunt has been launched for the prisoner, police added. UNI XC UNI DH RN CJ 1338 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0311-971093.Xml
JARDINE  Its an odd twist of fate.

Gold mining founded this town in the 1870s, a mountain community less than three miles from the northern border of Yellowstone National Park and only two miles from the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.

Now a companys proposal to explore an old gold mine near here has residents  some who live on mining claims and are surrounded by the ruins and rubble piles of past extractions  concerned about the future and the environment.

The situation highlights the growing pains of the New West  an old economy of resource extraction versus a cleaner, but often lower-paying, service industry; recreation versus industry; wildlife and the remaining areas of undisturbed habitat versus development.

Obviously it will hurt my business because people come here for a getaway, said Cheryl Standish, owner of Crevice Mountain Lodge, which borders the proposed mine site.

Shes also worried that drilling at the mine could pollute or dry up her well water, as well as create acidic mine runoff into the Yellowstone River that roars past 3,000 feet below the high mountain retreat shes valued for 50 years.

Down the road

Standishs closest neighbor, hunting outfitter Warren Johnson, agrees. For a guy whos spent his lifetime wrestling broncs and the occasional grizzly bear, its the possibility of mine exploration and the traffic, noise and pollution it might create  along with the effect that might have on his business  that has him worried.

He says trucks hauling mine rock down the road would disrupt the solitude of the business hes built from the ground up  all by grit  over the past 34 years with his wife, Susan.

Although Johnson noted the area has a rich history of mining, he said it also has a rich history of biodiversity.

His question now is: If the mining proceeds, how might it affect the regions wildlife and scenic values? Are the two even compatible?

The proposal

Under its plan of operations submitted to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality last October, Crevice Mining Group has proposed a low-impact program that would conduct 36,000 feet of continuous exploratory drilling for 18 months.

The work would create 14 acres of new surface disturbance near the old Snowshoe Mine. Nine acres of the site would be set aside for waste rock. Ditches and runoff control berms upslope from the disturbed area will be constructed to divert surface runoff, and downslope ditches will collect any runoff water from the disturbed area and route it to a sediment collection pond, the application stated.

This exploration program is intended to determine the continuity of potential ore bodies and attempt to delineate economic ore reserves, Crevice Mining wrote in its application. If a mineral reserve is identified, and Crevice can justify applying for an operating permit as the project progresses, Crevice may apply for the operating permit.

Under its proposal, Crevice Mining said it would commit $1.1 million to the exploratory drilling. An email sent to Michael Werner, managing partner of Crevice Mining Group LLC, for further comment had not been returned by press time.

Concerned

Marty Malone, who has been a Park County commissioner for eight years, said he hasnt been impressed in his interactions with Werner, which have been all about what the county can do for Crevice Mining.

Its not the Montana way to go to your neighbor and say were going to dig a big hole next to you, he said.

Not much is known about the Spokane, Wash., based mining company. The limited liability corporation was formed in January 2015. Werner touts 40 years of international mining experience on the companys website, which lists John Jack Andreazza of Perth, Australia, as the companys other principal.

According to a press release, Bell Copper Corp. hired Andreazza as vice president of metallurgy in 2010. At the time, Werner was listed in the release as CEO and director of Bell Copper.

In a 21-page reply, the DEQ rejected the mining companys original application. Crevice Mining submitted a revised proposal in July. On Sept. 1 the DEQ issued Crevice Mining a deficiency letter asking for more information on hydrology and geochemical data.

They have not responded, according to the agencys Kristi Ponozzo. There is no statutory time frame for them to get back to DEQ.

Meanwhile, the DEQ is working on the environmental assessment for Lucky Minerals' proposal to drill 46 holes from 23 pads in Emigrant Gulch  another Paradise Valley mining project. Ponozzo said that document could be out for public comment next month.

Critics

The Crevice Mine proposal has drawn criticism from Yellowstone National Park officials, who expressed the park's reservations in a letter during the public comment period.

Were always concerned about what goes on along our border, said Doug Madsen, of the National Park Service.

At least one mining industry representative, exploration geologist Steve Koehler, has stepped forward, calling Crevices application to the state lacking in detailed information and said the companys funding is minimal. His wife works for Yellowstone park.

Theres a more stable resource that people from around the planet want to come and see  Yellowstone National Park, Koehler said.

Dave Chambers, a geologist and founder of the Center for Science in Public Participation, also questions the placement of the mine, the amount of gold Werner has said the mine might produce as well as possible problems with groundwater. He noted that previous bankruptcies by other Montana gold mining companies have left the public paying millions of dollars for cleanup costs.

Mining legacy

You don't have to go far from Jardine to see what Chambers is talking about.

Roughly 35 miles east from Crevice Mountain the DEQ has restored an area outside of Cooke City. There, a mine mill site retired in the 1950s left a legacy of heavy metals runoff, polluting Soda Butte Creek, a tributary to the upper Yellowstone River before it flows through Yellowstone Park.

The mining industry is being held to a higher standard these days, and with good reason, Koehler said. With Yellowstone an adjacent neighbor, you have to do better.

After spending $22 million to remove 250,000 cubic yards of mining waste rock, and pumping and treating 100 million gallons of tainted water from beneath the site, the DEQ was recently recognized with a national abandoned mine cleanup award.

Soda Butte Creek  once listed as an impaired waterway because of heavy concentrations of copper, lead and iron  is now meeting federal water quality standards.

Im very excited about how the water quality looks, said Tom Henderson, from DEQs Abandoned Mines section.

Dodging a bullet

The Cooke City work originated with a unique agreement. In 1996, the Clinton Administration purchased the New World Mining District to avoid mining near Yellowstone National Park.

After the federal government bought the New World Mining District, the Custer Gallatin National Forest spent millions cleaning up the high mountain region at the headwaters of the Stillwater and Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone rivers. Mines in the district had once supplied the McLaren Mill with ore.

Proponents of the restoration work say it helped avoid a disaster like that experienced in Colorado in 2015. Thats when an estimated 3 million gallons of toxic mine water escaped from an old adit and tailings pond and polluted the Animas River. The long-term impacts of the spill are still unknown.

The Paradise Valley got a taste of that type of catastrophe this summer when more than 180 miles of the Yellowstone River were closed after a large mountain whitefish die-off. The fish kill was blamed on a new parasite. To keep the parasite from spreading to other waters the state fish and game agency banned all use of the river for weeks, putting businesses that cater to rafters and anglers on their heels  along with all of the subsidiary businesses that benefit from those visitors. The closure that lasted for six weeks on one section of the river was estimated to have cost Park County $360,000.

Rocks

The river shutdown drove home the point that the Yellowstone River and its surrounding environs are the carotid artery of the region, pumping lifeblood not just for grizzly bears, wolves and elk, but also for humans. Intertwined with that need for water there has long been a human penchant for the rocks of the region.

Just 20 miles south of Jardine, in what is now Yellowstone National Park, early Americans were picking up obsidian to create tools and weapons at least 11,000 years ago. Those rocks, coveted for their ability to be worked to a keen sharpness, have been found in archaeological sites as far away as the Mississippi Valley.

Just outside what is now the town of Gardiner those same itinerant hunters would stack rocks and branches in the steep cliffs along the Yellowstone River to herd bighorn sheep to kill sites. Those hunters abilities would eventually earn them the nickname Sheepeaters, a moniker bestowed upon nearby cliffs.

It wasnt until the 1870s, when gold was discovered in the narrow canyon carved by Bear Creek  where Jardine now lies  that the area would see a completely different and long-lasting fascination with the regions rocks. That attraction lingered until TVX Gold Inc. closed its Mineral Hill Mine in 1996. Werner, of Crevice Mining Group, was chief operating officer for TVX from 1993 to 1995.

Kinross Gold Corp. bought out TVX in 2003, inheriting the Mineral Hill reclamation and closure project.

Based on TVXs exploration, Crevice Mining Group estimates that as much as 1 million ounces of recoverable gold may still be locked in the mountains rocks.

Chimney rocks

Johnson, too, is a bit infatuated with rocks. His outfitting business and home are on a mountainside with vast views across the Gardiner Basin to the snow-blanketed Gallatin Range.

Enter his residence and the first thing to catch a visitors eye is a large rock hollowed out to create a kitchen sink. Inside a high-ceilinged trophy room is a dominating rock fireplace that commands attention, with a stuffed mountain lion frozen in midstride near its crest and mountain goats posed on each side of the chimney.

Every stone thats here, every rock on that fireplace means something, Johnson said, turning to point to the structure for emphasis. Thats where I saw a grizzly bear, or I saw two elk fighting. I gathered them up and threw them in a pile because I knew what I was going to build.

Mining loyalty

Not everyone sees the mine as a bad neighbor. Montana has embraced its mining history. Emblazoned on the state seal are the words oro y plata, gold and silver, along with a shovel and pick-axe to memorialize the states history.

Although few gold mines remain operating in the state, platinum/palladium and coal mining are still sources of employment that provide high wages for employees, even though a graph tracing mining employment has as many peaks and valleys as the states steepest mountain ranges. Mining employment was at almost 10,000 jobs in 2013. Figures for this year put employment closer to 7,000.

The county does need jobs, said Malone, the Park County commissioner.

And property taxes, since the state has no sales tax, are failing to generate enough income for places like Park County to continue to fund social services like it has in the past, he noted.

This year it was really tough to balance the budget, he said. We had to cut social service budgets by half.

Challenger

Bill Berg, a Gardiner businessman who is challenging Malone for his commission seat, said his community near the Crevice Mine is divided over the issue.

Its dangerous to try and speak for Gardiner, he said. But land, water and air is our economic base, so this seems ill advised.

The two mines proposed in the valley at least have prompted people to discuss what they want, even if they dont all agree, Berg added.

Tourism certainly has its impacts, its not a free ride, he said.

Almost 1 million people pass through Gardiner each year on their way to Yellowstone, Berg said, where last year 4 million people visited. In 2014 the National Park Service estimated that visitors to Yellowstone contributed more than $543 million to communities around the park and accounted for more than 6,600 jobs.

Finding affordable rooms to rent for people who staff the hotels, stores and restaurants that the tourists use is difficult, though, Berg said. So not all is rosy in the tourism economy. Yet he compares Yellowstone and Glacier national parks to the anchor stores of large shopping malls.

You dont want to do anything to hurt those.

Signs

Bright yellow signs along Gardiners main thoroughfare read: Yellowstone is more valuable than gold. More than 100 regional businesses have signed a petition against the Crevice Mine exploration and one proposed in Emigrant Gulch near Chico Hot Springs Resort. To rally support, the Yellowstone Gateway Business Coalition has created a website, dontmineyellowstone.com.

Of the states three U.S. congressional representatives, Sen. Jon Tester and Rep. Ryan Zinke have taken a stance against the Paradise Valley mines. A spokesperson from Sen. Steve Daines' office said he is still gathering information. Neither gubernatorial candidate has spoken for or against the mines.

Until the next move, residents of the Paradise Valley are in limbo. For some, like Johnson, the unknown is a bit disconcerting.

I grew up down in Jardine, I was born and raised there, and when I was a little kid I drove above this place and looked down and always wanted to move here, he said. So I was one of the fortunate people to realize my dream.

I feel like my greatest accomplishment in life is this place and my kids.
Following the age-old tradition, this year also thousands of devotees from across the country and abroad watched 'Kumari Puja' or the worship of a prepubescent girl at Belur Math -- the global headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, as Durga Puja fervour peaked on Maha Ashtami today. Maha Ashtami, also known as Durga Ashtami, was marked by significant rituals in the morning, beginning with Kumari Puja where girls are worshipped as personifications of the goddess. Belur Math, in Kolkata's twin district Howrah, about 10 km from here, saw a sea of humanity with people from across the country and abroad, watching as priests worshipped a 'kumari' as the 'Mother Goddess'. Five-year-old Oisani of Panchanantala in Howrah district was chosen as the Kumari at Belur Math this year At break of dawn, the Kumari was bathed in Ganga water, draped in a red sari, adorned with flowers and jewellery, with a 'sindur (vermillion) tilak' applied on her forehead. The young Kumari fasts the whole day until the puja is over. She is made to sit before the goddess's idol on a decorated chair with priests chanting hymns and dhak (traditional drum) being played in the background and later all the senior swamis including the president Maharaj offers her pranam. According to Hindu mythology, Kumari Puja was started to establish the importance of women. The maiden who is worshipped symbolises the power that regulates creation, stability and destruction on earth. In Bengal, Durga Puja or worship of the Goddess Durga, an incarnation of Shakti, is the most pious and popular form of Mother Worship. In the Bengali community, the elderly people address young girls as Ma out of affection. 'To look upon God as Mother is the purest and the highest form of Sadhana,' said Sri Ramakrishna, who is believed to have worshiped his wife as Divine Mother. Mother is all-in-all for a child. Kumari Puja was resurrected by religious leader Ramakrishna Paramahansa Deb in the late 19th century. During that time nine girls were worshipped as Kumaris. Swamiji himself worshipped one of them. But now only one girl is worshipped. 'This girl is usually selected from a family, which is associated with the RKM so that they have clear idea about the lineage of the girl. Spiritually any girl who has not reached her puberty level or is incapable of procreation is considered as Kumari. It looks for girls who are within five to seven years old for Kumari Puja. It is important that the girl should be Brahmin by birth and the parents have strong spiritual background,' said one of the Maharajs of RKM. According to religious belief, after the puja, the divinity of the goddess descends into the Kumari. Kumari puja was also conducted at many other community pandals and traditional households across the state where Durga puja is organised.UNI BM RN CJ 1344 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0311-971132.Xml
Demanding release of the youth arrested by security forces, scores of protestors, who were raising 'pro-freedom' and anti-forces slogans, took to the streets at Narbal early this morning.

However, when the protestors were moving towards Srinagar-Gulmarg road, security forces deployed in the area swung into action and burst teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators, who were regrouping and pelting stones.

The clashes were still going on when the reports last came in.UNI ABS CJ ADG 1332

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0433-971097.Xml
Three people, including two children, were killed when their motorcycle was hit by a bus on the Indore-Jaipur National Highway, police said. Motorcycle-borne Prakash Bachhda (40), his son Ravina (8) and one another boy Bhola (13) died in the mishap last evening. The bus driver is absconding.UNI XC-PS CJ RJ 1436 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-971209.Xml
Announcing her party's intent to go it alone in the upcoming Assembly polls, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP ) supremo Mayawati today accused the BJP, Congress and ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh of trying to mislead people for vote bank politics. Addressing a gathering of party workers at the Kanshi Ram Memorial here on the occasion of the 10th death anniversary BSP founder Kanshi Ram here, the BSP president lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the rise in atrocities against the Dalits and minorities and blamed both the Congress and the SP for toeing the line of the BJP. "In the name of Gau raksha, both Dalits and Muslims are being targeted. An environment is being made where Muslims are being questioned as terrorists. Modi's slogans of 'Ache din ayyenge', Sabka sath Sabka vikas, na khayenge na khane denge'..are proved hollow," she asserted. "Dalits and downtrodden are being targeted during this Modi's regime. Whether it is the Rohit Vemula case or Dayashankar's hate speach, Dalits understand that they are the victims. People don't just want sympathy from Modi government but action," she said adding that Muslims are also being targeted and victimised. "Jamia and Aligarh Muslim University are being deprived of their minority status. The entire nation is seeing an upsurge of communal forces. There is an attempt on to make India a Hindu Rashtra. A dangerous game is being played out in name of Gau raksha," she said. On the occasion, the former four time UP Chief Minister emphasised on 'Dalit-Muslim formula'. " If Muslims come together with Dalits, absolute majority will be easy. Muslims should not waste vote on Congress and SP," she said, affirming that BSP will go alone in polls and rules out any alliance. She also alleged that Mr Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party were trying to capitalise on the the cross-LoC surgical strikes. "Army should be given credit for it. Strikes should have been carried post Pathankot attack itself. Surgical strikes were sanctioned now with eyes on poll bound states," she added.MORE UNI MB RP -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0421-971306.Xml
President Pranab Mukherjee extended his greetings to the government and the people of the Republic of Fiji on eve of their Independence Day today. In a message to Maj Gen (Ret'd) Jioji Konousi Konrote, the President of the Republic of Fiji, Mr Mukherjee said, "On behalf of the government and people of India, it is with pleasure that I convey warm greetings to Your Excellency, the government and people of Fiji on the occasion of your Independence Day.''It is a matter of satisfaction that the bilateral relations between our two countries are growing stronger. India's dialogue with Pacific Island Countries under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation at the FIPIC-I Summit held in Suva in November 2014 and FIPIC II Summit held in Jaipur in August 2015 has given us opportunities to understand and address the challenges faced by Pacific Island Countries.''India will continue to partner Fiji in the field of IT, tele-medicine, tele-education and renewable energy. I am confident that the relations between India and Fiji will continue to strengthen in the years to come for the benefit of our respective peoples.'' The President conveyed him best wishes for good health and well-being as well as for the progress and prosperity of the friendly people of the Republic of Fiji.UNI SY RSA RJ 1616 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0093-971334.Xml
Nagaland Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio has said that Nagas emphasized too much on freedom, not realizing that freedom is not free, but comes with a law and the student organisations, instead of indulging in politics, should come together to discuss and pressure the Government to implement various educational policies and fight for educational rights. Speaking at the Yimchungru Students Union of Dimapur (YSUD) Silver jubilee celebration at Yimchungru Baptist Church in Dimapur yesterday, Mr Rio observed that Naga society is wasting time quarreling and fighting for too long and that fighting has become part of Naga culture. Therefore, he impressed upon the youth to encourage peace and collectively decide for good things. He noted that Naga society is so divided that the more they are told to unite, the more the fight escalates. "Naga society is more like an individual community, because every Naga community talks as an individual community and not as a common Naga society, instilling individualism and tribalism, which will not allow us to progress," he said. Drawing attention to the historic August 3, 2015 Framework Agreement between the Government of India and a Naga political group, Mr Rio remarked "the Nagas are silent and confused over the Framework Agreement, whether to accept, reject or fight again.' However, he reminded the congregation that since the Government of India has recognised the unique Naga tradition and culture,'' we should also be practical and accept what is available instead of missing the opportunity that may sink us further down and only leave room for our defeat. Calling on the Nagas to remove pride, he exhorted that a civilized society should emphasise on 'what is right' and not 'who is right.' Emphasizing on North East India and Nagaland's rich untapped resources, Mr Rio stated that political issue is the reason that the North East remains dormant, which is also the cause for non-availability of resources and revenue. "The money that we receive from the Central Government on rent is not utilised judiciously," he added. To all these problems, Mr Rio expressed that they can be solved, only when the Nagas we unite and added that the 'youth movement should become the people's movement'. Towards this, the Yimchungr community should contribute as a strong pillar of society, he stressed. UNI AS RN RJ RK1655 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0311-971348.Xml
The National Lok Adalat (People's Court) held in all district headquarters of Nagaland yesterday disposed 332 cases, mostly at pre-litigating stage, on an 'immediate basis' out of a total 422 cases taken up for settlement. According to a statement issued by N Jamir, Lok Adalat Nodal Officer, Nagaland State Legal Services Authority in Kohima today said the District Legal Services Authority under the supervision of the State Legal Services Authority, Department of Justice & Law, Government of Nagaland, conducted the Lok Adalat to reduce the existing backlog in the justice delivery system. Cases, both in pending and pre-litigating stage, on traffic, petty matters, criminal compoundable cases, revenue and municipal matters were dealt with during today's Lok Adalat sittings. The total settlement amount involved in the disposed cases came to Rs 63,340, the statement said. Jamir said the District & Sessions Judge, Chief Judicial and civil judges appointed as presiding officers were assisted by the district administration, officials from municipal bodies, police personnel, panel lawyers, retainer lawyers, legal aid counsels, social workers and Para Legal volunteers serving as conciliators. The Traffic Police was said to have provided meritorious service in Traffic challan matters and traffic related offences. The Lok Adalat was successful with adroit cooperation and assistance from the SPs in Kohima and Mon district, it added. Stating that Lok Adalat was for speedy and amicable settlement of cases, based on the concept of conciliated settlement of disputes, the statement said there was no further appeal, once the matter was settled in it. In Lok Adalat, both the parties negotiate for settlement and resolve their cases on the spot and on immediate basis, it added. The statement further said that the system of Lok Adalat, where there is no court fee, minimises litigation expenditure and the parties can get their disputes settled fast and free of cost. The next National Lok Adalat is scheduled to be held in December, on all types of cases, it added. UNI AS RN RJ 1640 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0311-971388.Xml
Panic gripped Habak area in the city outskirts when an oil tanker caught fire after unloading petrol outside a filling station. Official sources said people ran for their lives when the oil tanker, which was parked outside a filling station at Habak, caught fire. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot from nearby fire stations and the leaping flames clearly visible from a distance were brought under control. The cause of the fire was not known immediately, they said. However, they ruled out sabotage.UNI ABS QAB RJ BL1635 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0433-971345.Xml
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today underlined for setting up world class capital city like Amaravati to achieve economic growth, achieve progress in all spheres of socio-economic sections of societyand create employment opportunities in large numbers. In an open letter to the people of the state on the occasion of Dasara, Mr Naidu said that with the blessings of goddess Kanaka Durga, he was confident of establishing a world class capital city Amaravati by Vijaya Dasami next year. He vowed to transform Andhra Pradesh into a World Class place with Amaravati standing tall as its mighty Capital city and a gift to the present generations and posterity. Stating that the state is recuperating from the irrational bifurcation of the Combined State of Andhra Pradesh, he thanked farmers, who have parted with their lands for the construction of capital in Amaravathi and said he will be indebted to the people of Amaravati area, most particularly the small and medium farmers. The Chief Minister said that as part of making the peoples capital Amaravati as the Education hub of the Country, 13 leading International schools from across the globe expressed keen interest in setting up their campuses in the new capital city. The government is targetting to enhance the rating of Human Development Index (HDI) of people living in the State on par with best Countries in the World like Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, America, and Australia, Mr Naidu said.MORE UNI DP CS 1806 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-971580.Xml
Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh today said the reported move of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau to close the case, related to exemption of land by Amritsar Improvement Trust, against him and others is a clear vindication of his stand that it was filed out of sheer political vendetta only and had no legal basis. Capt Singh also lashed out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for alleging an understanding between him and the Badals. "Does Kejriwal know that the reported closure has its basis in the Supreme Court of India ruling in my favour and restoring my membership of the Vidhan Sabha," he asked, adding that, "or does he mean to attribute motives to the SC decision also?". Addressing a press conference here, he said although it was yet to be confirmed whether the Vigilance Bureau had decided to close the case or not, the bureau will have no option but to close it since the case had no legal or legitimate basis except the vendetta by the Badals against him, as he had jailed them for corruption during his tenure as the Chief Minister. He pointed out that the Akalis had scripted his expulsion, which was unanimously set aside by the 5-member Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court of India with severe strictures against the government for misusing their "brute majority" to expel an elected member of the Vidhan Sabha. Referring to the exemption granted by the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) to Vir Builders in January 2006, which was made the basis for his expulsion from the Vidhan Sabha and subsequent FIR, Capt Singh said his government had only followed the policy formulated by Mr Badal. He said the AIT had acquired 275 acres of land on December 12, 1996. He said Mr Badal gave exemption for 87 acres on May 11, 2001 to Mohan Vihar, Amarjit Vihar and Doctors' Housing Cooperative Society. Under the same policy, he added his government gave exemption for 33.1 acres to Vir Builders. "We followed Badal's policy on exemption for which he scripted my unconstitutional expulsion from the Vidhan Sabha," he said, adding, rather it was his (Capt Amarinder's) government which later made the policy more stringent. Replying to a question about AAP allegations that Congress and Akalis were playing a fixed match, Capt Singh asked them to clarify whether they believe whatever the Akalis had done was fair and correct. "Let them clarify whether the case was not about vendetta and let them also clarify whether or not they trusted the Supreme Court or believed the apex court also to be playing a fixed match with us by reinstating me as the member of Punjab Vidhan Sabha," he retorted when asked that AAP leaders were alleging an understanding between him and the Badals.UNI DB RSA RJ PM1857 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-971540.Xml
In his farewell message, Lt Gen Nimbhorkar complimented all ranks of the Corps for their professionalism and dedication and thanked the civil administration for the excellent synergy with the Armed Forces, an official statement said here today.

Lt Gen A K Sharma was commissioned in 1980 into 2 SIKH a unit which he later commanded on the line of control and during Operation Parakram.

An alumnus of DSSC Wellington, Army War College and National Defence College, he has also attended Terrorism and Security Studies Course in Germany. He commanded a Mountain Brigade in the North East, an Infantry Brigade Group in UN Mission in Congo and a CIF in J&K.

The General officer has been decorated with YSM, SM and COAS Commendation Card. Before taking charge of White Knight Corps the General officer tenanted the appointment of Director General of Recruiting.

On taking over, he exhorted all ranks of White Knight Corps to continue with the same zeal and enthusiasm and always be combat ready.UNI DB AE RJ NS1912

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-971622.Xml
Strongly condemning the killing of a 12-year-old boy by security forces in the downtown here yesterday, the Communist Party of India (M) criticised Peoples Democratic Party for demanding probe when the party was in power. One wonders what message the ruling PDP wants to convey, by issuing a statement demanding "time-bound probe" into the killing of a minor boy, a statement issued by the CPI(M) said here today. ''The government is of the PDP, and headed by the party's own President; so whom they are asking to probe the killing of a school boy?'' CPI(M) said. These insensitive remarks over the death of a boy amounts to adding to the pain and torment of the hapless family. If the PDP as a party is serious to identify and bring those responsible for this gruesome killing to justice, they can and should take strong measures to do so immediately, CPI(M) said. The CPI(M) said the statement of PDP spokesperson has claimed that "a deputation of respectable people from Eidgah has visited party headquarters and stated that deceased was not involved in any protest which called for a probe." In this backdrop, if the party has proof of innocence of the boy, it should come to the fore with it and help in delivery of justice. Failing to do so, would be deemed cheap politicking over the coffins of innocents, it said.UNI BAS AE RJ 2004 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-971782.Xml
Bootleggers bid to mint money from tipplers in dry Bihar was foiled by the police and excise sleuths as a huge consignment of foreign and country liquor was seized and nine people were arrested from different parts of the state since last night. In ongoing drive against smuggling of liquor to meet growing demand of liquor in this festive season, more than, 4,000 bottles of India Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and over 500 sachets of country liquor were seized in Vaishali, Siwan, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur,Katihar and Jamui district. Over 2,500 bottles of IMFL were seized alone in Muzaffarpur district today near Purosattam village on NH-77 in Kudhni police station area of the district, a report quoting Police Deputy Superintendent Ajay Kumar said. Mr Kumar said, acting on a -ip off, a truck was intercepted near Purosattam village and 250 cartons of IMFL was recovered during the search operation. The cartons of IMFL were concealed in a large number of cycle parts loaded in the truck, he added. Truck driver and another staff of the vehicle were arrested in this connection.MORE UNI IS KKS BM AE 2101 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0214-971863.Xml
Four persons, including a property dealer, have been arrested for kidnapping the son of former Municipal Councillor for ransom, police said on Sunday. The 21-year-old victim, son of Congress leader and former Dwarka Councillor Shambunath Sharma, was safely freed. Anand, 27, owner of water treatment plant, Vichitrvir, 30, and Vinod Kumar, 32 both working as toll collectors, and Vikrant, 30, a property dealer were arrested on Friday evening from Chhawla area, following a tip off, when they came to meet some of their other associates, said police. Three cars used in the commission of crime, including the victim's BMW, were recovered from the accused, police said, adding a hunt is on for the others involved. Police said the kidnapping took place on September 27, when the accused posing as traffic policemen and police constables stopped harma's son, a final year student of Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha College in Rohini, at gun point while he was on his way to college in his BMW car. The victim was taken to a farmhouse in Haryana's Sirsa and then Rajasthan. "A case was registered in Subhash Nagar Police Station, following a complaint by Aman Kumar, an eyewitness. A ransom call demanding Rs 50 crore was made by the kidnappers to Sharma from the victim's mobile phone. Later the kidnappers sensed police pressure, settled the deal for Rs 1 crore and released the victim in a private taxi hired from Gurgaon," Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime, Ravindra Yadav told IANS. "A search is on for eight other gang members including its kingpin. They had also kept a vigil on the youth six months ago and made a plan to kidnap him to earn easy money," he added. --IANS sp/vd ( 297 Words) 2016-10-09-22:28:09 (IANS)
A Congress leader today created flutter in political circles in Madhya Pradesh when he demanded the party's President Sonia Gandhi to evict her deputy Rahul Gandhi in view of his 'khoon ki dalali' statement. In a video that has gone viral on social media, Barwani Congress Organisation Secretary Shailesh Choubey said, "The use of term 'khoon ki dalali' by Mr Gandhi was quite unfortunate. Mr Gandhi took out a padyatra for 30 days in Uttar Pradesh and raised issues pertaining to farmers. Congress leaders got a sense of leadership in him. However, he shot an arrow of words that the whole country began ridiculing him." In the video, he urged Ms Gandhi that she should, being the party's President, make Mr Gandhi leave the party and engage him in some business so that dedicated party workers could fight with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Mr Choubey said Mr Gandhi lacked leadership ability and would lead to the party's failure at every front. Meanwhile, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Bala Bachchan, while being queried about the video, said that he could not believe that Mr Choubey has made such a statement and described him as a dedicated party worker. He suspected some conspiracy behind the video. On the other hand, Mr Choubey, while talking to UNI, confirmed that he had come out with a video statement. He reiterated that Mr Gandhi had no need to come out with such a statement and said that the party's Vice-President failed to understand the country's pulse. He said party workers were feeling demoralised in the party. He said he had been dedicated party worker and had served as office bearer in the National Students Union of India and the Youth Congress as well as the state general secretary of the Rahul Gandhi Brigade. On whether he was ready to face action, he said the party would weaken if an action is taken against him because he made the statement in the interest of the party. UNI XC-PS AE 2146 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-971869.Xml
Houthi rebels have blamed the Saudi-led coalition for the airstrikes.

The deceased and wounded include senior military and security officials from the ranks of the Shia Houthi rebels fighting the internationally recognised government of president Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, as well as their allies, loyalists of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, reports the Guardian.

Ambulances were rushed to the site to carry the injured persons to the hospitals. The health ministry has summoned off-duty doctors and called on residents to donate blood, reports the Guardian.

The funeral was being held for Ali al-Rawishan, the father of the interior minister Galal al-Rawishan.

According to the witnesses, a missile hit the hall in the south of the capital, destroying the building.

The Saudi-led coalition did not immediately commented on the airstrikes. (ANI)
According to the Guardian, the draft text presented by France won 11 votes in favor, Russia and Venezuela voted against the resolution, while China and Angola abstained.

It was the fifth time that Moscow used its veto to block the UN action to end the five year war in Syria, which has claimed 300,000 lives.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault had urged the Security Council to take immediate action to save Aleppo from being destroyed by the Russia-backed Syrian bombing campaign.

Earlier, Russian presented its own draft text that urged for a separation of moderate and extremist forces in Syria but making no mention of a bombing halt in the besieged city of Aleppo.

The draft, put forward by Moscow failed to get the support of minimum nine votes. The draft resolution got four yes votes, nine no votes and two abstentions.

It is reported that Russia's introduction of a rival resolution yesterday took Western supporters of the French draft by surprise.

Several diplomats privately called it a brilliant move by Moscow because it will force Western powers to veto as well. (ANI)
With his campaign in crisis, US presidential candidate Donald Trump vowed to stay in the race despite calls from more than a dozen prominent Republicans for him to drop out following the release of a recording of him making lewd comments about women.Yesterday both Trump's wife and his running mate criticized his words, saying they were insulting and indefensible."The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly - I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN!" Trump wrote yesterday afternoon on the social media website Twitter.The video was the latest calamity for Trump, who had hoped to revive his flagging campaign in the face of a recent drop in polls with less than a month until Election Day.Trump is due to appear alongside Democrat Hillary Clinton today in their second debate in the runup to the general election. Clinton is not expected to address Trump's video before then.The 2005 video of Trump talking on an open microphone showed the then-reality TV star speaking about groping women and trying to seduce a married woman. The video was taped only months after Trump married his third wife, Melania.In a statement, Melania Trump called her husband's words "unacceptable and offensive to me.""This does not represent the man that I know," she said. "He has the heart and mind of a leader. I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world."The backlash over the video was swift and widespread.More than 60 prominent Republican current and former officeholders issued statements condemning Trump's remarks about women, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and John McCain, the party's standard bearer in 2008. More than 20 called for Trump to end his presidential bid.In an unusual move, his vice presidential running mate Mike Pence issued a critical statement of Trump's words, saying on Twitter that he "cannot defend them.""As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump," said Pence, who is governor of Indiana.Pence indicated he would continue to support Trump, despite calls from several Republicans for Trump to step aside and let Pence be the nominee.There is no precedent for a major party to replace its nominee this late in the campaign and it was unclear if there was an avenue to force him out. Voting has begun in several states, including swing states Virginia and North Carolina.A recorded apology by Trump early yesterday did not stymie an avalanche of calls from members of his party to quit.Trump huddled yesterday in Trump Tower with senior advisers, including New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.He left the building briefly to greet a small crowd of supporters, saying "100 percent" he would remain in the race. Before returning to a bank of elevators, he told reporters, "Tremendous support."Trump quickly moved to do damage control in yesterday's video in which he declared himself a changed man and attempted to shift the focus to his opponent Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton."Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize," Trump said in his video statement, posted on his Facebook page.COMMENTS CONDEMNEDTrump has struggled to win over women voters, and the video was expected to further feed Democratic criticism about his past behavior toward women. Trump's support has suffered among suburban women and white, college-educated women, groups that Republicans have traditionally won.In the recording that triggered the firestorm, Trump said of one woman, "I did try and fuck her. She was married." He went on to discuss his attraction to others."I just start kissing them," he said. "And when you're a star they let you do it.""Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything," Trump said.Yesterday afternoon, CNN published a separate report detailing remarks Trump made over the course of several years while appearing on Howard Stern's radio program.The remarks included discussing the size of his daughter's breasts and that he once had sex with three women at the same time. Trump was asked if he would have sex with a black woman and responded, "It depends on what your definition of black is."The remarks were the last straw for some Republicans who have stuck with him through a series of controversial remarks, including calling Mexican immigrants "rapists" and "criminals," calling for a ban on Muslim immigrants, attacking a judge of Mexican descent, attacking the Gold Star family of a Muslim soldier killed at war and saying Senator John McCain was not a war hero because he had been a prisoner of war.House Speaker Paul Ryan disinvited Trump to a scheduled appearance yesterday in Wisconsin. Pence declined to speak in his place.The list of Republicans announcing they would not vote for Trump or calling on him to step aside grew yesterday: Senators Kelly Ayotte, Lisa Murkowsi, Dan Sullivan, Mark Kirk, Jeff Flake, John Thune, Mike Crapo, Shelley Moore Capito and Mike Lee; House members Jason Chaffetz, Mia Love, Joe Heck, Bradley Byrne, Martha Roby and Barbara Comstock; and Governors John Kasich, Dennis Daugaard and Gary Herbert.Additionally, former presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Carly Fiorina and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Trump to quit."Donald Trump's behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy," McCain said in a statement.While Democrats largely remained silent, opting to let Republicans attack one of their own, Vice President Joe Biden wrote on Twitter, "The words are demeaning. Such behavior is an abuse of power. It's not lewd. It's sexual assault."Some prominent Republicans indicated they would stick with Trump. Ralph Reed, head of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, and Tony Perkins, head of the conservative Family Research Council, said they would continue to support him."I think 10 years ago he was a different man," said Representative Jack Kingston, a Republican from Georgia. "I am very glad that he quickly apologized."REUTERS AKC 0422 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-970841.Xml
In 1858, an anarchist attempted to assassinate French Emperor Louis Napoleon and his wife, Empress Eugenie. He hurled a bomb at the royal carriage, killing and wounding more than 100 people.

However, Napoleon and his wife were unharmed. The anarchist was quickly apprehended, tried, convicted and sentenced to the guillotine. Minutes before the execution was to be carried out, his sentence was commuted and his life spared because of Eugenie's intervention. Then, in 1880, Eugenie had her own life saved due to the courageous and intelligent action of her maid. It is fascinating that, in the latter 1880s, both the anarchist and the maid lived in what is now North Dakota.

Carlo Camillo di Rudio was born into nobility in Italy in 1832. As an adult, he opposed the crowning of Napoleon as the emperor of France and fought with forces to keep it from happening. When this action failed, di Rudio went into hiding in England, where he fell in love with and married 15-year old Eliza Booth. He also met Felice Orsini, who was plotting to assassinate Napoleon. Di Rudio agreed to assist Orsini and Giuseppi Pieri in carrying out the assassination plot.

On Jan. 14, 1858, the trio hurled bombs at the royal procession, and, since the bomb thrown by di Rudio was the most powerful, it inflicted the greatest number of casualties. After their apprehension and trial, Orsini and Pieri were beheaded, and, on March 14, di Rudio was led to the guillotine. As a last favor, he asked that he be allowed to smoke a pipe of tobacco. The executioner filled the pipe for the doomed man, placed it in his mouth and gave him a light.

As di Rudio smoked the pipe, the reprieve came from Empress Eugenie, who had earlier listened to the tearful plea of Eliza to spare his life. After a second trial, di Rudio was sentenced to life imprisonment on Devils Island in French Guyana.

After spending a year at the penal institution, di Rudio escaped, seized a fishing boat and sailed to British Guyana, where he was given asylum. He then made his way to England to rejoin his family. A wanted man by Italian, Austrian and French authorities, di Rudio went on the lecture circuit and raised enough money from English sympathizers to take his family to America in 1864.

When he arrived in New York, he anglicized his name to Charles DeRudio. At the time, the Civil War was going on, and, with a deep hatred of slavery, he enlisted with the 79th New York Volunteers as a private. During the fall of 1864, DeRudio was engaged at the siege of Petersburg, Va., and, on Nov. 11, he was commissioned as an officer, serving until he was mustered out of the Union Army on Jan. 5, 1866.

After the war, DeRudio requested appointment to the regular Army, and, on July 14, 1869, he was assigned to Custers 7th Cavalry. On Dec. 15, 1875, DeRudio was promoted to 1st lieutenant and given command of Company E, called the Gray Horse Troop. Shortly before the Battle of the Little Big Horn, Custer transferred DeRudio from Company E and attached him to Company A, under Maj. Marcus Reno. In 1886, DeRudio was sent to Fort Yates on the Standing Rock Reservation.

In Europe, during the Franco-Prussian War, the French army was defeated at the Battle of Sedan in 1870, ending the reign of Napoleon as emperor. Napoleon, Eugenie and their only child, 14-year old Napoleon Eugene Bonaparte, sought refuge in England. When the elder Napoleon died in 1873, Eugenie raised her son with the belief that one day he would return to France and restore the Bonapartes to the throne. Before that could happen, Napoleon volunteered for service during the Anglo-Zulu War and was killed in July 1879, causing Eugenie to go into a deep depression.

After months of mourning, Eugenie became insistent that she needed to travel to the former Zulu kingdom in South Africa to see the spot where her son had died. Queen Victoria, Eugenie's closest friend, supported the idea of a pilgrimage and agreed to pay for an expedition to the former Zulu kingdom. She sent her maid, Marie Downing, to accompany Eugenie.

For eight years, Marie had been a favorite in Queen Victorias castle, serving as her dresser and conducting many other courtly duties for the monarch. Marie was not the stereotypical fragile and demure lady-in-waiting. She was described as rugged, brave, determined and clear-thinking.

The expedition left England on March 25, 1880, and arrived in South Africa on April 16. On May 25, the travelers reached the region where Eugenies son was killed, and the empress and Marie were each given a revolver for their protection.

Eugenie maintained a brooding silence for days, but suddenly became nervous and wildly excited. She stopped eating and gave unreasonable orders to Marie and other members of the expedition. Marie was afraid that Eugenie had become deranged. Finally, Eugenie collapsed and fell asleep. Marie removed the revolver and stuffed the empty holster with heavy things.

The next day, the expedition arrived at the spot where Eugenie's son was killed. As Eugenie reached for the gun, Marie realized she had saved the empress from suicide.

Marie experienced the wrath of Eugenie for several days, but then the two became very close. On July 27, Eugenie and Marie returned to England, and the now uplifted empress expressed her gratitude to Queen Victoria regarding Marie's actions. Marie then received a number of priceless mementos from Eugenie.

In 1879, Marie began dating Harry Williams, a valet and butler. In 1882, Harry sailed to America and, three years later, settled on land southwest of the future town of Rolla. Late in 1886, Marie left England for America, and the two were married on Jan. 1, 1887, in Devils Lake.

DeRudio died in 1910, Empress Eugenie in 1920, and Marie Downing Williams in 1933.
Saudi-led warplanes struck a funeral at a community hall in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, the country's Houthi-run administration said, but the coalition denied any role in the attack. More than 140 mourners were killed, according to local health officials cited by the United Nations, in an attack that prompted a strong rebuke from Washington, a key Saudi ally.Yesterday Jamie McGoldrick, a UN official in charge of humanitarian efforts in the country, said more than 525 were injured.The death toll was 82, according to Ghazi Ismail, the administration's acting health minister. The reason for the discrepancy in numbers was not immediately clear.Ismail said the air strike occurred in the southern part of the city, where a wake was taking place for the father of the administration's interior minister, Jalal al-Roweishan, who had died of natural causes on Friday.The death toll was one of the largest in any single incident since the Saudi-led alliance began military operations to try to restore President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power following his ousting by the Iran-aligned Houthis in March 2015."The Saudi aggression committed a major crime today, by attacking a mourning hall for the al-Roweishan family, targeting residents in the hall," Ismail told a news conference in Sanaa.In a strongly worded rebuke, the White House said it may consider cutting its support to the Saudi-led military campaign."US security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check," said US National Security Council spokesman Ned Price in a statement. "In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led coalition and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with US principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemen's tragic conflict."Sources in the Saudi-led coalition said there was no Arab coalition air role in the strike."Absolutely no such operation took place at that target," one of the sources said, citing what he described as confirmation from the coalition air force command."The coalition is aware of such reports and is certain that it is possible that other causes of bombing are to be considered. The coalition has in the past avoided such gatherings and (they have) never been a subject of targets."The Saudi-led coalition has been providing air support for Hadi's forces in a civil war that has killed more than 10,000 people since March 2015 and displaced more than three million.Fighting has intensified since August when UN-sponsored peace talks in Kuwait ended without an agreement.Iran, Saudi Arabia's main regional rival, described the attack as "a horrific and inhuman crime", and called for the resumption of peace talks among all Yemeni parties."To resolve the crisis in Yemen there is no solution but the end of aggression by the brutish Saudi rulers and start of new round of talks that includes all Yemeni sides," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.SCENE OF CARNAGEResidents said aircraft fired two missiles at the hall, where hundreds of mourners had gathered to offer condolences.One missile tore through the building, setting it on fire and sending a large plume of smoke above the area. The other landed nearby.Witnesses described a scene of carnage, with charred or mutilated bodies strewn around. Ambulances raced to carry the wounded to hospitals, which sent out urgent appeals for blood.A spokesman for Yemen's Houthi group condemned the strike as an act of savagery."The aggression continues to shed blood in an uncommon savagery and with international collusion that reaches the level of direct participation," the Houthi-run Saba news agency quoted the group's spokesman, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, as saying in a statement.At least two local officials were among the dead. It was not immediately clear if Roweishan was in the hall when the strike happened.Roweishan had sided with the Iran-aligned Houthi movement when President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi fled Yemen after the Houthis advanced on his headquarters in the southern port city of Aden in March 2015.The Saudi-led coalition had been blamed for several attacks on medical centres, including some run by international aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), schools, factories and homes in the past 18 months that has killed scores of civilians.In August, MSF said it was evacuating its staff from six hospitals in northern Yemen after a coalition air strike hit a health facility operated by the group killing 19 people.The coalition, which says it does not target civilians, has expressed deep regret over the decision and said it was trying to set up "urgent meetings" with the medical aid group. REUTERS AKC 0721 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-970849.Xml
Cholera has killed at least 13 people in southwest Haiti in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, officials said, as government teams fanned out across the hard-hit southwestern tip of the country to repair treatment centers and reach the epicenter of one outbreak.Yesterday the storm took the lives of nearly 900 people in Haiti, many in remote towns clustered near the headland, according to a Reuters tally of numbers given by local officials.Haiti's central civil protection agency raised to 336 its official death toll, a slower count because officials must visit each village to confirm the numbers.The government said there would be three days of national mourning.Six people died of cholera in a hospital in the town of Randel, which is inland on the peninsula, and another seven died in the coastal town of Anse-d'Ainault on the western tip, the officials said, likely as flood waters mixed with sewage.Cholera causes severe diarrhea and can kill within hours if untreated. It is spread through contaminated water and has a short incubation period, which leads to rapid outbreaks."Randel is isolated, you must cross water, you must go high in the mountains, cars cannot go, motorcycles cannot go," said Eli Pierre Celestin, a member of team that fights cholera for the health ministry. "People have started dying.""There are nurses but no doctors," he said, concerned that cholera would spread due to lack of hygiene and as ground water moved because of rain and floods.He said there were also outbreaks in Port-a-Piment and Les Anglais, towns at the end of the Tiburon peninsula hardest hit by Matthew this week. Dr Donald Francois, head of the Haitian health ministrys cholera program, said 62 others were sick with cholera as a result of the storm. He said he was travelling to the south to oversee the response.Matthew slammed into South Carolina yesterday, after skirting the Atlantic coast of Florida and Georgia, causing widespread power outages and flooding.CLINICS DESTROYEDPort Salut, one of several picturesque beach towns ravaged by waves, wind and rain, counted its first cholera case in seven months yesterday, and two more suspected cases were brought by ambulance to the town's clinic.US medical aid group Americares dropped off supplies at the clinic, the only building standing among a group of shops flattened by the storm, before trying to reach Port-a-Piment further up the partially-flooded coastal road where the storm made landfall. A larger outbreak is suspected there.Cholera was accidentally introduced to Haiti by United Nations peacekeepers after the 2010 earthquake and has since infected hundreds of thousands of people and killed more than 9,000 of them.The aid group Doctors Without Borders scrambled teams by helicopter to southern Haiti to respond to cholera cases.Clifford Gauther, the health ministrys director for Haitis Sud Department, said cholera treatment centers, many made of metal sheeting, were destroyed by the hurricane. The ministry was rebuilding them.Before the hurricane struck, the Central Emergency Response Fund released a loan of $8 million to the United Nations Childrens' Fund, to ramp up the response to a worsening cholera epidemic in Haiti."In 2016 almost 27,000 cholera cases have been reported in Haiti, and over 240 people have died. Hurricane Matthew is feared to significantly worsen the situation and increase the risk of a larger outbreak," CERF said in a statement on Friday.It was hot and sunny yesterday in Les Cayes in southern Haiti and residents cleared some debris from the streets. One man was putting up a tarpaulin over his exposed roof.At the town's main public hospital, floodwater had receded and a cholera clinic and emergency ward were in operation. The priority now was to try to restore electrical power so doctors would come to work at night, said hospital director Yves Domerbant.As the shock of the storm wore off, the enormity of the damage was beginning to sink in."I have land but I don't have a house anymore. It's starting to traumatize me, my head hurts. I think about it too much," said Jean Vinel Joseph, 36, a medical orderly. REUTERS AKC 0741 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-970851.Xml
Dozens of US Republican leaders have abandoned presidential nominee Donald Trump after the release of a video showing him speaking about women in vulgar sexual terms, delivering a punishing blow to his campaign and plunging the party into crisis just a month before the election. A group of Senators and House members on Saturday withdrew support for Trump, with some demanding that he step aside, fearing his candidacy was on the verge of undermining the entire Republican ticket in the upcoming poll in November. Trump, however, vowed to stay in the race, saying he "will never quit", the New Yort Times reported. The list of party figures publicly rejecting Trump included a host of prominent elected officials, perhaps most notably Senator John McCain of Arizona, the 2008 nominee. "I thought it important I respect the fact that Trump won a majority of the delegates by the rules our party set," McCain said in a statement. "But Trump's behaviour this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy," McCain said. In an unheard-of rebuke by a running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence -- the Republican vice-presidential candidate -- declined to appear on Trump's behalf at a party gathering in Wisconsin. Pence said he was "offended by the words and actions described by Trump" in the 2005 video, and cast his second debate with Democratic presedential candidate Hillary Clinton on Sunday as an urgent moment to turn around the campaign. "I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them," Pence said, adding: "We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow (Sunday) night." By Saturday evening, no fewer than 36 Republicans of Congress and governors who had not previously ruled out supporting Trump disavowed his candidacy, an unprecedented desertion by the institutional party of its own standard-bearer just a month before the Election Day. The growing wall of opposition recalled the determination of the party this year to deny Trump the nomination in the first place. Aides described Trump as shaken, watching news coverage of the video with a mix of disbelief and horror. Shortly after midnight, Trump had released a video, saying: "I've said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more than a decade-old video are one of them." In a brief interview on Saturday, he shrugged off the calls to leave, saying he would "never drop out of this race in a million years". "I haven't heard from anyone saying I should drop out, and that would never happen, never happen," Trump said. "That's not the kind of person I am. I am in this until the end." Far from sounding rattled, Trump insisted that he could still prevail in November. "Oh, yeah, we can win -- we will win," he said. "We have tremendous support. I think a lot of people underestimate how loyal my supporters are." The situation has grown so dire that many in the party were all but pleading with him to withdraw and let Pence serve as the presidential nominee. Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the chairman of the Republican Conference, became the most senior Republican to call on Trump to make way for Pence. The exodus began late Friday night when a handful of Utah Republicans who said they would support Trump indicated that they could no longer tolerate their nominee. But it was not until a pair of conservative women, Representatives Barbara Comstock of Virginia and Martha Roby of Alabama, implored Trump to withdraw that previously hesitant Republicans stepped forward to reject his candidacy. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire was the first Republican Senator facing a competitive re-election to say she would no longer back Trump, announcing that she would write in Pence for President instead. "I'm a mom and an American first, and I cannot and will not support a candidate for President who brags about degrading and assaulting women," she said. According to the New York Times, Ayotte was joined just hours later by McCain, who is also running for re-election, and Representative Joe Heck of Nevada, who is locked in a close race for the Senate seat now held by Harry Reid, the Democratic minority leader, who is retiring. Trump crassly boasted about groping women's genitals, vulgarly commented on their bodies and generally described women as sex objects who could not resist his advances. In his statement, Trump said: "Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize." "I pledge to be a better man tomorrow and will never, ever let you down," he added, before ending the message with a promise to bring up the sex scandals of Bill Clinton's presidency and Hillary Clinton's response to them. --IANS ss/py/vt ( 840 Words) 2016-10-09-13:40:10 (IANS)
The shooting took place at Ammunition Hill light rail station, near the national headquarters of the Israel police, Haaretz news reported.

According to Magen David Adom -- Israel's national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank service -- two of the victims were critically wounded and three sustained minor injuries, during the initial shooting at the light rail station.

Another victim was then shot and injured at the nearby Clermont-Ganneau Street. The assailant then fled to Sheikh Jarrah, where two Israel police personnel were injured.

Police then shot the assailant, identified as a 39-year-old resident of Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem. He died from his wounds a short time later.

Hamas praised the attack, calling it a "natural response to the crimes of the occupation," Haaretz news reported.

The last terror attack in Jerusalem occurred on September 19 when two police officers were wounded, one seriously, in a stabbing attack in the Old City. The alleged assailant was subdued, according to the police.

A few days earlier, a Jordanian citizen was shot after he allegedly tried to stab Israeli Border Police officers near Damascus Gate in the Old City.

--IANS ask/vt

( 213 Words)

2016-10-09-15:04:08 (IANS)
Nine Turkish soldiers were killed and more than 20 people were wounded today when suspected Kurdish militants detonated a car bomb that ripped through a checkpoint near a police station in the country's southeast, security sources said.The blast hit the Durak gendarmerie station, 20 km (12 miles) from the town of Semdinli, in a mountainous part of Hakkari province near the border with Iraq and Iran, where Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants are active.Soldiers looked on as locals wandered amid mangled wreckage and debris from the explosion at a checkpoint where vehicle searches are conducted, video footage on CNN Turk showed.Authorities were on high alert for possible attacks today, 18 years to the day since PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan fled Syria before being captured by Turkish special forces in February the following year.He has since been in prison on an island near Istanbul.Yesterday, a man and a woman who authorities suspect were PKK militants preparing a car bomb attack, detonated explosives and killed themselves near the capital Ankara in a stand-off with police.Violence has flared in Turkey's southeastern Kurdish heartland in recent days.On Saturday, 12 people were killed, including eight PKK fighters. Four civilians were killed by gunfire from an armoured police vehicle in the town of Yuksekova near the Iranian border.On Thursday, a bomb attack near a police station in Istanbul wounded 10 people. The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), a PKK offshoot, claimed responsibility for that blast.The PKK, which launched a separatist insurgency in 1984, is designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.A two-year ceasefire between the group and Turkish authorities collapsed in July last year and the violence subsequently rose to levels not seen since the height of the conflict in the 1990s.The surge in violence coincides with a Turkish military operation in northern Syria in support of rebels and designed to drive away from the border Islamic State militants and a Syrian Kurdish militia closely linked to the PKK.President Tayyip Erdogan chaired a security summit with the head of the armed forces and ministers in Istanbul yesterday, but details of the meeting have not been disclosed. REUTERS PS BL1554 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-971331.Xml
After Baloch Republican Party (BRP) founder Brahumdagh Bugti's asylum request to New Delhi, another Baloch nationalist leader of Free Balochistan Movement Hyrbyair Marri may seek asylum in India. "If he does not feel safe in the United Kingdom or if the U.K. plans to deport him back to Pakistan, Hyrbyair Marri may seek asylum in India," said Balochwarna News editor Faiz M Baluch. According a report published on the BBC Urdu website last year, Hyrbyair Marri, who is the fifth son of nationalist leader Khair Bakhsh Marri who lives in London, had last year said "the Baloch people are not in favour of seeking help from India to gain freedom", reported the Dawn under the heading 'Will never seek help from India: Hyrbyair Marri' on October 10, 2015. Marri said that he was not seeking assistance from India for his movement: "I have never sought help from them, nor will I in the future." He also rejected reports that he travelled to India to start the Free Balochistan Movement. Hyrbyair Marri - who has been living in self-exile in London since 2000 - is alleged to have been leading the banned BLA. In June last year, an anti-terrorism court in Quetta had indicted Marri and 32 others in the Ziarat Residency bombing case. This development comes after Bugti last week announced that he would appeal for a political asylum in India. Earlier, Bugti approached the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva for filing asylum paper. He was reportedly asked by the Permanent Mission of India to approach the Indian High Commission in Bern, in Switzerland, for the same. According to reports, the Ministry of Home Affairs received Bugti's application on September 22, which was being "examined". (ANI)
An Australian and a Briton residing on the resort island of Bali have been arrested on suspicion of possessing hashish, an offence that can incur jail sentences of up to 20 years, Indonesian police said in a statement today.Police found 7.32 grams of suspected hashish at the residence of the 48-year-old Australian in Sanur. He led them to a 55-year-old Briton, who was found in possession of at least 10.09 grams of hashish, as well as a bong.Both suspects has lived in Bali for five years according to the police.Drug trafficking in Indonesia carried a maximum death penalty, and the country has faced widespread international criticism for executions of drug traffickers, including those of a group including two Australians in 2015 which went ahead despite repeated pleas for mercy from governments and international activists."For sure, we are building this case further to find the big dealer behind the origin of this (drugs)," said Gede Ganefo, head of narcotics units of Denpasar police.The two suspects has violated a narcotic law which carries a maximum 20 year of prison, Ganefo said.REUTERS PS BL1741 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-971527.Xml
British ambassador to the United Nations, Matthew Rycroft, has accused Russia of abusing its veto power after Moscow vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that demanded a halt in airstrikes in the Syrian city of Aleppo and called for access for humanitarian aid in the besieged city. ""In the end, no resolution of this Security Council can end this war. The only thing that can end this war is a change of policy in Moscow," the CNN quoted Rycroft as saying after the veto. The draft text presented by France won 11 votes in favor. Russia and Venezuela voted against the resolution, while China and Angola abstained. It was the fifth time that Moscow used its veto to block the UN action to end the five-year war in Syria, which has claimed 300,000 lives. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault had urged the Security Council to take immediate action to save Aleppo from being destroyed by Russia-backed Syrian bombing campaign. Earlier, Russian presented its own draft text that urged for a separation of moderate and extremist forces in Syria but making no mention of a bombing halt in the besieged city of Aleppo. The draft put forward by Moscow failed to get the support of minimum nine votes. The draft resolution got four yes votes, nine no votes and two abstentions. It is reported that Russia's introduction of a rival resolution yesterday took Western supporters of the French draft by surprise. Several diplomats privately called it a brilliant move by Moscow because it will force Western powers to veto as well. (ANI)
Kavitha is this year taking the festival of Bathukamma to the international platform in a bid to attract foreign investors for the state of Telangana. She has already held celebrations in Dubai, the U.K., the U.S. and Australia.

She will now head to Singapore, Bahrain, Kuwait and Denmark.

This festival is a symbol of Telangana's cultural identity and celebrated during the latter half of monsoon and before the onset of winter.

The festival celebrates the inherent relationship between earth, water and the human beings. During the entire preceding week, women make 'Boddemma' (a deity of Gowri - mother Durga - made with earthly mud) along with 'Bathukamma' (flower stack, arranged with different unique seasonal flowers most of them with medicinal values) and immerse it in a pond.

It is believed that it helps reinforce ponds and retain more water.

The flowers used in Bathukamma have a great quality of purifying water and such flowers when immersed in abundance in a pond, it have the effect of cleansing water and making the environment much better. (ANI)
The Mi-17 helicopter crashed, killing all seven on board, as it was delivering supplies to an army base along with another Mi-17 in Qurgahn Tapa area of northern Baghlan province in Afghanistan.

The MoD added that the helicopter was delivering supplies to the armed forces under the militants' siege in Qurghan Tapa area.

Earlier, the Taliban group claimed that its fighters shot down the helicopter as it was trying to air drop supplies to the Afghan security forces.

The group also shared pictures taken from long distance which purportedly showed smoke rising from the area of the incident.

The Taliban insurgents have intensified attacks on key northern provinces during the recent months as the group attempts to expand its insurgency in north of the country. (ANI)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers needs to take responsibility for the situation near Cannon Ball. There are up to 3,000 opponents of the Dakota Access Pipeline camped in the area, many staying in the area without a permit.

The corps said last month it would issue a special use permit to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to use 41 acres of land south of the Cannonball River. The permit hasnt been issued yet, but protesters have permission to be at the site. Campers to the north dont have permission and corps spokeswoman Eileen Williamson told the Forum News Service they stay there "not just at their own risk, but at the risk to the leaseholder, as well." The leaseholder, David Meyer, is required to return the land to the agency in a condition that meets its requirements.

Thats the ultimate cop-out by the corps since Meyer has no way of removing those illegally on the land. In fact, you can argue the corps has given them tacit approval to be there by not taking a firmer approach. To say Meyer is responsible for any damage is an insult to him. It looks like the corps is trying to wash its hands of the situation, but its not that easy. After a federal judge last month rejected the tribes request for an injunction of the project, the president intervened.The U.S. Department of the Interior, Department of the Army and Department of Justice issued a joint statement saying the Army wouldnt allow construction near or under the Missouri River until further review is completed. This action added to the involvement of the corps in the dispute.

Its been almost a month since the departments intervened and the review hasnt been completed. There have been reports of Morton County farmers and ranchers being harassed and some say they have started carrying weapons in their vehicles. This is a powder keg atmosphere that should worry everyone. The corps can do more to defuse the situation. It can complete its review and tell Dakota Access whether it can resume work. Then its up to the courts to rule on a lawsuit filed by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe against the corps and the tribes appeal of the federal judges decision. The court rulings will no doubt take time.

Until then, ways need to be found to ease tensions in the area. The corps should complete work on the camp permit and clarify the status of the other camp. If no permit will be issued to the camp the corps must explain what penalties the campers may face. The protesters, who say they have no issues with local residents, need to do everything possible to avoid conflicts.

Law enforcement has shown restraint while working to avoid injuries and so far no one has been seriously hurt.

While the federal government decided to intervene it hasnt provided any answers. It has stopped some work without any indication of when it can resume. It has refused to provide assistance to law enforcement, with Morton County getting help from other North Dakota departments and other states offering assistance. And the corps has tried to avoid responsibility. The state is left looking at an estimated $6 million in law enforcement costs.

Its time for the federal government and corps to end the limbo it has placed Dakota Access, Morton County, the state and the protesters in. The courts also will have a say, but the federal government needs to act.
A Palestinian who was due to begin a prison term in Israel next week went on a shooting spree today, killing a pedestrian and a police officer in Jerusalem before being shot dead by police, medical and law enforcement officials said.The incident, near Israel's national police headquarters, began when shots were fired from a vehicle at people waiting at a tram stop, a police spokeswoman said.The assailant, who the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas said was a member of its organization, then drove off and was shot dead in an exchange of fire with police, she said.Medical officials said six people were wounded in the attack, and that two of them, a woman and a police officer, died in hospital. Police identified the assailant as a 39-year-old Palestinian from East Jerusalem.A spokeswoman for the Israel Prisons Service said the attacker had been ordered by a court to start a four-month jail sentence next week after being convicted of assaulting a police officer.In the past year, Palestinians, many acting alone and often with rudimentary weapons, have killed at least 35 Israelis and two visiting Americans in attacks.During that period, at least 220 Palestinians have died in violent incidents in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Of those, 149 were identified by authorities as assailants while others were killed during clashes and protests.Israel says anti-Israeli incitement by Palestinian officials and on social media networks is stoking attacks.Palestinian leaders say assailants are acting out of desperation over the collapse in 2014 of peace talks and the expansion of Israeli settlements on occupied land that Palestinians seek for an independent state. REUTERS PS BL1804 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-971572.Xml
An air strike on a funeral wake, widely blamed on Saudi-led warplanes, poses more trouble for a Western-backed Arab campaign against Yemen's Houthis that has long been criticised for civilian losses.The White House announced an immediate review of Washington's support for the 18-month-old military push after planes hit mourners at a community hall in the capital Sanaa yesterday, killing 140 people according to one UN estimate and 82 according to the Houthis.The statement from Riyadh's main ally, noting for the second time in as many months that US support was not "a blank check", sets up an awkward test of a Saudi-US partnership already strained by differences over wars in other Arab lands.The reproach also indirectly hands a propaganda win to Riyadh's arch rival Tehran, a Houthi ally that has long seen the Sunni kingdom as a corrupt and domineering influence on its impoverished southern neighbour, diplomats say.Sources in the Saudi-led coalition denied any role in the attack, but Riyadh later promised an investigation of the "regrettable and painful" incident, with US expert advice. The move was apparently aimed at heading off further criticism of a military campaign already under fire for causing hundreds of civilian deaths in apparently indiscriminate attacks.PRESSURE"There will be pressure on the campaign," said Mustafa Alani, a security analyst close to Saudi Arabia's interior ministry. While the coalition followed very careful rules and understood human rights concerns, "there will now be pressure to end the whole operation, or to restrict the operation".An estimated 10,000 people have been killed in the war and the United Nations blames coalition strikes for 60 percent of some 3,800 civilian deaths since they began in March 2015.The outcry over civilian casualties has led some lawmakers in the United States and Britain as well as rights activists to push for curbs on arms sales to Riyadh, so far without success.The coalition denies deliberately targetting civilians and says it goes to great lengths to ensure its raids are precisely targeted, with explosive loads calibrated to limit the risk of causing damage beyond the immediate target area.The coalition accuses the Houthis, who seized much of the north in a series of military advances since 2014, of placing military targets in civilian areas. The Houthis deny this.Fury in Sanaa at yesterday's raid was echoed internationally.A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said any deliberate attack against civilians was utterly unacceptable.Ban called for "a prompt and impartial investigation of this incident. Those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice", the spokesman said.UN emergency relief coordinator Stephen O'Brien described the attack as obscene and heinous.There was dismay, too, in the ranks of the internationally recognised Yemeni government that the coalition is defending."DIRTY WAR""It's shocking to see that a target like this was hit," said a senior official in the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. "It's the latest in a series of attacks by all sides on civilian targets like homes and public gatherings that are turning this into a dirty war.""If anything positive can come from this, it would be increasing the will for a ceasefire that is needed. But incidents like these before have just fuelled a desire for revenge."Yemen's powerful ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, a key Houthi ally, called today for an escalation of attacks against Saudi Arabia, demanding "battle readiness at the fronts on the (Saudi) border".Saleh's remarks reflect the heightened political climate in Sanaa, but it was not clear what concrete effect they might have. Houthi forces regularly fire rockets across the frontier, occasionally killing or wounding Saudi civilians, and bands of Houthi fighters stage border incursions almost daily.The funeral wake was for the father of the interior minister of northern Yemen's Houthi-run administration, Jalal al-Roweishan, who had died of natural causes on Friday. Yemenis say the Roweishan family is widely respected and has good ties with many groups and tribes across Yemen's political spectrum.Mokhtar al-Rahabi, a spokesman for Hadi, condemned the attack on his official Facebook page yesterday."Bombing a mourning hall in which there were dozens of civilians is not acceptable, even if leaders of the (Houthi) putschists were present. Our war is a war of morals."A statement issued by the alliance after yesterday's raid reiterated that its forces "have clear instructions not to target populated areas and to avoid civilians".But the eventual prospect of a more limited military campaign -- perhaps through tighter targetting parameters for air operations - and a possible reduction in Western support could deliver a blow to Riyadh's efforts to confront perceived Iranian expansionism in its southern neighbour.The Houthis and powerful local allies hold most of Yemen's northern half, while forces working for the exiled government share control of the rest of the country with local tribes.COMPENSATIONPeace talks have made little headway. The Saudi-backed government of President Hadi insists on compliance with UN Security Council resolution 2216, which calls on the Houthis to withdraw from cities seized since 2014.Riyadh has long accused Hezbollah's ally Iran of backing the Houthis and seeking to transform the group into a replica of the Lebanese militia to use as a proxy against Saudi Arabia.While Washington has long expressed understanding for Saudi concerns about Iranian activism in Arab lands, the US military has distanced itself from the coalition's targeting decisions.In June the US military withdrew personnel from Saudi Arabia who were coordinating with the Saudi-led air campaign, and sharply reduced the number of staff elsewhere who were assisting in that planning.US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the lower staffing was not due to concern over civilian casualties. But the Pentagon also said that in its discussions with the coalition, it pressed the need to minimize civilian casualties.Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a United Arab Emirates (UAE) political scientist, said that if the coalition was found to be responsible for the killings, that should be acknowledged openly and compensation arranged.He said no country wanted an end to the war more than Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other coalition members, while adding that it was up to the Houthis to respect resolution 2216."I think everyone realises this war has gone on way beyond what was originally expected. But the ball is in the Houthis court," he said.REUTERS SDR NS1900 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-971680.Xml
Ten Turkish soldiers and eight civilians were killed today when suspected Kurdish militants detonated a five-tonne truck bomb that ripped through a checkpoint near a military outpost in the country's southeast, the prime minister said.Another 27 people, including 11 soldiers, were wounded in the blast which hit the Durak gendarmerie station, 20 km (12 miles) from the town of Semdinli, in one of the most deadly attacks in the region of recent times.The mountainous Hakkari province, where the attack occurred, lies near the border with Iraq and Iran and is one of the main flashpoint areas in a conflict that has pitted Turkey's army against the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) for 32 years.The attack occurred around 9:45 am (0015 IST) when a small truck approached the vehicle checkpoint and ignored an order to stop, prompting gendarmerie troops to open fire, the Hakkari governor's office said.A bomb in the vehicle was detonated, which Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told reporters contained some five tonnes of explosives.President Tayyip Erdogan vowed to put an end to PKK attacks as he condemned the bombing, accusing the group of acting on behalf of "dark forces that had designs in Syria and Iraq"."Hand in hand with our people, our state with all its institutions is determined to make the separatist terror organisation incapable of carrying out attacks," his written statement said.The army has "neutralised" 387 PKK fighters in Hakkari alone since Aug 4, state-run Anadolu Agency cited military sources as saying.The governor's office said extensive air-backed operations were being conducted by commando units in the area to capture PKK militants, who were believed to have opened fire in the run-up to the attack to distract soldiers at the checkpoint.Military helicopters flew the wounded to hospitals in the region following the blast, the governor's office said, as soldiers looked on and locals wandered amid mangled wreckage and debris, video footage on CNN Turk showed.Authorities were on high alert for possible attacks today, 18 years to the day since PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan fled Syria before being captured by Turkish special forces in February the following year.He has since been in prison on an island near Istanbul.Erdogan often criticises what he sees as inadequate Western support in the fight against the PKK, and Energy Minister Berat Albayrak called today on its allies to show solidarity."This fire of terror continues to burn our country, the whole region and world each day that passes. We have to show more sincerity than ever in this process," Albayrak said in a speech at an energy conference in Istanbul.SURGE IN VIOLENCEViolence has flared in the mainly Kurdish southeast and elsewhere in Turkey in recent days.Yesterday, a man and a woman who authorities suspect were PKK militants preparing a car bomb attack detonated explosives and killed themselves near the capital Ankara in a stand-off with police.In the southeast, 12 people were killed yesterday, including eight PKK fighters. Four civilians were killed by gunfire from an armoured police vehicle in the town of Yuksekova near the Iranian border.On Thursday, a bomb attack near a police station in Istanbul wounded 10 people. The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), a PKK offshoot, claimed responsibility for that blast.The PKK, which launched its separatist insurgency in 1984, is designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.A two-year ceasefire between the group and Turkish authorities collapsed in July last year and the violence subsequently rose to levels not seen since the height of the conflict in the 1990s.The surge in violence coincides with a Turkish military operation in northern Syria in support of rebels and designed to drive away from the border Islamic State militants and a Syrian Kurdish militia closely linked to the PKK.President Erdogan chaired a security summit with the head of the armed forces and ministers in Istanbul yesterday, but details of the meeting have not been disclosed.REUTERS SDR NS2050 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-971859.Xml
Latvian photojournalist Janis Laizans (R) introduces his photos to Chinese Ambassador to Latvia Huang Yong (C) during his photo exhibition featuring pictures taken in Tibet, in Riga, Latvia, Oct. 7, 2016. The exhibition, named "Seven Days in Tibet", has a collection of 30 pictures shot by Laizans during his trip to China's Tibet Autonomous Region in the summer. (Xinhua/Guo Qun)

RIGA, Oct.8 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition featuring pictures taken by Latvian photojournalist Janis Laizans in Tibet has been unveiled here Friday.

The exhibition, named "Seven Days in Tibet", has a collection of 30 pictures shot by Laizans during his trip to China's Tibet Autonomous Region in the summer.

A group of Latvian journalists, who had the opportunity to visit Tibet in June, traveled to Tibet's main Buddhist shrines in the capital city Lhasa, as well as Tibet's rural regions.

The photographs displayed at the exhibition show Tibet's impressive landscapes, local residents of the mountainous region, school children and pilgrims.

The photo exhibition will last until Oct. 16.
BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government on Saturday decided to streamline administrative approval, delegate more power to lower government levels and loosen rules on foreign investment in an attempt to revive the economy.

Premier Li Keqiang called for efforts to cut red tape and simplify procedures for new investment projects, according to a statement issued after an executive meeting of the State Council.

Provincial governments will approve investment projects related to container terminals, vehicle engines, urban transit systems and inland water transportation, according to the new regulations.

The China Railway Corporation will be allowed to make decisions regarding railways, bridges and tunnels, the statement said.

More private investment will be encouraged in various sectors, including medical care, education, culture and sports.

China will prohibit new projects related to industries struggling with overcapacity, such as steel, coal and electrolytic aluminum sectors.

In principle, no new gasoline-powered vehicle factories will be allowed to open.

In 2013 and 2014, the central government moved a raft of administrative approval procedures, and delegated approval power, to lower government levels.

The meeting stressed measures to improve the country's business environment. More efforts are needed to create a level playing field for both domestic and foreign companies, the statement said.

Following China's revisions to four laws regulating inbound investment last month, the meeting agreed that some administrative approvals will no longer be necessary for foreign investors setting up businesses on the Chinese mainland.

Such investors are now only required to report business plans to local regulators, as long as their business is not on a "negative list." The government estimates that this means more than 95 percent of procedures will be cut.

The practice has been proved satisfactory in pilot free trade zones in Shanghai, Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian.

Despite an economic slowdown, China remains an attractive destination for foreign companies due to the country's continued opening up as well as the improving business environment.

Foreign direct investment in the mainland during the first eight months of 2016 increased 4.5 percent year on year to 85.9 billion U.S. dollars, up from 4.3 percent in the first seven months, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Altogether 18,538 new foreign-funded enterprises were established in the country over the same period, up 10.2 percent on a year earlier.

The government will continue to improve services and supervision to expand the country's opening up, the statement said.

In addition, the meeting pledged efforts to modernize agriculture, encouraging diversified business models and the mechanization and informatization of the sector. Financing support will also be increased.

China will also curb agricultural pollution by adopting strict rules on the use of fertilizers and additives, and strengthen the supervision of farm produce.

The government will work to enhance farmers'incomes and guarantee their urban housing demands, the statement said.
SANAA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 450 people were killed or injured from Saudi-led coalition air strikes on mourners in the capital Sanaa on Saturday afternoon, Houthi-controlled Saba news agency reported.

"This issued primary toll is for killed and injured together, as hospitals are still receiving more injured," Saba quoted Houthi-appointed health minister Abdulsalam al-Madani as saying.

The Yemeni health ministry has issued an appeal for citizens to donate blood for the victims.

Earlier in the day, rescuers and witnesses said a series of air strikes by Saudi-led coalition warplanes hit a mourning ceremony in Sanaa.

The mourning ceremony was held for the father of the acting interior minister and rebel Houthi loyalist Jalal al-Ruwaishan.

"We are pulling more and more charred bodies. I counted at least 160 dead bodies until now and there were more under the rubble of the funeral ceremony hall," Khaled Yosuf, one of the rescuers, told Xinhua.

He said al-Ruwaishan and the capital mayor Abdul-Kadir Hilal were feared to be dead.

Some witnesses said senior Houthi officials and their ally former President Ali Abdullah Saleh were in the hall.

Streets leading to the hall were all closed by pro-Houthi security forces. Journalists and cameramen were prevented from getting into the scene.

Houthis, backed by Saleh's loyal forces, stormed Sanaa in September 2014, fighting against what they said "Hadi's government corruption."

They seized Sanaa and many parts of the country's north, forcing Hadi and his government to flee into exile.

The Saudi-led coalition launched a military air campaign against Houthis and Saleh's forces on March 26, 2015 to restore Hadi to power and recapture the capital.

The coalition's air raids and ground battles have since killed over 10,000 Yemenis, mostly children and women, injuring around 35,000 others and displacing three million others, according to UN reports. Enditem
KIGALI, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Climate change experts have called for strong and concrete actions to save the ozone layer and protect the climate in a sustainable manner.

They made the call on Saturday during the opening technical session of the 28th Meeting of Parties to the Montreal Protocol (MOP28) in Rwanda's capital Kigali.

Rwanda hosts the high level global forum from 8th to 14th October 2016 at the Kigali Convention Centre that focuses on charting the way forward the issue of protection of the planet's ozone layer.

"All countries globally should come up with a strong commitment to protect the ozone layer and ensure that a legislation that is among the strictest actions is put in place to save Ozone layer from depleting substances," said Tina Birmpili, Executive Secretary, Ozone Secretariat, United Nations Environment Program.

She added that its high time countries implement what has been agreed under the Montreal Protocol on protecting the ozone layer and speed up the process to phase out dangerous substances faster than required.

"We should celebrate 30th anniversary of Montreal Protocol in 2017 with an agreement on phasing down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), " she said.

The meeting has attracted international leaders and ozone preservation and low carbon development experts from all over the world to discuss an amendment to the Montreal Protocol treaty.

According to Coletha Ruhamya, director general of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Rwanda supports all efforts geared towards phasing down all dangerous susbtances that depletes the ozone layer.

"Hydrofluorocarbons must be phased down. Let's all support an ambitious amendment to the Montreal Protocol by reducing the use of HFCs, the super-potent climate pollutants found in air conditioners, refrigerators, supermarket freezers, and other uses," she noted.

A successful amendment to the protocol would signal the international community's commitment to practical action to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement -- limiting global warming to below 2C, and the more ambitious target of 1.5C.

The Montreal Protocol treaty is a global agreement that protects the ozone layer by phasing out the production of substances responsible for ozone depletion and climate change.

It was first signed on September 16, 1987, and is widely considered to be one of the most-effective multilateral environment treaties ever negotiated. It's the only treaty in the United Nations system to which every country is a signatory.

According to the United Nations Environment Program, HFC emissions are growing at a rate of about 7 percent annually. If the current mix of HFCs is unchanged, increasing demand could result in HFC emissions of up to 8.8 gigatons of CO2 equivalent per year by 2050.

The 27th meeting of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol was held last year in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The UN Security Council fails to adopt rival resolutions on Syria on Oct. 8, 2016 in New York as the concil's key powers divided over how to solve the conflict in Syria's northern city of Aleppo. (Xinhua/Photo/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Saturday failed to adopt rival resolutions on Syria as the council' s key powers divided over how to solve the conflict in Syria' s northern city of Aleppo.

For a draft resolution submitted by France and Spain which demands an end to air strikes over Aleppo, Russia vetoed it.

The voting result is 11 in favor, two against and two abstentions.

A resolution drafted by Russia on Syria called upon all the parties to cease hostilities and open humanitarian access in order to enhance efforts to combat terrorism.

For the Russia drafted resolution, four council members voted "yes," nine "against," and two abstained in the vote. The Security Council also failed to adopt it due to a lack of supporting votes.

The votes took place in an emergent meeting held by the Security Council after it heard from UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura on latest developments in the war-torn Syria.

"In maximum two months, two-and-a-half months, the city of eastern Aleppo may be totally destroyed," said de Mistura.

According to UN estimates, 275,000 civilians trapped in eastern parts of the city. Among them, 100,000 are children.

China on Saturday called on the international community to keep the general direction for a political solution and push for the solution of the Syrian crisis through dialogue by all the parties in Syria.

The statement came as Liu Jieyi, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, was taking the floor at the UN Security Council after two opposing draft resolutions on Syria failed to pass the 15-nation UN body.

"On the question of Syria, the international community should keep the general direction for a political solution and push for the solution of the question of Syria through dialogue by all the parties in Syria so that the war can be ended as soon as possible," Liu said.

China abstained from the French-drafted resolution, which sought to end airstrikes on the north Syrian city of Aleppo by grounding the Russian and Syrian military planes over Aleppo, and voted in favor of the Russian draft which called for an end to hostilities in the Middle East country and ensure humanitarian access to the Syrian people in need. The two draft resolutions both failed to be approved by the Security Council.

"Actions by the Security Council should be able to truly help ease the situation in order to help push for an end to hostilities by the parties and to support and coordinate UN efforts of humanitarian assistance," he said, adding that such actions should be instrumental to the stronger efforts to combat terrorist groups as designated by the Security Council, including the Islamic State (IS), which is also known as ISIS.

"The action should be able to help in seeking a solution acceptable by all the parties and a political process owned and led by the Syrians under the auspices of the United Nations," Liu said.

The draft resolution proposed by France and Spain contains a number of important elements, such as the implementation of a ceasefire, a call for a political solution, the improvement of humanitarian situation and enhancing the efforts to combat terrorism, he noted.

"But some of the content in the draft resolution does not reflect the full respect for the sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity of Syria, and the constructive views of some council members have not been incorporated, so China has to abstain in the vote on this draft resolution," he said.

On the other hand, the Russian draft called upon all the parties to cease hostilities and open humanitarian access in order to enhance efforts to combat terrorism, to support the good office by the UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, and called for an early resumption of peace talks in Geneva.

The Russian-drafted resolution gave consideration to ceasefire, humanitarian assistance, joint efforts to combat terrorism and political negotiations, he noted. "It also reflected the full respect for the sovereignty, independence, unification and territorial integrity of Syria, with content that is comprehensive and balanced."

Therefore, "China voted in favor of the draft resolution, and we regretted that the draft resolution was not adopted," he said.

"Syria is an important country in the Middle East, the early restoration of peace and stability is in the common interest of Syria and countries in the region, and that of the international community," he said.

"China hopes that the Security Council will really take the safety of the Syrian people as the first priority and stay united and build up consensus and continue the efforts to push for a political solution of the question of Syria to jointly work to prevent the expansion and spread of terrorism, and play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in Syria and the region," he added.
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Two opposing draft resolutions: a French-Spanish version and the other by Russia, on Saturday failed to be approved by the UN Security Council in response to the current situation in Syria.

The first one, drafted by France and Spain, was vetoed by Russia, a permanent council member, while the Moscow-sponsored draft failed to gain nine votes in favor, the minimum of supporting votes required for a draft to be adopted by the 15-nation UN council, instead gaining nine votes against.

The back-to-back votes took place during an unusual Saturday emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

The French draft presented to members a few days ago called for efforts to ground Russian and Syrian military planes over the northern Syrian city of Aleppo.

The Russian draft offered Friday evening included many elements of the first draft, added support to references of a Sept. 9 Russia-U.S. accord and prioritized separation of armed opposition groups from the Al Nusra terrorist group but excluded the no-fly zone proposal.

Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia, this month's president of the Security Council, speaking in his national capacity after it was defeated, said, "We were not expecting it to be adopted. It was just a political demonstration, if you like."

"While it wasn't implement -- while we think it could have been -- I'd like to reassure you that very complicated multilateral and bilateral work is ongoing and we do continue to hope that the situation in Syria will go back to normal and this would have a most beneficial affect on the situation in eastern Aleppo and we hope that happens as quickly as possible," he said.

It was another testy session of the council, normally a model of decorum.

"Normally I begin my statements in this Council with the words 'Thank you, Mr. President.' I cannot do that today," said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, opening his remarks after the first resolution failed to be adopted.

"Because today, we have seen the fifth veto in five years on Syria from you, Mr. President, a veto that has once again stopped this Council from creating the unity needed to give the people of Syria any hope for respite from their suffering, a veto that has once again denigrated the credibility and respect of the Security Council in the eyes of the world," " Rycroft said.

"A veto that is a cynical abuse of the privileges and responsibilities of permanent membership, and I simply cannot thank you for that," the London envoy said.

"China has been concerned with the recent escalation of the situation in Syria," said Liu Jieyi, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations. "We feel deeply the sufferings caused by the war to the people in Syria. China strongly condemns all terrorist activities that harm and kill innocent lives."

China abstained from the Franco-Spanish draft and voted for the Russian version.

While his nation approved of many items in the France/Spain draft, "some of the content in the draft resolution does not reflect full respect for the sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity of Syria" and "constructive views of some council members have not been incorporated, so China has to abstain in the vote."

"As the Russian draft called on all the parties to cease hostilities and open humanitarian access to enhance efforts to combat terrorism, to support the good office of (Special Envoy Staffan) de Mistura and called for an early resumption of peace talks in Geneva," Liu said.

"The draft resolution reflected the four-track idea -- ceasefire, humanitarian assistance, joint efforts to combat terrorism and political negotiations," he said. "It also reflected the full respect for the sovereignty, independence, unification and territorial integrity of Syria, with content that is comprehensive and balanced."

"China hopes that the Security Council will really take the safety of the Syrian people as the first priority and stay united and build up consensus and to continue the efforts to push for a political solution of the question of Syria to jointly work to prevent the expansion and spread of terrorism and play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in Syria and the region," Liu said.

Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari of Syria spoke after all other speakers, and at a greater length than of any, in support of the Russian resolution, it's ally in the aerial bombardment of eastern Aleppo to flush out anti-government forces.

Noting that several western diplomats had left the chamber he said they departed "when they heard words of truth spoken," Ja'afari said. "It proves they have malicious, colonial intentions against my country and the people of Syria and that their diplomacy is a diplomacy of chaos, coercion and use of force and not a diplomacy of dialogue and resolving conflict by peaceful means."
I know the North Dakota Republican Party well. I was still in college when I was ushered in as the interim executive director of the NDGOP. After graduating, I served as campaign manager for Rep. Kevin Cramers 2012 run for Congress  then worked as his communications director on Capitol Hill for two years.

When I left my desk in Congress for business school at UCLA last year, I took a political sabbatical. But as I watch my friends and former colleagues in the state GOP continue to stand by Donald Trump, I can no longer stay on the sidelines.

Even putting aside Trumps misogyny, xenophobia, racism, birther-ism, and lack of a single policy position he hasnt reversed or lied about, his dangerous comments about nuclear weapons should be enough for anyone, including any Republican, to conclude he is entirely unfit for the presidency.

I call on North Dakota Republicans  especially my former bosses Rep. Kevin Cramer and Sen. John Hoeven  to put national security over political party by rejecting Trump.

With each passing week, Trump has provided mountain upon mountain of stunning evidence that he would pose a grave danger to the United States as president. In August, more than 50 of the countrys top Republican national security experts became so terrified of Trump that they took the unprecedented step of proclaiming, he would be a dangerous President and would put at risk our countrys national security and well-being.

They had good reason for doing this. First, in the primary debates, Trump couldnt answer a basic question about our nuclear triad. This should be alarming to Cramer and Hoeven, considering they built part of their political careers on defending North Dakotas nuclear bases; in Cramers office, we constantly issued press releases to uphold the triads importance.

Second, Trump single-handedly unravels half a century of efforts by U.S. presidents and diplomats to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons around the globe. He says Japan and South Korea should have nuclear weapons. Saudi Arabia, too. You want to be unpredictable with nuclear weapons, he says. Ever since we detonated the first nuclear bombs in the 1940s, the paramount of U.S. foreign policy has been to prevent nuclear proliferation. Either Trump is unaware of this, or he doesnt care.

For more than 25 years since 1988, Republicans in North Dakota have placed their trust in the character and judgment of individuals like George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Colin Powell, and Mitt Romney. Why should these leaders suddenly not be trusted today, when they are all sounding the alarms against Trump?

This is not an ordinary election. This is not even a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils, as many suggest. The most trusted voices in both parties have made it clear that any grievance against Hillary Clinton shrinks to insignificance when contrasted with the dangers of a Trump presidency.

In Cramers office and at the NDGOP, one of our biggest talking points was that we would provide regulatory certainty. We preached that economies suffer and markets fall when government is unpredictable. Trump is the most erratic and unpredictable major party nominee in our countrys 240-year history. On a global stage, his instability terrifies our allies. Here at home, not a single CEO in the Fortune 100 will back him  even though he wants to give each of them a large tax cut.

Regardless of ones opinions of Clinton, she is the only candidate who will provide certainty of any kind, and the only candidate rational enough to be trusted with the nuclear codes. The choice for North Dakota Republicans should be clear.
CANBERRA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- An island off the coast of West Australia (WA) is set to have some of Australia's most iconic species reintroduced into its ecosystem.

Dirk Hartog Island, WA's biggest island named after the Dutch explorer who discovered it in 1616, will be home to wallabies. bandicoots and a host of other iconic Australian species for the first time in decades following a WA government conservation initiative.

The island, which was used as private pastoral property and base for the fishing and pearling industries since 1860, was acquired by the WA Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPAW) in 2009 who set out to make it a national park.

Having spent much of the seven years since the land acquisition wiping out invasive species' on the island, mainly feral cats and goats, the project has now been granted 17 million U.S. dollars to reintroduce the native animals.

The rufous hare-wallabies and banded hare-wallabies will be the first species introduced closely followed by the chuditch, mulgara, greater stick-nest rat, desert mouse, Shark Bay mouse, health mouse, western barred bandicoot, woylie, dibbler and boodie.

Albert Jacob, WA's Environment Minister, described the project as Australia's most ambitious animal reconstruction effort.

"The long-term goal is to return the Dirk Hartog ecosystem back to the ecosystem that Dirk Hartog himself would have found when he first hit the Australian mainland, 400 years ago this month," Jacob told the ABC on Sunday.

Jacob said that aerial culling, baiting and trapping was used to eradicate 7,500 goats and feral cats.

"The main reason that we have lost the species has been the feral cats, and we've been progressively removing all of the feral cats from the island. I think that is the single largest area of Australia that will be cat-free when we have succeeded," he said.

Jacob said he hopes the project will bring greater tourism to the Shark Bay region, approximately 900 km north of Perth.
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen flew to Thailand for the 2nd Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit to be held on Sunday and Monday in Bangkok, a senior official said.

"The summit will focus on six priorities: interrelation of food, energy and water security; connectivity; science, technology and innovation; education and human resource development; culture and tourism; and promoting approaches to inclusive and sustainable development," Sry Thamarong, minister attached to the prime minister, told reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport.

He said leaders of 34 Asian member states will take part in the summit and adopt an "ACD Vision for Asia Cooperation 2030," which reflects shared aspirations and visions for pan-Asian cooperation and contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The ACD was inaugurated in June 2002 in Thailand as an Asian continent-wide forum, with the aims to build an Asian Community based on he strength, diversity, rich resources and competitiveness of each Asian country.
GUANAJUATO, MEXICO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Mexico should continue diversifying its market and look towards China and other countries in order to reduce its trade reliance on the United States, said Mexico's former President Vicente Fox.

During an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Friday, the politician from the National Action Party said this would allow trade relations to transform and improve and "reduce the dependency we have on the United States."

"We have to diversify so that we won't depend on just one basket or one country," said the former president in his San Cristobal ranch in the central state of Guanajuato where he joined a forum titled Culture, Information Technology, Energy and Knowledge.

Fox noted that despite the fact that Mexico is one of the countries with the highest number of free trade agreements, the United States is still its main partner, and Mexico is sending almost 80 percent of exports to its northern neighbor. He said China and Mexico could strengthen their trade for mutual benefits.

Fox said that in terms of technology, China "has moved at a great speed in production capacity and also with efficiency." He noted that a market "of over a billion inhabitants ... is a super market for Mexico."

Since 2013, Mexico and China have put in place mechanisms to promote bilateral and permanent dialogue on key economic issues, including a high-level bilateral work group that meets annually to oversee trade promotion, and cooperation in industry and mining. A similar group focuses exclusively on investment.

On the sidelines of the recent Group of G20 summit held in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, the presidents of Mexico and China, Enrique Pena Nieto and Xi Jinping agreed to expand their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Mexico is ready to cooperate with China in investment, finance, tourism and special economic zones, and intensify communication and coordination with China in international affairs, Pena Nieto said.

Last month also witnessed Mexico's first ever shipment of pork to China.

To Mexican Agriculture Minister Jose Calzada Rovirosa, exporting meat to China reflects Mexico's progress in this sector.

Throughout history, "it is the first time Mexico shipped pork to China," he said, describing the day the shipment went out as "special."

Mexico also exports avocado, berries, tequila, and other products to China, but opening up China's market to Mexican pork is expected to boost trade significantly, according to the minister.

Fox said that South America and India should also be in Mexico's sight without neglecting the United States and Canada. He thinks the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) should continue benefiting Mexico and its partners.
ZHENGZHOU, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Bai Enpei, a former senior lawmaker with the National People's Congress, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on Sunday for taking "a huge amount of bribes" and holding excessive assets with unidentified sources.

Bai, who had also served as head of the provincial committees of the Communist Party of China in Qinghai and Yunnan, respectively, was deprived of political rights for life and had all his personal property confiscated, said a statement of the Anyang City Intermediate People's Court in Henan Province.
Photo taken on Oct. 8, 2016 shows the water area where an accident happened in San Francisco, the United States. A boat carrying dozens of kids capsized in San Francisco Saturday afternoon, but all passengers were accounted for with one being in critical condition. (Xinhua/Liu Yilin)

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- A boat carrying dozens of kids capsized in San Francisco Saturday afternoon, but all passengers were accounted for with one being in critical condition.

A San Francisco Fire Department spokesperson initially posted a message on social network Twitter, saying about 30 juveniles were aboard the boat and some were trapped under the hull.

U.S. Coast Guard rescue crew, including divers, were dispatched to the scene off the historic Pier 45, one of the tourism destinations along the city's waterfront, in the heart of the Fisherman's Wharf neighborhood.

An unconfirmed report from NBC Bay Area TV said a five-year-old boy was pulled out of water unconscious and was resuscitated before being sent to a hospital in the city in northern California on the U.S. west coast. Another passenger was also listed in critical condition.

There was an Air Show on Saturday in the skies above the waterfront,featuring U.S. Navy Blue Angels, a flight demonstration squadron, and Air Force's F-22 Raptor.

The event, part of the annual Fleet Week activities, usually attracts 1 million people around the San Francisco Bay Area.
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Two U.S. police officers were shot and killed and one was injured Saturday afternoon in Palm Springs, southern California. The suspect has not been captured yet.

"Today Palm Springs lost two brave officers. They go out every day and put their boots on the ground for everybody in this community," Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes said at a news conference.

The officers were responding to a report of a family disturbance at about 12:18 p.m. local time (1918 GMT), and were at the door of a house when the shooting began, according to Reyes.

Dozens of law enforcement personnel from multiple agencies responded to the scene and local police are dealing with an "active shooter," according to the City News Service.

The injured officer was hospitalized in unknown condition. Palm Springs, a city of more than 46,000 residents, is about 170 km east of Los Angeles.

This is the latest case of multiple police officers being shot in the United States.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United States said it is prepared to adjust its support to Saudi-led coalition following reported airstrikes on a funeral hall in Yemen that have killed 82 people, the White House said.

"We are deeply disturbed by reports of today's airstrike on a funeral hall in Yemen, which, if confirmed, would continue the troubling series of attacks striking Yemeni civilians," Ned Price, spokesperson for White House's National Security Council, said in a statement.

"U.S. security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check," Price said. "Even as we assist Saudi Arabia regarding the defense of their territorial integrity, we have and will continue to express our serious concerns about the conflict in Yemen and how it has been waged."

Yemen's acting Health Minister Ghazi Ismail said the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes on a funeral hall in Yemen's capital Sanaa on Saturday, killing 82 and injured 534. The coalition has denied such accusations.

"In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led coalition and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with U.S. principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemen's tragic conflict," Price said.

The United States called on the Saudi-led coalition, the Yemeni government, the Houthis and allied forces of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh to commit publicly to an immediate ceasefire and implement it, said the spokesperson.

The Saudi-led coalition, which supports the internationally recognized Yemeni government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi against Shiite Houthi rebels, have been air striking Yemen from March 2015.

Houthi rebels, supported by forces loyal to Saleh, seized Sanaa and some other cities in September 2014, forcing Hadi and his government into exile.
PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were killed when an Afghan army helicopter crashed in the country's northern province of Baghlan on Sunday, the provincial governor said.

"The army helicopter crashed in Qarghan Tapa, a mountainous area on northwestern outskirts of provincial capital Pul-e-Khumir roughly at 6:00 a.m. local time (0130 GMT)," Governor Abdul Satar Bariz told Xinhua.

"Military authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident and details will be released afterwards," he added.

The Taliban militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Mi-17 helicopter, which was delivering supplies to an army camp, was shot down by a militants' rocket propelled grenade, an army source told Xinhua anonymously, adding that three soldiers and five crew members died in the crash.

"It is an unfortunate incident and all the eight people aboard the chopper lost their lives," he said.

The Baghlan province and neighboring Kunduz and Takhar provinces have been the scene of heavy clashes over the past couple of months as Taliban has been trying to challenge the government forces in the once relatively peaceful region.

The Taliban have been on the rampage since April when they launched their so-called annual rebel offensive in different places in Afghanistan, including the capital of Kabul, killing and injuring hundreds.

In January three Afghan army personnel were killed and one person was injured in a helicopter crash in the eastern Afghan province of Logar.
BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- China's state-owned mail service operator has outperformed its global counterparts in profits for two years in a row, it told Xinhua Sunday.

The China Post Group Corporation raked in over 32 billion yuan (4.8 billion U.S. dollars) in profits in 2015 with a year-on-year increase of 12.6 percent.

Its revenues gained 8.1 percent to reach 437.6 billion yuan, second in the world.

The data were released as the group celebrates the 47th World Post Day, which was established to mark the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union's creation in 1874 and highlight the role of postal services.

China is home to the world's fastest growing postal market, with postal and delivery services leading the growth in the service sector, said Ma Junsheng, head of the State Post Bureau, in a speech commemorating the event.

China has achieved solid progress in re-balancing its economic structure from manufacturing and investment to services and consumption, with the service sector growing 7.5 percent in the first half of the year, accounting for 54.1 percent of the overall economy.

Authorities will guide local express couriers in their efforts to merge and restructure to create global powerhouses, Ma said.
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Up to 86 armed insurgents have been killed in clash with government forces in the besieged southern Helmand province over the past 48 hours, said a statement of provincial government released on Sunday.

According to the statement, 11 more militants have been injured and two others made captive.

Without giving information of possible casualties of security forces, the statement said clash has been continuing between security forces and militants in different parts of the embattled Helmand province.

Taliban militants who are in control of some districts and have been fighting to overrun Lashkar Gah the capital of the poppy growing Helmand province, are yet to make comment on the situation.
The North Dakota Way is North Dakota voters objecting to out-of-state big spenders, such as big tobacco, as they seek to line their own businesss bottom-line at the expense of our state and the 20,000 youth they seek to addict as their new crew of consumers. These outsiders have created a business model that recognizes their customers are dying off daily and seeks to addict new smokers, no matter how young they are.

A $3 million campaign to confuse voters and shut down good solid health policy is not the North Dakota way. I hope voters continue to send the message that out-of-state special interests with big bankrolls cant buy our state.

As a longtime North Dakota volunteer with the American Heart Association, Ive been part of many requests for legislative action  from the 35-cent proposed by then-Gov. John Hoeven to local district meetings with my legislators and during the 2015 session when two bills seeking to increase the tax were introduced. The issue and the language is not new, the good that can be achieved is well stated.

Support Measure 4 with your yes vote. Stand up to big tobacco for our youth and our state.
ZHENGZHOU, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Bai Enpei, a former senior lawmaker with the National People's Congress, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on Sunday for taking "a huge amount of bribes" and holding excessive assets from unidentified sources.

Bai, who has also served as head of the provincial committees of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Qinghai and Yunnan, was deprived of political rights for life and had all his personal property confiscated, according to a statement of the Anyang City Intermediate People's Court in Henan Province.

After the two-year reprieve, Bai's death penalty will be commuted to life imprisonment, and no further commutation or parole will be permitted, according to the statement.

Between 2000 and 2013, Bai took advantage of his positions and power to wrongfully benefit others in areas including real estate development, mining rights acquisition and promotions, the statement said.

He illegally accepted, personally or through his wife, nearly 250 million yuan (37.5 million U.S. dollars) worth of money and goods.

Moreover, his property and expenditures significantly exceeded his legal income and their sources cannot be explained.
NEW YORK, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-nine people were injured when a commuter train running on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) in New York State derailed in New Hyde Park Saturday night, according to the latest statement by local official.

The accident occurred at approximately 9:10 p.m. (0110 GMT Sunday) about one half mile (about 800 meters) east of the New Hyde Park Station of the LIRR.

"The good news here is no fatalities," said Ed Mangano, Executive of Nassau County, where the incident happened.

It is estimated that there were about 600 passengers onboard when the first three of the train's 12 cars derailed. The county executive said the train was traveling eastbound when it collided with a work train. The cause of the incident is still under investigation.

"The Office of Emergency Management for Nassau County have asked the Village of New Hyde Park to open our hall, so they can bring people by bus to this location," said Bob Lofaro, mayor of the Village of New Hyde Park, "families can pick them up, or they can find other transportations from here."

"But fortunately, it didn't seem to be that serious," the mayor told Xinhua that nobody actually came to the location over three hours after the incident.

"Most people just picked up the next train," he said.

Launched in 1834, the LIRR is a commuter rail system stretching from New York City to the eastern tip of Suffolk County on Long Island. With an average weekday ridership of nearly 340,000 passengers in 2014, it is believed to be the busiest commuter railroad in North America.

The Saturday derailment came on the heels of another major train accident on Sept. 29, when a New Jersey Transit commuter train crashed into the Hoboken Terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey. One person died and 114 others were injured in that incident.
Photo taken on Oct. 8, 2016 shows the water area where an accident happened in San Francisco, the United States. A boat carrying dozens of kids capsized in San Francisco Saturday afternoon, but all passengers were accounted for with one being in critical condition. (Xinhua/Liu Yilin)

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- A boat with dozens of kids capsized in San Francisco on Saturday afternoon, but all passengers were accounted for.

A San Francisco Fire Department spokesperson initially posted a message on social network Twitter that about 30 juveniles were aboard the boat and some were trapped under the hull.

A U.S. Coast Guard rescue crew, including divers, was dispatched to the scene off the historic Pier 45, one of tourism destinations along the city's waterfront, in the heart of the Fisherman's Wharf neighborhood.

However, confirming that 27 adults and three children were involved, a police spokesman said a five-year-old boy was pulled out water unconscious and was resuscitated before being sent to a hospital in the city in northern California on the U.S. west coast.

An additional five adults and two children were hospitalized with varying degrees of injury.

An ongoing investigation is led by the police on what caused the incident while the boat, reportedly a recreational sailboat named "Khalessi," is submerged.

Fire department spokesman Bob Postel acknowledged that it could be catastrophic without help by bystanders on private boats and coordinated efforts by several public safety agencies that sent vessels to rescue those in cold water.

There was an Air Show on Saturday in the skies above the waterfront, where U.S. Navy Blue Angels, a flight demonstration squadron, and Air Force's F-22 Raptor were featured. The event, part of the annual Fleet Week activities, usually attract 1 million people around the San Francisco Bay Area.
ANKARA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A Police station was attacked by a bomb laden vehicle in Turkey's southeastern Hakkari province on Sunday, Dogan News Agency reported.
TBILISI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Early results of the Georgian parliamentary election show that the ruling Dream party in lead with 50.5 percent of votes, according to data released from the Central Election Commission (CEC) Sunday morning.

While the opposition United National Movement party, which is contesting official results, has got 26.6 percent of votes. The results were based on vote tally protocols from 2,014 out of 3,702 precincts.

An election bloc, led by Alliance of Patriots, has 4.77 percent of votes, falling slightly short of the 5 percent threshold required for a party to win seats in the 150-member parliament under the proportional,party-list system.

Other 23 parties and election blocs, which were running in the elections, have all failed in getting 4 percent of votes.

If these early results stand, the top two parties will share the 77 seats proportionally to their votes as no other party is clearing the 5 percent threshold.

The remaining 73 seats in the parliament are contested in 73 single-mandate constituencies. Early results of these races for majoritarian MP seats are not yet available.

Political parties and observers expect second round runoffs in many of the single-mandate constituencies.
BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Yang Dongliang, former head of the State Administration of Work Safety, has been charged with corruption, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP).

The Second Branch of the Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate filed the lawsuit against Yang to Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court after Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate, designated by the SPP, finished its investigation and transferred the case.
ANKARA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A Police station was attacked by a bomb laden vehicle from Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) militants in Turkey's southeastern Hakkari province on Sunday, Dogan News Agency reported.

A PKK bomb laden vehicle attacked a police station in the Semdinli district of Hakkari province on Sunday, it said.

The explosion occurred during an ID check in front of the police station, according to the Dogan.

Ambulances were dispatched to the police station, 20 km from the district center of Semdinli.

Semdinli is a mountainous area near the border with Iraq and Iran, where PKK militants are active, Turkish Daily Sabah added.
A man walks past the explosion site in Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 9, 2016. At least two people were killed and seven others injured on Sunday in a suicide bomb attack targeting Shiite pilgrims in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, a police source said. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

BAGHDAD, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and seven others injured on Sunday in a suicide bomb attack targeting Shiite pilgrims in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, a police source said.

The attack occurred in the morning when a suicide bomber wearing explosive vest blew himself up at a procession of Shiite pilgrims who gathered to observe the Shiite major ritual of Ashura, of which the climax day is Wednesday, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The Muslims around the world honor the holy month of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar.

However, the Shiite Muslims make their own communal rituals during the month, including commemorating Ashura, or the 10th day of Muharram, which marks the death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was killed and buried in Karbala, 100 km southwest of Baghdad, in 680 AD.

The toll could rise as many were evacuated to the city hospitals and medical enters, the source said.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State (IS) militant group, in most cases, is responsible for such suicide attacks against Shiite pilgrims who perform communal rituals in Iraq, in an attempt to provoke sectarian strife in the violence-shattered country.

Terrorist acts, violence and armed conflicts killed 1,003 Iraqis and wounded 1,159 others in September across Iraq, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq said earlier.

Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence, and the emergence of extremist groups, such as the IS, on the United States that invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003.
BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Sunday dismissed concerns over obstacles for overseas enterprises intending to acquire Chinese firms, saying the government is impartial in its antitrust scrutiny.

China applies the same standards to all market entities in anti-monopoly reviews, regardless of their form, scale and origin, MOC spokesperson Shen Danyang told a regular news conference.

He made the comments in response to a recent report in Japanese media that called for measures to prevent unfair treatment of overseas firms in China's antitrust scrutiny.

China has lowered market thresholds and streamlined administrative approvals to improve the business environment for foreign investors.

The State Council agreed on Saturday that many administrative approvals will no longer be necessary for foreign firms setting up on the Chinese mainland, cutting roughly 95 percent of procedures.

Such investors are only required to report business plans to local regulators, as long as their business is not on a "negative list," the State Council said.

Foreign direct investment into the Chinese mainland rose 5.7 percent year on year to hit 57.3 billion yuan (8.8 billion U.S. dollars) in August, compared with a 1.6-percent drop in July, data from the MOC showed.
Residents prepare to cast their votes at a polling station in Vilnius, Lithuania, Oct. 9, 2016. Lithuania holds its parliamentary elections on Sunday with active voting and hopes of the leading parties to receive more than one fourth of the seats in the parliament. (Xinhua/Alfredas Pliadis)

VILNIUS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The first round of the Lithuanian parliamentary elections kicked off here on Sunday, for the election of 141 members of the Baltic country's parliament for a four-year term.

According to Lithuania's Central Electoral Commission (CEC), 1,415 candidates from 12 parties and two electoral coalitions attended the elections of Seimas, the unicameral parliament of Lithuania.

Public opinion polls showed the most popular parties are the Social Democrats, the Lithuanian Peasant and Green's Union (LPGU) and the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats.

Together with the Labour Party and Order and Justice, the Social Democrats party is among the current ruling coalition.

During the early voting on Wednesday, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite told media that she had voted for "change which would lead to the stable growth of welfare," urging people to vote actively and cast their votes responsibly.

According to the CEC, some 87,280 voters, or 3.5 percent of Lithuania's eligible voters, cast their bollots during the two days of the early voting, in comparison with 63,262 voters or 2.47 percent of the total number of voters the in the early voting in 2012.

"Judged from experience, higher activity during early voting usually means relatively higher activity on the main voting day," Zenonas Vaigauskas, head of the CEC, told media.

A total of 71 members of the 141-seat Seimas will be elected in single-seat constituencies, and other 70 MPs are to be elected by proportional representation in a single nationwide multi-seat constituency. A party needs to win at least 5 percent of the votes to enter the Seimas. For electoral coalitions, the threshold is 7 percent.

The first round of the voting will decide how elected parties share the 70 seats, while the second round to be held on Oct. 23 will finally show the results in the 71 single-seat constituencies.
For most of his childhood, Chase Anderson believed his father had abandoned him as a toddler.

"He didn't care and took off," Chase thought. His parents were divorced, and he didnt know his dads family.

But at 16, he contacted his dads brother, whom he'd never met. What he learned came as a shock: His father, Bob Anderson, had disappeared with girlfriend Kristin Diede near Wishek in 1993. They're believed to be homicide victims.

Bob and Kristin, formerly Valerie Goebel, were about 30 years old when they went missing. Each had two kids from previous relationships. Family members said Bob was an auto mechanic who liked rock music. Kristin was described as a simple and kind woman who loved her children.

They traveled to the small town in south-central North Dakota, where Kristin and ex-husband Clyde Diede grew up, so that Kristin's kids could see relatives. While there, they met with a state trooper about a custody issue.

Then, on Aug. 15, 1993, they vanished. Their bodies were never found, though the van they were driving was located days later in Aberdeen, S.D.

Newly emboldened by last months recovery of the remains of Jacob Wetterling, a Minnesota boy who was missing for nearly 27 years, Chase and his family have revived efforts to solve the mystery. With the help of a curious stranger, they set a $5,000 reward for anyone who can find the couples remains.

In so doing, they've become part of a national trend of renewed interest in cold cases following the Wetterling discovery.

"I've got to imagine there's at least a few people out there still that have the knowledge, the answers," said Chase, now 26 and living in Wisconsin. "Hopefully, enough time has passed that people are willing to talk or come clean."

Ongoing investigation

Investigators are hesitant to discuss details, as they still consider this an active case. But the probe into the couple's disappearance began in Minnesota, where they were living at the time. It was later transferred to Logan County in North Dakota, where they went missing.

Authorities say they continue to follow leads as they come in. Family members have their suspicions and theories, but no one has ever been arrested.

"A lot of people were questioned," said Logan County Sheriff Andrew Bartholomaus, who is jointly responsible for the case with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations. "But there was never enough evidence to charge anybody."

The case was transferred to Bartholomaus after the previous sheriff retired. He says he remains committed to solving it. He's hoping for tips from the public.

The file never left his desk, and its never left mine, he said.

Runaway or dead

At first, family and friends believed the couple had run off. But the commitment they both had to their kids convinced them otherwise.

Susan Neis, a domestic violence advocate in Bloomington, Minn., helped Kristin after her estranged husband Diede was convicted of assaulting her there, according to court records.

Kristin wasnt particularly sophisticated, but she was a good mother to those kids, said Neis, who added that Kristin had paid her bills before she left town, which would be unlikely had she run.

Likewise, Bob's brother, Dean Anderson, thought at first that he had run, because he could be somewhat depressed and was often broke.

"We didnt want to believe anything couldve happened to him," he said.

But as time wore on, Dean came to believe his brother was dead.

Cold cases

Bob and Kristin are among 15 cold cases  crimes that remain unsolved years later  listed by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

There is no formula for what counts as a cold case, but five years since the crime was committed is about the line, according to Arnie Rummel, supervisory special agent for BCI in the eastern half of the state.

Once a case goes cold, he'll ask different investigators to review the file and try applying new evidence techniques. This case has been reviewed by at least five agents in the past 10 years, Rummel said. In this disappearance, they're looking for fresh leads  and bodies.

BCI last solved a cold case in 2006, Rummel said. Agents determined that Kathryn Bonderson, whose 1987 death was first deemed a traffic fatality, had in fact been murdered by her husband. At the time, there was a team of investigators dedicated to cold cases, but Rummel said it has since dissolved, because having a variety of investigators look at the case was equally effective.

Being a rural state "plays both ways" when solving this kind of case, Rummel said. Murders can happen in the middle of nowhere with no witnesses. But people in remote areas also tend to notice things just slightly out of the ordinary.

Rummel said both families have cooperated with the investigation.

23-year-old mystery

Bob's family members are keen to talk about the mystery, as the disappearance continues to weigh heavily on them.

Dean said he thinks about the case all the time  as did his parents, who died recently.

They passed away not ever knowing what happened to their son, he said.

"Its very, very hard," said Bob's sister, Diane Kangas. "You never think its going to happen to your own family."

But in Kristin's family, the story is more often repressed.

Asked about the last time he saw her, ex-husband Diede said he could not recall.

"It was a long time ago, he said. "I don't remember the time period you're talking about."

Kristin's niece, Connie Solberg, said she was often shut down as a young adult when she tried to ask questions about the disappearance.

"My cousins and I, its like we want to talk about it, but it gets shut down, like nobody talks about it, she said.

Her sister, Sandra Goebel, didn't want to dwell too much on it, though she said she'd like to have the mystery solved.

Its been difficult, but everybodys gotta move on and live their life, she said.

Since Wetterling

National advocates for missing and unidentified people say the Wetterling case has inspired many people to renew their search for loved ones. The 11-year-old Minnesota boy disappeared nearly 27 years ago, and his case inspired advocacy of child safety and sex-offender registries. His killer led investigators to his remains last month, after prosecutors reached a plea deal with him on child pornography charges.

J. Todd Matthews, director of case management and communications for the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, said he's seen an uptick in calls, emails and social media posts since Wetterling's remains were found last month. More people, including law enforcement, have called to make sure helpful data such as dental records are logged in the registry.

Its caused people to ask questions, and thats great, Matthews said. "This is the story that gave us hope."

Monica Caison, founder of the CUE Center for Missing Persons, said she's gotten an extra 50 calls since the discovery.

"The day he got identified, that whole week there would be a lot of calls and emails and texts," said Caison, adding that this tends to happen when prominent cases are solved.

A son's search

After Chase learned nine years ago that his father was suspiciously missing, he started calling people in Wishek and talking to his dad's side of the family, who live primarily in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

He carries a list in his wallet with information he got from his uncle. It includes the vehicle ID number of the van found in Aberdeen, his dad's Social Security number, and phone numbers for the Logan County sheriff and BCI.

Chase said agents visited him in Wisconsin when he was 17, providing his first real glimpse into the case.

Last fall, he and the family traveled to North Dakota to meet with agents in the hopes of pushing them to solve the case.

"I feel I owe him that," Chase said. "I try to play a picture in my head of what it would be like if he were still here."

Another factor has contributed to the search recently: the interest of a curious stranger.

About a year ago, James Wolner, of Hebron, was searching the internet and stumbled across the cold case on the BCI website. "Believed to be victims of homicide," it reads.

Intrigued, he started calling everyone associated with the case and has become close to the Anderson family.

They said they were surprised by his interest of a person who has no connection to the case, but they are excited by his efforts to renew public interest and help with offering a reward.

"I could see it in his eyes that he was trying to do something for us, not get something from us," Chase said.

"If he can get any financial benefit out of it, all the more power to him," Dean jokes.

Wolner is calling across the region looking for new information and tips. And Chase says when his job slows in a couple weeks, he'll be back on the investigators' tails.

"Im never going to stop until I find out what happened to them," he said. "Im going to set some fires and see whats going on."
Image provided by Cubadebate shows Cuban doctors boarding a plane destined for hurricane-ravaged Haiti, at Jose Marti International Airport, in Havana, Cuba, on Oct. 8, 2016. The Cuban government announced on Friday that it would send a medical brigade to Haiti to help its people victimized by Hurricane Matthew. (Xinhua/Ismael Francisco/Cubadebate)

HAVANA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Cuban President Raul Castro supervised on Saturday the recovery works in the eastern Guantanamo province after the region was hit hard by hurricane Matthew, the official TV reported.

The Cuban leader established his headquarters in Santiago de Cuba city a week ago. He made effective measures to prevent bigger damages caused by the meteorological event.

Considering that many houses were partially or totally destroyed by the hurricane, the Cuban government decided Saturday that the State Budget will finance 50 percent of the construction materials for the damaged houses.

According to an official release published in the local media, the local Municipal Defense Councils will evaluate the damage of every dwelling place and confirm the resources to be assigned in each case.

The people in need can ask for bank credits, which will be granted with lower interests and longer repayment terms. Persons without enough income to obtain bank credits may apply for subsidies, partially or totally covered by the State.

The Municipal Defense Council of Baracoa, the oldest Cuban city, announced Saturday that over 9,000 houses had been affected.

Hurricane Matthew hit the eastern Cuban provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo on Tuesday, without causing casualties, but resulted in heavy property damages.
MOGADISHU, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were injured on Saturday evening in a mortar attack on a residential area near the airport in the Somali capital of Mogadishu.

Police officer Ahmed Jama told Xinhua that mortar shells were fired at a Buluhubey village, a short distance from the headquarters of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Local resident Sulayman Abdi said he heard "five mortar rounds" rock the village and that they might be targeting the AMISOM base or the Aden Adde International Airport.

Witnesses said the injured included children and had been rushed to hospital.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but the Somalia-based Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab carries out frequent attacks in the country, many of them in Mogadishu.
People search for victims inside a funeral hall after it was targeted by airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on Oct. 8, 2016. (Xinhua Photo)

SANAA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 458 people, almost all civilians, were killed and 514 others injured in a double-tap airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition on a mourning ceremony in Yemen's capital Sanaa on Saturday, officials said.

The attack came shortly after the UN envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh announced that the factions had agreed on a 72-hour ceasefire and to resume peace talks.

The airstrike, as part of recent military escalation by all parties to the conflict, has deepened the uncertainty of the peace process in the country, observers said.

Adil Al-Shuja'a, professor of politics at Sanaa University, said the Saturday's massacre blew up the fragile peace process and will result in further escalation.

"Violence begets violence. Furthermore, massacres are continuing, while the international community is still unable to take action," Al-Shuja'a said. "UN can't guarantee an effective ceasefire. It can't guarantee protection of civilians and prevent violation of the laws of war. How can it run a successful peace process then?" he added.

The Houthi-Saleh supreme political council has issued a statement vowing to take revenge and affirming that the massacre is a criminal act that will cast a cloud on the political process.

MILITARY FAILURE

During September and August, the coalition killed more than 100 civilians, and local organizations said indiscriminate Houthi shelling, mostly in Taiz province, killed around 100 civilians including children.

Observers argued that repeated attacks on civilians expose the failure of the Arab coalition and the Yemeni factions in achieving a military victory on the ground.

Even if we assume the Saudi-led coalition lacks precise information about military targets, repeated attacks on civilians tell us about real attitudes toward the peace process, observers said.

"Saudi Arabia is facing mounting pressure over possible war crimes, catastrophic impacts, humanitarian crisis in particular after its military intervention and inability to help make peace talks a success," Al-Shuja'a said.

"International silence and what appears to be international collision are also leading to more violations of the laws of war in Yemen," he added.

OUTSIDER' DILEMMA

The UN has sponsored several rounds of peace talks in a bid to end the conflict which has put the country on the brink of famine and a total economic collapse, but all rounds failed to reach a deal.

Fuad Alsalahi, professor of political sociology at Sanaa University, said the UN does not give priority to Yemen as the world is giving more attention to Syria.

"In the end, the peaceful solution in Yemen will be based on agreements with all regional and international players including Iran and Russia. Such an assumption requires the legitimate good government to engage Iran and Russia in direct talks over the situation in the country," Alsalahi said.

"Meanwhile, the most important foundation for a peaceful solution is that the Yemenis overcome foreign meddling. Yemenis need to heal the national rift and then make foreigners play supporting roles only," he elaborated.

Since the conflict started to escalate in early 2015, observers have been suggesting bringing together Saudi Arabia, the backer of the legitimate government, and Iran, the country allegedly backing the Houthi militants who seized power in late 2014.

Moreover, observers argue that the UN should demonstrate clean performance amid reports that it has come under Saudi pressure or blackmail.
RIYADH, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Saudi-led coalition announced Sunday the launching of an immediate investigation in association with U.S. experts on the airstrike that targeted a funeral reception in Yemen's capital Sanaa, Al Arabiya local news reported.

The coalition denied on Saturday any connection behind the bombing that killed hundreds of people, calling for finding other reasons behind the blast.

The funeral reception was held for the father of the acting interior minister and rebel Houthi loyalist Jalal al-Ruwaishan.

The coalition command said that its forces have clear instructions to avoid targeting sites of civilians, highlighting that the probe results will be released as soon as possible.

The coalition has been carrying airstrikes in Yemen since the beginning of war against Houthis on March 26 that led to the deaths of civilians on both sides.

The war has no sign of ending with Yemeni political groups failing to reach common grounds for fruitful talks.
ANKARA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A military post was attacked by a bomb laden vehicle from Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) militants in Turkey's southeastern Hakkari province on Sunday, killing eight soldiers and wounding five others, Turkish General Staff stated.

The militants detonated a bomb-laden car at the Durak gendarmerie post in Hakkari's Semdinli district in the morning hours during a vehicle and identity check.

Eight soldiers were killed and five others were wounded in the attack, the chief army said.

Ambulances were dispatched to the post, located 20 km from the district center of Semdinli.

Semdinli is a mountainous area near the border with Iraq and Iran in the province of Hakkari, where PKK terrorists are active, Turkish Daily Sabah added.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Turkey.
Afghan security force members inspect the site of a roadside bomb in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Oct. 9, 2016. Five people including three police were killed as a roadside bomb struck a police vehicle in eastern Afghanistan's Jalalabad city on Sunday, spokesman for provincial government Attaullah Khogiani said. (Xinhua/Rahman Safi)

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Five people including three police were killed as a roadside bomb struck a police vehicle in eastern Afghanistan's Jalalabad city on Sunday, spokesman for provincial government Attaullah Khogiani said.

"A roadside bomb organized by the enemies of peace struck a police vehicle in Jalalabad city at around 01:10 p.m. local time today injuring five people including three police and two passersby," Khogiani told Xinhua.

Without providing more details, the official put the attack on the armed militants, saying investigation has been initiated into the case.

Neither Taliban nor Islamic State outfit which are active in the eastern Nangarhar province have claimed of responsibility.
BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Zhou Benshun, former Party chief of north China's Hebei Province, has been charged with taking bribes, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on Sunday.

Xiamen Municipal People's Procuratorate filed the lawsuit against Zhou at Xiamen Municipal Intermediate People's Court in Fujian Province after the SPP finished its investigation and transferred the case to Fujian.

According to the indictment, Zhou sought illegal interests for others and illegally accepted a huge amount of assets by taking advantage of his posts as the chief of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Shaoyang Municipal Committee, member of the standing committee of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, secretary general of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of CPC Central Committee and Party chief of Hebei Province.

Zhou was expelled from the CPC and dismissed from public office in October last year.
Tourists visit the Ruins of St. Paul's in Macao, south China, Oct. 4, 2016. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)

MACAO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Macao will open the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (PSCs) on Tuesday.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will attend the opening ceremony of the meeting.

The Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was created in October 2003 in Macao.

It was sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China, hosted by the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government and with the joint participation of seven PSCs: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor.

"Since the establishment of the forum, Macao plays a role as a bridge of economic cooperation and peoples' friendship," said Ye Guiping, a council member of Research Center for Development Strategy of Macao.

"The forum has brought economic profit to the Chinese mainland,Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries, strengthened the relationship between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and deepened friendship among their peoples," Ye added.

Since 2003, four ministerial conferences have been held with each one concluding with an Action Plan for Economic and Commercial Cooperation to consolidate the targets and goals of the meetings.

The implementation of those action plans not only boosted the cooperation between China and PSCs, but also made Macao well known for its role as a platform.

In November 2013 when the fourth ministerial conference was held, the Chinese government promoted the development of "an information-sharing platform for bilingual professionals and business cooperation, as well as exchanges and interaction between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries."

In the meantime, in the Economic and Trade Cooperation Action Plan (2014-2016), all participating countries agreed to establish three centers for economic and trade cooperation between China and PSCs in Macao. These are a commercial and trade service center for small- and medium-sized enterprises between China and PSCs, a food product distribution center for PSCs, and a center for conventions and exhibitions for economic and trade cooperation between China and PSCs.

The forum and all those implementation measures have accelerated trade development between China and PSCs.

Trade volume between the two sides reached 133 billion U.S. dollars in 2014, 12 times of the figure in 2003.

The annual increase rate of import and export volume between the two sides during that period is 28.4 percent, much higher than the rate of China's foreign trade increase of the same period.

Tourists visit Portuguese style architectures in Macao, south China, Oct. 9, 2016. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)

In 2015, when international commodity prices tumbled sharply, trade between China and PSCs fell too, but the figure still reached 98 billion dollars, 9 times of the volume in 2003.

Besides trade, the forum also brought benefit to educational and cultural exchanges between China and PSCs.

According to the Macao SAR Government Policy Research Office, over 7,000 officials and engineers from the Portuguese-speaking countries have participated in the training program sponsored by the Chinese government.

In Macao alone, a training center affiliated under the forum has launched training programs on infrastructure construction, environment protection, commercial laws and public administration every year. Nearly 800 trainees from PSCs have finished their courses.

"The training programs have benefits in many ways. Portuguese-speaking people begin to know Macao and its role as a platform by those programs. Macao also established connections among those trainees in different sectors in different countries, which are very helpful for future cooperation," said Secretary General of the forum Xu Yingzhen.

Xu added that the upcoming fifth ministerial conference will bring in the concept of "Belt and Road," with focuses on cooperation, platform building and results sharing.

All participating countries will benefit from this forum, especially common people of those countries.

Xu took food products from PSCs as an example.

Noting that nowadays Chinese consumers need more high quality food imported from abroad, she said she believed the food product distribution center for Portuguese-speaking countries in Macao can well serve that need by introducing safe and good food products from PSCs into China's market.

Resident representatives from PSCs to Macao also agree that the forum should expand its function from facilitating trade and economy to cultural exchanges, and Macao should play as a bridge to link peoples of those countries.

"I often meet Asians, Europeans and Africans in Macao, who speak Chinese, English and Portuguese," said Mario Vicente, resident representative of Cape Verde.

"In this diversified and friendly environment, I can understand China and learn its experience of development, and bring back to my country for my people to learn and get inspired," he said.

"This is as same important as doing business."

Tourists take selfies at the Ruins of St. Paul's in Macao, south China, Oct. 9, 2016. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)
BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Yang Dongliang, former head of the State Administration of Work Safety, has been charged with corruption, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP).

The Second Branch of Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate filed a lawsuit against Yang with Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court after finishing its investigation.

According to the indictment, by taking advantage of his posts as Tianjin vice mayor and head of the State Administration of Work Safety, Yang sought interests for others and accepted huge amounts of assets, as well as embezzling public assets.

The procuratorate said Yang should be held criminally accountable.

Yang was expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and removed from public office in October last year.

He was placed under investigation in August last year, days after a warehouse storing dangerous chemicals exploded in Tianjin port, claiming more than 160 lives.
MACAO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The permanent secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (PSCs) will push forward more pragmatic cooperation on production capacity and investment among the participants in next stage, head of the organ Xu Yingzhen told Xinhua in a recent interview.

The 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries will be held here from October 11 to October 12.

The theme for this edition of the conference will be: Working Toward Stronger PSCs Trade and Economic RelationsCombining Efforts, Jointly Building a Platform, Sharing Fruits of Development.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will attend the opening ceremony of the conference.

Sponsored by China's Ministry of Commerce and hosted by the government of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), the forum was inaugurated here in 2003, with the joint participation of seven PSCs countries, including Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and Timor-Leste.

New cooperation idea drawn from "Belt and Road" initiatives will be a highlight of this year's summit, said Xu, noting that the core of this idea is to set sustainable ways of cooperation according to the different characteristics of each PSCs, to ensure all members benefit from the forum, especially the ordinary people.

Up to now, four ministerial conferences of the forum have been held here in 2003, 2006, 2010 and 2013 respectively, with each one concluding with an Action Plans for Economic and Cooperation which outlined the development vision and direction for cooperation covering those three years.

Xu recalled that the cooperation between China and PSCs just covers seven areas at the time when the forum was established, while the number increased to 17 in the last summit.

The amount of bilateral trade between China and PSCs has soared from 11 billion U.S. dollars in 2003 to 132.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2014.

The average annual growth rate during that period reached at 28.4 percent, much higher than the increase rate of China's foreign trade, Xu said.

Due to the overall downward trend of international trade market and consumer prices, the trade between China and PSCs decreased to 98 billion dollars in 2015. But Xu is optimistic that the situation will be reversed with the recovery of global trade environment.

The amount of investment from China in PSCs in 2003 was just 55.11 million U.S. dollars, but it reached 4.5 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2015. There are also an estimated of 400 Chinese companies has opened their business in PSCs, according to Xu.

Besides economic and commercial cooperation, the forum has also made great achievements in promoting cultural exchanges and deepening the friendship between China and PSCs.

The scopes of Sino-Luso cooperation will be broadened further by the upcoming summit, Xu revealed.

The cooperation on production capacity and investment will be promoted later as more enterprises has explored markets abroad under the country's "go out" strategy, Xu added.

Historical friendly relations as well as familiarity with the language, legal and trade system of in Portuguese countries make Macao an ideal place in connecting China and PSCs.

Since the establishment of the Forum, Macao has been positioned as a platform to promote the economic cooperation between China and PSCs, and its role of tie has been enhanced as the launch of three strategic centers, including a business and trade service center for the SMEs in PSCs, a distribution center for PCs'goods, and a convention and exhibition center for economic and trade cooperation among China, China's Macao and PSCs.

Macao can further develop a financial service platform to support banking sector of the city to expand businesses in PSCs, Xu said.

Adding that more Macao elements will be introduced in the upcoming ministerial conference to escalate Macao's service platform role.
by Chrispinus Omar

NAIROBI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The launch of the Chinese-built Ethiopia-Djibouti railway has shown China's special position in the modernization of Africa's infrastructure, Kenyan scholars said Saturday.

"The launching of the Ethiopia-Djibouti standard gauge railway line is expected to spur similar efforts of Africa to link the continent more effectively with an efficient railway transport network, which could be what Africa needs for close integration and expansion of intra-Africa trade," Gerishon Ikiara, an international economics lecturer at the University of Nairobi, told Xinhua.

The fully electrified Ethiopia-Djibouti railway links Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa to the Red Sea port of Djibouti. It was built by Chinese companies with the help of funding from a Chinese bank.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Djibouti's President Omar Guelleh presided over the launch of the 752.7km Ethiopia-Djibouti railway on Oct. 5. The Ethiopian premier said the electrified rail helped cut travel time between the two countries from seven days to just 10 hours.

Ikiara, who was Kenya's vice minister of transport, said the completion of the railway line was a major milestone in the modernization and expansion of transport infrastructure in Africa.

"It is expected that the Chinese influence in Africa's development is going to rise rapidly," he said.

"The emerging dominance of China in Africa's development is leading to increased competition for Africa's infrastructure financing and construction works," he said.

The scholar said the railway line would help boost the development of the two countries.

"The collaboration between Ethiopia and Djibouti in the successful implementation of the project is historic and is expected to have huge impact in these two neighbouring and currently highly dynamic economies in Eastern Africa," Ikiara said.

"The launching of the line significantly increases the areas in Africa in which modern efficient standard gauge railway infrastructure is available," Ikiara said.

Macharia Munene, a Kenyan international relations scholar, said the inauguration of the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway was a major step towards the realization of the "infrastructural opening up of the African continent".

Munene said the new rail was an effort to accelerate the movement of goods and lower the cost of goods in landlocked countries across Africa.

Chinese firms had built modern railway lines in Angola and Nigeria, and is constructing the Mombasa-Nairobi railway in Kenya, which is expected to extend to other East African nations.

The first phase of the China-funded railway in Kenya will link the port city of Mombasa to the capital Nairobi.

Munene said he expected the rail to link Kenya with neigbouring Ethiopia in the future, enhancing regional integration and offering southern Ehthiopia access to goods from the sea.

On his side, Ikiara said the launch of the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, was expected to push other African countries to implement modern railway projects.

"The project is expected to restart Africa's long desire to create a comprehensive network of rail, road, maritime and air transport systems." Ikiara said.

China's engagement has dovetailed with a broad African infrastructure development plan, with the ultimate target being a modern railway network connecting each and every African capital.

Munene said the Chinese efforts towards the modernization of the railway network in Africa were something that no other major power did in the past.

The construction of a series of railways and road networks is part of broader cooperation between China and Africa in Africa's industrialisation and development.

"China-Africa cooperation is based on perception of mutual interest that is realism and this is likely to continue," Munene told Xinhua. Enditem
BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua)-- China has decided to remove administrative price controls on the salt market to foster competition, the country's top economic planner announced Sunday.

The move will put an end to the nation's 2,000-plus-year state monopoly in the salt industry.

Ex-factory, wholesale and retail salt prices will be decided by the operating costs of businesses, product quality and market conditions, rather than the government, starting Jan. 1, 2017, according to a statement released by the National Development and Reform Commission.

China is rich in salt and has seen oversupply in the past few years, with over 300 registered producers and 4,000 distributors. The move aims to encourage market competition and cross-region sales to optimize product quality and sales patterns.

The State Council, China's cabinet, released a statement in April to reform the salt industry by allowing private investors to join the market by partnering with existing salt companies.

Local governments and companies should prepare for the policy change and emergency measures will be taken in the event of a salt supply shortage and rising prices to ensure market stability, especially for people in remote and poor areas, according to the statement.
A train runs on the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway during an operational test near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Oct. 3, 2016. Africa's first modern electrified railway -- the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway built by Chinese firms, becomes fully operational on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Baishun)

by Xinhua writer Wang Xiangjiang

ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The inauguration of a Chinese-built Ethiopia-Djibouti railway in Africa is a vivid proof that China is walking the talk, sharing one of the key lessons it has gained following decades of reform and opening up to the outside world.

That is, as the Chinese saying goes, if you want to be rich, build roads first.

For centuries, backward infrastructure has been hampering economic growth on the African continent. Africans' dream to connect their capitals with high-speed railways once appeared unreachable.

But not today. Africa's first modern electrified railway linking Ethiopia and Djibouti's capitals was inaugurated on Wednesday, reducing the journey time from seven days by road to 10 hours.

With its inception, landlocked Ethiopia has more efficient access to the sea. Industrial parks are being established at key cities along the railway, creating jobs, speeding up urbanization, and igniting people's desire to create and prosper. Djibouti has now come closer to realizing its ambition to become a regional shipping and logistics hub.

Other railway projects using Chinese standard gauge are underway in Kenya, Chad, Nigeria, Angola and others.

A locomotive is seen at a construction site of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project, near Sultan Halmud, Kenya, on May 28, 2016. (Xinhua/Pan Siwei)

These projects spark hopes for economic prosperity, more jobs and better lives.

Looking back to 1970s, despite its own difficult economic conditions, China was resolved to support the construction of the Tazara railway at the request of Tanzania and Zambia. The Tazara railway has since become a symbol of China-Africa friendship.

The following decades witnessed the emergence of China as the world's second largest economy, with its ever steadily improving infrastructure providing a powerful driving force.

Over the years, China has been working hard to share its development experience with its African friends. Chinese leaders have promised to help Africa build the Three Major Networks -- railways, roads and regional aviation.

In 2015, a 1,344-km railroad project spanning Angola was complete and put into operation. Benguela Railway is the second longest railway built by a Chinese company for Africa after TAZARA.(Xinhua/Pang Shuguang)

China sincerely hopes that Africa will get rid of the bottleneck of inadequate infrastructure and embark on a path of independent, sustainable development.

As many African countries have been following different gauge standards of Western countries, they are not in a position to form an integrated railway network. Gradually, more and more African countries have found that China's railway standards better fit Africa's reality.

The Ethiopia-Djibouti railway's inauguration has set an even better example for other African countries.

"Too often, we hear that Africa must bridge the gap in infrastructure. Too often, we are told why it can't be done," said Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh at the inauguration ceremony.

It is still remembered that China extended a helping hand when Western powers turned down Tanzania and Zambia's request for funds for the Tazara railway.

Photo taken on Sept. 20, 2015 shows a train operating on the light rail in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)

Long before the official planning for the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, Western railway experts invited by the Ethiopian government had drawn a conclusion that constructing an electrified railway would be mission impossible in a country with such poor infrastructure.

"However, we can say without doubt that our partner, in this endeavor and in many others, the People's Republic of China, has stood by us and has been instrumental in the infrastructural transformation of Africa," said President Guelleh.

Forty years ago, Chinese constructors built the Tazara railway with sweat, blood and life. Today, a new generation of Chinese railway builders are blazing a path for an even better future for both China and Africa.
A new train stops at a railway station in suburban Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Oct. 1, 2016. The Chinese-built railway linking the Ethiopian capital and the port of Djibouti, which is set to become fully operational on Oct. 5, will be Africa's first modern electrified railway. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)

ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Social responsibility has been highlighted in the construction of the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, with two Chinese railway firms paving roads and digging wells along the route to improve locals' lives.

The Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, also known as Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway, opened service on Wednesday to become the latest testament to the Sino-African friendship.

The 752.7-km line was constructed by China Railway Group (CREC) and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) with an investment of 4 billion U.S. dollars.

CREC said in a statement that it has built more than 400 kilometers of roads for local villagers, as the line passes many villages that previously had no road access.

Moreover, CREC has dug 19 wells and established over 20 water distribution sites to provide free water supply to villagers.

Chinese conductor Ding Jihua (R) trains the Ethiopian attendants at a railway station in suburban Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Oct. 1, 2016.(Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)

Dong Jianfeng, chief engineer of CREC's Ethiopia-Djibouti railway project, said as water resources are precious in drought-ridden Ethiopia, the team has preferred designs like culverts and bridges to retain surface runoff and minimize damages to sites of water sources.

Through such charity acts and by hiring large numbers of local workers, the company said they won the locals' trust and avoid clashes over railway construction.

China Railway Construction Corp (CRCC), which owns CCECC, also said they had never encountered clashes with locals during the entire construction.

Li Wuliang, a manager of CCECC, said his team paid constant visits to villages along the line, where they made donations to schools, clinics and funded church building.

"Villagers treated us very friendly. Every time we arrived at a village, they treated us with the best food and local dances," Li told Xinhua.

According to Meng Fengchao, board chairman of CRCC, the company has hired over 20,000 local workers in Ethiopia and 5,000 in Djibouti, who made up the majority of the construction workers.

Hailed as the "Tazara railway in a new era," the Ethiopia-Djibouti line was the second Chinese-built transnational railway in Africa following the Tazara railway, which links Tanzania's Dar es Salaam with Zambia's Kapiri Mposhi.

Unlike the Tazara railway, built in the 1970s in the form of China's foreign aid, the Ethiopia-Djibouti line is a commercial act, but both state-owned CREC and CCECC have vowed to use the project to pass on the Sino-African friendship as entrenched by the Tazara railway.
Israeli police check a damaged car at the scene of the attack in Jerusalem, Oct. 9, 2016. Palestinian health ministry announced Sunday that a Palestinian man was killed after Israeli forces opened fire at him in a shooting attack in East Jerusalem earlier, while Israeli sources announced that a police officer and a 60-year-old woman were killed in the attack. (Xinhua/Guo Yu)

RAMALLAH, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian health ministry announced Sunday that a Palestinian man was killed after Israeli forces opened fire at him in a shooting attack in East Jerusalem earlier, while Israeli sources announced that a police officer and a 60-year-old woman were killed in the attack.

The Israeli victims died in the hospital after they succumbed to wounds they sustained from the attack.

Israeli police report said that a Palestinian opened fire from his vehicle on people standing by the Ammunition Hill light rail station in Jerusalem, located opposite to the police headquarters in the city.

Israeli sources reported that at least five others were injured in the attack, two of who in serious condition.

The Palestinian was identified as 39-year-old Musbah Abu Sbaih, a resident of the East Jerusalem town of Silwan.

A wave of tensions has been flaring between Israel and Palestinians in the Palestinians territories, mainly in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since last October. According to official figures, over 220 Palestinians and 40 Israelis have been killed.
(Xinhuanet file photo)

BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Signs of a cooling effect have emerged as Chinese cities have taken steps to control their red-hot property markets.

Shanghai has adopted measures that include increasing land supply and strengthening the supervision of capital to address its sky-high housing market.

According to the measures published Saturday, the city will increase the supply of land for commercial housing construction. A work team composed of staff from government departments will be formed to regulate the funding sources for land purchases.

The city will also enhance supervision over the purchase of homes that have previously been owned but never used. Stricter supervision over new home prices will also be implemented.

Authoritative property market information will be released on a regular basis to stabilize market expectations.

Also on Saturday, Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, adopted a spate of measures to restrict home buying.

In certain districts of the city, local residents who own one or more houses will not be allowed to buy new homes. People without a local hukou (household registration certificate) who own one or more houses will not be able to buy either new or pre-owned houses.

First-time home buyers will be required to make a minimum down payment of 30 percent, compared to 20 percent previously.

Statistics show over 90 percent of cities surveyed in August reported new home price rises, up from 73 percent in July. Central bank data showed that banks in August made 529 billion yuan in household loans, with mortgages accounting for 55.7 percent of the total.

Since Sept.30, a dozen cities, including both first-tier cities such as Beijing and Shenzhen as well as smaller cities, have rolled out policies ranging from higher down payments to home purchase restrictions to curb speculative housing purchases.

Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People's Bank of China, said the Chinese government is very concerned about the recent rise in home prices and will take active measures to regulate the market.

He made the remarks while co-chairing the Fourth G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting with Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei in Washington Thursday.

COOLING DOWN

Sun Qiang, a real estate agent in northern Beijing, believes that the higher down payment minimums introduced on Sept.30 have discouraged many buyers.

"I was busy for all of September, and I even took 10 groups of clients to see houses one day," he said. "But during the first three days of the National Day holiday (Oct. 1-7), I only received two groups."

Hu Jinghui, vice president of leading real estate agency 5i5j, said records show that purchase contracts for 204 new houses in Beijing were signed from Oct. 1 to 6, down 73.7 percent from the same period in September and a year-on-year drop of 42.2 percent.

According to the Hangzhou branch of 5i5j, an estimated 20 to 30 percent of clients will cancel or delay home buying plans due to credit tightening.

In Tianjin, the actual transaction volume for pre-owned houses through 5i5j.com during the National Day holiday dropped by 50 percent from the same period of September.

WAIT-AND-SEE

"The slack market during the holiday could partially be the result of people traveling. We will spend some more time observing the market reaction to readjust our sales strategy," said Mr Zhang, a real estate agent in Beijing.

Zhang Jie, head of tmsf.com, a Hangzhou-based housing market research institute, agreed that the significance of the transaction volume during the holiday is limited.

However, he said a series of control measures by the city have somewhat curbed investment demand. "A growing number of buyers are in a wait-and-see mood," he said.

Yan Yuejin, an analyst at E-house China R&D Institute, is hopeful that with policy controls in place, home prices will gradually drop to a reasonable range.

Jia Shenghua, a real estate researcher at Zhejiang University, said the control measures are expected to achieve positive results, and more policies must be adopted to stabilize the market.

Related:

More cities take measures to control property market

SHANGHAI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- In an effort to stabilize its red-hot property market, Shanghai has adopted a set of measures, including increasing land supply and strengthening supervision of capital. Full story

China Focus: China to restrain credit growth amid property restrictions
BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- China has accomplished its goals for cutting excess capacity in 2015, authorities announced Sunday.

All local governments met their annual goals to reduce excess capacity in a total of 16 sectors, including electricity, coal, steel and cement, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Energy Administration.

Last year, China reduced production by about 5.3 million kilowatts of electricity, 101 million tonnes of coal and 31 million tonnes of crude iron and steel, while the annual reduction goals were set at about 4.2 million kilowatts, 78 million tonnes and 30 million tonnes respectively.

Cutting overcapacity is high on the central government's reform agenda as excess capacity in sectors such as steel and coal weighed on the country's overall economic performance.

China plans to cut steel and coal capacity by about 10 percent -- as much as 150 million tonnes of steel and half a billion tonnes of coal -- in the next few years, with funds set aside to help displaced workers.
BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- China is taking measures to improve access for foreign companies, which experts believe will create an environment for fairer competition and bring more foreign investment.

Except for certain sensitive industries, foreign investment will now only require registration, rather than administrative approval, according to a statement released on Saturday following a State Council meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang.

Details of how the new system will work were released online by the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) later that day.

Foreign companies will submit applications online and receive a response within three days.

That is to say, as long as their business is not on a "negative list", foreign investors will only need to deliver business plans to local regulators.

The central government estimates that this means more than 95 percent less procedures. The practice has been tested in various pilot free trade zones.

"A negative list for foreign investment, initiated by Shanghai pilot free trade zone in October 2013, will now be rolled out nationwide, which marks an end of an era dominated by administrative approvals." Ye Lin, professor of Renmin University of China Law School was quoted as saying.

"The move goes in line with foreign investors' anticipation of a wider opening Chinese market so as to further share the bonus of the country's growth," said Gmw.cn analyst Xie Weifeng.

A report by the U.S.-China Business Council found 90 percent of U.S. businesses operating in China were profitable in 2015, up from 85 percent in 2014.

Despite an economic slowdown, China remains an attractive destination for foreign companies with an improving business environment.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the mainland during the first eight months of 2016 increased 4.5 percent year on year to 85.9 billion U.S. dollars, according to the MOC.

Altogether, 18,538 new foreign-funded businesses were established in the same period, up 10.2 percent from a year earlier.

China overtook the United States as the top FDI destination in 2014 when foreign firms invested 128 billion U.S. dollars there and only 86 billion in the U.S., according to the United Nations Conference of Trade and Development.

FDI inflows have grown steadily since 1978 when China began reform and opening-up, but remained relatively low in the 1980s.

Former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's tour of the southern province of Guangdong in early 1992 brought a massive wave of FDI, lifting inflows to over 45 billion U.S. dollars by 1997-1998.

In 2001, China joined the World Trade Organization and FDI inflows have more than doubled since.

China remains an ideal investment destination due to its plentiful human resources and solid infrastructure, Vice Premier Wang Yang said at a meeting with representatives from foreign companies last month, while encouraging foreign investors to adapt to the current economic climate, known as the "new normal."

Representatives from foreign companies, including Coca Cola, Toyota, Dell and IBM, said at the meeting that they remained upbeat about China's economy and will increase investment in the country, and hope that China will further expand market access, improve the business environment and create more favorable conditions for them.

China has repeatedly promised to continue its efforts to create a fairer and more transparent investment environment.
MADRID, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Maritime Rescue services confirmed that they rescued around 200 immigrants and took them to ports in Spain late on Saturday.

The new came barely two days after the vessel "Rio Segura" saved the lives of 1,258 immigrants in the largest rescue Spanish Maritime rescue services have ever made in the Mediterranean Sea.

Saturday saw the 200 immigrants lifted off seven different dinghies from different points off the coast of Spain.

Some 53 people, all from the Maghreb, were lifted off a boat which was approaching the coast of Murcia (south-east Spain) and taken to the port of Cartagena.

Meanwhile, other operations took place in the Sea of Alboran, which is an area of the Mediterranean midway between the south coast of Spain and the north coast of Africa.

Another 56 immigrants, six of whom were children under four years old, were taken from one dinghy in that area, while a further 32, including 17 women, were saved close to the Island of Alboran after rescue services received a call from an aid worker alerting of their departure from the North-African coast.

In a different operation, some 15 more immigrants were rescued from a dinghy 16 miles off the coast of the Spanish port of Almeria before being taken into the port for medical treatment and subsequently being turned over to the Spanish police.

The current high numbers of immigrants making the crossing is a result of the exceptionally calm weather experienced in the Western Mediterranean at the start of October giving good conditions to make the hazardous voyage.

The UN Refugee Agency said that the first five months of 2016 saw 2,510 people lose their lives attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.
ANKARA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Nine soldiers and eight civilians were killed when outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants staged a car bomb attack targeting a military post in the southeastern province of Hakkari, the Hakkari Governor's Office announced.

Hakkari Governor Cuneyt Orhan Toprak said 17 were killed and 27 others injured after PKK militants detonated a bomb-laden car at a gendarmerie checkpoint in Hakkari's Semdinli district in the morning during a vehicle and identity check.

According to Turkish General Staff, 387 PKK militants have been killed in Hakkari since Aug. 4.

A wide-scale air-supported operation is being conducted in the region, the military added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said the country would "not surrender to terror organizations" and vowed that all who conducted attacks would pay the price.

Semdinli is a mountainous area near the border with Iraq and Iran in the province of Hakkari, where PKK terrorists are active, Turkish Daily Sabah said.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Turkey.
MINOT  Long range prognosticators have arrived at their best predictions for what the upcoming winter weather will be like in the months ahead. It is guesswork, to be sure, but there's some basis to long-range forecasting as well.

A few months ago indicators were that North Dakota would experience a colder than usual winter with above average snowfall. However, the Climate Prediction Center has canceled a La Nina watch that was the primary culprit responsible for somewhat dire weather predictions. La Nina is a cooling of Pacific Ocean waters that can lead to tough winters and generally follows an El Nino, which is credited with gracing North Dakota with an extremely mild winter a year ago.

The CPC isn't entirely convinced that La Nina will stay away. They refer to it as "not active" and are holding onto the possibility that La Nina could still form before spring. If it does, it will likely lead to colder than usual temperatures in our region.

So, what's the outlook? Well, that depends on the source. As always long-range forecasting is subject to change. The CPC updates their 30-day and long-range outlooks every month.

Some people still rely on the Old Farmer's Almanac when preparing for winter. The 2017 Almanac calls for about normal precipitation for our region this winter with no hint of an overabundance of snow. As for temperatures, the Almanac says November will average about two degrees above normal, December five degrees below normal and January 2017 a whopping eight degrees below average. The Almanac's February 2017 prediction calls for an average temperature of two degrees less than normal.

Does the National Weather Service agree? Maybe. Maybe not, but the NWS is in the business of gathering weather data on a daily basis as opposed to the Old Farmer's Almanac which relies on such things as the moon, stars and planets when issuing its yearly weather outlooks.

The CPC three-month outlook for October-December is reasonably certain that the Minot region will see warmer than normal temperatures during that period to go along with normal precipitation. Then things begin to change a bit, mostly because of the threat that La Nina could become a reality and cause a fuss.

Although it's a long way out and subject to change, the CPC has the northern tier of North Dakota in their "below normal" temperature outlook for January-March. How much below normal, if at all, cannot be answered with certainty. What is certain is past records compiled by the NWS.

The normal average temperature for Minot in January is 12.2 degrees, the mid-point between the average daily high of 20.9 degrees and the average overnight low of 3.5 degrees. February's average high is 25.4 degrees and average low is 8.6 degrees for an overall average of 17 degrees. Both months have the potential to bring chilling cold.
BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Commerce on Sunday expressed concern over Vietnam's investigation into Chinese steel products and urged the country to be cautious and restrained in using trade remedy measures.

"Chinese steel products have contributed a lot to the improvement of Vietnam's infrastructure," according to an unnamed official quoted on the ministry's website.

The remarks came after Vietnam on Friday began investigating H-section steel imported from China, the latest in a series of Vietnamese anti-dumping probes targeting Chinese steel.

"Resorting to trade remedy measures will be detrimental to bilateral economic ties," said the official.

China hopes the investigation will be fair and transparent, said the official, adding that Chinese exporters were guaranteed the right to defend themselves.

As the world's largest steel consumer and producer, China has called for unity in tackling severe overcapacity in the global steel market, saying that protectionism will only compound problems.
KABUL, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Afghan conflict has left 86 Taliban militants dead and 87 security personnel either killed or missing over the past three days in the militancy-plagued country, officials said Sunday.

According to a statement of Helmand provincial government, 86 Taliban insurgents have been killed over the past 48 hours in the restive and poppy growing province.

"Afghan forces during ground and air operations have killed 86 rebels throughout the troubled Helmand province over the past 48 hours," said the statement.

It said 26 militants have been killed during air sorties against Taliban hideouts in Nan Ali district over the past 48 hours, while the remaining 60 more insurgents have lost their lives in districts Nahr-e-Saraj, Nawa and other parts of the besieged province.

Several Taliban commanders are also among those killed in the ongoing crackdown against militants in the province.

The statement, however, failed to say if there were casualties on the government forces.

Taliban militants who are in control of some districts and have been fighting to overrun Lashkar Gah the capital of the poppy growing Helmand province, are yet to make comment on the situation.

Meanwhile, an Afghan soldier from the frontline in Lashkar Gah, told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the Taliban insurgents have tightened the noose to overrun Laskhar Gah, the key city in south Afghanistan.

Similarly, an Afghan army helicopter crashed in the northern Baghlan province on Sunday and all seven aboard died, a statement of defense ministry said. However, Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Majahid in contact with media claimed that the militants shot down the chapper.

Amid intensifying conflict in Afghanistan, 80 police surrendered to Taliban in Balamirghab district of the western Badghis province on Friday, a local official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

However, Badghis police chief Mohammad Rauf Taj, when approached by Xinhua, said 48 police after four days of besieging by Taliban militants in Marichaq area of Balamirghab, have gone missing.

Taliban militants fighting the government to regain power have intensified activities over the past couple of months and made advancement in the northern Kunduz and southern Helmand provinces.
by Fei Liena, Liu Lina

BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Commenting on the current annual meetings of the International Monetary Organization (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), economic leaders have expressed worries about the "retreat of globalization" in many parts of the world.

Yet in visionary eyes, the ebb of this round of globalization happens to give way to the rise of a new round of globalization, with newly-emerged economies led by China as an important impetus.

It is generally believed that the latest round of globalization started from the 1980s, and was pushed forward by the development of science and technology, spearheaded by transnational corporations, led by the United States and other advanced economies.

However, after three decades, along with the shifts of world economic powers, the momentum of the old round of globalization is weakening, especially after the 2008 financial crisis.

Generally speaking, the current deglobalization trend mainly shows itself in four aspects.

Firstly, in trade, protectionism is getting increasingly popular. In the past four years, the ratio of global trade volume to the GDP is decreasing, meaning the growth of the world trade volume has been lower than the growth of the economy.

Secondly, in finance, the world has been tightening its grip on financial supervision. The global financial crisis breaking out in 2008 has resulted in major economies speeding up reforms on financial supervision, with many presenting new tougher supervisory regulations.

Thirdly, in mechanism arrangements, the trend of decentralization is getting more obvious. Some regional integration processes have encountered setbacks, with the most famous example being Britain's recent exit from the European Union.

And fourthly, in concept, suspicions about and reflection upon globalization, led by developed countries, have intensified. The IMF, the U.N. Industrial Development Organization and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development have all warned that the "low growth trap" had weakened the world's confidence in developed countries.

Analysts point out that the "old globalization" has caused increasingly serious inequality among nations, including developed economies themselves, which is a reason why globalization has been rejected by many at the grassroots level.

However, in the prevailing pessimistic atmosphere surrounding globalization, sensible observers have discovered that a new round of globalization is surfacing, featuring the rise of developing countries led by china.

Globalization researchers believe that this new round of globalization, compared to the former one, has three characteristics.

Firstly, there is a shift of economic powers. After the outbreak of the 2008 global financial crisis, newly-emerged economies and developing countries, with China as the bellwether, have for the first time in history become major contributors to world economic growth.

In 2015, the total economic aggregate of developing markets surpassed that of developed countries. The IMF's Wold Economic Outlook 2016 says:"Growth in emerging market and developing economies is expected to strengthen slightly in 2016 to 4.2 percent...accounting for over three-quarters of projected world growth this year."

The change of economic power is bound to be reflected on the structure of this round of globalization.

"Globalization is shifting to the emerging economies", Guntram Wolff, a director at the European think tank Bruegel, told Xinhua.

Secondly, newly-emerged economies and developing countries are focusing more on development. China has been actively promoting development and a more "inclusive globalization", which has been echoed and supported by a large number of developing nations.

The United Nations regards China's "Belt-Road" initiative an important supporting pillar to its 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and expects China to play a bigger role in global development.

The Belt-Road Initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013. It brings together countries in Asia, Europe and Africa via overland and maritime networks.

Thirdly, the new round of globalization is to absorb the achievements already made in the former round of globalization. So it's a merger instead of a game changer.

Take the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as an example. An increasing number of international professionals agree that the AIIB is a good supplement to the international economic and financial governance system, and has created new development opportunities.

On the Group of 20 (G20) Hangzhou summit in September, China and the U.S., the world's two largest economies, took the lead and formally signed the Paris climate change agreement, showing a good example of a big emerging country and a big developed country joining hands on global affairs.

The curtain of new globalization is opening. It's better to play a role on the stage rather than just being a hesitant bystander.

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PRAGUE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The ANO movement of Czech Finance Minister Andrej Babis won the Oct. 7-8 Czech regional elections and the first round of the Senate polls, while the Social Democrats (CSSD) of Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka lost their dominant position in the regional elections.

CSSD, which has long dominated a crushing majority of the 13 self-rule regions in Czech Republic, suffered a massive loss in the elections and won in two regions only.

ANO won in nine out of the 13 regions and it had the highest number of candidates for senators advancing to the second round.

The third government party, Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL), won in one region, and the the Communists (KSCM) won in one region.

The CSSD, ANO and the KDU-CSL form the country's current coalition government. Voters' prevailing support for the government parties in the elections seemed to indicate that people were rather satisfied with the cabinet's performance.

According to data released by the Czech Statistical Office (CSU), the turnout in the Oct. 7-8 regional elections in the country was 34.6 percent, some 2.3 percent lower than in 2012. In the Senate polls' first round, the turnout was 33.5 percent.

ANO has also become the most successful party in the first round of the elections of the 81-seat Senate. Its candidates advanced in 14 Senate wards, the CSSD and the KDU-CSL in nine each.

According to some observers, the sweeping success of ANO and the CSSD's considerable loss might influence the functioning of the government coalition, in which Babis' position might rise.

Both Babis and Sobotka previously said they expected the government to rule until the end of its regular term. The next general election is due in the autumn of 2017.

This has been the first time for ANO, a party established in 2012 by Czech billionaire businessman Andrej Babis, to run in regional elections.
CAIRO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Egypt supports all efforts that seek to halt the tragedy of the Syrian people and urges for a political settlement to end the Syrian crisis, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Sunday.

Egypt voted on Saturday for two opposing draft resolutions: a French-Spanish version and the other by Russia, for a relief in Syria, particularly in Aleppo, yet both failed to be approved by the UN Security Council.

"Egypt supports all efforts seeking to halt the tragedy of the Syrian people, and so it voted for both resolutions based on their contents, not on political bids that have already become a barrier to the work of the council," said Ambassador Amr Aboul-Ata, Egypt's representative to the UN.

The first one, drafted by France and Spain, was vetoed by Russia, a permanent council member, while the Moscow-sponsored draft failed to gain nine votes in favor, the minimum of supporting votes required for a draft to be adopted by the 15-nation UN council, instead gaining nine votes against.

"The main reason for the failure of the two draft resolutions is attributed to the disagreements between the permanent council members," the Egyptian ambassador continued, regretting the council's inability to make active decisions to relieve the sufferings of the Syrian people and eliminate terrorism in the war-torn country.

The official called on all international and regional powers as well as the domestic forces in Syria to avoid conflict, sectarian strife and political greed to rescue the Syrian people from their daily sufferings.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi urged at the UN Security Council earlier in September for "a united vision for a comprehensive political settlement to the crisis in Syria.

Since it erupted in March 2011, the Syrian crisis has claimed the lives of about 500,000 people and displaced more than 10 million.
BEIRUT, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A commander from the extremist Islamic State group (IS), Abu Bakr al-Raqqawi, was found dead on Sunday in the northeastern border town of Arsal, reported the National News Agency (NNA).

Raqqawi is thought to be behind the assassination of Internal Security Forces (ISF) soldier, Zaher Ezzeddine, earlier in January, the NNA said.

Militants from IS and Fateh al-Sham Front - formerly al-Qaida's al-Nusra Front - are located along the Lebanese-Syrian border and the army regularly shells their posts.

Both extremist groups briefly invaded Arsal in Aug. 2014 before being ousted by the army following days of deadly armed combat.

However, before retreating, the militants abducted over 30 troops and policemen.

Al-Nusra Front executed four and the IS beheaded one, and nine troops still remain captive by the IS.
VILNIUS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania holds its parliamentary elections on Sunday with active voting and hopes of the leading parties to receive more than one fourth of the seats in the parliament.

By the Sunday's early afternoon, 21.56 percent of the country's 2.5 million eligible voters have cast their votes to elect the Seimas, the country's parliament. Including the early voting held earlier this week, the total activity amounts to 28.24 percent.

"Despite the rain, the elections have been active," Zenonas Vaigauskas, head of the country's Central electoral commission, told media.

HIGH HOPES

The leaders of the country's ruling and opposition parties expect to win more than one fourth of seats in the country's 141 seat parliament.

The country's prime minister and leader of the ruling social democratic party Algirdas Butkevicius expects his party to get 35-40 seats. The head of the cabinet told journalists he is ready to form the government if he receives support.

"No, I don't feel tired," Butkevicius said after casting his vote on Sunday morning.

When asked about his resignation in case the party loses the elections, Butkevicius said he will announce the decision after the second round held after two weeks.

Gabrielius Landsbergis, leader of the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats, the parliament's main opposition party, said he expects the conservatives to win 40-45 seats at the parliament.

"Expectations are good. We feel people's trust and need for changes," Landsbergis told local media.

The outcome of the elections is seen as unpredictable by political analysts with the last polls showing that the social democrats would receive 15.6 percent of votes. The Peasant and Greens Union which has seen a sharp increase in popularity this year, would receive support from 14 percent of voters, shows the survey by Spinter tyrimai. The Homeland union-Lithuanian Christian democrats stand third in the pools with 13.7 percent of votes.

The social democrats have lost part of their popularity with corruption scandals that have struck the government in recent months.

Loreta Grauziniene, speaker of the Seimas and member of the ruling coalition's Labor party, sees the main battle happening between the social democrats and the conservatives.

"One of these parties will form the coalition, and other parties will try to include their programs' points into the program of the coalition government," ELTA news agency reported quoting Grauziniene.

Grauziniene's party is to receive support from 5.2 percent of voters, shows the latest poll by Spinter tyrimai.

PROMOTING CHANGES

Lithuania's former president Valdas Adamkus said he has chosen candidates who could return the trust in Seimas.

"The new Seimas should adopt the legislation which would facilitate Lithuania's economic development and the welfare of Lithuanian people as well," Adamkus told journalists after casting his vote.

The former president noted that the current coalition has disappointed him. Adamkus' tone was alike with that of the incumbent president.

The country's President Dalia Grybauskaite used an opportunity to vote in the early voting earlier this week. She then revealed voting for changes.

"For change which would lead to the stable growth of welfare," said Grybauskaite.

The incumbent and the former leaders of the country urged people to participate actively in the elections.
The site of a shooting attack is seen at Ammunition Hill light rail station in Jerusalem, Oct. 9, 2016. Two Israelis were killed and five others wounded in a shooting attack on Sunday in East Jerusalem, Israeli Radio reported, adding that the gunman is a Palestinian and was killed at the end of the attack. The gunman opened fire near a police station next to the Ammunition Hill light rail station in Jerusalem. (Xinhua/Muammar Awad)

GAZA/JERUSALEM, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Two Israelis were killed and five others wounded in a shooting attack on Sunday in East Jerusalem, Israeli Radio reported, adding that the gunman is a Palestinian and was killed at the end of the attack.

Islamic Hamas movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, claimed responsibility for the shooting attack.

"The one who carried out the operation is 39-year- old Misbah Abu Sbeih from the town of Silwan in East Jerusalem," said an official Hamas emailed statement.

Israeli Radio said that a police officer and a 60-year-old woman were killed and five others injured on Sunday morning after the gunman opened fire near a police station next to the Ammunition Hill light rail station in Jerusalem.

The Radio said the assailant fled the scene, continuing his rampage as he shot two people sitting in their car.

Israel Border Police spotted the gunman before shooting him dead.

Security forces began conducting searches for additional suspects, setting up a number of roadblocks in the area, the Radio said.

Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan arrived at the scene and spoke with the press, telling them there was no forewarning for this attack.

Fawzi Bahoum, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in an emailed press statement that Hamas blesses the shooting attack in Jerusalem.

"Hamas blesses the commando and heroic al-Quds (Jerusalem) operation. Hamas considers it a natural response to the occupation's crimes," said Barhoum.

He went on saying that "the operation is a reiteration that the Intifada is going on, and all the attempts to break or eliminate it will never succeed."
Bashar Ja'afari(front), Syria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations,is pictured prior to a Security Council meeting on Syria at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Oct. 8, 2016. Two opposing draft resolutions: one French-Spanish version and the other by Russia, on Saturday failed to be approved by the UN Security Council in response to the current situation in Syria.(Xinhua Photo)

CAIRO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Egypt supports all efforts that seek to halt the tragedy of the Syrian people and urges for a political settlement to end the Syrian crisis, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Sunday.

Egypt voted on Saturday for two opposing draft resolutions: a French-Spanish version and the other by Russia, for a relief in Syria, particularly in Aleppo, yet both failed to be approved by the UN Security Council.

"Egypt supports all efforts seeking to halt the tragedy of the Syrian people, and so it voted for both resolutions based on their contents, not on political bids that have already become a barrier to the work of the council," said Ambassador Amr Aboul-Ata, Egypt's representative to the UN.

The first one, drafted by France and Spain, was vetoed by Russia, a permanent council member, while the Moscow-sponsored draft failed to gain nine votes in favor, the minimum of supporting votes required for a draft to be adopted by the 15-nation UN council, instead gaining nine votes against.

"The main reason for the failure of the two draft resolutions is attributed to the disagreements between the permanent council members," the Egyptian ambassador continued, regretting the council's inability to make active decisions to relieve the sufferings of the Syrian people and eliminate terrorism in the war-torn country.

The official called on all international and regional powers as well as the domestic forces in Syria to avoid conflict, sectarian strife and political greed to rescue the Syrian people from their daily sufferings.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi urged at the UN Security Council earlier in September for "a united vision for a comprehensive political settlement to the crisis in Syria.

Since it erupted in March 2011, the Syrian crisis has claimed the lives of about 500,000 people and displaced more than 10 million.
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A suspect was caught 12 hours after two police officers were shot dead and one more was wounded Saturday afternoon in Palm Springs, southern California, local police said.

The suspect, identified as John Felix, a Palm Springs resident, surrendered to special police SWAT members after a lengthy standoff and was taken into custody, Riverside County Sheriff's Department said.

The 26-year-old suspect suffered non-life threatening injuries and was treated at a local hospital after the incident, during which the officers from the Palm Springs Police Department were responding to a report of a family disturbance.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, officers arrived at the door of a house and attempted to have a male step out of the residence, but the officers were met with gunfire through the closed front door.

During the exchange of gunfire, three officers were injured and transported to a local hospital, but two of them were announced deceased at the hospital. The third officer is recovering from non-life threatening injuries.

"Today Palm Springs lost two brave officers. They go out every day and put their boots on the ground for everybody in this community," Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes said at a news conference.

The slain officers were Jose Gilbert Vega, a 35-year department veteran, and 27-year-old Lesley Zerebny, a year-and-a-half department novice who had recently given birth.

Dozens of law enforcement personnel from multiple agencies responded to the scene, according to the City News Service. Palm Springs, a city of more than 46,000 residents, is about 170 km east of Los Angeles.

This is the latest case of multiple police officers being shot in the United States.
Two opposing draft resolutions: one French-Spanish version and the other by Russia, on Saturday failed to be approved by the UN Security Council in response to the current situation in Syria. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

MOSCOW, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The France-sponsored drafted resolution of the United Nations Security Council on Syria is "politicized, unbalanced and one-sided," the Russian Foreign Ministry said Saturday after Moscow vetoed the drafted resolution in a vote earlier in the day.

The draft, presented immediately after the United States refused to fulfill the Russia-U.S. agreement on Syrian settlement, "grossly distorted the real situation," as it placed all the blame for the escalation of tensions on the government of the country (Syria), the ministry said in a statement on its Facebook page.

The ministry criticized the draft for attempting to ban flights in the area of Aleppo, which would "provide cover for the terrorist groups that have merged with militants."

The statement added that the Russian side had offered amendments during discussions on the drafted resolution, and reiterated the necessity of separating the so-called moderate militants from terrorists, but "sponsors of the French proposal...failed to show political wisdom."

While voicing "deep regret," the ministry reaffirmed Russia's commitment to finding a lasting political solution to the Syrian conflict, adding that it stands ready for teamwork in the implementation of existing agreements and coordination of further steps.

On Sept. 10, Russia and the United States announced a landmark agreement on a nationwide ceasefire in Syria, which both sides hoped would lead to their countries' military cooperation to end more than five years of bloodshed there.

However, the truce accord has not been strictly observed with each accusing the other of derailing the deal.
People visit robots during the 5th China-Eurasia Expo in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 20, 2016. The Expo attracting more than 2,000 exhibitors kicked off here on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)

KIEV, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine sees a great potential for developing mutually beneficial cooperation with China under the Silk Road Initiative, a senior Ukrainian official has said.

"For China's central and western regions, which are quickly developing, this direction is more interesting than exports of goods through the ports. Thus, we believe that there is a huge potential in such cooperation," Eugene Kravtsov, Ukraine's First Deputy Infrastructure Minister, said during the Kiev International Economic Forum.

Ukraine, which targets to become an important link in the Silk Road chain, is now actively developing its infrastructure and continues the work on the project to connect Ukraine and China via a cargo train, Kravtsov said.

According to him, in the recent time, a great progress was achieved to lower the tariffs for cargo transportation on the Silk Road route via Ukraine to make it more competitive.

While in January, when Ukraine launched a test run of cargo train to China, the shipping cost of a 20-foot container was 6,500 U.S. dollars, now it stands at about 3,000 dollars, Kravtsov said.

On Jan. 15, Ukraine launched a cargo train from its south-western port of Illichivsk to China via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, traversing Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, thus joining the Silk Road initiative.
BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- China's bid to host the 2021 WorldSkills Competition showcases the nation's respect for skilled workers and its emphasis on craftsmanship.

The city of Shanghai is in the running to host the 46th WorldSkills Competition in 2021, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said in a statement earlier this week.

China has a sound foundation for the bid given that the country organizes various vocational skill competitions every year and pays high attention to vocational training and the team building of skilled talent, the statement said.

China is among three contenders bidding for the right to hold the competition, along with Switzerland and South Africa.

The final decision will be voted on by WorldSkills International delegates in October 2017 at the General Assembly to be held in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Zhou Tianyong, professor at the Party School of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China's bid to host the competition reflects the significance it places on skilled workers and the determination to train more people with diversified vocational skills.

Although China has the world's largest population, it has been confronting a shortage of workers with advanced vocational skills, structural issues and a glut of workers in fields that no longer dovetail with the country's economic development needs.

Data from the ministry showed a severe shortage of skilled workers in China, with a lack of over 4 million senior technicians in the manufacturing sector alone.

For the industrial sector, a normal personnel structure is one scientist, 10 engineers and 100 skilled workers, said Chen Yu, deputy head of the China Association for Employment Promotion. "Scientists and engineers can be introduced from other countries, but there has never been any example for introducing a massive number of skilled workers."

As a large manufacturing nation seeking to upgrade industrially, China needs hundreds of millions of workers with various vocational knowledge and skills, Chen said, citing examples such as Germany, Japan and the United States, which all boast large numbers of skilled workers.

Prejudice against vocational education exists around the world, said President of WorldSkills International Simon Bartley, adding that at least 90 percent of parents are against their children giving up an academic higher education to choose vocational schools.

This is also the case in China, but ideas are gradually changing.

Tang Weiqun, head of the Guangzhou Industry and Trade Technician College, has seen such changes first hand.

"Vocational colleges have become the choice of more and more students with excellent academic performance, rather than merely the last resort for junior high school graduates who failed to qualify for senior middle schools," Tang said. "Graduates from the college are now well received by the job market with relatively high salaries."

In a government work report unveiled in March 2016, China for the first time stressed a "spirit of craftsmanship striving for the best."

The country has also moved to promote vocational training and raise the welfare of skilled workers. For example, the government offered a cash bonus of 200,000 yuan (29,950 U.S. dollars) for each of its gold medalists at the 43th WorldSkills Competition held last year.

WorldSkills dates back to 1950 when it was first held in Madrid of Spain. The biennial event seeks to raise the awareness and prestige of vocational and blue-collar professions.
RAMADI, Iraq, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Sunday freed five villages from Islamic State (IS) militants in the country's western province of Anbar, killing at least 22 militants, a provincial security source said.

In the early morning, the troops and allied paramilitary Sunni tribal fighters carried out an operation to flash out the extremist militants from villages and rural areas along the Euphrates River in north of town of Heet, some 160 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The troops backed by Iraqi aircraft managed to free the villages of Sarrajiyah, J'iel, al-Aliya, Saffagiyah and Mahboubiyah after sporadic clashes with IS militants who fled the scene, the source said.

A total of 22 IS militants were killed in the clashes and several vehicles of the terrorist group were destroyed, including two carrying heavy machine guns, while two soldiers were killed and six others wounded, the source added.

In northern Iraq, a civilian was killed and ten others wounded, including women and children, when IS militants fired many mortar rounds on several neighborhoods of the town of Qayyara, some 55 km south of Mosul, according to Salih al-Jubouri, the mayor of Qayyara.

The town has been the scene of repeated attacks by the extremist IS militants since the Iraqi security forces freed Qayyara on Aug. 25. The strategic town is supposed to be used as a staging ground for a major offensive to liberate the last major IS stronghold in Mosul, some 400 km north of Baghdad.

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.
ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Council of Ministers of Ethiopia has declared a six-month state of emergency effective from October 8, to reverse the danger posed by forces working in collaboration with foreign enemies to undermine the safety of the people and security and stability of the country, reported the Ethiopian News Agency.

The decree came following detailed discussion by the Council on the situation that led to the loss of lives and damage on properties, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam said.

The Ethiopian constitution under article 93 provides the power for the Council of Ministers to decree a state of emergency in case of external invasion, a breakdown of law and order which endangers constitutional order, natural disaster or an epidemic occur, said the report.

If the emergency rule is declared when the House of Peoples Representatives is not in session, the decree shall be submitted to the House within 15 days, said the report.
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian police have arrested 16 individuals suspected of terrorist activities, including a group that has pledged allegiance to a Malaysian Islamic State (IS) member in Syria.

Fourteen of the suspects belonged to a local cell and have used internet to swear an oath of allegiance to Mohamad Wanndy Mohamad Jedi, a Malaysian IS militant in Syria, police said on Sunday.

The police said they believed the group had channelled fund to Mohamad Wanndy.

The militant believed to be the mastermind of the first and so far the only IS related attack in Malaysia, when a grenade hit a bar in outskirt of the capital city of Kuala Lumpur in June, injuring several people.

A university student was arrested after being repatriated from Turkey, where he planned to sneak across the border into Syria, the police said.

Police also detained a man from North Africa, who is a suspected member of the formerly al-Qaeda affiliated militant group of Jahbat Al Nusra in Syria.

Police said the man had involved in falsifying travel documents for the militant group while in Malaysia.

Malaysia authorities have arrested more than 230 terror suspects in the past three years. Last month, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamid called for robust and effective international actions in the collective fight against terrorism in his address to the United Nations General Assembly.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to visit Brunei from Oct. 16-18 after his initial visit to the sultanate was cancelled last month due to a deadly blast in his home city of Davao.

Duterte's visit to Brunei is part of his rounds among fellow leaders of ASEAN member states to further strengthen the Philippines' close ties with each country in the regional bloc, local media reported Sunday.

Duterte is expected to be accompanied by his official delegation, senior government officials and officials from other Philippine government agencies. Besides an audience with Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, he is also scheduled to meet with members of the Filipino community. There are about 23,000 Filipinos residing in the sultanate.

Brunei would have been Duterte's first international trip as president, before the Davao explosion prompted him to cancel the visit in September.
People search for victims inside a funeral hall after it was targeted by airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on Oct. 8, 2016. (Xinhua Photo)

ADEN, Yemen, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh called on his followers and armed forces to carry out more retaliatory armed attacks against Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Saleh, who is the powerful ally of the Shiite Houthi group, appeared in a televised speech just one day after allegedly Saudi-led airstrikes targeted Qaah al-Kubra, one of Sanaa's biggest event halls, as it was hosting a funeral ceremony.

The former president urged his military and security forces to head for border areas with Saudi Arabia to revenge for Saturday's attack.

"All of our sons and fighters must head immediately to take revenge by escalating armed attacks in the borders with Saudi Arabia," Saleh said in his speech.

"Commanders of our military forces have to work hard to raise the fighting readiness to take revenge for Yemenis killed by Saudi warplanes inside camps, public markets and hospitals," Saleh said.

According to medical sources, the attack left more than 160 people killed, including military leaders and government officials allied with Houthis and Saleh.

Hundreds of others, mostly civilians, were injured and many bodies were completely burned and turned into ashes, witnesses near the scene said.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition denied any role in the attack in Sanaa banquet hall, inviting to explore other possible reasons by launching an immediate investigation.

The Houthis, backed by Saleh's loyal forces, stormed Sanaa in September 2014, fighting against what they said "Hadi's government corruption."

They seized Sanaa and much parts of the country's north, forcing Hadi and his government to flee into exile.

The Saudi-led coalition launched a military air campaign against Houthis and Saleh's forces on March 26, 2015 to restore Hadi to power and recapture the capital.

The coalition's airstrikes and ground battles have since killed over 10,000 Yemenis, mostly children and women, injuring around 35,000 others and displacing three million others, according to UN reports.

Houthis and Saleh's forces still control the capital Sanaa and much parts of the war-stricken Arab country.

Related:

Casualty figures from coalition air strikes on Yemen's capital rise to 450

SANAA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 450 people were killed or injured from Saudi-led coalition air strikes on mourners in the capital Sanaa on Saturday afternoon, Houthi-controlled Saba news agency reported. Full story

UN relief chief calls for humanitarian access in Yemen
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the attack on an event hall in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a, where hundreds of people were gathered for a funeral ceremony.

Initial reports indicated that the Saudi-led coalition conducted the attack, which killed at least 160 people, in airstrikes, Ban said in a statement issued late Saturday night by his spokesman.

"The secretary-general notes that any deliberate attack against civilians is utterly unacceptable and calls for a prompt and impartial investigation of this incident," the statement said, "Those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice."

Ban also expressed his sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured, the statement said.

"The secretary-general once again reminds all parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law -- including the fundamental rules of proportionality, distinction and precaution -- to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure against attack," it added.

More than 530 people were injured Saturday in the attack on the funeral hall, reports said.

Some witnesses said senior Houthi officials and their ally, former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, were in the hall.

Houthi rebels, supported by forces loyal to Saleh, seized Sana'a and some other Yemeni cities in September 2014, forcing President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and his government into exile.

The Saudi-led coalition, which supports Hadi and his government, launched a military air campaign against Houthis and Saleh's forces in March 2015 to restore the president to power and recapture the capital.

The coalition's air raids and ground battles have since killed more than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly children and women, and injured around 35,000 others, according to U.N. reports.
CAIRO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- There is no information or evidence of any current security threats in Egypt to justify relevant circulated warnings, Egyptian Interior Ministry said in a statement Sunday.

The U.S. embassy in Egypt issued Friday a security message to American citizens in the Arab country, strongly advising them to avoid large gatherings in Cairo on Sunday due to "potential security concerns."

Some other embassies including the nearby British and Canadian ones issued similar warnings to their citizens in Cairo.

Meanwhile, Cairo has been seeing intense security deployment on Sunday with extra checkpoints and higher security alert all over the capital city.

"The measures taken by the security apparatuses are within the Interior Ministry's strategic plans that managed to maintain stability and security nationwide," said General Tarek Attiya, Assistant Interior Minister for Media and Relations, stressing the police preparedness to domestically secure the country.

On Friday, the Egyptian Interior Ministry said in a statement that it was "disturbed" by the security message issued by the U.S. embassy in Cairo.

"The embassy neither coordinated with the Foreign Ministry nor notified any other Egyptian authority of the reasons for issuing such an alert or the nature of these security concerns, which in turn raises questions about the reasons behind issuing the alert," said the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in the statement.

Egypt has been facing a growing wave of anti-government terrorist attacks since the military removed former Islamic president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013. The police later launched a massive security crackdown on his loyalists, mostly from the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group.
GRAND FORKS -- Nine months after Matthew Gust threw a Molotov cocktail into Juba Coffee House and Restaurant and started the fire that largely destroyed the building, one thing appears clear: If the Somali restaurant and gathering place does come back, it wont be at its former Washington Street location.

Kenton McGregor, the trustee for the owning trust of the property, said the building will be sold. The insurance money they did receive came at a depreciated replacement cost, McGregor said, meaning he only received part of it.

We cant afford to fix it up, he said.

He added the location is not ideal for a cafe because it has no parking. McGregor said he has not had contact with Abdulaziz Moallim or Ilhaam Hassam, the husband and wife who ran Juba, in many months.

Hassam did not respond to phone calls for this story.

Global Friends Executive Director Cynthia Shabb, who is in contact with Hassam, said the couple has been cooking for Global Friends events since Gust destroyed their restaurant.

Theyre here and theyre working, theyre just not working in a restaurant right now, Shabb said.

She said its difficult to find affordable restaurant space in Grand Forks but that Juba is seeking a new permanent home.

Shabb said the Juba staff cooked for Global Friends community picnic, among other events, and that Hassam typically uses the kitchen in Zion United Methodist Church when she cooks.

Shes always remained very positive, Shabb said. When the time is right she says, theyll find a place.

Former UND professor Colleen Berry, who organized a GoFundMe page for Hassam in the wake of the attack, said she was motivated to help because her own home burned down in 2014. She knew the operators of Juba did not own the space, and that with the space burned down, their source of income was lost. Ultimately, the page raised about $24,000, which Berry said was paid to the family months ago.

She stated on the page that the money was not necessarily to bring back the restaurant.

It really was for them to use however they needed to, Berry said.
File photo of Mexico automobile industry. (Xinhua)

GUANAJUATO, MEXICO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Mexico should continue diversifying its market and look towards China and other countries in order to reduce its trade reliance on the United States, said Mexico's former President Vicente Fox.

During an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Friday, the politician from the National Action Party said this would allow trade relations to transform and improve and "reduce the dependency we have on the United States."

"We have to diversify so that we won't depend on just one basket or one country," said the former president in his San Cristobal ranch in the central state of Guanajuato where he joined a forum titled Culture, Information Technology, Energy and Knowledge.

Fox noted that despite the fact that Mexico is one of the countries with the highest number of free trade agreements, the United States is still its main partner, and Mexico is sending almost 80 percent of exports to its northern neighbor. He said China and Mexico could strengthen their trade for mutual benefits.

Fox said that in terms of technology, China "has moved at a great speed in production capacity and also with efficiency." He noted that a market "of over a billion inhabitants ... is a super market for Mexico."

Officials from 26 countries and approximately 2,000 entrepreneurs from China, Latin America and the Caribbean are meeting since Tuesday in Guadalajara with the aim of strengthening mutual trade relations and explore new areas such as technology, innovation, energy, agriculture among others. The Head of Mexican Secretariat of Economy, Ildefonso Guajardo, opened the 9th China-LAC Business Summit 2015, which will be held from Oct. 13 and 14 in the Palace of Culture and Communication (PALCCO, for its acronym in Spanish) of Guadalajara. (Xinhua/Rong Hao)

Since 2013, Mexico and China have put in place mechanisms to promote bilateral and permanent dialogue on key economic issues, including a high-level bilateral work group that meets annually to oversee trade promotion, and cooperation in industry and mining. A similar group focuses exclusively on investment.

On the sidelines of the recent Group of G20 summit held in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, the presidents of Mexico and China, Enrique Pena Nieto and Xi Jinping agreed to expand their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Mexico is ready to cooperate with China in investment, finance, tourism and special economic zones, and intensify communication and coordination with China in international affairs, Pena Nieto said.

Last month also witnessed Mexico's first ever shipment of pork to China.

To Mexican Agriculture Minister Jose Calzada Rovirosa, exporting meat to China reflects Mexico's progress in this sector.

Throughout history, "it is the first time Mexico shipped pork to China," he said, describing the day the shipment went out as "special."

Mexico also exports avocado, berries, tequila, and other products to China, but opening up China's market to Mexican pork is expected to boost trade significantly, according to the minister.

Fox said that South America and India should also be in Mexico's sight without neglecting the United States and Canada. He thinks the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) should continue benefiting Mexico and its partners.
Image provided by Cubadebate shows Cuban doctors boarding a plane destined for hurricane-ravaged Haiti, at Jose Marti International Airport, in Havana, Cuba, on Oct. 8, 2016. The Cuban government announced on Friday that it would send a medical brigade to Haiti to help its people victimized by Hurricane Matthew. (Xinhua/Ismael Francisco/Cubadebate)

MEXICO CITY, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Several governments in Latin America have expressed their solidarity with Haiti and have offered humanitarian aid after Hurricane Matthew caused over 800 deaths and significant material losses in the Caribbean nation.

Food, bottled water, mattresses as well as machinery to remove rubble and medical staff form part of the convoys that different Latin American countries have sent to help the island.

Venezuela was one of the first nations to take action and sent three lots of humanitarian aid, the last of which was sent on Friday and contained 660 tonnes of food, medication, water, blankets and mattresses. The batch also included 450 tonnes of heavy machinery to remove rubble and rehabilitate roads.

Cuba, despite also suffering at the hands of Hurricane Matthew, announced on Friday that it would send "38 doctors specialized in facing disasters" to Haiti.

The group will be made up of members of the "Henry Reeve" International Contingent of Doctors Specialized in Disaster Situations and Serious Epidemics.

Mexico is also playing its part and standing in solidarity with the island nation. President Enrique Pena Nieto said that "Mexico regrets the pain and loss of human life that the people of Haiti are suffering."

The president said that "humanitarian support and aid during the relief and recovery stage" will be sent from Mexico.

Bolivian military personnel prepare relief goods destined for hurricane-ravaged Haiti at an airport in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on Oct. 8, 2016. (Xinhua/R. Martinez Candia/ABI)

Mauricio Macri's government in Argentina also informed that they had mobilized the Argentine blue helmets that participate in the United Nations (UN) peace mission in Haiti (Minustah) in order to collaborate with humanitarian aid in the southern part of the Caribbean nation.

In a press release, Argentina's defence ministry said that "25 out of the 76 men and women that work in the Argentine Air Force's mobile military hospital, located in Port-au-Prince, are already enlisted to help."

Bolivia's president, Evo Morales, expressed his sympathy for Haitian people and government on Saturday and blamed global warming for the natural disaster.

"I want to take advantage of this opportunity to express Bolivia's solidarity with the Haitian people," said Morales during a public ceremony.

According to Bolivia's president, global warming is causing devastating effects in several countries in the world with different climatic incidences such as droughts, heavy rains and hurricanes.

Costa Rica, Brazil and Uruguay also feature in the list of countries that have expressed their sympathies to Haiti and through their foreign ministries they have offered their support to the Caribbean island while expressing their deepest regret at the loss of life caused by the natural disaster.

In Haiti, around 20,000 houses were destroyed, over 15,600 people were evacuated and the death toll could reach over one thousand, once the problems surrounding communication, electricity and roads corroborate the magnitude of the damage, according to figures from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Hurricane Matthew is considered to be the strongest one in the tropical Atlantic since "Felix" in 2007 and one of the most worrisome consequences in Haiti is the possible return of the cholera epidemic which has not been completely eradicated from the island since the 2010 earthquake.
Hundreds of others, mostly civilians, were injured and many bodies were completely burned and turned into ashes. (AFP photo)

ADEN, Yemen, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh called on his followers and armed forces to carry out more retaliatory armed attacks against Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Saleh, who is the powerful ally of the Shiite Houthi group, appeared in a televised speech just one day after allegedly Saudi-led airstrikes targeted Qaah al-Kubra, one of Sanaa's biggest event halls, as it was hosting a funeral ceremony.

The former president urged his military and security forces to head for border areas with Saudi Arabia to revenge for Saturday's attack.

"All of our sons and fighters must head immediately to take revenge by escalating armed attacks in the borders with Saudi Arabia," Saleh said in his speech.

"Commanders of our military forces have to work hard to raise the fighting readiness to take revenge for Yemenis killed by Saudi warplanes inside camps, public markets and hospitals," Saleh said.

According to medical sources, the attack left more than 160 people killed, including military leaders and government officials allied with Houthis and Saleh.

Hundreds of others, mostly civilians, were injured and many bodies were completely burned and turned into ashes, witnesses near the scene said.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition denied any role in the attack in Sanaa banquet hall, inviting to explore other possible reasons by launching an immediate investigation.

The Houthis, backed by Saleh's loyal forces, stormed Sanaa in September 2014, fighting against what they said "Hadi's government corruption."

They seized Sanaa and much parts of the country's north, forcing Hadi and his government to flee into exile.

The Saudi-led coalition launched a military air campaign against Houthis and Saleh's forces on March 26, 2015 to restore Hadi to power and recapture the capital.

The coalition's airstrikes and ground battles have since killed over 10,000 Yemenis, mostly children and women, injuring around 35,000 others and displacing three million others, according to UN reports.

Houthis and Saleh's forces still control the capital Sanaa and much parts of the war-stricken Arab country.
Forensic experts investigate the scene at the community hall where Saudi-led warplanes struck a funeral in Sanaa, the capital ofYemen, October 9, 2016. (Reuters photo)

TEHRAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The alleged deadly attack by Saudi-led coalition on a mourning ceremony in Yemen's capital Sanaa on Saturday drew strong criticism from the Islamic republic officials.

Iran's Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan said Sunday that the Saudi Arabia rulers are "war criminals and should be put on trial" over its strike on Yemen's capital Sanaa, Tehran Times daily reported.

"They have committed an unpardonable crime which should not go unnoticed by the world," Dehqan said, adding that "Whoever keeps silence vis-a-vis this barbarity will have assisted the Al-Saud (Saudi kingdom) with the crime."

On Saturday, reports said that Saudi-led airstrikes targeted Qaah al-Kubra, one of Sanaa's biggest event halls, as it was hosting a funeral ceremony.

According to medical sources, the attack left more than 160 people killed, including military leaders and government officials allied with Iran-backed Shiite Houthis and their ally Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Hundreds of others, mostly civilians, were injured and many bodies were completely burned and turned into ashes, witnesses near the scene said.

Also, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, said Sunday that the Saudi coalition has used the U.S. in the attack on Sanaa.

The Yemeni people at the funeral ceremony were bombed by American weapons delivered to the "aggressive Saudi army," Shamkhani said in a statement, stressing that the U.S. is an "accomplice" in the crime and should be held accountable for it.

"Sales of arms to Saudi Arabia and the (United Arab) Emirates play a key factor in the military aggression against Yemen and the killing of innocent Yemenis, and the West should stop it," the top security official was quoted as saying.

Shamkhani said that western public opinion should realize what role their governments are playing in the continuation of the war on Yemen.

On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the alleged air strikes of the coalition on mourners in Sanaa.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi expressed regret that the international community was silent over the military aggression of the coalition and the killing of the innocents.

In order to put an end to the fabricated crisis in Yemen, there was no way but to stop the belligerent aggressors and begin serious dialogue with the participation of all Yemeni sides, Qasemi said.

He expressed Iran's strong disapproval over such an "inhumane and heinous crime" and sympathized with the families of the victims.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition has denied any role in the attack in Sanaa banquet hall, inviting to explore other possible reasons by launching an immediate investigation.

The Houthis, allied with Ali Abdullah Saleh's loyal forces, stormed Sanaa in September 2014, fighting against what they said "Hadi's government corruption."

They seized Sanaa and much parts of the country's north, forcing President Mansour Hadi and his government to flee into exile.

The Saudi-led coalition launched a military air campaign against Houthis and Saleh's forces on March 26, 2015 to restore Hadi to power and recapture the capital.

The coalition's airstrikes and ground battles have since killed over 10,000 Yemenis, mostly children and women, injuring around 35,000 others and displacing three million others, according to UN reports.

Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies have accused Iran of arming the Houthis.

Last month, a letter by Saudi Arabia to the UN Security Council also alleged that Iran was transferring weapons to the Houthi fighters in violation of UN Resolution 2216.

Iran denied Saudi claims, saying that allegations about transporting arms into Yemen were "unfounded and undocumented."
TEHRAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- An Iranian energy official said here Sunday that talks are underway with some German companies to invest in Iran's petrochemical projects, Iran's Petro-Energy Information Network (SHANA) reported.

Managing Director of Iran's National Petrochemical Company (NPC) Marzieh Shahdaie referred to the recent visit of German Minister of Economy, Sigmar Gabriel, to Iran and said that talks were held with German officials for the ways of German companies' engagement in Iranian petrochemical industry.

Shahdaie said German companies including BASF Group, Linde Group and Air Liquide as well as several other companies are finalizing types of contribution to and investment in Iranian petrochemical projects.

She emphasized that technical problems are not the cause of foreign companies' absence in Iran's energy projects, rather certain banking problems, including money transfer, are the bottlenecks which are hoped to be settled soon.
TEHRAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Norway Foreign Minister Borge Brende said that his country has opened a one-billion U.S. dollar credit line to be used by its companies in their businesses with Iran, Press TV reported on Sunday.

"Norway encourages its companies, banks and monetary institutions to launch cooperation with Iran," Brende said in a meeting with Iran's Economy Minister Ali Tayyebnia on the sidelines of World Bank-IMF annual meetings in Washington D.C..

"An export credit line worth one billion dollars has been allocated to Norwegian companies. Out of it, 400 million U.S. dollars will be used to export advanced technologies to Iran," he said.

Iran could be an excellent trade partner to Norway given its high stability and political security as well as the upward trend of its economic growth, he added.

Tayyebnia also urged close cooperation between the banking sectors of both countries, saying that "initiating banking ties between Iranian and Norwegian banks would also facilitate escalation of bilateral economic ties."

Tayyebnia also called for an ease of taxation and customs services between the two countries and signing investment contracts.

Norwegian companies have participated in a number of joint ventures with their Iranian and international partners carrying out oil and gas-related projects inside Iran.

Reportedly, Norway's Statoil teamed up with Iran's Petropars over the development of Iran's South Pars oil field and completed the project in 2009.

Also, Norway's Hydro company teamed up with Russia's Lukoil to explore Khorramabad oil bloc in western Iran. The project led to the discovery of Anaran oil field in 2005.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) shakes hands with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2016. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- China and Portugal on Sunday vowed to upgrade economic cooperation by enhancing investment and trade and exploring the third-party market.

The pledge came as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held talks with his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Hailing the two countries' economies as highly complementary, Li called on both sides to realize the potential of cooperation and link China's Belt and Road Initiative with Portuguese development.

Li encouraged the two countries to consolidate and explore the third-party market and multilateral cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries, and enhance cooperation in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure and auto manufacturing.

"We can combine China's market potential and advantages in equipment manufacturing with Portugal's advanced technology to create long-lasting and mutually beneficial cooperation," Li said at a press conference with Costa.

Both countries can create new growth points in the sectors of energy connectivity, renewable energy and clean energy, Li told Costa, calling on both side to be committed to trade and investment liberalization.

Li said he believed that Portugal will provide a better investment environment and better legal safeguards for investors, including Chinese entrepreneurs.

Costa, who is here for a five-day official visit that started Saturday, said Portugal was willing to maintain high-level visits with China, jointly promote third-party market cooperation and deepen investment and trade cooperation in areas such as energy, finance, port and railway construction, agriculture and tourism.

Portugal encourages Chinese enterprises to give full play to their advantages in production capacity and technology, and explore cooperation of the new energy industry, under the Belt and Road Initiative, Costa said.

The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on enhancing third-party market cooperation.

Both countries also called for more diplomatic and cultural exchange, with the signing of documents to open direct flights from Beijing to Lisbon, and the establishment of each other's cultural centers in both countries.

On the political front, Li said the bilateral relations have undergone stable and healthy development in the past 37 years since the two forged diplomatic ties.

The two countries realized the smooth handover of Macao from Portugal to China in 1999 via negotiation, which set a good example for countries to deal with historical issues and opened a new chapter for China-Portugal ties, Li said.

Over the past 17 years since Macao's return, the principles of "one country, two systems," Macao people administering Macao, and a high degree of autonomy have been implemented, he said, adding that with the efforts of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) government and the entire community, Macao has scored remarkable achievements.

Costa agreed with Li on the smooth handover of Macao, saying he was glad to see that Macao had become a good platform for Portuguese-speaking countries to develop ties with China.

Both Li and Costa are going to visit Macao to attend the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries next Tuesday.

Li spoke highly of the forum's role in boosting the common development of the Chinese mainland, Macao SAR and Portuguese-speaking countries, since it was established 13 years ago. He called on both China and Portugal to further promote inter-governmental cooperation.

Costa said Portugal is ready to step up cooperation with China via the platforms of Macao and the forum.

On EU integration, Li said China has always viewed the EU from a strategic height and long-term perspective, supported the process of EU integration, and believed that a united, prosperous and stable EU was in line with the interests of all sides and conducive to the world's economic recovery.

China hopes that Portugal, as an important EU member, will continue to play a constructive role in boosting China-EU relations, the premier said.

The two countries also signed bilateral documents on finance, energy and telecommunication after the talks.
A file photo shows a shoe being pictured near the explosion scene following a late night attack on a wedding party that left at least 30 dead in Gaziantep in southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border on August 21, 2016. (AFP/Xinhua)

ANKARA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Ten soldiers and eight civilians were killed on Sunday when outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants staged a car bomb attack targeting a military post in southeastern Turkish province of Hakkari, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced.

Altogether 18 were killed in the suicide attack when a PKK bomber blew himself up inside a bomb-laden pickup that drove into the Durak gendarmerie road checkpoint, Yildirim said while speaking ahead of a ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) consultation meeting.

The prime minister said that five tons of explosives were used in the attack, which created a six-meter-deep hole at the scene and damaged buildings nearby, adding that the latest series of security operations in rural areas of the region had seriously limited the power and abilities of the PKK, making them attempt to stage suicide attacks.

He voiced determination in the country's fight against the PKK, the Islamic State and other terror organizations.

Hakkari Governor's Office also stated that 27 people, including 11 soldiers, were wounded in the attack and transferred to hospitals with a military helicopter, adding that the bomb-laden pickup disobeyed stop warnings while other PKK militants opened fire to distract attention. The pickup was later detonated.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly condemned the attack in a written statement, saying the government was determined to obstruct PKK attacks and take all kinds of political, diplomatic and military precautions both at home and abroad for a more secure and peaceful future.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of Turkish Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), said that the executive authorities should act with prudence and responsibility to ease the nation's pain and achieve peace.

According to Turkish General Staff, 387 PKK militants have been killed in Hakkari since Aug. 4.

A wide-scale air-supported operation is being conducted in the region, the military added.

The PKK is listed as a terror organization by the United States, the European Union and Turkey.
CAIRO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Egypt does not interfere in the domestic affairs of any state, particularly friendly ones like Ethiopia, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry reaffirmed in a statement Sunday.

The remarks came after the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry summoned Egypt's ambassador to the country last week for discussions over a video circulated online purportedly showing "an Egyptian" sharing a stage with members of the rebel, outlawed Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).

"The meeting of the Egyptian ambassador and the Ethiopian foreign minister showed common understanding of the necessity to maintain the positive momentum of the relations between the two countries," Egyptian Foreign Ministry's Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in the statement.

The OLF is an Ethiopian organization established in 1973 by Oromo nationalists, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, to promote self-determination for the Oromo people. It has been designated a terrorist organization by the Ethiopian government.

Ethiopia declared on Sunday a six-month state of emergency over anticipated threats "posed by forces working in collaboration with foreign enemies to undermine the safety of the people and security and stability of the country," according to the Ethiopian News Agency.

Zeid continued that the video could possibly be circulated "by parties that seek to sow discord and drive a wedge between Egypt and Ethiopia," hailing the recent establishment of mutual trust.

Tense overshadowed Egypt-Ethiopia relations since the later started in 2013 to divert a tributary of the River Nile as a first preparatory step to build its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), amid Egyptian concerns that the dam may affect Egypt's 55.5 billion-cubic-meters annual share of the river water.

However, Egypt and its fellow downstream Nile Basin country Sudan gradually showed more understanding of Ethiopia's development aspirations and the Ethiopian side showed cooperation and commitment to abide by technical studies while building the dam.

On Sept. 20, Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia signed contracts with two consultancy offices to conduct further technical studies on the GERD.

Extending on an area of 1,800 square kilometers, the GERD is scheduled to be completed in three years at a cost of 4.7 billion U.S. dollars.
DEVILS LAKE  The challenges facing Native American students and parents when it comes to education are well documented. According to U.S. News and World Report, 67 percent of Native American students graduated high school in the 2014-15 term, compared to the national average, which was 80 percent.

The Devils Lake Journal reported that there are, of course, multiple reasons for the discrepancy, not the least of which is poverty and the dark history of relations between white settlers and Native Americans. Broken treaties, boarding schools and the fallout from failed programs over the years, among many other factors, have led to the current situation here and around the country.

Dr. Jared Schlenker, Central Middle School principal and director of the Native American Education Advisory Committee, said that the organization works to address some of the issues students face.

"We have a survey that we do every fall, (which is) a needs assessment to ask parents what areas students are struggling in or are doing well (in)," Schlenker said. "The first question we ask is, 'Does your child feel welcome in Devils Lake Public Schools?'"

Schlenker estimated that the district has "about 30 percent" Native American students, and federal guidelines mandate that schools with a certain percentage of Native students are required to have a committee such as the NAEAC.

The NAEAC is comprised of Native American parents and a student representative, and the goal is to help students not only feel welcome, but thrive in school.

To reach that goal, Schlenker said that teachers and administrators have a duty to build relationships with all of the students that walk in the door.

"Any time a Native American student walks into a school and sees 98 percent white folks teaching, I think teachers need to be aware of that," Schlenker said. "We need to try to make those strong connections with students."

Of course, a school and its administration can only do so much. Many of the issues that are unique to Native Americans are outside of the committee's influence, such as high poverty rates. The latest data made available by the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the poverty rate on Spirit Lake Nation was 45.3 percent from 2005 to 2009.

The poverty rate statewide during that time was 12.3 percent.

Though the numbers may have changed somewhat since then, Schlenker said that both the district and the state are doing what they can to improve educational outcomes for Native Americans.

"The state is really looking to increase the involvement of Native American students and parents. We need to do a better job of reaching them," Schlenker said.

One way the state is approaching the issue is the development of a curriculum that is specific to the Native American experience. Schlenker reported that the district has also benefited from a grant from Spirit Lake Casino, which he says is being used to supply materials to advance the curriculum.

"We have received some additional grant funding," Schlenker said. "The last two years we've received $5,000 from the Spirit Lake Casino specifically for the purpose of gathering Native American literature into our libraries, as well as trying to support our Native American curriculums."

Another area the NAEAC is involved with is the provision of technology to Native students.

"Technology is another piece we want to make sure our Native American students are provided with," Schlenker said. "If they don't have it at home, what can we do at the school to provide it for them?"

The district and Native American parents and students in the region face steep educational challenges on several fronts. The website Think Progress reported that while other ethnic minority groups across the country have seen performances rise since 2005, the performance of Native students has stayed flat or actually declined.

"Native American students, including American Indians and Alaska Natives, have seen virtually no improvement in their academic achievement gap at the same time that other minority groups have experienced improvements, a new report from The Education Trust finds," according to the site.

Think Progress also reports that "in 2011, just 18 percent of Native fourth graders were proficient or advanced in reading on the National Assessment of Education Progress, while 42 percent of white fourth graders had reached those levels."

The numbers are certainly daunting and one district in one city can only do so much. However, Schlenker said that the NAEAC is working hard to address educational discrepancies.

"I think we have a great group of adults on (the committee) right now that give a lot of input," Schlenker said. "We have a student representative as well, and our main theme is when we have those meetings is, 'What can we do to increase our parent involvement? What can we do to increase students' desire to be in school?' Because another piece is the attendance. You have to be there (to learn)."
TEHRAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Sunday denounced the alleged Saudi-led airstrike against Yemen's capital Sanaa, expressing Tehran's readiness to treat the wounded people, Press TV reported.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to take swift action with regard to transferring the wounded (Yemenis) and treating them (in Iran) in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)," Larijani said.

"After more than one and half years of Saudi Arabia's deadly military aggression against Yemen and acts of violence against the country's oppressed people, the world once again was shocked by Saudi air raid on a funeral hall in the capital of Sanaa which left hundreds of defenseless civilians dead or injured," he said.

Larijani criticized international community for what he called their "silence and indifference" over ongoing situation in Yemen.

The alleged deadly attack by Saudi-led coalition on a mourning ceremony in Yemen's capital Sanaa on Saturday has drawn strong criticism from the Islamic republic officials.

According to medical sources, the attack left more than 160 people killed, including military leaders and government officials allied with Iran-backed Shiite Houthis and their ally Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Hundreds of others, mostly civilians, were injured and many bodies were completely burned and turned into ashes, witnesses near the scene said.
A member of the Syrian civil defence volunteers, known as the White Helmets, looks at a destroyed building following a reported air strike on the rebel-held town of Douma, on the eastern outskirts of the capital Damascus, on October 5, 2016. (AFP/Xinhua)

DAMASCUS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Tension has recently hit a new high between Moscow and Washington over the situation in Syria, which prompted the Russian leadership to send clear messages to the U.S. that the double-dealing and duplicity are no longer tolerable, analysts say.

The Russian messages to the United States were on the military and diplomatic levels, following a number of statements and actions by Washington, regarding possible escalation against the Syrian army.

ON MILITARY LEVEL

Russia has deployed the S400 and S300 air-defense systems in Syria, which was seen as a clear message to the U.S. that any possible military intervention or attacks on Syrian army positions will not pass with impunity.

The deployment of the powerful air-defenses came against the backdrop of the strikes of the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition against the Syrian army positions last month, when 90 Syrian soldiers were killed by the airstrikes while fighting the Islamic State (IS) group in the Deir al-Zour province.

After the strikes, which marked the first U.S.-led strikes against the Syrian army, analysts said the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition was shifting its stance in Syria toward carrying out strikes against Syrian military positions to help the rebels in their fight against the Syrian government forces, particularly as the Syrian army was making strides against the rebels with the help of Russia.

Even though the strikes were claimed by the U.S. of being accidental, analysts said it was the first in a sequence of events that signaled the U.S. shift.

The U.S. administration has later pulled out of deal with Russia regarding Syria's cessation of hostilities plan, which was followed by a barrage of accusations on Russia and the Syrian army of committing war crimes against civilians in Aleppo.

The Syrian military offensive against the Western-backed rebels in Aleppo has nurtured the Western fears that the Syrian army may actually regain control over the entire city of Aleppo, something the West, mainly the U.S., vehemently oppose.

"The Western officials keep repeating a broken record that if the army regained Aleppo, it will attract more radicals seeking revenge, and will also cause a new wave of refugees, but these are all statements that don't make any sense," Maher Ihsan, a political analyst, told Xinhua.

He said the main backers of the jihadi groups are the Western countries and Turkey.

"At the beginning of the conflict, when the insurgency took hold in Aleppo countryside, the city of Aleppo itself was calm, and the people there were branded by the rebels as cowards for noting wanting to join the alleged revolution, and later on the rebels, who were receiving cash and weapons through Turkey, attacked Aleppo and took hold in the eastern part of the city," he said.

Ihsan added that "the possible recapture of the rebel-held part of Aleppo city by the government forces would be a strong blow to the jihadi groups and the rebels who are supported by Turkey and the West, and that's why the Western powers are diplomatically fighting so that they don't lose their leverage in Aleppo, because they know that President Bashar al-Assad will have the upper hand in the conflict, if Aleppo falls back to him."

With the Russian deployment of the air defenses, "gone will be the days, when the U.S. would express untrammeled power to push for a regime change in Syria," Ihsan added.

Meanwhile, Samih Sa'b, a Lebanese writer, said that when the U.S. recently said it was studying "all options," it gave the sentiment that it may resort to military strikes against the Syrian army, akin to the threats of U.S. military actions on Syria in 2013, which ended when Moscow suggested the dismantling of Syria's chemical weapons as a deal that saved Syria from a possible U.S.-led attack.

At the time, though, the Russians were not engaged militarily and politically in Syria as they are now.

He said that any American military strike, even if it targeted Syrian military positions, will deal a blow to Russia's role in Syria and it's international status as well.

"This is why Russia is now amassing its air force and ground troops, not necessarily to engage in a direct military confrontation with the U.S., but to send a message to Washington that there will be consequences to any direct military actions on Syrian army, with the aim to weaken the regime and impose a settlement on it."

The Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov warned the United States in a statement "to think twice" before striking any Syrian airbases, saying "I would like to suggest that in Washington, it should be clear about the consequences of such a plan."

A Syrian man mourns over the body of his father who was killed in air strikes on the rebel-held town of Douma, on the eastern outskirts of the capital Damascus, on October 5, 2016. (AFP/Xinhua)

ON DIPLOMATIC LEVEL

Russia, on one side, and France, Britain, Spain and the United States on another side, clashed during the UN Security Council on Saturday, with each party staring daggers at one another, marking another escalation in the UN venue.

Moscow, for the fifth time since the crisis began in Syria over five years ago, used the veto against a French draft resolution.

The aforementioned Western powers returned the veto to Russia, by raising their hands against a Russian draft resolution put forward in the same unusual session on Saturday.

The French draft presented to members a few days ago called for efforts to ground Russian and Syrian military planes over Aleppo, while the Russian draft included many elements of the first draft, added support to references of a Sept. 9 Russia-U.S. accord and prioritized separation of armed opposition groups from the Nusra Front terrorist group but excluded the no-fly zone proposal.

Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia, this month's president of the Security Council, speaking in his national capacity after it was defeated, said "We were not expecting it to be adopted. It was just a political demonstration, if you like."

"While it wasn't implement -- while we think it could have been -- I'd like to reassure you that very complicated multilateral and bilateral work is ongoing and we do continue to hope that the situation in Syria will go back to normal and this would have a most beneficial effect on the situation in eastern Aleppo and we hope that happens as quickly as possible," he said.

It was another testy session of the council, normally a model of decorum.

"Normally I begin my statements in this Council with the words 'Thank you, Mr. President.' I cannot do that today," said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, opening his remarks after the first resolution failed to be adopted.

"Because today, we have seen the fifth veto in five years on Syria from you, Mr. President, a veto that has once again stopped this Council from creating the unity needed to give the people of Syria any hope for respite from their suffering, a veto that has once again denigrated the credibility and respect of the Security Council in the eyes of the world," Rycroft said.

Analysts said the Russian veto was another message to Washington and its Western allies that any move to support the radical rebels is unacceptable, as grounding the airstrikes over eastern Aleppo will only empower the rebels, most of whom are with the Nusra Front, which has rebranded itself as the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, after ostensibly cutting ties with al-Qaida.

"If it wasn't for the Russian veto, the Western powers would have repeated their hegemony and irresponsible actions, which we had seen in Iraq and Libya, they wanted to create a no-fly zone to support the rebels on ground, and prevent the Syrian government from dislodging the insurgents out of eastern Aleppo," Ahmad al-Ashkar, a journalist and political analyst, told Xinhua.

He noted that the Western powers haven't even touched upon the fresh proposition of the UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura, who recently proposed the evacuation of the ultra-radical rebels from eastern Aleppo, something the Russian side accepted and embedded in their draft resolution.

The Western powers, he said, "have proven their failure in resolving other country's crisis in the past, and, particularly, the United States cannot be lecturing other countries about human rights and ending wars, as the heinous war against Iraq in 2003 is still in our memory."

"The United States was the one using the al-Qaida jihadists in Afghanistan to defeat the Soviet Union, and its invasion to Iraq was the main reason the IS group exists today, as the leaders of the IS were in Iraq and grew radicalized by the U.S. invasion," he added.

With the Russians now standing in the face of U.S., the world could see other solutions to the Syrian crisis, where the "Western policy of fomenting chaos, rather than solutions, will be put on tight leash," he remarked.
U.S. Republican Donald Trump speaks during the first presidential debate with Democrat Hillary Clinton at Hofstra University in Hempstead of New York, the United States, Sept. 26, 2016. (Xinhua/ File Photo)

by Xinhua writers Zhu Lei, Shang Yang, Xu Jianmei

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, the United States, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump had rolled up his sleeves for a battle with his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the second presidential debate on Sunday to lift the shadow left hanging over his campaign by his subdued performance in their first showdown.

But the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his brags about sexual assaults unleashed a nearly deadly blow to his already momentum-stalling campaign and it is hard for the brash New York billionaire to bring the campaign back on track with the Nov. 8 election only four weeks away, experts said.

LEWD TAPE

Trump "can't do any worse than the tape. I do not think he can reverse any effect but he can try to stop any further damage," Robert Shapiro, a professor and former chair of the Department of Political Science at Columbia University, told Xinhua on Sunday.

Since the disclosure on Friday of a 2005 video in which bragged in obscene language about forcing himself on women sexually, more than two dozen Republican lawmakers have distanced themselves from their party's nominee - some withdrawing endorsements or called for him to drop out of the race for the White House. Some spoke of vice presidential candidate Mike Pence as an alternative.

Pence, whose calm and collected performance in last week's vice presidential debate scored points for the party's ticket, also delivered an unheard-up reproach by a running mate, saying in a statement that "he was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump." He called the second debate as a crucial moment to turn around the campaign.

Although the Republican Party's top leadership, including House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and party chairman Reince Priebus, stopped short of reversing their support, they decried his vulgar comments.

Trump acted as his own fireman, offering an apology for what he called "locker room banter" conversation in a brief statement while attacking former President Bill Clinton for even worse remarks on women. However, Trump vowed not to quit under any circumstances.

The tape scandal is "clearly a further setback" to his already momentum-stalling campaign, Shapiro said. "The best he can hope for is that he does not lose any more voters and Republican leader support and that he can get out his base of support in the key states in the election."

"He may be able to stop any further damage and still mobilize voters who greatly dislike Clinton, even if they might be less enthusiastic for him. He will try to offset the damage by continuing strong criticisms of Clinton and perhaps increase his criticism of the media's coverage of Clinton's shortcomings," Shapiro said.

An organizer staff walk out of media filing center for the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, the United States, Oct. 9, 2016. The second presidential debate will kick off in few hours. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

WOMEN VOTERS, UNDECIDED VOTERS

Dave Robertson, professor and chair of Department of Political Science at the University of Missouri, believed that "it looks like that Trump is unlikely to do anything to overcome the problem."

The tape scandal hurt the feelings of the women voters most, Robertson told Xinhua on Sunday, noting that "women voters, especially those who are highly educated, are going very heavily for Hillary Clinton right now."

"For those undecided women voters, the lewd tape may push them to Clinton. He may not have the ability to convince them to come back and consider him anymore. If that's true, Clinton will win the suburbs of American cities, which cast half the votes in the election. Those suburbs would carry her to victory," Robertson said.

In their first face-off held on Sept. 26, Trump was not eloquent, not thoughtful, and not strategic whether in his approach to the debate or even post-debate reactions, Amra Sabic-El-Rayess, senior research scientist on education policy and social analysis at the Columbia University, told Xinhua.

"As a result, he is more likely to take a very aggressive stance, give us a much more aggressive performance both in his gestures, his narratives and in the content he brings to the second debate," Amra said. "The only unknown that remains to be seen is to what extend he is going to be aggressive."

"The more aggressive Trump gets in his languages and attacks whether they are targeting Hillary Clinton or the languages reflecting his negative attitude toward Muslims, or Mexicans and women in this country, the more it would influence a small portion, but an important portion of the voting population. Those are moderate Republicans, women and immigrants and those who have not made up their minds," she said.

A Quinnipiac University poll released on Friday showed that Clinton has a three-to-five point lead over Trump nationally, adding that women, non-Whites gave Clinton five-point lead over Trump, and independent voters were in big shift to Clinton.

Among the four biggest battleground states - those that do not have reliable vote either Republican or Democratic -- Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania are tilting Clinton's way, while Trump still has an upper hand in Ohio where he claims strong support among working-class white voters, the poll showed.

Journalists work at the media filing center for the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, the United States, Oct. 9, 2016. The second presidential debate will kick off in few hours. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

BASE SUPPORTERS

Shapiro also believed that Trump's demeaning words may affect women voters most of all. But, "most of his supporters will not be affected by his comments -- they are strong (white and especially male) supporters and opponents of Clinton who have not cared what Trump says and does that is disrespectful," the professor said.

As the second and third debate looms large as one of the final chances to alter the trajectory of the race, both campaigns are working feverishly in the most competitive states to get their core supporters to vote early and persuade undecided voters to back their candidates.

"Voter turnout of each party's base will decide the election," Shapiro said. "If his remarks help mobilize Clinton's base of support on Election Day or lead Republican voters to not vote for president (or not vote for Trump), then the Democrats may win big."

As for Clinton's email scandals and new release by WikiLeaks showing Clinton told top banking executives that she has "both a public and a private position" on Wall Street reform and is reliant on wealthy donors to fund her campaign, Robertson said "there are also serious concerns about Clinton's honesty."

But the scandal surrounding Clinton is not so terrible that many of her supporters abandon her, the professor said, adding that "Trump's tape scandal is so sensational that it made so many headlines and that many people overlooked the Wikileaks problem entirely."

Robertson believed that the tape scandal "hasn't dealt a death blow to Trump's hopes" because of the possibility of "October Surprise."

"New scandal could come out; she may have a serious health problem; or maybe a big terrorist attack could turn things around. But Trump has no control of his own fate at this point," he said. Enditem
People take part in the "March in Silence for the Peace" in Bogota, capital of Colombia, on Oct. 5, 2016. According to local press, university students of the country marched in support of the peace in Colombia and of the peace agreements between the Government of Colombia and the Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC). (Xinhua/Jhon Paz)
Photo taken on Oct. 8, 2016 shows the United Nations Security Council voting on a France-drafted resolution on Syria, at the UN headquarters in New York. The UN Security Council on Saturday failed to adopt a resolution on Syria drafted by France as Russia vetoed it. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
NECHE -- A routine theft investigation turned into one of the biggest drug busts near the Canadian border in Pembina County, according to law enforcement officers.

Now a local business is under investigation to see if it was used to channel those drugs.

It started with a search warrant for stolen, high-priced car parts at 52-year-old Renaud Duane Winkler's property off North Dakota Highway 18 in Neche, a city of about 370 residents approximately 90 miles north of Grand Forks.

We were looking for two engines, actually came across a vast amount of drugs at the scene, Pembina County Sheriff Terry Meidinger said.

The auto body sign outside the garage served as a cover for a storage shed for drugs, according to investigators. They said they found $23,000 worth of meth, along with cocaine, marijuana, scales and baggies inside the shed.

That is something law enforcement is still looking at, following how and where drugs are coming into Pembina County, County States Attorney Ryan Bialas said.

Winkler also ran L&M bar in Neche. Investigators said they want to know if there was more than just alcohol on tap.

We will obviously look into all ties, if it is charged with drug delivery, and if you are delivering there has to be channels and means to do so, said Bialas.

Prosecutors remained tight lipped when asked where the drugs were headed.

We do have information in regards to the drugs, but that is part of the ongoing investigation, responded Bialas.

Winkler was sentenced to 6 years in prison after pleading guilty to meth and cocaine distribution charges in early 2000.

One other arrest was made during the execution of the search warrant.

57-year-old Tammy Tate was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

Police claim they found several bags of meth in her purse.

Charges have not been filed with the North Dakota court system, though its likely they will be in the following days.
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October 09, 2016

Deutsche Welle Misreports Latest Terrorist Attack in Jerusalem

Deutsche Welle is Germany's international news service providing news in multiple languages online, on satellite TV and radio. Judging, however, from their report on the latest terrorist attack in Jerusalem, they cannot be trusted to report accurately in an unbiased fashion. Consider this headline and lede:

Was this indeed a case of a trigger-happy, brutal police force assassinating a "suspect" without giving him the benefit of a trial? This is the likeliest conclusion to be drawn from Deutsche Welle's distorted report.

But, in fact, the terrorist -- 39-year-old Mousabah Abu Sabih of the eastern Jerusalem Silwan neighborhood, who had been previously indicted for incitement to terrorism and who was reportedly supposed to begin a 4-month incarceration today for assaulting a policeman-- went on a shooting spree and was in the midst of a murderous rampage when he was shot dead by border police. He had just critically wounded a Yasam special patrol officer, who later died of his wounds in hospital, as well as wounding a second officer. This came after he had critically shot a 60-year-old woman who later died of her wounds-- and wounded many others as he shot at people from the window of his car. He was not a "suspect" in an incident that was in dispute, but an active shooter who was in the midst of trying to kill as many people as he could.

The terrorist was reportedly a member of Hamas, whose spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, praised the attack and called it a confirmation of the intifada, urging an escalation in attacks. Islamic Jihad praised the attack, as well, while Fatah honored the terrorist as a "martyr".

But, of course, Deutsche Welle, reported none of this, spinning the story-- drawn from Reuters, AFP, and AP -- in an entirely different direction,and in the process revealing itself as more of a propaganda site than a legitmate news agency.

Posted by RH at October 9, 2016 06:12 AM

what does "ethnically palestinian" mean? aside from the historical fallacy of an arab palestine prior to 1964, "palestinian" might one day become a nationality, but their ethnicity will always be "arab". there is no such thing as a "palestinian" ethnicity, because the term applies equally to the jewish or druze or armenian population of "palestine". just as "israeli" applies to bedouin or jew.

Posted by: shloime at October 10, 2016 12:43 PM

"the line that segregated the mainly ethnically palestinian East Jerusalem from the mostly Jewish western sector of the city" This is barely coherent writing, as well as being mendacious. If east Jerusalem is "mainly ethnically palestinian" and the western sector is "mostly Jewish", then the use of the word "segregated" is out of place and contradicts the meanings of "mainly" & "mostly" which mean not entirely, and hence not segregated. On the other hand, if DW is referring to the Green Line splitting the city between 1948 and 1967, then it was not the line itself that "segregated" but the Arab Legion and Arab irregular forces that drove all Jews out of parts of the city that they took over during the 1947-49 war. Jews were driven out of the Old City and several quarters north of the Orient House and the American Colony Hotel, not far from the site of the attack described inaccurately in the DW article. Why didn't CAMERA pick up the false usage by DW of the word "segregated"? Why doesn't Camera protest that DW lie?

Posted by: Jack Schwartz at October 20, 2016 02:44 PM

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2 men shot, one dies

According to reports officers on mobile patrol at about 8.30 pm heard loud explosions near Building 10, Maloney. When they investigated they found 21-year-old Addison St Louis bleeding from gunshot wounds.

St Louis was taken to the Arima District Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Region Two Homicide is continuing investigations.

In the second incident, 26 year-old Jevon Phillips from El Socorro was shot in the head and is in critical condition at hospital. According to reports at about 6.45pm Phillips and a group of men were playing cards at Chanka Trace, El Socorro when there were several loud explosions.

Phillips was hit in the head. He was rushed to the adult hospital of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope and underwent emergency surgery to remove the bullet in his skull.

Barataria police are continuing investigations.
Bandits shoot, rob fish vendors

A police report stated that at about 3.15 am, Khan, Boodram and two other fish vendors, Mirina Khan, 38 and Avinash Ramroop, 38, were selling at the fish market when they were approached by two gunmen According to the report, the bandits announced a hold-up and ordered the fish vendors to hand over their money.

They were robbed of $1,500, a silver hand band, three silver bracelets and two gold chains, after which the bandits fired shots at Mirinas white pick-up.

The bullets smashed the windows of the vehicle. The men then shot Kevin on the right leg and Boodram in the right hand. Cpl Emritt of the San Fernando CID is investigating.
50 families washed out

A community of the village, located on Cham Road, below Bergorat Hill was a site of devastation yesterday as residents found their homes flooded out, with damage to their furniture, appliances clothing and childrens schoolbooks. There was not much to recover.

Many had spent Friday night with relatives who lived on higher ground having fled their homes at about 3 pm.

Police, responding to distress calls, rescuing women and children stranded in the muddy waters.

They had to stop the contractor from the excavation he was carrying out on Bergorat Hill, where a new residential area is to built.

A police report stated a manmade pond, formed by the excavation works, overflowed and gallons of water spilled into two rivers which burst their banks gushing into residents homes at Cham Road.

Social activist Raymond Cozier, a former councillor, told Sunday Newsday excavation on Bergorat Hill by the land developer created a pond. Following thundershowers last Friday afternoon, the ponds bank gave way and water gushed down the hill into the two rivers which meander through the Cham Road community in Radix Village.

Rabia Bramble, 42, a resident said the Radix Cemetery was first covered in water and then there was a sudden gush of water into homes.

More than 50 school children have been affected, their books and uniforms having been destroyed by the muddy water.

Bramble, Cora Alcindore-Francis 43, and Asha Lemessley, 39, told Sunday Newsday their furniture, stoves, fridges became waterlogged.

We lost our foodstuffs from our cupboards and our childrens clothing and books were floating everywhere, Bramble said. She said she and her three children spent Friday night at her sisters home, and other affected residents found shelter with relatives and friends.

Lemessley told Sunday Newsday that all of her two-year-old and 11-year-old childrens clothing and schoolbooks were destroyed by the muddy water.

We lost all our groceries because water went all in the cupboard. We know that massive pond the contractor build will one day give way.

Well, Friday night, they (contractor) come and drop KFC because we had nothing to eat, Lemessley said.

Residents of Cham Road got assistance from the Community- Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) to clear debris and several inches of dirt from their bedrooms and living rooms yesterday. However, they were not the only ones affected by the combined impact of the overflowing pond and rivers.

An estimated 50 families living along neighbouring Edghill Road, Gould Street and Bon Espoire Road also stayed away from their homes because of the unbearable stench from the flooded cemetery.

Alcindore-Francis, who has two children, ages 17 and 23, quipped, Even the dead must be crying. United National Congress (UNC) Mayaro MP Rushton Paray and incumbent Peoples National Movement councillor and Kairon James visited the area, residents told Sunday Newsday. Paray and James could not be reached despite several calls to them. The contractor also could not be located.

However, Cozier, who is seeking re-nomination as councillor for the UNC, donated $1,000 to the cooking of food for affected residents.

In a media release yesterday, CEPEP stated it had to utilise 180 employees from eight contractors and visit 40 homes to clean-up threefeet of water and mud, which had inundated residents, who may have to endure another wet night or seek shelter elsewhere.
Dillon stands by hero cop

Morgan, who is on vacation, was awaiting a haircut at Specs Cut Barbershop on La Puerta Avenue in Diego Martin on Friday around 12.15 pm when two men entered the barber shop with one requesting tickets for an upcoming JOuvert party. One of the men drew a firearm, announced a robbery and they both began robbing the patrons of their cash and valuables as well as the cash earned from the sale of the party tickets.

According to reports, Morgan drew his personal, licensed firearm and challenged the bandits and a shootout ensued. This resulted in Morgan being shot in the groin, Hassan Ali being shot in his head, Jonathan Vincent shot in the buttocks; Antonio Credlo in the shoulder, Afzard Khan in the lower back, right arm and stomach, and one of the bandits being shot dead.

The civilian victims were taken to the Port-of-Spain for treatment.

Alis condition has been described as serious but stable while the others were deemed stable.

A relative of Ali told Sunday Newsday the bullet entered the left side of his brain and exited the right. However, she said his brain was very swollen so the doctors sedated him to prevent him from having to endure the pain, as well as to speed up healing. She said although the bullet exited, doctors were unsure whether or not bits of the bullet remain, and they could not operate until the swelling was significantly reduced.

She also said doctors informed the family they would take Ali off the sedatives last night in order to see how well his brain would function.

I know God is good and Hassan is strong. With the strength of the Lord above I know he will make it. He will bounce right back, she declared.

Dillon, who yesterday visited Morgan at WestShore Medical Private Hospital in Cocorite, told members of the media, Had he not been present it could have been worse because the people who came there certainly didnt come there for a haircut. They came there with weapons, with illegal arms, ... they came there to commit an offence therefore the possibility is they were there to execute maybe all who were there in the barbershop so fortunately for those who were present that Inspector Kenneth Gibson (sic) was present there at that point in time. He said he felt duty bound to visit Morgan, to check up on his welfare, speak to his family and thank him personally for the courageous stand he took during the incident.

Insp Gibson (sic) literally put his live on the line, to save not only his own live but others in a situation where those who are bent on committing criminal offences in Trinidad and Tobago feel that they can do it almost openly, he said.

Dillon could not say with certainty if all of the civilians were injured by the bullets of the bandit because he did not have the details of the incident. However he stated that Morgan already underwent surgery, was talking, and doing well, and hoped he recovered quickly.

He also indicated that he intended to visit the fire officers who were shocked when they came into contact with a low-hanging high tension electrical wire on Thursday.

The officers were rendering rescue aid to several stranded commuters and a maxi taxi driver on the Priority Bus Route (PBR), in the vicinity of Barataria when the incident occurred.

Divisional Fire Officer in charge of PR Kenneth Stephen, told Sunday Newsday Fire Officer Lall was released from the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex, Mt Hope on Friday morning while the other three officers continue to be warded for further observation.

Stephen added that Fire Officer Devaughn Gibson, who was knocked unconscious and sustained several burns, was seen by doctors and advised to take some minor operations, including some skin graphs, to help with the pain and attend to his burns.
Garcia: Ltille pilot for all at risk-schools

This will be used as a template for schools in other areas because Laventille is not the only area with problems, he told Sunday Newsday.

Garcia said he was excited about the ground-breaking project, which focuses on improving literacy and numeracy skills of students, infrastructural upgrades to schools, increased safety and security and enhancing parenting skills.

Some 25 schools have been targeted for the project, which was launched by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, last Saturday, at the Success/Laventille Secondary School.

Garcia revealed that the management team to guide the initiative has been broken up into two committees, which he called a soft committee and a hard committee.

The soft committee, he said, comprises officials from the Ministry of Education.

This committee will deal with curriculum issues and it is being co-ordinated by a Schools Supervisor 111, Garcia said.

The minister said the hard committee involved community stakeholders, parents and activists.

There has to be buyin by the community for this programme to be effective, he said, adding that meetings of both committees have been ongoing.

The minister said plans were also on stream to host a mass rally for the students of the participating schools after the passage of the Budget.

We are looking tentatively at the Grand Stand of the Queens Park Savannah and we will have the activists and officials playing their part, he said.

Asked to elaborate on the Prime Ministers statement that teachers at the school will be given special consideration, Garcia said apart from serious crime and a generally low performance portfolio, many of them also had to contend with violent, delinquent youths.

So, there is a tremendous burden placed on teachers and many of them do not have the support of parents, he said.

What we have also found is that teachers who have been appointed to schools in Laventille often apply to be transferred out of the area. When contacted, former Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh said the Peoples Partnership had adopted a nationalistic approach to education, focusing on the ministrys watchwords of accessibility, equity and quality.

He said the PNM Government focus on Laventille was laudable, attention should also be placed in low-performing schools in Tobago and the St Patrick Educational Divisions.

These divisions also need to be given immediate attention, Gopeesingh said.

LAVENTILLE PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Laventille Boys Government

Laventille Girls Government

Success RC

Old Lady of Laventille RC

Rose Hill RC

Bethlehem Boys RC

Bethlehem Girls RC

Hockett Baptist

Chinapoo Government

St Hildas Government

St Barbs Government

Lower Morvant Government

Morvant New Government

St Dominics RC

St Phillips Govt

Morvant AC

Excel Beetham Estate

Piccadilly Government

Escallier St Jerome AC

Gloster Hodge Moravian

LAVENTILLE SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Success Laventille Secondary

Morvant Laventille Secondary

Russell Latapy Secondary

South East PoS Secondary

Malick Secondary
Minshall grieves for Stephen Derek

I grieve the death of Stephen Derek. We shared a love of mas and a life devoted to it.

He was a mas man who belonged to a special era which began with Bailey. I fear with his passing, so too is that era passed, Minshall told Sunday Newsday, in a brief interview.

Several organisations and individuals have begun expressing their condolences on the passing of veteran mas man.

On Friday, after complaining about feeling unwell, Derek was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he died around 4 pm.

Born in 1952, in Buller Street, Woodbrook, Derek was mentored by the late, great, George Bailey until Bailey died in 1970.

In 1972, Derek was awarded the Hummingbird Medal (Silver) for his contribution to Carnival Development and in 1978, he started his own band, D Midas Touch, the costumes of which he designed and made using his skills in wire-bending, papier m?ch? moulding, cane work and carving.

In 1990, he started taking his work to the world, with presentations in numerous Trinidad-styled carnivals throughout the Caribbean, in Canada and the United States of America.

He also created costumes for the 1999 Miss Universe Pageant in Trinidad.

In a release, the Trinidad and Tobago Copyright Collection Organisation expressed condolences to the family of Stephen Derek, noting that his death was a great loss. Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar also extended her condolences to his friends and loved ones on behalf of her family and members of the United National Congress (UNC).

He was one of our countrys better- known cultural ambassadors, designing and leading bands wherever there was a Carnival. His artistic talent kept the Trinidad and Tobago flag flying all over the world but he never lost touch with home, said Persad- Bissessar.

Our nation  and in particular the artistic community  has lost a talented son and we pray that his soul will find eternal peace and that his family will find solace in the knowledge that Stephen will continue to live in the hearts of all of us who loved his art, she said.
Whos the man? Francis Felix at 111

The words from the gre at - g re at - g r anddaughter of Francis Felix, believed to be the oldest man in Trinidad and Tobago, who celebrated his 111th birthday yesterday with family and friends at his home in Paramin.

Lisann Constantine, 41, continued on about her great-great grandfather and the five generations that he has impacted, he always said keep on praying and ask God to strengthen your life, so that is why he lived to reach 111. Thora Boisson of the Paramin Conference, along with the family, arranged the event, gathering his children and countless great grand and grandchildren to celebrate his legacy.

Only speaking Patois, Felix seemed tired from all of the busyness around him but found the strength to address his special guests, President Anthony Carmona and Minister of Finance Colm Imbert, the member of Parliament for Diego Martin Central.

Pointing out that Francis was born on October 4, 1905, the President stated, so he wouldve experienced as a boy growing up World War I and World War II.

Thats just remarkable. When asked about why it was so important for him to attend this celebration, Imbert stated, Since I first met him when I was first campaigning, which was in 1991, were talking 25 years, hes just a wellknown, well-loved figure in the village, so it was very important to me. Noel Ho, District Sales Manager for Kiss Cakes, delivered two huge cakes for the celebration, one of which was designed as the number 111 with images of Felix and his family all over. The company has sponsored Felixs birthday cakes since he turned 100 back in 2005.

Family and friends were dressed in red shirts with white writing stating Whos the man? in the front and Francis Felix 111 on the back. A huge image of Felixs joyful smile stood right outside of his home, letting visitors know that they were in the right place, but as you walk into his home, a modest one floor, three room house which cost him a total of $30 at the time of purchase, you see the legacy that Felix has developed within Paramin in news articles along the wall.

Felix and his wife, Mathilda Felix, married and had all 12 of their children in that home.

She passed away in 1988, leaving her husband still in their home.

With his son, Valentine Constantine, just down the hill behind his home, Felix has constant care from his children and the comfort of being at home. I want to really commend the family because it is so easy to put our elderly in homes and you all have refused to do that... that is a kind of testament to people that you are, commended the President.
Newsdays giant tells it as it is

Mills daughter Suzanne, also a journalist, completed the book after her death in 2014 at age 85.

A must-read for media practitioners, writers, historians and those who value diligence, sacrifice and ambition, Byline: The Memoirs of Therese Mills, is an authentic, engaging, inspirational look at one of Trinidad and Tobagos quintessential journalists.

It is a story about family, legacy and one womans commitment, amidst unspeakable odds, to changing a paradigm.

Mills, the former Editor-In-Chief and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Daily News Limited (Newsday), passed away on January 1, 2014, at the age of 85. She died from stage four cancer, her memoirs revealed.

Mills shocking death drew the curtain on a distinguished 69-year career in journalism which reached its pinnacle in 1993 when she launched Newsday, the countrys third daily newspaper - one which she often said, discredited the view of some in the society that the paper would not have survived beyond its initial six months in operation.

The year before Mills untimely passing, though, she had been completing her memoirs to incorporate the Newsday years of her stellar career.

And although she did not live to complete it, Mills daughter, Suzanne, who worked as an editor alongside her mother at the newspaper for two decades, embraced the opportunity to celebrate this exciting, ground-breaking chapter of the iconic journalists career - one which brought to bear elements of Mills life experiences dating back to her early childhood in Woodbrook and later, Diego Martin and Belmont as well as the struggles she overcame to survive in journalism, a once male-oriented profession.

Told in an effortless yet incisive manner containing snapshots of pivotal moments in Mills life, including her years in London, the death of her husband, Ken, and her stint as the first female Editor- In-Chief of a daily newspaper in the region, Byline opens with Suzannes vivid, emotional account of the days leading up to her mothers death in 2014.

She recalled that her mother had come into her room, one week before her demise, announcing, with a sense of urgency, that there were floods in St Vincent.

In hindsight, Suzanne deduced that her mother, perhaps sensing her impending death, had wanted to extract me from my despondence and depression and pull her toward me in a last embrace of mother and daughter. On that day, however, Suzanne wrote that when her mother entered her room, I would not budge, now my greatest regret. Mills deteriorating health had taken a personal toll on her.

I could find no passion for breaking news. Having watched her body wane for months, I knew that she was soon for the afterlife, even if she did not, Suzanne wrote, adding that she had been infuriated with her mother for months after having tried unsuccessfully to take her to the doctor.

In Mills announcement of floods in St Vincent, Suzanne surmised that her mother was dying as she lived, becoming more upbeat as the flesh weakened. Mills passion for news, even in the face of impending death, dominated Suzannes account in My Mother and I, which, essentially chronicled Mills work at the Newsday, from the moment she received a request from the Chokoolingo Group to lead Newsday in 1993 to the confident, uncompromising leadership she provided at the paper for more than two decades.

As Suzanne wrote: My mother was Newsday and Newsday was her and though, in 2013 - the year in which Newsday turned 20 - she kept insisting that she would retire. I could hardly imagine her not working on her paper.

Such was her love for it. In Byline, Suzanne jokingly recalled how reporters, in Newsdays embryonic years, were forced to use antiquated computers, point and shoot cameras when the competition carried laptops, digital gear and travelled with mobile phones. These setbacks, she mentioned, did not stop the paper from rising to number one, just four years after its inception.

The little paper that the Express and the Guardian had said could not, really did. The two giants certainly stopped laughing in 1997 when the Daily Newsday made it to number one, Suzanne wrote.

She also explored Mills meticulousness, recalling that her mother, at the age of 65, when she began Newsday, could spot an error (in the paper) a mile away. Who could have picked up every error such that the proof readers sought to sneak by her office? Who could chastise us with that sideways glance? Suzanne asked.

Suzannes account of Mills illustrious tenure at Newsday, however, was not drawn mainly from familial association but through the views of several persons with whom her mother worked over the years.

These included retired news editor John Babb (whom Mills met shortly after cutting her teeth in journalism); Horace Monsegue (Newsdays Assignments Editor); university lecturer and political scientist Dr Hamid Ghany (one of the papers first columnists); and former political/investigative reporter Andre Bagoo, all of whom provided personal insights into Mills strength, work ethic and tenacity - traits she never relinquished.

Indeed, Mills blazed a trail in which only few can boast. The once outspoken Providence Girls student, who initially wanted to become a lawyer, has interviewed many prominent personalities and experienced many watershed moments in TT s development, Byline revealed.

For example, it talks about the entry of the US on local shores during World War 11 in the 1940s, which brought a number of air and sea bases, most notably at Wrightson Road, Port-of- Spain and Wallerfield.

Mills, who worked at the now defunct Gazette at the time, recalled the impact of the US influence in Trinbagonian society.

I remember Port-of-Spain, particularly Park Street, virtually run over by US sailors and soldiers and their military police. Park Street (like Wrightson Road, a section of which was known as the Gaza Strip) was a stretch of clubs, bars and brothels. MPs, (military policemen) powerfully-built men, patrolled day and night largely to stop fights and drunkenness, Mills wrote.

She also recalled that many intimate relationships were established between American military and Trinidad women - liaisons which may have provided material for Sparrows Jean and Dinah.

Seemingly countless high-society engagements, an interview with revered social worker Audrey Jeffers, the birth and growth of the Peoples National Movement and a chance meeting with Sir Hugh Wooding, were all part of Mills experience in journalism.

Regarding the latter, Mills wrote that it was her widely read column, Focus, during her years at the Trinidad Guardian, which led to a meeting with the former Chief Justice.

Wooding, in a public speech at a convention, had made comments about women which Mills found to be offensive.

When the article appeared, several colleagues expressed amazement that I could be so bold as to criticise the Chief Justice. I had no regrets and I waited for his reaction, she wrote.

Mills, though, was pleasantly surprised by Woodings reaction. He invited her to his office at the then Court of Appeal on St Vincent Street.

It was my first meeting with him and it was entirely cordial.... he never once mentioned his address or the column.

Instead, we talked about many other topics. We became good friends. In Byline, Mills also referred to a quirky assignment while at the Guardian in which she was asked to interview an Arima man who wanted a wife.

As it turned out, the man mistakenly took her for a possible candidate.

I laughed all the way back to the office.

He certainly wasnt my type either but I did get a story out of it..., Mills wrote.

Through it all, Mills never discounted the experience of her earlier years in the library of the Gazette, her first job, which, she felt, set the framework for the career she thoroughly enjoyed.

The years in the Gazette library made me familiar with just about everything that was taking place in the country. I learnt the importance of accuracy in writing and orderliness in presenting facts, she wrote.

It was a period when funerals were reported with as much detail as were meetings of the Legislative or County Councils. Perhaps it was an act of fate, then, that Mills first grandchild, Jerome, had given her a book, titled Write Your Story, during her 2006 Christmas visit with eldest daughter Michelle in Bristol, England. It was meant to record her legacy.

The inscription read: Granny, I look forward very much to reading all that you decide to commit to our family heritage, Love Jerome. She granted Jeromes wishes in her Byline.
Bodoe: Probe maternal deaths

Making his contribution to the Budget debate in the House of Representatives on Friday, Bodoe, an obstetrician by profession, described the situation as unsatisfactory. He referred to the recent death of Sheevana Sookram, 31, at the Sangre Grande Hospital, who was reported to have died from medical complications relating to the pregnancy and three others at the San Fernando General Hospital, over the past few months. Her family has since called for an investigation. It affects family, co-workers and friends, sometimes an entire community. The fallout is tremendous. It is a sad, unfortunate incident when it happens, Bodoe said of women who have lost their lives while giving birth.

Saying he was flabbergasted by Health Minister Terrance Deyalsinghs prediction, in a television interview on May 17, that there would be 2-3 maternal deaths at the Mt Hope Womens Hospital before the end of the year, Bodoe alluded to countries that have placed high priority on minimising maternal deaths.

Singling out the United Kingdom and some of the Norwegian countries, Bodoe said maternal deaths were usually the number of women who die during pregnancy per 100,000 births over a period.

In the UK, it is about ten or less per 100,000, he claimed.

But, our current figures have stayed somewhere between 30 and 40 per 100,000.

Why is this happening? Bodoe referred to a report of the Dr Winston Welch-led committee which suggested, in part, that it was time the Ministry of Health consider establishing a post called Director of Womens Health Care to address maternal deaths with respect to procedures and protocols.

The committee was established by Cabinet last November to review the levels of healthcare delivery by the regional health authorities and to examine the system of public sector doctors in private practice.

On the flip side, Bodoe appealed for the implementation of a no-fault compensation scheme for the families of mothers who died during pregnancy.

Bodoe said despite the fact that doctors and nurses may do everything possible for pregnant mothers, they may still die-- a situation which he said was sometimes unavoidable.

I make this point only to indicate that it is perhaps something that the Member for San Fernando West (Faris Al-Rawi) can look at, he said.

Perhaps, it is time to look at what is commonly termed a no fault compensation because at the end of the day, the families sometimes end up taking this to court and with all due respect to all of the attorneys present here, including you Madam Speaker, sometimes at the end of the day, the patients family gets virtually nothing and the legal team benefits.

I am not saying that in any bad way. Bodoe also called for the establishment of a system of medical insurance for obstetricians.

What has already happened in the US is that because of the insurance many obstetricians have opted not to practice. Therefore, the time may be right to look at some form of ceiling for change with regard to these issues, he said.
Antoine: We will stamp out WASA corruption

During his contribution to the Budget debate in the Parliament, Antoine painted a dismal picture of the State entity, alleging that its operations, under the last administration, were a hotbed of wanton mismanagement and squandermania of billions of dollars of public funds. Questionable procurement practices, he alleged, were the order of the day at the Authority.

This Government moved to stamp out the culture of corruption which was threatening to become endemic in WASA, he declared.

Antoine cited specific examples of potentially criminal acts which were reported in the media: the issuing of 67 fraudulent cheques, which is being investigated by the Central Audit Unit and the fire at WASAs head office, still under investigation by the police. He said the ministry was working in conjunction with the board of WASA to reverse and eliminate these chronic issues plaguing the authority. Delving further, Antoine claimed that the Authoritys infrastructure was poorly maintained, even though it was aged, resulting in a high incidence of leaks in its transmission and distribution network.

The population of Trinidad and Tobago will attest to this and frequent breakdowns at the pumping stations throughout the country, he said.

With an old infrastructure and breakdowns at the pumping stations, when these are repaired and the pressure is put back on, leaks appear throughout the system. It is a continuous breakdown and repair, not providing adequate water to the population of Trinidad and Tobago. The DAbadie/ OMeara MP alleged that the entire public utilities sector, up until one year ago, was in a poor state despite billions of dollars spent by the last administration. The sector was plagued with inadequate and poorly maintained infrastructure, poor governance systems and heavily indebted, he alleged.

The minister said when the PNM assumed office, most of the agencies in the public utilities sector were faced with significant accumulated debt which amounted to more than $5 billion.

The magnitude of the debt burden is the apparent inability of the agencies to operate effectively and deliver on their respective mandates. he said.

Antoine, who described the situation at WASA as shambles, said Government also inherited a situation in which arrears had to be paid out to workers within the sector.

The Government is conscious of the need to give workers their just due. Over the last fiscal year the Government provided $486.7 million to meet the payment of arrears of salaries, he said, adding that WASA, despite the setbacks, has been able to achieve several milestones within the past year.

Antoine also weighed in on the situation at the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (TTEC), noting that the State company had an accumulated debt of approximately $1.6 billion to Trinidad Generation Unlimited (TGU), which, he said, was an unfortunate consequence of the cancellation of the aluminium smelter plant.

TTEC has settled this debt, facilitating TGUs ability to return to the international market for financing, he said.

Antoine said the ministrys budgetary allocation of $3.293 billion will deepen the process of transformation embarked upon by the Government over the past year.
Rambachan questions ferry contract

Calling on Chairman of the Port Authority Christine Sahadeo to explain to the nation what has transpired in the award of the contract, he asked whether any of the directors was a senior advisor to the Port Authority.

Claiming that the contract for the Canadian-based company Bay Ferries Limited had come to an end on September 30, Rambachan told the House of Representatives last Friday during the budget debate that he understood that a new company, Magellan Maritime Services Limited, a locally incorporated company has been given the contract to manage the services. The company was incorporated on March 4, 2016, he said and he would like to know the nature of the company since it has been budgeted for the Port Authority under the heading Governments contribution towards deficit and operation of coastal steamers in the sum of $240 million this year.

He noted that last year the sum budgeted was $230 million and questioned why an increase in $10 million this year.

What are we paying Magellan to do? Are they providing captain and sailors, he queried. The company, he said, was registered in the name of three directors, Alfred McMillan, a marine pilot of Santa Margarita, St Augustine; Terry McMillan of Preysal and Peter Lyons, of Freeport. Rambachan questioned the skills sets and the role of the company in the operation of the fast ferries.

Rambachan said he was interested in the issue as a matter of public safety. If the operations were placed in the wrong hands, he feared to think of the a situation where accidents occurred and people are charged before the courts.

In making queries about the company, Rambachan said he was informed that it is being used as a transition company and as such needed clarification.
Countries of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reiterated on Friday their support for Moroccos territorial integrity and sovereignty before the UNs Fourth Commission.

We express our rejection of any attempt to undermine the supreme interests of the brotherly Kingdom of Morocco, or its sovereignty, Manal Radwan, first secretary at Saudi Arabias UN mission told the UN Commission.

Radwan added that GCC countries are backing efforts to resolve the Sahara issue through a political and consensual solution within the framework of relevant Security Council resolutions, including the 2285 resolution.

In this respect, the Saudi diplomat expressed support for the efforts led by the UN Special Envoy, Christopher Ross.

The diplomat also relayed the call of the GCC countries on all the parties to the conflict to work seriously to contribute positively to the success of this important political process.
Moroccos commitment to promoting trade between African countries has been highlighted during the Frontier 100 forum of initiative for Global Development (IGD) held recently in Washington.

Thanks to its geostrategic position, Morocco plays a key role in inter-regional trade. It serves as a bridge between the Maghreb, West Africa and the rest of the continent, Mima Nedelcovych the CEO of the IGD told Moroccos news agency on the sidelines of the forum.

In this respect, Nedelcovych pointed out to the increasing investments by Moroccan companies in Africa, especially in French speaking countries of the continent, adding that these companies are mostly operating in vital economic sectors such as banking, real estate, insurance, infrastructure and telecommunications.

He praised the economic development far-sightedness of King Mohammed VI to make Morocco a regional hub in terms of food security, infrastructure and renewable energy.

The IGD is a non-profit organization that drives poverty reduction by catalyzing business growth and investment in the developing world.

It brings together an influential network of senior executives from sector-leading companies with the interest and capacity to make strategic investments in high-need and high-potential areas of Africa.
Apprentice executive producers Donald Trump and Mark Burnett at an event in 2004. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

On Saturday, Bill Pruitt, a producer on the first two seasons of The Apprentice, claimed that there are far worse hot-mic tapes of Trump than the Access Hollywood one that was released on Friday. In that off-camera conversation with Billy Bush from 2005, Trump boasted of his ability to sexually assault women because hes famous. What could be worse than that? On Sunday, another veteran TV producer, Chris Nee  a Clinton supporter who did not work on The Apprentice  tweeted that according to producers and crew members she has spoken with, those tapes include Trump using the N-word. Nee makes it clear that she has not seen or heard the tapes herself, so the existence of any such recording remains no more than a rumor at this point.

Nee also claims that anyone caught releasing the footage would have to pay as much as a $5 million leak fee, per their contract with Apprentice executive producer Mark Burnett. Burnett, according to Buzzfeed News, is a Trump supporter and has already threatened to sue Apprentice staffers if they decide to leak outtakes from the show.



@mcuban the price is 5 million to cover the penalty fee. And we all get to hear him use the N word from what I hear https://t.co/IsmJvHHL1K  Chris Nee (@chrisdocnee) October 9, 2016

I don't have the tapes. I've signed a Burnett contract & know leak fee is 5 mill. Hearing from producers/crew N word is the "much worse".  Chris Nee (@chrisdocnee) October 9, 2016

As seen above, Nee is trying to convince billionaire and longtime Trump antagonist Mark Cuban to reimburse the fee should somebody with access leak the footage. That doesnt seem likely, since Cuban both works with Burnett on Shark Tank and defended Burnetts position on the matter to Buzzfeed.

Last week, the Associated Press reported that, based on conversations with more than 20 people who worked or appeared on The Apprentice, Trump would sometimes sexually harass women on the show, often while cameras were rolling, suggesting that unedited footage of those incidents almost certainly exists somewhere. The network that airs The Apprentice, NBC, said on Saturday it does not own the footage. NBC also admitted to the Washington Post over the weekend that the reason it did not immediately release the Access Hollywood footage (supposedly the network was planning to issue a report) was because it was worried that Trump would sue. That delay was a possible factor in someone then deciding to leak the footage to the Post, which published the footage on Friday.
Could be worse. Photo: Melina Mara/The Washington Post/Getty Images

If the Republican Party hadnt nominated a man whose favorite pastimes (apparently) include committing sexual assault and then bragging about it, the Clinton campaign would be having a very bad Saturday.

Between the end of her tenure as secretary of State and the launch of her presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton earned millions of dollars giving closed-door speeches to financial firms and other private entities. This was a risky enterprise for an aspiring presidential candidate to pursue. Nearly a decade after the financial crisis, Wall Street remains an object of scorn with a large swath of the American public; the idea that our government is too cozy with the big banks has purchase among voters of both parties. So, taking large sums of money to speak at the private functions of Wall Street banks  including ones that admitted to defrauding investors in the run-up to the crash  was never going to be a great look in 2016.

And then, Bernie Sanders made it a worse look. Or, at least, a more conspicuous one. Vermonts favorite democratic socialist was uniquely well-positioned to exploit Clintons liability (leftwing gadflies dont get many speaking invitations from Goldman Sachs and BlackRock). Throughout the Democratic primary, Sanders called on Clinton to make the transcripts of her remarks public. The front-runner refused, apparently deciding it was better to give credence to Sanderss suggestion that she had something to hide, than to reveal the sentiments she shared with Lloyd Blankfein and friends.

But her campaign prepared for the possibility that those sentiments would become public, nonetheless. In January, Clintons research director, Tony Carrk, combed through the candidates paid speeches, flagged the most potentially damaging excerpts, and framed each as a rival opposition researcher might. He emailed this self-oppo to Clinton campaign chair John Podesta, whose account would later be hacked.

And so, late Friday afternoon  as Billy Bush and Donald Trump were discussing the art of groping married women on every nightly newscast  Buzzfeeds Ruby Cramer dug up those excerpts from WikiLeakss latest trove of hacked emails.

Nothing in Clintons private remarks is more politically toxic than the worst of her opponents public ones. But in an alternative universe where the GOP nominated John Kasich, this is a rough October surprise.

First, theres the stuff that threatens to demobilize her leftwing skeptics. After securing the nomination, Clinton sought to make peace with the Sandernistas by moving in the socialist senators direction on health care and higher education. But policy concessions only matter if the voters youre hoping to win over trust you to pursue those policies. And, after Sanders spent much of the primary raising doubts about the sincerity of Clintons positions on trade and financial regulation, a portion of his base still distrusts the Democratic nominee.

Clintons remarks before the National Multi-Housing Council in 2013 could swell the ranks of such skeptics:

I mean, politics is like sausage being made. It is unsavory, and it always has been that way, but we usually end up where we need to be. But if everybodys watching, you know, all of the back room discussions and the deals, you know, then people get a little nervous, to say the least. So, you need both a public and a private position.

There are more and less benign ways of interpreting this quote. Voxs Matt Yglesias provides one of the former, noting the beneficent role secrecy played in facilitating the passage of agreements on education policy and the federal budget in Congress last December:

The key to both pieces of legislation was to be worked on quietly out of public view. And in the case of the budget deal, members of congress tell me that absolute secrecy  not just from the public but from the not-involved members themselves  was critical to success. The problem is that a public debate would necessarily have become an exercise in position-taking, which is antithetical to compromise. In private, members can admit that they care about some things more than others and find a way to reach an accommodation.

But read in combination with other leaked excerpts, Clintons tribute to the virtues of betraying ones public position while making back-room deals becomes more damaging.

In her DNC speech, Clinton said she believed that Wall Street can never, ever be allowed to wreck Main Street again. But in a 2013 speech to Goldman Sachs, Clinton seemed to doubt that Wall Street had ever wrecked Main Street in the first place:

That was one of the reasons that I started traveling in February of 09, so people could, you know, literally yell at me for the United States and our banking system causing this everywhere. Now, thats an oversimplification we know, but it was the conventional wisdom. And I think that theres a lot that could have been avoided in terms of both misunderstanding and really politicizing what happened with greater transparency, with greater openness on all sides, you know, what happened, how did it happen, how do we prevent it from happening? You guys help us figure it out and lets make sure that we do it right this time.

Imagining the worst possible frame a rival could put on this excerpt, Carrk titled it, CLINTON TALKS ABOUT HOLDING WALL STREET ACCOUNTABLE ONLY FOR POLITICAL REASONS. That may not be the fairest summary of the quote. As Slates Jordan Weissman notes, theres a subtle criticism of the finance industrys lack of transparency embedded in the remarks.

Nonetheless, the suggestion that outrage at the U.S. banking system for its role in the financial crisis was based in misunderstanding and politicizing is risible. Heres what one U.S. bank was up to seven years before Clintons speech:

In April 2006, Goldman Sachs provided investors with a bullish report on Countrywides high-quality mortgage loans  loans the bank had helpfully packaged into AAA-rated mortgage-backed securities, thereby offering those lucky clients a low-risk way of profiting from Americas housing boom. When the banks head of due diligence saw the report, he typed a short email to his colleagues: If only they knew

You need both a public and a private position.

In April 2015, Clinton announced her support for a Senate bill aimed at closing the revolving door between Wall Street and the agencies tasked with regulating it. If youre working for the government, youre working for the people  not for an oil company, drug company, or Wall Street bank or money manager, Clinton wrote, in an op-ed co-authored with Senator Tammy Baldwin.

But speaking with Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein at the firms builders and innovators summit in 2013, Clinton suggested Wall Street money managers who wish to serve in government should face fewer regulatory obstacles than they currently do:

But, you know, part of the problem with the political situation, too, is that there is such a bias against people who have led successful and/or complicated lives. You know, the divestment of assets, the stripping of all kinds of positions, the sale of stocks. It just becomes very onerous and unnecessary.

In a separate speech to Goldman that same year, Clinton suggested that only Wall Street veterans were qualified to regulate their industry:

Theres nothing magic about regulations, too much is bad, too little is bad. How do you get to the golden key, how do we figure out what works? And the people that know the industry better than anybody are the people who work in the industry.

Clintons current platform calls for an expansion of Social Security, but in 2013 she praised the Simpson-Bowles deficit-reduction plan  which called for Social Security cuts  in remarks to Morgan Stanley.



Other, largely benign excerpts feature individual sentences that could have been damaging in a Democratic primary, like I represented them [employees of the finance industry] and did all I could to make sure they continued to prosper, and we need two sensible, moderate, pragmatic parties.

How all this would have impacted the Clinton-Sanders race is impossible to know. It seems unlikely that any of these excerpts would have been damaging enough to overcome Clintons outsize margins with registered Democrats and African-American voters. But they likely would have emboldened the Bernie or Bust caucus at the Democratic National Convention.

If these speeches became public two weeks ago, they might have amplified fears that disaffected, left-leaning Millennials would throw away their votes to third-party candidates and, thus, throw the presidency to Donald Trump. But in the postgrab em by the pussy world, the inclinations of such voters dont seem to matter much.



Ditto for the right-wing voters who might have been energized by some of Clintons other remarks.

Trump has centered his campaign on a forthright defense of American nationalism, casting Clinton as a rootless globalist, more concerned with toppling foreign regimes and welcoming Syrian refugees than with improving the lives of her own constituents.

More concretely, he has made trade and immigration two of his campaigns central issues, juxtaposing his opposition to bad trade deals and illegal immigration with Clintons support for NAFTA and open borders (even though Clinton has never publicly expressed support for the latter).

Seperately, he has attacked Clinton for sacrificing Americas coal industry to the fiction of climate change.

This quote from a 2013 Clinton speech to Banco Itau fits Trumps message to a tee:

My dream is a hemispheric common market, with open trade and open borders, some time in the future with energy that is as green and sustainable as we can get it, powering growth and opportunity for every person in the hemisphere.

No non-policy issue has dogged Clintons campaign more than her handling of classified information. Speaking at the University of Connecticut, the Democratic nominee touted the importance of the State Departments cybersecurity protocols  thereby begging questions about why she flouted those protocols with a private server.

At the State Department we were attacked every hour, more than once an hour by incoming efforts to penetrate everything we had. And that was true across the U.S. government. And we knew it was going on when I would go to China, or I would go to Russia, we would leave all of our electronic equipment on the plane, with the batteries out, because this is a new frontier.

This would be grade-A fodder for a Republican nominee whose campaign wasnt collapsing upon itself. But, for the partys current standard-bearer, attacking Clinton for her husbands decades-old sexual behavior in a bid to absolve himself for his own degeneracy appears to take precedence.



Horse-race considerations aside, do Clintons speeches give us any meaningful insight into how she would govern? Yglesias suggests not, arguing that Clintons private statements are far less important than her public ones:

Clinton can say whatever she wants to a private room of Brazilian bankers and it will in no way constrain her scope of action in the future. By contrast, when Clinton makes a public commitment to change the regulatory interpretations surrounding the Volcker Rule she is creating a real problem for herself if she doesnt do it. Presidents usually make good faith efforts to implement their campaign promises, because politics is fundamentally a public undertaking. When you say you are going to do something, you probably have to try to do it and the more publicly and prominently you make the promise the harder it is to slip out of. Something said in private to Goldman Sachs is, by contrast, cheap talk.

Theres certainly some truth to this. But its also true, as Yglesias separately observes, that there are a lot of policy decisions that the public has little to no awareness of  the provisions on pharmaceutical patents in trade deals, how a federal agency chooses to interpret or enforce a given financial regulation. Clintons speeches suggest that, where the public isnt looking  but Lloyd Blankfein is  she may take a different posture towards Wall Street than she does on the stump.

The challenge for Clintons left-wing skeptics, then, is to keep an eye on those places and a bullhorn in hand.
Tonights debates between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are being hosted by Washington University in St. Louis, which means the eyes (and the news outlets) of the nation are watching the Missouri campus in anticipation of the big event. Sensing his moment, Albert Wu, an 18-year-old first-year student from Boston, decided to capitalize on all the attention his school is getting and make it work for him. In a move that can only be described as a truly 2016 hustle, Wu wrote down his Venmo (the money-transfer app) account handle on a sign emblazoned STUDENT DEBT SUCKS and held it up on the national news. And it actually worked.

A few of Wus donations. Photo: Albert Wu

I remember a couple weeks ago there was a fan on [ESPNs] College GameDay who was asking for beer money through Venmo on a poster, so theres a possible inspiration right there, Wu explained to me via Twitter DM. I wanted to make a poster that was topical, but also based on that idea, so I wrote student debt sucks because its a pretty relevant and topical issue for young individuals like me and an issue I hope they address during the debate. Student debt is arguably more important than beer money, Wu added, dutifully noting (hi mom and dad and WashU Dean of Students) that he is only 18 and would never ask for cash for alcohol on live television.

His handiwork was first picked up by CNN on Saturday, where Wu stood holding the sign for about four hours. I was by the CNN tent yesterday, by chance actually, he said. I had no idea they were broadcasting, but I had a Sharpie and a WashU poster I had won so I thought, what the heck! Today, he popped by MSNBCs broadcast spot. I came out again today [to MSNBCs tent] and so many other people had Venmo signs, Wu explained. I kind of had a monopoly Saturday, but now its way too saturated with Venmo posters.

As for profits, Wu said he didnt really go out with the intention of making money through it, but has received about $400 in donations so far. The amounts range from a penny to $20. They all come with really nice and funny comments like good luck with that student debt and I feel your pain, Wu explained. My favorite one is from my student debt to yours.

My personal favorite comment. Photo: Albert Wu

People from both sides are donating, which is great because student debt is a problem for everyone no matter who theyre supporting, Wu added. And they say bipartisanship doesnt work!
Photo: Michael Tran/FilmMagic

Writer, director, and actor Amber Tamblyn took to Instagram this afternoon to share a devastating story of being sexually assaulted by an ex-boyfriend. Tamblyn posted her story in the caption of a photo with Trump and Miss Universe 2012 winner Olivia Culpo, who stepped down from her position as a Miss USA judge after Trump referred to Mexican immigrants as rapists and drug dealers.

Despite Tamblyns understandable trepidation about sharing the story, she wrote in detail about experiencing the very act Trump joked about with Billy Bush. That part of my body, which the current Presidential Nominee of the United States Donald Trump recently described as something hed like to grab a woman by, was bruised from my ex-boyfriends violence for at least the next week, she wrote. Read the story in its entirety below.


billy be a hero

tell us what you know

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I need some benevolent billionaire to just pay the $5 mil and get these tapes released.

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Mark Cuban pls!!

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If MArk Cuban did this I would never complain about him being annoying ever again.

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He needs to do it.

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Hillary better be offering him a cabinet position rn.

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The catch is that Cuban is on another Burnett-produced show.

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seriously, this is Mark Cuban's chance to step the fuck up

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That's what I'm thinking, but what sucks is someone would then get blackballed from the industry. So they'd have to be willing to take the hit with getting sued (even if someone else footed the bill) and never work in the industry again.

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this was my thought process too ugh if only

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Peter Thiel, if he wasn't a republican too, and just liked taking down people lol. Like, he must be thirsting for something new after helping destroy Gawker.

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ugh i hope someone leaks it anyway

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Argh, he gave me one of my favourite shows Survivor but otherwise Burnett can fuck right off.

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Burnett is a total asshole and massive hypocrite. He's supposed to be this huge Christian, producing all these miniseries based on the Bible, and yet he's threatening people who want to tell the truth about Trump.



He just sees Trump as a cash cow and doesn't want to hurt his own income potential. How greedy can you get?

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Agreed, he's a fucking moron. He made a show that I've been watching for most of my life, but it doesn't mean I don't think hes a complete twat.

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i hate that he created Survivor ugh

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tbh Mormons have been leading the charge against Trump and I'm so confused.

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Glenn Beck has actually been dead on especially about the Nazis in the party and I feel like I am in an alternate universe

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Glenn Beck surprised the shit out of me by speaking in favor of Black Lives Matter.

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wow glenn beck?



what the fuck planet do i live on?

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yeah Beck has been anti-Trump from the beginning. But Beck is Mormon and Mormons really seem to passionately hate Trump

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You gotta respect republicans who denounce Trump and will put on their adult pants and vote for hilary

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lol Fahrenthold.

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I honestly am so in love with him after this election cycle. Is he married? If not, I volunteer!

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Fahrenthold deserves all the awards.

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Farenthold is the true MVP of this election, he better get all the Pulitzers for his work this year.

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i hope he gets a nice vacation and a nice pulitzer after november

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I wish someone could leak it completely anonymously with no way it could be traced back to them.

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Anonymous?



Do your magic please. 

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His supporters say it openly.

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isn't it sad I thought something like this about him was already out? Nothing surprises me anymore

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his supporters don't give a fuck. Might even earn him more supporters.

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That doesn't surprise me at all, but I'm enjoying this downfall. Even though this won't change the scum that are his followers.

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Of course there is. He is the scum of the earth.





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too bad his supporters probably don't give a shit.

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i'm surprised footage of this wasn't already released years ago tbh

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NO WAY!











(way)

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Will the people who support him even care? I am assuming a lot of them use that word too..

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I don't need video footage to know this

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This would change nothing.

This is only consistent with his brand

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I can't believe people are shocked at this point. OF COURSE he says the n-word. He's said everything else that could possibly be offensive.

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of course it does, this is not shocking



if this leaks I wonder how Omarosa is going to try to spin it

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Somehow, this would be the LEAST scandalous thing he's done to date.

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someone is sitting on other stuff thats just as damaging, I'm sure. Also, fuck this self righteous asshole.

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I am literally praying to Santa that some zillionaire will eat the fee.



Come through, Cuban! I will buy Mavs tickets, I promise.

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Anonymous, do your thing! You were born for this! Mark Burnett:Anonymous, do your thing! You were born for this!

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A lot of anons have become alt-right assholes, tho

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FUCK. I WAS ROOTING 4 U ANON.

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I will donate to anyone's legal fund if they leak the tapes.

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where's mark cuban to pay the $5m fee? it'll be beyond worth it.

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This has to be fixed 



Now every time I watch I'll have the thought of this mofo supporting dumpster fire in the back of my head. 

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Even amid a backdrop of low global commodity prices, new oil and gas discoveries are continuing to drive investment in Egypts hydrocarbons sector.

In late August, Shell announced that it had discovered 142 billion cubic meters of natural gas at its Alam El Shawish concession in Egypts Western Desert, with the possibility of more reserves to be recovered, representing one of the largest finds in the region in recent years.

This follows another discovery by the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation last year that could yield 2.2 million barrels of oil and nearly 311.5m cubic meters of gas in the Abu Sennan area of the Western Desert, which is already responsible for nearly half of Egypts total oil production of 723,000 barrels per day.

New acquisitions

Egypt has one of the regions oldest upstream sectors, although investment has been impacted by slowing commodity prices over the past five years. However, with low operating costs  at less than $10 per barrel for onshore production  and a favorable exchange rate, the country has still managed to attract new interest, with a spate of recently-announced or expected deals.

In August, UK-based Rockhopper Exploration acquired Beach Petroleum Egypt, which holds minority stakes in the Abu Sennan and El Qa'a Plain concessions, for $11.9m. The company expects that production will begin soon at a new well at Abu Sennan, boosting recoverable reserves at the field, where operating costs are as low as $8 per barrel.

Combined with the companys existing production in Italy, the new acquisition is expected to raise Rockhoppers output to between 1500 and 1800 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) for the remainder of the year.

Additionally, the partners of the El Qaa Plain concession  UK upstream operator Dana Petroleum (37.5 percent) and Singapore-based holding company Dover Investments (28 percent)  are currently assessing previously collected seismic data, with drilling expected to commence next year.

Rockhopper has said that it will consider further expanding its presence in Egypt in future exploration licensing rounds, according to a company statement in August.

Gas stakeholders

There are also expectations for a number of new entrants in what is shaping up to be one of Egypts largest upstream gas projects.

Italys Eni, which is behind the offshore Zohr field in the Mediterranean, has announced plans to sell a stake in the 30trn cubic feet block. The company said that several national and international oil companies have expressed interest informally and that it expects to sell a stake of around 20 percent, which could be worth anywhere between $1.6 billion and $2.2 billion, according to international press reports.

Development costs are low, as the field is close to existing infrastructure, much of which  such as the liquefied natural gas (LNG) trains in Damietta  are currently underutilized. The sale will raise cash for Eni, as well as allow a pooling of risk.

Despite the sale, Eni remains committed to Egypt. It recently raised production at its offshore Nooros gas field to 128,000 boepd ahead of schedule, just 13 months after discovery, and aims to reach maximum production capacity of around 160,000 boepd next year.

Also in August, local press reported that U.S. petroleum company Apache was planning to increase its investment in Egypt  on top of the companys investment of more than $12 billion in 23 concession areas  including signing new exploration contracts.

Sustained domestic demand

The increase in output comes at a time when Egypt is looking to balance export commitments and rapidly-rising domestic demand.

While Egypt has historically been a hydrocarbons exporter, the country has more recently alternated between importer and exporter status. It bought more oil and related products than it sold in 2007 and then again starting in 2012.

In 2015, Egypts Ministry of Planning reported that 28.6m tons of crude oil, LNG, natural gas and other oil-related products were estimated to have been imported to Egypt in FY 2015/16, at a total cost of $16bn.

As a result, the new finds and acquisitions should help shore up output to allow the country to meet both needs for domestic consumption and export agreements. The development of the Zohr gas field, in particular, is expected to lower Egypts dependence on imports of LNG.

The country is hopeful due to its large industrial capacity, Maurizio Coratella, vice-president of operations in Egypt and the Middle East at Edison, told OBG. Production and exploration did not drop during the revolution, and most new wells were drilled after oil prices dropped, which illustrates real demand.

The scaling back of Egypts fuel subsidies is also expected to benefit the sector in the long run by boosting margins, improving efficiency and strengthening Egypts macroeconomic fundamentals despite potentially slowing demand growth.

The government has been assertive in their quest to reform subsidies and move toward a free market system for energy products. This will ultimately rationalize the demand, reduce Egypts budget deficit, and optimize the use of funds, ExxonMobil Egypt chairman and managing director Hesham El Amroussy, told OBG.

By Oxford Business Group

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Congressman Pete Olson (R-TX22) wrote in the Houston Chronicle last Monday that the U.S. lacked a coherent energy policy. Bureaucracy and inefficiencies in the national energy system hold up access to oil and natural gas, while permitting new pipelines has become remarkably and illogically difficult.

Olson pointed to certain successes in remedying this situation. He credits himself and his fellow Congressmen with ending the ban on oil exports last year. He calls attention to an on-going effort in Congress to pass the power of approving inter-state and international energy projects to a new federal agency, to streamline the permitting nightmare when projects cross federal lands or international boundaries, and generally try to make the process faster and fairer.

Oil&Gas 360 pointed out that, in the past, crisis provoked a policy response: the energy disruptions of the 1970s led to federally-mandated speed limits and the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which the U.S. could tap in the event of emergency shortages. Olson calls for similar shifts in national policy, which would encourage greater energy exports and a smoother, easier process for confirming domestic energy projects such as pipelines, refineries and export terminals.

Olson suggests that better policy can change market conditions that are hampering global access to energy. He points to markets in East Asia, such as South Korea and Japan, as destinations for U.S. energy products. Olson proposes that the U.S. government adopt sensible rules that allow the market to work and benefit American interests at the same time.

Olsons enthusiasm for expanding U.S. exports makes sense: as the center of the potential U.S. energy export trade, Texas would benefit hugely from policies encouraging greater shipments of oil and natural gas to depart the U.S. for markets abroad. Since the export ban was lifted last year, companies in the Gulf of Mexico have taken advantage of high U.S. supply to export increasing quantities of refined products and LNG.

Olsons editorial is good politics, especially in an election year, and his proposal for a new agency to fast-track domestic pipeline projects could accelerate access to energy at a time when a stark imbalance exists between different U.S. regions. Increased natural gas production from the Northeast, the countrys most densely-populated region, has created a supply glut while constraining the construction of new pipelines that would carry the products to market. Environmentalists protest the perceived dangers of fracking while landowners oppose the construction of pipelines drive by eminent domain; even local tourism boards are worried that energy infrastructure will despoil natural areas and impact camping, hiking and other recreations. Related: 2016 Oil Price Forecasts: Why Is Everyone Getting It Wrong

We will never steamroll local communities, says Olson, a statement loaded with meaning when, less than a week later, the British government defied local opinion and approved horizontal fracking in Lancashire. A Congressionally-mandated federal agency that would push forward new pipeline projects would run into a lot of local opposition,

Beyond the considerable new challenges to domestic fossil fuel production, including growing environmental concerns and surging interest in renewable energy, market conditions make concentrated U.S. energy exports a tough sell.

As the EIA notes, while much of the country continues to import energy, the American southeast and the Gulf of Mexico region is a major exporter. The Gulf region possesses over half the countrys refining capacity and is already on the receiving end of pipelines from other producing areas, including the Marcellus shale play in the American northeast.

Since the lifting of the ban, the U.S. has steadily increased its export volume, despite depressed prices and intense competition. American crude exports in the first half of 2016 averaged 501,000 bpd, an increase of 9 percent from the previous year. The biggest market for American crude continues to be Canada, which was previously exempt from the export ban, and the Caribbean island of Curacao, the site of a major refinery near the Venezuelan coast.

American LNG, currently exported by Cheniere Energy from its terminal in Sabine Pass, could represent a major source of future energy exports. Despite the hype, LNG worldwide is facing a collection of obstacles, such as over-supply, inconsistencies in regional prices and high competition from other, cheaper energy products. Related: The Resurrection Of Putin: What It Means For The Oil Markets

An analysis shows that Chenieres cargoes have reached some unexpected destinations, including South America, where LNG prices are robust. East Asia, the expected recipient of the American LNG bounty, is conspicuously absent: competition from LNG producers in Qatar and Australia may be edging out Chenieres product. The expansion of the Panama Canal, which can now accommodate 90 percent of LNG ships, may alter that situation, but for now U.S. LNG exports are relatively minor. Cheniere will have two LNG trains operating by the end of 2016 and a series of other LNG projects have been approved.

Right now, LNG prices area buoyant, propped up by the expectation of winter demand. But structural over-supply will likely set in for 2017 and several years thereafter. As an analysis from Gas Strategies points out, investment in LNG is strong and the supply is growing: but demand hasnt caught up, and traditional markets in India and East Asia will be growing more slowly.

A major expansion of LNG export capacity could position the U.S. to become a major LNG producer, but the fuel is one that carries with it an expensive price tag: infrastructures need to be converted, terminals constructed and domestic production ramped up.

If it wants to export to East Asia, the U.S. will face stiff competition from Qatar, which has been exporting to those markets for over a decade, and Australia, which has eight major LNG projects being completed that will put it comfortably ahead of Qatar as the worlds largest LNG producer. Thousands of miles closer to markets in Japan, India and South Korea, Australian LNG could stymie American ambitions. Yet even Australian exports will be curtailed in the face of poor market conditions.

The U.S. certainly has the resources to become a major energy exporter, and the will of those like Rep. Olson could make it happen. But between market conditions and the intricacies of domestic politics, its tough to see how quickly this could come to fruition. Like many other issues facing the United States, we may have to wait until after November to see which way national energy policy will go.

By Gregory Brew for Oilprice.com

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The big oil companiesat least in this oil price environmenthave come under a lot of criticism for their decision to generate cash flow rather than focus on return on equity. Much has been discussed about the dividend-paying capabilities of the companies, as that they have dished out dividends that have often exceeded their earnings.

Is this a sound strategy, and should investors continue to hold onto the big four stocks?

The big four oil companys dividend payout in 2015 was more than 100 percent of their profits. The situation got worse in 2016, when Exxon ponied up a whopping $3.1 billion in dividends for Q2, against a net income of $1.7 billion, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. The gap was likely filled by taking on debt.

The net debt of the big four oil companies; Exxon Mobil Corp., Royal Dutch Shell PLC, BP PLC, and Chevron Corp, has more than doubled in the last two years.

The debt to equity ratio of Exxon is the least at 18 percent, while Shell has the highest gearing of 28 percent, likely to reach 30 percent, according to their Chief Financial Officer Simon Henry. BP is also expected to have a gearing of 30 percent by end 2017, according to Jefferies analyst. For the sake of comparison, in 2012, Exxons debt to equity was just 1.2 percent, and Shells was only 10 percent; looking back to a decade ago, Exxon had no debt at all.

One could assume that this means that as and when the oil prices rise, the oil companies will be in a condition to once again generate enough profits to pay off the debt, massive as it may be.

Though the companies are resorting to asset sales, job cuts, and other budget cuts to survive the downturn, many have asked why they continue to dish out dividends to their investors.

Globally, more than $9 trillion of government securities yield below zero, according to Bloomberg Barclays index data. In such an environment where investors are scrounging for yields, the big four oil companies offer mouth-watering ones. Exxon has a dividend yield of 3.4 percent, Chevron has a yield of 4.19 percent, BP has a yield of 6.68 percent, and Royal Dutch Shell has a dividend yield of 6.4 percent. Related: OPEC Crude Accounts For Most Of U.S. Oil Imports Rise

This has led the investors to continue holding the stocks of these companies even during such a massive oil rout. If the investors bail and trigger a sell off of these stocks, it would dampen the sentiment towards their stock, and the companies would find it difficult to raise new debt. Hence, taking some debt to continue paying dividends is the smart strategyand possibly the only strategyto follow.

Theyre so big, they can diversify, they have more levers to push and pull in terms of shoring up their creditworthiness, said Wilmer Stith, senior fixed-income portfolio manager at Wilmington Trust, which has $73 billion in assets under management, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration has forecast WTI to average $51 a barrel in 2017, which supports the approach followed by the oil companies.

If crude averages between $50 to $55 a barrel, BP believes that they will not only be able to pay dividends, they can even invest in new operations to search for more oil. Related: Goldman Sachs: Very Oversupplied Market To Stop Crude Rally At $55

The recent rebound in crude prices is good news for the oil companies.

Over the last year, integrated oil and gas companies have accelerated reductions in their operating costs to adjust to earlier oil price declines. As a result, most companies upstream operations returned to positive net income generation in the second quarter of 2016, while also benefiting from an uptick in the price of crude, says Elena Nadtotchi, a Moodys Vice President  Senior Credit Officer and author of the report, reports Hellenic Shipping News.

Considering the cyclical nature of oil, the approach of the oil companies is correct, but if oil should take a lot longer to recover, then the oil companies may have to rethink their strategy.

By Rakesh Upadhyay for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:


Hillary Clintonby JeepersMedia

(Image by JeepersMedia) Details DMCA



( Wikileaks has reported that the US government has been covertly funding the Syrian opposition since 2006. One expect that CIA Special Activities Division teams were deployed to Syria during the uprising to ascertain rebel groups, leadership and potential supply routes; much more likely involved in seeding what could successfully be called a civil war, and not a multinational conspiracy against Syria.[4]



A whole series of appointed US officials before Hillary Clinton have for decades have used Islamic terror starting with Presidential Adviser Brzezinski[5] having Carter fund, arm and train rural warlords to creating a civil war against a very popular women's liberating socialist government in Kabul, thereafter bragging of having set a trap to sucker in the Soviets by subsequently inviting in Wahabi sect Arabs like Osama bin Laden into someone else's Afghanistan. [6]

Since the end of the unbelievably profitable for Wall Street Second World War, tens of millions of innocent children, women and men have died right in their own beloved countries during US prosecutable regime change wars from Greece, Korea, Iran, Vietnam, Laos, Guatemala, Congo, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Lebanon, Cuba, Panama, Somalia, Grenada, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Syria, and the US has gotten away with it so far. All these tens of millions died so investors in the illegal and genocidal use of US Armed Forces, CIA, sanctions and US media could make money from wars that at the same time brought the investors increased financial hegemony and more opportunity for capital and power acquisition. Now presidential expected-to-be Secretary Hillary Clinton warns the world about Russia and China.

Do people remember that when this Presidential election campaign was getting under way, the genocidal media cartel justifying every one of past US wars, was preparing the public for an inevitable conflict with Russia and China? The independent journalists were all writing doomsday warnings of a coming a third world war.

Wars promoting media has been making a blatant over the top show of frightened opposition to candidate Hillary Clinton's Republican Party nominee, ridiculing him, stigmatizing him and carefully avoiding coverage of his maintaining, among other things, that Clinton as Secretary of State has brought "death and destruction overseas"; that "the five trillion dollars spent on wars for regime change in the Middle East should have been spent in the US rebuilding its infrastructure;" that NATO is obsolete; that the US should seek friendship with China and Russia; that he likes Xi Jinping and Putin, (America's perennial and sacrosanct mortal enemies!) and would get along fine with them. Trump has called the last two term Republican President, George Bush, a liar for having lied about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction and has voiced suspicion about the 9/11 attack that happened so easily on Bush's watch. Trump has disputed hailing Senator John McCain, 2008 Republican presidential candidate, a hero for having been shot down in Vietnam while bombing Vietnam, and has condemned and ridiculed eighty percent of media's reporters and commentators as pathetic liars (which comes to the what is in reality that hundred percent, who are willing to preposterously describe America's running crimes against humanity as heroic deeds in defense of American freedom). Trump has asked, "why must the United States lead the world everywhere on the globe and play the role of the world's policeman, now for example in Ukraine? "Trump asks, "why does the United States always pursue regime changes - Iraq, Libya, Ukraine, and now it wants a regime change in Syria, Damascus, when the result is disaster." This wholesale attack on the 'patriotic' war establishment is unheard of.

(Wow! Will a US president, spokesperson for Wall Street, someday go further and admit that the wars in Vietnam, Laos, Dominical Republic, Iraq, Libya, Cambodia, et cetera, were not heroic after all, as a start of telling the whole genocidal truth about all the rest of US foreign policy that former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark in his book,The Fire This Time - US War Crimes in the Gulf, calls, "the greatest crime against humanity since WWII.")

The present US election, extremely overvalued by media as a harbinger of future events, might at least be displaying a struggle within the elite investment community that disposes of most of the wealth of humanity in insane and genocidal conflict that is detrimental to the survival of the planet. The readers is invited to read a previous jay janson article: Economic Hegemony Loss to China Looming! Powerful Investors Have Trump Call for an About Face, OpEdNews Op 7/17/2016, http://www.opednews.com/articles/Economic-Hegemony-Loss-to-by-Jay-Janson-Capitalism-Over-Humanity_China_Economics_Future-160717-871.htmlin which I note that the current media managed US election process seems a playing out in public of indecision within the rich one tenth of one percent, who rule America and most of the world, indecision over whether to switch to less profitable investing in their home base America and Europe, or to continue wildly enriching themselves, heavily investing in the much higher profit rendering low wage economies of the rest of the world, thereby accelerating forward the arrival of the time when those Third World nations led by China will overtake the US and Europe in economic and political power and demand equity.

Your writer ends with a post election cautionary: since presidents are not in charge of much of anything, probably not even there own photo ops[7], the world could well experience war during an administration led by peace advocate Trump, and conversely, peace under the fear mongering war criminal Hillary Clinton, the candidate of investors in war.



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Alexander Pope wrote, "To err is human, to forgive is divine." Such a sentiment is borne of the ruling classes, and performs the service of sucking revolutionary fervor out of those who object to the "errs" of their rulers. Churches and religious leaders have been erring for centuries"on whose behalf?

Howard Zinn wrote the following in his book, A People's History of the United States:

Brother Luis Brandaon responded to Father Sandoval's an Americas' priest regarding whether the capture, transport and enslavement of African blacks was legal by Church doctrine.

Brandaon wrote: "Your Reverence writes me that you would like to know whether the Negroes who are sent to your parts have been legally captured. To this I reply that I think your Reverence should have no scruples on this point, because this is a matter which has been questioned by the Board of Conscience in Lisbon, and all its members are learned and conscientious men. Nor did the bishops who were in Sao Thome, Cape Verde and here in Loando -- all learned and virtuous men -- find fault with it. We have been here ourselves for forty years and there have been among us very learned Fathers"never did they consider the trade as illicit. Therefore we and the Fathers of Brazil buy these slaves for our service without any scruple""

In the US, we have "white" so called christian churches and we have "black" so called christian churches each firmly rooted in their own exclusionary principals that their way is the only way to Jesus' heaven.

Apostle Thomas had it right. The Light is in us, not in the church. It is in the individual that the light of righteousness must shine. Of course the church could not afford to have individuals believing their own personal divinity. What would happen to the elders and other functionaries were becoming free to participate on the world stage as rulers of mankind ? Therein came the darkness out of the mouths and actions of Satans' cohorts, such as Falwell, Hagee, Graham, Robertson, Reaganites, and the rest of those who build institutions to help carryout their work while they profess to be Christian but act as antichristian. Whom are they working for? Hmmm"could it be SATAN?

It is the .1% that rules. They are in the grip of Satan and therefore their work is evil. They have been ruling for centuries.

Their ranks are replenished by the admittance of new dynasties, but the purpose is the same - that they should control every facet of human life and resource on this planet and that their drive to do this should remain as obscured as possible. Their problem is that the world now has ubiquitous access to communication and information so that every slip of their forked tongues may be heard, recorded, replayed, which of course pisses them off. But they don't seem to be overly worried that people may be awakening or rather it is a slow motion kind of worry. Karl the Turd Face Rove said, "We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do." He is being momentarily punished by his masters for being such a braggart. He is mostly right. The 99% are so psyched out because we are constantly being hit by phantom punches.

While we persist in our divided and disassociated framework of reality we barely recognize the great peril that is upon us" the .1% are completing their work that will allow them to shut down this democratic form of communication, the Internet, a form with alternative information and messages and organizing platforms that they cannot yet control. Are they E vile? As the politician who could see Russia from her house, once exclaimed, "you betcha!"

RG Cunningham has written here at OEN about how humans have lost much of their instinct. I think this is because we have been conditioned to accept our existence in an abstract and linear mode. We ignore the dots even when they are connected to obvious truths, perhaps because they seem too fantastic. Our minds are repulsed by the grotesque ramifications of what our instincts are yelling at the top of their voices inside us and are trying to get us to hear. The voices are saying, your world is being run by Evil people using evil forces. You already know what good is. You also know what evil is.

The globalists? Evil.

US/NATO western alliance? Evil.

Congress people taking resources from the poor to give to their friends for money laundering back door political contributions? Evil.

S thing called Grover Norquist, who takes credit for having said, "I don't want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub." Evil. Murderous Evil.

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Reprinted from Strategic Culture

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault worked up his frequent-flyer air miles account this week with consecutive flights to Moscow then to Washington in a bid to push through a UN Security Resolution for a new ceasefire in Syria.

Ayrault began his shuttle diplomacy with stern condemnation of the Syrian government for what he said were war crimes committed in the besieged city of Aleppo. The French minister also implied Russian complicity in the same alleged crimes. It wasn't the first time he made such accusations against Russia and its Syrian ally.

When the ceasefire brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov broke down at the end of last month, it was Ayrault who led vociferous denunciations at the UN, along with American UN ambassador Samantha Power, blaming Russia for barbarous crimes against humanity.

This week on his way to Moscow, Ayrault accused Russia of cynicism that is fooling nobody in reference to the renewed Russian-backed offensive by Syrian state forces to recapture the militant-held eastern quarter of Aleppo. That part of the city housing about 250,000 people has been under the control of various Islamist militants dominated by the terrorist group Al Nusra Front since 2012.

France, the US and Britain, amplified by the Western news media, have been conducting a relentless campaign to portray the Russian-backed Syrian operation on Aleppo as criminal and brutally injurious to the civilian population. Since the ceasefire collapsed during the last week of September, the Western media have been saturated with unverified claims of Russian air strikes killing civilians in eastern Aleppo and of targeting hospitals and humanitarian aid facilities.

France 24, the state-owned broadcaster of Ayrault's country, never gives any reports from the Syrian government-held quarters of Aleppo where the majority of citizens -- some 1.5 million -- are residing. These areas are routinely shelled by the militants, with hundreds of victims over the past few weeks. Yet, France 24 and the other Western media outlets appear to operate on the basis that the majority of Aleppo's population simply does not exist.

Nor do the Western media report that the majority of Aleppo's civilians are willingly residing in the government-held districts out of seeking protection from the Islamist militants. Moreover, neither is it reported that the mainstay of the 250,000 civilians in eastern Aleppo are being held there against their will by the militants as hostages, or human shields. They can't flee out of fear that remaining family relatives will be murdered in retribution.

The evidently selective humanitarian concern expressed by the French foreign minister and his Western counterparts for the people of Aleppo begins to alert one of a more nuanced -- dare we say cynical -- agenda.

Claims of Russian and Syrian war crimes made by Ayrault and other Western officials are based on rebel sources within besieged eastern Aleppo. One of the primary sources is the so-called volunteer aid group known as the White Helmets. Video footage purporting to show the aftermath of Russian air strikes is routinely aired by France 24 and other Western channels with the White Helmets logo displayed. It is presented as a bona fide humanitarian agency, when it fact the group is funded by US and British governments to the tune of $23 million and is embedded with the Al Nusra terrorist-controlled Aleppo Media Center. In short, a terrorist propaganda outlet, which serves to feed Western media and government ministers with disinformation that is purveyed to the Western public in order to discredit and demonize Syria and Russian forces.

French diplomats told Reuters this week that France is drafting its proposed resolution to the UN Security Council in such a way that Russia would have to exercise its veto if it is to block it. In that way, the French purpose is to project Russia as an unreasonable member of the Security Council and a stalwart backer of the Syrian regime . This amounts to more cynical Western attempts to traduce Russia and Syria as the perpetrators for the ongoing violence.

Russia is unlikely to support the French-sponsored resolution because the resolution is impossibly one-sided and belies a political objective of undermining Syria and Russia. France is calling for an immediate cessation of fighting in Aleppo, including no military flights over the city; and, secondly, for the complete humanitarian aid access to eastern Aleppo.

This French initiative -- under the guise of urgent humanitarianism -- is a de facto no fly zone that will bolster the fighting capability of the anti-government insurgents, which, as noted, are dominated by al-Qaeda-affiliated terror groups.

When Russia and Syrian forces agreed to the ceasefire declared earlier on September 12, they did so on the strict condition that militants not associating with terrorist brigades would henceforth separate physical units. But no such separation occurred, as many observers had predicted, because Western government claims of moderate rebels being interspersed with extremists are nothing but a cynical charade. All these militants belong to the same terrorist front which Western governments have been arming in a covert war for regime change against President Bashar al-Assad -- a longtime ally of Russia and Iran.

The only parties to respect the ceasefire called by Kerry and Lavrov last month were the Syrian army and its allies among the Iranian and Hezbollah militias, as well as the Russian air force. The foreign-backed militants continued to carry out hundreds of breaches of the truce, while also using the initial reduction of operations by the Syrian and Russian forces as an opportunity to regroup and rearm.

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See original here

By Jim Naureckas



(Image by FAIR) Details DMCA



On the home page today of the New York Times, the lead story (10/5/16) bears the headline: "Contractor for NSA Charged in Possible New Theft of Secrets." Describing the arrest of Harold T. Martin III, a contractor for the National Security Agency accused of taking classified documents, the home page teaser reports, "The arrest raises the embarrassing prospect that for the second time in three years, a contractor managed to steal secrets."

The main story's headline continues the same emphasis: "NSA Contractor Arrested in Possible New Theft of Secrets." The second paragraph states:

"The arrest raises the embarrassing prospect that for the second time in three years, a contractor for the consulting company Booz Allen Hamilton managed to steal highly damaging secret information while working for the NSA. In 2013, Edward J. Snowden, who was also a Booz Allen contractor, took a vast trove of documents from the agency that were later passed to journalists, exposing surveillance programs in the United States and abroad."

The article goes on to say, "The information believed to have been stolen by Mr. Martin appears to be different in nature from Mr. Snowden's theft, which included documents that described the depth and breadth of the NSA's surveillance."

The problem with all this talk about the "theft" and "stealing" of secrets is that while Snowden, one of the most prominent whistleblowers of the modern era, has indeed been charged by the federal government with theft -- along with two violations of the Espionage Act -- he's been convicted of no crime. Were he to stand trial, he would no doubt try to offer a public interest defense of his actions -- as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has urged that he be allowed to do -- saying that the need to expose government wrongdoing overrode the law against unauthorized release of government documents.

The Times may believe that such a defense would be unsuccessful -- and no doubt many legal experts would agree with that assessment. Still, it's unusual for journalists to assume that someone accused of a crime is guilty, in effect taking the role of judge and jury upon themselves.

Such an assumption is particularly problematic in this case, because the same section of the legal code that is used to charge Snowden with theft of "any record, voucher, money, or thing of value" also criminalizes "whoever receives, conceals, or retains the same with intent to convert it to his use or gain, knowing it to have been embezzled, stolen, purloined or converted." There is no explicit exception for journalists there, any more than there's an exception for whistleblowers.

If we're going to call Snowden's documents "stolen," then journalists frequently receive "stolen" records from sources and use them as the basis for stories -- as the Times itself has done with documents released by Snowden. If Snowden is a thief, then the New York Times is a fence.

One shouldn't have to point out to journalists that this interpretation of the law is fundamentally incompatible with the First Amendment and, ultimately, with democracy: When exposing evidence of government crimes is a crime, there is no check on the power of the state.

__________

You can send a message to the New York Times at letters@nytimes.com, or write to public editor Liz Spayd at public@nytimes.com (Twitter:@NYTimes or @SpaydL). Please remember that respectful communication is the most effective.
From Reader Supported News

Many of you have heard Paul Ryan say the votes are not there in the House to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Mitch McConnell has said he will not bring it up for a vote in the Senate. Larry Cohen, the past president of the Communications Workers of America and current chair of the board of Our Revolution, is not so sure.

Cohen doesn't trust McConnell and he told RSN that Ryan is seeking the votes. They don't say it publicly since there is a very important election coming up. Opposition to the TPP comes from progressive populism and right-wing reactionary populism. So Democrats supporting the TPP face opposition on their left and Republicans face opposition on their right.

The election in November is the big reason there hasn't been a public push for votes on the largest trade deal ever. Publicly, both presidential campaigns oppose the TPP. With Hillary Clinton we have to wonder if this is an example of her "public position" while privately she supports it. For Trump, it is a nationalist reactionary movement that he is trying to tap into.

What this sets up is a behind-the-scenes push to get the votes in a lame duck session. GOP leaders want the TPP. The leader of the Democratic Party, President Barack Obama, wants the TPP. If they can ram it through Congress in the lame duck session after the election, then the next president's hands are clean, and the leaders of the two major parties get to deliver a gift to those they really represent, corporate America.

Food and Water Watch describes the TPP as the following:

"The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a proposed trade agreement between the United States and eleven Pacific Rim countries (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam). If Congress approves this controversial deal, it would not only harm workers and the environment, it could unravel hard-won national and local policies on fracking, food safety, the environment and local democratic autonomy. The rules of the TPP game are rigged for corporations, making it easier to use trade rules to undermine and unravel these domestic safeguards. Click Here to Read Whole Article "Here are just a few ways the TPP would harm our food, our water and our democracy: The TPP grants corporations special rights to sue over policies the companies claim hurt their profits -- demanding cash damages for public health, environmental safeguards, consumer protections or local fracking bans that corporations don't like.



The past free trade deals have cost millions of good jobs and contributed to the growing economic inequality in America and the TPP would make it easier to offshore and outsource more jobs.



The big food and agribusiness companies will try to use the TPP to weaken U.S. food safety rules and inspection at the border, potentially exposing people to unsafe imports."

Those are just a few of the problems we face with the TPP. If this is true, why does President Obama want the trade deal so badly? Cohen says he is not a psychologist but he thinks it is a legacy thing. He thinks the president is looking for another major accomplishment. The gridlock in Washington has prevented Obama from accomplishing most of his agenda, so the TPP would be a major accomplishment.

How Do We Stop It?

According to Cohen, the votes are there to pass the TPP in the Senate. He is not optimistic that, if McConnell backs down and allows a vote, we can stop it. He believes the fight is in the House, where Paul Ryan is working behind the scenes to try to put the votes together to pass it. Cohen said they got 60 votes in the Senate to pass fast track and they only need 5o votes to approve the TPP, because the vice president would vote for it.

In the House, most Democrats oppose the TPP. Representatives at the Congressional District level are usually influenced by organized labor, so it will be hard for Obama to sway most Democrats. Twenty-eight Democrats voted in favor of the TPP last year. They are:

Terri Sewell (AL-07)

Susan Davis (CA-53)

Sam Farr (CA-20)

Jim Costa (CA-16)

Ami Bera (CA-07)

Scott Peters (CA-52)

Jared Polis (CO-02)

James Himes (CT-04)

Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

Mike Quigley (IL-05)

John Delaney (MD-06)

Brad Ashford (NE-02)

Gregory Meeks (NY-05)

Kathleen Rice (NY-04)

Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Kurt Schrader (OR-05)

Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)

Jim Cooper (TN-05)

Rube'n Hinojosa (TX-15)

Eddie Johnson (TX-30)

Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

Beto O'Rourke (TX-16)

Gerald Connolly (VA-11)

Donald Beyer (VA-08)

Rick Larsen (WA-02)

Suzan DelBene (WA-01)

Derek Kilmer (WA-06)p

Ron Kind (WI-03)

If your Representative is on that list, let them know that you oppose their position and call on them to vote against it.

If your Representative is not on the list, they need to hear from you that you appreciate their principled position. Let them know that you have their back. They will be pressured by corporate lobbyists and the White House to approve the deal.

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Donald Trump's comments about sexually assaulting women are obscene. So gross that even the Republican Party is tripping over itself to feign outrage.



Some GOP candidates are in panic mode, even announcing that they'll vote instead for Mike Pence -- an extremist governor infamous for trying to defund Planned Parenthood and pass some of the most outrageous anti-abortion legislation in the country.



Let's be clear about this: If we want to stop Donald Trump's sexism and bigotry, women will be the ones to do it.





must

Election Day is exactly one month from today. Please do what you can to help our Democratic women take back the Senate and stop Donald Trump and Mike Pence. If we get out the vote, we win -- and if our women candidates win, our country wins.

Thanks for being a part of this.
7 October marked as 15th anniversary of US invasion of Afghanistan

PESHAWAR: October 7 was marked as 15th anniversary of the United States invasion of Afghanistan in response to deadliest terror attacks in US by Arab jihadists affiliated with Afghanistan-based Al-Qaeda terrorist organization on September 11, 2001, Afghanistan was dragged into war without clear victors as the Taliban militia (ruling Afghanistan in 2001) remained intact, in fact they have appeared stronger than ever before despite fighting the well-organized and well-equipped armies of many first world nations.



During the current week, the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan (IEA), known as the Afghan Taliban have initiated a number of attacks in almost all corners of the country.



Since 2001, the Taliban have been engaged with the Afghan National Army (ANA), Afghan Police, the NATO forces besides recently locking horns with rival militants from the Islamic State (IS) and forces of former Taliban Commander Mullah Muhammad Rasool led splinter group that emerged when a rift broke out in the Taliban cadre on electing Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour as their new Amir on July 29, 2015 after the announcement of the death of their founding supreme leader Mullah Muhammad Omar.



Under Mullah Mansour, the Taliban carried out a number of attacks on Afghan and foreign forces in Afghanistan. They took control of Kunduz city for at least three days on September 30, 2015 before taking away large cache of arms and ammunitions and military vehicles during that endeavor.



Besides, the Taliban also defeated Daesh (IS) in Ningrahar and Kunar along with battering Mullah Rasool faction in Herat and Zabul earlier this year. However, the militia lost its momentum after Mullah Mansour was killed in a drone attack in Pakistan's Balochistan province on May 21, 2016.



The Taliban have divided Afghanistan in different military zones. Sirajuddin Haqqani is responsible for Taliban action in the East, Southeast and West of the country while Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob, the eldest son of Mullah Muhammad Omar is responsible for Southwest and North of Afghanistan.



This week, the militia captured numerous areas in different provinces. In Helmand, they took control of Nawa and Khan Sheen districts before engaging the Afghan forces close to the provincial capital Lashkar Gah.



Similarly they took control of Shah Wali Kot district in Kandahar before blocking the Kabul-Kandahar highway for hours as they set up security checkpoints. Government forces were also at the back foot in Farah province, where the Taliban had launched an aggressive attack on Farah city.



The Taliban also launched an attack on Ghormach district of the western province Badghis bordering Turkmenistan. At least 78 Border Police personnel surrendered to the Taliban on Friday.



The militia also briefly captured most parts of Kunduz city, Kunduz province bordering Tajikistan in the north by confining the government forces to the airport and the governor's house for at least three days.



The attack on Kunduz synchronized with the reconciliation of former Mujahidin commander Gulbadin Hikmatyar with the Afghan government. Hikmatyar was born in Kunduz and the Taliban might have given him and the government a message about the real resistance by invading Kunduz.



Taliban also attacked Pul-e-Khumri city in Baghlan province and blocked the Baghlan-Kunduz highway where they also attacked convey of Afghan forces, inflicting heavy casualties on them. Taliban claimed to have captured a number of soldiers as they cut off the supply route to Kunduz.



Some reports also suggest that the Shia majority of Bamiyan province were also joining hands with the Sunni-Taliban against the Afghan Government.



All of these incidents are taking place at a time when more than 70 countries and 30 international organizations and agencies attended the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan. The donor countries pledged $ 15.2 billion in aid to Afghanistan until 2020.



Coupled with 15th anniversary of the US invasion, the coordinated attacks of the Taliban at multi-fronts showed that they have planned well to invite focus of the western nations to the Afghan problem, which seemingly lost interest of the nations that joined hands 15 years ago to oust Taliban from power.



During the conference, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani said that his country was making progress on the economy, corruption and human rights and it needed constructive international support to see the changes through.



Meanwhile US Secretary of State John Kerry urged the Afghan Taliban to make an honourable peace with Kabul.



The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer in his speech at the conference said the Afghan conflict was not a forgotten one, but an ignored conflict. "It's not a low-intensity conflict, but one defined by its extreme volatility and uncertainty, with dramatic humanitarian consequences for the people in Afghanistan," he said.
Discussion about wargaming and military history, primarily WWII in North Africa. Also discussion about AFV's and artillery.
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...
Plot Synopsis

For decades Peru was a country of highly developed cultures in the Andes. This is where the sun kings of the Incas governed their huge empire from, which stretched over 3,000 kilometres along the South American mountains, until the Spanish destroyed it in 1532. The Incas rulers with drew into the jungle when their world fell apart around them. Join us and visit the magnificent ruins of Machu Picchu, the outstanding witnesses to the Incan culture.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Robert Altman is one of the greatest directors of all time. With films like 'MASH', 'Nashville', 'The Player', 'Short Cuts', and 'Gosford Park', you immediately know that Altman knew what he was doing when it came to filmmaking in a variety of genres. Back in 1971, Altman came across the 1959 book 'McCabe' by Edmund Naughton and adapted the novel into a feature film titled 'McCabe and Mrs. Miller', which went on to win awards and was even nominated for an Oscar. 'McCabe and Mrs. Miller' is a western, but Altman wanted to make an anti-western film, which he mostly succeeded in doing with this film, by not following the usual western genre tropes that came before it.

The result is a very satisfying and original take in the old west with some underlying themes of big businesses trying to take over people's lives by any means necessary. 'McCabe and Mrs. Miller' takes place in Washington state in a very small mining town called Presbyterian Church, due to the one decent building in town, where there are really no leaders or no money in this small community. A drunk gambler wanders into town by the name of John McCabe (Warren Beatty) and with his charming, go-getting personality, he convinces the town to let him open up a brothel business to make some money.

Soon enough, a prostitute by the name of Constance Miller (Julie Christie) heads into the town of Presbyterian Church and wants to strike a deal and partner with McCabe and tells him that she can bring other high-end prostitutes from other towns to make this business an even bigger success than it is. The two strike a deal, and business starts booming. This attracts the attention of a wealthy businessman in a neighboring town, who sends a couple of people to purchase McCabe and Miller's business.

When McCabe refuses to sell, he finds out that this wealthy businessman is known for making people offers "they can't refuse". Soon enough, bounty hunters are out for McCabe to run him out of town, where the Presbyterian Church townsfolk bet on whether or not he can fight and save the day in a 'Magnificent Seven' type of showdown, but instead of seven people, it's just poor old McCabe who doesn't really know how to use a gun. That's what makes this Altman film an unusual, but excellent western film.

Instead of big standoffs, or cowboys running at the chance to kill people, this film does the opposite, which has McCabe running and hiding, so he can calculate how to stage a sneak attack on his enemies. There is a dark sense of humor here too, which Altman's screenplay delivers that awkward comedy throughout. Leonard Cohen provides the music as well for the film, which keeps with this odd storytelling in this anti-western, but the result is strangely perfect film.

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

'McCabe and Mrs. Miller' comes with a 50GB Blu-ray Disc from Criterion that is Region A Locked with the spine #827. The disc is housed in a clear, hard plastic case with a fold out booklet of a poster from the film as well as an essay from Nathaniel Rich.
This is the latest in a series of posts about the 1916 presidential election between Democratic incumbent Woodrow Wilson and Republican challenger Charles Evans Hughes, a Glens Falls native.

Part 6 about Hughes campaign stop in in Plattsburgh, as reported Sept. 15, 1916 in The Plattsburgh Sentinel.

Hughes called for civility in politics in his campaign speech at Plattsburgh.

I quote this section of the speech in its entirety because it is so timely a century later.

Our friends on the other side of the aisle -- for so I delight to call them -- we are having our campaign -- we are very earnest and erect in our campaign. It is a time for assessment, for appraisal and candid statement. No one can object in this country to full and fair discussion. That is the very spirit of our institution. But, we are all friends, however divided politically. I do not desire in speaking of those who do not agree with me to the slightest disrespect. If the argument is sound it will carry without any suggestion of personal enmity. We do not need that in our campaigns. What we need it fairness and the truth, and let the electorate decide.

The full Plattsburgh Sentinel report can be read at the New York State Historical Newspapers web site, a project of public libraries.

Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series.
One of the most important things to think about when planning out your shopping trip every week is, what coupons am I going to need? Where will I get these coupons?

There are three main coupon inserts that come in The Post-Star every month. These are Red Plum, Smartsource and P&G. Smart source usually comes every week, Red Plum will come often, however it will skip a week here and there. And P&G comes once a month. These inserts cover coupons from health and beauty, to snacks and food as well as services and advertisements.

Coupon inserts are different around the country as well. They have what is called a region that they are printed for. There are higher valued coupons in different regions, based on the prices of the items in the store. In California, a Nabisco coupon may value for $.75 off a box of crackers, where here in New York, the same coupon would have a value of $.50 off a box of crackers.

If you are lucky enough to know someone or have a relative in a region where the coupons are worth more, ask them to share! There is nothing stating that you can only use that coupon in California. As long as it is a manufacturers coupon, you can use it at any store that accepts them.

The companies that print our inserts each week let you know ahead of time what inserts to expect in the paper on Sundays. This way, if you buy a paper at a local store, always make sure you check and make sure that all of the inserts are included.

This is a great list to go by, showing what inserts will be included each week. Notice that there are no coupons on the Sunday around Christmas. You will notice they have weeks there are none due to holidays throughout the year.

October

9  RedPlum, SmartSource

16  SmartSource

23  RedPlum, SmartSource

30  RedPlum (2), SmartSource & P&G

November

6  RedPlum, SmartSource

13  RedPlum, SmartSource

20  RedPlum, SmartSource

27  P&G (Thanksgiving)

December

4  RedPlum, SmartSource

11  RedPlum, SmartSource

18  No Inserts (Christmas)

25  P&G

In my monthly class at The Post-Star, I go into detail about using coupons, saving money, finding monthly deals and how it will benefit your family and your pocketbook! Free giveaways during the class as well. Please join me for my next class at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25. Feel free to call 742-3309, or go to poststar.com/couponclass.

Head over to my blog at Making Cent$ About Extreme Couponing to find some great deals around the region this week. Post your questions, comments and deals in the comments section.
A couple of weeks before his breakout performance in 'Deliverance' and his domination of the 1970s box office began, Burt Reynolds led an ensemble cast in 'Fuzz'. The film was based on the novel of the same name, which was the 21st novel in the 87th Precinct crime series by Ed McBain, one of the many pseudonyms for Evan Hunter, who wrote the film's screenplay.

Transporting the story from New York City, where the novels are based, to Boston, where the film was shot, the audience is presented multiple different cases being worked on by the detectives. 'Fuzz' comes across different than most police-story films, and more realistic to what police deal with and resembling a Robert Altman film, sans the overlapping dialogue. Better yet, 'Fuzz' has the feel of a TV show, which is not meant to be a negative. The characters are enjoyable and it would be fun to revisit them, like with 'Barney Miller'.

As 'Fuzz' opens, the precinct headquarters is under repairs. Detective. Meyer (Jack Weston) takes a phone call and the voice on the other end is clearly recognizable as Yul Brynner, who will become known as the Deaf Man. He threatens that Parks Commissioner Cooper will be killed unless he receives $5,000 by noon the next in $5 and $10 unmarked bills. The police pay little heed until the Deaf Man makes known that is threats are serious.

The police have other serious matters to contend with as well, such as a series of robberies and two kids who are setting homeless people on fire. Unfortunately for Detective Carella (Burt Reynolds), his stakeout during the latter goes poorly for him. There is also a rapist on the loose, which is why Detective McHenry (Raquel Welch) is newly assigned to the station. She distracts almost every guy, which seems a bit odd at first because she has such a heavy coat, but once she removes it, her tight sweater and jeans show them to be prescient.

Hunter's script is well written due in large part to his fleshing out of the characters and making them interesting. In what would likely be cut from most films because it doesn't advance the plot, Carella's wife is introduced and she is deaf. Although McHenry is the desire of many men, especially Detective Kling (Tom Skerritt), who gets her in a sleeping bag during a stakeout, she gets to show she is a capable officer and not just a pretty face. Even minor characters like Det. Brown (James McEachin) get an awesome moment to shine, as seen when he deals rather forcefully with a man who is too comfortable referring to Brown as a "nigger" during a conversation with him. By making his characters engaging, Hunter engages the audience to invest in the film.

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

Kino Lorber Studio Classics presents 'Fuzz' on a 25GB Region A Blu-ray disc in a standard blue keepcase. The disc boots up directly to the menu screen without any promotional advertisements.
New York Air National Guard Chief Master Sgt. Denny Richardson, a resident of Gansevoort, has been selected as the 109th Airlift Wing command chief, representing the highest level of enlisted leadership for the wing. In this position, Richardson oversees about 700 enlisted Airmen assigned to the New York Air National Guards 109th AW at Stratton Air National Guard Base.

Richardson, who has been with the Air National Guard for 27 years, joined the New York Air National Guards 109th AW in 1997 as the non-commissioned officer in charge of Aircrew Life Support with the 139th Airlift Squadron. In September of 2014, Richardson moved to the Force Support Squadron as superintendent and then on to the Mission Support Group superintendent before assuming duties as the 109th AW command chief.

Richardson deployed to Germany in support of Operation Desert Storm in 1990 and to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2009. He has deployed numerous times to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, supporting Operation Deep Freeze, the military support component for the National Science Foundation-managed U.S. Antarctic Program.

Staff Sgt. Michael Herbst, a resident of Glens Falls, has been assigned to the 369th Sustainment Brigade Headquarters.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Thomas Young of Granville has been assigned to the 369th Sustainment Brigade Headquarters.

Pvt. David Millard, a resident of Saratoga Springs, has been assigned to the 727th Military Police Law and Order Detachment.

Staff Sgt. Donald Smithgall from Ballston Spa has reenlisted to continue service with the New York Army National Guards Company A, 3-142nd Aviation.

Ricky Baker from Granville, and serving with Company E (Forward Support Company Infantry), 427th Brigade Support Battalion of the New York Army National Guard, has been promoted to the rank of private.

Anthony Balac from Gansevoort and serving with the 206th Military Police Company has been promoted to the rank of private first class.

Patrick Center from Ballston Spa and serving with the Joint Force Headquarters has been promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the New York Army National Guard.

Noah Dixon from Queensbury and serving with the 1427th Transportation Company has been promoted to the rank of private in the New York Army National Guard.

James Hilson from Ballston Spa and serving with the Division Signal Company, 42nd Infantry Division, has been promoted to the rank of private first class.

Justin Hoagland from Whitehall and serving with the A Troop, 2-101 Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition) has been promoted to the rank of private first class.

Christopher Northrop from Ballston Spa and serving with the Company C, 2-108th Infantry, has been promoted to the rank of private first class.

Steven Yeager from Ballston Spa and serving with the 2nd Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction) has been promoted to the rank of sergeant first class.

Staff Sgt. Clare Gorham from Gansevoort has reenlisted to continue service in the New York Army National Guard with the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Recruiting and Retention Battalion.

Master Sgt. David McGlynn from Ballston Spa has reenlisted to continue service with the Camp Smith Training Site.

Sgt. Steven Waite from Glens Falls has reenlisted to continue service with the Joint Force Headquarters.

Sgt. First Class Steven Yeager from Ballston Spa has reenlisted to continue service with the 2nd Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction).
SALEM  Theres something primal and beautiful about amber sprays of hot liquid iron raining in the melting zone of a 2,500-degree furnace.

Theres something instinctual and practiced in knowing when the molten metal is ready to pour into molds; in knowing that a metal puddle with spikes on the edges is about perfect for creation.

Theres something archaic and visceral in taking 5,000 pounds of old cast iron tubs and radiators and melting them into a liquid form.

Theres something adventurous and exciting about filling a void with the metal that will, in its new hardened form, take on new life.

And each year, for the past 10 years, university art students have traveled to the sprawling 119 acres of Washington Countys Salem Art Works to experience the passion of a large-group iron pour.

Its a most primal thing about seeing the material at that state, Michael Bonadio, Salem Art Works foundry director, said, admitting its hard to describe the feeling in words.

Bonadio, who was in charge of this Septembers intercollegiate iron pour that drew 100 participants from 14 schools  Alfred University, MassArt, University of Albany, Purchase College, SUNY Oswego, Rochester Institute of Technology, Union College, SUNY Plattsburgh, Kentucky University, Brandeis University, Florida Atlantic University, Ramapo, SUNY Cortland and Skidmore  originally built SAWs furnace with four other metal artists.

At the time, we were all working together at Sloss Furnaces and we came up here to build the furnace, he said. There is an art to designing and personalizing a furnace  in 2011 we built the furnace in four days.

In preparation for the late-September pour, SAW collected donations of about 5,000 pounds of scrap cast iron and melted pig iron with the scrap metals and heated them to about 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit. The iron in its liquid form was then poured into a variety of molds including sand and resin, scratch box, ceramic shell and the ancient dung mold method made from local manure, clay, grit and hay.

But the actual pour is only part of this annual weekend experience. At Salem Art Works, the process, the artists vision, the journey of the making is an important part of the culture.

Being involved in a community of artists, makers, people who are interested in learning and challenging themselves has unlocked my thinking. I dont think I can look at any artwork the same way more than once, nor do I want to, said Jenny Hillenbrand, SAW artist program coordinator. I am challenged here to think beyond myself, to absorb as much from those around me as possible, and to expand my understanding of the process of making. It is a life pursuit to understand the motivation behind why artists make work, and how they get to the end result.

SAWs founder and director, Anthony Cafritz, a noted sculptor, said he wants artists to have an opportunity to work with new materials or to apply familiar materials in new ways.

The experience will imbue the artist, as if a tincture to embrace all media equally, Cafritz said. The artist will be more emboldened, like someone who speaks four languages.

Salem Art Works was founded in 2005 when Stanton Hill LLC purchased the old dairy farm along Cary Lane in Salem. The acquisition included 119.4 acres along with several structures, including a huge old barn, circa 1790. Cafritz said it was always his vision to create the art community at this spot.

Today it is a nonprofit art center and sculpture park dedicated to supporting both emerging and established artists in the creation of new and progressive work, Cafritz said. Now the mortgage is paid off and the LLC leases the property to SAW for about $20 a month. Our intent is not to be a profiteer, but to keep the lights on and go into the next year, Cafritz said. There is no luxury here.

And nearly everyone who lives or works at SAW is an artist in their own right. There are sculptors, musicians, painters, writers, wood artists, metal or glass artists and many who work in multiple mediums. Some come for a day, some a few weeks and some for several months.

According to Hillenbrand, they worked with 85 artists in residence this year.

The day before the iron pour, New York City-based artist Carole Halle, who was in the fellowship program, was finishing the surface of a large sculpture, now housed in the sculpture park. With a background in woodworking, blacksmithing and drawing, Halle said she was mostly exhibiting her work indoors. For her fellowship, she wanted to add an outdoor experience to her body of work. Halle hopes using a self-created mixture of peat moss, concrete and yogurt will encourage moss to grow over her sculpture.

She made the large outdoor sculpture by carving foam and coating it with concrete  she researched new ways to produce outdoor sculpture for when she returns back to the city, Hillenbrand said. This experience provided her valuable time to experiment on new techniques, which has expanded her practice.

Anika Cartterfield, now on staff as the intern coordinator, was originally a resident intern after she graduated from MassArt.

I had only made art in a school setting, she said, admitting that she had considered not pursuing an art career because she did not see possibility beyond the traditional gallery setting. But at SAW she discovered a community of artists working in a rural setting and informing each others work.

Initially, Cartterfield created several sculptures outside, a totally new experience that has informed her work and changed her thinking.

Additionally, as part of residency at the center, interns, fellows and residents are required to help cook the community evening meal in the outdoor kitchen.

From June to October, there can be as many as 40 for dinner with everyone eating in community.

I think thats a really crucial part of what makes this place tick, she said, adding that she cooks twice a month.

On the Friday before the intercollegiate pour, another intern and a staff member were cooking huge pots of black beans in preparation for the students. And, Cafritz said, they try to get most of their food from local farms.

We use simple meats and vegetables, he said.

The center survives on grants and donations, and some artists pay for their time while there.

This week, about 35 to 40 high school students will experience the many facets of art including glass blowing, blacksmithing, welding, silk screen printing, stone carving and cuttle bone casting in a one-day field trip to SAW.

Called Art 101 and funded by the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council, foundations and local businesses, the program allows area students to participate in hands-on morning and afternoon workshops for $20 per student for the day.

Offered annually during October and April, more than 200 area students have already participated.

Adjacent to the actual artists living areas and studios is the Cary Hill Sculpture Park, filled with large-scale sculptures and five miles of walking trails for the community. Cafritz said theres a group of 80-something women who walk in the park every day. And he hopes more people will come. More voices, different perspectives, alternative visions.

This past year, they planted 150 pounds of indigenous flowers in the fields at the sculpture park in hopes of attracting bees and butterflies. And when driving around the park in his truck on an early autumn day, Cafritzs energy and enthusiasm are palpable.

Art is his life, and even though he only gets short blocks of time to work on his own making, he never misses a moment to stop and discuss the work of those creating at the center.

Our emphasis is on intent, Cafritz said. It is all about work, all about extremes. Taking chances in a supportive and considerate environment.
QUEENSBURY -- A Connecticut woman who police believe was part of a Connecticut-based fraud ring that was cashing fake checks around the Northeast pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony charge.

Jessica L. Alon, 42, of Coventry, Connecticut, pleaded guilty in Warren County Court to second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument for a check cashed in Queensbury.

Police believe she was one of a number of people who were sent by an unnamed ringleader from central Connecticut to banks around the Northeast to cash fake checks, at least some of them written on governmental bank accounts. Several of them used their identification when cashing the checks.

Two others have been arrested locally, one in Warren County and the other in Washington County.

Warren County Judge John Hall sentenced her to 5 years on probation and directed she make $2,196 restitution.
FREEPORT, Bahamas  A Hudson Falls couple survived Hurricane Matthews wrath as 140 mph winds ripped through their Freeport condominium this week.

Kimberley and Anthony White, who own the condo and visit the island often, lived through the storm that pounded the island for nearly 10 hours on Thursday. But now, trapped on the island without power and limited supplies, the couple is uncertain when the ferry to the mainland will be able to bring them back to the U.S.

Anthony is the Washington County director of probation, Kimberley said in a detailed Facebook exchange with The Post-Star on Saturday evening.

Were told today the ferry and flights have been canceled by Homeland Security, Kimberley said. But a local had told us that there is a ferry coming with electric company work trucks.

Kimberley said there were about 40 people remaining at the condominium resort on Tuesday, but now there are only 16.

Those who arrived on flights received alerts that their flight was leaving Tuesday, she said. We didnt take a flight to the Bahamas, we came in on the Baleria Fast Ferry. We tried to get a flight Wednesday, but all flights were grounded.

On Saturday, Matthew sideswiped two of the Souths oldest and most historic cities  Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina  and also brought torrential rain and stiff wind to places like Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina.

From there, it was expected to veer out to sea, lose steam and loop back around toward the Bahamas and Florida.

In describing the actual storm, Kimberley said their unit was hit hard and was the only one that lost its roof.

The privacy fence between our balcony blew and it hit the patio door, causing the lock to break and the door to open, she said. The hurricane came into our room at 140 miles per hour. The big central air unit flew up in the air with our roof and landed on the other side of the building, as did all our sheet metal roofing.

Kimberley continued.

We couldnt get our door open; it took four guys and finally when the eye of the storm came, we got in. It was just blowing so strong in our face. The hurricane was in our room with debris flying everywhere. Anthony got the patio door shut, water was leaking from the chandelier. It raged for probably 10 hours, she said. I think it started at 3 p.m. and was still going at 1 a.m. and then it was a tropical storm until 6 a.m. The beach is gone. The retaining wall is demolished as well.

Kimberley said with the roof gone there is a big hole that light now shines through, and they are sleeping in their bedroom with their shoes on in case another storm comes.

We slept with our shoes on and feet hanging off the bed, ready to run, she said. We had to move the bed away from the window and our heads are under the door jamb of the bathroom.

The couple has never been through a hurricane and Kimberley said the local islanders said this is the worst storm they have seen.

Generally, their three sons come with them to the island, but this time they did not.

To preserve resources, the island is rationing gas and water, Kimberley said.

And because there is no power, frozen meats have all thawed, and at about 8 p.m. Saturday, they were cooking out and sharing with others. The Whites are the only ones with a grill and charcoal, she said. And some have hamburgers, hot dogs and some chicken. After that, she has some tuna and a few hard boiled eggs.

Everyone has dry food and we have two loaves of bread and three gallons of water, she said. The staff brings in food for their workers and shares. People have peanut butter and jelly.

Just after 8 p.m. Saturday, Kimberley messaged that they heard a boat came to the island, but officials would not let the boat dock, sending it away.

Maybe no immigration officers, so it turned back, she said. So now we wait ... hopefully they come back tomorrow.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
FORT EDWARD  With 200 years behind it, the Fort Miller Reformed Church is looking forward to the next two centuries.

Whats most important, I think, is that this was built as a community meeting house, and thats what we want to continue in the future, said Lorraine Merghart Ballard, one of the organizers of this weekends two-day birthday celebration.

The building that currently serves as the Fort Miller Reformed Churchs sanctuary first opened its doors in 1816, built on land donated by the Bleecker family of Albany.

Construction cost $2,000 and was paid for by subscriptions with the agreement that the building could be used by any denomination.

Bicentennial celebration events will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday with historical presentations by local speakers and politicians.

On Sunday, the church will offer an 18th-century Dutch worship service in period costume followed by a traditional Dutch luncheon.

The Rev. Charles Bailey, who led the church for 42 years before retiring several years ago, will give the benediction.

In 1822, the congregation became part of the Reformed Church of America, but thesanctuary remains open and welcoming to all.

In fact, Merghart Ballard said the church wants to reach out even more.

We are making space so we can have meetings, like Alcoholics Anonymous or other community events here, she said. There are facilities in Schuylerville or Fort Edward, but not right here in Fort Miller.

Saturdays activities will also include tours, light seasonal fare and a special pumpkin birthday cake prepared by Cake by Alissa of Schuylerville.

Bill Krattinger of the state Department of Historic Preservation will discuss why the complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Longtime organist and music director Debbie Anderson will open the celebration with a prelude played on the churchs parlor organ.

The church has a larger, well-known organ built by James Petit, who was at the church for 50 years, but because of the historical nature of the event, Anderson said she will likely use the smaller organ Saturday and perhaps no musical accompaniment on Sunday.

They would not have had an organ at all 200 years ago. We will very likely be singing a capella, she said, noting that the hymns will be sung in both Dutch and English. These are hymns they have been singing in the Netherlands forever.

Malcolm Sanders, who grew up attending the church sermons and now serves as the main archivist, will provide an overview of the buildings uses over the years.

Local historians from the Washington County and Fort Miller historical societies will talk about Fort Miller as a community both before 1816 and through the present day.

The church is located at 1239 Fort Miller Road. For more information, email fortmillerchurch@gmail.com.
GREENWICH  It started with an article in a magazine in a doctors office more than five years ago and has grown to feed more than 65 students in Greenwich Central School District every weekend during the school year.

My daughter and I were in a doctors office, and she was reading in a magazine about a backpack program that sent food home on weekends, Jen OConnor recalls. I brought the idea in to my principal and was told to go ahead with it.

OConnor, as sometimes happens, was perfectly positioned to make it happen. She is the elementary school secretary and was the PTSA president at the time.

Five years ago, when the district first started its YES! backpack program, needy students got two backpacks a month, one with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a few other supplies, and one with spaghetti and pasta.

Basically, we were doing it with donations from the teachers, said OConnor said. Then Comfort Food became our partner.

As the program begins its fifth year, with OConnor and her daughters still involved, the first batch of eight backpacks, feeding 13 children, went out Friday.

It will grow. I know it will, she said. We were sending home 30 backpacks last year, and we know there are more kids who need the help.

OConnor credits Principal Lisa Palmer and Assistant Principal Cheryl Record with their support for the program.

They know whats going on with the kids, and so do the teachers, OConnor said. Theyll suggest we contact the families to see if we can help.

At the junior-senior high school, she said, the guidance counselors, as well as other staff members, are the point of contact.

Were thrilled to be able to do it, because we know the kids are coming into school on Mondays more ready to learn, OConnor said. You know youre helping the children.

YES! stands for Youth Eat Smart, according to Devin Bulger, program coordinator of Comfort Food Community.

PTSA members and volunteers pack the backpacks weekly. Then, they are quietly distributed to participating children every Friday afternoon.

The goal of the program is to meet the needs of hungry children on weekends, when other resources are not available.

Bulger pointed out that according to No Kid Hungry, an initiative to end child hunger in America, 16.2 million children live in households that lack the means to get enough nutritious food on a regular basis.

He also said that a survey of educators reported that when children are nourished, they pay better attention in class, have improved attendance and have fewer disciplinary problems.

Backpacks include two breakfast items, three entrees, a loaf of bread, two juice boxes, fresh fruits, canned vegetables, two snacks and a bi-weekly milk card.

A number of other local school districts run similar programs. Open Door Mission feeds 300 students in 10 schools.

Another similar program has been thriving in Salem, and OConnor said the Greenwich group got help from there.

Maura Rapp, their superintendents secretary, was great to us, OConnor said. She came in and laid out everything they were doing. That really helped us get going.

Since then, the Greenwich program has thrived. After the first year, Comfort Food Community, in association with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, joined the PTSA in coordinating the project.

Families interested in participating in the program should contact either OConnor, at 692-9542, ext. 6100, or their childs teacher or school administrator.

Bulger said the backpack program is run solely on local donations.

We are fortunate to have good support, but we can always use more, he said.

Current supporters include the Greenwich Teachers Association, St. Pauls Epsicopal Church and many community members. He said sponsoring one backpack costs, on average, $5.56. Sponsoring one child for an entire school year is roughly $167.

All of the backpacks are donated, OConnor said. We could definitely use more this year.

Comfort Food Community also runs food pantries in Greenwich and Cossayuna and has a mobile food pantry as well. Open pantry hours in Cossayuna are 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday. The Greenwich pantry is open from 9 to 11 a.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

For more information or to donate to the backpack program, visit comfortfoodcommunity.org or call 538-3522.
The past and the future face each other across Route 4 in Fort Edward.

The past is the now-closed General Electric capacitor plant on the west side of the road, deserted by all but a few maintenance workers. The plants employees have scattered to new jobs, are no longer employed or have moved to Clearwater, Florida, to work at GEs plant there.

Across the street, going up in what seems like a heartbeat, is a new Market 32 grocery store that will be hiring workers for its planned opening before the end of the year. The grocery store is on a formerly contaminated property that was cleaned up using state and federal funds.

In front of the grocery store building, the old McDonalds has been demolished and will be rebuilt, likely just as quickly as the new grocery store.

Closing the doors is not going to have the impact it could have had. We are making sure Fort Edward is a lot more than GE, said Village Trustee Darlene DeVoe, a grant writer who championed the Market 32 project and the villages Renaissance Plan. We have a legacy. We are proud to be a mill town, and we still have mills. But we have learned how to respond to closings like this.

North and south on Route 4, there are other signs of the future.

Youre seeing a ripple effect from the closing, DeVoe said. But its not a negative ripple effect.

Moving forward

In Hudson Falls, where GE closed its plant 30 years ago and demolished the largest remaining building at that site this year, there are multiple redevelopment projects going on.

The former Town Hall is being renovated to bring back the old Strand Theatre, the village is in the process of buying the former Washington County courthouse, and developer William Nikas and the village are pursuing a grant to renovate the former Masonic temple.

The centerpiece of Hudson Falls, Juckett Park, was recently renovated as well, and the project is part of a downtown renaissance for Hudson Falls. Two nearby buildings have been redeveloped by Peter Hoffman, and there are new facades on several buildings.

In the village of Fort Edward, state officials just celebrated the renovation of a former canal maintenance barn into the Canal Marketplace. Rogers Island is growing into a tourist attraction because of state and local cooperation, and infrastructure improvement may lead to more development.

The marketplace will host a farmers market, allowing more development of local farms and agricultural-related businesses.

In all of those cases, the projects were a combination of local and state collaboration, with some private investment as well.

Finding their way

I think what is happening in Hudson Falls and Fort Edward is that the communities are starting to ask what economic development looks like, said Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake. In Fort Edward, they are creating a future for themselves, and thats what it takes when a major employer leaves.

The work the groups in Hudson Falls are doing together, thats really what it takes for a community to rebuild, she added.

Washington County Administrator Chris DeBolt agrees that the municipalities are on the right path.

We are beyond the point where were going to get a big manufacturer to come in with 400 jobs, he said. Its small-scale projects done by citizens that are the path to success.

I think they are doing what they need to do, DeBolt added. Especially the way Fort Edward is leveraging state and federal money to create jobs and economic growth.

Matt Traver, the mayor of Fort Edward, sees it the same way.

We have started moving forward already, he said. The Market 32 continued with its plans, even though they knew GE was leaving.

Weve got something to get through. That is our biggest challenge, he said. We have some advantages. We have waterfront, and you cant build waterfront.

Traver said he thinks consolidating ownership of many of the buildings in front of the yacht basin will make that area attractive to developers.

We will build some kind of future, said Trustee Peter Williams. Living in a small town is hard, especially when you have a big employer leave. But we have some great people here, and they are going to help us grow.

Village officials point out that Irving Tissue employs more than 300 people at its Fort Edward plant and has doubled its number of workers and invested $288 million since buying the facility in 1996.

No immediate changes

Residents are most interested in what will happen to the Route 4 manufacturing building, which sits next to the Washington County Municipal Center.

According to Joan Gerhardt, vice president of Behan Communications and a spokeswoman for GE, there will be no immediate changes.

For the foreseeable future, GE intends to own and maintain the facility. GE will continue ongoing remedial activities at the plant, including the collection of groundwater via the groundwater recovery system, and maintenance and reimbursement of electrical costs for sub-slab depressurization systems installed in homes south of the plant, she said in a prepared statement.

GE installed the systems in nearby houses as part of its remediation plan for the site.

Local officials express concern that GE will let the building deteriorate and become an eyesore.

We dont need GE, DeVoe said. What we need is for GE to clean up its property.

When a mill closes, it usually crushes a town, DeVoe said. But we are not going to let this one entity have that impact on us.

In fact, Fort Edward and Hudson Falls are better prepared for the future than some communities, said Tori Riley, president of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce.

I think both of them are positioned to capitalize on future expansion, including manufacturing, she said. Agri-tech manufacturing would be a huge component there. Mid-sized manufacturers pay well. I dont think people realize that.

Life is going to be different without GE, she added. But its not going to be worse.

And that, she said, is because of the people in the two communities.

Both of these communities are blessed to have groups that are working together so well, Riley said. It takes time, getting people together and a little luck, and these two communities already have the first two going for them.
Milwaukee Public Schools teachers, students and city taxpayers didnt feel the full effect of Act 10 right away.

The MPS contract with the teachers union remained in effect until June 2013, two years after the measure passed.

But change came.

Under the law, MPS accelerated its drive to push down benefit costs. That began earlier, when full collective bargaining existed.

By 2015, the tab for annual fringe benefits was $100 million lower than in 2011.

By 2016, in part because of the benefits savings, MPS was proposing new hiring, expanded summer school, more Advanced Placement classes and free drivers education  despite falling revenues, according to a study by the Public Policy Forum.

Teachers and other employees felt Act 10 in their wallets.

For a teacher making $52,000, the combination of an Act 10-mandated pension contribution, smaller wage increases and higher health insurance payments reduced take-home pay between 13% and 16%, according to the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association.

MPS also ended a plan, for new hires, that had paid employees a supplemental pension on top of their regular pension from the state-run fund.

Darienne Driver

Darienne Driver

Superintendent Darienne Driver said increased teacher movement between districts has put MPS at a disadvantage.

An increase in last-minute vacancies because of the teacher shuffle has destabilized the teaching staff as school starts, she said. And financial limitations undermine competitiveness with suburban districts.

I worry about the long-term sustainability of our staff, Driver said.

Two positives for recruiting and retaining teachers: The end of residency requirements helped MPS, and the districts starting pay remains very competitive with suburban schools.

Concern over slower growth in the size of raises has hurt morale, said Daniel Chanen, MPS chief human resources officer.

The teachers union, always a major influence in district decisions, retains more than 70% of teachers as members.

The district and union officials work well together, Driver and MTEA leaders say. The two organizations have advocated against a state-created recovery district for poor performing schools within MPS and against bills they believe unfairly favor private schools.

The employee handbook that supplanted the collective bargaining agreement is one of the best in the state for teachers, said Kim Schroeder, a teacher who is MTEA president.

Seniority still is an important factor in determining school assignments for teachers, Driver said, but performance will play a bigger role in coming years.

Annysa Johnson of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.

What is your take on the impact of Act 10. Leave your comments here.
Genres : Horror

Starring : Nadia Henkowa, Marie Forsa, Anke Syring, Ulrika Butz, Nico Wolferstetter

Director : Joseph W. Sarno

Plot Synopsis

Newly restored to High Definition from the original film elements, Vampire Ecstasy / Sin You Sinners, directed by 'the Ingmar Bergman of 42nd St.,' Joseph W. Sarno, is the first entry in a new series celebrating one of the most gifted pioneers of the sexploitation genre. These two seminal films are now being released for the first time on Blu Ray.

Dripping with gothic atmosphere, Vampire Ecstasy (1973) is Sarno's mesmerizing foray into the horror genre. When a trio of beautiful young women journey to their ancestral home to claim an inheritance, they fall prey to a coven of witches intent to reincarnate their deceased vampire leader.

In the hypnotic noir, Sin You Sinners (1963), a medallion forged in a voodoo ritual sustains an exotic dancer's youth and beauty. When her jealous daughter and employer hatch plots to steal the amulet for themselves, it sets off a chain of events ending in murder. Sin You Sinners is the earliest available film by Joseph W. Sarno.

The double feature includes rare bonus material, including an interview with Vampire Ecstasy Director, Joseph W. Sarno, and Producer, Chris Nebe; Vampire Ecstasy commentary by Producer, Chris Nebe; a featurette titled A Touch of Horror, in which Joe Sarno describes adapting his style to the horror genre; Vampire Ecstasy German Language Trailer; Vampire Ecstasy English Language Trailer; Sin You Sinners Trailer.

Package includes liner notes by film scholar, Tim Lucas.
RBI to launch first pilot of Digital Rupee for wholesale segment on November 1, 2022: Statement.
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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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A team of Police personnel have been deployed to prevent any reprisal attacks as investigations continue. It is our duty to find out those who set the car ablaze and what really might have sparked up these clashes and those who are found culpable will be brought to book, Public Relations Officer at the Accra Regional Police Command, ASP Effia Tenge told Citi FM.

The two halls battled it out, throwing stones at each other, forcing companies who had set up their stands to showcase their products to run away for their lives.

A Toyota Corolla car was also set on fire during the clashes.

ASP Tenge said the situation is under control but warns of reprisal attack.

"As we speak what might have degenerated into the disturbances is unknown and so far one Toyota Corolla which was parked at the entrance of the main Sarbah hall was set ablaze but also through the swift response from the Fire Service, the fire was extinguished," she added.
Agya Koo then led the team of some kumawood stars who visited the NPPs presidential candidate, Nana Akuffo Addo at his Nima residence to formally endorse him and make known of their intention to campaign for him.

Agya Koo was bashed by several people in the NDC especially when he revealed that hes not acted in the last five years because of Mahamas bad governance, making things tough for producers to even cash him for roles in movies.

Now a new audio reveals Agya Koo telling someone how he loved Mahama and his wife and his initial plan to support them and their NDC, an audio obtained by GHBase.com suggest.

In the audio, Agya Koo laments about how hes being denied access to contact the president and his wife, so he can also get the share of the money to endorse him.

He then tells the person he was speaking to on a phone that, that among many things, so hes going to throw his weight behind Nana Akuffo Addo. It appears this audio was recorded before he officially came out to declare his support for the NPP.

Its clear, Agya Koo would have endorsed the NDC if that person had linked him to the President for him to get his share of the kwacha (money).
According to him, the Zongo Development Fund, which Nana Addo first announced in the 2012 campaign to tackle the deprived nature of the Zongos, will be an integral part of the partys 2016 manifesto, and will be established if, God-willing, he is given the mandate to serve the people of Ghana, from January 2017.

He made this known at the launch of the party's manifesto. He noted that the fund forms part a holistic policy approach, aimed at tackling the deprived nature of the Zongos, something which has never been done in Ghanas history.

He said "Every constituency in Ghana will receive $1million to provide for social amenities in the constituency... Well set up the Coastal Devt Authority (CDA) will serve as the principal development agency for the coastal communities."
"We have fought to try and restore confidence in the economy,"president Mahama told students at the University of Energy and Natural Resources in the Brong Ahafo region. "I don't know how you can be happy when your economy is being downgraded. I mean don't you have a sense of patriotism?"

He added: "They were happy when we were being downgraded now the same moody's upgrades us and an opposition leader says Moody's does not know what it is talking about."

But speaking at the launch of the NPP Manifesto in Accra on Sunday, Nana Addo said President John Mahama cannot teach me any lessons in patriotism, my love for and belief in Ghana is total.

The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Akufo-Addo, attacked Moody's rating of the Ghanaian economy, saying it did not consider the actual challenges Ghanaians are facing hence the need to disregard such ratings.

But president Mahama believes his main rival is happy to see Ghana in crisis, accusing him of propaganda and lies.

According to him, if Ghana were in a crisis, it wouldn't have been possible for the country to raise GH4 billion from the Eurobond sale.

When somebody sits and says the economy is in a crisis you fail to understand where he is seeing that crisis. He probably has some lens that sees crisis where crisis does not exist," he stressed.

"Why would you give a country in crisis GH4 billion?... and so it gives a lie to the propaganda people try to put out that this country is in crisis."

Earlier, the president hailed the upgrade as a sign of good governance of the NDC-led administration.
He was speaking at the 2016 manifesto launch at the Trade Fair Center, La, in the Greater Accra Region.

International credit rating agency Moodys has defined Ghanas economy as stable, affirming it three with a B1 rating.

Since 2015, Moodys has rated the Ghanaian economy at B3/ negative.

The latest decision to rate the economy stable, Moodys said in a statement, was informed by three key drivers.
President Mahama had earlier indicated that Moodys rated Ghanas economy as stable due to the good governance of the NDC-led administration.

But Dr Bawumia disagrees, and has asked President Mahama to desist from saying Ghana's rating has been upgraded because it hasn't.

Since 2015, Moodys has rated the Ghanaian economy at B3/ negative.

The latest decision to rate the economy stable, Moodys said in a statement, was informed by three key drivers.
Addressing a mammoth gathering at the NPP manifesto launch at the Trade Fair Center, La, in the Greater Accra Region. Blay said,

He accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of running the economy of the country into a bad state.

READ ALSO: NPP to launch manifesto

The party's manifesto launch comes on the heels of bitter accusation of alleged plagiarism of it manifesto by the National Democratic Congress and the All People's Congress (APC).

READ ALSO: Highlights of NPP 2016 manifesto

It will become the fourth political party to launch its manifesto after the Progressive People's Party, NDC and the APC.

The party had intended to launch its manifesto before the NDC but said the NDC is likely to plagiarise the manifesto.

The manifesto is expected to explain how the party is going to implement its 1-district-factory policy, 1-village-1-dam and $1 million for all 270 constituencies.
He further hit hard at critics who question where the NPP will get the resources to implement its policies already outlined when voted into power.

Some sections of Ghanaians have asked the NPP to come out clean on how it intends to implement its one factory, one dam policy, as well as its one district, one factory promise.

But Dr Bawumia has responded by saying that Dont ask where the money is coming from. If you stop stealing we will use the money for development.
a) The next NPP government will construct new harbours at James Town and Keta.(b) The next NPP government will provide Freedom Cards to the aged to have free access to all public transportation and other public facilities.(c) The next NPP government will restore, in full, teacher and nurse trainee allowances in the first-quarter in office.(d) The next NPP government will build an Accident and Emergency centre in Takoradi.(e) The next NPP government will abolish the payment of utility bills by students, right after assumption of office.(f) The next NPP government will pass a legislation to ensure that at least 20% of road contracts awarded to foreign contractors are sub-contracted to local contractors.(g) The next NPP government will increase the amount of loans under the student loan scheme and restructure and streamline its administration to enhance recovery of the loans.(h) The next NPP government will immediately, right after assumption of office, reduce taxes on electricity tarrifs to provide immediate relief to households and industries.(I) The NPP government will establish a factory in every district to create more employment tor the youth(J) In the three regions up north, an irrigation dam will be built for every district.
Dr Bawumia was speaking at the 2016 manifesto launch of the NPP at the Accra International Trade Fair Centre today (Sunday).

READ ALSO: Trainee nurses welcome allowance restoration

President John Mahama recently reiterated governments decision to restore the allowances of nursing trainees.

He said a technical committee set up to review allowances for nursing trainees has recommended payment of an abated allowance with a possibility to migrate them onto the Students Loan Scheme.

READ ALSO: Nursing trainee allowance will be restored

Addressing trainee nurses as part of his five-day campaign tour in the Brong Ahafo region, he said the committee recommended that since we are yet to amend the law to put our nursing and midwifery students on the students loan scheme, we should also put them on the allowance.
He said on Accra-based Onua that: IMANI should have considered all ongoing projects and they will realise that we have done extremely more than the 52.9%.

"Those projects are not going to be stopped even if the president is not there because those contracts have been signed and payments are made so if you dont factor such projects in your research you may not be getting the real picture."

IMANI on Thursday, October 6 scored the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 52.9 percent as far as the fulfilment of its 2012 manifesto promises is concerned.

The Director of Research of the party, Dr William Ahadzie had earlier indicated that the partys assessment shows that it has been able to implement at least 80% of its policy document, themed 'Advancing the Better Ghana Agenda'.

But speaking at a programme called Final Report Card on the NDCs performance in office at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel in Accra, Mr Brian Dzansi, Director of Technology and Social Media at IMANI, said about half of the 540 promises by the party were implemented.

Explaining its methodology, Mr Dzansi said the IMANI Assessment Team (IAT) assigned 25% weight to Governance, 25% weight to Economy, 15% to Human Capital Investment, 15% to Social Policy, and 20% to Infrastructural Development.

According to him, the government performed very well in education, as it scored 69.4%. And in transparency, score 33.8%.

However, Kofi Adams rejected IMANI's 33.8% score on transparency.
The commission has instructed all political parties to submit their filing fees on Monday after a interlocutory injunction on the collection of the fees was shot down by a High Court on Friday.

The EC said the filing fees is an essential requirement for qualification to be accepted as a Candidate for the 2016 elections, as provided for by Regulation 8 (1) (b) of the Public Elections Regulations, 2016 C.I. 94.

But the flagbearer of the Democratic People's Party, Thomas N. Ward-Brew, said the notice for the submission of the fees is too short.

He said the EC's directive is not in conformity with the conventions established over the years for the smooth management of elections in the country.

The National Chairman of the Convention People's Party (CPP) professor Edmund Delle called for stakeholders discussion on the filing fee.

He told TV 3 that the the Progressive People's Party's court action would not have been necessary if there were discussion between the EC and the political parties.

--Big parties ready to pay--

The two largest political parties in Ghana have said they are ready to submit their filing fees.

The communications director of the New Patriotic Party said although the party has the means to submit its filing fees, it however sympathise with the smaller political parties.

The deputy general secretary of the National Democratic Congress also said his party is ready to submit the filing fees.
As small as these trinkets may be, they can be made into your own personal style statement.

From American celebrities such as Blake Lively, Emma Stone, and Cara Delevingne down home to Nigerian celebrities, Cynthia Morgan, Mo'Cheddah, Eva Alordiah to name a few, this trend has come to stay.

If you are eager to try out this new trend, your options are endless. You can stick to simple studs or try a mixture of hoops for a bit of contrast.

Colouring also matters, mixing gold and silver can be eye catching and feel free to try this out as the old-fashioned one colour rule does not apply when it comes to earring stacking.

The fact that it's almost impossible to break the rules with this trend, makes it even desire to personalise.
The spokesperson for the command, Ebere Amaraizu, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during an interview on Sunday, October 9, that the suspect, Chukwudi Chigbata, is currently in police custody.

Amaraizu disclosed that Chigbata has been on the wanted list for various criminal activities within Uzo-uwani Council Area and its environs.

According to him, Chigbata was arrested over the weekend following a tip-off.

A notorious armed robbery kingpin and suspected cultist who has been a thorn in the flesh of inhabitants of Adani in Uzo-uwani Council Area has been nabbed at Ogurugu Road axis of the council.

The suspect, identified as Chukwudi Chigbata, who also claimed that he is a commercial bus driver, was nabbed by the eagle-eyed police operatives of the command in a drinking joint through intelligence information.

The suspect had been on the wanted list of the operatives over his robbery and other nefarious activities within Uzo-uwani council area and its environs, he said.

ALSO READ: Notorious robbery kingpin in Calabar killed
ALSO READ: Car thief caught when vehicle stalled while escaping

Three of the robbery suspects were killed instantly along with an innocent bystander who the car fell on.

One of the remaining two robbery suspects who reportedly sustained injuries, escaped while the fifth suspect is currently receiving treatment in the hospital.

The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the mortuary. The accident reportedly took place during the heavy rain at about 2:15pm on Saturday, October 7.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Mr Adesina Tiamiyu, while confirming the incident, said preliminary investigation have revealed that the occupants of the car might be robbers as several dangerous weapons were recovered from the vehicle after the accident.

Tiamiyu said, The agency received a distress call regarding a lone accident at Iddo Bridge at 2.15p.m. yesterday.

On arrival at the scene of the incident, the Emergency Response Team, ERT, of the agency discovered a grey-coloured Hyundai ix 35 with number plates SMK 485 CM, which skidded off the Eko Bridge by Iddo Terminus and fell on a man, who died immediately.

Three of the suspected robbers died immediately, one escaped with injuries, while the fifth was taken to the hospital by Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS.

The dead bodies, three suspected armed robbers and one other person identified as a mechanic named Nwamba, were handed over to State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, SEHMU, and were subsequently taken to the mortuary, while the vehicle was towed to Denton Police Station, Ebute Meta, by the agency.

Amongst the items found on the victims were one locally-made double-barrelled pistol with five live cartridges, one laptop, mobile phones and a dollar note.

ALSO READ: Thunder strikes fleeing robbers after stealing from church
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission wants to interview Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo; his deputy Dr Godfrey Gandawa; and three other public officials in connection with fraud and money laundering allegations involving over US$430 000.Documents availed to our Harare Bureau show that Prof Moyo and a staffer in his office, Dr Gandawa, Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund chief executive Mr Frederick Mandizvidza and Zimdef principal director (finance) Mr Nicholas Mapute could have unlawfully benefited from US$430 000 of the State enterprise's money between November 2015 and June 2016.ZACC is also investigating a separate case in which Prof Moyo and Dr Gandawa are suspected of getting Zimdef to release 100 000 litres of diesel worth US$118 500, fuel which was then diverted to the black market.It is alleged the fuel was requested by the Zimbabwe Youth Council on 26 July, 2016 for a "skills gap assessment programme".Dr Gandawa recommended the allocation and Prof Moyo gave his approval on 4 August, 2016.Preliminary investigations indicate that Zimdef bought fuel coupons  batch number 00165  worth US$118 500 from Redan Coupon Private Limited, and these were signed for by Zimbabwe Youth Council executive director Mr Livingstone Dzikira.However, it is alleged that Prof Moyo and two other ministers (names withheld) got the majority of the coupons (serial number provided) and used middlemen to sell them on the black market. Apart from that, ZACC is investigating other alleged abuses of Zimdef funds by Prof Moyo, his deputy, and three subordinates.The five are being investigated for five charges of fraud as defined in Section 136 of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23), and three charges under the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act (Chapter 9:24).A ZACC official, who cannot be named for professional reasons, confirmed the probe. The summary of investigations in our possession states, "Investigations are complete and what is outstanding is to interview the accused persons."The matter is not yet before the police, though ZRP national spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said they were investigating a case in which Zimdef allegedly flouted tender procedures when buying computers."(Police officers) are investigating but they are not investigating Minister Moyo," she said.Prof Moyo was not available for comment yesterday as his mobile phone went unanswered, while Dr Gandawa was said to be busy.The allegations ZACC is looking into are to the effect that:On 6 November, 2015, the five connived to originate a fraudulent memorandum and corruptly approved the purchase of 103 dimension printers for eight polytechnics and two industrial training colleges worth US$95 800. They awarded a contract to Wisebone Trading, a company which deals in agri-business, after which money was transferred from a Zimdef account to Wisebone. The printers were not supplied and the money was put to personal use by the aforementioned;On 21 December, 2015, the minister and his subordinates raised a fake memorandum approving purchase of 170 computers worth US$107 525 from Fuzzy Technologies (Pvt) Limited  a company owned by Dr Gandawa  without going to tender.Fuzzy Technologies supplied 50 computers worth US$24 000, meaning Zimdef was prejudiced of US$83 525;On 10 February, 2016, Fuzzy Technologies was given a contract to supply computers worth US$41 250 and Dr Gandawa's company did not supply the computers;Prof Moyo unlawfully accessed a US$24 000 loan from Zimdef with assistance from Dr Gandawa and Mr Mandizvidza. Of this, US$15 000 was deposited into Dr Gandawa's personal CBZ account while US$9 000 was given to the deputy minister as cash. He then gave the money to Prof Moyo. Prof Moyo paid back the loan, but the action was allegedly in breach of Chapter 28:02 of the Manpower Planning and Development Act which makes no provision for extension of personal loans to the minister from Zimdef funds; andOn 7 April, 2016, Dr Gandawa's Fuzzy Technologies was given another tender to supply goods and services worth US$185 840 to be used by the Ministry at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. The money was transferred into Fuzzy Technologies account, after which US$120 000 was transferred into Dr Gandawa's personal account in three batches of US$70 000, US$30 000 and US$20 000. Dr Gandawa allegedly bought some materials from South Africa in the ministry's name, ensured they were not levied import duties, and then sold those items to the same ministry.On the money laundering allegations, Prof Moyo and his subordinates are said to have connived to move the money for these deals through their personal bank accounts and those of shelf companies.The ZACC summary states that:Of the US$95 800 transferred from Zimdef to Wishbone Trading through Cabs, Dr Gandawa received US$20 000 through his personal Barclays account after which he transferred US$19 030 to HIB Rajput PL T/A Ace Cycles for 173 bicycles for Prof Moyo. Dr Gandawa then transferred US$27 550 to SKM Motorcycles for 10 tri-cycles for Prof Moyo. The balance was withdrawn in cash;US$107 525 was transferred from Zimdef to Fuzzy Technologies' NMB Bank account, of which US$5 745 was transferred to to Pridham Investments for Dr Gandawa's personal furniture. Dr Gandawa also paid for 69 bicycles worth US$7 260 for Prof Moyo. He also transferred US$12 900 to Wisebone Trading as capital to finance his personal business and the remainder was withdrawn in cash; andThe public officials allegedly laundered US$13 270 belonging to Zimdef and gave it to Dr Gandawa to boost his construction firm, which was erecting a palisade fence on land belonging to the Zimbabwe Open University. The money was part of the US$41 250 taken from Zimdef puportedly to support the Presidential Computerisation Programme.Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union claims that Professor Moyo, and his deputy Dr Gandawa, used part of the money to sponsor a demonstration against President Mugabe at last month's graduation ceremony at the University of Zimbabwe.The minister and his deputy were not available for comment yesterday as their mobile phones went unanswered.Zicosu president Tonderai Chidawa yesterday alleged that Prof Moyo was colliding with deans of students (names supplied) at some State universities to organise student demonstrations against President Mugabe at graduation ceremonies.He alleged there were plans to demonstrate against the President at this week's graduation ceremony at Chinhoyi University of Science and Technology. Another demonstration, he alleged, was planned for the graduation ceremony at Bindura University of Science and Technology later this month."The minister has been sponsoring the disturbances meant to embarrass the President during graduation ceremonies by using some of the money he stole from Zimdef," charged Chidawa.He said the plot was mooted last year when Prof Moyo met student leaders from all universities in Msasa, Harare. A statement issued yesterday reads, "We as members of Zicosu are befuddled by the conduct of the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education as we have gathered that where the minister is supposed to be executing his mandate; he is in fact doing the contrary."It is common knowledge that appointed officials have a duty to do their jobs and protect the President. However, to our utter dismay we have gathered that Minister Moyo, while pretending to be fully behind our President is actually working to humiliate the country's leadership through organising demonstrations with elements who are vehemently opposed to the President in the forthcoming graduation ceremonies across the country." On Friday, the Zimbabwe National Students Union called for Prof Moyo to resign over the Zimdef allegations.
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A presidency official, who preferred not to be named, confirmed this development to State House correspondents in Abuja on Saturday.

The court, on Oct. 3, found Okah guilty on two out of the 6-count charges relating to the Warri bombing labelled against him.

The convictions that were upheld are those in respect of the Warri bombing, relating to Okahs providing finance and equipment without which the bombings would not have been executed.

The source stated that already the Nigerian government had written a measured letter to the South African government, hailing the judicial decision as a big step forward towards removing terrorism from the continent.

South Africa has projected itself an enduring partner to Nigeria in the war against terrorism.

When African countries act jointly against terrorism, they send out clear and unambiguous signals that there is no more a place for terrorism on our continent, the source maintained.

The Court held that Okah provided more than N2 million to three individuals for the purpose of acquiring vehicles and explosives for use in the Warri bombing.

On the Abuja bombing, the Court upheld that Okah conspired, planned and instructed people in relation to its execution while he was in South Africa.

The Court, therefore, held that exemption clause on extra-territorial application could not apply as Okah orchestrated the Abuja bombing while in South African territory.

The Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa, by this judgment has effectively reduced the 12-year sentence for Warri bombing to eight years but maintaining the 12year sentence for the Abuja bombing, making the period 20 years all together as against the 24 years ruling by a lower Court.

The source opined that the latest judgement is a victory for the fight against terrorism in all its form and shape, which should be hailed by all well meaning Nigerians and citizens of the world.

The South African authorities are therefore, urged to ensure that Okah is made to face the full wrath of the law for his acts of international terrorism.

The scourge of terrorism as perpetrated by the Boko Haram terrorists and the so-called `Niger Delta Avengers or militants, has led to the death of several Nigerians and the monumental destruction of national assets.

It will be recalled that Okah was granted Permanent Residency in South Africa in 2007, and was arrested in Johannesburg on Oct. 2, 2010.
Buhari also said he would not forgive the anti-graft agency if it refuses to probe any case of corruption levelled against his children.

According to Information Nigeria, the strong anti-corruption stance of the President was what inspired the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, when he was a school boy.

This was revealed in book about the President titled: Muhammadu Buhari: The challenges of leadership in Nigeria.

An excerpt of the book reads: "On numerous occasions, Buhari has urged public officials to do their duty without fear or favour. He has also tried to inspire younger generations to regard public service as an honest calling.

For example, the current acting head of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu was a schoolboy in Borno when Buhari was military governor in 1975. Buhari gave a talk to a group of boys that included Magu and urged them to do their best.

Magu was inspired and became a professional policeman.

In 2015, Buhari asked Magu to head the EFCC, a dangerous job if done well. By mid-May 2016, Magu had secured 143 convictions of corrupt officials.
According to NTA News, the Media aide to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mr. Ahuraka Isah made the revelation to newsmen.

Isah told newsmen that Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro are in DSS custody.

He said What I can tell you for now is that Justices Ngwuta and Okoro were arrested early hours of today.

We do not know the reasons for the arrest yet. Justice Onnoghen was not among those arrested.

DSS officials raided the houses of four Supreme Court Judges, Justices Walter Onnoghen, Sylvester Ngwuta, Adeniyi Ademola and Nnamdi Dimgba on Saturday, October 8, 2016.

The security agency in a statement released to newsmen, accused the judicial officers of fraud.

An excerpt of the statement reads: The Department of State Services (DSS) in the past few days, has embarked on series of special sting operations involving some Judges of the Supreme, Appeal and High Courts. These operations were based on allegations of corruptions and other acts of professional misconduct by a few of the suspected Judges. The Service action is in line with its core mandate, as we have been monitoring the expensive and luxurious lifestyle of some of the Judges as well as complaints from the concerned public over judgment obtained fraudulently and on the basis amounts of money paid.

The judges involved were invited, upon which due diligence was exhibited and their premises searched. The searches have uncovered huge raw cash of various denominations, local and foreign currencies, with real estate worth several millions of Naira and documents affirming unholy acts by these Judges. Meanwhile, some of them have made useful statements while a few have declined even with the glaring evidences that were found against them in terms of material cash, documents and property recovered pointing to their compromise.

In one of the States where the Service operations were conducted, credible intelligence revealed that the Judge had Two Million United States Dollars ($2,000,000 USD) stashed in his house. When he was approached for due search to be conducted, he in concert with the State Governor, mobilized thugs against the Service team. The team restrained itself in the face of unbridled provocative activities by those brought in by the Governor. Unfortunately, the Judge and Governor also engaged the tacit support of a sister security agency.

Governor Nyesom Wike also foiled an attempt by the DSS to arrest a Federal High Court judge.
This is coming as the Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wikefaulted the report of the DSS, alleging that some amount of money was found in the houses of the judges.

Speaking further, FFK issued a statement saying If anyone honestly believes that such large sums of cash were found in the homes of ANY of those judges then that person needs to have his head examined.

The DSS has to say these outrageous things and tell these shameful lies in order to attempt to justify their illegal actions before the world. It is called disinformation and misinformation and that is their stock in trade.

That is what intelligence and securiry agencies all over the world are paid to do. They destroy their victims before the world with lies and baseless allegations knowing that most Nigerians will believe anything and everything that the government says.

It is sickening and pathetic. In any case nothing can possibly justify the gestapo tactics that the state has employed in this matter.

The storming of peoples homes in the middle of the night and the brutalisation and traumatisation of their families, loved ones and households is archaic and barbaric.

Clearly Nigeria is saddled with a President that is a cross between Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, King Leopold 11 of Belgium, Josef Stalin, Pol Pot, Papa Doc Duvalier, Augusto Pinochet, Jean-Bedel Bokassa, Mobutu Sese Seko, Genghis Khan, Atilla the Hun, Count Vlad Dracula and Idi Amin all rolled into one. May God help us.
In the early hours of Saturday, October 8, 2016, DSS operatives raided the houses of four judgesin Abuja.

Also, On Friday, October 7, 2016, security operatives in Gombe state, arrested Justice Muazu Pindiga.

Governor Nyesom Wike foiled the arrest of a Federal High Court judge around 1:00 am on Saturday, in Rivers state.

Following the incidents, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) called on President Buhari to order the DSS to release the judges.

The Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) has also condemned the actions of the security agency, saying it is an interference on the independence of the judiciary.

LEDAP called on all lawyers to boycott the courts next week from Monday, October 10 to Friday, October 14, 2016.

The group also called for the matter to be investigated by the Federal Government, adding that the officers involved should be punished.

According to the spokesman for LEDAP, Chino Obiagwu, It is to the detriment of the Bar and Bench in Nigeria for the security agencies to make spurious allegations and illegally try judges in the pages of newspapers.

It raises wrong and unjustified public perception of the justice system, and impugns on public confidence in justice and governance.

Obiagwu also said It was wrong to execute improperly issued and illegally executed search warrants at night on judges, and in any event, without prior recourse to the head of the judiciary.

The constitutional principle of separation of powers is sacrosanct and once eroded, will drive Nigeria to a tyranny.
Officers of the DSS raided the homes of four judges in Abuja in the early hours of Saturday, October 8, 2016.

Though the security agency hasissued a statement saying the judges were arrested for corrupt practices, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for their release.

According to Punch, Lagos lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, called on the courts to go on indefinite strike.

He also said I read with great amazement and total disbelief, the news of the invasion of the homes of judicial officers in Port Harcourt and in Abuja, by the executive arm of government through the Department of State Services.

As judges have no voices to speak officially, I call on the Nigerian Bar Association to declare an indefinite strike so that all courts of law in Nigeria will be boycotted until there is respect for the rule of law and the Constitution. This should commence from Monday, October 10, 2016, until further notice.

This is full blown dictatorship now in action. It is now a case of anarchists in power. The clampdown on judges has been on for a long time, through agents of government in the various institutions of oppression. We are now back to the 1984 jackboot system of intolerance, where all dissenting views and opinions must be silenced.

It is now clear, without any shadow of doubt, that the so-called anti-corruption war is a hidden agenda to perpetuate the president in office beyond 2019. It is meant to silence the opposition and to cover the inefficiency and cluelessness of this administration.

In a democracy, the rule of law prescribes the independence of the judiciary, whereby judges must be allowed the unfettered right of taking decisions, according to law and according to their consciences.

It is in this regard that the invasion of the homes of judges by the DSS is totally condemnable. It should never happen that the executive is indirectly threatening and intimidating members of the third estate of the realm.

The judiciary is the arm that stabilises democracy and should not be exposed to ridicule in the manner that the DSS is currently doing.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Onueze Okocha also said It is an irregular and bizarre situation. It is unheard of. The hour the invasion was allegedly done (1am) in the wee hours of the morning is uncalled for. No arrest should be executed in the middle of the night, especially in a country where we know that all kinds of people are running around to kidnap, rob and kill people. I think this is a condemnable act.

I have to say that if there is an allegation against a judge, the first thing to do is to invite the judge for interrogation and if the judge refuses, then you can begin to make an arrest of the judge if it is a criminal offence. But nobody should execute an arrest warrant or a search warrant at 1am.

So, it is very condemnable. Judges render essential services because they secure the liberty of the citizens of this country just as the courts are instituted to secure the liberty of the citizens. We need to get to the root of this and find out who authorised this raid and why such a person did so. Due process must always be followed in every law enforcement process.
The Department of State Services (DSS) raided the houses of four judges on Saturday, October 8, 2016.

The APC in a statement issued by its national Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, said The All Progressives Congress (APC) is concerned about the desperation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some of its governors to drag the President into circumstances surrounding the reported raids of the homes of some judges by the State Security Service (SSS).

The President Muhammadu Buhari APC-led administration strictly respects the principle of the Rule of Law and also adheres to the constitutional provisions of Separation of Power between the three arms of government.

While the Party calls on all security agencies to respect and be guided by the rule of law in carrying out its constitutional duties, the APC finds the actions of some PDP governors and the reckless unsubstantiated allegations levelled by the PDP on President Muhammadu Buhari as the architect of the SSS raids curious and suspicious.

The APC suspects that the PDP and the Ekiti and Rivers State governors, Ayodele Fayose and Nyesom Wike have something to hide. This is a red flag that security agencies must not ignore.

Meanwhile, the APC will not to join issues on matters before the courts because it will be sub judice. We advice the PDP to tow the same line and allow judicial processes run it normal and legitimate course.

The repeated allegations that ongoing corruption investigations and trials are politically-motivated by the President and the APC are baseless. The APC urges Nigerians not to be distracted by the PDP and their agents plot to discredit the hugely-successful war against corruption. For the umpteenth time, the PDP does not have the luxury of dictating how the current administration carries out its legitimate duty of catching looters, as long as it conforms to the rule of law. Meanwhile, the APC calls on security agencies to check the continued and increased spate of politically-motivated killings and violence being perpetuated under the watch of the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and the PDP in the state."
The party condemned the actions of the DSS, and also described it as unconstitutional and a threat to democracy.

The PDP, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said:

Sometime in the early hours of October 8th, 2016 men of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) carried out Gestapo like invasions on the homes of a number of Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the Federal High Court.

The affected Justices of the Supreme Court were, Sylvanus Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro. The affected Judges of the Federal High Court were Muazu Pindiga, Adeniyi Ademola, Abdullahi Liman and Nnamdi Dimgba.

At this time, Justices Ngwuta and Okoro of the Supreme Court and Justices Adeniyi & Pindiga had been abducted and detained. Justice Dimgba only escaped abduction because he was not at home at the time. Justice Abdullahis abduction was prevented by the timely intervention of Governor Nyesom Wike, who insisted on the observance of the rule of law and the application of due process.

Governor Nyesome Wike was assaulted by the men of the DSS during his intervention causing him to sustain injuries on his arm. At a point, an officer pointed a fully cocked gun at him and threatened to shoot him.

The invasion was carried out between 0100hrs and 0500hrs in the early morning using hundreds of fully armed men of the DSS. During the invasion, the Justices were manhandled and members of their families as well as their household staff beaten up.

This invasion is the latest in a series of actions taken by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration which reveal its disregard for the rule of law and its abject disdain for the Principle of Separation of Powers.

This inexorable slide into fascism began with the invasion of the Akwa Ibom State Government House by the self same DSS, the continued detention of several people despite Courts ordering their release, the invasion of the Ekiti State House of Assembly and detention of Hon. Akanni Afolabi and the invasion of the Zamfara State House of Assembly.

This slide into fascism has included a sustained attack on the leadership of the National Assembly as President Buhari has sought to break its independence and make it a rubber stamp to suit his will.

It is worthy to note that NEVER in the history of our Country has any President attacked the Judiciary in such a manner. Even the late dictator  General Sani Abacha, whose regime is remembered by many as the second worst regime in Nigerian history, did not carry out such Gestapo style attacks on the members of the Judiciary.

By bringing this attack to the Judiciary, President Buhari has shown that he has no desire to respect the pillars of our democracy. He has shown his desire to kill off our democracy and convert it to an autocracy without checks and balances.

The government has no regard for the rule of law. They do not care about Court Orders. This Government has disregarded the Orders of the ECOWAS Court and every other Courts in the land and continue to detain Dasuki illegally. They continue to detain hundreds of Nigerians without bringing them to trial and against valid Court Orders.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Constitution in Section 153(1)(i) and Part 1 of the Third Schedule thereto establishes the National Judicial Council (NJC) and empowers same to regulate and discipline judges across the Country. The proper path to follow to discipline erring judges will be to forward a petition containing any wrong doing to the NJC along with any evidence in support thereof.

The path not to follow is this Gestapo style invasion in the middle of the night that involves the use of sledgehammers to breakdown gates and front doors for DSS to gain access to the homes.

Nigerians can no longer afford to stand aside and watch the Buhari Administration destroy the foundations of our democracy that we have built for several years. Nigerians have a duty to speak out against this sort of tyranny. God bless Nigeria.

The DSS on it part, issued a press statement accusing the judges of corrupt practices.
News / National

by Thobekile Zhou

Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo reportedly sold 100 000 litres of diesel worth $118 500 in the black market, fresh details indicate.Moyo and his deputy Godfrey Gandawa are being probed by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.Moyo was almost arrested last Wednesday but President Robert Mugabe rescued him.New details indicate that the pair influenced Zimdef to source the fuel which they diverted to the black market.It is alleged the fuel was requested by the Zimbabwe Youth Council on 26 July, 2016 for a "skills gap assessment programme".Reports indicate that Gandawa recommended the allocation and Moyo gave his a go ahead on 4 August, 2016.Zimdef bought fuel coupons - batch number 00165 - worth $118 500 from Redan Coupon Private Limited.Moyo got the bulk of the coupons and used middlemen to sell them on the black market.
Ozekhome said this in reaction to thearrest of some judges by the DSS on Saturday, October 8, 2016.

A cross section of lawyers have condemned the action of the security agency, describing it as a way of intimidating the judiciary.

Speaking further on the DSS actions, Ozekhome also said I am not surprised. I am rather surprised that some Nigerians are still surprised. Some of us warned, wrote, preached and talked. But, we were ignored due to political partisanship. A leopard cannot change its spots. It started with political opponents and the opposition. Some of us cried out. Then, they moved against some very senior and well-respected lawyers. Some clapped.

They said it was anti-corruption. We cried out. It extended quickly to the National Assembly, another arm of government. Many described the government as tough, no-nonsense and anti-corruption-inclined. Some of us warned. Now, it is the judiciary. Up to the very apex court of the land, the Supreme Court, has been targeted and is now being intimidated and humiliated.

Virtually all the judges are southerners. My prediction is that the media will be the next. The recent onslaught against the judiciary signals great danger to our democracy, freedom, human rights, independence of the judiciary and the doctrine of separation of powers as espoused in 1748 by the great French philosopher, Baron De Montesquieu.

We are supposed to be operating a constitutional democracy, not military dictatorship or tyrannical absolutism. Governor Wike was almost shot dead by fully armed DSS operatives. His offence was that he came to rescue a Federal High Court judge who was being abducted. Other serving judges, who would ordinarily respond to a mere phone call, are being humiliated and rounded up in the ungodly hours of the night, like common criminals.
The Governor also said he is prepared to sacrifice his life to defend Rivers state against any form of external aggression.

According to him,This is the time to say no to illegality. If they are testing the waters for rigging and mayhem, it will not work.

I told the security operatives who planned to abduct the judge that instead of this impunity, you better take my life. I will always protect the interest of this state.

When God gives you an assignment, he will give you the enablement to complete the assignment. Rivers people must be ready to fight any form of injustice. I am ready to defend Rivers State with my life.
The popular Nollywood actor joins a long list of stars who have been forced by ugly circumstance to come appeal to the general public for aid.

According to reports, the Village Headmaster actor has allegedly been battling diabetes for years and is set to have one of his legs amputated in a desperate attempt to save his life.

Narrating his ordeal, Alabi told HVP that he was fine until the night of July 19 when he had a strange expulsion on his right leg which gradually bled him of all his money and kept him off movies screens.

He said, I went to bed at about 8:30 pm that fateful day with the intention of waking up at 1 am. When it was about 9 pm, I had a strange expulsion on my right leg.

Immediately, the leg started burning and I screamed throughout the night. The following morning I couldnt move the leg again. It was a spiritual attack. Thats what has kept me under this condition, he narrated.

Putting to rest the allegations that he has been battling diabetes for years, the actor said that he only discovered his diabetic state after he was hospitalised.

Meanwhile, Alabi said that the hospital management is yet to come to a conclusion pertaining to the amputation of his leg.

Alabi added, I may be evicted from the hospital any moment from now because I have no money to sustain my stay here.

I dont want to die. I am calling on well-meaning Nigerians to come to my rescue.

ALSO READ: Veteran Nollywood actor finally hospitalised in the US

Alabi also made sure to thank all of his colleagues who have assisted his thus far.
The states Chairman of IPAC, Alhaji Moshood Adesina, had said on Sunday in Abeokuta that the body carefully reviewed the entire electoral process and was satisfied with the result announced by the electoral body.

But three members of the councilPeoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party(LP) and Unity Party of Nigeria(UPN) dissociated themselves from the position of the body.

Adesina, however, described the poll as free, fair and credible.

Guided by reports from our individual party agents across the state and after a careful study and deliberation of same, we hereby declare the poll free, fair and credible, he said.

He noted that the conduct was transparent and inclusive, adding that a level playing field was provided for all the parties in the contest

Adesina, however, condemned the few instances where disgruntled elements attempted to snatch ballot boxes or intimidate voters.

The chairman commended the electoral body for the independent manner in which the poll was conducted.

He also commended the media, security agents and other stakeholders for their various roles in making the poll successful.

But PDP, LP and UPN at separate press conferences called for the cancellation of the poll.

They hinged their arguments on the fact that the poll was characterised by violence and gross electoral irregularities.

The leadership of the South-West Zone of the PDP at a press conference on Sunday described the conduct of the poll as unacceptable, condemnable and ridiculous.

The PDP Secretary in the zone, Bunmi Jenyo, alleged that election materials were not supplied in many polling centres while there were sporadic shootings in many areas to scare voters away.

He also alleged that the process was masterminded to perpetuate the ruling APC in power.
ALSO READ: ASUU disappointed in university governing council

The fire also razed the Social Sciences and Management Sciences in the incident that occurred on Saturday, October 8.

In a statement released in Jos on Sunday, October 9, the Registrar, Mr Monday Danjem, revealed that the decision was taken pending an emergency Senate meeting scheduled for Monday, Oct. 10.

The statement also urged students as well as members of the university community to maintain calm and go about their normal businesses as the situation is under control.

ALSO READ: Varsity gets new VC
Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg
News / National

by Thobekile Zhou

MDC-T has set tough conditions for an opposition coalition 2018 presidential candidate which effectively pave way for Morgan Tsvangirai.MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora said they only settle for someone who has defeated President Robert Mugabe in an election.In 2008, Tsvangirai is beaten Mugabe but fell short of the required threshold required to rule.He then fled to Botswana."The president (Tsvangirai) will make an announcement on this but we want a candidate who has beaten Mugabe before," he old a rally in Ruwa Saturday."A candidate with no blood on his hands, a candidate who has shown performance related promises when he was once in government."Tsvangirai is in coalition talks with other opposition leaders who include Zimbabwe People First's Mujuru, People's Democratic Party leader Tendai Biti and MDC president Welshman Ncube.
L O U I S A C O U N T Y, I A MONDAY, OCTOBER 24TH @ 5:00 P.M. 345 ACRES (SUBJECT TO SURVEY)  5 TRACTS SALE TO BE HELD AT THE MORNING SUN COMMUNITY CENTER, 106 N. MAIN ST., MORNING SUN, IA 52640 Additional information, maps and photographs available online @: www.sullivanauctioneers.com The BCD Farm is located 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. BCD-LLLP  SELLER ATTORNEY: Roger A. Huddle  Weaver & Huddle 327 N 2nd St.  Wapello, IA 52653  Phone: (319) 523-4221 FOR DETAILS, CONTACT: JEFF HOYER (319) 759-4320 OR JIM HUFF (319) 931-9292 SULLIVAN AUCTIONEERS, LLC  TOLL FREE (844) 847-2161 www.sullivanauctioneers.com  IL License #444000107
The Girl on the Train could be re-titled The Girl on the Trainwreck. Its a schlocky television melodrama all dressed up in feature-film clothing. Dont let it fool you, dear reader: Despite a couple of major stars, this laughable plot has the makings of a cheesy country song: A bunch of cheatin, lyin and drinkin. Songs like that generally are delivered tongue-in-cheek, but this film takes itself far too seriously.

The film doesnt go off the rails immediately, so you can be fooled into thinking that youre watching a smart thriller. About an hour into it, youll know better.

Emily Blunt (Sicario) stars as Rachel, an alcoholic woman who rides the same commuter train to Manhattan every day. She watches through a misted-over window as she passes the neighborhood where she used to live.

Rachel, generally, is drunk. She still is in love with her ex-husband Tom (Justin Theroux, televisions The Leftovers) and sometimes appears at his home. Tom now is married to Anna (Rebecca Ferguson, Florence Foster Jenkins) the woman he was seeing when he was married to Rachel. Anna and Tom have a baby, and Rachel is somewhat focused on her, too.

In addition to being obsessed with Tom, Rachel has become fixated on a woman she sees from afar during her daily commute. She watches Megan (Haley Bennett, The Magnificent Seven,) who lives near Tom and Anna and is the couples nanny.

Megan, meanwhile, is confiding her innermost fantasies with a psychiatrist (Edgar Ramirez, Hands of Stone.)

After Rachel sees another man at Megans home, she becomes angry with Megan. Rachel stumbles off the train, blacks out and wakes up with blood on her clothing. Has Rachel done something terrible? Megan is missing. Is Rachel responsible?

Will contrivances and coincidences be sprinkled throughout the screenplay? Ultimately, the ridiculous situations, an awkwardly inserted character that might as well be named Red Herring and ludicrous choices of these screwballs stack so high they topple into a laughable finale.

The films awfulness has nothing to with its change of setting from London to New York, nor can it be blamed on the ensembles acting. Blunt is a talented performer, and is credible as Rachel even though her character makes nonsensical decisions.

The rest of the cast is fine, too. Allison Janney, in particular, is enjoyable as a skeptical investigator who just isnt buying Rachels explanation that she cant remember anything from the night Megan disappeared.

Your hard-earned money would be better spent on watching the memorable Gone Girl again instead of this forgettable wanna-be.
DES MOINES  If Donald Trump needs a safe space, he should come to Iowa.

Across the country Saturday, the Republican presidential candidate faced withering criticism over recently published lewd comments he made in 2005 about groping women.

Since the comments were published, more than 30 Republican members of Congress and governors who had not previously ruled out supporting Trump disavowed his candidacy, the New York Times reported Saturday.

In Iowa, Republican leaders  as they gathered for their annual fall fundraiser  condemned Trumps comments but continued to support his candidacy, either directly or by way of opposing Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

And a new Iowa Poll published Saturday night showed Trump leading Clinton, 43 percent to 39 percent, in Iowa, although the survey was taken before Trumps latest comments were published.

When you look at the whole picture, I think what he said was absolutely wrong and reprehensible, yet this has happened in 2005 and we need to look to the future, and we need to look at what kind of a leader were going to have for this country, said Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, whose son, Eric, is the Trump campaigns Iowa director.

I think that the vision Trump and (running mate Mike) Pence have is much better for the future of America than what Hillary Clinton offers.

During their remarks at the fundraiser, Iowas U.S. senators, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, both made the case for voting for Trump without using his name.

Ernst dedicated most of her remarks to criticizing Clinton, and Grassley said Republicans must vote for a candidate they want making appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court.

This is not an election about whos going to be president just for the next four years. This is an election about the direction of the Supreme Court for the next 40 years, Grassley said.

Neither Grassley nor Ernst spoke to reporters before the event, although Ernst gave a brief answer to one question as she hurried to her seat. When asked whether she still supports Trump, Ernst replied simply, I do not support Hillary Clinton.

The states Republican Party chairman Jeff Kaufmann condemned Trumps comments, which he called disgusting, but said he still will encourage Republicans to vote for Trump.

Kaufmann said he thinks voters face a choice between two flawed candidates.

The only way to avoid a disaster and the Clinton gang returning to the White House is to do just that, is to elect Donald Trump, Kaufmann said.

The evenings sharpest rebuke of Trump came from a non-Iowan: U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, of Arkansas, the events keynote speaker.

Cotton said Trump has let down Republicans again, and said that in tonight's presidential debate Trump must take full responsibility for his words and actions and pledge to finally change his ways.

If he does those things, then he can right this ship, Cotton said. If he does not do those things, if he will not do those things, then he needs to consider whether its time for him to step aside and allow our party to nominate an elder statesman who will do those things and who will carry our banner into November.

Earlier Saturday, an Iowa state senator who dropped his Republican Party affiliation in protest of Trumps offensive statements and behavior called on Iowa GOP leaders to withdraw their support for Trump over the recently published comments.

Now that Trumps true anti-women sickness has been revealed, surely these two state leaders must condemn Trump publicly, Sen. David Johnson, an Ocheyedan independent, said. As I said in June, Donald Trump is a bigot, misogynist and racist, and is unfit to be president of a great nation.

Trump issued a video statement in which he apologized for the comments, which were caught on microphone in a leaked 2005 video that was released Friday. Trump also called the footage of his comments a distraction from bigger issues at stake in the Nov. 8 election.

Ive never said Im a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone that Im not, Trump said in the video. Ive said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more than a decade-old video are one of them. Anyone who knows me knows these words dont reflect who I am.

Trump told reporters Saturday that he would never withdraw from the race, even as pressure mounted for him to step aside.

The Clinton campaign in Iowa addressed Trumps comments with a letter signed by four local mothers.

The language Trump uses to describe women is not just shocking and hurtful, but disqualifies him for the presidency, the letter says. As mothers of young children and grandchildren, we want our president to set the example for young people that every person is their equal regardless of gender and physical appearance, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and religion. Instead, Trump continues to divide the country with his hateful rhetoric, volatile temperament, and demeaning views toward women and too many Americans.
The company aspiring to bring a psychiatric hospital to Bettendorf does not have a squeaky clean medical history ahead of this Tuesday's meeting with state officials.

The Iowa State Health Facilities Council will meet again in Ankeny to hear arguments for and against Strategic Behavioral Health's plan to build a 72-bed, semi-private-room psychiatric facility after a vote in February was deadlocked at 2-2.

Tuesday's meeting promises to deliver fireworks as Genesis Health System, one of Memphis-based Strategic Behavior Health's biggest detractors and potential competitors, has picked up on allegations at other Strategic facilities.

Strategic, a relatively new player in psychiatric care since its founding in 2006, has 12 facilities in six other states, many of which were constructed and opened in the past few years.

While state inspections have spotted few infractions at its newer facilities, Strategic has been forced to respond in recent years to serious violations at its more-tenured ones.

Major infractions uncovered at Peak Behavioral Health, Strategic's 119-bed, semi-private-room facility in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, resulted in state sanctions, temporary suspension of admissions and additional compliance monitoring last year.

A nonprofit group, Disability Rights New Mexico, or DRNM, issued a scathing 27-page report investigating gross neglect and substantiated claims of an unsafe environment.

The state-designated protection and advocacy agency began its investigation in January 2014 after receiving consumer complaints from residents in the the adolescent residential treatment center.

The investigation, conducted over a 13-month period, found 52 observed instances of self-harm or suicide attempts, 80 instances of resident-on-resident violence or aggression and 21 responses from law enforcement to the adolescent unit.

Staff documented six trips made to the emergency room or urgent care clinic for injuries beyond the facility's ability to treat.

"Residents reported painful restraints that resulted in bruises, sprained or hurt arms, as well as incidents of being thrown against walls and having their faces smashed into door frames and foot boards of beds," the report said. "Residents also reported verbal abuse by staff, including name-calling and threats of physical harm, as well as a lack of sufficient therapies, not being allowed to use the restroom during the four-hour school day, and not being allowed to call their attorneys, Juvenile Probation Officers (JPOs), or DRNM."

In one instance, a resident was attacked by a group and immediately began to self-harm. Other residents came to the victim's aid and broke up the fight, not staff.

Additionally, there were 23 instances of residents leaving the facility, many requiring the U.S. Border Patrol and the Sunland Park Police Department to help find and return the residents.

Although incidents at other facilities did not rise to the level as the ones in New Mexico, similar types of violations pertaining to patient welfare and an unsafe environment were reported at Strategic's Rock Prairie Behavioral Health in College Station, Texas, and the Strategic Behavioral Center based in Garner, North Carolina.

Strategic Behavioral Center-Garner received notice of 17 violations split between two different inspections in 2014. Its Oct. 29 survey last year revealed only two violations.

Last year's inspection of Rock Prairie Behavioral Care found eight violations, four of which pertained to nursing care and services.

Strategic's founder and President Jim Shaheen said he would not comment on specific violations from the past.

"All of our facilities are in compliance and thriving, but it's a continual improvement process," Shaheen said.

Having done its own research into Strategic's history, Genesis intends to present its findings during Tuesday's facility council meeting.

"It's incomprehensible that this would happen at Trinity UnityPoint or Genesis," Genesis Chief Marketing Officer Ken Croken said. "We have not had 80 instances in the 50 years we have provided psychiatric service."

From the facilities that have been highly scrutinized to the new facilities, Croken said there is a pattern of behavior.

"That sort of environment comes under staffing, and there is not enough people paying attention," Croken said. "Look at the report from Scott County. When it went to an SBH facility in Colorado, it showed 88 patients and two psychiatrists.

"I find that outrageous."

Genesis also has taken aim at Strategic's use of semi-private rooms, which it said can lead to more resident-on-resident incidents.

"Private rooms are superior to semi-private in patient comfort, confidentiality and safety," Dr. Jeffrey Weyeneth said. "If a patient is agitated, paranoid, or aggressive in any way, he or she cannot be safely placed in a room with another patient."

Despite a planned capacity for 72 beds in 36 rooms, Shaheen said that does not prevent his proposed facility from making a room private.

"We have the ability to do private rooms when it is clinically necessary, so I don't understand their point," Shaheen said.

Not looking to be drawn into war of words, Shaheen said he would not comment further on Genesis' assertions.

"It truly surprises me that one health care provider would go this route when all health care providers have incidents from time to time," Shaheen said. "We prefer to stay above board, and it just shows who they are."

While Genesis scrutinizes Strategic's facility records, inspections show a much cleaner track record at their own facility.

During Strategic's lifetime of operations, the state has not found any immediate jeopardy or major events at Genesis.

Although Strategic's history will become a important part of Tuesday's discussion, testimony to the level of need in Scott County will again be the focal point.

Since Genesis expanded its own psychiatric bed offerings this year, its officials said the level of demand has been met not only locally, but in the region as its facility also receives patients from outside the immediate area.

As of Friday, Genesis' bed tracker showed 19 of 28 adult beds and six of 10 adolescent beds used.

Six of the adult beds were being used by patients from outside eastern Iowa, including one each from Oklahoma and Tennessee, one of the adolescent beds was being used by an Illinois patient.

The opening of a 24-bed geriatric unit in July 2017 also will add more space.

"The local facilities are meeting the need and have excess capacity," Weyeneth said. "Genesis has 28 adult beds and averages a census of less than 15. Genesis has 10 child/adolescent beds and averages a census of three.

"Since our last expansion July 1, 2016, no patient meeting criteria for admission has been denied care because a bed was not available.''
Every county in the Quad-City area except Rock Island has surviving country schools that are preserved as schools.

Orin Rockhold, administrator of the Rock Island County Historical Society, said he is not aware of any country schools preserved as such in the county. It's likely several are still standing, though, disguised as the houses or farm buildings they were turned into when their lives as schools ended.

But philanthropist John Hauberg (1869-1955) photographed all the county schools that existed in his time, and the album is available for research at the society, 822 11th Ave., Moline.

In Iowa, Jackson County's Canton School holds the distinction of being one of the best examples of limestone construction remaining in the state, and one of the oldest.

For many years after closing, it was used as a church, but now members of a group called Friends of Canton School are restoring it. Within the past year, group members tore out walls and discovered original blackboards, Bonnie Mitchell, museum curator at the Jackson County Fairgrounds, said. Before winter, the group hopes to install a new cedar shake roof, she said.

Another Jackson County school is Fairfield No. 2 near Spragueville, which has been restored as the North Bend Community Center.

Here is a county-by-county look at other schools in our region, beginning with Iowa:

Clinton: Flannery School, located at Soaring Eagle Nature Center near Clinton's Eagle Point Park, is the last school built in the county and last to survive as a school building.

It was built in 1935 on land owned by the Flannery family, north of DeWitt, on Humestown Road. It replaced a previous school on the property that was built in 1890.

It was in danger of being demolished when it was moved in 1975 from DeWitt to Clinton, Melissa Jacobsen, director of Soaring Eagle, said.

The school has its original floor, walls and tin ceiling, but it's in need of a new roof and "the bell tower needs to come down  it's rotting," she said. And it's not original. "Schools were disappearing at an alarming rate, so they took a school bell off another school that was being torn down and put it on this one," she said.

Cedar: Red Oak No. 1, also known as Bedbug School, was moved in 1989 to the fairgrounds in Tipton where volunteers worked on restoring it for six years.

In late 2009, the school, along with a blacksmith shop also at the fairgrounds, was moved to the Cedar County Historical Society Museum and Prairie Village, just north of Tipton. In a consolidation of the county's historic buildings, that also was the time the historic South Bethel Church was moved to the Prairie Village.

Muscatine: Melpine No. 5 is a museum in Wildcat Den State Park, located next to a former grist mill. In 2006, a Friends of Melpine School was formed to support the school.

ILLINOIS

Henry: The 1864 Colony School, built by the colonists of Bishop Hill, a Swedish utopian community, remains among the historic buildings in the community.

And recently, Henry County resident Steve Morrison compiled a book titled "The Henry County, Illinois, Rural Schools 1857-69: Gone but not Forgotten."

Mercer: Fairview School, dating to the 1800s, was moved from Preemption to the grounds of the Essly-Noble Museum, Aledo, in 1965. No other schools are preserved as museums in the county, but there lots of houses, and the museum has books picturing those that existed at one time, Veda Meriwether, museum curator, said.
In the late 1990s, Dick Stahl, a former Davenport Central High School teacher, compiled an inventory of Scott County country schools for inclusion in a book about country schools statewide, edited by Bill Sherman and published in 1998.

After a winter of driving around back roads and talking to people who referred him to other people, Stahl concluded that the county had 44 country schools still standing.

Of those, 26 were being used as private residences, four as museums, two as churches, four as community centers, one as an office and the remainder were either farm storage or vacant.

Although Stahl's research hasn't been formally updated, it's believed that breakdown is about the same except for the loss of one vacant school, the 1866 Stone School located about a mile west of LeClaire. And Forest Grove, vacant at the time of Stahl's research, is on its way to becoming an educational center.

The county's museum schools are:

 Long Grove Butler No. 2, located at Walnut Grove Pioneer Village in Scott County Park. It opened in 1970 and has the distinction of being one of the first schools in the state to be converted to that use. It's open daily.

 Davenport District No. 9, located on the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, Davenport. It's open during the fair.

 Butler No. 3, a replica of a school destroyed by fire in 1975, located at the William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) boyhood home in McCausland. It's open on a regular basis.

 Old Pleasant Hill School, on Territorial Road in rural LeClaire, owned and maintained by the Buffalo Bill Museum. Plans call for it to be moved to the museum, possibly next year, executive director Bob Schiffke said.

Schools converted to churches are Calvary Bible Church at the southeast corner of West Locust Street and Wisconsin Avenue and Vietnamese American New Life Church at 5231 N. Pine St., both Davenport.

Community centers include the LULAC Club, Davenport, and the Long Grove Community Center.

It's not known exactly how many country schools Scott County had at the high time, but it likely was more than 100.
Truth can easily escape. One persistent urban myth surrounds the old Natatorium, once Davenport's block-long downtown swimming pool at the foot of Main Street. It was built in 1922 and razed in 1977.

The urban myth makes the claim that for years, African-Americans were permitted to swim at the Nat only one day a week. Then, the 500,000 gallons of water would be drained, and the pool refilled next day.

This unbelievable story was told and retold so many times that a plaque stating just that was posted in 2011 during an effort to create a civil rights walking trail. Seven plaques were unveiled at sites that also included a soda fountain and a barber shop. The Nat plaque read, in part:

The pool was opened once a week to blacks only. The pool would then be drained and refilled before whites would use it. In response to this, Charles and Ann Toney built a swimming pool behind their home at 1010 Western Ave. Blacks could access this pool any day of the week in the long, hot summers. The Natatorium was eventually opened on a non-segregated basis in the late 1960s.

The problem with the claim on that plaque? Its a myth, according to the man who wrote it.

Its not true. I wrote the copy. Im responsible, says Art Pitz of Moline. I heard the pool-draining story so many times that I thought it was true. I checked quite a few sources. I thought the story was irrefutable.

That is backed up by the recollections of Ruth Johnson, who was hired in 1955 to head the Davenport Park Board swimming team.

I remember black kids on our swimming team," she said. "I have no recollection of any segregation policy. Most certainly, the pool was never drained once it was filled in the spring until it finally was drained at the end of each season."

Purely personal, I recall my flailing attempts to learn to swim at the Nat many years ago alongside kids who included Gene Baker, an African-American classmate at Davenport High School who became an all-star player for the Chicago Cubs, and Phil Gomez, my pal in intermediate school who lived in the largely Hispanic Cook Point area of Davenport.

Tyrone Orr, a Rock Island funeral director who grew up in Davenport, recalls how Charles Toney balked at even a hint of segregation at the Nat. It was in the 1950s when blacks could swim with whites, but Im not so sure we were always welcome, Orr says.

He went ahead and built a swimming pool for us in his back yard at 1010 Western Avenue, says Orr. The white kids and the black kids all swam together.

Bill Gluba, ex-mayor of Davenport, remembers how he joined in swimming in that little pool. I was a young guy then and we sure had a lot of fun.

The small pool was filled in years ago. Now, the former Toney house is the home of Ron and Virginia Brobston. There are pieces of the concrete left, Virginia says, pointing to bricks from the bath house embedded in the ground. A plaque with the Natatorium myth is in her yard.

An interesting coda to this smashed urban myth: At its Sept. 12 meeting, the Davenport School Board heard a request from a group of community members to name the new swimming pool at Central High School.

Their suggestion? Charles and Ann Toney Natatorium.
Now that weve entered the early voting period in Iowa, I encourage Iowans to take a thoughtful approach to how they plan to cast their vote for president. As a father and grandfather, I am concerned about the long term. In my mind, the best predictor of who can lead this country is a review of the candidates records. Its clear to me when looking at what both have done in their careers that Hillary Clinton is the only candidate who can build an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top. While Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit and unqualified to be president.

Hillary Clinton has spent her entire career working on behalf of children and working families.

After graduating law school, she couldve gone to a big law firm, but instead she went to work for the Childrens Defense Fund, fighting to improve the lives of our most vulnerable and underserved communities. As first lady of Arkansas, she worked to improve the health care and education systems in Arkansas. As first lady of the United States, she worked with Democrats and Republicans to provide an affordable health care program for children. As a U.S. Senator, Hillary stepped up after the 9-11 attacks to secure funding to rebuild New York and provide benefits for the heroes that helped with the aftermath.

After a hard fought primary, President Obama asked Hillary, his former opponent, to serve as Secretary of State. Hillary put her country first and took the job. In contrast, Donald Trump has made a career out of making money on the backs of others. Weve heard many stories of how he didnt pay workers for the work they did. He made millions even though his businesses have gone bankrupt, his employees lost jobs, and his investors lost millions.

Many hardworking veterans, single mothers and low-income families who wanted to experience the American Dream of getting an education enrolled in Trump University. Many of them discovered that this for-profit company was in business to make money, not help people reach their dreams. Trump University is now the subject of multiple ongoing class-action lawsuits for defrauding more than 5,000 students out of more than $40 million.

There are so many examples of businessmen and women who spend their careers putting their workers first, using their wealth to help others and paying their fair share of taxes. That is not what we see when we review Trumps record. During Hillary Clintons overwhelming victory in the first debate, Trump admitted that he avoided paying federal taxes and doing so made him smart. Well if not paying his taxes makes him smart, what does that make the rest of us?

Donald Trump also wont release his tax returns so we cannot see how little he has personally paid in taxes or donated to charity. What we do know is that he hasnt made a personal contribution to his own Trump Foundation since 2008. Yet he used money donated to his charitable foundation to buy two portraits of himself totaling $30,000 and to settle $258,000 worth of legal issues. While we can let the legal system determine if these expenditures are legal, it just doesnt sound right. If I make a donation, Id like to believe it would be used for the stated purpose of the charitable organization. Now were learning that the Trump Foundation didnt even have the legal registration required to ask for donations in the first place.

As a 34 year public servant, I have taken a thoughtful approach to determining who I want to lead this country. Hillary Clinton has served as secretary of state, U.S. senator from New York, first lady of the United States, first lady of Arkansas, a practicing lawyer and law professor, and an activist. Time and again, Donald Trump has shown us that he will put himself before the interests of the American public. Running a company is not the same as running the country.

Early voting has begun and we have to make the right decision for Iowa and for the country. We need a President who will work tirelessly to make a real difference for Iowa families. As I look at my grandchildren and think about the America that I want for them, I know Hillary is that person. When I vote early, Ill cast my ballot for Hillary Clinton.
The first item on the ballot this fall is an amendment to the Illinois Constitution that could establish a very dangerous precedent.

The Illinois Constitution lays out a vision of a society that provides for the dignity and basic needs of all to ensure that each resident of our state has a chance to reach their full potential. Though Republicans and Democrats may debate the paths we take to achieve those goals, these common values bind us together as Illinoisans.

The priorities enumerated throughout that document- free public education through high school, the elimination of poverty and inequality, and the promotion of the health, safety, and welfare of the people- are the building blocks of healthy communities. The beauty of the constitution is that none of these building blocks is given special priority- instead, the people of Illinois are called upon to set their own priorities every year through the budget process.

This November, Illinoisans will have the option to upset that balance for the first time in our state's history. The proposed lockbox Amendment we'll be voting on would extend protections to transportation funding that no other spending priority receives.

We were the four votes in the General Assembly against placing this question on the ballot. We did so not because we dont value transportation as a critical component of a strong economy. Without a doubt, there should be strong protections for investment in our road, bridges, ports, and rails.

But experience has demonstrated that unexpected events can have drastic impacts on our state budget. A major natural disaster or economic turmoil can blow huge holes in a budget, even in states in healthy financial condition- which Illinois is decidedly not.

This amendment would severely curtail the ability of the state to react to these types of events. If a school cant open because of insufficient funding, what good is the new state road that runs by? How are farmers served by new bridges if our state universities arent educating the next generation of agricultural experts? A new bus or train line wont help a young parent get to her job or class if she cant afford safe, reliable childcare.

Other states that have passed transportation funding lockboxes, such as Maryland, have release valves for emergencies. There, the governor and a supermajority of legislators can declare a fiscal emergency. In that instance, the threshold for tapping into transportation funds for general purposes can only be reached when there is broad consensus for the need to do so. The proposed Illinois amendment is missing a safety valve.

Constitutions are meant to be broad documents. State governments are intended to serve as laboratories of democracy. Enshrining this type of language in our states core legal document undermines the ability of elected officials in the future to respond to the challenges of the day. We urge Illinois citizens to reject the amendment in the fall.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

A Village head in Makoni west ward 25, Moses Zenda recently told the villagers that all those who belonged to the opposition MDC-T were not eligible to getting food aid from government.Heal Zimbabwe Trust stated in its report that on the 5th of October 2016, during a food registration exercise, Village head Moses Zenda told people who had gathered at Mukuwiri ward centre that all known opposition political party supporters were not eligible to receive food aid because they were supporting opposition parties."Zenda singled out Lameck Gona, Stanley Mandiwa, Mujeyi Mutimba and Rinos Mutimba all MDC-T members in the area and told them that they were "wasting their time" attending the meeting because they would not be registered to receive food aid," said the trust.
There have been several publications that have pointed out that there has been a mass exodus of population and business from Illinois and Rock Island County. I recently read where the city of Rock Island population has dwindled down to less than 40,000. Business' have left for greener pastures in Iowa and surrounding states.

Do you think the answer to these problems is tax increases? The local officials seem to think so. They want to add a 1 percent and a half percent sales tax increase to solve the problem. What planet are they living on? The county says that if we approve their proposed increase, they will shave 12 percent off of the county's portion of the real estate tax. They fail to tell us, that should that happen, it would amount to less than a $5 savings, and then only until they decide to increase them again without any public vote. They tell us they are cut-to-the-bone on personnel and all departments are functioning to the highest expectations.

The question is this: If this is true, why is Rock Island County one of the highest taxed counties in the state? They must continue to trim committees and streamline expenses, as well as solve the Hope Creek Nursing Home problem before we approve any tax increase. The schools are going to get a hefty increase from the state next year to help with their budget. Again, we must say no, and no, to the proposed tax increase referendums.

Bill Long

Rock Island
NATION

Man dies, 8 hurt in shooting at party

Authorities say the eight people who survived being shot at a party in the western Michigan city of Grand Rapids are expected to survive.

One man was killed in the shootings early Sunday morning at a party in a strip mall. Authorities identified him as 21-year-old Juwan Boykin.

No arrests have been made and police Sgt. Terry Dixon says investigators are still trying to determine what led to the gunfire. Officers were headed to the site in response to a complaint when the shooting began.

Dixon says four men between the ages of 20 and 34 and four women between the ages of 19 and 35 were wounded and are expected to survive.

2 children pulled from San Fran Bay

Officials say two children pulled out of the San Francisco Bay in critical condition after a recreational sailboat carrying 30 people capsized are doing well and one has been released from the hospital.

The San Francisco Fire Department says one of the children was released Sunday, and another who required CPR remains hospitalized in stable condition.

The two children were taken to a hospital along with a third child and five adults after a 34-foot sailboat named Khaleesi capsized for unknown reasons Saturday afternoon about 100 yards off Pier 45.

WORLD

Report: Officials ignored massacre

Mexican drug gang bosses furious at suspected turncoats sent commandos aided by local police to seize dozens  perhaps hundreds  of people, murder them and dispose of their bodies in a town near the Texas border, yet state and federal officials ignored the massacre for years, according to a government-backed report released Sunday.

The long delay in the investigation makes it impossible to determine just how many people were killed in the town of Allende in 2011, according to the report sponsored by the federal Executive Commission for Attention to Victims. The Coahuila state file lists 42 missing people related to the case. But a Zeta drug gang member told a U.S. court in 2013 that 300 died, though it was not clear if all the deaths occurred in the same incident.

A witness testified that many of the bodies of victims were incinerated and dissolved in chemicals, making identification of remains almost impossible.

The report written by Sergio Aguayo, a human rights activist and academic at the elite College of Mexico, is based on testimony gathered by Mexican prosecutors, government and independent human rights organizations, as well as U.S. records.

Ethiopia declares state of emergency

The Ethiopian government has declared a state of emergency effective immediately following a week of anti-government violence that resulted in deaths and property damage across the country, especially in the restive Oromia region.

In a televised address on Sunday morning, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said the state of emergency was declared because there has been "enormous" damage to property.

"We put our citizens' safety first. Besides, we want to put an end to the damage that is being carried out against infrastructure projects, education institutions, health centers, administration and justice buildings," said Desalegn on the state Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.

"The recent developments in Ethiopia have put the integrity of the nation at risk," he said.

"The state of emergency will not breach basic human rights enshrined under the Ethiopian constitution and won't also affect diplomatic rights listed under the Vienna Convention," said Desalegn.

The internet is blocked across many parts of Ethiopia, residents reported Sunday. The government has blocked the internet for more than a week to prevent protesters from using social media to get supporters to attend demonstrations.

Major towns and cities across Ethiopia's Oromia region are experiencing unrest and widespread violent protests after dozens were killed on October 2 in a stampede triggered when police fired teargas and bullets to disperse protestors at the annual Irrecha thanksgiving celebration in Bishoftu town.

Anti-government protests continued Sunday. Many roads into and out of the capital, Addis Ababa, are blocked by protesters and those who try to drive through are targeted by people who jump out from behind bushes and hurl rocks, witnesses told the Associated Press by phone on Sunday.

The state broadcaster said details of the state of emergency will be communicated to the public later Sunday.

In a separate development, Ethiopian officials summoned Egypt's ambassador to the country, Aboubakr Hefny, for discussions. The State Minister for Ethiopia's Foreign Affairs Ministry talked to the Egyptian diplomat after a video appeared online which purportedly shows members of the outlawed Oromo Liberation Front sharing a stage with what Ethiopia's state broadcaster described as Egyptians.
Q. My brother is asking me for financial help. And this is not the first, or even the second, time he has come to me for money. In fact, he still owes me from the last time I helped him out. I hate to see him and his family struggle, yet they dont seem to be doing anything to improve their situation. What should I do?

A. We can all find ourselves needing help at some point, but if you are frequently loaning your brother money, then you might be doing him more harm than good and creating more problems than you are solving. Your kindness may be enabling him.

As long as you are willing to give him money, he doesnt need to change his spending habits or solve his own problems. If he isnt willing to change, then his situation wont change, either. If he wants to improve his life, then he has to be willing to take the necessary steps. No one, not even concerned and loving siblings, can do this for him.

Whats more, you need to consider how this situation affects your own family. If your brother didnt repay you the last time, this will probably happen again. Can you afford to just give him the money? How will giving him money influence your ability to provide for your own familys needs?

If your brother truly needs your help, you dont necessarily have to give him money. Would providing him with some groceries help? Could you handle a home improvement project or offer to help care for his kids so he could work a few extra hours?

I would also suggest that you refer your brother to an organization that will give him the tools he needs to help himself. A nonprofit certified credit counselor will review his finances, refer him to assistance programs that fit his needs, and help him develop a plan to address all of his financial issues. This service should be provided at no charge. With a plan of action, your brother can take the steps he needs to resolve his own financial issues.

If your brother agrees to seek help from a credit counselor, ask him about his appointment and his plan of action. This way, you can become part of his support system and come alongside to encourage him as he reaches his own financial goals.
Harvey Jewett has served on the state Board of Regents since 1997, making it almost 20 years that he has personally fought for his hometown college of Northern State University, trying to keep the Aberdeen campus in the mix as one of South Dakotas remaining six original campuses.

He knows his current term ends in 2017 and will be his last. No current regent has served as long as the Aberdeen lawyer and businessman. At the October board meeting held last week at Northern State, Jewett spoke from his soul about the university.

He knows he doesnt have another year to get a math and science center approved for Northern State. He knows the 2017 session of the Legislature will be his final one as a regent, and a state university cant build without the Legislatures approval.

He is racing the calendar, his mind carrying the weight of 19 years of experience and knowledge about how, from his perspective inside the board that governs the state universities system, Northern State has been treated.

He wants a math and science center for Northern State. He wedged the project into the boards discussions during the past year. He wants to get it on the boards 10-year plan.

Jewett has endured two decades of talk, largely aimed at Northern State, about whether South Dakota needs six state universities.

He battled at the Legislature to create the Opportunity Scholarship program that rewards high school students who have successfully completed a rigorous course program preparing them for college.

Hes endured the experiment of adding university centers at Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Pierre to deliver courses provided from the main campuses. The centers added competition for the traditional campuses.

Hes seen the surge in popularity of online courses help make the university centers  and to some degree, the main campuses  less necessary, to the point where many students at the campuses take online courses.

Hes fought against the four public technical institutes climbing toward calling themselves community colleges. And hes seen enrollments flatten at the state universities for the past decade because the numbers of high school graduates flattened.

Now hes in what might be his final fight. It is, bottom line, for the future of Northern State University. He wants the math and science center to be added to the regents requests for the Legislature in January.

What hes asking is for the regents to add a project to the 2012 list, a project that right now doesnt even have a size or configuration or a price estimate.

Northern States new president Tim Downs sees the center as a regional facility to help introduce high school students to science and as a magnet for high school teachers to stay sharp as science advances.

Monte Kramer, the regents vice president for finance and administration, said adding a project to the list in this fashion hasnt happened in modern times.

Kramer said universities have reshuffled their campus plans as leaders and needs change, and substituted projects for those already in their campus plans.

Essentially theyve used money already allotted to them for a purpose different than originally proposed and approved by the regents.

But those changes always came with the regents approval  and the money already was allocated in the regents long-term bonding plan.

Kramer said the nuance of what Jewett now wants from the board is approval for a project that wouldnt have state bonding available until 2030.

Jewett sees an opening in 2024. Either way, the bonding for the math and science center would be eight to 14 years away.

To help his case, Northern State somehow mysteriously has an anonymous donor who wants to give $15 million for the math and science center.

Theres also a likewise-anonymous donor willing to finance the project at zero percent interest for as long as it takes until the Regents to pick up the debt.

The price tag is estimated at $35 million for the math and science center. Northern States administration hosted an engineering and architecture team in September to begin the design process and the team is returning to campus Oct. 18-19.

Behind the scenes the other campuses leaders and their supporters on the regents arent pleased by Jewetts move.

Four of the other campuses are research universities. They are in a separate plan to construct more than $100 million of new or expanded laboratories, starting as soon as 2018.

Heather Wilson, president of South Dakota School of Mines & Technology at Rapid City, revealed to the Regents on Tuesday that four campus presidents jointly approached a single donor to inquire whether that person would donate half of the money needed for the four projects.

Those projects are an advanced material laboratory in Rapid City, a cyber-security laboratory called MadLabs at Dakota State University in Madison, the greatly expanded and updated animal disease research and diagnostic lab at South Dakota State University in Brookings, and a new biotechnology wing on the GEAR research building in Sioux Falls that is managed by the University of South Dakota.

Northern State and Black Hills State University arent on that list. They instead are in a role of supplying well-educated undergraduates who pursue master and doctoral degrees at other campuses including the four research universities.

Northern State and Black Hills State fall in the category of small schools  a Regents term  that need some additional tuition aid. Black Hills State has the additional status of responsibility for the University Center campus in Rapid City.

Northern State is on an island. Its one unique niche is the E-Learning Center that provides high school courses via video-conferencing across South Dakota. Jewett succeeded in getting the e-learning hub for Northern State during the wiring the schools project by then-Gov. Bill Janklow in the late 1990s.

Jewett told the regents that without action now the math and science centers construction gets set back to 2030. Northerns had its share of bricks put in its path, Jewett said.

Two of the presidents for the four research universities rose up and spoke out publicly Thursday regarding Jewetts effort. Their remarks to the regents werent typical of how the system has functioned, at least not in public, during the past 20 or so years.

Wilson, invoking her status as the senior-most president present because USDs Jim Abbott wasnt at the meeting, said she is coping with $17 million of unmet maintenance and repair while Mines has rising enrollment.

SDSU president Barry Dunn, noting hes been on the job one month longer than Northern States new president Downs, said hed like to change around some of his universitys priorities and construct a center for precision agriculture. Dunn said he would like the 10-year plan to be reopened.

There are no Mines facilities in this 10-year plan, Wilson said. This facility (at NSU) is not in the plan.

Wilson said the regents, by taking on $20 million of debt for the math and science center, means $20 million of future debt capacity is committed in the future. Wilson said she would like to reopen the 10-year plan too.

And then Wilson, a 10-year member of the U.S. House of Representatives for New Mexico who lost a 2008 Republican primary for U.S. Senate there, put it on the line to Jewett.

This is something I wouldnt recommend you do. Harvey, I know you dont want to hear that, Wilson said.

Jewett responded that Mines has received new buildings in the past 20 years while Northern State hasnt. Jewett said waiting until 2030 would mean Northern State hasnt seen a new academic building in 70 years.

Northerns asked for one in 20 years, just one, he said. Jewett said many of the campuses have been largely rebuilt in recent decades. Not one chicken coop was built here, Jewett said.

Jewett also argued Thursday that Northern State wasnt allowed to have a project in the plan when it was last assembled in 2012. He said its been 55 years since Northern State has received a new academic building.

The boards president, Randy Schaefer of Madison, said the real heartburn of Jewetts proposal is trying to reallocate $20 million already on the 10-year plan.

Regent Jim Morgan of Brookings and regent Kathryn Johnson of Hill City raised questions about whether Northern State has studied its space uses and needs.

Trying to move the debate to a conclusion, Morgan suggested the regents put the Northern State project at the end of the 10-year plan and eventually work out the details.

And Im fine with that. Just get it in the plan and we can deal with it later, Jewett said.

Monte Kramer said putting it at the end of the plan doesnt affect others in the plan. Kramer said the decision could be made in December if numbers are brought to the board from Northern State.

What is the size of this building? I have no idea, Kramer said.

The bonding program used by the universities relies on student fees known as HEFF. Basically all of the students pay into HEFF regardless of campus and the university construction projects frequently are then funded, at least in part, through HEFF.

Getting the regents to agree to let the Northern State project to proceed is one thing but getting the Legislatures approval promises to be a challenge, Kramer indicated.

They have never given an institution money from HEFF (the bonding program) that wasnt in the 10-year plan, Kramer said. The nuance here is youre adding a project to the plan with money that isnt already in the plan.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard is already working with the regents central office on the financing approach for the four research projects. Getting the Northern State project through the Legislature at the same time  and as the regents are asking for tuition aid for students  promises to make the 2017 session a battle royale.

So, regent Kevin Schieffer of Sioux Falls said in conclusion Thursday, we have some pencils to sharpen and things to figure before we get to December.
The new supervisor of the Black Hills National Forest is apologizing and admitting he erred when he said top South Dakota officials failed to communicate with his office about a controversial land-exchange proposal.

Mark Van Every, who became the supervisor of the forest in August following the retirement of his predecessor, Craig Bobzien, said in a Sept. 23 interview with the Journal that neither he nor any of his top staff was consulted about the proposal.

The plan, which originated from state government and has been introduced as federal legislation, calls for parcels of state land east of the Black Hills to become part of two national grasslands while some federal land in Spearfish Canyon would become part of a proposed state park, and the federally owned Bismarck Lake would be added to Custer State Park.

The Journal paraphrased Van Everys comments in a Sept. 28 news story that conflicted with comments from Tony Venhuizen, chief of staff to Republican Gov. Dennis Daugaard, who had referenced ongoing discussions with local Forest Service officials.

After the publication of the story, staffers from the offices of Daugaard and U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., told the Journal there had been communication among all involved parties and offered evidence, including a timeline and copies of letters.

The Journal forwarded the evidence to Van Every, who issued a written statement Wednesday through a spokesperson.

When I said that the Forest Service was not consulted on the bill, I was unaware that several conversations about possible legislation had happened during the past two years, said Van Everys statement. I apologize. Last week, I met with staff from Senator Thune's, Senator Rounds' and Congresswoman Noem's office to identify ways we can work together to develop shared solutions that maximize mutual interests in providing quality experiences for recreation users in South Dakota. I am also working to set up a meeting soon with the Governor's office to have similar discussions."

Thunes office said in response that it would allow Van Everys comments to speak for themselves. Venhuizen, of the governors office, said in an email to the Journal: The Governor certainly appreciates the Forest Service's change of tone and looks forward to continuing this discussion.

Van Every's new comments do indeed reflect a change in tone. Besides having said in his Sept. 23 interview with the Journal that there had been no communication with his office about the proposed land exchange, Van Every had also outlined numerous reasons for his opposition to the exchange. Among them: a belief that the recreational opportunities sought by the state already exist; a concern that the states development plans might diminish the natural character of the federal land; and a fear that the federal government and American people would be victimized by an unfair deal if highly valuable Black Hills land got traded for less valuable grassland.

Van Everys criticisms of the proposal came on the heels of similar comments from one of his superiors, Leslie Weldon, the deputy chief of the National Forest System. She testified Sept. 22 against Thunes land-exchange bill in a Senate committee, saying in part that the bill is unnecessary and contains provisions that raise concerns.

Thune and Daugaard are nonetheless pressing forward, not only with the land-exchange legislation but also with a campaign to win over South Dakotans, some of whom share the concerns of the Forest Service officials. Daugaards office last week issued an invitation to the media for a 4.5-hour Thursday tour of both the Bismarck Lake area and the proposed Spearfish Canyon state park area, to be led by the governor himself.

Meanwhile, Thunes bill, which is co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., awaits further congressional action, as does a companion House bill introduced by U.S. Kristi Noem, R-S.D.
The Pine Ridge Girls School is embarking on a mission to prepare young Lakota women for a college education and a fruitful life beyond the borders of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

The Porcupine-based school  the country's first non-denominational all-girls college prep school on a Native American reservation  had its grand opening on Sept. 23. And since then, the teachers have been bonding with their first class of sixth and seventh graders.

The girls  11 in total in the inaugural class  will spend the rest of their K-12 educational careers at the school, and new classes will be brought on every year.

Apart from it being a school just for girls, it is also unique in its approach to Native American tradition. Every lesson at the fledgling school  be it science or U.S. history  is communicated to the girls through the lens of Lakota language and culture.

Were trying to teach them to be proud of who they are, said the schools head, Cindy Giago.

The schools name in Lakota is Anpo Wicahpi, which translates to Morning Star.

On a warm day in late September, Helene Gaddi led the days science lesson into the overgrown wilderness behind the Pine Ridge Girls School. Wading through knee-high prairie grass, the six girls in Gaddis class turned and looked when she pointed and said What kind of trees are these?

Chokecherry trees, one of the girls chimed in immediately.

Resourcefulness and a deep connection to the natural world: These are important qualities for Native American women, Gaddi said.

The privately funded college-preparatory school is designed to create a nurturing environment for young women on the reservation to learn in ways that suit them best. While taught through the lens of Lakota culture, the science in Gaddis outdoors classroom is sound, practical, and like every subject taught at the school by the staff of three teachers, based on established curriculum, she said.

Earlier in the month, she taught the girls how to make lip balm from plant ingredients harvested in the greenery behind the school. Another day's lesson had to do with floral morphology and stream ecology, Gaddi said. As part of that, she guided the girls down deer paths to a creek winding beneath a formation rocky of bluffs, taking note of different herbs and a bleached cow bones on the way.

We need more Native women scientists, Gaddi said.

Getting their hands dirty, being able to see, smell, hear and touch the subjects of their lessons; the girls learn better this way, the teacher said before leading her students back up to the school in time for math class. Once back, they learned about circumferences using a drawing of a sweat lodge, or inipi, in preparation for building one themselves.

The meditative smoke and darkness of the sweat lodge are already familiar to the girls, as are many other Lakota rituals, all taught to them by the schools elders, Gene Giago  Cindys husband  Rick Two Dogs, and Ethleen Iron Cloud Two Dogs.

Before eating a lunch of pasta with buffalo meat and corn-on-the-cob (homemade in the schools open-air kitchen), the quiet elders looked on as the girls gathered in a circle, smudged with sweet grass, and presented a small offering of food for the spirits. Then one of the girls took a plate to Gene, who smiled and nodded in thanks.

In a spiritual sense, I watch over the girls, he said. In a physical sense, I do the laundry and take out the dishes.

The girls refer to their spiritual instructors as "kaka and unci respectively, the Lakota words for grandfather and grandmother. The intimate titles have arisen organically as a result of the serene and familial atmosphere that Cindy and her small band of teachers have created at the school.

They treat each other like family, Cindy said of the girls.

It makes me feel like home, said sixth-grader Breiana High Wolf, 12, while her classmates laughed and batted a volleyball between themselves during recess. It makes me feel comfortable, that I can tell my teachers and classmates everything.

Like all of her fellow students, Breiana used to attend school elsewhere on or near the reservation. At her old school, Lakota language and culture were taught only during a single period in the day. At the Pine Ridge Girls School, it is all around her.

We get to learn to sing the songs and speak fluently, she said. Im learning our way of life.

Cindy and the teachers agree that immersion in the language and culture is essential to the learning process and is all too often deficient or altogether missing in schools like the one Breiana used to attend. At the Pine Ridge Girls' School, all of the students get their own Lakota names, granted to them during spiritual ceremonies. Pasted on each girls locker is the name of a Native American woman significant in U.S. history: Winona LaDuke. Jodi Collette. Maria Tallchief. Buffalo Calf Road Woman. Nellie Red Owl. Marie Randall.

We want to normalize being Lakota, where its not separate in our minds, said Dusty Nelson, the schools Lakota language and writing teacher. We are always Lakota. Its not something we do on the side. A lot of times when people think of academic rigor, they dont think it includes Lakota thought and philosophy.

On the dry-erase board in Nelsons classroom was a Lakota medicine wheel, often used as a sort of flow chart for organizing ideas and schedules. The room was brimming with Lakota books. While the girls wrote in their journals for the day, they bobbed their heads and hummed along to the Native pop music on Nelsons Bluetooth speaker.

I love it. Its beautiful, Cindy said. I dont want to go home; were allowing them to create their own identities from whats inside them.

The girls have already gone on several field trips, including to Bear Butte near Sturgis and Fort Robinson, Neb., to learn how Tashunka Witko, the Lakota name for the war chief Crazy Horse, was captured and killed by U.S. soldiers. They are in the midst of planning another trip, this time to Cannon Ball, N.D., where a large group of Native American activists are camped in protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

The trip was the girls idea, the teachers said.

Its really amazing to see these girls; its a miracle happening before our eyes, Nelson said. Theyve bonded and theyre being themselves and theyre happy to learn about all this. These girls are really lucky. When I was younger, I feel like if I had a place to go like this, to be who I want to be and comfortable around other girls, I would have had a stronger foundation and I wouldnt have struggled so much.
PIERRE | A year ago in September a lawyer representing Rick Melmer and Keith Moore sent me a letter warning that I shouldnt lump his clients with Scott Westerhuis.

This was after the deaths of Scott and Nicole Westerhuis and their four children in their home near Platte.

I offered several times to meet any time with Rick Melmer and Keith Moore to talk about their roles in the Gear Up matter. They had been paid to serve in an oversight capacity for the Gear Up program run through Mid Central Educational Cooperative by Stacy Phelps.

In May 2015, after the first questions about Gear Ups management arose, I offered to meet with Mid Central director Dan Guericke to talk about Gear Up. I sent the invitation and questions by email. He declined to meet, but he provided written answers. At the time, the answers didnt seem helpful.

Guericke testified before the Legislatures Government Operations and Audit Committee. The legislators asked how many Native American students made the next step to higher education after high school graduation.

Gear Up is a federally funded program. Its purpose is to inform students and families from lower-income households whats needed to continue education after high school.

Guericke told statistics to the legislators. I asked the Department of Education for the annual Gear Up evaluation reports. The statistics werent in those reports.

Eventually, I learned that neither the state department nor the U.S. Department of Education required results to be kept or reported.

The federal department funds Gear Up through the state department. The state department funded Gear Up through Mid Central. The Gear Up program, run by Stacy Phelps, received its funding from Mid Central.

Depending on the structure of the contracts, the state auditor general could or couldnt reach past Mid Central into Phelps operation that included two nonprofits, which passed Gear Up funding back and forth with Phelps program.

Phelps, Scott Westerhuis and Nicole Westerhuis operated the non-profits.

After the legislative hearing, Phelps, Scott Westerhuis and Guericke allegedly conspired to change the contracts, hoping to block the auditor generals probe from reaching the nonprofits.

While they were allegedly falsifying documents, state Education Secretary Melody Schopp reversed her stance. She stopped defending Mid Central and ended the contract.

Within 24 hours the six members of the Westerhuis family were dead, before a follow-up legislative hearing on Gear Up could proceed.

Not long afterward, I sent Guericke an open invitation to talk any time. He never did.

I also invited Kelly Duncan, now the dean of education at Northern State University, to talk about her multiple roles as a member of the Board of Education and as a contract recipient at Mid Central.

She also served on an evaluation of Gear Up in 2015 that was commissioned by Schopp. Duncans state board appointment expires this year. She declined the invitation to discuss her roles.

Now the attorney general is trying to introduce as other acts evidence a string of emails between Schopp, her departments finance director, Tamara Darnall, Guericke and Phelps regarding Guerickes testimony and my request for results data.

After seeing my name in some of those emails a few days ago, I dug out the answers that Guericke sent me in May 2015.

He wrote that Mid Central wasnt the bookkeeper for one of the nonprofits known as AIII. MCEC assisted in helping the organization to get established, he wrote.

So Mid Central was part of the arrangement to use AIII from its start.

When Gear Up began in South Dakota, the head of the state department was Rick Melmer. The departments Indian education director was Keith Moore. They arranged for the money to flow through Mid Central.

Mid Central hired Stacy Phelps to handle Gear Up. Phelps later received an appointment to the state Board of Education by then-Gov. Mike Rounds.

After Gov. Dennis Daugaard took office, with Secretary Schopps agreement, Mid Central contracted in 2012 with Melmer and Moore to serve as Gear Up overseers.

The attorney general has criminal indictments against Guericke, Phelps and another Mid Central employee, Stephanie Hubers, who was an assistant business manager for Mid Central and allegedly received extra pay from Scott and Nicole Westerhuis for work involving AIII.

Guericke, Phelps, Hubers, Scott Westerhuis and Nicole Westerhuis formed a circle. Scott Westerhuis was business manager for Mid Central. Nicole Westerhuis was an assistant business manager.

The question many people continue to have is whether the investigation will show anyone else was part of that circle
Ken was very active in Freemasonry. He became a Master Mason on Oct. 4, 1966, in Triangle Lodge 643, Sioux City, IA, and served as Worshipful Master in 1974. He was a member of the Sioux City Scottish Rite Bodies, the Abu Bekr Shrine of Sioux City, and the Sioux City York Rite Bodies. He was a plural member and a life member of Custer City Lodge 66 in Custer, SD, and was elected Worshipful Master in 1996. He demitted from all of the appendant bodies in Sioux City and became a member of the Black Hills Scottish Rite Bodies of Deadwood, of which he is a Life Member. He was Coroneted Inspector General Honorary, 33rd Degree, in 2001. He was a member of the York Rite Bodies in Rapid City and the Naja Shrine in Rapid City. He was Treasurer for the Naja Legion of Honor for 14 years. He was a Past Junior Deacon and Past Junior Warden of the South Dakota Lodge of Masonic Research. He was Past President of the Masonic Veterans Association of South Dakota. He was District Master of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of South Dakota for four years and was installed as Grand Master of Masons of South Dakota in June 2006. He was commissioned Grand Lodge Representative to the Grand Lodge of Utah in 2001. He was presented the Grand Cross of Color of the International Order of Rainbow, for Girls in 1977. He was elected and invested with the Honorary DeMolay Legion of Honor in 2007. He was a Past lllustrious Master, Black Hills Council 3, Past lllustrious Grand Chaplain of Cryptic Masons of South Dakota, Life Member of the Order of Thrice Illustrious Masters in the State of South Dakota. He was honored to receive the ISH-SODI award in 1996. He was also Past Pre-Eminent Governor of the Black Hills York Rite College 29 of Rapid City.
Raising kids is an important yet challenging job.

Fortunately, there is a group of people who love the colors green and white, repeats the mantra making the best better when mistakes occur and learning by doing to describe their work. This group is also known as Ravalli County 4-H where families work together to share knowledge and to help kids learn practical skills and important values.

Katelyn Andersen, Montana State University Extension Agent, said although the face of agriculture in Ravalli County has changed, 4-H is still strong.

Our 4-H program is alive and reaching more youth in diverse settings, Andersen said. We have dynamic volunteer leaders who care about the youth and their personal success.

4-H, the youth development program of MSU Extension, is celebrating the start of their 104th year in Montana. This connection to the university system makes 4-H different from other youth organizations.

Here in Ravalli County, there are 23 community clubs, over 160 registered adult leaders, and over 500 4-H members, Andersen said. Every year our office reaches over 2000 youth through various schools and out of school activities. This means one out of every four kids, age 5-18, is benefiting from the learning by doing philosophy. It does take effort to be engaged in a 4-H club but the benefits are tremendous.

The Extension Office also provides non-biased, research-based education in the areas of agriculture, 4-H youth development, community development, family and consumers sciences and natural resources.

The 4-H program started around the turn of the 20th century. There were many society changes that spurred the beginnings of 4-H. For example, families were moving from rural settings to the cities. Schools wanted to incorporate agriculture classes. At this same time, researchers at the experiment stations (much like the MSU Experiment Station in Corvallis) noticed that adults in the farming community were not accepting new farming techniques. Educators found that youth were more likely to experiment with the new skills and ideas. These youth then taught their parents their discoveries. The learning by doing practice of 4-H was born. In 1914, the U.S. Congress created Cooperative Extension as a part of the land-grant universities to provide education to the public and to the 4-H program.

4-H is a program designed to teach youth life skills through hands on learning, thus teaching youth to learn how to learn. Research shows 4-H youth are 1.9 times more likely to get better grades, 2.1 times more likely to report high school engagement and 3.4 times more likely to be actively engaged in their community.

The 4-H program has many opportunities outside of the 4-H club for kids to participate in and develop as an individual, Anderson said. The Ravalli County Fair is one event held annually that the 4-H program participates in so youth can exhibit their projects and be rewarded for their hard work and efforts through the year. There is so much more.

Ravalli County 4-H members are doing projects that relate to cooking, livestock, sewing, poetry, dogs, horses, scrapbooking, cake decorating and more. 4-H occurs year-round with club meetings, project meetings and many different events.

There are many opportunities for youth to develop social and life skills as well as knowledge related to their project, Andersen said. Some of those events include trips, camp, fundraisers, or community service projects. If you are not taking the opportunity to experience the many different opportunities that 4-H offers, I would highly encourage you to look into those opportunities as many of them only come once in a lifetime.

If you are interested in learning more about joining the 4-H program visit or call the MSU Ravalli County Extension Office to see how to volunteer or become a member with of 4-H.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The threat to Israel of terror attack tunnels from Gaza is exaggerated. Thus the Israel Ministry of Defenses plan to build a very expensive subterranean wall around the Gaza Strip, reaching a depth of dozens of meters, makes no strategic sense. It is a waste of money and effort, and hands Hamas a public relations victory.

Efraim Inbar is professor emeritus of political studies at Bar-Ilan University, and the founding director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University.





BESA Center Perspectives Papers are published through the generosity of the Greg Rosshandler Family



Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work. .

..BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 369..06 October '16..The attack tunnels dug by the Hamas from Gaza into Israel are great for the public relations of terrorists. They make for a deeply unsettling image that intensifies the threat perception among Israelis. Terrorists want to be feared and the tunnels seem to achieve that goal, despite their limited destructive potential.In January 2016, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot played into the hands of the Hamas terrorists by saying that countering the tunnel threat was the armys number one mission this year. Eisenkots statement showed that he prioritized the tunnel threat over Hezbollahs growing rocket capability to Israels north or the threat from IS in the Sinai. Moreover, he belittled the serious nuclear threat from Iran.Similarly, Education Minister Naftali Bennett gave in to the popular mood and exaggerated the threat of the Hamas tunnels. He accused Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of leaving the cabinet in the dark about the grave danger of the tunnels until after Operation Protective Edge had begun. A leaked draft of a report by the State Comptroller also criticized Netanyahu, then-Defense Minister Moshe (Bogie) Yaalon and then-IDF CoS Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz for failing to anticipate the Hamas tunnel threat.In any case, in the summer of 2014, Israel went on a ground attack to destroy tunnels that crossed into Israeli territory. Heavy fighting ensued, particularly in Shujaiyeh, a neighborhood of Gaza City. Forty-one Israeli soldiers were killed and many more injured during the ground phase, which ended after 32 tunnels were destroyed.Following the development of the Iron Dome system, which has largely neutralized the rocket threat from Gaza, tunnels became an important tool in the Hamas arsenal. They are a low-tech challenge and quite difficult to handle. So far, Israeli efforts to develop technologies to locate tunnels have achieved only partial success.Yet the tunnels potential ability to cause significant damage to Israel is itself limited. True, they enable terrorist attacks and/or the hijacking of dead or alive Israelis. While Israeli inhabitants around Gaza are most directly affected and obviously the most concerned, this type of threat, while undoubtedly disturbing, is not new.Acts of terrorism have always been considered by the national security establishment as secondary to dangers that affect Israels territorial integrity or threaten its very existence. The tunnels cannot threaten strategic targets within Israel, such as power stations or airports, as Hamas missiles have done in the past. Investing in defense against missiles is important; spending money to negate the effects of tunnels is much less so. Limited resources dictate that spending be prioritized in accordance with the relative magnitude of the threats to be faced.Nevertheless, the defense establishment, prodded by Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, is planning a giant project  a 60-kilometer wall around the Gaza Strip that will reach a depth of dozens of meters. Initially, a trial section will be erected at a cost of 600 million shekels ($158 million). This Maginot Line around Gaza, if completed, could become one of the most expensive projects in Israel's history.The high priority allocated by Israel to the problem of the tunnels is totally unjustified. First, it is not clear that the planned Gaza Wall would be effective in preventing Hamas underground projects. Concrete walls can be penetrated, as bank robbers have shown. Israel should not underestimate the ingenuity of the engineers employed by Hamas.Second, this ambitious project diverts resources from financing more important needs of the IDF. One very pertinent example is the neglect of ground forces due to financial considerations. Beefing up ground forces is an imperative in dealing with the looming threats of accurate missiles and a number of other serious contingencies.Third, the tremendous effort to handle the tunnel threat unnecessarily magnifies the power of the enemy to harm Israel. The mammoth wall project is a public relations gift for Hamas. Moreover, its timing is problematic, as there are signs that Hamas is getting tired. The rounds of violence have taken their toll on Gaza. It looks as though Israels mowing the grass strategy, and the growing regional isolation of Hamas, may have created a modicum of deterrence. Hamas seems reluctant to initiate hostilities.The project to build a wall around Gaza appears to be motivated by domestic politics. It is intended to calm the understandable concerns of the inhabitants of the southern region with regard to the tunnel threat. It enables the government to relieve the constant political pressure by stating that it is "doing everything possible" to find a solution. It is, however, a wasteful populist response.Above all, it makes no strategic sense.
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Coming to us soon - us as in those living in Palma - will be the Hazte Oir "bus of hate", as it has been branded. The bus is sched...
Dexter Van Zile is a Christian media analyst for CAMERA , the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America.

Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work. .

..Israel Hayom..09 October '16..In a few days, Jews will gather in synagogues around the world to atone for their sins on the holiday of Yom Kippur. They will fast for 25 hours, pray, and hope that by the time they sit down to end their fast in a celebratory meal, they will have been purified of their sins and brought to the level of angels.This year, any Jews having difficulty identifying the sins for which they need to atone can consult the website of the World Council of Churches, one of the many Christian organizations that gather stories and images of Jews behaving badly in the Holy Land and then broadcast these stories and images to their Christian supporters around the world.The WCC does this work in a stated effort to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians, but officials at the council won't mind a bit if Jews in Israel and the rest of the world use their materials for purposes of self-flagellation. It would make them happy -- really happy -- to see Jews join in the chorus of condemnations against the Jewish state.One place to look on the WCC's website is the section promoting its World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel, which takes place every September.This year, the WCC has outdone itself, producing a liturgical "toolbox" that Christians can use to focus their attention on the sins of the Jewish state. It's called "Dismantling Barriers" in an obvious reference to the security barrier that has saved thousands of lives, both Israeli and Palestinian, over the past decade.The opening prayer asks that "our common prayer for peace, justice and equality be the force of love mighty enough to change the way we treat our neighbor and to bring down the Separation Wall."There's nothing in the liturgy about restraining the blades in the hands of terrorists who stabbed men, women and children during the recent knife intifada that cost scores of Israelis their lives. Nor is there any reference to the anti-Semitic incitement broadcast on Palestinian television in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank that encouraged Palestinians young people to waste their lives in suicidal attacks.Things don't get much better in the "Litany of Confession." It's not really a confession of sins on the part of the Christians who are reading the litany, but actually a list of accusations against Israel disguised as a Christian confession of sin.The litany implicitly accuses Israel of stealing Palestinian water when it states, "You gave abundant water and food for all, but humans hoard it for themselves." In the context, the readers know that "humans" really means "those damned Israelis."If the litany were honest, it would express gratitude that the Israelis have improved water production and delivery systems in the West Bank -- and as a result, per capita water consumption for Palestinians in this area has increased since 1967. But like the Yom Kippur liturgy, this litany is about confessing the sins of Jews, not anyone else.The liturgy also includes a testimony from a Palestinian resident of Beit Jala who speaks about the difficulties of passing through the checkpoint so he can get to his job in Jerusalem or bring his wife to a hospital in the Jerusalem. "I can still remember when there were no walls," Bassam reports. "It was easy for us to move freely, to visit people, to participate in worship in the churches, to visit relatives in Jerusalem or Nazareth. It was easy to keep these relationships. Now we haven't seen our relatives for years."There are lots of Israeli Jews who haven't seen their relatives for years because they were killed by suicide bombers during the Second Intifada, but for some reason, these losses are not mentioned.For all of its pretense of promoting peace, reconciliation and compunction, the WCC liturgy is a yet another document that gives Christians a pretext to confess the sins of the Jewish state, in a church setting no less.We've seen enough of this type of behavior over the course of church history, and yet it endures.Some things never change.
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The story of star-crossed lovers Mirzya and Sahiba is one of Indian literature's most enduring tales. This classic Punjabi story has been told and retold for generations, in no small part due to its defiance of caste conventions and the way it circumvents the arranged marriage norm that still exists even today in many parts of India. Mirza Sahiban shares a few elements with the western story of Romeo and Juliet, and that reference should at least give viewers unfamiliar with the story a grounding in the type of love story this is going to be. And like that tale, this one is always ripe for reinterpretation.

This time around the story is tackled by two giants of Hindi cinema, director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (Rang De Basanti, Delhi-6), and Academy Award winning lyricist/screenwriter Gulzar, whose credits are too numerous to mention and whose career goes back fifty years. The combination of these two immense talents in Mirzya is a treat too tempting to avoid, but unfortunately the film falters under the weight of its own melodramatic urges and suffers a fate worse than death, it's boring.

Mehra and Gulzar have decided to tell the story in three seperate time periods in an attempt to tie modern events to the ancient story. There is the fantastical ancient setting in which Mirzya steals away with his beloved but forbidden Sahiba in a dialogue-free musical action set piece stretched throughout the run time of the film. Then there is the modern retelling of the story with the same actors portraying the contemporary versions of the legend, this time named Monish and Suchitra. The film does break to give the modern romance a back story that explains why the love is forbidden and showing the pair as children, but it is brief, and most of its appearances in the film are limited to repeating flashbacks.

The structure of the film is actually quite clever, and allows even the least familair with the story to at least understand that this tale is something out of classical literature, or at least something familiar to Indian audiences. Even if you cannot decode the details of the ancient section of the film, it's quite clear what is going on. The problem is completely to do with the film's execution and an incredible amount of self-indulgence on the part of Gulzar and Mehra.

In a bold move by Mehra, the leads are both debutante actors with no feature roles in their pasts. In the role of Miryza/Monish, Mehra cast Harshvardhan Kapoor, a ruggedly handsome man with abs for days and a soft spoken power about him that goes a long way toward gaining the audience's empathy. As Sahiba/Suchitra, Mehra is a bit less successful with the performance of Saiyami Kher, a ravishingly beautiful woman whose limited acting range is a real detriment to the film. In fact, for the vast majority of the film Suchitra does most of the talking, but her glib manner throws off the somber tone of the film while Kapoor's largely silent role conveys more angst and emotion by a wide margin.

All that being said, the actors are mostly pretty okay. I don't see either of these performers bringing home and Oscars any time soon, but they are perfectly passable in their roles. The main issues have to do with the two autuers at the head of this serpent, Mehra and Gulzar.

Gulzar is a legend in Bollywood and one of India's most respected poets as well as one of the most famous lyricists in the industry. As such, Mehra appears to have given him free reign with both the lyrics and the screenplay, and the result is a soppy melodramatic mess that attempts to wring every ounce of pathos from an already tragic story by way of overbearing musical narration and hackneyed dialogue that doesn't quite fit the contermporary setting. Even though the film follows much the same trajectory as Baz Luhrman's Romeo + Juliet in attempting to create an ancient love affair on modern soil, in this case it over-indulges and the film suffers for it.

However, Gulzar cannot be held completely accountable, after all a film is captained by its director and Mehra is just as much to blame for being too in love with his own images to know when enough is enough. The fantasy flashbacks are beautiful shot and scored, but they are almost exclusively shown in extreme slow motion to make up for the lack of dialogue. This directorial decision stretches the film out at least an additional twenty minutes, if not more, that is filled with nothing but slow motion archery. It's gorgeous, but this two hour and ten minute film features only about one hour and twenty minutes worth of real action, which leads me to my other major concern.

Mirzya is too long. I know that the general concensus around the world is that Indian films are too long in general, but I've never been a subscriber to that particular bias. Films should be exactly as long as they need to be, no more and no less. However, very little actually happens in Mirzya. There are only a handful of truly essential scenes that are padded by flashbacks, slow-motion fantasy sequences, or unnecessary Greek chorus style songs. Had they cut down the film to a reasonable length and even attempted to put in some quality setpieces to bring some energy to the screen, it would've done wonders. However, as it sits, the film is little more than an overwrought tourism advertisement for the beauty of Rajasthan. To call it a disappointment would be kind.

Mirzya wasn't really on my radar to review before this week. But when the chance arose to give it a look, I was more than happy to spend some time in Mehra and Gulzar's world. Unfortuantely, I spent more time checking my watch than watching the film and that's never a good sign.
Seguin, TX (78155)

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Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 81F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 59F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
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SIOUX CITY | Northwest Area Education Agency (AEA) recently welcomed several new employees to the organization.

Jill Bisenius was hired to help educators in the creative services department. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in graphic design from Morningside College. She has eight years of experience in graphic design prior to coming to AEA.

Heather Crichton worked for Northwest AEA from 2001 until 2006 as an early childhood teacher/consultant and is returning to work in the same position. She earned her bachelor's degree from Iowa State University in early childhood and elementary education. She is currently working toward her master's degree.

Jodi Ryan has been named the chief financial officer. In her new role, she will be responsible for planning, organization and implementation of the fiscal operations of the agency. She holds a M.B.A. from the University of South Dakota.

Seth Piro was hired as a regional facilitator for the southern part of the AEA's territory. Piro has an education specialist degree in school psychology from the University of Northern Colorado and is currently working through the Iowa Principals Leadership Academy to complete an administrative degree.

Alissah Albert, Daniel Broek and Alexa Mrla will serve as special education strategists.

Albert holds a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Wayne State College.

Broek holds an advanced graduate degree in school psychology from Gallaudet University.

Mrla holds a master's degree in school counseling from Wayne State College and an education specialist degree in school psychology from the University of South Dakota.

Jordan Bursell, Patricia Kann, Devyn Sponder and Katie Van Den Hul are speech-language pathologists who will provide specialized evaluations, instruction and consultative services for children.

Sponder and Van Den Hul have recently graduated from the University of South Dakota with master's degrees in speech-language pathology. Bursell also graduated from USD with a master's degree in speech-language pathology. Kann holds master's degrees in speech-language pathology from USD and in curriculum and instruction from Wayne State College.

As an employee of Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Jennifer Vorthems will be working out of the Northwest AEA office serving students throughout the region.
Even though its billed as a series, Woody Allens Crisis in Six Scenes is really just a movie divided into six half-hour chunks.

Yes, the episodes have beginnings and ends, but theyre essentially showing what happens when a radical breaks into a writers home and upends his life.

Why she breaks in  instead of knocking  isnt answered, but it gives Allen and Elaine May (as the writer and his wife) plenty of time to deliberate whos going to go downstairs and confront the intruder. That dilemma fills the first episode. In the second, we actually get to meet Lennie Dale (Miley Cyrus), the relative of people who treated May like their own.

Naturally, that means she has a soft spot for the outsider and agrees to harbor the fugitive until she can plot her next move. The situation gives Allen and May plenty of time to discuss everyone from Martin Luther King Jr. to second-tier celebrities.

Set in the 1960s, the series does a good job of reflecting the times but its so sluggish throughout viewers may see Allens stammering as stalling for time, not grasping for words.

May  who should be in more projects  gets some of the best moments and, rarely, moves without a glass of wine in her hand. She embraces the outsider, learns from her and shares the new knowledge with her book club, a gaggle that includes Joy Behar and some highly recognizable character actresses. They prattle on about current affairs, toy with the idea of a naked sit-in and get excited when they actually discover what their friend has been up to.

In sessions with her clients (Mays a therapist), we get another parade of familiar faces and some classic lines about relationships. Naturally, those patients turn up in the sixth episode, just in time to share the surprises that make the book club giddy.

Crisis in Six Scenes pays off the time spent in the couples house, but theres a lot of filler that would have been edited had Allen been releasing this to theaters.

Allen, who also wrote and directed the Amazon series, uses music that has a vague Odd Couple feel to it. If thats what he thinks a sitcom needs, then theres your tip of the hat to the format.

Cyrus, who has the most television exposure of the three leads, isnt bad, but she also doesnt push beyond her own boundaries. Shes tough, but unconvincing when rolling off a list of writers or extolling the virtues of revolutionaries.

Allen reacts appropriately, even though someone like Emma Stone would have been able to go head-to-head with him on a number of issues.

Crisis works, in fact, when its characters are talking about Cyrus, not interacting with her.

When May and Allen have to deliver a briefcase full of money (Cuban money at that), theyre delightful  and old. Thirty years ago, he might have attempted something like this with Diane Keaton and it would have had a much different feel.

Now, its like seeing Angela Lansbury making one more stage appearance. The material may not be that good, but its delivered by someone with real presence and theres a feeling attention must be paid.

"Crisis in Six Scenes" is now airing on Amazon.
SIOUX CITY | Over $35,000 was raised for the Siouxland Habitat for Humanity at its third annual BaconFest Saturday.

Nick Miller, the nonprofit organization's development director, said more than 2,000 people attended the bacon showdown at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's Battery Park Saturday. People were asked to taste and judge nearly 40 different takes on the savory treat from 15 food vendors.

Bacon tacos, chocolate-covered bacon, mini maple bacon doughnuts, bacon nachos, bacon fries, bacon jalapeno poppers, jalapeno bacon roses, I could go on and on, Miller said. Bacon salsa, bacon chili-- just a lot of stuff going on.

Friends of Habitat took the cake, or bacon cake, in the people's choice award with their bacon jalapeno poppers.

The Chuck Wagon Mobile Grilling Station Team won the judge's choice award for their innovative take of somehow infusing bacon and herbs inside of a chicken wing.

Miller said the more than $35,000 raised will "catapult us to building another house very soon."

Siouxland Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1992 and is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization.
SIOUX CITY | Early voting remains a big piece of presidential campaign playbooks in battleground states such as Iowa in 2016, but through Friday the returns in the four largest Northwest Iowa counties haven't been as plentiful as they were around the same time in the 2012 campaign.

The Republican and Democratic parties have adopted a strategy of banking as many ballots as possible through the early voting process, which has been underway in Iowa since Sept. 29 and South Dakota since Sept. 23. Early voting begins in Nebraska on Monday. Early ballots in those states get added into all vote totals once the Nov. 8 election day arrives.

As of Friday, the number of early votes cast is down in Woodbury, Plymouth and Buena Vista counties. Combined, the early vote in the three counties are down a third, compared to the totals on Oct. 7, 2012.

Of Northwest Iowa's four-largest counties, the Republican stronghold of Sioux is the only one where early voting is up compared to 2012. Sioux County Election Commissioner Lisa Rowenhorst said she sent early ballot reminders to everyone who used that method four years.

"That's probably why our numbers are a little higher this year," Rowenhorst said. There were 693 early votes cast by Oct. 7, 2012, compared to 858 through that date this year.

The early vote totals in Woodbury, Iowa's fifth largest county, stood at 935 as of Friday, down greatly from 4,373 at the same date in 2012. In Buena Vista, early votes dropped from 966 in 2012 to 228 this year. In Plymouth, this year's early vote stands at 424, about half the 991 cast four years ago.

Overall in the four counties, 2,445 early votes had been cast as of Friday, compared to 7,023 four years ago. This year's election is on Nov. 8, two days later than in 2012.

The number of absentee ballots requested by voters is somewhat higher in two counties than at the same point in 2012. Requests are up in Woodbury County by 5,847 to 4,431 and Sioux by 2,998 to 2,320. In Plymouth, this year's requests are down by 856 and by 198 in Buena Vista.

Plymouth County Auditor Stacey Feldman said she ultimately expects by Nov. 8 the number of returned early ballots will be similar to 2012.

Woodbury County Deputy Auditor Steve Hofmeyer said he initially thought the 2016 early voting would surpass that of four years ago, but he now thinks the two cycles will be roughly the same.

People have the option of getting an early ballot to avoid going to the polling places, and they no longer have to provide a reason to get one. Candidates and surrogates from both parties have flocked to the state to encourage early voting, including Chelsea Clinton, who stopped in Sioux City Wednesday to back her mother, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Clinton faces Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Woodbury County Republican Party Chairman Kevin Alons said there is a big incentive for party members to vote early, due to the major role Iowa is expected to play in the presidential race. Alons predicted that absentee votes this year will surpass those of four years ago.

"The Woodbury County Republicans are simply encouraging voter turnout - which definitely includes absentee voting. I believe all categories of GOP voter turnout will increase over 2012, including regular, absentee, and absentee votes cast directly at the auditor's office," Alons said.

Woodbury County Democratic Party Chairwoman Penny Rosfjord did not immediately respond to an interview request.
Denouncing Russian air strikes on Aleppo as "barbaric," Mike Pence declared in Tuesday's debate:

"The provocations by Russia need to be met with American strength. ... The United States of America should be prepared to use military force, to strike military targets of the Bashar Assad regime."

John McCain went further:

"The U.S. ... must issue an ultimatum to Mr. Assad -- stop flying or lose your aircraft ... If Russia continues its indiscriminate bombing, we should make clear that we will take steps to hold its aircraft at greater risk."

Yet one gets the impression this is bluster and bluff.

Pence has walked his warnings back. And there are few echoes of McCain's hawkishness. Even Hillary Clinton's call for a "no-fly zone" has been muted.

The American people have no stomach for a new war in Syria.

Nor does it make sense to expand our enemies list in that bleeding and broken country -- from ISIS and the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front -- to Syria's armed forces, Russia, Iran and Hezbollah.

These last three have been battling to save Assad's regime, because they see vital interests imperiled should it fall.

We have not plunged into Syria, because we have no vital interest at risk in Syria. We have lived with the Assads since Richard Nixon went to Damascus.

President Obama, who has four months left in office, is not going to intervene. And Congress, which has the sole power to declare war, has never authorized a war on Syria.

Obama would be committing an impeachable act if he started shooting down Russian or Syrian planes over Syrian territory. He might also be putting us on the escalator to World War III.

For Russia has moved its S-400 anti-aircraft system into Syria to its air base near Latakia, and its S-300 system to its naval base at Tartus.

As the rebels have no air force, that message is for us.

Russia is also moving its aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, into the Med. Vladimir Putin is doubling down in Syria.

Last weekend, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned that U.S. attacks in Syria "will lead to terrible tectonic consequences not only on the territory of this country but also in the region on the whole."

Translation: Attack Syria's air force, and the war you Americans start could encompass the entire Middle East.

Last week, too, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, warned that creating a "no-fly zone" in Syria could mean war -- with Russia. Dunford's crisp retort to Sen. Roger Wicker:

"Right now, senator, for us to control all of the airspace in Syria it would require us to go to war, against Syria and Russia. That's a pretty fundamental decision that certainly I'm not going to make."

And neither, thankfully, will Barack Obama.

So, where are we, and how did we get here?

Five years ago, Obama declared that Assad must step down. Ignoring him, Assad went all out to crush the rebels, both those we backed and the Islamist terrorists.

Obama then drew a "red line," declaring that Assad's use of chemical weapons would lead to U.S. strikes. But when Obama readied military action in 2013, Americans rose up and roared, "No!"

Reading the country right, Congress refused to authorize U.S. military action. Egg all over his face, Obama again backed down.

When Assad began losing the war, Putin stepped in to save his lone Arab ally, and swiftly reversed Assad's fortunes.

Now, with 10,000 troops -- Syrian, Iraqi Shiite militia, Hezbollah, Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Afghan mercenaries -- poised to attack Aleppo, backed by Russian air power, Assad may be on the cusp of victory in the bloodiest and most decisive battle of the war.

Assad and his allies intend to end this war -- by winning it.

For the U.S. to reverse his gains now, and effect his removal, would require the introduction of massive U.S. air power and U.S. troops, and congressional authorization for war in Syria.

The time has come to recognize and accept reality.

While the U.S. and its Turkish, Kurdish and Sunni allies, working with the Assad coalition of Russia, Hezbollah and the Iranians, can crush ISIS and al-Qaida in Syria, we cannot defeat the Assad coalition -- not without risking a world war.

And Congress would never authorize such a war, nor would the American people sustain it.

As of today, there is no possibility that the rebels we back could defeat ISIS and the al-Nusra Front, let alone bring down Bashar Assad and run the Russians, Hezbollah, Iran and the Iraqi Shiite militias out of Syria.

Time to stop the killing, stop the carnage, stop the war and get the best terms for peace we can get. For continuing this war, when the prospects of victory are nil, raises its own question of morality.
WASHINGTON -- Tim Kaine's strategy in Tuesday night's vice presidential debate was to go after Donald Trump frontally, over and over again, and to challenge Mike Pence to defend his running mate. Pence's strategy was to evade defending Trump, shake his head, pretend Trump hadn't said the things that Trump said -- and then move on to attacks against Hillary Clinton.

Kaine was feisty, a lawyer eager to prosecute his case. Pence was polished, his deep voice recalling his talk show host past. Kaine was eager to challenge and sometimes interrupt Pence. Pence wanted certain issues -- Trump's failure to release his income tax returns, for example -- to go away. Kaine seemed fully comfortable turning back Pence's attacks on Clinton. Pence loyally defended Trump where he could, but he acted as if he were reluctant to walk away from the debate owning all of Trump's record.

Right from the start, Kaine placed Trump at the center of the debate. When the moderator Elaine Quijano opened by asking Kaine and Pence whether they were ready to be president, Kaine closed his answer by noting that his Marine son was deployed abroad and that he and his wife, Anne, trusted Clinton as his commander in chief. "The thought of Donald Trump as commander in chief," he added, "scares us to death."

Kaine's strategy contained echoes of Vice President Al Gore's approach to his 1996 debate with Jack Kemp, Republican nominee Bob Dole's running mate.

Knowing of Kemp's pride in his progressive position on race and civil rights, Gore said he wanted to "congratulate" Kemp for being "a lonely voice in the Republican Party over the years on this question." He sought to separate Kemp from Dole and the Republican Party, and Kemp took the bait. Rather than defend his running mate and the GOP, Kemp defended himself and offered an excellent sermon on tolerance. In the process, he underscored Gore's attack line.

Time and again, Kaine tried to drive a wedge between Pence and Trump, saying at one point he could not "imagine" that Pence would defend Trump's "selfish, me-first" approach, and at another that he could not "believe" that Pence would defend an "insult-driven campaign."

Pence stayed loyal, saying he was perfectly willing to defend Trump, but he ducked almost all of Kaine's specifics. Kaine called attention to the strategy after his repeated efforts failed to draw a response: "He is asking everyone to vote for someone he will not defend."

Pence was not always truthful in his attacks on Clinton, but he was smooth and surely left many Republicans wishing that he, not Trump, was their nominee. Kaine saw his task as making Trump the central issue of the night, and he largely succeeded. It was a messy brawl, not an inspiring exchange of views, except for a surprisingly thoughtful back-and-forth on abortion near the end. An encounter that no doubt frustrated many viewers did little to change the trajectory of the contest.
Did you hear about Jacob Hall?

Maybe his name rings a bell for you, maybe not. Jacob was the 6-year-old boy who recently was shot on the playground at Townville Elementary School in South Carolina. Another boy and a teacher were also struck, but survived.

It's a blessing Jacob was denied. Hit in the femoral artery, he suffered massive blood loss and spent his last three days in a hospital fighting to live.

Police say his assailant was another boy, 14 years old.

Maybe you heard about it, maybe not. Unless you live near where it happened, it probably didn't lead your local TV news, nor would your favorite cable network have spent much time on it. Donald Trump didn't tweet about it. Stephen Colbert of "The Late Show" didn't mention it in his monologue.

But last month, when pressure cooker bombs exploded in New York City and on the Jersey Shore, it led Colbert's monologue, Trump tweeted about it and TV news was all over it. No one died, though over two dozen were injured.

Of course, that was terrorism. Jacob died in a schoolyard shooting.

That's meant to criticize neither Colbert, Trump nor the news media. Nor is it meant to minimize the threat posed by terrorism. No, it's meant only to make the following point:

Without really meaning to, we've evolved a kind of hierarchy of death in which anything that's called terrorism requires wall-to-wall media coverage, reactions from political candidates and somber acknowledgment from late-night talk show hosts. But a 14-year-old shoots a 6-year-old on a playground, and it's just Wednesday.

Perhaps the most frustrating thing is that that hierarchy has no basis in reality. Last year, PolitiFact tallied the number of Americans killed in this country by terrorism in the 10 preceding years. It came to 71. The number of us killed by guns in that same time frame? 301,797.

Even if you allow that some of those shootings were in self-defense, the gap between 71 and 301,797 still yawns vaster than oceans. Extrapolating from numbers compiled by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, we can estimate that well over 25,000 of the dead in that decade are teenagers -- and children.

So yeah, did you hear about Jacob Hall? Or Justice Burroughs? Or Rodriquez Ferguson? Did you hear about Solomon Jordan Smith, Savier Jones and Melanie Martinez? Did you hear about the 18-month-old in Georgia who was shot in the head? Police aren't sure if he did it himself or if it was his brother, who is 3 years old.

That's a snapshot from the week Jacob died, seven average days in America. For the record, Jacob, 6, was the oldest of those victims.

Given the disparity between the threats represented by gun violence and terrorism, it is not rational that the latter comes out on top in our hierarchy of death. For some reason, some of us are less alarmed by random violence if it doesn't come from people with funny names acting in service to what is seen as an off-brand faith. For some reason, some of us find it easier to focus on the threat posed to us by perceived Others than on the threat we pose ourselves.

Some of us need to open their eyes.

We have built an America where a 14-year-old can get his hands on a weapon of mass destruction, use it to kill a 6-year-old and we respond with a national shrug -- an America where we've normalized carnage and called it "freedom."

Did you hear about Jacob Hall? No, he was not a victim of terrorism.

May that bring you absolutely no comfort at all.
I consider the Sioux City police "party patrol" a complete joke. We live across the street from a frat house where there is a huge party every weekend with 40 to 60 people there. Most of these kids are under age and drive there to party, then drive away after a lot of drinking, throwing beer cans all over as they are walking to their cars to drive away.

The people who live around this house have called the police multiple times, explaining what is going on, but nothing gets done about it. The police come out and basically tell them to "disperse." But when they leave, they all come back. Never have they carded anyone. Never have they searched anyone. This house has never been searched. These kids realize there are no repercussions for their actions.

It's unbelievable that these kids can drink and drive, and be a complete nuisance to a neighborhood, and nothing gets done about it. - Ken Boyce, Sioux City
DES MOINES -- Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are traveling different electoral roads, but both hope their final destination is the White House.

It is far more important to Trump than Clinton, experts say, that the road include a victory in Iowa.

The winner of a U.S. presidential election is the candidate who garners the most Electoral College votes, which are allocated to each state based on population. The candidate to reach a majority 270 electoral votes wins the election.

History and polling show where most states electoral votes are headed even before the campaign starts, leaving a small portion of states and electoral votes that are truly up for grabs.

While Iowas six electoral votes are few by comparison --- fellow swing state Florida, for example, has 29 --- they have been highly sought by both parties in recent elections, during which the state has supported a Republican (George W. Bush) and a Democrat (Barack Obama), and has featured competitive races.

This year, however, Iowas electoral votes may not be as valuable as other recent elections --- at least not to both candidates.

Multiple experts told the Des Moines Bureau that Iowa is critical to Trump. Without the states six electoral votes, it becomes extremely difficult for the Republican candidate to defeat Clinton.

Clinton, on the other hand, does not necessarily need Iowa in order to keep the White House occupied by a Democrat. She has many paths to 270 electoral votes, and not all of them require Iowas half-dozen.

I think Iowa is more critical for Trump getting to the White House than Clinton, said Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of the Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report. Even though Iowa has been in the Democrats column the last two cycles, the Democratic nominee just has more wiggle room. Hillary Clinton doesnt need a clean sweep of the toss-up states in order to win, whereas Donald Trump probably does.

Clinton, as the Democratic nominee, started the election with a built-in advantage. States that went to the Democrat in each of the past six elections dating back to 1992 provide 242 electoral votes. So if Clinton manages merely to hang on to each of those loyally Democratic states, she needs only 38 more electoral votes for victory. Florida alone would put her over the top.

Trump, meantime, started with only 179 electoral votes based on states that went Republican each of the past four elections dating to 2000. That means he has to win 91 out of the 117 electoral votes available from 10 toss-up states --- nearly 80 percent --- or steal a loyally blue state or two while hanging onto all the red states.

The electoral map is not favorable for a Republican, so any number of electoral votes are going to be critical (for Trump), said Christopher Larimer, a political science professor at the University of Northern Iowa.

Most polls in Iowa have showed a very close race between Trump and Clinton. Two post-Labor Day polls showed Trump leading Clinton by 7 and 8 percentage points, although both were taken before the first debate that has given Clinton a polling bump nationally and in other states.

Iowas relative importance to Trump and Clinton is perhaps best illustrated in odds calculated by Nate Silvers data-based journalism website fivethirtyeight.com, so named after the 538 total electoral college votes in a presidential election.

If she loses Iowa, Clinton still has a 39 percent chance of winning the election, according to fivethirtyeight.coms calculations.

If Trump loses Iowa, he has just a 5 percent chance of winning the election, according to the site.

Iowa is one of four hyper-critical states for Trump, along with Florida, Ohio and North Carolina, according to the site.

The Clinton campaign will spend resources in Iowa largely for cosmetic reasons, but it isnt necessary for Clinton to win the state to win the election, said David Wasserman, an editor for the Cook Political Report. It is necessary, on the other hand, for Trump to win the state to win the election.

Some campaign activities can signal how serious a candidate is about winning a given state. If a candidate truly craves a states electoral votes, he or she will devote resources in the form of paid staff, appear at campaign events, and advertise on television and radio.

But Clinton and Trump are sending mixed signals in Iowa, Larimer said.

I think its interesting. I think you see more organization from the Clinton campaign in Iowa, but you dont see the candidate. I think its the reverse for the Trump campaign, Larimer said.

Clinton has campaigned in Iowa just twice in the general election, although she also made a stop in the Quad Cities, just across the Mississippi River from Davenport.

In the past few weeks, however, the Clinton campaign has unleashed an army of surrogates on Iowa, including former Democratic primary competitors Bernie Sanders and Martin OMalley, her daughter Chelsea and current U.S. ag secretary and former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack.

Trumps campaign operation in Iowa is much smaller than Clintons, but his team works closely with the Republican Partys national and state organizations established here.

Naturally, both campaigns insist Iowa is crucial to their efforts. Clintons team has maintained as much from the start and as proof points to its staff, organization and voter turnout programs.

Our volunteers and supporters are working hard to mobilize Iowans to cast their votes early for Hillary Clinton and win Iowas six electoral votes, Clinton campaign spokesman Yianni Varonis said in an email. Early voting so far shows Iowans are rejecting Donald Trumps hateful rhetoric and dangerous policies in droves, and supporting Hillary Clintons plans to build an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top.

The Trump campaign also said Iowa is important to its plans.

Our campaign has long known that Iowa is a key state if we are to successfully defeat Hillary Clinton and put Donald Trump in the White House, Eric Branstad, the Trump campaigns state director and son of Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, said in an email. Mr. Trumps messages of restoring our nations economy, keeping us safe, and making America great again resonate across Iowa. He and Gov. Pence have traveled here often to share that vision with voters and their efforts are paying off, as recent polls show Mr. Trump leading Crooked Hillary by large margins here in Iowa.

Both candidates insist they hope to win Iowa. Only one, according to the experts, truly needs it.

(Clintons) path to 270 electoral votes mainly lies through other states, mainly states like Virginia, Colorado and Pennsylvania, perhaps even, in terms of securing the win for her I look at Florida and North Carolina as the states that if she can win one of those, theres basically no way Trump can win, said Geoffrey Skelley, an associate editor for Sabatos Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. I dont think shes necessarily given up on (Iowa), but its tough for her, I think, to see that as a priority state compared to a state like Florida and North Carolina.

But on the other hand, Trump in order to win obviously needs to add on to the states that Mitt Romney won (in 2012), so for (Trump) Iowa is a good starting point.  For them, picking off Iowa and Ohio gets them 24 more electoral votes, which still they have to get more to win, but its a starting point.
DES MOINES -- If Donald Trump needs a safe space, he should come to Iowa.

Across the country Saturday, the Republican presidential candidate faced withering criticism over recently published lewd comments he made in 2005 about groping women.

Since the comments were published, more than 30 Republican members of Congress and governors who had not previously ruled out supporting Trump disavowed his candidacy, The New York Times reported Saturday.

In Iowa, however, Republican leaders -- as they gathered for their annual fall fundraiser -- condemned Trumps comments but continued to support his candidacy, either directly or by way of opposing Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

And a new Iowa Poll published Saturday evening showed Trump leading Clinton, 43 percent to 39 percent, in Iowa, although the survey was taken before Trumps latest comments were published.

When you look at the whole picture, I think what he said was absolutely wrong and reprehensible, yet this has happened in 2005 and we need to look to the future, and we need to look at what kind of a leader were going to have for this country, said Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, whose son Eric is the Trump campaigns Iowa director. I think that the vision Trump and (running mate Mike) Pence have is much better for the future of America than what Hillary Clinton offers.

During their remarks at the fundraiser, Iowas U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst both made the case for voting for Trump without using his name.

Ernst dedicated most of her remarks to criticizing Clinton, and Grassley said Republicans must vote for a candidate they want making appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court.

This is not an election about whos going to be president just for the next four years. This is an election about the direction of the Supreme Court for the next 40 years, Grassley said.

Neither Grassley nor Ernst spoke to reporters before the event, although Ernst gave a brief answer to one question as she hurried to her seat. When asked whether she still supports Trump, Ernst replied simply, I do not support Hillary Clinton.

The states Republican Party chairman Jeff Kaufmann condemned Trumps comments, which he called disgusting, but said he still will encourage Republicans to vote for Trump.

Kaufmann said he thinks voters face a choice between two flawed candidates.

The only way to avoid a disaster and the Clinton gang returning to the White House is to do just that, is to elect Donald Trump, Kaufmann said.

The evenings sharpest rebuke of Trump came from a non-Iowan: U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, of Arkansas, the events keynote speaker.

Cotton said Trump has let down Republicans again, and said at Sundays presidential debate Trump must take full responsibility for his words and actions and pledge to finally change his ways.

If he does those things, then he can right this ship, Cotton said. If he does not do those things, if he will not do those things, then he needs to consider whether its time for him to step aside and allow our party to nominate an elder statesman who will do those things and who will carry our banner into November.

Earlier Saturday, an Iowa state senator who dropped his Republican Party affiliation in protest of Trumps offensive statements and behavior called on Iowa GOP leaders to withdraw their support for Trump over the recently published comments.

Now that Trumps true anti-women sickness has been revealed, surely these two state leaders must condemn Trump publicly, Johnson said. As I said in June, Donald Trump is a bigot, misogynist and racist, and is unfit to be president of a great nation.

Trump issued a video statement in which he apologized for the comments, which were caught on microphone in a leaked 2005 video that was released Friday. Trump also called the footage of his comments a distraction from bigger issues at stake in the Nov. 8 election.

Ive never said Im a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone that Im not, Trump said in the video. Ive said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more than a decade-old video are one of them. Anyone who knows me knows these words dont reflect who I am.

Trump told reporters Saturday that he would never withdraw from the race, even as pressure mounted for him to step aside.

The Clinton campaign in Iowa addressed Trumps comments with a letter signed by four local mothers.

The language Trump uses to describe women is not just shocking and hurtful, but disqualifies him for the presidency, the letter says. As mothers of young children and grandchildren, we want our president to set the example for young people that every person is their equal regardless of gender and physical appearance, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and religion. Instead, Trump continues to divide the country with his hateful rhetoric, volatile temperament, and demeaning views toward women and too many Americans.

Late Saturday evening the Trump campaign announced Pence will return to Iowa for a campaign event Tuesday in Des Moines.
HOUSTON  Linda Gravelle stared into the hearse. Thirty seconds went by and she lifted her camera, wanting to remember the moment.

Wow, she whispered. So beautiful.

But it wasnt a departed loved one that gripped her attention. It was a small, horse-drawn carriage from 1832  one of several early-model hearses on display inside a huge brick building in north Houston.

The National Museum of Funeral History is for those of us who dont mind contemplating death. At 66, Gravelle knows her sun is setting, but she and her husband arent afraid of reminders. After all, their pastor back home in Washington state sometimes holds services in a funeral home.

Full-time RVers, the couple saw a pamphlet for the museum at a Texas welcome center near the Louisiana border and decided to stop in.

Every year, about 20,000 people visit the museum, which was founded in 1992 by Houston mogul Robert Waltrip, the founder of Service Corp. International, the largest funeral home chain in the country.

We dont get Death 101 in school, said Genevieve Keeney, the museums president. My goal is to get people to embrace death. If you can embrace it, you can live a fuller life.

Once youve walked through the gift shop, where you can buy a T-shirt emblazoned with the museums motto  Any day above ground is a good one  the museum opens up into more than 30,000 square feet of exhibition space. Its dimly lighted except for the spotlights beaming down on row after row of coffins and hearses.

On a recent morning, a group of elderly women paused for photos in front of a Mercedes hearse used in Grace Kellys funeral and later in front of a casket covered in coins and dollar bills  a reminder, they joked, that you can take your money with you to the grave.

Although the collection touts many items tied to the rich and famous, including a replica of Pope John Paul IIs crypt and a $450 funeral bill sent to the White House after Franklin D. Roosevelts death, the items of lesser-known people often get the most attention.

Take, for example, a copy of the program from the 2011 memorial service for Arch West, who worked at Frito-Lay and helped invent Doritos corn chips.

Good dude, one visitor said, posing for a picture with his thumb up near the display case.

On the other side of the museum, a woman with tattoos covering her calves scrolled through her phone looking a bit bored.

She was on vacation from Pennsylvania and had picked the museum from a list of activities her mother-in-law had offered up. But she found herself wishing that the $10 entrance would bring something a little creepier than dead popes and presidents.

Her husband walked over smiling. I found the good stuff, he told her. An embalming exhibit.

They inspected a bottle of old, yellow liquid whose label boasted of being valuable in emaciated cases and a two-pronged metal contraption that looked like a weapon but was used to curl the hair of dead people in the 1940s.

It may be impossible to think about death without thinking about your own.

Abigail Hein, 40, a stamp dealer from Concord, California, who discovered the museum on a website of curious places, took a selfie with a statue in the pope exhibit.

She posted it on Facebook with the caption, When I go, you can do whatever you want with my remains.

One item in particular stuck with her: a coffin from Ghana that was shaped like a lobster. I wouldnt want anyone to put it in the ground, though, she said. Too beautiful.

Hein figures that shell be cremated like other members of her family  and that perhaps her ashes could go into the ground and help nourish a tree.

Keeney, 46, said that although quirkiness raises the profile of the museum  it was featured on cable channel A&Es Shipping Wars and Ozzy Osbournes show on the History channel  portraying the place merely as an oddity undermines its serious work.

For its latest exhibit, created for the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the museum created mini twin towers by stacking dozens of memorial register books. Waltrips funeral homes had put them out on Sept. 12, 2001, as a way for people to express their grief.

For Keeney, whose predominantly black wardrobe belies a chipper spirit, working at the museum fulfills a lifelong goal. Her fascination with death started at age 7 when she heard a television news segment about an infant found in a trash can.

Wow, what would that baby look like? she recalls thinking. What does death look like?

For career day in high school, Keeney interviewed a coroner, who let her see a photograph of a person who had drowned. But it wasnt until she was 28 and living in Germany as a medic in the U.S. Army that she first saw a dead body  of a soldier found in his room.

Another time in Germany, while walking the hallway of a morgue where she was planning to observe an autopsy, Keeney heard a man singing quietly. She walked into the room and realized the man had been singing a lullaby to a dead infant. He turned out to be a funeral director.

I want to be what you are, she told him.

Back in the U.S., she did just that.

Few things animate her like working around death. Her pale blue eyes lighted up when speaking about a coming exhibit: The History of Cremation.
Robert Gilpin, R.I.P. - The Washington Post : His greatest book was written in 1981, but the main theory in it is perhaps more trenchant now...
For the Week of October 10, 2016

Who would have thought that the way to rescue Salem from a slump of tragedy and terror would be to unleash three killers into the heart of the town? Find out how the terrible trio are finally brightening up the place in this edition of Two Scoops.

I really do love the drama that this prison break is spawning. I like that it pulled in so many of our favorite Salemites, since each of the villains has rivalries with different characters. I even like them with each other! I giggled when Orpheus just ignored Clyde's ramblings and went back to is crossword puzzle.

Sure, the show has to keep reminding us that everyone is totally in present and immediate danger; or at least the type of danger that still allows people to go around town in heels and Bodycon dresses. But, for the sake of the fun, I'll play along.

Plus, hooray for Marlena and Kayla in doctor mode! It made me feel better knowing Kayla's taking care of Abe. And Marlena especially makes me happy when she's in her full Doc glory. I love that she presented the police with easily their best lead by giving a psychological profile of each felon. Not only was it a brilliant way for us to get background on the characters, but the Salem P.D. is in desperate need of anything resembling intelligence.

You almost have to laugh at this point. Rafe's a former FBI agent with "a guy" for pretty much anything. Yet, he and the rest of the Salem P.D. are like Elmer Fudd swinging their arms around only to catch air because that wraskly wrabbit managed to slip away again! (Clyde outrunning J.J.? Really?!)

Their ineptitude coupled with the talks of Joey finding a way to outsmart the villains really had me nervous that we'd seen the last of Cosmo Joe. Thank goodness Theo saved the day. And yes, I'm awarding the credit to Theo. Was it crazy dangerous to walk up to Clyde with a gun? Yes. But in this case, it worked. It distracted Clyde enough for J.J. and Steve to move in.

Chloe isn't taking such chances with her kids, so she's backing up Parker and the bump and heading to New York to stay with Craig and Nancy until the baby is born. But, there's still the little mystery of who switched the test results. I know that Chloe can be daffy, but I doubt that she wouldn't forget sleeping with someone. At least unless I hear that she recently had a bout with hypothermia -- a well-established cause of soap amnesia. (Hi, Claire!)

Sorry, back to the results. My money is on Nancy. She knows her way around a hospital. And, she's the only other person who knows that Deimos is the real daddy. Plus, her longstanding dislike of Philip may mean that she counted on him being furious with Chloe for lying to him and thus freeing her daughter of all Kiriakis men. If she is behind the move, it wasn't half bad at all.

Plus, right now I wouldn't mind seeing a woman get the best of those Kiriakis men. I love the Kiriakis boys together, I really do. However, I'm starting to feel like their boys club is beginning to smell a wee bit misogynistic.

First, Deimos literally ushered Theresa out of the living room by her arm and closed the doors in her face because the "men" needed to "concentrate." Then, for all the concern about all of the Kiriakis family being protected, I sure didn't see any of them lift a golden finger to help Claire out when she was captured. I hate to say it, but if Claire was a dude, I think there'd be a lot more chest thumping and rushing to defend the honor of the family. I'm glad Theresa finally ran in there to read them the riot act.

In the house of DiMera, Kate proposed Chad bringing Andre back into the fold because he can help get the company back on track quickly. Apparently the company went to hell in a limoncello basket when Chad was off trying to defend himself from Jennifer. It's a bit of a weak reason, but if it gets Lauren Koslow, Billy Flynn, and Thaao Penghlis in multiple scenes together, I'll buy it. Twice.

Though, I will say that scene was missing Belle. It would have played better to have someone playing the angel on Chad's shoulder. Instead, all he had was the devil and...um...another devil. But still, stellar acting makes this a win.

Plus, when they plopped tiny Thomas in Chad's lap, I got it. It really hit home that Thomas is literally all Chad has. He's buried his daughter, three siblings, mother, father, and now his wife. Even if Thomas wasn't the cutest kid ever, I wouldn't blame Chad for holding onto Thomas with all he has.

And so, having said that, I have to come down on the side of Sonny being a bit out of line when he asked Chad not to go after the shipping deal out of respect for their friendship. If the Kiriakis empire takes a hit, it takes a hit. There's still a big company left. And Sonny literally had a room full of family that would be there for him. Chad? Well, when Kate Roberts is the second most loyal person in your life, it doesn't hurt to be looking out extra hard for yourself.

Of course, it might have been nice if he started by digging up Nick Fallon/Max Brady's energy plan that Melanie recreated with her photographic memory. I'm pretty sure that ended up at DiMera Enterprises via E.J. or Andre/Tony.

LOOSE ENDS

Just like I don't understand how Xander escaped out a third floor window, I also don't understand how Clyde shot Abe. The Horton Town square is enclosed. How did Clyde manage to shoot into it from the Salem Inn?

Deimos is aware that there are more than two types of guys, right? He keeps saying things like "I'm no saint" as if the obvious only other possibility is to be a villain who stalks people and cripples women.

Yaaasssss! I clap like a fool each time I see Kassie DePaiva. I like it almost as much as Hope/Jen "cuz" scenes! And we got one of those too! Wahoo!

Gabi found out that Dario was responsible for that dude attacking her before. But Dario insists he still wasn't the one who sent Eduardo that note. Do we believe him? Do we care at this point? Spoiler: no.

There's no denying the chemistry between Christopher Sean and Freddie Smith. However, I wonder how Paul's going to feel when he realizes that Sonny isn't the mountain climbing Care Bear he used to be. Personally, I like scrappy Sonny. But Paul has a very distinctive memory of Sonny -- one that Master Kiriakis has moved more than a few steps away from right now.

Technically, Hope didn't kill Stefano in cold blood. Her blood was downright boiling when she did it.

I'm utterly impressed with John whipping up $20,000 like it's no big deal. I'm thinking DiMera Enterprises and/or Titan would hire him on the spot right now!

Because our classy editor Dan has standards around here, I can't actually use the words I'd like to sum up my utter disgust and abhorrence for DAYS equating Deimos finding out that he's not the father of the kid Chloe's been telling him he's not the father of to the actual death of Nicole's three babies. First, we all know the truth will come out in the end, so why prostrate Nicole's character for a temporary plot step? Second, in Deimos' case, no one died! His situation is nowhere near final. Comparing the two would be like Claire talking about how much she misses her mom, and Theo saying, "I know exactly how you feel. Your mom's in Hong Kong. My mom's in heaven. It's basically the same thing!"

Extra Scoops

Let's hear it for Adrienne not taking the DiMera hate bait and suggesting that Chad might not be a baby kicker who drowns puppies for fun. No wonder Justin ran to General Hospital after hearing that.

NOT:

Before I start, I have to say that Daniel Cosgrove plays sinister Aiden masterfully. And I've genuinely enjoyed both pairings in the past. But I am just not here for Haiden vs. Rope: Part 3. Like, at all.

First, why drop the Stefano bomb now? Rafe, Aiden, and Hope -- all officers of the justice system -- are wrapped up in the biggest crime wave to hit Salem in years. It's not like they have time to be dealing with a B plot right now. That would leave Salem's protection to J.J. and Roman, which, seriously. Come on now.

Second, Aiden's whole "be with me" plea seems weird, since no one mentions these two are still married. If they really wanted to have Haiden vs. Rope, Clyde should have accidentally shot Hope, leaving Aiden as legal next of kin and making medical decisions for her.

Third, maybe it's because I suspect the storyline had to be written so that Joseph Mascolo could enjoy a well-earned retirement. Or perhaps it's because we had that nice Christmas Carol episode at the cabin with Ghost Bo. But, I feel like we've adjudicated this Stefano situation already. There's no need to keep milking it.

Finally, I so wish that Hope would have busted into that police station and said, "Listen up, Hernandez. Here's the plan..." Snively, weenie Hope just isn't my Hope. And while Aiden definitely deserved to be soap punched, Neanderthal Rafe has never been my pint of ice cream either.

LINE OF THE WEEK:

Orpheus: "I'm enjoying myself."

Clyde: "Oh, yeah, maybe after lunch we can go to the spa."

RANDOM THOUGHTS

No to Marlena's jacket. Can Gabi go see her?





I didn't realize burner phones had cameras now!





If something looks bad on Ari Zucker, there it literally no hope for it. Sorry, weird slasher skirt.





Huge miss to not have Theo pull the gun on Clyde and say, "Ha-low, you tried to kheel my faddar. Prepare to die!"





That dual gun draw John and Orpheus did was pretty badass.





I'm sure Stephanie will be glad to hear Joey's back.





I get Ciara and Claire fighting over Theo. Not only is Theo totally lovable, but those two are related to a lot of Salem. Their choices are few and far between.





Oof. Hey, Hope and Rafe, maybe not have the conversation about Aiden in the same room where he taped you before?





Yup, if anyone was going to lead Steve into battle, my pick would totally be J.J.





I'm ashamed to admit that when Theo lamented that Brandon and Lani weren't at the hospital, I thought, "Aw, Brandon! And...who?"





Funny, I could have sworn that Nicole was rescued thanks to Daniel, Brady, and Serena -- not to mention Eric showing up first to save her from Xander strangling her on the spot. But sure, let's give this one to Daniel. Dude gets so few wins.
The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless.



The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well.







By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism.
Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme  La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza.



Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres.




Huntsville and Downbytheseaside were the quickest winners of the four divisions of the $262,000 International Stallion Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday, October 8, winning in 1:49 to equal the world record set by Sweet Lou at Woodbine Racetrack in 2011.

Sweeping to command after Rock The Boat set a :27 quarter, Huntsville led to the half and three-quarters in :55.2 and 1:22.1. R J P, tracking Huntsvilles backside brush, found room to tuck into the pocket at the top of the stretch, while Fear The Dragon chased Huntsville from first over. He took second from R J P while driver Tim Tetrick encouraged Huntsville to pace to the line, finishing about three lengths clear of Fear The Dragon.

Hunstville, by Somebeachsomewhere out of the Western Hanover mare Wild West Show, won his fourth consecutive race and his fifth race overall this season from eight starts, pushing his earnings to $293,234. Trainer Ray Schnittker shares ownership with partners Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo, and Steven Arnold. Huntsville paid $2.80.

Downbytheseaside rushed to the top, taking the lead from Eddard Hanover after a 27:4 first quarter. He blazed through the rest of the mile, pacing a half in :53.4 and three-quarters in 1:22.3. Boogie Shuffle attempted to pursue the leader from first over, while Eddard Hanover slid by rivals towards the pylons. Downbytheseaside remained in front by about two lengths over Boogie Shuffle and Eddard Hanover.

Sent off as the 3-5 favourite, Downbytheseaside, by Somebeachsomewhere out of the Allamerican Native mare Sprig Hanover, won his sixth race in 10 starts, pushing his earnings to $239,706 for owners Country Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco and Richard Lombardo. He is trained by Brian Brown and was driven by David Miller. Downbytheseaside paid $3.20 to win.

I was a little worried; I knew we were going too [fast] at the quarter, David Miller said. Rolling up the backstretch, when [the half] flashed up :53, I was like Oh boy, thats not good. Hes a strong horse. He did settle down for the third quarter, but then he had [Scott] Zeron [on Boogie Shuffle] come at him. He had enough to fight him off. It was impressive.

Brian told me the first time I drove this horse that this was his best horse and I told him he was crazy, David Miller also said.

He has been getting a little bit grabbier every week, Brian Brown said, so we tried to change some things. I was more worried at the half than David was, but I was surprised that the horse had that much fight in him.

Drafting behind a blazing pace set by Filibuster Hanover, Dragnet Alert tipped off the rail and swung down the center of the track to upset at 18-1 in 1:49.2, a world record for two-year-old pacing geldings that tops the previous mark of 1:49.3 set by Sheer Desire in 2008 at The Red Mile.

Setting fractions of :27.2, :54.2, and 1:21.4, Filibuster Hanover held an uncontested lead. Odds On Delray, the 1-2 favourite, sat in the pocket while Dragnet Alert raced third. At the top of the stretch, Odds On Delray edged off the pylons and was tracked by Dragnet Alert. Midway through the stretch, Dragnet Alert moved towards the center of the track and passed Odds On Delray, who took second, and Filibuster Hanover held on to third.

By Dragon Again out of the Jennas Beach Boy mare Jettin Jenna, Dragnet Alert won his second race in seven starts, lifting his earnings to $58,463 for owner Crawford Farms Racing. Hes trained by Chris Oakes and was driven by Brian Sears. The gelding paid $29.80 to win.

We bought him in early July, Albert Crawford said. Chris [Oakes] gave us a call; he spotted the colt and really liked him. He asked if we were interested and we were.

I thought he had this type of speed, Chris Oakes said. He was coming quarters of :26.2 at The Meadows, which is pretty solid; its not a real fast track. When I got the colt, he was sick, so I had no choice but to quit with him for over a month, and hes coming around nice now.

Chip Walther paced down the center of the track to win the other ISS division in 1:50.3 at 41-1.

Blood Line pulled first over from fourth around the first turn, taking the lead from Normandy Beach after a :28.1 first quarter. He led through a half in :55.4 and was challenged at three-quarters in 1:24 by Point Somewherelse from first over. Blood Line tried to hold control through the stretch, but was passed by Normandy Beach sliding up the rail, Mcthriller towards the center of the track, and Chip Walther from Mcthrillers inside. Chip Walther grabbed the front, while Normandy Beach finished second and Mcthriller was third.

The Erv Miller-trained colt by Art Major, out of the Western Terror mare Bittorsweet Terror, won his second race in 11 starts, lifting his earnings to $63,111 for owners Ervin Miller Stable, Paymaq Racing, Nick Surick Stable, and Louis Willinger. Driven by Marcus Miller, he paid $84.80 to win.

The other night, when the track was off, Marcus and Nick were pretty confident that the horse would race good, Erv Miller said. But the horse has been getting better in the last three weeks; he had a bit of a bad go in New York. Getting onto the mile track really helped him.

Hes one of those horses that when hes good hell go by somebody. He may not be good enough, but when he was following the horse that kept carrying him I thought hed be pretty good.

'Zane' Springs 93-1 Red Mile Surprise

Flying up the pylons as even-money favourite Loreenas Ruffian drifted on the lead, Zane Hanover sprinted to a 1:50.4 win at 93-1 in the first of four divisions of the $260,000 International Stallion Stakes (ISS) for two-year-old pacing fillies at The Red Mile on Saturday, October 8.

Robin J grabbed the lead from Loreenas Ruffian, who then circled to take control after a :27.4 quarter. She led through splits of :55.2 and 1:23.3 before drifting off the cones in the stretch. From off cover, Thats The Ticket tried to storm down the center of the track, while Robin J slid by Loreenas Ruffian to her inside along with Zane Hanover, who emerged to the lead and drew clear to win. Thats The Ticket got up for second, and Robin J finished third.

Winning her first race in nine starts, Zane Hanover, by Somebeachsomewhere out of the American Ideal mare Zellweger Bluechip, has earned $43,382 for owners Paymaq Racing, George Golemes and D. R. Van Witzenburg. The filly is trained by Ervin Miller and was driven by Marcus Miller. She paid $189.80 to win.

I think this is a prime example that shows what The Red Mile can do for a horse, Erv Miller said. We had been up [in Pennsylvania] on the five-eighths racing and not really getting her stretched out, but we got her a little stretched out last week and she seemed all week like she was getting better.

Sent to the top after the half, Someomensomewhere maintained control as she advanced to a 1:52.4 win in the second ISS division.

Miss Jones led through a :28 first quarter before yielding to Someomensomewhere as she brushed to the lead before the half. Unchallenged in :57.3, Someomensomewhere was soon pressured by Rockette from first over into the far turn. Past three-quarters in 1:26.4, Someomensomewhere turned away Rockette, who held onto second as Caviart Cherie slid into contention to take third.

Someomensomewhere, by Somebeachsomewhere out of the Western Hanover mare Omen Hanover, has won two races in nine starts while earning $102,771 for the Nick Surick Stable LLC and KDM Stables Corp. She is also trained by Erv Miller and was driven by Marcus Miller. The winner returned $5.40 at the betting windows.

I trained the mare Omen Hanover and my owner bred her, Nick Surick said. Then I bought her here last year with Erv and [KDM Stables] wanted back in, so Erv trained her. She has been really good. She tailed off in Pennsylvania at the end, but Erv said she was bleeding a little bit. Marcus has driven her great in every start; never put her in a bad spot. She was just never finishing. Now shes finishing with the good drives.

We were really going slow and she was just getting into gear; she wanted to go faster than I wanted her to into that wind, Marcus Miller said. I just had to let her settle down and it was cruise control from there.

Off a second-place finish in a $73,000 Bluegrass split last week, Idyllic Beach took control after the half and was wrapped up before winning in 1:52.2 over Big City Betty and World Apart.

Caviart Ally was sent to the top through a :27.3 first quarter. She was rough-gaited when met with the backstretch headwinds and took the pocket when Idyllic Beach rushed first over to the front. Leading through a :57 half and three-quarters in 1:25.2, Idyllic Beach strolled to the the line, finishing about two lengths clear of Big City Betty.

Idyllic Beach, by Somebeachsomewhere out of the American Ideal mare Idyllic, won her seventh race in 10 starts this year, lifting her earnings to $500,132 for owners Christina Takter, John Fielding, Brixton Medical Ab, and Marvin Katz. Shes trained by Jimmy Takter and was driven by Yannick Gingras. The filly paid $2.40 to win.

I wanted to race her from the back today, Yannick Gingras said. She has raced on the front so many times, but Andrew [McCarthy]s filly [Caviart Ally] was jumping shadows on the backstretch and we werent going [fast], so I had to make a move. She was much the best in here.

Roaring To Go won the final ISS split in 1:51.1 going wire-to-wire. She was unchallenged through fractions of :28.3, :55.3 and 1:23.2 before Planet Rock, moving first over around the far turn, gained ground into the stretch. Awash tipped off her cover and chased Roaring To Go from the center of the track, managing to take second from Planet Rock.

By Art Major out of the Western Ideal mare Lionness Hanover, Roaring To Go won her sixth race in 12 starts and has amassed $242,636 in career earnings for owner Frank Chick. Shes trained by Kevin Lare and was driven by Brett Miller. The filly paid $3.00 to win.

Shes not a half-mile track specialist and in New York Sires Stakes thats pretty much what you have to be, Kevin Lare said. Brett has done a great job with her, getting her over the half-mile track all year, and we thought the bigger track would help her out. I was very impressed with her, going the second quarter in :27 flat. I was a little nervous into the headwind, but Brett said she was kind of waiting on him and once she heard him, she took off again.

She has the Breeders Crown left, but then after that I think shes done for the year. [Frank Chick] has talked about the Matron, but Ill leave that up to Frank.

Live racing will conclude on Sunday, October 9, which includes the $100,000 Allerage Filly and Mare Pace, $101,000 Allerage Open Trot, $138,000 Allerage Open Pace, two divisions of the $213,500 Glen Garnsey Memorial, two divisions of the $416,000 Tattersalls Pace, two eliminations and two heats for the $312,000 Kentucky Filly Futurity, and the $431,000 Kentucky Futurity, where Marion Marauder races to be the ninth winner of the Trotting Triple Crown. Sundays card also features a mandatory-payout Pick 5 carryover of $5,289.36. First-race post for The Red Miles closing card is 1 p.m.

(With files from The Red Mile)
By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had fully engulfed the excavator, which was sitting on top of a pile of bark at the Tennant Way business, according to a Longview Fire Department press release. Firefighters brought the fire under control in 15 minutes and turned the scene over to Swanson employees.
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Though the latest round of spectrum auction by the Indian government did not attract the fancy of the operators much, it will benefit customers by providing better service, feel industry experts.

"The appetite for data consumption of the Indian consumers is increasing; so operators need more spectrum. Latest addition will help operators give quality broadband with better speed," Rajan S. Mathews, Director General, Cellular Operators' Association of India, told IANS.

According to him, each customer in the counrty consumes around 10 GB data on an average per month and this is growing between 20 to 30 per cent year-on-year.

"The spectrum auction has enabled most players to fill gaps in their network, which means users will be able to choose among several players for mobile broadband services. Further, the additional spectrum will help improve quality of services," Mahesh Uppal, Director of consultancy firm, Com First, told IANS.

But telecom operators need not worry about finding customers, or their thirst for broadband, in the near term. Subscriptions worldwide are growing at around 20 per cent each year, according to the Ericsson Mobility Report.

Published in June 2016, the report says that global broadband subscriptions would reach 7.7 billion by 2021, accounting for 85 percent of all subscriptions. "Mobile broadband will complement fixed broadband in some segments, and will be the dominant mode of access in others," it says.

Rishi Tejpal, Principal Analyst on Telecom Business Strategy at Gartner, a tech research company, says the improvement in service from operators would come because they would be able to expand their coverage and capacity. "In terms of connectivity, the additional spectrum will allow operators to enhance their mobile broadband footprint, thus offering better and wider availability of these services."

Talking about 4G connectivity in India, Tejpal said: "India is already 4G enabled and operators have picked up spectrum in other bands to fill the gaps and expand their 4G footprint."

India's telecom spectrum auction ended on Thursday, closing within five days with a total commitment of only Rs 65,789 crore ($9.8 billion) or about 11.6 per cent of the expected Rs 5.66 lakh crore ($88.5 billion). Of the 2,354 MHz on offer, only 965 MHz or 41 per cent was sold.

"The bidding this year was rational. Operators did not overpay for the spectrum. That is a good news as the telecom companies can invest more for network enhancement," Mathews said.

The auction went through 31 rounds for seven bands ----700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,300 MHz and 2,500 MHz. There were no takers for 700 MHz and 900 MHz.

IANS
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US citizens who are not registered to vote in the upcoming presidential election can now enrol themselves in the voters' list through Facebook Messenger.

A US-based non-profit public service organisation Ad Council launched GoVoteBot -- an automated tool within Facebook's Messenger platform designed to make it easy for prospective ballot casters to get registered and know election-day logistic information, Mashable technology website reported.

GoVoteBot will not only simplify and personalise the task but also provide some amusement along the way.

"It has a bit of a cheeky personality. But it's completely nonpartisan -- it has no opinion on who you vote for," Dzu Bui, Ad Council's Vice President of campaign development, was quoted as saying.

To work with the bot, one needs to simply type an introductory greeting to which the bot will respond with a dropdown menu of options, including a polling location finder and absentee options in addition to registration options and links.

Voters can choose one of the options according to his/her needs and complete the process.

The integration is made possible by data pulled from Google Civic -- the search giant's repository of electoral information -- and the US Vote Foundation, the report said.

The campaign team noted that the bot might pique the interest of young people, who are notoriously apt to be no-shows at the polls.

IANS
OneBlood Resumes Normal Operations Following Matthew

BRADENTON -- OneBlood, the local blood center, is resuming normal operations in most of its service areas after being shutdown in various locations for several days due to Hurricane Matthew.



Reduced collections have resulted in a severe blood shortage. While all blood types are needed, there is an urgent need for Platelets and Plasma as well as O negative and O positive blood.



All OneBlood locations have returned to normal business hours with the exception of Jacksonville, Georgia and South Carolina, which remained closed while the hurricane moves through those areas.



Donors are urged to visit a donor center or a Big Red Bus blood drive as soon as possible to help replenish the blood supply. To find a donation location, please visit www.oneblood.org.



Generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. To learn more about the importance of blood donation and how donors can target the power of their blood type visit oneblood.org.

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Hurricane Matthew weakens, makes S Carolina landfall

A stands on a damaged boardwalk at a debris covered beach in St Augustine, Florida, on Saturday, after Hurricane Matthew passed the area

AFP, Jacksonville :

A weakened Hurricane Matthew made landfall on Saturday in South Carolina, nearing the end of a four-day rampage that left a trail of death and destruction across the Caribbean and up the southeastern US coast, now swamped by record floods.

In Haiti, where Matthew was a monster Category 4 when it slammed into the poorest country in the western hemisphere Tuesday, the official death toll rose to at least 336.

Nine were killed in the United States.

The interim president of Haiti, Jocelerme Privert, announced three days of national mourning, beginning Sunday.

The scope of the devastation in the south of the Caribbean country was becoming clearer but the toll remains provisional due to the difficulty of gaining access to some areas.

At least 336 people were dead, the head of Haiti's civil protection services, Marie-Alta Jean Baptiste, told AFP. "We won't have a definitive toll before Wednesday," she said.

Other officials said earlier that at least 400 were dead.

Half a million children live in the worst-hit departments in southern Haiti, according to UNICEF, which said it needed at least $5 million to meet their immediate needs.

Pledges of aid have flooded in, with the United States announcing it was sending the USS Mesa Verde, whose 300 Marines will add to the 250 personnel and nine helicopters already ordered to deploy to Haiti.

France announced it was sending 60 troops, with 32 tonnes of humanitarian supplies and water purification equipment.

California-based charity International Relief Teams said it was donating $7 million in medical supplies with international organizations MAP International and Hope for Haiti.

Matthew, downgraded to the lowest-level Category 1 hurricane, lashed the coast of South Carolina as the storm moved inland. It then approached coastal North Carolina on Sunday, with record flooding expected.

Despite flooding, fallen trees and power outages, most of the American southeast appeared to have been spared catastrophic damage as the storm surge turned out to be less severe than expected.

At 0600 GMT, Matthew was just 30 miles (50 kilometers) south southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

"Matthew should move near or just south of the coast of North Carolina this morning and east of the North Carolina coast by this afternoon," the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami forecast.

As Matthew approached-after storming through Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas-millions of Americans were ordered to evacuate and curfews were slapped on cities.

On Saturday, the center of Matthew made landfall in the South Carolina town of McClellanville and there was a "serious inland flooding event unfolding," the NHC said.

It also warned that storm-churned swells from Matthew would "likely cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions".

McClellanville is about 35 miles (56 kilometers) northeast of Charleston, a port city with a historic city center.

The hurricane had maximum sustained winds of a still-dangerous 75 miles (120 kilometers) per hour.

The NHC also predicted hurricane and tropical storm conditions in Georgia and South Carolina that could produce "life-threatening" flooding.




Netanyahu speaks to Kerry to calm US over settlement plan

Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken to John Kerry in a bid to calm Washington\'s anger over Israeli settlement.

AFP, Jerusalem :

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken by phone to US Secretary of State John Kerry in a bid to calm Washington's anger over new Israeli settlement plans, an official said Sunday.

The plan to construct what activists say amounts to a new settlement in the heart of the occupied West Bank provoked an unusually harsh response last week from the White House, which accused Israel of betraying its trust.

US President Barack Obama's administration has accelerated its criticism of Israeli settlement building in the West Bank in recent months, warning it is destroying hopes for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Such criticism has added to Israeli concerns Obama may seek to lay out parameters for a solution to the conflict or even support a UN Security Council resolution Israel opposes before leaving office in January.

The Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Netanyahu told Kerry the new settlement plan was intended only as an alternative "if no other solution is found" to house residents of a nearby Jewish outpost that is under a court order to be demolished.

The official said the two men also discussed regional issues but could provide no further details on their phone call.

Israeli media reported that the conversation took place on Saturday.

The plan that provoked US anger involves 300 units in the heart of the West Bank, roughly halfway between the Palestinian cities of Ramallah and Nablus.

Settlement watchdog Peace Now says the plans amount to a new settlement.

Israeli officials dispute that and say the homes will be located in an existing settlement, although Peace Now says the site is up to two kilometres (1.2 miles) away.

Israel has so far advanced plans for 98 of the 300 units-even though only around 40 families live in the outpost, known as Amona, that must be demolished.

The plans emerged days after Obama approved a $38 billion Israeli military aid package and attended former president Shimon Peres's funeral in Jerusalem.

The White House railed at the construction of 300 housing units on land "far closer to Jordan than Israel".

Settlements in the West Bank are viewed as illegal under international law and major stumbling blocks to peace efforts as they are built on land the Palestinian see as part of their future state.

Netanyahu says he remains committed to a two-state solution to the conflict, though prominent members of his right-wing governing coalition say openly that they oppose a Palestinian state.

Settlements are a key political issue within Israel, with those in favour advocating that Jews must return to their biblical homeland, including in the West Bank.

Education Minister Naftali Bennett said last week that "we must give our lives" to the cause of annexing the West Bank, according to Israeli media, though he later backtracked on his comments.
DNCC to install 500 more CC cameras in diplomatic zone



Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has installed 500 more Closed Circuit (CC) cameras by November this year in Gulshan, Baridhara, Banani and Niketon areas.

With the financial assistance from local business communities, DNCC has taken this new security initiative with a view to building an atmosphere of confidence among the foreign diplomats, international organization members and foreign buyers.

The decision comes out of a 'Law and Order Coordination Committee (LOCC)' meeting held at DNCC's Nagar Bhaban yesterday presided by Mayor Annisul Huq. Another 646 CC cameras were installed before at DNCC's own cost together with the financial assistance from business communities and various local and foreign organizations. As a result, law and order situation improved a lot with minor crimes almost eliminated. This new 500 CC camera installation will further strengthen the security of this area. DNCC has a future plan to take all its areas under CC camera coverage.

LOCC President, local MP AKM Rahmatullah, former Chief Election Commissioner Dr. ATM Shamsul Huda, Company Commander of RAB-4 Khandaker Lutful Kabir PPM, DC of DMP's Gulshan Zone SM Mostaque Ahmed Khan PPM, AC Md. Fafiqul Islam PPM and representatives of Gulshan, Baridhara, Banani and Niketan societies were present at the meeting.
PM stands by ailing journalist Shahriar Shahid

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given financial assistance of Taka five lakh for the treatment of Shahriar Shahid, a senior journalist of the national news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

"The prime minister today allocated Tk five lakh for the treatment of Shahid," PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told BSS.

Shahid, a special correspondent of BSS, has now been undergoing treatment in the city's Apollo Hospital.





He was admitted to the hospital late last month following kidney failure.




Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Md Syeed Khokon speaking at a preparatory meeting of National Council of Bangladesh Awami League at Diploma Engineers Institute in the city yesterday.
Woman killed by ex-husband in Shibganj

Chapainawabganj Correspondent :

A woman was stabbed to death allegedly by her former husband at Chaitanyapur village under Shibganj upazila in Chapainawabganj district on Friday night.

The victim's mother Diluara Begum and brother Kamruzzaman were also injured in the incident.

The deceased is Farzana Aktar Seema, 22, daughter of Nur Alam of the aforesaid area.

Investigating officer (IO) of the case sub inspector Kamruzzaman said Farzana was married to Sumon Ali of the same area on December 25, 2012 and got a child. But on December 15, 2015 Sumon divorced Farzana through a local arbitration board. After that Sumon used come to his former inlaw's house to see his son Siam, 2.5. At this the members of his inlaw's house became annoyed, he added.

He further added that Sumon again came there on Friday last at around 10-30 pm. Seeing him in the darkness, Farzana's mother Biluara Begum started shouting. As a result, Sumon stabbed her with a knife and as Farzana and Kamruzzaman came to rescue her, Sumon also stabbed them killing Farzana on the spot.

Hearing the screams, the locals rushed to the spot and detained Sumon.



Being informed police from Shibganj thana rushed to the spot and arrested Sumon, 25. Police also recovered the dead body and sent it to the Chapainawabganj sadar hospital morgue for autopsy.

Seriously injured Biluara was sent to the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital and Kamruzzaman was given first aid, the sources said.

Kamruzzaman filed a murder case with Shibganj thana on Saturday.




Without freedom of media, democracy meaningless : Speakers

Chittagong Bureau :

A seminar on ' Engr.Abdul Khaleque, Dainik Azadi and Democarcy was held in the port city recently at Chittagong Circuit House Auditorium as arranged by the Swadin Sangbadpatra Patak Samity .

Jounalist Jamaluddin , President of the Patak Samity presided over it.

Former Mayor and President of City Awami League ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury inaugurated the seminar.

Vice Chancellor of Chittagong University Prof.Dr.Iftikharuddin Chowdhury graced the occasion as Chief Guest.

Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Md.Shamsul Arefin was the chief discussant of the seminar. Chairman of Seminar Udjapon Committee noted freedom fighter Jahangir Chowdhury delivered address of welcome in it.

Organising SAecretary of the Patak Samity Journalist Md. Nazimuddin conducted the seminar as moderator.Among others, chairman of Chittagong Journalist Housing Society FF Moinuddin Kadery Showkat, central advisor of Patak Samity Ln Alhaj MA samad Khan CIP, Principal of Hathazari university college Mir Kafiluddin, News Editor of Dainik Azadi AKM Jahurul Islam, former President of District Tax Bar Association Alhaj Md. Musa, former EC member of District Bar Association Adv. Maksura Begum Meri, noted tax lawyer Amir Hossain, Scout leader Ataur Rahman, journo Nazimuddin, society personality Jasimuddin Babul, Alhaj Sohel Mahmud, Vice Principal Dr.Chandan Dutta, Kabir Sajal Das, political personality Swapan Sen spoke on the occasion. Chief Reporter and senior staff reporter of Dainik Azadi Hasan Akbar and Rhitik Nayan resepectively were present in it.

Information Minister Hasanul Hoque Inu sent a message hoping the success of the seminar. Chief Guest of the seminar in his brief deliberations said the contribution of Engr. Abdul Khaleque in newspaper industry , printing and publication arena is historical one . After passing from a Indian Engineering College , Engr. Abdul Khaleque became involved with the media world and dedicated his whole lifetime towards flourishing the news paper industry in Chittagong. In the opening speech, veteran AL leader ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury also recalled his life towards his contribution to the newspaper industry and social justice.

He said Engr. Abdul Khaleque first published weekly Kohinoor which later became a popular daily in the name of Dainik Azadi. Since journey of Dainik Azadi from 1960 , Dainik azadi contributed towards the movement of independence Banagladesh and achieved reputations from all walks of life for contributing brilliant role during liberation war.

The speakers on the seminar emphasized the need of freedom of medias and said without freedom of media , democracy is meaningless.

Newspaper is the mirror of the society, speakers added. In main keynote paper, chair of the seminar Journalist SM Jamaluddin said Engr. Abdul Khaleque contributed pioneering role through writings in his daily from the very language movement to liberation war .

He said lack of newspaper freedom, democracy meaningless. He hoped that Dainik Azadi will remain alert against the killers of democracy . He said newspaper is the spokesman of the people, journalists are the conscience of the nation, and the readers are hearts of the newspapers. A larges numbers of viewers, readers and well wishers attended the seminar.


MoU between Dhaka Int'l Univ, Indian MTC Global

Raisul Islam Sourav :

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Dhaka International University and Management Teachers Consortium (MTC) Global (a global think tank in higher education), Bangalore, India was signed on Tuesday evening.

The objective of MoU is to establish and promote academic exchange and research programmes between the two institutions.

DIU treasurer Prof Dr Moinul Islam, Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, Vice-Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), DIU; Dr SK Patwari, Member, BoT, DIU; Assoc. Prof Dr Serajul Islam Prodhan, Director, Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), DIU and Asst Prof RaisuL Islam Sourav, Additional Director, IQAC, DIU were present at the MoU signing ceremony at the conference room of IQAC at DIU.

Prof Rofiqul Islam, Registrar, DIU and Dr Bholanath Dutta, Founder, President and Convener, MTC Global, India signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions at the programme.

DIU Vice-Chairman, BoT Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary thanked Dr Bolanah Dutta for signing the MoU. He said faculty members and students would be benefited by this initiative.


Singapore wants to delay revision of tax treaty with India

PTI, New Delhi :

Singapore is seeking more time to revise the two-decade old tax treaty with India, saying its investors need more time to shift to source-based taxation.

India has, however, rejected any deferment in the revision of the treaty that will help prevent Singapore, which is the top source of FDI into India, from being used as a shelter to avoid taxes.

The redrawing of tax agreement between India and Mauritius in May this year to close a popular loophole, that allowed investors to skirt levies on capital gains made in India, has triggered a similar revision in pact with Singapore.

During the recent meeting with the revenue department officials, Singapore, however, pitched for delaying the revision of the tax treaty beyond March 31 saying their investors want more time, a senior official said.

India is keen to rework the treaty before April 2017 -- when its revised tax pact with Mauritius will come into effect.

"Singapore wants that the revision be delayed, which is not possible," an official said. India and Singapore had entered into a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) on May 27, 1994. The bilateral tax treaty allows Singapore to tax investments originating in either of the countries.

Earlier this year, India amended the 34-year old treaty with Mauritius allowing for source-based taxation which means that capital gains will be taxed in the country where it originates.

The move is aimed at stopping discriminating between local investors, who pay 15 per cent of their short-term profits to government, and investors who enter the country via funds typically domiciled in Mauritius or Singapore.
12 injured as bus overturns on Moghbazar flyover

A bus overturned on the Moghbazar flyover in city injuring 12 passengers and disrupted traffic for hours on Sunday.

Staff Reporter :

At least 12 people were injured when a passenger bus overturned after hitting the railing of Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover near Holy Family Hospital in the city on Sunday afternoon.

Of the injured, Rasel, 24, a student of Dhania College, and Johirul Islam, 40, an employee of BG Press, were admitted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in critical condition while the others were taken to nearest hospital and clinics.

Ramna Police station Office-in-Charge (OC) Moshiur Rahman said,

"A Gulishan-bound bus of Gazipur Paribahan overturned on the flyover while racing with another bus on Sunday afternoon, leaving 12 passengers injured."

The driver was talking while he was steering the bus ignoring warnings by the passengers, the OC said.

The vehicular movement on the flyover was disrupted for few hours due to the accident, the police official said.

The driver managed to flee the scene after the accident, he said.
Myanmar cop killed in attack on BD border

Channel NewsAsia, Yangon :

At least two policemen were killed in coordinated attacks by an unknown group on posts along Myanmar's border with Bangladesh early Sunday morning, an official and police said.

The assaults hit three border posts around 1.30am near Maungdaw in Rakhine, an impoverished state on Myanmar's western flank simmering with sectarian tensions between Buddhists and Muslims.

"According to initial

information, two police officers were killed, two others were injured and six police are missing," Tin Maung Swe, a senior official within Rakhine's state government told AFP.

A police official in the capital Naypyidaw confirmed three places were attacked but declined to give further details.

A second police source also confirmed the attacks, adding as many as eight policemen might have been killed, as well as some of the attackers.

A number of weapons were also seized by the assailants from the border posts, that officer added.

Rakhine has been effectively split on religious grounds since bouts of communal violence tore through the state in 2012, killing scores and forcing tens of thousands to flee.

The Muslim Rohingya are largely confined to camps and slapped with restrictions that rights groups have likened to apartheid.

Several complex ethnic conflicts are rumbling across Myanmar's borderlands, hampering efforts to build the country's economy after the end of junta rule.

But compared to the country's civil war-ravaged eastern and northern border states, Rakhine does not boast a significant rebel military presence.

In the last few years the Arakan Army, a small Buddhist militia which wants an independent homeland in the state, have fought sporadic battles with the military.

Despite their plight the Rohingya do not have a known militant faction fighting for them.
3 female `militants` put on 7-day remand

Court Correspondent :

A court here on Sunday placed three suspected female militants, who were arrested during a police drive in a

hideout of militants in Azimpur on September 10, on a seven-day remand, each in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Nur Nabi passed the order when Ehsanul Haq, assistant police commissioner of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) produced them before the court with a 10-day

remand prayer. Those remanded were identified as Abedatul Fatema alias Khadiza, wife of slain militant Jamshed, Shaila Sharmin, wife of JMB leader Basharuzzaman and Afrin alias Priyoti, wife of JMB leader Nurul Islam Mazhar.

The specialized counter terrorism unit carried out a drive at a flat of a multi-storied building at Lalbagh Road, near Pilkhana Gate 2 on September 10 when five CTTC members were injured.

The law enforcers arrested the three alleged female militants from the spot on charge of assault on police and also recovered the body of 'militant' Jamshed and rescued three children, including 14-year-old boy Russel, from the spot. Delwar Hossain, sub-inspector of CTTC unit of DMP, filed the case against several suspected militants, including the three women, with Lalbagh Police Station on September 10.
Environmental crimes warrant international prosecutions

Phoebe Braithwaite :

The International Criminal Court (ICC) will pay more attention to crimes of environmental destruction and land-grabs, according to a new policy paper published by the court.

This may see business executives and government officials in cahoots to exploit natural resources prosecuted for crimes that displace millions. 38.9 billion hectares - an area the size of Germany - has been leased to investors in resource-rich but cash-poor countries since 2000, Alice Harrison, Director of Communications at Global Witness, told IPS.

"It is an important acknowledgement that crimes against humanity are not exclusively perpetrated by warlords in so-called failed states, they can also be linked back to company directors in our financial capitals," she said. The ICC has been criticised since it was set up in 2002 for convicting too few people and being too expensive. African leaders have also accused the courts of unfairly targeting their continent.

According to the policy paper, the court will pay special attention to crimes committed in light of "the destruction of the environment, the illegal exploitation of natural resources or the illegal dispossession of land" in the selection of cases. The proposal does not increase the Hague-based court's mandate, established by the Rome Statute in 1998 to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

This has been hailed as a landmark shift in international criminal law that could reshape the way business is done in poorer countries. Global Witness have said that it shows the ICC adapting to the "modern dynamics of conflict," to violations and displacements which happen in times of peace.

There are hopes that this change in policy signals good news for hundreds of thousands of victims of land grabbing in Cambodia, ten of whom are represented by international criminal law firm Global Diligence LLP, and whose case is currently under review at the ICC.

This has been hailed as a landmark shift in international criminal law that could reshape the way business is done in poorer countries.

"The government talks about poverty reduction, but what they are really trying to do is to get rid of the poor. They destroy us by taking our forested land, 70 percent of the population has to disappear, so that 30 percent can live on. Under Pol Pot we died quickly, but we kept our forests. Under the democratic system it is a slow, protracted death. There will be violence, because we do not want to die," a Cambodian victim of land grabbing recounts.

Speaking to IPS, Richard Rogers, who lodged the case with the ICC, said this is an indication that Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda "has accepted the argument of Global Diligence and others that the systemic crimes committed under the guise of 'development' are no less damaging to victims than many wartime atrocities - forced population displacement destroys entire communities and leads to massive suffering."

"I feel very confident that the ICC Prosecutor will soon move forward with the case that I filed relating to the land grabbing and forcible evictions in Cambodia," he said. "That case is a perfect test case for the new policy."

But Senior Appeals Counsel at the ICC, Helen Brady, has disputed any connection between the two situations, saying that the Cambodian victims' case and the policy document are "two completely separate things. We wrote a policy, and separately, we have under analysis in our office a preliminary examination going into the Cambodian [case]," she told IPS.

Brady, who also chaired the working group that came up with the policy document, stressed that the court's policy on the selection of individual cases, which takes place after the decision to commence a full investigation into an overall series of crimes, is a distinct issue from whether the court decides to formally declare a preliminary examination into the Cambodian victims' case, which will be determined by different means laid out in a policy document published in November 2013.

In fact, this earlier document already determines that cases where there is "social, economic and environmental damage inflicted on the affected communities" will be given special attention.

Yet it is clear that the recent announcement describes these kinds of environmental crime in more detail, even specifically mentioning "land grabbing" in its introduction. Paying heed to other major watchwords of supranational judicial bodies, it also refers to the increased vulnerability of victims instilled by terror, and of the trafficking of arms and persons.

Perhaps this isn't the watershed moment environmental activists have been campaigning for, but it remains a promising step towards accountability for the victims of environmental crimes.

"I think it's highly important and it's not just symbolic - it means something," the ICC's Helen Brady said.

Legal experts have played down the significance of the shift since the ICC's mandate has not changed, with some saying this looks more like an attempt for the ICC to work with national judicial authorities in helping them to prosecute crimes of this kind, provided for in the paper's seventh clause.

As it stands the ICC can only prosecute Rome Statute crimes if the perpetrator comes from one of the 124 countries that have ratified its statute, or if the UN refers a case. Three of the five members of the UN Security Council - the US, Russia and China - have not ratified the court's statute and can veto crimes referred to it.

Nevertheless, as Rogers argues, should the Cambodian victims see a fair hearing, prosecution for environmental crimes would be entering new waters: "the impact of the new ICC focus can be enormous. Those who commit land grabbing and related crimes have a lot to lose - they tend to be government ministers and businessmen with reputations to protect.

Therefore, they are far more likely to change their behavior than regular war criminals," Rogers said.

In Cambodia, 10 percent of the country's land has already been carved up among 230 companies. There are estimates that 770,000 people have been affected by land grabs in Cambodia since 2000, 6 percent of Cambodia's total population.

"Chasing communities off their land and trashing the environment has become a common and accepted way of doing business," Harrison said.

"More than three people a week - ordinary citizens - are murdered for defending their land, forests and rivers against destructive industries like mining, logging and agribusiness. These numbers are increasing. In 2015 we documented 185 deaths - by far the highest annual death toll on record."

Women are disproportionately targeted in these killings, which were brought greater attention after Honduran activist Berta Caceres' high profile murder in March.

- IPS
Over 140 killed, 525 injured as Saudi strike hits funeral service in Yemen

Yemeni rescue workers carry a victim on a stretcher amid the rubble of a destroyed building following reported air strikes by Saudi-led coalition air-planes on the capital Sanaa on Saturday. Internet photo

AFP, Sanaa :

More than 140 people were killed and more than 525 wounded Saturday when air strikes hit a funeral ceremony in Yemen, a United Nations official said, with Houthi rebels blaming the attack on the Saudi-led coalition.

Senior health ministry official Nasser al-Argaly warned that the toll from the air strike that targeted a building where mourners had gathered in southern Sanaa could rise further.

Emergency workers pulled out at least 20 charred remains and body parts from the gutted building while others scoured the wreckage in search for survivors, an AFP photographer at the scene said.

The rebel-controlled news site sabanews.net said that coalition planes hit a building in southern Sanaa where hundreds had gathered to mourn the death of the father of a prominent local official.

The Houthis did not say if the official - rebel interior minister Jalal al-Rowaishan - was present in the building at the time of the attack which they dubbed a "massacre" nor did they indicate if other senior figures were attending the funeral. People stand at the site of an airstrike which witnesses said was by Saudi-led coalition aircraft on mourners at a hall. Rebel Almasirah television said Sanaa mayor Abdel Qader Hilal was among those killed. People had come from all over Sanaa to attend the funeral, said Mulatif al-Mojani, who witnessed the air strikes."A plane fired a missile and minutes later another plane pounded the building," he told AFP.

Another witness, who declined to give his name, described the attack as "war crime".

"This was a funeral for one man in Sanaa and now it has turned into a funeral for tens of Yemenis," he said.

A security source, quoted by the rebel website, said a fire tore through the building after the strikes.

Yemen's powerful ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, a key ally of the Houthi movement, called for an escalation of attacks against Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

The United States (US) said Saturday it had launched an "immediate review" of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen which was blamed for the strike.

"We are deeply disturbed by reports of today's air strike on a funeral hall in Yemen, which, if confirmed, would continue the troubling series of attacks striking Yemeni civilians," White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. "US security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check... In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led Coalition and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with US principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemen's tragic conflict."

The Saudi-led coalition said Sunday it would investigate the air raid after Washington announced it was reviewing support for the alliance.

After initially denying any responsibility, the coalition said it was ready to launch a probe into the "regrettable and painful" strike. However, Reuters reported that sources in the Saudi-led coalition have denied any role in the attack.

"The coalition will immediately investigate this case along with... experts from the United States who participated in previous investigations," it said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

"The coalition is also willing to provide the investigation team with any data and information related to its military operations today, at the incident's location and the surrounding areas," it said.

The UN said aid workers were "shocked and outraged" by the attack.

Houthis swept into Sanaa in September 2014 and advanced across much of Yemen, forcing the government of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee Sanaa.

More than 6,700 people - most of them civilians - have been killed in Yemen since the coalition intervened in support of Hadi, according to the United Nations.

Ambulance sirens blared as they transported the wounded away and residents said local hospitals had issued an appeal for blood donations.

The so-called supreme political council set up by the Houthis and their allies-supporters of ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh-urged the Yemenis to stage a protest Sunday outside UN offices in Sanaa to protest against "war crimes" committed by the Saudi-led coaliton.

The coalition has come under mounting international criticism in recent months over the civilian death toll in its aerial campaign. A UN report in August said coalition air strikes are suspected of causing around half of all civilian deaths in Yemen. It called for an independent international body to investigate an array of serious violations by all sides, after 4,000 civilians have been killed.

At dawn a suspected Saudi-led raid on a house near Bajil, in the Red Sea province of Hodeida, killed four civilian members of the same family, a local official said.

In addition to the mounting death toll, Yemenis are facing twin health and hunger crises.

The UN's children agency Unicef estimates that three million people are in need of immediate food supplies, while 1.5 million children suffer malnutrition.

Unicef said Friday that cases of cholera had been reported in Sanaa and third city Taez, calling on the international community to fund medical aid efforts.
Plan to set up 13 schools, 81 hostels in 3 hill dists

M M Jasim :

The government will set up 13 new residential secondary schools and 81 hostels in the three hill districts to stop drop out of students, sources in the education ministry said.

An amount of Tk 8,06,54,52,000 has been allocated for implementation of these projects, sources said.

The ministry sources said that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) directed the Education Ministry to setup residential schools and hostels for the students of Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts to ensure secondary education for all.

The PMO also asked the ministry to make a plan to complete the project smoothly within a short time.

Meanwhile, the officials of education ministry sat with the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) in this regard. Out 81 hostels, 26 will be setup for the new institutions, 35 for 19 government high schools and the rest 20 for 10 non-government model high schools, an official said.

The schools and hostels will be constructed considering the people and school bound students' ratio, number of primary schools, the socio economic condition of the people and distance.

Some 39 hostels will be constructed with a capacity of 200 students each while 42 other with a capacity of 150 students.

A S Mahmud, acting secretary, education ministry, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered them to setup the residential schools considering the students' problems in the hilly regions.

It may be mentioned that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the education ministry to setup schools and hostels on August 31 in 2014.


Khadiza to recover gradually, hope relatives



Sylhet college girl Khadiza Akter Nargis, who was brutally hacked by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader Badrul Alam, will recover gradually, hope relatives.

Talking to reporters at Square Hospitals Ltd, where she was under treatment, on Sunday, Khadiza's uncle Faizul Alam said the college girl is improving slowly. "Doctors say she will recover slowly," he said.He also demanded highest punishment of Badrul.

Earlier on Saturday, Dr AM Rezaus Sattar, associate consultant of the Neurosurgery Department of Square Hospitals, said Khadiza's survival chance is high, but it would take time for her to recover fully. "Khadiza's condition slightly improved," the doctor had said after a 96-hour observation of Khadiza under life support at the hospital.

Khadiza, a 2nd year degree student of Sylhet Govt Mohila College, was stabbed by Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) unit BCL leader Badrul Alam on her way home from MC College after appearing at an examination on October 3, following the refusal of his proposal for having a love affair with him.

Hearing the victim's screams, other students rescued Khadiza and caught Badrul from the spot and handed him over to police after giving him a good thrashing.

Khadiza was first taken to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital from where she was moved to Dhaka as her condition deteriorated. She is now undergoing treatment at the Square Hospitals.
Girl strangled to death by own scarf on rickshaw wheel

UNB, Gazipur :

A schoolgirl was killed as her scarf got entangled with one of the wheels of an auto-rickshaw at Sonatala of

Kaliakoir upazila on Mouchak-Phulbaria regional road on Saturday The deceased was identified as Sadia Akhter, 10, a class V student of Pinprasit Government Primary School and daughter of Lokman Hossain, a resident of the area.

Sadia's father Lokman said, the family was returning home from a visit to Sadia's grandfather's house in Thengarband area by an auto-rickshaw van on Saturday night. Suddenly, Sadia's neck scarf got entangled with one of the wheels of the rickshaw, and at one point, her neck also got tied up in the mess at Sonatala, choking her to death.
Caretaker among 9 sued over Gazipur militants killing

Bodies to be sent to DMCH morgue after autopsies

Staff Reporter :

A case was filed against nine persons, including a caretaker of the house, in connection with the joint drive in Patartek area of Gazipur, where seven militants were killed on Saturday.

Joydebpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khandakar Rezaul Hasan on Sunday filed the case accusing Osman Sarker, a caretaker of the house and eight other unnamed people, said Harun Ar Rashid, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gazipur district.

However, no case was filed in connection with Harinal raid till yesterday afternoon, our Gazipur Correspondent reports quoting the police official.

Meanwhile, bodies of the nine suspected militants killed in Patartek and Harinal areas of Gazipur on Saturday will be sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) morgue after autopsies here, the SP said.

The bodies were kept at Shaheed Tajuddin Medical College and Hospital morgue where the autopsies will be conducted, he said.

Later, the bodies will be sent to DMCH morgue where DNA samples will be tested to establish their identities, the police official said.

In a massive anti-militancy crackdown, 11 suspected militants were killed in Gazipur and Tangail on Saturday.

Seven of them were killed in Patartek and Harinal areas under Gazipur City Corporation in a drive codenamed "Operation Spate 8".

They include Faridul Islam Akash, who allegedly had been trying to reorganise "Neo JMB" after the death of its coordinator Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury on August 27.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members launched another drive in Kagmara area near Tangail town also on Saturday, leaving two other suspected militants dead.
Muhith criticizes WB for not funding

Bangladesh finance minister AMA Muhith is unhappy with the World Bank (WB) for not delivering funds to combat climate change.



"We have agreed to allocate funds, but they have not been provided to us . This is disappointing," he told the WB-IMF annual meeting in Washington. Muhith said Bangladesh had spent $345 million in the past six years to fight climate change, but only $50 million of it had come from the World Bank.



"We have not come across proposals to increase the allocation by even $10 million," he told the Climate Ministerial Dialogue on Saturday. Speaking to the media later, Muhith said funds were urgently needed for countries like Bangladesh which are directly affected by climate change."I described our plight to those at the meeting. Making commitments and creating funds are not enough."



The minister said that representatives from other countries at risk due to climate change backed him.



"The carbon emissions of developed countries are damaging the environment of smaller economies. They must ensure we are provided enough funds to mitigate this damage," he said.



WB President Kim had also stressed the importance of this issue at the meeting, said Muhith.



The Green Climate Fund was formally announced at the 2010 United Nations Conference Climate Change Conference in Mexico. The fund pledged $100 billion a year to combat climate change in affected countries.



On Saturday, IMF chief Christine Lagarde met with the delegates at the IMF headquarters in Washington.



The finance minister raised the issue of the Green Climate Fund and said affected countries must have access to the funds at the meeting. Muhith also took time to meet a group of delegates led by US Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary Michael Kaplan. Bangladesh Bank Governor Fazle Haq was also present at the meeting.



"For a long time, we have asked for a GSP facility from the US. Though the US had reacted favourably, no agreement has ben signed so far and I raised that issue at the meeting," the minister said.



When asked how the US delegates responded, Muhith said: "They said they would discuss the issue with the relevant authorities." The minister told reporters that export earnings had increased 8 percent in the previous fiscal year. "The trend is continuing this fiscal year. Our export diversity is also increasing. New export opportunities have developed as Square, Beximco and other companies have begun exporting pharmaceutical products from Bangladesh," he said. If a GSP agreement could be arranged with the US, then export earnings were likely to increase even further, he said. Bangladesh's export earnings touched $34.5 billion during the 2015-16 fiscal year. The current projections for the 2016-17 fiscal year for export earnings stood at $37 billion. "We achieve the targets we set," Muhith said.



"In 2009, the prime minister said Bangladesh would become a middle income country by 2021. We reached that goal in 2015. I truly believe we will also become an advanced economy by 2041.."



The minister said that the Bangladesh economy "now stands on a firm foundation".



"For the past five years our GDP grew by 6.5 percent. Now we have reached 7 percent growth. In the future the rate will be even higher." The minister did, however, admit that private sector investment had not increased.



"Private sector investment is currently about 22-23 percent of the GDP. This must increase. It is now our primary focus." He believes private sector investment will increase in the current financial year.



The World Bank-IMF Annual Meeting ends on Sunday.
Terror plot foiled

Militants had plan to attack during Durga Puja, Ashura processions

Kazi Zahidul Hasan :

Security agencies said on Sunday that they had thwarted a destructive plot by neo-JMB militants designed to attack on civilians during Durga Puja and Ashura processions.



They carried out three pre-emptive operations on Saturday in Gazipur and Tangail districts that killed 11 suspected militants in gunfights between the militants and members of joint forces of police and Rapid Action Battalion.



"We have foiled a plot by new-JMB Group members linked to ISIS ideology. They were planning to launch a wave of attacks targeting shopping malls and public gatherings during celebration of Durga Puja and Ashura processions by using bombs and firearms," a senior security agency official told The New Nation on Sunday, asking not to be named.



He added: "We were aware of their plot and carried out crackdowns on militant dens on Saturday to foil their plot. The latest drives against the suspected militants were carried out after intelligence gathering."



The official said that they had already nabbed many of the suspected militants, including neo-JMB members, across the country."The arrestees have provided sensational information regarding their operation and network during interrogations." When asked, the security official said those who killed in Saturday's raids were the members of JMB's hardline sleeper cell. They had training of manufacturing bombs, operating firearms and carrying out destructive acts. During raids at militant dens in Gazupur and Tangail, security agencies had seized large quantities of ammunition, firearms, machetes, bomb-making materials and computers The police official said the latest crackdown has weakened both network and strength of the new-JMB group lessening the possibility of subversive acts by the Islamist militants.



Security agencies remained highly vigilant about the risk of militant attacks after the deadly attack on Holey Artisan cafe in July. Militants affiliated with Jama'atul Mujahedeen Bangladesh (JMB) have been blamed for the attack.



"We have increased our onslaught on militant groups after that assault, in which 22 people, most of them foreigners, were killed. These operations are based on very sensitive information," said the official.



The security agencies have been working to detect the militant dens and their hideouts so that they can thwart the destructive plots of Islamist militant groups.



"We are capable to resist the homegrown militants and thwart their destructive plot that aimed at destabilizing national security," he added Security forces have carried out several crackdowns on militants in recent years amid growing attacks by Islamist groups in the country.



Last year, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for attacks here, beginning with the murder of Cesare Tavella, an Italian aid worker, and expanding the attacks against Shiite, Hindu and Christian minorities.



Since the July 1 siege of the Gulshan cafe, at least 31 militants have been killed, according to Ain o Salish Kendra, a local human rights group.



Among those killed was Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, whom the Islamic State named in a recent publication as its head of military operations in Bangladesh.
World Bank concerns about declining private sector

THE World Bank's (WB) concerns in its latest economic update on Bangladesh has pointed out that new types of security uncertainties such as militant attacks on foreign and local targets are impeding private investment in the country. Attack on Holy Artisan Restaurant in Gulshan worked as a turning point to highlight Bangladesh as most uncertain place and the fear need to be removed quickly to return investors confidence to make investment again.



The WB's concern that the economy is now suffering from stagnant private sector investment -- both local and foreign, slowdown in remittance and weakness in the financial sector along with safety issues need to be effectively handled. It is a timely reminder where Bangladesh economy is at high risk. The government is now accelerating public sector investment in the economy to overcome the slow down in private sector investment thereby reducing the role of private sector as the engine of growth. On the other hand it is burdening tax-payers to provide additional fund to the government to do things what the private sector is expected to do. It is also spreading corruption and misuse of public fund. We have a situation now as the WB has also pointed out when more capital is flying out of the country than coming into, mainly in absence of investment friendly climate. The political stand-off as it continues will not do any good. Not big private investment is taking place, even restaurants, beauty parlours and shopping malls are losing business at Gulshan as people don't want to visit such places overcoming so many barriers.



The police operations in which young ones are being killed as terrorists without the need of proving in a court of law should be frightening for all, including foreign investors. Early this week eleven persons were killed by raiding houses without any overt action of terrorism. So by our own ruthless action and killing people easily as terrorists, we are telling the world that we are facing growing terrorism.



The WB report made the important disclosure that private investment as a percentage of GDP has declined to a three-year low at 21.78 percent in fiscal 2015-16 while the macro-economic stability is mainly resting a significant rise in public investment. It grew from 28.9 percent of GDP in 2014-15 to 29.4 percent in 2015-16. The increased public investment is mainly going to some mega projects showing higher growth rate but depressing other socio-economic sectors. We are afraid whether the economy will be able to sustain such mismatch at the end.






Human Rights Commission cannot remain indifferent

Editorial Desk :

Anti-terrorist forces killed 12 suspected extremists in raids at four houses in Gazipur, Tangail and Baipail of Dhaka on Saturday bringing shock to the nation once again while leaving many to wonder why they kill such suspects instantly in murky circumstances instead of arresting and producing them before a court for fair trial.

As per report seven suspects were killed in joint operation at their village homes in Gazipur while two each were killed in raids in homes or locally rented house at Gazipur and Tangail. The casualties were confirmed to media by Assistant Inspector General of Police (Confidential) M Moniruzzaman.

Another militant suspect Abdur Rahman and claimed to be financier of

JMB was arrested injured in a raid at Baipail in the outskirt of the city at his home and died at Enam Medical College Hospital at Savar at night. Questions have meanwhile arisen whether he was wrongly picked up as Abdur Rahman Masud Malik whom police said was on wanted list for the last two years.

Saturday's operation appears to be the biggest so far in term of casualties beginning with the Holey Artisan attack where six militants were killed on July 1. Later, nine were killed in another raid at Kalyanpur on July 26 and three more last month at Narayangonj in which Bangladeshi leader of IS backed militant group Tamim Chowdhury was also killed.

What is noticeable is that one of the two suspects killed in Gazipur and identified as Towhidul Islam was a student of Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology. None of three victims such as Faridul, Towhidul and Rashed, was on the list of missing people recently published by RAB Unit in the area.

With the latest killings at least 40 extremism suspects were killed since September 2015 when the extremists started targeting foreign nationals and Bangladeshi academics and members of religious minorities.

The way police are killing young people raiding homes and alleging them to be militants makes their claim not convincing beyond doubt. Our police must not be oblivious of their image as law enforcers.

Suspected terrorists when they are not in action and found confined in houses it should be easy to catch them alive. To kill human being is the easiest thing to do. One does not need training. So why our rigorously trained police officials have to kill them instead of catch them alive to know more about activities of others.

For killing suspects it is necessary to prove that lives had to be sacrificed in self defence.

Our Human Rights Commission should have a role to play to know about such killings and report that our law enforcers are not being irresponsible in killing people.


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Pre-purchase property inspection is a relatively new thing in the United Kingdom. Its not something that most people have heard about, but it has become increasingly popular over the last few years with the rise in property prices and increased demand for high quality homes.

What are the benefits of pre-purchase building inspection? What can you expect to find out when you pay someone else to inspect your home before you buy it? And what should you look for during an inspection?

Many people want to know if theyre buying a house thats been well maintained or if its had any serious problems. If youve found a place on the market that seems attractive, but then discover some issues after moving in, you may not be as excited about buying it as you thought you were.

Its important to do your due diligence when looking at properties. A lot goes into making a property appealing to potential buyers, from the landscaping to the flooring to the kitchen appliances. The same applies when inspecting a property  there are many things that need checking over to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Here are some of the benefits of performing a pre-purchase inspection:

You get to see exactly what will happen to your money

When you go shopping for a new car, youll probably be shown several different models. You might even be shown one that looks like a great value, but doesnt fit around all of the extra features that you want. When it comes time to actually buy the vehicle, however, you wont have seen how your money will be spent on it once you drive it off the showroom floor.

Likewise, when you shop for a new home, you dont really know what youre getting yourself into until you move in. In order to get a feel for whether the home youre considering is what you want, you normally have to spend quite a bit of time inside it. This allows you to learn more about everything that youre going to be spending your hard-earned cash on.

A pre-purchase building inspection gives you much the same kind of experience without having to spend thousands of dollars. Since youre paying for the service, you can expect to see exactly what youre paying for, instead of just seeing a vague idea of what you might end up with.

You find out about potential major repairs

Some buildings are very expensive to maintain, which means that owners often neglect them for the sake of saving money. While youre paying for a building inspection, youre also paying for a professional who knows how to spot signs of trouble and repair work that needs doing.

If you notice that a particular area of your new home needs fixing right away, you can call in an expert to take care of it quickly. If you find that theres something wrong with your boiler, you wont have to wait weeks for a plumber to come over and fix it. Instead, youll have access to a solution immediately.

You can save hundreds of pounds by finding out about potential problems early on

One of the biggest expenses when you first buy a home is the cost of moving in. Many people dont realize this until its too late. Buying a home involves not only paying for the actual house, but also for moving costs, furniture, and other items that have to be moved along with the home.

Having a good idea ahead of time of what youre likely to encounter can help you avoid these kinds of costs. If you know youll need to replace the plumbing system, for example, youll be able to put together a budget for the expense and plan accordingly.

You can protect your investment by finding out if the homes been well cared for

While there are plenty of people who think that houses always look better when theyre newly built, youd be surprised at how well maintained older residences can still look nice. Sometimes, though, those homes need some additional maintenance to keep them looking their best.

This could involve repairs that arent so noticeable or small improvements that you wouldnt consider otherwise. Even worse, some houses have fallen into disrepair without anyone noticing. This is why having a professional perform a building inspection prior to purchasing a home is such a big benefit.

Not only will it give you insight into the state of the property, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing youre not getting taken advantage of. As long as youre aware of the potential pitfalls, youll have less reason to worry about the state of your new home.

You can use information gathered during a building inspection to negotiate a lower price

If youre worried about buying a home because you suspect that it may need extensive renovation work, you may already have a rough idea of how much work youll need to do to bring it up to scratch. That knowledge can come in handy if you decide to buy the home.

You can use all of the details that you gather during a building inspection to present a realistic picture of what the home is worth to prospective buyers. If a potential buyer thinks that the home is worth more than what you paid for it, you can try negotiating a lower price.

You can sell your home faster and for more money

If you decide to list your home on the market soon after buying it, youll need to price it accurately in order to attract buyers. But if youve already done a thorough building inspection, youll know exactly what work is needed and what the current market conditions are.

In other words, youll be able to make a more accurate estimate of the amount of money youve invested in the home and how much its worth. If you find that youre selling your house for close to its full market value, you can use this information to convince the potential buyer that your home is worth the asking price.

Even if youre planning to stay in the home for a while before you decide to sell, the fact that you did a thorough building inspection will give you more confidence when listing it. Prospective buyers will know exactly what theyre paying for.

Your home will hold its value longer

As mentioned earlier, the value of a home depends heavily upon the condition of the building itself. If your home is in bad shape, potential buyers wont be interested in buying it. On the other hand, if youve performed a thorough building inspection and know what sort of repairs are necessary, you can offer your prospective buyer a compelling reason to invest in your property.

When you buy a home, youre essentially agreeing to have it inspected periodically to ensure that it stays in top shape. Not only does this allow you to avoid expensive repairs down the road, but it can also increase the value of your home.

You can make smart decisions about property investments

Buying real estate isnt as simple as just driving a couple of minutes to pick up a house. There are lots of considerations involved, ranging from location to cost. The same is true when youre investing in property.

If you find a house that meets all of your requirements, youll want to make sure that you have a solid understanding of where it stands with regards to the rest of the market. If you havent spent enough time researching the area, you could inadvertently end up with a bad deal.

There are lots of resources available online that can help you determine the overall level of competition in your area. They can also help you figure out if there are any properties that meet your requirements that you didnt know about.

If you own rental property, you can use the information to identify tenants who might cause damage

If you own rental property and youve noticed that certain tenants consistently cause damage, you can use the results of a building inspection to identify them. You can then contact them directly to let them know that youre watching them closely and that you dont appreciate the problem theyre causing.

They might start taking better care of their homes, which would be good news for everyone. It could also be the case that youll find out that theyre responsible for previous damages that werent caught during a previous visit.

You can make smarter decisions about hiring contractors

If youve hired contractors to build or repair your home, you might want to ask them for references. However, unless you perform a thorough building inspection, you might not know exactly what to look for.

For instance, maybe you only checked the roof for leaks or the walls for cracks. You might not have looked underneath the foundation for anything that could cause a future issue. By performing a building inspection, you can ensure that you hire reputable contractors who will be trustworthy with your money.

You can avoid purchasing a home thats in poor condition

Of course, the main benefit of structural inspections perth is that it helps you avoid purchasing a home thats in poor condition. Before you make the decision to buy a home, you should do whatever you can to find out about the state of the building.

You can also ask your realtor about what sorts of inspections are typically recommended. Some agents say that its standard practice to check the heating system, the roof, the electrical wiring, and the floors. Others will tell you that they recommend that you check the entire structure.

Either way, if you choose to hire an inspector, youll find out exactly what needs to be fixed and how much it will cost to do so.

As a result, it can be concluded that a pre-purchase building inspection is highly important for the buyers because it provides transparency regarding the current conditions of the structure. Additionally, the building owner is made aware of any upgrades or repairs that are required, which could lead to a fair deal throughout the purchasing and selling process.
President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia's economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine. The United States generally imports about 100,000 barrels a day from Russia, only about 5% of Russia's crude oil exports, according to Rystad Energy. Last year, roughly 8% of U.S. imports of oil and petroleum products came from Russia. Gas prices have been rising for weeks due to the conflict and in anticipation of potential sanctions on the Russian energy sector. The U.S. national average for a gallon of gasoline soared 45 cents a gallon in the past week and topped $4.06 on Monday, according to auto club AAA. Should the US ban Russian oil imports over Ukraine war?

You voted:
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.
YouthBuild of Jefferson and Marion Counties, a program of United Methodist Childrens Home, has been awarded a $1.1 million grant from US Department of Labor.

Youthbuild has been serving young adults in Jefferson and Marion counties since 2006 and they are an asset to the community.

The current YouthBuild cycle will wrap up in October, with 23 participants completing the program. There will be a graduation ceremony Oct. 26. Sixteen participants will have earned their GED, and will choose either a nursing or construction track to add further training and certification to their experience in the program.

For more information about the YouthBuild program, call Ryan Alton or Cheryl Young at 618-242-6723 in Mount Vernon, or 618-533-5288 in Centralia.
CARBONDALE  Stories from some of the homeless in Carbondale are in a book just released this month by an educational publisher.

Their stories are in "Homeless: Narratives From the Streets," written by Joshua D. Phillips, a former lecturer at Southern Illinois University, where he earned his Ph.D. The book was released earlier this month by McFarland & Company, a North Carolina-based independent publisher of academic and nonfiction books. "Homeless," priced at $29.95, is available on Amazon.com.

The Carbondale stories comprise about about one half of the book, which also includes the narratives of homeless people that Phillips interviewed a decade ago during his time in Camden, New Jersey. The remaining quarter of the book, the first part, discusses the issue of homelessness and how policies impact those living in homelessness, he said.

Dona Reese, a social work professor at SIU, has not yet seen a copy of the book.

"I hadn't heard of this book, but would like to read it," Reese said. "It sounds like it would definitely be helpful for additional studies of homelessness, teaching students about this problem, and advocating with policy makers about policy change."

Phillips is now a professor at Penn State at its new Brandywine campus.

He started writing the book four years ago, finishing the first draft this past December, he said.

"Im happy with the product," Phillips said. "I havent really looked at it in depth (since turning it in for publishing). When I finally got the book, I sat down and just sort of read it cover-to-cover as a reader, and I was happy with it. It turned out well."

He said he will be working with some of his students on similar projects and planning forums on homelessness in his area and in Philadelphia. He is already thinking about a part two or sequel to this book.

He's not sure what a second book might look like, but said it might be interesting to do a sort of "where are they now" look back at some of the homeless he interviewed, especially those he interviewed a decade ago in Camden.

The book's overarching message is similar to the one Phillips touted at a Sparrow Coalition forum in June 2015 on homelessness, at which he was a featured presenter.

He's said it's less effective to keep creating and implementing policies concerning those who are homeless without knowing them and their needs and involving them in some of the planning.

"We have to be willing to get on the ground with this issue of homelessness," Phillips said. "We cant solve it from afar. We have to go and meet those people for whom these policies are going to affect."
HARRISBURG  Bill and Annette Rodgers are among the countless faces of the rural middle-class Midwest coal families who feel abandoned and forgotten. Married for 51 years, the two showed up dutifully to their work and family obligations for decades with hopes of retiring comfortably  only to now watch the erosion of their American dream.

For Bill, who worked two decades underground, his golden years come with black lung, he said.

Now, hes facing the prospect  along with thousands of others in Southern Illinois and elsewhere  of his health insurance benefits evaporating at years end related to the 2012 and 2015 Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Patriot Coal. This, he said, even though he spent his career with Peabody Energy and never worked a single day for Patriot Coal.

What has been threatened for months was on its way has officially been put in writing. A letter sent to the Rodgers household dated Wednesday from the trustees of the Patriot Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association (VEBA), which provides his health insurance, states that the plan is currently experiencing a critical financial shortfall of funding which will negatively affect your continued ability to receive benefits 

The newspaper sat down with the Rodgers at their home the day the letter was mailed to about 12,500 families, including roughly 3,500 in Southern Illinois, those numbers according to the United Mine Workers of America. By the end of the week, the Rodgers had received word it was on its way to their mailbox.

We sincerely hope that the UMWA is successful in these ongoing efforts to enact legislation so that these drastic actions can be avoided, continues the letter, which the UMWA posted on its website. However, Congress has not acted yet. Therefore, all beneficiaries who receive these benefits as a result of the Patriot bankruptcy will be terminated from coverage on Dec. 31, 2016.

Hard to breathe

Bills respiratory problems require him to be hooked up to oxygen 24/7. He also suffers from COPD and emphysema, he said. He's had two heart surgeries this year. Plastic tubes dangle from his nose during his waking and sleeping hours. His breathing is labored. Coughing fits can go on for hours. He never knows when one might hit  while playing with the grandchildren, in church, out to dinner.

His list of daily medications is more than two pages deep.

During the day, a portable oxygen tank pumps air into his lungs with a steady puff, similar to the sound a quick squeeze on an air compressor makes. Its like carrying around his very own metronome counting out loud the steady beat of his every breath until his final one.

If I knew what I would be like (puff) in a few years you wouldnt have drug me down that hole, Bill, 76, said during an interview with the newspaper in his kitchen, his wife by his side.

Its just not worth it (puff). The feeling I get is suffocation. If you could just imagine some big guy holding your nose (puff) and your mouth and you cant breathe. Thats the feeling (puff) I get and it is horrible. It is horrible (puff).

The Rodgers feel abandoned and betrayed: by Peabody Energy, his employer of 23 years, by the judges who signed off on bankruptcy deals for Peabody spin-off company Patriot Coal that put shareholder profits before the welfare of workers, and by members of Congress that allow these types of bankruptcy deals to go unchecked, they say.

But, I didnt work for Patriot

Bill began working for Peabody Energy in 1969 at Eagle No. 1, an underground mine near Shawneetown. His time with Peabody ended around 1993 when Bill was 52 years old and Peabody shut down Eagle No. 2 mine, located in the same rural Gallatin County community.

Patriot Coal was formed in 2007  roughly 14 years after Bill hung up his hard hat. In the transition, Patriot Coal took with it Peabody's former Appalachian mines, as well as some retiree health care obligations to former employees such as Bill, the latter of which would come as a surprise to many.

Bill and Annette said they recall the health care paperwork they received at home changing from Peabody to Patriot's heading. They were concerned, but there wasnt much they thought could be done about it. They hoped for the best.

Even guys at the union meetings would say, But, I didnt work for Patriot. Nobody in here ever worked for Patriot. They just, what they call, spun you off, Bill said.

In other words, they got rid of you, Annette said.

Throwed you away is what they did, Bill said.

Time marched on, as it does when people are busy with life.

The Rodgers, who live in rural Saline County in a home overlooking an expansive soybean field, cheered on the personal and career successes of their children and welcomed grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Bill plucked away at his guitar, playing old-time Gospel music until Dupuytrens disease stole the nimbleness from his hands.

As the years passed, Bills respiratory and heart problems, which he believes are solely related to his time underground breathing in fine particle dust, steadily worsened, he said. But his claims were still being paid on time  perhaps they had no reason to worry, they thought.

Then, in 2012, Patriot Coal filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In the years since, Patriot and Peabody company executives have been dogged with accusations that they created Patriot Coal with the end-game of shedding expensive obligations to employees on whose backs they profited, many of whom suffer ailments in older age because of the grueling and dangerous work they performed underground.

Peabody: We've fulfilled our obligations

Peabody has denied those allegations, saying Patriot Coal was a healthy company at the onset but then faced the financial woes that have beset the entire coal industry. Coal supporters say the industry has been chocked by a combination of market factors and at the hands of more restrictive federal environmental standards enacted by the Obama administration.

Peabody, the worlds No. 1 coal producer, also filed bankruptcy this year in April, the latest in a long line of coal companies to do so. The St. Louis-based company has stated it intends to continue paying retiree benefits, but the Rodgers predicament is not related to Peabodys recent legal filing for relief because he was among beneficiaries whose obligations were transferred years ago to Patriot Coal.

As Patriot Coal emerged from its first bankruptcy in 2013, the Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association, or VEBA, was created as a special fund to keep benefits flowing to those affected by the company's reorganization. According to the UMWA, the VEBA provides benefits for retirees of Peabody Energy, Patriot Coal and Arch Coal.

UMWA hopeful congress will act on miner benefits WASHINGTON  Congress adjourned this past Wednesday after passing a spending measure to avoi

Through negotiations with the UMWA, Peabody agreed to pay more than $300 million into the special trust fund at the time. That deal fell apart after Patriot Coal filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy again in 2015.

Peabody argued in court that it shouldnt have to make any more VEBA payments because Patriot had breached its 2013 agreement. But in January, Peabody struck a deal with the UMWA to pay $75 million into the trust in installments, roughly half of what was still owed under the original plan, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which closely followed the bankruptcy proceedings. Peabody had already paid about $165 million into the fund, according to the Post-Dispatch.

A spokeswoman for Peabody declined to answer a question about how many former employees benefit obligations were transferred to Patriot Coal when the company was spun off. Beth Sutton, Peabodys vice president of corporate communications, did email a statement, which reads, Patriot Coal was highly successful when it became an independent, publicly traded company in 2007 with a market value that grew 360 percent  from $1 billion to $4.6 billion  in less than a year. Peabody was pleased to reach agreement with the UMWA for its related Patriot healthcare obligations earlier this year.

Uncertain future

Bill said hes not sure what they will do if Congress doesnt act to pass legislation the UMWA has billed as a solution for Bill and the thousands of other retirees on the brink of losing their coverage. The Mine Workers Protection Act seeks to add the UMWA retirees affected by the Patriot bankruptcy to a special fund that was created by Congress years ago for workers in similar situations.

He receives Medicare, but said he needs supplemental insurance because of his myriad health needs. He was a Vietnam-era draftee but was told some years ago that his household income disqualifies him from seeking services at the Marion VA. The Rodgers do have options, but all have a price. Bill said it just doesn't seem fair to lose something he was promised in exchange for his working hours. And Annette said she worries about widows of coal miners who rely on health coverage because they stayed home to raise children and have no other coverage.

A Senate Finance Committee moved the measure onto the floor late last month, but Congress recessed before any action was taken by the full Senate. The legislation is controversial because the UMWA is also seeking funds to shore up its crippled pension system, and some have argued that could set a dangerous precedent for taxpayer-funded bailouts of private pension funds. In response to the letter about benefits running dry, UMWA President Cecil Roberts, in a statement, urged Congress to act soon. Members of the House and Senate return Nov. 14.

This is a life or death matter for thousands in the coalfields, Roberts said. They are counting on our government to fulfill its moral obligation and pass legislation this year that will save their lives.

Hundreds of Southern Illinois coal miners travel to D.C. for rally BENTON  It was as dark as the coal mines when about 100 people piled onto two buses parked 

Waiting for relief

In the meantime, Bill and Annette said they put their faith in God that things will work out and try not to let their worries get in the way of enjoying retirement and their family as much as possible.

But between labored breaths, Bill, who is not a bitter man except on this topic, said he wishes he had never gone to work underground.

If I knew then what I know now I would have never even looked at a coal mine, he said.
Turning 100 is not an everyday event, but one Orangeburg native will happily tell you shes still the same.

Willie Mae Owens-Ross achieved the century mark on Sept. 29, but she hasn't lost a spring in her step despite her triple-digit age.

I dont feel no different, Ross said, laughing. Glad to be getting there.

Ross, a resident of Branchville, has lived through a centurys worth of change and has loved every bit of it.

Im glad to see all the changes thats been made, she said.

Ross recalls working on the farm with her late husband, Clifton Owens Sr.

I was grown. I had children, Ross said. I was still working in the cotton fields.

Ross said she remembers going to church with her family in a wagon and having to use outside restrooms.

I got electric lights in 1958, she said.

One thing shes glad to have done away with is cooking on a wood stove.

That was a lot of work, Ross said.

She also remembers the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy.

That was a sad time, she said.

With King, you were expecting anything, Ross said. He was out there; anything could happen, and he was expecting anything to happen.

Learning of Kennedy's death was especially shocking and sad, she recalled.

You werent expecting when Kennedy got killed, Ross said. I remember I was in bed with the flu.

I remember all of that, she added.

When contemplating how she managed to reach the age of 100, Ross said, I dont know; I still dont know.

She said she used to be sick a lot.

I didnt think Id live to be 50 years old, and look where I am, she said.

Ross still works every Monday and Thursday answering phones and greeting people who come into Owens Funeral Home.

Im just happy to get out of the house, she said. Back here, you dont see nothing, you dont hear nothing.

Her son, Isaiah Owens, is the owner of the funeral home, and Ross said, As long as my son will let me work, Im willing to do it.

In total, Ross has 11 children, four who died prematurely -- two of them before reaching adulthood. She also has 39 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

One of her granddaughters is Antonia Toni Turkvant, who became the first African-American female to rise to the rank of captain in the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Offices 244-year history.

She (Ross) was there to see it, Turkvant said. It was humbling.

Turkvant said her grandmother is sweet and family oriented and she loves to cook.

Ive never met anybody that she doesnt love, she said.

Ross helped pin the captain's bars on her granddaughter at the ceremony in January.

Turkvant said she felt it would be fitting for Ross to do so because her late father, Anthony Tony Owens, was Ross son and also a captain until his death in 2008.

Seeing her grandmother, who has been with her since she was little, live to be 100 is surreal but amazing, Turkvant said.

She recently surprised Ross by taking her to an Orangeburg County Council meeting, where she was honored with a formal resolution by the council members recognizing her 100th birthday.

It couldnt have happened to a better person, Turkvant said.

I was shocked because I wasnt expecting that, Ross said. I wouldnt have thought people wouldve been thinking about me like that. I appreciate it.

County Councilman Willie B. Owens, Ross cousin by marriage, said of her, Shes always been a pleasant, lovable person."

Owens is a deacon at McBranch Baptist Church in Branchville where Ross is a member.

She always there to pay her tithes down to the penny, Owens said, smiling. Shes a very committed member.

McBranch Baptist church recently named Ross the Mother of the Church."

I didnt think that day would come, Ross said. Not for me.

Along with the honor of church mother, Ross has been recognized many times for her service and dedication.

She received a service award for her work with the church, and the McBranch Baptist Missionary Society honored her for her high standards of excellence. Ross also received a Wisdom Award at a Ross Family Reunion, and in 2013, she was named Woman of the Year at the Lovely Hill Womens Convention.

In our Lovely Hill Association, we have 22 churches, said Arminta Owens, Councilman Owens wife. She represented the McBranch Baptist Church and she came in with the highest amount of funds (for) giving back tithes.

She said Ross has a pretty smile and kind words all the time.

Ross said her words of advice to the people of Orangeburg are to just treat everybody good," and she shared the words that she lives by: Give me my flowers while I live. Dont wait until Im dead and gone and say how fine I be, dont wait and put my flowers on my grave instead of me. I want to know just how you feel, dont go and pass me by. I want to know your friendships real, right now before I die."

And, it doesnt have to be flowers; just seeing or feeling loved is what she looks for, Ross said.

When you treat me good and you love me, those are my flowers, she said.

I have plenty love to share, Ross said. I love everybody.
Driving became a hazard throughout The T&D Region on Saturday as Hurricane Matthew caused trees to fall throughout the day.

Its worse than the flood. There are wires down everywhere and trees down everywhere, Calhoun County Emergency Services Director Bill Minikiewicz said.

The damage was widespread, from a roof ripped off a Bamberg convenience store to flooding in the Holy Hill area. In Orangeburg, a large tree fell in front of the First Baptist Church downtown.

Throughout the day, officials warned residents to stay in their homes to avoid fallen trees and power lines.

T&D Region emergency officials said they knew of no injuries or fatalities.

Orangeburg County Emergency Services Director Billy Staley said the biggest problem was widespread downed trees and power lines, with most of the damage occurring mid-Saturday morning when wind gusts reached into the 60-mph range.

"Stay off the roads and don't go out if you don't need to go out," Staley said. "We have a lot of people moving around and walking around power lines that may be hot.

The flooding in Holly Hill was significant, he said.

"It is pretty much anywhere downtown," he said, noting there were no water rescues or rescues from homes.

"We are getting multiple reports of trees on houses across the county," Staley said

The public is encouraged to visit the county's website to report damage at www.orangeburgcounty.org.

In the Providence community, Fire Chief Carl Thompson reported midday Saturday that trees were down all along Old State Road. Residents were without power after the storm.

Eutawville Fire Chief Stephen Shuler reported downed trees and areas of spot flooding in the area.

Theres water right down at the intersection of Dawson and Porcher, he said. Were trying to encourage drivers not to go through the water  find an alternate route if possible.

Power outages were widespread. A resident had to come down to the fire station to have the batteries for his heart pump charged.

Shuler warned that trees could continue to fall through the night.

We encourage people to stay home as much as possible, he said.

In Calhoun County, trees blocked several roads, including Highway 6, Minikiewicz said.

Good Hope Road washed out near McCords Ferry Road, just as it did during last Octobers floods.

We know its a big event and its not done, Minikiewicz said.

Bamberg County had similar problems with heavy winds knocking down trees and power lines.

An oak tree was uprooted and fell into a home in Olar, Bamberg County Emergency Services Public Information Officer Mallory Biering said. The resident is fine.

In addition, a gust of wind blew the roof off the Three-Way convenience store, she said.

The following Bamberg County roads are closed due to washouts or are impassable due to other reasons: Turkey Cut, Road, Sash Lane, Howell's Mill Road between Goodland and Farrell's Road and Hickory Hill Road.
An Orangeburg family-owned pizza restaurant is marking its 35th anniversary.

Balloons and a festive atmosphere filled The Original House of Pizza on John C. Calhoun Monday on Sept. 26 as well-wishers hugged owners Debra Williamson and daughter Melpo Pritcher on their successful 35 years in business.

"It is good to see you guys," Williamson said as she interacted with familiar customers. "It is a joy. It is such a pleasant thing to still be in business 35 years. For us to be here this long is only because of customer support. Orangeburg has been awesome."

Diners at the original House of Pizza restaurant on Sept. 26 also received pizza at 1981 prices -- or about $4 to $5 less than prices today.

The Original House of Pizza was opened Sept. 26, 1981, on John C. Calhoun Drive by Williamson's ex-husband, Jimmy Stilianidis, who came down from Worcester, Massachusetts, searching for a place to open a restaurant with his cousin, Chris Dimopolous.

The men came across Tony's Pizza, which was up for sale, and decided to rent the building for a few years before purchasing.

"They drove all the way from Massachusetts going to small towns and looking for a perfect location for a restaurant," Williamson said.

At the time, the restaurant had about 20 employees. It now employs about 40.

Williamson arrived in 1982 and married Stilianidis in 1985.

The original restaurant included the front entrance area and dining for about 55 patrons, but its increasing popularity required the Stilianidises to expand the dining area in the late 1980s. Today, the restaurant seats 130.

"We had to put a second dining room in and our kitchen was smaller," Williamson said. "We have expanded on and we have gotten the property next door to expand the parking lot."

The family later opened restaurants in St. Matthews and Rock Hill but eventually sold both.

Over the past few decades, other restaurants using the House of Pizza name have opened, including ones in Orangeburg, Barnwell, Bamberg, Aiken and Rock Hill. None is affiliated with the Stilianidis family.

Williamson said after her divorce, she ran the restaurant with the help of her four daughters.

Williamson said Eliana, Eleni and Zoi have all worked in the business over the years and have moved on to other careers.

Pritcher, 30, who started working at the restaurant at the tender age of 10, has chosen to remain in the business.

Pritcher said she hopes to continue the family tradition into her adulthood and pass it along to her daughters and future grandchildren.

"I have plenty of ideas and I am ready to roll," she said. "A new generation is stepping in."

Pritcher's 10-year old daughter Maddison also works at the restaurant. Her mother-in-law Melpo and Ilias Stilianidis formerly ran the store and have since retired from the business, though they still help out periodically.

The restaurant's success is credited to the customers, Williamson said.

"We have the best customers here in Orangeburg," she said.

"Our menu has expanded with customer suggestions," Williamson said. "Our menu started off really small. If the customer says we want, we give."

The menu started off with basic dinners, pizzas and subs and now has larger dinners and specials to include chicken meals.

Williamson said the restaurant continues to make everything in-house and from scratch with the original recipes.

"It is the same as the old days," she said.

Williamson said the plans are to focus on the John C. Calhoun Drive location.

"It takes you being here to be successful," she said. "It is not a franchise. It is a mom and pop."
South Carolina is ranked 37th among the states in competitive tax code, according to the 13th annual State Business Tax Climate Index from the nonpartisan Tax Foundation. The report measures how well-structured each states tax code is by analyzing more than 100 tax variables in five different tax categories: corporate, individual income, sales, property and unemployment insurance.

The breakdown of South Carolinas rankings is (first is best, 50th is worst):

 Overall tax climate: 37th

 Corporate tax structure: 15th

 Individual income tax structure: 41st

 Sales tax structure: 31st

 Property tax structure: 26th

 Unemployment insurance tax structure: 37th

States are penalized for overly complex, burdensome and economically harmful tax codes and rewarded for transparent and neutral tax codes that do not distort business decisions.

Substantive state tax reform has gained a lot of momentum over the past few years, Tax Foundation Director of State Projects Scott Drenkard said. The stagnation of our federal tax code means that policymakers are turning to state codes to boost their national and global competitiveness. The state codes are ripe for reform and its encouraging to see so many states taking action.

While the tax system is not a new topic for South Carolina and the rankings alone are an indicator change is due serious consideration, reform should get added momentum in 2017 through a process underway in the S.C. House of Representatives.

The House Tax Policy Review Committee is to make recommendations prior to lawmakers return in January. It will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 11 a.m. in Room 110 of the Blatt Building on the Statehouse grounds to receive comments from the public about state tax policy.

Individuals and organizations wishing to speak (five-minute limit) may sign up by calling House Research at 803-734-3230 or emailing the committee at TaxPolicyReview@SCHouse.gov. Give your name, phone number, email and what you plan to speak about. Speakers may also sign up at the time of the meeting.

Of note, a person does not have to appear in public to be heard. Comments or materials may be submitted via email.

Tax reform in South Carolina is a timely topic as the Legislature decides how to effectively fund education in the wake of a court mandate for improvement in rural school districts.

The S.C. Supreme Court decision in the so-called Abbeville case -- a 1993 lawsuit by 40 school districts alleging that the state violated a constitutional requirement to provide a minimally adequate education to all students  has made a 2006 law, in particular, a target.

Act 388 exempted owner-occupied homes from the portion of property taxes that fund school operations. The Legislatures strategy to raise the sales tax by a penny to 6 percent to help school districts make up the loss of revenue has not worked as planned, with funding for schools being reduced over the 10-year period.

The law also:

 Capped how much local governments, including school districts, could raise taxes.

 Reduced taxes on groceries to 3 percent from 5 percent, with lawmakers later exempting groceries altogether from state sales tax.

 Limited tax hikes on properties to 15 percent of the propertys increase in fair-market value. The cap only applies to properties reassessed for tax purposes every five years.

The 15 percent cap was to protect homeowners from then-rising home values that could result in some people being effectively taxed off of their land.

The cap has led to inequality in the taxes paid on properties of similar values. The difference occurs because the 15 percent cap does not apply to properties that are sold or upgraded. The sale or remodeling of a home allows counties to reassess its value.

The law is a recipe for inequitable taxation and has had a negative effect on rural counties with smaller tax bases, leading them to raise tax rates to levels much higher than wealthier counties.

For the counties of The T&D Region and others in the Lowcountry, that makes Act 388 a top topic in any reform plan.

Hampton County Rep. Bill Bowers, a member of the tax review committee, told The State newspaper of Columbia that the question for lawmakers is: Does the state want to have the policy that punishes poor, rural counties? We have that now.
I've spent most of my life living in big cities. But the truth is, a lot of what's shaped me came from my grandparents who grew up on the prairie in Kansas. They taught me the kind of values that don't always make headlines, let alone the daily back-and-forth in Washington. Honesty and responsibility. Hard work and toughness against adversity. Keeping your word, and giving back to your community. And treating folks with respect, even if you disagree with them.

They're the same values I saw as a senator in Illinois, driving long country roads to visit with folks in small towns. They're the same values I saw in Iowa, campaigning for this office in community centers and coffee shops and high school cafeterias. They're the same values that have inspired me every day as president, in visits to all 50 states and letters I read every night from every corner of this nation. And it's only reinforced my belief that the values that drive our small towns and rural communities are the same ones that drive America as a whole.

At the same time, what's also true is that when our country is tested, our rural communities are tested as well. An economy that's been changing for decades  more automation, more global competition  has, in many ways, hit rural communities particularly hard. Too many people are still fighting back from the recklessness on Wall Street that shuttered storefronts on Main Street. Too many workers are still reeling from plants that moved overseas and took good jobs with them. Too many communities are struggling to compete, hamstrung by lagging infrastructure like slow or nonexistent broadband connections. And too many families have been ravaged by the heartbreaking epidemic of opioid use.

For too long, leaders who could do something to help have passed the buck or pointed fingers, rather than offer concrete solutions and new avenues of opportunity. But we've pursued a different approach  one that helps workers retrain and learn the skills they need for a job in the new economy. One that supports small businesses and entrepreneurs to help attract more of the new economy's jobs to rural communities. One that upgrades our schools  from working toward universal preschool to two years of free community college  so that all our kids have the same chance to reach their potential without having to leave their hometown.

Over the last eight years, my administration has worked hand-in-hand with rural communities to build more opportunity  investing in rural schools, supporting rural small business owners, deploying high speed internet and wireless, and building partnerships between businesses and colleges to help train folks not just for a job, but for a career. And for those struggling with opioid use, we've expanded access to treatment to help them get the care they need.

So we're making progress  progress that's possible only because of the strength and resilience of the people in our rural communities.

In Pikeville, Kentucky, former coal miners are trading coal for code. They're retraining to learn HTML, JavaScript, and PHP, transforming an old bottling factory into a digital hub. It's a transition that not only supports good jobs, but also offers a glimpse of what the future could look like in other communities like Pikeville.

In Clinton County, Ohio, young people have organized to tackle the brain drain, creating a fellowship program that matches local businesses with college students home for the summer. And those young people aren't just learning, they're leading  just last year, Wilmington, Ohio elected a majority-Millennial city council.

In Piedmont, Alabama, school leaders have invested in high-speed connectivity and laptops for every student, so that teachers can tailor lessons to individual students and assess each student's progress in real time. Already, test scores and graduation rates are up, and tiny Piedmont City School District has emerged as a national model for digital learning.

That's what rural America can look like in the 21st century. Smart investments that lead to real, tangible progress. Today, rural unemployment has dropped from a high of about ten percent during the Great Recession to six percent. The rural child poverty rate is dropping, and rural median household incomes are rising again.

We certainly still have more work to do, but we're moving in the right direction. And that couldn't be more important. Because as a prominent rural Kansan  President Eisenhower  once said, "Whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world must first come to pass in the heart of America."

In so many ways, from its resilience and ingenuity in the face of a challenge to the defining values that power it every day, rural America represents that beating heart. That's why these communities are so important  because when America's rural communities are strong, America is strong.
It is clear that when it comes to jump-starting the economy and generating jobs and wealth for the average American, we are in quite a fix.

After coming out of the great recession, the economy is experiencing anemic growth of around 1 percent, and labor force participation is at a 30-year low. The problem is proving to be somewhat intractable, despite efforts by centralized government to goose the economic engine through financial manipulation.

The economic challenges facing average Americans cannot be solved by big government nor big business. It is really about time that we look to the past for some solutions. One of the things we should take a hard look at is returning to the land.

Around the turn of the 20th century, almost half of U.S. workers were directly involved in the agricultural sector  whether in terms of growing food or organic materials for textile manufacturing. As late as 1930, farming constituted about 7.7 percent of the U.S. GDP.

Today, less than 2 percent of American workers are engaged in agriculture. But more importantly, during the heyday of American farming, from 1900-1915, the majority of farm-produced products were consumed on the farm or by the local communities they served  with exportable commodities such as cotton and tobacco playing a supplemental role. Today, large farming operations control huge tracts of farmland that are almost exclusively dedicated to producing off-farm income. And American farming has become inextricably integrated into global commerce.

While farming has become less labor intensive and more mechanized and specialized  increasing economies of scale, it has lost some of the more robust features that made it the backbone of the American economy. Notably, American famers around the turn of the century grew at least five different commodity crops on average.

Todays mega-farms produce one major crop on average, and agriculture contributes less than 1 percent of GDP. Farming as a viable profession is dying out  with the average age of an American farmer of 65. And it is becoming a far more extractive industry, returning less than 16 percent of revenue from farm operations to the farmer.

What does this all mean for the average American worker and the U.S. economy in general? First, it means that the core skills needed in farming have become virtually non-existent. Not only are farms largely mechanized, what farming labor remains is largely staffed by foreign workers  including millions of illegal immigrants from south of the U.S. border.

As someone who grew up on a family-owned farm in Marion, S.C., and saw the wealth-building of the many benefits our farm brought to our community, I understand the critical importance of farming as a community-based enterprise. First was the real importance of work ethic and skilled labor. People in our community took pride in being skilled laborers. Whether it was shoeing the horses, taking care of the livestock, or planting or harvesting, farm laborers developed specialized skills that made them valuable members of the entire community.

The community-supported agriculture model extended to include obviously local markets for a variety of crops  fruits and vegetables, preserves, and meat products. Farming as we knew it did involve some cash crops  we grew and sold tobacco, for example -- but we were far from a specialized farming operation. Farming created jobs, instilled youth with a work ethic and tied people to land, family and community. This is a model that Europe has been careful to protect, no matter what the winds of globalization have blown their way. European countries understand the relationship between small scale farming and national identity in ways that America  which industrialized much sooner in its nations history, can comprehend.

Our kinship with the land we inhabit is diminishing. Todays school children are far more likely to recognize brand labels than common native plants. And yet our continued economic growth will require almost seventy percent more food production by 2050. This is a major overlooked opportunity for todays workers. Farming is in need of just as many innovations as other industries  disruptive innovations in crop quality, soil quality, yield and distribution. There are medical breakthroughs ready to be discovered in the observation of plants.

But this will require a major ramping up of the farming skills of American people. Farming was once a major source of scientific advancement and industrial innovation in this country. The Cotton Gin, invented by Ely Whitney, literally changed the economic fortune of the United States almost overnight. George Washington Carver developed hundreds of patents over chemical compounds derived from corn and soybeans. He was constantly urging close exploration of nature, saying anything will give up its secrets if you love it enough.

Congress should really consider including provisions in the Farm Bill that provide incentives for young people to enter into farming. We should also allow guest workers from other countries to come to the United States to grow the labor pool and help transmit valuable lost skills to American farm workers. These investments must be made with a focus on innovation and sustainability. We do not need more large farming operations. We as a nation really have no choice but to return to a community model of farming.

The reasons for this much-needed shift in emphasis are clear. First, we are going to have a greater need for food in the future, and this cannot be secured with large cash crop operations. Second, focusing on soil yields and innovations in farming that will improve quality require that more people enter the field, not less. Increasing the labor intensity of farming may seem to be less efficient up front than highly mechanized processes. But on the back end it could yield major technological breakthroughs that will help us meet our future needs.

-----

Armstrong Williams is owner of Howard Stirk Holdings, which owns TV stations in Alabama, Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Flint, Michigan. He is the editor-in-chief of American Current See Magazine published by the Washington Times newspaper and was the Student Government Association president from 1979 to 1981 at South Carolina State University.
Boom!

You could hear it, literally could hear it, like shotgun blasts, Sherry McMichael said.

McMichael heard the familiar yet horrifying sound Saturday morning as Hurricane Matthew pushed through her neighborhood on Middleton Street.

I remember when the ice storm came and you heard like a pow and then you hear the branches fall, McMichael said. This is different, these are whole trees.

I didnt think Orangeburg was supposed to get what we got, she added. I was not prepared immensely to be scared until I heard the pows.

McMichael and her husband Thomas McMichael had just evacuated from Beaufort on Wednesday afternoon to their home in Orangeburg.

I wouldve been safer there, she said laughing. We had flooding, but our house is up 8 feet down there.

Their Orangeburg home was barely missed by several fallen trees.

Her husband said he had fortunately just moved the truck forward in their driveway, allowing the large pine tree that fell into their yard to miss their truck and boat.

The tree went behind our truck, she said.

McMichael said the whole neighborhood was lucky.

Everything fell away from the houses, she said.

Their neighborhood is on a hill. McMichael said, Because were so far up, I didnt think we had any problems. I wasnt worried at all.

When you add in the wet ground, it loosens the roots and it just makes the trees topple easier, she said.

McMichael was in Augusta for Hurricane Hugo, so she didnt experience much of it. Tropical Storm Hermine, was nothing like this.

Hurricane Michael was by far the most devastating, she said.

McMichael and her two friends, sisters Julia and Geraldine Wiggins, were helping to direct traffic toward the only exit left in their neighborhood.

Julia Wiggins had gone to Pineville on Thursday to pick up their mother but like McMichael, thinks it may have been safer to stay.

Geraldine Wiggins has only lived in Orangeburg for ten years and was out of town for the ice storm, so this was her first major weather experience.

I lived in New York for 30-something years and Im ready to go back, Wiggins joked. I prefer shoveling snow.

Around 6:30 a.m., a tree toppled over and almost damaged the Culler Street home and car of Eric Williams, band compliance coordinator at South Carolina State University.

I heard the boom, but at the time I was dreaming, Williams said. I didnt quite take it into account that a tree had fallen on the house.

He finally woke up when he heard his housemates yelling something about a tree.

Williams and the rest of the house went outside to check what happened and went to the other side of the street because there still wasnt much light out.

A neighbors tree had fallen over, landing on Williams carport roof.

The only thing it really did was rip the power line down, he said. There may be three or four branches  where theyre actually on the house.

Williams said he felt lucky but more so blessed.

Williams said he lived through Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and it prepared him for Matthew, but he was still concerned.

No matter the category, a hurricane is still a hurricane, he said. This was my second, hoping that its my last, but probably wont be.

Williams said there are two more trees down in his neighborhood but hopes to see the community come together to clean their streets debris.
My niece Ashley was visiting with her 6-month-old baby, Crash.

Sue and I, like most friends and relatives of new parents, had already had that discussion before she arrived -- the one about the baby's name. It always starts with the same question: What was she thinking? Whatever happened to using Biblical names, heroic names or family names? Now it's like there's a contest for parents to find the most unique name possible for a newborn -- like Toothbrush or Zanzibar.

And it never seems to work. By the time Crash gets to school, there will be two other Crashes, a couple of Zanzibars and three Toothbrushes, plus a few Daeneryses, Lannisters and Podricks. "Game of Thrones" will be the gift that keeps on giving, in that department. There are plenty of worse things you could name a child -- say, Ebenezer or Pillowcase -- but I always wonder if these children feel as good about their names as their parents do. How many of them will come back from their first day of school saying, "Gee, thanks for naming me Zanzibar, Mom! I got teased and bullied all day."

I suppose there have always been unusual names; they simply change with the times. If Cotton Mather and Rutherford B. Hayes could live with it, so can our children.

But there's been another development in parenting that means, from now on, children will grow up in a significantly different world. It's hard to believe, but contrary to what parents have been saying forever, it turns out that the long-hallowed Five-Second Rule is a bunch of hooey. Apparently, despite our long-held beliefs, if you drop some food on the floor and pick it up within five seconds, it is not bacteria-free! Who knew?

Actually, we all knew. At home, mom might be able to get away with picking up a piece of chicken she dropped on the floor, rinsing it off and putting it back in the pan, but would you ever go to a restaurant that adhered to that rule? Even if that restaurant was called "Mom's"? No way.

Recently, a group of killjoy scientists released proof that it takes almost no time for bacteria to adhere to food dropped on the floor, or any other unsanitary surface. The proof is in the pudding. Literally. If you drop pudding on the floor, don't scrape it up and eat it. No matter what your mom says.

That does not mean it will kill you, or even make you sick. It simply means it's disgusting. Then again, it may also be healthy. Some research says that keeping children too safe from dirt and common germs makes them weaker than children who are exposed to a wide variety of bacterial contact. It turns out that a little bit of dirt may be healthy.

I bring this up because I think all of baby Crash's food seems to come from the floor as he crawls along. Or from the dog's dish. I suppose floor-crumbs and dog food haven't killed the dog yet, but that's setting a very low bar for healthy eating.

After he crawls on the floor, Crash will stick his little fingers in his mouth and suck the dirt off. Then he'll stick every toy he has in his mouth before he does anything else with it. These are the same toys that all his tiny cousins have also stuffed in their mouths first. Still, he seems to be an amazingly healthy 6-month-old. You can hear him screech from across the street when the mood strikes him, and he can crawl out of sight faster than you can take another Xanax. One can only imagine how healthy he'll be once he gets into day care -- sharing germs from 10 or 20 different families, exposing himself to everything that's going around all day long. Spreading the joy of dirt.

-----

Contact Jim Mullen at mullen.jim@gmail.com.
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By Azertac





Azerbaijani MPs observe the parliamentary elections in Tbilisi and other cities and districts of Georgia.





Our MPs have visited several polling stations. They have not registered any law violations during the voting. Elections take place in a quiet, free, transparent and democratic environment. After the voting is over Azerbaijani observers will make a statement on the results of monitoring, said chief of Azerbaijan-Georgia parliamentary working group, member of an international observation mission Aflatun Amashov.





MPs Sabir Hajiev and Ali Masimli observe elections as part of missions of PACE and GUAM Parliamentary Assembly.





MP Hikmat Mammadov hailed the preparations for the elections. No violations or irregularities have taken place. I observed the elections at 5 out of 11 polling stations in Tbilisi. Voter turnout is pretty high, he noted.





Mammadov said the parliamentary elections in Georgia could be described as a tough democratic contest as around 20 political parties and election blocks compete for parliamentary seats.





As of 11.00, 8.34 per cent of the eligible Georgian voters cast their ballots, according to local election commission.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has arrived in the Republic of Turkey for a working visit to attend the 23rd World Energy Congress in Istanbul.

A guard of honor was arranged for the President Ilham Aliyev at the Istanbul Ataturk Airport decorated with the flags of Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The chief of the guard of honor reported to President Aliyev. President Aliyev greeted soldiers of the guard of honor.

High ranking state and government officials of Turkey have met President Aliyev.
By Trend





Eight PKK terrorists were killed Saturday in Turkeys southeastern province of Hakkari, the military said, Anadolu reported.

In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said they were neutralized in Cukurca, a mountainous district on the Iraqi border.

Hakkari, which borders both Iraq and Iran, has seen a number of anti-terror operations since the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- resumed its 30-year armed campaign in July last year. The PKK maintains bases in northern Iraq.

Since the resumption of the conflict, PKK terror organization martyred more than 600 security personnel and claimed lives of many civilians including women and children while around 7,000 terrorists were killed in army operations.
By Azertac





Azerbaijani language weekend school for Azerbaijani children has opened in the Azerbaijani cultural center in Vienna.





Children at the school will be taught on Azerbaijani literature, history, culture, traditions and geography.





Head of Azerbaijani language Yagut Abdullah said the school will enable the students to learn more about Azerbaijan.
Al Rajhi Capital, one of the largest investment firms in Saudi Arabia, has announced the successful closing of a private placement subscription for the Al Rajhi European Real Estate Fund focusing on logistics after raising SR581 million ($155 million) in equity.



The five-year closed-ended fund will invest in income generating properties, such as warehouses occupied by solid tenants with long-term leases. The objective of the fund is to provide its investors superior returns with balanced risk, bi-annually distributed current income, in addition to a potential for capital appreciation. The main geographic focus of the fund will be Western Europe.



Gaurav Shah, CEO of Al Rajhi Capital, said: This fund marks the commencement of the global expansion of our real estate investment platform. We continue to pursue investment in sectors where Al Rajhi Capital management has built deep expertise. The success in asset raising is a testament to both the significant track record that Al Rajhi Capital has built within the logistic real estate space and the continuing strong attributes of the sector.



Abdulaziz Al-Sabt, brokerage and shared services director, Al Rajhi Capital, added: The attractiveness of the logistic sector is underpinned by minimal speculative development, strong tenants, long leases, stable recurring income with potential for capital appreciation. The continuing trend towards online sales is expected to accelerate the need for good quality distribution networks which translates into demand for warehouses and other logistics properties near trade routes such as ports and airports."



Al Rajhi Capital has managed over $1 billion in transactions across the logistics and community retail space and recently successfully exited a $360 million fund focused on investing in Saudi Arabia and UAE logistics.



Established in 2008, Al Rajhi Capital is one of the leading providers of financial services in Saudi Arabia, providing a comprehensive range of innovative financial solutions across brokerage, asset management and investment banking. Al Rajhi Capital is the top ranking broker and one of the largest asset managers in the Saudi Arabia. TradeArabia News Service
Dubais RTA has completed construction works of Dubai Parks & Resorts bridges project in cooperation with Meraas Holding at a cost tag of Dh250 million ($68 million), said Mattar Al Tayer, RTAs director-general and chairman.



The bridges will be open in concurrence with the launch of Dubai Parks project scheduled by the end of October.



The project included constructing entry and exit points linking Dubai Parks project with the Sheikh Zayed Road in the direction from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in the vicinity of Seih Shoaib. It comprised the construction of a three-lane bridge stretching 1,500 m as a main entry on the Sheikh Zayed Road for vehicles coming from Dubai heading to Dubai Parks, said Al Tayer.



It also included the construction of a two-lane bridge stretching 1,000 m as a main exit on Sheikh Zayed Road from Dubai Parks in the direction of Abu Dhabi. The project also comprised road works within Dubai Parks linked with the Sheikh Zayed Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road extending about 16 km.



These roads comprise a 7-km-long dual carriageway of two lanes in each direction linking with the Sheikh Zayed Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, in addition to other works within the project zone extending 9 km. The project works also included lighting, traffic signs, rainwater drainage, utility lines, besides shifting and protecting utility lines intercepting the project works such as electricity, water, communication and others," explained Al Tayer.



The new bridges have been designed to meet all needs of the Dubai Parks project, which is the latest addition to leisure destinations in Dubai.



The Dubai Parks & Resorts project comprises three theme parks: Motiongate Dubai, Bollywood Parks Dubai, and Legoland Dubai in addition to one water park: Legoland Water Park. The project also includes 35 retail outlets, 20 food and beverage shops, 65 restaurants and several other retail outlets along the Riverland complex.



The Motiongate Dubai features Hollywood-inspired designs comprising 27 innovative attractions and a special zone for displaying DreamWorks Animation in 12 facilities and stylish games, and a cocktail of restaurants and shopping areas.



Bollywood Parks Dubai will experience the vibrant celebration of Mumbais famous film industry with a rich 800-person stage for displaying local talents and Bollywood celebrities, considered the first of its kind worldwide. Legoland Park features scores of aquatic games including artificial waves pool with a capacity of half a million gallon.



It also includes the Interactive Platform Al Mukhyala Station, which enables children to build bridges, dams and cities and verifying the durability of their designs against water-induced damage. The development also hosts Hotel Lapita, a Polynesian-themed resort comprising 503 rooms for hosting visitors.  TradeArabia News Service
Dabur International, a leading personal and healthcare company, said it was honoured with the The Best Employer Award at the GCC Best Employer Brand Awards 2016, held recently in Dubai, UAE.



Dabur International is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dabur India and is headquartered in Dubai, UAE.



The company was conferred the award for establishing a strong foundation in all areas of human resources (HR) building, practices and policies consistently in the last five years to make it a Great Place to Work, said a statement from the company.



Mohit Malhotra, CEO, Dabur International, said: The recognition is a positive reinforcement of our excellent HR practices, policies and strategies that has helped us to emerge as an Employer of Choice.



It is an honour to become a company where people are eager to work with us, but at the same time it is a huge responsibility, he said.



As a multinational corporation, we focus on recruiting the best talents from across the region and retain them by constantly motivating them, providing recognition, responsibility, and career advancement so that they continue to evolve and contribute valuably towards the growth of the company, he added.



Furthermore, the companys head of HR - Rahul Bharti received the coveted Chief Human Resource Officer of the Year Award at the gala night, said a statement.



Bharti said: I am honoured to receive this award. I try my best to strategically draw the companys talent and performance blueprint, ensuring that its talent acquisition and retention is in line with its business growth while building a culture of a global workforce.



Going forward, I will continue to drive innovative workforce initiatives with measurable excellence in employee engagement and retention to prove it, he concluded.



Currently in its third year, the event was organised by the Employer Branding Institute and Stars of the Industry Group with CHRO Asia as the strategic partner and endorsed by the Asian Confederation of Businesses, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Pizza Hut in Oman has launched a newly designed website, upgraded and loaded with new features, and backed by a powerful new content management system that is more user-oriented with enhanced navigations and search.



Completely transformed, our new website has a new layout, images, up-to-date content, and provides the ease of ordering ones favourite pizza, with cash on delivery, said Sachin Malhotra, COO, Khimji Ramdas Lifestyle Group.



For the convenience of our customers, we will also be open to online card payments in the near future. Providing valuable information on Pizza Huts products, latest news, events and special offers; the website is a user-friendly tool that helps customers find exactly what they need in a matter of seconds. Thats not all, highly responsive - the website also provides our patrons the ease of accessing it through multiple devices.



Pizza Huts redesigned website is instrumental in staying ahead of the curve by using information and technology to keep customers updated and engaged in the brand. The site is an important user-friendly tool that is easily accessible on smart phones.



Our new website is highly-intuitive and customers will be able to order their favourite pizzas at the click of a mouse or touch-screen, said Yogesh Shah, general manager, Khimji Restaurant Division. We are confident that new visitors to the website as well as our customers will benefit from its easy, content-rich new design.



Along with the newly upgraded website, Pizza Hut is also reaching out to customers on social media via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, and other outlets as part of its digital marketing strategy.  TradeArabia News Service
Ahead of the 23rd World Energy Congress, the World Energy Council has called on the energy sector to embrace a historic opportunity to redefine the energy contract.

The reality that per capita demand for energy will peak before 2030, the reality that we havent done enough to decarbonise our economies and the realities for national and private balance sheets are some of the seven realities highlighted in the statement.

Speaking ahead of the Congress, Marie-Jose Nadeau, chair, World Energy Council, said: The grand energy transition is an unstoppable phenomenon. Adapting to this new reality with innovative technologies and different business models will require a massive effort and our ability to respond rapidly will define both winners and losers.

Christoph Frei, secretary general, World Energy Council, added: Slower global growth and shifting demographics define a new normal. The main driving forces are increasing political pressure to decarbonise, innovation fuelled by an unstoppable digital revolution, as well as emerging risks for which yesterdays unlikely has become todays reality.

This is a moment for positive and inclusive leadership where leaders and society need to embrace these new realities, define a new energy contract to enable timely decisions, maintain stable investment frameworks and strive for continued innovation.

The 23rd World Energy Congress takes place in Istanbul, Turkey from today till October 13.

Governments, business leaders, investors, and society will have to rethink the energy contract and find new ways to avoid deadlocks, allowing for timely decisions and delivery of integrated, effective and efficient infrastructure. Innovative urban planning solutions, adequate resilience response, as well as enabling policies and trade frameworks will all be required. Solutions will not solely come from within energy but energy has a historic opportunity to provide leadership to power the broader industrial revolution, the statement said.

Adapting to these new realities will require massive effort and our ability to respond will define both winners and losers, it added.--TradeArabia News Service
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport continued its impressive growth in 2016 with the commencement of the first of 10 weekly charters on October 2, starting its winter schedule earlier than the traditional October end season launch.



The northern emirates airport is expecting approximately 100,000 tourists to travel through it during 2016/17 Winter Flying Programme from Europe, CIS and Russia.



2016 has been RAK International Airports most successful year so far, punctuated with key moments such as Qatar Airways, Air India Express, and Egypt Air Cargos operational start-ups and now a full programme of winter charters.



Recognising the achievement, the chairman of RAK Department of Civil Aviation and RAK International Airport, Eng Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, praised the efforts of the team, stating: RAK Airport has worked hard and successfully to promote Ras Al Khaimah as a growing tourist destination, and as a result has attracted a number of new scheduled and charter airlines over the past few months. In doing this RAK Airport is alleviating some of the countrys airspace congestion and therefore contributing significantly to the continued growth of the UAEs aviation sector.



Sheikh Salem added: The key is not just to grow the aviation footprint of RAK Airport, but also to be a top performer in terms of operational excellence.



RAK Airport is one of the top performers in the region in terms of on-time performance, consistently scoring above 95 per cent.



Sheikh Salem also expressed his gratitude to the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.



Recently RAK Airport has also expanded the size of its arrival terminal facilities by 50 per cent in preparation for the winter flights. This completion of the expansion work has dovetailed perfectly with the commencement of the winter charter programme.



RAK Airport chief executive officer, Mohammed Qazi, has highlighted the recent growth, and remains confident that more will be seen next year.



Qazi said: We have come a long way over the last few years, and current results are due to the tremendous support we receive from the Government of Ras Al Khaimah. We have a simple philosophy, which is to control the costs, focus on safety and deliver consistently on our operational key performance indicators. - TradeArabia News Service
Monday clubs and meetings

Alcoholics Anonymous: 6:30 a.m., 917 N. Beech; 8:30 a.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 10 a.m., 328 E. A St.; noon, 500 S. Wolcott; 2 p.m, 917 N. Beech; 5:30 p.m., 456 S. Walnut; 6 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200; 7 p.m., 917 N. Beech; 8 p.m., 328 E. A. Douglas: 7:30 p.m., 628 E. Richards (upstairs in back). Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open. Casper info: 266-9578; Douglas info: (307) 351-1688.

Al-Anon: Noon, 701 S. Wolcott, St. Marks Church.

Narcotics Anonymous: Noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 7 p.m., 302 E. 2nd, Methodist Church; 8 p.m., 4700 S. Poplar (church basement). Web site: http://www.urmrna.org.

NAMI: 7 p.m., 133 W. Sixth St. Info: 234-0440.

Teen Addiction Anonymous: 3:30-4:30 p.m., Boys & Girls Club Teen Center. Info: 258-7439.

Adult Children of Alcoholics: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 12-24 Club, 500 S. Wolcott St., Suite 200.

TOPS Weight Loss: 5:30 p.m., Weight Loss Support Group TOPS #246, Wyoming Oil & Gas Building, 2211 King Blvd. Use NE door entry. Info: 265-1486.

Pumpkins with a purpose

Pumpkin sales continue through Oct. 31 at the second annual Meals on Wheels pumpkin patch. All pumpkins are grown in Wyoming. Hours of operation will be Monday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Meals On Wheels Building, 1760 E. 12th St. For more information, please call the office at 265-8659 or visit us www.mealswheels.com. Find us on Facebook under Natrona County Meals On Wheels.

Free depression screening at CWCC

Central Wyoming Counseling Center offers information about depression and other mood disorders during October from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday in its main lobby, 1430 Wilkins Circle.

Guests will learn about depression and complete a confidential written screening. Finally, each participant will discuss the results of their screening with one of CWCCs mental health professionals. Attendees will receive educational materials on depression and other mood disorders.

Story time in the patch

The First Christian Church Pumpkin Patch is open, and we are excited to again offer Storytimes in the Patch for early childhood and elementary-aged children in our community. Story times are available from Oct. 10 to 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. by appointment only and are free of charge. Children are treated to stories and information about pumpkins and fall and have the opportunity to explore the patch, take pictures and enjoy the playground. Pumpkins can also be purchased at this time. For more information, please call the FCC church office at 234.8964.

Low vision support meets

Low Vision Support Group will meet at 10 a.m., at the Casper Senior Center. The discussion this month will be centered on the difficulties of travel for the visually impaired.

Senior dancing Mondays

Free to Seniors 60 or older. Join the tap dancing group of Joyces Senior Stompers. It is fun easy clogging, the exercise for both mind and body. It helps to keep flexible, coordination and build strength. Exercise is important to increase lung capacity, burn calories, relieve stress, and it is fun. The more you challenge yourself, the more fun it is. We meet on Monday morning at 10:50 a.m. for beginners and 11:15 a.m. for intermediate at the Casper Senior Center. Call Joyce Sisk 237-4908 for more info.

Fine Arts meets

Casper Fine Arts Club will meet at Bethel Baptist Church, 3030 S. Poplar St. Business meeting at 1 p.m.; program at 1:30 p.m. Holly Bryson, local artist, will be the guest speaker. Everyone welcome. Contact President Lu Dwyer for further information 234-0606.

Pathways ribbon cutting

The Pathways Innovation Center will be dedicated at 6 p.m., following a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Building tours will be available beginning at 4 p.m. The public is welcome. The address is 3000 Independence Court, near CY Middle School off Wyoming Boulevard.

Tween Monday

The Natrona County Library will host a craft activity for students in grades 4-6 at 4 p.m. Tweens will make spooky Halloween tree pictures using watercolors and straw -blown art. All supplies provided. Call 577-READ ext. 5 for more information.

Pumpkin Patch open at FCC

The Pumpkin Patch at First Christian Church, 520 CY Ave., has over 2,200 pumpkins for sale. FCC has chosen Central Wyoming Hospice to receive 60 percent of its net proceeds from the patch this year. Patch hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

Lifeguard training begins

Are you interested in becoming a lifeguard? The City of Casper Aquatics division is holding a fall certification class.

The American Red Cross lifeguard training is a professional, state of the art course that certifies candidates in Lifeguarding, CPR, First Aid, and AED.

Upon successful completion of the class, candidates will gain valuable skills that can lead to many job opportunities. Participants must be at least 15 years old and pass a pre-course swim to take this course. The 30-hour course begins Monday, October 10 and runs through October 14 from 5 to 9 p.m.

Call 235-8395 for more information.

Pain group meets

Highland Park Community Church and The Healing Place are starting HopeKeepers. HopeKeepers is a support group designed to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of the person who lives with chronic illness or pain. Through the support group setting you will have the opportunity to grow spiritually surrounded by others who share similar circumstances, unrevealed answers, and even joys, living with chronic pain or physical pain.

The group will meet Monday evenings, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Highland Park Community Church, Rm #1327-The Prayer Room. Call The Healing Place at 265-3977 to enroll.

Halloween light house ready

The fourth annual Halloween light show at 3148 Whispering Springs is ready for viewing from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday through October. There will be candy for children on Halloween night. This show is our way to give back to our community for their outstanding support over the last five years. We have raised somewhere in the neighborhood of 8,000 pounds of food, along with cash donations for Joshuas Storehouse from our shows that we have put on. We will start the food drive for Joshuas with the Christmas light show on Nov. 25.

Casper City Council candidates forum

City Council candidates will participate in a public forum at 6:30 p.m. in the Natrona County Library Crawford Room. The forum will be moderated, with candidates having opportunities to respond to questions and concerns raised by citizens. Submit questions in person the night of the forum or in advance by emailing reference@natronacountylibrary.org. Please use City Council Forum in the subject line. The forum is free and open to all ages, sponsored by the Natrona County Library and League of Women Voters of Casper. Call 577-READ ext. 2 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information.
The public is invited to attend Unitarian Universalist Community of Casper services and other events at 1040 W. 15th St., just north of the CY Avenue Albertsons. UU Casper is a welcoming, doctrine-free church that fosters individual spiritual growth, ethical living and inclusive fellowship. UUs are people of many beliefs and backgrounds, but are aligned in the desire to make a difference for the good. Whoever you are, wherever you are on lifes journey, you are welcome here.

Services are held at 10 a.m. Sundays. This week, the program will be Compassion and Forgiveness, with Melody Haler as the service leader. On Oct. 30, guest speaker Andi Noakes will speak about her 28-day winter walk to raise money for a Laramie soup kitchen, and how that experience changed her perspective on life. Child care and a youth religious exploration program are available, and refreshments and conversation follow each service.

The UU weekly coffee talk is held at 10 a.m. Tuesdays, and the weekly meditation group meets at 4 p.m. Sundays.

For more information about these events or about Unitarian Universalism, visit uucasper.org, email news@uucasper.org, visit us on Facebook or call Laura at 259-4469.
CASPER  Health care organizations, small rural hospitals and community mental health center professionals are invited by the Prevention Management Organization of Wyoming to learn about the upcoming Zero Suicide initiative at a Wednesday meeting in Casper.

The Zero Suicide approach has proven results in reducing suicide within health care systems. Our health care partners are frequently the first resource people turn to when they are struggling, said Terresa Humphries-Wadsworth, Ph.D., director of statewide suicide prevention with the PMO.

The kickoff workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Auditorium A of the Wyoming Medical Center Support Services Building. The Zero Suicide Academy is planned for May 2017.

The workshop will be facilitated by Brian K. Ahmedani, Ph.D., a research scientist at Henry Ford Health System with appointments at the Center for Health Policy and Health Services Research and the Department of Psychiatry. He will be joined by Jan Ulrich, a senior project associate with the Zero Suicide Institute of the Education Development Center Inc. She is the former state suicide prevention coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities.

Humphries-Wadsworth noted the PMO was partnering with Wyoming Behavioral Institute, Wyoming Medical Center and the Wyoming Department of Health to bring the workshop and the upcoming Zero Suicide Academy to Wyoming.

For more information or to register, please contact Kelly Eckerdt at 307-587-4331 or keckerdt@pmowyo.org.
BILLINGS, Mont.  Billings police say they arrested a 72-year-old man after four young people said he fired a gun into the street while they were walking their dogs.

Police Sgt. Matt Lennick says the suspect told police there was some kind of disturbance and he thought he was protecting the young people.

Lennick says unidentified the man was later arrested on suspicion of assault with a weapon.

The people walking their dogs told police the man pointed the gun at them after he fired the shot.

No injuries were reported.
Monday is a federal holiday, Columbus Day, in most states, including Wyoming.

Yet in a number of cities the citizens will celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day.

This month, Denver became the ninth city to rename the holiday, joining Boulder and Durango in Colorado and others, including Eugene, Oregon; Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Also on the new list is Bozeman, Montana.

The new name is the result of an international movement by native Americans to make the holiday a celebration of the history and contributions of indigenous cultures in the Americas.

This movement has altered the perception of Columbus by generations like mine who were taught that he was the iconic Italian explorer who, against all odds, found a new world.

Columbus sailed the ocean blue in fourteen hundred and ninety two, the rhyme went.

With that exalted hero image, Congress set aside the second Monday of October as a federal holiday honoring Columbus in 1934.

In Wyoming and many other states, it is not a state holiday.

The movement to oust Columbus and to honor native Americans instead has been spreading, but slowly.

In 1990 South Dakota renamed Columbus Day to Native American Day, an official state holiday.

Since 1992, citizens in Berkeley, California, have observed Indigenous Peoples Day.

A long list of cities have passed resolutions in favor of native American, without mandating a change of name.

The movement hasnt reached Wyoming.

Several calls to Cheyenne government offices and the Association of Municipalities last week found no one who has heard of any such movement here.

Nationally the Native American activists claim the federal holiday honoring Christopher Columbus with parades and other events fails to recognize the history of colonialism, enslavements, land grabs and even atrocities that followed the Italian explorers arrival in the Americas in 1492.

Columbus Day supporters say the holiday celebrates centuries of cultural exchange between America and Europe, commemorates the explorer and honors Italian-Americans who have been discriminated against in this country.

The issue has been a real hot potato in Colorado.

During the 1992 parade in Denver marking the 500th anniversary of Columbus voyage protesters blocked the parade route for several hours. The parade wasnt held again until 2000.

Last year the Colorado Legislature defeated a measure to make Indigenous Peoples Day a state holiday.

The idea of replacing Columbus Day came up first in 1977 from the International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas, sponsored by the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, according to internet sources.

After the conference, some people from Northern California formed the Bay Area Indian Alliance to protest a celebration that had been organized by the U.S. Congress for the San Francisco Bay area on Columbus Day in 1992. The delegation included sailing replicas of Columbus ships under the Golden Gate Bridge and reenacting their discovery of America.

In 1992 the city council of Berkeley, California, declared Oct. 12 A Day of Solidarity With Indigenous People to replace Columbus Day.

The alliance later organized the Resistance 500 task force, which claimed Columbus was responsible for the genocide of indigenous people.

Since 1993, Berkeley has held an annual powwow and festival on that day.

During that period Columbus was being shredded by historians.

The kinder descriptions say he can be admired for his bravery in sailing the ocean blue which he thought extended from the west coast of Europe to the eastern coast of Asia with nothing in between.

But experts give him little credit for anything else. They say he didnt discover America; the Vikings did, and that he was ignorant about geography and was greedy to boot.

Poor Chris. Our heroes have feet of clay.
Three years ago, Tyler Hall sat in a small booth on the far end of one the largest electronic shows in the world, hoping to get some attention for a startup company called SmartThings.

Last year, he was in the spotlight booth of the Consumer Electronics Show, a few months after SmartThings had been purchased by Samsung.

It was a wow moment, said Hall, 30.

The Tucson native persuaded Samsung to open a satellite office downtown, from which customer care for SmartThings is run.

Opened in September 2015 with eight employees, the Samsung division in Tucson now has 37 and is expanding this month, said Adam James, the Tucson office manager.

Samsung SmartThings Hub connects compatible smart devices including lights, speakers, locks, thermostats, sensors and more.

It makes some of those smart devices, but also works with more than 150 other devices like Philips Hue lights, Bose speakers and Netgear Arlo Cameras as well as Amazon Echo and Google Home.

Works well with others

A water leak sensor can detect and notify a homeowner of a leaky faucet. An electrical outlet adapter can get the teapot heating up as you drive home from work.

Because SmartThings is an open platform, others can create apps to work within the system.

Hall learned about SmartThings through his tech contacts and joined the emerging business in 2012. The team then launched a Kickstarter campaign to seek funding for the app.

I thought it was the coolest thing Id ever seen, said Hall, a 2004 graduate of University High School.

Samsung purchased SmartThings in 2014. Reports in trade publications put the sale price at around $200 million.

Operating quietly on the second floor at 20 E. Congress, many people express surprise to learn that Samsung is in Tucson, Hall said.

Weve been so heads-down, going through the transition, he said. We werent trying to keep it a secret.

This month, the company will expand into the basement space of the building and add several employees.

A 2008 graduate of the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Arizona, Hall started his first company, Student Experts, with four partners.

It began as a white-glove tech support company, providing labor and assistance to small businesses looking to expand their technology. In three years it grew to 100 employees.

The tech-support arm of the operation merged with company Mural.

UA talent pool

Student Experts, which now provides internet and content-marketing services, has an office above Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink at 101 E. Pennington St.

Hall moved to Washington, D.C., for a year for SmartThings, but wanted to return to Tucson, where he believed the talent pool of students graduating from the UA was under-appreciated.

After Samsung bought SmartThings, Hall promoted the idea of having a satellite office in Tucson to draw the young talent together.

As vice president of operations for Samsungs SmartThings, Hall now commutes between offices in Tucson and Mountain View, California.

His visits to Tucson always coincide with Wildcat home games.

Its the weirdest coincidence, he said with a grin.

beta playground

Halls home is a beta playground for running the app and adding to its capability.

Its a wireless version of home security, he said. When you go to bed, you can click Good Night and it will turn off the lights, set the thermostat and lock the front door.

The system can be set so lights turn on as you move from room to room.

If youre out of town, the app can send a notification if a door or window is opened. A camera can be added to get a video clip of who comes in.

Then youve got the burglars on film, he said.

Broker Bob Davis, with Tango Commercial Real Estate, was a judge when Hall and his team won a 2008 new venture competition at UA.

He is a very smart and equally organized, visionary and collegial, Davis said.

He said Hall was instrumental in convincing Samsung to expand to Tucson because of his love for the city.

His view of Tucson in general, and downtown in particular, as an environment where emerging tech companies can be successful is clearly based on availability and affordability of a talented workforce, Davis said.

Hall shrugs at the kudos but is admittedly in awe of the journey.
James G. Davis had a quiet voice  No one could ever hear him, said his wife, Mary Anne.

It was his paintings that spoke loudly, and with eloquence, humor and rich narratives. The works  often large-scaled, colorful and complex, and always imposing  have been shown across Europe and America, and are in collections of such museums as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the National Gallery and Hirshhorn Museum, both in Washington, and the Tucson Museum of Art.

The University of Arizona professor emeritus succumbed to pneumonia late last month at his home in the Oracle artist commune Rancho Linda Vista, where he has lived since he came to Tucson in 1968. His wife, also his muse and frequent model, was with him. He was 85.

Davis, said Terry Etherton of Etherton Gallery, was one of the best artists living here.

His large-scale paintings are just spectacular, said Etherton, who has three of Davis works hanging in his gallery. Bold, edgy.  His work is almost reportage. They reflect his travels and his experiences.

Theres nobody (here) thats had a bigger career, said artist and Davis friend Jim Waid, whose own career is impressive. He showed in Berlin, New York  he was a force of nature.

Bizarre

and interesting

His life was totally bizarre and interesting, says Mary Anne Davis about her husband.

James G. Davis was born in Springfield, Missouri, one of six brothers. His mother died when he was just three, and the children were scattered around. While the older ones went to various family members, he and his younger brother were sent to an orphanage. About a year later, his father managed to bring them all back together.

He was 11 when a train accident left him with a permanent injury. His brother and playmates would go to the trainyard and chase the cars, said Mary Anne. They had a game they called, Dare. Jim went under a car and lost half his foot.

When he recovered, his family moved to Wichita. He dropped out of school when he was in the 9th grade and survived on odd jobs, finally landing one as a bellhop. He was there for 10 years, said Mary Anne. He became night captain with only half a foot.

While he struggled to survive, he drew. And he loved it. He eventually went to Wichita State University, where the head of the art department told him that if he could pass the entrance exam they would admit him. He passed and eventually became so proficient he was leading classes.

Thats where Mary Anne met him.

She had signed up for a class he taught. I got such a crush on him, said Mary Anne, whose relationship with James lasted 54 years. During a break in one of the classes, she decided to stay and paint while others went out for coffee.

I turned around and Jim was there. He said, Do you want to go get a beer? I put my brushes down and we went to Pizza Hut, got a beer, and we never went back to class.

Life in Tucson

Davis got his MFA and he and Mary Anne eventually settled in Tucson, where Davis friend, artist Bruce McGrew, clued him in on an opening at the UA and a place to live at Rancho Linda Vista.

The Davises son, Turner, also an accomplished artist, was born and grew up on the ranch. At the UA, he took an undergraduate class from his father.

The first two weeks of class, he didnt say anything to anybody, recalled Turner, who teaches at Arizona State University. He just walked around. What he was doing was looking, really looking.

Really looking was key to his teaching, and to his art. A lot of his paintings are about the observations of everyday people and their struggles and pursuits, said Turner. He was the champion of the everyman. Theres a struggle to represent the daily conflicts and loneliness and aspirations of the people all around him.

Waid finds Davis paintings of bar scenes particularly intriguing.

They are big, big huge paintings. They are pretty amazing and you realize theres always the observation of the world around him in there. But then he would stick in a collage just to shake things up.

Davis commitment to work was deep and constant. He painted when he traveled to Germany, had a studio at homes in Colorado and Nova Scotia, and kept a studio at Rancho Linda Vista.

He was extremely disciplined, said Turner. He got home and would go to the studio every day. He taught me a ton about that discipline.

His commitment to his work was phenomenal, recalled Waid.

Still, he made time to travel and to collect an odd assortment of objects that would crowd his house and studio, perhaps for inspiration.

In his house, there was a stuffed gorilla in one corner, papier-mache men, a collection of all kinds of strange, Davis-like things, Waid said. Every shelf was jam-packed with strange things; it was surreal and wonderful.

Big gruff guy

Davis could be imposing.

When I first met him, I was a little intimidated by him, said Etherton, who first showed Davis at his gallery in 1982.

He carried himself as a big gruff guy, a little difficult, a little argumentative. I think he would antagonize just to get to people.

At the same time, Etherton said, Jim was incredibly easy to work with. He was always incredibly respectful.

Davis retired from the UA in 1990, and filled the following years with travel, exhibitions and, especially, painting. As he grew older, he slowed down, and stopped painting about five years ago. But he took up the harmonica, and found joy in playing it for others.

Ill miss his shuffling around the kitchen and sitting down and playing harmonica for us, said Turner, who remembers the long walks he took with his father when he was a young boy.

He would tell me things, talk about metaphor, he said. Im still trying to understand the concepts he talked about. Ill miss those mysterious conversations."

He melded into a very beautiful person, so sweet and gentle, said Mary Anne. He wanted to go somewhere every day, he loved a glass of wine, and he never stopping saying, I love you.

A celebration of James G. Davis life is planned for 2 p.m. Oct. 22 at Rancho Linda Vista.
Chiricahua National Monument in Southeastern Arizona was once the home of Apaches, and they had their own name for the place: Land of the Standing-Up Rocks.

Take one look at the monuments landscape and youre likely to agree that they came up with a pretty good name.

The National Park Service site, tucked away in the Chiricahua Mountains southeast of Willcox, is a wonderland of standing-up rocks: pinnacles, spires, sheer stone columns and other rock formations.

Chiricahua National Monument is truly a hidden gem among the public lands administered by the National Park Service, says Allen Etheridge, superintendent of the monument. In some ways it has not yet been discovered despite it being close to large population centers such as Tucson.

Only about 46,000 people visit Chiricahua annually, so often when you are there you may have a trail to yourself, Etheridge said.

Meanwhile, Chiricahuas reputation as a hidden gem has inspired a coalition of Southern Arizona residents and communities to campaign for having the monument redesignated as a national park. U.S Rep. Martha McSally, a Republican representing Arizonas Second Congressional District, agrees with the idea, and on Sept. 27 she introduced legislation in Congress that would redesignate the site as Chiricahua National Park.

ORIGIN OF ROCKS

The story behind the rocks isnt completely understood, but scientists trace the history to a volcanic eruption about 27 million years ago.

The eruption spread ash over a vast area, and the ash particles fused together to form a type of rock known as rhyolite.

Uplifting and other geologic forces later created joints and cracks in the rocks. Then, over the eons, the erosive forces of water, wind and ice slowly sculpted the rock into the formations seen today.

CRITTERS

Superintendent Etheridge says the monument also provides excellent habitat for wildlife, with 86 percent of its land set aside as federally designated wilderness.

Chiricahua hosts an abundance of wildlife such as black bear, mountain lions, deer, coatimundi, wild turkeys, javelina, ring tails, and much more, he says. Plus, there are over 20 miles of great hiking trails and a small campground in which reservations can be made.

GET A VIEW

A drive on the monuments eight-mile Bonita Canyon Drive provides a good overview of the dramatic lithic landscape.

The route takes visitors through spectacular, crane-your-neck vertical scenery with seemingly endless variations on the rock-formation theme.

The drive ends at vista-rich Massai Point where options range from simply taking in the panoramic views to taking a hike into the rocky landscape.

One trail worth a try is the 3.3-mile Echo Canyon Loop. Made up of segments of three connected trails, the loop route leads hikers into the heart of the monuments ahhh-inspiring scenery.

FARAWAY RANCH

The historic Faraway Ranch site, a short distance off the road between the monument entrance and visitor center, offers a glimpse of life in the area long before the monument was established in 1924.

Beginning as a simple homestead in the late 1880s, the ranch dwelling was expanded from a cabin to the much larger building visitors see today.

GET TO CHIRICAHUA
Dear Amy: I was adopted as an infant, and through an agency I tried to contact each of my biological parents.

I have not heard back from either of my birth parents and am respecting their decision not to contact me.

I assume my contact might have come as a shock, especially to my biological father, who might not realize he had fathered a child.

I am OK with not hearing from them.

What I am confused about is the issue with my half-siblings.

As far as I know, these siblings do not even know I exist.

While part of me thinks that is unfair and that they should be able to decide on their own whether or not to communicate with me, another part of me says I shouldn't contact them (even though they are adults like me).

I don't want to create any stress or tension in their families.

Is my adoption my "secret" to share with a potential half-sibling?

I don't want to upset anyone, but family is very important to me and I know I would want a half-sibling to find me, but maybe that's just me.

 Conflicted

Dear Conflicted: You should walk this journey carefully, and with professional, friendship, and family help and support.

You have the right to try to locate and contact any family members, and with the onset of social media, as well as companies that can decode your DNA, there is a dramatically increased interest in finding bio-relatives, even among people who were not separated by adoption.

There is no right answer here, and you are appropriately sensitive to the potential impact on siblings, but you should also be mindful of the impact on you.

Are you prepared for more silence or possible outright rejection from others who are biologically related to you? If so, then you should gingerly reach out with an open heart and mind. I hope your queries are received enthusiastically and with affection, but as you know from reading this column, families are complicated.

Dear Amy: In one of your columns, you responded to a question from a reader by citing young boys punching girls in the arm as "flirting."

Reader responses, which have accused you of sanctioning "abuse," expose an interesting trend.

We are attaching very adult words and motivations to children's behavior. Of course children should be taught not to hit each other, but it is not abuse. When children do this, it is because they don't understand how to express their feelings in words.

A child should not be labeled an "abuser," but should be taught how to express him or herself in a socially appropriate way.

 Faithful Fan

Dear Fan: I agree with your take on this, and thank you.

In my childhood, I was a bit punchy when I liked a boy, so it isn't only boys who need to be taught that punching isn't cool.

Labeling this sort of physical contact between children as "abuse" is inappropriate.

Dear Amy: As a clinical psychologist, I appreciate and envy how direct you can be with your readers.

Regarding the letter from "Worried Parents," I understand your suspicions about the 50-year-old man who invited the parents' 19-year-old son (and other young men) on trips to see sporting events.

However, I disagree with part of your advice.

I will change the details slightly to show you why: Would you advise a concerned parent to contact and set limits on a wealthy 49-year-old man whom their 20-year-old daughter met and wants to go with on a weekend trip to New York City to shop and see Broadway shows?

I doubt it.

Sounds a bit more like a romantic movie plot, no?

I wonder if unconscious societal homophobia (i.e., the homosexual as dangerous predator of young boys) factored into your advice

But I agree that the parents, in both cases, should freely express their concerns to their child and offer their support should the need arise.

Thank you for the hours of entertaining and thought-provoking reading your column provides.

 Psychologist in LA

Dear Psychologist: If you think I would perceive a 49-year-old man taking my 20-year-old daughter on a trip to New York as the plot of a "romantic" movie, then you have seriously misread me, as well as described the plot to the creepiest movie, ever.

Other readers worried about homophobic undertones regarding my answer, but I'm not a homophobe, I'm a parent with an active "yikes" meter, so I can handle it.
Three candidates are vying for the District 5 seat on the Governing Board of Pima Community College, which has been under accreditation sanctions since 2013 due to problems meeting quality standards.

The main point on which the candidates differ is whether the college is in good hands under the leadership of Chancellor Lee Lambert.

Martha Durkin, a Lambert supporter, is a former attorney for Tucson Unified School District and a retired deputy city manager for the city of Tucson. She was appointed to the District 5 seat last year to fill it temporarily after a previous board member resigned.

She said shes impressed by what shes seen so far. I see a lot of people who are working very, very hard, to fix things, she said. But the amount of work and the complexity make it difficult.

Durkin is the favorite of the PCC boards other members, who also support the chancellor. Most of them have donated to her campaign. Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and former Mayor Bob Walkup also are among her backers.

Challenger Luis A. Gonzales is being backed by a citizens group that sees Lambert as ill-qualified  he has no prior experience running a large educational institution  and his administration as prone to secrecy.

Gonzales, a former state senator who spent eight years on the Legislatures education committee, also is a former director of government operations for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and worked briefly as city manager for the city of South Tucson before his retirement.

Gonzales said Durkin is part of a rubber-stamp board that doesnt ask tough questions of the Lambert administration.

His financial supporters include Ted Maxwell, vice president of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, and two highly regarded community-college experts: Augustine Gallego, a past chairman of several national higher education groups and Zelema Harris, a former commissioner with PCCs accreditor who worked at the school before and after Lamberts 2013 arrival.

A third contender, Francis Saitta, is on the ballot but doesnt appear to have a campaign website and did not provide a campaign statement to the Arizona Daily Star. Saitta, a former adjunct instructor of math and biology at PCC, sought the same seat in 2012, when he finished last with less than 20 percent of the vote.

None of the candidates stands to gain financially if elected. PCC board seats are unpaid positions with a term of six years.

Durkin said Lambert has made notable strides in areas such as workforce training and classroom upgrades and said shell push to keep improvements on track if elected.

Gonzales said it is hard to trust an administration that doesnt always follow laws that protect the publics right to know. For example, PCC officials have discussed a number of contentious topics  such as recent problems with the schools aviation program  without providing advance notice to taxpayers as required by law.

District 5, which encompasses central Tucson and a large swath of the citys west side, is the only district with a PCC election race this year. Two other board seats up for grabs will each be filled by acclamation because no other qualified candidates signed up.

The District 2 seat will be filled by Demion Clinco, a former state lawmaker and past president of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation, who was appointed temporarily last year when a former PCC board member resigned.

In District 4, the seat being vacated by incumbent Scott Stewart will be occupied by former University of Arizona Provost Meredith Hay.

The election is Nov. 8.
Biotech seed giant Monsanto and Pima County are negotiating a possible incentive package that would substantially reduce the property tax burden of a planned Monsanto greenhouse in the Avra Valley.

The basis on which the greenhouse parcels tax bill is determined would be reduced by two-thirds under the proposal.

A statewide tax research group opposes such incentives as unfair to other taxpayers, but County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry says that in the long run, business incentives can reduce other taxpayers burdens. The new business, in this case Monsanto, would still bring in significant additional tax revenue.

The Arizona Tax Research Association says, however, that the state should lower tax-assessment ratios for all property owners rather than give some companies tax breaks, which it calls picking winners and losers.

An environmental activist group, Rising Tide Tucson, has announced it will fight tax breaks for Monsanto.

EMAILS REVEAL DETAILS

Pima County officials had kept details of the incentive discussions under wraps.

But information about the Monsanto proposal  including the Avra Valley location  surfaced last week through email exchanges between PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP officials, representing Monsanto, and Pima County Joint Technical Education District, a technical-educational program.

Monsanto has offered to invest $100 million in the greenhouse and hire 30 to 60 people to work there, said an email from a Monsanto representative to JTED.

Monsanto is shopping the proposal to JTED and two other educational institutions whose property tax revenues could be reduced by a tax break for the seed company: Pima Community College and the Marana School District.

The greenhouse, where corn and soybean seeds would be grown for research purposes, would be built in unincorporated Pima County along Twin Peaks Road just west of Marana. Monsanto officials hope to start construction by the end of this year.

The parcel where the greenhouse would be built is currently owned by the Kai farming family, according to the County Assessors Office.

Typically, an Arizona farming operations property-tax bill is based on an assessed value worth 15 percent of the parcels full cash market value. The incentive package would place the assessed value at 5 percent of full value.

For Monsanto to qualify for the tax incentive, Pima County would have to put the greenhouse parcel into a federally designated foreign trade zone. Such zones operate under authority of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

In a foreign trade zone, which already exists in Pima County but would have to be expanded, companies use special procedures that also allow reduced tariffs on foreign merchandise, minimized processing fees and expedited transport of goods from ports of entry.

Any tax breaks for companies operating inside such a zone must be approved locally.

To get federal approval for the trade zone designation, Monsanto must also obtain letters from affected school districts saying they dont object to it, PriceWaterhouse senior tax associate Sharvil Sheth wrote in an email last month to Tina Norton, JTEDs assistant superintendent and chief financial officer. The two exchanged several emails over the proposal in the past month, public records show.

JTEDs Governing Board will discuss the Monsanto foreign trade zone proposal at its Oct. 18 meeting.

COUNTY EXPERTISE CITED

In 2015, the JTED board approved a similar trade zone proposal for a HomeGoods distribution warehouse inside the city of Tucson.

We do routinely approve these things. We rely on the county for their expertise on economic development, JTED spokesman Greg DAnna said. If its going to bring in jobs, that usually outweighs the tax revenue we would receive anyway. When the county asks us, we dont question their expertise in economic development. We usually take their word.

Typically, when such tax abatements are given, the state picks up the difference, Norton said.

Huckelberry said he would recommend that Monsanto give all three school districts some aid to make up the difference from any tax revenues that are lost, if necessary.

A Monsanto spokeswoman and two officials for PriceWaterHouseCoopers, which has represented Monsanto in local negotiations , declined last week to discuss the negotiations .

As part of Monsantos due diligence process, our representatives are meeting with various community leaders, along with different permitting authorities. Details on those conversations havent been made public, said Christi Dixon, a spokeswoman for the St. Louis-area company. We look forward to sharing more information with the community when we can.

Marana School District Superintendent Doug Wilson said his staff met with two PriceWaterhouse officials on Sept. 22 at district offices and have planned another conversation with the company.

Wilson wasnt ready to take a stance on the tax breaks yet but said that if Monsanto is going to operate inside school district boundaries, We want to make sure our kids benefit from that partnership. Science classes or student internships involving Monsanto could be examples of such benefits, he said.

The national environmental issues that activist groups have raised about Monsanto are not necessarily on our radar screen, Wilson said.

When we first heard of this, I went out and talked to ... two or three farmers in our community and they were all supportive. It was really a benefit from a seed standpoint for them to be able to do experiments with Monsanto. ... They were more drought-resistant and disease-resistant. I didnt hear the other side. The key for some of our farmers is to make sure that they have seeds and a higher yield.

SECRECY, concerns

on the ENVIRONMENT

Rising Tide Tucson says its opposition to the tax incentives will be based on what activists view as Monsantos poor track record on issues such as the health impacts of Roundup, an herbicide commonly used to kill weeds and other invasive plants, particularly in farm fields.

The World Health Organization has declared Roundup a probable human carcinogen, but Monsanto has challenged that assessment, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now reviewing the issue.

Activists say Monsantos widespread use of genetically modified seeds and its opposition to mandatory labeling of foods with GMOs will also become issues here, although the company has said it will use predominantly non-GMO seeds in its Avra Valley greenhouse.

Martha Dominguez of Rising Tide Tucson said, I want to make sure that the (county) supervisors hear from citizens who feel, number one, that this contract with Monsanto is being done in secrecy.

What is a government official doing signing contracts with private organizations, especially companies like Monsanto? asked Dominguez, whose group is affiliated with a global Rising Tide organization that has lobbied on climate change and other social and environmental issues.

Huckelberry, however, made it clear Friday that he doesnt think Monsantos national record should be an issue here. He said he believes its local environmental impacts will be minimal.

My impacts are traditional land-use impacts  air quality, traffic, water use, he said. GMOs, thats not our issue of interest or specialty. Its pretty irrelevant to this discussion because we have no regulatory authority over agricultural production. Its all been taken away by the state.

TAX IMPACTS DEBATED

One reason Pima County has to give big incentives to attract companies such as Monsanto is that its property tax rates for businesses are high on a national scale, said Arizona Tax Research Association senior analyst Sean McCarthy.

In another example of a county economic development incentive, Pima County supervisors approved an economic development agreement in January to spend $14.5 million on a corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility for World View Enterprises, and another $500,000 on a balloon launch pad for World View.

McCarthy cited a 2015 study from two nonprofit groups that showed Pima County ranked high nationally on various classes of business-related property tax rates. The study was prepared by the Lincoln Institute for Land Policy and the Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence.

McCarthys arguments miss the point, Huckelberry countered.

Assume vacant farmland is valued at $1,000 per acre and that the owner pays property taxes using the 15 percent assessment basis. That produces about $800 worth of county property taxes, he said.

Now, consider another property thats improved with $100 million worth of capital investment and pays property taxes based on assessments valued at 5 percent of the propertys full cash value, he said. Such a parcel would be about $200,000 in county property taxes, allowing other county taxpayers to pay less, Huckelberry said.

Huckelberry cautioned that hes not ready to formally recommend the package and that a proposal wont come to the Board of Supervisors until November or December. Asked if he thought the county and Monsanto are close to agreement on incentives, Huckelberry replied that he didnt know and referred the question to Monsanto.

Anything that expands the tax base (means) that other taxpayers pay less, Huckelberry said. Under those circumstances, I would obviously be favorably inclined to recommend it to the board.
The city of Tucson finally has one answer to its demands that the Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders campaigns pay the roughly $125,000 the city says the two groups owe for police protection at March rallies at the Tucson Convention Center.

A lawyer representing Sanders rebuffed a formal demand by City Attorney Mike Rankin for $44,013, saying the campaign never asked for police protection and suggested it should bill the Secret Service .

The U.S. Secret Service typically made arrangements for all security matters with regard to Senator Sanders during his presidential campaign, wrote Brad Deutsch, a lawyer for Bernie 2016.

Therefore, to the extent the Secret Service independently contacted the Tucson Police Department ... to assist in its security detail, the law enforcement organization should discuss cost-sharing matters directly with the Secret Service.

The Trump campaign, which received a similar letter demanding it pay an $81,837 bill for police services, has not responded to the city.

While the city has the legal authority to pursue a lawsuit to get reimbursed , Rankin says it is up to the City Council to decide whether to do so.

The city isnt alone in getting left with a giant bill for police protection, said Mayor Jonathan Rothschild.

He said his federal lobbyist has talked to Boston, Dallas and Seattle, none of which has been paid. Rothschild noted that the National League of Cities and Towns is aware of the issue and has been pushing for federal reforms that would allow cities to be reimbursed for such costs.

Rothschild said he wont close the door on suing both campaigns, but wants to do more research.

Id like to collect the money, obviously, Rothschild said.

I want to review with the city attorney more carefully the existing law, the contracts that were made. I am not for filing a lawsuit if in fact we are not going to be successful.

Some 180 Tucson police officers worked security at the Trump rally , which was marked by several protests and disruptions during his speech. It attracted about 5,000 people.

A night earlier, Tucson police assigned 76 officers to a rally organized for Sanders, also held at the TCC. Crowd estimates suggest Sanders had about 7,000 people at the event.

Meanwhile, a rally the same weekend as Trumps event at Sunnyside High School featuring former President Bill Clinton on the stump for his wife, Hillary, cost the district about $3,000. Her campaign recently reimbursed the district.

The city chose not to bill the Trump campaign for security at a recent event held at the Fox Theatre that featured his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, a city spokeswoman confirmed.
A nearly $500,000 federal grant has been awarded to Pima County to develop a job center and training program for minimum-security jail inmates.

The program, which will have a staff of three, is expected to begin recruiting 150 inmates in March, said India Davis, corrections bureau chief for the Pima County Sheriffs Department, which runs the jail.

The U.S. Department of Labor funding would establish the job center to provide services and training to prepare inmates for the job market in hopes that they would not return to jail, Davis said.

Criteria for the inmates  both women and men  to be accepted into the voluntary program includes that their sentence cannot be for more than 180 days.

The services and job training are aimed at those close to finishing their jail time and will prepare them to re-enter the work force, said Regina Kelly, county director of the Grants and Data Office.

Inmates needs would be assessed, including their skills for employment, education or job training.

Staff members would work with them on attaining their GED, enrollment in classes at Pima Community College or job programs, said Kelly.

The county is partnering with nearly a dozen other entities to help inmates transition into the community and work force. In addition to PCC, the agencies include the countys Department of Community Services, Employment and Training; Arizonas Wagner-Peyser Employment Service and Vocational Rehabilitation programs; Tucson Urban League Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training; and the Community Food Banks Caridad Kitchen.

Inmates would be released to attend job interviews and be provided with travel to and from the interviews, Kelly said.

A judge would look at the inmates progress and could release them to their homes, where they would be monitored by GPS, Davis said.

Once the sentences are completed, the program will offer support services such as housing, health services, continued training through the countys Sullivan Jackson Employment Center, PCC or other job programs. Areas of study could include construction, manufacturing trades, culinary arts or computer trades, including cyber security.

Staff would be looking for prisoners who are compliant, cooperative and willing to change to improve their lives, said Davis. They also could take part in counseling and substance-abuse treatment.

The Department of Labor would analyze the program to see how what effect it has on recidivism rates.

Depending on the outcome, the department could support funding similar projects nationwide, said Davis.

Meanwhile, the county is committed to continuing the job-training and employment center in the jail, Kelly said.

We have the commitment of the Sheriffs Department to absorb those workers into the system, including the office space and infrastructure to maintain the program, she said.

We have to invest in new programs rather than invest in building a new jail, Kelly said.
OPINION: "Well, I finished by telling this person I knew his grandparents were huge Franklin Delano Roosevelt supporters. After being asked what point I was trying to make, I responded with something the late president once said: 'Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves. And the only way they could do this is by not voting,'" writes Tucsonan Mary Stanik.
Copper hummingbird feeders

In some of her pieces, Nancy Biggins adds an art element such as a hummingbird and a dragonfly when making her copper hummingbird feeders which she has on display at the Green Valley Farmers Market. It was the demand for her feeders that prompted her to quit her job at the museum and pursue this artistic endeavor. The feeders are bee-proof and drip free.
PHOENIX  John McCain has finally jumped off the Donald Trump train.

McCain said Saturday he finally had enough after hearing Trumps sexist comments about women.

The states senior senator joins counterpart Jeff Flake, who said months ago he could not back Trump. And that was before the disclosure Friday of audio tapes of a 2005 conversation Trump had with Billy Bush, who at the time was hosting Access Hollywood.

The billionaire issued both a video statement and a tweet saying he still has support and does not intend to withdraw. But Flake, in his own tweet Saturday, said Trump is wrong about his level of support.

He needs to withdraw from the race, Flake wrote.

A parade of federal, state and local GOP officials and candidates has abandoned Trump in the wake of the release of the audio tapes.

But not everyone who was condemning Trump was ready to jump ship.

Gov. Doug Ducey added his voice Saturday to the chorus of Republicans blasting the candidates for his comments.

In a prepared statement, Ducey called Trumps statements insulting and terribly demeaning to women, and I disavow them 100 percent.

They are completely unacceptable, the governor said.

Angela and I have three boys and we work hard every day to raise them the right way and to have the utmost respect for women, Ducey said in his statement. We should demand the same from our leaders, especially those who want to occupy the White House, the highest office in the land.

But the governor, who has endorsed Trump for president, stopped short of saying he would not vote for his partys nominee. Gubernatorial press aide Daniel Scarpinato said there would be no further comment Saturday.

Also stopping short of saying she will not vote for Trump is Congresswoman Martha McSally, who is seeking another term. McSally had not previously endorsed Trump.

Trumps comments are disgusting, she said in a statement. Joking about sexual assault is unacceptable. Im appalled.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said he remains a Trump supporter, and that an earlier tweet saying he wont support the candidate was sent by a staffer without his consent.

Former Gov. Jan Brewer pronounced herself repulsed by the detestable language Trump used  but not so repulsed as to cause her to yank her support.

There is too much at stake if we elect Hillary Clinton, Brewer said in a Facebook post, saying the Democratic nominees actions have literally put our national security at risk with her emails, illegal basement server and destruction of evidence.

Brewer said Clinton implemented pay-to-play, trading access to her as secretary of state for donations to the Clinton Foundation and then, At the end of the day, she just lies about all of this.

Also sticking with Trump is Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, another early Trump backer.

Hes got good policies, said Arpaio, engaged in his own re-election campaign. What happened 10-11 years ago his is his problem.

Im not condoning what he said, Arpaio said, adding that the statements Trump made are what everybody does in bathrooms and locker rooms.
NOGALES, Arizona  Farmers from Mexico bring nearly 20 million pounds of produce across the border into this once-bustling border town each year, according to statistics by U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2014. From there, they sell it to distribution companies, who then sell it to grocery stores.

The problem happens, though, when the food is not sold. It can languish in Nogales, headed for landfills.

If the product look bad, we dump them, said Fernando Rodriguez, who works in sales at Franks Distribution in Nogales, one of the hundreds of warehouses stringing along the highway from Nogales to Tucson, 70 miles away.

If I know the product is consumable, we donate them, he added.

That unwanted produce provides a lifeline for many outlets that deal with hunger in Southern Arizona.

For example, more than 200 food-distribution companies throughout Southern Arizona send unwanted produce to the Borderlands Food Bank in Nogales. That accounts for approximately 25 to 40 million pounds of food that otherwise would be dumped into landfills each year.

Grocery stores dont always buy the produce that crosses the border from farms in Mexico. Sometimes there is no market for a particular fruit or vegetable, or the market is too high or too low. Sometimes the product is too small or too big.

Depending on consumer demand for any particular product at any time, grocery stores choose to buy  or deny. When they dont buy the produce, the distribution companies have few options. They can either take it to a landfill (at a cost to them)  or find a way to get it into a donation distribution network like Borderlands Food Bank.

In 2014, the United States Department of Agriculture reported that between 30 to 40 percent of the American food supply is wasted.

Most happens at the distributional level  like when it cant be sold to grocery stores.

A lot of food waste is happening in the transit process, said Michaela Webb, a University of Arizona student and worker for the Compost Cats, a student group that collects food waste and scraps from the city of Tucson, composts it and turns it into soil. If they look at a semi-truck and deem that more than 10 percent of the food will be bad before the time it reaches its destination, they throw the whole of the truck  all the contents away.

The Borderlands Food Bank works with the distribution companies at its warehouse in Nogales to take the produce and give it to people who need it. The food bank has set up a program throughout Southern Arizona, Tucson and Phoenix, called Produce on Wheels  With Out Waste. (P.O.W. W.O.W.). Its like a farmers market that runs on donations. Anyone can come and contribute $10 to shop for up to 60 pounds of produce.

Yolanda Soto, the chief executive officer and president of Borderlands Food Bank, said on Friday that progress has been made in coping with food waste.

For us it really went down because we were able to distribute a lot of it through the P.O.W. W.O.W program and the majority that we were not able to, that perished, went to animal feed this year.

Leftovers are given to registered ranchers who come and pick it up, or the food bank will even drop it off for them.

Borderlands Food Bank has rescued over 27 million pounds this year. Of that 61 percent went to families in Arizona, 10 percent went outside the U.S., and 16 percent went to sister state of Sonora. Only 13 percent was leftover, but most of that went to become animal feed or was composted. Only 11 percent of the 13 percent of leftovers went to the landfill.

However, the Borderlands Food Bank is just one organization with a 13,000-square-foot warehouse in Nogales (it also has the advantage of being able to use prison inmates as more than half of its workforce). Its scope is big, but the needs are bigger.
Help India!

By Shafeeq Hudawi, TwoCircles.net

Thiruvananthapuram: Taking note of the poor representation of teaching staff belonging to SC/ST sections in aided colleges in the state, the Kerala Government has decided to bring in a new law to ensure due quota for the candidates belonging these sections.

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AK Balan, state minister for law and welfare of schedule castes



Despite orders by the Kerala High Court and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to ensure reservation in universities, deemed universities, colleges, and other grant-in-aid institutions and centres, the representation of Dalits and Adivasis remain a matter of concern.

A petition filed by a group activists in Kerala High Court last year had contended that there were only 11 teachers from SC/ST communities appointed in aided colleges. This happened at a time when a total of 7,199 teachers were working in these institutions. In educational institutions, 15% reservation has been granted to Scheduled Castes while it is 7.5% for the Scheduled Tribes.

Minister for Law and Welfare of Scheduled Castes A K Balans office said that the department was working on a proposal ahead of bringing in the new law. We have to act in accordance with the court orders regarding the privileges of self financing colleges, run by the managements belonging to minority communities. There is the possibility of the minority colleges approaching the court and claiming exemption under Article 30 and 31 of the Constitution on the grounds that it infringed on minority rights. The law will be framed after addressing such issues, the office told Twocircles.net.

The draft law will be submitted in the next assembly session and will be enacted after giving an ear to the suggestions and complaints, which are to be possibly raised from various corners.


The hashtag #WeAreScotland has been on top of the Twitter trends for most of this Friday (7). The unexpected movement of Twitter users from Scotland istweeting about the positive aspects of the country, most in an emotional way, and sharing personal stories related with Scotland. The hashtag seems to be another Scottish reaction to the Brexit vote, in June 23, as many of the Twitter users are clearly stating their support to Scotland as part of the European Union. As a counter-reaction, it has appeared the hashtag "WeAreNorthBritain", apparently promoted by Scot supporters of Brexit or against the idea of a Scottish break-up from the United Kingdom, which has been rolling since the Brexit.

Lots of these tweets don't have a specific politicalimplication, or at least that doesn't seem to be its main motivation. For those twitterers, its just about to show their love for Scotland and the idea of being Scottish.

The #WeAreScotland hashtag truly is heart warming. Tiny nation, with massive hearts   Jordon 666 Fortescue (@Montague90) October 7, 2016

Several of its tweets, however, also go against the xenophobe trend that seems to be taking England since the Brexit. The latest example of this trend is the answer given by the sofa manufacturer Collins and Haye director to Amber Rudd; when the Home Secretary accused the company of having too much foreigners in its workforce, the director replied that 75% of itis British, rather than replying that it would be none of her business.

8 years ago, my daughter was brought into this world by a highly skilled Kenyan surgeon working for the NHS. I owe him.#WeAreScotland  BONNIE PRINCE HUEY (@HueySilverFox) October 7, 2016

Other Twitter users were clearly appealing to Scottish independence, taking Mel Gibson's William Wallace character, from the movie Braveheart.

#WeAreScotland trending number 1 in uk. The whole world will see this and see how great our country is.  Speaks His thoughts (@tara6171) October 7, 2016

User @PaedsRH proposed, as a theme song for the #WeAreScotland hashtag, the music Scotland's Story by The Proclaimers. Earlier, this same user told the world that his Norwegian surname came from a grand-father that fighted for Britain during World War 2 and settled in Dundee after the war.

Of course, and as it usually happens in these kind of online trends and movements, some users opposing the hashtag idea publish something against it, but using the same hashtag, in order to get seen.

Who are the worst, the Scots or the Swedes? Both are begging for nation ending diversity. #WeAreScotland  Alfred Albion  (@AfredAlbion) October 7, 2016

According to Twitter user Ross Colquhoun, #WeAreScotland has been trending since 12 AM.
A five-year-old child is hospitalized in critical condition and seven others were taken to hospitals after a sailboat carrying 30 people capsized and sank in San Francisco Bay near San Franciscos famed Fishermans Wharf Saturday afternoon.

On a sunny and what had been a delightful day of Fleet Week activities in the city, officials say the child was one of 30 people rescued in a prompt but frantic rescue response by civilian boaters, the Coast Guard and local agencies after the 34-foot sailboat Khaleesi capsized about 100 yards from San Franciscos Pier 45.

Officials say the child was pulled unconscious from the capsized boat by at least one Good Samaritan before the boat sank.

At least one person swam into cabin to rescue trapped boy

I know of at least one of the person who actually who swam into the cabin to get that child and I believe the mother, out of the cabin of that boat, San Francisco Fire Department Assistant Chief Bob Postel said during a press conference held after the incident.

Attempts were made to revive the five-year-old, first by the Good Samaritan and then by emergency responders, before the child was rushed to a local hospital.

With a full day of Fleet Week activities underway on Saturday, including the Blue Angels soaring overhead, there were scores of pleasure boats, as well as Coast Guard, fire and police department vessels on the bay at the time.

Private boaters tossed flotation devices to children, adults in the water

When the sailboat capsized and tossed its passengers into the waters of the bay a little after 4 p.m., the various vessels rushed to assist. Video shot by a person on one private boat shows a frantic scene during the initial stages of the rescues, with boaters throwing flotation devices to children and adults in the chilly water.

The Coast Guard, which was conducting safety drills in the area, responded with crews from two cutters, sent three boats and a helicopter. San Francisco police and fire boats also sped to the capsized boat. Because it was Fleet Week, the Oakland and South San Francisco Fire Departments also had boats on the area that responded as well.

"Strong operational partnerships among maritime agencies in the Bay Area were critical today, both in ensuring the waterside security of the Fleet Week air show events, and in emergency response resulting in the rescue of thirty people from the frigid Bay waters," Coast Guard Capt. Tony Ceraolo, said after the incident.

As rescuers pulled people from the water, fire officials declared a red alert, alerting local hospitals to expect a rush of patients. Besides the child in critical condition, two other children, one with serious injuries, and five adults were hospitalized. Officials say most of the injuries were related to being immersed in the cold water of the bay and were not considered to life-threatening.

The Coast Guard is trying to determine what caused the sailboat to capsize.
British funnyman Timothy Spall, of Harry Potter fame, dropped jaws at the Venice Film Festival with his magical weight loss. But not before his actor son Rafe Spall (BFG, I Give it a Year) dropped an equally dramatic six stone. That makes Rafe roughly 80 pounds thinner for yanks doing the math! So weight loss is apparently a family tradition, but so say the Spalls, is weight gain. Both actors shared their secrets on how and why they effected such transformations.

Obesity runs in the family

Rafe Spall says he was always overweight through his twenties.

And, like his dad, he was always cast as the funny fat boy. Timothy Spall recently portrayed one of his most serious roles as Irish labor activist Ian Paisley in The Journey. But prior to that, it was mostly silly, buffoonish parts like Wormtail/Peter Pettigrew in Harry Potter. That's what people, including son Rafe, love about Spall - his sense of comedy. But being typecast as the jolly joker loses its charm. Rafe Spall wanted to be taken seriously and cast as the handsome leading man, instead of the chubby sidekick, so he cleaned up his act and his plate. Now the sexy Spall is being hailed as the next Hugh Grant! And like son, like father--in 2014, Spall, Sr., got serious about losing his weight and fat man image.

Looking good is feeling good

Rafe Spall says obesity is no laughing matter--it's painful, humiliating and discouraging. The more you gain, the less you care and the more you eat, he explained. It wasn't a matter of self-confidence. Even at his fattest (18.5 stone or 260 pounds) Spall had the cojones to do nude scenes. It was more a matter of willpower.

When he found that, it gave him the boost to get busy and shed the weight. For Sir Timothy Spall (he's an OBE, yanno), weight loss was a matter of trumping the food addiction and a desire to avoid health problems. Diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart trouble, sexual problems, erectile dysfunction (to name a few issues) dog the obese person.

But Spall has a major struggle. He says he is a glutton and lacks the wiring to know when he's satiated. Spall has to basically con himself into feeling full even though his hunger meter is broken. That experience is shared by many people who have gained a great deal of weight and then lost it. There is a constant battle between hunger pangs and cravings and a desire to be healthy.
Timothy Spall has shrunk to a shadow of his former self! The British actor, famous for playing Wormtail in "Harry Potter" wowed Venice Film Festival goers with his wizard weight loss. Spall--actually Sir Timothy to all the muggles--didn't say how many pounds he shed exactly but oh boy did the OBE look stunning! Tim Spall did reveal his secret shrinking spell with which he transformed chubby Peter Pettigrew into a lean Ian Paisley for his role in "The Journey."

Peter Pettigrew shrunk

A chubby man, Spall has usually been cast in roles of a plump, pantaloon figure of fun.

He plays caricature, rather than character. It is typical that overweight actors are often cast as goofy sidekicks or buffoons. Obesity seems to be comedic, for some reason. And Tim Spall is a funny man. In 'Blandings,' Spall's Clarence Threepwood, Earl of Emsworth is industry standard comedy.

But in order to play Irish unionist agitator Ian Paisley in "The Journey" Spall required a much more serious persona. It also required a bit of a makeover in the looks department. Timothy Spall showed at the Venice Film Festivalthat he was able to make that change.

Wormtail's shrinking charm

So Spall is playing grownup roles now, but he will always be remembered for his "Harry Potter" parts. The odious, sniveling Wormtailwas particularly memorable.

Except for his unkempt mane, however, Spall looks nothing like he did in the films. When asked about his weight loss, the actor said he'd actually been working at it since 2014 when he realized he needed a health upgrade. Obesity is no laughing matter, especially as it's so often paired with diabetes. Spall admitted to being a glutton and having no off switch when it comes to eating.

Funnily enough, his character of Lord Emsworthin 'Blandings' is in love with his obscenely obese prize pig "the Empress" and is always finding ways to tempt her with treats, most hilarious of which was a purple blancmange. But being constantly hungry and unable to determine satiation is no joke. Spall had to work super hard not only to get the weight off but to control those pestilential cravings. Another UK actress who has lost weight, Scarlett Moffatt of "Gogglebox" can identify. The fact that its taken him several years to lose all the weight bodes well for maintenance weight loss.
Taiwan's tourism sector urges steps to attract mainland tourists Updated: 2016-10-08 14:18 By Guo Kai(chinadaily.com.cn)

Taiwan should take steps to boost the gloomy tourism industry after the number of mainland visitors travelling to the island during the National Day holiday declined, Taiwan's China Times newspaper reported.

A group representing the industry visited the Chiayi City Council on Friday to plead to the authorities to take measures to boost the sector and change the cross-Straits stalemate since Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen took office in May.

Taiwan Travel Agent Association honorary chairman Hsiao Bo-jen said that only 756 mainland tourists visited the island on Oct 5, whereas the figure exceeded 10,000 a day in the past.

Hsiao said some restaurants had to temporarily shut down and told workers to go on unpaid leave in Chiayi. The city government should at least have plans to expand the domestic demand, he said.

Hsiao Shu-li, speaker of Chiayi City Council, proposed that the city government should probe solutions and file report on how to revive the industry to the Tsai's authorities. Out of 24 council members, 21 signed the proposal.

The speaker said that according to the statistics from Taiwan tourism authority, 249,000 mainland tourists visited Taiwan in August, down 32.41 percent from the same month last year, while group tourists fell 54.96 percent.

Though tourists from South Korea and Japan increased in the month, the total number of tourists still dropped by 3.44 percent, the first time Taiwan saw a decline in August since 2004, Hsiao Shu-li said.

Chang Hsiu-hua, a council member, said that tourism sector needed tourists not financial assistance from Tsai's authorities, and a positive solution is to attract mainland visitors to Taiwan.

Data from Taiwan authorities showed that there were some 3,000 mainland tourists on Oct 5, and 4,000 to 5,000 every day during the National Day holiday this year, the lowest since 2008 when the island opened up to mainland travelers. It was around 8,000 mainland tourists every day in the same period in the past.
Senior CPC leader calls for quality literary journals Updated: 2016-10-09 08:59 (Xinhua)

BEIJING -- The publicity chief of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Saturday called for more quality literary periodicals.

"Literary magazines in this new era should be vitalized by harnessing the Internet in a bid to expand their coverage and influence," said Liu Qibao, head of the publicity department of the CPC Central Committee, on a visit to the Chinese Writers' Publishing Group.

Liu stressed that more attention should be given to writers of online literature, and literary journals should better communicate with readers and writers through the Internet.

He urged periodicals to carry more realistic literature, guiding the writers to focus on the development of the times as well as people's lives and thoughts.

"[The journals] should encourage writers to create work with their individual characteristics and to explore something new in writing concepts and techniques," Liu added

Liu also called on the literary magazine editors to hone their professional skills.
Former senior legislator sentenced to death with reprieve Updated: 2016-10-09 12:38 (Xinhua)

ZHENGZHOU -- Bai Enpei, a former senior lawmaker with the National People's Congress, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on Sunday for taking "a huge amount of bribes" and holding excessive assets with unidentified sources.

Bai, who had also served as head of the provincial committees of the Communist Party of China in Qinghai and Yunnan, respectively, was deprived of political rights for life and had all his personal property confiscated, said a statement of the Anyang City Intermediate People's Court in Henan province.
Met displays rare art treasures Updated: 2016-10-10 03:06 By China Daily in New York(chinadaily.com.cn)

Featuring more than 100 pieces of Chinese calligraphy and paintings from the Song through Qing dynasties and 60 unique pieces of Chinese ceramic from the late 16th to 18th century, two exhibitions at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art are making it possible for people from all over the world to get to know China's rich cultural heritage.

On display through Oct 11, Masterpieces of Chinese Painting from the Metropolitan Collection highlights representative art with an emphasis on works from the Song and Yuan dynasties from the late 10th to the 13th century AD.

The exhibition celebrates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Asian Art Department at the Met.

It offers a comprehensive look at different styles through the periods, including Shan Shui Hua landscapes, Wen Ren Hua literati paintings, court paintings for or by emperors, Buddhist art, scholarly paintings and calligraphy.

"Each of these works of art is a life-changing experience," said Joseph Scheier-Bolberg, assistant curator of Chinese art at the MET and curator for the exhibition. "The show is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, to see so many masterpieces in the same place. It includes some of our rarest and earliest collections for everyone from the world to see, and includes art pieces of many famous historical figures."

Some of the more famous artists featured in the exhibition include Song Dynasty artist, scholar and poet Huang Tingjian and his contemporary, poet and calligrapher Mi Fu, as well as the last emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Song Huizong.

Also on display are two Qing Dynasty pieces, Kang Xi's Southern Inspection Tour and Qian Long's Southern Inspection Tour, the later of which shows the impact of European art on Chinese painting.

"Comparing the paintings of inspection tours by two emperors, you can see in the later one Chinese painters adopt and adapt selective European techniques for their own purposes," said Scheier-Bolberg. "We arranged them in such way that they tell human stories. I've tried to create references and relationships between works on view so that people can feel the human impact in these stories, as all of these things are created by human beings."

A similar idea was expressed by Denise Leidy, who co-curated Global by Design: Chinese Ceramics from the R. Albuquerque Collection.

"What is interesting about the porcelains is what they tell us about how people are understanding each other by looking at clay," said Leidy, who is the Brooke Russell Astor Curator of Chinese Art and has studied Chinese art for more than 40 years.

The Global by Design show displays pieces from a private Brazilian collection that has never before been exhibited, and shows the increasingly diversified styles of Chinese porcelains as the country engaged in trade with other parts of the world.

The exhibit displays pieces that show clear evidence of interaction between cultures throughout the 16th to 18th century. There are Chinese-made ceramics with Latin words, symbols of Portuguese royalty and Roman Catholic crucifixes. Others are shaped according to Persian custom.

One of the central pieces, a five-piece garniture with three jars and two vases made during the Qing Dynasty for trading purposes, features Chinese landscapes including West Lake in Hangzhou, giving European buyers a glimpse of China.

"It's an exhibition of how porcelain began to be traded, spread and became part of all our culture," said Leidy. "Even today, when Americans eat with their fancy dishes, they call them China, which is because the Chinese invented porcelain."

"And it may remind people that we've been talking to each other  one way or another, if not with language then with imagery  for a very, very long time," she said.

The Chinese-themed exhibitions are drawing visitors. The paintings show gets 1,000 to 1,500 visitors daily and the ceramics show expects to attract 100,000 visitors by the end of its five-month stand ending Sept 5.

"What I'm hoping is that a lot of people will start to think about China's importance in global ceramic history," said Leidy. "And I think this would be equally appealing to everybody, including Chinese and non-Chinese people."

Zhiwu Fan, 45, a business manager from Beijing, said, "I'm so proud to see Chinese arts being some of the most beautiful and distinct in such a large and comprehensive museum. I feel like it is a kind of cultural export for China."

"As the pieces are representing my own culture, I could feel them echoing in my heart when I walked by them," said Sisi Xu, a university student from Shanghai. "Also, as I don't know too much about Chinese art history, I'm actually learning a lot from this exhibition."

Scheier-Bolberg agreed that Chinese visitors were getting a lot out of the shows.

"Chinese tourists are choosing the Met as a stop, composing about 10 percent of our visitors," he said. "Here they can not only see the Chinese collections that we feel very proud of, how we've preserved and studied them, but also in an encyclopedic art museum like the Met they have the opportunity to compare a Chinese artist like Mi Fu with some of his contemporary European artists."

"It's a really exciting trend. The more the world becomes more interconnected, the more the Met can serve as a place for cultural understanding," said Scheier-Bolberg.

Nancy Kong and Judy Zhu in New York contributed to this story
Saudi-led coalition denies striking funeral in Yemen's capital Updated: 2016-10-09 09:02 (Xinhua)

People stand at the site of an airstrike which witnesses said was by Saudi-led coalition aircraft on mourners at a hall where a wake for the father of Jalal al-Roweishan, the interior minister in the Houthi-dominated Yemeni government, was being held, in Sanaa, Yemen October 8, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

RIYADH - The Saudi-led coalition denied on Saturday carrying any air strike in Yemen's capital Sanaa, sources from the coalition confirmed to local news Al Arabiya.

Earlier on Saturday, Yemen's acting health minister Ghazi Ismail said the Saudi-led coalition air strikes on a funeral hall in Sanaa have killed 82 and injured 534.

The mourning ceremony was held for the father of the acting interior minister and rebel Houthi loyalist Jalal al-Ruwaishan.

The Yemeni official strongly condemned what he said "barbaric air attacks against civilians and civilian targets."

However, the sources from the coalition said it has in the past avoided such gatherings and they have never been a subject of targets.

The Saudi-led coalition, which supports the internationally recognized Yemeni government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi against Shiite Houthi rebels, have been air striking Yemen from March 2015.

Houthi rebels, supported by forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, seized Sanaa and some other cities in September 2014, forcing Hadi and his government into exile.

The airstrikes and fighting on the ground have killed over 10,000 Yemenis, many of them women and children, and injured around 35,000 others, according to a UN report.
Chinese tourists barred from Jeju Island, forced to sleep at airport for 5 days Updated: 2016-10-09 10:05 (People's Daily Online)

Stranded visitors were confined to a bare room equipped with little more than electrical sockets. [Photo provided by one of the confined tourists]

More than 100 Chinese tourists were reportedly turned away after trying to enter South Korea's Jeju Island during the recent seven-day Chinese National Day holiday, the Beijing News reported Saturday.

Some of the tourists arrived at the airport on Oct 2 and have remained there ever since, undergoing confinement for more than five days. Their activities and movements were largely limited to a room lacking furniture or facilities, with the exception of electrical outlets. The tourists sat and slept on a bare floor, with nothing offered to keep them warm. They ate simple food provided to them by the airport for 50 yuan ($7.50) per meal.

According to the law, Chinese passport-holders can stay visa-free for 30 days in Jeju Island. Nevertheless, a number of cases of border officers denying entry to Chinese tourists have recently been in the news.

One visitor, surnamed Zhang, said he and his wife had signed up to travel as part of a tour group, which arranged their hotel bookings and travel itinerary. Upon arriving at Jeju International Airport on the morning on Oct 6, a border officer refused Zhang and his wife entry, allegedly because they hadn't prepared a hard copy of their hotel booking record. The officer confiscated their passports and their tickets back to China.

They [the border officers] told us we could either book [an earlier] flight from the same airline back to China, or else wait in the airport for our original flight, Zhang said.

A visitor surnamed Feng said she and her husband were rejected because they happened to be traveling with another three passengers from the same hometown. The border officer therefore questioned them on suspicion of illegal immigrantion and then denied them entry.

On the afternoon of Oct 7, the Chinese consulate in Jeju told the Beijing Times that they had contacted relevant departments in South Korea to convince them to do something about the situation.
German police blow up explosives, hunting for suspect Updated: 2016-10-09 14:21 (Xinhua)

BERLIN - German police blew up several hundred grams of explosives on Saturday morning when they raided an apartment where a Syrian man was reported to be planning a bombing attack.

The suspect was at large but police have detained three contacts and destroyed the explosives "well hidden" in the apartment in the eastern German city of Chemnitz, Saxony police spokesman Tom Bernhardt told reporters.

Bernhardt didn't elaborate the type of the explosives but said they were a "highly volatile mixture," therefore the police decided to explode them on site rather than moving them far away.

The targeted suspect is described as 22-year-old Jaber Albakr Syrian refugee from the Damascus area who arrived in Germany last year and was last seen as a dark-haired man wearing clothes that looked like a hooded sweatshirt.

He is assumed to have links with Islamic extremist groups. He was thought to have planned and prepared for an explosive attack at a German airport, and has been under police surveillance for a long time.

As the police were conducting the large-scale operation to hunt the suspect, residents in the city were ordered to stay indoors and people living in the raided building were evacuated.

"Tomorrow morning we will be there for you again. But you can be certain of this: the police operation is still running!" Saxony police posted on its twitter account at the end of Saturday.

Germany is on high alert of possible terrorist attacks. Three attacks in July left 10 people killed and scores of persons injured.
Plan a romantic trip to Portland, Oregon where you can enjoy stunning views, great Sushi, dog-friendly and other restaurants, breakfast spots, nightlife, music and some of the most beautiful gardens in the U.S. Here are the romantic things to do in Portland, Oregon. If you are traveling with children, be sure to read Best Things to Do in Portland with Kids.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1. Pittock Mansion  Courtesy of www.travelportland.com

Built in 1914 for one of Portlands most influential families, Pittock Mansion is an exquisitely preserved colonial-style mansion that provides insight into the history of Portland and how it became the city it is today. The Pittock Mansion was originally the home of Portland pioneers Henry and Georgiana Pittock, whose lives paralleled the growth of Portland from a tiny Northwest town to a thriving city. The homes unique architectural design, richly decorated interiors, and vast collection of family artifacts stand testament to the familys contributions to the development of Portland. If you are looking for unique things to do in Portland, Oregon, the Pittock Mansion offers a rare view into the lives of Portlands early inhabitants. Guests can walk through the house and learn about what life was like during the early 1900s, then enjoy a picnic in the beautifully landscaped gardens and take in the breathtaking city vistas. 3229 NW Pittock Drive, Portland, OR 97210, Phone: 503-823-3623

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2. Portland Japanese Garden  Courtesy of Leslie - Fotolia.com

Founded in the early 1960s by the Japanese Garden Society of Oregon, the Portland Japanese Garden was created to promote and preserve a more intimate relationship between the people of Japan and those of Portland. The garden also aims to educate visitors about the vegetation and the culture of Japan through beautiful display gardens and architectural features as well as cultural, environmental, horticultural, and charitable activities. The Garden is composed of five distinct garden styles spread over 5.5 acres: the Flat Garden, the Strolling Garden, the Tea Garden, the Natural Garden, and the Sand and Stone Garden. If you are wondering what to do in Portland, Oregon on a sunny day, this is a great place to visit. All of the gardens boast a deep sense of tranquility and reflect the ideals of peace and harmony that are so prevalent in Japans history and traditional culture. This hidden gem is one of the best romantic attractions in Portland. 611 SW Kingston Ave., Portland, Oregon 97205, Phone: 503-223-1321

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3. Portland Art Museum  Portland Art Museum

Founded in 1892 with the aim of providing Portlands citizens with a first-class museum of local and internationally renowned artworks, the Portland Art Museum is the oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest and one of the oldest in the United States. The museum is home to an impressive collection of over 42,000 objects reflecting the history of art from ancient times to the present. The works on display include Asian and American art, modern and contemporary art, prints, drawings, photographs, and an exquisite English silver display. Forming the cornerstone of Portlands cultural district, the museum includes the recently renovated, modernist-style Belluschi Building and the historic Mark Building. The two buildings are connected by a subterranean gallery and an outdoor sculpture court. The museum offers free public tours daily, and patrons can reserve private group tours in advance. 1219 SW Park Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97205, Phone: 503-226-2811



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4. Architectural Heritage Center Tours  Courtesy of jkraft5 - Fotolia.com



Operated by the Bosco-Milligan Foundation, the Architectural Heritage Center is dedicated to the conservation of the architecture, history and heritage of the greater Portland area. Home to one of the largest collections of architectural artifacts in the United States, the Center boasts a world-class research library and hosts a variety of exhibits, tours, programs and presentations throughout the year. These features focus on the appreciation and preservation of historic and landmark buildings and vernacular homes, as well as cultural neighborhoods and traditional commercial areas. Visitors to Portland can enjoy a number of Center-led walking tours, such as the Old House Revival Tour and the Heritage Homes tour, where knowledgeable professionals lead informative and interactive tours through historic neighborhoods around the city. The Architectural Heritage Center also features educational programs and monthly exhibits by local and international artists.

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5. International Rose Test Garden  Courtesy of www.travelportland.com



The International Rose Test Garden is all about roses and is the perfect romantic spot for couples. Established by the Portland Rose Society in 1889, this immaculately landscaped garden is brimming with all varieties of rose. Through the Test Garden, the Rose Society aims to educate visitors and encourage them to learn about roses while enjoying the magnificent surroundings. The garden features a number of displays to explore and enjoy: the Royal Rosarian Garden features roses named for every past Prime Minister of the Royal Rosarians; the Miniature Rose Garden is one of only six testing grounds for the American Rose Society (ARS) miniature rose test program and contains award-winning varietals. The gardens have received a number of awards over the years, including the Garden of Excellence Award from the World Federation of Rose Societies, and is credited with having Portlands Best Roses. Botanists and rose experts offer free public tours. 400 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205, Phone: 503-227-7033

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6. Ava Gene's  Ava Gene's



You are sure to have an authentic Italian dining experience at the high-end eatery, Ava Genes, in Portland. Their Roman-inspired menu offers traditional dishes  such as the fritti or the shrimp linguine  all made with the best local produce and meats, grown and raised by farmers and ranchers in the Pacific Northwest. Ava Genes also boasts an impressive regional Italian wine list, as well as grappa and amari. Stumptown Coffee founder, Duane Sorenson, opened this amazing restaurant in 2012 with partner and Executive Chef, Joshua McFadden. If you are looking for date ideas in Portland, enjoy a fabulous night at the simple, rustic Ava Genes on Southeast Division Street. 3377 SE Division St, Portland, Oregon 97202, Phone: 971-229-0571

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7. Pedal Bike Tours  Courtesy of RG - Fotolia.com

Explore Portland and experience the city the way many of the locals do - on two wheels. Pedal Bike Tours offers a unique, easy-going and fun way to see the city and its best attractions. Local guides lead the bike tours to various parts of the city, visiting favorite sights and attractions and sharing their knowledge and passion for Portland. Discover hidden gems and famous landmarks, and head off the beaten path to learn more about the intriguing history of the City of Roses. Tours travel through Portlands Historic Downtown area, the magnificent Colombia Gorge, or along the Oregon Brewery Trail where visitors get to taste craft beer along the way. Fun-filled Food Cart or Winelands Tours promise plenty to eat and drink, and Oregon Coastal Tours boast breathtaking ocean landscapes and beautiful vistas. Pedal Bike Tours also offers bike rentals for self-guided tours as well as bike repairs.



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8. Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden  nd700/stock.adobe.com

Providing a haven of peace and beauty for Portland residents and locals to enjoy, the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden should be a must on your Portland itinerary. The garden covers 9.5 acres of beautiful trees, unusual hybrid and rare species of rhododendrons and azaleas and many companion plants. There is a lovely spring-fed lake surrounding much of the garden, which has become a haven for birds and other wildlife. The garden is at its best from April to May when the rhododendrons are in flower, but it is also wonderful to visit at other times of the year. Shaded pathways lead visitors through the garden  you can stop to do some bird-watching along the way. Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, 5801 SE 28th Ave, Portland, OR 97202, 503 267 7509



9. Blue Star Donuts  Blue Star Donuts

Making a donut that stands out among many, many great, funky, and interesting donuts available in Portland is quite a challenge. Instead of going for shocking shapes and wild colors, the owners of Blue Star Donuts opted for interesting dough  fluffy, delicious French brioche dough  similar to the traditional yeast donuts. They make their donuts with local ingredients, working in collaboration with their neighbors. They use organic fruits for their fillings and glazes, and the result is a perfect, mouth-watering bite bursting with flavor. The number of varieties grows by the day and you will be sorely tempted to try them all. Blue Star today has seven shops all over the world, including in Japan. Their four Portland shops are spacious, clean, and bright and offer just the right kind of coffee to go with your donuts. 672 #2 S Gaines St., Portland, OR 97239, Phone:503-265-8410

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10. El Gallo Taqueria  El Gallo Taqueria

Located in the heart of Portlands Southeast Woodstock neighborhood, El Gallo Taqueria has recently transformed from a charming food truck into a hip, brick-and-mortar restaurant. Although the restaurant has a new menu to go along with its new look, diners can still enjoy favorites like their tacos, burritos, and the absolutely delicious Nevada Tostada. All dishes are made with high quality, locally-sourced, sustainable ingredients. Dont miss their Melt Your Face salsa. Chef and owner, Jake Brown, first opened the taco truck in the Woodstock district in 2009 has spent years traveling through Mexico, refining his techniques and recipes. 4422 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, Oregon 97206, Phone: 503-481-7537



11. Oaks Park  Alexander Oganezov/stock.adobe.com

Oaks Park is one of the oldest amusement parks in America. It originally opened to the public in 1905 and has been in continuous operating since then. Back in the early days the park features a bath house, exotic wild animals, nightly fireworks and thrilling rides. Of course, things have changed enormously in the last 100 years and Oaks Park is still a popular family entertainment destination. There are thrilling rides for all ages, including some which are specially geared towards younger visitors. In addition to the exciting rides you can enjoy a Roller Rink and Skate Park, mini golf and various games. Oaks Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland, OR 97202, 503 233 5777

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12. Veggie Grill  Veggie Grill

Couples can enjoy amazing, flavorful vegetable dishes at Veggie Grill in Portland. Stop in and try one of their signature dishes  like The Stack or Santa Fe Crispy Chickin. There are also seasonal specials, like the Sonoran Summer Bowl. Dont miss their Sweetheart Fries and carrot cake! The Veggie Grill chain originally started in Irvine, California back in 2007 and has expanded nationally since. It was founded by a couple of carnivore-turned-herbivore friends, Kevin Boylan and T.K. Pillan. You can find Veggie Trill either on Southwest Taylor Street in downtown Portland, or on Southwest Cedar Hills Boulevard in Beaverton. 508 SW Taylor St, Portland, Oregon 97204, Phone: 310-745-5228



13. The Original Dinerant  The Original Dinerant

The Original Dinerant is a delightful Portland diner that has been featured on Food Network's popular show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, noted for its modern twists on classic midcentury American diner favorites. The downtown diner, which was opened in 2009 by executive chef AJ Voytko, is housed within a hip bi-level dining space offering booth and counter seating. Diners can enjoy all-day breakfast selections like Oregon steelhead Benedicts, Denver omelettes, and steak and eggs platters, complemented by Stumptown Coffee, Steven Smith Tea, or a selection of classic hand-dipped milkshakes and housemade sodas. Clever burgers and sandwiches are also served up throughout the day, along with cocktails, beer, wine, and boozy milkshake options. 300 SW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97204, Phone: 503-546-2666



14. Full Sail Brewing Company  Full Sail Brewing Company

Located in Hood River, Oregon and overlooking the Colombia River, Full Sail Brewing Company is a craft brewery that produces fully sustainable, artisanal bottled beers. Founded in 1987, Full Sail was one of Oregon's early microbreweries and the first commercially successful craft brewery to bottle beer in the Pacific Northwest. First off the bottling line was Full Sail Golden Ale, followed by Full Sail Imperial Porter, Full Sail Amber Ale, and Wassail Winter Ale. The brewers of Full Sail pride themselves on running a fully sustainable business, using less than three gallons of water per gallon of beer produced (most other breweries use six to eight gallons), running the brew house on wind power, and using only organic and locally sourced backyard ingredients for their golden and dark beers. 506 Columbia St, Hood River, Oregon 97031, Phone: 541-386-2247



15. Salt & Straw  Salt & Straw



Portlands Salt & Straw serves exotic-flavored, farm-to-cone gourmet bone marrow-based ice creams, which are made from locally-sourced ingredients, including the bone marrow. Ice cream connoisseurs will melt over their many delectable flavors, such as Honey Lavender, Pear and Blue Cheese, Melon and Prosciutto, or the Viking Soul Foods Goat Milk and Lingonberries. Salt & Straw was created in 2014 by cousins, Kim & Tyler Malek. You can find Salt & Straw at three locations in Portland: on Northwest 23rd in the historic Esquire Building, on Southeast Division on Portlands Restaurant Row, or on Northeast Alberta in Portlands iconic Arts District. 838 NW 23rd Ave, Phone: 818-358-2890

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16. EverGreen Escapes - Portland Day Tours  Courtesy of kanonsky - Fotolia.com



EverGreen Escapes is a tour company that provides a range of sightseeing tours and experiences in and around Portland with the aim of connecting people, places, and the environment. EverGreen Escapes offers personalized tours to fit every taste, from exploring the magnificent surrounding landscapes of the Columbia River Gorge, the regal Mt. Hood, and the legendary Mt. St. Helens, to exciting city and cultural adventures. Explore Portland is a small, fun-filled group tour that explores the eclectic neighborhoods of Portland, visiting the famous Pearl District, the International Rose Test Garden, the Pittock Mansion, Washington Park, Mt. Tabor Park, Alberta Arts District, Historic Mississippi District, and Powells Bookstore. Columbia Gorge Wine & Waterfalls lets visitors discover the Pacific Northwests two greatest attractions-- the Columbia Gorge Waterfalls and the wines of Oregon-- with a wine-tasting, gorge-trekking adventure. Willamette Valley Wine Trail is a half-day tour that takes visitors into the heart of Willamette wine country to explore the countryside, meet the vintners and taste some of the regions best vintages.



17. Higgins Restaurant and Bar  Higgins Restaurant and Bar



Higgins Restaurant and Bar has been serving Portland diners with classic, farm-to-table, country dishes  with an emphasis on its fresh, sustainable, locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients  since 1994. Stop in and try their chilled asparagus appetizer, the Spanish potaje, or the Pepper Pot seafood stew. Grab an almond tart for dessert. James Beard Award-winning Executive Chef, Greg Higgins, co-owns the joint with restaurant veteran, Paul Mallory, who manages the eatery. Higgins, an organic grower himself, says he serves fine cuisine in support of his premise that food is community. Higgins Restaurant and Bar is located on Southwest Broadway in downtown Portland. 1239 SW Broadway, Portland, Oregon 97205, Phone: 503-222-9070

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18. Plate and Pitchfork  Courtesy of tenkende - Fotolia.com



Since 2003, every summer Plate and Pitchfork offers a unique dining opportunity in and around Portland that goes one step ahead of the popular farm-to-fork philosophy. Gourmet meals are organized at local farms in improvised open-air dining rooms and among the farm produce, giving the diners the opportunity to know and chatting with their host, the farmer. The event starts with a glass of wine and an appetizer before going on a tour of the farm led by the host farmer themselves. Upon return, all guests will sit for a meal prepared by renowned local chefs, different for each event, cooked with ingredients grown on the farm itself. Meals consist of four or five courses, all paired by appropriate wines. The guests have the opportunity during the meal to talk to their host and learn about life on a farm and the challenges farmers face today. A portion of the profits from these events supports Farmers Ending Hunger. Phone: 503-852-1031



19. Multnomah Whiskey Library  Multnomah Whiskey Library



To call Multnomah Whiskey Library a drinking parlor or a cozy upstairs lounge would not begin to describe this place in downtown Portland, which serves more than 1,500 bottles of spirits from all over the world in an incredibly opulent space. Brick walls, high ceilings, dark wood paneling, ancient-looking fireplace, velvet-covered sofas and armchairs, brass-library ladders, and 12-foot-tall shelves filled with bottles create the extravagant and exclusive feel of a drinking room in an expensive country club or some European mansion. The atmosphere and the spectacular selection of drinks are a powerful draw to the whiskey, fans and the clients are willing to wait for hours to get in. There is food too, and it includes small plates such as raw oysters drizzled with whiskey or stewed whiskey grains in a bowl of chanterelles and poached egg. 1124 SW Alder St., Portland, OR 97205, Phone: 503-954-1381

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20. Paadee  Paadee



Paadee is a modern Thai restaurant that brings to Portland traditional comfort food from northern Thailand that is a heady mix of flavors  sweet, spicy, salty, and sour  that many of us may remember from trips to Chiang Mai. The decor is simple, with nice bamboo lanterns and a lot of hanging green plants and some traditional Thai art on the walls. The focus is on food, especially small shareable plates, the sort you can find on carts on the sidewalk in Thailand, hot and delicious. The best deal in Paadee is their happy hour and not only because of their delicious cocktails. During happy hour you can have six snacks and three dishes to choose from, enough for a meal and great for an idea of how comfort food should taste in northern Thailand. 6 SE 28TH Avenue, Portland, OR 97214, Phone: 503-360-1453



21. Upfor Gallery  Courtesy of JackF - Fotolia.com



Upfor Gallery is a top Portland art gallery opened to the public in 2013, operated as part of the Portland Art Dealers Association, which strives to bring together the city's finest art galleries as part of monthly public events. The gallery is open to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays during the afternoon hours, with additional hours offered during art walks and other special events. Artists represented by the gallery include MSHR, Brenna Murphy, Morehshin Allahyari, Ronny Quevedo, and Srijon Chowdhury. Exhibitions rotate every few months, highlighting unique, socially-forward works by emerging and mid-career artists in the Portland area. The gallery also participates in art fairs throughout North America, including prominent events in Seattle, New York City, and Mexico City. 929 NW Flanders St, Portland, OR 97209, Phone: 503-227-5111



22. Toffee Club  Toffee Club



Toffee Club is a traditional English-style football pub in Southeast Portland, originally opened in 2016 by Niki Diamond, Jack Hoppins, and David Carbo. The laid-back pub strives to recreate authentic English pub culture and serves up a wide array of delicious bar food, including favorites such as Scotch eggs, pork pies, fish and chips, and bangers and mash. Charcuterie boards are also available at dinner, along with traditional British-style pies such as minced beef pies, steak and ale pies, and chicken and vegetable pies. On the weekends, a full breakfast menu is served until 1:00pm, offering up full English breakfasts alongside pie options filled with ingredients such as chorizo, mushrooms, eggs, and potatoes. A rotating draft list of craft and imported beers is offered, along with a full menu of cocktails and fine wines. Weekly special events include Wednesday trivia nights, Friday night dance parties, and indie pop DJ sets on Sundays. 1006 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214, Phone: 971-254-9518

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23. Oregon Symphony  Photo Credit: Torsten Kjellstrand Based in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portlands Cultural District, the Oregon Symphony was established in 1896 and is the sixth oldest orchestra in the United States. Founded as the Portland Symphony Society, the orchestra has 76 full-time musicians and sees more than 225,000 patrons each year. Over the course of its successful hundred-year history, the orchestra has seen a number of internationally acclaimed music directors and guest conductors - including the likes of Aaron Copland, Maurice Ravel, and Igor Stravinsky - as well as many outstanding performers. The Oregon Symphony continues to perform diverse programs and a variety of community services. Upcoming performances include the National Circus and Acrobats of the People's Republic of China, Pablo Villegas, and The Music of Pink Floyd. If you are wondering what to do in Portland in the evening, watch a performance by the Oregon Symphony. 909 SW Washington, Portland, Oregon 97205, Phone: 503-228-1353



24. Bollywood Theater PDX  Bollywood Theater PDX One of the best places serving Indian street food in Portland is Bollywood Theater PDX, which strives to recreate a typical Mumbai eating experience. Enjoy vibrant Bollywood decor, while savoring incredible dishes, like Bhel Puri, and signature cocktails, like the Bollywood Shandy. Chef and owner, Troy MacLarty, brings his many Indian traveling experiences to his delicious dishes at the unique Bollywood Theater, which he opened in 2012. Bollywood Theater has two locations in Portland - one on Northeast Alberta and another on Southeast Division. 2039 NE Alberta, Portland, Oregon 97211, Phone: 971-200-4711



25. Hoyt Arboretum  Courtesy of Masamitsu - Fotolia.com The Hoyt Arboretum is a living museum of trees and plants, where visitors can learn all about botany and the importance of trees and plants to the environment. Founded in 1928 with the aim of conserving endangered plant species and educating the community, the Hoyt Arboretum is a beautiful romantic place to visit in Portland OR. Spread across 189 acres, it contains miles of hiking trails. The Arboretum is home to more than 6,000 specimens from around the world, 63 of which are vulnerable or endangered. Located at the heart of the Arboretum is the Visitors Center, where guests can find maps, directions, information, and a research library with over 800 books, and get assistance from a friendly, helpful staff. As a living classroom for both students and teachers, Hoyt Arboretum offers a variety of programs, classes, and workshops for learning each year. If you are wondering what to do in Portland, Oregon on a sunny afternoon, this is a great place to visit. 4000 SW Fairview Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97221, Phone: 503-865-8733



25 Best Romantic Things to Do in Portland, Oregon

More Ideas: The Grotto

Located in Portland, Oregons Madison South neighborhood, the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, commonly referred to as the Grotto, is a 62-acre Catholic sanctuary, offering a convention center and a variety of public garden spaces along with regularly held mass services and public special events. The Grotto was the vision of Ambrose Mayer, who joined the Catholic Servite Order following his mothers recovery from a near-death experience in childbirth, bringing with him a lifelong vision to create a sanctuary tribute to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.

History

In 1918, Mayer was assigned to a pastor position in Oregon under the Archdiocese of Portland, and in 1923, he was able to secure a former Union Pacific Railroad Company rock quarry site that was up for sale for the development of residential land with a $3,000 down payment. After a national fundraising campaign, ground was broken on the sanctuary in September of 1923, and in May of the following year, the site was opened with a formal mass for an attendance of 3,000, overseen by Archbishop Alexander Christie. The sites chapel, designed by Portland architect L.L. Dougan, was dedicated in 1955, and in 1983, the site was designated as a National Sanctuary. In 2012, the site experienced significant vandalism, with several original statues damaged or destroyed, although all statues have since been restored.

Permanent Attractions

Today, the Grotto is owned and maintained by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland, operated as a national Catholic shrine honoring the Virgin Mary, Our Sorrowful Mother. More than 10 million people have visited the site since its opening, and visitors of all religions and faiths are welcome to use the site as a public place for prayer, meditation, and reflection. The 62-acre facility is located along a 110-foot-high cliff, which provides views of the surrounding Columbia River Valley and Cascade Mountains areas, including nearby Mount Saint Helens.

The centerpiece of the Grotto is its Our Ladys Grotto rock cave, carved into the cliffs base, which showcases a life-sized replica of Michelangelos Pieta. More than a thousand feet of trails, including the Stations of the Cross trail, connect the sites attractions, which are located both at the base and plateau of the cliff. Rhododendrons, fir trees, and other native Oregon plants are showcased in the facilitys botanical garden, located atop the cliff and accessible via an elevator. Religious artwork by various artists is also showcased throughout the botanical garden facility. A Meditation Hall and Servite Monastery features a clifftop main chamber and extends down the span of the cliff, featuring a large cross on its top which is visible from a significant distance.

Regular Catholic mass services are offered at the Grottos Chapel of Mary year-round on Sunday mornings, with a second noon service offered May through October outside on the plaza. Weekday mass services are also offered at noon, and a St. Peregrine Mass service is offered on the first Saturday of every monthe Easter and Christmas liturgies are offered throughout the holiday seasons, and a Sacrament of Reconciliation service is offered during Lent. Via Matris, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and special holy day masses are also offered throughout the year.

A Visitor Center serves as the entrance to the Grotto on the plaza level, offering a Grotto Gift Shop, opened in 1995. Catholic-themed books, gifts, and souvenirs are sold, along with access tickets to the Grottos upper level botanical gardens. All gift shop proceeds benefit the Grottos continuing ministries and programming. A Conference Center also offers classroom facilities for up to 100 participants and theater seating for up to 150, with full-service catering and audiovisual services offered for business conferences, workshops, and retreats. Complete meeting packages and transport services to area airports is also offered.

Ongoing Programs and Events

In addition to standard visitor admission, guided facility tours are offered for individuals and groups on weekends during the summer months. All tour groups meet at the facilitys Visitor Center and are led by volunteer docents who share anecdotes and history about the Grottos buildings, gardens, and artwork. Private group guided tours may also be scheduled for small groups and organizations of 10 or more with two weeks advance registration. The facility is fully handicap accessible for tour participants with disabilities, and a limited number of wheelchairs are available at the facility for patron use.

Continuing educational opportunities for religious officials and educators is offered through the Grottos Spirituality Program. A Grotto Concert Series is offered throughout the year, welcoming classical and popular music performers from throughout the Portland region. An annual Christmas Festival of Lights is also offered nightly in late November and throughout December, offering walk-through lighted experiences for families and children of all ages. More than 160 choral concerts are presented throughout the festivals run, along with nightly puppet show performances and a live petting zoo for young visitors.

8840 NE Skidmore St, Portland, OR 97220, Phone: 503-254-7371

More Things to Do in Portland, Things to Do in Oregon

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More Ideas: Evergreen Escapes in Portland, OR

Evergreen Escapes combines enchanting urban environments, boutique wineries, and nature wonders in to small group tours that leave from Portland, OR. Several unique microbreweries, the largest bookstore in the country, and many famous parks provide the city with a quirky and distinct vibe. The tour company offers both day tours and multi-day trips from Portland that explore both the city and the nearby natural wonders, such as Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and the Columbia River Gorge.

Several different tours, both small group and private, are offered by Evergreen Escapes. The Columbia Gorge Waterfalls and Wine Tour explores both Oregon wines and the waterfalls of the Columbia Gorge. Tour-goers will learn all about the Columbia River Gorge from a naturalist guide as they make their way down Waterfall Alley. After taking in the Gorge's grandeur, the tour continues to two of the Hood River area's boutique wineries for a wine tasting.

The Willamette Valley Wine and Waterfalls Tour explores the Willamette Valley's pinot noirs and Silver Falls State Park's waterfalls. This tour offers fine wines and trails that are connected by an interesting natural history. Participants can enjoy the glistening waterfalls and the smell of evergreen trees in the morning as they walk along the trails led by their guide to explore the park's iconic sights. This is followed by a tasting of fine pinot noirs and other wines in the afternoon at three boutique wineries. Between tastings, tour-goers will also be able to enjoy a delicious lunch made with local ingredients at the Coelho Winery.

Evergreen Escapes' Explore Portland Tour takes visitors away from the downtown area and out into the surrounding parks and eclectic neighborhoods to explore where the city truly shines and experience Portland like a local. The tour starts at Pittock Mansion with spectacular views of Mt. Hood and Portland. It then continues to some of Portland's 8,100 acres of parks. Participants will learn about the volcanoes that once occupied the area, as well as see how the urban environment has integrated sustainability and view the landscape design that was carefully planned by John Charles Olmsted. Portland's independent and artsy spirit is then explore in neighborhoods such as North Mississippi, Alberta, Nob Hill, Hawthorne, and the Pearl District. Along the way, an expert guide will talk about Portland's rich history, commitment to sustainability and greenery, and its quirky culture.

The Mt. St. Helens Tour explores one of the most powerful and iconic natural wonders in the region. A naturalist guide leads participants on interpretative nature walks around Mt. St. Helens, and will tell captivating stories that explain the significance of the volcanic eruption that took place in 1980. Tour-goers will also learn how the area's ecosystems are re-emerging and evolving, as well as have a chance to descend into the Ape Cave lava tube, view colorful wildflowers set against barren landscapes, a possibly see elk grazing new the smoldering crater of the volcano.

Back to: Best Things to Do in Portland, OR

2305 SE 9th Avenue, Portland, Oregon, Phone: 503-252-1931

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HCM City -- The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) left Viet Nam and Mozambique in no doubt that they must crack down on the illegal rhino horn trade within a year or face the threat of sanctions.

With illegal and unsustainable trade endangering wildlife across the world, governments at the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP17), which closed in South Africa on October 4, united behind a series of tough decisions to provide greater protection to a host of threatened species and bolster efforts to tackle soaring levels of poaching and wildlife trafficking. Specifically, key decisions and announcements were made around species that are traded across the Greater Mekong Region, including ivory, rhino horn, pangolins and tigers.

Gathered in South Africa for the worlds largest ever wildlife trade meeting  CoP17 to the CITES  more than 180 countries voted to maintain the international ban on trade in ivory and rhino horn, while adopting global bans on trade in pangolins and African Grey parrots. Viet Nam is a major destination for rhino horn, which drives poaching of hundreds of rhinos a year, especially in South Africa.

Countries at the Conference also called on nations where there is a legal domestic ivory market that is contributing to illegal trade  such as Thailand -- to take all necessary legislative, regulatory and enforcement measures to close their markets as a matter of urgency.

The Government of Laos announced it would phase out its tiger farms  a welcome move that will ensure the 700 tigers in Laos farms will not end up feeding the illegal trade in tiger parts. Eventually, this represents a significant opportunity for Laos to return to the prestigious list of tiger-range countries by investigating the potential for releasing some of these tigers in National Biodiversity Conservation Areas -- rewilding the forests of Laos.

The conference also imposed strict regulations on the trade in silky and thresher sharks, devil rays, as well as on all species of rosewood tree.

With much of the worlds wildlife threatened by poaching and unsustainable trade, governments took bold action in Johannesburg and there were major successes on ivory, rhino horn and tigers, said Teak Seng, WWF-Greater Mekong Conservation Director.

This conference went beyond mere statements about the urgent need to protect threatened species  it also strengthened implementation and enforcement measures to ensure that trade regulations amount to more than paper protection.

Among a record-breaking number of issues on the agenda, delegates agreed to a series of significant steps to ramp up the global response to illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade.

Along with calling for the closure of domestic ivory markets that are contributing to illegal trade, countries backed the CITES-led National Ivory Action Plan (NIAP) process, which identifies countries that are weak points in the illegal ivory trade chain, and is central to efforts to halt the ivory trade.

Just as importantly, countries adopted enhanced traceability mechanisms that are at the heart of efforts to develop sustainable fisheries for sharks and rays, and tightened up rules relating to tiger farms and trade in captive-bred animals, which will help prevent the laundering of wild-caught animals.

There were some gruelling negotiations at this conference but the final outcome is a stronger global wildlife trade system and greater commitment by countries to act and, critically, to hold others to account, said Theressa Frantz, WWF Co-head of Delegation to CITES CoP17.

For the first time, the conference also officially debated and adopted resolutions on a number of critical crosscutting issues relating to illegal wildlife trade, including corruption and reduction of consumer demand for threatened wildlife and their parts.

The Vietnamese Government pledges to eradicate illegal wild animal trading and make every effort to combat all wildlife-related crimes.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan stressed at the conference that after more than two decades since joining the CITES, Viet Nam has made significant contributions to the international organisation, citing that in free trade agreements signed with its partners, the country always commits to addressing wildlife trafficking.With its efforts made over the past ten years, Viet Nam has succeeded in cutting the demand for rhino horns, with a reduction of 38 per cent in the last three years, he said. The Deputy Minister said that Viet Nam would host the 17th and 18th international wild trade conferences (IWTC) in Ha Noi this November.  VNS
Hanoi  President Tran Dai Quang on October 8 hosted separate receptions for the Ambassadors of France, Canada, the Republic of Cyprus, Qatar, Croatia, Gambia and Turkmenistan, who presented their credentials before taking office in Viet Nam.

Receiving French Ambassador Bertrand Lortholary, Quang pledged all possible support for the ambassador and hoped that he would visit many localities to learn more about the country.

Lortholary said his assignment was to make plans set by French President Francois Hollande and his Vietnamese counterpart during the recent State visit to Viet Nam a reality, including developing economic and defence links and facilitating youth exchanges through French language training by opening a French Cultural House in HCM City and a French high school in Ha Noi.

Meeting Canadian Ambassador Ping Kitnikone, Quang suggested boosting bilateral co-operation in science-technology, health care, labour, oil and gas, and banking.

The guest said that Canada would send a delegation of 90 academics to Viet Nam to discuss education collaboration, adding that Canada wishes to strengthen people-to-people exchanges.

In a conversation with Qatari Ambassador Mohamed Ismael Al-Emadi, the Vietnamese President thanked Qatar for backing Viet Nams bid for a seat on the UNESCO Executive Council and the UN Socio-Economic Council.

He affirmed that Viet Nam wishes to push ahead with all-around co-operation with Qatar.

The Qatari Ambassador stressed that Qatar values ties with Viet Nam, especially in economics, trade, investment, education and agriculture.

Meanwhile, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus Demetrios A Theophylactou said that the European country wants to reinforce ties with Vietnam in trade and people-to-people exchanges.

Cyprus would welcome Vietnamese workers to the country, he said.

According to the ambassador the two nations need to increase liaisons at multilateral forums, and the Republic of Cyprus pledges to support Viet Nam in boosting ties with the European Union.

The host asked for support for Vietnamese businesses in tourism, agro-forestry processing, and suggested discussing the agreement on bilateral labour co-operation.

In a reception for Ambassador of Gambia Abubacar Jah, the Vietnamese State leader proposed the two countries increase all-level visits and people-to-people exchanges and consider the possibility of joint work in farming and the marine economy.

Abubacar Jah said Gambian President Yahya Jammeh devised a strategy to ensure food security and Gambia considers Viet Nam its best partner in agriculture.

In another meeting, President Quang asked Croatia to continue supporting Viet Nam in running for the post of non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021 and member of the International Law Committee for 2017-2021.

Croatian Ambassador Kreso Glavac wished the two countries would hold more sport exchanges in the near future, and informed the host that Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic planned to visit Viet Nam next year.

Talking with Turkmenistani Ambassador Chinar Tajievna Rustamova, the Vietnamese President suggested facilitating visits to explore co-operation in garment, footwear, farm produce, transport infrastructure, oil and gas, and construction materials.

Rustamova said the two countries established a co-operation framework to advance ties in trade, education, energy, construction and transport infrastructure at a sidelines meeting of the UN General Assemblys session last year.-VNS
by Phuoc Buu

Born with a strong desire to paint, Le Truong Giang lost his chance to become an artist due to his disability resulted from a bomb explosion in a rural district in the central province of Quang Binh. But today Giang stands strong for his art works made from rice.

Giang was born in 1980 with a body that was just like anyone elses. He was healthy for nine years before bomb from the war left behind in his home village of Le Ky exploded and injured his backbone.

Following the accident, he had to make dozens of trips to hospitals over almost two decades. He was finally left with a very weak back and two tottering legs. He can now stand or lie on a bed but cannot sit straight or walk briskly.

On a thin wood panel, he draws out the design, then he picks each grain of rice to stick on the panel using glue, until rice covers the entire drawing, with different colours.

Giang says each painting takes him some time to complete, depending on his health and the complicatedness of patterns. I usually get headaches and pains in my whole body. I am quite sensitive to the change of weather."

Normally, Giang takes a short break lying down on a bed then continues with his work, day after day.

His father Le Hai Hung says he cannot understand why Giang endures so much pain standing for such long hours. For most people living in the poor countryside and doing hard farming work, art is of no use as it does not fill their stomachs.

This, along with the deep concern for Giangs health when he lived away from home, made Hung and his wife stop their son from enrolling into a college of art in neighboring Hue City.

Despite missing the opportunity to get professional school training in art, Giang could not stop the growing love for art inside of him. He started learning sculpture seven years ago and carved rock statues for a year before he quit because lifting rocks was extremely painful.

Moreover, carving on rock requires strong hits by the hammer using hands. Patterns on my works did not look very sharp since my hits with the hammer were light."

He then learnt to make paintings by cutting dry banana tree, an innovative technique developed by a local artist. Unfortunately, he could not continue this unique style because it was hard to find banana trees that were withered and had dried under normal conditions. Fresh banana tree is used to feed pigs and ducks locally so dry banana tree is rare.

In 2004, Giang insisted on a trip to learn techniques of making paintings with rice from an artist in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum.

I told my parents that I want to live my life and that I dont want to be treated as a disabled person anymore. Finally, they let me go for my first -ever trip alone, Giang recalls.

He says that besides the desire for art, he wants to earn for his living. However, not many of his paintings have been sold. A hotel in ong Hoi, the municipal city of the province, set the price higher to make its own profit from each painting, deterring buyers.

Last month, officials from the local Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park visited Giang and promised space to display his paintings in the park, which draws a lot of visitors, who come to see the works in the magnificent grottos.

Giang is hopeful. He continues to work on his rice paintings every day after taking care of the family cows early morning. His daily inspiration and joy comes from the neighbourhood children, who are the first to get a glimpse of his art work. VNS
By Luong Thu Huong

Despite the cooling breeze generated by modern electric fans and air conditioners, the trade of making traditional fans in Chang Son Village has been well preserved and even thriving for centuries.

Located about 30 kilometres from Ha Noi, Chang Son is a typical village in northern Viet Nam. Arriving at the village during the busy harvesting seasons, visitors can easily catch sight of the local farmers working industriously on the vast fields, piling up the straw while drying the golden paddy rice along the entrance roads.

However, nearly all families have someone staying home, absorbed in making one part of the traditional fans. As the rice is left to dry on the ground, fans of different shapes, sizes and colours can be seen hanging above or piled up alongside, also waiting to dry or to be packed up.

It is common to see a huge fan on the wall of nearly every household, for decoration, or on their altar to worship the traditional trade of their ancestors.

Though it is not our main job, making traditional fans still offers us a stable income and comfortable living standards, says Ngo Thi Hai, who has been producing traditional fans for over 30 years and is currently the manager of one of the biggest workshops in the village.

All sizes: Villager oan cleans his 5-m long decorative fan. VNS Photo Tran Hoang Nam

According to Hai, Chang Son villagers have made fans for centuries. Their products are not limited to daily use to dispel the summer heat, but also festive and decorative fans that have made their traditional trade famous not only nationwide but also abroad.

It is noted in local history that in the 19th century, French colonists used to bring Chang Son fans to Paris for exhibition. Additionally, villagers demonstrating excellent skills in making the fans could be nominated for the position of feudal honorary rank conferred on notable or rich men.

Regardless of the weather, villagers are busy making fans all year round. As the paper fans are consumed in great number over the hot summer days, the festive or decorative silk fans can be in demand at any time of the year, especially in festive periods like March.

Hai says all the materials have to be prepared beforehand after the Lunar New Year. The process of making a fan, despite not being exhausting, still has many requirements.

The bamboo for making fan frame has to be pretty straight with few knots and of a decent age. The bamboo is then sawed into parts of various lengths, depending on the size of the fan, and soaked in water for about six months to protect the wood from termites and mould.

Precision: A fan maker cuts the silk into the shape of the fan. VNS Photo Tran Hoang Nam

After that, the bamboo will be fished out of the water, left to dry in the sun and split into thinner pieces before being stringed together to create the backbone of a fan.

The next step is to trim and dye those bamboo backbones, cut the paper or silk, and attach it to the bamboo. Chang Son fans used to be made from traditional poonah paper in the northern province of Bac Ninh and silk from Van Phuc Village or nearby Bung Village, however, due to the rarity of the materials and high costs involved, the villagers have switched to industrial paper and silk that is cheaper, but also capable of creating high quality fans.

The final step is also one of the most difficult, as the fan maker has to take great care in sticking the materials together so that the paper or silk will not crumple, even when the fan is folded.

As per the customers request, the fan makers can print meaningful words or phrases onto the fan, decorate it with colourful edges or sparkling tinsel, or draw pictures on it. At this stage, the worker has become an artist himself. Under their dexterous hands, beautiful village scenes reappear whenever the fan is opened. However, the process is meticulous, as they have to calculate the dimensions of the image, so it is not disturbed by the folds of the fan.

The final products will then be dried again for a few days, before finally being packed and transported to markets nationwide.

Among the various kinds of fans made in Chang Son Village, picture fans are the most difficult. Sizes and styles vary greatly, from the length of a hand to a huge picture hanging on the wall as a decorative item.

The techniques involved in picture fans are also more complicated than ordinary paper or silk fans. The picture is manually drawn directly onto silk or sometimes embroidered with lace, before being attached to the bamboo backbones. The choice of image is up to the customer, with popular pictures ranging from landscapes to folk tales, generally painted on a white background.

Raw materials: Piles of bamboo pieces can be seen along the path of Chang Son Village. VNS Photo Tran Hoang Nam

Due to their sophistication and high prices, decorative fans are only produced to order.

Most of the steps are done manually, but have become quicker and simpler, while the products have become more beautiful and durable than in the past, Hai says.

Another interesting feature in fan making in Chang Son is that each household is specialised in making a different part of the fan, which has helped them to speed up production while maintaining a high quality. If the families next to the pond at the entrance of the village focus on soaking the bamboo in water, some will form the soaked bamboo into the backbones of the fan and others will be in charge of the final steps, like Hais family.

On average, my workshop produces over 1,000 silk fans and about 5,000 paper fans everyday, but sometimes supply cannot meet demand, she says. I do not have to advertise my workshop, because most of my customers are regulars and they promote my products by word of mouth.

I always have to store at least 5,000 fans in order to serve big orders in time, she adds.

Currently, Hais workshop is also providing jobs for over ten villagers focusing on making silk fans and another five local families focusing on paper fans. Each employee earns an average income of VN4 million (US$190) per month.

Chang Son fans are consumed nationwide, from ong Xuan market in Ha Noi to as far as Ho Chi Minh City in the south. They have also appeared at various national festivals like Hung Temple Festival in Phu Tho Province, Bai inh Pagoda in Ninh Binh Province, and Sam Son Beach in Thanh Hoa Province.

Fame abroad

In order to introduce Chang Son fans to international markets, some villagers are making great efforts to promote their traditional products to the world, notably Duong Van Mos family.

Mo is also the co-creator of the biggest wooden fan in Viet Nam, which was accepted by the Vietnam Records Book Centre in 2009. Spanning a length of 9 metres and a height of 4.5 metres, the fan features a rural market in Ha Noi, in the style of traditional Hang Trong painting and was displayed during The Lunar New Years Flower Festival and festival of traditional trade held in Hue in 2009. Presently, the unique fan is being exhibited at Hoa Lu Exhibition Centre in Ha Noi.

Blowing in the wind: Fans of various colours are hung up for drying. VNS Photo Tran Hoang Nam

Duong Van oan, Mos son, is continuing his fathers career, focusing on making large decorative fans. Some of his works are up to 5m long.

Besides regular orders across the country, I have also received many orders from abroad, including from France and South Korea, says oan, adding that he has just received an order of over 1,000 paper fans for an upcoming traditional Japanese festival.

Additionally, as tourism has become one of Viet Nams main industries, Chang Son fans, with their vivid paintings, have taken up a new mandate: introducing national culture to international friends.

Many domestic travel agencies or tourism enterprises have become regular customers of the village, like Resort Emeralda in the northern province of Ninh Binh, and Ana Mandara  Villas in the Central Highlands province of Lam ong.

Chang Son fans have become one of the tourists favourite souvenirs to bring back from their visit to the country.

Some tourists have even returned and visited our village to order more fans, oan says. VNS
Nguyen Thanh Tu, 54, a former commanding officer of the Ca Roong border post in the central province of Quang Binhs Tuyen Hoa District, is known far and wide as a discoverer and protector of langurs. He talks with Toan Vu about his passion.

Inner Sanctum: Can you tell us how you first connected with the langurs?

In early 2013 I travelled to Hung Su forest to clear trees to grow sua (a kind of valuable wood tree, scientifically named Dalbergia Tonkinensis Prain). When I was working, I suddenly heard a rustle over my head made by several black animals with long tales. I was so afraid that I intended to run away, but a memory flashed through my mind that I had been trained to recognise and protect valuable and rare animals.

When I returned home, searching Google, I confirmed that these animals are Ha Tinh langurs (stripe-headed black langurs found in the central province of Ha Tinh, scientifically called Trachypithecus hatinhenis).

This kind of animal is listed as an endangered species by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) exist only in restricted areas of central Viet Nam and eastern Laos.

The next day I went to the forest and was trying to contact the animals by playing music from my phone. They did not run away as they had before.

Inner Sanctum: Can you tell us about your relations with them?

In 2015, one of my neighbours ran to my home, telling me that he saw two langurs that had been killed in the Khe a forest.

I drove my motorbike and ran to the lime stone forest, but none of the dead langurs were there. I phoned the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Parks forest rangers for help.

A co-operation programme was urgently set up by the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, the Quang Binh Provinces Department of Forest Rangers, Tuyen Hoa District and a number of scientists and researchers.

After a week of working hard, they counted 86 langurs, including 17 young ones.

Scientists estimated that the herd of langurs numbers about 115.

Later I was invited to a seminar on the langurs that was held in Quang Binhs ong Hoi, where scientists, researchers and local authorities discussed ways to protect the animals.

I was very happy that from now on the langurs would be protected but I also worried that hunters await an opportunity to kill the animals.

Inner Sanctum: How did you contact the langur herd?

Since I started having close contact with them, I often brought them water on severely hot days. I usualy woke up very early in the morning to bring some 10 litres of water to the forest and poured it into rock holes for the langurs to drink.

The water was so heavy and I was so tired that I had to stop on a mountain slope.

But the hardest work is dealing with poachers, because they often watch the langurs in the afternoon and wait for them to return to a cave to sleep, where they catch them all.

One rainy night I had to rush to the forest to open the traps because I was informed that the hunters had set traps to catch the langurs.

Sometimes I hesitate because the night is so dark and there are poisonous snakes in the forest. But thinking of the langur herd that could be killed, I try my utmost.

Inner Sanctum: How do you deal with poachers?

I come to their house again and again to talk with them about how valuable the langurs are. I also told them that illegal hunting of these animals incurs criminal proceedings and jail time.

Several poachers have since given up illegal hunting and volunteered to join our group to protect the langurs, without payment.

Our work of protecting the langurs is much more effective now thanks to these former hunters because they know all the tricks of the poachers.

Inner Sanctum: What do the authorities think of your work?

The authorities praise us as a bright example of endangered animal protection for others to follow.

In 2015 the then Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and provincial authorities awarded me a certificate for my contribution to protecting the langur herd.

We are very happy because Tuyen Hoa District has promised to build a guard house with better equipment for us this year. VNS
Le Phuoc Thiet, an 84-year-old man from the central province of Quang Nam, has become well known for his university attendance, but few know of his generosity and kindness.

Thiet, who has completed his first year in a masters degree programme in business management at Duy Tan University in a Nang, gave up his assigned dorm room to one of his fellow students.

To encourage local students to finish high school, Thiet has offered scholarships to 100 poor students from the citys ai Loc District.

At the university, Thiet asked his much younger classmates and teacher to refrain from calling him Bac (Vietnamese for fathers elder brother), to which they readily agreed.

Thiet and his family moved to the US when he was a young child. In the US, he received his bachelors degree at the age of 69.

After returning to Viet Nam in 2013, he enrolled in the university in a Nang, where he is a model student. If he is absent from class, he calls lecturers to ask about what he does not understand.

My effort to attend university is to set an example for our descendants, Thiet said. VNS
By Khieu Thanh Ha

Visiting Thailand has never been boring to me, since the country is not only the kitchen of the world, but also a hub of activities and festivals.

Returning to the country after one year, I found a different angle that I plan to fly back even though I was still on my vacation.

Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket are familiar destinations to many tourists, including me. This time, I travelled to the countryside in Nong Khai Province, which is more than 600km from the capital city.

Spending nearly an hour on Thai Smile Airways, I reached the long thin province that runs along the Mekong River in the Northeastern Isaan Region.

It is home to an extraordinary natural phenomenon that has lasted for centuries, which local people call the Naga Fireballs. It takes place only in the evening, one day, once a year, and often at the end of the three-month Buddhist Lent in October, a time at which Buddha is said to descend to earth from heaven. It is usually seen in Phon Phisai District.

Naga, in the Thai language, is a mythical serpent-like creature, believed by locals to live in the Mekong or its estuaries. It protects its residents. People say that the mysterious balls are made by the Naga, in order to call the Buddha to return to Earth.

The glowing balls, reddish in colour and in various sizes, are alleged to naturally burst from the bottom of the river, sprint above the water surface, and then move skyward for a couple of hundred metres before disappearing.

I have come to watch it every year, and am always excited to wait for it, as if it was the first time. I believe many people feel like me, said Thanawit Parnchookaew, a Vietnamese-Thai living in the province.

Nobody knows when the fireballs start. We just prepare food and drinks in the morning, drive to the place and wait until night. Sometimes it is early, at 6pm, but sometimes it is at midnight. It can come up with one ball, or six to seven balls at the same time. It is really an incredible scene that everyone should see once in their lifetime, Thanawit said.

The number of fireballs varies from year to year, anywhere from 10 to 1,000.

Budda Park in Nong Khai Province is home to giant fantastic concrete sculptures inspired by Buddhism and Hinduism.  VNS Photo Khieu Thanh Ha

Nong Khai has welcome many scientists who seek to discover the answer to the phenomenon. There are some explanations, but the cause of these balls remain unproven.

And I have decided that I will be one of some half million people from throughout the world who make the journey to Nong Khai to try and decide for myself what it is. This year, the fireballs are expected to rise up on October 16.

Whether you believe or not, a journey to Nong Khai would not be wasted, Thanawit said.

Aside from all the usual delights, the Naga Fireball Festival, which surrounds the night of Mekong Fireballs, provide visitors with a chance to enjoy the local culture.

The seven-day festival, according to Seksan Sripraiwan, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailands Udon Thani and Nong Khai offices, also includes a bazaar, a contest of floating and illuminated boats in worship of the Naga, and long-boat races.

The area is filled with huge street parties, delicious food and drink, as well as performances of various kinds, including traditional music and dance shows.

While waiting for the fireballs, I spent time discovering the Sala Kaeo Ku, the Buddha Park, which is home to huge, strange and amazing concrete sculptures.

It was built by, and born out of the vision of Shaman Luang Pu Bunleua Surirat and his followers in the early 1980s.

There are hundreds of statues in the park, including images of Shiva, Vishnu and Buddha, as well as many other figures from Hindu and Thai culture, amongst others, telling different stories of religious life. It is the scale of the sculptures that is truly awesome, with some towering over 25m high.

Surirat passed away in 1996, leaving several statues unfinished.

The Tha Sadet Market, or Indochina Market, was my next destination.

This "must see" covered market runs alongside the Mekong River and is a favourite attraction for many visitors to the province.

Nong Khai has always been an important trading post in the Indochina region, and there is still a ferry that runs from the Tha Sadet pier, across to Tha Dua in Laos. This used to be the main route to Laos, until the opening of the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge in 1994.

The market offers many kinds of clothing, which are mainly weaved with traditional Thai patterns.

I was swimming among dresses, shirts, pants and scarves, which were all selling at reasonable prices, much lower than in other places, such as Bangkok or Pattaya. There was sure to be something to interest every shopper.

The market was also an ideal place to pick up souvenirs, such as wood carvings, silverware, local produce and much more.

I returned to my hotel with a small, cute ring and a wonderful skirt.

During my trip, I was told about a new attraction in the province, a U-shaped skywalk at Wat Pha Tak Suea temple in Sangkhom District of Nong Khai.

The 16m long skywalk is built overlooking a cliff, and has glass floors and walls. It welcomed its first visitors in early April.

Up to 20 tourists can walk along the skywalk at one time to see, from on high, panoramic vistas over the Mekong and across into the virgin countryside of Laos.

It is on my list to visit, when I am again back for the fireballs event.

I will also take a walk to the Friendship Bridge which, in my opinion, all Thais are proud of it.

They talk and talk a lot about the construction that spans the Mekong and connects Thailand to Laos, providing an excellent vantage point from which to take in magnificent views of the river. At the weekend, the bridge is opened up to pedestrians from both sides to stroll on and admire the views.

People will arrive from Vientiane, the capital of Laos as it is only 25km from the bridge, and be free to discover other people, cultures and attractive sites.

And what is to be named on my list: the Wat Pho Chai, the most important of Nong Khais temples; Phra That Bang Phuan, one of the most sacred sites in the Isaan Region; Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary, which contains a number of beautiful waterfalls; Octobers 10-day Chinese Dragon Festival, where ceremonial dragons are paraded around streets, together with Chinese cultural events that include dance and opera shows; and Novembers Loy Kratong, the festival of lights, which is held to pay respect to the goddess of the rivers and waterways. VNS
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ELGIN  Mary and Erling Bilden were willing to change their farming operation to be successful.

It was the same for their ancestors.

Weve always figured out what we needed to do to survive, Erling said.

The couple, their children and grandchildren received a Century Farm award and a Heritage Farm award for land that has been in the Bilden family for more than 100 and 150 years respectively at the Iowa State Fair in August.

Torgrim and Kari Bilden, Erlings great-grandparents, purchased the 80 acres northeast of Elgin for $233 at a tax sale in 1866. The second 80 was purchased in 1882.

Torgrim emigrated from Norway in 1850. Kari came a few years later. They were married in St. Ansgar in 1853. The next generation, Hans T. and Helga Bilden, took over from them. And Erlings parents, Tilpher and Deloris Bilden, continued the legacy.

As Erling and Mary look to the future, theyre focused on the next generation. The couple has two children: Hans and his wife, Allison, live a mile up the road. They have three children, Ava, Clara and Jensen Tilpher. Hans has six beef cows that run with his parents 24 Angus cows, and he helps with the cow-calf enterprise. He works for his brother-in-laws farming operation, and he and his family grow and sell Bilden Blast popcorn.

Daughter Erika, her husband, Michael Brincks, and their children, Jaden, Paxton, Ellie and Ryker, live near Ossian, where they raise hogs and beef cattle, and Michael farms with his family.

Our kids were very involved in 4-H and FFA, Mary said. They both earned their Iowa and American FFA degrees.

My hope is that the farm stays in the family, Erling said.

He joined his parents after graduating from high school.

We had dairy, beef, hogs, chickens, corn, oats and hay, Erling said.

The eggs from his mothers 100 layers paid for household food. He remembers harvesting clover seed. At one time, Erlings ancestors raised tobacco because there was a tobacco shed. The pine trees at East Clermont Lutheran Church, the familys church, were planted in 1903 and came from a nursery at the Bilden farm.

In 1988, Erling and his brother, James, split their farming operation. James continued the dairy herd and Mary and Erling expanded the hog and beef enterprises.

The couple sold feeder pigs until prices got bad in the 1990s. They sold their sows and custom-raised feeder pigs until five or six years ago.

To supplement income, Erling worked for Valley Co-ops lumberyard in Clermont, and Wright and Wilhelmy, selling hardware in northeast Iowa, southern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Now, he works for a neighboring farmer in the spring, summer and fall, and does chores for another neighbor in the winter.

Mary stayed home with the children and did the farm work when Erling first took a job off the farm. She has been a para-educator at North Fayette Valley in Elgin for 20 years.

They rent out their farm except for the hay ground and six acres of silage they feed to the cows.

In 2006, the couple planted an apple orchard.

I call it my retirement project, Erling said.

They have 60 apple trees with plans for more and sell 10 varieties of apples.

As the orchard developed, they built an apple house onto the garage and installed two coolers and an apple washer. They sell apples off the farm and to area schools. Bilden Blast popcorn and pumpkins grown on the farm also are for sale. The orchard is open through Nov. 1.

This year, they exhibited apples at the Iowa State Fair, winning nine blue ribbons and overall champion for their Gala apples.

The Bildens host preschoolers from area communities each fall. The children hike to the orchard, pick apples and watch the Bildens wash and pack apples. The youngsters return to school with an apple each.

Mary and Erlings love of old barns led to another enterprise.

A neighbor was tearing down his barn and he offered the couple the barn boards if they came to get them. They made crafts from the boards for a church event, which led to many requests to attend other craft shows.

People continue to offer them old barns. Theyve constructed benches, fences, flowers, birdhouses and replica barn planters. Their hog buildings were repurposed as a shop, painting area and storage.

Weve taken down 12 to 15 barns and very seldom paid for any of the boards, said Erling.
WATERLOO  After a satisfying lunch of barbecue chicken and pecan pie in the Friendship Village dining room, the eight ladies adjourn to the lounge area.

They draw for seats, each tossing a quarter into the kitty, and then arrange themselves comfortably at two tables  four at each. Bowls of candy and nuts are set aside, and theres a lull in conversation as players watch the cards being shuffled and dealt.

Virginia Miller eyes her cards and then rearranges them in her hand, keeping her face as inscrutable as any high-stakes professional poker player. Marilyn Peterson keeps up a running commentary at Millers table as she examines her own cards, and, at both tables, its not long before players begin calling out bid and pass.

The afternoons first round of 500 cards has begun. A notepad at each table keeps track of points.

On the third Thursday of each month, Miller sits down with her pals to play late into the afternoon. At 96, shes been playing 500 for 70 years and brought her card habit along when she moved into Friendship Village.

I must have liked it  Im still doing it, Miller says, smiling. I started playing in a club in 1946. Im the only original member left, and I cant remember anymore who all belonged, but we played regularly.

The war had just ended, and Miller was pregnant with her first child. She was new to the community, having moved here when her husband, a doctor, was beginning a new partnership.

There was a girl living upstairs who was from California, and she didnt know anybody either. Her mother-in-law suggested joining a club of some kind, so we did. We met at her place because she had enough room for everyone, Miller recalls.

That group lasted for about 10 years. Wed put the kids to bed, leave the husbands in charge, then have dessert and play cards. My husband knew hed be on duty those nights. Most women didnt work in those days, and something like this kept us from losing our minds, I think, she explains.

When the children got older, the card game was moved to the afternoons. Members came and went, but Miller was always at the table, ready to play.

500 is described as a trick-taking game that is an extension of Euchre, with a few ideas from bridge thrown in, according to Wikipedia. The object is to score or exceed 500 points by making bids and taking tricks.

Its very social, and its that fellowship that keeps it going, Miller says.

Peterson agrees. We all get along so well, and its fun to meet once a month and play cards and visit, she explains. Shes played with Millers group for nearly seven years.

Betty Wexler has been part of the group for 10 years, and other members include Rachael Goings, Jane Sullivan, Shirley Galanits and Lois Werkman. Lois Marsch joined the group for the day, filling in for regular player Luella Hoffman.

Galantis joined the group about five months ago. I was asked to sub for someone, but when I came to play, I saw I was already on the roster, she explains, laughing. Ive been here for years, Sullivan says, playing with different groups. Its a nice way to spend an afternoon.

Werkman says a sense of humor helps when youre playing 500. Of course, at the end, that too has fled, she says, laughing.

The card game wraps up about 4 p.m., and they play for money, Miller points out. The third-place winner gets 25 cents, and the winnings go up to 75 cents for second. The afternoons overall winner receives a gold dollar from Goings.

Ive got to have played with several hundred people, maybe more, over these long years. I didnt know that when I joined, so I didnt keep track of everyone or keep a list of names. If I had to do it over again, I would. I dont see quitting anytime soon, Miller adds.
WATERLOO  Recent flooding has driven up the need for assistance across the 16 counties served by the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.

Fortunately, an annual food drive by Cedar Valley high schools will help replenish shelves of the organization, which serves the region through eight programs.

Eight schools from Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Hudson, Gilbertville and La Porte City kicked off the 2016 Student Food Drive on Monday at the agencys headquarters in Waterloo.

During the six-week effort, schools will plan events to collect money or food. The contest wraps up Nov. 14, when each school will bring its donated or purchased nonperishable food to be weighed. Schools compete to see which has the most pounds of food in three enrollment categories.

Participants include Cedar Falls, Hudson, East, West, Valley Lutheran, Union and Don Bosco high schools and Waterloo Christian School. West High School won $100 Monday during a trivia contest to jump-start its food drive. Teams of two students from each school competed for the funds.

The food bank saw a substantial increase in the need for emergency food assistance with near-record flood levels, reminiscent of the aftermath from record floods of 2008.

Last year, local schools participating in the Student Food Drive raised over 37,000 pounds of food, Barbara Prather, food bank executive director, said in a news release. In relation, over 40,000 pounds of food has been distributed to flood victims in the last week. Our goal for the Student Food Drive this year is to raise 50,000 pounds.

As flooodwaters receded, Prather said phone calls came in from all around the food banks service area. Food distribution began immediately and will continue into the future.

Over 10 days, food was distributed to Clarksville, Manchester, Independence and Charles City pantries. The Waverly-Shell Rock United Way also distributed food bank products to Janesville, Shell Rock, Waverly, and others in Bremer and Butler counties. In addition, Living Water Church of the Nazarene in Cedar Falls and the Salvation Army in Waterloo distributed food bank products. Bottled water and snacks also were given to the Red Cross.

About 200 nonprofit organizations and programs who assist the hungry receive food bank products, as well as individuals. Last year the food bank distributed more than 6 million pounds of food in its 16-county service area.

To support the Student Food Drive or for more information, call 235-0507 or visit www.northeastiowafoodbank.org.
AURORA  An Aurora man was arrested for attempted murder and several other charges Saturday after deputies say he fired shots toward law enforcement during a standoff at his house.

Dennis Edgar Chamberlain, 55, was arrested early Sunday on charges of attempted murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, domestic abuse assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless use of a firearm causing property damage and false imprisonment.

He is currently being held at the Buchanan County Jail.

According to a report from the Buchanan County Sheriffs Office, deputies got a call just before 11 p.m. Saturday about a possible domestic disturbance at 306 Buffalo St. in Aurora.

At 11:12 p.m. Saturday, another call came into the sheriffs office saying the disturbance was now a standoff, with Chamberlain allegedly threatening a woman with a weapon at the residence, according to the report.

During the standoff, which lasted about two hours, Chamberlain reportedly fired shots toward law enforcement outside the residence. Law enforcement did not return fire, according to the report. No one was injured.

Chamberlain was later taken into custody with the help of a negotiator, according to deputies. The womans name has not been released.

Its not the first time Chamberlain was charged with assaulting law enforcement. Chamberlain was convicted, paid fines and served time in 2003 for interference with official acts causing bodily injury and assault on peace officers and others, according to online court records.

The Buchanan County Sheriffs Office was assisted at the scene by the Iowa State Patrol Tactical Team, Aurora Fire Department and Oelwein Mercy Ambulance Service.
DES MOINES  Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are traveling different electoral roads, but both hope their final destination is the White House.

It is far more important to Trump than Clinton, experts say, that the road include a victory in Iowa.

The winner of a U.S. presidential election is the candidate who garners the most Electoral College votes, which are allocated to each state based on population. The candidate to reach a majority 270 electoral votes wins.

History and polling show where most states electoral votes are headed even before the campaign starts, leaving a small portion of states and electoral votes truly up for grabs.

While Iowas six electoral votes are few by comparison  fellow swing state Florida, for example, has 29  they have been highly sought by both parties in recent elections, during which the state has supported a Republican (George W. Bush) and a Democrat (Barack Obama) and has featured competitive races.

This year, however, Iowas electoral votes may not be as valuable as other recent elections  at least not to both candidates.

Multiple experts told The Courier Des Moines Bureau Iowa is critical to Donald Trump. Without the states six electoral votes, it becomes extremely difficult for the Republican to defeat Clinton.

Clinton, on the other hand, does not necessarily need Iowa in order to keep the White House occupied by a Democrat. She has many paths to 270 electoral votes, and not all of them require Iowas half-dozen.

I think Iowa is more critical for Trump getting to the White House than Clinton, said Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of the Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report. Even though Iowa has been in the Democrats column the last two cycles, the Democratic nominee just has more wiggle room. Hillary Clinton doesnt need a clean sweep of the toss-up states in order to win, whereas Donald Trump probably does.

Clinton, as the Democratic nominee, started the election with a built-in advantage. States that went to the Democrat in each of the past six elections dating back to 1992 provide 242 electoral votes. So if Clinton manages merely to hang on to each of those loyally Democratic states, she needs only 38 more electoral votes for victory. Florida alone would put her over the top.

Trump, meantime, started with only 179 electoral votes based on states that went Republican each of the past four elections dating to 2000. That means he has to win 91 out of the 117 electoral votes available from 10 toss-up states  nearly 80 percent  or steal a loyally blue state or two while hanging onto all the red states.

The electoral map is not favorable for a Republican, so any number of electoral votes are going to be critical (for Trump), said Christopher Larimer, a political science professor at the University of Northern Iowa.

Most polls in Iowa have showed a close race between Trump and Clinton. Two post-Labor Day polls showed Trump leading Clinton by 7 and 8 percentage points, although both were taken before the first debate that has given Clinton a polling bump nationally and in other states.

Iowas relative importance to Trump and Clinton is perhaps best illustrated in odds calculated by Nate Silvers data-based journalism website fivethirtyeight.com, so named after the 538 total electoral college votes in a presidential election.

If she loses Iowa, Clinton still has a 39 percent chance of winning the election, according to fivethirtyeight.coms calculations.

If Trump loses Iowa, he has just a 5 percent chance of winning the election, according to the site.

Iowa is one of four hyper-critical states for Trump, along with Florida, Ohio and North Carolina, according to the site.

The Clinton campaign will spend resources in Iowa largely for cosmetic reasons, but it isnt necessary for Clinton to win the state to win the election, said David Wasserman, an editor for the Cook Political Report. It is necessary, on the other hand, for Trump to win the state to win the election.

Campaign activities can signal how serious a candidate is about winning a given state. If a candidate truly craves a states electoral votes, he or she will devote resources in the form of paid staff, appear at campaign events and advertise on television and radio.

But Clinton and Trump are sending mixed signals in Iowa, Larimer said.

I think its interesting. I think you see more organization from the Clinton campaign in Iowa, but you dont see the candidate. I think its the reverse for the Trump campaign, Larimer said.

Clinton has campaigned in Iowa just twice in the general election, although she also made a stop in the Quad-Cities, just across the Mississippi River from Davenport.

In the past few weeks, however, the Clinton campaign has unleashed an army of surrogates on Iowa, including former Democratic primary competitors Bernie Sanders and Martin OMalley, her daughter, Chelsea, and current U.S. ag secretary and former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack.

Trumps campaign operation in Iowa is much smaller than Clintons, but his team works closely with the Republican Partys national and state organizations established here.

Naturally, both campaigns insist Iowa is crucial to their efforts. Clintons team has maintained as much from the start and as proof points to its staff, organization and voter turnout programs.

Our volunteers and supporters are working hard to mobilize Iowans to cast their votes early for Hillary Clinton and win Iowas six electoral votes, Clinton campaign spokesman Yianni Varonis said in an email. Early voting so far shows Iowans are rejecting Donald Trumps hateful rhetoric and dangerous policies in droves, and supporting Hillary Clintons plans to build an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top.

The Trump campaign also said Iowa is important to its plans.

Our campaign has long known that Iowa is a key state if we are to successfully defeat Hillary Clinton and put Donald Trump in the White House, Eric Branstad, the Trump campaigns state director and son of Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, said in an email. Mr. Trumps messages of restoring our nations economy, keeping us safe and making America great again resonate across Iowa. He and Gov. Pence have traveled here often to share that vision with voters and their efforts are paying off, as recent polls show Mr. Trump leading Crooked Hillary by large margins here in Iowa.

Both candidates insist they hope to win Iowa. Only one, according to the experts, truly needs it.

(Clintons) path to 270 electoral votes mainly lies through other states, mainly states like Virginia, Colorado and Pennsylvania, perhaps even, in terms of securing the win for her I look at Florida and North Carolina as the states that if she can win one of those, theres basically no way Trump can win, said Geoffrey Skelley, an associate editor for Sabatos Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

I dont think shes necessarily given up on (Iowa), but its tough for her, I think, to see that as a priority state compared to a state like Florida and North Carolina, Kelley said.

But on the other hand, Trump in order to win obviously needs to add on to the states that Mitt Romney won (in 2012), so for (Trump) Iowa is a good starting point.  For them, picking off Iowa and Ohio gets them 24 more electoral votes, which still they have to get more to win, but its a starting point.
DES MOINES  If Donald Trump needs a safe space, he should come to Iowa.

Across the country Saturday, the Republican presidential candidate faced withering criticism over recently published lewd comments he made in 2005 about groping women.

Since the comments were published, more than 30 Republican members of Congress and governors who had not previously ruled out supporting Trump disavowed his candidacy, the New York Times reported Saturday.

In Iowa, however, Republican leaders  as they gathered for their annual fall fundraiser  condemned Trumps comments but continued to support his candidacy, either directly or by way of opposing Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

And a new Iowa Poll published Saturday evening showed Trump leading Clinton, 43 percent to 39 percent, in Iowa, although the survey was taken before Trumps latest comments were published.

When you look at the whole picture, I think what he said was absolutely wrong and reprehensible, yet this has happened in 2005 and we need to look to the future, and we need to look at what kind of a leader were going to have for this country, said Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, whose son, Eric, is the Trump campaigns Iowa director. I think that the vision Trump and (running mate Mike) Pence have is much better for the future of America than what Hillary Clinton offers.

During their remarks at the fundraiser, Iowas U.S. Senators Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst both made the case for voting for Trump without using his name.

Ernst dedicated most of her remarks to criticizing Clinton, and Grassley said Republicans must vote for a candidate they want making appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court.

This is not an election about whos going to be president just for the next four years. This is an election about the direction of the Supreme Court for the next 40 years, Grassley said.

Neither Grassley nor Ernst spoke to reporters before the event, although Ernst gave a brief answer to one question as she hurried to her seat. When asked whether she still supports Trump, Ernst replied simply, I do not support Hillary Clinton.

The states Republican Party chairman Jeff Kaufmann condemned Trumps comments, which he called disgusting, but said he still will encourage Republicans to vote for Trump.

Kaufmann said he thinks voters face a choice between two flawed candidates.

The only way to avoid a disaster, and the Clinton gang returning to the White House is just that, is to elect Donald Trump, Kaufmann said.

The evenings sharpest rebuke of Trump came from a non-Iowan: U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, of Arkansas, the events keynote speaker.

Cotton said Trump has let down Republicans again, and said at tonights presidential debate Trump must take full responsibility for his words and actions and pledge to finally change his ways.

If he does those things, then he can right this ship, Cotton said. If he does not do those things, if he will not do those things, then he needs to consider whether its time for him to step aside and allow our party to nominate an elder statesman who will do those things and who will carry our banner into November.

Earlier Saturday, an Iowa state senator who earlier this year dropped his Republican Party affiliation in protest of Trumps offensive statements and behavior called on Iowa GOP leaders to withdraw their support for Trump over the recently published comments.

Now that Trumps true anti-women sickness has been revealed, surely these two state leaders must condemn Trump publicly, Johnson said. As I said in June, Donald Trump is a bigot, misogynist and racist, and is unfit to be president of a great nation.

Trump issued a video statement in which he apologized for the comments, which were caught on microphone in a leaked 2005 video that was released Friday. Trump also called the footage of his comments a distraction from bigger issues at stake in the Nov. 8 election.

Ive never said Im a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone that Im not, Trump said in the video. Ive said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more than a decade-old video are one of them. Anyone who knows me knows these words dont reflect who I am.

Trump told reporters Saturday he would never withdraw from the race, even as pressure mounted for him to step aside.

The Clinton campaign in Iowa addressed Trumps comments with a letter signed by four local mothers.

The language Trump uses to describe women is not just shocking and hurtful, but disqualifies him for the presidency, the letter says. As mothers of young children and grandchildren, we want our president to set the example for young people that every person is their equal regardless of gender and physical appearance, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and religion. Instead, Trump continues to divide the country with his hateful rhetoric, volatile temperament, and demeaning views toward women and too many Americans.
WATERLOO  Two more downtown property acquisitions are before the Waterloo City Council this week.

Council members will be asked Monday to approve buying the Mid-America Dental Studio, 216-222 Commercial St., to expand parking near the Cedar Valley SportsPlex, Waterloo Center for the Arts and Young Arena.

An unrelated proposal would have the city purchase a parking lot from KWWL-TV for $50,000 to satisfy requirements of a previously approved development agreement for a $4 million historic renovation of the stations building at East Fourth and Franklin streets.

Community Planning and Development Director Noel Anderson said the dental building would be demolished for parking. It is being acquired from Locus Partnership with bonds to be repaid using tax-increment financing.

Its in pretty rough shape, and we need the parking, Anderson said.

The city previously acquired a funeral home, car wash, bar and three homes on the same block, which have already been torn down for parking. The Walker Building, the last remaining structure, is not earmarked for acquisition or demolition.

A similar funding source will be used to buy the parking lot, which is on the northwest corner of East Fourth and Franklin. KWWL is moving the entrance and parking to the east side of its building on a former American Legion post site the city supplied.

Anderson said there are no immediate plans for the city to use or develop the parking lot the city would buy.

Other scheduled council business includes:

A site plan amendment for a 7,000-square-foot Kwik Star convenience store and car wash in the Country Club Business Center, east of the VGM Group complex and west of Grainger Industrial Supply.

An amendment to the agreement with North Crossing LLC for the redevelopment of the former Logan Plaza strip mall to prioritize which elements of the project are built first. The agreement keeps the same overall time line and construction value requirements.

The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday in the council chambers on the second floor of City Hall.
CEDAR FALLS  John Miller was feeling sentimental among the trees at the Hartman Reserve Nature Center.

Sixty-two years ago this past summer I spent a week in these woods, he said. It was a life camp at that point, and the only thing that was here was the interpretive center. At that point it was called a mess hall.

Now a Black Hawk County supervisor, Miller was among supporters Friday who celebrated the groundbreaking of a $3 million reconstruction of the 75-year-old east wing of the interpretive center.

With Hartman Reserves history providing outdoor recreation and education to thousands of Cedar Valley students, families and adults, Miller wasnt the only person feeling nostalgic.

I have very fond memories of running through the woods here as a kid, chasing frogs or whatever, said Carolyn Rafferty, who chairs the county conservation board. I have even better memories of bringing our three boys out to go fishing or geocaching.

Hartman Reserve has always been such a special place, she added. It inspires that love of nature; it promotes that connection to the great outdoors; it helps develop that understanding of why conservation matters.

The conservation board and Friends of Hartman Reserve volunteer group have raised $2.3 million from foundations, corporations and individual donors to help replace the east wing, which was built in 1941 and has deteriorated badly.

The organization is still raising money and applied for $762,000 Community Attraction and Tourism grant through the Iowa Economic Development Authority that is expected to be considered Wednesday.

Members of the county Board of Supervisors provided gap financing so Larson Construction Co. of Independence could begin the project, which includes a basement learning lab and a larger area for Hartman programs.

We have hundreds of folks who felt Hartman Reserve is one of the crown jewels of Black Hawk County, said Tim Jones, president of Friends of Hartman Reserve. This will ensure a legacy for our children and for all of Black Hawk County.

Bob Frederick, a member of the Friends board, said both fundraising and the operation of Hartman Reserve will continue as contractors work to finish the building by the end of 2017.

Were only going to miss one Maple Syrup Festival here at Hartman, said Frederick, noting Cedar Heights Elementary School has agreed to host the popular event in March.

Vern Fish, executive director of the Black Hawk County Conservation Board, said replacing the east wing of the interpretive center ensures the future of the second-oldest nature center in Iowa.

Weve been here since 1941, Fish said. Were going to get ready for the next 50 or 100 years.
When I ask people who dont support Hillary Clinton for president why they dont support her, they often respond they dont like her. I usually ask why not. Many times their first response is because she lies. Without agreeing, I point out if lying disqualifies a candidate from running for office, we would have very few people running, especially Donald Trump.

The latest reason Im hearing is because of her husbands infidelity. Hillary Clinton wasnt unfaithful, Bill was accused of it. How does it make her unlikable to do the Christian thing, forgive him and stay with him? And, recall it wasnt Trumps wife who had an affair but Trump himself. It would seem far more appropriate for people to be upset with Trump than Clinton over marital affairs.

There is a long list of excuses given for not liking Clinton, but most are weak or simply outright inaccurate. I suspect the real reason some people dont like her has little to do with her politics. They dont like her because she is not personally likable. She does not have a pleasant smile nor do you get a feeling of warmth from her.

Have you ever seen her in public when she wasnt serious and intense? That is her nature and has been all of her life. This is a person who has always been driven to genuinely help people have better lives. Not just talking about it but doing something. This goes back to her college days and has continued to the present. If you paid attention to Bill Clintons comments at the Democratic National Convention you were overwhelmed, as I was, by the extent and breadth of her actions.

But back to not liking her. Shes not warm and charming and seems never to relax. Worse, they dislike her physical appearance. She is accused of being an unattractive woman who has gained weight with age. Maybe, but she is 69 years old. Do we really expect any woman that age to look like Trumps latest wife, who is 46, 24 years younger than Trump?

I can understand voting against Clinton because you dont like her politics or political philosophy, but not because you dont like her personality and appearance. Were not selecting a dinner date or exercise buddy, were electing someone to be president, and personality is way down the list of requirements for that job.

If you take a look at the presidents who have genuinely helped make America great you will see they were compassionate and concerned about the human condition, but above all were real leaders. They were not bullies and braggarts. They had a vision for our country and it included everyone, regardless of race or national origin. This is Hillary Clinton.

So, if you dont want to vote for her, please make sure you understand why. You can disagree with her ideals and plans and not want them in place. Just make sure thats the real reason and not because you dont like her personality and appearance. We all have the right to vote, but we also have the obligation to select our candidates for substantive and not superficial reasons.
Freelance writer Scott Cawelti is having lunch and a conversation with area leaders. This is the ninth installment from his lunch with community leader Millisa Tierney. Question: What local retirement centers pub offers live jazz or down-home folk music every Friday night, along with wine, beer and mixed drinks?

Answer: Its the Cedar Falls Lutheran Home, of course.

Wrong. The former Lutheran Home does house a live music pub that attracts a local crowd. But its no longer the Cedar Falls Lutheran Home, though it was called that for decades.

Founded in 1958 by seven Lutheran churches, its now NewAldaya Lifescapes  a Life Plan Community. Just NewAldaya will do.

Its decidedly not your grandparents nursing home. With a pub, shops, deli, beauty parlor, workout room and performing arts center, it attracts non-Lutheran residents and audiences from all over Northeast Iowa.

NewAldaya CEO Millisa Tierney, who helmed this radical shift, changed the institution from a nursing home model to community-oriented retirement living.

As an institution, it sponsors and hosts a large variety of events, ranging from film classes to tai chi workouts to University of Northern Iowa writing classes helping residents produce memoirs.

Thanks to Tierney and her supportive board of directors, NewAldaya is engaged in a national paradigm shift in housing for older citizens. From basically warehouses for old people to vibrant community centers, such places create an appealing variety of lifestyles and living arrangements.

These changes dont come easily, Tierney said, because were changing the very core of what we offer retired people. She discovered she was passionate about helping retirees improve the quality of their lives. If I didnt have that passion for helping older citizens live better, I wouldnt have stayed with it. My leadership team feels the same passion.

She was hired as CEO of the Cedar Falls Lutheran Home in 2004 after working there as director of nursing since 1991. She quickly found people thought we only served Lutherans, and therefore sought a name with wider appeal.

During the planning Tierney felt urgency to change, since baby boomers having beer or wine with friends in public was something the Lutheran Home atmosphere seemed to forbid. In addition people are living longer, so naturally want to live better.

Tierney and her board hired consultants, discussed potential changes with residents and community members and arrived at NewAldaya Aldaya deriving from aldea, meaning village in Spanish. New village indeed.

Of course there were naysayers, insisting the new name was difficult to remember. Some people feared the spiritual mission would get lost, since Lutheran clearly showed a religious affiliation the new name did not.

We still believe that faith-based nonprofit care is better than profit-based care, and we wont change that, insisted Tierney, who cited their mission statement: enhancing lives through a commitment to individualized care in a home empowered by Gods love.

The nonprofit NewAldaya Lifescapes Community came into being in 2011 with the Main Street remodeling and has moved forward ever since. For corporate purposes it still operates as the Cedar Falls Lutheran Home, but the name change caught on.

Tierneys leadership style includes steady collaboration, but there comes a time when planning is over and someone has to pull the trigger. A leader knows when to stop talking and start acting, as she put it.

Leadership has become much more challenging in the last few years, she insists. Change is more rapid, and the millennial generation of workers behave much differently than baby boomers or Gen-Xers. How so?

Theyre digital natives, having grown up with constant feedback from their electronic devices, and expect instant likes on everything they do. Im a digital immigrant, and dont always get them.

She deals with such challenges by being flexible. We always have a Plan A, with Plans B, C and D in the wings. Were regularly surprised, and if we hadnt embraced sudden change, we wouldnt have completed anything.

Through it all, she keeps a robust sense of humor. We dont take ourselves too seriously, she laughs. Also Ive learned from wise mentors on the national level, and they continue to learn constantly. So do I.

The hardest part is having to make major decisions that affect people deeply. I have to hire and fire people, and I know how much these decisions mean. Of course we mentor and offer other opportunities, but its still hard.

Shes well aware she has made a difference in the Cedar Valley. I realize that I have a lot of knowledge and experience to share, and I try to share it at every opportunity.

Leaders in her field agree. Recently she accepted the 2016 Francis Lackner Award, the highest honor awarded by Leading Age Iowa, which represents not-for-profit service providers.

Clearly, Millisa Tierney has become an outgoing force for retirement center change. Were lucky to have her in the Cedar Valley.
For the many Iowans concerned outdated criminal justice laws are endangering public safety and ruining peoples lives, its heartening Congress has indicated it hopes to take up the issue during the coming weeks. But it remains unclear whether any legislation will make it to the presidents desk.

Thats why the roughly 58,000 employers that call Iowa home should consider voluntarily taking action themselves.

Businesses have a powerful role to play in giving individuals with criminal records a second chance. The easiest step they can take is to ban the box.

Right now, most employers require jobseekers to check a box on an application if they have any criminal record. Too often, this can function as an automatic application denied.

Nationwide, some 650,000 incarcerated individuals rejoin society every year, and they desperately need jobs to help them transition back into society and to provide for themselves and their families. But the criminal record box often shuts them out of the job market before they can get a foot in the door. A 2009 study by Harvard and Princeton researchers showed individuals who checked the box reduced their chances of a callback by 50 percent, with blacks hurt twice as much as whites.

Unemployment among those with a criminal record remains staggeringly high: A third of men without jobs between the ages of 25 and 54 have a criminal record. And the lack of employment is one of the key reasons more than two-thirds are re-arrested, more than half are re-convicted and 40 percent are re-incarcerated within three years of release.

Ex-offender unemployment not only holds back individuals working to improve their lives, it also stifles our economy. A 2010 study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research estimated the annual lost economic value at between $57 billion and $65 billion.

These are a few of the reasons why my employer, Koch Industries, officially banned the box on our job application last year. Now we delay the question until later in the hiring process. This allows us to consider a candidates past in the context of their other life experiences.

Companies big and small have made the same choice because it makes sense from a business perspective. With an estimated one in three adults in the U.S. having some sort of criminal record, its shortsighted for an employer to potentially eliminate one-third of the available applicant pool. We should seek the best talent, period.

Over the years at Koch, individuals hired with a past record have been dedicated employees who have succeeded at the company. They are valuable contributors on a path toward a productive and fulfilling life.

We recognize banning the box may not make sense for every business, which is why a government mandate isnt the solution. Each employer needs to make its own decision. If the roughly 58,000 employers in Iowa voluntarily considered banning the box, the social and economic landscape could be defined by more opportunity and prosperity, especially for the least fortunate.

Thousands of Iowans with criminal records try to rejoin society every year, and they want to contribute to their communities. Iowa businesses can help them by breaking down barriers that stand in their way. No one should be judged forever based on what they did on their worst day  and everyone deserves a second chance.
Womens group luncheon slated

PARKERSBURG  The A-P Womens Connection luncheon is set for 12:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at Parkersburg United Methodist Church on Florence Street.

Cost is $9; call 346-1060 for reservations by Friday.

A treasure hunt is planned before the luncheon; participants should bring their purse.

Connie Ayers will present Getting Old as the special feature, and Kay Swanson will play the piano.

Carol LeBeau of Coronado, Calif., will present An Anchor for Life. Womens Connection is sponsored by Stone Croft Ministries. The prayer meeting will take place at 9 a.m. Monday at Hope Reformed Church; all are welcome.

West Music to host musician

CEDAR FALLS  The Northeast Area Music Teachers Association will feature Brittany Lensing in a program at 10:15 a.m. Friday at West Music Store on University Avenue.

Lensing will present a program on Suzuki Piano.

The public is welcome.

For more information on NAMTA, go to www.namtaiowa.org or email Jean Hilbert, jhilbert93@mchsi.com.

Blood drive set in La Porte City

LA PORTE CITY  A La Porte Lions Club blood drive is set for 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Veterans Hall, 302 Cedar St.

Schedule a blood donation appointment at lifeservebloodcenter.org or call (800) 287-4903.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 08, 2016 | 10:13 AM | WASHINGTON, DC





Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell is speaking out about Donald Trump's lewd comments in 2005.McConnell released this statment to Fox News and others: "These comments are repugnant, and unacceptable in any circumstance. As the father of three daughters, I strongly believe that Trump needs to apologize directly to women and girls everywhere, and take full responsibility for the utter lack of respect for women shown in his comments on that tape."Donald Trump apologized for the comments he made about women more than a decade ago, saying they "don't reflect" the man he is today.He says, "I was wrong and I apologize."Trump's campaign released the one-and-a-half-minute video on the GOP nominee's social media accounts early Saturday morning.The video apology came hours after The Washington Post and NBC News posted a video from 2005 in which the Republican nominee brags about kissing, groping and trying to have sex with women who were not his wife.Trump says, "I've said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more than a decade-old video are one of them."
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Canl Bahis siteleri sektoru son derece onu ack ve farkl ozelliklere sahip bir sektordur. Elbette bahis secenekleri arasnda yuksek kazanc getiren alan kuskusuz canl bahistir. Peki, canl bahis nedir?

Canl Bahis Nedir?

Canl bahis adndan da anlaslacag gibi devam eden musabakaya bahis yapmaktr. Bu bahis musabaka devam ederken de yaplabilir olmasdr. Basta futbol olmak uzere voleybol, tenis, hentbol, basketbol, buz hokeyi ve masa tenisi gibi spor organizasyonlarna canl bahisler yaplabilmektedir. Canl bahis siteleri bu oyunlarn hepsine yuksek oranlara bahis yapmanza imkan tanr. En fazla tercih edilen futbol canl bahisleri diger alanlara gore daha fazla on plandadr. Siteden siteye degisen sartlar ve uygulama esaslar soz konusu olsa da kurallar sabittir.

Canl bahisi populer klan ve heyecan katan en onemli ozellikle musabakann basladg ana dek bahis yapabilmedir. Canl bahis icerisinde yer alan secenekler kazanma sansnz da dogrudan arttrmaktadr. Ilk korneri kim kullanr, ilk tac, gol, sar kart, krmz kart gibi futbol musabakas icerisinde olabilecek hemen hemen her seye bahis yaplabilmektedir. Normal bahisegore de son derece yuksek oranda olmas avantajl yonlerini ortaya koymaktadr. Nitekim dogru secenek ksa surede kazancl ckmanza etki edecektir.

Strateji ve dogru analizle 90 dakika gibi bir surede anaparanzkatlayabilirsiniz. Tabi bunu basarabilmek icin mutlaka musabakaya dair ayrntlar iyi degerlendirmek gerekir. Soz konusu musabakann detaylarn inceleyip, cezal, sakat oyuncu veya performans dusen takm oyunu gibi detaylar bilmek canl bahiste kazanc belirleyen onemli unsurdur. Guvenilir Canl bahis hem heyecanl zaman gecirmeyi hem de musabakalar takip ederken para kazanmay saglamaktadr.

Canl Bahis Nasl Oynanr?

Bahislerinizi guvenilir sitelerden gerceklestirdiginiz zaman herhangi bir sekilde para cekme de sorun yasamazsnz. Guvenilir bahis siteleri tespit edip sonrasnda da uyelik islemlerini tamamlamanz gerekmektedir. Belirlenen uyelik sartlarn yerine getirip hesabnza da paray aktardktan sonra bahis islemlerini sorunsuz yapabilirsiniz. Peki, canl bahis nasl oynanr?

Oncelikle bahis konusunda mutlaka dogru site arastrmas yapmalsnz. Yapacagnz arastrma neticesinde buldugunuz site uzerinden canl bahisislemlerini gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Bunun icin uye olup, hesaba para atp, canl bahis bolumune girmelisiniz. Sonrasnda dahil olmak istediginiz musabakann saatini ogrenip, gerekli analizleri yapmalsnz. Tahminlerinizi belirledikten sonra karsnza ckacak olan bahis sayfasndan istediginiz hamleyi yapmalsnz. Bahis tutarn belirledikten sonra musabaka baslayacaktr.

Canl bahis diger normal bahis esaslarna gore farkllklar icermektedir. Bunlardan en onemlisi musabakann gidisatna gore islem yapabilir olmaktr.Ayrca musabakann 2. Yarsna gore hamle yapp ayr bir bahisin soz konusu olmas da ciddi avantajdr. Dogru hamle ile sizde istediginiz bahisi yapp kazanc elde edebilirsiniz. Nitekim canl olarak yapacagnz bahis icin mac oncesi raporlara gore hareket etmek onemlidir. Cunku takmlarn durumlarn analiz etmek tahmin gucunu arttracaktr. Misal tamnn en iyi oyuncusu sakat ya da kart cezals ise takmn performansnda dusus yasanacaktr. Buna ek olarak takmn deplasman performans ile evinde ki performans ayr olacaktr. Burada da takmn musabakay nerede yaptgna bakmak gerekir. Bu ayrntlar da iyice analiz ettikten sonra bahsinizi yapp kazanmann keyfini yasayabilirsiniz.

Canl Bahis Siteleri

Son derece yuksek getiriye sahip bahis sektoru uzun zamandr faaliyet gostermektedir. Cok ciddi rakamlarn soz konusu oldugu bu sektor zamanla sanal ortamlara donusmustur. Elbette guvenli ve bir o kadar da avantajl olan bu siteler cok yonlu frsatlar sunmaktadrlar. Canl iddaa siteleri gerek yeni uyelere gerekse de hali hazrdaki uyelerine bolca bonus frsatlar vermektedir. Yatracagnz tutara gore belirlenen bonuslar site icerisinde rahat hareket etmenizi de saglayacaktr.

Canl bahis sitelerini kullanmadan once mutlaka guvenli olup olmadgna goz atmalsnz. Zira baz kullanclar guvenli olmayan sitelerden yaptklar islemlerden dolay magdur olmaktadrlar. Nitekim guvenli ve sorunsuz hizmet sunan yurt ds site tercih etmek en dogru secenektir. Sektorde uzun yllar faaliyet gosteren siteleri tercih edebilirsiniz. Bu alanda yer alan yabanc siteler musteri memnuniyetine onem vermektedir. Oncelik site kullanclarn sorunsuz sekilde bahislerini yapabilir olmasn saglamaktr. Bahis sitelerinde amac hem daha fazla kullancya hizmet vermek hem de sektorde emin admlarla ilerlemek onceliklidir. Dogru site tercihi ile sizde canl bahislerinizi sorun yasamadan gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Sizler icin hazrlams oldugumuz canl bahis siteleri listesi su sekildedir;

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Sralams oldugumuz bu siteler sektorde basarl islere imza atms sitelerdedir. Canl bahis konusunda beklentileri karslayacak olan bu siteler sizlere kolaylk sunmaktadrlar. Bol bonuslu secenekle de sizlere farkl bahis yonlerini sunacaklardr. Sistemsel etki icerisinde her zaman etkin sonuc alabilmek icin surekli olarak faaliyet icerisindedirler.

Canl Bahis Taktikleri

Bahis sektorunun en fazla dikkat edilmesi gereken hususu dogru taktik ve dogru tahmindir. Elbette dogru tahmini yapabilmek icin analizi cok iyi yapmak gerekir. Canl bahis taktikleri arasnda ilk sra analiz gelmektedir. Analiz yapamadgnz zaman basarl tahminlerde bulunmanz pek de mumkun degildir. Cunku bahiste onemli olan konu musabakann analizini cok iyi yaplmas gerektigidir. Canl bahisin ozelliklerini iyi bilmek ve nasl bir hamle yapacagnz bilmek gerekir. Ozellikle riskli maclarda yaplacak degerlendirmeler cok daha onemlidir.

Canl bahis yapacaklarn takip edecegi degerler takmlarn durumlar ile alakal olmaldr. Performans uzerine kurulu bahis sisteminde takm degerlendirmesine iyi bakmak gerekir. Iki takmn son 5 macta nasl bir sonuc ortaya koyduguna bakarak hareket etmek onemlidir. Ayrca hangi takm evinde daha iyi performans sergiliyor diye de ayrca bakmak gerekir.

Analizlerle alakal puan durumlarna da goz atmak cok onemlidir. Puan degerlendirmesinde oncelikle takmlarn ihtiyaclar ile dogru orantl hareket etmek gerekir. Cunku olusturulan performans takmn da durumunu ortaya koymaktadr. Nitekim istenilen sonucu elde edebilmek icin tum ayrntlar bilmek gerekir. Takm ici duzenden tutunda da takmn son durumuna kadar her ayrnt onemlidir. Iki takmn birbirleri arasnda ki sonuclar da incelemek gerekir. Burada dikkat edilecek detaylarn basnda maclarda kac gol oldugu ve gollerin hangi dakikalarda atldgdr. Cekismeli gecen musabakalarda bazen goller ilk yarda daha fazla olurken baz maclarda da ikinci yarda daha cok gol olmustur. Iki takm arasnda ki maclarda gollerin cogunlugu ilk yarda geliyorsa buna gore bahis yapabilirsiniz.

Canl Bahis Siteleri Bonuslar ve Kampanyalar

Bahis yapanlar veya yapmay dusununler sitelerin sunmus olduklar frsatlar merak etmektedirler. Cunku siteler daha fazla kullancya erismek icin her donem kampanyalar duzenleyerek kullanc odakl hamleler yapmaktadrlar. Canl bahis bonuslar ve kampanyalar oldukca populer olup, siteler bu konuda adeta birbirleri ile yarsmaktadrlar. Birbirinden farkl ozelliklere sahip olan kampanyalar size frsatlar sunmaktadr. Daha cok kazanma ihtimalinizi arttran bu bonuslar daha cesur olmanza da dogrudan etki edecektir. Nitekim bonuslar sitelerin cekiciligini ve avantajlarn arttrmaktadr. En cok kazandran canl bahis siteleri bedava bonuslar ve kampanyalar icin http://www.milano2018.com/canli-bahis-siteleri-2022/ linkinden yardm alabilirsiniz.

Hos geldin bonusu ile baslayan ve sonrasnda para yatrdkca bonus veren cok sayda site bulunmaktadr. Canl bahis bonusu veren siteler yeni uyelere sunduklar frsatlar farkl kampanyalarla mevcut uyelerine de sunmaktadrlar. Hali hazrda siteyi kullananlarn da bonus frsatlarndan yararlanmalar icin donemsel kampanyalar olusturmaktadrlar. Boylece baska sitelere gidisler olmayacag gibi site de daha keyifli zaman gecirmek mumkun klnmaktadr. Bu tur eklentiler yapan sitelerde musteri memnuniyeti daha fazladr.

Bahis siteleri ozellik ve uygulama bakmndan farkllklar bunyelerinde bulundurmaktadrlar. Verilen bonuslarn olusturulmas ve kullanclar aktarlmasnda yatrlan para miktarlar belirleyici olmaktadr. 1.000 TL yatran bir kullanc yuzde 20 bonus frsat olan bir kampanyadan 200 TL bonus kazanabilmektedir. Yatracag tutar 10.000 TL oldugunda bu bonustutar 2.000 TL olabilmektedir. Gerceklesen ve uygulanan esaslar tamamen donemsel olarak yaplan kampanyalarla alakaldr. Iyi Canl bahis siteleri bonuslar ve kampanyalar icin sitelerin vermis oldugu oranlar takip edebilirsiniz.

Canl Bahis Siteleri Para Yatrma

Online Canl bahis yapacaklarn merak ettigi konulardan bir digeri de para yatrma islemleridir. Oldukca onemli olan bu konuda hata yapmamak cok onemlidir. Canl bahis sitelerine para yatrma islemi sanlann aksine son derece basittir. Oldukca basit ve uygulama esas dogru etki olusturan bu yapda sizde islemi rahatca tamamlayabilirsiniz. Para yatrma konusunda su yolu izleyebilirsiniz.

Guvendiginiz ve herhangi bir sekilde aklnzda soru isareti kalmayan bahis sitesine uye olmanz gerekmektedir. Uyelik islemini sorunsuz sekilde tamamladktan sonra para yatrma islemine gecebilirsiniz.

Kullanacagnz siteye uye olduktan sonra karsnza kullanc ad ve sifresini gireceginiz yer gelecektir. Buraya giris yaptktan sonra site icerisine islemlere devam edebilirsiniz.

Sitede yer alan para yatrma sekmesine tklayp sonrasnda karsnza gelen sayfay inceleyebilirsiniz. Para yatrma bolumunde yer alan ksma ne kadar para yatracagnz yazp devam tusuna basmalsnz.

Yatrmak istediginiz tutar girip sonrasnda da devam tusuna bastktan sonra karsnza kart bilgilerinizi gireceginiz sayfa gelecektir. Kredi kart kullanarak para gondermek isteyenlerin tercih ettigi bu sayfa tum bilgiler girilip islem onaylanmaldr.

Canl bahis sitelerine para yatrma islemini gerceklestirmek icin hesaba havale secenegini de kullanabilirsiniz. Site icerisinde musteri hizmetleri ile iletisime gecerek banka hesap numaralarn ogrenebilirsiniz. Belirtilen IBAN numarasna istediginiz tutar havale edebilirsiniz. Havale ederken acklama ksmna yazlacak bilgilere dikkat etmelisiniz.

Kredi kart veya banka havalesi ile gerceklesen para yatrma islemi sonucunda site hesabnzdan bakiyenize bakabilirsiniz. Bakiyenize gore dilediginiz sekilde bahislerinizi gerceklestirebilirsiniz.

Canl Bahis Siteleri Para Cekme

Canl bahiste dogru hamleler ve dogru tahminler sonucunda kazandgnz bedeli geri almak isteyebilirsiniz. Kazanclarnz istediginiz banka hesabnza cekebilmek icin uymanz gereken kurallar soz konusudur. Oncelikle bahis sitelerinden para cekebilmeniz icin uye olurken dogru bilgi paylasmnda bulunmanz gerektigidir. Cunku canl bahis sitelerinden para cekme islemi icin kullanc hesab ile talep edilen banka hesap bilgilerinin ortusmesi gerekir. Yani uye olurken verilen bilgi ile banka hesab kime ait ise o bilgiler ayn olmaldr. Bu uygulama sitenin hem kullancsn hem de kendisini guvene alma politikasdr. Ayrca frsatclarn onune gecerek yeni bir uye olusumunun da onune gecmek amac gutmektedir. Uye olan kisi farkl para cekilme talebi verilen hesap farkl oldugunda para cekme islemi gerceklesmeyecektir.

Bahisleriniz sonucunda kazanc elde edebilir ve bu kazancnz da hakknz olarak almak isteyebilirsiniz. Burada son derece basit uygulama soz konusu olurken siteler aras farkl gorunumler soz konusu olabilir. Fakat yine de tum sitelerde uyenin site icerisinde para cekme bolumune girmesi yeterlidir. Burada cekilecek olan tutarn belirlenmesi ve hesap numarasnn girilmesi ile birlikte islem onay gerekecektir. Para cekme taleplerinde sizden gerekli bilgiler istenmekte ve havale islemi istenilen bilgiler esliginde yurutulmektedir. Dogru bilgi paylasmak sorunsuz para cekebilmeniz en onemli kuraldr. Istenilen bilgiler girildikten sonra site sorumlular gerekli kontrolleri yapp herhangi bir sorun yoksa ksa surede hesabnza gerekli paray aktaracaklardr.

Canl Bahis Sitelerinden Para Cekmek Icin Istenen Belgeler

Bahis sitelerine uye olduktan sonra baz kullanclar para cekme taleplerinin karslanmadg konusunda sikayetlerde bulunmuslardr. Bu sikayetlersektorde uzun zamandr bulunan guvenilir bahis siteleri de yer almaktadr. Fakat sikayetlerin dayanaklarna bakldgnda ise islerin tamamen farkl oldugu gorulmektedir. Yasanan bu durum kullanclarn hatal bilgi girmesi ve uyelik bilgileri ile banka bilgilerinin uyusmamas ile dogru orantldr. Birde canl bahis para cekmek icin istenen belgeler eksik ya da hatal olarak sunulmus olabilir. Ortaya ckan karsklar neticesinde para cekme talebinde bulunan kisi istedigini alamadg icin sikayetci olmaktadr. Oysa ki istenilen bilgiler dogru ve istenilen evraklar eksiksiz sunulsa para cekme islemi sorunsuz olacak.

Sitelerin para cekme konusunda dikkatli hareket etmesi hilelerin ve illegal faaliyetlerin onune gecmek adnadr. Cunku baz kullanclar farkl bilgiler vererek ikinci hesap acabilmektedirler. Bazen de bilincsizce hatal bilgi girilebilmektedir. Hatal islemlerin cozumu konusunda islem yaptgnz sitenin musteri temsilcileri ile gorusebilirsiniz. Talepleriniz dogrultusunda para cekme islemlerinde ki sorunlar giderilecektir. Canl bahis para cekmek icin istenen belgeler listesi su sekildedir;

Kullanc bilgileri ile banka bilgilerini karslastrmak icin kimlik fotokopisi

Banka hesap bilgileri

Ikametgah ve kisiye ait herhangi bir fatura.

Kacak Iddaa

Turkiyede dogrudan bahis yapmak icin resmi kanallar kullanlabilmektedir. Fakat tercih edilen ve oran olarak cok daha fazla frsatlar sunan kacar iddaasiteleri bulunmaktadr. Bu siteler kanunlara aykr sekilde yaplmakta olup, yasal bir dayanag yoktur. Elbette bu sitelerin kurulus merkezi Turkiye olmayp, ds ulkelerdedir ve faaliyetler belirlenen siteler uzerinden yaplmaktadr. Kacak Iddaa oldukca riskli olup, cok dikkatli olunmas gerekir.

Kacak Bahis

Kanunlar cercevesinde istediginiz gibi bahis yapamayabilirsiniz. Bahis yapabilmek icin ya kanuni olarak sorun olmayan ulke dsnda ki kumarhanelere gitmeniz veya kacak bahis sitelerinden islem yapabilirsiniz. Zira bu durum tehlikeli olsa da cok sayda site guvenli sekilde bu alanda hizmet vermektedir. Kacak bahiste oldukca fazla secenek bulunurken yuksek oranda kazanc sunuyor olmas da ragbeti arttryor.

Illegal Bahis

Bahisin bircok alanda yasak oldugu Turkiyede bu alanda cok sayda yabanc merkezli siteler hizmet vermektedir. Illegal bahis sektorunde faaliyet gosteren siteler guvenli hizmet anlays ile kullanclarna frsatlar sunmaktadr. Yurt ds merkezli bu siteler sorunsuz sekilde hizmetlerini surdururken bulunduklar ulkelerde kanunlara uygun sekildedir. Elbette faaliyet noktasnda bulunduklar ulkelerde sorun teskil etmese de Turkiyede faaliyet gostermeleri kanunin yasaklanmstr.

Yasads Bahis

Gerek olusturulan etkenler gerekse de ortaya konulan riskler yasads bahis de oldukca tehlikelidir. Kanunlarn mudahil olduklar bu alanlar da hem kullanclar hem de populer bahis yaptranlar tum riskleri goze almaktadrlar. Fakat yasaklardan uzak sekilde guvenli hizmet sunan siteler de bulunmaktadr. Takipler neticesinde kapatlan sitelerin muhakkak alternatifleri kurularak yollarna devam etmektedirler.

Canl Iddaa Siteleri Nelerdir?

Dunya genelinde kabul gormus cok sayda guvenli hizmet veren populer bahis siteleri bulunmaktadr. Elbette bu siteler dunyann bircok ulkesinde faaliyet gosterse de Turkiyede yasaktr. Sektorde yer alan cok sayda legal iddaa siteleri bulunmaktadr. Herhangi bir kanunsuzlugun olmadg bu sitelerden hzl ve guvenli islem yaplabilmektedir. Tabi bu sitelerde uygulanan oranlar yasal olmayan sitelere gore daha dusuktur. Illegal sitelerin tercih edilme sebeplerinin en onemli etkeni de olusturulan oranlardr. Peki, Iddaa siteleri nelerdir? Faaliyetleri ve uygulama esaslar nelerdir?

Turkiyede faaliyet gosteren yasal iddaa siteleri listesi su sekildedir;

Iddaa

Bilyoner

Tuttur

Birebin

Oley

Nesine

Misli

Iddaa

2004 ylnda hizmet vermeye baslayan Iddaa Spor toto tarafndan kurulmus olup, ilk etapta bayilik seklinde calsmaya baslamstr. Elbette zamanla gelisen teknolojiye ayak uydurarak internet uzerinde de populer bahis severlerin hizmetine sunulmustur. Kuruldugu donemde devletin resmi kurumu olarak faaliyet gosterirken gelinen yeni donemde ozellestirilmistir.

Bilyoner

Turkiyede faaliyetine 2006 ylnda baslayan Bilyoner ilk ozel yasal bahis sitesi olma ozelligine sahiptir. Guvenilir bahis siteleri Turkiyede bunlardr. Ksa surede populer olan site halen faaliyetlerini sorunsuz sekilde surdurmektedir.

Tuttur

Ksa surede adndan bahsettirmeyi basaran Tuttur 2009 ylnda faaliyetlere baslamstr. Guvenilir bahis siteleri arasnda yerini almstr. Gunumuze dek bircok alanda populer bahis yapanlara frsatlar sunarken avantajlar ile de begeni toplamstr.

Birebin

Kullanc odakl calsmalar surdurse de 2011 ylnda sektore giren Birebindiger sitelere gore daha az ragbet gormektedir. Bahis oynamak ise bu sitede oldukca kolaydr. Elbette farkl yaklasmlara sahip olmasndan dolay ilerleyen sureclerde adndan sklkla bahsettirecek gibi gorunuyor.

Oley

2009 ylnda Dogus yayn gruplarnn istiraki olarak kurulmus olup yasal olarak herhangi bir sorunu olmayan sitelerdendir. Bahis siteleri arasnda hzl cks yapms bir sitedir. Oley yapms oldugu yenilikler ile kullanclarn da dikkatini ksa surede cekmeyi basarmstr.

Nesine

Birbirini takip eden surecte Nesine de yine 2006 ylnda hizmet vermeye baslamstr. Yasal bahis siteleri arasnda yerini almay basaran firma ksa surede sevilen ve ragbet goren bir site olmustur.

Misli

2009 ylnda sektore cok hzl giris yapan Misli cok sayda reklam filmi ile on plana ckmay basarmstr. Internet uzerinden hem yasal hem de sorunsuz hizmet veren bahis sitelerinden bir tanesi olmustur.

Canl Bahis Siteleri Kayt ve Uyelik Islemleri

Her zaman populerligini koruyan ve surekli gelisim gosteren canl bahis gun gectikce daha da gucleniyor. Bahis oynamak icin ise sitelere uye olunmas gerekir. Yuksek getirisi ve begeni toplayan faaliyetleri ile cok sayda site bu alanda faaliyet gostermektedir. Elbette sorunsuz sekilde uye olmanz ve faaliyetler gostermeniz de oldukca kolaydr. Canl bahis siteleri kayt ve uyelik islemleri dakikalar icerisinde gerceklestirilecek yapya sahiptir.

Uye olacagnz siteyi belirledikten sonra siteye girmeniz gerekmektedir. Girdiginiz sitenin ana sayfasnda uye ol ya da kayt ol bolumu bulunacaktr. Siteler arasnda degiskenlik gosteren bu alanda temel unsurlar bulunmaktadr. Elbette farkllklar olsa da temelinde benzer bilgiler uye olmak isteyen kisilerden talep edilmektedir.

Uye ol bolumune tkladktan sonra karsnza uyelik bilgi formu ckacaktr. Bu formda sizin kim oldugunuzu ogrenmek ve sitenin guvenligini saglamak adna islemler yaplmaktadr. Uyelik formunda yer alan ad soyad bolumunu eksiksiz ve dogru sekilde doldurmalsnz. Sizden bu formda istenen bilgilerin tamamn girmeniz istenecektir. Istenen bilgiler mutlaka dogru ve eksiksiz sekilde olmaldr. Eksik veya hatal bilgi uyelik islemlerinde sorun teskil edebilir. Yine de yanls bilgi girisine ragmen uyelik islemleri tamamlanabilir. Fakat boyle bir yol izleyenler sonrasnda buyuk skntlarla karslasabilirler. Bu skntlarn basnda da para cekme islemlerinde yasanan sorunlardr.

Uyelik islemleri dikkatli ve ozenle doldurulmas gereken yapdadr. Canl bahis siteleri kayt ve uyelik islemleri gerceklestirilirken verilen bilgiler site yonetimi tarafndan muhafaza edilmektedir. Herhangi bir sekilde 3. Sahslarla paylaslmas gibi bir durum soz konusu degildir. Bu faaliyetleri surduren sitelerin guven unsurlar arasnda bu nokta onceliklidir.

Bahis sitelerine uye olurken hatal bilgi paylasmnda bulunmak size faydadan cok zarar verecektir. Diyelim ki bilgileri hatal girdiniz ve uyelik onayland. Uyelik tamamlandktan sonra siteye para yatrdnz ve kazanc elde ettiniz. Kazancnz sonrasnda hesabnza almak istediginizde karsnza banka bilgileri bolumu gelecektir. Para cekme talebi gerceklestikten sonra site uyelik bilgileri ile banka hesap bilgileri ortusmez ise paranz alamazsnz. Boyle bir durumla karslasmamak adna bu hususa ayrca dikkat etmelisiniz.
Oaxaca FilmFest, Simply The Best Festival Experience On The Planet!

OAXACA DE JUAREZ, MEXICO, October 09, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Denver Film Company announced its first feature film, American Bystander has been selected to participate in the Oaxaca FilmFest to take place in Oaxaca, Mexico October 8-15, 2016. The film will make its World Premiere during one of the film festival's Foundation Nights on October 10 in the Cinepolis, the largest theater space and a second screening on October 11. The Oaxaca FilmFest has been ranked as "One of the Top 25 Film Festivals in the World" by MovieMaker Magazine and dubbed "Sundance South of the Border" by Spotlight Magazine.



The film's central character, Hopper, loses his wife in the theater shooting and his life quickly spins out of control. He eventually finds himself living on the streets of Denver. Told from the perspective of the homeless community that Hopper surrounds himself with, this fictional tale explores some of today's most volatile issues: homelessness, police brutality, gun control, gay rights, the death penalty, and the abuse of power. Gabriel Dohrn, Writer and Director states, "While many films about social issues take a side or make a statement, I just want to start conversations. With much of the media polarizing various social issues, I want to humanize them. In this film we experience the homeless characters' lives and their struggles, and suddenly it seems we have much more in common with them than we thought."



The morning after the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting on July 20, 2012, Denver film writer and director Gabriel Dohrn wrote a song about the horrific event. The song was called "Dark Night" and was based on his friend Bryson Billapondo's experience surviving the theater massacre. "The shooting was horrific on so many levels," says Dohrn, "But to have a friend who was a victim of the shooting, that really shook me up. I got a firsthand look at the terrible impact the shooting had on people." Dohrn transformed his song into the film American Bystander.



Denver Film Company filmed much of American Bystander at the Denver County Courthouse and other landmark sections of Colorado's capital city of Denver. A large amount of the film was shot on Denver's 16th Street Mall. While Dohrn and his team filmed the movie, the real-life events the film is based on, took place. For example, on Monday July 13, 2015, they filmed the scene in which the shooting trial's verdict was read. Three days later the actually "guilty" verdict was handed down in Aurora. "The idea was to capture a time and place. There was a heavy feeling in this city during the trial," said Gabriel Dohrn, Writer and Director, "So I set my actors in the middle of that, and let the performances come naturally."



The film was shot in Denver, Colorado with an all local cast and crew. Local actors in the film include Kaye Taavialma, Kevin Sean Ryan, Chaz Grundy, Kelly Mower, Dorinda Dercar, and Rebie Bautista. The film's Director and Producer aim to support local Denver charities by donating 100% of the proceeds from American Bystander to Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.



Writer and Director, Gabriel Dohrn used funds from his own pocket to create the film. An online crowd funding campaign has been launched via IndieGoGo (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/american-bystander-movie-film#/) to assist with film festival costs for the Oaxaca FilmFest and additional film festivals around the world with the ultimate goal to land a distribution deal for the film. The general public will also be able to view the film in the comfort of their own home by donating to the American Bystander IndieGoGo Campaign.



For more about Oaxaca FilmFest visit www.oaxacafilmfest.com



Oaxaca FilmFest is passionately committed to providing Audiences, Filmmakers, and Screenwriters around the globe with an excellent and unique cinematic experience.



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Lydia Kiesling in The New York Times:

Viewed in the least charitable terms, academia is a small fraternity of ambitious backbiters engaged in the production of work so dense that only other members of the order can hope to understand it. But some scholars arrive on the scene bearing such a combination of intellect, urgency and charisma that their achievements resonate long after the Festschrift is printed and the memorial lecture empties out. One of these was Marshall Hodgson, a great American scholar of Islam who died in 1968 while jogging on the University of Chicago campus. He was 46, and he left behind a manuscript that would become a magisterial three-volume book, The Venture of Islam, published posthumously through the efforts of his widow and colleagues.

In some parts of America today, Muslim is a slur. This is a grotesquely low bar by which to measure a non-Muslims engagement with Islam, but it is in fact the bar. Citizens in Muslim garb are attacked on American streets. One of our presidential candidates believes there is a Muslim problem, and he has plans to solve it. Self-styled experts analyze Shariah on right-wing talk shows. Toggling between Rush Limbaughs radio show and Hodgsons Venture, its hard to believe theyre discussing the same religion. In Islam Hodgson found one of the most creative and the most excellent of our collective human enterprises. He was a committed Quaker, and his own religious beliefs allowed him to find deep resonance in both the unity and variety of Islamic experience. Medieval is a kind of slur now, too, but there was something medieval about Hodgsons combination of study and belief. For much of history, Islamic and otherwise, the pursuit of knowledge and the practice of faith were a single project. This was likewise Hodgsons motivation and his way of reckoning with the role of Islam in world history.

More here.
Lisa Rosman in Signature:

First things first: The Girl on the Train is a wonderfully faithful adaptation.

In a move that seems downright brilliant now, the film rights forPaula Hawkinss dark mystery were bought months before its early 2015 publication, at which time it went on to sell more than eleven million copies, spend months on international best-seller lists, and, most importantly, capture us by the throat with its unnerving, elegantly wrought tension. Yet the early purchase of those rights was not eerilyprescient, for the book is cinematic in the very best of ways: At core, it is about the power and pain of the female gaze.

In her translation of Hawkinss story, gimlet-eyed screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson (Secretary, Chloe) upholds the bones of its structure by deftly juggling the entwined narratives of three women living in the same suburban region. (The book is set in the outskirts of London; the film, New York.) Fired from her public relations job, alcoholic Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt, washed-out and sad-eyed as weve never seen her) still commutes to the city every day to hide her job loss from already-wary friend Cathy (Laura Prepon), whos let her crash in a spare room since her divorce two years ago. Alas, that daily train ride passes Rachels former home, now occupied by her ex-husband, Tom (Justin Theroux), his former mistress and current wife, Anna (Rebecca Ferguson), and their baby girl.

More here.
Laws crafted by those elected should do most good for most people
By Catherine J. Frompovich

One of the most definitive, expansive and inclusive peer-reviewed papers Ive ever read on any subject was published July 25, 2016 online at Electronic Physician as an open access article that I sincerely hope everyone in the media and healthcare industries will take extremely seriously, especially those who are promoting more and more smart appliances and devices that transmit electromagnetic frequencies and radiofrequenciesmicrowaves, which damage human health more than we are being told by government health agencies at all levels (local, state and national), manufacturers, employers and school districts that even mandate their uses as new technologies to learn and to implement.

New technologies are fine IF and WHEN they take into consideration and implement safeguards for human health, which is not the case with microwave technology, but has been the dream warfare technology for the United States military and other governments, so anything goes, including our being bombarded with so much microwaves, we now are experiencing more adverse health effects attributed to whats scientifically termed Non-thermal Adverse Health Effects.

The U.S. military has had a GREAT interest in keeping microwave safety standards higher than they should be and not as applicable as the science demands. Dr Magda Havas, PhD, Environmental & Resource Studies, 1600 West Bank Drive, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada, K9J 7B8 on her website published the following incriminating unclassified U.S. Army documents information as to why microwaves are not safe, nor made safer, due to U.S. military involvement with its electronic warfare techniques, which harm everything.

There are two disturbing paragraphs in the document Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation (Radiowaves and Microwaves)  Eurasian Communist Countries (U). Prepared by U.S. Army Medical Intelligence and Information Agency Office of the Surgeon General and released by the Defense Intelligence Agency. Adams, R.L. and R.A. Williams. 1976. 34 pp. Unclassified, which clearly indicate the U.S. militarys perspective opposing more stringent guidelines for microwave radiation .

No. 1: If the more advanced nations of the West are strict in the enforcement of stringent exposure standards, there could be unfavorable effects on industrial output and military function. The Eurasian Communist countries could, on the other hand, give lip service to strict standards, but allow their military to operate without restriction and thereby gain the advantage in electronic warfare techniques and the development of antipersonnel applications. [Page vii]

No. 2: Should subsequent research result in adoption of the Soviet standard by other countries, industries whose practices are based on less stringent safety regulations , could be required to make costly modifications in order to protect workers. Recognition of the 0.01 mW/cm2 standard could also limit the application of new technology by making the commercial exploitation of some products unattractive because of increased cost, imposed by the need for additional safeguards.  [Page 24]

___________

Below is the copy and paste job of the Introduction from A review on Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and the reproductive system, which I hope my readers will take seriously and also take necessary steps to protect yourselves, your children, your pets and your home environment. This is SERIOUS stuff no one is taking as seriously as we ALL should. Those smart gadgets just may be making you more sick than you can imagine. With 61 References, I think the Electronic Physician article needs to be taken seriously with revisions made to EMF/RF standards by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reflect them.

People in the modern world frequently are exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Human exposure to EMFs comes from many sources, and situations are different in peoples everyday lives. EMFs emanate from power lines, computer devices, televisions, radios, and telephones. There are many factors that influence the degree to which people may be affected by EMFs. For example, body weight, body-mass index, bone density, and the levels of water and electrolytes can alter the conductivity of and biological reactivity to EMFs (1, 2). Therefore, the effects of this environmental pollution can depend on gender, tissue density of the body, the period of life, and the exposure levels to EMFs. Beginning in 1960 when the biological hazards caused by EMFs first were studied, human health became an important focus in the workplace and at home (3). Although, the biological effects of EMFs are still controversial, in general, the negative effects should not be ignored. Currently, people are exposed to various types of EMFs, which are non-ionic radiation that cannot release electrons. They are energy in the form of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that are transformed from one point to another. Many forms of physical energy, such as X-rays, UV light, and sunlight produce EMFs (4). There are several references that classify EMFs, but, in general, they can be considered to consist of four different types. The first type of EMFs refers to extremely low frequency (ELF) EMFs, which are EMFs that are below 300 HZ, and they are produced by military equipment and railroads. The second type, known as intermediate frequency (IF) EMFs, have frequencies in the range of 300 Hz to 10 MHZ, and they are produced by industrial cables and electrical equipment in homes, such as televisions and computer monitors. The third type is hyper frequency (HF) EMFs that have frequencies in the range of 10 MHz to 3000 GHz and are produced by mobile phones and radio broadcasting. Radio frequencies (RFs) also are a part of this category, which has frequencies up to 100 MHz (4). There are also static EMFs that are produced by MRI and geomagnetism and have specified with zero frequency (3). In 1979, Wertheimer and Looper showed that there is a direct relationship between EMFs and the increased incidence of leukemia in infants (5). If the bodys biological system is exposed to EMFs, which produce electric currents and fields, which, in fact, deal with the current and voltage, the normal physiological balance is upset. If the density of the electric current increases to the stimulation threshold, membrane depolarization of the nerves and muscles may result. Electric and magnetic fields at environmental levels may extend the lifetime of free radicals and result in damage to peoples deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (6). Some epidemiological studies have been done in various populations, but most have been done in laboratory animals and cell lines (4). The biological effects of EMFs generally can be divided into thermal and non-thermal effects (7). Thermal effects are defined as the heat generated by EMFs in a specific area. The non-thermal effects depend on the absorption of energy and changes in the behavior of tissues without producing heat. EMFs have high penetration power, and they are capable of moving charged particles, such as the electrons and ions of large macromolecules and polymers (7). So EMFs can have devastating effects on tissue with high concentrations of electrons and ions. EMFs that cause changes in the behavior of cells (8) and tissues alter the function of the cardiovascular system (9) and bone marrow (7). Electromagnetic fields can have several different effects on cellular components (10), including disorders of cell proliferation and differentiation (10), damaged DNA in cells, chromosomal abnormalities (11), blood disorders (9), birth defects (12), and various mutations, including those associated with long-term exposure to EMFs. Under the influence of these fields, the balance of the CNS and the hormonal and respiratory systems become weak, resulting in decreased activity of the mentioned organs (13, 14). Research on the effects of EMFs on the endocrine system has focused mostly on melatonin and the derived tryptophan produced by the pineal gland (15). Most of the harmful effects of EMFs act through the protein synthesis process (16, 17). In this regard, enzymes, due to their combination of amino acids, are affected, and their catalytic activity is decreased (4). Studies concerning the cytotoxicicity and genotoxicity effects of EMFs mostly have focused on fibroblasts, melanocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, and muscular cells in people and on the granolosa cells of rats (18). A declassified 1976 Defense Intelligence Agency report showed that military personnel exposed to non-thermal microwave radiation experienced headaches, fatigue, dizziness, irritability, sleeplessness, depression, anxiety, forgetfulness, and a lack of concentration (19). A2015 study showed that 2.4 GHz WiFi may be one of the major risk factors for brain tumors and other neurodegenerative diseases (20). Another2015 paper showed that polarized EMF (man-made) was much more active biologically than non-polarized EMF (21). Another paper showed that rabbits experienced heart arrhythmia and increased blood pressure when exposed to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (22). A long-term study conducted by Lennart Hardell, a Swedish scientist, on glioma and acoustic neuroma brain tumors showed that RF is carcinogenic. The scientist called for RF to be labeled an IARC Class 1 Carcinogen and recommended urgent revision to safety guidelines (23). A 2011 study by Nora Volkow showed that radiation from cell phones, in areas next to the antenna, increased the metabolism of glucose in the brain. Increased metabolism of glucose is associated with cancer. The study showed that biological changes occur at levels lower than the current FCC guidelines (24).

Electronic Physician. 2016 Jul; 8(7): 26552662.

Published online 2016 Jul 25. doi: 10.19082/2655

A review on Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and the reproductive system

Ali Asghari,1 Amir Afshin Khaki,2 Asghar Rajabzadeh,3 and Arash Khaki4

1M.Sc. of Anatomical Sciences, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

2Ph.D. of Human Medical Embryology and Fellowship of IVF, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

3Ph.D. of Anatomical Sciences, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khoram Abad, Iran

4Ph.D. of Pathobiological Sciences, Women Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Corresponding author: Dr. Amir Afshin Khaki, Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tabriz University, Iran. Tel: +98.9144157161, Email: moc.oohay@ikahkaa.rd

Author information  Article notes  Copyright and License information 

Received 2016 Feb 14; Accepted 2016 May 11.

Copyright  2016 The Authors

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.

Catherine J Frompovich (website) is a retired natural nutritionist who earned advanced degrees in Nutrition and Holistic Health Sciences, Certification in Orthomolecular Theory and Practice plus Paralegal Studies. Her work has been published in national and airline magazines since the early 1980s. Catherine authored numerous books on health issues along with co-authoring papers and monographs with physicians, nurses, and holistic healthcare professionals. She has been a consumer healthcare researcher 35 years and counting.

Catherines latest book, published October 4, 2013, is Vaccination Voodoo, What YOU Dont Know About Vaccines, available on Amazon.com.

Her 2012 book A Cancer Answer, Holistic BREAST Cancer Management, A Guide to Effective & Non-Toxic Treatments, is available on Amazon.com and as a Kindle eBook.

Two of Catherines more recent books on Amazon.com are Our Chemical Lives And The Hijacking Of Our DNA, A Probe Into Whats Probably Making Us Sick (2009) and Lord, How Can I Make It Through Grieving My Loss, An Inspirational Guide Through the Grieving Process (2008)

Catherines NEW book: Eat To Beat Disease, Foods Medicinal Qualities 2016 Catherine J Frompovich is now available


Three months after Kopardi rape incident, another alleged rape of a minor girl in Nashik put the government on the backfoot.

The alleged rape of a 5 year old girl by a 16 year old Dalit boy has created further troubles for the Fadnavis government. Opposition parties like Congress and NCP have asked the government to order for a probe and hearing to be held in fast track court. The government which already is finding itself on the backfoot for its inept handling of the Kopardi rape case faces another litmus test in the aftermath of the Nashik rape incident. Fadnavis government has been facing intense pressure from opposition parties to grant reservation to the Maratha community. The morcha held by Marathas in various regions of the state has put the government in a state of bother.

Leader of opposition in the legislative assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil has condemned the rape incident and said, This case must be heard in the fast track court and strict action must be taken against the accused. I have already taken note of the protests held by local residents after the occurrence of the rape incident and the local Congress leaders have briefed me about it. I have urged the police to conduct a thorough probe of the rape incident. I will also meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and urge the government to file a chargesheet within 15 days.

After the rape incident angry villagers protested and blocked vehicles on the Mumbai-Agra highway. Angry villagers torched three vehicles on the highway and demanded strict action to be taken against the accused. Police had to resort to lathicharge and later two rounds of bullets were fired in the air. A state transport bus was vandalised by protestors near Ozar. IGP Nashik rainge Nilaykumar Choubeys vehicle was damaged by protestors.

The boy has been taken into custody. Hes been booked under IPC 376 (rape) and relevant sections of POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act.

The 16-year-old boy allegedly raped the girl at an isolated place at Talegaon village under Trimbakeshwar taluka in the district, Trimbakeshwar police station in-charge Mukund Deshmukh said.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, The accused has been arrested. The government has ordered for probe and a charge sheet to be filed at the earliest. The case will be heard in a fast track court.

NCP president Sharad Pawar said, People should not pay attention to rumours and they should maintain peace.

Guardian Minister Girish Mahajan had gone to Civil Hospital, where the minor victim is undergoing treatment. He interacted with the protestors. Mahajan tried to pacify the protestors by saying that rape didnt occur and it was an attempt to rape which further irked them.
[dropcap]R[/dropcap]ecently, infertility centers have mushroomed with new hopes for childless couple and jobless young gigolos. Nowadays, many doctors have set up a sperm shop with few young smart, intelligent sperm producers. I would like to call sperm producers rather than donors.

In the movie Vicky Donor, unemployed Vicky is urged by a fertility sexpert to make better use of his wasted sperms. He turns this into a productive idea, until it becomes the origin of more troubles. Looking for designer babies anyone? With the looks of Brad Pitt/Aishwarya, stardom of SRK and the talent of Lady Gaga? Well, you need a super-sperm thats one in a million and Vicky Donor is full of the spunk that your fertile imagination needs. Hes the biological dad of 53 healthy children! Want more? Hes unemployed, single, and his view of sex is, jitna mile, utna kum. So what if all he does is shag for a living.

I was surprised when I was reading an interview of Dr. Aniruddh Malpani, an infertility expert, saying Brahmin sperms are in great demand. In my view, it is merely because media, judiciary and the so called group of intellectuals have been facing constant threats to the false dogmas of Hinduism due to serious attacks being made against Hinduisms false story. Hence, the caste Brahmin being most dangerous species on earth constantly poses serious threats to the humanity. It is therefore, the caste Brahmin who are in the commanding position as they rule the media and judiciaries in India have hatched a conspiracy and given the Brahmin Sperm theory. It clearly shows that Brahminism i.e. Hinduism has come so low to save and protect themselves. Brahmin Sperm theory abundantly speaks that the Hindu God strictly implement discrimination in producing human being as lowest, lower and higher and highest human divided into several thousands of castes.

Do you believe that God interferes in mans day to day life? No way. This is what the Priests make it out to be  for them to be seen as the citadels of power  that is their selfish agenda. So, do not confuse it there. Yet, there is a merit in Atheism too.

Sperm donation is the provision (or donation) by a man, (known as a sperm donor), of his sperm, with the intention that it be used to impregnate a woman who is not his sexual partner. While the sperm donor is the natural or biological father of every child produced as a result of his donations, he is generally not intended to be the legal or de jure father. Depending on the jurisdiction and its laws, he may or may not later be eligible to seek parental rights or be held responsible for parental obligations.

Sperm is often donated through a sperm bank or clinic, which are subject to varying state regulations, including restrictions on donor anonymity and number of offspring. By having sperm provided privately and directly to the intended mother, donors and recipients may avoid legal restrictions but also lose the benefit of legal protections of recipient and donor rights and responsibilities. Heterosexual couples suffering from male infertility, lesbian couples, and single women are the primary recipients of donor sperm. When going through a sperm bank, they may select their donor on the grounds of looks, personality, academic ability, race, and many other factors.

Pregnancies are usually achieved using donated sperm by artificial insemination (either by ICI or IUI in a clinic, or Intravaginal Insemination at home) and less commonly by in vitro fertilization (IVF), usually known in this context as ART but insemination may also be achieved by a donor having sexual intercourse with a woman for the sole purpose of initiating conception. This method is known as natural insemination, or NI. In India, its well known that couples shopping for sperm demand both looks and brains. What isnt so well known, despite being fairly commonplace, is a more outrageous request: caste-based sperm.

Some years ago, Dr. Saurav Kumar, a Patna based gynaecologist, created a furore when he told a newspaper that childless couples insisted on knowing the caste of sperm donors. However, while one may be tempted to assume that caste biases are entrenched only in states like Bihar, the citys infertility experts insist otherwise. Brahmin sperms are in high demand among childless couples, it means most Brahmin couples are childless? However, going by Indian Council of Medical Research guidelines, medical centres reveal only the religion of the donor, not the caste. Really, this is very sad thing which is taking place in India too.

In India, however, the donor remains anonymous. All that couples are told is that it is a young, healthy and fertile physical match yet, they persist. They want to match the primary characteristics such as height, skin and colour with their husband. Mostly, they want someone who is taller and a shade fairer than their husband, who points out that this may be a very consumeristic approach. Communities prefer a fair-skinned donor, adding that couples want them to find the closest skin, hair and eye colour match.

While in a majority of cases, it is the gynaecologists who contact sperm banks and request for semen samples based on the clients height, skin and hair colour preferences, some high-flying couples, especially NRIs, visit the sperm bank personally in their desperation. In 2008, when Dilip Patil tried to popularise the concept of sperm donation in India through an awareness booth at IITs annual Mood Indigo festival, it was, he who said an anti-climax. The students were shying that they even avoid going in a lane where he put his stall. His real-life anecdotes about convincing people to donate sperm made it to Vicky Donor. He says, he used references about sperm donation in ancient mythology, props and money to convince prospect and convert him into donors.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)
Filmmaker Farah Khan has spoken in favor of the demand for ban on Pakistani artistes in Bollywood, saying India has enough talent.

The 51-year-old director, however, said Hindi films, featuring Pakistani actors, which are set for release should not be banned.

But we have enough talent in our country and we should work with the people from our own country. We are far better and I would definitely prefer to take somebody from my country in my movies.Source NDTv
Goa police on Sunday arrested a security guard Raj Kumar Singh in Bengaluru in connection with the murder of perfume researcher Monika Ghurde who was found smothered to death on Thursday at Sangolda. He was nabbed in Cottonpete.

A special team was sent to Bengaluru following the incident. They have tied up with the local police, said Umesh Gaonkar, district superintendent of police, North Goa. The police collected CCTV footage from the outlet from where the purchase was made. It matched the footage taken from the ATM, said a police officer from Bengaluru.

Further investigation revealed that the suspect was hiding in a lodge in Cottonpet. The suspects name is Raj Kumar Singh and he is from Punjab. We will be holding a press conference regarding the arrest around 6 p.m, said Mr. Gaonkar.

Police also zeroed down on Singh after it was found that the Ghurdes stolen umbrella was found in his possession which led to the termination of his services.

Witnesses told investigation officer that after the stolen umbrella was found in Singh possessions, a heated argument ensued between Ghurde and Singh. Senior police officer said that Singh had nursed a grudge against Ghurde and this could have been a motive for the murder. Senior police officer said that suspect his service was terminated in the month of August.

On Saturday, the police had said that the post-mortem conducted on Ghurde, brought to the fore that she was strangulated to death, although it failed to confirm whether she was raped before the murder or not.

The panel of doctors in Goa Medical College and Hospital conducted the post-mortem on the body of 39-year-old Ghurde, who was found dead at her home in Sangolda village on October 6.

Ghurde was living alone in a rented three bedroom flat at Sangolda village near Calangute beach. Police investigations have revealed that she might have been killed on October 5.

The murder was discovered when her domestic help reported for duty on Friday. She rang the bell a few times and called Ghurdes brother after no one responded from inside.

The brother called her on her mobile phone but received no answer. Then he called one of the neighbours, who opened the house with a spare key that Ghurde had kept with him.

The neighbour spotted the body and alerted police. A case has been registered at Saligao police station and Ghurdes body was sent for an autopsy.
Calling himself a victim of terrorism, former special director of Intelligence Bureau (IB) Rajinder Kumar, charge-sheeted in Ishrat Jahan encounter case, today sought action against CBIs ex-director Ranjit Sinha for conspiring against officials of the intelligence agency and police officers fighting terrorism.

Kumar also said that a politician from Gujarat, who was a very powerful person between 2004 and 2014, influenced CBI investigation and spread misinformation against him and compromised Indias security.

There is a category of victims of terrorism in India which is not found anywhere else in the world, and that is of police and security forces who fall victim to false propaganda. After getting caught in the crossfire of political blame game, they are accused of killing terrorists and then jailed, he said.

On Jun 15, 2004, Gujarat police killed four Lashkar terrorists (Ishrat Jahan case). IB had given tip-off of the plan. This gave an opportunity to this prominent politician to frame Gujarat politicians who were emerging at national level, Kumar said, apparently referring to BJP chief Amit Shah.

Kumar, who is one of the four IB officials who were charge-sheeted besides seven Gujarat IPS officers in the alleged fake encounter case, was speaking as a guest at the launch of an NGO Justice for Victims of Terrorism, which has former IPS officer D G Vanzara, ex-DGP of the state S S Khandwawala and former Maharashtra DGP K P Raghuvanshi as its office-bearers.

A campaign was run that Gujarat police are killing innocents, and me, Rajinder Kumar is giving false intelligence inputs to police. This was a misinformation spread against me, Kumar said.

Accusing Sinha of working at the behest of the Gujarat politician, Kumar said, He is involved in a conspiracy against security agency and officials fighting terrorism. Leave alone false charge sheet filed by him, a group including him compromised Indias security.

This politician is also involved in coal scam, but did CBI investigate about this leader? You know that SC had set up an inquiry committee which found that Sinha met all accused of coalgate and 2G, Kumar alleged.
While auctions of several assets of defunct Kingfisher Airlines failed to attract even a single bidder, the plush sea-facing Kingfisher Villa Goa has invited interest from at least half-a-dozen players in the hospitality industry and a media group.

The 17-lender consortium led by State Bank of India, which took physical possession of the property in May this year after a long legal battle with United Spirits over tenancy rights, is auctioning it later this month.

The villa was owned by United Breweries Holdings, and mortgaged by the now-grounded Kingfisher Airlines to the consortium of banks to obtain loans in 2010.

Lenders had opened the villa for inspection to interested bidders in two slots  September 26-27 and October 5-6.

In the four days during which the property was thrown open, around half-a-dozen entities are known to have visited the palatial villa.

The response was good. Nearly 6 to 7 parties from the hospitality industry and a media organisation have visited the villa, a source said.

The auction of the villa, which was once used by the embattled Vijay Mallya to host lavish parties, will be conducted on October 19.

Lenders have fixed a reserve price of Rs. 85.29 crore for the beach-front mansion, with 12,350 sq mt area.

Banks as well as the service tax department had failed twice to attract bidders for the auctions of Kingfisher House in the city, Mallyas now-grounded luxe private jet (which is under the custody of the service tax department now) and the brand Kingfisher, due to higher reserve prices.
The surgical strike conducted by the Indian Army on terror launch pads along the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan has hurt the proscribed terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) the most. The strike had resulted in razing of seven terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), and the death of 38 terrorists.

According to these assessment reports available from Indian army field units, LeT suffered the maximum damage in the cross-LoC surgical strikes on terror launch pads. The assessment reports of radio intercepts indicate that around 20 of its (LeT) militants were killed.

The sources said today that five teams culled out from the army division in the area were tasked to destroy launch pads of terror groups located at Kail also known as Kel and Dudniyal.

In a well-calibrated operation, which started on the intervening night of September 28 and 29, Indian army moved across the Line of Control or LoC and smashed four launch pads that were under the guard of a Pakistani post located 700 metres from the LoC.

The sources said that the terrorists were not expecting an action by the Indian army and therefore were taken by surprise.

The terrorists, mainly belonging to the LeT, were seen running towards the Pakistani post when they were killed by the Indian troops, according to the assessment reports.

After the successful strike inside Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, an effective radio monitoring and strict vigil was maintained, the sources said, adding the wireless messages from radio intercepts of Pakistani army indicated that at least 10 LeT terrorists had been killed during the multiple and near synchronised surgical strikes on four launch pads.

There was heavy movement of Pakistani army vehicles till the break of dawn and all the bodies were cleared off and taken away, the sources said, adding as per the radio intercepts there was a mass burial in the Neelum valley.

Similar blow was dealt to the terrorist launch pads located at Balnoi area opposite of Poonch in which nine people belonging to LeT were killed as per the radio intercepts of Pakistani army, the sources said.

Two Pakistani soldiers belonging to 8 Northern Light Infantry were also killed in the strike in this sector, they said.

However, the sources said that post 8.30 AM of September 28, radio and wireless intercepts between various formations of Pakistan have fallen silent.

According to the sources, there were intelligence reports that terrorists were planning to enter into India from various directions in Kashmir as well as Jammu region.

The sources said that the army waited for the opportunity when the terrorists were in the process of gathering at one place before giving them a bloody nose.
Asserting that war is not an option for India and Pakistan, a top Pakistani diplomat has said Islamabad believes there is a need to resolve all bilateral disputes, including the Kashmir issue, through dialogue.

Going to war is not an option at all. The reason is both the countries need economic development, have to work for the welfare of the people, Pakistan Ambassador to the US Jalil Abbas Jilani told a group of reporters here at an award ceremony held at Washington DC on the sidelines of the annual fall meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

After five days of getting no love from Washington on the Kashmir issue, the envoys, who started their Washington trip with bluster, ended it with a whimper.

At the start of their 5-day trip, the Pakistani envoys warned that their country would join the China-Russia-Iran axis if the US didnt intervene in the Kashmir issue. They even sent a message to India that they would invoke the Maoists and small rebellions in northeast India, if India continued to talk about Balochistan.

For most part of the week, Jilani accompanied two visiting Pakistani Envoys on Kashmir to various meetings including at the State Department and with the National Security Council.Jilani accompanied two visiting Pakistani Envoys on Kashmir to various meetings including at the State Department and with the National Security Council.

Very good response. Excellent response, said Jilani, who also received the Best Government Infrastructure Strategy in South Asia award on behalf of Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.








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Do you support the rights of women and the elderly? Raymond, the son of an abused elderly woman recently made an application to the City of Ottawa for a peace vigil in front of the home of Dezrin Carby-Samuels on 30 Jarlan Terrace in Kanata, Ontario.



Raymond was denied visitation access to take care of his Mom after having expressed concern to Dezrin's husband about abuse. Dezrin's husband then blocked social services and medical access when Dezrin needed it the most.



Gil Tait, the Program Manager of Traffic Management of the City of Ottawa in an email to Raymond officially endorsed this application for a vigil in support of 'Justice for Dezrin', as being recognized by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.



Dezrin's husband has blocked visitation access since 12 June 2015, and ignored the Court Order of Justice Patrick Smith rendered on 11 February 2016, which sought to enable visitation access [please watch above video].



Dezrin's husband also subverted access to speech therapy which had been advocated both by a doctor and the Bruyere Hospital in Ottawa and her son.



Under such conditions of abuse, Dezrin can no longer talk, write or walk.



Just imagine you not being able to talk, write or walk, and your only access to the outside world is someone who has sought to deny your desires to see friends and family members, as well as vital access to medical treatment, and, arguably, you have imagined yourself to be in what could be considered a 'Hell'. It is this hell that Dezrin has suffered in second-by-second since 12 June 2015.



You can help support a City of Ottawa recognized peace vigil by going to 30 Jarlan Terrace in Kanata and joining hopefully a growing crowd of fellow human beings projecting their love onto Dezrin until she is liberated and treated as a normal human being, and not as a captured animal. You're welcome to bring signage which will hopefully also draw the attention of other media organizations that can help promote further social awareness on the plight of disabled and elderly women.



Otherwise you could also send Dezrin flowers and post cards that she will hopefully see, so that she knows that she not only has the support of fellow residents in the City of Ottawa, but also fellow Canadians across our great country and people from around the world.



Whether you view yourself to be an activist or a concerned citizen in general, Dezrin would be most grateful for any effort that you can make to help liberate her from denial of her freedoms and liberty that is made in a spirt of peace, love and understanding.



You can also donate to a Legal Defence Fund to support Dezrin by clicking the PayPal graphic red button above this article No donation is too small.



You're also invited to help support Dezrin by posting a link to this article widely on your Facebook and other social media networks. Together we can make a difference to liberate Dezrin from the Hell imposed by betrayers and in the lives of other abused elderly women who are also living in a corresponding Hell.








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Investigator Karla Turner, Ph. D. was one of the most celebrated alien abduction detectives in the US. Best known for her three books on alien abduction, she was once a college instructor with a doctorate in Old English Studies but life happened and she took another turn with it.

She was convinced that aliens were not here to help us but to steal something valuable. In her books Into the Fringe (1992), Taken (1994), and Masquerade of Angels (1994) she takes a look at various alien abductions some personal while others researched.

She was involved in alien abduction work for 8 years before succumbing to breast cancer on January 9, 1996. All her life and work as an alien investigator she had come to term them as cruel and deceitful, nothing good could come out of their invasion in human life. She was certain that all they wanted was to steal our souls.

In Into the Fringe she recounted a very personal experience that was not only close to her and her family but something that she herself had experienced. Her family was able to recall some alien abductions dating back to their childhood days, all of which were very disturbing. They first became aware of the experience in 1988, about the same time she started investigating them.

She also told the stories of other abductees who had read her first book Into the Fringe and recounted similar events which were also unbelievable true and disturbing. In Taken she looked into the abduction of eight females who were completely overpowered and controlled by the aliens.

She also wrote Masquerade of Angels in 1994, a biography of Louisiana psychic Ted Rice, who used to channel benevolent entities to the point of becoming aware of his own alien abduction experience. His conclusion was that they were remorseless predators.

If the terrors of the abduction experience made us grow stronger, it was not because the aliens wanted us to have this strength but because we willed it ourselves, concluded Turner.
October 9, 2016

The involvement of Egyptian police officers in three murder cases in 2016  in addition to a long list of accusations of bribery, verbal and physical abuse and harassment  have people comparing the current regime to that of ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

Police excesses during Mubaraks rule contributed to his overthrow and to Egypts Arab Spring in 2011.

The current government, in response to the accusations, is taking steps to battle the problem. In late August, the police law was amended to remove government-issued firearms from the hands of some officers.

The law covers several areas. It prohibits the use of force or using firearms in any circumstances other than those prescribed by law. It requires police to turn in government-issued firearms at the end of their shifts  though exceptions can be made in situations when the Criminal Investigation Unit director believes its in the public interest. The law also forbids improper or excessive use of authority.

Violations can result in interrogation and transfer, disciplinary hearings, and delays in promotions, special allowances and raises. In some cases, police officers can be fired.

As the amendments to the law went into effect, some police officers demonstrated Aug. 23. They assembled to protest changes to their shifts and new punishments.

But the amendments also prohibit police from forming coalitions or participating in protests and sit-ins.

Ahmad Mostafa, the head of the Coalition of Police Officers, reportedly was remanded to a disciplinary hearing Sept. 1 for establishing the coalition, according to Al-Yawm Al-Jadid newspaper, which cited a security source.

On Oct. 3, coalition spokesman Mahmud Subhi was arrested on charges of incitement against the Ministry of Interior.

These events all occurred roughly in parallel with a trial in Al-Matariyyah Court of Misdemeanors. On Sept. 20, nine police officers were sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting doctors at the Al-Matariyyah hospital Jan. 28. This was just one of the cases that inflamed public opinion at the time.

In addition to public criticism, the Interior Ministrys attempts to diminish the influence of police might also stem from a police rebellion in August 2015 that required the government to call in security forces. The rebellion was led by the coalition and directed against the ministry. Police demonstrators in Al-Sharqiya stormed the local police department and staged a sit-in to protest their salaries and special allowances.

Al-Monitor spoke with human rights activists and security experts to answer the question: Can the new amendments curb the impact of police violations?

Asad Haykal, the president of the Egyptian Center for Legal Studies, told Al-Monitor the amendments are satisfactory, but the issue hinges on the seriousness of their influence. The Interior Ministry must establish an independent, technocratic office specializing in this area, a body empowered to investigate violations as well as citizens complaints against members of the police.

The question of when and whether to investigate violations should not be based on the whim of the police officers immediate superior, who might be biased in favor of his subordinate. Rather, it [must be] the same system that judicial institutions use to exercise oversight over judges, Haykal said.

Karim Abd al-Radim, a lawyer for the Arab Network for Human Rights Information, told Al-Monitor that combating the violations committed by police officers requires real action by real oversight bodies and civil society organizations, as well as the National Council for Human Rights. Those are the bodies that can play the most critical role in monitoring and oversight. They are capable of revealing corruption and violations. The law alone will not suffice, because every law has loopholes, he said.

Some people, however, feel the old legislation was sufficient.

The problem is that the [old] law was not applied. And thats because the police themselves are the ones charged with enforcing it, Samih Samir, a lawyer at the Egyptian Center for Economic Rights, told Al-Monitor. They are charged with protecting the security of the ordinary citizen and with dispensing justice. They are invested with authority for this purpose, and not to serve their interests and personal goals.

Cairo Center for Human Rights Studies director Muhammad Zari agrees with Samir, to a point. He told Al-Monitor that police officers have long behaved as if they are able to deal out exaggerated punishments to ordinary Egyptians with impunity. The law does not have much of an impact, because the police chief will still be able to perpetrate violations with his firearm while he is still completing his tour of duty. However, the real effect of the move is showing a sincere desire on the part of the ministry to apply the law to them. I believe that this desire has increased, particularly after the pressure exerted by a public that was incensed with the murder cases committed by police officers, Zari said.

Khalid Hammad, a retired brigadier police chief, told Al-Monitor that from a security aspect, the law shows a concern to protect the dignity of everyday citizens and to pressure police officers to perform their duties and put a stop to their violations.

The law was drafted with the input of a variety of specialists, from legal experts who demanded that police officers sign psychological disclosures to security experts who insisted on disarming officers and implementing swifter and more severe punishments of violations.

The other side of the coin is that there were three cases of murdered policemen last month. The first involved a policeman walking out of his home in 6th of October City. The second involved one who was killed in el-Arish in Sinai Peninsula, and in the third case, gunmen opened fire on and killed a policeman as they attempted to rob a CIB bank. However, at this point, it is difficult to draw a link between the cases and the decision to disarm police officers. Available information from the three cases does not indicate whether the policemen still had their government-issued firearms when they were attacked and killed.

Some other provisions of the amendments prohibit police from disclosing operational secrets, speaking to media outlets without the permission of the Interior Ministry, taking possession of or circulating any document concerning work as well as removing any paper from its assigned file.
October 9, 2016

ERBIL, Iraq  On Sept. 22 and 23, the Dwryan Organization held its second conference in Sulaimaniyah with the participation of researchers and specialists in the field of education. The conference focused on the need to reform the curriculum on two levels. The first is by replacing the curriculum with a more balanced, civil one. The second is by changing purely religious texts to ones that are closer to the spirit of the age, focusing on peaceful coexistence with nonviolent societal components, in addition to closing some religious schools and replacing them with more moderate schools.

During the 2015/2016 academic year, 39 schools, six institutes and 5,000 students were transferred from the Ministry of Religious Endowments to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research or to the Ministry of Education. But there are still traditional religious schools, called "hojra" in Kurdish vernacular. Those belong to the Ministry of Religious Endowments. Mariwan Naqshbandi, the ministrys public relations officer, told Al-Monitor, "There are still 100 traditional religious schools affiliated with the ministry and they comprise 570 religious students, or what they call in Kurdish 'faqi,' who receive lessons by clerics in the region of Kurdistan."

Several changes have been made to the previous religious curriculum. But researcher Bahman Tahir, who teaches elementary school through high school, said that the commission tasked to change the curriculum consisted of seven men and no women, which was reflected in the curriculums masculine discourse. He added, "If the former approach had a violent jihadi character, the new approach has a large deficiency toward women, in addition to a lot of intellectual and educational deficiencies that make the curriculum far from the spirit of the times and incompatible with applied sciences."

These reformist attempts are occurring amid a conflict between the traditional Islamist religious trend and the secular civil trend, which is fighting to change the curriculum entirely and replace it with comparative studies of religions. On that, Al-Monitor asked Tahir about the types of problems in the current curriculum. He said, "First, there is no harmony between the educational materials. For example, in the subjects of religion and geography, there is a disagreement on why it rains. Second, religious education aims to build a sectarian religious identity for the students and calls non-Muslims apostates. He concluded, In effect, this approach helped create Islamic extremism and religious violence in Kurdistan."

Naqshbandi confirmed that religious schools have a role in producing extremists in Kurdistan. He said, "Most Kurds who joined [the Islamic State] had attended religious schools affiliated with the Islamic movements in one form or another, which is why they were closed." He did not contend that the 100 remaining schools are not producing extremists.

Shirko Kermanj is a professor at Kuala Lumpur University in Malaysia and specializes in religious education curricula in Iraqi Kurdistan. In a phone call with Al-Monitor, he said, "The serious problem is that the religious curriculum did not focus on child rearing, but the Islamization of the student. This is not the role of a school within an educational system, but a religious institution." Tahir agreed, saying that the religious curriculum in the province is "geared toward the Islamization of the students and makes them pro-Muslim Brotherhood.

In a call with Al-Monitor, Haiman Aziz, of the history department at Koya University in Iraqi Kurdistan, said "some teachers hold extremist ideas." Amid these concerns about the curriculum, the government of the Kurdistan region is at a loss about what to do. Religious extremists have infiltrated the educational religious institutions, and there is a lack of a sound educational strategy to produce a balanced educational institution that serves the peaceful coexistence of the Kurdish community.

Al-Monitor asked Jawad Faqih, a member of the Supreme Committee for the Curricula of Islamic Studies at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, about what is happening at the ministry. He said, "The committee has made radical changes to the curricula of logic, research methodology, psychology and sociology in the college of religious science and created a balance between religious and secular sciences." But according to an official at the Ministry of Religious Endowments who spoke on condition of anonymity, these efforts "will not be useful because on the one hand there are materials that already exist and will remain as they are and on the other hand many teachers are either extremists or Islamists and they are the ones choosing the materials. The university does not interfere with the quality of their choices, and this constitutes a real danger to the mentality of our students and on how to end extremist ideology."

In order to get out of this dark tunnel, Kermanj said, the system could move away "from Islamic education to the study of religions in a comparative approach by introducing our children to world religions and not promoting a specific religion." This was seconded by Murad Hakim, a sociology professor at Salahuddin University, who said that it is necessary to introduce into the curriculum the study of religions and the history of religions in general. The curriculum needs several changes. For example, why are children in elementary school studying Islamic dawa (proselytizing) and why are they studying how to perform the prayer for the dead and the prayer of the lunar eclipse?
October 6, 2016

At times like these, only the late President Shimon Peres could have gathered Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama under one roof. And together with these men, leaders of some 90 states came together on the morning of Sept. 30, on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, for a farewell and final salute to the unique leadership of Shimon Peres, in a Nelson Mandela-like funeral. Israels ninth president, one of Israel's founding fathers, was a man of multitude achievements, ranging from the establishment of Israel's nuclear reactor in Dimona to leading the Oslo peace process. And he always believed in building international and regional coalitions for Israel.

Peres, with whom I had the privilege to work with for more than 30 years, had unique leadership qualities related to his vision for Israel. Above all, he was a fervent Zionist, very conscious of Jewish history. He embraced the values detailed in Israel's Declaration of Independence and, on this basis, worked relentlessly and creatively to advance Israels nation-building process. The strength of Israel and its strategic deterrence were of paramount importance to him. Once acquired, greatly thanks to his efforts together with those of his mentor, Israels first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, the main question on his mind was what to do with this unprecedented strength in Jewish history. And it is the way he responded to this question that explains to us Peres policies for Israel and his special character as a leader.

People are now starting to ask the obvious question: Who will succeed Peres? But the question that should be asked is not who will follow his policies  many could do this  but rather who has character and leadership traits similar to his in order to make the necessary historic decisions on a two-state solution.

Peres rarely spoke about it, but there were two people in whom he saw the qualities of good strategic thinking and the possible courage for difficult decision-making: former chiefs of staff Benny Gantz and Gabi Ashkenazi. Indeed, he had talked with each of them about the possibility of joining Israeli politics.

Peres had a very strong character. He was unimpressed by obstacles, criticism or even defeat. Leadership, to him, was a combination of determination, innovation and patience. He understood historic processes and was not a fatalist, believing in man's ability to determine his own destiny. He was convinced that a leader should be measured by the decisions he or she has taken, which in turn must always be measured by the impact on the good of the people, not by public consent or applause.

Peres combined a great vision for Israel with the day-to-day meticulous work required to advance the vision. He was a born optimist, and he died an optimist. He used to say that he is optimistic because he doesnt know what to do with pessimism. He believed, above all, in the historical significance of the rebirth of Israel. He believed in building a formidable defense force that would not only guarantee Israelis security, but, most importantly, would guarantee the self-confidence of a modern sovereign nation, healing from the traumas of history. To him, Israel meant not just an exit from the ghetto of the diaspora, but also removing the sense of ghetto from within the Israeli people.

Peres was intrigued by the world  he was a cosmopolitan, admired by the world. He aspired to develop Israel as a scientific and technological superpower in cooperation with the world. This, to Peres, was the basis for his most important goal and mission, making peace for Israel. He strongly believed, as of the late 1970s, that Israel was powerful enough to compromise land for peace. He was morally disturbed by the occupation of the Palestinians. He used to say frequently, "It is hard enough to control the lives and destiny of the Israeli people; we should not do it to the Palestinian people." To him, Israel's moral high ground was also Israel's strength. His legacy stretches from the Dimona nuclear reactor to the Oslo Accord.

With all that said, I think that Peres natural heir, and not for hereditary reasons, would be his eldest son, Chemi Peres  a brilliant and very target-focused person. Not only does he resemble Peres physically, but he also has similar intellectual and character traits. He is one of Israel's most successful businessmen and chairs the Peres Center for Peace. Chemi Peres is probably reluctant to join Israeli political life, but if he decided to, he would surely become a significant leader  one with large acquired knowledge about conflict resolution and the creation of bridges between Israel and the world.

If not Chemi Peres, one has to look for another person who can combine the leadership traits that led Shimon Peres to both Dimona and Oslo, from strategic deterrence to courageous peace-making. The two generals who Peres encouraged to join the political process, Gantz and Ashkenazi, are probably the two most fitting to face these challenges. Both men are firm believers in the necessity of a fair two-state solution and both would make excellent peace negotiators while ensuring Israel's security and enhancing its democracy.

The passing away of Peres left Israel with a deep sense of loss, in almost all walks of life. This sense of loss reflects not only a deep appreciation of Peres the nation-builder, but also a feeling of despair with the current political system, which is seen by many Israelis as selfish, putting ego before country and people.

Shimon Peres' main virtue may have been that he was always humble when it came to Israel, placing country before ego. This, more than anything, must be the legacy left to his potential successors.
October 7, 2016

Turkey is following the US presidential race with great interest. Sensing the outcome of the election might significantly influence ties between Turkey and the United States, many local columnists have been discussing which new US president will be better for the US-Turkey relationship. Trumps scandalously explicit remarks about women and sexuality must also be disturbing for any conservative Turk. Hence a recent headline in a pro-government tabloid read, The anti-Islam Trump also turned out to be a pervert.

Still, the pro-government media seems to be a bit more sympathetic toward Donald Trump, while anti-government media is siding with Hillary Clinton. This may sound quite surprising, for Turkeys pro-government media is also pro-Islamic, and Trump is known for this unfriendly tone toward Muslims. But for Turks, their own political drama is more important than everything else. The July 15 attempted military coup was a breaking point in a myriad of ways. Clintons and Trumps reactions to this traumatic event and Fethullah Gulens possible extradition shaped public opinion in Turkey. Thats when things took a clear turn, as the pro-government media, which previously criticized Trump for his banning Muslims stances, shifted toward him thanks to his clear support for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Things got much more complicated for Clinton, who was seen as a supporter of the Gulen movement, which the government blames for the attempted coup.

On Oct. 6, Sabah, the main pro-government paper, came out with a front-page headline Himmet paralari Clintona gitti, which translates as Religious donations [referring to Gulenists in this context] went to Clinton. On Sept. 28, pro-government newspapers such as Yeni Safak and Yeni Akit published news about the latest operation against the Gulen movements civil society association Kimse Yok Mu, which resulted in 41 people being taken into custody. According to the news, the money that was allegedly collected for humanitarian purposes during the Muslim Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) was illegally transferred to the United States. Moreover, the news reported that $1 million was allegedly donated to Clintons election campaign and that firms tied to the Gulen movement have been lobbying for Clinton in the United States.

As a result, a majority of Turks in Turkey seem to support Trump, while a majority of Turks in the United States support Clinton, wrote Mahmut Ovur in Sabah. He added that the close relationship between Clinton and the Gulenists is not just of a financial nature, but like in Turkey, the Gulenists infiltration goes to Clintons main arteries.

Ovur also elaborated on all the arguments that are common among government supporters who hold grudges against Clinton. He described Clinton as a woman representative of familiar American foreign policy, one that aims for creation of microstates and supports controlled chaos politics in important regions in the world. Ovur acknowledged Trumps exclusivist or even racist narratives, but passed over them while praising Trumps promises of taking into account existing states and practicing politics that prioritizes stability. Kayahan Uygur from Gunes newspaper shared very similar views, adding that Trumps racism is exaggerated, and he is not scared of Islam. Even then, continued Uygur, Clinton  who is war-instigating and in pursuit of tension  is not less racist than Trump, considering her political record and President Barack Obamas well-known foreign policy. Furthermore, the widespread belief among the conservative camp that the CIA took part in the coup gained major sympathy from Justice and Development Party (AKP) followers. Thus, finishes Uygur, If Trump is better for our country, we cannot stay impartial.

In a similar vein, Ismail Caglar, writing in the pro-government daily Turkiye, argued that whoever comes to power cannot be worse than Obama, but it seems that Trump will be more advantageous for Turkey-US relations. Yet tensions persist regardless, stressed Caglar, because Turkeys interests, as the country becomes stronger, will increasingly contradict American interests.

Yusuf Ziya Comert, from Karar newspaper, which is mildly supportive of the government, also claimed that there is no good outcome for Turkey whoever wins, but he still stressed, No benefits to us from Hillary. Ahmet Kekec, from pro-government Star newspaper, wrote that whoever wins, the US view on Gulen wont change, as either of the two presidential candidates will have to abide by the Pentagons or CIAs view. Accordingly, Kekec claimed that Gulen is a political, not legal issue, so the solution to it will be political bargain as well.

Hilal Kaplan, from Sabah, thinks it is the best if Turkey continues following the American elections impartially, since it doesnt have strength to influence the result.

When I spoke to some AKP supporters, they said they agree with pro-government media. One private business owner told me, Democrats havent solved anything in the world lately, and Trump seems like he will make America mind its own business. When I asked him about Trumps Islamophobic narratives, my interlocutor said, Trump is not an enemy of Islam, he is just made to look like that. Another Turkish successful businesswoman who praises Trump and is close to AKP political circles didnt seem to care much about Trumps sexist comments and misogynist rhetoric. Yet she was very confident in asserting that the attempted military coup was a breaking point for Ankara. Since the perception in Turkey is that Clinton supports the Gulen movement, which is a burning matter for Turkey at the moment, it is clear why Trump might be more preferred as the new American president.

On the other hand, Turkish critical media dont agree with pro-government media blowing Trumps horn. In her article Ankara Versus Hillary, Ahu Ozyurt criticizes the increasingly notable anti-Clinton rhetoric in pro-government media, which she explains by the governments historical alignment with Republican candidates and Ankaras lack of a nuanced approach toward US institutions when it comes to Gulenists. Ozyurt reminded her readers that Clinton, after becoming the junior senator from New York in 2000, was among the first American politicians who received visiting AKP delegates. Moreover, when Erdogan first faced prison, as well as when he was released from jail, US President Bill Clintons diplomats were the first ones to visit Erdogan. Unfortunately, said Ozyurt, instead of having a more pragmatic and effective approach to a possible Clinton presidency, the chances are that Ankara will again lock itself inside mediocrity and shortsightedness.

Ceyda Karan, a left-wing columnist for the opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet, wrote that Trump is tailor made for the current Turkish government, but only unwisely so. Karan warns of Trumps unpredictability and argues that Clinton is the most solid choice for Ankara, as the strategic ally  for  American imperial forces expensive liberal interventionist project.

Asli Aydintasbas of the same paper also cautioned of Trumps inconsistency, but wrote that after the July 15 military coup attempt, Ankara appreciated Trumps clear emphasis that he wouldnt make an issue of human rights in Turkey and violations of democracy if he comes to power. She also criticized what she calls secret Trump expectancy in Ankaras highest political circles as extremely wrong and shortsighted.

Nevsin Mengu of the Hurriyet Daily News claimed that pro-government journalists apparently identify Trump with defying the status quo. Moreover, continued Mengu, Although not favored by the mainstream, both [Trump and Erdogan] are supported by crowds on the street.

For his part, Erdogan is much more successful and experienced as a politician than Trump. On June 24, Erdogan criticized Trumps Islamophobic rhetoric and even called for removing Trumps name from Trump Towers, the shopping center and residence in Istanbul. But now, three months later, during his latest visit to the United States, Erdogan was asked Sept. 23 about his support for Clinton or Trump. He gave a balanced response: I respect the will of American people. I cant give any declaration of support. He also added, I worked for 14 years with both Republicans and Democrats, Mr. Bush and Mr. Obama. Any rupture with the US is not under consideration; continuation is fundamental in politics.
October 9, 2016

UN Syria Envoy Staffan de Mistura appealed directly to Jabhat al-Nusra, Syrias al-Qaeda affiliate, on Oct. 6 to leave the city of Aleppo because 1,000 of you are deciding the destiny of the 275,000 civilians.

De Mistura offered to physically accompany the terrorists out of the city in order to alleviate the suffering of Aleppos besieged citizens, while calling on the Syrian and Russian governments to end the siege of the city for the sake of eliminating 1,000 al-Nusra fighters.

Jabhat al-Nusra, which broke from al-Qaeda and rebranded itself as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (Conquest of Syria Front) in July, is designated as a terrorist organization by both the United States and the United Nations. Russia claimed that a reason for the collapse of the US-Russia agreement last month was the inability of the United States and its regional allies to separate American-backed Syrian opposition forces from Jabhat al-Nusra. The US-Russia agreement in Syria would have facilitated US and Russian military and intelligence coordination against Jabhat al-Nusra, in addition to allowing for humanitarian assistance and a resumption of UN-backed peace talks.

The Barack Obama administration has increasingly warned of the dangers posed by the expansion of Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria. On Sept. 9, US Secretary of State John Kerry said, Going after Nusra is not a concession to anybody. He added, It is profoundly in the interests of the United States to target al-Qaeda  to target al-Qaedas affiliate in Syria, which is Nusra, an organization that is opposed to a peaceful transition, an organization that is an enemy of the legitimate opposition, an organization that is currently plotting attacks beyond Syrias borders, including against the United States.



Jabhat al-Nusras role in Aleppo has been overshadowed, or left out, in most mainstream press accounts of the brutality of the Russian and Syrian siege of the city. On Oct. 7, Kerry said, Russia and the [Syrian] regime owe the world more than an explanation about why they keep hitting hospitals and medical facilities and children and women and called for an investigation of war crimes. During the vice presidential debate Oct. 4, both Democratic Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine and Republican Indiana Gov. Mike Pence called for the establishment of humanitarian or safe zones in response to the siege.

The understandable impulse to assist those Syrians who have suffered immeasurably, and too long, as a result of this awful war is heartfelt and laudable. For US policymakers, there is also the need to weigh the consequences of any military action, including reflection of what was learned from American interventions in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan, and that even the establishment of humanitarian or safe zones would entail a major combat mission, in the words of US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter in May 2015, and therefore a difficult thing to contemplate.

Erdogans Russia reset

Cengiz Candar wrote that despite official statements to the contrary, Ankara and Washington are not cooperating in Syria. There's a lot of friction. Ankara acquiesces much more to its former adversary Russia than to its traditional ally, the United States.

Mustafa Akyol added that Russia is exploiting the friction between Ankara and Washington over the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, whom the Erdogan government considers a terrorist and has accused of being behind the attempted military coup in July.

During a visit to Ankara on Oct. 2, Aleksandr Dugin, a special representative of Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed that Russia had warned Turkey of the coup, which he said took place because of Turkeys turn toward Russia.

Since the failed coup attempt, Dugins call to Turkey has been played up in the Russian media as well. Pro-Kremlin websites fabricated two fake news stories in September showing that the United States was behind the plot, Akyol wrote, adding that these stories found strong echoes in Turkey, which is now more obsessed than ever with conspiracy theories.

A key element in this new Turko-Russian rapprochement is the common contempt for the followers of cleric Fethullah Gulen, the leader of the Islamic cult widely held responsible for the coup attempt, Akyol explained. Erdogan and his supporters think that Western powers, out of either naivete or malice, do not comprehend the threat the Gulenists pose for Turkey. In contrast, the Russians have long designated the Gulenists as a perilous group, closing all their schools and even banning the religious movement that identifies with it. That is why Ankara and Russia, even back in 2014, have long been in full agreement on the Gulenists. Now Russians are only adding that Ankara should see the powers behind the Gulenists, as Dugin urged in the Moscow meeting.

The common enmity for Gulenists also gave the two countries a chance to explain away the major rift they had in November 2015, when a Russian warplane was downed by the Turkish air force on the Syrian border, Akyol continued. This incident initiated a cold war between Ankara and Moscow, which ended only last June, when Erdogan reached out to the Russians with an apology. Soon, the pro-government media in Turkey also came up with the theory that the pilot of the Turkish jet that downed the Russian plane was a Gulenist, which may well have been the case, and acted with the sinister intention to break Turkish-Russian ties, which may well be a fantasy. But it seems to be a convenient fantasy on which both Dugin and his Turkish guests in Moscow agreed.

Semih Idiz added that Erdogans relative quiet on the battle for Aleppo is yet another sign that his priorities are increasingly focused on rebuilding ties with Russia and prosecuting the military campaign in Syria against the Islamic State and the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers a terrorist group linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party in Turkey.

Idiz noted that a rare visit by Russias chief of the General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, to Ankara for talks on Sept. 15 with his Turkish counterpart, Hulusi Akar reportedly included discussion of a mechanism that would prevent them from stepping on each others toes in Syria.

Candar pointed out that Erdogan seems to have concluded that an accommodation with Russia in Syria will pay major dividends for the Turkish military campaign against the YPG, including the battle for Al-Bab, which is less than 20 miles from Turkeys border.

Erdogan once said Syrian rebels should liberate the town with the help of the Turkish army, Candar wrote. Al-Bab is the last remaining Islamic State (IS) stronghold in northern Syria, and it holds strategic importance for the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria, Syrian opposition groups supported by Turkey and the Syrian army supported by Russia. Erdogan implied that Turkey is committed to liberating al-Bab from IS. If that objective is achieved, the Kurdish aim of linking the Kurdish cantons along the border with Turkey will be thwarted, perhaps, once and for all.

Akyol concluded that it was only wise for Turkey to end the cold war with Russia, which had serious costs for Turkeys economy, hitting both trade and tourism. Russia is also a powerful political actor  not just in the Middle East but also the Balkans  and dialogue between Ankara and Moscow will be in the interests of both capitals. On the other hand, preferring Russia as an alternative to the West would be a disastrous strategic choice. It would not only have major economic and security costs, but would also place Turkey firmly in the club of authoritarian nations.
Alabama may not be the first state that comes to mind when thinking of America's aviation history, but it might need to fly a little higher on your list.

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Ed Yeilding of Florence, Ala., who was the last pilot of the SR-71 Blackbird jet and still holds the coast-to-coast air speed record, told his story of supersonic Cold War spying to a packed auditorium at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville Thursday night.

Add Yeilding to a list that includes the Wright brothers, who started America's first powered flight school in Montgomery in 1910, and the legendary Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, and Alabama is flying in rare air.

Many aviation enthusiasts say Lockheed Martin's SR-71 is the greatest airplane ever built. "Long, sleek and fast," in Yeilding's words, it flew to 85,000 feet at more than three times the speed of sound. A product of Lockheed Martin's famous Advanced Development Program, also known as the Skunk Works, the SR-71 broke new ground in everything from design and construction materials to engines and fuel. In all, 32 were built, and 12 were lost to accidents. None was shot down.

This Blackbird - an earlier version of which is being restored now at the Space & Rocket Center - mostly looked down on the Soviet Union. Yeilding, who flew it from 1983 until it was retired in 1990, spent a lot of his time over Soviet submarine bases on the coast of the Barents Sea.

"Where their submarines were and what was being loaded on their submarines" is how he put the mission. What the Soviets were loading were nuclear missiles targeted at American cities.

Yeilding gave the tech-savvy Huntsville audience all the facts and figures it wanted, including 70,000 feet (his cruising altitude), 2,100 MPH (his cruising speed, faster than a rifle bullet), 34,000 pounds (the thrust from each of two Pratt & Whitney J-58 engines) and 4 inches (the amount the Blackbird grew in length as it heated up in supersonic flight).

He also mixed humor, humility and patriotism through the presentation, starting with why the Blackbird's two crew members wore pressure suits.

"If you lose cockpit pressure and you're above 63,000 feet," he said, "you don't have enough air pressure on your body and your blood starts boiling. Now, it always ruins your whole day when your blood starts boiling, so we wore this pressure suit as a safety backup."

Yeilding said was "an honor" to fly the SR-71, an honor to be chosen to train other Blackbird pilots, and an honor to be chosen to fly its last, record-setting flight from California to Washington, D.C., with back-seat reconnaissance officer Lt. Col. J.T. Vida. There, they delivered the plane to the Smithsonian Institution, where it is displayed today.

"It was always exciting taxiing out" before a mission, Yeilding said, "because you knew this marvelous machine was going to take you right up to the edge of space at three times faster than sound and oftentimes a couple of thousand miles from home. You knew something pretty special was about to happen."

When they returned from each mission, Yeilding said, "We felt like we'd done something really important for our country and the cause of freedom."

On that last west-to-east flight, Feilding said the Blackbird "flew faster than a bullet toward the (rising) sun" and he looked down at the Great Plains and thought about "those brave pioneers I read about as a boy, just 150 years earlier making their way slowly over that same country, taking months and months to cross country that J.T. and I were crossing in just a manner of minutes. I thought about what a great country we have made by the hard work and sacrifices and courage and prayers of our forefathers."

Yeilding, who flew passenger jets for Northwest Airlines after retiring from the Air Force, ended with an observation about the return to California after the record-setting flight of 67 minutes and 54 seconds.

"We flew a United 767 back, and it was a good flight, the service was good," Yeilding said. "But, gosh, it took five hours."
10-9 Matthew satellite 4pm.jpg

Post-Tropical Storm Matthew still had hurricane force winds on Sunday afternoon, but it didn't resemble a tropical system at all. The National Hurricane Center said it had issued its final advisory on the system, which was moving away from the U.S. coast. (National Weather Service)

Widespread flooding continued in North Carolina on Sunday as Matthew continued to move away from the coast.

But it's not Hurricane Matthew anymore. The National Hurricane Center declared Matthew a post-tropical storm on Sunday, saying that it had lost its tropical characteristics in radar and satellite images.

"Life-threatening flooding" was forecast to continue over portions of eastern North Carolina that have received record rains from Matthew, the hurricane center said Sunday afternoon.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said at least seven people had been killed in North Carolina, where a state of emergency was still in effect on Sunday.

McCrory said there have been at least 887 water rescues in North Carolina as of Sunday morning, and rescue teams have been called in from other states to assist.

Matthew has also been blamed for thee deaths in Georgia, 1 in South Carolina and five in Florida. The death toll in Haiti was nearly 900.

Although the heaviest rain had ended and the sun was out, flooding was ongoing in parts of North Carolina on Sunday, and the weather service said it could linger for several days.

The National Weather Service in Newport-Morehead City, N.C. said radar estimates show 5 to 12 inches of rain had fallen across the area, with the most falling near the coast.

Emergency management reports that numerous roads have been washed out or flooded, and the weather service said travel was "strongly discouraged."

And the worst wasn't over. The weather service said that area rivers and creeks are expected to continue to rise -- and rise to levels "not seen since Hurricane Floyd. This will result in catastrophic flooding across eastern North Carolina which will last well into the next couple of weeks."

Major flooding is ongoing throughout E NC. Many roads are still flooded and impassable, or have been heavily damaged. #ncwx #Matthew pic.twitter.com/IRACMUwqVZ  NWS Newport/Morehead (@NWSMoreheadCity) October 9, 2016

Flooding was also ongoing farther inland in North Carolina as well, and there were widespread reports of fallen trees, power outages and flooded roads, the weather service said.

Post-Tropical Storm Matthew was moving away from the coast of North Carolina on Sunday afternoon, but flooding was ongoing in North Carolina and could last for days. (National Hurricane Center)

The hurricane center said its 4 p.m. CDT advisory on Matthew would be the last one, and all warnings and watches had been dropped.

As of 4 p.m. CDT Sunday, the center of Matthew was located about 200 miles east of Cape Hatteras, N.C., and was moving east-northeast at 15 mph.

Matthew still had winds of 75 mph with higher gusts but was expected to weaken over the next 48 hours.

Matthew was forecast to continue on an eastward path before merging with a frontal system on Monday night, the hurricane center said.

Winds over the Outer Banks of North Carolina have eased this afternoon, the hurricane center said, and dangerously high water levels over portions of the Outer Banks will gradually subside overnight and early Monday.

Matthew was the fifth of six hurricanes to form this year in the Atlantic, and easily the strongest. Its winds peaked at 155 mph on

The other hurricanes so far in 2016 were Alex, Earl, Gaston (also a major hurricane wit peak winds of 120 mph), Hermine and Nicole, which could reintensify into a hurricane later this week, according to the hurricane center.

Matthew was easily the strongest hurricane of the year. Its winds peaked at 160 mph, making it a Category 5 hurricane and the first in the Atlantic since 2007.

Matthew had three landfalls. The first was in southwest Haiti on Oct. 4. The second landfall was just over 12 hours later in eastern Cuba.

And after churning up the Florida and Georgia coasts it made landfall for a third time on Saturday in South Carolina.
The State of Alabama has issued an Amber Alert 4-year-old, Rebecca Ann Lewis who is currently missing.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office in Florida and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is asking for the public's assistance in locating Rebecca Ann Lewis who is a white female, 3 feet tall, 30 pounds, blonde hair, blue eyes. Lewis was last seen on Saturday, October 8, 2016 between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. in the morning in Polk County, South Central, Florida and is believed to be in extreme danger.

Lewis was last seen wearing blue shorts and an unknown color shirt. Lewis was abducted by a white male believed to be West Wild Hogs also known as Matthew Clark Pybus. West Wild Hogs is 31 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall, 256 pounds, blonde hair, blue eyes.

He may be traveling in a 2012 silver Nissan Versa, Alabama license plate 4JL26. If you have any information regarding this missing child contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 1-863-307-2450 or the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency at 1-800-228-7688. Authorities also said you can call 911 with information.
Rebecca Ann Lewis (pictured right) was last seen wearing blue shorts and an unknown color shirt. Lewis is believed to have been abducted by West Wild Hogs also known as Matthew Clark Pybus (pictured left).

The State of Alabama has issued an Amber Alert for 4-year-old Rebecca Ann Lewis who is missing and believed to be in extreme danger.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office in Florida and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency are asking for the public's assistance in locating Lewis who is described as a white female, 3 feet tall, 30 pounds, blonde hair and blue eyes. Lewis was last seen on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016 between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. in Polk County, South Central, Florida.

She was last seen wearing blue shorts and an unknown color shirt. Lewis was abducted by a white male believed to be West Wild Hogs also known as Matthew Clark Pybus. West Wild Hogs, 31, is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, 256 pounds, blonde hair and blue eyes.

He may be traveling in a 2012 silver Nissan Versa with the Alabama license plate 4JL26.

If you have any information regarding this missing child, contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 1-863-307-2450 or the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency at 1-800-228-7688. Authorities also said you can call 911 with information.
A single-vehicle crash claimed the life of a woman and injured another early Saturday morning.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency reported that at 1:30 a.m., 26-year-old, Ravean Keyierra Brundidge was killed when the 2001 Nissan Maxima she was driving left the roadway and overturned.

Brundidge, who was not using a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the Maxima was transported to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries. The crash occurred on Pike County 5534 three miles west of Brundidge.

The preliminary investigation indicates speed may have been a factor in the crash. Nothing further is available as Alabama State Troopers continue to investigate.
Hillary Clinton campaigning

Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton speaks during a rally at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Monday, March 7, 2016, in Detroit, Mich. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Donald Trump must not be president.

Alabama has voted for every Republican candidate since Ronald Reagan, a man that captured our imagination with a hopeful view of America as a shining city upon a hill. Nearly 40 years later, Donald Trump offers a deeply cynical view of an America in ruin, an America that seems to exist only in his own dangerous mind. Even before the revelation of video evidence of Trump making lewd, demeaning comments advocating sexual advances on women against their will, we knew that he was unfit to lead this country. We unite with people across this nation -- people of all parties, including an increasing number of Republicans -- to reject the pessimism of his candidacy.

Following the national party realignment of the mid-20th century, anger and distrust of the Democratic Party runs as deep in Alabama as anywhere in the country. And while more than 300,000 people supported her in the state primary, distrust of Hillary Clinton runs even deeper for many.

But 2016 isn't a normal election cycle, and Donald Trump isn't a normal presidential candidate. Nor is he a normal Republican. He is a man who is frighteningly unfit to be president. And she is his only roadblock.

Any endorsement of Clinton will be a bitter pill to swallow for many in our state. For some, her lifelong record of public service is the mark of a career politician, rather than a public servant. We've all watched her struggle to defend her emails, her charitable foundation and her record on foreign policy. Still, Hillary Clinton is more than qualified to be president, and in winning her party's nomination has reinforced the promise that our democratic process is equally open to all.

We've watched Clinton weather every challenge -- public and personal -- that's faced her over the last 30 years and, unlike Donald Trump's late night Twitter meltdowns, Clinton has consistently remained presidential in her response and demeanor. In truth, her presidency is fairly easy to predict. Through her time as first lady in Arkansas, first lady in the White House, as a U.S. senator, as secretary of state and two campaigns for the presidency, two trends have emerged: Clinton genuinely cares about children and families, but she is also an opportunist.

Like her husband, President Bill Clinton, she has built a political career out of triangulating to the center. She's less liberal than President Barack Obama and less conservative than President George W. Bush -- and after 16 years of volatility, she is likely to maintain the slow growth of the status quo.

We could do worse than four years of a stable hand that understands how government works and is willing to compromise with the Republican opposition. Donald Trump, in contrast, is an unstable force that would do lasting damage to America, at home and abroad.

The list of Trump's disqualifications is lengthy. And he adds new ones daily. This weekend, an unprecedented number of Republicans, including Rep. Martha Roby, Rep. Bradley Byrne, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Gov. Robert Bentley, have chosen to speak out and condemn his candidacy.

Clinton has been caught in lies, but Donald Trump trashes truth far beyond the standards that even our broken political system accepts.

He is a narcissistic, childish bully who has mocked women, Americans with disabilities, veterans, Gold Star families, judges, immigrants, the working poor, people of faith, Muslim Americans, Jewish Americans, refugees, people with weight issues and any other group that challenges his inflated view of himself. A Trump presidency could send the Republican Party down a dark, exclusionary path, that would be tough to recover from.

He is both privately and publicly at odds with much that Alabamians value.

Trump is not a true conservative -- he would expand government and suspend individual rights. This is a man who has never turned the other cheek in his life and scoffs at caring for the least of these, contrary to values that Christians hold dear. And a man who can write off a $900 million loss on his taxes definitely doesn't understand blue collar workers.

Alabama may have been host to many of Trump's largest crowds during the Republican primary, but it has become clear that his policies would hurt many here.

Rather than bring jobs home, Trump's pledge to break trade agreements such as NAFTA and to implement a tariff on goods coming from Mexico and China could ignite a trade war, crippling port cities like Mobile and stunting growth in emerging economies in Birmingham and Huntsville. Trump is selling a message to Ohio and Pennsylvania that he's going to restore their manufacturing promise; but how will that benefit right-to-work states like Alabama? How will his antagonism of foreign powers affect foreign investment in Alabama, which is responsible for the state becoming a leader in auto and aerospace manufacturing?

If the Brexit fallout is any indication, stock markets could plunge in the event of a Trump election, depleting Alabamians of their retirement. And Trump is ill-equipped to turn the American economy around, considering his business strategy has been to take advantage of America at her weakest (after the housing collapse or the Sept. 11 terror attacks) and he can't declare bankruptcy for the United States and write off his losses.

Trump shows a staggering ignorance of world affairs and the issues the next president faces. He dismisses our obligations to NATO; he invites China to "go into" North Korea and settle things in that part of the world, and he has a disturbing infatuation with Vladimir Putin. For all his talk about demonstrating American strength, he constantly undermines our troops. He has, at various times, mocked POWs like Sen. John McCain, veterans struggling with PTSD and the intelligence of our generals. Trump is the type of man that would unilaterally invade Iran because he fears talk radio would label him weak if he doesn't.

His pledge to restore "law and order" by implementing the unconstitutional "stop and frisk" policies of New York threatens to set racial progress in Alabama back 50 years. Many have attempted to frame him as a carbon copy of George Wallace, but Alabamians should look to more recent politicians for a true picture of what a Trump presidency could look like. Trump embodies the worse tenets of disgraced former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard, suspended Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, and humiliated Gov. Robert Bentley. Trump is a man that will ignore the rule of law, use his office for personal gain, and has a history of lascivious affairs and lewd comments caught on tape. Even his campaign is self-serving, with millions in campaign donations spent on his family companies.

The 2016 election is not a choice between two candidates equally fit to serve, or a choice between the ideology of two parties. Trump is a unique threat and in an election where supporting third party candidates splits a national vote, we see but one option. Clinton may be the second least popular major party candidate in 50 years but she is also one of the most qualified candidates in history. And ultimately, if it isn't her, it's him. And that would be a disaster for America and the world.
The story of women coping with consequences and stigmas of ongoing violence and rape in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Bunia, DRC  Twenty-eight year old Carine* lives in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

I used to have nightmares, flashbacks and serious headaches all the time because of the rape, she tells of the deep trauma she has been working to overcome with the help of Sofepadi, an NGO working with victims of sexual violence in the country.

Ethnic conflict and economic crises in this resource-rich region have claimed thousands of lives. A number of warlords from the DRC have been or are being tried by the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

Despite peacekeeping efforts, peace continues to be an elusive prospect, and fighters still kill, rape and loot throughout the countryside regularly.

Five years ago, Carine was one of their victims. Along with her husband and infant child, she was abducted while returning to Bunia from a visit to another village.

The fighters first took her husband away, leaving her alone with the baby. When they later returned, they offered her some food. They were forcing me to eat, but I wouldnt, Carine remembers.

They insisted, so I gave some sauce to the baby, and then I started eating the meat. They started laughing and said: Do you know that this is your husbands flesh youre eating?' Carine recalls with horror. I was paralysed with fear and disgust, she says.

Over a one-month period, the five fighters repeatedly raped Carine. By chance, one day when her guards were distracted, she was able to run away. When she came out of the bush, she found that she was pregnant.

According to local health workers and aid organisations, victims of rape often despise the baby born of the violence inflicted upon them by the various sides in the local conflicts.

Abortion is illegal in DRC, and many desperate victims of rape are forced to carry their pregnancies to term or seek out illicit abortions performed in dangerous and sometimes lethal conditions.

Women who are raped also face discrimination and being ostracised by family and community. They are often rejected by their husbands and families, who blame them for the assault.

READ MORE: Scars of rape in the DRC

Born of rape

Health workers say that having a child born from rape often adds an emotional burden for the mothers  a daily reminder of what happened to them. Often mothers find it difficult to bond with these babies or show affection. In extreme cases, they try to harm the child.

The trauma from the rape  anxiety, nightmares, phobia, depression, suicidal thoughts  gets worse when the victim is pregnant  the child is a constant trauma in their life, says Georgette Ngabo, a psychologist for Doctors Without Borders.

I remember assisting a woman: When she gave birth, she stayed for a whole month without breastfeeding, and it was a real struggle for me to make her accept the baby, she recalls.

Yet, not all mothers have this reaction towards their children born of rape. Carine says she never had negative feelings for her baby, who is now four-years-old. I survived because of Gods grace, so I decided to name her just that, Carine says.

The baby is innocent and has nothing to do with all the things that happened to me, Carine explains. The only thing I could do was to take care of it. All of my kids have the same value to me.

Many mothers often give positive names to their babies. Names like Grace, Lajoie [joy], Bonheur [happiness], Ledon [gift]  [are common]. Because the child is innocent, the mothers give a positive name that, according to them, may have a positive impact on their lives, says Adele Tiniya, a psychologist working with Sofepadi.

The images of rape come back

Carine is still working to overcome the trauma she suffered and the difficulties that she faced after her abduction.

I wasnt able to eat meat or fish for around two years, and I wouldnt go to the market for fear to see meat stalls, Carine tells. I mixed psychological counselling from Sofepadi and prayers to God to get better. Now there is really a big change, and the headaches have stopped.

Carine is slowly gaining self-confidence thanks to the psychological assistance and support group sessions organised by Sofepadi several times a year. Recently, Carine found the courage to recount her experience at such a meeting for victims of sexual violence.





After some setbacks, she has started working again.

I chose to sell doughnuts because this is what I was doing before all of this happened, she says.

She took a financial grant from Sofepadi to open her business, but one of her children fell and ill and died shortly after, and she was forced to use the money for his burial. Unfortunately, I had to spend the money I was given to bury one of the three children I had with my [first] husband. I had to pay for everything  the coffin and all the rest  because no one else contributed.

To help her start over, Sofepadi gave her another financial aid package and this time, she was able to successfully launch her business where she still sells doughnuts today.

Rebuilding a family

Full social re-integration remains tricky for Carine.

Its not easy to live at your parents with your kids. Each time there was a problem or a disagreement at home, my mother kept reminding me of what happened, kept blaming me. My headaches would return each time, she remembers. The atmosphere was hostile; it made me feel more and more uncomfortable. I didnt picture myself living with a man again for quite some time, but I changed my mind and decided to go find one.

Carine decided to marry a man she barely knew due to her desperation to leave her parents home.

I really had nowhere to go, no haven to stay in and take care of my kids. I dont love this man  I just needed a safe place so that my kids can have their primary needs provided for.

To her misfortune, her new husband does not care for the three children born before the marriage, and only pays attention to the child he fathered with Carine.

The images of the rape come back when I see my first two kids complaining, asking for sweets that I cant afford to buy for them. I sell doughnuts for a living, but my husband waits until I have no money left to give me something. And, I cant always ask him for money, Carine explains.

If I hadnt been kidnapped and raped, and my first husband killed, I wouldnt be in such a situation.

READ MORE: Mother Justice  waging a war on rape

Carine hasnt told her new husband that one of her children was a consequence of rape: She was too afraid of how he would react.

Before telling him the truth, I needed to live with this man a bit more to know what kind of man he is. But I discovered he is a violent man, sometimes he hits me when he has a problem with me, she says.

His bad temper tells me that he wouldnt accept being with a woman who was raped and had a child as a result.

Sofepadi keeps an eye on Carines situation.

Most of the time, children from a previous marriage are not well taken care of by the new husband. We often go to Carines to ask how it is going, and we see that its very difficult for the husband to take care of the kids she had before, says Adele Tiniya.

We are working to see how she could leave him because the man can be really violent. Once she came here with her face badly swollen.

* Name changed to protect identity
Native peoples movement gets fresh boost as Phoenix city decides to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day.

Winslow, Arizona  A growing movement to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day, which aims to celebrate the culture of native peoples across the Americas, is gaining steam.

Indigenous activists have campaigned for decades for the acceptance of the holiday, saying that celebrating the arrival of Columbus is tantamount to rejoicing in the decimation of Native American populations across the continent.

Phoenix just recognised the day, the largest city to do so, Jose Matus, the executive director of the Arizona-based Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras (AISF), Spanish for Indigenous Alliance Without Borders, told Al Jazeera in an interview.

Phoenixs city council voted on Wednesday to celebrate Native Americans in lieu of Columbus Day, which has been celebrated as a Federal holiday on the second Monday of October since 1932.

The citys metropolitan area has a population of more than 4,500,000, and is only the latest in a growing series of victories for Indigenous Peoples Day.

The first city to recognise the day was Berkeley, California, in 1992. Since then, roughly 25 other cities including Denver, Colorado, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, have followed suit.

Furthermore, native populations still see outsized discrimination and inequality, Matus said.

Indigenous peoples

AISF was founded in 1997, the year construction began on the separation wall, to educate indigenous peoples on both sides of the border about their rights to cross the US-Mexico border, among other issues.

It feels good, Matus continued, referring to Phoenixs decision. It gives us more strength in promoting the day to other places.

The struggle of native population is important to those involved in other movements, according to Maryam Pugh, the Co-Founder of Philadelphia Printworks, a grass-roots attire company founded in 2010 that places symbols and quotations from icons of the African-American community on its products.

Christopher Columbus was a murderer who executed mass genocide on an entire people. It is beyond horrifying that we honour him, Pugh told Al Jazeera in an email.





She thinks replacing his holiday with the celebration of indigenous culture would be a step towards recognising the injustices of the past to unify and move forward.

Its really important to me to work with all marginalised groups to identify our intersections of oppression, Pugh told Al Jazeera.

PPW hosted a sale to commemorate Indigenous Peoples Day. All of the profits will be donated to protest efforts at Standing Rock.

The area in South Dakota has become a hot spot for indigenous struggle as the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe demonstrates to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), a $3.8bn oil pipeline.

DAPL runs across land that once belonged to the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, which is home to tribal burial sites, cultural artefacts, and other sacred areas.

Recently, police presence has increased at the site, with demonstrators continuing to block construction efforts. Protests have turned violent.

The reality is that history is happening around us right now. Injustice is happening right now, Pugh responded when asked if Standing Rock had affected her.

It may be more convenient or easier to look the other way. But, if we do, we are just as much to blame.

A day for immigrants?

To the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) Columbus Day is not horrifying, it is a celebration of immigration.

In 2015, OSIA National President Daniel Longo said that Columbus Day has come to symbolise and celebrate  millions of immigrants, particularly those of Italian ancestry, who followed Columbus with the hope of finding freedom and a chance to give their families a better future.

This year, OSIAs Commission for Social Justice started a petition for an official Capital luncheon and White House evening reception in recognition and endorsement of Columbus Day.

So far, 1,398 supporters have signed.

One signatory, Richard DiSilvio from Massapequa, New York, wrote that Indigenous Peoples Day is an attack not only on the Italian-American community but also on the entire nation.

Matus, executive director of AISF, does not agree.

Hopefully next year there will be more cities celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day. Were in organising mode, so we can get rid of Columbus Day.
The year 2016 has not been great so far for peace prospects around the world. The Syrian conflict is worsening by the day if that even was possible, turning Aleppo into a modern day Guernica. Ukraine is still cut in two, with little hope of peace between local groups influenced or manipulated by Russia and NATO allies. Central Africas stability is on the verge of collapse as dictators continue stomping democratic hopes of their populations in Libreville or Kinshasa and appetite over Chinese Sea resources could hold the seeds of the next global conflict.

Under those circumstances, the choice for the Nobel Peace Prize came down to a peace agreement currently in jeopardy following the rebuttal of the very population it was meant to protect.

While some thought the Norwegian Nobel Institute would underline and reward the incredibly brave activity of the White Helmets  an organisation who has saved thousands of civilians trapped under the bombs in Syria  the laureate was President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia to support his efforts in securing an end to 50 years of civil conflict in his country.





Colombia has suffered through decades of a domestic conflict involving a Marxist guerrilla  the Revolutionary Armed Force of Colombia (FARC)  and a range of paramilitary groups, resulting in the death of more than 220,000 Colombians, the disappearance of 40,000 more and the displacement of six million inhabitants.

Transitional justice process

The peace agreement signed on September 26 by Santos and the FARC leaders was comprehensive and included not only the end of the conflict, but also several measures to support rural development, the fight on drug trafficking, the political participation of the guerrilla partisans in a pacified Colombia and a transitional justice process.

Yet, one of the main reasons why the Nobel Committee chose to reward Santos for the peace negotiation is that the Colombians narrowly rejected the agreement last week despite its historical nature.

Colombia Referendum: Peace deal with FARC rejected

They refused to validate what they perceived as an intolerable lack of accountability for the armed groups. They also sanctioned a president who dedicated his presidency to those negotiations disregarding economic and societal challenges in the country.

The Nobel Committees choice is eminently political. Santos is not a pacifist dove. He was defence minister between 2006 and 2010 under President Alvaro Uribe, whose main electoral promise was to crush the insurgency.

But as they did by awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama upon his arrival in the White House in 2009, encouraging him to implement his campaign promise to withdraw troops from Iraq and fight against climate change, the Norwegian Committee offered a strong political capital to Santos.

This lifeline for the peace agreement Santos negotiated is much needed. The presidents political rating has plummeted, and he made a crucial mistake to ask for a popular vote of ratification that was not legally mandatory.

Santos underestimated the capacity of right-wing leaders, such as Uribe, to blow on the ashes of past wounds in order to pit himself as an alternative for the next presidential elections. by

Democracy is essential to ensure the sustainable development of societies and legitimate political decisions. However, when emotions run high and scars are deep, a popular vote can be dangerous and short-sighted.

Surprise outcome

This is all the more the case when ballots are hijacked by political figures for their own personal gains. There are similarities between the Brexit vote and the ratification of the Colombian peace plan.

In the UK, David Cameron thought he would easily win the referendum disregarding the populistic rhetoric of Independence Party leaders and ambitious politicians such as Boris Johnson.

In Colombia, Santos underestimated the capacity of right-wing leaders, such as Uribe, to blow on the ashes of past wounds in order to pit himself as an alternative for the next presidential elections.

The surprise outcome of the vote can be explained by the lethargy of the population, as 62 percent did not turn out to the polling stations, the irresponsible discourses from evangelical preachers and the refusal from the Catholic Church to support the end of a war that claimed so many innocent lives.

OPINION: Why Colombians opposed the peace deal with FARC

Some might point fingers at the FARCs establishment who only showed late signs of remorse for instigating fear among the population for decades and instead presented the agreement as a victory for their cause.

Nevertheless, what is at stake for Colombia goes way beyond the understandable resentment felt by a share of the population. It is the prospects for a peaceful future that the country has never experienced since the start of the Violencia civil war in 1946.

The next two years will define Colombias future, and Santos will need every support he can find to hold off the ambitions of a newly assertive Alvaro Uribe.

Colombians need to remember that the previous administration was marred by corruption scandals and the revelation of collusion of interest between Uribe, drug lords and paramilitaries. The Nobel Peace Prize will offer Santos and Colombians a much needed second shot at peace

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.
Al Jazeera speaks to three Palestinian victims of US military aid to Israel, as a record $38bn deal was signed.

Last month, the United States signed a $38bn record military aid deal with Israel, described as the largest single pledge of military assistance in US history to any country. Traditionally, US military aid is provided to Israel on the provision that the bulk of the money is spent on United States war machinery and weapons.

As such, many of the warplanes, rifles and bullets that Israel uses against Palestinians, often in ways that may amount to human rights violations, are manufactured and supplied by the US.

While US domestic law under the Foreign Assistance Act states that no security assistance may be provided to any country the government of which engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognised human rights, no US administration since 2000 has held Israel accountable.

The US has continued providing unprecedented amounts of military aid to Israel, the largest recipient of US foreign aid, in violation of its own domestic laws and international human rights laws.

Al Jazeera speaks to three Palestinians whose lives have been impacted by the US decision to turn a blind eye to Israels misuse of US-manufactured and supplied tear gas, bulldozers and munitions to commit human rights violations against Palestinians.

Ahmed Abu Rahmah, 42, Bilin, Occupied West Bank



Abu Rahmah lost two of his younger siblings in 2009 and 2011 to tear gas grenades thrown by Israeli soldiers at unarmed protesters.

A Pennsylvania-based company, Combined Systems Inc, has for years supplied Israel with tear gas, a non-lethal means for crowd dispersal and control. Israel, however, has repeatedly used tear gas in close range of unarmed protesters who posed no threat to the soldiers, often injuring and even killing them. Here is Abu Rahmahs story:

On April 17, 2009, the village of Bilin went out on its weekly nonviolent protest against the construction of the Separation Wall on our land. My brother, Bassem, went out like every other protester, alongside international and Israeli peace activists, to demonstrate.

The Israeli occupation forces began firing live ammunition and tear gas at us.

One of the young girls in the protest was wounded, so my brother began shouting at the soldiers. Less than a minute later, one of the soldiers fired a tear gas grenade directly at Bassems chest from approximately 30 metres away.

When launched, these grenades can go as far as 500m with full force. The canister pierced his chest and went straight to his heart.

He was immediately transferred to a hospital in critical condition.

On the way to the hospital, we got a call from the doctors saying my brother had been killed. I was in complete shock. To this day, my family and I have not come to terms with the fact that Bassem has left the world.

We lost the will to live after Bassem was killed. My sister is suffering from a psychological crisis; she takes medicine on a daily basis and visits a psychiatrist regularly.

Every element of happiness in our home was gone.

I blame America directly for supporting and supplying Israel. The US is to blame for every Palestinian child killed at the hands of Israel.

But this is the situation of the Palestinian people. Its very difficult. It is our basic right to protest peacefully against the occupation of our land.

The bigger disaster was when my younger sister, Jawaher, was killed in a similar incident. Her death destroyed my family.

On January 1, 2011, Jawaher was participating in another Bilin protest.

The army began firing gas grenades. She inhaled a large amount of gas, and she died while hospitalised on the same day. We filed a case against the army, and nothing happened.

We never expected that my siblings could be killed from tear gas.

We still weep for Jawaher and Bassem. We are hurt. It was like they were killed yesterday.

We filed court cases against the Israeli military for both my siblings, and both cases were closed on the pretext that there wasnt enough evidence, despite there being video footage of the incidents, which they said was fabricated.

The gas grenades that the Israeli soldiers throw bear the label made in the USA on them. Everyone knows  all Palestinians know  that these are American weapons.

With this $38bn, the US is giving Israel the green light to kill Palestinians. With this money, Israel buys more weapons and tools to kill the Palestinian people.

We are being occupied by American weapons.

It is telling Israel that it has the right to kill. We are being occupied by American weapons. We have proposed several peace plans to Israel, and it refuses because it continues to receive so much support from the US.

I blame America directly for supporting and supplying Israel. The US is to blame for every Palestinian child killed at the hands of Israel.

We still go out every week to nonviolent protests. Palestinians are exposed to death daily. I go out on protests, and I will tell you, I am afraid. We can die at any moment. But this has become our reality. We are always targeted. Even when we are at home, even when we are sleeping. We are sometimes hit with gas grenades in our homes as punishment.

Mahmoud Omar al-Shobi, 54, Nablus

Since 1967, Israel has demolished more than 48,000 Palestinian homes and other structures vital to a familys livelihood in the occupied Palestinian territories, comprising of occupied East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. Caterpillar Inc, an American heavy-machinery company, supplies the Israeli army with bulldozers used by Israel to illegally tear down Palestinian homes, uproot olive trees, kill civilians and construct the annexation wall. Through the foreign military aid provided by the US to Israel, Caterpillar continues to sell D9 bulldozers to Israel knowing they would be used to violate international humanitarian law.

When asked by Al Jazeera to comment about Israels use of the bulldozers, Caterpillar responded that while they do not excuse the use of their products in any way that is unsafe, irresponsible, or unlawful they cannot monitor the use of every piece of Caterpillar equipment around the world.

In April 2002, Mahmoud Omar al-Shobi, 45, lost eight of his family members when Israel used CAT bulldozers to demolish their home in Nablus while they were inside. The demolition came as part of the Israeli armys military invasion of Nablus during the second Palestinian uprising (known as the Intifada). Here is al-Shobis story:

We had been hearing of the Israeli invasions of Palestinian cities of Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Jenin. And then they came to Nablus. My family and I live in the Old City. On the 4th of April, 2002 , Nablus was placed under military curfew and movement in the streets was forbidden.

The army intensified the siege on the city. They would shoot at anyone who would poke their head out of the window. A day earlier, on April 3, I told my parents to come stay at my house, but they refused. They wanted to hold onto their home.

The Israeli army knew that my family was inside the house. They did not care about any one  not child, woman or man.

Staying at my parents house were my brother Samir, his pregnant wife Nabila and their three children, four-year-old Anas, seven-year-old Azzam, and nine-year-old Abdullah, and my 85-year-old father and my two sisters, Fatima and Abir.

The Israeli army knew that my family was inside the house. They did not care about anyone  not child, woman or man. On April 5, I lost contact with my sister Abir. I couldnt go out to look for them because of the curfew  they would not let us.

Eight days later, when the curfew was briefly lifted, I tried to go out to see where they were. I began searching through the rubble, using spoons, forks and hammers to dig for my family until I found their bodies.

I found that the Israeli army had razed our house to the ground, killing all eight of my family members.

The CAT bulldozers buried them alive.

We found their bodies in a circle, with the children on their laps, as to protect them.

On April 19, the Israelis allowed us to bury our dead. This shows that the US administration is guilty of terrorism even more than the Israeli government. They are funding state terrorism. These were civilian victims. Eight people from one family. They had no excuse to kill them. How can a four-year-old child or an 85-year-old man be guilty?

The US-Israel military deal just means more destruction, displacement, terror and killing for Palestinians. All these negotiations and peace talks, especially Oslo, have meant more torture for Palestinians.

Eight people from one family killed  where is the peace? Where is the protection of civilians?

The Israeli army responded to the killings, alleging it had no knowledge of razing the Shobi familys home to the ground. In 2005, Shobi filed a court case against Caterpillar, Inc for aiding and abetting war crimes and human rights violations, along with four other Palestinian families and the parents of Rachel Corrie, a US citizen killed by an Israeli soldier who ran her over as she attempted to protect a Palestinian home from being razed in Gaza.

In 2007, the court dismissed the case, ruling that it did not have jurisdiction to decide as Caterpillars bulldozers were paid for by the US government; any decision made would mean impermissibly intruding on US foreign policy decisions.

Hamed al-Shobaky, 26, Gaza



During Israels 2014 war on Gaza, in which more than 1,400 civilians including 500 children were killed, the US government gave Israel access to its own arms stockpile despite the high levels of civilian casualties, reports of Israeli war crimes and indiscriminate attacks. The US supplies Israel with warplanes, warships, missile interceptors, as well as ammunition, among other things.

Hamed al-Shobaky, a 26-year-old journalist, was severely wounded in Israeli artillery shelling at Souq al-Bastat, a market in al-Shujaiah neighbourhood, on July 30, during the 2014 Israeli war on Gaza. Here is Shobakys story:

They had announced a four-hour humanitarian ceasefire, so we went out to cover a workshop. We found a house full of dead and wounded people. We went there quickly to cover what was happening. There were 10 people killed from the same family.

The ambulances and civil defence had already arrived, so we began transferring the bodies.

And then the shells came raining down on us. The attacks were indiscriminate. They were directly targeting us and everything around us  from the trees to the people. All the ambulances were also hit. Twenty-five people were killed and 200 others were wounded in the massacre.

My legs were hit. We were left bleeding on the ground for about 30 minutes. I couldnt feel my legs any more. I wasnt afraid. Yes, the wound was critical, but when we initially headed out, we were carrying our lives in the palms of our hands.

We were going out knowing that we could become martyrs at any moment.

I had to get four surgeries, in Gaza and in Cairo, where I spent more than 50 days. I had suffered trauma to both my knees from shrapnel, damaged arteries and had tears in my tendons. I had to have metal implants placed in my leg. Now, I have one nail left in my bones.

I am still suffering from the injury. I cant fully bend my knee or sit on my legs. If I want to pray, I cant bend my knees like that and sit on the floor.

It will be very difficult for my knee to return to normal.

We are not surprised about the $38bn. The US will spend all it has just to safeguard Israels security. Americans send bombs and rockets made in the US, and they test them out to see the extent of their power and impact in Gaza.

I blame America, but I also blame the Arab and the Muslim world, and the international community for allowing Israel to practise terrorism against the Palestinian people.

I ask the international community and human rights NGOs to play their role in protecting journalists.

Journalists in Gaza are targeted before any armed fighter.
Official says crash in Baghlan was due to technical problem, but Taliban claims responsibility for helicopters downing.

A military helicopter has crashed in Afghanistans northern Baghlan province, killing all eight people on board, officials have told Al Jazeera.

The crash took place on Sunday in Dand-e-Ghori district while the helicopter was supplying a military base.





Dawlat Waziri, spokesman for the Afghan defence ministry, said that five crew members and three army soldiers were killed in the crash.

Waziri blamed a technical problem which caused the helicopter to catch fire and hit the ground, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Yet, the Taliban issued a statement claiming responsibility for downing the helicopter, saying it was shot down by the armed groups fighters.

Local officials in Baghlan also told Al Jazeera that the Taliban had shot down the helicopter as it was trying to provide logistics support to the ground forces in Dand-e-Ghori, close to the provincial capital of Pul-e-Khumri city.

READ MORE: Taliban fire forces doctors to flee Afghanistans Kunduz

Qarghan Tapa base has been surrounded by the Taliban for a week, leaving more than a hundred soldiers trapped inside, according to the officials who spoke to the AP news agency on condition of anonymity.

They said all roads to the base have been shut off by the fighters and the only way to supply the soldiers was by air.

Earlier this year, Afghan security forces launched a major operation to clear Dand-e-Ghori from the Taliban, as the armed group was trying to create safe havens for their spring offensive.

Taliban fighters have recently increased their attacks on Afghan forces in northern Baghlan and neighbouring Kunduz provinces.
Trump campaign says Republican presidential hopeful could go after Hillarys husband Bill Clintons sexual history.

Donald Trumps campaign has said that the Republican presidential candidate could go after former president Bill Clintons sexual history in criminal terms at Sundays debate with his wife, the Democratic candidate for president, Hillary Clinton.

Speaking to NBC television, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani said Trump would not hesitate to talk about the women that Bill Clinton raped, sexually abused and attacked.

Giuliani, a political ally and adviser, said Trump will cast Hillary as the attacker of women when she claims to be their champion.

The strategy comes as Trump reels from the release of his recorded description of his sexual aggression towards women .

Giuliani said both sides have sinned. So how about we put that behind us?

Trump had said there was zero chance he will drop out of the race, amid growing pressure from within the Republican Party for him to be replaced by another candidate. His running mate, Mike Pence had said he cannot defend Trump.

Clintons sexual misconduct

Late on Saturday, Trump also retweeted a pair of postings by Juanita Broaddrick, whose accusations that Bill Clinton raped her in 1978 were never tested in criminal court. Bill Clinton has long denied the accusations.

Broaddrick had also accused Hillary of threatening her after she made the accusations against Bill Clinton, when he was still attorney general of the US state of Arkansas.

The debate on Sunday will be held in St Louis in the US state of Missouri.

Al Jazeera speaks to students outside the debate venue about the issues that matter to them

Hillary is also facing her own controversy after WikiLeaks published emails showing her views on free trade, which contradict her public pronouncements during the campaign.

Excerpts of the speeches given in the years before her 2016 presidential campaign included some blunt and unguarded remarks to top bank executives, which collectively had paid her at least $26.1m in speaking fees.





In a separate speech to Goldman Sachs employees, Clinton said it was an oversimplification to blame the US banking system for the global financial crisis in 2008.

But a distracted Trump did not seem to notice the email controversy, focusing instead on pushing attention towards Bill Clintons past infidelities as he apologised for lewd and sexually charged comments he made about women back in 2005, also leaked on Friday.

The debate on Sunday would be Trumps last time to save the campaign, Jeanne Zaino, a political analyst and professor at Iona College, said in an interview with Al Jazeera.

These revelations  have really upended not only his campaign, but the Republican Party as a whole, Zaino said.

REPORTERS NOTEBOOK: Trumps tape troubles

So he has a real challenge on his hands tonight. Hes got to address people in the audience directly, and hes got to apologise once again in a more convincing way than he did on tape the other night.

But it is unclear if it is convincing at this point to many independent and moderate voters, especially women that he needs to win over.

Donald Trump has in the past surprised people. But the maths is not on his favour. Women vote in larger numbers than men. He needs some women in his side, and it is becoming increasingly unlikely that he will get that.

Zaino also said that other Republican candidates are concerned that Trumps controversy could affect their own races.
Ethiopia has declared a state of emergency following months of often violent anti-government protests, especially in the restive Oromia region.

A state of emergency has been declared because the situation posed a threat against the people of the country, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said on state-run television on Sunday.

Local media said the state of emergency, declared for the first time in 25 years, will last for six months.





Earlier on Sunday, the state Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the state of emergency was effective as of Saturday evening as a means to deal with anti-peace elements that have allied with foreign forces and are jeopardising the peace and security of the country.

It added that the Council of Ministers discussed the damage by the protests across the country and declared the state of emergency in a message delivered to Hailemariam.

Al Jazeeras Fahmida Miller, reporting from Mombasa, said that people were concerned about the powers this state of emergency allows the prime minister to have.

The security forces for example will now fall under the prime ministers control specifically. And if we look back over the last year, things like the internet have been blocked to prevent people communicating and allowing these protests to continue, she said.

Protests reignited this week in the Oromia region  the main focus of a recent wave of demonstrations  after dozens of people were killed in a stampede on October 2, which was sparked by police firing tear gas and warning shots at a huge crowd of protesters attending a religious festival.

The official death toll given by the government was 55, though opposition activists and rights groups said they believe more than 100 people died as they fled security forces, falling into ditches that dotted the area.

According to government officials, factories, company premises and vehicles were burned out completely or damaged during the recent wave of protests. Many roads leading to the capital, Addis Ababa, were reported to be blocked.

READ MORE: I am not seeking asylum in the US, says Oromo marathoner

The death toll from unrest and clashes between police and demonstrators over the past year or more runs into several hundred, according to opposition and rights group estimates. At least 500 people have been killedby security forces since anti-government protests began in November, New York-based Human Rights Watch group said in August.





The government says such figures are inflated and has denied that violence from the security forces is systemic. In August, it rejected a United Nations request to send in observers, saying it alone was responsible for the security of its citizens.

The anti-government demonstrations started in November among the Oromo, Ethiopias biggest ethnic group, and later spread to the Amhara, the second most populous group.

Though they initially began over land rights, they later broadened into calls for more political, economic and cultural rights.

Both groups say that a multi-ethnic ruling coalition and the security forces are dominated by the Tigray ethnic group, which makes up only about 6 percent of the population.

The government, though, blames rebel groups and foreign-based dissidents for stoking the violence.
Accusations by opposition of vote rigging abound as Georgian Dream tops rival UNM in poll count.

The ruling Georgian Dream party has won Georgias legislative polls, official results show, but the opposition has complained of vote rigging in the Caucasus nation.

With more than 99.92 percent of the votes counted by Sunday, data from the Central Election Commission gave the ruling Georgian Dream party 48.6 percent of the vote and the opposition United National Movement (UNM) 27.14 percent.

The figures are for a proportional ballot that will decide 77 of the 150 seats in the legislature.

After voting closed on Saturday, the Georgian Dream was quick to declare victory based on exit polls which gave it a strong lead over the UNM.

But the UNM accused the government of attempts to steal elections and held a protest rally outside the central election commission.

Votes have been stolen from us. We will defend our votes, Nika Melia, chief of UNMs campaign and an MP candidate, told protesters, claiming that the electoral victory belonged to his party.

OPINION: Georgias EU alignment  regional repercussions

Several opposition parties, including the Labour Party, Alliance of Patriots, and Democratic Georgia, cried foul, accusing the incumbent government of massive vote rigging.

The voting percentages that have been released so far may not necessarily be reflected in parliamentary seats because almost half will be determined on a first-past-the-post basis rather than by the proportional representation system.

Owing to the countrys complex election rules, the final makeup of the 150-seat parliament may only become clear by late November.

Al Jazeeras Robin Forestier-Walker, reporting from the capital Tbilisi, said that the UNM, which looks like its coming in second [behind Georgian Dream], claims that the margin of difference between the two [parties] is substantially smaller. They are saying that they will contest the results based on their own polls.

There is a concern that this election will not pass by smoothly, the way it did four years ago, our correspondent said.





Georgian Dream  led from behind the scenes by billionaire ex-prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili  and the UNM  founded by exiled former president Mikheil Saakashvili  had been neck-and-neck in opinion polls ahead of the election.

Tensions rose ahead of the vote in the ex-Soviet republic after a car bombing and shooting incident at a rally.

Georgias Western allies were watching closely to see if the strategic nation could cement gains after its first transfer of power at the ballot box four years ago.

This was a truly free and fair election, which firmly cements Georgias democracy, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said after the vote ended, but observers reported instances of procedural violations.

Election monitors and opposition politicians noted that Georgias electoral environment and financing give an unfair advantage to the ruling party, which could have potentially affected the votes outcome.

Local observers also reported about several violations during the vote count process.

In one case, a group of unidentified attackers threw stones and smashed windows at two polling stations in the village of Jikhashkari in western Georgia, Reuters news agency cited local observers as saying.

They also damaged the ballot box and attacked international and local observers at the spot, Georgian Young Lawyers Association said in a statement.
Country ranks 129th in world greenhouse gas emissions but reportedly is one of the worst affected by climate change.

Gorno-Badakshan, Tajikistan  The caves perched above Savnob village in Tajikistan served as a hideout during frequent raids by nomadic bandits on the ancient agricultural community living there two centuries ago.

There is no threat of a bandit attack today, but villages in Tajikistans Pamir Mountains are now facing a new kind of threat: global warming.

Tajikistan is one of the countries least responsible for climate change but one of the worst affected, according to a new report by Oxfam.

It is ranked 129th in the world for greenhouse gas emissions per capita.

Today, age-old practices in Tajikistan are changing as shifting weather patterns make it harder for the villagers to plan tasks such as when to sow their seeds.

READ MORE: Risk of water wars rises with scarcity

They say warmer temperatures have also increased outbreaks of fungal diseases in their crops.

But melting glaciers concern people of the village the most.

The Lab Nazar glacier looms above Savnob village. Waters from mountain glaciers like Lab Nazar once allowed people to settle down to agricultural lifestyles in these high valleys.

But as temperatures get hotter due to climate change, the glacier melts faster, causing villagers to worry about their future.

A new lake was formed last July when a mudflow caused by glacial melt swept across the valley and blocked the Gunt river, creating a natural dam that submerged homes and a portion of the M41  better known as the Pamir highway.

Cameras caught dramatic images of the glacial lake outburst as waves of water carrying glacial sludge came crashing down the Barsem valley.

An estimated 80 houses were destroyed but no lives were lost, mainly due to emergency response teams who have been training people to react and respond to disasters like these.

But their work may have only just begun.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Zafarbek Kyvvatbekov, of the Focus Humanitarian Assistance, said 93 percent of Tajikistans territory is covered by high mountains which have lots of glaciers.

The Pamirs [alone] have over 260 glacial lakes, and 20 out of those pose a real threat to communities living downstream.

READ MORE: Are Water Wars imminent in Central Asia?

Glaciers across Central Asia are melting at an alarming rate.

Tajikistan alone is expected to lose up to 30 percent more of its glaciers by 2050 and this could have far reaching effects in the whole of Central Asia.

I dont know if you can compare it with small island countries, which will be affected by sea level rise, Benedict Ibele, from the German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation, told Al Jazeera.

I mean Tajikistan will obviously not completely disappear, but since this region is highly dependent on water coming from Tajikistan, it will be severely affected.

Last years Paris Climate Talks had world leaders agreeing to cap emissions and keep rise in global temperature below 2C.

But people here living on the frontline of climate change cannot quite afford to celebrate the deal just yet, as they learn to adapt and prepare for the next surprise their changing environment could bring.
At least 13 people die in latest outbreak of disease as officials warn of a rising death toll after Hurricane Matthew.

Hurricane-ravaged Haiti is struggling to cope with a rise in cholera cases with officials warning that contaminated water and a lack of hygiene are posing a risk to thousands of people in the impoverished country.

Hurricane Matthew, the fiercest Caribbean storm in nearly a decade, ploughed through Haiti on Tuesday, killing at least 877 people and levelling huge swaths of the countrys south.

While the capital and biggest city, Port-au-Prince, was largely spared, the south suffered devastation. Aerial footage from the hardest-hit towns showed a ruined landscape of metal shanties with roofs blown away and downed trees everywhere. Brown mud from overflowing rivers covered the ground.

IN PICTURES: Scenes of destruction in Haiti

Government officials said on Saturday that at least 13 people had died of cholera in the countrys southwest, as severely damaged water supplies and sanitation systems increase the risk of the disease spreading.

The Haitian health ministrys cholera programme said at least 62 people were sick from cholera, a water-borne disease, with outbreaks reported in several towns both inland and across the southern coast.

People have started dying

People have started dying, Eli Pierre Celestin, a health ministry official told Reuters news agency. There are nurses but no doctors.





Al Jazeeras Teresa Bo, reporting from Jeremie, a town of 30,000 people, which was left inaccessible until Friday, said many in the Carribean nation were fearing a surge in cholera cases.

One of the biggest fears here is the threat of cholera, she said, citing an epidemic introduced by UN peacekeepers following Haitis 2010 devastating earthquake.

Since its apperance in 2010, the disease has infected hundreds of thousands of people and killed more than 9,000.

Children are increasingly vulnerable to cholera, which causes severe dehydration and can be fatal in a matter of hours if left untreated.

The UNs Central Emergency Response Fund said in a statement on Friday that in 2016 almost 27,000 cholera cases have been reported in Haiti, and over 240 people have died.

Hurricane Matthew is feared to significantly worsen the situation and increase the risk of a larger outbreak, it added.

Dying of hunger

As aid began trickling into Jeremie, locals told Al Jazeera that the international response was not fast enough, and that people could soon start dying of hunger.

We thought the world would be here sooner because right now the people are in dire need, Donny St Germain, a pastor at El Shaddai Ministries International, told Al Jazeera.

READ MORE: Horrors left by Hurricane Matthew become clear in Haiti

The government is not giving us anything. The international community continue to do inspections while people are dying of hunger  and so right now, we need supplies.

Up to 80 percent of crops have been lost in some areas, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

CARE France, a humanitarian group, said that around one million people were in need of urgent assistance, and that many had nothing left except the clothes on their back.

France announced earlier this week that it was deploying 60 troops with 32 tonnes of humanitarian supplies and water purification equipment.
ISIL claims responsibility for biggest attack, in which bomber targeted Shia pilgrims marking holy month of Muharram.

Iraqi officials say three bomb attacks have killed 10 people and wounded at least 37 across the Iraqi capital.

In a statement, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group claimed responsibility for the biggest attack, which killed five people and wounded 22 in eastern Baghdad on Sunday.

It said a suicide bomber targeted Shia pilgrims marking the holy month of Muharram.

Iraqi officials said two other attacks in southern Baghdad killed five people and wounded 15.

The Iraqi security and medical officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to brief the press.

The attacks came as Iraqi forces prepared to retake the city of Mosul from ISIL, the groups last urban stronghold in Iraq.

ISIL, also known as ISIS, has been carrying out attacks far from the frontlines after suffering territorial losses.
Although Hurricane Matthew continues to bring heavy rain and storm surges to parts of the US east coast, it is no longer the threat it once was.

The death toll in the US from Matthew is believed to be 10, according to the latest Associated Press news agency tally. That is 10 too many, of course, but it pales into insignificance when compared with the almost 900 deaths recorded in Haiti as Matthew swept across the Caribbean nation.

While Haiti took a direct hit from Matthew, a Category 4 storm at the time, the hurricane remained largely off shore as it as it travelled up the US east coast.

Yet there was an inevitability about the impact of a severe storm on a country like Haiti. The nation is the poorest in the world. There are many reasons for this, including its turbulent history  slavery, colonialism, revolution, and occupation are often-cited contributing factors.

Nature has also not been kind to the country. It has few natural resources and it is prone to both hurricanes and earthquakes. The earthquake of 2010 resulted in the deaths of between 100,000 and 316,000 people.

When hurricanes strike Haiti, the impact is disproportionate to the severity. There are several reasons for this.

Firstly, infrastructure is poor and evacuation from areas likely to be affected by a storm is limited.

Secondly, there are relatively few safe havens for people who have been evacuated from their homes. In any case, as one half of the island of Hispaniola, there is a geographical limit to where people can be evacuated.

Thirdly, Haiti is extremely vulnerable to the heavy rain brought by hurricanes because of the destruction of the natural vegetation. It is one of the most deforested countries on Earth. Over the past 200 years, 98 percent of the forests have been felled to provide fuel and a source of income. There is little-to-no replanting because many of the people cutting down the trees are renting the land on which they are working. After cutting down the trees they move on.

As a consequence, the run-off from torrential rain  Matthew dropped nearly half a metre of rain on the country  is ferocious, bringing the risk of severe mudslides.

All this is in contrast to how the US was able to evacuate those at risk as Matthew made its way up the west coast of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. Excellent communications, advanced warning systems and a network of multi-laned highways allowed people to be moved from Matthews path ahead of time. In the US, weather disasters tend to be measured in dollars rather than lives.

The exception was 2005s Hurricane Katrina, when 1,836 people lost their lives. However, most of the deaths occurred in Louisiana (1,577) and Mississippi (238), states that rank 44th and 50th in terms of income.

More than half of those who lost their lives were senior citizens, less mobile as a whole, but also more likely to be among the poorest.

In recent years, countries such as China and India have invested in communications and infrastructure, allowing hundreds of thousands of people to be moved from the path of dangerous weather systems if necessary.

Unfortunately, Haiti is one of those island states, along with its neighbour the Dominican Republic, and others such as Vanuatu, Tonga and the Philippines, which will continue to be affected heavily by severe weather for many years to come.
Poland and Lithuania express concern as Russia deploys nuclear-capable ballistic missiles to Kaliningrad on Baltic Sea.

Lithuania and Poland have expressed concerns as Russia confirmed the deployment of nuclear-capable Iskander missiles into its Kaliningrad outpost which borders the two NATO members.

The Polish government reacted angrily to Russias move, calling it very alarming, while Lithuanian officials said it could breach an international nuclear weapons treaty.

Linas Linkevicius, Lithuanias foreign minister, said on Saturday that Russia was using the deployment to seek concessions from the West. Moscows move came amid heightened tensions between Russia and western countries over Syria.

Russia is holding military exercises in Kaliningrad, and its scenario includes deployment of Iskander missile systems and the possible use of them. We are aware of it, Linkevicius told AFP news agency.





Russian officials, however, dismissed the concerns, saying that contingents of missile troops have been moved many times and will continue to be moved to Kaliningrad region as part of a Russian armed forces training plan.

Kaliningrad is not an exception to drills conducted across the country, defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in an emailed statement.

Konashenkov said that one Iskander was placed in the open to confirm the parameters of operation of a US intelligence satellite he alleged was flying overhead.

Wedged between Poland and Lithuania and the Baltic Sea, Kaliningrad is vital to Russias strategic position.

Separated from the Russian mainland by 700km, it is the westernmost part of Russia. It houses the Russian Baltic Fleet, as well as multiple land forces and an air force detachment with fighters, bombers and helicopters, as well as an early-warning radar system and other equipment.

Moscow sent Iskanders to Kaliningrad in 2015 during a series of massive military drills as tensions with the West reached their worst point since the Cold War, triggered by Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and its military campaign in Syria a year later.

The US on Friday called for Russia and Syria to be investigated for war crimes for the bombing of hospitals in Aleppo, and accused Moscow of trying to interfere with the American presidential election.

Divide, intimidate

Judy Dempsey, a senior associate at Carnegie Europe, told AFP that Moscows latest Iskander deployment to Kaliningrad is a way to divide the West, just weeks before the US presidential election.

These types of moves by Russia are making the Europeans and the US nervous. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is pressing all the buttons, Dempsey said.

Tensions over Iskander have been going on for seven years. Its a very tried way to pressure the West.

The latest events in Kaliningrad are a way to intimidate the Baltics and Poland, she added.





Michal Baranowski, Warsaw office director of the German Marshall Fund of the US, said the Iskander deployment is obviously an openly aggressive move, but it isnt something that would require an immediate response from NATO  it fits the previous pattern.

I would be much more worried if Moscow were to deploy greater conventional forces to Kaliningrad, he told AFP on Saturday.

Vilnius University analyst Laurynas Jonavicius, however, increased the sabre-rattling by saying revisionist Russia raises the risk of incidents in the Baltic region which could prompt a major crisis.

Meanwhile, Lithuanian intelligence warned earlier this year that Iskanders deployed in Kaliningrad may be used for hindering the actions of NATOs allied forces in the region.

Since the start of the Ukraine crisis in 2014, Russia has flexed its muscles with a series of war games involving tens of thousands of troops in areas bordering NATO Baltic states.

NATO responded by agreeing to deploy four battalions in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as of next year to bolster its eastern flank.
Russia calls failed French draft resolution politicised and one-sided while Egypt gets flak for Security Council vote.

The Russian foreign ministry says a draft French UN Security Council resolution on Syria would have helped terrorists in the Aleppo area by protecting them from aerial bombing.

In a statement published on Sunday, as Syrian government forces pressed on with their offensive against rebel fighters in the city, the Russians said the French text was politicised and one-sided.

An explicit attempt was made, by banning flights in the Aleppo area, to provide cover for the terrorists of Jabhat al-Nusra and associated militants, the ministry said.





But it also emphasised that Russia is ready to keep searching for a long-term Syria solution, despite its differences with the West.

The UN Security Council voted on Saturday on two rival resolutions on the fighting  one drafted by France calling for an end to air strikes and a second by Russia that urged a ceasefire but made no mention of halting the bombings.

Russias text was effectively the French draft with Russian amendments.

It removed the demand for an end to air strikes on Aleppo and put the focus back on a failed US-Russia ceasefire deal which was annexed to the draft.

Russia vetoed the French-drafted resolution while the Russian draft failed to gather enough votes to pass.

OPINION: Syria  Do people really care?

Matthew Rycroft, Britains ambassador to the UN, described Saturdays failure in New York as a bad day for Russia, but an even worse day for the people of Aleppo.

Russia has become one of the chief purveyors of terror in Aleppo, using tactics more commonly associated with thugs than governments, David Pressman, US deputy ambassador to the UN, told the council.

He said Russia was intent on allowing the killing to continue and, indeed, participating in carrying it out and that what was needed from Moscow was less talk and more action from them to stop the slaughter.

Theatrical mess

A UN resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes to be adopted. The veto powers are the US, France, Britain, Russia and China.

The French draft received 11 votes in favour, while China and Angola abstained. Venezuela joined Russia in voting against it.

The Russian text received only four votes in favour, so a veto was not needed to block it.

UPFRONT: Has the UN failed in Syria?

Russia only gained the support of China, Venezuela and Egypt for its draft resolution.

Angola and Uruguay abstained, while the remaining nine council members voted against.





Egypt was the only Security Council member to vote for both the French and the Russian plans.

It drew criticism from Saudi Arabia and Qatar for its apparent support of Moscows proposal.

Abdullah al-Alami, Saudi Arabias representative for the UN, said on Saturday: It was very painful that Senegal and Malaysia were closer to the Arab consensus on Syria, compared to that of Egypt, which is supposed to be the Arab representative to the Security Council.

The counter-proposal by Russia was a theatrical mess.

Today is a dark day for Syria, but the Syrian people wont give up. They will prevail against the odds.

INSIDE STORY: What has Russia accomplished in Syria?

Qatar, too, expressed disappointment over Egypts vote with Russia, and said it would push ahead with plans to address the humanitarian situation on the ground in Syria.





We were disappointed when Egypt voted for the Russian proposal, Alya bint Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Qatars ambassador to the UN, told Al Jazeera on Saturday.

Its important now to focus on what we can do after the failure of the Security Council  this is the fifth veto by Russia concerning Syria.

We will now work with the countries that are friends with the Syrian people to look at what the options are.

Al Jazeeras Diplomatic Editor James Bays, reporting from the UN headquarters in New York City, said there are only a few diplomatic options left to halt the suffering of the Syrian people.

The International Syria Support Group, all the key international and regional players have got nowhere, he said.

Then there were efforts by the US and Russia. Theyre now not talking to each other. And the last-ditch option was trying to get the Security Council to take a lead  theyve now hit a roadblock.

There is one final initiative led by Security Council member New Zealand that may succeed in securing a ceasefire in Aleppo in the coming days.

New Zealands ambassador Gerard van Bohemen already has its own draft text and hes consulting with other countries to get a last-minute effort to get agreement around the Security Council table.

Decisive land offensive

Meanwhile, on the ground, Syrian government forces have kept up their assault on rebel-held eastern Aleppo on Sunday.

The soldiers and their allies were advancing on Sunday street by street in the eastern sector, which has been out of government hands since 2012.

Clashes on the ground as well as fierce air strikes went on all night and are continuing on Sunday, especially in the Sheikh Said district of eastern Aleppo, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.





It said government forces took control of the Jandul crossroads in the northeast of Aleppo.

The latest advances aim to clear the way for a crucial and decisive land offensive, said the Damascus daily Al Watan, which is close to the government.

The army launched its assault on the besieged sector of Aleppo more than two weeks ago with the backing of Russian air strikes, aiming to reunite the city which was Syrias economic hub before its conflict erupted in 2011.

According to the SOHR, air strikes by the government and its Russian ally have claimed 273 lives, mostly civilians and including 53 children, since the September 22 launch of operations to reunite the government-held west and the east of Aleppo.

Another 17 civilians have died in artillery bombardment of eastern districts, said the monitoring group.

The SOHR, which compiles its information from sources on the ground, said 50 civilians, including nine children, have also died in rebel bombardment of regime-controlled western districts.

READ MORE: Syrias war  John Kerry wants war crimes probe

The assault on Aleppo was launched just days after the collapse of a ceasefire in Syria which was brokered jointly by Russia and the US.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German foreign minister, warned that the mounting tensions between the US and Russia over the Syrian conflict had created a situation more dangerous than the Cold War.

Its a fallacy to think that this is like the Cold War, he said in an interview published by Bild newspaper. The current times are different and more dangerous.
Former leader Saleh urges supporters to get armed and head to Saudi border even as Arab coalition denies role in attack.

Thousands of Yemenis, many of them armed, gathered at the United Nations headquarters in Yemens capital Sanaa demanding for an international investigation into deadly air strikes on a funeral.

Radios and mosque loudspeakers throughout the city played mourning verses on Sunday as demonstrators crowded the streets around the UN headquarters, many waving their rifles in the air and carrying flags and placards.

The protest comes as deposed Yemeni leader Ali Abdullah Saleh called an alliance of his supporters and Houthi fighters to take in reinforcements, and urged them to get armed and head to the border with Saudi Arabia.

Yemeni foreign minister: There is no clean war

The attack that killed at least 140 people on Saturday hit a hall where rows of the citys notables had gathered for the funeral of the father of the Interior Minister of the Houthi groups self-declared government.

The Arab coalition, formed by Saudi Arabia, has denied any role in the incident, believed to be one of the deadliest strikes in the 18-month war in which at least 10,000 people have been killed.

The coalition will immediately investigate this case along with Joint Incidents Assessment Team in Yemen and experts from the United States who participated in previous investigations, it said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.

The attack has been condemned by the UN, the European Union and the US.

Pictures showed the inside of the once ornate hall reduced to a pile of twisted metal and rubble after two huge explosions.

Nada, a high school pupil living near the site said body parts propelled by the explosion flew into her house.

What happened was an unprecedented crime  The sight of it was terrifying and will never leave my mind, she said.

The coalition has launched thousands of air strikes against the Shia Houthis, who Saudi and its Arab Gulf allies fear are a proxy for Iran.





In another sign that the attack may escalate already raging regional tensions, Irans main ally in the Arab world commiserated with the Houthis and condemned Saudi Arabia.

I say to [Yemens] people: you will ultimately triumph, Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the armed Lebanese group Hezbollah, said on Saturday.

Your noble revolutionary blood will triumph over the sword of those blood-thirsty savages.

In an interview with Al Jazeera before the deadly incident on Saturday, Abdulmalik al-Mekhlafi, foreign minister of the exiled Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, blamed the violent standoff on the Houthis and former leader Saleh.

The problem is not on our side. Its on the other side, he said.

Now, the international community has to force the Houthis to accept peace. Otherwise, the government will proceed militarily with its plans to subdue them.
At least 18 people, including eight civilians, killed in PKK bombing in countrys southeast, PM Binali Yildirim says.

A car bomb attack on a military station has killed at least 18 people in the Hakkari province of southeast Turkey, according to Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.

Yildirim announced the death toll of ten soldiers and eight civilians during a news conference in Istanbul and condemned the attack.

For the stability of our country, we will continue doing everything we can to save our homeland and our nation from the forces of terrorism, he said.

INTERACTIVE: Timeline of attacks in Turkey

Cuneyt Orhan Toprak, the governor of Hakkari province, told private news channel NTV that 27 others were wounded in the attack. They were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.





Eleven of them were soldiers, the Turkish military said.

Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency, citing a statement by the Turkish army, said the attack occurred at 9:45am outside a gendarmerie checkpoint on the Semdinli-Yuksekova highway and was the work of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

The PKK is designated as a terror group by Turkey, the EU and the US.

PKK fighters are active in the mountainous area near the border with Iraq and Iran in Hakkari.

Toprak said the attackers first opened fire on the soldiers at the five tonnes of explosives and detonating them.

The explosion produced a crater 15 metres wide and seven metres deep. An infantry station behind the checkpoint also suffered heavy damage.

Turkish authorities imposed a temporary blackout on coverage of the attack, citing public order and national security reasons.

Authorities on alert

Turkey has been rocked by a series of bomb attacks since last summer that have killed hundreds of people and been blamed on either the PKK or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL, also known as ISIS).

Authorities were on high alert for possible attacks on Sunday in particular, which marked 18 years to the day since PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan fled Syria before being captured by Turkish special forces in February the following year.

He has since been in prison on an island near Istanbul.





On Saturday, a man and a woman who authorities suspect were PKK fighters preparing a car bomb attack detonated explosives and killed themselves near the capital Ankara in a standoff with police.

Separately, eight PKK fighters and four civilians were also killed on Saturday by gunfire from an armoured police vehicle in the town of Yuksekova near the Iranian border.

On Thursday, a bomb attack near a police station in Istanbul wounded 10 people. The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), a PKK offshoot, claimed responsibility for that blast.

Fighting between the PKK and state security forces resumed last year after the collapse of a fragile two-and-a-half-year ceasefire.

Since then, more than 600 Turkish security personnel and thousands of PKK fighters have been killed, according to Anadolu.
Alliance says it is ready to investigate with the US attack that killed at least 140 and injured more than 500.

The Arab coalition fighting rebels in Yemen says it will investigate an attack on a funeral ceremony in the capital, Sanaa, that killed at least 140 people and wounded more than 500.

The alliance, which is made up of Saudi Arabia and other Arab states battling Houthi rebels, said that its troops have clear instructions not to target populated areas, and that it was ready to launch a probe with the United States into Saturdays regrettable and painful attack.

The coalition will immediately investigate this case along with Joint Incidents Assessment Team in Yemen and experts from the United States who participated in previous investigations, it said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.

The alliances statement came after the US said on Saturday it would review its support for the Arab coalition in Yemen.

Funeral ceremony

The death toll was one of the largest in any single incident since the Arab alliance began military operations to try to restore President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power following his ousting by the Houthis in March 2015.

Eyewitnesses said four air strikes targeted a reception at the grand hall of ceremonies in Sanaa, where hundreds of mourners, including military and intelligence officials, had gathered to take part in a funeral ceremony for the father of Brigadier Jalal al-Ruweishan, interior minister in the self-proclaimed Houthi government.

Rweishan had sided with the Houthi movement when President Hadi fled Yemen after the Houthis advanced on his headquarters in the southern port city of Aden in March 2015.

READ MORE: More than 3,000 Saudi strikes on Yemen hit civilian areas





Hakim al-Masmari, the editor of the Yemen Post, told Al Jazeera that Sanaas mayor, Abdul-Qadir Hilal, was confirmed killed, but the fate of Ruweishan and other senior Houthi officials remained unclear.

I watched the air strikes, which took place barely 1.5km from my house. They first used a normal missile which pierced the roof. The second was an incendiary missile, burning the whole inside of the hall, Haykal Bafana, a Yemeni analyst based in Sanaa, said.

The third was a missile on first responders, Bafana added.

Civil war

Eric Jeunot, head of mission at Doctors without Borders (MSF), told Al Jazeera that the medical charity was dealing with hundreds of wounded patients in the wake of the attack.

Most of the patients are suffering from burns and shrapnel injuries. Most of them require surgery and many are in a critical situation.

Stephen OBrien, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said he was horrified and extremely disturbed by the attack and called for a prompt and impartial probe.

This horrendous and heinous attack displayed an utter disregard for human life, OBrien said.

I call on all parties to protect civilians and stop using explosive weapons or conducting aerial bombardments in civilian-populated places in Yemen. Surely enough is enough, he added.

READ MORE: On women and war in Yemen

The Arab coalition has been providing air support for Hadis forces in a civil war that has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced more than three million.

The alliance has been blamed for several attacks on medical centres, including some run by international aid group MSF, schools, factories and homes in the past 18 months, which have killed scores of civilians.

In August, MSF said it was evacuating its staff from six hospitals in northern Yemen after a coalition air strike hit a health facility operated by the group, killing 19 people.

However, in recent months, the alliance has come under increasing international scrutiny over civilian deaths.

In August, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), one of handful of international aid groups operating on the ground in Yemen, evacuated its staff from the north of the country after a coalition air strike hit a health facility operated by the group, killing 19 people.

The coalition, which says it does not target civilians, has expressed deep regret over the decision and said it was trying to set up urgent meetings with the medical aid group.

Last month, a report by the Yemen Data Project, a group of security and human rights researchers, found that more than a third of air strikes hit civilian sites including schools, hospitals and mosques.

Out of the more than 8,600 air raids examined, the report found that 3,577 were listed as hitting military sites and 3,158 non-military, while 1,882 strikes were classified as unknown.
           2005     ..        
Wilo Middle East FZE , the leading pump manufacturer Headquartered in Germany, partook in the 18th Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) held in Dubai during 46 October 2016 under the theme At the Forefront of Sustainability.' This marks the fourth consecutive participation of Wilo in this exhibition which is the largest platform gathering investors and decision makers from energy, water and environment sectors.

The participation of Wilo Middle East FZE, the Middle Eastern regional platform of Wilo SE, covered all applications displaying different types of pumps used in heating, air-conditioning and cooling, water supply, drainage and sewage and industrial processes.

With its fourth participation in WETEX since 2013; Wilo Middle East FZE renews its confidence in this prestigious event, commented Bishara Khalil, Managing Director of Wilo Middle East FZE. ...



Source : http://me-newswire.net//news/18819/en...
October 10th will mark the 14th World Day Against Death Penalty, where people around the world will rally to support the abolition of executions. While we have reason to celebrate progress in seeing more countries abolish the death penalty in 2015, with 169 of the 193 member states of the UN having been execution-free in the past year, we also need to raise awareness and alarm in regions and countries where the state of human rights and the application of capital punishment has continued to deteriorate.

One of the countries of concern is Iran, where the ruling regime has executed more than 1,000 people in the past year. Less than a week ago, the Iranian regime sent 27 people to the gallows in the span of three days, more than the yearly figures of most countries that still exercise capital punishment. Elsewhere, a young woman is waiting to join the long list of juvenile offenders executed by the Iranian regime. And a lot more is happening discreetly.

A 38-year history has proven that execution, torture, repression and the brutal violation of human rights are indispensable and vital elements of the domestic policy of the clerical regime ruling Iran, and are key to its survival and its continued hold on power in the country.

A stark example is the 1988 summer massacre, where the Iranian regime purged its prisons of opposition members and executed more than 30 thousand political prisoners in the span of a few months in order to restore the depleting morale of its commanders and rank-and-file. The massacre was ordered by Khomeini, the founder and then-supreme leader of the Iranian regime, in a fatwa which dictated every opposition member to be executed unless they repent from their ideals for freedom and democracy.

For the most part, the victims were members and supporters of People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), the main opposition group that is vying for the establishment of a free, democratic, and secular government in Iran. The PMOI has had a pivotal role in exposing the Iranian regime illicit nuclear program and its terrorist venturing in the Middle East region.

During the 1988 massacre, a group of four clerics, which later became known as the "Death Committee," circulated through prisons and sealed the fate of prisoners in short, minutes-length trials. Many of the victims were executed merely because they had attended rallies or distributed newspapers belonging to the PMOI. No one was spared.

In an audio recording that was published for the first time after 28 years, the late Ayatollah Montazeri, who served as Khomeini's deputy at the time, condemned the executions as "the biggest crime in the history of the Islamic Republic." Montazeri was later deposed from his position because of his disagreements with Khomeini.

The 1988 massacre is an outlook into the real nature of the religious fascism ruling Iran, a nature that will remain regardless of the faces that fill the regime's showcase of high-level officials.

Sadly, the UN and the international community has done little to shed light on and punish this crime against humanity that is compared to the Srebrenica genocide. What's more, the perpetrators of this atrocity continue to hold positions of power in Iran and continue their crimes with impunity. Mostafa Pourmohammadi, one of the leading members of the notorious Death Committee, now serves as justice minister in the administration of Hassan Rouhani, who is ironically touted by the West as a "moderate" figure in the Iranian regime.

Current efforts being made to renew ties with Iran and reintegrate the Iranian regime into the international community after years of isolation and animosity will only result in the ruling mullahs becoming more brazen in their crimes against the Iranian people.

An international campaign is now gaining traction to hold the Iranian regime accountable for the brutal massacre and persecution of political dissidents, and the movement is garnering increasing support from politicians and activists across the world, including in the U.S. Congress. A resolution introduced to the House of Representatives on September 21 by Homeland Security committee chair Mike McCaul called for the condemnation of the Iranian regime for massacre of political prisoners in 1988 and justice for the families of the victims.

The U.S., UN, and the international community can play a more prominent role in this regard.

This underlines the need to stay true to the fundamental values that have been earned and bled for over decades and centuries of human history. Crimes against humanity such as the 1988 massacre and the continued violation of human rights in Iran should not be forgotten or overlooked for the sake of political and economic benefits. The perpetrators must be held accountable and any relations with the Iranian regime must be predicated on the improvement of human rights conditions in Iran.

So while we get ready to celebrate and commemorate the efforts made to abolish the death penalty, we must also remember that there is still a lot that needs to be done.
So, does anyone remember why the United States is an independent country of fifty united states and not a colony (or colonies) of the British Empire?

On July 4, 1776, a group of freedom-seeking and freedom-loving men put in writing a list of grievances against a tyrannical king. They stated the reasons that they, representing the thirteen individual colonies or states, had come to this momentous decision. The document was called the Declaration of Independence. They concluded it by pledging to each other in support of this declaration "our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." Many of them paid dearly for this commitment.

For a moment, let's review some of these grievances and consider whether much has changed. For the purposes of this review, let references to the "King" be replaced by any or all of the following:

The Office of the President of the United States, his administrations and any agencies or departments created by and/or under his control (examples: Department of Justice, Environmental Protection Agency, Internal Revenue Service)

The Congress of the United States

The Supreme Court of the United States and federal courts at all levels

From the Declaration of Independence, here are a few selected grievances given as reasons for declaring independence from Great Britain, in each case followed by current comparison and analysis.

Grievance #1:

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

In recent years, various entities of our federal government have ignored, circumvented, and slow-walked federal laws and overturned state laws. A very few of the many examples include:

Overturning Arizona's attempt to enforce existing federal immigration law

Overturning the vote of the people of California on Proposition 8 concerning same-sex marriage

Opening our southern border to illegal immigration and ordering Border Patrol and ICE to ignore the law

IRS refusal to process tax-exemption applications for conservative groups in a timely fashion

Failure of the State Department to follow security procedures and refusal to comply with investigations of these failures

Presidential decrees concerning bathroom facilities

While the court cases have gone through the established processes, it can be argued that the decisions often come down to the political leanings of appointed federal judges. For the other examples, the only way to describe much of what has been occurring is unadulterated lawlessness. And for the last eight years, there has been virtually no accountability, only hearings, cover-ups, dissimulation, deceit, and everyone walks away scot-free to continue doing the same things.

Grievance #7:

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

We now have the opposite problem. The president, for a variety of reasons, many unstated but implicit in his actions, has opened our country to illegal immigration. Illegal because his plans are not in compliance with immigration laws. He has ordered immigration enforcement agencies to ignore their duties. We also know that federal jobs were posted for workers to handle unaccompanied minors coming from Latin American countries in January 2014, so some of this was apparently planned beforehand. Given Mexico's very strict immigration policy, how are all these illegals traversing Mexico to our border?

This policy has produced numerous detrimental effects on states and communities receiving these illegal immigrants:

Lack of assimilation (which is a planned outcome)

Language requirements in schools, businesses and government agencies for non-assimilated peoples

Lack of adequate funding to handle the influx

Impact on existing housing, education, medical, law-enforcement and other infrastructure

Impact to communities from inadequate screening of illegal aliens (disease, gangs, terrorism ties, political dissension and lack of allegiance to the U.S.)

Apparent arbitrary relocation of aliens to communities across the country

No review of immigrants ability to contribute and be productive citizens; so far, the majority are observed to be gaining immediate access to government programs

A Democratic president, if elected in November, plans to turbocharge this policy.

Grievance #10:

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

There is no better way to describe the current acutely ponderous bureaucratic mess which is our federal government. A recent candidate for president proposed doing away with the IRS, four cabinet departments, and 25 agencies, bureaus, commissions, and programs. This would be a good beginning. The taxpayer money consumed by our federal government to little effect is staggering. And the debt continues to grow with no end to spending in sight. Would you intentionally leave your children and grandchildren with an enormous debt that they will never be able to pay? That's what your government is doing.

Grievance #16:

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

While the president is certainly not bringing large armies of foreign mercenaries into the country, the decision to practically open our southern border has the potential to create the same effect. FBI documents which were not publicly released but leaked and then published by Breitbart reveal that from July 2015 to July 2016 there were 7712 "known or suspected terrorist encounters" in the U.S., the majority in Texas, Arizona, and California. This is only the number that were encountered. There is no way to know how many others got through undetected in recent years and are living among us. Why does the government believe this information is not important enough reveal to the public?

Grievance #18:

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

While they cannot be classified as "insurrections", protests, riots, assaults, burning and destruction of property have become the norm in the last eight years. This response can be attributed to how the president and his law-enforcement administration and the news media have spun every incident of a black person being killed by police as unjustified. The rush to judgement in each case and refusal to wait for facts has served to drive a wedge of scorn, fear, and resentment between black citizens and the police. This deceitful, insidious portrayal by our leaders has had the effect of depicting these incidents as the modern equivalent of lynching. Race relations have suffered tremendously. The progress gained over the last few decades seems to have been lost and, most unfortunately, deliberately so.

In conclusion, there were other grievances which could have been selected as well. The Founders determined that these reasons were entirely sufficient for the thirteen united states to take the step of separation from Great Britain and rebellion against the King. As stated in the final paragraph of that founding document, we see that the independent states were united in purpose and hoping to accomplish something truly great for their citizens in this newly declared independence:

"We... do... solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do."

The purpose of this analysis is not to propose that it is time for rebellion. But are the fifty states actually independent states as originally noted in the Declaration? After watching all that has been going on to the harm of our states and our union as a result of the policies of, decisions by, actions and lack of action on the part of our federal government, perhaps it is time for free and independent states to take a larger hand in the destiny of this land that we love.
We long-time New Yorkers know well Donald Trumps brand of conservatism. It is rooted in the working class districts of New York City outside the wealthy avenues of Manhattan. We also know that Trump cant win unless he heeds the experience of Rudy Giuliani, who turned middle-class anger into Republican election victory in liberal New York City 23 years ago.

Trumps base is the middle class/working class district of Queens, New York, outside the wealthier Manhattan centers of power. Queens is a bastion of the Democratic, and yet very conservative, families who go to Mass on Sunday and vote Democratic on Tuesday. They are conservative in a way we New Yorkers understand conservatism: valuing work, thrift, family, the local priest, and country. Queens loved Mario Procacino, a Democrat machine politician of the 1960s who mocked the East Side of Manhattan calling them limousine liberals. Nationally, Queens became famous in 1971 as the home to the sitcom All in the Family, featuring Carol OConnor as a Queens working-class dad with gruff, New York style conservative values.

In this 2016 election, Trump has galvanized his All in the Family: voters. They are at his rallies, give him a solid 40% in national polls, and have him leading is beaten-up states like Ohio. But these All-in-the-Family voters are alien to the intellectual elite of the Republican Party, the partys wealthy establishment, and its core suburban homeowning voter. That makes hit hard for Trump to get the remaining voters he needs to win a national election. But there is a way.

Trump has a role model standing right next to him at his rallies: former New York city Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani crossed the political lines of New York. Personally, he was from an Italian middle-class family -- the same core as Trump and Queens. But professionally, he was a lawyer at Rockefeller law firm Patterson, Belknap & Web that was tightly connected to the New York State Republican establishment. In his first try at New York City politics, Rudy Giuliani lost the mayoralty election to Harlem Clubhouse chief David Dinkins -- but Giuliani carried Queens by almost 50%! This was the part of the conservative, if not classically Republican, coalition that Trump already has.

In his next mayoral race, Giuliani pulled together the winning coalition. In his 1993 victory, Giuliani won the wealthy of Manhattans East Side, including establishment Republicans long comfortable with Rockefeller and former Mayor John V. Lindsay. And Giuliani won the Staten Island district that is a suburb set within the borders of greater New York City. And finally, Giuliani totally swept middle-class Queens, the home of All in the Family, with 63% of the vote there!

So there, in the 1993 Giuliani victory, we can see the coalition Trump needs to assemble nationwide. He already has the conservative middle-class rebellion vote. But he needs now the suburban Republicans and the wealthy business Republicans who voted for Giuliani, but to date have not embraced Trump. And Trump has not embraced them, as Giuliani did.

We New Yorkers fondly remember the Giuliani of that 1993 election. Rudy was firm, but not angry. His platform, like his administration to come, focused on cleaning the streets of crime and beggars, making New York a safe place to walk and take the subway. He projected a quiet but firm government do its job attitude that appealed to the productive part of the city. Rudy didnt carry the Bronx or Brooklyn, where too much of the population was dependent on government. But he did carry all the classes, and all the districts, of successful New York. So a Conservative Republican became mayor in this liberal city.

It is no wonder that Rudy Giuliani is campaigning so hard and devotedly for Donald Trump. Giuliani knows that he was elected mayor of New York, a Democrat Party town, by the Trumpians of Queens, together with the more traditionally Republican voters from conservative suburban and wealthy upper-class districts. And Giuliani also knows what the national Republican Party is just now finding out: Trump of Queens can put together a conservative coalition, but one that looks different from Kevin Phillips Southern Strategy coalition that has defined the national Republican Party since 1968.

Trump can do it. But he needs to learn from Giuliani. Trump is right that angry working and middle-class voters bring millions of new voters to the Republican Party. But Giuliani knows that these conservative families are not enough. Trump needs to appeal to the suburbs and traditionally conservative upper class. Trump has not yet done so. Well see if he learns from Giuliani in time.
How many times we have heard that actions speak louder than words? The term is a well-known cultural phrase and platitude that gives higher importance to action over talk.

I am not defending Donald Trump for his words; I am simply stating the obvious. Donald Trump has been in the public eye almost all of his life. He has made many embarrassing statements in his time in the public arena. There is nothing new here, either in the original Access Hollywood video or the apologetic video he recorded last night.

The same argument can be made for the Hillary speech dump. Trump will have to live with everything that has been disclosed (good, bad, and ugly), just as Clinton has had to do.

Donald Trump said, "I've never said I'm a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone that I'm not." Honestly, we all knew who Donald Trump was before he entered the race.

Macho male locker room talk is not illegal or criminal. Trump is known to be an occasionally boorish man in private. Hillary and her husband have been unindicted criminals for forty years. Locker room talk, as much as it is distasteful, doesn't kill people.

I agree that actions speak louder than words. It has been reported that Hillary got the rapist of a 12-year-old girl off and then gloated about it. So here's the difference: Donald Trump has said awful things, but Hillary has done awful things. I think what is more important in this election are jobs, the economy, national security, illegal immigration and open borders, the last of which Mrs. Clinton willingly advocates.

Let me disillusion some people. Trump is not Jesus Christ. He is not a flawless man. He is a wheeler-dealer turned politician. People of this land have a choice of a sort: Hillary or Trump. Some say it is no choice. Well, they can complain all they want to, but nothing will change. Once again, it is decision time. We do well to recognize that short-sighted people with short memories are prone to make terrible choices, even when they have the best of intentions.

The foremost topic on the mind of American voters is how to make America safe again. Some believe that the Democrats can indeed be the answer. Unfortunately, their answer most likely will be disastrous.

Faced with a ruthless enemy bent on your destruction, you either stand and fight or cut and run hoping that the enemy will not pursue you to your grave. For the past 8 years, the policies of Obama and Clinton have been one failure after another. The list of failures for this loser team is indeed long and glaring.

Here is partial list of Hillary Clinton's dirty laundry. Of the two candidates running for president...

Only Hillary Clinton was caught lying to Congress.

Only Hillary Clinton got the rapist of a teenage girl off on rape charges then laughed about it.

Only Hillary Clinton lied to the American people about Benghazi.

Only Hillary Clinton lied to the American people about her emails.

Only Hillary Clinton lied about being under sniper fire.

Only Hillary Clinton was involved in "Cash Cow."

Only Hillary Clinton has a long list of scandals.

Only Hillary Clinton nationally belittled her husband's sexual harassment and rape accusers.

Only Hillary Clinton is a career politician.

Only Hillary Clinton will not release her speeches to Goldman Sachs and other banks.

Only Hillary Clinton is tied to Monsanto.

Only Hillary Clinton was labeled "extremely careless" about national security by the FBI.

Only Hillary Clinton said she will raise taxes on the middle class.

Only Hillary Clinton benefited from the DNC rigging an election.

Only Hillary Clinton had to return stolen items from the White House.

Only Hillary Clinton said the Benghazi victims' parents were lying.

Only Hillary Clinton wants you to vote for her based on her gender.

Only Hillary Clinton has no real accomplishments after a lifetime in politics.

Only Hillary Clinton has never created any jobs.

Only Hillary Clinton has been investigated by the FBI and found to have put national security at risk.

Only Hillary Clinton has had two or more movies and several documentaries made about her questionable ethics.

Only Hillary Clinton was called "Broomstick One" by the Secret Service.

Only Hillary Clinton made Congress and others spend millions and millions of tax dollars having hearings and investigating her to find that she lied, that would not have been spent if she would have simply told the truth in the first place.

Only Hillary Clinton has called half of the America people "deplorables" and "irredeemable."

Only Hillary Clinton has regularly cussed out and belittled her Secret Service detail.

Only Hillary Clinton, only Hillary Clinton, only Hillary Clinton over and over again. Perhaps Trump can use some of these talking points on the next debate.

Folks, this election is not about Donald Trump. This election is not about his debate performances or even what he says. This election is about the future of America. It is about the survival of America. Mrs. Clinton has made a career out of corruption and crime and has been breaking the law since her work on the Watergate committee. Everyone knows that.

American voters will have a choice to make in November  between change and the status quo.
Note: If you are offended by vulgar language, do not read this.

- Just get that [F-ing dog] out of my way, said to Secret Service K-9 handler.

- Where is the God damn flag? I want the God damn fucking flag up every morning at fucking sunrise. Hillary to staff at the Arkansas Governors mansion on Labor Day 1991. From the book Inside the White House by Ronald Kessler, p. 244

- Fuck off! Its enough I have to see you shit-kickers every day! Im not going to talk to you, too! Just do your Goddamn job and keep your mouth shut. Hillary to her State Trooper bodyguards after one of them greeted her with Good Morning. From the book America Evita by Christopher Anderson, p.90

- If you want to remain on this detail, get your fucking ass over here and grab those bags! Hillary to a Secret Service Agent who was reluctant to carry her luggage because he wanted to keep his hands free in case of an incident. From the book The First Partner p. 25

- Stay the fuck back, stay the fuck back away from me! Dont come within ten yards of me, or else! Just fucking do as I say, Okay!!? Hillary screaming at her Secret Service detail. From the book Unlimited Access by Clinton s FBI Agent-in-Charge, Gary Aldridge, p.139

- Wheres the miserable cock sucker? (otherwise known as Bill Clinton) Hillary shouting at a Secret Service officer. From the book The Truth about Hillary by Edward Klein, p. 5

- You fucking idiot Hillary to a State Trooper who was driving her to an event. From the book Crossfire ~pg. 84

- Put this on the ground! I left my sunglasses in the limo. I need those fucking sunglasses! We need to go back! Hillary to Marine One helicopter pilot to turn back while in route to Air Force One. From the book  Dereliction of Duty p. 71-72

- Come on Bill, put your dick up! You cant fuck her here!! Hillary to Gov. Bill Clinton when she spots him talking with an attractive female. From the book Inside the White House by Ronald Kessler, p. 243

See: http://truthfeed.com/8-actual-hillary-quotes/8825/
Would that we had the luxury to debate Donald Trumps locker room banter from years ago. But we dont.

The ship called America is going down. Anyone who thinks there is a nanosecond of time to chit-chat about crude remarks made by a presidential candidate is a fool who doesnt grasp that were on a sinking ship.

Hillary Clinton has made threatening remarks and decisions that cost people their lives and weakened the safety and security of this nation. Donald Trump has never, through action or inaction, caused the death of another person or done anything that put America in harms way.

Perhaps Clintons actions seem abstract to some of people. As if her callous attitude toward the life of a diplomat and three others overseas in some far-flung country has little to do with them. Maybe the Middle East seems a safe distance away so her hand in setting it on fire by shoving our allies aside so our enemies could rise doesnt impact them. Or that something related to email couldnt possibly be all that dangerous.

But its all very dangerous and deadly. For those that dont appreciate the gravity of it, lets explore a bit of how this evil-in-a-pantsuit might hit a little closer to home.

She wants to make America look like Eurabia. Her desire to import record numbers of refugees will put cities and towns across the United States under siege as people from Islamic hellholes arrive with their Qurans in tow (not to mention a zillion kids with more on the way). This demographic will include Muslim males who have a proven track record of being rapists, as Islam continues its march, seeking to colonize every nook and cranny of this land.

And if the idea of generalizing about a group of people is offensive to some folks (most likely the same people chit-chatting on the sinking ship), one must ask why the rapes themselves do not offend. Outrage. Disgust. Terrify. And galvanize to make sure we keep such people out lest we, our mothers, wives, and daughters become their next victims. For the uninformed or intentionally misleading, look to Europe for proof, then lets talk.

Another closer-to-home bit of evidence of the evil that is Hillary Clinton arrived this summer when she threatened the freedom and the future of tens of millions of Americans when she promised to beat us so badly that our kind would never rise again. You might think she was just talking about the upcoming presidential election. If so youd be deluding yourself. Clinton spoke like a true totalitarian. She means to destroy us, and not just at the ballot box.

Her promise to make sure our kind never rise again  stated during her deplorables, irredeemable, not America comments  was more chilling than any of the other words combined. And as long as were mentioning these words, she also referred to us as a different breed. She thus rendered us inhuman, which enabled her to propose the unthinkable.

What does it mean to make sure the likes of you and me never rise again and how would Clinton and the left make that happen? What comes to mind is terrifying to consider, but consider it we must because Hillary Clinton has promised to permanently destroy us.

Yet America is now distracted by crude mens locker room comments made by Donald Trump several years ago. The end of America is in view just up ahead on the horizon. We havent the luxury for outrage about petty things. Our nation is morphing into a fascist vision of One World Order. Accordingly, life will become misery.

Which candidate is keen to inflict such misery upon us? If you are unsure about how to vote, the answer to that should be your guide.

Put another way, see here, here, and here.
Why did senior Clinton campaign officials order their dirty tricks team to release the Trump tape this past Friday instead of the Friday before Election Day?

Dr. Lifson answers:

The leak of an old hot mic recording of a private conversation between a TV host and Trump probably was originally scheduled for the Friday before Election Day. But the Wikileaks revelations about Hillary could not be allowed to dominate the weekend pre-debate chatter.

An alternative explanation: The Clinton campaign believes that waiting to release the tape until the Friday before Election Day would be too late. The campaign believes that Trump stands a good chance of winning the remaining two debates, would build tremendous momentum, and would be virtually unstoppable. Releasing the tape so late would also smack of desperation and might be counterproductive, encouraging Trump supporters to turn out in even greater numbers.

The Clinton campaign calculated that releasing the tape a month ahead of time would have several advantages:

Early voting is getting under way. Now is the time to hit Trump and persuade early voters to give up on him before he can recover.

MSM toadies will need more than a couple of days to spring into collective action and inflict maximum and possibly lasting damage on Trump.

Republicans who have opposed Trump all along need time to coalesce into a movement that would apply pressure on Trump to quit the race.

The day before the Trump tape was released, Florida governor Rick Scott announced that the state's voting registration deadline will remain this coming Tuesday, October 11. Scott told reporters in Tallahassee:

Everybody has had a lot of time to register. So, on top of that, you know, we've got a lot of opportunities to vote, early voting, absentee voting and Election Day. I don't intend to make any changes.

The Clinton campaign had called for Governor Scott to extend the Oct. 11 voter registration deadline as the storm closed in. Scott's refusal evidently affected the decision to release the Trump tape much earlier than planned.

The usual MSM suspects are having a great time beating the drums against Trump, kicking up as much dust as possible over an essentially silly faux pas. This includes Megyn Kelly, who hates Trump, and others such as Chris Stirewalt and Howie Kurtz. On the Friday Factor, the allegedly independent Bill O'Reilly sat like a bump on a log and let Clinton stand-in Geraldo Rivera gloat over Trump's predicament.

Several prominent Republicans are deserting Trump, citing the tape as their reason. This is merely a flimsy excuse. The Republican establishment has tried its best to prevent the Trump nomination and has been working since the convention to undermine his campaign. The tape has handed Republican NeverTrumps the opportunity to climb a moral high horse and pontificate on the ethical consequences of locker-room banter, which are nonexistent. Having taught theoretical and applied ethics at the college level, I can state categorically that Trump's comments are in the noise on a moral seriousness scale. Bill and Hillary Clinton's actions are way, way up on the scale.

As to the rationale behind my title, I direct the reader to Jay Michaels's excellent blog post. The Clinton campaign has realized that Hillary is quickly running out of gas for a variety of medical reasons, very serious in their totality. The town hall format for Sunday's debate is likely to tire her out, especially if Trump becomes physically active by walking around energetically, thereby proving she lacks the stamina to do likewise. The symptoms of her various illnesses are likely to become evident under physical stress that may well spill over into the final debate on the 19th. A collapse is not out of the question.

Republicans need to remember that history is full of examples of what happens when battlefield commanders overreact at the first sign of trouble and make stupid decisions. Now is the time to rally around Trump and realize that the tape is just a move on the chessboard, made by their common enemy seeking to undermine morale and sow dissent in the ranks. Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz must reconsider his decision to abandon Trump. House Speaker Paul Ryan must reschedule his meeting with Trump.

Come on, guys. You're being played.
The difference between leftists and Republicans is the cause vs. the person, and this week is a singularly most poignant example. Leftists are 100% for the cause, and no matter what their actors do, they will never abandon them if they support and advance the cause.

Republicans are every man for himself all the time.

Bill Clinton has years of rape, groping, and sexual harassment incidents with credible victims lining up and the Democratic Party stands behind him saying everyone lies about sex. Hillary attacks the victimized women and threatens them, but okay, that was a long time ago. Nobody cares. The womens vote is going Hillary.

Bill Clinton is disbarred for lying under oath while president, and nobody much cares. He remains a dominant figure in the Democratic circles. People pay him millions of dollars to make speeches.

Ted Kennedy leaves a woman to drown in a car after his drunkenness put the car in a pond, and the party reveres him as a lion of the Senate. We can add JFK to the mix. In every case, women were debased and abused, and the press covered it up and when it did come out, nobody cared.

Then Trump gets caught making the type of comment, regrettably we might expect him to have made -- 11 years ago, and the Republicans are awash in fake indignation.

Rubio, Fiorina, Ryan and scores of others attack him or want him to drop off the ticket, delivering certain victory to Hillary Clinton.

See the difference here? What if the voice had been Bill Clintons? The media would have covered most of it up; the tape would probably never be found in the first place. If it did come out, not a single Democratic politician or talking head would demand he get off the ticket. Why?

Because the cause of bigger government, the elite state, is so overriding a goal that any politician who will espouse it, no matter how flawed, will have the support of the Left and its state-owned media.

The Republican Party does not have a cause. The closest thing Republicans have to a cause is getting elected, going along with the Democrats, funding the ever-growing welfare state, funding ObamaCare because they fear a government shutdown.

Republicans like Ryan and McConnell are weeks away from lining up to see who will reach out to Hillary after she gets elected to further the disaster brought on by Obama. They are the bipartisan adults in the room. To the Leftists, they are the useful idiots of Lenin.

Trump is the phenomenon he remains, flawed as he is personally, because millions of Americans do have a cause. It is to stop illegal immigration, stop the massive regulations killing small business, getting out of the Obamacare scam that has raised many families health care costs $4,500 a year or more. These Americans have a cause and Trump is the only game in town who can help them achieve the saving of the country they were given at birth.

For the first time in a generation, there is a competitive cause to the ever growing Leftist, elite state. Trump may not make it, but he coalesced a cause that will grow to immense proportions if a Hillary is elected and we have years of other shoes dropping -- scandals, fresh emails, Clinton escapades.

If this week has shown us anything, it further unmasked who is for the cause and who is for every man for himself.
Donald Trump should not withdraw from the race because that will ensure a victory for Hillary and the destruction of the national Republican Party. If Trump is forced out by the MSM and the Republicans, such as McCain, Bush, Romney, Kasich, Fiorina, and others who have either called for his withdrawal or said they will not vote for Trump, the Republican Party will be badly divided. This will help the Democrats for years. Trump ran as outsider against the establishment. If he is forced out, it will be seen by many of his supporters as a coup by the MSM aided by the party establishment.

If these Republicans do not want to vote for Trump, then don't vote for Trump, but stop the attacks on Trump because they only help Hillary win. This is reminiscent of 1964, when Nelson Rockefeller, George Romney, William Scranton, and other moderate to liberal Republican refused to support Goldwater. This contributed to the LBJ landslide.

Donald Trump told the Washington Post that he will not withdraw from the race.

The MSM is having a field day attacking Trump over his crude remarks for which he has apologized. The MSM believe that they can drive Trump out of the race, just as they drove Nixon to resign. With Nixon, the so-called smoking gun was that Nixon was on tape suggesting that the CIA tell the FBI to back off its investigation for security reasons, even though the CIA was never instructed to tell the FBI to back off. Too bad Nixon did not have a Comey running the FBI. Now, with Trump, the MSM, aided by the Democrats and the usual suspect Republicans, want Trump to withdraw for crude locker room talk.

The MSM have ignored the Wikileaks emails where Hillary advocates for open borders and open trade in the Western Hemisphere, which should be the issue discussed. Open borders will the end of the USA. Anyone could enter our country, resulting in terrorists entering, and the mass immigration will bankrupt the public school system, the welfare system, and our health care system. But instead of discussing this radical concept, the MSM had dredged Mitt Romney, Mark Kirk, Jeff Flake, and others who never supported Trump who call for Trump to withdraw. McCain, Fiorina, Kasich, Bush, and others who had their battles with Trump have jumped in. McCain had "conditionally" endorsed Trump, but the others had not.

The MSM have declared a national emergency because of Trump's remarks. They ignore the conduct of Hillary and Bill to focus on the words of Trump. Yet if we are to judge one by words, where was the national outcry when John Kerry attacked and falsely accused the American military for acting like terrorists in Iraq, and like Genghis Khan in Vietnam?

When Bill Clinton faced impeachment for lying and obstruction of justice amid the overwhelming evidence of sexual harassment of Paula Jones, where he exposed himself and paid $900,000 for it; the sexual assault on Kathleen Willey; the abuse with a cigar of a young intern, Monica Lewinsky; and the rape of Juanita Broaddrick, all the Democrats circled the wagon to defend Bill. Hillary hired investigators to dig up dirt to smear the female victims. And Arlen Specter discovered Scottish law.

The Washington Post releases an 11-year-old conversation between Trump and Billy Bush on the day that Wikileaks releases Hillary's damaging speeches and emails. The Post then leads with stories for Trump to withdraw from the race. This is the MSM helping Hillary to deflect from Hillary's speeches and emails.

The Post must be thinking of Watergate when it led the charge to force Nixon to resign. Trump should not and will not withdraw, he will fight to win. Why hand the election to Hillary?

The bottom line is that Trump made crude and offensive remarks. But the choice remains Trump or Hillary. None of the Republicans attacking Trump say that Hillary would be a better president for our country. Our country cannot afford Hillary, with her open borders, open trade, higher tax rates, continuation of Obamacare, and four more Kagans on the Supreme Court.

What is more important in the long run: that we feel better about ourselves to punish Trump for his remarks and thereby elect Hillary or that we elect Trump because he is right on the issues and Hillary will be a disaster for our country?
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 recall has been going quite smoothly, with the majority of the affected devices having been replaced by Samsung. As the whole fiasco started to simmer down, a report regarding a reportedly new and safe Galaxy Note 7 bursting into flames on Southwest Airlines flight 994 at the Louisville airport emerged earlier this week. However, it wasnt an isolated case as a similar incident was reported in Taiwan where a lady had her replacement Galaxy Note 7 in her back pocket and it started smoking. Fortunately, no one was injured in both cases, and minimal damage was done to property.

While the individuals in the aforementioned cases were lucky enough to only suffer the loss of their device, Michael Klering from Nicholasville in Kentucky was not. Around 4 am on Tuesday, Klering and his wife was woken up by a hissing sound in their bedroom and when he opened his eyes, he saw his bedroom was filled with smoke. Klering then looked over and saw his Galaxy Note 7 on fire, and at the time of the fire, the device was not being charged. The Galaxy Note 7 in question was a replacement unit he received a little over a week ago. Later on in the day, Klering didnt feel well and he became sick, which prompted him to head to the emergency room. According to hospital records, Klering was diagnosed with acute bronchitis, a result from inhaling smoke. Samsung then made contact with Klering and wanted to take possession of his Galaxy Note 7, but he refused them. However, Klering went on to say that the company paid him to have the device X-rayed.

At that point, Klering felt that the South Korean company was trying to help him, that is until he received a text message from a Samsung representative which was not intended for him. The text message read, Just now got this. I can try and slow him down if we think it will matter, or we just let him do what he keeps threatening to do and see if he does it. When Klering received it, he felt that the company was no longer taking the incident serious enough and he decided to seek legal help. Klering wants the Galaxy Note 7 off the market as these devices are everywhere and the replacement units may cause the same chaos which was brought upon by the recalled units. If the text message received by Klering was indeed from a Samsung representative, things may not go so well for the company and it may even be forced to issue a second recall of its flagship phablet.
Apple and Samsung have been embroiled in patent lawsuits for a number of years now and we had a new development in that at the end of last week, the U.S. Appeals Court upheld Apples earlier victory by reinstating the win. This is the latest chapter in a long running case between Apple and Samsung, whereby Apple is claiming that Samsung has infringed a number of its design patents including how the operating system works. These include the slide-to-unlock, autocorrect and quick linking technologies, that is, how the operating system converts addresses and telephone numbers into the ability to directly perform a function with this information. Samsung has of course defended its position. This particular appeal follows a court verdict from May 2014 in San Jose, California. At the time the court ordered Samsung to pay Apple approximately $120 million for using a number of Apple technologies without permission. However, the two companies have been battling for years over various patents and, typically, Apple gains the upper hand.

In the detail, this US Court of Appeal contained all eleven judges on the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., and the ruling was 8 to 3 in favor of retaining the existing sums. The panel of judges also ruled that the previous Court of Appeal should not have overturned the original verdict as delivered by a panel of three judges back in February. The latest panel stated that the earlier appeal court judges did not follow U.S. Supreme Court limits of the case and examined evidence outside of the scope. Following Fridays ruling, Samsung has issued a lengthy statement criticizing Apples patent lawsuit. Samsung is considering bringing the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is already set to hear a different Apple versus Samsung patent infringement case in the coming days. Samsungs statement blasts the current patent law by stating that the design patent law that has been interpreted is not in line with modern times because it discourages competition, innovation and consumer choice.

The statement highlighted that the patent law is several hundred years old and was originally designed to cover much simpler objects, such as carpet patterns or spoon handles, which critically could sway a consumer decision to purchase. It goes on to highlight a modern smartphone can contain over 200,000 patents alone and many of these do not influence a purchase decision. Samsung explain that they believe in good design and over the last ten years have won almost 800 design awards. Then directly attacks Apple: The problem is that Apple wants a rule that stifles innovation  including innovation in design  by discouraging the development and marketing of new products.

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They go on to explain that the law as Apple would apply it means that a patent holder of one design feature on a single smartphone model is entitled to profits from the entire device, but with there being over 200,000 patents in a single smartphone design, this devalues the other patents embedded into the product. This in turn would stunt the design and development of new models for fear of Apple suing. Samsung gave the example of Apple suing Samsung for their use of a front screen design including rounded corners: Apple received all profits from the sale of such phones. Samsung believes that this would discourage innovators to bring new models to the market for fear, essentially, of a beating from Apples big law stick. The South Korean conglomerate also highlights how it has the support of many technology businesses, public interest groups, intellectual property professors and even the U.S. government and that the federal court ruling in favor of Apple should be overturned. Samsung are seeking clear guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court on how to apply the design patent law fairly in the 21st century will promote competition and provide wide-ranging benefits for innovators and consumers for years to come.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. TSHERING DOLMA, Petitioner, v. LORETTA E. LYNCH, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL, Respondent. 11-4718 NAC Decided: October 07, 2016

PRESENT: JON O. NEWMAN, DENNIS JACOBS, PETER W. HALL, Circuit Judges. FOR PETITIONER: Gary J. Yerman, New York, N.Y. FOR RESPONDENT: Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General; Alison Marie Igoe, Jeffrey L. Menkin, Senior Counsel for National Security, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

UPON DUE CONSIDERATION of this petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) decision, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the petition for review is DISMISSED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART.

Petitioner Tshering Dolma, a native and citizen of China, seeks review of an October 11, 2011, decision of the BIA affirming an August 19, 2010, decision of an Immigration Judge (IJ) denying Dolma's application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). In re Tshering Dolma, No. A089 922 586 (B.I.A. Oct. 11, 2011), aff'g No. A089 922 586 (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City Aug. 19, 2010). We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case.

We have reviewed the decisions of both the IJ and BIA for the sake of completeness. Wangchuck v. Dep't of Homeland Sec., 448 F.3d 524, 528 (2d Cir. 2006). The applicable standards of review are well established. 8 U.S.C.  1252(b)(4)(B); Yanqin Weng v. Holder, 562 F.3d 510, 513 (2d Cir. 2009).

I. Asylum and Withholding of Removal

We may review a final order of removal only if  the alien has exhausted all administrative remedies available to the alien as of right. 8 U.S.C.  1252(d)(1). This jurisdictional rule is absolute with respect to the requirement that the alien raise on appeal to the BIA each category of relief subsequently raised in this Court. Karaj v. Gonzales, 462 F.3d 113, 119 (2d Cir. 2006).

We lack jurisdiction to consider Dolma's unexhausted challenges to the agency's denial of asylum and withholding of removal, which was based on a determination that she provided material support to a terrorist organization and was therefore ineligible for these forms of relief. 8 U.S.C.  1252(d)(1); Karaj, 462 F.3d at 119. Dolma did not press her claims for asylum and withholding of removal on appeal to the BIA, which should come as no surprise because she conceded before the IJ that she was ineligible for these forms of relief for having provided material support. Her one sentence reference to asylum and withholding of removal was not enough. See Karaj, 462 F.3d at 119. We therefore lack jurisdiction over Dolma's unexhausted challenges to the denial of asylum and withholding of removal.

II. Deferral of Removal under the CAT

Deferral of removal remains available for aliens deemed to have provided material support. Matter of M-H-Z-, 26 I. & N. Dec. 757, 764 n.7 (B.I.A. 2016) (The material support bar does not preclude deferral of removal under the Convention Against Torture pursuant to 8 C.F.R.  1208.17.). To demonstrate eligibility for CAT deferral, an applicant must show that it is more likely than not that she will be tortured in her country of removal; the torture must be inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. 8 C.F.R.  1208.18(a)(1), (7).

Dolma devotes very little space to her CAT claim and mentions only her fear of torture by Maoists in Nepal, not any harm as a Tibetan in China. The agency reasonably concluded that Dolma did not meet her burden for CAT deferral. See In re M-B-A-, 23 I. & N. Dec. 474, 479-80 (B.I.A. 2002) (A claim based on a chain of assumptions and a fear of what might happen is insufficient to demonstrate eligibility for CAT relief); Y.C. v. Holder, 741 F.3d 324, 332 (2d Cir. 2013) (We generally defer to the agency's evaluation of the weight to be afforded an applicant's documentary evidence.). The description of conditions in Nepal does not reflect the torture of Tibetans or that Dolma would be targeted for torture by Maoists. See Jian Hui Shao v. Mukasey, 546 F.3d 138, 161 (2d Cir. 2008) (We do not ourselves attempt to resolve conflicts in record evidence, a task largely within the discretion of the agency.); See Hongsheng Leng v. Mukasey, 528 F.3d 135, 143 (2d Cir. 2008) (observing that to establish a fear of harm, in the absence of any evidence of past harm, an alien must make some showing that authorities in his country of nationality are either aware of his activities or likely to become aware of his activities); Matter of M-B-A-, 23 I. & N. Dec. at 479-80.

For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DISMISSED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. As we have completed our review, any stay of removal that the Court previously granted in this petition is VACATED, and any pending motion for a stay of removal in this petition is DISMISSED as moot. Any pending request for oral argument in this petition is DENIED in accordance with Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34(a)(2), and Second Circuit Local Rule 34.1(b).

FOR THE COURT:

Catherine O'Hagan Wolfe, Clerk
Bill Clinton to Gennifer Flowers  Hillary Clinton has eaten more pussy than I have and other Trump defences

How do we tell the story of reality TV star Donald Trump telling gibbering TV host Billy Bush Grab her by the pussy? The British news has made Trumps crass comment (Express) the lead news story. Bigger than mass murder in Syria, desperate migrants and bellicose Russia is Trumps sex boast (The Observer).

The Mirror looks at more pressing issues.

Trump is a story. The reality TV creation is news because hes said something pathetic and is cheap to produce.

But should one comment scupper Trumps White House bid?

Nick Kristoff opines in the NYTimes: In fairness to Trump, other senior men in politics and business  John Kennedy and Bill Clinton come to mind  also sometimes showed a sense of entitlement toward young women.

The digging for dirt begins.

Said Gennifer Flowers: I just know what Bill told me and that was that he was aware that Hillary was bisexual and he didnt care. He should know. He said Hillary had eaten more p***y than he had.

In the Washington Post, we read:

Trump, facing a GOP exodus from his campaign and apparently desperate to change the subject, just retweeted two tweets from an account featuring the name of Juanita Broaddrick, the woman who publicly alleged in 1999 that Clinton had sexually assaulted her two decades prior. In both tweets, the Broaddrick account reiterates her accusation that Clinton raped her and accuses Hillary Clinton of enabling him.

Jonah Goldberg stuck it to Hillary:

Then, the country was presented with proof, incremental and suggestive at first, overwhelming and indisputable by the end of the decade, that Bill Clinton was an irrepressible and irresponsible sexual predator, at least by the moral and evidentiary standards established by feminist activists and the press corps that loves them. And, rather than face the consequences of applying their own principles consistently, they prostrated themselves to the Oval Office. Gloria Steinem raced to the pages of the New York Times to advance the one free grope rule. Susan Estrich, Susan Faludi, and countless other professional feminists defenestrated their principles in a desperate attempt to defend Clinton.

And can we blame the woman seen in the film when Trump went full frat house?

To the Mail it is not Trumps ugly comment that could cost him the White House  it is elegant TV soap actress Arianne Zucker, a woman who diplomatically dealt with TV host Billy Braggs pathetic comments as to which of he or Trump shed sleep with.

Sean Collins:

The obsession with Trump, the close monitoring of his every utterance, has reached the point that his political and media foes have  ironically  become important generators of support for him. Every time they tell Trump you cant say that, he says it. Every time they demand an apology from Trump, he doubles down on it. Just by defying the strictures of political correctness, and not caving when challenged, Trump can look authoritative and daring.

We keep reading that Republicans have deserted Trump. Will his supporters care? No. Trump has turned the election into a referendum on the political establishment. Clinton should be miles ahead in the polls. Why isnt she? Seen as untrustworthy by many, her policies should be more than Im not Trump. Remember Bernie Sanders, who said failing to vote Hillary will lead to more drought, more floods, more acidification of the oceans, more rising sea levels.

The Republican nominee Donald Trump spoke for 75 minutes and for most of his speech, he outlined a laundry list of every conceivable fear he could conjure. Radical Islam, immigration (legal, illegal, Mexican, Muslim, whatevs), stagnant wages, rising violence in the streets, and really terrible trade deals were among the litany.

The US Presidential campaign has a long way to run.

And like so much in Trump and Clintons lives, it is a race to the bottom.

Karen Strike

Posted: 9th, October 2016 | In: Key Posts, Politicians, Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MARKESE D. SMITH, Defendant-Appellant. No. 16-1895 Decided: October 07, 2016

Before DIANE P. WOOD, Chief Judge FRANK H. EASTERBROOK, Circuit Judge DANIEL A. MANION, Circuit Judge

Order

Markese Smith pleaded guilty to possessing heroin with intent to distribute, 21 U.S.C.  841, and was sentenced to 212 months' imprisonment. His plea agreement contains a clause waiving the right to appeal, with an exception if counsel furnished ineffective assistance. Smith makes just such an argument on appeal.

The district court enhanced Smith's sentence after concluding that he is a career offender within the scope of U.S.S.G.  4B1.1. Smith now contends that counsel should have contested the conclusion of the presentence report (a conclusion adopted by the district judge) that he has at least two convictions for crimes of violence or controlled substance offenses as defined in  4B1.2. Smith maintains that counsel should have taken advantage of the Supreme Court's decision in Johnson v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2551 (2015), and contended that the convictions do not count under the residual clause of  4B1.2(a)(2). See United States v. Hurlburt, No. 14-3611 (7th Cir. Aug. 29, 2016) (en banc) (applying Johnson to the residual clause in  4B1.2(a)(2)).

The principal difficulty with this line of argument is that the district court did not rely on the residual clause. Smith has a conviction for possessing marijuana with intent to deliver, which qualifies as a controlled substance offense under  4B1.2(b). Smith does not argue otherwise. The court found that Smith's convictions for domestic battery and robbery under Illinois law are violent felonies under the elements clause in  4B1.2(a)(1) (a crime that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another). Johnson does not affect convictions classified under the elements clause of the Guidelines or the Armed Career Criminal Act. See Stanley v. United States, 827 F.3d 562 (7th Cir. 2016).

We held in United States v. Waters, 823 F.3d 1062 (7th Cir. 2016), that a conviction for domestic battery satisfies  4B1.2(a)(1). See also De Leon Castellanos v. Holder, 652 F.3d 762, 76467 (7th Cir. 2011) (same conclusion under the elements clause of 18 U.S.C.  16(a)). Two qualifying felonies make a person a career offender, and Smith has a third: he has been convicted of robbery, in violation of Illinois law, and we have held that convictions under that statute are crimes of violence under the elements clauses of the Guidelines and similarly worded statutes. See, e.g., United States v. Dickerson, 901 F.2d 579, 584 (7th Cir. 1990); United States v. Bedell, 981 F.2d 915, 916 (7th Cir. 1992).

A lawyer is entitled to accept the law of the circuit unless there is good reason (such as a conflict among the circuits) to believe that the Supreme Court would rule otherwise. Smith does not contend that the circuits were, or are, in disagreement on the question whether domestic battery or robbery in violation of statutes similar to the ones under which he was convicted come within the Guidelines' elements clause, or the language of equivalent statutes. And it would not have helped Smith to knock out either the battery conviction or the robbery conviction; his lawyer would have had to show that circuit law on both convictions is mistaken. The chances of that were low indeed. The Sixth Amendment does not compel lawyers to pursue such remote possibilities. Counsel therefore did not exhibit deficient performance, and there is no basis for avoiding the waiver in the plea agreement.

AFFIRMED


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Unexpectedly, Pope Francis announced a consistory for 19 November, the eve of the conclusion of the Jubilee. Among the "Asian" names are Mgr Mario Zenari, the nuncio in Syria; the archbishop of Dhaka; the archbishop emeritus of Kuala Lumpur. The new cardinals come from 11 nations.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis, at the end of todays Angelus, unexpectedly announced a consistory for 19 November, the eve of the closing of the Jubilee of Mercy.

On that occasion he will welcome 17 new cardinals. They include Mgr Mario Zenari, a great friend of AsiaNews who remains nuncio in the beloved and martyred Syria"; Mgr Patrick Rozario, Archbishop of Dhaka (Bangladesh); Mgr Anthony Soter Fernandez, Archbishop Emeritus of Kuala Lumpur, and others.

Here is the press release from the Vatican Press Office with Pope Franciss statement:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am pleased to announce that Saturday, 19 November, the eve of the closing of the Holy Door of Mercy, I will hold a Consistory for the appointment of 13 new cardinals from the five continents. Their origin from 11 nations expresses the universality of the Church, which proclaims and bears witness to the Good News of God's Mercy in every corner of the earth. The inclusion of the new cardinals in the diocese of Rome also manifests the indissoluble bond between the See of Peter and the particular Churches around the world.

On Sunday 20 November, Solemnity of Christ the King, in ending the Year of the Holy Extraordinary Mercy, I shall celebrate Mass together with the new cardinals, the College of Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops and priests.

Here are the names of the new cardinals:

Archbishop Mario Zenari (Italy), who remains apostolic nuncio in the beloved and troubled Syria

Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga (Central African Republic)

Archbishop Carlos Osoro Sierra (Spain)

Archbishop Sergio da Rocha (Brazil)

Archbishop Blase J. Cupich (United States)

Archbishop Patrick DRozario (Bangladesh)

Archbishop Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo (Venezuela)

Archbishop Jozef De Kesel (Belgium)

Archbishop Maurice Piat (Mauritius)

Archbishop Kevin Joseph Farrell (United States)

Archbishop Carlos Aguiar Retes (Mexico)

Archbishop John Ribat (Papua Nuova Guinea)

Archbishop Mons. Joseph William Tobin (United States)

To the Members of the College of Cardinals, I shall also unite two Archbishops and an Emeritus Bishop, who distinguished themselves in their pastoral service, and a priest who has offered a clear Christian testimony. They represent the many bishops and priests in the Church who build the People of God, announcing Gods merciful love in the daily care of the Lord's flock and in the confession of faith.

They are:

Archbishop Anthony Soter Fernandez, Archbishop Emeritus of Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Archbishop Renato Corti, Archbishop Emeritus of Novara Italy

Archbishop Sebastian Koto Khoarai, Bishop Emeritus of Mohales Hoek Lesotho

Father Ernest Simoni, presbytery of the Archdiocese of Shkodre-Pult, Scutari  Albania.

Let us pray for the new cardinals so that by confirming their faithfulness to Christ, merciful and faithful high priest (cf. Heb 2:17), they may help me in my ministry as Bishop of Rome and permanent and visible source and foundation of unity of faith and communion (cf. LG, 18).
In celebrating the Marian Jubilee, Pope Francis said that Mary is the model of "knowing how to give thank" and of "humility". Often we take everything for granted! This also happens with God and we forget the Giver. Mary was a simple young woman of Nazareth, who did not dwell in the palaces of power and wealth, who did not do extraordinary things. Foreigners, persons of other religions, give us an example of values that we sometimes forget or set aside!

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis celebrated Mass for the Marian Jubilee on Sunday as part of the celebrations for the Year of Mercy.

Knowing how to say thank you was at the centre of his homily before hundreds of thousands of faithful in St Peters Square. In his address, he said we must ask Our Lady to help us recognize that everything is Gods gift, and to be able to say Thank you.

The icon of Mary, salvation of the Roman people, was on the altar. Pope Francis is very devoted to it (pictured). The icon is located in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, which the pontiff visits before and after every apostolic visit.

The idea of knowing how to give thanks comes from today's Gospel (Lk 17.11 to 19), in which Jesus heals 10 lepers, but only one, a Samaritan, comes back to thank Him. All the others continued on their way and forgot the Giver.

So we can ask ourselves: Are we capable of saying Thank you? How many times do we say Thank you in our family, our community, and in the Church? How many times do we say Thank you to those who help us, to those close to us, to those who accompany us through life? Often we take everything for granted! This also happens with God. It is easy to approach the Lord to ask for something, but to return and give thanks . . .

On this Jubilee day, the pontiff added, we are given a model, indeed the model, to whom we can look: Mary, our Mother. After hearing the message of the Angel, she lifted up her heart in a song of praise and thanksgiving to God: My soul magnifies the Lord . . .

The other important element is that it takes humility to be able to give thanks. The pope follows Naamans example (2 Kg 5:14-17). The latter is healed from leprosy by obeying the prophet Elisha who ordered him to bathe seven times in the waters of the River Jordan. However, This request leaves Naaman perplexed, even annoyed. Can a God who demands such banal things truly be God? He would like to turn back, but then he agrees to be immersed in the Jordan and immediately he is cured.

The heart of Mary, more than any other, is a humble heart, capable of accepting Gods gifts. In order to become man, God chose precisely her, a simple young woman of Nazareth, who did not dwell in the palaces of power and wealth, who did not do extraordinary things. Let us ask ourselves if we are prepared to accept Gods gifts, or prefer instead to shut ourselves up within our forms of material security, intellectual security, the security of our plans.

Lastly the pope turned his thoughts to the fact that Naaman and the healed Samaritan leper are foreigners, strangers to the people of the Promise. How many foreigners, he said, including persons of other religions, give us an example of values that we sometimes forget or set aside! Those living beside us, who may be scorned and sidelined because they are foreigners, can instead teach us how to walk on the path that the Lord wishes.

The Mother of God, together with Joseph her spouse, knew what it was to live far from home. She too was long a foreigner in Egypt, far from her relatives and friends. Yet her faith was able to overcome the difficulties. Let us cling to this simple faith of the Holy Mother of God; let us ask her that we may always come back to Jesus and express our thanks for the many benefits we have received from his mercy.
My fiance is Russian and talks and understands English reasonably good.However the online application process is hard for her. Can I open immiaccount for her ? and can I complete the PMV partially for her in Australia and she can complete what she can in Russia?
DCT

Speaking to our friends at Motoring , chief technology officer Michael Hugo Leiters told the Australian publication to get over it already. A stick shift simply doesnt cut it anymore in terms of get-up-and-go, not in the face of quick-shifting solutions such as a. When asked if the manual will ever make a comeback in a road-going Ferrari, the answer was a bit fat "no."Mr. Leiters further added: Ferrari is design, performance, and state of the art technologies. Theres no manual transmission that can beat this performance and therefore we have decided to stay on the double-clutch gearbox. In simpler terms, Ferrari cares about 0 to 60 more than how the car feelings like from the drivers perspective. Then again, setting a car up for a tranny with a takeover rate of less than 10 percent is not exactly profitable for a low-volume automaker. Lamborghini and McLaren also agree to that.The Italian manufacturer kept the manual alive until the naturally aspirated version of the California was replaced by the force-fed California T. Manufactured between 2008 and 2014, the non-turbo version of the California spawned three to five cars [sources vary] with a 6-speed manual transmission and an awe-inspiring gated shifter that goes like "click-clack."In other words, thats less than 1 percent of the total production of 10,000-something vehicles. As a business case, the stick shift doesnt make too much sense for Ferrari. But for an enthusiast, the death of the manual transmission is nothing short of a crime against Enzo Ferraris sporting credo and legacy.Its heartbreaking that things will never be the same again for Ferrari enthusiasts, but life moves on. If, however, nostalgia kicks in, dont forget that you have plenty of relatively new manual-equipped Ferraris to choose from, including V12 monsters such as the 599 GTB . If, however, you want something new with the soul of a Ferrari and a stick shift transmission, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is exactly what the doctor ordered.
kW

Revealed in 1966, the year that brought us the TV debut of Batman, the GM Electrovan celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2016. As the worlds first hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle, the Electrovan is the spiritual predecessor of models such as the Hyundai Tucson FCV . Five decades later, the Electrovan continues to be regarded as the concept car that got the FCV ball rolling.Floyd Wyczalek, now 91 years old, was the project manager of General Motors fuel cell development program. He headed a team of 200-something people. With that much manpower, everything went as planned. We had three shifts of people on this project starting in January 1966 and finishing 10 months later, recollects Wyczalek. We had one running demo for the Progress of Power press conference in October that year," he concluded.50 years since, General Motors has invested more than $2.5 billion in hydrogen fuel cell technology. Considering that it all started with a hydrogen-powered fuel cell van based on the GMC Handi-Van, the GM Electrovan is a very impressive feat. Located beneath the floor we find 32 fuel cell modules, which supply a continuous output of 32and a peak output of 160 kW.Tipping the scales at 7,100 pounds (3,220 kilograms), the 1966 General Motors Electrovan is so heavy due to its cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen tanks, as well as its electrolyte reservoir. No less than 45 gallons of potassium hydroxide fill the modules, piping, and reservoir, but be that as it may, the Electrovan prides itself on admirable specifications for an experiment.Top speed? 70 miles per hour (112 km/h). 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h)? 30 seconds or thereabout. As for range, General Motors rated it at 150 miles (241 kilometers), which is not bad at all considering that the Toyota Mirai manages roughly double the range (312 miles or 502 kilometers).The GM Electrovan was mostly forgotten after the project ended. Left for dead in a Michigan warehouse for 31 years, the Electrovan was rediscovered in 2001. Now, though, everyone can admire the original hydrogen fuel cell vehicle at the GM Heritage Center in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
AMG

Like most Mercedes cars, the ML 63looks best in white, which helps its gaping grilles contrast. That color contrast has been helped on this particular car by a set of custom painted wheels from Vossen.Large 22-inch CV3, with a simple five-spoke design, were chosen by the Miami tuner to present this piece of German muscle in the best light possible. But what do you guys think of this color combo? Is it the right one for the ML, or is the black+white overused nowadays.
One of the most affluent owners of the Audi Cabriolet was Diana, Princess of Wales, who owned the car you can admire in the adjacent photographs between 1994 and 1996. The first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, and the mother of Prince William and Prince Henry, the late Diana is considered by many as one of the most influential women in the 20th century.Compared to Her Majestys Bentley Mulsanne , which was recently sold for 199,850, Dianas Audi Cabriolet is estimated to fetch anything between 50,000 to 60,000. The seller, Silverstone Auctions, will try to vend the ragtop next month at the NEC Classic Motor Show Sale in Birmingham.The teal green convertible machine still has the license plate that was on when Diana owned it. Bought in London in 1994, three years before the tragic car crash in Paris, Diana is believed to have driven the Audi Convertible 4,000 miles or thereabout. At the present moment, the vehicle shows 21,412 miles on the odometer, which translates to just about 34,460 kilometers.Motivated by a 2.3-liter five-cylinder engine matched with an automatic transmission, the 1994 Audi Cabriolet appears to be in pristine condition inside and out. From the Gomera Pearl paint finish to the Parchment leather and cream carpets, everything looks perfectly fine for a 22-year-old car.After Diana had got bored of the car, the 1994 Audi Cabriolet was sold to Ian Campbell Dale. Then the third owner bought in 1998, after which the current vendor purchased it in 2013. Other than the car itself, the sale also includes a history file containing the relevant handbooks and manuals and several good-quality photos of Diana using the car, for added authenticity.
Textron Aviation flew its prototype Citation Longitude for the first time on Saturday, solidifying its presence in the super midsize market. The flight makes it likely the aircraft will be at NBAA in Orlando at the beginning of November. The Longitude was announced in 2012 and Textron had a proof-of-concept aircraft at NBAA 2015 in Las Vegas, but the official first flight was Saturday according to the company. Todays successful first flight of the Citation Longitude was performed exactly as we anticipated, said Scott Ernest, president and CEO, Textron Aviation. Our product development process is second to none and allowed us to move smoothly from unveiling the Longitude last November, to the first flight of the prototype in just 11 months.

The airplane seats up to 12 passengers and offers a stand-up cabin and cabin-accessible baggage compartment. It has a full-fuel payload of 1,500 lbs., can go 3,400 nm (high speed cruise) and has a top speed of 476 knots. It has Honeywell FADEC engines with autothrottles and a Garmin 5000 panel. Theres an optional head-up display. First flight lasted more than two hours and all the basic flight characteristics were tested. We had a look at what Cessna flew to NBAA in Las Vegas last year.
9 October 2016 13:33 (UTC+04:00)

Armenias armed forces have 24 times violated the ceasefire on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops over the past 24 hours, said Azerbaijans Defense Ministry Oct. 9.

Positions of the Azerbaijani army located in the Kohnegishlag village of the Aghstafa district underwent fire from the Armenian positions located in the Paravakar village of Armenias Ijevan district.

The Azerbaijani army positions also underwent fire from the Armenian positions located near the Chilaburt village of the Azerbaijans Tartar district, Shikhlar, Yusifjanli, Sarijali villages of the Aghdam district, Ashagi Seyidahmadli, Goradiz villages of the Fizuli district, as well as from the positions located on nameless heights of Goranboy, Fizuli and Jabrayil 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.

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9 October 2016 11:59 (UTC+04:00)

Astana has hosted a meeting of the Coordination Committee of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, organized by Kazakhstan Railways. The event was attended by heads of sea and railway transport authorities and seaports of member states of the committee.

Head of Azerbaijan Railways Javid Gurbanov, chairman of Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company Rauf Valiyev, Director General of Baku International Sea Trade Port Taleh Ziyadov and other officials represented Azerbaijan at the event.

Chaired by head of Kazakhstan Railways Kanat Alpisbayev, the meeting discussed the establishment of a union of legal entities of the Coordination Committee.

The participants stressed the importance of attracting transit and foreign cargo to Trans International Transport Route, implementing a coordinated policy for determining tariffs for cargo transportation, and increasing the efficiency of transport links.

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9 October 2016 11:17 (UTC+04:00)

An Azerbaijani delegation has met Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Social and Human Sciences Nada Al-Nashif and officials of the Secretariat.

Azerbaijan`s Permanent Representative at UNESCO Anar Karimov, head of Department at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan Vasif Eyvazzade were also present in the meeting.

Nada Al-Nashif expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between Azerbaijan and the UNESCO.

The Azerbaijani delegation highlighted significant contributions of President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva to development of relations with the UNESCO. They noted the head of state attached great importance to the Intercultural Dialogue Forum to be held in Baku in 2017 and the Baku Process promoting dialogue among civilizations and cultures.

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9 October 2016 10:31 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has said the unresolved Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict won`t bring glory to UN Security Council. Saying Azerbaijan achieved a great military victory this April, President Aliyev stressed that the April battle was a glorious page of Azerbaijani history. The head of state noted that after the April battle negotiators were somehow more active, holding meetings in May and June.

The problem remains unresolved not only because of Armenia, said the head of state. Armenia has big patrons, some of them give money, some weapons, some set up lobbies, some conduct propaganda. This is the reason why the problem is unresolved. That is why this issue must be clarified.

We are aware that we have faced double standards, and the fact that this problem remains unresolved wont bring any glory to the UN Security Council because the United Nations adopted four resolutions. These resolutions have not been implemented for more than 20 years. They should at least respect their own decisions. We already see how Armenia violates the international law. We should have economic, political and military power, and we do have it. We just want a peaceful solution. We pursue a consistent policy to this end, said President Ilham Aliyev.

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9 October 2016 12:28 (UTC+04:00)

This year our international standing has strengthened. Many international organizations have reaffirmed their support for Azerbaijan, said President Ilham Aliyev at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers.

The head of state singled out two organizations. One of them is the Organization of Islamic Cooperation which launched a contact group on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during this years summit. The Azerbaijani President said that at the summit the OIC reaffirmed its support for Azerbaijans territorial integrity.

The President also mentioned that the Non-Aligned Movement passed a resolution on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within Azerbaijans sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is our great diplomatic and political achievement, the Azerbaijani President added.

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Deputy Speaker of the Pakistani National Assembly Murtaza Javed Abbasi has today met with Azerbaijani Ambassador to the country Ali Alizade to discuss expansion of the interparliamentary ties.

The Ambassador spoke of the close parliamentary relations between the two countries, and emphasized the importance of legislative bodies in terms of the establishment of the fraternal and friendly ties between Azerbaijan and Pakistan.

The diplomat also provided an insight into the Armenian vandalism carried out against Azerbaijani people, noting the country hails the adoption of resolutions demanding immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian troops from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by the Pakistani Parliament which also recognised the Khojaly genocide.

The Pakistani Deputy Speaker said the country attached special importance to relationship with Azerbaijan, and spoke of the development of the current fraternal ties between the two countries people.

Murtaza Javed Abbasi hailed the humanitarian and social projects implemented at the initiative of President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva in different regions of Pakistan.

They also discussed the strengthening of the interparliamentary relations, as well as ties between the friendship groups, and organization of reciprocal visits.

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Bakersfield, CA (93308)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 77F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable.
A brush fire that grew from 5.5 acres to 20 acres along Roberts Mill Road on Saturday afternoon was finally contained.

Firefighters from several agencies battled the fire at 550 Roberts Mill Road that was fueled by wind gusts.

Over 50 fire personnel, 13 emergency services agencies and the Tennessee Forestry Division were on the scene all afternoon fighting fire and digging trenches (fire breaks) to contain the fire.

The Forestry Division used a helicopter and water drop tank to dump water on the rough terrain that firefighters could not reach on foot.

Agencies and fire personnel helping to get the fire under control were listed as:



At the top of the mountain:

Walden's Ridge Emergency Services, Red Bank Fire Department and Lone Oak Volunteer Fire Department were staged and fighting the fire at the top of the mountain.



Bottom of the mountain: Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department, Sequoyah Volunteer Fire Department and Mowbray Volunteer Fire Department were staged at the bottom of the mountain.



Signal Mountain Fire Department was covering all emergency calls on Signal Mountain.



Sale Creek Volunteer Fire Department was covering all emergency calls in Dallas Bay Area.



East Ridge Fire Department was covering all emergency calls in Red Bank.



Soddy Daisy Fire Department was on standby at their station.



Chattanooga-Hamilton County. Rescue is on the scene for rehab for all fire personnel.



Hamilton County STARS (Special Tactics and Rescue Services) responded to the top of the mountain with ATV's to transport fire personnel down to the fire scene.



There were no structures endangered.
A federal jury has convicted a man charged with wounding Chattanooga Police Officer William McMillan on March 12, 2013, of the charge of being a felon in possession of a weapon.

Celvin "Squeaky" Houston will be sentenced later by Federal Judge Sandy Mattice.

Houston at one time entered a guilty plea, then he later withdrew it.



The earlier agreement was that Houston would serve seven years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.

He has been in jail since his arrest following the shooting at the East Lake Court projects.

Houston also earlier agreed to plead guilty to attempted murder in Criminal Court. That term was to be worked out by the district attorney's office and defense attorney Amanda Dunn, who is Houston's fifth lawyer. But it never has due to issues about transferring the case between federal and state courts. The next court appearance before Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman is set for Oct. 19.



Houston's earlier plea in Federal Court was to the same charge of being a felon in possession of a weapon.

Officer McMillan was shot multiple times in the thigh, buttock and groin areas.

At the time of his arrest, Houston had two additional warrants from a prior incident for attempted murder and aggravated robbery.

Houston has a lengthy criminal record, including a conviction in 2012 in state court for being in possession of a handgun with felony convictions. He got a two-year suspended sentence.

He got another two-year suspended sentence in 2004 when he was charged with unlawfully possessing a weapon.

Police said Officer McMillan was responding to a call from an anonymous caller saying there were 30 people hanging out in the East Lake Housing area and they wanted them checked out.

As the officer walked up to the group, one of them pulled out a gun and began shooting at the officer, the report says.

During the investigation, officers learned that "Squeaky" was the person who shot the officer. Investigators found his cellphone at the scene.

They identified "Squeaky" as Celvin Houston and began to look for his associates, Alisha Houston and Moniek Johnson. They were brought to police headquarters.

Both said they had spoken with Houston and he told them that he "messed up by shooting an officer."

Police said, "The search ended quickly due to the cooperation from the public, media, and the following law enforcement agencies: Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, Collegedale Police Department, East Ridge Police Department, Lookout Mountain Police Department, Chattanooga Housing Authority, Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The assistance from three local pastors was also greatly appreciated. They are Pastor Ternae Jordan Sr., Pastor Kevin Adams and Pastor Tim Sykes."

Officer McMillan, a six-year veteran of the department, was shot on 4th Avenue near the East Lake Courts. He is in stable condition at Erlanger Hospital.

The incident happened at 6:11 p.m.

A large number of police officers converged on the scene.

Members of the SWAT Team were out in force as well as the K-9 unit combing nearby streets. A large area was blocked off with yellow crime scene tape.

Chattanooga Police had responded at 6 p.m. to the theft complaint.

Police said at the time, "Once on the scene, the responding officer encountered a male suspect near 2219 E 26Street Court. The suspect was armed with a firearm, shot the officer, and fled on foot.

"The officer was transported to a local hospital for treatment of the non-life threatening injury. It is unclear at this point if the suspect was involved in the original theft complaint. Officers from multiple agencies are assisting in searching for the suspect."

Chris Poole was the prosecutor.
Joe Ungashick, Tim Cook and Didier Soumet express excitement about a shared vision of corporate culture and new global strategies for Shick Solutions.

Shick Solutions recently announced that it joined Breteche Industrie Group, a global company with eight plants located in France, Germany and the Czech Republic. The companys most well-known brands include mixing companies Diosna (Booths No. 10507, No. 10705) and VMI (Booth No. 6147), as well as ingredient handling company Esteve (10705).

Shicks operating shareholders Joe, Mark and Matt Ungashick, all sons of founder William Ungashick, had no official plans to sell the business, yet when approached by Breteche, saw a great opportunity for the business by becoming part of the group. The acquisition provides mutual benefits in terms of technology, expertise, geography and culture for both companies.

Our strategy is to offer the best solutions for our customers, from the silo to the exit of the mixer, said Didier Soumet, president and CEO, Breteche. Through these distinct companies, bakers will be offered complete integrated solutions. Our ingredient handling companies will work with the mixing side to offer customers complete integration including scaling and conveying of ingredients and mixing, as well as pre-dough, if necessary.

Additionally, the synergy between Shick and Esteve will bring more solutions to more bakers worldwide, and all Breteche companies are working together at IBIE 2016 to develop new global strategies for both ingredient handling and mixing.

But its about more than the solutions. Its the people and the cultures of the companies who bring those solutions to the industry.

Im filled with excitement about what well be able to do for the industry by being a bigger part of the solutions for our customers, said Tim Cook, president and CEO, Shick Solutions. Im also excited as I look around the booth at this team of people and the opportunity this creates for them going forward.

This enthusiasm runs throughout this new partnership. These are not just process companies. Theyre companies of human beings, Mr. Soumet said. This feeling is something that made the partnership work from the beginning.

We knew this was a marketing fit, a business fit, Mark Ungashick said. But what really hit home was the similarity in culture. They were so similar to us in terms of our values  it felt like the perfect fit.

Joe Ungashick shared the sentiment. This industry is about the relationships. Some people call it collegiate. I say theres a fraternal hospitality in this industry that doesnt exist elsewhere. Its about relationships first  where I go from here, the relationships will go with me. Im excited for the future of these companies.

Mark and Joe Ungashick will remain members of Shicks advisory board.
Photos: Kanye West Elevates 'Pablo' At Knockout Weekend Homecoming

By Katie Karpowicz in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 9, 2016 2:00PM



Ask yourself this: When was the last time I went to a concert to see an artist who has produced music for more than ten years and the audience was more excited to hear the new stuff than they were the old stuff?"

Sure, the crowd at the first night of Kanye Wests Chicago stops for The Life Of Pablo Tour was excited to hear Jesus Walks, but nothing compared to the responses to Waves or All Day or any of the other more recent tracks West played at his United Center show. Its indicative of the relationship weve always had with Kanye.

When The College Dropout came out, we were blunt-passing party animals. When 808s & Heartbreak was released, we were sad. Kanye was (mostly) happy on The Life Of Pablo, and so it was decreed that the fans would be too.

Nothing about Friday nights show could have been more different from the native Chicagoans last stop at the United Center, in December 2013. It's interesting that West chose to pair a relatively minimal show with a comparatively robust album when the tour for Yeezusperhaps Wests deepest dive into minimalist productionwas an undeniable display of extravagance.

Much like everything West has done throughout his career, his current tour challenges our assumptions of musical experience. How many times have we gone to a show and listened to the band or artist go on about how great the crowd looked from the stage? Wests floating stage concept creates a constant dual view of both the crowdconsistently going bonkers under Yeezuss feetand the cause for such frenzy.

Unlike any other tour this writer has experienced, the audience was as much a part of the performance as Kanye himself.

The Yeezus Tour was full of theatrical absurditiesfrom near-naked women strewn across the stage to a full-on mountainbut even with his impressive "flying stage," this weekends shows were nearly devoid of any other dominating presence aside from the billed performer. His last national tour was full of 15-minute rants between songs, but West barely acknowledged the crowd on Friday night, his first time back to the stage since his wife, Kim Kardashian West, was held at gunpoint in Paris. He opened up a bit at Saturday's show, at Allstate Arena in Rosemontsharing his hopes that one day we all come together as "one race" and relaying that his ideas keep him up at nightbut the chatter was still pretty slim. Despite the dozens of lights that accompany his current stage rig, his shows this weekend felt progressive, completely Kanye and yet not overdone. Is this a weird insight into the way West sees himself? Elevated above his fans, alone and on display in a sea of other humans. Must be... interesting?

As for song selection, weve finally hit a wall. West has always been a pro at packing as much into a show as possible, but with seven solo albums, two collaborative albums and a seemingly innumerable amount of guest features, its tough to hit all the high points without risking exhaustion. True to the live routine of many contemporary rappers, not every song was completed in full and sometimes things were cut off right before they reached their peak. That said, there arent a lot of songs were still jonesing for after that set. Still, we would have taken more.

Thats the premise of Kanyes mega-successful career: It was fantastic, but well take more. Its been a continuous pattern since My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (hell, maybe even 808s). West has a way of appearing to lay himself bare on record while still creating a sense of urgency for the next chapter. It wasnt clear how the show would end (this writer declined to view any videos of the tour or recent set lists beforehand). There is no song in the Kanye West discography at this point that definitively marks the end of a show. When the stage descended at the climax of Ultralight Beam, when West detached himself from the stages harness, it still didnt seem real that the show was over. Well always want more.

Its been a year of wants from Kanye Wests fanbase. We wanted The Life of Pablo, but we didnt know when wed get it. We wanted to know when these shows would start, but instead the set times were apparently randomdemanding attendees to be ready at any moment. We wanted him to perform every song, but well have to wait for another tour for some favorites to resurface ("Bound 2," "All Falls Down"). Well always want more and, for that reason, Kanye West will continue to hold a power unlike any other pop star today.




Oregon Coast Scientist Uses New Tech - and Poop - to Study Whales

Published 10/08/2016 at 6:51 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Newport, Oregon)  One scientist based out of the Oregon coast is approaching whale research from a new angle: from above and from behind. (Above: aerial shot from Torres' whale research).

Leigh Torres, a marine ecologist researcher out of Newport's Hatfield Marine Science Center, is not only using drones and hdyrophones to follow gray whales off the Oregon coast but she's chasing them close behind in order to capture their poop for biological testing. It's also here where other new technologies are involved, with a variety of cutting-edge biotech machines used to analyze these samples.

All this is part of an expansive project to look at the stress levels of whales due to ocean noise  both natural and manmade. Torres and her crew are trying to determine the physiological effects of such stressors on the whales, analyzing hormone levels, genetics and the overall health of the whale  all from a tiny take of whale feces.

Were just looking for a few grams of material and to be honest, it doesnt even smell that bad, Torres said. Now, collecting a DNA sample from a whales blow-hole - thats a bad job. Their breath is horrendous.

How the samples are retrieved smacks of a scene out of Moby Dick, but with a decidedly high-tech, almost sci-fi slant. Torres, in a small inflatable boat, follows them from behind with a drone flying over the whale. The drone gives investigators incredibly detailed views and informative new angles of the whales' general behavior, and it's used to detect when the whale defecates.

Then, Torres and her crew have about 20 to 30 seconds to swoop in and grab the material, using a fine mesh net.

Back in the lab, the samplings of fecal matter provide an amazing amount of information, including the whale's sex, if it's pregnant, what kind of food it's been eating and even a good array of data on the prey itself.

The study is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Ocean Acoustics Program, working in concert with Oregon State University, Oregon Sea Grant and the Hatfield in Newport. Scientists are looking at how whales are effected by their exposure to the sounds of small and medium-sized boat traffic. But since this group of gray whales lives fairly close to the shores of the central Oregon coast, they're also exposed to many kinds of natural noises like wind and breaking surf.

Given that whales live and die by detecting sound, this is important research.

Many marine mammals are guided by acoustics and use sound to locate food, to navigate, to communicate with one another and to find a mate, said Torres.

Also used in the research are drifting hydrophones to record both human and natural sounds, and underwater Go-Pro cameras to observe what are they are feeding upon. Here, they're able to learn more about how the whales are eating and finding their dinners, as well as the columns fish in the area.

Torres and her crew have discovered some amazing new insights into the whales by looking at them through the high-tech cameras.

We are seeing things through the drone cameras that we have never seen before, Torres said. Because of the overhead views, we now know that whales are much more agile in their feeding. We call them bendy whales because they make such quick, sharp turns when feeding. These movements just cant be seen from the deck of a ship. Oregon Coast Lodgings for this - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours. See more Oregon Coast Science and updates on Oregon Coast Whales.

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The Chinese government on Saturday decided to streamline administrative approval, delegate more power to lower government levels and loosen rules on foreign investment in an attempt to revive the economy.

Premier Li Keqiang called for efforts to cut red tape and simplify procedures for new investment projects, according to a statement issued after an executive meeting of the State Council.

Provincial governments will approve investment projects related to container terminals, vehicle engines, urban transit systems and inland water transportation, according to the new regulations.

The China Railway Corporation will be allowed to make decisions regarding railways, bridges and tunnels, the statement said.

More private investment will be encouraged in various sectors, including medical care, education, culture and sports.

China will prohibit new projects related to industries struggling with overcapacity, such as steel, coal and electrolytic aluminum sectors.

In principle, no new gasoline-powered vehicle factories will be allowed to open.

In 2013 and 2014, the central government moved a raft of administrative approval procedures, and delegated approval power, to lower government levels.

The meeting stressed measures to improve the country's business environment. More efforts are needed to create a level playing field for both domestic and foreign companies, the statement said.

Following China's revisions to four laws regulating inbound investment last month, the meeting agreed that some administrative approvals will no longer be necessary for foreign investors setting up businesses on the Chinese mainland.

Such investors are now only required to report business plans to local regulators, as long as their business is not on a "negative list." The government estimates that this means more than 95 percent of procedures will be cut.

The practice has been proved satisfactory in pilot free trade zones in Shanghai, Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian.

Despite an economic slowdown, China remains an attractive destination for foreign companies due to the country's continued opening up as well as the improving business environment.

Foreign direct investment in the mainland during the first eight months of 2016 increased 4.5 percent year on year to 85.9 billion U.S. dollars, up from 4.3 percent in the first seven months, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Altogether 18,538 new foreign-funded enterprises were established in the country over the same period, up 10.2 percent on a year earlier.

The government will continue to improve services and supervision to expand the country's opening up, the statement said.

In addition, the meeting pledged efforts to modernize agriculture, encouraging diversified business models and the mechanization and informatization of the sector. Financing support will also be increased.

China will also curb agricultural pollution by adopting strict rules on the use of fertilizers and additives, and strengthen the supervision of farm produce.

The government will work to enhance farmers'incomes and guarantee their urban housing demands, the statement said.
It's time for that strange and slightly scary game we play every four years: Will votes for Libertarian or Green Party candidates give the presidency to a Democrat or Republican who wouldn't have won otherwise?

At this point the answer is a familiar one - we don't know. But it has happened.

In 1912, the Progressive Party led by former President Theodore Roosevelt carried eight states and threw the election to Democrat Woodrow Wilson. For the rest of the century, however, third parties were mostly an afterthought in presidential elections.

Ross Perot did get a lot of attention when he ran in 1992, but he didn't win any states. Most analysts believe Bill Clinton would have beaten George H.W. Bush anyway.

In 2000, however, Bush's son got a gold-plated ticket to the Oval Office thanks to Ralph Nader and the Green Party. Nader didn't carry any states either, but in that uber-close election, he got 97,488 votes in Florida that otherwise would have mostly gone to Democrat Al Gore. Gore lost Florida, and hence the entire election, by just 537 votes to George W. Bush.

If something like that happens again, the thinking is that it could cost the Democratic candidate again.

The Green Party ticket is headed by activist Jill Stein, but you'd have to stop a lot of voters on the street before you found one who knew who she was.

The Libertarians, however, are moving the dial. Their ticket is made up of (ironically) two former Republican governors, Gary Johnson of New Mexico and Bill Weld of Massachusetts.

Stein is only getting 1 or 2 percent in national polls, but Johnson is hovering around 10 percent. If he can nudge up to 15 percent, he would qualify for the third and final presidential debate.

Normally, disgruntled conservatives vote for Libertarians, since they believe in very little government. But most of Johnson's support is coming from millennials who generally lean Democratic. They are young and idealistic and don't want to vote for the lesser of two evils like their parents. Johnson is their best choice, basically a Libertarian with a small "l."

To boil all this down, will the Libertarians siphon off enough votes from Hillary Clinton to put Donald Trump in the White House? In a close election, with the Electoral College evenly divided, that could happen. But at this point Clinton is actually doing better in the Electoral College than the popular vote. If the election were held today, Clinton would probably win easily in the Electoral College while beating Trump slightly in total votes.

It's a heck of a way to run a railroad, or a democracy, but that's the system we have. Major-party candidates who would like to avoid that fate can do so by simply running a good campaign and winning despite those distractions. If Trump or Clinton lose, with all their resources, they will have no one to blame but themselves.

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Thomas Taschinger, TTaschinger@BeaumontEnterprise.com, is the editorial page editor of The Beaumont Enterprise. Follow him on Twitter at @PoliticalTom
Following Home Minister Rajnath Singh's decision to seal India's entire 3,323-km border with Pakistan by December 2018, five battalions of Punjab Armed Police have been deployed along the border in Punjab. PAP is the second line of defence after the Border Security Force. It is equipped with weapons, night vision devices, bullet-proof jackets and vehicles.
Sir Ian McKellen's career has spanned more than six decades and has seen him perform at theatres around the country

Sir Ian McKellen has been given the outstanding contribution to British theatre prize at the UK Theatre Awards.

The actor, 77, was honoured both for championing diversity and for his commitment to theatre, including touring productions.

Sir Ian's career has spanned more than six decades and has seen him perform at theatres around the country.

He joins Sir Matthew Bourne, Timothy West and Prunella Scales as recipients of the trophy.

Also among the top winners was Paapa Essiedu, who was the first black actor to portray Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).

He scooped the award for best performance in a play for the RSC's production of the Bard's Danish tragedy.

"It's significant in that the RSC is a national organisation that should represent everyone in our country regardless of your creed, colour, religion, sexuality, whatever," he said, according to the BBC.

"As such you would expect something like this to have happened before. But I think it was really important that it was happening now and we were really proud of the work that we did."

Theatre veteran Vanessa Redgrave was also honoured at the ceremony at London's Guildhall, picking up the prestigious Gielgud award for excellence in the dramatic arts.

The actress, 79, has starred in more than 35 productions in London's West End and on Broadway, in a career lasting six decades.

She joins the ranks of previous recipients of the award including Sir Ian, Sir Derek Jacobi, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Kenneth Branagh and Lynn Redgrave.

Established in honour of the English actor Sir John Gielgud, the Gielgud award has been given sporadically since 1996.

The award for best musical production was shared by Sheffield Theatres' productions of Show Boat and Flowers For Mrs Harris, both directed by Daniel Evans.

Clare Burt, who played Mrs Harris, received the award for best performance in a musical, while Rebecca Trehearn collected best supporting performance for Show Boat.

Lez Brotherston also won the design prize for his work on the two musicals.

Best new play went to Cuttin' It by Charlene James, which was a Young Vic/Royal Court Theatre co-production with Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Sheffield Theatres and The Yard Theatre.

Raz Shaw received the award for best director for Wit, a Royal Exchange Theatre production, while best touring production was awarded to The Herbal Bed, which was directed by James Dacre and co-produced by Royal and Derngate, Northampton, English Touring Theatre and Rose Theatre Kingston.

Best show for children and young people went to The Hobbit, a The Dukes production that was performed outdoors in Williamson Park, Lancaster.

The award ceremony, compered by award-winning actor Lesley Manville, also saw prizes given out in opera and dance categories.

The Royal Opera and Guildhall School of Music and Drama won for 4.48 Psychosis in association with the Lyric Hammersmith.

The achievement in dance award was given to Gary Clarke for Coal.

The Mill at Sonning was announced as the overall winner of the public vote for the UK's most welcoming theatre, in association with Smooth Radio.

President of UK Theatre Fiona Allan said: "The UK Theatre Awards celebrate the world-class theatre that is performed on stages across the country and demonstrates the breadth and depth of outstanding talent.

"It is also important that we recognise the venues and the teams that run them.

"As centres of artistic and creative excellence, our local theatres are a vital part of all our communities."
ALL SERIOUS: Richard with Tom Bateman and Natalie Gumede in ITV series Jekyll and Hyde; and the actor is all smiles during a photoshoot (left)

Richard E Grant turns sniffing a bowl of soup into a sort of sublime performance art. It helps that he has the perfect nose for the job - prominent and rubbery, with nostrils that appear to take on their own life as he gets stuck in.

"Divine," he trills, that patrician proboscis practically wobbling. "Absolutely superb How can you resist?"

We're having lunch at Brown Thomas's supremely swanky top floor restaurant. Or at least Grant is - unaware that the plan was for thespian and journalist to break bread together, I've already stuffed my face and so am sitting out the feast laid before us.

Dinner for one, with a reporter taking notes, is the definition of awkward. Yet Grant is such a natural-born raconteur he's soon off to the races anyway. Between mouthfuls, the actor holds forth on his recent appearance in Game of Thrones ("fantastic but I wish I'd been in more of it because it's so great"), his upcoming turn in the latest Wolverine movie and his memories of Withnail and I, the twinklingly miserable 1980s classic to which he owes his career.

It's a proper gush - yet Grant isn't one of those luvvy bores desperate for an audience. He's convivial and is soon peppering me with questions too (Who was the rudest person I've ever interviewed? What did I have for lunch?).

It's been a banter-filled morning for the 59-year-old, who has spent the morning pottering around Dublin chatting with locals for a promotional film he's making for Tourism Ireland.

But Grant (above) has also just launched his latest bespoke fragrance, which is what brings him to the store for our tete-a-tete. Jack - Piccadilly '69 is his third unisex scent and is inspired by the aromas of late 1960s London, where he washed up as a wide-eyed 12-year-old and was immediately bowled off his feet.

"We were on holidays and I especially remember Piccadilly Circus and all the hippies smelling of patchouli oil. I was taken to see the musical Hair at Shaftesbury Avenue. It had full frontal nudity amazing. So that's why I named it after 1969."

Setting the now thoroughly empty bowl of soup to one side, Grant outlines his unified theory of scent and human psychology.

"Your sense of smell is the shortest synaptic leap in the brain," he says. "You could smell something that you haven't experienced since you were six years old. The moment you do, it will bring you back to that place and time."

I'm beginning to suspect Grant is hamming up his love of a good sniff for my benefit. He's already extravagantly breathed in the aromas of the leather banquette into which we are squeezed and plunges his nose into his fish course upon its arrival. The exhalations are so loud they can probably be heard across the store.

Yet his enthusiasm for fragrance is, without question, heartfelt. Jack is entirely self-financed, a cottage business on which he toils with his wife, Joan, and 27-year-old daughter, Olivia. Moreover, a dive into the archives confirms he's been sniffing his way through encounters with journalists long before he launched a perfume business and was using his nose to sell a product.

"It has been my secret passion since childhood," he nods. "When I was 12 I tried to make perfume as a birthday present. It didn't work out. But I was always fascinated with it. I have compulsively sniffed everything - it always struck me as the most natural thing in the world." Acting gives him a licence to indulge this ardour to the full. "For Wolverine III we were in Louisiana, Mississippi and New Mexico. New Orleans is so humid - Bourbon Street essentially smells of pizza, beer and vomit. Especially when it's 100 degrees. Then you go into the desert and the plants in New Mexico have such a distinct dry scent It almost borders on: 'Is this a good smell or a bad smell?'"

Movie sets, he reports, smell of money and high stakes. "You're around a crew of 300 people and it is a very machismo atmosphere. The smell of the studio and the lighting and the paint is incredibly distinct. I've never been in a theatre that smells like that."

Does he plunge into airport duty free, sniffing every last perfume?

"A lot of the big brands are done by committee," he says, wincing a bit. "Celebrity scents are to a large extent made as a marketing exercise."

I'm dying to ask him about Game of Thrones in which he played to type as a luvvy actor performing in a bawdy revue. Grant is a huge fan and firmly of the opinion that we are living through a golden age of television.

"We did the interiors in Belfast, at Titanic Studios, the old paint halls. The exteriors were shot north of Barcelona. It was like being in a movie - as it would be considering they spent $11m per episode. Its reach is phenomenal. On Wolverine, I was working in New Mexico in a town of 600. And there wasn't a day that someone would not come up to me and say: 'I saw you in Game of Thrones.' It amazes me. I just wish I'd been in more episodes."

Grant's chipperness has an almost electric hum and it's tempting to interpret this as a conscious riposte of the many slings and arrows life has directed at him. His father, the last director of education of what was then the British protectorate of Swaziland, was an alcoholic who once tried to shoot Grant when his son accidentally knocked a whiskey bottle. Bored and neglected, his mother took solace in infidelity. As a young boy he watched her canoodle with a friend in the family car as his father lay passed out in the back seat. "It was a poisonous secret for a child to have to keep," he would later say. "I was gobsmacked."

He returned to London in 1982, after the death of his father. Brought up in a colonial time capsule, he arrived in Britain like a visitor from another epoch ("you speak English like someone from the 1950s," he was told by Charles Sturridge, director of Brideshead Revisited).

Success was not immediate - it would be five years until Withnail, for which he was second pick behind Daniel Day-Lewis, lifted him from obscurity. He has since carved a niche as British drama's Mr Reliable - seldom required to carry a movie, but an endearing presence adding sparkle to the drabbest script (we can, for instance, thank him for Spice World being even vaguely watchable).

Grant is just back from holidays - two weeks in the south of France in the company of Bruce Robinson, writer and director of Withnail and I. Close to 30 years on, the movie remains Grant's masterpiece, his turn as vain and needy failed actor Withnail one of the great British screen performances.

He is gracious about the film and its impact on his career and not at all precious about the degree to which it has overshadowed all that followed.

"What makes that character so funny is the character's warped sense of entitlement - in complete disproportion to his lack of talent. When I received the script, I knew it was like nothing I'd ever read before. I thought there was no chance they would cast a complete unknown, with no screen or TV experience. It literally changed my life. If Daniel Day-Lewis had done it, I would not be sitting in Brown Thomas eating with you today."
The scene of a serious road crash on the A1 close to Dromore where a car has struck a telegraph pole in the early hours of Sunday October 9, 2016. Photo by Kevin Scott/Press Eye

The scene of a serious road crash on the A1 close to Dromore where a car has struck a telegraph pole in the early hours of Sunday October 9, 2016. Photo by Kevin Scott/Press Eye

A woman aged in her 40s is critically ill in hospital following a road crash in Co Down in the early hours of Sunday morning.

She was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast at around 3.40am.

A spokeswoman for the Belfast Trust has described her condition as critical.

The A1 road between Dromore and Hillsborough was closed on Sunday morning in both directions following the crash. It re-opened at around 2.45pm.

It is understood that the crash involved one vehicle which was in a collision with an electricity pole.

Meanwhile part of the Agivey Road in Aghadowey will be closed on Sunday from 10am until midday to allow for a police reconstruction of a collision that happened on May 14, 2016.

The road will close from the Cullycapple Road junction to the Drumeil Road and Clagan Park junctions.
Police have appealed for information after the Belfast home of a man aged in his 80s was targeted by burglars.

The north Belfast home of a man aged in his 80s has been targeted by burglars.

Sometime between 10pm on Saturday and 3am on Sunday, the house was entered and a sum of money was taken.

The resident of this house is a man aged in his 80s.

Detectives from the PSNI are appealing for information following the incident at a house in the Westland Drive area of North Belfast.

Detective Sergeant McCambridge said: I would ask anyone with any information about this incident to contact detectives at Musgrave Police Station on the non-emergency number 101.
The PSNI has issued an appeal for information about missing Belfast woman Rose Wildman.

A police spokesman said the family of the missing 53-year-old woman are becoming increasingly concerned for her welfare.

Rose was last seen in the Coates Row area of south Belfast, near Ravenhill Road, in the early hours of Tuesday September 27 and was believed to be in the company of a man known only as Tommy.

She has been described as approximately 5ft1ins tall, of medium build, with brown eyes and shoulder length brown hair. When last seen she was wearing a 3/4 length coat, dark trousers and had a light coloured handbag.

Rose, or anyone who knows of her whereabouts, is asked to contact Lisburn Road Police Station on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 928 of 03/10/16.
Two men have been charged with 23 offences between them following a robbery at a shopping centre in the Donegall Road area of West Belfast on the evening of Friday 7 October.

Two men are due in court in Belfast on Monday morning to face charges relating to 23 offences.

It is understood the two men were confronted by security staff in the car park of a shopping centre in the Donegall Road area of west Belfast at around 8pm on Friday.

They had been attempting to make off on a motorcycle, which had been reported stolen the previous evening.

They were charged with the 23 offences following a robbery at the shopping centre

A 20-year-old man has been charged with 16 offences including robbery, attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, aggravated vehicle taking, criminal damage and driving whilst disqualified.

And a 30-year-old man has been charged with seven offences including robbery, theft, aggravated vehicle taking and criminal damage.

Both men are due to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court on the morning of Monday 10 October.

As is normal procedure, all charges are reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.
Convoy Orange hall in Co Donegal has re-opened after it was destroyed in an arson attack in October 2014. Photo by Keith Moore

Edward Stevenson, Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, and Samuel Parker, right, of LOL 788, who unveiled a plaque to open the newly rebuilt Convoy Orange Hall on Saturday. Included is Alan Laird, Worshipful Master of Thiepval Memorial LOL 1005. Photo by Keith Moore

Alan Laird, Worshipful Master of Thiepval Memorial LOL 1005, Convoy at the re-opening of the Co Donegal Orange Hall which was destroyed in an arson attack in 2014. Photo by Keith Moore

An Orange hall in Co Donegal has re-opened its doors  two years after being destroyed in an arson attack.

Convoy Orange hall was targeted by arsonists in a malicious attack in October 2014.

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Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said he was "horrified and disgusted" by the destruction.

The attack came just weeks after nearby Newtowncunningham Orange hall was destroyed in a similar incident.

Brethren from Thiepval Memorial LOL 1005 were joined at Saturdays formal reopening and dedication service by senior Orangemen, including the Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Edward Stevenson. Also in attendance were Deputy Grand Master Harold Henning and Grand Chaplain Rev Mervyn Gibson, who officiated the religious service.

The new and improved Orange property is both larger and better equipped than its predecessor, incorporating a meeting room, a room for band practice and extra storage. It also provides sporting amenities for young people, as well as broadband facilities.

Convoy Worshipful Master Alan Laird expressed his delight at the completion of the two-year rebuilding project.

He said: The opening of our new hall is a tremendous accomplishment for all those associated with this substantial rebuild project. The upgraded hall has been built for the use of the local community with the long term in mind. We trust it will be utilised not only by the lodge and pipe band, but also the young people of the area. We are confident the property will be a wonderful asset for east Donegal for generations to come.

Mr Laird also commended members of the Loyal Orders from across the British Isles who contributed to the Convoy hall appeal, set up in the aftermath of the criminal act.

Mr Stevenson offered his congratulations to the members of the Convoy lodge at the official opening.

The Grand Master said: It is tremendous to see this community facility rise again from the ashes and fully restored to its former glory. Its renewed and improved presence is testament to the fortitude and resilience of the Protestant and Orange fraternity in the Donegal area.

The lodge has a proud military heritage, most notably during the Great War, and therefore it is particularly fitting that such a redevelopment occur in this, the centenary year of the Battle of the Somme.

The new Convoy hall will stand as not only a tribute to those former members, but also in its everyday operation will provide a lasting legacy for future generations.

Convoy lodge was formed in 1919 as a lasting memorial to local men who fell during the Great War. The original hall was named the Thiepval Memorial Orange Hall in 1930. Many from the local area served King and country during the First World War in the Army, Navy and Air Force. Some of their descendants are members of the lodge today.

Also in attendance at Saturdays event was Samuel Parker. The Larne man played a prominent role in the reopening as his late father, Samuel Snr, led a team of voluntary workers who built the original hall which lasted until the attack in 2014. Mr Parker laid the corner stone of the new hall during the construction phase, which commenced earlier this year.
Jeremy Corbyn and Sadiq Khan will join campaigners on the streets of London's East End

Jeremy Corbyn and Sadiq Khan will join members of the Jewish community in a march commemorating the anti-fascist battle of Cable Street 80 years ago.

Campaigners will take to the streets of London's East End on Sunday to protest against the rising number of racist and anti-Semitic offences in the city.

The number of hate crimes reported in the capital has risen to 50 a day since the EU referendum in June.

There were 4,986 racially motivated offences in London between June 24 and September 30, compared with 3,620 in the 99 days before the Brexit vote, according to figures from the mayor of London's office.

Mr Khan is expected to say at the event: "London today is more diverse than ever and, on the whole, is a shining example of how people from different backgrounds can live side-by-side. I am proud that in London, we don't simply tolerate each other, but respect and celebrate our backgrounds and differences.

"When we see things that are divisive, go against our British values and are just fundamentally wrong, we must call them out. Anyone who threatens our values - whether fascists, extremists or political forces seeking to divide our society today - you will fail.

"By working together, playing together, studying together, having a shared set of common values and laws that are clear and progressive, our communities can unite and stand together against anyone who seeks to divide us."

The mayor is due to speak at a Jewish Community event in Shoreditch Town Hall.

Tens of thousands of anti-fascist protesters clashed with police in Cable Street on Sunday October 4 1936.

They were campaigning against a march by members of the British Union of Fascists, led by Oswald Mosley.
Top Government ministers have ruled out forcing companies to publish lists of their foreign workers, as a former Tory cabinet member suggested plans to collect the data were "repugnant".

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon and Education Secretary Justine Greening insisted the information was aimed at improving Government investment in skills training, and said it would never be made public or used for "naming and shaming".

The plans were announced at the Tory party conference by Home Secretary Amber Rudd and have been widely condemned, with Labour calling them "xenophobic".

Business groups rounded on the plans, while David Cameron's former senior adviser Steve Hilton branded them "divisive, repugnant, and insanely bureaucratic" - a view shared by former education secretary Nicky Morgan.

Asked on the Murnaghan programme on Sky News if she would endorse Mr Hilton's view of the policy as repugnant, Ms Morgan said: "Yes, I probably would, actually. I think it's a really inadvisable way to proceed.

"I was surprised that Amber had put forward that proposal about the listing of foreign workers, because that's not the Amber Rudd I know and worked alongside in the cabinet.

"The trouble with these sorts of policies is that they send out a message about the party, about the way we want to approach people coming to this country, bringing their talents, their skills here.

"I don't think that's a message we want to send out to the wider world."

However, both Ms Greening and Sir Michael said the policy had been misinterpreted.

Ms Greening told ITV's Peston On Sunday: "This is not data that will be published. There will be absolutely no naming and shaming.

"This is about informing policy, so that we understand particularly which areas and parts of the country there are skills shortages, evidenced by the fact employers are not taking local workers as much as they might do.

"It enables us to tailor policy in those areas so that we can respond to that and make sure that people can take advantage of the opportunities economically in their area.

"We're not going to get smart policy if we don't have the right evidence to be able to drive. That's what this is all about."

Sir Michael added the plans were only a small shift in policy compared to the information companies already gather when employing workers from overseas.

As part of the Resident Labour Market Test, companies have to advertise the position in Britain for 28 days, then they have to demonstrate there was no British applicant who could fill the post.

Sir Michael told Pienaar's Politics on BBC Radio 5 Live: "We're looking to see whether that is just box ticking, or whether we can get a better picture of exactly what the dependence on foreign workers is in each particular sector.

"That would mean, for example, asking companies to simply report their numbers, which we wouldn't publish or identify.

"But it would be interesting to know whether, for example, the fishing industry had a very high dependence on foreign workers, or the agriculture industry, or the banking sector.

"That would enable us to look again at the courses the local colleges were offering and to make sure companies were treated fairly.

"We will not be asking companies to list or name, to publish or identify in any way the number of foreign workers they have. It's been slightly misinterpreted."

Mr Hilton, who broke away from former prime minister Mr Cameron to back Brexit, was scathing about the foreign worker list suggestion in an article for the Sunday Times.

He wrote that ministers might as well announce that "foreign workers will be tattooed with numbers on their forearms".

Ms Rudd told people not to brand her a "racist" after the idea was widely condemned.

The initiative was also attacked by Ukip MEP Roger Helmer, who said: "This idea that companies should provide lists of foreigners - if we had suggested that, if Ukip had suggested that, they would have been shouting 'fascist' up and down the street. I personally think that is a step too far."

A Home Office spokesman previously said: "This is not about listing foreign workers or so-called naming and shaming of companies. The proportion of international workers in a company is one of the pieces of information that companies may be asked to provide to the Government.

"This information will not be published. This already happens in the US and is one of several proposals we will be consulting on as part of our work to ensure that companies take reasonable steps to recruit at home before looking to bring in workers from abroad.

"The purpose of having a consultation is so that we can listen to business and use that feedback to inform our decisions."

A Home Office source said: "This is a wilful misinterpretation of one question in a consultation document - the whole point of which is to seek views on the best approach."

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said: "The Tories are in disarray following Amber Rudd's worrying statement last week, contradicting each other as their policy falls apart at the seams.

"The Tories' anti-foreigner agenda is a distraction from their own complete failures of policy, and against the best interests of society.

"Many sectors risk collapse if the Tories press ahead with these plans on overseas workers: the City, farmers, the NHS, construction.

"We need answers from the Tories on how they will protect our economy, but they have no plan other than a risky hard Brexit, which would threaten our prosperity."

A CBI spokesman said: "We welcome the Government's positive announcement that firms will not be required to list their foreign employees.

"Business and the Government need to work together to grow the skills needed for a thriving economy.

"The 45 billion business invests in training each year must complement education and skills development in schools, further education and higher education.

"This will give us the foundation to develop an approach to migration that both supports the economy and deals with public concerns in the long run.

"However, there are skills and labour gaps in the economy right now. If firms do not plug those gaps, they cannot grow, create jobs and spread prosperity - something that must be recognised in the short term."

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: "The Conservatives are lurching from one damaging announcement to another, making the pound crash and foreign workers feel unwelcome.

"Even Conservatives described the plan as repugnant. It is clear Theresa May is happy to dance to Ukip's tune and only ask the difficult questions later.

"The Conservatives are reckless, divisive and uncaring. With Labour saying they did not object to this disgusting plan in principle, the Liberal Democrats are now the real opposition to the Conservative Brexit government."
A Gatwick spokesman said the airport would continue to prepare to expand even if it is not initially selected

Gatwick Airport has insisted it will remain "ready to deliver" a second runway even if the Government rejects its proposal in favour of Heathrow expansion.

The West Sussex airport claimed its rival is "likely to fail" in building a third runway even if the project gets the go-ahead.

Concerns have been raised about the environmental impact of increasing capacity at Heathrow, as well as the cost of improving the airport's road and rail links.

In her keynote address to the Tory Party conference in Birmingham, Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed that the Government would "shortly announce" a decision on airport expansion.

The Davies Commission recommended in July last year that a third runway should be built at Heathrow. Other shortlisted options are extending the airport's existing northern runway or building a second runway at Gatwick.

A Gatwick spokesman said the airport would continue to prepare to expand even if it is not initially selected.

He told the Press Association: " Gatwick would also be standing ready to deliver the new runway as should Heathrow get the green light it is likely to fail as it has several times before.

" A decision on next steps will be taken after the Government announcement on new runway capacity. While Gatwick does not rule out launching legal action, other groups have already said they would if Heathrow expansion is green-lighted."

It is believed that local authorities in areas near Heathrow would consider challenging an expansion decision in court.

The Gatwick spokesman added that the airport will attempt to maximise the use of its existing runway.

"Gatwick would continue to improve efficiency until it reaches 100% capacity," he said.

"One area it would be looking to grow would be its long-haul route network. Having put on 20 new long-haul routes in 2015 alone, Gatwick is expecting to grow the total long-haul routes it offers above the 51-strong network it currently has."

Darren Caplan, chief executive of the Airport Operators Association, the trade association that represents UK airports, has claimed the UK's Brexit vote underlines the importance of a decision being made on expansion.

He told Business Travel News: " Ministers insist that in spite of the UK's impending departure from the EU, the country remains outward-looking and open for business.

"Nothing could better demonstrate they mean that than a decision that would ensure the UK gets the additional capacity it so vitally needs if the country is to maintain and enhance its position as one of the world's leading and best-connected economies."

Mr Caplan added: " It is beyond time for the Government to act."
Ed Miliband is considering tabling an urgent Commons question demanding the Prime Minister sets out to parliament exactly what its role will be in the major decisions surrounding Brexit

Britain is going for "full Brexit" outside the European Union but still wants to maintain good trade relations with the bloc, said Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon.

Sir Michael also called for unity among Cabinet colleagues amid reports of deepening rifts among top Tories over the issue, with Sir Michael saying "we are all Brexiteers now".

Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show on the BBC, Sir Michael said: "This is Brexit. This is full Brexit, if you like.

"We're going to be outside the European Union but we still, because it's over 40% of our trade, we still want to maximise our trade with it.

"We are all Brexiteers now. We're respecting the decision of the British people and we've got to make a success of it."

Sir Michael said the Government's objectives in Brexit negotiations were to maximise free trade on goods and services, while regaining control of British borders.

He added that there must be co-operation on security, counter-terrorism and law enforcement.

Britain has been repeatedly warned that it must accept free movement of people if it wants to be a member of the European single market.

Education Secretary Justine Greening, meanwhile, has insisted any tensions in the Cabinet will not split the Tories.

The comments came as it emerged former Labour leader Ed Miliband has held talks with pro-EU Tory MPs on trying to force Theresa May to allow a Commons vote on any moves to exit the single market.

Ms Greening moved to downplay reports of splits at the senior level of Cabinet on what type of withdrawal deal to try to cut with the EU, with Chancellor Philip Hammond said to be at odds with "hard Brexiteers" David Davis and Liam Fox.

Asked on ITV's Peston On Sunday if the Cabinet would hold together on Brexit, Ms Greening said: "Yes, I think so. I think it's important our party has come together under the leadership of Theresa May to now steer our country through what will be historic months and years ahead. I think the Cabinet is united."

A loose cross-party alliance of pro-Europe MPs from all sides of the Commons has expressed concern at the sudden pace towards a "hard Brexit" stance by the Government.

Mr Miliband is considering tabling an urgent Commons question demanding the Prime Minister sets out to Parliament exactly what its role will be in the major decisions surrounding Brexit.

The former Labour leader, and ex-Liberal Democrat head Nick Clegg, have formed common ground with the SNP, the Greens and some Tories to seek a strong voice for the Commons in the Brexit process.

The grouping believes that while Britain narrowly voted to leave the EU, it did not vote to leave the single market.

It comes as former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it was "pretty clear" Britain would be leaving the single market, given recent rhetoric from ministers.

Speaking on BBC One's Sunday Politics programme, Mr Duncan Smith said migration from the EU had caused "a great deal of damage to workers and their incomes" among lower skilled workers.

However, Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said this would be "a massive mistake" and risked tens of thousands of jobs.

Mr Farron added: "I think Iain is wrong to say that there's been a massive decision in favour of us leaving the single market, if that's what he's implying.

"A small majority voted to leave the EU, but nobody voted to leave the common or single market."

Former education secretary Nicky Morgan said a "sizeable" number of Tory MPs support her push for a "soft Brexit" with the closest possible ties to the EU after withdrawal, and a Commons vote on the issues involved.

Ms Morgan warned that it would be "extraordinary" given the prominence of the issue of sovereignty in the referendum campaign for Parliament, not to have a "big role" in the Brexit negotiations as they unfold.

Asked about cross-party efforts to push for more parliamentary control of the process, Ms Morgan told Sky News: "Yes, I think there will be common cause between those us of who want there to be the right Brexit, the right mechanism for leaving the EU.

"The other thing is that the Conservative Party manifesto, on which we were elected only 17 months ago, has a very clear statement in it about 'we say yes to the single market', and it talks about 'we will safeguard British interests in the single market'.

"And that is something that the Government cannot ignore. We stood on a manifesto saying that. We have to make sure that we do not throw away access to the single market just because that means talking about free movement of labour."
Donald Trump has refused to step down as the Republican presidential candidate (AP)

A damaged but defiant Donald Trump has gone on the offensive against Hillary Clinton and her husband in a dramatic escalation of personal attacks as he sought to deflect fallout from obscene remarks he made about women.

The Republican presidential nominee tweeted a link on Sunday to an interview with Juanita Broaddrick, whose lawsuit against Bill Clinton accusing him of rape was dismissed in 2001.

Criminal charges were never filed. Mr Clinton has denied the allegations.

Mr Trump's risky move, hours before a critical presidential debate, comes as he tries to save a flailing campaign facing unprecedented opposition from within his own party.

More than two dozen Republican office holders have declared since Friday that they will not vote for Mr Trump.

Many have called on him to step aside after his vulgar descriptions of sexual advances on women were revealed in a recording.

Mr Trump's attack on Mr Clinton's past was backed by former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who equated Mr Trump's latest controversy to the actions of Mrs Clinton in the 1990s when her husband struggled through the fallout of his own sexual transgressions.

Over the objections of CNN anchor Jake Tapper, Mr Giuliani insisted that Mrs Clinton "was the leader of the attack" against women who made accusations against Mr Clinton.

Mr Giuliani, as Mr Trump had the day before, declared that the Republican nominee would never quit the presidential race.

With just a month remaining before the election, Mr Trump's task in Sunday night's debate is enormous, and perhaps insurmountable.

Even before the recording of his remarks were made public, the businessman lagged behind Mrs Clinton after an undisciplined first debate.

He is struggling to overcome deep scepticism among women about his temperament and qualifications to be commander in chief.

Mr Trump has long hinted he would raise Mr Clinton's sexual history at debates.

In what was billed as a videotaped apology, Mr Trump over the weekend said: "Bill Clinton has actually abused women" and Mrs Clinton "bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated" her husband's "victims".

Democratic National Committee chairwoman Donna Brazille said Mrs Clinton had suffered because of her husband's infidelities and noted that Mr Clinton, who was impeached, has been held accountable.

"There is no accountability for Donald Trump in the - in the ridiculous and sexist things that he has said and racist things that he has said over the past few years," she said on ABC's This Week.

Outside Mr Trump's small cadre of advisers, support for the businessman was scarce among prominent Republicans following Friday's release of the 2005 videotape.

Mr Trump's own running mate, Indiana governor Mike Pence, declared he could neither condone nor defend the remarks.

Several other Republicans took the extraordinary step of revoking support for their party's nominee, including Ohio Senator Rob Portman, New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte - both are running for re-election - and the party's 2008 nominee, Arizona Senator John McCain.

Many went further and called on Mr Trump to quit the race altogether.

Mr Trump called his detractors "self-righteous hypocrites" on Sunday on Twitter, saying: "Watch their poll numbers - and elections - go down!"

Republican leaders have scheduled a rare Monday conference call for House Republican politicians, who are out on recess. Sources say rank-and-file politicians believe it is about Mr Trump.

The firestorm was sparked by the video obtained on Friday by The Washington Post and NBC News.

In the video, Mr Trump, who was married to his current wife at the time, is heard describing attempts to have sex with a married woman.

He also says that when you are a star "you can do anything".

Mr Trump adds seconds later: "Grab them by the p****. You can do anything."

He said of his impulse to kiss beautiful women: "I don't even wait."

The Republican National Committee is considering how to move forward.

One possibility is redirecting its expansive political operation away from Mr Trump and towards helping vulnerable congressional candidates.

Such a move would leave Mr Trump with virtually no political infrastructure in swing states to ensure his supporters vote.

Election law experts suggest it would be logistically impossible to replace Mr Trump on the ballot altogether, with early voting under way in some states and overseas ballots already distributed.

The recording almost completely overshadowed the release of hacked emails from the Clinton campaign that revealed the contents of previously secret paid speeches to Wall Street.

Mrs Clinton told bankers behind closed doors that she favoured "open trade". Such comments were at odds with her tough public comments about trade and Wall Street.

Clinton running mate Virginia Senator Tim Kaine deflected questions about the emails and focused instead on Mr Trump.

"I think there's kind of a piece of the jigsaw puzzle missing in Donald Trump where he does not look at women and consider them as equal to himself," Mr Kaine said on CNN.

AP
Police hunt for the suspect after the shooting in Palm Springs (AP)

A man who fatally shot two officers and wounded another in California has been taken into custody, according to police.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department said that the "suspect has been taken into custody".

Palm Springs police chief Bryan Reyes said two officers trying to resolve a family dispute were killed on Saturday when a man they had been speaking to suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire. A third officer was wounded and remains in hospital.

The police chief identified the killed officers as Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny.

"It was a simple family disturbance and he elected to open fire on a few of the guardians of the city," he said.

Ms Zerebny, 27, had been with the department for about 18 months and only recently returned from maternity leave. She was the mother of a four-month-old daughter.

Mr Vega, a father of eight, was a 35-year veteran who planned to retire in December. He had been working overtime on his day off on Saturday.

Mr Reyes said the three were standing near the front door speaking with the man, "trying to negotiate with the suspect", when he suddenly shot them.

Riverside County SWAT officers quickly sealed off the normally quiet residential neighbourhood in the desert resort town as police evacuated some residents. They told others to stay inside their homes, keep their doors locked and not to open them for anyone until further notice.

A neighbour, Frances Serrano, said she called authorities after the father of the shooting suspect came to her house across the street and told her his son was "acting crazy".

"He said his wife left because she was so scared of him," Ms Serrano said, adding the father warned her that his son had threatened to shoot police if they arrived.

She had gone back inside her home before officers arrived, Ms Serrano said, and a few minutes after they got there she heard gunfire. Moments later officers were knocking on her door, warning her to stay inside.

Ms Serrano said the man police were looking for had been in jail at one time and had to wear a monitor on his ankle when he was first released. But she added that he had always been friendly and polite to her and her family.

"We never had any problems with him," she said.

Although Mr Reyes did not identify the shooting suspect, he indicated police had had previous dealings with him. He declined to elaborate, adding that Riverside County sheriff's deputies were now in charge of the investigation.

As the shooting scene remained locked down late into the evening, scores of police officers, several fighting back tears, gathered at Palm Springs Desert Regional Medical Centre to offer a salute as the bodies of Ms Zerebny and Mr Vega were placed into white hearses for transport to a coroner's office.

Meanwhile, in front of police headquarters, scores of local residents gathered to leave flowers and cards.

"I don't even remember anything so vicious and cruel," said Palm Springs resident Heidi Thompson. "These officers are responding to a domestic call for somebody in need that they don't even know. They put their life on the line for us, the community. And they get gunned down? I don't understand it."

The shooting occurred just three days after a popular Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant was shot and killed in the desert town of Lancaster.

Sgt Steve Owen was answering a burglary call when sheriff's officials said he was shot by a man who then stood over him and shot him four more times.

AP
Bangladeshi security personnel gather at the site of an operation to flush out suspected militants in Gazipur, some 30 km (18.6 miles) outside Dhaka on Oct. 8, 2016.

Updated at 9:41 a.m. ET on 2016-10-09

The violent deaths of 12 suspected militants in four raids by Bangladeshi security forces on Saturday totally destroyed the military capabilities of extremist faction Neo-JMB by eliminating the leader of its military wing along with a top financier, officials said.

Eleven suspects were killed during the raids and a twelfth man fell to his death while trying to evade capture as authorities closed in on him, they said. The raids also disrupted plans by the group to attack members of Bangladeshs Hindu and Shiite minorities during religious holidays being celebrated this week, according to the home minister.

Saturdays operations by counter-terrorist police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) units brought to 32 the number of suspected Neo-JMB members who have died in raids by security forces since terrorists mounted a large-scale deadly attack at a cafe in Dhaka on July 1. Bangladeshi officials blame Neo-JMB, a faction of militant group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), for the attack.

Our forces repeatedly urged them to surrender, but the militants instead shot at the law enforcers. So, we had no other alternative than to kill them, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told BenarNews.

One of the suspects, Abdur Rahman, a main financier for Neo-JMB, fatally injured himself on Saturday night by jumping from a five-story building in Savar, outside Dhaka, as officers were chasing him, and he later died in a local hospital, RAB spokesperson Mufti Mahmud Khan told reporters.

There has been a lull in terrorist attacks since Bangladesh launched its crackdown on Neo-JMB after the terrorist siege at the cafe, except for one that killed four people at a police checkpoint near the site of Bangladeshs largest annual Eid-ul-Fitr prayer gathering, in northwestern Kishoreganj district, on July 7.

Before the attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant, Bangladesh had been gripped since last year by a series of smaller-scale machete-killings by militants who targeted secular bloggers, religious minorities, and others.

Altogether police and RAB have now launched eight raids against Neo-JMB since the attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery, including one that killed the cafes five alleged attackers when security forces stormed the restaurant on July 2 to break the overnight siege. In all eight operations, only one suspect was captured alive, according to police sources.

Last week, a pair of suspected Neo-JMB members surrendered to police in Bogra district when they became the first to accept a cash incentive from the government in exchange for turning themselves in and promising to renounce radicalism. The two suspects each were handed checks of more than U.S. $6,000 from the home minister when they gave themselves up.

Military wing leader slain: officials

The operations on Saturday were the first to combine multiple raids in a single day.

Two of the raids on suspected Neo-JMB hideouts unfolded in Gazipur district on the outskirts of Dhaka, and a third one took place in the central district of Tangail. Seven suspected militants were killed during the first raid in Gazipur. Two other raids each left two suspects dead, according to officials.

The first operation took out Faridul Islam (alias Provat), the alleged head of Neo-JMBs military wing, who is better known as Akash, state news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported.

Neo JMB had been led by Tamim Chowdhury, a Canadian citizen, but he was killed along with two other suspected militant in a police raid on the outskirts of Dhaka in late August, officials said.

Bangladeshi authorities said Chowdhury, 30, was the main planner of the cafe attack that left 29 dead: 20 diners, five attackers, two policemen shot from inside the cafe, a restaurant worker and a wounded man who later died of his injuries. Seventeen of the dead were foreign nationals.

The Middle East-based extremist group Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for the attack, has published articles in its propaganda magazines alleging that Chowdhury headed its branch in Bangladesh.

The home minister and other top officials, however, have denied that IS has a presence in the country, saying that home-grown Neo-JMB was responsible.

Akash took over as Neo JMBs military [wing] leader after Tamim Chowdhury was killed. Today, Akash was confirmed killed. So, we have totally destroyed the military capabilities of the Neo JMB, Khan told Benar.

No room for terrorism: PM

Meanwhile, the Hindu festival of Durga Puja began in Bangladesh on Friday and was to go on through Tuesday, while Bangladeshi Shiite Muslims were preparing to celebrate Ashura this coming Wednesday.

Last October, a 16-year-old boy was killed and more than 85 Shiite worshipers injured when bombs went off as members of the religious community gathered for a march in Dhaka in celebration of Ashura.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for that attack as well.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told a gathering of Hindu worshipers at the Dhakeswari National Temple in Dhaka that her government was committed to cracking down on religious extremism.

Our government has always taken stern action against terrorism and militancy and would continue to curb the twin demons with an iron hand ... there would be no place [for] terrorism and militancy on the soil of Bangladesh, BSS quoted her as saying.



Islam is a religion of peace and there is no room for terrorism and militancy in it ... we won't tolerate any terrorist acts in the name of religion, the prime minister said.

Shahriar Sharif contributed to this report.

This version clarifies the circumstances around the death of suspect Abdur Rahman.


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Homeless charity Focus Ireland has warned that thousands more Irish homes could be sold off to vulture funds.

The charity said government moves to restrict the funds did not go far enough.
Irish naval vessel, LE Samuel Beckett, has rescued 130 migrants off the coast of Tripoli.

The search and rescue operation took place at 11am today 22 nautical miles north-east of Tripoli, on foot of a request from the Italian Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centre.

The migrants were brought on board where they received food, water and medical treatment where required.

LE Samuel Beckett has rescued 780 people since its recent deployment to the area.
The deputy director general of RTE Kevin Bakhurst took to twitter today to defend the station against incendiary comments by Ryanair boss Michael OLeary.

The colourful Ryanair chief described RTE as a rat-infested North Korean union shop at a Fine Gael party fundraiser on Wednesday this week.
LAHORE: Medical professionals in Pakistan need to pay more attention towards mother and child health for which our...
LAGOS: More than 600 people are now known to have perished in the worst floods in a decade in Nigeria, according to...
MOSCOW: Authorities in Moscow-annexed Crimea said Thursday that a thermal power plant on the peninsula was targeted...
Political leadership, though, is different in that "you can't dictate or direct or demand" and, especially in a party with disparate views, you need to "make sure that everybody feels that they're an important part of the team".

Hanson might have kept his party united, or its divisions corralled, but if he wins on Saturday, his toughest battles might be ahead. His biggest political handicap is possibly his and his team's utter lack of experience in government. Experience on the battlefield is one thing, but realising an agenda is never as simple as asking for it to be done, and in Hanson's case he must deal with a public service not only imbued in the ways of Labor after 15 years but also peppered with former Labor staffers.

One of the peculiarities to date has been watching him roll out traditional Labor promises. Other than an ambiguous promise for "lower rates", and a promise to scrap the lease variation tax for town-centre developments, we are yet to see the Liberal tax policy. How will they replace the revenue if they freeze rates hikes already budgeted? Nor have we heard anything, outside the campaign launch where friends were among friends, of strong economic management or fiscal austerity.

Whether the focus on hospitals, schools and buses is a ploy to sweep Labor's ground from beneath it or a reflection of Hanson's priorities is difficult to judge. But while it's fair to say that a Liberal Party rolling out a Labor agenda can leave you uneasy and wondering what lies behind, you don't get the sense of massively organised strategy behind the approach. We've said before that a more focused Liberal hierarchy would, after 15 years, have worked out that the path to government requires high-profile supportive independents. If the Liberals don't win on Saturday, you might wonder whether they have the political nous ever to win.

Hanson is the father of two boys, one 17 from his first marriage, and the other aged 10, about which he is effusive: "Both my boys are beautiful boys and I love them to death. We're very loving. We are very huggy as a family." He says the past 12 years, since he met Fleur and the pair made a modest extension to a modest house in Holder, have been the happiest of his life. Which could also explain the almost goofy grin.
ACT Labor is promising to employ "lollipop people" to supervise school crossings at 20 schools if it is returned to government.

The promise, costing $5 million over four years, would apply to the 20 schools identified as having the highest need, a Labor spokesman said.

A school "lollipop" crossing supervisor in Melbourne. Labor says it will employ supervisors at 20 school crossings if re-elected. Credit:Robert Prezioso

Work to identify the schools would begin this year, and the "lollipop officers" would be in place by the time children returned to school after the 2017 winter break.
Former Collingwood star Dane Swan has admitted taking illegal drugs during his AFL career at the Magpies.

"You show me someone who doesn't know someone who has experimented or tried social drugs, and I will show you a liar," Swan told News Corp Australia.

"I have experimented with what some people call recreational drugs, but have never taken performance-enhancing drugs or what you might call 'heavy' drugs."

Swan, who won the Brownlow Medal in 2011, revealed that he never failed a drug test during his career which started at Collingwood in 2003.
Georgetown University Professor Jason Brennan's new book, Against Democracy, is now taking the Western academic world by storm.

The premise of the book is simple. There are three kinds of people in a democratic setup -- the Hobbits, the Hooligans and the Vulcans. The Hobbits know nothing, nor are they interested in politics or economics. And they are the ones persuaded the most easily. The Hooligans know quite a bit, but are partisan and biased, and only listen to their own side. The Vulcans however ponder over issues and decide based on rationality and merit.

Now, since democracy as a concept is solely based on people supposedly taking part in a process of rational decision making, it has become flawed in the modern context. People, Brennan argues, simply dont have the incentive to learn and get to know more before deciding, and so take decisions which are myopic, and flawed. Modern democracy, unless corrected, simply cannot continue in its present form.

Nowhere is this truer than the Colombian referendum that rejected a peace deal between the FARC rebels and the Colombian government. In a shocking outcome, a deal that would have brought closure to the longest civil war in the Western hemisphere was narrowly rejected.

In the least surprising irony, it was found that the people who voted for the peace deal were those in the region most affected by the civil war, while unaffected regions voted for a continuation of the war.

Some of the justifications for the rejection were bizarre. One person said that she didn't want her children to grow up in a society knowing that crimes are forgiven, so she voted against the peace, that would have given the rebels amnesty. Another person said, the deal was a compromise he opposed. Needless to say, neither was affected by the civil war.

This is a curious scenario becoming increasingly prevalent in the Western world. Opposition to any sort of compromise and certain Puritanism is something that has surfaced again in the political consensus, where any sort of practical compromise and is seen as weakness and a climbdown.

That is what is leading Western opposition to Russia in the Syrian civil war, or settlement of the South China Sea issue or the Iran nuclear deal. No one wants any sort of compromise anymore because compromising is a real world concept, which ideologues don't like.

The second fact, as Brennan argues, involves the implementation of direct democracy. If one traces history, the direct democracy of Greek city states gave way to modern form of complex parliamentary democracy or another form of governance, because the world turned more complex, where representatives of the people decide on their behalf based on evidence, discussions and debates. That could refer to any political system where the underlying platform is always the same.

Recently however, populism has given way to referendums, almost all of which inevitably have resulted in problems. From the Hungarian referendum on refugees, to Brexit and now Colombia, every direct democratic exercise has shown that people are swayed by rhetoric and don't think for themselves based on rationality. Emotions rule the decision-making process.

During times of strife, therefore, populist leaders appeal to the basest of human emotions and instincts that are easily manipulated. The complex decision-making process is then left to individuals who either have no idea or knowledge of complexities, or are too emotional to judge and decide based on logic and reason. The idea of collective wisdom in these circumstances, therefore, is flawed.

The Colombian referendum decision is a symbolic tragedy of our times. A civil war that started over half century back had degenerated to the point where both sides understood the only way forward was through compromise and cessation of hostility.

The past paradigms are dead, as are the social conditions triggering the conflict in the first place. However, a handful of people instigated by an extreme sense of puritanical justice and nationalism sabotaged what could have been developed into a model peace deal for other similar conflicts around the globe.

Ultra-nationalism and populism are opposing social forces that feed off each other to maintain their survival. They are complementary, and the Colombian failure points to that lesson of history yet again.

One can only hope, prudent policy makers and politicians learn the value of compromise and do what they were chosen to do by the people, that is, take hard compromising decisions based on the middle ground, rather than revert those tough decisions back to the people and leave them to be influenced by structural social forces beyond their control.

Sumantra Maitra is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SumantraMaitra.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn
Australia should boost taxes on wealthy property owners to curb rising inequality that is eroding Australia's "egalitarian ideal", according to French economist Thomas Piketty.

In an exclusive, Australian-first interview ahead of a visit to Sydney and Melbourne, the author of the 2014 surprise bestseller Capital in the Twenty-First Century told Fairfax Media that inequality in Australia had risen to its highest level in half a century.

In particular, wealthy Australians were using property as a vehicle to transfer wealth to their children  a phenomenon common in many countries, but "very important" in Australia.

"The tax system very often has been manipulated in favour of the most favoured. This is a serious problem everywhere and this needs to be tackled if we want some sense of fairness in the tax system to prevail.
Thousands of Australian investors who ploughed millions into illegal fundraising outfit Astra Resources will have to seek recourse in Britain after a court ruling.

Liquidators from Grant Thornton's London office last week secured orders from Federal Court judge Richard White for a single liquidation process operated out of England.

ASIC took action. Credit:Jim Rice

Astra Resources  a British company with operations in Adelaide  was placed in liquidation in Britain earlier this year after a petition from Credit Veritas over unpaid retainer fees of $US600,000.

In May the two founders of Astra Resources  Jaydeep Biswas and Silvana De Cianni  were both banned from being company directors for 12 years for illegally raising more than $6.5 million from Australian investors.
A well-received result from Britain's largest retailer, Tesco, has raised the spotlight on how quickly Australia's biggest retailer, Woolworths, can turn its ship around.

Investors have compared Woolworths with Tesco. Once the most profitable retailer in Britain, Tesco posted a record 6.4 billion ($10.48 billion) loss last year thanks to 7 billion ($11.46 billion) of one-off charges and sliding sales.

Tesco's dog days may be over Credit:Chris Ratcliffe

Tesco's stores had been widely criticised as understocked, understaffed and overpriced. And Tesco  like the other big supermarkets Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons  had been under increased pressure from German discount chains Aldi and Lidl, which have an estimated 10 per cent market share.

Woolworths until recently had the highest supermarket profits in the world. But it has come under pressure thanks to the resurgence of major rival Coles, the aggressive expansion of Aldi, its disastrous investment in the home improvement market, and troubles at its discount department store Big W.
As competition in the $90-billion grocery market heats up, the big supermarkets are spending less on traditional advertising.

But German discount supermarket Aldi is defying the industry-wide slowdown to record a 16 per cent rise to $39.3 million, according to Nielsen figures.

Start spreading the news: Aldi has recorded a 16 per cent rise in advertising to $39.3 million for September 2015 to September 2016. Credit:Josh Robenstone

The figures for September 2015 to September 2016 show supermarkets spent $200 million on advertising across metro and regional TV, metro and regional press, magazines, metropolitan radio, cinema, out-of-home, direct mail and digital.

This is down 13.4 per cent from the $231 million spent in the year to September 2015.
Australian food producers and manufacturers will get inside knowledge of Chinese shopping habits under a landmark new deal designed to expand the nation's food export industry.

Details of the agreement between Monash University and the Chinese state-owned COFCO Corporation will be revealed on Monday.

Monash University will open a Food Innovation Centre. Credit:Dhiraj Singh

It is the first deal to be signed by COFCO, China's biggest food company, and an Australian organisation.

Under the deal, Monash University's new Food Innovation Centre  and Australian food businesses  will now have access to the COFCO research arm's resources, in-depth knowledge of Chinese consumers and regulatory expertise to fast-track supply opportunities for exporters.
Last Friday, the best price for a one way ticket from Cairns to Bali was $222. The best price from Cairns to Weipa, on western Cape York, a mere 75 minutes by air, was $273.

The western coast of Cape York has tourism assets Bali can never match. The bio-diversity of plant and animal life, the pristine, fish-filled estuaries, and increasingly accessible Indigenous cultural experiences.

A beautiful sunset near Weipa. Credit:Weipa & Western Cape Tourism

There are 36 scheduled flights each week to Weipa, so why is it cheaper to holiday off shore than in north Queensland?

While Townsville struggles, Cairns and the Cape are booming. RioTinto's South of Embley (Andam) $2.6 billion bauxite mine will commence production in 2019. It is reportedly the largest private infrastructure development in Australia currently underway, and will also boost employment opportunities for Aurukun people.
Male mining engineers, school principals, surgeons and anaesthetists will be the biggest beneficiaries of the high-end tax cut before the Senate, with men more than twice as likely to benefit as women.

The analysis, by the Australian Greens, comes ahead of a vote on the $4 billion cut which is supported by both the government and the opposition.

Backdated to July 1, high-earning Australians will benefit from an increase in the second-highest tax threshold from $80,000 to $87,000; worth up to $6 a week. Australians earning less than $80,000 will miss out.

The Greens' analysis, based on the most recent Tax Office data, finds the cut will help 28 per cent of male taxpayers, but only 13 per cent of females. Nine in every 10 surgeons will get the tax cut, but only two in every 10 nurses. Eight in 10 school principals will get the cut but only two in 10 classroom teachers.
A leaked confidential letter from former Greyhound Racing NSW chief executive Paul Newson details previously unpublished allegations made by a former Greyhound Racing NSW official.

As Premier Mike Baird prepares what some senior MPs expect to be a change of course on the government's historic greyhound racing ban, the state government is continuing several inquiries into explosive allegations of mass graves and corruption linked to the sport.

The allegations were made under interview by a Greyhound Racing NSW inspector and after the former official had appeared at a special inquiry by former High Court Justice Michael McHugh.

Mr Baird described the Hunter Valley case as "another tragic example of why the government has acted decisively to end greyhound racing". Credit:Ben Rushton

In the letter, Mr Newson brings the allegation to Mr McHugh's attention and says the former official declined to provide further details without the offer of immunity from prosecution.

But Fairfax Media understands the allegations, which have not been tested under cross-examination, are the subject of an ongoing inquiry by the sport's regulator, codenamed Project Hose. A number of other allegations relating to corruption are ongoing, Fairfax Media has been told.

Another inquiry, codenamed Project Yard, is continuing to look into allegations more than 50 greyhounds have been found at a mass grave at a property near Tamworth.
NSW Premier Mike Baird's office is describing as "speculation" reports suggesting he is preparing to back down on his pledge to ban greyhound racing in NSW following opposition from the Nationals.

Reports in News Corp newspapers on Monday suggest Mr Baird will seek to overturn a decision by Parliament in August banning in the industry from July 1 next year.

It followed the damning findings of a special commission of inquiry by Justice Michael McHugh that up to 68,000 greyhounds were killed in the past 12 years as they were too slow or unable to race.

The unconfirmed reports say the industry will instead be given an opportunity to prove it can end the mass slaughter of dogs - known as "wastage" - that led to the government's decision.
Indian coal mine company Adani still has to demonstrate to Queensland Treasury it has the financial backing it needs to operate its $21.7 billion proposed Carmichael coal mine, State Development Minister Dr Anthony Lynham told Fairfax Media on Sunday.

The Carmichael Mine is Australia's largest mining project and proposes shipping enough coal to India to generate electricity for 100 million people through the Abbot Point Coal Terminal.

"Well, that's up to them entirely," Dr Lynham said.

"We've told them that unless you can have full financial closure on this project there will be no dredging allowed at Abbot Point," he said.
 Flash

The White House on Tuesday doubled down its criticism of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, calling him not a role model for Americans in any way.

When asked whether U.S. President Barack Obama, who had called Trump "unfit" for presidency, believed that the New York billionaire developer was a role model in a broader way, given his success through his career, White House spokesman Josh Earnest answered in the negative.

"There are hundreds of millions of Americans that by the way they live their lives every day are role models for our kids," said Earnest here at the daily briefing.

"But based on the president's deep concern about the rhetoric of the Republican nominee, I feel confident in telling you that he would not be comfortable with describing the nominee in that way," he said.

The question of whether Trump could be a role model was raised after Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire on Monday reversed herself after calling Trump a role model for kids.

Ayotte, who had so far refused to officially endorse Trump, later on Monday said she "misspoke" and believed that neither Trump nor Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton "have set a good example" and she would not hold up either one as role models for kids.

Trump first drew widespread criticism last June when he said in the presidential announcement speech that Mexico was sending "rapists" and drug dealers to the United States. Since then, he had repeatedly vowed, if elected president, to deport about 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country.

In another outburst of emotional remarks, Trump called for a "total and complete" ban on Muslims entering the United States in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks in November 2015.

Since then, the targets of Trump's insults expanded to include women, African-American protesters, and family members of rivals.

According to a list compiled by The New York Times, Trump had insulted on Twitter 210 individuals, places and things since declaring his presidential candidacy last June.

The Times list did not include targets of Trump's insults broadcasted on cable.
A MAN who wants to build a power plant at Mt Cotton powered by chicken manure has started a $40 million tender process, despite his planning approval having lapsed last month.

Cleveland Power director David Bray said John Holland, RCR Tomlinson and O'Brien Boilers had been awarded "the ability to prepare tenders" for plant construction.

Planning continues for a bio-mass energy plant which will be powered by refuse from the region's chicken farms.

Mr Bray said they were selected from a field of 11 applicants.

"We expect to see final pitches from these companies within the next four weeks and we're expecting to make a final decision on the successful tenderer by the end of this year," he said.
A 48-year-old man has died in hospital after a one-punch attack in South Brisbane on Saturday morning.

Timothy Lang died from his injuries in the Princess Alexandra Hospital on Monday afternoon and detectives were still searching for his attacker.

Police released vision of a man who might be able to help with the investigation. He was described as about 170cm with short dark hair, wearing black shorts with a red shirt tucked into them and white running shoes.

The incident happened about 10.15am on Saturday when a man was walking along Melbourne Street became involved in an argument with another man who was jogging in the opposite direction.
Queensland's biggest trial of the year will begin when Gable Tostee fronts the Brisbane Supreme Court charged with the murder of a New Zealand tourist.

The Gold Coast man is accused of killing Warriena Tagpuno Wright, who he met on the dating app Tinder while she was visiting Australia.

Gable Tostee arrives at Southport court in September 2015. Credit:Chris Hyde

Ms Wright was on a two-week vacation to attend a friend's wedding and met Tostee, a carpet layer, at the end of her trip.

The 26-year-old was found dead at the base of the high-rise Avalon Apartments unit in Surfers Paradise in the early hours of August 8, 2014.
That's it for Melbourne Express for today.

Follow our live blog on the presidential debate today as Donald Trump faces strong criticism from within his own party, and without, over his comments related to women and income tax.

Also follow the live blog on the AFL trade period today with The Age's Claire Siracusa.

We hear too that Richmond station has finally cleared its backlog of passengers. Phew.

Watch out for the hail and thunder predicted for later today and we will be back on deck tomorrow.
A drug haul worth more than $50,000 was seized by police after pulling over a man who was driving with his high-beam lights on the south west coast of Victoria.

Police were patrolling in Bree Road, Hamilton, early on Saturday morning after hearing reports of suspected drug activity in the area.

Methamphetamine use is affecting a much smaller number of people than alcohol, say doctors.

Two constables spotted a car driving with his high-beam lights on travelling south, just after 1.30am.

They searched the car and found cannabis.
A vigilante-style group is running "safety patrols" in Melbourne's CBD to counteract what it claims is the inability of police to protect the public from rising street crime and gangs such as Apex.

The self-proclaimed "patriot" group Soldiers of Odin Australia  an offshoot of a far-right Finnish group  is patrolling Federation Square, Birrarung Marr and Bourke Street Mall and outside city train stations at night. Its members wear distinctive black uniform jackets emblazoned with a Norse war helmet and Australian flag.

It is believed to be the first time a vigilante-style organisation has operated in the city centre, although "community patrol" groups have reportedly emerged in the outer suburbs amid a spate of publicity about home invasions, bashings and carjackings linked to rising youth crime.

"We're fed up and our communities are fed up," national president Jay B Moore said. "We're going where Apex and other gangs are popping up and causing trouble.
The calamity for the party now is that it has few options  and very little room in which to move between now and November 8. Republican Senator John McCain wants enquiry into Russian cyber activities. Credit:AP In a mark of the tenor of an extraordinary debate unfolding across the Republican Party, former Minnesota congressman Vin Weber told The Washington Post: "The presidency has been lost, but the Congress and the party can be saved. "We need to immediately focus all resources on the Congress, try to replace Trump and, failing that, settle on one alternative for principled Republicans to vote for, be it an existing third party or an agreed-upon write-in candidate." Ivanka Trump watches after her father delivered a policy speech on childcare in September. Credit:AP

High on a who's who of Republicans to turn against Trump was senator John McCain, the party's 2008 presidential candidate and a victim of Trump's cruel insults who nonetheless had endorsed his candidacy. "I thought it important I respect the fact that Donald Trump won a majority of the delegates by the rules our party set," McCain said in a statement. "But [his] behaviour this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy." US senator Kelly Ayotte, a Republican in a tight congressional contest, has turned on Donald Trump. Credit:AP But it was the explosive energy of complaints by women in the party that opened the floodgates after the publication by The Washington Post of a 2005 video in which Trump luridly and lewdly shared his tactics on how to hit on unsuspecting women. First to break ranks with calls for Trump to quit were party conservatives Barbara Comstock of Virginia and Martha Roby of Alabama. New Hampshire senator Kelly Ayotte, on a knife-edge in her re-election race, quickly joined in, announced that in voting she would write in Pence's name for president.

"Trump wasn't being crude for a cause. He was just being himself." Credit:AP "I'm a mom and an American first, and I cannot and will not support a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting women," she tweeted. Suddenly there was an eruption of protests around the country, amplified by a strategic decision by the Clinton campaign to go to ground, leaving the Republicans to tear themselves apart in the intense glare of the media spotlight. It was The Washington Post's stamp that gave credence to the authenticity of the 2005 video of Donald Trump on the set of Days of Our Lives and with cast member Arienne Zucker. Credit:Washington Post

In a stunning, unprecedented experience for the GOP, Pence waded into the middle, rebuking the man who he might serve as vice-president. Seeming to suggest that Sunday's debate might be Trump's last chance to redeem himself, Pence said in a statement that he was offended by the words and actions described by Trump in the video: "I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them." House Speaker Paul Ryan cancelled his planned appearance with Donald Trump on Saturday. Credit:AP Pence went on: "We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night." Pence effectively told Trump he was on his own in trying to clean up this mess, reportedly explaining that Trump would have to look out for himself in the coming 48 hours because Pence did not believe he could be an effective surrogate.

Senator John Thune became the first member of the Senate Republican leadership to urge Trump to stand down. Credit:AP Pence refused to stand in for Trump at a function in Wisconsin, from which he had been 'disinvited' by Speaker Paul Ryan. Both Pence and his wife reportedly were "absolutely apoplectic  melting down  inconsolable". And when the Trump camp might have wondered if the extent of the revolt had been revealed, it expanded yet again with the airing of a new audio catalogue of Trump celebrating his sexual adventures and the entry of another revered Republican woman - former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice - calling for Trump's head. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie arrives at Trump Tower on Saturday. Credit:AP "Enough! Donald Trump should not be President. He should withdraw," she posted on Facebook late on Saturday night. "As a Republican, I hope to support someone who has the dignity and stature to run for the highest office in the greatest democracy on Earth."

After closeting himself with family and close advisers through Friday evening, Trump released a video statement that might have sounded like an apology but which, in some quarters of the party, was heard as an act of defiance. After describing the 2005 video as a mere "distraction", he claimed: "Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologise. I pledge to be a better man tomorrow and will never, ever let you down"  and then he went against the advice of many in the party with a promise to seek redemption by making Bill Clinton's extra-marital affairs and Hillary Clinton's response to them an election issue. Trump's propensity to see events through a different lens was apparent in a couple of quick phone interviews he gave to reporters. "I'm holding up well, holding up well," he said when The Washington Post asked for his response to the anger and disbelief surging through the Republican Party. Rejecting demands that he step down, the candidate declared: "I'd never withdraw. I've never withdrawn in my life  No, I'm not quitting this race. I have tremendous support." Totally at odds with the tenor of the wall-to-wall news coverage to which aides said he was glued, Trump brazenly told The New York Times: "I haven't heard from anyone saying I should drop out."

And looking ahead to November 8, he insisted: "Oh yeah we can win, we will win. We have tremendous support. I think a lot of people underestimate how loyal my supporters are." Even Trump's wife disowned his remarks  though her rare entry to the campaign was read as a bid to slow an outbound tide of female support. In a statement issued by the campaign, Melania Trump said: "The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me. This does not represent the man that I know. I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world." But as a wave of angry state governors and fearful down-ticket Republican candidates for the November 8 election tried to push Trump out, party heavies like House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate leader Mitch McConnell, starkly proved Trump's "I'm not quitting" point, stopping short of demands that he resign. The chairman of the Republican Conference, senator John Thune of South Dakota, was the most senior Republican to call for Trump to quit and to let Pence make the running. Incredibly given what's gone beforehand in this campaign, both Trump and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were reportedly sceptical upon hearing of the existence of the 2005 recording of events outside the set of the Days of Our Lives soap opera. Oddly enough, they had claimed that the comments didn't sound like the Trump they knew.

And on hearing the tape and Trump acknowledging that yes, it was his voice, he still had not anticipated such a dramatic reckoning in the party. The Twitter-fixated candidate kept his head down for much of Saturday. In the morning, he indicated he might make a speech in the evening  it didn't happen. In 24 hours he posted just two tweets  one on Saturday morning that was silly: "Certainly has been an interesting 24 hours!" And on Saturday afternoon, another that shrieked defiance: "The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly - I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN!" In a bid to get his face before the cameras, Trump emerged briefly late on Saturday afternoon, to talk to supporters camped on the New York pavement and at the same time ignoring reporters' questions  save to respond "hundred per cent" to a yelled reporter's question asking if he would stay in the race.

In the evening, his adviser and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani bobbed up briefly, telling CNN as he departed Trump Tower by car: "There is nothing that will cause his dropping out  that's wishful thinking of the Clinton campaign and those who have opposed him for a long time." Republican megadonors Robert and Rebekah Mercer issued a statement in which they stood by Trump. But Ed Rollins, a senior strategist for the pro-Trump Great America PAC, alluding to the risk of a donor freeze, told the Post: "We are in a very precarious place when it comes to raising money." Among the few voices supporting Trump through Saturday, the father-and-daughter Mercer team added weight to a claim among Trump supporters that the crisis had been concocted by the media and the Clinton campaign  in their statement, they registered disgust with political elites "who quake before the boom box of media blather". But a measure of the down-ticket anxiety was the reaction of Fred Malek, a key Republican donor and finance chairman of the Republican Governors' Association. Describing Trump's comments as "beyond disgusting", he said candidates and legislators should be free to repudiate Trump if they believed it was necessary. "It will be difficult in the extreme for him to recover from this, but the biggest impact is likely to be its effect on all the down-ballot races," Malek told reporters. "If they pull the plug on support for Trump, the vast majority of voters will certainly understand that and most will respect it."
The US under a President Trump would withdraw Australia's security guarantee and become a "rogue superpower", according to a scholarly analysis commissioned by Australia's Lowy Institute.

The results would be so dire that the US election is the most consequential for world order since World War II, and the most consequential for the US since the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, the report says.

"For the first time one of the two major party nominees for the presidency, Donald Trump, is campaigning on a platform of weakening the core elements of the international order, including the US alliance system and an open global economy," concludes Thomas Wright from the Brookings Institution in Washington.

He says Australia's alliance with the US would suffer directly as a result.
In trying to make believe that Donald Trump is not as dangerous as he promises to be, millions of people have resorted to denialism.

On three levels.

First, that he could not possibly win. This remains in the hands of events, of course. But even after he was exposed boasting of sexually assaulting women, US betting odds on Sunday gave him one chance in five of taking the presidency.

Two, that he could not possibly be serious about the things he's said. He does enjoy being outrageous. And on many issues he has had more positions than a yoga instructor.
Donald Trump campaign in crisis as Republicans abandon ship

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The Saudi-led coalition air strikes on a funeral hall in Yemen's capital Sanaa on Saturday have killed 82 and injured 534, acting health minister Ghazi Ismail told reporters in a press conference on Saturday night.

A man stands by destroyed cars at a funeral hall after it was targeted by airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on Oct. 8, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

The acting minister strongly condemned what he said "barbaric air attacks against civilians and civilian targets."

Meanwhile, the country's higher governing body, the Supreme Political Council, led by Houthi top officials and political party of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, called on people to go to the streets on Sunday to protest the Saudi-led coalition air strikes against civilians in Yemen.

The Health Ministry issued an appeal for citizens to donate blood for the victims and urged doctors to go to hospitals to help treating the injured.

Earlier in the day, rescuers and witnesses said a series of air strikes by Saudi-led coalition warplanes hit a mourning ceremony in Sanaa.

The mourning ceremony was held for the father of the acting interior minister and rebel Houthi loyalist Jalal al-Ruwaishan.

"We are pulling more and more charred bodies. I counted at least 160 dead bodies until now and there were more under the rubble of the funeral ceremony hall," Khaled Yosuf, one of the rescuers, told Xinhua.

He said al-Ruwaishan and the capital mayor Abdul-Kadir Hilal were feared to be dead.

Two air strikes firstly bombed the vicinity of the big hall, and people fled into outside.

Eyewitnesses said that a third strike hit the hall directly afterwards, where hundreds of people were offering condolences to al-Ruwaishan.

"I saw tens of people dead and dozens others badly injured. Blood is everywhere," an eyewitness said on condition of anonymity.

Some witnesses said senior Houthi officials and their ally former President Ali Abdullah Saleh were in the hall.

Streets leading to the hall were all closed by pro-Houthi security forces. Journalists and cameramen were prevented from getting into the scene.

Houthis, backed by Saleh's loyal forces, stormed Sanaa in September 2014, fighting against what they said "Hadi's government corruption."

They seized Sanaa and many parts of the country's north, forcing Hadi and his government to flee into exile.

The Saudi-led coalition launched a military air campaign against Houthis and Saleh's forces on March 26, 2015 to restore Hadi to power and recapture the capital.

The coalition's air raids and ground battles have since killed over 10,000 Yemenis, mostly children and women, injuring around 35,000 others and displacing three million others, according to UN reports.

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New Hyde Park, NY: Thirty-three people were injured, four seriously, when two Long Island Rail Road trains carrying about 600 people sideswiped one another Saturday night, authorities said on Sunday.

The collision, of a maintenance train and a commuter train as they travelled eastbound, sheared chunks off the commuter train cars, several of which derailed just east of New Hyde Park station in Nassau County, trapping frightened passengers in the darkened cars for nearly an hour as rescue crews worked to free them.

"When you look at the actual damage of the situation, the silver lining is we're fortunate that more people weren't severely hurt," Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said at a news conference at the scene of the crash on Sunday.

Behind him, three of the 12 commuter cars sat tipped at odd angles on the track, with deep gashes in the steel visible along the length of the train. "The damage to the train cars is extensive, and we had a number of injuries, but frankly that we didn't lose any life is something to be thankful for."
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In a series of articles, the Bristol Post will be highlighting all the unsolved murders committed or connected to the city.

The first in the series starts with a mystery which has baffled the nation for more than 18 years.

Weston-super-Mare's Jill Dando was one of the seaside town's most famous and much loved residents.

Shock took hold of the area when it was revealed she had been gunned down outside her London home.

Police thought they found the killer; a loner, obsessed with the Crimewatch presenter.

But he was the wrong man and spent eight years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.

Eighteen years on and after a lot of speculation, Jill's family are still no closer to finding out who killed the cheerful and loving mum.

Jill Dando: The murder

The golden girl of the BBC was returning home when she reached the door of her home in Fulham on April 26, 1999.

But before she could get her keys in her door before she was shot once in the head with a 9mm bullet.

There was no sign of a struggle and the killing was said to have taken place from close range at 11.30am - broad daylight.

Immediately suspicion and the execution style of the shooting led to speculation that Jill Dando was the victim of a professional hit. A silencer was even thought to be used on the gun as neighbours did not hear the firing.

Aged just 37 years old and engaged at the time, Jill was in the prime of her career - a household name.

But she worked often as an investigative journalist and on the television show Crimewatch, which meant somewhere along the line she had probably made enemies with the wrong people.

Another line of enquiry also being considered was that Jill could have been murdered by an obsessed stalker, which for some television presenters becomes an occupational hazard.

Leading the inquiry from the outset was Detective Chief Inspector Hamish Campbell, who said at the time: "It could either be a stalker or a hitman. However, there are many theories to be explored and nothing will be left untouched."

Detectives believe the killer had "staked" out her home for at least an hour before the shooting and there were said to be seven sightings of "a smartly dressed man carrying a mobile phone - who might have donned heavy black-framed spectacles in an attempt to disguise himself" outside her 400,000 two-storey home.

Jill's body was discovered by a neighbour 14 minutes after she had been shot. She was taken to Charing Cross Hospital and announced dead on arrival just after 1pm.

Tributes came in at a rate of four-a-minute to the BBC while her fiance Alan Farthing, brother Nigel and father, Jack, both journalists, mourned her death.

The former Worle schoolgirl had started out as a trainee reporter for the weekly paper the Weston Mercury, with her brother and dad, before she moved to Radio Devon in 1985.

Later she made the switch to regional television and then national. By 1995 she had made it to Crimewatch, a year after moving to Fulham.

Jill's murder attracted a huge amount of media coverage and for more than a year the Metropolitan Police tried to solve the mystery of Operation Oxborough with no breaks.

They spoke to more than 2,500 people and took 1,000 statements before their investigation focused on Barry George.

The Wrongful Conviction

George lived just half a mile away from Jill and had a history of stalking women and so was put under surveillance.

The man with the low IQ was charged, tried at the Old Bailey and convicted to life imprisonment in July 2001.

But he maintained his innocence and appealed his conviction.

By November 2007 his legal team successfully discredited forensic evidence to do with the gunshot residue.

A retrial was ordered and on August 1, 2008 - after eight years in jail - George was declared an innocent man.

Despite trying to claim 500,000 in compensation for his wrongful conviction, his case was turned down by the then Home Secretary, Kenneth Clarke, who ruled he was "not innocent enough".

The High Court had previously ruled the then 53-year-old's conviction was not so unfair as to be considered a miscarriage of justice.

The current investigation

In 2013 Scotland Yard confirmed the investigation was open, but no officers had been working on it full-time.

A forensic review of the case, that same year cost nearly 600,000, but did not shed any light on finding out who was responsible for Jill's death.

Last year the Sunday Mirror exposed the report and stated that review concluded: "We have conducted a lengthy and highly detailed scientific investigation of this case... At the end of all this, our efforts have not directly assisted with the identification of Dando's killer."

Its investigation revealed there had been crucial evidence not followed up by the police and some 100 suspects never traced.

A police spokesman said at that time: "If any new information comes to our attention, then this will be investigated."

The Theories

Every few years a new theory about who killed Jill and why comes to ahead in the national press.

With her work as a journalist and on the BBC program Crimewatch, combined with the professional style assassination, there seems to be a wealth of theories.

Over the years there have been allegations that police have not investigated a wealth of possibilities put forward about Jill's death.

Sadly none seem to have ever attracted the evidence to see police charge anyone, but here are just some of the most likely theories put forward.

Paedophile ring

In 2014 a former colleague came forward and said Jill was trying to expose a VIP paedophile ring just months before her death.

The source said Jill raised concerns to her BBC bosses about allegations of sexual abuse happening at the Beeb.

The source told the Daily Star Sunday: "I don't recall the names of all the stars now and don't want to implicate anyone, but Jill said they were surprisingly big names.

"I think she was quite shocked when told about images of children and that information on how to join this horrible paedophile ring was freely available.

"Jill said others had complained to her about sexual matters and that some female workmates also claimed they had been groped or assaulted."

A BBC spokesman said they would always investigate allegations of this nature, but said they had "not seen anything that substantiates these claims".

Serbian Mafia

One message to detectives on the Jill Dando case seemed to suggest that Serbian gangsters had plotted to kill her in revenge for the Nato-led bombing of a television station.

Detectives were allegedly told that men had met at a London nightclub and planned the hit.

Weeks before her death Jill had been the face of a TV appeal for Kosovan-Albanian refugees, making her a target from Serb paramilitaries.

A message filed to detectives reportedly said: "Dando was murdered by a Serb hitman in revenge for the attack that Nato mounted...

"The people who planned Dando's murder meet and drink in a club called Scandal in London's West End. One of those involved is a tall male with a swallow tattoo on his neck."

A call to the BBC three days after Jill's murder contained an apparent death threat against Watchdog's Anne Robinson and Alice Beer.

Police traced the call to Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, but never found the culprit.

Slavko Curuvija, a journalist and critic of the Serb regime, was shot in the head at point-blank range outside his home 15 days before Jill's death.

Alice Beer has also spoken about how both she and Jill received rape and kidnap threats leading up to her murder.

She told the Mirror in 2015: "There are a lot of questions I would like answering. They've been at the back of my mind.

"I waited for a call from the police after Jill's death  but it never came. Nobody spoke to me about the threat.

"Nobody questioned anything. If no stone were left unturned in that investigation then I would have been called."

A notorious London crime family

An intelligence report once put forward the names of two men from one of London's most notorious crime families.

Police search the area around Jill Dando's home following her murder in 1999

Jill's murder has always had to the hallmarks of a gangland professional hit. She died with a single bullet to the head in broad daylight on a busy street.

Not a trace of DNA or a definitive sighting of the shooter was left.

That intelligence report suggested that Jill was being targeted for an investigation into crime for the television.

The lead detective on the Dando case at the time ordered no further action on the report. It came as prime suspect Barry George had already been charged.

The IRA

Documents seen by Barry George's legal team revealed a killer wrote a letter from prison claiming to be part of an IRA hit squad that killed her.

Although dismissed by many, the letter claimed she had been targeted because of her position as presenter of Crimewatch.

An image of a suspect released after Jill Dando's death in 1999

He claimed she was shot with a 9mm bullet before the gang escaped to a safe house in London in a Land Rover.

He claimed the confession was to stop a cover up and Barry George taking the blame.

The letter stated that the IRA was getting away with the murder to avoid problems with the Northern Ireland peace process.

The barman hitman

A report from the former National Criminal Intelligence Service suggested a barman called Joe from Tenerife could be the killer.

A Crimewatch appeal helped to lock up road rage killer Kenneth Noye in 1996.

The report is said to have stated: "Joe runs a bar in Tenerife, frequented by leading ex-pat criminals.

Detective Chief Inspector Hamish Campbell led the initial investigation into Jill Dando's murder

"He's described as a frustrated gangster reputed to owe money to Kenny Noye.

"There's been talk Joe has been keen to rehabilitate his reputation with gangster creditors."

But Joe was never traced.

The Timeline

April 26, 1999: Jill is shot dead with a single bullet outside her London home in Fulham at 11.30am.

May 25, 2000: Barry George, also known as Barry Bulsara, is arrested after police surveillance.

July 2, 2001: A jury finds him guilty of murder on a 10-1 majority and he is sentenced to life.

July 29, 2002: The Court of Appeal in London turns down George's appeal against his conviction.

December 16, 2002: The House of Lords also refuses permission for him to mount a further challenge.

March 25, 2006: Lawyers say they have found new evidence which undermines the safety of George's conviction.

June 20, 2007: Criminal Cases Review Commission refers the conviction to the Court of Appeal.

November 15, 2007: After scientists challenge the firearms evidence, George's appeal is upheld and a retrial is ordered.

June 9, 2008: The Old Bailey retrain begins and the judge orders that the residue evidence, which supported the prosecution's original case, should not be heard by the jury.

August 1, 2008: George is finally cleared of Jill Dando's murder.
Latest News Lendi Group settles $33.6 billion in FY22 Ambitious target of a deal a day for brokers

APRA announces new appointments The prudential regulator has a new chair, deputy chair, and members

The grilling of bank chiefs by federal politicians last week was a positive move for the industry according to the Australian Bankers Association (ABA).The heads of ANZ NAB and CBA all spent time being quizzed on their business activities by federal MPs in the first of what is set to be an annual occurrence.While the banks admitted some mistakes, there was a general theme that these had been fixed and it was time to move on.I think thats the reality of large organisations, that when things go wrong our responsibility is to fix them and make sure they dont happen again and make sure our customers are treated respectfully, said Shayne Elliott, CEO of ANZ Bank. But the reality is that most things dont go wrong and that most of our customers are satisfied with the bank. Ian Narev , CEO of Commonwealth Bank, took a similar tack when describing how much the bank had improved.I think we're doing a lot better at listening to the cases of individual customers and if you're one of those it's absolutely critical that you have avenues that are easily accessible, cost effective where you can get efficient redress and we're committed to making that happen, he told the committee.Steven Munchenberg, chief executive of the ABA, praised the banks final responses, saying that the major players had provided their perspectives on all issues raised and also acknowledged they had room to improve.As an industry, we know we havent always lived up to the expectations of all of our customers and the wider community. The banks are acknowledging those issues and more importantly they are addressing them.He said the inquiry had raised a number of issues, some of which were already being addressed through government or industry initiatives.There were also a number of ideas and proposals raised that merit further substantive consideration and the banks will be evaluating these at the next meeting of the ABA Council.However, Paul Ryan, who co-founded Wizard Home Loans in the 90s, has said that real change will only occur if consumers voice their displeasure.With the big banks under the microscope in Canberra, now is the time for customers to be voting with their feet and demanding a better deal. Its clear that any real change has to be driven by consumers  not the hot air coming out of Parliament House or the vested interests of the big four banks, he saidHe encouraged consumers to shop around and seek other options, saying that if they wait for a government or bank-led shift, they will be waiting a lifetime.
Australian policymakers say efforts to rein in the runaway housing market are working. But on the ground theres a fresh bidding frenzy, as fibro shacks fit for demolition and miles from downtown Sydney go for almost $1m.A lack of houses in and around the city, the epicentre of Australias property boom, is pushing up prices again even after banks last year tightened mortgage lending. Some buyers are snapping up homes theyve never seen, worried it might be their last chance to own a patch of land, said Peter Baldwin, the chief auctioneer at real estate agency Richardson & Wrench for 27 years.Its all guns blazing again, said Baldwin, whos never seen fewer properties for sale in spring, a season when home hunters are usually spoiled for choice. The shortage will just keep this market humming along.A three-year surge in Australian home prices paused at the end of 2015 after banks raised mortgage rates to offset the cost of holding more capital. The market is taking off again as a growing population tries to squeeze into too few properties, posing a potential headache for new Reserve Bank of Australia ( RBA ) Governor Philip Lowe House prices in Sydney are up 14% this year through September, compared with 9% across the nations major cities according to CoreLogic , defying an assessment by real-estate listing firm Domain last year that the boom was over. Dwelling values in Sydney have now almost doubled since the end of 2008.Fewer than 20,000 dwellings are for sale across Sydney, less than half the number listed five years ago, CoreLogic says. The costs associated with selling a property and buying another, such as agent commissions and government taxes, climb with the value of the home. Thats discouraging ever more homeowners from moving, CoreLogic said.At a sale last week, auctioneer Baldwin took 134 bids for a drab, two-bedder in Greenacre, 18 kilometres west of Sydney, before dropping the hammer at $926,000. Thats 19% more than the median price for that size of property. Baldwin said the main draw wasnt even the house; it was the chance to knock it down and build anew. Some buyers are saying: wed better get in or well never get in, he said.Sydneys population will jump 50% from 2011 levels to 6.42 million in 2036, the New South Wales government said last month, lifting forecasts made only two years ago. It will need another 726,000 homes between 2016 and 2036, it said.The nations largest city needs a dramatic increase in affordable land supply after residential land releases fell in 2015, according to this years State of the Land Report by the Urban Development Institute of Australia.The report described Sydneys housing shortfall as chronic and said theres little prospect of fulfilling the citys accommodation needs.For would-be apartment buyers, at least, the supply crisis is set to ease over the next two years, as a flood of new developments spring up in eastern cities such as Sydney and Melbourne. A record 68,390 homes, most of them apartments, will be under construction this year in New South Wales -- double the pace from 2012, according to the Housing Industry Association.Lowe, who succeeded Glenn Stevens last month, noted this week that home-loan standards had improved and some lenders were being more cautious. But he homed in on supply issues, saying that fewer properties were changing hands and some markets have strengthened recently.The RBA is clearly concerned, said Felicity Emmett, head of Australian economics at ANZ . There clearly seems to be a strengthening in the housing market. Its something that really bears quite close watching.Theres competition at every price point. There arent enough $5 million houses or $20 million-plus mansions either, said Ken Jacobs, whose luxury property agency is an affiliate of Christies International Real Estate.Theres more inquiry than actual properties available, said Jacobs, whos selling Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchetts trophy home in the Sydney suburb of Hunters Hill.That gives some on the property ladder a chance to cash in. In Woolooware, a suburb set back from the ocean about 30 kilometres south of Sydney, one homeowner turned a garage at the back of the house into a new three-bedroom villa and sectioned it off. Last month it fetched a reported $1.6 million, 43% more than the neighbourhoods median selling price.Supply has been very low, said David Smith, director of sales for Highland Property Agents, which marketed the Woolooware home. Bigger prices have been achieved because theres been less stock available.
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Donald Trumps 3 am Tweets that woke the world wasnt the first time a sleep-deprived celebrity shot his mouth off when he should have been counting sheep. Heres a rundown of other tweeters in history who said too much:

Tutankhamun @PyramidScheme  1:20 am

Crooked Cleopatra is an eating machine. Check out before and after hieroglyphics. #HungryHungryHippo

Tutankhamun @PyramidScheme  3:40 am

Crooked Cleo says shell help the slaves. Who built your palace, lady?

Tutankhamun @PyramidScheme  12:15 am

Cracked Cleopatra is a disaster. Her needle is 1,000 times too big to use. #BADJUDGEMENT!

Tutankhamun @PyramidScheme  4:37 am

OpatraCare choice a total LIE. You dont get to pick your healer. If you get bitten by an asp, you die. #Crazy!

Tutankhamun @PyramidScheme  5:18 am

Crooked Cleos husband slept with his grape-peeling girl. He is the WORST abuser of women in ancient history!

Tutankhamun @PyramidScheme  2:55 am

Bird, bird, eye, throne, owl!

Tutankhamun @PyramidScheme  1:19 am

Crooked Cleopatra is 100% controlled by Rome. #BADLEADERSHIP

Tutankhamun @PyramidScheme  12:56 am

An extremely credible source has signaled to my office that Crooked Cleo was born in Mesopotamia.

  

Freud Envy @i_love_mom  12:20 am

Jung is the WORST psychoanalyst in Vienna. His patients are all getting crazier.

Freud Envy @i_love_mom 3:42 am

Jung has got to be one of the dumbest interpreters of subconscious symbolism ever. Analyze this! : (

Freud Envy @i_love_mom  1:25 am

Still havent seen that diploma from the University of Basel! #FRAUD

  

MC Squared @PatentClerk  3:20 am

Madame Curie is a loose cannon in the lab. No one has WORSE JUDGMENT  except her poor husband.

MC Squared @PatentClerk  4:50 am

Maybe Curie should spend a little less time with isotopes and a little more at the hairdresser.

MC Squared @PatentClerk  3:18 am

Be careful, Kooky Curie! Your fans are more excited about relativity than radioactivity! #PlayingDice

MC Squared @PatentClerk  5:18 am

Just another dud lady scientist. #SAD

MC Squared @PatentClerk  2:20 am

Kooky Curie is very weak on quantum theory, which is what the people want. Her career is dead.

MC Squared @PatentClerk  2:20 am

Kooky Curie hasnt created a single bomb in her whole life. Unless you count her hairstyle.

MC Squared @PatentClerk  2:20 am

She does not have the RIGHT TEMPERAMENT to revolutionize science.

MC Squared @PatentClerk  2:20 am

Curie a failed scientist. That glow her burning out.

MC Squared @PatentClerk  2:20 am

Have it on good authority Curie was adopted!

  

Veni Vidi da Vinci @RenaissanceMan  2:20 am

Michaelangelo is a joke. Hes in the pocket of the Medicis.

Veni Vidi da Vinci @RenaissanceMan  2:20 am

He will never MAKE FIRENZE GREAT AGAIN!

Veni Vidi da Vinci @RenaissanceMan  2:20 am

Mediocre Mikey has to make his sculptures big and naked to get attention. #PATHETIC

Veni Vidi da Vinci @RenaissanceMan  2:20 am

Ive seen paint-by-numbers better than Mikeys latest Moses. He should go home and relax.

Veni Vidi da Vinci @RenaissanceMan  2:20 am

If youve got a block of marble, keep it away from Mediocre Mikey or hell chisel it into a lawn ornament. #LAWNGNOMEART

Veni Vidi da Vinci @RenaissanceMan  2:20 am

Interesting how my commissions go up whenever Mikey unveils another painting.

Veni Vidi da Vinci @RenaissanceMan  2:20 am

LIES! I never tried to get the Sistine job! #SimplicityBestSophistication

Veni Vidi da Vinci @RenaissanceMan  2:20 am

I wouldnt hire MM to paint my garage. That ceiling makes me throw up!

Veni Vidi da Vinci @RenaissanceMan  2:20 am

Pretty sure Mikey wasnt ever baptized! #OriginalSin

Read Lenore Skenazys column every Sunday morning on Brook lynPa per.com
Porter is getting to umpire his second World Series

Alan Porter is working his second World Series as an umpire. He'll be behind home plate if the Phillies and Astros need a Game 7.
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The Saudi-led coalition denied on Saturday carrying any air strike in Yemen's capital Sanaa, sources from the coalition confirmed to local news Al Arabiya.

Earlier on Saturday, Yemen's acting health minister Ghazi Ismail said the Saudi-led coalition air strikes on a funeral hall in Sanaa have killed 82 and injured 534.

The mourning ceremony was held for the father of the acting interior minister and rebel Houthi loyalist Jalal al-Ruwaishan.

The Yemeni official strongly condemned what he said "barbaric air attacks against civilians and civilian targets."

However, the sources from the coalition said it has in the past avoided such gatherings and they have never been a subject of targets.

The Saudi-led coalition, which supports the internationally recognized Yemeni government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi against Shiite Houthi rebels, have been air striking Yemen from March 2015.

Houthi rebels, supported by forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, seized Sanaa and some other cities in September 2014, forcing Hadi and his government into exile.

The airstrikes and fighting on the ground have killed over 10,000 Yemenis, many of them women and children, and injured around 35,000 others, according to a UN report.
Give a Christmas project seeks donors and applications to aid the needy

The Burlington County Times and NJ 211 partner for the 54th year of Give a Christmas. Donors wanted to aid families in need.
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China on Saturday called on the international community to keep the general direction for a political solution and push for the solution of the Syrian crisis through dialogue by all the parties in Syria.

Liu Jieyi (C, front), Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations, votes in favor of a Russia-drafted UN Security Council resolution on Syria at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Oct. 8, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

The statement came as Liu Jieyi, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, was taking the floor at the UN Security Council after two opposing draft resolutions on Syria failed to pass the 15-nation UN body.

"On the question of Syria, the international community should keep the general direction for a political solution and push for the solution of the question of Syria through dialogue by all the parties in Syria so that the war can be ended as soon as possible," Liu said.

China abstained from the French-drafted resolution, which sought to end airstrikes on the north Syrian city of Aleppo by grounding the Russian and Syrian military planes over Aleppo, and voted in favor of the Russian draft which called for an end to hostilities in the Middle East country and ensure humanitarian access to the Syrian people in need. The two draft resolutions both failed to be approved by the Security Council.

"Actions by the Security Council should be able to truly help ease the situation in order to help push for an end to hostilities by the parties and to support and coordinate UN efforts of humanitarian assistance," he said, adding that such actions should be instrumental to the stronger efforts to combat terrorist groups as designated by the Security Council, including the Islamic State (IS), which is also known as ISIS.

"The action should be able to help in seeking a solution acceptable by all the parties and a political process owned and led by the Syrians under the auspices of the United Nations," Liu said.

The draft resolution proposed by France and Spain contains a number of important elements, such as the implementation of a ceasefire, a call for a political solution, the improvement of humanitarian situation and enhancing the efforts to combat terrorism, he noted.

"But some of the content in the draft resolution does not reflect the full respect for the sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity of Syria, and the constructive views of some council members have not been incorporated, so China has to abstain in the vote on this draft resolution," he said.

On the other hand, the Russian draft called upon all the parties to cease hostilities and open humanitarian access in order to enhance efforts to combat terrorism, to support the good office by the UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, and called for an early resumption of peace talks in Geneva.

The Russian-drafted resolution gave consideration to ceasefire, humanitarian assistance, joint efforts to combat terrorism and political negotiations, he noted. "It also reflected the full respect for the sovereignty, independence, unification and territorial integrity of Syria, with content that is comprehensive and balanced."

Therefore, "China voted in favor of the draft resolution, and we regretted that the draft resolution was not adopted," he said.

"Syria is an important country in the Middle East, the early restoration of peace and stability is in the common interest of Syria and countries in the region, and that of the international community," he said.

"China hopes that the Security Council will really take the safety of the Syrian people as the first priority and stay united and build up consensus and continue the efforts to push for a political solution of the question of Syria to jointly work to prevent the expansion and spread of terrorism, and play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in Syria and the region," he added.
BLACK REPUBLICANS AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE GOP

Joshua D Farrington

University of Pennsylvania Press

311 pages; $45



BLACK ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM

The Unexpected Politics of African American Republicans

Corey D Fields

University of California Press

282 pages; $29.95



"The African-Americans love me," Donald Trump said back in January. Nine months later, evidence of that love is exceedingly rare. Polls put Trump's black support in the low single digits. In 1964, Barry Goldwater, who had voted against the Civil Rights Act in the summer and won the enthusiastic endorsement of the Klan, received six per cent. Ronald Reagan received 12 and nine per cent. Even John McCain received four per cent.
Asserting that she was politically very naive, Gita Gopinath, the Harvard economist and economic advisor to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has said it would be good if she can be of help in thinking about the states economic issues.

Gopinath, whose appointment as the economic advisor had sparked a political furore, said she was a little surprised over the developments, adding, I really hope it is behind me.

I guess I am politically very naive. I think of myself as a technocrat. I am an economist. I dont attach any labels to myself and if I can be of any help to Kerala in terms of thinking about some of the economic issues there, provide my input which can be taken or discarded, I thought that would be a good thing to do, she told PTI. Following her appointment, concerns were raised by some Communist leaders about the state government roping in a person who is more into the market economy and liberal policies.

According to her, Kerala needs to fix its infrastructure deficit and improve ease of doing business, which would help attract more investments into the state. This has to be perceptible, then investors will come, she said.

Gopinath, the John Zwaanstra professor of international studies and of economics at Harvard University, said Kerala was a very interesting state because as it has very good welfare indicators in terms of health care and education.

It is also the state with the highest state GDP per capita. So, there are many strings to the economy. At the same time, it is tied to some significant extent to developments in the Middle East because a lot of Malayalees go to the Middle East to work and send the remittances, she said.

Remittances continue to be a significant part of Keralas economy and with the slowdown in the Middle East, this is something that one has to grapple with.



It is not a transitory change and it is not as if commodity prices are going to go back to the highs they were in, Gopinath said, stressing that everybody expects commodity prices to stay low for a long time.

So, that will affect opportunities in the Middle East, workers would come back, she added.

She expressed concern that despite Kerala being ranked No 1 in a lot of things, it has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.

What needs to be addressed is job creation, it needs to address healthcare issues. While there is a kind of accessibility to healthcare, there is still work to be done in treating non-communicable diseases on geriatric healthcare and given that they have a policy of universal healthcare, these are things they have to work on, Gopinath said further.
Sequoia Capital- and Nexus Venture Partners-backed online ethnic store expects to turn profitable in 2017 as it expands its business to offer local food products to customers across the country.
Dutch pension fund manager is in a final round of negotiations to buy a majority stake in three malls of The Xander Group-owned Virtuous Retail, said a source. The deal is expected to be around $325 million (nearly Rs 2,200 crore), said the source.
In a novel way of extending growth capital, the mid-sized investment bank Singhi Advisors, which is celebrating 25 years, plans to invest in at least 10 of its most-promising advisory client firms over the next two-three years by converting their fee income into equity.

The mid-market focused i-banker has already made three such investments in recent past in three it has advised, and holds equity stake varying between 2 and 10 per cent.

"We have already converted our fee income into equities in three . Having seen the success, now we are planning to widen this model by investing in around 10 whom we will be advising on various deals," Singhi Advisors Managing Director Mahesh Singhi told PTI.

He, however, explained that he has no plan to invest fresh capital in any manner but only will convert the fee income into equity.

Singhi, who holds 95 per cent in his company rest being given in Esops to key employees, refused to name the invested companies citing client confidentiality but said they are all mid-sized firms into chemicals and infra space.

Singhi said his company is the first to make such investments in the country even though some boutique i-bankers do pump in growth capital into their clients.

Singhi Advisors, which started off a quarter century ago from a small room in a northern suburb of the megapolis, has become a leading mid-sized i-banker now with 40 deal advisors across four offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Australia.

The i-bank with 15 per cent stake in Mergers Alliance, the largest mid-market focused M&A advisory team, has closed over 1,000 deals worth $6 billion since inception, involving 20 countries across 18 sectors, he said.

The England-based Mergers Alliance will be holding its half-yearly summit in Mumbai next month.
Infrastructure companies are betting big on road contracts to shore up their revenues after facing a de-growth due to various reasons, such as shrinkages in EPC opportunities, in the recent past.
The Union Government has informed the Madras High Court at Chennai that the ongoing four lane project from Madurai to Paramakudi would be extended to Rameswaram.

The union secretary for road transport has issued an order regarding the same, according to a submission made by the counsel for the central government.

The order was issued on September 7, the counsel said.

A division bench of Justices S.Nagamuthu and Muralidharan closed the case after the submission.

The petitioner had, thorugh the submission, said that the Centre had decided to convert the two-lane road from Madurai to Paramakudi (a part of Madurai-Rameswaram section) into a four lane road. It had allocated Rs 685 crore for it and work on the project had already commenced.

Thousands of pilgrims visit Rameswaram every day and the Madurai-Rameswaram section is an important route for tourism.

Building a case favouring the project, the petition argued that the extension will prove to be beneficial given that hundreds of trucks transport seafood, salt and charcoal and other essential items in the region.

Moreover, with industries coming up in the district, it was necessary to convert the entire section into a four lane road, said the petition.
The Centre has warned employees of disciplinary action if they indulge in criticism of the government or its policies.

The move comes after officers of Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise) and All India Association of Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officers, among others, suggested changes in Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN), a private company tasked with creating information technology infrastructure for the goods and services tax (GST), and composition of Revenue Secretary-led GST council secretariat.

Of late, it has been noticed that some associations or federations have commented adversely on the government and its policies. It may be brought to the notice of all associations or federations that if anyone indulges in criticism of the government and its policies, appropriate action (including disciplinary action) shall be taken, an order issued recently by said.

It cited service rules that bar any government servant from making any adverse criticism of any policy or action of the government.

No government servant shall, in any radio broadcast, telecast through any electronic media or in any document published in his own name or anonymously, pseudonymously or in the name of any other person or in any communication to the press or in any public utterance, make any statement of fact or opinion which has the effect of an adverse criticism of any current or recent policy or action of the central government or state government, the service rules say.

Citing existing norms, the said the primary objective of the service associations is to promote common service interest of its members.

The ministry asked chief commissioners and directors general concerned to ensure that only recognised employees associations get the benefits mentioned in the rules.

All recognised service associations or federations are entitled for certain benefits such as correspondence and meetings with the head of administrative departments, provision of accommodation for the association subject to availability, facility of special casual leave up to 20 days in a year to office-bearers of associations and payment of Travelling Allowance and Dearness Allowance for attending officially sponsored meetings.

In the case of service associations or federations which are not recognised or whose recognition has expired, office-bearers of such associations or federations shall not be entitled for these benefits, the said.

Besides service associations, Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Subramanian Swamy has also been opposing majority stake for private entities in GSTN and has already written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi objecting to this.

The central government holds 24.5 per cent stake in GSTN, while state governments together hold another 24.5 per cent.

The remaining 51 per cent equity is with non-government financial institutions, like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and LIC Housing Finance.

Management of GSTN be entrusted to Directorate General, Systems of Central Board of Excise and Customs, as GSTN is a newly created special purpose vehicle, which does not have any experience in implementing any IT project or domain knowledge in Indirect Tax laws, the IRS association had said in a statement.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, had recently approved Project Saksham, a new indirect tax network (systems integration) of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC).

The total project cost involved is Rs 2,256 crore, which will be incurred over a period of seven years.

NORTH BLOCKS DIKTAT
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated organisations are increasingly lending their voice to those at the other end of the ideological divide on certain issues where theres a meeting of minds. These include opposition to the governments move to sell the land of closed public sector undertakings (PSUs) and allow genetically modified (GM) seeds.
Rural Kerala is all set to be declared as 'Open Defecation Free' next month, with the construction of 90 per cent of its total target of 1,75,084 toilets despite land constraints, logistic challenges and high density of population.

CPI(M)-led LDF government has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the state as 'Open Defecation Free' (ODF) at a function, to be held here on November 1.

'Suchitwa Mission', the state nodal agency for sanitation, has met 90 per cent of its total target of constructing 1,75,084 toilets despite constraints. Mission Executive Director K Vasuki said construction of 1,54,764 lakh toilets in 843 village panchayats has been completed under the ODF initiative and remaining work is progressing fast.

The core objective of the initiative is to help people have more access to toilets and better sanitation than constructing the facility in large numbers, she said. "We have completed 90 per cent work of our total target of 1,75,084 toilets in 941 village panchayats. Six districts  Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta, have already been declared as ODF," Vasuki told PTI in an interview.

According to her, the Mission's aim is to declare the rural sector of Kerala ODF in the present phase and the urban region by next year, work for which has already commenced. "Different geographical terrain, high density of population and the attitude of people are the most challenging barriers before us to accomplish the task. But, we can overcome the difficulties to a great extent with comprehensive action plan and region-specific construction methods," she said. Under the initiative, toilets have been constructed in remote tribal hamlets located in hilly terrains to water-logged regions, coastal hamlets and densely populated areas.

"Our team had to trek a whole day to reach Edamalakkudy, a emote high range tribal village, for identifying beneficiaries and location and for construction work."

"The work in Attappady, another tribal hamlet, also posed challenges because of the remoteness of the place. We had to adopt alternative designs like pre-fabric septic tanks in high water table areas," Vasuki said, elaborating the challenges faced by the Mission.



Around 39,000 individual house-hold latrines would be readied in critical and geographically challenging areas with the completion of the project.

Even vulnerable communities, living in far-off places like Attappady and Kadamakuty, were expected to benefit from this, Vasuki said.

The official, however, said constructing individual toilets in all houses was not a practical solution to check open defecation in a state like Kerala.

"Individual latrines were not possible in many densely populated areas, where houses are built close and there is no space for constructing toilets. To address land constraint issues, we built community toilets in such places," she said.

"The objective of ODF initiative is to give people more access to toilets than building latrines in maximum numbers," she said.

Asked about the attitude of people towards using toilets, Vasuki said a majority of people, especially women, children and the youth, are open and supportive to the initiative.

In tribal areas, more women and children now prefer toilets for defecation. They see it as a privacy and safety issue these days, she said.

"A lot of changes have happened in the mindset of coastal people also in this regard especially after the recent gruesome death of an elder women, who was mauled by stray dogs when she went to the beach to answer nature's call," she said.

"Persuading elder people, above the age of 65, to use toilets is still a challenging task in such areas," she said.

Suchitwa Mission has a comprehensive post-ODF plan to carry forward the project and a meeting in this regard would be held with various service organisations on October 13 here, she said.

"We have a post-ODF plan for follow-up. For that, the Mission will form follow-up committees at the ward level with students and social workers as members. In coastal areas, we have sought the support of the church authorities as they have better influence and reach among the local dwellers," she said.

A total of Rs 269 core is the total outlay for the project. Besides government allocation, funds have also been raised through Corporate Social Responsibility schemes, the official said adding both state and union governments were extendingsupport for the initiative.

Suchitwa Mission is constituted under local self-government with the vision of creating a waste-free, unpolluted Kerala with an emphasis on developing public hygiene and cleanliness.
On Monday, another round of Montreal Protocol talks will kick off in Kigali, Rwanda, with 191 countries negotiating a global deal to replace heat-trapping refrigerant gases with climate-friendly alternatives. India, one of the most rapidly growing markets for refrigeration and air-conditioning, enters the talks with an early gambit, hoping to get a better bargain to protect the interests of its growing refrigeration industry and keeping the cost of technology transition as low as possible for its citizens.
The Centre will notify the rules of the soon, moving another step toward operationalising the legislation which seeks to regulate the housing sector, bring transparency and help protect consumer interests.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA), which is responsible for making such rules for Union Territories (UTs) without legislature, is likely to notify them within 10 days, a spokesperson said.

After incorporating suggestions from public, the ministry has referred the draft rules to the Ministry of Law and Justice for vetting.

Senior officials of both the ministries will meet on Monday for finalising the draft notification, the spokesperson said.

According to a notification issued in April this year, real estate rules were to be notified by October 31 this year or within six months of the Act coming into force.

The ministry's April notification brought into effect 69 of the 82 sections of the Act from May 1 this year.

Real estate rules to be notified by the Ministry of HUPA are applicable to the UTs of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu and Lakshadweep.

The Ministry of Urban Development will come out with such rules for the National Capital Region of Delhi while other states and UTs will come out with their own rules.

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2016, was passed by Rajya Sabha on March 10 and by Lok Sabha on March 15 this year.

The Act, which is touted as a major reform measure to regulate the vast real estate sector, requires registration of all projects with state level Real Estate Regulatory Authorities to ensure protection of the interests of both buyers and builders.

The Act also requires builders to deposit 70 per cent of the payments made by allottees in a separate bank account to ensure that such funds are not diverted to other projects.

It also provides for imprisonment of up to three years for builders and one year for real estate agents and buyers for violation of any provisions of the Act.

According to the provisions of the Act, Real Estate Regulatory Authorities and Real Estate Appellate Tribunals have to be set up by the end of April, 2017, and the entire Act is to come into effect the day after.
India is building its first platform for homegrown companies in its bid to build indigenous expertise in security technologies and help local firms to tap a larger pie of the country's digital security technology budget.
The minimum import price (MIP) on might have propped up the profit margins of companies to some extent, but it has done nothing much to manufacturers debt-servicing abilities.
A vessel from Dubai may soon be allowed to offload at Nhava Sheva port in Maharashtra and reload cargo from there for shipment to Colombo, if things go according to the governments plan.
Two Palm Springs police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were shot to death when a man they had been speaking calmly with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief told reporters.

A third officer was wounded in the incident that occurred Saturday. The shooter was not immediately apprehended.

"It was a simple family disturbance and he elected to open fire on a few of the guardians of the city," police Chief Bryan Reyes, his voice breaking, told reporters.

The chief, near tears, identified the slain officers as Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny.

Police said Zerebny recently returned to the force from maternity leave after giving birth to a now-4-month-old daughter. Vega, the father of eight, was a 35-year veteran who planned to retire in December. The wounded officer's name was not released.

Reyes said the three officers were standing near the front door speaking with the man, "trying to negotiate with the suspect to just comply", when he suddenly shot them.

He said the shooter was not apprehended and may still be in the house. He said Riverside County sheriff's SWAT officers had the residence surrounded and were now leading the investigation.

Reyes also urged the media and not to stream live video of police officers' movements on social media, adding it could put them in danger.

"Understand that we're actively looking for a cop murderer," he said.

Dozens of law enforcement officers converged on the normally quiet residential neighbourhood in this desert resort city after the shooting. They sealed off several blocks and evacuated some residents.

Police Sgt William Hutchinson said officers were warning people already inside their homes to stay there, lock their doors and not answer them until further notice.

Although Reyes didn't identify the shooting suspect, he indicated police had had previous dealings with him.

A neighbour, Frances Serrano, said she called authorities after the father of the shooting suspect came to her house across the street and told her his son was "acting crazy".

"He said his wife left because she was so scared of him," Serrano said, adding the father warned that his son threatened to shoot police if they arrived.

The shooting occurred just three days after a popular Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant was shot and killed in the high desert town of Lancaster.
Free Movement (FBM) activists staged a protest demonstration in the suburbs of Quetta recently against the rising involvement of China in under the pretext of investing in the region's development.



A large number of Baloch women and children also took part in FBM rally and blocked the main road for several hours.

The protesters burnt the flags of China and Pakistan as they protested against the Chinese and Pakistani occupation and exploitation of Baloch natural resources in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The Balochi protesters of the Free Movement also raised slogans like "Stop War Crimes in Balochistan", "Stop Baloch Genocide", "Down with Pakistan" and "Down with China".

Enraged over exploitation of their natural resources and atrocities committed by the Pakistani military against Baloch residents, the FBM protesters burnt effigies of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Baloch activists accused China of helping Pakistan committing atrocities and human rights violations in Balochistan.

One of the protesters said, "The protest demonstration was taken out by the Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) to expose before the world the plunder of their natural resources by Pakistan and China in the name of CPEC and human rights violations by Pakistan in Balochistan."

"Baloch people, women, students and youth, who gathered here, condemn the alliance partners of Pakistan, who are supporting it in the name of military and economy. In the name of development, Pakistani military and Pakistan's alliance partners are plundering Balochistan's resources and are trying to dismantle Balochistan's identity," he said.

"Everyday the people are being killed in Balochistan, we are also protesting against that," he added.

A girl, who also participated in the protest rally, condemned the Pakistan-China alliance against Balochistan.

"Today, we are here to support the Free Balochistan Movement... Pakistan is plundering Balochistan's resources.

The recent condition of Baluchistan depicts sad pictures. I personally appeal to the people of China to ask their government not to take part in the genocide taking place here," she said.
Britain's decision to leave the European Union has provided India a chance to increase its trade with the United Kingdom (UK), India's outgoing High Commissioner to the country, Navtej Sarna, has said.

"There is a mind-shift in the UK government towards India and Britain's decision to part with the EU has provided India a chance to hike its trade with the UK," said Sarna, who is leaving for Washington as India's ambassador to the US, at London last night.

Terming Sarna's tenure at the UK High Commission as "short and sweet" , G P Hinduja, Co-Chairman of the Hinduja Group, said, "You have built such a bridge with the British government, its Prime Minister is visiting Delhi in November. You are a change-maker."

Lauding the Indian diplomat's achievements in bringing around the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, post-Brexit, Hinduja hoped that his upcoming Washington visit will also be a great success.

"You came and there was and you have changed the Prime Minister. You are going to Washington and you will change the President (there)," he said.

India needs investment and the US has liquidity, and Britain expertise, Hinduja said while asking Sarna to try to bring the United Sates America, UK and India "closer".

India should treat investments from Non-Resident Indians (NRI) at par with Indian investment, he said further during an event hosted by the NRI Platform and headed by Joginder Sanger.

The event was attended by eminent personalities including Lord Khalid Hameed, Lord Meghnad Desai, Lord Raj Loomba, Lord Suri and Kartar Lalvani, apart from some of the leading NRIs in the country.

The UK chose to leave the 28-nation European Union 43 years in a historic referendum held on June 23 after an acrimonious campaign that saw the island-country divided between 'stay' and 'leave' groups.
More than 100 African migrants were saved from the Mediterranean off the coast of Spain after attempting the perilous crossing to Europe on a rickety boat, officials said.

"Today at least 104 people were saved," said a spokeswoman for the Spanish public agency in charge of maritime rescues on Saturday, adding that children were among the passengers.

Their boat was spotted by a fishing ship northeast of the Spanish island of Alboran.

Rescuers transported 56 people from Sub-Saharan Africa to Malaga, the spokeswoman said, while 32 other Africans, including 17 women, were taken to the port of Motril, 100 kilometre (60 miles) further east.

Sixteen other migrants, originally from North Africa, were taken to Cartagena, 400 kilometre northeast of Malaga.

Since 2014, more than 10,000 migrants have lost their lives in the Mediterranean, according to UN figures.
An accidentally released announcement from New York University about World Bank Chief Economist Paul Romer  who also teaches at the NYU business school  winning the 2016 Economics Nobel prize is likely a case of good preparation going horrendously wrong rather than an early 'leak' of the recipient's name.
Iran, which is keen to join the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, has started talks with Pakistan to extend the ambitious project to the oil-rich nation.

Iran's envoy to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost held talks with Projects Director Zahir Shah to discuss fields in which Iran would be able to participate and play an "active" role in the CPEC, Pakistan Today newspaper reported.

Iran had showed willingness to become part of the in a recent meeting between President Hasan Rouhani and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York last month.

"Iran's different private sectors have huge capabilities in different fields including technical, engineering, energy projects, road and construction, building energy transmission line and are fully prepared to participate in different projects of CPEC," said Honardoost.

The ambassador also stressed that Iran is ready to meet the energy needs of Pakistan, including natural gas and electricity, which is crucially important for Pakistan to move faster on completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Shah praised Iran's willingness and readiness to participate in the projects of and emphasised the importance of cooperation between Iran and Pakistan in different fields.

"China-Pakistan Economic Corridor should be extended to Iran," Shah said.

India has already expressed concern over the $46 billion CPEC project that passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The lifting of sanctions against Iran has paved the way for resumption of economic relations between Iran and Pakistan.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec)'s tentative consensus in Algiers to rein in production by returning to a 'market management' strategy, from its pump-at-will 'market share' strategy, is likely to speed rebalancing of the crude oil market and push up prices. However, the home straight - from now until the agreement is hopefully finalised on November 30 in Vienna - will be the hardest.
The Afghan Ministry of Defense (MoD) said Sunday that the Afghan National Army's Mi-17 helicopter crashed due to technical issues, contrary to the claims made by the Taliban that the helicopter was shot down by the members of the terror outfit.

The Mi-17 helicopter crashed, killing all seven on board, as it was delivering supplies to an army base along with another Mi-17 in Qurgahn Tapa area of northern Baghlan province in Afghanistan.

The MoD added that the helicopter was delivering supplies to the armed forces under the militants' siege in Qurghan Tapa area.

Earlier, the Taliban group claimed that its fighters shot down the helicopter as it was trying to air drop supplies to the Afghan security forces.

The group also shared pictures taken from long distance which purportedly showed smoke rising from the area of the incident.

The Taliban insurgents have intensified attacks on key northern provinces during the recent months as the group attempts to expand its insurgency in north of the country.

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After Baloch Republican Party (BRP) founder Brahumdagh Bugti's asylum request to New Delhi, another Baloch nationalist leader of Free Balochistan Movement Hyrbyair Marri may seek asylum in India.

"If he does not feel safe in the United Kingdom or if the U.K. plans to deport him back to Pakistan, Hyrbyair Marri may seek asylum in India," said Balochwarna News editor Faiz M Baluch.

According a report published on the BBC Urdu website last year, Hyrbyair Marri, who is the fifth son of nationalist leader Khair Bakhsh Marri who lives in London, had last year said "the Baloch people are not in favour of seeking help from India to gain freedom", reported the Dawn under the heading 'Will never seek help from India: Hyrbyair Marri' on October 10, 2015.

Marri said that he was not seeking assistance from India for his movement: "I have never sought help from them, nor will I in the future." He also rejected reports that he travelled to India to start the Free Balochistan Movement.

Hyrbyair Marri - who has been living in self-exile in London since 2000 - is alleged to have been leading the banned BLA.

In June last year, an anti-terrorism court in Quetta had indicted Marri and 32 others in the Ziarat Residency bombing case.

This development comes after Bugti last week announced that he would appeal for a political asylum in India.

Earlier, Bugti approached the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva for filing asylum paper.

He was reportedly asked by the Permanent Mission of India to approach the Indian High Commission in Bern, in Switzerland, for the same.

According to reports, the Ministry of Home Affairs received Bugti's application on September 22, which was being "examined".

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Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska on Sunday defeated British number one Johanna Konta in straight sets in the summit showdown of the women's singles event of the China Open title in Beijing.

The third seeded player, who cruised through the tournament without dropping a set, sealed her second title in Beijing with an ace for a 6-4, 6-2 win which was also her second win in two attempts against Konta, reported the Guardian.

The British Number one fought off a first match point in the seventh game of the second set but Radwanska completed victory while serving in the next game. The match lasted for more than 90 minutes.

11th seeded Konta, despite the defeat, had reason to celebrate as she became only the fourth British woman to make the world's top 10 since the WTA rankings began in 1975.

Konta was ranked 146th in the world as recently as June 2015 but she climbed into the top 10 by winning her semi-final.

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After the Centre gave its nod for the formation of 'Bastar Battalion', comprising tribal men and women living in the region, to combat Naxal activities in Chhattisgarh, the CRPF has started pre-test training camps for the aspirants.

The CRPF, which has been given the responsibility to raise the Battalion, has started the camps in four districts of Bastar division and the youth here are working hard to join the force in the fight against Naxals.

Most of these aspirants taking part in the pre-test training have arrived from far-flung tribal regions of Bastar and many of them have been the victims of Naxal violence. The youth consider this as an opportunity to work for the development of their respective villages.

The Battalion will have one-third women representation who will work on par with men.

One of the major challenges being faced by the forces deployed against Naxals is that they do not understand the geography, language and culture of the natives, which at times causes problems in their operations. At present, five different security forces, including the CRPF, have been deployed to fight Naxals but due to language and regional constraints they are unable to smoothly carry out their operations.

But once the 'Bastar Battalion' is ready, these problems can also be overcome.

"The representation from Bastar in the CRPF is very low and we face many difficulties during our operations here. Their language and culture are different, even the climate here is very different and our troops are not well versed with the region's geography. So, if people from the region join the force, such difficulties will be overcomed," CRPF DIG D.P. Upadhyay told ANI.

In these camps, the aspirants are being provided with free food and accommodation as well as books, stationary, clothes, shoes and other necessary materials.

They are being prepared for physical as well as academic tests.

Ratan Lal, a student at the camp, said, "Our region is severely hit by Naxals. They killed my grandfather and my uncle in 2008, and in 2015, they killed my maternal uncle. I have already been a victim of their terror and want to now fight them, and thus, I am here. They make us run, do yoga, physical exercise. We are motivated by the fact that we would be able to help our villages once we become a part of the force."

Mahesh Kumar also has a similar story to tell as his father, who was a 'sarpanch' and wanted development of his village, was killed by the ultras in 2014.

"Naxalites have highly terrorised my villagers; they kill people there. My family and the entire village is living under their terror and I want to improve this situation," said Nageshwari, another aspirant.

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Former home secretary and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP R.K. Singh on Sunday alleged that the civilian government in Pakistan has so say in the country's foreign policies and is following the command of the army.

"In a democracy, it is the elected government which is supposed to take the final decision on policy not the instruments. Army is an instrument but in Pakistan, the roles are reversed," Singh told ANI.

"In Pakistan, as far as Indian policy is concerned or the Afghanistan policy is concerned or even external policy is concerned or the nuclear policy is concerned all these are controlled by the armed forces and the civilian government has no say," he added.

Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, earlier said that Nawaz Sharif was in the "driving seat" in his country and the army has an important role to play in Islamabad's India policy.

In an interview to a leading daily, he said the army had important inputs to give on India, Afghanistan and all other security-related issues.

He justified his remark by saying even India could not have a Pakistan policy without consulting its armed forces.

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As three people were killed and nearly 13 reported injured in the stampede at Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Maywati's mega in Lucknow on Sunday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police S. Javeed Ahmed, who apprised him of the situation.

"Spoke to the DGP of Uttar Pradesh who apprised me of the situation in Lucknow in the wake of today's unfortunate accident," tweeted Singh.

"Deeply saddened to know about the loss of precious lives in a stampede during a rally in Lucknow today. My heartfelt condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the stampede. I pray for the quick recovery of the injured," he further tweeted.

Meanwhile Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each next of kin to the victims.

Meanwhile, the BSP announced a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh each to the family of the people killed in the stampede.

As per reports, people, including children, are missing following the stampede at the rally.

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Joining Salman Khan, Karan Johar and Siddharth Malhotra, Bollywood director Dibakar Banerjee voiced his support for the Pakistani artistes and said that they should definitely be allowed to work in India.

When asked about his opinion on whether the artistes from the neighboring country should be given a permit to work in India, he said, "I don't think Pakistani actors should be banned from Bollywood, they should work in India."

Reasoning his take, the 47-year-old filmmaker said, "I want all kinds of actors to work in India, because Bollywood is a big industry and the more actors it gets from outside the better it is."

The ban on Pakistani actors was imposed in wake of the escalating tension at the border post the attack in Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

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Asserting that everything in this world is controlled by 'power', Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said India has garnered support from the world community after displaying its competence.

Stating that the United States always asked India to be quiet, Bhagwat told ANI that the entire world is now siding with New Delhi after the country displayed its prowess.

"Everything in this world, whether it is good or bad, is controlled by power. Until now, we had never shown our power and that is why, whenever there has been difficult time on us, America has asked us to be quiet," Bhagwat said.

"From the time we have started taking our own decisions and showed our power, without asking anybody, since then the entire world is taking our stand," he added.

The RSS chief's remark comes in wake of the decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government post escalating tension at the border.

Last month, India conducted surgical strikes on seven terror launch pads across the LoC.

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If nothing calms you like being close to Mother Nature and your idea of unwinding is getting away from the hustle bustle of the city, here are five must-visit spots in the country shared by Travelyaari.

Munnar: It's a small tea town known for its rolling green hills and scenic beauty. You may not find much action here but if you want to relax and sink in the beauty of nature, this is the place to be.

There are quite a number of attractions to look forward to within a short distance like the Atukkad Falls, Mattupetti Dam, Kundala Lake and the Eravikullam National Park where the endangered Nilgiri Thar can be spotted.

For those who are more adventurous, there are also elephant tours from the town. Nestled in the Western Ghats, the only way to get here is by road. Travellers can catch one of the many buses that ply on the steep slopes across almost all the major cities of Kerala.

Puducherry: This calm little union territory comes with an interesting history of being the largest of the erstwhile French colonies in India.

One can move along at a relaxed pace to experience the French culture, architecture and eating spots besides taking in the environs, which are different from any other place in the country.

There are some prominent tourist spots as well to explore, like the Paradise and Auro beaches, the Aurobindo Ashram, and the Boat House.

Reaching Puducherry from Chennai through the road is yet another experience to look forward to.

The changing reflections of the Sun on the water as the day advances make it the most satisfying road trip ever.

So if you're in the mood to experiment, this is the place for you and don't forget to carry your DSLR!

Konark: This small town in the Puri district of Orissa with its visual enchantments is a haven for nature lovers.

Quaintly situated on the shores of Bay of Bengal, Konark is all the rage for its exquisitely carved stone temple offering majestic charm.

One can also enjoy the roar of the Konark beach waves and the splendid view of the 800-year-old Sun Temple.

Reaching there via NH-203 from Puri is another mesmerizing experience with all the scenic beauty of Orissa to admire and the beautiful roads forcing you to drain your camera battery.

The canopy formed by the trees on both sides of the road, the soft misty breeze and the idyllic beauty of the nearby temple towns of Puri and Bhubaneshwar will complete one of the most incredible itineraries of Orissa.

Bandipur Forest: Nature abounds in plenty close to Bangalore in Bandipur forest. It is one of the most coveted national parks of India.

Stretched over an overall land area of 874 square kilometers, the national park is home to nearly 80 Bengal tigers and more than three thousand rare Indian elephants.

Moreover, being a prestigious part of the highly important Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve makes Bandipur a retreat for all animal lovers, environment enthusiasts, nature lovers as well as wildlife photographers.

One can set off for one of the most awesome road trips to Bandipur forest from Bangalore and who knows you might just spot a deer imperturbably crossing the road.

Tawang: Nature's lavish allowance to Tawang is beyond description.

Its endless and unparalleled beauty holds your senses tight and allows them to marvel at the gift of nature displayed in every inch of the land.

Situated 10,000 feet above the sea level and surrounded by lakes, Tawang's beauty appeals to the eyes and moves towards one's soul with its breathtaking valleys, misty rivers and stunning waterfalls in this scenic district, giving every nature enthusiast an ultimate experience.

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Jharkhand Police has confirmed the arrest of a Naxal zonal commander and two of his associates from Basmata village under Masalia Police Station in the state's Dumka district and seized detonators, transistors and Rs. 35,000 cash from their possession.

Dumka Police has identified the commander as Kanchan Da, alias, Awadh Kishore, who is carrying a bounty of Rs. 10 lakhs on his head. His associates were identified as Gopal Rai and Okil Murmu.

They were arrested on Saturday in a joint operation of the district police and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

Kanchan, a member of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), was allegedly involved in many dreadful incidents.

In the 1980s, according to the police, Kanchan was working with the Home Guards, and joined the Naxals after the death of his father in 1997.

At present, he was looking after his organisation's affairs in Dumka, Godda, Jamtara and Pakur districts, and had been recruiting youth in the Santhal Pargana division into his organisation.

Dumka Superintendent of Police (SP) Prabhat Kumar told ANI, "The district police and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) carried out a joint operation and arrested hardcore Naxal rebel Awadh Kishore Yadav, alias, Awadh Chandra Yadav, alias, Kanchan Da, alias, Mota, alias, Suresh Da, and his two accomplices Gopal Rai and Okil Murmur."

He said the Naxal zonal commander was involved in many dreadful incidents, including the murder of Shamshad Ansari, the then Station House Officer of the Shikaripara Police Station at Pokharia in 2008; in the murder of the then Pakur SP Amarjeet Balihar, and five police personnel in Jamuni village under Kathikund police range in 2013 and in the killing of eight polling officers, along with a policemen, during the 2014 general elections at Sarsajol village under Shikaripara Police Station among others.

He was also involved in the encounter between police and Naxals on September 10, 2010 in Kathikund's Taldanga Hills, in which the then Station House Officer of the Jama Police Station Satanand Singh and three other policemen were killed; while his role is being probed into the murder case of Sister Valsa John in Pakur district's Amrapara block in 2015, said the SP.

Prabhat Kumar said, Kanchan is expert in operating arms and has taken training in Giridih, while his two associates were also involved in many Naxal incidents.

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China's move to again block India's objective of proscribing Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar at the United Nations, has led former diplomat and now Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar to say that New Delhi needs to work bilaterally with Beijing to persuade the latter to change its view, rather than aggravating the relationship beyond the point of no return.

"Each country has the sovereign rights to its view; we, therefore, have to work bilaterally with China in order to persuade them to come around to our point of view. In the real world, we need to use diplomacy to solve problems and not to aggravate them, but unfortunately my colleagues in the Indian Foreign Service are more comfortable generally with aggravating problems instead of trying to resolve them," Aiyar, told ANI.

Noting that there is a 'new Cold War' developing between the United States (U.S.) and China, Aiyar said, "But, these are not intellectual questions, it's part of power play and, in this power play, there is a 'new Cold War' developing between the United States (U.S.) and China, in which China has decided that (not banning Jaish chief), because they have disputes with India which has not been resolved over the last 70 years, whereas with Pakistan they were able to find a solution and they have also found an extremely important route, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which goes through Balochistan to Gwadar port."

"I don't really see why we should be opposed to the CPEC when it will be very useful for us to take advantage of it," the former Indian diplomat said.

"Of course, there is the argument that it passes through the territory which we claim, but then the road that China has built through Aksai Chin also passes through our territory and yet there is nothing specific that we can do or are doing about the taking back the territory through which that road runs."

"They are, therefore, on their side. And, I think, we should be somehow trying to work with China to make them feel that we are friends. After all, I was brought in an era of 'Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai', and I still believe in Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai," he added.

China for the second time after on March 31 this year, prevented India's effort to put a ban on the JeM chief and the Pathankot attack mastermind under the sanctions committee of the United Nations Security Council.

The Chinese technical hold was set to lapse on October 3, and had China not raised further objection, the resolution designating Azhar as a terrorist could have been passed automatically.

The hold has been extended for another six months.

With this, Beijing now has three options, which include extending the technical hold, converting the hold to a block or allow the designation to go through.

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Telangana MP K. Kavitha celebrated the 'Bathukamma' festival, which was jointly organized by Telangana Jagruthi and New Zealand Telangana Association, in Auckland today.

Kavitha is this year taking the festival of Bathukamma to the international platform in a bid to attract foreign investors for the state of Telangana. She has already held celebrations in Dubai, the U.K., the U.S. and Australia.

She will now head to Singapore, Bahrain, Kuwait and Denmark.

This festival is a symbol of Telangana's cultural identity and celebrated during the latter half of monsoon and before the onset of winter.

The festival celebrates the inherent relationship between earth, water and the human beings. During the entire preceding week, women make 'Boddemma' (a deity of Gowri - mother Durga - made with earthly mud) along with 'Bathukamma' (flower stack, arranged with different unique seasonal flowers most of them with medicinal values) and immerse it in a pond.

It is believed that it helps reinforce ponds and retain more water.

The flowers used in Bathukamma have a great quality of purifying water and such flowers when immersed in abundance in a pond, it have the effect of cleansing water and making the environment much better.

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Kangana Ranaut was recently seen posing for a photo shoot in sheer and sexy lingeries by numerous designers from across the world including the likes of Emilio de la Morena, Agent Provocateur, Gaurav Gupta and many more.

The 29-year-old actress sizzled as she posed in sexy and sheer lingerie on the cover of GQ magazine, which recently awarded her 'Woman of the Year.'

The 'Queen' star is seen wearing a plunging neckline, waist cutout bodysuit by popular British lingerie retailer Agent Provocateur.

The photo shoot gives several pictures of the gorgeous beauty tucking into a pair of Stella McCartney trousers and a high slit gown by Barrus, a Turkish fashion house.

On the additional pages, Kangana is seen pulling off a shimmery golden Vivien Westwood dress with Louis Vuitton earrings; a stunning dress by Emilio de la Morena, Jimmy Choo heels and an Hermes fur piece on her shoulder to complete the look.

Along with one of the photographs by Tarun Vishwa were few inspirational lines written about Kangana.

"In a game legendary for being as cut throat as it is nepotistic, you'd think a girl from Himachal does not stand a chance. Yet she made it to the top of the film industry and proved to be the girl in the bulletproof corset, who isn't going anywhere. And she is doing it on her own terms.

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Tragedy struck at Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Maywati's mega rally here today, where a stampede broke out in which a woman was killed and almost 13 people have been injured.

A 55-year-old woman was killed when the masses got agitated following extreme heat and humidity at the rally.

All the injured were immediately rushed to the Lokbandhu hospital nearby.

According to reports, people including children are missing following the ruckus at the rally.

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Commenting on the recent recovery of ammunition made in Pakistan Ordinance Factory found from the possession of the four terrorists killed in Kashmir's Naugam sector, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday asserted that no amount of evidence can convince Pakistan that they are promoting terrorism.

"India is defeating the motives of Pakistan. No amount of evidence can convince Pakistan that they are promoting terrorism,"BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi told ANI.

Lekhi further said that India is maintain a proxy war with Pakistan, adding that this kind of evidence proves that Pakistan's sinister plans are working in India

Army officials on Saturday confirmed that four Pakistan-based terrorists were eliminated on the Line of Control (LoC) while trying to infiltrate into Kashmir's Naugam sector on October 6 adding that the UBGL grenades and hand grenades recovered from their possession was made in Pakistan Ordinance Factory.

"Pakistan Ordinance Factory made hand grenades and UBGL grenades were seized from the terrorists that confirms Pakistan's complicity in abetting, equipping terror," the army spokesperson told ANI.

"Pakistan origin markings are also seen on the medicines and eatable items recovered," the spokesman added.

Three AK-47 rifles, two UBGL launchers, three GPS, four radio search, maps and metric sheet, and medicines were recovered from them.

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a warning about certain top-load washing machines made by Samsung between March 2011 and April 2016.

"CPSC is advising consumers to only use the delicate cycle when washing bedding, water-resistant and bulky items," read a statement at the commission's website.

"The lower spin speed in the delicate cycle lessens the risk of impact injuries or property damage due to the washing machine becoming dislodged," the statement added.

In rare cases, affected units may experience abnormal vibrations that could pose a risk of personal injury or property damage when washing bedding, bulky or water-resistant items, the company explained.

The CPSC warning comes a month after the filing of a class action lawsuit in federal court over problems with the washers.

Reportedly, the U.S. regulators have warned the owners of certain top-loading Samsung washing machines of "safety issues" following reports that some have exploded.

Exact model numbers are not specified, rather that numerous top load washing machine models have the ability to intensely vibrate until explosion.

Samsung last month announced a voluntary recall and exchange program for versions of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone sold in the United States before September 15.

The devices "can overheat and pose a safety risk," the company said in a statement.

Currently, the brand new Note 7 products that have been swapped in overseas markets are using identical batteries to those that were supplied and used for the Chinese version.

Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines this week evacuated a plane after one of the "safe" phones reportedly began sparking and smoking.

Another "safe" new phone purchased by a tech worker in China reportedly burst into flames after being charged overnight.

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The Congress Party on Sunday alleged that the army, which is the most important element in Pakistan, sets the country's agenda and policy against India.

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit told ANI that on the other hand the Indian armed forces put forth their inputs, which are taken seriously.

"See, Basit's statement also said that the Indian armed forces, air force, army may also be involved in framing India's policy towards Pakistan could be true because ultimately our army, navy and air force play a role in securing our borders and because there has been troubled relations with Pakistan and all the three forces have always played a role. Obviously, the inputs would also be necessary and I am sure they are taken," Dikshit said.

"Similarly the three armed forces also give there inputs and I'm sure with a lot of seriousness the inputs are also taken and be a part of all the inputs that frame our strategy and policy against Pakistan. But in case of Pakistan, the army is the most important element," he added while reacting to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit's remark that the Pakistani Army has an important role to play in Islamabad's India policy.

Speaking to a daily, the Pakistani envoy said the army had important inputs to give on India, Afghanistan and all other security-related issues.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday alleged that the government in Pakistan is a puppet in the hands of its army as they are the ones, who form policies against India and provide support to terror outfits.

BJP leader Zafar Islam told ANI that Pakistani Army is a driving seat for providing logistic support to all terrorist activities.

"We are not surprised. We know that the Pakistan civilian government is merely a puppet in the hands of Pakistan Army. We also know the Pakistani Army, what we call them as 'hukumran', are the one on driving seat and their policies always untie India policies and ISI is a part of Pakistani Army and they are responsible for providing logistic support to all terrorist activities," Isla said.

"So, we are not overly concerned that army is responsible for the Indian related policy of the Pakistani Government because we know that they are the one who play the role in forming the policy against India and providing all support to Pakistani terror outfits, who are actually exporting terrorism in India," he added while reacting to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit's remark that the Pakistani Army has an important role to play in Islamabad's India policy.

Speaking to a daily, he said the army had important inputs to give on India, Afghanistan and all other security-related issues.

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Former chief secretary Naresh Chandra on Sunday slammed Pakistan for its selective and weak policy against terrorism and praised the diplomatic efforts made by India against Islamabad on global platform.

"Pakistan has not been able to draw any support from any country that is because over the years the level of resentment and frustration about Pakistan is selective and weak policy against terrorism has been ineffective and duplicitous," he said.

"Then our government has done lots of work in world capitals and got a consensus that Pakistan is not doing enough and it has still not given up the instrument of terror to pressurize India into coming to talks with them on the attempts. So, now today the position is that if you don't talk then we will go on infiltrating and causing trouble to you, that has what snubbed," he added.

"So they have to make fundamental choices now , are they going to pursuit their old bad ways of using terrorist and jihadis to pressurize India or they are going to have a new type of agenda for dialogue with India. So, they are at the state of flux at the moment," Chandra told ANI here.

The former chief secretary's remark came as Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, earlier said that Islamabad never wanted any increase in tensions with New Delhi.

"We never wanted to escalate the situation either vertically or horizontally," Basit said in an interview published in the Outlook magazine on Friday.

"Pakistan has always proportionately responded to whatever [ceasefire] violation has taken place in the past. That continues to be our stance," he said.

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Hateful posters lending credence to the idea of 'beheading' transwomen have surfaced in the city.

The posters argue that the 'transgenders are cursed by Allah and would have been beheaded if they had been in the holy land of Saudi Arabia.'

The posters that recently appeared at a mall on Tariq Road, one of the city's most vibrant shopping centres, have created an air of fear amongst the transgender community.

The people around the mall said that the number of transgender persons who frequented the area- mainly asking for money- has significantly declined after the emergence of the posters.

The posters say, "transgender persons are cursed by Allah' but are safe in Pakistan because of its 'weak and lethargic' law. If they had been in Saudi Arabia, their heads would have been cut off," and the words are given as a reference to some 'Pakistan High Court' while there is no such institution in the country, reports the Express Tribune.

A security guard of the mall, Rabi Centre, present on duty said, "I think some locals have put them and they are right in doing so because they (transwomen) are not khawaja sira in reality but men pretending to be women," he says.

A shopkeeper said the message written on the posters is right, adding these 'fake' transgender persons should not be allowed to create nuisance in the malls.

"They touch women, hold their arms and beg for money, which should not be allowed at all. They are all actually men and, yes, if they had been in the holy land of Saudi Arabia, they would have been slaughtered as per the rule," he said.

Enraged by the message in the posters, transrights activist Kami Sid, who raised the issue on social media, said that law enforcers should immediately start investigating into the matter and act against the people behind it.

Kami argues that since the community is not given jobs on merit or quota, many of its members have to beg to 'earn their bread and butter'.

A police official said that they will take action against the culprit adding that if any transgender person registers a complaint against miscreants harassing them, stern action will be taken.

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The Samajwadi party on Sunday justified the posters crediting party supremo for the surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) and said that it was the former, who advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi to target Pakistan.

Shamsher Malik, the district president of Samajwadi Yugjan Sabha, said they are not playing any over the sacrifices and valour of the soldiers as the posters were displayed to congratulate the jawans and .

"The poster credits Samajwadi Party supremo Mulyam Singh for the surgical strikes because Mulayam Singh did call Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked him to conduct the surgical strikes while stating that the Samajwadi Party is with them in this step," said Malik.

"Mulayam Singh's opinion counts, he has been a former home minister and is considered as a senior person in the Indian politics," he added.

The Samajwadi Party put up hoardings in Muzaffarnagar claiming that Prime Minister Modi ordered the surgical strike only after consulting .

In the hoardings put up at Novelty Chowk in the city, the pictures of Mulayam Singh Yadav, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Malik can be seen.
A suspect in the killing of two police officers, who were shot after responding to a domestic disturbance call in Palm Springs, California, has been arrested early Sunday.

Identified as John Felix, a 26-year-old resident of Palm Springs, he is accused of killing officer Jose Gilbert Vega, a 35-year veteran due to retire this year, and officer Lesley Zerebny, who joined the department recently and just got back from maternity leave, reports the CNN.

A third officer was also wounded and is recovering .

The police will disclose the details of the Saturday afternoon shooting later in the day.

The incident started after the officers responded to a 911 call at a house in Palm Springs

Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes said a woman made the call around midday local time and said her adult son had caused a disturbance.

When the officers arrived, Felix refused to open the front door and as they tried to get him to comply with their orders, Felix opened fire through the closed front door.

This comes as on July 17, a gunman killed three officers and wounded another three in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. About a week earlier, a gunman killed five officers and wounded seven in Dallas.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Afghan National Army (ANA) Mi-17 chopper delivering supplies to a base near Pul-e-Khumri city in Baghlan province was shot down by Taliban insurgents early Sunday morning.

Quoting sources, Tolo News reports that the crew on board reportedly died in the incident, reports the Tolo News.

However, Taliban has not commented on the incident till now.

According to an official, the Taliban meanwhile in a separate attack, captured a security check post in Jar-e-Khoshk area of central Baghlan district.

Official claimed that one soldier was killed and two were injured while three others disappeared in this attack.

Both incidents have come in the midst of ongoing clashes between security forces and the Taliban in Baghlan province.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Defence expert Lieutenant General (Retd.) Raj Kadyan on Sunday said Pakistan despite all efforts made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for betterment of ties did not reciprocate, adding the inaction against terrorists is a testament to this fact.

Lieutenant General (Retd.) Kadyan did not appear to be in tune with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz's assertion that there is no chance of breakthrough in the ties between New Delhi and Islamabad under Prime Minister Modi.

"I think that's an opinion of Sartaz Aziz, I do not know how many in this world share this opinion. If we talk about developments the very first day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed his office he called Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif then he went out of the way to attend Sharif's granddaughter's family function in Lahore after which within a week you launch an attack on Pathankot airbase," Lieutenant General (Retd.) Kadyan told ANI.

"Pakistan has not even taken action against terrorist which have committed heinous crimes. Aziz's comments don't fit in the facts. Modi tried his best sincerely to improve relation with Pakistan. You cannot clap with one hand Pakistan did not cooperate," he added.

Accusing India of adopting a "hegemonistic attitude", Aziz has said that there can be no expectations of any breakthrough in ties with India during Prime Minister Modi's tenure.

"There is no hope for a breakthrough in relations with India under its current Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted Aziz as saying in a TV interview.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At least 11 people sustained injuries when a passenger train running on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) in the US state of New York derailed on Saturday night.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said: "At this time 11 people have sustained injuries."

But a Nassau county police spokesperson told the media that an estimated 50 to 100 people were wounded.

All information pointed that none of the injuries was life-threatening.

There were about 600 passengers on board when the first three of the train's 12 cars derailed, according to the governor.

The cause of the incident remains unclear, but the media reports said the derailed train had struck a work train on the tracks.

Launched in 1834, the LIRR is a commuter rail system stretching from New York city to the eastern tip of Suffolk county on Long Island.

With an average weekday ridership of nearly 340,000 passengers in 2014, it is believed to be the busiest commuter railroad in North America.

The Saturday derailment came on the heels of another major train accident on September 29, when a New Jersey Transit commuter train crashed into the Hoboken Terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey.

One person died and 114 injured in that incident, the cause of which is still being probed.

--IANS

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Hundreds of Aam Aadmi Party supporters protested outside Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung's official residence here on Sunday to oppose his decision to cancel the Delhi government's order increasing circle rates of agricultural land.

The protestors, owing allegiance to the AAP rural wing and including farmers, condemned Jung's action to quash the Arvind Kejriwal government's decision on the issue and said the hike in circle rates of agricultural land would have benefited them.

The Delhi government last year increased the circle rates of agricultural land in Delhi. However, the Lt. Governor asked the government to withdraw the notification since his approval was not taken.

Rajeev Sinsinwala, AAP's rural wing leader in Delhi, accused Jung of favouring builders rather than farmers.

"The Lt. Governor's decision to cancel the order on circle rates comes out of his concern for big builders. He has done injustice to the farmers."

"He (Jung) has cancelled almost all government orders meant to benefit the common man," he said in a statement here.

Sinsinwala said the order on the circle rates would have helped farmers get increased compensation for their agricultural land, from Rs 1 crore to Rs 3.5 crore.

Earlier on Sunday, Chief Minister Kejriwal said Jung had declared a virtual war on the people of Delhi.

"It has become L-G vs farmers, L-G vs advocates, L-G vs women and L-G vs Delhiites," Kejriwal tweeted.

He made the comment after appealing to Jung not to cancel the decisions taken by his government with public welfare in mind after it came to power in February 2015.

The Delhi High Court ruled on August 4 that the Lt. Governor is the supreme administrative authority in Delhi. Ever since, Jung has gone about spiking many decisions taken by the Kejriwal government in the past almost 20 months.

--IANS

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Aam Aadmi Party legislator Naresh Balyan was on Sunday booked on charges of brawling with a Residential Welfare Association (RWA) office-bearer, Delhi Police said.

The RWA office-bearer was also booked in a case following a cross-complaint.

Police said the incident occured around 2 p.m. when M.B George, Vice-President of K-2 Block RWA in Uttam Nagar locality, was holding a meeting with other RWA office-bearers regarding arrangements for the coming Dussehra festival.

Balyan is a legislator from Uttam Nagar in west Delhi.

Police said that after he was not invited to the RWA meeting, an angry Balyan, along with his associate Mahendra Fauji, indulged in a verbal duel with George, which later turned into a scuffle. George subsequently lodged a complaint with the Uttam Nagar police station.

Fauji too gave a cross-complaint that he had called Balyan to inaugurate a drain in the block, where George fought with the AAP leader over the issue of inauguration.

"We have registered a case of brawl on the basis of complaints from both sides. We have registered a case under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 451 (house-trespass in order to commit offence) on George's complaint against Naresh Balyan.

"We have also registered a case against George on Fauji's complaint at the Uttam Nagar police station," Deputy Commissioner of Police Vijay Kumar said.

"We have recorded their statements and are investigating. No one was injured in the clash," Kumar added.

--IANS

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Actress Angelina Jolie's former nanny has warned the actress not to inflict a "lonely and traumatic" childhood on her children.

The "Maleficent" actress filed for divorce from husband Brad Pitt last month and is seeking primary custody of their six kids, Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and eight-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.

Krisann Morel, who cared for the actress and her brother James Haven when they were young, is concerned about the parallels between their split and the "By the Sea" filmmaker's own parents, Jon Voight and the late Marcheline Bertrand, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"I want to send a message to Angelina, who I care about very much. I want to tell her, don't cut Brad out of the children's lives. Don't demonise your husband. Because that is exactly what your mother did when she was breaking up with your father. And the result was you had a lonely and traumatic childhood. Why would you inflict the same tragedy on your kids?

"I am worried that Angie is repeating the past and the same mistakes her mother made during her divorce. I want to get this message across to her before it is too late," Morel told Grazia magazine.

After Voight left Bertrand for a young drama student, the actress barred her former husband from seeing the kids, and to this day Jolie is said to have a strained relationship with the actor.

"Jon was portrayed as this evil figure and Marcheline succeeded in turning both his children against him. But it led to years of heartbreak and wounds that still haven't healed to this day.

"I'm so surprised Angie (Angelina) is now doing the same to her children," Morel said.

--IANS

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China on Saturday called on the international community to keep the general direction for a political solution and push for the solution of the Syrian crisis through dialogue by all the parties in Syria.

The statement came as Liu Jieyi, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, was taking the floor at the UN Security Council after two opposing draft resolutions on Syria failed to pass the 15-nation UN body.

"On the question of Syria, the international community should keep the general direction for a political solution and push for the solution of the question of Syria through dialogue by all the parties in Syria so that the war can be ended as soon as possible, " Liu said.

China abstained from the French-drafted resolution, which sought to end airstrikes on the north Syrian city of Aleppo by grounding the Russian and Syrian military planes over Aleppo, and voted in favor of the Russian draft which called for an end to hostilities in the Middle East country and ensure humanitarian access to the Syrian people in need. The two draft resolutions both failed to be approved by the Security Council.

--IANS

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A number of 'One Stop Centres' will come up across the national capital to help women/girls in distress, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal said on Sunday.

"As many as 11 'One Stop Centres' will be opened in Delhi and will be run by DCW. These centres will be opened under a central government scheme. Funds for its functioning will be provided by the central government," she said, adding that the order for their opening has been issued by the state government.

Medical, legal and psychological help would be provided to the victims of rape, molestation, dowry harassment and the like at these centres, she said.

"These centres will function as extension of DCW's Crisis Intervention Cell (CIC) and Rape Crisis Cell (RCC). With the help of 'One Stop Centres', DCW will be able to address issues of more victims in the city," Maliwal added.

The decision to open 'One Stop Centres' was taken in a meeting held in August between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi, in which Maliwal was also present.

--IANS

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Many Indian companies have boarded the digital transformation express to cut costs, increase efficiency and expand businesses, and many others are planning to do the same, according to a top official in consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.

"Indian companies are doing it or planning to do that. Under this process, transformation of a company happens internally as well as externally. While digital transformation helps in cutting costs, increase efficiency, the most important elements are the ability of the company to look at a new market segment, cross-selling and also the retain its customers," Aroop Zutshi, Global President and Managing Partner of Frost & Sullivan, told IANS in an interview.

He said companies implementing digital transformation can also look at new market segments with a new business model that were not addressed earlier for want of technology.

Zutshi is based in the US and is also on the corporate board of Frost & Sullivan Inc. He was in India to attend a conference.

Zutshi said digital transformation is more than the business process re-engineering (BPR) -- a management concept that was popular among the corporates not long ago.

According to him, internally the transformation happens in the form of integration of all functional areas and use of data to look at things in a better way.

He said every company in a way would be involved in data analytics to take decisions.

On the customer side, during sales process there will be value enhancement in the customer's experience.

"Companies have to be one step ahead of customer's expectations," Zutshi added.

Offering a digital experience to the customer, their retention levels will also go up.

Zutshi said digital transformation is equally applicable for companies in the manufacturing and services sectors.

Speaking about implementing the digital transformation in a company, Zutshi said it should be the central theme of the organisation.

"There may be some initial pain points like loss of jobs," he said.

According to him, the top management should be committed for digital transformation of an organisation to succeed."

As to process of digital transformation of a company, Zutshi said first the company would be scanned in detail to understand it, the market in which it operates, its industry position, what it does to retain customers and other aspects.

After that, the firm would tell what could be done, the outlay it may involve and the return on investments.

"We would also look at new business models and new customer segments the company could target," Zutshi said.

According to him, the outlay for digital transformation depends on the level of automation the company has and other aspects. The cost may range from Rs.50 lakh to even Rs.5 crore on the high end.

Zutshi said there are companies in India that implement digital transformation in phases and also in a full fledged manner.

--IANS

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Marvel's "Doctor Strange" will hit screens in India on November 4, the same day as its North American release. Also, some of its fans in India will be treated to an exclusive peek into the film on Wednesday.

India would be one of the first countries to see approximately 15 minutes of exclusive footage from the highly anticipated, action-packed "Doctor Strange", which stars the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch and Rachel McAdams. The sneak peek will be showcased at an IMAX screen in Mumbai.

"'Doctor Strange' is nothing like any other superhero movie we have seen and that makes it all the more special. Not only that, it presents Benedict Cumberbatch in an inimitable and unique style and it is his very first outing as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe," Amrita Pandey, Vice President -- Studios, Disney India, said in a statement.

"The Marvel Studios' Expand Your Mind: An IMAX 3D Exclusive First Look screening is a special treat we want to give to all Marvel fans in India. The screening would include over 15 minutes of exclusive footage from the movie and give the fans a sneak peak into Dr. Stephen Strange's journey," Pandey added.

"Doctor Strange" also features Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt and Scott Adkins, with Mads Mikkelsen and Tilda Swinton.

Scott Derrickson has directed the project, which is produced by Kevin Feige.

--IANS

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Durga Puja celebrations have picked up pace in the twin cities of Odisha -- Bhubaneswar and Cuttack -- with people thronging the pandals to seek blessings of Goddess Durga.

More than 300 major puja pandals and innumerable smaller ones in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar have come alive with stunning decorations and sparkling lights. People are moving from pandal to pandal to seek and admire the puja decorations created on different themes.

People were also seen shopping in malls and enjoying delicacies at eateries across the twin cities.

However, weather may play spoilsport during Durga Puja celebrations as the Indian Meteorological Department has forecast rainfall in the wake of an upper air cyclonic circulation formed over the Bay of Bengal.

"The rainfall would continue till October 10. However, there would be moderate rainfall with intervals," said Bhubaneswar Met Office Director Sarat Chandra Sahu.

To ensure an incident-free Dussehra, the commissionerate police have tightened security in the twin cities.

Police Commissioner Y.B. Khurania said the police has made elaborate arrangements for vehicular traffic management and upkeep of law and order situation during the puja and idol immersion.

While police aid posts were set up at different places, patrolling also has been intensified. The Quick Reaction Team (QRT) and Striking Force have also been stationed, he added.

To keep a close watch on anti-social elements, CCTV cameras have been installed at strategic points, including at the puja pandals. Surveillance is also being maintained in crowded market places, hotels, restaurants and malls.

--IANS

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Four persons, including a property dealer, have been arrested for kidnapping the son of former Municipal Councillor for ransom, police said on Sunday.

The 21-year-old victim, son of Congress leader and former Dwarka Councillor Shambunath Sharma, was safely freed.

Anand, 27, owner of water treatment plant, Vichitrvir, 30, and Vinod Kumar, 32 both working as toll collectors, and Vikrant, 30, a property dealer were arrested on Friday evening from Chhawla area, following a tip off, when they came to meet some of their other associates, said police.

Three cars used in the commission of crime, including the victim's BMW, were recovered from the accused, police said, adding a hunt is on for the others involved.

Police said the kidnapping took place on September 27, when the accused posing as traffic policemen and police constables stopped harma's son, a final year student of Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha College in Rohini, at gun point while he was on his way to college in his BMW car.

The victim was taken to a farmhouse in Haryana's Sirsa and then Rajasthan.

"A case was registered in Subhash Nagar Police Station, following a complaint by Aman Kumar, an eyewitness. A ransom call demanding Rs 50 crore was made by the kidnappers to Sharma from the victim's mobile phone. Later the kidnappers sensed police pressure, settled the deal for Rs 1 crore and released the victim in a private taxi hired from Gurgaon," Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime, Ravindra Yadav told IANS.

"A search is on for eight other gang members including its kingpin. They had also kept a vigil on the youth six months ago and made a plan to kidnap him to earn easy money," he added.

--IANS

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With India ratifying the world's first comprehensive climate agreement earlier this month, another global treaty that eventually aims to phase out a heat-trapping substance -- hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs - and replace them with climate-friendly alternatives, will require India's leadership role, say environmentalists.

Ahead of the entry into force of the Paris Agreement on climate change, which is set to take place on November 4, the 28th meeting of the Parties to the 1989 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer will be held in Rwandan capital Kigali from October 10 to 14 to freeze an agreement as early as 2025-26 to eventually eliminate the use of HFCs, commonly used in air-conditioners.

"We're looking to India and other world leaders to show greater flexibility on reaching an amendment to phase down HFCs," Nehmat Kaur, who is India representative of the Natural Resources Defense Council, told IANS.

"There is an economic case for countries, including India, to advance its timeframe for the phase-down. The new $80 million dollar fund is a strong signal for early action. Things are looking positive for a strong and ambitious amendment this week," she added.

However, an official with the Union Environment Ministry hinted that India, which has not opened its cards so far, may advance its deadline to phase out HFCs.

"India might advance the time-frame during negotiations for phasing out HFCs to somewhere like 2025-26, instead of the previous deadline of 2031, if the developed nations pledge adequate funding to the developing nations, including India, for research and development of low global warming potential alternatives," said the official.

For smooth transition to developing new technologies indigenously, there is a huge financial burden on India -- both for the industry and the consumers, the official added.

At the Meeting of the Parties, nearly 200 countries, including India, will try to negotiate on separate deadlines for the developed and developing nations to phase out HFCs.

Experts say though HFCs -- the refrigeration and air-conditioning coolants -- do not harm the ozone layer, but have a high global warming potential.

Their elimination will ultimately help avoiding an up to 0.5 degree Celsius rise in global temperature by the end of the century and will significantly contribute towards the global goal of staying well below two degrees.

"Expectations are high that the Montreal Protocol can live up to its reputation as the world's most effective environmental treaty. Ambitious political will from all countries is now needed to get the best agreement possible," an official statement quoting Clare Perry, Climate Campaign Leader at London's Environmental Investigation Agency, said.

Ahead of the Kigali meet, India has put forward its own proposal for amendment that mainly advocates adequate funding for research and development to the developing nations for smooth technological transition without any delay.

In India, it will cost 12 billion euros (Rs 90,000 crore) to shift from HFCs to the greener gases between 2015 and 2050, the New Delhi-based think-tank Council on Energy, Environment and Water said on September 27.

"India would seek an equitable agreement in Kigali that is in the best interests of the nation, its people, as well as the larger global community," Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave has been quoted as saying.

Officials of the Environment Ministry say India will advocate for adequate multilateral funds for the developing countries for smooth and speedy technological transition at the Montreal Protocol talks.

An indication in this regard was given Special Secretary in the ministry R.R. Rashmi on September 27, who said: "There are different estimates as to what it will cost to make the switch. But, we must emphasise in Kigali that the commitment of donor countries has to be absolute and this assurance is necessary to fulfil any commitments India makes."

In the July negotiations in Vienna, over 100 countries opted to freeze HFC growth by 2021. China, the world's largest HFC producer, suggested starting the freeze in 2025 or 2026, while India advocated 2031.

In 2013, India's consumption of HFCs, which are up to 10,000 times more potent than carbon dioxide and are the fastest-growing greenhouse gases in the world, was 1.6 percent of the global consumption.

Ahead of the Kigali negotiations, 19 global foundations together contributed $53 million and other $27 million came from a few countries for the multilateral fund to be used for smooth transition from HFCs by the developing nations and directed towards energy efficiency efforts.

Corporate giant Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co Ltd is the only Indian company that funds donations for the multilateral fund.

Eleven senators, in a missive to US Secretary of State John Kerry on October 7, said: "A successful agreement negotiated in Kigali is critical to help meet the goals agreed to in Paris, and we encourage you to take advantage of this important opportunity to create a more sustainable future."

The Montreal Protocol was designed to protect the ozone layer by reducing the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances. It was agreed to on September 16, 1987, and entered into force on January 1, 1989.

Since then it has banned the use of several ozone-depleting substances, including chlorofluorocarbons, a substitute to HFCs.

(IANS Special Correspondent Vishal Gulati is travelling to Kigali in Rwanda to cover the 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol beginning October 10. He can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)

--IANS

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President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday extended his greetings to the government and people of Fiji on the occasion of the island-nation's Independence Day and said India will continue to partner Fiji in various fields.

In a message to Fiji President Jioji Konousi Konrote, Mukherjee said, "On behalf of the government and people of India, it is with pleasure that I convey warm greetings to your excellency, the government and the people of Fiji on the occasion of your Independence Day."

"It is a matter of satisfaction that the bilateral relations between our two countries are growing stronger... India will continue to partner Fiji in the field of Information Technology (IT), tele-medicine, tele-education and renewable energy," he said.

Mukherjee said that India's dialogue with the Pacific island countries, under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), at the FIPIC-I Summit held in Suva in November 2014 and FIPIC-II in Jaipur in August 2015, "has given us opportunities to understand and address the challenges faced by Pacific island countries".

"I am confident that the relations between India and Fiji will continue to strengthen in the years to come for the benefit of our respective peoples," he said.

--IANS

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Comedian and chat show host James Corden is shifting with his wife and their children to a beachfront mansion, for which he will reportedly shell out 64,000 pounds (approximately $80,000) as monthly rent.

The five-storey Malibu house, complete with panoramic ocean views and infinity pool, itself costs 19 million pounds, reported mirror.co.uk.

With six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and a gym, Corden's family would also have access to a state-of-the art kitchen which comes with its own top chef and elevator.

The 37-year-old, his wife Julia and their two children Max, four, and Carey, one, were so far living in a rented five-bedroom luxury villa in Brentwood, which they moved to when the star first left Britain.

His neighbours there included director Steven Spielberg as well as big-screen favourites Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow.

--IANS

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The main shooting of "Fashion Designer -- S/O Ladies Tailor", which will be helmed by veteran filmmaker Vamsy, will commence from November 1 and it will be entirely in the Godavari belt.

The film, a sequel to 1986 hit, "Ladies Tailor", will star Sumanth Ashwin in the lead.

"The regular shooting will start from November 1, and the entire film will be shot in a single schedule in the Godavari belt. The story will follow the son of Rajendra Prasad's character from 'Ladies Tailor'. The story transpires in the same village where the first part was shot," producer Madhura Sreedhar told IANS.

The film will feature three leading ladies and they are yet to be finalised.

"This story of the son of 'Ladies Tailor' will be told in a humorous way. The son, unlike his father, wants to be called a fashion designer," he said.

--IANS

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Puduchery Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy and leaders of various political parties on Sunday visited the Apollo Hospital to enquire about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa's health.

The 68-year-old Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital here last month with fever and dehydration. The doctors have since said she was suffering from infection and was on respiratory support.

Speaking to reporters, Narayanasamy said that the doctors had reported improvement in Jayalalithaa's condition.

CPI leader D. Raja, Tamil Nadu Congress President G.K. Vasan and Tamil Maanila Congress leader S. Thirunavukkarasar, MMK leader M.H. Jawahirullah and others visited the hospital to wish Jayalalithaa speedy recovery.

DMK leader M.K. Stalin and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had gone to the hospital earlier.

Meanwhile, AIADMK leaders and cadres continue to hold special prayers for the Chief Minister's speedy recovery.

On Saturday, Apollo Hospital said: "The respiratory support is closely watched and adjusted. Lungs decongestion treatment is being continued. All other comprehensive measures including nutrition, supportive therapy and passive physiotherapy are under way."

--IANS

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Though the latest round of spectrum auction by the Indian government did not attract the fancy of the operators much, it will benefit customers by providing better service, feel industry experts.

"The appetite for data consumption of the Indian consumers is increasing; so operators need more spectrum. Latest addition will help operators give quality broadband with better speed," Rajan S. Mathews, Director General, Cellular Operators' Association of India, told IANS.

According to him, each customer in the counrty consumes around 10 GB data on an average per month and this is growing between 20 to 30 per cent year-on-year.

"The spectrum auction has enabled most players to fill gaps in their network, which means users will be able to choose among several players for mobile broadband services. Further, the additional spectrum will help improve quality of services," Mahesh Uppal, Director of consultancy firm, Com First, told IANS.

But telecom operators need not worry about finding customers, or their thirst for broadband, in the near term. Subscriptions worldwide are growing at around 20 per cent each year, according to the Ericsson Mobility Report.

Published in June 2016, the report says that global broadband subscriptions would reach 7.7 billion by 2021, accounting for 85 percent of all subscriptions. "Mobile broadband will complement fixed broadband in some segments, and will be the dominant mode of access in others," it says.

Rishi Tejpal, Principal Analyst on Telecom Business Strategy at Gartner, a tech research company, says the improvement in service from operators would come because they would be able to expand their coverage and capacity. "In terms of connectivity, the additional spectrum will allow operators to enhance their mobile broadband footprint, thus offering better and wider availability of these services."

Talking about 4G connectivity in India, Tejpal said: "India is already 4G enabled and operators have picked up spectrum in other bands to fill the gaps and expand their 4G footprint."

India's telecom spectrum auction ended on Thursday, closing within five days with a total commitment of only Rs 65,789 crore ($9.8 billion) or about 11.6 per cent of the expected Rs 5.66 lakh crore ($88.5 billion). Of the 2,354 MHz on offer, only 965 MHz or 41 per cent was sold.

"The bidding this year was rational. Operators did not overpay for the spectrum. That is a good news as the telecom companies can invest more for network enhancement," Mathews said.

The auction went through 31 rounds for seven bands ----700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,300 MHz and 2,500 MHz. There were no takers for 700 MHz and 900 MHz.

(Aparajita Gupta can be reached at aparajita.g@ians.in)

--IANS

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President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday greeted all Indians on Durga Puja, hoping it inspires an equal participation of women in the task of nation-builiding.

"On the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja, I extend warm greetings and best wishes to all my fellow countrymen, in India and abroad.

"May this festival be an occasion for revival and rejuvenation. May it inspire us to tread the path of moral rectitude and build a society in which woman are respected as equal partners in the building of our nation. Let us pray to Goddess Durga that she guide us on the path of right conduct and service to our nation," he said.

Touching on the importance of the festival, he said: "Durga Puja marks the victory of righteousness over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Goddess Durga is the mother of the Universe and personification of all virtues."

Durga Puja is celebrated on the last two days of a nine-day long 'Navratra' festival, during which many people observe fasts. The festival is celebrated throughout India, but more enthusiastically in the north and east, especially West Bengal.

--IANS

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Actor Brad Pitt will not be prosecuted by the FBI over an alleged altercation with his son Maddox, say law enforcement sources who claim there was no case to begin with.

Pitt was on a private jet from France to Los Angeles with his wife and actress Angelina Jolie and children when he started screaming, prompting Jolie to file for divorce days later, it had been reported.

Jolie has filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences while seeking physical custody of six children.

The LA County Department of Children and Family Services looked into allegations that Pitt physically abused Maddox and notified the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), which turned to the FBI.

Law enforcement sources said the FBI never opened an official investigation and that the agency should not have been involved in the first place, reports tmz.com.

The bureau's official position is that it is still gathering facts.

Sources close to Jolie said the actress would refuse to co-operate with police if Pitt was prosecuted.

Maddox, 15, was not injured and law enforcement sources said there was no way to conclusively prove Pitt intentionally inflicted harm on his son, tmz.com reported

Pitt and Jolie have since agreed to a temporary custody arrangement, which allowed him to see his kids since Jolie filed for divorce.

--IANS

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Child rights group Plan International warned on Saturday that thousands of children and their families are at the risk of cholera here in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.

"There are already reports of a worsening epidemic, as it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to access clean, safe drinking water," the rights group said in a statement issued here on Saturday.

Caribbean Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti on October 4 with destructive winds, torrential rain and surging seas that caused widespread flooding.

"In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, the most pressing needs of people in Haiti are food and water," said Marie Therese Frederique Jean Pierre, Country Director of Plan International in Haiti.

"Access to clean water is extremely scarce, and families in remote areas are particularly badly affected, because they rely on hand pumps or wells to get safe drinking water, which were badly damaged by the hurricane," Marie added.

"Risk of diarrhoea and cholera is extremely high. Children are especially vulnerable to these types of diseases," she said.

Plan International, the group that has been working for 75 years, said that it would continue to monitor the situation on the ground and "expand our humanitarian assistance in further areas, if there are found to be large unmet needs".

--IANS

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Fire tenders rushed to the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here on Sunday after "radioactive substance" leaked from a medical shipment flown from France, officials said.

The Delhi Fire Services said it received a complaint at around 10.40 a.m about the leak at the cargo terminal at Terminal 3 where international flights land.

"We received a complaint from the airport authorities that Molybdenum-99 has leaked from some medical shipment from a cargo brought by an Air France plane," a senior fire official told IANS.

"The element, though not exactly a radioactive element, has some of its properties. We sent seven fire tenders. The situation is under control," the official said.

Delhi Police said the entire area had been cordoned off and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had been informed about the incident.

Although the Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) did not comment, informed sources said the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) had rushed a team to the airport.

--IANS

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Two robbers have been arrested and a number of items looted recently from a law college recovered, Ghaziabad police said on Sunday.

"In a joint action, police and Crime Branch sleuths arrested two robbers from Masuri area who were involved in a robbery committed on September 30 last," police said.

SP (Rural) R.K. Pandey said that acting on a tip-off, police nabbed the two robbers from Inayatpur locality under Masuri police station.

During interrogation, the robbers gave their names as Abid and Suhail.

"They confessed to their crime and disclosed the names of their accomplices -- Samanshu, Saddam, Chand, Nawed and Shahid," Pandey said.

Police recovered 17 LED bulbs, three computers, one water cooler, a room heater, one LED television and a truck bearing registration number UP-16-BT-8317.

A 0.315 bore country-made pistol and two live cartridges were also seized from them, police said.

--IANS

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A retired army doctor committed suicide by stabbing himself, while five of his family members were found dead in a flat here on Sunday, police said.

According to initial investigations, the retired doctor -- Dr Sukanto Sarkar -- was apparently under stress due to threatening calls, as his daughter-in-law wanted separation from his son and demanded that property matters be settled at the earliest, a police official said.

Those found dead were wife Anjana Sarkar, son Somit Sarkar, daughter-in-law Momita Sarkar, and grand-daughters Samita Sarkar and Sumita Sarkar.

Police suspect that the five members were first poisoned by Dr Sarkar who later stabbed himself.

Dr Sarkar, who lived in Noida, had come to Ranchi on October 6 to settle the issues between his son and daughter-in-law.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Donors to Republican Donald Trump's presidential campaign have become skittish -- with some downright angry -- after a 2005 tape surfaced on Friday in which the GOP nominee can be heard making vulgar remarks about women.

A prominent Trump bundler told CBS News that he "could not tell you how many" calls he has gotten from donors in the course of the last day.

After the Washington Post first published the tape, people want their money back, he said. (The Republican party and the campaign's fundraising apparatus is not returning donations.)

According to the bundler, donors said they feel betrayed by Trump -- that their efforts have been a waste. Some said they would like to see Mike Pence, Trump's running mate and the governor of Indiana, at the top of the ticket, though the means of achieving such a switch are not clear.

Other Republicans have expressed disgust and outrage over the previously unaired "Access Hollywood" footage, where Trump boasts about his sexual advances, saying that he can "grab [women] by the p***y", and that when you're a star "you can do anything".

Several party leaders, including Senate GOP conference chair John Thune of North Dakota, called for Trump to step down from the ticket, while the billionaire's wife Melania Trump asked people to forgive her husband for the "unacceptable and offensive" comments about women.

Others have weighed in with forceful condemnations of the businessman, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, who said he was "sickened" by the 2005 comments, and Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus, said: "[n]o woman should ever be described in these terms or talked about in this manner".

Trump brushed aside calls for him to get out of the race, saying: "I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, I WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN!" he declared in a tweet on Saturday afternoon.

Trump is scheduled to make a fundraising swing through Texas in the days following Sunday's presidential debate with his Democrat rival Hillary Clinton.

--IANS

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The UN Security Council on Saturday failed to adopt rival resolutions on Syria as the council's key powers divided over how to solve the conflict in Syria's northern city of Aleppo.

For a draft resolution submitted by France and Spain which demands an end to air strikes over Aleppo, Russia vetoed it.

The voting result is 11 in favour, two against and two abstentions.

A resolution drafted by Russia on Syria called upon all the parties to cease hostilities and open humanitarian access in order to enhance efforts to combat terrorism.

For the Russia drafted resolution, four council members voted "yes," nine "against," and two abstained in the vote. The Security Council also failed to adopt it due to a lack of supporting votes.

The votes took place in an emergent meeting held by the Security Council after it heard from UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura on latest developments in the war-torn Syria.

"In maximum two months, two-and-a-half months, the city of eastern Aleppo may be totally destroyed," said de Mistura.

According to UN estimates, 275,000 civilians trapped in eastern parts of the city. Among them, 100,000 are children.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The White House has announced an "immediate" review of US support for the Saudi-led coalition in wake of a funeral hall bombing in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, that left over 150 dead and hundreds injured.

Washington, which has been a major arms supplier to Saudi Arabia, appears to have distanced itself from the devastating Saturday bombing that took place amid Saudi-led airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, saying it was "deeply disturbed" by reports and promising to review military support for Riyadh.

White House national security council spokesman Ned Price has issued a statement saying this and other "troubling series of attacks striking Yemeni civilians" prompted the US to rethink its position.

"We have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led coalition and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with US principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemen's tragic conflict," the statement said.

At least 155 people were killed in Saudi-led airstrikes that hit a funeral home in Yemen's capital of Sanaa, two health ministry officials said late on Saturday.

The Saudi-led coalition, involving several Arab countries, began a military campaign in Yemen in March 2015 aimed at preventing Houthi rebels allied to Iran and forces loyal to Yemen's deposed President Ali Abdullah Saleh from taking power.

The conflict that has left millions in need of aid and pushed communities to the brink of famine.

An estimated 10,000 people have been killed in what many term the "forgotten war", according to the UN.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress on Sunday termed Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's tirades against corruption and nepotism a bluff in wake of revelations that state Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan, the No.2 in the government, appointed his close relatives at top posts in the state's public sector organisations. Vijayan, however, brushed away the charge.

"No one would have forgotten when during the assembly elections (in May), Vijayan and the CPI-M said they will fight corruption and all such evils and see what has happened when qualifications have been given the go-by and relatives of top CPI-M leaders have been appointed to senior posts in the state public sector," the Congress's state President V.M. Sudheeran told reporters here.

Jayarajan has no moral right to continue in office after the facts emerged and must quit at the earliest, he demanded.

Leader of Opposition in the assembly Ramesh Chennithala told reporters that the Vijayan government should cancel all such appointments.

The appointment of P.K. Sudhir as Managing Director of Kerala State Industrial Enterprise (KSIE) last week had raised a furore even in the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). As social media first took it up in a big way, followed by the media, the appointment was cancelled.

Sudhir is Jayarajan's nephew and also the son of CPI-M's Lok Sabha member from Kannur P.K. Sreemathy. A niece of Jayarajan's was also appointed to a top post.

Among others who have been appointed to top posts are the grandson of party veteran E.K. Nayanar and several close relatives of senior CPI-M leaders.

Incidentally, at the first cabinet meeting after Vijayan was sworn in as the Chief Minister, it was decided to look into all decisions made by the outgoing Oommen Chandy government and recommend such decisions for a vigilance probe.

However, as soon as these cases cropped up, Chennithala and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader M.T. Ramesh wrote to Vigilance Director Jacob Thomas that a probe should be initiated in all the appointments of top CPI-M leaders' relatives too.

Former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said that the image of the CPI-M government has been dented because of all these appointments.

CPI-M politburo member S. Ramachandran Pillai, however, said there is no need for the politburo to intervene as the issue would be sorted out in Kerala itself.

"It has already begun," he said.

Vijayan, however, told reporters that there has been no loss of face to the government in the wake of what has happened.

"The Congress opposition might say so but the CPI-M is different from the Congress. We will take a collective decision on what has happened, which is of a serious nature," he said.

With the assembly session already seeing disruptions over the opposition's allegations of collusion between the Vijayan government and the private medical college managements over the hike in fees, the Congress appears to have got another weapon to use against Vijayan when the house reassembles on October 17 after the Durga Puja break.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A deadly by the Indian Army in Pakistani territory in 2011 left at least eight Pakistani soldiers dead, with three of them decapitated, a report published on Sunday said.

Details regarding the tit-for-tat attack that took place in the summer of 2011 have come out amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions marked by an Indian on September 29.

The Hindu newspaper citing confidential official documents, video and photographic evidences said India and Pakistan carried out "two of the bloodiest cross-border surgical strikes" killing 13 soldiers.

Five of the slain soldiers were decapitated. The Pakistani soldiers took away the heads of two Indian soldiers and left behind a third badly wounded who died in hospital, the daily said.

In the revenge attack, Indian soldiers brought back heads of three Pakistani soldiers, the Hindu said.

Major General (retired) S K Chakravorty, who planned and executed the operation as the chief of Kupwara-based 28 Division, confirmed the Indian raid but refused to discuss details.

According to the newspaper, Pakistani raiders struck a remote army post in Gugaldhar in Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir on July 30, 2011.

The attackers returned with the heads of Havildar Jaipal Singh Adhikari and Lance Naik Devender Singh of 20 Kumaon. A soldier of the 19 Rajput, who reported the attack, died in a hospital.

In revenge, the Indian Army planned "Operation Ginger"  which, the daily said, turned out to be one of the deadliest cross-border raids across the LoC.

The Indian operation was planned to precision. Seven reconnaissance - physical and air surveillance mounted on UAV - missions were carried out to identify vulnerable Pakistani army posts.

The mission was finalised to spring an ambush on Police Chowki to inflict maximum casualty.

Finally, the Indian troops launched the covert operation on August 30, 2011.

About 25 soldiers, mainly Para Commandos, crossed the LoC stealthily. They planted claymore mines around the strike area.

Four Pakistani soldiers, led by a Junior Commissioned Officer, walked into the ambush. Mines were detonated, grenades lobbed and they were fired at.

One Pakistani soldier fell into a stream that ran below. Indian soldiers chopped off the heads of the other three dead soldiers and also took away their rank insignias, weapons and other personal items.

The commandos then planted pressure IED's beneath one of the bodies, primed to explode when anyone attempted to lift it.

Two more Pakistani soldiers rushed in after hearing the explosions. They were killed by a second Indian team waiting near the ambush site.

Two other Pakistani army men tried to trap the second team. But a third Indian team covering them killed the Pakistanis, the daily said.

While the Indian soldiers were retreating, another group of Pakistani soldiers were spotted moving towards the ambush site. Soon they heard loud blasts, indicating the concealed IEDs had exploded, the report said.

According to Indian assessment, at least two to three more Pakistani soldiers were fatally injured in that blast.

The operation lasted for about 45 minutes and the Indians headed back across the LoC, carrying the heads of Subedar Parvez, Havildar Aftab and Naik Imran.

The severed heads were photographed and buried. Two days later, one of the senior most Generals in the command turned up and ordered the heads to be dug up, burnt and the ashes strewn into Kishenganga river.

This was done to do away with all DNA traces, the daily said.
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If there is one lesson that could be learnt from the debate on the "surgical strikes" conducted by India on Pakistani terror camps as retaliation of the Uri army installation attack it is this: Know how to strategise public announcements on sensitive military matters.
The People's Republic of China is, in many ways, as obvious a challenger to the power of the United States today as the Soviet Union was in the 1970s and 1980s. Yet there is one big difference: Even if politicians and op-ed writers in the US inveigle against China's trade policies, the two countries are very, very far from the all-pervasive animosity that marked the last years of the Cold War. There could be many reasons for this. But one far-from-small contributor is the role of Hollywood.
A group of Union ministers from Bihar met young officers of the Indian Administrative Service from the Bihar cadre posted as assistant secretaries in various central ministers. The group included Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Minister of State for Human Resource Development Upendra Kushwaha. This was part of a series of meetings planned by the Centre to brief young officers about state-specific development needs so that such inputs could be factored into decision-making. What surprised some was the presence of Health Minister J P Nadda (pictured) - who is originally from Himachal Pradesh and has spent most of his political life in the hilly state - at the meeting. Insiders said Nadda's presence might have had something to do with the fact that he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (the Bharatiya Janata Party's student union wing) while he was at Patna University. Nadda's father was the vice-chancellor of Patna University then and he had spent his school and college days in Patna.
Many stories appear in the media about those whose employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) made them millionaires when their companies got listed. A recent one is that of RBL Bank. The bank had issued at exercise prices ranging between Rs 52 and Rs 120. A large number of were exercised at an average price of Rs 59.40 a share. When the stock listed at Rs 274 apiece, the employees enjoyed a windfall.
Demand for energy is not much dependent on price. If an individual needs to commute 20 km a day, she will pay the required transport costs. If the price of fuel rises, she will skimp on other consumption. If the price falls, she will deploy savings elsewhere. This pattern of price-invariant demand pretty much scales up for entire economies. The consequence of relatively invariant demand is that small changes in supply can lead to big price changes.
While public attention was focused on whether the Paris agreement would come into force this year or not, top climate negotiators from some key nations around the world gathered for a closed-door meeting at Marrakesh in late September. Morocco and France had called an informal gathering, ahead of the climate negotiations to begin on November 7.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government faces a legal challenge in defending the Act notified in March 2015 for a 16 per cent quota in jobs and education entry to the Maratha community.



The next hearing on the petition in this regard is slated for the coming Thursday in the high court (HC) here. The interim stay on the Acts implementation, granted by the HC in April 2015, continues. The community, which has already organised 21 protest marches in the state, has planned two massive protests, at Kolhapur on the coming Saturday and Thane on Sunday. And, a concluding march in Mumbai after Diwali.



Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reiterated his governments commitment for the quota to Marathas, a third of the state's population. Community groups, such as the Maratha Kranti Morcha, want the announcement to be backed with action, including in the court.



Given the issues political importance, Fadnavis had a meeting with opposition parties 10 days earlier, to explain the government's strategy. Hed assured that a battery of leading lawyers would argue for the government's stance in the HC.



Senior minister Chandrakant Patil, who moved the resolution at the party's state executive meeting last week, said the resolution made it clear that the 16 per cent quota would not be included within the one for Other Backward Classes. The government will urge the Supreme Court to consider allowing quotas in Maharashtra to exceed 51 per cent. The SC cap is 50 per cent in any state but is 69 per cent in Tamil Nadu, a point Patil noted.



Opposition parties use the fact to make their point. Former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar at his party's rally in western Maharashtra on Sunday alleged the Fadnavis government lacked political will. ''If Tamil Nadu could do it, what has stopped Maharashtra? he demanded.



A government official referred to the HCs observation while giving an interim stay. It had said the SC has ruled that reservations states cannot exceed 50 per cent, except in extraordinary circumstances for which justification has to be made. Already, there is 52 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for various backward groups in the state. The previous Congress-NCP government had, ahead of the assembly election in October 2014, raised it to 73 per cent by announcing the 16 per cent quota for Marathas and five per cent for Muslims.



Further, the HC had observed that the Second Backward Classes Commission Report (Mandal report, 1990), National Commission for Backward Classes report of February 2000, and the report of the Maharashtra State Backward Classes Commission (Bapat report of July 2008) had held that the Maratha community could not be termed backward. In fact, the court had said, the reports concluded the Maratha community was a "socially advanced and prestigious community".


The armys September 29 strike to avenge the Uri terrorist attack has brought a spring in the steps of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and smiles back on the faces of its cadres.
The man to hold what is termed the 'most important job in the world' from 2017 is a socialist.
Curfew remained in force in interior areas of Srinagar, while there was a semblance of normalcy in the uptown city as the weekly flea market opened here today, but life elsewhere in the Valley remained affected.

Curfew has been imposed in five police station areas of Srinagar  Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safakadal and Maharaj Gunj  as a precautionary measure, a police official said.

The curbs have been lifted from two police station areas - Maisuma and Batamaloo, the official said.

The situation in interior areas of the city remained tense after a minor boy succumbed to pellet injuries here, sparking fresh clashes between protesters and law enforcement agencies at various places on Saturday.

Twelve-year-old Junaid Akhoon, who was hit by pellets during clashes between violent protesters and security personnel on Friday, succumbed to injuries at SKIMS hospital at Soura, taking the death toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir to 84.

However, in the uptown areas of the city, especially around the commercial hub of Lal Chowk, there was an increased movement of private cars and auto-rickshaws on Sunday as compared to the last two days.

The weekly flea market, popularly known as Sunday Market, also opened on Sunday as more than 100 vendors set up their stalls along the TRC Chowk-Batamaloo axis in the city.

Meanwhile, normal life remained affected for the 93rd consecutive day in the rest of the Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8.

The unrest, which has claimed 84 lives and left thousands of others injured in clashes between protestors and security forces, is in its fourth month as shops, business establishments, petrol pumps, and educational institutions remained closed, while public transport continued to be off the roads.

Top separatist leaders and youths have been arrested by police over the past three months for allegedly inciting violence. Over 300 persons have been booked under Public Safety Act (PSA).
Prime Minister on Sunday reiterated his governments commitment to the welfare of the poor. He also called upon the middle classes to realise that they would reach the next level of prosperity only if the lot of those who are below them, the poor, improves.
Five Indian-Americans are among the richest in the US, according to a list of 400 people that was topped by Microsoft's co-founder Bill Gates for the 23rd year in a row.

Symphony Technology founder Romesh Wadhwani, co-founder of outsourcing firm Syntel Bharat Neerja Desai, airline veteran Rakesh Gangwal, entrepreneur John Kapoor and Silicon Valley angel investor Kavitark Ram Shriram have featured on Forbes' The Richest People In America 2016 list.

The list was topped by 60-year-old Gates who has a net worth of $81 billion.

Gates keeps pushing to save lives in the developing world through efforts to eliminate polio, attack malaria and expand childhood vaccinations as head of the world's largest private charitable foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said.

Wadhwani (69) has been ranked 222nd on the list with a net worth of $3 billion.

The IIT-Mumbai and Carnegie Mellon alumnus is the chairman and CEO of Symphony Technology Group, an empire of 17 data, technology, health care and analytics companies that together take in more than $2.8 billion in annual revenue, said. Last year, Wadhwani announced that he planned to commit up to $1 billion to fund entrepreneurship initiatives in India.

Desai ranks 274th on the list, with a net worth of $2.5 billion.

Gangwal is ranked 321 on the list with a net worth of $2.2 billion. The 63-year old IIT alumnus is an airline veteran who made his fortune from InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of his budget airline IndiGo, India's largest by market share.

Gangwal co-founded IndiGo, headquartered outside Delhi in 2006 with one aircraft. The Miami resident owns more than 40 per cent of the company and now serves as a board member, Forbes said.

Kapoor ranks 335 on the list and has a net worth of $2.1 billion.

The 73-year-old is the chairman of two drug outfits - Akorn, which specialises in "difficult-to-manufacture" prescription drugs, and Insys Therapeutics, which produces an opioid for cancer patients.

Shriram ranks 361 on the list and has a net worth of $1.9 billion. An early Google backer, Shriram, 59, has sold off most of his stock but remains on the board of its parent company, Alphabet, Forbes said. Since 2000, Shriram has been investing in young technology start-ups through his firm, Sherpalo Ventures. His portfolio includes Paperless Post, an online card and invitation service; Optimizely, which provides web and mobile app testing; and Inmobi, a mobile advertising company. In 2014, Shriram and his wife donated $61 million to engineering initiatives at Stanford University, which both of his daughters attended and where he serves as a trustee.

The list also includes the chief executive officer and founder of Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos, who ranks second with $67 billion in net worth, followed by Berkshire Hathaway Chief Executive Officer Warren Buffett on the third position with $65.5 billion, Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg on the fourth spot with a net worth of $55.5 billion, Alphabet Chief Executive Officer Larry Page (9th) with a net worth of $38.5 billion and Dell Chief Executive Officer Michael Dell on the 20th spot with $20 billion net worth.
Kurdish militants detonated a car bomb today outside a military checkpoint in southeast Turkey, killing nine soldiers and wounding eleven others, Turkey's state-run agency said. Turkey launched a military operation in response to the attack.

The Anadolu Agency, citing a statement by the Turkish Armed Forces, said the attack occurred at 9:45 am outside a Gendarmerie checkpoint on the Semdinli-Yuksekova highway and was the work of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK.

The explosion produced a crater 15 meters (50 feet) wide and 7 metres deep. An infantry station located behind the checkpoint also suffered heavy damage.

Turkish authorities imposed a temporary blackout on coverage of the attack, citing public order and national security reasons.

Energy Minister Berat Albayrak condemned the attack during a speech in Istanbul, calling on all countries to stand together against terrorism.

Turkey has been rocked by a wave of bomb attacks since last summer that have killed hundreds of people and been blamed on either the PKK or the Islamic State group.

Fighting between the PKK and the state security forces resumed last year after the collapse of a fragile 2 and-a-half-year cease-fire. Since then, more than 600 Turkish security personnel and thousands of PKK militants have been killed in clashes, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.

Rights groups say hundreds of civilians have also been killed in the fighting.

On Thursday, 10 people were slightly wounded by a bomb mounted on a motorcycle that exploded near a police station in Istanbul.

On Friday, the militant Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, or TAK, considered an offshoot of the PKK, claimed responsibility. Six people have been detained in connection with that attack.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Media persons today boycotted Aam Aadmi Party's press conference after party leader Kapil Mishra branded a reporter as a member of ruling BJP when the latter sought his comments on a controversy surrounding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's comments on surgical strikes.

"The kind of questions you are asking, it seems that you are a member of BJP," said Mishra, a minister in Delhi government, when the reporter of a local channel asked him to explain AAP's stand against the backdrop of Kejriwal's comments on surgical strikes by Army across LoC.

The question was put to Mishra when he was briefing media about recent visit of AAP leaders to home of a deceased ITBP jawan hailing from Gujarat's Amreli district.

Taking a strong objection to Mishra casting aspersions about the reporter, the media persons present at the presser boycotted the event.

The press conference was called by Mishra to give information about Kejriwal's upcoming rally on October 16.

At beginning of the presser, Mishra, along with Gujarat AAP in-charge Gulab Singh, paid tributes to ITBP jawan Bhavesh Rakasiya who was injured in an avalanche and died on October 4.

"It is shameful that the BJP and it's government in Gujarat have not announced any compensation for the family of that martyr. It uncovers the real face of BJP and its leaders who always talks about patriotism. We demand that state government should pay Rs 1 crore as compensation (to the jawan," said Mishra.

Amid political slugfest over the surgical strikes, BJP had alleged that Kejriwal had sought proof of the Army action, though AAP has denied the charge.

"BJP leaders are taking credit of surgical strikes by putting up their posters. On other side, these leaders are maligning Kejriwal's image by accusing him of insulting Army. We have also learned that BJP workers have tore apart or blackened our CM's posters in city. This is not Gujarat's culture," said Mishra.

When some reporters asked him why he is seeing BJP's hand in such acts, Mishra retorted, "it's obvious because they are in power here and afraid of AAP's rising popularity among the masses."



Mishra, however, tried to put media in dock when some reporters asked him whether he had any evidence to support his claim that such vandalism has been carried out by BJP workers and not by AAP cadres to gain publicity ahead of the rally.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Censor board chief on Sunday said actors' comments on the controversy surrounding the demand for a ban on Pakistani artistes in Bollywood should not be given importance and people should rather think about the country's soldiers.

Bollywood has been divided on the issue of the demand for the ban on Pakistani artistest in the wake of Uri attack. While Salman Khan, Karan Johar, Hansal Mehta and Anurag Kashyap have criticised it, many in the industry such as Ajay Devgn, Randeep Hooda, Sonali Bendre and Nana Patekar have supported the ban.

"Every Indian should think of the soldiers who are fighting terrorism and the enemy on the border. Actors are insignificant and we should not waste our energy on the issue of who said what on the issue, people should not give any importance to the statements they make," Nihalani told reporters here today.

He said that the country should show solidarity towards the soldiers for their fight against terrorism and everyone should work towards condemning and eradicating terrorism from the country.

"Terrorism is our biggest enemy and our soldiers are fighting it, the need of the hour is to show solidarity with our soldiers."

While refusing to comment on the statement issued by certain actors on the issue of ban on Pakistani actors in India, he said that what actors said was insignificant as the most important thing for every Indian was the soldiers and the tricolor.

When asked to comment on the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir valley, the CBFC chief said that people of the country love Kashmir and its people, and would want to see peace return in the valley at an earliest.

"Kashmir has always been the first love of the Indian film industry and once when the situation returns to normal, producers would once again love to visit Kashmir and shoot movies there. Every Indian wants peace in the country and we want peace in Kashmir.
In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court has widened the scope of the Act by ordering deletion of the words "adult male" from it, paving the way for prosecution of women and even non-adults for subjecting a woman relative to violence and harassment.

The apex court has ordered striking down of the two words from section 2(q) of the Protection of Women from Act, 2005, which deals with respondents who can be sued and prosecuted under the Act for harassing a married woman in her matrimonial home.

Referring to earlier verdicts, the apex court said, "the microscopic difference between male and female, adult and non-adult, regard being had to the object sought to be achieved by the 2005 Act, is neither real or substantial, nor does it have any rational relation to the object of the legislation."



Section 2(q) of the Act reads: "'respondent' means any adult male person who is, or has been, in a domestic relationship with the aggrieved person and against whom the aggrieved person has sought any relief under DV Act."



A bench of Justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman paved way for prosecution of any person irrespective of gender or age under the DV Act, ordered deletion of the words "adult male" from the statute book saying it violated right to equality under the Constitution.

The bench said that the words "adult male person" were contrary to the object of affording protection to women who have suffered from "of any kind".

"We, therefore, strike down the words 'adult male' before the word 'person' in Section 2(q), as these words discriminate between persons similarly situated, and far from being in tune with, are contrary to the object sought to be achieved by the 2005 Act," it said.

The major verdict came on an appeal against the Bombay High Court judgement, which had resorted to the literal construction of the term 'adult male' and discharged four persons, including two girls, a woman and a minor boy, of a family from a domestic violence case on the ground that they were not "adult male" and hence cannot be prosecuted under the DV Act.

The bench in its 56-page judgement, said the remaining part of the legislation has been kept untouched and would be operative.

"We, therefore, set aside the impugned judgment of the Bombay High Court and declare that the words 'adult male' in Section 2(q) of the 2005 Act will stand deleted since these words do not square with Article 14 of the Constitution of India."



"Consequently, the proviso to Section 2(q), being rendered otiose (superfluous), also stands deleted. We may only add that the impugned judgment has ultimately held, in paragraph 27, that the two complaints of 2010, in which the three female respondents were discharged finally, were purported to be revived, despite there being no prayer in Writ Petition...For the same," the court said.

Dealing with the term 'adult', the bench said "it is not difficult to conceive of a non-adult 16 or 17-year-old member of a household who can aid or abet the commission of acts of domestic violence, or who can evict or help in evicting or excluding from a shared household an aggrieved person.

"Also, a residence order which may be passed under Section 19(1)(c) can get stultified if a 16 or 17-year-old relative enters the portion of the shared household in which the aggrieved person resides after a restraint order is passed against the respondent and any of his adult relatives...".

The bench said that the term "adult male" contained in the Act was "discriminatory".
With opposition continuing to slam the LDF government over the appointment of ministerial relatives to plum posts in PSUs, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today admitted it was a 'serious' issue and said an appropriate decision would be taken soon.

To add to the government's woes, senior CPI-M leader, V S Achuthanandan also hit out, saying exemplary action should be taken against the wrongdoer.

When asked about the ongoing row over the appointments, Vijayan told reporters in Kozhikode: "The issues which have cropped up now, the government viewed them seriously. We will decide together and take an appropriate decision."



"LDF is not UDF, CPI(M) is not Congress," he added.

Congress-led UDF and BJP have been demanding resignation of Industries Minister E P Jayarajan after his relative P K Sudheer Nambiar, son of senior CPI(M) leader and Kannur MP, P K Sreemathi, was appointed Managing Director of Kerala State Industrial Enterprises Ltd (KSIE). The government later quashed it.

Asked whether the present controversy had tarnished the image of the LDF government, Achuthanandan said: "There is no doubt (about it)."



"I think the government will conduct a serious inquiry into the issue and take exemplary action against the wrongdoer," he told reporters in Thiruvanathapuram.

When asked about the statement of Achuthanandan, who is also Chairman of Administrative Reforms Commission, Vijayan did not react.

The chief minister also took time to explain that the appointment of Sreemathi's daughter-in-law as a member of her personal staff during her tenure as health minister in the Achuthanandan government 10 years ago, was not with the knowledge of the party.

Vijayan, who was party secretary then, said ministers can appoint three persons in their personal staff-- a cook, driver and a person to answer the telephone.

The party was not aware of the appointment of Sreemathi's daughter-in-law and no prior permission need be taken from the party for it as the minister concerned can decide, he said.

However, when she was promoted, it came to the party's notice and it was felt that was not appropriate and the appointment was struck down, he said.

The chief minister's response came hours after Sreemathi put out a Facebook post on the issue as heat over her son's appointment continued to rage for the fourth day today.

Sreemathi had stated in the post that her



daughter-in-law's appointment was "with the party's knowledge."



When the controversy broke out, she resigned as per the party's directive. "But, she is not receiving any (government) pension as alleged by Congress and BJP leaders. She has not even applied for it," the former minister clarified.

However, she later withdrew the post following criticism from various quarters.

Meanwhile, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala today dragged Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan into the row and said Vijayan's stand he was "unaware" about the controversial appointments was "not correct."



He also wanted the government to quash appointments of leaders' relatives in PSUs.

"Chief Minister is well aware about the appointments. But he is now trying to be saint. His claim of being unaware about it is only to hoodwink," Chennithala said in Wayanad.

"Accused should be punished under anti-corruption law. Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau should take action in this," he said adding that Jayarajan had no moral right to continue in the position.

BJP state secretary M T Ramesh also demanded Jayarajan's resignation.

The minister should be expelled from the government if he was not ready to go out himself, Ramesh told a press meet in Thiruvanathapuram.

He also said the party would approach court, soon after the pooja holidays, seeking action against Jayarajan.
Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu today called on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed with him various issues concerning the state.

During the 20-minute meeting, Khandu briefed Singh about the prevailing situation in Arunachal Pradesh, which shares border with China.

Sources said the Chief Minister also apprised the Home Minister about the law and order situation in eastern districts, including Tirap and Changlang, where militants of different insurgent groups operate, and the steps taken to maintain peace.

Khandu, along with around 33 MLAs, had resigned from Congress last month and joined regional political outfit People's Party of Arunachal, and has been leading the state government.

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Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta) today said it will oppose the proposed visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ludhiana on October 18, alleging that his government has failed to fulfill the promises given to farmers.

"During the last Lok Sabha elections the PM (Modi) had promised to implement Swaminathan Commission Report but after coming into power he is not keeping his words," Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta) BKU (E) President Pishore Singh Sidhu said.

Modi is scheduled to visit Ludhiana on October 18 where he will attend a function to honour Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

Sidhu alleged that Modi had formed the government promising support to farmers but now, he is not fulfilling his promises so there is resentment among farmers.

He said that the BKU (Ekta) has decided to protest against Modi's visit on October 18.

He said an important meeting of the union will held at Patiala on October 10 to discuss detailed strategy of the union about Modi's visit.

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Chhattisgarh is set to ban sale of inferior quality Chinese halogen lamps and other substandard imported products in the state to ensure safety of citizens.

"Illegal and substandard commodities including halogen lights of China and other countries, which are harmful for human health, will be banned in Chhattisgarh," Chief Minister Raman Singh said in a press release.

The announcement in this regard was made by the Chief Minister during his visit to the prominent religious shrine of Dongargarh in Rajnandgaon district yesterday.

"The state government has taken this decision keeping in view the recent reports of adverse effects of Chinese halogen lights on eyes of people. However, the people affected by these poor quality lamps were provided proper medication.

"But to ensure that such incidents do not occur in future, the state government has decided to ban the business of such substandard foreign goods," the statement said quoting the chief minister.

The orders for prohibiting sale of such goods and commodities will be issued soon, the CM said.

Notably,more than 800 people had developed irritation in their eyes after being allegedly exposed to high resolution Chinese halogen lamps last month in two separate villages of the state'sBaloddistrict.

Their condition became normal after medication.

A similar incident was also reported recently in Rajnandgaon district.
Canada has called for a prompt investigation into the air strikes that killed more than 140 people and wounded hundreds of at a funeral ceremony in Yemen's capital.

The Iran-backed Huthi rebels blamed the Saudi-led coalition for Saturday's attack, one of the deadliest since it launched a military campaign against the Shiite insurgents in March 2015.

After initially denying any involvement, the coalition later said it would "immediately investigate" the incident.

"The Saudi-led coalition must move forward now on its commitment to investigate this incident," Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion said on Sunday in a statement condemning the attack.

"Canada calls on all parties in Yemen to avoid an escalation of violence as a result of this incident," added Dion.

Dion said, "Canada urges all parties to abide by their obligations under humanitarian law, and to commit to political dialogue and to a lasting cessation of hostilities to halt the tragic loss of civilian life."

The Huthis swept into Sanaa in September 2014 and advanced across much of Yemen, forcing the internationally recognised government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee.

The conflict has killed more than 6,700 people -- almost two thirds of them civilians -- and displaced at least three million since the coalition launched military operations, according to the United Nations.
Thehigh-level technical team constituted by the Supreme Court to assess the situation in Cauvery Basin in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, inspected the Mettur Dam, about 150 km from Coimbatore.



Headed by the Chairman of Central Water Commission, G S Jha, the team took stock of the situation including water level, inflow and discharge in Mettur Dam, an official, part of the team, said.

The 13-member team, which is in the state, after its two- day trip of Karnataka, held discussions with officials of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry.

Tamil Nadu Minister Edapadi Palanisamy submitted a memorandum to the team, even as a group of farmers made a representation for the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board, stating that only it could resolve the vexed issue, the official said.

The team will inspect the Bhavani Sagar dam in nearby Erode district before proceeding to Cauvery delta areas on Monday, the official said. It will inspect the situation in Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, and Nagapattinam and submit its report, containing their assessment of both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, to the Supreme Court on October 17, he added.
China today liberalised rules of entry for foreign firms and announced new measures for them to access its domestic vast market, making a fresh pitch for FDI to reinvigorate the world's second largest economy amid continued slowdown.

Except for certain sensitive industries, foreign direct investment will now only require registration, rather than administrative approval, an official statement after central cabinet meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang said.

Details on the working of the new system will be released online by the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), state-run Xinhua agency reported.

Foreign companies will submit applications online and receive a response within three days.

That is to say, as long as their business is not on a "negative list", foreign investors will only need to deliver business plans to local regulators, the report said.

The government estimates that this means over 95 per cent less procedures. The practice has been tested in various pilot free trade zones.

"A negative list for foreign investment, initiated by Shanghai pilot free trade zone in October 2013, will now be rolled out nationwide, which marks an end of an era dominated by administrative approvals," Ye Lin, professor of Renmin University of China Law School was quoted as saying by the report.

"The move goes in line with foreign investors' anticipation of a wider opening Chinese market so as to further share the bonus of the country's growth," said Gmw.Cn analyst Xie Weifeng.

A report by the US-China Business Council found 90 per cent of US businesses operating in China were profitable in 2015, up from 85 per cent in 2014.

Despite an economic slowdown, China remains an attractive destination for foreign companies with an improving business environment.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in China during the first eight months of 2016 increased 4.5 per cent year-on-year to USD 85.9 billion, MOC said.

Altogether, 18,538 new foreign-funded businesses were established in the same period, up 10.2 per cent from a year earlier.

FDI inflows have grown steadily since 1978 when China began reform and opening-up, but remained relatively low in the 1980s.

Former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's tour of the southern province of Guangdong in early 1992 brought a massive wave of FDI, lifting inflows to over USD 45 billion by 1997-1998.

In 2001, China joined the World Trade Organization and FDI inflows have more than doubled since.

Hit by slowdown, China's economy grew 6.7 per cent in the second quarter of the year, the lowest quarterly growth rate since the global financial crisis in early 2009, but still within the government's target range of 6.5-7 per cent for 2016.

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Out of 15 Coal India washeries to be operationalised by 2017, only three with a capacity of 11.6 MTPA are at the construction stage while letters of assurance have been issued with regard to five others.

Setting up of washeries at a faster rate will hasten the coal washing process and provide quality coal to customers.

"Three coal washeries are at the construction stage. Letters of assurance (LoAs) with regard to five washeries with a capacity of 34.5 MTPA have already been issued," an official said.

The official further said tenders for two washeries with a capacity of 2.5 MT per year are under evaluation.

"There will be retendering for four washeries with a capacity of 49 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) while one washery will be freshly tendered," the official added.

The Coal Ministry had earlier this year informed a Parliamentary panel that it will establish 15 coal washeries, which will be made operational by September next year.

These washeries will be built in two phases on Build-own -Maintain and EPC contract on turnkey basis.

The Ministry of Coal has asked the Environment Ministry to expedite the process of green clearances to washeries so that the company can provide quality coal to its customers.

In a meeting last month, Coal Minister Piyush Goyal requested Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Anil Madhav Dave to hasten the process of green nod to washeries, an official said.

The government had earlier said that challenge is not quantity but quality of the fossil fuel.

A couple of days ago, Coal Secretary Anil Swarup said the government's focus has now shifted to the quality of coal.
Democratic presidential nominee has a "very good" chance of winning against Republican rival Donald Trump if she is able to win Florida and one of other three biggest swing states of North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, an election expert has said.

In a teleconference call hosted by New York Foreign Press Center, Quinnipiac Polling Institute's Assistant Director Peter Brown said "it's a pretty fair consensus" of various election polls that Clinton has a "small lead" over Trump of three-five points nationally.

Brown said the four biggest swing states are Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

In Florida, Clinton has a 5-point lead over Trump, while in Ohio, Trump had a 5-point lead. In Pennsylvania, Clinton had a 4-point lead and in North Carolina, a 3-point lead.

With the two presidential nominees heading into the second crucial debate, the 68-year-old former secretary of state is slightly ahead but not gigantically ahead, he said.

Brown, however, said if Clinton could win Florida and one of the other three swing states, "the chances are very, very good she'll win the presidency. It's not 100 per cent locked, but it's very good."



On how the debates affect the presidential race, Brown said that following the first debate there seemed to be a unanimous sense among the media and pundits that Clinton had won the debate easily.

Brown outlined that the Clinton campaign is basing its efforts on trying to convince average voters that Trump is not fit to be president. Trump, on the other hand, is running on the themes that "Clinton is a crook" and there is an enormous sense of support in the US for change.

"The question is: What kind of change? It's not hard to see Trump as being a perceived a potential change agent. He's running against the Washington establishment. He's not only running against Democrats in Washington, he's running against Republicans in Washington," Brown said.

"But again, voters don't always vote based on what (issues) the candidate agree or don't agree with. Much of it is also a sense of what they represent. And in that case, Trump, although clearly slightly behind, has an opening, if he can present himself as the candidate of change," Brown said.

He noted that in this election, roughly 7 out of 10 voters say they are not happy with the direction of the US. "So both Trump and Clinton are trying to tailor their messages to that point of view," he said.

As the two nominees head into the second crucial debate, the expert said "I think the numbers out of the first debate were in the mid-80 million. That's a lot of eyeballs. So obviously, the debates provide opportunities to the two candidates" to send their message out to the American voters.

On what she needs to do in order to change her numbers in Ohio, where Clinton is lagging behind Trump, he said, "pretty much what she needs to do in some of the other swing states".

"The thrust of Clinton's campaign is to convince voters in Ohio and Iowa and Kentucky - any place that - that Trump is not fit to be President. The tone of her television ads make that a point as many times as they can," Brown said.
The Commerce Ministry has suggested to its finance counterpart that the exemptions given to exporters should continue under the new indirect tax regime, .

The proposed procedure of paying taxes and then claiming the refunds by exporters under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) would cause hardships for them, said an official.

A substantial amount of working capital would be locked in the process of paying duties and then taking refunds, he explained.

The ministry also wants that the distinction between the domestic tariff area and special economic zones should be maintained under the new regime.

The Finance Ministry, however, is of the view that the taxes should be paid in the first place but those exporters who are entitled to exemptions could take refunds, another official said.

Exporters on their part argue that locking of the working capital amount would hurt exports.

"Export sector is worried with the implication of on exports," Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai said.

FIEO has raised several issues for the consideration of the Council so that the facilities currently availed by the sector continue as exports face competition from countries where the transaction cost is much lower.

Sahai said that the definition of exports in the Model GST law is at variance with SEZ Act.

"We need to synchronise the two to avoid any dispute. GST would also require suitable changes in many of the Schemes in the Foreign Trade Policy," he added.

He added that for exporters, the facility of duty free imports/procurement of inputs for exports should continue else it will lead to increasing requirement of working capital even for payment of IGST, CGST and SGST.

"This will hit MSME as their cost of capital is quite high, blunting their competitive edge in exports. The exemption will not lead to any loss of revenue as in any case exporters will be entitled to refund which affect their liquidity," Sahai said.

The government is working on the target of April 1, 2017 for rollout of GST.

Once implemented, GST will subsume various taxes including excise, services tax, octroi and other levies and the proceeds will be shared between the Centre and states.

India's exports have been in the negative zone since December 2014. After recording growth in June this year, they shrank again in July and August.
A 'death market' in front of the Malian parliament -- one selling decayed body parts of hyenas, dogs, hedgehogs and hippos that are used for making traditional medicines -- is a unique sight for a visitor to this west African country.

The items found in this market just opposite to the National Assembly range from dead birds to heads of dogs, monkeys, crocodiles to feet and legs of various reptiles to porcupine quills.

According to one of the sellers, most of these items are used for medicines or traditional healing making these a witch doctor's delight.

"Bamako means back of a crocodile," he said.

There is also a persisting stench of decayed flesh as one takes a round of the 15-odd stalls.

Mali is perhaps the only country where one can witness such a sight near the Parliament.

The National Assembly of Mali is a unicameral institution whose origins date back to the colonial period.

The 147-member house has three women parliamentarians.

After the 2013 elections, President Ibrahim Bubacar Keita's Rally for Mali (RPM) became the largest parliamentary force, winning 66 seats. Overall, parties supporting Keita won a total of 115 seats.

Next to Bamako's 'death market' is the Grand Mosque of Bamako and the Maison des Artisans du Mali or the artisans market.

The Grand Mosque, inaugurated in 1976, was built with funds from the Saudi Arabian government.

Its two concrete minarets are closer to the architecture of the Arabian Peninsula than that of West Africa.

Ninety per cent of the people of Mali practice Islam, 4 per cent Christianity while 6 per cent are of indigenous beliefs.

The congested artisans market is full of shops selling Mali and Bamako souvenirs; masks; wooden decorative items, particular of ebony; leather goods and also silver jewellery.

Shopkeepers approach visitors at every turn some carrying items vouching for their uniqueness.

One of the shopkeepers Wacar deals with souvenir items, hand-woven cotton garments and wall hangings and also prayer mats.

"Tourist inflow to Bamako is less. One is more interested in Timbuktu when you talk of Mali," he told PTI.

Mali is famous for its music and musicians, the most popular being Salif Keita who is called the 'Golden Voice of Africa'.

Mustafa's shop has various musical instruments.

One can find different types of drums like tama, djembe and dunun, the harp-like instrument called kora and xylophones called balafones.

Truly the area in and around the Malian parliament is a happening place unlike other countries which are mostly out of bounds for people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The has said it was open to suggestions from the bar to improve the system of designating lawyers as senior, but the final decision would remain with the judges.

A bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice A M Khanwilkar said the Bar could form a committee and the court could take into account the views of the committee.

"Your recommendation is that Bar should decide. Then we have reservation. Your are not satisfied with the old system. Can we have any other system? You tell us. We can take the opinion of the Bar. But the ultimate decision has to be with the judges," the CJI observed on Friday while adding that judges of the High Court have been retiring and they also needed to be acknowledged by designating as seniors.

Bar Association (SCBA) president and senior advocate Dushyant Dave said "There are lot of youngsters (at the Bar). Your lordships should encourage them. We can sit together and jointly revise the process (for designating Senior Advocates)".

He said that some reforms should be carried out and the voice of the Attorney General and the Bar be heard.

The Chief Justice has earlier said that the old system of designating lawyers as senior advocates was not bad and could be continued if there were no objections.

The bench posted the matter for further hearing on October 17 as both Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who is appointed as amicus curiae in the matter, and petitioner senior advocate Indira Jaising were not present in the court.

On April 4, the apex court had said it was open for correcting the system for designating lawyers as senior advocates, while refusing to entertain a petition challenging 16 such designations.

The CJI said that instead, lawyers should have "some confidence" in the "collective wisdom" of the bench.

In the PIL, Jaising had termed the present process as "opaque, arbitrary and fraught with nepotism."



She had claimed that the advocates taking up matters of human rights, public interest litigations were ignored and said there was a need to analyse data relating to the cases argued, judgements delivered in their matters and their contribution to jurisprudence and legal aid programmes.
There is a ray of hope for about 428 people, who are yet to receive compensation from the United Nations Compensation Commission after being uprooted from Iraq and Kuwait during the first Gulf War, as the CIC directed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to disclose the status of payment.

Acting on the plea of an RTI applicant, the Central Information Commission has directed the External Affairs Ministry to give the status of compensation to be paid by the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) to Indians who were uprooted from Kuwait and Iraq during the 1991 war.

RTI applicant Prakash Pradhan, based in Khurda in Odsiha, approached the Supreme Court seeking to know information related to the payment of compensation by the UNCC to the displaced Indians, particularly workers from his district.

The Apex Court said that application does not come under its jurisdiction.

There are approximately 428 individuals to whom the balance payment towards compensation claims is yet to be paid, Pradhan claimed during the hearing before the Commission.

The Commission was established in the wake of the Gulf War as a subsidiary of the United Nations Security Council to process compensation for costs suffered by expats in Iraq and Kuwait resulting from allegedly unlawful invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussain-ruled Iraq.

UNCC had received approximately 26 lakh claims from over 100 governments which included over 1.5 lakh claims from Indians who had to be evacuated from Kuwait and Iraq by Indian government.

The External Affairs Ministry had set a special cell under a Joint Secretary to coordinate with the Commission to facilitate the payments.

Pradhan claimed before the Chief Information Commissioner that the Ministry had informed him in 2014 that his claim of USD 4000 falls in category 'A' and may take one or two years more to be processed depending on the financial situation of the UNCC.

He requested that necessary immediate steps may be taken to release and make payment of the awarded compensation amount to the concerned Gulf War victims.

Chief Information Commissioner Radha Krishna Mathur said, "The Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, is advised to look into the matter and send a reply to the appellant within 30 days.

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At a time when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is being treated at a hospital, main Opposition party DMK today demanded either a "Chief Minister incharge or a new Chief Minister," to streamline governance.

However, the demand failed to find support even from the key ally of DMK, the Congress.

"When Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital, medical bulletins said that she will be discharged in a few days. Now, they say that she has to stay longer, and under such circumstances the state is also facing several issues like Cauvery," DMK treasurer and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, M K Stalin told reporters.

"Hence, in order to ensure that the administration is being run properly, for sure, immediately a chief minister-incharge or a new chief minister should be appointed," he said.

He also remarked that, "It is the duty of the government to streamline governance (by appointing a new CM or a CM-incharge)."



Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Su Thirunavukkarasar however said, "A regime is in place and the Chief Minister's health is improving."



"There is a Governor for (supervising) governance, (who is) the Constitutional head of the State government like the President at the Union level ... There is a Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Secretaries for departments, Director General of Police, and senior Ministers are there ... There is a government machinery (in place)," he said, adding there was no "such need" for a Chief Minister in-charge.

MDMK chief Vaiko too said there was no need for any chief minister-incharge.

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (which is part of the People's Welfare Front comprising MDMK, CPI, and CPI(M)) chief Thol Thirumavalavan said, "Till such time the Chief Minister recovers, a democratic and transparent interim arrangement should be made in accordance with the Constitution to run governance in Tamil Nadu.

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A 47-year-old orthopedic surgeon of a civil hospital in Gurgaon was arrested from here today for allegedly raping a patient, police said.

The 44-year-old victim in her complaint to the police on Friday alleged she recently visited Dr Arvind Jindal at Gurgaon civil hospital following pain in her leg which was operated upon by him two years ago, a senior police officer said.

Jindal advised her for an X-ray and when she visited the hospital with the report she was asked to wait.

When the hospital OPD closed, Jindal took her to his friend in Dwarka on the pretext that he would help her get a job in an NGO.

Later, he took her to his flat in southwest Delhi's Dwarka area and raped her there, he said, adding the doctor also allegedly threatened her of dire consequences if she reported the matter to police.

Initially, she kept quiet but approached police on October 7, he said, adding the doctor was arrested the same day.

"We have conducted the medical examination of the victim which confirmed rape," the officer said.

A case under section 376 (punishment for rape) of IPC has been registered against the accused, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Draft orders prepared by judges are confidential and cannot be disclosed to RTI applicants, the Central Information Commission has held.

Relying on a Supreme Court order in which it was observed that "judges may, and often do, discuss the matter among themselves and reach a tentative conclusion. That is not their judgement. They may write and exchange drafts. Those are not the judgements either, however heavily and often they may have been signed..."

"Even the draft judgement signed and exchanged is not to be considered as final judgement but only tentative view liable to be changed. A draft judgement therefore, obviously cannot be said to be information held by a public authority," it had said.

The case related to one Milap Choraria who had sought to know from the Calcutta High Court the rules under which the draft order was destroyed.

The high court had said Choraria is seeking draft order of the judge which is confidential and not public document.

"The respondent stated that the photo copies of the order prior to its finalisation cannot be supplied since it has been destroyed as per usual practice. The respondent stated that the High Court's Rules are available on its website," Chief Information Commissioner R K Mathur noted.

The high court had sought dismissal of the application on three grounds.

Firstly, that his first appeal was barred by law of limitation and no reason has been given to condone the delay. Secondly, draft order which is not signed by the judge is not a public document.

Thirdly, appellant is seeking legal opinion, which is not the "information" as per the definition of the information under the RTI Act.

Dismissing the appeal and relying on the Supreme Court order, Mathur said, "Even if the appellant could have filed this appeal with delay condone application; the information sought by the appellant cannot be disclosed.
A group of retired IPS officers including 'encounter specialist' D G Vanzara today launched an NGO to provide financial and legal aid to victims of terrorism as well as to family members of accused named for terror activities.

S S Khandwawala and K P Raghuvanshi, former DGPs of Gujarat and Maharashtra respectively, will serve as chairman and vice-chairman of the NGO 'Justice for Victims of Terrorism', while Vanzara, an accused in two fake encounter cases in Gujarat, will be the general secretary.

Former IB (Intelligence Bureau) special director Rajinder Kumar, who was chargesheeted in Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case, former judge of Gujarat High Court Justice B J Sethna, and member of National Human Rights Commission and former chief justice of Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir High Courts Justice B C Patel attended the inauguration function.

Khandwawala said that "rightfully" helping victims of terrorism and compensating them on time will help curb the menace and the NGO will work in the same direction, including "extending help to families of people killed by terrorists, people made accused by terrorists and security forces fighting terrorists."



"If charge is proved against a terrorist, (investigating agency and government) say the work is done. But what about the victims? Even an accused is the citizen of this country. If he goes to jail, what happens to his family? We need to think about this as well in order to root out terrorism.

"So we wanted to have a different kind of organisation and form an NGO which can bring justice to these victims of terrorism," Khandwawala said.

The NGO will be an apolitical organisation, he added.

"When terrorism raised its head in Gujarat, police,



politicians and central agencies responded and reacted positively, and genuine encounters carried out by police well within Constitutional provisions, police manual and IPC Acts, saved it from become another Kashmir," Vanzara said.

He said Gujarat became a peaceful state because of police action against terrorism, "which developed economically and the Gujarat model of development affected Indian politics, pushing the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi to become Prime Minister."



"The inputs that police received by world class central intelligence agency (IB) and its chief Rajinder Kumar had a great role to play in all this. Had Gujarat police not acted in time and saved Modi, none of this could have happened. India could not have got the PM of the class of Narendra Modi," Vanzara said.

The NGO will have its team of legal experts who will provide assistance to any victim of terrorism who approach them for help, he added.
Hundreds of foreign students who had enrolled this year for undergraduate programmes in private medical colleges in India now face an uncertain future due to a "tricky" domestic legislation regarding entrance examination for them.

Foreign students in India come to pursue MBBS or BDS courses either through an institutional quota system, like in government colleges, or by directly applying to private colleges.

But, due to the recent ruling of the Supreme Court on making the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) mandatory for admission to private and deemed institutes, they are now facing uncertainty as they do not fall under the NEET criteria.

The NEET eligibility criteria says only Indian nationals or Overseas Citizens of India can take the exam. It does not have any mention of foreign nationals.

The colleges have allegedly asked foreign students to leave the campuses by "next week".

Tilak Silva, father of Shenali, who came from Colombo to pursue BDS at Manipal University, said, "My daughter and other foreign students are suffering now only because there is this tricky NEET procedure.

"First foreigners cannot write NEET exam and now these students are being compared with domestic ones. Where should we go now as we have been asked to leave the campus by October 14. The career of our children has been jeopardised."



Silva also alleged that after the apex court's ruling, the Medical Council of India (MCI) and Dental Council of India (DCI) have been "pressurising" colleges to "allow (admission to) only those students who have taken NEET".

"How can the decision be so blanket. I have already intimated the Sri Lankan High Commission in Delhi and the Foreign Office in Colombo about this situation. We also appeal to the authorities and the Indian Prime Minister to allow some stop-gap arrangements for this 2016-17 batch so that their year is not wasted," he said.

When contacted DCI President Dr Dibyendu Mazumdar said, "It is the verdict of the Supreme Court, what can we do about it. Colleges have to abide by it."



The situation seems anomalous given India's international policy on education and government sources said that they are looking into the matter.

Heads of top central medical institutions in Delhi,



however, said, foreign students in their colleges are admitted through embassy nominations and as such "their candidature should not be affected".

"We have foreign students from Maldives and Nepal. But these are nominated candidates and not coming through competitive examinations, so their situation is different," Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital Dr A K Rai said.

Vardhman Medical College is attached to Safdarjung Hospital for clinical teaching. The college is running under the umbrella of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.

Authorities at Lady Hardinge Medical College, which has about 15 foreign students, said, "These students are nominated and don't come through competitive procedure unlike NEET."



AIIMS conducts its own entrance examination and, therefore, foreign students admitted at its Delhi campus will not be affected.

DCI monitors over 300 dental colleges in India a large number of which are private.
Former Cuban president Fidel Castro is keeping an eye on the US presidential race, saying that Democrat Hillary Clinton "discredited" Republican rival Donald Trump in their first debate two weeks ago.

"The first debate two weeks ago caused a stir. Mr Trump, who presents himself as having expert ability, was left discredited as much as Barack (President Obama) is in his policies," wrote Fidel Castro, the father of the Cuban revolution who turned over the presidency to his brother Raul Castro a decade ago.

The ex-president's article appeared hours before Clinton and Trump hold their second debate on Monday, less than a month away from the US election on November 8.

In their first debate, on September 26, the media and analysts mainly agreed that Clinton had won.

Their second showdown comes as Trump's White House campaign and the Republican Party as a whole were thrown in disarray over the release of videotaped lewd boasts about groping women he made in 2005.

Cuban authorities, who in 2014 began a historic diplomatic thaw with Cold War-era enemy the United States, have until now given no indication of their preference for a successor to Democrat Obama.

But Fidel Castro's article was seen as a signal on Havana's leanings.

Clinton is openly campaigning on a continuation of the Obama warming policies with neighbouring Cuba, which resulted in the restoration of diplomatic relations in 2015 after more than a half century of chilly ties.

Trump appears to favour a more restrained approach to the Cuban government.

A highly influential voice in the Caribbean island nation, Fidel Castro, 90, never has questioned the diplomatic strategy of his brother, who repeatedly notes his wariness toward Washington and Obama, who nevertheless was key in moving the diplomatic thawing forward.
China sentenced a former senior legislator, Bai Enpei, to death on Ocotber 9 as President Xi Jinping continues his campaign against corrupt officials involved in grafting.

The 70-year-old legislator has been punished for taking "huge bribes" and holding excessive assets with unidentified sources.

Enpei, who was a former senior lawmaker with China's legislature and had also served as head of provincial committees of the ruling Communist Party of China in Qinghai and Yunnan, has been deprived of political rights for life and had all his personal property confiscated.

He has been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Thousands of officials at different levels have been punished in the three year-long anti- campaign initiated by President Xi.
Former corporator of Malegaon Municipal corporation (MMC) Shakil Ahmed, who was missing since yesterday, was found dead this morning in a "suspicious" state here, police said.

"Ahmed, who went out of his residence last evening did not return home. His body was found in a suspicious state under the new Girna bridge", Deputy Superintendent of Police Gajanan Rajmane told PTI.

Claiming that the 50-year-old ex-corporator was murdered allegedly by his political rivals, his kin refused to take the body after post-mortem demanding arrest of the accused, the Dy SP said.

Prima facie, Ahmed was beaten on his chest, but the exact cause of his death will be revealed only after the post mortem report. A case of accidental death was registered at Killa police station and a probe was underway, police said.

Ahmed was a corporator in MMC between 2001-2006.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A leader of a former Tuareg rebel group who was killed in a blast in northern Mali this weekend was in fact "assassinated", an umbrella ex-rebel group said today.

Cheikh Ag Aoussa, the military leader of a former rebel group, was leaving a meeting yesterday at the office of the UN MINUSCA mission in Kidal when his car exploded.

An African military source who is part of the UN deployment said his car struck a mine and that he died on the spot. A local official confirmed he was killed by a mine.

"All the findings have ruled out (the possibility) that the car passed over the mine. The car was booby-trapped and therefore it is a targeted assassination," said the former rebel Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) of which Aoussa was a member.

"Every indication is that the explosive device was placed on the deceased during the meeting.

"As usual, the vehicles of the CMA representatives were parked inside the MINUSMA camp for the duration of the meeting."



The CMA called on the UN force and French forces in the country to cooperate with it to open an investigation into the circumstances of the "odious and undoubtedly pre-meditated assassination," according to a statement issued today.

MINUSMA spokeswoman Radhia Achouri said that Aoussa would attend meetings along with other CMA figures at the UN base "every 15 days" to discuss security in the region.

According to a CMA document seen by AFP, Aoussa was leaving the UN compound with four other CMA leaders following evening prayers when the blast occurred a few hundred metres (yards) from the base.

A Tuareg from the Ifoghas tribe, Aoussa was the number two in the High Council for the Unity of Azawad (HCUA), one of a myriad of armed groups in northern Mali.

The HCUA was formed mainly by dissident elements of al-Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine, one of the jihadist groups that occupied parts of northern Mali in 2012, throwing the country into chaos.

Aoussa had joined Ansar Dine as the rebellion broke out and served as right-hand man to its leader Iyad Ag Ghaly.

He broke away in 2013 -- just after a French-led intervention to halt the jihadists' onslaught -- to join a different group that would later become the HCUA.

Mali last year concluded a peace deal between the government, its armed proxies, and former Tuareg-led rebels who have launched several uprisings since the 1960s. The deal's implementation has been patchy.

Kidal has been rocked by deadly fighting for control between armed groups which were party to the peace deal.

The fresh unrest has sparked international concern, with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon saying in a report published this week that the pro-government groups and former rebels involved in the clashes should potentially face sanctions.

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Four men have been arrested by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police for allegedly abducting the 20-year-old son of a former Congress MCD councillor and demanding a ransom of Rs 50 crore.

Anand (27), Vichitar Vir (30), Vikrant Shokeen (30) and Vinod Kumar (32), all residents of Delhi, were arrested on Friday for their alleged roles in planning and executing the abduction, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav.

The youth was released by the abductors last week after a settlement was reached and a ransom of Rs 1 crore was paid.

He kidnapped on the morning of September 27 while going to college in his BMW car. Two men on a motorcycle, wearing police uniform, stopped him near Subhash Place here, he said.

The probe agency also recovered the BMW car, a Swift car, a Scorpio car and a motorcycle used in the crime, sedative tablets and some police uniforms along with a number of mobile phones from the kidnappers, Yadav said.

"One Scorpio car which was also following the youth's car, also stopped there. Occupants of the car and the motorcyclists took him in the Scorpio car and fled from the spot along with the BMW. A case was registered at Subhash Nagar Police Station on the complaint of an eye witness," he said.

The youth's father then received a ransom call of Rs 50 crore and the caller asked him to arrange the money for the safe release of his son, he added.

During surveillance, it was seen that the men were continuously changing their hideouts in Haryana and Rajasthan, calling from distant locations and sensing the police dragnet around them, they settled the deal for Rs 1 crore in a hurry and released the victim on October 3, Yadav said.

On October 7, police received information about the accused. A trap was laid and the abductors were arrested.

During their interrogation, it was revelead that most of them were invloved in property dealing and toll business and had planned the kidnapping a businessman with sound financial standings to become rich overnight, he said.

Six months ago, when they got to know about the ex-councillor, also a businessman and a resident of Sainik Vihar here, they planned to abduct his son to get Rs 40-50 crore from him.

The accused executed the abduction after monitoring the the youth's daily activities for a few days. All the four accused have previous criminal cases against them also, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Four more call centres in Mira Road here were raided and one person arrested, days after police swooped on three other call centres for allegedly conning American nationals by posing as US taxmen, police said on Sunday.

The crime branch officials raided the four call centres on Saturday and arrested one person, but his identity was not revealed as it might affect probe in the case. While police could not nab the owners and employees as the call centres were found deserted, around 250 computers were seized out of which 100 had no hard disks.

A police team has also gone to Gujarat to nab the kingpin of the racket, they said.

During the raids conducted last week at three call centres, 70 persons were arrested, and another 630 people booked under IPC sections 384 (extortion), 419 (cheating by impersonation), 420 (cheating) and under relevant sections of the IT Act and Indian Telegraph Act, police said. The callers used to make calls to people in the US and speak to them in American accent by posing as officials of US Internal Revenue Service.

A senior police official had earlier said that though salary of the employees was in range of Rs 10,000-40,000 per month, some of them earned up to Rs 1 lakh per month.

The employees were fully trained in US accent and were given SOP and call sheet, based on which they used to make calls to the tax defaulters, he said. They use to make at least 100 calls per day of which 10 to 15 calls would materialise and of these three to four people would make payment under threat by the conmen, he said.

If the caller earned $10,000-20,000 for company by making the gullible US citizen pay, he would get a good incentive, police said. The daily turn over of these call centres was to the tune of nearly Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.50 crore, and the annual turn over could be well above Rs 300 crore.

Police said during interrogation of the arrested persons they have got some vital information which would help them in probing the case further.
Rapper French Montana has cancelled the planned release of his MC4 album.

The star's second studio project was scheduled to hit retailers in August, but it was pushed back to October 14. However, the music has now been shelved due to issues with sample clearances.

French Montana previously released four songs from the album, which reportedly featured collaborations from other rappers including Kanye West, Drake, and Nas, but he was unable to officially share other tracks and didn't want to put out the disc unless it was complete, even though some tunes had already leaked online, reported Contactmusic.

"Songs like I'm Heated and Two Times couldn't be cleared. By the time I got the mix how I recorded it, it wasn't the same. I just ain't (sic) have the same feeling for it.

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Four days after perfume specialist Monica Ghurde was found murdered in her flat near here, Goa Police tracked down the alleged killer, a 21-year-old man, and arrested him from a hotel in Bengaluru today, a top official said.

Rajkumar Singh, who hails from Punjab, was a security guard here and had worked in a building complex where Ghurde stayed earlier. "The accused was arrested from Bengaluru, where he had checked into a hotel after committing the crime," Deputy Inspector General of Police Vimal Gupta told reporters.

Ghurde was found strangled to death in her three-bedroom rented apartment in Sangolda village near here. The 39-year-old's naked body was recovered on October 6 but investigation revealed she was killed a day earlier.

The fashion designer-turned-perfumer had been living alone in the flat since July last. Gupta said police lodged a murder case after her estranged husband Bharat Ramamrutam filed a complaint with Saligao Police Station.

After the murder came to light, police swung into action and formed multiple teams, which were dispatched to neighbouring states to gather clues and crack the case which received wide coverage in the media.

Singh had stolen two ATM cards of Ghurde besides her mobile phone, and transactions made through them helped the police to track him, he said.

"Keeping in mind the background of the deceased, we were working on different aspects. We had also considered her social life. We adopted non-traditional methods to solve the case," the IPS officer said.

Gupta said besides the local police, Goa Crime Branch was also roped in to crack the case.

Singh, originally a native of Bhatinda in Punjab, became the main suspect after he withdrew cash from an ATM machine in Porvorim, just 5 km from the scene of the crime, on the morning of October 6.

Police procured CCTV footage from the ATM booth and identified him with the help of a photo available with them in a tenant verification form submitted to Porvorim Police.

The accused had worked as a security guard in a building complex where Ghurde stayed earlier, and was fired from the job following complaints by several residents.

Gupta said Singh had withdrawn money using ATM cards several times at different locations, including Bengaluru.

"He had withdrawn more than Rs 1 lakh using both the ATM cards which belonged to Monica," the DIG said.

A team of Goa Police, with help from their Bengaluru counterparts, zeroed in on Singh, who had checked in around midnight last night in the hotel, he said.

He was formally placed under arrest today.

Gupta said the motive behind the murder would be known only after interrogation of the accused, who will be brought to Goa tomorrow.

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Moving fast on its ambitious waterways project, the government has said it will augment the process of development for 36 waterways in the first phase and soon float tenders to invite bids for the project.

Draft feasibility reports have been received for 36 waterways. We will be developing these in a major way in first phase as India has huge potential in this so far untapped segment despite endowed with rivers that could change the economy, Shipping minister Nitin Gadkari told PTI.

Parliament earlier this year had enacted a legislation allowing 106 rivers across the country to be converted into (NWs) in addition to the existing five such NWs in a bid to boost movement of goods and passengers through rivers and reducing transportation costs.

The minister said the environment-friendly and cost-effective mode of transportation would reduce the logistics costs significantly from as high as 18 per cent in India.

Elaborating on the development plan for 36 waterways, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) chairman Amitabh Verma told PTI that after receiving feasibility reports on waterways, the Centre is going ahead with detailed project reports (DPRs) for 25 river stretches while DPRs for 6 stretches were ready including one on Barak river in Assam.

Of the six river stretches whose detailed project reports (DPRs) were ready, tenders will be floated for five within a week, he said adding that work is already on to augment existing five .

For remaining 25, the government plans to proceed with award work for 12 in the next fiscal while for 13 in 2018-19, he said.

He said the funding will be done through extra budgetary support, extra budgetary resources, public-private partnerships and central road fund cess, among other means.

Expression of interest (EoI) had been floated for 25 waterways in August 2016 to invite private parties for the project bidding.

The inland waterways comprise rivers, lakes, canals, creeks and backwaters covering about 14,500 kms across the country. A Bill was passed in Parliament in March this year to convert 106 rivers across the country into NWs.

The legislation provides conversion of 15 rivers in West Bengal, 14 each in Assam and Maharashtra, 11 in Karnataka, 12 in Uttar Pradesh, nine in Tamil Nadu and 6 each in Bihar and Goa and 5 each in Gujarat, Meghalaya, Odisha and Telangana, among others, into waterways.

The proposal also includes plan to convert the Yamuna in Delhi and Haryana into a waterway.

Five of the river-stretches, which have been declared as National Waterways, include Allahabad-Haldia on Ganga (1,620 km), Brahmaputras Dhubri-Sadiya (891 km), West Coast Canal Kottapuram-Kollam (205 km), Kakinada-Puducherry canals (1,078 km) and East Coast Canal integrated with Brahmani river and Mahanadi delta rivers (588 km).
I) With the release of upcoming English film "Inferno" in India, viewers will also get to hear Tom Hanks's voice in Telugu, thanks to actor Rana Dagubatti who has dubbed for the Hollywood star.

Rana will be the voice of the Academy award-winning actor in the Telugu version of the Ron Howard directed film.

Hanks plays the role of Robert Langdon in "Inferno", which also stars Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan.

When asked if there was a sense of responsibility while dubbing for Hanks, the "Baahubali" actor told PTI, "There was a great sense of responsibility. Secondly, I have dubbed for someone else, so I am conveying the story of that character through my voice. My pauses, the way I say my lines."



The 31-year-old actor says many people go wrong when they try to imitate an actor's voice or accent while dubbing, something which he consciously avoided.

According to Rana, getting the perfect pitch of the sound was extremely important so as to not make it jarring for the viewers.

"Now here, it (the film) is something that I have not been part of. I am pitching at what he (Hanks) has done. The biggest mistake many people make when they dub is that they try to imitate the accent or the voice of the actor.

"I don't sound like Tom at all. Two people will never sound alike. But for the viewer (watching the dub version) it is the pitch of the character. I picked the pitch of the character," he said.

For Rana, just dubbing the voice of the "Sully" star was more than something he could've asked for.

"To dub for a film like 'Inferno', that too for Tom Hanks was more than exciting. Just to see a legendary actor like him on screen, who you have seen while growing up, and then to dub for him was exciting."



The actor reveals that he was filming the sequel of his blockbuster "Baahubali" and recorded for "Inferno" at the same time.

"Inferno" will be released in India on October 14.

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The guns have today fallen silent along the border, but residents of frontier villages who were forced to flee their homes due to the continual violence refuse to return, fearing that this is just a lull before another round of hostilities.

"We have heard that there has been no firing from across the border in our area for past few days, but people here are afraid to return as they fear that Pakistan can once again start targeting the civilian areas as it did a few days ago," Sham Lal (42), a resident of Hamirpur village, said.

Over two dozen "unprovoked" ceasefire violations by Pakistan have been reported after the Army announced that it carried out surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control.

Bearing the brunt of the firing and shelling from across the border, thousands of residents from frontier villages in the Jammu region have been forced to seek shelter at safe camps set up by the administration.

"We want to return to our homes and tend to our crop and cattle, but we cannot take chances with our lives as we do not know when the Pakistani army will start shelling again," said 54-year-old Sheela Devi, who along with six members of her family, has taken shelter at a government school in Khoura.

The state government says several people go to their homes during the day but return to the camps during the night.

"There are certain camps from where the people have returned to their homes, but there are others from where people are reluctant to go back. They go to villages during the day to tend to their cattle, and return at night," Jammu Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal told PTI.

"There has been relative calm on the Line of Control and the International Border. Since yesterday, there has been no report of ceasefire violation by Pakistan. It was yesterday that an Army man was injured in one such violation in Poonch," an army officer said.

Breaking two days of lull, Pakistani troops had yesterday resorted to ceasefire violation on a forward post along LoC in Poonch district, injuring an Army man.

Amid heightened tension, there was no violation of the ceasefire anywhere in the state on October 6 and 7.

The lull in the hostility however, is being seen as a ploy by border residents.

"We will return once we get full assurance from the centre and the state that we won't be targeted again. We don't know whether this lull is aimed to bringing us back to our villages and then making us the target," Devi said.

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Haiti began three days of mourning today for victims of Hurricane Matthew as relief officials grappled with the unfolding devastation in the Caribbean country's hard-hit south.

Matthew, meanwhile, lost its hurricane status, subsiding to a "post-tropical cyclone" after cutting a swath from Florida to South Carolina that left several dead.

At 1200 GMT, the storm was still packing winds that gusted to hurricane strength as it moved away from the US coastline.

But attention was shifting back to Haiti, the Americas' poorest country and one shattered by a 2010 earthquake and ravaged by a cholera epidemic.

Matthew crashed ashore on Haiti's southern coast on Tuesday as a monster Category 4 storm, packing 145 mile (230 kilometer) winds.

Aerial footage from the hardest-hit towns in southern Haiti showed a ruined landscape of metal shanties with roofs blown away, downed trees everywhere and mud from overflowing rivers covering the ground.

Civil defense officials put the death toll at 336, although some officials said it topped 400.

Interim President Jocelerme Privert declared three days of national mourning for the dead.

As the death toll climbed, pledges of aid flooded in, with the United States announcing it was sending a Navy ship, the USS Mesa Verde, whose 300 Marines will add to the 250 personnel and nine helicopters already ordered to deploy to Haiti.

France announced it was sending 60 troops, with 32 tonnes of humanitarian supplies and water purification equipment.

California-based charity International Relief Teams said it was donating $7 million in medical supplies with international organizations MAP International and Hope for Haiti.

In the United States, coastal flooding from the storm surge posed the biggest threat to life and property.

"The combination of a dangerous storm surge, the tide, and large and destructive waves will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline," the NHC said.

Matthew made landfall southeast of McClellanville, South Carolina, on Saturday as a weakened Category 1 storm, but it triggered serious inland flooding.

Millions of Americans were subject to evacuation orders and curfews were slapped on cities as the lethal storm barreled north after storming through Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas.

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The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a PIL challenging the Samajwadi Smartphone Scheme proposed by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

The Lucknow bench of the high court said, "Since the petitioner has failed to place any such provision which bars making such declarations..., no interference of this court is warranted."



The high court, however, said that keeping in view the petitioner's enthusiasm for a free and fair election, "we hereby give him liberty to suggest some preventive measures to the Election Commission of India or the Chief Electoral Officer of the state to be adopted for conducting the election fairly".

A division bench of Justice Shri Narain Shukla and Justice Anant Kumar delivered the judgement on October 7 on a PIL filed by a lawyer, seeking directions for restraining public authorities/functionaries of the state from making such announcements for ensuring a free and fair election to the Assembly in 2017.

Petitioner Ajmal Khan referred to the Information Department's September 5 notice on the scheme and said it was "bad in eyes of law as it was an allurement for voters".

On behalf of the state government, Additional Advocate General Bulbul Godiyal contended that this petition was not maintainable as the petitioner had earlier filed another plea on the same subject, which was dismissed by the court.

In this way, this second petition was also liable to be dismissed, she said.

The Samajwadi Smartphone Scheme proposes to distribute free smartphones among people who are at least 18 years old on January 1, 2017, with an annual income of maximum Rs 6 lakh, and have passed Class X.

The Chief Minister is scheduled to formally launch the registration process for the scheme on October 10 and the distribution of phones will begin next year after a new government takes over.

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Taking its experience in selling properties of Sahara and PACL for Sebi a step further, real estate advisory firm is considering helping banks sell properties of defaulters and recover loans.

"Banks have certain assets which are under stress and are not able to recover them from borrowers. These loans can be taken by corporates or individuals where property is mortgaged," Chief Executive Vikram Goel told PTI here.

"We are looking at such opportunities where we can provide the banks a platform to sell such properties in the market and recover the loans."



Market regulator had appointed and SBI Capital Markets to e-auction properties of Sahara and PACL, which had defaulted on payments.

"We are looking at loan defaults where the bank is already in discussion with the borrower and where the latter, either an individual or a company, has agreed to allow the bank to sell its property to recover the loan," he added.

"In this case, the property will be put out in the market through HDFC Realty and the proceeds received through the sale will go into the bank's escrow account."



Goel further said many a time, banks tend to auction the properties mortgaged by putting out advertisements and interested parties approach them and recover the loan.

"But now we, through our platform and our experience of so many years, are telling the banks that HDFC Realty will list these properties and sell them on their behalf in a more professional manner," he said.

Goel said while the banks will be able to recover the loan amount, the company will earn fees for the services provided, thus making it a win-win situation for all the three parties, including the borrower.

HDFC Realty is currently in talks with four banks, including HDFC, and plans to work with at least seven banks in the next two years.

According to a recent study by India Ratings, delinquencies in the country's loan against property (LAP) is likely to rise to over 5 per cent over the next four quarters due to stagnant property prices and risk aversion.

The total size of LAP market in the country is of around Rs 2.5 lakh crore, the report stated.
The hike in MSP of pulses will boost output, besides helping reduce dependence on their imports, said Food Minister on Sunday.

He said further that the production of pulses is expected to touch the 200-lakh tonne mark this year as against the last year's 176 lakh tonnes.

The minister hoped that the hike of up to Rs 425 per quintal in the minimum support price (MSP) of pulses will bring down the gap between production and supply in a big way.

"Increasing support price will also drastically reduce our dependence on imports," he explained.

Paswan, who also holds the consumers affairs and and public distribution portfolio, was in the city to preside over a meeting of senior officials of the Food Corporation of India (Punjab region).

He later told reporters that in the recent past, the government raided stocks of hoarders in view of the rising prices of pulses and found that most of them were importers of pulses.

"Our raids had brought the prices of the pulses down to a large extent," he stated.

Paswan said his ministry had come out with a new policy of storage of foodgrains, including pulses, under which storage will be limited to a maximum one-and-a-half years so that the farmers could easily sell their products.

In the earlier system, the crop used to go waste due to long storage and the farmers too felt insecure, he added.

Meanwhile, barring Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the National Food Security Act has been implemented in rest of the states.

According to Paswan, Kerala has given the assurance that it will implement the Act from April 1, 2017.
A weakened made landfall in South Carolina, nearing the end of a four-day rampage that left a trail of death and destruction across the Caribbean and up the southeastern US coast, now swamped by record floods.

In Haiti, where Matthew was a monster Category 4 when it slammed into the poorest country in the western hemisphere Tuesday, the official death toll rose to at least 336.

Nine were killed in the United States.

The interim president of Haiti, Jocelerme Privert, announced three days of national mourning, beginning today.

The scope of the devastation in the south of the Caribbean country was becoming clearer but the toll remains provisional due to the difficulty of gaining access to some areas.

At least 336 people were dead, the head of Haiti's civil protection services, Marie-Alta Jean Baptiste, told AFP. "We won't have a definitive toll before Wednesday," she said.

Other officials said earlier that at least 400 were dead.

Half a million children live in the worst-hit departments in southern Haiti, according to UNICEF, which said it needed at least $5 million to meet their immediate needs.

Pledges of aid have flooded in, with the United States announcing it was sending the USS Mesa Verde, whose 300 Marines will add to the 250 personnel and nine helicopters already ordered to deploy to Haiti.

France announced it was sending 60 troops, with 32 tonnes of humanitarian supplies and water purification equipment.

California-based charity Relief Teams said it was donating $7 million in medical supplies with organisations MAP and Hope for Haiti.

Matthew, downgraded to the lowest-level Category 1 hurricane, lashed the coast of South Carolina as the storm moved inland. It then approached coastal North Carolina on Sunday, with record flooding expected.

Despite flooding, fallen trees and power outages, most of the American southeast appeared to have been spared catastrophic damage as the storm surge turned out to be less severe than expected.

At 0600 GMT, Matthew was just 50 kilometers south southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

"Matthew should move near or just south of the coast of North Carolina this morning and east of the North Carolina coast by this afternoon," the National Hurricane Center in Miami forecast.

As Matthew approached -- after storming through Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas -- millions of Americans were ordered to evacuate and curfews were slapped on cities.
Union Minister for Steel Birender Singh today said India would become the second biggest steel manufacturer in the world by year-end.

Currently, China is the largest steel manufacturing country followed by Japan and produces five times more steel than India.

"At present, about six lakh tonnes of steel is manufactured in old factories and private plants across India. Steel industry accounts for just two per cent share in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country and efforts are being made to increase it," he said while inaugurating the newly-constructed Ganga Ram Hospital in Rohtak.

Singh said a new steel manufacturing plant of one million tonne capacity would soon be set up in joint venture and the Steel manufactured here would be exported.

In order to put a check on corruption and provide better opportunities to the youth, he said it is essential to bridge the education gap between the urban and the rural areas.

"The vision of a better India can only be realised after bridging the gap between the education facilities available in the rural and urban areas," Singh said.

Singh said the state government led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has introduced new programmes and schemes which had started yielding "positive results."



"The BJP Government has eliminated corruption in Haryana to a great extent. It recently declared merit-based result of the HCS examination which bears testimony to better and transparent policies pursued by the present state government," he said.

Taking potshots at Congress, the former Congress leader, said the party had always suffered due to its inclination for "political expediency".

"It should play the role of effective opposition by eschewing selfish politics," he suggested.

(REOPENS DES 41)



Later speaking in Jind today, Singh said that Rs 70,000 crore would be spent on the construction of two "national super highways" from Delhi to Katra and Delhi to Jaipur.

Both will pass through Haryana and benefit the state immensely, he said.

He said after completion of the highways, the distance of 727 kms between Delhi and Katra would be reduced to 572 kms and would be covered in 12 to 13 hours.

This super highway would pass through Jind, Uchana, Narwana, Moga, Jalandhar and Amritsar, he said.

The distance between Delhi and Jind would also be considerably reduced and would be covered in only 70 minutes, he said.

"This super highway would accelerate the pace of economic development of the state as well as of the country, and will encourage industrialists to set up units in the area, providing employment opportunities to the people," he said.

The Union Minister said the highway from Delhi to Jaipur via Rewari-Pataudi running parallel to NH-8, would also play a significant role in economic development of the state.

Answering a question on sugar mills, he said the capacity of Jind Cooperative Sugar Mill would be doubled.

Apart from Shahbad Cooperative Sugar Mill, all other 11 Cooperative Sugar Mills are incurring losses. The matter has been discussed with the Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, and it has been suggested to constitute a committee to go into the matter, he said.

A suggestion has been made to set up sugar complexes to reduce and cover the losses, he said.

Singh said captive power would be generated in these sugar complexes which would not only fulfil the mills' requirement of electricity but would also distribute surplus power to the adjoining villages. It has also been suggested that a distillery be set up at these complexes.

Currently, there are no distillery in the cooperative sector, he added.

The Union Minister said that new seeds of 'bajra' (millet) and 'jwar' with four per cent sugar content had arrived in the market.

He wanted research done to find out alternatives to sugarcane.
Indian-Americans on Sunday rallied behind Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton after lewd comments against women by Republican candidate surfaced, which the community members described as "predatory and sickening".

Indian-Americans have traditionally been Democratic supporters but during this election cycle, quite a few of them had leaned towards Trump because of his strong views on terrorism and Pakistan.

Kamala Harris, who is running for US Senate from California, said Trump's comments are "predatory and they make me sick. They are vile and Trump must be stopped".

"DonaldTrump had long disqualified himself from this race through his bigoted, racist, and sexist agenda - and this should be the final straw for any Republican elected officials who still support him," she said.

Her remarks came after a 2005 video of Trump surfaced on Saturday in which he is making lewd remarks about women, just a month left for the November 8 election.

The 70-year-old business tycoon, who has made several controversial remarks in the past, in the video, bragged in vulgar terms about kissing, groping and trying to have sex with women during the conversation caught on a microphone.

Harris said Washington is not a "boys' locker room". "It's a place where we need diverse leadership - including more women in public office - who will serve as role models for a generation of children that need to know sexual assault is wrong."



"Indian-Americans deserve better than Donald Trump," said community leader Rajdeep Singh Jolly. "As a community, we should champion the cause of gender equality, not pander politicians who demean our mothers, sisters, and daughters."



Jolly also released a video titled " on Women" which highlights some of his disparaging statements over the years, including criticising women about their looks and calling others "fat pigs", "dogs" and "disgusting animals".

The video, with Punjabi subtitles, begins with a hymn affirming the equality of women that asks whether a follower of Guru Nanak can follow Trump.

"I was disgusted when I watched the video of Trump using offensive language to describe his outrageous behaviour towards women. Women need to be revered and respected but Trump has no respect for our mothers, sisters and daughters," said Frank Islam, CEO and chairman of FI Investment Group

.

"Trump's behaviour towards women is despicable. He is unfit and unprepared and unqualified to be the US President. He is divisive and dangerous and is a demagogue. He is threat to our Constitution. At this time Trump's statement epitomises the backwardness of the conservative movement in America. At this point in our history, we must come together to elect the first women as the US President," Islam said.

Niraj Shah, an independent voter who runs a small business, said, "no way, I can vote for this guy".

Shah said he was earlier planning to vote for Trump this year because of his strong position against terrorism but changed his mind as his latest comments about women running on national television were "unpardonable".

"The US can't afford to elect someone like him as our president. We are not only electing a president of the United States, but also a world leader," said Shah.

Shekar Narasimhan, chairman and founder of AAPI Victory Fund, said "it is time to call a spade a spade - is an embarrassment to the Republican party. He cannot and will not be allowed to become an embarrassment to the United States."



"(This is) latest in a series of revelations that prove that Donald Trump is unfit to be President. He is not a good businessman, he is not a good philanthropist, he believes in conspiracies and it's clear that he has appealed to the worst in Americans seeking to divide and appeal to the darkest and most base instincts.

"Am I surprised that he denigrates women and 11 years ago thought that he could do whatever he could with any woman because he a rich celebrity? No, I am not," Narasimhan said.

"Is it forgivable if it were a youthful indiscretion or simply playful? No, especially because he was 58 years old when it happened!" he added.
Iran has temporarily released a journalist for medical treatment after he became sick following a hunger strike, local media reported today.

Ehsan Mazandarani, who runs reformist daily newspaper Farhikhtegan, was arrested in late 2015 and sentenced in April to seven years for "acting against national security".

"The health of my client, due to a hunger strike he was on, turned bad and he was transferred to hospital," his lawyer Hooshang Pourbabayi told the ISNA agency.

Mazandarani's wife, Maliheh Hosseini, told local media that a doctor at Tehran's notorious Evin prison reported concerns over the journalist's health.

"We were told to go to Evin prison and take my husband to hospital," she told the reformist-linked ILNA agency, adding that he had suffered bleeding in the stomach and his blood sugar level had plunged.

Four other journalists are thought to have been arrested around the same time as Mazandarani and have been given sentences ranging from two to 10 years.

The elite Revolutionary Guards claimed to have disrupted an "infiltration network linked to hostile Western governments".

That followed warnings by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei against "infiltration" by Western media.

Mazandarani's lawyer said he had heard that his client's sentence has been reduced to two years, but had no official confirmation.

Mazandarani was previously arrested in 2009 for acting against national security and having contacts with foreigners as protests swept the country following the disputed re- election of hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Journalists in Iran frequently face prosecution.

Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post's Tehran correspondent and a dual Iranian-American citizen, was arrested in July 2014 and convicted last year of espionage and other charges.

He was freed in January this year as part of a prisoner swap between Iran and the United States that saw several Iranians released.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Calling himself a victim of terrorism, former special director of Intelligence Bureau (IB) Rajinder Kumar, charge-sheeted in Ishrat Jahan encounter case, today sought action against CBI's ex-director Ranjit Sinha for "conspiring" against officials of the intelligence agency and police officers fighting terrorism.

Kumar also said that "a politician from Gujarat, who was a very powerful person between 2004 and 2014," influenced CBI investigation and spread "misinformation" against him and "compromised India's security."



"There is a category of victims of terrorism in India which is not found anywhere else in the world, and that is of police and security forces who fall victim to false propaganda. After getting caught in the crossfire of political blame game, they are accused of killing terrorists and then jailed," he said.

"On Jun 15, 2004, Gujarat police killed four Lashkar terrorists (Ishrat Jahan case). IB had given tip-off of the plan. This gave an opportunity to this prominent politician to frame Gujarat politicians who were emerging at national level," Kumar said, apparently referring to BJP chief Amit Shah.

Kumar, who is one of the four IB officials who were charge-sheeted besides seven Gujarat IPS officers in the alleged fake encounter case, was speaking as a guest at the launch of an NGO 'Justice for Victims of Terrorism', which has former IPS officer D G Vanzara, ex-DGP of the state S S Khandwawala and former Maharashtra DGP K P Raghuvanshi as its office-bearers.

"A campaign was run that Gujarat police are killing innocents, and me, Rajinder Kumar is giving false intelligence inputs to police. This was a misinformation spread against me," Kumar said.

Accusing Sinha of working at the behest of the Gujarat politician, Kumar said, "He is involved in a conspiracy against security agency and officials fighting terrorism. Leave alone false charge sheet filed by him, a group including him compromised India's security."



"This politician is also involved in coal scam, but did CBI investigate about this leader? You know that SC had set up an inquiry committee which found that Sinha met all accused of coalgate and 2G," Kumar alleged.

"It is sad that Ranjit Sinha and other conspirators are



still moving scot free two-and-a-half-years after the new government came to power. I would appeal to the government that he should be sent where officials fighting terrorists were sent," Kumar said.

Sinha was the CBI director when the agency investigated the roles of Rajinder Kumar and IPS officers from Gujarat in the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case.

Ishrat (19), Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar were killed on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on 15 June, 2004. Gujarat police had then claimed they had links to terror group LeT and were plotting to kill Narendra Modi, who was then the chief minister, to avenge the post-Godhra riots.

He said the killing of gangster Sohrabuddin, also in an alleged fake encounter, was used as an opportunity by this politician to target leaders from state emerging at the national level. Amit Shah was one of the accused in the case but a Mumbai court gave him a clean chit.
In view of the World Bank being capital-constrained, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today emphasised on the need for re-capitalising the Bank to enable it to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting shared prosperity.

"Unfavourable global scenario has made the achievement of twin goals of the World Bank Group and the ambitious SDGs even more challenging. Achievement of these goals requires trillions of dollars of development financing. This makes the role of the World Bank group even more critical - both as a provider of finance and knowledge," he said.

Jaitley was representing the Constituency of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka, at the 94th Meeting of the Development Committee (DC), the Ministerial-Level forum of the World Bank Group and IMF for inter-governmental consensus building on development issues, here yesterday.

The meeting focused on the 'Forward Look' exercise carried out by the World Bank and discussion on the Dynamic Formula of Shareholding of member countries in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), a member institution of the Bank.

"In view of the Bank being capital constrained today, there is a need to expand the role of not only IDA, but also IBRD and IFC to enlarge the lending programme of the Bank Group," he said.

For instance, in the case of India, during the last fiscal year, fresh commitments delivered were only USD 3.8 billion as against the requirement of USD 5-7 billion.

During the last spring meeting, Jaitley had called for a USD 100 billion bank.

The 'Forward Look Paper' has proposed annual lending of USD 40 billion per annum by IBRD. It also proposes doubling of IFC's annual investment capacity. This is necessary in view of the increasing role which IFC needs to play in ramping up private sector's capacities in developing countries.

"Increased financing measures need to be coupled with renewed efforts to find innovative solutions, active pursuance of knowledge sharing, coordinated responses with the private sector, other development partners and international organisations," Jaitley said.

On growth, the finance minister said: "Our constituency countries have displayed resilience and growth in this challenging environment where India is likely to grow at more than its last year's 7.6 per cent, Bangladesh at 6.3 per cent, Sri Lanka at about 5.3 per cent and Bhutan at 6.8 per cent."



He shared the assessment that the Bank should not only be bigger but be more agile, efficient and less expensive to do business with.

The Bank's active promotion of South-South cooperation, increased use of Country Systems and a pragmatic implementation of environmental and social standards would help considerably in making it a better Bank, he added.

Jaitley also made the point that the final outcome of the World Bank shareholding "must not lose sight of the raison d'etre of the realignment - to increase the voice and voting power of developing countries, which we had clearly stated in 2010 and reiterated in 2015 DC Communiques".

The draft report, he said, dilutes this laudable goal by merely stating that the voting power of the developing and transition countries (DTCs) should not be reduced.

"Further, there should be at least 2 per cent increase in voting power of DTCs at the conclusion of the process," he suggested.

Jaitley said the International Development Association (IDA), part of the World Bank, is the single-most important concessional platform to meet the needs of low-income countries.

"Therefore, we fully support the replenishment effort that aims at a base package of USD 75 billion for IDA 18 replenishment... I am happy to note that unreasonable burden which 'Acceleration Clause' imposed on the graduates has been recognised and it is proposed to suspend its operation for the present. This should in fact be done away with entirely," Jaitley said.

According to Jaitley, the World Bank stands at a crossroads as it has not only to reinvent itself as it embraces the challenges but design and execute its projects efficiently, nimbly and innovatively like never before.

"As shareholders, let us not shy away from adequately resourcing the bank and empowering the bank to enable us to meet SDGs and our twin goals," he said.

While addressing the gathering at forums like the Goldman Sachs Growth Markets Conference and the FT-Citi Forum, he elaborated on the significant improvement in macro-economic fundamentals of investment and growth in the Indian economy.

Jaitley also highlighted the major transformative initiatives taken by India which have "created a positive" business environment for Indian and global investments.

He also held a bilateral meeting with Philip Hammond, UK Finance Minister. The discussion centered on the various areas of mutual interest and cooperation.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of IMF/WB annual meetings, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das held bilateral talks with his counterpart from Israel, during which both sides discussed the issues related to BITs, FDI and future avenues of partnership in agriculture.

In particular, Israel expressed keen interest in learning from India's experiences in PPPs and ease of doing business, the release said.

Das, in a series of tweets, said there were "very productive meetings" during the visit to US and Canada.

"...Investors' interest in India is growing. Both FDI and FPI," he noted.

He added that the emerging view among investors in the US and Canada is "India is highly under rated".

Das said further: "International rating agencies need to listen to investors in their own countries," he said, adding, "No complacency in the government. Will continue to do more.
Academy award-winning actor Jon Voight took to social media to defend Republican candidate Donald Trump and criticise fellow movie star Robert De Niro for his remarks about the real estate mogul.

"Midnight Cowboy" star Voight, who has supported several Republican politicians over the years, said on Twitter that Trump's remarks to "Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush in 2005 "were not as damaging as De Niro's ugly rant. Trump's words did not hurt anyone," reported Fox .

"I am so ashamed of my fellow actor Bobby DeNiro's rant against Donald Trump. What foul words he used against a presidential nominee, who has worked harder then any other man I know in the past year and a half to get a good message to the American people," Voight, 77, tweeted.

"I don't know of too many men who haven't expressed some sort of similar sexual terms toward women, especially in their younger years.

"Donald Trump's words were not as damaging as Robert DeNiro's ugly rant. Trump's words did not hurt anyone. Can you imagine if any Republican said words like Robert DeNiro used - against Hilary Clinton or Barack Obama? All hell would break loose," he wrote.

He further posted, "I am calling for all Trump supporters to express their outrage and anger against DeNiro and all of the Republican turncoats cont'd against Trump. Let Donald Trump know we are completely behind him, and may God give him the strength to continue his calling."



De Niro had hit out at Trump, saying he wants to punch the politician in his face.

"I'd like to punch him (Trump) in the face," he had said in a video clip.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rapper Kanye West has resumed his 'Saint Pablo' tour after his wife, Kim Kardashian, was robbed at gunpoint in Paris.

The 39-year-old rapper, who has recently rescheduled the dates of his tour because of his wife, kicked off his concert with a 90-minute performance, reported Femalefirst.

West did not mention the robbery of his 35-year-old model-wife but told the crowd that it was "good to be home".

The star postponed his Philadelphia and Detroit dates from last week until December so that he could support Kim.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kashmiri youth today rescued a soldier who was trapped inside a mangled vehicle which had met an accident on Srinagar Bypass road near Lasjan area of the city, police said.

An army vehicle veered off the road after the driver lost control at Lasjan and hit a tree, a police official said.

He said one soldier was trapped inside the badly damaged vehicle and efforts of other army men to evacuate him did not fructify.

"Local Kashmiri youth rushed to the spot and managed to bring the injured army jawan out by placing a truck next to the damaged army vehicle," the official said.

Some passersby shot the entire incident on their mobile phones.

The video of the incident has been widely shared on 'youtube' and other social networking sites.

The incident comes amidst the ongoing unrest which has claimed 84 lives and thousands others injured in clashes between protestors and security forces.

In July, local residents of Bijbehara in south Kashmir Anantnag district defied curfew to rescue over 20 Amarnath pilgrims whose vehicle had met an accident during the beginning of the current unrest.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Law Ministry has called for "procedural reforms" to improve the system in the country, saying criminal trials are riddled with the problem of frequent adjournments despite provisions in place to prevent delays.

It has asked the Advisory Council of National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms to take a call on the need "for certain procedural reforms, either through amendments to the existing law or through proper implementation of the provisions that are already in place" to improve the system in the country.

The council, chaired by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, will meet here on October 18 to discuss various issues, including the need to overhaul the system.

Section 309 of the Code of Criminal Procedure requires that the proceedings in a criminal case should be held as expeditiously as possible and on a day-to-day basis. It also grants the court the power to postpone or adjourn proceedings for reasonable time periods; for reasons to be recorded in writing.

"This provision is, however, accompanied by certain restrictions on the power to grant adjournments, some of which were added through the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2008, to address the issue of frequent adjournments being sought by the parties," the Law ministry note for the meeting says.

"... Despite the existence of these provisions, criminal trials are riddled with the problem of delays on account of frequent adjournments. This calls for the urgent need to put in place a system for the proper monitoring of the number of adjournments being granted by judges in each case. In addition, courts should proactively enforce the provisions of Section 309, which allows them to order the payment of costs for adjournment requests," the note added.

The existing provisions say that no adjournments are to be granted at the request of a party, except for circumstances beyond its control. It is also explicitly stated that the pleader of a party being engaged in another court is not a sufficient ground for seeking adjournments.

Further, in order to minimise the inconvenience caused to witnesses, section 309 discourages the grant of adjournments in situations where witnesses are present in court but the party, though also present, is not prepared to examine the witness.

According to available data as on December 2015, there were a total of 27,019,955 cases pending across various district and subordinate courts out of which 18,614,308 were criminal cases.

Data from the National Crime Records Bureau shows that there were 2.1 million serious criminal cases pending under the Indian Penal Code in 2009 and this had risen to 2.8 million in 2014, indicating an increase in the number of serious crimes. The data further reveal in 58.3 per cent cases tried in 2014, the accused was either discharged or acquitted.

Other members of the Council include Law Commission Chairman Justice B S Chauhan (retd), Minister of State for Law P P Chaudhary, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, representatives of the Supreme Court Registrar General office and members of the Bar Council of India.
A longer yawn may correlate to a bigger brain size, according to a new study which also found that the animals with bigger brain are more variable in the length of their yawns.

Researchers from the State University of New York in the US looked at the videos of 29 mammals yawning to calculate the average length of their yawns.

The animals had their brain weight already documented in an earlier research.

When the researchers crunched the numbers, they realised that brain weight and the number of neurons in the outer layer of the brain called cortex can reliably predict yawn length.

For instance, gorillas, horses, walruses and African elephants may have huge sizes but they have shorter yawns than humans because the size of their brains are smaller compared with ours.

The findings suggest that the length of yawn does not correlate to the size of the body but to the size of the brain, 'Tech Times' reported.

The research team led by Andrew Gallup, from the State University of New York also found that the animals with bigger brain were more variable in the length of their yawns.

According to Liz Cirulli Rogers, from Duke University School of Medicine, it is possible that more intelligent animals have different types of yawn in response to different stimuli while the less-intelligent ones only have one type of yawn.

"We show that both the mean and variance in yawn duration are robust predictors of mammalian brain weight and cortical neuron number," Gallup added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MADISON  Come election day, all eyes in Wisconsin will be on the presidential race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. But voters face a choice likely to shape their lives closer to home  whether to hand Republicans or Democrats control of the state Legislature.

Here are the key things to know about state legislative races:

WHO CONTROLS THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW?

Republicans have had complete control of state government since 2011, when Scott Walker won the governors office and the GOP won majorities in the both the Senate and Assembly. The GOP enters Election Day with a 63-36 advantage in the Assembly and a 17-14 edge in the Senate.

WHY IS CONTROL SO IMPORTANT?

The majority sets the political agenda. Walker isnt up for re-election until 2018, so if the GOP keeps both houses theyll be able to pass anything they can agree on and Democrats will be powerless to stop them for the next two years. If the Democrats wrest control of either house, they can block Walkers initiatives and create gridlock in Madison.

The Legislatures first task will be putting together the state budget; divided control could delay the spending plans approval beyond the beginning of the next fiscal year in July.

DO THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A SHOT IN EITHER CHAMBER?

Not in the Assembly. All 99 seats are up, but Republicans majority appears insurmountable. Seventeen GOP incumbents dont even have opponents.

Things look a little brighter for Democrats in the Senate. Eight seats are in play, including five held by Republicans and three by Democrats. The Democrats need to take six of those eight to win the majority.

DO ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THEY CAN MAKE ANY HEADWAY?

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca has his sights on three open seats. Hes banking Mandy Wright can defeat Republican Patrick Snyder for a seat representing north-central Wisconsin. Wright held the seat until she lost it to Republican Dave Heaton in 2014. Heaton is not running for re-election.

He also has high hopes that Dennis Hunt can beat Republican Rob Summerfield for an open seat representing northwestern Wisconsin and Scott Nelson can defeat Republican Shannon Zimmerman for an open seat representing the Hudson area across the border from Minnesotas Twin Cities.

As for targeted GOP incumbents, there arent many. Democrats want to unseat freshman Todd Novak in southwestern Wisconsins 51st district and two-termer Kathy Bernier in the 68th, which includes parts of Eau Claire, Chippewa and Clark counties.

WHAT ABOUT THE SENATE?

Democrats have targeted an open seat in the 18th Senate district, which includes parts of Winnebago and Fond du Lac counties. Democrats have put their faith in Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris to defeat Fond du Lac Republican Dan Feyen.

Walker signed a bill earlier this year barring county executives from serving simultaneously in the Legislature, which means Harris would have to trade his $102,800 county job for a $50,950 senators salary. Democrats complained the bill was designed to make Harris quit the race but Harris has refused to drop out.

Democrats also believe Sen. Luther Olsen, a moderate Republican from Ripon, Sen. Tom Tiffany of Hazelhurst, who made a name for himself by writing a bill that relaxed Wisconsins iron mining regulations, and Sen. Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls are vulnerable.

HAVE REPUBLICANS TARGETED ANY SENATE DEMOCRATS?

Theyre going after the Democrats most powerful figure in the chamber, Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling. She faces a challenge from Dan Kapanke for her seat representing the La Crosse area. Shilling took the seat from Kapanke during the 2011 recall elections spurred by anger over Walkers public union restrictions.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said Republicans also are targeting Julie Lassa, who represents the Stevens Point area, and Dave Hansen, who represents the Green Bay area.

Fitzgerald said he believes support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will ripple down the ballot and help the state GOP. He predicted Republicans will come back with 19 seats again this session.
Lieutenant General AK Sharma today assumed command of the White Knight Corps (16 Corps) from Lieutenant General RR Nimbhorkar.

In his farewell message, Lt Gen Nimbhorkar complimented all ranks of White Knight Corps for their professionalism and dedication and thanked the civil administration for the excellent synergy with the Armed Forces.

Lt Gen Sharma was commissioned in 1980 into 2 SIKH, a unit which he later commanded on the line of control and during 'Operation Parakram'.

An alumnus of Defence service and staff college Wellington, Army War College and National Defence College, he has also attended Terrorism and Security Studies Course in Germany.

He commanded a Mountain Brigade in the North East, an Infantry Brigade Group in UN Mission in Congo and a Counter Insurgency Force in Jammu and Kashmir.

The General officer has been decorated with YSM, SM and COAS Commendation Card.

Before taking charge of White Knight Corps the General officer tenanted the appointment of Director General of Recruiting.

On taking over, he exhorted all ranks of White Knight Corps to continue with the same zeal and enthusiasm and always be combat ready.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
German police searched nationwide today for a 22-year-old Syrian man believed to have been preparing a bombing attack and were questioning a second Syrian man on suspicion he was involved in the plot.

The man in custody was one of three apprehended in the eastern city of Chemnitz yesterday. He was the renter of the apartment that police raided in their search for the main suspect, Jaber Albakr from the Damascus area of Syria, Saxony police spokesman Tom Bernhardt told The Associated Press. The other two men have been released.

He said the man in custody was Albakr's "countryman" but would not give other details.

"We believe he is a possible co-conspirator," Bernhardt said.

Bernhardt also confirmed reports that Albakr had come to Germany in the flood of 890,000 migrants who entered the country in 2015 and had been granted asylum.

Nobody was in the apartment when police SWAT teams blew down the door midday yesterday, but investigators found "several hundred grams" of a volatile explosive stashed in the flat. Even though it was a relatively small quantity, it could have been enough to cause significant damage, Bernhardt said.

"With this highly volatile explosive, even a few hundred grams is no trifle," he said. "For an explosive of this type, it was a considerable amount."



He said experts were still trying to determine whether it was the same explosive used in the deadly Nov. 13 attacks in Paris and the March 22 attacks in Brussels known as TATP, or triacetone triperoxide.

"It's comparable to that," he said.

TATP has been used in many other attacks over the years, and is favoured by violent extremists because it's fairly easy to make and detonate.

The explosives were destroyed in a controlled detonation by bomb squad experts in a pit dug outside the five-story apartment building where they were found because they were considered too dangerous to transport.

The raid came after Saxony police were given a tip from Germany's domestic intelligence service that Albakr may be planning an attack. He had been on the agency's radar, but Bernhardt said it was not clear how long.

Der Spiegel magazine, citing Saxony police, said Albakr left the apartment building yesterday morning while police were at the scene preparing their raid. It was not immediately clear how he eluded police.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BSP supremo Mayawati today launched a blistering attack on the Modi government over its "Natakbazi" (drama) of claiming credit for the cross-LoC surgical strikes by the army, alleging it was meant for reaping "political benefits" and to divert public attention from its "own failures".

Mayawati said a "war hysteria" was being sought to be created by the BJP over the surgical assault, which she said was the right move, but one that came too late.

"There is a feeling among people that this (the strikes) could have been delayed for taking political and electoral mileage," she said, adding had the military action been conducted after the Pathankot attack in January, the lives of 19 soldiers in Uri could have been saved.

"Instead of honouring its political leaders after the strikes, BJP should have felicitated the army for it. The credit for the strikes should go to the Indian army and not Narendra Modi," she said, addressing a well attended rally to mark the 10th death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram.

Mayawati's remarks drew sharp reaction from the BJP, which said questioning the authenticity of the strikes "does not behove her".

She said though the army had undertaken surgical attacks against the enemy in the past, never was any attempt made to "do politics" over military action.

Amid demands by opposition parties for proof to back the claim of surgical strikes, Mayawati said and the army alone and not the government should take a decision on this.

She equated the present "hype" over the strikes with the mood in the US after its forces eliminated Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

Mayawati asked the voters in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, which would to to polls next year, not to be swayed by the Modi government's rhetoric to avoid "regretting their decision" in future.

BJP reacted angrily to Mayawati's comments, with party spokesman Siddharth Nath Singh saying," Questioning the strikes doesn't behove her, particularly after leaders like Swami Prasad Maurya and R K Chaudhary, who left BSP, accused her of selling party tickets for the assembly polls. She personifies corruption."



Another BJP spokesman Syed Shahnawaz Hussain rejected Mayawati's allegation that the BJP was doing politics over the strikes.

"Is praising the courage and gallantry of our armed forces playing politics. Those who are questioning the veracity of the strikes are playing politics," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BJP on Sunday accused Mayawati of "communalising" the election campaign after she made overtures to Muslims at a rally, and claimed development is the main poll agenda over which people will vote for the saffron outfit as both SP and BSP have failed on this count.

It also attacked the BSP supremo over her jibes at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying she was practising low level and her comments reflected "mental bankruptcy and frustration" as her support base was shifting away from her while Modi's popularity was rising.

"She is a big zero on the of development. Now, she is communalising the state . But the poll agenda will remain development on which ruling SP, BSP and Congress have nothing to offer. For development, people will vote for BJP," its National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said.

He also asked her to refrain from speaking on the surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the LoC, saying there is a lot of enthusiasm among people over the army's action against terrorism and everybody was praising the soldiers.

Alleging that she is known for her "politics of money" practised in the name of Dalits, Sharma said people rejected her for this reason, besides her arrogance and wrong policies, in 2012 and will do so again in 2017.

He said, instead of questioning Modi's performance, Mayawati and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav should give account of their work and asked the BSP leader to target her "nephew", a reference to Yadav who often addresses her as "bua" (aunty).

"The Modi government will give account of its works in 2019. It has launched more than 80 schemes aimed at the welfare of the poor. The UP government has failed to execute them. In his two-and-a-half years of tenure, the Prime Minister's credibility has only grown due to his work which has brought India laurels from across the world," he said.

Alleging that minorities were facing bias under the Modi government, BSP Chief Mayawati earlier today cautioned Muslims that voting for Samajwadi Party or Congress will only help BJP and sought their support "to stop" the saffron party.

Muslims should not waste their vote as there is infighting in Samajwadi Party and Congress lacks a voter base in Uttar Pradesh, she told a rally in Lucknow on the occasion of party founder Kanshi Ram's 10th death anniversary.
Fighting for the legacy of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, three of his followers, including former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, held separate programmes in the city on his 10th death anniversary today.

It was a show of strength by BSP chief Mayawati who managed to gather a "massive" crowd by bringing supporters in "19 trains and 500 buses" to the sprawling Kanshi Ram Smarak Maidan.

On the other hand, R K Chaudhary, once a close confidant of Mayawati, preferred a quiet 'shrandhanjali sabha' to pay homage.

"Mayawati says Kanshi Ram handed over the legacy to her... Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram's ideology and movement for social change are not something that can be turned into a 'private company'," Chaudhary, who had in June quit BSP accusing the party chief of selling tickets for elections, said.

Former UP Minister Daddu Prasad, who was expelled from the party, held a day-long rally at the grand Ramabai Ambedkar sthal, a ground so large that it is a challenge for political parties to fill it up.

BSP had draped the city in blue putting up banners of



Kanshi Ram all across.

On the 10th death anniversary of her mentor, the BSP supremo kickstarted the party's campaign for the 2017 Assembly polls.

She told her supporters that the leaders who quit the party in the recent past have done so to "serve their petty interests and are levelling false allegations against me".

"It will have no impact on BSP and the party will form the government on its own after the polls," she said.

Prasad said Mayawati has deviated from Kanshi Ram's ideals, "betrayed the bahujan samaj and is merely using BSP to serve her own interests".
BSP supremo Mayawati's remark that the Centre could have delayed the surgical strikes to reap political mileage in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls triggered a sharp exchange today between the ruling BJP and opposition parties which chose to side with the Dalit leader.

While BJP accused Mayawati of communilising the UP poll campaign and using caste to gain electoral mileage, Congress said the ruling party at the Centre was trying to use the army's surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the LoC for its political gain in the poll-bound state.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi might have thought of taking political ownership of surgical strikes but doing politics over the action harms the country and such politics is not a matter of honour for the army.

"Indian army is separate from politics. It will be unfortunate that decisions and actions of army are being used for political mileage," Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said.

JD(U) leader K C Tyagi said the valour of Indian Army is pride of the nation and it cannot become the programme of a political party. "Those who are doing it are hurting Indian Army," he said.

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said that by raising suspicion on the strikes, the opposition leaders are giving fodder to Pakistan and ISI to run propaganda against India.

"The country will not forgive them for this," he said.

Another BJP spokesperson, Meenakshi Lekhi, said Mayawati does politics of casteism that comes within communal politics.

"BJP does politics of communal harmony, not the politics of communalism or casteism. The people doing such casteist or communal politics should correct themselves rather than raising questions about us," she said.

Addressing a rally in Lucknow on the occasion of party founder Kanshi Ram's 10th death anniversary, Mayawati said a "war hysteria" was being sought to be created by the BJP over the surgical assault, which she said was the right move, but one that came too late.

"There is a feeling among people that this (the strikes) could have been delayed for taking political and electoral mileage," she said, adding had the military action been conducted after the Pathankot attack in January, the lives of 19 soldiers in Uri could have been saved.

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Manoj Jha asked whether such



brave actions by Indian soldiers should be turned into "cheap Bollywood" style posters by BJP?



"Is this the way they look at surgical strikes? Is this the way they look at covert operation? Where we are heading to? (BJP President) Amit Shah does not realise that he is demeaning the morale of India army and Indian army is not a political army.

"It has stood upright in difficult circumstances. I would request the Prime Minister that surgical strikes should not be used for narrow, parochial, right wing gains in the manner of surgical propaganda," Jha said.

Amid demands by opposition parties for proof to back the claim of surgical strikes, Mayawati said and the army alone and not the government should take a decision on this.

She also hit out at the Centre for trying to gain "political mileage" by taking credit for the Army's operation.

She equated the present "hype" over the strikes with the mood in the US after its forces eliminated Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

Lashing out at the Prime Minister for "failing" to fulfil promises made during the Lok Sabha polls, Mayawati said that all sections of society were today feeling "cheated".

"The politics being played in the garb of strikes has never be seen earlier," she said, adding that the speech delivered by PM Modi on August 15 indicated that anything can be done for gaining political mileage.
After a terse letter to the Union Health Ministry by the Supreme Court-mandated Oversight Committee, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has issued directions to all medical colleges to update their websites which should include students' feedback on faculty.

MCI wrote a letter recently to all medical colleges, asking them to update their websites in the first week of every month which should also include data of every undergraduate incorporating their score in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and fees charged by the college.

The student information, including their attendance and performance, should be updated as and when the student moves to another semester.

"As part of a 360 degree evaluation, students' feedback, as regards regularity in teaching, practical demonstration, hands-on-training, infrastructure facilities should be included," the MCI letter said, quoting directions from the Oversight Committee mandated by the Supreme Court to oversee functioning of MCI.

The Supreme Court had in May appointed an Oversight Committee comprising former Chief Justice of India Justice R M Lodha, renowned liver specialist and Director of Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences Dr Shiv Sareen and former CAG Vinod Rai.

According to the order, the Oversight Committee will have the authority to oversee all statutory functions under the MCI Act.

"All policy decisions of the MCI will require approval of the Oversight Committee. The Committee will be free to issue appropriate remedial directions," the order said.

Besides this, all colleges have been asked to maintain attendance electronically which should be made available to the assessors during the time of inspection.

The MCI also asked the medical colleges to have a comprehensive website depicting the medical college and the hospital and it should "necessarily be updated in the first week of every month".

The website should display faculty members, along with



their designation, their attendance and monthly teaching schedule, the MCI order said.

"A maximum of 70 per cent lectures of the scheduled lectures must be taken by the respective faculty," it said.

There should be a monthly census of all clinical material and patient admissions which includes discharges, deaths, surgeries, procedures and investigations carried out in each department.

The MCI order follows a terse letter written by the Oversight Committee (OC) to the Health Ministry that it would hold it responsible if any medical colleges, having conditional approval, admits student without fulfilling the criteria.

In a letter, Secretary to the Committee P Seshkumar wrote to Union Health Ministry said it would be the responsibility entirely of the Ministry in case any of the colleges, where conditional approval was granted for 2016-17 and notifications have been issued by the Ministry, admits students without the colleges uploading the stipulated data on faculty, infrastructure.

"It may please be noted that Oversight Committee would not, in any manner, be responsible for allowing admissions of students in such cases without the Health Ministry keeping admissions in abeyance after verification as already directed by OC," he said.
Assam Rifles (AR) personnel arrested one militant, identified as Lalminlal (18) of Kangpokpi Town, in Manipur's Senapati district.

The arrest was made during a search operation at his residence yesterday night.

One AK 47 rifles with 10 live rounds was found in his possession, police said.

A case has been registered at Kangpokpi police station for further investigation, police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 50-year-old milk trader allegedly committed suicide today by shooting himself in his car at a forested area of north east Delhi's Madanpur Khadar.

Ashok Bansal, who lived with his family at Bhajanpura, had left for his milk dairy at around 7 am. His body was found in his car with its engine running and doors locked at Madanpur Khadar jungle at around 11 am, a police officer said.

The air conditioner and music system of the car were on and the body bore a gunshot injury on head. A country-made pistol was recovered from the car but Bansal did not leave behind any suicide note, the officer said.

Police said that prima facie it appeared to be a case of suicide as the deceased was learnt to be burdened by heavy loans.

He is survived by his wife and two married sons.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BSP president on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lucknow to attend Dussehra celebrations is "politically motivated" and the event should have been toned down taking into account the loss suffered by the families of soldiers killed in the deadly Uri terror attack.

"The pyre of jawans who lost their lives in the Uri attack has not yet died down, but the Prime Minister is coming to Lucknow to celebrate Dussehra for his political motives," said at a rally here on the occasion of party founder Kanshi Ram's 10th death anniversary..

"It is likely that for the same purpose, he (Modi) might come to UP for Diwali as well. Taking the loss of the Uri martyrs' families into account, BJP should have celebrated Dussehra and Diwali with sobreity and simplicity," she said.

"The BJP has been forced to bring Modi to Lucknow to Dussehra mela so that he can put forth his views at a religious congregation...It has been forced to indulge in of religion," she said.

Mocking the saffron party, she said BJP might be forced to bring in film actors to garner crowds in future. Crowds alone do not translate into votes, she added.

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Lucknow and attend Dussehra festivities at the historic Aishbagh Ramlila ground on October 11.

Apprehensive of possible efforts to "cash in" on cross-border terrorism in the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Punjab, said hysteria of war between India and Pakistan may be churned up to "divert attention from failures" of the central government.

On the Army's surgical strikes across the Line of Control

(LoC), she said that it was the right move, but one that came too late. "There is a feeling among people that this could have been delayed for taking political and electoral mileage."

Had the military action been carried out after the Pathankot attack in January, lives of 19 soldiers in Uri might have been saved, she said.

On the calls for making evidence of the strikes in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) public, the BSP leader said the decision should rest with the Army alone.

She also hit out at the Centre for trying to gain "political mileage" by taking credit for the Army's operation

She equated the present "hype" with the mood in the US after its forces eliminated Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

Lashing out at the Prime Minister for "failing" to fulfil promises made during the Lok Sabha polls, Mayawati said that all sections of society were today feeling "cheated".

"The being played in the garb of strikes has never be seen earlier," she said, adding that the speech delivered by PM Modi on August 15 indicated that anything can be done for gaining political mileage.

The BSP chief also alleged that central agencies like CBI are being "misused" by the ruling party of the day to "harass" political adversaries, as was done with her during the previous Congress government.

As Chief Minister, she said she took action even against her own ministers on corruption charges, unlike the present dispensation "which let Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya flee" from the country.
Norma (Cayo) Hovland died peacefully in her home at Ecumen Centennial House in Apple Valley, Minn., Oct. 3, 2016.

The first child of Milton and Alvina (Stickney) Cayo, she was born Aug. 5, 1923, at HSHS St. Josephs Hospital in Chippewa Falls. The family lived in Jim Falls, until 1936, when they moved to Chippewa Falls, where she attended McDonell Memorial High School, graduating in 1940. She attended Eau Claire Business College and worked at the Eau Claire Ordinance Plant office.

Her interest in joining the war effort was realized when she was accepted for service in the WAVES-USNR-W, in October, 1943, and was stationed at the Bureau of Ships in Washington, D.C., working as a stenographer. She was a proud World War II veteran and was honored many times at Centennial House, as the only female veteran resident. She was able to partake in the Freedom Honor Flight to Washington D.C., designed to honor veterans for their service to our country in 2010.

Norma married Theodore J. Hovland, 1st Lt, USAF, at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Chippewa Falls, Jan. 9, 1945. After the war, they made their home in Bloomer, until 1956, when they moved to Milwaukee. She held various secretarial jobs in Milwaukee, most recently at the Segall Company for 23 years.

After retirement in 1986, she and Ted moved back to Bloomer. Norma helped with the 1990 census and thoroughly enjoyed meeting people and gathering information for Chippewa County.

She lived at the St. Johns apartments until 2011, when she moved to Apple Valley. While at St. Johns, she served as secretary of the resident monthly meetings. She organized many catered lunches for the group that resided at the apartment building.

Norma was an excellent baker and cook and credits her mother, Alvina, and her mother-in-law, Rose, (Bemel) Hovland for her ability. She loved being called Cookie grandma and Nana by her grandchildren. She also mastered the art of hand quilting, and won many best of show ribbons at quilt shows throughout Wisconsin.

Norma was a gifted writer. She was an avid reader and wrote a weekly Bookworms column for the Bloomer Advance for 13 years, giving a review of recent best sellers. Through the years she was able to meet some of the authors of the books she reviewed. She found great joy when she heard from others that they enjoyed her reviews and also liked the books she selected.

She is survived by her children, Daniel (Ruth) Hovland, Theodore (Claudia) Hovland and Susan (James) Tauer; her grandchildren, Lon Hovland, Jessica (Steven) Hackbarth, Erik (Tracy) Hovland, Jennifer Tauer, Curt Hovland and Rebecca Tauer; her great-grandchildren, Hanna, Hans and Ava Hovland and Jakob and Nickolas Hackbarth; and her brother, Dean (Trudy) Cayo; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted; her parents; brothers, Shirley and Dale;and sister, Verlene (Cayo) Bernd.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at St. Pauls Catholic Church in Bloomer, with Father John Potaczek celebrating the Mass. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at Schriver-Thompson Funeral Home in Bloomer. There will be a rosary and time of remembrance beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home. Burial with military honors rendered by the Bloomer VFW & American Legion, will be held at St. Pauls North Catholic Cemetery in Bloomer, immediately following Mass.

Many thanks to the staff at Ecumen Centennial House, and Ecumen Hospice, for their loving care of Norma.

Schriver-Thompson Funeral Home & Chippewa Valley Cremation Services is Bloomer, is serving the family. To express condolences online, please visit www.thompsonfuneralhome.com.
Alleging that minorities were facing bias under Modi government, BSP Chief on Sunday cautioned Muslims that voting for Samajwadi Party or Congress will only help BJP and sought their support "to stop" the saffron party.

Muslims should not waste their vote as there is infighting in Samajwadi Party and Congress lacks a voter base in Uttar Pradesh, said while addressing a rally here on the occasion of party founder Kanshi Ram's 10th death anniversary.

"Ever since the BJP government has come at the Centre, Muslims and other minorities are being subjected to bias. The minority status of Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia is being snatched away.

"Communal forces are becoming stronger and Muslims are being targeted in the name of love jihad, 'gau raksha' (cow protection) and religious conversion," the BSP supremo alleged launching a scathing attack on the Modi government.

also made it clear that her party will go alone in the three states going to polls early next year  Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, and cautioned the people against any canard that BSP might enter into an understanding for forming as government with the BJP in case it fell short of majority.

She said there was no truth in these rumours which were being spread to divide Muslim votes and asserted that such a situation will not arise.

Coming down heavily on the ruling Samajwadi Party, Mayawati said because of "rampant crime and anarchy" incidents such as Muzaffarnagar, Dadri, Mathura and Bulandshahr have occurred and promised to restore rule of law in Uttar Pradesh.

"There is a tussle for supremacy going on in the SP between Mulayam Singh Yadav's son Akhilesh Yadav and brother Shivpal Singh Yadav and its result will be that the Yadav vote will split as each will try to ensure the defeat of candidates owing allegiance to the other," Mayawati said.

"In such circumstances Muslims should not waste their ballot by voting for them or else it will help the BJP.... Similarly Congress does not have a vote base and voting for it will also benefit BJP," Mayawati said.

"To stop the BJP, the vote should not go to either the Samajwadi Party or the Congress as with every Assembly seat having 22 to 23 per cent Dalit votes, BSP can sail through with the help of Muslim votes or else the same scenario can emerge that was seen in 2014," she stressed.

Mayawati, who had faced criticism for spending hundreds of crores of rupees in setting up memorials of herself, Kanshi Ram and B R Ambedkar, said her party will not construct any more memorials.
Alleging that minorities were facing bias under Modi government, BSP Chief Mayawati today cautioned Muslims that voting for Samajwadi Party or Congress will only help BJP and sought their support "to stop" the saffron party.

Muslims should not waste their vote as there is infighting in Samajwadi Party and Congress lacks a voter base in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati said while addressing a rally here on the occasion of party founder Kanshi Ram's 10th death anniversary.

"Ever since the BJP government has come at the Centre, Muslims and other minorities are being subjected to bias. The minority status of Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia is being snatched away.

"Communal forces are becoming stronger and Muslims are being targeted in the name of love jihad, 'gau raksha' (cow protection) and religious conversion," the BSP supremo alleged launching a scathing attack on the Modi government.

Mayawati also made it clear that her party will go alone in the three states going to polls early next year-- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, and cautioned the people against any canard that BSP might enter into an understanding for forming as government with the BJP in case it fell short of majority.

She said there was no truth in these rumours which were being spread to divide Muslim votes and asserted that such a situation will not arise.

Coming down heavily on the ruling Samajwadi Party, Mayawati said because of "rampant crime and anarchy" incidents such as Muzaffarnagar, Dadri, Mathura and Bulandshahr have occurred and promised to restore rule of law in Uttar Pradesh.

"There is a tussle for supremacy going on in the SP between Mulayam Singh Yadav's son Akhilesh Yadav and brother Shivpal Singh Yadav and its result will be that the Yadav vote will split as each will try to ensure the defeat of candidates owing allegiance to the other," Mayawati said.

"In such circumstances Muslims should not waste their ballot by voting for them or else it will help the BJP.... Similarly Congress does not have a vote base and voting for it will also benefit BJP," Mayawati said.

"To stop the BJP, the vote should not go to either the Samajwadi Party or the Congress as with every Assembly seat having 22 to 23 per cent dalit votes, BSP can sail through with the help of Muslim votes or else the same scenario can emerge that was seen in 2014," she stressed.

"..In the name of terror Muslims are also being looked with doubt which is not right as per the Constitution and our party condemns it strongly," Mayawati said.

Under such a scenario implementation of Sachchar Committee recommendation also does not look possible, she said adding that today these sections are worried about their security.

She also raised the issue of atrocities on dalits and cited the cases of Rohith Vemula, Una and Daya Shankar Singh.

Merely making announcements about developing Ambedkar memorials and visiting Dalit households and sharing meals with them like the Congress leaders will not help, she said.

Mayawati, who had faced criticism for spending hundreds of crores of rupees in setting up memorials of herself, Kanshi Ram and B R Ambedkar, said her party will not construct any more memorials.

Mayawati lashed out at the BJP saying its condition in UP



is "most dismal".

"The BJP is in such a bad shape that it is depending on rejected or expelled leaders of other parties or those who have committed atrocities on their own family members," she alleged.

Without naming him, she trained her guns at former party leader Swami Prasad Maurya terming him as "bhashanbaaz" leader who had said unsavoury things against Hindu gods and Swati Sing, wife of expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh.

The BSP chief also criticised the BJP "for making a beeline to the state for laying the foundation stones of schemes which are nowhere to be seen".

She said backward and upper caste votes have not voted en-mass for any one section but this time round that may not be the case.

Alleging that Uttar Pradesh was reeling under "goonda" and "jungle raj", she said the state needed a BSP government and voting the party to power will be a true homage to Kanshi Ram.

Criticising the Congress, Mayawati said that it has projected a Brahmin woman as its chief ministerial candidate in UP who during her stint as the chief minister of Delhi had "held the people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar responsible for spreading filth and used the funds meant for dalit welfare on other heads because of her anti-dalit mentality".

"In such a scenario people will not accept Congress and its CM candidate even if its top leader resorts to any drama or goes about promising that power bills will be halved once its government comes to power," Mayawati said referring to Rahul Gandhi's 'Deoria to Dilli kisan rath yatra' which ended recently.

Rejecting the claims of Congress that its governments had waived loans worth Rs. 70,000 crore of farmers, she said that it had benefited only the affluent farmers sitting in AC rooms while the small and medium farmers were left empty handed.

"In the name of development the government is only laying foundation stones and holding inaugurations and crores of rupees are being spent on advertisements which could be spent on welfare works," she said.

She claimed that the very few works of development which have been carried out by this government are the ones which were started during the previous BSP government headed by her.

"They have only changed the names of our schemes...At the government and administrative level, mostly the corrupt officials, favourite of the Yadav family, have their hold since the very beginning," she alleged.

"Development and crime control in UP have come to a halt," she said alleging the SP government's term has been "dismal, casteist, biased and ridden with political vendetta".

"It is unfortunate that the central governments, both previous and present, have not fulfilled their constitutional obligations due to their political motives," Mayawati said.

(REOPENS DEL 30)



The dalits and minorities do not want mere sympathy of BJP or Modi but want concrete action against those who have committed atrocities on them, Mayawati said.

Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said he "has set a record of foreign trips but is still unable to clearly spell out the foreign policy because of which the borders of the country are not fully secure.

"After the passage of over two years, now they have thought about securing the borders... Because of this terror activities are taking place very often and relations with neighbours are not very good. Nepal is an example."



She also alleged that RSS had an agenda to take away the constitutional rights given to the deprived and dalits.
To meet the high cost of Light Water Reactors, the government has decided to bring in such projects, which currently involve foreign collaborators, as joint ventures (JVs)with public sector undertakings (PSUs).

This will also allow the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) to focus on financing Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) that are coming up in the country.

NPCIL is a PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) that builds and operates nuclear power reactors in the country. It is currently in talks with two other PSUs, the Indian Oil Corporation and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for JVs.

The government has recently amended the Atomic Energy Act 1962 to enable such JVs with PSUs.

"It has been decided to push future LWR projects for JVs. However, it will not be extended to Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) which the NPCIL is currently building and we will be managing the equity on our own," said a senior NPCIL official.

The primary reason for such JVs is that the LWRs not only involve high cost, but also require the much needed equity. The PHWR have less capacity and are less expensive in comparison to LWRs. More importantly, the PHWRs are indigenous.

The official, however, added that the JVs will take place if both the parties agree to go for it.

Also, the LWRs Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant unit 5 and 6 will not come under the purview of this new JVs as negotiations for getting soft loans for these reactors are already on.

However, it could be applied for the future LWR projects. India currently operates four LWRs  KKNPP unit 1-4  while work for the 5 and 6 is on.

"We are currently in negotiations with banks for getting 70 per cent of funding in the form of debt financing while 30 per cent of the equity will come from JVs," the official added.

In near future, some 18 LWRs reactors are to come up in the country. French Company EDF will built six LWRs with a capacity of 1650 MW each in Jaitapur, Maharashtra while WestingHouse Co is expected to build another six units of 1000 MW each in Andhra Pradesh.

Six more of 1000 MW each are to come up with the help of GE. The Russians too have been marked another site in Andhra Pradesh for building more LWRs. The NPCIL is currently building two reactors of 700 MW each in Gorakhpur in Haryana, Chutka in Madhya Pradesh, MahiBanswara in Rajasthan and Kaiga in Karnataka.

India currently generates 6,780 MW of nuclear electricity.
A teenage boy allegedly tried to a five-year-old girl near Trimbakeshwar in Nashik, leading to large scale protests and tension in the district, even as Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, appealed for calm and assured that the case would be tried in a fast track court.

The 16-year-old boy, who has been taken into custody, allegedly tried to the minor girl at Talegaon village yesterday, Nashik Superintendent of Police, Ankush Shinde, said on October 9.

Offence has been registered against the boy under relevant sections of the IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said.

As soon as the news spread, tension gripped Talegoan as locals gathered at the police station last night demanding that the boy be booked and arrested.

The villagers staged 'rasta roko' in Wadovhare, Ghoti and Anjaneri-phata areas. Some people set tyres on fire, and also damaged a tractor in Talegaon. A group of people also protested at Nashik Civil Hospital last night and demanded that the victim be examined by a female doctor.

The enraged people gathered at several places this morning also and damaged three police vehicles, including the car of Vinaykumar Choube, Special IG, Nashik Range, while he was rushing to Talegaon today.

Police had to lob teargas shells and also fire some rounds in the air at Talegaon to disperse the mob, a rural control room official said.

People also staged 'rasta roko' on Nashik-Igatpuri road, Nashik-Aurangabad road and along the Mumbai-Agra Highway where additional police force was deployed and routes cleared.

Some angry protestors observed a strike at Ojhar town in the district.

Maharashtra Water Resources Minister, Girish Mahajan, who is also the Guardian Minister of Nashik, visited the girl's family and termed the incident as "unfortunate". He assured that the case would be fast-tracked.

Mahajan assured that charges will be framed in the case within a fortnight and it will be heard in a fast track court. Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam will be appointed as prosecutor in the case, he said.

No senior doctor or civil surgeon of Nashik Civil Hospital were available for comments on the issue.

Police officials have urged people to remain calm and to refrain from being carried away by rumours that are circulated on social media, adding that the police will take stern action against the guilty.

Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister Fadnavis also appealed people to stay calm and said the case would be tried in a fast track court.

"The incident involving attempt on a minor girl in Talegaon is very unfortunate. The accused has been arrested and the victim is in fine health. The Guardian Minister of the region Girish Mahajan has met the family of the victim," Fadnavis said in a statement issued here.

"We will ensure that the accused gets a strict of punishment and that this case is tried in a fast track court," he said.

He too requested people not believe in rumours being circulated about the incident.
Prime Minister has spoken by phone to US Secretary of State John Kerry in a bid to calm Washington's anger over new Israeli settlement plans, an official said today.

The plan to construct what activists say amounts to a new settlement in the heart of the occupied West Bank provoked an unusually harsh response last week from the White House, which accused Israel of betraying its trust.

US President Barack Obama's administration has accelerated its criticism of Israeli settlement building in the West Bank in recent months, warning it is destroying hopes for a two- state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Such criticism has added to Israeli concerns Obama may seek to lay out parameters for a solution to the conflict or even support a UN Security Council resolution Israel opposes before leaving office in January.

The Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Netanyahu told Kerry the new settlement plan was intended only as an alternative "if no other solution is found" to house residents of a nearby Jewish outpost that is under a court order to be demolished.

The official said the two men also discussed regional issues but could provide no further details on their phone call. Israeli media reported that the conversation took place yesterday.

The plan that provoked US anger involves 300 units in the heart of the West Bank, roughly halfway between the Palestinian cities of Ramallah and Nablus.

Settlement watchdog Peace Now says the plans amount to a new settlement.

Israeli officials dispute that and say the homes will be located in an existing settlement, although Peace Now says the site is up to two kilometres away.

Israel has so far advanced plans for 98 of the 300 units - even though only around 40 families live in the outpost, known as Amona, that must be demolished.

The plans emerged days after Obama approved a USD 38 billion Israeli military aid package and attended former president Shimon Peres's funeral in Jerusalem.

The White House railed at the construction of 300 housing units on land "far closer to Jordan than Israel".

Settlements in the West Bank are viewed as illegal under law and major stumbling blocks to peace efforts as they are built on land the Palestinian see as part of their future state.

Netanyahu says he remains committed to a two-state solution to the conflict, though prominent members of his right-wing governing coalition say openly that they oppose a Palestinian state.
Scientists have developed a new low-cost, noninvasive imaging device that could enable dentists to detect and heal tooth cavities much earlier.

Dentists currently rely on two methods to detect early caries or tooth decay: X-ray imaging and visual inspection of the tooth surface.

However, both of these diagnostics have limitations: dentists can not see the cavity until it is relatively advanced, and X-rays ca not detect occlusal early caries - those on the biting surface of the tooth.

Now, researchers at York University in Toronto have described a new method enabling much earlier detection using inexpensive long-wavelength infrared imaging.

A cavity begins with a minute amount of mineral loss from the tooth enamel surface, resulting from the acidic environment of dental plaques.

If caries can be detected early enough, the progression can be stopped or even reversed.

The newly developed low-cost thermophotonic lock-in imaging (TPLI) tool would allow dentists to detect developing caries much earlier than X-rays or visual analysis.

The TPLI tool uses a long-wavelength infrared camera to detect the small amount of thermal infrared radiation emitted from dental caries after stimulation by a light source.

To test the effectiveness of this new imaging tool, researchers, Ashkan Ojaghi, Artur Parkhimchyk, and Nima Tabatabaei of York University, artificially induced early demineralisation on an extracted human molar by submerging it in an acid solution for two, four, six, eight and 10 days.

The TPLI image taken after just two days clearly showed the presence of a lesion, whereas a trained dental practitioner could not visually detect the same lesion even after 10 days of demineralisation.

The tool has the benefits of being non-contact, noninvasive, and low-cost and has great potential as a commercially viable diagnostic imaging device for dentistry, researchers said.

Dental caries - tooth decay - is the most prevalent dental disease among children and adults around the world.

Left too long before treatment, the disease results in difficulty eating, infection and even tooth loss.

The finding was published in the Journal of Biomedical Optics.

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Scientists have identified a new species of extinct marine reptiles, that lived during the age of the dinosaurs, from fossils collected over a century ago.

The newly identified species of British ichthyosaur, which resembled dolphins or sharks, were ocean dwelling reptiles. They were fierce predators, some growing up to 15 metres long.

Ichthyosaur lived around 200 million years ago in the early Jurassic period, a time when the UK was a small series of islands.

The six year study, led by the University of Manchester in the UK, set out to search for British examples of ichthyosaurs and researchers were able to identify features in the skull and fins of fossilised remains that distinguished the new species from others.

The skeletal remains, out of which the new species has been identified was on display at the University of Bristol in the UK, for many years.

The research was carried out by Dean Lomax, scientist at University of Manchester and Judy Massare, professor at Brockport College, in the US.

Specimen '25300', the complete skeletal remains of the large ichthyosaurus found in Walton, Somerset in the UK, was donated to the University of Bristol around 80 years ago by the City Museum.

It was originally part of the Chaning Pearce collection purchased by the museum in 1915 and donated to the university in 1930.

"It is quite amazing - hundreds of people must walk past this skeleton every day, yet its secrets have only just been uncovered," said Lomax.

"We have named the species Ichthyosaurus larkini in honour of the British palaeontologist Nigel Larkin - the name Larkin actually means 'fierce' so it is quite fitting for a fast-moving predator," Lomax said.

"Ichthyosaurs, with their similarities to both modern fish and dolphins, are among the more arresting and captivating fossil specimens known; we are very lucky to have two such specimens on display in the Wills Memorial Building, as part of the University of Bristol School of Earth Sciences Collection," said Jonathan Hanson, from University of Bristol.

The study was published in the journal Papers in Palaeontology.

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Nine Myanmar police officers were killed in coordinated attacks by insurgents on posts along the border with Bangladesh early today, an official and police said.

No-one has claimed responsibility but a senior local Myanmar official pointed the finger at a militant group from the Muslim Rohingya minority that has been dormant for years.

The assaults hit three border posts around 1:30 am near Maungdaw in the impoverished western state of Rakhine, simmering with tensions between Buddhists and Muslim Rohingyas, who are forced to live in dire conditions.

"Altogether nine police were killed, four others were injured and one is still missing," Tin Maung Swe, a senior official within Rakhine's state government, told AFP.

He added that eight insurgents were also killed in the attacks.

Police in the capital Naypyidaw confirmed the attack and said multiple weapons were seized by the assailants.

Tin Maung Swe said the attackers were "RSO insurgents", a reference to a group known as the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation.

He did not elaborate on how he knew this.

The RSO was a small Rohingya militant group active in the 1980s and 1990s but has not been heard from in nearly two decades.

Rakhine has been effectively split on religious grounds since bouts of communal violence tore through the state in 2012, killing scores and forcing tens of thousands to flee.

The Muslim Rohingya are largely confined to camps and face restrictions which rights groups have likened to apartheid.

Several complex ethnic conflicts are rumbling across Myanmar's borderlands, hampering efforts to build the economy after the end of junta rule.

But compared to the country's civil war-ravaged eastern and northern border states, Rakhine has not boasted a significant rebel military presence.

In the last few years the Arakan Army, a small Buddhist militia which wants an independent homeland in the state, has fought sporadic battles with the military.

Despite their plight the Rohingya do not have a known militant faction fighting for them.

In May attackers stormed a security post at a camp for Rohingya refugees in southern Bangladesh, just across the border from Maungdaw.

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For the conveners of Jaipur Literature Festival, touted as the world's largest free-literary event, institutions and art do not go hand in hand and "governments have no role to play in arts."



Institutions, both public and private, may support and facilitate the growth of the arts but it is essentially not possible to control its fluidity, according to them.

"Bureaucracy or government deals with things in a prescribed way, and art does not fall into any prescription. Hence, there can't be a happy equation between the two.

"Yes, they may provide resources towards arts. But you cannot have the government controlling arts because potentially there is a conflict between the two," said JLF Producer Sanjoy K Roy.

He was speaking at one of the sessions titled, "Festivals and beyond" at the Lila's Prism lecture series. The discussion which revolved around the theme 'Institution as Practice' also had historian-author William Dalrymple and writer Namita Gokhale on the panel.

The talk, chaired by art critic and curator Alka Pande focussed on the role played by institutions in the promotion of arts.

A staunch believer in the "power of arts," Roy said it was important for people to see art as "tangible wealth" and not something merely abstract.

"Art creates intangible wealth we all know. But, time has come to talk about and spread the word about its tangible wealth. It creates tangible wealth too just like banks, hotels and steel industries etc. This is how more people will get involved in this," he said.

According to Gokhale, it is the "rigid" nature of any institution's functioning that prevents it from becoming an authority of arts, which more than often transcends beyond any set definition.

"Rigidity makes government institutions irrelevant. What is required from them is more of flexibility. I find the institutions supportive and reasonable too, but with the bureaucracy you never know when it turns the other way round," she said.

Dalrymple, who has researched and written extensively on



the history and art of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Middle East etc, too felt that it was best for artistes to "avoid institutions."



"Through my works I have made a huge point, and that is to avoid institutions. I was lucky enough to survive through my art and my books sell enough. So I had never had to become part of any institution," he said.

Talking about how artistes from across genres have been victims of hostility in the recent times, Roy said, "With anyone involved with art being seen as an anti-national, surely enough we realise that the time we are living in is not good for debate."



"Look what happen with Nawazuddin (Siddique) who was banned from playing a role in Ramleela (citing a harassment case filed against him). All I will say is, it is everyone's responsibility to speak up."



Even though she admitted that the existing times were indeed a period of "disruption," Gokhale remained optimistic that the turmoil would soon fade away.

She said, "No matter what, art transcends everything be it books, paintings or music. We are facing a disruption, but it won't stay for long."



The lecture series which include 13 interactive sessions are being held since August and are set to continue till December.
Food company Britannia Industries has launched an initiative that enables consumers to pay for a special edition Good Day biscuit packs through their smiles instead of the usual currency.

'Pay by Smile' initiative has gone live across India through tie-ups with Snapdeal and Hypercity from October 7. Consumers on Snapdeal can pay by smile for a special 'box of smiles' that consists of assorted Good Day cookies.

All one has to do is upload a smiley selfie on their social media pages with #SmileMoreForAGoodDay to win these special packs, a company release said here.

"The initiative is the next milestone in our 'smile more for a Good Day' journey. A smile costs nothing and is the only gesture that is inexhaustible, which means you can never run out of smiles," said Ali Harris Shere, Vice President- Marketing, Britannia.

"In the backdrop of World Smile Day (celebrated on the first Friday of October), we are hopeful the initiative will resonate with our consumers and encourage them to smile more," he added.

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Editors note: This is the first article in a series examining depression, suicide and mental health awareness in Chippewa County.

Now.

Thats the time to act when your child is suffering from depression, feeling anxious or considering suicide. There isnt time to wait until the psychiatrists office opens or the next national walk on suicide prevention is held.

There are only the precious seconds between finding out and acting  if youre lucky enough to find out at all.

Debbra Cobb, owner of Debs Cafe in Chippewa Falls, found that out the hard way when her daughter, 15-year-old Janna Cobb, took her own life in May.

It was devastating, something she said she wouldnt wish on my worst enemy.

Janna told her mother in 2013 that she didnt feel OK and thought she needed help. Cobb always had a good relationship with her daughter and said she was lucky in that respect.

Cobb and her fiance, Jason Judnic, spent nearly three years driving her to day treatment in Menomonie, PTSD training at Trinity Equestrian Center, a psychiatrist at HSHS Sacred Heart and classes at the YMCA.

In early 2016, Janna seemed healthier than she had recently. But the thing about depression, Cobb learned, is how suddenly that can change.

I was fortunate Janna would tell me when she was not OK, but thats not common, Cobb said. Mental illness is a disease. She had a disease, and it got the best of her.

Rather than letting Jannas death overcome her with grief, Cobb came up with an idea to prevent other children from experiencing the same pain that debilitated her daughter.

Our kids around here need something right now, not waiting and trying to orchestrate things like a walk, Cobb said. Those are amazing, theyre there for a reason. But theres not a kid whos going to wait to go on a walk to get help. Thats not how it works.

How it works is getting them the connections they need when theyre sitting there at midnight and cant sleep. Thats when bad things start happening.

Within days of her daughters funeral, Cobb came up with Journey on Janna, a nonprofit organization that has become a safe place for children and adults to participate in fun activities, take walks through Irvine Park and generally be there to support one another  and show they arent alone.

She has fielded those late-night texts and phone calls, shes offered to wake up early and get breakfast with someone who just needed to talk.

There are days she still struggles to cope with her daughters death, but working with those kids  and being able to help even one person  is what keeps Cobb going.

As a mom, you never stop protecting your kid, ever, Cobb said. You will fight for them whether they are here or not.

Rising numbers

Each year in Wisconsin, suicide claims 6 lives per 100,000 people between the ages of 10 and 19, said Laura Baalrud, HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Josephs hospitals community health educator.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, throughout the nation 17 percent of students in grades 9 to 12 seriously considered attempting suicide, up from 15 percent in 2010, and just over 13 percent of students made a plan about how they would take their life. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 15 to 34, and third among children ages 10 to 14.

While medical attention, hospitalization and therapy are all good options, Cobb said in her case the resources were limited. She would call, and Janna would go on a waiting list. She made an appointment for a therapist, but Janna was hospitalized before the month-long waiting list for therapy was up.

Journey on Janna connects children with 24/7 support and friendship, mainly through the groups Facebook page. Cobb said she has seen it form friendships between kids who probably would have never met.

Theyre getting a therapy that does not involve doctors, nurses, having parents or school officials pry into their personal life  just a few hours to have fun being a kid, Cobb said.

While she respects institutions working to help children, Cobb also says its important children form good relationships with people who care for them.

Over the summer, Cobb and Judnic had kids over for crafts and recreation. This fall shes holding a game night at Debs Cafe on Oct. 15, a Journal Your Journey event to use writing as a form of release on Oct. 17, and Spookable, a Halloween-themed Scrabble night on Oct. 28.

Cobb said she attends all events and is available if the kids want to confide in her, but the goal isnt to force them to talk about their troubles. Its simply to provide a safe space to interact with others and be a kid.

It has not cost us anything to do what were doing. We didnt have to have a thousand board meetings or committees. We just acted now where we thought we could help, Cobb said. If we can at least prevent one child from going through this, were going to do it. Thats been the motivation the whole time.

Cobb isnt the only one taking on this challenge. After several suicides of Chippewa Falls School District students in recent years, the schools are getting those conversations started.

Lifting the silence

Jennifer Andress, director of the school districts Voyagers Community Learning Center, said school leaders instituted Question, Persuade and Refer training for students and teachers last fall.

Typically, QPR teaches people how to ask the right questions of people who are contemplating suicide, persuading them to think differently and seek help, and finally referring them to a treatment center, hospital or other resources to get them the help they need. Volunteers from HSHS hospitals teach QPR to interested businesses and organizations, as well as offer public sessions.

Chippewa Falls High School teachers, staff and students received this training in the past year. The only difference when teaching students is to refer their friend to an adult who can help.

Weve gotten really good response from the students, Andress said. I was flabbergasted by the insight they had to improve the training. It showed me they cared about the training and they think this is important enough to take time away from class.

The goal is to make students better prepared to talk to a friend who is struggling, which is difficult for anyone, but especially a teenager whose brain has yet to fully develop.

A big part of the training is reminding students its not a fail-safe method.

QPR is like CPR. You can administer it and it may save a life, but it also may not, Andress said. If you came upon someone having a heart attack, you do CPR and they might live and they might not, but you still need to try, and thats really what QPR is. Asking that question is trying.

Starting this fall, QPR was incorporated into a two-day course as part of the health curriculum for freshmen so no students are missed.

It takes a village

Baalrud said the hospitals perform a community health assessment every three years. In 2014 they found the No. 1 community health need in both Chippewa and Eau Claire counties was mental health.

One of the biggest needs as far as mental health is to have more practitioners, she said. Were trying to get more in the area, but its really difficult. There just arent enough nationwide.

Residents may not be able to help lower the practitioner-to-patient gap, but they can help each other. Part of the equation is realizing this issue is bigger than anything the hospitals alone can tackle. Everyone needs to be involved in the conversation.

In addition, the training aims to make more people aware of how important this issue is in Chippewa County.

We really want to reduce the stigma around suicide and mental health disorders by starting the dialogue, Baalrud said. The more you talk about it, the less scary and stigma is involved with it.

Andress said its also important to realize asking are you thinking about taking your own life? is OK. The common belief is asking will make it happen, but thats absolutely not true.

Baalrud, Andress and more than a dozen others attended the school districts conversation about suicide meeting in early September, which brought together school staff, hospitals, church leaders, funeral home directors, county workers and police officers to come up with a plan to address suicide, both before and after it happens.

They discussed what resources are currently available, from free sessions offered by L.E. Phillips-Libertas, to programs through churches, and the crisis and texting hotlines.

Its not just suicide, but mental health needs in general, Andress said. We know from surveys we do that mental health issues are really on the rise, but we also know the school cannot be the only answer. Thats why we brought that group together to talk about how we as a community can address these needs.

The hope, Andress said, is that if everyone can come together in the same room, they can see viewpoints they may have missed before.

A changing demographic

Toni Simonson, L.E. Phillips-Libertas Treatment Center director, said in her 30 years in the mental health field that the people who seek help for treatment of depression and suicidal thoughts are becoming younger.

Exposure to social media, stress about academic studies and going to college are much more complex for students than they were when she was a teenager, but she doesnt think seeing more kids is a bad thing.

You might see more kids in treatment, but that doesnt mean there are more problems  it means youre intervening at an earlier age, Simonson said. If youre waiting until youre 30, 40 or 50 (to get treatment) for something that has been bothering you youre entire life, youre not living as fulfilling a life.

Today, schools are more likely to conduct screenings and communities more likely to provide resources; however, Andress said theres no one way to pinpoint who is more at risk than anyone else.

It isnt like you can say, this teen with these characteristics is more likely, Andress said. We see all demographics, all income levels, kids who are really involved in school and kids who are not. All teens are at risk, she said.

Andress is working with school districts in the county to take a comprehensive Youth Risk Survey. Several school districts already are on board, and she is working on the last two.

The goal is to have all districts in the county participate so we can get some county-wide data, she said.

Although mental health affects everyone, of every age, Andress is confident, with the whole community involved, they can make a difference.
State-run Ltd (OIL) has received environment clearance for Rs 220-crore development drilling project in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan.

The company received the green nod for development drilling of 20 wells in Baghewala mining lease block in Jaisalmer district.

OIL had discovered natural gas in Jaisalmer sub-basin of Tanot fields and heavy oil in the Bikaner-Nagaur sub-basin in early nineties. Now, the company has proposed to undertake development drilling of 20 wells in the Baghewala mining lease block.

"Based on the recommendation of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), the ministry has accorded environment clearance to the OIL for development drilling 20 wells in Jaisalmer," a senior government official said.

The approval to the Jaisalmer project has been given subject to certain conditions. The total project cost is estimated to be Rs 220 crore, the official said.

OIL has over one lakh sq km of petroleum exploration licence/mining lease areas, most of it is in North Eastern parts of India, which accounts for its majority of crude oil and gas production.

Rajasthan is the other major gas producing area, contributing to 10 per cent of its total gas production.
Over 740 students studying in residential schools across Maharashtra have died due to malnutrition and other health related issues in the last 10 years, according to an internal report of the Maharashtra government's tribal development department.

There are a total of 552 residential schools for tribal children in the state run by the department.

The tribal population is largely concentrated in regions like Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Nashik, Palghar, Raigad, Ahmadnagar, Pune (Sahyadri region) and in the eastern forest districts like Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nagpur, Amravati, Yavatmal and Nanded (Gondwana region).

"The internal report of the tribal development department has found that on an average, 70-80 students from tribal residential schools die every year and in the last 10 years over 740 has died," an official from the department said.

"The government has formed a committee to study the issue and suggest ways to improve the situation. Their report is awaited," he added.

Activists working in the tribal areas allege that lack of health services and basic amenities provided by the government are the main reasons for their death.

"Tribals are the most neglected community. Of the 552 government run residential schools, only 50-60 get drinking water from pipeline, which is the basic need. All other schools either get water from a tanker, a borewell or well water to drink," alleged Kavita Ware, who has done her masters in Philosophy (M Phil) on tribal residential schools and an activist working for tribals.

Apart from providing basic amenities like good food, drinking clean water, the government should fill all vacant posts in the residential schools and funds should get utilised in a proper manner, she said.

Vijay Jadhav, joint secretary of Shramajeevi Sanghatana, an NGO working for tribal welfare in Palghar district, said students should be screened at least twice a year but the government does not act until an untoward incident takes place.

Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly had recently demanded resignation of Tribal Development minister Vishnu Savara alleging neglect towards issues of tribals.

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A Pakistani-origin peer from the Liberal Democrat party in the UK today announced her defection to the ruling Conservative Party under Prime Minister Theresa May.

Baroness Zahida Manzoor quit over the Lib Dems' policies on Europe and praised what she said was May's clear leadership on Brexit.

The 58-year-old said in a statement, "Leaving the Lib Dems - where I've been a member for three years in the House of Lords, was tough, but it was the right thing to do. I could not support the leadership of a party that calls itself democratic and then refuses to acknowledge the will of the people in a referendum".

"Theresa May's vision of a Britain that works for everyone, and her clear leadership over Brexit, now make the Conservatives a natural home for me and millions of people like me, from all communities across the UK.

"As Britain embarks on a new journey, outside the EU but reaching out to trade with the world, and as we really begin addressing the problems of social mobility at home, I look forward to helping play my part as a Conservative," she said.

She is the second former Lib Dem peer to switch to the Tories, after Lady Nicholson re-joined the party.

Welcoming Manzoor's decision, Conservative Party chairman Patrick McLoughlin MP said, "There is only one centre ground party in Britain today, and that is the Conservatives. We welcome Baroness Manzoor's commitment to join us as we build a country that works for everyone. The failure of Labour and the Lib Dems to listen to the democratically expressed will of the British people is shameful".

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A Palestinian opened fire from a car in Jerusalem today and again as police chased him, killing two people, authorities said, after concerns over the potential for a new upsurge in violence.

The gunman was killed soon after carrying out the attack near police headquarters, close to the line dividing mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem from the mostly Jewish western sector of the city.

The shooting rampage comes at a time of increased Jewish visitors to the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem for the holidays of Rosh Hashanah, which was last week, and Yom Kippur, which begins Tuesday evening.

Police said the 39-year-old assailant fired in the direction of a tram station in the area, seriously wounding a woman.

He then continued at high speed and shot at a car, leaving another woman badly hurt, they added.

One of the women, a 60-year-old, was reported by medics to be in critical condition after being shot in her upper body.

The attacker then headed toward the nearby neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, where a number of upscale hotels are located, and got out of his car, police said.

As officers approached him by motorcycle, he opened fire on them.

Police returned fire and killed him, but two officers were wounded, including one seriously, they said.

Hadassah hospital later reported that two of the victims had died, without providing further details.

Police said the attacker was from the Silwan area of east Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at the start of a cabinet meeting on Sunday, saluted the police, saying they had "acted rapidly and very firmly against the terrorist, who was eliminated".

A spokesman for Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, welcomed the attack.

Fawzi Barhoum called it "a natural reaction to the crimes and violations of the occupation against our people".

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement also praised that attack, calling it "heroic".

The Al-Aqsa mosque compound is holy to both Muslims and Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount.

The site is central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Palestinians fearing that Israel may one day seek to assert further control over it.

Last year's Jewish high holidays led to clashes and marked the start of an upsurge in Palestinian gun, knife and car-ramming attacks.

Violence since October 2015 has killed at least 232 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese national, according to an AFP count.

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The parents of two of the 59 victims of the Uphaar Cinema fire have come out with a book about the trauma and their long fight for justice.

"Trial by Fire" is the story of how the system failed them one step at a time and how, despite the odds, they still refuse to back down, according to publishers Penguin Random House India.

Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy, who lost their children Unnati (17) and Ujjwal (13) on June 13, 1997, decided to fight for justice to bring those who were responsible for the tragedy to book.

Their fight, which began 19 years ago, continues till date.

On that fateful day, a swirling mass of thick smoke entered the balcony section of the well-known cinema hall Uphaar located in posh south Delhi at 4.55 p.M. During the screening of the popular movie "Border". With most exits unavailable and no ushers to help, the people seated in the balcony found themselves trapped.

By 7 p.M., 57 people had died and 103 were seriously injured in the ensuing stampede. Two more persons died later in the hospital.

Real estate barons Sushil and Gopal Ansal in August escaped being jailed in connection with the tragedy with the Supreme Court asking them to pay a fine of Rs 30 crore each and restricting their jail term to the period already undergone by them.

The apex court had overturned the pleas of CBI and the victims' association. While Sushil had spent over five months in prison, Gopal was in jail for over four months immediately after the tragedy.

Earlier, the Supreme Court in 2014 had held the Ansals guilty but differed on the quantum of sentence to be awarded to them.

It had concurred in holding that there was "contemptuous disregard" of civic laws on part of the Ansals that led to the tragedy as they were "more interested in making money than ensuring safety of people".

The Delhi High Court in 2008 had awarded one-year jail term to both Sushil and Gopal.

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Beautification and rejuvenation work of the riverfront in the temple town of Vrindavan has come under the lens of the National Green Tribunal, with an environment activist seeking a stay on the ongoing construction activity in the area.

The Uttar Pradesh government, under the Vrindavan rejuvenation project, has proposed "expansion, renovation and beautification" work of three kilometre riverfront from Kesi ghat to downstream of river .

The project which proposes expansion of Kesi ghat by 750 metres into the river floodplain, also involves a mechanism to clean tributaries entering the river and construct interceptor drains to counter overflow of sewer into the river.

Nature enthusiast Akash Vashishtha, who has moved the green panel in this regard, in his plea, claimed that reclamation of the eco-sensitive floodplain is being carried out in gross violation of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the provisions of the EIA Notification of 2006.

"The construction work is being carried out without securing a consent to operate under Section 25 of the Water Act and prior Environmental Clearance as is mandatory under the Notification.

"In fact, no detailed project report has been made available, clearly showing that the project proponents are going ahead with the construction in complete disregard of the law of the land and the environment," the plea filed through advocate Rahul Choudhary said.

The plea has made the Union Ministries of Environment and Water Resources, UP government, state irrigation department, UP Jal Nigam, Archaeological Survey of India, Mathura Vrindavan Development Authority and Nagar Palika Parishad as parties in the case.

Vashishtha has contended that the project proponent was encroaching right into the river floodplain in order to create space for a new ghat and an interceptor pipeline. This expansion was taking place over and above the already encroached land consisting of illegal colonies and other construction projects.

"Direct the concerned respondents to restore the river bed and floodplain of Yamuna and its ghats after removing the pipeline and any other construction done, and demolition and removal of 21 colonies identified by Mathura-Vrindavan Development Authority as illegal," the plea said.
More than a year after the Centre allocated Rs 500 crore for setting up of Vikramshila University near Bhagalpur in Bihar, the project is hanging fire as the state government is yet to provide details of a suitable site for the institution.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in August last year announced a package for Bihar which included establishment of this central university near Bhagalpur.

The Centre had also allocated a sum of Rs 500 crore for the setting up of this university while the state government was expected to provide around 500 acres of land for the institution.

"Top officials of the HRD ministry have written to officials concerned in the Bihar government seeking that land be provided for the Vikramshila University. However, the Bihar government is yet to provide details of the land," a senior official told PTI.

Sources said the HRD ministry has written to Bihar government on more than one occasion, reminding that land be provided for the establishment of the eminent institution.

They said in a letter written in June to the Bihar government, Secretary Higher Education in HRD Ministry V S Oberoi had said that the state government needs to provide around 500 acres.

"State government may identify 2-3 locations. After receiving the offer and details from the state government, a site selection committee will visit these sites to finalise the location," Oberoi said in his letter to the Bihar Chief Secretary.

The sources said the HRD ministry has written another reminder on September 6, seeking land for the university.

"Despite repeated reminders to the Bihar government seeking land for the university, the HRD ministry is yet to get a suitable response. The ministry is keen that land is provided expeditiously so that the institution can come up as early as possible," a senior official said.

Attempts made to reach Bihar Education Minister Ashok Chowdhury over phone were not successful.

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Agnieszka Radwanska beat Johanna Konta in straight sets to take the title at the China Open in a chilly Beijing Sunday, denying the Briton her biggest career crown.

The third-ranked Pole -- who cruised through the tournament without dropping a set -- sealed her second title in Beijing with an ace for a 6-4, 6-2 win.

The victory was Radwanska's 20th career crown but there was more on the line for Konta, 25, who was making a bid in the Chinese capital for what would have been her second and biggest title.

Despite the loss, by reaching the Beijing final Konta has amassed enough points to break into the top 10 -- the first British woman to do so since Jo Durie in 1984.

When the new leaderboards are released Monday it will be the first time since computerised rankings were introduced that a British man (Andy Murray) and woman are ranked in the top 10 at the same time.

Konta claimed two top 10 scalps en route to the final, sixth-ranked Karoline Pliskova and number eight Madison Keys, but she was kept on the defensive on Sunday.

The Briton, usually a solid baseliner, repeatedly pushed to the net as she tried to shift the match momentum in her favour, but it was a risky strategy that cost her 29 unforced errors.

"Against a player like Agnieszka, who is basically a human wall, you definitely do try to look to get the upper hand in any way possible. I felt I was going to try on that avenue," Konta told reporters after the match.

After dropping her serve twice in each set, Konta made a bid to even the scoreline in the second, pushing Radwanska to two break points in the sixth game.

But the Pole -- nicknamed 'The Magician' for her ability to conjure up shots -- shot a forehand down the line to save her service game.

"Whenever I felt I could have got a little bit of a foothold in the match, she took it away from me," Konta said.

- 'Perfect timing' -



====================



Konta held her next service game with a forehand dropshot which Radwanska redirected wide.

But the world number three then served for the title, firing her only ace of the match straight down the line for her third Premier Mandatory title, one rung down from a Grand Slam.

"I think that was a perfect timing," Radwanska said of the ace.

"I was thinking about that serve, where I should go. I just changed my mind when I was tossing the ball. So another good choice."



It was the second time the pair have met after Radwanska beat the Briton in a two-hour, three-set battle in Cincinnati in August.

They may meet again in Singapore at the end of the month for the WTA Finals.

Radwanska has already qualified for the eight-player season finale, which follows a round-robin format, while the Briton is still chasing points to guarantee her maiden appearance at the elite event.

Konta is currently in eighth position but could be nudged out by Wuhan Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova, who is just 10 points behind her in the so-called Race to Singapore.

The Briton is playing in Hong Kong next week, hoping to rack up enough qualification points.

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Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today criticised Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for his 'dalali' remarks on army's surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the LoC, saying such statements lead to demoralisation of the forces.

He said the Congress leader should not have made such a remark and pointed out that only two days before making the statement, "Rahul Gandhi had welcomed the surgical strikes and appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this step".

"What had happened in two days' time that made him change his stance?" Paswan asked.

Attacking the Prime Minister, Gandhi had told a rally in Delhi, "Jinhone Hindustan ke liye surgical strike kiye hain, unke khoon ke peeche aap chhupe hain. Unki aap dalali kar rahe ho. Yeh bilkul galat hai. {You (Modi) are hiding behind the blood of soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir and those who carried out the surgical strikes for India. You are exploiting their sacrifices, which is very wrong}."



Paswan, while talking about his native state Bihar, said the law and order situation was in bad shape under the ruling combine of Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav.

"People of Bihar are feeling insecure as murders, kidnappings and incidents of loot have become an every day affair. Cold war between Nitish and Lalu has also started in the state and thus anti-social elements were taking full advantage of it," Paswan claimed.

On prohibition in Bihar, he said it was wrong to politicise ban on liquor.

"It was Nitish Kumar himself who had handed over the bottles of liquor to the youth of Bihar in place of books during his earlier tenure as Chief Minister. His boasting about prohibition now is quite out of place as he had himself opened liquor vends in every corner of the state," he said.

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Expressing concern over the death of two persons in a stampede, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today spoke to Uttar Pradesh DGP Javeed Ahmed and took stock of the situation in Lucknow.

During the telephonic conversation, the Director General of Police apprised the Home Minister of steps taken to help those injured in the incident that took place today after a massive rally by BSP chief Mayawati.

Singh, who represents Lucknow in the Lok Sabha, expressed his condolences to those who lost their loved ones and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

"Deeply saddened to know about the loss of precious lives in the stampede during a rally in Lucknow," he said in a statement.

At least two persons died and 12 others were injured in the stampede at the Kanshi Ram Smarak Maidan in Lucknow.

Singh will visit the Uttar Pradesh capital tomorrow and will attend a Ram Leela function there on Tuesday where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest.

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Actors Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor completed their upcoming romantic-comedy in just 50 days.

The Aditya Chopra-helmed film, which has been extensively shot in Paris, marks his come back to the directors chair after a gap of eight years.

According to a source from the production unit, the crew shot five days a week at the popular locations of the French capital.

Ranveer, who is known for his energy and spontaneity, has added his own bits in a lot of scenes and improvised a lot in the funny scenes, the source continued.

The first trailer of the film will be launched tomorrow at the iconic Eiffel Tower by the lead pair, who landed in the city today.

The movie, which is being termed as the new age representation of Yash Raj romance, will be the first film to have its trailer launched at the popular tourist site.

The actors will release the trailer with the Mayor of Paris.

The movie will hit the theatres on December 9.

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The ruling Georgian Dream party topped Georgia's legislative polls, official early results showed today, but accusations of vote rigging from the opposition sparked fears of political instability in the Caucasus nation.

With votes from over 54 per cent of precincts counted, the central election commission said Georgian Dream was leading main opposition force the United National Movement (UNM) by 50.44 per cent to 26.67 per cent.

The figures are for a proportional ballot that will decide 77 of the 150 seats in the legislature.

After voting closed yesterday the Georgian Dream was quick to declare victory based on exit polls which gave it a strong lead over the UNM.

But the UNM accused the government of attempts to "steal elections" and held a protest rally outside the central election commission.

"Votes have been stolen from us. We will defend our votes," Nika Melia, chief of UNM's campaign and an MP candidate, told protesters, claiming that the electoral victory belonged to his party.

Several opposition parties -- such as the Labour Party, Alliance of Patriots, and Democratic Georgia -- cried foul, accusing the government of massive vote rigging.

The voting percentages that have been released so far may not necessarily be reflected in parliamentary seats because almost half will be determined on a first-past-the-post basis rather than by the proportional representation system.

Due to the country's complex election rules the final makeup of the 150-seat parliament may only become clear by late November.

Georgian Dream, led from behind the scenes by billionaire ex-premier Bidzina Ivanishvili, and the UNM founded by exiled former president Mikheil Saakashvili had been neck and neck in opinion polls ahead of the election.

Tensions rose ahead of the vote in the ex-Soviet republic -- which fought a brief war with Russia in 2008 and seeks EU and NATO membership -- after a car bombing and shooting incident at a rally.

Georgia's Western allies are watching closely to see if the strategic nation -- praised as a rare example of democracy in the former Soviet region -- can cement gains after its first transfer of power at the ballot box four years ago.

"This was a truly free and fair election, which firmly cements Georgia's democracy," Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said after the vote ended, but observers reported instances of procedural violations.

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An attacker opened fire from a car in Jerusalem today, leaving at least three people wounded, before the assailant was killed by police, authorities said.

Two of those injured were badly hurt, police said.

The attack occurred near police headquarters, close to the line dividing mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem from the mostly Jewish western sector of the city.

The area is also located near a light rail station. The assailant fled, but was pursued by police on motorcycles and was shot dead, police said.

The attacker had also opened fire on police, they said.

Details were still emerging from incident, which comes at a time of increased Jewish visitors to the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem for the holidays of Rosh Hashanah, or Jewish new year, and Yom Kippur.

The site is holy to both Muslims and Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount.

Last year's Jewish high holidays led to clashes and marked the start of an upsurge in Palestinian gun, knife and car-ramming attacks.

Violence since October 2015 has killed at least 231 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese national, according to an AFP count.

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An Indian-American Sikh has been made honorary police assistant in a US city to bridge gap and increase cooperation between policemen and community members in cases of hate crimes and discrimination.

Nanaksar Sikh Temple chief Baba Daljit Singh, 55, was sworn in as a new chaplain to serve the Rockford Police Department and the community.

Singh, the first Sikh to be made honorary police assistance in Chicago, will bridge gap between policemen and community members in cases of hate crimes and discrimination.

"That is the important thing, we religious persons, spiritual persons, will tell the community, the people of Rockford, the police serves you," he was quoted as saying by 13 WREX.Com website.

"My goal is to serve the humanity and deliver the message of Sikkhism in western community which are the need of the hour," he said.

Singh, who was administered the oath by chief of police Oshea, said it is important for religious leaders and police to work together for betterment of the community.

His duties include providing support and assistance to police officers, firefighters, other employees and their families during times of crisis.

Singh will assist police officers and firefighters to communicate with victims when required.

The Chaplain Section of the police department also assists people in emergency-like situations.

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Hindu Munnani leader C Sasikumar, who was hacked to death last month, was forewarned by police about the threat to his life and was advised to be careful, police said.

"As early as 2013, we had warned him about the threat to his life. We had asked him to take the threat perception seriously and act accordingly," a senior police official told PTI.

He said police had come to the conclusion only after looking into "several factors" over a "period of time" and such inputs needed to have been taken seriously.

Had Sasikumar been cautious, his murder may have been averted, he added.

On the probe to bring the culprits to book, he said, "The probe is continuing. We are looking into not any one aspect, motive or assumption. The investigation is proceeding on right lines and we are also aware of the sensitivities involved in the case."



The police official also said the slain Hindu Munnani leader should have been careful "while expressing his views on issues, whether the issue is a sensitive one or not," so as to ensure that "nobody is offended."



Some of his comments were "considered offensive" by a section of people, he added.

Asked for his outfit's comments, Hindu Munnani State Secretary, C Parameswaran wanted to why police withdrew the Personal Security Officer provided for Sasikumar's security when it was fully aware that he had a threat to his life.

He said police should do justice to Sasikumar and capture the culprits.

"When leaders of Hindu outfits are killed, police come up with strange motives like personal enmity even before concluding a proper investigation," he alleged.

He said if police had taken appropriate action, "many Hindu leaders" would not have been killed in Tamil Nadu in the last two decades.

'Auditor' V Ramesh, Diabetologist Dr V Arvind Reddy, K Murugan (all BJP), S Vellaiyappan, KP Suresh Kumar (both Hindu Munnani - an RSS affiliate) were some of the leaders of Hindu outfits killed in recent years in Tamil Nadu.

Sasikumar was hacked to death on September 22 in Coimbatore following which incidents of violence were witnessed.

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Police have apprehended the man suspected of fatally shooting two officers and wounding another in Palm Springs, California, authorities said today.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department made the announcement overnight on Twitter. No further information was immediately available.

Two officers trying to resolve a family dispute were killed yesterday when a man they had been speaking with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire, Palm Springs police Chief Bryan Reyes said. A third officer was wounded and remained hospitalised.

The chief identified the slain officers as Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny.

Zerebny, 27, had been with the department for about 18 months and only recently returned from maternity leave after giving birth to a daughter four months ago. Vega, the father of eight, was a 35-year veteran who planned to retire in December. He had been working overtime on his day off yesterday. The wounded officer's name was not released.

Riverside County SWAT officers quickly sealed off the normally quiet residential neighbourhood in this desert resort town as police evacuated some residents. They told others to stay inside their homes, keep their doors locked and not to open them for anyone until further notice.

Although Reyes didn't identify the shooting suspect, he indicated police had had previous dealings with him. He declined to elaborate, adding that Riverside County sheriff's deputies were now in charge of the investigation.

As the lockdown continued, scores of police officers gathered at Palm Springs Desert Regional Medical Center to offer a somber salute as the bodies of Zerebny and Vega were loaded into white hearses for transport to a coroner's office.

Meanwhile, in front of police headquarters, scores of local residents gathered to leave flowers, balloons and cards last night.

"I don't even remember anything so vicious and cruel," said Palm Springs resident Heidi Thompson. "These officers are responding to a domestic call for somebody in need that they don't even know. They put their life on the line for us, the community. And they get gunned down? I don't understand it."



The shooting occurred just three days after a popular Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant was shot and killed in the high desert town of Lancaster.

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For success of the Swachh Bharat Mission, awareness among public has to be created so that it becomes a "jan andolan", Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu said today.

Speaking at 'Swachhagraha', organised as part of screening of short films on 'Swachh Bharat' drive here, Venkaiah said public movement has to be built to maintain cleanliness.

Stressing on adopting a three-pronged approach to maintaining cleanliness in the country, he said "first awareness should be created among masses, basic amenities and toilets in public places should be provided and then it should be considered on imposing fines on those violating the rules."



Citing the example of Singapore, the Minister said "Singapore is a fine city but also 'fines' city."



The Union Information and Broadcasting Minister also said government would showcase the short films on 'Swachh Bharat' in cinema theatres to create more awareness among the people on cleanliness.

These films would help in creating awareness and making India cleaner by 2019, he opined.

In a very short time, around 4,346 entries were received by the National Film Development Corporation and ten best films have been selected from the received entries, said Venkaiah.

Realising the immense potential of cinema, Centre has conceptualised the Swachh Bharat Short Film Festival (SBSFF), he said and added the intent is to spread the message of Swachh Bharat through the medium of cinema and creativity.

In order to make Swachh Bharat mission a success, people from film industry should extend their cooperation, he said.

Venkaiah said as on date, 405 cities and towns have become Open Defecation Free (ODF) and 739 would become ODF by March next year.

On the occasion, the Minister handed over cheque of Rs 31.20 crores to the Telangana's Minister for Information and Technology and Municipal Administration K T Rama Rao for public awareness and solid waste management in Telangana.

He also appreciated the measures being taken by Telangana government for construction of toilets and for maintaining proper sanitation.

Later, Venkaiah administered pledge on Swachhagraha.

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Syrian government forces today kept up their blistering assault on rebel-held eastern Aleppo after a divided UN Security Council failed to agree on a truce to "save" the war-battered city.

Regime forces and their allies were advancing street by street in the eastern sector which has been out of government hands since 2012.

"Clashes on the ground as well as fierce air strikes went on all night and are continuing today, especially in the Sheikh Said district" of eastern Aleppo, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

It said regime forces took control of the Jandul crossroads in the northeast of the city.

The latest advances aim to clear the way for "a crucial and decisive land offensive", said the Damascus daily Al-Watan which is close to the government.

The army launched its assault on the besieged sector of Aleppo more than two weeks ago with the backing of Russian air strikes, aiming to reunite the city which was Syria's economic hub before its conflict erupted in 2011.

According to the Observatory, air strikes by the regime and its Russian ally have claimed 273 lives, mostly civilians and including 53 children, since the September 22 launch of operations to reunite the government-held west and the east of Aleppo.

Another 17 civilians have died in artillery bombardment of eastern districts, says the Britain-based monitoring group.

The Observatory, which compiles its information from sources on the ground, said 50 civilians, including nine children, have also died in rebel bombardment of regime- controlled western districts.

Yesterday at the United Nations, Russia vetoed a French- drafted resolution demanding an end to the bombing of Aleppo, but its own rival measure on a truce was rejected.

The failure of the two resolutions deepened divisions at the UN Security Council between Moscow and the Western powers backing rebel forces in Syria's five-year war which has killed 300,000 people.

France's draft called for an end to all military flights over Aleppo and to air strikes on the rebel-held east that has 250,000 inhabitants.

"What is at stake today is first and foremost the fate of Aleppo and its people," France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told the council, urging it to take "immediate action in order to save" the city.

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A five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a teenage boy at Trimbakeshwar near here which led to tension as angry villagers protested at several places in the district demanding his immediate arrest, police said today.

The boy has been taken into custody, they said.

In view of the situation, Nashik Police Commissioner Ravindra Singhal has appealed people to maintain peace.

The 16-year-old boy allegedly raped the girl at an isolated place at Talegaon village under Trimbakeshwar taluka in the district yesterday, Trimbakeshwar police station in-charge Mukund Deshmukh said.

As soon as the spread, tension gripped Talegoan as locals gathered at the police station last night demanding that the boy be booked and arrested.

The villagers also staged 'rasta roko' in Wadovhare, Ghoti and Anjaneri-phata areas. Some people set tyres on fire, and also damaged a tractor in Talegaon.

A group of people also protested at Nashik Civil Hospital last night and demanded that the victim be examined by a woman doctor, Deshmukh said.

According to rural control room, some people staged rasta-rokos at Talwade village on Nashik-Trimbakeshwar road, Girnare village, which is about 10 kms from Nashik district headquarters, and near Mohadi on the busy Mumbai-Agra National Highway this morning against the incident.

Police had to rush to the sites and clear the roads.

Meanwhile, the boy has been booked under IPC section 376 (rape) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Nashik Police Commissioner Singhal has appealed to people to maintain peace and assured that proper action would be taken against the guilty.

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Five years into its operations, the city-based Torero Corporation is working on plans to become the world's largest leather accessory fashion company, with a host of top international brands already in the kitty.

Torero has exclusive global licence for manufacturing and marketing of powerful global brands such as CROSS of the US, Spanish Torero, Austrian Swarovski IB and Police.

"We are already the owner of many international brands with exclusive global manufacturing and marketing rights for leather accessories. Some 10 more brands are in the pipeline that will be rolled out in phases. We want to be top international leather accessory fashion house with largest brands in our kitty," Torero Corporation Director and CEO Yashovardhan Gupta told PTI.

"We are on the fast growth track targetting USD 100 million revenue in the next two years till 2018-19."



Gupta said the company would pull off this growth from just USD 7 million revenue in 2016-17 with extensive expansion of footprint through 10,000 points of sales globally from the existing 1,100.

Torero's products are currently retailed at stores such as Shoppers Stop, Jashanmal, Galeria Inno, Takashimaya and El Corte Ingles, to name a few, in more than 50 countries across Asia, Europe and America.

Cross is the top brand for the company to rake in maximum sales. The company will soon launch leather accessories under the Police brand, best known for its fashion eyewear.

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To showcase its various digital initiatives, the AAP government has selected 'Digital India' as the theme of Delhi Pavilion at the annual at Pragati Maidan.

A senior official said the purpose is to showcase the government's digital initiatives that have made functioning of various departments easier, benefiting the peolpe.

The decision was taken at a recent meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to take stock of the preparations for the which will begin on November 14.

Digital India campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year to ensure that government services are made available to citizens electronically by improving online infrastructure and increasing Internet connectivity.

In the past one-and-a-half years, the Kejriwal government has taken several initiatives, including installation of CCTV cameras and Wi-Fi facility on DTC buses and online issuance of driving licence and excise registration.

Besides these, the official said, various departments  VAT, DJB, PWD, Education  have also launched apps which have made their delivery of services hassle-free.

The VAT department has developed 'Bill Banao, Inaam Pao' app through which the government encourages people to submit bills of there purchases so that it can detect tax evasion.

According to the official, through DJB app, water consumers can generate bills on their own after taking photo of water meter reading.

"At Delhi pavilion, the government will showcase its works of installation of CCTV cameras on DTC buses. Besides, VAT, education and transport departments have also launched mobile applications which are receiving a good response," the official said.

Last year, the theme of Delhi Pavilion was 'Make in India'.
The second edition of the annual (UIEF) to explore investment opportunities in sectors like infrastructure, ports, railways and tourism in India will be held here this month.

The two-day UIEF is set to be inaugurated by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on October 19-20 while Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar will deliver a keynote speech on the second day of the gathering.

The focus of this year's forum will be investment opportunities in India's infrastructural projects with the event's sessions shedding light on sectors that offer attractive investment opportunities, including infrastructure, ports and railways, tourism and hospitality, healthcare, agriculture and food security.

The line-up of speakers include top leaders from the industry from both the countries, with UIEF emerging as a definitive networking and knowledge-sharing platform for major investors and government leaders.

The first edition of the forum last year was inaugurated by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

The 2016 edition is supported by the UAE's Ministry of Economy, UAE International Investors Council, Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Invest India and Abu Dhabi Global Market. The event is hosted by the Consulate General of India, Dubai along with Bloomberg Businessweek Middle East, and produced by UMS Conferences.
A British glamour model who was on an ISIS-related terror watch list after she used social media to communicate with Islamic State extremists has now been arrested.

KimberleyMiners, who has posed topless for 'The Sun', is believed to have secretly converted to Islam and her "liking" and sharing videos had triggered an investigation by Britain's anti-terrorist police and MI5 secret service.

According to 'The Sunday Times', she was detained on Friday for alleged offences under the Terrorism Act 2000 after officers had repeatedly warned her about her contact with extremists online.

Police also searched her home in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The 27-year-old was released on bail last evening pending further enquiries.

"As part of an ongoing investigation, officers have arrested a 27-year-old woman from Bradford on suspicion of the possession of terrorist material," a spokesperson for the North-East Counter Terrorism Unit said.

The newspaper had revealed last month that Miners appears on social media under the alias Aisha Lauren al-Britaniya and has posted images of Muslim women brandishing rifles and other weapons.

Pictures show her fully veiled or with only her blue eyes on display, but in public she wears skinny jeans and leaves her long blonde hair uncovered.

Miners claims the accounts were "fake profiles made against me".

"I myself am not active on any social media and do not have contact with anyone in association with terrorism. I am a caring person and (have) a heart of gold," she said.
UK companies will not be told to list or name foreign workers they employ, the UK government clarified today, days after home secretary Amber Rudd's remarks that all firms will be made to tell the exact number of non-British workers they employ.

UK defence secretary Michael Fallon told BBC: "This is not going to happen".

But he said firms could be asked "simply to report their numbers".

A row broke out after a briefing note was distributed following UK home secretary Amber Rudd's speech to the Conservative Party conference last week which seemed to indicate that all firms will be asked to reveal the exact number of non-British workers they employ.

Although Rudd did not mention businesses having to share how many foreign workers they employed in her speech itself, the accompanying note led to a controversy as it contained a proposal suggesting that firms should be "clear about the proportion of their workforce which is international".

"What I can absolutely rule out is that we will not be asking companies to list or publish or name or identify in any way the number of foreign workers they have," Fallon said.

"We're going to consult with business, and the consultation document hasn't even been published yet, on how we can do more encourage companies - to incentivise them - to look first at the British labour market. And to offer these jobs to British people, which is what the British people would expect, before they import labour more cheaply from abroad," he said.

He said businesses already had to go through a "resident labour market test" for non-EU workers, which includes Indians, but the government wanted to examine "whether we can get a better picture of exactly what the dependence on foreign workers is in each particular sector".

"That would mean, for example, asking companies just simply to report their numbers, which we wouldn't publish, we wouldn't identify anybody," he clarified.

UK education secretary Justine Greening also told ITV the policy was "about collecting the right evidence if we are going to be able to respond to skills shortages... This is not data that will be published, there will be absolutely no naming and shaming".

But Labour's new shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said: "The Tories are in disarray following Amber Rudd's worrying statement last week, contradicting each other as their policy falls apart at the seams.

"The Tories anti-foreigner agenda is a distraction from their own complete failures of policy, and against the best interests of society... We need answers from the Tories on how they will protect our economy, but they have no plan other than a risky hard Brexit which would threat our prosperity.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With less than a month to go, the most unconventional US presidential election has entered its final leg after a complex and lengthy selection process in the world's oldest democracy that differs immensely from how leaders are elected in India, which is the largest democracy.

The electoral fight between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton has captured international attention, with American media describing the heated 2016 presidential election as the most unconventional in the country's history.

Both candidates have set records for unpopularity and have emerged as the most hated US presidential hopefuls ever. For instance, a Pew poll conducted last month showed widespread disenchantment towards this year's presidential contest among American voters.

According to the poll, as many as 57 per cent of voters said they are frustrated and 55 per cent said they were disgusted with the campaign, dwarfing 31 per cent who said they are interested, 15 per cent who said they are optimistic and 10 per cent who said they are excited for the November 8 showdown.

Traditionally, a fair number of supporters on either side express negative opinions about the other party's candidate, but the latest poll found that a majority of voters express negative feelings about both leading candidates, the blistering negativity bruising both candidates.

This presidential election saw a campaign in which sober policy discussion has been drowned by personal insults and base offensives.

Both Clinton and Trump are among the oldest general election candidates in US history. If Trump wins the election, it will make him the oldest newly-elected president in US history - Ronald Reagan was just about 70 years old when he was elected to office in 1981. If Clinton wins, it will make her, at 69, the second oldest behind Reagan.

Leading think-tank the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) described the presidential nominating process in the US as "one of the most complex, lengthy, and expensive in the world".

Several candidates jump in the fray almost a year before the primaries and begin their campaigning informally in early- voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire.

The series of presidential primary elections and caucuses took place between February and June 2016, staggered among the 50 states, the District of Columbia and US territories. This nominating process was also an indirect election, where voters cast ballots for a slate of delegates to a political party's nominating convention, who in turn, elect their party's presidential nominee.
plans to open its first hotel in India, W Goa, in early November, as it seeks to expand its global portfolio to 75 properties by 2020.

"W Goa, the brand's 50th hotel globally, will be the first W Hotel in India, disrupting the traditional luxury hotel scene," Global Brand Leader Anthony Ingham told PTI here.

"From its fresh take on fashion and music to its electrifying nightlife, W Hotels is the perfect complement to Goa's ever-colourful, fiercely independent spirit," Ingham added.

The W Goa, under the W Escapes portfolio, will offer 160 rooms and celebrate the local culture in the backdrop of luxury.

The property will be manned by 360 people, hired from the hospitality industry as well as varied service sectors like fashion, music, retail and design.

"While recruiting people for the W Hotels, we look at the right personality, persons who are passionate for hospitality and are flexible and innovative," Ingham said.

He said the brand is looking to achieve its target of 75 properties globally by 2020. The expansion is on track with W Hotels and Escapes set to open in Shanghai, Tel Aviv, Goa, Abu Dhabi, Phuket, Amman, Jakarta, Panama, Costa Rica, Riviera Maya, Muscat, Hainan Island, Suzhou, Changsha, Chengdu, New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Shenyang, Marrakech, Brisbane, Aspen and Madrid.

Talking about India, he said, the company is looking at locations in Mumbai and Delhi, and is in early stages of discussions.

"We aim to be in major gateway cities globally that not only attract sophisticated, well travelled affluent professionals but also have similar local crowd," he said.

"Goa in India is such a destination. We are looking at cities like Mumbai and Delhi for our brand in India. However, things are in early stages," he added.
Acknowledging that the current model of development has increased disparity between the rich and the poor, world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, have called for global cooperation to promote inclusive growth strategy.

"We need to push back against threats to global cooperation and build a that works for everybody," Obama said in his address at a meeting of Monetary Fund and the World Bank leaders.

The meeting held here this week was attended by finance ministers from countries all over the world. The Indian delegation was led by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

In his address, Obama called IMF to continue promoting strong, inclusive and balanced global growth, with fiscal policies to increase demand, support structural reform and reduce economic inequality.

He asked the World Bank to continue addressing the most pressing global challenges, from tackling climate change to responding to the global refugee crisis, to championing investment in countries experiencing fragility, violence and conflict.

In its communique issued after the conclusion of the meeting, the IMF reinforced its commitment to strong, sustainable, inclusive, job-rich and more balanced growth.

"We will use all policy tools - structural reforms, fiscal and monetary policies - both individually and collectively," it said.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde stressed on the need for more inclusive growth in the absence of which she warned of the threat to growth from the political backlash against globalisation.

"We need growth, but we need inclusive growth. We need transition to the digital age, but a transition that benefits everyone. And we need to accelerate now," she said.

Deputy Prime Minister of Japan and Governor of the IMF for Japan said inclusive growth was important for sustained macroeconomic growth.

The issue of shrinking middle class and labour market duality have been pointed out in Japan, too.

"Under these circumstances, we plan to take measures that would contribute to achieving inclusive growth, such as raising the minimum wages by 3 per cent, which was implemented this month, and ensuring equal pay for equal work," he said.

Chinese economist, banker and bureaucrat Zhou Xiaochuan said that in response to the global risks, all parties should adopt comprehensive and strong measures to promote strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive global growth.

"I believe the IMF should more boldly and forcefully advocate for strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth by exhorting member countries to utilise all available policy levers to boost demand," said US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew.

Guy Ryder, Director-General Labour Organisation called for urgent action to generate decent work needed for inclusive growth and development.

"Eight years on the world has not fully recovered from the global financial crisis and there is a high risk that it will remain stuck in a slow growth trap unless urgent coordinated action is taken to boost growth and make it more inclusive," he said.

The benefits from new drivers of economic growth should be more widely distributed and contribute to a reduction of inequality, argued French Finance Minister Michel Sapin.

He stressed the need for more inclusive globalisation that benefits everyone.

"Technological change must be backed up by changes in our training systems, support for occupational retraining and better social protection for workers. The new drivers of growth also call for new thinking about how to share value added to the benefit of the largest number of people," Sapin said.

Mario Draghi President European Central Bank said all euro area countries should strive for a more growth-friendly composition of fiscal policies, prioritising public investment and reducing the tax burden on labour.

"A strong and sustainable recovery of the euro area is the best contribution we can make to promoting balanced and inclusive growth around the world," Draghi said.

The group of G-24 countries underscored the need of pursuing policies to boost demand and stimulate inclusive growth tailored to country circumstances and available fiscal space.

"This entails exploring opportunities for economic diversification and, as appropriate, taking measures to improve agricultural productivity, deepen industrialisation, and more fully capture the potential of digital technologies," it said.

In his address, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said now there is overwhelming consensus among all the countries that "fostering robust, inclusive and sustainable growth" must remain the top priority.
EAU CLAIRE  Zach Halmstad jokingly describes his foray into three development projects in downtown Eau Claire as an accident.

If so, it was a very fortunate accident for this city of 65,000 centered along the banks of the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers.

Halmstad is the co-founder of JAMF Software, which provides information management tools for major enterprises  companies, schools and governments  that use Apple products such as Mac, iPad and IPhone devices. From its basement beginnings in 2002, JAMF has grown into a company of 600 employees spread among eight offices worldwide, including about 200 in a riverfront office in Eau Claire.

Hes also a hometown guy who decided to stay put and give back to the community he believes has been a source of JAMFs success.

In addition to JAMFs Eau Claire building, which captures a Silicon Valley techie feel with distinct Wisconsin twists, Halmstad has invested in three other projects that are turning a once-tired downtown into a destination spot for northwest Wisconsin.

Chief among them is the Confluence Arts Center, so named for its location near the confluence of Eau Claires major rivers. Its a $45-million performing arts and civic center funded so far by a mix of state, local and private dollars, including a reported $500,000 from JAMF. A groundbreaking was held Oct. 6 and construction will begin later this fall with an anticipated completion date sometime in 2018.

Its effect on Eau Claires downtown is already being felt through redevelopment of older buildings and other plans that will attract people and dollars.

They include the 112-room Lismore Hotel and the 30-room Oxbow Hotel, two downtown properties tied to Halmstad and other investors, including Grammy Award-winning musician Justin Vernon, also an Eau Claire native.

We can pay people a great salary at JAMF, but its not the only thing that attracts people. Halmstad said. People want to move to a city that they want to actually live in.

Halmstads live-work-play philosophy is not unique to todays Wisconsin entrepreneurs.

In La Crosse, Don Weber and Logistics Health Inc. have invested heavily in thats city lakefront, once an eyesore and now a magnet for visitors and other companies.

In Beloit, the contributions and investments of Hendricks family  founders of ABC Supply  are bringing new vitality to that downtown and beyond.

In Madison, the contributions and investments of Pleasant Rowland (American Girl and other ventures) and Jerry Frautschi, who hails from a family of entrepreneur, led to the construction of the Overture Center; the rebirth of the Edgewater hotel; and the overall transformation of the 100 block of State Street.

Halmstad grew up in Eau Claire and wants to give back to his home town, but hes also motivated by enlightened self-interest. A more vibrant Eau Claire makes it easier for him to attract the talent he needs to fuel JAMFs growth.

Speaking to the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, which met Oct. 6-7 at UW-Eau Claire, Halmstad described how he was warned repeatedly in the early 2000s that JAMF would never be able to find the talent it needs in the Chippewa Valley.

Instead, he said, JAMF has attracted a workforce that includes an expected mix of computational and software experts  but also plenty of people who earned degrees in German, geography, economics, Biblical studies, history, English literature, sociology and much more.

In fact, Halmstad told the Regents, the Eau Claire workforce for JAMF includes people who hold at least 65 different bachelors degrees. For that reason, he added, JAMF is a prime example of why a liberal arts college education remains vital in todays world.

Theres no institution in the world that could train people to work at JAMF, he said, because most of the technical training must take place in-house after talented people are hired. What we need are smart people who are ready to learn and to adapt.

Throughout its history, Wisconsin has been shaped by entrepreneurs whose names are still reflected in the companies and even the cities they founded. Todays crop is hewing to that tradition.
Positive consumer sentiment, coupled with aggressive offers by Apples trade partners in India, appears to have lured many to buy the new and 7 Plus, launched on Friday.
Sirji IPO mein paise daal rahe ho na? Leverage karo. Yahi time hai paise banane ka. Listing gains confirmed hain.

This is part of a conversation at the investment banking division of an Indian bank where an employee is asking a colleague to invest in initial public offerings, or IPOs, even insisting that he use borrowed money to invest and book profits the day the shares start trading in the market.

It's a risky strategy but one that can be highly rewarding. And rewarding it has been. Consider this: Companies that have came out with IPOs this financial year (2016/17) have on average given 19.3 per cent returns on listing. Barring L&T Infotech and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance shares, which opened 6 per cent and 1.5 per cent lower than issue prices, respectively, all 14 IPOs since April this year have given positive returns on listing.

The ICICI Prudential IPO was hit by subdued market sentiment in September as investors booked profit on fear of tensions between India and Pakistan. The biggest IPO in India in six years had helped the company raise Rs 6,056 crore. It was subscribed over 10 times.

It's All About Returns

Though listing gains slightly disappointed in September, the overall bullish trend has been whetting investor appetite for months now. The 14 IPOs since April were subscribed over 32 times on average. Those of RBL Bank, Advanced Enzyme Technologies, Quess Corp, Mahanagar Gas, Thyrocare Technologies and Ujjivan Financial - which raised between Rs 400 crore and Rs 1,000 crore each - were subscribed 40 to 82 times.

But the more important development has been the return of retail investors, who were on the sidelines for years after making huge losses in Reliance Power's mega IPO in early 2008. The retail portion of six IPOs - GNA Axles, Advanced Enzyme Technologies, L&T Infotech, Dilip Buildcon, SP Apparels and Quess Corp - was subscribed 11 times on average. Even the retail book of big issues, such as that of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance and RBL Bank, was subscribed 1.4 and 5.7 times, respectively. Prior to that, the retail portion of the 29 IPOs between January 2015 and June 2016 was subscribed 2.75 times. "There aren't many avenues for investors right now as returns from fixed deposits are low and the real estate market is dead. That is why we are seeing a rush towards IPOs. After all, where do you get 15-20 per cent returns in 15 days?" says Ravi Sardana, Executive Vice President, ICICI Securities.

Indian Inc. Cashes in

Bankers are expecting a flood of IPOs this year. "Every day at least one promoter approaches us for getting his or her company listed," says Dharmesh Mehta, Managing Director & CEO, Axis Capital. In the 18 months since April 2015, 38 companies have come out with IPOs, of which shares of 26 are trading above issue prices (See In The Money). They have delivered 30 per cent returns on average, compared to the 6 per cent rise in the Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex during the period. "The key has been pricing. We have been leaving 20-30 per cent discount for investors," says Mehta.

Still, one thing has not changed. The main aim of most IPOs is either providing an exit opportunity to private equity players or retiring debt. Not many companies are raising money for expansion. India Inc., it seems, has a long way to go before it can come out of the slowdown phase.

Funds Steal The Show

One big difference in the latest IPO rush is participation by domestic mutual funds. This is a welcome change from years of dominance by foreign institutional investors or FIIs. According to Prime Database, mutual fund subscription in IPOs since January 2015 has been well over two-third of the total institutional book. "Earlier, FIIs used to build momentum. This time, participation by mutual funds is a big comfort to bankers and issuers. The subscription of the anchor book by them sets the tone for participation by retail and other institutional investors," says Sardana of ICICI Securities. This has been possible due to huge inflows into mutual fund schemes over the past one year. Mutual funds' asset under management were at an all-time high of Rs 16.07 lakh crore in August, up 20.5 per cent from Rs 13.33 lakh crore a year ago. "It's a pure listing play for most of us. We are investing in IPOs to make a quick buck," the chief executive of a mutual fund says on condition of anonymity.

But not all funds are investing for quick gains. Several are looking for young companies that can grow fast, as most companies that have come out with IPOs of late are in sunrise sectors. For instance, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance is India's biggest private sector life insurer, Quess Corp is an integrated human capital services provider, Equitas and Ujjivan are small finance banks, while Dr Lal Path Labs and Thyrocare Technologies operate in the high-growth diagnostics segment.

"This year will be remarkable in terms of size, number and diversity of IPOs. A number of companies from sectors such as insurance, stock exchange, telecom, health care, automobile, airline and retailing want to enter the market," says Sardana of ICICI Securities.

Focus on Quality

Another big change this time is the quality of companies floating the paper. "The difference between now and 2010 is that this time companies hitting the market have a sound record, are efficient with capital use, are generating positive cash flows and, most important, are in sectors that don't have huge regulatory uncertainty," says V. Jayasankar, Senior Executive Director and head of Equity Capital Markets at Kotak Investment Banking. He was hinting at real estate, infrastructure and power companies that were in the forefront of raising capital a few years ago. Shares of 80 per cent of the companies that came out with IPOs between 2005 and 2010 are trading below issue prices; 80 per cent are trading at less than 10-20 per cent of issue prices. These include GMR Infra, Bartronics, Gokaldas Exports, Reliance Power, Ramky Infra, Orient Green Power and Punj Lloyd.

"We have been careful. If sentiment is not good for a sector, we are not accepting mandates for companies in that sector," says Mehta of Axis Capital. Some say Dilip Buildcon was told to postpone its IPO last year. With sentiment for the infrastructure sector improving this year, the issue sailed through smoothly; the shares rose 15 per cent on listing. "Despite the bullish sentiment and improved financials of the company, we priced it on the basis of previous year's valuation, making it attractive for investors," says a banker.

Bankers are also timing the issues better. "At any point in time, the Indian market can absorb paper worth Rs 30,000-40,000 crore. We (bankers) are seeing to it that no two big issues hit the market at the same time," says Mehta. "Unlike 2007/08, markets aren't insane. Everyone is cautious about valuations and the type of companies hitting the market. When everyone is cautious, it is certain that markets aren't going to tank," he says.

Beware of the Beast

"We are valuing the IPOs fairly, but one has to be careful while taking a call on companies after listing. Shares of some companies have risen beyond reasonable levels and are at exorbitant price-to-earnings multiples of 40-60 times. It is advisable to stay away from such counters," says Mehta.

Bankers say retail investors should bet on IPOs for listing gains. With issues getting subscribed by a big margin, investors get much less shares than what they apply for. Still, the shares issued are sufficient to earn decent returns of Rs 4,000-5,000 on an investment of Rs 15,000-20,000, they say. "Shares of less than 25 per cent companies that have hit the market in the past 18 months are trading below offer prices," says Sanjay Sharma, Managing Director - Head of Equity Capital Markets at Deutsche Equities India. This makes him confident that the party will go on. "My only worry is promoters and bankers getting greedy. Till the pricing is reasonable, I expect the momentum to continue," says Mehta.

BACK IN BUSINESS

The rush of initial public offerings, or IPOs, means investment bankers are doing good business. They are happy that the fee market has revived. "The revival of the IPO market has led to an improvement in the fee market. The fee is now around 2.5 per cent per deal," says Samarth Jagnani, Executive Director - Head of Equity Capital Markets, Morgan Stanley. Last year, it was 1.5-2 per cent. "We are not signing deals where we are not compensated adequately. Depending on the deal size, the fee can go as high as 3.5 per cent," says Dharmesh Mehta, Managing Director & CEO at Axis Capital. He gets at least one request a day from a promoter looking to get his or her company listed.

According to Thomson Reuters, in the first six months of 2016, the equity capital market (ECM) segment earned a total fee of $40.2 million for raising $3.77 billion (See table below). This is the first time in four years that the contribution from the IPO business has been the highest - around 28 per cent, as against 10 per cent in 2015. In 2012, 2013 and 2014, the figures were 9 per cent, 4 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively.

The business has been dominated by Indian bankers. According to Prime Database, Kotak Mahindra and Axis Capital dominated the IPO market with market shares of 47.4 per cent and 43.6 per cent, respectively. If it would not have been for the IndiGo issue, no foreign bank would have been in the top five of the IPO league tables. "The size of the IPO matters. We (foreign bankers) don't take the mandate unless it makes business sense. The IPO has to make us money. So far, the IPOs hitting the market have been small," says Sanjay Sharma, Managing Director and Head (Equity Capital Market), Deutsche Equities. India.
BRIGHAM CITY, Utah (AP)  A construction worker from Layton was critically injured after he was crushed inside a concrete paver.

Authorities say the 39-year-old man was working on Interstate 15 on Friday afternoon near Brigham City when the accident occurred.

The man was operating an instrument under the paver when he somehow got pinned inside.

Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Evan Kirby says the man was airlifted to a hospital in Ogden.

He remains in critical condition.

Kirby says it was not clear how he became trapped.

Two construction workers have died in the past week in Utah County.

In both occurrences, a trench had collapsed.
Mental Health Matters: Yes, depression is a 'real illness.'

Research suggests that people who have depression and another medical illness tend to have more severe symptoms of both illnesses.
ELKHORN  Fissures within the Republican Party were on full display at the Walworth County Fairgrounds on Saturday, as people who came to hear Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump learned they wouldn't have the chance.

In the heart of his own Congressional district, House Speaker Paul Ryan was met with mixed reactions at an annual event designed to showcase the state's Republican candidates and elected officials.

Initially billed as a unity event where Ryan would campaign for the first time with Trump, the last-minute cancellation of appearances by Trump and his running mate Mike Pence ultimately showcased the division between the party's fervent and more reluctant Trump supporters. In a town whose motto is "Living in Harmony," the 1st Congressional District Republican Party of Wisconsin Fall Fest didn't offer much of it.

Ryan, speaking to a crowd of hundreds, briefly acknowledged the controversy that emerged late Friday after a recording surfaced of Trump in 2005 making lewd comments about women, Trump, in the recording, bragged about kissing and groping women without their consent and the fact that his "star" status allowed him to "grab them by the p---y."

"There is a bit of an elephant in the room. And it is a troubling situation, and I'm serious, it is," Ryan told the audience. "I put out a statement last night. I meant what I said, and it is still how I feel. But that is not what I'm here to talk about today."

For that matter, it wasn't what most Republicans who spoke Saturday cared to address.

Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, Sen. Ron Johnson, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner and state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos all spoke without once mentioning Trump by name. Some still encouraged voters to do their part to prevent Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton from winning, while others declined to address the presidential contest.

Kleefisch listed candidates on the ballot twice while onstage  naming her husband, state Rep. Joel Kleefisch; Sensenbrenner, Johnson and Ryan  and ending with a "Go Packers" rather than a plug for Trump.

Speakers spent a great deal of time highlighting Johnson's tough race against Democratic former Sen. Russ Feingold, whom he ousted in 2010.

"Its one of those where every votes going to count," Walker said of the Senate race.

Attorney General Brad Schimel  the only one to encourage the crowd to vote for Trump, as a means of putting conservative justices on the U.S. Supreme Court  still earned some boos when he said he didn't like "hearing anyone talk that way about women."

"Get over it! It was 12 years ago," one audience member shouted.

Sensenbrenner directly addressed the anti-Ryan sentiments coming from some in the crowd, telling the hecklers to "clean up (their) act."

"Were asking people to be respectful in this campaign. Theres an awful lot of lack of that," Sensenbrenner scolded.

Ryan, Walker and Johnson each issued statements Friday night condemning Trump's comments. Ryan said he was "sickened" by them, while Walker called them "inexcusable" and Johnson said they were "indefensible." None have indicated they will not vote for Trump on Nov. 8.

"While they may condemn his words, their continued support of a man so truly unfit and unworthy to hold our nation's highest office is a disgrace," said Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairwoman Martha Laning in a statement.

Many in attendance were not upset by Trump's comments, but by Ryan's announcement Friday night that Trump would no longer attend the event.

"Im very disappointed in Paul Ryan for saying what he said, for jumping the gun and not taking the apology to heart," said Tim Ellis of Princeton, Illinois.

Trump issued a video apology early Saturday morning, calling the issue a distraction and arguing Clinton and her husband, the former president, had done far worse to women.

Ellis, who wore a shirt with an outline of the United States and the words "F--k Off, We're Full," said the issue detracts from more important conversations about immigration and the economy. He agreed with Trump that there are bigger concerns with how the Clintons have treated women.

"This happens in every locker room, every day, with both genders," Ellis said of Trump's comments.

Lynn Hinz, events chair of the Winnebago County GOP, said women "talk about men the same way," and it should be up to individuals to make up their minds as to whether the candidate's words are disqualifying.

Her son, John Hinz, also of Oshkosh, said he's heard far worse as a veteran, an athlete and former bar and restaurant employee.

"That doesnt make it right, but whats the old saying? Guys will be guys and girls will be girls," Hinz said, adding that he doesn't believe the remarks should disqualify a candidate.

Hinz said he supports Trump because he's "not a politician" and there's "no doubt he puts the country first."

Both sides engage in too many distractions and political games, Hinz said.

"Get all the distractions out of the way, and whats his core message? This is whats wrong with America, and were going to fix it," Hinz said, adding that he thinks Trump would surround himself as president with smart people who would guide him to make the right decisions.

Not long before the afternoon's speaking program began, a verbal skirmish broke out between a Trump supporter shouting anti-Ryan and anti-Clinton statements to a group of reporters.

Beth Lock, a volunteer with the Walworth County GOP, urged the heckler to support Ryan.

"He didn't do anything to Donald Trump," she said, adding that she supports both Trump and Ryan.

But Linda Buikema from Lockport, Illinois, who engaged in the shouting match, said she thinks Ryan was just "waiting for an excuse to turn on (Trump)."

Bill Borchardt, a Trump supporter from Ft. Atkinson, said the only thing he was happy about on Saturday was getting a free pulled pork sandwich at the event. He wore a tank top with Trump's face on it that said, "She wants the D."

"I'm absolutely steaming pissed at Paul Ryan," Borchardt said, arguing the GOP leader should "stand by his man."

Ryan closed the event by bringing Johnson and Walker  both sporting Green Bay Packers shirts  back to the stage.

"We will deliver our 10 electoral votes, we will fight for our conservatives, and we will offer this country solutions and we will meet the moment for what it is," Ryan said, just before Walker flashed a Wisconsin "W" and the three walked offstage.
GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES FILE PHOTO State District Judge Jack Pulcher appoints attorney DeeAnn Torres to represent Nigel Green, who was charged with murder. Nueces County spends more than $2 million a year to pay for court appointed attorneys for those who can't afford it.

SHARE COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES In 2015, Arturo Garza was charged with murder and his case was assigned to 319th District Judge David Stith's court. Beginning this year, all state district court judges began using a rotating system called "the wheel" to appoint attorneys from a list of nearly 200 attorneys. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times File Photo Magistrate Judge Melissa Madrigal is one of two judges in the jail. In most cases, the magistrate judges appoint attorneys.

By Krista M. Torralva of the Caller-Times

Nueces County courts are handling more than two dozen capital murder cases, and that has caused commissioners to allocate an extra $50,000 for court appointed attorney fees.

With about two weeks remaining in fiscal year 2015-2016, Nueces County has paid more than $2 million to local defense attorneys to serve as court appointed attorneys for indigent defendants in felony cases.

Judges are required by law to appoint an attorney to defend indigent people accused of crimes.

A handful of defense lawyers handling the county's 24 capital murder cases, the highest number of cases in recent history, are among the highest paid in the pool of court appointed attorneys over the past few years.

Three local attorneys received more than $100,000 annually from the local courts and judges to represent the poor defendants during a 12-month period, according to fiscal year 2014-2015 figures. A complete list of payments for fiscal year 2016 aren't available for public review yet.

Eric Perkins, who was assigned 24 cases, received $114,948, Hector Rene Gonzalez, who was assigned 30 cases, received $106,288 and James Lawrence, who was assigned 36 cases, received $100,053 in the 2014-2015 fiscal year, a Caller-Times review of the records found.

Two other lawyers, Robert Flynn, who was assigned 107 cases, and Mark Stolley, who was assigned 108 cases, received more than $62,000 during the same time period.

The attorneys are paid by the case and by the hour depending on the nature of the criminal charge. The court appointed money is sought after by many attorneys who ask to be considered for this legal work. In all, nearly 200 local attorneys are considered for the millions of dollars court-appointed business.

Beginning this year, all state district court judges began using a rotating system called "the wheel" to appoint attorneys from its list of nearly 200 attorneys. The system is meant to provide fairness to the attorneys vying for that business. This can protect judges from claims of favoritism when assigning cases and doling out the nearly $300,000 in court appointed attorney's fees allocated to their individual courts.

The judges adopted a plan to have the magistrate judges  the judges in the Nueces County Jail  appoint attorneys.

The judges have some leeway, however, to deviate from the wheel.

"If (an attorney) comes up on the list and they're not qualified to handle a multiple murder case, we have discretion to look at the next five and pick from there," 117th District Judge Sandra Watts said.

Each year, the Nueces County Commissioners Court budgets $286,640 for seven of its eight state district courts. These are the courts that handle felony cases in addition to civil cases. The 105th District Court  which includes parts of Nueces County  gets less.

The extra $50,000 was allocated to Judge Jose Longoria's 214th District Court because he's been assigned the most capital murder cases since 2014, County Auditor Dale Atchley said.

Capital murder cases can take a long time to go to trial and all the while, they're costing the court.

There have been 24 people indicted on a capital murder charge since 2012. There was a surge in those cases when 10 people were indicted on capital murder charges. The other years account for the rest: two in 2012, three in 2013, three in 2015 and so far two in 2016. Officials anticipate four more capital murder indictments from a fatal robbery this month at a gun shop.

Those defendants were charged in connection with 12 killings. Those cases were elevated to capital murder because they either involved the killing of children under 10 or a killing while in the act of another crime, such as a robbery or kidnapping.

Prosecutors not only charged the killer but were able to also charge others associated with the crimes.

Since 2014, Longoria got five capital murder defendants. Although not all ended in capital murder convictions  three got plea deals for lesser charges  they all had to be appointed lawyers approved for capital murder cases. In that same time frame, the 347th and 319th district courts each got three capital murder defendants.

Perkins, Gonzalez and Lawrence are attorneys approved for capital murders where the death penalty is on the table. That largely accounts for why they dominate the top earners list. In capital murder cases, lawyers must itemize their hours. A lead attorney is paid $200 per hour and the second chair attorney is paid $150 per hour.

In Nueces County, those three lawyers and Richard "Rick" Rogers are the only local attorneys approved to sit first chair on a capital murder case involving the death penalty.

Another area of law that produces a high number of court appointments is the drug diversion court, which Longoria also presides over. Those cases are plentiful but don't pay much. Armando Luis Reyna III, who had 271 cases from the court was at the bottom of the top earner's list. He received about $41,000 total because those cases only pay about $40 or $80 per case.

Another "constant thorn" to judges' budgets are Child Protective Services cases because of the large volume, County Judge Loyd Neal said. County Court-at-Law No. 5, that gets the majority of those cases  spent about $619,669 on court appointed attorney fees in fiscal year 2015. That number consistently went up since fiscal year 2013.

The top 10 attorneys receiving court appointments in Court 5 received the most money in the county courts of law. Vance Paton received $25,275, Scott Lemanski got $21,892 and Luis Octavio Gutierrez made $21,055. The 10th highest paid court appointed lawyer, Sara Stuckenberg-Klager, made $15,460.

Lawyers may also be appointed in juvenile matters, mental health hearings, guardian and probate cases and appellate procedures. The county gets some reimbursement from the state. Nueces County usually gets between $200,000 and $300,000 from the state, Neal said.

Twitter: @CallerKMT
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A student who threatened train staff before breaking open platform doors at Cambridge Train Station to escape from police has been handed a community order.

Alexander Kuffor-Boateng, 32 of Linley Road in Tottenham, London, admitted criminal damage but was found guilty after trial of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour at Cambridge Magistrates' Court.

His case was heard back in August but was adjourned for sentence until Friday.

The court was told that on May 28 revenue inspection officer Carlos Lisboa was checking tickets on a Great Northern train service from London Kings Cross to Cambridge Station.

Prosecuting at his trial, Margaret Morrissey said: Mr Lisboa asked the defendant for a ticket but he did not have one.

At the next stop in Foxton the defendant got off the train from the first class carriage -but then ran down the platform to the very end carriage and got back on."

When the ticket inspector approached Kuffor-Boateng again, he told him to get away from him and added that he would 'mess him up' - before continuing to be abusive to him and another colleague.

The defendant then got off the train at Cambridge, running towards platform 3 and causing 208 of damage to the doors in a bid to escape.

In mitigation, the court was told that Kuffor-Boateng was a student at Anglia Ruskin University but was living in London at the time.

He was struggling to afford the funds to travel.

The court was told that Kuffor-Boateng accepted his 'dreadful behaviour' and that people in the train carriage feared for their safety.

A probation officer also told magistrates: He accepts he has a short fuse and issues with his temper.

His mum suffers from bipolar and his older brother died when he was 12-years-old."

Magistrates handed Kuffor-Boateng, who has five previous convictions, a 12 month community order with a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was also ordered to pay 170 compensation to Abellio Greater Anglia.
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Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact.

Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here.

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Mercedes-AMG will create a new all-electric supercar acting as the spiritual successor to the SLS E-Cell.



At the ongoing Paris Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz launched its EQ sub-brand, dedicated to electric vehicles. While Mercedes-Benz badged models will be the first to join the EQ family, AMG will follow suit in the future.

While speaking with Drive at the show, Mercedes-AMG chairman Tobias Moers said that an all-electric AMG wont arrive in the next few years but will become a reality at some stage.

There is no plan for 2020 to have an electrified car, but if you ask me that question you will always get the answer that sooner or later there will be a pure electric driven AMG, because thats going to happen, he confirmed. For sure its a trade off between efficiency and performance, and for other cars as well. There will be an AMG pure electric car but I dont know when. Because otherwise AMG will disappear as a brand.

The only electric production car previously produced by Mercedes-AMG is the SLS Electric Drive. Although it was only built in limited numbers, it is still the electric production car record holder around the Nurburgring, despite being engineered six years ago.

Before an electric AMG arrives, the performance sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz will launch its Formula 1-powered hybrid hypercar.

PHOTO GALLERY
UPDATE October 9 11:00 p.m.:

Both Okanagan men were successful in their pitches to the 'Dragons.'

Armstong's Mark Hanson made a deal with two dragons, David Chilton and Bruce Croxon, to get $150,000 investment in exchange for a 9 percent royalty in his business.

Vernon's Frank Deiter made a deal with Jim Treliving for exactly what he was asking for, $300,000 for a 50 percent share of his business.

You can watch the episode here.

Photo: Contributed - BinPak

3:15 p.m. update:

Wednesday night's episode of Dragons' Den is actually featuring two North Okanagan entrepreneurs. Frank Deiter and his Mobile Juice Factory as described below will appear, as well as Armstrong's Mark Hanson and Modern Waste Products flagship product, the BinPak Compactor.

It was intimidating to enter the Dragons Den and be faced with the questions from the panel," shares Hanson.

However, the show presented us with a tremendous opportunity to market the BinPak to a new audience and investment group. Its a challenge I happily accepted.

The BinPak transforms waste management, by offering businesses a way to save on their waste removal costs as well as enhancing workplace safety.

The BinPak is the same size as a standard waste bin but holds up to six times the amount of trash. By being able to hold more waste, it means fewer trips for disposal trucks.

Photo: Contributed

Vernon entrepreneur and apple juice aficionado Frank Deiter is making his national TV debut this week.

He was selected to pitch his Mobile Juice Factory to the Dragons on CBCs Dragons Den airing Wednesday, October 9, at 8 p.m.

Deiter, the founder of Okanagan Spirits in downtown Vernon, said he saw a need to use and not throw out all the fruit and apples that get destroyed every year in North America and the Okanagan.

What we are doing is wasting apples, lots and lots fall to the ground, and because of the restrictions on the fresh fruit market as to colour and size we just throw them away, a lot of them.

Photo: Contributed

Apples do not grow that way, sometimes they are bigger, sometimes they are smaller, sometimes they might have a scratch or a bruise and the fresh fruit markets like Save-on-Foods will not accept that, shares Deiter from his hotel room in London, England.

He is adamant that we need to have a purpose for these not good enough apples and that there is a serious problem with our local juice businesses.

You know SunRype is using concentrate from China to make apple juice and we are throwing apples away, something is wrong with that, says Deiter with fervor.

The SunRype website states:

SunRype 100% Not From Concentrate Apple Juice is a "not from concentrate product". The apples are harvested and shipped to our facility for processing and packaging. SunRype's manufacturing facility is located in a region that has access to a good supply of apples. However, SunRype also manufactures juices that contain juices from concentrate.

Deiter worries that our local farmers are losing valuable profits and wasting product.

If the farmer were to deliver those not perfect apples to the packing house they would get charged back a sorting fee for having to sort out the not good apples. So instead of making money on those apples they get charged.

The qualities of the apples are actually very good. They are just too small, or too big or the wrong colour to fit under the category of which you can sell to the fresh fruit market.

So, now I can make them money. I go into these orchards and I juice these apples.

Photo: Contributed

When I am gone I leave behind a completely finished product nicely packaged with a good shelf life that you can sell and actually make a profit on.

If you are interested in seeing the Mobile Juice Factory in operation yourself, Deiter will be joining Hazeldell Orchard, the Chefs Association and the Kelowna Food Bank on October 19 to juice all the orchards apples and create a healthy local product for Kelownas Food Bank.

I have strong ethics. I am passionate with my conviction to reduce food wastage and to help entrepreneurs, says Deiter.

Three Mobile Juice Factory units sold during 2012 and are still operating in Southern Ontario, and British Columbias Vancouver Island and Okanagan Valley.

The Bag-In-Box packaging the inventor uses was awarded 2013 Food Innovation Award from Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association.

Deiter of course couldnt share whether a Dragon chooses to invest in his businesses, but he did share what it was like being on the show.

Intimidating, the first ten seconds I thought I would die or sh%t my pants, after the first ten seconds I was pretty cool, laughs Deiter.

DRAGONS DEN is filmed in Toronto, and airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 9 p.m. on CBC.
Photo: Contributed CFO Lisa Pleadwell

The City of West Kelowna has a new person in charge of finance.

Council will be asked Tuesday to confirm the appointment of Lisa Pleadwell as the city's new Chief Financial Officer.

At the same time, the interim tag will be removed from Jim Zaffino's duties.

Zaffino, a former CFO with the city, assumed the duties after Tanya Garost resigned from the position.

Garost left the city to become Chief Financial Officer in Lake Country in May.

Pleadwell comes to West Kelowna after most recently holding down the positions of CFO and director of finance for the City of Abbotsford.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Hundreds of refugees from Syria were able to experience religious freedom for the first time in years as they gathered at a conference of 25,000 Ahmadiyya Muslims in Mississauga, Ont., this weekend.

Wissam Alburaki, 41, brought his wife and three children to Canada as refugees last month, landing in Calgary by way of Kuwait and Dubai.

And while Calgary is where his family intends to stay, Alburaki was west of Toronto over the weekend, attending Canada's Jalsa Salana  an annual meeting of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at.

He was one of hundreds of Syrian refugees attending the conference, according to Safwan Choudhry, a spokesperson for the Canadian chapter of the group.

Members of the Islamic sect are estimated to be in the tens of millions, Choudhry said.

And this year marks the 40th anniversary of the convention in Canada, which was attended by the community's spiritual leader, Caliph Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who is from Pakistan.

"It's very difficult to express my feelings. Before, we were seeing this on TV," Alburaki said. "But now we are in  we are part of this. So it's very difficult to express it by words, especially when English is not your first language."

His family converted to the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam in the 1980s, he said. And since then, he's listened to what the Caliph has to say.

But being in Canada, he was able to hear the political leader speak in person for the first time.

"With the situation in our country  in Syria  we cannot do this. It's a very large convention. We are meeting people from all over the world."

Alburaki said that level of diversity, and of religious freedom, is something he wasn't able to experience in Syria in recent years.

Choudhry said the Ahmadiyya community is frequently persecuted in the Muslim world because the community interprets the Quran differently. It believes that the promised Messiah came in the 19th century and advocates for the separation of Mosque and state.

Persecution is especially present in Syria, Choudhry said, where many Ahmadiyya Muslims are forced to practise in secret.

"For many people, it's actually more than the freedom of speech, to be able to practice your faith and profess to your God the way that you wish to, and nobody will object to it," he said.

"You can imagine how fulfilling and powerful it is for them to know that they can practise their faith in peace. Many of the Syrian refugees ... could have never imagined going to such a convention in Syria."
Photo: Contributed

Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds penned an emotional online tribute to a Newfoundland-born cancer victim Sunday, honouring what would have been the boy's 14th birthday.

Reynolds, who is from Vancouver, visited Connor McGrath in an Edmonton hospital earlier this year and gave him an advance screening of his film "Deadpool" weeks before audiences got a chance to see the blockbuster.

In a Facebook post, Reynolds says the Make-A-Wish Foundation brought he and Connor together and "nothing  not even a cowardly ... thing called cancer can take that away."

Reynolds described Connor as being "as quick with a joke as he was with a hug" as he fought the disease.

The Vancouver-born film star offered Connor's parents his condolences.

Reynolds encouraged his online followers to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Photo: jumpingbean.ca

Customers at coffee shop in Newfoundland got their caffeine fix with a dose of kindness after finding out an anonymous benefactor was footing the bill, a barista says.

Rachelle Brydon says an anonymous do-gooder set up a $250 tab at Jumping Bean in St. John's Friday, paying for people's food and drinks until the money ran out after about an hour.

Brydon explained that the donor's only condition for accepting the free treats was that patrons pay the act of kindness forward.

"As a service worker, it's a little awkward because you have to do a lot of explaining," she says. "The goal is: Here's something nice for you and hopefully you'll doing something nice for someone else."

Brydon says some customers were skeptical of the generous promotion, but most were grateful for their complimentary snack or cup of joe.

"I think people are used to some sort of transaction," Brydon says. "In this instance, there's nothing other than 'just be nice' and people aren't sure what to make of it."

She says the project is called Be Kind NL and the donor has organized similar deeds at a few other stores.

The Canadian Press sent an e-mail to Be Kind NL, but the anonymous altruist could not be immediately reached for comment.

Brydon says she hopes the project will restore a sense of community in St. John's, some of which she thinks has dissipated as the city has expanded.
It was a little over six years ago when word that the Nosotros, the collaboration between Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate and Dion Giolito of Illusione Cigars would be no more. The project which was considered to be a dream collaboration by many would come to an end fourteen months after its announcement. If you were a cigar fan between July 2009 and September 2010, chances are this was a cigar that you had on your radar. Today, we look take a look back and remember the Nosotros project.

It was on slightly before the 2009 IPCPR Trade Show when the announcement came of Jonathan Drew and Dion Giolito would be collaborating on a brand known as Nosotros. The cigar would be produced at Drew Estates La Gran Fabrica, and would be the first time Drew Estate would produce a traditional premium hand-rolled cigar for third party. For Giolito, he had been working with the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras to produce his brands, so this would also be a new factory for him.

The Principals

2009 was still very much the early days when it came to producing traditional premium hand-made cigars for both Drew and Giolito. At the same time, the two already had established a huge following in the industry.

For Drew Estate, they were a company that was in business over 11 years. The struggle to build the company from a kiosk in the World Trade Center to its huge factory, La Gran Fabrica in Nicaragua is well documented. Back in 2009, there was no Undercrown, no Herrera Esteli, no Nica Rustica, and no MUWAT. At the time, Drew Estate was riding a crest following the enormous success of Liga Privada No. 9. Prior to Liga Privada No. 9, Drew Estate had mixed results with a brand called Chateau Real. Of course, Drew Estate was the market leader in the infused-space with the ACID brand.

Giolito had enormous success as the owner of Reno, Nevadas Fumare retail shop. In 2006, he took on an additional role of brand owner as he launched Illusione Cigars. By 2009, he had a popular line and already had a Top 10 rating in Cigar Aficionado for his Illusione cg4. No doubt, Giolito and Illusione were on the rise.

The Beginnings

It was actually during the early days of Illusione when paths came together for Giolito and Drew Estate. In 2009, Giolito originally had plans to produce his Cruzado brand out of the Joya de Nicaragua factory. In March of 2008 came word that the Joya de Nicaragua would be distributed by Drew Estate. As a result business priorities changed at Joya de Nicaragua and Giolito would was not able to produce his cigar there. A few months later came the 2008 IPCPR Trade Show and Jonathan Drew met Giolito and invited him to visit La Gran Fabrica. Giolito saw the vast inventory of the tobacco Drew Estate and it led to the opportunity to blend a cigar there. Thus, the genesis of Nosotros was underway.

For Drew Estate, while they had already been producing Rocky Patels Java line, making a traditional cigar for a third party was not something they had done. However, this was a time when Drew Estate was looking to move into the next phase of the company and build up its traditional hand-made core competencies. Bringing in Giolito seemed to be a logical step in his own factorys evolution with the traditional hand made segment.

The Project

Prior to the 2009, IPCPR Trade Show came word of the Nosotros project. The name Nosostros translates to us. It was marketed with the moniker myth, rebel, conspiracy, pioneer, cigar makers  all terms that could apply to either Giolito and / or Drew personally.

One thing that was different is that Jonathan Drew setup for what he referred to as a Micro Factory within the La Gran Fabrica. This factory within a factory allowed both Drew and Giolito to operate in a boutique-like setting. The Micro Factory featured its own rollers and was adorned with Subculture Studio art reflecting the theme of the project. Giolito had built (even to this day) a reputation as a brand owner who was very hands-on with his cigar production, so this seemed to be an ideal setup.

Drawing from Drew Estates extensive tobacco reserves, the blend was interesting in itself. The blend consisted of a Nicaraguan Corojo 99 wrapper, a Connecticut Habano binder, and Nicaraguan fillers. It was a very much a different cigar for both Drew Estate and Illusione. Drew Estate had not produced a premium hand-made blend with a Aganorsa grown Nicaraguan Corojo 99 wrapper, but this is a type of tobacco Giolito had worked with on his blends. At the same time, working with U.S. grown Connecticut Habano was something Giolito had not worked with (and would be something seen on the upcoming Drew Estate T52). By building a blend with some of the different tobaccos Drew Estate offered, it gave Giolito an opportunity to blend beyond what was his comfort zone.

Eight sizes of the line were planned: Corona (4 x 46), Robusto (5 x 50), Robusto Larga (5 1/2 x 54), Corona Larga (6 x 46), Toro (6 x 52), 660 (6 x 60), Torpedo (6 1/2 x 54), and Churchill (7 x 48). It was one of the few times, Giolito has ever worked on a major 6 x 60 release.

The bands even had a look that were a cross between Drew Estates style and Illusiones.

The Release

Nosotros definitely had a deeper marketing campaign than Illusione had seen before. This kicked off at the 2009 IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans. Much was made of the two principals, Giolito and Drew throughout the process. While seeing Jonathan Drew as a part of marketing was not unusual, it was the first (and possibly only time), I remember seeing Giolito on the marketing. Once the cigar was actually released, Giolito also did several events promoting the cigar.

The news of the project was extremely well received at the 2009 IPCPR Trade Show by the industry as a whole. Plans were for a Fall, 2009 release, but that did not happen. Toward the end of 2009, it was announced the release was being delayed until March, 2010.

Ultimately, the cigars did reach the shelves in the Spring of 2010. It was met by consumers and media with some mixed reviews. When I personally smoked the cigar when it was initially released, I felt it was a good cigar, but needed some time. I did feel that time was kind to this cigar. At the same time, I was just expecting more from the cigar, but thats subjective.

When the 2010 IPCPR Trade Show came around, Nosotros was there  promoted at both the Drew Estate and Illusione booths. On the surface, the state of the project seemed healthy and the excitement of the project never faded from both the principals involved and the retailers at the show.

The End

On September 27th 2010, word came out that the plug was being pulled on the Nosotros project. Despite some of the mixed reviews, this came as a big shock to many  especially since the 2010 IPCPR Trade Show had just ended a little over a month before-hand.

The announcement the project was done was made in a statement was issued by Giolito:

Illusione cigars will no longer participate in the Nosotros brand project with Jonathan Drew DBA Drew Estate. After two and a half years, terms for a product delivery date still could not be negotiated. The Nosotros brand/trademark dies in the Drew Estate Factory as per contractual agreement, and will not be made outside of the factory where it originated.

In terms of what went wrong, we really dont know all the details  and probably never will. However, some bits and pieces have come out. In a 2015 interview we did on Stogie Geeks with former Drew Estate CEO and President Steve Saka, he commented that the original blend was using some 3 year old aged tobaccos integral to the blend, but to get the product out there, they just didnt have the 3 year old tobaccos available to create the magic of when the Nosotros blend. Ultimately the decision was made to pull the plug as opposed to mustering on.

In 2013, Jonathan Drew commented online to an article written Cigar Aficionado that happened to be on his Herrera Esteli brand:

A few years back, there was a very special brand, ILLUSIONE, which I was and continue to be enamored with  and spent a lot of time working on a brand with the owner called Nosotros. While the brand was beautiful, Dion and I missed the mark because the consumers wanted something that would be in between Liga Privada and Illusione  but instead we made brand with a whole different character. Dion and I continue to be friends till this day  and I consider him to be one of the best brand builders and people in the industry today. We both learned a lot from the Nosotros experience. I know that the things we learned made both of our companies stronger for different reasons.

Following the end of the announcement, there was talk that a batch of the Nosotros cigar was sold to Outlaw Cigar in Kansas City. Supposingly, it would be marketed as Outlaw Cigars 13, but it never was officially confirmed on whether this was the cigar or not. The 13 happened to be sold in the same eight sizes as the Nosotros. In addition, Outlaw marketed it as:

Outlaws newest cigar 13 is shrouded in mystery. The origin and history of this great full-bodied cigar cannot be disclosed without unleashing the wrath of the gods. But the story goes something like this Somewhere deep in the fields of Nicaragua, this cigar was developed by two cigar gods from a secret stash of the best tobaccos known. It was anticipated that once released, it would become the new coveted cigar to cigar enthusiasts. However, one of the cigar gods dared to use an abundance of strong tobaccos, making it unruly and untamable. The cigar gods parted ways in dismay Now after much time has passed the ill-fated cigars somehow ended up in the hands of the renegade Outlaw. The extra time of aging has made them what the cigar gods dreamed that one day they would be A smoking experience reserved for the greatest of cigars!

Epilogue

It has been six years since the plug was pulled on Nosotros. Both Giolito and Drew have since gone on to achieve incredible levels of success in the cigar industry. Giolito returned to working with Casa Fernandez, first continuing at Raices Cubanas, then working with TABSA. Drew has gone on to do several collaborations: Nirvana Cameroon Selection for Swisher Internationals Royal Gold Cigars, which would eventually be absorbed back into the Drew Estate portfolio following the Swisher acquisition of Drew Estate. Another collaboration was the recently launched All Out Kings with Robert Caldwell of Caldwell Cigar Company. Finally, a collaboration has been done with Ventura Cigar Company on two blends in its Archetype Series.

Revisiting this collaboration was inspired recently by a conversation I had with a younger cigar enthusiast in his early 20s who had told me he was a fan of Drew Estate and Illusione Cigars. When I asked him about Nosotros, he did not know about the cigar. I was surprised, yet not surprised. While today you might still be able to find some Nosotros tucked away at some retailers, time has passed and a new generation of cigar enthusiasts have emerged. At the same time cigar enthusiasts who remember Nosotros have moved on.

The past eight to ten years are long going to be remembered as one of the most creative periods in the cigar industry. While Nosotros didnt work out in the end, the creativity and efforts behind this project should not be forgotten. Ultimately, I found revisiting this important part of modern cigar history something worth doing.

Photo / Image Credits: Cigar Coop, except where noted
"...king of the hate left..."--

"As my friend Capper -- the best Wisconsin blogger ever -- says, there will be more. There's always more." - karoli

"...the psychiatrically attuned Capper..."--

"This is really great of you! I'm so proud to know someone like you"--

"Capper, a reasonable (and maybe even likeable) Lefty..."--

"capper, the Sidney Freedman of the hate left..."--

"I love capper because, well, what's not to love. But I also hate capper for alerting me to nonsense like this."---

"Capper, you really have a knack for this kind of writing. Really."--

"Crap. I agree with capper. Can Armageddon be far behind?"--

"capper is right. OMG, did I actually say that?"--
There was a time during early efforts to undo the Legislature's repeal of capital punishment in 2015 that longtime death penalty opponent Sen. Ernie Chambers was confident.

He said he had no doubt Nebraska voters would uphold the decision of the Legislature to stop executions.

Now, because of the way the ballot referendum will appear to voters, he just doesn't know.

"It's so confusing to people," he said.

He even gets confused trying to explain it to those who call him and ask.

The simplest way to think of it is to focus on what the Legislature did, and then to decide if you want to retain the law senators passed to eliminate the death penalty for first-degree murder and substitute it with a life sentence, or if you want to repeal that bill (LB268), keeping the death sentence intact.

Senators voted 32-15 in May 2015 to repeal the death penalty. The governor vetoed the repeal, saying it was an important safety tool and vital to good prison management.

"If the death penalty is not in place, then an inmate has no concern about receiving a more serious sanction," and would be fearless, Ricketts said.

He pointed to the killing of two inmates, presumably by other inmates, during a riot in May 2015 at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. No one has been charged in those deaths.

Senators voted 30-19 to override Ricketts' veto.

But soon after the session ended, Nebraskans for the Death Penalty conducted a successful referendum campaign, funded in part with large donations from Ricketts and his father, Joe. Enough people signed the petitions to put the repeal on hold.

Now, both sides have lined up their arguments for and against abolishing the death penalty.

Costs

Senators argued during debate on the bill the state was wasting millions of tax dollars on death penalty trials and appeals.

Then in August, they introduced a study of the costs of Nebraska's death penalty by Ernie Goss, a Creighton University economics professor, who found the state spends $14.6 million per year to maintain its capital punishment system.

Nebraskans for the Death Penalty, Ricketts and Attorney General Doug Peterson have denounced the study, saying there are no fiscal savings to eliminating the death penalty.

They say the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy defends indigent people facing the death penalty at no additional cost to taxpayers.

While Goss cites excessive costs of appeals for death row inmates, advocates for the death penalty say eliminating the sentence will not reduce the number of appeals available to convicted murderers.

Death penalty drugs

Retain A Just Nebraska, which wants voters to retain the law that abolishes the death penalty and substitute life in prison, has argued that Nebraska is unlikely to ever carry out an execution even if voters bring back the death penalty.

The state has been unable in recent years to get two of the three lethal injection drugs  sodium thiopental and pancuronium bromide.

Peterson recently said he is confident that if the death penalty is preserved, Nebraska will be able to "model a protocol" that will allow it to implement the death penalty.

But even if the protocol is changed to include different drugs, said University of Nebraska law professor Eric Berger, who opposes the death penalty, pharmaceutical companies are balking at allowing their drugs to be used for executions.

Some states have shrouded their death penalty protocol in secrecy or used smaller compounding pharmacies to supply the drugs.

Death penalty opponent and Lincoln Sen. Colby Coash said that to hide the protocol would take a change in state law. And the Legislature values transparency.

"The stakes on this are just too high," he said.

Deterrent to crime

The two sides disagree on whether studies show the death penalty is a deterrent to violent crime.

"It's important for Nebraskans to realize that they would be spending a lot of taxpayer money on a system that there is no evidence that it makes us any safer," said Berger, the Nebraska law professor.

Bob Evnen, one of the founders of Nebraskans for the Death Penalty, said he thinks there is good evidence it is a deterrent, that innocent lives are saved by the existence of the death penalty and that the state is morally compelled to have it in place.

Religious groups differ

Faith leaders and their followers have split on the death penalty.

The Nebraska Catholic Conference, priests, nuns and other leaders spoke out last month on their opposition to the death penalty and said they would urge 375,000 Catholics in more than 350 parishes to vote to retain the Legislature's decision.

Catholic catechism teaches that if there are bloodless means to defend human lives against aggressors and protect public order and safety, the death penalty is not needed, said Nebraska Catholic Conference Executive Director Tom Venzor. The bishops stand firm in their opposition.

The conference is taking an active role in advocating for a vote Nov. 8 to retain the abolition of the death penalty with videos, a social media campaign, radio and TV ads and speaking events.

Meanwhile, Stu Kerns, pastor of Zion Church of Lincoln, supports the death penalty and repeal of the law.

If the death penalty is inappropriately applied, he said, then people ought not to do away with it but rather should argue for its reform.

"For me, as I read the Bible, the Bible indicates that all human persons are made in the image of God and therefore they are of incalculable worth," he said. "And when someone treats human life casually, the only response to that kind of brutality is to take their own life. There's no other cost that's appropriate."

That is the duty of the state, he said.

"My personal calling is to forgive and to exercise grace," he said. "The state's calling is to execute justice, whatever's just."

Hearings next week

The Nebraska Secretary of State's office will hold hearings on the death penalty beginning this week.

The first will be 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center, 6400 University Drive South.

The second is 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Nebraskan Student Union, 1013 W. 27th St.

The last hearing is 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18 in room 1525 at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Benjamin Franklin once wrote, In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. If youre like most Americans, paying Uncle Sam is your largest financial burden. In fact, the nation as a whole doesnt earn enough money to pay its total tax bill for the year until April. Making matters worse for some individuals, taxes can vary significantly between states.

Highest state taxes

WalletHub recently analyzed how state and local tax rates compare to the national median in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia. The purpose was to determine which states pay the highest and lowest tax rates, and to see how each state stacks up against the national median. This comparison was based on four different types of taxation: real estate taxes (based on a median home price of $175,700), vehicle property taxes (based on a 2016 Toyota Camry LE), income taxes (based on mean third quintile income of $53,889), and sales and excise taxes.

Taxpayers in the states with the highest taxes pay three times more than those in the states with the lowest taxes. We previously took a look at the cities with the highest taxes  now, lets take a look at the 10 states with the highest state and local taxes, according to WalletHub.

10. New Jersey

Average Annual State and Local Taxes: $6,675

Difference from National Average: 15.7%

Adjusted Rank by Cost of Living: 47

The Northeast is not particularly kind to taxpayers. New Jersey ranks as the No. 10 worst state when it comes to tax bills. The state doesnt charge a vehicle property tax, but its real estate taxes are worst in class, with the average bill totaling $4,029. However, a cheaper option is nearby. Delaware ranks as the second best state in the country for taxes. In fact, the average annual state and local tax bill in Delaware is less than half of New Jerseys tax bill.

9. Iowa

Average Annual State and Local Taxes: $6,872

Difference from National Average: 19.12%

Adjusted Rank by Cost of Living: 31

Iowa ranks as the No. 9 worst state for taxes, and has few solutions for taxpayers looking to stay close to home. Out of the six bordering states, South Dakota has the lowest average tax bill at $5,275. That is a decent difference, but few people are willing to move to South Dakota primarily for tax reasons. Missouri might be the most practical option. The state ranks roughly in the middle at $6,091.

8. Ohio

Average Annual State and Local Taxes: $6,991

Difference from National Average: 21.19%

Adjusted Rank by Cost of Living: 36

Ohio ranks as the No. 8 worst state for taxes. The average tax bill totals $6,991, which is 21% above the national average. The state ranks poorly on real estate taxes (No. 40 in America), but better than average on income taxes. It also ranks comparable to its neighbors Pennsylvania and Indiana. Like New Jersey, Ohio doesnt have a vehicle property tax.

7. Michigan

Average Annual State and Local Taxes: $7,054

Difference from National Average: 22.28%

Adjusted Rank by Cost of Living: 35

Michigan is the first state on the list to crack the $7,000 level. The state ranks as the No. 7 worst state for taxes with an average bill of $7,054. Real estate taxes and income taxes rank poorly compared to the rest of the country, while its vehicle property taxes are in the middle of the pack. On the positive side, the states sales and excise taxes rank better than average.

6. New York

Average Annual State and Local Taxes: $7,211

Difference from National Average: 25%

Adjusted Rank by Cost of Living: 51

Living in Americas largest city comes at a steep price. New York ranks as the No. 6 worst state for taxes. Its tax bill of $7,211 is among the highest in the country, and the worst when adjusted for cost of living. New York ranks poorly on real estate taxes, income taxes, and sales and excise taxes, as it has some of the highest taxes on gasoline and cigarettes youll find. Youre in luck if you own a vehicle, as there is no vehicle property tax.

5. Rhode Island

Average Annual State and Local Taxes: $7,255

Difference from National Average: 25.77%

Adjusted Rank by Cost of Living: 48

Rhode Islands land mass is small, but its taxes more than make up for it. The state ranks as the No. 5 worst state for taxes. In fact, you wont find much relief anywhere. Rhode Island ranks dead last for vehicle property taxes, near the bottom on real estate taxes, and only about average on income taxes and sales and excise taxes. Neighboring Connecticut doesnt rank any better, but at least Massachusetts comes in at No. 31 overall.

4. Connecticut

Average Annual State and Local Taxes: $7,262

Difference from National Average: 25.89%

Adjusted Rank by Cost of Living: 50

Connecticut ranks as the No. 4 worst state for taxes, with the average tax bill only $7 more than Rhode Islands. The states real estate taxes and vehicle property taxes are almost dead last in the country, but its income taxes and sales and excise taxes are slightly better than average. Aside from New York and Rhode Island, almost every state in the Northeast has significantly lower tax bills.

3. Wisconsin

Average Annual State and Local Taxes: $7,316

Difference from National Average: 26.82%

Adjusted Rank by Cost of Living: 41

High real estate and income taxes make Wisconsin the No. 3 worst state for taxes. The average real estate tax bill is a whopping $3,459, while income taxes add another $1,918 to the overall tax burden. However, there is no vehicle property tax, and the states sales and excise taxes rank quite low.

2. Nebraska

Average Annual State and Local Taxes: $7,466

Difference from National Average: 29.41%

Adjusted Rank by Cost of Living: 39

Nebraska ranks as the No. 2 worst state for taxes. The average tax bill of $7,466 is 29.41% above the national average. Real estate taxes ($3,301), vehicle property taxes ($340), and sales and excise taxes ($2,462) are all a major blow to taxpayers. The states income tax is right in the middle of the pack at $1,363. Overall, every state bordering Nebraska ranks better when it comes to taxes.

1. Illinois

Average Annual State and Local Taxes: 7,836

Difference from National Average: 35.83%

Adjusted Rank by Cost of Living: 43

Illinois ranks as the worst state in America for taxes. The states average tax bill of $7,836 is almost 36% higher than the national average. It ranks dead last for real estate taxes ($3,959), and No. 30 for income taxes ($1,520). On a positive note, there is no vehicle property tax.

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NBC News' Billy Bush in conversation with Jeff Rossen for SiriusXM's TODAY Show Radio at SiriusXM Studios on August 22, 2016 in New York City. (Craig Barritt / Getty Images)

The "Today" show had no choice on Monday morning  it had to address the suspension of Billy Bush, the show's 9 a.m. co-anchor.

On Friday, the Washington Post published a 2005 video of Donald Trump making extremely lewd comments about women, all while on a bus with Bush to film a segment on "Access Hollywood," where Bush was a co-host at the time. Bush, who can be heard laughing and joking with Trump during the exchange, faced massive criticism from viewers.

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Bush released an apology Friday, saying he was "embarrassed and ashamed," noting, "It's no excuse, but this happened 11 years ago  I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along." Rumors flew over the weekend about Bush's "Today" show status; several publications reported he would appear on air Monday morning and address the incident on "Access Hollywood," a syndicated entertainment program owned by NBC Universal. But on Sunday night, NBC News confirmed that Bush was indefinitely suspended from the program.

During the 9 a.m. ET hour, which Bush has co-anchored since August, co-anchors Al Roker and Tamron Hall addressed the matter pretty quickly.

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"As you can see, Billy Bush is not joining us today, as you're probably aware, part of that 2005 'Access Hollywood' taping with Donald Trump that's been in the news all weekend," Roker said.

"NBC, which owns 'Access Hollywood,' has suspended Billy for his role in that conversation pending further review," Hall continued. "That said, let's turn to last night's debate, where that 2005 tape played a big role."

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They segued into footage of the debate, where Trump noted his apology for the language on the tape and called it "locker room talk."

The tape raised many questions about why NBC had not released the footage; apparently, "Access Hollywood" (overseen by the entertainment division, as opposed to NBC News) had discovered the tape last Monday and the network was waiting for lawyers to give the go-ahead.

Earlier on "Today," as the show started at 7 a.m., viewers were immediately greeted to a quick scene from the video of Bush and Trump getting off the bus, as co-anchor Savannah Guthrie's voiceover recapped the events of the weekend. Guthrie and Lester Holt (in for Matt Lauer) kicked off with talk of the debate, as NBC reporter Hallie Jackson called it the "vulgar audio that's thrown (Trump's) campaign into crisis." She then clarified that the audio was "part of a 2005 conversation with Billy Bush during an 'Access Hollywood' taping, a program produced by NBC Universal."

The show aired brief footage of the bus video, where viewers could hear Trump talking about how he likes to automatically start kissing beautiful women: "When you're a star, they let you do it. You can do everything," while Bush laughs and adds, "Whatever you want." "Grab them by the p---y," Trump then says.

Guthrie also noted that Bush was suspended and added that "Access Hollywood" is produced by NBC News's parent company, NBC Universal. The video with footage of Trump and Bush came up a couple more times during the earlier hours of "Today," with reporter Andrea Mitchell saying that Trump was defiant about that "bombshell 'Access Hollywood' tape bragging about his sexual conquests."

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In May, NBC announced that Bush would join "Today" as a co-anchor, and in what CNN media reporter Brian Stelter calls "a multi-million-dollar bet on Bush," moved him from "Access Hollywood" in Los Angeles to "Today" in New York. Bush was already a polarizing figure on the show after one of his first weeks on the job, when he got into an on-air, heated debate with Roker over whether embattled swimmer Ryan Lochte lied about his alleged robbery at the Summer Olympics in Rio.

On Monday morning, Stelter reported that several "Today" staffers aren't optimistic about Bush returning to NBC's morning airwaves. "He will never be on the show again," one source told Stelter.

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Whatever your feelings about either presidential candidate or "Saturday Night Live's" political comedy acumen, the show itself has been fundamentally hobbled in the year since executive producer Lorne Michaels had Donald Trump on to host.

Even so, there was some anticipation about how "SNL" would tackle what had become, only a day earlier, the biggest story of Trump's campaign so far. Twenty-four hours is a tight window to write something  anything  of satiric quality about the 2005 hot mic audio caught by "Access Hollywood," wherein Trump was heard talking about women, specifically their bodies and what he was entitled to do to them, as if he were a martini-soaked business traveler who couldn't be bothered to use the back of his hand to wipe the drool from his mouth before carving into a steak.

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Overworked cold opens are something of a "SNL" tradition, and this week's premise had to wind its way from the vice presidential debate to breaking CNN news coverage featuring an unrepentant Trump (Alec Baldwin) before then cutting to a celebratory Hillary Clinton (Kate McKinnon) swigging Champagne.

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It felt like a long way around to get to the tepid climatic joke  more hot mic verbal spewage from Trump  but something interesting happened in that moment and, whether intentional or not, "SNL" landed on a subtle bit of visual commentary. Still miked up, Baldwin's Trump stood as if to leave the TV studio but remained in frame, the camera literally reducing him to his essence: a headless creature all gut and groin. (If you disagree with that characterization, don't bother emailing me; take it up with Lorne Michaels.)

What also became obvious was that the satirical juice in Baldwin's interpretation is all in the hand gestures. I would happily watch a torso-only view of Baldwin-as-Trump, endlessly gesticulating, from now until the election.

The rest:

- "Hamilton's" Lin-Manuel Miranda hosted and his warm-hearted performance only reaffirmed his status as one of the most delightful human beings to take his place in the celebrity ecosystem.

There was the inevitable "Hamilton" riff as the opening monologue turned into a "SNL"-tailored version of "My Shot." And while Miranda didn't play a wide range of characters, I'm not sure I caught him reading his lines off a cue card once. He had a nice way of finessing a trope (desperately hip substitute teacher) or a twist ending (guy who thinks the weirdos camping next to him and his wife are actually fun!).

Two sketches played to his theater bona fides: a faux sultry video about high school drama geeks and their cast parties (lots of Sprite and the lights always stay on!), and a "Music Man" parody that turned "The Wells Fargo Wagon" number on its head with fast-talk of phony bank accounts rather than musical instruments  sharp idea but labored execution. Either way, let's hope he returns as host soon because he makes for great screen company and his energy is perfectly suited for the show.

- Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon made a surprise appearance at the Weekend Update desk playing undecided suburban Philadelphia voters, and if you were hoping Fey's typically acerbic sense of humor would up the bar when compared with Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che's efforts to mine comedy from the news cycle, well  that didn't happen. Fallon breaking mid-scene? A foregone conclusion that perhaps amuses no one but him at this point.

- A good chunk of performers in the current cast hail from Chicago in some shape or form, and Cecily Strong continues to be the go-to female player, with Beck Bennett  bang-on with the calm, squinty, thousand-yard-stare as Mike Pence  filling in some of the gaps that might have formerly been occupied by Taran Killam.

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Alex Moffat, the iO Theater and Second City alum who was brought on as a featured player this year, was mostly relegated to silent acting, which isn't a bad thing when one of the sketches is as good as the digital short "Diego Calls His Mom"  a beautifully realized portrait of Latinidad  with Moffat playing one of the blue-eyed Americans befriended by Miranda's immigrant in a sketch that highlighted both the unpretentious, if sweetly absurd, ways of America's heartland.

- The sharpest comedy came in fits and starts, whether it was Miranda arriving backstage at the portrait gallery of guest hosts and stopping at Trump's to offer some pointed words, or new featured player Melissa Villasenor in the cold open announcing that "I'm the new Hispanic cast member and tonight I'll be playing Asian moderator Elaine Quijano because, baby steps." I just wish these moments actually felt legitimately subversive or rebellious.

- Emmy winner Kate McKinnon added yet another impression to her arsenal this season and the show was smart to devote an entire sketch to it with "A Day Off with Kellyanne Conway," wherein the Trump campaign manager's blissful, sun-dappled free time is interrupted by an endless procession of texts requiring her spin doctoring. It might be McKinnon's strongest impression and by far it was the best written sketch of the night, with point of view and something to say.

- Worth noting that Baldwin's script in the cold open allowed him to use the very same language Trump spoke in real life. The word p---y was uttered twice in that sketch, in fact. A nod to the standards people at NBC who gave that the go-ahead.

nmetz@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @Nina_Metz

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Archbishop Blase Cupich speaks to the media after celebrating Mass on Oct. 9, 2016, at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. Pope Francis said in Rome that he would formally elevate Cupich to the rank of cardinal on Nov. 19. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune) (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich stood before hundreds in Holy Name Cathedral for 11 a.m. Sunday Mass and started his homily by saying he had news for those who might have gone to bed early and slept late.

"The Cubs won the second game of the playoffs and now lead 2-0," Cupich said, prompting the cathedral to erupt in laughter and applause.

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The more relevant news in the pews was that at about 5 a.m. Sunday, Cupich was awakened by a phone call from a friend in Rome who told him that Pope Francis announced in St. Peter's Square that Cupich will be elevated to the rank of cardinal, one of the Roman Catholic Church's most prestigious titles next to the papacy.

He told worshippers that he was "so very grateful and humbled," by the news, and those gathered broke into louder applause. A moment later, Cupich said, "but on to more important things  the Gospel."

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Installed as archbishop in November 2014, Cupich, 67, will receive his red hat in Rome on Nov. 19, the day before the church's Year of Mercy ends. The elevation means he will have a vote in future papal elections.

"I would have to say as I reflect on it, while I'm pleased with this, I don't feel any different," Cupich told the media gathered in the cathedral courtyard after Mass. "I feel as though I have to be the same person that I've always been. So, this isn't going to give me greater impulse or hold me back from being involved in the lives of people. I just don't feel as though it is in any way going to change me personally."

Besides, he joked, his family "is just going to go with the flow on this and treat me with the same lack of deference that they have in the past."

Though this is the first time Francis has named American cardinals, it was no surprise to some that Cupich's name was on the list unveiled Sunday. Chicago's last six archbishops were named cardinals, and Cupich's star has been on the rise ever since he leapt to the third-largest U.S. archdiocese from the diocese of Spokane, Wash.

Last year, Francis hand-picked Cupich to participate in a worldwide meeting of bishops and cardinals to discuss how to make the church's teachings on marriage, contraception, divorce and homosexuality relevant to contemporary Catholic families.

Then in July, Francis named Cupich to the influential Congregation for Bishops, a Vatican panel that helps vet bishop candidates around the world. At the time, experts said Cupich's appointment indicated the pope's desire to have a key pastoral voice involved in the selection of U.S. church leaders and signaled he was one step closer to becoming a cardinal.

Despite those indications, John Carr, director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University, described Cupich's pending elevation as a surprise. Carr, a former classmate of Cupich's at St. John Vianney College Seminary at the University of St. Thomas, said when tapping new cardinals, Francis hasn't always gone to traditional dioceses that have had cardinals.

"Pope Francis has a practice of going to the peripheries, as he calls them," Carr said. He added that several dioceses that will receive cardinals via Francis' latest directive do not have them now. "Chicago is many things, but not a periphery.

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"He (Francis) was looking for someone who shares his mission, his message and his practices," Carr said, "and he found him in Chicago."

Carr, who called himself "a great admirer" of Cupich, said the archbishop is "a pastor who listens, learns and leads."

Archbishop George Mundelein was the first Chicago prelate elevated to cardinal in 1924, eight years after he had been installed here. His successor, Samuel Stritch, served for six years before getting his red hat. But Albert Meyer, John Cody, Joseph Bernardin, Francis George and now Cupich were elevated within two years of their arrival in Chicago.

Outside Holy Name before Mass, Keelin and Gayle Wyman, of Midlothian, were encouraged by the news. Gayle Wyman said Cupich has done a commendable job getting out to parishes across the Chicago area.

Keelin Wyman said Cupich is "a relatively youthful voice and that's a good thing. As American baby boomers, we'd like to see a certain modernity come to the Catholic Church."

That modernity would include married priests, female clergy and what Gayle Wyman called "a more realistic view on birth control."

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Inside the cathedral, usher Araceli Cooper handed out bulletins while she beamed.

"He reaches more people and is very approachable," Cooper said, "and he gives us inspiration on how to be faithful and be good Catholics."

In addition to Cupich, Pope Francis elevated 16 others to the rank of cardinal, including two from the U.S.  Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin and Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell.

Cupich's elevation to cardinal will not change his role as archbishop of Chicago, a title he has held since he was installed. He will continue to oversee a massive overhaul of 351 parishes and 229 schools.

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"The role of cardinal brings new responsibilities," Cupich said in a statement earlier Sunday morning, "but with your prayers and help, we will continue the task we have begun of renewing the church in the archdiocese and preparing it to thrive in the decades ahead."

After Sunday's service, Cupich said he was unsure whether he would ask a local group of civic and religious leaders to a series of events in which he will be formally elevated to cardinal.

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He also said he "will go with the usual nomenclature" and take advice from others about whether he will be Cardinal Blase Cupich or Blase Cardinal Cupich.

He was even drawn into the vitriolic presidential campaign. A reporter asked whether he might weigh in on Republican nominee Donald Trump's disparaging comments about women captured on audio in 2005 and revealed on Friday.

"Well, I would say this," he said. "I have a deep faith in the moral fiber of the American people to respond appropriately. That's all I'm going to say. Thank you."

mbrachear@chicagotribune.com

tgregory@chicagotribune.com
Archbishop Blase Cupich arrives Oct. 9, 2016, at Holy Name Cathedral, where he celebrated Mass. Earlier in the day he learned he will be elevated to the rank of cardinal by Pope Francis. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich was awarded one of the Roman Catholic Church's most prestigious titles next to the papacy Sunday, when Pope Francis announced in St. Peter's Square that he will elevate Chicago's church leader to the rank of cardinal.

Cupich will receive his red hat in Rome Nov. 19, the day before the church's Year of Mercy ends. The elevation means he will have a vote in future papal elections.

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Pope Francis elevated Cupich and 16 other churchmen to the rank of cardinal, including two others from the U.S. -- Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin and Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell.

Though this is the first time Francis has named American cardinals, it was no surprise to some that Cupich's name was on the list unveiled Sunday. Chicago's last six archbishops were named cardinals and Cupich's star has been on the rise ever since he leapt to the third largest U.S. archdiocese from the diocese of Spokane, Wash. just two years ago.

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Last year, Francis handpicked Cupich to participate in a worldwide meeting of bishops and cardinals to discuss how to make the church's teachings on marriage, contraception, divorce and homosexuality relevant to contemporary Catholic families.

Then in July, Francis named Cupich to the influential Congregation for Bishops, a Vatican panel that helps vet bishop candidates around the world. At the time, experts said Cupich's appointment indicated the pope's desire to have a key pastoral voice involved in the selection of U.S. church leaders and signaled he was one step closer to becoming a cardinal.

"I am humbled by the Holy Father's trust and confidence in me," Cupich said in a statement about that post in July.

Cupich's elevation to cardinal will not change his role as archbishop of Chicago, a title he has held since his installation in November 2014. He will continue to oversee a massive overhaul of 351 parishes and 229 schools.

Archbishop George Mundelein was the first Chicago prelate elevated to cardinal in 1924, eight years after he had been installed here. His successor, Samuel Stritch, served for six years before getting his red hat. But Albert Meyer, John Cody, Joseph Bernardin, Francis George and now Cupich were elevated within two years of their arrival in Chicago.
CTU President Karen Lewis speaks at the Chicago Teachers Union in Chicago on Thursday, June 2, 2016. Standing next to her is Jesse Sharkey, vice president of the CTU. Lewis and Sharkey declined to provide details Saturday on weekend contract negotiations. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Negotiators for the Chicago Teachers Union and Mayor Rahm Emanuel 's administration met for several hours Saturday at the downtown offices of a top school district labor attorney after the union had sat down with the bargaining unit that will play a key role in determining if a deal can get done before a threatened strike deadline.

Officials did not comment about the status of talks at the end of the day. The union has said it will strike Tuesday if a tentative settlement can't be reached. Talks are expected to go through Monday, which is the Columbus Day school holiday.

The CTU met with its 40-member big bargaining unit earlier Saturday at the Lower West Side headquarters of Service Employees International Union Healthcare. CTU officials said the meeting was to review its position on a potential contract.

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CTU President Karen Lewis declined to comment as she left the meeting prior to a scheduled session with the Chicago Board of Education's team at the offices of Chicago Public Schools labor attorney James Franczek. CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey also declined to provide details.

"We're trying to understand where we're at," Sharkey said. "We're trying to make sure we're on the same page."

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The CTU's bargaining unit has real clout. It will sign off on any agreement reached at the table before a prospective contract is forwarded to the CTU's House of Delegates for a vote. Ultimately, the union's full membership will have to vote on a contract.

The bargaining team rejected a contract proposal made by the city in January, even though union leadership had deemed it a "serious offer." That dashed hopes of a settlement without the threat of a strike and sent both sides back to the table.

In 2012, the city thought it had a settlement after a five-day strike, only to see the House of Delegates turn thumbs down on the deal. The strike lasted two more days before teachers went back to work.

The union continued to prepare for a strike on Saturday. CTU's press shop has urged members to keep an eye their email, the union's website and social media "on Monday evening."

"Unless you hear otherwise, the strike begins Tuesday, Oct. 11," the union said, telling members to report to their respective schools to picket on the following morning.

CTU leaders have outlined a $200 million wish list they want to offset cuts to pay and benefits, bolster staffing levels and pay for what they say would be a $500-per-student funding increase. Aside from preventing cuts to compensation, the union said the money would help school counselors, social workers and psychologists, ease classroom sizes in early grades and restore cuts to library services.

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CPS has said it continues to work within the framework of the offer it made in January, which included modest pay increases and other items such as a cap on the number of privately operated charter schools in Chicago.

One of the major sticking points from that offer is the city's desire to phase out a long-standing practice of picking up 7 percentage points of teachers' 9 percent pension contribution. The union has argued this amounts to a pay cut, while the city says it is necessary to sustain the troubled pension system.

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State law bars the CTU from striking over issues such as class sizes, outsourcing, staffing, layoffs and the length of the school year, although all of those topics can be discussed during contract negotiations.

An ongoing issue for the union has been its demand that the city give schools more surplus money from tax increment financing districts. Emanuel has established a policy of declaring as surplus 25 percent of yearly TIF revenue not committed to a specific project or program. This year, he has committed to a surplus of at least $60 million, with $32.5 million going to CPS, but the figure is expected to be higher in the mayor's proposed budget to be announced Tuesday.

Emanuel contends that relying on TIF revenue, which can decline if real estate values fall, is not a long-term solution to CPS' financial predicament.

"Despite this reality, CPS has offered teachers a fair contract that gives them raises, secures their pensions and was endorsed by an independent arbitrator," CPS spokeswoman Emily Bittner said in a statement.

jjperez@chicagotribune.com
A wide, well-used concrete pedestrian staircase off Wabash Avenue and just north of Trump Tower has become the focus of a high-stakes fight between condo owners and a real estate developer planning to demolish the stairs.

The developer, Belgravia Group, plans a new 17-story, 45-unit condo building over the parking garage at 403 N. Wabash Ave., which would take out a small park as well as the Wabash staircase, part of a popular pedestrian walkway that extends east between the Wrigley Building towers to Michigan Avenue. A lot of money is on the line  the starting price for a unit in the building is $1.5 million, and 20 percent have already sold, said Belgravia president and CEO Alan Lev.

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But many owners of condos at 405 N. Wabash say if the staircase is demolished, the more than 1,000 pedestrians who use the stairs every day in the booming retail and tourist area will instead use their building's driveway, creating a traffic hazard. The dispute highlights the impact of the ongoing boom in downtown residential development on the buildings that are already there.

"It will literally double the number of pedestrians using the driveway," said Bill Daniels, 69, who lives at 405 N. Wabash. "While we haven't had an accident yet, it's an accident waiting to happen."

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The River Plaza Homeowners Association Board has been gathering approval by proxy to allow a possible lawsuit against the developer  it needs two-thirds of the building's owners to proceed. As of last week, the board was almost there at 58 to 60 percent, Daniels said.

Lev said the owners at 405 N. Wabash are primarily concerned that their views will be blocked by the new building, on which construction will start this spring.

"That building is going to impact some of the views on one side of their building  that's what it boils down to," Lev said. He said the Fire Department and Department of Transportation have signed off on the development plan, and that the site has been zoned for a building since the 1970s.

A representative for Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42, declined to comment.

To back up their claims that the staircase demolition could result in collisions, the homeowners association hired pedestrian-traffic specialist Siim Soot, former director of the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, to prepare a report.

Pedestrians walk on the sidewalk near a driveway at 405 N. Wabash Ave. in Chicago on Sept. 21, 2016. Owners of condominiums at the building are complaining about the proposed demolition of a stairway to Wabash as part of a new development. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Soot said in an interview that more than 450,000 people a year use the staircase. His report found that a similar number use the driveway, and if the staircase is demolished, pedestrians will all move to the driveway, which sees more than 1,000 vehicles per day.

"Belgravia is essentially creating an impasse for pedestrians heading west on the City owned plaza and a barrier for those going east," wrote Soot in the April report. He said in an interview that the construction at 403 N. Wabash creates a "substantial risk" for collisions, and noted that the area has gotten more popular for pedestrians since the opening of the plaza between the two parts of the Wrigley Building. The report also cited the growing problem of pedestrians who are distracted by cellphone use, increasing risk of injury.

"They're mentally engaged in other things besides walking, and I've seen that on the driveway at River Plaza," Soot said.

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Another route from Michigan to Wabash is the path along the river near Trump Tower, but that path is more winding and takes more than a minute longer to walk than taking either the staircase or the driveway path, a test by the Tribune found.

"We know people will use the most convenient route possible," Daniels said. Another path just north of Trump Tower is narrow, steep and not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Soot said.

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The Chicago Department of Transportation approved the 403 N. Wabash plan in 2015, CDOT spokesman Michael Claffey said. He said that CDOT staff determined that pedestrian volumes are low enough not to be a matter of concern; by contrast, the Michigan Avenue Bridge over the Chicago River sees as many as 37,000 pedestrians daily.

Lev said that Belgravia is putting in an elevator, open to the general public, that will connect people to Wabash, and also has proposed a new staircase outside the building. Belgravia also has proposed to 405 N. Wabash that it narrow the driveway to add a pedestrian sidewalk.

"There are real practical solutions to this," Lev said.

Daniels said the proposed staircase would be 7 feet wide, less than half the size of the current one and not easily seen by pedestrians.

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As for his views being blocked by a new condo, Daniels said, "that's never been our concern."

mwisniewski@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @marywizchicago
Republican Sens. Ben Sasse and Deb Fischer said Saturday that GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump should step aside as a candidate in favor of vice presidential nominee Mike Pence.

Sasse always had stood opposed to Trump, but Fischer's rejection in the wake of a video disclosure of Trump's lewd comments about and behavior toward women represented a stunning withdrawal of support by Nebraska's senior senator.

Meanwhile, Gov. Pete Ricketts issued a statement condemning Trump's comments as "not only reprehensible and offensive, but they are dangerous."

"His apology video was inadequate," the governor said.

Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Lincoln joined Fischer and Sasse in a call for Trump to "step aside and allow Mike Pence to become the Republican nominee."

"As Americans, we are faced with two strikingly bad choices," Fortenberry said.

"Donald Trump, who has abused women, and Hillary Clinton, who has enabled the abuse of women. It's all wrong."

Republican Rep. Adrian Smith of Gering said: "Donald Trump has said many things that are inappropriate, even indefensible, including his comments about women in the video.

"If Mr. Trump is unable to restore confidence in his ability to serve as the Republican nominee, he should step aside."

Sasse was the first to lead the abandonment of Trump and turn toward Pence.

In a tweet following the video disclosure, Sasse said: "Character matters. (Trump) is obviously not going to win. But he can still make an honorable move: Step aside and let Mike Pence try."

Later, a Sasse spokesman said Nebraska's freshman senator is "likely to write in Pence because he wants to see Republican principles beat Hillary Clinton."

Fischer described Trump's behavior as "disgusting and totally unacceptable."

Sasse was unavailable for comment because he was traveling overseas on a trip tied to national security issues.

Since the launch of this year's presidential caucus and primary season, Sasse opposed Trump's candidacy, beginning with a trip to Iowa to campaign against him.

While other elected Republican officeholders fell in line behind Trump once he secured the GOP nomination, Sasse stood firm in his opposition. He said that he and his wife, Melissa, would cast write-in votes in November.

Don Bacon, the Republican congressional nominee in metropolitan Omaha's 2nd Congressional District, said Trump's comments about women were "indefensible and offensive."

"I am disgusted by these remarks and no woman should ever be talked about in this way," Bacon said in an emailed statement.
In this April 20, 2016 photo, Raymond Haerry is photographed at at West View Nursing & Rehabilitation in West Warwick, R.I. (Steve Szydlowski / AP)

After the first explosions rocked the USS Arizona, Raymond Haerry sprinted to one of the ship's antiaircraft guns, hoping to somehow repel the aerial bombardment.

But the weapon wouldn't fire. The gun's ammunition was in storage.

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Haerry raced toward the ammunition depot. An explosion reached it first, igniting gunpowder and fuel, according to a U.S. Navy interview featuring Haerry and his son. The explosion cracked the ship in two and lifted the bow into the air.

Haerry went with it, falling into oily Pearl Harbor waters that had been lit on fire. He somehow made it to shore, sweeping his arms in front of him as he swam to push the flames away.

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Haerry, one of the last remaining survivors of the Pearl Harbor attacks on the Arizona on Dec. 7, 1941, died on Sept. 27 in Rhode Island, his son told the Associated Press. Haerry was 94.

Haerry's son called him one of the first heroes of World War II. After swimming to shore, he found a gun and opened fire on the attacking Japanese warplanes. He spent the next few days recovering the bodies of his shipmates.

Nearly four of every five men on the ship were lost, some 1,177 men. Almost half of the 2,400 U.S. servicemen who died on that day were on the Arizona. Another 429 sailors and marines were killed when the USS Oklahoma was torpedoed and capsized.

Some were never recovered and remain entombed in the wreckage.

Afterward, Haerry served for 25 years in the Navy, retiring as a master chief. He lived with his wife of 70 years, Evelyn, at a nursing home in West Warwick, Rhode Island.

Haerry's passing means there are only five surviving members of the USS Arizona, according to the Arizona Republic. The dwindling numbers was noted in a 2014 story by The Washington Post's Peter Holley:

"With Pearl Harbor survivors well into their 90s and some passing the century mark, their numbers are shrinking not just in Louisiana, but all over the United States. How many of the 60,000 or so survivors are left? Nobody seems to know, exactly.

"Last year, 2,000 to 2,500 survivors were thought to be still alive, according to Eileen Martinez, chief of interpretation for the USS Arizona Memorial.

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'They are in their twilight years, so now is the time to honor them and thank them for their service,' she told the Reuters news agency last year.

"On (Dec. 7, 2014), four of the nine remaining members of the USS Arizona Reunion Association gathered with dozens of other World War II veterans at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center in Honolulu to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the Japanese attack, according to Reuters.

" Since 1981, the Arizona veterans have met every year in Tuscon and every five years in Hawaii, according to the association's website. (2014's) reunion, according to Fox News, was supposed to be the group's last, but not everyone was so sure."

In all those years, Haerry never returned to Pearl Harbor, his son said. But his plan was always to return.

"As he was getting closer to the end, I think he felt that if there's any place that he'd like to be at rest, it would be with his crewmates, the people who suffered and died on that day," Raymond Haerry Jr. told the AP.

The Washington Post
The release of a hot-mic tape in which Donald Trump is featured saying lewd and sexually suggestive things about women looks to be a catastrophic moment for the presidential nominee, who is already struggling to stay on message in the final month of the campaign.

Dozens of Republican elected officials - including prominent senators such as John McCain (Ariz.) and Rob Portman (Ohio) - have disavowed Trump since news of the tape was broken by The Washington Post on Friday afternoon. Strategists for Republicans trying to keep the party's majorities in the House and the Senate are apoplectic about what Trump's seeming collapse means for their chances and what, if anything, can be done to salvage things.

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Lost amid all of that scrambling is what Trump's demise will mean for those Republican candidates who are positioning themselves to run for president in 2020. Although that jockeying has been an almost entirely out-of-sight effort to date, the size and scope of Trump's problems may force these 2020 aspirants to actively grapple with their position vis-a-vis the Republican nominee sooner rather than later.

Given what Trump has said and done in the course of this campaign - and coupled with the increasing likelihood that he will lose badly on Nov. 8 - the time looks to be now for the class of 2020 to make some hard decisions about their nominee.

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Here's a look at where the potential 2020 contenders have come down on Trump to date:

- Sen. Tom Cotton: The senator from Arkansas has not been quiet about his plans to run for president - regularly visiting Iowa and New Hampshire. But he has been more vague about Trump. "Donald doesn't have much choice at this point. He needs to throw himself on the mercy of the American people tomorrow night," Cotton said Saturday. "He needs to take full responsibility for his words and his behavior, he needs to beg their forgiveness, and he needs to pledge to finally change has ways." That line of argument reflects the broader way in which Cotton has and will probably continue to deal with Trump: right message (populist, anti-elite,anti-Washington), wrong messenger.

- Sen. Ted Cruz: Cruz had successfully staked out his place as the "principled conservative" who never gave in to Trump - especially with a controversial refusal to endorse the party's nominee in a speech at the Republican National Convention. Then Cruz endorsed Trump - for reasons that continue to baffle me. Cruz aides have said he is reconsidering his endorsement in the wake of the hot-mic tape, but I wonder whether the damage is done: Pro-Trump forces already hate him, and now lots of the "Never Trump" people regard him as a traitor.

- Gov. John Kasich: If the party is looking for a candidate in 2020 who was consistently and outspokenly against Trump from the start, the Ohio governor is actually sitting in the catbird's seat. Kasich has refused to endorse Trump for president and didn't attend the Republican National Convention, though it was held in the state where he is governor. Kasich has called Trump's behavior on the hot-mic tape "disgusting" but hasn't called on the nominee to step down.

- Gov. Mike Pence: The Indiana governor and Trump running mate said "yes" to Trump because he had an eye on national office and figured this was his best path out of Indiana and onto the big stage. Pence did himself quite a bit of good in the eyes of donors and party activists with his performance in the vice-presidential debate last week. But no matter what Pence does between now and Nov. 8 - short of walking away from the ticket, which I can't imagine he would do - he will be the "Trump candidate" of 2020. That might not be as terrible a thing as it seems today; there are still lots and lots of people - most of them don't live in Washington or work in politics - who back Trump and will continue to do so no matter what he says or does.

- Sen. Marco Rubio: Aside from Kasich, Rubio has probably played the Trump game the best. He skipped the Republican convention, offering a very brief taped endorsement of Trump and then disappearing. In doing so, he avoided the Cruz-ian confrontation with the Trump forces and largely kept himself out of that whole morass. Soon after the hot-mic tape emerged, Rubio tweeted out a condemnation - calling Trump's comments "egregious" and "impossible to justify." Rubio still has to get re-elected to his Senate seat in November, but if he does, he is well positioned to prosper in the post-Trump Republican Party.

The Washington Post
Yemenis shout during an anti-Saudi rally protesting Saudi-led airstrikes on a funeral hall, outside the UN offices in Sana'a, Yemen, on Oct. 9, 2016. (YAHYA ARHAB / EPA)

SANAA, Yemen  Thousands of Yemenis marched in the capital Sanaa on Sunday to protest a Saudi-led coalition airstrike a day earlier that hit a funeral hall packed with hundreds of mourners, killing over 140 people.

The casualty toll, given by a U.N. official, also mentioned over 525 wounded in what was one of the deadliest single attacks of the country's civil war. The rebel-controlled Health Ministry gave a lower figure, saying that 115 bodies had been counted but that the number will likely rise because "charred remains" were still being identified. Of the 600 wounded it tallied, it said many cases were serious and at least 300 would need treatment abroad.

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Some of the demonstrators who marched outside the U.N. building in southern Sanaa blamed the organization for not ending the conflict and urged an independent investigation. Some protesters brandished automatic weapons and rebel supporters in the crowd called on people from the region to rise up and attack Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi military announced early Sunday it would launch an investigation into "reports about the regrettable and painful bombing" in Sanaa, without acknowledging that its coalition battling rebels in Yemen is the only force with air power in the conflict.

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It is the latest in a string of bombings by the coalition that have struck hospitals, markets and other places where civilians congregate.

"The place has been turned into a lake of blood," said one rescuer, Murad Tawfiq.

Yemeni officials said the dead and wounded included military and security officials from the ranks of the Shiite Houthis rebels and their allies, loyalists of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Houthi leader Abdul-Malek al-Houthi decried the attacks in a televised address, saying that they had been done with U.S. weapons and with a "green light" from Washington. Saleh also took to state TV to call on citizens to head to the Saudi border and attack soldiers there to avenge the deaths. The rebel alliance is battling the internationally-recognized government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Saturday's funeral was held for Sheikh Ali al-Rawishan, the father of Galal al-Rawishan, the interior minister in the rebel-led government. Among those killed was Maj. Gen. Abdul-Qader Hilal, head of the capital's local council, officials said, while Galal al-Rawishan was seriously wounded.

In the aftermath of the strike, hundreds of body parts were found strewn in and outside the hall. Rescuers collected them in sacks. The strike left the building little more than a shell, with most of its walls and roof gone. Cars parked outside were mangled by the blast.

Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the Houthi spokesman in Sanaa, angrily denounced the airstrike as the latest act of "genocide" by the Saudi-led coalition.

"The silence of the United Nations and the international community is the munition of the murderers," he said. "Those murderers will not escape divine justice."

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In a statement early Sunday, Saudi Arabia said an investigation would be launched into the strike. Previous investigations by the Saudis have blamed Houthi or rebel forces for gathering near the sites of their attacks.

"The coalition supporting the legitimate government in Yemen has announced that it is aware of reports about the regrettable and painful bombing of the Great Hall in Sanaa today, which led to the killing and injuring of casualties, as reported," the statement read.

It added: "The coalition confirms that its troops have clear instructions not to target populated area and to avoid civilians."

Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, said in a statement that the relief community in the country is "shocked and outraged" by the airstrikes. He condemned the "horrific attack" and reminded all parties "that under international humanitarian law, they are obliged to protect civilians and civilian infrastructures." He called for an immediate investigation into the incident.

"The international community must exert pressure and influence on all parties to the conflict to ensure civilians are protected," McGoldrick said. "This violence against civilians in Yemen must stop immediately."

Initial reports from health officials in Sanaa indicate that over 140 people were killed and more than 525 injured, McGoldrick said.

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U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the bombing in a statement Sunday, saying that "any deliberate attack against civilians is utterly unacceptable ... Those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice."

The strike also prompted outrage in Hadi's government, with Foreign Minister Abdulmalik al-Mekhlafi taking to social media to condemn it as a "crime."

The incident has led the U.S. to initiate an immediate review of its already reduced support for the Saudi-led coalition, White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said. He warned that U.S. security cooperation with Saudi Arabia "is not a blank check."

The United States has backed the coalition with multi-billion dollar arms sales and provided logistical and intelligence support, though it reportedly began pulling some soldiers from that task in August over concerns about civilian casualties in Saudi-led airstrikes.

The Saudi-led coalition backs Hadi's government which, together with its own allies, is fighting the Houthis and Saleh loyalists in a civil war that broke out in 2014. It's a war largely overshadowed by the conflict against the Islamic State group elsewhere in the Middle East, though rights groups have mounted increased criticism of the Saudi-led airstrikes in recent months.

Saturday's attack comes after a Saudi-led coalition March 15 airstrike on a market in Yemen's northwestern city of Mastaba that killed at least 119 people. Saudi forces reportedly used U.S. munitions in that strike, which at the time was described as the second-deadliest of the Saudi campaign, after a July 2015 attack near a power plant in Mokha that killed at least 120 people.

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A recent report by the U.N.'s human rights chief, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, estimated that 3,799 civilians have been killed since the Saudi-led air campaign began in March of last year. The U.N. and rights groups estimate the conflict has claimed the lives of at least 9,000 people and displaced nearly 3 million more in the Arab world's poorest country.

According to the report, coalition airstrikes were responsible for 60 percent of civilian deaths over a yearlong span starting in July last year. Just under one-quarter  475  civilian deaths were attributed to rebel forces like those loyal to Saleh, and another 113 to affiliates of al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

Associated Press
Ask Tom: Does Dominican Republic get much hurricane damage?

Tom Skilling

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Dear Tom,

We often hear of hurricane damage in Haiti, but not the Dominican Republic. Is it just the west side of the island that bears the brunt of brutal weather?

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 Claudia Hueser

Dear Claudia,

The Dominican Republic is just as much at risk for hurricanes as Haiti, with the path of the storm the determining factor. Hurricane Matthew passed along the far western portion of Haiti, putting much of that country in dire peril, while farther east the Dominican Republic escaped nearly all of the storm's fury. One of the worst storms to hit the Dominican Republic was Hurricane Georges in 1998, which killed 380 and caused more than $1 billion in damage. Another devastating storm was 1979's Hurricane David, which made a category 5 landfall in the Dominican Republic, killing more than 2,000, the vast majority of deaths a result of catastrophic flooding.
North Aurora Village Board members have told Geneva development firm Shodeen Inc. that they want more commercial space, with higher-end tenants, in a proposed mixed-use development that's mostly residential.

During a recent Committee of the Whole meeting, Shodeen president David Patzelt presented a site plan for 16 acres of vacant land on the west side of Randall Road at Miller Drive that would feature seven three-story apartment buildings with a total of 261 units, a clubhouse with an outdoor pool and two outlots designed for fast-food restaurants. The plan does not include any space for retail tenants.

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"We originally slated this entire site for commercial development," said Trustee Chris Faber. "We're giving away a whole lot of it to residential development if we approve this, so we want what commercial space is left to be good commercial space that will bring in sales tax revenue."

Faber suggested that Shodeen build at least one apartment building with retail space on the ground floor, like the development Shodeen built several years ago on South Third Street in Geneva. Trustee Mark Carroll suggested that the restaurant spaces be reserved for upscale restaurants instead of fast-food places that would attract heavier traffic to the complex.

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Patzelt countered that the luxury one- and two-bedroom apartments would serve well-to-do empty-nest couples who would boost sales tax revenue by patronizing businesses throughout the village. He also said that adding retail space to any of the apartment buildings would prevent putting in underground parking below that building, which would lower its appeal to prospective tenants.

"We get many compliments from empty-nester tenants (at similar developments) who like not having to pull out an ice scraper to clear their cars every time they want to drive someplace during the winter," he commented.

Patzelt also expressed doubts that he could easily find retail tenants for a site with limited Randall Road access, saying that vacant stores also discourage prospective renters.

Trustees did praise the use of underground parking garages instead of ground-level garage units because tenants won't be able to use their assigned spaces for storage, making them less likely to park on the street or in guest spaces.

The development proposal must go through an annexation agreement, an official site plan review and a Plan Commission hearing before coming back before the Village Board, said Community Development Director Mike Toth.

"There will be plenty of opportunities to comment on the plan before making a decision on it," he observed.

Denise Linke is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News
An endangered species of fish in China can now be aided to breed, 16 years after it was believed to have lost the ability, local authorities said Saturday.

Dabry's Sturgeon, a class A protected fish in China, lost its natural ability to breed in 2000 due to water pollution and overfishing.

In an experiment by the Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute (YRFRI), four females and six males were put into an environment simulating a natural river, where they lived for more than 10 days. One of the females laid 32,000 eggs and at least one male was involved in the fertilization. A total of 22 baby fish were bred.

"The fish in the experiment were artificially bred and no stimulants were used," said ichthyologist Wei Qiwei, a sturgeon expert with the YRFRI.

Hailing the breakthrough, Wei said the experiment showed that by adjusting the environment, the secretion system of the Dabry's Sturgeon could be stimulated to make mating possible.

"It is significant for the increase of the sturgeon population and the maintenance of natural resources and the environment," he added.
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This August, a case of genetically modified corn seeds triggered hot public attention, as over 3638 mu (598 acres) of unlicensed GM maize fields in Shaanxi Province was weeded out compulsively.

An undated photo shows the genetically modified maize fields in Jingbian County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. [Photo: 163.com]

Police officials in Jingbian County of Yulin City recently unveiled more details of their investigation progress.

Liu Zhenguo, a broker, is accused of selling and distributing unlicensed seeds worth 100,000 yuan (15,000 USD).

He has confessed he knew the seeds were genetically modified, but he did not disclose this to the intermediaries or farmers at the time of sale.

The 51-year-old has been selling standard seeds for the past 20 years, but he admitted that this year he transferred over 10,000 GM corn seeds to Jingbian County's planting fields through several acquaintances.

He also planted more than 500 mu GM maize fields in the neighboring Inner Mongolia, which output surpassed 100,000 kilograms.

Liu sold the rest of the illegal seeds to China's northeastern regions.

According to a preliminary estimate, local farmers have carried an economic loss of few million yuan.

A Shaanxi Province's Agriculture Department official told Chinanews.com there were two reasons the maize fields were eradicated.

Firstly, the seeds were planted without the approval of the local administrative department in charge of agriculture, a violation to China's Seed Law.

Secondly, the Regulations on Genetically Modification were not adhered to, as GM plants are strictly controlled by the state. According to provisions, China allows qualified GM imports, but they can only be used in production and processing.

The local government pledged to recover the farmer's economic loss and compensate each mu for 1,400 yuan.




1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.

2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.

3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.

4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.

5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.

6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.

7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.

8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.

9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.

10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.

11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)

12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.

13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.

14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

18. Gain control of all student newspapers.

19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.

20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.

21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."

31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.

32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.

34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.

37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.

38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand.

39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems.

43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.

44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.

45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike.
A Shanghai bank clerk lost 1.5 million yuan (US$225,000) in a phone scam despite having no money in her debit card apart from some financial products worth 1.55 million yuan.

The bank clerk, surnamed Li, then sued the bank for automatically using the financial products to pay the loans without giving her advance notice.

In January this year, Li found abnormal transfers in her bank account. The bank granted five loans from her bank account and then the money was transferred to another account. Li called the police immediately and her bank account was frozen. She said she had no deposits, and she had never applied for bank loans.

Li admitted to disclosing her bank card's account number and password.

In early January, she received a call claiming her bank account was "unsafe" and she needed to "operate" from her computer. She knew there was no money in her account and thought disclosure of the password would not cause any loss.

However, on April 8, 1.48 million yuan of Li's financial products was used to repay the loans. In addition, the repayments fell behind, and Li's account accrued a bad credit history.

Li believed the financial products should not be used in repayment of loans without giving her notice.

Therefore Li sued the bank at the court in Pudong area of Shanghai, appealing the bank to repay her loss and revocate her accrued credit history.

The local court decided the bank must pay 20 percent of Li's loss and revote her bad credit history.
Bai Enpei, a former senior lawmaker with the National People's Congress, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on Sunday for taking "a huge amount of bribes" and holding excessive assets from unidentified sources.

Bai, who has also served as head of the provincial committees of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Qinghai and Yunnan, was deprived of political rights for life and had all his personal property confiscated, according to a statement of the Anyang City Intermediate People's Court in Henan Province.

After the two-year reprieve, Bai's death penalty will be commuted to life imprisonment, and no further commutation or parole will be permitted, according to the statement.

Between 2000 and 2013, Bai took advantage of his positions and power to wrongfully benefit others in areas including real estate development, mining rights acquisition and promotions, the statement said.

He illegally accepted, personally or through his wife, nearly 250 million yuan (US$37.5 million) worth of money and goods.

Moreover, his property and expenditures significantly exceeded his legal income and their sources cannot be explained.
More than 70 countries attended the Afghan donors conference in Brussels recently. Hosted by the EU, the two-day meeting resulted in promises of more than US$15.2 billion of fresh money for the next four years.

It means Afghanistan's financial future is secure till 2020. The pledged sum is generous given the economic difficulties faced by the world economy.

It was the second such conference since a meeting in Tokyo in 2012, bringing together the international community to secure the future of Afghanistan after decades of senseless violence and lawlessness. That conference raised $16 billion.

Thus, pledges in Brussels are lower, which could be due to international donation fatigue as well as a host of other world problems meriting immediate global attention and financial support.

The conference started with bad news of Taliban offensive in Kunduz, spotlighting the fragile security situation even 15 years after the group's loss of power. Though the government forces held their ground and were able to push back the attackers, the timing of the attack was critical, reaffirming the Taliban remains the biggest threat.

The international community has pumped a lot of money in Afghanistan despite general skepticism about the country's future. According to some estimates, more than $130 billion has been spent on Afghanistan since 2001. The bulk  about US$110 billion  came from the United States, most spent on security sector.

The issue of corruption is second only to security as aconcern for donors. Despite promises, successive Afghan governments have failed to address this issue. The problem of sleaze has been complicated by typical Afghan culture, and the government wants to keep its allies, including former warlords and their armies of dependents in good humor.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, in his address to the conference, promised improvements, but nobody should look for miracles. Even the most developed countries have not been able to completely eliminate corruption, so to expect a poor third world nation trying to recover from decades of bloodshed to fix the problem immediately is unreasonable.

However, the government should continue to implement development of structures to make misappropriation more difficult. Improvements in governance and a better police and justice system can help.

The Afghan government also needs to address the issue of poverty and put relief programs on a war footing. Data show that more than one-third of the population lives on $1.35 a day, which is depressing. The prevalence of poverty with fewer opportunities has been forcing Afghans to flee the country. They form the second biggest ethnic group of migrants to Europe after the Syrians.

This is a big issue for Europe and some of the critics felt that there could be alink between the pledge of $5.6 billion by the EU and its members with some sort of secret commitment by the Afghan government to take back any migrants sent back. Both EU and Kabul denied any conditions attached to the aid, however.

Afghanistan will have to look inward to exploit its indigenous resources and so decrease reliance on foreign aid. The improvement in security and economic stabilization are interlinked. More jobs and business opportunities will cut the number of youths picking up guns, while less violence will bring more local and foreign investment.

For me, already Afghanistan has made a transition from the circle of a failed state to a viable country which has its constitution, an elected government, a strong army to fight rebels and an emerging civil society. According to UN data, today 8 million Afghan children go to school compared to 1 million in 2002, and 40 percent are girls.

Similarly, more people have access to healthcare and less women die due to pregnancy-related complications. Even the average lifespan of an Afghan has increased to 60 years from 44 years when the Taliban were toppled.

It shows that there is future for Afghanistan but it should fulfill some conditions to achieve it.

Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
 Flash

Two opposing draft resolutions: a French-Spanish version and the other by Russia, on Saturday failed to be approved by the UN Security Council in response to the current situation in Syria.

Photo taken on Oct. 8, 2016 shows the United Nations Security Council voting on a France-drafted resolution on Syria, at the UN headquarters in New York, Oct. 8, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

The first one, drafted by France and Spain, was vetoed by Russia, a permanent council member, while the Moscow-sponsored draft failed to gain nine votes in favor, the minimum of supporting votes required for a draft to be adopted by the 15-nation UN council, instead gaining nine votes against.

The back-to-back votes took place during an unusual Saturday emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

The French draft presented to members a few days ago called for efforts to ground Russian and Syrian military planes over the northern Syrian city of Aleppo.

The Russian draft offered Friday evening included many elements of the first draft, added support to references of a Sept. 9 Russia-U.S. accord and prioritized separation of armed opposition groups from the Al Nusra terrorist group but excluded the no-fly zone proposal.

Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia, this month's president of the Security Council, speaking in his national capacity after it was defeated, said, "We were not expecting it to be adopted. It was just a political demonstration, if you like."

"While it wasn't implement -- while we think it could have been -- I'd like to reassure you that very complicated multilateral and bilateral work is ongoing and we do continue to hope that the situation in Syria will go back to normal and this would have a most beneficial affect on the situation in eastern Aleppo and we hope that happens as quickly as possible," he said.

It was another testy session of the council, normally a model of decorum.

"Normally I begin my statements in this Council with the words 'Thank you, Mr. President.' I cannot do that today," said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, opening his remarks after the first resolution failed to be adopted.

"Because today, we have seen the fifth veto in five years on Syria from you, Mr. President, a veto that has once again stopped this Council from creating the unity needed to give the people of Syria any hope for respite from their suffering, a veto that has once again denigrated the credibility and respect of the Security Council in the eyes of the world," " Rycroft said.

"A veto that is a cynical abuse of the privileges and responsibilities of permanent membership, and I simply cannot thank you for that," the London envoy said.

"China has been concerned with the recent escalation of the situation in Syria," said Liu Jieyi, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations. "We feel deeply the sufferings caused by the war to the people in Syria. China strongly condemns all terrorist activities that harm and kill innocent lives."

China abstained from the Franco-Spanish draft and voted for the Russian version.

While his nation approved of many items in the France/Spain draft, "some of the content in the draft resolution does not reflect full respect for the sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity of Syria" and "constructive views of some council members have not been incorporated, so China has to abstain in the vote."

"As the Russian draft called on all the parties to cease hostilities and open humanitarian access to enhance efforts to combat terrorism, to support the good office of (Special Envoy Staffan) de Mistura and called for an early resumption of peace talks in Geneva," Liu said.

"The draft resolution reflected the four-track idea -- ceasefire, humanitarian assistance, joint efforts to combat terrorism and political negotiations," he said. "It also reflected the full respect for the sovereignty, independence, unification and territorial integrity of Syria, with content that is comprehensive and balanced."

"China hopes that the Security Council will really take the safety of the Syrian people as the first priority and stay united and build up consensus and to continue the efforts to push for a political solution of the question of Syria to jointly work to prevent the expansion and spread of terrorism and play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in Syria and the region," Liu said.

Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari of Syria spoke after all other speakers, and at a greater length than of any, in support of the Russian resolution, it's ally in the aerial bombardment of eastern Aleppo to flush out anti-government forces.

Noting that several western diplomats had left the chamber he said they departed "when they heard words of truth spoken," Ja'afari said. "It proves they have malicious, colonial intentions against my country and the people of Syria and that their diplomacy is a diplomacy of chaos, coercion and use of force and not a diplomacy of dialogue and resolving conflict by peaceful means."
 Flash

German police blew up several hundred grams of explosives on Saturday morning when they raided an apartment where a Syrian man was reported to be planning a bombing attack.

The suspect was at large but police have detained three contacts and destroyed the explosives "well hidden" in the apartment in the eastern German city of Chemnitz, Saxony police spokesman Tom Bernhardt told reporters.

Bernhardt didn't elaborate the type of the explosives but said they were a "highly volatile mixture," therefore the police decided to explode them on site rather than moving them far away.

The targeted suspect is described as 22-year-old Jaber Albakr Syrian refugee from the Damascus area who arrived in Germany last year and was last seen as a dark-haired man wearing clothes that looked like a hooded sweatshirt.

He is assumed to have links with Islamic extremist groups. He was thought to have planned and prepared for an explosive attack at a German airport, and has been under police surveillance for a long time.

As the police were conducting the large-scale operation to hunt the suspect, residents in the city were ordered to stay indoors and people living in the raided building were evacuated.

"Tomorrow morning we will be there for you again. But you can be certain of this: the police operation is still running!" Saxony police posted on its twitter account at the end of Saturday.

Germany is on high alert of possible terrorist attacks. Three attacks in July left 10 people killed and scores of persons injured.
China Aviation Daily | Oct. 09, 2016

Airbus will reach another milestone in its development, with the 10,000th aircraft delivery next week, Airbus A350 Production tweeted Saturday.

The 10,000th aircraft will be an A350 XWB aircraft, which is scheduled to be handed over to Singapore Airlines on October 14.

The A350-900, Registration 9V-SMF, will be the 6th A350 of Singapore Airlines.

There we go! The 10.000th Airbus delivery will be an A350 for Singapore Airlines. MSN54 will leave Toulouse on October 14th. https://t.co/fIuqhUfZ76 - A350 Production (@A350_Production) October 8, 2016

In March 2016, Singapore Airlines took delivery of its first of 67 A350-900s in Toulouse, France. The wide-body aircraft is configured in a premium three class layout with 253 seats, comprising 42 Business Class, 24 Premium Economy and 187 Economy.

Related News:

Photos: Singapore Airlines Becomes New Operator of the A350 XWB
JINAN - Jinan in East China's Shandong povince on Saturday began to refund sales taxes to overseas tourists.

Overseas tourists can claim back VAT refunds at Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport when leaving China on purchases from 23 specified stores, said Wang Yuzhu, deputy head of the city's department of finance.

Foreign tourists and those from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan who stay on the Chinese mainland for fewer than 183 days are entitled to an 9 percent rebate on goods bought at the designated stores.

The minimum purchase for the rebate is 500 yuan ($75) at one store in one day. The refund is valid for purchases made up to 90 days before departure.

Shandong greets many tourists from Japan and Republic of Korea every year. Famous resorts in the province include Mount Tai, Qufu, home of ancient philosopher Confucius, and coastal sites such as Yantai and Weihai.
Prospective buyers attend a real estate trade fair in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, on Oct 3. People will only be allowed to purchase one property in certain areas of the city, while those buying a second property will need to make a down payment of no less than 40 percent of the purchase price, the local government says. [Photo/China Daily]

More cities may follow suit after 19, including Beijing, launched cooling measures in the past week to rein in housing price increases, said analysts.

The measures announced by the cities during the seven-day National Day holiday included higher mortgage down payments and home purchase restrictions to curb speculation.

However, "more lower-tier cities may join the move against speculative home purchase soon, particularly those that have low inventory for the next six months and fast price growth in the past six months," said a research note by CITIC Securities.

Wu Huimin, an analyst with property services provider DTZ, said, "Cities such as Shijiazhuang and Qingdao with rapid inflow of population are very likely to introduce tightening policies against speculative buying."

Wu said authorities will use a combination of measures to curb investment buying and make precise differentiation between self-use and speculative purchases. These are likely to include detailed requirements for average living space per person in a household and qualification of buyers, Wu said.

Xu Jing, an analyst with Shanghai Yudi Property, attributed the speculative purchases in key cities to easy financing, short supplies, huge demand and a lack of other investment channels that might bring stable returns.

If the supply and demand situation cannot be changed in the short term, a higher financing threshold can be a quick fix to curb quickly rising home prices, he said.

"Without financing curbs, speculative buyers can still afford to buy," said Xu.

Nanjing in Jiangsu province, Xiamen in Fujian province and Wuhan in Hubei province, which have all taken cooling measures, saw average housing prices rise more than 20 percent in September year-on-year, according to data of the China Index Academy, a research organization that monitors housing prices in 100 cities.

Zhou Zihui, a 42-year-old homebuyer in Nanjing, has bought and sold six apartments in the past five years, yielding about 4 million yuan ($599,380) for her.

But she said that with the new policy in place, she is no longer qualified to buy another apartment or able to pay the down payment.

Zhang Dawei, an analyst with Centaline Property, said the cooling measures have proved effective.

During the weeklong holiday, year-on-year transaction volume in first- and second-tier cities dropped by more than 30 percent, Centaline data indicated.
A worker at a steel factory in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning province, August 10, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

BEIJING -- Chinese steel will not impact the European market due to its low market share, a Chinese government official said on Saturday after the EU imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of two Chinese steel products.

An unnamed official of the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that China's products account for less than 5 percent of the EU steel market and the area's steel woes stem from flagging economic conditions, not trade.

"It is not a right strategy for the EU to adopt protectionism and impede competition," the official said.

The European Commission announced on Friday that it had decided to impose anti-dumping duties on imports of heavy plates and hot-rolled steel from China for six months, with tax rates up to 73.7 percent.

"China is highly concerned about the trade remedy practices," the official said, noting the EU's repeated measures have harmed Chinese companies.

The official said measures should be carried out in a fair and transparent manner and asked the EU to guarantee the rights of Chinese companies.

China has always insisted that nations should be cautious and restrained in using such measures, and has always promoted exchange and cooperation to solve friction, the official said.

Confronted with sluggish global economic growth, G20 leaders reiterated their stance to oppose trade protectionism at the Hangzhou summit last month.
ADDIS ABABA -- Social responsibility has been highlighted in the construction of the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, with two Chinese railway firms paving roads and digging wells along the route to improve locals' lives.

The Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, also known as Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway, opened service on Wednesday to become the latest testament to the Sino-African friendship.

The 752.7-km line was constructed by China Railway Group (CREC) and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) with an investment of $4 billion.

CREC said in a statement that it has built more than 400 kilometers of roads for local villagers, as the line passes many villages that previously had no road access.

Moreover, CREC has dug 19 wells and established over 20 water distribution sites to provide free water supply to villagers.

Dong Jianfeng, chief engineer of CREC's Ethiopia-Djibouti railway project, said as water resources are precious in drought-ridden Ethiopia, the team has preferred designs like culverts and bridges to retain surface runoff and minimize damages to sites of water sources.

Through such charity acts and by hiring large numbers of local workers, the company said they won the locals' trust and avoid clashes over railway construction.

China Railway Construction Corp (CRCC), which owns CCECC, also said they had never encountered clashes with locals during the entire construction.

Li Wuliang, a manager of CCECC, said his team paid constant visits to villages along the line, where they made donations to schools, clinics and funded church building.

"Villagers treated us very friendly. Every time we arrived at a village, they treated us with the best food and local dances," Li told Xinhua.

According to Meng Fengchao, board chairman of CRCC, the company has hired over 20,000 local workers in Ethiopia and 5,000 in Djibouti, who made up the majority of the construction workers.

Hailed as the "Tazara railway in a new era," the Ethiopia-Djibouti line was the second Chinese-built transnational railway in Africa following the Tazara railway, which links Tanzania's Dar es Salaam with Zambia's Kapiri Mposhi.

Unlike the Tazara railway, built in the 1970s in the form of China's foreign aid, the Ethiopia-Djibouti line is a commercial act, but both state-owned CREC and CCECC have vowed to use the project to pass on the Sino-African friendship as entrenched by the Tazara railway.
More than 2,700 small and medium-sized companies from over 30 countries and regions will showcase their products in an industrial expo in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, according to the organizers.

The annual China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF), which focuses on equipment, textile and garment, construction material and furniture, energy saving and cross-border e-commerce, will be held in Guangzhou on Oct 10.

Delegations consisting of officials and business people from Cote d'lvoire, India, South Africa, Nigeria, Bulgaria, Kenya, Myanmar, Mexico, Vietnam, Russia and Poland will attend the fair, looking for opportunities to boost economic ties with China.

"As one of the largest consumer markets, India will strengthen ties with China in terms of cooperation in industrial sectors," said P. Udayakumar, director of planning and marketing of the National Small Industries Corporation Ltd, a government of India enterprise.

The fair, co-hosted by India and Cote dlvoire, will end on Oct 27.
SHANGHAI -- In an effort to stabilize its red-hot property market, Shanghai has adopted a set of measures, including increasing land supply and strengthening supervision of capital.

According to the measures published on Saturday, the city will increase the supply of land for commercial housing construction. A work team composed of staff from government departments will be formed to regulate the funding sources for land purchases.

The city will also enhance supervision over the purchase of homes that have previously been owned but never used. Stricter supervision over new home prices will also be implemented.

Additionally, authoritative property market information will be released on a regular basis to stabilize market expectations.

Shanghai is among a dozen Chinese cities struggling to cool property markets.

Also on Saturday, Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi province, adopted a spate of measures to restrict home buying.

In certain districts of the city, local residents who own one or more houses will not be allowed to buy new homes. People without a local hukou (household registration certificate) who own one or more houses will not be able to buy either new or pre-owned houses.

First-time home buyers will be required to make a minimum down payment of 30 percent, compared to 20 percent previously.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, over 90 percent of cities surveyed in August reported new home price rises, up from 73 percent in July. Prices in Shanghai rose 37.8 percent year-on-year respectively, compared with 33.1 percent in July.
Actress Liu Tao poses on the streets of Paris. [Photo/Xinhua]
Cast member Brad Pitt and actress Angelina Jolie pose at the premiere of "The Tree of Life" at LACMA in Los Angeles May 24, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie and her Oscar best-picture winner film producer Brad Pitt may have reached a deal over custody of their children, according to unnamed sources.

The sources told local media including TMZ.com that the divorcing high-profile couple agreed to a deal at the recommendation of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

Jolie and Pitt will both undergo individual counseling, and Pitt has agreed to undergo another drug and alcohol testing, though the previous one came back negative, said TMZ.com on Friday.

Jolie will get full physical custody of all six children, with visitation rights for Pitt, whose first visit must be supervised by a therapist who will decide the circumstances of future visits, it said.

Jolie, 41 years old, filed her petition on Sept 19 at the Los Angeles Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the breakup.

Jolie starred with Pitt in 2004-2005 in the film Mr. and Mrs. Smith. At that time, Pitt was married to actress Jennifer Aniston. In January 2005, Pitt and Aniston announced they were splitting and Aniston filed for divorce a few months later. Months later that year, Pitt and Jolie appeared together. They married in August 2014.

Jolie has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. She also has been cited in the past as Hollywood's highest-paid actress.

She made her screen debut as a child alongside her father, Jon Voight, in Lookin' to Get Out in 1982. Her first leading role in a major film came in 1995 in Hackers.

Jolie won an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her performance in the 1999 drama Girl, Interrupted.

She was previously married to actors Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton. None of her marriages lasted more than three years.

Pitt, 52, won an Oscar in 2014 as a producer of best-picture winner 12 Years a Slave. He received Oscar nominations for best actor for his work in Moneyball and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and won a Golden Globe for his supporting role in Twelve Monkeys.

He was also a producer for best-picture Oscar nominees The Big Short and Moneyball.

Various reports circulated after the divorce filing that the split was fueled by an airborne dispute between the couple on a private plane, with Pitt allegedly getting drunk and acting aggressively with the children, sparking a DCFS probe.

A spokeswoman for the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the federal agency was aware of the alleged airborne incident and was evaluating the circumstances to determine if a full-fledged invetigation was warranted.

Related:

Pitt-Jolie divorce: $25m worth of art collections at stake
BEIJING - China will control its credit growth and take active measures to promote the healthy development of the housing market, a central bank statement said Saturday.

Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People's Bank of China, was quoted as saying that China's credit expansion has slowed and growth will be controlled in the future along with a steady recovery in the global economy.

He made the remarks while co-chairing the Fourth G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting with Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei in Washington Thursday.

Lou Jiwei said China has trailed developed countries in deleveraging following the financial crisis while deploying massive stimulus plans, which have helped tackle the crisis but led to rising debt rates and overcapacity.

As China trims its overcapacity, moderate credit growth could act as a countercylical tool, Zhou said.

The central bank said earlier that it intends to continue its prudent monetary policy and maintain a proper level of liquidity, while using various monetary policy tools flexibly to maintain reasonable growth of monetary credit and social financing.

Zhou also noted that the Chinese government is very concerned about the recent rise in home prices and will take active measures to regulate the market.

His remarks came amid tougher regulations in the housing markets of both first-tier cities such as Beijing and Shenzhen as well as smaller second- and third-tier cities.

Prices in 100 major Chinese cities rose 14.9 percent in the first nine months of 2016, with August and September seeing record month-on-month growth of more than 2 percent, according to the China Index Academy (CIA), a private property research institute.

As of Oct. 6, a total of 19 Chinese cities had rolled out policies in the past week ranging from higher down payments and home purchase restrictions to curb speculative housing purchases.

Markus Rodlauer, deputy director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s Asia Pacific Department, told Xinhua Friday that the rising prices are not sustainable and will fall back with regulators hitting the brakes.

Shrinking profits in the real economy and expectations of yuan devaluation have led to capital flooding the property market, CIA said.

China's new yuan-denominated lending in August more than doubled from a month ago to 948.7 billion yuan (about 145.95 billion U.S. dollars), with mortgages representing 55.7 percent of the 529 billion yuan in household loans, PBOC data showed.

Chang Yong Rhee, Director of IMF's Asia and Pacific Department, advised China to advance structural reform as China's credit grows at twice the speed of the economy, mainly driven by demand from the property market rather than enterprises.

China is making headway in improving its economic structure and efficiency as it enters a "new normal" of medium-to-high-speed growth, Zhou said, adding that new growth momentum is growing as the fundamentals of the economy point to long-term sound performance.

The PBOC has said it will continue reforms to the financial system to encourage efficiency and better serve the real economy in line with the requirements of supply-side structural reform.

China's economy grew 6.7 percent in the second quarter of the year, the lowest quarterly growth rate since the global financial crisis in early 2009, but still within the government's target range of 6.5-7 percent for 2016

The Asian Development Bank has upgraded its forecast for China's 2016 growth from 6.5 percent to 6.6 percent, and to 6.4 percent growth from 6.3 percent for 2017.
WUHAN -- An endangered species of fish in China can now be aided to breed, 16 years after it was believed to have lost the ability, local authorities said Saturday.

Dabry's Sturgeon, a class A protected fish in China, lost its natural ability to breed in 2000 due to water pollution and overfishing.

In an experiment by the Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute (YRFRI), four females and six males were put into an environment simulating a natural river, where they lived for more than 10 days. One of the females laid 32,000 eggs and at least one male was involved in the fertilization. A total of 22 baby fish were bred.

"The fish in the experiment were artificially bred and no stimulants were used," said ichthyologist Wei Qiwei, a sturgeon expert with the YRFRI.

Hailing the breakthrough, Wei said the experiment showed that by adjusting the environment, the secretion system of the Dabry's Sturgeon could be stimulated to make mating possible.

"It is significant for the increase of the sturgeon population and the maintenance of natural resources and the environment," he added.
BEIJING -- The publicity chief of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Saturday called for more quality literary periodicals.

"Literary magazines in this new era should be vitalized by harnessing the Internet in a bid to expand their coverage and influence," said Liu Qibao, head of the publicity department of the CPC Central Committee, on a visit to the Chinese Writers' Publishing Group.

Liu stressed that more attention should be given to writers of online literature, and literary journals should better communicate with readers and writers through the Internet.

He urged periodicals to carry more realistic literature, guiding the writers to focus on the development of the times as well as people's lives and thoughts.

"[The journals] should encourage writers to create work with their individual characteristics and to explore something new in writing concepts and techniques," Liu added

Liu also called on the literary magazine editors to hone their professional skills.
BEIJING -- Zhou Benshun, former Party chief of North China's Hebei province, has been charged with taking bribes, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on Sunday.

Xiamen Municipal People's Procuratorate filed the lawsuit against Zhou to Xiamen Municipal Intermediate People's Court in Fujian province after the SPP finished its investigation and transferred the case to Fujian.
Policemen patrol outside the venue of the opening ceremony for the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in Macao, south China, Oct. 8, 2016. The conference will be held in Macao on Oct. 11-12. [Cheong Kam Ka/Xinhua]

MACAO -- Macao will open the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (PSCs) on Tuesday.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will attend the opening ceremony of the meeting.

The Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was created in October 2003 in Macao.

It was sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China, hosted by the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government and with the joint participation of seven PSCs: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor.

"Since the establishment of the forum, Macao plays a role as a bridge of economic cooperation and peoples' friendship," said Ye Guiping, a council member of Research Center for Development Strategy of Macao.

"The forum has brought economic profit to the Chinese mainland, Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries, strengthened the relationship between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and deepened friendship among their peoples," Ye added.

Since 2003, four ministerial conferences have been held with each one concluding with an Action Plan for Economic and Commercial Cooperation to consolidate the targets and goals of the meetings.

The implementation of those action plans not only boosted the cooperation between China and PSCs, but also made Macao well known for its role as a platform.

In November 2013 when the fourth ministerial conference was held, the Chinese government promoted the development of "an information-sharing platform for bilingual professionals and business cooperation, as well as exchanges and interaction between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries."

In the meantime, in the Economic and Trade Cooperation Action Plan (2014-2016), all participating countries agreed to establish three centers for economic and trade cooperation between China and PSCs in Macao. These are a commercial and trade service center for small- and medium-sized enterprises between China and PSCs, a food product distribution center for PSCs, and a center for conventions and exhibitions for economic and trade cooperation between China and PSCs.
The Beijing Zoo has issued four tickets to tourists who fed animals against zoo regulations during the national holiday, the first of their kind, the Mirror Evening News reports.

Each of the four visitors were fined 50 yuan ($7.5) for breaching the regulations.

A zookeeper in the Beijing Zoo was quoted as saying that zebras have already had symptoms of diarrhea since October 6. Feeding on dry food, zebras will easily suffer intestinal diseases when being offered food full of moisture, such as carrots and vegetables, given by visitors.

A vet at the Zoo said most animals would not stop eating when they were full. "They will keep eating as long as visitors feed them, and many thus get ill after holidays," he said.

A total of 450,000 people visited the Beijing Zoo during the week-long National Day holiday, and some of them liked to feed animals despite warnings.

The zoo said that visitors caught feeding would be dissuaded and reported on the spot. Only a person who is caught twice will be issued a ticket.

Zhou Xuliang, a lawyer at Beijing Guanling law office, supported this kind of fine. "Without punishment, feeding animals cannot be restrained," Zhou said.
Zhou Benshun, a former party chief in Hebei province, has been charged with bribery by the Fujian provincial Xiamen city People's Procuratorate, which has also prosecuted the case in the Xiamen city Intermediate People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate revealed on Sunday.

According to the indictment, while serving as the party chief in Shaoyang city in Hunan, Hunan provincial security chief, secretary general in Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee or party chief in Hebei, he used job convenience to benefit others and accepted their huge bribes.

Yang Dongliang, former head of the State Administration of Work Safety, has been accused with corruption and bribery by the Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate No2 Branch, according to the top prosecuting department.

The prosecutors charged, when serving as the deputy mayor in Tianjin Municipal People's Government and head of the State Administration of Work Safety, he abused power to gain benefits for others and accepted their bribes. He was also accused of illegally occupying public finance, it said.

Since November 2012, when the new leadership was elected, anti-corruption has become a top priority for the country and President Xi Jinping has launched a sweeping campaign to target both high and low-ranking officials, or tigers and flies.

To date, more than 140 high-ranking officials have been placed under investigation over alleged graft, including Zhou Yongkang, former security chief, who was sentenced to life in prison in June 2015.
October 9 is September 9 in Chinese lunar calendar, which is also the "Double Ninth Festival, an event that pays respects to the elderly.

Also called the Chongyang Festival, it is a traditional Chinese holiday first mentioned in records before the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220).

The Chinese government declared the Double Ninth Festival as Seniors' Day in 1989 to advocate respect and love for the elderly. There are many activities that can be done to celebrate this day. The first is climbing to top of mountains. Another is to fly kites. Apart from that, eating the Double Ninth Cake is also a tradition.

Many Chinese festivals are closely related to religious beliefs and many customs are closely linked to folk rituals and activities. The original legends and main customs of the Chongyang Festival can clearly be linked to Taoism. Taoist scriptures Tai-Ching - The Grass Method said eat chrysanthemum Poria and cocos over a long period of time and people will live a long and youthful life.

In Taoism, no matter whether it is through taking the pills of immortality or hard work the result is to become as immortal as heaven and earth.

Within the concept of yin and yang, Taoism describes that pure yin is the spirit, and yin and yang mixed together is the human. Pure yang is the immortal and in the Chongyang festival the two yang meet. Taoism believes that this is the best time to ascend to heaven. So in the Taoist system, it is a tradition to ascend to heaven on this day and when the Chongyang Festival became a traditional festival ascending to heaven become ascending a height.

As written in the Qi record by Wu Junzhi it is said that in the Eastern Han Dynasty there was a man called Heng Jing in Runan county. There was an outbreak of plague in his hometown. His parents died of the illness, so he went to the mountains to learn from the immortal master. The immortal Fei Changfang gave him a Qinglong sword, so Heng Jing went deep into the mountains to study martial arts.

One day the immortal told him that the double ninth day was coming and a plague of evil will endanger the world. He asked him to go down the mountain to deal with it. So he led the local people on this day to climb a nearby mountain. He gave cornel leaves to everyone to carry to ward off the evil. Then he poured Chrysanthemum wine to drink to protect them from the plague. He fought a fierce battle with the plague of demons and managed to destroy them at last.

People began to celebrate Chongyang festival from then on and the act of ascending a height became the custom to avoid disaster and evil.
Lao She (top). [Photo/china.com]; Two Chinese ink paintings. [Photo/china.com]

"The best place to stay in autumn is Beijing," said Chinese celebrated writer Lao She in his Rickshaw Boy.

As a local Beijing resident, Lao She spends a lot of his ink on describing the capital.

In his view, there are four best Chinese cities for each season: Hangzhou for spring, Jinan for summer, Chengdu for winter and Beijing for autumn.

And Beijing is the best choice for autumn not only because of its seasonal delicacies, but also because the weather is nice and the city offers some picturesque views.

Here we take a look at some special delicacies and views you can enjoy during autumn in Beijing.
Chinese Sturgeon. [File Photo]

For years, scientific researchers and organizations have focused Chinese sturgeon's protection mostly on Yangtze River, Chinese sturgeons' breeding route. The government and organizations have held release activity annually along the Yangtze River, and promoted a great deal of campaigns and programs which are limited to river areas. However, from my point of view, since Chinese sturgeon is a typical migrating fish between river and sea, we cannot ignore the vital role that marine environment plays in a Chinese sturgeon's life cycle. Unfortunately, the marine environment is also suffering from great pollution and destruction caused by human activities and on the other hand, the public concerns on such situation is yet to be enhanced. Evidently, we need to throw more light on the importance of marine condition to Chinese sturgeon and take more actions against ecological destruction in order to preserve Chinese sturgeon's habitat.

First of all, Chinese sturgeons spend more time of their lives in the ocean than they do in the river. As we know, although Chinese sturgeon is categorized into freshwater fish, it still lives in the sea for most of its lifetime and only returns to the river when it becomes sexually mature. The most long-lived Chinese sturgeon can live up to 40 years old yet it takes a long time to reach sexual maturity, usually about 10 years and female Chinese sturgeons go back to the river to lay eggs each 2-3 years. Thus, because of comparative longer living time in the ocean, Chinese sturgeon's survival rate is also closely bonded to the marine environment.

Secondly, Chinese sturgeon migrates between the river and sea, such nature enriches its destination on the river with precious substances from ocean, and in this way, ecological diversity of the river is promoted. However, oceanic substances brought by Chinese sturgeons to the Yangtze River will no longer be beneficial if the sea itself is contaminated. Therefore, protecting the Chinese sturgeons' habitat at the estuary is, in some way, keeping the ecosystem in Yangtze River intact.

In addition, Chinese sturgeons mostly forage in the ocean and they hardly eat anything when they are swimming back to the river. Therefore, the energy and nutrients required for the long period migration mainly depend on the fat and other substances they previously stored in their bodies before the migration starts. Consequently, the quality of food resources in marine environment becomes another concern of great significance.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa in Beijing, October 8, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa here on Saturday, calling for more Chinese investment in Portugal.

During the meeting at the Great Hall of the People, Xi told Costa both countries need to deepen cooperation in investment and explore more markets.

China is willing to encourage investment in Portugal and expand to areas including finance, insurance, health care and infrastructure, Xi said.

He also called for maritime cooperation, saying that China supports Portugal's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and encourages both countries to cooperate in maritime research and port logistics.

Costa, who is paying an official visit to China from Saturday to Wednesday, said he would like to promote all-round cooperation between Portugal and China through the visit, pushing forward cooperation under the framework of Belt and Road Initiative and in areas of energy, finance, electricity, infrastructure, agriculture, manufacture, culture and tourism.

On the political front, Xi spoke highly of the bilateral ties in the past 37 years since the two forged diplomatic ties.

He said China and Portugal need to maintain the momentum of the exchange of high-level visits and cooperation in various fields to consolidate political mutual trust, and continue mutual understanding and support on both sides' core interests and major concerns.

He also called for cooperation in people-to-people exchanges, culture and education.

On the China-EU ties, Xi said China firmly supports the process of European integration, expressing the hope that Portugal could exert a greater influence on China-EU economic and trade relations.

Earlier on Saturday, China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang met with Costa.

Zhang hailed the friendly exchanges between the Chinese National People's Congress and the Portuguese parliament, calling on the two legislative bodies to enhance cooperation and offer better policy and legal environment for bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

Costa said Portugal hopes to upgrade cooperation with China to a higher level.

Costa is visiting at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Besides Beijing, he will also visit Macao to attend the fifth Ministerial

Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries next Tuesday. Costa is slated to hold talks with Li on Sunday.
Christian Cornille, Executive Vice President Industry at AIRBUS Helicopters (L) and French President Francois Hollande share a laugh while looking at a model helicopter in Ghimbav, Romania, September 13, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

PARIS - France reacted angrily on Friday after Poland scrapped a multi-billion dollar helicopter deal with Airbus, saying it would review defence cooperation with its NATO ally and cancelling a presidential visit to Warsaw.

Poland had agreed to buy 50 Airbus utility helicopters in April 2015 for 13.5 billion zlotys ($3.5 billion) as part of efforts to modernize its military.

Its previous, centrist government, which was beaten by the Law and Justice (PiS) party in elections last October, had agreed the provisional deal. But on Oct 4 the new administration said it was scrapping the contract altogether.

Members of the new eurosceptic government have said they would rather see the deal awarded to a company that could build the helicopters locally.

"The Franco-Polish bilateral relationship will undeniably be extremely affected by this decision," a French source close to the matter said.

"The contract's cancellation will force us to review all the defence cooperation that we have with Poland and see what can be maintained and sadly what can't in the current context."

Without indicating which investments, the source added that the French government, which holds roughly 11 percent in Airbus, would advise the firm to review its strategy in the country, including investments that had already been made.

A source in the French presidency said earlier that President Francois Hollande had decided to cancel a visit to Warsaw next week for intergovernmental consultations, in protest.

Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski attempted to play down the spat, emphasizing that Poland had offered "important concessions" in the failed commercial negotiations.
France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault votes in favor of a draft resolution that demands an immediate end to air strikes and military flights over Syria's Aleppo city, during a meeting of Members of Security Council at the UN Headquarters in New York, US, October 8, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

UNITED NATIONS - Two opposing draft resolutions: a French-Spanish version and the other by Russia, on Saturday failed to be approved by the UN Security Council in response to the current situation in Syria.

The first one, drafted by France and Spain, was vetoed by Russia, a permanent council member, while the Moscow-sponsored draft failed to gain nine votes in favor, the minimum of supporting votes required for a draft to be adopted by the 15-nation UN council, instead gaining nine votes against.

The back-to-back votes took place during an unusual Saturday emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

The French draft presented to members a few days ago called for efforts to ground Russian and Syrian military planes over the northern Syrian city of Aleppo.

The Russian draft offered Friday evening included many elements of the first draft, added support to references of a Sept 9 Russia-US accord and prioritized separation of armed opposition groups from the Al Nusra terrorist group but excluded the no-fly zone proposal.

Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia, this month's president of the Security Council, speaking in his national capacity after it was defeated, said, "We were not expecting it to be adopted. It was just a political demonstration, if you like."

"While it wasn't implement -- while we think it could have been -- I'd like to reassure you that very complicated multilateral and bilateral work is ongoing and we do continue to hope that the situation in Syria will go back to normal and this would have a most beneficial affect on the situation in eastern Aleppo and we hope that happens as quickly as possible," he said.

It was another testy session of the council, normally a model of decorum.

"Normally I begin my statements in this Council with the words 'Thank you, Mr. President.' I cannot do that today," said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, opening his remarks after the first resolution failed to be adopted.

"Because today, we have seen the fifth veto in five years on Syria from you, Mr. President, a veto that has once again stopped this Council from creating the unity needed to give the people of Syria any hope for respite from their suffering, a veto that has once again denigrated the credibility and respect of the Security Council in the eyes of the world," " Rycroft said.

"A veto that is a cynical abuse of the privileges and responsibilities of permanent membership, and I simply cannot thank you for that," the London envoy said.
Stranded visitors were confined to a bare room equipped with little more than electrical sockets. [Photo provided by one of the confined tourists]

More than 100 Chinese tourists were reportedly turned away after trying to enter South Korea's Jeju Island during the recent seven-day Chinese National Day holiday, the Beijing News reported Saturday.

Some of the tourists arrived at the airport on Oct 2 and have remained there ever since, undergoing confinement for more than five days. Their activities and movements were largely limited to a room lacking furniture or facilities, with the exception of electrical outlets. The tourists sat and slept on a bare floor, with nothing offered to keep them warm. They ate simple food provided to them by the airport for 50 yuan ($7.50) per meal.

According to the law, Chinese passport-holders can stay visa-free for 30 days in Jeju Island. Nevertheless, a number of cases of border officers denying entry to Chinese tourists have recently been in the news.

One visitor, surnamed Zhang, said he and his wife had signed up to travel as part of a tour group, which arranged their hotel bookings and travel itinerary. Upon arriving at Jeju International Airport on the morning on Oct 6, a border officer refused Zhang and his wife entry, allegedly because they hadn't prepared a hard copy of their hotel booking record. The officer confiscated their passports and their tickets back to China.

They [the border officers] told us we could either book [an earlier] flight from the same airline back to China, or else wait in the airport for our original flight, Zhang said.

A visitor surnamed Feng said she and her husband were rejected because they happened to be traveling with another three passengers from the same hometown. The border officer therefore questioned them on suspicion of illegal immigrantion and then denied them entry.

On the afternoon of Oct 7, the Chinese consulate in Jeju told the Beijing Times that they had contacted relevant departments in South Korea to convince them to do something about the situation.
According to the latest statistics released by the Japanese government, the population of those over 80 has surpassed 10 million. Those 65 or above are expected to take up 40 percent of the whole population by 2060. Many employers regard the elders as valuable assets given the labor shortage in the country.

This series by photographer Lee Chapman documents many lively nonagenarians running shops, bars or farming the land in Tokyo.
BERLIN - German police blew up several hundred grams of explosives on Saturday morning when they raided an apartment where a Syrian man was reported to be planning a bombing attack.

The suspect was at large but police have detained three contacts and destroyed the explosives "well hidden" in the apartment in the eastern German city of Chemnitz, Saxony police spokesman Tom Bernhardt told reporters.

Bernhardt didn't elaborate the type of the explosives but said they were a "highly volatile mixture," therefore the police decided to explode them on site rather than moving them far away.

The targeted suspect is described as 22-year-old Jaber Albakr Syrian refugee from the Damascus area who arrived in Germany last year and was last seen as a dark-haired man wearing clothes that looked like a hooded sweatshirt.

He is assumed to have links with Islamic extremist groups. He was thought to have planned and prepared for an explosive attack at a German airport, and has been under police surveillance for a long time.

As the police were conducting the large-scale operation to hunt the suspect, residents in the city were ordered to stay indoors and people living in the raided building were evacuated.

"Tomorrow morning we will be there for you again. But you can be certain of this: the police operation is still running!" Saxony police posted on its twitter account at the end of Saturday.

Germany is on high alert of possible terrorist attacks. Three attacks in July left 10 people killed and scores of persons injured.
Premier Li Keqiang welcomes visiting Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sunday.FENG YONGBIN / CHINA DAILY

New deals on table as Prime Minister Antonio Costa visits Beijing, Macao

China and Portugal reinforced their ties as Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa met with Premier Li Keqiang on Sunday in Beijing during Costas ongoing visit to China.

The two officials witnessed the signing of a stack of documents representing deals in such areas as third-party market cooperation and infrastructure. Costa, who began his official visit on Saturday, will stay in China until Wednesday.

Portugal has already become Chinas fifth largest investment destination in Europe, and the relationship is set to grow as senior officials and corporate leaders participated in the signing ceremony.

During their talk, Li said China and Portugal should expand their trilateral and multilateral cooperation "with the Portuguese-speaking countries and in even larger areas".

It is hoped both countries reinforce collaboration in fields including infrastructure construction and agricultural products, and usher in new progress in sectors such as energy, infrastructure and clean energy, Li said. Deals also were signed in finance, telecommunications and culture.

Costa echoed Lis words regarding third-party market cooperation and said Portugal is eager to maintain high-level contacts with the Chinese side.

Feng Zhongping, vice-president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said the evolving China-Portugal relationship has two major highlights  contributions to Chinas cooperation with Europe as a whole and developing Chinas cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries.

"Both countries have their respective advantages and strengths that could be tapped into by third-party countries, and the closeness of language between Portugal and other Portuguese speaking countries has made the trilateral and multilateral cooperation possible," Feng said.

Similarly, China has developed third-party market cooperation with other European countries such as France, making it easier to approach French-speaking countries in Africa, Feng noted.

When meeting with Costa in Beijing on Saturday, President Xi Jinping said both countries need to deepen cooperation in investment and explore more markets.

As of May, the Chinese investment in Portugal had reached $6.28 billion, while the Portuguese investment in China had reached $199 million.

Chinese Ambassador to Portugal Cai Run said this month that the China-Portugal relationship is "in its best shape of all time".

Besides Beijing, Costa will also visit Macao to attend the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, on Tuesday.

When addressing a joint news conference following the signing ceremony, the Chinese premier noted that the forum, created 13 years ago, has played an important role in boosting economic, trade and cultural exchanges between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. Both Li and Costa will attend the forums opening ceremony.

Li said it is hoped both governments will jointly develop the intergovernmental, multilateral mechanism and better tap into Macaos role as a commercial and trade platform.
No two China trademark strategies are the same, but one thing is pretty much a constant: You should register the companys original English name.

Before we go on, a clarification: I use English name as shorthand, but these names are often in other languages, or simply be a random collection of Latin letters. Names in scripts other than the Latin one (for example, Arabic or Cyrillic) present other challenges, and will surely be the subject of future posts  but we will not focus on them here).

When you set up a business entity in China (such as WFOE), it is the Chinese name that is the legal name. You could (and companies do in fact) change the English name without any need to change the company registration. Conversely, there is nothing that stops someone else (such as a bad-faith competitor) from using that English nameunless you register that English name as a trademark.

To be clear, you should also register the companys Chinese name as a trademark. Having incorporated a business entity in China, you will have some protection against bad-faith actors using the company name if they, for example, try to open a bank account in that entitys name. But that name is still fair game for someone who wants to register it as a trademark.

Lets flesh out this last point a bit, in case theres any confusion. Say you form a WFOE in China called Shanghai Herrada Coffee Company Limited. As discussed, it is the Chinese name that has legal effect, and lets make that . If some random person, unconnected to the company, signed a contract on the companys behalf, it would be null and void. However, it that same person tried to register the  mark (and/or the HERRADA COFFEE, for that matter), then the fact theres a registered company whose name includes that mark will not be an obstacle to trademark registration.

At this point, it is worth mentioning well-known trademarks. Chinese law extends some protection to unregistered marks that are well-known, but this is an exceedingly difficult standard to meet. As I explained last year,

A few years ago I represented an English Premier League team that became very proactive when it came to its China trademark protection. Unfortunately, some of their trademarks had already been registered by squatters, taking advantage of Chinas first-to-file system. One of the arguments we made as the matter wound its way through the system was that the trademarks were well-known, and hence subject to protection even if unregistered (See Art. 13 of Chinas Trademark Law). Surely, our client thought, one of the top teams in one of the most popular sports leagues in the world would meet the standard for being well-known. Well, it didnt, and the point here is that relying on well-known status for protection is a fraught proposition for all but a small tier of extremely well-known brands (who are probably smart enough to register their IP anyway).

Finally, we should also clarify that we are talking about company names that are part of the brand identity. In some cases, the companys legal name is not a part of the brand identity. Building up on our earlier example, imagine that Shanghai Herrada Coffee Company Limited was set up to operate a coffeeshop called Cafe Pamplona. There might be good reasons to trademark the companys official name (or parts of it), but the focus of the trademark strategy would be on the Cafe Pamplona brand (which could include the CAFE PAMPLONA word mark, logos, menu items, etc.).

In sum, if you want your companys English name protected, you have to register it as a trademark.
(Photo : Getty Images) Alibinas Tirana International Airport is now owned by China Everbright Ltd.

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China Everbright Ltd or CEL, a Hong Kong-based investment firm, has fully acquired Alibina's Tirana International Airport (TIA). The airport is the only international airport in Alibina.



A statement released by China Everbright said that "it has acquired 100 percent shares in TIA." However, the company declined to provide any financial details about the deal.



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TIA's main shareholders include AviAlliance, German Investment Corporation, and Albanian-American Enterprise Fund. The AviAlliance with 47 percent stake is the largest stakeholder, followed by German Investment Corporation with nearly 31 percent stake.



"With CEL's support and resources, TIA can further upgrade their facilities and hardware meeting excellence in all aspects," said Chen Shuang, CEO of China Everbright. He added that the acquisition would provide a boost to China's much-talked about One Belt, One Road initiative.



The Tirana Airport, which is commonly known as Rinas International Airport, is the most advanced and visited airport in Alibina. The number of passengers in the airport increased to 1.9 million in 2016 from 600,000 in 2005, according to available data.



A TIA official said that the airport has invested nearly 70 million euros ($78.14 million) since 2005 to develop and expand its facilities.



The TIA deal marks the first major investment by a Chinese firm in Alibina. The country became a close ally of China in the 1960s after splitting from the Soviet Union. Chinese financial aid played an important role in developing most of the industries across the country.



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TagsChina Everbright Group, Albania's International Airport, Tirana International Airport, Albania, China and Albania
(Photo : getty images.) China and Colombia could sign a free trade agreement soon.

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China has sought to strengthen its bilateral ties with Colombia by initiating talks on free trade agreement during Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to the Latin American country.



Beijing is seeking to increase its influence in Colombia through increasing investment and trade ties.



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Wang said on Saturday that China would maintain close communication with Colombian officials to start a comprehensive dialogue on a free trade agreement as soon as possible.



China has already signed free trade pacts with a few South American countries including Peru, Chile and Costa Rica. Experts say that by bolstering trade and investment with South American nations, China is trying to become a big diplomatic player in the region, where the United States enjoys huge influence.



Meanwhile, Wang lent support to Colombia's on-going peace process with Marxist rebels. The five decades of continuous civil war has killed nearly 220,000 people and left at least 7 million people homeless.



"China upholds that all hot button issues in the end should be resolved via peaceful negotiations. Force cannot resolve problems, only bring more harm and even hate," Wang said, according to a statement issued by China's Foreign Ministry.



Meanwhile, Wang also congratulated Juan Manuel Santos for winning this year's Noble Peace Prize. Santos spent years in brokering peace with FARC rebels. However, the peace deal was rejected by Colombian voters five days before the Noble committee selected Santos for the Noble prize.



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Tagschina, China and Colombia, Colombia, Wang Yi's visit to Colombia
(Photo : Getty Images) China is likely to be the only country in the world to have a space station in 2024, when the International Space Station retires.

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China is likely to be the only country in the world to have a space station in 2024, when the International Space Station retires.



In such scenario, the rest of the world is likely to depend on China for their space research requirements.



China is currently in the process of launching various modules required for building a space station. The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest artificial habitat in the space. It was launched in 1998 and orbits Earth at average altitude of about 400 km. It represents five participating space agencies - the CSA, ESA, JAXA, NASA and Roscomos.



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The space station is used for research programs including human biology, meteorology and astronomy. It is visible with naked eyes.



In the meantime, China's space station will consist of several modules including one core module and two lab modules. It will also have a number of docking ports for spacecrafts.



China recently launched Tiangong-2 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.



By 2018, China plans to launch Tianhe-1 which forms the core module for the space station. The module will be lifted by Long March 5, the most powerful Chinese rocket.



China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. also stated that the country plans to send a 20-ton combination space station into orbit by 2022.



China started its space station program in 1992 with a three-pronged strategy. Once its space station is operational, China will become the second country in the world, after Russia, to have developed such kind of project.



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TagsInternational Space Station, NASA, Tiangong-2
(Photo : DoD) China's A2/AD defense system and its three layers.

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The United States Marines will lead attacks to destroy China's anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) network defending mainland China and the South China Sea in accord with the U.S. military's new "Multi-Domain Battle" concept for defeating this Chinese defensive system.



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This concept leverages the U.S.' edge in technology and training and transforms the traditional concept of the "combined arms battle" into a more lethal and faster paced version emphasizing "heavy action." It lays great emphasis on all-arms offensives to quickly destroy the enemy face-to-face and not from long-distance.



The "Multi-Domain Battle" should work well against an enemy such as the People's Liberation Army (PLA) with a defensive mindset. The dominant weaknesses of the PLA is an overly centralized command structure where military decisions can be overridden by political commissars, and where initiative isn't encouraged among front line officers or the ordinary soldier, who are instead drilled to follow orders to the letter.



The People's Liberation Army Ground Force hasn't fought any major military engagement since 1979 when it was roundly beaten by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in a series of bloody border battles.



The People's Liberation Army Navy has won a number of small sea battles against Vietnam since the 1970s. The People's Liberation Army Air Force has no combat experience whatsoever.



No longer will the U.S. Navy be left alone to obliterate the layered A2/AD defense extending out beyond the east coast of the Philippines using long-range air launched cruise missiles and air strikes. The U.S. Air Force will now also enter the fight with long-range strategic bombers from Guam.



B-52 Stratofortresses; B-1 Lancers and B-2 Spirit stealth bombers will unleash massive bomb or missile loads onto Chinese ballistic missile sites and the surface-to-air (SAM) systems defending them. A single B-1 and B-2 can carry more than 80 250 kg satellite guided bombs, more than enough to annihilate a single ballistic missile battery.



But the centerpiece of this new concept will be the Marines' launching amphibious assaults on Chinese held islands in the South China Sea and invading mainland China itself to destroy A2/AD defenses.



Gen. David Perkins, Commander U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command said his command is working with the other services to develop the Multi-Domain Battle concept, which will change the way U.S. soldiers fight.



Under the Multi-Domain Battle, the Army must learn how to operate in and affect all domains in conjunction with the other services, said Gen. Perkins.



"What can the Army do to help the Air Force deal with anti-access area denial?" he asked. "Rather than cramming a bunch of Joint Strike Fighters in there with a high casualty rate, maybe you use ground forces to take up the air defenses."



In the maritime domain, instead of expending the Navy's capabilities, maybe the Army's land-based artillery systems can be equipped with anti-ship missiles. The goal is to better enable the services to fight together effectively against a common, complex enemy, said Gen. Perkins.



In the future, the Army will rely even more heavily on empowered sergeants and lieutenants, said Gen. Perkins.



"They have to have a broader understanding of the operational environment they're in, they have to have a broader understanding of their mission," he said. "They're operating at a higher level, which means they have to understand everything that comes into play with that."



And because of the faster and more confusing pace of future war, the Army's cyber warriors can no longer be the only soldiers in the Army who understand cyber.



"Everyone has to have a basic understanding of the basic capabilities, what the enemy can do," said Gen. Perkins.



"They have to know enough to put the demand on the system. If a soldier needs somebody to shut down the enemy's communication, he may not know how it's done, but he should know enough to ask for it and then when that capability is provided, know how to leverage it. They have to know more than how their rifle works."



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TagsMulti-Domain Battle, United States Marines, anti-access/area denial, A2/AD, china, South China Sea, Gen. David Perkins
(Photo : Getty Images) Manila has said it is open to doing business with China specifically in infrastructural projects.

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The Philippine government is seeking Chinese investment to fund its infrastructure projects. Political analysts say this is a sign that Manila is determined to develop closer ties with Beijing after years of bitter conflict over territorial claims in the South China Sea.



Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, in an interview at the World Bank's office in Washington, said Manila is open to doing business with China again after more than three years of strained ties between the two countries under the reign of former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.



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"The last administration hardly spoke to them," Dominguez said on Friday. "Now we are going to talk to them (Chinese officials)."



Infrastructure Projects



Dominguez said it is time to de-escalate tensions with Beijing and invite the Chinese government to invest in Manila's infrastructure projects in the coming months.



China has been expanding its regional presence by funding infrastructural projects and reviving the ancient Silk Road trading route known through the "One Belt, One Road" initiative.



"We would like to direct them towards the infrastructure programme that we are embarking upon, and you know we welcome them," said Dominguez.



Foreign policy



Since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office three months ago, he has been voicing anti-US sentiments while gravitating towards China.



Dominguez said the Philippine is zeroing in on joining the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and that the finance department will soon submit its application to join the bank to the Philippine Senate soon.



"That's going to be a big source of funding for infrastructure spending," Dominguez said.



Trade alliances



Duterte has made it clear that he is seeking new alliances with China in trade and commerce. Part of the Philippine leader's agenda in visiting Beijing this month is to seek economic cooperation on mutual concerns and interests.



Recently, China lifted a ban on the importation of bananas and pineapples from the Philippines.



The move was seen as China's response to the Philippines' intention of enhancing trade ties with Beijing.



More than two dozen Philippine businessmen are expected to accompany Duterte during his first official state visit to China later this month.



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TagsPhilippines, china
(Photo : Getty Images ) China said that it has supported a Russian-sponsored draft resolution on Syrian conflict at the UNSC.

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China said it has supported a Russian-sponsored draft resolution on Syrian conflict at the United Nations Security Council.



China's permanent representative to the UN Liu Jieyi expressed on Saturday its support towards the Russia-drafted resolution in relation to the ongoing war in Syria.



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The said resolution has demanded for the revival of a ceasefire deal between Moscow and Washington. However, it was not adopted by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) since it failed to gather enough votes, the council said in a statement.



"As the Russian draft called on all the parties to cease hostilities and open humanitarian access to enhance efforts to combat terrorism, to support the good office of special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura and called for an early resumption of peace talks in Geneva," Jieyi said. "China hopes that the Security Council will really take the safety of the Syrian people as the first priority and stay united and build up consensus."



Earlier, Russia vetoed the resolution drafted by France and Spain. The Paris-backed draft demanded for the immediate end of airstrikes over Aleppo city. China has abstained from the Paris-sponsored rival resolution saying that the draft does not reflect the full respect for the sovereignty, independence, unification "and territorial integrity of Syria."



Syrian President Bashar al Assad's embattled forces recaptured on Saturday several areas from moderate rebel groups in the Northern Province of Hama. Assad is a close ally of Russian President Valdimir Putin, and the government forces in Syria have been supported by Russian air raids.



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Tagschina, Russia, UNSC, syria war, Aleppo
(Photo : Getty Images ) China has lashed out at European Union for levying anti-dumping duties on two Chinese steel products.

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A senior official from China's commerce ministry slammed the European Union on Saturday for its decision to levy anti-dumping duties on two Chinese steel products.



"China is highly concerned about the trade remedy practices," the ministry official said, according to state-run Xinhua news agency. "It is not a right strategy for the EU to adopt protectionism and impede competition."



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Describing the move as "unfair," Beijing asked the European Union to guarantee the rights of Chinese companies.



"China has always insisted that nations should be cautious and restrained in using such measures, and has always promoted exchange and cooperation to solve friction," the official added.



On Friday, the European Commission imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on the imports of hot-rolled steel and heavy plates of steel from the largest Asian country.



The Commission noted in a statement that said Chinese products have been dumped in European countries at highly cheap rates.



"To provide EU companies with necessary breathing space, the Commission imposed duties ranging between 65.1 percent and 73.7 percent for heavy plates, and 13.2 percent and 22.6 percent for hot-rolled steel," it added.



The Commission also decided to review the situation after six months.



The Chinese commerce ministry estimates that Chinese steel products account for less than five percent of the European steel market. Despite that, several Chinese steel makers, including Jiangsu Shagang Group, Hebei Iron and Steel Group and Bengang Steel Plates, have been under anti-dumping investigation by the European Commission for imports of hot rolled steel from China.



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(Photo : KevinFrayer/GettyImages) The State Council held a meeting under the chairmanship of Premier Li Keqiang on this Saturday.

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China's State Council is committed towards creating an environment where foreign companies can experience fair competition.



The State Council held a meeting under the chairmanship of Premier Li Keqiang on this Saturday. It is expected that foreign companies will now undergo simplified procedure for setting up their businesses in China.



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It was learned that the Chinese government would take steps to ensure improved market entry for foreign companies. This means that barring a few sensitive industries, foreign investment will only require registration, instead of approval. The council's statement failed to elaborate, though, the procedures it will require.



China is currently being accused of not providing a balanced access for foreign companies.



As pointed out by a top European business, the country may face protectionist backlash if it does not open its markets to foreign companies. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China even called the progress on the country's economic reforms as "highly disappointing."



China is looking to boost its economy, as it aims to augur private investment.



In a meeting, the State Council decided to encourage investments in diverse fields, such as sports, culture, education and medical care. It also plans to grant more authority to provincial governments to enable them to decide about the projects related to urban transportation, container terminals and vehicle engines.



The government aims to cut 95 percent of investment registration procedures under the new process.



During the said meeting, China emphasized the importance of using the investment rules in meeting economic and environmental objectives.



It was further noted that China plans to, "in principle," block new factories making gasoline-powered vehicles as the country continuously struggles because of its deteriorating air quality.



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TagsChina State Council, Li Keqiang, The European Union Chamber of Commerce
(Photo : US Navy) Warships of the U.S. Navy and the Royal Thai Navy at the 22nd Annual CARAT naval exercise off Thailand.

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Bilateral military relationships alone won't be enough to deter aggression against Southeast Asian countries.



What these nations need is to maintain their strong multilateral military relationships by sharing information vital to thwarting external threats to the South China Sea (read China) and other waters, said U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Donald D. Gabrielson, Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific and Commander, Task Force 73/Singapore Area Coordinator.



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"We can have a strong bilateral relationship with any country in this region," said Adm. Gabrielson.



"But, if we are going to really operate on these threats, we need a multilateral approach, which allows us to share information with each other."



The United States and Singapore last August co-hosted the 15th annual Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise, a maritime security exercise, which was also joined by Indonesia and Malaysia.



SEACAT focuses on regional cooperation to address shared maritime security challenges like smuggling, piracy and other illicit activities at sea. It brings together liaison officers (LNOs) from Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and the United States to collaborate and execute practical maritime responses to multiple realistic scenarios.



"SEACAT enables nations to work through complex maritime security challenges in a cooperative and inclusive environment," said Adm. Gabrielson.



"Sharing ideas, innovation and experience allows us to learn from each other and capture best practices to prepare for real-world contingencies."



Adm. Gabrielson said the U.S. Navy conducted multilateral training in the Sulu Sea with Malaysia and the Philippines via the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) program last June.



CARAT is a series of annual bilateral military exercises conducted by United States Pacific Fleet with several member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The 22nd annual CARAT exercise was held with the Royal Thai Navy last June.



He said building a multilateral relationship requires trust.



"Trust must be present in the first place. It's an effort that requires a lot of thought and hard work."



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TagsU.S. Navy, Rear Admiral Donald D. Gabrielson, Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise, Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) program
(Photo : US Army) 'Laser Stryker' armed with a 2 kW combat laser (white colored object).

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The U.S. Army is rebuilding its long-neglected Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) capability by arming select Stryker armored fighting vehicles with high energy lasers.



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"Laser Strykers" are armed with a 2 kilowatt laser weapons system called the Stryker Mobile Expeditionary High Energy Laser (MEHEL) to shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and incoming mortar rounds.



Strykers, or more accurately the M1126 Stryker ICV (Interim Armored Vehicle), are eight-wheeled armored personnel carriers employed in a variety of roles. Their main role is to serve as armored troop transports for nine soldiers. Other variants are gun vehicles armed with weapons ranging from 30 mm autocannons to 105 mm guns.



Strykers are employed in Stryker Brigade Combat Teams in U.S. Army divisions. There are 300 Strykers in a Stryker BCT.



In a test conducted at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, a Stryker MEHEL took just 15 seconds to acquire, track, engage and shoot down a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), validating the quick reaction time demanded of the weapon.



A laser beam destroys a UAV by heating one of the parts that controls its flight (such as a wing or a rotor) until it melts. One engineer compared the effects of a laser striking a UAV to that of a welding torch.



The army expects to test 30 kW ground based lasers in 2017. The MEHEL program is managed by the Army Space and Missile Defense Command and Army Forces Strategic Command.



The army has another laser program called HELMTT or the High Energy Laser Mobile Test Truck. This combat laser platform is a 10 kW laser mounted on a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck.



The army, however, is counting on the armored and more mobile Stryker MEHEL to rebuild its weak SHORAD system neglected since the army turned over its air defense to the U.s. Air Force. The advent of the U.S. military new warfighting concept called the "Multi-Domain Battle," and the recognition combat units in future wars might well fight isolated, has speeding up the need to strengthen SHORAD.



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TagsU.S. Army, Short-Range Air Defense, SHORAD, Stryker Mobile Expeditionary High Energy Laser, MEHEL, Laser Strykers, M1126 Stryker ICV, High Energy Laser Mobile Test Truck
Christians in Syria Still Deprived of Their Homes Even as ISIS Loses Ground

Thousands of displaced Christians in Syria continue to be deprived of their homes and are still caught in the crossfire even as militants from the Islamic State (ISIS) continue to lose ground in the Middle East.

According to a report by World Watch Monitor, Assyrian Christians, specifically those in Tel Nasri, Tel Goran and other villages, still could not return to their homes despite the fact that ISIS forces have already left these areas. Local sources said this is because Kurdish militias now occupy these communities after they dislodged the ISIS militants.

The militiamen put up signs warning against danger and mines to make it appear that it is still unsafe for Assyrian Christians to return to their villages, but in reality, this is their way of occupying the communities, Assyria TV reported.

This came as a surprise for the Assyrian Christians who expected the Kurdish militias to stay only temporarily and to leave their villages once they have driven out the last of the ISIS militants.

Worse, the Kurdish militia forces are also reportedly intimidating and committing acts of violence against the Assyrian Christians, particularly in Hassake. There were also reports from local media in Syrian that Kurdish militiamen are "systematically" looting the villages previously controlled by ISIS militants.

On top of the problem brought about by Kurdish militia forces, Christians in Syria also have to constantly worry about the continuing threat posed by ISIS, which earlier occupied 35 villages in Syria.

The jihadist group is still holding captive some of the 200 Assyrians it took as hostages back in February last year.

Because of these, Christians in Syria are continually asking for prayers and assistance from their fellow faithful around the world.

Some Christian groups have already responded to this call. For instance, the nonprofit group In Defense of Christians (IDC) led a convention last month to urge the United States government to to act on behalf of the Christians in the Middle East.

Other organisations have been been raising funds to support emergency humanitarian efforts for Assyrian Christians in Iraq and other places in the Middle East.
Samsung Galaxy S8 release date, specs rumors: Next flagship might not have a home button

It is expected that Samsung will debut its next flagship, the Galaxy S8, early next year. While official details are yet to be confirmed, supposed leaks have pointed out that the upcoming iteration will have a major redesign and an overhaul in the specs and features department.

ET News, a publication out of South Korea, mentions that the tech giant will be overhauling the design of the Samsung Galaxy S8. One major change that the upcoming flagship will feature is getting rid of the physical home button. This is a large redesign for the flagship since the home button on the center bottom area of the front panel is a signature feature of the Galaxy S-series. Should this come true, this means that the home button will be integrated on the screen itself.

Meanwhile, the industry follower believes that without the physical home button, Samsung can expand the display further, thinning out the top and bottom bezels, much like what it had done by introducing the dual-edge display feature. The dual-edge screen eliminates the side bezels, so there is a high possibility that the top and bottom bezels may also be removed in the Galaxy S8.

Meanwhile, aside from redesigning the home button, it is also said that Samsung will introduce its first-ever dual camera setup for the Galaxy S8. While Samsung has yet to confirm it, supposed leaks from third-party partners of the tech giant seem to indicate that the new cam setup is a go. Additionally, having the new feature on the upcoming flagship is already expected, as some of the recent releases from Samsung's competitors already carry the said feature.

Other purported specs of the Samsung Galaxy S8 include a new Exynos 8895 or Snapdragon 830 chipset (or even both), at least 6 GB of RAM, and a 4K display. It is said that because of the issue with the Galaxy Note 7 recall, Samsung will announce the Galaxy S8 earlier than expected, quite possibly as early as February 2017.
Trump Defiant As Senior Republicans Withdraw Support

With his campaign in crisis, US presidential candidate Donald Trump vowed on Saturday to stay in the race despite calls from more than two dozen prominent Republicans for him to drop out following the release of a recording of him making lewd comments about women.

Both Trump's wife and his running mate criticized his words, saying they were insulting and indefensible. This came after former presidential candidate John McCain and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joined a long list of leading Republicans to say they will not vote for Trump.

But the New York billionaire was defiant after his apology and said there is "zero chance I'll quit".

On Twitter on Saturday afternoon he wrote: "The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly - I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN!"

The video was the latest calamity for Trump, who had hoped to revive his flagging campaign in the face of a recent drop in polls with less than a month until Election Day.

Trump is due to appear alongside Democrat Hillary Clinton on Sunday in their second debate in the run-up to the general election. Clinton is not expected to address Trump's video before then.

The 2005 video of Trump talking on an open microphone showed the then-reality TV star speaking about groping women and trying to seduce a married woman. The video was taped only months after Trump married his third wife, Melania.

In a statement, Melania Trump called her husband's words "unacceptable and offensive to me."

"This does not represent the man that I know," she said. "He has the heart and mind of a leader. I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world."

The backlash over the video was swift and widespread.

More than 60 prominent Republican current and former officeholders issued statements condemning Trump's remarks about women, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and John McCain, the party's standard bearer in 2008. More than 20 called for Trump to end his presidential bid.

In an unusual move, his vice presidential running mate Mike Pence issued a critical statement of Trump's words, saying on Twitter that he "cannot defend them".

"As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump," said Pence, who is governor of Indiana.

Pence indicated he would continue to support Trump, despite calls from several Republicans for Trump to step aside and let Pence be the nominee.

There is no precedent for a major party to replace its nominee this late in the campaign and it was unclear if there was an avenue to force him out. Voting has begun in several states, including swing states Virginia and North Carolina.

A recorded apology by Trump early on Saturday did not stymie an avalanche of calls from members of his party to quit.

Trump huddled on Saturday in Trump Tower with senior advisers, including New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Despite previous scheduling, Giuliani will appear on five major Sunday morning news programs, a rare round robin reserved for major news events - replacing Republican Chairman Reince Priebus on CBS's "Face the Nation" and campaign manager Kellyanne Conway on "Fox News Sunday," a last-minute switch. No reason was given for the bump of Conway. A CBS news release said the RNC asked to replace Priebus because Trump's operation wanted "a campaign person" to appear on the programme.

Trump left the building briefly to greet a small crowd of supporters, saying "100 percent" he would remain in the race. Before returning to a bank of elevators, he told reporters, "Tremendous support."

He quickly moved to do damage control in Saturday's video in which he declared himself a changed man and attempted to shift the focus to his opponent Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton. On Twitter, Trump posted critical statements from Juanita Broaddrick, a woman who has accused Bill Clinton of sexually assaulting her.

"Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologise," Trump said in his video statement, posted on his Facebook page.

Trump has struggled to win over women voters, and the video was expected to further feed Democratic criticism about his past behaviour toward women. Trump's support has suffered among suburban women and white, college-educated women, groups that Republicans have traditionally won.

In the recording that triggered the firestorm, Trump said of one woman, "I did try and fuck her. She was married." He went on to discuss his attraction to others.

"I just start kissing them," he said. "And when you're a star they let you do it."

"Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything," Trump said.

On Saturday afternoon, CNN published a separate report detailing remarks Trump made over the course of several years while appearing on Howard Stern's radio programme.

The remarks included discussing the size of his daughter's breasts and that he once had sex with three women at the same time. Trump was asked if he would have sex with a black woman and responded, "It depends on what your definition of black is."

The remarks were the last straw for some Republicans who have stuck with him through a series of controversial remarks, including calling Mexican immigrants "rapists" and "criminals," calling for a ban on Muslim immigrants, attacking a judge of Mexican descent, attacking the Gold Star family of a Muslim soldier killed at war and saying Senator John McCain was not a war hero because he had been a prisoner of war.

House Speaker Paul Ryan disinvited Trump to a scheduled appearance on Saturday in Wisconsin. Pence declined to speak in his place.

The list of Republicans announcing they would not vote for Trump or calling on him to step aside grew on Saturday: Senators Kelly Ayotte, Lisa Murkowsi, Dan Sullivan, Mark Kirk, Jeff Flake, John Thune, Mike Crapo, Shelley Moore Capito and Mike Lee; House members Jason Chaffetz, Mia Love, Joe Heck, Bradley Byrne, Martha Roby and Barbara Comstock; and Governors John Kasich, Dennis Daugaard and Gary Herbert.

Additionally, former presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Carly Fiorina and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Trump to quit.

"Donald Trump's behaviour this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy," McCain said in a statement.

While Democrats largely remained silent, opting to let Republicans attack one of their own, Vice President Joe Biden wrote on Twitter, "The words are demeaning. Such behaviour is an abuse of power. It's not lewd. It's sexual assault."

Some prominent Republicans indicated they would stick with Trump. Ralph Reed, head of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, and Tony Perkins, head of the conservative Family Research Council, said they would continue to support him.

"I think 10 years ago he was a different man," said Representative Jack Kingston, a Republican from Georgia. "I am very glad that he quickly apologised."
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The morning that news broke of an oil well's fiery explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, petroleum engineer Paul Bommer didn't know much more than what he could gather from a single photo.

And what he saw wasn't good: The Deepwater Horizon rig was engulfed in flames, with plumes of smoke emanating upward and several boats spraying streams of water onto the platform.

"I just copied that picture and I emailed it around to all of my colleagues," recalled Bommer, who later served on a National Academy of Engineering/National Research Council panel that studied the disaster. "I said, 'I don't think this is going to help our cause at all.' "

Looking back, Bommer recognizes the understatement. When the rig's well blew out on April 20, 2010, it launched a catastrophic string of events and triggered one of the largest oil spills in U.S. history.

More Information BP oil spill Erupted April 20, 2010 11 killed 17 seriously injured 87 days to stop the flow 3.19 million barrels of crude spilled into the Gulf of Mexico, a judge ruled $61.6 billion BP's estimated total cost for the spill Well declared dead on Sept. 19, 2010 See More Collapse

Eleven people died. Oil gushed into the Gulf at a rate as high as 62,000 barrels a day, according to one government estimate. Thousands of sea life perished. The oil industry temporarily stopped drilling in part of the Gulf by federal mandate.

And though the oil washed ashore largely in Louisiana and Mississippi, the disaster took its toll on Houston as well. BP's operations in the United States are based in Houston, and a command center in Houston spearheaded multiple efforts to contain the spill.

"The best minds in the world have been brought here," then-Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said on a visit to the command center. "We are confident and resolute that we will solve this problem."

Workers on the rig - owned and operated by Transocean and under lease by BP - were preparing to temporarily abandon ship where they had just finished drilling about 40 miles off the southeastern coast of Louisiana. Planning to return at a later date, workers had sealed the walls of the Macondo well with cement and casing.

Crew members were resuming their regular duties when the outward signs of the explosion came. First, workers heard a hissing noise. Then came the boom.

"I thought the place was falling in the ocean, that the whole rig was collapsing," Kevin Eugene, a rig steward from Slidell, La., told the Chronicle in 2010. "I mean it was the hugest, biggest fire I've ever seen. ... You could hear the gas gushing out."

The rig sank two days later.

The National Academy of Engineering and National Research Council wrote in a report of "a series of questionable decisions in the days preceding the blowout that had the effect of reducing the margins of safety and that evidenced a lack of safety-driven decision making."

"The actions, policies, and procedures of the corporations involved did not provide an effective system safety approach commensurate with the risks of the Macondo well," the report added.

Pressure tests before the blowout did show some unusual activity. "When you boil it all down, the people who were examining the data from the test, they just missed it," said Bommer, who specializes in cementing. "The next thing anybody knew, this thing is blowing out of control."

The rig was evacuated, but of the 126 crew members, 17 were seriously injured and 11 were declared missing. After a few days, officials called off the search.

Two of those killed were Texans. Arleen Weise, who lived in Yorktown in Southeast Texas, said she was notified her son, Adam, was missing and immediately knew he wouldn't be found.

"Eleven families were, their lives were so tragically changed at that point, children growing up without dads, mothers and fathers losing their sons," Weise said. "Families have been impacted in a way that they will never recover from."

BP finally contained the spill about 87 days after the explosion, but it would be another two months before the well finally was declared "dead."

"They were learning as they went along," said Norman Guinasso, a research scientist at Texas A&M University's Geochemical and Environmental Research Group. "That's quite an engineering operation, trying to get in there when the thing is flowing and turn it off."

By the time the well was capped, almost 4.1 million barrels had been released into the ocean, by government estimates. A New Orleans federal judge, who heard experts testify on behalf of BP and the Justice Department, ruled in January 2015 that about 3.19 million barrels of crude spewed into the Gulf.

Environmentalists almost immediately began studying the effects of the spill. Only a few tar balls washed up on Texas beaches, but oil slicks hit the shorelines and infiltrated the marshlands of Louisiana and Mississippi. Birds and sea animals - as small as shrimp and as large as dolphins - died, and coral reefs near the rig's site were affected.

The spill's long-term environmental effects are still largely unknown, according to Larry McKinney, executive director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies.

Smaller animals recovered well because of their fast reproductive abilities, but mammals with longer life spans might have trouble bouncing back. Oil that remains on the ocean bottom is still a big concern, he said.

The spill prompted nationwide debate about oil drilling in the Gulf. President Barack Obama placed a temporary moratorium on new deep-water Gulf drilling, costing tens of thousands of jobs during the halt. Drilling laws also became a heated topic in Washington.

And though BP capped the spill by the end of summer 2010, it fought in court for years after being sued by people and businesses affected by the spill, as well as local, state and federal governments.

BP also pleaded guilty to criminal charges, and the disaster eventually cost the company an estimated $61.6 billion. Some was allocated to an environmental settlement with the Department of Justice, which helped establish restoration projects and funded research in the Gulf.

The federal judge, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier, concluded that BP was 67 percent to blame for the disaster, Transocean was 30 percent to blame and Halliburton, the company that did the cement work, was 3 percent at fault.

Years later, Weise said her grief over her son's death has only worsened.

"I can't go to a wedding and watch the mother-son dance without crying," she said. "There's so many things I'm not going to have because of (BP's) greed. ... They've taken away so much from me, so much from all of the families."
When the heavy rains and floods hit the area in April and May of this year, Huffman resident Darlene Bradbery's home in the Magnolia Point subdivision was flooded twice.

After the second flood, Bradbery's house was condemned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and was recently demolished with help from the Houston City Councilman District E Dave Martin's office, the city of Houston's Department of Neighborhoods and by J&A Construction. Martin's office also began to work closely with the Magnolia Point Homeowners Association president Stacy Christ to see what they could do to help Bradbery.

"Our office works closely with neighborhoods in District E like Magnolia Point especially after the floods," Jessica Beemer, north sector manager for Martin's office, said. "After the first flood, we talked to our neighborhoods to see if there was any flood relief we could provide and track the cleanup efforts of flooded homes. After the second flood on Memorial Day weekend, we got back in touch with our neighborhoods to see what they needed."

That is when they met with Bradbery, a disabled senior citizen, who needed help after FEMA condemned her house. Martin's office connected and relayed Bradbery's message to the Department of Neighborhoods. That office connected with Habitat for Humanity to see how they should progress.

A local business, J&A Construction, agreed to demolish Bradbery's house at cost.

"It's companies like J&A Construction that make District E a wonderful place to live," said Martin.

Bradbery has continued to live on the property in Huffman with her caretaker and black Lab in a travel trailer until they could determine what to do next.

"All Bradbery had and all she wanted is what she had in the travel trailer," Beemer said. "We touched back with Habitat for Humanity who agreed to gather volunteers to build a new house on stilts for Bradbery if all of the supplies are donated. So we are reaching out to anyone who can help donate anything from timber to toilets to sinks; we need any kind of donations to help build a new house for Bradbery."

Martin's office will field any calls for information and connect anyone interested in donating materials to Habitat for Humanity.

According to Beemer, Bradbery was very thankful for the help since her main wish was to continue living on the property.

"The Department of Neighborhoods and Habitat for Humanity have been great to help move along with demolition and get to this point," Beemer said. "We have residents in our communities like Bradbery who were hit hard by the flooding. We hope to get these donations and that the community comes together for one of their own."

Any businesses interested in donating anything from timber to a kitchen sink, contact Martin's office at 832-393-3008.
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A breakfast-time brawl broke out Sunday at a Middle Eastern restaurant on the west side of Houston.

Two men allegedly started fighting around 5:15 a.m. outside Meedo Cafe. One of the men whipped out a knife and stabbed the other man in the back, according to authorities.

A couple other men jumped into the mix and the fight moved across the street into a gas station parking lot, where Houston police and firefighters eventually found the victim.

The wounded 18-year-old was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital in serious but stable condition.

Cops captured a suspect shortly after the stabbing.
A day after a a video of GOP nominee Donald Trump making lewd comments about a woman surfaced, the group Latinos for Trump held a small rally in Houston.

The rally, which consisted of people waving signs backing the reality star turned politician, took place Oct. 8, 2016.
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Ambulance

A Garfield Heights woman and her 5-year-old daughter died Saturday after being struck by a car, police said.

(File photo)

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio - A woman and her 5-year-old daughter died Saturday after being struck by a car in Garfield Heights, police said.

Tiffany Montgomery, 33, of Garfield Heights and her daughter Kionna D. Hayward died in the crash just after 6:30 p.m. on East 131st Street at Rexwood Avenue, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office said.

Both died after paramedics took them to nearby hospitals for treatment.

A Cleveland man, 53, had been driving the car involved in the crash, police said in a news release. Investigators have not said whether the man will face charges.

Neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected of being factors in the crash, police said.

Investigators have not said how the crash happened. It remains under investigation.

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Cleveland police car stock

A Cleveland man is in custody following a fatal stabbing that happened early Sunday on the city's West Side.

(File photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - A Cleveland man is in custody following a fatal stabbing that happened early Sunday in the city's Warehouse District, police said.

Investigators have not said whether the 24-year-old man has been charged in the 2 a.m. incident on West 6th Street near Frankfort Avenue.

The 22-year-old victim suffered a stab wound to the chest and died after paramedics took him to MetroHealth for treatment, police said. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office will release his identity once his family has been notified.

A Cleveland police officer had been working a second job in the area when he saw the two men in a parking lot across the street. The victim had his hands in the air when the 24-year-old man struck him several times, police said.

The attacker attempted to run but tripped and fell. The officer caught him and took him into custody without incident.

Investigators recovered the knife used in the attack, police said.

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MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Fluttering in a breeze under bright sunshine, 293 American flags were erected Friday at LifeWorks of Southwest General in Middleburg Heights to honor Ohio's military men and women who sacrificed their lives during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Ohio Flags of Honor Foundation presented the poignant traveling tribute Oct. 7 and 8 with the assistance of numerous volunteers and local business partners. Each flag pole bore the name and branch of service of a fallen Ohio service member.

"We unite a grateful community to pay our respects to our fallen heroes in the state of Ohio," said Karen Raisch-Siegel, executive director of LifeWorks of Southwest General. "It is our hope that this display serves ... as a lasting reminder of their sacrifice to everyone who views this memorial."

Gino Zimmer, whose only son Nicholaus, 20, was killed in 2004 while serving as an Army gunner on a tank in Iraq, co-founded the foundation and serves as its president. He will never see his son graduate college, marry or have his grandchildren, Zimmer said, but traveling the state allows him to express his enduring love and pride for Nicholaus.

"My son was a skateboarder and an all-around great guy," Zimmer recalled. "We didn't see him for more than two years, and then he came home in a closed casket. It was hard to deal with because I couldn't hug him."

For his service and sacrifice, Nicholaus received two Bronze Stars, two commendation medals and two Purple Hearts. Zimmer said Ohio Flags of Honor has become his life, and the display is in its 11th year. He explained why he is able to remain so positive despite such a personal loss.

"I smile more than I frown because I know my son is OK," Zimmer said, glancing heavenward.

People stood in line Friday to await their turn to place inscribed flags in a memorial display on the grounds of LifeWorks in Middleburg Heights.

In addition to the 293-flag procession, other memorable moments Friday included a white dove release, riderless horse tribute, rifle salute and a flyover by the Lorain County Civil Air Patrol.

To make a donation to OFOH, send a check to The Ohio Flags of Honor Foundation, 1294 Harding Way, East Galion, OH 44833. For more information, call 614-980-7780 or go to ohioflagsofhonor.org.
Palm Springs Officers Shot

Emergency personnel wearing bullet-proof vests attend to a person on a stretcher on the corner of Cypress Road and Del Lago Road in Palm Springs, California. Palm Springs police say three officers had been shot Saturday, and two of them had died.

(Omar Ornelas, The Desert Sun via AP)

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) -- Police chief Bryan Reyes says three officers in Palm Springs, California were trying to resolve a family dispute Saturday when a man fatally shot two of them and wounded the third.

Reyes told reporters the officers were talking calmly to the man, trying to resolve things when he suddenly opened fire on them.

The chief, his voice breaking, identified the fatally wounded officers as Jose Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny. He did not disclose their rank or any other information about them.

Reyes said the gunman was still at large and may still be in the home where the shooting occurred.

He said he would release more information later.

Dozens of law enforcement officers converged on a normally quiet residential neighborhood after the shooting.

Police also issued a warning that people inside their homes should stay there, lock their doors and not answer them until further notice.

SWAT officers raced to the scene after the shooting but no one was immediately arrested. Police said they believed no one else was hurt.

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Portman

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman rescinded his endorsement of GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump late Sunday night.

(J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- GOP U.S. Sen. Rob Portman rescinded his endorsement of his party's presidential nominee late Saturday night, becoming the latest Republican to do so in the aftermath of the release of a 2005 video showing Donald Trump making vulgar and sexually aggressive comments about women.

In a statement posted to his campaign website, Portman said he instead will be voting for Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who is serving as Trump's running mate. Trump said earlier Saturday he will not be dropping out, and even if he did, it's unclear that Republicans could replace him. So Portman, who had maintained distance with Trump despite previously endorsing him, would likely be casting a protest vote.

"I thought it was appropriate to respect the millions of voters across the country who chose Donald Trump as the Republican Party nominee," Portman said. "While I continue to respect those who still support Donald Trump, I can no longer support him. I continue to believe our country cannot afford a Hillary Clinton presidency."

While I continue to respect those who still support Donald Trump, I can no longer support him. Read my statement: https://t.co/7OGYW98KGF  Rob Portman (@robportman) October 9, 2016

Portman's Democratic re-election opponent, former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, had criticized Portman earlier Saturday for not immediately dropping his support of Trump.

"He ought to be ashamed of himself," Strickland said earlier Saturday, following a campaign appearance in Lakewood. "He is embarrassing Ohio by continuing to support this man."

Before Portman, the senate Republican candidates who rescinded their support of Trump included Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and U.S. Rep. Joe Heck, who is running for a senate seat in Nevada. A number of Republicans running for congressional seats did as well, and some called for Trump to step aside in favor of Pence.

And the fallout from the video didn't stop with individual candidates. The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that the Republican National Committee is halting its support of Trump's candidacy. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus told party officials late Saturday to redirect resources away from Trump and toward down-ballot Republicans, the newspaper reported.

Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who lost the GOP presidential nominee to Trump, upped his ongoing criticism on Saturday.

And, Kasich on Saturday upped his criticism of Trump, saying the developments of the last 24 hours have justified his refusal to endorse Trump.

"The actions of the last day are disgusting, but that's not why I reached this decision, it has been an accumulation of his words and actions that many have been warning about," Kasich said in a statement emailed to reporters. "I will not vote for a nominee who has behaved in a manner that reflects so poorly on our country. Our country deserves better."

Republican Ohio Auditor Dave Yost, who performed an about-face in July when he reluctantly decided to support Trump despite an earlier pledge not to, on Saturday decided to once again not back Trump. He called for Trump to withdraw from the race in favor of Pence.

"I condemn his loathsome words and despicable attitude. Much, much worse is the conduct he laughingly describes, which amounts to sexual assault," Yost said in a statement, according to multiple media reports.

And U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, a Columbus-area Republican who's considered a 2018 senate candidate, in a statement called Trump's comments and behavior "reprehensible, vulgar and extremely disrespectful."

"Americans deserve better choices for the highest office in the land. Trump should consider stepping aside. Otherwise, this will continue to consume the remainder of the campaign and help Clinton become the next president," Tiberi said.

In the 2005 video, reported early Friday evening by the Washington Post, Trump is heard describing attempts to have sex with a married woman. He also brags about women letting him kiss them and grab their genitals because he is famous.

"When you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything," Trump says in video. He adds seconds later: "Grab them by the p----. You can do anything." He said of his impulse to kiss beautiful women: "I don't even wait."

Ohio Republican Chairman Matt Borges on Saturday called Trump's comments "vile." He said he has counseled elected officials that it's up to them whether they will continue to support Trump. He declined to say what advice he has given to Portman or others.

"I've tried to make sure they understand there's no repercussion from the party if they decide to follow their conscience, and that's what folks need to sort through," Borges said.

He added: "Obviously we're trying to give folks all the information they need to know. There are questions as to whether or not [Trump] can even drop out at this time and what that process would be, so we're just trying to help people get an understanding of where they need to be."

It's unclear whether Trump's statements will block him from winning Ohio, and if his continued presence in the campaign season will have an impact further down the ticket. It's also unclear whether Portman's stance will harm him or hurt him in November, if it has any effect at all.

Ohio voters are poised to comfortably re-elect Portman to a second six-year term, polling suggests, and broadly view him as a distinct political entity from the more divisive Trump. But recent polls suggest momentum switching in favor of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who nonetheless remains unpopular with most Ohio voters.

Borges said it was too soon to determine if Trump's video would cause him to lose Ohio, but jokingly compared the potential political fallout to a nuclear bomb.

"There's no worse way to be spending my Saturday 30 days from an election that (we) absolutely should have won this year than to be spending 100 percent of my time on the phone or on emails or answering questions or [granting interviews] on a topic like this that isn't helping us advance the ball," Borges said.

Borges said Trump's comments have upped the stakes for the upcoming Sunday night debate against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, the former first lady, senator and secretary of state.

"One thing [Trump] said is the campaign has changed him as a person," Borges said. "He's got 90 minutes as a person to convince America that's true."

In a videotaped midnight apology, Trump declared "I was wrong and I apologize" after being caught on tape vulgarly bragging about aggressively groping women in 2005. He also defiantly dismissed the revelations as "nothing more than a distraction" from a decade ago and signaled he would press his presidential campaign by arguing that rival Hillary Clinton has committed greater sins against women.

"I've said some foolish things," Trump said in a video posted on his Facebook page early Saturday. "But there's a big difference between the words and actions of other people. Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims."

"Certainly has been an interesting 24 hours!" he tweeted later in the day. Trump later told the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post on Saturday that he will remain in the race.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State finished its 38-17 over Indiana on Saturday with the usual plan - Carmen Ohio.

Watch the Buckeyes sing in the end zone after their win as they join the Ohio State band.

When that was over, and the players headed to the locker room, Ohio State students and fans filed out of Ohio Stadium. They did so while singing, "We don't give a damn for the whole state of Michigan," on a loop that never seemed to end.

Catch that in the video here.
Apple paved the road to a wireless future by eliminating the headphone jack in the new iPhone 7 , a move that stunned much of the technology world. Yet in a world where wireless headphone sales are projected to top $18 billion worldwide within the next several years, key headphone brands are already positioning themselves to benefit from a future that looks increasingly unplugged from traditional jacks.

Headphone-maker Skullcandy has long offered wireless products, from earbuds to headphones to speakers. For that reason, its chief commercial officer, Sam Paschel, told CNBC that the company views Apple's announcement as an opportunity to bring its products to a wider audience  especially with the holiday season soon approaching.

"When you have an influential brand investing in a category, it'll drive greater awareness. The rising tide raises all ships," he wrote in an email to CNBC. "This holiday, experts are predicting wireless market share percentage could be as high as 70 percent."

Skullcandy is taking advantage of these expectations by launching its new Crusher wireless headphones. Preorders for the $199.99 devices have begun, and the product will be shipped out in late October.

It's not enough to simply sell wireless headphones, though, Paschel said. The transition to a wireless future must go hand in hand with new features. For Skullcandy, that means creating sound projection that listeners can feel, almost as if they were in a movie theater, and continuing to draw new customers in with better headphone offerings.

"We definitely see wireless continuing to gain share and we see these products as the way of the future," Paschel told CNBC. "It's where we will spend the majority of our extensive in-house engineering and product development resources."
watch now

As technology evolves and employees search for workers with the appropriate set of skills, schools focused primarily on technology have emerged as the new trade schools. A trade school, defined as a vocational or technical school to teach a specific skill set, has traditionally taught crafts like electrical repair or carpentry work to people seeking out those careers. Now, with a heightened focus on technology, many Americans are turning to tech as a trade to learn specific skills that range from coding to virtual reality. It's the idea of getting a "micro-credential," or training that leads to employment in a specialized field. The trend is moving to fill a void left by students who graduate from college without technology-specific degrees: According the National Science Foundation, a mere 32.6 percent of all four-year degrees awarded are science and engineering-related.



'You just have to be good at it'

A hands-free driver in a Mercedes-Benz. Source: Udacity

Research analyst Trace Urdan of Credit Suisse says the micro-credential phenomenon is gaining steam, and employers are now getting smarter in understanding which skills they really require of their employees. "Every business is a tech business now," Urdan told CNBC. "The obvious case of a micro-credential is coding. You just have to be good at it." Udacity is one of many education providers hoping to meet that particular skill gap. The company focuses on courses that teach students how to become engineers of self-driving cars and developers of virtual reality platforms. Company founder Sebastian Thrun told CNBC he's seeing a mix of students come to the program  which include beginners, life-long learners and those who are shifting careers. "In most cases these companies pay us for these employees to teach, and the reason is that Silicon Valley is actually really desperate to find good talent," Thrun, an adjunct computer science professor at Stanford University, told CNBC's "Closing Bell" recently. Virtual reality "is one of the hottest fields, so is self-driving cars," he said. "I can probably find you 10,000 VR jobs right now in [Silicon] Valley. Every company that makes media has to gear up to VR right now." Ricardo Parker, founder of the virtual reality focused Chronos Global Academy, told CNBC that tech trade schools are challenged with the task of staying current with fast paced changes in technology. In a quest to stay relevant, he said, Chronos updates its curriculum every six months or so. "The main courses that we offer are where students come in with no knowledge of virtual reality development," Parker said. "After six weeks or 40 hours of working with us, they walk away being able to create an app or experience with virtual reality."



Getty Images
Portugal, whose sluggish economy has imperiled both its credit worthiness and a key central bank lifeline, is confident it will not lose its sole investment grade rating, a top government official told CNBC on Saturday.

In recent weeks, yields on Portuguese debt have risen on fears that ratings agency DBRS would cut the country's rating to junk, following similar moves by Moody's, Standard & Poors and Fitch . Speculative, or junk, ratings raise borrowing costs on sovereign and corporate issuers.



In Portugal's case, it could also mean the loss of access to the European Central Bank's quantitative easing (QE) program. In order to qualify for that liquidity, and for the ECB to take its bonds as loan collateral, Portuguese government debt must have an investment grade rating.

"I would not expect any change in rating or outlook by DBRS on the 21st of October," Ricardo Mourinho Felix, Portugal's Secretary of State for Finance and the Treasury, told CNBC on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund annual meeting in Washington.
The International Monetary Fund will not join the Greek bailout program but will likely accept a special advisory status with limited powers that keeps it at the table, two senior sources with direct knowledge of the proposals said.

The IMF has been holding out for more than a year over the terms under which it would participate in any new program, arguing that the financial targets set in the European bailout are unrealistic without major debt relief.

But the Fund is increasingly resigned to European resistance to debt relief for Greece and it is now in talks to accept a newly created role that would let it play a part with limited formality, the sources said.

"It will be more than an advisor but the role will not have the strict conditionality, like the compliance and economic health checks every three months," one of the sources said.

Talks between Greece, its European creditors and the IMF have been at an impasse since German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble insisted on the IMF taking part but rejected calls from IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde for a big debt restructuring.

"This way Lagarde can go to the board and say, hey, 'I'm not violating our rules' and Schaeuble, whose government is facing an election next fall, can say, 'see, I have the IMF on board'" the source said.

The exact nature of the IMF's role has not been decided but it would have more powers than a simple advisor and would for example be responsible for drawing up certain proposed agreements and negotiating documents, coordinating with the Greek and European Union sides.

"They won't put money into the programme but it won't be just technical assistance; they will probably take a special advisory role to be created especially for the Greek bailout," the second source said.

"Talks this week just made it clear that the IMF just can't come on board formally."

"They will remain part of the troika and be at all the talks," the source added.

Greek and IMF officials held talks at the Funds' fall meetings in Washington this week, discussing this special status, which was supported by the Greek side. Despite the change in the IMF's role, Greek officials believe it will aid them having a body that supports debt restructuring at the table.

The IMF was not immediately available for comment on the what the sources said.

Poul Thomsen, director of the IMF's European Department, said on Friday that the IMF is still "fully engaged" on Greece but is insisting on debt relief, although this need not come in the form of principal reduction.

"We have not changed our mind on this. This discussion we will have in the coming months," Thomsen said.

The Greek economy has suffered from a deep recession with demand weighed down by fiscal cutbacks, a heavy tax burden, capital controls and a lack of investment.

The sources added that while the IMF is officially expecting the economy to grow by 0.1 percent, the actual figure is still likely to be in negative territory. That is far short of the IMF's 2.8 percent target for next year in the Fund's latest economic projections.

The sources said that an agreement over Greek debt relief was still possible but the window of opportunity was very narrow and depended on the quick conclusion of the next bailout review.

If the review drags on, then talks would be put off until after German elections next fall as any discussion on restructuring debt will irk German voters, the sources said.

The Greek side argues that it does not need a haircut but could manage its debt if its repayments were smoothed out, maturities were extended and more expensive IMF debt was swapped for cheaper European funding.

Some of these measures are not acceptable for the EU, however, so talks have moved only slowly.

The Greek economy would also get a major boost from being included in the European Central Bank's sovereign debt buying programme but that is not likely to happen until the end of the first quarter of 2017, at the earliest, one of the sources said.

The ECB could buy just under 3 billion euros of Greek debt, a relatively small amount for the economy, but potentially a major confidence booster.

Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook.


Family starts over after losing home, pets in Wooldridge fire

The McComb family called Wooldridge home before losing everything material to wildfire. What hurt the most was the loss of their pet dog Olaf.
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Once Article 50 is moved, a clock starts ticking. And if an extension of the process is not agreed unanimously, a guillotine comes down on it after two years. It is at this point that the main measures contained in the Governments proposed Great Repeal Bill will come into effect: the scrapping of the 1972 European Communities Act and the incorporation of EU law into British law. Even if the Bill has not been passed, the 1972 Act will then be redundant  because the end of the Article 50 process will effect that end.

All this being so, it is difficult to see how Parliament can compel the Government to ensure that Britain remains a member of the Single Market. Todays Observer reports discussions among pro-Remain MPs to this effect, involving Ed Miliband and pro-EU Tory MPs. The paper does not name them, but refers seperately to Nicky Morgan and Anna Soubry tabling questions to the Government. Nick Clegg is also cited.

Of course, MPs and peers are free to vote in any way they wish. But they cannot instruct Ministers how to conduct negotiations in detail, although they could ultimately bring down the Government were it to defy them. However, this is unlikely. Ministers will doubtless argue at this stage that they are seeking the best Single Market access possible, and this is probably enough to keep Miliband and company at bay for the moment. It is also far from certain that single market membership will be on offer.

Parliament will get its vote on the 1972 Act, assuming that the repeal bill is passed. It is possible to imagine that it would get a vote on the post-Article 50 deal, assuming that one is in place. But the choice then would not be between the deal and staying in the EU. It would be between the deal and no deal  outside the Union. Pro-Remain peers and MPs may have tricks up their sleeve that Ministers have not foreseen, but the way Brexit works isnt helpful to them.
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Gov. Dannel Malloy likes to fight.

Hes been sparring with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence for months. During the debate between vice presidential candidates, Malloy took a few shots on Twitter, saying that in refusing to admit Syrian refugees, among other things, Pence was the perfect pairing for the dangerously extreme Donald Trump.

His words were vindicated a day later when a federal court ruled that Pences refusal to take refugees was discriminatory.

Pence had said his true concern was security. But Judge Richard Posner, as well-known conservative, said that was like saying that he wants to forbid black people to settle in Indiana not because theyre black but because hes afraid of them, and since race is therefore not his motive, he isnt discriminating.

Thats unlikely to change the mind of Republicans in Indiana or Connecticut, who have also voiced concerned about safety. But if a federal judge cant change their minds, something else will.

Money.

Fact is, refugees and immigrants are good for business.

More Information John Stoehr COMMENTARY See More Collapse

Economists, liberal and conservative, conclude time and again that refugees and immigrants boost the economic growth of states that welcome them. They broaden the tax base, buy goods and services, and contribute to our states overall production. Connecticut took in refugees Pence refused. By years end, the state will have resettled about 300 Syrian who fled civil war.

Theres more.

Immigrants are entrepreneurial, a trait we need to cultivate as a state reputed as being bad for business. Nearly 14 percent of residents are foreign-born. They account for 18.5 percent of small-business owners. They generate over $2 billion in income, according to the Partnership for a New American Economy.

They also provide much-needed brain power. Hartford, Danbury and Stamford have the highest concentration of H1-B visas, which allow Connecticut companies to expand by bringing in outside specialists in math, science and technology.

Immigrants mean density. And density is destiny.

Firms tend to go to wherever people live, work and play. Higher density means higher demand, which means greater opportunities to provide goods and services. Hispanics alone pay over $2 billion in federal, state and local taxes. Where do they live?

In cities.

Density is a concern amid out-of-state migration. We lost 28,000 residents from mid-2014 to mid-2015. But for every three people who left, two arrived from other countries. About a third of Danbury is Latino. About 40 percent of Stamford is foreign-born.

If their support for Donald Trump and his vow to end sanctuary cities is any indication, state Republicans are generally anti-immigration . GOP legislators have warned against admitting Syrian refugees based on overblown security concerns.

A legitimate concern is whether immigrants  whether refugees, documented or undocumented  compete with native-born state residents for jobs. Thats a real question. Heres the answer: You probably wont notice a difference.

Economist David Card is famous for studying the impact on Miamis native-born population by the arrival of 125,000 Cuban refugees all at once in the 1990s, called the Mariel boatlift.

The influx grew the labor force by 7 percent, Card found, but it didnt negatively affect the local labor market.

Granted, 1990s Miami isnt todays Connecticut. And in terms of security, nothings perfect, as government officials remind us. To be perfectly secure, we might have to shut down immigration altogether. Some Republicans want that, but business people shouldnt.

Refugees are good for business.

This was a knockout for Malloy.

John Stoehr is a lecturer in political science at Yale and the 2016 Koeppel Journalism Fellow at Wesleyan. He is a contributing writer to Washington Monthly and U.S. News & World Report.
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The race for the 123rd District seat is coming into the homestretch, Republican incumbent Dave Rutigliano hopes to retain his seat for a third consecutive term against Democrat Lino Costantini.

Both candidates have much to bring to the table for the district that covers the majority of Trumbull.

Costantini, a former business owner, was the president and co-founder of Hamden Tool & Die Co. and Hamden Medical Co., before retiring after 28 years.

After years of mounting frustration, Costantini said he made the decision to run for office in the town he has called home since 1977  the same year the native of Italy became a naturalized citizen.

Im quite disappointed with the lack of cooperation among the state representatives of lower Fairfield County, because I dont see the cooperation among them, Costantini said.

Costantini had served on the Trumbull Town Council for nine years prior to spending 20 years on the Trumbull Police Commission. Costantini said the experience of working within the town and knowing the residents will go a long way in getting elected.

But the fight will be an uphill battle, Costantini said his focus will be on a fair and balanced budget, equal education for all students, and addressing issues that directly effect the people of Fairfield County  like Metro-North.

I want to go up there and do the right thing for the people of Connecticut and I dont see that happening now. Thats why Im running, Costantini said.

On the other side, Rutigliano  also a small-business owner  has owned and operated several bars in the area, including the Sitting Duck Tavern.

During the first two terms in office, Rutigliano has been a ranking member of the labor and public employees committee, as well as, holding a seat on the finance revenue and bonding committee and the general law committee.

Rutigliano said an important focus needs to be figuring out a way to keep people from leaving the state by continuing to bolster and create jobs across all of Connecticut.

I would like to make this a place where they want to stay here, Rutigliano said. Im tired of hearing about people and jobs getting driven out of the state.

Rutigliano said he believes overspending and high taxes has led to this mass exodus of people, many of whom are young adults, from the state.

A problem, if re-elected, that will be one of the things at the top of the list.

We have to live within our means, Rutigliano said.

AJohnson@hearstmediact.com
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STRATFORD  Members of Teamsters Local 1150 voted 2,104-140 to approve a proposal by Sikorsky Aircraft that will ensure 200 U.S. Navy helicopters will be built at the companys site in Stratford.

The new contract would cut hourly rates by 25 percent for those joining the company after July 1, 2017, when the contract takes effect. Current employees will receive a $1,500 ratification bonus for approving the contract. Sundays vote allows Sikorsky to meet a deadline to inform the U.S. Navy where production of its CH-53K King Stallion helicopters would take place. One of the conditions of the contract is that the helicopters be built in Stratford.

According to a statement on the Local 1150 website, a selection of any site other than the Stratford, CT, facility for the build of the CH-53K helicopter will result in this agreement becoming null and void. The approval is the last piece of a three-pronged plan to keep Stratford-based Sikorsky in Connecticut until at least 2032. The first two steps were reviewing internal costs and striking a deal with the state for $220 million in incentives to stay.

On Sunday, Sikorsky spokesman Paul Jackson issued a statement saying the company was extremely pleased by the vote.

W e thank the union leadership and members for their partnership, as well as Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Economic Development Commissioner Catherine Smith and the Connecticut General Assembly for their support in approving the financial incentive package in September, he said.

We now look forward to working with our customers, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and preparing the Stratford facility for the start of low rate initial production.

Malloy called the vote important and necessary and said it ensures that Sikorsky  one of the states iconic businesses  will remain for years to come in the state they have long called home. Hundreds of Connecticut-based supply chain companies and their thousands of employees will also benefit as a direct result from the CH-53K being built right here ... Today is truly a day to celebrate.

Sikorsky has been in the state for more than 85 years and employs thousands of Connecticut residents.

Connecticuts legislators also applauded the vote and what it means for the state.

Todays agreement between Lockheed Martin (Sikorskys parent company) and Local 1150 will keep Sikorsky in Connecticut for years to come and will keep our hardworking men and women building the most advanced helicopters in the world, said U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., in a statement. I am hopeful that we can build on this agreement and continue to bring more business to Sikorsky right here where it belongs.
From the genius himself

Real geniuses. They said No, and now its dying.

Donald Trump, referring to the state legislatures block 20 years ago of his plan to build a casino in Bridgeport. His comment on the city was made when he visited Bridgeport in April.

Disgusting

This is disgusting. This would be embarrassing for a frat boy, let alone a grown man.
Its a good thing Mike Pence has a conscience because hes going to need it as he struggles with what to do next as Donald Trumps running mate, including whether he should stay on as Trumps running mate at all.

Pence, a born-again Christian and former altar boy  you cant make it up  began the week with a debate performance so strong it nearly erased the memories of Trumps own disastrous behavior the week before, when he inexplicably attacked a former Miss Universe over her weight gain 20 years ago. Particularly when Pence answered a question about his own religious faith, he was able to assure conservatives that at least one man with a moral compass would be on their ticket in November.

But by Friday night, Republicans were wrestling with how to move forward with a presidential nominee caught on tape making comments about women that were so filthy they border on criminal and so offensive that mothers across America had to literally cover their childrens ears to shield them from Trumps so-called locker-room banter.

Some, like Speaker Paul Ryan, called Trumps words sickening, but made no mention of withdrawing their support for his candidacy. Others, like Rep. Jason Chaffetz, said theyd finally had enough of Trump. Im done, Chaffetz told CNN Friday night.

But what about Pence? No other Republican is in as difficult a spot as he is today. Not only is his familys name literally grafted onto the Trump campaign effort, Pence has famously described himself as a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order. But its hard, at this point, to understand how a Christian, a conservative, or a Republican could support Trump as he drags his candidacy further into the gutter  and his party toward defeat in November.

As a devout Catholic and father of two daughters and a son, Pence has said that his faith in God and his relationship with his wife, Karen, are the two strongest influences in his life. He prays so often his staff has a room set aside for him to pray before campaign events. So imagine the moment Pence watched the video of the married Trump laughing about groping beautiful women. When youre a star they let you do it, Trump said to Billy Bush. They let you do anything. In which version of being a Christian is assaulting women or even joking about it so easily dismissed as locker-room banter?

As a conservative, Pence has infused his entire governing philosophy with his moral values and argued that conservative policies alone mean nothing without public virtue. At the 2010 Values Voters Summit, Pence said that virtue emanates from the traditional institutions of our nation  life, family and religion. What kind of public virtue comes from standing with a leader like Trump, who told Bush that he tried to hit that with a married woman?

As a Republican, Pence is now the top cheerleader for a nominee who is embarrassing, degrading, and dividing the Republican Party itself. If Pence stays with Trump after this week, he will do it knowing full well what kind misogyny he is empowering and enabling. He will also be an active participant in a campaign that could lose a generation of women, minority and evangelical voters who want no part of a party that not only tolerates, but elevates, a man like Trump.

If Pence leaves the ticket, he could redeem both himself and party in the eyes of many voters, especially Republicans who do not recognize the party they used to support, when it has been given over to a man whose only belief system is rooted in enriching and empowering and enjoying himself, no matter the cost to the people around him.

As easily as the politics could help Pence and rocket him to becoming the leading contender for 2020, leaving Trump could backfire, too. Ted Cruz probably thought his principled stand against Trump at the RNC was going to go a lot better than it did. But at least Pence could look his wife and daughters in the eye and face the end his career, whenever it comes, knowing followed his conscience as a Christian and a conservative, even when it was difficult.

At that same Values Voters conference in 2010 where he spoke about public virtue, Pence gave his fellow conservatives advice that they could all probably use today as they face the moment that will define the Republican Party, the conservative movement, and all of them as individuals, from this moment forward.

The time has come to take our stand, Pence said in 2010. We must not be afraid and we must fight for what has always been the source of American greatness: our faith in God and our freedom.

Mike Pence is a good man, but he is being used by a campaign to excuse and endorse the indefensible actions of Donald Trump. The time has come again for Mike Pence to take a stand.

Roll Call columnist Patricia Murphy covers national politics for The Daily Beast.
At St. Vincents Medical Center in Bridgeport, employees have two choices  the needle or the mask. For several years, the hospital has mandated employees get a flu shot every flu season. Workers can get a medical or religious exemption from the vaccination, but those who opt out have to wear a mask whenever theyre within 60 feet of a patient.

To read more, click here or below.
These real PA creatures could become cryptids if we don't save them
Sir Nicholas Soames has apologised for abusing a constituent in Mid Sussex who teased him on Twitter: 'Did you sit on your phone?' Heavyweight Soames tweeted back: 'FOYC.' Apparently, in internet-speak, that's very rude. Blame his grandpa, Winston Churchill. When schoolboy Soames asked him if he was the greatest living Englishman, he replied: 'Yes. Now b****r off!'

'Did you sit on your phone?' Sir Nicholas Soames responded on Twitter: 'FOYC'

The tweet in question: Apparently, in internet-speak, FOYC is very rude

As warring Cabinet Brexiteers Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis squabble over who can use Chevening, the grace-and-favour country pile in Kent traditionally reserved for the Foreign Secretary alone, a word of warning to the first two. Ex-SAS reservist and marksman Davis says the last time he went there, he demanded to test some of the muskets on display.

Former Lord Chancellor and Labour luvvie Charlie Falconer was made to look a proper Charlie at a legal gathering after claiming new Justice Secretary Liz Truss was unfit for the job. La Truss has told how, when she saw barrister Falconer in a corner sporting whiskers, she bowled up to him bold as brass and asked: 'Hello Charlie. Have you grown a beard so you can hide from me?'

Baroness Stowell is being tipped as the BBC's successor to Cameron crony Rona Fairhead

Cake girl Tina to rise again at the Beeb

Former Nottingham cake shop sales girl Baroness Stowell is being tipped as successor to Cameron crony Rona Fairhead as 110,000-a-year chair of the BBC Trust. Feisty Tina Stowell was axed as Lords Leader by Theresa May to make way for May ally and ex-Tesco shop worker Natalie Evans. Senior Tories say queen-of-the-cream-puffs Tina, who worked for ex-BBC director general Greg Dyke, is the ideal choice to make the Beeb rise again after losing Bake Off to Channel 4.

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, better known for his budgie-smuggler Speedos than for the grey matter between his big ears, was overheard at a conference cocktail party talking to ex Defence Minister Philip Dunne apparently discussing buying some surplus Royal Navy submarines for the Aussie navy. 'Philip tried to explain the difference between nuclear and diesel-powered subs,' said a witness. 'I think Abbott thought they ran on lead-free petrol.'

Blair pulls BoJo's strings

With threats of a UK political comeback by Tony Blair, Dog was shocked to learn that Blair wrote large parts of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's Tory conference speech. Fortunately, the Blair in question was distinguished ex-Fleet Street Middle East foreign correspondent David Blair, not the disgraced Middle East meddler and former Labour Prime Minister.
I hope Donald Trumps toxic objectification of women  recorded on a bus when he thought he was talking privately  has finally derailed his bid for the White House.

Trumps behaviour and his grovelling video apology have revolted even his own supporters. We can only imagine the force with which Hillary Clinton will plunge the knife into him at their second live television debate later tonight.

I have my own experience of Trump, of both his charm and his misogynist bullying  and of his quite extraordinary devotion to one woman in his life, his mother, Mary MacLeod.

Selina Scott says she hopes Donald Trumps toxic objectification of women  recorded on a bus when he thought he was talking privately  has finally derailed his bid for the White House

When I made a documentary about him for ITV back in the 1990s, Trump gave me unlimited access to his private life that he had never allowed before, and significantly has never allowed since. He took me to the penthouse in Trump Tower overlooking Manhattan to meet his mother.

It was like an audience with a queen. She sat in a gilded chair surrounded by priceless paintings and antiques in a room that seemed to have been modelled on a Hollywood idea of a Renaissance palace.

Mary, a crofters daughter from the Hebrides, sat easily, dressed elegantly in designer clothes, her hair coiffed, nails perfectly manicured. Trump made a great fuss of her in front of the cameras. She was on a pedestal. He was the loving son.

Only Trump knows how his attitude to other women could be so toxic. It is instructive, however, that around the same time he was proudly showing off his mother to me, he was denigrating a former Miss Universe, Alicia Machado, who had won the competition he owned.

Donald Trump with daughter Ivanka: Selina speaks Trump's quite extraordinary devotion to one woman in his life, his mother, Mary MacLeod

I have often wondered about the darker recess of Trumps mind. What kind of man uses that language? And what would Mary MacLeod make of his uncontrollable rages at women he perceives to have done him wrong by sending personal attacks to them in the middle of the night, as he did with Miss Machado, twenty years after he first called her Miss Piggy. And indeed as he did with me.

It almost seems he gets some kind of perverse sexual gratification from his denigration of women. Thanks partly to this and other disgraceful revelations about his character, Hillary is again pulling ahead of Trump in the polls, although only by some four percentage points.

To be beaten by a woman in this election would be a severe injury to his psyche.

He knows how to make women cry and clearly loves it.
British politics has finally vanished up its own pretensions. The old signposts and measurements have all been removed. We have no idea who stands for what or where we are going.

Who would have thought to see a Tory conference applauding a Prime Minister for vowing to raise more tax and weaken employers rights? Surely thats the job of the other lot?

In fact most of Chairman Mays speech could have equally well been written and delivered at a Labour conference. She may have derided Jeremy Corbyn personally but she has noticed quite a lot of his ideas are rather popular, especially with the young, and stolen them.

Corrupting history: Matt Smith and Claire Foy as Prince Philip and the Queen in The Crown

Who can blame her? She faces nothing but uncertainty and danger. The Labour Party is very nearly dead but her own Tories seethe with intrigue, rivalry and suppressed dissent.

The landscape before her is like one of those lakes covered in bright green water weed that looks  at a first glance  like a smooth lawn. In fact it conceals slimy depths. Only a fool would try to walk on it.

Her inexplicable breezy confidence about leaving the EU makes me shudder, and I am a veteran campaigner for national independence.

I wouldnt dream of activating Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which starts the two-year clock for our exit, because it places all the negotiating power in the hands of our continental rivals.

And they, especially Germany, hope to scare all the other EU nations into staying in. The last thing they want to do is to make an exit easy for us.

Id insist on getting all the talking done before taking this dangerous step. As for her Great Repeal Bill, it is nothing of the sort. Until we actually get out, it just confirms 40 years of EU laws and regulations.

Already her Cabinet is openly divided about keeping access to the Single Market.

And if anyone thinks that the Bad Losers Party has given up its dream of rerunning the referendum, just wait and see. They will fight this in the courts, in the Commons, in the Lords, in the civil service and in the BBC.

Given all these perils, it is only wise of Mrs May to blow kisses in the general direction of Labour voters, while also trying to persuade refugees from Ukip to come back to mummy. The 2020 Election seems far away, but its result will probably be decided during the next two years.

You may not like any of this. I certainly dont. But it comes, as so many bad things do, from taking short cuts and trying to bodge complicated bits of carpentry with a few swift strokes of the hammer.

Millions of voters thought they could have a policy without a government to implement it. They thought they could leave the nations fate to the political class rather than taking a hand in it themselves.

They fell for David Camerons promise of a referendum, which he never expected to keep because he intended to continue the Coalition with the Lib Dems until 2020.

Most of Chairman Mays speech could have equally well been written and delivered at a Labour conference, writes Peter Hitchens

They thought they could rely on the Tory Party to take them out of the EU, even though it had let them down on so many other things.

So, deep down, they changed nothing. A few toyed with the Dads Army party of Ukip, now once again enjoying ripping itself to pieces, its main activity. But they wouldnt see that the Tories had become a blue-tinged version of New Labour.

Now theres a new collective delusion, that Theresa May is the new Margaret Thatcher. Actually shes the new Harriet Harman. Ive charted her embrace of political correctness here over many years.

Even her increasingly vague promise to maybe, just possibly, open one or two new grammar schools, provided the middle class cannot get into them, will probably trickle away into the damp sands of compromise where truly good ideas end up in our system.

The shallow faces that say TV has got it wrong AGAIN

I know Im not going to like Netflixs The Crown, the new drama about the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. In fact I think it should not have been made, and should not be made for another 20 or 30 years when the actual facts are known and the papers available.

Even then, it would probably be nearly as bad. Like all such productions, it exploits the real people it pretends to portray. If it were about fictional royal figures, and did not claim to be their real lives, nobody would watch it.

But it cannot possibly be true. Above all, like the misleading, over-rated film The Kings Speech, it tries to see people through the distorting lens of present-day prejudice. My parents and their friends were more or less of the same generation as the Queen and Prince Philip, and my father was a naval officer.

I know Im not going to like Netflixs The Crown, the new drama about the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, writes Peter Hitchens

And it seems to me that even the faces of Claire Foy, who plays the Queen, and Matt Smith, who plays the Duke of Edinburgh, are wrong. They lack the depth and grief and sense of duty carved into the faces of that generation by their stern upbringing, and by the war. They are too knowing about trivial things, and too innocent of important ones.

Their attempts at the accents of the time sound as if they have been laboriously taught them and they long to burst out laughing, not as if they think it normal to speak like that, as such people really did.

And the odd thing is that they spoke like that while enduring danger, pain and fear and, in a way, saving the world. There wasnt anything funny about it

I am told King George VI, that improbably decent monarch, is shown using the c-word. I doubt he did. Naval man though he was, and so familiar with the whole range of filthy language, I think he would have regarded it as impossibly crude.

And if they can get that wrong, it is like a clock striking 13. All that went before, and all that comes afterwards, is in doubt as well.

One of the saddest sights in the university town where I live is Freshers Week, which means nightly pathetic processions of bewildered teens, clad in uniform joke T-shirts, being led off to bars to be taught how to get drunk. I really hope that the Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference was right when it said todays sixth formers are sick of the Olympic boozing that has become so universal.

It is the drinking, of course, that also leads to so many of the rapes and alleged rapes that cause so much misery of so many kinds.

I wonder why we treat this sad business as a joke.

One hour of sanity is better than none

I am not sure that the alleged comedian David Baddiel was trying to be nice when he urged the BBC to give me a Right-Wing Hour on Radio 4.

David Baddiel now joins many other BBC types, from Andrew Marr to Mark Thompson, in admitting there is generally a centre-Left, liberal bias to its output

The last time we met, on a TV review programme, I said that I was pleased and relieved when his dreary film, The Infidel, came to an end. He may not have forgotten.

But even so he now joins many other BBC types, from Andrew Marr to Mark Thompson, in admitting there is generally a centre-Left, liberal bias to its output.

And this is getting worse. As this newspaper revealed last Sunday, diversity commissars are culling BBC performers on the grounds of race and sex. This is a mad outcome.

When I was a Leftist in the 1960s, we at least believed that discrimination of all kinds was wrong. To this day I write human when asked for my ethnic details by some busybody.

Even an hour a week in which such wicked ideas could be attacked and mocked would be better than nothing.
Theresa May as Queen Boadicea

It was an elegant but brutal mugging by Theresa May who has taken the mantle of Brexit and wielded it as a bloody instrument to cudgel her opponents in the most radical realignment of Conservatism by a Tory leader for 100 years.

What made her conference speech all the more extraordinary is that it was delivered by an unelected Prime Minister and an opponent of Brexit who has now dressed herself up in the Union Jack as its standard bearer.

Theresa May stands like a Brexit Boadicea, breathing fiery words against fat cats, gas rip-offs, and her biggest bugbear  the privileged and the few  as she repositions herself as the Tory leader who is the tribune of the working classes. It is the most opportunistic manoeuvre by a woman who has quietly risen from a suburban rectory without trace.

Farewell to the posh chumocracy and all elites. Instead, we have the beginning of a fight for low-paid workers  in some ways a complete rewiring of how the Conservative Party has been seen for many years.

Her speech was merciless and well-aimed. Her jibe at Boris being unable to keep on message was both funny and deadly. Dont mess with me, was her message. She sees EU border control as the red line she will not cross, sanctioning one of the most inflammatory speeches on immigration by her Home Secretary since Enoch Powells bathed us in his Rivers of Blood speech.

May effectively writes off the single market. Not that this will be easy or necessarily happen, as staying in the single market has the support of her Chancellor and many other soft Brexiteers.

Theresa May stands like a Brexit Boadicea, breathing fiery words against fat cats, gas rip-offs, and her biggest bugbear

She will need every fibre of her body to steam ahead with her hard Brexit aims, as her own party is showing inevitable tensions over how it wants to see Brexit unwind our relationship with Europe. Many dont want a hard Brexit. Many dont want Brexit at all. Many more wish they had never voted Brexit. The plunge in the pound to the lowest rate for 31 years was an ominous warning.

Like Queen Elizabeth, the May Queen is the principal source of security we have in Britain today. Madness seems to be everywhere else. Labour is tearing itself to shreds, Ukip is knocking the stuffing out of itself, the Lib Dems have disappeared into a taxi, the Scottish National Party are only waiting for the polls to shift before calling for a new referendum, while Britains core foreign policy, the 40-year relationship with the EU, is about to end.

May has injected stability into the most unstable political position in Britain since the 1970s. But who exactly is she and what does she believe in? We thought she was going to be solid and predictable, just a little dull perhaps, but, wham-bam, since she has become Prime Minister she has been socking it to everyone left, right and centre.

May is much easier to understand than people think. She is not the Iron Lady, like Thatcher. But neither is she the Tin Lady, though she is what she says on the tin. She is hard to read because she has no Conservative lineage. She dislikes talking about her political mentors, or any thinkers who have influenced her.

The truth is that her politics have been informed not by Conservative thinkers or philosophers of any hue, but by life.

As with Thatcher, it is the background, stupid, that forged her. She is the diligent, state school-educated daughter of the local vicar, whose hard work got her into Oxford, and whose parents early deaths in 1981 and 1982 made her self-reliant. From them she imbibed service to others and Christianity, the tenets which shape her core.

The emotional and intellectual rock of her life is the man she met at Oxford, Philip May, whom she married in 1980. Their relationship absorbs much of her emotional and intellectual life and has made her even more self-contained.

So what is Mayism? Simple. Her stall has three pillars. Moving the Conservative Party into the centre-ground, and away from privilege to make it the party of opportunity for all. Winning the next General Election and securing her own mandate. And achieving a soft landing for Britain post-Brexit.

The seminal speech of her life was delivered outside No 10 on July 13, the day she became Prime Minister, in which she spoke about burning injustice in British society and her desire to create a union between all of our citizens. She also promised to be an advocate for the ordinary working-class family and not for the affluent in the UK.

As with Thatcher, it is the background, stupid, that forged her. She is the diligent, state school-educated daughter of the local vicar, whose hard work got her into Oxford

The Government I lead will be driven not by the interests of the privileged few but by yours. We will do everything we can to give you more control over your lives When we take the big calls, well think not of the powerful, but you. When we pass new laws, well listen not to the mighty, but to you. When it comes to taxes, well prioritise not the wealthy but you.

Mayism is less of a break with Cameroonism than we think  even her team admit there is as much continuity as change. But she believes that his Government personified the chasm that had been growing between the public and politicians, which the EU referendum so powerfully illustrated.

She believes that far too many people have lost control over what matters in their lives, and crave security  not just from traditional Tory concerns of crime and terrorism, but also from poor-quality health care, unsatisfactory schools, and worries caused by excessive immigration.

May is less squeamish than any Tory leader since Ted Heath about saying that government is important. She sees it as an enabler, vital in redressing market imperfections and exploitative behaviour, whether by individuals such as Philip Green or energy firms ripping off consumers.

Her speech was merciless and well-aimed. Her jibe at Boris being unable to keep on message was both funny and deadly

Her speech had been a long time in the making. A lifetime, in fact, bottled up inside her. She wanted to make a powerful statement defining who she was at the start of her premiership. Few Prime Ministers have come in with a clear manifesto; even Thatcher took several years to define her mission.

Shes determined to be her own woman in No 10. She knows that parading herself in public is not her forte, and she will see her main job as working in the building, taking decisions, and not being constantly in front of the cameras like her predecessors.

Like many incoming Prime Ministers, she wants to be more collegiate, and to use Cabinet and its committees more. Her No 10 has been flooded by an influx of women, though she remains guided principally by her two most trusted advisers, now joint Chiefs of Staff, the savvy Fiona Hill and the intellectual and creative policy thinker Nick Timothy. Together with husband Philip, they form the three-horsed Troika, driving her into the blizzards ahead.

So there we have her. She faces formidable challenges. Many in her party are confused by her assault on privilege. Her grammar school initiative has united the education establishment against her, no mean feat. Brexit will be even tougher than she thinks. Many write off her chances. The description given to Harold Macmillan after he became Conservative Prime Minister all but 60 years ago was Supermac. But he lost his moniker after he failed to cement his agenda and take Britain into Europe.
She speaks about her early professional life as a model in Newcastle

Ms Chivunga has been in films like The Great Gatsby and been to NYFW

As well as modelling, she has studied engineering and been to flight school

From walking the catwalks at New York Fashion Week to appearing in films like The Great Gatsby, Renny Chivunga, might sound like a regular bona fide model.

However, the 35-year-old, who was born in Zimbabwe, and who now lives in Newcastle, New South Wales, doesn't have a life that is as clear cut as most in her profession.

As well as modelling, Ms Chivunga has studied engineering and been to flight school.

She has also had to adapt to a way of life that is completely different to what she was used to at home in Zimbabwe.

Different life: Renny Chivunga, 35, from Zimbabwe, now lives in Newcastle, NSW, as a model - she has also studied engineering and been to flight school

'When I first arrived in Australia, and studied at Newcastle University, I was amazed to see so many cultures represented, and to see just how accepting everyone was,' Ms Chivunga told Daily Mail Australia.

I was constantly asked by people to feel my hair when I was in line for food, and others wanted to feel my skin

'The university gave me a false impression about the community's understanding of Africans,' she said.

'When I left university, I struggled to find someone who wasn't nervous to do my hair or make-up. I was constantly asked by people to feel my hair when I was in line for food, and others wanted to feel my skin.

'When I first started modelling, I was the dark girl who had to be made up, because there weren't many hair or make-up specialists with the knowledge to handle African skin or hair. It was tough.'

Differences: She speaks about her early life in Newcastle, which she describes as friendly - however, she said it was tough at first as people didn't have knowledge of African skin and hair

Tough: 'I was constantly asked by people to feel my hair when I was in line for food, and others wanted to feel my skin,' she said

However, according to Ms Chivunga, attitudes have somewhat changed in the past 15 years, and she has, for a long time, loved living in Newcastle.

She describes it as a 'friendly', 'willing' community, in which 'you can expect to be greeted in the streets as you walk by':

'I come from a land-locked country, and every time I go to the beach, I marvel at how beautiful the water and Australia is.

'There's isn't much about the country that I don't like,' she said.

Beautiful: The 35-year-old says she loves living in Australia, and especially loves the beaches - she says Newcastle is now a very friendly community, where people greet others on the street

According to the model, while Ms Chivunga has had some incredible modelling experiences - including modelling in shows at New York Fashion Week - she intends to soon move back to her primary passion - engineering.

When she does, she hopes to potentially move back to Zimbabwe, and inspire other young women to follow their dreams:

'For a long time, I worked full-time as a research engineer, while modelling and commuting and juggling all sorts of different things,' she said.

'I did not want to lose sight of my eventual future in engineering.

'Having said that, it was really hard trying to remember that there are only a handful of Tyra Banks in the world!'.

Future plans: Ms Chivunga hopes in the next two or three years to move back to Zimbabwe and focus on engineering - she would like to encourage other women to go into the profession

As for the rest of her life, Renny Chivunga says that there is still plenty to do and accomplish:

'I would eventually like to be a leader in my field so that I go home to Africa and solve some basic problems,' she said.

'I would like to help to create a Zimbabwe that is a desirable place in which to live, work and invest for future generations.

Inspiring other women to do the same along the way would be nice, too.'
I've been thinking of making a hard decision. Because I'm losing my hearing, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to do celebrity interviews. Even with a hearing aid, a talk with a movie star in a fashionable restaurant, say  what with all the plate-clattering, the inevitable American drawl, extroverts braying at the next table  has become a vague hum, decipherable only when my assistant transcribes the recording.

Much as I need the money, I'm thinking of telling my editors I'm no longer up to the job.

Life is never fair, or equal. Sometimes disabled (or morbidly obese) people have to be told: 'No, I'm sorry, you can't do that'.

A recruitment advert from Matching Models, looking for someone with a 'B or C cup', 'attractive' and with 'brown hair'

I'd have loved to have been a model, but when super-agent Lorraine Ashton took one look at me aged 19, and said the lack of height and weeping acne were a problem, I took it on the (imperfect) chin.

The same harsh realities exist today, 40 years on, no matter how many female heads are embossed on stamps or banknotes in the name of empowerment.

Last week, it was revealed an 'elite' recruitment firm is running adverts for women specifying the candidates be a 'B or C cup', 'attractive' and with 'brown hair'. The successful glamazons would then be employed as promotional staff for high-end clients around the world.

Which is fair enough, surely. I doubt a sheik would buy a Bentley from a woman so big there's a risk she'd dent the bonnet, much as no one would have bought Vogue featuring 1970s me and my big red spot.

But predictably enough, feminists are flapping their bingo-winged arms in horror at the injustice of any women (even glamour models!) being judged by their looks.

I've observed these kinds of right-on harpies during 30 years of working in male-dominated newsrooms: they're often the ones flicking their hair, shoving their boobs in the boss's face while seated on the edge of his desk, attending meetings with legs and cleavage exposed.

An 'elite' recruitment firm is running adverts for women specifying the candidates be a 'B or C cup'

You can find their sort in most offices across the land. They think it's fine to use whatever attributes they have to get ahead, whether it be an account at Rigby & Peller, an old friendship from Oxbridge, or a mum who's chums with the chief exec's wife.

They mine all these 'merits' while a working-class girl who toils hard and always turns up neither hung-over nor late, who never flirts or has any strings to pull but merely gets ahead by grit and talent is skewered at every turn for daring to be better than they are. Or prettier.

When working on a Sunday broadsheet in the 1980s (a feminist decade if ever there was one, what with Lady Cabs taxis and endless self-defence classes), I actually had my breasts removed in the hope I would be taken seriously. Before the operation, I'd walk through the newsroom nursing The Times Atlas to my chest: I didn't want to be gawped at, judged for my looks.

Looking back now, I wonder why I bothered butchering my body to deny my femininity. If you've got it, use it.

Look at almost every high-profile female news anchor. Yes, they may be clever. But would they have got to perch on the desk if they didn't capitalise on their looks with slick dressing, killer heels and an expensive blow-dry? I doubt it. They use their beauty as clever marketing.

Is that so different from what the girls who apply for the promotional work around the world are doing? Using every tool in their armoury?

Women with no GCSEs who have been blessed with great bodies but no real talent for sitting at a laptop typing while drinking coffee (my job), or for reading from an Autocue, have a right to use every asset they have to get employment.

LIZ JONES: Sometimes disabled (or morbidly obese) people have to be told: 'No, I'm sorry, you can't do that'

I'm sure if they'd been funded through a crammer and enjoyed nepotism and an early gift from daddy to avoid inheritance tax, or married a powerful man, they wouldn't feel the need to apply for jobs that require their bust measurements to be writ large on their CV. When it comes to equality in the workplace, nepotism is a far greater problem than sexism.

So here's my proposal. Instead of banning employers from asking for B cups, how about vetoing them from employing anyone with connections?

The chattering, gossipy 'elite' in the feminist world may think it reflects well on them to be seen to stick up for ordinary gals (cleaners, models, waitresses), but in my experience they view them with distaste, and accuse them of nicking the Berry Bros wine.

Do these well-connected women, in the middle of the night, wonder if they deserve to have made it? I doubt it.
Mummy blogger Constance Hall has written a brutally honest letter to her friends without children.

The letter, shared almost 20,000 times on Facebook, thanked her friends for hanging out with her 'a******* kids' even when they had better things to do.

'Dear friends without children. There is something I need to say to you...Thanks,' the letter began.

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Thanks: Mummy blogger Constance Hall has written a brutally honest letter thanking her friends for putting up with her kids

'I admire that': In the letter Ms Hall also expressed her admiration for her friends who decided not to have kids

Ms Hall, 32, then thanked her friends for putting up with her often-annoying children when they could instead be out having fun.

The letter continued: 'Thanks for giving a f*** about my kids.

'You come to my kids' parties, not because your kids have dragged you there, but because you actually want to come.

'You laugh at stories about the kids with such authenticity, not just because you can relate, but because you are actually interested.

'You come to kid-friendly restaurants and eat curly chips while my a******* children play on your phone and knock your drink over, when you could be at some opening of some cool place with the millions of cool people who invite you out.'

Heartfelt: Ms Hall wrote this touching note to her friends as a way to thank them for their patience

Difficult: The mother-of-four conceded that it wasn't easy hanging out with children, but was thankful her friends did not seem to mind

Sacrifice: Ms Hall recognised her friends were making sacrifices and admitted she may have not made the same choice in their position

The mother-of-four from Perth, Australia, went on to describe how she admired those who had chosen not to have kids of their own.

'Some of you chose not to have kids, I admire that so much,' she wrote.

'Some of you desperately wanted them and instead of being jealous or bitter towards me for having so many you relish in mine and love them with your whole soul.'

The popular mummy blogger finished the letter by thanking her friends for making sacrifices that she had not made in a similar position.

'I never remember a time before I had kids that I was that gracious and cool enough to sacrifice a Saturday night at the pub so that I could sit on the kitchen floor playing Twister with a friend's kid.

'So thanks for being true Queens.'

As is typical with Constance Hall posts, the letter has resonated with the blogger's global audience.
The photos on Instagram also often have thousands of likes and comments

Celebrities such as model, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, are fans of the shot

The fashion blogger is therefore able to capture various details in her outfit

The new pose to rock on Instagram sees women sitting cross-legged

For a while, the coolest pose to pull on Instagram when trying to show off every aspect of an outfit was the mirror selfie.

No more. The latest incarnation of the #ootd ('outfit of the day' for the uninitiated) shot is an altogether cooler beast.

Fashion bloggers, celebrities and It girls alike have been quick to adopt the pose, which sees women angle the camera slightly overhead, so that the top of the frame begins around the collarbone and goes as far down as the person's knees.

Then, simply sit with your legs slightly relaxed or cross-legged, snap away and you'll capture exactly what you want people to see in your outfit: the details.

It girls: The new pose to show off an outfit on Instagram sees fashion bloggers and celebrities sit slightly cross-legged and snap from the collarbone down to the knee (pictured)

Simple: It has proven popular on Instagram, because it looks as though the photo taker doesn't try too hard

Since the pose first started cropping up on Instagram feeds towards the beginning of this year, it's been sweeping the social media site.

British model, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, among others, have shared denim-clad selfies, which emanate those 'I don't try that hard when I take a photo' vibes.

Part of the appeal of the new outfit photo, according to those in the know, is that it allows the photographer to capture outfit elements that might get lost in a general full-body shot.

Devil in the detail: Part of the appeal of the new outfit photo, according to those in the know, is that it allows the photographer to capture outfit elements that might get lost usually in photos

Celebrity fans: British model, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, among others, have shared denim-clad selfies (pictured)

These include things like your accessories, the material of what you're wearing and tiny details.

It is also handy, as unlike other typical blogger shots, it allows the user to take the photo themselves, instead of relying on a friend, or the much-maligned figure of the Instagram husband.

Who What Wear were the first to identify the pose, and since the fashion site has, a whole host of pictures have been shared online - whether they're taken from bed, brunch or in the car.

DIY: It is also handy, as unlike other typical blogger shots, it allows the user to take the photo themselves, instead of relying on a friend, or Instagram husband

Many Instagram pictures leave thousands of likes and comments in their wake.

For those who desire a change from the typical hand-on-hip, one-leg-outstretched fashion shot, or others getting bored of seeing It girls in deserted streets or in front of graffiti walls, this new posecould be one to try.

Happy snapping!
Stylist Naomi Isted warned that the look could go 'horribly wrong'

Kim Kardashian is another famous exponent of the daring new look

The look was flaunted by Bella Hadid at the Cannes Film Festival in May

Many celebrities are opting for high-cut dresses that bare their crotch

Slide over sideboob, there is a new risque trend taking the fashion world by storm.

Pioneered by style icons such as Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner, the high-cut crotch is a daring new look that is pushing boundaries on the red carpet.

The look is not only in vogue at high-end events such as movie premieres. It is also proving popular for party dresses and bikinis.

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Stunning: Model Bella Hadid, 19, wowed when she wore this high-cut dress to the Cannes Film Festival in May

Lithesome: The 19 year old's slender frame was perfect for the daring crotch-baring look

The look  dubbed the 'sidevag' on the Internet  was memorably flaunted by Bella Hadid in a high-cut red dress at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

The 19-year-old beauty stole the show in an Alexandre Vauthier gown which showed off every inch of her phenomenal frame while blatantly pointing to her choice to forgo underwear.

Her lithesome legs and slender torso were perfect for the daring look, which caused heads to spin and sent social media into a meltdown.

Speechless: Models Giulia Salemi (left) and Dayane Mello (right) opted for the high-cut look at the Venice Film Festival in September

Jaw dropping: All eyes were on stunning model Dayane Mello when she wore this risque pink dress to the Venice Film Festival

Italian models Giulia Salemi and Dayane Mello ripped up the rule book when they chose to rock the high-cut crotch at the usually-demure Venice Film Festival in September.

Onlookers could barely take their eyes off Ms Mello, who opted for a bright pink version of the design, which was strapless with puff-ball sleeves.

Ms Salemi was slightly more modest, with a plunging neckline and parachute-style tail.

The models left onlookers speechless with the jaw-dropping display at Palazzo del Casino where the premiere was held.

Other style icons to take on the high-cut crotch include Kendall Jenner  who rocked it at the MMVA awards in Toronto in 2014  and her big sister Kim Kardashian, on a recent outing in New York.

Risque: Kendall Jenner was ahead of her time when she rocked the look at the MMVA Awards in Toronto, Canada, in 2014

Kim's doing it too: Kendall's older sister Kim Kardashian stepped-out in a high-cut bodysuit in New York in September

Stylist Naomi Isted has previously told Mail Online about the need for caution when opting to go for the high-cut crotch.

'There's a trend this year for everyone to wear sheer dresses with bodysuits underneath and this is an extreme extension of that,' she said.

'It's not a realistic thing for the public to wear. It's quite a dangerous look as it could go horribly wrong.

'If there's no underwear it's a potential fashion catastrophe.'
Twitter has been inundated with women sharing their harrowing stories of sexual assault in the wake of Donald Trump's disturbing comments about women.

Canadian writer Kelly Oxford posted an account of an older man assaulting her on a bus when she was aged 12, and urged others to share their stories, sparking the hashtag #NotOkay.

It comes as a tape of Trump emerged in which he admitted he was drawn like a magnet to beautiful women and boasted that he liked to, 'Grab them by the p****'.

Donald Trump admitted he was drawn to beautiful women and boasted that he liked to 'Grab them by the p****' in a secret tape recording released on Friday (image from the video in 2005, pictured with Access Hollywood presenter Billy Bush)

In protest, Canadian writer Kelly Oxford posted an account of an older man assaulting her on a bus when she was aged 12, and urged other women to share their stories, sparking the hashtag #notokay

The audio was recorded on a bus heading to the set of the soap opera Days of Our Lives in 2005 but released on Friday.

Trump made comments that spoke volumes about his attitude to women. 'I just start kissing them,' he boasted. 'I don't even wait.'

On the tape, Trump bragged to then Access Hollywood presenter Billy Bush about women letting him kiss and grab them because he is famous.

'When you're a star they let you do it,' Trump says. 'You can do anything.' He adds seconds later, 'Grab them by the p****. You can do anything.'

In response, Kelly blasted the Republican presidential nominee by posting on Twitter: '"Grab them by the p****," Trump says. '"You can do anything." And Billy Bush is like, OK! -This is rape culture. This is what we hear & live.'

She added: 'Billy Bush cackling after Donald Trump says "Grab them by the p****. You can do anything." Is rape culture.

Kelly first blasted the Republican presidential nominee by posting on Twitter: ' 'Grab them by the p****,' Trump says. 'You can do anything.' And Billy Bush is like, OK! -This is rape culture. This is what we hear & live'

Calling for action, the mothr-of-one began detailing one of five accounts of sexual assault she experiences as a young girl and as a teenager

'It is not just "two guys talking s***" when Trump says he grabs a "p****" Read my timeline. It's not funny, Billy. It's abuse. Let's talk.'

Calling for action, she began detailing one of five accounts of sexual assault she experiences as a young girl and as a teenager.

The mother-of-one urged: 'Women: tweet me your first assaults. they aren't just stats. I'll go first: Old man on city bus grabs my "p****" and smiles at me, I'm 12.'

'Women: keep tweeting me assaults with #notokay. Here was my second assault: Boy in drama class grabbed my "p****" during class, I was 13'.

She added: 'Please tweet me your sexual assaults, they are #notokay. My 3rd assault was by dermatologist, made me undress in his office closet. Age 14'.

The author then described a particularly harrowing account of assault in the women's toilets when she was 16.

She wrote: '4th assault: women's bathroom, guy enters throws me into sink, asks me if I know what rape is. His friend drags him out. I'm 16, he's 25.

'My 5th assault: age 15, at hospital for anxiety & heart palpitations. shirt is off for ekg, 2 Drs, not my Drs, stop & stare. 1 winks at me.'

Women from around the world responded in their thousands, bravely sharing similar stories of assault on the social media site

And women from around the world responded in their thousands, bravely sharing similar stories of assault on the social media site.

@bvanantwerp wrote: @kellyoxford My 1st sexual assault was Kindergarten classmate grabbing my p***y when I leaned over at the water fountain. #notokay

@thereisnnohurry said: '@kellyoxford 60-year-old neighbor who said he could 'help' me rake leaves. I was 8.'

One user with the name K shared: '13, male classmate flips my skirt up & I scream & slug him. Mr. Teacher tells me it's not ok to make up stories about these things. #notokay'

Emily Willingham said: '@kellyoxford I won't give details, but I was 12, and he went to jail.'

@SayWhatSugar said: '@kellyoxford Man rubbed against my ass on the train then blew me a kiss. I was in fifth grade on a school trip.'

@caitidh wrote: '@kellyoxford I spent my last 2 yrs of HS being assaulted by my bf and I didn't even know it was rape b/c rape culture told me it was fine.'

One user claimed a teacher accused her of making up stories after a male classmate flipped her skirt up

Another said: 'I was 13. Dad of the kids I babysat offered to drive me home. I said no. Said he wanted me to be safe. On the drive he felt me up. #notokay'

@Jaybritt92 said: 'Ever had a stranger try to force his hands down your pants at a party? So now all my Halloween costume have tights or jumpsuits. #notokay'

@arielufret commented: '@kellyoxford 17- waitress. Asked to 'settle a gentlemen's bet' re my underwear. Refused to answer; they grabbed my ass to see themselves'

After the recording of Trump was released Friday, backlash didn't wait, either.

Critics across the political spectrum said the Republican presidential nominee's comments crossed the line from vulgarity to advocating assault and underscored a need to push back against misogyny and so-called rape culture.

'Someone with such disrespect for women, with such a misogynistic lifestyle who boasts about using his power to sexually assault women cannot - and will not - be the leader of this country,' said National Organization for Women president Terry O'Neill.

Critics across the political spectrum said the Republican presidential nominee's comments crossed the line from vulgarity to assault and underscored a need to push back against misogyny and so-called rape culture (pictured with his wife Melania)

In a statement, Trump initially called his remarks 'locker room banter' (pictured with his daughter Ivanka Trump)

Dozens of Republican officials called for their own presidential nominee to quit the race. Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, tersely stated: 'No woman should ever be described in these terms or talked about in this manner. Ever.'

Trump has provided plenty of fodder for the conversation. He has called a Miss Universe winner 'Miss Piggy,' referring to actress Rosie O'Donnell as a 'pig,' and speculated that Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly asked him tough questions because she was menstruating.

In a statement, Trump initially called his remarks 'locker room banter.'

Brandon Morrow, a pitcher with the San Diego Padres, tweeted that he's been around locker room banter but Trump's words were 'a few of the most disgusting things I've heard a man say.'

Trump called the taped comments 'a distraction from the issues we are facing today.' He said that his 'foolish' words are much different than the words and actions of Bill Clinton, whom he accused of abusing women, and Hillary Clinton, whom he accused of having 'bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims.'
While Fashion Month is synonymous with new trends, supermodels are no longer the only ones pushing products.

Bloggers and front-row VIPs are fast becoming the biggest fashion influencers around, putting them firmly at the helm of driving sales.

And from Susie Bubble to Bryanboy, the new purveyors of style need only step out in a product or post a snap to Instagram to send sales sky-rocketing.

Scroll down for video

Are you brave enough to try a velvet boot? Online clothing retailer Lyst has named velvet among its top trends to emerge from Fashion Month alongside backless loafers and hot pink

So with Fashion Month finally over - four cities, 400 shows and 250,000 Instagram posts later - what are the latest trends we'll all be grappling to get our hands on?

Online clothing retailer Lyst researched the top five street style trends from the month to find out which styles are flying off the shelves.

'The analytics team at Lyst monitored real time search and sales figures globally, looking for spikes in consumer interest,' a spokesperson explained. 'The results prove that Fashion Week street style is king when it comes to driving sales.'

FEMAIL examines the five most popular styles reigning supreme this month.

BACKLESS LOAFERS

Backless loafers are having a moment with stylists Tanya Jones and Natasha Goldenberg leading the pack - leading to sales soaring during Fashion Month

Going for gold: Gucci's 380 metallic backless loafers have sold out completely on the site after being spotted at Fashion Month and all over social media

They've been tipped as the next big thing in footwear but these eye-popping backless loafers, which come in an array of colours, are notoriously tricky to pull off.

Nevertheless, they are enjoying their moment in the spotlight after stylists Tanya Jones and Natasha Goldenberg, along with Vogue Japan's Carlotta Oddi, showcased theirs while rushing between shows.

Searches and sales of the shoes soared by around 30 per cent during Fashion Month, with a 380 style in garish gold selling out completely.

VELVET

Are you brave enough to pull off velvet? Thanks to the likes of stylist Shea Marie (left), the style enjoyed a massive sales spike with Missguided's version (right) selling out completely

Once a tacky eighties staple beloved by the likes of Pat Butcher, velvet is enjoying something of a comeback.

Thanks to stylists Shea Marie and Liz Uy, and models Caroline Vreeland and Candela Novembre, the style saw a massive sales spike during Fashion Month - with searches up by 122 per cent and sales rocketing by 80 per cent.

A 27 orange velvet mini dress from Missguided completely sold out online, while designers such as Dries Van Noten and M Missoni also offer velvet products aplenty, from purple ankle boots to slacks.

PIERCE BAGS

The J.W. Anderson pierce bag is sweeping social media with blogger Susie Bubble (left) already a huge fan

The new it-bag from J.W. Anderson featuring a large metal ring - similar to a septum piercing - has been sweeping Instagram in recent weeks, with the likes of Olivia Palermo and blogger Susie Bubble leading the way.

The popular style has completely sold out in navy, with searches up by a staggering 300 per cent and a 76 per cent jump in sales.

STEPPED HEM JEANS

Fashionistas have been rocking stepped hem jeans during Fashion Month (right) with Topshop's affordable high street version (right) selling out instantly

They might look better suited to a nineties girl band, but sales of stepped hem jeans have more than doubled and it's all down to fashionistas such as Tiffany Hsu, Julia Sarr-Jamois and Gaia Repossi.

Topshop's straight leg version were snapped up straight away but you can still shop for similar styles at Asos, Next, New Look and Missguided.

PINK

Camille Charriere dons head-to-toe pink in London (left); H&M's on-trend pink turtleneck sweater (right) has sold out but there are similar styles all over the high street

There was only one colour to be seen in at Fashion Month and that was head-to-toe saccharine pink. Achingly cool Parisian blogger Camille Charriere pulled off the look with aplomb - pairing a pleated candyfloss skirt with a structured jacket, berry-coloured brogues and Michael Kors cross-body bag.
Private chef Saima Khan, 45, founded The Hampstead Kitchen in 2012. Single, she lives in North London.

Five years ago I was a banker, working between London and New York. Id always hosted dinner parties and people knew I had a talent for cooking, but it never crossed my mind to pursue a career in food.

Then I got a phone call from a friend begging a favour. A big one. That evening, her aunt was expecting 18 guests at her London home for a seven-course wedding anniversary dinner  but the private chef shed booked had cancelled on her.

Private chef Saima Khan, 45, pictured above, was a banker working between London and New York but a chance meeting with Warren Buffett changed things

Ive always liked testing myself. My businessman father, who came from Pakistan in the Sixties, taught me to relish a challenge. So I said Id step in.

The cuisine was supposed to be French a la carte but I took the lamb, quail and beef and with handfuls of spice, cooked up Persian and Middle Eastern dishes instead. Dinner went down a storm, and by the end I had several guests wanting to hire me for their own events.

Yet that wasnt my lightbulb moment  not really. I was still a banker earning a fabulous salary in the City. Why would I give that up?

Not long after, I found myself in the departure lounge at Omaha airport in the midwestern state of Nebraska. I was working for Berkshire Hathaway, the company run by legendary U.S. investor and businessman Warren Buffett, and there, sitting reading the paper, was the man himself. We got talking about work and, after a while, about food. And then he asked me, very wisely, when I was last truly excited.

In that instant I had the courage to admit that cooking for my friends aunt had been the greatest thrill.

A few weeks later, Warren Buffett invited himself to my apartment in New York for a curry. Hed asked along another guest too  Bill Gates (who also loves curry). After lots of buttered chapatti, he convinced me to set up a business in food.
Gazing at a woman's face in extreme close up, I can see her eyes are bloodshot, her lips chapped, her cheeks flushed with rosacea. Her mouth hangs open in animal confusion as she feels the bruises on her shoulders and the seeping wound on her scalp.

I'm watching The Girl On The Train - the thriller of the moment - based on the Paula Hawkins novel that has sold millions.

I am supposed to be riveted, rapt. All I feel is overwhelmingly sad.

Hannah Betts with her monthly alcohol consumption before she gave up drinking

Because - at times - that's been me, that bruised and bloodied creature, forced to play detective about my own body, my own life. Waking and waiting to be told what I have done - managing, not managing, to negotiate the drunken obstacle course I have created; and this not in my teens or 20s, but in so-called 'responsible' middle age.

And I am by no means alone. Friends have had similar experiences of drink-induced memory loss and injury; laughingly dismissing them as 'brain blanks', 'war wounds', or 'UDIs' (casualty speak for 'unidentified drinking injuries').

A hard-partying fortysomething refers to them as 'soiree scars' and drink-induced black-outs as 'social strokes'.

Bravado apart, many will empathise when Rachel - the film's alcoholic heroine, played by Emily Blunt - is asked why she sought out a therapist, and answers: 'Because I'm afraid of myself.'

I stopped drinking two years ago, at the age of 43. After 30 years of largely happy - if somewhat hysterical - carousing, I found myself bloated, weary, more miserable than I'd ever been, incapable of being around others without being a bottle down and unable to sleep. 'Afraid of myself' is about the sum of it.

Emily Blunt as alcoholic Rachel Watson in The Girl On The Train

Rachel's horror is her terrifying lapses of memory. As she notes in the novel: 'Blackouts happen, and it isn't just a matter of being a bit hazy about getting home from the club... It's different. Total black; hours lost, never to be retrieved.'

My own lost time was mostly of the former variety. The 'I know I got a cab, but remember no details' thing.

And, yet, at times, I too had missing moments. How many? I guess I may not be the best judge. Friends would tell me about swaggering antics, being kissed by people I didn't want to kiss.

I should immediately make clear that my drinking was never anywhere near as bad as Rachel's. I had good friends, a great job, and - I am reliably informed - was known for being good fun rather than a total nightmare.

I found myself on an inadvertent bender that started at 11am and ended at 7pm asleep in a friend's bath... The bender in question was a christening

My boozing was enthusiastic, but never an obvious problem. I didn't drink every night, rarely appeared drunk and never allowed alcohol to affect my work.

That said, I always drank faster and more fervently than anyone else, which meant more anxiously. (Would there be enough? Why were the glasses so small? Should we order another round?) And I never wanted a glass, two glasses - half a bottle, even. I wanted the whole damn lot. More given the opportunity.

Drinking was my hobby, my most committed relationship, my joy. I relished the nihilism with which it knocked the world off its axis so that only the next glass mattered; the way it suppressed emotion; the heady oblivion it brought.

I drank to escape stress, boredom, and - ultimately - myself.

And, yet, one of the reasons people have found my renunciation so difficult is that I drank no more than anyone else in our alcohol-obsessed society.

'You weren't an alcoholic,' others tell me. 'That's just normal.' And it is.

Sure, in the month before I gave up, I'd gone up to a bottle of red a night when on holiday or out on the tiles.

However, in the run up to that last month of bingeing I'd knock back what friends and colleagues refer to as 'the usual': half a bottle of wine an evening whether on my own or with others, with the odd night off in between.

Given that there are ten units per bottle, this new normal added up to around 25 units a week.

In July 2014, a study published in the British Medical Journal argued that 12 units a week - less than a pint or large glass of vino a day, and two fewer units than the Government's recommended limit - can have an adverse effect on health. Personally, I have never met anyone who drinks that little.

Middle-aged women such as myself have been at the forefront of this transition into kamikaze carousing: a shift from an occasional, festive glass on high days and holidays to Mumsnet's 'wine o'clock'. Time was when fat was a feminist issue. Today it's booze.

We drink with a recklessness that suggests mother's ruin has been transformed into mother's little helper.

I still boast scarred knees from a topple into some King's Cross roadworks, a dodgy elbow from plummeting down a flight of stairs and assorted faded cuts

Middle-aged mothers whose children have left home are the fastest growing group of hazardous drinkers according to a YouGov survey, while people with degrees are almost twice as likely to drink every day and admit to a problem; a correlation stronger in women.

And, put bluntly, our addiction is killing us. The number of professional women of every age dying from alcohol-related conditions is up by a quarter since the Eighties.

All of which means a good many female viewers are going to watch Emily Blunt's performance and shudder. There is much that we will recognise. The pitying looks from strangers, drunk texting, the hangovers that leech from 24-hour to rolling. And, of course, her blackouts.

Readers will recall Rachel's horror when she lurches into consciousness the morning after the night before.

'I wait for the memory to come. Sometimes it takes a while. Sometimes it's there in front of my eyes in seconds. Sometimes it doesn't come at all. Something happened, something bad.'

Rachel is asked why she sought out a therapist, and answers: 'Because I'm afraid of myself'

My memory losses were more: 'Was I an idiot for those last couple of hours?' with me guilt-texting friends and lovers to apologise without knowing what I was apologising for.

Such lapses happened a little more towards the end of my drinking. At a friend's wedding, a married man kissed me in full view of his wife. I remembered that I had fought him off. I hadn't.

The next day was torture. As Rachel laments: 'I'm going to feel terrible all day. That twist in the pit of my stomach. And I'll be telling myself, it's not the worst thing I've ever done.'

Humiliating as I found this episode, it is small fry compared with my friends' sad and shocking encounters, which include: 'Intercourse with a stranger a week before getting married', and 'never remembering anything about sex before the age of 40.'

One 50-year-old designer who wished to remain anonymous confides: 'Blackouts were the norm. The last thing I'd remember would be falling into bed with someone, removing clothing, then - nothing. This is how sex happened.

'But, then,' she adds, 'my flatmate had terrible blackouts and used to wake up worried she'd killed me. And my daughter recently added tracking software to her own phone so she can see where she's been the night before.'

Hannah's memory losses were more: 'Was I an idiot for those last couple of hours?' with her guilt-texting friends and lovers to apologise without knowing what she was apologising for

Another acquaintance endured blacked-out shopping binges, spending hundreds on items she can't remember.

Chloe, 43, a charity worker and mother of two, knows this blankness only too well. 'It's weird having no recall, doing things that are so completely out of character. It's as if it happened to someone else, yet you're responsible. I've hurt myself - waking up with injuries including a black eye that I can't explain.

'The times I most regret are when I was gratuitously unpleasant, saying things I shouldn't - something I still feel slightly sick over. The memory loss makes it feel so much worse. If you can't remember, you're always left with that paranoid feeling you might have done something awful, which is terrible for your mental health.'

Sober, I have fallen in love. If I'd been drinking, my boyfriend and I wouldn't even have spoken

Recently, she lost her bag, keys and mobile phone while on a night out. Still, her colleague at work once had to sleep in her driveway after doing this 'so things could always be worse'.

Like me, all these people are educated, middle-class, and hold down good jobs. Many are also parents, some of these antics relayed by their children the morning after.

As with Rachel, the evidence will often be etched on their bodies. I still boast scarred knees from a topple into some King's Cross roadworks, a dodgy elbow from plummeting down a flight of stairs and assorted faded cuts. It would not be an exaggeration to say that, at times, I have risked my life for my love of the mother's ruin. I have certainly hazarded other things: health, relationships, my dignity.

My epiphany came in September 2014, after I found myself on an inadvertent bender that started at 11am and ended at 7pm asleep in a friend's bath.

When I add that the bender in question was a christening, you will begin to perceive the enormity of said spree.

'Rachel's words could easily have been mine: "I'm not the girl I used to be",' says Hannah

My hosts still don't understand why this caused me to call it a day, saying: 'Everyone was plastered. You were the life and soul.' But, for me, the (30-year) party was over.

Rachel's words could easily have been mine: 'I'm not the girl I used to be... It's not just that I've put on weight, or that my face is puffy from the drinking and the lack of sleep; it's as if people can see the damage written all over me, they can see it in my face, the way I hold myself, the way I move.'

At last, even I could see it.

That night I stopped drinking, and haven't touched a drop since. As my immediate goal was sleep, I also ditched caffeine. For the first few days, I ached as if I had flu. I was dazed, moody, tearful; throat sore, glands swollen, tongue furred. I got conjunctivitis and my eyelashes fell out.

The brief moments of sleep I managed to snatch were so night-terror-filled that I would wake sobbing. For 15 days, I barely slept, then, finally - rest, a lifetime's worth. By then, compliments were pouring in. At six weeks, I glowed. My face had lost its booze bloat, and I had shed the stone-and-a-half I had put on over my drunken summer.

By three months, it was blindingly obvious that my life was a thousand times better from abstaining.

Sober, I have fallen in love. If I'd been drinking, my boyfriend and I wouldn't even have spoken. I would have dismissed his not being drunk as dullness; he would have shunned my histrionics.

And, alcohol-free, I have been fully present for both my parents' sudden, lacerating deaths in the past 12 months - loving and supporting rather than escaping into the void.

I still want alcohol at times - I may always want it - and I am having to fathom an identity without it. However, at least now I know what I've done of an evening and can take responsibility for it.
Unlike more savvy colleagues who have long extolled the virtues of pure wool pillows and duvets, I am a recent convert.

This is mainly because, when I married, I inherited some flat, lumpy, heavy wool duvets (not British) and assumed that was the nature of the beast.

I discovered my newfound zeal through a mattress. Along with the duvets came a squishy (non-wool) mattress, the sort that meant when my husband turned over I bounced  and when I got up in the morning, I ached.

A benefit of wool is its moisture-management properties. We sweat about half a litre of moisture each night

Prompted by my chiropractor, I acquired a new, wonderfully comfy mattress from The Wool Room. I now sleep peacefully and wake rested without an ache in my body.

I became such a fan that I recently visited Harrison Spinks, the Leeds-based factory that makes The Wool Room mattresses, to see the whole fascinating process.

The comfort derives from the use of layer upon layer of fluffy wool plus multiple springs, which work independently to adapt to the pressure of each body.

But wool has many more benefits. It is intrinsically flameproof, so there is no need to use potentially toxic flame-retardant chemicals (FRs) in the mattress or its smart cover of 33 per cent merino wool and 67 per cent viscose.

A 2014 government report says: There is growing evidence that FRs, particularly BFR s [brominated FRs], can be harmful to health and the environment, especially when they break down into individual constituents, eg, by wear or through burning.

Another benefit of wool is its moisture-management properties. We sweat about half a litre of moisture each night.

Most synthetic materials trap it in the bedding. This provides a humid environment that is ideal for house dust mites and fungal spores  key promoters of allergies such as asthma and eczema and respiratory problems  to thrive.

Research shows that wool wicks away the moisture and absorbs large amounts before the fibre even begins to feel damp. (Excess moisture is desorbed into the atmosphere during the day.)

Independent tests by national charity Allergy UK have shown that The Wool Room bedding, which has the foundations seal of approval, is 100 per cent effective at preventing mites from living and 99 per cent effective at preventing mould and fungal spores.

Unlike other forms of bedding, wool also helps to naturally regulate your temperature at night, a boon for hot sleepers of all ages.

Many menopausal women know the misery of night sweats, and various medical conditions can trigger extreme sweating.

The fibre gains and releases heat depending on the temperature of the room and your body.

Because children often overheat at night, The Wool Room offers a new range of (machine washable) bedding for one-year-olds and above.

The Sleep Council recommends changing your mattress every seven to eight years, but The Wool Room says its mattresses should last 15 to 20 years.

A new, wonderfully comfy double Deluxe 5000 mattress from The Wool Room costs from 1,399, thewoolroom.com

For a quick energy boost, the YOU features desk nibble high-protein, gluten-free and filling Bounce Energy Balls (I often raid their stash).

In nine yummy flavours  we particularly like Almond Protein Hit  they cost 1.99 each, from hollandandbarrett.com and major food retailers.

For a quick energy boost, the YOU features desk nibble high-protein, gluten-free and filling Bounce Energy Balls

Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning or septicaemia, is the bodys reaction to an infection when it attacks its own organs and tissues.

It is a serious condition that affects 150,000 people annually in the UK. Of those, 44,000 will die and a quarter of survivors will suffer permanent, life-changing after-effects.

Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning or septicaemia, is the bodys reaction to an infection when it attacks its own organs and tissues

Despite its devastating impact, awareness of the condition in the general population and, sadly, among health professionals is very low, according to the UK Sepsis Trust (sepsistrust.org).

This is partly because sepsis can initially look like flu, a chest infection or gastroenteritis.

The Trust offers a leaflet on spotting sepsis in children and advises adults to seek medical help urgently if they develop any of the following:

Slurred speech

Extreme shivering or muscle pain

Passing no urine in a day

Severe breathlessness

I feel like I might die

Skin mottled or discoloured
'I have all Mum's old clothes and we share the same hairdresser,' says Phoebe Eclair-Powell of her comedian mother Jenny

WHO? The sparky 27-year-old playwright from South London describes herself as a mini-me of my mum  the comedian Jenny Eclair. They have the same bleach-blonde hair (We even go to the same hairdresser), colourful dress sense (I have all her old clothes) and talent, too. This autumn, her hit Edinburgh Fringe show Epic Love and Pop Songs transfers to London.

BIG BREAK As a teenager, Phoebe belonged to a youth theatre company and made mad films about hamsters at an after-school club. She opted for Oxford University over acting, but couldnt stay away from the theatre after graduation. She worked as a PA to Vicky Featherstone  the boss of Londons Royal Court  eventually joining its prestigious young writers group. Phoebes debut play Wink, about a French teacher and the teenager who worships him, received rave reviews, while her second, Fury  labelled a modern Medea  won her the 2015 Soho Young Writers Award.

WHAT'S THE IDEA? Epic Love and Pop Songs is about love, friendship and growing up. It centres on friends Doll and Ted  or should that be Phoebe and the plays director, her best friend Jamie Jackson? I wrote the play for him, she says, and the concept of best friends who are boy and girl puts a different spin on things.

WHAT'S NEXT? Phoebe is working on a few telly ideas. She is also looking to bring her other Edinburgh triumph Torch to London later in the year.

KEEPING MUM There will be no stand-up comedy for Phoebe. I cant think of anything worse, she says. To have your work put on stage and be criticised by an audience afterwards is painful enough. To be heckled at the time would be too intense for words.
Contradictory impulses of deeply inflammatory rhetoric and fitful efforts to bring some reason into the discourse on India- Pakistan relations in the wake of the surgical strikes, and the vital sequence of regional and global events that preceded it, have characterised the discourse on both sides of the border, and have done little to clear the air.

In India, hysterical TV debates, and their reflections in the print and Internet media, have been fed by petty posturing of members of the ruling and opposition parties, and there has been a tremendous trivialisation of issues of grave importance.

After much irresponsible talk, Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervened to direct his ministers and partymen to back off from chest thumping and jingoism, though the impact of this injunction is, as yet, mixed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervened to direct his ministers and partymen to back off from chest thumping and jingoism

Critics may be inclined to think that this is also a duplicitous posture, akin to the Congress high commands assertion of unqualified support to the governments position on the surgical strikes, even as purportedly rogue elements such as Sanjay Nirupam and even P Chidambaram and Digvijay Singh, push a different line without significant censure.

Doublespeak

Further and crass politicisation has come from the very top in the Congress party, with Rahul Gandhi accusing the Prime Minister of khoon ki dalali (pimping blood).

With elections approaching, this is a tiger that will prove difficult to dismount, particularly as long as the media continues to seek out fractious opinions.

A fake report made rounds that PM Nawaz Sharif had warned the Army leadership to 'act against militants or face international isolation'

With intense and daily exchanges of fire along the line of control, frequent infiltration attempts as well as terrorist attacks - successful and unsuccessful - and continuing street protests and consequent fatalities within Kashmir, this pernicious cycle can be kept alive indefinitely.

Doublespeak has been overwhelming in Pakistan as well. There was great excitement about a report that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had, in an undisclosed meeting, warned the Army leadership to act against militants or face international isolation, specifically demanding action against the Lashkare- Tayyeba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Haqqani Network.

But the denials have come thick and fast, with the Prime Ministers Office strongly rejecting the report as an amalgamation of fiction and half truths, and very quickly thereafter as complete fabrications.

A quick return to belligerence has been much in evidence thereafter, with the Army Chief Raheel Sharif leading, of course, but joined by a cacophony of political voices as well.

In any event, a complete U-turn by Nawaz Sharif would also be unlikely, with his deep connections with the jihadis, and his very recent pronouncements on Kashmir and on India.

Radicalism

It is, nevertheless, abundantly clear that Islamabad is now caught on a cleft stick.

In the coming two to three years, Pakistan will make the critical decisions that will determine whether it survives as a nation state, or disintegrates.

The latter outcome may take much longer, but if the die is cast - if, indeed, it has not already been - there will be little possibility of turning back.

Indeed, even today, there appear to be few institutions or leaders in the country who have the power, the stature or the vision to reverse the tide of Islamist radicalisation in politics.

Mazdak Dilshad Baloch, son of prominent author-activist Naela Qadri Baloch and filmmaker Mir Ghulam Mustafa Raisaini who lives in Canada in exile, takes part in a protest against Pakistan

Can Pakistan reinvent itself as a modern nation state, divorced from the deeply entrenched culture of Islamist radicalism and jihad that the state itself has promoted since the countrys birth?

It is essential that Islamabad, and those who control her destiny, realise that this is the precondition of the environment of intellectual freedom and scientific inquiry that underpins a dynamic economy and society.

No faith-based system can deliver the continuous stream of innovation and enterprise that sustainable development, today, needs - a reality that political readers on both sides of the border need urgently to recognise.

Decisions

But is this even possible in todays fractious world, at a time when the most liberal democracies are turning away from their constitutional mandates to embrace xenophobic and extremist right-wing ideologies?

And in a country that has long been the fountainhead of jihadi terrorism, Islamist radicalism and xenophobia?

Leaderships in both India and Pakistan are now confronted with difficult decisions - perhaps infinitely more difficult in the latter case, than the former - in a world that is becoming more and more unforgiving by the day.

Stable states of the recent past have collapsed into chaos and savagery, and many others appear headed in this direction.

Dreadful political choices by the leaders of these states, compounded by equally imprudent interventions by Western powers, forced these outcomes.

States across the world - including many in the West - are not immune to such an outcome.

At this dire moment, it is crucial - though unlikely - that the volatile media in India and Pakistan now back off.

Political leaderships need space to understand and absorb the irresistible forces of current and critical global developments, and to adapt.
In last months Marie Claire, Sarah Leaven takes us Inside the growing movement of women who wish theyd never have kids.

The headline is self-explanatory. More and more women, the piece says, are now coming forward and saying the unthinkable: I regret having my children.

This is different from post-partum depression because the feeling that one has made a life-altering and irreversible mistake persists for life, even after the children have grown up.

More and more women are coming forward to confirm that they regret having children

Due to the fear of societal backlash - which considers having such an opinion taboo - many of these communities have taken shape online on anonymous chat rooms and buried message boards.

Theres a Facebook group called I regret having my children, as well as sub communities on Quora and Reddit.

There are books on the subject, like German author Sarah Fischers The Mother Bliss Lie: Regretting Motherhood. Pa

Becoming a parent is a fraught decision in contemporary times, and women have chosen to articulate their concerns in various ways.

Becoming a parent is a fraught decision in contemporary times, and women have chosen to articulate their concerns in various ways

Caring for an infant is a time- consuming job, which more often than not falls on the mother.

Several women have spoken of a sense of annihilation of self. In 100 Essays I Dont Have Time to Write, Sarah Ruhl confesses: There were times when it felt as though my children were annihilating me. Finally I came to the thought, All right, then, annihilate me; that other self was a fiction anyhow.

And then I could breathe. I could investigate the pauses. I found that life intruding on writing was, in fact, life. And that, tempting as it may be for a writer who is also a parent, one must not think of life as an intrusion. At the end of the day, writing has very little to do with writing, and much to do with life. And life, by definition, is not an intrusion.

While women express their doubts about having children, elsewhere, the Independent reports, men have lost interest in the idea of marriage itself.

Tens of thousands of men have formed an online community called MGTOW, or Men Going Their Own Way.

This growing movement advocates eschewing romantic entanglement and encourages what they see as each mans fight for sovereignty of himself.

Homosexuality is out; on forums men talk about the advantages of paid heterosexual sex and rail against pop songs as feminist propaganda.

At least 15,000 men are registered on Reddits MGTOW page and thats only one platform.

MGTOW stated ambition is to cut through collective ideas of what a man is supposed to be. MGTOW men extol their virgin status (long term relationships and babies are not on the agenda), see womens rights as disadvantaging men, and encourage men to go their own way by forging our own identities and paths to self-defined success.

Children, as an idea, have also gone out the window in Japan where startling statistics released by the National Institute of Population Research show that 70 per cent of unmarried men and 60 per cent of unmarried women are not in a relationship.

In fact, the Japanese have pretty much stopped having sex. 42 per cent of male adults surveyed and 44.2 per cent women admitted they were virgins.

Birth rates are falling and the government is worried. Falling birth rates are already a problem across Europe.

So as both men and women choose not have children for personal reasons, economies are struggling with whats being called a demographic storm.

In countries like Spain, there are provinces where for every baby born more than two people die, with the ratio seen to be moving closer towards one to three.

Projections by the National Statistics Institute of Portugal show that the population could drop from 10.5 million to 6.3 million by 2060 if immediate steps are not taken now.

As gerontocratic Europe struggles to keep out refugees, the Observer underlined the gravity of the paradox: Europe desperately needs more young people to run its health services, populate its rural areas and look after its elderly because, increasingly, its societies are no longer self-sustaining.

In Spain, non-profit groups like the Demographic Renaissance are telling people to think fifty years ahead because if current numbers sustain, every new generation of Spaniards will be 40 per cent smaller.

These non-profit groups encouraging people to have children are not fuelled by gender, religion or ideology, but by simple macroeconomic fact. Norway provides an interesting counter example from the rest of Europe.

The birth rate fell till about 1983 after which it started to increase, while the rates in other European countries kept sinking steadily.

Sociologist Eirin Pederson has worked on the issue of why Norwegians continue having children.

The first reason has to do with the excellent child care and support provided by the Welfare State.

Pederson says: The fact that much of the childcare takes place outside the home makes it easier for women with paid jobs to have more children than in cases where childcare must be arranged privately.

The other reason is cultural. It is said that in Norway it is impossible to imagine The Good Life without children.

In this, it is considered culturally different from America and Continental Europe. In India, we have an unsentimental attitude to children.

Children are an investment in your own future. Its a case of quid pro quo. You look after your children; you expect them to be at your bedside in old age.

No wonder that the Indian economy is reaping the benefits of a demographic dividend rather than weathering a demographic storm.
Delhi got a new punchline -Dilli Hain Hum that aims at attracting tourists from across the world and make the Delhiites feel proud of their heritage.

All these years, travellers were influenced by Madhya Pradeshs Hindustan Ka Dil Dekho and Rajasthans Jaane Kya Dikh Jaaye tourism campaign.

Delhi government realised that its time to rebrand Delhi's tourism and have city's original tourism advertisement blitzkrieg with the innovative tagline.

Delhi got a new punchline -Dilli Hain Hum that aims at attracting tourists from across the world. Picture of Qutub Minar

The state government also plans to organise a 21-day-long Delhi Festival scheduled from November 19 to December 10, which highlight the the slogan, Aao Dilli Manayein (Let's celebrate Delhi).

It will showcase the city in all its vibrancy, from Chandni Chowks street food and Mandi Houses theatre festivals, to South Delhis plush shopping malls and eco-tourism at Yamuna and Asola Mines biodiversity parks.

An enviable list of artistes and venues is bring drawn up to perform at the mega festival.

Delhi has a perfect combination of heritage monuments and posh malls

Envisaged by the Aam Aadmi Party government, at least three top private communications, marketing and advertising agencies have been hired to spread the word on Brand Delhi.

One of them, in fact, is a US-based advertising agency, Wieden+Kennedy, which built the entire Make in India campaign for Government of India, including its illustrious Lion with Wheel Motifs logo.

The government wants to increase the inflow of domestic as well as foreign travellers (file picture of Nizamuddin Dargah

It also has the Incredible India campaign in its portfolio. The other two agencies working on Brand Delhi are Square Brand Communication Group which has tourism campaigns of Assam, Uttarakhand, Himachal and Bihar to its credit.

On the other hand, marketing agency Fountainhead MKTG will execute all the events to be held under the banner of Delhi Festival.

Delhi Tourism minister Kapil Mishra told Mail Today: When I took over this job (in June 2015), there was a long-felt need for branding of Delhi on the lines of Gujarat, Daman & Diu, etc.

Chandni Chowk's street side eateries will be featured prominently in 'Brand Delhi'

There was a pressing demand made by the travel entrepreneurs to tour operators and organisers of heritage walks. We realised there is a need to tell the world what Delhi has to offer among other Indian states.

For this purpose, Rs 40 crore was earmarked for promoting Brand Delhi alone. Of this, Rs 25 crore was set aside to hold a unique Delhi Festival.

Navneet Kapoor, founder president, Square Brand Communication Group, which is leading the aggressive campaign, said: Soon an integrated logo of Delhi will be launched with the tagline Dilli Hain Hum.

Posters and TV commercials are being designed accordingly and will soon be spread across the city.

Plus, the Delhi Festival will most likely carry the banner Aao Dilli Manayein. It is tentatively slated for November 19 to December 10.

The idea is to convey Delhi as a mini-India, where all cultures, religions and ethnicities of the nation converge in a perfect melting pot, said Kapoor.

The city will be promoted at three levels: amongst the local residents; Indian domestic travellers; and foreign tourists and backpackers.

Delhi has much to offer, from its Nizamuddin qawallis to Lotus Temple, to the astronomical wonder Jantar Mantar and Qutab Minar, he added.

During the peak tourist season (November-April), roughly 2.5-3 lakh foreign tourists visit the Golden Triangle Circuit of Delhi-Agra-Jaipur.

This accounts for about 30 per cent of the total number of the inbound traffic in India.

However, they stay for only a day or two in the Capital, which results in the city losing out on revenue.

As per Union Ministry of Tourism data (2014), Delhi stands at fourth position among all states and Union Territories in terms of foreign tourists inflow which is around 23.2 lakh.

The highest inflow of tourists is recorded by Tamil Nadu where the number is 46.6 lakh, annually.

Delhi also doesnt figure in the top five cities favoured by domestic travellers.

Sonal Narain, head of strategy, Wieden+Kennedy, Delhi said: We are excited to do social and digital media for Brand Delhi.

The current perceptions of it are fragmented and polarised. People either feel very negatively about the city (following crimes against women) or dont know about it. We plan to build Brand Delhi ground up and inside out.

We want Delhiites to start seeing the city differently, to like, love and represent their city. Only then will the brand be solid and strong.

She added that the Delhi government is eyeing young travellers: We are going after young backpackers who are urban and have never been out of the cities. They would enjoy the guided village tours.
Twenty -three years after policemen in Amritsar tattooed the words jeb katri (pickpocket) on the foreheads of four women, a special CBI court in Patiala has sentenced three officers in the case, which had sparked widespread condemnation.

Special CBI judge Baljinder Singh on Thursday was awarded three years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) to the then Superintendent of Police Sukhdev Singh Chinna and sub-inspector Narinder Singh Malli, who was then SHO of Rambagh police station.

He was also awarded one year rigorous imprisonment to ASI Kanwaljit Singh.

File photo of the women, Nirmala, Jeeto and Nooran, with the words jeb katri (pickpocket) tattooed on their foreheads

Punjab Police had drawn widespread criticism for the infamous incident dating back to December 1993, when Amritsar police tattooed the words jeb katri on the foreheads of four habitual offender women, who were accused of stealing a purse.

The case came into prominence when the accused were produced in the court for hearing of the pickpocketing case.

Women named Nirmala, Jeeto and Nooran, were caught by the police in Amritsar's Golden Temple.

The police had produced the four women in the court, with their foreheads covered with a dupatta (scarf), evidently to hide the tattoo.

The entire case came into prominence when one of the women showed her tattoo to the court.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had also taken a serious view of the incident.

The Punjab police had allegedly punished the women who were 'habitual offender'

The victims filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1994, praying for directions to the respondents, the government of Punjab, Amritsar superintendent of police, and others, for arranging plastic surgery for removal of the tattoo, giving compensation for the inhuman act and humiliation, and punishing the guilty policemen.

On January 17, 1994, the NHRC not only approached the high court to become a party in the case, but also sent a letter to the Punjab chief secretary, seeking a report on the matter.

NHRC had also submitted an affidavit in the court, demanding a CBI probe.

After hearing the petitioners and NHRC counsel, the court had handed over the probe to the CBI, and had also directed the Punjab government to arrange for plastic surgery.

The court had directed Punjab government to pay a compensation of Rs 50,000 to each victim, as recommended by the Human Rights body.

CBI filed a challan in 2015 under Sections 326 (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 342 (wrongful confinement), 346 (wrongful confinement in secret) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

As per the petition, the victims alleged that they had gone to visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar on December 8, 1993.

After paying obeisance when they reached the bus stand, ASI Kanwaljit Singh stopped them and kept them in custody from December 8 to 15.

Later, the ASI on the directions of the SP and SHO, got the word 'pickpocket' tattooed on their foreheads.
China assured India that its new dam on a tributary of the Brahmaputra would have no impact on its downstream flow as the dams maximum capacity is less than 0.02 per cent of the rivers average run-off.

On October 1, China had announced that it had dammed Xiabuqu, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, or Yarlung Zangbo, as it is known in Tibet, for a $740 million hydro power project at Lalho.

Work on the project had begun in June 2014. The Xiabuqu river on which this project is located is an upstream tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo and lies totally within the Chinese side.

China assured India that its new dam on a tributary of the Brahmaputra would have no impact on its downstream flow

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement: "The reservoir capacity of the project is less than 0.02 per cent of the average annual run-off of Yarlung Zangbo- Brahmaputra. It cannot have an adverse impact on the downstream.

According to official hydrological data, the average discharge of the river is 25.8 cubic metres per second (cumecs), which is only 0.15 per cent of the Brahmaputras average discharge in lean periods, measured at around 19,000 cumecs.

In normal periods, it is estimated at 40,000 cumecs.

China has started the construction of a dam on tributary of Brahmaputra . Picture for representation only

India is monitoring the volume of river water, and is studying hydrological data from May 15 to October 15 of every year.

India is also commissioning a study to ascertain how much the Yarlung Zangbo actually contributes to India and how much comes from the catchment area in India itself.

Many experts estimate the Tibet contribution at not more than 40 per cent.

Proceeding from the larger picture of China-India friendship and from the humanitarian angle, the Chinese side has overcome all kinds of difficulties, and has provided services to the Indian side such as flood season hydrological data and emergency management, and has played a positive role in flood and disaster control along the banks of the relevant rivers, the statement added.

On October 1, China had started the construction of a dam on a tributary of the Brahmaputra, the Xiabuqu river to take forward the construction of its most expensive hydro-power project.

India and China in 2013 signed an agreement to extend the period for sharing of hydrological data and also to allow Indian experts to measure flows in Tibet.
A Mumbai-based, multi-million dollar call centre racket reportedly claimed the life of an elderly American woman. The employees were arrested by Thane police.

The call-centre workers allegedly threatened the woman and demanded her to pay a large sum after posing US revenue officials.

Thane Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, who is credited with exposing the racket, said that the probe team hit upon vital information while scanning the seized call record hard disks.

Thane police arrested call centre employees who made fake calls to the US

The unidentified American national is said to have died after reportedly suffering a stroke following a threatening call made by the call-centre employee, Singh told the media in Thane.

The details of the case came to light through the recorded call messags wherein the woman's son was heard abusing the caller and holding him responsible for his mother's death.

The probe team is trying to locate the call (its place and time) and zero in on the employee in question, after which police is likely to slap additional charges under section 304 of IPC on the accused, Singh added.

The callers would pose as US revenue officials and would take financial and bank details of the US citizens.

If the victims refused to give the details, they would allegedly threaten them with dire consequences, including legal action and penalties.

he callers used to make calls to people in the US to con them by speaking in an American accent and by posing as US Internal Revenue Service officers

The racket was exposed after police raided three call centres, which were allegedly running illegal premises in Hari Om IT Park, Universal Outsourcing Services and Oswal House at Mira Road in Thane.

The callers used to make calls to people in the US to con them by speaking in an American accent and by posing as US Internal Revenue Service officers.

According to the police, some of the employees earned up to Rs 1 lakh per month as a reward from the racket operators for making US nationals cough up money.

The employees were fully trained to speak in US accent and were given Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and call sheet, based on which they used to make calls to the tax defaulters.

They would make at least 100 calls per day of which 10-15 calls would materialise and of which 3 to 4 people would make the payments fearing the threat.
Its time for the Hindus to unite, moving beyond the caste-system.

This is the message which the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) wants to send out loud and clear this Dussehra.

In its massive outreach programme for the Dalits, the outfit is sparing no efforts to give voice to the voiceless and make them feel that they are pretty much part of the large Hindu family.

RSS ties up with Ramlila committees to make it an event of social harmony

The intention is clear - to unite one and all, negating the ill effects of caste divide and discrimination that keeps the Dalits apart.

The RSS is all set to celebrate this year's Dussehra festival as a mark of social harmony, aimed at giving the Dalit communities a pride of place.

While the Sangh has been publicly celebrating the festival in some form or the other since its inception in 1925, this year the commemoration seems to carry a sensitive social message with a view to the 2017 Uttar Pradesh election.

The Delhi prant of the RSS is organising a social harmony festival or Samajik Samarasta Vijayadashmi Utsav in Delhi on Sunday.

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi at a road show during his 'Kisan Yatra' in a bid to woo UP voters

The programme would see a noted Dalit saint from the Valmiki community of scavengers - Balyogi Sant Shri Ravi Sahji Maharaj - as the chief guest.

The saint is the coordinator of Shri Bhagwan Valmiki Adhyatmik Ashram in Gannaur in Haryana.

According to the RSS, the move is underlined by its central social tenet of One Temple, One Well and One Crematorium.

Alok Kumar, RSSs sah-sanghchalak (second in command in Delhi prant), told Mail Today: Sarsanghchalak (RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat has dedicated this year to social harmony and we are only following his principles. Look at the nefarious designs that are afloat to divide the Hindu community."

"Asaduddin Owaisi went to Uttar Pradesh and declared that there are only two marginalised communities: Muslims and Dalits. He said if the two got united it will lead to political power easily and surely. The underlining assumption here is that Dalits are not Hindus.

Ahead of the UP polls, the RSS wants to unite the Dalits and the Muslims. (Picture for representation)

The RSS Dalit outreach comes at a time when the BJP has been dubbed as anti-Dalit for its stance on the Gujarat killings by cow vigilantes, suicide of University of Hyderabad scholar Rohith Vemula and anti- Mayawati rants by RSS leader Mohan Bhagwat.

Moreover, to send out a strong message among the Dalit communities that hold sizable numbers in several assembly constituencies in poll-bound UP, the RSS has also brought on board numerous local Ramlila committees from around Delhi.

The right-wing outfit has made the Ramlilas to include the worship of Sage Valmiki along with Lord Rama at Ramleela events across the national Capital.

To strengthen the move, the Ramlila committees are inviting local Dalit dignitaries as chief guests to the enactments.

Added to it, photos of Babasaheb Ambedkar too are finding a place on the banners and posters.

RSSs Delhi prant prachar pramukh Rajiv Tuli said: A narrative is being sewn together for some time now by the Left in India - that we are anti-Dalit and the Rohith Vemula controversy was in line with that. Babasaheb throughout his life wrote against the Leftist- Socialist brigade and it is such an irony that these very people try to misappropriate him in institutions such as the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

Several politically connected social outfits that secretly aspire to play a big role in UP elections seem to have inspired the move.

While Delhi has a massive migrant population from Uttar Pradesh, organising such a programme in the national Capital is a sure shot way to grab media attention, which would lead to widespread dissemination of the RSSs message across the country.

Political pundits have dubbed the 2017 UP polls as the semifinals to the 2019 general elections.

The state has long been dominated by regional parties such as the OBC-dominated Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of Dalit leader Mayawati while the BJP has had a long dry spell as the last time it came to power in UP was in 1996.

Eye on UP, RSS Muslim wing to woo the youth

By Ajay Kumar

The aim is clear: to attract the votes of the minorities. And keeping that in mind, the Muslim Rashtriya Manch of the RSS has been activated in Uttar Pradesh.

With that the outfit hopes the Bharatiya Janata Party will be able to garner enough Muslim votes in the poll-bound state.

The Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) will host a meeting on October 15 in the minority-dominated Mewat district.

The Muslim Rashtriya Manch will hold 100 meetings across various cities in UP to influence young Muslim voters

The event will coincide with the birthday of former President, the late APJ Abdul Kalam.

The message from the MRM platform will be loud and clear - the BJP and RSS are not the enemies of the Muslims and the ruling party at the Centre hopes to attract more youth from the community.

MRM national convener Khurshid Rajaka said: There is a strong perception that the policies of BJP and RSS are against minority. BJP and RSS have made several developmental schemes which unfortunately is not reaching the minority community.

The basic idea of these meeting is to change the mindset of the Muslims, especially the younger generation and to make them aware about the development progammes of the central government."

Rajaka pointed out former President Abdul Kalam was above any community and religion.

In a similar manner, the RSS is also working in the interest of common people whether they are Hindus or Muslims or from any other community, he said.

Meetings like the Progressive Panchayat and such MRM events will help make people realise the positive commitment of the BJP and RSS, he added. MRM will organise 100 meetings across the country.

Similar events will be held in other cities of UP, such as Aligarh, Agra, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Azamgarh where the Muslims are present in large numbers.

There is a plan to connect with the Muslim youth in Jamia Milia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University, JNU, Lucknow University and Banaras Hindu University among others.

No question of faith for this Kumbhakarna

By Mail Today Bureau

Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui may have lost out on the opportunity to play Maarich in a Ramleela at Budhana (Uttar Pradesh), but the national Capital is all set to present a much more syncretic picture on Dusshera this year.

Mujibur Rehman, 27, is preparing to play Kumbhakarna, the gigantic brother of king Ravan, at Nav Shri Dharmik Ramleela held at Parade Ground, Lal Qila.

The resident of Laxmi Nagar is elated and said his mother would have been happier if he got the role of lord Ram.

Muslim boy Mujibur Rehman, 27, will play Kumbhakarna, Ravana's brother at Nav Shri Dharmik Ramleela

I was very nervous when I auditioned for the role. I was also wary of my family reaction. But my mother was very supportive. She told me that she would be happier if I were to play Ram. Our epics Ramayana and Mahabharata belong to everyone. Nowhere in these holy books is it written that a Muslim cant enact the roles or emulate the persons therein, said Mujiber.

The diploma holder from Shri Ram Centre For Performing Arts (SRCPA), said: Isnt azaan (the morning call from mosques) also in a lyrical form? Isnt it sung out? Where does the Quran say that we cant act in theatre? I have asked many maulvis but havent got an confirmed answer.

The talented youngster said he got professional training in Chhau dance of Jharkhand and learnt to play harmonium for three years at Gandharv Mahavidyalay.

He said: An actor has no dharm or sthan (religion or place). It is sad that Nawazuddin Siddiqui has been stopped. As an actor, all that I want is to be on a stage to perform.

Meanwhile, a grand Ramleela is being played at Shri Dharmik Leela Committees Ramleela near Red Fort.

Started in 1924, it has entered its 93rd year and they are focusing on special effects and use of technology to thrill their audience.

General secretary Dheeraj Dhar Gupta said: We are highlighting the birth of Ramchandra and lord Shiva visiting the palace as an unknown sadhu. His chaupais will be recited well.

Then the episode of Ahi ravan, who kidnapped Ram and Lakshman, and Patal lok will be recreated. The moment, Sita crosses the Lakshman Rekha, crackers will go up from the ground.
One of the more alarming outcomes of the so called surgical strike on Pakistani positions in Jammu & Kashmir is the attempt to drag the Indian Army into politics.

For this both the ruling and the opposition parties are to blame, as well as some retired army officers.

The politicians motives are electoral, in view of the coming Uttar Pradesh elections.

The Defence Minister instead of shielding the army from controversy, has been most assiduous in using it for his partys publicity

The greater blame rests with the ruling party, where the Union Defence Minister who, instead of shielding the army from controversy, has been most assiduous in using it for his partys publicity.

One of the sad facts of democracy are the base things done and said in election time, however, the army is too important an institution to be used for electioneering.

Posturing

The basic facts were laid out on the very first day by the DGMO, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh.

The army conducted strikes on targets along the Line of Control to preempt so-called non-state actors from launching attacks on India.

The army conducted strikes on targets along the Line of Control to preempt so-called non-state actors from launching attacks on India

This was a one-off action, but in acknowledging it, the government has signalled a posture of surgical deterrence which will hopefully deter future cross- LoC attacks.

The Indian Army is a volunteer force which maintains an apolitical posture and emphasises professionalism.

It has played a significant role in building the nation by its secular and non-sectarian approach.

Recall, that before the arrival of the British, Indian armies were constantly battling each other on a regional or sectarian basis.

For their own reasons, the British wanted a force which would not get involved in internal uprisings, and so, they carefully recruited and maintained the force in cantonments, separated from society and paid them through a central treasury.

The problem today is of political movements that are trying to stoke ultra-nationalism

After independence, too, the government saw the value of this and encouraged the army to remain apolitical, separated from the society both psychologically and physically.

But for the small mutiny of the Sikh soldiers in the wake of Operation Bluestar in 1984, this has worked well.

Patriotism

The problem today is of political movements that are trying to stoke ultra-nationalism, and in the process seeking to conflate the status of the army as ultra-patriotic deshbhakts.

This goes against the grain of the army and its outlook. The average person who joins the army, as a jawan or officer, does not do it out of ultra-patriotism, or to serve the nation, but because it is a job that comes with social respect, a reasonable income and a life-time pension.

It raises the status of the family of the soldier or officer and is a means of upward social mobility.

However, there is one critical difference; the military job requires you to put your life on the line, on occasion.

Fortunately, independent India has not been involved in any major war, so the risk of death has remained low.

In any case, the soldier confronts the possibility of death as part and parcel of his professional commitment, not bravery and deshbhakti.

All commanders take calculated risks and do not play with the lives of their men, there is no such thing as secular fidayeen.

The Special Forces do undertake highrisk missions, not just because they are brave, but that they are highly trained and have a sense of professionalism inculcated through their rigourous training and their special weapons and tactics.

Their trade-craft and strong espritde- corps makes them comfortable in conducting operations which would appear near-suicidal to others.

Here there is also need to look into this use of shaheed for a soldier who dies in battle.

An Indian army soldier stands guard outside Kashmir's main army headquarters in Srinagar on October 6, 2016

This is a religious category used by countries like Pakistan as well. What we need is a distinct category, something like that of France where soldiers who died in war have the designation Mort pour la France (Died for France).

This is a legal category that provides for special benefits for the families of those so designated.

Professionalism

All of us want a brave army, but bravery is never enough. The fearsomely brave Rajputs would order their women to commit jauhar (self-immolation) and go into battle knowing there was nothing to live for thereafter.

But the Rajputs lost many wars. What the modern Indian republic needs is a military that wins every time.

So it must be well equipped, not just with weapons systems, but highly trained, educated and motivated personnel.

They should be well paid and professionally satisfied, but also distracted from the many storms that always buffet the country- the beef controversy, the water wars of Karnataka, the reservation riots in Haryana, the Maratha agitation, the Maoists and even the Kashmiri agitation.

Their orientation must be relentlessly on their need to defeat external enemies.
Wildlife activists have raised an alarm over rampant poaching of protected species of birds during the festive season of Diwali.

It was reported that rare birds are brought into the capital before being transported to other parts of the country all in the name of religious belief.

Wildlife experts claims that to cater religious and superstitious beliefs, poachers have set up camps in agricultural fields, forest and other habitats within Delhi.

Bird trafficking is on a rise ahead of Diwali and Dussehra when the demand for rare birds increases

Rare and endangered species of Indian rollers, owl and peacock are trapped and captured just a month before the festival.

These birds are caged, with their legs tied and wings trimmed and sometimes even glued, so as to prevent them from flying and escaping.

Certain section of Hindus worship these birds, particularly during Diwali and the poachers make quick bucks.

While festivals may be a time for fun, no celebration justifies the torture and abuse of animals.

Activists claims that poachers have already captured several Indian Rollers, owls and it will be brought to the capital for darshan at the temples

Indian Roller (Neelkanth) is widely believed to be a sacred to Lord Vishnu, and hence sighting the bird during the Dussehra festival is considered to be auspicious.

Activists claims that poachers have already captured several Indian Rollers and it will be brought to the capital for darshan at the temples. This has been the easiest way to make money, said the activists.

There is a very popular superstition that sighting a Neelkanth on Dussehra day will help absolve people of their sins.

A section of Hindus believe that if a person sees a Neelkanth and makes a wish, the bird will take the wish to Lord Shiva on Mt Kailash, who will fulfil the wish.

Black magic and sorcery driven by superstition is one of the prime reason that has boosted the illegal bird trade and poaching.

Abhinav Srihan,founded an animal welfare NGO called Fauna Police said: There is no religious text backing this belief, however the illegal activities is thriving only on superstition. People buy these birds on the instructions of tantriks."

"We have rescued hundreds of Neelkant birds with their feet chopped. These birds were captured from the forests and taken to Delhi and other cities. The sellers earn a hefty amount of over Rs 5,000 only to provide a glimpse of the bird.

The practice of sacrificing owl begins soon after Dussehra and reaches its peak on Diwali.

Occult practitioners believe that sacrificing the bird on the night of the festival brings wealth and fortune.

The sacrifice of owls on auspicious occasion is a regular practice and experts warn an increase in owl trade and sacrifice around Diwali, this year.

The demand for owls is on increase as it believed to be Goddess Laxmi's rides as per the Hindu mythology.

Tantriks prescribe the use of owls and their body parts such as skull, feathers, ear tuffs, claws, heart, liver, kidney, blood, eyes, fat, beak, tears, eggshells, meat and bones for ceremonial pujas and rituals, said an expert.

Though, hunting and trade of Indian owl is banned under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 of India, it is sold openly at Kabutar Market, near Meena Bazar, behind Red Fort in Old Delhi.

According to experts, Rampur, Moradabad and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh is the biggest hub of bird trade.
The battered Welsh steel industry is to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Welsh Assembly's decision to pass on cuts to business rates immediately. It will enjoy a boost of almost 20million over the next five years.

By contrast, English businesses will have to wait for the reduction to be phased in over four years.

The contrast is starkest in the steel sector, where the huge plants attract high rates. The Port Talbot site in Wales, owned by Tata Steel and under the threat of closure, will enjoy a 1.7million-a-year cut to its rates bill from April.

The Welsh steel industry is to enjoy a boost of almost 20million over the next five years

The similar-sized Scunthorpe steel plant  renamed British Steel after it was sold by Tata earlier this year  will get a cut of just 360,641 next year.

Business rates consultancy CVS, which made the calculations, said the ten steel plants in England will eventually see a 5.4million-a-year drop in bills.

However, because of the transitional arrangements in England, their overall bills will fall by just 1.1million next year.

CVS chief executive Mark Rigby said: 'The contrast is frankly unbelievable for a sector in such crisis.'

Business rates are calculated on property and rental values, which have changed hugely in many areas since the last revaluation in 2010.

The Government has introduced the transitional scheme to ease the burden on firms facing higher bills.

But the Welsh Assembly, which assumed responsibility for business rates in Wales last year as part of devolution, has not followed Westminster's lead.

Roland Junck, British Steel's executive chairman, said: 'I'm sure the move will be welcomed by Welsh steelworkers. It demonstrates the type of support our industry needs.

Business rates reform: Firms in London face big rises due to the steep rise in property prices

'We want to increase productivity and our global competitiveness. All we are asking for is a level playing field. A reduction in business rates for us would be a significant step in the right direction.'

He added: 'We face much higher business rates than many of our global competitors  some do not pay any at all  and we are operating in a challenging environment.

We are already making a profit and that is largely down to the incredible efforts of our employees. However, to be truly sustainable, we do need more Government support.'

Westminster has earmarked 3.4billion to assist firms struggling with higher than expected bills and is in consultation over how that might be implemented. Firms in London face big rises due to the steep rise in property prices.
Asked at a global economic forum to describe a favourite meal Mark Carney chose diablo pizza; Christine Lagarde chose home cooking like her grandmother; the deputy governor of the Chinese central bank Yi Gang chose international cuisine and German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble chose fine, French cuisine.

The answers may seem inconsequential but were also significant. Carney and Lagarde may be members of the footloose global elites, both have crossed Continents to head their organisations the Bank of England and International Monetary Fund, but they are also  unlike their Chinese and German colleagues  right on message.

Not for them the fancy foods of Michelin star restaurants: instead a hot pizza topped with chorizo and pepperoni and preparing wholesome food in their own kitchen.

Populism: Farage, Brexit and Trumpism have changed the public dialogue, says Alex Brummer

The dominant message of this years international financial meetings in Washington was that it was time to end top down economic and financial policies, downplay globalisation and think more about so-called distributional issues  those who have been left behind.

Nigel Farage may be regarded as a nationalist ideologue with barely concealed racist views by the liberal elites. And Donald Trump as an incendiary narcissist with similar racist and anti-women prejudices. But they and some of the nasty parties of the European Union have tapped into the anger provoked by technology change and global trade which have left large swathes of low middle-income families across the United States and Europe in a rut.

The very poorest are being lifted out of extreme poverty, thanks to work by the World Bank and generous donors such as Bill Gates. And the rich have become ever richer thanks to money printing and the consequent surge in asset prices. But in the abandoned steel towns along the Monongahela River in Pennsylvania and in Port Talbot and Redcar in Britain it doesnt feel much like that.

The fascinating consequence is that Farage, Brexit and Trumpism are regarded as such potent forces that they have changed the public dialogue.

In her Tory conference speech Theresa May invoked a new spirit of citizenship. In her opening remarks at the IMF annual meeting Lagarde asked for a new kind of trade agreement which placed the emphasis on inclusiveness.

In other words an end to the corporatist approach as symbolised by big trade deals such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Change of register: In her Tory conference speech Theresa May invoked a new spirit of citizenship

Globalisation is almost certainly a mistaken target. Yes Chinese steel dumping in Britain has been enormously damaging to jobs and investment. But the real enemy of the ordinary working citizen is technology.

Kodak was once the worlds biggest camera and film company employing 150,000 people. It was taken down by the computer app Instagram  the work of 15 young people with laptops. Trump-style protectionism will not deal with that.

The causes of Brexit and Trumpism are similar but the answers very different.

Brexiteers see the referendum as an opportunity to embrace global trade without the dead hand of Brussels regulation and rule making weighing down enterprise.

Trump simply wants to close borders and return to an age when the United States did everything itself.
Entrusting a boutique investment house with your money can be a gamble. But astute investors who put their faith in Wise Investment when it launched the Evenlode Income fund in 2009 have been rewarded handsomely.

Evenlode, which reaches its seventh anniversary next week, has been an investment triumph.

Now worth 1billion, it has rewarded launch investors with returns of 156 per cent  double those of a fund tracking the FTSE All-Share Index over the same period.

Not that the investment team at Wise Investment are prone to bragging. 'We launched the fund at the right time in the depths of the financial crisis,' says joint fund manager Ben Peters, rather coyly.

Strong: Ben Peters, left, and Hugh Yarrow buy 'cash-generative' stocks, including Unilever

'We attracted 1million of money, primarily from friends and family. Since then, we've been fortunate enough to enjoy what has been seven years of bull market conditions.'

As the fund's name implies, income generation is the main focus for Peters and co-manager Hugh Yarrow  his brother-in-law.

Their record has been exemplary, with investors enjoying dividend rises every year since launch  an achievement that few rivals have matched.

Peters says: 'We're constantly on the search for cash-generative businesses that can use the cash they earn to reinvest in business operations while paying a growing dividend.

'So we tend to gravitate towards firms that have patented products or strong brands  where their cash generation enjoys a degree of protection.'

Examples include drinks giant Diageo  maker of Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff  and consumer goods group Unilever, owner of Domestos, Dove and Flora.

Both firms are key holdings in the fund's portfolio of 39 stocks, though Peters, Yarrow and their two supporting analysts are constantly monitoring a further 41 companies that 'tick all their boxes' but which are too expensive or do not fit in with the fund's preferred spread.

Investing in the UK: A sprinkling of US companies complement the predominantly UK portfolio

Peters says: 'When you look at Diageo's brands, some enjoy high barriers of entry. After all, you don't make Johnnie Walker whisky overnight. And most Unilever products are repeat buys, which means they are pretty insensitive to economic downturns.'

A sprinkling of US companies  health products group Johnson & Johnson, Unilever rival Procter & Gamble, and software giant Microsoft  complement the predominantly UK portfolio.

Though the fund has rewarded investors well, Peters believes company valuations are at the high end. As a result, single-digit annual returns are more likely in future.

Johnnie Walker maker Diageo is one of the companies the fund invests in

Wise Investment, set up in 1992 by Hugh's father, Tony, is not a typical investment house.

It is based in leafy Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, with the Evenlode brand taking its name from a nearby tributary of the Thames.

'The idea we're conveying is that we have something here that is growing bigger,' says Peters.

The firm has two other Wise Investment branded funds and a small private client book, taking combined assets under management to about 1.4billion.

All 33 employees have a stake in the business, putting the focus on long-term success.

Peters, a physicist by training, says Wise Investment and Evenlode Income are not interested in world domination.

'We're trying to build a business and a fund which are underpinned by sound investment processes that investors can readily understand,' he explains.
The global economy and financial markets have rarely looked so uncertain. But the solution may be to step out in some Jimmy Choos.

The luxury footwear maker appears to be weathering the unease in consumer markets.

It is still one of the fastest growing luxury brands in the world and, crucially for UK investors, this London-listed fashion name is set to benefit hugely from the slump in the value of the pound.

Luxury: Revenues were up in the first half of the year. Pictured, a Jimmy Choo store in Dubai

In the first half of this year, the company announced global revenues were up 3.8 per cent on the same period last year on a constant currency basis.

This means applying the same exchange rate for the two periods. On a reported currency basis, which shows the effect of currency changes, revenues rose 9.2 per cent.

The point here is that Jimmy Choo is a global business and one whose sales are growing outside the UK. With the pound so low, this means that profits when converted into sterling are worth far more.

The company's outlook is not entirely rosy  it has had some difficulty in the US in the past year, where department stores sales have fallen and the luxury market has weakened.

But sales in the Far East have been booming, up almost 18 per cent on a constant currency basis.

For UK investors, these overseas earnings of Jimmy Choo are critical. This is a British brand that has real international appeal. US First Lady Michelle Obama is a regular wearer, along with countless other celebrity names.

The brand has also extended beyond shoes into handbags and other accessories. But footwear remains three-quarters of its sales.

Men's shoes sales are a small proportion of this (8 per cent), but it is its fastest-growing sector. (Though Barack Obama has yet to be reported wearing a pair.)

You will go to the premiere: Lily James in Jimmy Choo and Richard Madden at the opening of Cinderella last year

But while the First Lady may be one of the key customers in publicity terms, it is Asia and the Far East market that is driving business.

Jimmy Choo appears to be one of the stronger luxury brands at the moment, continuing to grow while others falter.

Half-year profits reported last month showed operating profits of 25.25million, up from 17.7million previously.

For UK investors, there is the broader benefit of its international footprint and the non-sterling income that it creates.

Analysts estimate that about 28 per cent of the company's costs are incurred in pounds, and they are far lower than the roughly ten per cent of its earnings that come from pounds.

A weak pound means costs are lower in proportion to income, which in turn means a higher profit margin.

The underlying business looks sound. The foreign exchange effect makes this look like a very promising investment.

Midas verdict: Buying shares in Jimmy Choo means taking a bet that this brand can continue to be a global icon and that it can keep growing in international markets.

Its recent history in the Far East suggests that it can. Its recent trading in the US is more mixed, but that remains a smaller part of its market.
Every weekend, This is Money rounds up the share tips from the Sunday newspapers.

This week, Midas runs the rule over luxury shoe brand Jimmy Choo and updates on health firm OptiBiotix.

Meanwhile, the Sunday Telegraph looks at broadcaster Sky and the Sunday Times takes a look at doorstep lender Provident Financial.

MAIL ON SUNDAY

The global economy and financial markets have rarely looked so uncertain. But the solution may be to step out in some Jimmy Choos.

The luxury footwear maker appears to be weathering the unease in consumer markets.

It is still one of the fastest growing luxury brands in the world and, crucially for UK investors, this London-listed fashion name is set to benefit hugely from the slump in the value of the pound.

>> Read the full Midas column

In 2015, OptiBiotix Health was a darling of the market. Midas tipped the shares in July at 33.5p and by the end of the year, they were 77.5p.

Since then, the performance has been pedestrian and today the stock is 67p, having drifted for most of 2016.

Investors may feel impatient, but now is not the time to sell.

OptiBiotix is focused on an area that is increasingly recognised as playing a fundamental role in our health and wellbeing, the business is expected to expand considerably over the next two to three years and the shares should respond accordingly.

>> Read the full Midas Update column

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Sky has made bold steps in recent months as it attempts to steal a march on its competitors by pushing into new markets and investing heavily in new technology.

Last month, analysts at Morgan Stanley suggest Sky's shares were 'overweight', having been oversold after a sharp decline since the beginning of the year.

The bank said Sky now traders at close to its lowest market relative multiple in the past decade.

Even though analysts have recently lowered their price target for the stock, from 10.25 to 10, if the company can continue to hold its viewers, the shares should continue to grow modestly. Hold.

SUNDAY TIMES

Like virtually every public company that does most of its business on these shores, Provident Financial's shares folded like a tent after Brexit.

In two days they dropped 26 per cent, losing more than 1billion in value. Chief executive Peter Crook was unperturbed. As was Chris Sweeney, head of Provident's Vanquis Bank and corporate affairs chief Nick Boakes. All three bought the cheap shares.

The gambit has paid off nicely. Provident has already roared past its pre-Brexit level.
Sky unveils its first-quarter figures at its annual meeting on Thursday after a fortnight when its share price rose sharply amid speculation that its biggest shareholder, Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox, may put in a bid for the satellite broadcaster.

The City is expecting a rise in 'churn'  the number of subscribers who fail to renew their contracts  though this is likely to be offset by increased revenue after Sky introduced price rises of up to 5 per cent.

The company, under chief executive Jeremy Darroch, no longer reveals detailed information when it reports first-quarter figures for the three months to the end of September.

Epic: Sky Atlantic's new sci-fi series Westworld stars James Marsden and Evan Rachel Wood

The broadcaster and telecoms company  which last week started to air futuristic drama Westworld on its Sky Atlantic channel  saw its share price rise sharply after analysts suggested its low level made the company vulnerable to a takeover from 21st Century Fox, whose chief executive, James Murdoch, is also Sky's chairman.
Rolls-Royce's chief executive has said he is in favour of Theresa Mays controversial plan to put workers in the boardroom.

Warren East is the highest-profile boss to come out in support of the Prime Ministers proposal, which has sparked unease among business leaders.

He said his personal view was that workers on boards helped communication, citing Germany, where worker representation is common.

In the loop: Rolls-Royce keeps its staff updated

We have nearly 20 per cent of our workforce in Germany, so are well-acquainted with worker representation, he said.

We have good relations here with our trade unions. It could be an extra channel to communicating with the workforce. Gone are Victorian days of managers and workers.

East took over Rolls-Royce last year after it issued a series of profit warnings. He has overseen a reorganisation that has included big job cuts.

May last week denied her proposals were an abandonment of free-market principles, saying they were to ensure everybody plays by the same rules.
Business leaders have publicly warned the Government to avoid a 'hard' Brexit, saying it could do 'serious and lasting damage to the UK economy'.

The joint letter from business groups including the CBI and the EEF, the industry body for engineering and manufacturing employers, said Brexit 'must deliver barrier-free access to the EU's Single Market, which is vital to the health of the UK economy'.

Failing to get good terms and falling back on World Trade Organisation rules 'would have significant costs for British exporters'.

Warning: The letter was signed by Carolyn Fairbairn of the CBI, pictured, and other bosses

The letter added that '90 per cent of UK goods trade with the EU would be subject to new tariffs.

'That would mean 20 per cent in extra costs for our food and drink industry and 10 per cent for our car producers'.

The warnings came as industry took fright at the tone of the Brexit debate, which has pointed towards a firm break with the EU that would involve leaving the single market and customs union and depending on WTO rules.

The letter, signed by Carolyn Fairbairn of the CBI, Terry Scuoler of the EEF, Chris Southworth of the International Chamber of Commerce and Julian David of techUK, said: 'Every credible study that has been conducted has shown this WTO option would do serious and lasting damage to the UK economy and those of our trading partners.'

Their plea that access to the EU for financial service companies should be 'a major priority' came as the City grew more nervous of a hard Brexit.

John Cole, a financial services partner at accountancy giant EY, said: 'I think the assumption now, give what we have heard, is we are heading for a clean Brexit.'

He added the fears were causing a lot of firms to 'look carefully at their European business model.'

Another adviser of top multinational financial services companies was more blunt, predicting some would start to move some staff 'this side of Christmas'.
The takeover of turkey farm group Bernard Matthews will be the latest focus of a probe by MPs this week, after the Pensions Regulator complained of being powerless to protect workers' pensions put at risk by the deal.

The investigation is set to scrutinise 'pre-pack' administration deals, which can allow a company to keep trading while leaving creditors, including its pension fund, out of pocket.

The latest focus of the investigation comes after the regulator, Lesley Titcomb, wrote to the Work & Pensions Committee of MPs saying she had been frozen out of the deal to rescue Bernard Matthews.

Rescue deal: Bernard Matthews was taken over last month by Boparan Holding

The firm was taken over last month by Boparan Holding, owned by food manufacturing billionaire Ranjit Boparan, in a pre-pack administration deal.

Such deals allow the sale of assets to be arranged in advance of a company going into administration. Creditors can then be left unpaid.

The Bernard Matthews pension liabilities are now part of the Pension Protection Fund, meaning hundreds of staff face cuts of up to ten per cent in their retirement income.

In a letter to committee chairman Frank Field, Titcomb said her organisation had been in talks with the company over a deal to shore up its troubled pension scheme as far back as 2007. Despite that, the body had been kept out of any involvement in the takeover.

'We were not approached by the pre-administration lenders, shareholders or by the purchaser seeking clearance for the sale,' she wrote.

It is understood the scheme has a shortfall of about 16 million. The case is set to draw comparisons with stores group BHS, which closed with a 571 million hole in its fund.
The chief executive of FTSE giant Sage has called for business rates to be scrapped and replaced with a sales tax.

Stephen Kelly left his role as chief operating officer for the Government in November 2014 to lead The Sage Group, which sells business services and software to 3million of Britain's 5.4million firms.

Its services and software range from accounting and payroll to customer relationship management and payments.

He told The Mail on Sunday he wanted the firm to 'be the voice' on issues its customers face, and blasted the property-based tax system for 'suffocating' small firms.

Strong views: Stephen Kelly wants to see more than 'tinkering around the edges' with the rates system

He said the problem was 'particularly relevant coming up to the Autumn Statement', which Chancellor Philip Hammond will present on November 23.

'Any small business on the high street has got an anchor around its neck called business rates, which are horrible fixed costs,' he said at the company's headquarters in The Shard, Central London.

'A hairdresser in Kingston, South West London, might have business rates of 100,000 a year, for example, but 'when you look at the number of haircuts needed before those business rates are paid, it really suffocates growth.

'Before the digital age and the internet revolution, it was probably a good way to collect taxes, based on property.

'But it makes no sense when bricks and mortar have no role, and companies like Amazon compete with small and medium-sized businesses on the high street on a very unlevel playing field.'

Ahead of the Budget in March, Sage president Brendan Flattery said small firms had been unequivocal that rates were their top concern. It was announced in the Budget that more than 600,000 small firms would be given business rate relief.

Calling on the Government: Kelly said the company has written to Philip Hammond

Kelly said the company has written to Philip Hammond.

The former Chancellor, George Osborne, had announced reform, he said, 'but we don't want any tinkering around the edges, we want radical reform.

'The genesis of business rates was in Shakespearian times.

'It's a 400-year-old property based tax system. How can you have that in the digital age when it's suffocating small and medium firms?

'They kick things into the long grass with 'consultations'. There's little political will.

'The truth is, it's a very easy tax to collect. Small and medium businesses are very auditable and they are very honest, and the system collects 22billion a year for the Exchequer. But there have to be more sensible ways to fill that gap that are relevant to the digital age.

'I'd look at the things you can measure and collect easily, and it's probably going to be more related to sales to even up the playing field. You've got to look at the fact that it is 2016  it is a digital-based economy.

There's probably a more sensible way you could incur a tax where companies like Amazon and the multinational digital retailers pay their way.'

It's a 400 year old property based tax system. How can you have that in the digital age?

He also called for companies to spell out how long they take to pay suppliers so that late payers can be named and shamed. 'Late payment creates antipathy and it undermines most small businesses.

'This is a constant theme for me because when I was chief operating officer for the Government, one of the things we introduced was that all small businesses got paid within 30 days, and any department that failed to meet that got fined.

'There are only two FTSE 100 firms  us and Lloyds  which have a policy to pay small and medium-sized businesses within 30 days.

'In the UK it can be 60 to 75 days before small firms get paid. That is an anchor on growth and it means they have to invest lots of time chasing invoices.'

He explained: 'I'm not a big fan of driving loads of regulation, because I think we want light touch regulation. But I think companies should have policies where they pay the little guys swiftly.

'You can change this, because we changed it in Government. There's no excuse. I challenge every Footsie chief executive to say if you haven't got your procurement director running policies that have around 30-day payments as part of your way of operating, then it's disappointing.

Payments: Mr Kelly says only his company and Lloyds have a policy to pay small and medium-sized businesses within 30 days

'Why should a big firm withhold payment from a small one? It lacks any moral compass. I would call for companies to codify their procurement policies. I think it will get a groundswell of momentum. What gets measured gets done, and it all comes from the tone at the top.'

Kelly, who has worked for US software giant Oracle, said it is a 'golden era for start-ups' in the UK.

But he said there is a 'different DNA, a different culture of ambition' in the US. He said: 'The confidence level of the Americans is unparalleled.'

And he complained: 'A lot of boards in British companies become a victim of the exit conversations they have. If a board spends half its time looking at exits, then its not investing the time it should be on building the company.
When Hispanic residents of Allentown, Pennsylvania want to grab a bite, get their hair cut or shop for groceries, they often head to Seventh Street  or what they call Calle Siete.

A councilman wants to honor the city's Hispanic population - which represents nearly half the city's 120,000 residents - by installing Spanish-language street signs on the busy thoroughfare.

Democratic Councilman Julio Guridy thinks the signs are a small but long overdue gesture of respect to the city's growing Hispanic community, but others are against the proposal, calling it unnecessary and divisive.

A city councilman is stirring up controversy with his proposal to install Spanish-language street signs on the major commercial corridor

Many supporters think the signs serve as a small gesture of respect to the city's growing Hispanic community. (Pictured, Steven Castillo, who sees the street signs as a marketing tool)

Critics also say the proposal for the signs is a distraction from issues of poverty, drugs, crime and lack of opportunity in Allentown's urban core.

'With all the problems this community has, please don't talk to me about signs,' said John Rosario, 54, who moved to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic about four decades ago and owns a Seventh Street insurance, tax and real estate business.

'If you really want to help somebody, roll up your sleeves, come down here and let's talk about it.'

A city council committee tabled the sign proposal for more discussion after dozens of people showed up at a public meeting this week to voice their support and opposition. Guridy hopes to bring it up for a vote in a month.

The debate in Allentown would have been unimaginable not so long ago, when Hispanics were a tiny minority.

For much of its history, the city, an hour's drive north of Philadelphia, was a bustling industrial center populated largely by European immigrants and their descendants.

As manufacturing declined, so did the population. Then, drawn in part by cheap housing, Hispanics began swelling Allentown's numbers again. The Latino population has more than doubled since 2000.

Shaniqua Andrews, 25, who lives a block from Seventh Street (pictured), said her co-workers at a warehouse mostly speak Spanish and she resents having to ask for instructions in English

Guridy said the Hispanic community has contributed to Allentown's efforts to remake its economy and deserves to be recognized.

'It is a good thing for Allentown because it provides a sense of pride, and a sense of belonging, to the Hispanic community, who have been working hard and contributing to this community, and who feel alienated because they are not recognized for their contributions,' he said.

Inside Seventh Street's bustling Los Compadres Barber Shop, Steven Castillo, 27, views the Spanish-language signs as a good marketing tool, no different from cities that boast Chinatowns or Little Italys.

'When you want Spanish food in Allentown, where do you go? Calle Siete,' he said.

Zack Alali, 48, a Syrian immigrant who moved to the United States about 25 years ago, opened Casa Dollar on Seventh Street to cater to the Hispanic population. He said Calle Siete simply reflects the reality of what the street has become.

'It's just a little appreciation for the people here,' Alali said. 'It's just a name.'

But the controversy goes deeper than those two words.

For some, it's about language and culture. Shaniqua Andrews, 25, who lives a block from Seventh Street and works in a warehouse, said her co-workers mostly speak Spanish and her supervisor typically gives instructions in Spanish. She said she resents having to ask for them in English.
The father of New York bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami believes the FBI is being unfair to his family.

Mohammed Rahami said on Saturday that the FBI had made 'mistake after mistake' in handling the case. He accused the bureau of 'punishing' the family for his son's wrongdoing by barring them from travelling to the United States from Afghanistan.

The FBI did not 'do its job properly' by failing to act when he contacted investigators in 2014 with concerns his son could be a terrorist, Mohammed said.

He claimed he told investigators that his son had become 'bad' and his personality had changed after returning from trips to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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Mohammed Rahami (left) said on Saturday that the FBI had made 'mistake after mistake' in handling the case of his accused terrorist son, Ahmad Rahami (right)

The elder Rahami (pictured during an interview last month) claimed he told the FBI that his son had become 'bad' and his personality had changed after trips to Pakistan and Afghanistan

A senior FBI official last month pushed back against the elder Rahami's claim that he warned agents about his son.

FBI agents interviewed the father after a 2014 incident in which Ahmad was arrested on charges  later dropped  that he stabbed one of his brothers in the leg, according to the FBI official.

But this official insisted that Mohammed 'at no time' discussed his son's radicalization or potential interest in al-Qaeda, the Taliban or their propaganda.

Mohammed said US authorities recently turned back his wife and one of his sons when they tried to travel from Afghanistan to the United States.

He said Ahmad's wife was also refused entry into the country. Mohammed would not reveal where his daughter-in-law was living, but said her family is from the Pakistani city of Quetta.

When he was arrested, Ahmad (pictured after a shootout with police last month) was carrying a journal that praised Osama bin Laden and other militants, prosecutors said

Ahmad is accused of planting bombs in New York and New Jersey that wounded 31 people last month. Pictured is the scene at an explosion in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood

He urged US authorities to allow his relatives to travel to the United States, saying they are law-abiding citizens.

Ahmad is accused of planting bombs in New York and New Jersey that wounded 31 people last month.

The Afghan-born US citizen remains hospitalized with gunshot wounds after a police shootout.

When he was arrested, Ahmad was carrying a journal that praised Osama bin Laden and other militants, prosecutors said.

In the diary, he fumed about what he saw as the US government's killing of Muslim holy warriors, according to authorities.

The elder Rahami said he had been given no information on his son's condition in hospital.

He expressed his 'sympathy for all those who suffered' in the blasts.
Russia has moved nuclear-capable Iskander ballistic missiles into one of its regions on the Baltic Sea - prompting a fearful response from Poland and Estonia.

Russia says the missiles are being deployed as part of regular military manoeuvres to Kaliningrad, but it comes amid heightened tensions between the country and the West over Syria.

It seems to me that this is yet another step in the general context of escalation that we see, at least in rhetoric, said outgoing Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves.

Iskander missile launchers are driven during the Victory Parade in May 2015 marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in the Second World War, in Red Square in Moscow

Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz said Poland considers the matter of highest concern and is monitoring the situation.

Meanwhile former National Security Agency analyst John Schindler wrote in The New York Observer on Friday: 'For Warsaw and several other Nato capitals, this move resembles a Baltic version of the Cuban Missile Crisis.'

He added: 'An Iskander-M based in Kaliningrad can strike targets deep in Poland and across the whole Baltic region. Make no mistake, this is primarily an offensive weapons system.'

The chief of staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Riho Terras told Estonian broadcaster ERR that he sees the move as part of a larger Russian attempt to dominate the Baltic Sea.

In the long term, Russia's wish is to bring the Baltic Sea and the passages leading to it more and more under its control, and to control it much like it does the Black Sea, he said.

Wedged between Nato members Poland and Lithuania and the Baltic Sea, Kaliningrad is vital to Russia's strategic position.

Separated from the Russian mainland by 435 miles, it is the westernmost part of Russia.

It houses the Russian Baltic Fleet, as well as multiple land forces and an air force detachment with fighters, bombers and helicopters, as well as an early-warning radar system and other equipment.

Wedged between Nato members Poland and Lithuania and the Baltic Sea, Kaliningrad (file picture) is vital to Russia's strategic position

The Iskander, which can be equipped with a conventional or a nuclear warhead, has a range of at least 310 miles, placing most of Poland within its reach when it is in Kaliningrad.

Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov played down the concerns.

The Iskander ballistic missile system is mobile, he said in a statement yesterday.

For Warsaw and several other NATO capitals, this move resembles a Baltic version of the Cuban Missile Crisis John Schindler, former National Security Agency analyst

As part of the plan of combat training, missile troops are engaged in training on a year-round basis, covering great distances of the Russian territory in various ways: by air, by sea, and under their own power.

He also said Russia used the deployment to figure out what range a U.S. spy satellite has.

We exposed one Iskander before loading it on the Ambal (a cargo carrier) right under a U.S. reconnaissance satellite flying above in order to verify the parameters of that space apparatus. We did not have to wait too long (for results), he said, without elaborating.

Other countries in the region are also nervous.
The Chaser stars would have been licking their lips at the thought of hosting Australia's radio awards and it showed as the sledges peppered numerous radio personalities including Eddie McGuire, Kyle Sandilands and the 'Budgie Nine'.

The Chaser's Chris Taylor and Andrew Hansen did not pull any punches at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards in Melbourne and the first victim was Triple M breakfast host Eddie McGuire.

The hosts took aim at Mr McGuire's misogynist joke about 'drowning' journalist Caroline Wilson earlier this year and compared him to the republican presidential candidate of the United States Donald Trump - who is embroiled in more controversy over lewd comments about women.

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The Chaser's Chris Taylor (Second on the left) and Andrew Hansen (Far right) did not pull any punches at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards in Melbourne (File Image)

The hosts took aim at Eddie McGuire's misogynist joke about journalist Caroline Wilson earlier this year and compared him to Donald Trump (File Image)

'It's a great year for equality,' they said.

'Eddie McGuire offended both blacks and women equally. The Donald Trump of Australian radio. No matter what he says it doesn't hurt him.

'I felt a little bit sorry for Eddie McGuire over the Caroline Wilson saga. On one hand, what he said was very misogynist. And on the other hand, you could see it as very progressive. It's the first time Triple M has even acknowledged the existence of a woman.'

The hosts joked about the lack of controversy on Australian radio in 2016, pointing to one controversial candidate who often makes the headlines but was abnormally reserved for his standards.

Mr McGuire landed in hot water earlier this year when he made a joke about 'drowning' journalist Caroline Wilson (File Image)

The Chaser stars took aim at Mr McGuire's misogynist joke about 'drowning' journalist Caroline Wilson earlier this year and compared him to the republican presidential candidate of the United States Donald Trump

'It's a weird year when Kyle Sandilands behaves more morally than Tara Brown,' they told the audience, pointing out no one in radio had tried to 'kidnap a child in Lebanon'.

'And it's a really weird year when Kyle Sandilands speaks less offensively than Sonia Kruger.'

The hosts took a swipe at broadcasters Triple M and the dubbed 'Budgie Nine' claiming the Australians antics could see them hosting a breakfast show soon on the station.

'On one hand, a lot of Australians look at these guys and are like, 'They've brought shame,' slamming them as disrespectful idiots. But Triple M management looks at them and think, 'We've found our new breakfast team'.'

Finally the boys took one final swipe at former Bachelorette and now radio host Sam Frost.

'There's a brand new award this year  the lifetime achievement award, which of course honours a long standing radio veteran. Yes, this year the nominees are Dennis Walter and Sam Frost  so that one could really go either way.'

Nova's Kate, Tim and Marty picked up the coveted ACRA for Best On Air Team

Nova's Kate, Tim and Marty picked up the coveted ACRA for Best On Air Team and Kate followed in the hosts footsteps and enjoyed some friendly banter with her award-winning co-hosts.

'...The other thing is, this trophy needs to go home with one of these two boys because I have loads of awards at home anyway,' Kate said to a receptive crowd.

It was convenient most of the pot shots the Chaser stars threw were at personalities not attending the night, according to news.com.au.
The mystery nation that offered to back Kevin Rudd for the top job at the United Nations has been revealed as the Republic of Botswana.

The Southern African nation secretly stuck its neck out for the former Australian Prime Minister, despite him not having the support of the Australian Government.

Clouded in secrecy, the news was only revealed on Sunday morning, more than two months after Mr Rudd's bid for the job.

Botswana President Ian Khama (pictured right) called the Australian Lodge on Saturday, August 13 to float the idea of Kevin Rudd's (left) nomination

Behind closed door discussions between Botswana and Australia have now been exposed, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Botswana President Ian Khama reportedly called the Australian Lodge on Saturday, August 13 to float the idea of Mr Rudd's nomination.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull took the call, which was also witnessed by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce who were with him at the time.

Botswana President Mr Khama (pictured) said Kevin Rudd worked hard to strengthen the relationship between the two countries

FACT BOX TITLE July 29: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he won't back Kevin Rudd's UN bid on the grounds of 'temperament' July 30: Kevin Rudd releases personal letters from Mr Turnbull in which he claims the Prime Minister promised to support his nomination August 13: President of Botswana Ian Khama calls Mr Turnbull to discuss nominating Kevin Rudd. Mr Rudd also texts Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to ask if Australia would campaign against him if another country nominated him August 30: Kevin Rudd releases his plans for a UN reform September 23: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull denies any other country had discussed nominating Mr Rudd October 2: Mr Rudd withdraws his nomination October 6: Former Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio Guterres is formally nominated by the UN Security Council as Secretary-General. Advertisement

Mr Turnbull didn't immediately dismiss the idea, and told Mr Khama he would discuss it with colleagues.

But when Mr Turnbull phoned him back, he reportedly said 'it's entirely a matter for you'.

The news comes to light as Mr Rudd's personal relationship with the African nation is revealed.

Mr Rudd visited Botswana in 2002 for his brother Greg's wedding to local woman, Okhola Rudd, who once worked as an exotic dancer at a Brisbane strip club.

Botswana President Mr Khama praised Mr Rudd, claiming he worked hard to strengthen the relationship between the two countries while he was Australia's Prime Minister.

The news of Botswana's eagerness to back Mr Rudd is in direct conflict with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's account of what happened.

When the issue was raised with Mr Turnbull on September 23, more than a month after the Botswana President phoned him, he denied that any country had expressed any interest in nominating Mr Rudd.

'Nobody has mentioned Kevin Rudd to me,' he said.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull denied that any country had expressed any interest in nominating Mr Rudd

Following Mr Rudd's tireless campaign for the UN's top job, the former Prime Minister withdrew his nomination when he didn't have Australia's support.

Mr Rudd understood he didn't have Australia's support when a message he sent to Julie Bishop on August 13 asking if Australia would campaign against him went unanswered.

Mr Rudd understood he didn't have Australia's support when a message he sent to Julie Bishop on August 13 asking if Australia would campaign against him went unanswered

'Mr Rudd approached the Australian government more than six weeks ago asking if they would oppose such a nomination. He has received no reply and as a result, Mr Rudd has ruled out this proposed nomination,' a spokeswoman said.

And while he confirmed he had the support of another nation, he never disclosed who it was.

'Following the decision by the Australian government, another government approached Mr Rudd to nominate him,' she said.

After a tumultuous campaign, Mr Rudd formerly withdrew his proposed nomination on October 2.

Former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Guterres was formally nominated for the UN secretary-general post on October 6.
The Army was engulfed in a diversity row last night after advertising exclusively for black soldiers.

It is seeking volunteers from within its ranks to join the Armys recruiting team, which is spread across the country.

But for the two posts in Manchester and Leeds, where the military has traditionally found it difficult to recruit ethnic minorities, it specified that successful candidates had to be Black British privates or lance corporals.

The adverts have caused anger, with some servicemen complaining they discriminate against white soldiers.

The Army was engulfed in a diversity row after advertising exclusively for black soldiers

Others said defence chiefs were becoming too sensitive to diversity demands.

The row follows last weeks revelations in The Mail on Sunday about Bafta award-winning radio star Jon Holmes, who was sacked by the BBC for being white and male.

After the Army adverts appeared on internal leaflets, Dar Jacques, a former Royal Engineer, wrote on Facebook: Its pure racism. If it was a post for a white Brit what would the diverse world say then? No jobs should be given to anyone because of their colour or origin.

One senior defence source said: The Army wants more black and Asian people to join but this is not the right way to do it.

More black people will join if they believe they are unlikely to be bullied and the colour of their skin will not affect their chances of advancement. Its not about having a black face at the recruiting office.

It would appear the Army advert falls foul of the law. The Equality Act 2010 code of practice states: If an employer makes a statement in an advertisement that in offering employment they will treat applicants less favourably because of a protected characteristic, this would amount to direct discrimination.

Last night the Army promised to change the wording of the advert, issued by the 102 Logistic Brigade, but it will do little to erase the impression that it has bowed to growing diversity demands being made on public organisations.

Holmes was axed from The Now Show  the hit Radio 4 programme he has appeared on for 18 years  when bosses told him: Were recasting it with more women and diversity.

Holmes revealed that since his sacking he had heard from other stars who had been rejected by broadcasting bosses because of positive discrimination.

Michael Fallon told service chiefs that by 2020 at least 10 per cent of all new recruits must come from a non-white background

The 102 Logistic Brigade is one of the Armys key units and in recent years has seen active service in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ethnic minorities make up just seven per cent of the UK Armed Forces  about 10,490 personnel  compared with 12 per cent of the British workforce overall. At officer level, black and ethnic minorities make up just 2.4 per cent of the total workforce.

Out of 13,000 officers in the Army, only 100 are Asian and 60 black, according to the Ministry of Defences diversity figures. Of 7,000 officers in the Royal Navy, only 20 are black and Asian. Some 45 Asian and 30 black servicemen and women out of 8,000 are in the RAF.

Last year, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told service chiefs that by 2020 at least 10 per cent of all new recruits must come from a non-white background. But MoD figures for 2016 show there has been no increase in recruitment from ethnic minorities.

The Army said last night: It is important to have a diverse recruiting force to attract the brightest and the best.
Said it was possible to 'do anything' to women as long as one was 'a star'

Trump has been attacked or lost the support of 73 senior Republicans

John McCain has become the highest-profile Republican to disavow Donald Trump due to his abhorrent comments about women.

The Arizona senator said on Saturday that it was 'impossible' to continue supporting the GOP nominee.

Trump has been attacked or lost the support of 73 prominent Republicans so far.

This was in direct response to a video published on Friday that featured him saying on a hot mic that it was possible for stars to do 'anything' to women, including grabbing them 'by the p***y'.

'I have wanted to support the candidate our party nominated,' McCain said in a statement Saturday.

'But Donald Trump's behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy.'

McCain said he and his wife would instead 'write in the name of some good conservative Republican who is qualified to be president'.

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Senator John McCain (pictured last month next to Ted Cruz) withdrew his support from Donald Trump on Saturday and slammed the GOP nominee's 'boasts about sexual assaults'

A video published by the Washington Post on Friday featured Trump talking on a hot mic with Billy Bush in 2005.

Trump was on his way to film a cameo on Days Of Our Lives. After spotting actress Arianne Zucker, who was going to escort him onto the set, he said: 'I've got to use some Tic Tacs, just in case I start kissing her.

'You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful  I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait.'

Trump added: 'And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.

'Grab them by the p---y. You can do anything.'

Dozens of Republican senators, governors and representatives have bashed Trump's comments over the past 24 hours.

Trump (pictured on Saturday stepping out of his namesake Manhattan tower) was caught on video saying stars could do 'anything' to women, including grabbing them 'by the p***y'

At least 24 have called for him to drop out of the presidential race.

Trump's own running mate Mike Pence said: 'As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the eleven-year-old video released yesterday.

'I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them. I am grateful that he has expressed remorse and apologized to the American people.'

Referring to Sunday's presidential debate, Pence added: 'We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when the goes before the nation tomorrow night.'

Speaker of the house Paul Ryan said he was sickened by Trump's comments and declined to have him campaign at his side in Wisconsin on Saturday.

'I am sickened by what I heard today. Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified,' Ryan said.

'I hope Mr Trump treats this situation with the seriousness it deserves and works to demonstrate to the country that he has greater respect for women than this clip suggests.'

Even Trump's wife Melania called his comments 'unacceptable and offensive'.
A New York TV news reporter's brain aneurysm may have saved the life of a California woman who had an 'intense' headache and mistook it for a migraine.

In March 2015, WABC-TV reporter, Lisa Colagrossi died while on assignment after an undiagnosed brain aneurysm ruptured, the New York Daily News reported.

The 49-year-old was returning from covering a house fire in Queens when she collapsed.

A New York TV news reporter's brain aneurysm may have saved the life of a California woman who had an 'intense' headache. In March 2015, WABC-TV reporter, Lisa Colagrossi (pictured) died while on assignment after an undiagnosed brain aneurysm ruptured

Kris Sorensen (pictured) said she thought her days-long headache was a migraine. But it wasn't until her sister heard Crawford's story on the radio that Sorensen went to an emergency room. The doctors diagnosed Sorensen with an unruptured brain aneurysm

But her tragic death may have saved the life of Kris Sorensen, who had the chance to meet Todd Crawford, Colagrossi's husband, and thank him one year after his story convinced her to get a check-up because of an 'intense' headache, the newspaper reported.

Crawford and Sorensen, who is from Sacramento, California, met on September 29 at a New York City fund-raising gala for the Lisa Colagrossi Foundation.

The foundation's goal is to raise awareness of brain aneurysm symptoms.

Sorensen, who is a mother-of-three, made contact with Crawford in December, after her brain surgery.

She told the Daily News that 'meeting him and being able to say thank you to him was really, really great'.

The 52-year-old said Crawford 'has such a passion for this and really has done some amazing work to try to make a difference'.

But Colagrossi's (left) tragic death may have saved the life of Kris Sorensen, who had the chance to meet Todd Crawford (right), Colagrossi's husband, and thank him one year after his story convinced her to get a check-up because of an 'intense' headache

Kris Sorensen (pictured), said that 'meeting him [Crawford] and being able to say thank you to him was really, really great'

Crawford (center) and Sorensen (center right), who is from Sacramento, California, met on September 29 at a New York City fund-raising gala for the Lisa Colagrossi Foundation

Crawford established the Lisa Colagrossi Foundation in his late wife's name to raise awareness about brain aneurysm symptoms

Sorensen told the Daily News that she thought her days-long headache was a migraine.

But it wasn't until her sister heard Crawford's story on the radio that Sorensen went to an emergency room.

The doctors diagnosed Sorensen with an unruptured brain aneurysm.

During her surgery in December, doctors also found a second aneurysm and they were able to remove both.

'You don't want to get people too worried about headaches,' Sorensen told the newspaper, adding that it's important to pay 'attention to your body' and be aware of 'signs that it could be something more than just your average headache'.
Police hunting the armed gang who robbed Kim Kardashian of millions of pounds worth of jewellery have discovered a vital clue

Police hunting the armed gang who robbed Kim Kardashian of millions of pounds worth of jewellery have discovered a vital clue.

A gemstone dropped outside the Paris hotel where she was targeted could provide vital DNA evidence in an investigation which has so far made little progress, despite being the centre of global media interest.

A piece of stolen jewellery was found close to the block, and was presumably dropped by the gang, a source close to the investigation revealed. It suggests that the criminals may have made mistakes because they were in such a hurry.

The news, first revealed by the M6 news channel in Paris, came as the 35-year-old reality TV star filed a 4.5 million insurance claim for the stolen items, including a 3.2 million engagement ring presented to her by rapper husband Kanye West. She is also set to seek a fortune in compensation to cover trauma and lost earnings.

The source confirmed that Ms Kardashian is beginning civil action in order to recover losses.

The star left France on a private plane within hours of the crime in the early hours of Monday morning. She says she had a gun pointed to her head, and was tied up and gagged by the raiders, who posed as police.

An unidentified French concierge was the only other direct witness, and says he suffered the same fate as Ms Kardashian.

A gemstone dropped outside the Paris hotel where she was targeted could provide vital DNA evidence in an investigation which has so far made little progress. Kardashian is pictured wearing a 3.2 million engagement ring that was stolen in the raid

French authorities are privately concerned that Ms Kardashian left Paris so soon after her ordeal, and admit that questions are mounting about the security that night.

There was no sign of forced entry, and no apparent reason why anybody would have allowed unidentified men entry in the middle of the night without checking their alleged police credentials.

The assailants were said to be white, middle-aged Frenchmen who arrived and left by bicycle, and may have been caught on CCTV. Yet, almost a week later, no images have been released, and no explanation has been offered for this.

Ms Kardashian said she was able to wriggle out of hand ties, before screaming from a balcony, but neighbours have told police they heard nothing.

Her spokesman did not respond to requests for comment last night.
With his ears flapping and tail twitching, baby rhino Mobo scampers towards a watering hole in the shadow of Tanzanias Mount Kilimanjaro.

The little black rhinos birth in the wild would be cause for celebration under any circumstances.

But Mobos story is all the more remarkable as he is the result of a unexpectedly successful mission backed by Prince William that introduced three black rhinos to their natural habitat from the wildlife park in Kent where they were born.

And yesterday the Duke of Cambridge spoke of his delight that the two females sent out had become mothers.

Prince William feeds a five-year-old black rhino called Zawadi in Kent before she headed for Africa. She is now a mother

Talking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday, he said: Its great to hear the news. The past few years have been a dark time for African rhinos. This success story reminds us what can be achieved by committed conservationists even in the face of considerable challenge.

It is incredibly difficult to get rhinos that have previously been in captivity to breed in the wild, so huge congratulations to the team that made this happen.

William waved off the two females and a male from Damian Aspinalls Port Lympne wildlife park in 2012.

Grumeti the rhino with her cub Mobo. Grumeti was one of 3 rhinos sent to Tanzania in 2012

Mobos mother, Grumeti, was one of the females and gave birth to him in April. The other female, Zawadi, has also had a so-far-unnamed calf, having given birth two months later, in June.

Film of the baby rhinos with their mothers has just been released and can be viewed at MailOnline.

The father of both calves is a rhino named Jamie, who was also born in captivity, in a zoo in the Czech Republic, and was relocated to Tanzania in 2009.

Weighing about 80 lb (the average of an 11-year-old child), the calves were born naturally without human intervention.

Precious: Mobo heads for the watering hole. His birth has been hailed as a success by the project, which is backed by the Prince

Mr Aspinall, whose Aspinall Foundation oversaw the journey of the rhinos from his 625-acre wildlife park to their African habitat, said: When you release animals into the wild, its very emotional. They give you a look, like they are trying to thank you. For these rhinos to have given birth naturally in the wild is everything we could hope for. This is something we as a country should be very proud of  no one else in the world is approaching conservation the way Britain is.

More than 1,300 rhinos were killed by poachers in Africa last year, the highest number in a decade. They are coveted for their horns, used in Chinese medicine.

There are now just 5,000 black rhinos left on the planet, a catastrophic decline from 70,000 in 1970.

Prince William, president of the charity Tusk Trust, has warned: If current trends continue, there will be no African elephants or rhinos left in the wild by the time my daughter Charlotte [who is a year old] reaches her 25th birthday.
The candidate was still swarmed by supporters in New York on Saturday

Speaker of the house Paul Ryan said he was 'sickened' by Trump's words

The businessman boasted how he could 'grab 'em by the p****' in 2005

Dozens withdrew endorsements in wake of his comments towards women

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for Donald Trump to pull out of the race for the White House on Saturday

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joined an expanding list of outraged GOP figures calling for Donald Trump's withdrawal from the presidential race.

The politician furiously took to Facebook on Saturday to insist that he withdraw his bid for the White House, fuming: 'Enough! Donald Trump should not be President.'

She was the latest in a string of high profile Republicans to have condemned the candidate since he was heard making lewd and sexually aggressive comments about women on a leaked 2005 tape on Friday night.

In the footage, the then newlywed was caught on microphone boasting that he could 'grab women by the p****' because he was a star.

'He should withdraw. As a Republican, I hope to support someone who has the dignity and stature to run for the highest office in the greatest democracy on earth,' Rice said after the tape was exposed.

Others to have admonish the businessman included his wife Melanie who released a statement on Saturday sharing her disappointment at the comments.

'The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me. This does not represent the man that I know,' she said.

'Enough!' The politician took to Facebook to furiously call for Trump's withdrawal

Rice said the Republican presidential candidate did not have the 'dignity and stature' to run for office. He has vowed to stay in the race despite widespread fury from senior GOP figures over his lewd comments about women

'He has the heart and mind of a leader. I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing out nation and the world,' she said.

Trump was on his way to film a guest appearance on a soap in 2005 when he was caught making the remarks to Access Hollywood host Billy Bush.

The pair were in a bus and off-camera but had their microphones turned on when he admitted to trying to 'f***' a married woman who was later named as TV host Nancy O'Dell.

'And I moved on her very heavily... 'I moved on her like a b***h, but I couldn't get there. And she was married,' he said.

Moments later, at the sight of actress Arianne Zucker, he continued: 'You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful  I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait.

Trump was caught on microphone boasting that he could do 'anything' to women because he was a star in a leaked recording taken in 2005 while he appeared on Access Hollywood. The most outrageous remark was his to host Billy Bush that he could 'grab them by the p****'

Trump appeared on the show with Bush (right), who has since apologized, and actress Arianne Zucker (center) She was not in earshot of his claims

'And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.'

'Grab them by the p---y. You can do anything.'

Scores of Republicans withdrew their endorsements in the wake of the tape's release, giving no heed to the billionaire's apology and claim excuse that the comments did not reflect his ability to lead the country.

Among them was Trump's running mate, Mike Pence.

'As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the eleven-year-old video released yesterday.

'I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them. I am grateful that he has expressed remorse and apologized to the American people.

'We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when the goes before the nation tomorrow night.'

Melania Trump (above with her husband at the first presidential debate on September 26) condemned his comments as 'offensive and unacceptable'

Trump's running mate Mike Pence (left) said he could not defend the comments. Speaker of the house Paul Ryan (right) said he was 'sickened' by them

WHICH REPUBLICANS HAVE DENOUNCED DONALD TRUMP OR CONDEMNED HIS COMMENTS? Ohio Senator Rob Portman Former New York Governor George Pataki Colorado Congressman Mike Coffman Tennessee Senator Bob Corker Minnesota Congressman Erik Paulsen Former presidential candidate Ben Carson Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse Alabama Representative Bradley Byrne West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito RNC Chair Reince Priebus Ohio Governor John Kasich Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson New York Congressman Chris Collins Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson Texas Governor Greg Abbott Nebraska Governor Pete Rickets Running mate Mike Pence Republican Speaker Paul Ryan Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell Former presidential nominee Mitt Romney Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush Texas Senator Ted Cruz Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey Florida Senator Marco Rubio Illinois Congressman Robert Dold Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker Utah Senator Orrin Hatch North Carolina Senator Richard Burr Indiana Congressman Todd Young Iowa Senator Joni Ernst North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory Advertisement

WHO ARE THE REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE WITHDRAWN THEIR SUPPORT FOR DONALD TRUMP OR CALLED ON HIM TO DROP OUT? Illinois Senator Mark Kirk Utah Senator Mike Lee Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan Virginia Representative Barbara Comstock Arizona Senator Jeff Flake New Jersey Representative Scott Garrett Alabama Congresswoman Martha Roby Nevada Representative Joe Heck South Dakota Senator John Thune New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte Utah Governor Gary Hebert Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz Idaho Senator Mike Crapo South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard Texas Congressman Will Hurd Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham Maine Senator Susan Collins Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenbury California Congressman David Valadao Arizona Senator John McCain Utah Governor Gary Hebert Missouri Congresswoman Ann Wagner Former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer Nevada Congressman Cresent Hardy Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski Utah Congresswoman Mia Love Pennsylvania Congressman Charlie Dent Michigan Congressman Fred Upton Colorado Senator Cory Gardner Colorado Senate nominee Darryl Glenn Florida Congressman Tom Rooney New Jersey Congressman Frank LoBiondo Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Utah Congressman Chris Stewart Alabama Governor Robert Bentley Michigan Congressman Justin Amash Advertisement

Speaker of the house Paul Ryan said he was 'sickened' buy the comments,

'I am sickened by what I heard today. Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified.

'I hope Mr. Trump treats this situation with the seriousness it deserves and works to demonstrate to the country that he has greater respect for women than this clip suggests,' Ryan said in a statement.

Dozens who previously endorsed the controversial candidate withdrew their support on Saturday.

Trump refuses to step down, however, frantically writing on Twitter: 'The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly - I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN!'

The scandal came hours before the second presidential debate on Sunday night.
A manhunt for a gunman was under way last night after two police officers were shot dead in California.

One of the officers was a mother who had just returned from maternity leave after having a baby four months ago.

The officers had been responding to reports of a family disturbance at an address in the city of Palm Springs.

Officers at the scene of the shooting in Palm Springs yesterday, where two police officers died and a third was injured

They were shot by a man who is said to have mental health problems.

A third officer was rushed to hospital to be treated for gunshot wounds.

Witnesses said that they heard what sounded like a machine gun being fired in bursts.

One local resident described hearing what sounded like fireworks.

Dozens of police officers swooped on the area to search for the gunman, taking cover behind vehicles and a wall.

Emergency personnel wearing bullet-proof vests attend to a person on a stretcher

Residents were warned to stay indoors while the manhunt continued last night. Palm Springs police chief Bryan Reyes paid tribute to the two officers killed, naming them as Jose Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny.

He said: Today Palm Springs lost two brave police officers. The officers were near the front door trying to negotiate with the suspect. It was a simple family disturbance.

Officer Zerebny, who had the four-month-old child, was 27 while Officer Vega had served with the Palm Springs Police Department for 35 years.

Armed police responded to the shooting, which left two officers dead in California

According to one report, a man living across the street from the house where the shooting took place said the father of the suspect had come to him beforehand, saying his son had a gun and wanted to shoot police.

Palm Springs is just 20 miles away from the site of the Desert Trip music festival, where Paul McCartney was scheduled to be playing last night.

The mayor of Palm Springs, Rob Moon, said: Its probably the worst day of my life.
called an an end to its alliance with the United States after 65 years

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The Philippines president's war against drugs has reached new macabre heights with the death toll surging above 3,700 and he is now sensationally halting the nation's military alliance with the US after 65 years.

The bombastic president Rodrigo Duterte, has sensationally disparaged the country's alliance with the US ordering its troops to leave his shores.

The potential ending of an alliance comes as a reaction to the international outrage of the slaughter of drug addicts and criminals at the hands of vigilantes and police in the Philippines.

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The Philippines' death toll has reached more than 3,700 in less than three months The United Nations, the US, the European Union and the Catholic Church have all condemned the potential breach of human rights

Filipinos cuffed and rounded up in Manila during the drug crackdown ordered by the president

The fear of being shot has triggered drug dealers to turn themselves into police, with more than 26,000 people arrested and hundreds of thousands turning themselves into authorities

The Filipino president, dubbed 'The Punisher', has been heavily lambasted for his ruthless crackdown on drugs with the Philippines' death toll reaching more than 3,700 in less than three months, according to Al Jazeera.

Duterte ordered the drug crackdown as an election promise fuelling widespread bloodshed - equating to 36 Filipinos dying every day in his first 100 days in office - and the terror can be seen in the graphic photos below.

Duterte's drug raids come after he said at least 3.7 million Filipinos have become addicted to methamphetamine, known locally as shabu.

He has claimed to have encouraged citizens to take matters into their own hands with the help of police and alleged secret death squads.

The Huffington Post report that the killings occur in 'encounters' with motorcycle vigilante gunmen or killed by trained police or unofficial death squads.

Crowds gather around a suspected drug dealer killed in the violent drug raids in the Philippines

Authorities carry a dead man killed in the violent drug raids in the Philippines

Police look to enter a house to take a grandfather to a police station as part of the crackdown

Terror has taken over the Philippines with more than 26,000 people arrested and 3,700 dead

The unofficial death toll in the Philippines is reported to have reached 3,700 since the raids started just over 100 days ago

The slaughter has equated to roughly 36 Filipinos killed everyday since Duterte took over as leader of the nation

Two motor cyclists gunned down in Manila as a result of the 'war on drugs' crackdown

Cases include a five-year-old girl tragically killed as gunman opened fire on her grandfather and a father and son smoking shabu beaten and shot to death in police custody.

The fear of being shot has triggered drug dealers to turn themselves into police, with more than 26,000 people arrested and tens of thousands turning themselves into authorities.

This had lead to despicable conditions in jails and the limited 44 rehabilitation centres across the nation.

The fear tactic has seen Duterte's popularity sky-rocket, with a Social Weather Stations Survey in late September showed 8/10 Filipino residents are satisfied with the campaign promise to crackdown on drug users and dealers.

Incredibly the fear tactic has seen Duterte's popularity sky-rocket with 8/10 Filipino residents are satisfied with the campaign promise to crackdown on drug addicts and dealers

Drug addicts and dealers are turning themselves in as they are scared they will be shot or beat up in the violent drug raids

In a speech in Davao - a city where reportedly death squads were sanctioned - Duterte responded to claims of his comparison to Hitler.

'Hitler massacred three million Jews, now, there is three million drug addicts. I'd be happy to slaughter them," he said.

While both figures were incorrect, he continued to say, 'At least if Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have...", where he reportedly pointed to himself, according to the BBC.

However, the international community has slammed Duterte's maligned war on drugs, which has seen armed police sanctioned to target and raid drug dealers.

A young man takes a photo of two victims of the violent drug war that has claimed more than 3,700 people according to reports

Relatives mourn the loss of two cyclists killed in the vicious drug raids with the death toll reaching 3,700 people

The international community has slammed Duterte's maligned war on drugs, which has seen armed police sanctioned to target and raid drug dealers

The Roman Catholic Church, the European Union, the US and the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon have condemned the killings as a breach of human rights.

In his long list of boisterous comments, Duterte recently told president Barrack Obama to, 'Go to hell', and has claimed he will make sure the amphibious military exercise on its beaches, one of 26 military actions, in six months will be the last between the nations.

He claimed the US was using his nation as a 'doormat' and said as long as he was in charge the Philippines relationship with the US was over.

The US are still waiting for official notification according to reports.

Children look down at a body that was found dead earlier in the week in Manila
A Tory Minister sacked from the Cabinet by Theresa May has kept a taxpayer-funded chauffeur-driven limo after an outburst of political road rage, it was claimed last night.

Matthew Hancock was said to be furious when he found out his demotion from Cabinet Office Minister to Culture Minister meant he would lose his perk of use of an official car and driver.

After failing to persuade his new boss, Culture Secretary Karen Bradley, to let him have the departments sole official car, Hancock demanded  and got  another one, say sources.

Matthew Hancock has kept a taxpayer-funded chauffeur-driven limo after an outburst of political road rage, it was claimed last night

Labour accused Hancock of an outrageous waste of taxpayers money.

It is not the first time he has been accused of extravagance.

As David Camerons Energy Minister, he hired a private jet to fly from Scotland to London  after signing a deal to combat global warming. And as a Business Minister, he insisted civil servants change his official photograph and use one he preferred instead.

After failing to persuade his new boss, Culture Secretary Karen Bradley, to let him have the departments sole official car, Hancock reportedly demanded another one

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport confirmed last night that a second car was now available for Ministers to use.

One insider said: I wouldnt call it a hissy fit by Hancock  more like political road rage. He was determined to have his own set of wheels.

But a friend of Hancock said: He will be sharing it with the other Ministers in the department. Its not just his.

The government car service has 85 vehicles used to transport Ministers on official business. The DCMS said last night that a second car had been provided because there were now more Ministers in the department.
He will now appeal to European Court of Human Rights to return to UK

Hamza jailed for life last year for terrorism offences by New York judge

Hate cleric Abu Hamza has launched a legal fight to return from his super-max jail to a softer UK prison

Hook-handed hate cleric Abu Hamza has launched a legal fight to return from his super-max US jail to a softer UK prison.

Egyptian-born Hamza, 58, was jailed for life for terrorism offences during a trial in New York city last year, and has been serving his sentence in solitary confinement at a high security prison in Florence, Colorado.

However, his lawyer Linday Lewis is set to launch an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights with the hope he would be transferred by next year, reports the Express.

Hamza was extradited to the US after the British government spent a decade trying to kick him out of the country.

The legal battle cost the tax-payer 25million with a further 3million claimed by Hamza in benefits.

He rose to notoriety in the UK after becoming imam of the Finsbury Park mosque, in north London, in 1997.

One year later, in 1998, he helped organise hostage-taking of 16 mostly British tourists in Yemen. Three Britons and an Australian killed in rescue mission.

In 2000, he set up a terrorist training camp back in the US, in Bly, Oregon, sending volunteers and money to Afghanistan to support al Qaeda and the Taliban.

He then firmly placed himself on the national radar in 2001 after speaking out in support of Osama bin Laden following the September 11 attacks.

Pictured: he super-maximum-security federal prison in Florence, Colorado, where Abu Hamza is being held in solitary confinement

Abu Hamza (right) is being held a cell similar to this one at his super-max jail in Colorado

Ms Lewis said that the US government were not ensuring that the jail were attending to Hamza's health needs and that he would be better served in the UK.

Ms Lewis told the Express: 'There is a strong humanitarian case that it would be better for him on health grounds to be incarcerated there.

'It is also extremely unfair his family is not able to visit him in the United States.'

Hamza is currently be held in a 7ft by 12ft cell and his hooks were taken away as they were seen as 'dangerous weapons'.

The cleric has since complained that this has led to his stumps becoming 'infected'.

It is believed that Hamza wants a transfer because he sees the British prison service as a softer way of seeing out his years behind bars.

His current jail is known as the 'Alcatraz of the Rockies', due to its reputation as being inescapable.

It houses the most dangerous inmates in the U.S. prison system and is believed to the world's most secure prison.
Qantas, Harvery Norman, Anytime Fitness and Samsung were also on list

Real estate agency Ray White received more complaints than any other business in NSW last month, according to the latest official figures.

Ray White jumped four places from last month to top the list, which saw Australian airline Qantas and Korean electronics company Samsung appear for the first time.

The complaints register, compiled by the NSW Fair Trading department, aims to create total transparency between consumers and businesses.

Real estate agency Ray White received more complaints than any other business in NSW last month

Samsung electronics, which had to recall its Galaxy Note7 smart phone (not pictured) after some users reported their device exploding, received 15 complaints across the state

Furniture and electronics retailer Harvery Norman landed itself in second place for complaints - mostly to do with issues with electronic products and furniture.

Ray White received 34 complaints in the month of August, up from 23 in July.

A majority of the complaints related to residential tenancy problems such as maintenance, repairs, bond payments and rent increases.

A Ray White spokeswoman told the Sydney Morning Herald that the register had a tendency to negatively represent larger businesses.

'For August, 90 per cent of our offices had no complaints at all, and of the ones that did, 80 per cent had just one complaint with the most from any one office just two complaints,' she said.

Samsung electronics, which had to recall its Galaxy Note7 smart phone after some users reported their device exploding, received 15 complaints across the state.

Of those 15 complaints, a majority were in relation to mobile smart phones.

Australian airline Qantas also found itself on the list with 11 complaints

Also on the list, which features any NSW business with 10 or more complaints, were Anytime Fitness, Apple, Foxtel, McGrath Real Estate and First Nation Real Estate.

Qantas, which posted a record full year underlying profit of $1.53 billion after losing nearly $3 billion just two years ago, also found itself on the list with 11 complaints.

The Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe told the Sydney Morning Herald said the watchdog was committed to improving the complaints register.

'We want to make more information available to the public so they can make informed decisions and change business culture,' he said.

'We've had very positive and enthusiastic feedback from consumers, not only from our state, but also from other states.'

Furniture and electronics retailer Harvery Norman landed itself in second place for complaints
Former students and teachers claim they were diagnosed with cancer after attending a high school that was built on an old gasworks site.

Leonie Curry and Raelean Borg, who were both enrolled at Camden High School in Sydney's south-west from 1984, have died after losing their fight to cancer.

They were among the hundreds of students and teachers who believed their illnesses were allegedly linked to the school, The Daily Telegraph reported.

More than 300 former students and teachers are launching a class action against the NSW Department of Education after nearly half of them were diagnosed with cancer.

Of the array of illnesses, cancer is the most significant, with 140 affected out of 320 while others claimed they have struggled to conceive or had children with birth defects.

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Leonie Curry (left) and Raelean Borg (right), who both attended Camden High School from 1984, died after losing their fight to cancer

The school was built near an old gasworks in 1956 but was shut down and relocated in 2001 over claims the site was too small (pictured of the abandoned school)

The school has come under fire over allegations the classrooms were built near the old gasworks in 1956 before expanding over the neighbouring site.

Ms Curry died in June this year after suffering multiple brain cancers following a five-year battle.

Her husband Rod said his wife, who suffered multiple sclerosis a few years earlier, had become suspicious of a link between cancer and the school.

'Every time she went to the hospital, a nurse or someone would say, "Not another one from Camden High",' he told the publication.

Raelean Borg (pictured with her husband Joe) lost her fight in 2012 from breast and secondary bone cancer

Leonie Curry (pictured with her husband Rod) died in June this year after suffering multiple brain cancers following a five-year battle

And her fellow classmate Raelean Borg lost her fight in 2012 from breast and secondary bone cancer.

Her husband Joe said the community was told the school, which was situated on the corner of John and Exeter streets, was shut down in 2001 over claims the site was too small.

'She didnt think anything of it until later when she started bumping into friends who were crook,' he told the publication.

The school was relocated after contaminants from the gasworks on the site were discovered.

More than 300 former students and teachers are launching a class action against the NSW Department of Education (pictured of the abandoned school)

Former staff and students recalled unusual occurrences, including a foul smell and a piece of paper 'exploding' when it was lit and thrown down a drain (pictured of the abandoned school)

The former staff and students recalled unusual occurrences, including a foul smell, a piece of paper 'exploding' when it was lit and thrown down a drain and the floor of one of the classrooms turning blue when a match was held near it.

Around 30 people who attended the school have already died from cancer.
A prison is spending thousands of taxpayers' money to ferry inmates to a hospital on the other side of road.

The convicts embark on just a 150 yard journey to attend the medical institution directly opposite the jail's own gates.

Staff at HMP Winchester, Hampshire, are furious insisting there must be a cheaper solution.

HMP Winchester, right, ferries its convicts just 150 yards by taxi to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, left

Trips for appointments when the healthcare team in the prison cannot help take place almost daily, reports The Mirror.

Sources say each journey costs around 5 each way, but some taxis have been waiting hours at a time racketing up the final bill.

Insiders claim the jail does have a minibus, an alternative method of transportation to get prisoners to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital; but staff are rarely at hand and free to drive it.

The paper states it saw evidence of two handcuffed inmates being taken across the road by a Happy Cabs car, a local firm based six miles away in Eastleigh.

'It's a scandal. Frontline staff are being cut to the bone, which makes everyone's life harder, but money is still being frittered away on these cabs,' a source told The Mirror.

'This has been going on for years. It's astonishing they can't find a better way to transport prisoners such a short distance,' they added.

The hospital stands opposite the prison. Sources say each cab journey costs around 5 each way, but some taxis have been waiting hours at a time racketing up the final bill

But the Prison Service has defended the expense as the cheapest option available.

'Taxis are the most cost-effective and safe way of transporting prisoners across short distances whilst ensuring the public is protected,' said a spokesman.
Two months prior Trump made lewd comments about women on a hot mic

Donald Trump told Stern she had become a monster 'in all the right places'

His wife of almost a year Melania Trump was pregnant with son Barron

The Republican nominee talked to Howard Stern in December 2005

Donald Trump called his pregnant wife 'a monster' and 'a blimp'.

The GOP nominee spoke to radio host Howard Stern in December 2005, while his wife Melania was expecting their son Barron.

Trump and his wife had been married for almost a year when the Republican candidate lampooned her changing appearance.

'Like a blimp  in the right places. In her case, the right places. I mean she really has become a monster  in all the right places,' he told Stern.

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Donald Trump told Howard Stern in December 2005 that his pregnant wife Melania had 'become a monster' and was 'like a blimp'. Both are pictured during her pregnancy in late 2005

Trump and his wife had been married for almost a year when the Republican candidate lampooned her changing appearance. They are pictured last month

Trump's comments were reported at the time on SF Gate. The report, which back then relied on Page Six, is still live on the website.

'You know, they just blow up, right?' Trump asked Stern, referring to pregnant women.

Trump also insulted supermodel Heidi Klum's physical appearance. She had given birth to Henry, her second child, two months prior.

'I looked at her the other day, and it's off. There's no question,' he said.

Trump's comments regarding his wife's and Klum's physiques came just two months after he made lewd comments about women in a conversation with Billy Bush.

'I mean she really has become a monster  in all the right places,' Trump told Stern in September 2005. He is pictured with her and daughter Ivanka the following month

On Friday, Trump (pictured with his wife in July) was revealed to have made disparaging comments about women in 2005

A video published Friday by the Washington Post features the Republican presidential candidate saying stars can 'do anything' to women, including grabbing them 'by the p***y'.

'You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful  I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait,' Trump told Bush in September 2005.

'And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.

'Grab them by the p---y. You can do anything.'

His wife condemned the remarks on Saturday, saying his words were 'unacceptable' and 'offensive'.

At least 33 Republican senators, representatives and governors have withdrawn their support from Trump, including John McCain.

Trump has vowed to remain in the presidential race.
Nothing's better than grandma's home cooked meals!

And those who visit Staten Island restaurant, Enoteca Maria, get the ultimate comfort food cooked by grandmas from all over the world.

Restaurant owner, Jody Scaravella, started out hiring Italian grandmas to make the meals that his customers love, according to Gothamist.

Restaurant owner, Jody Scaravella (pictured), started out hiring Italian grandmas to make the meals that his customers love

But now he has included 30 'nonnas' from around the world to whip up some grub in his kitchen. Habiba (pictured) is from Algeria

These 'chefettes' come from Ecuador, Algeria, Czech Republic, like Helena (pictured) as well as Syria, Calabria and many other countries

Scaravella said that there is one Italian grandma in the kitchen every night accompanied by another grandma with a different culinary background

But now he has included 30 'nonnas' from around the world to whip up some grub in his kitchen.

These 'chefettes' come from Ecuador, Algeria, Czech Republic, Syria, Calabria and many other countries.

Scaravella told Gothamist that there is one Italian grandma in the kitchen every night accompanied by another grandma with a different culinary background.

He told the site that it can be challenging to have the grandmothers cooking at once.

Mainly because they feel 'like they're the boss, because in their particular family unit, they're at the top of that pyramid'.

'So when you put all of these grandmothers that are all at the top in a room together, they all feel like they're in charge and they're all wondering what that other person is doing there,' he said, adding that it can get 'dicey'.

Most nights, Scaravella said, customers give standing ovations to the grandmas for their delicious dishes

Scaravella said that sometimes it can be challenged to have the grandmothers (pictured) cooking at once. Mainly because they feel 'like they're the boss, because in their particular family unit, they're at the top of that pyramid'

There is also a grandpa employed by the restaurant. Giuseppe Freya (pictured), who is from Calabria, makes all the pasta

There is also a grandpa employed by the restaurant.

Giuseppe Freya, who is from Calabria, makes all the pasta.

Most nights, Scaravella said, customers give standing ovations to the grandmas and Freya.

Scaravella told the site that he even receives regular 'phone calls from Australia, from England, and from Italy to book reservations'.

He said he's flattered by those gestures as well as when his restaurant sees a of people from Manhattan.

'That's also very flattering, because there's a restaurant every twenty feet in Manhattan,' he said.

The restaurant's website features a calendar called Nonnas of the World, which allows customers to see what dish these crafty grandmas will be serving up every night.

Scaravella said that he even receives regular 'phone calls from Australia, from England, and from Italy to book reservations'
Dozens of senior GOP figures have withdrawn their support for him since

In the 2005 tape, Trump boasted he could 'grab women by the p****'

Donald Trump's top donors, a billionaire businessman and his daughter, stood by him on Saturday despite an exodus of endorsers within the GOP party amid the fallout from his crude hot-mic comments.

Robert and Rebekah Mercer dismissed Trump's boast that he could 'grab them by the p****' as nothing more than 'locker room braggadocio', insisting their support remained squarely behind the businessman.

In a lengthy statement issued to The Washington Post, the father-daughter-duo said they were not surprised by the release of a 2005 tape in which Trump was heard discussing his aggressive sexual strategies.

'Donald Trump's uncensored comments, both old and new, have been echoed and dissected in the media repeatedly in an effort to kindle among his supporters a conflagration of outrage commensurate with the media's own faux outrage.

Robert and Rebekah Mercer (above, left), a father and daughter who run the largest pro-Trump super Pac, have maintained their support for the candidate in the wake of a leaked 2005 tape in which he made lewd comments about women

'Can anyone really be surprised that Mr. Trump could have said to Mr. Bush such things as he has already admitted saying? No. We are completely indifferent to Mr. Trump's locker room braggadocio,' they said.

The pair, who control a bountiful super PAC which supports the Republican candidate, then pointed to Bill Clinton and his alleged sexual impropriety.

Their statement of support came as a steady stream of GOP figures withdrew theirs from Trump's campaign.

Other donors are reportedly asking for their money back.

CBS cited one campaign insider who said they had been inundated with calls from donors expressing buyer's remorse since the tapes were released.

Trump refused to withdraw his bid for the White House on Saturday

Their retreat came after a 2005 Access Hollywood tape was released on Friday in which Trump, then newly married to his wife Melanie, told how he 'immediately' kissed women without waiting - and how they allowed him to because he was a 'star'.

'You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful  I just start kissing them.

'It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.'

'Grab them by the p---y. You can do anything.'

Trump has since apologized, admitting he was 'wrong'.

He has been admonished by Speaker Paul Ryan, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and even his own running mate, Mike Pence, over the comments.

The Mercers however stopped short of addressing the comments specifically in their statement.

The Mercers turned their wrath on Bill Clinton who they said had 'multiple violent sexual assaults to his credit'

The Mercers started the Republican super PAC which has morphed into Defeat Crooked Hillary. It began as a fund to support Senator Ted Cruz in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination

Instead they lay their disgust with Bill Clinton who they said had 'snared a young intern into his web', referring to Monica Lewinsky, the White House aide Clinton later had sex with while President.

'We can remove the uncivil nastiness of emphasizing candidates' personal behavior which will not affect our lives compared to the policies implemented,' they concluded.

Robert Mercer was named the 15th highest earning hedge fund manager in the world in 2015. He sits at the helm of Renaissance Technologies Corp.

His middle daughter Rebekah spearheaded a super PAC in support of Senator Ted Cruz. Kellyanne Conway, Trump's campaign manager, ran the committee.

The PAC evolved into Defeat Crooked Hillary, the group responsible for smearing adverts about the Democratic candidate, after Trump clinched the Republican nomination.

It's not known exactly how much the duo have spent trying to put Trump in the White House.

Mr Mercer devoted more than $11million to backing Ted Cruz and has invested in several conservative interests including the Breitbart News Network and the Heritage think tank, according to Bloomberg.com.

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Eight people were hospitalized, including two five-year-olds in critical condition, after a yacht capsized in the San Francisco Bay.

The 34-foot boat was carrying 27 adults and three children when it flipped over around 4pm on Saturday while it was 100 yards from Pier 45, Gisele Talkoff of the San Francisco police said.

One five-year-old was unconscious and not breathing when he was rescued.

Another boy, who is the same age, was also taken to hospital, but his condition has been downgraded from critical to stable.

Others suffered from hypothermia-related injuries, but all eight people who were hospitalized are expected to survive, public information officer Jonathan Baxter said.

A 34-foot yacht named Khaleesi was carrying 27 adults and three children when it flipped over around 4pm on Saturday while it was 100 yards from Pier 45

One five-year-old was unconscious and no longer breathing when he was rescued, but all eight people who were hospitalized are expected to survive

Life jackets were thrown to people in the water before they were pulled aboard rescue boats and wrapped in thick blankets

A fishing boat made the distress call at 4.07pm to report the yacht, named Khaleesi, had capsized with people trapped under the hull, NBC reported.

'At least one person swam into the cabin of the capsized ship and rescued a father and child,' Talkoff said.

Numerous boats rushed to help, and fire trucks, police cars, and a Coast Guard helicopter arrived at the chaotic scene to find the yacht fully submerged.

Life jackets were thrown to people in the water before they were pulled aboard rescue boats and wrapped in thick blankets.

Fisherman David Griffiths told the San Francisco Chronicle he was taking off his shoes and getting ready to jump in when the first rescue teams arrived.

'There were lots of rescue boats on the water because of Fleet Week, so we were fortunate,' Fire Department Assistant Chief Bob Postel said.

'We were able to get everybody out and accounted for quickly,' he added.

'This could have been really, really catastrophic. For this to have the outcome that it did, is really a lot of good fortune and good luck.'

Because it was Fleet Week, authorities were close by and able to respond quickly. Pictured, some of the survivors wrapped in thick blankets

A good Samaritan also performed CPR on one boy who wasn't breathing until a police officer was able to take over, Talkoff said.

He was among the five adults and three children who were sent to the hospital.

Griffiths said it was jarring to see the boat upend on a beautiful day in the otherwise calm water.

'Seeing the bottom of it, that's not a normal thing,' he said.
A topless man rocked out to heavy metal music as he braved strong winds and rain during Hurricane Matthew.

Lane Pittman was caught on video head banging to Slayer's Raining Blood as he stood in the middle of a road in Jacksonville, Florida.

In the video, Pittman is seen standing in a lunge position as he steadies himself against the wind before twirling his ginger locks back and forth.

Lane Pittman (left and right) was caught on video head banging to Slayer's Raining Blood as he stood in the middle of a road in Jacksonville, Florida, during Hurricane Florida

Pittman posted the video to his Facebook page on Friday and it has since garnered more than 18 million views

Pittman posted the video to his Facebook page on Friday and it has since garnered more than 18 million views.

'Had a request for some hair action during the 'cane. I granted it,' Pittman wrote on Facebook.

Nearly 156,000 people were without electricity in Jacksonville as of Saturday evening.

Chief compliance officer, Ted Hobson, of electricity company JEA, told the Florida Times-Union that customers should expect to be without power for a few days.

Hurricane Matthew ripped through parts of Florida Thursday and into Friday killing six people.

As of Saturday evening, the storm had killed at least 13 people throughout the US and caused $6 billion worth of damage.
Four gay police officers claim they have were targeted by an undercover operation from New South Wales police simply because of their sexual preference.

Christian McDonald, Christopher Sheehy and partners Shane Housego and Steven Rapisarda, are all current or former members of the Newtown station in Sydney's west.

They say senior police members turned an operation initially set up to monitor drug use into an investigation of them - and claim the only thing linking the four is that they're all openly gay, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The alleged discrimination against them is part of what they call a culture of 'homophobic prejudice' within NSW police.

Shane Housego, Christian McDonald, Chris Sheehy and Steven Rapisarda join their lawyer Nicholas Stewart (centre) as they enter the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The four former and current police officers claim they were discriminated against because they're gay

All four have taken their case to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, hoping to be granted access to the investigation files.

Named 'Andro', the investigation ran for six months but found 'no direct evidence of drug use' by the officers.

Christian McDonald is no longer a member of the force, but says during his time as an officer discrimination over his sexuality wasn't out of the ordinary.

He claims that upon returning to work after having a fall and hitting his head while on duty, he was told he should be used to 'having his head down (and) arse up in the concrete'.

But that allegedly wasn't a one-off when it came to discrimination.

'In 2012, I requested to complete duties at a Northern NSW Police station to assist with Splendour in the grass (a music festival in Byron Bay),' Mr McDonald said.

'A police officer replied: "Splendour in your ass".'

In statements made to NCAT, the other men also claimed similar comments had been made towards them.

'Common terminology and phrases used around the station are faggot, poofter, gay as aids, homo, hommus and eat a dick,' Constable Sheehy claimed.

According to Mr McDonald, the four men hope their action will bring an end to the alleged discriminatory culture.

Christian McDonald (pictured) has left the NSW police force but says in documents filed with NCAT that during his time at Newtown Local Area Command he was repeatedly on the end of gay slurs. He claims he was told he should be used to 'having his head down (and) arse up in the concrete'

A spokesperson for NSW police said they had 'no tolerance' for homophobia within the force, reinforcing that they followed the Anti-Discrimination Act

'This case is part of a wider culture of homophobia that I strongly believe exists at Newtown Local Area Command,' Mr McDonald said.

'For myself it's unacceptable and I just want to make sure this just doesn't happen to anybody else.'

According to the former officer, the four men had never been close friends or hung out as a group, which furthered their belief the investigation targeted them because of their sexuality.
Trump said on a hot mic in 2005 that stars could 'do anything' to women

Said Republican candidate's words were not 'lewd' but 'an abuse of power'

Joe Biden is accusing Donald Trump of sexual assault.

The vice-president slammed Trump's comments about women in a tweet Saturday evening.

The GOP nominee was caught on a hot mic in 2005 saying stars could 'do anything' to women, including grabbing them 'by the p***y'.

'The words are demeaning. Such behavior is an abuse of power. It's not lewd. It's sexual assault,' Biden wrote.

Vice-president Joe Biden (pictured on Friday) referred to Donald Trump's comments about grabbing women 'by the p***y' as sexual assault in a tweet Saturday

Biden wrote on his Twitter account that Trump's remarks and the behavior he described were not just 'lewd' but demeaning and represented an abuse of power

John McCain also used the words 'sexual assault' to characterize Trump's comments on Saturday.

The Arizona senator was one of at least 73 Republican officials who disavowed their nominee after his comments were revealed on Friday.

'I have wanted to support the candidate our party nominated,' McCain said in a statement Saturday.

'But Donald Trump's behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy.'

McCain said he and his wife would instead 'write in the name of some good conservative Republican who is qualified to be president'.

The GOP nominee (pictured last month) has lost the support of at least 73 Republican officials since his demeaning remarks surfaced Friday

A video published on Friday by the Washington Post shows Trump arriving to film a cameo on Days Of Our Lives.

The footage includes his conversation with Billy Bush.

'You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful  I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait,' Trump said.

'And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.

'Grab them by the p---y. You can do anything.'

Even Trump's wife Melania condemned the comments, calling them offensive and unacceptable.

Trump tried to dismiss his comments as 'locker-room banter' and eventually apologized.
Donald Trump could be left without a running mate as GOP officials may consider pressuring Mike Pence to quit the race after he publicly stated that he could not 'condone' the billionaire's crude hot mic comments.

A few GOP leaders may be considering a scenario in which they would convince Pence to leave the ticket, according to CNN.

Former Jeb Bush supporter, Vin Weber told the network that he would 'absolutely' call for Pence to leave the ticket as a way to put 'immeasurable pressure' on Trump to leave the race.

'Pence is the anchor that keeps Trump in the race,' so without him it would be over for the candidate, Weber said.

Pence's advocacy for Trump came to a screeching, perhaps temporary, halt Saturday in the hours after Trump released a video apologizing for 2005 remarks in which he describes his aggressive conduct toward women.

The vice presidential nominee, Mike Pence, has long described himself as a 'Christian, a conservative and a Republican in that order'. Pence said in a statement about Trump: 'I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them'

Pence was supposed to replace Trump at a Wisconsin event with Paul Ryan after the Speaker said he was 'sickened' by Trump's remarks, but later canceled. Pence said he was grateful that Trump expressed remorse and apologized and that he looked forward to Sunday's debate

The Indiana governor was said to be 'beside himself' over Trump's comments.

Pence said in a statement about Trump: 'I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them. I am grateful that he has expressed remorse and apologized to the American people.

'As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the eleven-year-old video released yesterday.

'We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night,' the Indiana governor said.

It's more evidence of the trials facing the GOP's No. 2 that could serve Pence well if he runs for the top spot in 2020.

But plenty of people are engaging in presidential talk about Pence, including Republican members of Congress, governors, a former presidential candidate, and more.

Sens Mike Lee of Utah and Mike Crapo of Idaho are calling on Trump to quit the campaign so Pence can lead the ticket. Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire says she'll write in Pence's name on the ballot  not Trump's.

Pence was supposed to replace Trump at a Wisconsin event with Paul Ryan after the Speaker said he was 'sickened' by Trump's remarks, but later canceled.

'I'm sure he's horrified,' said Mike Murphy, an Indiana public relations strategist who's known Pence for more than two decades.

'We impeached Bill Clinton and we cannot impeach Trump off the ballot. But I wish there was a mechanism to do so.'

The Indiana governor was said to be 'beside himself' over Trump's comments

In the recording released by the Washington Post on Friday, Trump could be hear saying: 'And when you're a star they let you do it. Can do anything. Whatever you want. Grab them by the p**y'

Pence raised his political stock Monday night during the only debate against Democrat Tim Kaine.

During the 90-minute event, Pence managed to not defend Trump's indefensible behavior, yet still sound supportive and show off his own expertise on foreign policy.

The performance highlighted the gulf in political sophistication between Trump and his running mate.

Pence addressed the awkwardness with a savvy statement acknowledging his own performance and preserving his alliance with Trump.

'People are saying that I won the debate,' he said Wednesday in Harrisonburg, Virginia. 'From where I sat, Donald Trump's vision to make America great won the debate.'

But on Friday, Trump's behavior put Pence to an even tougher test.

On Friday, Trump's behavior put Pence through an even tougher test when the Washington Post released the recording. Trump and Pence supporters gathered outside Trump Tower cheering on Saturday

Dozens of Republicans have since called for Trump to drop out of the presidential race or have rescinded their support

The Washington Post and NBC broke the story of Trump's words about women as Pence advocated for Trump him in Ohio.

'With Donald Trump as president, we'll have a president of the United States who respects all the American people,' Pence said as news of Trump's comments was breaking.

Pence went on to defend, as he has previously, Trump's outspoken nature as a refusal to 'tiptoe around those thousands of rules of political correctness'.

The VP nominee ignored questions about Trump and he was quickly whisked out of reach of the news media.

Influential Indiana conservative, Jim Bopp, who helped draft this year's Republican Party platform, said Pence 'should stay the course'.

Trump's words are 'ill-considered and crude', Bopp said, and also 'statements Mike Pence would never make'.
Voluntary euthanasia campaigner Kylie Monaghan has died after a six-year battle with breast cancer.

Mrs Monaghan, 35, passed away with her husband Darryl and family by her side at Port Pirie Hospital, South Australia, on Saturday.

In the lead-up to her death she had openly spoken about not wanting to spend her final days as a 'burden' and her passion to have Australia's euthanasia laws changed.

She was also deeply proud to be the face of the 'Be the Bill' - a social campaign appealing for South Australian politicians to support voluntary euthanasia laws.

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Voluntary euthanasia campaigner Kylie Monaghan has died after a six-year battle with cancer

She passed away at the age of 35 on Saturday, with her husband Darryl (pictured together) by her side at Port Pirie Hospital, South Australia

Mrs Monaghan's family released a touching statement reflecting on the legacy they hoped her powerful life would leave behind, the Advertiser reported.

'Kylie was proud to be the face of the Be the Bill campaign and she was clear that the right to die with dignity was a legacy she wanted to leave behind,' it said.

'In her final days, Kylie reiterated her wish for South Australian politicians to vote in favour of voluntary euthanasia laws. While Kylie knew the laws would not assist her, she remained determined to help others.'

In an upcoming report on 60 Minutes hosted by Liz Hayes, Mrs Monaghan tearfully admitted she was no longer fighting for her own life, but for those of other terminally people.

After her diagnosis with stage-three breast cancer in 2010 at the age of 29, Mrs Monaghan focused on living well for as long as possible.

But as the years went by the cancer spread to her liver, bones, and eventually, brain.

Mrs Monaghan was the face of the Be the Bill - a social campaign to have Australia's euthanasia laws changed and allow seriously ill people to choose to end their lives

'I need you to make this law happen': Mrs Monaghan was passionate about leaving behind a legacy that would give others in her position power to choose how to die

To make the most of her remaining time she set herself goals such as marrying her partner Daryll and buying a new motorobike.

Before Mrs Monaghan was diagnosed with cancer she lived a hardworking but fulfilling life in her hometown of Port Pirie, South Australia.

A voluntary euthanasia bill is currently before South Australia's Parliament and Mrs Monaghan hopes politicians will vote to pass it.

'I need you to make this law happen,' Ms Monaghan said.

'I know you might need to amend the bill to get it through, but I'm counting on you to do the right thing.'

Ms Monaghan became the face of the Be The Bill campaign and lent her name to a draft of the legislation.

'I'm going to send my version to every South Australian politician so they won't just debate a bill about some person that doesn't exist,' she said.

'Instead they'll debate me and my life and my choices.'
Kate McKinnon's Hillary Clinton has perhaps captured the feelings of the real Democratic nominee during the opening segment of Saturday Night Live.

During the opening skit, McKinnon's portrayal appeared for the first time partying and dancing inside her campaign headquarters.

But once the music was turned down, Clinton was asked about the controversial hot mic recording of Donald Trump that emerged on Friday.

Kate McKinnon's Hillary Clinton (pictured) has perhaps captured the feelings of the real life Democratic nominee during the opening segment of Saturday Night Live

McKinnon's Clinton was drinking a bottle of champagne during the skit, which was focused on Donald Trump's shocking hot mic comments

'It's a very sad day for our country and all women, minus one,' she said with a wink.

'It was incredibly disturbing, and when I heard it I was deeply, deeply saddened. It made me feel just very horrible and depressed,' McKinnon said, as she held back laughter.

When she was then asked by Cecily Strong, who was playing a CNN anchor in the skit, whether Trump should drop out, 'Clinton' quickly replied: 'No, no, no... give him a shot!'

She then appeared to down a bottle of champagne as the party got back underway.

'It was incredibly disturbing, and when I heard it I was deeply, deeply saddened. It made me feel just very horrible and depressed,' McKinnon said, as she held back laughter

'It's a very sad day for our country and all women, minus one,' she said with a wink

Earlier in the segment, Alec Baldwin again took the stage as Donald Trump - a performance he debuted last week to rave reviews.

Are you not entertained?' he said to begin Saturday's appearance, before offering an explanation for his latest shocking comments.

'I was trying to look cool. What normal red blooded American doesnt want to impress the Billy Bush.

'But you had to admit its kind of funny the only bush that matters in this election in Billy.'

Baldwin's Trump then justified his remarks by saying they were made, '11 years ago... back when I was a young, childish 59-year-old man.'

Strong's anchor then asked 'Trump' about a trio of the high profile Republicans who have called on the Donald to drop out of the race - John McCain, Carly Fiorina, and Idaho Senator Mike Crapo.

Alec Baldwin again took the stage as Donald Trump on Saturday night - after his debut performance last week drew rave reviews

Are you not entertained?' he said to begin Saturday's appearance, before offering an explanation for his latest shocking comments

'Coward', 'she's a four', and, 'more like crapo', Baldwin's Trump said, before saying all that mattered was the continued support of running mate Mike Pence.

However, when he was informed Pence too had criticized his comments, 'Trump' torn into his running mate.

'Mike Pence is a loser. I hate his guts, I call him puny pence,' Baldwin's portrayal spat.

He was then asked what he would say to women listening to the press conference, which led to this memorable response.

'Listen, women, if you give me a chance I promise I can do a whole lot more than just grab it. I can also bop it, twist it and pull it.'

Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon also appeared on the show, playing the role of 'soccer moms' from Pennsylvania.

Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon also appeared on the show, playing the role of 'soccer moms' from Pennsylvania

Fey and Fallon took turns mocking both presidential candidates in the skit, with Fey saying Trump, 'looks like someone opened a quesadilla to pick the chicken out'

The comedy stars took turns skewering the candidates, with Fey firing at Trump: 'He looks like someone opened a quesadilla to pick the chicken out.'

Fallon then said of the Democrats candidate: 'Clinton lied about her emails, lied about Benghazi and she pretended to be surprised on Steve Harvey.'

Fey then turned her attention to Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence.

Secretly, the biggest jackass is Mike Pence. He seems normal because hes next to Donald Trump, but hes really Biff from Back to the Future,' she said.

Also, its 2016, what old white man thinks hes still in charge of gays and women?

The Trump ski was based on a a 2005 clip where Trump talks about trying to have sex with a married woman and how he 'can do whatever he wants' to women because he's a star, just months after marrying Melania.

'You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful -- I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait,' he boasts.

'And when you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the p---y. You can do anything.'

The Republican nominee then bragging about trying to seduce married woman Nancy O'Dell.

'I moved on her and I failed. I'll admit it. I did try and f*** her. She was married', Trump said in the recording.
On the night of Halloween in 1992, millions tuned in to see what many thought was a live documentary about the paranormal. Presented by chat show national treasure Michael Parkinson, along with Craig Charles, Sarah Greene and her husband Mike Smith, Ghostwatch (Parikinson, Greene and Smith shown left) centred on single mother Pam Early and her two daughters (top right) as they were tormented by a poltergeist. Presenting 'live' from a studio, Parkinson liaised with Greene, who was based in the Earlys' home in Northolt, north-west London, as Charles spoke to 'neighbours' outside about the affected house's violent history. The cameras that had been set up in the home then quickly picked up what appeared to be real evidence of the activity of poltergeist 'Mr Pipes', including the moment when Mrs Early's daughters Suzanne and Kim screamed in terror (bottom right) as objects flew around their bedroom and their lamp bulb smashed. In reality, the show had been planned months in advance and had been filmed in July of 1992 - but that did not stop many viewers going into a panic as the supernatural suddenly seemed very real. Both the BBC and the police received a flurry of calls, with the broadcaster getting so many that its lines became jammed. The BBC was ultimately also bombarded with complaints. As many as three women are said to have gone into premature labour as a result of the stress invoked by what she saw.
Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani has blasted Republicans for backing away from Donald Trump, as some GOP members maintained their support for the embattled candidate.

Giuliani and other members of Trump's team - including Governor Chris Christie and Kellyanne Conway - spent Saturday holed up inside Trump Tower preparing for Sunday's second presidential debate.

The former mayor dismissed calls for Trump to drop out of the race when he emerged from the Manhattan skyscraper, describing it as: 'wishful thinking of the Clinton campaign and those people who have opposed him for a long time'.

Donald Trump still has the support of some of his key political backers, despite dozens of Republicans calling for him to drop out of the race

'They largely didn't support him in the first place, so it is not so much of a surprise,' Giuliani told CNN.

'You look at it, they were all Republicans who all opposed him and didn't support him in the past and this is basically the insiders against the outsiders anyway.

'Donald Trump is the populist candidate. Most of the people that have turned on him are members of the establishment, so I would see this as if you want change in Washington, you vote for Donald Trump. If you want things the same, you vote for Hillary Clinton.'

Running mate Mike Pence also vowed to stick by the troubled candidate on Saturday, despite saying Trump's comments in a recording from 2005 that emerged on Friday cannot be defended.

Rudy Giuliani said it is 'wishful thinking' to expect Donald Trump to drop out of the presidential race

'Donald Trump is the populist candidate. Most of the people that have turned on him are members of the establishment,' Giuliani said

One-time presidential hopeful Ben Carson, who has since become one of Trump's fiercest surrogates, defended the nominee and suggested the information was released as part of a conspiracy against the candidate.

'(Progressives) do not want to discuss the vital issues that are destroying our nation and the future of our children, because they do not have logical solutions and offer more of the same that has gotten us into this precarious situation,' Carson wrote.

'Those of us who do not want to see America fundamentally devolve into something worse must be wise enough to recognize the scheme that is being played out here.

Governor Chris Christie is seen arriving at Trump Tower in Manhattan on Saturday to help Donald Trump with debate preparations

Kellyanne Conway, campaign manager for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, arrives at Trump Tower

Ben Carson defended Trump and suggested the information was released as part of a conspiracy against the candidate

'The political elites and their loyal media are desperate because they are seeing the large enthusiastic crowds for Donald Trump and the meager crowds for Hillary Clinton, and they know that there will be a huge enthusiasm gap on election day.'

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy was one of the GOP members to commit to still voting for Trump, but also said the nominee must make a 'full and unqualified apology'.

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise called on Trump to make 'a direct apology', but is still backing him for president.

Mike Pence (right) said Trump's comment cannot be defended, while Bob Dole (left) said he still backs the Donald

Wyoming Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis says she will 'hold her nose' and vote for Donald Trump

Wyoming Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis told CNN she will 'hold her nose' and vote for Trump, while former presidential nominee Bob Dole told the Wall Street Journal he still backs the Donald.

'It was 11 years ago. He shouldnt have said it, but theres nothing he can do about it,' Dole told the Journal.

In addition to his political team, Trump was also backed by two of his biggest donors.

The Washington Post reports Robert and Rebekah Mercer will continue to throw their considerable financial weight behind Trump.

Rebecca (left) and Robert Mercer, who fund a pro-Trump super PAC, are still supporting Donald Trump

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy was one of the GOP members to commit to still voting for Trump

WHO ARE THE REPUBLICANS STILL SUPPORTING DONALD TRUMP? Fact-box text Running mate Mike Pence Governor Chris Christie GOP mega-donors Rebecca and Robert Mercer Former presidential candidate Bob Dole Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy House Majority Whip Steve Scalise Wyoming Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis Beaten 2016 Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson Advertisement

'Donald Trump's uncensored comments, both old and new, have been echoed and dissected in the media repeatedly in an effort to kindle among his supporters a conflagration of outrage commensurate with the media's own faux outrage,' a statement given to the newspaper read.

'Can anyone really be surprised that Mr. Trump could have said to Mr. Bush such things as he has already admitted saying? No. We are completely indifferent to Mr. Trump's locker room braggadocio.'

The Mercers are major Republican donors and fund a super PAC that supports Trump.

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise called on Trump to make 'a direct apology', but is still backing him for president

Pence released a statement on Saturday saying: 'As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump'

It comes after Trump is again vowing to continue his campaign even though he says the "media and establishment want me out of the race so badly."

Trump vowed in capital letters on Twitter Saturday to "never drop of out the race." He also pledged to "never let my supporters down."

Many Republicans have called for Trump to abandon his campaign in the wake of the release of a 2005 video in which he makes lewd remarks about women and appears to condone sexual assault.
It's hard not to take your frustrations out on others when you've 'had a bad day' as Bill Clinton put it after protesters interrupted his event on Saturday.

Clinton was in Milwaukee discussing climate change when Donald Trump protesters shouted: 'Bill Clinton is a rapist!'

The former president told his supporters to give Trump's protesters a hand as they were removed from the event, CBS News reported.

'Don't worry about it. Thank you,' he said.

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Bill Clinton was in Milwaukee discussing climate change when Donald Trump protesters shouted: 'Bill Clinton is a rapist!' Clinton brushed them off telling his audience that 'they had a bad day yesterday'

He went on to say: 'You gotta feel sorry for them, they had a bad day yesterday, so they're trying to make it up.'

His remarks were an indirect reference to the release of Trump's recording.

Clinton told his audience that the problem with politics is that 'when other people pour poison down your throat, don't drink it'.

In a video statement, Trump apologized for the remarks he made in 2005.

But he also took a jab at Clinton, saying: 'Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims.

'We will discuss this more in the coming days.'

Not long after those remarks, did Trump share rape allegations against Clinton on Twitter when he retweeted two comments from Clinton's accuser Juanita Broaddrick.

Clinton went on to say: 'You gotta feel sorry for them, they had a bad day yesterday, so they're trying to make it up.' His remarks were an indirect reference to the release of Trump's 2005 recording

Despite the fact his own campaign has been pushed to the brink by the recording from 2005 in which he brags about groping women without their consent and details how he tried to seduce a married woman, Trump was back on Twitter to share the posts.

The first post from Broaddrick read: 'How many times must it be said? Actions speak louder than words. DT said bad things! HRC threatened me after BC raped me.'

Trump followed the first retweet moments later by sharing a second comment from Broaddrick.

'Hillary calls Trump's remarks "horrific" while she lives with and protects a "Rapist". Her actions are horrific,' it read.
Journalist Talitha Cummins was just four months sober when she accidentally told the world of her struggle with alcoholism by posting a private blog on her public Facebook page.

Cummins said she wasn't ready yet for everyone to know about her secret but her unintentional slip was the best thing she's ever done.

'It was around the time when you didn't look at Facebook every two minutes on your phone, you had to log onto a computer and when I checked that it was also public on my page I saw the responses had just blown up. People were really supportive,' she told The Sun-Herald.

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Sydney-based journalist Talitha Cummins accidentally told the world of her struggle with alcoholism by posting a private blog on her public Facebook page four years ago

The 36-year-old, who started drinking at 14, has been sober for four years and gave birth to her son, Oliver, in August

The Sydney-based journalist said her ousting pushed her to work harder to remain sober.

This week - four years later - the new mum opened up further about her addiction to alcohol, her daily battle to avoid drinking and how her life has improved.

Cummins, who gave birth to her first child in August, a baby boy named Oliver Paul Lucas, described herself as the modern face of alcoholism - young, professional, educated and high-functioning.

But it has been a long road to recovery for the 36-year-old newsreader, originally from the Gold Coast, who delivers the morning headlines on the Seven Network's Weekend Sunrise.

Cummins started binge drink when she was 14 years old and shares her story of alcoholism on Monday night's Australian Story on the ABC.

Cummins, a newsreader for the Seven Network, said she was only four months sober and wasn't ready for everyone to know about her alcoholism but her unintentional slip pushed her to stay sober

At the height of her alcoholism, she would consume up to four bottles of wine a night.

As soon as Cummins had one drink, she said it would unleash an 'unstoppable need' for more and more.

'I've done things that I'm not proud of and I've done things that I probably won't ever remember,' the newsreader said.

'I went to the media awards in Brisbane all dressed up in a formal dress and proceeded to drink myself into oblivion. I was told I was carried into a car to be sent home.'

Cummins also recalls the moment she ended up in hospital because of her drinking.

'Holding it all together was becoming a really hard act. I ended up in hospital on a weekend and got my stomach pumped,' she said.

'Trying to pretend everything was normal was no longer sustainable.'

Fellow newsreader and friend Chris Bath said Cummins' colleagues did not notice she had a problem.

'Television is this bright, shiny, fabulous facade. When you're a news presenter you put on a mask most of the time. Talitha fooled everyone,' Bath said.

Fellow newsreader and friend Chris Bath (pictured) told Australian Story 'the threat of losing her job made [Cummins] sober up'

On top of drinking, Cummins was fighting serious depression, and had overdosed and had to be rescued by a friend.

When her boss at Channel Seven confronted her, the newsreader finally found the strength to take action.

Bath told Australian Story 'the threat of losing her job made [Cummins] sober up'.

Cummins signed up for Alcoholics Anonymous and the online help site Hello Sunday Morning.
A man dressed as a clown has been charged after he allegedly chased a group of teenage girls to a police station in the latest stunt sweeping the country.

The 19-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly terrorised the group near a shopping centre on Fitzgerald Street, north-east of Perth, on Saturday night.

Just moments later, the prankster allegedly ran after the girls for about 700 metres to the Northan Police Station on Gairdner.

As officers opened the front door, the man in question then attempted to fled the scene but he was apprehended a short distance down the road.

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The 19-year-old man (left) was arrested after he allegedly chased a group of teenage girls

The costume seized by police after the young man allegedly terrorised teens on Saturday

He has been charged with disorderly behaviour and possession of a disguise, which is only unlawful if it is used to conceal a person's identity while committing an offence.

He was summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

The arrest comes on the heels of several clown sightings that has emerged in Australia in recent weeks.

In a separate incident, a driver reported hitting a pedestrian wearing a clown costume on Tonkin Highway in Champion Lakes, Perth, about 12.30am on Sunday.

However, the person ran into nearby bushland and could not be found despite a search by the airwing and canine units.

A police spokesman said other incidents involving clowns were reported overnight but none were found when officers visited the areas.

'It is important to remember that dressing as a clown isn't against the law, however should a person engage in activity that is criminal, anti-social or threatening towards other people, police will investigate,' he said.

Footage has emerged of clowns terrorising drivers across Australia (pictured left of a clown striking the bonnet of a car with a machete in Queensland and right in Campbelltown, NSW)

A masked prankster was reportedly seen spooking a drive-through restaurant worker in NSW

Several clown sightings have been petrifying people across Australia in recent weeks

The clown craze began with reports of clowns trying to lure children into woods in the US state of South Carolina, which led to clown groups sprouting across America and mass clown hunts in other areas.

The spooky fad spread to Australia recently, with police in Victoria and South Australia among those issuing warnings against them.

There are Facebook pages dedicated to the trend in Western Australia, including Perth Clown Watch and Brisbane- The Clowns Are Coming
Indonesia's only transgender boarding school has been forced to close by Muslim hardliners.

Al Fatah, which claimed to be the world's only Islamic boarding school for transgender students, was long regarded as a symbol of the tolerant brand of Islam widely practised in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country.

But several months ago, amid a sudden backlash against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, a local hardline group called Islamic Jihad Front forced the school to close.

Despite the risk of retaliation, a small group of former students continue to quietly gather at the school building in the city of Yogyakarta every week to pray and study Islam.

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The headmistress of the boarding school, Shinta Ratri, speaks at her school in Yogyakarta

Participants take part in a meeting of a study group at the boarding school in Indonesia's only Islamic transgender boarding school

Islamic cleric Arif Nuh Safri leads a prayer session at the boarding school

The headmistress, Shinta Ratri, said: 'We want to prove that Islam accepts transgenders, that Islam is a blessing for all mankind'.

The closing of the school, which was founded in 2008, was one of the most visible signs of an alarming wave of intolerance sweeping across Yogyakarta - the country's cultural heartland which had long been regarded as an open-minded, accepting city.

In recent times Islamic hardliners have halted a festival focusing on women's issues and have targeted the Christian minority, seeking to close down churches and stop their community work.

Local police have sometimes been accused of standing back and letting hardliners carry out acts of intolerance, or even of working with them to do so.

'Unfortunately in recent years, intolerant groups have been imposing their rigid beliefs on people,' said Agnes Dwi Rusjiyati, the local coordinator of activist group Bhinneka Tunggal Ika National Alliance.

Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, Indonesia's national motto, means 'Unity in Diversity', and is intended to show that the vast archipelago takes strength from the myriad different ethnic, cultural and religious groups living within its borders.

School headmistress Shinta Ratri (centre) leads a study group

But there has been a growing pushback against this long-cherished belief.

Muslim hardliners have recently teamed up with local authorities, tarnishing Indonesia's image as a bastion of moderate Islam

Observers say the trend in Yogyakarta is an acute example of creeping conservatism across the country, that has targeted everything from the gay community, to drinking alcohol and pornography.

The Indonesian constitution officially recognises six different religions. Most of its 255 million inhabitants practise a moderate form of Islam, often infused with influences from local ethnic groups, and no one believes the country is likely to be transformed into a state ruled by sharia law.

But critics say the influence of fringe hardline groups, and the authorities' unwillingness to tackle them for fear of being labelled anti-Islamic, has fuelled a dangerous increase in intolerance.

The targeting of the transgender community around Yogyakarta, who were previously allowed, by and large, to quietly get on with their lives, stands out as an example of this disturbing trend.

The Al Fatah school, sitting in a labyrinth of alleyways in the historic Kotagede district of Yogyakarta, is a converted house with a main room that has been turned into a place for praying and reciting the Koran.

Daily activities as they are carried out at the school

As well as forcing the boarding school to close, hardliners have halted a festival focusing on women's issues and Catholic churches have been ordered to stop work in the community

Three preachers continue to teach about a dozen out of the 42 former students who head there every week since its closure in February.

'It's so difficult for these transgenders to pray in the mosque because of the stigma,' Arif Nuh Safri, a 32-year-old preacher, told AFP.

'So when I came to this school the first thing I told them is they have the right to pray, because they are part of God's creation.'

Prior to the closure there had been little sign of resistance to the school in the surrounding area.

'They want to learn to recite the Koran, they want to be good people, and that's better than drinking,' said one neighbour, Aris Sutanto.

But Abdurahman, the leader of Islamic Jihad Front, was unapologetic.

'We can't be tolerant towards something that is bad,' he said, adding that the hardliners always coordinated with police before taking actions against activities they considered immoral.

Prayer session at the Islamic boarding school in Yogyakarta

partiicpants of a study group during a prayer session at the school

Police insisted Yogyakarta was still a tolerant city and said they had only taken action against events when there were objections from people in local neighbourhoods.

Cases of intolerance have escalated in Yogyakarta since 2011, when hardliners began targeting churches. But there has been a sharp increase in recent times as Islamic groups have grown bolder.

In an alarming episode in April, Islamic hardliners and police together allegedly stopped a women's arts festival from going ahead, with organisers claiming they were verbally harassed and some attendees briefly detained by authorities.

The trend has sparked concern among the large community of local artists, who have expressed their frustration in graffiti that questions whether Yogyakarta is still an accepting place, such as: 'City of tolerance?'.

Ahmad Suaedy, a researcher on Islam appointed by the government as an ombudsman on religious and cultural issues, said the authorities' failure to stop acts of intolerance was causing minorities to suffer.

'This is a political strategy of politicians so they can be seen as taking the middle ground,' he said. 'But it is at the expense of minority groups.'

Abdurrahman, from local hardline group Islamic Jihad Front, the group that is leading the crackdown on Shinta Ratri's Islamic boarding school

Yogyakarta, the countrys cultural heartland and a major draw for tourists, has been rocked by a wave of intolerance in recent months
Disaster again struck for Jamie Whincup as Holden's Will Davison claimed his second Bathurst 1000.

Four-time champion Whincup crossed the line first but he had already been hit with a 15 second post-race penalty for a controversial incident with 11 laps left, relegating him to 11th on the timesheets at Mount Panorama, New South Wales.

His livid team have protested the penalty, with the decision expected to be heard early next week.

If the protest - which costed $10,000 to lodge - is upheld, Whincup will become the winner, according to Stuff.co.nz.

However, Whincup's move set up a final dog fight for the Great Race between 2009 winner Davison and Kiwi Shanevan Gisbergen.

And it didn't disappoint.

Will Davison and Jonathan Webb of Tekno Autosports celebrate winning the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000

Jamie Whincup drives the #88 Red Bull Racing Australia Holden Commodore VF during the Bathurst 1000

Bathurst 1000 auto girls take a lap around the track

The masses gathered to watch the racing on Sunday

Andre Heimgartner drives the #4 Plus Fitness Racing Holden during the race

Trying to conserve fuel, Davison somehow held out a fast finishing van Gisbergen by 0.14 of a second - the closest competitive finish in the race's 56 year history.

Holden's Nick Percat was third.

'It ran out of fuel as I crossed the finish line,' Davison said.

'I can't believe the way it panned out.'

Neither could Whincup.

He copped the time penalty after trying to snatch second spot from Volvo's Scott McLaughlin on lap 150.

He tried to overtake on the inside of McLaughlin at The Chase, forcing the Volvo driver off the track.

McLaughlin weaved back onto the track, spectacularly crashing with Holden's Garth Tander prompting yet another safety car.

A general view as the field rounds turn one at the start of the Bathurst 1000 with spectators watching on

Bathurst winners Will Davison and Jonathan Webb with child Judd Webb

Team drivers are paraded around the track before the start of the race

More than 200,000 motorsport fans flocked to Bathurst for the highlight of Australia's racing calendar - a weekend full of partying, glamour and, of course, petrol

im Slade drives the #14 Freightliner Racing Holden Commodore VF during the Bathurst 1000

Drinking appeared to be almost as popular as the racing for many spectators

Many of those at the racing were also dressed up in theme

'Whincup started all that,' said Tander, whose Holden was written off by the incident.

'Jamie was being pretty desperate, it's not on.'

Six-time Bathurst winner Whincup was apologetic.

'I don't know what to say. I feel sorry about that,' he said.

'I will apologise but I felt the move was on.'

Whincup was looking for a reversal of fortunes after his last two disastrous Bathurst campaigns.

Last year he sensationally ignored team orders to pit before passing a safety car, relegating him from second to 18th.

And in 2014 the Holden gun also defied a team directive and ran out of fuel on the 161st and final lap while leading.

Competitors corner on their way up Mount Panorama

As usual, there were no shortage of hard luck stories.

In the end, eight of the 27 cars failed to finish, prompting six safety cars.

The biggest name scalp was Ford's Mark Winterbottom whose Supercars title defence appears in tatters after his brakes failed on lap 135.

There was also no luck for sentimental favourite and defending champion Craig Lowndes.

The Holden veteran had hoped to claim a seventh Bathurst to honour Peter Brock on the 10th anniversary of his mentor's death.

He finished fourth last after his campaign was sabotaged by early gear issues.

Female driver Simona de Silvestre - who will compete in the Supercars full-time next year - finished 14th.

Brock's anniversary attracted a four day attendance of 204,512 - the second biggest Bathurst 1000 crowd.

Bathurst champions of the last decade honoured Brock in a pre-race parade driving some of the late great's most famous race cars.

The crowd also gave a standing ovation on lap five, honouring Brock's famous 05 racing number.

Some tower builders wrapped theirs around a power pole

One very dedicated racing fan had patches completely covering his jacket

The four-day festival brought out some zany costumes by day three as Bathurst 1000 fans waited for the big race
A Palestinian with a history of violence murdered two people in a drive-by shooting rampage in Jerusalem before he was killed in a gun fight with police.

The 39-year-old attacker had been due to report to prison for assaulting an officer when he drove towards a train station near the Israeli police headquarters and opened fire.

He seriously wounded a 60-year-old woman waiting at the station before shooting another woman sitting in her car and speeding off towards an Arab neighborhood in east Jerusalem.

Police officers on motorcycles chased the assailant, who eventually stepped out of his vehicle and opened fire at them. A 30-year-old police officer was critically wounded in the shootout.

A separate police force ultimately shot and killed the attacker, who was identified as a man from the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan.

A Palestinian with a history of violence murdered two people in a drive-by shooting rampage in Jerusalem before he was killed in a gun fight with police. Israeli police are pictured at the scene of the attacker's death

Israeli media reported the man had previously served multiple sentences for violent acts and was due to report to prison Sunday for another sentence over assaulting a police officer.

Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service said it treated seven people for various gunshot injuries, two of whom later died of their wounds.

Police cordoned off the area of the shooting and briefly shut down traffic on the light rail.

The attack was an unusual one in the year-long spate of Palestinian assaults since most have been stabbings.

Sunday's was the deadliest attack on Israelis since June 8, when two Palestinians opened fire and killed four people at a popular Tel Aviv food market.

Israeli police secures the scene where a car driven by a Palestinian gunman was intercepted by the police and gunman shot dead in Jerusalem

Police officers on motorcycles chased the assailant, who eventually stepped out of his vehicle and opened fire at them. A 30-year-old police officer was critically wounded in the shootout

The Palestinian attacks began around last year's Jewish high holidays and have since killed 36 Israelis and two visiting Americans.

About 219 Palestinians have been killed during that period, with Israel saying the vast majority of them were attackers.

Israel has warned that the potential for violence could rise as the Jewish high holidays approach once again and has beefed up its security presence.

There has been a recent surge in Palestinian attacks that shattered weeks of relative calm and raised fears of a return to the near-daily attacks seen previously.

Israel has blamed the violence on incitement by Palestinian political and religious leaders, compounded on social media sites. The Palestinians say it is rooted in some 50 years of military occupation and dwindling hopes for independence.

Israeli media reported the man had previously served multiple sentences for violent acts and was due to report to prison Sunday for another sentence over assaulting a police officer

Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Gaza's Islamic Hamas leaders, welcomed the attack in a statement saying it was 'a natural response.' Hamas stopped short of taking responsibility for the attack but identified the assailant as one of its members.

Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan said there were no specific warnings of an attack ahead of time and the quick response of security forces on the scene prevented a deadlier result.

He repeated his previous criticism of social media sites that allow militants to spread their messages of incitement.
Ben Needham's body may today be returned to the Greek farmhouse where the missing toddler was last seen alive in what police dubbed an 'eerie' prospect.

The 21-month-old is feared to have been accidentally run over by a digger driver in Kos on 24 July 1991 before being dumped a day later on a nearby illegal tip site.

Police have spent the past two weeks excavating the surrounding land and rubble is now being transported back to the farmhouse to be examined in a 'sterile' area.

'It may well be that Ben's remains or something linking us to his disappearance may be going back to the place where he was last seen alive,' a South Yorkshire Police spokesperson told MailOnline.

Ben Needham's body may today be returned to the Greek farmhouse where the missing toddler was last seen alive, pictured is a lorry transporting rubble from the Kos search site

The 21-month-old (pictured) is feared to have been accidentally run over by a digger driver in Kos on 24 July 1991 before being dumped a day later on a nearby illegal tip site

Investigators have spent the past two weeks excavating the surrounding land and rubble is now being transported back to the farmhouse to be forensically examined in a 'sterile' area

On the day Ben disappeared, he had been happily playing outside his grandparents farmhouse in Kos (pictured) while parts were being renovated

'It is an eerie thought but a possibility.'

A flatbed lorry is being used to transport the broken chunks of earth uphill to the farmhouse in Iraklis where Ben, then aged 21 months, vanished.

Police say top material from the site 'can't be ruled out' despite being much more recent.

A spokesman revealed: 'The reason we're trucking it up to the farmhouse along with excavated deposits to come is simply because we have a sterile forensic site up there.

'We had a reliable tip Ben's remains could be buried at the tip. If Ben's there we will find him.

'If that happens it will at least after all these years give some closure to his devastated family.'

The Mercedes lorry, with a white cab and blue tipper, has made numerous trips between the search site and the farmhouse today

A JCB digger - similar to the one Konstantinos 'Dino' Barkas was using when he is suspected of accidentally killing Ben - is also being used in the search

Detectives searching for missing toddler Ben Needham on the Greek island of Kos have found '60 items of interest' in the farmland near where he was last seen alive, pictured on Sunday

Officers have started digging up a second search area around half a mile from the farmhouse in Iraklis where Ben, then aged 21 months, vanished in 1991

Detective Inspector Jon Cousins told reporters: 'Our main priority is to clear the concrete rubble and lift the land on the tip site then transport it back to the farmhouse half a mile away.'

This emerged shortly after police revealed they have found '60 items of interest' in the search for the Sheffield toddler.

The exhibits, including fragments of fabric and plastic, will be sent back to the UK for further testing and analysis when the team returns home.

DI Cousins said: 'While they are not of major interest we need to examine them further and we will return them to the UK.

'At this stage we cannot detail what they are.'

The items are being 'kept securely at a secret location' until they are whisked to Britain on Friday, the officer said.

Police have extended their hunt for Ben by an three extra days to give his mum Kerry Needham 'the answers she needs'.

They brought a huge JCB digger to work at the site - similar to the one Konstantinos 'Dino' Barkas was using when he is suspected of accidentally killing Ben.

It is the first time in 25 years that such a massive excavator has returned to the scene.

The exhibits will be sent back to the UK for further testing and analysis when the team returns home, Detective Inspector Jon Cousins announced on Sunday

A member of the Greek rescue services examines a piece of fabric after sifting through excavated soil at the search site of missing toddler Ben Needham

In an attempt to recreate the action which may have sealed Ben's fate, officers showed MailOnline how it works.

DI Cousins said: 'The cab is so high and so much dust created whilst loading and unloading that the driver's line of vision almost disappears.

The inference, he said, is that Ben's suspect killer, who is now deceased, may never have realised he had knocked over and crushed the pint-sized child.

On the day Ben disappeared, he had been happily playing outside his grandparents farmhouse while parts were being renovated.

The latest update came 10 days after the search was thrown into chaos when investigators stumbled upon a 2,000-year-old burial site.

Five 'undisturbed' tombs were uncovered along with pottery which is believed to date back to the Roman period.

Police are investigating claims Ben may have been accidentally run over by a digger driver 25 years ago

Soil from the second site is due to be transported back to the farmhouse area later today to be forensically examined in a 'sterile' area

Eddie Needham (left) with DI Jon Cousins of South Yorkshire Police (second left) and other officers in Kos on Wednesday

This discovery prompted landowner Stefanos Troumouhis to call for an end to the search.

But police were allowed to continue after seeking permission from the Greek authorities.

They decided to extend the search area after a number of new witnesses came forward.

Locals have given detectives new information about where the suspect, the deceased Konstantinos 'Dino' Barkas, is thought to have buried 21-month-old Ben on the island of Kos.

Officers for South Yorkshire Police working in Greece were told by a passing motorcyclist of another location to search.

Stefanos Troumouhis (in pink) is the owner of the olive grove where the investigation is taking place in Kos

Eddie Needham (second left) explains his work at the building site in 1991 to DI Jon Cousins of South Yorkshire Police (left) and other officers

DI Cousins said the dig will now continue until the end of the week.

He updated Ben's mother Kerry on Friday and told reporters: 'I have to know that when I leave Kos, I can tell the family that we've done everything we can to find out what happened to Ben.'

Ben's grandfather returned to Kos last week amid fears he may have accidentally laid building foundations over the site where his grandson is believed to have been crushed to death and buried.

Eddie Needham, 68, is assisting investigators as they probe whether the toddler was killed by a digger in an accident at the building site 25 years ago.

Eddie's need to support his family meant he went back to work two weeks after Ben vanished.

Eddie Needham (left) is shown around the soil examination process by an officer in Kos

Forensics officers work at the rear of the farmhouse where Ben Needham disappeared from, on the ground where an extension was recently demolished

'If he was buried there he has been buried there on purpose,' Eddie told the Mirror.

'I can't believe anybody would bury a baby. Nobody would be that evil. But I believe that we have been spun a spider web of lies all these years,' he said.

The farmhouse in Kos is close to the house where Ben's family were staying.

South Yorkshire Police, who are carrying out a new 1million inquiry to solve the mystery, have told mother Kerry Needham to 'prepare for the worst'.

Mr Barkas was questioned at the time Ben went missing but he died from cancer last year. The new witness has been questioned by South Yorkshire Police.

The digger's son Valandis has insisted his father had done all he could to help police with their inquiries when the 21-month-old went missing and 'wouldn't harm an ant, let alone a little child'.

The youngster vanished on July 24, 1991, when Miss Needham, who was 19 at the time, left him with her parents Eddie and Christine Needham who had emigrated to Kos  while she worked at a local hotel.

The farmhouse extension has been demolished in the search at the site believed to be where missing toddler Ben Needham could have been crushed to death by a digger

A new witness has claimed that 'Dino Barkas (pictured), who died of cancer last year, may have killed him in an accident with his JCB digger

Ben Needham disappeared from a farmhouse on a Greek Island of Kos in 1991 whilst on holiday with his parents. Grandfather Eddie Needham (left) is pictured here at the time with mother Kerry Needham and grandmother Christine Needham.

Photographs have emerged showing the inside of the house where Ben was last seen, which have remained virtually untouched since Ben Needham's last tragic holiday in 1991

Police are also focusing on a fig tree after photographs revealed it was not present when the Sheffield toddler disappeared on the Greek Island 25 years ago

Ben wandered off at around 2.30pm but police were not contacted for at least three hours because the grandparents thought he must have gone with Kerry's 17-year-old brother Stephen.

Kerry Needham said last month she was angry that the new witness had kept quiet for so long, adding: 'He could have ended this 25 years ago.

'I could have done something with my life instead of having my life on hold and not being able to do anything or focus on anything and living this nightmare.

'I could have probably forgiven that person back then but now, no. It's 25 years of misery to find out this ending. It's going to be difficult.'

Miss Needham and her family are now steeling themselves for the possibility that police will finally solve the mystery and find Ben's remains.

On Tuesday, police started demolishing a wing of the farmhouse owned by a family who now live in Australia, which had not been built at the time the 21-month-old toddler vanished in 1991.

Police will mpw excavate the area underneath the house in the village of Iraklis.

DI Cousins said the family were 'clearly upset' but have agreed for the property to be torn apart in the hope it might provide answers for the Needhams.

Eddie Needham is returning to this farmhouse to see if the foundations are the same ones he laid in 1991

Police searching for Ben Needham have stumbled upon a 1,500-year-old burial site in the grounds of the Greek farmhouse where he vanished, pictured is where the bodies were found

Investigators are pictured digging behind the farmhouse where missing toddler Ben Needham was last seen alive (pictured)
Four French police officers were set on fire after masked thugs pelted their two cars with petrol bombs during a patrol on a notorious housing estate near Paris.

The horrifying attack took place on the Grande Borne, in the southern Paris suburb of Viry-Chatillon, on Saturday afternoon.

'The cars were parked up on the estate as a part of a surveillance patrol monitoring a surveillance camera near a set of traffic lights' said a police source, who said the violence started just before 3pm.

Four French police officers were set on fire after masked thugs pelted their two cars with petrol bombs during a patrol on a notorious housing estate near Paris. Investigators are pictured at the scene

The horrifying attack took place on the Grande Borne, in the southern Paris suburb of Viry-Chatillon, on Saturday afternoon

'They were attacked from all sides. Assailants in a group of around a dozen threw Molotov cocktails at the car.

'Two of the officers were very badly burned and rushed to intensive care units. Two others received hospital treatment.

'The other officers hurt managed to call reinforcements who turned up to secure the area.'

The surveillance cameras pointed towards a stretch of road where a lot of robberies have taken place in recent months, said the source.

The attack comes during a State of Emergency put in place across France last year following a series of terrorist attacks by ISIS.

Protests against the government over employment reform has also seen a series of savage attacks on police officers, including their patrol cars being set on fire.

Protests against the government over employment reform has also seen a series of savage attacks on police officers, including their patrol cars being set on fire

The latest incident is likely to be linked to the drug gangs who roam the Grande Borne, a housing project that was built in the 1960s and is now officially classed as a 'sensitive security area'

The latest incident is likely to be linked to the drug gangs who roam the Grande Borne, a housing project that was built in the 1960s and is now officially classed as a 'sensitive security area'.

Responding to the violence, President Francois Hollande said: 'Everything will be done to find the perpetrators of this attack and bring them to justice so they receive a sentence in-keeping with the severity of their crime.'

He said the Grande Borne attacked was 'unspeakable and intolerable because it endangered the lives of officers whose job was to protect the population'.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls meanwhile said the attack had been 'extremely serious and very cowardly'.

Mr Hollande said the gang would be 'relentlessly pursued and brought to justice. At a time when the security forces are bravely responding to the(terrorist threats facing our country, such intolerable acts call for exemplary sanctions'.
A woman allegedly had a hijab pulled off in a racist attack in north London, Met Police have said (stock image)

A woman allegedly had a hijab pulled off in a racist attack in north London, Met Police have said.

A probe has been launched by officers following the alleged racially-motivated assault in Haringey.

The victim, a woman in her 20s, was approached from behind by two men as she walked down High Road.

As they crossed the road by The College of Haringey, one of the men is alleged to have pulled down her hijab before both men ran off in the direction of Pelham Road.

The victim was not injured but is said to have been shocked and distressed by the incident.

Detective Constable Ben Cousin said: 'The was a shocking attack in broad daylight in the middle of a busy street.

'Racially and religiously motivated crimes will not be tolerated I would appeal to anyone who witnessed this attack to contact police.'

The first suspect is described as a white man, aged in his late 20s or early 30s, with blond or ginger shaved hair and stubble.

He was approximately 5ft 6inches tall and was wearing a burgundy coloured hooded top and carrying a Tesco bag in his right hand.

The second suspect is described as a man of Mediterranean appearance, aged in his late 20s or early 30s, clean shaven with spiky hair. He was wearing a grey hooded top.
Britain is sending hundreds of troops to Iraq carrying gas masks and nuclear warfare clothing to protect themselves against a 'likely' chemical attack by Islamic State.

The 250 soldiers from 4 Rifles battalion are being deployed today in preparation for a large-scale assault on Mosul, the last major ISIS stronghold in Iraq.

All the soldiers have been given nuclear, chemical and biological clothing after it emerged that ISIS militants targeted US troops with mustard gas last month.

Britain is sending hundreds of troops to Iraq carrying gas masks and nuclear warfare clothing to protect themselves against a 'likely' chemical attack by Islamic State

'The threat of a gas attack is high,' a source told The Sun.

They are heading to one of the most dangerous areas in the country to work alongside the Iraqi Army and train the force's 7th Infantry Division.

The UK force will include a medical unit and specialists from 22 Engineer who will advise on securing bridges on the approaches to Mosul.

They will be on high alert after surveillance maps revealed ISIS commanders have planted booby traps and roadside bombs in preparation for the battle for Mosul.

The 250 soldiers from 4 Rifles battalion are being deployed today in preparation for a large-scale assault on Mosul (pictured), the last major ISIS stronghold in Iraq

The UK force will include a medical unit and specialists from 22 Engineer who will advise on securing bridges on the approaches to Mosul

A further 250 men from the Buford-based battalion are being sent to Erbil to support the Joint Force training of the Kurds, the Express reported.

The major ground and air offensive on Mosul is expected to take place next weekend.

But fears have been raised that the assault on the city, which has a population of around one million people, will spark a humanitarian disaster.

Vali Nasr, a Hopkins University academic and former adviser to the Obama administration, warned the battle will create waves of refugees and instability.

And Bruno Geddo, from the United Nations refugee agency in Iraq, told the Sunday Times, the attack could trigger 'one of the largest man-made disasters' in years.

The body of an Islamic State militant lays on the ground after a repelled attack from the militants by the Iraqi army, outside the town of Qayyarah

The British soldiers are heading to Iraq for a training mission, pictured are troops teaching Kurdish Peshmerga fighters how to use a heavy machine gun in Arbil

Concerns have also been raised about the fate of 2,000 Yazidi girls captured as sex slaves who are being kept in the city.

A dozen Iraqi Army brigades, each of which includes from 800 to 1,600 troops, have been gathering at Qaiyara Airfield West, south of Mosul, ahead of the attack.

The eventual assault into Mosul will be carried out by Iraq's counter-terrorism service.

US bombers and drones have gone on a killing spree of Islamic State leaders in preparation for the battle.

A US military official claimed that 13 Isis leaders in the city had been killed in the past 30 days.
Practice causes the competing dog to prick its ears and straighten its form

Dog showing officials have sparked a bitter row with trainers over plans to ban one of the secret techniques employed during competitions.

The Kennel Club has moved to crack down on the controversial use of 'double handling' due to fears that it leaves dogs feeling stressed.

The technique involves a second trainer, hidden from view, attracting the attention of the performing dog using a whistle or toy to make it look more alert and focused.

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An investigation was launched by officials after a German shepherd with a sloped back called Cruaghaire Catoria (pictured) was named 'best in breed' at Crufts this year

The practice causes the dog to prick its ears and straighten its form and has been used for more than 30 years by trainers in competitions such as Crufts.

However club officials from the Kennel Club will now sit among audiences in a bid to sniff out double handlers, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

An investigation into breeding standards was launched after a German shepherd with a sloped back called Cruaghaire Catoria was named 'best in breed' at Crufts this year, prompting a public outcry.

Susan Cuthbert, the bitch's owner, hit back at critics and shared a letter showing that a Kennel Club vet gave Catoria - also named Tori - a clean bill of health before she was allowed to enter the arena.

It is not known if Catoria was double handled and there is no suggestion that practice of double handling has been a factor in any so-called deformity in her back.

The Kennel Club has now reworded its breed standard, insisting dogs be 'capable of standing comfortably and calmly, freely and unsupported in any way'.

Public backlash following Cruaghaire Catoria's win led to the club suspending the judging of German shepherds from 2018 onwards.

Jason Lynn is pictured with his poodle Ricky, who would go on to win the Best in Group on the third day of Crufts 2014

Public backlash following Cruaghaire Catoria's win led to the club suspending the judging of German shepherds from 2018 onwards

It added that the breed would only be allowed to compete again after they had undergone new training in how German shepherds should be exhibited.

In a statement, the club said: 'The culture of double-handling widely practised and condoned at breed club shows was felt to be having a detrimental effect on the temperament of dogs which often show symptoms of enormous stress while being exhibited and at other times.

'Erratic movement and apparently exaggerated conformation were other concerns which the review group looked at.'

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, added: 'The club was given no option but to address the issues which the breed itself seemed to be taking far too long to address and which came to a head at Crufts this year.

A graphic shows the changes the German shepherd breed has undergone over the past 120 years

The decision to ban double handling has not proved popular with several established trainers, who point to its use for decades

'The health and welfare of dogs is the primary objective of the Kennel Club and, where a breed experiences any issues in this respect, the Kennel Club has an obligation to take action where it can. The time for that action is now.

However the decision has not proved popular with several established trainers, who point to the use of double-handling for decades.

Bob Honey, chairman of the British Association for German Shepherd Dogs, told the Sunday Telegraph: 'Double handling has been going on for 30 years, and it will carry on whatever the Kennel Club says.

'As long as it's not over the top, with the individual running all over the place through the crowd, it's fine. It adds to the atmosphere at shows.'
A shopkeeper was threatened with a tree branch as two thugs robbed his Sydney convenience store before he chased them off with a fruit knife.

Alan Toh, 66, said he feared for his life when the two men waved the large branch at him and demanded money from his cash register at about 7.30pm on Saturday.

The father-of-four hit his panic button but it wasn't working and was forced to hand over $800 and his mobile phone.

A shopkeeper was threatened with a tree branch as two thugs robbed his Sydney convenience

The shopkeeper was forced to hand over $800 and his mobile phone.

The whole terrifying ordeal was captured on new CCTV cameras Mr Toh had installed six months ago after three other hold-ups.

But when the robbers weren't looking he grabbed a fruit knife from behind the counter and chased them from his shop on McBurney Road in Cabramatta.

'I turned around I take this knife and they see the knife and run away,' he told Nine News as he showed off the small cutting tool that scared his attackers away.

The whole terrifying ordeal was captured on new CCTV cameras Mr Toh had installed six months ago after three other hold-ups

Alan Toh, 66, said he feared for his life when the two men waved the large branch at him and demanded money from his cash register at about 7.30pm on Saturday

The grandfather has run the shop for 20 years after he came to Australia from Vietnam in 1990 in search of a better life.

No one was injured in the robbery but police said Mr Toh could have been badly hurt.

'I'd imagine they were quite desperate to use a tree branch... it's only a skinny branch but it still could cause some serious injury,' Inspector Robert Adam said.

Both were described as being of Pacific Islander or Maori appearance, about 183cm tall and with a solid build.

The pair were last seen fleeing on foot wearing black hoodies, one with white writing on the back, and black pants.

When the robbers weren't looking he grabbed a fruit knife from behind the counter and chased them from his shop
A man who kept sexts and nudes his teenage stepdaughter sent to her boyfriend has been convicted of possessing child pornography and placed on the sex offenders registry.

The 57-year-old Victoria man had kept the messages because he wanted police to take action over the fact the girl was sending them and wasn't happy with how the situation was handled.

But after refusing to delete them, police raids found 18 images on his computer and USB drives, The Age reported.

The man had kept sexts and nudes his teenage stepdaughter sent to her boyfriend (stock image)

He had kept them because he wanted to police to take action over the fact the girl was sending them(stock image)

In the Victoria County Court he was sentenced to a 12-month good behaviour bond because there was 'no suggestion of any exploitation', Judge Jane Patrick said.

His case was different because the images weren't kept for sexual gratification, she said.

'You kept the images, I am satisfied, because you were very concerned about what had been going on and foolishly decided that this was the way to deal with it.

'There is no suggestion of any exploitation of them by anybody. You made no attempt to conceal the images... In fact you were so concerned that you contacted the authorities about the images.'

In the Victoria County Court he was sentenced to a 12-month good behaviour bond(stock image)

Although she said his offending was at the lower end of the scale, the law still made what he'd done illegal.

After pleading guilty to the charges against him, the man, who had no criminal history, was told at sentencing he'd have to comply with sex offender register requirements for eight years, The Age reported.

They included regularly reporting his whereabouts and not being allowed to work with children.

The court heard he had 'excellent' prospects of rehabilitation.

The impact of the incident on the girl and her boyfriend weren't clear as no victim impact statement was made, according to the report.

Police raids found 18 images on his computer and USB drives (stock image)
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident

The boy could not be revived and died in hospital a short time after arriving

He was pulled from the water and rushed to hospital on Sunday evening

A six-year-old boy has died after being found unconscious in a backyard pool.

Paramedics were called to a home in Raby, in Sydney's south-west, after he was pulled unconscious from murky waters in the pool just before 5.30pm on Sunday.

The boy's distraught parents could be seen at his side as he was loaded into an ambulance before being taken to the Westmead Children's Hospital under police guard.

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Paramedics rushed a six-year-old boy to hospital after he was found unconscious in a pool

The young boy was rushed to hospital but could not be revived and died a short time later

He was unresponsive when found floating in the murky backyard pool (pictured)

The boy could not be revived and died in hospital a short time after arriving.

Police from Macquarie Fields Local Area Command have established a crime scene and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the young boy's death.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

The incident has sparked a warning from pool safety authorities to parents to make sure their pool is secure this summer.

Two people who appear to be the boy's carers rushed to be by his side

They watched on as he was loaded into an ambulance and rushed to a nearby hospital

A crime scene has been established and police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death
University students are being given permission to leave lectures while 'potentially disturbing' material is discussed in subjects including pop culture history, photography and law.

Institutions are having to give out 'trigger warnings' over anything that could be considered upsetting in advance of lectures and seminars.

It is feared discussions of sex, suicide or religion or graphic images of war or crime could cause problems with students who have suffered related trauma.

But it has prompted criticism that students are being treated like children with television presenter Mary Beard, who teaches classics at Cambridge, arguing young adults should 'face up to difficult things'.

UK universities are sending out trigger warnings about 'potentially distressing' materials in lectures that could upset victims of abuse or trauma (file picture)

Photographs of war and death are often flagged up in advance of lectures in case they prove upsetting to students who may have similar experiences (file picture)

The practice of trigger warnings began in the US but has now spread across the pond to universities including Goldsmiths, Edinburgh and the London School of Economics.

As previously reported, even Oxford is not exempt as undergraduates studying law are being told before lectures on cases involving violence or death that they can leave if they fear the content will be too distressing.

Lecturers have been asked by the director of undergraduate studies for law to bear in mind using trigger warnings when they give lectures containing potentially distressing content.

It has sparked a debate across the country over whether trigger warnings are hindering intellectual development.

According to the Sunday Times, the warnings extended to undergraduates on a Christianity course at Stirling University who were to watch a YouTube video on how female characters are treated in video games including Super Mario and the Legend of Zelda.

But the trigger warnings have faced some criticism, including one for videos of how female characters are treated in the Super Mario video games (pictured)

Meanwhile other examples include students at LSE on international law courses studying war crimes such as genocide.

Some academics have defended the warnings, including Dr Naomi Wolf, a university lecturer in Victorian sexualities, who told the Times: 'Trauma from sexual or other assault and abuse is very real, and triggers are real for victims of abuse. But the place to process or deal with survivor triggers is with a trained therapist in a counsellor's office, and not in a classroom.'

Professor Mary Beard, pictured, who teaches classics at Cambridge, said young people need to 'face up to difficult things'

Tony Pollard, professor of conflict history and archaeology at Glasgow University added 'images of the dead' appear regularly in his classes and could be considered disturbing.

But others claim it that the warnings risk censoring intelligent debate.

John Sutherland, emeritus Lord Northcliffe professor of modern English literature at University College London, told the Times: 'Justified or not, we are imposing on higher learning a climate of intellectual caution.'

Push back against these warnings has already started in the US where the University of Chicago has warned students not to expect safe spaces or trigger warnings in the wake of several disrupted events at the institution at the hands of protesters.

University officials are said to have told first-year students starting this autumn of its commitment to freedom of expression, saying it wanted civility and mutual respect but that it would still seek out ideas or opinions that were unpopular.
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UKIP leadership hopeful Steven Woolfe, pictured in hospital, has been discharged three days after being rushed for treatment following a 'fight with a colleague'

UKIP leadership hopeful Steven Woolfe has been released from hospital in Strasbourg after being injured in a 'fight' with a colleague at the EU Parliament last week.

Mr Woolfe was rushed to hospital after collapsing in the building on Thursday morning after heated discussions among the party's MEPs allegedly turned violent.

Fellow MEP Mike Hookem was accused of 'landing a blow' on Mr Woolfe but has since denied hitting him and even released a picture of his hands claiming it was proof he did not touch him.

A UKIP spokesman said today: 'Steven Woolfe has been discharged from hospital in Strasbourg. He is focused on continuing his recovery and will not be making any further statements today.'

At one stage there were fears for Mr Woolfe's life after he suffered two seizures following the incident and was rushed to hospital with a suspected bleed on the brain.

But hours after he was admitted he released a statement revealing he was alright and 'feeling brighter', and doctors have now deemed him well enough to be discharged.

Yesterday the incident took a bizarre twist with the release of Mr Hookem's photo, as Mr Woolfe's team claimed medical evidence proved he had been 'punched'.

A spokesman for Mr Woolfe said: 'A team of experts independent of the hospital staff were called in to examine physical injuries to Steven's face, head and body that were inconsistent with just a seizure or a fall as a result of a seizure.

'The team of experts also examined other pieces of evidence including clothing and images relating to those injuries. Their report will shine a different light on claims currently being made in the media.'

Fellow UKIP MEP Mike Hookem, pictured, has denied 'punching' Mr Woolfe during an argument between the two after a UKIP clear-the-air meeting at the European Parliament in Strasbourg last week

Mr Woolfe was pictured lying flat out on the ground after collapsing two hours after the altercation, and was at one point believed to be fighting for his life with a suspected bleed on his brain

The Ukip punch-up row has taken a bizarre turn, after Mike Hookem published a photograph of his hands to 'prove' that he did not hit fellow MEP Steven Woolfe

Mr Hookem said he did not punch the Ukip leadership hopeful, describing the incident as a 'handbags at dawn, girl-on-girl' scuffle.

In the photograph, there do not appear to be any bruises or abrasions on his hands.

Mr Hookem told the Express: 'He came at me, I defended myself. There were no punches thrown, there was no face slapping, there were no digs, there was nothing.'

Mr Woolfe had been the front-runner to take over Ukip after Diane James quit the leadership after just 18 days and without ever completing the paperwork to officially take over the job.

Interim party leader Nigel Farage - who was thrust back into the limelight by Ms James reversal - has ordered an inquiry into the bizarre incident while standards chiefs at the European Parliament have begun their own probe.

But the incident appears to damaged Mr Woolfe's leadership bid, with a growing number of Ukip MEPs blaming him for yesterday's incident and demanding he abandons his campaign to replace Mr Farage.

Steven Woolfe's ally and fellow MEP Nathan Gill (pictured) told reporters that Mr Woolfe does not want Mr Hookem to be suspended and has 'realised that things did go too far in the MEP meeting'

Some MEPs have called for him to drop out of a leadership race, including Ukip MEP Jonathan Arnott who described the incident 'absolutely disgusting' and said it portrayed UKIP in an 'appalling light'.

Gerard Batten, MEP for London, also laid the blame for yesterday's incident squarely at Mr Woolfe's feet.

In a blog post giving his version of events, the co-founder of Ukip explained how Mr Woolfe had challenged Mr Hookem to 'settle things outside' shortly after the start of a meeting to discuss allegations he had held talks with the Conservatives about his possible defection.

In a sign that the pair are keen to reconcile and repair the damage done to the party's reputation, Mr Hookem said he had replied to an email from Mr Woolfe offering the 'hand of friendship' and they have agreed to meet.

But he and Mr Hookem face being stripped of their allowances and voting rights in the European Parliament after its president Martin Schulz launched his own investigation into their altercation.

The pair could lose access to the European Parliament for up to 10 days - barring them from voting and claiming expenses.

As he attempts to reconcile the party today, Mr Woolfe said he will not report Mr Hookem to the police.

He 'realised that things did go too far in the MEP meeting,' his ally and fellow MEP Nathan Gill said yesterday.

Mr Hookem said he had acted in self-defence and dismissed the 'outrageous claims' being made by Mr Woolfe that he 'came at me and landed a blow'.

'I didn't throw a punch at him, I did not cause those injuries,' Mr Hookem told BBC Radio Humberside.

'It has been blown up out of all proportion... it was a scuffle,' he added. He claimed Mr Woolfe had 'fallen over his own feet going back in to the room'.

Some in Ukip went as far as to call on Mr Woolfe to be suspended from the party for allegedly starting the fight, which would rule him out of the leadership contest.

Interim UKIP leader Nigel Farage, pictured left with Mr Woolfe, had launched an internal investigation while UKIP politicians have called for Mr Woolfe to abandon his leadership campaign

A spokesman for Mr Woolfe, pictured in hospital, yesterday said medical evidence ruled out his injuries being caused by a fall

Suzanne Evans, who was herself suspended earlier this year, has emerged as one of the new favourites to win the leadership after yesterday's altercation, but has yet to declare.

And civil war in the party deepened this morning as Mr Farage lashed out at fellow UKIP MEP Neil Hamilton, who appeared to blame Mr Woolfe for the fight.

In a statement, Mr Farage targeted Mr Hamilton as he said claims made by UKIP representatives 'who were not even there at the time are extremely unhelpful'.

Mr Woolfe, who grew up in the infamous Moss Side area of Manchester and became a barrister, was disqualified from the last UKIP leadership contest because he handed in his nomination papers 17 minutes late.

It was some time before Mr Hookem could be contacted for his version of events. He was said to have decided to drive back to London.

Suzanne Evans (pictured), who was herself suspended earlier this year, has emerged as one of the favourites to win the leadership after the altercation, but has yet to declare

The European Parliament chamber in Strasbourg. Mr Woolfe is said to have collapsed on a walkway in the building

French police said the incident had not been reported to them and they had no plans to investigate.

Millionaire backer Aaron Banks demanded the suspension of the party's ruling national executive committee.

Mr Woolfe has admitted he had flirted with defecting to the Tories after being barred from the last leadership race by the party's NEC.

The MEP said he had been 'enthused' by Theresa May's start to her premiership but in the end concluded that only UKIP could be relied upon to deliver on Brexit.

'Her support of new grammar schools, her words on social mobility and the growing evidence that she is committed to a clean Brexit prompted me, as it did many of my friends and colleagues, to wonder whether our future was within her new Conservative Party,' he said.

'However, having watched the Prime Minister's speech on Sunday, I came to the conclusion that only a strong UKIP can guarantee Brexit is delivered in full and only our party can stand up for the communities of the Midlands and the North.'

UKIP's NEC will now meet on October 17 to agree a timetable for an election to find a permanent replacement for Ms James.
Boris Johnson is set to stay in the Cabinet even if Theresa May goes for a third runway at Heathrow.

But his colleague Justine Greening, the Education Secretary, today refused to rule out resigning if the decision goes against her.

Both have been strident critics of Heathrow expansion, with the Foreign Secretary previously saying he is prepared to lie down in front of bulldozers to stop a third runway from being built.

Boris Johnson (pictured at the Tory conference in Birmingham last week) is set to stay in the Cabinet even if Theresa May goes for a third runway at Heathrow

It emerged today that Number 10 is considering giving the two ministers leave to miss crucial Commons votes on Heathrow.

While Mrs May will insist the Cabinet vote in favour of her decision, the two most high-profile Cabinet critics could be allowed to be unavoidably away during key votes.

The Prime Minister is expected to make a decision on Heathrow expansion later this month  six years after David Cameron called a halt to the plans.

It emerged at the weekend that Mr Johnsons allies believe the mood music suggests that the Prime Minister will push ahead with the plans.

Sources close to the Foreign Secretary said he continue to campaign against the Heathrow expansion, which he believes is environmentally undeliverable and will never be built.

But if Mrs May decides to go ahead, he will not leave the Cabinet.

Allies pointed out that just because Mrs May is likely to sanction the expansion of Heathrow it does not mean the project will go ahead. Local authorities and campaign groups are preparing to mount a legal challenge which could stop a third runway from being built.

In contrast, Miss Greening has said she is still fighting the plans and refused to rule out quitting.

It emerged today that Number 10 is considering giving the two ministers leave to miss crucial Commons votes on Heathrow expansion

Today she refused to say what she would go if Mrs Mays decision goes against her  saying such an eventuality was hypothetical.

She told ITVs Peston on Sunday: During the time Ive been in politics Ive learned not to particularly answer hypothetical questions about decisions that havent been taken, and on timelines that we dont know really what theyll be.

Everybody knows my views on Heathrow.

Asked whether a free vote  which would allow her to vote against the expansion  would answer her concerns, she said: Who knows if therell be a free vote? Theres no point in me going down that track.

Well have to wait and see.

The MP for Putney in south west London makes clear her opposition to Heathrow on her website.

Justine Greening, the Education Secretary, today refused to rule out resigning if the decision goes against her

Justine Greening has said she is still fighting the plans and refused to rule out quitting

It says that she will continue to stand up for the thousands of residents who are concerned about aircraft noise and she'll keep working to make sure our local community is listened to.

Last week she said: Its a debate that Im still aiming to win. Its one of those issues that has people with very different views, but Im certainly going to put my views across, and well see where we end up on the decision.

Mrs May is personally chairing a Cabinet committee which will decide on Heathrows third runway plan. Whitehall sources suggested that the Government is leaning towards Heathrow.
Is this the sweet look of schadenfreude?

Chelsea Clinton looked delighted as she spoke on the phone outside her New York City apartment while Donald Trump's campaign went into a tailspin.

The 36-year-old stepped out of her Flatiron apartment in skinny jeans and heels on Saturday while her mother maintained a low profile in the wake of Trump's hot mic scandal.

Hillary is expected to launch her first public remarks on Trump's lewd comments as the two candidates face off in the second presidential debate on Sunday night.

In a conversation with Billy Bush in 2005, Trump was caught bragging about his attempts to 'f***' a married woman before saying he could 'do anything' to women - including 'grab[ing] them by the p***y' - because he was a celebrity.

Chelsea Clinton looked delighted as she spoke on the phone outside her New York City apartment while Donald Trump's campaign went into a tailspin

The 36-year-old stepped out of her Flatiron apartment in skinny jeans and heels on Saturday while her mother maintained a low profile in the wake of Trump's hot mic scandal

Hillary's campaign called the tape 'horrific', but there were few signs of celebration in the Brooklyn office, where staffers watched members of the GOP slam their own nominee.

Hillary has stayed silent on the scandal so as not to distract from the long list of Republicans disavowed Trump and urged him to step down, CBS reported.

But that is all set to change on Sunday, when Hillary is expected to deliver her blows early on in the debate, a campaign official told CBS.

Trump, who issued a grudging apology that lashed out at Bill Clinton, appeared unfazed, joking about it being 'an interesting 24 hours' since the shocking video surfaced on Friday.

Trump's own wife Melania called his comments 'unacceptable and offensive', but the business tycoon remained defiant.

'The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly - I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN! #MAGA,' Trump tweeted.

He emerged from his Manhattan skyscraper about 5pm on Saturday, waving to a crowd of devoted fans before disappearing back inside the building emblazoned with his surname.

Sunday's town hall debate in St Louis, Missouri, will prove to be a challenge for both candidates as they respond to questions delivered by members in the audience.

While Clinton is experienced with the format, she struggled during the commander-in-chief forum in September when members of the audience flooded her with questions regarding the use of her private email server.

Trump, on the other hand, thrives in rallies, where he can amp up the crowd and employ a level of spontaneity as the only speaker.

Hillary and Trump will face off in the second debate on Sunday night, where the Democratic nominee is expected to deliver her first public remarks about her opponent's hot mic scandal

Clinton's campaign slammed the comments made by Trump, but Hillary herself has remained silent while Trump was torn apart by his own party

But Trump remained defiant and greeted supporters outside of Trump Towers in Manhattan around 5pm on Sunday. He said there was no chance he would drop out of the race

It remains to be seen whether Trump attacks his opponent through her husband Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky.

Donald Trump has already retweeted comments from Juanita Broaddrick, who accused Bill Clinton of rape.

The first post from Broaddrick read: 'How many times must it be said? Actions speak louder than words. DT said bad things! HRC threatened me after BC raped me.'

She also wrote: 'Hillary calls Trump's remarks "horrific" while she lives with and protects a "Rapist". Her actions are horrific,' it read.

Bill Clinton has long denied Broaddrick's accusations and Hillary has declined to address them.

The embattled Republican nominee, who previously threatened to use the former president's infidelities in his battle against Clinton, also attacked Bill in his apology for the 2005 hot mic recording.

'Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed, and intimidated his victims,' he said.

'We will discuss this more in the coming days. See you at the debate on Sunday.'
Firms will not be 'named and shamed' for employing large numbers of foreign workers, Education Secretary Justine Greening (pictured on today's Peston on Sunday show) said today in a major climb down

Firms will not be 'named and shamed' for employing large numbers of foreign workers, ministers said today in a major government climb down.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd unveiled plans to force businesses to reveal the proportion of their workers that came from abroad in her Tory conference speech last week.

But following a major backlash from senior Tories, Justine Greening, the Education Secretary, said today that the plans would not require firms to publish the data.

She defended the plans to ask firms to exchange the data privately, insisting it would help the Government find out where there are skills shortages in the workforce.

She told ITV's Peston on Sunday show: 'This is not data that will be published. There will be absolutely no naming and shaming.

'This is about informing policy so that we understand which areas and part of the country there are skills shortages evidenced by the fact that employers are not taking local workers as much as they might do.

'It then enables really to tailor policy in those areas so we can respond to that.'

Meanwhile her Cabinet colleague Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, insisted Ms Rudd's comments had been 'misinterpreted'.

'THAT'S NOT THE AMBER RUDD I KNOW': TORIES SLAM FOREIGN WORKERS PLAN Senior Tory MP Nicky Morgan blasted her colleague Amber Rudd's plan to make businesses reveal how many foreign workers they employ. She said she was 'very surprised' to hear the idea in the Home Secretary's speech to Tory conference last week. 'That's not the Amber Rudd I know and I've worked alongside,' Ms Morgan told Sky News today. The former Education Secretary said the policy could harm the Conservative's reputation and derail the party's message on Brexit. Ms Morgan's outspoken comments echo the damning criticism from Steve Hilton, David Cameron's former director of strategy. He labelled the plans 'divisive, repugnant, and insanely bureaucratic' and said they were worse than Donald Trump's plan to ban Muslims from entering the US. Advertisement

The about-turn on the policy comes after the plans were savaged by a string of senior Tories, including David Cameron's former director of strategy Steve Hilton.

He labelled the plans 'divisive, repugnant, and insanely bureaucratic' and said they were worse than Donald Trump's plan to ban Muslims from entering the US.

In a scathing column in the Sunday Times, Mr Hilton wrote: ''Hey Amber, for your next brainwave, why not announce that foreign workers will be tattooed with numbers on their forearms?

'You might as well do the job of killing Britain's reputation as an open, enterprise economy properly.'

Tory MP and former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said she agreed with Mr Hilton's view, saying the idea of listing foreigners would harm the Conservative party's reputation.

She told Sky News: 'I was very surprised that Amber had put forward that proposal about the listing of foreign workers because that's not the Amber Rudd I know and I've worked alongside... the trouble with these sorts of policies is they send out a message about the party.'

In her speech to Tory conference last week, Ms Rudd announced a consultation would be launched on proposals for firms to 'set out the steps they have taken to foster a pool of local candidates, set out the impact on the local labour force of their foreign recruitment and be clear about the proportion of their workforce which is international, as is the case in the US.'

Speaking to ITV's Robert Peston this morning, Justine Greening defended the plans to ask firms to exchange data on foreign workers privately, insisting it would help the Government find out where there are skills shortages in the workforce

Home Secretary Amber Rudd (pictured delivering her Tory conference speech in Birmingham last week) unveiled plans to force businesses to reveal the proportion of their workers that came from abroad

A Home Office spokesman said of the Government's plans: 'This is not about listing foreign workers or so-called 'naming and shaming' of companies. The proportion of international workers in a company is one of the pieces of information that companies may be asked to provide to the Government.

'This information will not be published. This already happens in the US and is one of several proposals we will be consulting on as part of our work to ensure that companies take reasonable steps to recruit at home before looking to bring in workers from abroad.

'The purpose of having a consultation is so that we can listen to business and use that feedback to inform our decisions'.

Senior Tory MP Nicky Morgan (pictured on Sky News this morning) blasted her colleague Amber Rudd's plan to make businesses reveal how many foreign workers they employ

Amber Rudd (left) announced the plans for firms to list the number of foreign staff in their workforce last week but faced a major backlash from Tory colleagues, including from the former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan (right), who said she was surprised by the Home Secretary's plans, adding: 'That's not the Amber Rudd I know and I've worked alongside

Ex-David Cameron aide Steve Hilton (pictured campaigning for Brexit during the EU referendum campaign) labelled the plans for firms to list foreign workers 'divisive, repugnant, and insanely bureaucratic' and said they were worse than Donald Trump's plan to ban Muslims from entering the US

This is one of the proposals the Home Office will consult on to tighten the Resident Labour Market Test, which businesses have to undertake when they want to recruit non-EU workers, to demonstrate they are filling genuine gaps in the labour market.

At the moment that requires a company to advertise the role for 28 days and demonstrate that no qualified resident worker could fill it.
Islamic State has lost more than a quarter of the territory it seized in Iraq and Syria over the past 19-months, a new report has revealed.

The land controlled by the terror group has shrunk from 90,800sq km (56,400sq miles) in January 2015 to 65,500 sq km as of October 3 this year.

This equates to a loss of 27.9 per cent and means ISIS now only controls an area the size of Sri Lanka, according to the data released by security analysts IHS.

The news of the decrease comes ahead of a large-scale assault on Mosul, the last major ISIS stronghold in Iraq.

Islamic State has lost more than a quarter of the territory it seized in Iraq and Syria over the past 19-months, a new report from IHS has revealed

Territorial losses for ISIS have slowed since July, with the group losing just 2,800 sq km in the past three months.

But the London-based security analyst firm said the losses were 'strategically significant' because they were mostly concentrated in northern Aleppo.

'The Islamic State's territorial losses since July are relatively modest in scale, but unprecedented in their strategic significance,' Columb Strack, senior analyst and head of the IHS Conflict Monitor, said.

'The loss of direct road access to cross-border smuggling routes into Turkey severely restricts the group's ability to recruit new fighters from abroad, while the Iraqi government is poised to launch its offensive on Mosul.'

The land controlled by the terror group has shrunk from 90,800sq km (56,400sq miles) in January 2015 to 65,500 sq km as of October 3 this year, pictured in Raqqa

The body of an Islamic State militant lays on the ground after a repelled attack from the militants by the Iraqi army, outside the town of Qayyarah

The operation to retake Mosul is expected to take place at some point in the next 10 days.

But fears have been raised that the assault on the city, which has a population of around one million people, will spark a humanitarian disaster.

Vali Nasr, a Hopkins University academic and former adviser to the Obama administration, warned the battle will create waves of refugees and instability.

And Bruno Geddo, from the United Nations refugee agency in Iraq, told the Sunday Times, the attack could trigger 'one of the largest man-made disasters' in years.

Concerns have also been raised about the fate of 2,000 Yazidi girls captured as sex slaves who are being kept in the city.

Britain is sending hundreds of troops to Iraq carrying gas masks and nuclear warfare clothing to protect themselves against a 'likely' chemical attack by Islamic State.

Britain is sending hundreds of troops to Iraq carrying gas masks and nuclear warfare clothing to protect themselves against a 'likely' chemical attack by Islamic State

The 250 soldiers from 4 Rifles battalion are being deployed today in preparation for a large-scale assault on Mosul (pictured), the last major ISIS stronghold in Iraq

The 250 soldiers from 4 Rifles battalion are being deployed today in preparation for the ground and air assault on Mosul.

All the soldiers have been given nuclear, chemical and biological clothing after it emerged that ISIS militants targeted US troops with mustard gas last month.

A dozen Iraqi Army brigades, each of which includes from 800 to 1,600 troops, have been gathering at Qaiyara Airfield West, south of Mosul, ahead of the attack.

The eventual assault into Mosul will be carried out by Iraq's counter-terrorism service.

US bombers and drones have gone on a killing spree of Islamic State leaders in preparation for the battle.
Police are now considering whether to file charges against the mother

But the efforts were in vain, and she was pronounced dead at the scene

First responders broke the windows and tried to resuscitate the girl

A uthorities believe the girl was in the car for nine hours before she was spotted by a passer-by

Mom drove to parking lot of a medical center in Salisbury, North Carolina

The girl was found strapped in a child seat in the back of a Chevrolet

A two-year-old girl who was left in a hot car for almost nine hours by her mother as she went to work at a North Carolina VA Medical Center has died.

Authorities are now trying to determine whether to file charges against the mother, according to The Salisbury Post.

The woman, who has not been named drove to work with the child strapped in the backseat.

She arrived at the hospital just before 8am on Thursday.

The child was discovered in the black Chevrolet by a passer-by at around 4:40pm, while the windows were rolled up.

Investigators examine the black Chevrolet in which a two-year-old girl was found dead after being left there in the parking lot of a VA medical center in Salisbury, North Carolina

First responders called to the scene broke one of the windows of the car in a bid to save the child.

They attempted to resuscitate the girl, but to no avail. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

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The temperature that day ranged from the mid-70s to the low 80s, meaning that the inside of a vehicle could reach in excess of 120 degrees.

Investigators are now interviewing the family and collecting information from hospital officials.

'Parents out there, check your vehicle,' Salisbury Police Captain Sheila Lingle told WSOC-TV.

'Check the back seat if you have a child before you get out of the car.'

The mother of the girl drove to the VA medical center (seen above) where she works and left her in the car just before 8am on Thursday
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Several cars have been crushed in an underground car park in London today after a bizarre incident caused by flooding.

A burst water main in Crayford saw gallons of water to leak out and cause traffic chaos by covering roads around the area.

But the water also caused polystyrene insulation under Townhill Square car park road surface to expand and rise by around four feet, forcing the vehicles trapped inside upwards into the roof.

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A burst water main in Crayford has led to polystyrene insulation in a car park to expand, causing the road surface to rise by around four feet and crushing vehicles trapped inside, pictured

A water main burst overnight, causing widespread flooding throughout the area, including Townhall Square car park, pictured

The bizarre incident has left many trapped inside the car park indefinitely even if their vehicles escaped any damage

Emergency services taped off the area although it would be difficult for any drivers to properly access their vehicles anyway

Meanwhile Thames Water staff are working to repair the leak, pictured, which happened in Crayford High Street

Crews from London Fire Brigade have been pumping water out of the flooded High Street in Crayford this morning and it is understood the burst pipe is also affecting Greenwich and Bexley and parts of Dartford and Kent.

Thames Water is working on fixing the problem and is proving emergency supplies of bottled water to those affected.

In a statement, the company said: ' Were working hard to restore water to #DA1, #DA2, #DA6 and #DA16. We're sorry for the disruption.

Townhall Square, pictured, is one of the busiest car parks in Crayford due to its proximity to shops and the library

The car park has scores of vehicles trapped inside, pictured, with owners none the wiser as to when they can retrieve them

The High Street is flooded outside popular areas including Nandos and McDonalds, with London Fire Brigade urging people to avoid the area

'Water supplies in #DA1, #DA2, #DA6 and #DA16 postcode areas are now returning to normal. Bottled water is available in Denton Road DA1 3QY.'

Thames Water later confirmed the 'situation was under control' and that water supplies should be returning to normal across all areas.

London Fire Brigade added the incident would cause 'huge traffic issues' and has urged motorists to avoid the area if possible.

Witnesses have spoken of panic among residents who have been scrambling to get as much water as they can get their hands on.

One woman said she was a man pack out his entire car boot with water bottled, while another filled up a shopping trolley with 'around 40 bottles'.

The fire brigade put out a warning to drivers on Twitter this morning and said the flood would cause 'huge traffic issues'

Although the roads around the High Street remain flooded, Thames Water says supplies should be returning to normal

Meanwhile Thames Water has been handing out emergency bottles of water, pictured, to cover for the supply stoppage

Residents have been taking as much water as they can carry, pictured, as they prepare for the shortage
Trump's closest allies are ready to jump ship as Republican senators call on the Donald to quit the campaign so Mike Pence can lead the ticket.

Dozens of Republican senators, representatives and governors have withdrawn their support from Trump after a video, published Friday, featured him saying stars can 'do anything' to women, including grabbing them 'by the p***y'.

Now it appears that the presidential candidate's friends and allies have been questioning whether Trump is still able to lead the Republicans to victory next month.

Several allies have begun discussing the possibility of a Pence-Carson ticket, a source close to Trump told the Washington Post.

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The vice presidential nominee, Mike Pence, has long described himself as a 'Christian, a conservative and a Republican in that order'. Pence said in a statement about Trump: 'I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them'

'You'd keep Pence, and you'd bring the Trump people along with Carson, who they love,' the source said. 'Right now, Donald isn't going to go and doesn't want to go. But we've been texting about it.'

Sens Mike Lee of Utah and Mike Crapo of Idaho are also calling on Trump to quit the campaign so Pence can lead the ticket. Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire says she'll write in Pence's name on the ballot  not Trump's.

Other allies believe the race is already over for Trump.

'It's a shame, a crying shame, but he can't win,' said former education secretary, William J. Bennett, an informal policy adviser to Trump. 'He should step down.'

He said that the Republican Party 'has to make a coldhearted calculation because of what he's done. It just can't stand.'

'It's over,' he said yesterday. 'I hate to say it, but it's over.'

But while the calls for Trump to step down grow louder, the feasibility of replacing a candidate less than a month before an election is under question.

The biggest obstacle facing the Republicans is that it is almost impossible to oust Trump unless he bows out.

Several allies have begun discussing a Mike Pence- Ben Carson (pictured) ticket

Trump has already vowed to remain in the presidential race, tweeting on Saturday: 'The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly - I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN! #MAGA.'

There are provisions for if a candidate dies, chooses to bow out or is incapacitated, which allow them to be replaced.

But the party's 'Rule 9' prevents the GOP from pushing a nominee out of the position.

If the party was willing to take the risk, it could amend the rules and create a loophole to oust Trump. However, that would require a majority of the party's Rules Committee and two-thirds of the entire party to agree and the process would be far too slow to complete in time for the election, according to the Washington Post.

In the extremely unlikely case that Trump did choose to stand down, then Pence or another name could technically go on the ballot in some states.

But not in key battleground states like North Carolina and Florida where early voting has already begun and the ballots have already been printed. More than 34,000 Republican voters have already cast their ballots.

In an early morning tweet on Sunday, Trump appeared to take a swipe at the Republicans who have abandoned their support for him

Since it's too late to get Trump off the ballot in these states, if he were to drop out and be replaced, voters would have to go into the voting booth with the understanding a vote for Trump is a vote for someone else.

When a voter entered the booth, they would have to understand a vote for Trump is really a vote for 'person X' and experts say that poses a serious challenge for getting to 270 electoral votes.

The Washington Post says this is because some votes, cast before he bowed out, would inevitably be bound to Trump.

That would mean Republicans face an uphill battle to get into office.

When then-Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash, the state allowed former vice president Walter Mondale to run in his place. However, absentee votes for Wellstone were not added to Mondale's total and that seat was lost to the Republicans, the Post reported.

Another case saw Democrats making a legal case and getting new ballots printed after their Senate candidate in New Jersey dropped out of the race. With 34 days to go, new ballots were printed for a new candidate.

It's possible that the Republicans could take legal action to get new ballots if Trump quits, but the issue remains that votes have already been cast. In the other scenarios, they hadn't.

Pence was supposed to replace Trump at a Wisconsin event with Paul Ryan after the Speaker said he was 'sickened' by Trump's remarks, but later canceled. Pence said he was grateful that Trump expressed remorse and apologized and that he looked forward to Sunday's debate

Even if the Republicans were able to overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacles, polls still show that Mike Pence is unlikely to be able to beat Hillary Clinton, according to the Post.

With his party facing crisis, Trump, who has been known to double-down on his controversial remarks in the past, took the unusual step of apologizing for his aggressive comments towards women yesterday.

But it appears that the move was too little, too late as those around him condemned his remarks.

Even his wife denounced the comments on Saturday, saying his words were 'unacceptable' and 'offensive'.

Pence's advocacy for Trump came to a screeching, perhaps temporary, halt after the video, filmed in 2005, was released by the Washington Post.

The Indiana governor was said to be 'beside himself' over Trump's comments.

Pence said in a statement about Trump: 'I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them. I am grateful that he has expressed remorse and apologized to the American people.

'As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the eleven-year-old video released yesterday.

'We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night,' the Indiana governor said.

It's more evidence of the trials facing the GOP's No. 2 that could serve Pence well if he runs for the top spot in 2020.

Pence also backed out of attending a GOP festival in Wisconsin as Trump's substitute on Saturday as the scandal whirled around the candidate.

In the recording released by the Washington Post on Friday, Trump could be hear saying: 'And when you're a star they let you do it. Can do anything. Whatever you want. Grab them by the p**y'

Sources say Pence and his aides were 'absolutely apoplectic' about Trump's comments.

Former Republican candidate Ben Carson has stood by Trump, speaking to him at length Saturday.

He said Trump was frustrated with the criticism against him after the video but had no pans to withdraw from the race.

'He's not a quitter,' he said.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, along with Trump's top campaign aides, had all urged him to 'apologize for the first time in your life,' after the video emerged on Friday.

But other allies questioned the wisdom of the uncharacteristic apology.

'Why didn't he double down? If the apology was intended to stem the flow of dissent, to show that he's sorry for what he's said and done . . . that's not what took place,' said one Trump supporter close to the campaign.

While calls for the billionaire businessmen to stand down intensify from within his own party, Trump has remained defiant and announced he will continue to run.

In an early morning tweet on Sunday, he appeared to take a swipe at the Republicans who have abandoned their support for him.

'Tremendous support (except for some Republican 'leadership'). Thank you,' he tweeted.

On Friday, Trump's behavior put Pence through an even tougher test when the Washington Post released the recording. Trump and Pence supporters gathered outside Trump Tower cheering on Saturday

Others had also called for Pence to quit the race after he publicly stated that he could not 'condone' the billionaire's crude hot mic comments.

A few GOP leaders may be considering a scenario in which they would convince Pence to leave the ticket, according to CNN.

Former Jeb Bush supporter, Vin Weber told the network that he would 'absolutely' call for Pence to leave the ticket as a way to put 'immeasurable pressure' on Trump to leave the race.

'Pence is the anchor that keeps Trump in the race,' so without him it would be over for the candidate, Weber said.

'I'm sure he's horrified,' said Mike Murphy, an Indiana public relations strategist who's known Pence for more than two decades, said of Pence.

'We impeached Bill Clinton and we cannot impeach Trump off the ballot. But I wish there was a mechanism to do so.'

Pence raised his political stock Monday night during the only debate against Democrat Tim Kaine.

During the 90-minute event, Pence managed to not defend Trump's indefensible behavior, yet still sound supportive and show off his own expertise on foreign policy.

The Indiana governor was said to be 'beside himself' over Trump's comments

The performance highlighted the gulf in political sophistication between Trump and his running mate.

Pence addressed the awkwardness with a savvy statement acknowledging his own performance and preserving his alliance with Trump.

'People are saying that I won the debate,' he said Wednesday in Harrisonburg, Virginia. 'From where I sat, Donald Trump's vision to make America great won the debate.'

But on Friday, Trump's behavior put Pence to an even tougher test.

The Washington Post and NBC broke the story of Trump's words about women as Pence advocated for Trump him in Ohio.

'With Donald Trump as president, we'll have a president of the United States who respects all the American people,' Pence said as news of Trump's comments was breaking.

Pence went on to defend, as he has previously, Trump's outspoken nature as a refusal to 'tiptoe around those thousands of rules of political correctness'.

The VP nominee ignored questions about Trump and he was quickly whisked out of reach of the news media.

WHO ARE THE REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE WITHDRAWN THEIR SUPPORT FOR DONALD TRUMP OR CALLED ON HIM TO DROP OUT? Illinois Senator Mark Kirk Utah Senator Mike Lee Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan Virginia Representative Barbara Comstock Arizona Senator Jeff Flake New Jersey Representative Scott Garrett Alabama Congresswoman Martha Roby Nevada Representative Joe Heck South Dakota Senator John Thune New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte Utah Governor Gary Hebert Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz Idaho Senator Mike Crapo South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard Texas Congressman Will Hurd Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham Maine Senator Susan Collins Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenbury California Congressman David Valadao Arizona Senator John McCain Utah Governor Gary Hebert Missouri Congresswoman Ann Wagner Former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer Nevada Congressman Cresent Hardy Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski Utah Congresswoman Mia Love Pennsylvania Congressman Charlie Dent Michigan Congressman Fred Upton Colorado Senator Cory Gardner Colorado Senate nominee Darryl Glenn Florida Congressman Tom Rooney New Jersey Congressman Frank LoBiondo Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Utah Congressman Chris Stewart Alabama Governor Robert Bentley Michigan Congressman Justin Amash Advertisement

Influential Indiana conservative, Jim Bopp, who helped draft this year's Republican Party platform, said Pence 'should stay the course'.

Trump's words are 'ill-considered and crude', Bopp said, and also 'statements Mike Pence would never make'.

Dozens of Republicans have since called for Trump to drop out of the presidential race or have rescinded their support.

Meanwhile Today Show co-host Billy Bush, who could be heard laughing and appearing to egg Trump on during the 2005 discussion, will not face any punishment from NBC.

Bush made a public apology on Friday for his role in the discussion, saying:

'Obviously I'm embarrassed and ashamed. It's no excuse, but this happened eleven years ago I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along. I'm very sorry.'

Bush is still 'hoping' to issue a heartfelt apology directly to Nancy O'Dell on the Today Show.

'Billy wanted his public apology to speak for him, to speak to the people who are bashing him and speak to everyone he hurt,' a source told HollywoodLife.com. 'He hopes to speak to Nancy at some point but has yet to reach out personally. '

He is also expected to address the incident on Monday's broadcast of 'Today.'

The Wall Street Journal reports that NBC will not seek to reprimand or punish the host after his apology.
Five teenagers were killed after a driver going the wrong way down a highway in Vermont crashed into their car, then stole a police cruiser and collided with several other vehicles.

The victims were identified on Sunday as Eli Brookens, of Waterbury, Liam Hale, of Fayston, Janie Cozzi, of Fayston, Mary Harris, of Moretown and Cyrus Zschau, also of Moretown.

All five were high school juniors. Four attended Harwood Union High School in Moretown and one attended a different school.

Police said Steven D. Bourgoin, 36, was traveling northbound on the southbound lane of Interstate 89 at around 11.45pm on Saturday when he hit the first car, a Volkswagen Jetta.

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Mary Harris (left) and Janie Cozzi (right) were killed in the crash on Saturday night

Cyrus Zschau (left) and Eli Brookens (right), both juniors at Harwood Union High School, also died in the crash

Liam Hale (above) was one of five Vermont high school juniors who died in the collision

The suspects Toyota Tundra burst into flames after the first collision in Williston between exits 11 and 12, Vermont State Police said.

Vermont State Police Captain Mike Henry said the car Bourgoin hit was carrying the group of teenagers, the Burlington Free Press reports.

These students were vibrant members of our school community, actively involved and all with a promise for a bright future Harwood Union co-principal Amy Rex

Police said Bourgoin left his truck and stole an officer's cruiser while the officer pulled a girl from the burning car and then attempted to extinguish the blaze.

He fled south towards Richmond at high speed with the police siren blaring.

And when Richmond police tried to intercept him, the suspect made a U-turn and started heading north in the southbound lane.

Police said Bourgoin then crashed into seven vehicles, including one he had already hit.

He was ejected from the patrol car, which erupted into flames.

Witnesses said at least one other car was also on fire.

Bourgoin was taken into police custody and transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center with injuries that are not life-threatening.

Police are investigating the crash.

Steven Bourgoin (pictured) went the wrong way down Interstate 89, crashed into a car full of teenagers then stole a police cruiser and crashed that into seven vehicles, police said

The suspects Toyota Tundra burst into flames after the first collision in Williston between exits 11 and 12, Vermont State Police said

After Williston police arrived at the scene, Bourgoin left his truck and stole the officer's cruiser while the cop was trying to pull a girl from a burning car, before crashing that too

Harwood Union co-principal Amy Rex paid tribute to the victims, saying: 'This is an unprecedented tragedy; we have suffered a tremendous loss.

'These students were vibrant members of our school community, actively involved and all with a promise for a bright future.'

She added that Harwood Union high school was open on Sunday and Monday with staff and school counselors on-site to provide support to the community.
Three young women have shared the harrowing stories of how they were allegedly raped at Australian universities - two when they were just 18.

They are some of 575 students who were sexually assaulted on campus in the past five years, with only six alleged perpetrators expelled.

Dr Rosyln Arnold, a former council member of Sydney Universitys St John's residential college who quit her position in disgust in 2012, said it was the product of entrenched rape culture in young men.

'It's endorsing a pattern that women deserve to be victims, that it is acceptable to denigrate and humiliate them and to act violently towards them,' she told Sunday Night.

Three young women have shared the harrowing stories of how they were allegedly raped at Australian universities, including Emma Hunt (L) and Jannika Jacky (R) who were just 18

She said this was made worse by an environment where women were 'objectified and crudely ranked on social media'.

However, one student who had dozens of men make sexualised comments on her Facebook photos said she enjoyed the attention.

'For me, that was really flattering and actually quite funny too. My friends also found it very funny so we just had a bit of a laugh,' Melbourne University student Sydney Watson said.

Sunday Night reporter PJ Madam then read Ms Watson a series of very insulting comments directed at her - including that she 'is a b**** and has bad breath'.

'Look, I won't lie, that some of those thing are really inappropriate but to me that's the nature of the online world. I think it's all in the name of fun,' she responded.

'Whilst they might not be completely right, I don't think that it's in a serious fashion, by any stretch of the imagination.'

Experts say campus rape is made worse by women being objectified on social media, but one student who had dozens of men make sexualised comments on her Facebook photos (pictured) said she enjoyed the attention

Sydney Watson, from Melbourne University, was then read a series of very insulting comments directed at her, but still said it was 'all in the name of fun'

Dr Arnold said attitudes like Ms Watson's were 'letting down the side by saying that it's OK. We don't think it's OK.'

Another student, Emma Hunt, was excited to attend Monash University in Melbourne, but her first experience of university life on orientation camp went horribly wrong when she got blackout drunk at a costume party.

'I remember waking up in a cabin with a stranger. And I don't know how I got there, didn't know who he was,' she said.

Her first memory was a lot of people getting her out of the room. She didn't remember how long she was there for, but she was being raped when she woke up.

Ms Hunt only told a friend months later because she didn't know where to go for help. Her alleged rape is now being investigated by police, but she is still scarred by the ordeal.

'Whilst they might not be completely right, I don't think that it's in a serious fashion, by any stretch of the imagination,' she said.

Dr Rosyln Arnold, who quit Sydney University in disgust, said it was the product of entrenched rape culture in young men

'I wake up fearing i'll run into him every day at uni. It's quite scary, I feel like I have to be hyper-vigilant in case I recognise him,' she said.

'I never really know when the next day is that I'm going to run into him. Last time I was absolutely terrified. I only saw him for a split second, the most unsafe I've ever felt.'

On the other side of the country, former University of WA science student Jannika Jacky said she was raped on her 18th birthday three years ago by a friend from her dorm.

'We met at college, and we became friends quite quickly. He seemed like a perfectly good you know, charming, funny sort of person,' she said.

After pre-drinks at college and then a bar to celebrate, she was feeling drunk and wanted to go home but couldn't find friends who had her room key, so asked him to get her home.

'It was freezing outside and I was just like, "It's really cold, can I just chill in your room for a little bit?"' she said.

'And he was like, "sure, no worries, what are friends for".'

Ms Hunt told how she was raped after she got drunk and blacked out on orientation camp at Monash University

As soon as they were in his room he turned the light off and began kissing her, before raping her despite her protesting.

'I remember quite clearly saying "no. I don't want to do this. because we're just friends". But he just didn't stop,' she said.

'When I got back to my room I just remember taking the longest shower I have probably ever taken.'

Ms Jacky eventually had to drop out of university. Her alleged rapist was kicked out of campus housing but otherwise not punished. He graduated last month.

'The stress was unbearable, depression just went through the roof and so did my anxiety as well. Um, I also have a lot of trouble with having relationships,' she said.

Ms Jacky said she was raped by a friend who helped her get home drunk from her 18th birthday party

Olivia Todhunter, at the University of Melbourne, alleged she was on exchange overseas when she was raped by a fellow Australian student.

'I remember saying "stop". I remember saying "get off". I remember saying "you have a girlfriend". I remember saying that I didn't want this,' she said.

'When I went to uni counselling they said that my issue wasn't urgent enough to be available for emergency counselling.'

It took Australia's biggest ever freedom of information request to lift the lid on the scale of sexual assualt in Australian universities, forcing 27 universities to hand over records of complaints.

There were 575 cases of sexual assault, harassment and indecent behaviour reported over five years, including 145 rapes.

Olivia Todhunter (L), at the University of Melbourne, alleged she was on exchange overseas when she was raped by a fellow Australian student

There were 575 cases of sexual assault, harassment and indecent behaviour reported over five years, including 145 rapes

Only six alleged perpetrators were expelled, 14 were suspended, 11 given warnings, 12 reprimanded, and six 'voluntarily separated'.

Those who were punished by universities were in some cases made to pay a $55 fine, write an apology letter, or do just eight hours of community service.

In the vast majority of cases no action was taken by universities and, against their own policies, allegations were often not reported to police.

The complaints uncovered included a male student breaking into campus dorm rooms and raping women in their beds, and another given a master key to all rooms after he was accused of multiple assaults.

Staff members exchanged sexual favours for free accommodation, and others secretly filmed women using showers and toilets.

Male students grabbed womens breasts, forcefully kissed them, spat at them, and yelled insults like 'slut, slut, slut', 'I bet you like c**k', 'bitch' and 'scum-c*nt'.

Victims were also advised that any discussion of their sexual assaults or abuse with others 'could be considered a disciplinary matter' due to 'confidentiality' concerns.

In the vast majority of cases no action was taken by universities and, against their own policies, allegations were often not reported to police
Major splits emerged within Jeremy Corbyn's frontbench today over Labour's immigration policy as the new Shadow Brexit Secretary said numbers must be cut.

Just two days after being appointed to Mr Corbyn's Shadow Cabinet Sir Keir Starmer admitted migration levels to the UK had been too high over the last decade - a direct contradiction to the Labour leader's view.

In his set-piece speech to Labour conference last month, Mr Corbyn said he would not seek controls on immigration as said accused the Tory government of 'fanning the flames of fear', while his spokesman said the veteran leader is 'not concerned about numbers'.

Sir Keir, the former director of public prosecutions, also failed to give a full endorsement of Mr Corbyn in a further sign of trouble for Mr Corbyn after he faced a major backlash for sacking his chief whip Dame Rosie Winterton and offering just a handful of his critics a role in his new Shadow Cabinet.

And Mr Corbyn faced yet more chaos today as two of his whips resigned. Conor McGinn and Holly Lynch quit following the Labour leader's decision to sack the party's highly-respected chief whip Dame Rosie Winterton in his controversial reshuffle.

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Just two days after being appointed to Mr Corbyn's Shadow Cabinet Sir Keir Starmer (pictured on the Andrew Marr Show today) admitted migration levels to the UK had been too high over the last decade - a direct contradiction to the Labour leader's view

Asked if Mr Corbyn would make a 'good Prime Minister,' Sir Keir told the Andrew Marr Show today: 'Well look, we've had a leadership election, Jeremy won that, we accept it and we respect it.

'We've had three months of internal division; everybody  on either side of the leadership debate  has hated that division over the last three months.

'We now need to pull together and work to have the most effective opposition that we can.

'Of course we want a Labour government, of course we want to support Jeremy to that end.

'He's won the membership, he now needs to win the country  he knows that, we know that and we need to work together on that.'

Sir Keir, who stormed out of Mr Corbyn's frontbench in protest at his lacklustre performance during the EU referendum campaign, said the Government must be 'shrewd and careful' in getting the right balance between ending freedom of movement and maintaining trade links with Brussels.

Sir Keir Starmer (pictured on the Andrew Marr Show this morning), the former director of public prosecutions, also failed to give a full endorsement of Mr Corbyn in a further sign of trouble for Mr Corbyn after he faced a major backlash for sacking his chief whip Dame Rosie Winterton and offering just a handful of his critics a role in his new Shadow Cabinet

In his set-piece speech to Labour conference last month, Jeremy Corbyn (pictured at the Labour part yconference in Liverpool last month) said he would not seek controls on immigration as said accused the Tory government of 'fanning the flames of fear', while his spokesman said the veteran leader is 'not concerned about numbers'

But in a major departure from Mr Corbyn on immigration, he said: 'There has been a huge amount of immigration over the last 10 years and people are understandably concerned about it.

'I think it should be reduced and it should be reduced by making sure we have the skills in this country that are needed for the jobs that need to be done.'

Sir Keir also endorsed fresh demands by MPs to be given a vote on the terms of Brexit.

Ed Miliband, the former Labour leader, is considering tabling an urgent question in the Commons tomorrow to try to force Theresa May to guarantee Parliament a role in Brexit negotiations.

Conor McGinn (left) and Holly Lynch (right) resigned today following the Labour leader's decision to sack the party's highly-respected chief whip Dame Rosie Winterton on Friday, which sparked widespread condemnation from moderate MPs

Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) was 'going to sack Conor McGinn anyway,' Labour sources said after the Labour leader blamed him for orchestrating the failed coup in the summer

He is leading a cross-party group of MPs in claiming that June's Brexit referendum was not a vote to leave the EU's single market and MPs should therefore be given a veto because of 'the importance of these decisions for the UK economy'.

Sir Keir, tipped as a future Labour leader himself, said MPs should be given a vote on Mrs May's opening negotiating terms when she triggers Article 50, the formal process for leaving the EU.

He insisted the referendum was 'clear and has to be accepted' but added: 'There has to be democratic grip of the process. At the moment the Prime Minister M is trying to do is manoeuvre without any scrutiny.

'That is why the terms on which we are going to negotiate absolutely have to be put to a vote in the house.'

He was speaking shortly before Labour d escended into fresh chaos with the resignations of Mr McGinn and Ms Lynch.

Mr Corbyn will fill their vacancies 'in due course' but deals a blow to his leadership after he thought he had finished completing his latest reshuffle.

And in a sign of further infighting a Labour source close to the veteran leader said Mr McGinn 'was going to get sacked anyway' after Mr Corbyn blamed him for orchestrating the failed coup against him in the summer.

Pro-Europe MPs led by Ed Miliband plot fresh bid to BLOCK Brexit, claiming voters did NOT want to leave the single market

MPs are plotting a fresh bid to block Brexit by claiming any deal that takes Britain out of the EU's single market should be first voted on by Parliament.

Remarkably, the cross-party group of pro-EU MPs  including senior Tories  claim that June's Brexit vote was not a decision to leave the single market.

Ed Miliband, who is leading the demands, says Parliament must not be overlooked because of 'the importance of these decisions for the UK economy'.

The former Labour leader said it would be an 'outrage' if Mrs May decided the terms of Brexit without first asking MPs. Sir Keir Starmer, the new Shadow Brexit Secretary, backed the move, demanding Theresa May holds a Commons vote on the terms of her opening hand in negotiations with the EU.

Ed Miliband (pictured), who is leading the demands, says Parliament must not be overlooked because of 'the importance of these decisions for the UK economy'

Mr Miliband has held talks with Conservative MPs and they are considering tabling an urgent question in the Commons demanding that Theresa May appears before MPs tomorow to explain Parliament's role in Brexit negotiations.

But Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said their demands 'typifies the disdain that the liberal elite has for voters'.

'They prefer the tyranny of the bien pensants to democracy,' he told MailOnline.

Fellow Tory MP Peter Bone said 'everybody knew the consequences' of a Brexit vote and the likelihood that leaving the EU would mean quitting the single market. 'The Remain campaign made that very clear,' Mr Bone told MailOnline.

Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured) said demands from MPs to be given a veto on Britain leaving the EU's single market 'typifies the disdain that the liberal elite has for voters'

And Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley, accused Mr Miliband of being 'spectacularly out of touch with his own constituents,' pointing out that his north Doncaster seat saw one of the biggest votes for Brexit in the country.

The latest attempts by MPs to change the terms of the historic June 23 referendum  which saw the biggest turnout in any UK election for more than two decades  comes after last week's Tory conference signalled the Government is pursuing a 'hard-Brexit' that would take Britain out of the single market in order to end free movement of people.

The vocal pro-European group includes former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, former Tory ministers Nicky Morgan and Anna Soubry, as well as SNP and Green MPs, who were all part of the failed campaign to keep Britain in the EU.

Mr Miliband told the Observer: 'Having claimed that the referendum was about returning sovereignty to Britain, it would be a complete outrage if May were to determine the terms of Brexit without a mandate from parliament.

'There is no mandate for hard Brexit, and I don't believe there is a majority in parliament for [it] either. Given the importance of these decisions for the UK economy  it has to be a matter for MPs.'

Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show this morning, Sir Keir accused Mrs May of failing to put the country first, telling the PM: 'Put the terms exit in front of the House and have a vote on it.'

Nick Clegg (pictured), who is in charge of the Lib Dem's policy on Brexit, said it 'would not be remotely acceptable' to bypass Parliament on the terms of Brexit

And Mr Clegg, who is in charge of the Lib Dem's policy on Brexit, said it 'would not be remotely acceptable' to bypass Parliament on the terms of Brexit.

But their calls to be given a vote on 'hard-Brexit' are likely to fall on deaf ears in Downing Street after Mrs May used her first speech to Tory party conference as Prime Minister to condemn the metropolitan elite for sneering at millions of ordinary Britons over immigration.

So far she has only committed to a parliamentary vote on repealing the 1972.

The department for exiting the European Union insisted MPs will be consulted and engaged throughout negotiations but refused to commit to giving Parliament a vote on the terms of leaving.

Conservative MP Philip Davies (pictured) lashed out at Remain MPs demanding a veto on the terms of leaving the EU, saying it is 'time for pro-EU fanatics to accept the result of the referendum'

Conservative MP Philip Davies lashed out at Remain MPs demanding a veto on the terms of leaving the EU, saying it is 'time for pro-EU fanatics to accept the result of the referendum'.

He told MailOnline: 'Everyone made their arguments during the campaign - including what the consequences of leaving were - and the British people made their decision.

'Ed Miliband ought to reflect on the fact that one of the biggest votes to leave the EU came in his Doncaster North constituency.

'Not only is he spectacularly out of touch with his own constituents, he now wants to treat them with contempt.

'As someone who was brought up in his constituency and with family members who still live there, I think he ought to consider packing in at the next election as the MP there. He clearly wouldn't recognise a working class voter if he tripped over one and is completely out of touch with the people he is supposed to represent.'

Mr Bone, MP for Wellingborough, said the Remain campaign had made it very clear itself during the referendum campaign that a vote to leave the EU was also a vote to leave the single market.

'Everybody knew the consequences of the referendum and the Remain campaign made it very clear,' he told MailOnline.

'The economy will be destroyed, the stock market will crash, house prices will fall - all that kind of stuff that hasn't come true,' he said of the Remain campaign's warnings of leaving the single market.

'The crucial issue was free movement - that was by a country mile the number one issue about the referendum.

'Everybody knew that the likelihood would be that you couldn't stay in the single market and end freedom of movement,' Mr Bone added.

In another remarkable intervention, business leaders said any deal that would end a close economic relationship with Europe should be ruled out 'under any circumstances'.

In an open letter, the Confederation of british Industry and engineering industry body EEF warn ministers not to pursue a trading deal that would adopt World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, which they say would slap on crippling tariffs to 90 per cent of UK exports.

The WTO rules would add 20 per cent in extra costs for the UK's food and drink industry and 10 per cent tariffs on British cars.

The business leaders write: 'We respect the result of the referendum, but the government must make sure that the terms of the deal to leave ensure stability, prosperity and improved living standards.'

A source at the Department for Exiting the European Union said: 'Parliament voted by six to one to give people the final say on EU membership in the referendum held on 23 June. While there can therefore be no attempt to keep Britain in the EU by the back door, we have been clear that parliament will be consulted and engaged throughout the process of exit.
Cupich, Tobin, and Farrell are considered moderates who, like Francis, are eager to make the Church more welcoming to diverse viewpoints

College of Cardinals is the Vatican body which convenes to elect a pope if the pontiff either dies or resigns

Three Americans are part of the crop of 17 new cardinals appointed by Pope Francis, The Vatican announced on Sunday.

Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich, Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin, and Dallas' outgoing bishop, Kevin Farrell, are among the pontiff's selections which show the Catholic Church is trying to present a more moderate face.

It takes the total number of American cardinals to 20.

Pope Francis (seen here waving to the faithful in St. Peter's Square on October 9, 2016) named 17 new cardinals on Sunday, three of them Americans

Thirteen of the 17 cardinals named by Francis on Sunday are under the age of 80, meaning that they are eligible to vote for the next pope, according to the Associated Press.

Cupich's elevation makes this the seventh time that a Chicago archbishop has been named to the College of Cardinals, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The Omaha, Nebraska, native, who came to Chicago just two years ago after he headed the diocese of Spokane, Washington, is widely perceived as a moderate cleric in the same vein as Francis.

The pope has struck a more conciliatory tone toward groups that have long been marginalized by the Catholic Church, including homosexuals and the poor.

After the June 12 massacre at Orlando's Pulse nightclub, that left 49 dead and more than 100 injured, Francis said that homosexuals deserve an apology from the Church.

Archbishop of Indianapolis Joseph William Tobin (left) and Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell (right) were two of the US clerics named to the College of Cardinals by the pope

Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich (left, with Pope Francis in 2015) is widely perceived as a moderate cleric in the same vein as the pontiff

Last year, the pope tapped Cupich to take part in an international conference of bishops and cardinals aimed at examining ways of communicating Church teachings on sensitive issues such as marriage, contraception, divorce, and homosexuality to Catholics in today's day and age.

AMERICAN CARDINALS Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich, Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin, and Dallas' outgoing bishop, Kevin Farrell were named cardinals by Pope Francis. That brings the total number of American cardinals to 20. Americans who are already members include Bernard Francis Law, Sean Patrick O'Malley, Edwin Frederick O'Brien, and Timothy M. Dolan. Cupich's elevation makes this the seventh time that a Chicago archbishop has been named to the College of Cardinals. Cupich, the ninth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago, was a surprise pick by Francis to head America's third-largest Catholic community. He was previously the head of the diocese of Spokane, Washington, and Rapid City, South Dakota. The Irish-born Farrell is also considered a warm, friendly cleric who is not shy about advocating for important social justice causes. His brother, Brian, is a bishop. He was appointed by the Vatican to be secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Before his posting in Dallas, he was auxiliary archbishop in Washington, D.C. Tobin is a native of Detroit and the oldest of 13 children. Named Archbishop of Indianapolis by Francis' predecessor, Pope Benedict, in October 2012, Tobin speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese and he reads several other languages. Tobin had been the No. 2 in the Vatican office for religious orders for only two years when in 2012, then-Pope Benedict XVI sent him back to the US to head the Indianapolis archdiocese, which had fewer than 230,000 parishioners. Advertisement

Farrell is considered a warm, friendly cleric who is not shy about advocating for important social justice causes.

This past summer, Francis appointed Farrell as the head of a new Vatican office devoted to families and laity, making him the highest-ranking American at the Holy See, CBS News reported.

Tobin is viewed as a church official on the more 'progressive' end of the spectrum, particularly with his advocacy for women's issues.

The nomination for Tobin could indicate Francis' appreciation of Tobin's support for American nuns.

Tobin had been the No. 2 in the Vatican office for religious orders for only two years when in 2012, then-Pope Benedict XVI sent him back to the US to head the Indianapolis archdiocese, which had fewer than 230,000 parishioners.

The transfer was seen in some Vatican circles as being tied to Tobin's efforts to promote dialogue and resolve tensions between the Vatican and US nuns who were subject of two separate Holy See investigations.

After Francis was elected, both investigations were concluded with Vatican praise for the work of the sisters.

The College of Cardinals is the Vatican body that convenes to name a successor to the pope if and when the pontiff dies or resigns.

Prior to Sunday's announcement, there were a total of 17 cardinals from the US.

The list includes Bernard Francis Law, Sean Patrick O'Malley, Edwin Frederick O'Brien, and Timothy M. Dolan.

As is Francis' tradition, the new cardinals hail from some of the most far-away and peripheral corners of the globe.

Africa, Asia, South America and Oceania are now getting more representation than Europe, which has long dominated the College of Cardinals.
comes two years after author's death in new BBC documentary

She was hiding in a tree with friends near her

Adrian Mole author Sue Townsend saw a 12-year-old girl strangled to death when she was just eight - with her testimony eventually sending the killer to the gallows.

Named Susan Johnstone back in 1953, the author climbed a tree with friends in a wooded area of Leicester and a man arrived shortly after, yanking a young girl with him.

The man would strangle the girl in front of the three friends, who ran for help shortly after the killer left the scene.

Police would later charge Joseph Reynolds, an Irish labourer, with murdering Janet Walker, and he was hanged five months later after confessing.

Adrian Mole author Sue Townsend (pictured in 2011) saw a 12-year-old girl strangled to death when she was just eight - with her testimony eventually sending the killer to the gallows

The revelation comes two years after the author's death, and will be shown in a documentary about Townsend's life airing on BBC2 on Saturday.

The Secret Life of Sue Townsend (Aged 68), will offer new insight into the life of the successful author, who died at the age of 68 in 2014 following a stroke.

The Sunday Times quotes Townsend as saying in the documentary: ' My memory is of me at eight being an adult  being grown-up, and coping in a grown-up way with things that little children shouldnt have to cope with.

'It is also astonishing how many writers have suffered similar things. It turns you in on yourself. You become very aware of atmosphere. You notice things.'

Born in Leicester in 1946, Townsend left school at the age of 15, married at 18, and by 23 was a single parent with three children, a biography from her publisher, Penguin, said.

After writing in secret for 20 years while working as a factory worker, shop assistant and youth worker, she eventually joined a writers' group at the Phoenix Theatre in Leicester when she was in her 30s.

Sue Townsend died at the age of 68 in 2014 following a stroke (she is pictured at a book signing in 1993)

At 35 she won the Thames Playwright Award for her play, Womberang, and a year later published the first in her series about Adrian Mole, which she had begun writing in 1975 while living on a Leicester housing estate.

The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4 was published in 1982, to immediate success. The diary-style book was written from the point of view of a teenage boy in Leicester who believed himself to be an intellectual.

Set in 1981 and 1982, it includes many of the key historic moments of the time, including the Falklands War, the wedding of Lady Diana and Prince Charles, and the birth of Prince William, and was followed by a sequel, The Growing Pains Of Adrian Mole, in 1984.

It spawned a series of eight novels which were translated into 40 languages, went on to sell 10million copies and made the author a multi-millionaire.

The two books made her the best-selling novelist of the 1980s, and were followed by six others in the Mole series, including The True Confessions Of Adrian Albert Mole and most recently Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years, in 2009.

Much of Townsend's life was blighted by illness. She had a heart attack in her 30s and suffered from diabetes for many years, leaving her registered blind in 2001 and forced to resort to dictating her work.

The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4 was published in 1982, to immediate success. Townsend is pictured promoting the book, right

She later wrote: 'Over the course of one weekend recently, I went three-quarters blind There was no treatment, and my best course of action was to buy a pair of very dark glasses.'

By 2009, diabetes meant she needed a kidney transplant, and her elder son, Sean, donated one of his.

Speaking in 2012, she said: 'He felt it more than I did. I'm used to having operations but he'd never been in hospital before. There was never any hesitation, though.

'I was thrilled he was going to give me his kidney, but also scared for him and truly appreciated it.'

In recent years she was left wheelchair-bound, with neuropathy in her limbs, and she suffered a stroke last year.

LIFE IN SUBURBAN LEICESTER: ADRIAN MOLE'S BEST QUOTES ' I have never seen a dead body or a female nipple. This is what comes from living in a cul de sac' ' After hearing the disgusting noises from downstairs last night, I have also vowed never to drink alcohol' 'Pandora! / I adore ya / I implore ye / Don't ignore me' 'My mother wants to move. She wants to sell the house that I have lived in all my life. She said that we will need more room 'for the baby'. How stupid can you get? Babies hardly take any space at all. They are only about 21 inches long' 'Had a note from Mr Cherry asking me when I can resume my paper round. I sent a note back to say that due to my mother's desertion I am still in a mental state. This is true. I wore odd socks yesterday without knowing it.' Advertisement

As well as her Mole books, Townsend also wrote a number of other novels, including The Queen And I, as well as further plays and two non-fiction books.

Several of her books were adapted for the stage, while the Mole series were adapted for radio, television and theatre. She also wrote monthly columns for Sainsbury's magazine from 1993 to 2001.

Townsend was awarded an honorary Masters of Arts from Leicester University and in 2008 was made a Distinguished Honorary Fellow, the highest awards the university can give.

She was also an Honorary Doctor of Letters at Loughborough University and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

In 2009 Townsend was given the Honorary Freedom of Leicester, and said: 'I have been a citizen of Leicester for over 62 years, most of my family and friends live here, so I was delighted when I was nominated to receive the freedom of the city.'

But despite her vast success, Townsend revealed that the fortune she made from Adrian Mole had not made her happy  and she had given most of it away. In a candid interview, she once told how she has struggled to cope with fame.
Police said was the prime suspect in the case of

to be responsible for up to 22 more rapes in Melbourne

A man believed to be a prolific rapist who drugged and sexually assaulted up to 22 women as they left nightclubs in Melbourne has died before his release from prison.

Harry Barkas was jailed in 2010 for raping three women over a 14 year period but is believed to be responsible for terrorising many more across Melbourne in the 1990s as the 'Hot Chocolate rapist'.

Barkas was the prime suspect in a string of rapes where the young female victim was lured into a car and offered a hot drink laced with the date-rape drug Rohypnol.

Harry Barkas was the prime suspect in a string of rapes where the young female victim was lured into a car and offered a hot drink laced with the date-rape drug Rohypnol (pictured)

The women were left with no memory of the calculated assaults and Barkas was never charged due to a lack of evidence.

But the 54-year-old was sentenced to a minimum nine years jail after three women he knew told police he had spiked their drinks and raped them while they were unconscious.

One woman told the Victorian County Court she remembers being drowsy after having a drink with Barkas at his parent's house, the Herald Sun reported.

She said her next memory was waking up partially clothed with Barakas raping her.

One woman told the Victorian County Court (pictured) she remembers becoming drowsy after having a drink with Barkas at his parent's house before waking up with him raping her

Another reportedly said the assault had left her feeling 'violated, betrayed and sometimes dead'.

Police found a stash of Rohypnol in the rapist's home when they raided it and believed he used the debilitating drug - which he sourced through his job as a medical receptionist - to prey on women as the Hot Chocolate rapist.

The rapist earned his nickname as he stopped at a convenience store to buy each of his unassuming victim's a hot drink which he would use to slip them the date rape drug.

Barkas was approaching his release date, having served almost three years behind bars before he was found guilty, but died on Sunday before he was given the chance to roam the streets again, the Herald Sun reported.

The rapist earned his nickname as he stopped to buy each of his unassuming victim's a drink - like hot chocolate (pictured) - which he would use to slip them the date rape drug

Judge Paul Lacava labelled Barkas as 'despicable' and warned that he was not confident that the rapist felt any remorse and thought he would re-offend upon his release.
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After unleashing days of havoc and fear across the Atlantic coast, Matthew has finally been stripped of its hurricane status.

Matthew was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone just before daybreak Sunday morning as it began making its slow exit to the sea.

The storm killed 18 people in the United States as it hit Florida and then traveled up the East Coast, having already left nearly 900 people dead in its wake in Haiti, according to ABC News.

Matthew unloaded more than a foot of rain on North Carolina, its final stop, on Saturday night and flooded homes and businesses as far as 100 miles inland.

It finally moved out to sea around 5am on Sunday and was centered about 60 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, sustaining hurricane-force winds of 75 mph.

President Obama signed major disaster declarations for Florida and Georgia on Sunday morning.

Scroll down for video

After unleashing days of havoc and fear across the Atlantic coast, Matthew has finally been stripped of its hurricane status. Pictured are flood waters in Charleston, South Carolina

Matthew was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone just before daybreak Sunday morning but flash floods continue to remain a danger in North Carolina (pictured is Wilmington on Saturday)

Many in North Carolina were left stranded in their cars due to flash flooding caused by Matthew (pictured is Wilmington beside the Cape Fear River on Saturday)

Two North Carolina Army National Guardsmen evacuate residents in Fayetteville on Saturday afternoon

Life-threatening flash floods surprised many in the state on Saturday night, with 562 water rescues being conducted in just Cumberland County alone (pictured is Fayetteville)

Forecasters warned North Carolina residents that there was danger of life-threatening flooding through Monday night

The extent of flooding in the state could be seen Sunday morning, such as in this picture of Lumberton

A man walks through the flooded waters to his home in Lumberton on Sunday morning

North Carolina Gov Pat McCrory revealed on Sunday morning that seven people had been killed during the storm, the highest death toll of any state (pictured is Lumberton on Sunday)

Abandoned cars were spotted dotting the streets of Raleigh as the sun came out and Matthew headed towards the sea

Gov Pat McCrory revealed on Sunday morning that seven people had been killed during the storm, the highest death toll of any state.

Six people have also been killed in Florida, four deaths - all caused by falling trees - were reported in Georgia, and one person has been killed in South Carolina.

McCrory said one person was killed after their vehicle hydroplaned in heavy rain and two others died after their car became submerged in the flood waters.

Another resident drowned after they drove past a barricade and were swept away into a creek.

As of late Sunday there are also four people missing in the state's Cumberland County, where more than 562 water rescues were also conducted, according to The Weather Channel.

Life-threatening flash floods surprised many in the state, including 25 vehicles that had to be rescued by highway patrol troopers after becoming stranded on Interstate 95.

And in Brunswick County, about 100 hotel guests had to be taken by bus to a shelter because the main walls of the Comfort Inn Suites were on the verge of collapse.

Matthew was centered about 60 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on Sunday as it moved out to sea

The tropical cyclone was still sustaining hurricane-force winds of 75 mph as of Sunday morning

An abandoned truck lies in submerged waters on Sunday afternoon after Hurricane Matthew hit Lumberton

Pedestrians and drivers navigate rising waters along the Cape Fear River in Wilmington, North Carolina on Saturday

A car sits in flood waters due to rain from Hurricane Matthew in Rockingham, North Carolina on Saturday

The extent of Matthew's damage in Florida (pictured is Port Orange), where six people were killed, could be seen on Sunday

Cherie Monroe stands in the sun room of her home in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew in Port Orange on Sunday

Monroe's entire roof had been blown off her home as Matthew made its way across the state

Bug Mohani steers his wheelchair along a part of closed A1A highway washed out by the storm in Flagler Beach, Florida

Local residents surveyed the damage caused to their town after Matthew wreaked havoc up the state on Friday

The unofficial rainfall totals in North Carolina were staggering: 18 inches in Wilmington, 14 inches in Fayetteville and 8 inches in Raleigh.

Flooding along the state's Neuse River is expected to reach an all-time high, exceeding the record flooding from Hurricane Floyd in 1999 by more than two feet.

Cape Fear River, Tar River and Cashie River were also expected to near or surpass flood level stages and McRory continued to warn of danger despite the fact that Matthew had downgraded to a Category 1 storm on Saturday.

HURRICANE MATTHEW DEATH TOLL FLORIDA: 6 GEORGIA: 4 SOUTH CAROLINA: 1 NORTH CAROLINA: 7 HAITI: 877 Advertisement

'Most of our concerns right now are inland,' he said. 'We're going to have surges on the major rivers coming into North Carolina, which could cause some serious, serious damage.'

Forecasters said the state as well as Virginia could get even more rain and warned of the danger of life-threatening flooding through Monday night.

While the crisis was far from over in North Carolina, other places to the South began to survey Matthew's damage.

The storm left 2.2million households and businesses without power across the Southeast over the weekend.

South Carolina made up the bulk of that figure, with 746,000 power outages across the state as of early Sunday.

There were more than 670,000 power outages in North Carolina and around 205,000 in Georgia as well.

An especially dramatic rescue in Fayetteville was captured on camera Saturday night when three people became stranded

Crews from the NYPD and New York City Fire Department (FDNY) were able to successfully rescue the three occupants

Florida, which was hit by Matthew on Friday, still has 561, 862 outages as of early Sunday morning but the power is expected to be restored for most customers by the end of the day.

It has been estimated that Matthew, the most powerful hurricane to threaten the Atlantic Seaboard in more than a decade, will end up damaging roughly 1.5million residential and commercial properties in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Property data firm CoreLogic projects that the total damage will cost between $4billion and $6billion in insured losses, anticipating 90 percent of insurance claims will be attributed to storm surges and wind damage from the storm.

On Saturday, Matthew sideswiped two of the South's oldest and most historic cities  Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina and caused levels of flooding that had not been seen since 'the late 1800s', according to FEMA administrator Craig Fugate.

Some 20 inches inches of rain was dumped on the state before it made landfall at around 11am in the Cape Romaine National Wildlife Refuge Center near McClellanville.

This aerial photo shows the extent of flooding in Charleston, where high tides caused by Matthew sailed over the city's historical seawall and flooded the streets that were simultaneously being pounded with heavy rains

A resident kayaks in flood waters on Rutledge Avenue after Hurricane Matthew hit Charleston, South Carolina

Four Charleston residents stand on their porch and survey Matthew's damage on Saturday afternoon

Residents of an upscale historic neighborhood wade through flood waters as they return to their home in Charleston

Streets and intersections in the city, which is made up of handsome pre-Civil War homes, church steeples and romantic carriage rides, were flooded in Charleston on Saturday

Charleston was one of the worst-hit cities in South Carolina, with waves rushing over its seawall and through its historic streets on Saturday morning as tides reached historic levels.

A flash flood emergency, reserved only for the most life-threatening situations, was issued by the National Weather Service for areas in South and North Carolina, including their respective cities of Myrtle Beach and Raleigh.

Rainfall totals were at 17.5 inches in Savannah, Georgia by Saturday afternoon and reached almost 15 inches in Beaufort, South Carolina.

The Battery of Charleston, a landmark defensive seawall, could not hold back the waves as the tide rushed in and submerged the promenade of the popular tourist destination.

Streets and intersections in the city, which is made up of handsome pre-Civil War homes, church steeples and romantic carriage rides, were also flooded as the city was pounded with heavy rainfall.

Matthew then shifted course north of Charleston to Myrtle Beach, where multiple houses were also damaged after a reported tornado hit the northern part of the city on Saturday morning.

A homeless woman named Valerie walks along flooded President Street after leaving her camp in Savannah on Saturday

A member of the Pooler Fire Department uses a boat to move residents of homes in a Savannah suburb

An officer from the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department surveys a stranded car in the city's flooded waters

Addie & Richard Schlemmer sit at the deserted City Market in Savannah after a sleepless night following the storm

After pounding North Carolina and drenching parts of Virginia, Matthew is expected to veer out to sea, lose steam and loop back around toward the Bahamas and Florida, where it will likely be too feeble to cause any trouble.

For nearly its entire run up the coast from Florida, Matthew hung just far enough offshore that communities did not feel the full force of its winds.

But the storm still spread devastation across parts of the state, which saw six of its residents killed in Matthew's wake.

An elderly St. Lucie County couple died from carbon monoxide fumes while running a generator in their garage during the storm, while two women were also killed in separate events when trees fell on a home and a camper.

The other two victims could not be reached by emergency services because of the storm after suffering medical conditions in their homes.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott said the state had suffered an 'unbelievable' amount of beach erosion and fallen trees, but said he was grateful that Matthew had not made landfall.

More than 5,900 people remained in 70 shelters across the state as of Saturday afternoon as many began to survey Matthew's damage and try to resume business as usual.

All four deaths reported in Georgia were caused by trees that had been downed during the worst of the storm

An ambulance responding to a call passes by a truck damaged by a fallen tree on Interstate 16 West in Savannah

Georgia Department of Transportation workers help repair downed street lights and power in Savannah on Sunday

A tree and power lines blown over by Hurricane Matthew lay across a road on St. Simons Island, Georgia on Saturday

It has been estimated that Matthew will end up damaging roughly 1.5million residential and commercial properties in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Pictured here is a home in Savannah

Walt Disney World, which closed for only the fourth time in its 45-year history, reopened its doors on Saturday, as did Universal Orlando and SeaWorld.

Along Daytona Beach's main drag, the Silver Diner had all of its shiny metal siding ripped off the front and sides, leaving only a wood frame exposed.

Next door, the window of a souvenir shop had been blown out and the roof and ceiling torn through, leaving pink insulation dangling.

David Beasley, president of Insurance Recovery Inc., surveyed the damage and said that although it looked bad, the main strip was hit harder by Hurricane Charley and Hurricane Frances in 2004.

'This is not much compared to those two,' he said.

By hugging the coast, the storm pretty much behaved as forecasters predicted. A shift of just 20 or 30 miles could have meant widespread devastation.

A man leans on a damaged boardwalk at a debris covered beach in St Augustine, Florida on Saturday

A boat is partially submerged in the Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona Beach, Florida on Sunday morning

A damaged airplane was found lying upside down at Florida's Ormond Beach Municipal Airport in the aftermath of the storm

'People got incredibly lucky,' Colorado State University meteorology professor Phil Klotzbach. 'It was a super close call.'

While Matthew's wind speed had dropped considerably by the time it hit the Southeast coast, the storm will still go down as one of the most potent hurricanes on record, based on such factors as wind energy and longevity, and as one of the most long-lived major hurricanes, too.

It was a major hurricane  that is, with winds of at least 110 mph  for just over seven days.

And the true extent of Matthew's devastation still remains unknown in Haiti, where at least 470 people died in just one of the country's districts in the hard-hit southwest region.

Fridnel Kedler, coordinator for the Civil Protection Agency in Grand-Anse, said the total death toll - already near 900 - is 'sure to go up' as officials still have not been able to reach two communities in that department three days after the Category 4 storm hit.

Officials are especially concerned about Grand-Anse, located on the northern tip of the southwest peninsula, where they believe the death toll and damage is highest.

Government and UN officials estimate that some 350,000 people in the country need help and the Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal for $6.9million to assist with aid.

In this aerial photo, residents of St. Augustine wait along side the road to get clearance to return to their homes on Saturday

A beachfront home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, was ravaged by the storm, the wall of its living room ripped clean off

The roof of an adjacent condominium building lies on top of the roof of La Bella Inn in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew
Labour descended into fresh chaos today as two whips quit Jeremy Corbyn's frontbench in protest at his latest reshuffle.

Conor McGinn and Holly Lynch resigned today following the Labour leader's decision to sack the party's highly-respected chief whip Dame Rosie Winterton on Friday, which sparked widespread condemnation from moderate MPs.

Their resignations came as Mr Corbyn was still trying to find new MPs to fill vacant positions in his frontbench following mass resignations in the summer.

Tonight he announced 21 new appointments, handing shadow ministerial jobs to junior MPs, many of whom have very little experience.

Pat Glass returned to the frontbench as a shadow transport minister despite resigning in June just two days after being appointed as Shadow Education Secretary.

She was also forced to give a grovelling apology during the EU referendum campaign after branding a voter in the Derbyshire village of Sawley a 'horrible racist' and saying: 'I'm never coming back to wherever this is.'

Conor McGinn (left) and Holly Lynch (right) resigned today following the Labour leader's decision to sack the party's highly-respected chief whip Dame Rosie Winterton on Friday, which sparked widespread condemnation from moderate MPs

Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) was 'going to sack Conor McGinn anyway,' Labour sources said after the Labour leader blamed him for orchestrating the failed coup in the summer

Another - Chi Onwurah - has returned as shadow industrial strategy minister despite criticising Mr Corbyn for the way he treated black female MPs, saying she would have taken the Labour leader to a tribunal 'in any other job'.

Mr Corbyn appointed Rosena Allin-Khan as shadow sports minister despite the Tooting MP only being in the Commons since mid-June.

In her first appearance at Prime Minister's Questions David Cameron joked that she should keep her mobile phone on as 'she might be in the shadow cabinet by the end of the day'.

The Labour leader will have to find even more Labour MPs to join his frontbench following the resignation of Mr McGinn and Ms Lynch, with further shadow whips expected to resign tomorrow.

Labour sources told MailOnline that Mr McGinn 'was going to get sacked anyway' after Mr Corbyn blamed him for orchestrating the failed coup against him in the summer.

Pat Glass (pictured with Jeremy Corbyn earlier this year) returned to the frontbench despite resigning in June just two days after being appointed as Shadow Education Secretary

Mr Corbyn appointed Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan (left) as shadow sports minister despite only being in the Commons since mid-June

Earlier today Mr Corbyn's new Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer failed to endorse him as leader.

Asked if Mr Corbyn would make a 'good Prime Minister,' Sir Keir told the Andrew Marr Show today: 'Well look, we've had a leadership election, Jeremy won that, we accept it and we respect it.'

He added: 'Of course we want a Labour government, of course we want to support Jeremy to that end.

'He's won the membership, he now needs to win the country  he knows that, we know that and we need to work together on that.'

Labour MPs were 'shocked' at Mr Corbyn's decision to sack Dame Winterton, who had served as the party's chief whip since 2010 and was a key link between the left-wing leader and the moderate wing of the party.

It emerged today that she had to demand a face-to-face meeting with the Labour leader after he tried to sack her on the phone.

Just two days after being appointed to Mr Corbyn's Shadow Cabinet Sir Keir Starmer (pictured on the Andrew Marr Show today) admitted migration levels to the UK had been too high over the last decade - a direct contradiction to the Labour leader's view

Mr Corbyn blamed her for trying to oust him as leader after 172 of the party's MPs signed a vote of no confidence in his leadership following his lacklustre performance in the EU referendum campaign.

But her sacking, and his decision to promote a string of key supporters including Diane Abbott and Shami Chakrabarti, generated a furious backlash in the party that risks deepening the party's civil war despite Mr Corbyn's promise to unite the party after his rel-election last month.

John Cryer, the influential chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, blasted Mr Corbyn by accusing him of starting the reshuffle without consulting colleagues.

Moderates are angry at Mr Corbyn for ignoring calls to bring back shadow cabinet elections.

Hitting back at his critics today, a Labour source close to Mr Corbyn said: 'No one will lose any sleep over Conor McGinn resigning after the disloyalty he showed in organising resignations during the attempted coup.'

A spokesperson for the Labour leader said he would fill their positions 'in due course'.

But it creates further problems for Mr Corbyn after he thought his reshuffle had been completed.

A spokesperson for Mr Corbyn said: 'We thank Conor McGinn and Holly Lynch for their services. Their positions will be filled in due course.'

The latest infighting came as m ajor splits emerged within Mr Corbyn's frontbench over Labour's immigration policy as Sir Keir said numbers must be cut.

In his set-piece speech to Labour conference last month, Jeremy Corbyn (pictured at the Labour part yconference in Liverpool last month) said he would not seek controls on immigration as said accused the Tory government of 'fanning the flames of fear', while his spokesman said the veteran leader is 'not concerned about numbers'

Sir Keir Starmer (pictured on the Andrew Marr Show this morning), the former director of public prosecutions, also failed to give a full endorsement of Mr Corbyn in a further sign of trouble for Mr Corbyn after he faced a major backlash for sacking his chief whip Dame Rosie Winterton and offering just a handful of his critics a role in his new Shadow Cabinet

Just two days after being appointed as the new Shadow Brexit Secretary, Sir Keir admitted migration levels to the UK had been too high over the last decade - a direct contradiction to the Labour leader's view.

In his set-piece speech to Labour conference last month, Mr Corbyn said he would not seek controls on immigration as said accused the Tory government of 'fanning the flames of fear', while his spokesman said the veteran leader is 'not concerned about numbers'.

Sir Keir, who stormed out of Mr Corbyn's frontbench in protest at his lacklustre performance during the EU referendum campaign, said the Government must be 'shrewd and careful' in getting the right balance between ending freedom of movement and maintaining trade links with Brussels.

But in a major departure from Mr Corbyn on immigration, he said: 'There has been a huge amount of immigration over the last 10 years and people are understandably concerned about it.

'I think it should be reduced and it should be reduced by making sure we have the skills in this country that are needed for the jobs that need to be done.'

Sir Keir also endorsed fresh demands by MPs to be given a vote on the terms of Brexit.

Ed Miliband, the former Labour leader, is considering tabling an urgent question in the Commons tomorrow to try to force Theresa May to guarantee Parliament a role in Brexit negotiations.

He is leading a cross-party group of MPs in claiming that June's Brexit referendum was not a vote to leave the EU's single market and MPs should therefore be given a veto because of 'the importance of these decisions for the UK economy'.

Sir Keir, tipped as a future Labour leader himself, said MPs should be given a vote on Mrs May's opening negotiating terms when she triggers Article 50, the formal process for leaving the EU.

He insisted the referendum was 'clear and has to be accepted' but added: 'There has to be democratic grip of the process. At the moment the Prime Minister M is trying to do is manoeuvre without any scrutiny.

'That is why the terms on which we are going to negotiate absolutely have to be put to a vote in the house.'

JEREMY CORBYN APPOINTS 21 JUNIOR MINISTERS TO FILL VACANCIES LEFT BY MASS RESIGNATIONS Shadow Minister for Labour  Jack Dromey MP Shadow Minister for Industrial Strategy  Chi Onwurah MP Shadow Minister for Transport - Pat Glass MP Shadow Minister for Children and Families - Emma Lewell-Buck MP Shadow Minister for Public Health - Sharon Hodgson MP Shadow Minister for Early Years - Tulip Siddiq MP Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government - Gareth Thomas MP Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government - Kate Hollern MP Shadow Minister for Local Government and Housing - Roberta Blackman-Woods MP Shadow Minister for Local Government and Devolution - Jim McMahon MP Shadow Minister - Department of Work and Pensions - Margaret Greenwood MP Shadow Minister for Arts and Heritage and Deputy Secretary of State DCMS - Kevin Brennan MP Shadow Minister for the Digital Economy - Louise Haigh MP Shadow Minister for Sport - Rosena Allin-Khan MP Shadow Minister for Brexit - Jenny Chapman MP Shadow Minister for Brexit - Matthew Pennycook MP Shadow Minister for Brexit - Paul Bloomfield MP Shadow Solicitor General - Nick Thomas- Symonds MP Shadow Minister for Home Affairs - Carolyn Harris MP Shadow Minister for Justice - Yasmin Qureshi MP Shadow Community Health Minister - Julie Cooper MP Advertisement

Pro-Europe MPs led by Ed Miliband plot fresh bid to BLOCK Brexit, claiming voters did NOT want to leave the single market

MPs are plotting a fresh bid to block Brexit by claiming any deal that takes Britain out of the EU's single market should be first voted on by Parliament.

Remarkably, the cross-party group of pro-EU MPs  including senior Tories  claim that June's Brexit vote was not a decision to leave the single market.

Ed Miliband, who is leading the demands, says Parliament must not be overlooked because of 'the importance of these decisions for the UK economy'.

The former Labour leader said it would be an 'outrage' if Mrs May decided the terms of Brexit without first asking MPs. Sir Keir Starmer, the new Shadow Brexit Secretary, backed the move, demanding Theresa May holds a Commons vote on the terms of her opening hand in negotiations with the EU.

Ed Miliband (pictured), who is leading the demands, says Parliament must not be overlooked because of 'the importance of these decisions for the UK economy'

Mr Miliband has held talks with Conservative MPs and they are considering tabling an urgent question in the Commons demanding that Theresa May appears before MPs tomorow to explain Parliament's role in Brexit negotiations.

But Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said their demands 'typifies the disdain that the liberal elite has for voters'.

'They prefer the tyranny of the bien pensants to democracy,' he told MailOnline.

Fellow Tory MP Peter Bone said 'everybody knew the consequences' of a Brexit vote and the likelihood that leaving the EU would mean quitting the single market. 'The Remain campaign made that very clear,' Mr Bone told MailOnline.

Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured) said demands from MPs to be given a veto on Britain leaving the EU's single market 'typifies the disdain that the liberal elite has for voters'

And Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley, accused Mr Miliband of being 'spectacularly out of touch with his own constituents,' pointing out that his north Doncaster seat saw one of the biggest votes for Brexit in the country.

The latest attempts by MPs to change the terms of the historic June 23 referendum  which saw the biggest turnout in any UK election for more than two decades  comes after last week's Tory conference signalled the Government is pursuing a 'hard-Brexit' that would take Britain out of the single market in order to end free movement of people.

The vocal pro-European group includes former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, former Tory ministers Nicky Morgan and Anna Soubry, as well as SNP and Green MPs, who were all part of the failed campaign to keep Britain in the EU.

Mr Miliband told the Observer: 'Having claimed that the referendum was about returning sovereignty to Britain, it would be a complete outrage if May were to determine the terms of Brexit without a mandate from parliament.

'There is no mandate for hard Brexit, and I don't believe there is a majority in parliament for [it] either. Given the importance of these decisions for the UK economy  it has to be a matter for MPs.'

Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show this morning, Sir Keir accused Mrs May of failing to put the country first, telling the PM: 'Put the terms exit in front of the House and have a vote on it.'

Nick Clegg (pictured), who is in charge of the Lib Dem's policy on Brexit, said it 'would not be remotely acceptable' to bypass Parliament on the terms of Brexit

And Mr Clegg, who is in charge of the Lib Dem's policy on Brexit, said it 'would not be remotely acceptable' to bypass Parliament on the terms of Brexit.

But their calls to be given a vote on 'hard-Brexit' are likely to fall on deaf ears in Downing Street after Mrs May used her first speech to Tory party conference as Prime Minister to condemn the metropolitan elite for sneering at millions of ordinary Britons over immigration.

So far she has only committed to a parliamentary vote on repealing the 1972.

The department for exiting the European Union insisted MPs will be consulted and engaged throughout negotiations but refused to commit to giving Parliament a vote on the terms of leaving.

Conservative MP Philip Davies (pictured) lashed out at Remain MPs demanding a veto on the terms of leaving the EU, saying it is 'time for pro-EU fanatics to accept the result of the referendum'

Conservative MP Philip Davies lashed out at Remain MPs demanding a veto on the terms of leaving the EU, saying it is 'time for pro-EU fanatics to accept the result of the referendum'.

He told MailOnline: 'Everyone made their arguments during the campaign - including what the consequences of leaving were - and the British people made their decision.

'Ed Miliband ought to reflect on the fact that one of the biggest votes to leave the EU came in his Doncaster North constituency.

'Not only is he spectacularly out of touch with his own constituents, he now wants to treat them with contempt.

'As someone who was brought up in his constituency and with family members who still live there, I think he ought to consider packing in at the next election as the MP there. He clearly wouldn't recognise a working class voter if he tripped over one and is completely out of touch with the people he is supposed to represent.'

Mr Bone, MP for Wellingborough, said the Remain campaign had made it very clear itself during the referendum campaign that a vote to leave the EU was also a vote to leave the single market.

'Everybody knew the consequences of the referendum and the Remain campaign made it very clear,' he told MailOnline.

'The economy will be destroyed, the stock market will crash, house prices will fall - all that kind of stuff that hasn't come true,' he said of the Remain campaign's warnings of leaving the single market.

'The crucial issue was free movement - that was by a country mile the number one issue about the referendum.

'Everybody knew that the likelihood would be that you couldn't stay in the single market and end freedom of movement,' Mr Bone added.

In another remarkable intervention, business leaders said any deal that would end a close economic relationship with Europe should be ruled out 'under any circumstances'.

In an open letter, the Confederation of british Industry and engineering industry body EEF warn ministers not to pursue a trading deal that would adopt World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, which they say would slap on crippling tariffs to 90 per cent of UK exports.

The WTO rules would add 20 per cent in extra costs for the UK's food and drink industry and 10 per cent tariffs on British cars.

The business leaders write: 'We respect the result of the referendum, but the government must make sure that the terms of the deal to leave ensure stability, prosperity and improved living standards.'

A source at the Department for Exiting the European Union said: 'Parliament voted by six to one to give people the final say on EU membership in the referendum held on 23 June. While there can therefore be no attempt to keep Britain in the EU by the back door, we have been clear that parliament will be consulted and engaged throughout the process of exit.
using sharp knives attached to chains to whip their own backs

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This is the moment a baby screamed out as a relative sliced its head open with a kitchen knife as part of an Islamic self-flagellation ceremony to mourn the death of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson 1,300 years ago.

Gruesome pictures show a man holding a knife to the head of a young child in Ahmadabad, India while others show boys whipping themselves with sharp blades.

In separate images, men can be seen crying out in pain as they use knives attached to chains to cut their own backs at a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Pools of blood can be seen on the floor of the building after the men performed the ritual to mark Ashura - one of the major fixtures of the Islamic calendar.

A man holds a knife to a baby's head as he cuts the child during a Muharram procession in Ahmadabad, India

A Kashmiri Shia Muslim boy flagellates himself during a Muharram procession in Srinagar in Indian controlled Kashmir

Gory: Shia Muslims in Afghanistan have gathered to perform self-flagellation rituals as they mourn the death of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson 1,300 years ago

Pain: Gruesome pictures show men crying out in pain as they use knives attached to chains to whip their own backs at a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan

Tradition: Pools of blood can be seen on the floor of the building after the men performed the ritual to mark Ashura - one of the major fixtures of the Islamic calendar

Ritual: Photographs of the event show young men, bleeding profusely from their backs, while afterwards they help each other wash away blood coming from their wounds

Sharp: Even very small children swing the sharp blades on the end of chains, slashing their skin in the brutal ritual

Photographs of the event in Afghanistan show young men bleeding profusely from their backs. Afterwards they help each other wash away blood coming from their wounds.

The tradition is seen by some as a way of washing away their sins and is a national holiday in many countries with thousands taking part in the annual rituals.

A national holiday in many countries, thousands take part in the annual rituals which include people whipping and cutting themselves with chains and knives.

Kashmiri Shia Muslims flagellate themselves as they take part in a religious procession held on the seventh day of Islamic month of Muharram, in Srinagar

Even teenagers and young children take part in the bloody ritual. These photos show boys self-flagellating in India

Kashmiri Shia Muslim children flagellate themselves as they mourn the death of Imam Husain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad

Graphic pictures show the men swinging chains with knives attached over their shoulders as part of the bloody ritual

Crowds of people watch the Kashmiri Shia Muslims carry out the ritual in the streets of Srinagar, India

After the ritual in Srinagar, men crouched down to display the blood on the knives they had used to cut themselves

Ashura mourns the death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, who was killed by armies of the Yazid near Karbala in 680 AD.

That event lies at the heart of Islam's divide into Shia and Sunni sects.

In recent years, there have been a spate of attacks on Ashura celebrations around the region by Sunni extremist groups which regard Shiites as heretics.

Beliefs: The tradition is seen by some as a way of washing away their sins and is a national holiday in many countries with thousands taking part in the annual rituals

Agony: A national holiday in many countries, thousands take part in the annual rituals which include people whipping and cutting themselves with chains and knives

Brutal: Ashura mourns the death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, who was killed by armies of the Yazid near Karbala in 680 AD

In recent years, there have been a spate of attacks on Ashura celebrations around the region by Sunni extremist groups which regard Shia as heretics

Some Shia leaders discourage self-mutilation and bloodletting, claiming it has no basis in early religious history and creates a negative image, and encourage people to donate blood instead

Some Shia leaders discourage self-mutilation and bloodletting, claiming it has no basis in early religious history.

Others say it creates a negative image, and encourage people to donate blood instead.

Thousands of men perform the same brutal practice in Lebanon, Bangladesh, Iraq, Pakistan and Myanmar and even Athens, Greece.

Photos show the men standing in a mosque and repeatedly whipping themselves with knives attached to the ends of chains

Crowds of men watch on in the mosque and some of them film the gruesome scenes using their mobile phones

A young man kneels down and dabs at his wounds with a damp cloth after whipping himself with sharp blades
Donald Trump's closest allies struggled to defend him or simply didn't show up to lend their support as the fallout from his lewd hot mic comments continued.

Rudy Giuliani was stumped during appearances on Fox News , CNN and NBC's Meet The Press on Sunday morning.

He was standing in for the GOP nominee's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, who cancelled her on-air interviews at the last minute, just hours before the crucial second presidential debate.

When the former New York Mayor was confronted by Meet The Press host Chuck Todd, he tried to divert away from the 'grab her by the p****' remarks from 2005 that resurfaced on Friday.

In a bid to try and talk about Hillary's relationship with Wall Street Bankers instead, he told Todd: 'He's not, one thing he's not is what came across in WikiLeaks, and that is two people.

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Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was the face of the Trump campaign on Sunday, even though campaign manager Kellyanne Conway was supposed to be on TV

'Fox News Sunday' host Chris Wallace (left) asked Rudy Giuliani (right) if he was appearing because Kellyanne Conway refused to defend Donald Trump's comments about women

'Hillary Clinton actually specifically described that she's two different people, to the financial people who were giving her millions of dollars, she's on their side and she wants to be a big part of the government.

'But she tells them she has to pretend to everybody else that she isn't.'

Todd then asked: ''If you believe that Hillary Clinton says one thing in private and that means what she really is is what she is in private, should we assume what Donald Trump did in that Access Hollywood buzz is really what Donald Trump is like in private? I mean, that's what you're implying here with Hillary Clinton.'

Giuliani appeared to be stumped by the question, and stumbled before trying to move on.

When the former New York Mayor was confronted by Meet The Press host Chuck Todd, he tried to divert away from the 'grab her by the p****' remarks from 2005 that resurfaced, but he ended up stumbling in his responses

Kellyanne Conway reappeared on Twitter Sunday afternoon, posting a photograph of herself with The Donald in his motorcade taken by Melania Trump

Earlier on Sunday morning, Giuliani suggested 'scheduling' was to blame, when asked by Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace why the New York City Mayor was appearing on the broadcaster's show and not Donald Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway.

'Last night the campaign pulled her and said you were to be our guest,' Wallace noted at the beginning of his program today. 'We're always happy to have you, but I have to ask you, was Kellyanne Conway unwilling to defend his comments about women?'

Giuliani said that neither Conway, nor himself  or even Trump  would defend remarks that Trump made in 2005, when he was discussing trying to seduce a married woman, among other tawdry topics, in an extremely lewd hot mic-ed conversation with television host Billy Bush.

'Is Kellyanne still a very strong supporter of Donald Trump and does she believe he'd make a better president than Hillary Clinton? Absolutely yes,' Giuliani testified. 'So I think this is a question of scheduling.'

Trump's entire political career has been put on the line since Friday when the Washington Post  and then every major news outlet  covered the 11-year-old video in which Trump uses extremely crass language about women and suggests his 'star' allows him to 'grab them by the p***y.'

Booked to appear on 'Meet the Press' with Chuck Todd as well, the NBC News host also asked Giuliani about Conway's disappearance.

'Are you the only one in the campaign that was willing to publicly defend him?' Todd asked the ex-mayor, noting that both Conway, and Republican National Committee chairman Reince Preibus were no longer doing the Sunday shows.

'No, absolutely not. I was with Kellyanne all day yesterday, she could just as easily have been on as me,' Giuliani said.

'So I'm the one who was selected for the show, but even one of the two of them would probably say pretty much the same thing I'm saying. I was with him all day yesterday, Giuliani said.

Later, Conway tweeted a photo of herself with the candidate in his motorcade as he headed to St. Louis for tonight's debate, noting that Melania Trump took the photo.

Todd also wanted to know if there was any way that Trump might pull out of tonight's debate in St. Louis against his rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton.

'Oh, no, no, no. He's showing up,' Giuliani replied. 'He's as prepared as he's ever been and he's all ready for the debates. And he obviously feels very bad about what he said, he's apologized for it. He'd probably do it again.'

'What he'd like to do is move onto the issues that are facing the American people. They only have a few more days to kind of think about it,' Giuliani continued.

On 'Fox News Sunday' Giuliani said he wasn't going to 'defend his comments,' but he did talk about how the banter 'doesn't reflect the man that I know.'

'I've had many conversations with him. I've never had a conversation like that with him,' Giuliani testified.

'I know a man who is a wonderful father, who has brought up remarkable children, including two wonderful daughters, three grand-daughters,' he continued. 'In my time with him, he has always dealt with women with great respect. And he's been a gentleman.'
An Arabic Council of Australia founding member convicted of raping a 13-year-old boy launched an unfair dismissal claim because it wasn't a reason for him to be fired.

Joseph Wakim, 53, jailed for 20 months for sexually penetrating on a 13-year-old boy in a Melbourne home on Christmas Day 2015.

Bluestar Global Logistics, which employed him as national sales and marketing manager, discovered the crime four months later in a media report, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Joseph Wakim, 53, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for sexually penetrating a young boy in December 2015

Joseph Wakim, 53, a respected member of the Australian Arabic community, sexually assaulted a 13-year-old boy in a Melbourne home on Christmas Day, 2015

He'd taken time off for a 'traumatic incident', but Bluestar told him not to return, which he disagreed with, believing he had already been 'punished enough'.

A month later in May, he was fired.

One day later Wakim, once awarded an Order of Australia medal, began unfair dismissal proceedings.

At a hearing last month he said he'd been denied fair process and said there wasn't valid reason for his dismissal.

Wakim also said his crime was 'non-deliberate' and as a result, didn't breach Bluestar's code of conduct.

He sought 26 weeks' pay.

The court heard how Mr Wakim regularly sent the victim gifts, flew down from NSW to see the family, gave the victim massages

But Fair Work Commission vice-president Adam Hatcher said Wakim tried to hid the crime from his employer and said: 'Mr Wakim appears... to have convinced himself that he is a victim of his own crime', The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

His unfair dismissal claim was rejected.

Wakim, a widowed father of three daughters, and prominent newspaper columnist, was stripped of his Order of Australia after the attack and placed on the sex offenders registry for 15 years, the Herald Sun reported.

In a victim impact statement read to the court in June, his victim said he had lost trust in adults and felt like his brain had 'been all mucked up'

The widowed father-of-three was charged with three offences in January, but two of those were dropped

Prosecutors dropped a grooming charged against Mr Wakim, who became friendly with the victim's family at a church function, The Age reported.

He regularly sent the victim gifts, flew down from New South Wales to see the family, gave the victim massages and babysat the boy and his siblings.

'He came to view you as a father figure, someone who cared for him and gave him valued advice,' County Court judge Amanda Chambers told Mr Wakim during sentencing.

Mr Wakim told the court he was 'baffled' about why he committed the offences, adding he suspected it linked to his own experience of sexual abuse when he was 13.
A four-year-old girl, who was abducted from her bed, has been spotted on surveillance cameras with a mysterious family friend called Wild West Hogs.

A three-state Amber Alert was issued for Rebecca Lewis when she disappeared from her home in the Lazy Dazy RV and Mobile Home Park in Lakeland, Florida, on Saturday morning.

She was last seen in bed by her 16-year-old sister when she woke up at 9am. The sister fell asleep and when she woke up again around 45 minutes later, Rebecca was gone.

Sheriffs deputies searched the area and found no sign of Rebecca.

But she was spotted at a gas station around 400 miles away in Forsyth, Georgia, just off Interstate 75 at around 6.30pm on Saturday with the 31-year-old man, of Seale, Alabama.

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Four-year-old Rebecca Lewis (right) was abducted from her bed on Saturday morning and has been spotted on surveillance cameras with a family friend called Wild West Hogs (left)

Rebecca was last seen at home in Florida on Saturday morning, but was spotted at a gas station hundreds of miles away in Forsyth, Georgia, with Hogs (above) at around 6.30pm

Wild West Hogs showed up unexpectedly at Rebeccas family home on Friday night, Fox Carolina reports.

The family had not seen him for two years.

He legally changed his name from Matthew Clark Pybus and is driving a stolen grey 2012 Nissan Versa with an Alabama handicapped plate 4JL26, the Polk County Sheriffs Office said.

The vehicle was reported stolen by Hogs mother.

The sheriffs office said that they are not sure which direction Hogs is traveling in, but he was obviously driving north from Florida.

Authorities say Hogs is driving a stolen grey 2012 Nissan Versa with an Alabama handicapped plate 4JL26 (above)

Rebecca appears to be in good health in the footage, authorities said, and was last seen wearing a pink dress.

Hogs was last seen wearing a light-colored t-shirt and blue jeans.

He is described as 5ft 8ins tall, with red hair and blue-green eyes. He has a scar on the left side of his head in the shape of the letter L and a tattoo of a blue cross and a Chinese symbol.

Rebeccas grandmother Oma Mae Lewis made a heartfelt plea for the little girls return.

Hogs (above, with Rebecca) legally changed his name from Matthew Clark Pybus and showed up at the Lewis family's home unexpectedly on Friday night, authorities say

If theres anyone out there, anywhere, that can help us bring Becky back home, please bring her home to us, she told Fox Carolina.

Shes a beautiful blond-headed baby that just loves anybody and anything.

Rebeccas parents told authorities that they searched the trailer park area for an hour before calling police.

Deputies conducted multiple searches of their residence and conducted searches on houses in the park, but did not find Rebecca.

Sheriffs office K-9 and bloodhound officers and a helicopter also searched the area.

The local search for Rebecca has now been discontinued, but the Amber Alert remains in place in Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
A Ukip MEP accused of punching a leadership candidate today claimed his colleagues collapse was pure Hollywood as he threatened to sue him for defamation.

Mike Hookem escalated the bitter row dividing the party by suggesting Steven Woolfe had staged a photograph of him passed out on the ground before he was rushed to hospital.

He told the Mail: Now Im not a medical man, but that was pure Hollywood to me the way he was face down.

Mike Hookem escalated the bitter row dividing the party by suggesting leadership candidate Steven Woolfe had staged a photograph of him passed out on the ground before he was rushed to hospital

Ukip MEP Mike Hookem (pictured, who was accused of punching leadership candidate Steven Woolfe, today claimed his colleagues collapse was pure Hollywood as he threatened to sue him for defamation

I was expecting a police squad to come and draw a line around him. People I have met who have had seizures they do not go down like that. Its very suspect.

The Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire MEP, who today celebrated his 63rd birthday, said he was considering legal action unless Mr Woolfe took back unbelievable lies that he had hit him.

'Ive got to get legal advice on my position if he carries on like this, stating that I punched him when its a total fabrication and a pack of lies, Mr Hookem, said.

Im taking advice on what is the next step to stop this man.

'I dont think he can salvage his leadership bid. This whole thing has shown him to be a liar.'

UKIP leadership hopeful Steven Woolfe, pictured in hospital, has been discharged three days after being rushed for treatment following a 'fight with a colleague'

The Ukip punch-up row has taken a bizarre turn, after Mike Hookem published a photograph of his hands to 'prove' that he did not hit fellow MEP Steven Woolfe

The two men got into a row on Thursday morning during a meeting of Ukip MEPs at the European Parliament in Strasbourg to discuss claims Mr Woolfe has been secretly planning to defect to the Tories. Two hours later Mr Woolfe, 49, collapsed outside the Parliament chamber.

Mr Woolfe was today discharged from a hospital in the French city after three days under observation.

He claims to have commissioned an independent medical report that shows his injuries are consistent with a punch to the head, but he has so far refused to release the document.

Ukip MEP Bill Etheridge today became the latest candidate to put his hat in the ring for the partys leadership contest.

Mr Woolfe was today discharged from a hospital in the French city after three days under observation. Pictured, Mr Woolfe lies in his hospital bed on Friday morning after the altercation with Mike Hookem on Thursday

He said: I cannot in good conscience support Steven Woolfe as I do not believe he can be a leader of a political party with the way he behaves.

He has a short temper and there have been lots and lots of times when he has lost it.

An internal Ukip probe is to investigate the incident, with some senior figures saying it should bar Mr Woolfe from continuing in the race to head the party.

A spokesman for Mr Woolfe last night said: The medical report will be completed and available in a few days.

The reports regarding the seriousness of Stevens condition, including his two seizures, and the injuries he suffered are accurate.

Steven is not saying anything further for the moment as he is returning home to continue his recovery.
The 15 outfits were marketed with a picture of a young boy wearing a beard and camouflaged waistcoat

A shop has been blasted for selling 'child terrorist' fancy dress costumes.

The 15 outfits were marketed with a picture of a young boy wearing a beard and camouflaged waistcoat.

The costumes were being sold at a pop-up shop called Halloween, in the Diamond Shopping Centre in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

One angry parent stormed: 'It seems that just dressing up like a Muslim and having a beard means you look like a terrorist, which sends out the message that all Muslims are terrorists.'

The outfits were removed from the shelves after complaints.

One shopper, who complained that they found the outfit offensive, said: 'I couldn't believe they were selling this,' said the caller. 'I saw it and had to check again because I couldn't believe they were selling something so offensive.

'It just seemed the costume consisted of normal Islamic-style clothing. I'm not sure exactly what made it a terrorist outfit except for the army-coloured waistcoat.

'So it seems that just dressing up like a Muslim and having a beard means you look like a terrorist which sends out the message that all Muslims are terrorists.

'It's pretty disgusting and the fact it's aimed at children makes it even worse. What kind of message are you giving them?'

Staff at the shop said the costume had been selling really well although they admitted while some people liked it other customers had pointed out they didn't think it was appropriate.

The costumes were being sold at a pop-up shop called Halloween, in the Diamond Shopping Centre in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

The cheaply made outfit, which was on sale for 15, was among hundreds of other Halloween fancy dress costumes the shop was selling.

The 'terrorist' outfit, which was made in China, was supposed to consist of a traditional-style Islamic Thobe but in truth was just a pair of cheap polyester trousers and top. And although the picture showed a child wearing a large fake beard, it wasn't provided in the outfit.

One staff member said: 'I know some people might find them a bit sectarian but I don't see what the problem is really.

'We'll just take them off the shelves. Some people love them but others have complained about them - each to their own I say.'
Bradford Crown Court heard the boy has been 'terrified' ever since

The youth, who cannot be named, found the supplies in a store cupboard

A primary school student who set fire to his school caused more than 1million worth of damage after getting a telling off from his teacher.

The 11-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had bottled up feelings of stress and wanted to lash out, a court heard.

He used a match to light paper in a storeroom of St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs Catholic Primary School, in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

The court heard that matches and candles from previous school celebrations were kept in there.

The 11-year-old boy used a match to light paper in a storeroom of St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs Catholic Primary School

Prosecutor Heather Gilmore said the fire - which destroyed three classrooms and water-damaging other parts of the building - did 1,070,000 worth of damage.

The court heard two staff fought the fire with extinguishers but were unable to put it out.

Some children at the 228-pupil school lost all their schoolwork and some had suffered nightmares since.

Temporary classrooms had to be put up in the aftermath.

The boy - who hopes to become a doctor - pleaded guilty in August to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered on the afternoon of May 11.

At Bradford Crown Court on Friday, flanked by his parents, he was sentenced to a three-year Youth Rehabilitation Order.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC told him: 'You did not foresee such a tragic outcome and you have been terrified ever since.'

Some children at the 228-pupil school had lost all their schoolwork and some had suffered nightmares since

He added: 'It was a very bad thing, but you did not, in your moment of stress, think it through.'

Judge Durham Hall told the child he had endangered the lives of children and teachers.

'You have cost others over a million pounds and, more than that, you have caused disruption and distress that are incalculable.'

He said the boy's family had been humiliated and worried by his actions 'all because a young lad resented being told off'.

The risk of the boy reoffending had been assessed by a team of experts as low, with the emphasis on rehabilitation for 'a very positive outcome.'

At Bradford Crown Court on Friday, flanked by his parents, he was sentenced to a three-year Youth Rehabilitation Order

Judge Durham Hall said mums and dads in Bradford would be worried about the boy's offending behaviour, but he reassured them the child would not be attending any school until authorities were satisfied he had been fully rehabilitated.

He told the boy: 'You are a very gifted young man, quite outstanding, and I think you were driving yourself too hard.'

Daniel Copley, executive head teacher at St Cuthbert and The First Martyrs Catholic Primary School, said: 'Cases like this are very difficult and we respect the court's decision. The whole school community has shown great resilience with staff and pupils working together to move on from this difficult event.
Nigel Farage has defended Donald Trump over his highly controversial comments about women, insisting they simply reflected 'alpha male boasting' and 'the kind of thing men do'.

The interim Ukip leader admitted that the video from 2005 of Trump saying stars can 'do anything' to women, including grabbing them 'by the p***y, were 'ugly'.

But he added: 'Quite a lot of women say things amongst themselves that they would not want to see on Fox News.'

Farage's defence of the Republican presidential candidate was in stark contrast to British ministers.

Justine Greening, the Education Secretary and minister for women, branded the comments 'utterly crass'.

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Nigel Farage (pictured in St Louis, Missouri where he is helping Trump prepare for his debate against Hillary Clinton tonight) has played down Donald Trump's highly controversial comments about women as 'alpha male boasting' and 'the kind of thing men do'

Her colleague Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, echoed her sentiment today as he said it was 'tempting' to condemn Trump but refused to go further, insisting it would be wrong to 'intervene in the US election' by criticising the Republican candidate.

He told the Andrew Marr Show today: 'We have to be very careful not to comment on other people's elections, because we have to respect democracy and we have to work with whoever wins.'

Farage is currently in St Louis, Missouri to help Trump prepare for his crucial presidential debate against Hillary Clinton, in which his remarks about women are set to dominate.

Even Trump's closest allies have condemned him for the remarks, with dozens of Republican senators, representatives and governors withdrawing their support and discussing the possibility of his vice-presidential running mate Mike Pence replacing him on the ticket along with Ben Carson.

Asked about Trump's comments, Farage - who has been hailed as 'Mr Brexit' by the Repulican presidential nominee - said: 'Look, this is alpha male boasting. It's the kind of thing, if we are being honest, that men do. They sit around and have a drink and they talk like this.

'By the way, quite a lot of women say things amongst themselves that they would not want to see on Fox News, or the front page of a newspaper. I'm not pretending it's good - it's ugly, it is ugly.'

Donald Trump (pictured yesterday) apologized for the words he said in 2005 that were released on Friday, in which he says stars like him can 'do anything' to women

But Greening told ITV's Peston on Sunday show this morning: 'As a woman I felt they were utterly crass.

'Obviously it's up to the American people to decide whether they think he's the right person to be their president.'

Education Secretary and minister for women Justine Greening (pictured on the Peston on Sunday show this morning) branded the comments 'utterly crass'

Mr Farage's comments echo the initial response of Mr Trump who dismissed the obscene language on a 2005 video tape as 'locker room banter' before the scale of the crisis overwhelming his presidential campaign forced him to issue an apology for the remarks.

Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson lashed out at Mr Farage, saying he 'devalues himself' by acting as 'the UK cheerleader' for Mr Trump.

'Nigel Farage's description of Donald Trump's appalling remarks as 'alpha male boasting' and his insistence that talking about women in these terms is 'the kind of thing men do' betray a very troubling attitude to women,' Mr Watson said.

'There are very few men who would describe demeaning women in this way as 'boasting'.

'Nigel Farage seems to be enjoying his new job as the UK cheerleader for Trump but in so doing he devalues himself and his party in the minds of the decent people of our country.'

On the tape, Mr Trump, who was newly married to his third wife, Melania, at the time, talks about making a pass at a married woman, saying: 'I moved on her and I failed, I'll admit it ... I did try and f*** her. I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn't get there. And she was married.'

Donald Trump (pictured) is facing calls to quit the presidential election after a video from 2005 emerged on Friday of him saying stars can 'do anything' to women, including grabbing them 'by the p***y'

Mr Trump then talks about going after women, saying: 'I am automatically attracted to beautiful women. I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss, I don't even wait ... and when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.'

'Grab them by the p***y. You can do anything.'

Mrs Trump has said she was offended by the remarks, but they did not represent the man she knew.

'The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me. This does not represent the man that I know. He has the heart and mind of a leader.'

Mr Trump has insisted there is 'zero chance' he will quit the race for the White House after the comments provoked a firestorm of outrage.

The remarks have seen him dubbed 'the groper in chief' on social media and been branded 'horrific' by Mrs Clinton, and 'sickening' by the Republican speaker of the US house of representatives, Paul Ryan.

After a series of retweets from his supporters who called the GOP establishment 'traitors' who 'don't count' in the election, Trump sent out another a tweet aimed at the Republicans
Midnight Cowboy star said that while Trump's comment 'didn't hurt anybody,' De Niro's diatribe did

Voight defended Trump for his 'grab them by the p***y' comments

stupid' and 'wants to punch him'

It's the Midnight Cowboy versus the Raging Bull.

Hollywood heavyweight Jon Voight came out swinging on social media against fellow thespian legend Robert De Niro for his diatribe against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Voight, who has been an active supporter of conservative Republicans, defended Trump for remarks he made during a private conversation with Access Hollywood host Billy Bush in 2005.

Unbeknownst to Trump and Bush, the remarks were picked up by a microphone and recorded.

Trump is heard telling Bush that he tried to seduce a married woman, television host Nancy O'Dell, and that his celebrity status enabled him to make sexual advances toward women.

Actor Jon Voight (left) criticized Robert De Niro (right) after video of De Niro slamming Donald Trump while filming a political testimony video for non-partisan group surfaced

Voight took to Twitter on Saturday, saying he was 'ashamed' of De Niro's outburst.

The Midnight Cowboy star said that Trump's recorded remarks 'were not as damaging as Robert DeNiro's [sic] ugly rant.'

'Trump's words did not hurt anyone,' Voight tweeted.

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The conservative actor also said that Trump's comments were no different than those made by other straight men seeking female companionship.

'I don't know of too many men who haven't expressed some sort of similar sexual terms toward women, especially in their younger years,' Voight tweeted.

The father of Angelina Jolie also denounced 'Republican turncoats,' a reference to senior GOP congressmen, governors, and other representatives who have publicly renounced their support for Trump in the wake of the Access Hollywood leak.

In the hours after the video emerged late Friday, a different video surfaced showing De Niro as he launches into an anti-Trump rant.

Trump (seen here at an October 5 campaign rally near Las Vegas) is under fire on Sunday for making crude remarks about women that were recorded

Voight took to Twitter on Saturday, denouncing De Niro for his 'foul words he used against a presidential nominee'

The conservative actor also criticized 'Republican turncoats,' a reference to the senior GOP figures who announced that they were no longer backing Trump for president

Voight also defended Trump for his remarks about women, which were picked up by a hot mic as he was filming a segment for Access Hollywood in 2005

Voight tweeted that De Niro's words, in which he is heard calling Trump a 'bulls**t artist,' were more damaging than those used by Trump

Voight tweeted that 'all hell would break loose' if similar words were used against Democratic politicians like Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama

While filming a political testimony video for a non-partisan group called #VoteYourFuture, the legendary actor was asked a question that all participants were asked: 'What do you care about?'

De Niro said what he cares about is the direction of the country - but to make that point, he had a few choice words for Trump.

'I mean, he's so blatantly stupid. He's a punk. He's a dog. He's a pig. He's a con, a bulls*** artist. A mutt who doesn't know what he's talking about,' De Niro says.

As the minute-long clip continues, De Niro continues to hurl insults at the Republican presidential nominee.

'He doesn't do his homework, doesn't care. He thinks he's gaming society. He doesn't pay his taxes.

'He's an idiot. Colin Powell said it best, he's a national disaster. He's an embarrassment to this country.

'It makes me so angry that this country has gotten to this point, that this fool, this bozo has wound up where he has,' De Niro continues.

By the video's halfway mark De Niro still hasn't mentioned Trump by name but continues to throw pointed attacks at him.

'He talks how he wants to punch people in the face. Well, I'd like to punch him in the face.

'This is somebody that we want for president? I don't think so. What I care about is the direction of this country. And what I'm very, very worried about is that it might go in the wrong direction with someone like Donald Trump.

'If you care about your future, vote for it,' he says as the video finishes.

The clip was made public on Friday and most of the rant didn't make it in to the official #VoteYourFuture video.

Only two lines of De Niro's - none of which came from the rant - made it in to the final star-studded video, which features celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Roberts, Olivia Wilde, Kendall Jenner among dozens of other famous famous.

De Niro has been an outspoken supporter of Hillary Clinton.
Giant Rinehart will team up with Chinese real estate firm Shanghai Cred to buy one of Australia's biggest cattle stations for $365 million.

The mega-rich mining magnate has put on a bid for the 101,000 square kilometre property through joint venture Australian Outback Beef Pty Ltd.

The entity is 67 per cent owned by Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting and 33 per cent by Shanghai Cred, headed by billionaire Gui Guojie.

Giant Rinehart will team up with Chinese real estate firm Shanghai Cred to buy one of Australia's biggest cattle stations for $365 million

The mega-rich mining magnate has put on a bid for the 101,000 square kilometre S Kidman & Co property (pictured) through joint venture Australian Outback Beef Pty Ltd

S Kidman & Co is one of Australias biggest beef producers, with an average herd carrying capacity of 185,000 cattle and has pastoral leases across SA, WA, NT and Queensland.

Ms Rinehart, Australia's richest woman with a net worth of $6 billion, inherited vast cattle holdings - along with her mining empire - from father Lang Handcock whose family started its first cattle station in North West Australia.

The deal still has to be approved by Australia's foreign investment regime and the Chinese government, and has already come under fire.

The Australian government already rejected a $371 million bid to buy the station in April by a consortium co-headed by Shanghai Cred and Hunan Dakang Pasture Farming.

The deal still has to be approved by Australia's foreign investment regime as Chinese firm Shanghai Cred is involved (founder Gui Guojie pictured with Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull

Ms Rinehart has already tried to allay criticism of her partnership with a Chinese company to buy a huge Australian asset by pointing out that the deal would slightly lower its foreign ownership from 33.9 per cent.

Sales of Anna Creek Station and Peake by Kidman to other Australian grazing interests also have to go through.

Kidman went on sale 18 months ago and more than 600 parties have held discussions with sale manager Ernst & Young.

Mrs Rinehart said in a statement that Kidman was an iconic, century-old cattle business.

It is an operation founded on hard work and perseverance by an outstanding Australian, and is an important part of Australias pioneering and entrepreneurial history,' she said.

Kidman chairman John Crosby saidhe was confident the business would be in good hands under Ms Rinehart and Shanghai Cred.
The mother of an autistic boy has said her family was kicked out of a pizza restaurant because the child was disturbing other customers.

Dalia Galavis said she and her family had been eating at Cicis restaurant in Smyrna, Tennessee, on Thursday when a manager asked them to leave due to complaints from other customers.

She said that when she replied that her son was autistic, she said the manager told her that people dont care about that.

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Dalia Galavis (right, with her son Donny, also pictured left) said her family was kicked out of a pizza restaurant because the two-year-old boy was disturbing customers

I felt hurt. I have had people tell me before my son was being a little too loud but not to the point that I have to leave a public place for my sons actions, she told WSMV.

Galavis added that she found out her son was autistic in February this year.

Its not hard to have an autistic son, she added. Its hard to get people to understand what autism is.

In a Facebook post shortly after the incident last week, Galavis said she was left humiliated by the encounter.

Dalia Galavis (above) said she was left humiliated after the incident, adding: Its hard to get people to understand what autism is

Galavis (above, with her son and daughter) said the manager refused to refund their meal

She said that she and her family had only been at the restaurant for seven minutes when the manager approached.

Galavis said she said she would leave if he issued a refund for their meal, which she said he denied.

At that moment, I felt so broken. I took my kid outside who was doing nothing wrong but having a meltdown which any mom of a special needs child would understand are hard to handle at times, she wrote.

She said she left with her son while her mother, daughter, niece and nephew finished eating.

But then, they were also told to leave.

The incident occurred at the Cici's Pizza in Smyrna, Tennessee, on Thursday, Galavis said

Gave her that pizza and kicked her out of the restaurant, she added.

Keith Spencer, the owner of the restaurant, told WSMV denied Galavis allegations.

A statement from Cicis Pizza said it is unfortunate that some recent guests feel they were treated inappropriately.
Missing RAF servicemen Corrie McKeague would not have intentionally gone AWOL after a night out because he 'loves his puppy too much', his family have said.

The gunner, 23, who is based at RAF Honington, disappeared after a night out with friends in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, at around 3.20am on Saturday September 24.

His failure to return to his base sparked concerns he may have either run away or been kidnapped or attacked as part of a targeted jihadi plot.

But his brother, Darroch, 21, insisted the airman would never have deliberately vanished because he would not have wanted to abandon his seven-month-old puppy Louell.

Missing RAF servicemen Corrie McKeague (pictured) would not have intentionally gone AWOL after a night out because he loves his puppy too much, his family have said

'He loves that dog to bits and he wouldn't have left her for long,' he told the Express.

The cross-breed puppy was left in Mr McKeague's room at RAF Honington when he spent the evening with his friends two weeks ago.

Mr McKeague's mother Nicola Urquhart, 47, added: 'His puppy was sitting at home waiting for him. He had plans. He was in a great mood.'

She shared a picture of the airman cuddling the puppy on Twitter, saying: 'Missing RAF airman Corrie McKeague. My son has been missing for 2 weeks.'

CCTV footage shows Mr McKeague walking through Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, at 3.20am on Saturday September 24

His failure to return to his base sparked concerns he may have either run away or been kidnapped or attacked as part of a targeted jihadi plot

His family also pointed out that Mr McKeague had made plans to fly to his hometown, Dumfermline, for Halloween so he could spend time with his family.

Their desperate appeal for help tracking the airman down came as police revealed they had traced three people they were hoping to speak to.

Mr McKeague's last confirmed sighting was at 3.20am, an hour before the three in question were seen towards the back of Cornhill Walk shopping centre.

Officers are now planning on speaking to the three potential witnesses.

A spokesman for Suffolk Police said: 'Officers have traced three people they have been looking to speak to who were seen near to Short Brackland around 4.20am on Saturday 24 September and officers will be speaking with these witnesses.'

CCTV has shown the area was comparatively busy between 3am and 6am and police want to trace and speak to all those who were there between those times.

Mr McKeague's mother Nicola Urquhart, 47, added: 'His puppy was sitting at home waiting for him. He had plans. He was in a great mood'

Mr McKeague was wearing distinctive light clothing  a pink polo shirt and white jeans or trousers, and was interacting with a number of people throughout the evening.

He was caught on camera walking around the town centre at 3.20am. He fell asleep in a doorway before moving on.

Police are investigating the theory he may have tried to walk the 10 miles back to his base on foot.

The route he would have taken features a network of waterways and lakes that he could have slipped into in the dark.

Since his disappearance two weeks ago, police have searched a bin lorry and a stretch of A-road close to where his phone last gave off a signal, in a bid to find clues over his whereabouts.

Bury St Edmunds lies around 30 miles from RAF Marham, Norfolk, where two men of Middle Eastern appearance tried to abduct an RAF serviceman in July.

The married officer, who was out jogging at the time, managed to fight off his attackers as they tried to drag him into a people carrier.

Mr McKeague, originally from Dunfermline in Scotland, was reported as missing to police last Monday afternoon.
Tenants of Cherie Blair have claimed they are being kicked out of flats they rent from her because they are paying lower rents that new neighbours.

At least two people living at a 650,000 housing complex in Urmston, near Manchester, say they were shocked to discover they were being evicted so their apartments can be put back on the market 'for 40 per month more'.

The flats are part of the Blair family's 32million property portfolio and the wife of former prime minister Tony is being accused of greed.

It comes as Mr Blair has suggested he may return to frontline politics and is set to scale back his business ventures.

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Tenants of a building in Manchester owned by Cherie and Euan Blair, pictured, say they are being 'evicted' so their flats can be rented out at a higher price

Simon Jackson, 26, who works in merchandising, says he is facing being made homeless over the eviction, which was issued after his contract became 'void' when his girlfriend moved out.

He told the Sun: 'Shame on you Cherie. I work about 50 hours a week to earn a decent living and you want to take my home away.

'This is just greed on behalf of Cherie Blair. She is a multi-millionaire. Does she actually need more money? What about us hard-working folk? All for 40 or 50? It's disgusting.'

A spokesman from MCR told the Sun the reason for Mr Jackson's eviction was 'historic issues of debt' along with 'abuse and aggression towards staff'.

The statement continued: 'That is why we have given Mr Jackson two months notice to leave.'

Mr Jackson said the building's managers tried to get him to sign a new six-month contract but would not tell him the price of the rent.

Mrs Blair and her son bought the apartments, pictured, two years ago for 650,000

It comes as her husband Tony, right, has said he is considering a return to frontline politics

He claims to have been accused of falling behind on the rent despite 'never missing' any payments.

The flats are managed by MCR Property Group on behalf of Oldbury Residential, a firm owned by Mrs Blair and her son Euan, 32, who also invested in the building.

Another tenant, a father-of one who has lived there for two years but did not want to be named, said he was also told his contract was voided when his partner left.

The tenant said he was given 'no warning' and had never received an eviction notice but 'returned home from a hospital appointment to find the locks had been changed'.

Mr Jackson added he had been 'give one month' to get out even though he has 'proof' he has never been in arrears over the rent.

He is now asking Manchester City Council for help obtaining a housing association property.

The couple, pictured, are believed to have a property portfolio worth more than 30million

This block of 14 apartments in Stockport, Greater Manchester, on the site of a former scrapyard owned by the Blairs

A 600,000 cottage in Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, which is owned by Tony Blair's family

The Blairs paid 5.75m for this now 8m Grade 1-listed 17th century manor near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire that used to belong to Sir John Gielgud

It comes as Mrs Blair, a barrister, last week represented landlords in the High Court who were challenging a Government tax increase on buy-to-let properties.

As previously reported, the purchase of the flats in 2014 prompted an early backlash over a rubbish dump around the back of the property.

The flats are within two adjoining double-fronted Victorian houses which have been on sale for some time.

At the time of the purchase the residents urged Mrs Blair to improve the upkeep of the apartments.

Meanwhile her husband led the charge to bring in compulsory landlord licensing when he assumed power in 1997 and also targeted 'anti-social landlords' during his time in office.

The Blairs own two 3.6m Grade II listed Georgian townhouses in West London where members of the family live

This cute terrace in one of west London's most expensive cul-de-sacs was bought by Cherie Blair

This townhouse in north London cost the Blairs 1.35million but is worth significantly more now

The Blairs caused controversy in 2007 when they bought a 3.65million house in exclusive Connaught Square but it led to a rebellion from neighbours who wanted it stopped.

The residents closed ranks and revolted against the then Prime Minister by signing a petition opposing his move into their community.

Euan lives with wife Suzanne in a 4.5million Georgian townhouse in Marylebone, central London, jointly owned with Cherie.

In 2010, Mr Blair bought a three-bedroom townhouse in London for Euan.

It cost the former Prime Minister 1.3m but he managed to sell it for a healthy profit of more than 800,000, when Euan got married and wanted to upgrade.

However, it has not always been plain sailing on the property market for the family.

Mrs Blair paid 525,000 for two flats in Bristol following a 69,000 discount negotiated by Peter Foster, an Australian conman.

At the time, Foster was dating Mrs Blair's confidante Carole Caplin, a former topless model.

She sold the first flat in 2008 for 260,000, meaning she made no profit on the property.

She tried to sell the second one for 330,000, but was forced to drop the price to 315,000.
Activist groups are harnessing their organizing power to force their preferred issues to the top of a list that moderators will use to guide tonight's presidential debate questions.

Political and nonpartisan groups have been rallying their members and social media followers around questions on an 'Open Debate' platform created to give 'average Joes' a voice in the televised matches.

Some questions, on healthcare and government accountability, have surged without the aid of a national organization. Others, on guns, Social Security and Alzheimer's Disease, were picked out and promoted by like-minded groups with massive memberships.

One, on deportation policy, was commissioned by Define American, an 'unabashedly pro-immigrant' nonprofit.

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Political and nonpartisan groups have been rallying their members and social media followers around questions on an 'Open Debate' platform created to give 'average Joes' a voice in the televised matches

Define American asked six-year-old Sophie Cruz, who last year breached security during the Pope's visit to Washington to give him a letter about her illegal immigrant parents, to submit a question through the Open Debate platform

The immigration reform group promoted a video of Cruz asking her question as part of the campaign. The video helped Cruz's question go viral, bumping it into the top 10

Define American asked six-year-old Sophie Cruz, who last year breached security during the Pope's visit to Washington to give him a letter about her illegal immigrant parents, to submit a question through the Open Debate platform.

The immigration reform group promoted a video of Cruz asking her question as part of the campaign. 'If you deport my parents, what happens to me?' she asks on the Open Debate site.

'I am 6 years old and an American citizen. I have a 3-year-old sister who is also an American. My heart is very sad, because Im scared that ICE is going to deport my undocumented mommy and daddy,' a longer version of her question states.

The video helped Cruz's question go viral, bumping it into the top 10.

Define American vice president Ryan Eller told DailyMail.com that the group sought out someone to ask a 'provocative' question that it could advertise.

'One of the great things about America, I think, is our freedom to organize and be a part of communities and groups,' Eller said. 'And I would argue that everyone has that opportunity to be a part of organizations and groups.'

In other words, any association could have followed in Define American's footsteps and launched an organizing campaign to move a specific question to the top of the list.

'I'd like to think ... we're really skilled at what we do,' Eller said.

The National Rifle Association lobbied its 400,000 Twitter followers to up-vote a question on Second Amendment protections.

Everytown for Gun Safety similarly pushed its 3 million members to get behind a question about universal background checks for gun buyers.

The questions they backed are No. 1 and No. 2 on the list.

The Alzheimer's Association boosted a question on the disease into the top 15.

Define American vice president Ryan Eller told DailyMail.com that the group sought out someone to ask a 'provocative' question that it could advertise

Moderators from CNN and ABC have committed to considering the top 30 user-submitted questions for the St. Louis, Missouri, clash, the Open Debate coalition says, and they expect at least some of the leading questions to come up at tonight's town hall.

A spokesperson for ABC did not respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com. CNN directed questions to the Commission on Presidential Debates.

The bipartisan organization's co-chair, Mike McCurry  a former Bill Clinton White House press secretary  has endorsed the Open Debate platform.

'We were impressed with the results,' McCurry said previously. 'This year's presidential debate moderators will have a rich pool of voter-submitted questions they can draw on that carry greater weight because they are backed by votes from the American people.'

The commission has mandated that the second half of tonight's town hall be 'based on topics of broad public interest as reflected in social media and other sources.'

Independent voters in the audience will quiz the candidates in the first segment of the 90-minute debate.

Some questions, on healthcare and government accountability, have surged without the aid of a national organization. Others, like this one on Alzheimers, were picked out and promoted by like-minded groups with massive memberships

The National Rifle Association lobbied its 400,000 Twitter followers to up vote a question on Second Amendment protections

Questions on Open Debate have tended to skew in a liberal direction despite participation from conservative groups.

Americans for Tax Reform founder Grover Norquist is a supporter. So are Faith and Freedom Coalition founder Ralph Reed and FreedomWorks President Ralph Reed.

NumbersUSA, a right-leaning immigration group, and the Young Republican National Federation are also active sponsors of the effort.

The YRNF did not back any particular question, signing on to the effort only last week. Its communications director acknowledged to DailyMail.com that it would have to implore conservative stars and celebrities to join the process to ensure a more balanced set of questions next time around.

'Star Trek' actor George Takei's promotion of the background checks question helped propel it to the top. Russell Simmons threw his weight behind Sophie Cruz's question.

'That is something that is to be addressed,' YRNF's Matt Oberly. 'That's how millennials work. Millennials love celebrity.'

Preparations are made before the town hall debate at Washington University in St. Louis. This is the second of three presidential debates scheduled prior to the November 8th election

Oberly said of the Open Debate platform, 'This is something we're behind this is something that we support. This is something that's really important. Open up the debate to everyone. A moderator should not have full control and full input over questions.'

He added, 'These debates are our debates. These are the peoples' debates.'

Norquist, an NRA board member, has been helping the gun rights group with its question on protections for firearms owners.

He predicted that a question on firearms would come up.

'I like the pro gun question,' but 'that one will never be asked by an establishment "moderator",' the conservative activist said.

Responding to a question from DailyMail.com on the bent of the questions, he said, 'This is new  folks are unsure anyone is listening. 2nd debate that uses citizen questions will find millions participating.'

Progressive Change Campaign Committee co-founder Adam Green likewise said, 'I think there's a really great diversity of questions at the top.'

'It's less about whether a particular question is #7 or #13 compared to silly questions like, what would your Secret Service code name be,' said Green, a founder of the Open Debate Coalition.

George Takei's promotion of a background checks question helped propel it to the top. Russell Simmons threw his weight behind Sophie Cruz's question.

The 15,000 questions submitted were a 'good proxy of what a lot of people want to hear about,' Green said.

'We would be perfectly content if those two questions at the top were asked, because that would represent what a lot of people want to hear about.'

Green said the Open Debate process is a 'more authentic version of real people questions' compared to moderators and networks 'cherry picking the questions.'

Eller said, 'Even if what we're seeing in the top 10 and top 30 has ... ended up being progressive, I think it's a great principle, which is why Define American signed on so that all of these issues can be elevated and so that voices likes those of Sophie Cruz and other families have a shot at being heard.'

Define American believes Cruz's question could come up tonight after immigration got short shrift in the first debate.
Shami Chakrabarti denied she was a hypocrite today for opposing the expansion of state grammars while paying for her son to attend a selective school.

The new shadow attorney general claimed she was simply trying to do her best for her child by enrolling him at one of Britains top private schools.

But she insisted there was no conflict between this and the fact she was campaigning to prevent children whose parents cannot afford expensive private fees from benefiting from selection in the state sector.

Shami Chakrabarti (pictured on ITV's Peston on Sunday today) denied she was a hypocrite today for opposing the expansion of state grammars while paying for her son to attend a selective school

The peer admitted she led a charmed and privileged life, and said that just because she lived in a 'nice big house' and ate nice food, it did not mean she was a hypocrite because her neighbours went to food banks.

It emerged last week that Baroness Chakrabartis son won a place at the 18,000-a-year Dulwich College in south London after sitting a tough entrance exam.

Critics say it shows she believed selective education is fine for those who can pay for it  but not for parents who cannot afford it.

The new shadow attorney general claimed she was simply trying to do her best for her child by enrolling him at one of Britains top private schools - Dulwich College in south east London (pictured)

The former head of civil rights organisation Liberty told ITVs Peston on Sunday that she opposed grammar schools because they enforce segregation.

I have real concerns about grammar schools, she said.

In my lifetime, I have met too many people, including incredibly bright, successful people, who carry that scar of failing the 11-plus, and that segregation in schooling.

When it was put to her she could be branded a hypocrite because of her stance, the Labour peer said: I live a charmed and privileged life, much more now than I ever did when I was a child, but people on the left have often had charmed and privileged lives.

I live in a nice big house, and eat nice food, and my neighbours are homeless, and go to food banks.

The new shadow attorney general Shami Chakrabarti (pictured on ITV's Peston on Sunday show today) claimed she was simply trying to do her best for her child by enrolling him at one of Britains top private schools

Baroness Shami Chakrabarti and her ex-husband, Oxford-educated lawyer Martyn Hopper

Des that make me a hypocrite, or does it make me someone who is trying to do best, not just for my own family, but for other people's families too?

And this thing about selection  if you've got money you will always be all right. If you don't have money in this country you are increasingly not all right, and that is why I have joined the Labour Party.

When it was suggested that children from middle class homes attending state schools helps raise standards, she said: I understand that, and I am not going to get into the personal stuff because there is a child in this world who did not choose to be Shami Chakrabarti's child, so I'm afraid I'm going to leave it at that.

Lady Chakrabarti reportedly lives in a 2.5million grade II listed property in Lambeth, south London.

Shami Chakrabarti (pictured on ITV's Peston on Sunday show today) insisted there was no conflict between this and the fact she was campaigning to prevent children whose parents cannot afford expensive private fees from benefiting from selection in the state sector

Education Secretary Justine Greening defended the push for new grammar schools, insisting they could turbo-charge the learning opportunities of disadvantaged children.

Speaking on the same programme, Miss Greening said the move was about giving parents more choice.

She said poorer children who went to grammar schools progressed twice as fast at grammars as children from wealthier backgrounds.

Grammars for them are closing the attainment gap, so this is also about saying how can we make sure grammar schools are more open for those disadvantaged children, so that they can really turbo-charge their education, she said.

But she refused to be drawn on the number of new grammars, saying this was up to local communities to decide.

She added that grammar places were hugely oversubscribed in areas of the country that had them.

Miss Greening also said this was absolutely not about a return to the 11-plus system, with children potentially able to enter selective schools at lots of different ages.

Baroness Chakrabartis nomination to the peerage in August was controversial because she had recently written a report about anti-Semitism in the Labour party which was dismissed as a whitewash by Jewish groups.

Dulwich College has about 1,500 pupils, and annual fees start at more than 18,000 for day pupils and 37,000 for boarders.

Boys wishing to enter the school, which was founded in 1619, have to sit a highly competitive entrance exam.

Shami Cakrabarti was controversially made a peer by close ally Jeremy Corbyn

Labour said it was Baroness Chakrabarti's former husband Martyn Hopper, a lawyer with the London firm Linklaters, who took the decision to send their son to a private school.

Last month Labour was accused of despicable hypocrisy for opposing selection, even though both Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell benefited from a grammar school education.

Diane Abbott, the shadow health secretary, sent her son to City of London boys' school; and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry sent two of her three children to a selective school.

Seumas Milne, Corbyn's most senior aide, sent his son and daughter to grammar schools.

The Labour leader, who himself attended a prep school, reportedly divorced his second wife, Claudia Bracchitta, in part over her decision to send their son to a grammar school rather than the local comprehensive.
Britain is going for 'full Brexit' when it leaves the EU, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said today.

He called for unity among Cabinet ministers amid reports of deepening rifts among top Tories over what form Brexit should take.

Sir Michael told his colleagues: 'We are all Brexiteers now'. But he insisted Britain still wants to maintain good trade relations with Brussels, despite the likelihood that Brexit will see Britain leave the EU's single market.

Reports today suggested Chancellor Philip Hammond is at odds with 'hard Brexiteers' such as David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, and Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary.

Britain is going for 'full Brexit' when it leaves the EU, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon told the Andrew Marr Show today

Mr Hammond has accused Mr Davis of being 'aggressive' and says his approach risks threatening to wreck the UK's exit from the EU by antagonising Angela Merkel.

And the Mail On Sunday also reported that the Chancellor believes Mr Davis should be banned from negotiations with the EU - and forced to stay at Westminster to stop him meddling.

But in a remarkable attack on the Chancellor, one Cabinet minister told the Sunday Telegraph that Mr Hammond was guilty of 'relentless pessism' about the UK economy and another said the Chancellor should 'watch his back'.

'Soft Brexit' is the vague term being used to refer to a relationship with the EU that would see Britain stay in the single market - or at least have special access to it - whereas 'hard Brexit' is seen as Britain regaining full control of immigration at the expense of being fully cut out of the single market.

Asked if Britain would pursue 'soft' or 'hard' Brexit, Sir Michael said neither, telling the Andrew Marr Show: 'This is Brexit. This is full Brexit, if you like.

'We're going to be outside the European Union but we still, because it's over 40 per cent of our trade, we still want to maximise our trade with it.

Education Secretary Justine Greening (pictured on ITV's Peston on Sunday) has insisted any tensions in the Cabinet will not split the Tories

He added: 'We're respecting the decision of the British people and we've got to make a success of it.'

Sir Michael said the Government's objectives in Brexit negotiations were to maximise free trade on goods and services, while regaining control of British borders.

He added that there must be co-operation on security, counter-terrorism and law enforcement.

Britain has been repeatedly warned that it must accept free movement of people if it wants to be a member of the European single market.

Education Secretary Justine Greening, meanwhile, has insisted any tensions in the Cabinet will not split the Tories.

The comments came as it emerged former Labour leader Ed Miliband has held talks with pro-EU Tory MPs on trying to force Theresa May to allow a Commons vote on any moves to exit the single market.

Ms Greening moved to downplay reports of splits at the senior level of Cabinet on what type of withdrawal deal to try to cut with the EU.

Asked on ITV's Peston On Sunday if the Cabinet would hold together on Brexit, Ms Greening said: 'Yes, I think so. I think it's important our party has come together under the leadership of Theresa May to now steer our country through what will be historic months and years ahead. I think the Cabinet is united.'

A loose cross-party alliance of pro-Europe MPs from all sides of the Commons has expressed concern at the sudden pace towards a 'hard Brexit' stance by the Government.

Reports today suggested Chancellor Philip Hammond is at odds with 'hard Brexiteers' such as David Davis (right), the Brexit Secretary, and Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary (left)

Mr Hammond has accused Mr Davis of being 'aggressive' and says his approach risks threatening to wreck the UK's exit from the EU by antagonising Angela Merkel

Mr Miliband is considering tabling an urgent Commons question demanding the Prime Minister sets out to Parliament exactly what its role will be in the major decisions surrounding Brexit.

The former Labour leader, and ex-Liberal Democrat head Nick Clegg, have formed common ground with the SNP, the Greens and some Tories to seek a strong voice for the Commons in the Brexit process.

The grouping believes that while Britain narrowly voted to leave the EU, it did not vote to leave the single market.

It comes as former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it was 'pretty clear' Britain would be leaving the single market, given recent rhetoric from ministers.

Speaking on BBC One's Sunday Politics programme, Mr Duncan Smith said migration from the EU had caused 'a great deal of damage to workers and their incomes' among lower skilled workers.

However, Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said this would be 'a massive mistake' and risked tens of thousands of jobs.

Sir Michael Fallon (pictured on the Andrew Marr Show today) called for unity among Cabinet ministers amid reports of deepening rifts among top Tories over what form Brexit should take

Mr Farron added: 'I think Iain is wrong to say that there's been a massive decision in favour of us leaving the single market, if that's what he's implying.

'A small majority voted to leave the EU, but nobody voted to leave the common or single market.'

Former education secretary Nicky Morgan said a 'sizeable' number of Tory MPs support her push for a 'soft Brexit' with the closest possible ties to the EU after withdrawal, and a Commons vote on the issues involved.

Ms Morgan warned that it would be 'extraordinary' given the prominence of the issue of sovereignty in the referendum campaign for Parliament, not to have a 'big role' in the Brexit negotiations as they unfold.

Asked about cross-party efforts to push for more parliamentary control of the process, Ms Morgan told Sky News: 'Yes, I think there will be common cause between those us of who want there to be the right Brexit, the right mechanism for leaving the EU.

'The other thing is that the Conservative Party manifesto, on which we were elected only 17 months ago, has a very clear statement in it about 'we say yes to the single market', and it talks about 'we will safeguard British interests in the single market'.
UK boasts 529 Hewitts - hills over 2,000ft - but they could be downgraded

Munro is a mountain 3,000ft above sea level, a Corbett is 2,000-3,000ft

While Britain may not have peaks of Himalayan or Everest proportions, hikers have always enjoyed getting out and exploring the dizzying heights offered by the country's mountain ranges.

But this could be about to change, as many of the UK's smaller mountains are under threat - facing the prospect of being downgraded and becoming classified as hills due to rising sea levels.

The warning came from the Ordnance Survey (OS), the Government's mapping agency.

2,000ft is generally regarded as the benchmark height in England and in Wales for when a hill is promoted to the ranks of a mountain - so several small mountains could be re-classified

The Yorkshire Dales: Calf Top, near the Yorkshire Dales, could be downgraded to hill status

Graig Goch: Mynydd Graig Goch, the most westerly 2,000ft peak in Wales, rises to some 2,000ft 8in

Rising sea levels caused by climate change - warming the seas and melting glaciers - means summits may no longer be high enough above sea level and could need to be re-classified.

Ranges which could be affected include:

Thack Moor, Pennines - 2,000ft 2in

Mynydd Graig Goch, Snowdonia  2,000ft 8in

Beinn Teallach, Fort William  3,000ft 8in

Calf Top, Yorkshire Dales  2,000ft 1in

Thack Moor, measuring 2,000ft and 2inches in the North Pennines, could face being stripped of its status as a mountain

Rising sea levels could result in Thack Moor in the North Pennines, being stripped of its status as a mountain

2,000ft is generally regarded as the benchmark height in England and in Wales for when a hill is promoted to the dizzying ranks of a mountain.

Munros are Scottish mountains over 3,000 feet (914.4 metres) while Corbetts are Scottish mountains over 2,500 feet (762 metres) and below 3,000 feet (914.4 metres).

Rising sea levels could result in Thack Moor, measuring 2,000ft and 2inches in the North Pennines, being stripped of its status as a mountain.

Also at risk is Mynydd Graig Goch, the most westerly 2,000ft peak in Wales, and Calf Top, near the Yorkshire Dales, which could also be downgraded to hill status.

A breathtaking view from the summit of Ben Nevis with on a clear day

Tal-y-fan near Conwy: The warning came from the Ordnance Survey (OS), the Government's mapping agency

The mean sea level - the halfway mark between high and low tides - is measured by a tide gauge set up in Newlyn, Cornwall, more than 100 years ago.

An OS spokesman told the Guardian: 'We have to measure from a fixed point, and there are no immediate proposals for a change, but rising sea levels could obviously be a factor if there is a change in the future.
The study by the government's integration tsar Dame Louise Casey (pictured) is said to criticise ministers for failing to integrate minorities and tackle extremism

The Home Office has been accused of trying to censor a report into the governments failure to manage the impact of mass immigration.

The study by the government's integration tsar Dame Louise Casey is said to criticise ministers for failing to integrate minorities and tackle extremism.

The report has been ready for months, according to reports but its publication was delayed after Home Office officials expressed unhappiness about its content.

According to the Sunday Times, the report is understood to criticise the government for failing to get a grip on the pace of immigration and its impact on public services until too late.

It reportedly cites a lack of a strategy to integrate communities, with some areas becoming Muslim-only zones, and the failure to promote and defend a programme designed to counter radicalism.

The newspaper said it is understood that the report also warns that liberal tolerance has gone too far.

Several of Casey's criticisms directly concern the performance of the Home Office under Theresa May, who was home secretary for six years before becoming prime minister.

It has previously been suggested the report could warn that political correctness from council chiefs poses a threat to British laws, culture and traditions.

The paper said that Charlie Edwards, adviser to home secretary Amber Rudd, has told a number of anti-extremism professionals in recent weeks that Ms Casey's report will be dramatically rewritten and launched in a much lower-key way than had been planned.

The review was jointly commissioned by Mrs May and former prime minister David Cameron, and last year she launched her own anti-extremism strategy, including investigations into sharia and the possible infiltration of public institutions by Islamists.

The report is understood to criticise the government for failing to get a grip on the pace of immigration and its impact on public services until too late

Anti-extremism sources said senior Downing Street officials were supportive of Casey's work.

A spokesman for the Home Office said: Louise Casey was commissioned in 2015 to review what more we can do to create more cohesive communities in England. The report will be published in due course.

Dame Louise was appointed by David Cameron in July 2015 to review social integration, segregation, and how we can prevent extremism and hate, among other issues.

The report is understood to be highly critical of the government's failure to deal with the consequences of rapid immigration and the swift change in the make-up of many previously homogeneous communities.

In a speech in July, Dame Louise said it was not racist to say that the pace and rate of immigration has created a lot of change in Britain and for some people that feels too much... Not talking about this and the issues that arise from it only creates more tensions, rather than resolving them.

Officials at the Home Office (pictured) has been accused of trying to censor a report into the governments failure to manage the impact of mass immigration

She said the government needed to be much bolder in not just celebrating our history, heritage and culture, but standing up for our democratically decided-upon laws of the land, and standing up to those that undermine them.

The review is also believed to criticise ministers for lacking a serious integration strategy.

Earlier this year, Dame Louise told The Sunday Times: There's a lot of stuff with steel drums and Britain's biggest curry, everything that's easy, while Rome burns in Bradford and there are [state] schools closing for Friday prayers.

The report is understood to conclude that many state institutions have been weak in the face of extremism, have extended principles of tolerance for Islamist fundamentalists too far and to such an extent as to gift the far right.

It is also expected to criticise ministers for not doing more to defend Prevent, anti-extremism initiative that aims to tackle the radicalisation of young people.

The Home Office is slated for failing to communicate the programme properly, not rebutting lies told about it by extremists and allowing groups such as Cage, which defended the Isis killer known as Jihadi John, to fill the vacuum with false claims that Prevent is an exercise in criminalisation and spying against Muslims.
Store manager had granted an employee permission to hold the birthday party at the store

are still hunting the unknown shooter and are investigating the motives

A gunman shot dead one man, 21, and injured eight after opening fire at a Michigan party.

Juwan Boykin was gunned down by the unknown shooter in the early hours of Sunday at the party held at a Clearance Outlet store on 28th Street near Kalamazoo Avenue in Grand Rapids.

Eight other revelers, aged between 19 and 35, were also hurt in the blaze of bullets. All are expected to survive.

Juwan Boykin (left and right) was gunned down by the unknown shooter in the early hours of Sunday

Police are still hunting the shooter.

Officers, who had responded to reports of gunshots at the party at around 3.45am, arrived to find Boykin dead at the scene. The gunman had already fled.

A witness said the gathering, which had attracted be was supposed to be a birthday party at the store before it turned tragic.

The store's manager said they had allowed an employee to throw the party at the store which was still bedecked with balloons and streamers when police arrived.

We're currently trying to figure out exactly what took place,' Sgt. Terry Dixon told Wood TV. 'We're very early on into this incident.' '

Police say that shots were fired from both inside the party and outside from 28th Street.

Eight other revelers, aged between 19 and 35, were also hurt in the blaze of bullets at a Clearance Outlet store on 28th Street near Kalamazoo Avenue in Grand Rapids

Police are still investigating the motives behind the shooting and are hunting for the gunman.

Segen Abraha paid tribute to the shooting victims on social media.

'After Last Night I'm Good on Goin Out in GR,' Abraha wrote. 'I Shouldn't Have to Second Guess Losing My Life Just To Go Out & Enjoy Myself.. my Prayers Go Out To My Boy Tc Smith & The 7 Others Who Were Shot.. & My Condolences Go Out To The Family of The Young Man Who Lost His Life.. we Gotta Do Better Grand Rapids.'
Tributes have been paid to an 83-year-old grandfather who was killed after being hit by a speeding train on an unmanned level crossing while taking his dog for a walk.

Retired Derek Thomas, from Farnham, Surrey was using the level crossing at Bentley, Hampshire while taking his pet dog Maissie for a walk in the nearby Alice Holt Forest.

The father-of-two churchgoer was struck by the 60mph train and had to be identified by his fingerprints following the incident. His black Labrador survived.

Retired Derek Thomas, 83, Farnham, Surrey was using a level crossing at Bentley, Hampshire on his mobility scooter while on his way to taking his pet dog Maissie for a walk

Today, his brother Graham Thomas, 77, said: 'He was well liked and loved by all. It is such a shock. He always led a very healthy life, he was very well known in the village and played a great part with the church.'

Network Rail has now launched a probe into the tragedy with British Transport Police, The Rail Accident Investigation Branch, and the office of Rail and Road.

An inquest at Basingstoke, Hampshire, was told Mr Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene after being hit by an Alton to London train which was 'travelling at 50 to 60mph' train on October 5. The inquest has now been adjourned until January.

Mr Thomas lived near to the level crossing in a four-bedroom 700,000 home.

His death will highlight again the dangers of crossings where there are no lights.

Mr Thomas was taking his dog for a walk in the Alice Holt Forest area when he was killed (file photo)

Peter Watson - who had known him for 25 years - said: 'The dog used to trot alongside him. He was always using this crossing, for years, to go to the forest with his dog.

'The train must have been going at 50 to 60mph. They belt along there. It was an accident waiting to happen.' There has been no suggestion that the driver was exceeding the line speed.
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Angelina Jolie has moved into a mansion in the one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the world  which is so private you cant even see it on Google Street View.

The actress, 41, moved her six children from Malibu into a new rental costing $30,000 a month in Hidden Hills, a gated community in Los Angeles County, California.

There, her new neighbors read like a whos who of Hollywood  including Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, Miley Cyrus, Drake and Jennifer Lopez.

Jolies new pad boasts more than 8,000 square feet of living space as well as two beach-entry pools, a cascading waterfall and an 800 square foot cabana, according to Entertainment Tonight.

But its the privacy that makes property in Hidden Hills so sought after by celebrities  and likely the reason Jolie, who recently made headlines after filing for divorce from husband Brad Pitt, picked it.

Our nearly 2,000 residents enjoy a rural, country way of life that has nearly vanished from Southern California, proclaims the Hidden Hills website.

The pastoral setting is highlighted by the absence of sidewalks and street lights and by the presence of horses, llamas, ostriches, and the occasional cow.

Despite a lack of pavements, its deep setbacks, white three-rail fences, corrals, barns, natural rustic equestrian trails tell visitors that Hidden Hills is a truly special place to live.

Angelina Jolie has moved into a mansion in Hidden Hills (above), one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the world  which is so private you cant even see it on Google Street View

The actress, 41, moved her six children from Malibu into a new rental (above) costing $30,000 a month

Jolies new pad boasts more than 8,000 square feet of living space as well as two beach-entry pools, a cascading waterfall and an 800 square foot cabana. Above, the wine-tasting room

Its the privacy that makes property in Hidden Hills so sought after by celebrities  and likely the reason Jolie, who recently made headlines after filing for divorce from husband Brad Pitt, picked the property (above)

The Hidden Hills website boasts that the neighborhood has no sidewalks but residents enjoy a rural way of life

Jolie's new home is less than a mile away from a lavish mansion (above) owned by Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

Kourtney Kardashian's ex-boyfriend Scott Disick owns this house (above) in the exclusive neighborhood of Hidden Hills

Another of Jolie's new neighbors in Canadian artist Drake, who owns this $7.7million compound in Hidden Hills

An aerial shot of Jennifer Lopez's home in Hidden Hills shows the gated community's natural rustic equestrian trails

The residents of Hidden Hills enjoy a 'rural, country way of life,' according to the community's website. Above, an aerial shot of LeAnn Rimes' home
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Donald Trump is preparing for what could be a bloodbath on Sunday night, as the Republican nominee goes up against Hillary Clinton in the second presidential debate.

The debate, held in St Louis, Missouri, has the potential to be one of the nastiest ever as Trump could choose to go after Clinton's husband Bill Clinton for an alleged rape.

Since Friday, the Trump campaign has been reeling from the fallout after a 2005 tape revealing Trump making vulgar and explicit comments about groping women was released.

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Donald Trump is preparing for what could be a bloodbath of a debate on Sunday night. He was spotted leaving Trump tower for St Louis on Sunday morning

Trump (top, left) braved the rain to make his way to Missouri to face Hillary Clinton in the second presidential debate on Sunday

Many of Trump's closest allies were with him on his way to the debate just 48 hours after the release of a tape in which he was heard making lewd and sexually explicit comments about women (Rudy Giuliani, pictured)

And it has been revealed the first question of the debate will focus on the lewd remarks made by Trump - only he won't be the one answering.

After winning a coin toss, Hillary Clinton will be asked the first question of the night, likely by moderator Anderson Cooper.

Cooper, of CNN, is co-moderating with Martha Raddatz, of ABC, who have adjusted their town-hall-style debate in light of the Trump tapes, CNN Money reported.

Forty people, selected by Gallup after submitting questions, will query the candidates along with the moderators during the town-hall debate.

After a series of tweets, it has been implied Trump will use Juanita Broaddrick, who claimed Bill Clinton raped her, as leverage against Clinton in what is expected to be a nasty debate (pictured with campaign manager Kellyanne Conway en route to St Louis)

As the Republican nominee made his way to Washington University where the debate is to be held, he abandoned his press pool

After landing in St Louis on Sunday afternoon, Trump posted a picture of 'Air Force Trump'

Some Republicans tried to paint a picture of a unified party going into Sunday night's debate, but with no press to cover Trump, that level of unity was difficult to assess

The candidates were both spotted leaving their mutual home state of New York on a cold and rainy Sunday morning.

Trump landed in Missouri around 2.30pm, about six-and-a-half hours before the debate kicked off.

As the Republican nominee made his way to Washington University where the debate is to be held, he abandoned his press pool.

Some Republicans tried to paint a picture of a unified party going into Sunday night's debate, but with no press to cover Trump after 50 top Republicans called on Trump to drop out or withdrew their support, that level of unity was difficult to assess, the LA Times reported.

But campaign manager Kellyanne Conway was doing her own damage control, posting a picture of Trump, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus and other Republicans aboard Trump's plane.

Conway, who canceled Trump's appearance on FOX News on Sunday, also said running mate Mike Pence, who denounced the remarks made in the Trump tapes the day before, was also on board.

Blue paper covers the chairs that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton will use during Sunday's debate

Trump went on a Twitter tirade on Sunday after he dozens of GOP leaders withdrew their support for him following the release of the Trump tapes

After a series of retweets from his supporters who called the GOP establishment 'traitors' who 'don't count' in the election, Trump sent out another a tweet aimed at the Republicans

With his team around him, Trump will have to do everything in his power to salvage his faltering campaign.

As the Republican party plunges into disarray following the comments, Sunday night might be Trump's last chance to unify the party behind him.

Many of the Republicans who have denounced Trump are involved in down ballot elections this November and could be distancing themselves to better their chances at re-election.

Even Trump's running mate Mike Pence has put distance between himself and the presidential nominee.

'I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them,' Pence said in a statement Saturday.

Clinton released an initial statement condemning the comments on Twitter, but remained strategically silent on all other fronts (pictured arriving in Missouri on Sunday)

Clinton campaign officials have decided not to have the Democratic nominee speak about the tapes until the debate to ensure the full impact of her statement

'We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night.'

Along with attempting to regain the trust of the one-third of sitting Republican senators who said they wouldn't vote for Trump, the ticket also has an uphill climb in the polls.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll on Saturday showed Trump lagging five points behind Clinton.

Real Clear Politics shows Clinton up in every poll except the LA Times/USC Tracking poll, which has Trump up by three points. However, the poll has shown Trump in the lead for the majority of the campaign season.

The campaign decided that with droves of Republicans fleeing from Trump that there's little they can do to put more pressure on the GOP nominee (pictured leaving New York on Sunday)

A source close to the Clinton campaign told the LA Times they have prepared Clinton if Trump decides to bring up Juanita Broaddrick

The source said he believes her response will be along the lines of: 'Just to be clear: youre on the ballot; my husband isnt'

As the Trump campaign tries to regain unity amongst the party, Hillary Clinton and her campaign have remained virtually silent since the Trump tapes were released.

Trump retweeted posts from Juanita Broaddrick (pictured) who has claimed Bill Clinton raped her

Clinton released an initial statement condemning the comments on Twitter, but remained strategically silent on all other fronts.

Clinton campaign officials have decided not to have the Democratic nominee speak about the tapes until the debate to ensure the full impact of her statement is felt by the thousands of viewers tuning in on Sunday.

The campaign decided that with droves of Republicans fleeing from Trump that there's little they can do to put more pressure on the GOP nominee.

A source close to the Clinton campaign told the LA Times they have prepared Clinton if Trump decides to bring up Juanita Broaddrick, who has accused Bill Clinton of raping her, or any other infidelities.

Bill Clinton has long denied Broaddrick's accusations, and Hillary has declined to address them

Trump, who has previously threatened to use the former president's infidelities in his battle Clinton, retweeted two posts from Broaddrick on Saturday

Trump followed the first retweet moments later by sharing a second comment from Broaddrick

The source said he believes her response will be along the lines of: 'Just to be clear: youre on the ballot; my husband isnt.'

Trump went on a Twitter rampage on Saturday and Sunday, retweeting Broaddrick's allegations against Bill Clinton in addition to his own tweets lashing out at the Republican party.

Washington University Junior Seohyun Kim (left), carries a sign on the quad area of the school while Ali Rayen (right), carries a sign of his favorite newscaster, CNN's Wolf Blitzer

Students set up 'boxing robots', pitting Republican nominee Donald Trump and his Democratic counterpart Hillary Clinton against each other

Student Breckan Erdman (pictured) carries around a sign on the campus of Washington University referencing the Trump tapes

Dozens of students turned out before the debate to carry signs and champion their candidates - in this case a student was rallying for neither nominee, but rather a giant meteor

The first post from Broaddrick read: 'How many times must it be said? Actions speak louder than words. DT said bad things! HRC threatened me after BC raped me.'

Trump followed the first retweet moments later by sharing a second comment from Broaddrick.

'Hillary calls Trump's remarks "horrific" while she lives with and protects a "Rapist". Her actions are horrific,' it read.

Bill Clinton has long denied Broaddrick's accusations, and Hillary has declined to address them.

Broaddrick's accusations that Bill Clinton raped her in 1978 have never tested in criminal court.

Many believe this has been a clear sign that Trump plans to use Broaddrick's claims as leverage in the debate.

After winning a coin toss, Hillary Clinton will be asked the first question of the night, likely by moderator Anderson Cooper

Cooper, of CNN, is co-moderating with Martha Raddatz, of ABC, who have adjusted their town-hall-style debate in light of the Trump tapes, CNN Money reported

Forty people, selected by Gallup after submitting questions, will query the candidates along with the moderators during the town-hall debate

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani said Trump wouldn't hesitate to talk about 'the women that Bill Clinton raped, sexually abused and attacked'.

Giuliani said Trump will cast Hillary Clinton's 'as the attacker' of women when she claims to be their champion.

On Sunday afternoon, president Barack Obama suggested that Trump insults people because he's 'insecure'.

Without saying Trump's name, he said there's a reason why the Republican presidential candidate has denigrated veterans, people with disabilities, Mexicans and others during the 2016 campaign.

On Sunday afternoon, president Barack Obama suggested that Trump insults people because he's 'insecure'

Obama said: 'It tells you that he's insecure enough that he pumps himself up by putting other people down.'

Obama made the comments to supporters Sunday at a fund raiser in Chicago. He said 'the unbelievable rhetoric' from Trump has been 'disturbing'.

Earlier Sunday, Trump tweeted thanks to his supporters and slammed the Republican leaders who have abandoned him.

'Tremendous support (except for some Republican "leadership"). Thank you,' Trump wrote.

After a series of retweets from his supporters who called the GOP establishment 'traitors' who 'don't count' in the election, Trump sent out another a tweet aimed at the Republicans.

'So many self-righteous hypocrites. Watch their poll numbers - and elections - go down!' he wrote.

A camera operator sets up in the debate hall before the second presidential debate between Trump and Clinton

Workers put the finishing touches on the debate stage where students have been helping to prep the stage at Washington University

U.S. Secret Service agents pose with a Budweiser Clydesdale on the Campus of Washington University in St. Louis

The media center is seen prior to the second presidential debate between the cadidates

New polls conducted since the tapes were release suggest abandoning Trump could hurt the down-ballot Republicans Trump was addressing in the tweet.

A majority of Republican voters - 74 per cent - want the party to stand behind the candidate, according to Politico. Only 13 per cent want them to back away.

That poll also shows that 39 per cent of voters feel Trump should end his campaign while 45 per cent say he should stay in the race.

On the other side of the aisle, the numbers are more extreme.

Democrats want Trump out at about 70 per cent.

The Politico poll is the first to gauge the public's reaction the release of the 2005 tape in which Trump says he tried to hit on Nancy O'Dell, who is married.

Polls taken on Friday and Saturday by YouGov, took some preliminary looks at how the tapes skewed men and women's decisions this election (students pictured at Washington University)

In Pennsylvania, 53 per cent of women said that the tape made them view Trump more unfavorably to men's 42 per cent (students pictured at Washington University)

Despite the harsh rain and cold weather, one protester donned a pig costume to protest outside Trump tower

New data shows that voters want Trump to stay in the race and 74 per cent of voters think the GOP should back the nominee

Trump also made comments about groping women and how he can do 'whatever he wants' because he's a star.

Another poll, taken on Friday and Saturday by YouGov, took some preliminary looks at how the tapes skewed men and women's decisions this election.

For the most part, the tapes didn't change the minds of any staunch supporters.

While the majority of people said the tapes didn't make their views of Trump any worse, 44 per cent in Ohio and 47 per cent in Pennsylvania - battleground states that Trump needs to win - said the tapes made their views of Trump worse.

There is a slight gender gap on how men and women view the comments made on the tapes.

In Pennsylvania, 53 per cent of women said that the tape made them view Trump more unfavorably to men's 42 per cent, CBS News reported.

On Saturday, Trump also thanked supporters who turned up at a party unity rally in Wisconsin - an event that Trump was uninvited to by House Speaker Paul Ryan.

The rally was in Ryan's congressional district.

At the event, Ryan was booed and heckled by Trump supporters, who shouted 'Shame on you!' and 'You turned your backs on us!'

WHO ARE THE REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE WITHDRAWN THEIR SUPPORT FOR DONALD TRUMP OR CALLED ON HIM TO DROP OUT? Illinois Senator Mark Kirk Utah Senator Mike Lee Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan Virginia Representative Barbara Comstock Arizona Senator Jeff Flake New Jersey Representative Scott Garrett Alabama Congresswoman Martha Roby Nevada Representative Joe Heck South Dakota Senator John Thune New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte Utah Governor Gary Hebert Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz Idaho Senator Mike Crapo South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard Texas Congressman Will Hurd Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham Maine Senator Susan Collins Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenbury California Congressman David Valadao Arizona Senator John McCain Utah Governor Gary Hebert Missouri Congresswoman Ann Wagner Former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer Nevada Congressman Cresent Hardy Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski Utah Congresswoman Mia Love Pennsylvania Congressman Charlie Dent Michigan Congressman Fred Upton Colorado Senator Cory Gardner Colorado Senate nominee Darryl Glenn Florida Congressman Tom Rooney New Jersey Congressman Frank LoBiondo Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Utah Congressman Chris Stewart Alabama Governor Robert Bentley Michigan Congressman Justin Amash Advertisement

WHICH REPUBLICANS HAVE DENOUNCED DONALD TRUMP OR CONDEMNED HIS COMMENTS? Ohio Senator Rob Portman Former New York Governor George Pataki Colorado Congressman Mike Coffman Tennessee Senator Bob Corker Minnesota Congressman Erik Paulsen Former presidential candidate Ben Carson Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse Alabama Representative Bradley Byrne West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito RNC Chair Reince Priebus Ohio Governor John Kasich Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson New York Congressman Chris Collins Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson Texas Governor Greg Abbott Nebraska Governor Pete Rickets Running mate Mike Pence Republican Speaker Paul Ryan Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell Former presidential nominee Mitt Romney Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush Texas Senator Ted Cruz Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey Florida Senator Marco Rubio Illinois Congressman Robert Dold Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker Utah Senator Orrin Hatch North Carolina Senator Richard Burr Indiana Congressman Todd Young Iowa Senator Joni Ernst North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory Advertisement

Despite condemning Trump's words and uninviting him, Ryan has not withdrawn his endorsement.

As pressure from establishment Republicans mounted on Saturday, Trump released several statements saying there is 'zero chance' he'll drop out of the race

Trump's tweeting comes after a day that saw more than 50 prominent Republican figures either call for him to drop out of the presidential race, or denounce the comments he made on the recording released by the on Friday.

On Sunday morning, Hillary Clinton's running mate Time Kaine made an appearance on CNN's State Of The Union to discuss Trump's hot mic incident.

Kaine said 'it is much more than words'.

Kaine noted that Trump has previously made disparaging remarks about women.
The DA's office says Felix will be eligible for the death penalty for the double murders although they have not decided if they will pursue it

his son had been 'acting crazy' and threatening to shoot cops moments before Vega and Zerebny were killed

He is a known gang member and was part of an attempted

John Felix, 26, a known gang member, was apprehended early Sunday after a 12-hour standoff with police

A gang member who allegedly shot dead two Palm Springs police officers, was 'acting crazy' and threatening to kill cops moments before he opened fire.

John Felix, 26, a known gang member, was apprehended early Sunday after a 12-hour standoff with police.

He is accused of killing officers Jose Gilbert 'Gil' Vega and Lesley Zerebny - who had just returned from maternity leave. One of their colleagues was also wounded.

Moments before Felix shot and killed the officers, his terrified father, Santos Felix, had allegedly run to a neighbor for help.

'My son is inside and we're scared, he's acting crazy,' neighbor Frances Serrano said the older Felix told her. When it was suggested they call the police he said, 'Yeah, he already knows they are coming, and he is going to shoot them.'

Serrano said she went back inside her house and within minutes police cars arrived and gunfire erupted.

Vega and Zerebny, who had been responding to reports o a family disturbance call Saturday afternoon at the home in a quiet neighborhood of this desert resort city. were shot and killed moments after arriving at the scene.

Zerebny, 27, had been with the department for about 18 months and recently returned from maternity leave after giving birth to a daughter.

Vega, a married father of eight, was a 35-year veteran who planned to retire in December. He had been working overtime Saturday on his scheduled day off.

Police arrested Felix, who was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening.

He is now facing at least two murder charges.

Riverside DA's office says Felix will be eligible for the death penalty although they have not decided if they will pursue it.

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Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes identified the two officers killed in a shooting on Saturday as Jose Gilbert 'Gil' Vega (left) and Lesley Zerebny (right)

Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes (above) said Vega was a 35-year veteran of the force, while Zerebny had just returned back to duty after giving birth to a baby girl four months ago

According to the Desert Sun, Felix has ties to criminal organizations and served four years in prison after a failed gangland assassination in 2009.

Documents reveal Felix was charged with attempted murder but pleaded down to assault with a firearm and admitted his gang connection.

Reyes indicated police had had previous dealings with the suspect, but declined to elaborate.

Saturday's shooting took place near Sunrise Way and Racquet Club Road in the luxury desert town as officers were responding to a 'family disturbance' around 2pm, Sgt. Hutchinson of Palm Springs Police Department said.

Riverside County SWAT officers quickly sealed off the residential neighborhood as police evacuated some residents. They told others to stay inside their homes, keep their doors locked and not to open them for anyone.

Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes tearfully identified the two deceased officers as during an afternoon press conference.

Lesley Zerebny (pictured with her baby) had just returned from maternity leave when she was shot dead yesterday

Zerebny, 27, was a rookie who had only worked on the police force for about a year and a half

'This is extremely difficult for me,' Reyes said as his voice was breaking. 'Today Palm Springs lost two brave officers. They go out every day and put their boots on the ground for everybody in this community, they gave it all for you.'

Zerebny, 27, was a rookie who had only worked on the police force for about a year and a half, Reyes said as his voice cracked.

He explained that Zerebny had just returned back to duty after giving birth to a baby girl four months ago.

'Here you have a wonderful, young, dedicated female officer that pressed forward every day to make it better for everybody else, and she gave her all,' Reyes said.

Zerebny's husband is a Riverside County sheriff's deputy.

Reyes said that Vega, who was set to retire in December, was not originally scheduled to work on Saturday, but picked up the shift to work overtime.

'Here he is, 35 years in, still pushing a patrol car for our community to make it better - on a day he wasn't even scheduled to work,' the chief said.

Palm Springs Police Officers carry the body of a fellow officer from Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs to a hearse bound for the coroner's office in Indio, California on Saturday

Police officers from several organizations pay tribute as the bodies of two Palm Springs police officers are loaded in hearses bound for the coroner's office on Saturday

Members of the Palm Springs Fire Department and the police department saluted the cortege which was led by the bodies of Vega and Zerebny (above)

The third police officer who was shot is 'alert and doing well' at the local hospital.

He explained that a woman called 911 saying her son was causing a disturbance at a home on 2700 Cypress Road.

Reyes said that when officers arrived at 12:18pm, the male refused to open the door and threatened to shoot through the closed door.

The officers were trying to negotiate with the suspect to comply, but he opened fire on them.

'It was a simple family disturbance and he elected to open fire on a few of the guardians of the city,' Reyes said.

Dozens of law enforcement officers, including the SWAT team, are searching for the shooter in the area of Cypress and Del Lago roads in Palm Springs.

Reyes said it's unclear what type of weapon the man used and that the central homicide unit of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department is in charge of the investigation.

Officers point to a home on Cypress Road after gunshots were fired in Palm Springs, Saturday

The shooter has not been found, as his whereabouts are unknown as of 8:24pm ET. Above armed police officers at the scene

The officers were immediately rushed to a local hospital after the horrific shooting. Scene pictured above

Above police officers from various agencies are shown at their command center on Saturday in Palm Springs

Witnesses say they heard between 10 and 20 gunshots from what sounded like machine guns, the newspaper reported.

While walking out of the emergency room where the officers had been taken, Palm Springs Mayor Rob Moon said: 'It's probably the worst day of my life.'

Frances Serrano lives directly across the street from where the deadly incident happened and she spoke to the father of the suspected gunman not long after the shooting.

Serrano was reportedly told that the son, who allegedly has mental issues, wanted to shoot police officers and had a gun, the Desert Sun reported.

'He came over and asked for help,' she said.

Serrano called 911 and the man walked back towards his house and then soon after she said she heard gunshots.

Later on Saturday evening, mourners had left flowers and candles at a growing memorial located in front of the police station for the fallen officers (above)

Ron Ristaino, 47, of Rancho Mirage, sets candles at a shrine, while holding his daughter Malayna, 2, and his son Dominic, 12, holds a gift for the peace officers

A citizen lights candles at a memorial for two slain police officers on Saturday

Palm Springs police chief, Brian Reyes speaks to the press beside a booking photo of suspect John Hernandez Filix aged 26 who is charged with the shooting deaths of two police officers

'I saw a person on the ground,' said Gerardo Barrera, who was working near the scene. 'Someone kept pumping her chest but she wasn't moving.'

Barrera said that police arrived right away to the scene.

'It sounded like fireworks at first,' said Juan Garciano. 'I came out of the house and saw police start to block the roads.'

The Torchwood and Dr. Who star John Barrowman said the shooting took place about 200 yards from his house, as he expressed shock over the 'terrible' incident that took the lives of two officers.

'There's been a shooting in Palm Springs, two police officers have died and one is, I guess injured,' the actor said in a video shared to Twitter while speaking in what appeared to be his back yard.

The actor expressed his support for the Palm Springs Police Department along with his husband Scott Gill.

Zerebny (above), 27, was a rookie who had only worked on the police force for about a year and a half. She had just returned back to duty after giving birth to a baby girl four months ago

Peace officers lend each other support at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs on Saturday after the horrific police-involved shooting

Barrowman said that police helicopters were circling above his home in the area, as everything 'is shut down'.

Later on Saturday evening, mourners had left flowers and candles at a growing memorial located in front of the police station for the fallen officers.

Lee Weigel, the city's former police chief and a onetime city councilman, said he felt weak at the knees after learning of the shooting deaths.

'It's a family,' Weigel said. 'This is the worst incident in the history of Palm Springs in terms of officer shootings.... This is shocking, a blow to the entire department and community.'

In addition, members of the Palm Springs Fire Department and the police department saluted the cortege which was led by the bodies of Vega and Zerebny.

It had been 54 years since an on-duty uniformed police officer was killed in Palm Springs.

In front of police headquarters, scores of local residents gathered to leave flowers, balloons and cards.
A new crime bill could strip the wealthy of their millions if they cannot explain where their wealth has come from.

The bill which is expected to be unveiled on Thursday will removed any ill-gotten gains for foreign dictators, crime bosses, terrorist suspects and any multi-million or billionaire.

It is hoped the unexplained wealth orders will uncover all the Mr Bigs suspected of any involvement in serious criminality.

Gangster David Hunt pictured leaving the High Court, London, in 2013, inspired the new law after he could not recall how he afforded a large home on a scaffolders salary and had filed no tax returns and paid no tax from 1982 to 1996

Whether they are avoiding paying tax, or have an undeclared business, those who fail to explain their riches could soon face civil legal proceedings to recover the money or even criminal charges if they make false or misleading statements.

According to The Sunday Times, the law could also be applied to foreign politicians or officials or those associated with them, allowing the authorities to go after Russian oligarchs linked to Vladimir Putin who use London to shelter their money, or African dictators who hide millions outside their own countries.

Whitehall sources said the new law is designed to tackle men such as David Hunt, who was named by a judge in 2013 as a violent and dangerous criminal and the head of an organised crime group implicated in murder, drug trafficking and fraud.

MP Ben Wallace says to all the 'Mr Bigs' the Government will get you

When Hunt sued The Sunday Times for describing him as an underworld king, he was quizzed in court about his finances but, according to the judgment, could not recall how he afforded a large home on a scaffolders salary and had filed no tax returns and paid no tax from 1982 to 1996.

Security Minister Ben Wallace told the paper: The message is clear. We will get you one way or another. Our aim is to take crooks liberty and their cash.

This comes after PM Theresa May this week, in one of the most radical speeches by a Tory leader in decades, said the Conservatives 'were coming for' rip-off firms and tax-dodging multinationals.

She laid into the rogue businesses inflicting unfairness and injustice on ordinary Britons.

The Prime Minister said the Brexit vote on June 23 represented a quiet revolution against a system that served only the wealthy elite.
A spectator has died and eight were injured when a rally car veered off a road during a race in San Marino.

The Renault Clio crashed into straw bales on a corner where spectators were watching the race at midday.

Shocking footage, published by Gazzetta TV, shows the car driving straight towards people enjoying the rally.

The Renault Clio crashed into straw bales on a corner where spectators were stood watching the race

Event organisers cancelled the event as police launched a criminal investigation into the crash

Henry Anselmino, 57, from Asti, was killed instantly, the race organiser said.

The injured spectators - one woman, seven men - were rushed to hospital. Three are in a critical condition.

Locals think the driver was unable to stop as the car's brakes had failed.

Event organisers cancelled the event as police launched a criminal investigation into the crash.

Driver Enrico Bonaso and navigator Alice Palazzi were inside the car when it crashed.

San Marino's Secretary of State Teodoro Lonfernini said: 'These dramatic events are incalculable and unpredictable.'

The Renault Clio was filmed in stills from this video in the moments before the crash

Locals think the driver was unable to stop as the car's brakes had failed

The organiser, RallyLegend, said the car 'went off the road and hit some straw bales protecting a runoff path' and that the spectators affected were 'standing right behind the bales.'

A statement from race bosses read: 'One of the spectators involved died instantly.

'The other wounded, immediately helped by the ambulances and medical personnel in service on the test, were transferred to the hospital.

'For decision of the organizers and the direction of the race, the 14th rallylegend was declared cancelled. The awards have been cancelled.'
Soldiers armed with automatic weapons have searched vehicles entering Calais for illegal immigrants.

French troops patrolled the port whilst the country is still in a state of emergency following the Nice terror attack.

They asked drivers about the nature of their journey before they could continue.

French troops patrolled the port whilst the country is still in a state of emergency following the Nice terror attack

Soldiers asked drivers about the nature of their journey before they could continue

The checks were carried out whilst the country is still in a state of emergency

The soldiers were armed with automatic weapons as they checked vehicles and drivers

Motorists spoke with the French troops during the checks which were carried out in Calais

The troops controlled the line of cars as motorists headed to the port on their journey

The jungle migrant camp, near Calais, has provoked anger from some locals who have wanted it shut down for months

Last night faith leaders in Britain called on Theresa May to allow almost 400 refugee children from the 'Jungle' migrant camp near Calais into the country.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, led by former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, the senior religious figures urged for action and said the children are at risk as the camp is to demolished.

The news comes after plans to set up a new 'online' border to stop unskilled immigrants from entering Britain were revealed.

Those seeking permission to come to the country would need to prove they had a skilled job lined up and could speak English.

It is one of several plans being worked up by Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, in preparation for Brexit.

A source said: 'Theresa May has asked the Home Secretary to draw up several schemes and Amber Rudd is keen on the digital border idea.

'What we are talking about is an online portal that will be the first hoop migrants have to jump through in order to live and work in the UK.

'If they cannot prove they have a skilled job and can speak the language then their application will not progress any further - it's as simple as that.'

France has been hit by a series of major terrorist attacks in the past two years

Last night faith leaders in Britain called on Theresa May to allow almost 400 refugee children from the 'Jungle' migrant camp near Calais into the country

Local residents protested over plans to relocate migrants at the Jungle migrant camp which is to be closed down
His mother, Tracy Buckley, has launched a fund to fly out to be with him

Had eight-hour surgery when he arrived in hospital and is still unconscious

A young backpacker on a dream round-the-world trip is critically ill in hospital after falling 60ft from a supermarket balcony in Australia.

Jordan Harris, 24, from Offerton in Stockport , is heavily sedated and according to doctors, is lucky to be alive.

His distraught mum, Tracy Buckley, told how she got a frantic phone call from Jordan's girlfriend telling her about the incident.

Jordan Harris, 24, from Offerton in Stockport , is heavily sedated and according to doctors, is lucky to be alive

She's now raising money to fly out to Australia to be at his bedside.

Avid Manchester City fan Jordan, who is living and working in Sydney with his girlfriend, shattered his pelvis, ruptured his bladder and spleen and smashed several bones in the fall. A machine is being used to help him to breathe.

Tracy, 43, said Jordan fell from a balcony at a supermarket in Sydney, although she says exact details are still unclear.

Jordan's brother Jack, 23, has already flown out to be with him. The family say he faces a string of vital operations and a long road back to recovery.

Tracy said: 'They have taken his neck brace off now and apparently there is some movement in his limbs but I think from his waist down everything is broken.

'The details I have now are quite hazy but I know he is still heavily sedated and using a machine to help him breathe.

'He had an eight-hour surgery when he first arrived at the hospital and will need numerous more operations and a long recovery period.

'He has been unconscious since the accident.

'The doctors said that for a fall like that, normally they would not give him a chance.

'It is a miracle that he hasn't had a bleed on the brain and there are no severe head injuries. He is critical but stable.'

His distraught mum, Tracy Buckley, told how she got a frantic phone call from Jordan's girlfriend telling her about the incident

Tracy said she has received an update from medics to say Jordan has opened his eyes and surgeons have managed to stop his internal bleeding.

Jordan took a break from a telesales job in Stockport to travel to Thailand in January before moving on to Australia in February. He's currently working in sales in Sydney.

Tracy, who is registered disabled and on benefits, has launched an appeal for donations on the Go Fund Me website.

She needs 6,000 to fly over with her mother. The total currently stands at just over 4,000.

Tracy said: 'I want to thank everyone of you for the massive amount of support shown and the funds raised so far.

'We are truly overwhelmed and eternally grateful. He is just a really happy boy and such a fun person to be around.

'The doctors are saying he is moving each limb and blinking, so they think he is aware of what's going on around him, which is something.

'Unfortunately he's not yet strong enough to undergo vital surgery he needs for his shattered pelvis and he has numerous other broken bones.

'It's going to be a very lengthy process for recovery. Once again I would like to thank each and everyone of you for your donations so far.'
He had been walking from Huercal-Overa in Almeria to nearby Albox

Former Leicester councillor, 66, was last seen in Spain on June 9

The body of a missing Briton who disappeared in southern Spain in June during a 1,400 mile trek from London to Gibraltar has been found.

Hunters in the province of Almeria alerted authorities after finding the remains of former Leicester councillor David Oldman at about 11am this morning.

Relatives of the missing 66-year-old librarian are understood to have been informed early this afternoon.

The body of David Oldman, who disappeared in southern Spain in June during a 1,400 mile trek from London to Gibraltar, has been found near to a hamlet called La Concepcion

A post-mortem is due to take place tomorrow morning.

Experienced hiker Mr Oldman's family made a series of pleas on social media for help finding him after he disappeared.

He was last seen on June 9 while walking from Huercal-Overa in the province of Almeria, south east Spain, to nearby Albox.

Fears started to grow when he failed to ring his mother or board a flight he was due to catch home a few days after he disappeared.

Last month, Mr Oldman's family travelled to Almeria to complete the 13-mile journey he vanished on.

Niece Gemma Oldman, speaking ahead of the trip, said: 'We are seeing it as an opportunity to raise awareness.

He was last seen on June 9 while walking from Huercal-Overa in the province of Almeria in south east Spain to nearby Albox (pictured)

'It is two months now, but we are clinging to hope until we hear otherwise. We want to complete that part of the journey at which he disappeared.'

Mr Oldman's family worked with the Lucie Blackman trust, who helped British overseas victims.

He was described as an 'experienced and very fit walker' by friends and relatives after he went missing.

The area where he was found is near to a hamlet called La Concepcion.

Fears started to grow when he failed to ring his mother or board a flight he was due to catch home a few days after he disappeared

A source close to the case said police had confirmed the remains were those of Mr Oldman but could not say how they had managed to make the positive match.

Spanish police searched the region where he went missing with a specialist dog team and from the air but it is not known if they organised a fingertip search of the area he was found in.

The source said: 'The remains were found by hunters between 11am and midday today.

'Civil Guard have said the body is that of missing British national David Oldman.'

No-one from the local Civil Guard could be contacted for an official comment.

Mr Oldman was walking from London, where he lived at the time of his disappearance, to Gibraltar in stages.

The pensioner, who worked part-time at Marylebone Library, was breaking up his journey by flying home to Britain from time to time.

The search for him was scaled back after an intensive four-week hunt with no results.

Speaking about her uncle, Miss Oldman said previously: 'He is a very experienced walker and was following a planned route from Gibraltar House in London to Gibraltar.

'This is what he does - this is his holiday and he is very fit and good at what he does.'
Ibrahim Sulaiman, 28, identified by Kuwaiti authorities as Egyptian national who rammed his car into a truck carrying US troops

Ibrahim Sulaiman, 28, was hospitalized after the car he used to ram into a truck carrying US soldiers caught fire

American soldiers rescued a would-be Egyptian terrorist who rammed into their convoy while they were driving along a Kuwaiti highway, causing it to catch fire.

The US embassy said 28-year-old Ibrahim Sulaiman intentionally crashed into them during what has been called 'an attempted terrorist attack.'

While all three US troops in the truck escaped unharmed, the assailant suffered injuries and was rushed to hospital after being pulled from his burning garbage truck by the soldiers.

Kuwaiti authorities had earlier said five American soldiers were involved.

The Interior Ministry published pictures of the aftermath of the crash showing a wrecked garbage truck along with items it described as a suicide belt loaded with shrapnel.

The white pickup truck apparently carrying the soldiers had the left side of its bed smashed in.

The embassy did not say where the troops were stationed, but American forces are deployed to Kuwait's Camp Arifjan.

Terrorist attacks are rare in Kuwait, a US ally that was liberated during the 1991 American-led Gulf War following an invasion by neighboring Iraq.

Kuwaiti authorities released this image of a damaged garbage truck after it rammed into another truck carrying five US soldiers in Kuwait

The white pickup truck apparently carrying the soldiers had the left side of its bed smashed in

The embassy said it is not aware of any 'specific, credible threats' against American civilians in Kuwait, but it reminded those in the country to remain vigilant.
President Obama blasted Donald Trump hours before the second presidential debate on Sunday, labeling the Republican candidate 'insecure' and 'disturbing'.

He did not even acknowledge the businessman by name as he chipped away at his 'insulting' campaign at a fundraiser for Democratic representative Tammy Duckworth, in Chicago, Illinois.

'It tells you that he's insecure enough that he pumps himself up by putting other people down,' Obama quipped, listing what he considered to be the candidate's most offensive moments to date.

'One of the most disturbing things about this election is just the unbelievable rhetoric coming from the top of the Republican ticket.

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President Obama delivered a scathing critique of Donald Trump on Sunday, labeling the Republican presidential candidate 'insecure'

'I don't need to repeat it. There are children in the room.

'But, demeaning women, degrading women, but also minorities, immigrants, people of other faiths. Mocking the disabled. Insulting our troops. Insulting our veterans.

'That tells you a couple of things,' he said to applause, NPR reported.

It came hours before the billionaire's second showdown with Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

The pair will face-off in St Louis, Missouri, at 9pm in what is expected to be their scrappiest meeting yet.

At the top of the agenda is Trump's 2005 comments that he could 'grab' women 'by the p****' and do 'anything' to them because he was a star.

The remarks, caught on a hot-mic during a guest appearance on Access Hollywood, were released on Friday and sent the GOP into a tail-spin.

The President chastised Trump for 'degrading, demeaning and insulting' women as he spoke at a senatorial campaign fundraiser for Democratic representative Tammy Duckworth in Chicago, Illinois

Trump (seen above leaving Trump Tower in New York for St Louis, Missouri, on Sunday) has refused to drop out of the race despite the withdrawal of key GOP figures' endorsements

Dozens have withdrawn their support of the candidate who, despite acknowledging the comments' impropriety, has refused to drop out of the race for the White House.

Among those to have publicly condemned his words are former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Trump's own running mate Mike Pence.

Vice President Joe Biden explosively likened Trump's boasts about advancing on married women to sexual assault while Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said he was left 'sickened' by the comments.

Melanie Trump joined them in their rebuking of her husband but pleaded with voters to forgive him as she had.

On Saturday night, more incriminating tapes of the candidate emerged.

In a string of conversations taped over 17 years, he jeered with Howard Stern over women's body types, their ages and how owning a collection of beauty pageants brought him special privileges to flirt with contestants.

The defiant candidate (above, posing for a photograph with campaign manager Kellyanne Conway) acknowledged his 2005 comments about women were 'wrong' but vowed to continue in his bid for the White House

President Obama said the comments were 'disturbing', refusing to even use the candidate's name as he spoke on Sunday

Clinton touched down in St Louis, Missouri, on Sunday ahead of the debate. She will be the first to speak after winning a coin toss

The pair will square off in what is set to be the scrappiest of their meetings at St Louis's Washington University (above) on Sunday at 9pm

Trump suggested he would bring up rape allegations made against his opponent's husband Bill Clinton (pictured above) on Sunday

In perhaps the most shocking of the recordings, Trump agreed with Stern's description of his daughter, Ivanka, as a 'piece of ass' and said his wife became a 'blimp' and a 'monster' when she was pregnant with their only son.

The defiant Donald brushed off the scandal on Saturday, emerging from Trump Tower on 5th Avenue, New York City, to the cheers of undeterred supporters.

On Sunday he continued his determined dismissal of the scandal as he prepared for the debate, hinting that he may use the platform to resurface rape claims against his opponent's husband.

Trump re-tweeted the comments of Juanita Broaddrick who claims Bill Clinton raped her in 1978.

He also slammed defective members of his own party who have retreated from supporting him since Friday.

'Tremendous support (except for some Republican "leadership"). Thank you,' he said.

The first question of Sunday's debate will be answered by Clinton who will no doubt use the opportunity to deliver her first brutal blow of the night.

Trump has lost the support of key endorsers since a 2005 recording of him boasting that he could 'grab' women 'by the p****' emerged on Friday (above)
A Kansas sheriff's department is investigating after one of its deputies was kidnapped and sexually assaulted.

The deputy was abducted at around 11.30pm on Friday from a parking lot as she headed into work at the detention center in Olathe, the Johnson County Sheriff's Department said.

It added the deputy, who has been with the department for about six months, did not know her abductors and was not in uniform at the time.

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A Kansas sheriff's deputy was kidnapped and sexually assaulted. The department released video of the car (above) believed to have been used in the abduction

The woman, who is in her 20s, was released about two hours later in Lee's Summit, Missouri, according to The Kansas City Star.

She was dropped her off near Interstate 470 and Northeast Woods Chapel Road and managed to find her way to Jackson County sheriffs headquarters nearby.

On Sunday, the department released video of the car believed to have been used in the abduction.

Authorities want to question two men who may have been in the car, a dark blue Mazda.

They believe the men followed the deputy from the QuikTrip convenience store near Santa Fe Street and Interstate 35 for more than a mile before abducting her, the Star reports.

No description was provided for the men, but they are believed to be in their 20s.
Police have today confirmed they have pulled the body of missing 20-year-old student Ethan Peters from River Foss near York

Police have confirmed that the body they pulled out of a river today was that of a missing 20-year-old student.

Officers found York student Ethan Peters - who had been missing for a week - in the River Foss.

A major search operation, involving divers and a helicopter, had been underway since the University of York undergraduate disappeared last Sunday

North Yorkshire Police said this evening that Ethan's family had been informed and they were continuing to receive support from specially-trained officers.

Family and friends described Ethan as 'a likeable character, very friendly, very sociable, very helpful.'

He was in a 'good mood' and 'having a nice social night out' before he went missing, according to police.

Detective Inspector Jackie Smart said: 'Our thoughts are with Ethan's family and we will do everything we can to support them at this very difficult time.

'We would like to thank the members of the public and the media who have supported the appeal.'

North Yorkshire Police have been searching for the missing third year TV and Film student for the last seven days

The major operation included involving divers, a helicopter, and police officers searching his route home

Ethan was said to be in a good mood when he walked home after a night out last Sunday

Police said earlier that underwater search teams and local officers had been conducting extensive searches and the body was found at 1.30pm in the river behind the Castle Museum in York.

Ethan was last seen at 11.55pm in York last Sunday on CCTV, heading towards his home.

Divers from the Yorkshire and The Humber marine search unit spent several days in the Foss, while officers also carried out CCTV enquiries to determine what happened to Ethan.

A helicopter was used last Wednesday to search areas in and around the city centre.

On Saturday, police officers carried out ground searches of his usual known route home from the city centre, although it was not known if he took this route on the night he went missing.

Police said his disappearance was totally out of character and they were keeping an open mind about his disappearance.

Mr Peters was last seen at 11.55pm in York last Sunday on CCTV, heading towards his home

Originally from London, he was a student at Goodricke College, part of the University of York, and in his third year studying film and television production.

Mr Peters' death follows a number of others of young people in York's two rivers over the last three years.

These included student Megan Roberts in the River Ouse, shop worker Ben Clarkson in the River Foss and soldier Tyler Pearson in the Ouse.

Mr Peters' death follows a number of others of young people in York's two rivers over the last three years.

Last year, City of York Council spent an extra 100,000 on new river safety improvements

Ms Roberts' mother Jackie has campaigned to stop the tragedies, calling for riverside safety to be reassessed and for young people enjoying themselves in the city centre to be aware of the dangers.

Last year, City of York Council spent an extra 100,000 on new river safety improvements, including providing dozens of high-visibility lifebelts along the banks and installing chain link fencing at vulnerable points.
Tostee, from Gold Coast, south of Brisbane , has pleaded not guilty

Court was shown re-enactment of her legs hanging over the balcony edge

Gable Tostee's apartment was in disarray after death of Warriena Wright

A New Zealand tourist was so scared of a man she met on Tinder that she fell to her death trying to climb off his 14th floor apartment balcony, a court has heard.

Gable Tostee, from Australia's Gold Coast, south of Brisbane, is on trial accused of murdering Warriena Tagpuno Wright, 26, who fell to her death in August 2014.

The 30-year-old called Ms Wright, who he met on Tinder, a 'psycho b***h' and told her she was lucky he didn't throw her off his balcony just moments before she plummeted to her death.

Gable Tostee was flanked by his parents and lawyers as he entered Brisbane Supreme Court today for the first day of his murder trial

Tostee is accused of killing Warriena Tagpuno Wright (pictured) in 2014 after they met on the dating app Tinder while she was visiting Australia

Dishevelled sheets, rocks on the floor and a handheld video camera were found in the Gold Coast apartment (pictured) of Gable Tostee after Warriena Wright fell to her death from his balcony in 2014

The court heard detailed audio on Monday of the pair arguing, as well as a photo re-enactment of Ms Wright's last moments dangling from Tostee's balcony (pictured)

Crown prosecutor Glenn Cash told Brisbane Supreme Court that Tostee did not throw Ms Wright to her death but intimidated and threatened her so greatly she felt the only way to escape was to climb down from his locked balcony.

The court heard an audio recording made by Tostee that captured an altercation between the pair as well as Ms Wright's eventual death.

Mr Cash said Tostee became angry after Ms Wright threw some decorative rocks at him.

Ms Wright's mother Beth Wright broke down as the court heard how her daughter was allegedly choked and restrained as Tostee abused her.

GABLE TOSTEE TIMELINE July 29, 2014: Ms Wright arrives in Australia for two-week holiday. She meets Tostee on Tinder. August 8, 2014: Ms Wright found dead about 2.20am after falling from 14th floor balcony of Tostee's Surfers Paradise apartment. August 15, 2014: Tostee arrested at parent's house, charged with murder. October 10, 2016: Murder trial starts. Tostee represented by high-profile barrister Saul Holt QC. Advertisement

'You're lucky I haven't chucked you off my balcony you God damn psycho bitch,' Tostee is heard to say in the recording.

'You're not going to collect any belongings, you're just going to walk out.

'If you try to pull anything I'll knock you out, I'll knock you the f*** out - do you understand?'

He then forced her onto the balcony and locked a glass door into the flat, meaning 'her only means of escape' was to try to climb down the building's exterior, the court heard.

Mr Cash said the prosecution would allege Tostee had, by threat and intimidation, made the tourist feel like this was her only option.

A jury containing seven women and six men was told a neighbour heard Ms Wright crying 'no, no, no, please let me go home' before witnessing her falling from Tostee's balcony about 15 seconds later.

Gable Tostee pictured arriving at Brisbane Supreme Court today ahead of his trial

The 26-year-old was found dead at the base of the high-rise Avalon Apartments in Surfers Paradise in the early hours of August 8, 2014

Police photograph of Gable Tostee's 14th floor Surfers Paradise apartment in the Gold Coast

Sheets on Tostee's bed were seen balled up and a pillow case appeared to be missing

Prosecutors claim Ms Wright threw decorative rocks at Tostee, which angered him

Ms Wright was on a two-week vacation to attend a friend's wedding in 2014 when she met Tostee at the end of her trip.

She was found dead at the base of the high-rise Avalon Apartments tower block in Surfers Paradise in the early hours of August 8, 2014. She had fallen from the 14th floor balcony of Tostee's flat.

Her sister Marreza Wright broke down in the witness stand on Monday as she told the court she had exchanged Facebook messages with her on the night she died.

'She was just messaging me that she met this guy,' she told the court.

She told the court Warriena had said Tostee looked like Sam Winchester from the TV show Supernatural.

'I replied with thumbs up,' she said. 'She sent photos, they were quite fuzzy.'

In his opening address, defence barrister Saul Holt QC said Tostee was a real person, not a 'cartoonish villain' as the media often depicted.

Mr Holt said Ms Wright had become increasingly erratic and aggressive towards him after a night of drinking and intimacy.

After attempting to restrain her Tostee then put Ms Wright out on the balcony and locked the door, the court heard.

Ms Wright's mother Merzabeth Tagpuno also arrived at the court for the start of the trial, which is expected to last seven to eight days

Mr Cash said the prosecution would allege Tostee had, by threat and intimidation, made the tourist feel like this was her only option

Mr Holt said Tostee did not choke Ms Wright but was within his legal right to use 'reasonable force' to protect himself and his property.

'She is outside, he is inside and he has caused a locked door to be between the two of them,' Mr Holt said.

'What happened in this case is nothing like murder or manslaughter, it doesn't fit.'

The court heard after Ms Wright fell to her death Tostee attempted to contact a lawyer and called his father.

'She kept beating me up and whatever,' Tostee told his father in the recording.

'I forced her out onto the balcony and I think she might have jumped off'.

Of the 22 witnesses to be called by the Crown, Ms Wright's sister, Marreza, began testifying and provided further Facebook messages the sisters exchanged that night.

Gable Tostee, 30, after being released on bail in November 2014 following his arrest

Ms Wright was found dead at the base of this high-rise Avalon Apartments tower block in Surfers Paradise in the early hours of August 8, 2014

Gabriele Collyer-Wiedner, who lived in the flat directly below Tostee's, told the court she woke about 2am to the sound of banging furniture.

She heard a woman screaming 'no, no, no' and looked out onto her balcony when she saw Ms Wright's legs.

'Legs came down and dangled in the air,' she said.

'I froze there, then the body fell on my balcony railing.

'I screamed and then somebody else screamed. I assumed it was her voice,' the neighbour said.

'I stepped forward and looked down and she was lying on the ground.'

She then called emergency services. During a re-enactment with police, Ms Collyer-Wiedner 'screamed and ran away' when an officer played the role of Ms Wright.

The court heard Ms Wright fell 14 floors to the driveway below where her body was found by first responders.

Photographs of Tostees balcony, living room and kitchen were then shown to the jury.

Fingerprint dust, a pair of shoes and a glass bottle could be seen on his balcony.

The living room had decorative white pebbles scattered across the floor after Ms Wright allegedly threw them at Tostee. A hand-held telescope was pictured on the coffee table, and its metal bracket is on the floor after Ms Wright hit Tostee with it, the court heard.

Her handbag was pictured near the coffee table.

More than three hours of audio taken from Tostees apartment the night Ms Wright died was extracted from his mobile phone.

One hour of the audio has been played to the jury on Monday afternoon. Ms Wright's mother sat outside the court so she did not hear the audio.
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New shocking aerial photos have revealed the extent of Hurricane Matthew's devastation in the US after the storm ravaged the southeastern coast for nearly four days.

The photos capture debris-covered beaches and flooded streets in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, where the storm killed a total of 18 people after leaving nearly 900 dead in its wake in Haiti earlier this week.

Matthew was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone just before daybreak Sunday morning as it began making its slow exit to the sea.

It finally moved out to sea and was centered about 150 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina as of 2pm, still sustaining hurricane-force winds of 75 mph.

President Obama signed major disaster declarations for Florida and Georgia on Sunday morning.

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New shocking aerial photos have revealed the extent of Hurricane Matthew's devastation in the US after the storm ravaged the southeastern coast for nearly four days (pictured is Flagler Beach, Florida on Sunday)

The streets were littered with debris while the roofs showed extensive damage in Florida's Crescent Beach

Historic Fort Pulaski National Monument is completely surrounded by flood waters in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew

Workers survey damage to the roof of a hotel in Daytona Beach, Florida on Saturday

The height of flood waters in Palm Coast, Florida could be seen in this picture from Saturday afternoon

Matthew unloaded more than a foot of rain on North Carolina, its final stop, on Saturday night and flooded homes and businesses as far as 100 miles inland.

Governor Pat McCrory revealed on Sunday morning that seven people had been killed during the storm, the highest death toll of any state.

Six people were also been killed in Florida, four deaths - all caused by falling trees - were reported in Georgia, and one person died in South Carolina.

McCrory said one person was killed after their vehicle hydroplaned in heavy rain and two others died after their car became submerged in the flood waters.

It has been estimated that Matthew will end up damaging roughly 1.5million residential and commercial properties in Florida (pictured is Palm Coast), Georgia and South Carolina

Property data firm CoreLogic projects that the total damage will cost between $4billion and $6billion in insured losses, anticipating 90 percent of insurance claims will be attributed to storm surges and wind damage from the storm

This aerial footage captured the dramatic moment a man was rescued from his roof in Pinetops, North Carolina on Sunday

Tybee, Georgia Mayor Jason Buelterman surveys Matthew's damage from a helicopter

North Carolina congressman Tim Moore likewise surveyed the extent of the flooding to his state

Another resident drowned after they drove past a barricade and were swept away into a creek.

As of late Sunday there are also four people missing in the state's Cumberland County, where more than 562 water rescues were also conducted, according to The Weather Channel.

Officials are worried they may find more victims and said the problems were far from over as all that rain  more than a foot in places  flows into rivers and downstream, likely causing days of major flooding in many of the same places devastated by a similar deluge from Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

'As the sun rises in North Carolina and the blue sky returns, our state is facing major destruction and, sadly, loss of life,' McCrory said as the effects of Saturday's deluge became clearer at daylight.

Most of the dead were swept away by flood waters. The governor said there were rural areas that search and rescue teams hadn't been able to make it to and places that flooded overnight.

'There could be some backroads where we had people swept away. I'm praying that is not going to be,' McCrory added.

After unleashing days of havoc and fear across the Atlantic coast, Matthew has finally been stripped of its hurricane status. Pictured are flood waters in Charleston, South Carolina

Matthew was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone just before daybreak Sunday morning but flash floods continue to remain a danger in North Carolina (pictured is Wilmington on Saturday)

Many in North Carolina were left stranded in their cars due to flash flooding caused by Matthew (pictured is Wilmington beside the Cape Fear River on Saturday)

Two North Carolina Army National Guardsmen evacuate residents in Fayetteville on Saturday afternoon

Life-threatening flash floods surprised many in the state on Saturday night, with 562 water rescues being conducted in just Cumberland County alone (pictured is Fayetteville)

Forecasters warned North Carolina residents that there was danger of life-threatening flooding through Monday night

The extent of flooding in the state could be seen Sunday morning, such as in this picture of Lumberton

A man walks through the flooded waters to his home in Lumberton on Sunday morning

North Carolina Gov Pat McCrory revealed on Sunday morning that seven people had been killed during the storm, the highest death toll of any state (pictured is Lumberton on Sunday)

Abandoned cars were spotted dotting the streets of Raleigh as the sun came out and Matthew headed towards the sea

Life-threatening flash floods surprised thousands in the state who were suddenly trapped in their homes and cars.

Highway patrol troopers rescued 25 vehicles that became stranded on Interstate 95 while Coast Guard helicopters plucked people from rooftops.

One woman whose car was overrun by flood waters held onto a tree for three hours before she could be rescued, while another woman and her small child had to be saved from the roof of her car.

And in Brunswick County, about 100 hotel guests had to be taken by bus to a shelter because the main walls of the Comfort Inn Suites were on the verge of collapse.

A 63-year-old woman was rescued in Wilson County when rescuers were called after she didn't make it home from work.

They heard her cries for help while riding on top of a Humvee, and when they couldn't get her with a rope, a National Guard soldier swam to her, staying until a rescue boat arrived.

Matthew was centered about 60 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on Sunday as it moved out to sea

The tropical cyclone was still sustaining hurricane-force winds of 75 mph as of Sunday morning

An abandoned truck lies in submerged waters on Sunday afternoon after Hurricane Matthew hit Lumberton

Pedestrians and drivers navigate rising waters along the Cape Fear River in Wilmington, North Carolina on Saturday

A car sits in flood waters due to rain from Hurricane Matthew in Rockingham, North Carolina on Saturday

The extent of Matthew's damage in Florida (pictured is Port Orange), where six people were killed, could be seen on Sunday

Cherie Monroe stands in the sun room of her home in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew in Port Orange on Sunday

Monroe's entire roof had been blown off her home as Matthew made its way across the state

Bug Mohani steers his wheelchair along a part of closed A1A highway washed out by the storm in Flagler Beach, Florida

Local residents surveyed the damage caused to their town after Matthew wreaked havoc up the state on Friday

The unofficial rainfall totals in North Carolina were staggering: 18 inches in Wilmington, 15 inches in Fayetteville and 8 inches in Raleigh.

Flooding along the state's Neuse River is expected to reach an all-time high, exceeding the record flooding from Hurricane Floyd in 1999 by more than two feet.

The Lumber River in Lumberton was 4 feet above its record level Sunday afternoon and was forecast to remain there for at least five days.

Cape Fear River, Tar River and Cashie River were also expected to near or surpass flood level stages and McCrory warned that cities along rivers in eastern North Carolina needed to be prepared for days of flooding.

HURRICANE MATTHEW DEATH TOLL FLORIDA: 6 GEORGIA: 4 SOUTH CAROLINA: 1 NORTH CAROLINA: 7 HAITI: 877 Advertisement

'Most of our concerns right now are inland,' he said. 'We're going to have surges on the major rivers coming into North Carolina, which could cause some serious, serious damage.'

Forecasters said the state as well as Virginia could get even more rain and warned of the danger of life-threatening flooding through Monday night.

While the crisis was far from over in North Carolina, other places to the South began to survey Matthew's damage.

The storm left 2.2million households and businesses without power across the Southeast over the weekend.

South Carolina made up the bulk of that figure, with 746,000 power outages across the state as of early Sunday.

There were more than 670,000 power outages in North Carolina and around 205,000 in Georgia as well, where much of Savannah was still without electricity.

An especially dramatic rescue in Fayetteville was captured on camera Saturday night when three people became stranded

Crews from the NYPD and New York City Fire Department (FDNY) were able to successfully rescue the three occupants

Florida, which was hit by Matthew on Friday, still has 561, 862 outages as of early Sunday morning but the power is expected to be restored for most customers by the end of the day.

It has been estimated that Matthew, the most powerful hurricane to threaten the Atlantic Seaboard in more than a decade, will end up damaging roughly 1.5million residential and commercial properties in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Property data firm CoreLogic projects that the total damage will cost between $4billion and $6billion in insured losses, anticipating 90 percent of insurance claims will be attributed to storm surges and wind damage from the storm.

On Saturday, Matthew sideswiped two of the South's oldest and most historic cities  Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah - caused levels of flooding that had not been seen since 'the late 1800s', according to FEMA administrator Craig Fugate.

Some 20 inches inches of rain was dumped on the state before it made landfall at around 11am in the Cape Romaine National Wildlife Refuge Center near McClellanville.

This aerial photo shows the extent of flooding in Charleston, where high tides caused by Matthew sailed over the city's historical seawall and flooded the streets that were simultaneously being pounded with heavy rains

A resident kayaks in flood waters on Rutledge Avenue after Hurricane Matthew hit Charleston, South Carolina

Four Charleston residents stand on their porch and survey Matthew's damage on Saturday afternoon

Residents of an upscale historic neighborhood wade through flood waters as they return to their home in Charleston

Streets and intersections in the city, which is made up of handsome pre-Civil War homes, church steeples and romantic carriage rides, were flooded in Charleston on Saturday

Charleston was one of the worst-hit cities in South Carolina, with waves rushing over its seawall and through its historic streets on Saturday morning as tides reached historic levels.

A flash flood emergency, reserved only for the most life-threatening situations, was issued by the National Weather Service for areas in South and North Carolina, including their respective cities of Myrtle Beach and Raleigh.

Rainfall totals were at 17.5 inches in Savannah, Georgia by Saturday afternoon and reached almost 15 inches in Beaufort, South Carolina.

The Battery of Charleston, a landmark defensive seawall, could not hold back the waves as the tide rushed in and submerged the promenade of the popular tourist destination.

Streets and intersections in the city, which is made up of handsome pre-Civil War homes, church steeples and romantic carriage rides, were also flooded as the city was pounded with heavy rainfall.

Matthew then shifted course north of Charleston to Myrtle Beach, where multiple houses were also damaged after a reported tornado hit the northern part of the city on Saturday morning.

In Savnnah on Sunday about 150 people stood in line for a grocery store to open like it was a Black Friday sale.

Debbie Berta said she waited more than an hour to get propane gas for her grill. She also wanted 'bread, potatoes, eggs  and a piece of sanity.'

A homeless woman named Valerie walks along flooded President Street after leaving her camp in Savannah on Saturday

A member of the Pooler Fire Department uses a boat to move residents of homes in a Savannah suburb

An officer from the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department surveys a stranded car in the city's flooded waters

Addie & Richard Schlemmer sit at the deserted City Market in Savannah after a sleepless night following the storm

After pounding North Carolina and drenching parts of Virginia, Matthew is expected to veer out to sea, lose steam and loop back around toward the Bahamas and Florida, where it will likely be too feeble to cause any trouble.

For nearly its entire run up the coast from Florida, Matthew hung just far enough offshore that communities did not feel the full force of its winds.

But the storm still spread devastation across parts of the state, which saw six of its residents killed in Matthew's wake.

An elderly St. Lucie County couple died from carbon monoxide fumes while running a generator in their garage during the storm, while two women were also killed in separate events when trees fell on a home and a camper.

The other two victims could not be reached by emergency services because of the storm after suffering medical conditions in their homes.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott said the state had suffered an 'unbelievable' amount of beach erosion and fallen trees, but said he was grateful that Matthew had not made landfall.

More than 5,900 people remained in 70 shelters across the state as of Saturday afternoon as many began to survey Matthew's damage and try to resume business as usual.

All four deaths reported in Georgia were caused by trees that had been downed during the worst of the storm

An ambulance responding to a call passes by a truck damaged by a fallen tree on Interstate 16 West in Savannah

Georgia Department of Transportation workers help repair downed street lights and power in Savannah on Sunday

A tree and power lines blown over by Hurricane Matthew lay across a road on St. Simons Island, Georgia on Saturday

It has been estimated that Matthew will end up damaging roughly 1.5million residential and commercial properties in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Pictured here is a home in Savannah

Walt Disney World, which closed for only the fourth time in its 45-year history, reopened its doors on Saturday, as did Universal Orlando and SeaWorld.

Along Daytona Beach's main drag, the Silver Diner had all of its shiny metal siding ripped off the front and sides, leaving only a wood frame exposed.

Next door, the window of a souvenir shop had been blown out and the roof and ceiling torn through, leaving pink insulation dangling.

David Beasley, president of Insurance Recovery Inc., surveyed the damage and said that although it looked bad, the main strip was hit harder by Hurricane Charley and Hurricane Frances in 2004.

'This is not much compared to those two,' he said.

By hugging the coast, the storm pretty much behaved as forecasters predicted. A shift of just 20 or 30 miles could have meant widespread devastation.

A man leans on a damaged boardwalk at a debris covered beach in St Augustine, Florida on Saturday

A boat is partially submerged in the Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona Beach, Florida on Sunday morning

A damaged airplane was found lying upside down at Florida's Ormond Beach Municipal Airport in the aftermath of the storm

'People got incredibly lucky,' Colorado State University meteorology professor Phil Klotzbach. 'It was a super close call.'

While Matthew's wind speed had dropped considerably by the time it hit the Southeast coast, the storm will still go down as one of the most potent hurricanes on record, based on such factors as wind energy and longevity, and as one of the most long-lived major hurricanes, too.

It was a major hurricane  that is, with winds of at least 110 mph  for just over seven days.

And the true extent of Matthew's devastation still remains unknown in Haiti, where at least 470 people died in just one of the country's districts in the hard-hit southwest region.

Fridnel Kedler, coordinator for the Civil Protection Agency in Grand-Anse, said the total death toll - already near 900 - is 'sure to go up' as officials still have not been able to reach two communities in that department three days after the Category 4 storm hit.

Officials are especially concerned about Grand-Anse, located on the northern tip of the southwest peninsula, where they believe the death toll and damage is highest.

Government and UN officials estimate that some 350,000 people in the country need help and the Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal for $6.9million to assist with aid.

In this aerial photo, residents of St. Augustine wait along side the road to get clearance to return to their homes on Saturday

A beachfront home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, was ravaged by the storm, the wall of its living room ripped clean off

The roof of an adjacent condominium building lies on top of the roof of La Bella Inn in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew
Royal Mail is accused of making millions from conmen who defraud the elderly on a massive scale.

Vulnerable victims lose vast sums through letter frauds sent by post  delivered under Royal Mail's bulk-mail contracts.

It means the fraudsters behind the illegal letters get Royal Mail branding on their envelopes, making it easier to gain the trust of victims.

But despite repeated warnings about the scale of the fraud, the postal service refuses to crack down on the letters.

Royal Mail is accused of making millions from conmen who defraud the elderly in Britain on a massive scale. Vulnerable victims lose vast sums through letter frauds sent by post (pictured)

In a major undercover investigation, the international network of conmen  who make millions through their scams  were filmed laughing at their 'suggestible' and 'uneducated' victims over lavish dinners, oysters and champagne. The Daily Mail today reveals the scammers:

Call themselves a 'mafia' who 'rip off' elderly people;

Meet to swap 'suckers lists' of vulnerable victims at lavish conferences across the world, where they mock the 'lonely' and 'crazy' people who 'really believe' the letters they send;

Make millions by targeting confused victims who will send money for 'absolutely anything';

Admit their mailings are 'lying', 'fraud' and 'probably not' legal  but boast they always get away with it as the authorities 'don't really care';

Avoid UK authorities by using mailboxes in Switzerland and the Netherlands  and hiding money in offshore accounts.

Their letters include messages from fake clairvoyants, prize-draw scams and illegal advertisements for unlicensed health remedies.

Some persuade victims their families are trying to harm them and they need to send protection money  warning against telling those closest to them about the letters.

The findings raise serious questions for Royal Mail  which has been warned for more than a decade that elderly customers are at risk.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said today: 'The Business Minister has been very clear on this behaviour that targeting some of the most vulnerable people in the country should not and will not be tolerated.

'Royal Mail has agreed this is a problem that needs to be addressed and Margot James has asked for an urgent meeting with Royal Mail.

'That is going to happen and there will also be meetings with Royal Mail, other postal operators and the National Trading Standards scams team to ensure that this issue is tackled as a matter of urgency.'

Campaigners last night accused Royal Mail of 'profiting from the criminal exploitation of the elderly' and said it was 'disgraceful' its logo was allowed to appear on fraudulent post.

Business Minister Margot James said she would be summoning Royal Mail to demand immediate action.

She said: 'I'd like to thank the Daily Mail for their work in highlighting this case. Mass-marketing scams target some of the most vulnerable people in the UK and should not be tolerated.'

Elderly Britons are thought to lose up to 5.8billion a year in postal scams  with dementia sufferers often falling victim.

One woman was 'brainwashed' into handing over 100,000. Often the issue remains hidden as victims are too afraid or ashamed to seek help.

'I'm passionate about my ability to whore my talent and sell this s*** to people who don't need it'. Canadian sweepstake scammer, Andrew John Thomas, said the victims 'get sucked in'

Reaping the profits: Christian Limpach at the conference at the Whistler ski resort. The German said the letters are 'crazy' and 'very weird' but claims the aim of them is clear: 'To rip off the people.' Particularly 'females over 60', who are seen as the most vulnerable, he said

Postmen told the Daily Mail they 'hated' being made to deliver the scam letters  but feared they would lose their jobs if they refused.

The scammers are even able to take advantage of Royal Mail's discounted bulk postage rates.

In a year-long investigation, the Daily Mail has traced a criminal network that makes millions in the UK in this way.

THE STAMP OF APPROVAL: HOW THE SCAM WORKS Criminals buy a 'suckers list' of elderly people who have fallen victim to scams, or are likely to. These lists are often from databases sold on by charities. The criminals then produce scam letters to trick them out of more money. Scammers employ a company  such as Netherlands-based TRENDS  to print millions of copies of their scam letter, identical except for the victims' details, and seal them in envelopes. TRENDS pays postal giants such as Asendia to take the letters to the UK. Asendia does not ask or check the content of letters. Asendia transports letters to the UK, and then contracts firms such as Whistl to sort the letters into postcode areas and put them into the Royal Mail system. Whistl agrees and does not ask or check what the content of the letters is. Whistl delivers the sorted letters into Royal Mail regional sorting offices, from which Royal Mail postmen deliver the letters to victims in the UK  the 'final mile'. Royal Mail does not check with Whistl what the content of the letters is. Vulnerable people in the UK receive the letters with Royal Mail branding on them and believe they are genuine. They send cash and cheques back to the criminals' post boxes, which are managed by TRENDS. TRENDS sends money to a payment processing firm such as PacNet. PacNet processes the cheques and wires the money to the criminals. All the vulnerable people who have fallen for the latest scam have their names recorded on a new 'suckers list'. The list is then traded around criminals. As a result, they are quickly bombarded with more scams from criminals all over the world. A spokesman for TRENDS said they were unable to comment for legal reasons. Asendia admitted it had held a contract with TRENDS but said it had no way of knowing the letters were scams. PacNet denies any wrongdoing and says it has never knowingly processed money generated by scams. Advertisement

An undercover reporter went to a conference attended by the group in Canada where conmen bragged of 'reaping the profits' from 'ripping off' victims. One French scammer told our undercover reporter Royal Mail's logo helped him dupe 400,000 Britons into thinking the 'Government allows' their letters.

Yann Wenz said: 'It's better with Royal Mail than without. It's not right  but people are thinking that.'

Mr Wenz said his firm faced repeated problems with the UK's 'overprotecting' authorities. But he said: 'We want to stay [operating in the UK].'

Hundreds of scams get into the UK through the Royal Mail's bulk contract with postal firm Whistl, formerly TNT Post, which is worth hundreds of millions of pounds a year to Royal Mail.

Whistl is paid by firms such as Asendia to get bulk quantities of letters from abroad into Royal Mail's system.

Some of the scams that enter Britain through Whistl and Asendia have been banned in the US. The US Post Office said the letters were clearly 'criminal frauds' targeted at 'elderly and vulnerable victims'.

But Royal Mail claims it cannot act as it is legally obliged to deliver any addressed letter, including those from Whistl.

Some victims receive sacks of scam letters every week, marked with the Royal Mail's Whistl contract stamp.

Louise Baxter, of National Trading Standards, said the investigation showed how 'criminal scammers around the world' had 'manipulated the postal system'.

Marilyn Baldwin, of anti-scam charity Think Jessica, said: 'It is an utter disgrace. Elderly people are being preyed on by criminals through the post and yet the Royal Mail, Asendia and Whistl simply shrug their shoulders. These companies are profiting from the criminal exploitation of the elderly.'

And Baroness Altmann, former pensions minister and campaigner for the elderly, said 'It is shameful to allow the [Royal Mail] logo to be used by fraudsters. Urgent action needs to be taken.'

All postal firms involved said they abhorred scam mail but could not check what they were sending because of postal secrecy. They said they made it clear to their clients that illegal letters should not be sent.

Royal Mail said it took the Daily Mail's findings seriously, adding: 'Royal Mail does not knowingly distribute mail from fraudsters and we have terminated contracts where companies have been proven to be operating scam mail. We have contacted Whistl and other postal companies and asked them to review any suspect contracts as a matter of urgency.'

The letters are placed in the hands of their victims by trusted Royal Mail postmen and women. It is a practice the Royal Mail seems unable  or unwilling  to stop (file picture, posed)

Whistl said it would 'investigate all scam mail brought to their attention' and it had brought the letters in from 'an intermediary' without knowing what they were or who the sender was. 'We have no ability to see the actual content of the mail items,' a spokesman said. 'We contract in good faith with our customers that their mailings are legal.'

Asendia admitted it had held a contract with the firm that printed millions of scam mailings on behalf of fraudsters. But a spokesman said it 'did not accept any responsibility for the mailings' passed to Whistl and other partners for delivery through Royal Mail.
Unseen footage from The Apprentice features Donald Trump saying the N-word, an award-winning producer has claimed.

Producer Chris Nee, who didn't work on The Apprentice, said Sunday she had heard from producers and crew members that tapes of Trump featured him saying the racist expletive.

Nee made the claim after a former producer on The Apprentice said there is 'far worse' footage of Trump than the tape where he brags about groping women.

Bill Pruitt, who worked on seasons one and two of the show, reacted Saturday to the GOP nominee's comments that stars can do anything to women, including grabbing them 'by the p***y'.

But the footage belongs to media company MGM. Producer Mark Burnett, the creator of The Apprentice, is the president of MGM Television and Digital Group, a division of MGM. He reports to MGM CEO Gary Barber.

Hefty confidentiality agreements seem to have kept the tapes away from the public eye so far.

Nee said on Sunday she had once signed a contract with Burnett and the fee for a leak was $5 million.

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A former producer on The Apprentice claims there is 'far worse' footage of Donald Trump. He is pictured on the show with son Donald Jr and daughter Ivanka

Bill Pruitt, who worked on seasons one and two of The Apprentice, wrote Saturday that there are more damaging videos than the one where Trump talks about grabbing women's p*****s

Mark Burnett (pictured), the creator of The Apprentice, is the president of MGM Television and Digital Group. He reports to MGM CEO Gary Barber. MGM owns the rights to the footage

She then called on billionaire Mark Cuban, who supports Hillary Clinton, to cover the legal fee for a potential whistleblower.

A Go Fund Me is also aiming to raise the funds so that anyone in possession of the tapes can come forward.

Pruitt (pictured) began a movement demanding the release of the tapes

Pruitt, who has also worked on The Amazing Race and for Vice, sparked a movement demanding the release of the tapes when he tweeted on Saturday: As a producer on seasons 1 & 2 of #theapprentice I assure you: when it comes to the #trumptapes there are far worse. #justthebeginning'

Nee, the producer of Doc McStuffins, tweeted on Sunday: 'I don't have the tapes. I've signed a Burnett contract & know leak fee is 5 mill.

'Hearing from producers/crew N word is the "much worse".'

Nee later deleted the tweet.

Burnett, the British-born producer who created The Apprentice and is now based in Los Angeles, became the president of MGM Television and Digital Group in December last year.

MGM now owns the rights to The Apprentice.

Fellow producer Chris Nee (pictured), who didn't work on The Apprentice, said she heard from producers and crew members that the 'far worse' tapes included Trump saying the N-word

Nee said Sunday she once signed a contract with Burnett and the leak fee was $5 million. Hefty confidentiality agreements seem to have kept the tapes away from the public eye

She then called on billionaire Mark Cuban, who supports Hillary Clinton, to cover the legal fee for a potential whistleblower

Cast and crew have said that the Republican presidential nominee frequently used lewd and sexist language while shooting the show.

The Associated Press on Saturday once again attempted to contact Burnett.

AP had previously asked him to provide the original The Apprentice footage for review earlier this year. Those calls were not returned.

On Friday, AP contacted NBC, which broadcast The Apprentice. The network said it could not legally release any footage and referred calls to the producer, Burnett.

Ted Cruz on Sunday accused the media of being biased for releasing the 2005 tape now that Trump, whom he has reluctantly endorsed, is running for president.

'NBC had tape 11 yrs. Apprentice producer says they have more & worse. So why not release in 2015? In March? Why wait till October? #MSMBias' he tweeted.

Burnett's office would not take messages Friday afternoon and directed calls to a public relations firm, which did not return multiple calls from the AP requesting comment and access to unedited footage and audio files from The Apprentice.

'I'm just answering their phones. They're all out to lunch. Can you call later?' said a woman who answered the phones Friday afternoon at Burnett's office.

Ted Cruz on Sunday accused the media of being biased for releasing the 2005 tape now that Trump, whom he has reluctantly endorsed, is running for president

Cast and crew have said that the GOP nominee (pictured on The Celebrity Apprentice with son Eric and daughter Ivanka) frequently used lewd and sexist language while shooting the show

A former crew member on The Apprentice, who spoke on condition of anonymity after signing a non-disclosure agreement, said Friday that Burnett guarded the show's footage carefully, at the time it was being produced, to prevent spoilers that would reveal in advance which contestant had won the competition reality show.

AP reported Monday that during his years hosting 'The Apprentice,' Trump repeatedly demeaned women with sexually tinged comments, rated female contestants by their breast size and commented about which ones he would like to have sex with.

He made one such comment less than a year after marrying his third wife, Melania, in January 2005.

Because of the silence from Burnett and his representatives, it could not be determined which, if any, of the incidents described by former contestants and crew in the AP story had been recorded or occurred when cameras were not operating.

It also could not be ascertained if any comments that could have been recorded still exist in an archive.
A toddler declared dead for six minutes after he was bitten by a coastal taipan has been pictured in hospital after being left paralysed.

Eli Campbell, two, was collecting eggs from his family's chicken pen in Queensland's Agnes Waters on October 2 when he was bitten three times by the deadly snake, suffering a cardiac arrest.

Eli has been taken off a ventilator and is no longer 'fighting for his life,' but his distraught father Giles said the little boy's MRI showed significant swelling on the brain and he has no control over his limbs.

Eli Campbell, two, was declared dead for six minutes after he was bitten by a coastal taipan has been pictured in hospital after being left paralysed

Toddler Eli was with his mother in his backyard when he was bitten three times by a coastal taipan snake, suffering a cardiac arrest

Mr Campbell said Eli was moved to the paediatric ward at the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital on Friday and will remain there until his seizures reduce.

'He has lost quite a bit of weight as he is pretty much immobile, he currently has no real control of limbs and cannot hold his head up,' Mr Campbell wrote on the family's GoFundMe page.

'His eyes wander constantly and he is still very weak.

'We are under no illusions anymore, we know this boy of ours will need some care for the rest of his life'.

Eli's mother Brittany, who is 16 weeks pregnant, was credited with saving the little boy's life after she applied a pressure bandage to his wounds until paramedics arrived.

Last week, she said the two-year-old suffered brain damage after a lack of oxygen from the taipan venom.

The family are considering permanently relocating to Brisbane from rural Queensland to ensure they have access to the best possible rehabilitation facilities.

Ms Campbell is due to give birth to their second child on March 24.

The taipan snake is elusive but highly venomous, striking repeatedly and very quickly if they feel threatened (stock image)

She wrote on the crowdfunding campaign page last week, explaining the family need to wait until he 'comes to a bit more' to see the extent of his brain damage.

'He is very sensitive at the moment, very easily over stimulated,' she said.

'Eli has suffered some brain damage as a result of his cardiac arrest and subsequent lack of oxygen to the brain,' Brittany wrote on their GoFundMe page.

'We won't know the extent until he starts to come too a bit more.

The little boy's occipital lobe has been most affected by the oxygen deprivation and he could be left with the inability to recognise objects and have constant hallucinations.

'We have no idea the extent but we also have no expectations. We are now ready to walk this path with our little boy,' Brittany said.

After the snake attack on Sunday, Eli was declared dead for six minutes before being revived by paramedics.

Snake handler Richie Gilbert (right) has thrown support behind the family with a fundraiser to help foot Eli's medical bills

A family friend told Daily Mail Australia Eli was taken off the ventilator overnight on Sunday for doctors to find out if he is ready to breathe on his own.

The friend said Eli's MRI results 'weren't the best'.

Richie Gilbert from Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 told Daily Mail Australia taipans are elusive but will strike when cornered.

'It was tragic. The snake would have probably had its head in a hole looking for rats or mice. They are a shy but they can strike repeatedly and very quickly if they feel threatened.'

Mr Gilbert said there were approximately two fatal bites a year from taipans in Australia.

He is helping Eli's parents raise money for his medical bills with a free snake awareness demonstration.

'We're hoping to raise awareness on different breeds of snakes and explain what to do in case of a snake bite. We're staging a number of activities to raise money for the family.'

A GoFundMe page has also been set up to help Eli's family and can be seen here
Allegations he invested 12.5m in film scheme to shield pay from HMRC

star is claimed to have not paid tax on his then 4m-a-year salary

The Manchester United star is claimed to have not paid tax on his then 4million-a-year salary

England captain Wayne Rooney could be hit with a 5million bill over his alleged involvement in a suspected tax avoidance scheme.

The Manchester United star is claimed to have not paid tax on his then 4million-a-year salary for three years because he invested 12.5m in a film project.

Original calculations said the 30-year-old could have to pay back 3.5million in tax.

But now HMRC inspectors are investigating whether the true figure is 1.5million higher.

The film investment scheme, called Invicta 43, is alleged to have generated tax relief for 225 wealthy individuals.

The company bought rights to the Hollywood films, Fred Claus and 10,000 BC, which they were able to claim tax relief on.

The tax money was expected to be paid once the movies were leased back to studios in later years.

Rooney, 30, who denies the allegations, is worth around 85million. Those claims relate to a time before he signed a 300,000 a week deal with Manchester United in 2014.

The forward has been investigated four times in five years by HMRC.

A spokesman for the player told The Sun: 'Wayne's tax affairs have always been conducted in full compliance with the law.'

A source said: 'Wayne has not yet received a demand over this. He has invested in two or three schemes that are under scrutiny.'

England captain, Rooney, 30, who denies the allegations, is worth around 85million

England's record goalscorer has been under pressure in recent weeks over his performance on the pitch which has seen him relegated to Manchester United's bench.

Fellow investors in the Invicta scheme include the former Manchester United defender Wes Brown, Steve Esom, chairman of the British Retail Consortium, and Anthony Fry, a former member of the BBC Trust.

There is no suggestion that any named investor has behaved illegally or will not be able to pay. Critics of HMRC say the scheme was sold as a means of deferring tax, not avoiding it.
A 'foursome' may have led to the gruesome murder of a 21-year-old woman whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase at a San Diego hotel.

Joshua Palmer, 32, was arrested in connection with the murder of Shauna Haynes after a sexual encounter that allegedly included four people.

Palmer, who is accused of strangling Haynes before stuffing her body in a suitcase, told a friend that he 'crossed the line sexually', a witness testified on Wednesday.

Samantha Joyce testified at a preliminary hearing for Palmer and said he text her on April 5, saying he went back to his hotel room with a woman named Chelsea the night before, according to ABC 10 News.

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A 'foursome' may have led to the death of 21-year-old, Shauna Haynes (right), whose body was stuffed into a suitcase at a San Diego hotel. Joshua Palmer, 32, was arrested in connection with the murder of Haynes after a sexual encounter

Palmer, who is accused of strangling Haynes before stuffing her body in a suitcase, told a friend that he 'crossed the line sexually', a witness testified on Wednesday. Anthony Kern (pictured) who was involved in sexual encounter also testified in court

In her testimony, she said Palmer told her that Haynes, who was his co-worker at the Spaghetti Factory restaurant, and another man, Anthony Kern, were also there.

Joyce said that she saw Palmer and Haynes together occasionally at the restaurant where she worked, the station reported.

'They just seemed to be really good friends,' Joyce said.

A detective also testified that Palmer called 911 after the incident and reported his girlfriend missing, ABC reported.

Samantha Joyce, testified at a preliminary hearing for Palmer. She said that she saw Palmer (left) and Haynes (right) together occasionally at the restaurant where she worked and that they seemed like 'really good friends'

Police were reportedly able to obtain a search warrant for Palmer's phone and found videos that showed Haynes unconscious. In one video, Palmer (pictured) was allegedly heard apologizing and saying that 'I can't watch you having sex with somebody else'

Police were reportedly able to obtain a search warrant for Palmer's phone and found videos that showed Haynes unconscious.

Palmer is heard on one video saying that the sexual encounter turned into a 'foursome'.

In another video, Palmer was heard saying: 'I'm sorry I love you, but I can't watch you having sex with somebody else. God I'm sorry,' ABC reported.

Deputy District Attorney Martin Doyle alleged that Palmer stuffed Haynes' body into the suitcase and threw it out with the garbage, the station reported.

On April 6, a man, identified only as 'Phil', found the suitcase, lifted it and noticed that it was extremely heavy.

When he realized human hair was stuck in the zipper, he called police.

'I was taking out the garbage and I went around to the back of the building and saw a black garbage can, one of them was turned over.

'I dropped it and looked down and saw hair, black hair coming out...because it was zipped up, but you could still see the hair,' Phil told NBC 7 San Diego.

Police arrived on scene and confirmed Haynes' body was inside.

Two days after her body was found, police interviewed and arrested Palmer.

He is charged with murder, with special circumstance allegations of murder during a rape, murder during sodomy and murder during a rape by an instrument, which would potentially make him eligible for the death penalty.

Palmer could face capital punishment or life in prison without parole if he's convicted.
For decades, the Oxo mum offered television viewers brief glimpses into the lifestyle of middle-class Britain as she served up dinners to her eagerly-awaiting family sitting around the dinner table.

But as the classic advertisements are set to return to television screens, the matriarch will have to budge over at the foot of the cooker to make way for her new rival - the Oxo dad.

In their latest attempt to portray modern family life, bosses of the stock cube brand want to highlight how both mothers and fathers now share duties when cooking for their children.

1. Texting: A friend comes over for dinner in the new Oxo advert showing a modern day family

The new adverts will also reflect how the genteel image of a mannerly family quietly joining each other for dinner has instead given way to chaos.

Gone is any notion of saying grace before meals as dining tables have become adorned with mobile phones belonging to moaning teenagers while the familys pet rabbit also takes a berth in one of the adverts.

The role of the Oxo mum was made famous by actress Lynda Bellingham who starred in 42 adverts that were broadcast to viewers over a 16-year period in the 80s and 90s.

Despite their huge success, the family-based adverts have not been used by the brand since Miss Bellingham last appeared in the role in 1999 over fears that they did not reflect modern life.

2. Need a hand? Mum and dad work together to get spaghetti and meatballs on the table

When deciding how to reinvent the modern family, executives said that the idea of a mother as the head of the kitchen was an outdated idea that no longer resonates with customers.

While some might scoff at the hectic and imperfect family presented in the adverts, the company said both parents working together in the kitchen represents the power of togetherness.

The new adverts  set to appear on screens tonight (Mon)  feature a family made up of mother, father, three children and their pet rabbit, Mr Jefferson.

As well as highlighting the changing routine surrounding dinnertime in British homes, the adverts also reveal the countrys changing tastes.

Whereas the adverts previously featured traditional meals consisting of meat, vegetables and gravy, the modern family is shown cooking Italian-style meatballs and spaghetti, controversially served with salad.

3. Times have changed: The friend takes a photo of her food to post online leaving family bemused

One advert also features both mother and father - played by Morag Peacock and Myles Keogh - rushing to prepare a Moroccan chicken stew with olives and forgetting that they are hosting friends for dinner.

Perhaps most surprising for those who recall the quaint Oxo family adverts that first aired in 1958 will be the presence of mobile phones at the dinnertable.

The first episode involves stroppy teenager Lucy bringing her friend Tiana, described as the most popular girl in school, home for dinner.

After finding out that her mother is cooking meatballs, Lucy throws a tantrum believing that the meal is not good enough for her school friend.

Instead of thanking the cook when she is then served the dish, the familys dinnertime guest expresses her approval by taking a picture of her plate on her phone and posting it on the internet.

The brand used research showing that 29 per cent of fathers now take on sole responsibility for cooking while 87 per cent play some part in preparing meals to help shape the new family.

Helen Touchais, from Premier Foods which owns the Oxo brand, said that changing routines in the kitchen were partly due to a rise in the number of working mothers.

She said: Families have changed because of divorce rates, for example, and these things mean that family dynamics are often very different.

Traditional: Lynda Bellingham in a 1987 Oxo advert with her on screen husband Michael Redfern and their three children

But the central idea of family is still very resonant for people in the UK. It is the most important group of people and cooking is a really important way of bringing them all together.

Miss Touchais said that although viewers remembered previous Oxo families fondly, research revealed that customers were not comfortable watching a mother taking sole responsibility for cooking.

The new TV campaign focusses on a contemporary family encompassing the chaotic elements of modern life, she added.

As well as showing mothers and fathers sharing cooking duties, the company also wants to explore how children are more vocal about their more adventurous tastes.

The company hopes that the new family will prove a success with viewers and go on to star in a long line of adverts similar to those featuring Mrs Bellingham.

Storylines are already being discussed which could see grandparents introduced and even seeing the children taking over cooking duties.

The first Oxo family advert in 1958 featured Katie, her husband Philip and their baby son as well as the slogan give a meal man appeal.

Some viewers believed that the family, who featured in the adverts until 1976, was real and not played by actors.

When the adverts in which she starred were scrapped Miss Bellingham, who died in 2014, said the decision was taken because they no longer represented modern families.

She said: Life has changed so radically. It was about a different era.
Controversial Senators Derryn Hinch and Pauline Hanson have been involved in a heated argument in the corridors of Parliament House, after the One Nation leader sympathised with Donald Trump over his much-publicised sexist remarks.

Appearing on their usual segment on Sunrise on Monday morning, Hinch and Hanson failed to see eye-to-eye over the topic of Trump and the US election.

But it was off screen where their debate really heated up, with Senator Hinch lambasting his parliamentary colleague for her support of Trump as the pair walked away from the interview together.

'That you as a woman could even make justification for what he has said and what he has done is,' Senator Hinch said, so furious he was unable to finish his sentence.

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Senators Derryn Hinch and Pauline Hanson have been caught having a heated argument in the corridors of Parliament House in Canberra after debating whether Donald Trump should remain in the US Presidential race

Senator Hinch slammed the One Nation leader over her comments on Channel Seven's Sunrise in which she sympathised with Trump over lude remarks he made about seducing women

Senator Hanson was visibly taken aback by the attack, but instantly defended her comments.

'Well I didn't condone what he (Trump) said,' replied Senator Hanson.

But Senator Hinch wasn't done, going on the attack again and saying: 'The man is a sexual predator and he's a disgrace.'

The debate between the two Senators came in the wake of revelations that in 2005 Trump made lewd comments about how he seduced women.

'You can do anything. Grab them by the p***y,' Trump reportedly said, which has led to many - including Senator Hinch - to call for him to drop out of the Presidential race.

But on Monday, Senator Hanson sympathised with Trump, saying that his comments weren't overly unusual for 'men'.

'It's up to the people, what he said was vulgar I don't support it whatsoever (but) it was said off camera, it was said behind the scenes and it was a tape recording,' she said.

'Now let's be honest about it, there are a lot of men out there they say horrific things, probably up to the same standard (behind women's backs).'

Senator Hanson defended Trump's comments, saying that 'there are a lot of men out there they say horrific things'. That statement outraged Senator Hinch, who lambasted his colleague over her views

Trump reportedly said that when seducing women, 'you can do anything. Grab them by the p***y.'

At that point an outraged Senator Hinch interjected.

'No way Pauline, I can't let you get away with that,' he said.

'A normal man in a private conversation would not talk about this. A normal man would never consider invading a woman's space so much that in his mind or to his mates would say (this) - that is sexual assault.'

Senator Hanson said the decision should be left with the American people, but Hinch wasn't as philosophical about Trump as the future leader of the free world.

'Pauline, god help us if you are right, the man is a sexual predator,' Hinch said.
The pair were arrested in San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday

His girlfriend, Dolores Delgado, has also been arrested over the killing

He was stationed in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, at time of her death

Her husband, Sergeant First Class Maliek Kearney, has been arrested

She had served as a Private First Class in the US Army in South Korea

The young mother's body was next to her unharmed baby daughter

Karlyn Ramirez, 24, was found shot dead in her Maryland home in 2015

A US Army Sergeant First Class and his girlfriend have been arrested for the killing of his soldier wife.

Karlyn Ramirez, 24, was found dead in the family's home in Severn near Fort Meade, Maryland, in August 2015, next to her unharmed baby daughter.

Her husband Maliek Kearney, 35, and his girlfriend Dolores Delgado, 31, were arrested over her death in San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday.

Police believe the pair somehow worked together to travel from Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where he was stationed at the time, to kill the young mother last year.

Maliek Kearney (left) has been charged over the killing of his wife, Karlyn Ramirez (right), a US Army Private First Class who was found dead in her home in Severn, Maryland, in August 2015

A federal grand jury indictment confirming their charges did not disclose which of the pair authorities believe shot the mother or if both were present at the time.

Ramirez and Kearney had been married for just five weeks at the time of her death.

Days after it he posted an emotional tribute to her on Facebook, sharing a photograph of their wedding and writing: 'I'm so heartbroken but you will live on with me forever. I don't want to say goodbye....still seems so unreal.'

His lawyer protested his innocence after his arrest, telling San Antonio Express News: 'As of right now, he's still proclaiming his innocence.

'I don't know what evidence they've gotten since but he talked to (police) after it happened.'

Kearney, 35, and Ramirez had a five-month-old daughter, Vale (above together). The baby was found unharmed next to her mother's body

The pair married in 2015 (above) some five weeks before the 24-year-old mother's death

Kearney (left with his wife) is accused of domestic violence resulting in death. His girlfriend Dolores Delgado (who is not pictured) was also charged. Pictured right: Karlyn Ramirez and her baby daughter

Kearney is a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist. He and his girlfriend, who has been appointed a public defender, are charged with interstate travel to commit domestic violence resulting in death in the death.

Ramirez joined the armed forces at the age of 21, dropping out of university against her family's wishes, Crime Watch reported.

She earned top security clearance after a stint in South Korea where she was sent as a Private First Class.

The woman, who previously survived cervical cancer, met Kearney through her work with the military. The pair welcomed their daughter Vale in April 2015 and married some months later.

The night before her death, Ramirez was home alone with her baby. She made a panicked phone call to her sister claiming she didn't feel 'safe' but refused to tell her why.

Ramirez joined the US Army after dropping out of university. She was sent to South Korea as a Private First Class for one of her first assignments

The mother-of-one had been in her home alone with the pair's baby daughter on the night of her death

The following morning police found her body riddled with gun-shot wounds. Vale was unharmed but still with her mother.

Kearney was looked at by police but dismissed as a suspect when his alibi was verified. He claimed he had been in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, on the night in question.

In interviews after her death, Ramirez's family praised her husband who they said had continued to look after their daughter.

He has another daughter, Jada, from a previous relationship.

After Ramirez's death, Kearney moved to the Texas base of Fort Houston in order to be closer to his late wife's family as they raised Vale in Del Rio.

Delgado, it was claimed, has been living with or near him in the state. It is not clear where she is from originally but she has links to Florida and California.

Kearney and Delago were held without bond. Authorities are understood to be attempting to move them to Maryland.
It is believed he did not disclose his past conviction on his application

He was employed as a Sainsbury's driver but has now 'quit the job'

The father-of-three was jailed and put on a terror watchlist for ten years

Father-of-three Mohammed Shabir Ali, 29, of Tower Hamlets, East London, was jailed for raising 3,000 for al-Shabaab training camps

An extremist jailed for raising thousands of pounds to help an ISIS-linked terror group train jihadis with AK-47s has left his job as a Sainsbury's delivery driver hours after his previous conviction was revealed.

Father-of-three Mohammed Shabir Ali, 29, of Tower Hamlets, east London, was jailed for three years in 2012 after raising 3,000 for al-Shabaab training camps in Somalia.

Since being freed from jail, he landed himself a job working as a home delivery driver for Sainsbury's  working out of a depot in east London and dropping off online food orders to customers' homes while unsupervised.

It is believed he did not disclose his previous conviction when applying for the job.

According to Sainsbury's policy, anyone with a previous conviction must declare it on their application form, and if a terrorism-related offence was disclosed that would end the application process instantly.

Sainsbury's said it does not comment on individual employees but confirmed Shabir no longer worked for the company and it is understood he quit the firm.

A spokesman confirmed the supermarket chain has launched an internal investigation into the case, including a review of CRB checks that all delivery drivers undergo.

Shabir, along with his identical twin brother Shafiq Ali, posed as charity collectors to raise the money which they funnelled back to the al-Qaeda-affiliated group.

As a result of their crimes, he was placed on a terror watchlist for 10 years and sent to Belmarsh prison.

A reporter for MailOnline attended what is believed to be Shabir's home address today and approached his family but was abused.

A woman said: 'Just f*** off, all you are doing is writing lies', before she was heard shouting 'aggressively' in a foreign language.

His employment outraged MPs and shoppers, who claim it is 'scandalous' he is working in a one-to-one customer role, which sees him take groceries inside homes.

One Sainsbury's customer told The Sun: 'He's a convicted terrorist. How can Sainsbury's let him do this?

'He is entering people's homes, sometimes vulnerable people of different faiths.'

Tory MP Andrew Rosindell added: 'If someone has been convicted for funding terrorism the employer and more importantly the customers should be made aware.'

Mohammed Shabir Ali is working as a home delivery driver for Sainsbury's (file picture)

Shabir's trial in August 2012 heard how he and his brother imitated legitimate fundraisers on street stalls collecting money for Palestinians and the world's poor.

But instead of giving the cash to good causes, they wired it to their elder brother Shamim, then aged 29, after he travelled to Somalia to join the Islamic insurgency.

Shamim had flown to Somalia via Nairobi and Dubai in August 2008 to train alongside other jihadists in weapons, combat and survival.

Several weeks later he boasted in a telephone call about how he was prepared to die.

Mohammed Shabir Ali, along with his identical twin brother Shafiq Ali (pictured), posed as a charity collector to raise cash which they funnelled back to help jihadis

The brothers kept the phone conversation as a final memento of their elder sibling but it led to their arrest after counter terrorism police raided their home and discovered the digital recording.

Officers also uncovered extremist literature at the property, including a pamphlet by Anwar Al-Awlaki, entitled '44 Ways To Support Jihad.'

Sentencing them at the Old Bailey to three years in prison, Mr Justice Fulford said the men sent at least 3,000 to the Horn of Africa.

He said their brother was determined to sacrifice his life alongside others fighting to create an 'Islamic Emirate of Somalia'.

The brothers had been inspired by Al-Qaeda hate preacher Al-Awlaki, the mastermind behind a series of bombings before he was killed in a drone strike.

The judge added: 'Both defendants worked to help somebody who was contributing to terrorist activities in a war-torn country in Africa.

'The court must reflect the seriousness of offences of this kind in sentences given that they were intended to support terrorism.'

Shamim, who left Britain with two other men, has not been heard from since and the return parts of the trio's air tickets have never been used.
Russia has moved nuclear-capable missiles near to the Polish border as tensions escalate between the worlds largest nation and the West.

The Iskander missiles sent to Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave on the Baltic Sea between Nato members Poland and Lithuania, are now within range of major Western cities including Berlin.

Polish officials  whose capital Warsaw is potentially threatened  have described the move as of the highest concern.

Russia has moved nuclear-capable missiles near to the Polish border as tensions escalate between the worlds largest nation and the West

Germanys foreign minister said the situation between Russia and the West was more dangerous than during the Cold War.

Its a fallacy to think that this is like the Cold War. The current times are different and more dangerous, Frank-Walter Steinmeier told German newspaper Bild.

German diplomat and security policy expert Wolfgang Ischinger said there was considerable danger of a military confrontation.

He added: This danger has not been as strong in decades and the confidence between West and East has never been so low.

Iskander missiles have a range of up to 440 miles (700km). Their deployment in Kaliningrad comes amid deep divisions between Moscow and the West over Syria, where Russia and the regime of Bashar al-Assad have been bombing rebel-held districts.

Russia has shrugged off concerns about the Iskander missiles, saying they have been deployed in Kaliningrad before and are there now as part of a routine military drill.

Russia has shrugged off concerns about the Iskander missiles, saying they have been deployed in Kaliningrad before and are there now as part of a routine military drill. Pictured is President Putin

But Estonias chief of defence Lieutenant General Riho Terras said he believed Russia was attempting to dominate the Baltic Sea.

He said: In the long term, Russias wish is to bring the Baltic Sea and the passages leading to it more and more under its control, and to control it much like it does the Black Sea.

Kaliningrad, annexed from Germany in 1945 and geographically separated from the rest of Russia, is of vital strategic importance to Moscow.

It is the westernmost part of Russia and is home to its Baltic Fleet, as well as fighters and helicopters.

Lithuanias foreign minister, Linas Linkevicius, said: The deployment not only increases tensions in the region, but also possibly violates international treaties which limit deployment of ballistic missiles of range of over 500 kilometres. He said the matter would be discussed in a Nato-Russia Council meeting.
Richard McCann, 46, says he has forgiven his mother's killer Peter Sutcliffe

After his mother was murdered by the Yorkshire Ripper, few would blame Richard McCann for hating the serial killer.

He was just five in 1975 when his mother Wilma McCann, 28, became Peter Sutcliffes first victim.

But the 46-year-old has revealed that, incredibly, he has now forgiven him.

Im not angry any more, Mr McCann said. Its not there, I have let it go.

In a poignant interview with the BBC, Mr McCann tells presenter Aled Jones that he absolutely forgives Sutcliffe and felt a spirituality at making the decision.

I let it go after listening to [Archbishop] Desmond Tutu talking about forgiveness, the married father of three said.

I realised Id hung on to that anger for decades and I let it go that day. I felt spiritual, I felt connected to a deeper part of me.

Mr McCann told the Daily Mail: Id wanted Sutcliffe dead. I celebrated when he was stabbed in the eye in prison [in 1997]. I wanted all sorts of things to happen to him, but I realised all that anger was harming me.

As a young boy, Mr McCann and his three sisters were on the at-risk register, his father was rarely around and his mother would regularly leave them alone to go out drinking. Then, one night in October 1975, she never came home.

Lost childhood: Richard aged five with his sisters Sonia, 7, Angela, 3, and Donna, 4

Mr McCann said he has a vivid memory of being woken up by his older sister, Sonia, then just seven, and going out in the early hours, dressed in their pyjamas, to look for their mother.

Her body was found a few hours later. It emerged she had tried to thumb a lift home from a pub and had been picked up by Sutcliffe, who murdered her in a field 100 yards from her Leeds home with a hammer, before stabbing her 14 times in the stomach, neck and chest.

She was the first of 13 victims who Sutcliffe killed in a five-year reign of terror.

The siblings were taken to a childrens home, before moving in with their estranged and abusive father. It was years, however, before Mr McCann was told exactly how his mother died.

It wasnt until I was 16 years old that I was told where Mum was buried. It took me ten years to say goodbye, he said.

It was almost brushed under the carpet, it was such a taboo subject, but it was such a massive news story you couldnt get away from it. I bottled it up instead and obviously that had a detrimental effect on me.

Wilma McCann was the first of 13 victims who Sutcliffe killed in a five-year reign of terror

Even Sutcliffes conviction in 1981, sentenced to 20 life terms for 13 murders and seven attempted murders, brought little comfort. My mum was gone, said Mr McCann. Him being arrested, of course, as an adult looking back, that was positive, but as a kid that didnt change anything, it didnt bring my mum back.

After leaving school, Mr McCann joined the Army but was kicked out after going on a violent vandalism spree when colleagues learned his mother, who he had said had died in a car crash, was actually killed by the Ripper.

He fell into a series of dead-end jobs and started taking drugs, eventually being sent to prison for six months, aged 28, for drug dealing.

Peter Sutcliffe, 70, who now calls himself Peter Coonan

He then wrote a book about his life  Just A Boy  which sold more than 400,000 copies when it was published in 2004. On the back of that he now runs a successful motivational speaking business, giving talks about his experiences around the world.

Sadly, Sonia never got over her mothers death and killed herself aged 39 in 2007.

Mr McCann told the Mail his revelatory moment came three years later, in 2010, when he went to watch Archbishop Tutu give a talk on forgiveness in London.

Listening to the clergyman talk about an incident at a Truth And Reconciliation Commission hearing he chaired after the abolition of apartheid in his native South Africa, changed Mr McCanns life.

He blew me away, he said. It was a revelatory moment. I actually chased after him when he walked off stage and I told him what he said had helped me forgive a man who murdered my mother. He just hugged me, it was incredible, its a moment I will never forget. But it had taken me 35 years to get there.

Sutcliffe, 70, who calls himself Peter Coonan, had spent three decades in a psychiatric unit at Broadmoor Hospital before he was transferred to a mainstream prison in August when a tribunal decided his paranoid schizophrenia had been treated.

Mr McCann added: I pity Peter Sutcliffe now. My instinct is he hasnt got long left on this planet. I dont think he will cope very well in there.
Grandma Uan  the octogenarian matriarch with gnarled feet and fabulous legs, who padded about silent as a ghost

What about the insects? I asked anxiously. Fumigated! came the reply. And the loo? Perfumed, for the three weeks!

I was on my way to the remote north of Vietnam, 200 miles from Hanoi, where staying in the homes of locals is one of the few options for lodging, and I was apprehensive.

But Loan Foster, owner of bespoke travel company Journeys To The East, is not one to do things by half.

An advance guard of staff has already arrived, she assured me, along with food, wine, and an espresso machine.

The journey took us through the fertile Lo Valley, past plantations of rice and corn, terraces of tea, orchards of pear and kumquat, and pigs strapped precariously on to motorcycles.

As the road gradually narrowed and the mountains grew larger, we reached a village bathed in a sea of red and yellow Vietnamese flags.

This was Ha Thanh, and our temporary home was a large wooden house on stilts. We were greeted by our smiling hosts, while Loans staff from Hanoi, camouflaged in the local costume of the Tay, proffered glasses of champagne and delicious spring rolls, before ushering us up the traditional nine steps to our living quarters.

I had not expected this. The humble hut, open-sided beneath its thatch of 8,000 palm fronds, had been transformed into a temple of Zen, with Chinese lanterns and discreet bamboo furniture situated around a central fireplace.

It was spotless. Two beds, caparisoned in tribal silks, were set in alcoves curtained off from each other.

In one corner stood a decorative pile of rice stalks; in the opposite corner, the ancestral shrine, tended by Grandma Uan  the octogenarian matriarch with gnarled feet and fabulous legs, who padded about silent as a ghost.

The humble hut, open-sided beneath its thatch of 8,000 palm fronds, had been transformed into a temple of Zen, with Chinese lanterns and discreet bamboo furniture situated around a central fireplace

The view was heavenly: distant limestone mountains framed the surrounding rice paddies, stalks bent under the weight of the grain and shimmering in the breeze.

GETTING THERE Journeys To The East (journeys-to- the-east.com) offers bespoke trips to Ha Giang province. Three nights in Hanoi and six nights in Ha Giang (staying in a local home in Ha Thanh and the Auberge du Vac) costs from 5,608 per couple, including a private car, guide, and most meals. The price excludes international flights. Advertisement

After a hot shower (silk dressing gowns provided), we went for a walk in the village, past houses with ponds of burbling catfish, stalls for oxen, and sties for what we call black Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs  but here are merely pigs.

An old lady  a fearsome knife in her belt  herded water buffalo down a path. Elsewhere, three generations of women sat stripping, splitting and weaving bamboo to make into baskets  while three generations of men looked on.

Once, these men might have been fighters: in the 1940s, Ha Giang province was a hotbed of revolution, the stronghold of Ho Chi Minh in his battle against the French. It is hard to imagine all that now.

Once, these men might have been fighters: in the 1940s, Ha Giang province was a hotbed of revolution, the stronghold of Ho Chi Minh in his battle against the French. It is hard to imagine all that now

I woke the next morning to the sound of crowing cocks and the neighbours pig screaming to be fed.

We would continue our journey north, visiting colourful markets, vast caves and little villages, on the way to our next lodging  the former lair of an opium lord in Meo Vac.

But that magical hut on stilts still haunts my dreams  along with the image of Grandma Uan rising at dawn to usher her quacking ducks through the village to water.
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Today, a journey across Russia's Trans-Siberian railway takes about a week.

But exactly 100 years ago, upon its official completion, the trip took almost a month because the train trundled along at 20 miles an hour.

Now the longest train line in the world, stretching more than 5,700 miles from Moscow to Vladivostok, the Trans-Siberian railway crosses two continents, 80 towns and cities, 16 large rivers and eight time zones.

Here, MailOnline Travel takes a look back over a century of the Trans-Siberian's history with a series of fascinating pictures.

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An engineer peers through the window on a train travelling the Trans-Siberian railway in the region of Irkutsk. It was taken in the 1960s

Plans for the railroad were announced in 1891 by Tsar Alexander III. Years of construction followed, with convicts and labourers toughing it out against fiercely cold temperatures, passing bandits and even tiger attacks.

Some of the terrain was so difficult to navigate that areas including Lake Baikal had to be blown up with explosives to push through.

Trains running on the track welcomed their first passengers aboard in 1904, but it wasn't officially completed until 1916.

Electrification of the line commenced in 1929 and wasn't completed until 2002.

These days, the journey attracts some tourists but is largely used to transport cargo, with around 30 per cent of all Russian exports travelling the line.

A first-class ticket today will cost 511, a second class 261 and a ticket for the third class bunks are priced at just 114. Travel companies that offer cultural stops along the way, however, can command into the thousands.

Workers from a hard-labour camp on Sakhalin Island, who assisted on constructing the railway along the Ussuri River. This picture was taken circa 1890

It took 13 years to build, with convicts and labourers toughing it out against fiercely cold temperatures, passing bandits and even tiger attacks - pictured, the laying of tracks on the Eastern section, exact date unknown

Some of the terrain was so difficult to navigate that areas including Lake Baikal had to be blown up with explosives to push through - pictured, the railway cutting through the mountains in 1917

Train website The Man In Seat 61 commented: 'A journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway should be on everyone's bucket list. It's safe, comfortable and affordable'

Today, a first-class experience looks decidedly modest compared to what it once did.

The original train boasted a library, a gym, a grand piano, marble bathrooms and a lavish dining room that served caviar.

Train website The Man In Seat 61 commented: 'A journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway should be on everyone's bucket list. It's safe, comfortable and affordable.'

It added: 'It is perfectly safe, even for families or solo females. It's the way Russian families and women travel, after all.

'You can go at any time of year as the Trans-Siberian Railway operates all year round. Naturally, the summer months from May to September have the best weather and the longest daylight hours so are the most popular.'

As for the future of this legendary route, new plans are in the works to extend it even further.

It's hoped that one day a new link will allow passengers to travel all the way from London to Tokyo by train - a distance of 6,000 miles.

A promotional postcard for a meat extract product dated circa 1904, with an illustration of the Trans-Siberian in the back

Vladivostok, pictured in 1918, is currently the last stop on the route. A journey to here from Moscow once took almost a month as the train trundled along at 20 miles an hour

A photograph taken in 1997 of a young boy in Mongolia at a stop in the Gobi Desert section of the Moscow to Beijing route

The new link would bypass Vladivostok, currently the final stop on the route, with a four-mile bridge or tunnel linking the city of Khabarovsk to the Russian Pacific island of Sakhalin.

From here the new rail connection would cross to the northerly Japanese island of Hokkaido, requiring a 26-mile tunnel.

Reports in the Japanese and Russian media say the Tokyo government along with potential investors is actively considering the development.

These days, the journey attracts some tourists but the line is largely used to transport cargo, with around 30 per cent of all Russian exports travelling the route. Pictured is a freight train travelling through the Krasnoyarsk region of Russia

A passenger train crosses the Devil's Bridge in Buryatia, Siberia - a section of track known for its tight curves and viaducts

It's hoped that one day a new link will allow passengers to travel all the way from London to Tokyo by train - a distance of 6,000 miles. Pictured is a freight train on the Trans-Siberian line in Sibera

A station in Russia's Udmurtia, Balezino called the '23-minutes stop' taken in 2011 as locals wander alongside the track

The original train boasted a library, a gym, a grand piano, marble bathrooms and lavish dining room that served caviar - these days it's a modest affair. Pictured, a dining carriage in 2009

Hostesses wait to welcome passengers aboard a State Railways train departing from Moscow, in a photo taken in 2012
Thousands of British students have been banned from going to Spain in 2017 for the popular but controversial Saloufest because of complaints over their drunken behaviour.

Organisers of the annual festival, I Love Tour, have confirmed the party will not be held next Easter, although other venues in Europe are still going ahead.

It comes after the Salou council claimed Saloufest was an unwelcome nuisance and was more about 'drinking, fighting, vomiting and having sex' than enjoying an acceptable holiday.

Thousands of British students have been banned from going to Spain in 2017 for the popular but controversial Saloufest because of complaints over their drunken behaviour. There is no suggestion any of those pictured have caused trouble

In an official statement, the company said: 'I Love Tour can confirm that after 16 incredible years, we will not be running Saloufest in 2017.

'We apologise to those loyal customers who had set their hearts on experiencing the legend of Saloufest one more time in 2017.

'Our phenomenal Croatia and Italy festivals are still operating as normal, though we urge customers to get their bookings in asap as space is running low.'

The decision is a victory for opponents of the festival who have lodged numerous complaints about drunken Brits and also for Salou council which claimed their behaviour was ruining the city's reputation.

On resident said: 'There was constant singing in the streets, urinating, large amounts of alcohol was consumed, street furniture smashed and constant arguments, either between themselves or with other tourists.'

The company estimates it has brought around 100,000 people to Salou over the 16 years and contributed around five million euros in spending each time.

It comes after the Salou council claimed Saloufest was an unwelcome nuisance and was more about 'drinking, fighting, vomiting and having sex' than enjoying an acceptable holiday

It is understood the pressure put on the organisers by both the regional government and the local council was just too much to combat.

Efforts to move the festival to Lloret del Mar were also thwarted by the authorities.

The Catalan government also added to the pressure by warning any companies involved in so-called 'binge' tourism that they would have their seals of excellence removed.

British students say Salou had started to adopt a heavy-handed approach to party behaviour. This year, three Brits were arrested following a mass brawl at a nightclub and 40 sanctions were handed out.

Salou council says it has always blamed 'sun, sea and too much sangria' and wants to attract family tourism.

In a more detailed statement, the company said: 'Having operated for 16 years without interruption, having brought more than 100,000 customers, and providing in the order of 5 million annually to the economy of Salou and the region during the low season, the various pressures, applied both by the Council of Salou and the Generalitat de Catalunya for the past two years have made it virtually impossible to implement programs for the youth segment of tourism in the region,'

'Apart from the media pressure received in recent years, collaborating companies have received a disturbing number of administrative inspections, simply because of their collaboration with the event.'
She's known as the Bachelor star who has been flaunting her rumoured romance with fellow contestant Megan Marx in a series of naked snaps online recently.

But Tiffany Scanlon, 29, looked unrecognisable in a demure throwback photo shared to Instagram on Saturday, while posing in an ill-fitting Bunnings uniform as a sales assistant in an ad for the hardware store.

The blonde bombshell worked at the store when she was just 19 and featured in an ad before appearing on the hit Channel Ten dating series this year.

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Blast from the past: Tiffany Scanlon, 29, looked unrecognisable in a demure throwback photo shared to Instagram on Saturday, while posing in an ill-fitting Bunnings uniform as a sales assistant in an ad for the hardware store

'My appearance on the Bachelor wasn't my first time on TV!,' Tiffany began the caption.

'I was on a Bunnings Ad when I was 19 haha and it was hilarious! I worked at Bunnings for 5 years, it was my first job and it is where I learnt there is a whole other world outside of high school!

'So many fond memories of the fun times and people I worked with,' she added alongside the hash-tag #16til30.

The image shared with the reality star's 34,000+ Instagram followers saw Tiffany sporting the store's trademark red polo shirt and apron.

More than friends? Tiffany Scanlon (R) continued to fuel romance rumours as she took to Instagram to share a rather affectionate snap with fellow contestant Megan Marx, 27

Since being booted off The Bachelor Australia, Tiffany has made headlines due to her very close relationship with Megan, 27.

The blonde beauties have each shared a series of very revealing snaps to their respective Instagram accounts that left very little to the imagination.

One particular snap saw the reality stars wearing only sneakers as they sat on wooden chairs in an outback setting.

They're certainly not shy! The blonde beauties each shared a series of very revealing snaps to their respective Instagram accounts that left very little to the imagination

Care to explain? Another snap saw the pair wearing just a pair of knickers and sharing a bowl of spaghetti

Another image saw the pair wearing just a pair of knickers and sharing a bowl of spaghetti.

While the pair haven't yet confirmed the status of their relationship, Megan did tell OK! Magazine that the pair certainly do have an unusually close friendship.

'I think you can probably tell from the pictures that have been posted that we don't have the most conventional relationship,' the Western Australian beauty said.

Her new squeeze? Megan also shared a particularly intimate snap on her page featuring Tiffany's hand groping at one of her breasts through her plunge-neck crop top
She romanced Justin Bieber over the course of a month this past summer.

But despite severing ties with the pop star, Sofia Richie has found a friendship with another rumored Bieber ex.

She shared Snapchat videos on Saturday showing her hanging out with model Bronte Blampied.

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Share a bond! Sofia Richie, 18, has found a friendship with model Bronte Blampied

Sofia took to Snapchat to capture their adventure.

In the video, the daughter of Lionel Richie sat in a vehicle as her pal made her way into the car.

'...Yet again, another day with Bronte,' said the 18-year-old.

No bad blood here! Bronte was also rumored to have dated Justin Bieber

Good point: Sofia reposted this declaration she found on Rihanna's Instagram

In August, Justin and Sofia reportedly hung out together in the UK.

'Every night, she went back to his luxury apartment. They looked like a couple, and she stayed over at his place,' a source told People.

'Although there was no PDA while they were out and about, 'she was with him the whole weekend and never left his side,' says the source.

That same month, Bronte shared a photo floating with pals in Hawaii, which also included Justin.

' Floatie floatie,' she wrote.

Time together: Justin and Bronte are seen in Hawaii

Their time: Sofia and Justin snapped a selfie together earlier this summer

'Darren's disco with the girls': If either of the girls did date Justin, they do not appear to have any ill-will towards each other

If either of the girls did date Justin, they do not appear to have any ill-will towards each other.

On Friday, the duo were spotted out and about in LA, and later appeared to have attended a party.

'Darren's disco with the girls,' she wrote.

Best buds: On Friday, the duo were spotted out and about in LA

Deer appreciation: Bronte played around with the filters on Snapchat

First world problems: The model appeared to struggle to apply the filter on Sofia
Cheyenne Jackson and his husband of two years, Jason Landau, became the fathers of newborn fraternal twins on Friday.

The 41-year-old American Horror Story star uploaded an Instagram photo in which side by side photos showed himself and Landau embracing their new babies.

His caption revealed they'd had a little boy and a little girl, gushing: 'Best day of our lives. We will never recover. Welcome to the world our beautiful Willow and Ethan.'

'Welcome to the world': On Friday, actor Cheyenne Jackson and his husband of two years Jason Landau became the fathers of fraternal twins, an event both commemorated on Instagram

On Saturday, as his first day with his children rolled on, he continued to offer updates to his Instagram followers.

A black and white close-up of Ethan's lips was captioned: 'My son's mouth is magic.' Shortly thereafter, the Broadway star posted a black and white photo of Willow, whose eyes were tightly shut but whose mouth formed a smile so wide it dimpled her cheeks.

'I never knew how much I needed my daughter's dimples,' he effused in his caption.

Not to be outdone, Landau posted a few photos of his own throughout Saturday.

'My son's mouth is magic': On Saturday, Jackson shared a close-up of his son Ethan's lips

'I never knew how much I needed my daughter's dimples': He also posted an adorable picture of his new daughter Willow

On Friday night, he'd uploaded the picture duo as his husband, writing: 'Today my husband and I brought our son and daughter into this world. Willow and Ethan just made us the happiest people and so thankful to now start our lives together as a family.'

The next day, he posted black and white 'Day 1' photos of each child fast asleep and wearing a knit cap.

Landau and Jackson, who according to People met whilst they were both in rehab for alcoholism, got engaged in February 2014 and were married that September.

The 30 Rock guest star had previously been married to Monte Lapka from 2011 to 2013. According to the New York Times, the pair had been together since 1999.

'#Ethan': On Saturday, Landau also shared a photo of baby Ethan, who was fast asleep
Channel Seven has denied a report claiming popular soap Home And Away will be booted off its main network and screened on digital Channel 7TWO.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the popular drama starring the likes of Pia Miller, Ada Nicodemou and Ray Meagher, was being considered to be replaced by current affairs show Today Tonight.

However, a Seven spokesperson confirmed to Daily Mail Australia on Sunday: 'There are no such plans in the current scheduling, or in the foreseeable future.'

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Summer Bay will stay: Channel Seven has denied that popular soap Home And Away will be booted off its main network, and instead screen on digital Channel 7TWO - the cast pictured at the 2016 Logie Awards in Melbourne in May

Today Tonight was axed in New South Wales and Victoria back in February 2014, following the resignation of host Helen Kapalos.

It has previously been hosted by the likes of Anna Coren and Naomi Robson.

The program, which still runs in Adelaide and Perth with different hosts and different editions for each state is rivalled by Channel Nine's A Current Affair, which is screened nationally in the 6:30pm weekday time slot, and is hosted by Tracy Grimshaw.

Home And Away currently airs at 7:00pm on Channel Seven from Monday to Thursday, and has been a household favourite since it first aired back in 1988.

Current affairs program: Today Tonight was axed in New South Wales and Victoria back in February 2014, following the resignation of host Helen Kapalos

According to The Daily Telegraph, the decision to replace Home And Away with Today Tonight in a prime time slot will depend on whether the current affairs program has the ability to lure audiences to other shows, such as The X Factor and My Kitchen Rules, which usually air in the 7:30pm slot.

'The problem with Today Tonight is the viewing demographic is a lot older than Home And Away and isn't necessarily the right kind of audience they are looking to attract the big budget powerhouses like My Kitchen Rules,' a Channel Seven insider told the publication.

Home And Away has had a successful run in Australia for over two decades, however original cast member Ray Meagher has noted the series has changed a lot over time.

Proud: Channel Seven prides itself on the Logie award-winning drama which has been on screens for over two decades

Battle of the brunettes: Home And Away stars Pia Miller (L), while former Summer Bay sweetheart Jodi Anasta (R) has moved to rival soap Neighbours, now airing on Channel Eleven

'The whole show originally was about an escape to the seaside country by a city family that had foster kids' he said in a 2GB interview last year.

'The story has gone a little away from foster kids on to sex, drugs and rock and roll...' adding that it is only just appropriate enough to fit in its 7pm time slot.

'Once you would never see "Parental Guidance Recommended" over a Home And Away opener, but over the last few years, we have seen that a bit' he said.
She hadn't even begun acting when Good Will Hunting won the Oscar for best screenplay in 1997.

But Emily Blunt was more than happy to take on the role of Skylar (played in the movie by Minnie Driver) for a reading of the film on Friday night, perhaps because her husband John Krasinski was directing the effort.

The 33-year-old Sicario actress kept things quite casual for the event.

Bar-none! Emily Blunt, 33, kept things quite casual for the event in a distinctive striped top

On top, she opted for a distinctive long-sleeve shirt which featured horizontal white and black stripes.

That garment transitioned seamlessly into a pair of tight black trousers that showed off the star's fit figure.

A pair of unique black peep-toe heels with solid uppers rounded out the laid-back outfit.

Trim: That garment transitioned seamlessly into a pair of tight black trousers that showed off the star's fit figure

Relaxed: Her blonde tresses were parted on the left and allowed to fall freely about her shoulders

Accessories included a sizable black leather bag with a shoulder strap, and a long pendant-style necklace.

Her blonde tresses were parted on the left and allowed to fall freely about her shoulders.

The U.K. native seemed to have embraced just a touch of natural-looking make-up in addition to a slick of peach lipstick.

Opposites attract: Husband John, 36, also kept things low-key in a solid black sweater, black jeans and black suede shoes. The monotone outfit did contrast greatly with that of his wife

Husband John, 36, also kept things low-key in a solid black sweater, black jeans and black suede shoes. The monotone outfit did contrast greatly with that of his wife.

After the red carpet, the actors moved onto a stage, where all looked to be in good spirits.

As they both wrote and starred in the original movie, both Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were on hand for the event as well.
With just weeks to go until Halloween arrives, Scott Disick lifted his son Mason's spirits with a trip to the pumpkin patch on Saturday.

The 33-year-old reality star was spotted holding hands with his eldest child, six, who carried a brand new, boxed-up toy in Malibu.

It comes amid a trying period for the Kardashians, as they have beefed up security following Kim's horrifying heist ordeal in Paris.

Family matters: Scott Disick held hands with his son Mason, six, as they spent some quality time together in Malibu on Saturday

Mason wore a striped pair of shorts and a grey graphic shirt with the Mr. Happy character.

His father, meanwhile, kept it casual and sporty in black shorts, a grey top, trainers, and a sweatshirt wrapped around his waist.

Scott, who's estranged from his children's mother Kourtney Kardashian, had his hair slicked back as he accessorized with a flashy gold watch, a necklace, and a pair of sunglasses.

Having a blast! During their pit stop at the pumpkin patch, Mason got in a bit of an adrenaline rush as his father pushed him on the swing set

Keeping it casual! Disick donned black shorts, a grey top, trainers, and a sweatshirt wrapped around his waist

During their stop at the pumpkin patch, Mason got in a bit of an adrenaline rush as his father gently pushed him on the swing set.

The youngster had a huge smile on his face as he enjoyed a ride on the swing.

Scott quenched his thirst with a cool beverage while strolling through the patch.

Yum: Scott quenched his thirst as he carried a cool beverage while strolling through the patch

The family have kept a low-profile ever since Kim's incident, although Scott and Kim's half-sister Kylie Jenner have been seen out this past week.

During the audacious heist in Paris, that ended with robbers getting away with $11 million-worth of jewelry, reality star Kim reportedly 'begged for her life' and told the gunmen she had children at home.

A spokesperson told DailyMail.com she was 'badly shaken but physically unharmed'.

She apparently decided to take the kids and return to LA without her husband because she feels safer there.

She has also bailed on all upcoming appearances while the family's E! reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians has been put 'on hold indefinitely.'
It's taken her four years to finish her third studio album.

So no wonder Solange Knowles looked delighted with the results of A Seat At The Table as she attended her own listening party on Friday.

The 30-year-old sister of Beyonce dazzled at the event in New Orleans, Louisiana, which she attended with her husband Alan Ferguson.

Worth waiting for: Solange Knowles looked delighted with the results of A Seat At The Table as she attended her own listening party on Friday

The R&B songstress dazzled in a pleated salmon outfit, alongside the music video director.

The nepotistically-privileged beauty showcased her pretty features, wearing her hair in elegant braids.

She shared images on social media which showed her twirling around dancing in her voluminous gown.

Glam: The 30-year-old sister of Beyonce dazzled at the event in New Orleans, Louisiana, which she attended with her husband Alan Ferguson

Alan showed off his hipster beard and stylish three-piece suit as he proudly watched his wife-of-two-years.

The star - who is well-remembered for attacking Jay Z in an elevator - topped the iTunes chart with the album's release on Friday.

The Rise crooner's record features spoken interludes by her parents - Matthew Knowles and Tina Lawson - who also inspired her lyrics.

Looking good: The R&B songstress dazzled in a pleated salmon outfit, alongside the music video director

Cheeky wine: Alan showed off his hipster beard and stylish three-piece suit as he proudly watched his wife-of-two-years

Sophisticated: The nepotistically-privileged beauty showcased her pretty features, wearing her hair in elegant braids

Cute couple: She shared images on social media looking loved up with her husband of two years

Dancing queen: She was twirling around dancing in her voluminous gown

Close: The couple looked very loved up

Long time coming: It's taken her four years to finish her third studio album

Joyful: The star looked radiant as she danced around the event

Power couple: The pair gazed into each other's eyes on the dance floor

Besotted: They were like newly-weds as they stepped out together

'When I think about this record, I think about my mother starting her hair salon in the garage of our home and the amount of countless hours that she spent on her feet to take it from there to a place with 25 employees and becoming one of the most popular, successful salons in Houston,' Knowles explained to SaintHeron.com on Friday.

'I think about my father growing up extremely poor and in poverty and dreaming big enough to become who he is and taking a spare office in our house and turning it into a record label and a management company.'

On Friday, 35-year-old Queen Bey wrote on Instagram: 'Congrats to my sister on creating this beautiful work of art. I could not be more proud of you!'

Happy: The star - who is well-remembered for attacking Jay Z in an elevator - topped the iTunes chart with the album's release on Friday

Getting down: She threw shapes on the dance floor

Close family: The Rise crooner's record features spoken interludes by her parents - Matthew Knowles and Tina Lawson - who also inspired her lyrics
She is a well-respected journalist who has been covering breaking news on Australian television screens for 20 years.

And on Saturday, Melissa Doyle revealed the real reason she allows herself to get emotional during interviews and what it will take for her to quit the profession.

Speaking to the Daily Mail Australia at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards in Melbourne, the Channel Seven presenter explained showing emotion was part of being 'true to myself.'

Opening up: Melissa Doyle has revealed the real reason she allows herself to get emotional during interviews and what it will take for her to quit the profession

'As a journalist I have tried really hard to be true to myself and to do the stories and tell stories in a way that I hold dear,' she explained.

'The day that I don't feel when I do some of the stories, and that I am so heartless that I don't cry is properly the day I should give it up and go and do something else.'

Despite facing the reality that the end day may come in the future, Melissa said she really hopes to stay in the media industry for years to come.

Honest: Speaking to Daily Mail at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards in Melbourne, the Channel Seven presenter explained showing emotion was part of being 'true to myself'

Time to go: She added: 'The day that I don't feel when I do some of the stories, and that I am so heartless that I don't cry is properly the day I should give it up and go and do something else'

'I hope I never, ever leave particular stories or particular interviews and not feel the depth of emotion that is in that story at that time,' the 46-year-old said.

'If that ever happens, then it is time to go and do something else.'

And in terms of being a role model to other women in a male-dominated industry, Melissa said the prospect was an 'honour'.

Staying on-screen: Melissa said she 'hopes I never, ever leave particular stories or particular interviews and not feel the depth of emotion that is in that story at that time'

Feelings: And in terms of being a role model to other women in a male-dominated industry, Melissa said the prospect was an 'honour'

'I'm honoured to think I could be a great role model for somebody,' she continued.

During her 20 year career as a news journalist, Melissa has covered major events, such as the 2006 Beaconsfield Mine collapse, the 2011 Royal Wedding and the 2014 Sydney siege.

She has also been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2016 for significant service to the community through representational roles with a range of charitable groups, and to the broadcast media.
She hasn't put a foot wrong during her impressive Strictly Come Dancing performances.

But it's not just about jigging her way to the Glitterball Trophy for Daisy Lowe since the star also wants to make women watching at home feel good about their bodies.

In an interview with The Sunday People, she explained: 'Every day were shown images about the perfect body and what it should be  but we just have the ones that we live in.'

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Good intentions: Daisy Lowe, 27, said she wants to make women watching Strictly Come Dancing feel good about their bodies

The model, 27, has looked sensational in each of her three performances, and she's more than content with her 10-stone figure.

However, Daisy admitted that she hasn't always been so comfortable in her own skin and claimed at times she's been unable to get out of bed because of her insecurities.

'I think feeling insecure can be completely crippling,' said the star. 'I have had times in my life when I have been unable to get out of bed because I have felt so insecure.

Body-confident: The model, 27, has looked sensational in each of her three Strictly performances, and she's more than content with her 10-stone figure

Overcoming her insecurities: Daisy admitted that she hasn't always been so comfortable in her own skin and claimed at times she's been unable to get out of bed because of her insecurities

Daisy also revealed that she was staying in great shape thanks to four hours of dancing per day.

'But I think the most important lesson Ive learned is that you have only one body, so you might as well enjoy it. My weight yo-yos so much. It always has. I am now a bit trimmer because Ive been dancing four hours a day.'

On Saturday night's edition of Strictly, Daisy dazzled the judges with her Mary Poppins themed quickstep for the show's movie week.

Dressing as the famous character in a soft white blouse fastened with a red bow, the model glided effortlessly across the floor with partner Aljaz Skorjanec - scoring an excellent 31 points from the judges.

Light on her feet: On Saturday night's edition of Strictly, Daisy dazzled the judges with her Mary Poppins themed quickstep for the show's movie week

Staying in shape: Daisy revealed four hours of dancing a day is keeping her trim

Talking in rehearsal, the stunning daughter of Pearl Lowe had expressed slight concern about the dance, admitting: 'It is so fast... there are so many steps, but it is really fun!'

However the brunette mesmerised the audience and judges alike on the night, as she hopped and skipped across the dance floor to a favourite tune of the movie, A Spoonful of Sugar.

The charming routine featured a more complex Charleston section in the middle, in which she impressed with her precise and sharp footwork in the comfort of Aljaz's hold.
Rumours of an alleged marriage breakdown set tongues wagging earlier this week.

And 60 Minutes host Tara Brown, 48, did little to dispel split reports on Thursday, as the media personality and her husband of 16 years John McAvoy appeared tense while making their way through Ballina Airport with their two young children.

The family-of-four departed their Sydney base to escape in the final days of the school holidays.

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Making strides: Tara Brown and her TV producer husband John McAvoy avoided eye contact and conversation as they walked through Ballina Airport with their two children on Thursday

Dressed in comfortable white pants and a pale blue button-up shirt, a stone-faced Tara looked ready for a vacation.

Her cropped blonde tresses were swept up and secured in a low ponytail as she covered her eyes behind dark shades.

Despite her beach-ready look, the veteran reporter showed signs of strain as she made tracks to leave the arrivals hall.

Flash of gold! John, 46, was still seen wearing his wedding ring as the family waited at the airport

Not happy: The 60 Minutes reporter looked tense, with her lips pursed and arms crossed

Arguing? The couple of 16 years appeared to be disagreeing about something as they waited for a lift

Her husband John looked equally as unhappy as he walked ahead of his wife and their two children, Jack Cooper, 8, and Tom Oliver, 5.

The Kings Cross ER television producer appeared to have a frosty exchange with his wife as the family waited for a lift.

As they moved through the airport, their folded arms and avoidance of eye contact suggested things weren't too rosy between the couple.

What was that? Tara looked interested as she spoke to her eldest son, Jack

Bling! Tara also wore her wedding and engagement rings on the family holiday

But both John and Tara were seen with their wedding rings securely fastened to their fingers - which could suggest the rumoured split is not so final.

Their interactions with their young boys were gentle and a hint of a smile could be seen from the parents as they chatted away.

An insider, who recenty told Woman's Day about the couple's separation, claimed it was likely the pair would remain amicable for the sake of their children.

'Tara and John are both sensible adults,' they told the magazine.

'They plan to remain friends for the sake of their kids.

'Jack and Tom are already used to spending long periods of time without their mum, so it's not going to require a major adjustment from them.'

Grouchy: Both Tara and John stared intently straight ahead, appearing to be avoiding unnecessary interaction

Holiday time: The family spent the last few days of the school holidays in Ballina on the north coast of NSW




She is known for not being afraid to show off her slender frame in revealing swimwear.

And on Friday, model Natalie Roser was at it again as she posed up a storm in a teeny tiny bikini, during a beachside photoshoot in Sydney.

During the shoot, the 25-year-old beauty sizzled as she wore nothing but the bright patterned triangle top and matching bottoms.

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Sizzling hot: Model Natalie Roser posed up a storm on Friday while dressed in a teeny tiny bikini during a beachside photoshoot in Sydney

The bikini top showed off her ample cleavage as it featured a low, scooped front as it tied tightly around her neck and chest.

She wore her long blonde locks out for the shoot, while rocking a wet-haired look.

Natalie also showed off her flawless natural complexion as she opted for very minimal makeup.

Eye catching: During the shoot, the 25-year-old sizzled as she wore nothing but the bright patterned triangle top and matching bottoms

Spilling out: The bikini top showed off her ample cleavage as it featured a low, scooped front as it tied tightly around her neck and chest

Natural: She wore her long blonde locks out for the shoot, while rocking a wet-haired look

Keeping it simple: Natalie also showed off her flawless natural complexion as she opted for very minimal makeup

Say cheese: For the photoshoot, the former Miss Universe Australia posed kneeling on the sandy ground

She highlighted her pierce blue eyes with a light brush of black mascara while defining her lips with a nude matte lipstick.

For the shoot, the former Miss Universe Australia posed kneeling on the sandy ground before laying her body across the surface.

She later turned over on her back and stretched her arms back behind her, before rising to her feet to strike a range of poses.

Next: Soon after, she stretched her body across the surface while smiling for the camera

Posing up a storm: As she rested herself up on her arms, she allowed her blonde locks to fall freely in front of her face

Switching it up: She later turned over on her back and stretched her arms back behind her

She's a natural: Natalie then lent her right arm across her body as she tilted her head up and then down for the camera

Head-to-toe: As she rose to her feet, her toned figure was covered in a layer of sand

At one point of the project, Natalie pretended to run down the coastline for the camera.

She often flaunts her slim figure in various swimwear brands on Instagram, and has amassed over 630,000 followers.

But Natalies crowning moment was launching her own clothing label which took over a year of planning and preparation.

'I've been creating the line, Roser, for over a year now, and it's launching she told GQ last month.

Working it: As she stood by the coast line, she turned her back to the camera and angled her left leg outwards

Born to model: Natalie then faced the camera and allowed her arms to rest beside her frame as she posed naturally

In character: Natalie later pretended to run down the coastline for the camera

Two toned: She switched her bikini to a bright pink triangle top and patterned bottoms, which flaunted her toned buttocks

Busy month: This month, she is set to launch her clothing line online for the public

'It's been an amazing experience, and I am so excited for the collection to become available,' she added.

The clothing line will be made available online in October, although a date has not been confirmed.

Along with the launch of her brand this month, she will also be walking down the aisle on October 22 to marry 'the most loving partner and all around best person.'

Her fiance Dan Adair popped the question in July 2015 during a holiday on Coco Plum Beach in Florida.

Big plans: Along with the launch of her brand this month, she will also be walking down the aisle on October 22 to marry 'the most loving partner and all around best person'

Work it! Natalie showed off her radiant glow as she posed in the sand
She became the nation's sweetheart after being brutally dumped on The Bachelor.

And Nikki Gogan, 28, appears to have bounced back from her heartbreak over Richie Strahan, as the blonde beauty was pictured smiling confidently in a makeup-free selfie taken in Perth on Saturday.

The Bachelor runner-up told her Instagram followers that she was 'fresh-faced with no pencil or filler' on her eyebrows, as she prepared for her best friend's wedding.

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Natural beauty: Nikki Gogan, 28, appears to have bounced back from her heartbreak over Richie Strahan, as the blonde beauty was pictured smiling confidently in a makeup-free selfie taken in Perth on Saturday

'... Completely fresh-faced with no pencil or filler on these brows,' she wrote in the caption.

'... Gee the effort gals go to for big days... I've been coloured, waxed, plucked, tanned, toned etc blokes get it easy! Fresh out of the hairdresser...,' she added.

Earlier in the day, she was seen running last-minute errands ahead of her bestie's big day.

The Perth real estate agent sported a white jumper with 'keen as' emblazoned across the front, paired with light blue boyfriend jeans and sneakers.

Focused: Earlier in the day, she was seen running last-minute errands ahead of her bestie's big day

Don't drop the trays! The Perth real estate agent sported a white jumper with 'keen as' emblazoned across the front, paired with light blue boyfriend jeans and sneakers

Multitasking: The blonde beauty smiled as she juggled the dessert trays

At one point, her shoulder-length blonde locks were swept up in a messy bun as she juggled trays of mouth-watering desserts and bottled water.

The reality TV star looked focused and determined as she rushed around for the bride-to-be.

After completing the errands, Nikki was able to take a breather as she stopped by an upscale hair salon where she underwent a blow-dry.

Careful: Nikki made sure to take her time as she transported the goods to her car

Taking care: She appeared focused as she pushed the cart filled with goods

Great friend: At one point, her shoulder-length blonde locks were swept up in a messy bun as she juggled trays of mouth-watering desserts and bottled water

The blonde beauty later emerged clutching several bags and a suitcase, while showing off her neatly styled locks.

The outing comes days after it was claimed that she has already moved on from rope access technician Richie, 32, with a new man.

'It's the last thing she expected,' an alleged friend of the blonde beauty told NW magazine.

Fresh look: After completing the errands, Nikki was able to take a breather as she stopped by an upscale hair salon where she underwent a blow-dry.

Luscious locks: The blonde beauty later emerged clutching several bags and a suitcase, while showing off her neatly styled locks

New flame? The outing comes days after it was claimed that she has already moved on from rope access technician Richie, 32, with a new man

'Nikki's back in touch with an old friend and they have been on a few dates. It's nothing super-serious at this stage but she's really happy.'

The source added: 'He's very different from Richie and he makes her laugh.'

The beauty has also been flaunting her incredible post-show body transformation on social media in recent weeks.

Modelling for her sister Dani's online clothing store, the stunner cuts a slender figure as she moves on from the shock reality show ending.

Her happy ending: according to NW magazine, her frown has been turned upside down, thanks to a new man in her life

Then and now! Nikki has shown off her incredible transformation since having her heart broken by Richie Strahan on The Bachelor

Last month, she looked gorgeous in an ivory dress by Bec and Bridge, flashing her beaming smile as she posed.

She flashed her ample cleavage in the plunging number, which featured cut-outs and ties at the arms.

The bubbly blonde also flashed her bronzed pins in a long-sleeved floral playsuit recently.

Revenge body? Nikki's slim-down comes after being left devastated in the shock finale, which saw the man she loves choose another woman, Alex Nation

With one hand rested on her hip, Nikki once again showed off plenty of cleavage as she showcased the playful design.

Another shot saw the Bachelor star flaunt her toned and tanned arms as well as legs in a classic white ensemble.

The lacy dress featured a flared layer at the hip to accentuate the starlet's tiny waistline.

Stunning: The 28-year-old showed off her toned arms and bronzed pins in a classic white dress last week

Nikki's new look comes after she was left heartbroken by Richie, 32, who was dubbed 'the most hated man in Australia' by fans, in the Bali-based finale.

The stunner recently said she's just beginning the 'healing process' now that the show has finally aired.

'At least now that it's all out, I can start the healing process,' she told News Corp.

'Healing': Nikki has revealed she's glad she can start 'the healing process' now that the finale has finally aired

Rough ending: Nikki was left crushed during the Bachelor finale after Richie dumped her for single mum Alex

'Now I can go home and my friends and family can put the pieces back together  I'm lucky with the people I have surrounding me.'

But unlike fellow finalist Olena Khamula, the Perth native says she's not ready to start dating again.

'I'm nowhere near that [dating] yet,' she told the publication.

'I'm going to let everything settle down and heal first ... I'm going to be fine.'
She was visited by police last week, after a seemingly innocent photo garnered complaints.

And on Sunday, Roxy Jacenko made sure to buckle up both of her young children in booster seats following controversy over a now-deleted snap.

The PR queen previously shared an Instagram photo of herself alongside her five-year-old daughter Pixie flashing the peace sign in her new Aston Marton Vantage.

Hitting back: Roxy Jacenko made sure to buckle up both of her young children in booster seats on Sunday following controversy over a now-deleted snap that resulted in a visit from police last week

According to The Daily Telegraph, eagle-eyed followers complained to police after observing the little girl to be seated in the front seat instead of a required booster seat.

The NSW Transport website states: 'Children aged from four years old but under seven years old must be secured in a forward facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat.'

After being questioned by police at her Bondi home on October 1, Roxy, 36, deleted the snap and on Sunday uploaded an image of Pixie and two-year-old Curtis safely strapped in booster seats.

Trouble: Police visited Roxy's Sydney home last week after she uploaded a photo in which her five-year-old daughter Pixie was sitting in the front seat of her new Aston Marton, not in the required booster seat

No charges: Police were told upon arrival that Pixie briefly sat in the front seat only to take a photo

She captioned the image with an eyeroll and laughing emoji, appearing to brush off the recent drama.

When contacted by Daily Mail Australia on Sunday, Roxy declined to comment on the incident.

The Daily Telegraph reported that upon arrival to Roxy's North Bondi home in two separate cars, police were informed that Pixie had been seated in the front seat of the stationary vehicle, simply for the purpose of taking a photo.

Drama: Roxy and Pixie are pictured in the very photo that recently sparked outrage

Mother and daughter: The preschooler is often her famous mother's plus-one to VIP events

Tough times: The 36-year-old recently ended her radiation treatment for breast cancer

NSW Police confirmed the incident to the publication, acknowledging: 'No one was home... however officers have spoken to all relevant parties and no further police action is required.'

The incident comes after Roxy recently finished radiation treatment following her breast cancer diagnosis.

The past few months have seen the media personality take on the task of parenting her two children Pixie and Hunter solo, as husband Oliver Curtis was sentenced to jail in June following an insider trading conviction.
There was more bad news for The Block contestants Dan and Carleen on Sunday night's episode.

The couple from Western Australia - who recently confirmed they are living apart - received one of the lowest scores in the show's history after deciding to give up on their renovations the night before reveal day.

Judges Shaynna Blaze, Neale Whitaker and Darren Palmer awarded the couple a mere 11 out of 30 for their apartment's hallway, laundry and powder room renovations.

Ouch! There was more bad news for The Block contestants Dan and Carleen on Sunday night's episode, as they received one of the lowest scores in the show's history

The pair raised the white flag and went to bed on the night before room reveal, making it the second time they have failed to deliver a completed room this series.

And their struggle certainly didn't go unnoticed by the judges.

Upon entering the hallway, Darren was quick to state the obvious: 'Dan and Carleen just couldn't get there in the end'.

With walls not completely painted and unfinished flooring clearly evident, it wasn't hard to see they were far from finished.

Struggle: The couple from Western Australia - who recently confirmed that they are living apart - decided to give up on their renovations the night before reveal day

Incomplete: Judges Shaynna Blaze, Neale Whitaker and Darren Palmer awarded the couple a mere 11 out of 30 for their apartment's hallway, laundry and powder room renovations

'It was obvious to the judges on entry that you couldn't solve the floor drama in time,' host Scott Cam told Dan and Carleen.

'They instantly knew that you must have been gutted.'

While other parts of their apartment have been polished and chic post-renovations, their hallway didn't quite measure up in the eyes of the judges.

'This is a contemporary, generic hotel look and it doesn't feel like this works with their apartment,' Shaynna noted.

Unfinished business: With walls not completely painted and unfinished flooring clearly evident, it wasn't hard to see that the contestants were far from completing their areas

Giving up: The pair raised the white flag and went to bed on the night before room reveal, making it the second time they have failed to deliver a completed room this series

Leaderboard: Karlie and Will topped the scores while Dan and Carleen came last

Meanwhile, Darren said: 'The living space was one of the chic-est spaces that I've seen in this block and probably in any block. This isn't that'.

When quizzed by host Scott about why they didn't at least paint the walls and ceiling, Carleen simply responded: 'Ran out of time'.

But Scott quipped back: 'I heard a little whisper from a little birdie that you went to bed at like quarter to 11'.

Winners are grinners: Meanwhile, Karlie and Will were very happy with their results

At the top: The pair received a combined score of 27.5 out of 30 - much better than their rivals

Knowing there was no way to deny it, Dan admitted: 'Well, we did get a bit of shut eye. We were up early and we finished off the laundry and the powder room as good as good we could'.

Ultimately, for their efforts they placed right at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Despite their dismal result, the couple didn't seem to have any regrets about going to sleep early and not finishing their rooms.

Second place: Kim and Chris came in second place on 21.5 out of 30

Ambitious: While Kim and Chris received a 21.5, they were still not satisfied with the result

'Yes we went to bed, yes we slept,' Carlene later said.

'If we had a chance to win we would've stayed up all night. If you're not going to win, go to bed.'

Meanwhile the winners of the night were Will and Karlie, who topped the leaderboard with a score of 27.5 out of 30.

'It's definitely miles ahead of where we thought we would be,' Karlie excitedly said.

In the middle: Elsewhere, Andy and Ben came in third place on the night

Triple effect: All three judges awards the boys seven out of 10 for their renovations

While Kim and Chris came in second place with a total of 21.5, they were still not satisfied with the result.

'I am not happy at all. Obviously we came second,' Chris said. 'We busted ourselves for the last three days, other couples threw the towel in.

'We didn't throw the towel in. We had a bit of resilience and to be smashed is a massive kick in the guts.'

Not their best performance: Julia and Sasha came second-to-last
She attempted to launch a career as a lifestyle blogger and digital influencer after finding fame on The Bachelor.

But after her tragic split from Blake Garvey, Louise Pillidge was left with no choice but to move back to her home state of Queensland, where she's currently living with a friend on the Gold Coast and working as a sales agent.

With the spotlight long behind her, the 28-year-old ex-blogger enjoyed a very low-key Saturday night by working out alone in the gym.

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'My wild Saturday night!' The Bachelor's Louise Pillidge spent her weekend alone in the gym

'My wild Saturday night,' joked the solitary brunette as she shared a photo of herself standing in the empty health club.

The following day, the one-time reality star dressed up in her Sunday best to enjoy the warm Queensland weather.

Once again, the brunette beauty was alone in the image, making it unclear whether she heading off to meet somebody or was simply spending another day solo.

Meeting someone or flying solo? The next day she shared a photo of her Sunday style, but failed to reveal what her plans were for the day

According to the Gold Coast Bulletin, Pillidge is now living with longtime family friend Sonja Smith after splitting from Garvey.

She currently works as a sales agent for Smith's boutique real estate agency.

'We live together and run the business from the house as well,' Smith told the publication.

Starting over: After splitting from Blake Garvey, Louise moved back home to Queensland where she lives with a family friend on the Gold Coast and works in a real estate agency

What blog? The once aspiring lifestyle blogger hasn't updated her blog in over four months

With her new career to focus on, it looks like Louise's aspirations to become a lifestyle guru are now long behind her.

Her once highly-touted lifestyle blog hasn't been updated in over four months, becoming an online relic instead of the internet hotspot she once dreamed it would be.

Meanwhile, Blake Garvey has also bowed out of the limelight, disabling his social media accounts and focusing on his pre-fame career as an auctioneer in Perth.
Reclusive Rob Kardashian continues to come out of his shell; now, he's even Snapchatting!

The 29-year-old reality star on Saturday was captured visiting a fall fair with his 28-year-old fiancee Blac Chyna and her son King Cairo, four.

It's a rather social change of pace for the sock entrepreneur - who fought the spotlight as much as his sisters embrace it - as he continues to be more outgoing in his relationship with the extroverted hip-hop video vixen.

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Snapchat star: The most private of the Kardashians, 29-year-old Rob, took to social media Saturday as he attended a fall fair with fiancee Blac Chyna, 28, and her son King Cairo, four

Heavy lies the crown: Rob is clearly a novice as he experiments with the floral filter on the social media site his famous sisters, particularly Kylie, have mastered

Fire brand: Fearless, outgoing and brash, Blac Chyna has helped lure the reclusive reality star out of his shell for much of the past year

In the series of clips posted to Chyna's account, Rob was seen milling around the event, even experimenting with the app's popular flower crown filter, as Chyna prodded him, 'You love that filter!'

Elsewhere, viewers of Chyna's Snapchat saw her fiance and her son (with ex Tyga, who's now with Rob's sister Kylie Jenner) enjoyed the activities of the fall festival they were attending.

Among the fun times was King careening down an enormous inflatable slide, as his mom could be heard shouting, 'Go King!'

Proud: Rob even posted footage of young King Cairo riding a pony to his personal account

Deep thought: The son of Kris Jenner and late O.J. Simpson confidante Robert Kardashian mugs for the camera in front of an inflatable bounce house

Too cute: Like his parents Tyga and Blac Chyna, young King Cairo is quite outgoing, as his infectious energy was on display following a ride down an inflatable slide

In another sequence, the group was seen at a petting zoo at the event, with Chyna goading her husband Rob to pet the animals on hand with rows of pumpkins and rabbits darting around in the background, adding to the ambiance of the autumn festivities.

King, showing great moxie for a boy his age, not only went to pet the animals but even took a ride on a pony, staying up and not crying throughout the gauntlet of challenging activities. His proud mom took notice, cheering him on in the background, 'Go King!'

The unlikely romance for Rob and Chyna - who announced their engagement in April before revealing in May they're expecting a baby - continues to take interesting turns on display for all to see, via their reality show Rob & Chyna and their social media accounts, as well.

Parents-to-be: Rob and Chyna announced in May they're expecting a baby later this year

Last week, Chyna sent out a tweet to more than 700,000 followers with Rob's actual phone number, later saying that the move was a tactical one to drown out any of Rob's past female friends looking to digitally rekindle their romance with him.

As Rob stood right next to her, she said on a Snapchat video, 'To assure your man is not texting no b*****s, just tweet his number out.

Lots of love: Whether it's Tyga (left) or Rob, the adorable tot King is clearly loved and cared for no matter who he's with

'How's that feel Rob? How ya feel? Get your number changed, thank you,' the feisty former stripper told the kid brother of Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian.

'To all these females wanna keep texting his phone 'cause they had his number before, talking about 'You good? You and Chyna good?'

'Naw, we good. We good. We straight. All right.'
The X Factor Australia judges see plenty of talent come through each year - and also hear some truly heartbreaking life stories.

And on Sunday night's episode, champion surfer Mick Fanning's niece Madeleine Ponferrada made her debut on the TV singing competition.

The 14-year-old student spoke candidly about her recent family struggles - including Mick's shark attack and the shock death of her father Peter, who she claimed 'would be very proud of her'.

Brave: Mick Fanning's niece Madeleine Ponferrada (L) spoke about her family's difficult year following the death of her father Peter (R) in December during her X Factor audition on Sunday

Before auditioning, Madeleine bravely spoke about her very challenging year in a video segment.

'Last year was a pretty tough year for me, first my uncle Mick (was attacked by a shark), and then my dad passed away just before Christmas last year,' she said.

'I miss my dad a lot, we had this bond. We were like the unstoppable duo. He's one of my best friends,' she said.

Emotional: Madeleine performed Wings by English musician Birdy and explained the song reminds her of the relationship she had with her father

'When he heard my voice, he said he was really proud of me': Madeleine also spoke about how her dad Peter (R) used to love hearing her sing

Madeleine, who hails from Sydney, performed Wings by English musician Birdy and said the song reminds her of the relationship she had with her father.

She also spoke about how her late father used to love hearing her sing.

'When he heard my voice, he said he was really proud of me,' she confessed.

Throwback: Surfer Mick Fanning and his brother Peter (L) shared a close relationship

School days: News of Peter's death came during an already difficult year for Mick, as his marriage was falling apart and he was also the victim of a shark attack

She also spoke about her uncle Mick and the family's love of surfing, saying her dad taught her to surf at age three.

When discussing Mick's shark attack last year, Madeleine said she was 'really shocked' by the incident.

'His life could have been taken away so easily by that shark but I'm really thankful that he didn't go,' she said.

Madeleine's performance impressed the judges and she made it through to the next round of The X Factor.

Be confident! Judge Guy Sebastian (pictured) described Madeleine's audition as 'stunning,' before asking her, 'What are you nervous for?'

'That was awesome': Iggy Azalea (pictured) also loved the performance, saying: 'I think you definitely made your dad proud today

Judge Guy Sebastian described her audition as 'stunning,' before asking her: 'What are you nervous for?'

Iggy Azalea also loved her performance, saying: 'I think you definitely made your dad proud today.

'That was awesome. You should be so proud of yourself. I know your dad is proud.'

In July 2015, Mick made headlines when he was attacked by a shark at the J-Bay Open in South Africa.

The Australian surfer defended himself against the shark by punching it, and later admitted: 'I was waiting for the teeth to come at me.'

Brush with death: In July 2015, Mick made headlines when he was attacked by a shark at the J-Bay Open in South Africa

'I was waiting for the teeth to come at me': The surfer defended himself by punching the shark

'It came up and got stuck in my leg rope,' Mick said.'I instantly just jumped away. It kept coming at my board and I was kicking and screaming.'

'I just saw fins. I punched it in the back.'

Just five months later, Mick's brother Peter tragically passed away in December.

Their mother Elizabeth Osborne refuted claims he suffered a drug overdose, telling the Gold Coast Bulletin his autopsy ruled he died of an 'enlarged heart.'

She claimed Peter's heart 'gave up' after suffering from a serious hyperthyroid disease that had almost killed him three years earlier.

Tragic: Madeleine's grandmother Elizabeth Osborne confirmed that Peter died of an 'enlarged heart' and refuted claims he suffered from a drug overdose

Ms Osborne said her son's death was unexpected as Peter had been eating well and taking medication for the thyroid condition after his 2012 health scare.

The father-of-three was found dead at his Tweed Head apartment on December 16.

Meanwhile, earlier this year Mick announced he and wife Karissa Dalton had ended their eight year marriage.

In a lengthy Facebook post, he wrote there was 'nothing but love and respect' for his wife and they had mutually decided to split.
Ever wonder why all of the children on Stranger Things had parents, except for the black kid?

Saturday Night Live addressed the question in its funniest sketch of the evening.

In a preview for season two of the hit Netflix show, the 'Duffer Brothers' promised to answer some of the pressing questions from the first, including where the Upside Down was, if Barb was coming back, and 'where is that black kid's family?'

Poor Lucas: Saturday Night Live teased Stranger Things season two, which finally addresses the question: 'where is that black kid's family?'

The sketch saw host for the evening, Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda play Gaten Matarazzos Dustin character, complete with lisp.

He and the rest of the cast were finally introduced the parents of Lucas, who urged him not to hang around with these white kids.

Baby people who look like us already live in the Upside Down, said 'mom' Leslie Jones.

Let me put it to you this way Lucas, you dont have to go looking for scary stuff, it is going to find you, added 'dad' Kenan Thompson.

Teaser: In a preview for season two of the hit Netflix show, the 'Duffer Brothers' promised to answer some of the pressing questions from the first, including where the Upside Down was, if Barb was coming back, and 'where is that black kid's family?'

Uncanny: The sketch saw host for the evening, Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda play Gaten Matarazzos Dustin character, complete with lisp

Where's Will: 'Winona Ryder' made an appearance tangled in fairy lights

Kate McKinnon appeared as Eleven but her special powers were no match for the intimidation of Jones.

Yelling 'Monster!', Jones and Thompson were quick to put their hands in the air when the police chief showed up.

In his first sketch of the night Lin-Manuel grabbed a guitar and sang around a camp fire with friends, who then wanted to sing an out of tune version of Footloose.

The tone-deaf pair freaked out Lin-Manuel and Cecily Strong by holding hands and calling each other babe, before admitting they were actually brother and sister.

Hillary who? Kate McKinnon pleayed Eleven, complete with nose bleed

Freaked out: The rest of the cast were finally introduced the parents of Lucas, who urged him not to hang around with these white kids.

The pair then did a strong of terrible impressions before signing a terrible version of Kenny Loggins hit Highway to the Danger Zone and kissing.

The female cast members then played members of a high-school production of The Crucible, who wanted to get horny at the nastiest event in town - the cast party.

Lin-Manuel played a rapping theater geek with braces who showed up with play t-shirts for the cast members.

Mom: Baby people who look like us already live in the Upside Down, said 'mom' Leslie Jones

Dad: Let me put it to you this way Lucas, you dont have to go looking for scary stuff, it is going to find you, added 'dad' Kenan Thompson

Yelling 'Monster!', Jones and Thompson were quick to put their hands in the air when the police chief showed up.

Leslie Jones then introduced Lin-Manuel as a substitute teacher who tried too hard to be cool and reach his students through hip-hop  a routine they had seen countless times before.

The unimpressed class predicted he was going to declare Shakespeare the best rapper ever, mocking him when he tried to play them a rap version of To be or not to be.

Lin-Manuel then told them he had been to Hollywood for seven weeks auditioning without success and was shot down when he tried to play them Straight Outta Compton.

Kate McKinnon then got into the election-season fun playing Trump campaign manager, Kellyann Conway on her day off.

Camp: In his first sketch of the night Lin-Manuel grabbed a guitar and sang around a camp fire with friends, who then wanted to sing an out of tune version of Footloose.

Gross: The tone-deaf pair freaked out Lin-Manuel and Cecily Strong by holding hands and calling each other babe, before admitting they were actually brother and sister

But rather than get to enjoy herself Conway always had to interrupt breakfast, yoga and painting to dash off and constantly do CNN interviews.

Yes he did say it is gross to watch gay people eat pasta because he wants them to eat healthy food, she mugged with an armful of groceries from the store.

She even roller-skated into an interview before appearing with acupuncture needles in her face as her defense of Trump got more and more ridiculous.

Nasty: The female cast members then played members of a high-school production of The Crucible, who wanted to get horny at the nastiest event in town - the cast party.

Ladies night: Lin-Manuel played a rapping theater geek with braces who showed up with play t-shirts for the cast members

Smokin: McKinnon cropped up again, this time trying to impress a boy

What do you want me to say? He is crazy? He is the worst person I have ever known? What do you want, she said eventually wearing just a bath towel and covered in bubbles.

Next Colin Jost and Michael Che both got in on the Donald Trump-bashing act on Weekend Update.

The pair took shots at Donald Trumps extremely lewd audio leak and his response.

Way to read the mood of the country. You are caught saying one of the most upsetting things we have ever heard and your response is Well we all had fun said Jost.

Been there: Leslie Jones then introduced Lin-Manuel as a substitute teacher who tried too hard to be cool and reach his students through hip-hop  a routine they had seen countless times before

Done that: The unimpressed class predicted he was going to declare Shakespeare the best rapper ever, mocking him when he tried to play them a rap version of To be or not to be.

Has the T-shirt: Lin-Manuel then told them he had been to Hollywood for seven weeks auditioning without success and was shot down when he tried to play them Straight Outta Compton.

I honestly thought Donald Trump had peaked on the wackadoo meter but it turns out he has got another gear, how is that even possible? Is he going for the all time record? laughed Che next to him.

At first Trump tried to brush it off as just locker room talk. Which locker room, Penn state? cracked Jost to shocked groans from the audience.

This is not how guys, or even humans talk. Im not sure he knows how sex works. First base is kissing then you keep running into the stands and start grabbing genitals?

Tough gig: Kate McKinnon then got into the election-season fun playing Trump campaign manager, Kellyann Conway on her day off

Again? But rather than get to enjoy herself Conway always had to interrupt breakfast, yoga and painting to dash off and constantly do CNN interviews

You win: What do you want me to say? He is crazy? He is the worst person I have ever known? What do you want, she said eventually wearing just a bath towel and covered in bubbles

And you know this is not the worst thing he has ever said. This is just the worst thing he has said to Billy Bush, while micd on an Access Hollywood bus.

They then made fun of Tic-Tac getting drawn into the whole debacle by running a fake advert for the mint that read: Grab bad breath by the p***y.

Dude, I dont think the problem women have with sexual assault is bad breath, laughed Che.

Jimmy Fallon, in drag, and Tina Fey then made cameo appearances as undecided female voters from suburban Pennsylvania.

Easy target: Next Colin Jost and Michael Che both got in on the Donald Trump-bashing act on Weekend Update.

Hot mic: The pair took shots at Donald Trumps extremely lewd audio leak and his response

Fallon made himself laugh with his bad Pennsylvania accent and even apologized by joking Ive been away on vacation as Tina laughed that he had been to Jamaica.

Lin-Manuel was then back in a musical production of The Music Man playing a Wells Fargo representative, giving away multiple fake accounts and credit cards to the cast members.

You dont understand the pressure I am under, these Wells Fargo guys are jackals, he said.

In Calling Home Lin-Manuel played Diego who called home from North Dakota and in English and Spanish described a string of bizarre things available in the U.S, including Marshmallow Salad, odd American phrases and the overuse of carpet.

Good slogan: They then made fun of Tic-Tac getting drawn into the whole debacle by running a fake advert for the mint that read: Grab bad breath by the p***y.

The cause of the orange? Dude, I dont think the problem women have with sexual assault is bad breath, they laughed

In Melania Moments Trumps wife, played by Cecily Strong, woke up after dreaming that her replacement had just been born in rural Latvia and she had to find her and vanish her to the woods, not for my sake, but for hers.

In A Degree of Valor a dying soldier played by Pete Davidson asked Lin-Manuel's character with his final words to tell his girlfriend he loved her, and also get rid of a string of surprising items including a butt plug and a notebook of terrible jazz songs.

Earlier in the night, the Lin-Manuel opened the show spectacularly, calling Donald Trump as a piece of sh*t as he performed a cutting Hamilton-style musical monologue.

Swing state: Jimmy Fallon, in drag, and Tina Fey then made cameo appearances as undecided female voters from suburban Pennsylvania

Forgot: Fallon made himself laugh with his bad Pennsylvania accent and even apologized by joking Ive been away on vacation

That explains it: Tina laughed that Fallon had been to Jamaica

Miranda, a big Hillary Clinton supporter, mocked Trump as he danced his way through the shows opening in the style of his hit Founding Fathers musical.

It is so great to be here New York City. I am fresh off a long run performing in my musical Hamilton, which fortunately is one of the biggest ever hits on Broadway, so that means most of you watching at home have no idea who I am, he joked self-deprecatingly.

But if you get to New York please come and see Hamilton, it is such a nice escape from all the craziness in our world right now.

Wife: In Melania Moments Trumps wife, played by Cecily Strong, woke up after dreaming that her replacement had just been born in rural Latvia and she had to find her and vanish her to the woods, not for my sake, but for hers.

Last wish: In A Degree of Valor a dying soldier played by Pete Davidson asked Lin-Manuel's character with his final words to tell his girlfriend he loved her, and also get rid of a string of surprising items including a butt plug and a notebook of terrible jazz songs.

Language barrier: In Calling Home Lin-Manuel played Diego who called home from North Dakota and in English and Spanish described a string of bizarre things available in the U.S, including Marshmallow Salad, odd American phrases and the overuse of carpet.

It is about two famous New York politicians locked in a dirty, ugly, mud-slinging political campaign - escapism.

Anyway, I cant believe I am up here right now. When I was just a kid growing up in Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan I dreamed about standing right here on this stage.

When I told people I was hosting SNL, they were all like Well are you going to do a song from Hamilton? And I was like No, its Saturday Night Live.

Olden days: Lin-Manuel was then back in a musical production of The Music Man playing a Wells Fargo representative, giving away multiple fake accounts and credit cards to the cast members

Cast number: You dont understand the pressure I am under, these Wells Fargo guys are jackals, he said.

Ouch: The bank recently acme under fire for creating fake accounts to meet sales targets

I want to do all the SNL stuff, all the stuff an SNL host gets to do, you know, it takes seven years to write a show so I don't know when I am going to be back here.

But then a hip-hop beat started playing and he brilliantly rapped the remainder of his introduction telling the audience I am not going to throw away my shot.

As he strolled into the audience he was joined by dancers and then made his way into the back corridors of the 30 Rock studios, walking past dancing girls.

Number twos: Saturdays show got underway with the 'vice presidential debate'

Yuge: They were interrupted with the breaking news of Trump's latest hot mic gaffe, with Alec Baldwin reprising the role to explain himself

In the bag: McKinnon's Hillary was delighted with the own goal

There he stopped by a signed picture of Donald Trump, whom he described as this piece of sh before he put his hand over his mouth as the audience roared its approval.

Lin-Manuel then stopped to dance by the picture of Trump and he turned him into a Hamilton lyric, singing Well he never gon be president, never gon be president now to more cheers.

Further down the corridor he was stopped by SNL chief Lorne Michaels, who asked him if he could get him Hamilton tickets.

Genius: Earlier in the night, the Lin-Manuel opened the show spectacularly, calling Donald Trump as a piece of sh*t as he performed a cutting Hamilton-style musical monologue

Say how you really feel: He stopped by a signed picture of Donald Trump, whom he described as this piece of sh before he put his hand over his mouth as the audience roared its approval

'I'll do a matinee?' Further down the corridor he was stopped by SNL chief Lorne Michaels, who asked him if he could get him Hamilton tickets

Ill see what I can do, no promises though, he replied.

'I'll do a matinee?' Michaels called after him.

Lin-Manuel then made his way back to the stage where he added: As long as I remember to vote this November I am not throwing away my shot.
AFL WAG Rebecca Judd has paid a touching tribute to the Melbourne nurses who helped take care of her premature twins Tom and Darcy.

The 33-year-old TV host, who gave birth by cesarean section last month, sent a heartwarming 'thank you' to the health workers who assisted her throughout her pregnancy.

On Sunday, she shared a sweet Instagram photo of herself and two nurses as her twins slept in a nursery, and expressed her gratitude for their efforts.

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'A big shout out to Sue and Lisa': On Sunday. Rebecca Judd has paid a touching tribute to the Melbourne nurses who helped take care of her premature twins Tom and Darcy

'Thank you to all of the amazing ladies at Frances Perry House Special Care Nursery for taking such good care of our premmie baby boys,' she wrote in the caption.

'The clinical expertise and level of care you show these babies and their families is incredible.

'A big shout out to @suemagpies and Lisa for the loooooong chats and keeping me entertained,' she added, personally thanking the nurses in the photo.

Double trouble! Lasyt month, Rebecca gave birth to Tom and Darcy via cesarean section at 35 weeks, which is within the premature spectrum

Rebecca gave birth to her two healthy sons on September 29 at about 35 weeks, which is within the premature spectrum.

In a post to Instagram, the mother-of-four was glowing alongside her husband and former Carlton and West Coast Eagles captain Chris Judd.

She captioned the image: 'Tom and Darcy Judd are here! Born at lunch time today, perfectly healthy. We are the luckiest parents in the world.'

Family unit: Rebecca gave birth to her two healthy sons on September 29 and later confirmed the happy news by sharing a photo of herself and husband Chris Judd with their newborn twins

The married couple now share four children - Billie, Oscar and twins Tom and Darcy.

Rebecca said in July she was prepared for the possibility of premature babies but was hoping she could 'get (them) through 34 weeks'.

'With identical twins there is one placenta and two cords. You know, it's one fuel tank growing two humans,' she told Mamamia.

'I'm going to put my feet up and stay horizontal and try and get these babies through to 34 weeks. All I can do is close my legs and hope for the best.'

Doting father: Rebecca and Chris now share four children, including Billie and Oscar

Sharing the joy! Since their birth, Tom and Darcy have made regular appearances on the proud mother's social media accounts

Since their birth, Tom and Darcy have made regular appearances on the proud mother's social media accounts.

Wrapped in blankets and posed with their father Chris, the Judd family appeared all smiles as they welcomed the bundles of joy into their lives.

Rebecca admitted she was beginning to feel normal again just days after the birth as she posed with one of her sons for an Instagram photo.

'Feeling semi human today': Rebecca admitted she was beginning to feel normal again just days after the birth as she posed with one of her sons for an Instagram photo
It was recently reported that Samantha Harris married fiance Luke Hunt shortly after he was released from jail in May.

But now the Indigenous model has claimed she and Luke actually wed in secret two months BEFORE he began his sentence in 2014.

The 26-year-old beauty spoke about the low key ceremony to Marie Claire, saying: 'It was more like a family gathering.'

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Opening up: Samantha Harris (pictured in May 2013) said she and fiance Luke Hunt married in secret two months before he went to jail in 2014 - despite reports they wed after his release

'It was more like a family gathering or a Christmas dinner, full of love and support,' Samantha told the publication.

She said their family and only a few of close friends were in attendance and the couple kept their special day under wraps 'out of respect'.

It is likely she is referring to the family of Kenneth Lay, a grandfather who died in a car crash in 2012 which Luke was responsible for.

She said the wedding was always going to be small, but because of the tragic circumstances she did not share photos on social media.

Tough times: In May, Luke was picked up from St Heliers Correctional Centre in Muswellbrook, New South Wales by Samantha and his mother

Support: He was spotted embracing his mother on the day of this release from prison

Secret: She said their family and only a few of close friends were in attendance at the wedding and the couple kept their special day under wraps 'out of respect'

She confirmed they had their 'honeymoon' shortly after Luke was released from jail and he paid for it with money he earned behind bars.

They stayed at the Shangri La Hotel and dined at Tetsuya's Restaurant in Sydney.

'I was in shock... It was like the honeymoon we never had,' Samantha said.

Committed: She said the couple had their 'honeymoon' shortly after Luke was released from jail and he paid for it with the money he earned behind bars

Just one day after he was released in May, Samantha was seen hopping on a flight to Queensland from Sydney Airport.

At the time, a representative confirmed Luke did not go with her as he was restricted from leaving the state under his parole conditions.

Luke served two years of a four year sentence over the 2012 death of 78-year-old Kenneth Lay.

No honeymoon: A day after Luke was released, Samantha was seen hopping on a flight to Queensland from Sydney Airport. Luke could not leave the state due to his parole conditions

The pensioner died when the car Luke and Samantha were travelling in collided with his.

They had been on the way to the gym in Narweena in Sydney's northern suburbs.

In 2014, Luke was sentenced to four years in prison over the death.

Dangerous driving: Luke served two years of his four year sentence over the 2012 death of 78-year-old Kenneth Lay

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving which caused the death of Mr Lay after it was revealed that he was driving at 95km/h in a 60km/h zone.

The granddaughter of Mr Lay told The Daily Telegraph in May of her anguish over Luke getting 'off lightly.'

'He could do it again, he's not going to take it very seriously if he can get out of it,' Jess Freudenstein said.

'He could do it again': The granddaughter of the late Kenneth Lay told The Daily Telegraph in May of her anguish over Luke getting 'off lightly'

Lovebirds: On Sunday, Samantha took to Instagram to share a photo of herself and Luke, referring to him as her 'hubby' for the first time on social media

Last month, The Daily Telegraph reported Sam and Luke tied the knot shortly after he was released from prison earlier this year.

Sam also told the newspaper they have been easing back into their relationship since his release from jail.

'We're just adjusting and taking it slowly, one day at a time. I love kids and I do want them in the future, yes with him, but not tomorrow.

'We're getting back into the swing of things again, training together and cooking meals - he's a great cook'.

On Sunday, Samantha took to Instagram to share a photo of herself and Luke, referring to him as her 'hubby' for the first time on social media.
She's the Australian model with over 630,000 followers on Instagram.

And Natalie Roser looked simply flawless in a skimpy pink bikini during a beach photo shoot in Sydney on Friday.

The 25-year-old beauty flaunted her gym-honed physique while striking a variety of playful poses for the cameras.

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She's flawless! Australian model Natalie Roser looked simply flawless in a skimpy pink bikini during a beach photo shoot in Sydney on Friday

Natalie, who dazzled at Spring Champion Stakes Day on Saturday, was smiling and laughing during the shoot.

She displayed her leggy frame in the high cut bikini bottoms which clung tightly to her bronzed skin.

The Insta-famous model was also not shy of displaying her very pert derriere for the photographer.

Strike a pose! The 25-year-old beauty flaunted her gym-honed physique while striking a variety of playful poses for the cameras

Baywatch moment? Natalie, who dazzled at Spring Champion Stakes Day on Saturday, was smiling and laughing during the shoot

Natalie also showed off her ample cleavage in her halterneck top while frolicking at the beach.

Despite the rising temperatures, she appeared to feel the chill slightly as her nipples were visible below the fabric.

Natalie looked every inch the Aussie beach babe as her long blonde hair flicked gently in the breeze.

Phenomenon: The Australian model has over 630,000 followers on Instagram

Sun, sand and sex appeal: Natalie looked every inch the Aussie beach babe as her long blonde hair flicked gently in the breeze

Bottoms up! Natalie displayed her leggy frame in the Brazilian-style bikini bottoms which clung tightly to her bronzed skin

Feeling nippy, Nat? Despite the rising temperatures, she appeared to feel the chill slightly as her nipples were visible below the fabric

Shady behaviour: Elsewhere, she was spotted wearing pair of tinted aviator sunglasses while soaking up the sun's rays

Entrepreneur: Natalie recently launched her own self-titled clothing range, Roser, which she told GQ was an 'amazing experience'

Sun's out, guns out: Natalie proudly showed off the results of her regular exercise routines

The former Miss Universe Australia also showed off her flawless natural complexion by opting for minimal make-up.

Elsewhere, she was spotted wearing pair of tinted aviator sunglasses while soaking up the sun's rays.

Natalie recently launched her own self-titled clothing range, Roser, which she told GQ was an 'amazing experience'.

She is also just weeks away from marrying Sydney personal trainer Dan Adair after they got engaged in Florida last year.

Natural beauty: The former Miss Universe Australia also showed off her flawless natural complexion by opting for minimal make-up

He's a lucky guy! She is just weeks away from marrying Sydney personal trainer Dan Adair after they got engaged in Florida last year
She recently had a knock on the door from NSW Police after posting an Instagram photo of her daughter Pixie, five, in the front seat of her car without a booster seat.

And after hitting back at her parenting critics on Sunday, Sydney PR guru Roxy Jacenko enjoyed a family trip to Bondi Beach with her eldest child.

The 36-year-old looked effortlessly chic in a red Gucci maxi skirt as she was joined by her mother Doreen Davis for a stroll around the park.

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Taking it in her stride: Roxy Jacenko (R) doted on her daughter Pixie Curtis at Bondi Beach on Sunday alongside her mother Doreen (L), following a police visit to her home over a car selfie

Roxy paired her outfit with a plain white T-shirt and simple black sandals.

Showing off a soft golden tan, she styled her blonde hair sleek and straight and accessorised with aviator shades.

The Sweaty Betty CEO also wore an assortment of jewellery, including chic gold bracelets and a chunky watch.

Quality time: Roxy and Pixie enjoyed lapping up the beach from a park bench, with Roxy wrapping her arms around her daughter

Looking good! Roxy stunned in a flowing Gucci skirt and a white T-shirt

Meanwhile, Pixie was dressed in a Juicy Couture T-shirt and pink shorts, and wore a pair of designer sunglasses.

Doreen kept things casual in black tights and a blue jumper.

They were spotted walking around the esplanade near the beach before Roxy and Pixie sat down on a park bench.

They sipped on a healthy green juice and shared a hug before Roxy pushed her little girl on a nearby swing.

She then could be seen taking photos of her daughter - no doubt to be later posted on Pixie's popular Instagram account.

Refreshment time: They sipped on a healthy green juice together

Having fun: Roxy took time to push her little girl on a swing

And action! She then could be seen taking photos of her daughter - no doubt to be later posted on Pixie's popular Instagram account

Missing from the outing was Roxy's youngest child, two-year-old son Hunter. But he was later seen in social media photos posted by Roxy on the same day.

Last week, Instagram followers complained to police after observing Pixie was sat in the front seat in one of Roxy's recent car selfies, instead of in a booster seat.

It garnered a visit from police due to complaints, which was later confirmed to The Daily Telegraph, and saying they took no further action.

Not so snap happy! Last week, Instagram followers complained to police after observing Pixie was sat in the front seat in one of Roxy's recent car selfies, instead of in a booster seat

Peace! Pixie was dressed in a Juicy Couture T-shirt and pink shorts

Follow me! Roxy held Pixie's hand leading the way through the park

Girl time! Missing from the outing was Roxy's two-year-old son Hunter

The NSW Transport website states: 'Children aged from four years old but under seven years old must be secured in a forward facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat.'

After being questioned by police at her Bondi home on October 1, Roxy deleted the photo.

And on Sunday she responded to the incident by sharing a photo of Pixie and Hunter safely strapped in booster seats.

Moving forward: After being questioned by police at her Bondi home on October 1, Roxy deleted the snap

Relaxed: Doreen meanwhile kept things casual in black tights and a blue jumper

Hitting back: On Sunday she responded to the incident by sharing a photo of Pixie and Hunter safely strapped in booster seats.

Other matters on her mind! She captioned the image with an 'eye roll' and 'laughing' emoji, appearing to brush off the recent drama

She captioned the image with an 'eye roll' and 'laughing' emoji, appearing to brush off the recent drama.

The Daily Telegraph reported that upon arrival at Roxy's North Bondi home in two separate cars, police were told Pixie had been seated in the front seat of the stationary vehicle simply for the purpose of taking a photo.

The incident comes after Roxy finished radiation treatment following her breast cancer diagnosis.

The past few months have seen Roxy tasked with parenting her two children alone after her husband Oliver Curtis was sentenced to jail for insider trading.

Clearing things up: Reportedly, Pixie had been seated in the front seat of the stationary vehicle simply for the purpose of taking a photo

Tough times: It comes after Roxy finished radiation treatment following her cancer diagnosis

Doing her best! The past few months have seen Roxy tasked with parenting her two children alone after her husband Oliver Curtis was sentenced to jail for insider trading
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He worked out every day that he prepared to play Superman in 2017 movie Justice League.

But Henry Cavill hasn't seen anything until he was put through his paces in a gruelling charity run with the Royal Marines on Sunday.

The British heart-throb, 33, looked dead on his feet after completing the six-mile Endurance Course on Woodbury Common in Devon.

Flat out: It appears Henry Cavill is keeping up his fitness regime as he was put through his paces in a gruelling charity run at an army training course on Sunday

The Batman v Superman star climbed ladders, crawled through mud and swam in near-freezing water in the event organised by the Royal Marines Charity and the Devon Air Ambulance.

The course, which is used daily for Royal Marines recruitment and officer training, goes across the rough moorland and woodland of Woodbury Common near Lympstone.

It and features tunnels, pipes, wading pools and an underwater culvert called the sheep dip - an obstacle so tough that even the Marines are said to have nightmares about it.

Henry looked knackered after the event as he lay flat out in the mud, no doubt wishing he had the capabilities of his superhero character.

Ice cold: Henry closed his eyes to go under the so-called sheep dip, which even the hardest of Marines are scared of

All hands on deck: Henry looked a picture of determination as he waded through the mud lying prone

He's only human: The Batman V Superman star (pictured right in the film) climbed ladders, crawled through mud, and swam in near-freezing water in the event organised by the Royal Marines Charity and the Devon Air Ambulance

Chilling out: Henry was lifted out of the notorious 'sheep dip' by a friend after he dunked himself and swam through

Meanwhile, Henry Cavill's manager has said a new standalone sequel to the Superman film Man of Steel is in the works.

Cavill reprised his role as Superman earlier this year in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and is currently filming a Justice League film which is due out next year.

His manager Dany Garcia told Newsweek that Cavill is 'beginning to expand' the Superman world and is in very early development for the standalone sequel.

Justice League features an ensemble cast, bringing together DC Comics heroes Batman (Ben Affleck), Superman (Henry Cavill), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), the Flash (Ezra Miller), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and Aquaman (Jason Momoa).

Happy chappy: Henry gave the thumbs up as he waded through a stream with his team close behind him

Knackered: The British heart-throb, 33, looked dead on his feet after completing a six-mile obstacle course at the Royal Marines Endurance Course on Woodbury Common, Devon.

Give me ten! Henry was put through his paces on the course and took a cheeky time out while sitting on a ledge

All smiles: After recovering from the tough ordeal Henry posed for some photos with his team

Tough track: The course, which is used daily for Royal Marines recruit and officer training, goes across the rough moorland and woodland of Woodbury Common near Lympstone

Gruelling: The course features tunnels, pipes, wading pools and an underwater culvert called the sheep dip - an obstacle so tough that even the Royal Marines have nightmares about it

Batman and Wonder Woman assemble a team consisting of The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg to face the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons.

The film is said to have a more light-hearted approach than its predecessor Batman v Superman.

The movie was said to be to 'gritty' and grossed a disappointing $872.7 million worldwide on a $250 million budget.

Producer Geoff Johns told The Wall Street Journal: 'Mistakenly in the past I think the studio has said, 'Oh, DC films are gritty and dark and that's what makes them different.'

'That couldn't be more wrong. It's a hopeful and optimistic view of life. Even Batman has a glimmer of that in him. If he didn't think he'd make tomorrow better, he'd stop.'

Another on the way? Henry Cavill's manager has said a new standalone sequel to the Superman film Man of Steel is in the works
Jennifer Garner was spotted heading to her regular church in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Wearing a classic 1940s-style button-up dress, she brought along her daughters Violet and Seraphina and her son Samuel.

The 44-year-old, who was raised a churchgoer, has said that she started attending services again after filming this year's Christian-themed film Miracles From Heaven.

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Hollywood Christian: On Sunday, Jennifer Garner was spotted taking her children to church in the Pacific Palisades

Her collared dress was dotted with tiny blue hearts over a white field, and she artfully complemented it with a navy leather purse.

Black ankle strap stilettos matched her black cat-eye sunglasses, and she let her hair flow free over her shoulders.

For much of their walk towards the church, she kept a grip on her four-year-old son's hand. Seven-year-old Seraphina and 10-year-old Violet strolled along beside them.

Watchful mum: She kept a grip on her four-year-old son Samuel's hand

Party of four: Seven-year-old Seraphina (left) and 10-year-old Violet (right) are, like their younger brother, the actress' children by her estranged husband Ben Affleck

Whilst promoting Miracles From Heaven on Today, the estranged wife of Ben Affleck shared a bit of her own religious background with Savannah Guthrie.

'It's not something that I have ever spoken about this film, so I still feel a little "oof,"' she confessed, 'but I grew up going to church every Sunday, and I took - you know, Ben and I took our kids home to West Virginia to be baptised in my family's church.'

The film 'encouraged me to re-engage in just participating, and not just believing, but actually participating and raising my children so that they have the same background that my parents gave my sisters and me.'

Back at it: According to The Christian Post, the 44-year-old started attending services again after filming the Christian-themed drama film Miracles From Heaven

Old habits: She told Savannah Guthrie on Today that she was raised a churchgoer in West Virginia

She became more specific when she spoke onstage at a Dallas church in February, appearing alongside the woman she plays in Miracles From Heaven.

The Christian Post have reported, she confided that 'while I've always gone to church in West Virginia, that when I got back to Los Angeles, I was talking to my kids about the movie and they said: "Mom you don't take us to church," and we went that Sunday, and they went today without me.

'That decision,' she said, 'was a direct gift from this movie and for that I'm very grateful.'

Though the Argo director doesn't always accompany his family to church, he was spotted last month taking the children there, filling in for Garner whilst she was in Colorado premiering her film Wakefield at the Telluride Film Festival.
He's rocketed to Hollywood heights of fame after becoming the new host of the Late Late Show.

And it seems James Corden's stateside success is really paying off, as its revealed he is moving into his dream Californian home for a staggering $80,000 (or 64,000) a month.

The Gavin and Stacey star, 38, is renting a luxury five-storey beachfront home in Los Angeles with his family worth $24million.

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Welcome to my crib: James Corden, 38, is renting this luxury beachfront home in Los Angeles for a staggering 64,000 ($80,000) a month - after his success over in the States

The plush pad boasts six bedrooms and seven bathrooms - allowing the new chat shot host plenty of space for visiting family and guests.

The sprawling mansion also houses its own infinity pool, private gym, outdoor fireplace and a deck with views over the ocean - perhaps so James can remind himself of how far his career has progressed since his Fat Friends days.

In final flashy finishing touches, the property also comes with its own lift and a fully-equipped professional kitchen, complete with its own chef.

Humble beginnings: The property is worlds away from his childhood semi-detached home in Hazlemere, High Wycombe

LA living: James himself was later seen pulling up to the property with some food shopping in a sleek black Range Rover, clearly enjoying the fruits of his labours Stateside

The property is worlds away from his childhood semi-detached home in Hazlemere, High Wycombe, as well as being a cut above the five-bedroom villa he had previously rented in Brentwood, LA for 18,000 a month.

According to Mirror Online, his new neighbours at the Malibu property include director Steven Spielberg, Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow - proving the comic has truly made it to the big-time.

It had been for sale for $24million, but is thought to have been taken off the market so the Tony Award winner can rent it out with his family.

Smithy, is that you? The appearance comes just days after the Brit was spotted taking his convertible jaguar for a cruise around LA

Mixing with the A-List: According to Mirror Online , his new neighbours at the Malibu property include director Steven Spielberg, Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow

In demand: The property had been for sale for $24million, but is thought to have been taken off the market so the Tony Award winner can rent it out with his family

As if the flash purchase was not proof enough of the Into The Woods star's new Hollywood lifestyle, James himself was later seen pulling up to the property with some food shopping in a sleek black Range Rover.

Now owner to a selection of souped-up vehicles, the appearance comes just days after the Brit was spotted taking his convertible jaguar for a cruise around LA.

The One Man Two Guvnors lead took over as host of the Late Late Show from Craig Ferguson last March.

Success story: James took over as host of the Late Late Show last March and has found huge success in the role - mixing with Hollywood celebs such as Rob Lowe (L) and JK Simmons (R)

Most notably his regular segment 'Carpool Karaoke' on the CBS show has become a viral hit - featuring guests of the calibre of George Clooney, Adele, Julia Roberts and even Michelle Obama.

When asked if he had anticipated the viral success of Carpool, the star told Deadline: 'I dont know if I would ever say that we were savvy. We understood that for our show to reach the biggest audience it can, we have to embrace the Internet.

'The trick is to just make something good; if you make something good for your show, people will share it the next day.'

Viral hit: His regular segment 'Carpool Karaoke' on the CBS show has become a huge success - featuring guests of the calibre of Justin Bieber (above) and even Michelle Obama

The show also bagged four Emmy nominations since it first aired 18 months ago - with it going on to win the awards for Outstanding Interactive Programme and Outstanding Variety Special last month.

Showing off why he is so popular as the new host of the chat show, James accepted the achievements in his usual witty style, stating in celebration: 'Basically were gonna be drunk all week.'

James relocated to Los Angeles with his wife Julia last year, along with their son Max, four and daughter Carey, who turns two-years-old at the end of this month.
Kelly Brook has denied secretly marrying Jeremy Parisi.

The model, 36, sparked rumours that she secretly got hitched to boyfriend Jeremy Parisi after she was spotted wearing an extra diamond band on her wedding finger, alongside the sparkler he gifted her.

However Kelly's representative told the MailOnline she is not engaged or married, explaining she wears the rings on that finger as that is how they best fit.

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Smitten: Kelly Brook and her boyfriend Jeremy Parisi made quite the dashing couple as they enjoyed a glam date night on Sunday at the Brilliant is Beautiful gala dinner in London

Making a glamorous appearance, she enjoyed a glam date night with Jeremy on Sunday at the Brilliant is Beautiful gala dinner in London, flaunting a new ring which sat alongside her original sparkler .

Congratulations in order? Kelly has sparked rumours that she secretly got hitched to boyfriend Jeremy after she was spotted wearing an extra diamond band on her wedding finger

Kelly wowed in a curve-hugging gold gown at the event which benefits Artists For Peace And Justice, a charity which supports communities in Haiti.

But taking centre stage was her new sparkler, which was nestled next to her engagement-style ring.

In June, Kelly denied she was engaged, explaining: 'Jeremy bought me a lovely ring but we're not engaged.

'I only wear it on that finger because it doesn't fit on the others.'

Kelly made her entrance at London's plush hotspot Claridge's in a stunning metallic dress.

The tight-fitting number showed off the star's voluptuous curves to perfection.

Kelly kept her accessories simple, letting the glam gown do the talking, while her long dark locks were styled into chic curls.

Curve appeal: Kelly wowed in a curve-hugging gold gown at the event which benefits Artists For Peace And Justice, a charity which supports communities in Haiti

Glossy lips and dark eye makeup were the finishing touch as the model and TV star beamed and posed for the cameras.

Jeremy looked smitten with his gorgeous girl, as the pair kept by each other's side all night at the star-studded event.

The couple have been dating for over a year and just a few months ago an insider appeared to confirm that they were engaged and planning to wed.

Something to tell us? Taking centre stage was her new sparkler, which sat alongside her engagement-style ring

Date night: Kelly, 36, made her entrance at London's plush hotspot Claridge's in a stunning metallic dress

Having a good time! Kelly put on a very busty display as she laughed and joked at the bash

Getting close: The pair were certainly getting cosy as they dined out together

By her side: Jeremy looked smitten with his gorgeous girl, as the pair kept by each other's side all night at the star-studded event

Three's a coolc rowd: Kelly Brook and Maxwell 'Brilliant is Beautiful' Gala at Claridge's, London

Wow factor: The tight-fitting number showed off the star's voluptuous curves to perfection

Kelly and Jeremy, 31, seem to be closer than ever though and the model recently insisted she has no regrets about the path she's taken to happiness, as she sees her unmarried and childless status as a success.

However in June she told Ok! magazine that she may have found her one, explaining: 'I think he's the one.

'He's so lovely and family orientated. No drama, no stress.'

The lady of the hour: Model Karen Elson was the night's honoree at the glittering gala

VIP: Holly Candy was also among the stars who were invited to the glamorous gathering

Stunner: The blonde beauty looked stunning in a black dress featuring lines of silver beading

Social butterfly: Inside the bash, she posed with Chloe Green and former Bros star Matt Goss

Model behaviour: Petra Nemcova looked every inch the supermodel as she arrived at the bash

The thigh's the limit: She stepped out in a velvet champagne dress with a thigh-high slit

Taking the plunge: She showed off a considerable amount of chest in her plunging gown

Speaking during an appearance on Good Morning Britain, Kelly said of her very public love life: 'I see it as a success that I'm 36 and still not married with children. I've dodged so many bullets.'

In the past, Kelly has enjoyed high profile relationships with the likes of rugby players Danny Cipriani and Thom Evans, personal trainer David McIntosh and actors Jason Statham and Billy Zane.

Meshing together well: Chloe Green wore a black layered dress with a mesh overlay on top

Give them a hand! Dougray Scott and Claire Forlani held hands as they arrived at the event

Frock of ages: Claire looked elegant in an intricately-designed dress with high neckline

Chic: Ladies Of London star Caroline Stanbury made an arrival in a chic black tulle dress

Black belt: Petra Nemcova's dress was cinched at the waist with a stylish black belt

Gents: Alan Cumming, left, and Jamie Campbell Bower, right, were also among the attendees

Classic style: Luke Nolan arrived at the event wearing a classic black tuxedo

Memorable: Actress Meredith Ostrom made a memorable arrival in a leg-flashing black dress

After the party: Later that night, a smiling Holly was seen making her way out of the event

Bling: The star appeared intent on showing off her dazzling diamond ring as she left
Gavin Rossdale says it's time to 'move on' from his marriage breakdown

The 50-year-old Bush frontman split from Gwen Stefani last year amid claims he was unfaithful with their children's 24-year-old nanny, Mindy Mann, but Gavin says it is time to put all that in the past.

'It's, like, enough already. I've got to move on. Everyone has got to move on,' he said in an interview published by British newspaper The Sunday Times Style Magazine on Sunday.

Living a normal life: Gavin Rossdale, pictured at a farmers market in the Studio City neighbourhood of Los Angeles on Sunday, told British newspaper The Sunday Times that he is 'moving on' following his divorce from Gwen Stefani

'For me, it's just thinking about the boys and how to prioritise them. That's the driving force behind everything. You just have to ... I don't know. Somehow you have to put one foot after the other and make it happen.

'I have an incredible life with them, and that's what matters. You can't keep up with all the vitriol. Just don't get into all that.

'[I like Twitter] and I want to be active, but it's a case of not worrying about the miscellaneous 15-year-old from Ohio with an opinion. It doesn't matter.'

The rocker, who was spotted at a Farmers Market in the Studio City neighbourhood of Los Angeles on Sunday, also insisted he wants his and Gwen's sons - Kingston, 10, Zuma, eight, and Apollo, two - to be 'better versions' of him.

Lovely pair of melons: The 50-year-old Bush frontman flashed his muscled chest as he chose some fruit. He and the No Doubt star lsplit ast year amid claims he was unfaithful with their children's 24-year-old nanny, Mindy Mann

Getting his greens: Gavin said he is no longer 'worrying about the miscellaneous 15-year-old from Ohio with an opinion (on Twitter). It doesn't matter'

He said: 'They're the guys - they're my replacements. The better versions of me. I'm going to try and take all the things I've ever done wrong and keep them away from that.'

Gavin is also the father of model Daisy Lowe, 27, from a brief fling with her mother Pearl Lowe. He only found out about her 13 years ago and the pair are now extremely close.

Gwen, 47, was a mentor on the US version of The Voice and Gavin recently signed up to take part in The Voice UK but he didn't get any tips from her.

Hanging out with his boys: He insisted he wanted his and Gwen's sons - Kingston, 10, Zuma, eight, and Apollo, two - to be 'better versions' of him, saying, 'For me, it's just thinking about the boys and how to prioritise them'

Daddy's girl: Gavin is also the father of model Daisy Lowe, 27, from a brief fling with her mother Pearl Lowe. He only found out about her 13 years ago and the pair are now extremely close. The couple are pictured in London in July

When asked if she has been supportive, he said: 'You know... We just... It's really about focusing on the kids. That's our thing.'

And when the interviewer remarked that The Voice is turning into a family profession, Gavin replied: 'Oh, don't say that.'

Meanwhie, Gwen has found love with country star Blake Sheldon.

She and the 40-year-old met on The Voice in 2014 when she replaced a pregnant Christine Aguilera for a season. They came out as an item in November 2015.
Bella Hadid poked fun at herself with selfie meme she posted to Instagram as she rang in her 20th birthday on Sunday.

A blurry photo of a man dropping his phone was accompanied by text crowing that: 'Today is the proudest moment of my life. I successfully took a picture of me high fiving myself.'

The supermodel was also showered with well-wishes by her mother Yolanda Hadid, supermodel sister Gigi Hadid and friends Kylie Jenner and Naomi Campbell as she turned twenty.

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'This is 20': On Sunday, Bella Hadid celebrated turning 20 by posting a meme ribbing her age group

The mirror selfie showed a man clapping his hands together. Between his arms, his phone hurtled toward the floor, snapping a picture on the way.

'This is 20,' Bella dryly captioned the meme.

Earlier in the day, she'd uploaded a more sedate tribute to her new decade with a black and white photo showing her mother Yolanda Hadid cradling her when she was an infant.

'20 years ago with the woman who birthed me,' wrote the proud daughter in her caption, dropping in a couple of emojis before adding: 'I love you #20'.

The former Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills star did not, of course, let her Instagram go quiet on the special day either.

'the woman who birthed me': Earlier in the day, she'd posted a photo of herself as a baby with her mother, Yolanda Hadid

'You are my everything!': The former Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills posted a mother-daughter photo of her own

A photo of her younger daughter as a little girl sat beside a caption cooing: 'Happy Birthday my sweet Angel..... I pray that each day, love, health and happiness will come your way.

'Thank you for being YOU, I am so proud of all that you do and all that you are. You are my everything! #ILoveYou #MyBirthdayGirl',' wrote Yolanda.

Meanwhile, the birthday girl's elder sister, supermodel Gigi Hadid, also posted a cute flashback photo of the two of them practising leg stretches on a balcony as young girls.

'Happy Birthday to my baby sister @bellahadid,' wrote the 21-year-old.

'Your beauty and beautiful heart blow me away more every day.

Friends, sisters and pals: The birthday girl's older sister Gigi Hadid posted a photo of the two of them as small children practising leg stretches on a balcony

'You make me more proud than you'll ever know, and I feel so grateful that we get to experience so much by each other's side.'

'Can't believe you're 20!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love ya miss ya kiss ya,' she added, throwing in an emoji of a balloon

Their brother Anwar Hadid, 17, also posted a photo on his Instagram of Bella as a toddler, captioning it 'sis b's birthday. love you.'

Bella's friend Kylie Jenner also gave the birthday girl a shout-out on social media, sharing a flashback photo from their Vogue photo shoot last year.

'Happy Birthday @bellahadid ,' wrote the 19-year-old KUWTK star.

Happy Birthday @bellahadid  A photo posted by Kylie (@kyliejenner) on Oct 9, 2016 at 11:11am PDT

Modelling icon Naomi Campbell posted a similar Instagram picture. The two sat alongside each other in what appeared to be a crowded restaurant, the Londoner resting her chin on Hadid's shoulder as they stared enigmatically at the camera.

'#happybirthday darling @bellahadid this has been an amazing year you for,' the British supermodel wrote, 'and still more to come .. wishing you the all you desire on this special day #20 world is your oyster and im so proud of you . I love you lots N'.

The 46-year-old then deployed a fleet of emojis including several birthday cakes, shocked faces, hearts and party hats.

'#20 world is your oyster': Naomi Campbell also posted an Instagram tribute to her new fellow new model

Fashion photographer Russell James, who did a topless photo-shoot with Bella in April for a 'secret project,' paid tribute to her on her big day as well.

A black and white photo of the model giving the camera a smouldering glare, and ostensibly wearing no top other than a leather jacket, was captioned: 'Happy birthday @bellahadid ! So cool to see you... such an incredible year. And the year ain't over yet! See you soon and have a fantastic day.'

'Thank u LP bebe': On Bella's Snapchat, she revealed she'd gotten a pizza with pepperoni arranged into a heart from her best friend Lauren Perez

'When my moms bday gift to me is a new treatment': Her mother appeared to have given her medical supplies for her Lyme Disease

On her Snapchat, Bella shared some of her favorite birthday treats.

Her best friend Lauren Perez brought her a pizza with pepperoni arranged into a heart. A caption on the Snapchat post read: 'Happy birthday from LAUREN!!! Thank u Lp bebe' before throwing in a quartet of hearts.

A sped-up black and white video showed Perez holding a birthday cake. In another video - part of the same Story - not one but three of Bella's friends burst into her room, singing 'Happy Birthday To You' and holding a candle.

Making an entrance: Three of her friends were seen on her Snapchat bursting into her bedroom and singing Happy Birthday To You

As the Story continued, the friends were seen milling about the room as she squealed: 'Look who came to see me with presents!'

One such present in her Snapchat Story was from her mother, who - like Bella and Bella's younger brother Anwar - suffers from Lyme Disease.

Two black cases of what appeared to be medical supplies sat open on her bed, and Bella added the caption: 'When my moms bday gift to me is a new treatment'.

But of course: She was also given a cake, naturally, for her special day

Several emojis, including of two thumbs up, a trophy, a heart and six pairs of praying hands preceded: '#blessup.'

Bella heralded her birthday's time of year on Twitter ealier this month as she reminded her followers it was 'libra season' and adding two emojis: the Libra scales symbol and a heart.

Yet when she went back to Twitter on her actual birthday, she vamped: 'I wanna be 18 again'.

Heralding what was to come: On October 1, she had trumpeted her birthday's time of year by reminding her Twitter followers it was 'libra season'
They've been rivals since the very beginning of The Bachelorette.

And according to new reports, the feud between Sam Johnston and Rhys Chilton almost became physical during filming for the reality series.

NW magazine alleges that the genetically-blessed duo got into an altercation, which 'almost ended in a punch-up', during a three-way date with Georgia Love, and it is set to air on Wednesday's episode of the show.

'Almost ended in a punch-up:' Sam Johnston and Rhys Chilton almost came to blows during a three-way date with Georgia Love on The Bachelorette

Georgia admits to NW that she pushed the pair to hash out their differences, but didn't expect things to become as heated as they did.

Sam, who has repeatedly mocked Rhys throughout the series, took another dig at his muscular rival to NW.

'Rhys lives in his own world,' said the 27-year-old.

Drama: The altercation reportedly takes place during a three-way date at Luna Park on Wednesday's episode

Instigator? Georgia is allegedly the one who fueled Rhys and Sam's fight after growing tired of their rivalry

'He goes to work, comes home, his mum breastfeeds him and he goes to bed.'

In a preview for the upcoming episode. Georgia takes the boys to Luna Park for a double date where the pair are forced to compete for her affection.

In one scene, Rhys can be seen doing a robot dance in a bid to impress the ambitious broadcaster while Sam just sits back and snickers.

'He goes to work, comes home, his mum breastfeeds him and he goes to bed:' Sam attacked Rhys yet again, this time in the new issue of NW magazine

He's got moves! Rhys does a robot dance for Georgia on the date

At the end of the date, one will be eliminated, although it's unclear by the preview just who Georgia decides to send home.

Towards the end, there's an indication that BOTH boys could be sent packing after the disastrous date.

The Bachelorette airs at 7:30 on Wednesday and Thursday.
She was the glamorous runway sensation in a high-profile relationship with billionaire James Packer, till he ended their two-year engagement in 1998.

Nowadays former model Kate Fischer is barely recognisable, living a modest life back in Melbourne while working as a therapist according to Woman's Day magazine.

This comes after the 42-year-old relocated to Los Angeles several years ago, converting to Judaism and even changing her name to Tziporah Malka bat Israel.

Lifestyle change: Nowadays former model Kate Fischer is barely recognisable, living a modest life back in Melbourne while working as a therapist, and going by the name of Tziporah Malka bat Israel - pictured in 2016 (L) and in 1994 (R)

The media personality was recently spotted wearing just a bed sheet and simple slippers as she checked her mailbox outside her home in the Melbourne suburb of Toorak.

'I don't think she goes out much,' one neighbour told Woman's Day.

'I see the lights on but I don't see her for weeks at a time.'

A friend of the star also told the publication, 'she's extremely private', and that 'she'd still like to fall in love and have a family of her own, but she's happy'.

Big changes: The 42-year-old relocated to Los Angeles several years ago, converted to Judaism and even changed her name

Former flame: She was the glamorous runway sensation in a high-profile relationship with billionaire James Packer, till he ended their two-year engagement in 1998

The publication reports that Kate, or T'Ziporah, is 'working as a part-time therapist at an aged-care facility, studying Yiddish and attending temple each week'.

Back in 2010 she opened up to the same magazine about her newfound life away from the spotlight, involving indulging in a new religion and not worrying about her appearance so much.

'I am wearing braces and I figured, you know, I am going to get fat and wear braces,' she said at the time.

Religious: The publication reports that Kate, or T'Ziporah, is 'working as a part-time therapist at an aged-care facility, studying Yiddish and attending temple each week'

Confident: The brunette also boasts a nose ring nowadays, and is not afraid to show off her new look with some closeup selfies on social media

The brunette also boasts a nose ring nowadays, and is not afraid to show off her new look with some closeup selfies on social media.

It was back in 1988 at the age of just 14, that she got her big break in the modelling world by winning the Dolly Magazine Covergirl of the Year competition.

In 1993 she famously stripped down for a role in Australian film Sirens, starring in the flick alongside the likes of Elle Macpherson and Portia de Rossi.

She later went on to star in a string of Australian television shows, but spent more of her time in Los Angeles after Packer broke her heart in 1998.

Back in the day: She later went on to star in a string of Australian television shows, but spent more of her time in Los Angeles after Packer broke her heart in 1998 - pictured in 2006
It came as something of a surprise to find that the final episode of Victoria had been treated as a cliff-hanger, as if the audience were in suspense about whether the plucky heroine was going to meet a tragic end.

The pulsating, foreboding, violins suggested a terrible fate awaited her at any moment but you dont need to warn of any Spoilers to say that Victoria survived, as we always knew she would.

ITV had already announced there was going to be a second series for one thing.

Finale: It came as something of a surprise to find that the final episode of Victoria had been treated as a cliff-hanger

Plus the most uneducated viewer was surely aware that Victoria lived on (and on and on) and not even this series scriptwriter couldnt take that many liberties with the facts. Not quite.

Mind you, theres no disputing that as Episode Eight began the young queen was in trouble.

An assassin, a stalker, and her evil Uncle Cumberland were just the start of her problems. In this story at least, having a baby was even more dangerous.

Her husband (the King), her mother (a German), and the queens doctor (an extra) took turns to remind Victoria that she might die in childbirth, as her cousin Princess Charlotte did.

Trouble ahead? Her husband, her mother, and the queens doctor took turns to remind Victoria that she might die in childbirth, as her cousin Princess Charlotte did

We were pretty sure she wouldnt  unlike her.

I think about Charlotte. I am scared...No queen regnant has even given birth before, she fretted to Albert.

Even before this Victoria was about as keen on being pregnant as a teenager in EastEnders, moaning about feeling fat, over-heated, and just a vessel for the Royal baby.

No one looks at me anymore not even Albert. Just this ! she complained during one tantrum, indicating her bump that on one occasion she referred to as Wrigglepants which didnt strike as necessarily historically-accurate.

Fed up: Even before this Victoria was about as keen on being pregnant as a teenager in EastEnders

In bed at night Albert was more interested in reading the jokes in Punch than listening to his wifes complaints.

Who is the greatest chicken killer in Shakespeares plays? he quoted. Macbeth - because he did murder most foul hahaha.

And they say Germans have no sense of humour. At least he gave Jenna Coleman the chance to mutter the immortal line: We are not amused.

Throughout the series Victoria was portrayed as a pioneer if not quite a feminist icon in most regards but not this.

Expecting: No one looks at me anymore not even Albert. Just this ! she complained during one tantrum

I want you find me a wet nurse immediately ! she instructed Lehzen, stressing she did not want to breast-feed like her mother.

She is not a queen ! Victoria pouted. And I am not a cow.

A matter of opinion

People had questioned Jenna Colemans suitability for playing the title role but if nothing else being under constant attack from Daleks, Cybermen, and evil snowmen had prepared her for Victorias embattled state.

Mind you even Clara Oswald hadnt encountered a creature as blatantly heinous as Uncle Cumberland, the new king of Hanover.

No help: In bed at night Albert was more interested in reading the jokes in Punch than listening to his wifes complaints

A sinister, sweating, scarred, figure he looked more like a villain from Gotham City than Prussia in the 1840s. You probably know the type. Every family has one. Uncle Cumberland wanted to remove and replace Victoria - by any means necessary.

If the queen should not survive the travails of childbirth and if the infant should die, then the Duke of Cumberland will not just be King of Hanover but of Great Britain, warned her steward Penge.

Cumberland is next in line to the throne, warned Sir Robert Peel. He is like a vulture circling his prey.

Sure enough, the queens uncle made even checking she had received his wedding present (some spoons) malevolent, with Peter Firth twiddling his villains moustache with all the subtlety of a Dickensian panto.

Target: People had questioned Jenna Colemans suitability for playing the title role but if nothing else being under constant attack from Daleks, Cybermen, and evil snowmen had prepared her for Victorias embattled state

I do hope that you will take care, he advised darkly.

What do you mean? Victoria asked naively.

These daily drives of yours, he mentioned pointedly. London seems so volatile and it would be unfortunate if violets were to be replaced with something harder.

This was a reference to Victorias recent incident with a certain Captain Childers, an obsessed admirer from the army, and possibly the first Royal stalker.

I have a house of elegant proportions in Paternoster Row where you can be free from the German tyrant ! he implored when her carriage was caught up in a crowd.

Drama: 19 year-old Edward Oxford's assassination attempt actually took place in Green Park in 1840, when Victoria was only four months pregnant. But this version was more dramatic

The army man and early Brexit advocate tossed a posy of violets into her majestys lap as the Peelers dragged him away to the tower.

Uncle Cumberland appeared to have a more menacing threat to Victorias well being in 19 year-old Edward Oxford whose assassination attempt actually took place in Green Park in 1840, when Victoria was only four months pregnant. But this version was more dramatic.

It is three oclock and I have my bonnet on ! Victoria announced to Albert. It is my duty to show myself to my people.

The police investigation later discovered Oxford was also affiliated to a group of activists.

Not Chartists ! spluttered Peel.

Family strife: Do you really think Uncle Cumberland would try and shoot me in broad daylight? Victoria gasped, confirming even she found the storyline hard to believe

No even worse than that, an early version of UKIP - the Young England society.

It doesnt matter what happens to me ! the deranged gunman told the rozzers when they threatened him with hanging for treason. Young England will make sure that my name lives on.

Yes, them and ITV.

Increasingly he seemed more like a patsy (full name: Edward Oxford Harvey Oswald) - set up by the Duke.

We found a letter in his lodgings telling him to await instructions from HANOVER, the detective said.

I always knew that your wicked Uncle Cumberland would try and kill you one day, cried Victorias mother. He murdered his valet before you were born.

She could have mentioned it before you thought.

Family: Jenna got to do the classic EastEnders scene of giving birth shortly after demanding all the men in attendance to go away even though it was the custom'

Do you really think Uncle Cumberland would try and shoot me in broad daylight? Victoria gasped, confirming even she found the storyline hard to believe.

Cumberlands denial was pretty convincing too.

Surely you cannot believe that a senior member of the royal family would contemplate regicide and I would choose as my instrument a half-witted pot-boy form south of the river? he scoffed to Peel.

It transpired ye olde CPS were just as inept then as they are now. King Albert himself had seen Oxford fire twice but the policeman in charge argued there is no evidence that the guns were loaded and that Hanovers letter was Oxford writing to himself.

There were plenty of witnesses, including all of us. It was even on film  not CCTV but on ITV. Perhaps Victoria had been shot at from a grassy knoll after all.

Daughter: Sensibly grovelling to his missus, Albert said they should name the baby Victoria - after a great queen'

Oxford was acquitted on the grounds of insanity, ending up being sent to Bedlam.

If Oxford goes free, then I become a prisoner ! wailed Victoria, making a stand for generations of Royals to come.

It was almost as if she knew that Oxfords assassination attempt would be the first of many.

This was the way Victoria was portrayed  as the missing link between Lady Mary in Downton Abbey and Germaine Greer - and despite looking more like someone from Made In Chelsea than the real queen, Jenna Coleman did a good job covering all the bases.

She got to do the classic EastEnders scene of giving birth shortly after demanding all the men in attendance to go away even though it was the custom.'

Sensibly grovelling to his missus, Albert said they should name the baby Victoria - after a great queen.

Im glad I still have you, he charmed, which didnt really do justice to everything shed been through.

Even he seemed to have known that she was going to survive all along.
Social media was buzzing with claims that she was a little worse for wear.

And now X Factor host Dermot O'Leary has joked the rumours about Sharon Osbourne's behaviour on Saturday had merit.

During Sunday's results show, the TV anchor said her antics were down to 'high spirits - vodka, gin and whisky'.

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Just joking? Dermot O'Leary has jokingly suggested the rumours about Sharon Osbourne's behaviour on Saturday's X Factor had merit

Speaking straight to camera, the 43 year-old said: ' Despite what some reports are saying all the judges drank backstage was water.

'It was just high spirits. Those spirits being vodka, gin and whisky.'

Thankfully, Sharon - who was celebrating her birthday - laughed off the jibe, which offered a level of ambiguity.

Smiling through it! Sharon - who was celebrating her birthday - laughed off the jibe, which offered a level of ambiguity for viewers

Cheeky: During Sunday's results show, the TV anchor said her antics were down to 'high spirits - vodka, gin and whisky'

It comes just a day after she appeared to be overly-animated, then missing her cue on more than one occasion.

She also made reference to co-judge Nicole Scherzinger's breasts and flirted with several young, male acts - much to the live audience's amusement.

She even got the nationality of her contestant Saara Aalto wrong before asking a Scottish contestant to say a supposed phrase-meets-cliche.

In the hot seat: Sharon Osbourne repeatedly faltered during the series' first X Factor live show on Saturday night

Theories: Countless people accused Sharon of being drunk on the show - although there's no proof to substantiate these claims

Naturally, viewers were quick to vent their criticisms - and theories - on social media.

One said: 'Sharon just asked a Scottish act to say "Och aye the noo". God help us when the first black act appears'.

Shortly after, another posted a picture of empty wine bottles, captioning it: 'Sharon's dressing room tonight'.

Social media speculation: The 63 year-old was the subject of humorous Twitter speculation, which suggested she was a little worse for wear on Saturday's X Factor

Amusing: First she appeared to be overly-animated, then she missed her cue - and later gave Honey G's introduction to the wrong camera

Cheeky: Former X factor flop Katie Waissel was keen to jump on the bandwagon

One viewer said: 'Sharon Osbourne is that drunk aunt you have that never buys a round and always flirts with your boyfriend'.

Another user chimed in: 'Anyone complaining about their hangover tomorrow...just be glad it won't be as bad as Sharon's'.

Perhaps summing up the elephant in the room, another said: 'Some one get Sharon Osbourne a coffee. She's wasted.'

OTT? Another user chimed in, 'Anyone complaining about their hangover tomorrow...just be glad it won't be as bad as Sharon's'.

He makes a good point! One Twitter user highlighted the double-standards on the show

Put it away, love! Sharon also made reference to co-judge Nicole Scherzinger's breasts and flirted with young, male acts

Uncanny: One Twitter user implied that Sharon looked strikingly similar to a drag queen

Later, she was asked to give an introduction directly to camera for her act, Honey G.

Sadly, she delivered it to the wrong camera and spent almost all of the intro looking into a different lens.

Even host Dermot O'Leary couldn't resist commenting on her amusingly animated behaviour, saying: 'We want whatever Sharon's on'.

MailOnline have contacted representatives for Mrs Osbourne and X Factor, but are yet to receive a response.
She can be seen shaking her tailfeather in racy outfits on Dancing With The Stars every week.

And even on practice days, Amber Rose certainly knows how to up the sex appeal.

The 32-year-old model rocked an LBD while heading to DWTS rehearsals in Los Angeles on Sunday.

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Looking good: Amber Rose was spotted rocking an LBD while heading to DWTS rehearsals in Los Angeles on Sunday

She looked ready to put in a day of hard work at practice as she just had her best performance yet with pro partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Amber's black midi dress featured an asymmetrical hemline as she opted for a bit of comfort in a pair of black Reebok Classic trainers.

She accessorised with a large black choker around her neck as she lugged around a huge light grey leather bag.

Her signature blonde buzz cut shined in the sun as she let her natural looks show with complimentary make-up including a swipe of purple lip.

Curvaceous: The 32-year-old model's famous figure was proudly put on display in the clinging midi dress

Chill: The stunner did opt for comfort as she teamed the frock with a pair of black and white Reebok Classic trainers

The mother-of-one has been doing quite well on the celeb dancing competition, surviving to week five so far, and in the running for the mirror ball among the remaining nine couples.

On the last episode, she bounced back from her body-shaming scandal to pull off her best performance yet, going all out to show off her sexiness after saying she felt 'shamed' the previous week by judge Julianne Hough.

However, the women sorted things out on the show, with Amber apologizing if she took Julianne's comments out of context.

When you said that, I felt very embarrassed, and that you werent talking about my dance, Amber told the judge. If I misunderstood, then I apologize.

Pretty: She accessorised with a large black choker as she showed off her signature platinum blonde buzzcut and topped off complimentary make-up with purple lip

Im a very positive person, I dont like to argue or bicker or make things weird, so moving forward I just want complete positive energy. Just have fun!

Julianne stood and clapped her comments, then insisted: As a judge on this show I am purely here to judge you and everyone else in this competition for only the dancing.

Thank you for that, thank you, Amber told her with a smile.

Amber sizzled in a skintight lace bodysuit with stockings, suspenders and high heels, as she and pro partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy blew the judges away with a Tango to Cirque Du Soleil's already sexy Zumanity, a dance that ended with Maks climbing on top of her on a table.

Sexy stuff: On the last episode, Amber came back from her body-shaming scandal on Dancing With The Stars for an even sexier routine that she predicted would be 'too hot for TV'
Arab coalition says to probe Yemen funeral carnage

The Saudi-led coalition fighting rebels in Yemen said it will investigate an air raid that killed more than 140 people at a funeral, after the US said it was reviewing support for the alliance.

The Iran-backed Huthi rebels blamed the coalition for Saturday's attack, one of the deadliest since the alliance launched a military campaign against the Shiite insurgents in March 2015.

The attack could further sour US-Saudi ties already strained over the coalition's military intervention, which is suspected of causing almost half of the more than 4,000 civilian deaths in Yemen's conflict.

Yemenis attend the funeral of members of the same family on October 8, 2016, a day after they were killed in a reported airstrike by Saudi-led coalition air-planes that hit their house in Bajil, in the western province of Houdieda - (AFP/File)

It also risks embarrassing Washington, which has vehemently criticised Moscow over the heavy civilian death toll in Aleppo from Russian air raids in support of Syria's regime.

After initially denying any responsibility, the coalition said Sunday it was ready to launch a probe into the "regrettable and painful" strike, which the UN said also wounded more than 525 people.

"The coalition will immediately investigate this case along with... experts from the United States who participated in previous investigations," it said.

UN chief Ban Ki-Moon demanded a "prompt and impartial" probe.

"Those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice," he said.

Riyadh's key ally Washington said it had launched an "immediate review" of support to the Arab coalition.

"US security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank cheque," said White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price, calling for an "immediate" ceasefire.

US Secretary of State John Kerry also spoke with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman and foreign minister Adel al Jubeir on the phone about the attack and expressed "deep concern", Kerry's office said in a statement Sunday.

"The Secretary also reiterated the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and the Deputy Crown Prince stated his desire to institute a renewable 72-hour cessation as soon as possible, provided the Huthis will agree," the statement said.

The Huthis accused the coalition of a "massacre", saying its planes hit a gathering of hundreds mourning the death of the father of rebel interior minister Jalal al-Rowaishan.

They did not say if Rowaishan was in the building at the time, nor did they indicate if other senior figures were attending the funeral.

But Sanaa mayor Abdel Qader Hilal was among those killed, said the rebels' Almasirah television.

"The ceiling of the hall fell on us following one strike," survivor Radhwan al-Fizai said from his hospital bed. "A second missile followed and I lost consciousness."

Rebel-allied former president Ali Abdullah Saleh called for escalating the fight against "backward" Saudi Arabia along its borders "to take revenge."

- Protest against Saudi, US -

Thousands of angry protesters took to the streets of Sanaa on Sunday, chanting slogans against Saudi Arabia and the United States.

The foreign ministry of Iran, which supports the Huthis, denounced the attack as a "crime against humanity".

The Saudi-led coalition has come under increasing international scrutiny over civilian deaths.

In September 2015, a suspected coalition strike killed at least 131 civilians at a wedding near the Red Sea city of Mokha. The alliance denied any involvement.

And in March this year, Saudi-led air raids on a market killed at least 119 people, including 106 civilians, of which 24 were children, in the northern rebel-held province of Hajja.

In an initial statement to AFP, the coalition said it had no operations at the location.

The coalition "has in the past avoided such gatherings and (they) have never been a subject of targeting", it said.

In its latest statement, however, the coalition expressed its "deepest condolences and support to the families of the victims of hostilities since the coup takeover of power in Yemen during 2014".

In August, the US military said it had slashed its number of intelligence advisers supporting the coalition following concerns over civilian casualties.

The Huthis swept into Sanaa in September 2014 and advanced across much of Yemen, forcing the internationally recognised government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee.

Saturday's strike destroys the chance of reaching a truce and reigniting the peace process, said April Longley Alley, a Yemen specialist at International Crisis Group.

"It almost certainly kills any hope of an immediate ceasefire and it will have longer term consequences for the potential to develop any sustainable peace plan," she said.

The conflict has killed more than 6,700 people -- almost two-thirds of them civilians -- and displaced at least three million since the coalition launched military operations, according to the United Nations.

YemenMap of Yemen locating the city of Sanaa, where many civilians were killed in Saudi-led air strikes on October 8, 2016 - (AFP Graphic)

Yemenis and rescue teams gather at the site of reported airstrikes by Saudi-led coalition air-planes in the capital Sanaa on October 8, 2016 Mohammed Huwais (AFP)

A Yemeni man who was wounded in an air strike on a funeral in Sanaa lies on a hospital bed on October 9, 2016 Mohammed Huwais (AFP)
US launches 'immediate review' of Saudi-led coalition in Yemen

The United States said Saturday it had launched an "immediate review" of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, blamed for an air strike that killed more than 140 people.

"We are deeply disturbed by reports of today's air strike on a funeral hall in Yemen, which, if confirmed, would continue the troubling series of attacks striking Yemeni civilians," White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

"US security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check... In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led Coalition and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with US principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemen's tragic conflict."
Rosberg looks to turn screw at Japanese Grand Prix

Nico Rosberg will move a step closer to usurping Lewis Hamilton as Formula One world champion if the German converts pole position into a first victory in Japan on Sunday.

Rosberg, who has a 23-point lead over Hamilton in the title standings with five races to go, pipped his British foe by just 0.013sec as the two Mercedes rivals went toe to toe in Saturday's qualifying.

Hamilton's fragile state of mind after his heartbreak in Malaysia last weekend was encapsulated when he snubbed journalists over what he called "disrespectful" coverage earlier this week.

Nico Rosberg pipped Lewis Hamilton by just 0.013sec as the two Mercedes rivals went toe to toe in Saturday's qualifying Toshifumi Kitamura (AFP)

The German had been chipping away at Hamilton's veneer of invincibility by winning three successive races before Malaysia, where a battling third place for Rosberg added insult to injury for the Briton who had to retire with an engine blaze.

But Hamilton's meltdown after qualifying will be music to Rosberg's ears as he chases a maiden win in Japan -- one which would leave Hamilton's hopes of retaining the F1 title hanging by a thread.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen starts third in Sunday's race, alongside Dutch teenager Max Verstappen's Red Bull.

After securing his eighth pole of the year -- the same number as Hamilton -- Rosberg refused to get carried away, saying: "It's been a great weekend but I know I have a lot of work to do to complete the job."

Rosberg claimed pole at Suzuka for the third year running, but will be acutely aware that on neither previous occasion did it lead to victory in the race.

Hamilton came roaring back both times to win the Japanese race on his way to lifting the title.

- Rush of blood -

But Rosberg is in the form of his life and barring a first-corner error or collision, the German will be favourite to turn the screw on Hamilton.

A defiant Hamilton insisted he could still halt Rosberg's momentum by winning Sunday's race, having done exactly that in Japan the past two years.

But he appears to have lost the plot since his Malaysian disaster, blaming his engine blow-out on a team conspiracy, and a rush of blood going into turn one could spell trouble for Mercedes.

Hamilton backed away from remarks hinting at sabotage but caused another storm by playing with his mobile phone throughout Thursday's FIA press conference.

And after he was widely criticised for his behaviour, he reacted snootily.

"I don't plan on sitting here many more times at these kind of (media) things," he said.

Ferrari and Red Bull will look to pounce if Mercedes suffer more technical trouble.

Sebastian Vettel set the fourth-fastest qualifying time for Ferrari but a three-place grid penalty for smashing into Rosberg in Malaysia means he starts seventh.

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, who inherited victory in Sepang after Hamilton's misfortune, lines up fifth ahead of Force India's Sergio Perez.

"I'm doing pretty good in the corners and just bleeding on the straights," said the Australian, complaining of low power.

McLaren will have a job on their hands to score points in engine supplier Honda's home race, meanwhile, with Fernando Alonso starting on row eight and Jenson Button a further row back.

Lewis Hamilton's fragile state of mind was encapsulated when he snubbed journalists over what he called "disrespectful" coverage earlier this week Yuya Shino (AFP)
Activity at North Korea rocket site fuels test concerns

Analysis published Sunday of recent satellite images fuelled concerns that North Korea may be on the brink of another nuclear test or long-range rocket launch.

Speculation that Pyongyang is preparing such a show of force has been linked to Monday's anniversary of the founding of the North's ruling Workers' Party.

Past nuclear tests and missile launches have often coincided with key political dates. Its fifth nuclear test last month was conducted on the anniversary of North Korea's founding as a state,

Satellite image released on October 8, 2016 shows the Sohae Satellite Launching Station in North Korea

The latest satellite imagery analysis posted by the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University noted increased activity at the North's Sohae satellite launch station.

The pictures taken on October 1 showed crates on the launch pad next to the gantry tower, vehicles near the fuel and oxidiser buildings, and work continuing on the facility's vertical engine test stand.

"However, since both the gantry tower and the assembly structures on the launch pad are covered, it is unclear whether this activity is related to launch preparations or other operations," the analysts noted.

Two days ago, the institute had posted similarly dated images of the North's nuclear test site that showed activity at all three of its tunnel complexes.

But again its analysts could not be certain if the activity was related to an imminent test or other work.

Sunday marked 10 years to the day that North Korea carried out its first nuclear test on October 9, 2006 -- an underground detonation with such a low yield that it was widely seen as a failure.

But the North's weapons programme has progressed in leaps and bounds since then -- despite rounds of increasingly tough international sanctions -- and has notably accelerated under current leader Kim Jong-Un.

Since taking power following the death of his father Kim Jong-Il in late 2011, Kim has overseen three nuclear tests -- two of them in this year alone.

Each has shown a significant level of progression, with September's fifth test the largest to date, and Pyongyang also claims it has mastered the miniaturisation technique to fit a nuclear warhead on the tip of a missile.

The final goal of the North's programme is a credible nuclear strike capability against the US mainland.

While most experts don't believe it is there yet, they generally agree that the level of bomb and missile testing -- especially over the past year -- has brought it much closer.

The North carried out its last successful satellite rocket launch in February -- a month after its fourth nuclear test.

Pyongyang insists such launches are purely scientific, but the international community has condemned them as disguised ballistic missile tests.

Last month, North Korea successfully tested a new, high-powered rocket engine, a move Seoul said was designed to showcase its progress towards being able to target the US east coast.

And in August it carried out its most successful test to date of a submarine-launched ballistic missile that would allow deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula.

North Korea's weapons programme has notably accelerated under current leader Kim Jong-Un

Undated photo released in September shows the ground jet test of a new high-power engine of a carrier rocket for the geo-stationary satellite at the Sohae Space Center in North Korea
Aleppo's horror, in the words of Syria's White Helmets

As bombs rained down on Aleppo, White Helmets volunteer Abu Hassan rushed to join the search for survivors, as usual, never imagining he would find his son's body among the dead.

The two of them had worked side-by-side in scores of harrowing rescue operations in rebel-held districts of Syria's battleground second city over the past three years.

But Abu Hassan said that rescue mission was one he will never forget.

Syrian civil defence volunteers, known as the White Helmets, carry the body of a victim after it was pulled from the rubble following a government forces air strike on the rebel-held Aleppo neighbourhood of Bustan al-Basha Thaer Mohammed (AFP/File)

"About two weeks ago, I heard SOS calls on the walkie-talkie about heavy casualties in Salhin," the 50-year-old former carpenter told AFP.

He said he knew his son Hassan had been heading to the eastern neighbourhood to refuel a White Helmets ambulance.

"When I got there, I saw bodies lying on the floor. One of the volunteers told me there were more behind the building that was hit. That's when I started to feel afraid.

"I found the body of a young man lying face down, with severe wounds to his stomach, leg and head. I turned him around to see his face. It was my son."

- 'I can't stand remembering' -

Abu Hassan said he spent the rest of the night sitting next to his son's body on the floor of the White Helmets branch where they both worked.

At dawn, he buried Hassan himself.

"It was the hardest moment of my life," he said, struggling to hold back tears.

"I asked the branch chief to move us to a different building, because I couldn't stay in the same place and see his name and the words he wrote on the wall."

"I can't stand remembering that night."

The 26-year-old left behind a wife and two children of his own.

Abu Hassan pointed to a photograph of him -- a sandy-haired, grinning young man -- on the memorial wall of the now-disused branch headquarters in the Bab al-Nayrab district of the city.

Three other volunteers from the branch who lost their lives are commemorated alongside him.

Their signature hardhats have not been reused but instead preserved as a tribute.

- Branches 'targeted' -

Across Syria, more than 140 of the White Helmets' nearly 3,000 volunteers have died in the line of duty.

Their mission is to save the lives of others but sometimes they need to be rescued themselves.

Mohammed Wawi described one operation last week, when bombing began as he was searching for survivors of an earlier air strike.

"The fire and rescue team was hit and six members of our branch were wounded, one of them seriously," Wawi said.

"We had been trying to save people, but then the residents saved us."

Wawi was smearing mud on the branch's fire truck in an attempt to camouflage it, protecting it from the view of warplanes overhead.

Since government forces launched an offensive to recapture east Aleppo last month, the rebel-held sector has been subjected to devastating air strikes.

Whole streets have been levelled and the White Helmets' own infrastructure has taken a heavy hit.

"Our branches have been directly targeted in air strikes," said Bab al-Nayrab branch chief Bibars Mashaal.

In the past two weeks alone, three branches have been put out of action and a third of the White Helmets' ambulances, firetrucks and bulldozers in the city destroyed, Mashaal said.

- 'They are my family' -

Often, the damage to rescue workers is more than skin-deep.

Louay Mashhadi, 25, who heads another White Helmets branch in Aleppo, recalled one rescue operation earlier this month that left him so traumatised he stayed home for three days afterwards.

"I pulled an infant, four or five months old, out of the rubble," said Mashhadi, whose own son is around the same age.

"He had lost his legs and part of his stomach but he was still alive. There was no one around from his family, so the baby stayed in my arms for about 15 minutes. He died when the ambulance came."

Mashhadi said the volunteers relied on each other for the strength to continue their work.

"Because we're on call all night together in the same centres, we're more than just colleagues or friends."

But that makes it all the more painful when fellow members are killed. Four of Mashhadi's team have lost their lives in the past two months alone.

"I cried for them all, because they are members of my family."

A Syrian civil defence volunteer, known as a 'White Helmet', attempts to pull out the body of a child from the rubble of a destroyed building, in Aleppo's rebel-held neighbourhood of Bustan Thaer Mohammed (AFP/File)

Syrian rescuers, known as White Helmets, hold the body of a girl after pulling her from rubble of a building following government forces air strike on Aleppo's rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Shaar Karam Al-Masri (AFP/File)
NY commuter train derailment leaves 33 injured

A New York commuter train derailed outside the city late Saturday, authorities said, without immediately confirming reports that dozens have minor injuries.

"The 9:22PM train from Penn due Huntington at 10:28PM has been canceled due to a train derailment near New Hyde Park," the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) said on Twitter.

Earlier service had been suspended on the same line due to the train's collision with a smaller service vehicle.

Long Island Rail Road trains are seen on Manhattan's Upper West Side in New York Bryan R. Smith (AFP/File)

Passengers were evacuated, the LIRR showed on its feed.

The local ABC television affiliate reported there were four injuries; other sources said there were dozens, none of them serious.

Just last week, a commuter train slammed into a New Jersey train station.
Nine Myanmar police killed in attack on Bangladesh border

Nine police officers were killed during coordinated ambushes in Myanmar's strife-torn Rakhine state on Sunday with authorities saying the attackers hailed from the Muslim Rohingya community, a persecuted minority.

The night time raids hit three posts on the border with Bangladesh and have sent tensions soaring in a region battered by sectarian clashes between Buddhists and Muslim Rohingyas.

Rakhine has been effectively split on religious grounds since bouts of communal violence tore through the state in 2012, killing scores and forcing tens of thousands to flee.

Rakhine has been effectively split on religious grounds since communal violence tore through the state in 2012 Ye Aung Thu (AFP/File)

The Muslim Rohingya are largely confined to camps and face restrictions which rights groups have likened to apartheid.

Despite their plight, the Rohingya do not have a known militant faction fighting for them and have eschewed political violence.

But at a press conference in the capital Naypyidaw on Sunday evening, authorities said the attackers were Rohingya.

"According to our force members who are working on this case, those who attacked and raided were shouting that they were Rohinghyas," police general Zaw Win told reporters.

He did not elaborate on the attackers' motivations or whether they were from a specific group.

Nine police were killed alongside eight attackers, with two assailants captured alive, he added.

- Knives and slingshots -

Although the attack was coordinated with lethal effect, the weapons used were rudimentary.

Police said the attackers were mainly armed with knives and "ginkali", a type of homemade slingshot that fires iron bolts.

But they made off with more than 50 guns and more than 10,000 bullets from the border posts.

Tin Maung Swe, a senior official within Rakhine's state government, told AFP that those behind the ambushes were "RSO insurgents", a reference to a group known as the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation.

The RSO was a small Rohingya militant group active in the 1980s and 1990s but has not been heard from in nearly two decades.

International Crisis Group described RSO as "essentially defunct as an armed organisation".

Analysts and local leaders have previously warned that the community's continued persecution might persuade some members to take up arms.

Several complex ethnic conflicts have been rumbling across Myanmar's borderlands for decades.

But compared to the country's civil war-ravaged eastern and northern border states, Rakhine has not boasted a significant rebel militia presence.

In the last few years the Arakan Army, a small Buddhist militia which wants an independent homeland in the state, has fought sporadic battles with the military.

In a statement they denied being involved in the border ambushes.

In May assailants stormed a security post at a camp for Rohingya refugees in southern Bangladesh, just across the border from Sunday's assaults.

A Bangladeshi camp commander was shot dead and the attackers made off with weapons.

Police at the time said the Rohingya themselves could be suspects.

Bangladeshi police have also alleged that Rohingya refugees are involved in criminal activities including human trafficking.

Any rise in violence in Rakhine will be a major concern for the new civilian-led government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

She has asked former UN chief Kofi Annan to head a commission tasked with trying to heal sectarian divisions in the state.

The move was largely welcomed by Rohingya community leaders but angered Buddhist nationalists.

Anti-Muslim sentiment has been fanned by hardline Buddhist nationalists who revile the Rohingya and are viscerally opposed to any move to grant them citizenship.

They insist the roughly one-million strong group are intruders from Bangladesh, even though many can trace their ancestry in Myanmar back generations.

Minority Muslim Rohingya gather at the Thet Kal Pyin displacement camp in Sittwe, Rakhine state Romeo Gacad (AFP/File)
Transgender Indonesians bear brunt of rising intolerance

A handful of Muslim transgender women wash their faces, put on white robes and begin to pray, an act of quiet defiance after their study centre in Indonesia was shut by hardliners.

Al Fatah, which claimed to be the world's only Islamic boarding school for transgender students, was long regarded as a symbol of the tolerant brand of Islam widely practised in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country.

But several months ago, amid a sudden backlash against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, a local hardline group called Islamic Jihad Front forced the school to close.

Participants take part in a study group at Indonesia's only Islamic transgender boarding school -- Al Fatah Goh Chai Hin (AFP)

Despite the risk of retaliation, a small group of former students continue to quietly gather at the school building in the city of Yogyakarta every week to pray and study Islam.

"We want to prove that Islam accepts transgenders, that Islam is a blessing for all mankind," Shinta Ratri, the leader of the prayer group, told AFP.

The closing of the school, which was founded in 2008, is one of the most visible signs of an alarming wave of intolerance sweeping across Yogyakarta -- the country's cultural heartland which had long been regarded as an open-minded, accepting city.

In recent times Islamic hardliners have halted a festival focusing on women's issues and have targeted the Christian minority, seeking to close down churches and stop their community work.

Local police have sometimes been accused of standing back and letting hardliners carry out acts of intolerance, or even of working with them to do so.

- 'Unity in diversity'-

"Unfortunately in recent years, intolerant groups have been imposing their rigid beliefs on people," said Agnes Dwi Rusjiyati, the local coordinator of activist group Bhinneka Tunggal Ika National Alliance.

Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, Indonesia's national motto, means "Unity in Diversity", and is intended to show that the vast archipelago takes strength from the myriad different ethnic, cultural and religious groups living within its borders.

But there has been a growing pushback against this long-cherished belief.

Observers say the trend in Yogyakarta is an acute example of creeping conservatism across the country, that has targeted everything from the gay community, to drinking alcohol and pornography.

The Indonesian constitution officially recognises six different religions. Most of its 255 million inhabitants practise a moderate form of Islam, often infused with influences from local ethnic groups, and no one believes the country is likely to be transformed into a state ruled by sharia law.

But critics say the influence of fringe hardline groups, and the authorities' unwillingness to tackle them for fear of being labelled anti-Islamic, has fuelled a dangerous increase in intolerance.

The targeting of the transgender community around Yogyakarta, who were previously allowed, by and large, to quietly get on with their lives, stands out as an example of this disturbing trend.

The Al Fatah school, sitting in a labyrinth of alleyways in the historic Kotagede district of Yogyakarta, is a converted house with a main room that has been turned into a place for praying and reciting the Koran.

Three preachers continue to teach about a dozen out of the 42 former students who head there every week since its closure in February.

- 'Part of God's creation' -

It's so difficult for these transgenders to pray in the mosque because of the stigma," Arif Nuh Safri, a 32-year-old preacher, told AFP.

"So when I came to this school the first thing I told them is they have the right to pray, because they are part of God's creation."

Prior to the closure there had been little sign of resistance to the school in the surrounding area.

"They want to learn to recite the Koran, they want to be good people, and that's better than drinking," said one neighbour, Aris Sutanto.

But Abdurahman, the leader of Islamic Jihad Front, was unapologetic.

"We can't be tolerant towards something that is bad," he said, adding that the hardliners always coordinated with police before taking actions against activities they considered immoral.

Police insisted Yogyakarta was still a tolerant city and said they had only taken action against events when there were objections from people in local neighbourhoods.

Cases of intolerance have escalated in Yogyakarta since 2011, when hardliners began targeting churches. But there has been a sharp increase in recent times as Islamic groups have grown bolder.

In an alarming episode in April, Islamic hardliners and police together allegedly stopped a women's arts festival from going ahead, with organisers claiming they were verbally harassed and some attendees briefly detained by authorities.

The trend has sparked concern among the large community of local artists, who have expressed their frustration in graffiti that questions whether Yogyakarta is still an accepting place, such as: "City of tolerance?".

Ahmad Suaedy, a researcher on Islam appointed by the government as an ombudsman on religious and cultural issues, said the authorities' failure to stop acts of intolerance was causing minorities to suffer.

"This is a political strategy of politicians so they can be seen as taking the middle ground," he said. "But it is at the expense of minority groups."

Abdurrahman, from local hardline group Islamic Jihad Front, which is leading the crackdown on Indonesia's only Islamic transgender boarding school Goh Chai Hin (AFP)

Participants prepare to take part in a prayer session at Indonesia's only Islamic transgender boarding school Goh Chai Hin (AFP)

Shinta Ratri (C), the headmistress of Indonesia's only Islamic transgender boarding school, hosts a study group Goh Chai Hin (AFP)
Kohli, Rahane lead India's dominance against New Zealand

Skipper Virat Kohli recorded his second double-century in Tests as he and Ajinkya Rahane helped India post a crushing 557 for five declared against New Zealand at Indore on Sunday.

The visitors were 28 without loss at stumps on day two of the third and final Test, with Martin Guptill on 17 and Tom Latham on six, trailing by 529.

The hosts, who started the day on 267 for three, rode on the 365-run fourth-wicket partnership between Kohli (211) and Rahane (188) to flatten the New Zealand bowling.

India skipper Virat Kohli recorded his second Test double-century in Indore Punit Paranjpe (AFP)

The partnership was India's best for the fourth wicket, surpassing the 353-run stand between Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman against Australia at Sydney in 2004.

"This partnership was really special. We were 100 for three and from there getting 365 was really special. It will remain in our memory for a long time," Rahane told reporters.

Kohli, who scored his maiden 200 against the West Indies in July, registered his career-best Test score Sunday with a dominating display.

The batsman, who resumed the day on 103 in his 48th Test, scored runs all around the park with 20 boundaries during his 366-ball stay at the crease.

Overnight partner Rahane was also in blazing form, posting a career-best score in his 29th match after completing his eighth Test century.

Rahane had to face a barrage of bouncers in the morning session from the New Zealand quicks, with one of the short-pitched deliveries from Matt Henry hitting his helmet.

But the incident only appeared to strengthen his resolve and his marathon knock included 18 fours and four sixes. The batsman surpassed his previous best of 147 against Australia in 2015.

"It was tough out there, I was struggling yesterday and I took my time. Today we both decided to dominate the spinners after we got our hundreds," said Rahane, who started the day on 79.

Off-spinner Jeetan Patel finally broke the big stand by trapping a tired Kohli lbw as he tried to whip away the turning ball but missed the line completely.

- Standing ovation -

Kohli, 27, the only Indian captain to score two double hundreds, was given a standing ovation by the capacity crowd at Indore's Holkar Stadium, which is hosting its first Test match.

Rahane continued to frustrate the New Zealand bowlers, but finally ran out of steam and was caught behind off Trent Boult. He was also given a rousing send-off.

"It was great to see Virat bat the way he did, learnt a lot of things. He's improving as a batsman and a leader," said Rahane.

Rohit Sharma (51) and Ravindra Jadeja (17) then added some quick runs with an unbeaten 53-run stand for the sixth wicket.

The in-form Sharma, who hit three fours and two sixes during his 63-ball knock, struck his third half-century of the series as India gained firm control of the match.

Jadeja though was guilty of giving away five runs after being penalised by the on-field umpires for straying onto the danger area of the pitch while running between the wickets.

Jadeja was warned twice by the umpires before the officials took the extreme step of crediting New Zealand with five runs.

Bowlers Boult and Patel shared two wickets apiece after the visitors were put in to field by India on Saturday.

"Very, very high-quality batting. Took a very good delivery to create half-chances... I think we stuck to our plans well but we were worn down," said New Zealand coach Mike Hesson.

"I think Kohli in particular, I think he took 120 singles, killed us softly."

India have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series but are looking to complete a whitewash against the tourists.
Egypt military seen as expanding economic share

As Egypt braces for austerity reforms, the military has expanded its economic role, at times helping President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi assuage the impact of rising prices on the country's poor.

For decades, the military -- which produced all but one president since 1952 -- has played a key though opaque economic role, producing everything from washing machines to pasta, alongside building roads and operating gas stations.

Since the arrival of Sisi, a former army chief who toppled his Islamist predecessor Mohamed Morsi in 2013, its involvement has been more visible amid austerity measures, a dollar shortage and rising prices.

For decades, Egypt's military has played a key though opaque economic role, producing everything from washing machines to pasta, alongside building roads and operating gas stations Mohamed El-Shahed (AFP/File)

In return for a $12-billion International Monetary Fund loan, Egypt is set to devalue the pound, after having already imposed a new Value Added Tax.

In August, the military intervened to resolve a baby formula shortage that caused prices to spike and led to protests, promising to import it and sell it at half the price.

It accused companies that imported the formula of hoarding it to raise prices.

The same month, the ministry for military production signed an agreement with the health ministry for the country's first plant to produce cancer medication.

Meanwhile, the military has played a part in large scale projects that have been touted as part of the country's economic recovery plan, such as the extension of the Suez Canal.

"The military is seeking to expand its role in new economic sectors," said Amr Adly, a professor of economics at the American University of Cairo.

It is difficult to assess the military's share in the economy and details of its budget are not allowed to be published.

But analysts say it is growing.

"The military's economic role has certainly expanded both quantitatively and qualitatively," said Yezid Sayigh, a senior associate at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut.

"Interest groups within the army have found an opportunity to take on profitable projects," he said.

"President Sisi tasked the military to take on a leading role in large projects because of the deterioration of civilian institutions that are no longer able to play that role," he said.

- Post-Mubarak comeback -

The military's share, however, remains small, according to analysts.

"Aside from road construction, in which the military has a seven or eight percent share -- which is a significant part -- the military does not have a significant share in other sectors," Adly said.

"Even if they have gas stations, they cannot compete with companies like Total," he said.

And while the military produces bottled water, its share of the market is very low, Adly noted.

The military made a comeback in the business world after the overthrow of president Hosni Mubarak in a 2011 popular uprising, Seyigh said.

Himself a former air force chief, Mubarak was seen as having sidelined the military towards the end of his three-decade rule, with its role overshadowed by a coterie of businessmen heading his party.

"Under Mubarak the army had a distinguished role, but it was not a chief player or decision-maker, economically or politically," Sayigh said.

But today, Adly said, the military's economic activities are not merely for profit.

"Its investments are political, being in the interest of its political role, and what it considers a defence of the country from collapse," he said.

Sisi recently defended the military, which has attracted criticism over its expanding role, saying that it was not doing so to enrich itself.

"The military does not take a single pound to place in anyone's pocket," he said.

"No money is spent in the military without orders from me or the defence minister."
Seven dead as Afghan army helicopter crashes: officials

An Afghan army helicopter crashed in northern Afghanistan on Sunday, killing all seven people on board, the defence ministry said, citing technical failure.

But the Taliban claimed they shot down the M-17 helicopter in Baghlan province, as the insurgents step up attacks on government forces.

"Around 4am, two M-17 helicopters were supplying a base in Qorghan Tepa of Baghlan, and one of them caught fire due to technical failure and crashed," the defence ministry said in a statement.

Afghan National Army soldiers line up in Dand-e-Ghori district in Baghlan in March, following weeks of heavy battles to recapture the area from Taliban militants Shah Marai (AFP/File)

"Four crew members and three army soldiers were martyred in the incident," it added.

The crash comes as Afghan forces are battling to flush out Taliban insurgents from neighbouring Kunduz after they stormed into the city on Monday.

The militants subsequently attempted to overrun Pul-e Khumri, the capital of Baghlan, but Afghan forces managed to repel the attack.
Palestinian gunman kills 2 in Jerusalem as upsurge feared

A Palestinian opened fire from a car in Jerusalem Sunday and again as Israeli police chased him, killing an officer and a woman, officials said, as fears grew of a new spike in violence.

The gunman, reportedly scheduled to begin a prison term the same day, was killed soon after carrying out the attack near police headquarters, close to the line dividing mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem from the city's mostly Jewish western sector.

Police officer Yosef Kirma, 29, was killed in the attack, police said, while Israeli media identified the second victim as 60-year-old Israeli woman Levana Melihi.

A member of the Israeli security forces guards the site of a shooting attack near the line dividing mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem from the mostly Jewish western sector of the city on October 9, 2016 Ahmad Gharabli (AFP)

Five people were wounded, medics said.

It was among the deadliest attacks in Jerusalem over the past year.

The shooting rampage came two days before the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, which begins on Tuesday.

Police said the 39-year-old assailant fired in the direction of a tram station in the area, seriously wounding a woman and then continued at high speed and shot at a car, leaving another woman badly hurt.

The attacker then headed toward the nearby neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, where a number of upscale hotels are located, and got out of his car, police said.

As officers approached him by motorcycle, he opened fire on them.

Police returned fire and killed him, but two officers were wounded, including the one who was killed, they said.

- Due for prison term -

Police said the attacker was from the Silwan area of east Jerusalem.

Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, said he was a member of the Islamist movement and praised the attack without claiming responsibility for it.

Palestinian media identified the man as Misbah Abu Sbeih and said he was due to begin a four-month prison term on Sunday for attacking an Israeli police officer in 2013.

The reports said Abu Sbeih was a well-known figure at Al-Aqsa mosque and was banned from entering for several months.

In his last public Facebook post on October 7, Abu Sbeih wrote about his longing for the holy site and said "Al-Aqsa is a responsibility you have been entrusted with."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the police, saying they had "acted rapidly and very firmly against the terrorist, who was eliminated."

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called the attack "a natural reaction to the crimes and violations of the occupation against our people".

The UN special envoy for the Middle East peace process, Nickolay Mladenov, and the United States, condemned the attack and slammed Hamas for "glorifying" it.

"There is absolutely no justification for the taking of innocent lives," US State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said. "We also condemn the statements glorifying this reprehensible and cowardly attack."

"It is deplorable and unacceptable that Hamas and others choose to glorify such acts which undermine the possibility of a peaceful future for both Palestinians and Israelis," Mladenov said in a statement.

France echoed the condemnation saying it was opposed "to any form of terrorism".

- Concerns of fresh violence -

Al-Aqsa mosque compound is holy to both Muslims and Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount.

The site is central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Palestinians fearing that Israel may one day seek to assert further control over it.

Last year's Jewish high holidays led to clashes and marked the start of an surge in Palestinian gun, knife and car-ramming attacks.

Violence since October 2015 has killed at least 232 Palestinians, 36 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese national, according to an AFP count.

Most of the Palestinians were carrying out attacks, according to Israeli authorities.

Others were shot dead during protests and clashes, while some were killed in air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

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 fed the unrest.

Israel says incitement by Palestinian leaders and media is a leading cause of the violence.

The vast majority of the attacks have been carried out by lone-wolf assailants, Israeli authorities say. Many have been young people, including teenagers.

Graphic locating a drive-by shooting in Jerusalem M.Zaba / J. Jacobsen (AFP)

Israeli security forces cordon off the site of a shooting in Jerusalem, on October 9, 2016 Ahmad Gharabli (AFP)

Israeli police collect evidence from a car belonging to a victim following a shooting attack in Jerusalem, on October 9, 2016 Menahem Kahana (AFP)
Civilians pay highest price in Yemen war

Nineteen months into Yemen's war in which civilians have paid the heaviest price, an air strike has killed over 140 people at a funeral ceremony in the capital Sanaa.

The United Nations says the conflict has killed more than 6,600 people -- almost two-thirds of them civilians -- and displaced at least three million since a Saudi-led Arab coalition backing the internationally recognised Yemeni government launched military operations in March 2015.

UN rights office spokesman Rupert Colville said Tuesday that from March 2015 through September 30, 4,014 civilians had died and nearly 7,000 had been injured.

The United Nations says the conflict has killed more than 6,600 people, almost two-thirds of them civilians

Casualties climbed steeply in August and September, following the collapse of a ceasefire, with the coalition held responsible for six times as many civilian deaths and injuries as the rebel forces, Colville said.

The coalition said it is ready to investigate together with the United States the air strike Saturday on the funeral ceremony in the capital.

President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government is battling Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels and allied forces who have seized control of large parts of Yemen since 2014 and still hold swathes of territory including Sanaa.

The following is a list of alleged human rights violations in the Yemeni conflict and incidents in which civilians have been targeted.

- On August 15, a coalition air strike killed 19 people at a hospital in northern Yemen that is aided by the French charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF). It was the fourth strike on an MSF-backed site in a year, the group says, and raised concern in Washington, which supports the coalition.

The coalition, which says it does not deliberately target civilians, vowed to conduct an internal investigation, as UN chief Ban Ki-moon stressed that attacks on hospitals, medical personnel or civilians were "a serious violation of international humanitarian law".

- On August 4, the coalition acknowledged "shortcomings" in two out of eight cases it had investigated of air strikes on civilian targets. They took place in 2015 and involved a residential complex in Mokha, where 65 people died according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

- On March 15, air strikes on a market killed at least 119 people, including 106 civilians, of which 24 were children, in the northern rebel-held province of Hajja.

- On September 28, 2015, a suspected coalition air strike killed at least 131 civilians at a wedding near the Red Sea city of Mokha. The Saudi-led alliance denied involvement.
Suspected radioactive leak at New Delhi airport

Emergency workers sealed off a portion of New Delhi's international airport Sunday after officials suspected a consignment containing radioactive material had leaked, a police officer said.

Fifteen cartons containing nuclear medicine material were isolated to investigate the suspected leak after the shipment arrived at the cargo area in an Air France plane, Sanjay Bhatia, the police chief of Delhi airport security, told AFP.

"The consignment had come from Paris. Our staff reported a leak in the shipment and we alerted the authorities," said Bhatia.

Fifteen cartons containing nuclear medicine material were isolated to investigate the suspected leak Sajjad Hussain (AFP)

"The situation is under control. We have cleared the cargo area and experts from India's Atomic Energy Regulatory Board are examining the material."

The shipment was meant for biomedical companies in New Delhi and a few other Indian cities, he said.

Last year a similar suspicion caused a scare at the busy airport after cargo staff found a shipment with nuclear medicine damaged on Turkish Airlines.

Investigators from India's nuclear watchdog later found an organic liquid from another consignment had spilled over the nuclear medicine cartons.

In 2010, a scrapyard worker in Delhi died from radiation poisoning and seven others were injured, raising concerns over the handling of radioactive material in India.
Netanyahu speaks to Kerry to calm US over settler plan

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken by phone to US Secretary of State John Kerry in a bid to calm Washington's anger over new Israeli settlement plans, an official said Sunday.

The plan to construct what activists say amounts to a new settlement in the heart of the occupied West Bank provoked an unusually harsh response last week from the White House, which accused Israel of betraying its trust.

US President Barack Obama's administration has accelerated its criticism of Israeli settlement building in the West Bank in recent months, warning it is destroying hopes for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel's plans to construct a new settlement in the herat of the occupied West Bank provoked an unusually harsh response from the White House Jacquelyn Martin (POOL/AFP/File)

Such criticism has added to Israeli concerns Obama may seek to lay out parameters for a solution to the conflict or even support a UN Security Council resolution Israel opposes before leaving office in January.

The Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Netanyahu told Kerry the new settlement plan was intended only as an alternative "if no other solution is found" to house residents of a nearby Jewish outpost that is under a court order to be demolished.

The official said the two men also discussed regional issues but could provide no further details on their phone call.

Israeli media reported that the conversation took place on Saturday.

The plan that provoked US anger involves 300 units in the heart of the West Bank, roughly halfway between the Palestinian cities of Ramallah and Nablus.

Settlement watchdog Peace Now says the plans amount to a new settlement.

Israeli officials dispute that and say the homes will be located in an existing settlement, although Peace Now says the site is up to two kilometres (1.2 miles) away.

Israel has so far advanced plans for 98 of the 300 units -- even though only around 40 families live in the outpost, known as Amona, that must be demolished.

The plans emerged days after Obama approved a $38 billion Israeli military aid package and attended former president Shimon Peres's funeral in Jerusalem.

The White House railed at the construction of 300 housing units on land "far closer to Jordan than Israel".

Settlements in the West Bank are viewed as illegal under international law and major stumbling blocks to peace efforts as they are built on land the Palestinian see as part of their future state.

Netanyahu says he remains committed to a two-state solution to the conflict, though prominent members of his right-wing governing coalition say openly that they oppose a Palestinian state.

Settlements are a key political issue within Israel, with those in favour advocating that Jews must return to their biblical homeland, including in the West Bank.
Australian-Chinese bid for massive cattle estate

Australia's richest woman and a Chinese property developer joined forces Sunday to bid for one of the world's largest cattle estates, despite Canberra's rejection of previous foreign offers.

Australia's biggest private landowner, cattle firm S. Kidman and Co, has attracted keen interest from Chinese firms wanting to secure the sprawling pastoral empire.

But the government has previously rejected two Chinese-led bids, citing the national interest.

Australia exports beef to Japan, the United States and Southeast Asia David Hancock (AFP/File)

Under the new offer announced late Sunday, mining magnate Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting will acquire 67 percent of Kidman and Chinese property developer Shanghai CRED 33 percent for some Aus$365 million (US$277 million).

Shanghai CRED was part of a Chinese consortium involved in the previous bids. The Chinese stake in the current bid would be significantly smaller than previously.

Kidman chairman John Crosby welcomed the "significant investment proposed in addition to the purchase price and (we) are confident that the Kidman business will be in good hands".

The first bid was rejected last November since part of the holdings contained a weapons testing area. After that, the Anna Creek station in South Australia next to a rocket testing range was separated out and is no longer included in the sale.

The new bid will be partly funded by the sale of Anna Creek and will be subject to approval by Canberra and Beijing.

Apart from the continued Chinese interest, the offer also reflects a further push by Rinehart -- who is worth more than Aus$6 billion according to The Australian Financial Review -- into agriculture.

Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting owns 70 percent of the massive Roy Hill iron ore mine in Western Australia, and has also bought cattle stations in that state and in the Northern Territory in recent years.

Kidman, founded in 1899, holds around 1.3 percent of Australia's total land area, and 2.5 percent of the nation's agricultural land. It is currently 33.9 percent foreign-owned.

Even without Anna Creek it represents two percent of agricultural land.

It is a key source of beef for export to Japan, the United States and Southeast Asia.
UN chief demands 'impartial' probe into Yemen attack

UN chief Ban Ki-moon called Sunday for a swift, independent probe into the air raid that killed more than 140 people at a funeral in Yemen, demanding the perpetrators face justice.

"The Secretary-General condemns the attack on an event hall," said a statement from Ban's office. "Any deliberate attack against civilians is utterly unacceptable."

The Saudi-led coalition, which is fighting rebels in Yemen and has been blamed for the Saturday strikes, has promised to investigate the incident it described as "regrettable and painful".

Yemeni rescue workers carry a body on a stretcher at the site of reported airstrikes by Saudi-led coalition air-planes in Sanaa on October 8, 2016 Mohammed Huwais (AFP)

Ban said the probe must be "prompt and impartial."

"Those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice," he added.

Ban's statement said that the attack was "said to have been airstrikes by the coalition", but the UN leader did not directly assign blame.
The proportion of Russian airstrikes in Syria targeting the Islamic State group is falling, suggesting Moscow's priority is to help the Assad regime rather than to combat terrorism, according to analysis published Sunday.

In the first quarter of 2016, 26 percent of Russian airstrikes in Syria targeted IS, according to the IHS Conflict Monitor.

That dipped to 22 percent in the second quarter, and 17 percent in the third quarter.

In the first quarter of 2016, 26 percent of Russian airstrikes in Syria targeted IS, according to the IHS Conflict Monitor Vasily Maximov (AFP/File)

"Last September, President (Vladimir) Putin said it was Russia's mission to fight international terrorism and specifically the Islamic State," said Alex Kokcharov, principal Russia analyst at IHS Country Risk.

"Our data suggests that is not the case.

"Russia's priority is to provide military support to the Assad government and, most likely, transform the Syrian civil war from a multi-party conflict into a binary one between the Syrian government and jihadist groups like the Islamic State."

This had the effect of "undermining the case for providing international support to the opposition", he said.

Russia on Saturday vetoed a UN draft resolution demanding an end to the bombing of Aleppo, which has escalated since the Russian-backed Syrian army launched an offensive against rebels in the city last month.

IHS also confirmed that territory controlled by the IS group in Iraq and Syria continues to shrink, from about 68,300 square kilometres (26,370 square miles) in July to about 65,500 square kilometres last week.
Syria regime keeps up Aleppo assault after UN fails on truce

Syrian government forces kept up their blistering assault on rebel-held eastern Aleppo after a divided UN Security Council failed to agree on a truce to save the war-battered city.

Regime forces and their allies were advancing street by street in the eastern sector, which has been out of government hands since 2012.

"Clashes on the ground as well as fierce air strikes went on all night and are continuing Sunday, especially in the Sheikh Said district" of eastern Aleppo, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Syrian civilians and rescuers gather at the site of an air strike by government forces in the rebel held neighbourhood of Al-Shaar in Aleppo Karam al-Masri (AFP/File)

The monitor said regime forces took control of the Jandul crossroads in the northeast of Aleppo.

The latest advances aim to clear the way for "a crucial and decisive land offensive", said Syria's Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the government.

The army launched its assault on the besieged sector of Aleppo more than two weeks ago with the backing of Russian air strikes, aiming to reunite the city, which was Syria's economic hub before its conflict erupted in 2011.

Air strikes and artillery fire by the regime and its Russian ally killed 290 people, mostly civilians and including 57 children, since the September 22 launch of operations in Aleppo, the Observatory said.

The Britain-based monitor, which compiles its information from sources on the ground, said 50 civilians, including nine children, have also died in rebel bombardment of regime-controlled western districts.

Syria's official SANA news agency said Sunday that rebel shelling killed a baby and wounded two people in the Hamdaniyeh neighbourhood.

On Saturday at the United Nations, Russia vetoed a French-drafted resolution demanding an end to the bombing of Aleppo, but its own rival measure on a truce was rejected.

- 'Fate of Aleppo at stake' -

The failure of the two resolutions deepened divisions at the Security Council between Moscow and the Western powers backing rebel forces in Syria's five-year war, which has killed more than 300,000 people.

France's draft called for an end to all military flights over Aleppo and to air strikes on the rebel-held east that has 250,000 inhabitants.

It was the fifth time that Russia used its veto to block UN action on the war in Syria.

Shortly after Russia's veto, the Security Council rejected a rival draft presented by Moscow that called for a ceasefire but did not mention a halt in air strikes.

Britain's ambassador to the United Nations, Matthew Rycroft, described Saturday's failure in New York as "a bad day for Russia, but an even worse day for the people of Aleppo".

Following the meeting, his Russian counterpart Vitaly Churkin insisted that diplomatic efforts on Syria were not dead.

French President Francois Hollande said in a TV interview to be broadcast Monday that he would hesitate to receive Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin when he visits Paris on October 19 because of "war crimes" in Aleppo. Putin is scheduled to open a Russian orthodox centre in the French capital.

The assault on Aleppo was launched just days after the collapse of a ceasefire in Syria that was brokered jointly by Russia and the United States.

Russia says its air strikes target extremist militias such as the Islamic State group but critics say it is more occupied with keeping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in power than killing jihadists.

An analysis published Sunday by the US-based IHS Conflict Monitor said that in the first quarter of 2016, just 26 percent of Russian strikes in Syria targeted IS.

That dipped to 22 percent in the second quarter, and 17 percent in the third quarter, the report said.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that the mounting tensions between Washington and Moscow over the Syrian conflict had created a situation "more dangerous" than the Cold War.

On Sunday, two of Syria's most powerful jihadist groups joined forces, as Fateh al-Sham Front -- a former Al-Qaeda affiliate -- announced it had taken Jund al-Aqsa under its wing.

Jund al-Aqsa is designated a terrorist organisation by Washington and has been accused of ties to IS.

Syrian pro-government soldiers patrol the Uwaija neighborhood as they advance in Aleppo's rebel-held areas, on October 8, 2016 George Ourfalian (AFP)

Siege of Aleppo John SAEKI, Laurence CHU (AFP/File)

Syrian rescuers hold the body of a girl after pulling her from rubble of a building following a regime air strike on Aleppo's rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Shaar Karam Al-Masri (AFP/File)
Haiti mourns hurricane dead as Matthew dwindles

Haiti began three days of mourning Sunday for hundreds killed in Hurricane Matthew as relief officials grappled with the unfolding devastation in the Caribbean country's hard-hit south.

Matthew was downgraded Sunday to a post-tropical cyclone after cutting a swath from Florida to North Carolina that left at least 17 dead.

As of 1500 GMT, the storm was packing 75 mile per hour (120 kilometer per hour )winds as it moved away from the North Carolina coastline, although it was still described as packing a punch.

Matthew crashed ashore on Haiti's southern coast on Tuesday as a monster Category 4 storm, packing 145 mile (230 kilometer) winds Nicolas Garcia (AFP)

Behind it lay widespread flooding, washed out roads, downed power lines and trees and other havoc. Still, the United States seems to have dodged a bullet: as recently as Thursday night the predictions of storm damage bordered on the apocalyptic.

Attention shifted back to Haiti, the Americas' poorest country and one shattered by a 2010 earthquake and ravaged by a cholera epidemic.

Matthew crashed ashore on Haiti's southern coast on Tuesday as a monster Category 4 storm, packing 145 mile (230 kilometer) winds.

Civil defense officials have put the death toll at 336, although some officials said it topped 400.

As southern Haiti has a population of 1.3 million, with a poverty rate of 60 to 70 percent, "we are not far from having one million people who are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance," said Mourad Wahba, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Haiti.

Aerial footage from the hardest-hit towns showed a ruined landscape of metal shanties with roofs blown away, downed trees everywhere and mud from overflowing rivers covering the ground.

The hurricane destroyed at least 80 percent of crops in some areas, so people will head from the countryside into cities. And the slums of cities like Port-au-Prince and even towns in the south will only grow and worsen, said Wahba.

He warned, therefore, that aid must not target only cities and towns but also go to farmers to keep them working their land.

"We learned from 2010, but are we going to put those lessons into practice? I don't know," said Wahba.

Interim President Jocelerme Privert declared three days of national mourning for the dead.

As the death toll climbed, pledges of aid flooded in, with the United States announcing it was sending a Navy ship, the USS Mesa Verde, whose 300 Marines will add to the 250 personnel and nine helicopters already ordered to deploy to Haiti.

On Saturday a plane chartered by the United States brought in the first part of more than 480 tons of aid that America has pledged.

France announced it was sending 60 troops, with 32 tonnes of humanitarian supplies and water purification equipment. Two French helicopters are already in Haiti to help with reconnaissance flights and the transport of aid material.

California-based charity International Relief Teams said it was donating $7 million in medical supplies with international organizations MAP International and Hope for Haiti.

- Flooding -

In the United States, coastal flooding from the storm surge posed the biggest threat to life and property.

Water levels should subside by this evening in North Carolina, and the storm should gradually weaken over the next day or so, the NHC said.

Matthew made landfall southeast of McClellanville, South Carolina, on Saturday as a weakened Category 1 storm, but it triggered serious inland flooding.

Millions of Americans were subject to evacuation orders and curfews were slapped on cities as the lethal storm barreled north after storming through Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas.

President Barack Obama had declared federal states of emergency in Florida, Georgia, and North and South Carolina.

More than a million people were left without power, which was slowly being restored.

In Jacksonville Beach, Sam Vond, a 68-year-old retiree, calmly rode his bike along the shore Saturday.

"It wasn't that bad. I didn't go outside. We stayed in the house until we were told it was OK to get out. Luckily, no damage to my house, so I'm happy," he said.

Matthew damaged roofs at the Kennedy Space Center but spared Florida's heavily populated south-central coast a direct hit.

Cities including Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston ordered dusk-to-dawn curfews to keep people off the streets and guard against looting.

Civil defense officials put the death toll at 336, although some officials said it topped 400 Hector Retamal (AFP)
Yemen's rebel ex-president urges mobilisation against Saudi

Yemen's rebel-allied former president Ali Abdullah Saleh called Sunday for mobilisation along the border with Saudi Arabia to avenge deadly air strikes on a funeral blamed on a Saudi-led coalition.

"I call upon all members of the armed forces, security and popular committees (militia)... to head to the front, to the borders, to take revenge," he said in a televised address.

Saleh, who stepped down in 2012 following nationwide protests and a Saudi-sponsored peace initiative, commands troops that have defected and sided with Iran-backed Shiite rebels, who overran the Yemeni capital in September 2014.

Saudi Arabia is being blamed for deadly air strikes on a funeral in Yemen's cpaital, Sanaa Mohammed Huwais (AFP)

"We should avenge our casualties... those killed in army bases as well as in markets, including heinous massacres, and the greatest of those is the massacre of the (funeral) hall," which was struck on Saturday.

More than 140 people were killed and at least 525 others were wounded in air raids on a funeral hall in Sanaa.

Saleh urged measures "to receive fighters on the fronts with Najran, Jizan and Assir" across the frontier with "backward" Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition has pledged to probe the strikes, while UN chief Ban Ki-Moon urged an "impartial" investigation into the attack.

The coalition has been repeatedly criticised over the civilian casualties in its campaign in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi against the rebels, which began in March 2015.
Thousands flee pitched battles in northern Afghan city

The number of war-displaced civilians in Kunduz has more than doubled to 24,000, the UN said Sunday, as street battles persisted a week after the Taliban stormed into the northern Afghan city.

Terrified residents facing a growing humanitarian crisis have been fleeing explosions and gunfights to neighbouring provinces of Balkh, Takhar, Baghlan and the capital Kabul.

"Initial reports indicate that around 24,000 internally displaced persons" have fled Kunduz, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement.

Kunduz residents leave on October 5, 2016 Bashir Khan Safi (AFP/File)

"As assessments are ongoing and families are still on the move, this figure will almost certainly change."

The UN had earlier said up to 10,000 people had fled the city, which briefly fell last year to the Taliban in a similar assault.

Kunduz residents have faced crippling shortages of food and medicine after the Taliban launched an all-out assault last Monday, capturing parts of the city.

Afghan forces have struggled to flush them out of residential neighbourhoods, with the government saying the clearance operation was being carefully conducted to prevent civilian casualties.

At least three civilians have been killed and more than 290 wounded, according to the Kunduz general hospital, but local residents say the actual toll is much higher.

"Key parts of the city have been cleared, with 52 insurgents killed in the last 24 hours," the interior ministry said on Sunday.

The Taliban attack on Afghanistan's fifth largest city a year after it was overrun by insurgents has raised serious concerns about the capacity of NATO-trained government forces to protect large urban centres.

"Kunduz is a tragedy caused by the government's failure to stop the Taliban from entering the city," Kunduz MP Fatima Aziz told local TOLO TV.

"If the senior officials of Kunduz had been held accountable last time we wouldn't be facing this renewed crisis."

US forces are supporting Afghan troops in clearance operations inside Kunduz, with at least six air strikes against Taliban positions since Thursday.

"Military reinforcements have reached Kunduz, and the enemy will be defeated and punished," President Ashraf Ghani said in a televised speech on Sunday.

After their assault on Kunduz, the Taliban have also attempted to overrun other provincial capitals, from Baghlan in the north to Farah in the west, but Afghan forces have managed to repel the attacks.

Afghanistan on Friday marked 15 years since the US invasion of the country which toppled the Taliban from power.

The country has become Washington's longest military intervention since Vietnam -- and the most costly, now crossing $100 billion.

Afghan National Army commandos in position amid fighting with Taliban militants in Kunduz on October 4, 2016 Bashir Khan Safi (AFP)
Ex-Qaeda in Syria joins forces with radical group

The Syrian jihadist group Fateh al-Sham Front said on Sunday that it had taken under its wing the radical Salafist Jund al-Aqsa group, recently labelled a terrorist organisation by Washington.

The announcement, on Fateh al-Sham Front's Twitter account, came as Jund al-Aqsa fighters are locked in fierce clashes with other Islamist rebel groups in northern Syria's Idlib province.

"In a bid to avoid shedding the blood of Muslims and overcome the internal fighting between us and Ahrar al-Sham, which only profits the regime, we, Jund al-Aqsa announce that we have pledged allegiance to Fateh al-Sham Front," said the online statement.

Fighters from the former Al-Nusra Front -- renamed Fateh al-Sham Front -- advance on a military academy on the outskirts of Aleppo, on August 6, 2016 Omar haj kadour (AFP/File)

The statement was handwritten and bore the signatures of the heads of both groups.

The powerful Ahrar al-Sham group which has close ties to Fateh al-Sham Front has accused several members of Jund al-Asqa of links to the Islamic State group.

The jihadist IS is the key rival of Fateh al-Sham Front, formerly known as Al-Nusra Front and Al-Qaeda's affiliate on the battlegrounds of Syria.

Analysts said that Sunday's announcement was expected to complicate things for Fateh al-Sham Front, which changed its name from Al-Nusra Front after renouncing its ties to Al-Qaeda.

"Fateh al-Sham Front has pitched itself as a part of the opposition mainstream, but by taking Jund al-Aqsa into its fold, it has joined forces with a group that every single key opposition faction in northern Syria declared a front group for IS," said Charles Lister.

"That declaration was made as opposition groups, led by Ahrar al-Sham, were engaged in a substantial offensive to force Jund al-Aqsa out from all opposition territories.

"So in short, Fateh al-Sham Front has illustrated that the protection of jihadists, even those so extreme as to acquire the (IS) label, are more worthy of protection than the very opposition groups it has tried so hard to embed itself within," said Lister, an analyst from the Middle East Institute.
Former Mali rebel leader killed in mine explosion

A leader of a former rebel group in northern Mali was killed by a mine explosion in Kidal in the country's north, military and ex-rebel sources said Sunday.

Cheikh Ag Aoussa's car "was hit by a mine and he died on the spot" after he left the office of the UN's MINUSMA mission on Saturday, according to an African military source who is part of the deployment.

"He was attending a meeting, then as he went to go home he was accidentally killed," the source added.

The mine explosion that killed Cheikh Ag Aoussa, a leader of a former rebel group in northern Mali, is now said to be "odious and undoubtedly pre-meditated assassination"

The former rebel Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), which controls Kidal, confirmed his death and called for an "independent inquiry into this odious and clearly premeditated attack".

"Among the theories, there is that of an attack and a car bombing," CMA member Mohamed Ag Oussene told AFP.

"It was a targeted assassination," the CMA said.

An official in Kidal also said Aoussa was killed by a mine.

MINUSMA spokeswoman Radhia Achouri said the incident happened after a routine security meeting between the mission, the CMA and the French Barkhane force held every 15 days.

She said the blast occurred about 300 metres (nearly 1,000 feet) from the camp.

- Appeal for restraint -

MINUSMA called for restraint and to "avoid speculation and unfounded allegations". It also urged "quick action to ensure that those behind the attacks are identified and brought to justice."

A Tuareg from the Ifoghas tribe, Aoussa was the number two in the High Council for the Unity of Azawad (HCUA), one of a myriad of armed groups in northern Mali.

The HCUA was formed mainly by dissident elements of al-Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine, one of the jihadist groups that occupied parts of northern Mali in 2012, throwing the country into chaos.

Aoussa had joined Ansar Dine as the rebellion broke out and served as right-hand man to its leader Iyad Ag Ghaly.

He broke away in 2013 -- just after the French-led intervention to halt the jihadists' onslaught -- to join a different group that would later become the HCUA.

Mali last year concluded a peace deal between the government, its armed proxies, and Tuareg-led rebels who have launched several uprisings since the 1960s. The deal's implementation has been patchy.

Kidal has been rocked by deadly fighting for control between armed groups which were party to the peace deal.

The fresh unrest has sparked international concern, with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon saying in a report published this week that the pro-government groups and former rebels involved in the clashes should potentially face sanctions.

The report warned of serious failings in the UN's mission in Mali as it loses vital equipment and faces a rising threat from militants.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is on a visit to Mali, on Sunday called for northerners to be integrated into the army "so that Malian soldiers consider themselves as a single army for a single country."

The ongoing international military intervention that began in 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.
US troops in Kuwait came under 'terrorist' attack

A collision between a truck driven by an Egyptian and a vehicle carrying three US soldiers in Kuwait was a "terrorist attack," not an accident as first thought, the embassy confirmed Sunday.

"US Embassy in Kuwait confirms that what at first appeared to be a routine traffic accident involving three deployed US military personnel... was in fact an attempted terrorist attack," the mission said in a statement posted on its website.

The statement said the attack took place on Thursday and that the US soldiers escaped unhurt.

The US embassy said it was not aware of specific, credible threats against private US citizens in Kuwait at this time Yasser Al-Zayyat (AFP/File)

The soldiers also rescued the Egyptian driver when his truck caught fire, it said.

The Kuwaiti interior ministry said on Saturday that authorities arrested the Egyptian driver and found with him a hand-written note in which he had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State jihadist group.

It also said that the driver, identified as Ibrahim Sulaiman, 28, also carried a belt and material suspected of being explosives.

The ministry said the attack was on five Americans without saying they were troops.

The US embassy said it was not aware of specific, credible threats against private US citizens in Kuwait at this time.

But it warned that the attack serves as a reminder to maintain a high level of vigilance, advising US citizens to review their personal security plans and remain alert.

Kuwaiti authorities announced in July they had dismantled three IS cells plotting attacks, including a suicide bombing against a Shiite mosque and against an interior ministry target.
Some S.African universities to re-open despite protests

Several South African universities plan to resume classes this week after crippling protests by students demanding free higher education which sparked violent clashes with police, officials said at the weekend.

The prestigious Wits University in Johannesburg, where lectures have been suspended for three weeks, will start functioning again Monday despite students' warnings they will block any such attempt.

The university said the goal of securing "free, quality higher education" could be "done at the same time as finishing the academic year."

Despite student protests in Johannesburg, Witwatersrand University will resume after being suspended for three weeks MARCO LONGARI (AFP/File)

On Friday, student protesters at Wits threatened they would continue the shut down until their demand for "free quality decolonised education" was met.

"No student should see a year's worth of work come to naught, along with the financial sacrifices that they, and their families have had to make," Wits University said a statement.

It added that students would be allowed to protest but only in "specific identified areas."

Any person who intimidates students and staff or is seen "carrying rocks, stones, weapons," could be suspended.

Officials from Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria announced that classes would resume on Wednesday, while the University of Free State in Bloemfontein said it would open on Monday.

However, the University of Cape Town -- where the student movement has been particularly active -- said it will remain shuttered.

Pretoria University will also stay closed, but staff and students will meet on Monday to seek an end to the crisis.

The universities have been closed for up three weeks during protests over tuition fees, with violent clashes regularly erupting between students, police and private security guards.

South African police fired rubber bullets, stun grenades and teargas at student protesters in Johannesburg on October 4 as authorities tried to re-open Wits.

As police opened fire and protesters threw rocks, television footage showed several minor injuries to students and police.

The wave of protests was triggered by a government announcement that universities would set their own fee increases but that next year's hikes should not exceed eight percent.

Student protesters say the fee increases force poorer, often black, pupils out of education.

Last year, students -- many of them so-called "born frees" who grew up after apartheid -- staged a series of huge demonstrations which forced the government to abandon planned fee hikes for 2016.
England's Buttler regrets reaction after dismissal

Stand-in England captain Jos Buttler said he regretted his angry reaction after his dismissal during Sundays second one-day international against Bangladesh in Dhaka, which his team lost by 34 runs.

Buttler was staging an England revival and looked threatening with some lusty stroke-play after a three-wicket burst by his Bangladesh counterpart Mashrafe Mortaza left the visitors reeling at 26-4 inside 10 overs.

But when television umpire confirmed the dismissal of Buttler at 57 in England's chase of 238-8, it triggered wild celebration among the Bangladesh fielders.

Jos Buttler avoids a bouncer during the second ODI against Bangladesh in Dhaka on October 9, 2016

The on-field umpire had initially turned down the leg-before appeal of Taskin Ahmed against Buttler, but Bangladesh sought a television review, which confirmed that the ball hit him plumb in his back foot and left England 123-7.

Before he left the field, the English skipper was seen engaged in an argument with some of the Bangladeshi players, forcing the umpires to immediately intervene.

"Emotions were running high and obviously (they were) delighted to get the wicket. Maybe I should have just walked off," Buttler said after the match.

"Maybe its something in the hindsight I was disappointed with the reaction maybe I should have taken it up (in) a different way," he said.

Buttler was vague when asked if he believed the Bangladeshi fielders had crossed the line during their celebration after his dismissal.

"Potentially, I am sure you guys can judge that for me," he said.

England were finally all out for 204 runs but not before last wicket pair Adil Rashid (33 not out) and Jake Ball (28) racked up 45 runs to raise English hopes.
Merkel in Africa on trip aimed at stemming migrant flows

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday warned against Africa suffering from a "brain drain" as she arrived on a three-day tour of the continent focused on security and stemming the migrant influx to Europe.

Merkel also underscored the need to "establish coherent cooperation" in development policy and military support in Mali, her first port of call.

"The military cannot alone bring security and peace," she said, addressing a news conference with Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to visit German troops taking part in the UN peacekeeping operation MINUSMA and the European Union Training Mission in Mali John MacDougall (AFP/File)

"It is important that Africa does not lose its best minds," she added.

The International Monetary Fund this month said skilled workers were leaving sub-Saharan Africa in rapidly increasingly numbers, producing a "brain drain" that causes long-term social damage.

The IMF said that the number of sub-Saharan migrants living in developed countries could increase from about seven million in 2013 to about 34 million by 2050.

Merkel earlier told Die Zeit weekly that bringing more stability to Africa and improving living conditions on the continent would help reduce the numbers of people seeking to leave.

In Mali, Merkel is due to visit German troops taking part in the UN peacekeeping operation MINUSMA and the European Union Training Mission in Mali.

The ongoing international military intervention that began in 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.

Merkel later heads to Niger and then Ethiopia where she is to visit the African Union headquarters in the capital Addis Ababa.

The Malian president pledged to try and limit the number of migrants leaving for Europe.

"We want our youths to remain here rather than drown in the Mediterranean," he said, adding that the area had "become an open cemetery."

Since 2014 more than 10,000 migrants have lost their lives in the Mediterranean, according to UN figures.

The German chancellor has said that she wants the European Union and North African countries to do deals modelled on a controversial agreement with Turkey to curb migrant flows to Europe.

Under the EU-Turkey deal, Ankara agreed to take back Syrians who made it to Greece in return for being allowed to send refugees from its massive camps to the bloc in a more orderly redistribution programme.
Obama blasts Trump's 'demeaning, degrading' comments on women

President Barack Obama condemned the Republican vying to replace him in the White House, Donald Trump, for his "demeaning" lewd boasts about groping women that have thrown his campaign into crisis.

"Are we really going to risk giving Donald Trump the power to roll back all the progress we've made?" Obama asked during a campaign event for Democrats in his adopted home state of Illinois.

"I don't need to repeat it. There are children in the room... Demeaning, degrading women, but also minorities, immigrants, people of other faiths, mocking the disabled... He puffs himself up by putting other people down."
Hurricane Matthew rescue animals find homes after storm

Matthew and Margo Tobin took in a tiny dog named Star from an animal shelter when Hurricane Matthew was barreling down on northeastern Florida.

But this Sunday, when it was time to give her up, they found it hard to let her go.

"I'm not sure we are returning her... we'll see how the next few days go," said Matthew Tobin, petting the little mixed terrier.

A kitten is returned to the Jacksonville Human Society after temporarily sheltering with a family during Hurricane Matthew Jewel Samad (AFP)

On Wednesday, when Hurricane Matthew was approaching the coast, authorities ordered the evacuation of some million people, about half of them in the Jacksonville area.

Some crisis shelters accepted pets, as long as they were accompanied by their owners. But orphaned animals were not welcome.

The Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS), a pet rescue and adoption center, put out a call to the public asking for temporary shelter for about 200 dogs and cats.

People responded. Before Matthew arrived Friday, hugging the coast with Category 3 sustained winds near 120 miles (195 kilometers) per hour, all the animals were ensconced in temporary homes.

Braving winds and rain, people took time -- while also scrambling to find gasoline and food, water and other supplies ahead of the hurricane -- to pick up one or more animals at the center and provide it a home for a few days.

The storm was long-gone Sunday. The sky was blue and city workers cleaned up debris and fallen tree branches from the streets. Authorities were still working to restore power to about 1,000 customers.

And the sheltered animals' foster parents were supposed to be giving them back. But that was not so easy.

Nine-year-old Scarlett Banks sadly hugged six kittens on a sheet that was their home for three days, wanting to keep them.

"She won't let me," the little girl said, referring to her mother.

But other animals had better luck. A cat named Lark, missing one eye and blind in the other, is staying because his foster parents think it will be difficult to find him a forever home.

JHS workers were busy filling out paperwork for numerous unexpected adoptions.

Lindsay Layendecker, the center's manager, is not at all surprised that people put all their plans on hold to make time to help an abandoned animal.

"When we heard the hurricane was coming and we knew we absolutely had to get them out, we knew instantly we could rely on Jacksonville's community," she told AFP.

Layendecker said that some people came from the neighboring state of Georgia, driving more than an hour to temporarily adopt a pet.

The shelter was emptied of animals and some people who showed up had to be turned away with empty arms.

- 'A great experience' -

Layendecker was not surprised that some foster parents couldn't part with their new furry friends.

"They chose to adopt because they took them home and they saw how well it went for their families and it was a great experience," she said.

Hurricane Matthew clobbered the Atlantic coast of Florida late Friday and move northward as a weakened storm to the states of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, leaving a US death toll of at least 17.

The tropical storm, which became a hurricane on September 29, barreled through the Caribbean before lashing the United States.

It hit Colombia, Jamaica, Cuba, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, where it wreaked the worst devastation and left hundreds dead, with the death toll officially at least 336 and expected to rise.

Nine-year-old Scarlett Betancourt holds one of the six kittens, which her family took to safety during Hurricane Matthew when Jacksonville Human Society evacuated all their animals Jewel Samad (AFP)

A woman pets a cat, which she took to safety ahead of Hurricane Matthew, as she waits to offically adopt it in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 9, 2016 Jewel Samad (AFP)
The Latest: Police say shooting suspect taken into custody

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP)  The Latest on the shooting of three police officers in Palm Springs. (all times local):

1:05 a.m.

Police have taken into custody the man suspected of fatally shooting two officers and wounding another in Palm Springs, California.

A citizen lights candles at a memorial for two slain police officers in Palm Springs, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Police Chief Bryan Reyes says three officers in Palm Springs, California were trying to resolve a family dispute Saturday when a man fatally shot two of them and wounded the third. (AP Photo/Robert Jablon)

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department made the announcement early Sunday morning.

Police have not released the suspect's identity. No further information was immediately available.

Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes says two officers trying to resolve a family dispute were killed Saturday when a man suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire. A third officer was wounded and remains hospitalized.

The chief identified the slain officers as Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny.

Twenty-seven-year-old Zerebny had been with the department for about 18 months and returned from maternity leave after giving birth to a daughter. Vega was a 35-year veteran who planned to retire in December.

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7:30 p.m.

Dozens of police officers, several fighting back tears, are giving somber salutes as the bodies of two Palm Springs officers killed Saturday are loaded into hearses for transfer to a coroner's office.

The officers and numerous civilians gathered Saturday night outside the Palm Springs Desert Regional Medical Center, where Officers Lesley Zerebny and Jose Gilbert Vega died of their wounds.

The officers' flag-draped coffins were wheeled out of the hospital and gently placed in white hearses.

A third officer remains at the hospital, being treated for gunshot wounds.

Meanwhile, SWAT officers have surrounded a home where the shooting took place Saturday afternoon. They believe the gunman may still be inside.

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6:45 p.m.

Police Chief Bryan Reyes says SWAT officers have surrounded a house in Palm Springs, California where the man who fatally shot two officers may still be inside.

Reyes says he's holding off on revealing the suspect's name until he confers with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, which is now heading the shooting investigation.

The chief also released more information on the slain officers.

Twenty-seven-year-old Lesley Zerebny had recently returned to the force from maternity leave and was the mother of a 4-month-old daughter.

Jose Gilbert Vega, a father of eight, was a 35-year veteran of the force who was scheduled to retire in December.

No update was given on the condition of the third wounded officer.

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5 p.m.

Police Chief Bryan Reyes says three officers in Palm Springs, California were trying to resolve a family dispute Saturday when a man fatally shot two of them and wounded the third.

Reyes told reporters the officers were talking calmly to the man, trying to resolve things when he suddenly opened fire on them.

The chief, his voice breaking, identified the fatally wounded officers as Jose Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny. He did not disclose their rank or any other information about them.

Reyes said the gunman was still at large and may still be in the home where the shooting occurred.

He said he would release more information later.

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4:30 p.m.

Police in Palm Springs say the shooting of three officers occurred after they arrived at a home following a report of a domestic disturbance.

The officers' conditions are not known.

Dozens of law enforcement officers converged on a normally quiet residential neighborhood after the shooting.

Police also issued a warning that people inside their homes should stay there, lock their doors and not answer them until further notice.

SWAT officers raced to the scene after the shooting but no one was immediately arrested. Police said they believed no one else was hurt.

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3:19 p.m.

Palm Springs police say three officers have been shot but there's no word on their conditions.

A police statement says the shooting occurred Saturday afternoon north of Racquet Club Road and east of Sunrise Way.

There are no immediate details of the shooting, which comes days after a Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant was shot and killed in the high desert town of Lancaster.

Sgt. Steve Owen was answering a burglary call when sheriff's officials say he was shot and wounded by a man who then stood over him and shot him four more times.

A paroled robber has been charged with the sergeant's murder.

In this photo released by the Palm Springs Police Department shows slain officer Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega, a 35 year veteran who was killed in the line of duty Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Vega, the father of eight, planned to retire in December. (Palm Springs Police Department via AP)

In this undated photo released by the Palm Springs Police Department shows slain officer Lesley Zerebny, 27, who was killed in the line of duty Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. She was married with a four-month-old daughter. (Palm Springs Police Department via AP)

A citizen lights candles at a memorial for two slain police officers in Palm Springs, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Police Chief Bryan Reyes says three officers in Palm Springs, California were trying to resolve a family dispute Saturday when a man fatally shot two of them and wounded the third. (AP Photo/Robert Jablon)

A deputy directs citizens as a manhunt is in effect after two Palm Springs, Calif., police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were shot to death Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, when a man they had been speaking calmly with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief told reporters. A third officer was wounded. The shooter was not immediately apprehended.(Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun via AP)

Riverside Country Sheriffs Deputies walk along a street in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Palm Springs police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were shot to death Saturday when a man they had been speaking calmly with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief told reporters. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Pena)

Riverside Country Sheriffs Deputies stand near the scene of a shooting in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Palm Springs police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were shot to death Saturday when a man they had been speaking calmly with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief told reporters. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Pena)

Police officers from several agencies including Palm Springs Police, Riverside Country Sheriffs, California Highway Patrol and Palm Desert Police patrol a neighborhood in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Palm Springs police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were shot to death Saturday when a man they had been speaking calmly with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief told reporters. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Pena)

Officers point to a home on Cypress Road after gunshots were fired in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Two Palm Springs police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were shot to death when a man they had been speaking calmly with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief told reporters. (Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun via AP)

A California Highway Patrolman holding a firearm, talks with a Riverside Country Sheriffs Deputy as they search for a suspect in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Palm Springs police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were shot to death Saturday when a man they had been speaking calmly with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief told reporters. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Pena)

A manhunt is in effect after two Palm Springs, Calif., police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were shot to death Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, when a man they had been speaking calmly with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief told reporters. A third officer was wounded. The shooter was not immediately apprehended.(Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun via AP)

A Sheriff Department helicopter assists in a manhunt after two Palm Springs, Calif., police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were shot to death Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, when a man they had been speaking calmly with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief told reporters. A third officer was wounded. The shooter was not immediately apprehended.(Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun via AP)

A manhunt is in effect after two Palm Springs, Calif., police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were shot to death Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, when a man they had been speaking calmly with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief told reporters. A third officer was wounded. The shooter was not immediately apprehended.(Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun via AP)

Two Palm Springs, Calif., police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were shot to death Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, when a man they had been speaking calmly with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief told reporters. A third officer was wounded. The shooter was not immediately apprehended.(Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun via AP)

Officers watch to a home on Cypress Road after a gunshots where fired in Palm Springs, Calif. on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Palm Springs police say three officers had been shot but did not give their conditions. (Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun via AP)

Emergency personnel wearing bullet-proof vests attend to a person on a stretcher on the corner of Cypress Road and Del Lago Road in Palm Springs, Calif. on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Palm Springs police say three officers had been shot but did not give their conditions. (Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun via AP)
The Latest: Neil Young rocks for 2 hours at Desert Trip

INDIO, Calif. (AP)  The latest on the Desert Trip music festival in Indio, California, which features six legendary acts over three days: the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Roger Waters and the Who. It's the first time ever they've all performed at the same event (all times local):

10 p.m.

Neil Young performed for nearly two hours to open the second night of the Desert Trip music festival, matching the energy of band members half his age.

Abby Cooper, 17, of Irvine, Calif. waits for Paul McCartney's set on day 2 of the 2016 Desert Trip music festival at Empire Polo Field on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

He opened his set alone onstage and steadily ramped up the rock. After performing "After the Gold Rush" at the piano, and "Heart of Gold" and "Comes a Time" on acoustic guitar, he was joined by his band, Promise of the Real.

There were subtle and overt political overtones to the performance. Women dressed as farmers, in plaid shirts and overalls, pretended to throw seeds and tend small plants onstage before Young came out. Later, men in hazmat suits acted as though they were spraying the grounds.

The set included "Harvest Moon," ''Powderfinger," and "Welfare Mothers," which Young joked was "Donald Trump's new campaign song."

A highlight was "Down By the River," which became an extended 10-minute jam, with Young shredding his well-worn guitar.

"Tomorrow night come back," Young told the crowd. "Roger (Waters) is going to build a wall and we'll make Mexico great again!"

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6:40 p.m.

Neil Young has taken the stage to open the second night of the Desert Trip music festival.

Wearing his trademark black hat, Young started his set alone behind the piano, opening with "After the Gold Rush," accompanying himself on harmonica.

He then strapped on an acoustic guitar to play "Heart of Gold."

The stage was accented with tepees. Women dressed as farmers, in plaid shirts and overalls, pretended to throw seeds and tend small plants onstage before Young came out.

He played his first three songs alone onstage.

Paul McCartney is set to play later Saturday.

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3:30 p.m.

The festival grounds are open for the second day of the Desert Trip mega-concert, and millennials are among the attendees.

Nineteen-year-old McKenna Haner came with two teenage pals to see Paul McCartney, who is playing later Saturday night. Neil Young is set to open the show just before sunset.

Haner said her dad is a big-time Beatles fan and she was raised on the music.

Still, she and her friends were acutely aware they were among the youngest in the crowd. They didn't mind, but said the older concertgoers are "very aggressive."

"They act like, 'We're older. We deserve this,'" she said.

Her friend, Seven Pappanastos, 17, said attending the show came with a cost  and not just the $199 single-day ticket price.

"I got invited to three parties this weekend," he said. "All their parents are out of town here."

Pebbles Russell, left, of Brooklyn, NY, and her father William Russell mingle on the Empire Polo Field on day 1 of the 2016 Desert Trip music festival on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Festival goers wait for Bob Dylan's set to begin in the early evening on day 1 of the 2016 Desert Trip music festival at Empire Polo Field on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Carla Chong of El Paso, Texas, shoots a selfie of herself in front of a billboard of Bob Dylan's album "Highway 61 Revisited" on day 1 of the 2016 Desert Trip music festival at Empire Polo Field on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Festival goers watch Neil Young's performance on day 2 of the 2016 Desert Trip music festival at Empire Polo Field on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Train derails east of NYC; dozens suffer injuries

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. (AP)  Dozens of people were injured Saturday when a commuter train hit a work train east of New York City and derailed, officials said.

The eastbound Long Island Rail Road train derailed east of New Hyde Park just after 9 p.m., a spokesman for the railroad said.

A spokesman for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said 11 passengers were taken to hospitals, all with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening. Official estimates on the number of injured people ranged from 29 to 40.

In this photo provided by Sarah Qamar shows a Long Island Railroad train derailed near New Hyde Park, N.Y., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. The commuter train derailed east of New York City after it hit a work train on the tracks. A spokesman for the Long Island Rail Road says the eastbound train derailed east of New Hyde Park just after 9 p.m. Saturday. A spokeswoman for the Nassau County Police Department says there are 50 to 100 injuries, none of them life-threatening. (Sarah Qamar via AP)

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano said there were a "wide range of injuries from broken bones to lacerations to cuts."

About 600 people were on the 8:22 p.m. train out of Penn Station train when it crashed, the Democratic governor said in a statement.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Thomas Prendergast said the front car sideswiped the work train, causing the second and third cars of the passenger train to derail.

Dozens of firefighters and police officers were at the scene of the derailment, about 20 miles east of Manhattan.

The second and third cars were hanging off the track, which is slightly elevated. The cars were mangled and the doors appeared to have been pried open.

Passenger Ray Martel, 41, of West Hempstead, was heading home after spending the evening in New York City visiting friends.

Martel, who was in the first car, said when the train stuck something "everyone gasped."

"We knew we hit something but we didn't know how bad it was," he said.

Passenger Craig Heller of East Meadow told Newsday he was in the second car which "all of a sudden just started shaking."

"A chair in the car I was in went flying and the door crashed open," Heller said. "Fortunately, then it stopped and we were tilted in our car, but everybody in our car was fine. It felt like we could actually completely tip over, obviously, while it was happening. That was a fear."

Train service in the area was suspended in both directions indefinitely.

The Federal Railroad Administration said it had investigators en route to the scene.

The derailment happened just over a week after a commuter train crashed into the terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey, killing one person and injuring more than 100. Federal investigators are still trying to determine the cause.

Long Island Rail Road trains have been involved in 72 accidents since Jan. 1, 2011, according to federal data, including 3 collisions and 15 derailments on tracks used for passenger service.

The accidents caused the deaths of five people in vehicles that wound up on the tracks, 30 injuries and nearly $10 million in damage to train tracks and equipment.

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Matthews reported from New York. Associated Press writers Michael R. Sisak and Michael Balsamo also contributed to this report.
Haitians worship among devastation caused by hurricane

JEREMIE, Haiti (AP)  Survivors of Hurricane Matthew put on their Sunday finest and picked their way through downed power lines to sing praise and pray in ruined churches, while desperation grew in other parts of devastated Haiti and international rescue efforts began ramping up.

Haitian authorities were still unsure of the extent of the disaster, with some communities still cut off. But tens of thousands of homes were obliterated and the dead number in the hundreds.

Guillaume Silvera, a senior official with the Civil Protection Agency in the storm-blasted Grand-Anse Department, which includes Jeremie, said at least 522 deaths were confirmed there alone  not including people in several remote communities still cut off by collapsed roads and bridges.

Residents pray at a church that was destroyed by hurricane Matthew in Jeremie, Haiti. Sunday Oct. 9, 2016. Jeremie appears to be the epicenter of the country's growing humanitarian crisis in the wake of the storm. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

National Civil Protection headquarters in Port-au-Prince, meanwhile, said Saturday its official count for the whole country was 336, which included 191 deaths in Grand-Anse.

Despite the loss, families packed what remained the city's churches, many seated in pews under open sky because Matthew ripped away roofs and even walls of the sanctuaries. At least one was so badly damaged that worshippers set up an altar and prayed outside.

Elise Pierre, who said she was about 80, said she believed it was a divine miracle that she and her loved ones survived.

"If God wasn't protecting us we'd all be gone today, blown into the ocean or up into the mountains," said Pierre, whose straw hat almost concealed a gash on her forehead she sustained when her sheet metal roof collapsed during the height of Matthew's fury.

The sound of hammering could be heard on nearly every street in Jeremie, a city near the tip of Haiti's southwest peninsula, as people patched their roofs as best as they could.

On one corner, Jameson Pierre was mixing cement and making them into blocks. The 22-year-old storm refugee whose family was stuck in an emergency shelter, saw at least one bright side.

"There will be lots and lots of jobs since so many homes were knocked down. I've been working for the last three days straight," he said in the fierce morning sun. He said he was getting about a dollar a day.

The first three of five cargo planes of humanitarian aid from the United States have arrived at the Toussaint Louverture airport in the capital Port of Prince. They were carrying 480 metric tons of relief supplies, including 20,000 hygiene kits, 18,000 sets of kitchen utensils for cooking, 40,000 blankets and 500 rolls of plastic sheeting.

The airstrip in Jeremie is unable to accommodate large cargo planes, so relief was being ferried to the devastated city by helicopter. Three of nine U.S. helicopters had arrived in Jeremie by Sunday, bringing rice and cooking oil, among other things.

"I lost everything I own in this hurricane. I just came here to get some help," said subsistence farmer Markus Bagard, one of roughly 200 Haitians standing outside the airstrip watching the helicopters be unloaded.

Many of the villages in the southwestern peninsula are difficult to reach. And people are growing increasingly desperate after losing everything when the storm ripped through the area on Tuesday.

Dony St. Germain, an official with El Shaddai Ministries International, said young men in villages off the road between the southern city of Les Cayes and Jeremie were starting to put up blockades of rocks and broken branches to halt the convoys.

"They are seeing these convoys coming through with supplies and they aren't stopping. They are hungry and thirsty and some are getting angry," said St. Germain.

A civil protection convoy carrying food, water and medication from Les Cayes to Jeremie was attacked by gunmen in a remote valley where there had been a bad mudslide, Frednel Kedler, the coordinator for the Civil Protection Agency in Grand-Anse, said on Sunday. The convoy's driver was pistol whipped and all the relief supplies stolen.

Kedler attributed the armed robbery to desperation in many rural communities that have not yet received aid. He said that authorities will try to reach marooned communities west of Jeremie on Monday.

Government officials estimate that at least 350,000 people need assistance, and concern was growing over an increase in cholera cases following widespread flooding unleashed by Matthew. An ongoing cholera outbreak has already killed roughly 10,000 people and sickened more than 800,000 since 2010, when the infectious disease was introduced into the country's biggest river from a U.N. base where Nepalese peacekeepers were deployed.

Maria Sofia Sanon, a health worker overseeing the open-air cholera treatment center in a corner of Jeremie's main hospital, said they were ill-equipped to deal with patients. The area was strewn with broken tree branches, and a group of young mothers sat outside holding up the arms of their glassy-eyed children being rehydrated via IVs.

"They're not supposed to be in the sun, but we have no more beds," Sanon said.

The World Food Program says there has been massive destruction of crops. Hospitals and clinics have been damaged or destroyed as they struggle to deal with an increase in patients with injuries sustained during the storm as well as an apparent increase in cholera. UNICEF said that in Grand-Anse alone there were 66,000 houses destroyed and 20,000 heavily damaged.

"Information gathered from various sources in the field suggests that the human toll (dead and injured) will be heavier than the current official figures," the agency said in a report.

Jocelyne Saint Preux was part of the crowd that lined up in an orderly fashion to get food as aid began.

The mother of three children whose home was destroyed said officials were handing out wheat, beans, oil and salt.

"Yes, they brought food, but it's not sufficient," she said. "There's no water. There's no charcoal."

People in Les Cayes, as well as the southern community of Port Salut, said little to no aid has reached them.

Fisherman Dominique Pomper said the mayor came to distribute some rice but that was it. Among other things, he said people here need power restored and water. The ocean has intruded into their wells and made their own supplies undrinkable. Many don't want to drink water from other sources because of fears of cholera.

Pomper said he tried to stay at home with his family during the storm but they eventually fled as the water rushed into their house. The 61-year-old said it was the worst night of his life but that he would never leave his seaside village.

"We are fishermen here, our job is the water. We can't run away from the water," he said.

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Fox reported from Port Salut, Haiti.

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This story has been corrected in paragraph 17 with name as Frednel instead of Fridnel.

A victim of cholera receives treatment at the state hospital after Hurricane Matthew, in Jeremie, Haiti on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. Aid has begun pouring into the hard-hit town, where thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed and many people were running low on food and facing an increased risk for cholera. ( AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Residents pray at a church that was destroyed by hurricane Matthew in Jeremie, Haiti. Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. An international response is finally getting underway as Haitian authorities try to gauge the full extent of the staggering blow delivered by Hurricane Matthew, including hundreds dead and tens of thousands of homes obliterated. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Residents pray at a church that was destroyed by hurricane Matthew in Jeremie, Haiti on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. Jeremie appears to be the epicenter of the country's growing humanitarian crisis in the wake of the storm. ( AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Women from the Laguerre family cry as the coffin carrying Roberto Laguerre is taken out of the morgue, to bury him at the cemetery in Jeremie, Haiti, Saturday Oct. 8, 2016. Roberto, 32, died when the wall of a church next door to his home fell during Hurricane Matthew. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Andrenne Joseph dries her clothes near her destroyed house caused by Hurricane Matthew, in Jeremie, Haiti. Saturday Oct. 8, 2016. Aid has begun pouring into the hard-hit town, where thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed and many people were running low on food and facing an increased risk for cholera. ( AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

A boy stands on top of the hillside of town of Jeremie, Haiti, that was destroyed by Hurricane, Saturday Oct. 8, 2016. Aid has begun pouring into the hard-hit town, where thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed and many people were running low on food and facing an increased risk for cholera. ( AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

A woman walks to a shelter with her son as they leave after their home was destroyed by Hurricane Matthew in Jeremie, Haiti on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. Jeremie appears to be the epicenter of the country's growing humanitarian crisis in the wake of the storm. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Victims of cholera receive treatment at the state hospital after Hurricane Matthew, in Jeremie, Haiti on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. Aid has begun pouring into the hard-hit town, where thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed and many people were running low on food and facing an increased risk for cholera. ( AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Victims of cholera receive treatment at the state hospital after Hurricane Matthew, in Jeremie, Haiti on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. Aid has begun pouring into the hard-hit town, where thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed and many people were running low on food and facing an increased risk for cholera. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
90 minutes of fire: Trump, Clinton trade charges, insults

ST. LOUIS (AP)  In a bitter debate filled with tension and insult, Hillary Clinton declared that Donald Trump's vulgar comments about women reveal "exactly who he is" and prove his unsuitability to be president. Firing back, he accused her of attacking women involved in Bill Clinton's extramarital affairs and promised she would "be in jail" if he were president.

Trump, who entered Sunday night's debate desperate to steady his floundering campaign, unleashed a barrage of attacks and continually interrupted Clinton. He repeatedly called her a "liar," labeled her the "devil" and contended she had "tremendous hate in her heart."

On one substantive matter, he acknowledged for the first time that he had paid no federal income taxes for many years.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump listens to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/John Locher)

The debate was the culmination of a stunning stretch in the race for the White House, which began with the release of a new video in which Trump is heard bragging about how his fame allowed him to "do anything" to women. Many Republicans rushed to revoke their support, with some calling for him to drop out of the race.

Answering for his words for the first time, Trump denied he had ever kissed and grabbed women without their consent. He said repeatedly that his words in 2005 were merely "locker room talk" and paled in comparison to what he called Bill Clinton's abuse of women.

"She should be ashamed of herself," Trump declared. Ahead of the debate, the businessman met with three women who accused the former president of sexual harassment and even rape, then invited them to sit in the debate hall.

Bill Clinton never faced any criminal charges in relation to the allegations, and a lawsuit over an alleged rape was dismissed. He did settle a lawsuit with one of the women who claimed harassment.

On the debate stage, Clinton did not respond directly to Trump's accusations about her husband or her own role, but was blistering in her condemnation of his predatory comments about women in the tape released Friday.

"I think it's clear to anyone who heard him that it represents exactly who he is," she said, adding that she did not believe Trump had the "fitness to serve" as commander in chief.

The second debate was a town hall format, with several undecided voters sitting on stage with the candidates. The voters, all from the St. Louis area, were selected by Gallup.

The tension between Trump and Clinton was palpable from the start of their 90-minute debate, the second time they have faced off in the presidential campaign. They did not shake hands as they met at center stage.

Trump, who is several inches taller than Clinton, stood close behind her as she answered questions from the voters. At other times, he paced the stage, repeatedly interrupting her and criticizing the moderators.

Trump struggled at times to articulate detailed policy proposals, repeatedly dancing around questions about how he would replace President Barack Obama's health care law, a measure he has vowed to repeal. But he leveled several charges against Clinton that will likely energize his supporters, including saying she should have been criminally charged for her controversial email practices at the State Department.

In a rare public break with his running mate, Trump made clear he did not agree with Mike Pence on how to deal with war-torn Syria. Last week, Pence said the U.S. military should be ready to strike Syrian military targets that are under the command of President Bashar Assad. The threat of military action against the Russia-backed Assad government marks a departure from Trump's preference for a focus on Islamic State targets.

Said Trump, "He and I haven't spoken and I disagree."

Trump's campaign was already struggling before the new video was released, due in part to his uneven performance in the first presidential debate. Many Republicans saw Sunday's showdown as his last best chance to salvage his campaign.

It was unclear whether Trump's performance did anything to expand his support beyond his core backers. He did repeatedly cast Clinton as a career politician who had accomplished little during her years in Washington and would be incapable of bringing about change, one of his strongest arguments in a campaign that has highlighted American's deep frustration.

"With her, it's all talk and no action," Trump said.

The new revelations about Trump overshadowed potentially damaging revelations about Clinton's paid speeches to Wall Street firms. Emails released by WikiLeaks last week showed Clinton told a group that it's acceptable for a president to project differing positions in public and private.

Asked in the debate whether that's "two-faced," Clinton pointed to Abraham Lincoln, saying he did whatever he could to get the 13th Amendment passed, allowing emancipation of the slaves, by lawmakers who did not support African-American equality.

"I was making the point it is hard sometimes to get the Congress to do what you want them to do. That was a great display of presidential leadership."

Rolling his eyes, Trump said, "Now she's blaming the late, great Abraham Lincoln."

The political firestorm that preceded the debate was sparked by a video obtained and released Friday by The Washington Post and NBC News. In the video, Trump, who was married to his current wife at the time, is heard describing attempts to have sex with a married woman. He also brags to Billy Bush of "Access Hollywood" about women letting him kiss them and grab their genitals because he is famous.

Trump used the revelations as an opening to make good on his repeated promises to throw Bill Clinton's sexual history into the center of his campaign against his wife. Less than two hours before the debate, he brazenly met publicly in a hotel conference room with three women  Paula Jones, Juanita Broaddrick and Kathleen Willey  who have accused Bill Clinton of unwanted sexual advances and even rape. Kathy Shelton, a fourth woman who appeared with Trump, was a 12-year-old Arkansas sexual assault victim whose alleged assailant was defended by Hillary Clinton.

Trump refused to answer questions from reporters about his own aggressive sexual remarks about women during the meeting.

In the heated debate's final moments, the candidates briefly put aside their animosity when asked by a voter if they respected anything about each other.

Clinton said she respected Trump's children, calling them "incredibly able and devoted."

Trump, as if pulling a line directly from the Clinton campaign, called his Democratic opponent a "fighter."

"She doesn't quit, she doesn't give up," he said. "I respect that."

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Pace reported from Washington. AP writers Steve Peoples, Catherine Lucey, Jonathan Lemire, Laurie Kellman and Kathleen Ronayne contributed to this report.

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Follow Julie Pace and Lisa Lerer on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jpaceDC and http://twitter.com/llerer

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump listens to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump stands next to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, right, looks on as Juanita Broaddrick, who has accused former President Bill Clinton of sexual assault, speaks before the second presidential debate against democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

Paula Jones listens during a meeting between Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Kathy Shelton, Juanita Broaddrick, and Kathleen Willey, before the second presidential debate with democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at Washington University, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, center, sits with, from right, Paula Jones, Kathy Shelton, Juanita Broaddrick, and Kathleen Willey, before the second presidential debate with democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at Washington University, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
Trump's vulgar remarks put Pence in awkward position

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Mike Pence has long described himself as a "Christian, a conservative and a Republican in that order."

Now, the GOP vice presidential nominee and his priorities are facing a critical test as Donald Trump, staggered by his recorded vulgarities about women, careens toward Sunday's presidential debate against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Trump has vowed to stay in the race.

Republican vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence speaks during a campaign stop at the the Rossford Recreation Center in Rossford, Ohio, Friday, Oct. 7, 2016. (Nick Thomas/The Blade via AP)

Pence's advocacy for Trump came to a screeching, perhaps temporary, halt Saturday in the hours after Trump released a video apologizing for 2005 remarks in which he describes his aggressive conduct toward women.

Pence said in a statement about Trump that he won't "condone his remarks and cannot defend them."

"We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night," the Indiana governor said.

It's more evidence of the trials facing the GOP's No. 2 that could serve Pence well if he runs for the top spot in 2020.

Pence dare not speak about that possibility. To do so would assume Clinton prevails on Nov. 8.

But plenty of people are engaging in presidential talk about Pence, including Republican members of Congress, governors, a former presidential candidate, and more.

Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Mike Crapo of Idaho are calling on Trump to quit the campaign so Pence can lead the ticket. Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire says she'll write in Pence's name on the ballot  not Trump's.

Pence canceled his appearance at a Wisconsin rally Saturday with House Speaker Paul Ryan. Pence would have been expected to advocate for Trump.

"I'm sure he's horrified," said Mike Murphy, an Indiana public relations strategist who's known Pence for more than two decades. "We impeached Bill Clinton and we cannot impeach Trump off the ballot. But I wish there was a mechanism to do so."

Pence raised his political stock Monday night during the only debate against Democrat Tim Kaine. During the 90-minute event, Pence managed to not defend Trump's indefensible behavior, yet still sound supportive and show off his own expertise on foreign policy.

The performance highlighted the gulf in political sophistication between Trump and his running mate.

Pence addressed the awkwardness with a savvy statement acknowledging his own performance and preserving his alliance with Trump.

"People are saying that I won the debate," he said Wednesday in Harrisonburg, Virginia. "From where I sat, Donald Trump's vision to make America great won the debate."

But on Friday, Trump's behavior put Pence to an even tougher test.

The Washington Post and NBC broke the story of Trump's words about women as Pence advocated for Trump him in Ohio.

"With Donald Trump as president, we'll have a president of the United States who respects all the American people," Pence said as news of Trump's comments was breaking.

Pence went on to defend, as he has previously, Trump's outspoken nature as a refusal to "tiptoe around those thousands of rules of political correctness."

Pence ignored shouted questions about Trump, and he was quickly whisked out of reach of the news media.

What followed: Pence's silence, the scrapping his Wisconsin appearance and finally, his statement.

An influential Indiana conservative, Jim Bopp, who helped draft this year's Republican Party platform, said Pence "should stay the course."

Trump's words are "ill-considered and crude," Bopp said, and also "statements Mike Pence would never make."

The election is bigger than that, said Bopp, a lawyer from Terre Haute, Indiana.

"In the grand scheme of things, this is trivia vs. real life-and-death problems that we face in our foreign policy and the serious challenges that everyday Americans face because of the Obama-Clinton economy."

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Associated Press writers Brian Slodysko and Bill Barrow contributed to this report.

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VIEWERS' GUIDE: Latest bombshell on Trump hangs over debate

WASHINGTON (AP)  The latest bombshell about Donald Trump dropped just in time to rock Sunday's presidential debate.

For many people, the jaw-dropping 2005 video of Trump's vulgar comments about women trumps anything else that has come out about the Republican nominee. And it gives Hillary Clinton fresh ammunition for her second faceoff with the GOP nominee.

Some things to watch for in the 90-minute debate at Washington University in St. Louis:

Workers prepare the stage for the second presidential debate between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at Washington University in St. Louis, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016.(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

A MERE 'DISTRACTION'?

With his campaign in crisis, Trump issued a short video apologizing for his crude remarks. But he tried to minimize his "more than a decade-old" comments as a mere "distraction" from the important issues of the day and defiantly dismissed calls from within his fractured party to quit the race. The debate will force Trump to reckon with his past conduct in real time before millions of TV viewers and in a face-to-face encounter with undecided voters attending this town-hall style debate. Don't expect the voters, the debate moderators or Clinton to let Trump brush off his remarks that easily.

SECOND CHANCES

After watching his standing slip in the polls after the first debate, Round 2 was supposed to be Trump's chance to turn things around. That's a steeper climb now. Can Trump keep calm and debate on in the midst of the chaos?

GOING THERE

Trump had said earlier in the week that he would not bring up Bill Clinton's infidelities in the second debate. (He'd hinted about the subject in the first faceoff.) But after the release of Trump's remarks about grabbing women's genitals, all bets were off. Trump said in his apology video that "Bill Clinton has actually abused women, and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims. We will discuss this more in the coming days. See you at the debate on Sunday." Yes, that was a threat.

CLINTON'S CALCULATION

Clinton has to decide how best to capitalize on the latest revelations about Trump without overdoing it. With both undecided voters and debate moderators allowed to ask questions of the candidates, Clinton could choose to stand by and let them prosecute the issue as they see fit. Or the famously well-rehearsed Clinton could work up some artful ways to make sure those Trump remarks remain in focus all night.

THAT'S NOT ALL

The furor over the Trump video overshadowed other fresh comments by the Republican nominee that raised eyebrows. Watch to see if anyone brings up Trump's unsubstantiated claim that the Obama administration was allowing illegal immigrants to come into the country to vote against him. Or his insistence that the five defendants in a 1989 Central Park rape case were guilty even though DNA evidence overturned their convictions.

THE OTHER LEAK

Clinton will have her own leaked comments to contend with. Leaked transcripts of her private, paid speeches had her expressing support in 2013 for "open trade and open borders." That's at odds with her tougher stance on trade as a presidential candidate. Expect Trump to try to capitalize on the revelation, even as Clinton's own campaign is questioning whether the leaked documents were altered by the Russians.

INCOMING FROM OUT OF LEFT FIELD

The town-hall format for this debate carries its own set of perils for the candidates, with half the questions coming from undecided voters. Off-beat questions can throw off a candidate who's not prepared for anything and everything. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush struggled when a woman asked him how the national debt had affected him personally. "I'm not sure I get it," he told her. The exchange left an impression that Bush was out of touch with ordinary Americans.

LET'S GET PHYSICAL

For this debate, the candidates will be allowed to move around the stage. That adds a new dynamic, especially given the size differential between the 6-foot-3 Trump and Clinton, who's closer to 5-foot-5. During a 2000 Senate debate against then-Sen. Clinton, Republican Rep. Rick Lazio strode across the stage to prod the New York senator to sign a campaign finance pledge. Lazio's move was a turnoff; he came across as too pushy.

TAX TUSSLE, THE SEQUEL

Trump and Clinton are likely to tussle anew over Trump's income tax history. In the first debate, Clinton chided Trump for not releasing his tax returns and speculated that he might not be paying any federal taxes. Trump said that shows he's "smart." Since then, The New York Times has reported that the billionaire businessman lost so much money in a single year, 1995, that he could have avoided any federal income tax liability for 18 years. Watch how Clinton and Trump refine their arguments for the sequel to their first tax debate.

BAIT AND SWITCH

In their first debate, Clinton baited Trump by needling him on the size of his wealth, his business practices, his insulting comments about women and more. That frequently threw Trump off track. This time, Trump will need to exercise more discipline if he wants to run up the score against Clinton.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

Trump will have a fresh chance to bring up some of the Clinton vulnerabilities that he largely let pass during their first debate. Check out how aggressively he digs in on issues such as Clinton's use of private email as secretary of state, and questions about whether donors to the Clinton Foundation got favorable treatment from the Clinton State Department. He also got a gift this past week from Bill Clinton, who called Obama's health law and resulting insurance markets "the craziest thing in the world." It gives Trump a fresh line of attack on Clinton's support for the health overhaul.

DRESS REHEARSAL

Will Trump be ready? Clinton's strong performance in the first debate demonstrated the benefits of practice. Trump, dismissive of the idea of rehearsing before that debate, momentarily seemed to have gotten the message: His campaign announced he was holding a town hall Thursday in New Hampshire. But the event didn't end up being much of a dress rehearsal. The questions were nearly all softballs submitted by an invitation-only crowd, and Trump didn't actually interact with the audience.

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SHIMMIES AND SNIFFLES

Turn down the volume and check out the candidates' body language. Clinton's saucy shoulder shimmy in the first debate captured her confidence. Trump's go-to gesture  forefinger and thumb curled into an A-OK sign  got excessive, in the view of body language expert Ruth Sherman. It's "more prevalent when he's feeling stressed," she says. What about Trump's mysterious sniffle? Will it be back?

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HALF AND HALF

ABC's Martha Raddatz and CNN's Anderson Cooper will moderate this debate and pose half the questions; the rest will come from the audience. Watch the interplay between the moderators and Trump, who has complained about unfair treatment of the GOP ticket by the moderators of both the first presidential debate and the vice presidential faceoff.

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NAME THAT HASHTAG

You know it's coming: What will emerge as the big hashtags from presidential debate No. 2? The first presidential debate produced #Snifflegate and #Shimmy and the vice presidential faceoff spawned #ThatMexicanThing. The latter popped up after Republican Mike Pence chided Democrat Tim Kaine for whipping out "that Mexican thing again." Pence made the remark after Kaine for a fourth time brought up Trump's statement that some Mexican immigrants were rapists.

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Follow Nancy Benac on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/nbenac

People walk by the debate site ahead of the second presidential debate at Washington University, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, in St. Louis. The town hall debate between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is scheduled for Sunday. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Current, former GOP elected officials back away from Trump

The list is growing of elected Republican officials and others who want Donald Trump to abandon his presidential campaign or say they will not vote for him.

Comments of some of those leaving Trump after the revelation of vulgar comments he made about women, recorded in 2005. He says there's no chance he'll quit.

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In this Sept. 1, 2016 photo, Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Lee speaks during a news conference at the Utah Solutions Summit in Salt Lake City. The Republican Partys revolt against Donald Trump got its start in Utah. Gov. Gary Herbert was the first elected official to pull his endorsement from Donald Trump as conservatives recoiled from a recording of Trump boasting of how his fame allowed him to force himself on women. Other prominent Utah Republicans soon joined him. Sen. Mike Lee, Reps. Jason Chaffetz, Chris Stewart and Mia Love, and former Gov. Jon Huntsman all called for Trump to abandon his campaign. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

"I wanted to be able to support my party's nominee, chosen by the people, because I feel strongly that we need a change in direction for our country. However, I'm a mom and an American first, and I cannot and will not support a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting women. I will not be voting for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton and instead will be writing in Governor Pence for president on Election Day."  Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire.

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"While I continue to respect those who still support Donald Trump, I can no longer support him. I continue to believe our country cannot afford a Hillary Clinton presidency. I will be voting for Mike Pence for president."  Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio.

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"I have reached the decision that I can no longer endorse Donald Trump. This is not a decision that I have reached lightly, but his pattern of behavior has left me no choice. ... Make no mistake. We need conservative leadership in the White House. I urge Donald Trump to step aside and allow the Republican Party to put forward a conservative candidate like Mike Pence who can defeat Hillary Clinton."  Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho.

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"Donald Trump's comments regarding women were disgraceful and appalling. There are absolutely no circumstances under which it would ever be appropriate to speak of women in such a way. It is now clear Donald Trump is not fit to be president of the United States and cannot defeat Hillary Clinton. I believe he should step aside and allow Governor Pence to lead the Republican ticket."  Rep. Bradley Byrne of Alabama.

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"I can no longer look past the pattern of behavior and comments that have been made by Donald Trump. ...I believe our only option is to formally ask Mr. Trump to step down and to allow Republicans the opportunity to elect someone who will provide us with the strong leadership so desperately needed and one that Americans deserve."  Senate candidate Rep. Joe Heck of Nevada.

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"I have wanted to support the candidate our party nominated. He was not my choice, but as a past nominee, I thought it important I respect the fact that Donald Trump won a majority of the delegates by the rules our party set. But Donald Trump's behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy. ... Cindy and I will not vote for Donald Trump. I have never voted for a Democratic presidential candidate and we will not vote for Hillary Clinton. We will write in the name of some good conservative Republican who is qualified to be president."  Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

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"I am committed to defeating Hillary Clinton. The only way this is now possible is with a new nominee that reflects the values of our country and our party. I will not vote for Donald Trump. If Donald Trump wishes to defeat Hillary Clinton, he should do the only thing that will all us to do so  step aside, and allow Mike Pence to be the Republican Party's nominee."  Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado.

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"I'm incredibly disappointed in our party's candidate. And unlike the Democrats who have proven completely unwilling to hold secretary Clinton accountable for her illegal activities that endangered our national security, I am willing to hold Mr. Trump accountable. I am therefore calling for him to step aside and to allow Mike Pence to lead our party."  Rep. Chris Stewart of Utah.

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"Enough is enough. Donald Trump should withdraw in favor of Governor Mike Pence. This election is too important."  South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard.

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"I cannot support and will not vote for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton to be president of the United States. I will write in Governor Mike Pence for President."  Rep. Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey.

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"Donald Trump's comments are inexcusable. I am appalled that he would brag about violating a woman's physical boundaries. As a husband and father of two daughters, I denounce his comments and the behavior that it incites. I believe that Mike Pence would be the best nominee for the Republican Party to defeat Hillary Clinton."  Rep. Scott Garrett of New Jersey.

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"Character matters. @realDonaldTrump has been saying outrageous, offensive things the whole time. He should have stepped aside long ago."  Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan.

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"We must have a conservative in the White House to restore accountability, opportunity and security. For the sake of our Constitution and the rule of law, we must defeat Hillary Clinton. Today I ask Donald Trump to step aside and for the RNC to replace him with Gov. Mike Pence."  Former 2016 GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina.

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"Donald Trump should withdraw and Mike Pence should be our nominee effective immediately."  Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.

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"I never endorsed Donald Trump and cannot in good conscience support or vote for a man who degrades women, insults minorities and has no clear path to keep our country safe. He should step aside for a true conservative to beat Hillary Clinton."  Rep. Will Hurd of Texas.

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"For the past several months I have been one of the few who refused to endorse Donald Trump. I have said all along that I was still waiting for Mr. Trump to demonstrate his commitment to the kinds of principles and policies the people in Utah's 4th Congressional District want in their elected leaders. Mr. Trump has yet to clear that bar and his behavior and bravado have reached a new low. I cannot vote for him. For the good of the party, and the country, he should step aside."  Rep. Mia Love of Utah.

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"Mr. Trump himself has acknowledged this and identified this series of events tonight as a mere distraction. Well, with all due respect sir, you, sir, are the distraction. Your conduct, sir, is the distraction. It's a distraction from the very principles that will help us win in November. You, yourself sir, Mr. Trump, have stated repeatedly that the goal, the objective has got to be to defeat Hillary Clinton in November. I couldn't agree more. It's for precisely that reason, Mr. Trump, that I respectfully ask you, with all due respect, to step aside, step down, allow someone else to carry the banner of these principles, these principles that have made our country great, these principles that will stand as a beacon of hope to the American family rather than weighing down the American people, rather than weighing down the very principles that will help us win in November."  Sen. Mike Lee of Utah.

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"As a woman, a mother, and a grandmother to three young girls, I am deeply offended by Mr. Trump's remarks, and there is no excuse for the disgusting and demeaning language. Women have worked hard to gain the dignity and respect we deserve. The appropriate next step may be for him to re-examine his candidacy."  Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia.

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"In a campaign cycle that has been nothing but a race to the bottom  at such a critical moment for our nation  and with so many who have tried to be respectful of a record primary vote, the time has come for Governor Pence to lead the ticket."  Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman.

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"For the good of the country, and to give the Republicans a chance of defeating Hillary Clinton, Mr. Trump should step aside. His defeat at this point seems almost certain. And four years of Hillary Clinton is not what is best for this country. Mr. Trump should put the country first and do the right thing."  Rep. Mike Coffman of Colorado.

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"This is disgusting, vile and disqualifying. No woman should ever be subjected to this type of obscene behavior and it is unbecoming of anybody seeking high office. In light of these comments, Donald Trump should step aside and allow our party to replace him with Mike Pence or another appropriate nominee from the Republican Party. I cannot in good conscience vote for Donald Trump and I would never vote for Hillary Clinton."  Rep. Barbara Comstock of Virginia.

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"As disappointed as I've been with his antics throughout this campaign, I thought supporting the nominee was the best thing for our country and our party. Now, it is abundantly clear that the best thing for our country and our party is for Trump to step aside and allow a responsible, respectable Republican to lead the ticket."  U.S. Rep. Martha Roby of Alabama.

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"I cannot and will not support Donald Trump for president. He has forfeited the right to be our party's nominee."  Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

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"Keeping Republicans in the Senate majority is critical to the economic and national security of Alaska and America. As for the White House, Donald Trump should step aside. I will support Mike Pence for president."  Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan.

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"I'm horrified by #TrumpTape news. @realDonaldTrump campaign is a poisonous mix of bigotry & ignorance. Enough! He needs to step down."  Former Gov. George Pataki of New York.

Mitt Romney, Rep. Cresent Hardy, Rep. Joe Heck, Sen. Dean Heller and Nevada Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchison pose for photos with campaign volunteers at a campaign rally in Las Vegas on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. All of the Republicans say they can't support Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Michelle Rindels)

FILE - In this April 14, 2016, file photo, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez speaks during the New York Republican State Committee Annual Gala in New York. Martinez, the nation's only Latina governor, said Saturday, Oct. 8, she will not support Donald Trump for president, adding to a growing list of Republicans who are denouncing or distancing themselves for the GOP presidential nominee after an unearthed 2005 video had him making lewd comments about women. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
Bisping takes judges' decision over retiring Henderson

MANCHESTER, England (AP)  Michael Bisping retained his UFC middleweight title early by taking a unanimous decision victory over Dan Henderson at UFC 204 at the Manchester Arena on Sunday, ending the retiring American's career in defeat.

The fight started tentatively, with Henderson wary of combinations from Bisping, and the Englishman concerned about the right hook with which Henderson had knocked him out at UFC 100.

With 30 seconds to go in the first round, however, the 46-year-old Henderson landed the shot for which he is known, almost finishing Bisping and creating prominent swelling under his left eye.

With Bisping controlling the second round, a groin strike not spotted by the referee, and led to an ailing Henderson hitting the right hook, dropping Bisping once more, although again he was able to recover.

The remaining rounds were less dramatic, although Bisping continued to land more strikes. That led to the judges awarding the hometown favorite the fight, despite the differences in overall damage.

"He just kicked my ass, man. He's as tough as old boots," said a relieved Bisping after the fight.

Henderson had announced his retirement prior to the fight, and confirmed it afterward.

"That was the last time anyone will see me fight live," Henderson said. "I appreciate all the support throughout my career, worldwide. I gave my heart and soul to this sport.

"I came up a little short, but not bad for an old man."

In the co-main event, Gegard Mousasi defeated Vitor Belfort in the middleweight division.

After an early flurry of punches by Belfort, he took a head kick in round two, and referee Marc Goddard stopped the bout quickly when the Brazilian fell to the ground and covered up under fire from punches.

"(Belfort) is a legend. Fighting him is an honour," said Mousasi after the bout. He then challenged UFC legend Anderson Silva, stating that "it would be a good fight for me."

Jimi Manuwa delivered three good punches to take his fight against interim light-heavyweight contender Ovince St. Preux.

After being out-wrestled in round 1, Manuwa landed a left to the body, an overhand right, and a left-hook to stop the bout, and invigorate a crowd that was beginning to wilt at just after 4 a.m. local time, with the event timed to suit U.S. television audiences.

Stefan Struve became the first man to finish Daniel Omielanczuk in MMA competition, winning via d'arce choke for the 17th submission victory of his career. After the bout, he reminded UFC's matchmakers that he holds a TKO victory over current heavyweight title-holder Stipe Miocic.

Bosnia's Mirsad Bektic returned to action for the first time since May 2015 and took a rear naked choke victory over Russell Doane in the featherweight division, giving him a 4-0 record in the UFC.
Former Chinese provincial party boss sentenced to death

BEIJING (AP)  A former Chinese provincial Communist Party boss was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve Sunday as part of the country's ongoing crackdown on corruption at all levels.

The Anyang City Intermediate People's Court in Henan Province said Bai Enpei was found guilty of taking "a huge amount of bribes" and possessing a large amount of income from unidentified sources.

Bai had been a senior lawmaker with the national legislature and formerly served as the top-ranking official in the western provinces of Qinghai and Yunnan. His entire personal assets were also confiscated and he was barred from ever again holding office.

Suspended death sentences in China are usually reverted to life imprisonment after two years with good behavior.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to end corruption and government waste, although critics have accused him of using the campaign to attack political rivals.

Thousands of officeholders have been investigated as part of the campaign, and some Chinese have complained that the drive has resulted in bureaucratic paralysis as officials refuse to perform certain standard tasks out of fear of being accused of bribe-taking.

Two other former high-ranking officials, Zhou Benshun and Yang Dongliang, have also been formally charged with corruption, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday, citing the state prosecutor's office.

Zhou had been party boss of Hebei province, just outside Beijing, while Yang had led the State Administration of Work Safety.

Both were charged with taking bribes. Yang was also accused of embezzling public assets.
Ukrainian war prisoners languish in limbo on both sides

KIEV, Ukraine (AP)  Just three days after Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr Lazarenko was taken prisoner in the war in Ukraine's east, a peace agreement was signed under which the sides agreed to an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange. A year and a half later, his wife still waits desperately for his return.

The so-called Minsk Agreement on ending the war between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces is floundering on many issues, but prisoner releases appear to be one of the most intractable.

Amnesty International and Human Rights watch allege that both sides have arbitrarily detained civilians, sometimes holding them incommunicado for months in prisons that authorities don't acknowledge exist.

FILE - In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war hold their portraits at a rally outside the German embassy in Kiev, Ukraine. Under the last Feb. Russia-Ukraine-France-Germany agreement on ending the war between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces, the sides agreed on an all-for-all prisoner exchange. Although the numbers held by each side are in dispute, its clear that the pace of release has slowed markedly for Ukrainians held by the rebels. Since the peace agreement was signed, 83 Ukrainian prisoners have been released, but only 12 of them were freed this year. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

The sides cite widely varying figures for how many prisoners they're holding. Both appear to be holding the issue over the other's head to force concessions on other topics, which include holding elections in Ukraine's separatist region and restoring Ukraine's full control over its border with Russia.

"Our expectations have been thwarted by politicians' plans," Lazarenko's wife, Natalya, told The Associated Press. "After Minsk, the prisoners became an instrument of political trading, they're seen as political commodities."

Even that frustration and anxiety is something of an improvement. For three months after her husband was seized, she had no information on whether he was dead or alive.

Lazarenko was captured by a Cossack formation that was not under the rebels' control. Eventually, he and 12 others were found by the rebel government's Committee on POWs and transferred to a detention facility in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, the rebels' main stronghold.

Finally allowed to call his wife, Lazarenko said the Cossacks had held him in a windowless basement where he could only lie down on sacks of potatoes. He told her that he and the other prisoners were beaten and fed scraps.

"Sasha simply ceased to exist," his wife said.

Although the numbers held by each side are in dispute, it's clear that the pace of releases has slowed markedly for Ukrainians held by the rebels. Since the Minsk agreement was signed in February 2015, 83 Ukrainian prisoners have been released, but only 12 of them were freed this year.

Before the agreement, prisoners were handed over more freely. Yuri Tandyt, an adviser to Ukraine's national security service, told Ukrainian media in August that a total of 3,080 Ukrainian prisoners had been released by rebels or had been located since the beginning of fighting in April 2014. Ukraine now lists 112 names as soldiers held by the rebels, suggesting that thousands had been released prior to the Minsk agreement.

The separatists acknowledge only holding less than half that many. Irina Gerashchenko, Ukraine's deputy parliament speaker and a key figure in negotiations to implement the Minsk agreement, says the rebels admit to holding 47 and "we don't know where the other hostages are held."

Rebel officials said last month they had reached a tentative agreement with Ukraine to release 47 prisoners, in exchange for Ukraine freeing 618.

Who those 618 might be is uncertain. Rebel military spokesman Eduard Basurin told the AP that Ukraine is holding 962 easterners, of whom 316 are fighters and the rest are either political prisoners or civilians with no connection to the conflict. Ukraine in turn says it is holding about 500 people in connection with the war.

Vadim Karasev, a Ukrainian political analyst, suggests that many of those held by the Ukrainian side are not combatants.

"Kiev is seeking to increase its weight in the negotiations by the count of separatists detained," he said. "Simply disgruntled citizens often end up (in that category), and then are proposed for exchange."

"In many cases, the only reason for the detention of prisoners may be to use them as bargaining chips," said Oksana Pokalchuk, Amnesty International's executive director for Ukraine.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the mediator in the peace process, "does not have the instruments to force the exchange of prisoners. Kiev and the separatists cannot even agree on the prisoner lists. The OSCE cannot do this work for them," Karasev said.

Nikolai Vakaruk, a 34-year-old coal miner, says he was a blameless civilian improperly held in detention by Ukraine for a year and half.

He told the AP he was seized during a search of his home in the front-line town of Ukrainsk and held in the security-service detention facility in Kharkiv, where he was repeatedly beaten in an attempt to get him to confess to being a separatist.

"I was beaten and tortured but they could not turn me into a separatist," said Vakaruk, who believes he was detained for being a critic of the Ukrainian authorities. Amnesty International says Vakaruk was one of 13 prisoners released from the Kharkiv facility in July following the group's report on war prisoners.

Vakaruk also said when international groups came to Ukraine's security services building, he and other prisoners held in connection with the war were spirited away to other locations.

"I realized that in the new Ukraine, I can disappear just because I think differently," he said.

___

Jim Heintz in Moscow contributed to this story.

FILE - In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war hold their portraits at a rally outside the German embassy in Kiev, Ukraine. Under the last Feb. Russia-Ukraine-France-Germany agreement on ending the war between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces, the sides agreed on an all-for-all prisoner exchange. Although the numbers held by each side are in dispute, its clear that the pace of release has slowed markedly for Ukrainians held by the rebels. Since the peace agreement was signed, 83 Ukrainian prisoners have been released, but only 12 of them were freed this year. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

FILE - In this photo taken Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, Ukraines deputy parliament speaker Irina Gerashchenko helps blind and armless volunteer Volodymyr Zhemchugov, center, to pass through a mine obstacle during an exchange of prisoners of war in the town of Shchastya in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region. Zhemchugov lost his arms and the use of his eyes in a 2015 mine blast in Ukraine's east during a war conflict with pro-Russian separatists. Under the last Feb. agreement on ending the war between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces, the sides agreed on an all-for-all prisoner exchange. (AP Photo/Oleksandr Klymenko)

In this photo taken Sept. 26, 2016, blind and armless volunteer Volodymyr Zhemchugov and his wife Olena share a tender moment sitting on a hospital bed in Kiev, Ukraine. Zhemchugov lost his arms and the use of his eyes in a 2015 mine blast in Ukraine's east during a war conflict with pro-Russian separatists. Under the last Feb. agreement on ending the war between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces, the sides agreed on an all-for-all prisoner exchange. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

In this photo taken Sept. 26, 2016, blind and armless Ukrainian volunteer Volodymyr Zhemchugov tells about the war sitting on a hospital bed in Kiev, Ukraine. Zhemchugov lost his arms and the use of his eyes in a 2015 mine blast in Ukraine's east during a war conflict with pro-Russian separatists. Former prisoner of war, Zhemchugov was released under the last Feb. agreement on ending the war between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces, which foresees an all-for-all prisoner exchange. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Manhunt for German bomb plot suspect; 1 man in custody

BERLIN (AP)  German police searched nationwide Sunday for a 22-year-old Syrian man believed to have been preparing a bombing attack, who slipped through their fingers as they were closing in on him, and were questioning a second Syrian man on suspicion he was involved in the plot.

The man in custody was one of three apprehended in the eastern city of Chemnitz on Saturday. He was the renter of the apartment that police raided in their search for the main suspect, Jaber Albakr from the Damascus area of Syria, Saxony police spokesman Tom Bernhardt told The Associated Press. The other two men have been released.

He said the man in custody was Albakr's "countryman," but wouldn't give other details.

Two policewomen walk under a police cordon, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, that secures an apartment building in Chemnitz eastern Germany. German police search nationwide Sunday for a 22-year-old Syrian man believed to have been preparing a bombing attack, and were questioning a second Syrian man on suspicion he was involved in the plot. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa via AP)

"We believe he is a possible co-conspirator," Bernhardt said.

Another man who knew Albakr was taken into custody for questioning Sunday afternoon in a raid on his Chemnitz apartment.

On Saturday morning, as police prepared to raid the apartment building, Albakr was observed leaving the premises. Police fired a warning shot but were unable to stop him, Bernhardt said, confirming German media reports. They thought he had turned back into the building but wasn't the case, he said.

Bernhardt also confirmed reports that Albakr had come to Germany in the flood of 890,000 migrants who entered the country in 2015 and had been granted asylum.

Nobody was in the apartment when police SWAT teams blew down the door Saturday, but investigators found "several hundred grams" of a volatile explosive hidden in the flat, enough to cause significant damage, Bernhardt said.

"With this highly volatile explosive, even a few hundred grams is no trifle," he said. "For an explosive of this type, it was a considerable amount."

He said experts were still trying to determine whether it was the same explosive used in the deadly Nov. 13 attacks in Paris and the March 22 attacks in Brussels known as TATP, or triacetone triperoxide.

"It's comparable to that," he said.

TATP has been used in many attacks over the years, and is favored by violent extremists because it's fairly easy to make and detonate.

The explosives were destroyed Saturday in a controlled detonation by bomb squad experts in a pit dug outside the five-story apartment building because they were considered too dangerous to transport.

The raid came after Saxony police were given a tip from Germany's domestic intelligence service that Albakr may be planning an attack. He had been on the agency's radar, but Bernhardt said it was not clear how long.

German media have reported that Albakr is believed to be connected to Islamic extremist groups, but Saxony police have not commented on his possible motivation or the bomb plot's target.

Germany has been on edge since two attacks this summer claimed by the Islamic State in which multiple people were injured and both assailants died. Two other attacks unrelated to Islamic extremism, including a deadly mall shooting in Munich, have also contributed to fears.

Federal police have increased security around the country, particularly around "critical infrastructure" like train stations and airports, as authorities search for Albakr.

Police officers leave an apartment after detonations in the eastern city of in Chemnitz, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. German investigators found several hundred grams of explosives in an apartment they raided Saturday in the eastern city of Chemnitz as they sought a Syrian man suspected of planning a bombing attack. The suspect remained on the run but three contacts were detained and being questioned, police said. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

THE PICTURE CAN NOT BE USED AFTER THE SUSPECT HAS BEEN ARRESTED - In this photo provided by police Sachsen shows Syrian 22-year-old Jaber Albakr from Damascus, and is urging anyone with any information of his whereabouts to contact authorities. German police have raided an apartment building in the eastern city of Chemnitz Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016 after receiving information someone may be planning a bombing attack. (Police Sachsen via AP)

Police officers secure a road in the eastern city of in Chemnitz, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. German investigators found several hundred grams of explosives in an apartment they raided Saturday in the eastern city of Chemnitz as they sought a Syrian man suspected of planning a bombing attack. The suspect remained on the run but three contacts were detained and being questioned, police said. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
McLaren Honda disappoints at 2nd home in Japan

SUZUKA, Japan (AP)  An underwhelming performance in the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday was a setback to a McLaren Honda team that was feeling upbeat after securing points in the previous race in Malaysia.

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso put up a spirited battle at the Suzuka circuit to take the fight into the midfield, but was never in a position to challenge for points. He eventually finished 15th.

Jenson Button started 22nd on the grid after the team elected to change his power unit components before the race, incurring a penalty. Starting so far back meant expectations were limited. Despite pulling off a couple of satisfying passing moves, he finished 18th.

McLaren driver Jenson Button of Britain steers his car during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka International Circuit in Suzuka, Japan, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

"It's been a very tough weekend," Button said. "It's a shame that Suzuka is our bogey track because it's our second home. Still, we have to take the rough with the smooth: we haven't been quick here, but we hope to be quicker at the next race."

Alonso finished seventh in Malaysia and Button ninth.

McLaren Honda racing director Eric Boullier didn't try to hide his disappointment with the latest setback.

"There's no point denying that we're thoroughly disappointed, because we are," Boullier said after Sunday's race. "Having scored points with both cars last weekend in Malaysia, to finish 16th and 18th here in Japan is hard to take, frankly."

McLaren Honda was hoping for better things in Japan after last season when Alonso was heard over the team radio criticising the Japanese-built engine.

The lone Japanese F1 engine manufacturer had been bolstered by recent good results but Sunday's performance felt like another setback.

"We'll put this forgettable weekend behind us straight away and refocus our attentions and ambitions on the next race," Boullier said.

McLaren driver Fernando Alonso of Spain waits in his car at his garage during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka International Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

McLaren driver Jenson Button of Britain sits in his car during the third practice session of the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka International Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Injured UKIP legislator discharged from French hospital

LONDON (AP)  A U.K. Independence Party legislator was discharged from a French hospital on Sunday following an altercation with another senior party member three days ago, officials said.

Steven Woolfe, who had been a leading contender in the race for party leadership, is thought to be returning to Britain.

Woolfe "is focused on continuing his recovery and will not be making any further statements today," UKIP said in a statement Sunday.

FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2014 file photo, Steven Woolfe speaks in London. Party leader Nigel Farage said Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016 that following an altercation that took place at a meeting of UKIP MEPs this morning ... Steven Woolfe subsequently collapsed and was taken to hospital. His condition is serious. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP, File)

A small anti-EU party, UKIP was instrumental in getting Britain to hold a referendum on European Union membership, which ended in a June 23 vote to leave the 28-nation bloc. The result was a political triumph for UKIP, but since gaining its long-sought goal the party has been torn by infighting.

Nathan Gill, a UKIP colleague who had visited Woolfe in the hospital in Strasbourg on Friday, had said that Woolfe was tired of French croissants and wanted to return home for a full English breakfast.

Woolfe, a member of the European Parliament, had been rushed to the hospital Thursday with serious injuries after collapsing following an altercation of some type with fellow UKIP legislator Mike Hookem. They had been at a contentious meeting in the European Parliament building. Woolfe says Hookem punched him, which Hookem denies.

Woolfe later suffered a seizure and collapsed. He was kept in the hospital for several days of tests and observations.

Both men have tried to bolster their version of events. Woolfe's team released a statement Saturday indicating that an independent medical team found the bruising on his face to have been caused by something more than a fall or seizure.

Hookem has released photographs of his unbruised hands on Twitter as a way to illustrate his claim that he hadn't thrown a punch during the scuffle.

"I did not punch, slap or hit Steven Woolfe," it said.

It's not yet clear how the incident will affect the leadership race.

UKIP has been trying to find a replacement for outgoing leader Nigel Farage, but the first leader chosen, Diane James, resigned after less than three weeks in the position.

Farage has returned as interim leader but indicated he doesn't want the permanent post.
Success: UK group says 2 endangered rhinos have given birth

LONDON (AP)  British conservationists say two critically endangered eastern black rhinos bred in captivity in England have given birth in the wild in Africa  a development likely to please Prince William.

The Aspinall Foundation said Sunday that the two females bred at its wildlife park in southern England and released near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania have given birth after mating there with a male who had also been bred in captivity.

The two females named Grumeti and Zawadi had been given a send-off by Prince William when they departed for Tanzania in 2012. William and his brother Prince Harry have been active in recent years in trying to protect wildlife in various African countries.

FILE - In this Wednesday June 6, 2012 file photo Britain's Prince William feeds a black rhino called Zawadi as he visits Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Port Lympne, southern England. The Aspinall Foundation said Sunday Oct. 9, 2016, two critically endangered eastern black rhinos bred in captivity in England have given birth in the wild in Africa. (Chris Jackson/Pool, File)

Conservations say the transfer from rural England to Tanzania posed a substantial logistical challenge: The fully-grown rhinos each weigh about 2,200 pounds  traveled back to their ancestral homelands via plane, boat and truck.

They both mated with Jamie, who had been born in captivity in the Czech Republic before being relocated to Tanzania.

The foundation says each female has given birth in recent weeks to healthy babies after pregnancies lasting roughly 15 months. The babies each weighed about 17 pounds.

Grumeti's baby, born first, has been named Mobo. Zawadi's offspring has yet to be named.

Conservationists say only about 700 of this sub-species of rhinos remain in the wild. Many have been killed by poachers seeking rhino horn, which are commonly used in traditional medicine for treatment of a variety of ills.

Foundation chairman Damian Aspinall says the births represent a "vital" breakthrough in the bid to protect this endangered species.
US forces increasing Iraq footprint ahead of Mosul operation

CAMP SWIFT, Iraq (AP)  Thirteen years ago, Chase Snow's father was among the American troops who moved into the Iraqi city of Mosul during the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Now Snow, a U.S. Army specialist, is deployed in Iraq to help in the fight to retake the city from the Islamic State group.

The assault on Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, is bringing American forces into their most significant role in Iraq in years, in terms of numbers and presence on the front lines.

The lead-up to the assault has already brought some U.S. forces into combat with the militants. Special forces carry out raids alongside Iraqi troops inside IS-held territory around Mosul. And now as Iraqi forces prepare for the operation to retake the city, those raids have increased in frequency, according to a coalition official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to brief the media.

In this Sept. 8, 2016 photo, a U.S. Army soldier guards a position at Camp Swift, northern Iraq. U.S. troops will be engaged more closely than ever in fighting against Islamic State group militants as they back Iraqi forces in the long-anticipated assault on Mosul. The assault caps an increasing American role in Iraq over the past two years, with nearly 6,000 US troops on the ground, including special forces in combat on the front-lines. (AP Photo/Susannah George)

The U.S. has also sent Apache helicopters to aid in the Mosul fight, according to the Pentagon, a step that was not taken when Iraqi forces retook the western cities of Ramadi and Fallujah.

The number of U.S. troops in Iraq has steadily grown over the past two years to now nearly 6,000 service members, up from almost none following the 2011 withdrawal from Iraq. The latest group, numbering nearly 600, began to deploy in September to Qayara air base, the facility 30 miles south of Mosul that is to be the main staging ground for the assault on the city. Trucks have been rolling in the base for weeks with supplies and equipment, preparing it so coalition warplanes will be able to operate there.

"You've got to look at Mosul as the crown jewel right now," said Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky, the head of U.S ground forces in Iraq, regarding the build-up of forces. The deployments have "all been targeted to assist in the Mosul attack."

Besides the hundreds of special forces, most of the American personnel operate back from the front lines, coordinating coalition airstrikes, tracking Iraqi ground troops, sharing intelligence and helping plan operations.

Snow, from Nashville, Tennessee, with the 101st Airborne Division, is advising Iraqi officers carrying out the Mosul operation. His father was also with the 101st in Mosul in 2003. Now on Snow's Iraq deployment, he carries the same American flag his father kept with him on all of his tours and his father's good luck charm: a St. Michael prayer card.

"I know my father never thought I would be coming to Iraq," Snow said

U.S. presence at bases closer to Mosul in the lead up to operation is "essential" to the advise-and-assist mission, said U.S. Army Col. Brett Sylvia, the commanding officer at Camp Swift, a small coalition base outside Makhmour, some 73 kilometers (45 miles) southeast of Mosul.

"If you're not there, then you don't have a voice," Sylvia said, standing in front of the bank of televisions and desktop monitors that he says constitutes the forward edge of the battle for his men.

As of last week, there were 4,565 U.S. troops in Iraq, according to the Pentagon. That doesn't include another 1,500 troops considered there "on temporary duty," whose number changes daily, according to the U.S. officials

U.S. troop levels in Iraq peaked at 157,800 during the 2008 surge under then-President George W. Bush, according to the Pentagon. More than 140,000 U.S. troops were in Iraq when President Barack Obama took office in 2009. Obama drew down the forces until the complete withdrawal of late 2011 removed all combat troops from the country, leaving behind only a few hundred U.S. trainers, mainly civilians, to assist Iraqi security forces.

U.S. forces began returning after the Islamic State group overran Mosul in the summer of 2014 and blitzed across much of northern, central and western Iraq, joining it to territory it holds in Syria. Weeks later, President Barack Obama announced the start of the air campaign against the Islamic State. At the time, he underlined that he will not allow the U.S. "to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq."

But the U.S. role has steadily grown as Iraqi and Kurdish forces continue to rely heavily on coalition airpower and support in taking back the territory the militant group overran in 2014.

Over the past year, three American service members have been killed by IS in Iraq, revealing the increasingly active role of U.S. forces in a fight the Pentagon initially refused to describe as combat.

In October 2015, Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler was killed as he and dozens of other U.S. special forces participated in a raid alongside Iraqi Kurdish forces to free IS-held prisoners.

At the time, Defense secretary Ash Carter said it hadn't been part of the plan for U.S. forces to engage in combat during that raid and that Wheeler had "rushed to help" when the Kurdish fighters he was with came under attack.

Months later, Marine Staff Sgt. Louis Cardin was killed when IS fighters attacked a fire base near Camp Swift.

By the time of the third American death  Navy SEAL Charles Keating, who was killed in May  Carter immediately described it as a combat death. "He was in a firefight and he died in combat," he said.

Carter noted that while the coalition's overall approach is to enable local forces, "that doesn't mean we aren't going to do any fighting at all."

Iraqi commanders say despite months of training, their men are still almost entirely dependent on coalition airpower and intelligence to retake territory.

"If we didn't have airstrikes we wouldn't be able to advance," Iraqi Army Capt. Riad Ghafil with the Nineveh Operation Command admitted.

On a recent day at the Basmaya base outside Baghdad, Snow attended a graduation ceremony for 1,000 Iraqi soldiers who finished training and will be deployed in the north against IS. About halfway through the long series of speeches, the graduates began falling out of formation and slipping away from the ceremony to escape the midday sun. Coalition trainers at the event shook their heads in dismay, explaining that discipline was one of the skills the course focused on.

Throughout the steady intensification of the U.S. war in Iraq over the past two years, coalition and U.S. officials maintained that ultimately a lasting solution will only come from political change and reconciliation among Iraqi Shiites, Sunnis and other communities. But Iraqi political leadership has repeatedly failed to meet benchmarks for political reconciliation.

At Camp Swift, Sylvia said that after his last tour in Baghdad in 2008 he said he never thought he'd be back again. He said he hopes the U.S. doesn't fully withdraw from Iraq a second time.

"I would like us to have a long-term, engaging relationship with our Iraqi partners," he said.

"I think there is some admission (among some Iraqis) that it was a mistake for us to leave."

___

Associated Press writers Balint Szlanko and Salar Salim in Camp Swift, Iraq, and Lolita Baldor in Washington D.C. contributed to this report.

In this Sept. 8, 2016 photo, U.S. Army Col. Brett Sylvia, the commanding officer at Camp Swift, a small coalition base outside Makhmour, some 73 kilometers (45 miles) southeast of Mosul, speaks to the Associated Press. U.S. troops will be engaged more closely than ever in fighting against Islamic State group militants as they back Iraqi forces in the long-anticipated assault on Mosul. The assault caps an increasing American role in Iraq over the past two years, with nearly 6,000 US troops on the ground, including special forces in combat on the front-lines. (AP Photo/Susannah George)
US troops rammed in Kuwait pulled attacker from truck

KUWAIT CITY (AP)  American troops deployed in Kuwait who were intentionally rammed by an Egyptian man over the weekend pulled their attacker from his burning vehicle after it caught fire, the U.S. Embassy said Sunday.

The embassy described the incident on a Kuwaiti highway Saturday that was initially thought to be a traffic accident as "an attempted terrorist attack." All three uniformed U.S. military personnel in the truck that was struck escaped unharmed, the embassy said.

The incapacitated attacker, identified by Kuwaiti authorities as Ibrahim Sulaiman, born in 1988, was hospitalized and in police custody.

In this Saturday Oct. 8, 2016 photo released by Kuwait Ministry of Interiors, a damaged garbage truck after it rammed into another truck carrying five U.S. soldiers in Kuwait. An Egyptian driving a garbage truck loaded with explosives and Islamic State papers rammed into a truck carrying five U.S. soldiers in Kuwait on Saturday, injuring only himself in the attack, authorities said. (Kuwait Ministry of Interiors via AP)

Kuwaiti authorities had earlier said five American soldiers were involved. The Interior Ministry published pictures of the aftermath of the crash showing a wrecked garbage truck along with items it described as a suicide belt loaded with shrapnel. The white pickup truck apparently carrying the soldiers had the left side of its bed smashed in.

The embassy did not say where the troops were stationed, but American forces are deployed to Kuwait's Camp Arifjan.

Terrorist attacks are rare in Kuwait, a U.S. ally that was liberated during the 1991 American-led Gulf War following an invasion by neighboring Iraq.

The embassy said it is not aware of any "specific, credible threats" against American civilians in Kuwait, but it reminded those in the country to remain vigilant.

In this Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016 photo released by Kuwait Ministry of Interiors, Ibrahim Sulaiman from Egypt lays in a hospital bed. An Egyptian driving a garbage truck loaded with explosives and Islamic State papers rammed into a truck carrying five U.S. soldiers in Kuwait on Saturday, injuring only himself in the attack, authorities said. ( Kuwait Ministry of Interiors via AP)
Drones carrying medicines, blood face top challenge: Africa

JOHANNESBURG (AP)  At first, the drone took some explaining. Anxious villagers buzzed with rumors of a new blood-sucking thing that would fly above their homes. Witchcraft, some said.

The truth was more practical: A United Nations project would explore whether a small unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV, could deliver HIV test samples more efficiently than land transport in rural Malawi.

Once understanding dawned and work began, young students and their teachers would spill out of the nearby school, cheering, each time they heard the drone approaching. "It was very exciting," UNICEF official Judith Sherman said.

FILE - In this July 27, 2016, file frame from video provided by Vayu, Inc., residents from Ranomafana, Madagascar, watch before a drone containing medical samples takes off on a test flight from their remote village, which can only be reached on foot. Off Africas eastern coast in Madagascar, U.S. company Vayu completed drone flights to deliver blood and stool samples from rural villages, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development. (Stony Brook University/Vayu Inc. via AP, File)

As drones quickly pick up momentum around the world in everything from military strikes to pizza delivery, Africa, the continent with some of the most entrenched humanitarian crises, hopes the technology will bring progress.

This second-largest continent, with harsh landscapes of desert and rain forest and extremes of rainy seasons and drought, is burdened with what the World Bank has called "the worst infrastructure endowment of any developing region today." Rural highways, often unpaved, disintegrate. In many countries, access to electricity has actually declined. Taking to the air to soar over such challenges, much as Africa embraced mobile phones to bypass often dismal landline service, is a tempting goal.

Those trying out drones for humanitarian uses in Africa warn that the technology is no quick fix, but several new projects are exploring what can be achieved.

The highest-profile one yet begins this week in Rwanda, as the government and U.S. company Zipline launch a drone network to deliver blood supplies and medicines to remote hospitals and clinics. Even in one of Africa's smallest countries, such deliveries can take weeks by land. With drones, it will take hours.

The speed and limited space of drones have focused aid groups and businesses on how to deliver small, sensitive and potentially life-saving cargo. Earlier this year, a partnership was announced between Zipline and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.

Off Africa's eastern coast in Madagascar, another U.S. company, Vayu, has completed drone flights to deliver blood and stool samples from rural villages with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Africa has certain benefits for such projects, said Sid Rupani, who from his South Africa office studies how drones could be used effectively in supply chains. His U.S.-based employer, Llamasoft, has run a virtual pilot for Zipline in Tanzania.

"It's not crowded airspace. Not many urban areas to deal with," Rupani said. Already, drones are being used in parts of the continent as visual aids in mapping and anti-poaching.

Drones also face multiple challenges. Some models are limited in range or need frequent recharging. If they crash, retrieval in remote areas can be difficult. Some governments are wary of the technology as a possible invasion of their sovereignty, or they have no regulations in place.

Even aid workers have reservations. In a survey of workers in 61 countries released last month by the Humanitarian UAV Network and other groups, the majority saw drones as positive, but 22 percent did not.

A top concern was that people on the ground would think they were under attack.

"Whether we like it or not, UAVs are confused with weaponized drones," one Congo aid worker told the survey, pointing out the use of drones by the U.N. peacekeeping mission there.

Cost is another issue. The United Nations' test early this year in Malawi with the help of U.S. company Matternet found that using motorcycles was cheaper as they could carry other cargo, said Sherman, UNICEF's HIV and AIDS chief there.

But she still sees drones as "a leapfrog technology that has great potential, some we might not have thought of yet."

Aid organizations are pushing for new breakthroughs. The Netherlands-based Wings for Aid is working on a drone prototype to carry more and go farther: Up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of cargo could be delivered to several points within 500 kilometers (310 miles), said Wesley Kreft, director of business development and innovation.

"The holy grail is to have a network of autonomous drones that do their work independently, with a human supervising numerous deliveries at once," said Arthur Holland Michel, co-director of the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College in New York.
Guatemala City, Providence mayors to sign sister city deal

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  A former Guatemalan president who's now the mayor of the country's capital city is scheduled to visit Rhode Island this week to give a speech and sign a sister city agreement.

Guatemala City Mayor Alvaro Arzu and Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza are scheduled to sign the agreement Wednesday at Providence City Hall.

Arzu also plans to deliver a speech at Brown University on Wednesday about the peace accord he signed in 1996 ending 36 years of civil war. He's leading a delegation to Rhode Island meant to strengthen its commercial, tourist and cultural ties with Guatemala.
Bail practices in Texas' biggest county under scrutiny

HOUSTON (AP)  For university student Bryan Sweeney, the three days he spent at the Harris County Jail in Houston before he could pay his $10,000 bail for two misdemeanor charges, including for driving with a suspended license, cost him a chance to register for classes and graduate this summer. But Sweeney, an accounting major at Texas Southern University, said he's lucky, as others in a similar situation might never have been able to pay.

"It's pretty mentally difficult to fight a misdemeanor from inside of jail," said Sweeney, 27, who described the tough choice many poor defendants face. "I can get out and all I got to do is say, 'I'm guilty,' or I can sit in jail, sacrifice my freedoms and fight a misdemeanor case for the next six months that I can't afford," he said.

Criminal justice reform advocates say U.S. bail systems unfairly keep low-income defendants  many of whom are minorities arrested for nonviolent crimes  in jail for too long, which not only leads to overcrowding but can affect the outcome of their cases. In Harris County, the nation's third most populous, local officials say they are aware of the problems and recently implemented a $5.3 million plan, including a $2 million grant from the MacArthur Foundation, to jumpstart reforms.

In this Sept. 20, 2016 photo, Bryan Sweeney answers a question during an interview in Houston. Officials in Texas biggest county said theyre working to fix problems with its bail system, which criminal justice reform advocates allege unfairly keeps poor defendants in custody for too long and disproportionately affects minorities. For university student Sweeney, the three days he spent at the Harris County Jail in Houston before he could pay his $10,000 bail for two misdemeanor charges, including for driving with a suspended license, cost him a chance to register for classes and graduate this summer. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

"Low-level, nonviolent offenders should not be rotting in jail waiting for a trial. That's just wrong," Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson said.

However, some advocates are skeptical. They say previously discussed reforms have never come to fruition and they are now focusing on litigation as the best way to address the problem.

More than 50 percent of misdemeanor defendants in Harris County are detained until the conclusion of their case, many of them due to their inability to post bail, according to a July study by the University of Pennsylvania Law School. The study also found that misdemeanor defendants who remained jailed pretrial were 25 percent more likely to plead guilty. County data shows that of the 20 percent of pretrial defendants charged with low-level, non-violent crimes like drug possession and theft, 51 percent are African-American and 21 percent are Hispanic.

Among the initiatives Harris County is working to implement is a new pretrial risk assessment tool judges will use in determining bail decisions. An algorithm helps identify if a person is at risk of committing a new crime or failing to return to court if released on bail. The system, which judges will start using later this month, is intended to ensure low-risk defendants are diverted from the system as early as possible.

Reform advocates have long been critical of local judges using bail schedules  guides that set dollar amounts for bail based mostly on the current charge  and not releasing more low risk, non-violent defendants on personal bonds, in which individuals are released without having to pay bail. In Harris County, 5.8 percent of all defendants were granted personal bonds in 2015, including 8.5 percent of misdemeanor offenders. By comparison, nearly 88 percent of pretrial defendants are released on a personal bond in Washington, D.C.

The Texas Judicial Council, created by the state to study and report on its judicial practices, says it will ask that lawmakers during next year's session pass legislation stating the preference for pretrial release in Texas should be personal bonds and not money bail.

Anderson said other Harris County initiatives include expanding intervention programs that don't jail first-time misdemeanor drug and retail theft offenders but offer them a way to settle charges by completing community service or education classes. The county has also created a new Reintegration Court, which will tackle the more than 8,000 low-level, non-violent cases such as drug possession and prostitution that are filed annually. The hope is that the court will offer a more uniform approach on bail and treatment options for mental health or substance abuse problems in such cases.

At a legislative hearing last month, bail industry representatives spoke against the use of pretrial risk assessment tools and other bail reform efforts, saying such measures are unproven and would not offer any cost savings. County jails across the state are spending nearly $1 billion a year to house pretrial defendants, according to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.

Also skeptical is Rebecca Bernhardt, an attorney and executive director of the Texas Fair Defense Project.

"Until the numbers change, until the Harris County Jail is not overcrowded, until the criminal justice system is not disproportionately African American and Hispanic, it's words," Bernhardt said.

Earlier this year, her organization along with the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Equal Justice Under Law filed a lawsuit in Houston federal court, accusing Harris County's bail system of unfairly jailing poor defendants. Equal Justice has filed at least 10 similar lawsuits in eight states.

Various cities and states across the country are also looking at ways to reform their bail systems, as well as fines and other court costs that can have the same effect on poor defendants. In November, voters in New Mexico will be asked to approve a constitutional amendment allowing courts to release defendants without bail if there is no evidence the defendant is dangerous or a flight risk. San Francisco is testing the pretrial risk assessment tool Harris County will be using, which is already being used in about 30 jurisdictions across the country.

Sweeney, who took a plea deal to settle his case with time served, said he's focused on getting his degree and eventually going to law school. Sweeney said he plans to graduate in December, "if I don't go to jail."

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Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter at https://twitter.com/juanlozano70

In this Sept. 20, 2016 photo, Bryan Sweeney answers a question during an interview in Houston. Officials in Texas biggest county said theyre working to fix problems with its bail system, which criminal justice reform advocates allege unfairly keeps poor defendants in custody for too long and disproportionately affects minorities. For university student Sweeney, the three days he spent at the Harris County Jail in Houston before he could pay his $10,000 bail for two misdemeanor charges, including for driving with a suspended license, cost him a chance to register for classes and graduate this summer. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

In this Sept. 20, 2016 photo, Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson answers a question during an interview, in Houston. Officials in Texas biggest county said theyre working to fix problems with its bail system, which criminal justice reform advocates allege unfairly keeps poor defendants in custody for too long and disproportionately affects minorities. Low-level, nonviolent offenders should not be rotting in jail waiting for a trial. Thats just wrong, Anderson said. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Governor: Trains side-swiped each other, causing derailment

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. (AP)  A 12-car commuter train and a work train performing track maintenance were traveling the same direction when they "side-swiped" each other, causing the commuter train to derail and injuring 33 people, four seriously, state officials said Sunday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, speaking at the site of the Saturday night accident, said initial reviews indicate the yellow maintenance train somehow entered the clearance space of the eastbound Long Island Rail Road train, causing it to derail and leaving "a splatter of yellow paint where the first collision occurred."

"Both trains were running in the same direction  one was a work train, one was a revenue train and they side-swiped each other," said Cuomo, a Democrat. "The question is why."

In this photo provided by Sarah Qamar shows a Long Island Railroad train derailed near New Hyde Park, N.Y., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. The commuter train derailed east of New York City after it hit a work train on the tracks. A spokesman for the Long Island Rail Road says the eastbound train derailed east of New Hyde Park just after 9 p.m. Saturday. A spokeswoman for the Nassau County Police Department says there are 50 to 100 injuries, none of them life-threatening. (Sarah Qamar via AP)

Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were to determine what exactly caused the accident, Cuomo said.

The derailment comes 10 days after another commuter train in New Jersey crashed into a terminal, killing one person and injuring more than 100.

Four people sustained serious injuries in the Saturday collision, including one passenger with multiple broken bones and a worker who suffered cuts, Metropolitan Transit Authority Chairman Thomas Prendergast said. Five Long Island Rail Road employees on the commuter train, and two on the work train, were among the injured, he said.

Craig Heller, one of 600 passengers aboard the LIRR train Saturday night, said his car started shaking suddenly after the collision.

"The car was shaking back and forth and back and forth," he said. "We felt like we could actually completely tilt over while it was happening. That was a fear."

Emergency workers used ladders to bring the injured off the derailed trail, which came to a stop on a stretch of tracks in a remote area on a hill about 22 miles east of New York City.

Workers were trying to clear at least one of the two tracks before the Monday morning commute, Cuomo said. The maintenance train had finished its track work Saturday night when it somehow violated the commuter train's space, Prendergast said. The LIRR train was likely traveling faster than the work train when they collided, he said.

Long Island Rail Road trains have been involved in 72 accidents since Jan. 1, 2011, according to federal data, including 3 collisions and 15 derailments on tracks used for passenger service.
Illinois worst in reclaiming jobless benefits

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP)  Illinois is billions in debt, has billions in overdue bills and can't seem to remove itself from a budget morass, yet it's the nation's worst in reclaiming hundreds of millions of dollars in overpaid unemployment benefits, an Associated Press analysis of federal labor data found.

The abysmal performance  claiming only about $264 million of the $714 million in overpayments from 2012 to 2016  is one reason the U.S. Labor Department said that it would step in to help Illinois meet standards for management, record-keeping and timeliness, according to an Aug. 31 letter obtained by the AP under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.

Illinois' 37 percent recovery rate is the worst among all U.S. states and territories, which average 66 percent, the AP found.

In this Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016 photo, an Illinois Department of Employment Security banner hangs in their office in Springfield, Ill. An Associated Press analysis of federal statistics shows Illinois is the nations worst in reclaiming hundreds of millions of dollars in overpaid unemployment benefits. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

That unclaimed $452 million can't be used to alleviate social services that have suffered because of the state's 21-month budget crisis, because it's earmarked for current legitimate jobless claims or be held in savings to dole out for unemployment in the future.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security handles about 600,000 unemployment claims a year and collects $2.3 billion annually in unemployment insurance taxes from employers. But the review shows IDES didn't reclaim more than 60 percent of what it had improperly paid to ineligible claimants who either cashed unemployment checks intentionally, through oversight or because they misunderstood the rules after they started working again.

IDES blames that on two main factors that director Jeffrey Mays told the AP have been reversed. First, the agency relied on months-old employment reports to determine who had been hired and no longer eligible for unemployment benefits. Second, it didn't enforce a federal requirement that those filing for unemployment register with the state and show their job-search progress.

Those two seemingly simple steps are among those in a multifaceted approach IDES is taking to modernize the unemployment insurance program, May said, as well as address timeliness of payments, how it validates data and other concerns raised by the Labor Department's Employment and Training Administration.

With marching orders from Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, Mays' agency has begun requiring employers of 25 or more to report payroll with their monthly unemployment insurance tax payments so state officials can identify names of new hires and cross-check them with unemployment benefit lists. Since late July, those seeking unemployment benefits must register with the state's online job-referral site and as of Oct. 1, they must participate in job-search assistance, such as skills training or resume-building.

"The goal is to bring people back to work quicker and you can't do that if they're not registered with you and you surely can't do that if they're resistant to coming in and working with the systems you've got," Mays said.

It's not all Illinois' fault: Federal money helps fund state unemployment bureau, and the check from a belt-tightening Washington fell dramatically during the administration of Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn  from nearly $200 million in 2012 to $150 million this year  so Mays said his predecessor was struggling to maintain the program due to staff and operational cuts.

Only California has misspent more than Illinois, but it has collected half of that $723 million total and has about triple the amount of unemployment workers as Illinois' 364,000, according to the Labor Department. For comparison, New York has 461,000 unemployed people, misallocated $441 million during the four-year period, but has a 75 percent recovery rate, according to the AP review.

The Labor Department, which first targeted Florida and Pennsylvania last year, considers the federal notice "a technical assistance effort and not a public shaming," said spokesman Scott Allen, who declined other comment. Designated states get a visit from Labor Department experts, who assist in making improvements so they can meet department standards for six consecutive months, one requirement to be removed from federal "high-priority" status.

Nevada, with an overpayment recovery rate is 68 percent, was singled out with Illinois this year. Jeffrey Frischman, deputy administrator for the employment security division of the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, says that's because there's wage-reporting confusion among workers in the tip-driven casino industry.

Illinois' agency is revising dozens of often contradictory letters that explain eligibility to claimants and is advising employers of non-compliance. And it also has partnered with the state's Revenue Department so that businesses will next year be able to pay all their taxes, including unemployment insurance, on one website.

Kim Clarke Maisch, state director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses and a member of the Illinois Department of Employment's Security Advisory Board, noted improvements in the program began under Quinn and are continuing with Rauner.

While the federal notice indicates "we're behind other states," Maisch said, "As I've seen over the last four years or so, the agency is more and more focused on attacking the fraud in the system on both sides."

___

AP researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this report.

___

Contact Political Writer John O'Connor at https://twitter.com/apoconnor . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/john-oconnor .

In this Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016 photo, the Illinois Department of Employment Security office is open in Springfield, Ill. In the past four years, Illinois has paid out more than $700 million in improper unemployment benefits and retrieved only about 37 percent of it, according to an analysis by The Associated Press. That's the worst in the nation, and one reason the state was put on "high priority" status by the U.S. Department of Labor. IDES offers job placement, referrals, unemployment insurance, employment, training programs, career and labor market information. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
Gun or stun gun? Different police responses raise questions

SAN DIEGO (AP)  When Alfred Olango pulled out an object from his right pocket last month and assumed a shooting stance in a strip mall parking lot in a San Diego suburb, one officer opened fire with his pistol. The other officer simultaneously stunned Olango using his Taser.

Civil rights advocates say the different response by officers facing the same suspect illustrates a breakdown in police training and communication and shows that some officers are too quick to turn to deadly force.

The Sept. 27 shooting death of the 38-year-old Ugandan refugee who turned out to be wielding an electronic cigarette device came 11 days after another unarmed black man, 40-year-old Terence Crutcher, died in Tulsa, Oklahoma after being shot by two officers also simultaneously firing a gun and a Taser.

FILE - In this April 10, 2015, file photo, a Taser and handgun are displayed in Tulsa, Okla. In the recent shootings of unarmed black men in a San Diego suburb and in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the police officers who fired the fatal shots were accompanied by officers who simultaneously drew their stun guns. Civil rights advocates say the different response by officers facing the same suspect and the same apparent threat illustrates a breakdown in police training and communication and shows that some officers are too quick to turn to deadly force. (Cory Young/Tulsa World via AP) /Tulsa World via AP)

"I think when one police officer feels it is appropriate to use a less lethal weapon like a Taser, and the other officer feels like the person has to be killed  it suggests a real divergence in training," said Ezekiel Edwards, director of the American Civil Liberty Union's criminal law reform project.

He added: "I think it highlights that we have a serious problem in this country, which has been seen played out over and over again with police using lethal force in circumstances where it is not necessary and not justified."

Law enforcement experts, however, say it's not that simple because different officers don't necessarily have the same reactions for handling potential threats.

The decisions they make, the experts say, can be influenced by factors ranging from what officers see of suspects based on where they are standing, the extent of their police experience and information received from police dispatchers.

Officers increasingly work alone in patrol cars without partners and the sharp electric sound made by the Taser when fired could prompt other officers with guns to pull the trigger in what is known as a "sympathetic firing."

And once an officer chooses to use a Taser instead of a gun, there often is no time to switch to a firearm if the dangerous situation escalates quickly, said Tim Dees, a retired police officer and police trainer who writes a column for the PoliceOne.com website.

"If there is a deadly threat to officers, you don't want bring in something less lethal, because by the time you transition you could be dead," Dees said.

Stun guns, like the ones made by Taser, have been credited with saving thousands of lives by giving officers a safer alternative to guns.

But they are not meant for situations officers perceive as life-threatening. The devices send dart-like electrodes into targets to cause "neuromuscular incapacitation." They should be used in police situations where non-deadly force is appropriate, similar to how officers use pepper spray on crowds, said Steve Tuttle, a Taser spokesman.

People have died after being shot with Tasers, including a 66-year-old man in suburban Los Angeles last week. Officers could not drag him to safety to be treated by paramedics for 14 minutes because they were in a standoff with his brother, who was threatening police with a gun. Taser says its weapons do not kill.

In potentially violent situations, police often have an officer with a stun gun approach a suspect while other officers stay in the background with their guns drawn, said retired Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank.

"You don't want the officer with the firearm being the one doing the talking, not in the heat of the moment," said Burbank, who retired in 2015 and now works for the Center for Policing Equity, a law enforcement think tank. "You want the officer who is providing lethal cover to be removed from the situation, not emotionally involved, so they have good judgment."

Burbank agrees with the ACLU that police need more training to learn how to calm down threatening incidents without using any weapons at all.

Videos released by police in the city of El Cajon where Olango was shot show Officer Richard Gonsalves approaching Olango with his weapon drawn.

Olango backs away, moving from side to side and refusing commands to take his hand out of his pocket.

Seconds later, Officer Josh McDaniel arrives with his Taser drawn.

Olango then pulls his hand out of his pocket and wraps both hands around the e-cigarette cylinder, pointing it at Gonsalves. Shots are heard moments later as both officers open fire.

Taser recommends that an officer using the weapon yell "Taser! Taser! Taser!" just before firing so other officers know what is going to happen and don't automatically react by opening fire with their guns when they hear the sound of the Taser firing.

It's not clear from the video if McDaniel shouted "Taser!" before firing.

In the Oklahoma shooting on Sept. 16, Crutcher was killed by gunfire from Officer Betty Jo Shelby, who has been charged with first-degree manslaughter and has pleaded not guilty.

It's unclear whether the simultaneous Taser shooting of Crutcher by another officer will help Shelby's defense.

Her lawyers could argue that the firing of the Taser by the other officer shows that the officers were threatened by Crutcher, but prosecutors could use it to contend her life was not in danger because the other officer felt non-lethal action was the best way to subdue Crutcher.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared it a 'date which will live in infamy' - and three-quarters of a century later, relics from that audacious attack still conjure strong emotions.

A new exhibition commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack that drew the United States into the Second World War is opening at a private, nonprofit museum west of Boston that's open to the public by appointment.

The World War II Museum in Natick, Massachusetts, is setting up the 'Why We Still Remember', to capture the U.S. and Japanese mood leading up to and after the December 7, 1941, attack by Japan.

A pair of goggles worn by a Japanese pilot during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor is on display as part of an exhibit at The Museum of World War II, Boston, in Natick, Massachusetts. They are commemorating the 75 anniversary of the offensive

A 1942 U.S. wartime poster instructing people of Japanese ancestry to move away from coastal regions after the attack is on display. The new exhibition, which opened Saturday features artifacts that have rarely been publicly displayed

Museum founder Kenneth Rendell suggests the themes - including the rising nationalism in Japan and the complacency in the U.S. to the growing threat in a part of the world few Americans understood - should resonate today in the times of the Islamic State group and other foes.

'We underestimated the Japanese terribly. Everyone was paying attention to Europe, no one was paying attention to Asia,' he said.

'It explains a lot about why we were caught flat-footed. That's the importance of learning from history. It's having respect for the enemy.'

The exhibition, which opened Saturday and runs through January 7, 2017, features artifacts evoking the imperialistic ambitions of Japan in the years leading up to the attack, when Japanese news accounts and propaganda celebrated victories over China in the two nations' battles in the 1930s.

Those pieces are contrasted with the island paradise of hula girls and sandy beaches captured in photographs taken by U.S. servicemen stationed at Pearl Harbor, which is located just west of Honolulu, Hawaii, and is the headquarters of the Pacific Fleet.

A World War II-era portrait of husband and wife Tom and Ruth Kasai rests near medals, including a purple heart. Tom, who was wounded in Europe and awarded the medals for his service, served in the U.S. Army overseas at the same time his wife and parents were held in an internment camp for Americans of Japanese ancestry

A pair of binoculars that were found on the battleship USS Arizona after the horrific attacks are also on display in the Massachusetts museum

Then there is the attack itself. It involved more than 300 Japanese fighter planes and bombers and killed more than 2,000 Americans, wounded more than 1,000 others, and destroyed or damaged scores of U.S. warships and aircraft.

A glass display holds a small piece of a Japanese plane shot down in the battle, as well as a copy of the first hastily typed distress message sent out from the naval base.

'AIRRAID ON PEARL HARBOR X THIS IS NO DRILL,' it reads.

Other items on display include a large pair of binoculars from the bridge of the USS Arizona.

Photo placards and mementos bear the phrase 'Remember Pearl Harbor'

News clippings and mementos from 1941 form part of the exhibit

The badly bombed battleship sank in the attack, killing more than 1,000 officers and crew members.

On the exhibition walls, the outrage and sorrow of U.S. newspaper headlines is contrasted with the euphoria and exultation expressed in Japanese postcards, photos and newspapers at the time.

The exhibition also reflects on the heightened fear and anger over Japanese living in America, and the experiences of Japanese families forced into internment camps.

Pictured is a wire transmission of a historic photo showing the battleship USS Arizona in flames after being bombed by Japanese aircraft, resting next to medals

Through photos, letters and other personal effects, it spotlights the story of Tom Kasai, a Los Angeles-area resident who served in the U.S. Army while his wife and parents were relocated to a camp in Arizona.

Kasai was wounded serving in France and awarded the Purple Heart, which is included in the display along with his uniform and other medals.

As visitors complete the exhibition, they're confronted with an assortment of buttons, pins, stamps and other keepsakes produced in the wake of the attack.
Israel: Palestinian shooter in Jerusalem kills 2, wounds 5

JERUSALEM (AP)  A Palestinian militant carried out a drive-by shooting near the national headquarters of the Israeli police in Jerusalem Sunday, killing two people and wounding five others before being shot dead following a frenzied chase through the streets of the holy city, Israeli police and emergency services said.

The attack, carried out in broad daylight by a member of the Hamas militant group with a long police record, was one of the bloodiest during a yearlong spate of Palestinian assaults. Israel had beefed up security in recent weeks, warning that the potential for violence could rise during the current Jewish high holiday season.

"This past year has not been easy," President Reuven Rivlin said in a statement calling for national unity. "Time after time, just as today, the civilian home front found itself to be the front line."

Israeli police secures the scene where a car driven by a Palestinian gunman was intercepted by the police and gunman shot dead in Jerusalem Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. A Palestinian motorist launched a shooting spree near the Israeli police headquarters in Jerusalem Sunday, killing two and wounding several more before being shot dead, Israeli police and emergency services said. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

In Washington, the State Department condemned the shooting in the "strongest possible terms." Spokesman Mark Toner said there is "absolutely no justification for the taking of innocent lives." He also condemned statements "glorifying this reprehensible and cowardly attack."

The police headquarters has been a frequent location of attacks, both because of the large number of officers in the vicinity and because of its location along the invisible line between predominantly Jewish west Jerusalem and the Palestinian neighborhoods of east Jerusalem.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the attacker sped toward a busy stop of the city's light rail and opened fire, hitting a 60-year-old woman. He continued driving and shot another woman who was seated in her car before speeding off toward an Arab neighborhood in east Jerusalem.

Samri said police officers on motorcycles chased the assailant, who eventually stepped out of his vehicle and opened fire at them. A separate police force ultimately shot and killed the attacker, Samri said.

The Israeli national rescue service, Mada, said two people were killed. Police identified one of the dead as a 29-year-old officer, Yosef Kirma. The 60-year-old woman, identified as Levanah Malichi, also died.

Police said the shooter was a 39-year-old man from the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan. They did not release his name. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the shooter had used a .556-caliber automatic rifle, in contrast to the crude, homemade firearms typically used in past attacks. He said police were trying to determine how the shooter had obtained the weapon.

Israeli media reported the man had previously served multiple sentences for violent acts and was due to report to prison Sunday for another sentence over assaulting a police officer.

The Hamas militant group stopped short of claiming responsibility for the attack. But in a statement issued in the Gaza Strip, it identified the shooter as Musbah Abu Sbaih, an activist known as the "Lion of Al Aqsa."

The group said he had been arrested by Israel five times in recent weeks and had been ordered to stay away from east Jerusalem and the Al Aqsa Mosque.

It said he had been summoned earlier Sunday to begin serving a four-month term of "administrative detention," in which Israel can hold suspected militants without charging them.

"Instead of handing himself over, he chose the best way of the holy warriors, to carry out a heroic attack," the group said.

The pro-Hamas al-Quds TV station later broadcast a video in which Abu Sbaih calls for "vigilance."

"I tell the occupation: Despite your massacres, we are here with steadfastness in our Jerusalem and the holy mosque of Al Aqsa," he says. It was not clear when the video was recorded.

Later Sunday, Israeli forces clashed with stone-throwing Palestinian youths during an arrest raid in al-Ram, a West Bank village on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Palestinian witnesses said the father of the shooter was arrested by forces. The military said it dispersed the crowds with "riot dispersal means," including rubber-coated bullets. Two soldiers were lightly wounded.

While covering the clashes, Associated Press photographer Majdi Mohammed was lightly wounded in the shoulder by a rubber bullet that he said was fired at him from just 10 meters (11 yards) away. Israeli Military spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner and Rosenfeld, the police spokesman, said the incident was being investigated.

Sunday's attack in Jerusalem was the deadliest on Israelis since June 8, when two Palestinians opened fire and killed four people at a popular Tel Aviv food market.

The Palestinian attacks began around the Jewish holidays a year ago. Since then, they have killed 36 Israelis and two visiting Americans. About 219 Palestinians have been killed during that period. Israel says most of the dead were attackers, though Palestinians have accused Israel of using excessive violence.

Israel has blamed the violence on incitement by Palestinian political and religious leaders, compounded on social media sites. The Palestinians say it is rooted in some 50 years of military occupation and dwindling hopes for independence.

Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan said there were no specific warnings of an attack ahead of time and the quick response of security forces on the scene prevented a deadlier result. He repeated his previous criticism of social media sites that allow militants to spread their messages of incitement.

"It has an impact. It pushes people out to the streets to commits acts of murder and terror," he said.

___

Associated Press writers Mohammed Daraghmeh in Ramallah, West Bank, and Fares Akram in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, contributed to this report.

Israeli police secures the scene where a car driven by a Palestinian gunman was intercepted by the police and gunman shot dead in Jerusalem Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. A Palestinian motorist launched a shooting spree near the Israeli police headquarters in Jerusalem Sunday, killing two and wounding several more before being shot dead, Israeli police and emergency services said. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Israeli police secures the scene of a shooting attack in Jerusalem Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. A Palestinian motorist launched a shooting spree near the Israeli police headquarters in Jerusalem Sunday, killing two and wounding several more before being shot dead, Israeli police and emergency services said. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
BC-US--Taser vs Lethal Force, 1st Ld-Writethru,879, US

%xhl(In the recent shootings of unarmed black men in a San Diego suburb and in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the police officers who fired the fatal shots were accompanied by officers who simultaneously drew their stun guns%)

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FILE - In this April 10, 2015, file photo, a Taser and handgun are displayed in Tulsa, Okla. In the recent shootings of unarmed black men in a San Diego suburb and in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the police officers who fired the fatal shots were accompanied by officers who simultaneously drew their stun guns. Civil rights advocates say the different response by officers facing the same suspect and the same apparent threat illustrates a breakdown in police training and communication and shows that some officers are too quick to turn to deadly force. (Cory Young/Tulsa World via AP) /Tulsa World via AP)

%vldb_id(media_id:OKTUL201-1007161620; item_id:3a93302f337c4f58b9e8fec1a01d9524

%vldb_id(media_id:PDX101-1007161622; item_id:bce539307e6b4c9598af78fa25bb9075

%photo(AP Photo OKTUL201, PDX101

%reldate(2016-10-09T17:38:50%)

%ednotes(Eds: Updates with details, background. With AP Photos.

%junkline(FOR SUNDAY, edited by Clendenning, Adam Causey has tweet material%)

%byline(By JULIE WATSON%)

%bytitle(The Associated Press%)

SAN DIEGO (AP)  When Alfred Olango pulled out an object from his right pocket last month and assumed a shooting stance in a strip mall parking lot in a San Diego suburb, one officer opened fire with his pistol. The other officer simultaneously stunned Olango using his Taser.

Civil rights advocates say the different response by officers facing the same suspect illustrates a breakdown in police training and communication and shows that some officers are too quick to turn to deadly force.

The Sept. 27 shooting death of the 38-year-old Ugandan refugee who turned out to be wielding an electronic cigarette device came 11 days after another unarmed black man, 40-year-old Terence Crutcher, died in Tulsa, Oklahoma after being shot by two officers also simultaneously firing a gun and a Taser.

"I think when one police officer feels it is appropriate to use a less lethal weapon like a Taser, and the other officer feels like the person has to be killed  it suggests a real divergence in training," said Ezekiel Edwards, director of the American Civil Liberty Union's criminal law reform project.

He added: "I think it highlights that we have a serious problem in this country, which has been seen played out over and over again with police using lethal force in circumstances where it is not necessary and not justified."

Law enforcement experts, however, say it's not that simple because different officers don't necessarily have the same reactions for handling potential threats.

The decisions they make, the experts say, can be influenced by factors ranging from what officers see of suspects based on where they are standing, the extent of their police experience and information received from police dispatchers.

Officers increasingly work alone in patrol cars without partners and the sharp electric sound made by the Taser when fired could prompt other officers with guns to pull the trigger in what is known as a "sympathetic firing."

And once an officer chooses to use a Taser instead of a gun, there often is no time to switch to a firearm if the dangerous situation escalates quickly, said Tim Dees, a retired police officer and police trainer who writes a column for the PoliceOne.com website.

"If there is a deadly threat to officers, you don't want bring in something less lethal, because by the time you transition you could be dead," Dees said.

Stun guns, like the ones made by Taser, have been credited with saving thousands of lives by giving officers a safer alternative to guns.

But they are not meant for situations officers perceive as life-threatening. The devices send dart-like electrodes into targets to cause "neuromuscular incapacitation." They should be used in police situations where non-deadly force is appropriate, similar to how officers use pepper spray on crowds, said Steve Tuttle, a Taser spokesman.

People have died after being shot with Tasers, including a 66-year-old man in suburban Los Angeles last week. Officers could not drag him to safety to be treated by paramedics for 14 minutes because they were in a standoff with his brother, who was threatening police with a gun. Taser says its weapons do not kill.

In potentially violent situations, police often have an officer with a stun gun approach a suspect while other officers stay in the background with their guns drawn, said retired Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank.

"You don't want the officer with the firearm being the one doing the talking, not in the heat of the moment," said Burbank, who retired in 2015 and now works for the Center for Policing Equity, a law enforcement think tank. "You want the officer who is providing lethal cover to be removed from the situation, not emotionally involved, so they have good judgment."

Burbank agrees with the ACLU that police need more training to learn how to calm down threatening incidents without using any weapons at all.

Videos released by police in the city of El Cajon where Olango was shot show Officer Richard Gonsalves approaching Olango with his weapon drawn.

Olango backs away, moving from side to side and refusing commands to take his hand out of his pocket.

Seconds later, Officer Josh McDaniel arrives with his Taser drawn.

Olango then pulls his hand out of his pocket and wraps both hands around the e-cigarette cylinder, pointing it at Gonsalves. Shots are heard moments later as both officers open fire.

Taser recommends that an officer using the weapon yell "Taser! Taser! Taser!" just before firing so other officers know what is going to happen and don't automatically react by opening fire with their guns when they hear the sound of the Taser firing.

It's not clear from the video if McDaniel shouted "Taser!" before firing.

In the Oklahoma shooting on Sept. 16, Crutcher was killed by gunfire from Officer Betty Jo Shelby, who has been charged with first-degree manslaughter and has pleaded not guilty.

It's unclear whether the simultaneous Taser shooting of Crutcher by another officer will help Shelby's defense.

Her lawyers could argue that the firing of the Taser by the other officer shows that the officers were threatened by Crutcher, but prosecutors could use it to contend her life was not in danger because the other officer felt non-lethal action was the best way to subdue Crutcher.
Barge parking lot? Hudson River plan draws ire of residents

KINGSTON, N.Y. (AP)  From her clifftop cottage, Carolyn Marks Blackwood enjoys a sweeping view of the Hudson River and distant Catskill Mountains that once inspired the painter Frederick Church. Now, she says, the riverscape has been turned some days into a noisy parking lot for barges hauling North Dakota crude oil to East Coast refineries and export terminals.

And she fears it will only get worse if a proposal is approved to expand such sites up and down the river.

"Huge barges parked for days in front of my house, with stadium lighting at night and the constant sound of generators," Blackwood said of the traffic that began three years ago after train shipments of the crude began coming in to Albany, about 50 miles upriver.

In this Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 photo, a tugboat and barge travel south on the Hudson River in Stuyvesant, N.Y. A group of citizens, lawmakers and environmentalists is fighting a proposal to establish more than 40 commercial anchorages at locations along a stretch of the Hudson River running north from New York City. Shipping industry officials said they need safe places to anchor, sometimes for days, barges hauling North Dakota crude oil to East Coast refineries and export terminals. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Blackwood, a filmmaker from Rhinecliff, is among a group of Hudson Valley citizens, lawmakers and environmentalists who are fighting a proposal to establish more than 40 commercial anchorage sites at 10 locations along a 70-mile stretch of river from New York City to Kingston.

Pilots and industry officials say they need safe places to anchor, sometimes for days, as they wait for weather improvement, icebreaking, tide changes or docking space at their destination.

The main concern is increased crude oil shipments. Opponents cite potential risks to public safety, drinking water, recreation, waterfront revitalization, fish spawning grounds and the overall health of a river that has been slowly recovering from its industrialized past. And some environmental groups suspect the anchorages will actually be used to store oil on barges until prices recover from a glut of oil that began at the end of 2014.

The shipping industry asked the Coast Guard to officially designate the sites after Blackwood and other residents complained to the agency about barges parking at unauthorized spots like the waters near Blackwood's home. The complaints led the agency to threaten fines for anchoring outside federally designated sites last fall.

"These anchorages have been used for years  the problem is, they were never designated," said Capt. Ian Corcoran, president of the Hudson River Pilots Association, which supports the request.

Industry officials say more anchorages are needed to accommodate more maritime traffic, and they say congestion at the Port of Albany and New York Harbor has increased the need for waiting spots for cargo ships and barges up to 600 feet long. Kingston, across the river from Rhinecliff, is a top priority because it's the last suitable anchorage area before the river narrows for the last 46 miles up to Albany.

"Trade will increase on the Hudson River significantly over the next few years with the lifting of the ban on American crude exports for foreign trade and federally designated anchorages are key to supporting trade," the Maritime Association of the Port of New York/New Jersey said in its request to the Coast Guard.

There are now two official anchorage grounds, at Yonkers just north of New York City, and 57 miles north at Hyde Park, about 10 miles south of Kingston.

The Coast Guard announced in June that it was soliciting public comments on the proposal until Sept. 7, but after an outpouring of public objections, it extended the deadline until Dec. 6 and agreed to hold public hearings. More than 3,000 comments have been submitted.

Of particular concern to riverside communities is the industry's request for both short-term and long-term anchoring, without defining how long that would be. The current stays vary based on conditions, but the Coast Guard says it could set a time limit in regulations.

"We do not want to prop up the fossil fuel industry by allowing long-term anchorage of petroleum bearing vessels," Kingston Mayor Steven Noble said in a letter to the Coast Guard.

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said allowing up to 16 more vessels to park there "will lead to the re-industrialization of our pristine Hudson riverfront and reverse the momentum of our waterfront revitalization as evidenced by over $1 billion in new economic development."

The American Waterways Association said Coast Guard policy "must not be driven by aesthetics but by safe usage of the waterways," and said the agency's decision on anchorage placement in the Hudson could establish a precedent in other U.S. waterways as well.
Surrounded by alligators, Matthew cleanup goes on in Florida

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (AP)  Sure, lots of people in St. Augustine are picking up branches and leaves after Hurricane Matthew blew through town. But only a few are doing it surrounded by alligators.

That's what Jim Darlington and Amie Mercado were doing on Sunday, raking up debris in an alligator pit with the enormous reptiles just a couple of feet away, including one who opened its mouth wide as Mercado approached. That was part of the unusual cleanup at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, where trees and limbs fell into alligator lagoons and crocodile pools, and enormous African storks were taken out of the bathrooms where they rode out the hurricane.

All in all, the zoo  one of Florida's oldest tourist attractions and the only place in the world that displays every species of crocodilian  fared well during the storm. However, fears of what could have been were certainly on people's minds.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm bird and mammal curator Gen Anderson describes how storks were sheltered in bathrooms during Hurricane Matthew at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, in St. Augustine, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. The storks are now back to their habitat as workers clean up after Hurricane Matthew. (AP Photo/Brendan Farrington)

"We were all hunkered down listening to the news, and of course everybody is on social media, and sure enough a rumor started that there are alligators out  hundreds of alligators were out," Darlington said, who said the 123-year-old zoo was inspected by state wildlife officials immediately after the storm passed and before employees were allowed back in. "The walls were still standing. There weren't alligators running around."

To prepare for the storm, cobras and other venomous snakes put in drawstring bags, placed in secure containers and then those containers were placed in other containers. Storks were rounded up and placed in bathrooms. Parrots and other birds were caged and alligator hatchlings were crated and placed in a secure building.

"We had to get very creative with where we put animals to make sure they were in the best housing condition for 48 hours that we could possibly give them," said Gen Anderson, the zoo's bird and mammal curator.

Storks were put in the bathrooms, where sinks were left dripping.

"Each stork was in a separate bathroom, the floors are really easy to clean and they had a water source. They seemed comfortable," Anderson said.

Crocodiles and alligators weren't moved  but the water levels in lagoons and pools were lowered by half to make sure flooding didn't get too high. Darlington said the surge ended up a bit higher than he expected, but no animals escaped.

"They just stay hunkered down," Darlington said. "The animals just stay in the pools. In bad weather, they're not out running around freaking out like a bunch of ostriches or something, they just want to stay in the water."

The biggest hit to the zoo was its zip line, which visitors take to zoom over the alligators and crocodiles, dipping down to within about 30 feet of the creatures. Several limbs where the lines run came down. While the zoo hopes to open Tuesday, the zip line will take longer to repair.

A group of alligators gathers near palm trees that fell during Hurricane Matthew at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm in St. Augustine, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. The zoo remains closed while workers cleared debris on Sunday. (AP Photo/Brendan Farrington)

Geno Sperotto removes broken tree limbs from a zip line that runs over alligator pits during Hurricane Matthew cleanup at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, in St. Augustine, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. All in all, the zoo, one of Floridas oldest tourist attractions and the only place in the world that displays every species of crocodilian, fared well during the storm, but fears of what could have been were certainly on peoples minds. (AP Photo/Brendan Farrington)

Amie Mercado cleans up Hurricane Matthew debris in an alligator pit with the enormous reptiles just a couple of feet away, at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, in St. Augustine, Fla., Sunday, oct. 9, 2016. All in all, the zoo, one of Floridas oldest tourist attractions and the only place in the world that displays every species of crocodilian, fared well during the storm. (AP Photo/Brendan Farrington)

Jim Darlington takes a phone call while cleaning up Hurricane Matthew debris at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, in St. Augustine, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. All in all, the zoo, one of Floridas oldest tourist attractions and the only place in the world that displays every species of crocodilian, fared well during the storm, but fears of what could have been were certainly on peoples minds. (AP Photo/Brendan Farrington)

Jim Darlington and Amie Mercado rake up debris in an alligator pit with the enormous reptiles just a couple of feet away, at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, in St. Augustine, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. All in all, the zoo, one of Floridas oldest tourist attractions and the only place in the world that displays every species of crocodilian, fared well during the storm. (AP Photo/Brendan Farrington)
Ahead of debate, Trump revives allegations against Clintons

WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump is trying to revive old problems in Hillary Clinton's marriage and claims that she helped Bill Clinton discredit his accusers. As Trump's campaign staggers under the revelation of his own predatory behavior toward women, he's also going further: He's accused the former president of "rape," Hillary Clinton of being an "enabler" and threatened to shift those issues from his Twitter feed to the presidential debate stage.

Leading up to Sunday's town hall debate in St. Louis, Hillary Clinton's campaign brushed off Trump's tactics.

Here's a look at the Clintons' history and what Trump has said about it:

FILE - In a Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016 file photo, former President Bill Clinton attends the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation (JBJSF) benefit gala, celebrating ten years of combating hunger and homelessness, at The Garage, in New York. Donald Trump has accused the former president of rape, Hillary Clinton of being an enabler and threatened to shift those issues from his Twitter feed to the presidential debate stage on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, File)

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ACCUSATIONS AGAINST BILL CLINTON

Bill Clinton has been dogged by rumors of adultery and, at times, allegations of mistreatment of women, for much of his political career.

The rumors and accusations began when Bill Clinton was Arkansas governor in the 1990s. They became national news when he ran for president in 1992 and actress Gennifer Flowers claimed she'd had a long-term, sexual relationship with Bill Clinton. The candidate and his wife denied the affair on CBS' "60 Minutes," Bill Clinton was dubbed the "comeback kid" and went on to win the presidency. Bill Clinton later acknowledged in a 1998 court deposition that he once had a sexual encounter with Flowers.

More claims of infidelity haunted Bill Clinton's two terms as president. In 1994, former Arkansas state worker Paula Jones filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him for allegedly exposing himself to her in a Little Rock hotel room. Bill Clinton's lawyers tried to have the suit dismissed, but in November 1998, he paid Jones $850,000 to settle the case without apologizing or acknowledging culpability.

That same year, Bill Clinton acknowledged that he had a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, a former White House intern. Bill Clinton initially denied it  including to his wife. But under pressure from investigators, Bill Clinton later admitted to the affair. He was impeached by the Republican-led House for perjury and obstruction. The Senate voted against removing him from office.

Two other women who have long accused Bill Clinton of mistreatment revived their charges this year.

Juanita Broaddrick, a former Arkansas nursing home administrator, first claimed 17 years ago that Bill Clinton raped her during a meeting in Little Rock in 1978. Broaddrick sued Bill Clinton in 1999, but the case was dismissed in 2001. A Twitter account that claimed to be that of Broaddrick revived the allegations on Saturday.

Kathleen Willey, a former White House volunteer, is using a web site to again accuse Bill Clinton of forcing himself on her in 1993. Both women also accuse Hillary Clinton of trying to discredit them.

Neither accusation has been adjudicated by a judge or jury. Bill Clinton has long denied the accusations. Hillary Clinton has declined to address them.

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HOW HILLARY CLINTON RESPONDED TO ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HER HUSBAND

In the 1992 race, Hillary Clinton worked with campaign aides to counter rumors against her husband. She stood by him when he was accused of infidelity and held hands with him when he denied an affair with Flowers on "60 Minutes." She has lashed out at a "vast right-wing conspiracy" for inflaming allegations of sexual misconduct against Bill Clinton.

His admission of the Lewinsky affair in 1998 and his out-of-court settlement with Jones confirmed what his wife had long denied. In her autobiography, "Living History," Hillary Clinton said she raged at him after he admitted the affair, but ultimately decided she did not want to leave him. She called it one of the most difficult decisions she has ever made.

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WHAT TRUMP IS DOING

The Clintons' conduct, Trump alleges, amounts to abuse. Trump's critics, including dozens of Republicans who are calling for him to quit the race, say he is describing his own acts of sexual assault on the recording first reported Friday by The Washington Post and NBC News.

Trump fired back ahead of the second debate against Hillary Clinton by retweeting Broaddrick's rape accusations, posted to the Twitter account that claimed to belong to her. He also tweeted a link to Breitbart News, which had posted an "exclusive" video in which Broaddrick tells her story about being raped by Bill Clinton. Breitbart News is a conservative publication whose former chief, Steve Bannon, is now chief executive officer of the Trump campaign.

Also Sunday, Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and a top Trump adviser, echoed other Trump aides in saying Bill Clinton's conduct alone is not relevant to 2016 race. What's relevant, Giuliani said, is Hillary Clinton's "role as the attacker" of women who claimed affairs with Bill Clinton.

"Neither side should throw stones because both sides have sinned," Giuliani said on NBC's "Meet the Press." ''So how about we put that behind us?"

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TRUMP USED TO EXPRESS SYMPATHY FOR BILL CLINTON

In August 1998, nine days after Bill Clinton admitted his affair with Lewinsky to a grand jury, Trump expressed sympathy for the president's plight in a CNBC interview.

"I'm not even sure that he shouldn't have just gone in and taken the Fifth Amendment (constitutional protection against self-incrimination)," Trump said.

As late as 2008, Trump, who invited the Clintons to his 2005 wedding and has donated at least $100,000 to their global charity, said on CNN: "Look at the trouble Bill Clinton got into with something that was totally unimportant. And they tried to impeach him, which was nonsense."

Trump said recently that his earlier comments reflected his obligation as a businessman to "get along with everybody."

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Kansas sheriff's deputy kidnapped, sexually assaulted

OLATHE, Kansas (AP)  A Kansas sheriff's department says it's investigating after one of its deputies was kidnapped and sexually assaulted.

The Johnson County Sheriff's Department says the deputy was abducted late Friday from a parking lot as she headed into work at the detention center in Olathe. It says the deputy, who has been with the department for about six months, did not know her abductors and was not in uniform at the time.

The department says the deputy was released about two hours later in Lee's Summit, Missouri.

The Kansas City Star reports (http://j.mp/2dGAtcY ) that the department on Sunday released video of the car believed to have been used in the abduction, and authorities want to question two men who may have been in the car.

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Jacob Neusner, who shaped American Jewish studies, dies

NEW YORK (AP)  Jacob Neusner, who transformed the study of American Judaism, becoming one of the most influential 20th-century scholars of the religion, has died. He was 84.

Neusner died at his home in Rhinebeck, New York, on Saturday, according to Bard College, where he had taught since 1994. He had suffered from Parkinson's disease.

"He pretty much single-handedly created the field of Jewish studies in this country," said Aaron Hughes, a University of Rochester professor and author of "Jacob Neusner, An American Jewish Iconoclast."

In a 2008 photo provided by Bard College, Jacob Nuesner, Senior Fellow, Institute of Advanced Theory, Professor of Religion and Theology and Bard Center Fellow stands in his study at home. Neusner, a renowned scholar of Judaism, and author of more than 900 books died Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, at his home in New York State, according to Bard College. He was 84. (Emily Darrow/Bard College via AP)

Neusner became an academic in the 1960s, at a time when religious studies at universities was largely focused on Christian theology, according to "A Legacy of Learning: Essays in Honor of Jacob Neusner."

At the time, Judaism was taught mostly in yeshivas, or Jewish seminaries, or as part of ethnic studies programs at American colleges. Neusner pushed for a critical examination of Judaism as an important part of studying the humanities, drawing on scholarly techniques from history, anthropology, literary studies and other disciplines. His translations of rabbinic texts drew made them broadly accessible, and his scholarship paved a path for non-Jews to also study the faith.

"He brought rabbinic Judaism into conversation with other religions and really made Judaism a mainstream subject in the study of religion in the American university," said William Scott Green, of the University of Miami, who was a student and collaborator of Neusner's.

Known for his astounding output, Neusner was the author or editor of hundreds of books and articles, including "Judaism: The Evidence of the Mishnah," and "Stranger At Home," about the Holocaust and American Judaism. He was a pioneer in studying Judaism in relation to Christianity. His work was quoted so extensively by retired Pope Benedict XVI that TIME magazine dubbed Neusner, "the pope's favorite rabbi."

Born in West Hartford, Connecticut, Neusner grew up in the liberal Reform Jewish tradition but with little knowledge of Judaism or Hebrew. He began studying Judaism as an undergraduate at Harvard University, and went on to earn degrees from the Jewish Theological Seminary, the flagship school of the Conservative Jewish movement, and from Columbia University.

Unlike many U.S. Jews of his generation, who were more recent immigrants, his family was assimilated into the country and he had no direct connection to Europe, which shaped his worldview and scholarship.

"He felt there needed to be an American Judaism for the freest Jews in history," Hughes said.

Neusner eventually said he was returning to the liberal Reform movement. Yet, he became a cultural conservative, who was appointed to the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, around the time of some of the fiercest culture wars over art. He sided with North Carolina Sen. Jesse Helms in his opposition to government-funded exhibits of the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, among other conservative stands on art and morality.

Neusner was also famously cantankerous, often issuing biting public criticism of others' work, alienating colleagues and dressing down students. Green said Neusner could also be a generous supporter of other scholars' work. He served as a president of the American Academy of Religion, and received 10 honorary degrees, many fellowships and academic prizes, and was a member of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University.
AP photographer wounded by Israeli fire while covering clash

JERUSALEM (AP)  An Associated Press photographer on Sunday was shot and lightly wounded by a rubber bullet fired by Israeli troops during clashes in the West Bank.

Photographer Majdi Mohammed said he was covering an arrest raid in the village of al-Ram when residents began throwing stones at Israeli forces. The forces, including Israeli troops and paramilitary border police, responded with tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

Mohammed said that during the unrest, one of the Israelis cursed him and ordered him to leave. He said that as he turned around to leave, he was shot from close range in the back of his shoulder, an area that was not covered by his protective vest. Mohammed said the bullet did not break any bones, but the impact left a bloody welt on his shoulder.

The Associated Press Photographer Majdi Mohammed shows a bruise after he was hit with a rubber bullet while covering clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the town of al Ram, West Bank, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. Mohammed said that while he was covering the clashes, one of the Israelis cursed him and ordered him to leave. He said that as he turned around to leave, he was shot from close range in the back of his shoulder, an area that was not covered by his protective vest. (AP Photo)
New incidents defy Samsung's efforts to end smartphone woes

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Samsung Electronics seemed to have its smartphone troubles under control  until authorities had to evacuate a Southwest Airlines flight in Kentucky last week for an incident that involved a replacement phone.

The reason: Authorities said a Samsung smartphone started smoking and making "popping" noises, just moments after its owner had boarded the plane and turned off the device.

Passenger Brian Green, 43, says the device was a Galaxy Note 7 he had picked up from an authorized AT&T retailer Sept. 21 as a replacement for another Note 7 phone he returned when Samsung announced a global recall a week earlier. The recall came after a series of incidents last month in which Note 7 batteries overheated or caught fire. But Samsung had promised that the replacement models were safe.

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, a visitor looks at the smartphone cases of Samsung Electronics's Galaxy Note 7 at a shop in Seoul, South Korea. Samsung Electronics Co. estimated its profit rose more than expected in the July-September quarter despite the unprecedented recall of its flagship smartphones.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Reports of more replacement phones catching fire are trickling in, and the South Korean tech giant faces more scrutiny after earlier criticism for being slow to react and sending confusing signals in the first days of the recall.

"They're in a really tricky spot," said Ben Bajarin, a tech industry analyst with the Creative Strategies research firm. "There's such a stigma around this device now that it's hard to see how sales can do well going forward."

Consider Green's reaction: "I really liked the device. It had a lot of nice features," he told The Associated Press in an interview Friday. But after the incident on the plane, he bought a new iPhone 7 from Apple, rather than take his chances with yet another Samsung Note. "At this point, I don't want to mess with it anymore."

Authorities haven't confirmed what model of Samsung phone was involved in last week's incident. A spokeswoman for the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday that her agency is still investigating and had no further information.

AT&T, one of the nation's largest phone retailers, said Sunday that it will stop giving customers the replacement phones.

"We're no longer exchanging new Note 7s at this time, pending further investigation of these reported incidents," A&T said in a statement.

AT&T encouraged customers with Note 7 phones to exchange them for other products. The company says it hasn't sold Note 7 phones since the initial recall was announced.

Verizon, another major seller of smartphones, said it doesn't have any Note 7 phones but they are on back order. Sprint said customers can exchange their replacement Note 7 phones for any other device while the situation is being investigated.

Meanwhile, other customers have reported problems with their replacement phones.

A Minnesota father says his daughter suffered a minor burn to her thumb when her replacement Samsung smartphone melted in her hand last week.

Andrew Zuis of Farmington, a Twin Cities suburb, said his daughter, Abby, was holding the Galaxy Note 7 in her left hand Friday when it melted. Zuis told The Associated Press on Sunday that the family had acquired the new phone on the day the replacement phones were released. There had been no problem with the original phone, he said.

"It's very fortunate Abby was not injured and was holding the phone," Zuis said. "If it was in her pocket, I think it would have been a whole different situation. I'm just very disappointed in Samsung and their product."

Zuis provided KSTP-TV with receipts showing that the family bought a Galaxy Note 7 in August and then exchanged it Sept. 21 after Samsung announced the recall.

"She's done with Note 7s right now," Zuis said of his daughter.

A Samsung representative told KSTP that an investigation is underway.

"We want to reassure our customers that we take every report seriously and we are engaged with the Zuis family to ensure we are doing everything we can for them and their daughter," the representative said in a statement.

On Saturday, Michael Klering, a Kentucky resident, said on Facebook that his exchanged Note 7 phone caught fire. Klering wrote on Facebook that he and his wife woke up because their bedroom was filling with smoke, and they feared that their children were in danger.

Klering wrote that he and his wife now have bronchitis and are being treated. He said he doesn't feel the company is taking the situation seriously enough.

Commission officials and Samsung announced a formal recall Sept. 15 after authorities said they received 92 reports of Note 7 batteries overheating in the U.S., including 26 reports of burns and 55 cases of property damage. Authorities urged consumers to turn off the phones and return them for a refund or replacement. Samsung said replacement models that were free of defects became available in this country Sept. 21.

After the Southwest Airlines incident, representatives of the four leading U.S. wireless carriers said customers who had already received replacement Note 7 phones could return those new devices if they have concerns.

The Galaxy Note 7, which sells for $850 to $890, competes in the high-end smartphone market with Apple, which recently released a new iPhone 7, and other premium brands such as Google's new Pixel phones.

Samsung says it has recalled about 2.5 million Note 7 devices around the world since problems emerged last month. Analysts estimated the recall would cost the South Korean tech giant as much as $1.8 billion.

Still, the company said Friday that its third-quarter profit still rose 6 percent, to about $7 billion, on total sales of $43.9 billion  thanks to income from Samsung's other products, which include advanced computer chips and high-end smartphone displays.

The Note 7 isn't Samsung's biggest seller. The company sold 76 million smartphones in the second quarter of 2016, most of them lower-priced models. Among higher-priced models, Bajarin estimated that Samsung sold well over 10 million Galaxy S7 phones, or four times as many as the Note 7, which has a digital stylus and other distinctive features.

But Bajarin said he's heard some independent manufacturers may cut production of cases and accessories for the Note 7, in light of slipping sales. He also suggested that some wireless carriers may be hesitant to promote the Note 7 heavily in their retail stores.

As for Green, the Indiana businessman told The Associated Press that he had checked to make sure the phone he got on Sept. 21 had the packaging marks and a green battery indicator that Samsung said would show it wasn't subject to the recall.

"I don't know what else you're supposed to do," he said.

A photo of the phone's packaging, which Green provided to The Associated Press, shows a black square on the label, which Samsung has said would indicate a non-defective phone. The label also has an identifying number that, when typed into Samsung's recall website, returns a message that says, "Great News! Your device is NOT in the list of affected devices."

Green said he had no problems with the replacement until Oct. 5, when the smoke caused him to pull the device from the front pocket of his jeans. After authorities ordered everyone off the plane, Green said he later saw singe marks on his jeans. An airline representative said the phone scorched the carpet where Green left the device on the airplane floor.

After speaking with authorities by phone last week, Green said he had an appointment to meet with them Monday. In a statement last week, Samsung said there was "no evidence that this incident is related to the new Note7." Samsung and AT&T representatives didn't respond Friday to a reporter's questions about how a defective phone might have been provided as a replacement after the recall.

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Storm wipes out Florida sand crucial for protection, tourism

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. (AP)  When Christa Savva returned to the Sandy Shoes Beach Resort a day after Hurricane Matthew brushed by Melbourne Beach, Florida, she looked at the beach in front of the pink-flamingo-colored hotel and noticed that half the sand dunes had disappeared.

Savva guesses three-quarters of the missing dunes washed into the ocean, and the remaining quarter scattered onto the resort's beachfront property, which was undamaged by the hurricane.

"I was like, 'Oh, my goodness!'" Savva, a property manager for the Space-Age-era hotel, said Sunday. "It's crazy to have the dunes gone and all you see is empty space."

Rob Jakoby and his son Jake sweep debris off the eroded deck at his damaged beach home at Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, after Hurricane Matthew passed through Friday. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

The sand on Florida's beaches is the equivalent of tourism gold, and its disappearance over time threatens the state's No. 1 industry. While Hurricane Matthew didn't ravage Florida's coast as a series of storms did a dozen years ago, it collapsed dunes, washing away sand that protected buildings and roads during storms, and will likely require the spending of millions of dollars on beach restoration projects.

In Jacksonville Beach, the top of the dunes collapsed onto the lower part of the dunes, creating 10-foot high cliffs of sand, rather than the usual gentle slopes of the dunes.

Federal, state and local officials respond to beach erosion by depositing new sand in areas where it has disappeared, and the sand dunes act as barriers to infrastructure. Before these projects took off three decades ago, sea walls were often the only thing that stood between water, winds and buildings during storms.

"The good news is a lot of people don't realize our beaches are engineered. It looks natural, but we construct the sand so it's sacrificed during hurricanes and protects roads and structures and potentially human lives," said Jackie Keiser, a Jacksonville-area official with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

While a statewide evaluation of beach erosion has yet to be completed, individual Atlantic-coast counties from south of the Space Coast up to the Georgia border were assessing the lost sand.

A $13.5 million project to replenish Jacksonville-area beaches with 650,000 thousand cubic yards of sand over seven miles was underway before Hurricane Matthew. Keiser said she is certain that same amount of sand was lost from the hurricane and the amount of sand needed for the project will likely double.

Virginia Barker, the natural resources director for Brevard County, the area of Florida often referred to as the Space Coast, said the erosion from Hurricane Matthew appears to be more in the category of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 than a devastating series of hurricanes of 2004 and 2005. After Sandy, 2.4 million cubic yards of sand were needed to replenish 14 miles of Brevard County's shoreline. The replenishment was far smaller than what was required after Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Jeanne made landfall just south of the Space Coast a dozen years ago.

"This is world-famous Cocoa Beach. People come here for the sandy experience," Barker said. "It's tremendously important to our economy. The alternative is to allow erosion and let the sea go up and there will be no sandy beach."

In Georgia, it's too early to tell the extent of beach erosion, but water did get past huge boulders placed along the shore to buffer properties and stop erosion, said Megan Desrosiers, CEO of One Hundred Miles, a Georgia coastal advocacy group.

"The thing about Georgia is, we haven't had a storm like this since the 1880s so it's hard to know how to prepare when no one remembers the last time there was a storm like this," Desrosiers said. "We don't have experience with this type of storm on the Georgia coast, but Matthew was a perfect example of what we will see more of in the future."

Before Hurricane Matthew, more than half of Florida's 663 miles of beaches were considered critically eroded by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The agency defines "critical erosion" as the disappearance of beach or dune to a degree that it affects the environment, development or recreational activities. About half of Florida's 411 miles of beaches deemed to have "critical erosion" are part of a beach replenishment program.

Before the storm, Brevard County had 41 miles of critical erosion, the area around Daytona Beach had almost 20 miles of beach erosion, the area around St. Augustine had almost 14 miles of critical erosion and the area around Jacksonville had more than 10 miles.

In Melbourne Beach, now that half of the dunes are gone in front of the Sandy Shoes, the high tide can lap up to the steps that lead to the hotel's wooden deck overlooking the beach.

"There's still a beach, and everything ... but it's just a lot flatter," Savva said. "High tide is something you're going to have to watch out for now."

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Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mikeschneiderap . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/Mike-Schneider .

A boy sits on a cliff formed by erosion from Hurricane Matthew on the beach at Jacksonville Beach, Fla. Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. The fast-weakening storm continued its march along the Atlantic coast Saturday. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
5-year-old boy revived after boat capsizes off San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Two children pulled out of the San Francisco Bay in critical condition after a recreational sailboat carrying 30 people capsized are doing well, and one has been released from the hospital, officials said Sunday.

A child who was not breathing when he was pulled from the water Saturday and required CPR remains hospitalized in stable condition, the San Francisco Fire Department said. A third child and five adults were also hospitalized.

The 34-foot sailboat named Khaleesi was carrying 27 adults and three children capsized for unknown reasons Saturday afternoon about 100 yards off Pier 45, San Francisco Police Officer Giselle Talkoff said.

In this Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, photo released by the U.S. Coast Guard District 11, shows several Coast Guard assets clean up debris left behind by the 34-foot recreational sailboat, Khaleesi, which capsized near Pier 45 just north of San Francisco. The Khaleesi had 30 people aboard who were rescued by various Coast Guard assets, partner agencies and good Samaritans. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Chris Parrinello/U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

One 5-year-old boy, who was unconscious and not breathing when he was pulled out of the water, was eventually revived, said Jonathan Baxter, a public information officer for San Francisco Fire Department. Another 5-year-old boy was also initially listed in critical condition but was later downgraded to stable, he added.

All eight people who were hospitalized were expected to survive, Baxter said.

Video and photographs posted on social media showed people floating near a capsized boat while good Samaritans threw red life vests into the water. Other photographs shoed youths and adults barefoot and wrapped in thick gray blankets on shore after being rescued. The boat was fully submerged in the water.

Fisherman David Griffiths told the San Francisco Chronicle he tossed life jackets to the people in the water. He was taking off his shoes and getting ready to jump in when the first rescue teams arrived, Griffiths said.

Fire Department Assistant Chief Bob Postel said rescue teams from the fire and police departments and the U.S. Coast Guard all rushed to the scene.

"There were lots of rescue boats on the water because of Fleet Week, so we were fortunate," he said. "We were able to get everybody out and accounted for quickly."

Griffiths said it was jarring to see the boat upend during what had been an otherwise beautiful day on the water. "Seeing the bottom of it, that's not a normal thing," he said.

Authorities were investigating the cause of the accident.

In this Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016 photo released by the U.S. Coast Guard District 11, shows Coast Guard small boats cleaning up debris left behind by the 34-foot recreational sailboat, Khaleesi, which capsized near Pier 45 just north of San Francisco. The Khaleesi had 30 people aboard who were rescued by various Coast Guard assets, partner agencies and good Samaritans. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Chris Parrinello/U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

In this Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, photo released by the U.S. Coast Guard District 11, Coast Guard small boats clean up debris left behind by the 34-foot recreational sailboat, Khaleesi, which capsized near Pier 45 just north of San Francisco. The Khaleesi had 30 people aboard who were rescued by various Coast Guard assets, partner agencies and good Samaritans who were in the area for a Blue Angels air show as part of Fleet Week 2016. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Chris Parrinello/U.S. Coast Guard via AP)
The Latest: Bishop learns from webcast of promotion

CHICAGO (AP)  The Latest on the appointments by Pope Francis of his first U.S. cardinals. (all times local):

4:20 p.m.

Bishop Kevin Farrell, former head of the Dallas Catholic diocese, had left the city on Thursday to take up residence and a prominent Vatican post in Rome.

FILE - In this Thursday, April 23, 2015 file photo, Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich processes from Holy Name Cathedral following the funeral Mass of Cardinal Francis George in Chicago. Monsignor Cupich was among the 17 new cardinals named by Pope Francis, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool, File)

Dallas diocese spokeswoman Annette Gonzales Taylor said Farrell had no inkling that he'd be promoted to cardinal. He was shocked when he learned of his selection with the rest of the world while watching Pope Francis' Angelus webcast early Sunday.

In a statement issued by the Dallas diocese, Farrell said, "I am humbled by the news this morning that our Holy Father Pope Francis has named me to the College of Cardinals. I ask all in the Diocese of Dallas to please pray for me that I may to the best of my ability fulfill this sacred duty to our Church."

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3 p.m.

Chicago's Roman Catholic archbishop says he learned in a 5 a.m. call from Rome that Pope Francis was elevating him from archbishop to cardinal.

Blase Cupich joked with reporters after Mass Sunday at Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral that he didn't mind being awakened given the pleasant news. But he says he usually sleeps until 7 a.m. on Sundays and that he'd miss the two extra hours of sleep he normally gets.

Cupich was one of 17 new cardinals named Sunday by Pope Francis. Cupich said he was humbled by the honor.

Another reporter asked Cupich how his relatives would react to word he's becoming a cardinal. He laughed and said he expected them to treat him "with the same lack of deference that they have in the past."

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10:45 a.m.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is congratulating Roman Catholic Archbishop Blase Cupich on his elevation to cardinal.

Cupich was one of 17 new cardinals named Sunday by Pope Francis, among them Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin and Kevin Farrell, the outgoing bishop of Dallas.

The three men are moderates who follow Francis' emphasis on mercy over rules.

Speaking at the end of a special Mass on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica, Francis said the 17 would be elevated at a consistory on Nov. 19, on the eve of the close to his Holy Year of Mercy.

In a statement, Emanuel said in his short time in Chicago, Cupich has made a tremendous impact as a voice for the voiceless in the name of inclusion.

Emanuel went on thank Pope Francis for recognizing Cupich's leadership in both the church and society.

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10:05 a.m.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett says he is pleased the city's Roman Catholic archbishop has been elevated to cardinal.

Pope Francis on Sunday named 17 new cardinals, including Archbishop Joseph Tobin.

In his statement, Hogsett said Indianapolis has been blessed by Tobin's spiritual and civic leadership. He added he looks forward to working with Tobin and the Catholic Church to end poverty and inequality in the city.

Speaking at the end of a special Mass on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica, Francis said the 17 would be elevated on Nov. 19.

The elevation of Tobin is significant both for the U.S. church and the U.S. election and reflects Francis' concern for refugees. Tobin openly opposed the position of Indiana Gov. Michael Pence, now the Republican running mate of presidential candidate Donald Trump, against the settling of Syrian refugees in the state.

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9:13 a.m.

Roman Catholic Archbishop Blase Cupich says his elevation to cardinal of Chicago's archdiocese is both humbling and encouraging.

Pope Francis named 17 new cardinals Sunday, including Cupich and Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin.

In a statement, Cupich said when he was appointed archbishop two years ago, he committed wholeheartedly to serve the people of Chicago.

Cupich says the role of cardinal brings new responsibilities, but he will continue to work on renewing the church and "preparing it to thrive in the decades ahead."

Cupich is considered a pastor in Francis' likeness, emphasizing the merciful and welcoming side of the church. His nomination as Chicago archbishop was Francis' first major U.S. appointment and he was a papal appointee at the pope's family synod last year.

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8:11 a.m.

Pope Francis looked to the American Midwest when picking his first U.S. cardinals.

The Vatican announced Sunday that Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich and Archbishop Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis, Indiana, will become cardinals in a Rome ceremony Nov. 19.

Francis also picked Bishop Kevin Farrell for the honor. Farrell has led the Diocese of Dallas, but is leaving for a prominent Vatican post.

The three men are moderates who follow Francis' emphasis on mercy over rules.

Tobin drew national attention this year for rejecting a request from Indiana Gov. Mike Pence for the church to stop settling Syrian refugees in the state. Pence is the Republican nominee for vice president and running mate of Donald Trump, who has proposed deporting illegal immigrants and banning entry of Muslims from other countries.
2 children pulled from San Francisco Bay recovering

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Officials say two children pulled out of the San Francisco Bay in critical condition after a recreational sailboat carrying 30 people capsized are doing well and one has been released from the hospital.

The San Francisco Fire Department says one of the children was released Sunday, and another who required CPR remains hospitalized in stable condition.

The two children were taken to a hospital along with a third child and five adults after a 34-foot sailboat named Khaleesi capsized for unknown reasons Saturday afternoon about 100 yards off Pier 45.

In this Oct. 8, 2016 photo, Coast Guard small boats clean up debris left behind by a boat, which capsized near Pier 45 just north of San Francisco, Calif. The boat capsized in the San Francisco Bay sending multiple adults and children to a hospital, officials said. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Chris Parrinello/U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

Fire Department Assistant Chief Bob Postel says the 5-year-old was unconscious and not breathing when he was taken from the water. A good Samaritan performed CPR on him until a police officer took over.
1 killed, 8 wounded in gunfire at party in Michigan

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP)  Authorities say eight of the nine people shot at a party in the western Michigan city of Grand Rapids are expected to survive.

One man was killed in the shootings early Sunday morning at the party in a business with a sign advertising it as a clearance outlet for electronics, furniture and sporting goods. Authorities identified him as 21-year-old Juwan Boykin.

No arrests have been made and police Sgt. Terry Dixon says investigators are still trying to determine what led to the gunfire. Officers were headed to the site in response to a complaint when the shooting began.
Australian-Chinese consortium bids for Australian ranches

CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  An Australian-Chinese consortium has offered to buy Australia's largest cattle empire in a bid welcomed Monday by the Australian agriculture minister.

Hancock Prospecting Pty. Ltd. announced Sunday that it would take a 67 percent stake and Shanghai CRED Real Estate Stock Co. Ltd. a 33 percent stake in Australia's largest private landholding, S. Kidman & Co. Ltd., for 365 million Australian dollars ($277 million).

The Australian government announced in May that the collection of 10 cattle ranches, a bull breeding stud and a feed lot covering 101,411 square kilometers (39,155 square miles) in four states would never to sold to foreign interests when it vetoed a Chinese-led bid.

The current bid will also need Foreign Investment Review Board approval.

But Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, a friend of Hancock Chairwoman Gina Rinehart, welcomed the interest by the Australia-led consortium.

"I'm always enthusiastic when ... a majority Australian company is buying Australian land," Joyce told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

"Most Australians prefer it if a large Australian asset is majority owned by Australians as opposed to majority owned by foreigners," he said.

Chinese-based Dakang Australia Holdings in May withdrew its application to buy an 80 percent stake in the family-owned company, founded by beef baron Sir Sidney Kidman in 1899, after the government announced that the sale was contrary to the national interest.
We are all Brexiteers now and heading for 'full Brexit', says Fallon

Britain is going for "full Brexit" outside the European Union but still wants to maintain good trade relations with the bloc, said Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon.

Sir Michael also called for unity among Cabinet colleagues amid reports of deepening rifts among top Tories over the issue, with Sir Michael saying "we are all Brexiteers now".

Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show on the BBC, Sir Michael said: "This is Brexit. This is full Brexit, if you like.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said 'we are all Brexiteers now'

"We're going to be outside the European Union but we still, because it's over 40% of our trade, we still want to maximise our trade with it.

"We are all Brexiteers now. We're respecting the decision of the British people and we've got to make a success of it."

Sir Michael said the Government's objectives in Brexit negotiations were to maximise free trade on goods and services, while regaining control of British borders.

He added that there must be co-operation on security, counter-terrorism and law enforcement.

Britain has been repeatedly warned that it must accept free movement of people if it wants to be a member of the European single market.

Education Secretary Justine Greening, meanwhile, has insisted any tensions in the Cabinet will not split the Tories.

The comments came as it emerged former Labour leader Ed Miliband has held talks with pro-EU Tory MPs on trying to force Theresa May to allow a Commons vote on any moves to exit the single market.

Ms Greening moved to downplay reports of splits at the senior level of Cabinet on what type of withdrawal deal to try to cut with the EU, with Chancellor Philip Hammond said to be at odds with "hard Brexiteers" David Davis and Liam Fox.

Asked on ITV's Peston On Sunday if the Cabinet would hold together on Brexit, Ms Greening said: "Yes, I think so. I think it's important our party has come together under the leadership of Theresa May to now steer our country through what will be historic months and years ahead. I think the Cabinet is united."

A loose cross-party alliance of pro-Europe MPs from all sides of the Commons has expressed concern at the sudden pace towards a "hard Brexit" stance by the Government.

Mr Miliband is considering tabling an urgent Commons question demanding the Prime Minister sets out to Parliament exactly what its role will be in the major decisions surrounding Brexit.

The former Labour leader, and ex-Liberal Democrat head Nick Clegg, have formed common ground with the SNP, the Greens and some Tories to seek a strong voice for the Commons in the Brexit process.

The grouping believes that while Britain narrowly voted to leave the EU, it did not vote to leave the single market.

It comes as former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it was "pretty clear" Britain would be leaving the single market, given recent rhetoric from ministers.

Speaking on BBC One's Sunday Politics programme, Mr Duncan Smith said migration from the EU had caused "a great deal of damage to workers and their incomes" among lower skilled workers.

However, Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said this would be "a massive mistake" and risked tens of thousands of jobs.

Mr Farron added: "I think Iain is wrong to say that there's been a massive decision in favour of us leaving the single market, if that's what he's implying.

"A small majority voted to leave the EU, but nobody voted to leave the common or single market."

Former education secretary Nicky Morgan said a "sizeable" number of Tory MPs support her push for a "soft Brexit" with the closest possible ties to the EU after withdrawal, and a Commons vote on the issues involved.

Ms Morgan warned that it would be "extraordinary" given the prominence of the issue of sovereignty in the referendum campaign for Parliament, not to have a "big role" in the Brexit negotiations as they unfold.

Asked about cross-party efforts to push for more parliamentary control of the process, Ms Morgan told Sky News: "Yes, I think there will be common cause between those us of who want there to be the right Brexit, the right mechanism for leaving the EU.

"The other thing is that the Conservative Party manifesto, on which we were elected only 17 months ago, has a very clear statement in it about 'we say yes to the single market', and it talks about 'we will safeguard British interests in the single market'.
Top-10 spot just the start for Johanna Konta

Johanna Konta wants to keep progressing and challenge for more titles after climbing into the world's top 10.

Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, the third seed, won the China Open on Sunday with a 6-4 6-2 defeat of Konta.

The British number one fought off a first match point in the seventh game of the second set, but Radwanska completed victory while serving in the next game to win in one hour 35 minutes.

Briton Johanna Konta, pictured, was beaten in the China Open final by Agnieszka Radwanska (AP)

Konta, the 11th seed, had reason to celebrate despite the defeat, as she became the fourth British woman to make the world's top 10 since the WTA rankings began in 1975.

"It's pretty cool," Konta said on wtatennis.com.

"I'm very pleased with my progress over the past few years and hopefully many more places to climb.

"I'm just working hard towards playing matches like these, against players like Agnieszka.

"She was definitely a woman on a mission. Whenever I felt I could have got a little bit of a foothold in the match, she took it away from me.

"She hardly missed a ball. When she is so consistent and she moves the ball around as well as that, she's very, very difficult to beat.

"I definitely fought til the very end. I tried to exhaust all avenues possible. It just didn't go my way.

"But, again, a lot of good things to take from this week."

Konta was ranked 146th in the world as recently as June 2015, but she climbed into the top 10 by winning her semi-final.

The 25-year-old defeated Madison Keys 7-6 (7/1) 4-6 6-4, to become the first British female since Jo Durie in 1984 to make the top 10.

Virginia Wade and Sue Barker are the other British females to have been ranked in the world's top 10.

By reaching the China Open final Konta also moved into the top eight of the Road to Singapore - the race to reach the WTA Finals later this month.

Radwanska was thrilled to win in Beijing for a second time.

She said: "Every title means a lot, but especially here when you play against the best players in the world, in one of the biggest tournaments.

"It's top players from the first round and I've been playing my best tennis all week so of course I'm very happy to win this tournament again, and this trophy is going to stay in a very special place."
Flood makes underground car park's floor rise and crush cars into ceiling

A number of cars were crushed when an underground car park was deluged with water on Sunday morning.

Some vehicles' roofs crumpled after polystyrene insulation under the car park floor appeared to swell, forcing them into the concrete ceiling above.

The floodwater was caused by a burst pipe and was several feet high in the newly built car park, which is below a residential block of flats in Crayford, south-east London.

The cars were crushed as the floor of the car park expanded amid a flood (Sadia Farzana Chitra/Twitter/PA Wire)

Residents were reportedly warned that if any of the cars were removed too hastily it could result in a gas explosion.

One owner was told her car was written off as a result of the damage.

The flooding caused considerable travel disruption after filling the road near Townhall Square, and it left a number of homes without water.

Sadia Farzana Chitra, 42, left her black Ford Fusion in one of the affected parking spaces on Saturday, and returned to find it ruined.

Between 12 and 16 cars are said to have been damaged.

The mother of two told the Press Association: "My car is crushed, the roof is gone, the ground has come up.

" I had another of my neighbours with me and her car was okay, but we were told we cannot move it because there is a possibility with the pressure of the car there could be a blast because of the gas inside, or something. It can blow up the whole building."

She added: "The problem is who to contact. Someone has said the car insurance might not cover it because it didn't happen from the driver him or herself. We are in really, really bad shape."

London Fire Brigade said it was called to reports of the flooded roads at 3.21am, after a 24 inch water pipe burst.

Footage of the main road showed a nearby retail park submerged in water.

A spokesman for Gallions Housing Association told the Evening Standard: "We have been on-site throughout the day assisting Thames Water, the fire brigade and the police following the burst water main in Crayford town centre.

"All Gallions residents are safe, have clean water and there has been no water ingress into anyone's home.
Bernard Matthews pension deficit at 20m but 'corporate elites' funded, MPs told

The pension pot at Bernard Matthews is set to miss out on millions of pounds in payouts under the company's rescue package - despite "corporate elites" getting their money back in full.

MPs have vowed to review the pre-pack model for businesses going into administration, which has been dubbed "a huge detriment to pensioners".

A new report for the Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee found the deficit on the Bernard Matthews pension fund is now likely to be around 20 million.

A new report found the deficit on the Bernard Matthews pension fund is now likely to be around 20 million

But the fund is only due to receive 1p in the pound, as part of its pre-pack model arranged by administrators Deloitte.

This is despite sale proceeds of the company being used to make a full payment of 46.4 million to lenders Wells Fargo Capital Finance (UK) and PNC Financial Services UK Ltd.

Rutland Partners, which was Bernard Matthews's ultimate owner, has already received 34 million and is likely to receive a total of 39 million.

Deloitte, meanwhile, has already billed 790,000 and its legal fees are likely to amount to 668,000.

The hourly rate for Deloitte and its advisers is between 390 and 872 per hour.

A briefing report by Professor Prem Sikka, from the University of Essex, notes that Deloitte and Rutland Partners had a "prior relationship".

The report says: "The administration strategy seems to have been carefully crafted to enable secured creditors and controllers of Bernard Matthews to extract maximum cash from the company and dump the pension scheme and other liabilities.

"No attention has been paid to the hardship caused to retired and existing employees.

"It is all too easy for companies, their directors and shareholders to extract cash and dump pension obligations to employees, leaving the Pension Protection Fund or taxpayers to foot the bill, and effectively boost returns to corporate elites."

Pre-pack administration arrangements are where a buyer is lined up to take on a company's assets, but without liabilities such as its pension deficit.

Those who back pre-pack arrangements say it may enable a company to survive and rescue jobs.

But Prof Sikka says the confidentiality of the deal hides its true nature, while creditors are not consulted and typically lose out.

Unsecured creditors worth 39 million are also unlikely to receive more than 1p in the pound, which includes around 1.4 million to HMRC for tax and National Insurance contributions.

Prof Sikka's report warns that administrators are left with "enormous powers and discretion" over who gets what when a company enters administration.

He adds that administrators "may well be swayed by their fees and prior relationships with company directors or parties to the sale/purchase of business.

"It is not unusual for major accountancy firms to receive business, including insolvency work, from banks," added Prof Sikka.

The Pension Protection Fund, which is funded through levies on private sector employers, has been lined up to absorb Bernard Matthews's defined benefit scheme.

Committee chairman Frank Field said: "What looks likely to be an increase in these pre-pack arrangements, which act to the huge detriment of pensioners, and bump up still further the levies on good employers through increased Pension Protection Fund contributions, is no doubt an issue the committee will want to look at early on Parliament's return.
UK working with Ireland on post-Brexit immigration control issues

Britain plans to use entry points to the Irish Republic as its front line in combating post-Brexit illegal immigration, according to a report.

London wants to beef up controls at the Republic's ports and airports in order to avoid the return of a "hard border" with Northern Ireland, The Guardian reported.

With Britain and Ireland enjoying a common travel area (CTA) since the 1920s, the narrow pro-Brexit vote threw up major problems as any return to a "hard" controlled 300-mile border could be seen to contravene the Good Friday Agreement.

London reportedly wants to beef up controls at Ireland's ports and airports in order to avoid the return of a 'hard border' with Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire told The Guardian that Ireland's external borders would be strengthened in order to combat unwanted migration once the UK withdraws from the EU.

Mr Brokenshire said there was a "high level of collaboration on a joint programme of work" under way between the two countries to control immigration.

"We have put in place a range of measures to further combat illegal migration working closely with the Irish government. Our focus is to strengthen the external border of the common travel area, building on the strong collaboration with our Irish partners," he said.

"We are already working closely with the Irish government and other members of the common travel area to prevent people from seeking to evade UK immigration controls from entering via another part of the CTA.

"There is a high level of collaboration on a joint programme of work. This includes investment in border procedures; increased data sharing to inform immigration and border security decisions; passenger data systems enabling the collection and processing of advance passenger information; and harmonised visa processes."

Attempts to use Irish entry points such as Dublin Airport and Rosslare port as the front line of British immigration controls could prove highly controversial in the Republic.

The measures will be aimed primarily at non-Europeans seeking entry into the CTA, The Guardian reports, as EU citizens will have automatic rights to enter the Republic.
World study warns of England teachers' long hours

Teachers in England work some of the longest hours in the profession in the developed world, leaving them little time to develop their careers, a new report warns.

Half of the country's full-time teachers work 40-58 hours a week and a fifth work at least 60 hours a week, the analysis by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) concludes.

Its study looked at 36 countries and regions in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member states in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Australasia which set education policy and found that only teachers in Japan and the Canadian province of Alberta worked longer hours than those in England.

Half England's full-time teachers work 40-58 hours a week and a fifth work at least 60 hours a week, the study says

England was also ranked 30th out of 36 in terms of time teachers spend on continuing professional development (CPD), with teachers spending just four days a year on it, less than half the average of 10.5 days. In Shanghai, China, staff spent 40 days a year on average on their personal development, the study claimed.

David Laws, the former Lib Dem Schools minister in the coalition government, who chairs the EPI, said: "This analysis highlights that the English education system is unusual internationally in its long working hours for teachers, low levels of professional development, and what looks like a high burn-out rate of teachers.

"Combined with relatively low starting pay for teachers in England, these three features of our school system have clear risks for recruiting, retaining and developing a high quality teacher workforce.

"Addressing these challenges should be a major focus for the government, policymakers, and school leadership."

The EPI report analysed data from the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS), which includes information from more than 100,000 teachers collected between 2012 and 2014.

It found that 60% of teachers in England said their workload represented a significant barrier to accessing professional development, placing the country seventh highest out of the 36.

Peter Sellen, EPI chief economist and report author, added: "Longer working hours are also not reflected in teachers' pay, even when considering the normal hours for other workers in our economy."

He added that the "burn-out" effect in England was shown by a sharp fall in the number of teachers over 50.

Angela Rayner, Labour's shadow education secretary, said: "While the Tories waste time on bringing back failed old education policies, they are ignoring the most important factor in delivering an excellent education for all - great teachers."

Chris Keates, the general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, added: "This is another report to add to the already overwhelming mountain of evidence that teachers' professional lives are blighted by an excessive workload.

"Year-on-year increasing numbers of teachers leave the profession and potential recruits are deterred from joining it because of the toxic combination of increasing workload and decreasing pay."

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "We recognise teachers' concerns and are continuing to work with the sector to find constructive solutions to this issue.

"Teaching remains an attractive career and we have more teachers entering our classrooms than those choosing to leave or retire.
Bosses attack 'dangerously naive' Amber Rudd over foreign workers lists

Top business leaders have accused Home Secretary Amber Rudd of "demonising" migrant workers with her widely-derided idea to make companies list their foreign employees.

As the Government beat an embarrassing retreat on the flagship initiative unveiled by Ms Rudd at the Tory conference, leading entrepreneurs were scathing about the fact it was ever considered seriously .

Branding Ms Rudd "dangerously naive", they also accused Prime Minister Theresa May of being anti-business.

Business leaders criticised Home Secretary Amber Rudd, pictured, and Prime Minister Theresa May over the plan

100 business leaders including Cobra Beers founder Lord Bilimoria, TechHub founder Elizabeth Varley and Red or Dead co-founder Wayne Hemingway expressed outrage that the plan was even aired in public.

In a letter to the Daily Telegraph, they wrote: "Amber Rudd's statement to the Conservative Party conference on registering foreign-born employees was anti-worker, anti-business and dangerously naive.

"For business to thrive we must be able to hire the best people for the job. The ability to hire both British and non-British people has historically helped business grow by bringing in varied skills and perspectives.

"The Government has repeatedly stated that employment is at a record high, whilst unemployment is at an eight year low. Foreign workers are not taking British jobs; they are helping to create them. They should be celebrated, not demonised.

"As employers we also have a duty to ensure our employees are safe. For the Government to single out workers based on their nationality is no different to any other form of discrimination, and this policy would only fuel post-referendum anti-migrant sentiment.

"The Prime Minister cannot claim to be open to trade whilst demonising workers from other countries, nor can she claim to be pro-enterprise when her ministers issue such anti-business rhetoric.

"We as businesses stand with our workers of all nationalities, whether they were born in the UK or not, against any form of discrimination."

The stinging rebuke came after government ministers were forced to rule out making companies "name and shame" foreign workers.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon and Education Secretary Justine Greening insisted the information was aimed at improving government investment in skills training, and said it would never be made public or used for "naming and shaming".

David Cameron's former senior adviser Steve Hilton branded them "divisive, repugnant, and insanely bureaucratic" - a view shared by former education secretary Nicky Morgan.
EU sets import duties on cheap Chinese steel

By Philip Blenkinsop

BRUSSELS, Oct 7 (Reuters) - The European Union has set provisional import duties on two types of steel coming into the bloc from China to counter what it says are unfairly low prices, in a move likely to anger Beijing.

The duties are the latest in a line of trade defences set up against Chinese steel imports over the past two years to counter what EU steel producers say is a flood of steel sold at a loss due to Chinese overcapacity.

Some 5,000 jobs have been axed in the British steel industry in the last year, as it struggles to compete with cheap Chinese imports and high energy costs.

G20 governments recognised last month that steel overcapacity was a serious problem. China, the source of 50 percent of the world's steel and the largest steel consumer, has said the problem is a global one.

The duties will be in place eight months after the launch of respective investigations, a month earlier than would normally be the case. The European Commission has committed to speed up its trade defence actions under pressure from EU producers.

The Stoxx basic resources sub-index was by far the strongest component of the Stoxx 600, propelled by European steelmakers. Shares of the world's largest steel producer, ArcelorMittal were up 4.3 percent, ThyssenKrupp's by 2.2 percent.

European steelmakers association Eurofer said it welcomed the fact that the duties would be in place earlier than normal.

The duties, which will take effect on Saturday, are provisional, meaning they are in place for up to six months until the European Commission completes its investigation. If upheld, they would typically be set for five years.

No one was available for comment at a series of steelmakers in China, which was celebrating a week-long national holiday.

The duties are set at between 13.2 and 22.6 percent for hot-rolled flat iron and steel products and at between 65.1 and 73.7 percent for heavy-plate steel, according to a filing in the European Union's official journal.

SPEED WELCOMED

Industry association UK Steel said in a statement that the speed at which tariffs were imposed was very welcome.

"However, while we hope the tariffs for heavy plate are robust enough to ensure free and fair trade, the proposed levels for hot-rolled steel are not high enough, which might encourage China to continue dumping it on to the EU market," it said.

Jefferies analyst Seth Rosenfeld said the heavy plate duties were well above expectations and would have a meaningful impact, while those set for hot-rolled steel were as expected and should help should help disincentivise imports.

The hot-rolled steel case includes Bengang Steel Plates Co Ltd and Hebei Iron & Steel Co. Ltd and units of Jiangsu Shagang Group.

The heavy plate steel case covers Nanjing Iron & Steel Co Ltd, Wuyang Iron and Steel Co and Minmetals Yingkou Medium Plate Co Ltd..

Eurofer said Chinese producers' share of the EU market in heavy-plate steel, used in construction, mining and shipbuilding, grew to 14.4 percent in 2015 from 4.6 percent in 2012, while the average price dropped by 29 percent over the same period.

For hot-rolled, the market share grew to 4.3 percent from below 1 percent over the same period, while import prices fell by about 33 percent.

European producers of hot-rolled steel include ThyssenKrupp, Tata Steel and ArcelorMittal, while heavy-plate is made by Tata and two unlisted German companies.
Kuwait arrests suspected Islamist after truck attack on Americans

KUWAIT, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Kuwaiti security forces have detained a suspected Islamist militant who rammed a truck believed to be carrying explosives into a car carrying five Americans, state news agency KUNA reported on Saturday.

The agency quoted an interior ministry statement as saying the Americans were unhurt, but the assailant, identified as Egyptian national Ibrahim Suleiman, was injured and was taken to a hospital under security escort.

"After an initial investigation of the suspect Suleiman, who was born in 1988, by specialised security apparatus, a hand-written note was found indicating that he had adopted the terrorist Daesh ideology and pledged allegiance to this organisation," KUNA said, referring to Islamic State.

The agency published a photo of a bearded man. It said a belt and materials believed to be explosives were also found in the vehicle, "suggesting he was plotting a terrorist act".

It was the second time in three months that Western-allied Kuwait had announced it had captured suspected militants.

In July, the OPEC oil exporter and home to U.S. military bases said it had foiled three planned Islamic State attacks on the country, including a plot to blow up a Shi'ite mosque.

Kuwait suffered its deadliest militant attack in decades in June last year when a Saudi suicide bomber blew himself up inside a packed Shi'ite mosque, killing 27 people. Islamic State claimed responsibility.
Explosion kills Tuareg leader outside north Mali U.N. camp

By Souleymane Ag Anara

KIDAL, Mali, Oct 8 (Reuters) - A Tuareg militant leader in the volatile north Malian city of Kidal was killed on Saturday when his car exploded barely 300 metres from a U.N. base where he had been talking with French and U.N. troops, a Reuters witness and officials said.

A Reuters cameraman saw the car still burning after the blast that killed Cheikh Ag Aoussa.

A spokeswoman for the U.N. Mali mission, Radhia Achouri, confirmed the incident, which is likely to further ignite tensions between rival pro and anti-government factions of ethnic Tuaregs in Kidal.

A spokesman for French forces in Mali did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Tuareg-led Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) and rival pro-government "Gatia" militia fighters have clashed sporadically since a power-sharing deal, in place since February, began to crumble. Up to 20 people were killed in two days of fighting between them in July.

Aoussa was a senior commander in a CMA-allied group.

A security source suggested Aoussa's death was the accidental result of running over a land mine. But Almou Ag Mohamed, spokesman for his HCUA militant group, said "it is clear an explosive was attached to his vehicle inside the camp."

The Tuaregs, nomadic pastoralists who have for centuries survived off trade crossing the Sahara and connecting Africa's interior with its Mediterranean coast, were at the heart of a 2012 uprising that threw Mali into chaos.

Their rebellion was swiftly hijacked by jihadists whom the French then intervened in 2013 to chase out.

A U.N.-backed peace deal between a plethora of Malian armed groups was supposed to draw a line under the violence that has torn apart Africa's third largest gold producer. Yet it has failed to stop worsening violence in the north and centre of this vast, desert nation.

Mali's military pulled out of Kidal after clashes between the army and Tuareg rebels killed 50 soldiers there in 2014.
China to encourage more investment in Portugal

BEIJING, Oct 9 (Reuters) - China will encourage more of its companies to invest in Portugal in areas such as finance, insurance, health care and infrastructure, President Xi Jinping has told the visiting Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa.

Both countries need to deepen cooperation in investment and explore more markets, Xi said, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement issued late on Saturday.

"China is willing to encourage investment in Portugal and expand to areas including finance, insurance, health care and infrastructure," the statement paraphrased Xi as saying, without giving details.

Xi also repeated China's support for the process of European integration, the foreign ministry said.
China says EU duties on Chinese steel are unfair

BEIJING, Oct 9 (Reuters) - China's Commerce Ministry has expressed concern and regret after the European Union set provisional import duties on two types of Chinese steel coming into the bloc, calling its investigation methods "unfair".

The duties announced on Friday are the latest in a line of trade defences set up against Chinese steel imports over the past two years to counter what EU steel producers say is a flood of steel sold at a loss due to Chinese overcapacity.

Some 5,000 jobs have been axed in the British steel industry in the past year as it struggles to compete with cheap Chinese imports and high energy costs.

G20 governments recognised last month that steel overcapacity was a serious problem. China, the source of 50 percent of the world's steel and the largest steel consumer, has said the problem is a global one.

The substitute country investigation method used by the EU, a practice typically reserved for countries deemed non-market economies, are "unfair and unreasonable" and "seriously damage the interests of Chinese enterprises," the Commerce Ministry said in a statement posted to its website late on Saturday.

"Reckless trade protectionism and mistaken methods that limit fair market competition are not the proper ways to develop the European Union steel industry," it said.

Chinese steel products represent less than 5 percent of the European market and do not present a serious threat to European industry, the ministry said. The root cause of Europe's steel problems was not trade but weak economic growth, it said.

"China hopes the EU will strictly respect relevant World Trade Organization rules and fully guarantee Chinese companies' right to protest," the ministry said.

The EU's duties are set at between 13.2 and 22.6 percent for hot-rolled flat iron and steel products and at between 65.1 and 73.7 percent for heavy-plate steel.

As provisional duties they are in place for up to six months until the European Commission completes its investigation. If upheld, they would typically be set for five years.

The commission has committed to speed up its trade defence actions under pressure from EU producers.

The EU has also been debating whether to grant China "market economy status", given the Chinese government's hand in guiding industry and markets. China says the status is its right come December, which marks 15 years since it joined the WTO. Failure to do so could spark a trade war.
Turkish military says 31 Islamic State militants killed in northern Syria

ANKARA, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Thirty one Islamic State militants have been killed in clashes and U.S.-led coalition air strikes in northern Syria over the last 24 hours, the Turkish military said on Sunday, marking an escalation in violence in the area.

It said in a statement that 14 of the jihadists had been killed as they attempted to enter the villages of Akhtarin and Turkmen Bareh, which are under the control of Turkey-backed rebels.

Another 17 Islamic State fighters were killed in air strikes by coalition warplanes in the same areas, the military said.
Seven killed in Afghan helicopter crash - defence ministry

KABUL, Oct 9 (Reuters) - An Afghan air force helicopter crashed in northern Afghanistan on Sunday, killing at least seven people on board, said Afghan Defence Ministry officials who described the crash as an accident.

Four crew members and three soldiers were among the those killed in the crash of the Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter, said Defence Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri.

"An Afghan army helicopter crashed in northern Baghlan province due to some technical problem," he said. "An investigation is under way."

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid however claimed the Islamist group's fighters had shot down the helicopter, saying the aircraft had been trying to resupply an Afghan government checkpoint that was surrounded by insurgents.

The Taliban often exaggerate claims about attacks on Afghan government targets, as well as against the NATO-led coalition assisting Afghan forces.
Turkey says 38 Islamic State militants killed in northern Syria

ISTANBUL, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Thirty-eight Islamic State militants were killed in northern Syria over the last 24 hours, the Turkish military said on Sunday, marking an escalation of conflict in the area where Syrian rebels, backed by Turkey, are fighting the jihadists.

Supported by Turkish tanks and air strikes, rebels have been pushing towards the Islamic State (IS) stronghold of Dabiq in an operation launched in late August.

Fourteen of the IS fighters were killed as they attempted to enter the rebel-controlled villages of Akhtarin and Turkmen Bareh, three kilometres (two miles) east of Dabiq, the Turkish army said in a statement.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday that IS fighters had captured those villages in a counter attack near the Turkish border, but the Turkish military statement contradicted this account.

Another 17 Islamic State fighters were killed in air strikes by U.S.-led coalition warplanes in the same areas, the military said in its daily round-up on the operation, dubbed "Euphrates Shield".

Turkish warplanes later launched their own air strikes against IS targets in northern Syria on Sunday morning, killing seven militants and destroying five buildings which they were using, the army said in a subsequent statement.
Iraq's oil minister wants country to increase output in 2017

BAGHDAD, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Iraq's oil minister has urged oil and natural gas producers operating in the country to continue increasing output next year, the oil ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

Jabar al-Luaibi's comments came as OPEC nations are trying to implement an agreement to curb oil output for the first time since the 2008 financial crisis, in order to push up crude prices.

The ministry's statement quoted remarks Luaibi made to a meeting of Iraq oil industry executives in the southern oil city of Basra to review the ministry's oilfields' development plans.

It made no mention of the decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries on Sept. 28 to reduce output to a range of between 32.50 million barrels per day and 33.0 million bpd.

OPEC's production stood at around 33.6 million bpd in September, according to a Reuters survey that put Iraq's output at 4.43 million bpd.

The minister "has affirmed the need to proceed forth with increasing oil and gas production through enhancing the national effort and those of the licensed companies for the remainder of 2016 and also for 2017," the statement said.

Foreign companies' oil output targets "should be reached within the assigned periods," the ministry quoted Luaibi as saying.

The ministry also aims to increase associated gas output by adding 350 to 450 million cubic feet a day to the nation's production in 2017, Luaibi said.
Some South African universities to reopen despite student fee protests

JOHANNESBURG, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Most South African universities will reopen on Monday despite on-campus clashes between police and students protesters earlier this week, though some, including the University of Cape Town, would remain temporarily shut, media reported.

Demonstrations over the cost of university education, which is prohibitive for many black students, have highlighted frustration at enduring inequalities more than two decades after the end of apartheid.

Nationwide protests erupted last week while universities were on a study recess, with students demanding all universities be shut down until the government provides free education.

The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg saw the worst clashes on Tuesday, with students overturning a police car and throwing stones, while police fired tear gas and rubber bullets. During the protest students danced the "toyi-toyi" - a common display of protest throughout decades of struggle against white rule.

Wits said in a statement on Saturday that it would reopen on Monday on several conditions, with students allowed to protest peacefully only in designated areas.

"We are committed to completing the 2016 academic programme and to ensuring that examinations are written," Wits said, adding that it has revised its calendar for 2016.

The academic year in South Africa lasts from February to December.

Other universities set to reopen on Monday after extended recess include Tshwane University of Technology, University of Venda, North West University, University of the Free State and Sol Plaatjie University, according to newspaper City Press.

The University of Cape Town will remain shut down, accoridng to media reports, while the University of Pretoria said in a statement it will conduct a meeting between staff and students on Monday in a bid to resolve the standoff.

The government, grappling with a budget deficit of nearly 4 percent of GDP, has capped 2017 fee increases for next year at 8 percent, but warns that education subsidies should not come at the expense of other sectors like health and housing.
Pope names new group of cardinals, adding to potential successors

By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday promoted 17 Roman Catholic prelates from around the world to the high rank of cardinal, including 13 who are under 80 years old and thus eligible to succeed him one day.

Cardinals, who wear red hats and are known as "princes of the Church," are the most senior members of the Roman Catholic hierarchy after the pope and serve as his principal advisers around the world and in the Vatican.

Naming new cardinals is one of the most significant powers of the papacy, allowing a pontiff to put his stamp on the future of the 1.2-billion-member global Church.

Cardinals under 80, known as cardinal-electors, can enter a secret conclave to choose a new pope from their own ranks after Francis dies or resigns. Francis, the former cardinal-archbishop of Buenos Aires, was elected in a conclave on March 13, 2013.

The new cardinal-electors come from Italy, the Central African Republic, Spain, the United States, Brazil, Bangladesh, Venezuela, Belgium, Mauritius, Mexico and Papua New Guinea.

Significantly, Francis said the current Vatican ambassador in Syria, Italian Archbishop Mario Zenari, would be elevated but remain in his post to show the Church's concern for "beloved and martyred Syria" - an allusion to the devastating civil war there.

It was believed to be the first time in recent history a Vatican ambassador, known as a nuncio, would have the rank of cardinal.

The pope has made numerous appeals for an end to Syria's war and last month he urged forces to stop bombing civilians in Aleppo, warning them they would face God's judgment one day.

ALBANIAN EX-PRISONER

The four new cardinals over 80, who get the position as a symbolic honour to thank them for long service to the Church, include Father Ernest Simoni, 88, an Albanian priest who spent many years in jail and forced labour during the communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha, who died in 1985.

Francis, making the surprise announcement during his weekly Sunday address, said the ceremony to elevate the prelates, known as a consistory, would be held on Nov. 19.

With the current batch, Francis has named 44 cardinal-electors, slightly more than a third of the total of 120 allowed by Church law.

It will be his third consistory since his election in 2013 as the first non-European pontiff in 1,300 years and he has used each occasion to show support for the Church in far flung places or where Catholics are suffering.

The Central African Republic, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and Lesotho will have a cardinal for the first time, underscoring Francis' conviction that the Church is a global institution that should become increasingly less Euro-centric.

Last year the pope visited Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic. Amid some of the tightest security ever seen on his trips, he preached reconciliation in the nation racked by bloodshed between Muslims and Christians.

Only one of the 13 cardinal-electors will take on a Vatican job. The others would remain in their posts around the world.

Three are from the United States: Archbishop Blase Cupich of Chicago, Archbishop William Tobin of Indianapolis and Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas, who was recently appointed to head a new Vatican department on family and life issues.
China sentences former Yunnan party boss to death for bribery with reprieve

BEIJING, Oct 9 (Reuters) - China has sentenced the former Communist Party boss from the southwestern province of Yunnan to death for bribery with a two-year reprieve, the latest official to fall in President Xi Jinping's sweeping war on graft.

A court said Bai Enpei, 70, abused his posts, including as party chief in Yunnan until 2011 and earlier as the top official in the western province of Qinghai, illegally amassing more than 247 million yuan ($37 million) in assets.

Bai was handed a two-year reprieve as he had admitted his crimes and expressed regret, and because the assets were recovered in full, the court said. Typically death sentences be converted to life imprisonment subject to good behaviour.

"The amount of bribes Bai Enpei accepted was huge, the details of his crimes extremely serious, and their social impact especially pernicious," the Anyang city intermediate court in the central province of Henan said on its official blog.

Bai went on trial in June, but the court statement gave few other details of his case. He could not be reached for comment.

Courts are controlled by the party and do not challenge party accusations, especially in corruption cases.

China is in the midst of a crackdown on graft launched by Xi after he assumed power almost four years ago, warning the problem was so serious it threatened the party's survival.

Dozens of senior officials have been jailed in the campaign, including former domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang.

China's anti-graft watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), said separately on its website that Yang Dongliang, the former head of the State Administration of Work Safety, had been charged with corruption.

Yang was removed as the agency's director shortly after the massive explosions in a warehouse in Tianjin last August left more than 170 people dead.

He was a former vice mayor Tianjin and has been accused of abusing his positions and accepting bribes in "huge amounts".

Another former senior official, Zhou Benshun, who was party boss of the northern province of Hebei, was also charged for corruption, the CCDI said.
Yemen ex-president urges attack on Saudi Arabia after air strike

DUBAI, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Yemen's powerful ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, a key ally of the country's dominant Houthi movement, called for an escalation of attacks against their common enemy Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

A politician who retains influence over Yemen's military, Saleh spoke a day after an apparent Saudi-led air attack on a meeting hall in the capital Sanaa killed at least 140 people according to local health officials cited by the United Nations.
Malaysia arrests 16 for suspected militant links

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Malaysian police said on Sunday they have arrested 16 people for suspected militant links after a two-week operation across the country.

The arrests were made between Sept. 21 and Oct. 6. Fifteen were Malaysians and the other was a citizen of a North African country. The suspects were aged between 20 and 38 years old.

Fourteen were arrested for suspected links to Islamic State and channelling funds to Muhammad Wanndy Muhammad Jedi, who was responsible for a grenade attack on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur in June, police said in a statement.

Wanndy is a Malaysian known by police to be fighting with Islamic State in Syria.

Another suspect, a Malaysian student, was arrested on arrival at Kuala Lumpur international airport. The police said he had travelled to Istanbul with an intention to enter Syria, but was detained by Turkish authorities at the request of Malaysian police.

The police also said they arrested a citizen of a North African country for suspected links to Jahbat Al Nusra, an Islamic group in Syria. They did not specify which North African country.

The grenade attack on a bar on the outskirts of the Malaysian capital in June is seen as the Islamist group's first successful assault in the country.

Authorities in Muslim-majority Malaysia have been on high alert since Islamic State-linked militants carried out an armed attack in the capital of neighbouring Indonesia in January.
Iranian, Iraqi oil ministers will not attend Istanbul talks - sources

ISTANBUL, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The oil ministers of Iran and Iraq will not attend informal talks between OPEC and non-OPEC producers in Turkey this week, sources familiar with the matter said on Sunday.
Russia, Turkey resume gas price talks - Russian energy minister

MOSCOW, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Moscow and Ankara have resumed talks on the price of Russian gas for Ankara, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview with Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper.

A gas price dispute between Turkish pipeline operator Botas and Russia's state gas producer Gazprom led to Botas launching international arbitration proceedings against Gazprom in October 2015.

The row had led to talks on their joint Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline project to be suspended earlier that year.

In November 2015, most contact between Russia and Turkey were halted after the downing of a Russian fighter jet by Turkish military, although since then Moscow and Ankara have made significant progress towards restoring relations.

"Talks about gas price have resumed, I hope the sides will come to a common position," Novak said, according to the text of the interview published on the Russian Energy Ministry's website on Sunday.

Botas says it was promised a discount on the price of gas in February 2015 but that Moscow never signed off on the deal.

Novak said he expected the first hearing in the case to be held in 2017.

"It is possible that by then Russia's Gazprom Export and Turkey's Botas will be able to resolve their disagreements related to the price of gas," Novak said.

Novak also told Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency that an intergovernmental agreement on Turkish Stream was almost complete and would be finalised before the meeting of the presidents of Turkey and Russia in Istanbul this week.
New British prime minister to tackle old runway problem

By Sarah Young and Kylie MacLellan

LONDON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to decide where to allow new airport capacity near London this month, a long-awaited ruling that will help shape Britain's economy and trading ties following its vote to leave the European Union.

May will either support plans for a new runway west of London at Heathrow, the busiest airport in both Britain and Europe, or at Gatwick to the south. The decision has been debated for more than 25 years and any further delay could risk economic growth as both sites near full capacity.

At $22 billion, Heathrow would be the more expensive project and face legal challenges over its environmental impact on densely populated west London. But its established trade links with emerging markets strengthen its case in the wake of Brexit. It also has the backing of the major airlines.

For its part Gatwick, the country's no. 2 airport that mostly connects to Europe, argues it can build a runway more quickly and cheaply and that its rural position means it would disturb fewer people with noise and air pollution.

The decision has split successive governments, faced with protests from high-profile politicians, local residents and environmental campaigners. But May told her party last week an announcement would be made "shortly".

"She is the kind of person who won't baulk at making a decision," former Conservative transport minister Steve Norris said at an event on the sidelines of their party conference.

Industry sources say they expect a decision this month.

Three options are under consideration: building a new runway at Heathrow for 18 billion pounds, lengthening one of its existing two runways for an estimated 14 billion pounds, or building a new runway at Gatwick for 7 billion pounds.

May's predecessor David Cameron had been due to rule on it in July, after he delayed an earlier decision, and sources and media reports said he favoured Heathrow. But the vote to leave the EU cost Cameron his job and the decision was delayed again.

For business leaders, Heathrow remains the preferred choice. A hub airport delivering passengers on to further destinations, Heathrow is also Britain's biggest port by value, handling a third of the country's non-EU exports through established connections with emerging markets.

"After Brexit, the case for Heathrow is stronger because it is the airport which links the UK to markets outside Europe," said Howard Davies, who backed Heathrow following his three-year government-commissioned independent inquiry.

"There is a very great need ... for the country to set a direction."

Airlines also prefer expansion at Europe's largest hub airport, a title Heathrow is set to lose to France by 2020.

"We struggle to see any business case for the expansion of Gatwick," Willie Walsh, the head of IAG, owner of British Airways and Heathrow's biggest airline, told an industry conference in June.

He prefers Heathrow but says he will only support expansion where the costs are kept low.

Heathrow, 15 miles from central London, faces greater scrutiny after some of its air monitors breached air quality limits in 2014. May's constituency lies under the flight path but she is giving little away, including whether to put the decision to parliament.

Davies' recommendation for Heathrow came after it agreed to abide by a list of conditions over night flights, noise and air quality, providing some reassurance to residents.

"A third runway with conditions is much better than a third runway without conditions," said John Stewart, chairman of the Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise.

But those changes have not silenced all the critics and a group of councils near to Heathrow have already brought in lawyers.

Gatwick, 40 miles south of London and mostly surrounded by countryside, says its stronger environmental position bolsters the case for its runway to go ahead, as the two airports battle to be given permission to deliver expansion by 2025.

However, Gatwick protesters say they would also launch a legal challenge if it is given the green light.

For some, the demands for new connections after Brexit would warrant May approving new runways at both Heathrow and Gatwick.

"The possibility that the government will support both runways is not so far-fetched," said Duncan Field, head of planning at law firm Norton Rose Fulbright.

But building at both would conflict with Davies's warning that only one new runway was justifiable given climate change targets.

Both Heathrow, owned by Spanish infrastructure company Ferrovial, Qatar Holding, China Investment Corp plus others, and Gatwick, owned by investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and others, say expansion can be funded without government money.

But the required road and rail changes at Heathrow would need public funds to top up what its owners are prepared to spend. These are estimated by Davies at 5 billion pounds, and by Heathrow at around 2 billion pounds. Gatwick's new links will cost 800 million pounds but the airport will fund them itself.

Some of the funding for expansion is expected to come from an increase in airport charges to the airlines, which puts Gatwick at a disadvantage as its main airline users are low cost carriers like easyJet rather than the full-service carriers who are Heathrow's client base.

In a bid to win the industry's backing, Gatwick Chief Executive Stewart Wingate has said the airport would cap charges at 15 pounds per departing passenger, compared to current fees of 9 pounds, by phasing the building work.

When asked about future charges, Heathrow said only that its charge is currently about 22 pounds and charges are calculated under a framework agreed with the UK regulator in consultation with airlines.

Analysts said the vote to leave the EU, and the uncertainty that had sparked about the health of the economy, mean a decision is now urgent.

"The imperative to do something and to be seen to do something, from being open for business and open for investment ... is now much higher than it was," said KPMG UK aviation head James Stamp. "Twelve months ago we were all despairing of them ever making a decision." ($1 = 0.8112 pounds)
Western-backed coalition under pressure over Yemen raids

By William Maclean

DUBAI, Oct 9 (Reuters) - An air strike on a funeral wake, widely blamed on Saudi-led warplanes, poses more trouble for a Western-backed Arab campaign against Yemen's Houthis that has long been criticised for civilian losses.

The White House announced an immediate review of Washington's support for the 18-month-old military push after planes hit mourners at a community hall in the capital Sanaa on Saturday, killing 140 people according to one U.N. estimate and 82 according to the Houthis.

The statement from Riyadh's main ally, noting for the second time in as many months that U.S. support was not "a blank check", sets up an awkward test of a Saudi-U.S. partnership already strained by differences over wars in other Arab lands.

The reproach also indirectly hands a propaganda win to Riyadh's arch rival Tehran, a Houthi ally that has long seen the Sunni kingdom as a corrupt and domineering influence on its impoverished southern neighbour, diplomats say.

Sources in the Saudi-led coalition denied any role in the attack, but Riyadh later promised an investigation of the "regrettable and painful" incident, with U.S. expert advice. The move was apparently aimed at heading off further criticism of a military campaign already under fire for causing hundreds of civilian deaths in apparently indiscriminate attacks.

PRESSURE

"There will be pressure on the campaign," said Mustafa Alani, a security analyst close to Saudi Arabia's interior ministry. While the coalition followed very careful rules and understood human rights concerns, "there will now be pressure to end the whole operation, or to restrict the operation".

An estimated 10,000 people have been killed in the war and the United Nations blames coalition strikes for 60 percent of some 3,800 civilian deaths since they began in March 2015.

The outcry over civilian casualties has led some lawmakers in the United States and Britain as well as rights activists to push for curbs on arms sales to Riyadh, so far without success.

The coalition denies deliberately targetting civilians and says it goes to great lengths to ensure its raids are precisely targeted, with explosive loads calibrated to limit the risk of causing damage beyond the immediate target area.

The coalition accuses the Houthis, who seized much of the north in a series of military advances since 2014, of placing military targets in civilian areas. The Houthis deny this.

Fury in Sanaa at Saturday's raid was echoed internationally.

A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said any deliberate attack against civilians was utterly unacceptable.

Ban called for "a prompt and impartial investigation of this incident. Those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice", the spokesman said.

U.N. emergency relief coordinator Stephen O'Brien described the attack as obscene and heinous.

There was dismay, too, in the ranks of the internationally recognised Yemeni government that the coalition is defending.

"DIRTY WAR"

"It's shocking to see that a target like this was hit," said a senior official in the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. "It's the latest in a series of attacks by all sides on civilian targets like homes and public gatherings that are turning this into a dirty war."

"If anything positive can come from this, it would be increasing the will for a ceasefire that is needed. But incidents like these before have just fuelled a desire for revenge."

Yemen's powerful ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, a key Houthi ally, called on Sunday for an escalation of attacks against Saudi Arabia, demanding "battle readiness at the fronts on the (Saudi) border".

Saleh's remarks reflect the heightened political climate in Sanaa, but it was not clear what concrete effect they might have. Houthi forces regularly fire rockets across the frontier, occasionally killing or wounding Saudi civilians, and bands of Houthi fighters stage border incursions almost daily.

The funeral wake was for the father of the interior minister of northern Yemen's Houthi-run administration, Jalal al-Roweishan, who had died of natural causes on Friday. Yemenis say the Roweishan family is widely respected and has good ties with many groups and tribes across Yemen's political spectrum.

Mokhtar al-Rahabi, a spokesman for Hadi, condemned the attack on his official Facebook page on Saturday.

"Bombing a mourning hall in which there were dozens of civilians is not acceptable, even if leaders of the (Houthi) putschists were present. Our war is a war of morals."

A statement issued by the alliance after Saturday's raid reiterated that its forces "have clear instructions not to target populated areas and to avoid civilians".

But the eventual prospect of a more limited military campaign -- perhaps through tighter targetting parameters for air operations - and a possible reduction in Western support could deliver a blow to Riyadh's efforts to confront perceived Iranian expansionism in its southern neighbour.

The Houthis and powerful local allies hold most of Yemen's northern half, while forces working for the exiled government share control of the rest of the country with local tribes.

COMPENSATION

Peace talks have made little headway. The Saudi-backed government of President Hadi insists on compliance with U.N. Security Council resolution 2216, which calls on the Houthis to withdraw from cities seized since 2014.

Riyadh has long accused Hezbollah's ally Iran of backing the Houthis and seeking to transform the group into a replica of the Lebanese militia to use as a proxy against Saudi Arabia.

While Washington has long expressed understanding for Saudi concerns about Iranian activism in Arab lands, the U.S. military has distanced itself from the coalition's targeting decisions.

In June the U.S. military withdrew personnel from Saudi Arabia who were coordinating with the Saudi-led air campaign, and sharply reduced the number of staff elsewhere who were assisting in that planning.

U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the lower staffing was not due to concern over civilian casualties. But the Pentagon also said that in its discussions with the coalition, it pressed the need to minimize civilian casualties.

Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a United Arab Emirates (UAE) political scientist, said that if the coalition was found to be responsible for the killings, that should be acknowledged openly and compensation arranged.

He said no country wanted an end to the war more than Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other coalition members, while adding that it was up to the Houthis to respect resolution 2216.

"I think everyone realises this war has gone on way beyond what was originally expected. But the ball is in the Houthis court," he said.
Russia says U.S. actions threaten its national security

MOSCOW, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Sunday he had detected increasing U.S. hostility towards Moscow and complained about what he said was a series of aggressive U.S. steps that threatened Russia's national security.

In an interview with Russian state TV likely to worsen already poor relations with Washington, Lavrov made it clear he blamed the Obama administration for what he described as a sharp deterioration in U.S.-Russia ties.

"We have witnessed a fundamental change of circumstances when it comes to the aggressive Russophobia that now lies at the heart of U.S. policy towards Russia," Lavrov told Russian state TV's First Channel.

"It's not just a rhetorical Russophobia, but aggressive steps that really hurt our national interests and pose a threat to our security."

With relations between Moscow and Washington strained over issues from Syria to Ukraine, Lavrov reeled off a long list of Russian grievances against the United States which he said helped contribute to an atmosphere of mistrust that was in some ways more dangerous and unpredictable than the Cold War.

He complained that NATO had been steadily moving military infrastructure closer to Russia's borders and lashed out at Western sanctions imposed over Moscow's role in the Ukraine crisis.

He also said he had heard that some policy makers in Washington were suggesting that President Barack Obama sanction the carpet bombing of the Syrian government's military air fields to ground its air force.

"This is a very dangerous game given that Russia, being in Syria at the invitation of the legitimate government of this country and having two bases there, has got air defence systems there to protect its assets," said Lavrov.

Lavrov said he hoped Obama would not agree to such a scenario.

Russia suspended a treaty with Washington on cleaning up weapons grade plutonium earlier this month in response to what it said were "unfriendly acts" by the United States.

Lavrov said both countries had the right to pull out of the treaty in the event of "a fundamental change in circumstances".
Last survivor of Greece's 1967-74 military junta dies at 103

ATHENS, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The last survivor from the right-wing junta that staged Greece's 1967 military coup and ruled for seven years has died at the age of 103, the state-run Athens News Agency reported on Sunday.

Born on the island of Crete, Stylianos Pattakos was a brigadier general who commanded armoured tank forces when he took part in the April 21, 1967 coup led by Colonel George Papadopoulos. Pattakos's tanks were pivotal in the junta's seizure of the capital Athens.

He served as interior minister as well as first deputy prime minister. After democracy was restored in 1974, Pattakos and Papadopoulos were arrested and sentenced to death. Their sentences were later commuted to life imprisonment.
Thousands of armed Yemeni protesters call for investigation into wake bombing

By Mohammed Ghobari

SANAA, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Thousands of Yemenis, many of them armed, gathered at the United Nations headquarters in Yemen's capital Sanaa on Sunday calling for an international investigation into an air strike on a wake this weekend that was widely blamed on Saudi-led forces.

The attack - that killed at least 140 people on Saturday - hit a hall where rows of the city's notables had gathered for the wake of the interior minister's father.

The Saudi-led coalition has denied any role in the incident, believed to be one of the deadliest strikes in the 18-month-old war in which at least 10,000 people have been killed.

The attack has been condemned by the U.N., the European Union and the United States.

Pictures showed the inside of the once-ornate hall reduced to a pile of twisted metal and rubble after two huge explosions.

Radios and mosque loudspeakers throughout the city blared mourning verses as demonstrators crowded the streets around the U.N. headquarters, many waving their rifles in the air.

Nada, a high school student living near the site said body parts propelled by the explosion flew into her house.

"What happened was an unprecedented crime ... The sight of it was terrifying and will never leave my mind," she said.

One Sanaa resident, Ahmed Abu Taleb, described his frantic search for a relative.

"We were searching in the hall and in hospitals from the afternoon until dawn today, but after all our anguish we learned that he was among the dead."

On Sunday, Yemen's powerful former president Ali Abdullah Saleh called for more attacks at the Saudi border. Saleh holds sway in the military fighting with Houthi rebels who pushed Yemen's internationally recognised government into exile in March 2015.

Saudi Arabia has launched thousands of air strikes against the Shi'ite Houthis, who the kingdom and its Gulf Arab allies fear are a proxy for their archenemy Iran.

In another sign that the attack may escalate already raging regional tensions, Iran's main ally in the Arab world commiserated with the Houthis and condemned Saudi Arabia.

"I say to (Yemen's) people: you will ultimately triumph," the leader of the armed Lebanese group, Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, said on Saturday.
South Africa clinch fourth straight ODI win over Australia

PORT ELIZABETH, Oct 9 (Reuters) - South Africa secured a fourth successive one-day international victory over Australia as captain Faf du Plessis top scored with 69 runs in a six-wicket win on Sunday.

South Africa had already clinched the five-match series with one encounter left to play in Cape Town on Wednesday.

Kyle Abbott took four wickets as Australia were bowled out for 167 in just 36.4 overs, leaving South Africa with a modest target to chase.

They did so successfully, reaching 168 for the loss of four wickets in 35.3 overs.

In the three previous ODIs, South Africa's batsmen dominated the inexperienced Australian attack but on Sunday it was their bowlers who took centre stage.

Abbott bowled both Aaron Finch and David Warner in his opening two overs and finished with 4-40 in his first game of the series.

Wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, making his home debut, took 3-36 as six Australians were dismissed leg before wicket, equalling the record number of lbw dismissals in an ODI innings.

Mitchell Marsh scored 50 before becoming the sixth wicket to fall while wicketkeeper Matthew Wade's contribution of 52 helped add 46 runs for Australia's ninth wicket.

In reply, South Africa were two wickets down for 29 runs before Du Plessis and JP Duminy steadied the ship and set them on course for a potential clean-sweep of the series.

Du Plessis was patient, although he should have been out on 17 when Adam Zampa spilled a simple catch.
Philippines looks to China for farms 'windfall' when fruit ban ends

By Karen Lema

MANILA, Oct 9 (Reuters) - China will lift a Philippine fruit ban and explore broader farm and fisheries imports and investments in its fledgling farm sector, the Philippine agriculture minister said, signalling serious intent by Manila to beef up business with Beijing.

China would resume shipments from 27 blacklisted fruit exporters as a "gift" when President Rodrigo Duterte visits with a business delegation from Oct. 19-21, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol told Reuters on Sunday.

"I would look at that as a goodwill move," he said. "The atmosphere would be positive."

Pinol's comments suggest Duterte is following through on his promises to build a commercial alliance with China, made repeatedly in speeches in which he has angrily alluded to cutting ties with the United States and reaching out to its geopolitical rivals.

The trade talk with China is hugely symbolic and marks a stark turnaround in ties since a July arbitration ruling in The Hague went in Manila's favour and angered Beijing by invalidating its claim to almost the entire South China Sea.

Duterte is forging ahead, even as mistrust lingers over China's four-year blockade of Filipino fishermen at the Scarborough Shoal.

Pinol said ending the ban on bananas and pineapples would boost demand in other parts of a farm sector that has seen its output contract for two successive quarters.

"Since we are not involved in the diplomatic issues, we are just looking at this as a windfall for Philippine agriculture because China, we have to admit, is our biggest market for our agriculture products," he said by phone.

"The interest of China in importing fisheries products will spur development," he said, adding the demand would see Filipino farmers ramp up their output.

SHRINKING OUTPUT

Agriculture accounts for about one-tenth of the Philippine economy. Farm output dropped 4.4 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, followed by a 2.1 percent contraction in the second quarter, according to government data.

Together with the impact of the El Nino weather pattern, the ban, he said, had seen earnings from banana shipments down by half in 2015 from about $1.1 billion in 2014.

Pinol said Beijing's ambassador to the Philippines had informed him China would look to import mango and dragon fruit, plus fisheries produce like crab, shrimp, grouper and milkfish. China imported just 6.3 percent of the Philippines' $1.3 billion in seafood shipments in 2014, compared to 25 percent to the United States, according to most recent official data.

Finance secretary, Carlos Dominguez, on Saturday told Reuters Duterte was seeking billions of dollars of Chinese infrastructure investments, including rail lines and power grids.

Duterte's defence minister on Friday said moves were afoot also to acquire Chinese arms.

Pinol was hopeful that an invitation by the Bank of China to attend events in China could create opportunities to secure much-needed financing, and he said he expected China to very soon increase imports of different produce because its export firms were already active in the Philippines.

"That should happen fast because there are Chinese groups here waiting for the ban to be lifted," he said.
Senior member of Mozambique's opposition Renamo shot dead on beach

MAPUTO, Oct 9 (Reuters) - A senior official of Mozambique's Renamo opposition party was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on a Maputo beach, Renamo's national spokesperson was quoted as saying, potentially blocking progress in its talks with the government.

The killing of Jeremias Pondeca, a member of the Joint Commission set up to find solutions in the standoff between the government and Renamo, comes days before the commission was due to resume its work. It was not immediately clear if it would do so following the shooting.

Pondeca was shot while exercising on the beach on Saturday, Renamo spokesman Antonio Muchanga was quoted as saying by state news agency AIM.

The commission has so far reached no definitive agreement on any of the matters on its agenda, including Renamo's demand for six provincial governors and the inclusion of its militia in the army and police.

The commission was set up to prepare the ground for a face-to-face meeting between President Filipe Nyusi and Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama. There has been no progress towards such a meeting yet, with Dhlakama saying he had no interest in meeting Nyusi before signing a final agreement, the agency reported.

Pondeca was also a member of the Council of State, an advisory body to the president.
Thai king's condition unstable after haemodialysis treatment -palace

BANGKOK, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Thailand's 88-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest reigning monarch, is in an unstable condition after receiving haemodialysis treatment, the palace said in a statement late on Sunday.

News about the king's health is closely monitored in Thailand, where King Bhumibol is deeply revered.

The king has been treated for various ailments over the past year at Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital - his home for much of the past year - and was last seen in public on Jan. 11, when he spent several hours visiting his palace in the Thai capital.

Anxiety over the king's health and an eventual succession has formed the backdrop to more than a decade of bitter political divide in Thailand that has included two military coups and often-violent street demonstrations.

Sunday's statement was the second health bulletin this month after the palace said on Oct. 1 that the king was recovering after a respiratory infection.

On Saturday, he was given haemodialysis - a way of cleansing the blood of toxins, extra salts and fluids - which made his blood pressure drop occasionally, the palace said.

Doctors gave him some medicine and put him on a ventilator to bring his blood pressure back to normal, it said.

They continue to monitor his condition closely, the statement said.

"His condition has yet to stabilise," the palace said.
Ukraine says catches Russian military intelligence spy red-handed

KIEV, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) said on Sunday it had caught red-handed a Ukrainian working as a spy for Russia's military intelligence agency, just days after a Ukrainian journalist was arrested on espionage charges in Russia.

The unnamed suspect had come to SBU's attention after he offered a senior Ukrainian military official Russian citizenship and money in exchange for top secret documents on Ukraine's military capabilities and work with foreign partners, it said.

"He was caught by SBU officers red-handed while receiving a flash drive containing misinformation that he believed to be secret documents of a military nature," a SBU statement said.

There was no immediate comment from Russian authorities.

On Monday, Russia's FSB security service said it arrested a Ukrainian intelligence officer for gathering secret information on Russian defence and security bodies, a move that prompted Ukraine to warn its citizens against travelling to Russia.
Bangladesh humble England to level ODI series

DHAKA, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Bangladesh thumped England in a bowler-dominated contest after home skipper Mashrafe Mortaza's all-round brilliance secured their series-levelling 34-run victory in the second one-day international on Sunday.

Mortaza blasted 44 runs off 29 balls and then returned to marshal his bowlers intelligently while claiming 4-29 himself as England collapsed for 204 in 44.4 overs.

Jos Buttler (57) and Jonny Bairstow (35) provided the only resistance in an otherwise spectacular England batting collapse chasing a modest 239-run victory target.

Put in to bat, Bangladesh had slumped to 39-3 in the 14th over but Mahmudullah's 75 and Mortaza's breezy knock helped the hosts recover and put on a competitive 238 for eight at Mirpur's Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Chris Woakes came up with a double strike to vindicate Buttler's decision to field at the venue of their 21-run victory in Friday's series opener.

Woakes dismissed Imrul Kayes (11), who struck a blistering century in the previous match, and Tamim Iqbal (14) as Bangladesh suffered a top order collapse.

Mahmudullah added 50 runs with Mushfiqur Rahim (21) and raised 48 with Mosaddek Hossain (29) but wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals.

Mortaza hit three sixes in his brisk knock before running himself out in the final over of the innings.

The paceman then returned to lead by example.

Mortaza dismissed James Vince, Jason Roy and Ben Stokes, while left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan sent back Ben Duckett to reduce England to 26-4 inside 10 overs.

Buttler and Bairstow added 79 runs to try and put the chase back on track when Taskin Ahmed (3-47) ripped the heart out of the England lineup with some impressive fast bowling.

The lanky paceman dismissed Bairstow and then virtually killed off the contest when he ended Buttler's run-a-ball-knock before sending back Woakes in his fiery spell.

Adil Rashid (33 not out) and Jake Ball (28) offered some late resistance but it was not enough in the end.
Myanmar says nine police killed by insurgents on Bangladesh border

By Aung Hla Tun

Yangon, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Myanmar said at least nine police officers were killed and four were wounded Sunday in multiple assaults on border guard posts along the Southeast Asian nation's troubled frontier with Bangladesh.

Eight attackers, identified only as "insurgent terrorists," but believed by officials to belong to a Muslim group, were killed and two were captured alive in clashes in the western state of Rakhine since the early hours of Sunday, national police chief Zaw Win told a press conference.

Rakhine is home to about 1.1 million members of the mostly Muslim Rohingya ethnic group, most of whom are denied citizenship and face severe restrictions on their movements.

About 125,000 people, most of them Rohingya, have been displaced since 2012 when intercommunal violence left more than 100 people dead in Rakhine.

A state official told Reuters he believed Sunday's assailants belonged to the Muslim group.

The attacks began at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday when some 90 assailants stormed a police force office in Kyiganbyin village, Maungdaw Township, Zaw Win told reporters in the capital, Naypyitaw.

The attackers killed six police officers, wounded two others and seized 51 weapons and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition in the initial attack, he said.

According to Zaw Win, a simultaneous attack on a border police camp in Kyeedangauk village, Rathidaung Township, also killed one police officer and wounded two others.

A third incident took place in Buthidaung Township at 4:30 a.m., leaving two more police dead and one missing, he said, adding that seven alleged attackers were killed in that clash.

Zaw Win did not speculate on the possible identity of the attackers.

But a senior Rakhine State government official who asked not to be named said he believed they were "Bengali," a term used by many in Myanmar to refer to the Rohingya that suggests they come from Bangladesh.

The official said he based his judgement on photographs purported to be of the captured attackers -- which Reuters has seen but could not verify -- that appeared to show two men of South Asian descent restrained with belts.

"But we just don't know for sure yet which organization they belong to," the official said.

Authorities on Sunday issued an order that imposes a 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and prohibits gatherings of five or more people in Maungdaw Township.

The attacks represent the most deadly violence in Rakhine State since 2012, but a spate of smaller attacks on border police took place in 2014.

A report by the International Crisis Group said there was no evidence to support the government's claim at the time that a group known as the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) was responsible.

Independent observers have long said the RSO, which was formed in 1982, is practically defunct.
Ukraine military postpones withdrawal from town, cites rebel shelling

STANYTSA LUHANSKA, Ukraine, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Ukraine's military on Sunday postponed a planned parallel withdrawal with pro-Russian separatists from Stanytsa Luhanska, a town on the eastern frontline, saying rebels had disregarded the agreement by firing artillery at Ukrainian positions.

In September, the two sides agreed a pilot de-escalation project in three small towns - part of a push to revive a much-violated ceasefire and end a conflict that has killed over 9,600 since early 2014.

"The separation of forces and equipment which was planned for today was postponed," said General Borys Kremenetsky, Ukraine's representative to the ceasefire coordination centre.

"The main reason is the continuation of shelling along the line of separation. I would say there has been an increase over the last few days and use of heavy artillery," he told journalists.

The delay is yet another setback for the struggling peace process. Both sides accuse the other of violating the 18-month-old 'Minsk' ceasefire agreement on a near-daily basis.

On Sunday, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said rebels had used heavy artillery in a "major" attack in part of the Luhansk region. Meanwhile separatist officials accused Ukrainian troops of firing at a rebel-held residential district in southern Donetsk region, separatist news site DAN reported.

Nevertheless, both sides have said they have withdrawn from Petrovske in Donetsk region and Zolote in Luhansk region - the other two areas listed in the latest de-escalation pact.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which monitors the implementation of the ceasefire, said on Saturday its monitors had witnessed the movement of troops and equipment out of the Petrovske area, but could not yet confirm if a full withdrawal had taken place there.

While limited in geographic scope - the areas are each four kilometres squared - the disengagement agreement is the first time the sides have said they would withdraw light arms. High-calibre weapons are already meant to have been withdrawn to secure holding areas, although the OSCE regularly reports violations on both sides.

In Stanytsa Luhanska, locals appeared sceptical of the success of the withdrawal plan.
Finnbogason strike eases Iceland past Turkey

LONDON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - A sizzling volleyed strike by Alfred Finnbogason helped Euro 2016 quarter-finalists Iceland to a 2-0 win over toothless Turkey in Reykajvik on Sunday.

The win sends them into second place in Group I level on seven points with leaders Croatia.

In their previous qualifier against Finland, Iceland had to stage a dramatic comeback, scoring twice at the death to win 3-2, but this time they grabbed two goals just before the interval to calm their nerves and allow them to coast to victory.

Central defender Omer Toprak deflected a shot by Elmar Bjarnason into his own net in the 42nd minute and two minutes later Finnbogason scored a stunning volley following a long headed clearance by Kari Arnason down the middle.

The visitors offered little in reply as Iceland continued to enhance their reputation as one of Europe's toughest sides to break down.
Germany's Merkel, on first leg of Africa trip, pledges help for Mali

BAMAKO, Oct 9 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged more support to fight against drug and people smuggling from Mali, on the first day of a trip to Africa where she will try to work towards curbing future waves of migration and to repair her reputation at home.

She gave no details on what form the support would take.

Merkel, who has yet to declare if she will seek a fourth term as chancellor next year, has seen the popularity of her conservatives slump after her move last year to allow almost one million migrants - most from the Middle East - to enter Germany.

Mali is among the top 10 countries of origin for migrants arriving in Italy this year, the International Organization for Migration says, and smuggling routes for migrants from other parts of West Africa also cross its desert spaces.

Merkel, who visits Niger on Monday and Ethiopia on Tuesday, did not say whether Germany would also provide more helicopters for the United Nations' MINUSMA mission in Mali.

Germany has more than 500 soldiers in Mali.

Merkel said Germany would intensify its support for the agriculture sector as well as for the security of the northern part of the country, where Islamist groups are still active.

She told reporters after meeting President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita: "We have a strong interest in stabilising the country."

"We want to contribute to the stabilisation of Mali."

The Malian army is still largely absent from Mali's desert north despite a peace agreement signed last year that aimed to speed its return, placing great pressure on MINUSMA forces to keep roaming militias and Islamist militants at bay.

Merkel has described Africa, with its population of 1.2 billion, as "the central problem" in the migration issue, and last month said the EU needed to establish migrant deals with north African countries along the lines of a deal with Turkey.

Under a pact with the EU, Ankara has agreed to take back all migrants and refugees who cross the Aegean to enter Greece illegally, including Syrians.
Afghan Taliban leader taught, preached in Pakistan, despite govt vow to crack down

By Mehreen Zahra-Malik

KUCHLAK, Pakistan Oct 10 (Reuters) - For 15 years until his sudden disappearance in May, the new leader of the Afghan Taliban insurgency openly taught and preached at the Al Haaj mosque in a dusty town in southwestern Pakistan, associates and students told Reuters.

Details of Haibatullah Akhundzada's life in Kuchlak, near the city of Quetta, have not previously been reported, and could put further pressure on Pakistan to do more to crack down on militants openly living there.

The row over how far Islamabad will go to get rid of jihadi fighters and leaders has hurt relations between Pakistan and Washington, in part because nearly 10,000 American soldiers are in Afghanistan supporting the war against insurgents.

A spokesman for the U.S. State Department's South Asia bureau said it was not "not in a position to confirm Haibatullah Akhundzada's whereabouts, past or present."

Akhundzada is now believed to be in hiding after crossing the long and porous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, but not before going untouched in Kuchlak, located in Baluchistan province, as he rose up the ranks of the Afghan Taliban.

He was promoted to "emir" in May after a U.S. drone killed his predecessor, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, in another part of Pakistan, a strike that infuriated Islamabad but reflected growing impatience over what Washington sees as ambivalence towards its enemies.

Five years earlier, U.S. forces stormed a compound near the Pakistani capital and killed al Qaeda's leader Osama bin Laden.

"Once he became Emir, he left with his whole family," said Hafiz Abdul Majeed, who runs the Al Haaj mosque, adding that he himself studied for several years under Akhundzada.

"You can't teach religion and run (the Taliban's) government at the same time. And it would of course have been dangerous for us and the students and the mosque if he remained here."

Pakistan says it does all it can to go after militants. The Interior Ministry did not reply to written questions about Akhundzada's time in Kuchlak.

A military spokesman said the army would not comment.

Analysts say Pakistan has historically backed the Afghan Taliban as a hedge against the influence of arch-rival India, with whom Pakistan has fought three wars, in its backyard. Pakistan denies this.

"I strongly reject any organised presence of Taliban in Baluchistan," Sarfaraz Bugti, home minister for the province, told Reuters.

"MAN OF FAITH"

At the Al Haaj mosque, scores of teenaged boys wearing turbans and traditional "shalwar kameez" robes attended classes at a religious school, typical of remote parts of Pakistan, where they provide education for millions of boys.

On a recent visit, the metal door of the room where Akhundzada is said to have rested between lessons was padlocked and the curtains on the windows almost fully drawn.

But Akhundzada's name could be seen painted on a wall inside in large calligraphic text.

Colleagues and students described Akhundzada, thought to be in his mid-50s and originally from Kandahar in Afghanistan, as a studious disciplinarian who slipped out of Kuchlak two days before being named Taliban chief.

Majeed, the mosque administrator, said Akhundzada taught students from 8 a.m. to noon every morning at the mosque, and was paid a monthly salary of 10,000 Pakistani rupees ($100).

"We are sad that he is gone because he was a great teacher and a great asset for this mosque," he said.

Several other people at the mosque confirmed his account, although they did not want to be quoted.

Asked how someone closely associated with the Taliban could live so openly, Majeed replied: "He was just a man of faith. He was a 'Sheikh-ul-Hadith' (scholar of Islam's Hadith texts). And when he became Emir, he left here. That's all we know."

Several associates said Akhundzada lost family members in the Afghan war following U.S.-led military intervention to drive the Taliban from power in 2001.

One former pupil at Al Haaj, Pai Khan, says he heard Akhundzada speak at a public rally in Quetta in 2014 commemorating the death of an Afghan Taliban commander.

"He spoke with a lot of force about the U.S. and the war and that we would not give up our jihad, that we would never negotiate with the puppet government in Afghanistan or talk to the U.S.," said Khan, now an activist for a pro-Taliban party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, in Quetta.

Reuters was unable to confirm this account.

Khan said Akhundzada taught him at the mosque for several years nearly a decade ago.

"If you met him in the street you would never think he would be one of the world's greatest leaders one day," Khan told Reuters in a bustling Quetta bazaar.

"DEFENDERS OF ISLAM"

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that, after fleeing Afghanistan, Akhundzada lived for years in the Kuchlak mosque and religious school while he was the movement's shadow chief justice.

However, he disputed the timeline given by Akhundzada's associates, saying he left Kuchlak soon after being named deputy leader in 2015.

"Do you believe a most wanted figure like ... Akhundzada would live in a prominent place like Kuchlak and run a madrassah there when U.S. and Afghan forces and their security agencies are desperately trying to either kill him or capture him?"

There are no known photographs or written records of Akhundzada's tenure in Kuchlak. Reuters could not independently verify the accounts given of his time there.

Elsewhere in Baluchistan province, supporters of the Afghan Taliban said Akhundzada was well known.

"Akhundzada lived for many years in Kuchlak. I met him many times. He used to come to Quetta often," said Syed Abdul Sattar Shah Chishti, spokesman for the hardline Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Nazriati political party in Quetta, another pro-Taliban group.

Western diplomats believe some seminaries in the Quetta area have long been fertile ground for Islamist militancy.

In Quetta itself, pro-Taliban jihadi ideology is openly embraced, and Taliban sources say the group's "Quetta shura", or council, has met sporadically in recent years to make important decisions including choosing new leaders.

Pakistan, however, denies the Taliban leadership operates openly.

Bugti, Baluchistan home minister, said Pakistan had taken measures to stop militants criss-crossing the frontier, including tougher checks that would stop Taliban fighters using fake Pakistani documents to travel, as Mansour did before he was killed.

He said authorities cannot keep track of up to 4 million Afghan refugees who have lived in Pakistan, some for decades.
How will a nuclear war in South Asia play out? Brigadier (retd) Gurmeet Kanwal discusses the nuclear options should Pakistan reach its red lines quite early in a conflict.

Kanwal is an old friend and we have had umpteen discussions on this subject here and abroad in many conferences, some with Pakistani strategists as well.

In his column last week, he writes: They have been particularly vocal in holding out the threat of employment of tactical nuclear warheads (TNWs) against Indian forces. For almost three decades, India has shown immense strategic restraint despite grave provocation from Pakistan. However, first in Pathankot in January 2016 and then in Uri in September 2016, Indias red lines were crossed and the government was left with no option but to include calibrated military measures in its response."

Elsewhere in the same article, Kanwal says: The conventional wisdom in India is that there is space for limited war below the nuclear threshold. Though Indian military retaliation to a major terrorist strike would be carefully calibrated to avoid threatening Pakistans nuclear redlines, under certain circumstances the exchanges could escalate to a war in the plains.

Quite obviously, because we seem to have accepted Pakistans declaratory policy of threatening early escalation to the nuclear step, India seems to have given itself few options of imposing costs on Pakistan.

So far it has restricted itself to minor cross-border raids, the latest of which Kanwal describes as carefully calibrated military measures".

These kind of calibrated military measures, or "surgical strikes", have been taken several times in the past.

This particular raid by about 25 troopers, mostly para-commandos, on June 30, 2011, killed 13 Pakistan army troopers; and in retaliation for an earlier gory deed committed by them, three dead Pakistani soldiers were decapitated and their heads brought back as trophies.

The assault sites were also carefully recced by UAVs and the Indian assault team wore night-vision gear and carried special assault weapons.

The only difference was that the military leadership of the time didnt call them carefully calibrated military measures or even more extravagantly as surgical strikes".

Pakistan could become a more irrational player if the mullahs seize military power. Hence, we are better off with it under the jackboots of the generals. (Photo credit: India Today)

However, it is admitted that earlier cross-border strikes by Indian troops were on one or two targets, the present one reportedly was targeted at four or five jihadi areas simultaneously. The big difference between then and now is that the 2011 attack was against the regular Pakistan army while the recent attack was against a terrorist gang.

Neither the earlier attack nor the latest one resulted in any restraint on further cross-border strikes from the other side. Hence the utility of our retaliation must be questioned.

It is time for India to seriously contemplate higher steps on the escalatory ladder, like decapitating terrorist leadership or destroying terrorist camps, which are deeper inside PoK or Pakistani Punjab.

But we seem to have locked ourselves in a box of our making, having internalised Pakistans bombast of a low threshold of pain before it embarks upon a nuclear adventure.

That is largely because our nuclear theologians have tended to believe the Pakistani declarations of early crossing of their vaguely stated red lines. I disagree with their belief that Pakistan will employ theatre nuclear weapons (TNWs) even for a single major retaliatory territorial ingress by an Indian armoured column.

The escalation costs are too much even for an irrational actor like Pakistan postures itself to be. I don't believe Pakistan's declared policy is anything more than a posture since it knows the destruction that will descend upon it. That is if it takes Indias declared policy as gospel!

It used to be said that Soviet president Leonid Brezhnev used to get sleepless nights when Richard Nixon was US President because of Nixons madman reputation.

We have also seen how declared policy goes out of the window when confronted - Nikita Khrushchev backed down when the US Navy intercepted and blocked Soviet naval vessels bound for Cuba on the high seas during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

Like Brezhnev, we too seem to have locked ourselves into knots believing Pakistani irrationality. On the contrary, its generals are rational persons and have given themselves free space for military provocations by professing irrationality.

This is a carefully crafted policy knowing how unprepared civilian leaders are for coercive diplomacy. That is why coercive diplomacy is out of the purview of Pakistans civilian leadership.

In our system, the military is not even a partner in policy planning and ignorance and a natural credulity make our civilian leaders more prone to believing the illogical and impossible.

I also feel India's declared posture of massive nuclear retaliation is not logical. To threaten complete annihilation of Pakistan even with the use of a single TNW is quite incredible.

We must be ready with a flexible response, with a bigger TNW or multiple TNWs as options. I believe if Pakistan knows annihilation is in store for it, even for a single TNW why will it do that and await complete destruction. Why will it not go for a major preemptive strike in the first place?

First of all I don't believe Pakistan's red lines are so down the ladder. They will only happen when our conventional forces inflict unacceptable losses. Hence I conclude that below the nuclear threshold, there is much more space for step-by-step escalation of conventional warfare.

However, Pakistan could become a more irrational player if the mullahs seize military power. Hence we are better off with it under the jackboots of the generals, and even better off with a full democracy under full civilian control.

If the mullahs seize control, we must contemplate a full Pakistani first-strike at a lower threshold and calibrate our responses accordingly.

Incidentally, this has been gamed many times and we have always found that the escalatory ladder has many steps to climb before the nuclear threshold.
Contradictory impulses of deeply inflammatory rhetoric and fitful efforts to bring some reason into the discourse on India-Pakistan relations in the wake of the "surgical strikes", and the vital sequence of regional and global events that preceded it, have characterised the discourse on both sides of the border, and have done little to clear the air.

In India, hysterical TV debates, and their reflections in the print and social media, have been fed by petty posturing of members of the ruling and opposition parties, and there has been a tremendous trivialisation of issues of grave importance.

After much irresponsible talk, Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervened to direct his ministers and partymen to back off from chest thumping and jingoism, though the impact of this injunction is, as yet, mixed.

Critics may be inclined to think that this is also a duplicitous posture, akin to the Congress high command's assertion of unqualified support to the government's position on the surgical strikes, even as purportedly "rogue elements" such as Sanjay Nirupam and even P Chidambaram and Digvijaya Singh, push a different line without significant censure.

Doublespeak

Further and crass politicisation has come from the very top in the Congress party, with Rahul Gandhi accusing the prime minister of "khoon ki dalali" (pimping blood).

With elections approaching, this is a tiger that will prove difficult to dismount, particularly as long as the media continues to seek out fractious opinions.

With intense and daily exchanges of fire along the line of control, frequent infiltration attempts as well as terrorist attacks - successful and unsuccessful - and continuing street protests and consequent fatalities within Kashmir, this pernicious cycle can be kept alive indefinitely.

Doublespeak has been overwhelming in Pakistan as well. There was great excitement about a report that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had, in an "undisclosed meeting", warned the army leadership to "act against militants or face international isolation", specifically demanding action against the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Haqqani Network.

Congress VP Rahul Gandhi. (Photo credit: PTI)

But the denials have come thick and fast, with the Prime Minister's Office "strongly rejecting" the report as "an amalgamation of fiction and half truths", and very quickly thereafter as complete "fabrications".

A quick return to belligerence has been much in evidence thereafter, with the Pakistani army chief Raheel Sharif leading, of course, but joined by a cacophony of political voices as well.

In any event, a complete U-turn by Nawaz Sharif would also be unlikely, with his deep connections with the jihadis, and his very recent pronouncements on Kashmir and on India.

Radicalism

It is, nevertheless, abundantly clear that Islamabad is now caught on a cleft stick. In the coming two to three years, Pakistan will make the critical decisions that will determine whether it survives as a nation state, or disintegrates.

The latter outcome may take much longer, but if the die is cast - if, indeed, it has not already been - there will be little possibility of turning back.

Indeed, even today, there appear to be few institutions or leaders in the country who have the power, the stature or the vision to reverse the tide of Islamist radicalisation in politics.

Can Pakistan reinvent itself as a modern nation state, divorced from the deeply entrenched culture of Islamist radicalism and jihad that the state itself has promoted since the country's birth?

It is essential that Islamabad, and those who control her destiny, realise that this is the precondition of the environment of intellectual freedom and scientific inquiry that underpins a dynamic economy and society.

No faith-based system can deliver the continuous stream of innovation and enterprise that sustainable development, today, needs - a reality that political readers on both sides of the border need urgently to recognise.

Decisions

But is this even possible in today's fractious world, at a time when the most liberal democracies are turning away from their constitutional mandates to embrace xenophobic and extremist Right-wing ideologies?

And in a country that has long been the fountainhead of jihadi terrorism, Islamist radicalism and xenophobia?

Leaderships in both India and Pakistan are now confronted with difficult decisions - perhaps infinitely more difficult in the latter case, than the former - in a world that is becoming more and more unforgiving by the day.

Stable states of the recent past have collapsed into chaos and savagery, and many others appear headed in this direction.

Dreadful political choices by the leaders of these states, compounded by equally imprudent interventions by Western powers, forced these outcomes.

States across the world - including many in the West - are not immune to such an outcome. At this dire moment, it is crucial - though unlikely - that the volatile media in India and Pakistan now back off.

Political leaderships need space to understand and absorb the irresistible forces of current and critical global developments, and to adapt.
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The Progressive Corporation, an insurance holding company, provides personal and commercial auto, personal residential and commercial property, general liability, and other specialty property-casualty insurance products and related services in the United States. It operates in three segments: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Property. The Personal Lines segment writes insurance for personal autos and recreational vehicles (RV). This segment's products include personal auto insurance; and special lines products, including insurance for motorcycles, ATVs, RVs, watercrafts, snowmobiles, and related products. The Commercial Lines segment provides auto-related primary liability and physical damage insurance, and business-related general liability and property insurance for autos, vans, pick-up trucks, and dump trucks used by small businesses; tractors, trailers, and straight trucks primarily used by regional general freight and expeditor-type businesses, and long-haul operators; dump trucks, log trucks, and garbage trucks used by dirt, sand and gravel, logging, and coal-type businesses; and tow trucks and wreckers used in towing services and gas/service station businesses; as well as non-fleet and airport taxis, and black-car services. The Property segment writes residential property insurance for homeowners, other property owners, and renters, as well as offers personal umbrella insurance, and primary and excess flood insurance. The company also offers policy issuance and claims adjusting services; and acts as an agent to homeowner general liability, workers' compensation insurance, and other products. In addition, it provides reinsurance services. The company sells its products through independent insurance agencies, as well as directly on Internet through mobile devices, and over the phone. The Progressive Corporation was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Mayfield, Ohio.
The Mosaic Company, through its subsidiaries, produces and markets concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients in North America and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Phosphates, Potash, and Mosaic Fertilizantes. It owns and operates mines, which produce concentrated phosphate crop nutrients, such as diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, and ammoniated phosphate products; and phosphate-based animal feed ingredients primarily under the Biofos and Nexfos brand names, as well as produces a double sulfate of potash magnesia product under K-Mag brand name. The company also produces and sells potash for use in the manufacturing of mixed crop nutrients and animal feed ingredients, and for industrial use; and for use in the de-icing and as a water softener regenerant. In addition, it provides nitrogen-based crop nutrients, animal feed ingredients, and other ancillary services; and purchases and sells phosphates, potash, and nitrogen products. The company sells its products to wholesale distributors, retail chains, farmers, cooperatives, independent retailers, and national accounts. The Mosaic Company was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.
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.
Delek US Holdings, Inc. engages in the integrated downstream energy business in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Refining, Logistics, and Retail. The Refining segment processes crude oil and other feedstock for the manufacture of various grades of gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, asphalt, and other petroleum-based products that are distributed through owned and third-party product terminal. It owns and operates four independent refineries located in Tyler, Texas; El Dorado, Arkansas; Big Spring, Texas; and Krotz Springs, Louisiana, as well as three biodiesel facilities in Crossett, Arkansas, Cleburne, Texas, and New Albany. The Logistics segment gathers, transports, and stores crude oil, intermediate, and refined products; and markets, distributes, transports, and stores refined products for third parties. It owns or leases capacity on approximately 400 miles of crude oil transportation pipelines, approximately 450 miles of refined product pipelines, an approximately 900-mile crude oil gathering system, and associated crude oil storage tanks with an aggregate of approximately 10.2 million barrels of active shell capacity; and owns and operates ten light product distribution terminals, as well as markets light products using third-party terminals. The Retail segment owns and leases 248 convenience store sites located primarily in West Texas and New Mexico. Its convenience stores offer various grades of gasoline and diesel under the DK or Alon brand; and food products and service, tobacco products, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, and general merchandise, as well as money orders to the public primarily under the 7-Eleven and DK or Alon brand names. It serves oil companies, independent refiners and marketers, jobbers, distributors, utility and transportation companies, the U.S. government, and independent retail fuel operators. Delek US Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee.
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. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. 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. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. 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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Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. no longer investing. It is a private equity and venture capital firm specializing in expansion financings, growth capital, management buyouts, recapitalizations, industry consolidations, corporate spinouts, growth stage, and early stage financings. It initially invests in a Series A-C round and opportunistically in a seed round. The firm prefers to make investments in companies engaged in the technology, financial services, and healthcare sector. Within the technology sector, it invests in software as a service, adtech / digital media, Internet of Everything, enhanced security, predictive analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, enterprise software, technology enabled services, internet/new media, financial technology, cloud, mobile, social, big data, in memory, and selected business services with capital requirements of up to $25 million. Within healthcare sector, the firm invests in molecular and point-of-care diagnostics, medical devices, regenerative medicine, medical technology, digital health, healthcare technology, specialty pharmaceuticals, and selected healthcare services. It invests throughout the United States with a focus on Mid-Atlantic region, and Southeastern Canada. The firm primarily invests between $5 million and $25 million in growth equity financing and between $5 million and $10 million in early-stage financing. It typically invests in the capital structures including owner financed and bootstrapped companies, corporate division or business unit, and venture capital-backed seeking a growth partner. The firm prefers to be the largest shareholder in its portfolio companies, with ownership in the range of 20 percent to 50 percent. However, it may occasionally take a majority or smaller stake in its portfolio companies. It prefers to invest in companies having proprietary technology and intellectual property. The firm prefers to take a Board seat in its portfolio companies. The company was founded in 1953 as Lancaster Corporation and changed its name to Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. in 1981. Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. is based in Radnor, Pennsylvania with additional office in Weston, Massachusetts.
The following companies are subsidiares of PepsiCo: Alimentos Quaker Oats y Compania Limitada, Alimentos del Istmo S.A., Amavale Agricola Ltda., Anderson Hill Insurance Limited, Asia Bottlers Limited, BAESA Capital Corporation Ltd., BFY Brands, BFY Brands LLC, BFY Brands Limited, BUG de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Balmoral Industries LLC, Bare Foods Co., Barrhead LLC, Be & Cheery, Beaman Bottling Company, Bebidas Sudamerica S.A., Beech Limited, Bell Taco Funding Syndicate, Bendler Investments II Ltd, Bendler Investments S.a r.l, Beverage Services Limited, Beverages Foods & Service Industries Inc., Bishkeksut OJSC, Blaue NC S. de R.L. de C.V., Blue Cloud Distribution Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arizona Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arkansas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Colorado Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Florida Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Georgia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Illinois Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Indiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Iowa Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Kentucky Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Louisiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Minnesota Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Mississippi Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Missouri Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nebraska Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nevada Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of North Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Ohio Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Oklahoma Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Pennsylvania Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of South Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Tennessee Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Texas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Virginia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Wisconsin Inc., Blue Ridge Sales LLC, Bluebird Foods Limited, Bluecan Holdings Unlimited Company, Bokomo Zambia Limited, Bolsherechensky Molkombinat JSC, Boquitas Fiestas LLC, Boquitas Fiestas S.R.L., Bottling Group Financing LLC, Bottling Group Holdings LLC, Bottling Group LLC, Bronte Industries Ltd, C & I Leasing Inc., CB Manufacturing Company Inc., CEME Holdings LLC, CMC Investment Company, Caroni Investments LLC, Centro-Mediterranea de Bebidas Carbonicas PepsiCo S.L., Ceres Fruit Juices Pty Ltd, ChampBev Inc., China Concentrate Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Chipsy International for Food Industries S.A.E., Chipsy for Food Industries S.A.E., Chitos Internacional y Cia Ltda, Cipa Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cipa Nordeste Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cocina Autentica Inc., Comercializadora CMC Investment y Compania Limitada, Comercializadora Nacional SAS Ltda., Comercializadora PepsiCo Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., Compania de Bebidas PepsiCo S.L., Concentrate Holding Uruguay Pte. Ltd., Concentrate Manufacturing Singapore Pte. Ltd., Confiteria Alegro S. de R.L. de C.V., Copella Fruit Juices Limited, Copper Beech International LLC, Corina Snacks Limited, Corporativo Internacional Mexicano S. de R.L. de C.V., CytoSport Holdings Inc., CytoSport Inc., Davlyn Realty Corporation, Defosto Holdings Limited, Desarrollo Inmobiliario Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Dilexis S.A., Donon Holdings Limited, Drinkfinity USA Inc., Drinkstation Inc., Drinkstation Innovation Co. Ltd., Drinkstation Limited, Dutch Snacks Holding S.A. de C.V., Duyvis Production B.V., EPIC Enterprises Inc., Echo Bay Holdings Inc., Elaboradora Argentina de Cereales S.R.L., Enter Logistica LLC, Environ at Inverrary Partnership, Environ of Inverrary Inc., Eridanus Investments S.a r.l, Evercrisp Snack Productos de Chile S.A., FL Transportation Inc., FLI Andean LLC, FLI Colombia LLC, FLI Snacks Andean GP LLC, Fabrica PepsiCo Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Fabrica de Productos Alimenticios Rene y Cia S.C.A., Fairlight International SRL, Far East Bottlers Hong Kong Limited, Food Concepts Pioneer Ltd., Forest Akers Nederland B.V., Forty-Six Peaks Holding Inc., Fovarosi Asvanyviz es Uditoipari Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Freshwater International B.V., Frito Lay Gida Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Frito Lay Poland Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay de Guatemala y Compania Limitada, Frito-Lay Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Frito-Lay Dip Company Inc., Frito-Lay Dominicana S.A., Frito-Lay Global Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Inc., Frito-Lay Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Manufacturing LLC, Frito-Lay Netherlands Holding B.V., Frito-Lay North America Inc., Frito-Lay Sales Inc., Frito-Lay Trading Company Europe GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company Poland GmbH, Frito-Lay Trinidad Unlimited, Fruko Mesrubat Sanayi Limited Sirketi, GB Czech LLC, GB International Inc., GB Russia LLC, GB Slovak LLC, GMP Manufacturing Inc., Gambrinus Investments Limited, Gamesa LLC, Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Gas Natural de Merida S. A. de C. V., Gatorade Puerto Rico Company, General Bottlers of Hungary Inc., Golden Grain Company, Goveh S.R.L., Grayhawk Leasing LLC, Green Hemlock International LLC, Grupo Frito Lay y Compania Limitada, Grupo Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Grupo Mabel, Grupo Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Gulkevichskiy Maslozavod JSC, Hangzhou Baicaowei Corporate Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co, Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Tao Dao Technology Co. Ltd., Health Warrior, Health Warrior Inc., Heathland LP, Helioscope Limited, Hillbrook Inc., Hillgrove Inc., Hillwood Bottling LLC, Hogganfield Limited Partnership, Holding Company "Opolie" JSC, Homefinding Company of Texas, Hudson Valley Insurance Company, IC Equities Inc., IZZE Beverage Co., Inmobiliaria Interamericana S.A. De C.V., Integrated Beverage Services Bangladesh Limited, Integrated Foods & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., International Bottlers Management Co. LLC, International KAS Aktiengesellschaft, Inversiones Borneo S.R.L., Inversiones PFI Chile Limitada, Inviting Foods Holdings Inc., Inviting Foods LLC, KAS Anorthosis S.a r.l, KAS S.L., KFC, Kevita Inc., Kinvara LLC, Kungursky Molkombinat JSC, Larragana S.L., Latin American Holdings Ltd., Latin American Snack Foods ApS, Latin Foods International LLC, Lebedyansky, Lebedyansky Holdings LLC, Lebedyansky LLC, Limited Liability Company "Sandora", Linkbay Limited, Lithuanian Snacks UAB, Mabel, Marbo Product d.o.o. Beograd, Marbo d.o.o. Laktasi, Matudis - Comercio de Produtos Alimentares Limitada, Matutano - Sociedade de Produtos Alimentares Lda., Mid-America Improvement Corporation, Mountainview Insurance Company Inc., Muscle Milk, NCJV LLC, New Bern Transport Corporation, New Century Beverage Company LLC, Noble Leasing LLC, Northeast Hot-Fill Co-op Inc., Office at Solyanka LLC, Onbiso Inversiones S.L., One World Enterprises LLC, One World Investors Inc., P-A Barbados Bottling Company LLC, P-A Bottlers Barbados SRL, P-Americas LLC, PAS Luxembourg S.a r.l, PAS Netherlands B.V., PBG Canada Holdings II LLC, PBG Canada Holdings Inc., PBG Cyprus Holdings Limited, PBG Investment Partnership, PBG Midwest Holdings S.a r.l, PBG Soda Can Holdings S.a r.l, PCBL LLC, PCNA Manufacturing Inc., PR Beverages Cyprus Holding Limited, PR Beverages Cyprus Russia Holding Limited, PRB Luxembourg S.a r.l, PRS Inc., PSAS Inversiones LLC, PSE Logistica S.R.L., PT Quaker Indonesia, Papas Chips S.A., Pei N.V., Pep Trade LLC, Pepsi B.V., Pepsi Beverages Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bottling Group Global Finance LLC, Pepsi Bottling Group GmbH, Pepsi Bottling Group Hoosiers B.V., Pepsi Bottling Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bugshan Investments S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Colombia Ltda, Pepsi Cola Egypt S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Panamericana S.R.L., Pepsi Cola Servis Ve Dagitim Limited Sirketi, Pepsi Cola Trading Ireland, Pepsi Logistics Company Inc., Pepsi Northwest Beverages LLC, Pepsi Overseas Investments Partnership, Pepsi Promotions Inc., Pepsi-Cola Advertising and Marketing Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bermuda Limited, Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Holding C.V., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company Of St. Louis Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Ft. Lauderdale-Palm Beach LLC, Pepsi-Cola Company, Pepsi-Cola Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Pepsi-Cola Far East Trade Development Co. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Finance LLC, Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers Poland Sp. z o.o., Pepsi-Cola Industrial da Amazonia Ltda., Pepsi-Cola International Cork, Pepsi-Cola International LLC, Pepsi-Cola International Limited, Pepsi-Cola International Limited U.S.A., Pepsi-Cola International Private Limited, Pepsi-Cola Korea Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Management and Administrative Services Inc., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Company Of Uruguay S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing International Limited, Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Mediterranean Limited, Pepsi-Cola Marketing Corp. Of P.R. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mediterranean Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling Company Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mexicana Holdings LLC, Pepsi-Cola Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Pepsi-Cola National Marketing LLC, Pepsi-Cola Operating Company Of Chesapeake And Indianapolis, Pepsi-Cola Sales and Distribution Inc., Pepsi-Cola Technical Operations Inc., Pepsi-Cola Thai Trading Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola de Honduras S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola of Corvallis Inc., PepsiAmericas Nemzetkozi Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, PepsiCo ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Alimentos Antioquia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Colombia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Ecuador Cia. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Z.F. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos de Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Amacoco Bebidas Do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCo Asia Research & Development Center Company Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Cyprus Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Limited Partnership, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 1 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 2 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Australia Holdings Pty Limited, PepsiCo Australia International, PepsiCo Austria Services GmbH, PepsiCo Azerbaijan Limited Liability Company, PepsiCo BeLux BV, PepsiCo Beverage Sales LLC, PepsiCo Beverage Singapore Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Beverages Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Beverages International Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Italia Societa' A Responsabilita' Limitata, PepsiCo Canada Finance LLC, PepsiCo Canada Holdings ULC, PepsiCo Canada Investment ULC, PepsiCo Canada ULC, PepsiCo Captive Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Caribbean Inc., PepsiCo China Limited, PepsiCo Consulting Polska Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo De Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Del Paraguay S.R.L., PepsiCo Deutschland GmbH, PepsiCo Eesti AS, PepsiCo Euro Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Euro Finance Antilles B.V., PepsiCo Europe Support Center S.L., PepsiCo Finance Americas Company, PepsiCo Finance Antilles A N.V., PepsiCo Finance Antilles B N.V., PepsiCo Finance South Africa Proprietary Limited, PepsiCo Financial Shared Services Inc., PepsiCo Food & Beverage Holdings Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Foods A.I.E., PepsiCo Foods China Company Limited, PepsiCo Foods Group Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Foods Guangdong Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Nigeria Limited, PepsiCo Foods Private Limited, PepsiCo Foods Sichuan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Taiwan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Vietnam Company, PepsiCo France SAS, PepsiCo Global Business Services India LLP, PepsiCo Global Business Services Poland Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Global Holdings Limited, PepsiCo Global Investments B.V., PepsiCo Global Investments S.a r.l, PepsiCo Global Mobility LLC, PepsiCo Global Real Estate Inc., PepsiCo Global Trading Solutions Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Golden Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Group Finance International B.V., PepsiCo Group Holdings International B.V., PepsiCo Group Spotswood Holdings S.a r.l, PepsiCo Gulf International FZE, PepsiCo Hellas Single Member Industrial and Commercial Societe Anonyme, PepsiCo Holding de Espana S.L., PepsiCo Holdings, PepsiCo Holdings LLC, PepsiCo Holdings Toshkent LLC, PepsiCo Hong Kong LLC, PepsiCo Iberia Servicios Centrales S.L., PepsiCo India Holdings Private Limited, PepsiCo India Sales Private Limited, PepsiCo Internacional Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., PepsiCo International Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo International Limited, PepsiCo International Pte Ltd., PepsiCo Investments Europe I B.V., PepsiCo Investments Ltd., PepsiCo Ireland Food & Beverages Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Japan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Light B.V., PepsiCo Logistyka Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., PepsiCo Management Services SAS, PepsiCo Manufacturing A.I.E., PepsiCo Max B.V., PepsiCo Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo Nederland B.V., PepsiCo Nordic Denmark ApS, PepsiCo Nordic Finland Oy, PepsiCo Nordic Norway AS, PepsiCo Nutrition Trading DMCC, PepsiCo One B.V., PepsiCo Overseas Corporation, PepsiCo Overseas Financing Partnership, PepsiCo Panimex Inc, PepsiCo Products B.V., PepsiCo Products FLLC, PepsiCo Puerto Rico Inc., PepsiCo Sales Inc., PepsiCo Sales LLC, PepsiCo Services Asia Ltd., PepsiCo Services CZ s.r.o., PepsiCo Services LLC, PepsiCo Twist B.V., PepsiCo UK Pension Plan Trustee Limited, PepsiCo Ventures B.V., PepsiCo Wave Holdings LLC, PepsiCo World Trading Company Inc., PepsiCo Y LLC, PepsiCo de Argentina S.R.L., PepsiCo de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo do Brasil Industria e Comercio de Alimentos Ltda., PepsiCo do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCola Interamericana de Guatemala S.A., Pet Iberia S.L., Pete & Johnny Limited, Pine International LLC, Pine International Limited, Pinstripe Leasing LLC, Pioneer Food Group Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Groceries Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Group Ltd., Pioneer Foods Holdings Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods UK Ltd, Pioneer Foods Wellingtons Pty Ltd, Pipers Crisps Limited, PlayCo Inc., Pop corners, PopCorners Holdings Inc., Portfolio Concentrate Solutions Unlimited Company, Premier Nutrition Trading L.L.C., Prestwick LLC, Prev PepsiCo Sociedade Previdenciaria, Productos Alimenticios Rene LLC, Productos S.A.S. C.V., Productos SAS Management B.V., Punch N.V., Punica Getranke GmbH, Q O Puerto Rico Inc., QFL OHQ Sdn. Bhd., QTG Development Inc., QTG Services Inc., Quadrant - Amroq Beverages S.R.L., Quaker Development B.V., Quaker European Beverages LLC, Quaker European Investments B.V., Quaker Foods, Quaker Global Investments B.V., Quaker Holdings UK Limited, Quaker Manufacturing LLC, Quaker Oats Asia Inc., Quaker Oats Australia Pty Ltd, Quaker Oats B.V., Quaker Oats Capital Corporation, Quaker Oats Europe Inc., Quaker Oats Europe LLC, Quaker Oats Limited, Quaker Sales & Distribution Inc, Raptas Finance S.a r.l., Rare Fare Foods LLC, Rare Fare Holdings Inc., Reading Industries Ltd, Real Estate Holdings LLC, Rockstar Energy Drink, Rolling Frito-Lay Sales LP, S & T of Mississippi Inc., SIH International LLC, SVC Logistics Inc., SVC Manufacturing Inc., SVE Russia Holdings GmbH, Sabritas LLC, Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Sabritas Snacks America Latina de Nicaragua y Cia Ltda, Sabritas de Costa Rica S. de R.L., Sabritas y Cia. S en C de C.V., Sakata Rice Snacks Australia Pty Ltd, Sandora Holdings B.V., Saudi Snack Foods Company Limited, Sea Eagle International SRL, Seepoint Holdings Ltd., Senselet Food Processing PLC, Senselet Holding B.V., Servicios GBF Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Servicios GFLG y Compania Limitada, Servicios Gamesa Puerto Rico L.L.C., Servicios SYC S. de R.L. de C.V., Seven-Up Asia Inc., Seven-Up Light B.V., Seven-Up Nederland B.V., Shanghai PepsiCo Snack Company Limited, Shanghai YuHo Agricultural Development Co. Ltd, Shoebill LLC, Simba (Proprietary) Limited, Simba Proprietary Limited, Sitka Spruce, Smartfoods Inc., Smiles and Bites Holdings S.de R.L. de C.V., Smiths Crisps Limited, Snack Food Investments GmbH, Snack Food Investments II GmbH, Snack Food Investments Limited, Snack Food-Beverage Asia Products Limited, Snacks America Latina S.R.L., Snacks Guatemala Ltd., So Spark Ltd., Soda-Club CO2 Atlantic GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 Ltd., Soda-Club Switzerland GmbH, Soda-Club Worldwide B.V., SodaStream, SodaStream Australia Pty Ltd, SodaStream CO2 SA, SodaStream Canada Ltd., SodaStream Enterprises N.V., SodaStream France SAS, SodaStream GmbH, SodaStream Iberia S.L., SodaStream Industries Ltd., SodaStream International B.V., SodaStream International Ltd., SodaStream Israel Ltd., SodaStream K.K., SodaStream New Zealand Ltd., SodaStream Nordics AB, SodaStream Poland Sp. z o.o., SodaStream SA Pty Ltd., SodaStream Switzerland GmbH, SodaStream USA Inc., SodaStream Osterreich GmbH, South Beach Beverage Company Inc., South Properties Inc., Spitz International Inc., Sportmex Internacional S.A. de C.V., Springboig Industries Ltd, Spruce Limited, Stacy's Pita Chip Company Incorporated, Star Foods E.M. S.R.L., Stokely-Van Camp Inc., Stratosphere Communications Pty Ltd, Stratosphere Holdings 2018 Limited, Streamfoods Ltd, TFL Holdings LLC, Tasman Finance S.a r.l, The Gatorade Company, The Good Carb Food Company Ltd., The Pepsi Bottling Group Canada ULC, The Quaker Oats Company, The Smith's Snackfood Company Pty Limited, Thomond Group Holdings Limited, Tobago Snack Holdings LLC, Tropicana Alvalle S.L., Tropicana Beverages Limited, Tropicana Europe N.V., Tropicana United Kingdom Limited, Troya-Ultra LLC, United Foods Companies Restaurantes S.A., V-Water, VentureCo Israel Ltd, Veurne Snack Foods BV, Vitamin Brands Ltd., Walkers Crisps Limited, Walkers Group Limited, Walkers Snack Foods Limited, Walkers Snacks Distribution Limited, Walkers Snacks Limited, Whitman Corporation, Whitman Insurance Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Beverages JSC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Brands Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Central Asia-Almaty LLP, Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods LLC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Georgia Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann JSC, and Wimm-Bill-Dann Ukraine PJSC.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Lloyds Banking Group: A G Finance Ltd, A.C.L. Ltd, ACL Autolease Holdings Ltd, ADF No.1 Pty Ltd, Addison Social Housing Holdings Ltd, Alex Lawrie Factors Ltd, Alex. Lawrie Receivables Financing Ltd, Amberdate Ltd, Anglo Scottish Utilities Partnership 1, Aquilus Ltd, Automobile Association Personal Finance Ltd, BOS (Ireland) Property Services 2 Ltd, BOS (Ireland) Property Services Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland) No. 2) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland) No. 3) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland)) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 1 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 2 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 3 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 4 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 5 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 6 plc, BOS (USA) Fund Investments Inc., BOS (USA) Inc., BOS Edinburgh No 1 Ltd, BOS Mistral Ltd, BOS Personal Lending Ltd, BOSSAF Rail Ltd, Bank of Scotland (B G S) Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland (Stanlife) London Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Branch Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Central Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Edinburgh Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Equipment Finance Ltd, Bank of Scotland Foundation, Bank of Scotland LNG Leasing (No 1) Ltd, Bank of Scotland London Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Nominees (Unit Trusts) Ltd, Bank of Scotland P.E.P. Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Structured Asset Finance Ltd, Bank of Scotland Transport Finance 1 Ltd, Bank of Scotland plc, Bank of Wales Ltd, Barents Leasing Ltd, Barnwood Mortgages Ltd, Birchcrown Finance Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Financial Services Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Land Development Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Mortgage Services Ltd, Black Horse (TRF) Ltd, Black Horse Executive Mortgages Ltd, Black Horse Finance Holdings Ltd, Black Horse Finance Management Ltd, Black Horse Group Ltd, Black Horse Ltd, Black Horse Offshore Ltd, Black Horse Property Services Ltd, Boltro Nominees Ltd, British Linen Leasing (London) Ltd, British Linen Leasing Ltd, British Linen Shipping Ltd, C.T.S.B. Leasing Ltd, CBRail S.A.R.L., CF Asset Finance Ltd, CF1 Ltd, CM Venture Investments Ltd, Cancara Asset Securitisation Ltd, Capital 1945 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 12 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 3 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 5 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 9 Ltd, Capital Bank Property Investments (3) Ltd, Capital Personal Finance Ltd, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation 2018-1 Plc, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation 2019-1 Plc, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Cardnet Merchant Services Ltd, Cashfriday Ltd, Cashpoint Ltd, Caveminster Ltd, Cedar Holdings Ltd, Celsius European Lux 2 S.A.R.L., Central Mortgage Finance Ltd, Chariot Finance Ltd, Cheltenham & Gloucester plc, Cheltenham II Securities 2020 DAC, Cheltenham Securities 2017 Ltd, Chepstow Blue Holdings Ltd, Chepstow Blue plc, Chester Asset Options No.2 Ltd, Chester Asset Options No.3 Ltd, Chester Asset Receivables Dealings Issuer Ltd, Chester Asset Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Chester Asset Securitisation Holdings No.2 Ltd, Chiswell Stockbrokers Ltd, Clerical Medical Finance plc, Clerical Medical Financial Services Ltd, Clerical Medical International Holdings B.V., Clerical Medical Investment Fund Managers Ltd, Clerical Medical Managed Funds Ltd, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Guadalix Hold Co BV, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Guadalix Spanish Prop Co SL, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Megapark Hold Co BV, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Megapark Prop Co SA, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Property Company S.A.R.L., Cloak Lane Funding S.A.R.L., Cloak Lane Investments S.A.R.L., Conquest Securities Ltd, Corbiere Asset Investments Ltd, Create Services Ltd, Credit Card Securitisation Europe Ltd, Dalkeith Corporation, Deva Financing Holdings Ltd, Deva Financing plc, Deva One Ltd, Deva Three Ltd, Deva Two Ltd, Dunstan Investments (UK) Ltd, Edgbaston RMBS 2010-1 plc, Edgbaston RMBS Holdings Ltd, Elland RMBS 2018 plc, Elland RMBS Holdings Ltd, Eurolead Services Holdings Ltd, First Retail Finance (Chester) Ltd, Fontwell Securities 2016 Ltd, Forthright Finance Ltd, France Industrial Premises Holding Company, General Leasing (No. 12) Ltd, General Reversionary and Investment Company, Gresham Nominee 1 Ltd, Gresham Nominee 2 Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 1) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 10) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 11) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 12) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 13) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 14) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 15) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 16) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 19) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 20) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 21) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 22) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 23) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 24) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 25) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 26) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 27) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 28) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 29) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 3) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 30) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 31) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 32) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 33) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 34) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 35) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 36) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 37) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 38) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 39) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 40) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 41) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 44) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 45) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 46) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 47) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 48) UK Ltd, Guildhall Asset Purchasing Company (No 3) Ltd, Guildhall Asset Purchasing Company (No.11) UK Ltd, HBOS Covered Bonds LLP, HBOS Final Salary Trust Ltd, HBOS Financial Services Ltd, HBOS Insurance & Investment Group Ltd, HBOS International Financial Services Holdings Ltd, HBOS Investment Fund Managers Ltd, HBOS Social Housing Covered Bonds LLP, HBOS UK Ltd, HBOS plc, HSDL Nominees Ltd, HVF Ltd, Halifax Credit Card Ltd, Halifax Financial Brokers Ltd, Halifax Financial Services (Holdings) Ltd, Halifax Financial Services Ltd, Halifax General Insurance Services Ltd, Halifax Group Ltd, Halifax Investment Services Ltd, Halifax Leasing (June) Ltd, Halifax Leasing (March No.2) Ltd, Halifax Leasing (September) Ltd, Halifax Life Ltd, Halifax Loans Ltd, Halifax Ltd, Halifax Mortgage Services Ltd, Halifax Nominees Ltd, Halifax Pension Nominees Ltd, Halifax Premises Ltd, Halifax Share Dealing Ltd, Halifax Vehicle Leasing (1998) Ltd, Heidi Finance Holdings (UK) Ltd, Hill Samuel Bank Ltd, Hill Samuel Finance Ltd, Hill Samuel Leasing Co. Ltd, Home Shopping Personal Finance Ltd, Horizon Capital 2000 Ltd, Housing Association Risk Transfer 2019 DAC, Housing Growth Partnership GP LLP, Housing Growth Partnership LP, Housing Growth Partnership Ltd, Housing Growth Partnership Manager Ltd, Hyundai Car Finance Ltd, IBOS Finance Ltd, ICC Enterprise Partners Ltd, ICC Equity Partners Ltd, ICC Holdings Unlimited Company, Inchcape Financial Services Ltd, Intelligent Finance Financial Services Ltd, Intelligent Finance Software Ltd, International Motors Finance Ltd, Kanaalstraat Funding C.V., Katrine Leasing Ltd, LB Healthcare Trustee Ltd, LB Motorent Ltd, LB Quest Ltd, LB Share Schemes Trustees Ltd, LBCF Ltd, LBG Brasil Administracao LTDA, LBG Capital Holdings Ltd, LBG Equity Investments Ltd, LBI Leasing Ltd, LDC (General Partner) Ltd, LDC (Managers) Ltd, LDC (Nominees) Ltd, LDC GP LLP, LDC I LP, LDC II LP, LDC III LP, LDC IV LP, LDC Parallel (Nominees) Ltd, LDC V LP, LDC VI LP, LDC VII LP, LDC VIII LP, LTGP Limited Partnership Incorporated, Legacy Renewal Company Ltd, Leicester Securities 2014 Ltd, Lex Autolease (CH) Ltd, Lex Autolease (VC) Ltd, Lex Autolease Carselect Ltd, Lex Autolease Ltd, Lex Vehicle Finance 2 Ltd, Lex Vehicle Leasing (Holdings) Ltd, Lex Vehicle Leasing Ltd, Lime Street (Funding) Ltd, Lingfield 2014 I Holdings Ltd, Lingfield 2014 I plc, Lloyds (Gresham) Ltd, Lloyds (Gresham) No. 1 Ltd, Lloyds (Nimrod) Specialist Finance Ltd, Lloyds America Securities Corporation1, Lloyds Asset Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Branches) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Colonial & Foreign) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Fountainbridge 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Fountainbridge 2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (I.D.) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (International Services) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Stock Exchange Branch) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Asset Finance Ltd, Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Ltd, Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Scotland Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (HP) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.3) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.4) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets Wertpapierhandelsbank GmbH, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds (LM) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds LLP, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 7) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 9) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Financial Services (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales, Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands, Lloyds Bank General Insurance Holdings Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Insurance Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 11) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 17) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 20) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 3) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 5) Ltd, Lloyds Bank GmbH, Lloyds Bank Hill Samuel Holding Company Ltd, Lloyds Bank Insurance Services Ltd, Lloyds Bank International Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing (No. 6) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing (No. 8) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Bank MTCH Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 10) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 13) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 17) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No.16) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Offshore Pension Trust Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pension ABCS (No. 1) LLP, Lloyds Bank Pension ABCS (No. 2) LLP, Lloyds Bank Pension Trust (No. 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pension Trust (No. 2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pensions Property (Guernsey) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Properties Ltd, Lloyds Bank Property Company Ltd, Lloyds Bank S.F. Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Subsidiaries Ltd, Lloyds Bank Trustee Services Ltd, Lloyds Bank plc, Lloyds Banking Group Pensions Trustees Ltd, Lloyds Capital GP Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Properties Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Property Investments Ltd, Lloyds Corporate Services (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Development Capital (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Engine Capital (No.1) U.S LLC, Lloyds Far East S.A.R.L., Lloyds General Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Group Holdings (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Holdings (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Hypotheken B.V., Lloyds Industrial Leasing Ltd, Lloyds International Pty Ltd, Lloyds Investment Bonds Ltd, Lloyds Investment Fund Managers Ltd, Lloyds Investment Securities No.5 Ltd, Lloyds Leasing (North Sea Transport) Ltd1, Lloyds Leasing Developments Ltd, Lloyds Nominees (Guernsey) Ltd, Lloyds Offshore Global Services Private Ltd, Lloyds Plant Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Portfolio Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Premises Investments Ltd, Lloyds Project Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No. 3 Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No. 4 Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No.5 Ltd, Lloyds Secretaries Ltd, Lloyds Securities Inc., Lloyds TSB Pacific Ltd, Lloyds UDT Asset Leasing Ltd, Lloyds UDT Asset Rentals Ltd, Lloyds UDT Hiring Ltd, Lloyds UDT Leasing Ltd, Lloyds UDT Ltd, Lloyds Your Tomorrow Trustee Ltd, Loans.co.uk Ltd, London Taxi Finance Ltd, London Uberior (L.A.S. Group) Nominees Ltd, Lotus Finance Ltd, MBNA, MBNA Direct Ltd, MBNA Europe Finance Ltd, MBNA Europe Holdings Ltd, MBNA General Foundation, MBNA Global Services Ltd, MBNA Indian Services Private Ltd, MBNA Ltd, MBNA R & L S.A.R.L., MBNA Receivables Ltd, Mainsearch Company Ltd, Maritime Leasing (No. 19) Ltd, Membership Services Finance Ltd, Mitre Street Funding S.A.R.L., Molineux RMBS 2016-1 plc, Molineux RMBS Holdings Ltd, Moor Lane Holdings Ltd, NFU Mutual Finance Ltd, NWS Trust Ltd, Nominees (Jersey) Ltd, Nordic Leasing Ltd, Ocean Leasing (July) Ltd, Oystercatcher Nominees Ltd, Oystercatcher Residential Ltd, PIPS Asset Investments Ltd, Pacific Leasing Ltd, Penarth Asset Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Penarth Funding 1 Ltd, Penarth Funding 2 Ltd, Penarth Master Issuer plc, Penarth Receivables Trustee Ltd, Pensions Management (S.W.F.) Ltd, Peony Eastern Leasing Ltd, Peony Leasing Ltd, Peony Western Leasing Ltd, Permanent Funding (No. 1) Ltd, Permanent Funding (No. 2) Ltd, Permanent Holdings Ltd, Permanent Master Issuer plc, Permanent Mortgages Trustee Ltd, Permanent PECOH Holdings Ltd, Permanent PECOH Ltd, Perry Nominees Ltd, Prestonfield Investments Ltd, Proton Finance Ltd, R.F. Spencer And Company Ltd, Ranelagh Nominees Ltd, Retail Revival (Burgess Hill) Investments Ltd, SARL Coliseum, SARL Hiram, SAS Compagnie Fonciere De France, SCI Astoria Invest, SCI De LHorloge, SCI Equinoxe, SCI Rambuteau CFF, SW Funding plc, SW No.1 Ltd, SWAMF (GP) Ltd, SWAMF Nominee (1) Ltd, SWAMF Nominee (2) Ltd, Saint Michel Holding Company No1, Saint Michel Investment Property, Saint Witz 2 Holding Company No1, Saint Witz 2 Investment Property, Salisbury II Securities 2016 Ltd, Salisbury II-A Securities 2017 Ltd, Salisbury III Securities 2019 DAC, Salisbury Securities 2015 Ltd, Sandown 2012-2 Holdings Ltd, Sandown 2012-2 plc, Sandown Gold 2012-1 Holdings Ltd, Sandown Gold 2012-1 plc, Savban Leasing Ltd, Scotland International Finance B.V., Scottish Widows Administration Services (Nominees) Ltd, Scottish Widows Administration Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Annuities Ltd, Scottish Widows Auto Enrolment Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Europe, Scottish Widows Financial Services Holdings, Scottish Widows Group Ltd, Scottish Widows Industrial Properties Europe B.V., Scottish Widows Ltd, Scottish Widows Pension Trustees Ltd, Scottish Widows Property Management Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Personal Wealth (ACD) Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Personal Wealth Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Wealth Holdings Ltd, Scottish Widows Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Trustees Ltd, Scottish Widows Unit Funds Ltd, Scottish Widows Unit Trust Managers Ltd, Scottish Widows Fund and Life Assurance Society, Seabreeze Leasing Ltd, Seaspirit Leasing Ltd, Share Dealing Nominees Ltd, Shogun Finance Ltd, Silentdale Ltd, St Andrews Group Ltd, St Andrews Insurance plc, St Andrews Life Assurance plc, St. Marys Court Investments, Standard Property Investment (1987) Ltd, Standard Property Investment Ltd, Sussex County Homes Ltd, Suzuki Financial Services Ltd, Swan Funding 2 Ltd, Syon Securities 2019 DAC, The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation Plc, The British Linen Company Ltd, The Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland, The Mortgage Business plc, Thistle Financing Holdings Ltd, Thistle Investments (AMC) Ltd, Thistle Investments (ERM) Ltd, Thistle Leasing, Three Copthall Avenue Ltd, Tower Hill Property Investments (10) Ltd, Tower Hill Property Investments (7) Ltd, Tranquility Leasing Ltd, Trinity Financing plc, UDT Budget Leasing Ltd, UDT Sales Finance Ltd, Uberior (Moorfield) Ltd, Uberior Co-Investments Ltd, Uberior ENA Ltd, Uberior Equity Ltd, Uberior Europe Ltd, Uberior Fund Investments Ltd, Uberior Infrastructure Investments (No.2) Ltd, Uberior Infrastructure Investments Ltd, Uberior Investments Ltd, Uberior Nominees Ltd, Uberior Trading Ltd, Uberior Trustees Ltd, Uberior Ventures Australia Pty Ltd, Uberior Ventures Ltd, United Dominions Leasing Ltd, United Dominions Trust Ltd, Universe The CMI Global Network Fund, Upsaala Ltd, Vine Street IX LP, WCS Ltd, Ward Nominees (Abingdon) Ltd, Ward Nominees (Birmingham) Ltd 1, Ward Nominees (Bristol) Ltd 1, Ward Nominees Ltd 1, Waverley  Fund II Investor LLC, Waverley  Fund III Investor LLC, Waymark Asset Investments Ltd, West Craigs Ltd, Wetherby II Securities 2018 DAC, Wetherby III Securities 2019 DAC, Wetherby Securities 2017 Ltd, Wood Street Leasing Ltd, and Zurich Insurance Group - UK Workplace Pensions and Savings Business.

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Koninklijke Philips N.V. operates as a health technology company in North America and internationally. It operates through Diagnosis & Treatment Businesses, Connected Care Businesses, and Personal Health Businesses segments. The company provides diagnostic imaging solutions, includes magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography (CT) systems, X-ray systems, and detector-based spectral CT solutions, as well as molecular and hybrid imaging solutions for nuclear medicine; integrated interventional systems; echography solutions focused on diagnosis, treatment planning and guidance for cardiology, general imaging, obstetrics/gynecology, and point-of-care applications; proprietary software to enable diagnostics and intervention; and enterprise diagnostic informatics products and services. It also offers acute patient management solutions; emergency care solutions; sleep and respiratory care solutions; and electronic medical record and care management solutions. In addition, the company provides power toothbrushes, brush heads, and interdental cleaning and teeth whitening products; infant feeding and digital parental solutions; and male grooming and beauty products and solutions. It has a strategic collaboration with Ibex Medical Analytics Ltd. to jointly promote the digital pathology and AI solutions to hospitals, health networks, and pathology laboratories worldwide, as well as a strategic partnership agreement with NICO.LAB. The company was formerly known as Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. and changed its name to Koninklijke Philips N.V. in May 2013. Koninklijke Philips N.V. was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Anixter International Inc., through its subsidiary, Anixter Inc., distributes enterprise cabling and security solutions, electrical and electronic wire and cable solutions, and utility power solutions worldwide. The company operates through Network & Security Solutions (NSS), Electrical & Electronic Solutions (EES), and Utility Power Solutions (UPS) segments. The NSS segment offers copper and fiber optic cable and connectivity, access control, video surveillance, intrusion and fire/life safety, cabinet, power, cable management, wireless, professional audio/video, voice and networking switches, and other ancillary products for the technology, finance, transportation, education, government, healthcare, and retail industries, as well as telecommunications service providers. The EES Solutions segment provides electrical and electronic wires and cables, shipboard cables, support and supply products, low-voltage and instrumentation cables, industrial communication and control products, security cables, connectors, industrial Ethernet switches, and voice and data cables to the commercial and industrial, and original equipment manufacturer markets. The UPS segment supplies electrical transmission and distribution products, power plant maintenance, repair and operations supplies, and smart-grid products, as well as arranges materials management and procurement outsourcing for the power generation and transmission, and electricity distribution industries. The company serves contractors, installers, system integrators, value-added resellers, architects, engineers, and wholesale distributors in various industries, including manufacturing, resource extraction, telecommunications, Internet service providers, finance, education, healthcare, retail, transportation, utilities, and defense, as well as government customers. The company was formerly known as Itel Corporation. Anixter International Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Glenview, Illinois.
NCI Building Systems, Inc. designs, engineers, manufactures, and markets metal products for the nonresidential construction industry in North America. It operates in four segments: Engineered Building Systems, Metal Components, Insulated Metal Panels, and Metal Coil Coating. The Engineered Building Systems segment offers engineered structural members and panels; and self-storage building systems under the Metallic, Mid-West Steel, A & S, All American, Mesco, Star, Ceco, Robertson, Garco, Heritage, and SteelBuilding.com brands to builders, general contractors, developers, and end users directly, as well as through private label companies. The Metal Components segment provides metal roof and wall systems, metal partitions, metal trims, doors, and other related accessories for use in new construction, and repair and retrofit applications; roll-up doors; and interior and exterior walk doors under the MBCI, American Building Components, Eco-ficient, Metal Depots, and Doors and Buildings Components brands to manufacturers, contractors, subcontractors, distributors, lumberyards, cooperative buying groups, and other customers. The Insulated Metal Panels segment offers insulated metal panels for architectural, commercial, industrial, and cold storage end-market applications under the Metl-Span and CENTRIA brands. The Metal Coil Coating segment engages in cleaning, treating, and painting flat-rolled metals in coil form, as well as in slitting and/or embossing the metal, before the metal is fabricated for use by industrial users. It also cleans, treats, and coats heavy and light gauge metal coils for use in construction products, heating and air conditioning systems, water heaters, lighting fixtures, ceiling grids, office furniture, appliances, and other products; and provides toll coating and painted metal package services under the Metal Coaters and Metal Prep brands. NCI Building Systems, Inc. was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
The following companies are subsidiares of Arrow Electronics: A.E. Petsche Belgium BVBA, A.E. Petsche Canada Inc., A.E. Petsche Company, A.E. Petsche Company Inc., A.E. Petsche Company S De RL, A.E. Petsche SAS, A.E. Petsche UK Limited, ACI Technology, AKS Group Nordic AB, ARROWECS Portugal Sociedade Unipessoal, ARROWECS Sociedade Unipessoal LDA, ARW Electronics Ltd., ARW Enterprise Computing Solutions S.A., ARW Portugal Unipessoal LDA, ASI Dedicated Services LLC, ASI Electrical Services LLC, ASI Managed Services LLC, ATM Electronic, ATM Electronic Corp., ATM Electronic Corporation (HK) Limited, ATM Electronics Hong Kong Limited, ATM Electronics Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd, Addex Distribution AS, Adilam Pty. Ltd, Aiqi Xinxing (Beijing) Information Technology Co. Ltd., Altimate Belgium BVBA, Altimate Group, Altimate ND Belgium BVBA, Altimate Netherlands B.V., Annuity Systems Pty Ltd, Arrow (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Arrow Altech Distribution (Pty) Ltd., Arrow Altech Holdings (Pty) Ltd., Arrow Argentina S.A., Arrow Asia Distribution Limited, Arrow Asia Pac Ltd., Arrow Brasil S.A., Arrow Capital Solution BVBA, Arrow Capital Solutions Inc., Arrow Capital Solutions Nederlands BV, Arrow Capital Solutions SAS, Arrow Capital Solutions UK Ltd, Arrow Central Europe GmbH, Arrow Central Europe Holding Munich GmbH, Arrow Chip One Stop Holdings GK, Arrow Componentes ACCR S.R.L., Arrow Components (M) Sdn Bhd, Arrow Components (NZ), Arrow Components Mexico S.A. de C.V., Arrow Components Sweden AB, Arrow Denmark ApS, Arrow Denmark ApS, Arrow ECS (Ireland) Limited, Arrow ECS (NI) Limited, Arrow ECS AG, Arrow ECS ANZ Limited, Arrow ECS ANZ Pty Ltd, Arrow ECS Asia PTE. Ltd, Arrow ECS Australia, Arrow ECS B.V., Arrow ECS Baltic OU, Arrow ECS Brasil Distribuidora Ltda., Arrow ECS Canada Ltd., Arrow ECS Central GmbH, Arrow ECS Denmark A/S, Arrow ECS FZCO, Arrow ECS Finland OY, Arrow ECS GmbH, Arrow ECS Internet Security AG, Arrow ECS Internet Security S.L., Arrow ECS Kft., Arrow ECS Ltd., Arrow ECS New Zealand Limited, Arrow ECS Nordic A/S, Arrow ECS Norway AS, Arrow ECS Pty Ltd., Arrow ECS SA/NV, Arrow ECS SAS, Arrow ECS SPA, Arrow ECS Sarl, Arrow ECS Services Sp.z.o.o., Arrow ECS Singapore Pte. Limited, Arrow ECS Sp.z.o.o., Arrow ECS Support Center Ltd., Arrow ECS Support Center Morocco S.A.R.L.A.U, Arrow ECS Sweden AB, Arrow ECS a.s., Arrow ECS d.o.o., Arrow Eastern Europe GmbH, Arrow Electronice S.R.L., Arrow Electronics (CI) Ltd., Arrow Electronics (China) Trading Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics (Jersey) Limited, Arrow Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics (Sweden) KB, Arrow Electronics (Thailand) Limited, Arrow Electronics (U.K.) Inc., Arrow Electronics (UK) Ltd., Arrow Electronics ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd., Arrow Electronics Asia (S) Pte Ltd., Arrow Electronics Asia Limited, Arrow Electronics Australia Pty Ltd., Arrow Electronics B.V., Arrow Electronics Canada Ltd., Arrow Electronics China Ltd., Arrow Electronics Components (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics Czech Republic s.r.o., Arrow Electronics D.O.O., Arrow Electronics Danish Holdings ApS, Arrow Electronics EMEA Group GmbH, Arrow Electronics EMEASA S.r.l., Arrow Electronics Estonia OU, Arrow Electronics FC B.V., Arrow Electronics Funding Corporation, Arrow Electronics GmbH & Co. KG, Arrow Electronics Hellas S.A., Arrow Electronics Holdings Vagyonkezelo Kft, Arrow Electronics Hungary Kereskedelmi Bt, Arrow Electronics India Ltd., Arrow Electronics India Private Limited, Arrow Electronics International Holdings LLC, Arrow Electronics International Inc., Arrow Electronics Italia S.r.l, Arrow Electronics Japan GK, Arrow Electronics Korea Limited, Arrow Electronics Labuan Pte Ltd., Arrow Electronics Ltd., Arrow Electronics Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Arrow Electronics Norwegian Holdings AS, Arrow Electronics Poland Sp.z.o.o., Arrow Electronics Russ OOO, Arrow Electronics Services S.r.l., Arrow Electronics Slovakia s.r.o., Arrow Electronics South Africa LLP, Arrow Electronics Taiwan Ltd., Arrow Electronics UK Holding Ltd., Arrow Electronics Ukraine LLC, Arrow Elektronik Ticaret A.S., Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions Inc., Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions India Private Limited, Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions Ltd., Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions S.A., Arrow Finland OY, Arrow France S.A., Arrow Global Asset Disposition Inc., Arrow Global Supply Chain Services Inc., Arrow Holdings (Delaware) LLC, Arrow Iberia Electronica Lda., Arrow Iberia Electronica S.L.U., Arrow International Holdings L.P., Arrow International Holdings Limited, Arrow Nordic Components AB, Arrow Norway A/S, Arrow S-Tech Norway AS, Arrow SEED (Hong Kong) Limited, Arrow Systems Integration Inc., Arrow UEC Japan KK, Arrow United Holdings LLC, Arrow United International Holdings LP, Arrow Value Recovery ApS (fka Greentech Denmark ApS), Arrow Value Recovery Belgium BVBA, Arrow Value Recovery Czech Republic sro, Arrow Value Recovery Denmark ApS, Arrow Value Recovery EMEA BV, Arrow Value Recovery Finland Oy (fka Greentech Finland OY), Arrow Value Recovery France SAS, Arrow Value Recovery Germany GmbH, Arrow Value Recovery Netherlands BV, Arrow Value Recovery Norway AS (fka Greentech AS), Arrow Value Recovery Sweden AB (fka Greentech Sweden AB), Arrow Value Recovery UK LTD, Arrow eCommerce B.V., Arrow/Artlink Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, Arrow/Components (Agent) Ltd., Arrow/Rapac Ltd., Artlink Technology Co. Ltd., Aspen Labs LLC, Aspencore China Investment LLC, Aspencore LLC, Aspencore Media GmbH, Aspencore/IDG China Investment LLC, Asplenium SA, Asset Recovery Corporation, B.V. Arrow Electronics DLC, Beijing AIQI Technology, Beijing Arrow SEED Technology Co. Ltd, Beijing Canon Advertising Co. Ltd., Broomco (4184) Limited, COMPUTERLINKS, COMPUTERLINKS (UK) Ltd., COMPUTERLINKS Belgium BVBA, COMPUTERLINKS Denmark A/S, COMPUTERLINKS Nederland B.V., COMPUTERLINKS S.A., CSS Computer Security Solutions Erwerbs GmbH, CSS Computer Security Solutions Holding GmbH, CSS Computer Security Solutions Ltd., CT3 Europe Limited, Centia Group Ltd, Centia Ltd., Channel Support Pty Ltd, ChiWan Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Chip One Stop, Chip One Stop (Hong Kong) Ltd., Chip One Stop (Shenzhen) Ltd., Chip One Stop Inc., Commtech Solutions (UK) Limited, Components Agent (Cayman) Limited, Components Agent Asia Holdings Ltd., Components Distribution Business - Achieva, Conrac Asia Display Products Pte. Ltd., Conrac MENA FZE, Converge, Converge (Shanghai) International Trading Co. Ltd., Converge Asia Pte Ltd., Converge Electronics Trading (India) Private Ltd., Converge France SAS, Converge Netherlands BV, Converge Scandinavia AB, Cross Telecom, Data Modul, Data Modul AG, Data Modul Electronics Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Data Modul FZE, Data Modul France S.a r.l, Data Modul Hong Kong Ltd., Data Modul Iberia S.L., Data Modul Inc., Data Modul Italia S.r.l., Data Modul Ltd., Data Modul Shanghai Ltd., Data Modul Suisse GmbH, Data Modul Weikersheim GmbH, Diasa Informatica, Dicopel Inc., Distribution Business - Seed International, Distribution Central (MY) Sdn. Bhd., Distribution Central HK Pty Limited, Distribution Central Limited (NZ), Distribution Central Pte Limited (SG), Distribution Central Pty Limited, E-InfoChips KK, EC America, EDN Asia Advertising Pte Ltd., ETEQ Components Pte Ltd., Electronics Products Technology Co. Ltd., Embedded Developer LLC, Erf 211 Hughes (Pty) Limited, Eshel Technology Group Inc., Eurocomponentes S.A., Excel Tech, Excel Tech Inc., Firewall Systems Pty Limited, Fusion Distribution FZCO, Gates - Arrow Distributing, Gates - FA Distributing, Global Link Technology, Greentech Holding AS, Gross Telecom, ICC Global Media GmbH, IP Vista A/S, IPVista A/S, ITM USA Enterprises Inc., Intechra Holdings, Intex-semi Ltd., KeyLink Systems Group, LED Franchise LLC, LED Source Holdco LLC, LED Source LLC, LOGIX S.A., License Central Pty Ltd, Lite-On Korea Ltd., Marubun Arrow (HK) Limited, Marubun Arrow (S) Pte Ltd., Marubun Arrow (Thailand) Co Limited, Marubun Arrow Asia Ltd., Marubun Arrow Europe Kft., Marubun Corporation, Marubun USA Corporation, Marubun-Arrow Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Marubun/Arrow (HK) Limited, Marubun/Arrow (M) Sdn. Bhd (Malaysia), Marubun/Arrow (Philippines) Inc., Marubun/Arrow (S) Pte Ltd., Marubun/Arrow (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Marubun/Arrow (Shenzhen) Electronic Product Consulting Company Limited, Marubun/Arrow (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Marubun/Arrow Asia Ltd., Marubun/Arrow USA II LLC, Marubun/Arrow USA LLC, NIC Components Asia PTE Ltd., NIC Components Corp., NIC Components Europe Limited, NIC Eurotech Limited, NUH Electronics India Private Limted, Networld Systems Pty Ltd, Nextworth Solutions Inc., Nu Horizons Electronics, Nu Horizons Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Nu Horizons Electronics Asia PTE Ltd., Nu Horizons Electronics Hong Kong Ltd., Nu Horizons Electronics Malaysia SDN BHD, NuHo Singapore Holdings LLC, Observatory Crest, Openway Group SA, Openway SAS, PCG Parent Corp., PCG Trading LLC, PT Marubun Arrow Indonesia, Pansystem S.r.l., Pax8 Inc., Power and Signal Group GmbH, R.D. Trading Limited, RDC, RF Wireless & Power - Richardson Electronics, Rack Systems Pty Ltd, Red Education Pty Ltd, Redemtech, Renewal Systems Pty Ltd, Richardson RFPD (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Richardson RFPD (Thailand) Limited, Richardson RFPD Australia Pty. Ltd., Richardson RFPD Canada Inc., Richardson RFPD Electronics Trading (China) Co. Ltd., Richardson RFPD France SAS, Richardson RFPD Germany GmbH, Richardson RFPD Hong Kong, Richardson RFPD Inc., Richardson RFPD Israel Ltd., Richardson RFPD Italy Srl, Richardson RFPD Japan KK, Richardson RFPD Korea Ltd., Richardson RFPD Netherlands BV, Richardson RFPD Singapore, Richardson RFPD Spain SL, Richardson RFPD Sweden AB, Richardson RFPD Taiwan, Richardson RFPD UK Ltd., Richey Electronics, San Systems Pty Ltd, Schuylkill Metals of Plant City Inc., Seneca Data, Seneca Data Distributors Inc., Shared Technologies, Silicon Frameworks LLC, SiliconEgypt Technologies LLC, SiliconExpert Holdings LLC, SiliconExpert Technologies, SiliconExpert Technologies Inc., Sphinx CST Limited, Sphinx CST Networks Limited, Sphinx Group, Sphinx Group Limited, Sphinx Professional Services Limited, Spoerle Hungary Kereskedelmi Kft, Sun Chain Technology Corp., TLW Electronics Ltd., TechTurn, Titan Supply Chain Services Limited, Titan Supply Chain Services Pte Ltd., Trafomo AB, Trafomo ApS, Transim Technology, Transim Technology Corporation, U.S. Micro Operating Company LLC, UBM Tech Electronics Network, Ultra Source Electronics (SZ) Co LTD, Ultra Source Technology Corp., Ultra Source Trading Hong Kong Limited, United Technical Publishing Division - Hearst Business Media, Universe Electron Corporation, Verical, Verwaltungsgesellschaft Arrow Electronics GmbH, Wireless and Infrastructure Business Unit - Waching Company, Yongming Xincheng (Beijing) Technology Co., e-InfoChips, e-Infochips Private Limited, eInfochips, eMedia Asia Limited, immixGovernment Inc., immixGroup, immixGroup Inc., immixSolutions Inc., and immixTechnology.

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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.
EPAM Systems, Inc. provides digital platform engineering and software development services worldwide. The company offers engineering services, including requirements analysis and platform selection, customization, cross-platform migration, implementation, and integration; infrastructure management services, such as software development, testing, and maintenance with private, public, and mobile infrastructures for application, database, network, server, storage, and systems operations management, as well as monitoring, incident notification, and resolution services; and maintenance and support services. It also provides operation solutions comprising integrated engineering practices and smart automation; and optimization solutions that include software application testing, test management, automation, and consulting services to enable customers enhance their existing software testing and quality assurance practices, as well as other testing services that identify threats and close loopholes to protect its customers' business systems from information loss. In addition, the company offers business, experience, technology, data, and technical advisory consulting services; and digital and service design solutions, which comprise strategy, design, creative, and program management services, as well as physical product development, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and virtual reality. It serves the financial services, travel and consumer, software and hi-tech, business information and media, life sciences and healthcare, and other industries. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newtown, Pennsylvania.
A propane fire Sunday afternoon interrupted the final day of a Nelson County musical festival and sent one person to the University of Virginia Medical Center.

In a statement shared on social media, organizers for The Festy, an annual music festival in Arrington, said a propane fire ignited inside a food vendors operations in the festivals Village area. Patrons were evacuated from the venue as emergency responders contained and put out the fire.

Curtis Sheets, chief of the Wintergreen Fire Department and Rescue Squad, said it was an accidental fire. He said one person was transported to the UVa Medical Center, but did not describe the persons condition.

At approximately 4 p.m., event organizers said the festival would resume later in the evening.
In under a year since she was unseated, all but one of the prosecutors who served under former Albemarle County Commonwealths Attorney Denise Lunsford have left the office. Three prosecutors who formerly served in other parts of the state have since joined current Commonwealths Attorney Robert Tracci, with one more expected to join in the coming months.

When Lunsford was ousted last November in a narrow 49-to-51 percent loss, the office also lost Jon Zug after his landslide victory in the race for clerk of court over the incumbent and two other nominees.

Since then, three others have flown the coop. In March, Elliott Casey left the office to pursue a teaching opportunity; Casey could not be reached for comment on his departure.

That same month, Tracci filled the hole left by Zug with Richard F. Farley, a violent-crime and gang prosecutor who served the commonwealths attorneys office in Norfolk for nearly a decade. Tracci said that Farley had prosecuted every area of criminal law, with specialties in property crimes, juvenile crimes and narcotics offenses.

The new team of attorneys has diverse backgrounds and broad experience which combine to serve the community well, Farley said in an email. We look forward to continuing to work with law enforcement and the local legal community to give crime victims and our county the highest degree of representation.

June brought the arrival of two more full-time prosecutors. Amanda Galloway returned to office after having served as an assistant commonwealths attorney in Danville. Before that, Galloway was a law clerk and fellow of Albemarles prosecutors office, and she also spent time as a fellow of the commonwealths attorneys office in Fluvanna County.

Tracci praised Galloway for her considerable experience in juvenile and domestic violence cases. In an email, Galloway said that she considers herself fortunate to be joining a dedicated team of law enforcement and legal professionals.

I look forward to building relationships with our community advocates to protect victims from crime, especially those affected by domestic and intimate partner violence, Galloway said. I hope to build on the offices existing foundation to help educate victims on the criminal justice system and to ease the apprehension and hesitation that so often accompanies trips to the courtroom.

Also in June, Rhonda Spady, who had been working part time with the office, was moved to full time. Spady previously served as a law professor and assistant commonwealths attorney for the cities of Richmond and Hampton. Tracci noted that Spady has an exceptionally broad range of prosecution experience in all criminal dockets.

I am happy to have joined the office and look forward to working with dedicated staff and the law enforcement community to ensure the safety of Albemarle citizens, Spady said in an email. No issue is insignificant when it comes to advancing our core mission of zealously prosecuting individuals and obtaining justice.

The following September, Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Holly Vradenburgh announced that she would be leaving Traccis office. Hired by Lunsford in March 2015, Vradenburgh is now working with Lunsford in her newly opened defense practice, Denise Y. Lunsford LLC. The firm focuses on criminal defense, as well as family, business and employment law. Vradenburgh declined to comment on her decision to leave the prosecutors office.

This month also marks the end of Matt Quatraras eight years of service as an assistant commonwealths attorney. For eight years, Quatrara has worked for both the city of Charlottesville and Albemarle County  for five of those years, Quatrara served as a special assistant attorney for the Western District of Virginia, where he prosecuted white-collar crimes. Prior to that, he was an associate for the Richmond-based McGuire Woods, working in commercial litigation and employment law.

I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the community and gain valuable trial experience as an Assistant Commonwealths Attorney in both the city of Charlottesville and county of Albemarle over the last 8-plus years, Quatrara said of his departure in an email.

That said, Quatrara added that he is extremely excited and fortunate to return to the realm of white-collar crime with his new position at the Charlottesville-based Lenhart Pettit. In that position, he will focus on complex litigation in state and federal court, with an emphasis on business and employment disputes, and white collar crime, according to a release from the firm.

Matt is an accomplished and effective trial attorney with experience in complicated civil and criminal matters, said Mike Derdeyn, an attorney at Lenhart Pettit. We are thrilled that he is joining our firm and adding to our bench of seasoned trial attorneys.

With Quatraras departure, the only remaining prosecutor from Lunsfords eight-year term is Darby Lowe, who will continue to serve as the deputy commonwealths attorney with exceptional distinction, Tracci said.

As the office continues to search for a final prosecutor to replace Quatrara, Tracci noted that he was extremely proud of the team working under him.

I think the office is a talented and diverse group of folks from several different jurisdictions with that kind of background and experience that this office needs. Tracci said.
DANVILLE  The Virginia Supreme Court announced Friday that it will not rehear an appeal of a Danville judges decision  a ruling that will keep the Confederate flag off the Sutherlin Mansions front lawn.

The court upheld Danvilles removal of a Confederate flag from a monument on the grounds of the historic Main Street building, according to a news release from the city.

The Heritage Preservation Association had petitioned for a rehearing before the full court after a three-judge panel of the court ruled in June that it found no reversible error in the judgment of Danville Circuit Judge James J. Reynolds.

I am pleased the Virginia Supreme Court finds no problems with the ordinance adopted by City Council limiting which flags could be flown on public property, City Attorney Clarke Whitfield said Friday. I wish to thank attorney Jeremy Carroll for representing the city in this case.

Carroll is an attorney with the Roanoke firm Glenn, Feldmann, Darby and Goodlatte.

Danvilles City Council adopted an ordinance in August 2015 that permits only the U.S. national flag, Virginia state flag, city flag of Danville and the POW/MIA flag to be flown on flagpoles owned by the city. Danville police removed the Third National Flag of the Confederacy from the grounds of the city-owned Sutherlin Mansion following the City Councils adoption of the ordinance.

The ordinance does not prohibit individuals from carrying any flag in public or displaying any flag on private property.

The association and others filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the ordinance. In October 2015, Reynolds granted a motion by Danville to dismiss the lawsuit. Reynolds ruled that a state law protecting monuments to war and war veterans does not apply to the monument at the Sutherlin Mansion.
A stunning front-page photo of Aleppo in The Washington Post on Sept. 29 reminded me of Berlin when I first saw it in 1946: massive destruction of entire neighborhoods.

The difference, of course, is that the war in Germany was over. But the bombing by Russian and Syrian planes goes on in Syria, with cluster bombs killing defenseless civilians.

What can, and should, the United States do about this humanitarian disaster?

For those inclined to do something, a no-fly zone that warns Syria and Russia to keep their bombers out of Aleppo while humanitarian aid is delivered by international agencies is one option.

Another is creation of a safe zone, on the ground inside northern Syria, where refugees from Aleppo and other cities under attack can be protected by U.S. and allied forces.

A third option is to encourage Turkey to set up a protective zone in northern Syria against both ISIS and Syrian encroachments on Turkish territory. Turkeys president, Recep Erdogan, advocated this four years ago.

The problem with all three ideas for relieving suffering in Syria is Russias Vladimir Putin. Russia is Syrias principal ally, and Putin has his own troops, air force, and navy ensconced at bases in western Syria, which hes determined to keep. A major incursion by U.S. or other forces into Syrian territory would be protested by President Bashar Assad as an attack on Syrian sovereign territory.

How might Putin respond? Hed demand a special session of the U.N. Security Council and denounce the United States for aggression in Syria. He would argue that any U.S. military involvement in northern Syria should be condemned by the U.N.

Would Putin use his forces against American planes enforcing a no-fly zone over Aleppo? Probably not, unless Assads regime is threatened. Still, he would reap a worldwide propaganda victory by claiming that Barack Obama is no different than George W. Bush, who invaded Iraqs sovereign territory in 2003.

And what happens if a Syrian missile shoots down an American plane?

The fundamental question facing American policymakers on Aleppo is this: Should America engage in even a low-level armed conflict for essentially humanitarian reasons?

If we look realistically at U.S. interests in Syria, we would conclude there is no threat to U.S. territory and no danger to our economy. Only two interests can reasonably be cited to justify sending U.S. forces into Syria:

 Security in the wider Middle East, especially Israel.

 A strong humanitarian desire by many Americans to stop the devastation in Aleppo, which causes thousands of civilian casualties and adds to millions of refugees who have fled into Turkey, Jordan, and Europe.

Is the Middle East today a vital regional interest that requires an American army to keep peace among warring Arab states? Probably not. Israel is powerful enough, with large U.S. arms aid, to take care of its defense against its neighbors. And Persian Gulf oil is less important now than when we invaded Iraq in 2003.

This leaves only the humanitarian impulse, historically important in U.S. foreign policy. But is intervening in Syrias civil war a truly vital interest requiring the use of military forces? In Bosnia in 1996, stopping a brutal war was important because it was crucial for European security that America lead the NATO effort. That level of interest does not prevail in the Middle East today, and its foolish to assume that limited intervention in Syria would not soon escalate into a larger Middle East war.

Painful as it is to see photos in the media of the devastation and refugees in Syria, U.S. policymakers must weigh the costs of intervention. We learned in Iraq that the costs can be very high in casualties and financial outlays. And its unlikely that Congress would approve use of troops if President Obama asked for support.

This may be one of those cases in American diplomatic history where a humanitarian intervention would simply be a bridge too far.

Donald Nuechterlein is a political scientist and author who lives near Charlottesville. E-mail him at nuechtd@cstone.net.
Most people agree that home ownership is a good thing. It builds and strengthens neighborhoods, and it offers a pathway to economic stability for families.

Unfortunately, Charlottesville is a high-cost community when it comes to housing, and this has put homeownership out of reach for many middle-class, working families in our area. In fact, Charlottesvilles homeownership rate has been declining for more than 40 years.

We are becoming a city where many people in our future workforce will not be to buy and own a home.

Vibrant, healthy cities thrive, in part, because they house a diverse population. Such communities offer those who work there the opportunity to also live there: old and young, wealthy and working class, school teachers, police, artists and health-care workers. We need to ensure that our city offers the opportunity for homeownership to many types of households in the coming years.

But in a time of rising home prices, how can we accomplish this  not only for today for the years ahead? Is it possible to create a supply of homes that will be permanently affordable?

Fortunately, there is a unique homeownership model that can do this very thing, and the first of its kind in Virginia is located here in Charlottesville. The Thomas Jefferson Community Land Trust is one of a growing number of community land trusts across the country that are making homeownership affordable now and for generations to come.

Community land trusts do this by using a unique model. The trust purchases and owns the land under the house. The homebuyer needs only to buy and finance the house. The trust leases the land to the homeowner at a nominal amount using a long-term (90-year) lease. In this way, the cost of the land is removed from the price of the home.

In a community like Charlottesville where land costs are high, this can mean reducing the purchase price of the home by as much as 25 percent to 30 percent. That type of price reduction opens the door to homeownership for many families that have been frozen out.

For example, a recent TJCLT homebuyer was able to purchase a townhome worth $185,000 for only $143,000 because the value of the land was backed out of the cost.

Thats how community land trusts make homeownership affordable to the first homebuyer  but how do they keep it affordable?

That is the second important feature of the CLT model. The land lease between the CLT and homeowner restricts the future sales price of the home through a technique called shared equity. In the case of the Thomas Jefferson CLT, the homeowner is able to retain 25 percent of the increase in the market value of the home that accrues during the time that he owns it  in addition to equity earned from principal repayments.

For example, if a land trust homeowner lives in a home for five years and, during that time, the market value goes up by $40,000, only 25 percent of that ($10,000) is used in determining the next sales price. Because of this feature, CLT homes become more and more affordable into the future as the market values of the homes around them increase.

This is the basic trade-off that CLT homeowners accept. They are able to purchase their home at a much more affordable price, but they agree to give up some of the market increase in the homes value so that the home stays affordable for the next buyer.

The CLT can work well for any type of homebuyer, but is especially effective for those entering homeownership for the first time. The CLT home can give them a start and allow them to save for a trade-up home. When that happens, the CLT home is available to help another family get a start.

TJCLT also partners with the Piedmont Housing Alliance, which provides counseling and support to prospective buyers to help them obtain financing and understand exactly how the land trust works.

Community land trusts also have another benefit: The non-profit land trust and the homeowner remain in a partnership. The trust has an interest in making sure that the home is maintained and is always an asset to the neighborhood. The homeowner knows that the trust is ready to help if he experiences a temporary challenge such as illness or job loss.

The TJCLT is a community-based non-profit that uses a governance approach similar to many other land trusts. Eventually, one third of the volunteer board will be made up of community land trust homeowners. This is intended to ensure that the organization remains responsive to the needs of its members and the neighborhoods in which they live.

As with all CLTs, funding for the purchase of land comes from a variety of sources including public, corporate, private foundations, and individuals.

TJCLT creates homeownership opportunities for families in two ways. It facilitates the purchase of existing homes, and it also works with partners such as Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville to build new homes.

The organizations vision is to contribute to a community where workers have the opportunity to be residents and owners. This will be accomplished through three development strategies:

 Neighborhood preservation  helping families to buy and rehabilitate homes in neighborhoods throughout the community.

 Urban infill  building new, high-quality, energy-efficient homes on scattered lots through our community.

 Suburban new construction  including CLT homes in mid- to large-scale subdivision development in the developing communities surrounding Charlottesville.

Community land trusts have been a successful model in other states for more than 30 years, helping to ensure permanent access to homeownership for working families. The Thomas Jefferson Community Land Trust makes it possible for people who work in our community to live here: the teacher in our schools, the nurses assistant in our hospitals, the campus police officer at our university. As a result, our community is a richer, more diverse and vibrant place to live.

Frazier Bell is the chairman of the board of the Thomas Jefferson Community Land Trust. For more information, visit www.tjclt.org.
The number of judges who have rammed Shariah law down the throats of the American people is roughly equal to the number of legs on a snake. But that hasnt kept conservatives around the country from passing, or trying to pass, measures meant to stop it from happening.

Eight states have banned Shariah law or foreign law, the common euphemism. A measure to do so was vetoed in Missouri and the courts struck down another passed in Oklahoma. As of this time last year, 34 states had considered such measures.

Lately the Trump campaign has gotten out in front of the parade. The Donald has said he would bar entry to any foreigner who thinks Shariah law should supplant American law, and one of his advisers, retired Gen. Michael Flynn, has claimed that some states are already having to confront the imposition of Shariah law.

Trump spokesman Katrina Pierson accused Gold Star father Khizr Khan of being a strong proponent of Shariah law.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Trump backer, has suggested that anyone who believes in Shariah should be deported.

(In this, as in so much else, Trump has been less than consistent. A few years ago he said nice things about Shariah in Saudi Arabia because men there have the authority to divorce their wives without going to the courts.)

Yet while Islamic law is not exactly sweeping across the country, you can understand why some conservatives worry that it might. Though they miss the nuances of Shariahs meaning, they correctly point out that Islam as practiced in some countries is a brutal ideology that executes people for committing homosexual acts, cruelly oppresses women, punishes theft with barbaric amputations, and more.

And even more moderate forms of Islamic rule in the U.S. would be unwelcome, simply because a great many Americans do not subscribe to the Islamic faith, and the First Amendment protects their right not to submit to it.

As Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, said when North Carolina lawmakers passed an anti-Shariah measure, No one has a problem with Muslims or anyone else living peaceably in America. But on U.S. soil, we must all embrace the freedoms and responsibilities assigned us via the Constitution.

Amen to that.

Hence conservatives should be as pleased as everyone else by the recent suspension imposed on Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore. Moore had instructed that states justices to disregard the Supreme Courts decision on gay marriage and a federal judges decision striking down Alabamas ban on same-sex unions. He said the states judges had a ministerial duty not to approve marriage licenses for gay and lesbian couples. The suspension lasts until the end of Moores current term, and he is not eligible for another one.

This isnt Moores first brush with a higher law. Back in 2003 he was removed from office for disobeying a federal courts order to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the Supreme Court building. In that case, as in this one, the vote on the nine-member Court of the Judiciary was unanimous.

Moore isnt the only public official who thinks secular law should bow down before his god.

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Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum has said Americas civil laws have to comport with a higher law: Gods law. Another former GOP candidate, Mike Huckabee, has said Americans need to amend the Constitution so its in Gods standards rather than trying to change Gods standards. Ted Cruzs wife, Heidi, characterized her husband as uniquely qualified to deliver a combination of law and religion. Cruz ratified the sentiment by launching his candidacy at Liberty University with a speech heavy in religious overtones.

And then there was Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who famously refused to issue marriage licenses for gay couples because of her religious scruples. For that, she earned the Cost of Discipleship award from the Value Voters summit and comparisons to civil rights heroine Rosa Parks.

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Davis and Moore did precisely what proponents of anti-Shariah statutes claim to be alarmed about: They set aside the freedoms and responsibilities assigned us via the Constitution in favor of sectarian religious beliefs.

Its worth noting that there are numerous Muslim office-holders in the U.S., including two members of Congress and a majority of the members of the Hamtramck, Michigan, City Council. Yet no Muslim public official has set his or her religious beliefs above the civil law. Moore and Davis did  and in some quarters, they became folk heroes for it.

So conservatives are right: The U.S. does face a very real danger that religious fundamentalism could undermine the principles of American constitutional governance. Theyre just looking for the threat in the wrong place.

A. Barton Hinkle is a writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Contact him at bhinkle@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6627.
I recently read a very interesting book devoted to describing the extent of the damage caused to the basic fabric and way of life of the American people by the Obama administration during its nearly eight years in office.

These are not unsupported charges, but rather are very carefully and meticulously documented.

The main premise of the book is that this systematic destruction of what used to be the greatest nation on earth must be reversed, before it has gone beyond the point of no return.

The ultimate conclusion is that since Hillary Clinton has already pledged to continue implementing President Obama's policies, the actual survival of the U.S., in the form the huge majority of the population would want it to be, is dependent upon not electing Hillary.

The book also paints a very different picture of Donald Trump from that painted by our totally biased, "progressive" media.

The book? "Scorched Earth" by New York Times best-selling author Michael Savage.

There is still time to read the book before the election. Everybody who is eligible to vote should read it.

Ben C. Foster

Albemarle County
RICHMONDRepublican congressional candidates running for seats in Central Virginia are condemning Donald Trumps lewd comments about women in a 2005 video, but are stopping short of calling on him to drop out of the race.

None has joined Rep. Barbara J. Comstock, R-10th, who is urging Trump to step down, calling his comments vile and disgusting.

Rep. Dave Brat, R-7th, wrote in a Facebook Post: Donald Trumps comments are crude and I reject them totally. We all have an obligation to work every day to make sure that our language is precise and lifts everyone up at all times.

But Brat also alluded to former President Bill Clintons behavior in the White House.

The left and the press is now in full attack mode claiming that Trumps unethical remarks are disqualifying for the presidency, but that same ethical standard was not to be found when a sitting president acted out even more crudely in the Oval Office, Brat wrote.

Democrat Eileen Bedell, a lawyer from Chesterfield County who is running against Brat, said in a statement: It took Dave Brat 20 hours, a full day, to find his moral compass and attempt to avoid the backlash on Donald Trump, but Brat is standing by his man and still supports The Donald.

Dave Brat is a bad fit for Virginia and his continued embrace of Donald Trump, a man who brags about sexually assaulting women, is just further evidence of that fact.

State Sen. Tom Garrett, R-Buckingham, the GOP nominee for Congress in the 5th District, also criticized Trump.

In a move that may surprise some, I join my opponent in condemning the words of Donald Trump in the strongest possible manner, he said in a statement.

We need to join together to protect our daughters so that they are respected in both word and deed. As a prosecutor, I stood on the front lines defending women and children. As a soldier, I stood on the front lines defending the principled ideals of our nation. There is no place for rhetoric such as this in the national discourse.

Democrat Jane Dittmar, a former Albemarle County supervisor who is running against Garrett, said of the GOP presidential nominee: These disgusting attitudes and abhorrent abusive criminal actions are rightfully condemned throughout our society. I am appalled to see them embraced by Donald Trump.

Unfortunately, my opponent, Tom Garrett, has advocated his strong support for Trumps candidacy. I cant fathom how Garrett can now continue to endorse these admitted actions that constitute a felony aggravated sexual battery charge. I urge Tom Garrett to disavow his support for Trump.

Rep. Robert J. Wittman, R-1st, does not condone the objectification of women under any circumstances, his communications director, Farahn Morgan, said in a statement.

He is a father and a grandfather and has a reputation in Congress as a leader in creating professional opportunities for women. Many of the leadership roles in his office are currently filled by women, and both of the chiefs of staff who have served in his office have been female.

Wittmans opponent, Democrat Matt Rowe, a member of the Bowling Green town council, said on Twitter: As a husband & father of 2 wonderful daughters, I find Trumps comments disgusting and disqualifying. Still support him, @RobWittman?

Henrico County Sheriff Mike Wade, the Republican candidate for Congress in the 4th District, said in a phone interview Saturday afternoon that he had not seen or heard the Trump video remarks, but he bemoaned the state of the national campaign.

I just wish we had a campaign where people were talking about the issues instead of talking about each other, Wade said between campaign stops.

Were getting ready to elect a president not based on who we like the most, but who we hate the least. I want to talk about the issues.

Wade faces state Sen. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico.
Virginias largest group of park advocates supports a Civil War battlefields state park proposed in Culpeper County.

At its autumn meeting this month, the Virginia Association for Parks passed a resolution urging state officials and lawmakers to create a park encompassing parts of Culpepers Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain battlefields.

That idea, promoted by a diverse coalition of local, state and national groups, emerged in mid-2015. A feasibility study commissioned by the national Civil War Trust analyzed it, and was positive about its prospects. The Culpeper County Board of Supervisors endorsed the park proposal early this year.

The trust and the Brandy Station Foundation own 1,195 acres at Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain that would create the state parks core.

The Virginia Outdoors Plan calls for every Virginian to live within an hours drive of a state park. Culpeper County and the Central Piedmont, which have no such park, are described as the hole in the donut, park advocates say.

The all-volunteer Virginia association, a statewide nonprofit with 4,200 members, decided to support the proposal when its leaders met Oct. 1 at Bear Creek Lake State Park in Cumberland County.

Simply put, we consider this to be a breathtaking, positive opportunity for the commonwealth to add to the Department of Conservation and Recreations current Civil War battlefield holdings at a very reasonable price, Johnny Finch, the associations president, said in an interview. We strongly encourage the commonwealth to take the steps needed to make this exciting opportunity a reality.

The association will communicate its findings to state officials and lawmakers, he said.

A VAFP delegation visited the two battlefields in late summer to get a boots on the ground perspective about them and the park proposal, said Finch, who lives in Bumpass in Louisa County.

The feasibility study, by STACH of Asheville, N.C., and The Community Land Use and Economics Group in Arlington, estimates the park could be launched with a $500,000 budget or less. The 50,000-member trust and its partners have already installed walking trails and interpretive markers across the two battlefields.

They maintain parking areas and several buildings that could serve as park offices, ranger housing or visitor contact stations, the study says.

The battlefields present a turn-key opportunity to advance an already well-preserved and interpreted history, the parks association said in its resolution.

Under state-park management and promotion, visitation to the Culpeper sites would increase, it said. Once fully established, the state park could bring visitor spending of more than $4 million annually to the local economy, the group said.

The association is the umbrella organization for citizen support groups and individual volunteers supporting Virginias 36 state parks, 62 state natural areas and 22 national parks, monuments and historic sites.

Diane Logan, president of Culpepers Friends of Cedar Mountain, said Friday that her group is encouraged by the support. The Civil War Trust has committed to continuing managing the two preserves for five years, and each battlefield has active and strong volunteer groups that give tours, hold educational programs and act as land stewards, she said.

The fact that this state group has joined the effort gives me great hope well be a state park next year, Logan said.

VAFP leaders toured Cedar Mountain and Brandy Station on Aug. 26 with trust officials, then reviewed and discussed the feasibility study, Finch said.

The park proposal is gaining momentum and support, Jim Campi, the trusts director of policy and communications, said Friday. Theres a lot of support for it in the administration and General Assembly. But ultimately, its fate will be decided in the legislature.

Culpepers location between Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and Manassas National Battlefield Park would boost visitation to a state park, supporters have said.

In the Battle of Cedar Mountain, waged on Aug. 9, 1862, Confederate Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson repelled Union forces that marched into Culpeper intent on capturing the rail junction at Gordonsville.

The Battle of Brandy Station, fought June 9, 1863, opened Gen. Robert E. Lees Gettysburg Campaign. The biggest cavalry engagement in the Western hemisphere, it was the first time Union troopers held their own against the Confederacy.
For several days last week demonstrators assembled in front of the Executive Mansion. According to Ali Rocketts Oct. 6 news story, they urged Gov. Terry McAuliffe to reject a pair of proposed fracked-gas pipelines, require power companies to clean up or move coal ash ponds before closing them and pass measures to prevent rising sea levels.

The peaceful gatherings culminated with the arrest of 23 people for trespassing. Civil disobedience boasts an honored American pedigree. Henry David Thoreaus essay on the subject appeared in 1849 and has been read ever since.

The concerns expressed by the protesters are not idle. They deserve to be heard. Too often debates such as these have the appearance of done deals. The Richmond protests occurred while similar efforts were taking place in North Dakota, where critics have opposed a pipeline affecting land sacred to the Sioux.

The Dakota demonstrations have had a volatility their Virginia counterparts have lacked. The governments response has not been friendly or gentle. The camaraderie on display at Capitol Square has been absent.

The Standing Rock pipeline runs through lands that symbolize American betrayal of native tribes. Whites consigned Indians to reservations and then broke the treaties when riches were found. In 1933s Land of the Spotted Eagle, Luther Standing Bear wrote of the greater area:

This beautiful region, of which the Lakota thought more than any other spot on earth, caused him the most pain and misery. These hills were to become prized by the white people for reasons far different from those of the Lakota. To the Lakota the magnificent forests and splendid herds were incomparable in value. To the white man everything was valueless except the gold in the hills. Toward the Indian the white people were absolutely devoid of sentiment, and when a people lack sentiment they are without compassion. So down went the Black Forest and to death went the last buffalo, noble animal and immemorial friend of the Lakota. As for the people who were as native to the soil as the forest and the buffalowell, the gold seekers did not understand them and never have. The white man will never know the horror and the utter bewilderment of the Lakota at the wanton destruction of the buffalo. What cruelty has not been glossed over with the white mans wordenterprise.

Oh see what our trust in Americas brought us. My country tis of thy people youre dying, sings Buffy Sainte-Marie. Indomitable spirits are still heard.

At the 2016 White House Tribal Nations Conference, President Obama told the people of Standing Rock that their voices are being heard. The debate includes more than the immediacy of pipelines. How are humans to live? What is to be done? What then must we do? Does profit justify everything? If the United States were as religious as many claim, believers would rally to the Sioux to ensure that houses built on rock stand.

The Sioux fight is the nations fight.
The Tata Group firm is understood to have opened talks with the UKs Pension Protection Fund.

London: Tata Steel is believed to be edging closer to striking a new deal over the 15-billion pension pot that stands in the way of an agreement over of its UK steelworks, according to a media report on Sunday.

The Tata Group firm is understood to have opened talks with the UKs Pension Protection Fund and the Pensions Regulator over an unort-hodox restructuring deal, which would see a merger of its European arm with Germanys Thyssen-Krupp, The Sunday Times claimed.

An agreement could secure the immediate future of the Port Talbot plant in south Wales and its 4,000 staff members, plus other plants across the country which were put up for sale in March this year. The British Steel Pension Scheme is seen as the biggest obstacle to the merger.

The British newspaper claims new talks, which started last month, hinge on using a regulated apportionment agreement. This framework allows companies to pump cash into a pension scheme in return for being allowed to continue trading without those liabilities.
Employees of smaller telecom companies feel that hyper competition ushered in by Reliance Jio will make small players out of business, resulting in mass lay-offs.

New Delhi: Hyper-competition in the telecom sector has triggered concerns among the employees of small telecom companies about potential mass lay-offs.

The mood among staff in the big companies is also not great as they foresee smaller salary hikes.

Since the start of the new telecom war, the mood in the industry is sombre and many are worried that companies may start laying off people. The recent situation in the industry shows that only big players will survive, said an employee of a small telecom firm.

Even in the telecom companies which are consolidating, employees are concerned that many may lose jobs. Many of us are in a wait-and-watch mode. We dont know what will happen after the consolidation. Some jobs which are over-lapping may be cut. There is a lot of confusion and uncertainty right now, said an employee of another telecom firm which is in the process of merging itself with another company.

Last month, Reliance Jio started its mobile services offering free voice calls to its customers. Jio has also said that it will not charge for voice and data till December 31.

This has forced other companies to cut their broadband rates. Reliance Jio claimed on Sunday that it added 16 million subscribers in its first month of operations  September. This is likely to force other operators to further cut their tariff to keep their customers.

Even employees of big telecom operators fear that salary hikes may shrink as the margins of service providers are declining and there is a huge pressure to increase investments to upgrade and expand networks to stay ahead of competition.

Things will be only clear after January when Reliance Jio commercially starts its services. Then we will be clear what will be the impact but certainly margins and profitably will get impacted and that will have influence on salary hikes, said an industry official.

Interestingly, even employees of foreign MNCs, which manage networks of the telecom companies, are worried that salaries will get impacted.

Globally our company is reducing jobs. Already we were getting hike of just five per cent. This type of competition is likely to shrink our margins too as telecom companies may go for hard bargaining, said an employee with a telecom network manufacturing and software management firm.
Shrivastava said the recently launched unlimited 3G scheme for Rs 1,099 is one of the key reasons for increase in demand for mobile data on BSNL network.

New Delhi: Gearing up to compete with private players, state-owned telecom firm BSNL plans to ramp up its mobile broadband capacity by up to two-fold to 600 terrabyte in a month.

"We are seeing enormous increase in usage of mobile data on our network. We will be increasing our data network capacity to deliver high-speed 3G and other services. In South, we will double the capacity to 600 TB and in other zones, it will be up to 450 TB by November," BSNL Chairman and MD Anupam Shrivastava told PTI. The loss-making state-run telecom firm did not participate in the spectrum auction and is making efforts to monetise its existing mobile airwaves.

Shrivastava said the recently launched unlimited 3G scheme for Rs 1,099 is one of the key reasons for increase in demand for mobile data on BSNL network. The plan offers unlimited access to 3G without any speed restriction for a period of 30 days. "In 2012, data usage on BSNL network was around 80 TB.

After recent unlimited 3G Internet scheme we have seen sudden jump in data usage. In July it was around 279 TB which has now gone up to 353 TB," Shrivastava said.

He said that average data download per customer under the plan has been around 2.2 GB which means 66 GB per customer in a month.

This corresponds to storing of around 100 Bollywood movies in a month in medium resolution on smartphones. On the other hand, at a price of around Rs 1,100, private telecom operators data download limit is in the range of 7GB to 11 GB.

New entrant Reliance Jio is offering unlimited 4G data free till the end of this year. From January 1, the company will offer unlimited 4G data at starting price of Rs 19 but the 'unlimited' 4G usage will remain valid during night hours.

Shrivastava said that BSNL is ready to compete with any telecom operator in the market. "...we will match any tariff in the market. It will be as competitive as any of the players in the market.

We are already offering 300 GB of data usage for Rs 249 per month on fixed broadband connection. It is valid for six months and no other operator has been able to match it," Shrivastava said.
Mumbai: Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn has come out in support of Karan Johar's upcoming film 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil', saying banning Indian films featuring Pakistani artistes is "unfair".

After the Uri terror attack, the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had demanded a ban on Pakistani artistes working in Bollywood and not allowing release of films featuring such actors.

"Sometimes, it gets difficult to remove anybody from a film that has already been completed. I feel, when people have shot a film before an issue has happened, they should be allowed to release it," Ajay told PTI.

'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' features Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in a special appearance while 'Raees' is slated to see the Bollywood debut of Pakistani actress Mahira Khan opposite Shah Rukh Khan.

Ajay, however, refused to comment on the MNS' stance, saying, "It is a political issue I do not want to get into."

Voicing his support for the army, he said soldiers should be motivated in this "tough" scenario.

"We admire their work and they admire us and our work. Right now, the situation is that our security forces are fighting and dying. So, we have a responsibility to keep their morale up. Otherwise, they will feel, we are dying here and these people are going on with their lives like nothing has happened," the actor said.

"So, my stand is with the security forces and my request is, till the problem is solved, it should be that way," he added.

"I do not worry about backlash. I speak from the heart, whether good or bad. I think, sensible people will understand that those who want to create controversies, will do so," he said.

Ajay (47) insists that he is "open" to work with Pakistani actors once the situation between the two countries "normalises".

"Once the problem is solved, I would love to work with them again. We all should work together as an exchange of culture is important. But, it cannot happen at the time when you are exchanging bullets. I respect them. They are standing by their country and we stand by ours," he said.

Asked if he thought the Pakistani actors had reacted late, Ajay said, "They have not reacted. It is a diplomatic statement. You do expect them to react."

While filmmaker Karan Johar and actor Salman Khan have voiced their opinion that the demand for a ban on Pakistani actors is not justified, Ajay has a different view on this.

"I have not spoken anything against my fraternity. We are talking about the country and I do not want our people to fight," he said.

Ajay's 'Shivaay' is set to lock horns with Karan's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil', both of which are slated for release on October 28.
Prior to the Budapest schedule, the crew had been shooting in Prague, Amsterdam and Lisbon. (Pic courtesy: @manishkumarfilms, @srkmalaysiacfc and @vasif_siddiqui)

Mumbai: 'The Ring' is amongst the most awaited films in recent times owing to it being an amalgam of numerous firsts.

SRK and Anushka have been globetrotting for the Imtiaz Ali helmed film's schedules and the stills from the sets have been nothing short of exciting.

The crew has currently been shooting in the beautiful Hungarian city, Budapest.

Prior to the Budapest schedule, the crew had been shooting in Prague, Amsterdam and Lisbon.

Shah Rukh Khan will be seen playing a tourist guide in the film, touted to be a romantic drama.

Anushka, on the other hand, will be seen as a touring Gujarati girl.

Shah Rukh will also soon be seen in the controversy-laden 'Raees,' and Gauri Shinde's Alia Bhatt headlining 'Dear Zindagi'.

The actor's last release was critically, a major success, though the film failed to rake in the moolah.

Shah Rukh Khan has been extremely generous with his fans, obliging them with pictures and photographs, across the multiple locales of the film.

SRK has been sporting a well groomed stubble for the film.

Imtiaz has also parted ways with his regular collaborator AR Rahman, and has decided to work with Pritam.

The film, sees SRK and Anushka working with Imtiaz for the very first time, and pairing up together for the third time, after Anushka's debut venture, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi,' and Yash Chopra's swansong, 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan.'
Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmavati is the story of a Muslim ruler, who lusts after a Hindu queen. Given the current pro-Hindutva mood in the country, are production houses being cautious about backing such scripts?

The problems related to the film are rather complex. From the enormous budget to the intense casting procedure and the script, the project is facing trouble.

Some say the main reason for the film navigating through choppy waters, is not only the budget. Nor is it the casting. Both can be fixed by a filmmaker of Bhansalis stature. (For one, he can cut down on his own Rs 22-crore fee by half).

The real problem lies in the plot, as said earlier  an Islamic invader, Alauddin Khilji, is lusting after the beautiful wife of the King of Chittor, Rawal Rattan Singh.

Also, some believe the legend of Padmavati has no real historical foundation. Padmavati is the Ramayan from Raavans point of view. Its the story of the arrogant, tyrannical invader who sets his eyes on the beautiful queen of the invaded kingdom.

Seen in the mythological context, Ranveer Singh will play Raavan, Shahid Kapoor will essay Ram and Deepika Padukone, the archetypal Sita. But the focus in the plot would be the conflict between the foreign invader and the righteous and stunningly beautiful queen, who will not succumb to the invaders lustful gaze.

This is not the first film to be seen from Raavans point of view. Six years ago, Mani Ratnam tried the same in Raavan, with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan playing the abducted Sita and her real-life husband as Raavan. The film was a colossal disaster.

Padmavati, too, subverts a real-life couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singhs Ram-Sita relationship into an antagonistic Raavan-driven equation on screen. There are also references to the banned practices of Sati, at least in the opera version of Padmavati that Bhansali had directed in Paris  way back in 2008  in which the queen prefers to perish in her slain husbands pyre rather than succumb to Alaudin Khiljis sexual advances. Will Sanjay Leela Bhansali stick to his original script or change it?
The actor was evidently unimpressed by the twitter user's tone.

Mumbai: Varun Dhawan, who's always known to be extremely affable with his fans, lost his cool with one particularly insensitive twitter user.

A troll, apparently witnessed the actor's car being involved in an accident in Mumbai.

However the very insensitive user seemed rather amused by the occurrence.

Varun, who took the opportunity to gracefully clear the air, clarified that he had not been in the car while the incident occurred and that he'd come to help out his family member who, unfortunately had been in the car while it happened. Varun also said that his was the car that had got damaged.

Varun, who was evidently unimpressed with the twitter user's tone, promptly asked him to shut up.

The 'Dishoom' actor went on to slam the user for making things up.

However, the young star then responded to his fans' concerned queries and revealing that there was no injury and his family was absolutely safe.

Aren't we glad to hear that?!
Actor Ajay Devgns film Shivayy is all set to release alongside the much awaited Karan Johars Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, but he seems unaffected by the competition.

Ajay looks relaxed, speaks about the date clash and strained relations Dharma Productions, and his stand for not working with artistes from across the border.

I do not believe in camps; I trust working hard. Besides, I do not interfere in anyones work nor do I allow any interference in mine. Ive been in the Hindi film industry toiling and spending my sweat and energy on genuine work. If at all anyone tries to put me and my work at stake, then I dont spare them, says the actor.

Although both films are releasing on the same date, they have an equal distribution of theaters. Anyone can choose the date of release according to the completion of their film. I have no problem with Karans film releasing on the same date. Since I had picked up this date quite in advance, Ill stand by it, says Ajay.

When asked if there are any differences with Karan (hinting at Kamal Khans tweet), he replied with a smile. Yes, but those issues are different. Its between both of us and I wouldnt want to elaborate on the matter.

Karan and Kajol were best of friends, but now their relationship too is strained. Ajay Devgn didnt deny it, but refused to comment. Ajay made his stand clear of not working with Pakistani artistes in the current scenario. Wife Kajol too was all praises on twitter, saying she is proud of her husband.

I am very clear here. This is an emotional moment for the families of those who have laid their lives protecting our country. At a time like this, should we not stand by their and our countrys side? Now if your son or any family member who is an Army official is paid to die on the borders, will you as a mother not stand against those who have killed your son? This is a situation when we shouldnt think about extending any cultural or business strategies with them. I dont have any political agenda and do not wish to be a brand ambassador of any state. We all have to prioritize things according to the need of the hour, he concludes.
The actor will next be seen opposite Marion Cotillard in 'Allied'.

Mumbai: Hollywood star Brad Pitt will not be prosecuted for the child abuse incident that allegedly occurred in September on a private jet.

The FBI never opened an investigation against the Allied actor, 52, because there was no case, reported TMZ.

"The FBI is still working to gather the facts from the incident but the agency does not consider it an official investigation," sources said.

Pitt and his estranged wife, Angelina Jolie (who filed for divorce less than a week after incident occurred), were flying with their six children from Nice, France, to Burbank, California, on September 14.

It was earlier reported that the Fight Club actor got verbally abusive and physical with the kids, Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and 8-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.

Jolie, 41, filed for divorce on September 19, citing irreconcilable differences, and requested sole custody of the kids.

The former power couple have since reached a temporary custody agreement, which allows Pitt supervised visitation. He will also voluntarily take random drug and alcohol tests, his first of which came back negative.
Hyderabad: The police on Sunday registered a cheating and harassment case against famous Tollywood comedian Balireddy Prithviraj on a complaint from his alleged wife. However, she later submitted a petition to withdraw the case.

In her complaint, Ms K. Kavitha, a native of East Godavari district, stated that a few years ago she had met one Mr Anil, her sisters friend, who had been trying for roles as a junior artiste in Hyderabad. He had promised her a job and had introduced her to Prithviraj.

In 2010, Mr Anil and Prithviraj had interviewed her in the latters office and since then she had been working in his office. She alleged that Prithviraj had lured her with luxuries and they had got married in a temple.

Though she had two children from her first marriage, Prithviraj had said that he would take care of them as his own children and had enrolled joined them in a school. She and her children were put up in a rented flat in Banjara Hills.

Meanwhile, she came to know of Prithvirajs affair with another woman.

When I questioned him about the illegal affair, he said that he would do as he pleased. He also took away Rs 2 lakh cash and gold ornaments and threatened to kill me and my kids if I complained to anyone, she stated in the complaint.

Police registered a case under Sections 420 for cheating and 498A for harassment. However, Ms Kavitha later submitted a petition with the police to withdraw the case.

Her petition was submitted in court. Based on the courts directions, we will proceed, said Banjara Hills SI K. Krishnaiah.
Washington: For most cancer patients, the uncertainty and stress that can come with its treatment is compounded by what is now known as "financial toxicity", suggests a recent study. An earlier research demonstrates how a survey can measure a patient's risk for and ability to tolerate financial stress.

With data from 233 patients going through treatment for advanced cancers, the researchers showed that the COST (Comprehensive Score for financial Toxicity) questionnaire identified patients at financial distress, which was found to be a "clinically relevant patient-centered measure."

Study's lead author Jonas de Souza said, "As expected, we found a strong association between a patient's use of health care resources and his or her sense of financial toxicity."

Adding, "This is something we need to look for, to recognize early and make sure it does not become a barrier to care."

More than two admissions to the hospital, had a significant impact on a patient's sense of financial toxicity. "This is reasonable. Hospital care is much more expensive tha office-based care. We now know that it also impacts a patient's self-reported financial feelings," de Souza said.

The research team kept the COST questionnaire short and simple. It includes 11 brief statements about costs, resources and concerns. For each question, patients were asked to circle one of five possible responses that help determine their level of concern.

Exposed to statements such as: "I feel financially stressed," or "My out-of-pocket medical expenses are more than I thought they would be," patients had to choose the answer that best described their situation. The questionnaires revealed several factors that were closely tied to financial toxicity.

Employment status was at the top of the list, followed by household income, psychological distress, the number of hospital admissions, and race. African-American individuals tended to have more financial toxicity, on average, than Caucasians.

One surprise was the lack of a perceived financial benefit from participation in clinical trials. "Usually the maker of an innovative device or the company that supplies a new drug will pick up the costs related to the investigational drug. But that did not reduce our patients' sense of financial toxicity. We've added that to our model," he said.

The next step is to go back to our patients and understand the factors that drive financial toxicity for each kind of cancer. "Then we need to learn how to intervene. How can we help these patients, perhaps with financial counselors?

And how can we decrease the costs of what we do to treat cancer overall and, at the same time, lessen the financial burdens that fall on the patient," De Souza said.

Adding, "It's important to note that the financial distress identified by the COST scale captures a unique set of stressors affecting patients above and beyond the physical and psychological strains of their disease," notes Lauren Hersch Nicholas, PhD, a health economist at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and member of the study team.

"Being able to quantify this burden is an important step towards giving patients, their families and care team the information necessary to make the best treatment decisions for each patient's situation." The survey was published in Cancer journal.
They still plan on having "some type of ceremony, whatever kind of ceremony that will be." (Photo: Facebook/Jaime Gurnavage)

Florida: Hurricane Matthew has forced evacuations, the cancellation of vacations, and left hundreds of thousands in the dark. But the storm won't stop one Florida couple's dream beach wedding.

Jaime Gurnavage and Ryan Gordon tell Florida Today that they chose their Saturday beach wedding for a reason. Gurnavage explains that "everything is engraved with the 8th of October." She says they "picked the 8th because the No. 8, when you set it on the side, it's the infinity symbol."

The couple lives in nearby Suntree. Gurnavage says they still plan on having "some type of ceremony, whatever kind of ceremony that will be." The wedding was set to be held at the Ocean Landing Resort in Cocoa Beach.

Because Matthew spared south Florida, the couple should have smooth sailing for their honeymoon. They'll be vacationing in Key West.
Panaji: A man has been arrested from Bengaluru in connection with the murder of perfume specialist Monica Ghurde, whose naked body was found in her rented flat near Panaji, Goa Police said on Sunday.

Rajkumar Singh, a native of Punjab, was nabbed late last night with help from the police of Karnataka capital and was being brought to Goa, a top official said.

"A team of Goa Police arrested one Rajkumar Singh in Bengaluru in connection with the Monica Ghurde murder case," Deputy Inspector General of Police Vimal Gupta told PTI.

Police declined to provide further details.

A senior police official said they were tracking the movement of the accused during his journey through Maharashtra and Karnataka on the basis of his ATM transactions. After the murder, Singh took away Ghurde's ATM card and mobile phone.

Police sources said the accused had withdrawn money at several locations in Maharashtra, including Miraj (Sangli district) and Nashik, before travelling to Karnataka.

The 39-year-old's naked body was found at her rented flat in Sangolda village near Calangute beach in Goa on October 6.

She had shifted to the flat in July this year after separating from her husband. A post-mortem on Saturday revealed that she died of strangulation, but it was not clear if she was raped.

A few hours before her death, Ghurde had spoken to her Mumbai-based brother Anand.

"Anand had called her around 7.30 pm on October 5. She told him she would be moving out after some time. This is the last known communication she had with anyone," Superintendent of Police (North) Umesh Gaonkar reporters earlier on Sunday.

Gaonkar said the CCTV footage of the building where she stayed was being scanned for clues.

Investigation has revealed that on October 5 afternoon a renowned businessman had seen Ghurde at a coffee shop in Porvorim, located 5 km from her house.

Gaonkar said the coffee shop, owned by a well-known chain, does not have CCTV cameras.

Ghurde had done her photography course from Mumbai's JJ Institute of Applied Arts. She moved to Chennai in 2009 to pursue her interest in perfumes, and shifted to Goa in 2011. She had set up a perfume-making company, Mo Lab.
Mr Nayak said the top priority of the government was to expedite the treatment of those affected at the district headquarters hospital (DHH) in Malkangiri. (Photo: AP)

Odisha: The toll in Japanese Encephalitis (JE) on Sunday mounted to 39 with three more children succumbing to the disease in Odisha's Malkangiri district even as the state government refused to go for immunisation.

At least 39 children have so far died due to the disease and steps were being taken to contain it, a statement issued by the Health and Family Welfare department said, adding that more doctors were being sent to the affected district.

Though the disease has taken an epidemic form with all the kids dying in a span of 30 days, state Health Minister Atanu S Nayak said, "We cannot go for immunisation now as per the directive of the Centre. It has made it clear that immunisation cannot start now in both affected and unaffected areas."

Claiming that the state government had sought permission from the Union Health Ministry to go for immunisation, he said, "It (immunisation) has been counter-productive during the transmission period of the disease. National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme's Director AC Dhariwal has categorically warned against going for immunisation now. This has been counter-productive in Assam and Tripura."

Mr Nayak said the top priority of the government was to expedite the treatment of those affected at the district headquarters hospital (DHH) in Malkangiri.

He said, as per reports received by the Health department, 116 JE and suspected JE patients were treated or are being treated in Malkangiri of whom, 25 have completely recovered and discharged from the hospital.

The remaining 53 children were under treatment and a majority of them were stable, barring three, who have been admitted to the ICU.Nine doctors, sent from the headquarters, are currently camping at Malkangiri to monitor the condition of the patients.Doctors have also been engaged at the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Kalimela.

The minister said the district administration has taken steps to isolate pigs from human habitations.

"One of the notable features is that the awareness level among the people of the affected villages about the disease has gone up substantially as they are now admitting their children to the hospital, instead of taking them to village quacks," he said.

Mr Nayak said JE cases reported from Nilagiri in Balasore district and Brahmagiri in Puri were "isolated" ones. "We have sought status reports from the respective district health officials," he said.

The state Managing Director of National Health Mission (NHM), Shalini Pandit, said, "A state-level control room with six members has been set up to monitor the situation. We have sent all the necessary medicines, equipment, doctors, staff nurses and laboratory technicians."
Ranchi: Five persons of the family of a retired army doctor were found dead at a flat in Kokar area of Ranchi on Sunday afternoon.

According to reports, police said that, prima facie, it seemed to be a case of suicide pact between the family members, who were feeling tortured and threatened by the daughter-in-law of the former Army doctor.

The Army doctor himself was grievously injured after stabbing himself, and his condition is critical, said the reports.

Dr Sukanto Sarkars family was staying in a flat on 10th floor of Rivisera Apartment in Kokar area, which is owned by their relative, Dr S Chaudhary, a popular doctor in the city. Around noon, Chaudhary called up his relatives around noon for a meeting, but no one picked up the call. When Chaudhury reached the house and opened it with a duplicate key, he found five bodies and Sukanto desperately injured.

Four bodies  that of Anjana, Momita and Samita and Sunita  were found on one bed in a room, while that of Sameer Sarkar was found on a bed box in another room, a policeman was quoted as saying.

Suicide notes by all the five victims have been found by the police. All of them have similar messages saying that the torture and mental harassment being faced by them from their daughter-in-law had become too much to bear, and hence they had decided to end their lives.

The police have also recovered a syringe and vial of injection containing a death-causing medicine. Also, a vial of anaesthesia has been recovered. The police have also recovered a blood-stained knife from one of the bathrooms, said reports. Sukanto used the knife to stab himself.

Sukanto and the other family members had submitted a written complaint in Lower Bazar police station area, but the daughter-in-law, who was fighting a custody battle over kids with her husband in a divorce case, had threatened to charge the family with a false case of dowry harassment.

Further probe is on in the matter.
In November 2011, the accused allegedly called her to a hotel in Gandhinagar, saying that a government meeting related to NGOs was going on there. When the women went there, he allegedly raped her. (Representational image)

Bengaluru: A 38-year-old woman has filed a rape case against a BJP leader five years after the alleged incident occurred. The woman, who hails from Chitradurga, filed a private complaint before a city court, which directed the Upparpet police to register an FIR and investigate the case.

The woman, who runs an NGO, has alleged that BJP leader Venkatesh Maurya came in contact with her in 2010 and introduced himself as a BJP leader and a member of the National Executive Council of BJPs SC Morcha.

The duo was in touch and the accused reportedly promised that he would help her get government grants for her NGO.

In November 2011, the accused allegedly called her to a hotel in Gandhinagar, saying that a government meeting related to NGOs was going on there. When the women went there, he allegedly raped her.

Later, he promised to marry her and allegedly took Rs 35 lakh and jewellery from her. Only, a few years later, the woman realised that the accused was married and had two children, as per her complaint, an official said.

Sources said that the couple had a relationship and their financial dispute was what led to the rape complaint now. However, we have registered the FIR and are probing the case. We are gathering evidence and the accused will be arrested once we get clinching evidence, sources said.
Aradhana, a Jain and Class VIII student of St Francis High School, had been forced to fast for 68 days by her parents, family members and elders of her community.

Hyderabad: A case was booked on Sunday at the Market police station following the death of 13-year-old Aradhana Samdariya against her parents and others.

Aradhana, a Jain and Class VIII student of St Francis High School, had been forced to fast for 68 days by her parents, family members and elders of her community.

The case was booked under Section 304 part-II of the IPC that deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder and also under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which deals with wilful neglect of a child by a guardian causing unnecessary mental or physical suffering. Child rights NGO Balala Hakkula Sangham registered the case with the Market police. The hard copy of the complaint was emailed to the city police commissioner. The NGO also appealed to advocates asking them not to provide legal support to Aradhanas parents or the gurus.

Community backs parents, to meet today

When contacted, Aradhanas grandfather Manekchand Samdariya said, Aradhana was not forced to undergo fasting. Her parents are in trauma not just because they lost their child in the tragic incident but also due to wrong allegations being made against them. We have moral support from the Jain community in Hyderabad and are planning on how to take legal recourse.

Mr Prakash Luniya, trustee of Shri Rajas-than Jain Swetambar Murtipujak Sangh, Secunderabad, said, Base-less allegations are being made against not just the parents but the entire community following this very tragic incident; our religion itself has come under attack because of that.

He said a large gathering of elders from the Jain community on Monday will discuss the further course of action. We are with the parents of the girl as we know that they did not force her to take up fasting. She did it on her own, Mr Luniya said.
BENGALURU: The Thalghattapura police on Sunday busted a gang of extortionists and arrested two habitual offenders who posed themselves as journalists with a vernacular TV channel, blackmailed jewellery shop owners across the city and extorted money.

The arrested have been identified as Rudrajith, 26, a resident of Kanakapura Road, and Somashekar, 23, a resident of Jigani. The police also seized fake identity cards, camera and mike from the arrested. The duo had similar cases against them in KS Layout and Mico Layout police stations.

The duo had purchased a gold chain from Mathajii Jewellers and later they approached the owner Bhukaram, who hails from Rajasthan. They complained about the weight of the gold chain and threatened that they will publish the news that the jeweler was selling poor quality jewellery. They told him that they would not go ahead with their news report if he paid them Rs 50,000.

Bhukaram approached the police and filed a case of blackmail and extortion. The police arrested the two and found that similar cases had been registered against them. A case of extortion was registered at the Thalaghattapura police station.
Bengaluru: The alleged murderer of Monika Ghurde, the well-known perfumer from Goa who was found dead on Wednesday, has been caught in Bengaluru. The alleged killer took a selfie standing in front of an apparel shop in Bengaluru and posted it on Facebook on Saturday, alerting the police.

The accused, 22-year-old Rajkumar Singh, alias Rajesh, a security guard at the apartment in Sangolda in North Goa where Ghurde lived, has also made a startling revelation that he raped the 39-year-old perfumer before smothering her to death.

Rajkumar, who hails from Punjab, was on the run after the murder came to light on Thursday morning. He was nabbed in a lodge in Cottonpet on Sunday afternoon in a joint operation by the Goa and Basavanagudi police.

The Goa police was tracking Rajkumars cellphone and Facebook profile. His phone was switched off and also there was no activity on his social networking profile. On Saturday, the police traced that the killer had withdrawn Rs 50,000 cash using Ghurdes debit card in Bengaluru. Around 12.30 pm, he posted a selfie on Facebook and it was clicked before an apparel shop. The Goa police traced these activities to Basavanagudi area and immediately alerted the Bengaluru police, an official said.

The Basavanagudi police swung into action and searched in more than 40 lodges in their jurisdiction and surrounding areas till Saturday night. They were also joined by a Goan police team, which arrived in the city on Saturday evening. On Sunday morning, we got credible information that he had moved towards Cottonpet. The teams were sent and searches were conducted in various lodges in the locality. At one lodge, we got to know that a suspicious person had checked in but he had gone out. We waited for him for over one-and-a-half-hours till he returned. Once he came in, the Goan police confirmed he was the accused going by his appearance and he was caught in the afternoon, the official said.

Sources also revealed that the preliminary questioning of the accused revealed that he had raped Monika Ghurde before smothering her to death. Earlier he was working in Mumbai and had moved to Goa just six months ago. He confessed that he had planned the crime well in advance and had entered her flat late on Wednesday night. He revealed that he tied her hands as she was asleep and raped her, before smothering her using a pillow. Later, he stole her valuables and fled, the official said.

However, it is not yet known whether he had any accomplices in the crime. The Goan police took him to custody and were questioning him further. They will take him to Goa on Sunday night or Monday morning.
The driver had purchased liquor from a roadside wine shop and got drunk before crashing his vehicle. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: Earlier this year, investigation officials from Golconda police station, probing a road mishap case, grilled a truck driver named S. Yadi Reddy. The probe was special for the police because the victims were police personnel.

Twenty three year-old police constable J. Rahul Yadav was killed on the spot and three other constables sustained injuries when the overspeeding truck rammed into their outpost.

The accident scene gave hints to police that the driver was in an inebriated condition. He later confessed that he had purchased liquor from the road side and got drunk before he started driving to his destination at Bandlaguda. He lost control and rammed into the police checkpost at Ramdevguda.

In last Wednesdays Karmanghat accident, in which a pedestrian was seriously injured, the driver had purchased liquor from a roadside wine shop and got drunk before crashing his vehicle.

In police records on drunk driving and road mishaps, a trend found was that many heavy vehicle-drivers were found drinking inside their vehicle after buying liquor from road side shops.

Continuous incidents of drunk drivers causing mishap on roads in city have again exposed the inability of state agencies to implement the Supreme Court guidelines on road safety, which was issued to chief secretary of Telangana state in November 2015.

After Goa, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have the most 'alcohol outlet density' near state highways and nationals highways, according to sources.
The victim said Kumar had been stalking her for two years. On September 24, his sister called her to her house. When she went there, the suspect allegedly raped her (Representational image)

Hyderabad: A minor girl was allegedly raped by one Ajit Kumar, 19, at Chatrinaka. Police said the victim had been lured to the house by the attackers sister, and Kumar had warned the girl against telling anyone.

The Chatrinaka police has booked a case and started a hunt for the suspect.

The victim said Kumar had been stalking her for two years. On September 24, his sister called her to her house. When she went there, the suspect allegedly raped her, said south zone DCP V. Satyanarayana.

The suspect threatened the family to kill victims brother if they go to the police. The family nevertheless approached the police.
New Delhi: After Baloch Republican Party (BRP) founder Brahumdagh Bugtis asylum request to New Delhi , another Baloch nationalist leader of Free Balochistan Movement Hyrbyair Marri may seek asylum in India .

If he does not feel safe in the United Kingdom or if the UK plans to deport him back to Pakistan , Hyrbyair Marri may seek asylum in India , said Balochwarna News editor Faiz M Baluch.

According a report published on the BBC Urdu website last year, Hyrbyair Marri, who is the fifth son of nationalist leader Khair Bakhsh Marri who lives in London, had last year said the Baloch people are not in favour of seeking help from India to gain freedom, reported the Dawn under the heading Will never seek help from India: Hyrbyair Marri on October 10, 2015.

Marri said that he was not seeking assistance from India for his movement: I have never sought help from them, nor will I in the future. He also rejected reports that he travelled to India to start the Free Balochistan Movement.

Hyrbyair Marri  who has been living in self-exile in London since 2000  is alleged to have been leading the banned BLA.

In June last year, an anti-terrorism court in Quetta had indicted Marri and 32 others in the Ziarat Residency bombing case.

This development comes after Bugti last week announced that he would appeal for a political asylum in India .

Earlier, Bugti approached the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva for filing asylum paper.
Chennai: The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu is against the idea of appointing an interim Chief Minister while J Jayalalithaa remains in hospital.

According to reports, the party however is examining the possibility of reallocating the portfolios held by Jayalalithaa.

Currently, the Public Department, IAS, IPS, IFS, General Administration, District Revenue Officers, Police and Home portfolios are held by Jayalalithaa. The CM has been in hospital since September 22.

When governor CH Vidyasagar Rao met cabinet ministers O. Panneerselvam and Edappadi K. Palaniswami and the Chief Secretary on Friday, he discussed the issue of an interim CM, reports said.

Reports added that the two ministers had convinced the Governor that there was no need for installing an interim head of government as the Chief Minister was making a gradual recovery. As long as the Chief Minister is alive, there is no need for the Governors intervention, an AIADMK leader insisted.

The ministers however, agreed to consider the reallocation of the Chief Ministers portfolios to other ministers and sought time to take a decision.

On Saturday, DMK treasurer MK Stalin again visited Jayalalithaa in hospital, and called for an interim CM to be installed until Jayalalithaa made a full recovery.

"Till her return let there be a deputy or an interim chief minister to resolve key issues like the Cauvery dispute. Someone next in the hierarchy can take charge. That's our stand, Stalin was quoted as saying.

Apollo Hospitals latest bulletin says the CM is undergoing treatment for lung congestion, after several medical experts and a UK specialist were flown in to treat her. She is reported to be on respiratory support, but more specific details have not been forthcoming from the hospital.

On Sunday, political leaders, including Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, visited the Apollo Hospital even as special prayers were held for Jayalalithaas good health across Tamil Nadu.

"I pray to the Almighty that she recovers fully and get back to her routine. I am fully confident that she will recover soon," Narayanasamy told reporters after visiting the hospital.

Tamil Maanila Congress chief G K Vasan also visited the hospital where Jayalalithaa is undergoing treatment since September 22. He said she is being given specialised medical care.

He met the director of the hospital and interacted with doctors, state ministers and was told that she is improving.

"Our best wishes to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for a speedy recovery. We wish on behalf of Tamil Maanila Congress that she should resume her work for the people," he said.

CPI leader and Rajya Sabha MP D Raja said he spoke to doctors and AIADMK leaders present at the hospital and expressed his party's wishes for her early recovery.

Meanwhile, special prayers continued at places of worship in the state for Jayalalithaa's speedy recovery.

After observing ritualistic stipulations for days, a massive "milk pot" procession was taken out in Madurai by AIADMK workers and supporters in which a sizable number of women cadres participated.

The procession began from Saravana Poigai tank and culminated at the Subramania Swamy temple in Tiruparankundram where the milk carried in pots was used for worship by them.

State Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar and his party workers participated in the prayers.

Also, yagnas were performed in several temples seeking a healthy and long life for Jayalalithaa in which former State Minister Valarmathi participated.

Similarly, special prayer sessions were organised by Christians at various churches.
Madhubani: Two persons were arrested on Sunday and 160 cartons of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) seized from them in town police station area of Bihar's Madhubani district.

Superintendent of Police Deepak Barnwal said the police raided one Jaihind Sah and seized 135 cartons of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and Rs 3.09 lakh worth of cash from his house located at Laheriaganj locality of the town.

The raid was carried out after the information given by Raj Kumar Yadav, a van driver, who was arrested in the morning with 25 cartons of liquor in his vehicle from the same area, Barnwal said.

Read: Supreme Court stays Patna HC order declaring liquor ban in Bihar unlawful

Both Sah and Yadav have been arrested for possessing and transporting liquor in violation of Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act 2016, the SP said, adding the van has also been seized.

A total of 1,450 litres of foreign liquor were stored in 160 cartons whose value is estimated to be around Rs 30 lakh, Barnwal said. The state government had on Gandhi Jayanti notified the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016 banning manufacture, trade, storage, transportation, possession, sale and consumption of liquor and IMFL through stringent provisions incorporated under the law.

As per the new liquor law, both the persons could attract a minimum 10 years of jail term which may extend to imprisonment for life besides a minimum fine of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
Chhattisgarh government transferred Shiv Anant Tayal after his post on Deendayal Upadhyaya. (Photo: Twitter)

Raipur: The BJP government in Chhattisgarh on Sunday transferred an IAS officer following his comments about the late Jan Sangh leader Deendayal Upadhyaya on a social networking site.

A senior official of the state government said that the officer, Shiv Anant Tayal, who was the CEO of Kanker Zilla Parishad, was transferred to the state Secretariat.

BJP is currently celebrating the birth centenary of Deendayal Upadhyaya.

Mr Tayal, a 2012 batch IAS officer, had posted a critical comment about Upadhyaya's contribution on Facebook on Friday, after which, BJP leaders demanded action against him.

However, he had later expressed regret on the same networking site over his post.

"The government is going to issue him a show-cause notice regarding the Facebook post," the official said.
Chennai: Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday urged people to refrain from spreading rumours about Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's health as she is responding well to the treatment.

"I had a detailed briefing by doctors about the treatment. They told me that she is responding to the treatment, and I am confident that she will be normal and she is improving. It's not fair on the part of anybody to make any speculation or spread any rumours, particularly when the person is undergoing treatment. It is expected by everybody to see that we all maintain balance and also restrain while making comments," Naidu said while visiting the Chief Minister at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai .

He said that he is keeping track of the medical bulletin which is being released regularly by the hospital management. He also expressed hoped that 65-year-old leader would become normal and once again work for the people of Tamil Nadu.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital on September 22 after she complained of fever and dehydration.
Baramulla/New Delhi: Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) suffered maximum damage in the cross-LoC surgical strikes on terror launch pads carried out by Indian army with assessment reports of radio intercepts indicating that around 20 of its militants were killed.

The assessment reports available from Indian army field units that included radio conversations between various Pakistani formations showed maximum damage was inflicted on LeT, a banned terror group, at Dudniyal launch pad in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, opposite to Kupwara sector of North Kashmir, according to sources in the know of details of the recent surgical strikes.

The sources said on Sunday that five teams culled out from the army division in the area were tasked to destroy launch pads of terror groups located at Kail also known as Kel and Dudniyal.

In a well calibrated operation, which started on the intervening night of September 28 and 29, Indian army moved across the LoC and smashed four launch pads that were under the guard of a Pakistani post located 700 metres from the LoC.

The sources said that the terrorists were not expecting an action by the Indian army and therefore were taken by surprise.

The terrorists, mainly belonging to the LeT, were seen running towards the Pakistani post when they were killed by the Indian troops, according to the assessment reports. After the successful strike inside the PoK, an effective

radio monitoring and strict vigil was maintained, the sources said, adding the wireless messages from radio intercepts of Pakistani army indicated that at least 10 LeT terrorists had been been killed during the multiple and near synchronised surgical strikes on four launch pads.

There was heavy movement of Pakistani army vehicles till the break of dawn and all the bodies were cleared off and taken away, the sources said, adding as per the radio intercepts there was a mass burial in the Neelum valley.

Similar blow was dealt to the terrorist launch pads located at Balnoi area opposite of Poonch in which nine people belonging to LeT were killed as per the radio intercepts of Pakistani army, the sources said.

Two Pakistani soldiers belonging to 8 Northern Light Infantry were also killed in the strike in this sector, they said.

However, the sources said that post 8.30 am of September 28, radio and wireless intercepts between various formations of Pakistan have fallen silent.

According to the sources, there were intelligence reports that terrorists were planning to enter into India from various directions in Kashmir as well as Jammu region.

The sources said that the army waited for the opportunity when the terrorists were in the process of gathering at one place before giving them a bloody nose.

Pakistan has contested the claims of the Indian army and said that no surgical strikes carried out along LoC. They only admitted that two of their soldiers were killed in cross border firing.

However, after the operation was over, the sources said, duty officer at the Director General of Military Operation in Pakistan was informed about the strikes carried out by the army in PoK.
BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma asked Mayawati to refrain from speaking on the surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the LoC. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday accused Mayawati of "communalising" the Uttar Pradesh election campaign after she made overtures to Muslims at a rally, and claimed development is the main poll agenda over which people will vote for the saffron outfit as both SP and BSP have failed on this count.

It also attacked the Bahujan Samaj Party supremo over her jibes at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying she was practising low level politics and her comments reflected "mental bankruptcy and frustration" as her support base was shifting away from her while Modi's popularity was rising.

"She is a big zero on the politics of development. Now, she is communalising the state politics. But the poll agenda will remain development on which ruling SP, BSP and Congress have nothing to offer. For development, people will vote for BJP," its National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said.

Read: Stampede at Mayawati rally: 3 die, 25 injured; CM announces compensation

He also asked her to refrain from speaking on the surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the LoC, saying there is a lot of enthusiasm among people over the army's action against terrorism and everybody was praising the soldiers.

Alleging that she is known for her "politics of money" practised in the name of Dalits, Sharma said people rejected her for this reason, besides her arrogance and wrong policies, in 2012 and will do so again in 2017.

He said, instead of questioning Modi's performance, Mayawati and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav should give account of their work and asked the BSP leader to target her "nephew", a reference to Yadav who often addresses her as "bua" (aunty).

"The Modi government will give account of its works in 2019. It has launched more than 80 schemes aimed at the welfare of the poor. The UP government has failed to execute them. In his two-and-a-half years of tenure, the Prime

Minister's credibility has only grown due to his work which has brought India laurels from across the world," he said.

Alleging that minorities were facing bias under the Modi government, BSP Chief Mayawati earlier on Sunday cautioned Muslims that voting for Samajwadi Party or Congress will only help BJP and sought their support "to stop" the saffron party.

Muslims should not waste their vote as there is infighting in Samajwadi Party and Congress lacks a voter base in Uttar Pradesh, she told a rally in Lucknow on the occasion of party founder Kanshi Ram's 10th death anniversary.
Goa: The Goa police, on Saturday, reportedly identified two men suspected to be behind the murder of famous perfumer Monika Ghurde, after they were captured in CCTV footage of an ATM in nearby Porvorim.

According to reports, the Goa police have also sent a special team to Bengaluru in an attempt to narrow down on the two individuals after it came to light that they withdrew money in Bengaluru using the same ATM card.

Following the leads, the police, on Saturday, sent a team of officials to neighbouring Karnataka to nab the accused.

Earlier on the day, post-mortem was also conducted in Goa Medical College and Hospital, which confirmed that she died of smothering.

"The post-mortem report has confirmed that she died due to smothering," Deputy Superintendent of Police Mahesh Gaonkar said.

He said the post-mortem report, however, is not clear on the suspicion of rape, which would be known only after the serological examination.

"The viscera has also been preserved and would be sent for forensic examination ... The post-mortem does not confirm or rule out rape. It is completely silent on that awaiting detailed forensic examination," Gaonkar said.

The 39-year-old photographer-turned perfumer was found dead in her rented flat in posh Sangolda village on October 6.

Police suspect that she was raped and murdered somewhere between October 5 afternoon and night, as she had not been in touch with anyone since that time.

The cops are ruling out robbery as nothing was missing from the flat raising suspicions that the killer might have been known to Monica.

Police revealed that Ghurde originally hailed from Nagpur and was married to a photographer Bharat Ramamrutam from Tamil Nadu and was residing at Porvorim near here before she separated from her husband and shifted to Sangolda this year.

the murder came to light when the maid who came around 9 AM on October 6 found that the door was locked.

When Monica did not open it despite repeated knocks she raised an alarm.

"The maid later informed Monica's brother (Anand, based in Mumbai) who in turn called her husband (Bharat) and then her neighbour, an American woman who had spare keys following which the door was opened and the body was found," police sources said.

The perfumer, who was a regular on Goa's social circuit is said to have met Ramamrutham in Mumbai while she was a photographer. She had done her photography course from Mumbai's JJ Institute of Applied Arts.

Subsequently, she moved to Chennai in 2009 to pursue her interest in perfumes, and later shifted to Goa in 2011. Monika had set up her perfume-making company Mo Lab, and was also researching perfumery.

She collaborated with eminent designers such as Jean Francois Lesage, Christian Louboutin and Anand Kabra.
New Delhi: Expressing concern over the death of two persons in a stampede, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday spoke to Uttar Pradesh DGP Javeed Ahmed and took stock of the situation in Lucknow.

During the telephonic conversation, the Director General of Police apprised the Home Minister of steps taken to help those injured in the incident that took place on Sunday after a massive rally by BSP chief Mayawati.

Singh, who represents Lucknow in the Lok Sabha, expressed his condolences to those who lost their loved ones and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Read: Stampede at Mayawati rally: 3 die, 25 injured; CM announces compensation

"Deeply saddened to know about the loss of precious lives in the stampede during a rally in Lucknow," he said in a statement.

At least two persons died and 12 others were injured in the stampede at the Kanshi Ram Smarak Maidan in Lucknow.

Singh will visit the Uttar Pradesh capital tomorrow and will attend a Ram Leela function there on Tuesday where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest.
Yavatmal: One should not ignore religion as it is the "base of the nation", RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat said on Sunday.

He was speaking at a function to commemorate the birth centenary of late Jan Sangh leader Deendayal Upadhyaya.

Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir was also present on the occasion.

"One should not ignore one's religion as it is the base of a nation and a nation runs on the concept of family and India's concept of family is unique," Mr Bhagwat said, adding that the Indian philosophy and culture spoke volumes about the country's unity in diversity.He said India was among the leading countries of the world a thousand years ago, but was relegated to the tail-end after the foreign rule which followed.

Talking about the farmers' issues, he noted that Mr Upadhyaya had cautioned the government against the use of chemical fertilisers and promoted the use of organic fertilisers.

Expressing concern over the farmer suicides in Vidarbha, Mr Bhagwat said the farmers must get a competitive price for their produces and be encouraged to use all the technologies which were not harmful to the humanity and nature.

"Pandit Deendayal was a selfless person who devoted his life to the service of the last man in the society as without his (the last man's) development, nothing can be claimed as development," the RSS supremo said.
Members of Hindu outfits take a march condemning the murder of a Hindu Munnani spokesperson in Coimbatore. (Photo: DC)

Chennai: Hindu Munnani leader C Sasikumar,who was hacked to death last month, was forewarned by police about the threat to his life and was advised to be careful, police said.

"As early as 2013, we had warned him about the threat to his life. We had asked him to take the threat perception seriously and act accordingly," a senior police official told PTI.

He said police had come to the conclusion only after looking into "several factors" over a "period of time" and such inputs needed to have been taken seriously.

Had Sasikumar been cautious, his murder may have been averted, he added.

On the probe to bring the culprits to book, he said, "The probe is continuing. We are looking into not any one aspect, motive or assumption. The investigation is proceeding on right lines and we are also aware of the sensitivities involved in the case."

The police official also said the slain Hindu Munnani leader should have been careful "while expressing his views on issues, whether the issue is a sensitive one or not," so as to ensure that "nobody is offended."

Some of his comments were "considered offensive" by a section of people, he added.

Asked for his outfit's comments, Hindu Munnani State Secretary, C Parameswaran wanted to why police withdrew the Personal Security Officer provided for Sasikumar's security when it was fully aware that he had a threat to his life.

He said police should do justice to Sasikumar and capture the culprits.

"When leaders of Hindu outfits are killed, police come up with strange motives like personal enmity even before concluding a proper investigation," he alleged.

He said if police had taken appropriate action, "many Hindu leaders" would not have been killed in Tamil Nadu in the last two decades.

'Auditor' V Ramesh, Diabetologist Dr V Arvind Reddy, K Murugan (all BJP), S Vellaiyappan, KP Suresh Kumar (both Hindu Munnani - an RSS affiliate) were some of the leaders of Hindu outfits killed in recent years in Tamil Nadu.

Sasikumar was hacked to death on September 22 in Coimbatore following which incidents of violence were witnessed.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said this year's Vijaya Dashami is "very special" for the country, an apparent reference to the Army's surgical strikes on terror launch pads across LoC, even as he stressed that a "very capable" armed forces is a must for a strong nation.

"We will celebrate Vijaya Dashami in the coming days. This year's Vijaya Dashami is very special for the country," he said, evoking a thunderous applause from the audience at a function at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi.

His remarks came in the backdrop of Indian Army's surgical strikes in PoK. He also gave his best wishes to the people on the occasion of the festival that marks victory of good over evil.

The Prime Minister released a compendium of 15 books on the life and teachings of former Jana Sangh chief Deendayal Upadhyay whose birth centenary year is being celebrated by BJP.

Modi said Upadhyay's biggest contribution was the concept of organisation-based political party and not a political outfit run by a handful of individuals.

Quoting Upadhyay, the Prime Minister stressed on the need for an exceptionally strong military as a prerequisite for a strong nation and said the country must be a capable one which is a present-day requirement.

"He (Upadhyay) used to say that the country's armed forces should be very very capable, then only the nation can be strong," Modi said.

"In this time of competitiveness, the need is that the nation should be capable and strong," he said.

In a veiled reference to Pakistan, Modi said, "Being strong does not mean being against anyone. If we exercise for our strength, then the neighbour need not worry (thinking) that it is to target him. I am exercising to strengthen myself and for my health."

Referring to Upadhyay, he said even Ram Manohar Lohia spoke about the Jana Sangh leader's efforts that led to the evolution of an alternative to Congress in 1967.

The Prime Minister said as a tribute to Upadhyay, who talked of integral humanism, his government was making the poorest of the poor the focus of schemes evolved by it.

"The biggest contribution of Deendayalji is organisation- based political parties and not just a party run by a handful of individuals. This was the identity of Jana Sangh and BJP," he said.

"In a short span of time, one party completed the journey from 'vipaksh' to 'vikalp' and this was due to foundations laid by Deendayalji," he said, adding that simplicity was the hallmark of the former Jana Sangh leader.

Lauding the ideology of Upadhyay, Modi said he gave impetus to 'karyakarta nirman' (building party workers) and the workers inspired by him were party centric and the party nation centric.

He said at the core of Upadhyay's thoughts were the poor, the villages, the farmers, the Dalits and the marginalised and that is why this government is laying focus on such sections during the centenary year celebration.

"The poor is the central point of Panditji's entire thinking. He used to say that the poor should be the central point of every thing. That is why in this journey towards development, our government is focussing on the poor and to help empower it.

"This government is celebrating Panditji's centenary as 'gareeb kalyan varsh'. Because of that government decisions focus on the poor and poor-centric schemes and policies are evolved. I am confident that there will be no shortcoming in this journey," he said.

BJP President Amit Shah and RSS' second-in-command Suresh Bhayyaji Joshi spoke on the need for strengthening India's security with Joshi saying that India's pursuit for national security was inspired by the need to defend itself rather than to defeat others.
Lucknow: BSP president Mayawati, on Sunday, categorically asked Muslims not to vote for either the Samajwadi Party or the Congress as this would only help the BJP. She said that if they wanted to stop the BJP, they should vote for the BSP.

There is infighting in the Samajwadi Party and the Congress lacks a base. If Muslims vote for these parties, they will be wasting their votes. It is the BSP alone that can stop the BJP from coming to power, she claimed. Her statement clearly indicates that the BSP is apprehensive of its position in the upcoming Assembly polls and wants Muslim support at all costs.
Hubballi: A tussle has erupted between Hindu and Muslim students over wearing the burqa in many degree colleges in Haveri district, raising panic among lecturers and management of the educational institutions.

The tension over wearing burqa has spread to many parts of the district though it was confined earlier to Dakshina Kannada.

The students of both communities have begun to use the college campus to show their strength with one faction of girls wearing burqas and the other wearing saffron scarves.

Sri Kumareshwar Arts and Commerce College in Hangal has made uniforms compulsory for students. The college authorities claimed that they adopted the practice to ensure unity and discipline among students. Initially, students of all communities followed the system.

As years passed, many Muslim students began to arrive in the college in burqa and attempts made by lecturers to dissuade them did not yield positive results. This prompted Hindu students to attend classes wearing saffron scarves.

The tussle over wearing burqa was confined only to the government degree college in Hangal. Now, it has spread to several colleges in the district. I have written to the government seeking some clarification over the uniform

and demanding the intervention of higher officials for settlement of the row, college principal S.V. Somanath said.

District in-charge minister Manohar Tahasildar hekd a peace committee meeting between students of both communities. But, the imbroglio continues as both groups have made it a prestige issue. Many students have boycotted classes opposing the burqa. Meanwhile, Muslim students are maintaining that burqa is part of their religious identity.

We are not associated with any Hindu organization. The college authorities have taken a written undertaking from us to adhere to the college uniform during admissions. Therefore, the uniforms introduced should be applicable to all irrespective of their caste and creed. We are objecting because the uniforms will not be visible if girls wear burqa. Will the management keep quiet if we wear some other coloured dress over our uniform?, Mahesh R.B., a student said.
The body was discovered by her servant on Sunday morning who then informed the police. (Representational image)

Lucknow: The body of a woman judicial magistrate, Pratibha Gautam, was found in her house in Kanpur under mysterious circumstances on Sunday.

The body was discovered by her servant on Sunday morning who then informed the police. The body, which does not bear any injury marks, has been sent for post mortem.

The deceased, posted in Kanpur Dehat, was living in her official residence in the Circuit House Colony. According to neighbours, Pratibha Gautam had got married to Abhishek about four months ago and was now pregnant. Her husband, a lawyer in Delhi High Court, was not present in the house at the time of the incident.

The police have informed her relatives and forensic experts have been called in for further investigations. Police officials refused to comment on the possible reasons for the death until the post mortem report came in.
Chennai: The Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin on Friday demanded that one of the ministers should take over the responsibility of Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to take decisions on key issues like the Cauvery dispute.

A Chief Minister-in-charge, deputy Chief Minister or any of the ministers should take over Jayalalithaas responsibility, he said speaking to mediapersons at Thanjavur where he led a fast against the centre on the Cauvery issue.

Answering a question over the possibility of appointment of a deputy Chief Minister, he said Several kinds of reports are coming. I dont want to politicise them.

Initially, it was said the ailment of the Chief Minister is ordinary. But, yesterdays medical bulletin shows that she is undergoing major treatment and should stay in hospital for a long time. I wish that Chief Minister should recover. The sentiments of our leader Karunanidhi is also the same.
Around three years ago Ram passed away and Manjula was finding it difficult to run the household. She hanged herself from the ceiling with the help of a saree. (Representational image)

Bengaluru: A 40-year-old woman allegedly committed suicide at her residence in Hegganahalli in Rajagopalanagar police station limits on Friday night.

According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Manjula, wife of Ram and a mother of four. She reportedly took the extreme step owing to poor financial condition.

Investigations revealed that Manjula got married to Ram, a dhobi, around 25 years ago. Around three years ago Ram passed away and Manjula was finding it difficult to run the household. She hanged herself from the ceiling with the help of a saree.

The incident came to light when her eldest son went to check on her. He raised an alarm, following which the neighbours rushed to the spot and police was informed. No death note was found at the spot. Rajagopalanagar police have shifted the body for post-mortem and registered a case of unnatural death.

Woman falls, injured

In another incident, a 21-year-old woman accidentally fell from the third floor of a residential building in Narsimha Layout in Rajagopalanagar police station limits early Saturday.

According to the police, the injured woman has been identified as Divya. Police said the incident took place around 7 am when Divya had gone to dry clothes on the terrace. She suddenly felt dizzy following which she tripped and accidentally fell from the third floor.

The incident came to light after the security guard noticed her and informed the police, who rushed her to FortisHospital. The doctors said Divya has slipped into coma.
Chennai: The city police on Saturday booked the management of SRM Nightingale Matriculation Higher Secondary School on charges of causing death due to negligence in connection with the Friday incident of a class 4 girl student leaping to death from the terrace of the four-storey school building.

However, none was arrested since the investigations are underway to determine the cause of suicide and to establish the liability of the school. Two notes purportedly written by the deceased, Loga Mithra, (9), were recovered by the Ashok Nagar Police.

She jumped off terrace of the school building.

 Three sentences, I love you mummy, I cried mummy and It is an (on) school, figured in one of the notes. The other note was more like a thank you note to all her friends, scribbled in large fonts. These were the last two things the girl had written before she left the classroom, said a senior police officer privy to the investigation.

DC has access to the purported notes. Preliminary investigations revealed that the school which usually kept the terrace door closed had left it open for maintenance work on Friday. The workers had left for lunch leaving the door open unaware of the danger.

Had they closed the door, the child wouldnt have had access to the terrace, and the whole incident could have been averted. It is the liability of the school to ensure the students safety. Therefore, we have invoked section 304A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), observed a senior police officer.

Sources said Loga Mithra and her two classmates, used the restroom on third floor at around 2.30 pm on Friday. Though the other two girls suggested Loga Mithra that they go to their classroom located on the same floor, she had told them that she needed sometime alone before returning to the class.

She went to the terrace and scaled the 1.5 ft parapet wall, and leaped down. Her fall was stalled by a tree but soon the branch she was clinging on to snapped under her weight. She was admitted to SIMS Hospital, Vadapalani, where she succumbed to the injuries at around 8.30 pm.

T. Nagar DCP P. Saravanan and Ashok Nagar ACP G. Harikumar conducted spot investigations. Chennai district Chief Educational Officer A. Anitha and inspector of matriculation schools Manoharan too inspected the school after the incident.

The school management has reportedly told the officials that the girl accidentally had fallen from the fourth floor. Sources in the school education department said the department inquiry would continue with the teachers and other staff.
Apart from beautification of station premises, drives on garbage handling and disposal, inspections by senior officials and interaction with passengers were held.

Chennai: In the weeklong cleanliness (Swachchta) drive organised during the last week of September, 323 defaulters in Chennai division were fined for defacing property by littering and spitting, earning the divisional railways Rs 71,000.

During the Cleanliness Week from September 17 to 25, all defaulters were fined Rs 100-500 for various offences.

Apart from beautification of station premises, drives on garbage handling and disposal, inspections by senior officials and interaction with passengers were held.

We provided dustbins, and an intensive drive was undertaken on all the days in various forms. For spitting and littering station premises people were fined, said a senior Southern Railway official.

We have periodic interactions with slum dwellers where they are advised against open defecation, said another official.
The BMC has warned resident of Marine Drive to clean the poops of their pets from the promenade or pay a fine of Rs. 500. (Photo: AFP/Representational)

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has warned the people residing near Marine Drive to clean the excrement of their pets from the promenade or pay a fine of Rs. 500.

According to reports, the BMC has decided to deploy clean-up marshals along the 3.5-km stretch of Marine Drive promenade from 7am to 10 am and 4 pm to 7 pm.

Initially, the marshals would create awareness among the pet owners in the area. They would ask the pet owners to not let them to poop on the promenade. But if it does, the owner would have to clean it up.

The BMC would impose the fine only if people do not abide by the instructions despite warnings and leave behind their pets poops on the promenade.

The BMC took the initiative after locals complained about spotting pet poop at several places on the promenade when they jog.

Pet owners and some Marine Drive residents have welcomed the move.
One of the girls, who had seen a Kannada television serial where a runaway girl faced a similar problem, called her uncle around 10 pm on Friday from a mobile phone borrowed from one of the local residents. (Representational image)

Hubballi: Fifteen-year-old girl Umashree Madar, who had run away with her three friends from Arekurahatti village in Navalgund taluk, was traced in Goa and was brought back on Saturday.

The girls were handed over to their parents after counselling by an NGO.

Umashree, a ninth standard student at the government high school in the village, got angry and ran away after her grandmother scolded her for ignoring her studies. Three other girls, who accompanied her, are in the eighth standard in the same school.

Umashree complained to her three friends that her grandmother pestered her to study harder. One of her friends Laxmi Madar advised her to run away to Goa, find a job and live a happier life. Laxmi also agreed to accompany Umashree and two other friends, Kaveri Byahatti and Sangeetha Kambali.

On Friday morning, they told their parents that they were going to the school to attend a programme. Umashree had also taken away Rs 900 kept at home by her father  a KSRTC driver. All the four reached the Hubballi bus stand, and from there took a bus to Margao by paying a fare of Rs 660.

Once in Margao, they asked around with Kannada speaking people about finding jobs. Someone directed them to the Bhoothnath temple nearby. But when they did not find anything to do for a long time, the girls, left with only `250 in their pockets, panicked.

One of the girls, who had seen a Kannada television serial where a runaway girl faced a similar problem, called her uncle around 10 pm on Friday from a mobile phone borrowed from one of the local residents. As they were all scared that they would be taken to task by their parents, the girl concocted a story that they were kidnapped by some men. The police were alerted and the girls were traced within 24 hours.

The girls are good friends and they played and ate together at school. One of the girls ran away from home with her friends after she was scolded by her grandmother. The high school headmaster filed a missing complaint on Friday night at the Navalgund police station. We counseled the parents as the girls are very sensitive, said Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Kumar Meena.
New Delhi: With constant sabre-rattling and jingoism from the other side of the border, India is reportedly bracing itself for a major state sponsored terror strike backed by Pakistan.

According to reports, India will keep a close watch on Pak for two decisive factors.

First, if Pakistan is willing to cross the Uri threshold- something that observers believe would help understand the strategy employed by terrorists. Understanding if the militants plan to fly low and inflict small but frequent casualties, or plan for major strikes, can help the intelligence counter their strategy effectively.

The second factor being the tenure of Pak army chief General Raheel Shariff. The report assesses that if Shariffs tenure is extended beyond November, then Pakistan is, beyond suspicion, preparing for heightened conflict with India.

Pakistan was caught off-guard by the Indian Army, who crossed over into PoK, and raided several terror launch pads along the LoC, killing several militants preparing to cross infiltrate into the Indian border.

Pakistan has consistently denied that the attacks took place at all, claiming instead that the Indian forces opened fire on the Pakistani posts, violating the ceasefire agreement.

Pointing out that India and Pakistan had become embroiled in a circle of attacks and diplomatic talks, the report added that the surgical strikes set tone for a new order of things between the countries, with India clearly signalling to Pakistan that arms will be dealt with arms, and that the LoC was no longer sacro sanct.

Though Pak forces strengthened its post in preparation for an assault in response to Uri attack, Pak forces were reportedly in for a shock with Indias speed and surprise tactics.

The report concluded that India was setting the tone for the new normal in its dealings with Pakistan.
The Chief Minister said that the objective of reorganising the districts was to ensure that the government reached out to everyone.

Warangal: The total number of districts in all probability would be 31. A final decision in this regard will be taken during an emergency Cabinet meet called on Monday, said Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.

Speaking to the media at the residence of Capt. V. Lakshmikantha Rao on Sunday, the Chief Minister said that the objective of reorganising the districts was to ensure that the government reached out to everyone.

He said by ensuring that there were about two to four lakh families in each district, government schemes would reach the beneficiaries.

Whenever the government comes up with welfare schemes, middlemen sprout everywhere to mislead the people. We can prevent this in smaller districts as the collector will have details of the status of each family on the computer. Many countries like Switzerland were able to achieve good development because they have smaller populations. We need to take inspiration from them, he said.

Mr Rao added that development in each district should not be restricted to the district headquarters alone.

For example, if a medical college is sanctioned to Bhupalapalli district, it is not necessary to construct it in Bhupalapalli, it can be constructed in Mulugu. In this way, local representatives must plan balanced development of each district, he explained.

According to current proposals, 19 of the proposed districts will have populations between five and nine lakh and six with more than 10 lakh and less than 15 lakh people. Five districts have populations ranging from 15 lakh to 30 lakh. Hyderabad district will have the highest population of 39,43,323.
In a high-profile announcement on Friday, Union home minister Rajnath Singh said that it was his target to seal the India-Pakistan border by 2018. It is hard to make any sense of this. The home ministers announcement came at the end of a meeting in Jaipur of CMs and officials from J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat, the four states that have sections of the nearly nearly 2,300 kilometres long international boundary (IB) that separates India and Pakistan. Border management is tasked to the Union home ministry. However, the project that Mr Singh refers to is not new. In fact, more than 90 per cent of the IB is already sealed, and the process has been going on for years. A fencing already exists across large stretches. Where this is not feasible, as in the marshes of the Rann of Kutch or in the shifting sand dunes of Rajasthan, technology is being brought in.

Perhaps the Union home ministry under Mr Singh can help expedite this process so that the entire IB is covered through lasers, sensor, and high-performance cameras. Physical and security infrastructure such as road networks in the border areas, well-maintained intelligence networks, and effective policing are also crucial to sound border management. Improving the set-up is whats needed. It may be noted that the IB is separate from the Line of Control, the notional boundary between the two countries that runs through Ladakh, Kashmir Valley and parts of the Jammu region that abut the Valley. It is the defence ministry which is charged with ensuring peace on the LoC, and Mr Singh has no role here.

Given the hostile mountainous terrain which is snow-bound for parts of the year, sealing the LoC is not feasible. But even if it were, politically this may not be a sound idea. Across the LoC is Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which is claimed by India and was endorsed by a parliamentary resolution of 1993. How can we then seal the LoC? Doing so would amount to rescinding our claim on PoK. Nevertheless, points of infiltration by terrorists sent across from Pakistan must be carefully guarded. This could always be improved, of course. It is the Uttar Pradesh politician in Mr Singh that is perhaps speaking when he speaks of sealing the border. After the surgical strike, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defence minister Manohar Parrikar have featured on BJPs hoardings across UP. Perhaps the home minister would also like a mention as a no-nonsense guardian of Indias security.
Representatives from the South Korean company have stated that until they retrieve that particular device, they will be unable to confirm whether the Note 7 was directly involved in the incident. (Representational Image)

After reported incidents of Galaxy Note 7(s) exploding all over the world, Samsung had went into damage control mode and started a massive recall of the Note 7 from consumers across the globe.

However, in recent incidents, the recall was proceeding as planned until this week when a Note 7, allegedly belonging to a replacement batch, caused evacuation on a Southwest flight.

Representatives from the South Korean company have stated that until they retrieve that particular device, they will be unable to confirm whether the Note 7 was directly involved in the incident.

The company has issued a second statement on the matter stating that, Samsung understands the concern our carriers and consumers must be feeling after recent reports have raised questions about our newly released replacement Note 7 devices. They further stated, We will continue to move quickly to investigate the reported case to determine the cause and will share findings as soon as possible.

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The Nokia D1C is expected to come equipped with a full HD display along with octa-core snapdragon 430 SoC.

Nokias expected smartphone, D1C was recently spotted on the GeekBench website. The same smartphone has now been found to be listed on another bench-marking website, AnTuTu.

The Nokia D1C is expected to come equipped with a full HD display along with octa-core snapdragon 430 SoC. The smartphone will be powered with Adreno 505 GPU and will consist of 3GB RAM and up to 32GB of internal storage.

The device will be running the latest Android 7.0 Marshmallow and as per the listing presented on the AnTuTu website, the smartphone will feature a 13MP rear camera along with an 8MP front camera.

Nokia has yet to make an official statement regarding the launch of their latest smartphone. Stay tuned for more updates.

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The aid group Doctors Without Borders scrambled teams by helicopter to southern Haiti to respond to Cholera cases.

Port-au-Prince: Cholera outbreaks have killed at least 13 people in southwest Haiti in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, government officials said on Saturday, voicing concern that the disease was spreading.

Six people died of Cholera in a hospital in the southern town of Randel, while another seven died in the western coastal town of Anse-dAinault, the officials said, likely as flood waters mixed with sewage.

Cholera causes severe diarrhea and can kill within hours if untreated. It is spread through contaminated water and has a short incubation period, which leads to rapid outbreaks.

Hurricane Matthew left almost 900 people dead in Haiti and caused major flooding and loss of livestock.

It slammed into South Carolina on Saturday, after skirting the Atlantic coast of Florida and Georgia, causing widespread power outages and flooding.

Dr Donald Francois, head of the Haitian health ministrys cholera program, said 62 others were sick with Cholera as a result of the storm.

"We are concerned about these new outbreaks of Cholera we are seeing in new districts," he told Reuters. "The situation is particularly difficult in Randel and (nearby) Port-a-Piment."

"I am on my way to the south region to assess the situation and ensure all the necessary measures are in place," he said, adding that he had heard unconfirmed reports that as many as 50 people may have died from Cholera in southern Haiti.

The aid group Doctors Without Borders scrambled teams by helicopter to southern Haiti to respond to Cholera cases.

Before the hurricane struck, the Central Emergency Response Fund released a loan of $8 million to UNICEF, the United Nations Childrens' Fund, to ramp up the response to a worsening Cholera epidemic in Haiti.

"In 2016 almost 27,000 Cholera cases have been reported in Haiti, and over 240 people have died. Hurricane Matthew is feared to significantly worsen the situation and increase the risk of a larger outbreak," CERF said in a statement on Friday.
Trump sought to do damage control early on Saturday morning in a hastily recorded apology, declaring himself a changed man and attempting to shift the focus to his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton. (Photo: AFP)

Washington: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump vowed on Saturday to remain in the race after prominent members of his party withdrew their support and called for him to drop out following news of a recording of him making lewd comments about women .

Trump sought to do damage control early on Saturday morning in a hastily recorded apology, declaring himself a changed man and attempting to shift the focus to his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton. Trump threatened, again, to focus his attacks on the infidelities of former President Bill Clinton, saying he would talk more about the pasts of both Clintons in coming day. Trump has dismissed questions about his own martial infidelities as irrelevant.

Trump told the Wall Street Journal on Saturday morning zero chance Ill quit.

Three Republican members of the Senate publicly announced they will not vote for Trump and former rival Carly Fiorina called on him to withdraw.

There is no precedent for a major party to replace their nominee this late in the campaign and it remains unclear if there is an avenue to force him from the race. Voting has already begun in several states, including the important swing states of Virginia and North Carolina.

Disclosure of a 2005 video of Trump talking on an open microphone showed the then-reality TV star speaking openly about groping women and trying to seduce a married woman. The video was taped months after Trump married his third wife, Melania.

Trump took to Twitter on Saturday morning, seeming to make light of the controversy by posting on the online social media website Certainly has been an interesting 24 hours!

Trump has struggled to win over women voters, lagging Clinton in the polls. Democrats have sought to highlight past Trump behavior toward women in an effort to erode his support with less than a month to go until the Nov. 8 election.

Anyone who knows me knows these words dont reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize, Trump said in his video statement, posted on his Facebook page.

The video overshadowed the publication of excerpts of Clintons closed-door paid speeches that were made public on Friday by a hacker who claimed to have obtained them from the email account of John Podesta, the chairman of the Democrats campaign. In the speeches, Clinton advocates for more open borders and trade, a position she abandoned during the primary because it was politically untenable to Democratic progressives. Likewise, Trump has repeatedly criticized her for past support of free trade.

The video landed just ahead of the second presidential debate on Sunday night, which had been seen as critical for Trump to try to rebound from a dip in some opinion polls after a rocky performance in the first debate.

Comments condemned

Trumps comments aired in a near-constant loop on US news programs on Friday.

I did try and f*** her. She was married, Trump said about one woman, before discussing his attraction to others.

I just start kissing them, he said. And when youre a star they let you do it.

Grab them by the p***y. You can do anything, Trump said.

The video opened deep divisions within the Republican Party about how to respond, with a stream of Republican leaders condemning the remarks and some withdrawing their support for Trump.

US Representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah, who has been one of Clintons fiercest critics, said he had retracted his endorsement of Trump, telling CNN he would not be able to look his 15-year-old daughter in the eye if he voted for Trump.

Martha Roby, a Republican member of Congress from the conservative state of Alabama, announced she would not be voting for Trump.

Donald Trumps behavior makes him unacceptable as a candidate for president, and I wont vote for him, she said in a statement. Hillary Clinton must not be president, but, with Trump leading the ticket, she will be.

Utahs Republican Governor Gary Herbert said on Twitter he would also no longer vote for Trump. Tonight, millions of Republicans are facing a moment of truth, Herbert said.

Republican lawmaker Mike Coffman from Colorado told CBS that Trump should step aside and said his defeat at this point seems almost certain.

Other prominent Republicans indicated they would stick with their support of Trump. Ralph Reed, head of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, and Tony Perkins, head of the conservative Family Research Council, both told news outlets they will continue to support Trump.

Conservatives point to the fact that the winner of the November election will get to appoint a Supreme Court justice as reason to stick with Trump despite the controversial video. Greg Mueller, a conservative Republican strategist, pointed to Clintons views on abortion as a reason religious voters will stick with Trump.

Nothing indefensible that Donald Trump said 20 years ago is going to change that, he said. Plus, to many religious voters, Mrs. Clinton is the epitome of a corrupt politician.

Representative Jack Kingston, a Republican from Georgia, argued that Trump has changed in the decade since the video was filmed.

I think 10 years ago he was a different man than he is today, I am very glad that he quickly apologized, Kingston said.

Trump, known for his unconventional and controversial speaking style, has made a series of gaffes in his campaign but the graphic nature of the clip would hurt his standing among women, independents, and wavering Republicans, said David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University.

Weve never seen something like this Trump clip in a modern presidential campaign, Yepsen said, calling the incident sad for the American political system and for Trumps supporters.

Republican strategist Ron Bonjean said this feels like it is quickly becoming a political game over for Trump.

Unless voters dont care about these issues or believe that this is simply political dirty tricks by releasing the videos now, Trump is going to have to pull a rabbit out of his hat in order to turn things around, Bonjean said.
United Nations: India has hit back at Pakistan for again raising the Kashmir issue at the United Nations, terming the country as a flyby-night operator saying Islamabad flagrantly misuses the forum of the world body for its territorial aggrandisement.

Exercising the Right of Reply, minister in Indias Permanent Mission to the UN, Srinivas Prasad, strongly rejected remarks made by Pakistans envoy to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi , in which she had said that the non-implementation of UN Security Council resolutions for a plebiscite in Kashmir is the most persistent failure of the UN.

We are constrained to take the floor to exercise our Right of Reply because we have just heard one country  Pakistan  make reference to the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir in a rather self-serving and disingenuous attempt to bring an extraneous issue to this committee, Prasad said during the General Debate of the Special Political and Decolonisation Committee on Saturday.

Rejecting Lodhis comments entirely, Prasad said Pakistan, acting like a flyby-night operator, has attempted to flagrantly misuse the forum provided by the Committee for its territorial aggrandisement.

He asserted that Kashmir is not on the agenda of the committee, which is focussed on decolonisation and non-self governing territories.

Lodhi raking up the Kashmir issue in the committee that focuses on decolonisation reflects yet another failed attempt to bring the issue on the agenda of this Committee, he said.

The issue is rightly not on the agenda of the Committee which looks after the non-self governing territories, Prasad said adding Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.

He said Pakistan will be well advised not to disrespect the intelligence of the Committee and abide by its agenda.

Raising the Kashmir issue again at the UN, Lodhi had said the decolonisation agenda of the UN will remain incomplete without resolution of the Kashmir dispute, which is among the oldest items on the UNs agenda.

She claimed for over six decades, the UN Security Council resolutions promising a plebiscite under UN auspices to allow the Kashmiri people to determine their destiny, have not been implemented.

This is the most persistent failure of the United Nations, she said adding that generation after generation of Kashmiris has only seen broken promises and brutal oppression.

Claiming that Jammu and Kashmir never was and can never be an integral part of India, she said it is a disputed territory, the final status of which has yet to be determined in accordance with resolutions of the UN Security Council.
School going children were responsible for at least 42.6 percent of the total sexual assault offences in Queensland, Australia. (Representational image)

Brisbane: A mother has claimed that her four-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted by a nine-year-old boy who lived in their neighbourhood in Queensland, Australia.

According to a report by The Courier Mail, the boy was caught sexually assaulting the girl by his father in July.

(The boy) admitted to trying to put his doodle in her, and said (my daughter) had wanted to go but he wouldnt let her leave, the mother said. She said that her daughter has been having nightmares ever since and has become clingy.

The boy received behavioural counselling as children below 10 years are not charged with criminal offences in Australia.

Meanwhile, the mother of the minor victim has planned to move to another locality.

The incident is an example of a revelation made by the Australian Bureau of Statistics is a data, which suggests school going children were responsible for at least 42.6 percent of the total sexual assault offences in Queensland.

According another report in The Courier Mail, the data revealed that 955 of the 2,244 sexual assault offenders were aged 19 and below. The data were based on police reports in 2015 till June. At least 770 young offenders last year were aged between 10 and 14.

The number of sexual offences committed by young children has increased twice in five years since 2011.

In the last 10 years the kinds of things we are seeing is a huge increase in rape, a huge increase in object penetration, an increase in more than one person being present, and an increase in the filming or recording of those acts, Di Macleod, Director at Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Assault, said.

The rise in the number of young sexual offenders has been blamed on children having easy access to violent pornographic content. According to Child psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg, children as young as 11 are watching pornography.
A car bomb blast by Kurdistan Workers' Party outside a military checkpoint in southeast Turkey killed 10 soldiers and eight civilians. (Photo: AP/Representational)

Istanbul: Kurdish militants detonated a car bomb Sunday outside a military checkpoint in southeast Turkey, killing 10 soldiers and eight civilians, the prime minister said. Turkey immediately launched a military operation against the rebels in response.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim gave the death toll during a press conference in Istanbul and condemned the attack.

"For the stability of our country, we will continue doing everything we can to save our homeland and our nation from the forces of terrorism," he said.

Cuneyit Orhan Toprak, governor of Hakkari province where the attack took place, told that private news channel NTV that 27 others wounded in the attack were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Eleven of them were soldiers, the Turkish military said.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency, citing a statement by the Turkish Armed Forces, said the attack occurred at 9:45 am outside a Gendarmerie checkpoint on the Semdinli-Yuksekova highway and was the work of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. The checkpoint is 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the town of Semdinli.

Toprak said the attackers first opened fire on the soldiers at the checkpoint to distract them before driving up a minivan containing about 5 tons of explosives and detonating it. The explosion produced a crater 15 meters (50 feet) wide and 7 meters (23 feet) deep. An infantry station located behind the checkpoint also suffered heavy damage.

Turkish authorities imposed a temporary blackout on coverage of the attack, citing public order and national security reasons.

Energy Minister Berat Albayrak condemned the attack during a speech in Istanbul.

"I would like to remind all friendly countries that there is great need to take a common stance and display solidarity against terrorism," he said.

Turkey has been rocked by a wave of bomb attacks since last summer that have killed hundreds of people and been blamed on either the PKK or the Islamic State group.

Fighting between the PKK and the state security forces resumed last year after the collapse of a fragile 2 ?-year cease-fire. Since then, more than 600 Turkish security personnel and thousands of PKK militants have been killed in clashes, according to the Anadolu Agency.

Rights groups say hundreds of civilians have also been killed in the fighting.
Vilnius, Lithuania: Russia is again deploying nuclear-capable Iskander missiles into its Kaliningrad outpost that borders two NATO members, Lithuania said on Sunday, warning the move was aimed at pressuring the West into making concessions over Syria and Ukraine.

Poland also reacted angrily to Moscow's move while Lithuania added that it could breach the key nuclear weapons treaty.

"Russia is holding military exercises in Kaliningrad, and its scenario includes deployment of Iskander missile systems and the possible use of them. We are aware of it," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told AFP.

He said modified Iskander missiles had a range of up to 700 km which means they could reach the German capital Berlin from the Russian exclave, which is sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania.

Linkevicius said that this time he thought Moscow was using the move to "seek concessions from the West".

Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz today called Russia's "activities very alarming".

Lithuania meanwhile said the Iskander deployment could breach the international nuclear arms treaty.

"Such actions are possible violations of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Russia's defence ministry today confirmed deployment of the Iskander hardware but dismissed Western concerns, saying that "contingents of missile troops have been moved many times and will continue to be moved to Kaliningrad region as part of a Russian armed forces training plan."

Kaliningrad is "not an exception" to drills conducted across the country, spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in an emailed statement.

Estonian media reported on Friday that Russia was shipping Iskanders on a civilian vessel in the Baltic sea.

Konashenkov said that one Iskander was placed in the open to "confirm the parameters of operation" of a US intelligence satellite he alleged was flying overhead.

Moscow sent Iskanders to Kaliningrad in 2015 as part of a series of mammoth military drills as tensions with the West reached their worst point since the Cold War, triggered by Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and its military campaign in Syria a year later.

The United States on Friday called for Russia and Syria to be investigated for war crimes for the bombing of hospitals in Aleppo, and accused Moscow of trying to "interfere" with the American presidential election.

Judy Dempsey, a Senior Associate at Carnegie Europe, told AFP Saturday that Moscow's latest Iskander deployment to Kaliningrad is "a way to divide the West" just weeks before the US presidential election.

"These types of moves by Russia are making the Europeans and the US nervous. Putin is pressing all the buttons," Dempsey said.

"Tensions over Iskander have been going on for seven years. It's a very tried way to pressure the West.

"The latest events in Kaliningrad are a way to intimidate the Baltics and Poland," she added.

"They cause higher tension in the region, reduce trust, and have a negative impact on security in the region."

Michal Baranowski, Warsaw office director of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, said the Iskander deployment is "obviously an openly aggressive move, but it isn't something that would require an immediate response from NATO -- it fits the previous pattern."

"I would be much more worried if Moscow were to deploy greater conventional forces to Kaliningrad," he told AFP Saturday.

Vilnius University analyst Laurynas Jonavicius however warned the sabre-rattling by "revisionist Russia" raises the risk of incidents in the Baltic region which could spark a major crisis.

Meanwhile, Lithuanian intelligence warned earlier this year that Iskanders deployed in Kaliningrad "may be used for hindering the actions of NATO's allied forces in the region".

Since the start of the Ukraine crisis in 2014, Russia has flexed its muscles with a series of war games involving tens of thousands of troops in areas bordering NATO Baltic states.

NATO responded by agreeing to deploy four battalions in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as of next year to bolster its eastern flank.
A Syrian man holding a girl as he stands on the rubble of houses that were destroyed by Syrian government forces air strikes in Aleppo, Syria. (Photo: AP)

Moscow: Russia on Saturday vetoed a United Nations draft resolution demanding an end to the bombing of Syrias war-battered city of Aleppo, despite an appeal from France to save the city from destruction.

It was the fifth time that Moscow used its veto to block UN action to end the five-year war in Syria, which has claimed 300,000 lives.

The draft text presented by France won 11 votes in favour in the 15-member Security Council, but there were two votes against  including Russia  and two abstentions, notably from veto-holder China.

French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault urged the council to take immediate action to save Aleppo from being destroyed by the Russia-backed Syrian bombing campaign.

As the vote got under way, the Syrian regime pressed its assault on rebel-held areas of Aleppo, where 125,000 people are living under siege and facing almost-daily heavy bombing.

The council must demand immediate action in order to save Aleppo, Ayrault said ahead of the vote.

Russia has presented its own rival draft text that urges a ceasefire but does not make any mention of halting the bombing campaign.

Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin said he expected that measure also to fail.

What is at stake today is first and foremost the fate of Aleppo and its people, Ayrault told the council.



But its more than that  its the hope of establishing at last an end to a conflict for which we are all, all of us, paying the catastrophic consequences.

In a message directed at Russia, Ayrault said any country that opposes the French measure will give Bashar al-Assad the possibility of killing even more.

Russia and Venezuela voted against the French text, while China and Angola abstained.

The Syrian and Russian bombing campaign has escalated since the Russian-backed Syrian army launched an offensive to retake the city on September 22.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that the mounting tensions between Washington and Moscow over the conflict had created a situation more dangerous than the Cold War.

Syrian army advancing

US Secretary of State John Kerry made clear his anger at the Syrian armys Russian-backed onslaught in the battleground second city, saying that its bombing of civilians could amount to a war crime.

Its ally Damascus has made significant advances in its renewed two-week-old offensive in Aleppo, seizing territory to the north and pushing back the front line in the city center which had remained largely static since the rebels captured eastern districts in 2012.

But it has come at a heavy human cost.

Since the regime offensive began a few days after a US- and Russian-brokered ceasefire collapsed, at least 290 people  mostly civilians  have been killed in rebel-held areas, 57 them children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.



And 50 civilians including nine children have been killed in rebel shelling on regime-held areas of the city, according to the Britain-based monitoring group, which relies on a network of sources on the ground.

It said government forces were making further advances on Saturday ahead of the Security Council session.

The battle is unfolding in the center, particularly in the Bustan al-Basha district where the army is advancing, in Sheikh Said in the south, and on the northern outskirts where the regime has taken the Uwaija neighborhood, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

The monitor reported heavy air strikes on the rebel-held Fardos and Sukari neighborhoods. An AFP correspondent said the raids mostly hit combat zones in the city.

The German foreign minister said that tensions between Washington and Moscow were now worse than during the Cold War.

Its a fallacy to think that this is like the Cold War, Steinmeier said in an interview published by Bild newspaper on Saturday.

The current times are different and more dangerous.
Laura Passoni bears little resemblance to the person she was less than two years ago. (Photo: AP)

Brussels, Belgium: Her hair pulled back neatly from her face, eye shadow dramatic and flawless, Laura Passoni bears little resemblance to the jihadi bride she was less than two years ago, when she fled in darkness across a barbed-wire fence, her pregnant body betraying her with fatigue and terror.

Convicted on March 23 in Belgium of joining ISIS the day after members of the group struck the Brussels airport and metro - Passoni's decision lost her custody of her children to her parents and is forbidden from contacting the baby's imprisoned father.

She spends her time trying to persuade young people that her decision to go to Syria in June 2014 was the worst mistake of her life.

Her book, "In the Heart of Daesh with my Son," had been published in French for now.

"For Daesh, I am a traitor because I left and I'm denouncing them. For Belgium, I am a terrorist because I joined them," Passoni said, using an Arabic acronym for the group that has recruited thousands of foreigners to travel to the war zone or strike at home.

Others who have lived to speak about their regret for joining ISIS do so with faces covered, their identities masked, but Passoni said she made a deliberate and personal choice - describing it in the same terms as her decision to stop wearing the headscarf.

In Syria, she soon encountered other recruits, including a 15-year-old French girl who met her husband on the Internet and a young German woman who said she was simply visiting family. More would follow at the height of ISIS drive for women in the Muslim caliphate it hoped to build. For most, Passoni says, the choice to travel to Syria would be the last any woman there could make freely.

"Why women? Because we make babies and especially boys, the future cubs of the caliphate as they say. They need descendants," Passoni said.

Passoni became interested in Islam because her best childhood friend was Muslim, and she formally converted as an adolescent.

She was a 29-year-old single mother when she met a man named Oussama online. Within weeks, he persuaded her to marry and travel to Syria with her 4-year-old son.

She went, she said, because she hoped to reset her life and because recruiters on Facebook told her that Belgium could never be home to a good Muslim.

Passoni said she realized the gravity of her mistake almost immediately. But going to Syria is one thing. Leaving is another thing entirely.

"It was above all my little boy. I didn't want him to be like them. I didn't want him to be a terrorist," she told The Associated Press, sitting in a hotel bar in central Brussels. "It was at that moment that I said, 'I can't do it.' And then for my baby, because I was pregnant. And finally for me, because as a woman, to be always closed in, not to be free. That was no life. I had a job, I worked in Belgium. I came and went as I pleased. It was no life there. I didn't like it one bit."

Trapped inside, with other mothers deliberately raising their children to be indifferent to violence, Passoni said she did not dare speak out. The consequences of dissent were already clear from the videos of torture and death passed from person to person. Her pregnancy was going badly. Oussama told her he was having doubts as well, but would not explain what he saw or did during the day.

It took nine months of frantic, secret calls to her parents to leave, and another year in the court system before she was convicted and received a suspended sentence, with conditions of probation. Oussama, a Belgian who both recruited her to go to Syria and then dashed the three of them across the Turkish border in darkness, got four years in prison. Passoni thanks him in the book, saying "he took risks there and knew what consequences he faced in returning to Belgium."

She is forbidden to have direct contact with him for five years, as part of her sentence. She also cannot contact anyone in Syria, including the French teens she considered her only friends there. She does not know what happened to them, but she did learn that the house where she last stayed in Syria was hit by an airstrike soon after they left.

Passoni said she understands Europe's fears that people like her are a danger. But Passoni said her time in Syria changed her, and for the better.

"Because I saw death very close, as did my child," she said. "I feel more mature, more responsible, and now, above all, I'm ready to face these things.

As for her two boys, one now 6 and the other 16 months old, she said she thinks about their future all the time. The lesson she has for him is the same she hopes to carry to young people in Belgium - she must stay within its borders for five years.

"For my now 6-year-old, I have explained to him as a child - of course I cannot explain everything - but I explain the mistake that I made, and ask for forgiveness," she said. "And when he's bigger, I will teach him to live the truth and not to fall into a trap like this."
Thirty one Islamic State militants have been killed in clashes and US-led coalition air strikes in northern Syria over the last 24 hours. (Photo: AFP/Representational)

Ankara: Thirty-eight Islamic State militants were killed in northern Syria over the last 24 hours, the Turkish military said on Sunday, marking an escalation of conflict in the area where Syrian rebels, backed by Turkey, are fighting the jihadists.

Syrian rebels, backed by Turkish tanks and air strikes, have been pushing towards the Islamic State group's stronghold of Dabiq, a village with symbolic importance to the jihadists, in an operation launched in late August.

Fourteen of the ISIS fighters were killed as they attempted to enter the rebel-controlled villages of Akhtarin and Turkmen Bareh, three kilometers (two miles) east of Dabiq, the Turkish army said in a statement.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday that ISIS fighters had captured those villages in a counter attack near the Turkish border.

Another 17 Islamic State fighters were killed in air strikes by coalition warplanes in the same areas, the military said in its daily round-up on the operation, dubbed "Euphrates Shield".

It said two Syrian rebels had been killed and 19 wounded in the latest fighting against ISIS. The operation has also targeted a Kurdish militia whose presence along its border Turkey sees as a threat.
The accused approached her and grabbed her by the hair as she was walking her dog. (Photo: Cumbria police department)

Workington, Cumbria: In a horrific incident, a 58-year-old UK woman was forced to wipe her own blood on her rapist's face and beg him to stop attacking her after he threatened to stab her if she did not comply with him.

According to a report in the Daily Mail, the 18-year-old accused was sentenced to 11 years in prison after he admitted to raping the 58-year-old woman when she was walking her dog in Workington, Cumbria.

The accused approached her and grabbed her by the hair as she was walking her dog. He repeatedly punched her in the face and threw her to the ground. He then raped her and threatened to stab her to death if she did not comply with him.

In her statement to the police, the victim said that she begged her attacker for mercy and wiped her blood on his clothes so that he could be easily identified by the police.

While the case was under trial at the Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutors said that "the attacker is clearly an extremely dangerous man who has today been taken off the streets for a significant length of time where he can no longer pose any harm to women."

Sentencing him to 11 years in prison, the judge said that the accused was "brutal and savage". He pleaded guilty to rape, attempted rape and physical assault.

He will also be registered on the sex offenders list for life.
A young woman's hijab was ripped off on a busy London street in broad daylight in a racially-motivated attack. (Photo: AP/Representational)

London: In a racially-motivated attack, a young woman's hijab was ripped off on a busy London street in broad daylight, prompting Scotland Yard to launch a probe into the assault.

The force is treating the incident in north London as a racially motivated assault on the victim in her 20s, who was described as "shocked and distressed" by the incident.

"This was a shocking attack in broad daylight in the middle of a busy street. Racially and religiously motivated crimes will not be tolerated. I would appeal to anyone who witnessed this attack to contact police," said Detective Constable Ben Cousin of the Metropolitan Police's Haringey Community Safety Unit.

The woman was walking with another female friend on the evening of September 28 when the attack took place.

As they crossed the road, she was approached from behind by two men.

The Met police said one of them pulled down the hijab she was wearing before both fled the scene.

The first suspect is described as white, in his late 20s or early 30s, with blonde or ginger shaved hair and stubble.

Police said he was about 5 feet 6 inches and wearing a burgundy coloured hooded top and carrying a Tesco bag in his right hand.

The second suspect was of Mediterranean appearance, in his late 20s or early 30s, and clean shaven, with spiky hair. He wore a grey hooded top.
Yemeni rescue workers carry a body on a stretcher at the site of reported air strikes by Saudi-led coalition air-planes in Sanaa on October 8. (Photo: AFP)

Geneva: United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon on Sunday called for a swift and independent probe into the air raid that killed more than 140 people at a funeral in Yemen, demanding the perpetrators face justice.

"The Secretary-General condemns the attack on an event hall," said a statement from Ban's office. "Any deliberate attack against civilians is utterly unacceptable."

The Saudi-led coalition, which is fighting rebels in Yemen and has been blamed for the Saturday strikes, has promised to investigate the incident it described as "regrettable and painful".

Ban said the probe must be "prompt and impartial."

"Those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice," he added.

Ban's statement said that the attack was "said to have been airstrikes by the coalition", but the UN leader did not directly assign blame.

The attack, one of the deadliest since the coalition launched a military campaign against Yemen-backed Huthi rebels in March last year, also wounded more than 525 people, according to the UN.
A maid in Dubai was tortured and beaten up by her employer. (Representational image)

Dubai: A woman in Dubai has been accused of beating up her maid and torturing her by assaulting her with knife, scissors and iron, and pouring hot water on her body.

According to a report in Khaleej Times, the accused is a 33-year-old housewife from Jordan and the victim is from Indonesia. The matter was taken up in the Court of First Instance on Sunday. The court will hear the matter again on November 6.

The maid, 28, has alleged that the woman would often torture her with sharp objects and even lock her up in a room to prevent her from running away. The accused had also not given salary to the maid from June 2015 to March this year.

The incident came to light when the maid managed to escape and approached the Indonesian consulate for help.

"She would bang my head against the wall, pull my hair and pour boiling water on my body. I lost the hearing sense in the left ear after the defendant stuck scissors inside it," she said.

A Public Relations Officer at the Indonesian consulate said he took the maid to a hospital for examination and filed a complaint at Jebel Ali police station.

The medical examination report showed that the maids ear injury was caused by scissors. Marks of assault with knife and scissors were found on her face, head, neck and abdomen. There were burn marks on her back, caused from hot liquids.

The accused has, however, denied the physical assault allegations, but admitted to locking her up in her room because she did not trust the maid with her children.
Jerusalem: A Palestinian astrophysics professor accused of inciting violence was sentenced to seven months in prison on Sunday by an Israeli military court, a Palestinian NGO said.

Imad Barghouti, 52, was arrested in April and imprisoned without trial for an initial three months, under an Israeli procedure known as administrative detention.

His lawyer said he was arrested for comments posted on his Facebook page.

He has been accused of inciting violence against Israel, and Israeli media have said he is suspected of ties to the militant Islamist group Hamas.

His lawyers appealed to an Israeli military court after his arrest, which in May ruled that he should be freed.

However military prosecutors opted to put him on trial, leading to his sentence on Sunday.

He was also given a fine of 2,000 shekels (450 euros, $525), according to the Palestinian Prisoners' Club. He could be released in a month if he is given credit for time served.

Barghouti is a professor at a university in the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967.

Israel's military did not immediately respond to a request for information.

Administrative detention allows Israel to hold prisoners deemed security risks without trial for periods of up to six months, renewable indefinitely.

About 7,000 Palestinians are in Israeli prisons, more than 10 percent of them in administrative detention.
The post-mortem conducted on perfume specialist Monica Ghurde, whose body was found near here two days ago, brought to the fore that she was strangulated to death, the police said.





The panel of doctors in Goa Medical College and Hospital on Saturday conducted the post-mortem on 39-year-old Monica, who was found dead at her home in Sangolda village on October 6.



The post-mortem report has confirmed that she died due to smothering, Deputy Superintendent of Police Mahesh Gaonkar said.



He said the post-mortem report, however, is not clear on the suspicion of rape, which would be known only after the serological examination.



The viscera has also been preserved and would be sent for forensic examination... The post-mortem does not confirm or rule out rape. It is completely silent on that awaiting a detailed forensic examination, Gaonkar said.



Monica, who was living alone in a rented three-bedroom flat at Sangolda village near Calangute beach, was found dead on October 6, although the police investigation has revealed that she might have been killed on October 5.



Earlier in the day, the police said that they have sent teams to the neighbouring states to nab the accused.



We will be able to crack this case soon. We are working on different theories. Yesterday (Friday), we had sent teams to different locations, including neighbouring states, Deputy Inspector General of Police Vimal Gupta said.



Gupta said the woman originally hailed from Nagpur and was married to photographer Bharat Ramamrutham from Tamil Nadu. She was residing in Porvorim near here before she separated from her husband and shifted to Sangolda this year.



Police investigation has revealed that she had shifted to Sangolda in July this year and was staying alone, the DIG said. Gupta said the murder came to light when the maid, who came around 9 am on October 6, found the door locked. When Monica did not open it despite repeated knocks, she raised an alarm.



The maid later informed Monicas brother Anand, based in Mumbai, who in turn called her husband and then her neighbour, an American woman, who had spare keys to Monicas apartment. The door was opened and the body was found, he said.



A case has been registered under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC.


A former Delhi Police constable and the son of a martyr in the 1965 India Pakistan war has been arrested by Delhi Police for cheating several people of several crores rupees after inducing them to invest in his dubious garment shop, thepolice said on Saturday.





The accused identified as Manjeet Sangwan had started a business of readymade garments in 2008 and made his own brand in the name of Criston Dior Shoppe. He opened various new outlets of his brand in several cities.



However, Manjeet ran out of luck as in 2010 a French company had registered a case of cheating and Copyright Act against him in 2010 following which he was arrested. But soon after his release he came back and was elected the sarpanch of his village.



Manjeet had joined the Delhi Police in the rank of a constable on 1989 but had resigned in1996 for some personal reasons. He was the son of a martyr and had studied up to class X. He had started a garment business, Criston Dior Shoppe in 2008 and had also opened various brands in several cities, said a senior police officer.



In 2013, he was declared proclaimed offender in the above case by the concerned court for evading court proceedings.



In the same year Manjeet and his partner Virender Suyal induced several investors to invest in his brand and he cheated these investors to the tune of crores. A case was registered at The Economic Offences Wing but he kept on evading the police.



He was arrested from his rented flat in Gurgaon after information was received that he was residing in a flat in A-53, DLF, New Town Heights, Sector- 91, Hayatpur, Gurgaon.



Accused Manjeet Sangwan has been arrested as per law and concerned police stations have been informed about his arrest, the officer added.
Russia is again deploying nuclear- capable Iskander missiles into its Kaliningrad outpost that borders two NATO members, Lithuania said today, warning the move was aimed at pressuring the West into making concessions over Syria and Ukraine.





"Russia is holding military exercises in Kaliningrad, and its scenario includes deployment of Iskander missile systems and the possibile use of them. We are aware of it," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told AFP.



He said modified Iskander missiles had a range of up to 700 kilometres which means they could reach German capital Berlin from the Russian exclave, which is sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania.



Moscow also sent Iskanders to Kaliningrad in 2015 as part of a series of mammoth military drills amid heightened tensions with the West over Ukraine. Linkevicius said that this time he thought Moscow was using the move to "seek concessions from the West".



Russia's defence ministry dismissed Western concerns over the hardware, saying that "contingents of missile troops have been moved many times and will continue to be moved to Kaliningrad region as part of a Russian armed forces training plan."



Kaliningrad is "not an exception" to drills conducted across the country, spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in an emailed statement.



Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz on Saturday in Warsaw called Russia's "activities very alarming", but declined to say whether he knew about any fresh deployment of Iskanders to Kaliningrad.



Estonian media reported on Friday that Russia was shipping Iskanders on a civilian vessel in the Baltic sea. Linkevicius declined to comment on the details.



Tensions between Russia and the West have escalated to their worst level since the Cold War in recent years after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and launched a military campaign in Syria.



Since the start of the Ukraine crisis in 2014, Russia has flexed its muscles with a series of war games involving tens of thousands of troops in areas bordering NATO Baltic states.



NATO responded by agreeing to deploy four battalions in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as of next year to bolster its eastern flank.



The United States yesterday called for Russia and Syria to be investigated for war crimes for the bombing of hospitals in Aleppo, and accused Moscow of trying to "interfere" with the American presidential election.
Alleging that minorities were facing bias under Modi government, BSP Chief Mayawati today cautioned Muslims that voting for Samajwadi Party or Congress will only help BJP and sought their support "to stop" the saffron party.



Muslims should not waste their vote as there is infighting in Samajwadi Party and Congress lacks a voter base in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati said while addressing a rally here on the occasion of party founder Kanshi Ram's 10th death anniversary.



"Ever since the BJP government has come at the Centre, Muslims and other minorities are being subjected to bias. The minority status of Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia is being snatched away.



"Communal forces are becoming stronger and Muslims are being targeted in the name of love jihad, 'gau raksha' (cow protection) and religious conversion," the BSP supremo alleged launching a scathing attack on the Modi government.



Mayawati also made it clear that her party will go alone in the three states going to polls early next year-- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, and cautioned the people against any canard that BSP might enter into an understanding for forming as government with the BJP in case it fell short of majority.



She said there was no truth in these rumours which were being spread to divide Muslim votes and asserted that such a situation will not arise.



Coming down heavily on the ruling Samajwadi Party, Mayawati said because of "rampant crime and anarchy" incidents such as Muzaffarnagar, Dadri, Mathura and Bulandshahr have occurred and promised to restore rule of law in Uttar Pradesh.



"There is a tussle for supremacy going on in the SP between Mulayam Singh Yadav's son Akhilesh Yadav and brother Shivpal Singh Yadav and its result will be that the Yadav vote will split as each will try to ensure the defeat of candidates owing allegiance to the other," Mayawati said.



"In such circumstances Muslims should not waste their ballot by voting for them or else it will help the BJP.... Similarly Congress does not have a vote base and voting for it will also benefit BJP," Mayawati said.



"To stop the BJP, the vote should not go to either the Samajwadi Party or the Congress as with every Assembly seat having 22 to 23 per cent dalit votes, BSP can sail through with the help of Muslim votes or else the same scenario can emerge that was seen in 2014," she stressed.



Mayawati, who had faced criticism for spending hundreds of crores of rupees in setting up memorials of herself, Kanshi Ram and B R Ambedkar, said her party will not construct any more memorials.



Mayawati lashed out at the BJP saying its condition in UP is "most dismal".



"The BJP is in such a bad shape that it is depending on rejected or expelled leaders of other parties or those who have committed atrocities on their own family members," she alleged.



Without naming him, she trained her guns at former party leader Swami Prasad Maurya terming him as "bhashanbaaz" leader who had said unsavoury things against Hindu gods and Swati Sing, wife of expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh.



The BSP chief also criticised the BJP "for making a beeline to the state for laying the foundation stones of schemes which are nowhere to be seen".



She said backward and upper caste votes have not voted en-mass for any one section but this time round that may not be the case.



Alleging that Uttar Pradesh was reeling under "goonda" and "jungle raj", she said the state needed a BSP government and voting the party to power will be a true homage to Kanshi Ram.



Criticising the Congress, Mayawati said that it has projected a Brahmin woman as its chief ministerial candidate in UP who during her stint as the chief minister of Delhi had "held the people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar responsible for spreading filth and used the funds meant for dalit welfare on other heads because of her anti-dalit mentality".



"In such a scenario people will not accept Congress and its CM candidate even if its top leader resorts to any drama or goes about promising that power bills will be halved once its government comes to power," Mayawati said referring to Rahul Gandhi's 'Deoria to Dilli kisan rath yatra' which ended recently.



Rejecting the claims of Congress that its governments had waived loans worth Rs. 70,000 crore of farmers, she said that it had benefited only the affluent farmers sitting in AC rooms while the small and medium farmers were left empty handed.



"In the name of development the government is only laying foundation stones and holding inaugurations and crores of rupees are being spent on advertisements which could be spent on welfare works," she said.



She claimed that the very few works of development which have been carried out by this government are the ones which were started during the previous BSP government headed by her.



"They have only changed the names of our schemes...at the government and administrative level, mostly the corrupt officials, favourite of the Yadav family, have their hold since the very beginning," she alleged.



"Development and crime control in UP have come to a halt," she said alleging the SP government's term has been "dismal, casteist, biased and ridden with political vendetta".



"It is unfortunate that the central governments, both previous and present, have not fulfilled their constitutional obligations due to their political motives," Mayawati said.



The dalits and minorities do not want mere sympathy of BJP or Modi but want concrete action against those who have committed atrocities on them, Mayawati said.



Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said he "has set a record of foreign trips but is still unable to clearly spell out the foreign policy because of which the borders of the country are not fully secure.



"After the passage of over two years, now they have thought about securing the borders... because of this terror activities are taking place very often and relations with neighbours are not very good. Nepal is an example."



She also alleged that RSS had an agenda to take away the constitutional rights given to the deprived and dalits.
Political leaders, including Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, today visited the Apollo Hospital to enquire about the condition of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa even as special prayers were held for her good health across Tamil Nadu.



"I pray to the Almighty that she recovers fully and get back to her routine. I am fully confident that she will recover soon," Narayanasamy told reporters after visiting the hospital.



Tamil Maanila Congress chief G K Vasan also visited the hospital where Jayalalithaa is undergoing treatment since September 22. He said she is being given specialised medical care.



He met the director of the hospital and interacted with doctors, state ministers and was told that she is improving.



"Our best wishes to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for a speedy recovery. We wish on behalf of Tamil Maanila Congress that she should resume her work for the people," he said.



CPI leader and Rajya Sabha MP D Raja said he spoke to doctors and AIADMK leaders present at the hospital and expressed his party's wishes for her early recovery.



Meanwhile, special prayers continued at places of worship in the state for Jayalalithaa's speedy recovery.



After observing ritualistic stipulations for days, a massive "milk pot" procession was taken out in Madurai by AIADMK workers and supporters in which a sizable number of women cadres participated.



The procession began from Saravana Poigai tank and culminated at the Subramania Swamy temple in Tiruparankundram where the milk carried in pots was used for worship by them. State Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar and his party workers participated in the prayers.



Also, yagnas were performed in several temples seeking a healthy and long life for Jayalalithaa in which former State Minister Valarmathi participated.



Similarly, special prayer sessions were organised by Christians at various churches.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia  Seattle and Vancouver are like fraternal twins separated at birth. Both are bustling Pacific Northwest coastal cities with eco- conscious populations that have accepted the bargain of dispiriting weather for much of the year in exchange for nearby ski slopes and kayaking and glorious summers.



Yet 140 miles of traffic-choked roads and an international border divide the cities, keeping them farther apart than their geographic and cultural identities would suggest. Now the political, academic and tech elite of both cities are looking for ways to bring them closer together, with the aim of continuing the growth of two of the most vibrant economies in North America.



Vancouver has a lot more in common with Seattle than we do with Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, anywhere else in our country, Christy Clark, the premier of British Columbia, said in an interview. We should make the most of those cultural commonalities.



Whether their grand vision of a Cascadia innovation corridor  which borrows its name from the regions Cascade mountain range  ever materialises, leaders on both sides of the border have motives for getting cozier immediately.



US tech icons such as Microsoft, with voracious needs for global engineering talent, are expanding their Vancouver offices, partly because of Canadas smoother immigration process. For its part, Vancouver wants to bring more US technology companies to the city in hopes of spinning out future entrepreneurs who will expand its comparatively small base of technology companies. One serious obstacle to Vancouvers tech ambitions is its head-spinning housing costs. The median price for a detached home in the metropolitan area in August was 1.4 million Canadian dollars (about $1.06 million), a 27.8% increase from a year earlier, according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.



In the San Francisco metropolitan area, the median single family home price was about $848,000, according to Zillow. But while median pay for tech-related jobs is $112,000 a year in the San Francisco Bay Area, it is just under $49,000 in Vancouver, according to an analysis by PayScale, a compensation data firm. (Some of that discrepancy is due to a drop in the value of Canadas currency relative to the US dollar.) We have San Francisco real estate prices with the incomes of somewhere between Reno and Nashville, said Andy Yan, acting director of the city program at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.



On the thrumming streets of downtown Vancouver, signs of the Seattle regions growing economic ties to the city are hard to miss. A rectangular glass and steel office building with a large Microsoft sign occupies nearly an entire city block, sitting atop a large Nordstrom store (another Seattle brand). Microsoft says it invested $120 million in its new offices in Vancouver, which opened in June, and expects to spend $90 million more annually on wages and other operating costs. It plans to employ nearly 750 people in the city. Microsoft is hiring Canadians for the facility, but the countrys more open immigration policies were an important factor in its investment, Brad Smith, Microsofts president, said in an interview.



Microsoft and other tech companies have long complained that the US education system does not produce enough computer science graduates, forcing them to rely on immigrants from India, China and elsewhere. Foreign workers in the United States can wait about three times as long for a work visa as those in Canada do, the Boston Consulting Group estimates. And the prospect of Donald Trump winning the presidency has raised concerns among tech companies, because of the Republican candidates comments about further restricting immigration to the United States.



Open immigration



Right now, theres just a lot of uncertainty about open immigration, Smith said. Last month, officials and executives from both cities huddled in a Vancouver hotel to discuss how to enable people, ideas and capital to flow more freely between them. At the Cascadia conference, Clark and Jay Inslee, the governor of Washington, signed an agreement to deepen the ties between Vancouver and Seattle, including more research collaboration between the University of British Columbia and the University of Washington. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, and Satya Nadella, its current chief executive, talked about globalization and education.



One proposal to deal with traffic between Vancouver and Seattle was for a high-speed rail line that would whisk travelers at more than 200 mph between the cities in 57 minutes (it can take four hours or more by car). The details on financing the project  which could cost an estimated $30 billion or more  have not been worked out.



A group of Seattle techies proposed a cheaper alternative: a dedicated lane for autonomous vehicles on Interstate 5, the highway connecting Seattle to the Canadian border. The plan  which relies on autonomous vehicles that still need a lot of work  would not shave much time off the commute between the cities, but could make the ride less tedious by letting travelers work or watch a movie, said Tom Alberg, a managing director at Madrona Venture Group, a Seattle venture capital firm, and an author of the proposal. With roots in timber and shipping, Vancouvers economy has diversified in recent decades with the growth of film and video game production.



The city claims a tech unicorn  a startup valued at more than $1 billion  in Hootsuite, which makes social media tools. But Vancouver remains a relative small fry in tech, with about $1.78 billion in venture capital flowing into local tech startups in the past decade, compared with about $8.9 billion in Seattle, the research firm Pitchbook estimates. Still, the citys hoped-for tech boom may hit a wall if it cannot address its cost-of- living issues, which are by some standards more acute than those plaguing other thriving cities. Vancouver was ranked the third most unaffordable city in the world, after Hong Kong and Sydney, in a study published this year by Demographia, a consulting firm.



Yan has spent years analysing his hometowns soaring real estate values and concluded that a surge in foreign capital, primarily from mainland China, has decoupled Vancouver home prices from the local economy. British Columbia recently imposed a 15% tax on new home purchases in the Vancouver area by foreign buyers, a move now facing legal challenges.



The housing market is showing signs of cooling off, though it is not yet clear how much of that is because of the tax. The total number of homes sold in the area in August dropped 26% from a year earlier and price growth has slowed, according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.




Have you ever seen the sanctioned building plan and licence displayed at any construction site in Bengaluru?





The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Building Bye-Laws, 2003, state, The owner, builder or contractor should display building licence, approved plan of the property and sanctioned plans with specifications at the construction site. The rule is confined to books as most builders and owners do not care to follow it.



A resident of Bellandur, a southeast Bengaluru locality where an apartment collapsed last week, killing six people, said the public could easily flag any violation by the builder if the sanctioned building plan was put up at the construction site.



They need not go to court. The buyer will also benefit, the resident said, speaking on condition of anonymity. He urged the government to ensure the plans were not only put up at the sites but also on the BBMP website.



But Suresh Hari, secretary, Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (Credai), Bengaluru, differed. The sanctioned plan and licence are not for public consumption. These documents are kept at the site office as a reference for BBMP inspectors who periodically visit and review the project. The general public can use the Right to Information (RTI) Act and approach the BBMP if certain projects violate the law, he said.



Former mayor P R Ramesh countered the argument, saying whats wrong in putting up the sanctioned plan and licence at the construction site. There is no need to hide details of the plan unless the builder wants to deviate from it. Whoever does not display the plan could be violating the rules, he suggested.



Activist Ravi Krishna Reddy blamed the Karnataka government for poor enforcement of the bylaws. Officers and politicians encourage builders to flout rules for pecuniary gains, he said, explaining how the system allows hassle-free work to those who pay bribe.



According to a junior official in the BBMP, the civic agency issues notices once it finds out about the violation, though it becomes a challenge to stop the work at our level given the political clout of the builders.



Mayor G Padmavathi admitted that not many builders were following the said rule. The public has the right to know the details of an under-construction building. But no builder follows the rule. I will direct the officials to ensure that the rule is effectively enforced, she said.





What building bylaws say?

*The owner/builder/contractor shall, during the construction, display the following documents in a conspicuous place of the licenced premises

a. A copy of the building licence

b. A copy of the approved plans of the property in respect of which the licence was issued and the specifications of the building to be constructed.

c. The building licence and the copies of sanctioned plans with specifications shall be mounted on a frame and displayed and they shall be made available during inspection.
As hospital authorities continue to monitor the condition of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, various state and national leaders visited Apollo Hospital on Sunday.





Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda sent a get well message, while Rajya Sabha MP and CPI leader D Raja and Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy visited Apollo Hospital to enquire about Jayalalithaas health.



Tamil Manila Congress chief G K Vasan also met the doctors treating the Tamil Nadu chief minister, who was admitted to hospital on September 22 for fever and dehydration.



In his letter to the Tamil Nadu chief secretary Dr P Rama Mohana Rao, Gowda said, It is really a sorry state of affairs to all of us in general and particularly for Tamil Nadu that the chief minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaas health condition is not good and she is admitted to hospital in Chennai.



Health improving

Meanwhile, Apollo Hospital sources on Sunday said the chief ministers respiratory support is being closely watched and adjusted.



All the other comprehensive measures including nutrition, supportive therapy and passive physiotherapy are under way, sources said.




After assessing the dams in Karnataka, an expert team constituted by the Union government arrived in Tamil Nadu on Sunday and studied the situation in the Mettur and the Bhavanisagar reservoirs in the delta region.





The team led by Central Water Commission (CWC) chairman G S Jha comprises CWC member S Masood Hussain, Krishna and Godavari Basin Organisation chief engineer R K Gupta and representatives of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry governments.



After assessing the present water storage in the Mettur dam in Salem district, the experts visited the Bhavanisagar reservoir in Erode district. The team took note of water level in the two dams, inflow and discharge for submitting its report on the ground realities to the Supreme Court on October 17.



The team met representatives of various farmers association in the delta region and heard their grievances with regard to the Samba cultivation. Farmers told the team that the current water level in the Mettur dam is not sufficient for cultivating Samba crop for this season.



On Friday night, Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao held a meeting with senior ministers and chief secretary and discussed the arrangements made for the visit of the team and the information to be presented to it. Public Works minister E Palanisamy explained to the governor in detail the arrangements made.



Meanwhile, the inflow into the Mettur dam has increased due to water release into the Cauvery by Karnataka. Public Works Department sources told DH that the current inflow is about 2,800 cusecs. It was about 600 cusecs last week, an official said.



The water level dipped in the Mettur dam as about 12,000 cusecs is being released every day for cultivating Samba crops. The official said the current water level in the dam is about 71 feet.




Hinting at the surgical strike across the LoC, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Vijaya Dashami this year is very special for the country and that very capable armed forces are a must for a strong nation.





Modi, deviating from the earlier practice of the prime ministers taking part at Vijaya Dashami at Ramleela ground in Delhi, will be celebrating Dussehra in Lucknow.



We will celebrate Vijaya Dashami in the coming days. This years Dashami is very special for the country, Modi said during a function held at Vigyan Bhavan to release works of BJP ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya. Modis loaded statement evoked applause from the audience even as the BJP and Opposition parties are engaged in war of words on politicisation of army action to avenge the killing of 19 soldiers by militants at Uri army base on September 18. Modi quoted Upadhyaya to say that a nation can become strong only when it has an exceptionally strong military. He (Upadhyaya) used to say that the countrys armed forces should be very very capable for a nation to be strong. A nation needs to be strong in this time of competitiveness, Modi said.



Govt seeks CCTV,police deployment

With the festive season setting in, the government has asked organisers to take extra precaution in ensuring the smooth conduct of programmes by installing CCTV cameras and ensuring police presence, DHNS reports from New Delhi. Warning that a little mismanagement can turn these celebrations awry, the Ministry of Home Affairs has warned organisers of Durga Puja pandals and Dussehra celebrations among others to take simple precautions to ensure safety.


India and Russia will discuss ways to boost the direct trade of diamonds when Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Russian President Vladimir Putin in Goa on Saturday.





Modi will discuss with Putin the measures New Delhi is contemplating on to simplify the taxation and customs procedure to make it easier for Russian traders to export rough diamonds to India directly, avoiding the intermediaries, sources told DH.



Modi and Putin will hold the annual meeting in Goa on October 15 before joining their counterparts from Brazil, China and South Africa for the eighth BRICS summit.



Russia continues to be the worlds largest producer of rough diamonds, registering a 9.4% rise in production to reach 41.9 million carats, worth $4.24 billion. India accounted for 37.77% of the global import of rough diamonds in 2015 and remains the largest diamond polishing hub of the world.



However, 80% of Indias total import of rough diamonds from Russia comes through other countries.



New Delhi and Moscow have been discussing ways to boost direct diamond trade between the two nations. The number of Indian resident companies signing long-term rough diamonds supply contracts with PJSC ALROSA of Russia has increased from nine in 2014 to 12 in 2015.



A special customs zone was created in the Bharat Diamond Bourse in Mumbai in 2015 to facilitate direct diamond supplies fromqs



Russia to India. Modis meeting with Putin might see them agreeing on further developing the notified zone, easing tax and customs procedure and upgrading its rough diamond auctions mechanism, sources added.
India has stepped up the security of its diplomatic missions in Afghanistan, anticipating attacks by terrorist outfits based in Pakistan in response to the Indian Armys recent surgical strikes.





Prime Minister Narendra Modis National Security Adviser Ajit Doval oversaw the process to review and reinforce the security of the Indian Embassy in Kabul and four consulates in Mazar-e-Sharif, Herat, Kandahar and Jalalabad. Senior officials of intelligence agencies, National Security Guard, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and defence and external affairs ministries were involved in the review.



Sources said New Delhi initiated the process in view of the recent escalation of tension between India and Pakistan, particularly after the September 18 terror attack on an army camp at Uri in north Kashmir, in which 19 soldiers were killed.



Ten days after the incident, New Delhi announced that the army had carried out surgical strikes on launch pads used by terrorists as camps before sneaking into India from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Pakistan publicly dismissed Indias claim of the strikes.



New Delhi, however, received intelligence inputs suggesting the Pakistan army and its military spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), might orchestrate terror attacks against India or on Indian missions in Afghanistan to avenge the loss and embarrassment it suffered due to the surgical strikes, sources said.



New Delhi might send a team of senior officials to Kabul to discuss with their Afghan counterparts the security of Indias diplomatic missions across Afghanistan, sources added.



Pakistan is keen to have a strategic depth in Afghanistan and has been wary of Indias role in the reconstruction of the conflict-ravaged country.


Republican leaders began to abandon Donald Trump by the dozens on Saturday after the release of a video showing him speaking of women in vulgar sexual terms, delivering a punishing blow to his campaign and plunging the party into a crisis a month before the election.





Fearing his candidacy was on the verge of undermining the entire Republican ticket, a group of senators and House members withdrew their support for him on Saturday, with some demanding that he step aside.



Foremost among them was Sen John McCain of Arizona, the partys 2008 nominee.



I thought it important I respect the fact that Donald Trump won a majority of the delegates by the rules set by our party, McCain said in a statement. But Donald Trumps behaviour this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, makes it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy.



And in an unheard-of rebuke by a running mate, Gov Mike Pence of Indiana, the Republican vice-presidential candidate declined to appear on Trumps behalf at a party gathering in Wisconsin and offered him something of an ultimatum on Saturday afternoon.



Pence said in a statement that he was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the video and cast Trumps second debate with Hillary Clinton, on Sunday, as an urgent moment to turn around the campaign.



I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them, Pence said, adding, We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night.



By Saturday evening, no fewer than 36 Republican members of Congress and governors who had not previously ruled out supporting Trump disavowed his candidacy.



Aides described Trump as shaken. Shortly after midnight, he released a statement, saying: Ive said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more than a decade-old video are one of them.



In an interview on Saturday, he shrugged off the calls to leave the race.


Inspired by the loss of her father, a Canyon Crest Academy freshman recently screened a film she created in an effort to bring awareness and understanding to the community about youth and families that are dealing with a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

By completing and screening the film, Sonia Halle also earned her Girl Scout Silver Award. The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn.

The Silver Award is about impacting your community and changing it for the better, said Sonia, a 14-year-old Carmel Valley resident.

Sonia wrote and directed a short-film based on her experience with her fathers lung cancer diagnosis, treatment and passing. She was an eighth grader when her father died at the age of 55 last September.

You dont see a lot of awareness being raised about kids of people who have had cancer, people who are married to them or their best friends, she said. I wanted to raise awareness for the support of family members and friends going through this. Its just something really near and dear to my heart.

Please Tell Me This Isnt Real follows a teenage girls journey as she vlogs her thoughts and feelings through the progression of her fathers cancer diagnosis. The 20-minute films main character is based on Sonia.

Its a really great format because its raw and more personal, Sonia said. Its like youre going through it with them.

Sonia has had years of experience on stage, but this was her first time behind the camera.

Since she was 9 years old, Sonia has performed at several local youth theaters in San Diego and is currently an active troupe member of Theater of Peace, an acting troupe that visits schools to raise awareness about bullying and demonstrate tools that can be used to overcome and break the cycle of negativity.

Ive never really done anything as professional and significant as this, Sonia said about her behind-the-camera work.

Sonia started working on the script in February. As writer and director, she worked with an executive producer, director of photography, several actors and other professionals in the industry.

I didnt realize how much work it would be, said Sonia, who is currently in rehearsals as Goran in San Diego Junior Theatres Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which runs Oct. 28 through Nov. 13 at Casa del Prado Theatre.

You dont realize how much goes into a film until you have to do everything, she said. But I had a lot of great help.

Having recently completed the film, Sonia held a screening Sept. 21 at Mintz Levin, a law firm in Carmel Valley. About 50 people attended the event, which included a talk-back with Sonia, some of the actors and a representative from Elizabeth Hospice to discuss how to relate to kids going through a similar situation.

It was really great, Sonia said. I was really happy with the turnout. From the panel and from the movie Ive reached 50 people. Ive taught them that cancer sucks, grieving sucks and death sucks, but heres how you can help.

About a week later Sonia held a second screening for Elizabeth Hospice, a nonprofit agency that provides hospice and bereavement services to the terminally-ill and their families throughout North San Diego County.

Shes currently exploring other ways to share her film with more people in the community.

Its not only the person with the disease thats being affected, Sonia said. People need to grieve and theyre going to grieve in different ways. Theyre going to deal with pain and loss and disease in different ways. Its important that you let them grieve and its important that youre there to support them.
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Eileen Clarke Patrick Street who died peacefully aged 82 at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital on September 5 was the first of a family of 14 to pass away. She was a quiet lady who paradoxically had a bubbly personality and worked in two of the towns former foremost industries.

She was the eldest of eight daughters and six sons of the late Michael and Ellen Laverty.

The family home was in Patrick Street Dundalk where Eileen moved back to live later in her married life.

She was educated at the Castletown Girls School and went to work early in her life. She obtained employment not much more than a stones throw from her home in PJ Carrolls in Church Street, the cigarette and cigar manufacturers. She worked in the cigar department.

She married William (Willie) Clarke in 1958.William hailed from Hyde Park and worked in the local shoe industry with Hallidays and later with the Board of Works (BFW) based at the Army Barracks.

The couple went to live in Quay Street, and subsequently moved down the road to the Mountainview estate on the Point Road.

The couple had three children, sons, Liam and Anthony and daughter, Mary.

Eileen ceased working for a time after her marriage.

She resumed work in 1968 in the Ecco electronics factory, another of the towns biggest and staple industries before also like Carrolls closing down in the relatively recent past.

She continued to work on there until after husbands death when she retired at the age of 50.

She took up ballroom dancing with friends, who sadly have since passed away.

She loved the hobby which brought her to various venues in Louth and surrounding counties and across the country to the west.

She was a voracious reader who had a great love for the Mills and Boon romance and fiction novels.

It was rare that she hadnt one in her hand.

Some years ago she enjoyed indoor bowls which she played with friends in the former AOH hall in Jocelyn Street, and taking exercise walking along the scenic Navvy Bank when living nearby.

She was reserved by nature who kept to herself and provided wise and solid counsel knowing right from wrong.

But she delighted in people calling to her home, and enjoyed telling jokes but her faltering way of doing so was the funny part.

Her health deteriorated in the last couple of years and it took a turn for the worst in September last year, and she spent time in three different hospitals.

She was allowed home a week before Christmas and all thought she was on the mend only to suffer a relapse a number of weeks ago. Still she felt fit to attend her grandsons 21st birthday on August 20 but took ill the following morning.

She is sadly missed by her two sons, Liam and his partner Pauline, Anthony (Thailand) and his wife Aun, daughter, Mary, grandchildren Adam and Shane. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends.

She reposed at her home on the Wednesday, and was removed the next day to Saint Nicholas' Church.

Rev Mark OHagan Adm celebrated Requiem Mass and delivered the eulogy.

Family members took part in the Mass which was followed by burial in Saint Patrick's Cemetery Dundalk.

Months Mind Mass is on Sunday, October 2 at 12 noon in Saint Nicholas Church.
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I had a traumatic experience with neighborhood dogs when I was in gradeschool. I was a very mischievous child back then. Very playful and have that I dont care attitude. I run around the neighborhood like I own it (we live in a very sheltered subdivision in Quezon City back then and we all know the neighbors life family, I miss that kind of neighborhood to be honest.) Anyway, since I was the michievous one, I would run around the neighborhood like I own it.

One time, for some odd reason , a number of neighborhood dogs got rid of their leash and started chasing after me! OMG! I was out numbered, I think there were about 6 dogs after me. When I felt I cannot outrun them I froze standing still. I could not even scream for help. I just froze. Fortunately, one of the neighbors saw my dire situation and started shooing off the dogs. I was still in shock. When all the dogs were gone I cried in relief. I thought it was my end. Since then, I am scared shit with big dogs. I was maybe a 3 foot tall person back then and everything seems bigger than they really are but that was an imprint on my head I can never erase until now.

Recently, I was at the GSK and DOH event about Rabies Awareness where they revealed their target of a Rabies Free Philippines by 2020 by pushing for the #BilisCampaign. One of the guest there was the Pinoy Dog Whisperer Lestre Zapanta with one of his trained dogs Aquia, a female Cocker Spaniel x Border Colie cross breed or Cocker Spaniel x Golden Retriever cross breed. While it looked really cute and calm I still will not have guts to pet it myself especially after hearing from Lestre that it was a biter a year ago!

Because of my revelation of my fear of dogs I was called in the stage to dare pet the dog. I was scared. But the heck while getting bitten hurts, maybe it was time for me to face my fears, plus I was a bit secured knowing the dog trainor was there and I am surrounded with anti-rabies people who will give me an anti-rabies shot as soon as I get bitten! Plus Kuya Tonipet assured me he got my back (he was the host that day). Yes, the things I do for my blog. Haha!

He asked me to try petting the Aquia. I reached out my hand over her head with a little hesitation. It was a big no, no, said Lestre. If Aquia was not trained he would have bit me. Standing up with my height against his I am already a threat, what more with my open hands and fingers over his head. I am a stranger to her. Threat / fear triggers biting as defense mechanism for dogs.

The best way for me to pet a strangers dog is to sit down on my side and the dog side, let the dog smell me for a bit to familiarize himself and if the dog is comfy with my presence I can reach out under his neck and tickle like tickling a cat to pet. It was also my first time to have a dog feed straight on my palm like whoa!

Why was this taught? Because dog bite is the #1 cause of rabies in the country 99% of reported case of human rabies are from dog bite, only about 1% came from cats, according to the Department of Health (DoH) and National Rabies Prevention and Control Program (NRPCP).

Newsflash! Rabies dont only come from dog bite, they can also come from dog scratch or even dog saliva.

The BILIS Campaign is a disease awareness campaign aligned to the Rabies Free Philippines Advocacy. The goal of the campaign is to increase awareness on proper treatment, management and prevention of rabies infection. This tagline communicates a sense of urgency to fight rabies immediately. BILIS would stand for the 3 simple steps on how to manage animal bite exposure.

BI  Bilisan ang paghugas ng sugat (imeediately wash the puncture area)

LI  Linisin ng alcohol (clean with alcohol or betadine)

S  Sumangguni sa doktor ukol sa tamang pag-gamot ng sugat (Immediate consult a doctor for proper wound dressing, this also includes sending the dog who bit to a veterinarian for observation)

Another important factor that was stressed with the anti-rabies #BilisCampaign is responsible pet ownership. Pet owners should always have an anti-rabies shot for their dogs every year, and even if the dog is trained they should always have them on a leash and dont let them roam around without your supervision.

Also, dog bite centers are available all over the coutry and they all give free anti-rabies shots. Ask your health office or barangay offices as to where to find a dog bite centre near you.

How about you, do you have a traumatic experience with dogs before or any story about rabies? Have more to share? Let me know on the comments below.

Stay gorgeous everyone!
This is my first time to try fencing. Ive always wanted to do it because of Richard Gomez, Zorro and the Three Musketeers! Haha! Anyway ,Fencing is known as a very elite sports in the Philippines because of the expensive equipment, but now you can try it out without having to buy a thing! Just []
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(Photo:  Peter Kenny / Ecumenical News)The former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, making a speech in Cape Town on October 8, 2008.

On his 85th birthday, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said he supports assisted suicide.

On that day Oct. 7. The Washington Post carried an op-ed piece signed by Tutu entitled: "Archbishop Desmond Tutu: When my time comes, I want the option of an assisted death."

The support was hailed by those campaigning in South Africa who support the right of people being able to chose when they want to die but pro-life group who oppose "assisted suicide" as it is a slippery slope to legalized killing.

Tutu wrote, "Now, as I turn 85 Friday, with my life closer to its end than its beginning, I wish to help give people dignity in dying. Just as I have argued firmly for compassion and fairness in life, I believe that terminally ill people should be treated with the same compassion and fairness when it comes to their deaths.

RIGHT TO CHOOSE

"Dying people should have the right to choose how and when they leave Mother Earth. I believe that, alongside the wonderful palliative care that exists, their choices should include a dignified assisted death."

Tutu noted, "There have been promising developments as of late in California and Canada , where the law now allows assisted dying for terminally ill people, but there are still many thousands of dying people across the world who are denied their right to die with dignity. Two years ago, I announced the reversal of my lifelong opposition to assisted dying in an op-ed in the Guardian."

Tutu has thrown his moral weight behind a campaign in South Africa to change the law so people can choose when to die.

The campaign's aim will be to "bring the issue of death and dying to the world stage," South African right-to-die campaigner Sean Davison told the country's Sunday Times Oct. 9.

He said Tutu had agreed to work with DignitySA, led by Davison, and the World Federation of Right to Die Societies, which will hold its 2018 conference in South Africa.

The project will materialize soon and will build on the worldwide publicity generated by Tutu's 85th birthday call for the right to choose when and where he dies, he said.

"This is the greatest impact we have had in the campaign," Davison said after Tutu's remarks in an essay in the Washington Post, at St George's Cathedral in Cape Town, and in a video.

"Dying people should have the right to choose how and when they leave Mother Earth," said the archbishop.

Looking frail, Tutu celebrated his birthday at St. George's Anglican Cathedral. Later, he arrived in a wheelchair at a lecture in his honor at Artscape in Cape Town.

Tutu's interest in assisted dying was sparked by University of Western Cape lecturer Davison's arrest in New Zealand for assisting his cancer-ridden mother to end her life in 2006.

He supported Davison and begged the authorities for leniency. "He wrote to the courts in New Zealand to request that I be allowed to return to South Africa on bail until the beginning of my trial," Davison said.

"When I was convicted of assisted suicide he pleaded for a lenient sentence for me.

"At that time he acknowledged he hadn't thought a lot about ... assisted dying but he knew I acted out of compassion and he knew how much my mother was suffering."

BELIEF IN THE SANCTITY OF LIFE

Tutu wrote in the Washington Post, "I believe in the sanctity of life. I know that we will all die and that death is a part of life. Terminally ill people have control over their lives, so why should they be refused control over their deaths? Why are so many instead forced to endure terrible pain and suffering against their wishes?

"I have prepared for my death and have made it clear that I do not wish to be kept alive at all costs. I hope I am treated with compassion and allowed to pass on to the next phase of life's journey in the manner of my choice."

Vaughan Luck, spokesman for Doctors for Life in South Africa views choosing death differently and deplored Tutu's support for what he said is "assisted suicide."

"I can't understand the reasoning behind it and I completely disagree with it," Luck told the Sunday Times in South Africa.

"It doesn't sit well if you think about a man of the cloth or a religious figure speaking about death and being able to kill people. It is a very weird thing that Desmond Tutu is doing."

Luck said assisted dying could open the floodgates for a litany of wrongs including the "assisted suicide of children." He used Belgium as an example.

"It will start off with a terminally ill patient who is in terrible pain, who doesn't want to live any more, and you pass laws saying that it is OK to kill that type of a person or to assist them in their suicide because of the pain and the fact that they are terminally ill," said Luck.

"You end up in a state like Belgium, which euthanized the first [17-year-old] just a couple of weeks ago. This child was suffering with depression, not coping with everything that happened to it, so they decided the best thing is to euthanize it."
University of Leeds , UK , was named University of the Year 2017 by an institute rankings guide recently. Alastair McCall, editor The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said, Heavy investment in campus facilities has gone hand in hand with a strong pastoral system of student support, the introduction of a final year research-based project as the centrepiece of students' academic activities, and the Leeds for Life scheme that helps prepare students for life after university.



As part of the universitys 520m campus development programme, the investments include the Edward Boyle Library which is being refurbished to create an IT-rich library, home to more than 2,000 group and silent student spaces, teaching spaces and a new postgraduate study zone. This is in addition to an undergraduate provision in the 26m Laidlaw Library, which opened in July 2015. There is also a multi-million-pound project for the Student Union building.



Sir Alan Langlands, vice-chancellor, thanked the City for helping make students choose Leeds. Economically vibrant, compassionate and outward looking, this is an exceptional place to live and learn.



The university reached an all-time high in the overall statistical rankings, which creates a league table of UK universities based on a wide range of measures. It has jumped to 13th place overall with strong results in student experience, high entry standards, services and facilities, and graduate prospects. The university also secured 90% satisfaction in the recent 2016 National Student Survey (NSS).



The university was runner-up for The Times and Sunday Times University of the Year over the last two years.
The Embassy of France in India has announced the launch of the international France Alumni network in India. First unveiled by the French minister of foreign affairs and international development in Paris in November 2014, the network was conceived as a multilingual, digital platform to connect, inform and guide international students who have studied in French higher education institutes. The establishment of this network is a priority programme for France in India.

France Alumni - India is supposed to help former students acquire key industry knowledge, discover career opportunities, and gain valuable insights into the economic and professional world. Through this platform, the 450-plus French companies operating in India with 300,000 skilled Indian workers, can also share information on job offers and internships, develop their brand and recruit Indian talent.

More information is available at www.francealumni.fr/en
Jyoti Bhakare, Associate Professor, Department of Law , Savitribai Phule Pune University

Education, by its very definition, cannot be confined by the constraints of age . Especially, talking of law, there have been umpteen examples of people pursuing law programmes post 30s and 40s and excelling. Rather, many of our students are senior citizens who have taken up law post retirement and have a successful practice. Law is one such stream that assures a longer career span. It's never late to take up law as a career.

Areet Sandhu, BALLB (Hons), IXth Semester, University Institute of Legal Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh

Everyone has the right to know about the law of the land hence law courses should be open for all without an age limit. Law is an essential part of our society and everyone has an inherent right to study the same. In fact, any educational course should be available to anyone who desires to pursue them.



Kahnav Mahajan, Delhi based Lawer

In 2008, the Bar Council of India prescribed the maximum age limit of 20 years for admission to the five-year integrated course and 30 years for the postgraduate LLB course. This was challenged in various high courts including Punjab and Haryana, Allahabad, resulting in removal of this rule. However, the act of bar council raised an issue for debate that whether there should be an age limit for entrance in law programme. There is an old adage that says age is not a bar for learning. In fact, we keep learning new things as we grow old and the entire legal profession is an example of it. You learn something new every day. Restricting someone from learning something new on the grounds of their age would be a violation of fundamental rights of an individual.





- With inputs from, Kanchan Gogate, Nishant Kumar and Sonali Sharma
Upon completion of class X, I had three basic options or rather streams to choose from  Science, Arts and Commerce. Looking back to those days of education, I realise that the current trend in the educationsector is veering more towards self-finance and tailor made-courses than the traditional ones which were 20 years ago. Today, having a basic BCom, BSc or a BA degree does not hold much value as it does not meet the market needs and requirements. The competition is emerging with every passing year and the demand for self-finance courses like Bachelors in Mass Media, Bachelors in Management Studies, Bachelors in Commerce (Accounting &Finance), Bachelors in Commerce (Financial Markets), etc has seen a great surge too. Student should also enroll in add on courses along with their graduation to enhance their skills. For example, a student with a basic degree in mass media and a student with the same degree but also has an add on certificate in VFX, in Animation, advertisements, etc will be given first preference as it will be beneficial to the company. There are many such basic courses available for students which will benefit them. Some of them are mentioned below: Courses to be done along with a BMM. Photography is one of the subjects in BMM which gives a basic understanding of history of camera, various kinds of cameras and how to use it in a professional setup. So, if a student wishes to pursue his career in photojournalism, he should opt for a certified course in photography along with BMM which helps him gains in-depth knowledge and enhance his expertise. Dubbing and voice over is another option to be looked at. Though no formal courses are available in dubbing and voice over but due to increasing demand, several training institutes have come up with specialised certificate programmes and workshops designed for the same. For those interested in writing, creative writing courses (both certificate and diploma) are available which will provide the finer nuances of creative writing to interested students. There are also free online certificate courses available for the same. Programmes in Commerce Students pursuing commerce programmes such as BMS, BFM, BAF, BBI, and BIM can pursue the following courses. All these add-on courses that will enable a student to become finance executive, merchant banker, investment advisor, stock broker, banking and insurance professional. For a commerce student, sales is fundamental for the smooth functioning and the growth of any business. A student would greatly benefit if he learns how to sell a product and negotiate a deal to his companys advantage. - The courses in finance includes: Forex, NSE courses, Investment management, CFP (Certified Financial Planner), CFA (Certified Financial Analyst), Financial Market Operations, CA (Chartered Accountant), CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountant) , Actuarial, Portfolio management, FRM (Financial Risk Management), NCFM (National Stock Exchange Certification in Financial Market), Financial Modeling, Diplomas in Banking, Insurance and Financial Markets offered by NSE, NISM or any other professional body. - The course in HR includes: SAP (System Application Product) , ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning ), Training and Development Counselor, Compensation and Benefits , Personality Development, Image Consultancy, Industrial Relations (IR), Resume writing and Soft skills, Recruitment Manager. - The courses in Marketing includes: CRM (Customer Relationship Manager), Selling and Negotiation Skills Product Designing, Digital Marketing, Social Media Marketing, e-commerce. For new programmes such as BCom in Transport Management (BTM), the following add-on courses would be of help. - International Trade Management - Export Import Management - Traffic Management - Logistics Handling - Certified Facility Manager - Supply Chain Management - Maritime Economist - Port Management - Shipping Management Students who are pursuing BSc (IT), students can train themselves with certification programmes in various categories like web development, testing, database etc. Some of the certification programmes which provide training in the above mentioned areas are: - Java SE Certification - Microsoft Certification - Oracle Certified Associate (OCA) Apart from these courses there are a number of other certification courses available both online as well as offline which the students of BSc (IT) can pursue to gain competitive edge in the employment market of IT industry. To sum up, students these days need to go beyond curriculum based teaching-learning to enhance their skills so as to be employable as well as be updated with practical knowledge. (The author is principal , KPB Hinduja College , Mumbai)
In your new role, what immediate changes do you plan to make at the business school?

The ambition is to take the school to the next level, building on the success and strategy of my predecessor Mark Taylor. Warwick Business School (WBS) has a history of spanning boundaries, be they disciplinary, geographic, or the interface between academia and practice. Our ambition is to take this further, expanding the global nature of our research and teaching, pursuing ground-breaking interdisciplinary research, working closely in partnership with local and global organisations. In doing so, we can seek to tackle and inform the research and practice around important societal and economic challenges.

In addition, technology is playing an increasingly important role in education. We will be investing more in new technology as blended learning becomes a part of all our educational programmes.

You come into the new role at a very crucial time - when UK has voted to exit the EU . What challenges do you anticipate for yourself given the situation?

Although the Leave vote will pose challenges to be overcome, the UKs universities have a world-class reputation. I believe we would have been better off staying in the EU, but we still have a bright future outside of the EU. We will have to monitor issues closely, including those around visas and research grants from the EU, as they are discussed and negotiated over the coming months. The immediate effect at some institutions has been an increase in the number of EU students.

How will Brexit impact management education in the UK in terms of international students and jobs for management graduates?

However the future pans out, the UK will remain an attractive place for students to study and for staff to work because of the quality of the education we offer, and the cosmopolitan nature of our student and staff bodies.

Staff and students from EU countries and the rest of the world are an important and valued part of the UK higher education and business schools will do everything they can to promote their cause. Furthermore, I believe that it is not in the interest of any government to lose highly skilled workers.

What changes will management institutes need to make to remain relevant in the current situation?

Institutes will need to remain relevant by spanning boundaries: disciplinary, geographic, or the interface between academia and practice. Information is distributed and the ability to connect and work across boundaries is central to being knowledgeable about change, but also being able to innovate in response. Brexit means we will have to be even more global in our outlook. Business schools will need to build on the numbers and quality of international partnerships they have and develop them more.

Edtech is constantly evolving and is something we need to be at the forefront of as it will be of increasing importance to give students the best learning experience possible. The new norm is blended learning. Creating content such as online business games, where students can simulate what happens when they make strategic decisions as a manager of a business, is one example. Virtual classrooms where lectures, knowledge groups, online case studies and rich interactive learning resources are run are yet another example.



Some experts feel that Brexit will encourage businesses in the UK to explore opportunities within the UK. Amidst such a scenario, do you expect any changes in the entrepreneurship trend among management graduates?

More and more students are looking to start companies or join start-ups when they graduate, and this is something we can support them with. There is a rich tradition of entrepreneurship education in the UK. I do not, however, see entrepreneurship as only relating to start-ups; entrepreneurship is something that should be encouraged and fostered in all organisations by helping students develop an entrepreneurial mind set. It is my view that all people need to be entrepreneurial in their jobs, and will be required to do so throughout their careers.

Whether you want to set up your own business or develop your entrepreneurial mindset within a large corporate, students with innovative skills will find creative solutions to day-to-day problems.

- As told to Ruchi chopda
Washington, Oct 9 (EFE).- U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday criticized Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump for "demeaning women," amid the scandal that erupted late last week with the release of a videotape on which the mogul can be heard making lewd and sexist comments about women.

"It tells you that he's insecure enough that he pumps himself up by putting other people down," said Obama at a Democratic Party fundraiser in Chicago. "It tells you he doesn't care much for the basic values of civility or respect."

The president said Trump's "unbelievable rhetoric" has been "disturbing."

This was the first time Obama had commented publicly about the mogul's recently revealed comments, which came to light on Friday with the release of a 2005 videotape in which Trump can be heard making obscene and vulgar remarks about women.

Obama said that Trump had made other derogatory remarks about other groups during the campaign, "Demeaning women, degrading women, but also minorities, immigrants, people of other faiths, mocking the disabled."

Top leaders of the Republican Party have roundly condemned the offensive words used by the New York businessman at the same time that many conservative lawmakers and key GOP figures have called for Trump to withdraw from the race and/or have withdrawn their support for him.

On Saturday, the mogul made clear that he has no intention of backing out of the race, telling The Washington Post, "I'd never withdraw. I've never withdrawn in my life," and The Wall Street Journal that there is "zero chance I'll quit."

He also released a taped apology, although that apparently has done little - so far at least - to quell the public outcry over his remarks.

A survey published on Sunday, seems to confirm Trump's apparent decision to remain in the race, given that the vast majority of his supporters say they continue to support him and are not listening to the GOP leadership's calls for him to throw in the towel.

The scandal, and its accompanying firestorm of criticism for the mogul, comes as he is preparing to face off with Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the second presidential debate Sunday evening, broadcast from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Clinton has remained silent on the matter since Friday, when she said in a Twitter post: "This is horrific. We cannot allow this man to become president."
It's time for another Presidential Debate, with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump now having plenty more to talk about this time around.

The second Presidential Debate is set to go down Sunday night at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. As always, the debate begins at 9 p.m. ET and lasts for 90 minutes, with no commercial interruptions. The debate will be hosted by CNN's Anderson Cooper and ABC News' Martha Raddatz, with C-SPAN's Steven Scully serving as back-up moderator should someone get sick. Every major network and several social media sites will be airing live coverage of the debate.

However, this debate will be quite different from the first one. Debate no. 2 will be "town hall" style, with Clinton and Trump able to walk freely and take questions from the audience, rather than being stuck behind a podium.

This debate will likely feature a discussion of the latest Trump scandal, with the GOP nominee being heard in a 2005 audio clip making sexually vulgar comments about women to Access Hollywood host Billy Bush. Clinton's campaign has already released an ad centered on the leaked audio and the Democratic nominee herself has slammed the comments.

This is horrific. We cannot allow this man to become president. https://t.co/RwhW7yeFI2  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 7, 2016

Trump has apologized for the comments in a new video:

Here is my statement. pic.twitter.com/WAZiGoQqMQ  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2016

Of course, Clinton has her own scandals to address, which Trump should be happy to bring up, including her private email server, Benghazi and more.

So who do you think will win the second Presidential Debate? Try to be objective, and vote in our poll below:
This Monday is Columbus Day, a federal holiday which celebrates the man who discovered North America and helped lead to the continent eventually housing the country that is thriving here today.

Because the day is a holiday, several businesses, offices, and other places may have altered hours as a result. Below is a list of expected hours for various places.

OPEN:

National Parks: National Parks should be open, though you may need to check with individual sites, as some may have reduced hours, or could be closed in observance of the holiday.

Private Businesses: Check with local establishments to see what hours they may have. Some may be closed entirely, operate on a normal schedule, or may have reduced hours.

Restaurants: Expect most chain restaurants to be open and operating with normal hours, though call ahead to check.

Retail Stores: If you need to do some shopping, all stores, including Costco, Walmart, Target, Kohl's, Macy's Rite Aid, CVS and more are not only expected to be open, but with normal hours, though you should call individual locations to check. Many are also offering big sales in honor of the holiday.

Transportation Services: While transportation services should be open, the levels of service may be altered to reflect a holiday schedule. Check locally, but some of the more major transit services across the U.S. have the following schedules:

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA): No information on changes was available

Massachusetts Bay transit Authority (MBTA): Subways, Commuter Rail, Buses and Boat Services will all operate on a weekday schedule

Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA): Subway trains and all local, limited, SBS, and express buses will operate on with normal weekday service

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA): Metrorail will be open from 5 a.m. to midnight and will operate at Saturday service intervals, and off-peak fares will be in effect all day. Metrobus will operate on a Saturday supplemental schedule and some post-midnight trips on the Saturday schedule will not operate.

CLOSED:

Banks: Most, if not all banks are expected to be closed, though you should check with your specific financial institution to be sure.

Courts: State and local courts are closed.

Department of Motor Vehicles: All DMV offices are closed

Federal Offices: All federal offices (like IRS etc.) are closed

Libraries: Check with your local establishment, but all are expected to be closed on Monday

Municipal Offices: Municipal offices are expected to be closed

Post Office: All U.S. Post Offices are closed, and mail service is suspended for the day

Sanitation Department: Sanitation services and garbage collection is suspended

Schools: All schools are closed

State Offices: State offices should be closed

U.S. Stock Market: Financial markets are closed
Declines against the South African Rand extended for the Pound Sterling (GBP ZAR) on Friday after a computer error caused a flash crash widely reported in the media.

The Pound to South African Rand exchange rate today: +0.74 per cent higher at 1 GBP = 17.15744.

GBP/ZAR Exchange Rate News Pound Sterling to Rand close to two-year low

Pound Sterling to Rand close to two-year low ZAR Makes Solid Gains on GBP Weakness Gordhan upbeat on South African economy

Gordhan upbeat on South African economy GBP tumbled on Asian trading error Huge losses seen for Pound Sterling

Huge losses seen for Pound Sterling GBP/ZAR exchange rate forecast: Brexit fears continued to motivate GBP sell-off

Foreign exchange markets have seen the Pound to South African Rand exchange rate continue to plummet on Monday afternoon, taking the pairing back towards the lows it saw last Friday  and its lowest levels since 2013.

Sterling could continue to flounder until Thursdays session  or longer as the currency is being perceived as being increasingly politics-correlated

Comments from the head of the CBI have put the Pound under fresh pressure on Monday, with a warning that the UK risks losing its open economy as political rhetoric hardens.

As a result, with confidence in the South African economy improving, the Pound to Rand exchange rate has continued to slump at the start of the week.

Friday saw mass Sterling volatility after a flash crash in the Asian session started a significant Pound Sterling exchange rate decline.

After striking fresh lows overnight, potentially on the back of an automated trading error, GBP/ZAR exchange rates struggled to recover.

Markets spent all week reacting bearishly to the news from last weekend that Prime Minister Theresa May would activate Article 50 by the end of 2017 Q1 at the latest.

Latest Pound / Rand Exchange Rates

On Monday the Pound to British Pound exchange rate (GBP/GBP) converts at 1

The pound conversion rate (against pound) is quoted at 1 GBP/GBP.

Today finds the pound to indian rupee spot exchange rate priced at 95.568.

FX markets see the pound vs euro exchange rate converting at 1.162.

The live inter-bank GBP-USD spot rate is quoted as 1.153 today.

NB: the forex rates mentioned above, revised as of 31st Oct 2022, are inter-bank prices that will require a margin from your bank. Foreign exchange brokers can save up to 5% on international payments in comparison to the banks.

The South African Rand (ZAR) had managed to pressure Pound Sterling (GBP) lower over the past few days, supported by positive data.

While the Barclays manufacturing PMI remained in contraction, the above-forecast score of 49.5 showed a strong recovery towards growth territory.

Meanwhile, the Standard Bank PMI did return to growth, rising from 49.8 to 50.7, bettering expectations of a stagnation score of 50.

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan also helped to buoy South African Rand exchange rates after suggesting the outlook for the economy was becoming positive, noting;

We are going through a difficult economic patch at the moment but we may well have bottomed out.

Flash Crash to Have Lasting Detriment to British Pound (GBP) Exchange Rates

The fact UK data is sparse over the coming week may not make much difference considering the negligible impact even the services PMI recently had on GBP exchange rates.

The only medium impact on the data calendar this week will be the RICS house price balance for September.

The rest of the releases are low impact, and considering even usually volatile data last week failed to distract markets from their Brexit speculation, it is unlikely they will have much of an effect.

Speculation is likely to remain the key driver; whether Pound Sterling will be able to recover towards last weeks levels or continue to weaken from the current year-and-three-quarter low again ZAR remains to be seen.

Production Data and Gordhan Investigation to Drive Rand (ZAR) Exchange Rates

South African economic data over the coming week will concern output and could show that the significant decline seen in manufacturing and mining output has slowed.

Also likely to weigh on the Rand is the ongoing police investigation into Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

Cyril Ramaphosa, South African Deputy President, has recently expressed concerns about the adverse effect on the investigations, stating;

The law must take its course but in the execution of that legal process nothing must be done as to cause difficulty and problems for state institutions, the Treasury as an institution, and cause imbalances in the economy.
Born in England spent most of my life in New Zealand and am a dual citizen of UK and NZ.

I'm a freelancer, web designer, indie game dev, entrepreneur, blogger, writing mentor, art director, designer, filmmaker, scriptwriter and fiction writer.

I'm also training for a day job in the mental health sector, locally.

With plans to work in Television.

I was just wondering how difficult it is to get a permanent residency in Canada?

I'm planning a trip there in a year or two to check it out, but it looks perfect for me.

I have a friend who moved from NZ to Canada to work on planes as an engineer.



I would like to buy a cottage (as guest house and a home office/studio/event centre) and some land, as well as a refurb van in Quebec. Then build a tiny home.



Also I've seen some stuff about Montreal, does anybody have more info about things to eat, see and do in Quebec? Does Canada have gaming conventions? Is there a startup/gaming/filmmaking/arts community? What are the main industries in Quebec?
This is a day for two celebrations: Observance of Columbus Day and Canadian Thanksgiving.

According to traditional history, Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas, or the New World, although it wasnt new to the folks who lived in it, and Old Chris seemed to think he was in India.

Financed by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, he sailed from Palos, Spain, Aug. 3, 1492, and discovered Watling Island in the Bahamas Oct. 12, Cuba Oct. 18 and Haiti Dec. 6.

Columbus flagship, the Santa Maria, weighed 235 tons with 70 crew and was wrecked off Haiti Dec. 25, 1492.

No mention was made about Haitian rum having anything to do with the wreck.

But, what else would happen if a bunch of old salts sailed the seas from August to October and then went island-hopping until Christmas Day?

Columbus returned to the New World in 1493 to discover Puerto Rico, Dominica and Jamaica, and in 1498 to discover the Orinoco River. He made his fourth and last voyage to Honduras and Panama in 1502.

I think my school history books must have been printed in 1493 because I recall nothing about the Orinoco River or his fourth voyage. Or, I didnt pay attention in class that day. But since then I have learned that my history books left out a lot of reality.

Sometimes, I try to imagine landing on Caribbean islands without the welcoming steel drums putting earworm island songs in your head and souvie-seller guys hawking stuff while yelling Hey, mon!

Things sure have changed since Columbus and his crew were there. Imagine going to Cuba without getting a box of cigars with which to awe your friends, even if you dont smoke.

I recall vaguely that, in my school days, some history source mentioned that Norse sailors landed in North America before Columbus, but not too much was made of that information.

And, nobody ever mentioned that Canada had a Thanksgiving Day when I was in school. I thought it was strictly an American holiday. Note: At that time, most folks referred to the United States as America, without considering that residents of the other countries of the North and South American continents also were Americans.

Now, while watching documentaries about the colonization of the Americas by all sorts of Europeans, it definitely seems as if my classmates and I were given condensed, whitewashed, censored and often overly glorified versions about the Euro-conquest of the Americas.
First of two columns

Sometime between 1932 and 1934, my fathers 9-year-old brother, Bernardo G. Trevino, died after he was hit by a car while crossing Brazos Street. The young boy was one of several hundred buried in paupers graves at what became Stinson Field. Although I have been able to visit the gravesite with the airport manager, they have limited records available to indicate who is buried there. They only have about 20 confirmed names out of several hundred unmarked graves. I am hoping you or your readers can provide more detailed information on the location of Bernardos gravesite so that his 92-year-old brother can pay him one final visit.

 Frank Trevino

This was a hard one to let go of. Life was stingy to Bernardo  not nearly enough years, a terrible injury, parents who had to work hard for too little money and the bad luck to be hurt at a time when medicine offered little to help him. Even after his death, there was a lack of respect for the boys earthly remains. You and your father do Bernardo honor, though, and from what we have found, his parents did the best they could.

As of the 1930 census, Bernardo was 7 years old, living with his parents Macedonio and Juana Trevino and five siblings, including your father Francisco, age 6, in a rear apartment at 317 Chihuahua St. All of the children are said to have been born in Texas; none at that time attended school, including the boys two older sisters, ages eight and 12. Macedonios occupation is given as Laborer, as on the Mexican identification card you shared. Immigration year is given as 1930 for both parents, so they were newcomers. Under Speaks English, theres a no for both.

Newspaper stories, probably compiled from police reports, show that the family had moved a few blocks away, to 1322 Hidalgo St. According to the San Antonio Express, May 30, 1932, and the San Antonio Light of the same day, Bernardo was knocked down the day before in the 600 block of South Zarzamora Street near San Luis Street by a vehicle that seems not to have stopped. The Light story is headlined S.A. crashes injure 10, and the Express asserts that 11 persons hurt in auto crashes. Many of the victims in these and other such stories of the time were pedestrians, especially children and the elderly, who stepped off curbs and incurred everything from cuts and bruises to crushed feet or fractured skulls. Many were taken to Robert B. Green Hospital, where the medical staff would have been experienced in treating such cases.

Road vehicle traffic was lethal during this period, says Hugh Hemphill, author of San Antonio on Wheels: The Alamo City Learns to Drive and general manager of the Texas Transportation Museum. Safety was not much of a consideration at all, and driving drunk was common. Road markings and pedestrian crossings were rare. Visibility out of cars was not great.

When Bernardo was struck by what your father remembers as a dual rear-wheel truck, he was taken by C.D. Linn of 1816 Monterey St. to the city-county hospital that provided medical services to the indigent. According to the Express, Bernardo was treated in Robert B. Green Memorial Hospital for bruises. No arrest was made, presumably because the hit-and-run driver couldnt be found.

Bernardos injuries were much more serious than that, and they couldnt have come at a much worse time. 1932 and 1933 are generally agreed by historians to have been the worst years of the Great Depression. For 1932, GNP falls a record 13.4 percent; unemployment rises to 23.6 percent. Robert B. Green Hospital was staggeringly burdened by more needy patients than at any time since its 1917 founding. People were poor who hadnt been poor before. The hospital for at least a year during the early 1930s ran on scrip  a sort of IOU in place of payment in real currency during a time of bank failures and defaulting on property and other taxes. The year of Bernardos accident, the city made some drastic budget cuts but elected not to decrease its contribution to the hospital  when it actually needed a major increase.

Your father remembers a broken leg and deep scrapes and bruises, which is consistent with the information on his death certificate, but we dont know what diagnosis was made when he was brought to the hospital nor what was done for him there. While the University Hospital System, successor to the Robert B. Green Hospital, still has some of its ancestor institutions patient registries, no patient data from 1929 to 1940 has survived, says Karen Glenney, Ph.D., director of corporate records. She also checked Board of Managers minutes from the time of Bernardos accident but found no mention of him or his treatment,

Al Sanders, M.D., a retired orthopedic surgeon and former president of the Bexar County Medical Society, considered the causes cited on Bernardos death certificate and offered some conjectures. Its possible that Bernardo sustained an open fracture, where the bone broke through the skin  not uncommon in the case of trauma from a motor-vehicle collision. During Bernardos time in the hospital, his treatment probably would have included debridement (removal of damaged tissue), washing out the wound to clean it thoroughly and packing it with sterile gauze before putting Bernardos leg in a cast. From then on, as long as the alignment of the broken bone was good and stable, he would have been treated as an outpatient. Eventually, the cast would have been replaced with another, and the wound would have been checked and cleaned again.

Sanders says it could be that Bernardo developed a bacterial infection, probably staphylococcus or tetanus. The tetanus vaccine  nearly 100 percent effective in preventing the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control  was first used widely in the armed services during World War II, and the sulfa drugs that were the precursors of antibiotics as we know them were barely in the experimental stage the year he died. Either bacterium could have entered the wound, but a staph infection is more likely and might have resulted in osteomyelitis, an inflammation and infection of the bone.

Sanders referred me to an article, A History of Osteomyelitis from the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, published in the Bone and Joint Journal, May 31, 2007, that gives an overview of what Bernardos doctors might have done for him. Prior to the introduction of penicillin in 1940  the management of acute osteomyelitis was based on the principles of the American surgeon, Winnett Orr. The wound from the open fracture or surgery to remove diseased bone was left open and Vaseline gauze used for packing. The limb was then immobilized in plaster in a neutral position. Dressings and plasters were changed as infrequently as possible in an effort to reduce secondary infection.

Pain and fever, says the article, provided the main indication for inspection of the wound. No antiseptics were used as (this method) relied on the natural defense mechanisms of the tissues. Your father remembers that Bernardo had an infection; these symptoms may be what prompted your grandparents to take him back to the hospital. We dont know how long he was there, but we know from his death certificate that he died almost two months after his accident, at 2:15 p.m., July 27, 1932, in Robert B. Green Hospital.

Next week: A maze of cemeteries

historycolumn@yahoo.com

Twitter: @sahistorycolumn

Facebook: SanAntoniohistorycolumn
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The first period of any school day can be boisterous, with bells ringing, friends catching up on gossip and late arrivals rushing madly through doors.

But early on a Thursday morning, the students in teacher Jon Aguados history class at Animo Ralph Bunche High School in Los Angeles are respectful and silent.

The only sounds are the low hum of a ventilation system and the soft voice of guest speaker Gabriella Karin recounting her chilling experiences in Slovakia during World War II.

Born to Jewish parents who operated a delicatessen in the heart of Bratislava, she was 11 when she and her family were forced into hiding  much like Anne Frank  to avoid deportation to a Nazi concentration camp.

In this small, one-bedroom apartment were hiding eight people, she tells the classroom, holding up a picture of the building in which her family hid as it looks today. Imagine for nine months sitting on a chair and not being able to move. I could not talk.

We were always hungry, adds Karin, who at 85 rocks a chic, asymmetrical bob. There was never enough.

The class is rapt. When the presentation ends, with a few thoughtful questions from students and a round of applause, the kids, rather than delving into a deep discussion about the history of the Holocaust, reach for art supplies: markers and paint brushes and paper and stacks of Plexiglas discs that will serve as their canvas.

Karins talk  and the flurry of art-making that follows  is part of an innovative program established by the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust that uses art to teach public schoolchildren about the Holocaust.

For three years, the museum has partnered with three high schools and one junior high in underserved areas, all in South Los Angeles neighborhoods, arranging for L.A. schoolkids to visit the museum and for guest speakers from the museum to visit those schools in return.

These exchanges culminate in collaborative class art projects  paintings, installations, group quilts and massive mobiles made out of Plexiglas discs  that the museum then displays in its galleries.

Aguado, the energetic teacher who helped spearhead the program, says that artistic engagement can offer a more profound connection to the subject matter than a lecture alone.

For students, it can be hard to express their emotions and thoughts, he said. For these talks, we dont ask them to write an essay. In this way, they can express themselves more fully without fear of judgment.

In the process, his students get to learn about a dark chapter in history from those who lived it  and survived.

Samara Hutman, executive director at the museum, says the program offers a vital point of contact between L.A. schoolchildren and the last generation of Holocaust and Jewish World War II survivors, many of whom are now in their 80s and 90s.

The art is so important because it really allows the kids to see something through other lenses, she says. Kids understand that these personal histories are valuable.

I feel like in a talk, you can miss out on the details, says 16-year-old sophomore Ximena Reyes, who would one day like to be a journalist. But with art, you can express the details, you can fill in the blanks.

For her painting, she created a cave to represent the Holocaust.

Out of it, emerge flocks of birds  her symbol for survivors.

It helps me understand the importance of standing up for the right things, she adds. If everything stays quiet, nothing changes.

Share Our Stories: Reflections Through Art, as the program is called, was born of a conversation between Aguado and Hutman in 2013.

Aguado had attended a teachers program at the museum and was touched by something the director had remarked on.

Samara said that this generation of students will probably be the last generation to meet a survivor, he recalls. Those words always stuck with me. I always tell my students, You are special that you get to do this.

But regular field trips to the museum for his history students were out of the question for financial reasons: We just didnt have funding for a field trip.

Thats where the museum  and a grant from the Max H. Gluck Foundation  came in.

We said, if you cant come to the museum, Hutman explains, we will bring the museum to you.

The pilot program was led by Aguado at Animo Ralph Bunche, where his students collaborated on a quilt inspired by the life story of a Holocaust survivor. (A number of these now decorate his classroom.)

It was really about thinking, how do we break down the walls of the museum? explains Hutman.

Karin, who has been involved with the Museum of the Holocaust for roughly two decades as a docent, guest speaker and exhibiting artist (she is a sculptor), says she is pleased to see the ways that her story can inspire others.

Its uplifting, she says. Its seeing the kids create something that wasnt there before.

On the day that she speaks to the students at Animo Rulph Bunche, she recounts the story of her youth  an idyllic upbringing brought to a halt by the Nazi occupation.

When Karin was prohibited from going to school because she was Jewish, her parents created false identity papers that listed her as Christian and sent her off to a Christian boarding school where she says she often cried herself to sleep.

My name was not my name, she recalls. My birthday was not my birthday.

By 1944, the entire family was forced into hiding  stowed away by a family friend, a lawyer named Karol Blanar, who hid them in a small apartment building in central Bratislava whose bylaws didnt allow Jews as residents. (Which means the Nazis were unlikely to search the place.)

To occupy herself during that period, Karin says she read everything she could lay her hands on  from Dostoevsky to Tolstoy.

Everything can be taken from you  even the clothes you wear, Karin tells the class. But no one can take away whats in your head, so put good things in there.
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There is no doctors office in the tiny city of Somerset, population 1,700.

There is a clinic, although many families cant afford to go there for the shots and vision screenings required to enroll their children in public schools. So the Somerset Independent School District, with a 30 percent student poverty rate, pays for those services at its campuses.

Nor is there a grocery store within the boundaries of Somerset ISD, which encompasses the city and surrounding rural area straddling Bexar and Atascosa Counties. The nearest H-E-B is in Lytle, 9 miles away from the city. Somerset ISD serves free breakfast and summer meals to all its students.

When there are services that are needed, theyre not here, said Saul Hinojosa, superintendent of Somerset ISD. For someone who lives in poverty, its got to be much tougher living out here than it is living in the city of San Antonio.

Yet federal government data show the Title I program, which distributes $15 billion this year among school districts nationwide to ensure poor students have the same educational opportunities as their peers, allocates less money per poor student to Somerset than to wealthier districts, including Northside and North East ISDs.

According to an analysis from U.S. News & World Report, which used data from the U.S. Department of Education and the Census Bureau, school districts in small cities and rural areas all over the country are receiving less Title I money per poor student than their larger urban counterparts. The trend plays out in parts of Bexar County, where Northside and North East ISDs receive at least $1,000 per student in poverty, compared to $926 in Southside ISD and $789 in Somerset ISD, according to government figures. Northside and North East both have child poverty rates of about 18 percent, while Southside and Somerset have child poverty rates exceeding 30 percent, according to Census Bureau estimates.

The federal government allocates Title I money based on four formulas rolled into one. The overall effect gives more weight to the number of poor students in a district than to the concentration of poverty in the district, according to U.S. News.

The federal government stipulates school districts must use Title I money to supplement, not supplant required staff and programs for the benefit of poor students. Schools with a poverty rate of at least 40 percent can apply Title I money campus-wide without verifying whether individual students are eligible.

While the No Child Left Behind Act was being rewritten last year, members of Congress proposed changing the Title I formula to focus on the concentration, rather than the number, of poor students in school districts. They argued that districts with lower concentrations of poverty have more local resources to support the poor students they enroll. Those proposals failed in part because large urban areas, such as school districts in Chicago and New York City, would have lost money, according to national media coverage.

Somerset ISD received about $857,000 in Title I funding for the 2015-2016 school year, a number that jumped to $929,000 with carryover funds from the previous year. The district enrolled about 4,000 students last year.

The district uses the money for after-school tutoring, parent liaisons and a parent symposium, instructional aides and reading and math specialists for students who are falling behind, said Phillip Chavez, Somerset ISDs former program development officer. Some is spent on reading instructional technology for English-language learners and others who need extra help, he said.

As the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness approach in the spring, the tutoring is focused on those standardized tests, Chavez said.

We can see students who do not attend the after-school tutoring may not do as well as those that do, he said.

The district has a lot of ground to make up. Only 30 percent of its eighth-graders passed the state standardized math exam this year, the lowest passing rate in Bexar County.

With more Title I money, the district could hire more secondary intervention specialists and buy more instructional technology, Chavez said.

When Title I allocations are announced every year, Chavez sees Somersets award on a list with all the other Bexar County school districts. He sees Northsides comparatively huge amount and doesnt bat an eye: Northside is the biggest school district in Bexar County, with a total enrollment exceeding 105,000. But Chavez never calculated the disparities in Title I allocations per poor student.

It makes me ask why, he said. What other factors are they using to determine that?

Different needs

At $1,148, San Antonio ISD had one of the highest Title I allocations per poor student in Bexar County, according to government figures. It also had the second-highest concentration of child poverty, at about 40 percent. The district enrolls about 53,000 students.

SAISD uses its Title I allocation to expand pre-kindergarten from a half day to a full day at all but a few elementary schools, said Larry Garza, the districts chief financial officer. Somerset ISD also expanded its pre-K programs to a full day, but paid the costs out of its own budget, Chavez said.

Title I also pays for supplemental tutoring, a family engagement program, staff development and standardized test preparation in SAISD, where all but a few campuses have schoolwide Title I programs, Garza said.

SAISDs students who fall below the poverty threshold might live in housing projects or group homes, Garza said. They might not always have electricity. They might not have their own computers.

They have things that they have to deal with at home, and sometimes they have to work, Garza said. They struggle, more so than your typical middle-class students.

Yet state and federal funding to SAISD has decreased every year, at a faster rate than the districts shrinking enrollment, Garza said. The Legislature will reconvene next year, renewing the debate over school finance.

We have a lot of concern over how were going to meet the continuing needs of our students, Garza said.

All seven of Somersets campuses receive schoolwide Title I funds. In Northside, 49 of 115 campuses receive Title I funds.

Of Northsides $19.5 million allocation, about $3.4 million is reserved for the district office to run a wide range of services similar to those in Somerset ISD, according to school officials. Northside also uses Title I to pay for summer enrichment programs, school improvement programs and support for homeless students. The remaining money goes directly to Title I schools, which spend it on staff, materials and professional development.

Superintendent Brian T. Woods said Title I should be funded in a way that takes concentrations of poverty into account at the campus level.

Take a Title I kid at a school that has 20 percent Title I kids, that kid is kind of surrounded by a community of kids that looks differently, Woods said. Then take that same kid and put him in a school with 80 percent disadvantaged, those kids are essentially funded the same way, when the schools dont look at all the same. The schools are different, the dynamics are different, the needs are different, so its more about the funding structure that I would change, not the fundamentals about Title I.

Some school district administrators said their Title I allocations differed from the federal governments data. SAISD actually received about $25.7 million in Title I funding, and not $27.7 million as the U.S. Department of Education indicates, Garza said. The Texas Education Agency keeps some of the money, Garza said.

Additionally, the governments enrollment estimates are based on a census count of the children who live within school district boundaries and do not account for local children who attend charter or private schools.

The disparity is glaringly apparent at Randolph Field ISD, which according to the federal government receives the most Title I funding per poor student in Bexar County, at $1,531. However, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates 416 students attend the schools on Joint Base San Antonio - Randolph, while the true enrollment number is closer to 1,150, said Susan Bendele, the school districts director of curriculum and instruction. The difference may be due to the many students who live outside the district, but whose parents serve at Randolph, qualifying them to attend Randolph ISD.

Randolph Field ISD spends its Title I money, about $79,000 last year, on reading support staff for elementary students, Bendele said.

I dont feel like the process needs to change, she said. I think we are always looking for more money if more money is available, but we feel like we target that money really specifically to a really important purpose of early reading support for kids.

amalik@express-news.net

vdavis@express-news.net
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With handshakes and hugs from El Paso to San Antonio, congressional candidate Pete Gallego has been reconnecting with Democratic supporters as he tries to recapture giant District 23 from Republican Will Hurd.

Gallegos longtime friends across the border region offer assurances that he can win on Nov. 8.

In 2014 he lost to Hurd in the 29-county district by 2,422 votes out of 115,429 cast, and this time he could benefit from Latinos anti-GOP sentiment surrounding the presidential race.

I have never seen a presidential election become such a local issue to so many people, Gallego said last week in Val Verde County, one of the four border counties where Gallego outpolled Hurd two years ago, along with El Paso, Brewster and Maverick.

Repeating victory in those areas might not be enough for Gallego, however. He also would have to do far better in Bexar and Medina counties, where he lost to Hurd by 9,325 and 4,027 votes respectively. Hoping to maintain his edge in San Antonios suburbs, Hurd has campaigned heavily in the eastern end of the district and distanced himself from GOP standard-bearer Donald Trump.

With a month to go in the race, national pundits and pollsters rate the contest a dead heat. The congressional race, which started shortly after Hurd won in 2014, is one of a few nationwide  and the only one in Texas  deemed competitive.

Hurd and Gallego are competing with Libertarian Ruben S. Corvalan, who collected 2.5 percent of the vote in 2014. Hurd won with 49.8 percent over Gallegos 47.7 percent.

By narrow outcomes  and not dependent on which candidate had the most money  control of the district repeatedly has flipped between the two parties in recent election cycles.

Hurd has raised $2.6, million compared with $1.3 million for Gallego, according to most recent records by the Federal Election Commission.

Despite the money disparity, Gallego, an Alpine native, said its the Democrats time again. His strategy has involved pressing the flesh across the 29 counties, attacking Hurd with ads that link him to Trump, and stoking turnout for the start of early voting Oct. 24, with outside help from the national party and super PACs.

Hurd scampers across the same territory trumpeting his legislative achievements and bashing Gallego as ineffective in his single term. All the while, Hurds attack ads in English and Spanish rip Gallegos performance in Congress, criticizing him for failing to help veterans and for being an ally of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Last week, when Gallego was endorsed in San Antonio by House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, Hurd sought to undercut that support with praise from a Virginia Democrat who sits on Hurds information technology subcommittee who said Hurd works across the partisan aisle.

Hurd stepped up his attack at an Express-News Editorial Board, claiming Gallego is not popular in a 71 percent Hispanic district.

For me, this race was won or lost over the last 21 months. This is about the services Ive been able to provide this district, and I dont believe in coattails because I have a unique relationship with the constituents, Hurd said.

Guerrilla warfare

Gallego and Hurd usually duel at a distance, and policy issues that come up in their race include the economy, military and veteran affairs, immigration and border trade, with the candidates clashing mightily over who better addressed these issues.

On the campaign trail in Del Rio last week, Gallego didnt have to go into detail on his policies. Swarmed by supporters at his headquarters, Gallego played catchup with people hes known for decades  as a young prosecutor, Texas House member and congressman.

Hes almost like a Del Rio resident because he has spent so much time here, said 63rd District Attorney Fred Hernandez. Although Val Verde County has a growing GOP, he expects Gallego to prevail again.

I do see his campaign doing the things they need to be doing in order to win an election  the block-walking, the door-to-door guerrilla warfare of politics, Hernandez said.

Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez also likes Gallegos odds there.

The key is going to be getting the people out to vote. This is a very important election cycle, not just for Pete but for everyone on the ticket, Martinez said, adding that Hurd has a base of support in Del Rio as well.

Hes established some roots here, I just dont know how deep they are, Martinez said.

San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated ISD board president Cecilia Martinez-Lozano offered her reasons for supporting Gallego, and admonished others to vote.

As a state lawmaker, Gallego focused on bringing people together to improve our schools, making positive changes to our criminal justice system by enhancing fairness, and crafting a strict budget that better reflected priorities of serving our children, our students, our veterans and all Texas families, she said.

In the 2014 election, he lost the seat to the Republican challenger because too many of us stayed at home. This year I hope we don't make that mistake again, Martinez-Lozano said.

Ready to vote for Gallego is Val Verde County Constable Barry C. West, whos also been a firefighter and deputy going back to 1978.

Im a veteran. He looks out for the veterans, I know that for a fact, West said.

Gallego, a Texas House member from 1991-2013, fondly described how he built his Del Rio following, initially operating out of an old Whataburger. He befriended an Alpine teachers brother and the circle got bigger and bigger.

I started out staying in Motel 6 and people said no, you dont need to do that, so I started staying in everybodys houses and now Del Rio is home, Gallego said.

Registrations increase

The challenger contends an increase in voter registrations among Latinos could help him win, though turnout was discouraging in 2014.

The last election was pretty close  2,400 out of 120,000  but the turnout was down by more than 50 percent in a lot of the Latino communities. This time, youre not going to see that, Gallego said.

This summer, voter registration was up about 25 percent in the 29 counties of the 23rd than it was four years before. More than half of that was Latino surname, but for me the really cool part was that fully 25 percent of it was in four border counties (El Paso, Maverick, Val Verde and Brewster) where I tend to get about 70 percent of the vote, he said.

Now the challenge is to get people from the registration table to the voting booth, Gallego said.

Gallego said hes unfazed by an onslaught of negative advertising from Hurds campaign and others.

Hurd was asked by the city of San Antonio to take down a TV campaign ad that showed city employees, who claimed they were filmed without permission, at a veterans town hall. And both candidates have resorted to negative advertising that twists the truth: one on Hurd's support of a border wall, and one on Gallegos legal work construed as federal lobbying, which by law he is prohibited from doing.

Im feeling really good because theyre having to buy more TV, Gallego said. But the other really cool thing for me is theyre trying the kitchen sink approach  throwing everything.

When youre at the point where youre just throwing everything, then it shows that youre really desperate and frankly, seeing what were seeing. theyre polling and were polling and the data clearly favors me, Gallego said.

Attacks en espanol

To counter Hurds attacks, Gallego is airing Spanish-language radio ads that say Trump and Hurd oppose equal pay for women and increasing the minimum wage. But hes also making the rounds to raise funds and reunite with backers. In recent days hes campaigned in El Paso, Sierra Blanca, Alpine, Marfa, Valentine, Terlingua and Eagle Pass.

There is so much interest in this presidential election and people are so unhappy with what is going on, the comments being made. One of the candidates continues stirring the pot, making more and more interest and more and more incentive, so Im hopeful, Gallego said.

I am a person of faith, he added. At the end of the days its in hands much bigger than mine. Meantime, Im not going to stop working until 8 p.m. on Nov. 8, and its 8 p.m. because I have an extra hour in El Paso, he said.

The western tip of the district is in the Mountain Time Zone, but doesnt include many voters. About 6,700 votes were cast in eastern El Paso County in 2014  the district doesnt reach into the city  and less than 400 in Hudspeth County.

In his 2014 defeat, Gallego narrowly prevailed in Hudspeth County, 198-180. He also won in Brewster, Culberson, Dimmit, Jeff Davis, LaSalle, Maverick, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Terrell and Zavala counties.

In addition to winning in Medina and Bexar, Hurd won in Crane, Crockett, Edwards, Kinney, Loving, Reagan, Schleicher, Sutton, Upton, Uvalde, Ward and Winkler counties. His victory in Loving County, the states least populated, was by a margin of 30-10.

Hurd makes inroads

Since taking office, Hurd has impressed some Democrats along the way. Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber said Hurd has been in Eagle Pass when he is needed. Hes shown that hes helping the community no matter what party it is, he said.

Hurd said hes made friends in predominantly Democratic and Latino Maverick County because hes helped them without regard to their politics.

I dont care whether you voted for me or not. And thats why you dont see any elected officials trashing me  You dont see that anywhere across the district because of the manner in which weve operated, Hurd said.

A confident Hurd said hes also gained bipartisan support by focusing on basic constituent services and outreach.

Weve closed over 500 cases of veterans dealing with VA issues, he said. Ive been to every county multiple times. Ive done over 400 events. We have a level of support that we didnt have two years ago, Hurd said.

jgonzalez@express-news.net

Twitter: @johnwgonzalez
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A massive painting that depicts a breathtaking sunrise over the 1836 Alamo and has hung in the lobby of the Emily Morgan Hotel for nearly five years is up for sale.

Georgia artist Mark Lemon, whose works have included vibrant color scenes of the storied battle site, is asking for $50,000 for the painting, which is mounted behind the hotels reception desk and measures 6 feet tall and 12 feet wide. Another $10,000 secures copyright privileges, including the option to produce stationery with the image.

Under a five-year agreement with the hotel, the painting, titled The Dawn of Texas, must stay there until March 6, 2017  the anniversary of the early morning battle. But since the hotel recently decided not to buy it, Lemon said hes seeking offers from the public.

Its the very first painting I did of any substantial size, Lemon said. The subject matter lends itself to an epic-scale painting. Putting the Alamo in a small picture just doesnt do it justice.

The work depicts the Alamos mission-era church and Long Barrack, abandoned on the morning of May 26, 1836, after Texas won independence from Mexico. Mexican forces had destroyed much of the Alamo compound, then withdrawn from San Antonio, Lemon said.

Water puddles in the lower portion, reflecting bright blue, orange and yellow hues of the morning sky, add visual balance to the work, added Lemon, who spent about two months painting it in his garage in Georgia.

Robert Mayo, acting general manager at the Emily Morgan, located in a well recognized 13-story, 1926 building at the battle site, just outside the footprint of the 1836 Alamo compound, said the hotel does not dispute Lemons option to put the painting up for sale. The hotel cannot pay the current asking price, he said.

We just cant afford $60,000, Mayo said. Its a beautiful painting. Weve been happy to have it. Wed be more than happy to keep it here.

Lemon said the work may stay at the hotel indefinitely until he finds a buyer. Under the agreement, the painting must remain on display, or be returned to Georgia at the hotels expense. Anyone interested in buying it can contact Lemon by email at mark.lemon@att.net.

Also for sale is his even larger, more recent work, The Storming of the Alamo, March 6, 1836, measuring 8 feet tall and 15 feet wide, that has been on display at Alamo Beer Co. on the near East Side since March 2015.

Lemon has called the intricately detailed, carefully researched work, which depicts an elevated view from the northwest about 20 minutes into the battle, the largest painting in the world that shows the entire battle going on. He spent 14 months painting it, enduring a painful bout with shingles, an arthritic wrist and eyestrain to complete it.

Lemon, 61, said he is not real firm on an asking price, but hopes to get at least $75,000 for the larger work.

Lemon also had built a 15-by-13-foot Alamo diorama that rock star and Alamo devotee Phil Collins had shipped in 2009 from Lemons home in Georgia to the History Shop, north of the Alamo. Collins has said he paid six figures to buy the scene and ship it to Texas for public display.

shuddleston@express-news.net

Twitter: @shuddlestonSA
Professional artists labored for hours over murals. Teams of students created flamenco dancers, Pokemon, sea creatures and skylines. Toddlers sprawled in the street on their stomachs, their entire bodies intent on spirited scribbling.

They made art both abstract and figurative  planets, suns, owls, butterflies, fish, happy faces  and all of it temporary. By today, it all may be faded or vanished. But that was the point at Chalk It Up, the annual event from Artpace that turns several blocks of Houston Street and sidewalks into a downtown art canvas.

People who didnt want to draw on the ground could decorate a piano instead. It stood in the middle of the street, keys plinking as kids rubbed chalk across them.

To judge by the messages left on Houston Street, there were several birthdays celebrated Sunday. Emma was here. So was a bachelorette party.

Haiku were hung like laundry by strings across. The group Guerilla Haiku Movement handed out sheets of black paper and encouraged people to create poetry.

Some stuck with the traditional structure of the Japanese poetry: three lines (the first and last lines with three syllables, the middle line has seven syllables). Others wandered a bit off form, but stayed within the spirit: Tower standing tall/ Manu, Tony, Kawhi, all/ San Antonio is home.

There was even a personal ad: Dear tall blonde man in Zeppelin shirt, I would love to buy you a beer!

The event benefits Artpaces free education programs for children, which serve about 14,000 students each year. Artpace was founded in 1993 by artist, collector, and businesswoman Linda Pace, who died in 2007. This was the the 13th annual Chalk It Up event. Childrens art activities  other than grabbing some chalk and sitting down  included button making and coloring stations.

Sierra Arteaga, a freshman at Reagan High School, said the original plan for the schools robotics club was to make a robot that could draw. We didnt have it ready in time, Arteaga said. Instead, they went with a drawing of a robot.

Skylar DeLeon, a 10th grader at the Advanced Learning Academy, said a few afternoon meetings and one practice session on the school sidewalk helped the group of seven student artists settle on a mural of planets and puzzle pieces. We all kind of liked the idea of space, DeLeon said. The puzzle pieces represented the breaking apart of societal issues.

Several artists worked a full day on a massive mural of the San Antonio Art Museums distinct facade. It featured pieces of the museums collection  each of them placed in the proper wing of the chalk building.

This is a tiger from our Korean collection, artist Anna Brown said as she stood in the bottom left corner of the museum and drew with black and yellow on the brick street. This is definitely different than anything Ive ever done.

School groups and invited artists worked on designated plots of sidewalk and street. But there was plenty of space for people who were inclined to do so to make the massive Stay Puft Marshmallow Man of Ghostbusters, Tim Duncans Spurs jersey or Edvard Munch The Scream.

There was also this message, surrounded by swirls, a rainbow and a sun:

Earth without art is just eh.

jhiller@express-news.net

Twitter: @Jennifer_Hiller
WASHINGTON  Influential Republicans began to abandon Donald Trump by the dozens Saturday after the release of a video showing him speaking of women in vulgar sexual terms, delivering a punishing blow to his campaign and plunging the party into crisis a month before the election.

Fearing his candidacy was on the verge of undermining the entire Republican ticket next month, a group of senators and House members withdrew their support for him Saturday, with some demanding that he step aside. Trump, however, vowed to stay in the race.

The list of party figures publicly rejecting Trump included a host of prominent elected officials, perhaps most notably Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the 2008 nominee. I thought it important I respect the fact that Donald Trump won a majority of the delegates by the rules our party set, McCain said in a statement. But Donald Trumps behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy.

And in an unheard-of rebuke to his own running mate, Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, declined to appear on Trumps behalf at a party gathering in Wisconsin and offered him something of an ultimatum Saturday afternoon.

Pence said in a statement he was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the video, and cast Trumps second debate with Hillary Clinton, on Sunday, as an urgent moment to turn around the campaign.

I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them, Pence said, adding, We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night.

By early evening, no fewer than 35 Republican members of Congress and governors who had not previously ruled out supporting Trump disavowed his candidacy, an unprecedented desertion by the institutional Republican Party of its own standard-bearer.

The growing wall of opposition recalled the determination of the party establishment this year to deny Trump the nomination in the first place. But while he easily swatted away that effort to derail his candidacy, Trump now finds himself in a far more precarious state. Facing a more vast and diverse electorate, his underfunded and lightly organized campaign was already listing before the videotape was released.

Aides described Trump as shaken, watching news coverage of the video with a mix of disbelief and horror. Shortly after midnight, he had released a videotaped statement, saying, Ive said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more than a decade-old video are one of them.

In a brief telephone interview Saturday, he shrugged off the calls to leave the presidential race, saying he would never drop out of this race in a million years.

I havent heard from anyone saying I should drop out, and that would never happen, never happen, Trump said. Thats not the kind of person I am. I am in this until the end.

Far from sounding rattled, Trump insisted he could still prevail in November.

Oh yeah we can win  we will win, he said. We have tremendous support. I think a lot of people underestimate how loyal my supporters are.

A couple of hours later, the campaign released a statement from his wife, Melania. The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me, she said. This does not represent the man that I know.

I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world, she said.

But the situation had grown so dire that many in the party were all but pleading with him to withdraw and let Pence serve as the presidential nominee. On Saturday afternoon, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, chairman of the Republican Conference, became the senior-most Republican to call on Trump to end his bid and make way for Pence.

The exodus began late Friday when a handful of Utah Republicans who said they would support Trump indicated that they no longer could tolerate their nominee. Trump has long faced bitter resistance in the Mountain West, in large part because he is deeply disliked by Mormon voters.

But it was not until a pair of conservative women, U.S. Reps. Barbara Comstock of Virginia and Martha Roby of Alabama, implored Trump to withdraw that previously hesitant Republicans stepped forward to reject Trumps candidacy.

Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire was the first Republican facing a competitive re-election to say she would no longer back Trump, announcing in a statement that she would write in Pence for president instead.

Im a mom and an American first, and I cannot and will not support a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting women, she wrote on Twitter.

Ayotte was joined just hours later by McCain, who is also running for re-election, and U.S. Rep. Joe Heck of Nevada, one of the partys prized Senate candidates and until recently a favorite to win the seat now held by Sen. Harry Reid, the Democratic minority leader who is retiring.

It was an admission that Trump now posed an immediate threat to their own candidacies and that, to have any chance to survive, they had to risk angering his ardent supporters. At a party gathering Saturday in Wisconsin, House Speaker Paul Ryan, who had disinvited Trump and said he was sickened by the video, was greeted with a few boos, and Heck was both jeered and applauded when he announced to a crowd in Nevada that he was not backing the presidential nominee.

Ryan told his crowd he would not be discussing the elephant in the room, the 2005 video showing a bus that had Trump aboard, and included an audio recording of him privately bantering with other men.

Trump, then newly married to Melania Trump, crassly boasted about groping womens genitals, vulgarly commented on their bodies and generally described women as sex objects who could not resist his advances.

In his video statement released just after midnight Saturday, Trump said: Anyone who knows me knows these words dont reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize.

I pledge to be a better man tomorrow and will never, ever let you down, he added, before ending the message with a promise to bring up the sex scandals of Bill Clintons presidency and Hillary Clintons response to them.

Inside Trump Tower, Trumps defiant public responses belied the reality of a 24-hour period in which he was alternately angry and distressed, according to two people with direct knowledge of his behavior, who were granted anonymity to discuss private conversations.

Trump and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, initially expressed skepticism upon hearing word that such an audiotape existed, saying those comments did not sound like him. When Trump heard the tape played, he acknowledged it was him, but he had believed the fallout would not be dramatic.

Pence, however, was dismayed, and called into Trump headquarters Friday night to urge Trump to apologize.

On Saturday morning, Pence called Trump and told him he had to handle the next 48 hours alone because he did not think he would be an effective surrogate.

Trump, after monitoring cable television coverage, realized he was becoming isolated by his party.

Trumps aides did not explicitly ask top advisers and allies to do their usual defense of Trumps comments, according to one person briefed on the discussions, but they did ask people to stand strong by his side. A few supporters did, including Ben Carson; the conservative radio host Laura Ingraham; and Robert and Rebekah Mercer, the wealthy father and daughter who are perhaps Trumps most important backers, and who said in a statement that they considered the video locker room braggadocio.

America is finally fed up and disgusted with its political elite, they said. Trump is channeling this disgust and those among the political elite who quake before the boombox of media blather do not appreciate the apocalyptic choice that America faces on Nov. 8.

By Saturday evening, however, none of Trumps most ferocious defenders  Newt Gingrich, Chris Christie or Rudy Giuliani  had spoken in support of him. Giuliani and Christie had gone to Trump Tower at about noon to huddle with Trump and try to get in some debate preparation.

Just before 5 p.m., Trump emerged, briskly striding through his gilded lobby to a waiting crowd of supporters on the sidewalk. He pumped his right fist in the air as his fans surrounded him.

Hundred percent, Trump told reporters who yelled questions about whether he would stay in the race. He ignored questions about the defections by Republicans, and went back inside after about five minutes.

Meanwhile, leading Republicans were demanding that the Republican National Committee, which has been helping the Trump campaign financially and organizationally, abandon Trump and turn its attention to salvaging other candidates down the ballot.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., said the committee should no longer defend the indefensible.

He called on Reince Priebus, the party chairman, to force Trump off the ticket  or face the consequences.

The chairman of the RNC must look out for the good of the party as a whole, so he should be working to get him to step down, Dent said. If he cant, then he should step down.

The committee remained silent Saturday as members of Congress began fleeing from Trump, not responding to news media inquiries and, senior Republican officials said, not coordinating with other campaign organizations. However, one senior Republican official said Priebus was deeply distressed. He went to Trump Tower early in the afternoon to talk to Trump.

Meanwhile, powerful donors and business interests signaled that they would redirect their attention to down-ballot candidates. Republican power brokers had hoped until recently that Trump might make a credible showing in the presidential election, aiding the party in its other crucial races.

But Republicans now say that their worst fears have come to pass, as Trump has unraveled in a series of staggering missteps after his first debate with Clinton.

Even before Trumps 2005 comments came to light, internal Republican polling showed him rapidly losing ground among three groups that had long been wary of his candidacy: independents, women and voters with college degrees.

That slide is likely to accelerate now, Republicans said, potentially sending voters fleeing toward Democrats or convincing them that they should stay home on Nov. 8. Either outcome would be ruinous for Republican candidates beyond the presidential race.

Fred Malek, an influential Republican donor who is the finance chairman of the Republican Governors Association, said Trumps comments had been beyond disgusting and were likely to harm other Republicans. Malek said candidates and lawmakers should be free to repudiate Trump if they believed it was necessary.

It will be difficult in the extreme for him to recover from this, but the biggest impact is likely to be its effect on all the down-ballot races, Malek said. If they pull the plug on support for Trump, the vast majority of voters will certainly understand that, and most will respect it.
Frustrated with his run-of-the-mill office job, David Grabowski did what any fed-up 20-something would and purchased a tiny aircraft to fly across the country at 50 mph while being filmed for a documentary.

The 26-year-old Grabowski was expected to made his stop in the San Antonio area Sunday morning when he lands at Boerne Stage Field.

He flies in a single-seat, weight-shift control, or trike, aircraft.

On Sunday, Grabowski will be on day 23 of a 45-day-flight that retraces the 1911 course of Cal Rogers, the first man to fly across country.

His days are spent in the sky, while at night he sleeps in a classic Volkswagen van that, along with his crew, is following his progress.

Along the way there have been bumps and, a lot of unexpected weather delays, Grabowski said Friday.

He was recently stranded in Del Rio after the van broke down in El Paso. But these new problems are still better appreciated when not tied to an office chair.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Grabowski has spent the last three years in California where he learned how to handle the trike, and formulated his ambitious flight plan.

I was depressed and felt trapped in my single-window office, so I decided to create an adventure, writes Grabowski on his website.

This new adventure, he says, with all its ups and downs, has given him the opportunity to learn a new skill set and challenge himself in unprecedented ways.

He says the flight has changed his life, and once he completes this adventure, he'll prepare for a larger one when he becomes a dad in March.

Life is crazy, he said, but a lot clearer when seen from thousands of feet up in the air.

After San Antonio, Grabowski's next stop was Austin, then Dallas and beyond.
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When Judge Richard Garcia walked into his third-floor courtroom Friday morning, it was the final step toward the start of a 13-year-old boys new life. Clad in a red robe dotted with cartoon kid faces, Garcia was greeted by a dozen boys and adults wearing purple in honor of the boy named John.

Wheres your purple? the youngest child, Murdoch, asked.

Like Clark Kent changing to his super alter-ego, Garcia grinned and opened his robe to reveal a purple shirt, showing hed received the memo to wear Johns favorite color for the event.

Johns foster parents, Tameka Williams and Yolanda Anderson, watched with pride as the judge called the teen to stand at the bench with him. They were surrounded by their five sons, who within minutes could officially call John their brother.

After reviewing adoption papers from attorney Sally Justice, Garcia granted Williams and Andersons request. John rushed into the arms of his parents, who had a surprise for him: a new first name, Jayden, to go with his new beginnings.

My two moms, theyre nice, Jayden said after the ceremony. They care for me, thats why they always stay on me.

Cheered on by his family, therapist, caseworker, and teacher, Jayden became the fourth child Williams and Anderson adopted at the Bexar County children's court. The teen joins five brothers that include Tameka Williams biological sons, Lynell, 17 and Micaylon, 14; and the couples three adopted children, Tyrell Anderson-Williams, 9, Raymond, 12, and Murdoch, 7.

Justice represented the first two boys, Raymond and Murdoch, both brothers, and Tyrell in the court. She said Jaydens adoption wouldnt have happened without therapist Aaron Castillo, who knew that the couple was looking for an older child.

They took on children that require a lot of attention, Justice said. Theyve opened their hearts to kids that might have a difficult time finding a home. Its really thrilling to see a kid Jaydens age find such a fabulous home.

According to a fiscal year 2015 report, 17,151 children were removed from their homes in Texas and 27,895 children were placed in Child Protective Services custody. That same year, federal reports show 392 children were adopted in Texas, with 5,647 children adopted in all 50 states.

Williams and Anderson worked with Pathways, a nonprofit that offers several programs including foster care, adoption services, community-based services and a residential treatment center.

Caseworker Betty Trevino said Jayden has flourished in the womens care. Diagnosed with short term memory, he went from reading a 12-page book in an hour to just 20 minutes since Williams and Anderson began working with him.

They are what foster parents should strive to be, Trevino, a family specialist, said. Theyre a family willing to take a chance on kids who are overlooked.

When the pair decided to open their home to a child with special needs, the caseworker suggested Tyrell, who didnt talk. Now, Trevino said, he asks questions and calls people by their names.

Williams and Andersons home has been licensed as a foster home since 2014.

Anderson, 40, said the first thing Jayden asked them was if they were going to adopt him. She said the teen had been an emergency placement since February, when he was removed from a Lubbock childrens shelter shut down by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Hes going to make it, Anderson said, Hes going to be somebody.

Garcia said the court wants to make the adoptions a memorable event the children will carry with them throughout their lives.

You just made a significant change in this boys life and all the others, Garcia said. Youre showing them love and Gods plan. When my kids start here, theyre trying to survive, and when they end up here, its like a life from what they never expected.

After the ceremony, the group joined Williams Godmother, Brenda Butler, and mother, Deborah Jimenez, in the busy, sun-lit hallway, as a mom chased her toddler around lawyers and their clients.

The family took photos, as they did in the courtroom, with everyone whod supported them the last seven months. Williams, 38, wept as she spoke about their love for Jayden and about hearing from teachers how much hed improved.

Hes come so far and this is now his home, forever she said. Im making sure these six are going to make it, this is our contribution to society.

vtdavis@express-news.net
(Bloomberg)  One lewd tape of Donald Trump bragging 11 years ago about assaulting women and getting away with it has upended a year of carefully laid Republican strategy to keep control of Congress.

Just days ago, Senate Republicans were growing more confident that they had built strong enough campaigns to pull out victories even if Trump loses in November. But after the widespread outrage over Trumps sexually aggressive remarks, its suddenly unclear whether they could ever insulate themselves enough from the man at the top of their partys ticket.

Even House Republicans, who should be able to hold onto their majority, are now concerned that Trumps toxicity could shrink their margin significantly in that chamber too.

Doug Heye, a Republican strategist who early on declared he could not vote for Trump, said the latest Trump scandals hurt the entire party.

Its an open question of how bad the bloodletting will be, said Heye, who said hes spoken with Republicans whose internal polling was already showing many Republican voters wouldnt show up to the voting booths, and now that could be even worse. For Republicans, there are no good options here.

In damage-control mode, Republican candidates hastened to condemn the remarks, but not all actually withdrew their endorsements of the Republican presidential nominee. Many seem just as worried about alienating Trumps fervent supporters as they do courting voters horrified by Trumps remarks about women.

Pulling Support

Arizona Senator John McCain, who is facing a challenge for his seat, withdrew his support for Trump on Saturday, saying he would write in good conservative Republican. New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte and Nevada Representative Joe Heck, a Senate candidate, both called on Trump to step down. So did House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Jason Chaffetz of Utah, who has been leading an investigation into Democratic nominee Hillary Clintons e-mails, and Representative Martha Roby of Alabama.

Other vulnerable senators are still standing by Trump, including Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, who is neck and neck in polls with Democratic opponent Jason Kander, and Senator Richard Burr in North Carolina, who is struggling to put away a tougher-than-expected challenge from Deborah Ross.

Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey, meanwhile, has been locked in a close race with Democrat Katie McGinty, having never endorsed or supported Trump while declaring he wont vote for Clinton. He issued a statement condemning Trumps words but still hasnt said how he will vote.

I think everyone agrees actions like this are deplorable, Heye said. The challenge that Republican candidates face is how do they campaign in this Trump domination of all media?

Some Trump allies tried to play down the impact of the tape.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Trump adviser, said in an e-mail to Bloomberg News from Rome that he is not worried about electoral effects on other Republicans.

Hillary emails on open borders etc will drive voters to want to have a congress check (on) her, Gingrich wrote, referring to the publication Friday by the website Wikileaks of hacked e-mails purporting to show excerpts of Clintons paid Wall Street speeches.

Need Support

On Saturday, Republican lawmakers began trying to rally party supporters to turn out in November, even if theyre not ready to support Trump.

We need support, not just for the top of the ticket but for Republican Senate and House candidates, Representative Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin said at a rally where Trump was originally supposed to appear with House Speaker Paul Ryan. Trump was uninvited late Friday after the tape was released.

Ryan, who spoke Saturday at the same event, made only an oblique reference to an elephant in the room, largely ignoring Trump.

Trumps free-fall is reigniting Democratic hopes of winning a more substantial Senate majority. In recent days, Democrats had started to abandon the Senate races in Ohio and Florida and redeployed money to Missouri and North Carolina.

Heck had an edge in the race to replace Democratic Senate Leader Harry Reid in Nevada, Ayotte had a lead in the most recent poll against opponent Maggie Hassan, and star Democratic recruit Evan Bayh had fallen into a tie with Representative Todd Young in Indiana.

At worst, it appeared Democrats would have the narrowest of majorities and face a brutal map in 2018, with Republicans keeping a large majority in the House.

Thats all changed.

Game-Changing Dynamic

Democratic strategist Jim Manley, a former top Reid aide, said he believes the presidential race is now effectively over no matter if Trump stays or goes and that Republican scrambling is now all about trying to preserve control of either chamber of Congress and other down-ballot races around the country.

This is a potentially game-changing dynamic for both control of the House and the Senate, he said. The question now is whether Republicans are going to pay the price for their past support.

Ayottes takes on Trump are as tortured as anyone in her party -- she went from declaring absolutely Trump should be a role model for children in a debate a few days ago, to saying she made a mistake, to ripping Trumps taped remarks in a late Friday statement, to withdrawing her support entirely and saying Saturday she would vote for Indiana Governor Mike Pence, Trumps running mate, as a write-in.

Ayotte had earlier in the year said that she would support Trump and vote for him but not endorse him -- a bizarre formulation that nonetheless encapsulates the pickle the billionaire with a penchant for vulgar and offensive statements has created up and down the ballot.

Heck, meanwhile, had previously backed Trump before declaring at a rally in Nevada Saturday that Trump should withdraw -- getting booed in the process.

Republican Calculus

Until now, few elected Republicans were willing to go against a man who had the support of a vast majority of their partys voters, and the political calculus was obvious. They needed their votes. When pressed, many of them would point to the Supreme Court and all the issues conservatives care about -- from abortion to taxes -- that they would lose should Clinton become president and get to pick a replacement for the late Justice Antonin Scalia and likely several more justices.

The Supreme Court was the top reason named by Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who recently endorsed Trump after getting booed at the Republican convention in July for withholding his support. Trump never apologized for attacks on Cruzs wife and father.

Others often cited Clinton as unacceptable.

But a new dynamic started to appear in statements that trickled out after the tape surfaced, with several Republicans concluding that Trump cannot win.

Many are now calling on Trump to step aside for his running mate, Pence, although theres no expectation Trump would actually do so and the machinery of a switch would be messy at best given that some states have already started early voting and printed ballots and assorted deadlines have passed.

Hunkering Down

Assuming Trump stays in, the question now is whether Republicans like Ayotte and Heck can still get the votes of Trump voters, outperform the top of the ticket, and squeak out victories with their party in chaos. Senate Republicans are well-funded and have been taking pains to separate themselves from the top of the ticket all year anyway. Many, like Marco Rubio in Florida and Rob Portman in Ohio, have boasted hefty leads before this week and are far outperforming Trump, though both endorsed him.

On the House side, Republicans hold a 246-186 seat hold, the largest Republican majority since 1928.

Political analysts outside and within the party had been predicting before this weekend that Republicans could see a net loss of about 14 seats. But outside of those potential losses, there are a number of other tight races that could be impacted by the Trump, as indications he and his campaign was playing as a significant factor in House races in New York state, Colorado, California, Illinois, and Kansas.

--With assistance from Margaret Talev and Kim Chipman To contact the reporters on this story: Steven T. Dennis in Washington at sdennis17@bloomberg.net, Billy House in Washington at bhouse5@bloomberg.net. To contact the editors responsible for this story: Kevin Whitelaw at kwhitelaw@bloomberg.net, Elizabeth Titus

2016 Bloomberg L.P.
Manny Pelaez doesnt plan on running against Ron Nirenberg, but, then again, Pelaez isnt waiting around for Nirenberg to make his mayoral move.

Pelaez, the former chairman of the Brooks Development Authority, has officially launched his candidacy for Nirenbergs District 8 council seat. Pelaez is operating on the widely held assumption that Nirenberg will soon vacate the seat by launching a run for mayor against Ivy Taylor.

Whether Nirenberg stays or goes, however, Pelaez will be on the ballot in District 8 next May.

What I believe is that this City Council needs subject-matter expertise, said Pelaez, who is christening his campaign with an October 18 fundraiser at the Ariel House (the site of his first office after graduating from St. Marys University School of Law).

What I know is that theres going to be an election in May. And I know that the only district for which I can run is the district in which I live, which is District 8. I believe that Ron has done an excellent job, and I believe that Ron has a lot of service left in him, and Im excited to see what he does.

The question of what Nirenberg will do has been a prime source of City Hall conjecture for months, and its unlikely that any big announcements from the District 8 incumbent will be coming until after next months national election. Nirenberg offered no clues on Friday, but struck a diplomatic tone in response to Pelaezs announcement.

Frankly, as someone who believes strongly that more good people need to be involved in the political process, its exciting to know that strong candidates are emerging in all the districts, Nirenberg said.

Pelaez, 42, is a business and employment attorney who enters the campaign armed with a serious background in international commerce (he was Toyotas first local hire in 2003 when they decided to set up a Tundra assembly plant on the South Side) and a goofball sense of humor (he is prone to faux-competitiveness with Brad Pitt over who qualifies as more handsome).

He graduated from high school in El Paso and came to San Antonio in 1992 to attend Trinity University. At Trinity, he discovered a passion for volunteerism which led him to contribute his time to the Bexar County Battered Women and Childrens Shelter.

He says his stint on the VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority board made him realize how much people depend on bus service to make doctors appointments and get to their jobs every day. His tenure with the Library District Commission brought home how much people rely on libraries to access crucial information. And sitting on the boards of the Hispanic Chamber and Brooks Development Authority helped him understand how businesses can serve their community.

Ive been a student of the community impact of projects and commerce and the way that City Council and the county operate, Pelaez said. So the natural next step in my careers evolution seems like City Council.

Pelaez said looming population growth  with projections that Bexar County will add 1.1 million people by the year 2040  requires a City Council with the ability to apply business benchmarks, consensus building and problem-solving techniques to the critical issues of transportation, water and housing.

I dont feel that were ready today, he said. I feel that if we dont address what comes with that growth, then were going to be in very serious trouble. The only way that were going to do that is if weve got subject-matter experts at the helm.

Pelaez added, The day of the generalist City Council, I believe, is over.

If Nirenberg steps aside in District 8, Pelaezs most likely rival would be Paula McGee, a former zoning commissioner who was a finalist for the District 9 council appointment when Elisa Chan resigned in 2013 to run for the state Senate. McGee, whose husband David is the president and CEO of Amegy Bank San Antonio, has been a licensed attorney in Texas for 32 years, but gave up her law practice two decades ago to raise her sons.

McGee said Friday that she is seriously considering a District 8 campaign, but hasnt made a decision yet.

I would say in the next six to eight weeks, Ill decide, McGee said.

By then, Nirenbergs intentions should be clear, and well know if Pelaez is campaigning for a wide-open seat or challenging a two-term incumbent.

ggarcia@express-news.net

Twitter: @gilgamesh470
AUSTIN  Its tempting for Texas Democrats to get their hopes up in a race against a wealthy, shoot-from-the-lip Republican who has spoken crudely about women and avoided paying federal taxes.

They remember the saga of Claytie and the lady, the storied 1990 Texas governors race that pitted colorful businessman Clayton Williams against Ann Richards. She beat him to become the first woman elected Texas governor in her own right, largely thanks to Williams gaffes.

By the time Williams acknowledged just before the general election that he hadnt paid income taxes during a bad economic year, he had scattered several other verbal grenades across his own path.

Williams compared bad weather to rape, saying the best course was to relax and enjoy it if it was inevitable; publicly refused to shake Richards hand; referred to having been serviced by prostitutes as a young man; and declared that he hoped Richards, a recovering alcoholic, didnt go back to drinking again when she referred to favorable poll numbers.

Their race had tightened going into the elections closing days. Some believe it was Williams tax situation that finally tipped the scales against him.

Many would say that admission cost him the election. The numbers were moving Anns way, but it made all the news in the last four or five days of the election, said Glenn Smith, who managed Richards 1990 primary election and was her campaign consultant for the general election.

Smith had a sense of deja vu when he saw a New York Times story that GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump reported such a big loss on his 1995 tax returns that he might have legally skipped paying federal income taxes for as many as 18 years.

Regular working folks who pay their taxes every year, and those who dont earn enough money to pay taxes, dont like those who manipulate the tax code to avoid paying any taxes whatsoever, Smith said.

Smith also decried a recently revealed recording in which Trump is heard speaking crudely about women  including grabbing their genitals  saying Trumps campaign seems to be following the precise playbook of Claytie Williams.

Clayton didn't get that rape is a crime of violence ... Trump doesn't get the grabbing and groping women is a criminal sexual assault, said Margaret Justus, who also worked for Richards. Texas women did not stand for it in 1990 and American women will not stand for it in 2016.

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, like Richards before her, has seized on her opponents words. But if Trump is using Williams misstep-strewn playbook, he is doing it on steroids, upping the tempo of his insults in a far different political environment.

The Texas oilman made a handful of offensive gaffes in a sometimes ugly but nonetheless fairly straightforward race.

Trumps tax issue and his latest crude remarks came after more than a year of him making intemperate, insulting comments in sometimes quick succession. Any of Trumps remarks might have derailed a traditional campaign, but many of his supporters appear ready to toss out the establishment at almost any cost.

As Trump declared earlier in the campaign, I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose any voters.

Smith acknowledged the sheer quantity of Trumps offensive comments. Clayton, bless him, he let an appropriate amount of time go by before he said something else stupid, he said.

Republican consultant Reb Wayne said the frequency of Trumps gaffes may have rendered some people immune to them, at least to a degree, but that Sunday nights debate would tell if he survives the latest revelation. A Politico survey conducted Saturday found almost three-fourths of Republican voters want their party to stand by Trump, though it also found Clinton leading in the race.

A number of prominent Republicans nationally have dropped their support for Trump or urged him to withdraw. Several Texas statewide officials have condemned the recently revealed comments.

Gov. Greg Abbott called the rhetoric deeply disturbing and contrary to GOP values. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz,called the remarks disturbing and inappropriate.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, chairman of Trumps Texas campaign, said theres no excuse to talk about women the way Trump did, but he quickly urged people not to let the furor distract from Clintons policy positions on issues including trade, as revealed in a leak of her emails.

I will say this, Wayne said. I have never seen an election where so many people are unhappy about the choice. Trump's inability to self regulate his behavior and comments at times along with Clinton's word games when it comes to things like her emails, have left the American public with a very bad taste in their mouth.
The history of agriculture is the story of humankind's development and cultivation of processes for producing food, feed, fiber, fuel, and other goods by the systematic raising of plants and animals.

Historian journalist Deborah Barham Smith gives FarmingUK an exclusive in depth journey into the history of humankind's greatest invention.

Farming first developed around 9000 BC in an area described by archaeologists as the Fertile Crescent, to the east of the Mediterranean Sea and near Mesopotamia; a crescent-shaped strip of land that stretched across the Levant region (now known as Israel, Lebanon, and Syria).

Why did farming begin in the Fertile Crescent? It was an area with a regular rainfall making it perfect for certain grains, emmer 1 and einkhorn 2 and for raising herbivores such as sheep and goats.

In Mesopotamia, soil was more fertile but farming could only develop as irrigation methods developed to supply water to the land.

Nearer home in England, in upland areas such as the Peak District, farming only began around 4000 years ago - whether because of news only gradually filtering through via early trade routes or as a natural evolution from hunter gathering days.

The journey through to current times had several major milestones, as later with the invention of the wheel.

Advent of farming - the Neolithic Revolution

The advent of farming is often called the Neolithic Revolution. The word Neolithic derives from the Greek for new (neo) and relating to stone (lithic); this period is often also known as the New Stone Age.

Innovations in stone-making technology meant that people started polishing stones, rather than just chipping them, as they had done before.

This was significant because, as well as making axes and arrowheads for hunting, they were now able to make tools for farming, such as scythes and hoes.

For these, the stones needed polishing, to give them a flat but sharp edge.

The transition from hunter-gathering to farming is described as a revolution because it constituted the one crucial breakthrough from which all later human advances evolved, transforming every aspect of peoples lives.

Types of farming, whether arable or mixed, are determined due to topography and climatic conditions.

With its regular rainfall the Fertile Crescent was ideal for growing grains, and for raising herds of grass-eating animals such as sheep and goats.

Evolution of early farming

It is interesting to note this lengthy timeline for the evolution of early farming:

9000 BC wheat & barley in the Fertile Crescent

8000 BC potatoes in South America

7500 BC Goats & sheep in the Middle East

7000 BC Rye in Europe

6000 BC Chickens in South Asia

Crucial to the development of early agriculture was the invention of the plough

The Neolithic Revolution also gave rise to a second kind of economy - the raising of domesticated animals or pastoralism, probably originating in areas unsuited to arable farming.

Hunter-gatherer groups began to supplement their traditional way of life with keeping domesticated sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, horses and so on.

Pastoralists sometimes used fire as a way of turning forest into pasture, and of rejuvenating pasturelands.

This can have a significant impact on the type of plants present in such a landscape; fire and grazing can also prevent forests from growing, and if on mountain slopes, can lead to erosion.

It is very doubtful whether the people involved in this revolution actually noticed that they were living in a time of change since transition took place over many generations.

For hundreds, even thousands of years, early farmers would have continued to forage for fruit and berries and hunt wild game, and only gradually did their economy shift more towards agriculture; to graze a few sheep and cattle and to grow limited crops such as pulses, beans and cereals.

Once domesticated, early farmers bred their animals to improve their usefulness to humans, and soon they were yielding not only meat for food and skin for clothing, but also milk for additional nutrition.

They also produced manure, an excellent fertiliser and fuel.

Textile technologies - superior in every way

Textile technologies were also very important to early farmers. Whereas hunter-gatherers had used the skins of animals for clothing, the domestication of plants and animals gave farmers access to new textiles, superior in every way.

Flax (for making linen) was one of the first recorded crops; and with sheep and goats, people then had regular access to animal wool.

Farmers now began to settle creating larger habitations wherever the land was more fertile, such as in river valleys

All these fibres required processing to make them fit to wear, with spinning and weaving being the core activities.

Hunter-gatherers knew simple spinning techniques, which only required small sticks around which to wrap fibres.

These gradually evolved into hand-spindles, a process completed by 5000 BC at the earliest.

A form of enclosure in England started as far back as the Royal forests in the Conquerors time and before, when the king would require those areas to be maintained solely for his and the nobles use in which to hunt.

Around the 13th century granges, (farming estates belonging to the monastery) were set up by abbeys and monasteries, with the monks farming huge flocks of sheep, exporting their valuable fleeces as wool to Europe; this invariably followed the eviction of the peasant farmers who had previously farmed there.

Around 1500 enclosed fields began to appear, able to contain animals and allow more intensive farming methods to be established.

Some of these fields can still be seen and often contain terraces and strip lynchets.

The latter were S shaped banks of earth that built up on the downslope of a field ploughed & furrowed over a long period of time and could conceivably assist in acting as a rainwater reservoir to aid irrigation.

By the 18th century more fields were taken in and enclosed by stone walls and hedges; man has always wished to show his ownership and these served two important purposes: both to define tenure but also to contain stock.

The invention of the plough

Crucial to the development of early agriculture was the invention of the plough.

Very early farmers had used sticks to dig and hoe trying to prepare the ground for cultivation.

This was far from satisfactory as the land soon became exhausted, so to create new ground fire was used to clear stumps and brush left from tree felling, leaving the soil rich in lime & potash.

The new land would then last through a few good harvests and the process would need to start over again.

This was known as slash and burn shifting farming (or swidden - late 18th century word, variant of dialect verb swithen to burn).

From around 4000 BC, using cattle transformed farming, enabling larger areas to be ploughed so cultivating the soil deeper.

Castrating bulls turning them into oxen seems to have happened in Northern Iraq simultaneously which also assisted ploughing.

A later invention of the yoke in Mesopotamia revolutionised further with the ability to bind two beasts together, so pulling heavier ploughs.

This was the first intensive farming since the deeper the ground was turned the more slowly it became exhausted.

Cattle and other animal manure was also being utilised to help fertilise.

In later centuries when the system of regular crop rotation was introduced, this also helped to replace the nutrients in planting areas.

Irrigation fluctuated in complexity in different areas according to the terrain and amounts of rainfall.

The Lake District is not an area known for water shortages for instance, however in arid areas, man had to be inventive digging wells and channels, and building apparatus (such as the shadoof in Egypt - a pole with a bucket and counterbalance used especially for raising water).

The domestication of the horse

Between 4000 and 3500 BC, groups of people first domesticated horses.

They did so for their meat and milk, rather than for riding. Some however may have been used to drag primitive sledges along the ground, to help carry goods.

Most notably, the wheel had arrived by 4000 BC, and a few hundred years later they were being fixed to ox carts.

One animal that receives very little credit historically but was a key player in the evolution of farming and (according to George Powell, a public speaker and farming aficionado) so deserves far more recognition is the humble ox, which will be explored in part.

By 3500 BC most human beings had become farmers of sorts, remaining so until the 19th or even the 20th century, depending on which part of the world; agricultural methods having been largely spread by the slow migration of the farmers themselves.

It therefore took several millennia for agricultural techniques to spread throughout Western and Southern Asia, across Northern Africa into Europe.

Wherever farming developed, the more reliable food source it produced which led to a massive upswing in population.

But on the downside there were dramatic reductions in the variety of local flora and fauna, as more and more land was given over to fewer varieties of plants and animals.

Humans deliberately altering the land

For the first time, humans were deliberately altering the land for their own purposes.

Farming radically transformed society; hunter gatherers had previously lived in small family groups building temporary shelters and being fairly nomadic, whereas farmers now began to settle creating larger habitations wherever the land was more fertile, such as in river valleys.

Neolithic farming practices had been very unproductive, with early farmers generally able to grow only just enough food for their own needs; meaning that almost everyone had to spend their time in agriculture or related activities.

Only with the spread of iron tools, (less expensive than bronze) in the centuries after 1000 BC, could Neolithic practices at last be developed.

The spread of agriculture would have greatly stimulated trade; the benefit of growing cereal staples such as wheat and barley was that it could be stored for a long time before eating, unlike fruit, berries or meat.

Newly built granaries now enabled humans to survive extremes such as drought and also to trade with their neighbours, encouraging the growth of trade routes over longer distances.

North versus South

In the UK, farming differs between the northern uplands and southern lowlands.

The north is not noted for arable farming, with the terrain lending itself more to rearing beef and dairy cattle, grazing sheep and growing animal feed crops such as hay and silage; although the occasional field of maize, root crops or cereal can be seen as well as the occasional pig or poultry farm.

In the lowlands, areas can sustain larger fields of rich pasture that can support dairy herds as well as beef cattle and sheep.

One of the most notable historic events to influence Britain was the introduction of the General Enclosures Acts of the 1800s which resulted in wall building on a wide scale.

This gave people the right to enclose common land, claiming it for themselves. Since this was invariably done by the nobility, it was a tragedy for the small man, who lost his right to pasture on commons  apart from the bestowing of stints 4.

An anonymous 17th poet coined the lines:

The law locks up the man or woman

Who steals the goose from off the Common.

But lets the greater felon loose

Who steals the common from off the goose.

This really identified the upper classes robbing the Commoners rights by legal trickery.

The advent of mechanisation

However the real revolution in farming, now known as an industry, was the advent of mechanisation, firstly with the steam engine and then the tractor.

In 1892, John Froelich invented and built the first gasoline/petrol-powered tractor in Clayton County, Iowa, USA.

A Van Duzen single-cylinder gasoline engine was mounted on a Robinson engine chassis, which could be controlled and propelled by Froelich's gear box. The tractor transformed what had been more of a village industry up until then.

The agricultural tractor is specifically designed to deliver a high torque (tractive effort) at slow speeds, for the purpose of pulling a trailer or other machinery.

Many farming tasks now became mechanised, originally for tillage  the preparation of soil by mechanical agitation of various types, digging, stirring, and overturning.

Implements could be towed behind, or mounted on the tractor such as a bale lifter.

The enormous machines that are now available can cut down several processes into one sweep of a field such as a combine harvester.

With vast cost prices, and numbers of extras taken as standard such as on-board computers that know where to drive within the field, CB radios, etc it is no wonder that many farmers choose to use contractors for some of the more intensive jobs.

New Holland Agriculture reclaimed the Guinness World Records title, harvesting an impressive 797.656 tonnes of wheat in eight hours with the worlds most powerful 653hp CR10.90 combine. When launched it cost a staggering 566,896.

'Humankind's greatest invention': The History of Agriculture - Part Two will be published tomorrow (6 October).
Free range producer Nigel Smith says he hopes to see better returns for his eggs by joining a new egg farming group established by the Co-op.

Producer prices have been falling this year as supplies have started to outstrip demand, but Nigel, who has a 10,000-bird free range unit on a small farm in North Yorkshire, says membership of the new Co-op group will, hopefully, improve the bottom line for him and his wife, Sue.

Producers in the group will receive premium payments for achieving targets set by the Co-op.

The new egg group is the sixth farming group established by the Co-op. It has been created together with its main supplier, Noble Foods.

It will cover a total of 17 flocks across northern England and Scotland and a quarter of a million hens.

The Co-op has long been committed to free range egg production

The Co-op says it will further strengthen relationships with farmers, provide shoppers with a more transparent supply chain and maintain and develop strict animal welfare standards.

"Hope number one is to have a monetary benefit  pence per dozen," said Nigel, although he said that there would probably be other benefits of joining the group, which has been established by the Co-op in partnership with its main supplier, Noble Foods.

"Obviously the Co-op scheme is relatively new. We have some clear plans of where they want to start; where we end up nobody yet knows for certain.

"I think audits have benefits  yes they are a pain to us all but they definitely have benefits in helping you produce a better product, a better egg and, hopefully, by extension better profit," said Nigel.

What the retailers wants

He said that, by working with a dedicated supermarket, he should be able to find out exactly what the retailer wanted and be better able to provide it.

The Co-op has long been committed to free range egg production. The company is a past winner of the prestigious Retailer of the Year Award presented by the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA).

It was one of the first retailers in the United Kingdom to move to 100 per cent free range eggs in its own brand products.

Nigel and Sue Smith have been producing free range eggs for six years

That was in 2007; and since 2010 all of the eggs as ingredients in the Co-ops own brand products have also been free range.

"That is something we are all very proud of at the Co-op," said Catherine Bennett, Co-op poultry agriculture manager.

The retailer already has a number of dedicated producer groups creating much closer contact with its farmers - the egg farming group represents the Co-ops sixth farming group within its fresh, British meat, poultry and dairy ranges and Catherine Bennett says it will have a number of benefits for the company.

"The idea behind it is that we have a secure supply chain that we know and trust, we are supporting British agriculture and British farming and we have close working relationships with those farmers that are producing high quality food to put on our shelves."

'Greater confidence in the provenance of food'

The Co-op says that the farming groups are proving hugely successful in providing its customers and members with greater confidence in the provenance of food, as well as benefiting the farmers involved.

"The farmers will meet regularly throughout the year," said Catherine. "Its all about exchanging knowledge, and we will work on a number of research and development projects.

"There is also an opportunity for younger members in the farming group to join our young farmers programme that we offer  called Co-op Farming Pioneers."

Producers in the group will have a number of targets that will enable them to improve returns if they meet them.

Increased premiums will be paid for farmers demonstrating various aspects of farm business management, such as quality, welfare or environmental factors.

"They will have a financial incentive to be a part of the programme," said Catherine.

"This is where they will work to our five pillars  the five pillar model that we offer at Co-op.

"They will be audited by a third party auditor and awarded a bronze silver or gold status dependant on how they fulfil those pillars."

Showing the public how food is produced

She said: "There are a number of elements. Some of these will be welfare data that we will receive from the supplier."

Producers would also work together with the Co-op to help show the public how their food was produced.

"We had Rob and Sian Penty recently take part in our meet the producer video which is on our web site. This is all about educating the customer about how eggs are produced.

"There are other benefits of being in the group, such as improving efficiencies.

"As a group we will work together, share knowledge, carry out a number of research and development projects to try to increase efficiencies for the group," said Catherine.

The new egg farming group will cover a total of 17 flocks across northern England and Scotland and a quarter of a million hens.

The Co-op says it is committed to supporting British farmers and free range eggs.

It says the egg farming group will further strengthen relationships with farmers, provide shoppers with a more transparent supply chain and maintain and develop strict animal welfare standards.

Nigel and Sue Smith's free range farm

Nigel and Sue Smith have been producing free range eggs for six years. Nigel joked that they got involved in free range production just as prices began to fall.

They own 90 acres of land near Bedale in North Yorkshire, where they also have some breeding sheep and grow some arable crops.

He said that, when they were considering something different to do, he ruled out large livestock because he had had a hip replacement. Poultry ticked all the boxes, he said.

Asked whether he would need to make any changes to the way he ran the unit as a result of joining the Co-op group, he said: "The auditing in the egg industry is no great shock.

"We all have audits; we look to what they require and what they can provide. I hope we can provide most of what they wanted. There are some extras.

"There will be a few changes. But, basically, the standard of production you have got to do that right in the first place," said Nigel.

Veli Moluluo, managing director of Noble Foods, has described the new egg group as a very positive step forward for consumers, suppliers and the poultry sector as a whole.
The European Commission has cleared an investigation under the proposed acquisition of joint control of numerous agri-food companies.

The EU Merger Regulation unconditionally cleared the proposed acquisition of joint control of Slaney Foods JV and Slaney Proteins (Ireland) by meat processor ABP Group (Ireland) and farmer-owned agri-food company Fane Valley (United Kingdom).

All three companies are active in the purchase and slaughter of live cattle, sheep and lambs, as well as de-boning and processing of meat.

Their activities cover also the marketing of fresh beef, lamb and mutton to meat retailers (including supermarkets) and industrial meat processors.

The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would not adversely impact effective competition in the EU's Single Market as regards any of these markets.

Impact on competition

The Commission's investigation focused in particular on the impact of the proposed transaction on competition in the markets where the activities of the parties overlap and which constitute affected markets in terms of EU merger rules:

 Purchasing of live cattle for slaughter in Ireland by ABP and Slaney Foods JV; purchasing of live sheep and lambs for slaughter in an area encompassing Ireland and Northern Ireland by ABP, Slaney Foods JV and Fane Valley.

 Sale of fresh beef, lamb and mutton in Ireland, including to industrial processors; sale of fresh lamb and mutton meat in Belgium, including to supermarkets by ABP and Slaney Foods JV.

 Collection of animal by-products, generated by the slaughtering activities, in Ireland by ABP and Slaney Foods JV.

The Commission concluded that the transaction would not raise competition concerns in relation to any of these markets.

The deal now places ABP as one of the largest meat processor in the UK and Ireland

As regards the potential impact on markets for the purchasing of live animals (cattle, sheep and lambs), the Commission assessed any potential increase of the slaughterhouses' buyer power to the detriment of farmers, which could affect in particular local farmers' communities.

The Commission found that farmers in Ireland tend to sell within a rather broad geographic radius and that they are able to switch slaughterhouses if they can get better prices for their animals.

Various slaughterhouses with spare capacity will continue to operate in Ireland, including in the southeast area, where the Slaney Foods JV cattle slaughtering facility is located.

The Commission thus found that farmers will continue to have sufficient alternative buyers for their animals after the merger.

The Commission also assessed the potential impact on competition in the downstream markets relating to the sale of fresh meat.

The investigation found that a number of strong competitors will remain active after the merger.

The Commission therefore concluded that the parties will not be able to increase prices or impose detrimental conditions on retailers and industrial meat processors and ultimately on consumers.

As regards the collection of animal by-products generated by slaughtering activities in Ireland, the Commission found that the volumes of animal by-products that competing renderers currently collect from the Slaney Foods JV/Fane Valley are modest.

The investigation also showed that, after the merger, rendering plants would continue to have sufficient access to animal by-products.

Finally, the Commission found that the transaction was unlikely to have a negative impact on slaughterhouses in relation to their disposal of animal by-products.

Companies and products

ABP Food Group (Ireland) has a number of meat processing plants in Ireland, UK and continental Europe and is an international supplier of fresh beef to the European and global markets.

ABP Group is also active in pet food, renewable energy and proteins. ABP operates eight meat processing plants in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Fane Valley Co-operative Society Limited (United Kingdom) is a farmer owned co-operative and is active in meat processing, porridge oats and breakfast cereals, feeds, and owns a network of retail shops for farm requisites. Fane Valley operates one slaughterhouse in Northern Ireland.

Slaney Foods JV (Ireland) has two divisions: Slaney Food International comprising its cattle slaughtering and beef meat processing business located in Ireland and Irish Country Meats encompassing its sheep/lambs slaughtering activities and mutton and lamb business in Ireland and Belgium. Slaney Foods JV operates three meat processing plants in Ireland.

Slaney Proteins (Ireland) operates a rendering plant for processing of animal by-products generated by the activities of Slaney Foods JV in Ireland.

The Commission has the duty to assess mergers and acquisitions involving companies with a turnover above certain thresholds and to prevent concentrations that would significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.

The vast majority of notified mergers do not pose competition problems and are cleared after a routine review.
Market indicators show dairy farmers are being short-changed to the tune of 200 million pounds, the NFU said today.

The farming union is calling for milk buyers to recognise the strength of current markets and start paying fair, sustainable prices to their milk suppliers.

After two years of turmoil in the dairy sector, during which time milk prices for many farmers have been, and continue to be, below the cost of production, commodity markets have now quickly turned.

Evidence shows market signals are pointing skywards with spot prices for milk now approaching 40ppl and quotes for next month hitting 50ppl.

Evidence shows market signals are pointing skywards with spot prices for milk now approaching 40ppl

But speaking on the eve of The Dairy Show on Wednesday (October 5), NFU dairy board chairman Michael Oakes said that milk buyers are lagging behind in passing on the huge lifts in market prices to their suppliers.

"Since May this year market indicators have started to show a massive differential between what prices dairy farmers should have got compared to what they actually did get  between June and September this adds up to around 200 million," said Mr Oakes.

Dairy analyst Chris Walkland has being doing the sums  they show that back in August AHDBs AMPE and MCVE indicators were 26ppl and 28ppl respectively while future price indicators continue to be positive.

Even today most non-aligned prices are still at or below 20ppl with the August Defra average milk price, which included aligned prices only reaching 21.34ppl.

'Milk buyers should be concerned'

"Clearly milk buyers should be concerned as to where their future milk supply will come from," said Mr Oakes.

"Thats why recently weve seen Dale Farm Northern Ireland encourage more milk supply for the next three months.

"Any extra litres supplied to the co-operative will receive an extra 4ppl on top of a 2ppl winter premium.

"Farmers have been patient, understanding the time lag that is part of dairy trade.

"But that reason is starting to wear thin, as we need to start considering increased costs of winter housing and feeding.

"Our message is clear  until milk buyers start backing British dairy farmers and start paying fair, sustainable milk prices, volumes will not recover.

"Dairy farmers want to produce milk and the only way milk buyers can pull the dairy sector out of this nose dive is to quickly pay them a profitable price for their milk," Mr Oakes concluded.

Milk processors are 'sitting on stocks'

The Rural Payments Agency has indicated that 1800 UK farmers are looking to reduce production by 112 million litres this autumn.

NFU Scotlands Milk Committee Chairman Graeme Kilpatrick said there is "every justification"  based on commodity prices, production levels and futures prices  "for every dairy farmer to be getting 25p per litre now  and not in three or four months time."

"The price increases announced in recent weeks are welcome but they neither go far enough or fast enough in our opinion and leave almost all producers woefully short of a profitable milk price," Mr Kilpatrick said.

All dairy farmers are acutely aware of where commodity prices for cheese, butter, cream and powder have shifted to in a matter of a few weeks.

"The unacceptable delays seen in milk buyers passing the benefits of the price lifts back to their suppliers is creating huge concern and frustration at farmer level.

"Some of those milk processors will be sitting on stocks of cheese, butter or powder, made with incredibly cheap milk, and are now set to make a windfall on them based on rapidly increasing market prices.

"Farmers cannot be left behind to continue producing at a loss," Mr Kilpatrick concluded.
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Ben Affleck channelled his role as Batman in his new movie 'The Accountant'.

Ben Affleck

The 44-year-old actor - who has been cast as the mathematics savant Christian Wolff in the drama film - has admitted he had to undergo intense combat training, similar to his preparation for 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice', for the movies action scenes in the crime film, which he stars in alongside Anna Kendrick.

Speaking in a live Twitter Q and A with his co-star about the role, the 'Gone Girl' star said: "I practiced fighting and learnt a lot of fighting techniques and spent months and months in training."

However the 'Pitch Perfect' actress has revealed the lead-up to shooting the film was very different to Affleck, which saw her rely on her mother Janice, who is an accountant, to explain the financial terms to her.

She said: "I gave the script to my mum and she explained all the financial aspects because she's an accountant, thanks mum!"

'The Accountant' follows Christian, who is an accountant for criminal organisations, but is slowly being uncovered by Dana (Kendrick) and the Treasury Department who are on a mission to uncover his secret.

Meanwhile, the dark-haired hunk has teased him and the 31 year old shared a strong connection on set.

He quipped: "I liked all the scenes with Anna it was so much fun- we had chemistry going."

Kendrick of course took the opportunity to demonstrate their banter.

She retorted: "That's so funny you say that because my favourite was the first scene I filmed because Ben wasn't in it."

Meanwhile, Affleck - who has also worked behind the camera and has directed a number of films including the forthcoming 'The Batman' - believes "every actor" should direct a film.

He said: "If every actor could take the opportunity to direct a movie they would definitely learn a lot. At least I did. It's very educational."
Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles is back for its ninth season, described as its most emotionally-charged yet. We caught up with star of the show James Harris to find out a little more about what to expect

James Harris

How different would you say the UK and US are when it comes to working in the property business?

I actually started off doing real estate in London between the ages of 18-21 in both residential and commercial and the businesses are completely different. Firstly, the price perspective in the markets are so different. Secondly, the market in the US still has a lot of opportunity, whereas in the UK it is a lot more saturated. In the US, it's also really different to set up. You begin setting up as your own company working individually. I think we are one of the only ones in the US in which we work as a team like in the UK market. The commissions are also very different here. It's 5%, whereas in the UK you're lucky if it's 1%.

How difficult an industry is this one to break into?

We work in a highly competitive industry. As long as you are creative and think outside the box, work smart, you're going to do well. It's a very cut throat industry. Over here about 5% of the agents do 90% of the business. You have to be true to yourself and work endlessly and just don't take no for an answer.

Who have been some of your favourite stars and big names to work with to-date?

We've been able to work with some great names. For examples; Kylie Jenner, Tyga and John Mayer. I recently did a skit with James Corden on his show, he's also a big client. We did a skit on his Take A Break segment which was a big hit and went viral. It was very funny and he's an absolute legend. We've worked Larry Flynt on a big deal which was really exciting and I remember him coming through the conference room in his 24 carat wheelchair. We've been able to work with loads of people behind and in front of the camera.

What tips would you have for aspiring brokers hoping to make it big like yourself?

My advice would be to always think outside the box, be creative and work against your competition. When I first started it was all about figuring out what your competition is doing and do everything completely differently. It's also important to study and know your market because the most important thing is information. Information is power.

You're partnered with David Parnes - what's it like working with David?

Dave and I grew up together and our Mums are best friends. Before anything he's my best friend. I call him my brother from another mother. We've got a great deal of trust between us and trust is really the most important thing when it comes to working with someone.

Should viewers expect drama from the new season of Million Dollar Listing: LA?

Yes - a lot of drama. There wouldn't be anything unless there was drama in front of the camera! Business is so cut throat so there is bound to be some sort of tension. We filmed for 11-12 months straight so I really think they managed to capture everything in our lives.

Which of your fellow cast members would you say is the most difficult to work with?

I wouldn't say any of them! Josh Flagg's been one of my favourite to work with though!

Do you have any definitive aims or goals for your career moving forward?

My aim is to always continue working hard. I always said that when I got here, I wanted to make my way to the very top. Healthy competition is very important. My ultimate goal is to start developing properties. We make a lot of deals and meet a lot of clients but there are also some big clients that want to partner with us so we do want to build a portfolio.

Finally, what's next for you?

For me it's always important to focus on the now, but I'm remaining to focus on breaking records and grow our brand. In this industry your brand is everything. We're also looking to become international. We've got some big projects coming up in Geneva, London and New York.

Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles Season 9 is available now with new episodes on Fridays, only on hayu, reality on demand.

by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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DALLAS (dpa-AFX) - AT&T Inc. (T) said Sunday that it will stop issuing replacement Samsung Electronics Co. Galaxy Note 7 following reports of fires from the replacement devices. AT&T said Galaxy Note 7 customers can return their phones for different models while Samsung and U.S. safety authorities investigate why several phones melted in the past week. Samsung is working with authorities including the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to investigate the new incidents, which include a phone emitting smoke on a Southwest Airlines Co. flight. Samsung launched a recall of the 1 million Note 7 phones in the U.S. last month after faulty lithium-ion batteries caused fires. Under the recall, consumers could exchange their Note 7s for a new device or obtain a refund. 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.
In its budget proposal for 2017, the Norwegian Government  as its owner and sole investor  has proposed changes to the investment mandate of Investinor.

Under the terms of the proposal, Investinor will stop making new co-investments with venture capital funds, typically B, C and D-rounds. and the existing 470m fund will be closed for new portfolio companies.

The Government will instead provide new funds for Investinor to match seed investments with business angels and fund of fund investments in early stage micro funds.

This will not affect the existing portfolio companies. The companies that Investinor already has stakes in, will be developed and divested as before, with maximum return on investment.

Exit plans remains unchanged as the firms capital base is sufficient to support these companies with all necessary follow-on investments.

Investinor recently appointed Haakon H. Jensen (42) as new CEO. Jensen is currently CFO of Orkla Home and Personal Care, and has previously worked in managment consulting firm Bain & Company in Stockholm, London and Oslo, as well as Pareto corporate finance.

From 2006 to 2009, he started and managed private equity firm True North Capital. Previously, in 2002-2004, Jensen was part of the team that established the Norwegian governements PE fund of funds investment company Argentum.

FinSMEs

09/10/2016
Samsung Electronics is to acquire Viv Labs, a San Jose, CA-based developer of an open artificial intelligence (AI) platform that gives third-party developers the tools to build conversational assistants and integrate a natural language-based interface into applications and services.

The amount of the transaction, which is still subject to customary closing conditions, was not disclosed.

The deal, which highlights Samsungs commitment to virtual personal assistants, is part of the companys vision to deliver an AI-based open ecosystem across all of its devices and services.

With Viv, Samsung will be able to offer new service experiences for its customers, including one that simplifies user interfaces, understands the context of the user and offers appropriate and convenient suggestions and recommendations.

As part of the acquisition, the founding team of Viv  comprised of AI visionaries Dag Kittlaus, Adam Cheyer and Chris Brigham  will work closely with Samsungs Mobile Communications business but continue to operate independently.

FinSMEs

09/10/2016
By Ruma Paul

| DHAKA

DHAKA Bangladeshi security forces on Saturday killed 12 members of an Islamist militant group blamed for a deadly attack on a cafe in Dhaka in July, senior officials said.Most of the militants were killed in a three-hour gun battle as security forces raided four hideouts on the outskirts of Dhaka, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters. The dead were believed to be members of a new faction of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), known as New JMB, which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, authorities said.Seven militants were killed in one raid after police were tipped off that the JMB's Dhaka unit chief and his associates were there."We requested them to surrender but they opened fire at our officers instead and also exploded grenades," Khan said.The dead included JMB's Dhaka military commander, known as Akash, he said. "We are trying to find out his real identity," Khan added.

Police said the banned group's suspected financier, Abdur Rahman, died when he leapt from a fourth-storey window as he tried to escape. Three million taka ($38,000), a firearm, ammunition, explosives and a mobile phone jammer were found in his house. Three police officers were wounded in the operations, which also netted a large amount of explosives, weapons and machetes.The July 1 attack in Dhaka's diplomatic quarter killed 22 people, mostly foreigners, and was claimed by Islamic State.

Bangladesh has been hit by a spate of killings of liberals and members of religious minorities in the past year. Al Qaeda and Islamic State have made competing claims over the attacks.Police have killed more than three dozen suspected militants in shootouts since the cafe attack, including its presumed mastermind, Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury.The government has consistently denied the presence in the country of any transnational militant organisation such as al Qaeda or Islamic State.

Police believe that New JMB was involved in organising the cafe attack. While authorities blame the violence on domestic militants, security experts say the scale and sophistication of the cafe attack suggested links to a transnational network.The United States believes elements of Islamic State are connected to operatives in Bangladesh, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said during a visit to Dhaka in August.The targeting of foreigners could hurt foreign investment in the poor South Asian economy, whose $28 billion garments export industry is the world's second-largest. (Editing by Stephen Coates)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Alister Doyle and Valerie Volcovici

| OSLO/WASHINGTON

OSLO/WASHINGTON India will face pressure to speed up its plans for cutting greenhouse gases used in refrigerators, air conditioning and aerosols when governments meet this week to hammer out what would be a third key deal to limit climate change in a month.About 150 nations meet in Rwanda, from Oct. 10-14 to try to agree a phase down of factory-made hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gases. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will be among those attending.A quick phase-down of HFCs could be a big contribution to slow climate change, avoiding perhaps 0.5 degree Celsius (0.9 Fahrenheit) of a projected rise in average temperatures by 2100, scientists say.But India wants a peak in poor nations' rising emissions only in 2031, to give industries time to adapt. More than 100 other nations including the United States, the European Union and African states, favour a peak in 2021."It really does matter how early the agreement kicks in," said Jake Schmidt, of the U.S. Natural Resources Defense Council, which reckons India's proposal would add the equivalent of almost a year of global carbon emissions to the atmosphere."We must get enough time before the phasing out period starts. We are very clear," Indian Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave said on Oct. 1, according to the Times of India.

Use of HFCs, which can be 10,000 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as greenhouse gases, is already declining in many rich nations.An HFC accord would be the third big step this month to curb global warming after the 2015 Paris Agreement for a global shift from fossil fuels gained enough backing to enter into force and governments agreed a deal to limit emissions from aviation.President Barack Obama, hailing the Paris Agreement at the White House last week, said HFCs and aviation would also help "build a world that is safer and more prosperous and more secure".

The U.S. president has been keen to secure global climate agreements, meant to limit rising sea levels, droughts, floods and heatwaves, as part of his legacy.Last month, 16 governments including the United States, Japan and Germany and private donors such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates agreed an $80 million fund to help an early phase down of HFCs, hoping to persuade developing nations to sign up.Many industries are already moving.

"Unlikely as it may seem, a global HFC phase-down is backed both by leading environmental groups and the industry that makes and uses these chemicals," said Frank Maisano, of the U.S. Air-conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute which represents companies such as Carrier Corp or Honeywell."We and many others in the industry have started to phase out HFCs. But the process is not completed," said Daniel Frykholm, spokesman for Sweden's Electrolux which wants to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 from 2005 levels.The HFC talks are part of the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which succeeded in cutting the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to help protect the ozone layer, which shields the planet from ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer.But the HFCs that have often replaced them, while better for the ozone layer, are powerful greenhouse gases. (Reporting By Alister Doyle; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Rajendra Jadhav and Syed Raza Hassan

| MUMBAI/KARACHI

MUMBAI/KARACHI Rising hostilities between India and Pakistan have brought their $822 million-a-year trade in cotton to a juddering halt, as traders who are worried about uncertainty over supplies and driven by patriotism hold off signing new deals.The nuclear-armed rivals have seen tensions ratchet up in the past few months over the disputed territory of Kashmir, and cotton traders in both countries said they were watching developments along the de facto border with alarm.Pakistan, the world's third-largest cotton consumer, usually starts importing from September, but three Indian exporters said the number of inquiries had slowed to a trickle in the last two weeks.In the clearest sign yet of souring relations affecting commerce, Pakistan-based importers also said they were not buying."At the moment there is no cotton trade. It's at standstill. There is uncertainty that, God forbid, if war breaks out, what will happen?" said Ihsanul Haq, chairman of the Pakistan Cotton Dealers Association.Pakistan Cotton Commissioner Khalid Abdullah said a "low quantum of trade activity is still taking place." He said the Pakistan government had not directed traders to stop buying Indian cotton and expected trade to normalize when tensions eased.Indian government officials said they had not yet noticed trading had stopped.But some Indian officials said last week that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government was considering whether it should choke trade with Pakistan to put pressure on its neighbour, even though the trade balance is in India's favour.

INDIA'S BIGGEST COTTON BUYER

Trade between India and Pakistan, which have fought three wars since their independence from British rule in 1947, is small.In the 2015/16 fiscal year ending on March 31, official trade between the two was $2.6 billion. Cotton is the largest component of that total.It is not clear whether other goods and commodities traded between the two, such as jewellery and dry fruits, have been hit by the escalation in hostilities as well, but the disruption to cotton shipments is potentially significant.

In the crop year ended Sept. 30, Pakistan was India's biggest cotton buyer after its own crop was hit by drought and whitefly pest.It imported 2.5 million bales from India, and supported Indian cotton prices at a time when China was cutting imports, traders said.Lower purchases by Pakistan this year could hurt exports from the world's biggest producer of the fibre and put pressure on Indian prices, but could also help rival cotton suppliers like Brazil, the United States and some African countries.Chirag Patel, chief executive officer of Indian exporter Jaydeep Cotton Fibers, said the country could export 5 million bales in the 2016/17 crop year, but exports could plunge to 3 million bales without Pakistani imports.

An exporter based in Mumbai estimated that Pakistan will need to import at least 3 million bales in 2016/17, and India will have a surplus of around 8 million bales."As soon as the (political) situation improves, cotton trade will definitely resume between the two countries," said Haq of the Pakistan Cotton Dealers Association.But for now, traders on both sides of the border said the environment was not conducive to doing business."Many cotton exporters are not interested in selling cotton to Pakistan. They are trying to find other markets," said Pradeep Jain, a ginner based in Jalgaon in the western state of Maharashtra.Shahzad Ali Khan, chairman of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association, referred to a move by the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association (IMPPA), a small filmmakers' body, last week, banning their members from hiring Pakistani actors."India is banning Pakistani artists, so how can it expect us to buy cotton from India?" Khan said."In various forums Pakistani traders are saying they will not buy cotton from India this year. Even if they need to pay extra, they will pay and buy it from other suppliers." (Editing by Paritosh Bansal and Mike Collett-White)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
We are often told that India had a golden age economically. There was a time when the subcontinent had a large share of the world's economy. Perhaps as much as 20 or 25 percent of the share of the world's GDP as opposed to the under three percent that we have today. Can we achieve this again? And if so, what will it take?

Let's take a look at what sort of countries have become great powers over the ages so that we understand what is needed for India. The first great power was Persia 2,500 years ago, and it had the capacity and the expertise to exert its influence globally. This is the definition of great power. The Parsi kings of Persia ruled an empire from Kandahar to Turkey. The historian Herodotus records that in the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC, the Parsi king Xerxes led an army to Greece which included Indian mercenaries, probably from Punjab.

The Persian king was always referred to as 'Great' (Megas) by the ancient Greeks in their literature. The second great power of the world was Alexander the Great. The Macedonian warrior is not called 'Great' because of his achievements. He is called that because he defeated Darius the Great and took the title from him.

The third power was the Roman empire, which expanded first to take all of Italy and then France, Spain and most of Europe and also as far east as Palestine. Julius Caesar took the Roman legions into Britain (and London is from that time) but Rome was not a naval power. The Muslims who were the fourth major global power were comprised of many nations. The Arabs conquered north Africa (which is why Egyptians speak Arabic) and some of Spain but the truly strong Muslim powers were Turks, Persians, the Central Asians and the Afghans.

The Muslim states were also not naval powers. In fact, the European powers had great influence even when Aurangzeb dominated all of north India. This was because the royals needed to sail to Mecca for Haj and the Europeans controlled the waters.

The fifteenth century saw the rise of the colonial powers, Spain, Portugal, England, the Dutch and France. What is common in them? They all border the Atlantic Ocean, which is a rough ocean. It required strong and large ships, powered by sails made of high-quality fabric, to sail across. Only the nations on its coast developed this expertise. Because the ships were large, they were able to carry many powerful and heavy cannon. This is why these nations were able to sail across and colonise the Americas. This is also one of the reasons why Germany, Russia, Italy and other major European nations, which are not along the Atlantic, did not become big colonial powers.

Was India a great power in some century before this point? It had about a fifth of the world's total GDP but that was only because the subcontinent had a fifth of the world's population.

At this point in history, almost everyone was an agriculturalist. There was some basic manufacturing, like pottery and textiles, but most of the economic output depended on manual labour. The more people a nation or region had, the larger its share of global GDP.

After the 15th century, and particularly after the scientific revolution in Europe led by Newton, Hooke and Boyle, we were left behind. It is the European nations that pulled ahead economically and we remained where we were. From this point on, it is those nations which were economically powerful that were able to influence the world, ending with the United States. Today, merely the possession of big armies and even of nuclear weapons does not ensure that nations become great powers, else North Korea and Pakistan would be great powers.

In the modern era, it is those nations that emulated the primary conditions of greatness, a healthy and educated population and an effective state, that have been able to become great. Japan, Korea and most recently China have all been able to meet these conditions.

In my opinion, India has no focus on this yet and governance is often ineffective. Even in 2016, the state is distracted by things like anti-national slogans, skirmishing with neighbours and issues of culture and identity. The sharp and unrelenting focus on health and education is missing. Also, there is an absolute absence of the ability to deliver justice and be able to enforce the law. Indian governments cannot even deliver on the primary condition of state effectiveness, and that is the monopoly over violence. Mob violence and lynchings are common and it doesnt really matter which government is in power. Till we get these basics rights, our march towards becoming a great power will remain slow.
With India ratifying the world's first comprehensive climate agreement earlier this month, another global treaty that eventually aims to phase out a heat-trapping substance  hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs  and replace them with climate-friendly alternatives, will require India's leadership role, say environmentalists.

Ahead of the entry into force of the Paris Agreement on climate change, which is set to take place on 4 November, the 28th meeting of the Parties to the 1989 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer will be held in Rwandan capital Kigali from 10 to 14 October to freeze an agreement as early as 2025-26 to eventually eliminate the use of HFCs, commonly used in air-conditioners.

"We're looking to India and other world leaders to show greater flexibility on reaching an amendment to phase down HFCs," Nehmat Kaur, who is India representative of the Natural Resources Defense Council, told IANS.

"There is an economic case for countries, including India, to advance its time frame for the phase-down. The new $80 million dollar fund is a strong signal for early action. Things are looking positive for a strong and ambitious amendment this week," she added.

However, an official with the Union Environment Ministry hinted that India, which has not opened its cards so far, may advance its deadline to phase out HFCs.

"India might advance the time frame during negotiations for phasing out HFCs to somewhere like 2025-26, instead of the previous deadline of 2031, if the developed nations pledge adequate funding to the developing nations, including India, for research and development of low global warming potential alternatives," said the official.

For smooth transition to developing new technologies indigenously, there is a huge financial burden on India  both for the industry and the consumers, the official added.

At the Meeting of the Parties, nearly 200 countries, including India, will try to negotiate on separate deadlines for the developed and developing nations to phase out HFCs.

Experts say though HFCs  the refrigeration and air-conditioning coolants  do not harm the ozone layer, but have a high global warming potential.

Their elimination will ultimately help avoiding an up to 0.5 degree Celsius rise in global temperature by the end of the century and will significantly contribute towards the global goal of staying well below two degrees.

"Expectations are high that the Montreal Protocol can live up to its reputation as the world's most effective environmental treaty. Ambitious political will from all countries is now needed to get the best agreement possible," an official statement quoting Clare Perry, climate campaign leader at London's Environmental Investigation Agency, said.

Ahead of the Kigali meet, India has put forward its own proposal for an amendment that mainly advocates adequate funding for research and development to the developing nations for smooth technological transition without any delay.

In India, it will cost 12 billion euros (Rs 90,000 crore) to shift from HFCs to the greener gases between 2015 and 2050, the New Delhi-based think-tank Council on Energy, Environment and Water said on 27 September.

"India would seek an equitable agreement in Kigali that is in the best interests of the nation, its people, as well as the larger global community," Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave has been quoted as saying.

Officials of the Environment Ministry say India will advocate for adequate multilateral funds for the developing countries for smooth and speedy technological transition at the Montreal Protocol talks.

Special Secretary in the ministry RR Rashmi gave an indication in this regard on September 27, who said: "There are different estimates as to what it will cost to make the switch. But, we must emphasise in Kigali that the commitment of donor countries has to be absolute and this assurance is necessary to fulfil any commitments India makes."

In the July negotiations in Vienna, over 100 countries opted to freeze HFC growth by 2021. China, the world's largest HFC producer, suggested starting the freeze in 2025 or 2026, while India advocated 2031.

In 2013, India's consumption of HFCs, which are up to 10,000 times more potent than carbon dioxide and are the fastest-growing greenhouse gases in the world, was 1.6 percent of the global consumption.

Ahead of the Kigali negotiations, 19 global foundations together contributed $53 million and other $27 million came from a few countries for the multilateral fund to be used for smooth transition from HFCs by the developing nations and directed towards energy efficiency efforts.

Corporate giant Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co Ltd is the only Indian company that funds donations for the multilateral fund.

Eleven senators, in a missive to US Secretary of State John Kerry on 7 October, said: "A successful agreement negotiated in Kigali is critical to help meet the goals agreed to in Paris, and we encourage you to take advantage of this important opportunity to create a more sustainable future."

The Montreal Protocol was designed to protect the ozone layer by reducing the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances. It was agreed to on 16 September 1987, and entered into force on 1 January 1989.

Since then it has banned the use of several ozone-depleting substances, including chlorofluorocarbons, a substitute to HFCs.
Chennai: Political leaders, including Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, on Sunday, visited the Apollo Hospital to enquire about the condition of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa even as special prayers were held for her good health across Tamil Nadu.

"I pray to the Almighty that she recovers fully and get back to her routine. I am fully confident that she will recover soon," Narayanasamy told reporters after visiting the hospital.

Tamil Maanila Congress chief GK Vasan also visited the hospital where Jayalalithaa is undergoing treatment since 22 September. He said she is being given specialised medical care.

He met the director of the hospital and interacted with doctors, state ministers and was told that she is improving.

Chennai: AIADMK supporters pray for the speedy recovery of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. pic.twitter.com/0bPg2W300r  ANI (@ANI_news) October 9, 2016

"Our best wishes to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for a speedy recovery. We wish on behalf of Tamil Maanila Congress that she should resume her work for the people," he said.

CPI leader and Rajya Sabha MP D Raja said he spoke to doctors and AIADMK leaders present at the hospital and expressed his party's wishes for her early recovery.

Meanwhile, special prayers continued at places of worship in the state for Jayalalithaa's speedy recovery.

After observing ritualistic stipulations for days, a massive "milk pot" procession was taken out in Madurai by AIADMK workers and supporters in which a sizable number of women cadres participated.

The procession began from Saravana Poigai tank and culminated at the Subramania Swamy temple in Tiruparankundram where the milk carried in pots was used for worship by them.

State Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar and his party workers participated in the prayers.

Also, yagnas were performed in several temples seeking a healthy and long life for Jayalalithaa in which former State Minister Valarmathi participated.

Similarly, special prayer sessions were organised by Christians at various churches.
Three people were killed and 13 injured in a minor stampede at BSP chief Mayawati's rally in Lucknow on Sunday, reported ANI.

UP CM Akhilesh Yadav announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the family of people who died in the stampede. The incident happened when a large group was trying to force its entry from gate number 1 at the Kanshiram Smarak Sthal, the rally venue.

The two women fell down in the melee and got crushed by others. The injured were taken to the Lokbandhu Hospital where the condition of one person was said to be critical. Rumours of a live power line having snapped triggered the stampede.

Mayawati was addressing a Bahujan Samaj Party rally at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar ground in Lucknow on the 10th death anniversary of its founder Kanshi Ram, in which lakhs of people were said to be participating.

However, BSP's state unit chief Ram Achal Rajbhar said that the woman died due to humidity and not because of any stampede.

One dead and 13 injured in ruckus after BSP Chief Mayawati's rally in Lucknow. pic.twitter.com/rKX2t2rzaE  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 9, 2016

Ruckus after BSP Chief Mayawati's rally in Lucknow. pic.twitter.com/Lx8Mfll9nd  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 9, 2016

A woman died due to humidity, not because of any stampede: Ramachal Rajbhar,BSP UP state president pic.twitter.com/gxOSeuBysl  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 9, 2016

In 2002, at least 12 party workers were killed and 22 injured at the Charbagh Railway station after a BSP rally in Lucknow.

The BSP chief lashed out at the Modi government for using the surgical strikes across the Line of Control to gain political mileage.

"It is only after two-and-a-half years of coming to power that the government decided to carry out the strikes. There have been surgical strikes in the past too, but now they [BJP government] are using the surgical strikes to gain political mileage ahead of UP elections," the BSP chief said.

The BSP chief further attacked the BJP-led government by saying that it is spreading communalism and hatred in the country and the cases of crimes against Dalits and minorities have increased since the BJP attained power.

She also said, "Dalits are being targeted in various parts of the country in the name of cow protection. Minorities and Dalits are being harassed, as BJP wants to convert India into a Hindu nation."

"Harassment of Dalits and minorities would stop in the state once a BSP government comes to power in Uttar Pradesh," Mayawati promised the large gathering.

She hoped to form a majority government in the state and said better law and order, especially safety of women, would be the main focus of her government.

Uttar Pradesh is scheduled to go for polls early 2017.

With inputs from agencies
Nashik: A five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a teenage boy at Trimbakeshwar near here which led to tension as angry villagers protested at several places in the district demanding his immediate arrest, police said on Sunday.

The boy has been taken into custody, they said.

In view of the situation, Nashik Police Commissioner Ravindra Singhal has appealed people to maintain peace.

The 16-year-old boy allegedly raped the girl at an isolated place at Talegaon village under Trimbakeshwar taluka in the district on Saturday, Trimbakeshwar police station in-charge Mukund Deshmukh said.

Nashik (Maha): Villagers torch vehicle,vandalise a police van in protest after a minor was allegedly raped by a teenage boy in Trimbakeshwar pic.twitter.com/K3daf389m8  ANI (@ANI_news) October 9, 2016

The accused has been arrested & an order to file a charge sheet at the earliest has been given: Devendra Fadnavis on Nashik minor rape case pic.twitter.com/eylYgDx3Xu  ANI (@ANI_news) October 9, 2016

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too confirmed the arrest of the juvenile accused.

As soon as the news spread, tension gripped Talegoan as locals gathered at the police station last night demanding that the boy be booked and arrested.

The villagers also staged 'rasta roko' in Wadovhare, Ghoti and Anjaneri-phata areas. Some people set tyres on fire, and also damaged a tractor in Talegaon.

A group of people also protested at Nashik Civil Hospital last night and demanded that the victim be examined by a woman doctor, Deshmukh said.

According to the rural control room, some people staged rasta-rokos at Talwade village on Nashik-Trimbakeshwar road, Girnare village, which is about 10 km from Nashik district headquarters, and near Mohadi on the busy Mumbai-Agra National Highway this morning against the incident.

Police had to rush to the sites and clear the roads. Meanwhile, the boy has been booked under IPC section 376 (rape) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Nashik Police Commissioner Singhal has appealed to people to maintain peace and assured that proper action would be taken against the guilty.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, who is also the Guardian Minister of Nashik, today visited Talegaon and met the victim's family members.

He assured the girl's family that stern action will be taken by police against the culprit.

The minister also asked people to remain calm. "The girl has been examined at Nashik Civil Hospital by lady doctors, and it was clear that only an attempt of rape was made by the boy," he told reporters.

Special Inspector General of Police, Nashik Range, Vinaykumar Choube also visited Talegaon this morning even as some people threw stones on his car, a rural control room official said, adding that Superintendent of Police (rural) Ankush Shinde was keeping a close watch on the situation.

The situation was under control but tense, the official said.

Taking precautionary measures, the city as well as rural police, have beefed up security.
New Delhi: The Centre has declined to make public a panel's report on the death of research scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad University.

Replying to an RTI query, it said that the file concerned is "under submission" and a copy of the report cannot be provided.

"The file concerned is under submission. Therefore, a copy of the report cannot be provided at this point of time," Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry said in reply to the RTI query filed by PTI.

It did not cite any provision of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in declining the information.

A government department is expected to mention the relevant provision of the RTI Act under which information is being withheld.

The HRD Ministry had in February appointed a Commission of Inquiry under Justice (retired) Ashok Kumar Roopanwal to look into the events at the University of Hyderabad, culminating in the death of Vemula.

It was also tasked with reviewing the existing grievance redressal mechanism for students at the university and to suggest improvements. The Commission was asked to submit its report within three-month time.

The panel has submitted its report to the HRD Ministry.

Recent media reports have claimed that the Commission has raised questions on Vemula's Dalit status and attributed his suicide to personal reasons.

University authorities too have been absolved of any blame for Vemula's death as the Commission has held that they were not working under political pressure, the reports said.

Vemula's suicide had triggered a huge political furore with the then HRD Minister Smriti Irani coming under attack along with Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya for having written a letter related to the matter.

The Commission in its report is understood to have emphasised upon proper grievance redressal mechanisms and equal opportunity cells so that unfortunate incidents like Vemula's suicide can be prevented.
Chennai: DMK treasurer and Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly MK Stalin on Saturday visited Apollo Hospital and talked to the doctors there regarding the health condition of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

"We have been told that her condition is improving. Our wishes on behalf of the DMK and our party chief Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi) for a speedy recovery and resumption of her work," he told reporters after the visit to the hospital.

Accompanied by party colleagues, including Deputy Leader of Opposition in Assembly Duraimurugan and former minister K Ponmudi, Stalin also called on Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, state Finance Minister O Panneerselvam and state Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar at the hospital and inquired about the health of the chief minister.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital on 22 September after she complained of fever and dehydration.

DMK on Friday also sought an interim arrangement to "effectively" handle issues likes the Cauvery row till the time Jayalalithaa returns after treatment from the hospital.

"Till the time she comes (back), there should be a acting Chief Minister or a Deputy Chief Minister, which would be taken up by ministers who are next in the hierarchy and take decisions in matters like the Cauvery issue. This is our stand," Stalin, himself a former deputy CM, said.
New Delhi: In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court has widened the scope of the Domestic Violence Act by ordering the deletion of the words "adult male" from it, paving the way for prosecution of women and even non-adults for subjecting a woman relative to violence and harassment.

The apex court has ordered striking down of the two words from section 2(q) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, which deals with respondents who can be sued and prosecuted under the Act for harassing a married woman in her matrimonial home.

Referring to earlier verdicts, the apex court said, "The microscopic difference between male and female, adult and non-adult, regard being had to the object sought to be achieved by the 2005 Act, is neither real or substantial nor does it have any rational relation to the object of the legislation."

Section 2(q) of the Act reads: "'respondent' means any adult male person who is, or has been, in a domestic relationship with the aggrieved person and against whom the aggrieved person has sought any relief under DV Act."

A bench of Justices Kurian Joseph and RF Nariman paved way for prosecution of any person irrespective of gender or age under the DV Act, ordered the deletion of the words "adult male" from the statute book saying it violated right to equality under the Constitution.

The bench said that the words "adult male person" were contrary to the object of affording protection to women who have suffered from domestic violence "of any kind".

"We, therefore, strike down the words 'adult male' before the word 'person' in Section 2(q), as these words discriminate between persons similarly situated, and far from being in tune with, are contrary to the object sought to be achieved by the 2005 Act," it said.

The major verdict came on an appeal against the Bombay High Court judgement, which had resorted to the literal construction of the term 'adult male' and discharged four persons, including two girls, a woman and a minor boy, of a family from a domestic violence case on the ground that they were not "adult male" and hence cannot be prosecuted under the DV Act.

The bench, in its 56-page judgement, said the remaining part of the legislation has been kept untouched and would be operative.

"We, therefore, set aside the impugned judgment of the Bombay High Court and declare that the words 'adult male' in Section 2(q) of the 2005 Act will stand deleted since these words do not square with Article 14 of the Constitution of India.

"Consequently, the proviso to Section 2(q), being rendered otiose (superfluous), also stands deleted. We may only add that the impugned judgment has ultimately held, in paragraph 27, that the two complaints of 2010, in which the three female respondents were discharged finally, were purported to be revived, despite there being no prayer in Writ Petition...for the same," the court said.

Dealing with the term 'adult', the bench said "it is not difficult to conceive of a non-adult 16 or 17-year-old member of a household who can aid or abet the commission of acts of domestic violence, or who can evict or help in evicting or excluding from a shared household an aggrieved person.

"Also, a residence order which may be passed under Section 19(1)(c) can get stultified if a 16 or 17-year-old relative enters the portion of the shared household in which the aggrieved person resides after a restraint order is passed against the respondent and any of his adult relatives...".

The bench said that the term "adult male" contained in the Act was "discriminatory".
While leaving his home, a car crashed into a motorcyclist on East Berlin Road leaving the biker with grave injuries according to Gettysburg State Police.

James Fox, 57, of Biglerville was pronounced dead at York Hospital after he suffered severe injuries as a result of the crash Friday.

The driver of the car, 77-year-old Alden Small was exiting his driveway when he attempted to turn left. Small did not have enough time to enter his lane and Fox was unable to stop in time when they collided.

Police say Small did not sustain any injuries but Fox was taken to the hospital to be treated for his injuries when he died.
It's likely that you may not have heard of the Indian Pangolin.

It isn't as beautiful as the tiger, nor as powerful as the rhinoceroses.

And yet  it tops the list of the most illegally trafficked animals in the world.

The magnitude of hunting pangolins for their scaly skins and tender meat is so intense, that it shook the governments of 182 countries to take some action towards its protection. At the recently concluded Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), the biggest wildlife trade summit, held in Johannesburg, the 182 governments agreed to a blanket ban on international trade of all eight pangolin species found in the world. This ban gives the pangolin a fighting chance in its battle for survival. India actively pushed for the trade ban with support from the United States, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Indonesia had opposed the ban with China abstaining to vote.

The pangolin has been uplisted to Appendix 1 list of species among the two other Appendices in the level of protection afforded to any species from over-exploitation. Appendix 1 lists species of animals that are critically endangered or threatened with extinction. Trade of species listed in Appendix 1 is prohibited under CITES. The Convention does not frame legal laws of individual countries but only gives guidelines on which laws can be formulated.

Four species of pangolins are found in Africa; the other four in different countries of Asia. Out of the four Asian pangolin species, two are found in India: the Indian pangolin and the Chinese pangolin. The other two species are the Philippine and the Sunda pangolins. The Indian pangolin is found in most of the Indian peninsula while the Chinese pangolin is found in the North-Eastern states of India. Irrespective of the species, pangolins are mammals about the size of large house cats. Their skin is made of hard, overlapping scales giving them an appearance of a pine cone or an artichoke. These scales are made of keratin, the same material our fingernails are made of. This scaly exterior also acts as armour when pangolins roll up as balls when faced with threat. Pangolins have a long tail and short stubby feet to navigate wood debris where they find their food. The ingenious part of their anatomy is their tongue. It is a sticky, nearly as-long-as-their-body apparatus. This they use to slurp ants, lice larvae and termites from dead, decaying wood. Hence their other name, the Anteater.

So how come this innocuous, solitary animal is under threat? The main culprit has been the demand from China and South-East Asian countries. In these countries, pangolins are sold as meat in soups and stews, as delicacy or for medicinal and traditional remedies. Sumanth Bindumadhav who works on illegal trade in states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu thinks trade in pangolin has been practiced for many decades. Earlier when law enforcement were cracking down on popular items like tiger skins and elephant ivory, the traders managed to slip the pangolins unnoticed. It is easier to carry pangolin skins even in public transport as they weigh far less than ivory. It is also easier to capture pangolins unlike bigger animals, specially in areas outside of protected wildlife reserves. Local hunters simply smoke the burrows that pangolins occupy. During his investigations of apprehended poachers, Bindumadhav found out, the hunters smoke the burrows in the early morning hours. Being active at night, this is the time when pangolins return to their hideouts. Such practices also added to the number of pangolins being illegally traded.

In the last 5-6 years with the law authorities keeping close tabs on tiger and elephant trade, the pangolin trade exploded. Along with the South-East Asian countries, traders were combing Indian forests for pangolins to be added to the supply chain. Initially, they focused their attention on the Chinese pangolins from the North-East. Authorities intercepted 650 kgs of pangolin scales at Kolkatta airport in November 2010, 85 kg in Guwahati in July 2013, 148 kgs in Mizoram in August 2013. With these huges caches of pangolins being caught in the North-East, their numbers eventually started to run low. The traders were relentless in meeting the insatiable Chinese demand. They turned their attention to the Indian pangolin in other parts of India. Wildlife crime officials caught hauls of 25 kg of pangolin scales from Davangere, Karnataka in August 2013, 30 kg in Thiruvallore, Tamil Nadu in September 2013. But the more recent catch of 27 kg from Madhya Pradesh in 2015, set the alarm bells ringing. The authorities started to join the dots to find out pangolins are being extracted from all parts of their range from Uttarakhand to Tamil Nadu to Bengal with Madhya Pradesh emerging as the epicenter of illegal wildlife trade. Kolkata and Chennai serve as main export hubs. By a conservative estimate, 10,000 pangolins are traded every year. Considering only 10 percent of illegal trade is reported, we are staring at a staggering 1,00,000 pangolins caught and traded from the wild.

Uttara Mendiratta, director, Freeland India, that works towards stopping wildlife trafficking reckons such large scale hunting is possible due to a close nexus between local hunters and powerful moneyed traders. Once traders realise pangolin scales fetch high profits, they can be sold as high as 600 USD, they reach out to local hunters. As local hunters start to see higher reward for pangolin scales, they hunt more than they need. Thus when a species becomes lucrative to both hunters and traders, the hunting intensifies to catastrophic results for the animal.

So why the clamour to save the pangolin? What ecological role does this small, seemingly insignificant animal play? Bindumadhav thinks, ecologically speaking, the pangolin can be considered more important than the tiger. This is because there can be 2-3 other animals that can perform the role of a tiger, but in case of the pangolin is a specialist, no other animal can perform its role. It typically consumes 30,000-40,000 ants a night. In Sumatra it was recorded that ants started to feed on rubber trees in a plantation which replaced a forest wiping out its pangolins. Imagine a forest being overrun by ants in absence of pangolins. There are very few scientific studies on pangolins to access their roles in an ecosystems. There is virtually no knowledge of where pangolins are found, its breeding cycle, the biology and ecology of pangolins. We are in danger of losing a mysterious animal even before we can fully comprehend its importance.

Ground realities for pangolins on India soil may not change with uplisting it to Appendix 1, as the Wildlife Protection Act is independent of the CITES legislation. But it will hopefully bring higher punishment and greater attention to its illegally traded plight. Pangolins deserve all the attention the world can bestow.
Chandigarh: The Punjab Congress on Sunday announced a mass contact programme in the agrarian state with particular emphasis on farmers. The state elects its new legislative assembly in early 2017.

Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh told the media that a door-to-door programme will be held in the campaign's first phase from 12 to 25 October with an aim to reach out to 25 lakh state residents.

He said the party aims to reach out to over 75 lakh voters and two crore people across Punjab in the next three-four months.

The announcement was made after a meeting of the state Congress leaders.

Under the campaign, Congress workers will distribute forms to farmers to enable them to share information regarding their debts.

"If the Congress is voted to power, the farmers' debts will be waived off on priority. We stand committed to our promise of waiving farm debts," Amarinder said.

According to the Congress projections, each family in Punjab on an average is under a debt of Rs 1.2 lakh.

As many as 505 farmers and farm labourers in Punjab committed suicide in 2015 due to debt burden, a Congress spokesman said.
Nashik is on the edge after a teenage boy allegedly tried to rape a five-year-old girl near Trimbakeshwar sparking large scale protests and tension in the district. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appealed for calm and assured that the case would be tried in a fast track court.

The 16-year-old boy, who has been taken into custody, allegedly tried to rape a minor girl at Talegaon village near Trimbakeshwar in the district, Nashik Superintendent of Police Ankush Shinde said.

A case has been registered against the boy under relevant sections of the IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said.

The Nashik police put out an update on their Facebook and Twitter pages late night Sunday local time.

Please circulate to all your contacts Appeal from CP Nashik & Nashik City Police https://t.co/WgnVG1kz88 pic.twitter.com/RUOWInpd94  Nashik City Police (@nashikpolice) October 9, 2016

As soon as the news spread, tension gripped Talegoan as locals gathered at the police station last night demanding that the boy be booked and arrested.

The villagers staged rasta roko in Wadovhare, Ghoti and Anjaneri-phata areas. Some people set tyres on fire, and also damaged a tractor in Talegaon. A group of people also protested at Nashik Civil Hospital last night and demanded that the victim be examined by a woman doctor.

Enraged locals gathered at several places this morning also and damaged three police vehicles, including the car of Special IG, Nashik Range, Vinaykumar Choube.

Police lobbed teargas shells and also fire some rounds in the air at Talegaon to disperse the mob, a rural control room official said.

Protestors blocked the Nashik-Igatpuri road, Nashik-Aurangabad road and Mumbai-Agra National Highway before it was cleared by additional police forces.

Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan visited the girls family and assured them that charges will be framed in the case within a fortnight and it will be heard in a fast track court.

Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam will be appointed as prosecutor in the case, he said.

No senior doctor or civil surgeon of Nashik Civil Hospital were available for comment.
Muktsar: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday dismissed his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal's claim that SAD and Congress in Punjab were colluding to fight the state Assembly elections due next year, calling them as a "bunch of lies".

"What Kejriwal has stated is a bunch of lies....any kind of connivance with anti-Punjab and anti-Sikh Congress is unimaginable," Badal said while talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Lambi Assembly segment. "Shiromani Akali Dal can never even think of having any sort of adjustment with the party which had attacked Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), perpetrated the carnage of innocent Sikhs in Delhi and which had done grave injustice to the state by depriving us of our capital, river waters and even Punjabi speaking areas," he said.

Slamming Kejriwal, the Akali leader said he is "issuing baseless and irrational statements just for vested political interests". "Kejriwal is also suffering from anti-Punjab syndrome and does not have basic knowledge about the state," he claimed.

The chief minister further alleged that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is lacking an agenda for development of the state and trying to mislead the people by hollow slogans. The administration is not run by hollow slogans as work has to be done on ground level to ensure welfare of the people, he added.

"AAP is like a house of cards which is likely to collapse even before the state assembly polls. AAP leadership neither has any character nor were they having any ideology and their sole motive is to assume power for plundering the state," Badal.

"The allegations of party tickets being sold being leveled by AAP cadres were reflection of moral degradation in politics," he alleged. Calling state Congress chief Amarinder Singh, who is from the royal family of the erstwhile state of Patiala, as a "King of Palaces", Badal said, "he (Singh) was least worried about the welfare of people and would deprive the people of the subsidies being given by the SAD-BJP government".

When asked about the resignation of BJP's Amritsar-East MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu from the primary membership of the party, the Chief Minister said any leader who backstabs his/her mother party loses credibility amongst the people.
Kabul: Eight Afghan army soldiers were killed early Sunday morning when a military helicopter crashed in northern Baghlan province, officials said.

Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said that five crew members and three army soldiers were killed in the crash.

The crash took place in Dand Ghori district while the helicopter was supplying a military base, he said. Waziri blamed a technical problem with the aircraft and said he rejected any claims by insurgents to have downed the helicopter.

One helicopter was on the ground while a second was patrolling in the air above, when "suddenly a technical problem caused the helicopter to catch fire and hit the ground," Waziri said.

However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid issued a statement claiming responsibility for downing the helicopter in which he said the aircraft was shot down by fighters.

Two provincial officials in Baghlan also said that the helicopter had been shot down by insurgents while supplying the military base with food, water and ammunition.

Qarghan Tapa base has been surrounded by insurgents for a week, leaving more than a hundred soldiers stuck inside, according to the officials. They said all roads to the base have been shut off by the insurgents and the only way to supply them is by air.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the press.

Taliban insurgents have increased their attacks on Afghan security forces in northern Baghlan and neighboring Kunduz province in recent months.
Republican Donald Trump, facing a revolt from his party over vulgar comments he made about women, feels "terrible" about the remarks but has no intention of stepping aside in the US presidential race and will appear at a debate later on Sunday, a top Trump adviser said.

The adviser, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, struck a defiant note in appearances on Sunday talk shows, saying that at the debate with Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trump would not rule out going on the offensive by bringing up her husband Bill Clinton's past infidelities.

A 2005 video that emerged on Friday showed Trump, then a reality TV star speaking on an open microphone about groping women and trying to seduce a married woman. The video was taped only months after Trump married his third wife, Melania.

Interviewed on NBC's Meet the Press, Giuliani said both presidential contenders were flawed but that Trump feels he owes it to his supporters to stay in the race.

"He obviously feels very bad about what he said, he's apologised for it," Giuliani said. "What he'd like to do is move on to the issues that are facing the American people."

Republicans have attacked Hillary Clinton, 68, over what they say is her role in trying to discredit women who accused Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct decades ago.

A month before the 8 November 2016 US Presidential Election, Trump, 70, is facing the biggest crisis of his 16-month-old campaign. The pressure on him will be intense at the 9 pm EDT (6.30 am IST) debate at Washington University in St Louis.

It is the second of three scheduled presidential debates as the long-running US election contest enters its final weeks.
New Delhi: US' Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will address a rally of Hindu-Americans in New Jersey on October 15 and half of the proceedings from the event will be used for the benefit of Kashmiri Pandits.

The founder of Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC) Shalabh Kumar today claimed that this is the first of its kind event where Trump is scheduled to address only one specific ethnic community.

"...This is a charity concert organised for the benefit of terror victims in various countries...The 50 per cent of the proceeds from this concert will go for the benefit of Kashmiri Pandits in India," Kumar told reporters here.

Kumar is also Chairman of Indian American Advisory Council to the Republican Party.
The Monica Lewinsky - Bill Clinton - Juanita Broaddrick debate - Clinton and Trump don't even have to talk about it, but that's why the teeming millions will tune in for. Nearly 90 million tuned in for the first presidential debate, the second one may break that record.

I think that Trump will figure hes got nothing to lose, so he might as well go all out, say Democrats close to the Clintons.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/clinton-team-girds-for-all-out-assault-229388#ixzz4MbBau8AR

Follow us: @politico on Twitter | Politico on Facebook

Trump's unloading every piece of dirt on the Clintons on Twitter right from the early hours Sunday. The Juanita Boaddrick rape allegations against Bill Clinton is the crown jewel so far.

Hours before the most critical presidential debate, a damaged but defiant Donald Trump seized on never-proved sexual allegations against Hillary Clinton's husband as a growing group of Republican leaders called on the New York businessman to abandon his troubled presidential bid.

EXCLUSIVE  Video Interview: Bill Clinton Accuser Juanita Broaddrick Relives Brutal Rapes:https://t.co/9j7f8VK9Md  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2016

Meanwhile, unofficial celebrations have begun at the Clinton headquarters. Hillary Clinton's campaign is all set to pounce and seal the election with the second bout at St Louis, Missouri at 9 pm EST.

For many people, the jaw-dropping 2005 video of Trump's vulgar comments about women trumps anything else that has come out about the Republican nominee. And it gives Hillary Clinton fresh ammunition for her second faceoff with the GOP nominee.

The Republican presidential nominee tweeted a link Sunday to an interview with a woman who Trump says "relives brutal rapes." Juanita Broaddrick's lawsuit against Bill Clinton accusing him of rape was dismissed in 2001 and criminal charges were never filed. Clinton has denied the allegations.

The tweet was backed by statements from a top Trump surrogate, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. He equated sexually aggressive language from Trump caught on a newly surfaced recording to the actions of Hillary Clinton in the 1990s when Bill Clinton struggled through the fallout of his own sexual transgressions.

Over the objections of CNN anchor Jake Tapper, Giuliani insisted that Hillary Clinton "was the leader of the attack" against "the women who Bill Clinton sexually assaulted, sexually abused."

Giuliani, as Trump had the day before, declared that the Republican nominee would never quit the presidential race despite calls for him to step aside after his vulgar descriptions of sexual advances on women were revealed in a recording.

With just a month remaining before the election, Trump's task in Sunday night's debate is enormous, and perhaps insurmountable. Even before the recording of his remarks were made public, the businessman was lagging behind Clinton after an undisciplined first debate and struggling to overcome deep skepticism among women about his temperament and qualifications to be commander in chief.

Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges said that for Trump, "The debate is now everything."

Trump has long hinted he may turn the debate into a referendum on Clinton's marriage. In what was billed as a videotaped apology for his actions, Trump over the weekend said "Bill Clinton has actually abused women" and Hillary Clinton "bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated" her husband's "victims."

On Sunday morning, Giuliani said Trump is counting on voters to forgive.

"He's going to apologize for what he did. He is going to explain to people that is not the man he is today. And he's going to count on the fact that the American people are fair and decent people, and when someone asks for forgiveness, they usually give it," Giuliani said on CNN's "State of the Union."

Outside Trump's small cadre of advisers, support for the businessman was scarce following Friday's release of the 2005 videotape in which he can be heard detailing his attempts to have sex with a married woman. In an extraordinary rebuke, Trump's own running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, declared he could neither condone nor defend the remarks.

"We pray for his family," Pence said.

Several other Republicans did take the extraordinary step of revoking support for their party's nominee one month from Election Day and with early voting already underway in some key states. Among them: Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte  both are running for re-election  and the party's 2008 nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain, who said Trump's behavior made it "impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy."

Many went further and called on Trump to quit the race altogether.

Republican leaders have scheduled a rare Monday morning conference call for House GOP lawmakers, who are out of town for Congress' election recess. The email obtained by The Associated Press doesn't specify the topic for the call, but rank-and-file lawmakers believe it's about Trump.

The political firestorm was sparked by a 2005 video obtained and released Friday by The Washington Post and NBC News. In the video, Trump, who was married to his current wife at the time, is heard describing attempts to have sex with a married woman. He also brags about women letting him kiss them and grab their genitals because he is famous.

"When you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything," Trump says in the video. He adds seconds later: "Grab them by the p----. You can do anything." He said of his impulse to kiss beautiful women: "I don't even wait."

While still publicly backing Trump, the Republican National Committee is considering how to move forward.

One possibility: re-directing its expansive political operation away from Trump and toward helping vulnerable Senate and House candidates. Such a move would leave Trump with virtually no political infrastructure in swing states to identify his supporters and ensure they vote.

Election law experts suggest it would be logistically impossible to replace Trump on the ballot altogether, with early voting underway in some states and overseas ballots already distributed to military servicemen and others.

The release of the recording and ensuing backlash almost completely overshadowed the release of hacked emails from inside the Clinton campaign that revealed the contents of some of her previously secret paid speeches to Wall Street. The Democratic nominee told bankers behind closed doors that she favored "open trade and open border." Such comments were distinctively at odds with her tough talk about trade and Wall Street during the primary campaign.

Clinton running mate Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine deflected questions about the hacked emails and focused instead of Trump's vulgar comments.

"I think there's kind of a piece of the jigsaw puzzle missing in Donald trump where he does not look at women and consider them as equal to himself," Kaine said on CNN.

(With AP)
The date was 12 October. The year, 1999. Kashmirs Hurriyat Conference leaders were in Jodhpur jail that day when news came in that General Musharraf had taken power from Pakistans Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Hard line leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was pleased that the prime minister who had welcomed Indias Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Lahore seven months earlier had been ousted, and the army chief who had not saluted Vajpayee when the latter crossed the border on a 'goodwill' bus was now the leader of Pakistan.

Seventeen years since then, almost to the day, the Hurriyat leaders are in jail again, but not in the same one. So, just in case there are significant changes in Pakistan, they might not discuss the news immediately. There are several other similarities, though, between what happened in 1999 and what has occurred in the recent months.

A dramatic rapprochement, led by the two prime ministers, had occurred when Vajpayee went to Lahore that February. It was followed a couple of months later by the discovery of Pakistani military incursions in the Kargil area. From May to July, there were fierce battles along the heights of Batalik, Tololing and Tiger Hill in the Kargil district.

Last 25 December, there was an almost equally dramatic (and even more sudden) show of warmth between the two countries prime ministers; Prime Minister Modi dropped in at Lahore on his way from Kabul to Delhi to attend Prime Minister Sharifs granddaughters wedding  on Sharifs birthday.

The dampener on that detente turned up much faster than in 1999. Just a week after Modis visit came a shocking attack at an Indian Air Force facility at Pathankot. The attack at Uri on 18 September substantially worsened the two countries relations, albeit less so than the Kargil war did.

The reason that war ended within a couple of months was that the then US President Bill Clinton ticked off Prime Minister Sharif in Washington on 4 July, 1999. The resultant military pullback led to a face-off between Pakistans prime minister and chief of army staff, which made it evident that one of them would lose his job soon.

Sharif tried to replace Musharraf, while the latter was on an official visit to Sri Lanka. But Musharraf was ready with a backup plan: his key corps commanders ensured that Sharif was overthrown and the way was cleared for Musharrafs takeover.

Indias strikes across the Line of Control on 29 September this year, in retaliation against the Uri attack, appear to have caused strains in the relationship between Nawaz Sharif and Pakistans current army chief, General Raheel Sharif. There were signs on Thursday that that unease might have become a face-off.

Three facts have given that potential face off an edge  or rather, a triple edge. One, the Pakistan Armys 'clean up' in the federally administered tribal areas (FATA) and against domestic terrorists made Raheel Sharif more popular than any Pakistani leader has been in several decades. Two, the general is about to retire in November; for him, the window of opportunity is closing. Three, Pakistani nationalism (which tends to centre on the army) has been consolidated following Indias high profile international campaign over Balochistan  and the way the situation in Kashmir and the Line of Control has been reported in Pakistan.

Of course, the two power centres in Pakistan could negotiate a recalibration of power over the next couple of weeks. The general could, for example, continue to head the army, possibly with the rank of field marshal, while the prime minister remained with an even further reduced role in security and foreign affairs.

It is worth asking what various international powers including the US and China would want. Would they prefer multiple power centres so that the army remains domestically leashed, and the situation in Pakistan might remain relatively stable? Or would world powers prefer a single centre of power with which to interact in Pakistan?

Indias preferred answer to those questions might seem like a foregone conclusion. Undoubtedly, the continuation of a civilian government would restrain the armys belligerence somewhat.

However, it is worth considering that the best possibility for the two countries to eventually come to an agreement over the intractable Kashmir issue would be for leaders as strong and nationalist as Narendra Modi and the putative President-cum-General Raheel Sharif to be in place. After all, five years after Musharraf's coup, he had sidelined hardliner Geelani (the one who had welcomed his coup from jail). By then, some of those who had disagreed with Geelani in that jail were on board 'the Musharraf plan' for peace  which Geelani rejected as a betrayal.

It is of course also true that Modi and Raheel Sharif's personas as much as the kind of political and geopolitical positioning, on which the careers have thrived  not to speak of the hyper-aggressiveness among many sections on both sides of the border  would seem to make a hope for peace from the two strongmen, wishful thinking.

After all, if wishes were horses, they could too easily turn into cavalry.
By Colleen Jenkins

| WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. Emergency crews in boats rescued hundreds of people from floodwaters and plucked others from rooftops by helicopter in North Carolina after former hurricane Matthew flooded much of the U.S. Southeast before weakening on Sunday and turning out to sea.Matthew, the most powerful Atlantic storm since 2007, was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Sunday after its rampage through the Caribbean killed nearly 900 people in Haiti and at least 16 people in the United States.Haiti also has suffered from outbreaks of cholera and about 61,500 displaced people were in shelters, officials said. In the United States, more than 2 million U.S. homes and business had lost power.The storm was moving east-northeast out to sea, according to the National Hurricane Center's 11 a.m. (1500 GMT) report, which placed the center of the storm 100 miles (160 km) off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.Although Matthew lost its tropical characteristics, no longer feeding off warm ocean water, the storm still packed dangerous winds with a maximum speed of 75 mph (120 kph), down from 130 mph (210 kph) at full strength. Storm surges and flooding also remained a threat, the hurricane center said."There's no way it's coming back (to the coast)," said Dennis Feltgen, a spokesman for the hurricane center.Officials said many coastal and inland communities were still under water, either from coastal storm surge or overrun rivers and creeks, and dangerous conditions existed from downed power lines and damaged homes.

U.S. President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in Georgia and Florida, freeing up federal money to help the states repair damaged infrastructure and remove debris. North Carolina and South Carolina also could be in line for aid.In North Carolina, where at least seven people died, Governor Pat McCrory pleaded for outside help, asking the country not to be too distracted by the U.S. presidential campaign, currently transfixed by a 2005 video of Republican nominee Donald Trump making vulgar comments about women."I realize political talk is dominating the airwaves on a lot of the other national channels but I want to let the rest of the nation know we need your help," McCrory said. Florida reported five storm-related deaths, Georgia three and South Carolina one.

Flooding in North Carolina required 877 water rescues, including more than 500 in inland Cumberland County, McCrory said.The governor said officials were looking for new rescue personnel to relieve the 334 federal, state and local responders who worked through the night "risking their lives.""These rescue teams, I've got to let you know, they are extremely exhausted at this time," McCrory said.

The governor also told of seeing video of the Coast Guard rescuing several people from a roof by helicopter, adding, "I hope that dog survives, too."He reported at least one other helicopter rescue where boats could not reach the home.In Virginia, where more than 300,000 customers had lost power, the city of Norfolk declared a state of emergency and urged its citizens to remain off the road, while the city of Virginia Beach closed all parks, recreation centers, libraries and the Virginia Aquarium.The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sounded warnings about flash floods, which Administrator Craig Fugate called the leading cause of weather-related deaths.Even with the storm moving away from the coast, "an extensive and significant freshwater flood event is unfolding over northeastern South Carolina into central and eastern North Carolina," FEMA said. (Additional reporting by Harriet McLeod in Charleston, S.C. and Gina Cherlus in New York; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Bill Trott)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Gov. Mike Pence, warn your buddy Donald Trump. That Mexican Thing you mentioned in the vice-presidential debate  its coming for you.

Like La Llorona and El Chupacabra, the folkloric spooks that Mexican parents tell stories about to scare the bejeezus out of their naughty children, That Mexican Thing is not to be trifled with. It has its eye on you.

Trumps calumnies against Mexicans and other Latinos in the U.S. are well known, and they dont have to be rehashed here. Its worth noting, however, that these comments arent gaffes or tics. In a recent civil deposition, Trump admitted that his peroration on Mexican rapists  in the speech with which he kicked off his campaign  was a premeditated offense.

Indeed, it is impossible to regard this provocation as anything other than part of a strategy to blow up the Republican Party and reconstitute it in the mold of populist white nationalism. After all, it was only four years ago that the GOP searched its soul after failing to unseat Barack Obama and concluded that it must reach out to Latinos. Alas, what innocent times those were!

Pence, who is cut from crustier Republican cloth, seems ill at ease with Trumps alt-right style of racist agitprop, but then again he doesnt seem to get what a big deal it is. That explains his exasperation when his opponent, Sen. Tim Kaine, repeatedly brought up Trumps rapist remark in their debate.

Senator, you whipped out that Mexican thing again, Pence said peevishly, before doubling down on Trumps view of Mexican immigrants as, essentially, criminals.

In doing so, Pence showed that he, too, thinks of Latinos in nebulous terms, not quite as human beings, as U.S. citizens and voters, but rather as an undifferentiated mass in the category problematic. For those of us Americans of Mexican descent, it showed that bigotry against us is embedded in the Trump-Pence campaign. Its not going away.

You know what else is not going away? Us.

Numbering 55 million, Latinos are 17 percent of the population, the largest ethnic minority. For years, demographic trends have foretold a watershed moment when Latino citizens will be able to exert a significant impact on national elections. 2016 might be the year.

In doing so we will be partaking of a grand American tradition  that of immigrant groups taking their place in the American body politic.

Latinos are hardly the first minority to come up against organized political bigotry. Trumpism and the so-called alt-right have a forerunner in the Know Nothing movement of the 1850s, a deplorable and sometimes violent party organization that formed in backlash against the arrival of millions of Irish Catholic and German Catholic immigrants.

Political cartoons of the time depicted the Irish as ape-like murderers and ruffians. They were said to be drunks, criminals and agents of the pope, inimical to American republican values.

I guess certain American political tendencies dont change, but the targets do.

Like the Irish before us, we Latinos wont be taking it lying down. Immigrants have been rushing to upgrade from permanent legal resident to U.S. citizenship in time to vote, creating massive naturalization events during the past year. Many have cited Trump as the impetus.

Voto Latino reports it has registered more than 100,000 new voters since last November. And thats just one Latino group working to encourage a strong turnout.

Trumps words are the leverage. People know when they are being disparaged. Casual asides dont fool anyone  as when Trump qualified his rape slander of Mexicans thus: Some, I assume, are good people.

Thats not mitigating the offense; its accentuating it.

Its classic Trump. And now Pence joins in with his Mexican thing, showing how clueless he is about his running mate and his country.

No other nation has as long and as rich and as complicated a history with the United States as Mexico. Major portions of the U.S. used to be Mexico. Our blood and our cultures are mixed. No modern political candidate can undo that.

Mexicans and Mexican-Americans know the nuances of immigration policy, trade deals and border security in ways Trump can never fathom. The details are imbedded in our family histories, in the traditions and beliefs passed from generation to generation well beyond our families migration.

A week before the election, millions of Americans will celebrate Dia de los Muertos  Day of the Dead  a Mexican holiday now widely observed in the U.S.

Dia de los Muertos is about respect  respect for the souls of our departed ancestors and friends. We tend to their graves to welcome their spirits back.

Respect is important to us. By mocking us, disparaging us, Donald Trump has awakened That Mexican Thing. Our displeasure will be known Nov. 8.

Mary Sanchez is an opinion-page columnist for The Kansas City Star. Readers may email her at msanchez@kcstar.com.
By Judy Royal

| CAROLINA BEACH, N.C.

CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. Emergency crews in boats rescued hundreds of people from floodwaters and plucked others from rooftops by helicopter in North Carolina as former hurricane Matthew flooded much of the U.S. Southeast before weakening on Sunday and turning out to sea.Matthew, the most powerful Atlantic storm since 2007, was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Sunday after its rampage through the Caribbean killed nearly 900 people in Haiti. In the United States, 17 people died and more than 2 million U.S. homes and business had lost power.The storm continued moving out to sea, according to the National Hurricane Center's 2 p.m.(1800 GMT) report, which placed the center of the storm about 150 miles (240 km) off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.Although Matthew lost its tropical characteristics, the storm still packed hurricane force winds as far as 70 miles (110 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds 240 miles (390 km) away. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sounded warnings about flash floods, the leading cause of weather-related deaths.Officials said many coastal and inland communities were still under water, either from coastal storm surge or overrun rivers and creeks, and dangerous conditions existed from downed power lines and damaged homes.U.S. President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in Georgia and Florida, freeing up federal money to help the states repair damaged infrastructure and remove debris.

In North Carolina, where at least eight people died, Governor Pat McCrory pleaded for outside help, asking the country not to be too distracted by the U.S. presidential campaign, currently transfixed by a 2005 video of Republican nominee Donald Trump making vulgar comments about women."We need your help," McCrory said.Florida reported five storm-related deaths, Georgia three and South Carolina one.McCrory said 334 rescue workers risked their lives carrying out 877 rescues overnight.

"These rescue teams, I've got to let you know, they are extremely exhausted at this time," McCrory said.In one of the dramatic rescues in North Carolina, out-of-state firefighters helped save three people from the roof of an SUV in inland Cumberland County, where more than 500 rescues took place.Flash flooding turned a creek into a "roaring, raging river" that swept the vehicle off the roadway on Saturday night, said Battalion Chief Joe Downey of the Fire Department of New York. He was part of a team from three states that carried out 64 rescues on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

"Water was almost up to the roof of the SUV," Downey said in a telephone interview. "It was bad. They had nowhere to go."McCrory also told of seeing video of the Coast Guard rescuing several people from a roof by helicopter, adding, "I hope that dog survives, too."He reported at least one other helicopter rescue where boats could not reach the home.In Florence County, South Carolina, a vehicle trying to cross a flooded roadway was swept away by flood waters, killing one person, Governor Nikki Haley said.Elsewhere in the state, coastal officials asked evacuees to wait to return and Charleston residents raked out storm drains and cleared debris near their homes, while local officials navigated rivers and combed though neighborhoods looking for damages power lines and downed trees in roadways.In Virginia, where more than 300,000 customers had lost power, the city of Norfolk declared a state of emergency and urged its citizens to remain off the road, while the city of Virginia Beach closed all parks, recreation centers, libraries and the Virginia Aquarium. (Additional reporting by Harriet McLeod in Charleston, S.C. and Gina Cherlus in New York; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Bill Trott)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Istanbul: Kurdish militants detonated a car bomb Sunday outside a military checkpoint in southeast Turkey, killing nine soldiers and eight civilians, the local governor said.

Cuneyit Orhan Toprak, governor of Hakkari province where the attack took place, gave the death toll to the private news channel NTV and said 27 other people were wounded in the attack and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Eleven of the wounded were soldiers, the Turkish military said.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency, citing a statement by the Turkish Armed Forces, said the attack occurred at 9.45 am outside a Gendarmerie checkpoint on the Semdinli-Yuksekova highway and was the work of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. The checkpoint is 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the center of the town of Semdinli.

Toprak said the attackers first opened fire on the soldiers at the checkpoint to distract them, before driving up a minivan containing about 5 tons of explosives and detonating it.

The explosion produced a crater 15 meters (50 feet) wide and 7 meters (23 feet) deep. An infantry station located behind the checkpoint also suffered heavy damage.

Turkish authorities imposed a temporary blackout on coverage of the attack, citing public order and national security reasons.

Energy Minister Berat Albayrak condemned the attack during a speech in Istanbul, calling on all countries to stand together against terrorism.

Turkey has been rocked by a wave of bomb attacks since last summer that have killed hundreds of people and been blamed on either the PKK or the Islamic State group.

Fighting between the PKK and the state security forces resumed last year after the collapse of a fragile two-and-half year cease-fire. Since then, more than 600 Turkish security personnel and thousands of PKK militants have been killed in clashes, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency. Rights groups say hundreds of civilians have also been killed in the fighting.

On Thursday, 10 people were slightly wounded by a bomb mounted on a motorcycle that exploded near a police station in Istanbul. On Friday, the militant Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, or TAK, considered an offshoot of the PKK, claimed responsibility. Six people have been detained in connection with that attack.
After a series of protests in the first week of October 2016, the Polish government announced it would not be pushing through a proposed legislation that would effectively ban abortions in the country.

The sudden u-turn of the government came as a surprise to many, yet few perceive defending the shaky status quo as a victory.

The current abortion law has been in place since the early 1990s and counts as one of the most restrictive in Europe. It is widely referred to as a compromise between the Catholic Church and the more liberal groups in the society. However, the compromise granted little to the liberal camp, as womens right to choose was disregarded and exceptions were only granted in cases of rape, incest, when the life of the fetus is under threat or when the mothers health is in grave danger. And pundits assume that the ruling party will soon attempt to come up with yet another compromise solution, further tightening the already strict law and parading it as a concession to the protesters.

This week, a picture of a woman protesting the Polish abortion bill in Paris holding a sign saying I cant believe I still have to protest this f sh went viral on social media. However, an alarming truth is that Europe-wide, not even mentioning worldwide, the struggle is very far from being over. Malta, the Vatican and Ireland all have similar legislation as the one people in Poland protested against.

The European Court of Human Rights that safeguards states compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights, has never suggested that a right to choose per se would have to be recognised as a sufficient reason to justify the abortion. However, in its ruling against Ireland, it at least stated that the law has to clarify under what conditions abortion is legal for women, whose lives are at risk, to avoid situations when doctors refrain from acting for fear of being prosecuted and thus reminding states that competing rights and interests always have to be weighed against each other. If Ireland obliged in time, Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar, who died following the refusal of doctors to abort her unviable fetus, could still be alive.

In less extreme cases, European citizens can currently hardly use a solely legal framework for promoting changes. An expert on medical law, Gregor Puppinck, opened up a discussion about a necessity of implementation of the womans right not to abort that the repressive states should start with, shifting the agenda from criminal law into the field of socio-economic rights. If according to some stats, about three quarters of all abortions are a result of socio-economic constraints, the states clearly fail in their duty to provide adequate living standards for women guaranteed in European and international social charters of rights. Instead of falling for the right-wings presentation of the issue in terms of a disintegration of the traditional family values caused by harmful liberalism and cosmopolitanism, we should all get vocal about the far-reaching social dimension of the issue. As it usually goes, reproductive rights are also a matter of a class membership, which makes questions of gender inequality and power even more pressing.

It is especially so in countries of the former Eastern Bloc that have experienced growing social inequalities and shrinking of the welfare system for the past decades. Returning to Poland, it is crystal clear how detrimental it is that local schools truly provide little to none sexual education and that contraceptives are not subsidised by the health system, making them far less accessible for the women suffering from poverty. At the same time, the private clinic businesses (where the abortion regulations are enforced somehow more leniently) are booming and women who can afford it, increasingly engage in illegal abortion tourism.

On the other side of the spectrum, NGOs estimate that up to 150,000 illegal abortions take place in the country every year. The figure is truly alarming, especially taking into consideration that many of the illegal abortions are performed by women themselves, using drugs purchased on the internet and in the worst cases, with coat hangers that have become one of the symbols of the protests.

If the estimate is correct, Poland would be the only country in the region, where the number of both legal and illegal abortions has not been consistently dropping in the past decades. During socialism, abortions were available and accessible on demand with a varying level of regulation over time across the region. The liberal legislation combined with limited sexual education lead to one result only  the states exhibited whopping number of abortions especially during the 1980s. After the fall of the regimes, Poland was the only Central European country that decided to significantly circumvent abortion laws by introducing the above-mentioned conservative compromise bill in 1993. And while paradoxically, abortion numbers have been going down among Polands neighbours, the lack of any supporting educational policy programmes effectively turned the Polish on-demand abortion ban on its head.

Another dimension to this is that unfortunately, it is almost a rule that the states that ostentatiously demonstrate their interest in fetuses do not show the same level of concern for the already born children and their mothers. The social security programmes are left far behind the rhetoric about the traditional family and sanctity of the motherhood. Once babies are born, both married and unmarried mothers are left on their own. And ideally in the kitchen too.

Poland is a deeply Catholic country and conservative, traditional gender role division is perceived as the norm by large sections of the society. Women have to put up with proverbial double shifts, bearing the load of their actual employment, before dealing with the housework for an average of 2.5 extra hours as compared to their male counterparts. Female sexuality and any types of relations outside of heterosexual marriage are often frowned upon for trespassing the ideal of chastity and making a sensible discussion about reproductive rights unviable. The tone of the ongoing debates on abortion, sexual violence and more thus only emphasises how the bodies of Polish women are used as a site of struggle for social power usurped by the patriarchal institutions. After all, one of the most effective ways on how to exert control is to proclaim a female uterus to be res publica, something everybody should have a say in.

What is especially upsetting about the abortion debate in Poland is the fact that the Christian conservative shift in the politics is not likely to subside. The governments have been using conservative agenda as a way to steer the attention of the voters from more pressing issues such as failing health, education and social system as well as a way of launching attacks against the liberal urban elites that are partially justly blamed for the disenchantment with the post-socialist transformation. The trick is nothing new in Central Eastern Europe; it is just that Mr Orban in Hungary decided to pick on migrants instead of women. One thing is for sure, we should all brace ourselves for more to come.

To not be so 'doom and gloom', it must be noted that there is at least one positive thing that the crisis in Poland directly generated  the women in the country are getting louder when speaking about their rights. The topics of their reproductive rights and gender inequalities have moved to the very centre of the public discussions, mobilising the people in and outside the country to show unprecedented levels of solidarity with the struggle. Persisting taboos surrounding the issue are also being  if not lifted  at least challenged amid the disputes. In Poland and beyond, the wave of contention is rising and the debate itself is a valuable tool for the civic activism, filling the public arena with questions about what kind of society we want to have.

The government in Poland might have not realised this, but by even attempting to introduce such a pointlessly radical piece of legislation, it has exacerbated the strength of the emancipatory movement. On the top of that, this week, we have all witnessed that organized public protest does have power. As I mentioned earlier, however, this is barely a partial victory. It will take many more #blackprotests to get where we want to be  and way beyond Polish-style compromises.

The writer is pursuing a PhD in Social Anthropology from Central European University and is based in Warsaw, Poland
Islamabad: Pakistan sees no hope of a breakthrough in relations with India under the Narendra Modi government, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said, accusing India of adopting a "hegemonistic attitude".

"Pakistan had been resisting the Indian hegemonistic attitude in the region and had been calling for the promotion of bilateral ties on equal basis," Aziz said.

"There is no hope for a breakthrough in relations with India under Modi for a breakthrough in relations with India under its current Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted Aziz saying in TV interview.

Aziz said the joint session of the parliament on Saturday had unanimously adopted a resolution that encompassed all issues, including the condemnation of "Indian brutalities" in Kashmir, ceasefire violations, condemnation of Indian threat to revoke Indus Waters Treaty and Indian intervention in Balochistan.

The adviser said the focal point of all these efforts was to show the world that entire Pakistan was united to condemn Indian brutalities in Kashmir and extend moral, diplomatic and political support to Kashmiri people.

Aziz said during interactions at various platforms across the globe the majority viewed that the dialogue should resume between the two states.

He said there was no harm in sealing the Pak-India border as planned by India, if the points of public movement and trade were maintained.
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey Ten Turkish soldiers and eight civilians were killed on Sunday when suspected Kurdish militants detonated a five-tonne truck bomb that ripped through a checkpoint near a military outpost in the country's southeast, the prime minister said.Another 27 people, including 11 soldiers, were wounded in the blast which hit the Durak gendarmerie station, 20 km (12 miles) from the town of Semdinli, in one of the most deadly attacks in the region of recent times.The mountainous Hakkari province, where the attack occurred, lies near the border with Iraq and Iran and is one of the main flashpoint areas in a conflict that has pitted Turkey's army against the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) for 32 years.The attack occurred around 9:45 am (0645 GMT) when a small truck approached the vehicle checkpoint and ignored an order to stop, prompting gendarmerie troops to open fire, the Hakkari governor's office said.A bomb in the vehicle was detonated, which Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told reporters contained some five tonnes of explosives.President Tayyip Erdogan vowed to put an end to PKK attacks as he condemned the bombing, accusing the group of acting on behalf of "dark forces that had designs in Syria and Iraq"."Hand in hand with our people, our state with all its institutions is determined to make the separatist terror organisation incapable of carrying out attacks," his written statement said.The army has "neutralised" 387 PKK fighters in Hakkari alone since Aug. 4, state-run Anadolu Agency cited military sources as saying.The governor's office said extensive air-backed operations were being conducted by commando units in the area to capture PKK militants, who were believed to have opened fire in the run-up to the attack to distract soldiers at the checkpoint.

Military helicopters flew the wounded to hospitals in the region following the blast, the governor's office said, as soldiers looked on and locals wandered amid mangled wreckage and debris, video footage on CNN Turk showed.Authorities were on high alert for possible attacks on Sunday, 18 years to the day since PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan fled Syria before being captured by Turkish special forces in February the following year. He has since been in prison on an island near Istanbul.Erdogan often criticises what he sees as inadequate Western support in the fight against the PKK, and Energy Minister Berat Albayrak called on Sunday on its allies to show solidarity. "This fire of terror continues to burn our country, the whole region and world each day that passes. We have to show more sincerity than ever in this process," Albayrak said in a speech at an energy conference in Istanbul.

SURGE IN VIOLENCE

Violence has flared in the mainly Kurdish southeast and elsewhere in Turkey in recent days.On Saturday, a man and a woman who authorities suspect were PKK militants preparing a car bomb attack detonated explosives and killed themselves near the capital Ankara in a stand-off with police.

In the southeast, 12 people were killed on Saturday, including eight PKK fighters. Four civilians were killed by gunfire from an armoured police vehicle in the town of Yuksekova near the Iranian border.On Thursday, a bomb attack near a police station in Istanbul wounded 10 people. The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), a PKK offshoot, claimed responsibility for that blast.The PKK, which launched its separatist insurgency in 1984, is designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.A two-year ceasefire between the group and Turkish authorities collapsed in July last year and the violence subsequently rose to levels not seen since the height of the conflict in the 1990s.The surge in violence coincides with a Turkish military operation in northern Syria in support of rebels and designed to drive away from the border Islamic State militants and a Syrian Kurdish militia closely linked to the PKK.President Erdogan chaired a security summit with the head of the armed forces and ministers in Istanbul on Saturday, but details of the meeting have not been disclosed. (Writing by Daren Butler; editing by John Stonestreet)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.




Written by the Editorial Board of The Guardian Newspaper





Nigeria would be better off if President Muhammadu Buhari would concentrate on what his government should do to lead the country out of the current economic crisis instead of wasting precious time on blaming past administrations for the current woes of the country. The past, no doubt, cannot be ignored for the seeds of the current problems were sown then. But President Muhammadu Buhari should galvanize the country into wealth-creating productivity, stimulate the economy to get more people employed and spend time on rebuilding the broken walls.



Certainly, this is what Nigerians elected him to do.

What has even been more worrisome is the fact that he was quoted as responding the other day that he would continue to blame past leaders and indeed the political party he ousted from power. This is no longer acceptable at a time the people look up to the president to take the nation out of the abyss into which, certainly, the last administration had plunged it

In Abeokuta for a ceremony some days ago, President Buhari, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Babachir Lawal again blamed past leaders for the countrys woes saying they lacked foresight, uprightness and managerial skills.

If our leaders had demonstrated the foresight, uprightness and managerial skills of Chief Bisoye Tejuoso our economy would have been better. Our past leaders refused to save and diversify the economy. True. But Nigerians already know this.

What is more, sooner than later, the Buhari administration would face the same scrutiny and verdict of the people. Which is why it is important to enjoin the president to concentrate the business of leading Nigeria at this time when the economy requires creativity and resourceful leadership instead of whining. Nigerians also needs some inspiration.

People, would like to be comforted by inspirational words and actions that will engender a glimmer of hope, that all will be well, after all. At this time, Nigeria needs a president who would tell the people how he intends to remove all obstacles to industrialization in Nigeria. Nigeria needs a leader who would tell the people how he intends to deal with the issues of ease of doing business.

In international rating by the International Finance Corporation and others, Nigeria ranks a dismal 181 out of 189 countries surveyed for Ease of doing Business. This means that despite all the assurances and hundreds of seminars and panel reports on how to reform the public service to deal with obstacles to business startups such as registration, land acquisition, rule of law and compliance with extant rules, nothing has changed. Besides, critical infrastructure needed for industrialization such as good roads and stable electricity supply are unavailable at the moment. That is also why lamentation and stale prescriptions should be left to the people and non-governmental organizations. When leaders in office do nothing but blame predecessors and even the people for poor performance, who would the people blame or who would the people look up to?

Therefore, President Buhari has his job well cut out for him. Besides, he should not allow the people who supported his emergence as leader to question the basis for their trust, for Nigerians and indeed, world leaders, believe that the nation could not have asked for a better leader at such a critical time as this.

There have been enough plaudits on the commitment of his government to tackling the challenge of Boko Haram insurgency in the North East. There are clear indications that the insurgents are already weak but the storm is not over yet. Not only that, there is no doubt that the Buhari government is serious about fighting corruption despite criticisms of lopsidedness in the execution of the fight. So, no one doubts that work is ongoing.

There is, however, concerns about building institutions that can sustain the fight within the public service where corruption is endemic. In other words, while the anti-graft war is admirable, it is not profound enough.

President Buhari should, note that Nigerians also perceive that he is too rigid and want him to be more adept at managing all the variables of a complex federation beset with underutilization of human resources. He should deepen the peoples understanding of the philosophy of his government beyond the blame game. He should re-connect with and engage the people in a way that will send them a message of hope.

The president should put an end to the era of lamentation and begin not only the re-organisation but also the inspiration of a true Nigeria.
        :         ,     FIR    
While it is easy to get caught up in dividend stocks with a high yield, investors tend to earn higher returns by investing in companies that pay a growing dividend. While several energy stocks have managed to grow their dividends in good times, only the best handful have succeeded in raising their payout throughout more than one energy cycle.

Here are five champions that have delivered consistent dividend growth for more than a decade:

Dividend Champions of Energy Enterprise Value Current Yield Signs of a Dividend Champion ExxonMobil (XOM 2.93%) $405 billion 3.41% 34 consecutive years of dividend increases, and it has paid a dividend for more than 100 years Enterprise Products Partners (EPD 0.67%) $80 billion 5.75% 48 consecutive quarterly dividend increases -- 57 since going public in 1998 Enbridge (ENB) $77 billion 3.49% 21 consecutive years of dividend increases, and it has paid a dividend for more than 63 years TransCanada (TRP -1.40%) $74 billion 3.47% 16 consecutive years of dividend increases Occidental Petroleum (OXY -0.04%) $60 billion 4.15% 14 consecutive years of dividend increases, with the rate up more than 500% since 2002

Drilling down into the dividend champions of energy

Oil giant ExxonMobil is a true dividend champion: Its stock is one of only 51 that qualify as a Dividend Aristocrat -- a stock that has increased its payout for more than 25 consecutive years. What makes this a truly impressive feat is that Exxon can increase its payout even though its business is producing oil, which has a highly volatile price. Exxon offsets some of that volatility through its downstream and chemicals segments, which tend to be countercyclical. For example, last year Exxon's upstream earnings plunged $20.4 billion due to weak oil prices. However, a $6.6 billion increase in downstream earnings and a $102 million rise in chemical earnings helped soften the blow. Those offsetting results, combined with a strong balance sheet, enable the company to continue growing its dividend.

U.S. midstream giant Enterprise Products Partners primarily owns fee-based assets like pipelines and processing plants, resulting in relatively stable cash flow. Meanwhile, the company drove its payout higher through a combination of strategic acquisitions and organic growth projects. Currently, the company has $5.6 billion of primarily fee-based capital projects under construction and expected to go into service through 2018. Thanks to those, Enterprise Products Partners should not have any problem keeping its dividend growth streak alive.

Canadian pipeline giant Enbridge is similar to Enterprise Products Partners in that it too owns primarily fee-based assets. In fact, 96% of the company's revenue comes from fees or regulated earnings, which provides very stable cash flow. Further, Enbridge also has a long history of buying or building fee-based assets, and it currently has an enormous $26 billion backlog of projects under development. Because of that backlog, and a recent acquisition, Enbridge expects to deliver 10% to 12% annual dividend growth through 2024.

TransCanada shares many similarities with its Canadian pipeline counterpart. The biggest difference is that only slightly more than 90% of its revenue comes from fee-based assets, though the company is working to increase that by selling its U.S. merchant-power business. Another major difference is that TransCanada does not project growing its dividend by quite as rapid a rate in the future; it projects 8% to 10% compound annual growth through 2020. That said, a significant acquisition could enable the company to deliver stronger growth than anticipated.

Occidental Petroleum is one of the few oil companies that was able to increase its dividend this year. That is because it has countercyclical chemicals assets as well as midstream assets, which help smooth out cash flow. In addition, the bulk of Occidental's production comes from enhanced oil recovery projects in the Permian Basin, which deliver stable output and lucrative margins. Add to that a cash-rich balance sheet, and Occidental Petroleum has the financial flexibility to continue growing its payout.

Investor takeaway

There's one thing that sets these dividend champions apart from other energy stocks. Each owns assets that mute its direct exposure to volatile commodity prices. Those countercyclical or fee-based assets help to stabilize cash flow, enabling these companies not only to maintain their payout, but also to have the capacity to grow it even when times are tough.
Image source: Getty Images.

When it comes to many other industries, having a brand name can provide a lot of competitive advantages that will attract investors. In the energy industry, though, that isn't necessarily the case. Some of the better investment ideas in this industry are some of the lesser-known companies because they aren't the consumer-facing companies that so many people recognize.

So we asked three of our contributors to each highlight a flying-under-the-radar company they see as a great investment today. Here's what they had to say.

Excellent bloodlines and a great location

Matt DiLallo: Permian Basin-driller Parsley Energy (NYSE: PE) isn't well known by most investors just yet. That gives investors who are looking where others are not the opportunity to buy an up-and-coming oil company before the rest of the market realizes its potential.

One thing that sets the company apart is its founder, Bryan Sheffield, who is a third-generation oilman and son ofPioneer Natural Resources' (NYSE: PXD) CEO Scott Sheffield. That's noteworthybecause Scott built Pioneer into one of the premier drillers in the PermianBasin. Given his father's success, Brian has wisely chosen to follow in his father's footsteps as he builds a premier oil company in America's best oil basin.

Like Pioneer, Parsley Energy's game planis to acquire as much prime drilling land as it can in the basin to set it up for robust growth in the years ahead. Furthermore, the company is following Pioneer's plan of issuing equity to fund acquisitions and capex instead of debt, which weighed down most of their rivals in recent years. As a result, Parsley has maintained a low leverage rate throughout the downturn, which enabled it to deliver remarkable growth at a time when many producers are in decline.

In fact, despite the worst oil market in decades, Parsley Energy has been able to grow its production by a stunning 68% over the past year. This is not growth for the sake of growth, evidenced by the fact that its wells are generating a 60% to 90% rate of return due to relatively low drilling costs and excellent production rates.

With an enterprise value of $7 billion, Parsley Energy is a fraction of the size of most oil companies, causing it to remain under the radar of most investors. However, it might not stay there for long because it has a game plan to not only grow its size but earn exceptional returns along the way.

Helping to produce better and earning high returns in the process

Tyler Crowe:People in the oil and gas industry may recognize the name Core Laboratories (NYSE: CLB), but it's not exactly a name that many outside the business will recognize. Core's business is analyzing data from prospective and developed oil and gas reservoirs to better determine how to make that well or reservoir more productive and economical. The fact that the company provides a service that improves profitability for producers means that it has a little bit more pricing power than some other oil services companies that provide more commoditized services.

What makes Core a compelling investment is that management uses the advantage of providing a specialty service that commands a higher price and turns it into extremely high returns for investors. Even today in what is considered an extremely challenging market for oil and gas companies, Core Labs is still able to convert 23% of its revenue to free cash flow and generate returns on capital invested greater than 20%.

This may be a bit of a rough patch for Core and the rest of the industry, but the company has shown that it can continue to produce results on a much smaller revenue base. As drilling activity returns to normal, more and more producers will employ the services of Core to either help better categorize their projects under development or increase production at existing wells. When this does happen, investors will likely reap large rewards.

Keep watching this small, high-spec offshore driller

Jason Hall: Atwood Oceanics, Inc.(NYSE: ATW) certainly isn't a stock I'd suggest buying today, but it's absolutely worth putting on your watch list. Like many of its offshore drilling peers, Atwood has seen a huge number of its drilling vessels come off contract with no new work available, and there's not much indication that the market is ready to start spending on offshore just yet. But when it does, this little-known offshore driller could be a huge winner.

Atwood's backlog of contracted work is concerning, and this is what to me keeps it from being a stock to buy today. With only a few vessels actively working, the company could struggle to generate the cash flows it needs to support its existing operating expenses while the market plays out, especially if there are any problems with any of its existing contracts.

On the other hand, Atwood's debt situation is much better than that of some of its peers. The company has around $1.4 billion in long-term debt, with no maturities in the next couple of years, while some of its competitors are facing billion-dollar maturities soon -- maybe at the bottom of the downturn. This gives Atwood a lot more breathing room to ride out the downturn.

And once the freeze on offshore investment starts to thaw, Atwood is one of the first stocks I'd like to own. We aren't there yet, so Atwood is on my watch list until the winds change.

A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here.

Jason Hall owns shares of Core Laboratories. Matt DiLallo owns shares of Core Laboratories. Tyler Crowe owns shares of Core Laboratories. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Atwood Oceanics and Core Laboratories. 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.
Artist's depiction of China's future "Heavenly Palace" national space station. Image source: Penyulap, via Wikimedia Commons.

"Beijing, we have a problem."

Since it first went up in 1998, the International Space Station has played host to astronauts from more than a dozen countries -- but not one of them was from China. In fact, in 2011, the U.S. Congress passed a law specifically prohibiting Chinese access to the ISS over concerns about "national security."

This, of course, has the Chinese a bit miffed. And as we mentioned last year, China has been planning to build its own, all-made-in-China space station instead. Slated for completion by 2022, the Tiangong 3, or "Heavenly Palace," space station will probably comprise three separate-but-linked modules, with a pair of laboratories flanking a central living habitat. Heavenly Palace is expected to go into service just as America and Russia are preparing to disassemble their International Space Station for obsolescence.

Halt and catch fire

While preparing to build its station, China sent up an orbital test bed (also, confusingly, called "Tiangong") in 2011. Initially designed for a two-year mission, Tiangong 1 was kept in service up until this year, although uninhabited, for research purposes.

It's unclear precisely how long China was hoping to stretch out Tiangong 1's life span. But events have forced its hand: Last month, China confirmed that it has lost all control over Tiangong 1. Various observers say the station is now in a "slow roll," with its solar panels no longer angled to collect sunlight, "drifting out of control," and now on course to enter Earth's atmosphere in an "uncontrolled re-entry."

Upon entering the atmosphere, Tiangong 1 will promptly catch fire. That's actually a good thing, though: The hope is that much of the space station's mass will burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere. The station's denser parts, however, will probably crash to Earth, and right now, no one's quite sure where.

Beijing, we need a (couple of) new space station(s)

Lucky for China, then, that as Tiangong 1 crashes to Earth, it has a replacement ready. Last month, the Tiangong 2 space lab was launched into orbit, awaiting the arrival of two Chinese astronauts later this month.

When that one, too, is all used up, China's space program will culminate in the launch of the ultimate "Heavenly Palace": Tiangong 3. It's this version that will comprise a core module (Tianhe 1) and two labs (Wengtian and Mengtian), massing about 72 tons when all put together. With launches of the various modules slated to take place between 2020 and 2022, it's likely that China will try to keep Tiangong 2 going for somewhere between four and six years before sending it, too, to burn up in the atmosphere.

What it means to investors

Now what import does all of this have for investors? After all, it's not as if China is a publicly traded company that we can invest in. Furthermore, in all three versions, Tiangong is a project run by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, which, as S&P Global Market Intelligence confirms, is a privately held company.

The answer is that we need to keep an eye on Tiangong not as an investment idea itself, but as a competitor to other potential investments. Recall that the International Space Station -- largely financed by America, built by American companies such as Boeing (NYSE: BA), managed by companies like Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), and serviced by companies including SpaceX and Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA) -- is nearing the end of its life span.

Currently, NASA has no firm plans to build a new space station. But Russia might, and China definitely will. Almost certainly, these new space stations will neither be built by U.S. companies nor provide U.S. companies with lucrative service contracts.

Granted, NASA has floated plans to sell the International Space Station to private investors after 2024. But these plans, too, are far from certain. For one thing, there's no guarantee that America's partners in running ISS will agree to sell it to private interests. For another, we've heard not a peep out of Boeing, Lockheed, or Orbital yet about their interest in paying for ISS, after years of getting paid by ISS.

For that matter, there's also a very real question: Will companies that might otherwise like the idea of running experiments in space choose to pay to run them on an antiquated ISS? If China and/or Russia were to build brand-spanking-new space stations, it might be more cost-effective to hire these countries to perform research on contract rather than take responsibility for ISS and run them "in-house."

The upshot is this: Five years ago, America lost its space shuttle, and was forced to begin paying Russia for rocket rides. And just a little more than five years from now, we may lose our only space station as well -- and begin paying China to use theirs.

A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here.

Rich Smithdoes not own shares of, nor is he short, any company named above. You can find him onMotley Fool CAPS, publicly pontificating under the handleTMFDitty, where he's currently ranked No. 282 out of more than 75,000 rated members.

The Motley Fool recommends Orbital ATK. 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.
Dividend-paying pharma stocks tend to be great long-term investing vehicles because of their stellar free cash flows, strong growth prospects, and ability to weather most markets. Even so, there are literally dozens of names to choose from when it comes to this particular group -- making it especially hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.

Complicating matters further, the stocks with the highest yields, like GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK), and even companies with the best recent track records from a payout perspective, such as the dividend aristocrat AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) , can be deceptively attractive. Glaxo, for instance, offers a yield of almost 5%, but is staring down some hard choices from a capital allocation standpoint that might spark a sizable reduction in its payout going forward.

Image Source: Getty Images.

AbbVie, on the other hand, has grown its dividend faster than all of its major drug manufacturing peers over the past four years, and sports a juicy yield of 3.88%. But the company is overly reliant on its anti-inflammatory drug Humira for growth, which is a major red flag with several companies attempting to bring a copycat version to market soon.

Cutting to the chase, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is, in my opinion, the valedictorian of the dividend-paying pharma stock class. And it's not even all that close of a race. Here's why.

Johnson & Johnson is an elite dividend stock

When it comes to the strength of its balance sheet, J&J is in a class by itself among major drug manufacturers. Despite its $30 billion acquisition ofActelion earlier this year, for instance, the company was able to maintain its coveted triple-A credit rating with both Moody's and Standard & Poor's. In fact, J&J is now the onlyU.S.-based pharma company to sport a triple-A rating.

The core issue is that J&J has shied away from credit-risky deals to drive growth over the course of its history, which simply can't be said for most of its peers. AbbVie, for example, has repeatedly relied on debt-financing to augment its clinical pipeline and product portfolio, causing its debt to equity ratio to balloon to jaw-dropping levels over the last few years. The point is that J&J has an exceptionally strong ability to meet its financial obligations moving forward, implying that its dividend program is about as safe as they come in the pharma space.

On the growth front, J&J is dealing with the introduction of biosimilar competitors to its top selling anti-inflammatory drug Remicade, and its prostate cancer drug Zytiga is starting to experience a pronounced slowdown in the United States. However, the drugmaker's significant investment in research and development has also allowed it to continually refresh its product portfolio.

The fairly new cancer drugsDarzalex and Imbruvica, for example, are both gobbling up significant share of their respective markets, helping to offset the weakness stemming from Remicade and Zytiga. The net result is that J&J's top line is forecast to grow by over 5% over the next two years, due, in large part, to its ability to bring major new drugs to market in an almost machine-like fashion.

Last but not least, J&J belongs to a select group of stocks known as "dividend aristocrats", reflecting the company's 54-consecutive year history of increases to its payout. In 2016, the company doled out a massive $8.6 billion in dividends to its shareholders, as well as another $7.3 billionin share repurchases. Put simply, J&J has an elite shareholders reward program in place, and its track record of paying dividends is among the best within its peer group, to put it mildly.

Investing takeaway

When it comes to dividends, it can be easy to get distracted by, say, AbbVie's rapidly escalating payout or Glaxo's junk bond-like yield. But the real name of the game in dividend investing is sustainability -- and that's where J&J excels. AbbVie and Glaxo may ultimately be able to maintain their rich payouts, but there's no question that J&J will be able to sustain -- and continually grow -- its dividend program going forward. And that's why J&J is my favorite dividend-paying pharma stock.

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Choosing an OB/GYN or midwife when youre pregnant is one of the most important decisions youll ever make and one most moms give a lot of thought to. In fact, 89 percent of women said the reason for selecting their provider was because the persons values were in line with their own, according to a study in the Journal of Perinatal Education.

Although your providers priority is for you to have a healthy and safe delivery, she may not have told you everything about what giving birth is really like. Here are 10 things you should know.

1. Your baby may not be that big.

If your provider tells you that your baby is big, realize that size and weight are only estimates.

Ultrasounds can be off by as much as a pound or two, especially in the last weeks, said Jeanne Faulkner, a registered nurse in Portland, Oregon, author of Common Sense Pregnancy: Navigating a Healthy Pregnancy and Birth for Mother and Baby and host of the Common Sense Pregnancy & Parenting podcast.

Many doctors will suggest women who are measuring large be induced or have a C-section, but most of the time these babies weigh in at a normal weight. Besides, if your pregnancy has been healthy, theres no reason to make these decisions without allowing your body to do what it was designed to.

How are we to know that mother cant deliver a really big baby? Faulkner said.

2. You don't have to push.

If youre worried about how to push and how long youll have to push, take heed.

Much like your gag reflux, the fetal ejection reflex helps your body birth your baby.

The top of the uterus starts to get thicker and thicker and it almost rolls up behind your baby like a tube of toothpaste, said Tracy Donegan, a midwife in San Francisco and founder of GentleBirth. Once the babys head triggers that reflex, it starts to push your baby out. It literally ejects your baby.

Although youll still have the reflex if youve had an epidural, without one, the reflex is so irresistible you cant not go with it, she said.

Also, studies suggest that being directed to push or pushing down can cause fetal distress, perineal tears and damage to the pelvic floor and the pelvic organs.

Its not that were telling moms they dont have to push, what were telling them is Do what feels really good right now, she said.

3. Get waxed for you.

You might want to book a manicure, pedicure and a bikini wax before you head into the hospital, but the truth is doctors dont even care if you showered, said Dr. Kelly Kasper, a board-certified OB/GYN at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis. If it makes you feel better about yourself, by all means go for it but no one is looking.

4. You can eat during labor.

You might not feel much like eating in between contractions, but if youre hungry, you should.

The body works better if its well hydrated [and] well nourished, Faulkner said.

Once you get to the hospital however, you probably wont be allowed to eat. Hospitals have this policy in place to prevent the risk that you will aspirate food should you have a C-section.

5. You might poop and vomit.

Although it might be one of your fears, the reality is that many women vomit while theyre in labor and poop when they push. Its not pleasant, but the reality is that your doctor, nurses and doula could care less.

Nobody comments on it [and] nobody makes a big deal about it, Kasper said.

6. You have more time than you think.

If your membranes rupture and labor doesnt start right away, many conventional providers will want to induce right away or say you have 24 hours to go into labor until youre induced in order to prevent infection, Faulkner said.

Although its true that some women are at an increased risk for infection, going 72 hours before being induced is safe and gives you the time to go into labor. In fact, 50 percent of women with premature rupture of membranes give birth within 5 hours and 95 percent with 28 hours, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine found. Of course vaginal exams can introduce bacteria into the vagina, so if youre not contracting you should avoid them.

7. You dont have to push on your back.

You might think you have to push in the hospital bed, but gravity works better if you push in a more upright position or squat. If you feel that pushing on your side, on your hands and knees or on your back feels right, then go for it.

Shes listening to her body, and that may be exactly the position she needs to be in order for her baby to fit through, Faulkner said.

8. An episiotomy is outdated.

In 2006, The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued recommendations against routine episiotomies. More recently in June, they released a practice bulletin that called for specific ways OB/GYNs can reduce the risk of both the procedure and vaginal tears. The good news is that between 2006 and 2012, rates have been on the decline, a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found.

Before giving birth, ask your provider how often he finds it medically necessary to do the procedure. Ten percent is ideal and less if you have a midwife, Donegan said.

9. You dont need a spotlight.

When youre fully dilated and its show time, your doctor will probably flip a switch to reveal large, bright, overhead lights. Although it may help her see better, this is the exact opposite of what your body needs when youre ready to give birth.

There are melatonin receptors in the uterus that help oxytocin, the hormone that produces contractions while youre in labor. Since low light increases melatonin, the lights should be kept dim.

10. Dont invite too many people.

You might want family members and friends to join you, but think about how you want your birth experience to be. Giving birth is an intimate and private experience so the less people, the more calm, quiet and beautiful its likely to turn out, Faulkner said.
This week the city of Denver will become the 14th community in the country to recognize the second Monday of Octoberpreviously known only as Columbus Dayas a day to recognize the contributions of Native peoples to the United States. While Denvers new holiday wont supplant Columbus Day, the intention is clear. Celebrating explorers like Columbus Day is an insult to American Indians.

Indeed, each year, thousands of people gather across the country to protest Columbus Day, accusing the explorer of launching a genocide.

Columbus Day is one of the least celebrated federal holidays in America, according to the Pew Research Center. No one wants to recognize a holiday that has come to be associated with such conflict and controversy.

Glenn Morris, a professor at the University of Colorado, has been leading his states protest against the holiday. He explains that Columbus Day is a hegemonic tool. . . . And it exists in part to advance a national ideology of celebrating invasion, conquest and colonialism.

Whether or not you agree, you might wonder just how the campaign to do away with Columbus Day is going to help the average American Indian. The two million Indians in this country are the poorest racial group. They have higher rates of gang violence than blacks or Hispanics. Indian women are raped at 2.5 times the national average. Indian children are abused at twice the national average. And suicide is the leading cause of death for American Indian boys aged 10-14.

The Denver City Council proposal says that the systemic destruction of Indigenous Peoples by white explorers and settlers resulted in high poverty rates (and) disparities in education, health and socioeconomic status in Native American communities.

Columbus and his descendants no doubt did plenty to destroy the lives of Native Americans. But the reason that American Indians are where they are today is not because of events that occurred 500 years ago or even a century ago. It is because of policies perpetrated in Washington today.

Columbus and his descendants no doubt did plenty to destroy the lives of Native Americans. But the reason that American Indians are where they are today is not because of events that occurred 500 years ago or even a century ago. It is because of policies perpetrated in Washington today.

American Indians are poor because people who live on reservation dont have property rights. Their land is held in trust by the federal governmentwhich means they cannot buy it or sell it or develop it as they wish. They cant even get a mortgage to buy a home, which is why reservations that have hundreds of millions of acres also have housing shortages and why people are stuffed into overcrowded trailers.

Indian reservations contain almost 30 percent of the nations coal reserves west of the Mississippi, 50 percent of potential uranium reserves, and 20 percent of known oil and gas reserves. Those resources are estimated to be worth nearly $1.5 trillion. But the vast majority of Indian lands with natural resources remain undeveloped because of federal regulations.

In fact, just about every aspect of the lives of people on reservations is micromanaged by the 9,000 employees at the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

American Indians experience disparities in education because they have among the lowest-performing and most violent public schools in the country. Some of the schools are mismanaged by Washingtoneven the roofs of the buildings are caving in--and others are mismanaged by corrupt tribal officials who give teaching jobs to relatives whether or not theyre qualified. To add insult to injury, they fire qualified young men and women from Teach for America because theyre too white.

There is disparity in health outcomes among Indians because Indian Health Services might be the last place in the country anyone would want to be treated by a doctor. They had a 2015 budget of over $4.6 billion. And yet, there are widespread and documented reports of nurses being unable to administer basic drugs, of broken resuscitation equipment, and of unsanitary medical facilities.

Many well-meaning Native and non-Native leaders are convinced that what Indians need to succeed is to have their cultures celebrated, to have their voices heard, to have their wounds healed with political protest. But decades of righteous indignation have proved fruitless.

Maybe its time we try something else. If we want to really honor indigenous people, we would give them the same rights and freedoms that every other American citizen enjoys. Theyve waited long enough.
In her secret speeches to Wall Street bankers, Hillary Clinton backed free trade and claimed politicians need leeway to make backroom deals  and may have disclosed classified details of the raid on Usama bin Ladens compound, according to the latest emails disclosed by WikiLeaks.

The emails also revealed that back in 2015, the Clinton campaign strategized about ways to elevate Donald Trump and other extreme Republicans  as Pied Piper candidates who would ultimately be so unpalatable, theyd help her win.

These Pied Piper candidates also included Ted Cruz and Ben Carson, according to the email, sent to the Democratic National Committee on April 7, 2015.

The email goes on to advise the DNC to Force all Republican candidates to lock themselves into extreme conservative positions that will hurt them in the general election.

Other emails disclosing the content of her speeches to bankers and business groups show Clinton revealing insider details of how bin Laden was targeted.

I was in the small group that recommended to the president that he go after bin Laden, Clinton said in a 2013 speech to a Toronto business organization.

Click for the full story in the New York Post.
Republican lawmakers call to replace Donald Trump as their presidential nominee after the release of a damaging audiotape grew Sunday with Utah Sen. Mike Lee saying theres still time, while Trumps bare-knuckled effort to survive got unintended help from rival Democrats.

Donna Brazile, the interim Democratic National Committee chairwoman, told ABCs This Week that attempts to change November ballots would be "very confusing" to voters and suggested that Democratic Party lawyers would probably fight efforts by states to change the names on the ballot.

Brazile also pointed out that some states have already begun early voting and have mailed absentee ballots with Trump's name on them.

Lee was among the first and most prominent Republicans to call for Trump to quit the race, after the release Friday of the audiotape in which Trump is heard making lewd comments about women.

Lee on Sunday told NBCs Meet the Press said Trumps last legacy should be stepping aside so the party can find a candidate to defeat Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Thats what he has to do, said Lee, one of the most conservative congressional Republicans. Weve got a lot of other candidates that can do this. Theres still time.

The 2005 audiotape, and an accompanying video tape, released by The Washington Post and NBC, recorded a conversation between Trump and then-"Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush in which Trump described an attempt to have sex with a married woman.

Trump also brags about women letting him kiss and grab them because he is famous.

Political experts say the Republican National Committee can replace a candidate who wins the nomination at the national convention only in extreme circumstances -- like death or if the candidate refuses the nomination.

Trump on Sunday lashed out at the growing list of Republicans abandoning his candidacy, predicting that they're the ones who will lose.

"So many self-righteous hypocrites, he tweeted. Watch their poll numbers -- and elections -- go down!"

On Saturday, Trump defiantly vowed to stay in the race -- high-fiving supporters outside Trump Tower and telling fellow Republicans and other detractors on Twitter that he will never let my supporters.

The 70-year-old Trump has apologized twice for the comments, saying they dont reflect who I am.

I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize," Trump said in a video apology, with Election Day about four weeks away and a critical second debate with Clinton scheduled for Sunday.

Also on Sunday, freshman GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte, in a tough reelection bid in New Hampshire, said she favors Trump quitting the race -- a step beyond her saying Saturday that she wouldnt vote for him.

Ayotte said Trumps remarks on the recordings are "fundamentally different" than past, offensive comments. She said Trump in the tape released Friday is advocating assault and that she wants her young daughter to know that she does not support the comments.

Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., chairman of the House Ethics Committee, also said Sunday that his party still has enough time to rally behind an alternative to Trump, with running-mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence among the names mentioned.

Dent told ABC that he wants House Speaker Paul Ryan and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus to withdraw their endorsements of Trump, who trails Clinton by 4.6 percentage points, according to the RealClearPolitics polls average.

Dent listed as possible alternatives Robert Gates, defense secretary under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama; Condoleezza Rice, secretary of state under Bush; Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who sought the GOP presidential nomination; or Mitch Daniels, a former Indiana governor.

Fox News' Joseph Weber and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and running mate Mike Pence indicated Saturday that they would fight their election campaign to its conclusion next month, despite calls by prominent Republicans for Trump to withdraw from the race after the emergence of a damaging audio tape.

In the morning, a defiant Trump told the Wall Street Journal that there was "zero chance" that he would drop out over lewd comments he made about women in a 2005 audio tape that surfaced Friday.

"I never, ever give up, Trump told the paper. "The support Im getting is unbelievable, because Hillary Clinton is a horribly flawed candidate."

In the afternoon, a smiling Trump briefly appeared outside his Trump Tower headquarters, high-fiving crowd members chanting "U-S-A!" and saying that he will never let my supporters down.

In the evening, Pence, who has described himself as a "Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order," told a Rhode Island fundraiser that he was committed to the real estate mogul.

"He looked me in the eye and he said, 'Dont worry, were going to get through this, were going to be OK,'" Rhode Island GOP Chairman Brandon Bell told WPRI-TV of his meeting with Pence.

"So he didnt address it head on, but he wanted to reassure people, the folks that were here  and I think hes going to do this publicly in the next coming days  that we shouldnt worry, that theyre still on a path to victory," Bell added.

Amid calls for Pence to replace Trump at the top of the Republican ticket, a senior Trump adviser told Fox News late Saturday that the Indiana governor was "solid" behind the nominee.

Earlier Saturday, however, Pence said in a statement that he was "offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the 11-year-old video. I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them.

"We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night," Pence added, a reference to Trump's second presidential debate against Democrat Hillary Clinton in St. Louis Sunday night.

The Indiana governor also cancelled a planned appearance Saturday with House Speaker Paul Ryan in Ryan's home state of Wisconsin. Pence was supposed to fill in for the embattled Trump, and sources said the circumstance surrounding the tape was the issue.

The audio and an accompanying video, released by The Washington Post and NBC News on Friday, recorded a conversation between Trump and "Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush in which Trump described an attempt to have sex with a married woman.

Trump brags in the tape about women letting him kiss and grab them because he is famous, and also uses a crude word for a part of a woman's anatomy.

The 70-year-old Trump apologized overnight for the comments, saying they dont reflect who I am.

I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize," Trump said in videotaped remarks, after he originally apologized in a statement.

Throughout the day Saturday, several Republicans took the extraordinary step of revoking support for their party's nominee one month from Election Day and with early voting already underway in some key states.

Among them: Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte -- both are running for re-election -- and the party's 2008 nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain, who had stood by Trump even after the billionaire questioned whether the former POW should be considered a war hero because he got "captured."



McCain, who is also facing a challenge in November, said Trump's behavior made it "impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy."



Many went further and called on Trump to quit the race altogether.



Character matters.@realDonaldTrump is obviously not going to win.

But he can still make an honorable move:

Step aside & let Mike Pence try.  Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) October 8, 2016

"I thought supporting the nominee was the best thing for our country and our party," Alabama Rep. Martha Roby said in a statement. "Now, it is abundantly clear that the best thing for our country and our party is for Trump to step aside and allow a responsible, respectable Republican to lead the ticket."



Republican leaders have scheduled a Monday morning conference call for House GOP lawmakers, who are out of town for Congress' election recess. The email obtained by The Associated Press doesn't specify the topic for the 11 a.m. EDT call, but rank-and-file lawmakers believe it's about Trump. Such calls are rare and usually held to discuss important matters.

While still publicly backing Trump, the Republican National Committee is considering how to move forward.



One possibility: re-directing its expansive political operation away from Trump and toward helping vulnerable Senate and House candidates. Such a move would leave Trump with virtually no political infrastructure in swing states to identify his supporters and ensure they vote.



"We are working to evaluate the appropriate messaging going forward," said RNC chief strategist Sean Spicer.



Election law experts suggest it would be logistically impossible to replace Trump on the ballot altogether, with early voting underway in some states and overseas ballots already distributed to military servicemen and others.



Ryan fundraising chief Spencer Zwick, however, said he's been fielding calls from donors who "want help putting money together to fund a new person to be the GOP nominee."



Zwick told the AP that a write-in or "sticker campaign" relying on social media could "actually work." While there has never been a winning write-in campaign in a U.S. presidential contest, such an effort could make it harder for Trump to win.



Fox News' Chad Pergram and Dan Gallo, Fox News.com's Joseph Weber and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Were all growing familiar with the ways in which automation, big data, AI and machine learning are slowly replacing human jobs. While the general tone up until now has been somewhat negative toward this sort of change, there is a growing number of entrepreneurs who have looked at the landscape and been prompted to think differently about the issue. Will Lee, founder and CEO of Verlocal, an online marketplace for freelancers, says, AI is going to take most of our jobs... but it wont be the end of the world.

Lee, an Artificial Intelligence expert who studied at Stanford, created Verlocal to teach and assist people in monetizing their passions to prepare for this shift in employment. I connected with him to find out more about how monetizing creativity through freelance opportunities is the next wave in employment. Here are the top five reasons you should begin to consider that your passion could lead to a fiscally sufficient income:

1. The freelance economy is booming.

There is a growing number of people finding their calling in the freelancing marketplace. Lee says that close to 35 percent of the American workforce currently does some sort of freelance work to make ends meet. More aggressive predictions place 40 percent of Americans as solopreneurs by 2020. This kind of growth indicates a few things. First, it shows a growing level of comfort with working independently, something that with time, creates a much more satisfied workforce. It also demonstrates the ability that humans have to adjust based on environment, something that will help navigate the changes caused by AI and robotics replacing jobs.

Related: AI and Robots Are Coming for Your Job. Here's What You Need to Know

2. AI/ deep learning is replacing human jobs.

Jobs are being replaced at rapid rates by robotic innovation and AI applications. Most people are familiar with physically based positions like warehousing and manufacturing jobs being replaced or reduced in number, but with advances in machine learning, AI will slowly begin to replace knowledge based roles as well.

Lee explained,  AI is going to start to replace people in thought industries because it can now mimic human intuition. The question is not whether or not this will happen, its just a question of how we will respond.

If it can be taught, computers will do it, and thats why human creativity is about to become much more lucrative.

3. If robots cant replicate it, people cant.

Creativity is your brand, declares Lee. He explains that while AI is rapidly replacing human labor, one thing it isnt doing is replacing creativity. AI is still capable of participating in creative ventures, but the way AI performs tasks are fundamentally different. Lee put it this way, Replacing a famous artist will not serve AIs purpose, nor will it add any value by doing so. Essentially your creative spark is exactly that, yours, and no machine can replace it.

Related: Google, Launching Allo, Bets on AI to Spice Up Chats

4. Your calling is your expertise.

When people can do what they love, they will realize their potential, and organically differentiate themselves in the marketplace. A recent Gallup poll estimated the average workweek to be 47 hours. So if jobs are being cut by machine learning, yet people are working more, how do we best capitalize on this?

Lees belief is that this is perfect timing for the coming wave of AI innovation. Because people are more accustomed to pursuing what they love, theyre more likely to be successful in the new economy.

5. Entrepreneurship driven by passion is fun.

There are plenty of stories of how his time working with freelancers has taught him the value of being a solopreneur. A great example came from a member based in South Korea. She is a pastry chef and was planning a trip to San Francisco. She managed to find a place to rent with a kitchen, so she hosted a Verlocal event where her followers were able to learn how to make her cupcakes that were famous in her hometown. She made enough to cover the rental and fund most of her trip.

This is one of the many examples as to why the freelancing economy has the potential to help humans navigate the upcoming changes in employment environments. Lee says that its his goal to, help individuals build businesses and better themselves and their livelihoods through self-discovery.

Related: Steve Wozniak: The Future of AI Is 'Scary and Very Bad for People'

If youve ever had an idea you wanted to pursue, something that required you to be creative, or to share the things youre passionate about, now is the time to get moving. With more and more online marketplaces allowing you to monetize your passions, theres no excuse to be sitting at your desk wishing you were doing something else. AI might be taking certain jobs away from humans, but that means its freeing us up to do what we love, giving us opportunities to be better humans.
Several passengers on New York's Long Island Railroad were injured Saturday night after an eastbound train derailed when it struck a work train.

LIRR spokesman Sal Arena told the Associated Press that the first three cars of the 12-car train went off the tracks east of New Hyde Park, N.Y. shortly after 9 p.m. local time. He says the work train caught fire after the crash.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo tweeted early Sunday that 29 passengers were treated for injuries, with 11 transported to hospitals.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano told reporters the injuries ranged "from broken bones to lacerations to cuts." None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening.

About 600 people were on the 8:22 p.m. train out of Penn Station train when it crashed, Cuomo said in a statement.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Thomas Prendergast said a front car sideswiped the westbound work train, causing the second and third cars of the passenger train to derail.



"We were riding along and I heard a noise, passenger Lawrence Bialek told the New York Post. It sounded like BAM! The train started to shake and then it stopped.

I saw the car in front of me flip over. There were a lot of people screaming and crying and crawling out of the cars. I was just so scared.

Passenger Ray Martel, 41, of West Hempstead, N.Y. was heading home after spending the evening in New York City visiting friends.

Martel, who was in the first car, said when the train hit something "everyone gasped."

"We knew we hit something but we didn't know how bad it was," he told the Associated Press.

Train service in the area was suspended in both directions indefinitely.



The Federal Railroad Administration said it had investigators en route to the scene.



The derailment happened just over a week after a commuter train crashed into the terminal in Hoboken, N.J., killing one person and injuring more than 100. Federal investigators are still trying to determine the cause.



Long Island Rail Road trains have been involved in 72 accidents since Jan. 1, 2011, according to federal data, including 3 collisions and 15 derailments on tracks used for passenger service.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Pennsylvania man with HIV was accused of assault and other crimes this week after police say he deliberately cut himself and spilled his blood on a woman.

James Clinton Houser, 37, was arrested early Monday and charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, terroristic threats and reckless endangerment, as well as a summary charge of harassment.

The Chambersburg Public Opinion reported that police were called to a house that an unidentified woman had fled. According to a police report, Houser warned the officers that he was HIV-positive and his blood was all over the house.

When officers located the woman, she told them that Houser pushed her backwards into a chair during an argument. The woman also claiemd Houser slapped her face multiple times, leaving bruises, and shoved her to the ground again when she tried to stand up.

At one point, she said, Houser picked up a glass fish to hit her with, cutting himself in the process. She said Houser sat on her and bled on her face, chest and legs.

The police report said that officers noted Houser's blood on the woman's body and claimed that there was a "sufficient amount to transmit [HIV]."

Houser was being held in the Franklin County jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. He is due in court next month.
The Latest on the appointments by Pope Francis of his first U.S. cardinals. (all times local):

3 p.m.

Chicago's Roman Catholic archbishop says he learned in a 5 a.m. call from Rome that Pope Francis was elevating him from archbishop to cardinal.

Blase Cupich joked with reporters after Mass Sunday at Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral that he didn't mind being awakened given the pleasant news. But he says he usually sleeps until 7 a.m. on Sundays and that he'd miss the two extra hours of sleep he normally gets.

Cupich was one of 17 new cardinals named Sunday by Pope Francis. Cupich said he was humbled by the honor.

Another reporter asked Cupich how his relatives would react to word he's becoming a cardinal. He laughed and said he expected them to treat him "with the same lack of deference that they have in the past."

__

10:45 a.m.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is congratulating Roman Catholic Archbishop Blase Cupich on his elevation to cardinal.

Cupich was one of 17 new cardinals named Sunday by Pope Francis, among them Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin and Kevin Farrell, the outgoing bishop of Dallas.

The three men are moderates who follow Francis' emphasis on mercy over rules.

Speaking at the end of a special Mass on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica, Francis said the 17 would be elevated at a consistory on Nov. 19, on the eve of the close to his Holy Year of Mercy.

In a statement, Emanuel said in his short time in Chicago, Cupich has made a tremendous impact as a voice for the voiceless in the name of inclusion.

Emanuel went on thank Pope Francis for recognizing Cupich's leadership in both the church and society.

__

10:05 a.m.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett says he is pleased the city's Roman Catholic archbishop has been elevated to cardinal.

Pope Francis on Sunday named 17 new cardinals, including Archbishop Joseph Tobin.

In his statement, Hogsett said Indianapolis has been blessed by Tobin's spiritual and civic leadership. He added he looks forward to working with Tobin and the Catholic Church to end poverty and inequality in the city.

Speaking at the end of a special Mass on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica, Francis said the 17 would be elevated on Nov. 19.

The elevation of Tobin is significant both for the U.S. church and the U.S. election and reflects Francis' concern for refugees. Tobin openly opposed the position of Indiana Gov. Michael Pence, now the Republican running mate of presidential candidate Donald Trump, against the settling of Syrian refugees in the state.

__

9:13 a.m.

Roman Catholic Archbishop Blase Cupich says his elevation to cardinal of Chicago's archdiocese is both humbling and encouraging.

Pope Francis named 17 new cardinals Sunday, including Cupich and Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin.

In a statement, Cupich said when he was appointed archbishop two years ago, he committed wholeheartedly to serve the people of Chicago.

Cupich says the role of cardinal brings new responsibilities, but he will continue to work on renewing the church and "preparing it to thrive in the decades ahead."

Cupich is considered a pastor in Francis' likeness, emphasizing the merciful and welcoming side of the church. His nomination as Chicago archbishop was Francis' first major U.S. appointment and he was a papal appointee at the pope's family synod last year.

__

8:11 a.m.

Pope Francis looked to the American Midwest when picking his first U.S. cardinals.

The Vatican announced Sunday that Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich and Archbishop Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis, Indiana, will become cardinals in a Rome ceremony Nov. 19.

Francis also picked Bishop Kevin Farrell for the honor. Farrell has led the Diocese of Dallas, but is leaving for a prominent Vatican post.

The three men are moderates who follow Francis' emphasis on mercy over rules.

Tobin drew national attention this year for rejecting a request from Indiana Gov. Mike Pence for the church to stop settling Syrian refugees in the state. Pence is the Republican nominee for vice president and running mate of Donald Trump, who has proposed deporting illegal immigrants and banning entry of Muslims from other countries.
As North Carolina reeled from Matthew's devastating flooding, officials announced Sunday that the storm killed at least eight people in the state, and 18 overall in the U.S.

Dozens of people -- including a woman and her small child -- had to be rescued from their cars as life-threatening flash floods surprised many in North Carolina. Rivers and creeks overflowed, driving people from their homes.

The unofficial rainfall totals were staggering: 18 inches in Wilmington, 14 inches in Fayetteville and 8 inches in Raleigh. "This is a very, very serious and deadly storm," Gov. Pat McCrory said.

Officials in Haiti said the storm killed more than 500 people when it tore across the country as a hurricane.

Shortly before daybreak, the hurricane was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone. As of 8 a.m. EDT, the storm was centered about 60 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, moving out to sea. It still had hurricane-force winds of 75 mph.

Forecasters said North Carolina and Virginia could get even more rain and warned of the danger of life-threatening flooding through Monday night.

While the crisis was far from over in North Carolina, other places to the south began getting back to normal, with millions relieved that the storm wasn't the catastrophe that many had been bracing for.

In many places along the Southeast coast, the damage consisted mostly of flooded streets, blown-down signs and awnings, flattened trees and power outages. The storm made landfall as a hurricane Saturday in McClellanville, South Carolina -- the same town where Hurricane Hugo made landfall in 1989, Fox Carolina reported.

As the skies cleared on Saturday, people started cleaning up, reopening their businesses or hitting the beach. The power started coming back on. And all three major theme parks in Orlando, Florida, including Walt Disney World, were up and running.

Along Daytona Beach's main drag, the Silver Diner had all of its shiny metal siding ripped off the front and sides, leaving only a wood frame exposed. Next door, the window of a souvenir shop had been blown out and the roof and ceiling torn through, leaving pink insulation dangling.

David Beasley, president of Insurance Recovery Inc., surveyed the damage and said that although it looked bad, the main strip was hit harder by Hurricanes Charley and Frances in 2004.

"This is not much compared to those two," he said.

On Saturday, Matthew sideswiped two of the South's oldest and most historic cities -- Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina -- and also brought torrential rain and stiff wind to places like Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

After pounding North Carolina and drenching parts of Virginia, it was expected to veer out to sea, lose steam and loop back around toward the Bahamas and Florida, too feeble to cause any trouble.

For nearly its entire run up the coast from Florida, Matthew hung just far enough offshore that communities did not feel the full force of its winds.

Its storm center, or eye, finally blew ashore just north of Charleston on Saturday, but only briefly. And by that time, Matthew was just barely a hurricane, with winds of just 75 mph.

Matthew's winds were howling at a terrifying 145 mph when the hurricane struck Haiti, where five days later the full extent of the tragedy was not yet known because some devastated areas were still unreachable.

About 100 guests and workers had to be evacuated from a Comfort Inn motel in the North Carolina coastal town of Southport after the hurricane cracked a wall and left the roof in danger of collapse, authorities said. And dramatic video showed Fayetteville police rescuing a woman and her small child from their car as rising waters swallowed it.

An estimated 2 million people in the Southeast were ordered to evacuate their homes as Matthew closed in. By hugging the coast, the storm behaved pretty much as forecasters predicted. A shift of just 20 or 30 miles could have meant widespread devastation.

"People got incredibly lucky," Colorado State University meteorology professor Phil Klotzbach. "It was a super close call."

While Matthew's wind speed had dropped considerably by the time it hit the Southeast coast, the storm will rank as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, based on such factors as wind energy and longevity, and as one of the most long-lived major hurricanes, too.

It was a major hurricane -- that is, with winds of at least 110 mph -- for just over seven days.

Hundreds of thousands of people lost power in North Carolina, three-quarters of a million in South Carolina, 250,000 in Georgia and about 1 million in Florida.

Eight deaths were blamed on the storm in North Carolina, four deaths in Florida, three in Georgia and three in South Carolina. The deaths included an elderly Florida couple who died from carbon monoxide fumes while running a generator in their garage and two women who were killed when trees fell on a home and a camper.

Property data firm CoreLogic projected that insured losses on home and commercial properties would amount to $4 billion to $6 billion, well below Hurricane Katrina's $40 billion and Superstorm Sandy's $20 billion.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A fugitive on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list was extradited Thursday to Texas where she is accused of murder for the alleged contract-killing of her ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend, U.S. and Mexican officials said.

The FBI said in a statement that Brenda Delgado was returned in the evening to face a capital murder charge for allegedly arranging the murder of Dr. Kendra Hatcher, a 35-year-old dentist who was shot dead in the parking garage of her Dallas apartment complex in September 2015.

A statement from Mexican Attorney General's Office identified the suspect only as Brenda and said she was handed over to FBI agents at the Mexico City International Airport. A Mexican federal official who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the woman was Delgado.

The FBI said she was escorted by agents to Dallas and then transferred to the custody of the city's police.

Delgado had fled the United States soon after investigators interviewed her about the killing, prompting a federal warrant for her arrest, according to the FBI.

She was placed on the Most Wanted list in April and arrested two days later at a home in the city of Torreon, in the northern Mexico state of Coahuila.

Investigators have said she was jealous that Hatcher was dating her ex and had been introduced to his parents. The Mexican Attorney General's office said that according to witnesses, Delgado arranged for two people to kill Hatcher in return for money and drugs.

Both alleged co-conspirators have been arrested, the FBI said.

The bureau said Delgado holds Mexican citizenship. Under an agreement between the two countries, Mexico requires guarantees that U.S. prosecutors will not seek the death penalty as a condition of extradition in such cases.
The mother of a Colorado boy snatched from his crib 30 years ago wants to know what happened to him now that she is close to dying.

Fox 31 Denver reported Friday that Bernice Abeyta, of Colorado Springs, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and that her last wish is to find her missing son. Christopher Abeyta was snatched from his crib on the night of July 15, 1986, when he was 7 months old.

I do believe he's still alive and at this point I`ve been trying to communicate with him and talk to him and just say you might have to find me Christopher, Abeyta told the station.

The 73-year-old woman said she is battling gallbladder cancer and that her days are numbered.

You want your children to be freeand have a life, she told the station. So Id like this solved before I go.

Abeyta believes there are people who know what happened to Christopher but arent talking.

I think there are people out there that know something and they have been lied to and made up stories to, she told the station.

She said shes never stopped looking for Christopher.

Id like to tell him we never gave up, she told the station. We would never give up. He was the light of our life.

There have been no arrests in the case, but Fox 31 reported that Colorado Springs police say they now have identified a person of interest.

Click for more from Fox 31 Denver.
Police in Grand Rapids, Mich. say a shooting during a party at a strip mall early Sunday killed one person and wounded eight others.

Police spokesman Sgt. Terry Dixon told Fox News that officers were notified at 3:45 a.m. local time that a party was taking place at the mall. Officers were notified of the shooting while en route to the facility.

Around 60 people were at the party when the shooting unfolded, police told WOOD-TV.

Authorities had not released any information about the victims or any possible suspects. The conditions of the injured victims were not immediately known.

"Were currently trying to figure out exactly what took place, said Grand Rapids Police Sgt. Terry Dixon. Were very early on into this incident."

Click for more from Fox 17.
Deputies and fire rescue personnel rescued a bald eagle from the grill of a vehicle Saturday.

The Clay County, Florida Sheriff's Office said the bird flew in front of a vehicle and was jammed right into the front grill.

Clay Fire Rescue was able to rescue the eagle. They turned it over to the B.E.A.K.S. Wildlife Sanctuary and it seemed to be in okay condition, despite being hit.

Click for more from Fox 13.
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Pope Francis looked to the American Midwest when picking his first U.S. cardinals.

The Vatican announced Sunday that Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich and Archbishop Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis, Indiana, will become cardinals in a Rome ceremony Nov. 19.

Francis also picked Bishop Kevin Farrell for the honor. Farrell has led the Diocese of Dallas, but is leaving for a prominent Vatican post.

The three men are moderates who follow Francis' emphasis on mercy over rules.

Tobin drew national attention this year for rejecting a request from Indiana Gov. Mike Pence for the church to stop settling Syrian refugees in the state. Pence is the Republican nominee for vice president and running mate of Donald Trump, who has proposed deporting illegal immigrants and banning entry of Muslims from other countries.
A suspected gunman who allegedly shot and killed two Palm Springs, Calif. police officers and injured a third was taken into custody early Sunday, authorities said.

@RSOmedia suspect has been taken into custody @PalmSpringsPD .... Arrest info to follow  Media Info Bureau (@RSOmedia) October 9, 2016

Officials identified John Felix, 26, as the man accused of gunning down officers Jose Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny while they were trying to resolve a domestic dispute Saturday afternoon.

"It was a simple family disturbance and he elected to open fire on a few of the guardians of the city," Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes, his voice breaking, told reporters. "Today Palm Springs lost two brave officers ... I am awake in a nightmare right now."

Photos of Ofcrs. Gil Vega and Lesley Zerebny, who were shot and killed today. pic.twitter.com/IWCFkic1rQ  Gabby Ferreira (@Its_GabbyF) October 9, 2016

Officials said during a Sunday afternoon press conference that Felix was wearing body armor and had several magazines of ammunition on him when he was arrested. Though no determination has been made yet, prosecutors said Felix would be eligible for the death penalty. He's set to be arraigned either Wednesday or Thursday.



Police said Zerebny recently returned to the force from maternity leave after giving birth to a now-4-month-old daughter. Vega, the father of eight, was a 35-year veteran who planned to retire in December and had been working overtime on his day off Saturday. Reyes said the wounded officer is alert and talking with investigators. That man, who was not named, was likely to be released from the hospital on Sunday.



Reyes said the three officers were standing near the front door speaking with Felix, "trying to negotiate with the suspect to just comply," when he suddenly shot them.

Riverside County SWAT officers quickly sealed off the normally quiet residential neighborhood in this desert resort town as police evacuated some residents. They told others to stay inside their homes, keep their doors locked and not to open them for anyone until further notice.



Reyes indicated police had had previous dealings with Felix.

Court records showed Felix was a gang member who was previously sentenced to four years in prison in a failed murder plot. Felix was charged with attempted murder in a 2009 shooting. Records show Felix pleaded down to assault with a firearm and admitted his gang connection. The Desert Sun newspaper cited documents showing Felix was also the subject of a forceful arrest three years ago at the same house where Saturday's shootings occurred.

A neighbor, Frances Serrano, told reporters she called authorities after the father of the shooting suspect came to her house across the street and told her his son was "acting crazy."

He said, Help. I need help. My son is in the house, and hes crazy. He has a gun. Hes ready to shoot all the police," Serrano told the Los Angeles Times.



She'd gone back inside her home before officers arrived, Serrano said, and a few minutes after they got there she heard gunfire, "starting with a loud  I mean really loud  bang! Moments later officers were knocking on her door, warning her to stay inside.

Serrano said Felix had been in jail at one time and had to wear a monitor on his ankle when he was first released. But she added that he had always been friendly and polite to her and her family.

"We never had any problems with him," she said. Serrano also told the Times that she believed Felix was in his mid-30s.

As the lockdown continued, scores of police officers gathered at Palm Springs Desert Regional Medical Center to offer a somber salute as the bodies of Zerebny and Vega were loaded into white hearses for transport to a coroner's office.



Meanwhile, in front of police headquarters, scores of local residents gathered to leave flowers, balloons and cards Saturday night.



"I don't even remember anything so vicious and cruel," said Palm Springs resident Heidi Thompson. "These officers are responding to a domestic call for somebody in need that they don't even know. They put their life on the line for us, the community. And they get gunned down? I don't understand it."

The shooting occurred just three days after a popular Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant was shot and killed in the high desert town of Lancaster.

Sgt. Steve Owen was answering a burglary call when sheriff's officials say he was shot and wounded by a man who then stood over him and shot him four more times.

A paroled robber has been charged with murder in that case.

Lancaster residents held a candlelight memorial for Owen Saturday night.



The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Click for more from the Los Angeles Times.
A beloved junior high school music teacher battling cancer took her last breath after her students sang a Christian song of love to her in tribute.

A video of Wednesdays touching performance for Mariana Walker was posted on Facebook and let the teacher know how much she meant to students at Alvin Junior High School in Texas, KTRK-TV reported.

The students performed Hillsong Uniteds Oceans outside the home of the 69-year-old Walker who was in bed under hospice care.

We had the windows open. We had the screen door open and she could hear that, Walkers daughter Alyx Vesey told the staion. I think that gave her a lot of peace.

The students also said a prayer for Walker before they left. She then passed away.

The family walked back in the house and within a few minutes she took her last breath, the station was told by Cindi Lee Cooper-Fields, who shot the video.

It has been shared on social media thousands of times, according to KHOU-TV.

Holly Darnell and other students told the station that Walker would do anything for them.

She was a very special teacher to us, she said.
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Thirteen years ago, Chase Snow's father was among the American troops who moved into the Iraqi city of Mosul during the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Now Snow, a U.S. Army specialist, is deployed in Iraq to help in the fight to retake the city from the Islamic State group.

The assault on Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, is bringing American forces into their most significant role in Iraq in years, in terms of numbers and presence on the front lines.

The lead-up to the assault has already brought some U.S. forces into combat with the militants. Special forces carry out raids alongside Iraqi troops inside IS-held territory around Mosul. And now as Iraqi forces prepare for the operation to retake the city, those raids have increased in frequency, according to a coalition official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to brief the media.

The U.S. has also sent Apache helicopters to aid in the Mosul fight, according to the Pentagon, a step that was not taken when Iraqi forces retook the western cities of Ramadi and Fallujah.

The number of U.S. troops in Iraq has steadily grown over the past two years to now nearly 6,000 service members, up from almost none following the 2011 withdrawal from Iraq. The latest group, numbering nearly 600, began to deploy in September to Qayara air base, the facility 30 miles south of Mosul that is to be the main staging ground for the assault on the city. Trucks have been rolling in the base for weeks with supplies and equipment, preparing it so coalition warplanes will be able to operate there.

"You've got to look at Mosul as the crown jewel right now," said Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky, the head of U.S ground forces in Iraq, regarding the build-up of forces. The deployments have "all been targeted to assist in the Mosul attack."

Besides the hundreds of special forces, most of the American personnel operate back from the front lines, coordinating coalition airstrikes, tracking Iraqi ground troops, sharing intelligence and helping plan operations.

Snow, from Nashville, Tennessee, with the 101st Airborne Division, is advising Iraqi officers carrying out the Mosul operation. His father was also with the 101st in Mosul in 2003. Now on Snow's Iraq deployment, he carries the same American flag his father kept with him on all of his tours and his father's good luck charm: a St. Michael prayer card.

"I know my father never thought I would be coming to Iraq," Snow said

U.S. presence at bases closer to Mosul in the lead up to operation is "essential" to the advise-and-assist mission, said U.S. Army Col. Brett Sylvia, the commanding officer at Camp Swift, a small coalition base outside Makhmour, some 73 kilometers (45 miles) southeast of Mosul.

"If you're not there, then you don't have a voice," Sylvia said, standing in front of the bank of televisions and desktop monitors that he says constitutes the forward edge of the battle for his men.

As of last week, there were 4,565 U.S. troops in Iraq, according to the Pentagon. That doesn't include another 1,500 troops considered there "on temporary duty," whose number changes daily, according to the U.S. officials

U.S. troop levels in Iraq peaked at 157,800 during the 2008 surge under then-President George W. Bush, according to the Pentagon. More than 140,000 U.S. troops were in Iraq when President Barack Obama took office in 2009. Obama drew down the forces until the complete withdrawal of late 2011 removed all combat troops from the country, leaving behind only a few hundred U.S. trainers, mainly civilians, to assist Iraqi security forces.

U.S. forces began returning after the Islamic State group overran Mosul in the summer of 2014 and blitzed across much of northern, central and western Iraq, joining it to territory it holds in Syria. Weeks later, President Barack Obama announced the start of the air campaign against the Islamic State. At the time, he underlined that he will not allow the U.S. "to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq."

But the U.S. role has steadily grown as Iraqi and Kurdish forces continue to rely heavily on coalition airpower and support in taking back the territory the militant group overran in 2014.

Over the past year, three American service members have been killed by IS in Iraq, revealing the increasingly active role of U.S. forces in a fight the Pentagon initially refused to describe as combat.

In October 2015, Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler was killed as he and dozens of other U.S. special forces participated in a raid alongside Iraqi Kurdish forces to free IS-held prisoners.

At the time, Defense secretary Ash Carter said it hadn't been part of the plan for U.S. forces to engage in combat during that raid and that Wheeler had "rushed to help" when the Kurdish fighters he was with came under attack.

Months later, Marine Staff Sgt. Louis Cardin was killed when IS fighters attacked a fire base near Camp Swift.

By the time of the third American death  Navy SEAL Charles Keating, who was killed in May  Carter immediately described it as a combat death. "He was in a firefight and he died in combat," he said.

Carter noted that while the coalition's overall approach is to enable local forces, "that doesn't mean we aren't going to do any fighting at all."

Iraqi commanders say despite months of training, their men are still almost entirely dependent on coalition airpower and intelligence to retake territory.

"If we didn't have airstrikes we wouldn't be able to advance," Iraqi Army Capt. Riad Ghafil with the Nineveh Operation Command admitted.

On a recent day at the Basmaya base outside Baghdad, Snow attended a graduation ceremony for 1,000 Iraqi soldiers who finished training and will be deployed in the north against IS. About halfway through the long series of speeches, the graduates began falling out of formation and slipping away from the ceremony to escape the midday sun. Coalition trainers at the event shook their heads in dismay, explaining that discipline was one of the skills the course focused on.

Throughout the steady intensification of the U.S. war in Iraq over the past two years, coalition and U.S. officials maintained that ultimately a lasting solution will only come from political change and reconciliation among Iraqi Shiites, Sunnis and other communities. But Iraqi political leadership has repeatedly failed to meet benchmarks for political reconciliation.

At Camp Swift, Sylvia said that after his last tour in Baghdad in 2008 he said he never thought he'd be back again. He said he hopes the U.S. doesn't fully withdraw from Iraq a second time.

"I would like us to have a long-term, engaging relationship with our Iraqi partners," he said.

"I think there is some admission (among some Iraqis) that it was a mistake for us to leave."

___

Associated Press writers Balint Szlanko and Salar Salim in Camp Swift, Iraq, and Lolita Baldor in Washington D.C. contributed to this report.
Attorney General Mark Herring is seeking a criminal investigation after applications for veterans benefits were found in a storage unit belonging to a former state employee who was fired last year for mishandling records, officials said Friday.

Between 20 and 30 boxes of documents were recovered from the unit belonging to the ex-employee for the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, who helped veterans apply for benefits with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, said Tom Herthel, director of benefits for the Virginia department. The storage unit contained applications for VA benefits  which include medical and personnel records  and Herthel said it appeared that at least some of the applications were never actually filed.

I am deeply concerned about the veterans whose records have been mishandled, and I have directed my team to use all available resources to identify these men and women and ensure that they receive the benefits and care that they are due, Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs John Harvey said in a statement.

Herthel said he could not release the name of the former employee, who worked for the agencys veterans benefits office at Richmonds McGuire VA Medical Center. She was fired after working nearly four years in the department when unfiled claims were found in her office in 2015, Herthel said.

Officials say theyre still trying to determine how many veterans may have been affected. The Virginia Department of Veterans Services has since moved to an electronic claims filing system, which means they can track all records to ensure they are actually filed.

Michael Kelly, a spokesman for the attorney general, said Herring has asked Virginia State Police to open a criminal investigation into the matter. Corrinne Geller, a state police spokeswoman, said Friday that they are reviewing the request.

The documents were found when the former employees storage unit was seized for nonpayment. The contents of the storage unit were auctioned off and the purchaser found the records and immediately notified law enforcement, Herthel said.

In 2014, scandals over long wait times at the VA led to the ouster of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and a $16 billion law overhauling the labyrinthine veterans health care system and making it easier to fire VA employees accused of wrongdoing.

Officials found workers at a Phoenix VA hospital falsified waiting lists while their supervisors looked the other way or even directed it, resulting in chronic delays for veterans seeking care. Similar problems were soon discovered nationwide.
A former Chinese provincial Communist Party boss has been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve as part of the country's ongoing crackdown on corruption at all levels.

The Anyang City Intermediate People's Court in Henan Province said Sunday that Bai Enpei was found guilty of taking "a huge amount of bribes" and possessing a large amount of income from unidentified sources.

Bai had been a senior lawmaker with the national legislature and formerly served as the top ranking official in the western provinces of Qinghai and Yunnan.

Suspended death sentences are usually reverted to life imprisonment after two years with good behavior.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to end corruption and government waste, although critics have accused him of using the campaign to attack political rivals.
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel says Germany wants to strengthen its cooperation with Mali to improve development in the country's unstable north to help fight against extremism, assure the implementation of a peace accord and stem migration to Europe.

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita greeted Merkel at Bamako's airport on Sunday where she spoke before meetings with him and other officials. She is expected to focus on the implementation of a peace deal reached in June 2015 between Mali's government and armed groups.

Extremists who took hold of the north in 2012 were pushed out by French-led forces in 2013, but targeted attacks against peacekeepers and Malian security forces continue.

Germany contributes hundreds of soldiers to the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali.

Merkel will visit Niger on Monday and Ethiopia on Tuesday.
Iran's state TV is reporting a cultural official has resigned after protests by religious authorities over a concert in the holy city of Qom.

The Sunday report says Abbas Daneshi, head of the department of culture in Qom, resigned due to discontent among religious authorities over the event last month. Qom, about 130 kilometers (80 miles) south of Tehran is a center for Shiite Muslim education; among Shiites, it is considered one of the holiest cities inside Iran.

The move is a blow to President Hassan Rouhani who has vowed a more open cultural policy.

In recent months, religious authorities have criticized the government for allowing concerts in religious cities that host shrines of revered Shiite saints.

The ministry said last week it would not permit concerts in these cities.
British conservationists say two critically endangered eastern black rhinos bred in captivity in England have given birth in Africa.

The Aspinall Foundation said Sunday the two females bred at its wildlife park in southern England and released in Tanzania have given birth after mating there with a male who had also been bred in captivity.

The two females named Grumeti and Zawadi were given a sendoff by Prince William when they departed for Tanzania in 2012. William has been active in recent years in trying to protect wildlife.

The foundation says each female has given birth in recent weeks to healthy babies.

Foundation chairman Damian Aspinall says the births represent a "remarkable and vital" breakthrough in the bid to protect this endangered species. He says strong habitat protection is also needed.
London police are asking for help finding two men who pulled off the headscarf of a Muslim woman in what is being called a racially-motivated attack.

Police said Sunday the woman in her 20s was shocked and distressed after the Sept. 28 attack on a busy north London street. Police says she was not physically hurt.

Detective Ben Cousin said police will not tolerate "racially and religiously motivated crimes" and asked for help locating the two suspects.

Police say the two men, believed to be in their late 20s or early 30s, approached the woman from behind and yanked down the headscarf she was wearing to cover her head and neck.

It is common for Muslim women in London to wear headscarves for religious reasons.
The Desloge Consolidated Lead Company was a lead mining company operated by the Desloge family in the Southeast Missouri Lead District. Their operations in the "Old Lead Belt" in the eastern Ozark Mountains, helped Missouri become the world's premier lead mining area.

According to the History of the Lead Belt of St. Francois County, what would become the Desloge Consolidated Lead Company, began around 1824, when Firmin Rene Desloge  founder of the Desloge Family in America  built a smelting furnace as an extension of his mercantile business in Potosi.

The mining operations were expanded and moved to Bonne Terre where the company sank three shafts and built a new mill. To serve the Desloge and St. Joe mines, Firmin Desloge II built the first railroads to penetrate the disseminated lead field of St. Francois County: the Desloge Railway, the Mississippi River and Bonne Terre Rail Road and the Valley Railroad.

Desloge also helped develop the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway (aka the Iron Mountain Railroad), which opened in 1874 from St. Louis to Texarkana, Arkansas. When the St. Joe Lead Company built a 13.5-mile narrow-gauge railroad from its mines to the Iron Mountain tracks at Summit in Washington County, the Desloge Company paid one-third of the costs.

In March 1886 a fire destroyed the concentrating mill plant and damaged the rest of the surface plant. The following year, the company's remaining assets were sold to St. Joe Lead Company, which made Firmin V. Desloge a trustee on its board, a post he held until his death. This merger helped the St. Joe Lead Company become the "greatest lead-mining and smelting company in the world.

According to A History of American Mining, after the fire, Desloge and his family took an option on a piece of land owned by the Bogy family which was called "Mine-a-Joe," and started another mining operation under the name Desloge Consolidated Lead Company. The new company cleared the land and built company houses for its workers just west of present-day Desloge.

In 1893, they opened a new mine just north of the St. Joe Lead Company property in Bonne Terre, on a tract of land and he expanded his lead mining operations by buying the Bogy Lead Mine Company and the St. Francois Mining Company. Desloge and his partners organized a new company called Desloge Consolidated Lead Company. The company sank mine shafts and built mills, smelting furnaces, and power stations.

Ultimately, the company's lead operations required a massive real estate effort involving hundreds of land leases, purchases, options, rights of refusals, mineral rights, chattel mortgages, deed transfers, quit-claims, trust deeds, judgment sales, sheriffs sales, bankruptcy sales, grants, bonds, notes, and various claims from area miners covering thousands of acres and hundreds of parcels of land, according to Missouri Mines State Historic Site Administrator Art Hebrank.

The Revenue Act of 1894, also known as the Wilson-Gorman Tariff, lowered protective tariffs on lead (although it raised rates on sugar and other materials). The prospect of cheaper imported lead threatened the Desloge Company and other southeast Missouri lead businesses. The lead industry's lobbying efforts paid off in 1897, when the Dingley Act once again raised barriers to lead imports.

Eventually the company sold out to the St. Joe Lead Company in 1929 for $18 million, ending one of the oldest mining companies.
The St. Francois County Commission recently discussed upcoming work to the Owl Creek Dam in the Bone Hole river access area of Big River.

The plan is to lower the dam by 18 feet in order to keep it in compliance with regulations. Currently the dam, also referred to as a railroad bed, is roughly 45 feet tall and has a large culvert that runs through it but is partially blocked off.

After building the railroad bed, over time the small creek began to build up on the upstream side and eventually became a pond. The water level is well below the top of the dam. Water seeps through the blocked tunnel to the other side.

Under federal regulations, a dam can be no higher than 35 feet and the existing railroad bed or dam is currently at 44 feet high, so they plan to have it lowered by 18 feet in order to be in compliance.

Associate Commissioner Patrick Mullins said in talking with Dennis Stenson, with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Superfund Cleanup, and Jason Gunther with the EPA, they are looking at seeking a request of qualifications for a professional engineering service.

As you recall the federal government is going to sink close to a million dollars in the Bone Hole County Park, so we need to seek a professional engineer for the dam spillway, said Mullins. It has historical significance. It was built in 1911 and they are looking at the design phase. There is a lot of engineering that goes into this and they will look into keeping its historical significance, or if there are any other options.

Mullins stressed this is why he is asking the commission if they could seek or solicit interest from consulting firms with expertise in civil and structural design for improvements to the Owl Creek Dam flow structure. He added other phases of work may be added to the contract as funding becomes available.

The project will improve the structural integrity of the existing inlet and exit headwalls and flow structure, said Mullins. The project will retain the historic value while providing a functional solution to address structural concerns. Work will require coordination and approval from Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

St. Francois County is seeking qualification statements from professional engineering firms with experience providing design services, up to and possibly including: roadway, bridge and structure design; as well as the creation of plans, specifications and estimates; and construction management, construction engineering and inspection services for the Owl Creek Dam Project.

I was wanting to see if you gentlemen will support me on this, said Mullins.

Associate Commissioner Gay Wilkinson made a motion to authorize the solicitation of bids for engineering for this particular phase of the project.

I would like to point out that the tunnel will be part of the trail when we get this all done, said Wilkinson. It has some uses other than keeping it as is.

Mullins said it leads to a marsh or swamp like area with rare plants. This is part of the grand scheme of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife to turn that area around and to concentrate on the areas of influence down there the county is trying to push as a county park. He added it will just take a lot of time, but they are getting there.

Gallaher said the area on top is really the railroad bed and the tunnel is just a culvert going under that. The area at the bottom, where the water is flowing, is showing some erosion there and it needs repairs and possibly some bolster work for holding up some of the roof.

Mullins said Stenson has already done a survey and they are lowering what the county calls a railroad crossing, but they call a dam. Its consisted of lead tailings that are contaminated and they want to lower that by 18 feet to where it is under the dam threshold of dam safety.

They are going to put soil on it and cap it with rock, said Mullins. Eventually we would like to put a walking trail over it and our goal is to make this park much like Pickle Springs Hiking Area.

Gallaher pointed out the elevation difference from the base and the top is 44 feet and the rules say anything above 35 feet, if it is called a dam, has to go under special rules for dams.

It does not hold water, but they want to reduce to get it below the threshold for special rules, said Gallaher. It stretches hundreds of feet on either side to ramp it down and it has to be moved to a protected area.

Mullins said once they lower it, from what he was told, they will not be required to do the two or three year testing where they inspect the dams.

Once the contractors move in there and start remediating the dam we might have to temporarily close access to the park, but it would just be temporary, said Mullins.
Indian Travel Agency Will Give 50% Of Its Launch Day Profits To Charity

XLNT Travels is celebrating the launch of its new online travel agency service by giving 50% of launch day profits to charity. Further information can be found at http://xlnttravels.com/.

--

In a generous gesture of goodwill, travel agency XLNT Travels will give 50% of launch day profits to charity to celebrate the its new online travel service. During the day of Tuesday 1st November half of all profits made on the sale of tours will go to deserving local charities.

In a space where most competitors simply place a few adverts online or send out a press release and fail to cause much of a stir, XLNT Travels has opted to be a little more generous with the inception of its new online travel agency service.

Balin Kamdar, Sales Manager at XLNT Travels, says: "We wanted to be generous with our service launch because we thought it would be a good way to promote our tours while also raising money for our chosen charities.

"It should be really worthwhile and we're hoping it will inspire people to take at the huge range of tours and adventures we have featured on our website. It should go well unless we have more calls and enquires than we can handle!"

XLNT Travels has always been a company to raise the bar when it comes to inventive marketing campaigns. As well as a fun way to raise awareness of its new service, the launch event is a good way for the travel agency to give something back to the communities it serves.

Balin Kamdar commented: "Here at XLNT Travels we're not afraid to give something away to achieve our long term goals of business growth and customer satisfaction on a large scale. This launch celebration is just one of the many ways XLNT Travels achieves that goal."

When asked about the Online Travel Agency service, Balin Kamdar said: "We think it's going to be a real hit because the new website features some of the best tours and travel destinations available online".

XLNT Travels's Online Travel Agency service is set to 'go live' Tuesday 1st November. To find out more about the service and XLNT Travels itself, check out the website at http://xlnttravels.com/

For more information, please visit http://xlnttravels.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Balin Kamdar

Organization: XLNT Travels

Address: 10-4-6/8 R.K CHAMBERS NMDC ROAD



Release ID: 137081

For more information visit r



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EU plans to remove some trade barriers to Ukraine grain exports could intensify competition for UK growers, even though this might be marginal, say analysts.

Under the proposals unveiled this week, Ukraine  one of the worlds biggest grain producers  will be allowed to export an addition 1.1m tonnes of feed grain into the EU without having to pay expensive trade tariffs, according to Agra-Europe Presse.

This is in addition to the tariff-free quotas covering 1.6m tonnes of grain Ukraine was granted under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which took effect on 1 January this year and which have already increased Ukrainian exports to the EU by 5%.

See also: Wheat gains 3/t on the week as pound falls further

Including the changes made since the beginning of the year, the plans would allow 1.05m tonnes of feed wheat, 1.05m tonnes of maize and 600,000t of barley to enter the EU without incurring trade tariff charges.

Extra grain would weigh on oversupplied market

Benjamin Bodart, partner at grain trading advisor CRM, said in an already overly supplied market, the EU-Ukraine trade deal would weigh on feed prices.

This is likely to have a negative impact on EU prices and could erode part of the supportive environment coming from the sterling weakness, said Mr Bodart.

However, we also have to bear in mind that the variability of the weather in the Black Sea, generally colder winters than western Europe which can lead to winterkill and frosts, provide a higher probability of crop failures and hence the new trade agreement would have a limited impact.

Marginal impacts, but still an impact

Jack Watts, lead analyst at AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds, agreed further tariff-free access for Ukraine into the EU would likely lead to increased competition, primarily in the feed grain markets.

We have seen significant volumes of Ukrainian maize coming into the UK on recent years, competing with domestically produced grain for feed, ethanol and distilling demand, said Mr Watts.

The EU commission forecasts the EU will import 14m tonnes of maize from third countries in 2016-17. Arguably, Ukrainian tariff-rate-quota is small in comparison.

However, the marginal impacts of more Ukrainian maize imports will [mean] more competition in the EU feed grain market.

See also: How data helps growers make good crop husbandry decisions

In the year to June 2016, HMRC data shows that the UK imported 265,000t of Ukrainian maize.

Total maize imports into the UK were 1.8m tonnes.

France is the main origin of UK maize imports with nearly 700,000t coming in the year to June 2016

If approved by the European Parliament and Council, the trade measures would apply for three years.

The provision of some tariff free access for Ukraine is part of the EU/Ukraine Association agreement  partly to show some solidarity following the Russian annexation of Crimea.
'Supergirl' Season 2 Latest News & Update: Orignal Wonder Woman Arrives In National City; Gives Her Blessings to Gal Gadot

Not only Superman who will be flying in the second season of "Supergirl" but it will also include the original Wonder Woman during the late 70's. Linda Carter who's set to play as U.S President Olivia Marsdin in the third episode entitled "Welcome to Earth."

CW has released the synopsis of the episode, were an attack is made on the President (played by Linda Carter) as hot button, alien vs human rights issues heat up in National City. "Supergirl" (Melissa Benoist) and the DEO are assigned to protect the President and bring in the responsibility party.

Alex (Chyler Leigh) teams up with Detective Maggie Sawywer (Floriana Lima) to investigate the case while Kara searches for a recently escaped Mon-El (Chris Wood), who she fears may be the alien behind the assault."Welcome to Earth" episode will be directed by Rachel Talalay, who also helped the episode "Fast Lane" in the Flash.

The episode will air on October 24. The premiere of "Supergirl" will fly on October 10, Monday as the new addition of DC heroes' weekly line up on CW.

Meanwhile Linda Carter also gives her blessing to the new Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot as the Princess of the Amazon as she tell FNM "I want it to move to the next generation of women, and inspire the next generation of women" and hopes the Wonder Woman movie would be a blockbuster hit.

After several decades Carter still gets recognized as Wonder Woman, without the iconic costumes.Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman will also star Chris Pine who plays her love interest but will not be playing multiple DCEU roles also starring Connie Neilsen, Robin Wright, Lucy Davis, Danny Huston, Elena Anaya will be released on June 2, 2017.
'Mulan' Live-Action Movie Release Date, Cast, Latest News & Update: Disney Casting For Asian Actress For Mulan? Top 3 Choices?

Fans of the kick-ass girl who pretended to be a man to help defend her country is so excited for the "Mulan" live-action movie. Now that Disney has already given the green light for "Mulan" live-action movie, the fans are left wondering who will play Fa Mulan's role.

Possible Actresses To Play Fa Mulan

There are some movies that chose to cast an American woman to play the role of an Asian woman. One concrete example of that is "Ghost In The Shell," which was topbilled by Scarlett Johansson. As expected, it got a lot of backlash from movie critics and audiences alike, as they commented that the movie would have been more realistic if an Asian woman got the lead role. Will an American actress be cast in "Mulan" live-action movie?

One of the reasons why American actresses land the role supposedly for an Asian character is because there is a scarcity of Asian movie stars in Hollywood. Aside from Lucy Liu and Jamie Chung, Hollywood is at loss for an Asian superstar. Now that we have mention Jamie Chung, she has one of the greatest opportunity to play Fa Mulan in "Mulan" live-action movie.

In the series "Once Upon A Time," Jamie Chung filled in the shoes for Fa Mulan's character. She was impressive on the small screen, so perhaps Disney can choose the easy route and choose Jamie Chung to play Fa Mulan in "Mulan" live-action movie.

Another lass that won't have a hard time playing Mulan in "Mulan" live-action movie is Katrina Law. She plays the role of Nyssa al Ghul in "Arrow" series. The girl has mastered some fight moves so she certainly has the cards in her favor if she will be chosen to play Fa Mulan.

Korean actress Park Shin Hye also has the votes of some Disney fans. Although she does not speak English fluently, if she bags the role of Mulan, she will have to learn the English language. As of writing, Disney still hasn't chosen an actress to play the lead role in "Mulan" live-action movie. Stay tuned to GamenGuide for more "Mulan" live-action movie news and updates.
'Train to Busan' News: Song Hye Kyo Replaces Park Shin Hye; Song Joong Ki, Lee MinHo Are Heroes; Love Is Center Plot?

Recent news and updates pertaining to "Train to Busan" tags Song Hye Kyo's name on board. There are claims that Song Hye Kyo will replace Park Shin Hye in the upcoming sequel. Moreover, the storyline for the sequel would depict Song Joong Ki and Lee MinHo as the main heroes helping Gong Yoo's on-screen daughter to survive.

Although the rumors have surged for "Train to Busan," there are no details that supports the speculation. Even the rumored presumptions remain unsettled as well. To prove the latter, Song Hye Kyo has not affirmed her presence in the next sequel.

As for the rumors that the storyline for "Train to Busan" would center on love, it remains unverified as well. Even Song Joong Ki and Lee MinHo as the new protagonists in the upcoming sequel of "Train to Busan" has also been debunked.

The creators and producers of the epic zombie movie, "Train to Busan" has not rendered any confirmation that the power stars such as Song Hye Kyo, Park Shin Hye, Song Joong Ki and Lee MinHo would be on board as main stars.

This is not the first time that Park Shin Hye, Song Joong Ki and Lee MinHo were tangled with "Train to Busan." A former post from Gamenguide, relayed of former rumors that Park Shin Hye might be joining the successful zombie movie, but there are no confirmations from the actress nor with the producers.

According to the same report, if ever it does materialized, having Park Shin Hye, Song Joong Ki, and Lee MinHo in "Train to Busan," would surely set the storyline for the zombie movie in an entirely different way. Also, if Song Hye Kyo's appearance is confirmed, it would set the movie to be one of the star studded movies' of all time.

A different report from Variety shared that "Train to Busan" has spawned an era of a zombie blockbuster hit that placed South Korea's name in the pedestal. It stands to reason that the way the movie was made showed a different angle and a new face for zombie movies.

According to June Park, the director of NEW's film business, "It is the first Korean blockbuster that tells a zombie story with such a great amusement." With that in mind, "Train to Busan" and its forthcoming sequel is expected to deliver with unparalleled scenes and storylines.
The Pirate Bay (TPB) Shut Down by Google: Website No Longer Accessible on Chrome and Firefox; TPB Scam Website?

When the Kickass Torrent and Torrentz.eu were taken down by the authorities, it was inevitable that the most popular torrent destination, The Pirate Bay, was going to be shut down anytime soon. Now new reports have emerged saying that Google Chrome and Firefox have already decided to block everyone's favorite file sharing website. Although some alternative torrent websites are still up and running, it will just be a matter of time before concerned agencies shut them down.

Since the start of the year, authorities have been pretty tight on several torrent websites including two of the biggest in the industry, Kickass Torrents and Torrentz.eu. Following their closure are other torrent websites and alternative domains, which have voluntarily shut down their operation to avoid any legal issue with the authorities. Now that The Pirate Bay is banned by Google, torrent users will certainly be having a hard time downloading shared files on the Internet. Nonetheless, fans can still access The Pirate Bay website on other Internet browsers without any problem.

According to GamenGuide, Google's plan is to lessen the web traffic of The Pirate Bay, which is considered by many as a source of unlicensed torrent files. There are reports saying that Google is using a safe tracking tool to prevent users from accessing unsafe websites including The Pirate Bay.

Torrent users who try to access the website on Chrome will immediately get a message from Google that says: "Deceptive site ahead: Attackers on Thepiratebay.org may trick you into doing something dangerous like installing software or revealing your personal information. "Another warning reads: "Google Safe Browsing recently detected phishing on thepiratebay.org. Phishing sites pretend to be other websites to trick you."

Meanwhile, reports are saying that concerned authorities have yet to start their effort to cripple the operation of The Pirate Bay. Google's initiative could have something to do with its own policy regarding piracy. Stay tuned for more news and updates about The Pirate Bay and its alternative websites.
Narcos Season 3 Air Date, Spoilers, News & Update: Major Plot Detail Revealed, Cali Cartel To Execute A Large-Scale Revenge?

"Narcos" season 3 will mark the rise of Cali Cartel in the intricate business of cocaine. While most fans will definitely miss the charismatic personality of Pablo Escobar, the team promised to deliver thrilling plots next season. In fact, a recent Twitter post from the team hinted a major plot detail that tells of an enormous revenge.

'Narcos' Season 3: Cali Cartel

"Narcos" season 3 will see a new set of drug lords in the person of Rodriguez Orejuela brothers. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, showrunner Eric Newman discussed details about the Cali Cartel that the show will tackle next season. He pointed the difference between the Medellin Cartel and the Cali Cartel. While Escobar was protected by the people who pledged loyalty to him, the Cali Cartel was protected by a political system that they ingeniously built. That being said, "Narcos" season 3 will feature a more complicated plot and a new kind of villain.

GamenGuide previously explained that the Cali Cartel employs renowned international lawyers as their spies inside the government. Unlike their Medellin counterpart, the Cali Cartel adapts sophisticated techniques creating independent unites under one big umbrella. The Cali Cartel story arc may take up the whole "Narcos" season 3 and may give way to the Mexican Cartel in season 4. Eric Newman added that the Mexican Cartel is a fascinating story arc after the Cali Cartel in season 3.

Cali Cartel's Ten-Fold Revenge

It appears that the team behind "Narcos" season 3 is fond of teasing fans with details about Cali Cartel. A recent Twitter post teased "Narcos" season 3 to employ a thrilling revenge plot. The Twitter post captioned "In Cali, revenge is tenfold," shows Rodriguez angrily demanding a killing spree. Another Twitter post also implied how the Cali Cartel operates: "With the Cali Cartel, you never see it coming."

"Narcos" season 3 is rumored to air August or September of 2017 if the trend from the previous seasons should be followed. Stay tuned for more updates on "Narcos" season 3. Watch Paquita la del Barrio sings to Pablo Escobar in a short clip below.
Were you born 100 years too late? Albany historic window expert Chris Gustafson was asked.

Yes and no, Gustafson said as he worked Monday to install a restored double-hung sash window at the Palestine Church in Adair Village.

The church, which dates to 1882 and is the oldest one in Benton County, is being restored by county parks officials, who plan to use it as a community space.

Looking at Gustafson one would think the yes answer would dominate. Dressed in suspenders and an antique vest with shoes and cap that make him look like he just stepped out of a time machine, Gustafson lovingly describes his work.

Its the craft, the patience it requires, the attention to detail. The knowledge required in a lot of areas  grain of wood, metallurgy. I just thought it was awesome. Very people know know this and how to do this."

Gustafson, who turns 31 later this month, said he caught the restoration bug at a five-week field school for window restoration in 2010 in Port Townsend, Washington. He also studied at Clatsop Community College in Astoria and has had two years of formal training in historic preservation. And he is just one of five people in Oregon who do this sort of work.

Gustafson is particularly fond of the double-hung window and only too happy to demonstrate its charms. By pulling on the weighted sashes on each side Gustafson manipulates the two windows so that there is an opening at the top and the bottom.

The heat goes out the top and the cooler air comes in at the bottom, he said. It creates air circulation that is almost air-conditioning. Its one of the most efficient windows ever made.

Then he brings you closer, to the wooden crosspieces that frame the glass, showing that over the years repairs of the window led to minor deviations in the type of wood used.

The farmers and others in that era just kind of cobbled things together, Gustafson. Its really hard to find one intact in its original state.

The 1880s and 1890s were a really fun time. This was when they were really doing great belt-drawn wood work. In the 1850s it was planing and sanding. And the hardware is dainty and pretty.

"There were a lot of changes in building after World War II," Gustafson said. "Things were done in much higher quantities because of the post-war boom and people went from wanting old to wanting new."

Gustafson has been working on the six Palestine Church windows in his Albany shop and hes moving into the phase in which he begins to re-install them, a process that will last until December.

These windows are all original, he said. I remove the paint and putty with an infrared heater. There is no damage to the wood.

Gustafson, who said he "always preferred to be self-employed," works mainly with museums, nonprofits and government entities. He only does windows and said he is booked about a year out, with other current projects an 1840s cabin in Forest Grove and an armory in Cottage Grove  with 115 windows.

Gustafson helps keep the tradition alive by training apprentices and conducting workshops at Clatsop Community College.

It gets better every day, Gustafson said. The sun is always out  the clouds are just sometimes in the way.

Overall project

Gustafsons windows are just part of the plan for the Palestine Church, which was moved to its present location near Santiam Christian School in 2010. Efforts by Benton County saved the church, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013, from the wrecking ball.

Other work that has been done in the past few years includes: lead-based paint removal, removal and replacement of deteriorated siding, new paint, new front stairs and railing, roof-line gutters and new oak doors.

Its a slow process, said Lisa De Graaff, park operations coordinator for Benton County Natural Areas and Parks. Gustafsons work was paid for by a preservation grant from Oregon State Parks, and grant money will be required to complete the project.

The church was deteriorating from the bottom up, De Graaff said. The windows and floors were compromised during moving.

The floor, which consists of Douglas fir planks, needs to be refinished and patched, and roof work that will add fire-retardant cedar shingles.

Benton County hopes to use the church for community events and as a wedding chapel and many of the improvements in the site plan are a function of modern requirements.

Electricity will have to be added as well as restrooms, Americans With Disabilities modifications, road improvements and a parking lot. The restroom facility will be a separate building, De Graaff said, because historic preservation rules do not allow such an addition inside the church.

No timeline has been set for the work, which De Graaff said is likely to total about $150,000.

Just when we get funding, she said. We havent set up a fundraising campaign. Wed like to do it in five years.

History lesson

According to research De Graaff has collected and the historic register application the church was built circa 1882 and was deemed necessary by the Corvallis Baptist Congregation because of a desire to split the membership into two congregations.

Thus, the north congregation became the North Palestine Baptist Church. Architecturally, De Graaff said, the church is an unusual blend of Classical Revival and Gothic Revival and that such early church architecture in Oregon was modest (and) almost void of pretensions.

The church hosted regular church services until the mid-1930s. After that it served as a community space for local groups, including the Willing Workers, an organization of area farm women that began meeting in 1916. After the building was transferred to the North Palestine Cemetery Cemetery Association members of the Willing Workers helped maintain the building and advocated for its preservation.

We had an open house in May and the Willing Workers were here, De Graaff said. Some of them were in their 90s. They hope to use it again when we get it back together.

When the cemetery association targeted the church for demolition because they needed the land for expansion, the Benton County Board of Commissioners stepped in authorized the move.

Were pretty pleased. Were really excited to have it, De Graaff said.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
U.S., Military Troops Mobilize in Haiti Following Hurricane Matthew

By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2016  U.S. military personnel began arriving on the hurricane-ravaged island nation of Haiti today to begin storm response efforts as Combined Task Force Hurricane Matthew mobilizes there, Navy Rear Adm. Cedric Pringle, commander of U.S. Southern Command's Joint Task Force Matthew, told Pentagon reporters today.

Speaking via teleconference from Port-Au-Prince, Haiti's capital city, Pringle said aerial surveillance yesterday revealed the extent of the damage.

"There's plenty of work to be done," he said, describing leveled homes, mudslides and washed out roads and bridges -- especially along the nation's southern peninsula.

'All-Hands Effort'

The task force is working with the U.S. Agency for International Development to begin relief efforts. As troops arrive, work is under way to prioritize hurricane response efforts with USAID, he said.

"It's honestly an all-hands effort to restore some of the stability to the government of Haiti," Pringle said. Relieving the suffering of the Haitian people is critical, he noted.

"It's not just a [Defense Department] effort," Pringle said. "It's a whole-of-government regional effort," he said.

With troops flying in today, Pringle expects work to get under way this afternoon following the meeting with USAID. "At the end of the day, we should have [about] 250 personnel," he said, adding that he expects that figure to rise to 350 within about 24 hours.

"We expect a lot of the roads are just completely not passable either due to being washed away in mudslides, erosion and collapsed roads or debris  [and] a few bridges have washed away as well," Pringle said.

A couple of rivers overflowed and washed away infrastructure," he said, "so the damage is pretty extensive here."

Helicopters Critical Asset

Helicopters will supply the best mode of transportation around the island, he said.

The nine helicopters on Haiti, including CH-53 Sea Stallions and CH-47 Chinooks, comprise a critical element for supporting this mission," he said, "simply because of the terrain that we see here in Haiti," some of which is mountainous.

"With the helicopter footprint that I have here, we can certainly start the relief operations today," he said, adding that partner nations also are assisting in the efforts.

Though Navy ships and Coast Guard cutters have not yet been assigned to the Haiti mission, Pringle said he expects they will be when more accurate assessments of the rescue operations are determined. Ships, he added, could be assigned within 24 hours.

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Russian Airspace Violations in Nordic-Baltic Region Dangerous, Work Says

By Lisa Ferdinando DoD News, Defense Media Activity

HELSINKI, Oct. 7, 2016  Russia's alleged violations of airspace in the Nordic-Baltic region are unacceptable, dangerous and unprofessional, Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work said here today, after both Finland and Estonia accused Russia of breaches.

"Airplanes operating in the same airspace as commercial airliners in an unsafe manner is totally unsatisfactory," Work said in a press conference here today after meeting with delegates from eight Nordic-Baltic nations.

The talks, Work said, encompassed regional security issues, such as concerns over Russian behavior in the Baltic Sea. In addition, the discussions sought ways to increase defense cooperation, and included updates on the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere, he noted.

Work arrived in the Finnish capital Thursday -- the same day the Nordic nation said Russia violated its airspace in two separate incidents. Later, Estonia accused Russia of illegally entering its airspace.

"There is absolutely no justification for it," Work said of the airspace violations.

"Regardless of the timing, regardless of the circumstance, these are unsatisfactory maneuvers that are unsafe [and] unprofessional," he said. "Hopeful we'll be able to see a moderation in them to avoid an accident or a tragic occurrence."

The United States and all the countries in the Nordic-Baltic region are concerned about such actions, he said, adding, "Unfortunately these are becoming the norm rather than the exception."

Strengthening Partnership in the Region

Work praised the strong U.S. relationship with the countries in attendance at today's U.S.-Nordic-Baltic forum: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden.

The purpose of the gathering was to further enhance bilateral and multilateral security cooperation and interoperability, he said. Previous Nordic-Baltic discussions were held in Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden.

"This is a very challenging security environment for all the nations in the region," Work said. "From defeating ISIL to dealing with a more aggressive Russia, we have a lot to do -- and the best way to address these challenges is together, which is exactly why this forum was formed and exactly why it is performing such important work."

Strengthening US-Finnish Defense Cooperation

In addition to the talks with the Nordic-Baltic nations, Work met separately with Finnish Defense Minister Jussi Niinisto. They signed a statement of intent to further strengthen collaboration on defense issues.

"It expresses our shared desire to cooperate on security issues of mutual concern and to ensure that our militaries can work together to confront issues of mutual concern," Work said.

Even though the statement of intent is not legally binding, it is meant to memorialize the commitment for the next U.S. presidential administration to continue, the deputy secretary said.

US-Finland-Sweden Trilateral

Before wrapping up the day's talks, Work participated in a first of its kind U.S.-Finland-Sweden trilateral meeting.

Work, Finnish Defense Secretary Jukka Juusti and Swedish Defense Secretary Jan Salestrand agreed to additional trilateral sessions at a working level in Washington later this year, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Gordon Trowbridge said.

Earlier in the day, Work visited with members of the Finnish Coast Guard and toured Finland's newest ice capable patrol vessel. Before heading off to the series of meetings, Work paid a visit to Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and thanked him for Finland's contributions to the counter-ISIL campaign, peacekeeping operations and regional security.

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U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Transcript

Presenter: Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work; Finnish Permanent Secretary Jukka Juusti October 07, 2016

Joint Press Conference with Deputy Secretary Work and Secretary Juusti in Helsinki, Finland

STAFF: Mr. Deputy Secretary, Mr. Permanent Secretary, honored heads of delegation -- (inaudible) -- Nordic -- (inaudible) -- media, welcome to this press conference following the meeting with the United States and the Nordic and Baltic countries.

We have with us here today Finland, host of the meeting, Secretary Jukka Juusti from Finland. From the United States, Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work. From Iceland, Director Arni or Sigursson; from Latvia, State Secretary Janis Garisons; from Lithuania, Policy Director Vaidotas Urbelis; from Sweden, State Secretary Jan Salestrand; from Norway, State Secretary ystein B; from Estonia, Under Secretary for Defense Policy Miko Haljas.

Welcome all of you. This conference will start with Jukka Juusti giving remarks about the meeting and then we'll leave the floor to Deputy Secretary Work. After that, our panelists are welcome to fill in if they want, and we hope to have time for some discussion.

We have quite limited time, so I would ask you for short and concise questions.

But Permanent Secretary Jukka Juusti, the floor is yours.

FINNISH PERMANENT SECRETARY JUKKA JUUSTI: Good afternoon to everybody and welcome. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome -- to -- this press conference firstly on -- (inaudible) -- U.S. Nordic and Baltic colleagues for coming to Helsinki.

We had a very productive meeting today. This is actually the second time we meet in this --forum last time we met in Stockholm in April. There are many issues of common interest for this group of nations. Today, we discussed, among other things -- (inaudible) -- development, including the implementation of Warsaw summit decisions; NATO-EU cooperation, and challenges to the security in the Nordic and Baltic region and regional cooperation.

We also -- exchanged - the views on the coalition of counter-ISIL. This meeting demonstrated once again that this group of nations has a common interest in advancing the security and stability of northern Europe and Europe as whole. Finding solutions to common security concerns requires unity of effort and shared understanding of the security situation in the region.

With these few opening words - I would like to give the floor to Deputy Secretary Robert Work.

DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE BOB WORK: Good afternoon, everybody. I'd like to thank all of my colleagues and friends who are up here today for an excellent series of discussions today. And I'd especially like to thank President Niinisto, who I met this morning, and Minister Niinisto, who I met just before lunch and Permanent Secretary Juusti. He has been a terrific host to our entire delegation and I can't thank the government of Finland enough for the warm hospitality that they've shown us.

This is my fourth visit to the Nordic-Baltic region. It's strategically important to the United States and to all of Europe. But we'd be here and I'd be here even if it wasn't a strategically important region, because the countries in this region share the same values as the United States; democratic, searching for peace throughout the world and working hard to do that.

And I would just like to say that this first in Norway and then in Sweden and then now in Finland, I can't tell you how impressed I am of the capabilities of the armed forces in this region.

This afternoon, I had the opportunity to watch a training exercise and was just astounded that the troops had just had three months of training and they were operating as a cohesive unit, their esprit was high. It was quite impressive.

Well, today we've made further progress on security objective throughout the region. We shared ways to increase safety of flight, passage in the region, to prevent incidents involving military aircraft or vessels. We shared our observations and our concerns about Russian operations in this region. We talked about the fight against ISIL in Iraq, Syria and beyond. And we discussed opportunities for further cooperation that's already become an incredibly fruitful forum.

So this has been a very, very good opportunity for us to exchange views.

I was please earlier today to sign a statement of intent between the United States and Finland to strengthen what we consider to be a very strong bilateral security relationship. It makes our relationship, which is already strong, even stronger. It expresses our shared desire to cooperate on security issues of mutual concern and to ensure that our militaries can work together to confront issues of mutual concern.

This agreement is important for our bilateral relationship. It's also a visible sign of U.S. commitment to our friends in this region and our desire to work bilaterally, multilaterally, through NATO and through other venues and partners to promote peace and stability in the Nordic-Baltic region.

Now, I can't say enough, and I think everybody here knows, this is a very challenging security environment for all the nations in the region. From defeating ISIL to dealing with a more aggressive Russia, we have a lot to do, and the best way to address these challenges is together, which is exactly why this forum was formed and exactly why it is performing such important work.

So again, I want to commend and thank my colleagues, who I've grown to know and I consider friends, for their continuing efforts and our cooperation between the United States and all of the nations in this region.

STAFF: Thank you, deputy secretary.

Does - somebody else -- want to fill in - some remarks before we move to the floor, If not ... (inaudible) Could you wait for a microphone -- (inaudible). Present yourself.

Q: (inaudible) -- broadcasting company. Mr. Deputy Secretary, what is your analysis on last night's -- air space violations (inaudible) -- by Russian military -- (inaudible)?

MR. WORK: Jukka informed me of these violations, and unfortunately, these are becoming the norm rather than the exception. It is hard for me to fathom that Russia would consider Finland a threat in any way, and that activities like this, you know, are hard to understand.

So I can't tell you exactly why they occurred. I would leave that to President Putin. But again, the only thing I can say is these are becoming more normal rather than the exception. And I know all of the governments in the region are concerned about.

Q: Question about timing?

MR. WORK: Again, timing is - it's very opaque sometimes on what the Russians do and what they - what signals they are trying to send. So, I wouldn't want to speculate on the timing.

All I would say is, again, I'm saddened that this type of behavior continues to occur. And I would hope over time that it stops.

STAFF: (Inaudible.)

Q: (Inaudible) from (inaudible). One question to Mr. Robert Work.

When Vice President Joe Biden was in Sweden and he pointed out that the territory of Sweden is un-violated territory from the U.S. perspective. Has United States guaranteed the security of Sweden of officially or unofficially? And how would you describe the significance of the territory of Finland the U.S. perspective?

Thank you.

MR. WORK: Well, from the United States perspective of course, and most important relationships are in formal alliances where - and such as NATO, where an Article 5 trigger. Our commitment on Article 5 is absolutely ironclad.

If there is an attack against any member of NATO, we would respond. Now, the members who are not - I mean for countries who are not in NATO, especially in the Nordic Baltic region, we're extremely concerned about behavior - about Russian behavior against these countries. And that is why we think cooperative partnerships are exactly the way to go.

We are doing everything we can to improve - the interoperability of our forces. The counties - I mean Finland for example is enhanced opportunity partner [with] NATO who just signed a host nation agreement with NATO.

The statement of intent, which we signed today, is another indication of how closely we are becoming both with Finland and with Sweden, and with all of the other nations in the region, those in NATO. So, let me just say that the United States always stands by its friends.

STAFF: (Inaudible.)

Q: (Inaudible), Channel 3 Helsinki. I - I want to press more on this Statement of Intent. It says that our countries, U.S. and Finland, are be determined to enhance Trans-Atlantic security. But is (inaudible). How does it strengthen Finland's security since there are no specific or formal guarantees?

MR. WORK: I think I'll start and then I'll turn it over to Jukka. Essentially we have had a very strong relationship with Finland ever since Finland bought the F/A-18, we've had an extraordinarily close relationship with our air forces. And over time, especially since Finland has become an enhanced opportunity partner for NATO, we have been working closer, and closer, and closer with the military.

What the statement of intent does is it really focuses on three things, information exchange, focusing on interoperability, and working in exercises and things like that to strengthen the relationship between our defense establishments. And the third thing is to commit to continuing political dialogue on national security interests.

And the Statement of Intent, because you all know there is going to be a transition of government in the United States. We don't know whether it will Republican or Democratic.

But the statement of intent memorializes in a non-legally binding way that we want to continue this relationship because we think it's strong. So, that's the intent. And we think it's a good thing

MR. JUUSTI: Yes, thank you, thank you. And more or less the aim of the document is to give guidance to the already extensive defense cooperation, and as Bob was saying here one of the more important issues is that there will be the transition of the U.S. government after the election, and that provides the continuity in that sense and guidance. Thank you.

STAFF: I remind the other heads of the delegations, if you want to comment on something, please let me know. (inaudible)

Q: Yes, Swedish daily newspaper (inaudible) that had just reported that these air space violations yesterday, they were because of a (inaudible) ship, Russian ship transporting Iskander missiles from St. Petersburg to Kaliningrad. Could you please comment on this?

STAFF: Does somebody have information about this? (Laughter).

MR. JUUSTI: Yes, perhaps I can say a few words. Of course, as Bob Work was saying earlier that there's no way of us knowing what was the cause. There are some speculations and this is one of the speculations we have also, also heard. We are - our, our intel is more or less analyzing this issue and we will continue you that.

And we will find our opinion but I'm afraid it will not be a public opinion. But we will, we will find one. Our reasoning for that, so. But it, it is not clear at all. Let me put it that way.

Q: (Inaudible) referred to Estonia government sources. So could Estonia (inaudible)?

STAFF: Mr. Haljas?

MR. HALJAS: Thank you. At this stage, I am not, I cannot deny it. And I'm not in a position to confirm it. But obviously we are working with our intelligence and analyzing all the information that we have. We obviously (inaudible) but that is the maximum I can say at this point.

MR. WORK: If I could say, though, as I said, these type of activities are becoming more normal rather than the exception, and I think a common theme among all of us is these type of activities are unsafe, they're unprofessional, they're increasingly aggressive.

And all of these things could potentially lead to a tragic accident. Airplanes operating in the same airspace as commercial airliners in an unsafe manner is totally unsatisfactory. There is absolutely no justification for it.

So I think one of the things that I would say is regardless of the timing, regardless of the circumstance, these are unsatisfactory maneuvers that are unsafe, unprofessional and hopefully we'll be able to a see a moderation in them to avoid an accident or a tragic occurrence.

STAFF: (inaudible)

MR. URBELIS: Yes, I think we have to separate two issues. One is flight safety. What the Russians did quite recently and demonstrated yesterday, No flight plan, no transponder, no radio connections. All three conditions were not met by Russian over flights.

So that's - that's the reality that we are facing almost every day and all three conditions we're looking at. But on Iskanders, I think the Russians clearly said several times there will be Iskanders in Kaliningrad. So (inaudible) it's just a question f when and now not a question of if.

(Inaudible). (Inaudible) not a comment, it's just a question. When and how, not a question of if.

STAFF: Who's next? I warn you there will probably not be much time for anyone to answer. (Inaudible).

Q: Associated Press, (inaudible). Just a general question on these various kind of security arrangements. That - but we have now here eight countries with quite different kind of a security arrangements with the United States and with NATO.

So is it - is there a - Mr. Work, is there a - do you think there's some kind of confusion that we have now countries with bilateral deals with the United States and also NATO countries? Is there - is there going to be any - and confusion regarding on - on how this works?

MR. WORK: I don't believe so. The United States has alliances around the world, has partners in which we have bilateral relationships. We have multilateral engagements and organizations. All of them are designed primarily to improve the mutual security of all of the nations involved.

And some nations, it's better to work through partnerships, others through formal alliances. I think it's quite normal and I don't believe there should be any confusion at all.

Q: Thank you.

STAFF: Who's next?

STAFF: (OFF-MIC). Miss.

Q: (Inaudible) Finnish News Agency. Is this agreement today a final step for Finland to NATO membership?



MR. JUUSTI: Yes. I was expecting something like this would be asked. And it is not an agreement first of all it doesn't have any steps towards NATO. It is - it is a statement of intent. Which provides some guidelines to work together also in the future. So my answer is no.

(STAFF): (Inaudible)

Q: I have a question for Mr. Juusti. (Inaudible) identifying of the Russian planes?

MR. JUUSTI: That's pretty easy, become we don't comment on the operational data and frankly I don't know where they went. Thank you.

STAFF: (Inaudible.)

Q: Question for Mr. Robert work. NATO's deputy secretary general, (inaudible). And in interviews, he said to me that it in a crisis Finland and Sweden could participate in NATO's Baltic Sea operations. And also, they could help counties like Finland and Sweden. What is your comment on that? And is that possible?

MR. WORK: Well, I would leave it to the governments of the countries to say but, I mean, the host nation support agreement that Finland signed does say if NATO forces operated in the area, what steps we would have to take so that both parties would understand what is happening.

But every single situation will be unique, and every single situation will be decided by the respective governments of the countries involved. So the host nation support agreement just allows if something happens where we want to cooperate, we would have the steps able to do so. But it doesn't -- it doesn't bind Finland or Sweden or any other nation to any particular action.

STAFF: (Inaudible).

Q: Hello. I'm (inaudible) from AFP. I would like to ask Mr. Work both Finland and Estonia - well, no, sorry. I'm - I wanted to ask about this increased defense cooperation with the Nordic and Baltic countries that you now have.

Is it reflected in the U.S. defense budget for Europe somehow? And can you give us any figures about that, anything concrete? Thank you.

MR. WORK: The European Reassurance Initiative, which was initiated last year, appropriated about $3 billion for a wide variety of activities throughout Europe to include exercises, training, the prepositioning of equipment, and starting to rotate an Army brigade combat team in Europe.

These forces operate throughout Europe. They operate with Norway, they operate - they interoperate with Sweden. They interoperate with Finland, they interoperate with Denmark. They interoperate - we will actually have enhanced forward presence battalions in the Baltic regions.

I can't tell you how much will be in the FY18 budget. That is under discussion right now and will be up for the new incoming administration to decide. So all I will say here is I do not expect the level of investment to decrease. And I can't tell you exactly much more than that.

STAFF: (inaudible)

Q: Yes, for Mr. Work. The SOI says it says that it increases, among many other things, cooperative research and development in (inaudible) technologies and ship building. Finland has wanted to sell for a long time icebreakers to the United States. Is there some kind of cooperation on this emerging? Because I'm - they could be a very strategic vessels as well.

MR. WORK: Well, let me say I spent an hour on the Turva this morning. That is one heck of a ship. It is multifunctional, it is - the bridge looks like the Starship Enterprise. It was impressive in every way. The captain was impressive, the crew was impressive. And right now the United States is considering buying icebreakers.

And as I told Jukka, I'm going back and I'm going to say if we aren't talking closely with the Defense about icebreakers and how they should be designed and what they should be able to do, we're crazy. And I'll do everything that I can in the short remaining time that I will be deputy secretary to make sure that we explore this avenue.

STAFF: Final question to you, (inaudible).

Q: (Inaudible) deputy secretary you mentioned that - that's been a strong relationship ever since Finland started buying the F-18s. I wonder what is the importance of this new declaration when Finland again, buys new fighters?(Inaudible).

MR. JUUSTI: Yes, this is something which hasn't got any relevance on this one so this is no way any commitment or anything like that.

It is that we will continue cooperation in many areas and Finland has stated many times that we will have an open competition when procuring the replacement of the F-18, F-18 fleet and the procurement is going on and we have sent the request for information and we will get the information in November and after that we will have to analyze the information.

I believe it will be a couple of thousand pages for each and every company so it takes a minimum of one year to analyze these answers and then we will send out the final request for quotation which is more or less at what price will you sell this kind of equipment, what it will be capable of doing. But this statement of intent it hasn't got anything to do with this process.

Q: (Inaudible).

MR. WORK: Well I would just like to say, I believe we really started closer relationships when Finland procured the F/A-18 but let me just say, it won't matter whether it's a U.S. plane or a European plane. Ultimately if Finland decides, we are going to operate with Finland and Sweden regardless of the aircraft.

The defense relationships we have right now are so close, they go far beyond the platform and they go right towards interoperability in every sense of the word.

And again, I cannot emphasize the capabilities of the armed forces in the Nordic and Baltic regions. They may be small but they are extraordinarily professional and extraordinarily capable and the United States will count themselves lucky if they can operate them under any circumstances in however they were equipped.

STAFF: Does anyone of the -- heads of the delegation want to give a final comment. Or does Secretary Juusti want to give the final comment?

MR. JUUSTI: Did have a final comment? Yes. I would say that we had a very productive meeting and it was the seventh meeting in this format and we are expecting to continue to meetings in the future. This is extremely good working relationship among the nations and I believe all my colleagues agree on that one.

STAFF: I thank you heads of the delegation. I thank the deputy secretary. (inaudible) and also thank you representatives of the media being able to present very concisely and short question, short questions. This conference is over and the meeting will continue. Have a nice weekend everyone.

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/968794/

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LCS Crew 111 Returns USS Fort Worth to San Diego

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS161007-17

Release Date: 10/7/2016 7:20:00 PM

By Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) and LCS Crew 111 returned to their homeport of San Diego Oct. 7, following a 23-month rotational deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific area of operation.

Fort Worth's deployment was part of an initiative to deploy up to four littoral combat ships to the region on a rotational basis. As the second LCS to deploy under this initiative, Fort Worth operated out of Singapore as a maintenance and logistics hub from which the ship conducted patrols and trained with regional navies.

"USS Fort Worth did very important work in 7th Fleet on her maiden deployment these past two years," said Cmdr. Michael D. Brasseur, commanding officer of Fort Worth.

Fort Worth is a high-speed, agile warship designed to operate close to shore and deploy with modular mission packages to include surface warfare, mine warfare, and anti-submarine warfare.

While operating out of Singapore, Fort Worth conducted maritime patrols, port visits, and exercises with regional navies, including several phases of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) Vietnam, and Foal Eagle off the Korean Peninsula. The ship also joined multi-lateral search efforts in the Java Sea for Air Asia Flight 8501 in Jan. 2015.

Five different rotational crews operated Fort Worth during the deployment. Crew 111 has operated the ship since June.

"I am very proud of my team's tireless work ethic and ultra-positive approach to all challenges," said Brasseur. "We celebrate the professionalism displayed by our fellow LCS Crews 104, 103, 102, and 101 that served on Fort Worth while deployed."

Fort Worth is homeported in San Diego and is part of U.S. Naval Surface Forces and U.S. 3rd Fleet. The ship and crew will commence preparations for a six-month scheduled maintenance availability beginning in early 2017.

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Yemeni artillery fire kills 3 pro-Saudi commanders

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 8, 2016 1:0AM

Yemeni forces have fired a barrage of artillery rounds at Saudi positions in the impoverished country, killing three top commanders, in retaliation for Riyadh's deadly onslaught against the Arabian Peninsula country.

Yemeni army troops, backed by fighters from allied Popular Committees, launched the attack against the Saudi troops deployed in the Sirwah district of the western province of Ma'rib on Friday, killing three high-ranking commanders, identified as General Abdulrab al-Shadadi, Shayef Ameri, and Ali Hamisi, Yemen's al-Masirah television reported.

The report added that dozens of Saudi officers and soldiers were also slain in the attack.

Meanwhile, Yemen's Ansarullah fighters, backed by allied army units, launched a surface-to-surface ballistic missile against al-Faisal military base in the vicinity of Khamis Mushait city in Saudi Arabia's southwestern Asir province.

According to the al-Masirah report, the locally developed Qaher 1 missile successfully struck the base and inflicted heavy damage to its structure, but there were no reports of possible casualties.

On Monday, Yemeni forces targeted al-Montazah military base in the Zahran district of Asir with another missile.

The Yemeni forces have been staging recurrent retaliatory attacks against Saudi Arabia, which has been waging a war on the country since March 2015. The Saudi aggression, which has killed more than 10,000 in Yemen, was launched in an unsuccessful attempt to restore power to Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a Saudi ally who has resigned as Yemen's president but seeks to forcefully return to power.

The Saudi strikes have also taken a heavy toll on the country's facilities and infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories.

The Saudi onslaught has also triggered a cholera outbreak, which according to a Friday UNICEF report, has added to "the misery of millions of children in Yemen."

The Houthi Ansarullah fighters took state matters into their own hands in the wake of Hadi's resignation and escape, which threw Yemen into a state of uncertainty and threatened a total security breakdown in the country, where an al-Qaeda affiliate is present.

In a separate development, United Nations envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said on Friday that a 72-hour renewable truce deal would be announced in the coming days. The UN envoy expressed hope that a new peace plan for Yemen would be drafted in the next two weeks following his talks with Ansarullah representatives in Oman.

Three months of peace talks in Kuwait earlier this year ended without a breakthrough.

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U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Release

Release No. NR-356-16 October 08, 2016

Department of Defense's Preparation, Support, and Recovery Efforts for Hurricane Matthew

The Department of Defense continues to monitor Hurricane Matthew closely in order to assess impacts on installations and personnel and to be prepared to provide assistance if needed.

As Hurricane Matthews continues, a daily update with the most relevant changes will be provided.

The latest major updates to the Department of Defense hurricane response activities as of Oct. 8 are:

ARMY

Hunter Army Airfield - mandatory evacuation.

Fort Stewart - all non-mission essential personnel were released.

Fort Gordon - standing by to shelter Fort Stewart personnel if requested.

Army Support to Joint Task Force (JTF) Matthew

4 UH-60s, 3 CH-47s

46 Army Aviation personnel

10 Medical personnel

Point of contact for additional information about the Army:

Office of the Chief of Public Affairs duty officer 703-220-9044.

NAVY

All coastal bases in the Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina areas are in mission essential personnel status beginning Oct. 6. Evacuation orders were given for coastal regions within 200 miles.

USS Iwo Jima departed Naval Station Norfolk on Oct. 8 to relieve USS Mesa Verde in support of SOUTHCOM with humanitarian efforts in Haiti. Iwo Jima is expected to arrive Oct 13. Mesa Verde will be returning to Norfolk.

USS Mesa Verde received orders on Oct. 7 to support SOUTHCOM with humanitarian efforts in Haiti. The ship is expected to arrive Oct. 9.

USNS Comfort departed NS Norfolk on Oct. 4 with 280 medical personnel in an area clear of the hurricane in the event they are tasked to provide support.

Point of contact for additional information about the Navy:

Navy Chief of Information duty officer 703-850-1047

AIR FORCE

Aircraft/Personnel Relocations

Robins Air Force Base, Georgia relocated four E-8C aircraft to Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

Moody Air Force Base, Georgia has declared 'all clear' and scheduled the return of three HC-130 aircraft from Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi later today.

Base Closures

At Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, the airfield is open for operations, while Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida remains closed.

Response Operations

Over the last three days, 86 members from the 621st Contingency Response Wing based at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey consisting of command and control, airfield assessment, aerial port, aircraft maintenance, contracting, and security forces deployed to Port Au Prince, Haiti.

U.S. Air Forces Southern Command, headquartered at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona is deploying approximately 10 airmen to Port Au Prince, Haiti, to provide logistics and air traffic control capabilities in support of relief operations.

The Hurricane Hunters from the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing, based at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi have flown three missions into Hurricane Matthew in support of the National Hurricane Center to help improve forecasting.

The 943rd Rescue Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona has staged two HH-60 helicopters at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi to support relief activities.

Twelve Air Force Combat Camera airmen are documenting Hurricane Matthew relief operations in several locations, to include Haiti, Honduras, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

One hundred fifty members from the 94th Airlift Wing supported FEMA staging efforts for Urban Search and Rescue teams at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia.

Point of contact for additional information about the Air Force:

weekends and after duty-hours, call the public affairs duty officer at 202-386-4003

During duty hours, call the Air Force press desk at 703-695-0640.

MARINES

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island - Non-essential military personnel, non-essential civilian employees, and their family residing in the local area were given authorization to evacuate.

Approximately 6,000 recruits in training evacuated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island to Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany.

Camp Lejeune will maintain Tropical Cyclone Condition IV over the weekend.

Marine Corps Aviation Station Beaufort - 299 marines, sailors, and civilians sheltered in place. One hundred percent of military and civilian personnel that evacuated are accounted for.

Marine Corps Logistic Base Albany - continuing to assist FEMA as necessary to support hurricane relief efforts.

Point of contact for additional information about the Marines:

Contact U.S. Marine Corps Public Affairs, OnTheRecord@usmc.mil

NATIONAL GUARD

More than 9,000 National Guard men and women from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, and Tennessee are aiding their communities and conducting search and rescue, security, infrastructure assessment, route clearance, and communications assistance in support of hurricane recovery efforts.

The National Guard trains year-round to ensure they are ready to protect and assist citizens during disasters and emergencies.

Point of contact for additional information about the National Guard:

National Guard Bureau 703-627-7273 ngbpa.oncall@mail.mil

Florida National Guard Public Affairs 904-823-0164

Georgia National Guard Public Affairs 678-569-3957

South Carolina National Guard Public Affairs 803-299-4327

North Carolina National Guard Public Affairs 984-664-6244

U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND

NORTHCOM continues to coordinate with SOUTHCOM, FEMA, the services, the State Department, the senior defense official in the Bahamas, and east coast states, in Hurricane Matthew response.

As of Oct. 8, NORTHCOM has approved five mission assignments for ISB/FSAs (Incident Support Bases and Federal Staging Areas).

They are: Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Albany, Georgia; North Aux Air Field, South Carolina; and Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. NORTHCOM is also in receipt of a mission assignment to support search and rescue efforts in Florida.

Additionally, defense coordinating officers and defense coordinating elements have been sent to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia. Dual-status commanders have been designated in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Point of contact for additional information about NORTHCOM:

public affairs main line 719-554-6889

U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND

As of Oct. 8, approximately 250 Joint Task Force (JTF) Matthew personnel are on the ground in Haiti. The JTF will continue supporting USAID-led assistance to ongoing international relief efforts in Haiti.

On Oct. 7, JTF-Matthew conducted missions in Les Cayes and Jeremie.

- In Les Cayes, task force helicopters and crews delivered 4,480 lbs. of food and a generator.

- In Jeremie, they delivered life-support supplies, including hygiene products and buckets.

The task force also continues to support ongoing USAID assessments of the damage and needs in the regions devastated by the storm.

From Naval Air Station Pensacola, a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon will continue to conduct aerial assessments of areas devastated by the storm to support disaster assessment experts on the ground in Haiti.

Point of contact for additional information about SOUTHCOM:

U.S Southern Command Public Affairs Office 786-239-1996

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/968975/

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USS Iwo Jima, 24th MEU Deploy to Haiti for Hurricane Matthew HA/DR Missions

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS161008-01

Release Date: 10/8/2016 12:31:00 PM

From Expeditionary Strike Group 2 Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) along with more than 500 Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit will get underway today from Norfolk, headed for Haiti to support Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) missions in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

Iwo Jima will ultimately relieve USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), which is due to arrive in Haiti early tomorrow. LHDs are currently the largest amphibious ships in the world and will bring enhanced capabilities to the relief effort. Resources currently embarked aboard Mesa Verde, including aircraft, landing craft, Marines and the Navy and Marine Corps command elements, will cross-deck to Iwo Jima and remain on station in Haiti to support continued operations.

Iwo Jima and the MEU conducted a two-day onload at Naval Station Norfolk totaling nearly 225 pallets of supplies, including 800 cases of bottled water, in preparation to help people in the aftermath of one of the largest storms to hit the area in years.

The ship also embarked four additional aircraft and two Landing Craft Utility boats adept at accessing fouled beaches.

USS Iwo Jima Commanding Officer, Capt. James Midkiff, lauded the Sailors' and Marines' ability to conduct the on load in a swift fashion and their ability to be ready to help those in need, even while their own families were experiencing the powerful storm at the ship's homeport in Mayport, Fla.

"Events like this exemplify the talent and strengths of our military services and how flexible and responsive we can be in a time of crisis" said Midkiff. "Everything we have done since departing our homeport is designed to get ready and provide support to those in need, and I think we have done exactly that. We are prepared and honored to have the opportunity to help out our friends and neighbors in the western hemisphere."

The airlift and transport capabilities of amphibious ships make them uniquely suited to support the delivery and distribution of much-needed relief supplies, as well as transport humanitarian assistance personnel in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster.

"The same capabilities that make us a dominant military force also allow us the ability to provide critically-needed assistance and humanitarian aid," said Lt. Col. Christopher D. Hafer, commanding officer of Combat Logistics Battalion 24, speaking on behalf of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. "We are able to work alongside the various U.S. government agencies experienced in providing disaster relief to ensure relief supplies, equipment and manpower get to where they are most needed."

During relief operations, embarked landing craft are used to transport equipment and aid to populated areas inaccessible by land.

Matthew first made landfall in southern Haiti, sustaining winds of up to 145 mph before moving on to cause damage in the Bahamas and the U.S.

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Egypt appeals court ruling on Red Sea islands

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 8, 2016 6:26PM

An Egyptian court has begun hearing a government appeal against a lower court ruling that rejected Cairo's handover of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.

The Supreme Administrative Court held its first hearing on the appeal on Saturday, with prominent rights lawyer and former presidential candidate Khaled Ali arguing against the case related to the islands of Tiran and Sanafir.

Ali said the two islands belonged to Egypt and submitted evidence, including atlases dating back to the early 20th century, which proved Egyptian sovereignty over the islands.

Judge Ahmed el-Shazli, who presided over the session, adjourned the hearing until October 22.

Cairo announced in April that it had reached an agreement with Riyadh to give it sovereignty over the islands, saying that they historically belonged to the kingdom as Saudis had only temporarily transferred them to Egypt in 1950, out of fear that they would be attacked by Israel.

Huge protests erupted in the Egyptian capital and other cities against the deal, which came during a visit by Saudi King Salman. Protesters said Egypt's former head of the armed forces and current president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, had sold the islands in return for billions of dollars in Saudi loans and investment.

The Sisi government has already protested against the handling of the case by the judiciary, saying the transfer of the control over Tiran and Sanafir was a prerogative for the president and it was only the parliament that had jurisdiction to ratify or reject the agreement. Activists say, however, the case will certainly face no opposition in the legislature as it is packed with supporters of Sisi.

Tiran and Sanafir are two uninhabited islands at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba. The islands control narrow shipping lanes leading north to two major ports in the occupied Palestinian territories and Jordan.

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Political prisoner, activist, journalist, hymn-writer, emerging think tanker, aspiring novelist, "tribal elder", parliamentary candidate for North West Durham, Shadow Leader of the Opposition, Speedboat, proudly banned from Twitter so officially more dangerous than the Taliban, eagerly awaiting the second (or possibly third) attempt to murder me.
Saudi jets hit funeral in Yemeni capital, 140 killed

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 8, 2016 3:19PM

Saudi warplanes have carried out airstrikes against the Yemeni capital Sana'a, targeting a crowded funeral ceremony.

UN sources say at least 140 people were killed in the assaults. The Saudi jets conducted at least nine airstrikes on Khamis street in southern Sana'a. The building where the event was underway was seriously damaged in the attacks.

The number of casualties is highly likely to rise. Over 500 people have reportedly been injured.

The funeral was for the father of Jalal al-Roweishan, the interior minister in the Yemeni government.

Yemen's al-Masirah television said hospitals in the capital were desperately in need of blood donations.

In September last year, Saudi jets bombarded a wedding ceremony in the town of Mokha in the southwestern province of Ta'izz, killing over 130 civilians. The victims were mostly women and children.

Saudi Arabia has been engaged in a deadly campaign against Yemen since March 2015. Riyadh's aggression, which has killed more than 10,000 in Yemen, was launched in an attempt to restore power to Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a staunch ally of Riyadh who has resigned as Yemen's president but seeks to force his way back into power. The campaign also seeks to undermine the Houthi Ansarullah movement.

Ansarullah's reaction

The Houthis reacted to the airstrikes, with spokesman Mohammad Abdulsalam strongly denouncing the deadly onslaught.

Yemeni fighters will take revenge on the "ruthless thugs" of Saudi Arabia, the Houthi spokesman said. "Bloodshed is only followed by more bloodshed."

He also held the United Nations responsible for the massacre over its silence toward the deadly Saudi raids that have become regular.

Abdulsalam also slammed the international community for turning a blind eye to the Saudi aggression against Yemen, which has so far paved the way for the regime in Riyadh to further destroy the impoverished country with US-made weapons.

The Ansarullah official called on Yemeni forces and fighters from the Popular Committees to intensify attacks against Saudi targets.

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Saudi jets kill Yemenis amid cholera outbreak

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 8, 2016 10:59AM

New Saudi airstrikes against various areas across Yemen have taken the lives of seven more civilians, while Yemeni counteroffensives saw a missile being fired at the kingdom's southwest.

On Saturday, one person was killed after Saudi warplanes targeted his moving truck in Sa'ada Province in Yemen's remote northwest, Yemen's al-Masirah television reported.

Saudi aircraft killed six others, including four children, in an airstrike hitting the western province of al-Hudaydah.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni army's missile unit hit military bases in Saudi Arabia's Jizan region with a Qaher missile. The Saudi side confirmed the retaliatory strike, claiming it had intercepted the projectile.

In the same region, Yemeni forces carried out a mortar attack, killing a number of Saudi servicemen, and Yemeni snipers were reported to have targeted another Saudi military personnel member.

Separately, the Yemeni army engaged the Saudi mercenaries siding with Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi  who has resigned and fled the capital, Sana'a  in the southern Yemen province of Aden, killing two of the mercenaries and injuring four others.

Saudi Arabia has been waging a military campaign against Yemen since March 2015 to restore power to Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh. The United Nations (UN) said in late August that more than 10,000 people had lost their lives since the campaign began.

Cholera outbreak

Yemen is, meanwhile, grappling with a severe food shortage amid a naval blockade imposed by Riyadh, which prevents shipments to most of its ports. According to the UN's children agency, there are 370,000 children enduring severe malnutrition in the already-impoverished nation, and 1.5 million are going hungry.

On Friday, the UNICEF and the World Health Organization said war-torn Yemen was also suffering from a cholera outbreak, posing a further threat to infants in the country.

"This outbreak adds to the misery of millions of children in Yemen," UNICEF's Yemen representative, Julien Harneis, said in a statement. "Children are at a particularly high risk if the current cholera outbreak is not urgently contained especially since the health system in Yemen is crumbling as the conflict continues."

The WHO, citing Yemeni Health Ministry figures, said eight cholera cases, mostly involving children, had been recorded in one neighborhood in Sana'a only.

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Bahrain forces attack mourning Shias

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 8, 2016 9:29AM

Bahraini security forces have once again attacked Shia Muslims holding mourning rituals during the Muslim month of Muharram.

On Saturday, the forces attacked nine areas across the island country, destroying flags, placards, and other symbols of mourning used by the Bahraini Shia minority to commemorate the martyrdom of the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussein (PBUH), which is mourned on the tenth day of the month.

The attacks were followed by clashes in some areas between the outraged public and the regime forces.

The forces have been targeting Muharram religious rituals since the past week with 35 attacks. On one occasion, they rounded up and investigated the heads of mourning circles in al-Dair Village in the country's northeast.

People in Bahrain have already been protesting since February 14, 2011, demanding an end to the rule of the Al Khalifah dynasty.

People maintain that they will hold their ground until their demands for freedom, constitutional monarchy, and proportional representation in the government are met.

Bahraini forces have been cracking down on the anti-regime protests with the help of Saudi and Emirati troops. Scores of people have been killed and many others gone missing since the beginning of the suppressive push.

Separately, the kingdom's security apparatus imposed travel bans on human rights lawyer Mohammad Tajir, human rights activist Abdulnabi Al-Ekri, and Sharaf Moussavi from the Bahrain Transparency Society.

Manama has been taking such moves against rights advocates in order to prevent them from participating in overseas rights activism since several months ago.

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Nigerian state bans main Shia group led by Zakzaky

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 8, 2016 5:26AM

The Nigerian state of Kaduna has declared a mainstream Shia group led by Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky as illegal as a state crackdown against the Muslim community continues.

The Kaduna state government warned on Friday that those convicted of being a member of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) could be imprisoned for seven years, fined or both.

It further claimed that the Shia group had "overtly continued with unlawful processions" and "obstruction of public highways" since last December when the Army forces clashed with the IMN members.

"These acts, if allowed to go unchecked will constitute danger to the peace, tranquility, harmonious coexistence and good governance of Kaduna state," the Nigerian state added.

On December 12, 2015, Nigerian soldiers attacked Shia Muslims attending a ceremony at a religious center in the city of Zaria in Kaduna, accusing them of blocking the convoy of the army's chief of staff and attempting to assassinate him.

The following day, Nigerian forces also raided the home of the IMN leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, and arrested the prominent cleric after reportedly killing those attempting to protect him.

A judicial inquiry concluded in August that the Nigerian army killed 348 members of the religious community during the two-day raids.

Back in April, UK-based rights group Amnesty International published evidence revealing how the Nigerian military burned people alive, razed buildings and secretly dumped victims' bodies in mass graves in the December 2015 deadly assaults.

"The true horror of what happened over those two days in Zaria is only now coming to light. Bodies were left littered in the streets and piled outside the mortuary. Some of the injured were burned alive," said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty International's Research and Advocacy Director for Africa.

Zakzaky is said to have been charged with "criminal conspiracy and inciting public disturbances."

Over the past months, Nigerians have held demonstrations across the country to demand Zakzaky's release from jail.

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Majlis Podcast: What Is Happening In Kunduz, And Why Again?

Bruce Pannier October 08, 2016

The northern Afghan city of Kunduz is under assault again, a year after it was briefly captured by the Taliban. Tens of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee as the Afghan military and Taliban militants fight it out on the streets.

In late September 2015, when the Afghan military retook the city, the Taliban did not flee very far away, making the current battle to a large extent predictable.

What happened in the year between the Taliban attacks on Kunduz? Did the Afghan government take any measures to prevent a repeat of the September 2015 fiasco? And how is it that the Taliban could attack the same city?

RFE/RL gathered a majlis, a panel, to look into those questions.

Moderating the discussion was RFE/RL Media Relations Manager Muhammad Tahir. From Afghanistan, Kamal Safi, a parliamentarian representing Kunduz Province, joined the talk. Also from Afghanistan, the former governor of Kunduz Province, Omar Safi (no relation), took part. From Washington D.C., Barmak Pazhwak, the senior Afghanistan program officer at the U.S. Institute of Peace, participated. And as usual, I was in Prague and had a bit to say also.

The Taliban's brief capture of Kunduz city in September 2015 was a shock to most. The Taliban had been active in the northeastern provinces of Badakhshan, Kunduz, and Takhar but had never seized a provincial capital since it had been driven from power in Afghanistan by the U.S.-led invasion 14 years previously.

The militants were driven out of Kunduz in just a few days, but villagers near Kunduz, and members of the government in Kabul, said many times that the Taliban had only retreated to areas outside the city -- in some cases only a few kilometers away.

Kamal Safi described the current situation, as of October 5. "Apart from a few buildings like the governor's house, the police chief's office, and [a few others], the rest of the city is still [under] the Taliban and they are resisting the offensive of the security forces," he said.

The parliamentarian said civilians were faced with "no electricity, no water. There is no food, all the food shops are closed ... and if any bread is available in some parts of the city, the cost is four or five times higher [than usual]."

Former Kunduz Governor Omar Safi said the problem now was the same as last year. "There is no coordination and there is no interest from the government security forces' side to fight against the enemy." He pointed out that when this latest battle started there were "only one or two dead of the government forces," a sign, Safi said, that government troops had retreated almost as soon as the attack started. (Editors' note: Government forces have since launched a counter-offensive.)

Corruption Hampering Government Efforts

The former governor said that when the Taliban staged the September 2015 attack on Kunduz "we had only one regiment in Kunduz." The Afghan government did reinforce troops in Kunduz. "There are three battalions," Safi said, "So there are around almost 18,000 troops in Kunduz Province."

Pazhwak said: "The Afghan government hasn't been able to establish a control and command structure for this war in Kunduz that is unified and well-coordinated among the different security forces of the country."

But as has happened in so many other places in Afghanistan, corruption is playing a large part in the failures of government forces. [Omar] Safi said, "President [Ashraf] Ghani approved 550 million Afghani to Kunduz city, just to make a security belt for Kunduz." But unfortunately, "this money was all lost, misused" and he added none of the planned 17 security bases that were to have surrounded Kunduz city were ever built.

There are other reasons why government forces were struggling to pacify Kunduz Province. Pazhwak noted: "Kunduz, unfortunately, is practically a divided province. It is divided among a few power brokers, warlords, and a patronage system that could be traced all the way to Kabul."

Parliamentarian Safi added: "Kunduz is known as a small Afghanistan in the sense that all tribes who live in Afghanistan live in Kunduz as well, from all the small tribes [and] big tribes."

'Russian Buffer Zone'

But former Kunduz Governor Safi offered another interesting reason the Taliban were so difficult to suppress in Kunduz Province. "Most important is their [Taliban] recent ties with the Russians to keep this as a buffer zone for Russia to prevent [Islamic State] infiltration to a former Russian state like Tajikistan."

Tajikistan's Asia-Plus independent news agency reported on December 29, 2015, that Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov confirmed that Taliban representatives from northern Afghanistan met with Russian officials at an air base Russia's military used in Tajikistan. The Asia-Plus report named one of the Taliban officials as being "Qori Dinmuhammad Hanif, a commander of the Taliban from northern Afghanistan," and the report said Russian officials had met not once, but several times with Taliban officials at the base in Tajikistan, seemingly without the Tajik government's knowledge.

The report continued that government forces were unable to dislodge Hanif's forces from a district in Badakhshan Province, east of Kunduz Province, because "it [the district] is guarded with Russian weapons."

Former Governor Safi said local militiamen, called Arbaky, often simply paramilitary groups loyal to local warlords, had "seen some huge ammunition ships coming from the Tajik side to the Taliban side to distribute."

Outside of Ambassador Kabulov's comments, Russian officials have not spoken publicly about meetings or contacts with Taliban representatives.

Parliamentarian Safi would say only that "Kunduz has a long border with Central Asia and ... regional interests have changed." He added: "We also cannot deny that some of the local commanders, apart from the Taliban, have [made] frequent visits [to] the Central Asian states."

Our guests discussed these topics in greater detail, especially providing information about the complicated situation in Kunduz that seems to indicate there is no possibility for any resolution, anytime soon.

The views expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of RFE/RL.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/qishloq-ovozi-majlis- kunduz-taliban-fighting/28039768.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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Georgian Dream Declares Victory In Parliamentary Elections

RFE/RL October 08, 2016

The Georgian Dream party has declared victory in parliamentary elections shortly after polls closed on October 8 in the former Soviet republic.

Deputy Prime Minister Kakha Kaladze, a member of Georgian Dream, told Reuters after the October vote, that data gathered by the ruling coalition suggested Georgian Dream had won at least 58 percent of the vote.

Speaking to a cheering crowd of supporters gathered outside the Georgian dream headquarters late on October 8, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said a "huge victory" had been won.

But opposition leader Giga Bokeria said he still thought his United National Movement (ENM) could win the elections and that the Georgian Dream had "certainly failed to get enough votes to form the cabinet."

Because of Georgia's complicated election rules, the final composition of the 150-seat parliament may not become clear until late November.

Two exit polls suggest the ruling Georgian Dream party won the ballot -- although they suggested widely varying margins of victory for the governing coalition.

An exit poll conducted by the international market research firm Kantar Public suggested Georgian Dream was on track to win an absolute majority with about 53.8 percent of the vote.

The Kantar Public poll showed the opposition United National Movement (ENM) with about 19.5 percent of the vote.

But an exit poll ordered by the Rustavi-2 television channel and conducted by the research firm GfK, suggested that Georgian Dream had won about 39.9 percent of the vote compared to 32.7 percent for the ENM.

GfK was founded by Georgia's former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who is from the ENM.

The center-left Georgian Dream coalition was formed by Saakashvili's rival, the billionaire businessman and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Both polls also suggested that the pro-Russian Alliance of Patriots would clear the 5 percent threshold needed to secure seats in the 150-seat parliament.

The party has risen in popularity recently, and its steadfast support for the Georgian Orthodox Church and conservative values are popular among nationalists.

Before the elections, analyst Thomas de Waal, a senior associate at Carnegie Europe and a Caucasus specialist, told RFE/RL that Georgia's pro-Western foreign policy and desire to join NATO and the European Union are unlikely to be significantly affected by the vote.

"I think maybe there's not such great love for the West in Georgia at the moment, but I think it's the only game in town," he said. "Russia really offers nothing [to Georgia]."

De Waal said a move by the EU -- just days before the elections -- on visa liberalization for Georgia was "a positive [thing]" and the country's "pro-European movement vector will continue, maybe in a slightly more pragmatic way [after the elections]."

He added that a "peaceful" vote was of great importance and Georgia needed to deliver a "normal European-style election...in which there are no obvious, flagrant irregularities."

An explosion on October 5 under the car of United National Movement lawmaker Givi Targamadze, an associate of Saakashvili who was unhurt by the blast, had raised security concerns, as did reports of a foiled terror plot on a gas pipeline and authorities' publicly expressed suspicions that a postelection coup might be in the planning.

There were some reports of violence during the October 8 vote.

In the village of Kizilajlo, about 40 kilometers southwest of Tbilisi, about a dozen men who tried to storm into a polling station clashed with police.

Georgia's Interior Ministry said two police were hurt in that incident, but authorities prevented the men from entering the polling station.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, TASS, Rustavi-2 TV, and RFE/RL's Pete Baumgartner

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/georgian- dream-declares-victory- elections/28040029.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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Polish Army Ready to Protect Country Amid Russian Missile Deployment

Sputnik News

20:07 08.10.2016(updated 20:22 08.10.2016)

Poland's armed forces are ready to protect the country, Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said Saturday, commenting on the reports of Russia's deployment of Iskander-M mobile missile systems in the Kaliningrad region.

WARSAW (Sputnik)  Earlier in the day, media reports cited a source in the US intelligence saying that Russia was deploying Iskander-M in Kaliningrad. Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov donfirmed the reports, saying that Moscow made no secret of sending the missile systems to Kaliningrad as their movement within the country is a standard army practice.

"Recent actions of the Russian Federation are a cause of our particular concern," Macierewicz said, commenting on the deployment of missile systems, as quoted by the PAP news agency.

According to the minister, Poland has for a long time been monitoring Russia's actions such as the Iskander-M deployment.

Such actions lead to "the Polish armed forces and the Polish Information System, in cooperation with our allies, being willing to constantly monitor and guarantee the security of Poland," he said.

 Sputnik

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Senior Yemen's Military Official Killed in Clashes With Houthi Rebels

Sputnik News

17:00 08.10.2016

One of the top generals in the forces loyal to Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi's government, commander of Yemen's third military district, was killed together with several accompanying servicemen in a clash with the Houthi forces in the west of the Marib province, according to a source.

SANAA (Sputnik)  One of the top generals in the forces loyal to Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi's government was killed in a fighting with Houthi rebels, officially called Ansar Allah, in the Marib province, a source told Sputnik on Saturday.

"General Abdel-Rab al-Shadadi, commander of [Yemen's] third military district, was killed together with several accompanying servicemen in a clash with the Houthi forces in the west of the Marib province," the source said.

The Marib province is located in the central part of Yemen, with the Houthi rebels having a military advantage there.

Yemen has been engulfed in a military conflict between the government headed by Hadi and Houthi rebels since 2014. The Houthis are backed by army units loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Since March 2015, the Saudi-led coalition of mostly Persian Gulf countries has been carrying out airstrikes against the opposition Houthis at the request of ousted Hadi.

 Sputnik

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Houthi Rebels Carry Out Ballistic Missile Attack Against Saudi Arabia

Sputnik News

14:03 08.10.2016(updated 14:22 08.10.2016)

Houthis rebels from war-torn Yemen launched attack with a ballistic missile on the territory of Saudi Arabia, according to official statement of the military command of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition in Yemen.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The rebels of the Shia Houthi movement, officially called Ansar Allah, hit the territory of Saudi Arabia with a ballistic missile, the military command of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition in Yemen said on Saturday.

The missile, launched late on Friday, did not cause any damage as it hit deserted area in the southwest of the country. The coalition military forces followed the trajectory of the missile's flight and returned fire against the missile launch site in Yemen, the military command said as quoted by the SPA news agency.

The missile type was not specified, but Houthi forces had previously carried out attacks against Saudi zones with the Soviet-made Scud missiles and their modifications.

Yemen has been engulfed in a military conflict between the government headed by Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and Houthi rebels since 2014. The Houthis are backed by army units loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Since March 2015, the Saudi-led coalition of mostly Persian Gulf countries has been carrying out airstrikes against the opposition Houthis at the request of ousted Hadi.

 Sputnik

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US Commander Visits Embattled Southern Afghan City

By Ayaz Gul October 08, 2016

The commander of U.S.-led international forces in Afghanistan together with the country's defense minister Saturday traveled to a nearly besieged southern Afghan city and assured residents they would not let it fall to the Taliban.

The visit to Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand, the largest Afghan province, came after overnight battlefield advances brought the insurgents extremely close to the city.

A security source told VOA the Taliban captured four outposts around the provincial capital and both sides suffered heavy casualties in the fighting. He refused to give any figures for Afghan security forces.

The fighting in the area raged into Saturday, raising fears among residents the insurgents are about to force their way into the town.

General John Nicholson, commander of NATO's Resolute Support mission told tribal elders in Lashkar Gah that international air power and enablers will be available to Afghan security forces. He promised the city will never fall to the opposition. He added that his coalition will increase consultant missions to help Afghan army and police personnel to improve the situation in Helmand.

"The Afghan government and security forces are getting stronger each day and eventually they will be able to secure the entire province," Nicholson said.

Standing with Afghanistan

He reiterated that Afghan forces have secured most of the population centers throughout Afghanistan and explained to the elders it will take more time before the Taliban are expelled from the country.

"We are building an army while we are fighting a war. But because of the belief of the international community in the Afghan people, in the government and in how hard the security forces are fighting, the international community is standing with Afghanistan," the general said.

Afghan Defense Minister General Abdullah Habibi promised the gathering new security operations will launch soon to push back the Taliban and retake control of other areas in the province.

A number of residents in Lashkar Gah told VOA that they are "extremely worried" about their safety and could not sleep all night because of clashes and heavy gunfire.

The Afghan government is believed to be in full control of only two of Helmand's 14 districts.

Separately, sporadic clashes have continued to rage in the embattled northern Afghan city of Kunduz for a sixth day on Saturday.

Afghan officials requesting anonymity confirmed to VOA that two soldiers were mistakenly killed and several others wounded in overnight airstrikes by government helicopters against Taliban positions. The air raid in Bala Hesar area inside Kunduz was reportedly conducted in defense of Afghan forces who came under attack from the insurgents.

Confusion on casualties

The Afghan defense ministry has denied killing of any soldiers in the attack, saying an investigation is underway to ascertain details.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed a U.S. aircraft carried out the attack that killed at least nine Afghan soldiers and wounded 30 others but no harm was done to Taliban fighters.

It was not possible to ascertain authenticity of the insurgent claims and the U.S. military has not yet commented on the development. It has acknowledged carrying out airstrikes this week in defense of Afghan forces in Kunduz.

Afghan military commanders are reported to have confirmed that dozens of border police personnel surrendered to the Taliban Friday night in Bala Murghab district of northwestern province of Badghis.

Local officials and politicians told reporters the insurgents had besieged the police base for several days before they surrendered. Taliban ambushes and landmines prevented supplies and reinforcements from reaching the area, which borders Turkmenistan.

Separately, a U.S. government watchdog reported Friday its concerns over reports of thousands of Afghan non-existent or "ghost" soldiers and police personnel on the payroll of the Afghan National Defense and Security Force (ANDSF).

Ghost soldiers

John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), conveyed his concerns through a letter he recently wrote to the U.S. Department of Defense.

"Persistent reports indicating discrepancies between the assigned force strength of the ANDSF and the actual number of personnel serving raise questions regarding whether the U.S. government is taking adequate steps to prevent taxpayer funds from being spent on so-called "ghost" soldiers," Sopk wrote.

Local media have quoted the new Afghan police chief of Helmand saying that of the approximately 26,000 ANDSF personnel assigned to the province "40 to 50 percent of the force did not exist physically when we asked for help during operations," Sopko noted.

ANDSF is believed to be losing thousands of personnel because of heavy casualties it is suffering in the battlefield and to a high attrition rate. There are concerns salaries of these soldiers as well as those of "ghost" personnel are going to the pockets of corrupt Afghan leaders.

Sopko acknowledged the Pentagon, in responding to his questions, has outlined actions it is taking to improve the systems used for ANDSF personnel management.

The U.S. government has allocated more than $68 billion since 2002 to creating and funding ANDSF to fight the Taliban and provide national security. But recent battlefield setbacks have raised questions about the capacity of the Afghan forces.

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Lithuania - Politics

Party 2008 2012 2016 2020 right political groups TS-LKD Homeland Union - Christian Democrat 43 33 31 50 Liberal and Centre Union 11 . . Liberals Movement 11 10 . 13 Freedom Party - - - 11 left political groups Peasant and Greens Union - 1 54 32 Lithuanian Social Democratic Party 23 38 17 13 Labour Party 10 29 . 10 Order and Justice 17 11 . . Social Democratic Labour Party (LSDDP) - - - 3 Other political groups Electoral Action of Poles (LLRA-KS) - 8 . 3 Way of Courage - 7 . . Christian Party 7 . . Non-affiliated members 17 3 . .

For the first 9 years of its post-Soviet independence, voters in Lithuania shifted from right to left and back again, swinging between the Conservatives, led by Vytautas Landsbergis (now headed by Andrius Kubilius), and the Labor (former Communist) Party, led by former President Algirdas Brazauskas. This pattern was broken in the October 2000 elections, when the Liberal Union and New Union parties won the most votes and were able to form a centrist ruling coalition with minor partners. President Valdas Adamkus played a key role in bringing the new centrist parties together.

The leader of the center-left New Union Party (also known as the Social Liberal Party), Arturas Paulauskas, became the Chairman of the Seimas, and the leader of the Liberal Union Party, Rolandas Paksas, became Prime Minister. The new coalition was fragile from the outset, as the Liberal Union was pro-business and right of center, while the New Union had a populist and leftist orientation. The government collapsed within 7 months and, in July 2001, the center-left New Union Party forged an alliance with the left-wing Social Democratic Party and formed a new cabinet under former President Algirdas Brazauskas.

The new government tightened budgetary discipline, supported market reforms, and passed the legislation required to ensure entry into the European Union. Several years of solid economic growth helped to consolidate the government's popularity, despite discontent within two of its core constituencies--unskilled urban workers and farmers--who had expected more generous funding of social and agricultural programs. The government remained firmly in control, and by mid-2004 it was the longest-serving administration since the recovery of independence.

In an unexpected political development in January 2003, Rolandas Paksas defeated the incumbent Valdas Adamkus in the second round of the presidential election to become Lithuania's third President since 1992. Paksas' tenure as president was short-lived, following alleged political funding and conflict-of-interest irregularities, including allegations that he had ties to organized crime. In December 2003, an ad hoc parliamentary commission found that President Paksas' vulnerability to influence constituted a threat to national security. On April 7, 2004, the Seimas removed President Paksas from office. Paksas' impeachment and removal from office came in proceedings that rocked the nation and tested the democratic institutions of the young republic, and left Lithuania the dubious distinction of being the only European democracy to have removed its head of state. The process was bumpy, but largely transparent and democratic.

In the aftermath of the impeachment, Lithuania played out a highly charged contest for the presidency that pitted the centrist Adamkus against a candidate whose populist agenda promoted increased social spending, reconsideration of Lithuania's participation in Iraq, and, most notably, decreased U.S. influence in Europe. Valdas Adamkus won the second round of presidential elections in June 2004. Adamkus cast his victory in this contest as confirmation of a foreign policy agenda that highlighted the importance of the U.S. presence in Lithuania and Europe. Lithuania inaugurated Valdas Adamkus on 12 July 2004 as its fourth president since the restoration of independence in 1991. Adamkus, a former American citizen, previously served as president from 1997 to 2002, when he lost his bid for reelection to populist Rolandas Paksas.

Brazauskas remained prime minister after the 2004 parliamentary elections, but the government collapsed in late May 2006 after the New Union and Labor parties withdrew from the coalition. The Labor Party Presidium recalled its five Cabinet ministers and withdrew from the ruling coalition on May 31. President Valdas Adamkus's public statement on May 30 that he had lost confidence in two Labor Party ministers precipitated the move. Labor was affronted by the President's "intolerable" remarks after it had taken what it considered the constructive gesture of suspending the political responsibilities of its erstwhile leader Viktor Uspaskich, who remains beset by ongoing investigations of alleged wrongdoings. Although the Labor party was never overtly hostile to U.S. interests, its shadowy connections to corruption and Russian interests were a constant distraction.

A new minority coalition government headed by Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas, a Social Democrat, took office on July 18, 2006, and retained the support of the opposition Conservative party on the major issues until September 2007. On January 28, 2008 the Social Liberal party joined the coalition, giving it a bare majority.







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Palestine - Politics

Since 2006, the Palestinian side has been fractured by conflict between the two major factions: Fatah, the largest party, and Hamas. As a result, the territory controlled by the Palestinian National Authority (the Palestinian interim government) is split between Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in the Gaza strip. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States although it won the Palestinian elections of 2006; therefore, it has not been allowed to participate in official negotiations.

Fatah maintained dominance on the Palestinian political arena until the First Intifada (1987  1991). In 1987 Hamas, a Palestinian Sunni militant organization emerged as yet another rival of Israel. While the Oslo Accords of 1993 and 1995 signed by the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Israel denounced armed resistance, Hamas refused to recognise the pacts' provisions. The Fatah-Hamas spat culminated in the 2007 Battle of Gaza, when the militants managed to take control of the Gaza Strip. As a result, the Palestinian territories were de facto divided between the two entities, although Fatah and Hamas signed the Mecca Agreement in February 2007 and agreed to form a national unity government.

In the January 25, 2006 Palestinian elections, Hamas won a decisive majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council or Parliament. Of the 132-seat Parliament, Hamas won 76 seats, thereby ending the Fatah party's control of the Palestinian Authority. Fatah managed to win only 43 seats with the remaining 13 seats divided among smaller parties. Voter turnout was high, at 77.7 percent.

After months of intermittent talks, on February 8, 2007, Fatah and Hamas signed an agreement to form a national unity government aimed at ending both the spasm of violence and the international aid embargo that followed the formation of the initial Hamas-led government. The accord was signed by PA President and Fatah leader Mahmud Abbas and Hamas political leader Khalid Mish'al in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, after two days of talks under the auspices of Saudi King Abdullah.

Under the agreement, Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas remained prime minister. In the new government, Hamas controled nine ministries and Fatah six, with independents and smaller parties heading the remainder. Among the independents are Finance Minister Salam Fayyad, an internationally respected economist, and Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr, a reformer and ally of President Mahmud Abbas.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas led Fatah controls West Bank and while Ismail Haniyeh led Hamas ruled over Gaza. Palestinians had long hoped for a healing of the political rift between the PLO and militant Hamas, which won a Palestinian election in 2006 and seized control of the Gaza Strip from forces loyal to Western-backed Abbas in 2007. But reconciliation dreams have been dashed repeatedly in the past. Since 2011, Hamas and Fatah have failed to implement an Egyptian-brokered unity deal because of disputes over power-sharing and the handling of the conflict with Israel. Hamas has battled Israel, which it refuses to recognize, while Abbas's Fatah party has remained in control of the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank and pursued years of fruitless talks with Israel.

Palestinian terrorist groups, including Hamas, committed unlawful killings in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip during 2011. Palestinian terrorist groups' killings remained a serious problem, particularly in the Gaza Strip, as did killings by Hamas-controlled security forces. Egregious human rights violations across the occupied territories include arbitrary arrest and associated torture and abuse, often with impunity and particularly against security or political prisoners. In addition to the lack of political freedom for residents of the Gaza Strip, human rights violations under Hamas reportedly included security forces killing, torturing, arbitrarily detaining, and harassing opponents.

Hamas and other Palestinian militant factions in the Gaza Strip also launched rockets and mortars against civilian targets in Israel, killing and injuring civilians. The Israeli government killed Palestinian civilians as well as militants, mostly in the Gaza Strip, but also in the West Bank. Israeli security forces killed 105 Palestinians in Gaza and 10 in the West Bank during the year 2011. According to statistics maintained by the Israeli government and by the United Nations Office for the Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), 27 Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem died in clashes with Israeli security forces during the year 2009. According to Israeli government figures, Palestinian deaths resulting from Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip in December 2008 and January 2009 totaled 1,166, including 295 noncombatant deaths. Human rights organizations estimated the number of dead at 1,400 Palestinians, including more than 1,000 civilians, and the wounded at more than 5,000.

Ramadan, which is the holiest month on the Muslim calendar, fell between 9 July - 8 August 2013. Observance of the festival includes the commandment to fast from sunrise to sunset, Friday prayers and celebrations with one's extended family. In order to ease conditions for those Palestinian residents observing the month of Ramadan, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories [COGAT] and the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria implemented a series of measures and gestures, with the emphasis on alleviating the waiting time at crossings and facilitating access by the population to the holy sites.

The easing of restrictions during the festival enabled for the first time residents aged over 60 to enter Israel without a permit throughout the Ramadan period, and for women (of all ages) and men (over the age of 40) to enter without a permit on Fridays. Similarly, the entry of 20,000 worshipers was permitted during weekdays (men and women over the age of 35). In addition to these alleviations of restrictions, the hours during which crossings are open were extended, numerous permits were given for family visits in Israel and internal crossings were opened to facilitate the movement of thousands of vehicles. During the month of Ramadan, approximately one million Palestinians entered Israel.

A unity government formed under a deal with rival group Hamas was sworn in 02 June 2014 by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. "The government is a temporary one and its duty is to prepare for elections soon, in addition to its duty to help the people," Abbas said. Abbas said the new ministers are technocrats and independents who don't belong to either Fatah or Hamas and that the new government would abide by commitments made by previous Palestinian administrations and by agreements ratified by the umbrella Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Hamas and Fatah reached an agreement 25 September 2014 for the Palestinian unity government to take control of the Gaza Strip under the stewardship of President Mahmoud Abbas. The understanding came after two days of talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. The deal between the two leading Palestinian parties was confirmed by senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk and Fatah's head of delegation, Azam al-Ahmad. The unity government will take over civil administration in Gaza from Hamas, which had controlled the enclave since 2007. The Palestinian national unity government had previously never been fully implemented following a dispute between Fatah and Hamas over the Palestinian Authority's non-payment of salaries to Gaza's public sector workers.

PA Military Intelligence reportedly exceeded its legal authority to investigate other security services officers and during 2014 detained civilians suspected of security offenses, such as terrorist activities. Hamas continued to charge that the PA detained individuals during the year solely on the basis of their Hamas affiliation, but the PA presented evidence it charged many of these individuals with criminal offenses under civil or military codes.

In the Gaza Strip, Hamas reportedly detained a large but unverifiable number of persons during 2014, largely without recourse to legal counsel, judicial review, or bail. HRW reported Hamas internal security arrested individuals without presenting warrants, delayed their transfer to the prosecutors office (using incommunicado detention), did not inform families of detainees whereabouts promptly, and denied detainees access to a lawyer. There also were instances in which authorities retroactively issued arrest warrants and used military warrants to arrest civilians. In some cases authorities presented detainees to the military judiciary for civil cases.

In the Gaza Strip, individuals publicly criticizing authorities risked reprisal by Hamas, including arrest, interrogation, seizure of property, and harassment. Civil society and youth activists, social media advocates, and individuals associated with political factions accused of criticizing Hamas in public fora, such as on the internet, faced punitive measures, including raids on their facilities and residences, arbitrary detention, and denial of permission to travel outside Gaza.

In July 2014 the Israeli Ministry of Defenses Civil Administration revived a policy of punitive demolitions, demolishing the home of a suspect in the April killing of an off-duty Israeli police officer in Hebron. With the exception of one such demolition in East Jerusalem in 2009, Israeli authorities had halted punitive demolitions since 2005 following recommendations of a military commission that found the practice did not act as a deterrent. In August 2014 authorities demolished the homes of two individuals suspected (although not captured, tried, or convicted) of the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli teenagers. Authorities sealed with concrete the home of a third suspect in this crime. According to NGOs, these demolitions displaced 23 individuals not charged with any criminal activity. Authorities carried out another punitive home demolition on the home of the family of an individual suspected of killing an Israeli police officer.

The rival Palestinian factions, Fatah led by Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas led by Ismail Haniyeh, agreed 23 April 2014 to form a national unity Government within five weeks. The two sides also decided to hold elections six month after a vote of confidence by the Palestinian parliament. This was announced at a joint press conference in Gaza where both the sides held two day long meetings. Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh said that the era of division was over and both the sides looked forward to achieve the common Palestinian goal.

Ahead of the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cautioned Mahmoud Abbas over the unity efforts. He told that in doing so, Abbas will have to choose between peace with Israel or Hamas. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said, Abbas's signature on a unity accord with Hamas would be like signing the termination of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Fatah-Hamas meeting in Gaza was significant since it came at a time when US brokered West Asia peace talks were on the verge of collapse. US set a deadline of 29 April 2014 for Israeli and the Palestinian sides to agree on a framework to restart the negotiations which doesnt seem in sight. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office that Abbas "chose Hamas and not peace. Whoever chooses Hamas does not want peace."

The deal could give Abbas a measure of sovereignty in Gaza and help Hamas, hemmed in by an Israeli-Egyptian blockade, become less isolated. But previous unity agreements signed with great fanfare had amounted to nothing, and the future of this deal may depend on whether the sides agree to extend US-brokered peace talks.

The Palestinian government announced its decision 05 October 2016 to postpone local and municipal elections in the West Bank and Gaza for up to four months. The elections were initially to choose municipal councils in some 416 cities and towns in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The postponement came a day after the Palestinian high court ruled that the elections, initially scheduled for October 8, should be held only in the West Bank and not in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Fatah and Hamas were unable to overcome divisions to organise their first competitive polls in a decade. The Palestinians have not held an election in which both Hamas and Fatah took part since 2006. They have also not held a vote in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip at the same time since then. Hamas boycotted the most recent Palestinian municipal elections in 2012. Fatah's fear was that votes might be going to its arch rival, Hamas, even though there is popular discontent with Hamas' performance in Gaza.

The rift between Hamas and the PA began when Hamas wrested control of the Gaza Strip from the Palestinian Authority in 2007. However, in January 2017 under a Russia-brokered deal, Fatah and Hamas formed a national unity government. The non-official Russian-mediated talks in Moscow began with the goal of restoring "the unity of the Palestinian people." Representatives from Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other factions were present at the meetings.

The two movements Fatah and Hamas, announced on 18 January 2017 a deal to form a new national unity government, which will aim to end ten years of division. The agreement was reached following three days of talks in the Russian capital Moscow between the two organizations. Abbas will have to consider the position of the regional Arab powers who might cast a veto on the whole thing because of their animosity toward Hamas.

The two organisations will form a new National Council, which will include Palestinians in exile and hold elections. "Today the conditions for [such an initiative] are better than ever," Azzam al-Ahmad, a senior Fatah official, said. The deal also includes the Islamic Jihad group, which had not been involved in negotiations for a long time.

The agreement in Russia signalled the Palestinians "looking away" from the United States, which has been involved in the peace process for decades. Historically, peace discussions have been dominated by the US. They are looking for a different approach, and Russia certainly offered a different approach.

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank voted for mayors and local councils in municipal elections on 13 May 2013, their first democratic exercise in years. The election highlighted the deep rift between President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party and Islamist rival Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip. The West Bank and Gaza have not voted together since 2006, when Hamas swept Palestinian parliamentary elections.

Fatah and unaffiliated candidates close to Abbas were expected to win most seats in Saturday's election, as they did in 2012 polls boycotted by Hamas. Hamas did not present any candidate lists of its own, saying the vote would only add to divisions. Voting was also supposed to take place in the Gaza Strip, but was canceled when Hamas and several other Palestinian political factions chose to boycott it.

Some polls showed that Hamas would win any hypothetical parliamentary elections held now in both Gaza and the West Bank. But there are no concrete plans for presidential elections any time soon.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) is run out of Ramallah by Fatah, which is one of Palestinian factions and the Palestinian Authority in Gaza is run by Hamas, another Palestinian faction, and many other Palestinian factions are outside of this arrangement.

On 29 January 2019, the Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Al-Hamdallah and the national unity government, which was formed in 2014 to reconcile the rival governments in the West Bank and Gaza, resigned. "The president will begin consultation to form a political government made up by factions of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) that will prepare for the holding of [a] new parliamentary election", Abbas stated. zthere would be little if any changes in the government's political course with regard to the Fatah-Hamas reconciliation process. The unity government was not allowed to really operate in the sense of having reconciliation, because the reconciliation agreement was not implemented by either Fatah or Hamas. Hamas feels pressure inside Gaza because of the bad economic situation in the region and "they are not willing to make any concessions to Fatah by giving up some of the absolute political control over Gaza.

By the edn of 2019 there was a growing expectation among analysts that Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas could soon issue a decree to set up parliamentary and presidential elections in 2020. A vote was last held for the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) - the parliament of the PA in the occupied West Bank and Gaza - in 2006. In October 2019, Abbas commissioned the chair of the Central Elections Committee (CEC) to begin preparations, and by late November 2019, all Palestinian factions - including Hamas - had given their approval for a vote to take place following meetings with the CEC officials. In a September 2019 poll, only 38 percent of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza said they actually expected elections to take place "in the near future".

But neither Fatah nor Hamas are serious in their calls for parliamentary and presidential elections. Both parties, after more than a decade of the intra-Palestinian divide, mastered the art of political manoeuvring and are fully aware of the tactics and limits of each other; and therefore, they know how to reinforce each other directly and indirectly. That being said, it is very likely that Abbas will issue a presidential decree soon, but that decree will remain impracticable until Fatah and Hamas agree on the operational aspects of the elections and the political implications. Fatah, by contrast, is not too worried about the election outcome, because they know Hamas would not be able to govern, especially in the West Bank, and this way they think they could emerge a winner either way. Fatah is not prepared to hand over power if they lose. Hamas loses both ways. If they win, they have a problem how they will deliver in terms of governance but if they lose, then they lose.

The two biggest Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, agreed 24 September 2020 to hold the first elections in Palestine in nearly 15 years. Polls will be scheduled within six months under a deal agreed by Fatah, Palestinian Authority (PA) leader Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political chief Ismail Haniya. We have agreed to first hold legislative elections, then presidential elections of the Palestinian Authority, and finally the central council of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said Jibril Rajoub, a senior Fatah official. The last Palestinian parliamentary elections were held in 2006 when Hamas won by an unexpected landslide.

Following the 2006 polls, Hamas and Fatah formed a unity government but it soon collapsed and bloody clashes erupted in the Gaza Strip between the two factions the following year. Hamas has since ruled Gaza, while Fatah has run the PA, based in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah. Numerous attempts at reconciliation, including a prisoner exchange agreement in 2012 and a short-lived unity government two years later, failed to close the rift.

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U.S. Accuses Russia Of Directing Cyberattacks To 'Interfere' With Elections

RFE/RL October 07, 2016

WASHINGTON -- The United States for the first time has publicly accused Russia of orchestrating a string of cyberattacks targeting U.S. political organizations and prominent current and former officials in what Washington called a bid "to interfere with the U.S. election process."

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on October 7 that it is "confident" that the Russian government "directed" the hacking of e-mails of individuals and groups, including the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

"We believe, based on the scope and sensitivity of these efforts, that only Russia's senior-most officials could have authorized these activities," the statement said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the U.S. statement as "some kind of nonsense."

"Every day there are tens of thousands of attacks on Putin's website. Many of the attacks can be traced to the U.S.," Peskov was quoted as telling the Interfax news agency. "We're not blaming the White House or Langley every time," he added, referring to the Virginia city where the CIA is based.

Private cybersecurity firms have previously said that hacking groups allegedly tied to Russian security services are behind the hacks, though until October 7, U.S. President Barack Obama's administration had refrained from publicly implicating the Russian government.

The compromised e-mails have been published by WikiLeaks and another website, DCLeaks.com. They prompted the resignation of the DNC chairwoman after internal communications showed staff members favoring Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton over rival Bernie Sanders during the party's primaries.

Relations with Russia have become a central issue in the November 8 U.S. presidential election between Clinton and her Republican rival, Donald Trump, who has spoken admiringly of Russian President Vladimir Putin and said he would seek to improve ties with Moscow if elected.

Clinton's campaign team has repeatedly suggested that the Russian government was behind cyberattacks which targeted the DNC, alleging that Moscow has been trying to help Trump win the vote.

Both Trump and the Kremlin have called the allegation absurd.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in July that he had raised the issue with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who brushed off a question about possible Russian involvement in the affair by saying, "I don't want to use four-letter words."

The October 7 statement from Washington noted that several U.S. states have been subjected to "scanning and probing of their election-related systems," primarily from "servers operated by a Russian company." But it said intelligence officials "are not now in a position to attribute this activity to the Russian government."

Naming Russia as the actor behind the cyberattacks on political organizations falls short of more punitive measures the United States has taken against other countries for cyberintrusions, which have included sanctions and prosecutions against the hackers.

Republican Senator Cory Gardner, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific and International Cybersecurity, said he planned to introduce sanctions legislation over "Russia's cybercriminals."

The announcement comes amid a continuing deterioration of relations between Washington and Moscow, most notably over an ongoing Russian-backed Syrian government offensive on the city of Aleppo that has killed hundreds of civilians since a Russian and U.S.-brokered cease-fire deal broke down on September 19.

With additional reporting by Reuters and AP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/russia-cyberattacks- us-elections/28038816.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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South Carolina National Guard Assists in Lifesaving Mission

By Army Capt. Jessica Donnelly 108th Public Affairs Detachment

ADAMS RUN, S.C., Oct. 8, 2016  Soldiers with the South Carolina National Guard responded to an emergency services request to assist with transportation after a 911 call here today, as flood waters rise throughout the state's lowcountry, restricting access to citizens who remain behind.

The soldiers from B Company, 1st Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment, were staged out of the Bees Ferry Fire Department when the request came in to transport emergency medical personnel to a citizen in need of medical attention whose house was surrounded by flood waters, explained Army Maj. Trae Redmond, 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade executive officer. A three-person team with a light medium tactical vehicle was ready to respond when the call came in.

"Based on the floods from last year, emergency operations centers pre-positioned assets based on critical areas to increase responsiveness to calls for assistance," Redmond said.

The soldiers were able to transport the medical personnel to care for, stabilize and evacuate the patient.

Additional missions are being conducted along the South Carolina coast, including the Myrtle Beach area, where 1st Battalion, 178th Field Artillery, responded to a similar request.

Assets Staged for Quick Response

The South Carolina National Guard has assets staged throughout the lowcountry and along the coast to respond to emergencies during and after Hurricane Matthew, including vehicles that can transport medical personnel and other first responders through high-water areas and engineer assets to help clear debris in the aftermath.

"I am so proud of the soldiers -- what a privilege it is to be able to support the people of South Carolina," said Army Col. Jeffrey Jones, 218th MEB commander. "What we have to continue to do is remain focused on responding visibly, quickly and meaningfully and that's what we are doing."

About 2,300 South Carolina National Guard soldiers and airmen have been activated since Oct. 4 to support the response to Hurricane Matthew after Gov. Nikki Haley declared a state of emergency.

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Russia Says U.S. Election-Hacking Allegations Just 'Dirty Tricks'

October 08, 2016

Moscow has accused the United States of "dirty tricks" to whip up "unprecedented anti-Russian hysteria" through what it claims are unsubstantiated allegations that Russia was behind computer hacks against Democratic Party groups ahead of U.S. elections.

"This whipping up of emotions regarding 'Russian hackers' is used in the U.S. election campaign, and the current U.S. administration, taking part in this fight, is not averse to using dirty tricks," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in comments posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website on October 8.

Against a backdrop of increasingly strained relations over issues from ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Syria to nuclear disarmament, U.S. officials have repeatedly warned of attempts by Russia and its intelligence agencies to influence or undermine the November vote.

But for the first time, President Barack Obama's administration on October 7 explicitly pointed to Russia as the alleged director of recent cyberattacks and leaks seemingly aimed at disrupting the elections, citing e-mails and digital intrusions on a range of election-related institutions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, initially described the U.S. officials' accusations of Russian hacking as "again some kind of nonsense."

The two leading candidates for president, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump, have frequently clashed over how best to respond to Putin and his increasingly assertive foreign policies.

Clinton on October 7 suggested that Russians were behind a fresh dump of stolen digital documents published by Wikileaks -- some of which related to her views on trade and open borders, as well as financial reform -- that included private e-mails among her staff written as recently as the past few months.

"We believe, based on the scope and sensitivity of these efforts, that only Russia's senior-most officials could have authorized these activities," a statement by U.S. director of national intelligence James Clapper and the Department of Homeland Security said on October 7.

In his October 8 statement on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website, Ryabkov said Moscow repeated its offer from last year to hold consultations with the United States on fighting cybercrime.

Based on reporting by Reuters

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/russia- u-s-hacking-allegations- dirty-tricks/28039712.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 Dismisses US Hacking Allegations as 'Election Campaign Instrument'

By Daniel Schearf October 08, 2016

Muscovites reacted defensively and with cynicism Saturday after the U.S. government officially accused Russia of being the most likely culprit in recent hackings of U.S. political organizations.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Homeland Security said Friday that they were confident Russia was behind the hacking of email servers whose contents were then leaked online.

"It is propaganda. It is not true, [this alleged] attack of the Americans' servers," said lawyer Ivan, 35. "Each defends its political interests in the world. They are making a countercampaign."

"I think it is propaganda," said policeman Yuri, 37. "Hacking? Russians do not need to do that. This is a new Cold War by the USA, not by Russia."

But others said the renewed rivalry between the two nations justified such cyberattacks against the U.S.

"Political rivals use any method," said Igor, 52, an army reserve captain. "Now with this hysteria, propaganda against Russia, our diplomats take their appropriate action. The interests of Russia and the U.S. have crossed in the Near East, and their geopolitical interests are in confrontation. It is normal. It is politics. It has always been and always will be."

Attack on DNC

The most significant hack the DHS attributed to Russia was the one that resulted in the theft of thousands of emails from the Democratic National Committee. The DHS said Russia's actions reflected an intent to interfere with the U.S. election.

"This is some nonsense again!" Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Interfax news agency. "[President Vladimir] Putin's website is attacked by dozens of thousands of hackers on a daily basis. A lot of attacks can be tracked to U.S. territory, but we don't blame the White House or the CIA each time."

Interfax quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov as saying there was no proof of Russia's involvement and that the U.S. was stirring up emotions against Russia as an "election campaign instrument."

Suspicion also fell on Russia after cyberattacks on state election systems in the U.S. and well-timed spikes in some online polls favoring Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has exchanged mutual praise with Putin.

While U.S. officials have not pointed at Russia for attacking voting systems, they are urging states to improve security ahead of the November vote for president.

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US cyber attack claims aimed at Russiophobia: Moscow

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 8, 2016 11:7AM

Russia has dismissed the US accusations of attempting to interfere in the 2016 elections, stressing that such baseless claims are just aimed at fanning "unprecedented anti-Russian hysteria."

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov made the criticism in a statement posted on the ministry's website on Saturday.

"This whipping up of emotions regarding 'Russian hackers' is used in the US election campaign, and the current US administration, taking part in this fight, is not averse [to] using dirty tricks," he said.

On Friday, the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Homeland Security released a joint statement, formally accusing Moscow of hacking the computers of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and other political organizations.

"The US Intelligence Community is confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from US persons and institutions," read the statement, adding, "These thefts and disclosures are intended to interfere with the US election process."

Back in July, a cache of more than 19,000 emails from Democratic party officials, leaked in advance of Hillary Clinton's nomination in Philadelphia, showed that the DNC was favoring her over her competitor for the party nomination, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

The leaks forced Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida to resign as the DNC chairwoman.

US claims 'rubbish'

Also on Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced the US hacking allegations as "rubbish," noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin's website is attacked everyday by several tens of thousands of hackers.

"A lot of these attacks are traced to the territory of the USA, but we do not blame the White House or Langley each time," he told Russia's Interfax news agency.

The US 2016 presidential election will be held on November 8, with over a hundred million Americans expected to go to the polls.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesman Rejects U.S. Fictitious Story about "Abduction of American by North Korea"

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK gave the following answer to a question raised by KCNA Saturday as regards the fact that the U.S. is building up public opinion over the "story about abduction of American by north Korea".

Twelve years ago American university student David Sneddon was reported missing in the middle of his journey in the highlands of a country. At that time the country concerned officially notified the U.S. State Department and his family that he might have drowned in a river during his journey.

However, the U.S. has now become groundlessly vocal about the "abduction of the American by north Korea". This is just a plot hatched by the Obama group, destined to sink like the setting sun due to the total bankruptcy in its hostile policy toward the DPRK, to dramatize the non-existent "human rights issue" of the DPRK and tarnish its international image.

We flatly deny and categorically reject this far-fetched assertion as a swindle which does not deserve even a passing note. -0-

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DPRK Will Make Efforts for Denuclearization of World

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- The representative of the DPRK made a speech at the First Committee of the 71st UN General Assembly on October 6.

It is the common aspiration and common desire of mankind to live in the world peaceful and secure, free of nuclear weapons, he said, and went on:

In building the peaceful world, disarmament, in particular nuclear disarmament is of the greatest importance. In this context, the DPRK fully supports the global struggle for total elimination of nuclear weapons.

As far as the nuclear disarmament is concerned, whether it is achieved or not largely depends on the political determination and practical will of the big powers that possess larger stockpiles of nuclear weapons.

The United States is yet frequently talking about the so-called vision of "the world free of nuclear weapons," but it is only a hypocrisy intended to deceive the world and it is none other than a screen for covering up its strategy of nuclear monopoly and world hegemony.

The continuing maneuvers of the U.S. for modernization of nuclear weapons are an act of challenge to the desire of mankind to live in the world free of nuclear weapons, posing the greatest threat to the very survival of mankind as well as the world peace and security.

Today nuclear weapons are blatantly being used as a means of blackmailing in pursuit of global domination and interference, causing serious concern to the international community.

The typical example is the nuclear threats and blackmail of the United States towards the DPRK.

While the whole world is watching in great anxiety the situation development on the Korean peninsula, the ever worst danger of war is looming in that part of the world, which can be ignited due to the collision between nukes and nukes and arms and arms.

In the face of never-ending threats coming from the United States, the DPRK had no other option but to make a strategic decision to counter them with its own nuclear deterrent and this is a self-defensive measure to safeguard its national sovereignty and right to existence.

It is the unswerving stand of the DPRK to rely on its powerful nuclear deterrence and fundamentally remove the danger of a nuclear war being imposed by the U.S., and safeguard the peace and security of the region and the world at large.

The UN Security Council, however, defined in an arbitrary manner only the DPRK's nuclear tests and rocket launches as the "threats to international peace and security," and adopted "resolutions" banning them.

The true colors of the UN Security Council "sanctions resolutions" against the DPRK lies in the fact that their adoption is an abuse of power purely in pursuit of political purposes misusing the UN Charter.

On the other hand, at the G-77 ministerial meeting held on the sidelines of the current 71st UN General Assembly recently, a declaration rejecting the unilateral sanctions against the DPRK and demanding the immediate lifting of them was adopted.

The DPRK possessed nuclear deterrent in order to cope with the nuclear threats coming from the U.S. and to safeguard the supreme interest of the country, the security of the nation and peace.

As it has already declared itself as a responsible nuclear weapon state, the DPRK will not use nuclear weapons first, unless the forces of aggression hostile to the country violate its sovereignty with nuclear weapons and the DPRK will faithfully observe its commitment to nuclear non-proliferation as it has made before the international community, and strive for global denuclearization.

The DPRK will promote exchange and cooperation with international space organizations and space institutions of other countries. It will also continue to have the door wider open with greater enthusiasm towards conquering the world of the outer space, as a proud member of 10 major spacefaring nations, while ensuring transparency in conformity with the relevant international norms and practices. -0-

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U.S. Poses Nuclear Threat to DPRK with Flight of B-1B

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- Despite the strong warnings of the Korean people and the world public, the U.S. imperialists' reckless military scheme to mount a "preemptive nuclear strike" at the DPRK has reached a grave phase that can no longer be overlooked.

The U.S. imperialists intimidated the DPRK by letting B-1B stationed in Anderson Air Force Base on Guam fly to the sky above the Korean peninsula on the morning of October 7.

Earlier, they sent B-1B for staging a mad-cap drill of striking major strategic facilities of the DPRK at Sangdong Firing Range in south Korea on October 6.

The U.S. imperialists have so far resorted to nuclear intimidation against the DPRK but it is the first time that they let notorious nuclear-capable bombers make a series of sorties to stage nuke-dropping drills, crying out for "preemptive nuclear strike" at the DPRK.

The gravity of the situation lies in that the sorties of B-1B to the sky above the Korean peninsula were timed to coincide with the drill for a "preemptive nuclear strike" going on in Alaska under the simulated conditions of an actual war.

Involved in the frantic Alaska drill for "preemptive strike" at the DPRK supreme leadership and nuclear and strategic rocket bases are combined air forces of the U.S., south Korea, New Zealand and NATO.

The DPRK can never overlook the frequent risky maneuvers of B-1Bs at this time.

The situation goes to prove that the U.S. imperialists' frantic moves for a "preemptive strike" at the DPRK have reached an extreme phase, irrevocable.

As they are getting more pronounced in their scheme to mount a "preemptive nuclear strike" at the DPRK, the counteraction of its army will get tougher and more merciless.

As already declared, the military counteraction of the DPRK will be a preemptive strike of its own style.

The nearer the aggressors come, the earlier they will meet their self-destruction.

The world will clearly see how the invincible DPRK will smash the war maniacs' reckless moves for a "preemptive nuclear strike." -0-

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Germany grounds half of its Tornado jets due to loose screws

Iran Press TV

Fri Oct 7, 2016 10:27PM

A technical defect has forced Germany to ground nearly half of its fleet of Tornado aircraft, including six reconnaissance jets used in the US-led coalition purportedly targeting Daesh militants in Syria and Iraq.

In total, 39 of the country's 85 Tornado aircraft have been banned from flying due to "loose screws on a monitor in the cockpit," German news agency DPA quoted an unnamed spokesman for the Federal Defense Forces of Germany (Bundeswehr) as saying on Friday.

He went on to say that although the defect, which was found on Wednesday and made the ministry ground the affected jets on Thursday, was not complicated to fix, it was "not something one can fix on one's own."

The official added that the aircraft, all ASST A3 versions, would not be allowed to fly until a solution was found by their manufacturer Airbus Defence and Space, and confirmed by experts at the ministry.

The Bundeswehr said in a statement on Thursday that it had grounded the affected aircraft "in order to avoid any risk to personnel or machinery."

Six of the warplanes, which have been deployed to the Incirlik airbase in southern Turkey near the Syrian border, had been used for surveillance flights in the so-called US-led coalition in Syria and Iraq since January.

The ASST A3 Tornado jets, which first entered into service between 1981 and 1992, can take high-quality photos and infrared images, even at night and in bad weather conditions, and transmit real time surveillance data to ground stations. The aging aircraft, however, are gradually being replaced by a more modern model, known as the Typhoon.

This is not the first time Germany faces a major embarrassment over its aircraft. Back in January, the army announced that the six Tornado warplanes were unable to carry out nocturnal missions due to a problem with the cockpit lights.

In another major setback in October last year, the external fuel tank of one of its Eurofighters fell off as it was preparing for takeoff.

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Iran might prevents Daesh war from spreading to Persian Gulf: IRGC Navy

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 8, 2016 6:18PM

The second-in-command of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy says the country's might, capability, wisdom and self-restraint have barred supporters of Daesh terrorists from spreading war to the Persian Gulf.

"If the Islamic Republic of Iran's self-restrain did not exist, the region would be [at the risk] of fraught with clashes and insecurity in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz by the enemies' moves and acts of provocation," Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said on Saturday.

He warned of the "Zionist plot of Daesh" against the West Asian countries and the overt and covert support of the group's founders for terrorists.

"Through its wisdom and rationality, the Islamic Republic of Iran has made efforts to prevent the realization of the Zionists' scenario to spread insecurity and crime to the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz regions," the IRGC commander said.

The supporters of Daesh, led by the Zionists, have tried even through "political suicide" and the destruction of their own reputation to spread insecurity and their crimes to the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, he said, adding that such a conspiracy has been thwarted so far by Iran's wisdom, tact and self-restraint.

Tangsiri said enemies are focusing on unawareness and inexperience of certain regional countries to carry out such a Zionist plot in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

These regional countries have been deceived by enemies' plots, he added.

The Iranian commander said the criminal Zionists must know that a plot which they have hatched in the region and have called Daesh would be foiled through the awareness of regional nations.

He advised the rulers of certain countries in the region to stop helping enemies implement their plots against regional nations and stressed that they should abandon their support for Daesh terrorists who are nurtured by the Zionists.

Tangsiri's remarks came after Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi, the commander of the IRGC Navy, said on Saturday that the United States is not authorized to interfere in the affairs of West Asia and the Persian Gulf and stressed that Washington is the root cause of mischief in the region.

"They [the US] are conducting their acts of mischief in the Persian Gulf and the West Asian regions  with two objectives. Their first objective is to fulfill their own interests and the second one is to show their hostility towards [Iran's] Islamic Revolution," Fadavi said.

Back in August, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said the Islamic Republic's naval forces were monitoring all movements in the Persian Gulf and would confront any vessels intruding into the country's territorial waters.

Iran has invariably asserted that it only uses its naval might for defensive purposes and to send across the Islamic Republic's message of peace and security to other nations.

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US root cause of mischief in Persian Gulf: Iran commander

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 8, 2016 3:22PM

A senior commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the United States is not authorized to interfere in the affairs of West Asia and the Persian Gulf, stressing that Washington is the root cause of mischief in the region.

"They [the US] are conducting their acts of mischief in the Persian Gulf and the West Asian regions  with two objectives. Their first objective is to fulfill their own interests and the second one is to show their hostility towards [Iran's] Islamic Revolution," Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi, the commander of the IRGC Navy, said on Saturday.

Despite the enemy's mischief, there is sustainable security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz thanks to the Islamic Revolution's power, he added.

"The Islamic Iran opposes any move which will harm sustainable security [in the Persian Gulf] and will carry out necessary measures to safeguard such sustainable security because all people around the world will benefit from this security," the Iranian commander said.

Fadavi emphasized that the IRGC Navy is responsible for maintaining security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and will fulfill the important duty "in the best form and with full power."

Since the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, the US acts of mischief have backfired, constantly weakening the Americans, he said.

The Iranian commander further emphasized that global economy and development depend on security in the Persian Gulf because the region holds the main source of energy in the world.

Fadavi's remarks came after the IRGC on Wednesday issued a stern warning to all military vessels partaking in Saudi Arabia's ongoing war games in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, saying any act of transgression into Iran's territorial waters would be met with an immediate and befitting response.

The strongly-worded statement addressed all Saudi and non-Saudi naval vessels that were part of the maneuvers, suggesting that the IRGC views the ongoing war games as an evident attempt to foment tensions and compromise sustainable security in the Persian Gulf.

Saudi Arabia's exercises involved units of the Royal Saudi Navy Forces of Eastern Fleet, including warships, naval aircraft and special security naval units.

Back in August, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said the Islamic Republic's naval forces were monitoring all movements in the Persian Gulf and would confront any vessels intruding into the country's territorial waters.

Iran has invariably asserted that it only uses its naval might for defensive purposes and to send across the Islamic Republic's message of peace and security to other nations.

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Iran: EU document positive but partly unrealistic

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 8, 2016 6:0AM

Iran has cautiously welcomed an EU resolution on the future of the bloc's relations with Tehran but said the document also contains some "unrealistic points" about the country.

The European Parliament on Thursday voted on a roadmap for relations with Iran, charting out "EU strategy towards Iran after the nuclear agreement."

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said the resolution contains "positive and promising points which can help to expand relations between Iran and the European Union and open a new horizon in bilateral ties."

"However, this resolution also contains some points concerning the human rights situation in Iran which do not correlate with the existing realities and are partly affected by the negative propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Such content, he said, is not conducive to the betterment of the relations between the Islamic Republic and the EU.

"While human rights negotiations are set to be held between Iran and the EU in the near future, the adoption of such positions is questionable and unconstructive and does not in any way help elevate the human rights discourse and [only] reinforces speculations of intervention in our country's domestic affairs," he said.

Qassemi also said that while the resolution had a merely advisory nature and was not binding, the members of the European Parliament had better be more realistic and more forward-looking.

The resolution foresees the normalization of the bloc's ties with Iran following the 2015 nuclear agreement between the Islamic Republic and six world powers. The EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy coordinated for the talks that culminated in the deal.

Authored by Richard Howitt, who represents Britain's Labour Party at the European Parliament, the document "welcomes Iran's contribution to the fight against ISIS," referring to Daesh by an English acronym but also criticizes Iran's human rights record.

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US eases more sanctions against Iran after nuclear deal

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 8, 2016 4:43AM

The United States has announced new measures further easing sanctions on Iran following last year's landmark nuclear agreement.

The Treasury Department published new guidance on Friday allowing businesses to do dollar transactions with Iran by offshore banking institutions as long as they do not enter the US financial system.

The department also removed a blanket ban on foreign transactions with Iranian firms that may be run by individuals who are subject to US sanctions. The Treasury describes those people as "specially designated nationals" or SDNs.

Iran and the P5+1 group  the US, Britain, France, China, Russia plus Germany - reached the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), on July 14, 2015.

In accordance to the JCPOA, which took effect in January, Iran has undertaken to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions.

The US, however, has continued to maintain sanctions on Iran and a number of Iranian companies and individuals, prompting complaints from Tehran that Washington is failing to implement its side of the deal.

Iran says the US is scaring foreign companies from doing business in or with the country, as they fear punishment for violating sanctions.

"As has been stated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has remained committed to its commitments," Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the country's Atomic Energy Organization, said on Friday.

"While the other side  it's very clear now to public opinion and it's not a secret  has not really delivered on the promises; that the sanctions would be removed and that banking transactions would go back to normal, that trade would speed up and economic relations would be enhanced. These have not been materialized to the extent that we expected," he told The Guardian.

According to the new Treasury guidance, foreign transactions with non-sanctioned entities that are "controlled in whole or in part by an Iranian or Iran-related person on the SDN list" are "not necessarily sanctionable."

Since January, the IAEA, which is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the JCPOA, has released regular reports confirming the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities and Tehran's commitment to the agreement.

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Iraqi forces liberate more Daesh-held areas, advance towards Mosul

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 8, 2016 5:51PM

Pro-government forces in Iraq have been making further advances against militants as more forces are mobilized to start an operation to push Daesh Takifir terrorists out of their last stronghold, Mosul.

Sources in the governing body of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) reported that troops were being deployed to predetermined fighting positions near Mosul to participate in the upcoming operation to liberate the northern Iraqi city occupied by Daesh Takifir militants, Iraq Press Agency said on Saturday.

Senior PMF commander Javad al-Talibavi had announced on September 18 that three separate brigades from popular forces would take part in the upcoming offensive against Deash militants in Mosul.

The Arabic-language al-Sumeria television news agency also said on Saturday that Iraqi government forces had liberated Eastern al-Zoyeh region in Anbar province, raising the Iraqi flag on buildings there.

Al-Sumeria quoted military sources as saying that a large number of Daesh Takfiri militants were killed and a number of others wounded in the operation.

A large amount of Deash weapons and vehicles were also destroyed there, according to the military sources.

Prime Minister Heider al-Abadi has, time and again, pledged that Iraqi troops will win back Mosul by the end of the year.

Violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh launched its offensive in the summer of 2014, and seized territory.

Iraqi army soldiers and popular forces are seeking to win back militant-held regions in joint operations.

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Duma OKs indefinite presence of Russian troops in Syria

Iran Press TV

Fri Oct 7, 2016 7:55PM

The lower house of the Russian parliament has ratified an agreement with the Damascus government that allows Russian troops to stay indefinitely in Syria as Moscow is battling foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants in the conflict-ridden Arab country.

On Friday, all 446 lawmakers in the State Duma voted unanimously to approve the deal, which allows Russia to keep its forces at the Hmeimim air base in Syria's western coastal province of Latakia for as long as it wants.

Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov addressed the legislators, stating that the "draft federal law effectively regulates force composition and structure, conditions of its deployment and functions."

He added that the Russian-Syrian agreement on an open-ended deployment also addresses the "issues of the operation of the Russian Armed Forces air group on the territory of Syria."

The accord was penned in August 2015, one month before the Russian air campaign against militant positions in Syria began at the request of the Damascus government. Russian President Vladimir Putin then submitted the agreement to the State Duma on August 9, 2016.

Under the deal, the Russian air force will operate inside Syria upon the orders of the air group commander and in coordination with Syrian authorities.

Russia also reserves the right to bring into or remove from Syria any munitions or military equipment necessary to accomplish the air force's tasks and provide the safety of its personnel. The agreement would be terminated once one of the sides notifies the other of its desire to do so.

Russia's veto threat over Syria resolution

Meanwhile, Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin has dismissed a French-proposed Security Council resolution that demands all military aircraft, including those of Russia, be grounded amid heavy fighting in the strategic northwestern Syrian city of Aleppo.

Churkin said "I cannot possibly see how we can let this resolution pass" as the Security Council would discuss the proposal on Saturday.

35,000 terrorists eliminated in Syria since February

Also on Friday, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said about 35,000 terrorists, including over 2,700 Russian nationals and citizens from the Commonwealth of Independent States, have been killed in clashes with Syrian government forces since February 2016.

He told reporters in Moscow that a total of 586 settlements and 12,360 square kilometers had been liberated from Daesh and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly known as Nusra Front) terrorists from February 27 to September 1.

The conflict in Syria, which flared up in March 2011, has claimed the lives of more than 400,000 people, according to an estimate by UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.

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Russia says considering restoring Soviet-era military bases in Cuba, Vietnam

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 8, 2016 7:20AM

Russia says it is considering the possibility of resuming its military presence in Vietnam and Cuba, more than a decade after it withdrew from the two countries as a result of the demise of the Soviet Union.

The Russian military is "reviewing" the decision in the early 2000s to close its bases in the two states, Russian news agencies quoted Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov as saying at the parliament in Moscow on Friday.

"As for our presence on faraway outposts, we are doing this work," he added.

In 2002, Russia lowered its flag at the deepwater Cam Ranh naval base in Vietnam and the Lourdes signals intelligence facility in Cuba as part of a drawing down of its military presence across the world.

The withdrawals were ordered by President Vladimir Putin, who cited the need to cut costs as the reason behind the move.

Asked Friday about the possibility of the Russian military's return to Cuba and Vietnam, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov stressed that the global security situation has become "rather fluid" over the past two years.

"Naturally, all countries assess those changes from the point of view of their national interests and take steps they consider necessary," he said.

Meanwhile, Aleksy Chepa, a former deputy chief of the foreign affairs committee in the Russian legislature, welcomed the idea of reinforcing the country's global military presence.

"I believe that it would correspond with Russian interests to restore the bases in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa that were closed," he said

In February 2014, Russia first revealed its intention to activate bases in several countries, among them Cuba and Vietnam.

Russia's decision to reopen its military bases comes at a time that Washington-Moscow relations have plunged to the lowest point since the Cold War times with the two powers primarily at odds over the crisis in Syria and the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia has a naval base in the Syrian port city of Tartus as well as Hmeimim Air Base in the Arab country's coastal province of Latakia.

On Friday, the lower house of the Russian parliament ratified an agreement with the Damascus government that allows Russian troops to stay indefinitely in Syria.

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Russia Moves Nuclear-Capable Missiles Into Kaliningrad

October 08, 2016

The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed the movement of nuclear-capable missiles into Kaliningrad, a tiny Russian exclave on the Baltic coast between Poland and Lithuania.

It said the deployment is part of routine drills with the tactical Iskander-M missiles, which have a range of around 500 kilometers, across Russia.

The ministry also said one of the missiles was deliberately exposed to U.S. spy cameras.

Western news and intelligence officials initially reported that Russia was moving the short-range Iskanders, and an Estonian radio report on October 7 said they were en route from St. Petersburg to Kaliningrad, formerly known as Koenigsberg, in a civilian transport ship.

Russia has frequently threatened to place a missile system in Kaliningrad, right on the doorstep of the European Union and NATO military alliance.

Russia's reasons for shipping the missiles to Kaliningrad "could be innocuous," a U.S. officials told the Reuters news agency. "They moved a similar missile system to Kaliningrad in 2014 for a military exercise.

"It could also be a political gesture -- a show of strength -- to express displeasure with NATO," the official said.

Tensions between Russia and the United States as well as other Western powers have escalated in the past two weeks since the collapse of a negotiated cease-fire in Syria.

Based on reporting by Reuters, dpa, and Estonian radio

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/russia-reported-moving- nuclear-capable-missiles-kaliningrad- iskander-m/28039272.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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Kremlin Directs Rosneft To Buy Bashneft, Retaining State Control

RFE/RL October 08, 2016

The Russian government has directed the Rosneft state oil company to acquire a majority stake in the Bashneft regional oil firm, calling into question whether the sale amounts to a "privatization" as advertised by the Kremlin.

A decree signed by First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov this week directs government representatives on Rosneft's board of directors to approve the purchase of 50.1 percent of Bashneft's stock by October 15 for no more than 330 billion rubles or about $5.3 billion.

While the Kremlin continues to call the deal a "privatization," it would further consolidate state-controlled Rosneft's growing control over the country's vast oil resources under chief executive Igor Sechin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Rosneft, when combined with Bashneft, would control 42 per cent of Russia's oil production, 37 per cent of its refining capacity, and a quarter of its gas stations, according Otkritie Capital.

Moreover, the deal will be consummated without opening the sale up to other bidders, including Lukoil, Russia's second largest oil company and one of the only private firms left in the oil sector, which had expressed an interest in buying Bashneft.

"This is not privatization, it's a continuation of creeping de-privatization," Mikhail Krutikhin, a partner at the RusEnergy consulting firm, told the Wall Street Journal.

Moreover, with one state company acquiring another, the transaction amounts to a sleight of hand which will not actually raise much cash to reduce Russia's budget deficit over the long term, as originally intended, Krutikhin added.

"If Rosneft spends money on acquisitions, they will report less income, and that means less revenue for the Russian budget," he told the Journal.

Earlier this year, Kremlin officials had said they would bar Rosneft from participating in the sale of Bashneft, a regional producer with most of its assets in the republic of Bashkortostan, because of Rosneft's government-owned status.

However, the Kremlin last month relented under pressure from Sechin.

On October 7, Rosneft announced that is has enough cash on hand from daily operations to complete the acquisition without taking on debt.

Rosneft itself is the next major state asset to be partially sold, with the Economy Ministry committed to divesting a 19.5 percent interest by the end of the year. The value of the stake has been set at 700 billion rubles.

Rosneft is considering buying part of the state's offering of those shares as well, spokesman Mikhail Leontyev said on October 6. He said the company is confident that the share price will rise after the sale.

With reporting by Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Reuters, Financial Times, and TASS

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/kremlin-directs- rosneft-buy-bashneft-majority-stake-retaining- state-control/28039316.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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Syrian army recaptures towns, villages in Hama

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 8, 2016 8:28AM

Syrian government forces and their allies recapture several towns and villages in Hama province, pushing back militants who had made significant advances in the area in recent weeks.

Lebanon's Al Manar TV said the Syrian army seized towns or villages including al-Talisiya, al-Qahira and Tel al-Usud on Saturday.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights which is sympathetic to militants confirmed the news.

Foreign-backed militants launched a massive attack in Hama at the end of August, capturing a series of towns and villages.

In Aleppo, Turkish-backed militants lost several villages to Daesh terrorists and retreated from near a town which is the site of an apocalyptic prophesy central to the Takfiri group's ideology.

According to the British-based observatory, Daesh terrorists retook villages including Akhtarin and pushed towards Turkman Bareh, some 3 km east of Dabiq.

The so-called Free Syrian Army militants, whom Turkey has supported with tanks and airstrikes, had been pushing towards Dabiq, northeast of Aleppo.

They captured Turkman Bareh earlier this week as part of a wider Turkish military operation inside the Syrian territory.

Dabiq is seen by Daesh as the place where a final battle would take place between the Takfiri group and its enemies, heralding Doomsday.

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Russia Blocks French UN Security Council Ceasefire Resolution on Syria's Aleppo

Sputnik News

22:36 08.10.2016(updated 00:39 09.10.2016)

On Saturday, Russia blocked a draft UN Security Council resolution on the cessation of hostilities in Syria's Aleppo favoring a proposal by the UN Envoy to Syria that focuses on evicting al-Nusra terrorists (al-Qaeda) from Eastern Aleppo.

Russia vetoed a French-drafted United Nations Security Council Resolution on Saturday that called for the immediate end to airstrikes over Syria's Aleppo city receiving condemnation from the West which argues that Moscow is facilitating more war and fighting in the country.

Moscow opposed the draft because it did not adequately deal with the problem of the rebels being interwoven with al-Nusra Front, formerly Syria's al-Qaeda affiliate, under the umbrella group the Army of Conquest. The UN Envoy to Syria proposed a separate plan that would allow al-Nusra Front fighters to evacuate the area armed to make for a more tenable situation inside of the besieged eastern side of Aleppo.

This is the fifth time that Russia has vetoed a UN resolution on Syria during the five-year conflict with China joining Moscow in the previous four vetoes, but abstaining from voting on Saturday.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented that the text of the French resolution distorted the complexity of the situation on the ground leaving the false impression that Russia and Syria were aggressors when in reality the conflict in East Aleppo is mixed between moderate anti-Assad forces that have branched together with more radical al-Nusra terrorists.

The Ministry further noted that the draft resolution ignored the urgent challenge of beginning and resolving an intra-Syrian political process that could place the country on a path towards stability and peace.

Russian representatives further expressed their "commitment to finding a lasting political solution to the Syrian conflict" notwithstanding the move to veto the French draft United Nations Security Council resolution.

Prior to the vote, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin expressed his dismay with the French draft that he believed was poorly postulated and designed to be vetoed by Russia for the sake of scoring public relations points and instead expressed his desire that the United Nations pursue the route of supporting the UN Envoy to Syria's plan.

Reiterating this point, Russia said that the authors of the French United Nations Security Council resolution draft on Syria failed to show political wisdom by intentionally ignoring Moscow's proposed amendments to it.

Vitaly Churkin went on to say before the vote that all of those attending the Security Council meeting knew that neither the French nor the Russian resolution on the Syrian crisis would be adopted.

The Russian Foreign Ministry closed by appealing to the members of the United Nations Security Council that the world must not allow Syria to go the way of Iraq or Libya reminding that US-led regime change in those countries led to further instability making those nations hotbeds for terrorism and in large part contributing to the crisis in Syria.

 Sputnik

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Syrian Army Comes Close to Eastern Aleppo From North

Sputnik News

15:37 08.10.2016(updated 16:45 08.10.2016)

Syrian armed forces came close to the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo from the north, according to a source in the Syrian militia.

ALEPPO (Sputnik)  The forward detachments of the Syrian Army and militia liberated the Huweija area and took control of a highway section, advancing toward the city of Aleppo from the north, a source in the Syrian militia told RIA Novosti.

"We came close to the eastern neighborhoods [of Aleppo] from the north. Today the [Syrian] army and our troops liberated Huweija and a ring road," the source said.

According to the source, the liberation of Huweija made it possible to continue the offensive to free the Bustan al-Basha neighborhood in Aleppo, captured by terrorists.

In September, the Syrian army and allied militia regained control over the Kindi hospital in northern Aleppo and the Handarat refugee camp in northwestern Aleppo. On October 2, the industrial zone of Shkeif in the northwest of the city was liberated.

Fighting in the city of Aleppo intensified after the Syrian army declared an end to the week-long ceasefire on September 23, blaming militants for numerous violations that made the cessation of hostilities unreasonable.

Aleppo has been under siege by militant groups, including Jaish al-Islam, Ahrar ash-Sham and Jabhat Fatah al Sham, formerly known as the Nusra Front, banned in Russia.

 Sputnik

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Turkish Army Destroys 82 Daesh Targets in Northern Syria

Sputnik News

15:25 08.10.2016

A total of 119 settlements in Syria were cleared of terrorists during the Turkish military operation, according to the statement of Turkey's General Staff.

ANKARA (Sputnik)  The Turkish forces destroyed a total of 82 targets of the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) jihadist group and cleared 119 settlements of terrorists since the start of the Operation Euphrates Shield, Turkey's General Staff said in a statement on Saturday.

"Our armed forces fired 212 shots from Firtina howitzers, 20 shots from multiple missile launchers and 36 shots from mortars, 82 IS targets were destroyed," the statement said.

A total of 119 settlements in Syria were cleared of terrorists during the Turkish military operation, the General Staff added.

The Turkish military launched an operation to clear the Syrian border town of Jarabulus and the surrounding area of the Daesh, outlawed in Russia and multiple other countries, on August 24 prompting accusations of invasion from Damascus and Syrian Kurds.

 Sputnik

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Security Council fails to adopt resolutions on ending violence in war-torn Syria's eastern Aleppo

8 October 2016  The United Nations Security Council today failed to adopt two resolutions to end the bloodshed in Syria's besieged eastern Aleppo.

Among the two resolutions, the one proposed by France and Spain failed to be adopted as it received a negative vote by permanent member Russia. Such a veto by any one of the Council's five permanent members means a resolution cannot be adopted.

The text had received 11 affirmative votes, 2 abstentions (Angola and China), and 2 negative votes (Russia and Venezuela).

The second resolution, proposed by Russia was also not adopted by the Council as it failed to achieve a majority of its members voting in favour.

This text received 4 votes in favour, 9 against (France, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States), and 2 abstentions (Angola and Uruguay).

At the Security Council meeting today, several members also recalled the recent briefing by UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, who had said that if urgent action is not taken to address the situation in the war-torn country, thousands of Syrians would be killed and towns, such as eastern Aleppo could be totally destroyed by the end of this year.

At the briefing, Mr. de Mistura had also stressed that the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) is a very important entity and that the suspension of bilateral negotiations between the two-chairs  United States and Russia  should not and will not affect the existence of the Group. He had also emphasized the importance of the humanitarian task force, as well as the possibility of a body that would effectively and perhaps more stringently support future cessation of hostilities.

The UN estimates that five years on, the Syrian conflict has driven more than 4.8 million refugees to neighbouring countries, hundreds of thousands in Europe, and displaced 6.6 million people inside the Syria against a pre-war population of over 20 million. Well over 200,000 people are believed to have died.

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President calls for resumption of cross-strait dialogue

ROC Central News Agency

2016/10/08 12:44:30

Taipei, Oct. 8 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen () on Saturday called on China to resume official dialogue with Taiwan soon, saying that she has shown a high level of goodwill toward Beijing, as demonstrated in her inaugural address.

Speaking during an international conference on the South China Sea dispute and Asia-Pacific regional peace, Tsai stressed that her goodwill and commitment toward cross-Taiwan Strait relations remain unchanged.

Coming two days before the National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan), the president's remarks appear to indicate that she is unlikely to break new ground during her address to the nation as far as her position toward cross-Taiwan Strait relations is concerned.

She said her administration will not succumb to pressure from Beijing, but it does not want and will not revert to the old path of confrontation, either.

The president said Taiwan is a democratic society, and maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait is the choice of the Taiwanese people, not hers alone.

"The two sides of the strait should sit down for talks as soon as possible, so as to improve communication between both sides and get rid of many unnecessary misunderstandings," she said.

Accusing Tsai's government of refusing to recognize the "1992 consensus," Beijing has suspended official dialogue with Taipei since Tsai was sworn in on May 20.

The consensus refers to an understanding reached between Taipei and Beijing in 1992 that there is only one China, with the two sides free to interpret its meaning.

Beijing has insisted that the Tsai administration explicitly accept the consensus as the political foundation for the continuation of relatively warm relations under her predecessor Ma Ying-jeou (), but Tsai would only go so far as to say that she respects the historic fact that the cross-strait talks took place and some understandings were reached.

(By Lu Hsin-hui and Y.F. Low)

ENDITEM/cs

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President urged to clarify China policy in National Day talk

ROC Central News Agency

2016/10/08 18:35:31

Taipei, Oct. 8 (CNA) With National Day just two days away, politicians across the political spectrum urged President Tsai Ing-wen () on Saturday to use her National Day address to explain her policy on cross-Taiwan Strait relations.

Chiang Chi-chen (), a whip of the Kuomintang legislative caucus, said it is unlikely that Tsai mentions "one China" or the "1992 consensus" in her address.

But as a president sworn in under the Republic of China Constitution, she can use the opportunity to declare that "one China" refers to the ROC (Taiwan's formal name), Chiang said.

He said the Tsai administration needs to find a way to break the current deadlock with Beijing before Taiwan can continue to expand its foreign relations.

Unhappy that Tsai's government has refused to recognize the "1992 consensus," Beijing has suspended official dialogue with Taipei since Tsai was sworn in on May 20.

The consensus refers to an understanding reached between Taipei and Beijing in 1992 that there is only one China, with the two sides free to interpret its meaning.

Beijing has insisted that the Tsai administration explicitly accept the consensus -- and in effect that Taiwan is part of "one China" -- as the political foundation for the continuation of relatively warm relations under her predecessor Ma Ying-jeou ().

Tsai, however, has only been willing to say that she respects the historic fact that the cross-strait talks took place and that some understandings were reached.

Over the past few days, Tsai has repeatedly stressed in public speeches and media interviews that her administration will not succumb to Beijing's pressure but will also not revert to the old path of confrontation, either.

Tsai said she has shown a high level of good will toward Beijing in her inaugural address and that her good will and commitment toward cross-strait relations remain unchanged.

Chen Chia-lin (), deputy publicity director of the pro-independence Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), said the National Day address will be the best opportunity for Tsai to unveil her strategy to counter China's suppression of Taiwan.

Chen said Tsai has adopted a moderate and ambiguous approach on cross-strait ties to avoid overly provoking Beijing since her inauguration.

But instead of helping Tsai achieve her goal of maintaining the cross-strait status quo, such a policy of "moderately resisting China" will only encourage Beijing to escalate its suppression of Taiwan, he argued.

One step Tsai can take to counter China would be to announce an alliance with other Asian countries that are also threatened by China's hegemony, such as Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Myanmar, he contended.

(By Lu Hsin-hui and Y.F. Low)

ENDITEM/ls

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E-4Bs realign under 8th Air Force, 595th CACG stands up

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) -- The 8th Air Force has another aircraft in its inventory, and it's not a bomber.

The E-4B, which serves as the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) and is a key component of the National Military Command System for the president, the secretary of defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently transferred from Air Combat Command to Air Force Global Strike Command.

The Air Forces' four E-4Bs, which are based out of Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, were commemorated during a transfer ceremony Oct. 7.

"The Air Force is continuing on a path to improve how its nuclear forces are organized, trained and equipped," said Maj. Gen. Thomas Bussiere, the 8th Air Force commander and officiator of the ceremony. "The E-4B may not function in the same capacity as our bomber force, but it certainly has a role to play within the nuclear enterprise and seems only fitting that it resides within the command responsible for nuclear operations."

The aircraft realignment is a part of a larger effort to centrally manage the Air Force's nuclear enterprise and supporting systems.

To improve central management of the nuclear enterprise, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh directed that the Air Force create an organization with a clear line of communication between the president and members of the nuclear task forces. Air Force Global Strike Command was designated as the Air Force lead for nuclear command, control and communications (C3).

As a key component of the National Military Command System, which keeps the president connected to nuclear and conventional forces around the world, the E-4B fell within the restructuring initiative.

Also acknowledged during the transfer ceremony was the activation of the 595th Command and Control Group, the 8th Air Force unit responsible for the E-4B.

"The realignment helps us better advocate for nuclear (command and control) and simplifies the chain of command," said Col. Robert Billings, the 595th CACG commander. "One of my first steps as commander will be to address manpower needs and develop the group."

The 595th CACG is comprised of four squadrons: the 1st Airborne Command Control Squadron, which operates the aircraft; the 595th Strategic Communication Squadron, which provides real-time, secure, nuclear survivable missile warning and C3 capabilities; the 595th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, responsible for sustainment and upkeep of the E-4B as well as the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron.

"Ultimately, the realignment of the E-4B and activation of the 595th CACG marks another step in our journey to strengthen the enterprise as our nuclear deterrent forces remain at the forefront of our nation's security," Bussiere said.

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First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe and Averett University hosted a community service summit Friday at the school, where she swore in new Americorps members.

The Governors Summit on Enhancing Engagement in the Commonwealth met at Averett and included an annual meeting of the Virginia Engage Network to focus on establishing and expanding community service opportunities for college and university students throughout Virginia.

Its the third summit since the fall of 2015.

Colleges and universities like Averett and the others joining us at the summit are modeling the way for experiential learning and community service and engagement at its best, McAuliffe said in a prepared statement.

The summit was sponsored by Averett and the Virginia Department of Social Services in collaboration with the Governors Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism.

During an interview Friday, Averett President Tiffany Franks said getting students involved in community service is just kind of woven into the DNA of Averett.

Its our mission  helping students become engaged in the community, Franks said. Its the heart and soul of who we are as an institution.

Averett established its Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness about three years ago, which accelerated the schools focus on community service and engagement, Franks said.

About one-third of Averetts courses include service learning, with 50-60 percent of faculty teaching a service learning course, Franks said.

It takes what students are learning in the classroom and it blends it into community action, Franks said.

As for Americorps  a nationwide service organization began in 1993 by President Bill Clinton as a domestic counterpart to the Peace Corps  McAuliffe swore in new members at Averett on Friday. About 500 were being sworn in across the state Friday, McAuliffe said.

The organization has about 75,000 members across the country, McAuliffe said, adding that she and her husband, Gov. Terry McAuliffe, come from a background of commitment to Americorps and the Peace Corps.

We encourage alums of the Peace Corps and Americorps to apply for positions in state government, McAuliffe said.

Americorps volunteers spend a year in public service such as volunteering at state parks, in schools working with literacy projects, and at nonprofits/charitable organizations. Averetts Americorps participants will assist Danville and Pittsylvania County school students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) classes.

Summit attendees learned about opportunities outlined in the Compact on National Service, including creating service year experiences at individual Virginia colleges and universities, and engaging with presidents and colleagues from Virginia to discuss best practice related to service year and engagement efforts.
Llano River plan gets nod from EPA

Because the Upper Llano River is a healthy ecosystem, the Environmental Protection Agency has accepted a watershed protection plan that will help address future declines in water quality and stream flow, according to a news release.

The plan was accepted as it met the agency's national guidelines for watershed-based plans and effectively outlined a strategy to conserve and protect water quantity and quality in the watershed, according to plan developers.

The Texas Water Resources Institute, part of the Texas A&M University System, and the Llano Field Station at Texas Tech University Center at Junction assisted the Upper Llano Watershed coordination committee and watershed stakeholders in developing the plan.

"We are very pleased that EPA accepted the Upper Llano River Watershed Protection Plan so quickly. This plan is a result of collaborative efforts of many local, state and federal stakeholders and partners," said Kevin Wagner, deputy director of the institute. "Each participant played a vital role in the planning process."

The Llano River, located in the Texas Hill Country, is a clear spring-fed perennial river and major tributary of the Colorado. The Upper Llano River includes the North Llano, which starts in Sutton County, and the South Llano, which starts in Edwards County. The two branches join at Junction in Kimble County to form the main Llano River.

The Llano supports several unique plant and animal communities and provides constant critical flows downstream to the Llano and Colorado rivers, Lake LBJ and other highland lakes, especially during times of drought.

Watershed protection plans are usually developed to address existing water quality impairments, said Tom Arsuffi, Llano River Field Station director. However, the Upper Llano River is currently a healthy ecosystem.

Arsuffi said areas of concern for many watershed stakeholders include loss of spring flow, spread of invasive species and potential for declines in water quality and stream flows.

"The Upper Llano plan was developed to proactively address these potential threats and improve the sustainability of the watershed," Arsuffi said.

The Upper Llano planning effort was unique because it is part of the Healthy Watershed Initiative, said Tyson Broad, Upper Llano River watershed coordinator. The program is designed to actively maintain healthy watersheds to preserve the economic and ecological benefits they provide.

"The approval of the watershed protection plan provides landowners with the potential for increased funding opportunities to implement brush control practices and manage feral hogs, plus stabilize eroding stream banks," said Ward Whitworth, coordination committee member and Upper Llanos Soil and Water Conservation District director.

Whitworth said many of the activities in the plan benefit both the landowner and the Llano River.

Arsuffi said the next step is to kick off implementation.

"We are working to secure needed funding to implement the strategies outlined in the plan and to get the word out on the plan and its findings and recommendations," he said. "The EPA's acceptance of the plan maps out the strategy for implementing water quality management plans, wildlife habitat management, feral hog management and septic system education and outreach."

Funding for plan development was provided through a federal Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant to the Texas Water Resources Institute, administered by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

For more information on the watershed plan, contact Broad at 806-834-1170 or Tyson.broad@ttu.edu.

Jerry Lackey is the agriculture editor emeritus. Contact him at jlackey@wcc.net.
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ELDORADO

Wildlife workshop, tour slated Oct. 27

A multicounty Livestock and Wildlife Management Workshop and Ranch Tour is slated for Oct. 27 in Eldorado.

Registration is at 8:30 a.m. followed by the program from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The morning session will be at the Schleicher County Civic Center, located on U.S. Highway 277 a mile south of Eldorado. The afternoon tour will be on N&K Ranches.

"We've had a really good year from a rainfall standing point, especially compared to some we've had lately, so the goal of the field day will be to build upon our current momentum to properly manage into the future," said Tait Cooper, Schleicher County agriculture agent.

Individual preregistration is $20 by Oct. 21 and $25 thereafter. For more information and to preregister, call Cooper at 325-853-2132.

SAN ANGELO

Beefmaster bulls average $4,702

Beefmaster bulls at the 55th annual sale Oct. 1 in San Angelo sold extremely strong with unprecedented demand for the Beefmaster genetics in a difficult market environment, sad Lorenzo Lasater, Isa Company president.

"We sold 135 Beefmaster bulls for an average of $4,702 each to 37 buyers from six states and Mexico," Lasater said. "The high-selling bull, L Bar 4519, sold to Dalton Lowery, Silver State Beefmasters of Fallon, Nevada for $18,000. This awesome young herd sire prospect is the son of L Bar En Fuego, and was the overall top performer in the offering."

Volume buyers included: Elko Land and Livestock, Nevada buying 38 head; Lykes Brothers, Florida, buying 20 head; A. Duda and Sons, Florida, buying 12 head; Goff Ranches, Arizona, taking 12 head; Diamond and a Half Ranch, New Mexico, purchased nine head. Other volume buyers were Jones Ranch, Texas, Rio Ranch, Florida, and Matt Rudnianyn, Florida.

Lorenzo's grandfather, Tom Lasater, founded the Beefmaster breed in 1937.

Seaton named new regional agent

Mandi Seaton is the new family and consumer sciences regional program leader for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service's West Region. She replaces Judy Gully, who retired Aug. 31 following a 23-year career with the agency.

Seaton calls Texas A&M Research and Extension Center at San Angelo headquarters. She leads the family and consumer sciences programming across the 23-county West Central District and the 22-county Far West District.

She received a Master of Science in agricultural education and a Bachelor of Science in home economics education from Texas Tech University.

Seaton started her career in 2004 as a family and consumer sciences agent in Bailey County. She transferred to Lamb County in 2009, serving there until accepting the regional program leader role. Before her Extension career, she was a kindergarten teacher in the Lazbuddie Independent School District from 1991 until 2004.
Cowboys offense clicks in rout of Bears

Dak Prescott threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, Micah Parsons returned a fumble for his first NFL score in Dallas Cowboys win.
SHARE Illustration by Terry Maxwell The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department began release of Rio Grande turkeys in Tom Green and Irion counties in the 1930s and 1940s. Within 30 years, the reintroduction effort was a success.

By Terry Maxwell

One of the wildlife conservation success stories in the Concho Valley is the return of the wild turkey. It has been a dramatic recovery.

Turkeys are large pheasants and there are only two living species: wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) of much of North America and ocellated turkey (M. ocellata) of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and Peten district of Guatemala. In the broad wild turkey distribution, there are six geographic races or subspecies recognized today. The subspecies in the Concho Valley is the so-called Rio Grande turkey (M. g. intermedia). The subspecies in southwest Mexico, M. g. gallopavo, is the source of domesticated turkeys, an accomplishment of ancient mesoamericans about 2000 years ago.

I know you are familiar with wild turkey appearance, especially that fanned tail in a strutting male. Males are the heavier sex and weigh 17 to 21 pounds. Hanging down from the upper breast are keratinaceous fibers called a "beard." The beard can be present in both sexes but is more common in males.

They're surprisingly strong fliers, and can fly up to a mile distance before giving up. Often, most of their flights are much shorter  at dusk up into roost trees and then at dawn back down. In our region, common night roost trees are pecan, live oak, cottonwood and large mesquite. In the western extent of their distribution in the Concho Valley, where trees are scarce, many turkeys roost on windmills, utility poles and massive power line towers.

It's night when wild turkeys are at most threat from predators. Commonly, predators on adult turkeys are bobcats, foxes, coyotes and especially man. Nests have more predation problems with the addition of egg-eating skunks, raccoons, rat snakes and bull snakes.

Wild turkeys eat mostly green leaves, acorns and pecans (in winter), prickly pear cactus tunas, tasajillo fruits, doveweed, sumac, hackberry, juniper berries and grasshoppers.

The species has an interesting breeding system  male dominant polygyny with leks. In other words, individual males will mate with multiple females (polygyny). A lek is a group of males gathered to display and vocalize (gobble) with the intent to attract females for mating. In a lek, the male display is quite dramatic. The tail is spread in that famous fan; wings are lowered with the outer wing feathers dragging the ground; and the males strut (appearing like a glide) for females.

In the Concho Valley, lek displays begin in late January with mating in February. Eggs (in a typical clutch of 12) are laid in March and hatch by late April. Poults will remain with females about 10 months.

Mid-19th century observers found wild turkeys to be common in the Concho Valley, but their decline was steep until the year 1900, when they were almost eliminated. Turkeys have a lot of meat and hungry people find them easy to hunt by shooting into night roosts (now illegal).

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (then Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission) in the 1930s and 1940s began release of Rio Grande turkeys in the Concho Valley (primarily in Tom Green and Irion counties). Within 30 years, it was obvious that the reintroduction effort was a success. Turkeys had spread westward to Reagan and Glasscock counties.

Such trap and release programs, with strict enforcement of hunting regulations, have been successful with all races of wild turkey across the continent. In the year 2009, the estimated total population of the species was 6.5 to 6.7 million and the population of the Rio Grande turkey across its range from Oklahoma to Mexico was 1.1 million. Texas alone was estimated to have almost one-half million wild turkeys, placing it in second place only to Alabama.

When we put our minds, backs and resolve into it, we can most often successfully manage wildlife. Next time you get the chance, hug a TP&W biologist and game warden.

Terry Maxwell, Ph.D., is a retired professor of biology at Angelo State University. He can be reached at terry.maxwell@angelo.edu.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. right, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left.

(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

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By John C. Moritz | USA Today Network Austin Bureau

AUSTIN  Texas Republicans, who have entered the final weeks of nearly every election cycle in the past two decades brimming with confidence, are remarkably subdued in the wake of presidential nominee Donald Trumps newly discovered lewd remarks toward women.

Republicans in Texas, and across the country, are resigned to the fact that we have a flawed nominee in a year that we would have defeated the Democratic candidate, said veteran GOP strategist Eric Bearse, once a top aide to former Gov. Rick Perry.

We are having to respond to the daily gaffes of Donald Trump, and its putting at risk Republican candidates up and down the ticket.

The latest and perhaps most costly miscue are remarks by Trump made in 2005 while he and a television host were chatting, apparently unwittingly into a live microphone. Caught on the recording was Trump talking about kissing and groping women with impunity because he was a star.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday night weighed in more than 24 hours after the remarks triggered shock waves across the political landscape just one month before the election.

Deeply disturbing rhetoric by Trump, Abbott said on Twitter. An insult to all women & contrary to GOP values. Absent true contrition, consequences will be dire.

And one of those GOP candidates considered vulnerable in November, U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, on Saturday told the El Paso Times that Trump should abandon the race in favor of a true conservative.

I never endorsed Trump and I cannot in good conscience support or vote for a man who degrades women, insults minorities and has no clear path to keep our country safe, Hurd said in a text message. He should step aside for a true conservative to beat Hillary Clinton.

Hurd is in a rematch with Democrat Pete Gallego in the Texas District 23 race, one of the nations most watched congressional races this year.

Meanwhile, U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick denounced Trumps comments, but did not withdraw their support for their partys nominee.

These comments are disturbing and inappropriate, there is simply no excuse for them, Cruz said via Twitter. Every wife, mother, daughter  every person  deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

The timing was particularly awkward for Cruz, Trumps last-standing rival in the crowded GOP primary field who steadfastly refused to endorse the business mogul-turned-politician until finally relenting last month.

Cornyn, the states senior senator who remained neutral during the primaries, was more forceful in his reaction to Trumps remarks.

I am disgusted by Mr Trumps words about women: our daughters, sisters and mothers, Cornyn said in a Twitter post, adding: And I am profoundly disappointed by the race to the bottom this presidential campaign has become.

Patrick, a Cruz supporter through the primaries, was among the first Texans to embrace Trump once his nomination was secured. In his statement chastising Trump, the first-term lieutenant governor pivoted quickly and concentrated his fire on Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

There is absolutely no excuse to ever talk about women in such a crude and demeaning way. He was certainly right to apologize, Patrick and of Trump before adding: But we cant let this firestorm distract voters from the frightening policies of Clinton.

Calls to Republican Land Commissioner George P. Bush, who is heading up the GOP turnout operation in Texas, were not returned Saturday.

U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, a Corpus Christi Republican who endorsed Trump in July, did not responds to calls left at his campaign office Saturday. But his Democratic opponent, Roy Barrera, sought to link the three-term incumbent more tightly to Trump.

Our communities in District 27 should be outraged that our own congressman aligns himself with this rhetoric and with comments like these serving as his moral compass, said Barrera, a security officer at the federal courthouse in Corpus Christi. This is a man not suitable to serve the constituents of District 27 anymore. Enough is enough.

In Austin, Trumps comments clearly energized the more than 300 women who came out for a get-out-the-vote workshop organized by the Clinton campaign.

This is our chance in a very long time to surprise a lot of people, said Jackie Uresti, a Corpus Christi native whos running the Austin office of the Clinton campaign.

Harold Cook, a longtime Texas Democratic operative, said the latest Trump controversy caps a whirlwind election cycle that has forced Lone Star State Republicans to alternately apologize for and run from their nominee.

But because Republican strength has been baked into the Texas landscape for so long, it is unlikely that the state will fall into the Democratic column for the first time since 1976, Cook said. But, he added, it could provide a boost for down-ballot Democrats, he added.

Ive said there are nine or 10 state House seats now controlled by Republicans that could be competitive because of concerns about Trump, Cook said. But only about four of them could realistically be taken by Democrats. With this latest deal, Id revise that number up to six or seven.

Bearse agreed. Women in suburban areas, long among the most reliable Republican voters in Texas, are moving away from Trump in a hurry, he said. That means that either turnout in the GOP-leaning suburbs will suffer, or that theyll cast ballots for Clinton and perhaps look favorably at other Democratic candidates, he said.

I dont think the Democrats can flip Texas, Bearse said. But Trump is making the state a lot more competitive than it should be.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Carolyn Gascoigne is the first dean of Angelo State University's College of Arts and Humanities.

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By Brittney Miller

Carolyn Gascoigne will forever be able to claim the title as the first-ever dean of Angelo State University's College of Arts and Humanities.

The new college was officially formed on Sept. 1 when the former College of Arts and Sciences was split into the College of Arts and Humanities and the College of Science and Engineering. Gascoigne arrived on campus July 1 from her former position as graduate program chair in the Department of Foreign Languages at the University of Nebraska Omaha.

"One of the first things I want to do, and I've asked faculty to start thinking about this, is we need to carve out an identity as a college," Gascoigne said. "A lot of people don't recognize what the arts and humanities are. I think when people don't understand what you are, like they understand other colleges such as the college of business or education, there tends to be some skepticism. Some people understand the arts. But what are the humanities?"

On the "arts" side of the college, Gascoigne oversees the art, music and theater programs in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts. At ASU, the humanities include English and modern languages, communication and mass media, history, political science and philosophy, and security studies and criminal justice.

"Employers want critical thinking skills  creative thinkers, not just critical thinkers," Gascoigne said. "They want people with effective oral and written communication, and they want an adaptive and creative workforce, which is something we in the humanities can provide. We are, I believe, a necessity, not a luxury."

A native of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Gascoigne's philosophy of life is about finding and pursuing your passion. She found her passion through French and higher education, though not without some initial hesitation.

"I never planned on pursuing higher education," Gascoigne said. "I planned on finishing high school and being done. But when I did go to college, it was such a stimulating and positive environment that I just never wanted to leave."

And she never did, initially earning her Bachelor of Arts in economics.

"I was told at a very young age that I shouldn't pursue the languages," Gascoigne said.

But her passion for modern languages won out, and she went on to earn her master of arts in French and her doctorate in French/second language acquisition. With higher education firmly in her blood, she joined the faculty at the University of Nebraska Omaha and stayed for 19 years before making the move to Angelo State.

During her tenure at UNO, Gascoigne also served as acting assistant vice chancellor for academic and student affairs from 2011-12. She was chair of the Department of Foreign Languages for nine years and earned the Peter Kiewit Professorship for five years. She has published five books and 65 articles in refereed journals, and she has presented over 40 papers at professional conference proceedings.

Other accolades Gascoigne has received include the American Association of Teachers of French-Nebraska (NAATF) Teacher of the Year, the UNO Excellence in Teaching Award and the Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award in the Humanities.

One of the things that has struck her most since her arrival at Angelo State in July is all the activity on campus. With mention to all the speaker series, concerts, theater productions and other events within her college alone, the sheer number of events and the smaller faculty contradict her prior experience.

When asked how she would describe how so much gets done at ASU, Gascoigne simply said, "I believe the word is 'scrappy'  and I have a lot of respect for that."

Brittney Miller is a marketing specialist in the ASU Office of Communications and Marketing.
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By Sharon Randall

Some people collect stuff. Salt 'n' pepper shakers. Ribbons from county fairs. T-shirts with catchy slogans. Once, on a flight from Dallas to Las Vegas, I met a woman who claimed to collect ex-husbands and alimony.

I personally have never been a collector, never found anything that seemed worth the effort to amass and store and dust it.

Mostly, I collect people  family, friends, folks I meet  and the stories they tell me. All it costs is the time to listen. And they usually dust themselves.

But today, out of the blue, I suddenly realized what I've been collecting all my life: Words.

They repeat, like a litany in my memory and my soul, good things that were said to me over the years, that lifted me up, kept me going, gave me hope or just made me smile.

I think of a few of them most everyday. The difference today was this: For the first time I saw them as a whole, a lifetime of blessings heaped upon my head. So I decided to make a list of some of my favorites:

My grandmother, when I was 7, took my face in her hands and said, "I know you will never do anything intentionally wrong."

She was wrong about that. But her faith in me set a bar I still try (and often fail) to live up to.

When I was 12, about to be baptized, my Sunday school teacher told me, yes, Jesus loves me, and she loved me, too. I could see in her eyes she meant both. I never felt so loved.

My high school English teacher told me I was a "writer." I didn't know what "writer" meant, but I was pretty sure he did and I took him at his word.

When my first child, at 6 months, smiled at me and said "Mama," it was the sweetest word I'd ever heard and the best name I'd ever been called. It still is. But I have to say "Nana" is a close runner-up.

Years ago, when I told my mother I'd won an award for writing, she said, "For what?" So I explained again what I do for a living, and she said, "Well, honey, I guess you're smart!" Even now, it makes me laugh.

As my first husband neared the end of a losing battle with cancer, he said to me, "I had no idea you could be so strong." I don't know why he said it. But hearing it made me stronger.

Once, for Mother's Day, my daughter gave me a collage of photos taken of me with her and her brothers when they were growing up. On it she wrote this quote: "All that I am or hope to be I owe to my angel mother."

That, from the same girl, who at 18, had told me to get a life.

Fifteen years ago, the day my editor, who is now my husband, became more than a friend, he said, "I've been carrying a torch for you for a while and I think you ought to give me a chance."

You'd be amazed how often those words cross my mind.

Children often say things that give us reason to laugh and to feel more alive. My children and grandchildren have given me countless words to treasure. Henry, my grandson, is 5. I wish you could see him. One day, he begged me to chase him.

"I can't chase you," I said. "But I'll grab you as you run by me."

"Why can't you chase me?"

"Because, Henry, I'm old."

"No, Nana!" he said, with his sweet eyes welling up. "You're not old! You're so pretty!"

I promised to buy him a car.

Words matter. Good or bad, intentional or idiotic, they stand forever. Most anything can be forgiven, but bad words, once spoken, can't be taken back.

Most of us have heard our share of both: Words that build us up or tear us down; that lift our spirits or break our hearts.

I'd like to leave my loved ones a lot of good words. I bet you'd like to do that for yours, too.

We have a choice about the things we say, and also, about the memories on which we choose to dwell. The two go hand in hand. Kindness begets kindness, love begets love.

My list was just a fraction of the "good words" I can recall.

What are some of yours?

Sharon Randall can be reached at P.O. Box 777394, Henderson NV 89077, or on her website: www.sharonrandall.com.
COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R- Texas speaks during a round table with veterans in August in Corpus Christi. Cruz denounced Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's remarks about groping women, but stopped short of rescinding his support for the real estate mogul.

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By John C. Moritz, USA Today Network Austin Bureau john.moritz@caller.com

AUSTIN  Texas Republicans, who have entered the final weeks of nearly every election cycle in the past two decades brimming with confidence, are remarkably subdued in the wake of presidential nominee Donald Trump's newly discovered lewd remarks toward women.

"Republicans in Texas, and across the country, are resigned to the fact that we have a flawed nominee in a year that we would have defeated the Democratic candidate," said veteran GOP strategist Eric Bearse, once a top aide to former Gov. Rick Perry.

"We are having to respond to the daily gaffes of Donald Trump, and it's putting at risk Republican candidates up and down the ticket."

Few Texas Republican officeholders have stepped forward to address the remarks by Trump, made in 2005 while he and a television host were chatting, apparently unwittingly into a live microphone. Caught on the recording was Trump talking about kissing and groping women with impunity because he was "a star."

Three who did, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Rep. Will Hurd, denounced the comments but did not go as far as saying they wouldn't support for their party's nominee.

"These comments are disturbing and inappropriate, there is simply no excuse for them," Cruz said via Twitter. "Every wife, mother, daughter  every person  deserves to be treated with dignity and respect."

The timing was particularly awkward for Cruz, Trump's last-standing rival in the crowded GOP primary field who steadfastly refused to endorse the business mogul-turned-politician until finally relenting last month.

Patrick, a Cruz supporter through the primaries, was among the first Texans to embrace Trump once his nomination was secured. In his statement chastising Trump, the first-term lieutenant governor pivoted quickly and concentrated his fire on Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

"There is absolutely no excuse to ever talk about women in such a crude and demeaning way. He was certainly right to apologize," Patrick and of Trump before adding: "But we can't let this firestorm distract voters from the frightening policies" of Clinton.

Hurd, who is facing former Rep. Pete Gallego in Texas' only contested congressional race, told the El Paso Times that he found Trump's comments "utterly sickening and repulsive for all women and Americans." Hurd has not said whether or not he will support Trump.

Hurd and Gallego are battling for the 23rd Congressional District seat, which stretches from El Paso to San Antonio.

Calls to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Land Commissioner George P. Bush, who is heading up the GOP turnout operation in Texas, were not returned Saturday.

Harold Cook, a longtime Texas Democratic operative, said the latest Trump controversy caps a whirlwind election cycle that has forced Lone Star State Republicans to alternately apologize for and run from their nominee.

But because Republican strength has been baked into the Texas landscape for so long, it is unlikely that the state will fall into the Democratic column for the first time since 1976, Cook said. But, he added, it could provide a boost for down-ballot Democrats, he added.

"I've said there are nine or 10 state House seats now controlled by Republicans that could be competitive because of concerns about Trump," Cook said. "But only about four of them could realistically be taken by Democrats. With this latest deal, I'd revise that number up to six or seven."

Bearse agreed. Women in suburban areas, long among the most reliable Republican voters in Texas, are moving away from Trump in a hurry, he said. That means that either turnout in the GOP-leaning suburbs will suffer, or that they'll cast ballots for Clinton and perhaps look favorably at other Democratic candidates, he said.

"I don't think the Democrats can flip Texas," Bearse said. "But Trump is making the state a lot more competitive than it should be."
Uh no, and that's a false equivalence.



There will always be some bureaucrat somewhere that oversteps their boundaries, but they get reigned in.



You can also sell used goods at your local flea market, and from what i've just learned, an app on your smart phone.



Speaking for myself, i'm an electrical contractor, which in my state requires that I hold a Master electrical license which took 10 years of my life to obtain, including 4 years of apprenticeship school, while working as a journeyman, and receiving continuous education. Then I had to take and pass the electrical contractors exam, which you are not eligible to take without holding a current valid Master electrical license. Then I had to apply for, aand receive a local business license in the jurisdiction of my state, with a Federal tax ID, and a certificate of general liability insurance, and if I employ more than 3 employees on any job, workers compensation insurance on top of that, not to mention a business insurance license on my company vehicles. I am also incorporated in my state, for protection of my personal assets should I be sued.



My state, and because I know, all states, including the one in which you reside, requires the same things in my business, with some states being even more restrictive than mine. You see the states don't just want any fool with a pick up truck and a screw driver performing electrical work, that can result in the loss of life and property.



Being in business is a privilege. It is not a right.



Apparently, according to Donald Trump, it is his right to rip off contractors such as myself, after performing our end of the contract.



A profit is a right according to him. Just not for the guys he owes money to.
Dallara has played down rumours it is in partnership with Ferrari.

The rumours about the great Maranello marque and the niche Italian race car manufacturer have been circulating for some time, but boss Gian Paolo Dallara dismissed it as "fable".

"The partnership covers the supply of carbon parts and aerodynamic research on road cars," he told Corriere della Sera newspaper.

However, Dallara is centrally involved with the so-called Ferrari 'B' team, Haas.

But Gian Paolo Dallara denied there is any transfer of information or technology.

"Not at all, they are two separate worlds," he insisted.

"We work for Haas under the direction of Rob Taylor and Ben Agathangelou. Haas, in turn, acquires the powertrain and other parts from Maranello," Dallara added.

Nonetheless, Dallara was asked about Ferrari's current situation, and the Italian media's claim that Sebastian Vettel is in 'crisis'.

"He is suffering the frustration of those who want to win but cannot. We will have to see if he can wait -- Alonso was not able to," he said.

"One of the ingredients of success is patience," added Dallara.

"I have seen droughts of Ferrari for longer than this."

Dallara was also asked about rumours of a potential clash with F1's new owners Liberty, who have reportedly told Ferrari that huge financial bonuses will end.

"The new owners should move close to 'la Rossa' (Ferrari) or the world will collapse on them. Without 'il Cavallino' (Ferrari), F1 dies.

"Mercedes cannot save it: if they withdraw, no one notices," he insisted.

(GMM)
Toto Wolff has admitted he remains worried about engine reliability at Suzuka.

After Lewis Hamilton's race-ending failure in Malaysia, the otherwise dominant team implemented some quick fixes for the Japanese grand prix.

But boss Wolff admits: "It's not an easy situation. In one week you are unable to identify the problem in full.

"We are trying to contain it in many ways, but it is no guarantee that we will be ok in the race," he is quoted by Brazil's UOL.

It is believed one of the measures was not allowing Mercedes drivers to use their special 'qualifying mode' on Saturday.

(GMM)
Perfect analogy; but I haven't seen the Repubs say en masse that they are now going to support Hillary because of this new video. Rather- I think they are just trying to cover their collective backsides; if they are up for reelection this year in a tight race.

But you are correct: The Titanic has hit the iceberg, and the water is coming in, fast!
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The campaign for Ann Roe, who is running for Congress against Lyin' Bryan Steil has come out with the best one-liner of this cycle so far: I can't argue...

11 months ago
Toward the end of the big debate, Mr. Trump accused Mrs. Clinton of running vicious TV ads against him. He was dead right.

In case Mr. Trump hasnt noticed, the bulk of her ads have simply featured his own words. Vicious words used against the disabled, Mexicans, Muslims, women and war heroes like John McCain. The list goes on.
The iPhone 7's reign in our Top 10 trending chart could only last so long, and after four weeks in number one it's now dropped four spots into 5th. A familiar face has returned to the top - the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3.

A couple of Pixels have entered the chart after their unveiling this week. The small Phone by Google shot straight to number 2, while the XL is just off the podium in 4th spot.

A surprising new entry this week - the Samsung Z2 joins the big boys in number 6. The Galaxy J7 Prime and the Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime have each dropped 3 spots, and we find them in 7th and 8th respectively. The Moto G4 Plus has only slipped one down into 9th and the Galaxy J5 (2016) completes this week's chart.
It certainly seemed fitting to sail into Copenhagen from the water, aboard a Viking ship no less.

The city exists because of the harbor, which is basically its name, Kbenhavn, from the original Kpmannhafn, meaning merchants harbor.



Before that, over a thousand years ago, Vikings used the port and established a fishing village.

Its hard to imagine what the hard-charging Vikings would think pulling into the port now, being greeted by a serene statue of The Little Mermaid.

The bronze tribute to Danish author Hans Christian Andersen by Edvard Eriksen has become a symbol for the city as she sits wistfully on a rock.

Shes completely unViking-like, but very welcoming to us modern-day Viking cruisers.

Did our Guide Just Say the King was a Short, Fat, Alcoholic?

From the port, the easiest place to begin our exploration was at Amalienborg Palace, which is actually four identical palaces surrounding an octagonal courtyard.

The royal family has been living on this site for about four hundred years, including the current monarch, Queen Margrethe II.

Our guide pointed out an equestrian statue of King Frederick V in the center of the square and cheekily explained how, even though this whole complex was his baby, it doesnt really look like him.

It seems he wanted to be depicted as a god-like Roman emperor, when in the words of our guide, the artist must have had quite the time of it; Frederick was a short, fat, alcoholic.

Got to love hilarious honesty in a tour guide!

Much like Buckingham Palace, Amalienborg is guarded day and night by Royal Life Guards.

No, they arent keeping an eye on the swimming pool, these sentries are from an elite infantry regiment of the Danish Army, founded in 1658 by King Frederik III, and are much more than ceremonial.

When they are not wearing funny hats, they serve in a front-line combat unit.

King Roman god want-to-be also wanted a church built in his honor, so Frederiks Church construction began in 1749.

Soon money got tight and the church was left incomplete and stood basically as a ruin for almost a century and a half.

When the church finally opened in 1894 it became known as The Marble Church.

So much for his big monument.

Going deeper into town we came to the Radhuspladsen, or City Hall Square.

Normally this is a central gathering place for the city in the shadow of the impressive Palace Hotel and City Hall; unfortunately a massive reconstruction project had most of it hidden.

Checking the Weather

But it wasnt a total bust, we did get to see one of Copenhagens quirky charms, The Weather Girls, perched on top of the Richs building in one corner of the square.

On nice days a sculpture of a girl with her bicycle rotates to the front, but when rain moves in another sculpture appears of her with an umbrella walking her dog.

Not exactly Accuweather, but fun nonetheless.

Government and a Sad Bear

Since we had missed one landmark due to renovations, we high-tailed it to another one nearby, the Christiansborg Palace.

This spot has been the seat of Denmarks government since 1167, when the first castle went up.

Two more castles and a couple of palaces later, and we were looking at the home of the Danish Parliament, as well as the Prime Ministers Office and the Supreme Court.

A rare sight indeed, since this is the only building in the world that houses all three of a countrys branches of government.

Thats a whole lot of history for just one spot, but it was a new addition to the courtyard that caught our eye, a work of art entitled Unbearable.

In the somewhat disturbing piece, an iron pipe portrays the levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide sky-rocketing into the belly of a polar bear like a spear.

The impact of the sculpture by Jens Galschit was immediate and unsettling.

It certainly made us want to investigate the work and what it was saying.

No doubt that was the idea when it was created in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund.

There are Hippies in Copenhagen? Yes, Serious Ones.

With our thinking being pushed a little outside of the box, we broke off from our tour group to check out an area of Copenhagen that is not a part of the usual tourist programs, Christiania.

This uniquely odd community began back in 1971 when a group of oh for lack of a better term, lets call them hippies, moved into an abandoned military facility.

The counter-culture squatters declared themselves to be an autonomous entity known as Freetown Christiania.

It didnt take long for a thriving cannabis trade to develop, and the business was generally tolerated and overlooked by the authorities for years.

The attitude among civil authorities became one of begrudging tolerance, deciding that keeping things confined to this area might not be a bad idea.

But in 2004 they decided to crackdown, and after that the dealings went undercover, but didnt stop.

Now things have relaxed again, but with some odd twists, one that we encountered as we approached Pusher Street in what is known as the Green Light District.

Booths are openly selling pot and hash, but the proprietors are all wearing ski masks or scarves to hide their identities and a no photos policy is strictly enforced.

Other than that somewhat dark underground feel of this small section we found Christiania to be mostly groovy, with folks enjoying the good vibes of a beautiful day while getting baked in a lovely setting.

Having dug the scene, we decided to split before we developed a serious contact high.

But we figured wed check out some places nearby where folks go to satisfy their munchies anyway.

The City of Spires

A very cool landmark had been guiding our path since we set out to find Christiania from across the bridge, the distinctive spire of the Vor Frelsers Kirke.

Copenhagen is sometimes called the City of Spires because of all of the towers on its churches and castles.

But of all of them, this one on the Church of Our Saviour had been intriguing us all day with its external spiral stairway climbing all the way to the top.

Talk about getting high!

Uberfancy Sandwiches

Having found both the commune and the tower, we were ready to reward ourselves with a Scandinavian lunch treat, smrrebrd.

These are open-faced sandwiches meant to be eaten with a knife and fork. Toppings are artistically arraigned on brown bread to create an edible work of art.

We went with chicken salad and shrimp on avocado, two classics.

Once again we found ourselves wondering what a Viking might think.

Its hard to imagine one of the burly warriors accepting these dainty delicacies as a meal, but then wed venture a guess that we might be less than enthusiastic about eating most of their fare too.

With that in mind we headed back to our ship content with our place in history just as we suspect those Vikings of old were with theirs.

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

A big thanks to Viking Ocean Cruises for inviting us along and providing this adventure through the Viking Homelands! Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, and Norway. As always, all opinions are our own.

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Haiti - Humanitarian : The European Union intensifies its support





Following the devastating hurricane Matthew, the European Commission is intensifying its support and announced an additional 1.5 million euros in emergency humanitarian assistance to the most affected Haitians to cover the immediate basic needs. This funding complements the initial humanitarian aid from the EU, 255 000 Euros https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18841-haiti-humanitarian-first-aid-from-the-european-union.html



Several EU Member States have also offered assistance through the European Civil Protection Mechanism. A team of experts in civil protection of the EU, from Denmark, Finland, France, Romania and Sweden, is deployed in the most affected areas. Their expertise will allow to support the coordination, logistics, water sectors, emergency sanitation and health. Humanitarian experts from the EU and its partners are already on the ground in Haiti.



Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management, declared "In solidarity with the people of Haiti, the European Union is intensifying emergency assistance at this critical time to save lives. The EU also provides support to health services, drinking water and sanitation facilities. I thank all Member States for their help. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy and teams who help them now."



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18875-haiti-usa-over-480-tons-of-us-aid.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/article-18869-haiti-actualite-zapping-politique.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18866-haiti-humanitarian-over-$6m-aid-from-uk.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18855-haiti-humanitarian-spain-alongside-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18854-haiti-economy-world-bank-sends-experts-on-the-ground.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18853-haiti-canada-matthew-3-million-dollars-in-initial-aid.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18844-haiti-humanitarian-venezuela-sent-20-tons-of-aid.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18842-haiti-humanitaire-$1m-of-additional-assistance-from-usaid-for-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18841-haiti-humanitarian-first-aid-from-the-european-union.html



HL/ S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - FLASH : Reopening of schools Monday...





The Ministry of National Education informs that an inventory of school infrastructure is underway to assess the extent of damage and the type of urgent intervention to perform for the resumption of school activities in the affected areas. Teams of support to the Regional Directorates of Education, were dispatched in 6 departments most affected (South, Grande Anse, South East, Nippes, Artibonite and Northwest).



Initial reports indicate 300 affected schools whose the majority of which relate to roofs partially or completely destroyed in addition to damage caused by the rains and floods.



A preliminary estimate of repair and reconstruction costs is underway by the School Engineering Directorate https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18869-haiti-news-zapping-politics.html



Meanwhile, the Department initiated a series of consultations with the bilateral and multilateral cooperation partners to mobilize actors on emergency operations to be undertaken to allow schools to operate within acceptable learning conditions, including rehabilitation of infrastructure and/or construction of school buildings and the supports to consider to the benefit of the educational community.



Despite the situation, the Ministry of National Education who had decided to close schools because of Hurricane https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18824-haiti-flash-the-ministry-of-education-maintains-schools-closed.html , maintains the resumption of school activities Monday, October 10 and students are expected in the classroom...



Guilbaud Saint-Cyr, President of the Federation of Protestant Schools of Haiti (over 3,000 establishments), said that all Protestant schools will not be able to host students on Monday. Indicating that the current evaluation of school infrastructure, indicates that several schools in the North West and South departments will not accommodate student before one week, see in November for some.



For its part, the Ministry points out that in areas where educational facilities are the most affected "[...] after the evaluation, the Ministry will set up temporary structures to enable the academic year."



HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Humanitarian : Food for The Poor Haiti on all fronts





Since the passage of Matthew on Haiti Food for The Poor Haiti is on all fronts and works tirelessly.



Thursday, October 6, the NGO has delivered 7 tons of food to La Gonave, 30 tons in Cap Haitien, 30 tons in Anse-a-Veau.



Friday, 7 October, a delegation of "Food For the Poor" left Port-au-Prince for the evaluation of all its projects

in the Nippes and South and give an assessment of 15 fishing villages that the NGO had built in Leogane, Madian, Cotes de Fer, Aquin, Port-Salut, to Coteaux and Chardonnieres.



Saturday, October 8, an NGO team left the capital by helicopter for the Grande Anse for a status report.



The same day, the NGO sent by sea to the Grande-Anse, 9 containers containing 225 tons of food (rice, peas, water, sugar, sausages) and also blankets. 2 containers will be delivered to Pestel, 5 to Jeremie and 2 to Dame Marie.



In addition, the town halls of Miragoane, Jacmel, Leogane, Petit-Goave, Grand-Goave, Gressier, Ganthier and Mole Saint Nicolas, each received 8 tons of rice and peas.



The Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince received rations to be distributed to the mountain communities of Leogane, Grand-Goave and Petit-Goave.



8 tons of food were delivered to Aquin and an equal number to the West Health Directorate, 25 tons of food were delivered to the Regional Centre of Food For the Poor to Balan near Ganthier. 8 tons to the Northwest Growers Association.



25 tons of food are en route to the Cayes and 25 tons of food are on their way to Port-Salut.



Moreover, Food for The Poor Haiti as delivered medicines to the Ministry of Public Health and bought 15 tons of Petit Mil produced locally, which will be delivered in the South shortly.



At the donations the NGO announces :



SOGEBANK made a pledge of $ 150,000 which will be used to reconstruct the roofs of Jeremie school and a school of Les Cayes;



The company "Comme Il Faut" has donated 20,000 US dollars to Food for the Poor. These funds were used to purchase: 1,300 cases of 24 bottles of 20oz of treated water and food provisions that could allow 150 families to eat for 15 days;



Culligan has provided 800 bottles of 5 gallons of treated water;



Matpar offered 5 boxes of Aquatab and 800 buckets of 5-gallon plastic that will fill Culligan with drinking water for free.



"Haiti Prime Apparel" offered 3,300 new shirts and pants.



However, The stocks of "Food for the Poor" working in Haiti for 30 years https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18817-haiti-humanitarian-thank-you-food-for-the-poor.html are more and more low hour after hour.



If you wish to participate in the effort by making a donation, please do so using the link for Haiti : https://champions.foodforthepoor.org/fundraise?fcid=793733



Be supportive and generous.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















By William Schwartz | Published on 2016/10/08

In rural North Korea Cheol-woo (played by Ryoo Seung-bum) is a fairly unremarkable fisherman who lives with his wife and daughter. Cheol-woo has to cross a checkpoint every day to go to work because he lives perilously close to the Demilitarized Zone. Far from having especially tight security, the North Korean border fence is actually fairly ramshackle, and because Cheol-woo knows the guards personally, they are hesitant to follow strict policy when an accident forces Cheol-woo's boat adrift. And there starts Cheol-woo's unfortunate journey to South Korea's modernland.

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The most immediately prescient production element in "The Net" is dark comedy. Upon arrival in South Korea, it's pretty plainly obvious that Cheol-woo is only there by accident, but owing to procedure, the South Korean characters have to pretend like he is not. Owing to official South Korean propaganda, government employees are not allowed to entertain the idea that a person could leave North Korea for any reason other than a hatred of Communism and love of Democracy. Or alternately, a love of Communism and hatred of Democracy.

In reality regular normal guys like Cheol-woo really don't care about politics at all, and that's where the bulk of the humor comes from. The South Korean characters have to keep coming up with nonsensical tests to measure Cheol-woo's true intentions for reasons that never make any sense. Even the South Korean agents themselves don't really believe the whole Communism/Democracy thing, as much more mundane questions like "how will we explain this to the higher-ups" and "can I wrangle a promotion out of this somehow" take focus.

This all seems hilarious enough until we inevitably get to depressing scenes which remind us that oh, right, this is Cheol-woo's actual life they're screwing around with. He's completely nonplussed by every tactic used because Cheol-woo knows what propaganda is. The man's from North Korea for pity's sake, of course he knows what propaganda is. Cheol-woo correctly guesses just about everything the agents do, not out of genius, but because he's used to it.

And that's where the ingenious entrapment of "The Net" comes into play. A traditionally minded propaganda movie would make Cheol-woo unfit for life in North Korea because his eyes have been opened to how perfect the outside capitalist world is. Actually, what ruins Cheol-woo is that having been forced to acknowledge the Kafkaesque bureaucracy that is the reality of South Korea, Cheol-woo can no longer unsee the similarly pseudo-patriotic loyalist procedures in North Korea that no one actually believes except to the extent it benefits their self-interest.

Weirdly enough South Korea comes off as the lesser to North Korea in comparison, not through any salt of the earth nonsense, but because the equivalent North Korean procedures come with more clearly defined expectations. Yet even that's not enough to give Cheol-woo a truly happy ending. Fret not though- the closing shot of "The Net" is surprisingly optimistic, suggesting that the gulf between systems is not that great, and may be reconcilable to a mind not subject to continuous brainwashing.

Review by William Schwartz

"The Net" is directed by Kim Ki-duk and features Ryoo Seung-bum, Lee Won-keun, Kim Young-min and Choi Gwi-hwa.
Published on 2016/10/09 | Source

Kahiyang Ayu's Instagram

Kahiyang Ayu, the eldest daughter of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, is visiting Korea with 36 officials from Bogor Agricultural University.

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Ayu is a fan of Korean pop culture and food.

Ayu, who studies for a master's degree at the university, has been visiting production facilities of CJ Group since Tuesday, the food giant said Thursday.

She looked at tofu and kimchi factories in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province and an instant rice factory in Busan.

Korean foods like kimchi are popular in Indonesia, she said. "I've learned a lot from the way the facilities are operated. They are efficient and hygienic".

Read this article in Korean
That's O'Connor on the far right-- on Bernie stage about a year ago



You know we love Bernie around here. Blue America was, by far, the first PAC to endorse him and start raising money for him. In all, we raised a little over $50,000 in small contributions for his presidential campaign. But that doesn't mean we agree with ever single things he-- or anyone-- says or does. As we pointed out in February , one of the mistakes Bernie made during his campaign, a mistake that horrified us-- was to give credence to the campaign of a corrupt Wall Street faker, Shawn O'Connor. One day O'Connor was gaining no traction as the "Democratic" primary candidate against Carol Shea-Porter-- campaigning on cutting Social Security and Medicare-- and a few days later he opportunistically endorsed Bernie. (Carol had already endorsed Hillary although her record in Congress was completely in sync with Bernie's agenda.)





O'Connor thinks he's "progressive" because he supports gay equality-- like New Dems Sean Patrick Maloney and Kyrsten Sinema , both of whom are, like O'Connor, gay, and are good on that one issue.





Back in February O'Connor was trying to get attention from low-info voters by mouthing platitudes based on policies people like Bernie and Carol have been working on for years and years, while he was ripping people off on Wall Street and currying favor with the big donors who were helping him finance his slime-ball campaign. Last cycle the Sierra Club spent $2,696 supporting Carol and Gabby Giffords' Americans for Responsible Solutions-- which worked with Carol on gun safety issues-- spent $529,350 on her race. O'Connor is demanding she not accept this kind of money and using a sleight of hand to make it look like she accepts money from corrupt Wall Street PACs, which she never has and never would. He's trying to claim a moral equivalency of taking corporate PAC money with the support Carol gets from small donors giving through unions and organizations like Blue America, the League of Conservation Voters, the Civil Liberties Union, Council for a Livable World, the Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood and the Partnership for Democracy & Education. This deceitfulness is standard fare for Republicans attacking Democrats-- so it comes naturally for O'Connor.





We were very disappointed that Bernie dragged him around New Hampshire and allowed him to speak on his stage, probably piqued that Shea-Porter had endorsed Hillary. Subsequently, after gaining no traction among Bernie supporters, O'Connor switched parties again, dropped out of the Democratic primary and announced he would run as an independent. And, by the way, O'Connor's dishonest TV ad says he hasn't taken a cent from special interests. His two biggest campaign contributions-- other than what he gave himself-- came from Purdue Pharma and private banksters Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.





"Since her first election," her campaign manager, Naomi Andrews told us, "Carol has always been a champion for campaign finance reform and for making sure that the voices of Granite Staters are heard in the election process. That is why, as a candidate, Carol has refused to accept corporate PAC and DC lobbyist money, and supports a constitutional amendment to overturn Citzens United. She put herself through college working in factories so she is proud to receive support from labor-- working men and women, because she knows how tough it is for them. She is disappointed that he is attacking unions for supporting her."





O'Connor lent his own campaign a million dollars in the hope of impressing the DCCC. When they weren't impressed and endorsed Carol Shea-Porter, O'Connor paid himself back and withdrew $500,000 from his campaign. This guy is a huckster and like a third-rate Trump. So far his campaign has spent $672,214, more than Carol has spent. Polls show it isn't working. The most recent NH-01 poll shows Carol with 44%, Guinta with 34% and O'Connor with 4%.





Recently, on WMUR's CloseUp, he said he would caucus in Congress with the majority party, the Republicans. Why would that surprise anyone. Except for being a pro-gay gay and being generally socially liberal, everything about O'Connor says "conservative Republican." Bernie should endorse Carol. Please consider contributing to her campaign at the thermometer below:
certain for as long as the GOP leadership knew, at least year. But By the early 2000s pretty much everyone on Capitol Hill had a good idea that flamboyant Florida Republican Mark Foley was spending a lot more time with teenagers than men his age normally did. Not everyone knew he was screwing underage male congressional pages. But Rahm Emanuel did. Emanuel knew forfor as long as the GOP leadership knew, at least year. But Rahm didn't call the police and put a stop to it and Foley kept seducing the under-age sons of wealthy GOP donors-- that's who the pages tended to be. Instead Rahm (and Hoyer) relentlessly attacked the progressive candidate running against Foley, Dave Lutrin, forcing him out of the primary and inserting a corrupt, wealthy Republican who agreed to switch his party registration and "become" a Democrat, Tim Mahoney. With Mahoney in place Rahm... waited. He waited until September 24 before making sure the news would fall like a ton of bricks. Even the people who broke the story didn't know Rahm was pulling their strings. Why did he wait 'til the 24th? The 23rd would have been the last day the Florida GOP could have replaced Foley on the ballot.









Once the news broke, Foley-- who never copped to anything more than sending naughty instant messages on AOL, despite overwhelming evidence that he was using the congressional page system as a personal harem-- he announced he was checking in to a rich-peoples' substance abuse rehab center in Arizona and that he wouldn't be running for Congress. Too late to get him off the ballot, the poor schlubb the GOP ran (even with Foley's name on the ballot instead of his own) lost Mahoney. Mahoney joined the Blue Dogs, voted with the GOP on virtually everything, was busted for molesting women or hiring hookers or something and was defeated at the next election. Go Rahm!





Why relive that now? Many Republicans-- many, many, many Republicans-- are clamoring for Trump to resign from Republican ticket and let Pence (or Cruz) run for president instead. Others, understanding that it's too late-- that absentee and early ballots have already been sent out in some states and printed in others and that voters in North Carolina, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin have already cast their ballots-- are just withdrawing their endorsements and telling voters they won't be voting for Trump. By noon yesterday, McCain finally did something he's probably wanted to do for a year:









Deseret News, which is owned by the Mormon Church and is largely seen as an LDS mouthpiece, Utah's not the only state with lots and lots of Republican Mormons. Utah has 2,040,178 Mormons but Idaho has 437,106, Arizona has 418,959, Nevada has 182,125, Colorado has 151,580... and it was from those states that the bailing on Trump Friday night and Saturday morning began. Republicans in Arizona don't win without Mormon support. Saturday morning the, which is owned by the Mormon Church and is largely seen as an LDS mouthpiece, called on Trump "to step down from his pursuit of the American presidency."

In democratic elections, ideas have consequences, leadership matters and character counts.



The idea that women secretly welcome the unbridled and aggressive sexual advances of powerful men has led to the mistreatment, sorrow and subjugation of countless women for far too much of human history.



The notion that strength emanates from harsh, divisive and unbending rhetorical flourish mistakenly equates leadership with craven intimidation.



The belief that the party and the platform matter more than the character of the candidate ignores the wisdom of the ages that, when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. (Proverbs 29:2)



We understand that politicians and presidential candidates are human and that everyone makes mistakes. We do not believe that what is expressed in an unguarded moment of conversation should be the full measure of an individual. And we unquestionably support the principle that people deserve forgiveness, compassion and a second chance.



But history affirms that leaders' examples either elevate or demean the lives of those being led. When choosing the ostensible leader of the free world, the American electorate requires the clear assurance that their chosen candidate will consistently put the well-being of others ahead of his or her own personal gratification. The most recent revelations of Trumps lewdness disturb us not only because of his vulgar objectification of women, but also because they poignantly confirm Trumps inability to self-govern.



What oozes from this audio is evil. We hear a married man give smooth, smug and self-congratulatory permission to his intense impulses, allowing them to outweigh the most modest sense of decency, fidelity and commitment. And although it speaks volumes about sexual morality, it goes to the heart of all ethical behavior. Trumps banter belies a willingness to use and discard other human beings at will. That characteristic is the essence of a despot.



Nor is this an isolated incident. His reprehensible sexual speech confirms troubling reports and outrageous outbursts that have dogged his campaign from the beginning. Another example appeared earlier this week detailing Trumps language and behavior on his reality television show, The Apprentice.



...When Donald Trumps running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence visited Utah and met with members of the Deseret News Editorial Board, he assured us that Mr. Trump was a "good man" who held "the ideals and values of Utahns. Likewise, while visiting the Beehive State, Donald Trump Jr. told us that his father was running because of the values held dear in this community.



Considering his conduct and comportment, we do not believe Trump holds the ideals and values of this community or this paper.



...As the next few consequential weeks unfold, we trust the American people, as they vote their conscience, will provide a clarion call for sound ideas, true leadership and proven character from our next administration and Congress.



Trump cannot answer that call. We ask him to step aside.

Wall Street Journal that there was nothing amiss at Trump Tower and that there is At the same time, Trump was telling thethat there was nothing amiss at Trump Tower and that there is Zero Chance I'll Quit . Of course, with Trump, every utterance on every topic is merely a negotiating position but he told the reporter Monica Langley that "I never, ever give up. The support Im getting is unbelievable, because Hillary Clinton is a horribly flawed candidate."





He said his campaign isn't in crisis (it is) and that "the commotion over his remarks will blow over as did others, such as his attacks on Sen. John McCain and his proposed ban on Muslims.

Unlike in a video he taped and released last night, Mr. Trump, who spoke on Saturday from his Manhattan home in Trump Tower, offered no apologies in the Journal interview, but rather went on the offensive. Go behind closed doors of the holier-than-thou politicians and pundits and see what theyre saying. I look like a baby.



...Former GOP presidential contender Carly Fiorina on Saturday called on him to quit the campaign, as did Sens. Mike Crapo of Idaho and Mike Lee of Utah. New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, in a tight race to save her seat, withdrew her endorsement.



Responding to that wave of defections, Mr. Trump said such a reaction from Republicans is why they dont win presidential elections. Meanwhile, he said, my phone hasnt stopped ringing, emails are coming in and even people outside Trump Tower are supporting me.

The GOP doesn't have the balls-- nor, in all likelihood, the legal authority-- to remove Trump from the top of the ticket. Rule 9 would allow them to replace him if he is certified too ill to serve and I suppose they could find a panel of distinguished psychiatrists and psychologists to declare him mentally unfit. That would piss off the deplorables in a really big way. Who in the GOP has the stomach for that?





But imagine for a moment they managed to do it, perhaps by getting crooked hedge fund billionaire-- and the man behind the curtain at Trump Tower, Robert Mercer-- to not just withdraw his support but to offer Trump $100 million to call it quits. In TrumpUniverse everything has a price, everything. But then what? Who would be the nominee? Most elected officials bailing on Trump so far this weekend have been saying he should be replaced by far right extremist Mike Pence. But Pence was picked by Trump and didn't have the cajones to even compete in the primaries. Cruz fans would rather see their own man in the top slot; after all he came in second among Republican voters and won several states outright, including big red ones. I guess they could toss a coin. Then what?





Thousands of people have voted-- some for Trump-- and they would have a case that they've been disenfranchised. And some Republicans who voted for Hillary as the lesser of two evils could make the same argument if Trump is replaced by a more conventional Republican. In the next few days early voting will have started in 10 more states, including the two biggest ones, New York and California, as well as Vermont, New Mexico, Montana, Ohio, Virginia, Arizona, Indiana and Maine. Keep in mind that Trump has been talking about a system rigged against him-- and to an angry and largely ignorant, paranoid and overly armed audience. No... Republicans are just going to have to get ready for what's--deservedly-- headed their way: another month of increasing anguish and then a devastating thumping they won't have to hire expensive consultants to explain to them. The question isn't whether Trump will lose or not, but how many congressional seats he'll take down with him, how many state legislative chambers will be won by the Democrats, how severe the Senate losses are... Give the Republican Party what it deserves, here:
"This is a weblog that is truly welcome in blogtopia  a new blog doesn't seem to be frantically trying to score points for any party. That does NOT mean it's afraid to take a stand or be critical....You really can't predict exactly where The Debate Link will come down on all issues. It's not chanting anyone's mantra." -- The Moderate Voice "[A]n emerging genius in legal scholarship and commentary." -- Jim Chen "It's on my 1st cup of coffee rss feed." -- Hanno Kaiser "I heart this blog.... he referenced Wittgenstein, and it was entirely appropriate and non-pretentious." -- kath.A.rine "[F]unny, thoughtful, acclaimed ...." -- The Core
Police still search for the thieves, who have taken away all the statues hands.

Police have tracked down a Buddha statue stolen from a pagoda in Hung Yen Province.

The statue turned up on a roadside in Van Giang District, roughly 8km from the Me So Pagoda, Lao Dong newspaper reported Saturday.

Le Ngoc Anh, the head of Me So Village told reporters that thieves cut off the statues 1,113 hands and claimed that it would soon be restored.

Nguyen Dong Binh, chairman of the commune Peoples Committee told the daily that an investigation remains underway.

Images from a security camera recorded a group of four to five thieves boosting the statue from the second floor of the pagoda at 1 a.m. on September 29.

One member of the crew threw a piece of cloth over the camera, while his accomplices carried the statue to a waiting vehicle.

The statue, which stands 2.8 meters tall, was previously stolen, and recovered, in 1988.

Related news:

> Thieves pinch valuable Buddha statue in northern Vietnam
14 Vietnamese women and girls have been abducted and sold in Yunnan Province since 2011.

Police in East China's Jiangsu Province confirmed the arrest of a woman for abducting a pregnant 12-year-old Vietnamese girl after doctors discovered her real age, Chinese Global Times reported on Saturday.

Police in Quanshan district came to suspect the young girl had been abducted after receiving a call from a local hospital.

China National Radio reported that a woman named Xie from Central China's Henan Province abducted the girl and sold her to a Xuzhou man surnamed Liu.

Xie and Liu initially told doctors they were the girl's relatives on October 4. Doctors found the girl, whom Xie and Liu claimed to be 20, was three months pregnant.

The girl, who lacked any identification, told doctors she was a foreigner, The Beijing News reported.

A total of 14 Vietnamese women and girls have been abducted in China's Yunnan Province and sold since 2011, CCTV reported.

Related news:

> Philippines tightens entry checks for Vietnamese migrants to prevent trafficking

> 34 Vietnamese women trafficked to China in first six months
Construction began yesterday on the National Exhibition Center in Hanoi: the largest planned exposition center on the continent.

Municipal leaders and representatives of the Vietnam Exhibition and Fair Centre (VEFC) traveled 15km north of downtown Hanoi, to the rural district of Dong Anh, for the groundbreaking ceremony.

The ambitious project is scheduled to be completed in the last quarter of 2018 and will include indoor and outdoor exhibition areas; trade promotion centers; conference center, a 5-star hotel and a shopping mall.

Nguyen Duc Chung, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, said the project will accommodate domestic and international events.

Related news:

> Art exhibition illustrates racism in the US

> Art uncovered: the saga of Saigon Artbook
Comings and goings: Boot Barn in the works; Clorox plant opens

New store could be the third to move into Valley Plaza this year.
Hundreds of people gather at the court in Ky Anh District, Ha Tinh Province to sue Formosa Ha Tinh Steel for compensation. Photo by VnExpress

A local judge said current law prohibits the court from hearing the 506 petitions.

A court in Ha Tinh Province rejected 506 petitions for compensation filed by fishermen and other residents affected by Formosa Ha Tinh Steel's release of toxic chemicals, local media reported Saturday.

The local unit of the Formosa Plastics Group, a Taiwanese conglomerate, flushed the toxins through a kilometer-long wastewater pipe causing a massive fish kill off the coast of Ha Tinh and three other central provinces, last April.

The impact has gone down as one of the biggest environmental disasters in the country's history.

On the afternoon of October 5, the Peoples Court in Ky Anh Town (in Ha Tinh) returned 506 complaints against Formosa Ha Tinh based on the provisions of the law, the Phap luat Thanh pho Ho Chi Minh (HCMC Law) news site reported Saturday, quoting Nguyen Van Thang, chief justice of the Ha Tinh Peoples Court.

Thang described the ruling as twofold.

Firstly, the petitioners failed to submit legal evidence detailing how their interests had been directly affected. Secondly, the current Civil Procedure Code of Vietnam bars a court from issuing a ruling on a given incident if a binding decision on the events in question has been issued by an authorized government entity.

On September 26 and 27, locals filed petitions for a total of VND56 billion ($2.47 million) in compensation from Formosa Ha Tinh.

On September 29, 2016 the Prime Minister issued Decision 1880 regarding the compensation for those affected by the Formosa environmental disaster in the four central provinces.

The 506 petitioners broke down thusly: 296 fishermen, 137 salt producers, 68 water producers, 3 fish farmers and 2 seafood traders.

The toxic pollution caused by Formosa caused financial losses to at least 200,000 people, the government said in a report presented to the National Assembly, Vietnam's legislature, in July.

Formosa has already paid $500 million in compensation to the Vietnamese government.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Vu Van Tam said it would take at least until October 15 to complete a full audit of the affected parties. Following that date, he said, provincial governments will be able to receive their compensation packages and distribute them, accordingly.

To speed up the process, the government allocated VND3 trillion ($133.6 million) to the four coastal provinces directly devastated by the toxic spill to disburse as needed.

Related news:

> Vietnamese fishermen descend on court to sue Taiwanese fish killer

> Vietnam to dole out compensation to citizens hit by Formosa's toxic spill
The downtown restaurant vanished soon after the man realized what had happened.

An Australian tourist claims a restaurant in downtown Ho Chi Minh City charged AUD$39,429 to his credit card for a single dinner.

On August 11, a waiter at the Nightfall restaurant allegedly had John David Caracciolo swipe and enter PIN numbers on two of his credit cards, according to a complaint filed by Le Kim Yen on Caracciolo's behalf. The waiter in question claimed the credit card machine was experiencing "technical errors."

Kim Yen claims the restaurant never presented Caracciolo with a receipt detailing the charges to his accounts at ANZ and Macquarie banks.

[Caracciolo] didn't check the transaction until he returned to Australia and received his bank statement, which claimed his cards were swiped eight times at Nightfall charging him a total of AUD39,429, equivalent to VND683,150,000, Kim Yen alleged in the complaint.

She further claimed the charges represented a deliberate effort to defraud Caracciolo, who never signed his receipts.

Nightfall Restaurant's original location at 8A/1D1-2D1, Thai Van Lung Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The owner has since vacated and a new restaurant has opened in its place. Photo by VnExpress/Le Chi.

The doors to the restaurant have since closed, but the HCMC Tax Department's website says the Nightfall Restaurant Limited Company remains in operation.

According to HCMC Tax Department's online data, Nightfall Restaurant Limited Company is still in operation.

According to public records, the business moved to Nguyen Sieu Street on May 12. VnExpress found that house likewise shuttered without any sort of sign displayed at the door.

Nightfall's new location on Nguyen Sieu Street likewise remains shuttered. Photo by VnExpress/Le Chi

When VnExpress called the company's registered phone number, a woman answered and claimed to have no involvement in a company called Nightfall.

A local banker speaking to VnExpress on background claimed that as long as the restaurant can provide a receipt for the goods or services, the transaction may be deemed valid. In a case where the vendor is unable to prove the charge, the bank will require him or her to reimburse the customer.

Related news:

> American advocate of Vietnam's Agent Orange victims accused of fraud, embezzlement

> Cyber fraud unearths potential loophole at Vietnamese bank's security system
Six feet five inches tall Zia-ul-Haq, one of the finest inspector of MP Police was getting ready for his dream UN assignment. But, now, he is on the run. After all, a case of attempt to murder is registered against him.

Haq is one of the seven police personnel accused of trying to kill an RSS pracharak Suresh Yadav in custody on September 25 at Baihar police station of Balaghat district.

According to state police sources, an excellent track record of 2007 batch state police services officer ensured that Haq was among the five police officers selected to be part of Indias representation in the peace keeping operations in Liberia, Haiti, Ukraine and Sudan in the coming months. While two officers have already embarked on UN mission, three others, including Haq were slated to go on coveted international assignment in foreseeable future.

With spectre of arrest looming large on Haqa head, the coveted assignment for the police officer also known for his volleyball skills could be in doldrums.

Already suspended in the matter, the prospects of the seven cops (also booked for loot and rioting) to get relief in the matter suffered a jolt, with a lower court in Balaghat denying anticipatory bail to accused additional SP Rajesh Sharma and ASI Suresh Vijaywar in an associated case.

The court of special judge (SC/ST atrocities) had on Friday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of the duo cops in the case pertaining to trespassing house-cum-medical shop of a man Swami Prasad Asati near Baihar police station, after the RSS pracharak fled from police custody on September 25.

While, the absconding cops continue their quest in the high-profile attempt to murder case, the findings of the medical examination of the alleged victim RSS pracharak done by government doctors at 12.05 am on September 26, however, put under cloud the lodging of an attempt to murder case in the matter.

A copy of the report summing up findings of medical examination of the RSS pracharak by doctors of Baihar government hospital on September 25 night mentions only about abrasion and contusion (bruise), besides swelling both arms caused by hard and blunt object.

The report nowhere talks about any suspected fracture, grievous and life threatening injuries that could have been caused with an intention to kill Yadav.

The report mentions about the patients complaint all over the body. Pain is more over left ear and trunk and over his private parts and also over his head, thighs and both lower legs. Patient also complained of inability to void (pass) urine, the report adds.

The report whose copy is with the Hindustan Times mentions about need for admitting the patient at hospital for admission and also expert opinion, besides mentioning that duration of injury was between 5-8 hours.

If sources in the special investigation team constituted to probe the episode are to be believed one of the government doctors who performed the RSS pracharaks medical examination at Baihar police station in presence of tehsildar and sub divisional magistrate has told the investigating team that no life threatening injuries were detected in the check-up which could suggest that the injuries were inflicted with an intention to kill him.

With the report, nowhere mentioning about any suspected fracture and a picture of RSS pracharak easily seated on a chair at Baihar police station, while the doctor is writing the findings, doesnt suggest that he sustained fracture in the leg.

The new SP of Balaghat, who assumed charge two days back only, however, refused to comment over the matter, saying the matter is already being investigated by the SIT.

When shown the medical report by HT on Saturday, a senior Bhopal-based orthopedic surgeon not wishing his name to be quoted clearly said that the as per the report, the injuries seem to be simple in nature and not at all life threatening inflicted with a motive to kill the patient.

Not only a seasoned doctor in Bhopal, but at least two senior advocates of MP High Court in Jabalpur said if this first medical report is to be taken into account, an attempted to murder case should not have been registered.

Senior advocate Adarsh Muni Trivedi said nowhere in the document there is mention of any grievous injuries on the person so no case of attempt to murder can be registered on basis of this document.

Another senior advocate Manish Datt said the injuries indicated in the document are of simple nature and do not fall within the ambit of grievous hurt thus attempt to murder could not be registered merely as per contents of this document.

Legal eagle turned opposition Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha also concurs, from the first medical report it seems improbable that a case of attempted to murder should have been registered. Even assuming that the person was manhandled and beaten in police custody, the document is no evidence about attempt to take anybodys life.

He adds, its surprising that fracture in leg has only been found after the patient was admitted on September 26 at a Jabalpur hospital owned by a doctor with strong RSS and BJP connections. To me it appears a case of gross over reaction by the state government to please their political masters, added Tankha.

However, Ravi Srivastava, an RSS leader coordinating affairs in Mandla and Balaghat district maintains that a single medical report is not enough to prove that Suresh Yadav was not beaten brutally with an intention to kill in police custody.

He is young man aged 26 years, who is well built and therefore tolerated the heavy beating by cops for hours in custody. The lodging of attempt to murder case against the cops is totally justified. The anticipatory bail of two cops has been rightfully rejected in an associated case on Friday, were consulting lawyers to ensure that these cops dont get bail, but are arrested soon, Srivastava maintained.

On September 25, the RSS pracharak Suresh Yadav was taken into custody for questioning over alleged uploading of a hate post against AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi. In police custody, he was critically injured and is now admitted at a private hospital in Jabalpur with multiple injuries, including a fractured leg
Censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani said on Sunday that actors comments on the controversy surrounding the demand for a ban on Pakistani artistes in Bollywood should not be given importance and people should rather think about the countrys soldiers.

Bollywood has been divided on the issue of the demand for the ban on Pakistani artistest in the wake of Uri attack. While Salman Khan, Karan Johar, Hansal Mehta and Anurag Kashyap have criticised it, many in the industry such as Ajay Devgn, Randeep Hooda, Sonali Bendre and Nana Patekar have supported the ban.

While refusing to comment on the statement issued by certain actors on the issue of ban on Pakistani actors in India, he said that what actors said was insignificant as the most important thing for every Indian was the soldiers and the tricolor. (PTI)

Every Indian should think of the soldiers who are fighting terrorism and the enemy on the border. Actors are insignificant and we should not waste our energy on the issue of who said what on the issue, people should not give any importance to the statements they make, Nihalani told reporters in Jammu on Sunday.

He said that the country should show solidarity towards the soldiers for their fight against terrorism and everyone should work towards condemning and eradicating terrorism from the country.

Terrorism is our biggest enemy and our soldiers are fighting it, the need of the hour is to show solidarity with our soldiers.

While refusing to comment on the statement issued by certain actors on the issue of ban on Pakistani actors in India, he said that what actors said was insignificant as the most important thing for every Indian was the soldiers and the tricolor.

When asked to comment on the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir valley, the CBFC chief said that people of the country love Kashmir and its people, and would want to see peace return in the valley at the earliest.

Kashmir has always been the first love of the Indian film industry and once when the situation returns to normal, producers would once again love to visit Kashmir and shoot movies there. Every Indian wants peace in the country and we want peace in Kashmir.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
The Ministry warned that new Zika cases could rise in the near future.

Authorities have discovered Zika virus in the blood of a 27-year-old pregnant woman from Binh Duong Province and a 28-year old woman in nearby Ho Chi Minh City, the Ministry of Health announced Saturday.

Both sought treatment for fever, rash and body aches before testing positive for the virus. Neither woman had traveled to affected areas or been in contact with other Zika patients.

Both women are in normal health, the ministry said, adding that authorities have since sprayed the neighborhoods where they reside to prevent a further outbreak. The new discovery brings Vietnam's total number of confirmed Zika cases to five.

The ministry warned that Vietnam's number of new Zika patients may increase in the near future.

In July, Vietnam confirmed its third case of Zika in the southern province of Phu Yen. In April, two Vietnamese women became the first confirmed cases of the virus in the country.

Authorities have discovered a number of foreigners with the Zika virus in recent months.

The Zika virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. The World Health Organization (WHO) said sexual transmission is "relatively common" and has advised pregnant women against travel to areas experiencing ongoing outbreaks.

Related news:

> Vietnam on alert as Zika virus threatens to spread from neighbors

> Ho Chi Minh City to provide free Zika tests as virus spreads
Actor Akshay Kumar has set a new record of sorts in Bollywood by finishing the shoot of his upcoming film, Jolly LLB 2, in just 30 days. And for this, he credits the films team.

I think Jolly (LLB 2) has beaten all my previous wrap up times. Its fast-paced and magical to work with Subhash Kapoor (director), who is so well planned and prepared, he says.

Akshay is also known to be very particular about his work shifts and says, Punctuality is my gift to him and his script and planned screenplay is his gift to me.

The 49-year-old adds that a simple setup and working smart ensured the quick wrap. Our producers shot in real life situations and places, so there were no sets to wait for or light bills to be afraid of. We shot all the songs back to back, we worked early, late and all hours in between, he says.

Commending the team for their hard work, he says, Even the army needs a day off and so does my team. Despite the quick shoot, we still had the Sundays off, but we worked double on Mondays... its been a great experience.

Meanwhile, Akshay, who comes from an army family and is known to have great respect for the men in uniform, has spoken up for them. The actor recently released a video condemning debates around banning Pakistani artists from working in India, after the Uri attacks where 18 Indian soldiers lost their lives.

While the industry was debating if Pakistani actors should be allowed to work in India, Akshay who has already offered financial help to the families of the deceased soldiers said in the video, These debates can happen later, first realise that people have already lost their lives at the border. Are their families, or the families of thousands of jawans, worried whether an artist will be banned? No. They are worried about their future. And our concern should be to ensure that their present and future is better. I am, because they are, you are, because they are and if they are not there, then India wont exist. Jai Hind.
Though actor-comedian Vir Das has been in the film industry for almost a decade now, it is only in his upcoming movie 31st October that the he got to play a serious role for the first time.

Not a lot of people know this, but I trained as an actor before I became a comedian. Over the years, whatever films I have done have mostly been ensemble cast, so I was waiting for the right script. I wanted to play the lead in a slightly different genre than comedy, and when this came, I was more than happy to do it, the 34-year-old says.

There was flip-side to this new opportunity though. Das says playing a serious role took its toll on the actor. It was a really heavy role. It took a lot out of me, and for a while I was not able to get out of it. I wanted to do something that I cannot relate to. For instance, I play a father of three kids in the film and I am not a father yet. So from that perspective, I could still feel the pain of the character, he adds.

Meanwhile, in a recent interview, Vir was quoted saying that the shooting for sequel to the popular film Go Goa Gone will start next year. However, the actor dismisses these reports and says, There is nothing about a sequel as of now. The only thing is that the makers and the cast is ready to do another instalment, since the first one was such a massive success. Apart from that, theres nothing more to it, and we dont even know when the shooting will begin.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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Five days after setting a controversy over what he alleged were Indias fake surgical strikes against Pakistan, Sanjay Nirupam, the Mumbai Congress president, admits reluctantly that his statement might have spoiled the national discourse in the country.

But he puts the blame for that squarely on the union government. It is not me or the Congress which has spoilt that discourse, it is the BJP which has vitiated the atmosphere by its chest thumping over what should have been a secret operation. Why is it attempting to make political capital out of it in Uttar Pradesh which is bound for polls early next year?

That probably was why Nirupam and, perhaps, his party vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday  were targeting the Union government over the surgical strikes. While Gandhi did not go as far as to say the army action was fake, he did lambast Prime Minister Narendra Modi for trading in the blood of jawans.

Both Gandhi and Nirupam are seemingly pointing fingers at the Modi government for using the surgical strikes for electoral benefits in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and Mumbai where crucial municipal corporation elections are scheduled for February 2017.

I am not doubting the army. I am not even asking for any video proof. All I am saying is that the posters that have appeared in Uttar Pradesh are in bad taste and you cannot divide the country to just win an election, Nirupam told the Hindustan Times.We began by standing united with the government but it is now apparent the BJP is trying to derive political mileage from the strikes. No government has ever done that before.

Nirupam is also upset at defence minister Manohar Parrikar for his chest thumping in Uttar Pradesh last week. Why is he doing that only in Goa or Punjab or UP? Why not in Tamil Nadu or Kerala where no polls are due for another five years? And the kind of statements he is making is bound to enrage Pakistan and bring retribution upon our army. Does he quite understand? He is not worthy of being a defence minister. Modi must instantly pull him up and ask him to shut up.

While it seemed as though the Congress was a house divided against itself, with former Mumbai president Gurudas Kamat obliquely stating in a tweet that no one should point fingers at the army, Gandhis statement seem to have boosted Nirupams spirits.

He says, While comparisons are drawn with Indira Gandhi, she had never made use of the 1971 war to win any election. In fact, the first election after Bangladesh was formed happened to be the post-Emergency one in 1977 in which both she and the Congress lost soundly. And the only time that the opposition made an issue out of a war was after our defeat at the hands of China in 1962. But Pandit Nehru won that election nevertheless.

Nirupam claims the government is mixing foreign policy with domestic issues and attempting to draw mileage from an army action, something that the UPA or the Congress never indulged in by the even after several surgical strikes during their regime.

Nirupams claims seem to be borne out by former defence minsiter and NCP chief Sharad Pawar who later served as agriculture minister in the UPA.

There were four surgical strikes during our terms and even when I was defence minster (in the Narasimha Rao cabinet). I never gave away any secrets. I cannot understand why confidentiality could not be maintained over this one.

Statements of Congress leaders like former home minister P Chidambaram and party general secretary Digivijay Singh have also buttressed Nirupams views. In the run up to assembly election in five states, the Congress is fighting back hard to deny credit to Modi for the surgical strike.

We are not Pakistan, adds Nirupam. Every election, that country has one issue and one issue alone  Jammu and Kashmir. Whoever has the sharpest rhetoric on Kashmir in that country tends to win the election. But our elections, even after the Bangladesh war, have been fought on domestic issues. For the first time in Gujarat, during the 2002 polls, Narendra Modi brought Pakistan into our electoral discourse. He used to have cut-outs of General Pervez Musharraf put up with Congress written under that photo. Now he is attempting the same thing again in UP and we must stand up to such skulduggery.

Nationalism in this country has become very sastaa (cheap). If you raise a voice for Dalits, you are an anti-national. If you raise a voice for Muslims you are seditious. We must not allow anyone to run away with the discourse.

Nirupam says in view of the United Nations statement that there is no evidence of a surgical strike, the Union government has a lot of explaining to do.

But whatever may be your politics keep our army out of it. We sleep peacefully at nights because they guard our borders. Do not destroy the singular institution that we can all still be uniformly proud of, he said.

It is clear then that the Congress is making a fine distinction between the army and the government. As even Pawar who is seeking to ally with the Congress again, said, They are in government now. We will be back next time. Then the government will belong to us.

But the army will still belong only to the country. Not to any political party.

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NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Partys (AAP) jhuggi jhopri cluster cell president Umesh Verma on Saturday joined the newly launched political outfit Swaraj India, led by Yogendra Yadav.

No one from the AAP could be reached for a comment despite repeated attempts.

Verma after joining Swaraj India on Saturday said 100 other representatives from Aam Aadmi Partys JJ cell had made the jump with him. Workers from slum clusters and unauthorised colonies such as Tuglakabad, Kalkaji, Wazirpur, Moti Nagar, Rajinder Nagar, Lal Bagh and Model town have become member of Swaraj India, he said.

According to Verma, Delhi has around 30 lakh people living in six lakh jhuggis in 700 clusters. They played a vital role in assuring the victory of AAP in the Assembly election last year.

In a press conference on Saturday, Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav blamed AAP leaders for betraying people and not fulfilling any promise made by them .A AP assured regularisation of unauthorised colonies in Delhi by 2015. It had also promised there settlement of jhuggi clusters. But, none of these promises have been fulfilled.

The latest development, Swaraj India workers expect, will strengthen the role of the party - constituted barely four days ago by Yadav and lawyer Prashant Bhushan. They were both AAP founding members, who were ousted from the party later after differences with Arvind Kejriwal.

Yadav has been elected as national president of Swaraj India, which emanated from Swaraj Abhiyan.

On Saturday, Yadav also castigated AAP for promoting the policy for relocation/resettlement of slums. In its party manifesto, AAP leaders assured that jhuggis constructed till 2015 will not be demolished. They had also promised to consult mohalla sabhas before removing/relocating jhuggis in Delhi. But as per a new policy, only the clusters established before 2006 are safe. Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) is also not liable to consult mohalla sabhas a new policy reads, said Yadav.

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WASHINGTON: Is this, finally, the controversy that sends Donald Trumps turbulent and contentious presidential campaign spiralling out of control? A video in which the Republican Party nominee is heard to make lewd and sexually predatory comments about women has aroused widespread revulsion in the United States, and prompted a number of prominent members of his own party to demand that he step aside.

Trump responded with a grudging apology that satisfied none of his critics, and indicated he will step up his attacks on his rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton, on the sordid sexual history of her husband, former president Bill Clinton.

He apologised twice within the span of a few hours, saying in a videotaped message: Anyone who knows me knows these words dont reflect who I am I said it, I was wrong, and I apologise.

Clinton, who called the remarks horrific, would bring them up at the second presidential debate on Sunday, to reprise her attack on Trump over his treatment of women.

There was talk of this being a breaking point for Trump, but he has rebounded from campaign-derailing stumbles before, on the strength of what pundits have called his calcified support base which is with him no matter what.

Amid sustained calls from Republicans, including Senators Mark Kirk and Mike Lee and Congress members Barbara Comstock and Mike Coffman, for Trump to leave the race, the presidential nominee refused to step aside. There is zero chance Ill quit, he told The Wall Street Journal on Saturday.

US mission in Benghazi, withdrew his endorsement of the nominee.

Coffman said: For the good of the country, and to give Republicans a chance at defeating Hillary Clinton, Mr Trump should step asideMr Trump should put the country first and do the right thing.

Kirk tweeted Trump should drop out of the race and the Republican Party shouldengage rules for (an) emergency replacement.

And sickened by the remarks, Speaker Paul Ryan, the senior-most elected Republican, disinvited Trump from a joint appearance at a political event scheduled for Saturday. He was so appalled he didnt even wait for Trumps apology.

The recording, actually on video with the most objectionable portions being off camera, was done by a crew from the show Access Hollywood, as Trump waited in a bus outside a studio with Billy Bush, a reporter and President George W Bushs cousin.

The recording, first released by The Washington Post, starts with Trump talking about a failed attempt to seduce a woman, subsequently identified as former Access Hollywood co-host Nancy ODell. I moved on her, and I failed. But Ill admit it, he can be heard saying clearly.

I did try and f*** her. She was married, said Trump, who was then 56 and married to his third and current wife Melania.

At this point in the conversation, it was time for them to disembark from their bus. As an actress from the show they were to shoot for approached the bus to receive them, they continued the conversation.

Ive got to use some Tic Tacs, just in case I start kissing her, Trump said. You know Im automatically attracted to beautiful  I just start kissing them. Its like a magnet. Just kiss. I dont even wait.

And when youre a star, they let you do it, Trump said. You can do anything.

In his first statement on the video, Trump tried to dismiss the remarks as locker-room-banter, and said Bill Clinton had made far worse remarks. He also said, unconvincingly ,I apologise if anyone was offended.

But the backlash was swift and brutal.

This is horrific. We cannot allow this man to become president, Hillary Clinton tweeted.

Republicans were just as harsh. There are no excuses for Donald Trumps offensive and demeaning comments, said Senator John McCain, who has endorsed Trump. He alone bears the burden of his conduct and alone should suffer the consequences.
NEW DELHI: Delhi could land in complete chaos if decisions taken by the AAP government are overturned by lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday in a fresh salvo at the Centres representative.

Kejriwal said all files are now being sent to Jung for approval following a high court decision of August 4 that made L-G the administrative head of the capital. The AAP government has challenged the verdict in Supreme Court.

Kejriwal said there was a difference of opinion but no wrong intent behind not sending earlier files related to various government decisions to the L-G for approval.

Ever since assuming power with a brute majority, Kejriwal has fought a bitter battle with Jung for administrative control of the city-state where a complex governance pattern gives the L-G more powers than the state government.

The chief minister also accuses the BJP-led government at the Centre of trying to rule the capital through Jung.

Do you understand the ramifications? We increased the circle rate of agricultural land. Will the money compensated to the farmers have to be taken back? Kejriwal asked a day after the wakf board was dissolved by the L-G.

Jung has setup a three-member committee to review all decisions taken by the AAP government since February last year, which required his approval.

Kejriwal said high court orders cannot have a retrospective effect and suggested that the past government decisions are regularised.

The L-Gs office did not comment on the allegations.
NEW DELHI: Harshit Chadha, a budding filmmaker, had turned 22 years old on September 29 (Thursday).

Exactly a week later, Harshit died in a hospital in mysterious circumstances, with hospital authorities describing his death as the result of a cardiac arrest, a theory the boys father has found hard to swallow.

Harshit had gone to Model Town to celebrate his friends birthday on September 30, where he reportedly fell unconscious while the party was still on. He died six days later at a private hospital.

He was a swimmer and a runner. He was perfectly fit and never got tired. How could he have died of a cardiac arrest then? I refuse to believe that theory. It is either conspiracy or negligence. A probe needs to be carried out, Rajinder Chadha, Harshits father, told HT.

Though Rajinder is adamant to continue seeking justice for Harshit, he has also accepted that his only son is no more. The heartbroken father has now started collecting CCTV footages from several outlets he had visited with Harshit in the last few days as memories.

The police have not yet registered a case. We have accepted the fathers complaint and will look into it. A post-mortem has been conducted on the body and we are waiting for the report to ascertain the cause of death and action required to be initiated thereafter, DCP (northwest) Milind Mahadeo Dumbere said. Police said there were around 15 people at the party

Harshit, a graduate from Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies (VIPS) started working with various NGOs including Make a Difference and Bachpan Bachao Andolan at a very early age. Besides academics, the youngster used to make short documentaries on social issues, including child rights.

During the three years at college from 2013 to 2016, Harshit was extremely active in co-curricular activities. He used to be busy always. He was a photographer, a video editor, a graphic designer and a brilliant story teller. He wanted to become a filmmaker and go to Bollywood, Himanshu Kumar, Harshits cousin, said.

Harshit had reportedly spoken to his father and promised to return home by midnight, two hours before he fell unconscious.

He was supposed to go for a shoot to Lodhi Hotel the next day. He assured us that he will be back home by midnight but he did not return. In fact, I was furious when he didnt come back home. Around 1am, his friends called me asking me to come to the hospital, Rajinder said.

The father blamed the lax attitude of hospital authorities for Harshits death.He was not provided immediate attention. For 24 hours, no treatment was started by the hospital. Then I him shifted to another hospital. A lot of time was wasted before treatment finally started. Later, I was told that he suffered a cardiac arrest due to which his brain stopped working, Rajinder said.

In 2015, Harshit had been awarded by Bollywood actress Vidya Balan for his short film Changing Habits.

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NEW DELHI: The crime branch of Delhi Police has arrested a 51-year-old man for allegedly duping more than a hundred people to the tune of crores.

The accused, Manjeet Sangwan, who had been absconding since 2011, had opened a company making clothes in the name of Criston Dior Shoppe. After he opened several outlets of the brand across the country, the original company, Christian Dior, filed a suit against Sagwan and he was arrested. The fake brand too was shut down.

After he came out of jail, Sangwan planned to start a second company and reportedly took crores of rupees from investors, showing them his earnings from his previous company and promising them huge returns,

The arrest was made after the police received an information about Sangwan being present at his rented flat in DLF, NewTown Heights, Gurgaon. Acting on the tip-off, a team was sent to his residence for a raid, from where he was arrested.

During questioning, Sangwan disclosed that he had served as a constable (driver) with the Delhi Police.

He was born at his village in 1965 and his father was martyred in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965. He joined Delhi Police as a constable(driver) in 1989 but quit his job in 1996. In 2008, he started a business of readymade garments and floated his own brand under the name of Criston Dior Shoppe. He opened several new outlets of his brand in various cities, joint commissioner of police, crime, Ravindra Yadav said.

In 2010, the French company filed a case of cheating and copyright violation against Sangwan and he was nabbed. After coming out of jail, he was elected as sarpanch of his village and evaded court hearings, Yadav said.

In the same year, he convinced several investors to invest in his brand and he cheated them to the tune of crores. A case was then filed against him in the economic offences wing. He has been arrested and concerned police stations have been informed about his arrest, Yadav said.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Saturday said it will increase and fix the monthly salaries of guest teachers working with government schools, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

Guest teachers, who are paid on a daily basis, effectively earn 17,000-20,000 per month. We have decided to increase their salary to 32,000-34,000 per month, Kejriwal said on Saturday.

HT on Friday had reported that a high-level committee, set up by the government to look into the various demands of the guest teachers, has submitted its recommendations, including fixing salaries of teachers.

Kejriwal said the committee has submitted its recommendations and these will be placed before the cabinet .

The CM also said that a file pertaining to regularisation of guest teachers will be sent to the Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung for his approval after making changes.

There are around 16,000 guest teachers working in over 1,100 government schools.

The chief minister also said the government will install point of sale devices in all ration stores by March 31 next year to fix leakages in the system.

In a meeting held yesterday (Friday) with the food department, planning department, IT Department and others, we set March 31, 2017, as our target for installation and stabilisation of these points of sale devices, Kejriwal said.

The contract for this will be awarded within the next two months.

These devices will be linked to Aadhaar cards and ration will only be given based on the biometric verification of consumers, he said.

The CM said the move will help in weeding out fake ration cards and will put an end to leakages and theft of ration in the PDS.

Commenting on the L-Gs decision to dissolve the Delhi Wakf Board, Kejriwal said the move came because its chairman Amanatullah Khan was exposing scams in the board.
NEW DELHI: Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar, who was injured in a clash between two party factions on Thursday, was shifted on Saturday from RML Hospital to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where doctors said he has sustained head and cervical spine injury.

Supporters of 40-year-old Tanwar and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had clashed near Bhairon Mandir in central Delhi around 5.30 pm on Thursday, half an hour before Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was due to arrive, after finishing his Deoria to Delhi Kisan Yatra.

He was then admitted to Ram Maonohar Lohia Hospital.

He was shifted to the SGRH at 4 pm, hospital authorities said on Saturday.

He has been admitted today under the care of Dr Ashish Goyal and his team from Department of Neuro and Spine Surgery.

He has head and cervical spine injury.

His condition is stable but he is under observation, according to Dr DS Rana, Chairman (Board of Management), Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

An FIR was lodged against supporters of Hooda after Tanwars supporters filed a complaint against them at the Tilak Marg Police Station.

Also, there was an argument between Tanwars supporters and RML Hospital authorities, following which the number of bouncers deployed there were increased.
'Mua nuoc noi' (floating-water season) describes the monsoon floods that partially submerge the Mekong Delta's melaleuca forests and draw boats between their branches.

Tra Su Forest - An Giang Province

Photo by Ha Lam

Situated 30 kilometers from Chau Doc, the provincial capital of An Giang, melaleuca forest offer year-round greenery and calm shade. Paddle-powered tourists skiffs take visitors through the 850-hectare forest for a mere VND45,000 ($2).

The melaleuca forest at National Park Tram Chim - Dong Thap Province

Photo by Tuong Y

Dong Thap Province's Tram Chim National Park has long drawn tourists eager to get a glimpse of its rare indigenous birds. Numerous busses leave Ho Chi Minh City daily for the park. Once inside, those determined to paddle their own way can rent a boat for around VND500,000 ($22.5).

Tan Lap Melaleuca Forest - Long An Province

Photo by Tuan Quyen

The melaleuca forests in Long An Province belong to the Tan Lap Floating Village, an eco-tourism area over 100km from Saigon, not far from the Cambodian border. The Vam Co Tay River cuts through the trees as well as a concrete boardwalk accessible only by boat.

Xeo Quyt Melaleuca Forest - Dong Thap Province

Photo by Tonbi ko/CC-BY-SA 4.0

Thirty kilometers from Cao Lanh City, the 20-hectare Xeo Quyt Forest in Dong Thap Province offers a sight to behold. A wall of ancient branches embraced by vines spiraling toward the sky once concealed a critical military rally point for Vietnam's revolutionary soldiers. A ticket to the preserve costs just VND5,000 ($0.3) and a boat ticket costs just VND15,000 ($0.7).

U Minh Ha Melaleuca Forest - Ca Mau Province

U Minh Ha National Park is dry for half the year and flooded for the rest. Swathes of white reeds separate green stands of melaleuca forrest where locals collect distinctive wild honey.

Related news:

> Walk on water: find your place among the gods deep in the forest

> Ghost hamlets in the Mekong Delta
NEW DELHI: Founder of RSS-backed Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas and educationist, Dinanath Batra, on Saturday called for linking education with culture and recommended compulsory social service for students in schools and college.

There has to be a change in our education policy. Education should be wedded to culture and growth. Right now focus is on job-oriented studies but focus should be on job-generating studies, Batra said.

Batra was speaking at a seminar on the New Education Policy (NEP) held at Delhi Universitys Kirori Mal College.

Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas has sent its suggestions to the Human Resource Ministry for the Draft National Education Policy 2016 recommending that mother language should be the medium of education till Class 5 and English should be taught as a third optional language among other languages from the eight list.

There should be compulsory social service for students at every terminal stage of education. Before they get their degrees, students should spend three months in a village doing social service. Aim of education should be to make a good human being, he said.

Suggesting changes in the education policy, Batra said there should be an autonomous education body on the lines of the Election Commission and Supreme Court. He also said education department should be managed by educationists and not bureaucrats.

Right now same bureaucrat can be in finance and then moved to education and then to another department. Those who are handling education should be from the education sector, he said.

Secretary, Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, Atul Kothari said that it was necessary to make changes in curriculum. People like Srinivas Ramanujan are nowhere in the history books while at many places unconstitutional words have been used. There is no mention of true history. We feel there is a need change the curriculum, he said.
HYDERABAD: The death of a minor girl in Secunderabad last week after fasting for 68 days in line with a Jain ritual, allegedly at the behest of her parents, has raised questions whether children should be allowed to fast for religious beliefs.

The incident came to light on Friday when Andhra Pradesh Balala Hakkula Sangham (AP Child Rights Association) lodged a complaint with the Hyderabad police seeking action against the parents, who allegedly forced their daughter to fast in the name of tapasya (penance) as part of the Chaturmas ritual for the prosperity of the family.

Thirteen-year-old Aradhana, an eighth standard student of St Francis School and the only child of Lakshmi Chand Manish Samdari, a popular jewellery merchant at Pot Bazar area in Secunderabad, collapsed in the evening of October 2  the last day of her 68-day fast. She was taken to Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Secunderabad, where she died in the early hours of October 3.

According to the complaint by the child rights association, Aradhana was forced to fast by her parents on the advice of their guru, as their family business was not doing well.

As per the ritual, she was provided only with water, that too, only till 6 pm. At the end of 68th day, a pooja was held. While performing the pooja at Secunderabad Jain Mandir, the girl fainted and she was taken to the hospital, where she died in the early hours of October 3, association president P Achyuta Rao told HT.

While the girls parents were not available for comment, a close acquaintance of the family, Piyush, said there was no truth in the complaint that the parents had forced Aradhana to fast because the business was not doing well.

Theirs is a well-off family with no financial problems. In fact, both the parents and the girl were very religious and were planning to become monks. The girl offered to take up tapasya on her own, he said.

He said the number 68 has a significance in Jain religion and one could attain self-purity by chanting a specific mantra 68 times. Last year, Aradhana had observed fast for 34 days and this time, she wanted to fast for 68 days during the Chaturmas period. It was purely her personal decision, which was respected by her parents, Piyush said.

Asked whether her health was monitored by doctors regularly during the fasting period, Piyush answered in the affirmative. Since she was allowed to drink water till evening, she had no health problems. There were a large number of visitors to see her every day and she received them with smile. Even on the last day, she was healthy and only before the completion of her penance, she developed some problem and was rushed to the hospital, where she unfortunately died, he said.

The pictures show Aradhana dressed up like a bride, but looking very weak. Several womenfolk from the Jain community are seen dancing in the colourfully decorated tent.

Achyuta Rao said surprisingly, there was no repentance in Aradhanas family. They feel she had made supreme sacrifice and attained salvation. Hundreds of people attended her funeral held the following day, he said.

Jain community has the practice of santhara, wherein old people suffering from chronic diseases and nearing their death, are allowed to fast till they die. This practice was even endorsed by the Supreme Court last year. Santhara is different from tapasya. In santhara, there is no specific time period. One can fast for one day or 10 days or even a few months till he dies. In tapasya, one has to take up fast for a specific period, up to 68. The objective is not to seek death, but the well-being of the family, Piyush.

Achyuta Rao, however, said it was a crime on the part of the family to force a minor girl to take up fast in the name of religious ceremony. Even if she wants to do it voluntarily, the parents should not allow this, he said.

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A gang posing as cops kidnapped the 20-year-old son of former Delhi municipal corporation councillor Shambhu Dayal Sharma and held him hostage for six days, demanding a ransom of Rs 50 crore for his release.

The college student was released on October 3 after Sharma reportedly paid Rs 1 crore.

Police said on Sunday four suspects were arrested while a hunt is on to capture another eight men, including the lynchpin who is a real estate agent in outer Delhi.

Sharmas son was kidnapped around 11am on September 27 when he was on his way to college in a BMW car.

Two men in police uniform stopped him near Subash Place in northwest Delhi and commanded him to get into a Scorpio, filled with accomplices and parked by the roadside. When the young man got in, the gangsters overpowered and blindfolded him, while an accomplice took the BMWs wheels.

Using the youths mobile phone, the kidnappers contacted his father and demanded Rs 50 crore, said joint commissioner of police (crime) RS Yadav.

The hostage was taken to hideouts in Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan  including farmhouses in Sirsa and Nawalgarh  as the gangsters waited for Sharmas response to their ransom call.

The kidnappers used to send the youths audio recordings to his father through WhatsApp.

In most of the audio clips, the youth could be heard requesting his father to pay and save his life, said an investigator.

Sharma, who is a property dealer, negotiated hard and secured his sons freedom for Rs 1 crore. How and where the cash was paid is not known.

The ransom money is said to be with two men, identified as Mahesh and Manjeet Dabas, who are on the run. They are suspected to have fled to Nepal. Both have reportedly worked with Sharma in the real estate business.

They dropped my son in Gurgaon and hailed a taxi for him. I knew one of the conspirators, Chanchal, for some years. Chanchals relative Mahesh is the key conspirator, the former Congress councillor said.

Police managed to arrest four of the kidnappers on specific information that they would come in a Swift to meet associates in west Delhis Najafgarh. After their arrest, the suspects led police to the BMW and the Scorpio.

Sedatives were also found, which police suspect were kept as standby in case the youth showed any resistance.

Besides wearing police uniform, two gangsters carried fake wireless sets and a traffic challan machine to make their deception look real.

Once inside the Scorpio, the youth was pinned down to the floor and threatened to kill him if he raised the alarm, officer Yadav said.
A misplaced parcel of six nuclear medicine packets tagged radioactive triggered a radiation leak scare at the Delhi airports Terminal 3 on Sunday morning, prompting the civil aviation regulator to initiate an investigation.

Police, fire brigade and National Disaster Response Force teams dashed to the airport after the alarm was sounded that a hazardous consignment has landed at the cargo courier section of the terminal, instead of the import section where such packages are destined to be.

The Director General of Civil Aviations dangerous goods division is investigating the incident, especially how the packets landed in the courier section instead of imports.

Senior airport officials admitted there was a scare since the consignment reached the courier section.

The area was cordoned off for an hour till police and NDRF personnel declared it safe after inspection, saying there was no leak that would harm human health.

The NDRF confirmed that radioactivity was within permissible limits, DCP (airport) Sanjay Bhatia said.

At least seven fire tenders were earlier rushed to the airport following the reports of the leak. (Ravi Choudhary/HT Photo)

The consignment  six silver-grey packets wrapped in polythene with the word radioactif written above a red radiation trefoil warning symbol on the side  came from Paris on an Air France flight, AF226.

The packets contained solid sodium molybdate which has many uses, including in nuclear medicine.

District magistrate Abhishek Singh, who heads the Delhi district disaster management wing, said the nuclear medicine package was for a hospital in central Delhi.

The radiation emitted from the nuclear medicine is below 1 mill rongen (radioactivity measurement). There is no beta radiation in the surrounding areas.

The packets discovery around 10am led to a call to police about a suspected radiation leak inside the cargo courier section of T3. Soon, seven fire tenders and a disaster response team arrived, along with a special van for transporting hazardous material.

Officials from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board also inspected the place and allayed radiation fears.

Air France too gave the all-clear, saying the shipment did not reveal any anomaly.

A similar scare engulfed the airport in May last year when airport officials noticed a leaking radioactive shipment sent from Istanbul. The leak was said to be low and away from the passenger area.
Not for the first time, the United Nations (UN) has been excoriated by one of its founding members for failing to match standards that it has itself set. It is almost taken for granted that the high-sounding ideals of the UN Charter, its many conventions and thousands of resolutions find only the faintest echoes in the actual actions of the organisation. In this case, the Indian representative at the UN recently criticised the Security Council for postponing the decision to put a ban on Masood Azhar under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the council  even though Azhar has been designated a terrorist by the UNSC itself.

Read: India criticises UN Security Council for not sanctioning Jaish chief Azhar

This criticism of the UNSC is tactically aimed at shaming, without naming, China. Beijing put the technical hold on international sanctions against Azhar largely, it seems, to help its all-weather friend Pakistan. It has now continued to extend this hold presumably for the same reason. Beijing has become Islamabads main diplomatic protector. While other foreign powers have played this role, the US being the obvious precursor, China has already shown that it is prepared to support Pakistan anywhere and in any way possible. China claims that it is also worried about terrorism emanating from the unstable bits of southwest and central Asia  but is unwilling to administer even the slightest of raps on the knuckles of Pakistan. The international sanctions against Azhar would have been largely symbolic. It is unlikely he maintains bank accounts in London or flies to the Bahamas on holiday. It makes perfect sense for New Delhi to maintain a sustained campaign against China, whether in the UNSC or elsewhere, if only to make it clear to Beijing that supporting the darkest side of Pakistans polity will not be without a price.

Read: China blocks Indias move to ban Jaish chief Masood Azhar, again

However, the criticism of the UNSC on this particular egregious case of diplomatic impotence also works on a higher plane: The problem with the nature of the international system as a whole. Indias attempts at the UN Security Council reform has run aground of the veto. China, Russia and the US are determined to ensure no additional country gets the veto. They are equally determined not to let their veto be diluted  for example, by introducing majority voting among permanent members. The membership of the General Assembly, on the other hand, is equally determined that something has to be done to put limits to abuse of the veto. The Chinese use of their authority to bloc the action against Azhar is an example of how a permanent member undermines the legitimacy of the blue flag.

Again, it is unlikely such statements will change Beijings protective attitude towards Islamabad unless other pressures are brought to bear. It is even less likely they will break the gridlock that afflicts the UN reform process. But showing that India, a country that has been previously allergic to the idea of an effective UN, wants the global body to at least live up to its own rhetoric, hope is that, over time, the sense that this is an organisation desperately in need of overhaul will grow strong enough to become a movement and then, one day, a reality.
Remember Little Boy and Fat Man? These are not comic book characters but names of nuclear bombs that scripted the largest devastation in human history in 1945. Around 1,25,000 people were killed and lakhs injured because of the bombings. The radiation emitted by the explosions kept troubling people for years after the tragedy. Wounds from the attack still fester in the minds and hearts of the Japanese.

Why am I reminding you of this heart-rending story?

The reason is obvious.

Read: Pak govt tells army to act on militants: 3 ways to read the Dawn report

Attempts are on to stoke the fires of a war between India and Pakistan. Those trying this forget that wars have always proved to be tragic for humanity. Not just do they kill soldiers and destroy their families, but the common man has to face the brunt of its after-effects for a long time. India fought its first war with China in 1962. According to economist Jean Dreze, the Indian economy was limping at just 2% in the aftermath of the Indo-China war. India hadnt even managed to put salve on these wounds than Pakistan foisted a war on us in 1965. The result: Indias growth rate turned negative to the tune of 3.7%. Similarly, the revolution to liberate Bangladesh might have succeeded in splitting Pakistan into two, but our growth rate was reduced to a whimper at 0.9%.

Read: Target completely sealing India-Pakistan border by December 2018: Rajnath

Coming to Kargil, Operation Vijay was executed after spending billions of rupees, but the cycle of expenses did not stop. After the terrorist attack on Parliament, the Vajpayee government kept 7,00,000 soldiers deployed on the borders for nine months. Pakistan did likewise. According to a study by The Strategic Foresight Group, India spent Rs 40 billion under this head between December 2001 and January 2002. In the same time period, Pakistan squandered Rs 42 billion on this build-up.

In those days, I was the editor of a national news channel. To understand the ground reality, I spent one evening at the border next to Jammu. At that time, both sides used to indulge in meaningless firing every night that raised the tensions of the soldiers. Cannoneers from both sides didnt know why they were doing it. Those giving them directions were unable to make them understand why they were asking them to do it.

Read: How best can India play the Balochistan card against Pakistan

This blind and futile tussle taught me how exhausting and expensive waiting for a war is. The consequences were soon evident to everybody.

India extracted a 5% defence surcharge from tax-payers for the next two years. On the other side of the border, Pakistan levied a war-risk surcharge from those using its ports and insurance companies on a large scale. The economy of both the countries began limping and they had to make haphazard increases in their defence budgets.

Pakistan spent 24 per cent of its GDP on mobilising defence resources, even as India allocated 15 per cent of the GDP on the same. Despite this, loudmouthed defence analysts kept calling this inadequate. One doesnt know why their eyes did not reach beleaguered schools, hospitals and the people.

Read: Brand Pakistan identifies itself with global terror: Jaitley

Those singing the war tune for no rhyme or reason ignore the fact that both the nations dont need the hatred of war, but the light of economic aid.

Now let us look at another aspect related to this. In the aftermath of Indias surgical strike in response to the Uri attack, a strange but vicious phenomenon reared its head. Questions were raised over the military action and attempts were made to drag it into the political quagmire. The immaturity displayed by the politicians of the worlds largest democracy was shocking. Some media houses decided to add fuel to this fire. When Pakistans prime minister and commander-in-chief were in war-mode, our political veterans, from different political parties were indulging in a game of mud-slinging. The Mahabharat of words that was fought after the surgical strikes is not a good sign for democracy.

Our warriors of the word forget that the hurt sentiments of soldiers can sometimes force them to take the wrong steps.

Read: Narendra Modi is implementing the Doval doctrine in Kashmir

Heres one eye-witness account of such an incident. After Operation Blue Star, certain rumours were spread in the Ramgarh cantonment which hurt the sentiments of a big segment of Sikh soldiers. They murdered their commander, Brigadier General RS Puri. Civilian trucks and buses were hijacked and the soldiers headed towards Delhi, which was at a distance of 850 km from their cantonment. After two or three days, when the units of the Indian army intercepted them on the banks of the Ganga in Allahabad, they surrendered without any resistance. Why did this happen?

Sitting on their knees in a field near Shastri Bridge, the rebels were scorched by a forest-fire of guilt, it appeared. Their heads were bent. That ordeal was tougher than a death sentence for them. Indian soldiers are fearless, not rebellious. The realisation of their mistake was gnawing at them from the inside. Whenever I remember that moment, I feel like praying. God dont make me see another moment like that. Those dark days were a blot on the sanctity of the Army and on democracy.

Still, what can one do? Human nature is adept at forgetting old follies and marching towards the next hysteria. That is why some people sing the war tune and the common man bears its brunt.

For this not to happen this time, it is essential that the people stay away from hysteria and let the government do its job. Our Army has hit terrorists nurtured in Pakistan in their own territory. Theyll do it again if required.

Let me tell something to those indulging in useless debates over soldiers and military actions. Fat Man and Little Boy were less lethal than the nuclear weapons of today. God forbid, if another nuclear war were to happen, I wonder how many people will survive to talk about it?

Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan
Previous research has shown that a short nights sleep tends to make people eat more and choose foods that are higher in fat and sugar. A recent study from researchers in Sweden suggests that despite feeling tired and lacking motivation, exercise could be a means of warding off junk food cravings after a few short nights sleep.

Sleep plays an important role in maintaining a healthy weight. In fact, its an often overlooked factor in weight loss plans, and wrongly so. Previous studies have linked chronic lack of sleep to an increased risk of being overweight or obese. Sleep deprivation (less than seven hours per night), causes people to be less active and snack more, particularly on foods that are high in sugar or fat.

This latest study, from researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden, suggests that physical exercise could counteract the effects of chronic lack of sleep on the increased risk of becoming overweight or obese.

A short nights sleep tends to make people eat more and choose foods that are higher in fat and sugar.

The scientists selected a group of participants of normal weights and in good physical health to study the behavior and levels of endocannabinoids, a group of chemical substances produced by the brain, which activate the neurological receptors present in the human body. These are usually elevated by short sleep duration and are responsible for compulsive behaviour towards food, particularly junk food.

In a sleep laboratory, volunteers were studied after three consecutive nights of normal sleep (8 hours), then after three nights with just four hours sleep. Meal and activity patterns were kept the same during both sessions. Blood samples were taken repeatedly to monitor endocannabinoid levels. Blood samples were also taken on the last day, both before and after a short bout of intensive exercise.

Exercise if you want to stop your craving for junk food.

The results showed a spike in the levels of 2-arachidonoylglycerol, the most abundant endocannabinoid in the brain, climbing about 80% higher after the nights of reduced sleep.

However, after intense 35-minute sessions of physical exercise, the study showed that this excess of endocannabinoids was halved and in some cases returned to the normal level.

This biological phenomenon is accompanied by the added stress-busting benefits of sport, which help promote sleep. In fact, even in cases of chronic sleep loss, exercise could be a means of regaining neurological balance.

The study is published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology.
A recent research has shown that children, whose mothers take Vitamin D during pregnancy (with resultant high levels of the vitamin in the umbilical blood) have fewer symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) till the age of two and a half years.

Lead researcher Niels Bilenberg explained, For every 10 nmol/L increase in the Vitamin D concentration in umbilical blood, the risk of a being among the 10 percent highest score on the ADHD symptom scale fell by 11 percent.

1,233 children from Odense Municipality in Denmark were monitored in the study.

Vitamin D was measured in umbilical blood and mothers completed the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) of their children below two and a half years.

The CBCL questionnaire can be used to identify early symptoms of ADHD, even though an ADHD diagnosis cannot be made at that age.

And the trend was clear: those mothers who had taken Vitamin D, and had a vitamin D level (25OHD) in their umbilical blood over 25 nmol/L, had children with lower ADHD scores, said Bilenberg.

He added, This was after we had corrected for other factors that could explain the link, such as the mothers age, smoking, alcohol, obesity, education, number of children, psychiatric disease in the parents, childs sex, age and seasonal variation.

The link between Vitamin D and early ADHD symptoms has not been described before.

Children with ADHD can have trouble adapting to new situations or new rules. (Shutterstock)

We were very surprised that the link was so clear as there was no previous awareness that this link could be identified at such an early age. Its impossible to say with which children will develop ADHD later on, but it will be interesting to further follow up those children who were at the highest end versus the normal range of the ADHD scale, said the researcher.

The study, however, offers no explanation as to how Vitamin D can protect against ADHD. But other studies have shown that Vitamin D plays an important role in the early development of the brain.

We had an idea about it, but we cannot say with certainty that Vitamin D protects against early symptoms of ADHD. Our study only indicates that there is a link that we cannot explain in any other way, said Aby.

The study was published in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry.
With the release of upcoming English film Inferno in India, viewers will also get to hear Tom Hankss voice in Telugu, thanks to actor Rana Daggubati who has dubbed for the Hollywood star.

Rana will be the voice of the Academy award-winning actor in the Telugu version of the Ron Howard directed film.

Take extreme pride in lending my voice to one of the greatest actors on this planet @tomhanks for the #InfernoMovie pic.twitter.com/5Suucr4FFe  Rana Daggubati (@RanaDaggubati) October 5, 2016

Hanks plays the role of Robert Langdon in Inferno, which also stars Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan.

When asked if there was a sense of responsibility while dubbing for Hanks, the Baahubali actor told PTI, There was a great sense of responsibility. Secondly, I have dubbed for someone else, so I am conveying the story of that character through my voice. My pauses, the way I say my lines.

Tom Hanks in a still from Inferno.

The 31-year-old actor says many people go wrong when they try to imitate an actors voice or accent while dubbing, something which he consciously avoided.

According to Rana, getting the perfect pitch of the sound was extremely important so as to not make it jarring for the viewers.

Now here, it (the film) is something that I have not been part of. I am pitching at what he (Hanks) has done. The biggest mistake many people make when they dub is that they try to imitate the accent or the voice of the actor.

I dont sound like Tom at all. Two people will never sound alike. But for the viewer (watching the dub version) it is the pitch of the character. I picked the pitch of the character, he said.

For Rana, just dubbing the voice of the Sully star was more than something he couldve asked for.

To dub for a film like Inferno, that too for Tom Hanks was more than exciting. Just to see a legendary actor like him on screen, who you have seen while growing up, and then to dub for him was exciting.

The actor reveals that he was filming the sequel of his blockbuster Baahubali and recorded for Inferno at the same time.

Inferno will be released in India on October 14.

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A Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader was thrashed and handed over to police after he was allegedly caught molesting women at a Muharram Majlis late on Saturday night while wearing a burqa (veil).

Police have registered a case against VHP district secretary Abhishek Yadav, who is the husband of BJP zila panchayat member Shipra Yadav. Abhishek was reportedly accompanied by another burqa-clad youth who managed to flee from the scene.

As per reports, a Muharram Majlis was organised at Mani Umarpur village on Saturday night. A few women at the Majlis became suspicious of two burqa-clad women and forced them to lift their veils.

It was then allegedly revealed that Abhishek and his accomplice had disguised themselves as women and entered the Majilis.

The villagers rushed to the scene and thrashed Abhishek when women accused him of molesting them.

Abhisheks family, however, claim that the VHP leader was returning home when he was attacked and looted by some people at Mani Umarpur village.
Even as the district administration on Friday lifted the ban on the general public to attend the evening retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border, the Border Security Force denied entry to visitors on Saturday.

BSF authorities told HT they had not received any official communication from the Amritsar deputy commissioner to allow spectators to witness the retreat ceremony. They, however, indicated people would be allowed entry on Sunday, once they receive the communication.

We did not suspend public viewing of the retreat ceremony. It was the district administrations decision. So once we receive the green signal, we will allow the public, said a BSF officer.

The ban was imposed following the Indian Armys surgical strikes on terror launch pads along the Line of Control in Kashmir on September 29.

Amritsar deputy commissioner Varun Roojam took the decision to lift the ban on Friday, the same day as the evacuation orders along the border with Pakistan were rolled back.

The retreat ceremony which involves lowering of the flags is a daily military practice that the BSF and Pakistan Rangers have jointly followed since 1959.
The Calcutta high court pulled up the West Bengal government for its arbitrary directive to limit Durga idol immersions so as to not clash with Muharram processions in a recent hearing.

A single-member bench of justice Dipankar Dutta noted that the governments directive was a clear endeavour to appease the minority section, especially as there has never been a state or Centre-declared holiday on the eve of Muharram to prepare for the tazia (processions), according to a report by the Indian Express.

There has been a clear endeavour on the part of the state government to pamper and appease the minority section of the public at the cost of the majority section without there being any plausible justification. The reason therefore is, however, not far to seek, the court said.

Justice Dutta conceded that we did live in difficult times in which it would be dangerous to mix politics with religion, but noted that governments should not take decisions that pit one community against another.

Intolerance would rise in the event of such arbitrary decision, the judge said in the October 6 ruling after hearing a petition by three parties -- two households and an apartment complex  which sought to immerse their idols by 8:30 pm on Bijoya Dashami.

Sometime in early August, the Mamta Banerjee government announced that there would be no idol immersion post 4 pm on Bijoy Dashami, the day of the Durga idol immersion. This year the day falls on October 11, a day before tazia takes place.

Given the restrictions, bigger puja pandals have decided to immerse their idols after Muharram.

The court directed civic agencies, including the police and civil administration, to identify routes for the immersion processions and for the tazia, while making sure that the routes did not overlap.

The administration has failed to take note of the fact that Muharram is also not the most important festival of people having faith in Islam To put it curtly, the state government has been irresponsibly brazen in its conduct of being partial to one community, thereby infringing upon the fundamental rights of people worshipping Maa Durga, the bench further noted.

Never has there been a restriction on immersion of Durga idols on Bijoya Dashami at any earlier point of time. It has been brought to the notice of this Bench that in the years 1982 and 1983, Moharram was observed on the day following Bijoya Dashami, but no restriction of the nature impugned herein was imposed.

Stating that the limitations on idol immersion were unprecedented, justice Dutta also noted there was no decision in black and white taken either by the civil administration or by the police administration indicating any reason for imposing the impugned restriction.

The state government has so far not appealed the high courts ruling.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday quoted Jana Sangh founder Deen Dayal Upadhyaya to stress the need for a strong military as a prerequisite for a strong nation.

He (Upadhyaya) used to say that the countrys armed forces should be very capable, then only the nation can be strong, Modi said to thunderous applause from the audience at a function at Vigyan Bhavan here. In this time of competitiveness and interdependence between countries, the need is that the nation should be capable and strong.

The Prime Minister said this years Vijaya Dashami  a celebration of goods victory over evil  is very special for the country, in an apparent reference to the armys surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the Line of Control.

Read | Chest thumping warmongers need to listen to Modis words of caution

In a veiled reference to Pakistan, Modi said, Being strong does not mean being against anyone. If we exercise for our strength, then the neighbour need not worry (thinking) that it is to target him. I am exercising to strengthen myself and for my health.

RSS general secretary Suresh Bhayyaji Joshi asked for strengthening Indias security and said the countrys pursuit of national security was inspired by the need to defend itself rather than to defeat others.

India should be safe and secure. Its borders are posing a challenge and everyone has seen that this issue can be resolved too, he said. Indias strength has never been used to spread boundaries and be expansionist. We go to win over the world but not defeat anyone...There is need that India should be a country that should lead the world.

BJP chief Amit Shah said the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government had made the country secure without deviating from the path of peace.

Read | Armys surgical strikes across LoC prove PM Modis ability to spring surprises

At the event, Modi released a compendium of 15 books on the life and teachings of Upadhyaya, whose birth centenary year is being celebrated by the BJP and the government. The compendium highlights key events in the life of Upadhyaya and the journey of the Jana Sangh and the country, including watershed events like the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, the Tashkent Agreement and Goas liberation.

The biggest contribution of Deendayalji is organisation-based political parties and not just a party run by a handful of individuals. This was the identity of Jana Sangh and the BJP, he said, adding that the foundations laid by Upadhyaya being the vipaksh (opposition) to vikalp (alternative) in a short span of time.

He said at the core of Upadhyayas thoughts were the poor, the villages, the farmers, the Dalits and the marginalised and that is why this government is focussing on these sections during the centenary year celebrations.

He used to say that the poor should be the central point of everything. That is why in this journey towards development, our government is focussing on the poor and to help empower it, Modi added.

With inputs from PTI

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The Centre has declined to make public a panels report on the death of research scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad University.

The file concerned is under submission. Therefore, copy of report cannot be provided at this point of time, human resource development (HRD) ministry said in reply to the RTI query filed by PTI.

It did not cite any provision of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in declining the information. A government department is expected to mention relevant provision of the RTI Act under which information is being withheld.

The ministry had in February appointed a Commission of Inquiry under justice (retired) Ashok Kumar Roopanwal to look into the events at the University of Hyderabad, culminating in the death of Vemula.

It was also tasked with reviewing the existing grievance redressal mechanism for students at the university and to suggest improvements. The commission was asked to submit its report within three-month time.

The panel has submitted its report to the HRD ministry.

Recent media reports have claimed that the commission has raised questions on Vemulas Dalit status and attributed his suicide to personal reasons.

University authorities too have been absolved of any blame for Vemulas death as the commission has held that they were not working under political pressure, the reports said.

Vemulas suicide had triggered a huge political furore with the then HRD minister Smriti Irani coming under attack along with labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya for having written a letter related to the matter.

The commission in its report is understood to have emphasised upon proper grievance redressal mechanisms and equal opportunity cells so that unfortunate incidents like Vemulas suicide can be prevented.
As lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung fights a bitter battle with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for administrative control of Delhi, the Centre  the LGs employer  is sitting on a panel report, which, if implemented, would give more powers to the CM.

Ironically, the panel, appointed by the Modi government and headed by former home secretary Madhukar Gupta, submitted its report to the union urban development ministry in October 2015 but the document is yet to be made public.

The report is under examination, a ministry spokesperson said to a query about secrecy over the panels recommendations.

HT accessed the report that calls for the state government to be given greater control over land, a larger representation in the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) board and more powers to plan the citys transport needs.

It also favours a state-government run housing board that will assess the requirement and build houses for different sections, a job entrusted to the DDA.

Read| Delhi headed for chaos, our decisions being rendered null and void: Kejriwal

Holding the authority responsible for the citys urban mess, the report calls for the DDA to be stripped of its role of land and property management and limit it to that of a central planning authority and a facilitator.

The report also recommends that the land lying unused with the DDA be transferred to Delhi government agencies.

Mandated to revisit and redraft the Delhi Development Act, 1957, the five-member committee, set up in February 2015, favours curtailing the role of DDA, the primary land owner and sole developer of the city that reports to the Union government.

The city government has to seek the urban development ministrys clearance in all land-related matters.

The report could give fresh ammunition to the Kejriwal government, which is locked in a bitter fight with the Centre over police, DDA, transfer of officials and even moving of files. The battle is now being played out in the Supreme Court.

This report should be placed in public domain, and discussed with the Delhi government, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia told HT, surprised that such a report existed.

The report, he said, made it clear that there was nothing unconstitutional about their demand for more power to the elected government.

As a former home secretary, he (Madhukar Gupta) knows what the constitutional provision is and would have made his recommendations within this framework, he said.

Given the equation between the Centre and the Kejriwal government, it was unlikely that the report would be made public, a ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

Madhukar Gupta declined requests for comment.

Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay, too, refused to be drawn in. I will not like to comment on the merits of the report as the final draft is still to come in public domain, said Upadhyay, who is also a member of the DDA board.

Read| Jung vs Kejriwal: Both sides have to learn to work together

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The BJP is ready with its list of candidates in almost half of Uttar Pradesh but it wont make the announcement yet.

The partys state unit has told the top brass to keep the list close to its chest till the grand, albeit delayed, Parivartan Yatra proposed to begin next month is complete.

A BJP general secretary told HT that president Amit Shah wanted names of candidates, already finalised, to be announced immediately to give them time to prepare.

Full coverage: Uttar Pradesh assembly elections

However, the state unit red-flagged the idea, saying it could be a dampener for the yatra  BJPs campaign launch for the poll-bound state. According to them, those who are denied tickets may not lend support to the yatra. Shah found merit in the argument, the BJP leader said.

But Shah has his own worries. The launch of the yatra has missed several deadlines since August. It was supposed to be over by November. An intention to avoid a clash with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhis Kisan Yatra, the inauspicious fortnight in September and festivities during October delayed the launch.

The party is now looking at a November 5 launch for the four yatras and plans to end it with a rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lucknow by the end of December.

The 100-day schedule has been cut short to about 55 days, the BJP leader said.

The party has divided the state into six organisation zones and all four yatras were supposed to cover three zones each.

In such a case, each zone would have hosted two yatras. Now that the number of days has been nearly halved, the BJP will cover less ground. We dont see the possibility of candidate announcement before December, said the BJP leader who is part of the candidate selection exercise.

The party expects the assembly election to take place in February and some leaders argue that there will be little time in hand for the candidates to fight the poll.

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Ruby Rai, the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB)s Class XII (arts) topper of 2016 did not write the answer sheets on her own. Instead, the answer sheets were written by experts, according to forensic reports.

According to the report of the forensic science laboratory (FSL), the handwriting on the answer sheets of Rai were not hers, but of the experts who wrote for her, said Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj who received a copy of the report on Saturday.

Rai, the arts topper had failed to answer rudimentary questions during a media interaction soon after the results were announced last May. She had said prodigal (political) science was all about cooking. The video clip went viral, causing widespread condemnation of the education system in Bihar.

Read | Ruby Rai is a product of Bihars cheat system, not its creator

SSP Manu Maharaaj told HT that out of six papers in class 12 examination, Ruby wrote only the Home Science paper while the remaining five papers --- Hindi, English, Geography, Political Science and Music -- were written by a team of experts.

The report also mentions that many answer sheets did not even have the boards watermark, proving they were inserted, post the examination, the SSP said.

He said it established that answer sheets were not procured from board but from elsewhere. The FSL submitted report of answer sheets of Rai while reports of forensic test of other examinations sheets of other so called toppers, were still awaited.

A special investigation team headed by Patna senior SP Manu Maharaaj was formed to investigate the case after the merit scam broke. The team had collected handwriting samples of Rai and other toppers and handed it over to FSL for examination on June 29.

Read | I am a village girl, dont know how I topped Bihar board exam, says Ruby Rai

The state education department had lodged an FIR against Vishnu Rai College of Vaishali which produced this years four toppers- Ruby Rai, Saurav Shrestha, Shalini Ray and Saurav Kumar- all suspected of having adopted foul means.

The cases were lodged following a nationwide furore. Chief minister Nitish Kumar also ordered a criminal investigation into the scam.

Officials of the Bihar State Education Board (BSEB), superintendents at the exam and evaluation centres, where the answer scripts were evaluated, were also named in the two-page FIR lodged by secondary education secretary Rajiv Ranjan Prasad.

The board called 14 students for a re-test but Ruby, who had scored 444 out of 500 marks, skipped it citing ill health. Thereafter, she was given time till June 14 to take the re-test or risk getting the result struck down.

She was arrested on June 25 after she came to appear in the test and later released on bail on August 1.

Board chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, his wife and former JD (U) MLA Usha Sinha and V R College principal Bachcha Rai were also arrested in the case, along with several personnel of the Bihar state examination board.

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A suspect was arrested on Sunday for the alleged rape and murder of celebrity perfumer Monika Ghurde whose naked body was found, with her hands and legs tied, at her house in north Goas Sangolda two day ago.

Goa director general of police Muktesh Chander confirmed the arrest from Bengaluru.

The suspect had allegedly stolen the 39-year-old Ghurdes bank ATM card and cell phone. Police are checking if he had taken away any jewellery as well.

There is a strong suspicion that she might have been robbed, raped and killed on Thursday night at her three-bedroom apartment. A well-known name in social circles, she lived alone while her husband stayed in a house nearby.

She used to stay on the first floor of flat number 2, Jasmine Building, Sapna Raj Valley  close to Goas famous Calangute beach and about 10km from capital Panaji.

The murder was discovered when her domestic help reported for duty on Friday. She rang the bell a few times and called Ghurdes brother after no one responded from inside.

The brother called her on her mobile phone but received no answer. Then he called one of the neighbours, who opened the house with a spare key that Ghurde had kept with him.

The neighbour spotted the body and alerted police. A case has been registered at Saligao police station and Ghurdes body was sent for an autopsy. Investigators were also checking CCTV footage.

The globe-trotting perfumer was famous for her obsession with the scent of jasmine, which resulted in a collaborative work with author William Dalrymple to trace the history of the flower.

Ghurde was a successful photographer and graphic designer before she founded Mo Labs through which she conducted smell workshops around the world. She was also researching on the effects of perfumes on human consciousness.
Distancing itself from China for the first time in climate talks, India has decided to put pressure on Beijing to take the lead in phasing down use of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

The departure from the previous position  in which India and China together bargained with the developed world to protect the interests of developing countries  has come during the ongoing global meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, where 197 countries are finalising a deal under the Montreal Protocol to stop uses of HFCs.

Used as refrigerants and in air conditioners, some HFC gases are considered to have 12,000-15,000 times more global warming potential than that of CO2. A complete phase out of HFCs by 2050 can avoid a 0.5 degree Celsius warming of the planet by 2100. Highlighting that China accounts for more than 60% of the HFC consumption in the developing world, Indian negotiators in Kigali, decided on Saturday, to propose three different timelines  one each for the developed countries, China and developing countries  for phasing down HFCs.

As per the proposal if developed countries agree to freeze their HFC use in 2016 at the 2012-15 levels of consumption and China agrees to freeze it at the 2020-22 consumption levels then India and other developing countries can consider freezing HFC use at the 2025-27 levels.

India had proposed, in June, that it would freeze the use of HFCs in 2031 at the 2028-30 levels of consumption but the US had been pressurising India to push its schedule ahead. Phasing down of HFCs was high on agenda in the Indo-US joint statement during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to US in June and US Secretary of State John Kerrys visit to India in August.

While the US and China together account for 60% of global HFC consumption and more than 80% of the production capacity, Indias share in global HFC consumption and production right now is 1.6% and 2.32% respectively. According to the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, it would cost Rs 90,000 crore to India to completely eliminate HFCs by 2050 as per the timeline proposed by it in June. Pushing the schedule ahead would require more money.

Experts say, India has taken a proactive stance at the talks by being open to push its schedule ahead from earlier baselines. This will avoid the risk of India getting isolated at the meeting and push the developed world to be ambitious, said an Indian negotiator.

This is the common but differentiated responsibility in the true sense. China produces maximum HFC and takes away the maximum share of financial support provided by developed countries for carrying out transition to cleaner technologies. It can no longer hide behind the back of developing countries, said Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general of CSE.

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In recent months, Nemkumar Banthia, professor in the department of civil engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC) has had his eyes fixed on a road.

That road, though, happens to be more than 12,500 km from Vancouver, where he is based. Its a demonstration project in a village about 90 km from Bengaluru and uses advanced materials and technology that could help with enhancing rural road connectivity.

The project is the result of research that marries materials science and structural engineering to create self-repairing roads that are cost effective, have greater longevity and are sustainable.

Banthia, who graduated from IIT-Delhi before moving to Canada 34 years ago, undertook the project under the auspices of the Canada-India Research Center of Excellence IC-IMPACTS, where he is scientific director.

In 2014, his team selected Thondebavi village, after a series of interactions with gram panchayat members and the local community. Based at UBC, the center is focused on research collaboration between Canada and India to develop and implement community-based solutions to the most urgent needs of each nation.

The dirt track that existed in Thondebavi village before the new self-repairing road was built. (Courtesy UBC)

The new self-repairing road that connects Thondebavi village to the highway. (Courtesy UBC)

Construction of the road, which connects Thondebavi to the highway and replaces a dilapidated dirt track, was completed in the late winter of 2015, but the last few months were critical as it had to be monitored for how it lasted through the extreme heat of an Indian summer and the monsoon. Now, it can be claimed a success.

The roads thickness, at about 100 mm, is about 60% less than that of a typical Indian road, reducing cost and materials. About 60% of the cement is replaced with flyash, thus curbing the usual carbon footprint, especially as cement production releases greenhouse gases. It comes with built-in crack healing, as high strength concrete is supplemented with fibre reinforcement with nano-coating that makes it absorb water and keeps the road hydrated.

Watch | How Professor Nemkumar Banthias team came up with the self-repairing road

Banthia described this as a cute mechanism and explained: These are fibres which have a hydrophilic nano-coating on them. Hydrophilia means they attract water and this water then becomes available for crack healing. Every time you have a crack, you always have unhydrated cement and this water is now giving it the hydration capability, producing further silicates which actually closes the crack in time.

Also, native drainage prevents the village from turning into a marshland as it often did during monsoon months.

Banthia, originally from Nagpur, said he expected the road to last about 15 years, far beyond the two-year lifespan of the average rural or mid-town road in India. Its also 30% cheaper in terms of a first time cost, though the savings, he said, would be substantial over its life cycle.

Villagers, he said, have taken to the new road, since it connects each of the hamlets 1,200 residents, and allows them to take their produce to market easily.

With India requiring about 2.4 million km of rural roads, it isnt surprising that this project may be replicated in other states, with initial discussions underway for similar roads in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh. And the technology doesnt have to be limited to villages since conversations have also been held with the ministry of road transport for a highway demonstration project. There is a great deal of interest, Banthia said.

That interest is not limited to India. Closer home, such a road could soon be constructed for a First Nations community near Edmonton in the Canadian province of Alberta. That comes with its own climactic challenges  extreme cold, winter snow and the thaw. But Banthia is confident such roads will show the path ahead for rural communities to overcome the connectivity deficit.

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Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday emphasised the need for re-capitalising the World Bank to enable it to meet sustainable development goals (SDGs) and twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting shared prosperity.

Unfavourable global scenario has made the achievement of twin goals of the World Bank Group and the ambitious SDGs even more challenging. Achievement of these goals requires trillions of dollars of development financing. This makes the role of the World Bank group even more critical  both as a provider of finance and knowledge, he said.

Jaitley was representing the Constituency of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka, at the 94th Meeting of the Development Committee (DC), the Ministerial-Level forum of the World Bank Group and IMF for inter-governmental consensus building on development issues, here on Saturday.

The meeting focused on the Forward Look exercise carried out by the World Bank and discussion on the Dynamic Formula of Shareholding of member countries in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), a member institution of the Bank.

Capital-constrained

In view of the Bank being capital constrained today, there is a need to expand the role of not only IDA, but also IBRD and IFC to enlarge the lending programme of the Bank Group, he said.

For instance, in the case of India, during the last fiscal year, fresh commitments delivered were only USD 3.8 billion as against the requirement of USD 5-7 billion.

During the last spring meeting, Jaitley had called for a USD 100 billion bank.

The Forward Look Paper has proposed annual lending of USD 40 billion per annum by IBRD. It also proposes doubling of IFCs annual investment capacity. This is necessary in view of the increasing role which IFC needs to play in ramping up private sectors capacities in developing countries.

Increased financing measures need to be coupled with renewed efforts to find innovative solutions, active pursuance of knowledge sharing, coordinated responses with the private sector, other development partners and international organisations, Jaitley said.

On growth, the finance minister said: Our constituency countries have displayed resilience and growth in this challenging environment where India is likely to grow at more than its last years 7.6 per cent, Bangladesh at 6.3 per cent, Sri Lanka at about 5.3 per cent and Bhutan at 6.8 per cent.

He shared the assessment that the Bank should not only be bigger but be more agile, efficient and less expensive to do business with.

The Banks active promotion of South-South cooperation, increased use of Country Systems and a pragmatic implementation of environmental and social standards would help considerably in making it a better Bank, he added.

Jaitley also made the point that the final outcome of the World Bank shareholding must not lose sight of the raison detre of the realignment - to increase the voice and voting power of developing countries, which we had clearly stated in 2010 and reiterated in 2015 DC Communiques.

Laudable goal

The draft report, he said, dilutes this laudable goal by merely stating that the voting power of the developing and transition countries (DTCs) should not be reduced.

Further, there should be at least 2 per cent increase in voting power of DTCs at the conclusion of the process, he suggested.

Jaitley said the International Development Association (IDA), part of the World Bank, is the single-most important concessional platform to meet the needs of low-income countries.

Therefore, we fully support the replenishment effort that aims at a base package of USD 75 billion for IDA 18 replenishment... I am happy to note that unreasonable burden which Acceleration Clause imposed on the graduates has been recognised and it is proposed to suspend its operation for the present. This should in fact be done away with entirely, Jaitley said.

According to Jaitley, the World Bank stands at a crossroads as it has not only to reinvent itself as it embraces the challenges but design and execute its projects efficiently, nimbly and innovatively like never before.

As shareholders, let us not shy away from adequately resourcing the bank and empowering the bank to enable us to meet SDGs and our twin goals, he said.

While addressing the gathering at forums like the Goldman Sachs Growth Markets Conference and the FT-Citi Forum, he elaborated on the significant improvement in macro-economic fundamentals of investment and growth in the Indian economy.

Jaitley also highlighted the major transformative initiatives taken by India which have created a positive business environment for Indian and global investments.

Mutual interest and cooperation

He also held a bilateral meeting with Philip Hammond, UK finance minister. The discussion centered on the various areas of mutual interest and cooperation.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of IMF/WB annual meetings, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das held bilateral talks with his counterpart from Israel, during which both sides discussed the issues related to BITs, FDI and future avenues of partnership in agriculture.

In particular, Israel expressed keen interest in learning from Indias experiences in PPPs and ease of doing business, the release said.

Das, in a series of tweets, said there were very productive meetings during the visit to US and Canada.

...Investors interest in India is growing. Both FDI and FPI, he noted.

He added that the emerging view among investors in the US and Canada is India is highly under rated.

Das said further: International rating agencies need to listen to investors in their own countries, he said, adding, No complacency in the government. Will continue to do more.
Nothing is an offence which is done by a child under seven years of age. This presumption of law, doli incapax, under section 82 of the IPC, rests on the premise that a child is incapable of committing an offence. The same presumption of innocence, however, does not apply to a victim of rape if she is under seven years of age and is yet to come to terms with her gender identity. Moreover, she is expected to depose in the court of law like any other witness of age in almost a similar environment. Justice to such victims often eludes and neither major criminal laws of the country nor the POCSO Act, which specifically deals with sexual assault cases of children of age less than 18 years, provides any relief.

A research study of hundred cases of rape of minor girls has revealed that nothing has changed even after the enactment of the special Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) in the year 2012. This is besides the point that the difference between the special Act and the major laws has reduced to a minimal after certain amendments in existing laws to bring in consistency in its major provisions.

In six cases, the age of the child victim was less than six years and conviction could be procured only in two cases; rape in one case and kidnapping in the other, against a total of nine convictions out of the hundred studied cases. The major reasons of acquittal were victims statements not being recorded by the police, parents turning hostile, inconsistent statements by lady doctors who conduct medical examinations, parents not consenting for victims medical examination, forensic examination reports not being produced in the court etc.

The law permits medical examination of the minor victim only on guardians consent. Therefore more emphasis needs to be laid on the oral evidence. However, it was found that comparatively less importance was given to uncorroborated oral evidence in cases where consent for medical examination was withheld by the parents. Now, if the penetration is not complete and hymen is not torn, the case further gets weakened as the child is not in a position to explain the act of rape according to legal requirements. At the most, she complains about pain or fondling of private parts by the accused to her mother, who also is complainant in most of such cases.

If the parents dont give consent for medical examination of the child for any societal pressure or other reasons and themselves turn hostile in the court, who is to be blamed for not dispensing justice?

Another fundamental issue that needs attention is that the scrutiny of evidence in such cases is generally done at par with cases where the victim is fully aware of the criminal act. In one of the cases, when the defence council asked the lady doctor, who conducted medical examination on complaint of rape, whether the injury (of redness of vulva and pain) could be caused due to infection, the doctor conveniently answered yes. Asking such questions during cross-examination is a routine procedure and often the medical doctors, who conduct MLCs, fail to depose firmly in the court of law and justify their findings

But then this is how an adversarial system of criminal justice is supposed to work when two adversaries i.e., prosecution and defence, are pitted against each other and the judicial magistrate acts like an impartial referee. The truth is supposed to emerge out of the arguments put forth by the two advocates. However, the experience has been far from satisfactory and the credibility of the criminal justice system (CJS) eroded. The Supreme Court has also criticized the passive role played by the judges in a number of cases and emphasized the importance of discovering truth.

Despite having section 29 of the POCSO Act which says that the special court shall presume that the person prosecuted under sections of penetrative sexual assault has committed or attempted to commit the offence unless the contrary is proved, in all cases under study, it was the prosecution who was asked to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt. The law of presumption was not invoked even in a single case. Similarly, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) as well as POCSO say that all cases of rape shall be investigated by women police officers. However, only one case was investigated by a woman officer; the other five, all by male officers.

The Justice Malimath Committee constituted to suggest measures to reform the Indian CJS, clearly stated in its report that the adversarial system of dispensing justice had not worked satisfactorily in India and some beneficial features of inquisitorial system should be incorporated by modifying the prevailing adversarial system. A few high courts and state governments had also agreed with the Committees suggestion. In an inquisitorial system, (as applicable in China, Russia, Japan, Scotland etc.) judicial magistrate investigates criminal offences and searches for the truth. In Germany, a breach of the Judges duty to actively discover truth would promulgate a procedural error which may provide grounds for an appeal. Italy uses a blend of two systems.

Some elements of inquisitorial system are already present in the Indian law. Section 176 of the CrPC says that custodial death or disappearance and custodial rape shall also be inquired into by the judicial magistrate in addition to the inquiry or investigation held by the police. Thus, based on similar premise, investigative powers can be given to the judicial magistrates in cases of rape of children under seven years of age so that truth is unearthed and justice dispensed with. The investigative judicial (woman) magistrate could be assisted by a medical doctor and a child specialist. The report of such magistrate could be treated as a final piece of evidence and the accused person shall be given an opportunity to state his version with evidence, if any, before the verdict is pronounced.

Though, the sample size of research study was not large enough and to be representative of the whole population to generalize the conclusions, it is sufficient to throw many questions for an open debate by the civil society. Having a separate law like POCSO Act, does not seem to be sufficient to dispense justice to a spectrum of victims who are not even capable of comprehending the ghost of sexual violence. Such offences need radical changes in the prevalent CJS. Let the inquisitorial system of criminal justice step-in in cases of sexual exploitation of children who cannot speak for themselves.

(The writer is additional director general of police in Chhattisgarh and pursuing post- graduate degree in law from distance education course of national law university, Jodhpur)

Also | Read our #LetsTalkAboutRape series here
A few days ago Ghulam Mohammad (name changed), a bus conductor from Nowpora area in Srinagar, borrowed a handcart from a neighbour and stuffed a few vegetables to sell them in the market. Jobless for more than 90 days, he has to feed a family of six.

Director School Education and Kashmirs first IAS topper Shah Faesal, in a Facebook post calls himself the director of shut schools. I need a job, he posted.

Trade bodies say Kashmirs economy has taken a hit of Rs 120 crore a day on an average. Over the past 90 days the economy has a lost over Rs 10,000 crore.

The current unrest in Kashmir entered the fourth month on Saturday making it the longest period the Valley has been shut down in history.

At least 90 people have lost their lives in the bloody unrest so far triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8.

Thousands others have been injured in crackdowns by security forces. At least 14 youth, including two teenagers, have died of pellet injuries in the past three months.

Thousands have also been jailed and hundreds including human rights activist Khurram Pervez booked under the controversial Public Safety Act (PSA). The administration is not even allowing the religious processions of Shia community in the holy month of Muharram.

The separatist leadership including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik continue to be either under house arrest or in custody.

But protests continue in many parts of the valley. The youth seem adamant not to let things return to normal. Even the separatists dont seem to be in control, said a senior police officer.

In the absence of any concessions from the Centre, a return to normalcy seems unlikely for now.

The attitude of government of India is that it doesnt pay any attention and is waiting to wear out the people, said Prof Noor Ahmad Baba, political analyst. It seems like a war of nerves between the separatists and government of India in which Kashmiris are suffering, he added.

Business establishments remain closed and public transport is off the roads. Although private vehicles have started plying, transporters are still in the lurch. Reports suggest around 5,000 vehicles are lying unused for the past three months.

I had bought a new, more comfortable auto a few months before the unrest. Now for last three months, I have to not only take care of my family without earning a penny but also pay the EMIs, said Shabir Ahmad from Srinagars Civil Lines.

Like other businesses, banking too has been hit with some bank branches working for flexible hours. We generally dont ask the female staff to come every day but males who live in safer areas have been coming to various branches, said a manager in a private bank.

The government has announced the examination dates for classes 10 and 12 in November. But most students have been unable to attend school for three months.

Prof Baba feels the protests might not sustain for a long time but lack of acknowledgement of the problem cannot be the solution.

If the youth get the sense of hopelessness this time as well, it might not be a good news for the future, he warned.

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At a time when much of Srinagar is still under curfew, an instance of local residents rescuing an army man from an accident has demonstrated that hatred is still a long way from consuming the Valley.

Sources said residents of Lasjan on the Srinagar-Jammu highway risked their lives to rescue an army driver from the mangled remains of his vehicle after it met with an accident on Sunday. The incident occurred while a convoy of military vehicles was heading to the states summer capital.

Mobile videos of the incident went viral on the social media, evoking comments of appreciation from people across the country. The incident seemed particularly heartwarming in the light of all the public manifestations of anti-establishment fury that have found expression on Kashmiri streets since the July 8 killing of Hizbul militant Burhan Wani.

#WATCH Locals rescue army jawans in Lasjan area after army truck met with an accident near Srinagar highway (J&K) (Source: Amateur video) pic.twitter.com/vZ5lpDsadR  ANI (@ANI_news) October 9, 2016

The damaged vehicle was on a downward slope, and an electric cable had fallen on it. The driver was stuck inside. Fortunately for us, many local residents  including women  came out to save the jawan, said an army spokesperson posted in Srinagar.

Elderly women were reportedly heard urging the youth to rescue the driver. A large number of people gathered at the spot. After disconnecting the high-tension cable from the mains, they used a truck to drag the army vehicle to a safer position. Then they pulled the jawan out of the vehicle, the spokesperson said.

An officer said he was overwhelmed to see the same people who usually come at us with such anger turn into saviors. It was quite a heartwarming experience, he added.

Clashes between army personnel and the Kashmiri youth have been a common feature since the day of Wanis death. As many as 89 people have lost their lives  and hundreds of others crippled  in police firing aimed at quelling anti-India agitations that erupted in the last 93 days.

A curfew was imposed on many parts of Srinagar to prevent escalation of protests after a 13-year-old boy succumbed to pellet gun injuries on Saturday.

Many members of the joint separatist leadership, including hardliners Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik and Shabir Shah, continue to remain either in police custody or under house arrest. They have extended the protest calendar to October 13.

Read| Prepare for the worst: The Indian State is in retreat in Kashmir
The BJP government in Haryana may not be able to see the modern-day avatar of the mythical Saraswati river during its tenure, going by the slow pace of work on the much-hyped project.

Apart from a 10-ft well filled with water in Munglawali village in Yamunanagar district and a few stretches marked by the revenue department in some other villages, nothing much has been done on the ground for the revival of the 4000-year-old river and the government is facing several hurdles in the project.

Meanwhile, Haryana Saraswati Heritage Development Board (HSHDB) deputy chairman Prashant Bhardwaj has claimed that Australia and Japan have shown interest in the rejuvenation project and talks were on with these countries regarding research on subjects related to the project.

The state government had made a blue print to flow water in Saraswati river in several districts in the state and even announced multi-crore projects over the river, including a dam at Rampura village of Yamunanagar and a 300acre artificial lake at Chhalaur village in the district.

But as of now, there is no progress in this regard and the government is even facing problem in getting the required land in five villages of the district, where Saraswati river is missing in the revenue record.

Officials associated with the project said the task was tough and the government needed to put in more efforts if it was really serious to rejuvenate the river during its tenure

The government has released some water to artificially recharge a stretch of the river from Uncha Chandana village, but the real challenge is to dig up about 40-km long canal from Adi-Badri to Uncha Chandana.

Regarding the reasons for delay in the project, Yamunanagar district development and panchayat officer (DDPO) Gagandeep Singh said, Work is already going on. Several departments, including irrigation, revenue and tourism, are working on the project.

Asked whether the land has been acquired to complete the stretch, he said, The revenue department has completed the markings on the land. Now, the government will take further steps.

However, officials are not sure when the project will be completed or whether the present BJP government will be able to finish it during its tenure.

Completion of the entire project in the next three years is a difficult task, but the work is going on, said an official working on the project.

However despite the slow work, the religious belief of the people in the area keeps their hopes with regard to the project alive. Saraswati to ek din bahegi aur hamein is sarkar par poora bharosa hai (The Sarawati river will flow one day and we have total faith in the government), says Sahi Ram, a resident of Munglawali village, who installed a temporary shelter house near the 10-ft deep well in the village.

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Union minister Venkaiah Naidu visited the Apollo hospital here on Sunday evening to enquire about ailing Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaas health.

I had a detailed briefing by the doctors, he said outside the hospital. They said the CM is responding to the treatment. It is not fair to spread rumours about her health. Im sure she will recover soon.

The urban ministers visit a first for a central minister  comes days after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi visited the hospital.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo hospital on September 22 after complaining of a high fever and dehydration.

However, it quickly became apparent that her condition was more serious than that, and a combination of official reticence and cryptic press releases by the hospital exacerbated rumours about her health.

On Friday, it was announced that the 68-year-old had fluid in her lungs and was also being treated for an unspecified illness.

The respiratory support is closely watched and adjusted. Lungs decongestion treatment is being continued. All other comprehensive measures including nutrition, supportive therapy and passive physiotherapy are under way, Apollo hospital has said on Saturday.

The state is currently in the odd position, with a hospitalised CM and an acting governor  Vidyasagar Rao is the governor of Maharashtra  and no interim chief minister.

Senior AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and Edappadi Palanisamy met with the governor on Friday to discuss the administration of the state, which has so far been directed by Jayalalithaas top aide, Sheela Balakrishnan.

While the party has no current plans to appoint an interim CM or deputy CM, it is understood that there may be efforts to temporarily move some of Jayalalithaas portfolios to other ministers for administrative purposes.

The Opposition, in the meantime, has called for an interim CM to be appointed from the ranks of the AIADMK.

Let the next in the hierarchy be appointed interim CM to ensure important matters, such as the ongoing Cauvery dispute, are handled properly, said DMK leader MK Stalin, who had visited the ailing chief minister earlier.

Puduchery chief minister V Narayanasamy, CPI leader D Raja, Tamil Nadu Congress president S Thirunavukkarasar and Tamil Maanila Congress leader GK Vasan, MMK leader MH Jawahirullah and others also visited the hospital to wish Jayalalithaa speedy recovery.

With inputs from IANS

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi shouldnt celebrate Dussehra in Lucknow when families of soldiers who died at the Uri army base attack were still mourning, BSP president Mayawati said on Sunday at a party rally that ended in a tragic stampede.

Police said two women died and another 13 people were injured in the tragedy outside Kanshi Ram Memorial, the rally venue, where the victims tripped on a stairway near an exit gate and the rushing crowd pinned them down.

Some of the elderly, mostly women, stumbled and fell on the stairs. They could not get up and two of them suffocated to death, said Parshuram Tripathi, inspector at Alambagh police station.

The BSP supporters tried to rush out after the rally because of the intense heat and humidity.

Read | Modi govt spreading hatred in Uttar Pradesh, says Mayawati

Prior to the untoward incident, Dalit leader and four-time Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati rained political heat on the BJP, seen as her main rival in next years state elections, and the partys biggest star, Modi, whom she has been targeting at every rally for the past few months.

She said Modis decision to attend Dussehra festivities at Aishbagh Ramlila ground in Lucknow on October 11 is politically motivated.

If the sacrifice of soldiers has really stimulated him, he should celebrate Dussehra and Diwali with simplicity.

Addressing her supporters on the occasion of her mentor and Dalit ideologue Kanshi Rams 10th death anniversary, Mayawati said the BJP was using the armys post-Uri surgical strikes on militant launch pads across the Line of Control in Pakistan for political gains.

She said such strikes were carried out by previous governments too, but they did not highlight these to gain political mileage.

Read | PM Modi should make a statement on Dalit issue in Parliament: Mayawati

The NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government is trying to create a hype similar to the one by the US after the killing of Osama bin Laden. The government is trying to create war frenzy in the country to hide its failures, Mayawati said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to cash in on any goodwill the surgical strikes had generated in the Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand assembly elections next year, she said. Instead of crediting the Prime Minister for the surgical strikes, the BJP should praise our soldiers.

Also, she cautioned her supporters that the BJP could foment communal tension to polarise voters.

Atrocities on Dalits and Muslims have increased since the BJP came to power at the Centre, she said.

The BSP chief cautioned Muslims that voting for Samajwadi Party or Congress will only help BJP and sought their support to stop the saffron party.

Muslims should not waste their vote as there is infighting in Samajwadi Party and Congress lacks a voter base in Uttar Pradesh, she said.

For its part, the BJP reacted sharply to Mayawatis criticism of Modi.

Mayawati cannot question any other party, especially not the BJP. She is considered an idol of corruption in Uttar Pradesh, BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh said.

Moments after Mayawati ended her speech, the stampede happened.

The injured were rushed to hospital and the condition of three of them was stated to be grave.

Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav announced an ex gratia of `2 lakh each to the next of kin of the two who died.

The government will bear the cost of treatment of the injured people.

Police inspector Tripathi said 58-year-old Shanti Devi of Kanpur is among the dead, while the other women is yet to be identified. The injured included 11 women and two men.

With agency inputs

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Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati attacked the Narendra Modi-led government on Sunday, saying it is spreading hatred and communalism in Uttar Pradesh and has failed to keep its promises for the state.

Mayawati was addressing a Bahujan Samaj Party rally at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar ground in Lucknow, in which lakhs of people are said to be participating.

Attacking the central government, the BSP chief said the Bharatiya Janata Party government is spreading communalism, and the cases of crimes against Dalits and minorities have increased.

She said: Dalits are being targeted in various parts of the country in the name of cow protection. Minorities and Dalits are being harassed, as BJP wants to convert India into a Hindu nation.

Harassment of Dalits and minorities would stop in the state once a BSP government comes to power in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati promised the one of the large party gatherings.

She hoped to form a majority government in the state and said better law and order, especially safety of women, would be the main focus of her government.

Uttar Pradesh is scheduled go for polls early 2017.
Needling India on the Kashmir unrest, Pakistan said on Sunday the death of a 13-year-old Kashmiri boy due to pellet injuries was the worst example of state terrorism.

Condoling the death of Junaid Akhnoon, foreign office (FO) claimed the incident was part of continued Indian atrocities in Kashmir.

The cold-blooded murder is the worst example of state terrorism of the Indian government and is indeed deplorable, it said in a press release.

The government and the people of Pakistan convey their deepest condolences on the death of Junaid to his bereaved family, it added.

The FO said the people of Kashmir are demanding their fundamental human rights, especially the right to self- determination, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.

Kashmiri people take part in the funeral procession of the 13-year-old who died on Saturday. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

The grave situation of human rights violations in Kashmir, growing atrocities and genocide of Kashmiris should be a matter of concern to the international community and the UN and warrants an immediate intervention to stop the bloodshed by India, it said.

The culture of impunity by Indian forces must come to an end, it said, adding there should be a fair, independent and transparent inquiry into the grave human rights violations of the Kashmiris.

Junaid, who was hit by pellets in the head and chest, succumbed to his injuries on Friday, taking the death toll in the three-month-long unrest in Kashmir to 89.

His death sparked fresh clashes between protesters and security forces at various places in Kashmir on Saturday even as curfew continued in interior areas of Srinagar.
A teenage boy allegedly tried to rape a five-year-old girl near Trimbakeshwar in Nashik, leading to large-scale protests and tension in the district. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has appealed for calm and assured that the case would be tried in a fast-track court.

The 16-year-old boy, who has been taken into custody, allegedly tried to rape the minor girl at Talegaon village near Trimbakeshwar in the district on Saturday, Nashik superintendent of police Ankush Shinde said on Sunday.

A case has been registered against the boy under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said.

As soon as the news spread, tension gripped Talegoan and locals gathered at the police station on Saturday night, demanding that the boy be booked and arrested.

The villagers staged rasta roko in Wadovhare, Ghoti and Anjaneri-phata areas. Some people set tyres on fire, and also damaged a tractor in Talegaon. A group of people also protested at the Nashik Civil Hospital and demanded that the victim be examined by a woman doctor.

The enraged crowd also gathered at several places on Sunday morning and damaged three police vehicles, including the car of special inspector general, Nashik Range, Vinaykumar Choube, who was on his way to Talegaon.

Police had to use teargas shells and fire some rounds in the air at Talegaon to disperse the mob, a rural control room official said.

People also staged rasta roko on Nashik-Igatpuri road, Nashik-Aurangabad road and Mumbai-Agra National Highway on Sunday where extra police force was later deployed and the routes cleared.

Some angry people observed a bandh at Ojhar town in the district.

Maharashtra water resources minister Girish Mahajan, who is also the guardian minister of Nashik, visited the girls family and termed the incident as unfortunate. He said a rape attempt was made on her by the boy and said the case would be fast-tracked.

Mahajan assured that charges will be framed in the case within a fortnight and it will be heard in a fast track court. Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam will be appointed as prosecutor in the case, he said.

No senior doctor or the civil surgeon of Nashik Civil Hospital was available for comment on the issue.

The SP urged people to remain calm and not to believe rumours being circulated on social media regarding the incident. He said police will take stern action against the guilty.

The incident involving rape attempt on a minor girl in Talegaon is very unfortunate. The accused has been arrested and the victim is in fine health. The Guardian Minister of the region Girish Mahajan has met the family of the victim, Fadnavis said in a statement issued here.

We will ensure that the accused gets a strict of punishment and that this case is tried in a fast track court, he said.

He also asked people not believe the rumours circulating post the incident.

I appeal to the people not believe in these rumours, stay calm, abide by rules and regulations and help us maintain law and order, Fadnavis said.
Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar on Saturday urged chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar to ensure action against security personnel of former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who were involved in an assault on him and his supporters in New Delhi on October 6.

Khattar had visited Tanwar at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi to inquire after his health after he was injured in the head in the clash between supporters of the two factions of the Congress.

Khattar said the ideologies of two different political parties might differ but humanity demanded one should extend support to others in times of trouble. He, however, described it as an internal matter of the Congress.

The chief minister also interacted with state Congress presidents wife Avantika Tanwar who was also at the hospital.

Meanwhile, sources said Tanwar was shifted to Ganga Ram hospital later in the day.

The Delhi police had registered a case on Friday night against several persons, including security personnel of former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, a day after a clash between his supporters and those of Hooda.

The case was registered under Sections 523 (causing simple injuries) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC on the complaint of one Navdeep Singh Dalal, a supporter of Tanwar, who accused Satish Rathi, personal security officer (PSO) of Hooda, Satyawan Pehlwan, a resident of village Sanghi, Virender Rao, son of Dharampal Rao (former MLA, Badshahpur), Wazir Singh and Kala, said to be security guards of Bittu Hooda, nephew of former chief minister, and 30 to 40 others.

When contacted, Hooda told HT that he only had sent his security personnel Rathi to stop the workers from fighting among one another.

I never approve of any such fights. It should not have happened and it is uncalled for and unfortunate, he said and added that it could have happened because of over-enthusiasm of some workers.

MAJORITY MLAs SUPPORT HOODA

Meanwhile, 14 of the 19 Congress MLAs met Hooda and also called on AICC general secretary and incharge of Haryana party affairs Kamal Nath. They strongly defended Hooda, who claimed he had nothing to do with the incident. Talking to HT, several MLAs said they told Kamal Nath that it was a conspiracy of anti-Congress people to show Hooda in bad light and bring bad name to the party. They held that it was evidently triggered by some people by intentionally provoking some workers. They sought stern action against the people responsible for the incident so that the party remained united and strong. Former assembly speaker Kuldeep Sharma, MLAs Karan Dalal and Geeta Bhukkal, Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda and Rajya Sabha member Shadilal Batra were in the delegation which met Kamal Nath. Besides Hooda, the other four MLAs who were not part of the delegation were senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala, Haryana Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Kiran Choudhary, Kuldeep Bishnoi and Renuka Bishnoi.

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Asserting that war is not an option for India and Pakistan, a top Pakistani diplomat has said Islamabad believes there is a need to resolve all bilateral disputes, including the Kashmir issue, through dialogue.

Going to war is not an option at all. The reason is both the countries need economic development, have to work for the welfare of the people, Pakistan ambassador to the US Jalil Abbas Jilani told reporters.

So war is not an option at all. Specially among two nuclear-powered countries, PTI quoted him as saying.

Thinking about war is unimaginable. So this is the thinking of the Government of Pakistan - to resolve all the issues including that of Kashmir through dialogue as per international legality, Jilani said.

For most part of the week, Jilani accompanied two visiting Pakistani envoys on Kashmir to various meetings including at the state department and with the National Security Council.

Very good response. Excellent response, said Jilani, who also received the Best Government Infrastructure Strategy in South Asia award on behalf of Pakistani finance minister Ishaq Dar.

Nawaz Sharif, while addressing a joint session of the Parliament convened to discuss the security situation in the wake of increasing India-Pakistan tensions recently, accused India of running away from dialogue and instead creating a war-like environment by blaming Pakistan for the Uri terror attack in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed last month.

India hit back, calling Pakistan a country that has established itself as a global epicentre of terrorism, and asked it to abandon its futile quest of Kashmir.
Ram is a computer engineer based in Kolkata. Sita has completed her BA Honours and is now pursuing B Ed. Bharat is an MBA, Meghnad is an employee in the Indian Railways and Ravan is a recognised Doordarshan artiste.

Defying stereotypes, a young and educated brigade is charging up the Aishbagh Ramlila that will host Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Dussehra. Thrilled to the core at the prospect of enacting the final act of the epic before the PM, the artistes are busy rehearsing overtime. And whats on their wish list? Just a photograph with the PM!

The youths are a part of the group from West Bengal that has been performing the Ramlila at this ground for a decade now. While education and career are top on the agenda for all young members of the group, enacting the tale from the Ramayan is their passion and that is what brings them here every year.

We have been doing it since our childhood. The fact that many of us have got admission to good colleges and have promising careers and jobs does not mean that we will leave our favourite act, said Rahul Chatterjee, who is playing Ram.

Asked about the special preparations for the year, since the final act would be performed before the PM, Bhaskar Basu, leader of the group, said, The team is excited and busy in rehearsals.

Also read | Where a 17-year-old Muslim boy is Sita! Ramlila in Chandigarhs Manimajra

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This Navratri season, good fortune is definitely coming your way, as a noble cause is going to knock your doors. Yes, you too can take feed the needy on the Kanya Pujan, performed on the eighth or the ninth day of navratri.

Kanya Pujan means celebration of nine avatars of the Goddess where young girls are worshipped. This time around, Delhites have taken a charitable route, by feeding those, for whom, food is a luxury.

Actor Saurah Raj Jain, a Delhi boy, appreciates the gesture, saying, Its a great thought. People should come forward to feed the needy, that would be real service to humanity. NGOs have stepped in to make a difference by as collecting food from your doorsteps and in order to reach the needy. Here are the details of the NGOs.

1. National Organisation For Social Empowerment

Mohd. Yusuf, a volunteer says, People can donate food by plates here. Few girls can visit Delhi homes for Kanya Pujan depending on the location apart from the donation drive.

Location: Tughlakabad

Contact: 9599187543

2. Andh Vidyalaya

Tej Ram Sharma, a worker in the organisation says, I think through this contribution they can follow their ritual and can also contribute. They can visit our premises in the morning hours and donate the food. Students will be more than happy to have halwa, puri and kheer.

Location: Rohini, Sector-20

Contact: 011-3462506

3. Feeding India

The organisation is celebrating World Food Day from 10th October to 20th October and will donate food to one million people. Nine packets will help to reach the target. Shristi, a member says, People can come and we can also send our volunteers to take food packets but it depends on the location.

Location: Greater Kailash

Contact: 9871178810

4. Robin Hood Army

Our volunteers distribute food only on weekends. However, during navratra, we can collect and provide the food. Chaitanya Puri, chapter head of Delhi says, We will try to contribute during Kanya Pujan. If we will not be able to pick up the food, we can guide them to the location and areas, where people can go and easily donate.

Contact: 9990387222

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An angry mob torched 20 vehicles and tension prevailed in Nashik on Sunday after a 5-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a 15-year-old at Talegaon in Trimbakeshwar, around 175km from Mumbai, prompting the state government to appeal for peace.

As rumours about the incident spread through social media, the protesters blocked the Mumbai-Agra highway at Ghoti toll plaza near Igatpuri, leading to traffic snarls through the day. They set ablaze police vehicles, state transport buses and also the house of the suspect, who was taken into custody within a few hours of the incident.

The police resorted to a lathicharge and fired a few rounds in the air to disperse the mob. Swift action by the police and a clarification by doctors that the minor was not raped, but sexually assaulted, helped bring the situation under control by evening.

There have been instances of arson and the police have taken action. The accused is in our custody and the girl and her family has been given security. People should not resort to violence, and we appeal to everyone to not believe in rumours, Satish Mathur, director general of police, Maharashtra, told HT.

Some protesters were heard shouting the Ek Maratha Lakh Maratha slogan, a call given by the Maratha community during the ongoing statewide stir triggered by the rape and murder of minor girl at Kopardi village on July 13.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who spoke to top police officials in Nashik, appealed for calm and asked people not to believe rumours.

Mahajan has visited the girl and her family. The accused has been arrested. We will try the case in a fast-track court to ensure strictest punishment for the accused, said Fadnavis. Some people are trying to spread false rumours. We appeal to citizens to not fall prey to such attempts meant to endanger the law and order situation in the state.

Mahajan termed the incident as unfortunate and said a rape attempt was made on the girl and announced that senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam will be appointed as prosecutor in the case.

Police sources said the accused befriended the girl and her elder sister, and asked the latter to buy biscuits from a shop, while he took the 5-year-old to a secluded spot and sexually assaulted her. The girl, who was later taken to a hospital, is currently in a stable condition, said sources.

The accused, meanwhile, has been booked under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).
Since the oldest traditional allies in the state, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena, are seemingly sharpening their knives against each other ahead of the ensuing Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election, the latters Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park on Tuesday has assumed a special significance. Political watchers, potential voters, as well as the Shiv Senas foot-soldiers are looking expectantly at Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to spell out the partys agenda into the polls, especially in relation with its bitter-sweet ally.

The election to the countrys richest civic body is less than four months away and both the Sena and the BJP, that have ruled the BMC in an alliance for about three decades, are looking to expand their presence in the city, raising questions on the future of the alliance. Incidently, this time the partys Dussehra rally will celebrate its 50th year at the Shivaji Park as Maharashtras fiery regional party first roared at the park on Dussehra in 1966 and set the annual rally as a culture.

All our eyes are on what our chief says because that will define the partys position going into polls. It is in the Senas tradition to wait for our leaders aadesh (orders) and once we get it, we will do everything in our might to fulfil it. But, his direction is very important before we act or react, said Pandurang Sakpal, a Shiv Sena leader from South Mumbai.

The BJP, which had cut the Sena to size in the 2014 assembly elections and stamped its big-brother status in the alliance, is now aggressively looking to expand within Mumbai, the Senas home turf. Even as the top leadership of both parties has remained silent so far on the future of the alliance, relations between the allies have grown choppier with BJPs Mumbai-based leaders, Ashish Shelar and Kirit Somaiya, exchanging barbs with local Sena leaders. BJP leaders have also hinted that the party may opt for an alliance only if it gets to contest on about 100 of the total 227 seats, up from the 72 it had contested on in the 2012 polls.

Sakpal added, When it comes to the Mumbai elections, the Shiv Senas stand will not depend on what the BJP thinks or wants. Shiv Sena is Mumbai, and a major part of Mumbais identity is Shiv Sena.

To the same tune, a senior Sena functionary said, It is expected that the Shiv Sena will give a befitting reply to certain elements in the BJP, such as Shelar and Somaiya. The Sena chief is likely to say that the party will be willing for an alliance if it is given its due respect. It is too early to talk in terms of numbers, but the Dussehra rally will remind everyone that the BJPs might in Mumbai comes only because of the Shiv Sena.

He added that the recent exercise of redrawing Mumbais electoral map has also given Shiv Sena an upper hand. While the ward delimitation has also benefited the BJP to a certain extent, most of the Shiv Senas bastions have been left untouched, while some of its strongholds have seen an increase in the number of wards, positioning the party to target more seats.

Besides giving direction to the party cadre on the upcoming BMC polls, Thackeray is also likely to salvage some of the damage caused by the recent cartoon controversy to the party. The publication of a cartoon lampooning the ongoing Maratha protests in Senas mouthpiece Saamana had irked the Maratha community and politically isolated the party, drawing the party into caste politics and prompting Thackeray to apologise for the row.

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A former security guard who worked in 39-year-old perfumer Monika Ghurdes building complex was arrested in Bangalore on Sunday for her murder. Ghurdes body was found, with her hands and legs tied, at her house in north Goas Sangolda, two days ago. Goa director general of police Muktesh Chander confirmed the arrest.

The police said they have arrested Raj Kumar Singh, 22, from Bhatinda, who worked as watchman in Jasmine Building, Sapna Raj Valley, where Ghurde lived. There were complaints against him and he was removed from work around three months ago  Ghurde was one of the residents who complained.

He was arrested from Bangalore and the Goa police recovered Ghurdes ATM card and her phone from him. Sources said after killing Ghurde, he withdrew cash from several ATMs in Goa, Mangalore and Bangalore. One more person was spotted in the CCTV footage, but the Goa police are still verifying his role.

Singh has been booked for murder and robbery.

The Goa police had formed five teams and were assisted by the Bangalore police. Police sources said they are yet to get a confirmation of rape because they were awaiting medical reports. There is a strong suspicion that Ghurde may have been robbed, raped and killed on Thursday night in her three-bedroom apartment. A well-known name in social circles, she lived alone while her husband lived in a house nearby.

Ghurdes body was discovered when her domestic help reported for duty on Friday. She rang the bell a few times and then called Ghurdes brother.

Ghurdes brother called her on her mobile phone but received no answer. Then he called one of the neighbours, who opened the house with a spare key that Ghurde had kept with him.

The neighbour spotted the body and alerted the police. A case has been registered at Saligao police station and Ghurdes body was sent for an autopsy.

The globe-trotting perfumer was known to favour the scent of jasmine, which resulted in collaborative work with author William Dalrymple to trace the history of the flower.
The Ghaziabad crime branch arrested on Sunday two members of a gang who burgled the Global College of Law in Kushaliya for nearly three hours on the intervening night of September 30 and October 1. They also held the hostel students hostage before escaping in a mini-truck with goods worth lakhs of rupees.

Police arrested Abid from Jarcha in Gautam Budh Nagar and Suhail from Vijay Nagar. Following interrogation, other gang members were identified as Farukh, Shamshu, Saddam, Chand, Naved and Sahid.

All victim students, including two girls, who were robbed of their valuable were from Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from taking their belongings, the gang also made off with computers, LED monitors, fans, water coolers, taps and fittings, and other valuable items from the campus.

Following a conversation with students, we got information that one of the robbers received an SMS on his mobile late night and the students heard the notification sound when they were tied up in a room. Several police teams worked on the lead through electronic surveillance and scanned all mobile phones that received messages in the area on the night of the incident. The SMS was received around 2:20 am, a police source said.

Police also said the robbers ensured that they did not take mobile phones of students with them and had bundled all their mobiles in a pillow cover. However, while they were leaving, one of the robbers managed to pick one of the phones and took it along. This also helped police track the gang.

Both the SMS and the robbed mobile phone lead us to the robbers. Following the arrest, we recovered 17 LED monitors, three computers, water cooler, room heater, TV and the truck used in the crime. Farukh has nearly 15 cases against his name at Bulandshahr, Hapur, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar. Shamshu also has five cases against his name. Teams are still working to arrest the remaining accused, Rakesh Kumar Pandey, superintendent of police (rural), said.

After the robbery, the valuables were stored at a hideout in Vijay Nagar and later taken to Masuri to dispose them of to scrap dealers.

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As many as 153 addicts were lodged in a private drug de-addiction centre at Kurali in SAS Nagar despite it had permission for keeping 15 inmates only.

Detoxification of addicts was also being done in violation of norms, even as it has permission for rehabilitation only.

It was found during a checking of the rehabilitation centre on Saturday on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana high court. A team of doctors and police found gross violations of rules.

The SAS Nagar police have booked the Reality Foundation Lakhnour, located on the Kurali-Kharar road, that runs the centre. The centre provided a list of 83 patients lodged there. The inmates were lodged in the basement. Most of the patients were kept without their consent which is required as per the rules, said an official.

The centre has been running for seven years. Statements of about 120 addicts have been recorded, said SAS Nagar senior superintendent of police (SSP) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar.

Bhullar said, We will be probing the role of the civil surgeon which issued licence to the centre. If violations are found in issuing of the licence, action will be taken.

Kurali station house officer (SHO) Amarvir Singh said, An FIR has been lodged on the complaint of Dr Aditya Avinash Kaushik, a Haryana doctor, who has been directed by the Punjab and Haryana high court to conduct checks in Punjab. A case has been registered against Reality Foundation, Lakhnour, under sections 341, 342, 465 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

WHAT LED TO THE CHECKING OF KURALI REHAB CENTRE?

During the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Jagdish Bhola drug racket case, the Punjab government had assured the Punjab and Haryana high court that it will revisit the rules and regulations on rehabilitation centres and conduct inspections of all private-run de-addiction centres across the state.

This submission was made after Dr Kaushik, amicus curaie, a Haryana doctor who is assisting the court in this matter, had pointed out poor state of addicts during his visit to a private de-addiction centre in Rara Sahib, Ludhiana, and had found patients living in unhygienic conditions.

The high court in September had directed Kaushik to prepare a report on the functioning at de-addiction centres in Punjab and Haryana. As per the information provided to the high court , there are 132 such centes in Punjab, 60 of which are run by the government.
In a complete volte face in a politically significant case against former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, the Punjab vigilance bureau (VB) has filed a cancellation report in the infamous Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) land scam.

The report, giving a clean chit to all 18 accused (of whom three have died), was submitted by the VB at a Mohali court on Friday. The VB, which had earlier filed a challan in the same court in 2009, indicting all accused, was reinvestigating the case on orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and was to submit its fresh findings to the trial court.

The move comes barely four months before the state goes to high-stake polls and has given fresh ammunition to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) against the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and the Congress. A war of words has already erupted over the issue. AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and party leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira said this was proof enough of Akalis collusion with the Congress, the latter dismissed Kejriwals charge as the rant of a big liar.

Read | Congress, Akalis colluding to contest assembly poll: Kejriwal

Amarinder has, held all along that the case against him was the result of political vendetta. The Badals, it was said, were paying Amarinder back (by getting him booked) for having registered cases against them when he was the chief minister from 2002-2007.

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Its been nearly three weeks since seven children died after their school van fell into a drain while crossing an unsafe bridge in Muhawa village near Attari, but the administration has failed to take steps to improve the condition of such bridges in border villages.

Numerous narrow bridges with damaged railings still dot arterial roads in these villages, even after deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal instructed the public works department (PWD) to construct cemented parapets on these bridges.

During a hearing on a petition seeking direction to the government to make school transport safer, Punjab traffic adviser Navdeep Asija on Friday told the high court that the Punjab mandi board has indentified around 59 unsafe bridges in Amritsar, with as many as 23 in the Attari market committee area.

Many tractor-trailers loaded with people had to cross these unsafe bridges after evacuation orders were announced recently, following the Indian Armys surgical strikes across the Line of Control.

These bridges are not only important for civilians, but also for the defence forces, as during war or border tension, army vehicles also use these.

OLD CONSTRUCTION MAKES REPAIRS TOUGH

After the tragic accident on September 20, the Hindustan Times had reported that Daoke and Bheropal villages, about 4 km from the Attari border, also have such killer bridges. Amritsar deputy commissioner Varun Roojam had said that he would be sending his team to get the bridges repaired.

On a visit to these villages, however, the HT team found that nothing has changed, as far as the condition of the bridges is concerned. A team was sent to Muhawa and other villages to check the unsafe bridges. The team, in its report, said that these narrow bridges lack sufficient space and support for constructing cemented parapets and railings, said Roojam, adding that the constructions are very old, making repairs difficult.

At some places where railings can be built, said the DC, the team was told that these would act as obstructions for farmers to take their combine harvesters through.

I will be having a meeting with the defence personnel too, as the drains on which the bridges are constructed come under their jurisdiction. To carry out any repairs, the civil administration needs a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the defence forces, said Roojam.

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Parmeshri Devi, 65, is clueless about jail sentence to three policemen who had tattooed the words jeb katri, Punjabi for pickpocket, on forehead in the December of 1993. Sitting in her relatively well-built house in the village Chhintanwala in Sangrur district, her first reaction is that Sukhdev Singh Chhina, the then superintendent of police (SP) in Amritsar, should have got more than the three-year sentence that he has got.

The tattoos on her and three other womens foreheads were removed by plastic surgery that was done free of cost after a court decision. There are hardly any scars on her forehead. Yet, scars remain, she says.

Read | Jail for Punjab cops who tattooed jeb katri on 4 womens foreheads

This jeb katri branding spoiled my family life. I have three daughters and a son. The two daughters who were married before the case, were divorced because of social stigma. The third didnt get any marriage proposal. My son too died of depression as the police slapped many cases on all of us to pressurise us to not to give statement in court, she alleges. Facing several cases of theft and related crimes, she has a knack for using legal terminology and a rare focus while speaking.

Let us assume that I was a thief. But the police had no right to brand me as jeb katri. They only had to book us in the case and produce before a court, she says.

Their petition says they were detained by the police from Amritsar on December 8, 1993, and kept in custody from December 8 to 15, during which the words were tattooed on their foreheads. After much media pressure and intervention of the human rights panel, the case finally reached a conclusion this Friday. A special CBI court awarded three-year rigorous imprisonment (RI) to the then SP Chinna and sub-inspector Narinder Singh Malli; and a years RI to assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Kanwaljit Singh. The cops had claimed that the tattoos were done by the womens neighbours who were fed up of their thievery. Besides Parmeshri, the victims were Gurdev Kaur, Mohinder Kaur and Jaswinder Kaur.

THE NUB: ILLICIT LIQUOR AND MUTUAL THRASHING

Parmeshri talks openly about a bootlegging business, and puts it at the heart of the matter.

SP Chhina (now retired) did the tattooing to take revenge for thrashing of some policemen when they had raided our bootlegging business, she says. Then posted at Sangrur, Chhina and his men used to take hafta (bribe) to let us run the illicit liquor trade. However, despite this, his men raided us and thrashed even women and children. At this, we thrashed the police.

When we were nabbed illegally by the police Amritsar and produced before the SP, it was Chhina. When he came to know that we are from Bagrain village and the Sansi community, he just boiled with anger. He asked us if we were part of the group that had thrashed his men. As I said yes, he told Malli to label us jeb katri actually. She further alleges that several cases against her, her family and friends were lodged by the Punjab police to settle the jebkatri case. We reached a compromise under pressure in 1996, but the court didnt accept that, she says.

Villagers agree with her story, except the part about the daughters divorce. The jeb katri incident was only a trigger. Actually, the involvement of Parmeshri and her family, including daughters and sons, in crime was the reason, said more than one villager, on the condition of anonymity.
The Punjab Congress on Sunday announced a mass contact programme in the agrarian state with particular emphasis on farmers. The state elects its new legislative assembly in early 2017.

Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh told media that a door-to-door programme will be held in the campaigns first phase from October 12 to 25 with an aim to reach out to 25 lakh state residents.

He said the party aims to reach out to over 75 lakh voters and two crore people across Punjab in the next three-four months.

The announcement was made after a meeting of the state Congress leaders in Chandigarh.

Under the campaign, Congress workers will distribute forms to farmers to enable them to share information regarding their debts.

If the Congress is voted to power, the farmers debts will be waived off on priority. We stand committed to our promise of waiving farm debts, Amarinder said.

According to the Congress projections, each family in Punjab on an average is under a debt of Rs 1.2 lakh.

As many as 505 farmers and farm labourers in Punjab committed suicide in 2015 due to debt burden, a Congress spokesman said.
Three Punjab Congress leaders on Saturday dismissed Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwals charges of collusion between the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), as a figment of imagination.

Following reports that the ruling Akali Dal-BJP government had decided to close a multi-crore corruption case against state Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh, the AAP national convener said the move was a testimony of the Congress and the ruling Akali Dal colluding to contest the 2017 assembly elections.

This is a rant of a man who has exposed himself time and again as a big liar. We wonder what is the source of information for Kejriwal that the case is being closed, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Rana Gurjeet Singh and Kewal Dhillon said in a press statement.

Asking Kejriwal to first read the history of the case he was referring to before rushing with his comments, the Congress leaders said: Its too early to say anything since the matter is still pending in the court. Kejriwal should know that the case was registered against Amarinder out of sheer political vendetta after having been expelled from the 13th Vidhan Sabha.

Amarinders expulsion, they pointed out, was revoked by a five-member constitutional bench of the Supreme Court.

The Congress MLAs said the case was registered by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on the basis of a report by the Vidhan Sabha committee headed by Harish Rai Dhanda, who was an Akali legislator at that time. They said when the Supreme Court had rejected the Vidhan Sabha committee report, on whose basis the Punjab Vigilance Bureau filed an FIR, how could it stand legal scrutiny. They said the Vigilance bureau had been trying hard to concoct evidence and had been seeking more time from the court.
The action by Indian special forces across the Line of Control (LoC) on the intervening night of September 28 and 29 definitely meets the standard definition of surgical strikes.

Commando teams entered the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), bypassing the enemy minefields, patrols, listening posts and forward defended localities (FDLs). They went straight to the jihadi staging posts, causing casualties and destroying infrastructure without any counter-casualty.

After getting training, jihadis are brought to these camps located nearly 30 km from the LoC and get operational briefing about targets and carry out rehearsals, only to wait for an opportune time to infiltrate across the LoC.

These camps have been identified and kept under watch by Indian human and technical intelligence.

It must be emphasised that the Indian Armys special forces, infantry battalions and an army-manned special unit functioning under the external intelligence agency had been conducting raids, strikes and ambushes in Pakistani-held territory since the late 1990s.

ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) handlers and locals who guided the terrorists across the LoC as well as potential infiltrators had been targeted, causing disruption in infiltration programmes. After a number of civilians had been killed by the Lashkar-e-Taiba in remote areas of Doda in 2006, a retaliatory strike was carried out in the POK. Pakistani handlers forbade such massacres henceforth. These strikes were launched by two special forces units  4 Para attacking from the area of responsibility of 15 Corps and 9 Para operating in the territory opposite 16 Corps. The operations were timed to take advantage of the dark and the fact that the terrorists in the launching pads were likely to infiltrate across on the moonless night of the September 30. A political consideration was to isolate Pakistan in the UNGA.

These operations, owned up by the government as they are, are likely to bring about a paradigm shift in how we conduct counter-insurgency operations in the future. While operations in the hinterland and anti-infiltration measures have brought about a sea change in the environment, publicising cross-LoC strikes will have their effect on Pakistani support for the insurgency.

Chandimandir Riding School an example

Even after the abolition of horsed cavalry and pack artillery, the Army continues to promote equitation. This is because being a risk exercise, horse riding promotes character-building. Besides, that is from the recreational aspect involving polo and equestrian sports. The Western Command HQ has been doing a fine job of running a well-developed riding school at Chandimandir for over a decade. Based on animals from 876 Animal Transport Company which provides logistic support to troops on the Himachal-Tibet border, the school now has six horses and 26 ponies.

Excellent facilities have been created, including a riding school, dressage arena, jumping lane with an international standard, show jumping set and a cross country track. Instruction is given by qualified instructors from the Army Service Corps (ASC).

Provisions also exist for practicing polo and tent-pegging. The membership isnt confined to officers alone as junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and jawans are members too. In fact, 32 children of JCOs and jawans ride regularly along with around 40 wards of officers. Major Deepti, the efficient in-charge of the Triveni Riding School as its called, told me that riders from the club have won over a hundred medals in national and local competitions. Being able to ride for very nominal fee is part of the pleasures of service life.

Please write in with your narratives of war and soldiering to

msbajwa@gmail.com or call/WhatsApp on 093161-35343
Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Sunday chided Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for his dalali remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the Indian Armys surgical strikes across the Line of Control.

Paswan, the Union minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution system, was here to inspect the ongoing paddy procurement.

Addressing a press conference, he said: Earlier, Rahul Gandhi was thanking the PM for the surgical strikes, but then he changed track and started giving the issue political colour.

Telling Rahul to remain within his limit, the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader said the issue should not be politicised.

The PM has said it clearly that no leader should make any statement on the affairs of defence forces. So I will not make any comment over the issue, added the minister. Rahul Gandhi had accused Modi of exploiting sacrifices of the soldiers.

Kejri backstabbed people in Delhi

Targeting other political adversaries as well, Paswan slammed Aam Aadmi Party national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for backstabbing the people of Delhi. Kejriwal should first take care of people of Delhi and then try to befool the people of Punjab, he said.

The Union minister also accused Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar of playing politics over liquor ban in the state, also Paswans home state. He said earlier Nitish turned people into addicts and has now imposed the ban on liquor.

FCI will procure 12% paddy from Punjab

Denying any plan to divide the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the Union minister said the corporation will be procuring 12% of its paddy requirement from Punjab.

Informing the gathering about a new policy to reduce wastage and hoarding, Paswan said now no trader can store any food commodity for more than 18 months.

Govt agencies to procure pulses too

Attributing rising prices of pulses to the supply-demand gap, the Union minister said the production has been on the rise in recent years, with 200-lakh tonne expected this year as compared to 176-lakh tonne last year, but it is still less than the demand of 246-lakh tonne.

Paswan said the government has decided to procure pulses the same way it procures wheat and paddy, although these are not a part of the public distribution system. Claiming that the Centre has stocks of 20 lakh tonne of pulses, he said more will be imported to bring down the prices.
Republican White House contender Donald Trump says nobody respects women more than I do, but that claim has been called into question by his repeated blunders on that half of the population, including many sexist, salacious and misogynistic comments. Here are some of them:

- I moved on her like a b****, but I couldnt get there. And she was married... When youre a star, they let you do it. You can do anything... Grab them by the p**** -

This latest Trump misstep to emerge -- a 2005 video released by The Washington Post on Friday -- is perhaps the most shocking to date, and doubtless the most vulgar.

The revelations threw his campaign, and the Republican Party as a whole, into disarray just one month before Election Day on November 8, and on the eve of his second presidential debate with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

With mounting calls inside his own party for him to step aside, Trump made a video apology -- the first of his campaign. But it was ambiguous. Ive never said Im a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone that Im not, he said, his brow furrowed.

Then he added: Ive said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more-than-a-decade-old video are one of them.

Its okay to call my daughter a piece of a**

This comment came as part of a years long series of crude conversations about women that Trump had with radio host Howard Stern, who has a longtime reputation as a provocateur. CNNs KFile investigative unit released the newly uncovered audio Saturday.

Trump can be heard discussing his daughter Ivankas physique, having sex with women on their menstrual cycles, threesomes, and leaving a relationship after women turn 35.

Shes actually always been very voluptuous, Trump says in an October 2006 interview about his daughter when asked by Stern if she had gotten breast implants. Shes tall, shes almost six feet tall and shes been, shes an amazing beauty.

What is it at 35? Its called check-out time

In the Stern interviews, Trump frequently discusses details of his sex life.

In a 2006 interview, Trump -- then 60 years old -- says he would have no problem having sex with 24-year-olds.

In an April 2005 episode, Trump suggested he may have had sex with Miss Universe or Miss USA contestants. Trump has been an owner of both pageants.

Asked if he would accept a contestants request to have sex with him, Trump responds: I dont want to hurt their feelings.

Well, what you could also say is that, as the owner of the pageant, its your obligation to do that, Trump says, adding that hes gotten away with going backstage when the contestants were naked.

Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that?

Trump made those derogatory comments about his former Republican primary opponent Carly Fiorina.

When a moderator probed Trump about the comments during a televised primary debate, Fiorina quipped: I think women all over the country heard very clearly what Trump said.

You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever

The bombastic Republican described Fox News journalist Megan Kelly with those words after she moderated a Republican primary debate last August.

He later tweeted that he was referencing Kellys nose.

She gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem

Trump made these recent comments after the Clinton campaign brought Venezuelan-born Alicia Machado, a former Miss Universe, into the spotlight to highlight derogatory remarks Trump made toward her.

Machado said the billionaire bullied her mercilessly after she won her crown, calling her Miss Piggy after she gained weight.

Bill Clinton was the worst abuser of women in the history of politics... And Hillary was his enabler

In an effort to woo the female electorate, Trump threatened to drag ex-president Bill Clintons sex scandals into the White House campaign, hoping that talking about the sexual exploits that stained the career of Hillarys husband Bill would turn female voters away from her.

Shes a slob, she talks like a truck driver

In 2006, Trump hurled those insults at actress Rosie ODonnell, who has been the real estate magnates arch-nemesis for at least a decade.

- @ariannahuff is unattractive both inside and out. I fully understand why her former husband left her for a man -- he made a good decision -

Trump mocked The Huffington Posts co-founder Arianna Huffington in 2012, after her ex-husband announced he was gay following the couples divorce.
Senator John McCain, a senior figure in the Republican Party who was its 2008 presidential nominee, formally withdrew his support on Saturday for Donald Trump over lewd remarks that threw his White House campaign into disarray.

I have wanted to support the candidate our party nominated. He was not my choice, but as a past nominee, I thought it important I respect the fact that Donald Trump won a majority of the delegates by the rules our party set. I thought I owed his supporters that deference, read a statement from McCain, the latest in a growing number of Republicans to withdraw support for Trump.

But Donald Trumps behaviour this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy.

Cindy and I will not vote for Donald Trump, he added, referring to his wife.

I have never voted for a Democratic presidential candidate and we will not vote for Hillary Clinton. We will write in the name of some good conservative Republican who is qualified to be president.
Two US police officers were fatally shot and one injured on Saturday while responding to a domestic disturbance call in Palm Springs, California, police said.

The shooting occurred after two officers went to a home on receiving a report from a female caller that her adult son was causing a disturbance, police chief Bryan Reyes said.

The male refused to open the door and threatened to shoot the officers through the closed doors, Reyes said.

Approximately 10 minutes after they first responded, the two officers called for emergency reinforcement and said that shots had been fired.

It was a simple family disturbance and (the gunman) elected to open fire, an emotional Reyes said.

Im awake in a nightmare right now.

Three officers were wounded in the gunfire and taken to a local hospital, where two of them died.

Today, Palm Springs lost two brave officers, Reyes said, his voice trembling. They go out every day and put their boots on the ground for everybody in this community.

They gave it all for you.

Reyes said the third victim was at the hospital but was alert and assisting investigators.

The police chief identified the victims as Jose Gilbert Vega, a 35-year old veteran of the department who was due to retire in December, and Lesley Zerebny, a 27-year-old officer who gave birth to a child four months ago.

The Palm Springs police chief said the area where the shooting occurred was still an active scene and the investigation had been turned over to the central homicide unit of the Riverside County Sheriffs Department.

The suspect remains at large and Reyes said police do not know his exact whereabouts, but its still a fluid situation and theres belief that he still may be in the house.

Reyes also urged the media and others not to stream live video of police officers movements on social media, saying it could put them in danger.

Understand that were actively looking for a cop murderer, he said.

Dozens of law enforcement officers converged on the normally quiet residential neighbourhood in this desert resort city after the shooting. They sealed off several blocks and evacuated some residents.

Police Sgt William Hutchinson said officers were warning people already inside their homes to stay there, lock their doors and not answer them until further notice.

Although Reyes didnt identify the shooting suspect, he indicated police had had previous dealings with him.

A neighbour, Frances Serrano, said she called authorities after the father of the shooting suspect came to her house across the street and told her his son was acting crazy.

He said his wife left because she was so scared of him, Serrano said, adding the father warned that his son threatened to shoot police if they arrived.

The shooting occurred just three days after a popular Los Angeles County sheriffs sergeant was shot and killed in the high desert town of Lancaster.

Gun violence has been a major issue in the country as instances of mentally unstable citizens carrying out mass shooting have caused dozens of deaths in recent years. The Second Amendment of the American Constitution guarantees one the personal right to bear arms for self-defense at home.
The damming of a Yarlung Zangbo River tributary in Tibet will have no impact downstream when the river flows into Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, China said trying to assuage New Delhis concern that dams on the Yarlung could dry up the river system in northeast India and affect millions of lives.

China, has, in fact, gone out its way to help India with data on water flow and possible flood situations downstream and would continue to do so, the ministry of foreign affairs (MFA) told Hindustan Times in its first reaction after announcing the blocking of the tributary earlier this month.

Further, the tributary river contributes very little water flow to the Yarlung, the MFA claimed.

The Yarlung Zangbo, originating in a Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) glacier, flows into Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang River and is known as Brahmaputra in Assam

On October 1, China announced it was blocking the 185 km-long Xiabuqu River, one of many tributaries of the Yarlung Zangbo, to construct a dam as part of the Lalho hydroelectric project in the Xigase region of TAR.

The Yarlung has several tributaries and the Xiabuqu is considered a minor one but the move immediately raised the specter of China controlling the flow of water to the Brahmaputra River.

The timing added to the concern with India and Pakistan sparring over the Indus River, which also originates in TAR.

In an emailed response to HT, the MFA said that there was no need for worry.

For long, China and India have had excellent cooperation on cross-border water issues. China has overcome difficulties to provide India with services such as hydrological forecast and emergency actions in context of the general situation of Sino- Indian friendship and humanitarian spirit, the MFA statement said.

The sharing of the data has had positive influence on aspects such as flood prevention in related regions.

Read | Dam on Brahmaputra tributary not to affect flow to India, says China

Of course, the MFA pointed out that the Xiabuqu River is entirely within China and Beijing has the right to block or dam it.

The Xiabuqu River where the project locates has been a tributary of Yarlung Zangpo River and the whole of Xiabuqu is within the Chinese territory. The water storage needed for the project has been less than 0.02% of the yearly runoff of the Yarlung Zangpo-Brahmaputra region, posing no threat to the downstream area, the statement said.

The project is critical for ensuring the water safety, food safety and flood control for the region's livelihood.

China indicated that it will continue to exploit the resources of the Yarlung Zangbo River to develop the region through which it passes.

China now has only exploited 1% of the water and hydro energy resource in the Yarlung Zangpo River, the statement said.

The quality of water flowing out of Chinese territory has been fine and generally in a natural state. (Since the) Yarlung Zangpo River is located in the economically less developed region of ethnic minority residents, the appropriate exploitation of water and hydro energy resources have been a critical part of maintaining the right to exist and development of the local people.

But the exploitation would be done in a responsible manner, the MFA statement said.

China has had a responsible attitude towards the exploitation of the water resource in Yarlung Zangpo River, and has been operating under the policy of combining exploitation and conservation together. The orderly exploitations have been implemented after scientific planning, full-proof and cautious decision-making, and are in accordance with the international practice, the statement said.

China is willing to continue the related cooperation with India through existing expert-level mechanism on the cross-border water issues, it said.

Also read | The old man river: Escaping Brahmaputras fury
Hours before a critical presidential debate, a damaged but defiant Donald Trump seized on never-proved sexual assault allegations against Hillary Clintons husband. It was a dramatic escalation of personal attacks as he sought to deflect fallout from his own sexually aggressive comments.

The Republican presidential nominee tweeted a link Sunday to an interview with Juanita Broaddrick, who Trump says relives brutal rapes. Broaddricks lawsuit against Bill Clinton accusing him of rape was dismissed in 2001 and criminal charges were never filed. Clinton has denied the allegations.

Trumps risky move comes as he tries to save a flailing campaign facing unprecedented opposition from within his own party. More than two dozen Republican office holders have declared since Friday that they will not vote for Trump. Many have called on him to step aside after his vulgar descriptions of sexual advances on women were revealed in a recording.

Read | Trump eyes uphill battle at second presidential debate with Clinton

Trumps attack on Bill Clintons past was backed by top surrogate, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who equated Trumps latest controversy to the actions of Hillary Clinton in the 1990s when her husband struggled through the fallout of his own sexual transgressions.

Over the objections of CNN anchor Jake Tapper, Giuliani insisted that Hillary Clinton was the leader of the attack against the women who Bill Clinton sexually assaulted, sexually abused.

Giuliani, as Trump had the day before, declared that the Republican nominee would never quit the presidential race.

With just a month remaining before the election, Trumps task in Sunday nights debate is enormous, and perhaps insurmountable. Even before the recording of his remarks were made public, the businessman lagged behind Clinton after an undisciplined first debate. He is struggling to overcome deep skepticism among women about his temperament and qualifications to be commander in chief.

Trump has long hinted he would raise Bill Clintons sexual history at debates. In what was billed as a videotaped apology, Trump over the weekend said Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary Clinton bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated her husbands victims.

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Donna Brazille said Hillary Clinton had suffered because of her husbands infidelities and noted that Bill Clinton, who was impeached, has been held accountable.

Read | Trump loses support from McCain, other Republican leaders over latest fiasco

There is no accountability for Donald Trump in the  in the ridiculous and sexist things that he has said and racist things that he has said over the past few years, she said on ABCs This Week.

Outside Trumps small cadre of advisers, support for the businessman was scarce among prominent Republicans following Fridays release of the 2005 videotape.

Trumps own running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, declared he could neither condone nor defend the remarks. Several other Republicans took the extraordinary step of revoking support for their partys nominee. Among them: Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte  both are running for re-election  and the partys 2008 nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain. Many went further and called on Trump to quit the race altogether.

Trump called his detractors self-righteous hypocrites Sunday on Twitter: Watch their poll numbers - and elections - go down!

Republican leaders have scheduled a rare Monday conference call for House GOP lawmakers, who are out on recess. An email obtained by The Associated Press doesnt specify the topic for the call, but rank-and-file lawmakers believe its about Trump.

The firestorm was sparked by the video obtained Friday by The Washington Post and NBC News. In the video, Trump, who was married to his current wife at the time, is heard describing attempts to have sex with a married woman. He also says that when youre a star, you can do anything. Trump adds seconds later: Grab them by the p----. You can do anything. He said of his impulse to kiss beautiful women: I dont even wait.

Read | Trump vows to remain in presidential race after calls for him to withdraw

The Republican National Committee is considering how to move forward. One possibility: re-directing its expansive political operation away from Trump and toward helping vulnerable congressional candidates. Such a move would leave Trump with virtually no political infrastructure in swing states to ensure his supporters vote.

Election law experts suggest it would be logistically impossible to replace Trump on the ballot altogether, with early voting underway in some states and overseas ballots already distributed.

The recording almost completely overshadowed the release of hacked emails from the Clinton campaign that revealed the contents of previously secret paid speeches to Wall Street. Clinton told bankers behind closed doors that she favored open trade. Such comments were at odds with her tough public comments about trade and Wall Street.

Clinton running mate Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine deflected questions about the emails and focused instead of Trump.

I think theres kind of a piece of the jigsaw puzzle missing in Donald Trump where he does not look at women and consider them as equal to himself, Kaine said on CNN.
More than 140 people were killed and about 525 wounded on Saturday when air strikes hit a funeral ceremony in Yemen, a United Nations official said, with Huthi rebels blaming the attack on the Saudi-led coalition.

The coalition, which has come under increasing international scrutiny over alleged civilian deaths, denied any responsibility for the attack.

The toll is very high: more than 520 wounded and more than 100 martyrs, the spokesman of the health ministry in Sanaa, Tamim al-Shami, told rebel Almasirah television.

It was one of the deadliest attacks since the coalition launched a bombing campaign against the Shiite Huthis in March 2015.

Riyadhs key ally Washington promptly warned it had launched an immediate review of support to the Saudi-led coalition, and that its security cooperation with Saudi Arabia was not a blank check.

The UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, said aid workers were shocked and outraged by the attacks that hit a community hall in the capital Sanaa where mourners had gathered.

He called for an immediate investigation and said the international community must exert pressure to ensure civilians are protected.

This violence against civilians in Yemen must stop immediately, said McGoldrick.

A horrified and extremely disturbed UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen OBrien called for a prompt and impartial probe into the attacks.

I also call on all parties to protect civilians and stop using explosive weapons or conducting aerial bombardments in civilian-populated places in Yemen. Surely enough is enough, he added.

This horrendous and heinous attack displayed an utter disregard for human life.

People stand at the site of an airstrike which witnesses said was by Saudi-led coalition aircraft on mourners at a hall where a wake for the father of Jalal al-Roweishan, the interior minister in the Houthi-dominated Yemeni government, was being held, in Sanaa. (Reuters)

In September 2015, a suspected coalition air strike killed at least 131 civilians at a wedding near the Red Sea city of Mokha. The Saudi-led alliance then also denied any involvement.

And in March this year, Saudi-led air strikes on a market killed at least 119 people, including 106 civilians, of which 24 were children, in the northern rebel-held province of Hajja.

On Saturday, emergency workers pulled out at least 20 charred remains and body parts from the gutted building in southern Sanaa as others scoured the wreckage for survivors.

Some of the wounded had their legs torn off and were being treated on the spot by volunteers, he said.

In a statement to AFP, the Saudi-led coalition said it had no operations at the location and other causes for the incident must be considered.

The coalition has in the past avoided such gatherings and (they) have never been a subject of targeting, it said.

The insurgent-controlled news site sabanews.net said coalition planes hit after hundreds had gathered to mourn the death of the father of rebel interior minister Jalal al-Rowaishan and denounced the massacre.

The Huthis did not say if Rowaishan was present in the building at the time of the attack, nor did they indicate if other senior figures were attending the funeral.

Almasirah said Sanaa mayor Abdel Qader Hilal was among those killed.

People carry the body of man killed in what witnesses said was an airstrike by Saudi-led coalition aircraft on mourners at a hall in Sanaa. (Reuters)

Stark US warning

The attack could further sour already strained US-Saudi ties.

We are deeply disturbed by reports of todays air strike on a funeral hall in Yemen, which, if confirmed, would continue the troubling series of attacks striking Yemeni civilians, White House National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.

In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led Coalition and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with US principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemens tragic conflict.

Price stressed that US security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check, and called on all sides to implement an immediate ceasefire.

The Iran-backed Huthis swept into Sanaa in September 2014 and advanced across much of Yemen, forcing the internationally recognized government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee.

More than 6,700 people -- most of them civilians -- have been killed in Yemen since the coalition intervened in support of Hadi, according to the United Nations.

Fighting has flared since UN-brokered peace talks between the government and insurgents collapsed in August.

People had come from all over Sanaa to attend the funeral, said Mulatif al-Mojani, who witnessed the latest air strikes.

A plane fired a missile and minutes later another plane hit the building where they had gathered, he told AFP.

Another witness, who declined to give his name, angrily described the attack as a war crime.

This was a funeral for one man in Sanaa and now it has turned into a funeral for tens of Yemenis, he said.

Ambulance sirens blared as they transported the wounded away and residents said local hospitals had issued an appeal for blood donations.

Civilian toll climbs

The coalition has come under mounting international criticism in recent months over the civilian death toll in its aerial campaign.

A diplomatic source told AFP that intensified coalition bombing aims to break the rebels but warned that this will not work.

A UN report in August said coalition air strikes are suspected of causing around half of all civilian deaths in Yemen.

It called for an independent international body to investigate an array of serious violations by all sides, after 4,000 civilians have been killed.

European states led by the Netherlands were defeated last week in a push to establish that inquiry.

The coalition has told AFP it uses highly accurate laser- and GPS-guided weapons and verifies targets many times to avoid civilian casualties.

The so-called supreme political council set up by the Huthis and their allies -- supporters of ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh -- vowed to use all means to respond to this crime and urged Yemenis to protest outside UN offices in Sanaa on Sunday.

In addition to the mounting death toll, Yemenis are facing twin health and hunger crises.

The UNs children agency UNICEF estimates that three million people are in need of immediate food supplies, while 1.5 million children suffer malnutrition.

On Friday, it also reported cases of cholera in Sanaa and third city Taez.
The number of war-displaced civilians in Kunduz has more than doubled to 24,000, the UN said Sunday, as street battles persisted a week after the Taliban stormed into the northern Afghan city.

Terrified residents facing a growing humanitarian crisis have been fleeing explosions and gunfights to neighbouring provinces of Balkh, Takhar, Baghlan and the capital Kabul.

Initial reports indicate that around 24,000 internally displaced persons have fled Kunduz, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement.

As assessments are ongoing and families are still on the move, this figure will almost certainly change.

The UN had earlier said up to 10,000 people had fled the city, which briefly fell last year to the Taliban in a similar assault.

Kunduz residents have faced crippling shortages of food and medicine after the Taliban launched an all-out assault last Monday, capturing parts of the city.

Afghan forces have struggled to flush them out of residential neighbourhoods, with the government saying the clearance operation was being carefully conducted to prevent civilian casualties.

An Afghan commando aims his weapon amid ongoing fighting between Taliban militants and Afghan security forces in Kunduz. (AFP Photo)

At least three civilians have been killed and more than 290 wounded, according to the Kunduz general hospital, but local residents say the actual toll is much higher.

Key parts of the city have been cleared, with 52 insurgents killed in the last 24 hours, the interior ministry said on Sunday.

The Taliban attack on Afghanistans fifth largest city a year after it was overrun by insurgents has raised serious concerns about the capacity of NATO-trained government forces to protect large urban centres.

Kunduz is a tragedy caused by the governments failure to stop the Taliban from entering the city, Kunduz MP Fatima Aziz told local TOLO TV.

If the senior officials of Kunduz had been held accountable last time we wouldnt be facing this renewed crisis.

US forces are supporting Afghan troops in clearance operations inside Kunduz, with at least six air strikes against Taliban positions since Thursday.

Military reinforcements have reached Kunduz, and the enemy will be defeated and punished, President Ashraf Ghani said in a televised speech on Sunday.

After their assault on Kunduz, the Taliban have also attempted to overrun other provincial capitals, from Baghlan in the north to Farah in the west, but Afghan forces have managed to repel the attacks.

Afghanistan on Friday marked 15 years since the US invasion of the country which toppled the Taliban from power.

The country has become Washingtons longest military intervention since Vietnam -- and the most costly, now crossing $100 billion.
As Donald Trump dug in, ignoring calls for him to step aside over his vulgar and sexist remarks about women, leading Republicans began moving away from him rescinding their endorsement throwing the party into its worst crisis this election season, and just the day before a crucial presidential debate.

Trump, who seemed to have decided to brazen it out, told The Wall Street Journal there was zero chance Ill quit, and that I never, ever give up. He added, indicating every intention to continue, The support Im getting is unbelievable, because Hillary Clinton is a horribly flawed candidate.

But the Republican party appears to have reached a breaking point, having watched helplessly for months Trump barrel his way to the top in an offensive, divisive campaign replete with insults and innuendoes. Starting Friday night, a growing number of its prominent leaders withdrew their endorsement, the most prominent of them being Senator John McCain.

I thought it important I respect the fact that Donald Trump won a majority of the delegates by the rules our party set, McCain, a reluctant backer, said in a statement. But Donald Trumps behaviour this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy.

A discarded hat supporting Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump sits on the sidewalk outside Trump Tower. (REUTERS)

Read | Trump apologises for lewd remarks about women, Republicans urge he step down

Others Republicans who pulled their support included Senator Kelly Ayotte, who said on Twitter, Im a mom and an American first, and I cannot and will not support a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting women.

Still others openly called for the nominee to leave or be dumped and be replaced on the ticket by someone else. Congressman Charlie Dent urged the party leadership to abandon the nominee as it was not longer possible to defend the indefensible.

Trump can be heard boasting about groping womens genitals and speaks of them in grossly vulgar terms in a 2005 video recording, whose release on Friday shocked the country and plunged his candidacy, and the Republican party, into a crisis.

Read | How Americas top comedians are mocking Donald Trumps lewd video

Though the party denied reports that it had decided to direct money and support away from Trump to party candidates running for the House and senate, it was clearly in tumult.

And so was his running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, who refused to appear at a campaign on Trumps behalf and served him an ultimatum of sorts to somehow make up for his remarks at the debate.

I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them, Pence said in a statement, adding, We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night.

Read | Trumps crude remarks put running mate Pence in awkward spot

Trump and Hillary Clinton are squaring off at their second of three debates on Sunday night, which could be the last chance for the Republican nominee to rescue his campaign.

Trump will try, for sure, and the question everyone is asking is whether he will bring up Bill Clintons infidelities, as he has threatened to several times in the past few days.

Also read | Melania Trump says Donalds crude remarks on women unacceptable
In a racially-motivated attack, a young womans hijab was ripped off on a busy London street, prompting Scotland Yard to launch a probe into the assault.

The force is treating the incident in north London as a racially motivated assault on the victim in her 20s, who was described as shocked and distressed by the incident.

This was a shocking attack in broad daylight in the middle of a busy street. Racially and religiously motivated crimes will not be tolerated. I would appeal to anyone who witnessed this attack to contact police, said Detective Constable Ben Cousin of the Metropolitan Polices Haringey Community Safety Unit.

The woman was walking with another female friend on the evening of September 28 when the attack took place.

As they crossed the road, she was approached from behind by two men.

The Met police said one of them pulled down the hijab she was wearing before both fled.

The first suspect is described as white, in his late 20s or early 30s, with blonde or ginger shaved hair and stubble.

Police said he was about 5 feet 6 inches and wearing a burgundy hooded top and carrying a Tesco bag in his right hand.

The second suspect was of Mediterranean appearance, in his late 20s or early 30s, and clean shaven, with spiky hair. He wore a grey hooded top.
DHAKA: Bangladeshi security officials on Saturday killed 11 suspected militants of the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in three separate raids as the country reinforced its counter-terrorism efforts.

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the operations were carried out at Gazipur near the national capital, and in Tangail district.

Acting on a tip-off, teams of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and polices counter-terrorism unit took part in the raids. Kamal said the suspects were members of the outlawed JMB, blamed by the government for a spate of attacks across the country.

The raids took place at Patartek and Harinal areas of Gazipur and in Tangail district. Security officials recovered an AK-47, bullets, bomb-making materials and meat cleavers from a spot in Gazipur. Akash, a new leader of the splinter group Neo JMB was among those killed in the raid at Patartek, Khan said. Officials said Akash became the leader of the Neo JMB after Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-origin Canadian, was killed with two accomplices in a similar raid at Narayanganj district in August.

Officials said the militants were preparing to carry out attacks during the Durga Puja festival, which is going on in full swing in the Muslim-majority nation.

Bangladesh was stunned after Islamist extremists killed 20 hostages, including an Indian national and 16 more foreigners, during a siege at Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant in Dhakas Gulshan diplomatic zone on July 1. Since then, security agencies have killed at least 32 suspected militants in raids.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack but the government rejected the claim and said the group has no presence in the country.
LONDON: British police have warned about people in clown outfits acting suspiciously and sometimes wielding knives as they follow people.

The warning on Saturday follows a string of incidents in recent days in an apparent effort to copy clown-related threats in the United States.

Police in Gloucestershire said there have been six reports of clowns acting suspiciously and sometimes in a threatening way.

Police say no arrests have been made because the people dressed as clowns have left the scene before police arrived.

The incidents in Gloucestershire followed earlier reports of disturbances in other parts of Britain.

Police said a masked man with a knife jumped out and threatened children in Durham on Friday and that several people dressed as clowns chased a young boy the day before in Suffolk.

There have been a number of arrests in America after reports of men dressed up as clowns trying to lure children into woods, as well as running around with knives and guns. No one is quite sure for the reason behind the sightings.

On Thursday, horror novelist Stephen King told America it was time to cool the clown hysteria.
LONDON: Valerie Vaz, who entered British parliament in 2010 and retained her seat in the 2015 election, has become the second Indian-origin woman to be inducted in the shadow cabinet led by Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Vaz, 61, is the sister of senior Labour MP Keith Vaz and represents Walsall South constituency in the west Midlands. Her family traces its roots to Goa.

She has been appointed shadow leader of the House of Commons in the new team put together by Corbyn. This is her first front-bench job since entering Parliament and involves watching complex parliamentary processes on Labours behalf.

Corbyn appointed human rights barrister Shami Chakrabarti on Friday as the shadow attorney general in the opposition cabinet that is mandated to scrutinise the work of corresponding ministers, develop alternative policies and hold the government to account.

The new appointments in the shadow cabinet were supposed to be a unifying exercise in the party riven by dissensions against Corbyn, but most of his trenchant critics have not found a place in it. The exercise has further strengthened his position but also increased uneasiness within Labour.

The Labour parliamentary party had passed a motion of no-confidence in Corbyn. John Cryer, chairman of the parliamentary party, wrote to Corbyn and reminded him of ongoing talks to allow elections to some shadow cabinet posts while retaining his right to appoint to other posts.

As senior Labour leader Alan Johnson insisted the re-elected Corbyn was still not up to the job of leader of the opposition, Cryer wrote: It now seems to me that the partys leadership did not engage in the talks in any constructive way...Obviously, I deeply regret this turn of events.

However, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said the criticism of Corbyn was unfair. She told BBC Radio: The problem is that on the one hand people criticise Jeremy for being weak and taking too long on his reshuffles and yet when he decides that he needs to do one in order to fill vacancies and reach out, people then criticise him for being too decisive and too strong. You cant play it both ways.

It was time, Thornberry said, we stop fighting among ourselves. She added, We have a job to do. We were elected to be MPs, represent our constituents and stand up to the government. Thats what our priority ought to be and we need to get on with it.

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WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama cast an early vote in his hometown Chicago to elect his successor to the White House amid a fundraising event for his party. Obama rushed into the basement of the Chicago Board of Elections office to vote on Friday afternoon. You guys are doing a wonderful job. Appreciate ya, the President told about a dozen poll workers as he filled out his ballot, Politico reported.

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BERLIN: Hundreds of German police including specialist commandos combed a residential area of the eastern city of Chemnitz on Saturday for a Syrian man suspected of planning a bomb attack, after failing to find him in a raid on an apartment. The deployment followed a tip-off from the domestic intelligence service. Investigators found several hundred grams of explosives hidden in the apartment and three contacts of the man were detained and being questioned, police said. The city was placed in lockdown, as the country grapples with a weakened sense of security following recent terror assaults.

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LONDON: A 46-year-old Indian-origin former banker on trial in the UK over allegations that he killed his wife with 124 blows with an axe, has been found guilty of her murder. Sonita Nijhawan was discovered in a pool of blood in her family estate in Surrey, south England, in May. Her husband, Sanjay Nijhawan, was on Friday found guilty of murder but convicted of a lesser charge of manslaughter because he was depressed.

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SAN FRANCISCO: A Yahoo Inc media executive fired from the internet company last year has filed a lawsuit claiming a job review process implemented by Chief Executive Marissa Mayer was used to cut men from executive ranks and lay them off illegally, court papers showed. Scott Ard, a former senior editorial director at Yahoo, filed the lawsuit saying the company violated federal civil rights and employment regulations.

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One 'alien' spaceship was not visible to the naked eye, but was captured on camera. It was probably a flying saucer taking off from an underground alien base, deep under a mountain called Glacier Peak in Washington State.

The object was caught on September 9, 2016, at about 3:30 p.m. An unnamed witness submitted the report on October 5, 2016, and filed it in the reporting database of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON),

Having gone to the area with his uncle to check out an old coal mining road in the remote Glacier Peak Wilderness, Washington, he had been clicking images of the scenery with his cell phone.

Later, while looking over his photographs, he spotted a mysterious UFO craft flying over the mountain.

"I was with my uncle in Glacier, Washington exploring up on an old coal mining road. Having never been up there before, I took my cell phone with me and was snapping photos of the scenery around me," he said. "I was taking pictures of what I believe is Skyline Ridge, and I took several photos in a row. Only one contained what I believe to be a spaceship of some sort over the mountain to the right."

UFO blogger Scott C. Waring said that seeing a UFO in a photograph seemed to indicate that the UFO just materialised suddenly over the mountain. However, it is also possible that it showed up in just one photo because it was probably moving too fast to be able to show up in many.

Moreover, the UFO seemed to have split into two sections or modules when it was filmed. Waring assumed the modules reunited mid-flight, just when they got photographed.

"A UFO was seen over Glacier last week that appeared out of thin air over one of the mountain tops," Waring commented on his UFO Sightings Daily blog. "The UFO does appear to be in two separate sections that probably unite when moving."

As the UFO had emerged from an underground base, whose entrance was on the mountain top, the fourth tallest peak in Washingtone state, Waring reflected that it would be less accessible to humans.

But from where exactly do the UFOs emerge? It is presumed that the underground bases have huge hangars, from which alien spaceships launch off for long, deep space voyages. They take off silently and stealthily, as the eyewitness did not spot the huge take-off.

"This UFO probably came from an underground base, which has its entrance at the top of this mountain," Waring stated. "The location would be almost inaccessible to most humans, making it the perfect location to come and go unseen by human eyes."

The comments by readers on Waring's blog seem to be excited and vocal.

"There is so much evidence and so many images that are clearly of real craft that anybody who follows the subject knows the global population is being lied to and has been lied to for a very long time," a UFO believer said.

"We're at a kind of standoff now where the authorities know the public knows it's real yet they continue to refuse to acknowledge it," the UFO fan added. "How long can it continue?"

However, one enthusiast was more cautious about the viewpoint that the UFO had split into two. "I think it is not in two parts," the enthusiast argued. "Looks like a reflection from the outer disc. If you inspect the picture closely you will see the Sun is behind the camera or to the right."

Are underground bases common launchpads for alien hunters? It would seem so, going by the secret underground UFO base earlier reported by an eyewitness in the Kangtega peak of the Nepal Himalaya.

YouTube/Finding UFO

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Drake has refused to pay the medical bills demanded by Detail, a Detroit producer who is credited on a few tracks  and the hook on 305 to My City  off Nothing Was the Same, reports the Daily Mail. In June, it was reported that Detail brought a lawsuit against Drake due to an alleged assault at the hands of his bodyguard, Chubbs, at Drakes home in Calabasas about a year before in 2014. The initial report suggested Drake had set up the beatdown, as he was irate at Detail for apparently turning down an offer for some type of exclusive collaborative deal. Detail claimed he suffered a broken jaw and spent several days in the hospital as a result of the assault, and a year later, he filed a lawsuit in order to hold Drake responsible for the medical bills.

Drake, in what seems to be his first official acknowledgement of the lawsuit, has now reportedly declined to pay Details bills, claiming that Chubbs acted in self-defense. Drake contends that Detail knew he was putting himself in danger by showing up at his mansion at 2AM, according to the Daily Mail. Detail had originally claimed that Drake invited him to his place to discuss possibly working together again, as they presumably hadnt met since Detail had passed on his offer. Its Drakes position, though, that Chubbs met Detail with no more force than was reasonably necessary.

As it doesnt seem that either party is willing to budge, Detail will likely attempt to push further legal action.

Drake
Residential prices for electricity have dropped this year for the first time since 2002, despite worries that shutting down coal-fired power plants and relying more on wind and solar would ruin the economy, according the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Prices are down 0.7 percent this year, the EIA said Thursday. That's a reversal of the last five years, when electricity costs rose on average 1.9 percent annually.

This is not what the coal defenders said would happen. Placing new emissions regulations on coal-fired plants would drive up costs, they said, as generators had to build new natural gas plants and rely on renewable sources, which in most cases cost more than coal.

The cost of natural gas and renewable resources, though, are going down fast and all forecasts show wind and solar becoming cheaper. Burning natural gas in place of coal has lowered U.S. carbon dioxide emissions.

Meanwhile, coal producers are going out of business with no apparent harm to the national economy, though causing devastation in coal communities.The United States is not the only country weaning itself off dirty coal. The United Kingdom from March to September produced more electricity from solar panels than from coal, an achievement once unthinkable.

China announced Thursday that the government had canceled the construction of 15 coal-fired power plants, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

"China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has pledged to bring its emissions to a peak by around 2030, as part of its commitments to a global climate change pact signed in Paris last year," Reuters reported.

All of this points to progress toward meeting the world's obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement, which will go into force Nov. 4, after a group of nations ratified the agreement this week.

While there will always be some uses for coal, the era of burning rocks for electricity is coming to an end. And it is not going to cost us as much as we'd thought.
As Texas' largest insurer eliminated hundreds of thousands of coverage plans for some of the state's sickest patients and asked for double-digit rate increases last year, its Chicago-based nonprofit parent company rewarded 10 top executives with a combined $48 million in bonuses.

Patricia Hemingway Hall, the now-retired CEO at Health Care Service Corp., the largest customer-owned insurer in the nation with Blue Cross and Blue Shield divisions in five states including Texas, earned the most. Her $16.57 million pay included a $14.9 million bonus, according to 2015 compensation records obtained from the Illinois Department of Insurance.

That 42 percent pay bump from the previous year came at a time when the company and its divisions were complaining of devastating losses in the individual market due to the Affordable Care Act's mandate that insurers cover everyone no matter their health.

When 2016 arrived, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, HCSC's second-largest division, raised rates 20 percent and eliminated 367,000 plans, including 88,000 in Houston, that gave in-network access to many of the state's top-tier hospitals and specialists. The company said the benefit had become "unsustainable."

THE UNCOVERED: A special series explores the struggle for health care

Now, with just weeks to go before enrollment opens for 2017, HCSC's five Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies have asked state regulators for another round of rate increases, some as high as 82 percent, for ACA individual plans.

The insurer insisted in an email to the Chronicle last week that "executive compensation and our marketplace participation are unrelated."

"At the most transformational period the health-care industry has faced, compensation needs to recruit and retain top talent who can manage the complexities of this business and advocate for a health-care system that works for our 15 million members not just for today, but for years to come," the statement said.

No executives at either the Texas division or parent company were made available for interviews.

"The optics are clearly bad," said Lawrence Mishel, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Economic Policy Institute, who studies executive pay. "The company may want to draw distinctions, but consumers do not. We know how this kind of medicine goes down with the public."

He pointed to recent outrage when it was revealed the price of the EpiPen, a medical device commonly used to treat children's allergic reactions, rose 400 percent between 2007 and 2015 as the CEO's salary jumped to $18.9 million from $2.4 million.

No rate review in Texas

Last week, the Texas Department of Insurance "allowed to stand" rate increases of nearly 60 percent for three Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas exchange plans, agency spokesman Ben Gonzalez said. Federal data show the plans could affect more than half a million Texans.

Texas is one of five states that does not do its own rate review. It can check plans only for compliance to state law and to make sure they are "actuarially justified," Gonzalez said. Rate reviews for Texas exchange plans are done at the federal level, but Stacey Pogue, a senior policy analyst for the Center for Public Policy Priorities, said little can be done to stop rate hikes.

Most details of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas rate filing remain sealed as the insurer marked it "confidential." The Chronicle has asked the state's attorney general to make it public.

Elsewhere, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico has asked for an 82 percent rate increase on its 2017 individual exchange plans. The insurer told the state the steep increase is justified because it is over a period of two years since the company did not participate in the exchange last year. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico pulled out of the exchange last year after being denied a 51 percent rate increase by the state's Office of Superintendent of Insurance, officials there said.

In Oklahoma, the 2017 rate hike request was initially 51.6 percent. But in August, when other major insurers announced they were leaving the exchange in the state, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma upped its request to 76 percent, said Mike Rhoads, deputy commissioner of Life and Health Insurance.

RELATED: Feds say ACA working despite insurers' exodus from exchange

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois asked for increases of 23 percent to 45 percent for its individual exchange plans. That request is still pending.

In Montana, the first request for individual plan exchange rates averaged 65.4 percent. Monica Lindeen, commissioner of securities and insurance there, called for public hearings and an assessment by an independent actuary before determining it "unreasonable." Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana then reduced its request to 58.4 percent, said Sanjay Talwani, the state regulator's press secretary.

Lindeen believes it is still too high but does not have the authority to do much more, Talwani said. The rate filing has been sent to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for inclusion on the exchange marked with her objection.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services officials have tried to reassure a nervous public that most coming rate increases will be offset by subsides to lower the price. That likely won't help hundreds of thousand of people in states like Texas that did not expand Medicaid. These low-wage earners make too much for existing Medicaid but not enough to qualify for the subsidy. They must pay the full price of rising premiums.

"The fact (Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies) are a monopoly in many states just compounds the problem," said Mishel, at the Economic Policy Institute.

Insurers leaving exchange

In one of three Texas counties next year, Blue Cross and Blue Shield will be the only insurer available on the exchange.

In April, UnitedHealthcare announced it would not offer any exchange plans in the state next year. Four months later, Aetna said it, too, was leaving the exchange in Texas. Then came the announcement from regional insurer Scott & White Health Plan that it would offer individual plans only off the exchange next year.

Cigna, in a Sept. 30 email to the Chronicle, confirmed it "will not participate on the Texas public marketplace in 2017" but will offer plans off the exchange.

Humana has not made public its final determination for Texas, but a company spokesman said in an email last week that it would have a "reduced presence."

Customers across the Houston area began receiving letters from Humana in recent days that an off-network individual preferred provider plan, or PPO, allowing a wide network of doctors and hospitals is being discontinued. That high-premium, high-deductible plan came into the local market late last year, scooping up many customers who had lost similar coverage from Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

RELATED: HHS says exchange plans will be adequate next year

All of the insurers have cited losses tied to the Affordable Care Act as the reason behind cost-cutting decisions, including exiting the exchange or narrowing networks.

Health Care Service Corp. said it lost $1.5 billion on its individual ACA plans in 2015. But the nonprofit's overall earnings rose 13 percent from the previous year to more than $31 billion.

The net loss in 2015 was $66 million - substantially less than the $282 million net loss for 2014, financial records show. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas lost $321 million last year in the individual market. That is also less than the $400 million it lost in 2014, according to a statement from the company.

'Broad networks' too costly

The coming year could remain challenging as provisions in the law designed to help counteract losses by insurers are set to expire.

More fundamental, insurers have said, is that premiums were priced too low in the early years of the law and customers enrolled on the exchange have been sicker and more costly to insure than anticipated. That has led to an industrywide movement to limit the networks of doctors the insured seek.

"You can't afford to have broad networks," Ken Avner, HCSC's former chief financial officer, said in a March interview with Modern Healthcare. "You get killed on the selection."

Avner, retired as the company's second-highest-paid executive. Last year he earned $4.6 million, mostly from a nearly $3.9 million bonus, representing a 29 percent raise from the year before, according to the 2015 Illinois Department of Insurance report.

HCSC said in its statement to the Chronicle that its executive compensation is "determined by our board of directors with the guidance of expert outside advisors and is based on comparisons to companies in health care, insurance and across other comparable business sector." It followed up with a statement adding, "Only a small fraction of a cent from every dollar we receive goes toward paying our executives."

Last year, CEO Hall was by far the highest paid top executive at any of the nonprofit "Blues" insurers in the country. The next highest paid CEO, at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan, earned $7 million less, according to a report by Atlantic Information Services which compiles executive salaries.

Hall's salary was fourth highest of all insurance CEOs in the nation, including for-profit insurance companies, the report said.

"Without going into what I personally think of it," Michael Morrisey, professor and head of the Texas A&M University Department of Health Policy and Management, said this of the big paychecks: "Given all the turmoil that insurers have faced over the last three years, their boards have decided to reward them."
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CONROE - The Rev. Scott Moore knows mud well.

He can eyeball a soggy field and sure-footedly find a way to cross it. From scattered, incomplete reports received from the scene of a natural disaster, he - and his United Methodist church colleagues - can assess the degree of need and work to effectively address it.

Moore, a one-time Beaumont policeman-turned-minister, is executive director of the Methodist church's $1.4 million state-of-the-art emergency response center rising on high ground on the outskirts of Conroe.

Opening this fall, the cavernous metal structure will provide a central warehouse for heavy equipment and supplies, administrative offices and classrooms for training volunteers. It is a project of the denomination's Houston-based Texas Annual Conference, a 700-church district stretching from Texarkana to Beaumont and west to College Station.

"Anytime we have a major humanitarian disaster, there's a good possibility we will be there," Moore said. "We've responded to hurricanes in Florida, Mississippi and Alabama; wildfires in New Mexico; flooding and tornadoes in Oklahoma. We sent 20 people to New York for Hurricane Sandy."

Most major Houston-area faith groups offer solace and service to victims of whimsically destructive nature. Some provide money, food, clothes or household necessities. Southern Baptists are renowned for their prowess with chain saws. Methodists are experts at tarping roofs.

Earlier this summer as workers put the final touches on the Methodist command center, tens of thousands of Louisiana residents were driven from their homes by unprecedented floods.

East Texas Methodists immediately began collecting money for the displaced and awaited the call for volunteer clean up and repair teams.

"Theologically as Christians, the heart of our understanding of the gospel is to help anyone who needs assistance," Moore said. " ... If it means patching a hole in a roof after a tornado or sitting and holding someone's hand and letting them tell their story, that's what we're going to do."

As a member of the United Methodists' international Committee on Relief, the Texas Annual Conference's cadre of 300 trained volunteers may respond to crises anywhere in the nation, said Diane McGehee, director of the conference's Center for Missional Excellence.

"Over the last year, six areas in Texas were declared federal disaster areas," she said. "Five of them were within the Texas Annual Conference."

Conroe was chosen as the new center's site, McGehee said, because it was deemed safely distant from the Gulf Coast. The command center will include an 8,000-square-foot warehouse and 5,000-square-foot space for offices and classrooms.

Previously, Moore said, equipment, scattered across East Texas, sometimes was inaccessible in times of emergency.

Methodists, Moore said, are not first-responders. Their role typically is that of second-wave relief workers.

Methodists, said McGehee, are the ones who make the scene with buckets and clean-up supplies.

Typical was Houston's 2015 Memorial Day flood when a Meyerland-area Methodist church becamew an operations center for Methodist and other faith-based volunteers aiding residents in the stricken neighborhood.

"We went door to door in apartment complexes offering assistance," Moore said. "We helped people pack and move belongings to higher ground."

When volunteers offered a teenage boy a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, the youth burst into grateful tears. He hadn't eaten in two days, he told the relief workers.

In addition to having boots on the ground, churches in the Houston-based conference respond by opening their pocketbooks. During Hurricane Katrina, conference churches raised $2 million for victims; during Hurricane Rita, $50,000; during Hurricane Ike, $750,000.

Once roofs have been covered and water-saturated dry wall removed, Methodists settle in for the long haul.

Conference case managers help with filing insurance claims and loan applications and an array of post-disaster chores. At times, they aid victims in lobbying city governments for infrastructure improvements to minimize future flooding.

"Case managers are there every step of the way," Moore said. "They're there until everything has returned to the 'new normal.' Things may never get back to the normal folks knew before, but, through recovery work and advocacy, we can get to new normals."

Such managers, he said, are still at work on the administrative aftermath of Houston's 2015 and early 2016 floods. Recovery efforts, he said, can stretch for years.

Beyond disaster relief, McGehee's Center for Missional Excellence oversees church advocacy on a host of troubling social issues. Classrooms at the Conroe facility will be used to educate volunteers on issues surrounding immigration, homelessness, human trafficking and criminal justice.

"That's our vision, and we're going to live into it," she said. "Not only will we be prepared to deploy people in disaster situations, but we will train and equip churches to respond to the social and justice issues we're called to address as people who follow Jesus.

"These are the things we care about, and, with all of us working, we will figure out a way through."

"Anytime we have a major humanitarian disaster, there's a good possibility we will be there"

Rev. Scott Moore

"Theologically as Christians, the heart of our understanding of the gospel is to help anyone who needs assistance."
Here's the bottom line: Donald Trump has said he has no intention of withdrawing as the Republican presidential nominee, and most legal experts say it would be extremely difficult - if not impossible - for the party to forcibly replace him at this point.

Nevertheless, there are two unlikely scenarios in which a Republican alternative to Trump could emerge.

Option 1: Trump is persuaded to drop out. The Republican National Committee nominates a new candidate and petitions states to change their ballots.

In this situation, RNC members would convene and select a new nominee, with each state getting the same number of votes that they had at the national convention. While there is a growing call for Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Trump's running mate, to move to the top of the ticket, he would still have be formally nominated before he got the slot.

"It's not like Pence automatically becomes the nominee," said Nathaniel Persily, a constitutional law expert at Stanford Law School. "Remember poor old Ted Cruz?"

Then comes the really hard part. Many states have already printed their ballots, and 400,000 early and absentee votes have already been cast, according to a tally by the United States Elections Project. The party would have to persuade states to put the new nominee on the ballot by appealing to secretaries of state and seeking emergency injunctions through the courts - no easy lift at this late date.

"It seems very unlikely in most places that a court would order this, not only because ballots have been printed, but ballots have gone out to overseas and military voters," said Rick Hasen, a law professor and election law expert at the University of California at Irvine. "While I think courts often will bend deadlines a little before there has actually been voting, now we're in a situation where that moment has passed."

Not to mention that there would be fierce legal pushback from Democrats.

"You will end up with lawyers on the other side saying, 'This is ridiculous, you can't allow them to game the system at this late stage,'" Persily said.

Still, some Republican election law attorneys say the scenario is hypothetically possible.

"To be sure, it would be a gargantuan effort to try to replace Trump on state ballots across the country," said Robert Kelner, a veteran GOP attorney who has represented party committees and presidential candidates. "But through appeals to secretaries of state and judicial relief, it can be done, up to a point. After that point, the party would have to depend on the judgment of members of the electoral college."

That brings us to . . .

Option 2: Trump refuses to step down, and there is an unprecedented national effort to persuade state electors to vote for an alternative candidate.

The 538 members of the electoral college are scheduled to gather on Dec. 19 to cast their ballots for president and vice president. That's usually just a formality. But consider this scenario, posed by Edward Foley, director of election law at Moritz College of Law: What if Republicans abandon Trump and spend the next several weeks urging electors to vote for Pence or another alternative? It raises intriguing possibilities. While many electors are bound by state law to vote for the candidate selected by the popular vote on Nov. 8, there is precedent for "faithless" electors who have bucked that requirement. And it is unclear what legal remedies there would be to force them to comply, said Foley, author of "Ballot Battles: The History of Disputed Elections in the United States."

"The Supreme Court has never settled the question of what happens if the electors vote on Dec. 19 contrary to what the state vote assumes they will," he said. "What really matters is what gets sent to Congress on Jan. 6."

And that's why, absent a clear victory by Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, it could all come down to who controls Congress. If no candidate is able to reach the 270 majority in the electoral college on Dec. 19, the decision on the next president would be decided by the House of Representatives in January. If a Trump alternative somehow secured 270 votes and there was a dispute over whether that vote was valid, both chambers of Congress would have to decide whether to accept the electoral vote.

Veteran lawyers say it is highly improbable that the 2016 campaign will end up down this path.

"The state laws on electors are a real mishmash," said longtime Republican election-law attorney Ben Ginsberg. "And Trump had a big say in picking electors. You are asking the people who are loyal to him on a granular state level to do something other than support him. It's a real organizational triple bank shot."

Still, Foley noted that in the contentious presidential election of 1876 between Samuel Tilden and Rutherford B. Hayes, the votes of electors in four states were disputed, bringing the country to the brink of a constitutional crisis.

"My big takeaway away is that founders did not prepare us for this," Foley said. "We do not have the adequate constitutional infrastructure to handle this kind of scenario."
The rack of wedding dresses was raided first - $50 each.

Then the meticulously hand-stitched garments with sequins, capes and high bodices that could spice up outfits for Halloween or the Texas Renaissance Festival went.

Finally, the sneakers, button-down polyester shirts and run-of-the-mill trousers left the building for two quarters each.

Roughly 2,000 people sifted through decades of costumes and props during a spectacular warehouse rummage sale staged by the Houston Grand Opera Saturday.

In the end, about 7,500 items were sold for an estimated profit of $50,000, according to Houston Grand Opera managing director Perryn Leech.

Still, the sell-off cleared less than one-fourth of the company's 120,000-square-foot warehouse in the East End.

"We basically ran out of space for costume storage. We have new shows coming in all the time, so this freed up some space and enables us to bring new stuff in," Leech explained. "It's been crazy, but it's been great and we've managed to get rid of pretty much everything we need to get rid of."

Since its founding in 1955, the Houston Grand Opera has grown from a regional arts organization to an internationally renowned company. Over the decades, there have been smaller liquidation sales, but nothing close to Saturday when the nonprofit flung open the warehouse doors to pieces of its performance history from the last 30 years.

Color-coded tables, boxes and racks priced most items from 50 cents to $5 each.

HGO staff had priority access, followed by invitees from other theater companies, schools and nonprofits. The general public was welcomed before the scheduled opening at noon because the queue was getting long, Leech said.

Chrissie Cutler, theater director at Spring Woods High School, emerged from the dim cavern with clothes on hangers piled up on her left arm while 14-year-old daughter, Stormy Cutler, dangled several pairs of men's shoes from their strings.

The grand total for their haul was $24.

"There's a lot of schools and smaller theater companies and people that can't afford to do their own costuming," Chrissie Cutler said. "For them to be able to come here and get stuff that's like really, really, professionally well-made - that they wouldn't be able to do otherwise - is just fantastic."

Other thespians who scored items included Emma Singleton and Isabella Eleuterius, seniors at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Each paid $5.

"I'm a costume designer at our high school," said Eleuterius, 17, who found shirts and a hat from the early 1980s and plans to study technical theater in college. "I wanted to see if there was any old period stuff I could find, but most of the stuff had been gone through."

Singleton, 18, bought two shirts along with floral drawstring pants used in the Houston Grand Opera's 1987 premier of "Nixon in China." (The company will present a reinterpretation in January for the production's 30th anniversary.)

"I just like weird clothes," the actor said.

Vivian Williams of Austin was visiting the Bayou City and saw a news report about the sale. She expected to find something to wear to the Renaissance festival, but nothing she came across was her size. Still, she did not leave empty-handed.

"I am a shoe lover. I currently have 676 shoes now," counting through to the three pairs of colored sneakers under her arm. "Fifty cents apiece."

By early afternoon, the warehouse's main costume room, which Leech described as "heaving, busted, completely full to the gills," had cleared-out areas on some of its up-to-the-ceiling racks.

"We've managed to create some space," he said, with a sigh of great professional relief.
Several Texas Republicans joined in the bipartisan condemnation of Trump's lewd remarks in a leaked video, though none indicated that they are ready to withdraw their support of his presidential campaign.

The state's senior U.S. senator, John Cornyn, criticized Trump in a tweet Saturday morning bemoaning the state of the race.

"I am disgusted by Mr. Trump's words about women: our daughters, sisters and mothers," said Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate. "I am profoundly disappointed by the race to the bottom this presidential campaign has become."

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a bitter GOP rival who only recently came to back Trump after holding out all summer, responded with a pair of statements Friday night on Twitter: "Every wife, mother, daughter  every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect," Cruz said. "These comments are disturbing and inappropriate, there is simply no excuse for them."

Austin U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, a possible 2018 challenger for Cruz's Senate seat, issued a statement on Saturday: "As the father of five children, including four daughters, I find Donald Trump's comments reprehensible and unacceptable," McCaul said.

"This is not an example we should set for our children or an image we should project of our country."

U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, the only Texas Republican in a contested race, issued a statement distancing himself from Trump and saying that the country deserves better.

"I find Donald Trump's comments that were released today to be utterly sickening and repulsive for all women and Americans," Hurd said Friday. "As a proud son of a wonderful mother, the brother of a strong and successful sister, the uncle to four beautiful nieces, I am ashamed that any person much less a nominee for president of the United States would speak that way of women."

Hurd faces a strong re-election challenge for his West Texas seat from ex-congressman Pete Gallego, who also has sought to tie the San Antonio Republican to Trump's controversial remarks about Mexicans.

Scores of down-ballot Republicans in other states, notably New Hampshire U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, announced over the weekend that they would not vote for Trump.

But as Trump labored Saturday to fend off calls within his own party for him to step down, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, his top supporter in the Lone Star State, urged him to keep going.

In a tweet Friday night, Patrick said Trump was right to apologize, but added that voters can't let the "firestorm" distract them from defeating Hillary Clinton.
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For Bill Long, Republicanism has become something akin to religion.

Long's conversion came a year ago, when the 60-year-old Democrat grew frustrated by what he felt were President Barack Obama's unfulfilled promises.

Drawn in by Jeb Bush and later Ted Cruz, Long now considers himself a Donald Trump man.

"Whoever they put up there is who I'll support," said Long, who lives in Kingwood and spends dozens of hours each week volunteering for the Harris County Republican Party. "You see, I'm not a me person. I'm a we person."

For Long and other Houston-area Trump supporters, the release of a video in which Trump brags about trying to have sex with a married woman and grabbing women's genitals is not a game-changer.

November is about the Republican Party first, the New York billionaire second.

Fueled by that partisan commitment and a fierce dislike of Hillary Clinton, Republican faithful have embraced Trump as their agent of change, brushing aside what they view as either mischaracterizations of their nominee, or unfortunate - but forgivable - slipups.

Trump, who apologized for the vulgar comments but called the concern about them "a distraction," told the Washington Post on Saturday that he would "never withdraw."

A month before Election Day, Trump trails Clinton in Harris County but is expected to claim Texas' 38 electoral votes. Even so, his roughly six-point statewide lead through September and early October - before the video's release - lags behind those of recent GOP nominees. Mitt Romney led Obama by an average of 17 points in October 2012, according to Real Clear Politics, and John McCain polled about 13 points ahead in 2008.

Political scientist Jerry Polinard, of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, said Trump's Lone Star State supporters are like those across the country.

"There's going to be one segment of that support that's largely rooted in white males," Polinard said, noting those voters find his bluster and lack of political correctness attractive. "I think that's going to be true in Houston as well as Cleveland. In that group, you may have more support for Trump as the person. And then you add to that support that's rooted not so much in the personality of Donald Trump, but the fact that he represents the Republican Party."

The will of the party

Buffie Ingersoll, president of the Village Republican Women, voted for Marco Rubio in the primary and flew to Cleveland as a Cruz delegate. But, the Spring Branch West resident said, "as soon as the people chose (Trump), I was 100 percent behind him."

Her concerns range from border security to boosting the military and improving the national economy - issues she views Trump as better prepared to address.

"You know, he may very well change things that I don't agree with. But I think he is a huge change candidate," she said.

Ingersoll, 64 and a retired financial planner, also harbors deep distrust of Clinton. She pointed to the Clinton Foundation's acceptance of donations from foreign countries criticized for discriminating against women, something she called "very upsetting."

She said she is not concerned about reports that Trump used money from the Trump Foundation to purchase portraits of himself and settle lawsuits for his for-profit business, or about his disparaging comments toward women, including those captured in the recently released video.

"I obviously don't like it, but I think the other side of our choice is a whole lot worse," Ingersoll said, pointing to sexual misconduct allegations made against former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton's reported role in pushing back on them. "To me, actions speak a lot louder than words.

"She didn't actually do the fault, but she stood there - stood by him - as this happened  I wouldn't call that someone who supports women."

As for Trump's foundation, she said, "When you're a multibillionaire, and you have all these different companies and foundations and things, I don't know that he's the one that directs his team of financial people where to take what from what."

Despite the narrative that candidates - particularly Trump - were drawing disaffected residents into the political process, most of Harris County's Republican primary participants were returning voters.

But nearly half had not voted in a Republican primary in the last decade.

"A lot of them are getting engaged politically in a way they hadn't been before," said Harris County Republican Party Chair Paul Simpson.

That is consistent with national trends.

"Throughout the primaries, Trump was making the claim that he was bringing all sorts of new voters into his campaign, people who had been Democrats and independents," Drake University political scientist Dennis Goldford said. "If (he is), we're just not seeing evidence of it yet."

Instead, Goldford said, Trump "represents what I'd call the middle finger segment of the American electorate."

One proud deplorable

Murray Pawloski, originally a Cruz supporter, now proudly identifies as a "deplorable," a reference to Clinton's comment that half of Trump's supporters could be put in a "basket of deplorables." Pawloski even ordered a T-shirt to brand himself.

Trump's business background is a big attraction for Pawloski, a 41-year-old wine distributor who lives in Katy.

"I have not met a stupid businessman," he said. "They all have something - quick-wittedness, a different way of analyzing the way the world works - that helps them succeed."

Pawloski also views Clinton as "incredibly dishonest and untrustworthy," pointing to her use of a private email server and handling of the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya, that left an ambassador and three other Americans dead.

He said he completely disagrees with the "offensive comments" Trump made in the video released Friday but has chosen to accept what he called a "quick and unconditional apology."

Goldford expects that Trump's hard-core supporters will feel the same way and see this as "another media firestorm about nothing."

What remains to be seen, Goldford said, is "the extent to which this repels some of the people who were supporting him with some lukewarm attitude, or because they don't like Hillary Clinton. Is this enough to override their dislike of Hillary Clinton?"

Vote against Democrats

Armando Allen, who is 49 and lives in Spring, is among those who have become conflicted about the Republican nominee.

Like many Mexican immigrants, Allen finds Trump offensive.

But he is considering voting for him.

"I will definitely not vote for Hillary," said Allen, who works as a distribution director for a Christian movie company. "She supports things I am against: same-sex marriage, abortion. I won't risk values just because the other guy is talking about mass deportation."

Allen said he's willing to overlook Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric, banking on the notion that Trump would have to tone down his harsh positions on immigration once in the White House.

For him, the prospect of a liberal justice on the U.S. Supreme Court is more terrifying.

Trump's first debate performance and his lewd comments about women have given Allen additional pause, however. Now he might not vote at all.

"I'm not so sure if he represents the values of my belief system," Allen said.

Lomi Kriel contributed to this report.
Before the United States permitted a terrifying way of interrogating prisoners, government lawyers and intelligence officials assured themselves of one crucial outcome. They knew that the methods inflicted on terrorism suspects would be painful, shocking and far beyond what the country had ever accepted. But none of it, they concluded, would cause long-lasting psychological harm.

Fifteen years later, it is clear they were wrong.

Today in Slovakia, Hussein al-Marfadi describes permanent headaches and disturbed sleep, plagued by memories of dogs inside a blackened jail. In Kazakhstan, Lutfi bin Ali is haunted by nightmares of suffocating at the bottom of a well. In Libya, the radio from a passing car spurs rage in Majid Mokhtar Sasy al-Maghrebi, reminding him of the CIA prison where earsplitting music was just one assault to his senses.

And then there is the despair of men who say they are no longer themselves. "I am living this kind of depression," said Younous Chekkouri, a Moroccan, who fears going outside because he sees faces in crowds as Guantanamo Bay guards. "I'm not normal anymore."

After enduring agonizing treatment in secret CIA prisons around the world or coercive practices at the military detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, dozens of detainees developed persistent mental health problems, according to previously undisclosed medical records, government documents and interviews with former prisoners and military and civilian doctors. Some emerged with the same symptoms as U.S. prisoners of war who were brutalized decades earlier by some of the world's cruelest regimes.

Americans have long debated the legacy of post-Sept. 11 interrogation methods, asking whether they amounted to torture or succeeded in extracting intelligence. But even as President Barack Obama continues transferring people from Guantanamo and Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, promises to bring back techniques, now banned, such as waterboarding, the human toll has gone largely uncalculated.

At least half of the 39 people who went through the CIA's "enhanced interrogation" program, which included depriving them of sleep, dousing them with ice water, slamming them into walls and locking them in coffin-like boxes, have since shown psychiatric problems, the New York Times found. Some have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, paranoia, depression or psychosis.

Hundreds more detainees moved through CIA "black sites" or Guantanamo, where the military inflicted sensory deprivation, isolation, menacing with dogs and other tactics on men who now show serious damage. Nearly all have been released.

"There is no question that these tactics were entirely inconsistent with our values as Americans, and their consequences present lasting challenges for us as a country and for the individuals involved," said Ben Rhodes, the deputy national security adviser.

The U.S. government has never studied the long-term psychological effects of the extraordinary interrogation practices it embraced. A Defense Department spokeswoman, asked about long-term mental harm, responded that prisoners were treated humanely and had access to excellent care. A CIA spokesman declined to comment.
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Policing Texas' most populous county is just one item on a laundry list of challenges facing Harris County's next sheriff.

Voters next month will choose between the appointed Republican sheriff, Ron Hickman, a career cop who formerly served as Precinct 4 Constable, and Democratic challenger Ed Gonzalez, a 47-year-old former homicide investigator-turned Houston city council member.

Whoever prevails will have to contend with the realities of fighting crime in Harris County's rapidly developing unincorporated areas and running an expensive, overcrowded jail frequently referred to as the largest mental health facility in Texas.

All of that is set against a backdrop of heightened tension between civil rights activists and police over the use of fatal force against civilians and the murders of peace officers in high-profile incidents in Dallas, Baton Rouge and northwest Harris County.

After party affiliation, the race is expected to boil down to the differing philosophies of Hickman and Gonzalez.

Hickman, a traditional law-and-order Republican with a passion for fighting crime with technology, touts his executive experience and his efforts to modernize the sheriff's office.

More Information Candidates for Harris County sheriff Ron Hickman (incumbent) Age: 65 Party: Republican Occupation: Harris County sheriff Campaign website: www.ronhickman.com Ed Gonzalez Age: 47 Party: Democrat Occupation: former Houston City Councilmember and Houston police officer Campaign website: www.edforsheriff.com See More Collapse

"I've dealt with hard choices and decisions, in law enforcement," said the 65-year-old incumbent. "I never left law enforcement to be a politician."

Since assuming the sheriff's office in May 2015, Hickman has re-opened the county's outlying jails, created a homeless outreach team, privatized the jail's commissary and established a high-tech crime unit to investigate child exploitation, internet fraud and identity theft cases, and rolled out the department's Real-Time Crime Center, which tracks information as officers respond to incidents. The department also has installed cameras throughout the jail and created a dedicated DWI task force, he said.

A self-styled progressive, Gonzalez touts a reform-driven platform that he hopes voters will embrace. He has pledged to root out cronyism and corruption in the department, improve relationships between the sheriff's office and Harris County residents, increase collaboration between local law enforcement agencies and push for systematic changes to Harris County's criminal justice system.

"You have to lead comprehensively. And my No. 1 priority is to keep you safe, and that's not happening," said Gonzalez, who worked as a homicide investigator, hostage negotiator and chairman of Houston City Council's Public Safety Committee. "(Hickman's) experience has only brought us a lack of crime-fighting resources, budget deficit and a trail of scandal."

'Change the culture'

Shortly after his appointment to the sheriff's post last year, Hickman rolled back many of the reforms and other measures his predecessor, Adrian Garcia, had implemented. Hickman argued that many of those now-reversed measures were quick fixes that left the department in poorer condition than before Garcia got there, a criticism Gonzalez rejects.

"There is a price-to-be-paid consequence for taking low-hanging fruit," Hickman said. "We chose to go the long route to try to invest our energy and our resources into something that will pay dividends in the future  We're gradually trying to change the culture inside from an assaultive confrontational culture to one where we're caring for the inmates."

He began his career in the Houston Police Department, then joined the Precinct 4 Constable's Office in 1983. In 2001, he was elected constable, and remained there until last year, when Harris County commissioners appointed him sheriff after Garcia vacated the post to run for mayor of Houston.

Since then, Hickman has weathered criticism for overcrowding at the Harris County Jail, the department's increasing reliance on overtime to staff the facility, and decisions to ship inmates to other jails around the state when the jail has filled beyond capacity.

After Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Darren Goforth was killed in August 2015, Hickman came under fire for comments that appeared to lay blame on the Black Lives Matter movement, saying "We've heard Black Lives Matter, All Lives Matter. Well, cops' lives matter, too." Critics also took issue with the jailing of a rape victim at the direction of prosecutors until she could testify at her accused rapist's trial. Jailers misclassified the woman as a sex offender and she was assaulted while behind bars.

More recently, revelations that thousands of pieces of evidence have been destroyed at the Precinct 4 constable's office have led the district attorney to dismiss 100 pending drug cases, and raised questions about Hickman's leadership at the department.

'Operate, manage, lead'

Hickman has expressed regret for the comments he made immediately after Goforth's death, and blames the jail overcrowding on cyclical spikes in crime and decisions by Garcia to surrender hundreds of overflow beds to state regulators. He said he has eliminated specialty units to put more deputies on patrol, worked to modernize the department, privatized the jail's commissary, reopened the department's deputy and jailer training academies and eliminated what he deemed needless contracts.

The veteran lawman has been endorsed by the Harris County Deputies' Association, the Houston Police Officers Union and the local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police.

His opponent joined the Houston Police Department in 1993 and spent 15 years there, rising to the rank of sergeant and aiding in the launch of the Investigative First Responders unit, a widely-acclaimed investigations unit that recently was dissolved by the city in an effort to put more officers in the call-for-service loop.

"We need more than a part-time sheriff," Gonzalez said, referring to Hickman's frequent trips to Northeast Texas to visit his wife, Connie Hickman, a Justice of the Peace in Navarro County.

Gonzalez touts his experience as a city councilman, where he said he helped create the city's sobering center, launched the Safe Haven program - which allows people to conduct business at police stations - and helped pass an ordinance to help police better track stolen goods. He also has argued for deputies to cite and release low-level offenders to reduce jail crowding, citing a 2007 state law that allows police to issue citiations in lieu of arrest for certain misdemeanors.

Gonzalez has cobbled together a coalition of supporters including the Harris County AFL-CIO Council, Teamsters Local 988, Houston Organization of Public Employees and the Houston Professional Firefighters Association Local 341.

He has pledged to use cost savings to bulk up diversion programs and crime fighting and pledged to restore many of the programs or measures Garcia put in place that Hickman cut or canceled.

"I think that the biggest challenge is making sure that we operate, manage, and lead as a 21st century police agency," he said, emphasizing the need to equip the department's deputies with body cameras. "We're not doing that at this moment."

Harris County has selected a body camera vendor and begun working on the infrastructure needed to support the devices.

Gonzalez also has weathered criticism related to his police work, including personal embarrassment after it was revealed he had taken active homicide files with him when he left HPD in 2009. The police officer-turned-politician suspended himself for five days and apologized for the incident.

Tied to national ticket

One of the cases - which he did not return to HPD until 2014 - was solved two weeks after he returned the file to investigators.

A recent University of Houston poll found Hickman and Gonzalez tied, with 32 percent support each from registered voters with 36 percent of voters still undecided.

"The candidates are heavily tied to the performance of the national ticket," said Richard Murray, professor of political science at UH. "If your guy is losing at the top, or lady, you're sunk, in my view."

When pollsters narrowed the field to "extremely likely voters," Hickman pulled to a 36-30 advantage, but Gonzalez appears to be gaining momentum and likely would benefit from straight ticket voters, poll watchers said.

"My advice to these candidates - and I've talked to a few - is prayer," Jones quipped. "It doesn't cost anything and it might work. Because you can't fundamentally change the dynamics of the presidential race."
Statewide property taxes are unconstitutional in Texas, but don't tell that to the legislators in Austin.

For decades, the Legislature has been shifting its obligation to fund public education to local communities. Now, this November, Houston is facing a new sneaky invoice from the state. There's a misleading budget measure on the ballot asking whether Houston Independent School District should submit itself to state recapture and send $162 million in local property tax dollars to Austin. As we've previously stated, the correct answer is "NO," or "AGAINST."

If the measure passes, HISD, a district with 3 out of 4 of its students considered economically disadvantaged, will have to significantly cut its budget and send $162 million in local tax revenues earmarked for public schools this year to Austin. The tab over four years is estimated to be $1 billion.

If the measure fails, HISD still may not be spared the budget cuts, as the Texas Education Agency will have the power to remove the highest-value commercial properties from the tax pool that pays into HISD and permanently assign the tax revenue to a poorer school system.

A vote against the measure offers education advocates one advantage: time. It will give the Legislature an opportunity to address the larger problem of why these draconian budget cuts are being foisted on a district that serves poor students.

If you are confused not only about this ballot measure but about how our public schools are financed in Texas, you're not alone. This ballot measure and the subsequent sequence of events it will trigger are hard for most of us to follow.

Unfortunately, the lack of transparency runs deeper than this faulty ballot measure and the convoluted process it will set into motion. Most of us assume that these recaptured funds will be used to lift up poor schools. This is wrong.

Taxpayers who believe in good faith that the recaptured funds will be spent on poor schools are being duped. Instead these recaptured funds will offset the state's obligation to fund education and will in effect be used for statewide costs such as transportation and border security. So not only is the state shifting its obligation to fund schools to local taxpayers, it's also shifting to local taxpayers its obligation to provide other basic services.

A few obvious problems cry out for voters' attention. It's wrong for the Legislature to syphon off property tax revenue intended for our schools and in effect apply these funds toward other purposes with an accounting sleight of hand.

Worse, the state is not just shortchanging public education in the case of recapture. Any time property appraisals go up, the state reduces the revenues that it sends to local communities. So with each upward appraisal in a growing community, the result is that the Legislature further abdicates its constitutional duty to fund public education in Texas.

Rather than identifying state taxes sufficient to bring all districts up to standard, the Legislature in effect has mandated that local school boards find the tax revenues to do this. Let's be clear: The whole point of this indirect system is to allow statewide elected officials to claim that they did not vote to levy taxes to provide a minimally adequate education.

As state lawmakers refuse to use statewide funds for education purposes, it puts more pressure on the local taxpayer. Any attempt to reduce local property taxes will not be successful unless the Legislature steps up and lawmakers have the courage to responsibly fund our schools.

Moreover, it's unconscionable that the Legislature has put forward a ballot provision that is misleading on so many different levels. Ballot resolutions are supposed to solicit the will of the people, not trick voters.

Both of these issues are reflections of a larger problem: Our public school finance system is broken. The Texas Supreme Court held in May that our public school finance systems meets minimal constitutional requirements, but it urged transformational, top to bottom reforms. We agree.

For starters, the Legislature should determine what it costs to educate a child. It has its own estimate but this is a political number; it's not research-based. Under law, the Legislature is required to determine whether it is spending an amount per pupil that is sufficient to meet the standards it has set. For far too many years, the Legislature has failed to initiate such a study. It's time to stop the back-of-the-napkin, will-it-get-me-reelected calculations and put data to use.

Creating a well-functioning school finance system that meets the needs of today's students and Texas' workforce is the Legislature's main job. Voters expect lawmakers to do this, not stoop to using contorted ballot language to prop up an out-of-date and marginally adequate education funding system.
Roger Ailes has been dining out for years on the fact that he helped prepare Ronald Reagan for his second debate with Walter Mondale in 1984. In fact, Reagan's 1980 debate with Jimmy Carter was far more consequential. And James A. Baker has never gotten the credit he deserves for his yeoman's work in preparing the Gipper for his "High Noon" showdown with President Carter.

No doubt Reagan was disappointed with his first performance in 1984 against Mondale and wasn't going to let it happen again, so it was really Reagan who spurred himself forward. He was angry with himself and frustrated with himself. He was, as Reagan adviser Mike Deaver once told me, "The most competitive son of a bitch who ever lived."

It wasn't that Reagan did badly in his first debate with Mondale - it's more that expectations were out of control for him, and many were also wondering if Reagan's age had caught up with him. It was literally the worst of both worlds.

But he walked into a buzz saw when he uttered "There you go again" one too many times. Mondale was ready and, turning it around, schooled Reagan on cutting Medicare spending. White House aide Dick Darman (now deceased) was in charge of the debate prep and whipsawed Reagan and shoved meaningless statistics down his throat. Reagan later complained of the prep team, "It was all these numbers they made me memorize." He was very unhappy, very depressed, and mad at himself. He knew better. And America knew better.

However, the 1984 debate wasn't crucial for Reagan. He was going to win anyway. Even after the first debate, he was still well ahead in the polls. It was the 1980 debate with Jimmy Carter, one week before the election, which was imperative.

It is this debate in which Jim Baker, the tall and cool Texan, did so much to help Reagan, and as a result, probably won the presidency of 1980. The polls were tight and Carter was surging in many.

Bill Casey, Reagan's underappreciated manager, handed the entire debate portfolio to Jim Baker, late of the George H.W. Bush campaign. Baker, pencil behind an ear, approached the debate preparation job with toughness and thoroughness. He assembled a group of briefers, questioners and a stand-in, a young congressman, David Stockman, who first portrayed John Anderson and later Jimmy Carter.

He put together a mock stage at a private estate, Wexford, in rural Virginia (which was once owned by John and Jackie Kennedy) and put Reagan through his paces. The camp had divided into two regarding the debate with Carter: the hawks and the doves. Surprisingly, many old hands were doves opposed to Reagan debating Carter, including Mrs. Reagan. They were fearful of what Carter would do to the Gipper. But the hawk Baker had seen Reagan up close and personal, and knew that Reagan was ready and able.

Reagan was masterful that evening in Cleveland. Defying expectations, he won - at least as far as the American people were concerned. The elites thought otherwise but it was of little matter. According to all the polls, Reagan won the debate and then won the presidency in one of the greatest landslides in American history. Carter's pollster Pat Caddell has maintained for nearly 40 years that without that debate, Carter might well have won re-election. Baker deserves much of the credit. Baker was the right man in the right place at the right time. One shudders to think if someone less competent had been placed in charge of the all-important debate prep.

Jim Baker's place in history is now assured, along with many other important presidential counselors. He was a U.S. Marine, a campaign manager, Reagan's White House de facto chief of staff, secretary of the treasury, secretary of state, director of George W. Bush's recount effort in Florida in 2000, and head of a commission on Iraq. But maybe none of these would have happened without his superb, reassuring, and history-altering leadership of Reagan's debate team in 1980.

Without Baker, would Reagan have won in 1980? Would there have been a Reagan Revolution? Would Reagan have had a chance to be Reagan without Baker? In fact, Reagan once wrote, "There has not been one single instance of Jim Baker doing anything but what I've settled on as our policy." Reagan knew good men when he saw them.

Reagan was surrounded by a lot of good men and women, and one of those happened to be Jim Baker, the campaign manager for a man who tried to stop Reagan from winning the 1980 nomination.

Such are the twists and turns of American history.

Shirley is a Reagan biographer and presidential historian. He is the author of the forthcoming books "Reagan Rising" and "Citizen Newt." Scott Mauer assisted with this article. A longer version of this article originally appeared on LifeZette.com.
At a campaign rally on Monday, former President Bill Clinton stated, Youve got this crazy system where all of a sudden 25 million more people have health care, and then the people who are out there busting it, sometimes 60 hours a week, wind up with their premiums doubled and their coverage cut in half and its the craziest thing in the world But the people getting killed in this deal are the small business people and the individuals who make just a little bit too much to get any of these subsidies.

Clinton is now trying to walk back from this comment, but the harsh reality is that he is right. Obamacare is a crazy system that has only made healthcare more bureaucratic and more expensive. Last week marked three years since the failed Obamacare exchanges opened for business and over the past three years Obamacare continues to drive up healthcare costs on millions of American families and limit their access to the healthcare providers of their choice.

As insurers across the country continue to exit states because they are struggling under the Affordable Care Act, people are being left to choose between a handful of costly plans that may not meet their specific needs. New reports now estimate that healthcare premiums in some places will experience double-digit rate increases next year. It is astounding just how much Obamacare is costing people across the nation. The average premium for individuals with job-based coverage increased by $3,755 even though President Obama promised that Obamacare would lower premiums for families.

Just this week, it was announced that when open enrollment in Obamacare starts next month, enrollees in four states will be able to choose plans from only one insurer. Individuals in 26 of the 30 counties which make up the 8th Congressional District of Missouri are predicted to only have one option for health insurance. In total, it is estimated that 85 percent of Missouri counties could only have one Obamacare marketplace insurer next year. Obamacare has failed to give individuals and families options in healthcare and instead has forced people to accept the only healthcare option available to them, despite the cost, with fear of facing a punitive tax if they dont.

Another sign of Obamacares failure is the collapse of federally backed Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) programs across the country. Following the rollout of Obamacare three years ago, 23 CO-OPs were created using $1.7 billion in federal loans. Today 17 of those CO-OPs have collapsed, forcing nearly 800,000 Americans to find new healthcare coverage.

Looking ahead, in a desperate attempt to save his failing healthcare law, it was revealed that the Obama Administration is now attempting another illegal bailout to prop up Obamacare by paying health insurers billions of taxpayer dollars through an unauthorized Treasury Department account intended for other use. The Government Accountability Office issued a ruling last Thursday that this diversion of billions of dollars from the United States Treasury to insurers selling policies on the Affordable Care Act Exchanges are entirely unauthorized, inappropriate and potentially illegal.

With President Obamas days left in office numbered, he will stop at nothing to revive his failing healthcare bill and his legacy. Americans deserve better than a healthcare system that puts government between them and their doctor. That is why I am supporting a Better Way plan to give Americans more patient-centered care and more healthcare choices, not more government bureaucracy and red tape. You should be in charge of your health options and should have the freedom and flexibility to choose the care that is best for you. You should not be excluded from having access to the best lifesaving treatments in the world because less and less providers want to participate in a failed government run program. Bill Clinton said it himself, Obamas health care system is the craziest thing in the world and I remain committed to repealing it.

Jason Smith represents Missouris 8th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Contact him at 573-335-0101 or visit https://jasonsmith.house.gov
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Chris Alexander issued a mea culpa to Canadians for the terrible campaign the Conservative Party ran last year  as he readies a bid to return to federal politics.

The former cabinet minister expressed his regrets over the pledge to create a tipline for so-called barbaric cultural practices. He told CTVs Question Period host Evan Solomon he thinks its one of the many reasons why the Conservatives lost last year.

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I regret very much several issues that we blew up to a scale they should never have reached in the last campaign. It's why we lost, he said in a segment that aired Sunday.

Former immigration minister Chris Alexander speaks to media in Toronto on Sept. 19, 2015. (Photo: Aaron Vincent Elkaim/The Canadian Press)

The RCMP tipline was a Conservative promise to combat barbaric cultural practices that includes polygamy, forced marriages, and female genital mutilation.

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Alexander, then immigration minister, made the announcement alongside former status of women minister Kellie Leitch weeks before the last falls election.

These practices have no place in Canadian society, Leitch said at the time.

Despite the crush of criticism Conservatives received about the proposed tipline, Alexander told Solomon the zero-tolerance message over barbaric cultural practices sticks.

But he said a fatal flaw to the partys campaign strategy was that it allowed itself to be portrayed as unwelcoming. That was a huge mistake, he added.

Calamity over Syrian refugee crisis

Another regret Alexander expressed was the partys approach to the refugee file after a photograph of a lifeless three-year-old Alan Kurdi made international headlines in the middle of the election campaign.

The haunting photograph fueled a groundswell of attention on the ongoing Syrian war and refugee crisis  and Canadas role.

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After it was revealed Kurdis B.C. aunt had made an effort to sponsor his familys application for refugee status, Alexander was put on the defensive over Canadas failure to step up in its efforts amid Syrias exacerbating humanitarian crisis.

Tim Kurdi sits for a photograph with a photo of her late nephews Alan, left, and Ghalib Kurdi at her home in Coquitlam, B.C., on Aug. 22. (Photo:Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

In a press conference shortly after his election loss, Alexander said he spent two weeks being called a baby-killer by other Parliamentarians and media.

Now, as he looks to return to politics after he lost his federal seat in last years election, the father of two acknowledges the former governments delayed response wasnt good enough.

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We didn't respond as fast as we could have with a much stronger commitment to Syrian refugees, he told CTV News. I wanted us to respond quickly after that day. It took us two weeks. I think that was a mistake as well.

The former Ajax-Pickering MP told The Huffington Post Canada last month that hes planning to run for Conservative Party leadership. He said he is excited by conversations to plan ways to renew and reinvigorate the party.

With files from Althia Raj

Also on HuffPost
Dan Kitwood via Getty Images

A summer which began with the Remain campaign warning voters of looming economic calamity has now ended with the sight of politicians of all parties preparing to abandon the benefits of Europe so long as they can be seen to "do something" about immigration.

Perhaps it was inevitable that the sheer upheaval of the Brexit vote would lead politicians to focus almost exclusively on those who backed Leave. Millions of Leave voters, after all, have previously been left out of politics and left behind by the economy. And it took their votes in the Referendum to make their point.

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But the pendulum has now surely swung too far.

Some of the speeches at this year's party conferences have been marked by a desperate fear of anything foreign. Others have suggested cities could erupt into violence unless there are curbs on immigration. Still more have seen have accepted as inevitable that we abandon freedom of movement - whether or not it does anyone any good.

It seems that no one has been interested in the views of Remain voters. Despite those voters accounting for almost half the electorate.

Today, the New Economics Foundation is publishing the findings of a new poll of this forgotten 48%. And it shows that anyone seeking to bring change to this country who turns their back on them, does so at their peril.

Those who voted Remain are far from being the self-satisfied defenders of the status quo that they have been characterised.

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Almost two thirds of them say that the world today is run by a small group of powerful people.

A majority of them say the economy is heading in the wrong direction. The same number say that big business and corporate elites have too much power in Britain today.

And, crucially, those who voted Remain also believe in internationalist and multi-lateral solutions to solve the global problems.

They don't think that Britain can stand on its own and cure climate change, or tackle our security threats, or make our world a fairer place. And, by an overwhelming margin, they fear for a future in which Britain turns inwards or retreats from such relationships.

These are the "citizens of the world". They are motivated more by their attachment to international institutions like the EU and UN than even the economic costs of Brexit.

And that matters.

These voters know Britain's future success will not be built either by turning away from the world nor seeking to divide our communities between migrants and non-migrants.

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They know, instead, that we need to develop solutions that work for both Leave and Remain voters. Solutions that show that there is no trade-off to be made by remaining proudly internationalist and pursuing socially-inclusive solutions that make a real difference to people's lives.

This coming Tuesday, the New Economics Foundation will launch its new agenda for building a progressive and sustainable economic future.

It is an agenda which confronts the challenges of Brexit and addresses the concerns of those who voted Leave. But it is also an agenda that puts internationalist values - and the ideas of tolerance, openness and generosity of spirit which underpins them -- front and centre.

To give just some examples:

We desperately need a new understanding of how places like Greater Manchester can thrive in this new era when inner city districts voted strongly for Remain and those outside the city centre voted to Leave.

We also need new plans for our coastal towns where people feel abandoned by the political elite, which is why we're developing a plan for clean marine that can bring together people who care about the environment and those who need decent jobs in an initiative to them look outwards to a unique common resource on their doorstep - the sea.

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And, at the same time, we need also to campaign relentlessly to correct a national debate increasingly turning away from the world so that leading figures from different political parties, businesses, communities and campaigns, can come together over issues ranging from tax evasion and climate change to protecting aid budgets and access to markets.

These are the kinds of project that can offer real solutions to the hardest-pressed communities while also ensuring that Britain remains an outward-looking country of which we can all be proud; a country that tackles inequality but also remains at the heart of the on-going struggle against racism and xenophobia.

They are part of a bigger agenda for a new economy that can tackle global problems and address the needs of voters who have been left behind.

It is an agenda needed now more than ever if we are to offer something better than the snake oil solutions being hawked across our streets by a new generation of narrow-minded nationalists today.
We will all remember this election. Our children and grandchildren will read about it. They will ask us what it was like to live through it. They will want to know what we did, where we stood, how we voted.

This is the record I will leave behind.

Throughout this election season, I have been corresponding with a family friend who supports Donald Trump. I have explained, point by point, why I oppose Mr. Trump and why I see the country so differently than he does. In this final month leading up to Election Day, I will publish these "Letters to a Trump Supporter" on this blog.

I will begin with the issue that started it all: undocumented immigration.

He sent me this video as an argument in favor of Mr. Trump's rhetoric on this issue. Below is my response.

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~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Mr. ----,

Thank you for sending this video. It's interesting to see the fears that people have about undocumented immigration.

Hopefully, it'll comfort you to learn that most of those fears are unwarranted.

First and most importantly, the undocumented immigrant population is shrinking. It peaked in 2007 at 12.2 million people. Now, there are only 11.1 million. So, contrary to all the accusations in this video, undocumented immigrants have been leaving more than they've been coming here during the Obama administration.

Contrast that with the Bush administration, during which the population grew from 8 to 12 million...a 50 percent increase!

Second, President Obama never said that he welcomed undocumented immigrants to cross the border. Notice that they never show him saying such a thing. That's because such a video doesn't exist. He never said it.

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Third, immigrants actually commit fewer crimes than native-born American citizens. This shouldn't be surprising, when you consider the fact that violent crime rates have plummeted nationally over the past couple decades when undocumented immigration has been rising. What this video is doing is pure racism, assuming that foreigners are more "dangerous" when the facts say the exact opposite.

They're trying to scare you. Don't be fooled.

Fourth, there are very, very few undocumented immigrants who are granted asylum on the border. In 2013, for example, only 155 Mexican immigrants were granted "defensive asylum." The numbers from other Central American countries are even lower.

That shouldn't be surprising, since it's not nearly as easy as this video alleges. The Border Patrol has no control over it, and neither does the President. The asylum-seeker has to prove their case before an immigration judge.

Fifth, it is not true that immigrants run to the Border Patrol. On the contrary, the Border Patrol is regularly accused of using excessive force, to the point that it "has normalized policing practices that would be considered patently unconstitutional if carried out by local police."

Sixth, undocumented immigrants cannot receive "free heart surgery." The Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) explicitly prohibited undocumented immigrants from receiving subsidized health insurance. Some community clinics provide charity care, but they do not do expensive operations. Even those options are few, however, and too underfunded to serve most of the undocumented population.

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Finally, I want to point out how this is a classic case of biased, unprofessional journalism. Notice that he only presents one side of the case: He only interviews Border Patrol workers. He never interviews a single undocumented immigrant!

This presentation would fail even the most basic journalism class. It's not news. It's propaganda.
French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau recognized that, "Military justice is to justice what military music is to music."

Exemplary is the September 28, 2016 opinion of Col. Jeffrey R. Nance, Military Judge, denying SGT Robert B. Bergdahl's motion to dismiss general court-martial charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy because of prejudicial statements made by Senator John McCain, including veiled threats to retaliate if Bergdahl is not convicted and punished.

On or about June 30, 2009, Bergdahl went missing from his unit while deployed to Afghanistan. Numerous efforts were made by multiple government entities to locate and recover him. On May 31, 2014, the United States swapped five Taliban detainees held at Guantanmo Bay for Bergdahl. (The GAO found that the exchange violated a legal mandate to notify Congress in advance of the release of Gitmo detainees).

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On March 25, 2015, charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy in violation of Articles 85 and 99 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice were preferred against the accused. On October 5, 2015, following an Article 32 preliminary hearing, officer LTC Mark Visgar submitted his report and recommendations to the Special Court-martial Convening Authority. He urged referral of the charges to a Special Court-martial without authority to adjudge a Bad Conduct Discharge. He opined that Berdahl deserved neither confinement nor a punitive discharge.

Senator McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), fumed when he learned of LTC Visgar's recommendation. On October 11, 2015, while campaigning with then presidential candidate Lindsey Graham, a fellow member of the SASCS, Senator McCain vowed to a reporter:

"[I]f it comes out that [Bergdahl] has no punishment, we're going to have a hearing in the Senate Armed Services Committee...And I am not prejudging, OK, but it is well known that in searches for Bergdahl, after we know now he deserted, there are allegations that some American soldiers were killed or wounded, or at the very least put their lives in danger, searching for what is clearly a deserter, We need to have a hearing on that."

On December 14, 2015, General Abrams referred the charges against Bergdahl to General Court-martial.

Senator McCain has never retracted his condemnation of Bergdahl as a deserter. He has never backtracked from his threat to summon the Army for hearings before the Senate Armed Services Committee if Bergdahl has no punishment.

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In these circumstances, it is clear as day that Senator McCain has shattered any possibility that Bergdahl could be provided General Court-martial trial consistent with constitutional due process.

The United States Supreme Court elaborated in Offutt v. United States, 348 U.S. 11 (1954) that justice requires the appearance of justice, i.e., like Caesar's wife, justice must be above suspicion.

Senator McCain has single-handedly created the appearance that the Bergdahl's military tribunal will be biased against him to avoid the substantial risk of McCain's retaliation. The Senator has maligned him as a deserter. He has fumed at the prospect that Bergdahl might receive no punishment. It is well known--including among uniformed military judges-- that the pugilistic Senator McCain could retaliate if Bergdahl is not punished by using the Senate's confirmation authority and his Chairmanship of the SASC to scuttle nominations or promotions, torpedo weapons systems, and shipwreck desired legislation. He could also call defense contractors like Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, or Northrup Grumman to end the notorious and lucrative revolving door between senior defense officials and the trillion dollar military-industrial complex. That is why when Senator McCain tells the Pentagon to jump, the typical ingratiating response is "how high?"

Judge Nance obtusely maintained that the military would be indifferent to Senator McCain's views or threats--despite his ability to cripple or destroy careers--because he exercises no command authority over military members. No less outlandish was the Military Judge's assertion that no reasonable member of the public would believe that the military would bow to Senator McCain's wishes because he cannot order soldiers into battle. He can only thwart their professional ambitions or block rich consulting agreements with defense contractors.

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Judge Nance's counter-factual diminishment of Senator McCain's influence over the Pentagon to avoid derailing the prosecution of Bergdahl and risking a Mt. Vesuvius-like eruption from the Chairman of the SASC proves exactly what Bergdahl contended in his motion: namely, that uniformed military judges are swayed by Senator McCain's statements or threats.
Mandatory military service in Korea is regarded universally as a wearisome and duty for men which sets them back by a few years in the race to find a job in this age of competition. But unit of the Korean military has decided that military service could be something so much more than that.

The 3rd Engineer Brigade of the Korean Army, stationed in Inje, Gangwondo, has started a new program to make military service more than endless chores and marches in the mud.

All soldiers are required to write a life plan for themselves and them must put down on their list exactly what they will do each day, and how it will contribute to their role in the battalion, and to their careers. Everything they do, no matter how tedious, is linked explicitly to their personal development and their futures.

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When soldiers make up their personal plan, it must include a final goal for society. They need to articulate a vision for better world. At the same time, the plan should include their own career, putting forth specific goals for what they hope to achieve in the future. The plans do not have to be ambitious, but they should be concrete (what I will do in one year, or ten years).

The planning is not perfunctory. Each private has a one-one session with his commanding officer to go over the life plan and then they must present once a quarter in front of all the other soldiers about their progress.

Private Kim Soo-Chan notes, "I never had someone tell me to think about my future before. This experience has forced me to think about what I am doing and why." Private Kim now has plans to go into retail sales for clothes.

Private Im Taemin says that his work here has given him a chance to grow confident about his work and to take pride in the achievements of his team. He has thrived in the swim club, becoming an agile swimmer although he had not known how to swim before he came.

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Soldiers get up each morning at 6:30 AM for morning call, eat breakfast and then meet up to start work their work at 8:20 AM. The routine is standard, but there are a few critical differences. When the soldiers do their calisthenics together, one soldier is selected who must identify a fellow soldier who has made a real accomplishment. This recognition of effort is linked to a program for giving compliment cards to people who try which can have real meaning in terms of time off or other benefits. The cards are awarded by commanders, but also by fellow soldiers. As it is battalion #125, every day, each soldier is expected to give two compliments and five words of appreciation.

Last year the country governor of Inje awarded 15 prizes to soldiers who painted very creative murals on the walls of some houses nearby. A soldier also won a prize for a UCC program that was presented at a local event. The time off could have been used for sports, but many soldiers want to engage with the local community as part of their mission. All these activities create a sense of achievement, of responsibility, and of pride for working together as a team. But there is more. There are walks outside when soldiers are encouraged to think more deeply about man's relationship with nature. Those discussions include environmental issues of concern. Some of the soldiers find these moments to be their first time ever having serious conversations about the world with their peers.

One enthusiastic proponent of this new policy is Lt. Col. Kang Kyung-il. Lt. Col. Kang explains, "I want soldiers to continue their experiments after their service, learn new skills that will mean they look on their military service as a real chance to learn, to create something new. Their own future."

Kang considers military service to be a tremendous opportunity for Korean youth that is often squandered. "Here is a moment when these young people come together with peers who they have not had any previous relationship and they are supposed to carry out a task for the common good--to break out of a world that encourages selfishness. In many of their lives, military service is the only time they have any sort of discipline or direction, the only time they are asked to work together as a team around the clock."

The organization forced by military service can be a perfect opportunity to give youth a sense of direction and to encourage them to take control of their lives. Kang explains, "Military service may seem like a burden, but it is a unique opportunity for men to work together with their fellow citizens as a unit for a common goal."

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The hierarchy is clear in the military, but the purpose of the work is always defined as being for the common good. The 3rd Engineer Brigade has a code of conduct: no blame, not complaining, and always an optimistic attitude. The highest priority is real grit, a positive attitude. Many soldiers take this slogan to heart."

This ideal is summed up in the motto of the battalion: "Cleanliness." The motto is not only about keeping the entire camp clean, it also means not slandering each other, or indulging in smoking or other bad habits.
Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman, has reportedly embraced a report from the management-consulting firm of McKinsey and Company, entitled Vision 2030, as his blueprint for weaning the Saudi economy from oil and laying the foundations for a thriving private sector. In conjunction with this much-publicized initiative, he has also decided to sell a 5-10 percent stake in the country's national oil company, its crown jewel--Aramco--through an initial public offering (IPO). A number of international investment banks will reportedly manage the IPO and Aramco's market capitalization is expected to be in the vicinity of two trillion dollars, a newly listed company with the largest market capitalization on the planet.

The pricing of shares in IPOs is determined by financial and industry experts on the basis of the company's economic and financial data and prevailing market conditions. In the case of a 'normal' oil company, this would be based on extensive geological findings of recoverable reserves, average and marginal production cost of a barrel of oil from these reserves, current and projected price of oil and ultimately on discounted annual earnings of the company after all applicable taxes. Would these requirements and projections be followed in the same format for an Aramco IPO? We believe not because the calculations would require extensive intrusion into what have been guarded secrets in Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia's acceptance of a number of highly sensitive covenants.

First, the details of Saudi Arabia's claims to Aramco's stated oil reserves would have to be independently verified on the basis of confidential geological surveys in the hands of the Saudi government and additional surveys as needed.

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Second, Saudi Arabia would have to disclose heretofore-secret data on oil production cost in all wells to allow independent estimation of the production cost of a barrel of oil from different fields in the kingdom.

Third, Saudi Arabia would have to reveal all operating financial figures on Aramco to facilitate earnings and financial projections.

Fourth, there would need to be detailed clarification of what are the ownership boundaries of oil fields for the newly listed Aramco. Does all oil in discovered and undiscovered fields belong to Aramco or is its ownership restricted to the boundaries of all discovered fields?

Fifth, as Aramco would be subject to all laws and taxes imposed by the government of Saudi Arabia, what concessions and covenants would be required to give investors the needed assurances that the government would not impose capricious taxes and requirements that could benefit the Saudi Treasury and penalize investors?

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Sixth, and related to the previous point, Saudi Arabia has traditionally run all its ministries and publicly owned companies with a preference of employing Saudi nationals at a higher salary than afforded in the private sector; and with a level of employment that includes a large degree of redundancy. Would Saudi Arabia provide a covenant that such financially wasteful practices would be terminated in Aramco when it was listed?

Seventh, as the majority stockholder in the new Aramco, what assurances would the government afford investors that it would not use oil as an economic or political instrument of its foreign policy that could adversely affect Aramco's earnings? In other words, would Saudi Arabia agree to covenants that affirmed that Aramco would be managed as a 'normal' profit-maximizing firm for the financial benefit of its stockholders and free from all political interference?

Eighth, the IPO will reportedly be for 5-10 percent of the shares in Aramco, with the result that the Saudi government would retain the overwhelming share of the traded company. But Saudi Arabia belongs to OPEC, a recognized cartel the world over with collusion as its modus operandi to establish higher prices than those that would prevail in a free market. Would Saudi Arabia's association with OPEC represent a barrier for the listing of the stock on major stock exchanges around the world, something that would enhance its liquidity and attraction and be essential for most foreign investors? If its OPEC membership poses a problem for listing and for a variety of legal considerations, would Saudi Arabia be willing to abandon its membership in OPEC?
The Republican Party is reeling and stunned as a result of the release of 2005 audio recordings of Donald Trump talking about women using vulgar language. Many leading Republicans have denounced Trump and withdrawn their endorsements. Some are calling for Trump to be removed from the ticket. With a month to go before the presidential election, the GOP is in chaos.

Vice Presidential nominee Mike Pence and his team are described as "absolutely apoplectic" and "inconsolable" because of Trump's obscene language. In his appearance at the Vice Presidential debate, Pence said, "If Donald Trump has said all of the things that you've said he said, in the way you said he said them, he still wouldn't have a fraction of the insults that Hillary Clinton leveled when she said half our supporters were a basket of deplorables." Pence may have won that battle, but he is about to lose the war because of his deplorable running mate. Pence should immediately quit the race in order to save his dignity and reputation.

Unless Trump withdraws, it will be difficult and complicated for the Republican Party to remove him from the ticket and replace him on the ballot. Some Republicans are holding out until they see how he performs in Sunday's second presidential debate. But even if Trump has a strong performance, how can any Republican member of Congress stand behind him? There are reports that more tapes of Trump using offensive language will be released soon. There already have been plenty of anecdotal reports of Trump's bad behavior towards women.

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Loyal Trump supporters are standing by their candidate. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani told reporters he wasn't surprised that some Republicans no longer support Trump. "You look at it, they were all Republicans who all opposed him and didn't support him in the past and this is basically the insiders against the outsiders anyway," he said outside Trump Tower Saturday night. But the thrice-married Giuliani may not be the best person to make Trump's case.

There are reports that Trump will bring up former President Bill Clinton's affairs in the debate, and he will again attack Hillary Clinton as an enabler. But the same could be said for any Republican who supports Trump.

Trump's crude language towards women is just the latest offense in a long list of embarrassing comments by the New York billionaire. He has called Mexicans rapists, he called for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S., he forced a sitting president to produce a birth certificate, he mocked a reporter with a disability, he said Senator John McCain was not a hero, he viciously insulted his primary opponents, and he has harshly attacked a many journalists. Yet, despite all of that he secured his party's nomination and most leading Republicans endorsed him. Now they are in a panic.

Trump is now toxic, and he made be headed for an historic landslide defeat November 8. His actions have put many down ballot races in jeopardy for Republicans, and they may lose control of the U.S. Senate. Simply denouncing Trump and redirecting campaign funds to House and Senate races may not be enough for Republicans to stop the tidal wave.

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Late Saturday, Donald Trump, living in his alternate reality, arrogantly tweeted, "The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly -- I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN!''

Many Republicans are already looking ahead to the 2018 midterm elections, when a large number of Democratic Senate seats will be in play, and the 2020 presidential contest. But humiliated Republicans will first have to rebuild their party and unite their members. That will be no easy task.
We are all sinners. "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone." The key to salvation is repentance and desire to no longer offend God and do good works. In this inflammable election year of Divine Mercy, Jesus reminds us in the Gospel of St. John when the Pharisees were stoning the adulteress that they better consider their own sins and reconciliation with God before condemning others to death. Redemption is a gift of grace from God for all humanity. It was bought for us by Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross. It's interesting to consider that God is a much more forgiving and compassionate Father than His stubborn children. It is human nature to see the flaws and vices of others, but Jesus teaches that when we focus on developing our own virtues we actually have a more profound effect on change than does condemnation for indescretions. We are taught to not turn a blind eye to bad behavior but it is right and just to forgive without condoning.

In the case of Donald Trump, there is a deliberate attempt to distract from the disturbing ongoing revelations of national security breaches of his opponent. Trump although a repentant sinner is being judged, condemned and sent to execution by those with an anti-change agenda led by the main stream media with help from the hypocritical political establishment and Hollywood Hillary supporters. These three influential forces, desiring status quo for self-interest have joined together to be the prosecutor, judge and executor to try to eliminate the fear of change that Trump-Pence represents. Trouble is that the status quo candidate Hillary Clinton is more flawed and dangerous to America's future. This is the growing view of nearly half of America's voters according to recent polls. CEO Trump and Governor Pence have the vision and joint leadership skills to make a positive difference for all Americans.

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One could liken this political firestorm to an analogy of the Cross. Calvary was in some ways like two sides of a debate leading to a winner, a loser and a big prize. At Calvary the criminal tied to a cross on one side of Jesus taunted Him by arrogantly proclaiming that if He was so powerful why doesn't He just let the unrepentant thief go free and get the reward. But it was the repentant sinner on the other side of Jesus who admitted his guilt and accepted responsibility that received salvation and reward. "This day you shall be with me in Paradise" is promised by Jesus to all who have a contrite heart and desire for change to be better. Trump humbly apologized to all American people, admitting he has been changed by the many good Americans he has come to know and he promised to do better. You can't ask for more than that.

When considering the choice voters have for the future of America and welfare of their families, the decision comes down to choosing between two very different leadership teams, Trump-Pence or Clinton-Kaine. One team with a sincere change attitude, the other with a status-quo, "deny, deny, deny" mentality. Who do you believe has the right intention, the energy and the willingness to fight the political DC establishment, global elite and terrorism enemies? Who will make the necessary changes for economic development, job growth and better security for a safer nation? Who will serve and defend the American people? Consciences will need to weigh which is more harmful, the candidate with past reality show foul mouth incidents versus the lying tongue from one mother to another whose beloved son and other innocent Americans would have been saved in Benghazi had she truly cared about those she was given the leadership role and duty to protect by the American people. She had her chance. She failed. That's a fact. That's the reality vote factor.

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To paraphrase the spirit of Irving Berlin's patriotic prayer hymn-

God bless America, land that we love. Stand beside us and guide us,

through the night with the light from above.
Senator John Mc Cain has always reminded Americans to serve a cause bigger than any one person, for America's future. That is exactly why the "we want change, not Hillary, movement" is energized and cannot be derailed by attacks on Donald Trump deliberately timed and orchestrated by mainstream media supporting Hillary Clinton. American Business Women Leaders believe Trump-Pence is the only team that will turn-around America. Professional women from diverse industries and backgrounds across USA hold firmly that the Trump-Pence Leadership Team is the only hope for survival, growth and security.

Like them, CEO Trump understands what it means to meet a payroll every two weeks with his own money not taxpayers' money. Businesses cannot print more money like the government. They have to be profitable to stay in business and employ workers. Businesses cannot keep piling more debt upon debt and survive. Anti-growth (except of government) policies proposed by Clinton-Kaine would drive more companies out of America or out of business. Reality is that American Business Women Leaders clearly trust and support CEO Trump over Hillary no matter what the Clinton media machine (with help from Hollywood) does to try to tear him down and distract from her damaging national security breaches. Like most people, both presidential candidates are humanly flawed but the steam-rolling movement for change is far greater than Trump or Hillary. It's for the national security, economic growth and constitutional soul of America. That's what drives the Trump Train; and business women are the loyal engineers. The roaring train for change has taken on a life of its own, including many Bernie Sanders millennials and independent professional women jumping on board. That's a fact.

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Status Quo and Obamacare Must Go, Not Jobs

The effects of Obamacare and growing onerous regulations are devastating to the growth of small and medium size American companies. And the struggle for survival of family businesses has just begun. Clinton-Kaine calling for 65% death tax will kill the future of family farms and businesses, resulting in more loss of jobs and reduced workers' compensation to pay for forced anti-business, anti-worker policies. Some good companies have been forced to go already. Either move jobs to other countries or close. Disappointingly, Obamacare has brought the level of American healthcare to an all-time low. That's a fact.



What Happened to Caring About People?

Lack of visionary leadership and need for "in touch with the people" compassion is why the Trump-Pence change train is catching speed like a "hot shot." An independent, successful California Business Woman who is a highly skilled Emergency Room RN and a Democrat-leaning voter informs why she is voting for Trump-Pence. For decades Barbara has owned and operated urgent care clinics with her doctor husband while also working at ER in a major hospital. Since her mother died of cancer when she was a teenager, Barbara has dedicated her life to caring for sick people. She loves the patients, which is why she stays in what she says has become literally a dying field. She advises that patients as well as the healthcare facilities caring for them are losing life before their time. Because no one in the government listens to the healthcare professionals before implementing ill-conceived and costly policies that actually lead to less caring and more expensive treatment. Barbara informs that for the first time since establishing the community clinics this year due to Obamacare, her family business will take a big financial hit. Her greatest frustration is that disabled patients, especially the mentally handicapped, are treated the most appalling by Obamacare policies in place. Although not Republican she supports Trump-Pence because the Democratic way has failed patients, doctors and businesses. That's a fact.

"House of Cards" or Rock Solid Foundation Based On U.S. Constitution

Status Quo desperately needs to be changed. For the first time now American middle class families are faced with scary options to either pay a concierge doctor an unaffordable $5,000 a year or see their children not be treated for serious illnesses. That's not a caring form of government. Obamacare actually encourages healthcare providers to mandate hardened heart policies. That's a fact. The Democratic Party pretends to care about the poor and downtrodden, but in reality it has sadly become the party of the global corporate elite who want to keep government big because their real agenda is to take care of the few and control the many, eroding our constitution. That's a fact. Hollywood does play a role politically, including in global relations. Interestingly, China requires PRC government officials to watch "House of Cards" to better understand how Washington works. We show them that "power and greed" is the American Way to copy. Another good reason why status quo must go, and why American Business Women Leaders support change with Trump-Pence. Fellow Americans let us recall, "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. (Matthew 7:25)." CEO-President Trump and VP-COO Pence will respect our Constitution of the people, by the people and for the people, America's rock solid foundation to protect for us all. That's a fact.
FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2016 file photo, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump shake hands during the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. For presidential candidates, the town hall debate is a test of stagecraft as much as substance. When Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump meet in the Sunday, Oct.9, 2016, contest, theyall be fielding questions from undecided voters seated nearby. In an added dose of unpredictability, the format allows the candidates to move around the stage, putting them in unusually close proximity to each other. (Joe Raedle/Pool via AP, File)

Tonight, Washington University in St. Louis (Wash. U. to those of us who work and study here) will host the second debate of the 2016 Presidential election.

In the run-up to the debate, everyone is asking the same question: will this debate generate the same sparks that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton produced at the first debate at Hofstra on September 26? And of course everybody is wondering how both candidates will discuss Trump's comments about women in the recently released recording from 2005. The other, less obvious question is whether the town-hall format of the second debate will make for a different outcome than the podium-style first debate. The 2005 Trump recording may be dominating the news cycle, but the debate format will determine how the candidates will address this latest controversy, as well as every other subject at the debate.

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What's Different About the Second Debate?

This will be the second town-hall debate hosted by Wash. U. (the other was the Bush-Kerry town hall debate in 2004), and fifth debate overall hosted by our school. When the Commission on Presidential Debates rolled out the town hall in 1992, this new format was supposed to improve the debate process in several ways. It also rested on certain assumptions about Presidents, the election process, and the American people.

The town-hall format was -- and still is -- supposed to democratize the Presidential-debate system. Average citizens -- undecided voters selected beforehand --pose questions directly to the candidates. In the process, the debate implicitly assumes that average citizens have different interests and different concerns from the journalists who had always posed the questions to candidates in previous debates and continue to do so in podium-style debates. Journalists serve as moderators of the town-hall debate (in this case, Anderson Cooper and Martha Raddatz). But town-hall moderators tend to operate more as traffic cops than interrogators, introducing the people asking the questions and encouraging candidates to answer those questions.

The town-hall format is supposed to reveal the candidates in a way that is more honest, more direct, and somehow more intimate. Sitting casually (but never comfortably) on glorified bar stools, walking around the stage and each other, taking questions from average Americans with a respectful give-and-take, the candidates have tried to dispense with much of the formality of the podium-style debate.

What That Difference Could Mean

The town-hall format requires very different skills from the podium-style debate and can produce very different results. That was the case from its very beginning. At the first town hall in 1992, Bill Clinton talked circles around George H.W. Bush and Ross Perot, in sharp contrast to the podium-style debates where Clinton and Bush were more evenly matched. Over time, however, the town hall has become much the same as the other debate formats. This change was fully in place by 2008, when Barack Obama and John McCain listened politely, thanked the undecided voters for their commitment to the process, and then proceeded to ignore their questions by pivoting to a set of prepared talking points.

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If ever there were two candidates who didn't appear to be cut out for the town hall, those candidates are Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Trump performs best in large crowds rather than intimate conversations. Meanwhile, the unpredictable quality of town-hall questions only increases the likelihood that Trump will go wherever his mind takes him. That move clearly hurt him in the first debate. But Hillary Clinton should be worried, as well. The most effective town-hall debaters are those who can immediately establish a connection with the person asking a question. Clinton has struggled to build those bonds.

One thing we've learned time and again in this election is that it's impossible to make accurate predictions about the behaviors of these two candidates. But one thing is clear: the degree of difficulty for these specific candidates is certainly higher in the town-hall debate, since the structure does not play to their strengths. And there's more at stake than this one election. The town-hall style has yet to deliver on its promise.

So be prepared for two candidates who must force themselves to appear at ease in their least comfortable political setting.

In addition, be prepared for a test of the town-hall format. Throughout this election, critics have charged that both candidates have failed to make themselves accessible to close scrutiny from journalists. The question is whether average Americans can achieve what journalists have not.
Islamic State has held Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, for more than two years. The IS forces now face an imminent assault by the Iraqi military, bolstered by American advisors. Presumably the government troops will, after much death and destruction, retake the city. The news media are already predicting this as the inevitable outcome, followed - also inevitably - by sectarian political struggle about the future of the city and its oil-rich neighborhood.Assuming Mosul is taken, what kind of victory will it be? It is dangerously unwise to assume that if IS loses Mosul it will be "defeated" in the sense of being unable to continue to wreak havoc. IS fighters number in the many thousands. They have been trained in battlefield skills such as bomb-making and small-unit combat, but also in their ranks are those skilled at mounting terrorist attacks and communicating the angry recruiting gospel that has proved so successful during the past few years.By the time IS loses Mosul, it will have dispatched hard-core fighters in sufficient numbers to inflict great damage in the cities of Europe and elsewhere. This is the new terrorist diaspora. It comprises not the so-called "lone wolves" inspired by IS but not trained by them, and who often lack the skills to carry out their plots. (An example was the recent New York bomber who, fortunately, was so inept that his homemade devices did little harm.) Rather, this invasive species knows what it is doing: how to remain invisible within the local population while preparing tactics and tools for attacks, and then launching devastating assaults such as those in Paris in November 2015.Also, far-flung IS affiliates in Arab countries and Africa are likely to benefit from the expertise of other Iraq-Syria veterans who will be sent to train and otherwise strengthen these outposts of the IS network. At the same time, Al Qaeda will continue to build its strength as an Islamic State rival but with similarly destructive goals.It is important to recognize the extent of terrorism's evolution: the airplane hijackings of the 1980s were followed by the Al Qaeda bombings in the late 1990s and the 9/11attacks, and then the rise of Islamic State (spawned by Al Qaeda in Iraq). Islamic State took a significant step forward in terms of scope and sophistication of operations by seizing and governing large amounts of territory. Until the United States and other major powers decided to fight back, Islamic State was running a profitable enterprise, making money from oil production, banking, selling looted antiquities, and more. It established schools, hospitals, and other institutions essential in making its "caliphate" a going concern. It is a system built on evil, but it has enabled terrorists to achieve an unprecedented sustained geopolitical presence.So, what to do? In Iraq and Syria as many IS fighters as possible must be killed or captured, while sparing as many civilians as possible. Simultaneously, work must continue in breaking up the IS financial system and undermining its communications efforts. Progress in these matters has been made, and it must be sustained while efforts to deal with the terrorist diaspora accelerate. This latter task is primarily a police function, but most police forces have neither the training nor the resources to do the job properly. Although many governments' finances are being squeezed because of the flow of refugees, counterterrorism spending can be made smarter, with less emphasis on hardware and more on intelligence-gathering. Cutting off terrorist recruiting also requires continuous, innovative measures that redirect disaffected young people toward alternatives to violence.This adds up to a dispiriting picture that is hard to grasp partly because much news coverage of the impending battle for Mosul is simplistically optimistic. This is a bad time for shortsighted journalism and shortsighted policy. Even while the battle for Mosul proceeds, the terrorist diaspora should be confronted before it gains an even stronger foothold.
The consensus of the UN Security Council members to nominate the veteran Portuguese diplomat Antonio Guterres to succeed Ban Ki-Moon as UN secretary general comes amid sharp tensions between the US and Europe, and Russia over the Syrian issue, and amid dented confidence in the credibility of the UN because of its failure to put an end to the ongoing massacre in Syria and failure to uphold the principle of accountability for war crimes. His expected confirmation in that post would put in the post a man well versed with the issue of refugees, having served in related functions over the past decade as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (2005-2015). But this time he will have different tools and powers at his disposal. Guterres is no ordinary bureaucrat, and he is the first secretary general who would have previously served as prime minister. Guterres began his career at 25 in 1974, when he joined the Portuguese Socialist Party, rising up the ranks shortly after the end of Salazar's dictatorship. He was elected MP for Lisbon in 1976. In 1988, he became leader of the Socialist Bloc in parliament, and in 1992, he became leader of his party, paving the way for the post of prime minister he assumed in 1995. In 2000, he was appointed as president of the European Council, highlighting his international ambitions leading up to the top job at the UN today. His experience, his skillful campaign, and his daring scramble for a post that was supposed to have been earmarked for a woman or an Eastern European candidate put him ahead, helping him dodge criticism that he had "hijacked" the post. The man who will now lead the UN is thus not an unknown entity, but may well be viewed as the necessary choice at this juncture. So how might Guterres act amid the Western-Russian duel, the collapse of US-Russian partnership, and the increasing international anger over the deafening silence vis-a-vis the war crimes and child killing in Aleppo and other Syrian cities? Nothing today indicates Western-Russian relations will soon be mended with regard to Syria, especially as the Russian government appears intent on pressing the battle of Aleppo to its conclusion, no matter how much time it takes and no matter the cost. The Russian envoy to the UN Vitaly Churkin was clear. Russia will not apologize for the bombardment and the human tragedy it is causing, as it restricts the issue to fighting the (ex-) Nusra Front even if that meant levelling Aleppo. Since Russia has inserted itself into a battle that will be fateful for it and not just Syria, and in light of preparations for a Turkish-Gulf Plan B with a European umbrella and US blessing, the coming phase in international relations will be very complicated and full of flagrant brutality on the part of Russia and its allies in Syria, all at a prohibitive human cost. It will not be easy for Antonio Guterres to face the media, public opinion, and member states with a weak policy or by evading the challenges coming from Syria. He will have to formulate strong stances to navigate the turbulent seas of current international policies. Neither will he be able to attack Russia for its violations in Syria early in his tenure, nor is he ready to pretend as if nothing is happening there. Therefore, Guterres is likely to focus on the refugee angle of the Syrian crisis, rather than the war crimes perpetrated by the regime, Russia, Iran, allied militias, and terrorist groups like ISIS and the ex-Nusra Front. Guterres will focus on the delivery of humanitarian aid, which will require a cessation of hostilities. He will seek a new start that could take the form of appointing a replacement of current UN envoy to Syria Staffan De Mistura, or keep him on condition of changing his current approach based on reforming US-Russian relations. Something that could help Guterres as he prepares to assume his duties in January is that he is coming in at a time dominated by multilateral, multidirectional efforts rather than the kind of skirting the issues that prevailed in the UN corridors pending a US-Russian deal. Indeed, the UN Security Council had shamefully abandoned its duties in Syria under the pretext of the looming Russian veto, choosing not to act as Syria descended further into the abyss. In reality, the UN Security Council member states had mandated the US and Russia to act on their behalf, abandoning their moral and legal duties. Now, after Kerry lost his patience and the US military establishment decided it has had enough, the UN General Secretariat is showing more boldness, as Britain and France began to propose draft resolutions and put forward new ideas on Syria. Ban Ki-moon recently announced that he will appoint a fact-finding mission to investigate the bombing of the humanitarian convoy in the countryside of Aleppo. The joint investigation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons will present its fourth and final report and it is thought the US is preparing a draft resolution regarding the next step in light of the findings. France has prepared a move at the Security Council on the issue of chemical weapons, focusing not on the contentious Syrian angle but on the basis of non-proliferation of WMDs. France has also prepared a UN Security Council resolution addressing a truce in Aleppo, and a mechanism for monitoring and aid delivery. All these moves are opposed by Russia. Britain is talking of a new phase of diplomacy with Russia following the failure of the old policy, which for years tasked Russia to pressure the regime in Damascus and sought to change how Russia behaved. London is not talking about military confrontation with Russia in Syria, however, rather about a margin existing between full military intervention and non-intervention. In other words, Britain is talking about securing a European umbrella for Turkish-Gulf measures to establish a no-fly and safe zone. This is the plan B a Gulf minister detailed to Al-Hayat published in this column last week. Why all this sudden flurry of activity? The answer of course lies with the failed US-Russian partnership in Syria, but also with the growing magnitude of the carnage in Syria. However, there are other dynamics such as the desire to spur the Obama administration before it departs, to avoid turning the transition in the US post-elections into an opportunity for Russia to act as it pleases with impunity over the next six months.Russia is betting on the time factor. Vladimir Putin may be even betting on a Trump victory in the US, as the Republican candidate is likely to accommodate him in Syria and elsewhere. Syria would otherwise pay a high price in the dead time in the US, requiring the UN to push for necessary actions. This is perhaps why Britain is seeking to preempt demands to do more as a permanent member of the Security Council, instead of hiding behind the collapse of US-Russian partnership on Syria. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid bin Raad warned Russia this week of the consequences of its excesses in Syria. He said the situation in Aleppo requires new and bold initiatives, "including proposals to put an end to the use of the veto by a permanent member in the Security Council". This, in his opinion, will enable United Nations to refer the situation in Syria to the international Criminal Court. Such a referral would be more than justified given the rampant and deeply shocking impunity that has characterized the conflict and the magnitude of the crimes that have been committed, some of which may indeed amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity," he said. Ban Ki-moon had hoped for his legacy to be an end to impunity, but he failed. He had said once that ultimately, there was no escape from trying Bashar al-Assad and punishing him for his actions in Syria. Perhaps he is right. But today, Ban Ki-moon leaves his post without any punishment being on the horizon, rather the contrary: impunity.This legacy that wasn't lies in wait for the new UN Chief, Antonio Guterres. Initially, Guterres will have to implement what was negotiated with Russia, China, the US, Britain, and France before he was nominated, in terms of top appointments such as UN undersecretary general for political affairs currently held by Jeffery Feltman. Russia has asked for the post to be taken away from the US and return it to Britain, as was once the norm. Very soon, Syria will chase up the new secretary general, who will have to start working on his legacy for when he leaves his post. Kofi Annan was once said to be adept at navigating obstacles because he was a technocrat. Ban Ki-moon was said to be a bureaucrat par excellence. Antonio Guterres served in one post after another with a lot of acumen, determination, and flexibility. For this reason, the socialist former prime minister was suddenly the preferred nominee, leaving behind women candidates and others. Perhaps the US-Russian accord over the man was compensation for the ongoing confrontations between them. Perhaps it is a sign of accord to avoid further confrontation and walk towards repairing ties, so long as a radical reformation of policies on Syria remains impossible. Translated by Karim Traboulsi http://www.alhayat.com/Opinion/Raghida-Dergham/17766690/%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%85%D9%87%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%BA%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A9
Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speak simultaneously during their first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, U.S., September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

Supporters of Hillary Clinton can thank their lucky stars that Julian Assange leaked excerpts from her Wall Street speeches the same day that another leaked recording showed Donald Trump descending to new lows in his loutish bragging of his sexual exploits.

Happily, the Trump revelations knocked the Clinton speeches out of the headlines, and produced reverberations in the form of other Republicans withdrawing their support as well as demands for him to quit the campaign -- demands that will keep cascading and dominating the news cycle for days.

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By contrast, Clinton's closed-door comments, ingratiating herself with Wall Street donors, are not all that surprising. They demonstrate what is well known -- she is basically a centrist Democrat, with a pro-business view of trade, inclined to cut bankers a lot of slack in assigning blame for the 2008 financial collapse, and still stuck in the budget-balance folly.

As recently as the first presidential debate, Clinton repeated the canard that tax cuts (rather than deregulation) were the primary cause of the 2008 meltdown, and embraced budget balance as a measure of virtue. She has moved into a more critical stance on trade, mainly because of shifting public opinion, pressures from the Sanders campaign, and to counter Trump's pseudo-populism.

Probably the most damning single line in the transcripts -- if in fact they are authentic -- was her comment that it's necessary to have both "a public and a private position" on contentious issues.

How damaging will these leaks be? They would have been a lot more damaging had they surfaced during the closely fought Democratic primaries against Bernie Sanders. They will surely put the more progressive wing of the Democratic constituency even more on guard against Clinton backsliding, as they should be anyway.

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On the whole, it's salutary to have this stuff out. Now that it's out there, it's pretty tame compared to the latest Trump bombshells, which will put Trump on the defensive for another week, after his terrible previous week trying to explain away his tax dodging. (Assange does claim that he has even more damaging stuff to release, but he is not exactly the most reliable guy in the world.)

On balance, it's constructive for progressives to have some concrete ammunition to keep the pressure on Clinton.

Wall Street really has no place else to go. Bankers and investors are appalled by Trump. The real-time movements of stock futures during the first presidential debate suggest that financial markets consider the prospect of a Trump presidency a disaster in the making.

Whenever Trump seemed to score points off Clinton, stock futures fell. When Clinton did well, they rose.

Financial markets like predictability and competence. A Trump presidency would be anything but predictable and far from competent. His reckless policies could set off a global depression, at a time when the global economy is far from robust.

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As for Clinton, the challenge is to push her not to pursue more of the same -- a recovery that still doesn't fully reach Main Street and a financial industry even more concentrated than it was before the 2008 crash.

As president, Clinton would have the leverage to complete some of the unfinished financial reforms of the Dodd-Frank Act through tougher enforcement, to move trade policy in a very different direction, and to break with the budget balance orthodoxy -- if only she would use it. Some of this would require congressional assent, but executive power is extensive in the area of financial regulation, enforcement, and trade.

Democratic progressives have been keeping a close eye on key economic policy positions to be filled by Clinton, and pressing for commitments from her to reject the usual suspects who either come from Wall Street or support light regulation and fiscal conservatism.

These posts include not only the highly visible ones of treasury secretary and head of the National Economic Council, but second-tier power positions such as head of the Office of Management and Budget, director of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), and chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Under Obama, these jobs went to regulatory and fiscal conservatives and to allies of Wall Street. Under Clinton, they had better go to far more progressive appointees, or Clinton will stay stuck on the pro-Wall Street track that defined the last two Democratic administrations.

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Compared to the risks of a Trump presidency, of course, making sure that Clinton appoints progressives to the key economic posts is a nice problem to have. But it is something to watch carefully.
This week in KCRW's "Scheer Intelligence," Truthdig Editor in Chief Robert Scheer spoke with Misty K. Snow, the first major-party transgender nominee to run for the U.S. Senate.

A millennial from Utah who works full time in a supermarket, the Democrat told Scheer that her experience living paycheck to paycheck was among her inspirations to run. She said she is highlighting issues of poverty and class in her campaign.

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Snow also talked about potentially being one of the few working-class senators and explained why Hillary Clinton will have an uphill battle in the 2020 election if she wins the presidency this year.

Adapted from Truthdig.com

Read the transcript below:

Robert Scheer: Hi. This is Robert Scheer, "Scheer Intelligence," for KCRW, where the intelligence comes from my guests, in this case, Misty K Snow. 30, 31 year old? What are you, Misty?

Misty K. Snow: 31. I turned 31 on July 19th.

Scheer: Who is the first transgender candidate of a major party for the U.S. Senate. In this case, it's the Senate seat in Utah, occupied by a pretty conservative senator, Mike Lee. I guess, Misty, you'll tell us just how conservative he is, and I met Misty at the Democratic convention. You don't mind if we're on a first-name basis, until you become senator, do you?

Snow: That's fine.

Scheer: My son Josh, who is the producer of this show, was interviewing you, and I must say, what you were saying was much more interesting than what was being said up on the platform, and it struck me that the question I really wanted to put to you ... We could talk about being the first transgender candidate, but I'd really like to begin by asking you, as somebody who has said that you got turned on to politics, or at least running for office, pretty much by Bernie Sanders, and then you looked at the conservative Democrat who was about to be nominated to be the Democratic nominee against the incumbent in Utah, and you said, "Why do we have to settle for that?" You again, I think inspired by Bernie, decided to run, and the Democratic convention actually was not going to endorse you, but you had enough support that you could force a primary, and in that primary, you walloped the person who had been the anointed Democratic candidate. Is that a fair assessment?

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Snow: Yeah, kind of. It's kind of [morbid]. I knew that, because Bernie Sanders did well in New Hampshire, that he'd probably do well in Utah, given our demographics, and I knew that a lot of the delegates from the state convention, they'd be elected out of those same caucuses, so I knew that the delegation at the state convention would potentially be very progressive, so someone running to challenge this guy from the left could possibly do really well, and I thought about that when I decided to run. I actually ran because I wanted this guy to be challenged, and I was really disappointed that no one was stepping up to do it, because I thought he was terribly wrong on important issues. A Democrat who wants to write an op-ed coming out against Planned Parenthood is, I think, not just unacceptable, but offensive, and he was wrong on LGBT rights, and military, and I just thought he was wrong on almost all the issues I care about, and he wasn't being challenged, and I didn't know anything, really, about running for office, didn't have any support of the Utah Democratic party, didn't really know anyone, didn't have any money, but I had this gut feeling, "I need to do this, because if I don't do this, and no one else will, and the important issues that I care about will not be given a voice."

Scheer: Yeah, and you beat him by quite a bit in the primary in the Democratic party, and it's interesting, because you've said you don't want your campaign, your candidacy, to be seen primarily as the transgender issue, although it's important, but you're running, really, as someone who is a working person who comes from a poor background. You work in a supermarket as a cashier, and your identity, really, was with Bernie Sanders on these issues of economic exploitation and what's wrong with the economy and the lousy jobs. Is that accurate?

Snow: Yeah, a lot of that's accurate. I didn't win the primary because I'm trans. That wasn't even really an issue in the primary. I won because I attacked him on ... Honestly, Planned Parenthood was really, I think, the defining issue of the campaign. We forced him into the primary on that issue, and every interview he had challenged him on his pro-life stance. It came up in every interview he had from then, because he wrote that op-ed where he called for an investigation [into] Planned Parenthood, and if you're running for a Democratic nomination, that's [a] pretty controversial position to have.

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Scheer: We're talking about a fellow named Jonathon Swinton who defined himself as a conservative Democrat, and that in fact was actually taking positions that really seem out of swing with the Democratic party, but in Utah, where no Democrat running for the Senate has gotten more than 33 percent of the vote since '92, he thought he fit right in, right? Was that the strategy?

Snow: Yeah. He described himself as conservative, described himself as pro-life. Some of the news articles talked about how he used to be a registered Republican, so he's what we call ... We call them "Republican lights." I made the arguments that Scott Hall ... He ran for U.S. Senate in 2012, against Orrin Hatch. He got about 30.8 percent of the vote. Sam Granado, he ran against Mike Lee in 2010. He got 32.8 percent of the vote. They both ran as moderate Democrats, and [being 00:19:28] a moderate Democrat doesn't seem to be a winning strategy, because if it's a winning strategy, you wouldn't lose by 30 or 40 points, so why don't we ...

Scheer: If I can interrupt you, the polls are showing that you pull well among millennials like yourself, who really don't go very much for that sort of traditional, safe, moderate label. Is that what you're finding as you go out campaigning?

Snow: Yeah. There's definitely a lot of excitement [among 00:19:58] millennials, and I try to make the case that if I was elected, I'd be the first millennial in the U.S. Senate. I'm 31 years old. I'd be a voice for our generation, and that excites people my age. They're like, "Yes. We need representation in congress." If I could generate genuine excitement and make them want to come out, I think we'll do a lot better, because no one wants to come out for a Democrat who is almost indistinguishable from their opponent. Pick your poison. Why bother to show up when there's not a real choice?

By offering a real choice, I feel like I'm generating real excitement that makes people actually want to turn out and vote, and I think that matters, and whether or not I'm [also going to be] able to win, it should help some of our down-ballot Democrats. In 2014, we lost a house legislative seat by 47 votes, another one by 53 votes, another by 195 votes. Having a few more Democrats turn out, we could have had a few more Democrats at state legislature. We lost a house of representatives seat by 7,511 votes, while more than 15,000 registered Democrats in that district didn't even show up to vote, so I think it's very important that we have candidates that are actually exciting among our own base. Quite frankly, there's not a path to victory for a Democrat who can't turn out their own base.

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Scheer: Yeah, and think the interesting thing is that Bernie Sanders did carry Utah in the Democratic primary, defeating Hillary Clinton, and I want to get to some of these bread and butter issues, because you're living the life of people who are having a hard time. You couldn't do this interview until late in the day, because I gather you work, still, right?

... You couldn't afford to go to college, and it wasn't going to work for you, but the fact is that we've got plenty of people. We're doing this broadcast from the University of Southern California, and there are plenty of graduates from very fine schools like ours who still struggle to find jobs after they graduate. I know that may be not something that we want to advertise, but that's true right across the country. I had a guy tow my car the other day up by Santa Barbara who graduated with a degree in geology, and was towing cars for the last four years, so I think the heart of your campaign is really the same as Sanders campaign, which is, the economy is not providing an opportunity for most of the people of your generation.



Snow: Exactly. We want an economy that works for everyone, instead of an economy that only works for the one percent. That's a big reason why I decided to run, because there's a lot of important issues that establishment Democrats don't want to raise, so I decided to run for office because ... I ran against an establishment Democrat, and I think that's why I was able to get the endorsement by Our Revolution, which is that organization founded by Bernie Sanders [to support] progressive candidates and policies. I'm one of just three U.S. Senate candidates running to have that endorsement, along with Russ Feingold and Deborah Ross, so I think that's an important endorsement. That, I think, shows that I do care about these issues.

Scheer: I think the issue that you're really raising is, how is it like to live from paycheck to paycheck? That's really what I got out of some of the speeches I've read that you've given, and your comments and so forth. There's a reality out there now, which is that it's pretty hard to get by, even when you want to work hard, when you have the right attitude, and it's very interesting that, in your case, even though the thing that magazines and others pick up on is that you're the first trans candidate to run, you're actually making these economic issues the heart of your campaign, aren't you?

Snow: Yes. That's exactly it. Congress, they're disproportionately made of millionaires, lawyers, hedge fund managers, business owners. We have a government by and for the millionaires. That is so out of touch with the needs of average working people. If we want a government that actually represents working class people, I think we need to elect more working class people to government. Before I ran for US senate, I'm working at a grocery store. I'm making less than 30,000 a year. Mike Leib, in 2010, before he ran for US senate, he was a lawyer in the district of Columbia making about 500,000 dollars a year, and his father was a politician, and so he's out of touch. He doesn't understand what it's like to be poor, what it's like to live paycheck to paycheck. He's voted against minimum wage increases, even though 7.25 is not a living wage. It's not a living wage in Utah. It's not a living wage in the district of Columbia or anywhere else in this country, yet he will talk about how he wants working people to have more money in their pockets. If you really believe that, than why are you voting against raising the minimum wage?

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Scheer: This is Robert Scheer. I'm talking with Misty K Snow, a 31-year-old transgendered person, a woman, who is running for the Senate, the first transgendered person to run for the Senate in a major party. She's the Democratic party nominee, selected in a primary that also selected Bernie Sanders in Utah, and represents a progressive view from a millennial perspective, which I think could catch fire here. In fact, if you just get more than 32 percent of the vote, you'll be doing better than any Democrat, whatever they call themselves, and whatever age, and whatever gender, has done for what? 30 years, right?

Snow: The best has been 33.0 percent since 1992. If I can pass that threshold, it would be better than any Democratic U.S. Senate candidate since '92, and the person who ran in '92 was actually a sitting congressman, so that'd be a huge victory, and it'd also show that Utah Democrats ... that running as a progressive candidate was actually more successful than running as a moderate candidate, and that if we're going to run for U.S. Senate, we should run on issues that Democrats care about. We should stand up for the working class. We should stand up for women's rights. We should stand up for the LGBT community, stand up for college students who can't afford to go to college, and actually run as Democrats who fight for the core issues of the Democratic party, instead of running as moderates who want to make themselves almost indistinguishable from Republicans.

Scheer: ... I guess I am putting you on the spot, but you're at the Democratic convention, and I was there. I guess it was the night before Hillary got the nomination, but we knew it was going to happen, and you were sitting a few seats away from me at the convention, and you were for Bernie Sanders. Many people in that hall were for Bernie, and he certainly was going to raise the issues of how do you live on $30,000 a year in this country? How do you live on even twice that in this country? Certainly many communities, schoolteachers in many communities can't afford the rent where they're supposed to be teaching the children, and you're at the convention, and Hillary Clinton gets the nomination, and I know you're carrying the banner of this party, but you must have been disappointed, because she certainly has not shown all that much commitment to people making those kind of wages.

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Snow: Obviously, I always supported Bernie Sanders, always wanted him to win, always knew it'd be an uphill battle for him to win, because Hillary Clinton had the backing of the establishment, and right after the California primary, I think I spent a month and a half just hoping, maybe she'll nominate Bernie Sanders the vice presidential candidate, because that would be, certainly, something, or at least maybe a more progressive candidate. Heck, even Martin O'Malley, but instead, we get Tim Kaine, so it was really disappointing, but on the other hand, I don't dislike Hillary Clinton. I wish she was better on a lot of issues, but on the other hand, I think Bernie Sanders, challenging her as hard as he did, helped make her take stronger stances on a number of issues, but also helped define the platform in a much more progressive way, so I think it was very important. I think he had a lot of important victories. Whether or not I think Hillary Clinton's the best candidate, I do think it is a good moment that we have a woman as a major party nominee. I remember at the night of her accepting the nomination, I actually teared up a bit, because I thought it was a beautiful moment, so it's not that I'm anti-Clinton, but I would love to see her take stronger stances on a number of issues.

Scheer: Yeah, and fortunate for someone like yourself who's running as the official Democratic party candidate, you can point to a greater-evil Republican candidate and so that sort of makes it easier, but let me ask you about being a progressive in Utah. You grew up as a Mormon. How long did that last?

Snow: I was raised LDS. I stopped going to church in my teenage years. I never officially, officially left the church, but I haven't been to one of their services in over 15 years. Probably a bit longer than that. My mom still goes to church sometimes. A lot of my best friends, they go to church. They're LDS. They're super-active. How I was raised, it kind of gives me a good understanding of the culture of the LDS faith, and the people who believe in that religion. I understand where they're coming from, and kind of understand how that shapes the culture, and I think it probably has helped inform a lot of my own values as well.

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Scheer: Yeah, and it's easy to demonize any group as different or so forth, but there's a lot of good things that have come out of that religion, and that was a minority religion that had to fight against intolerance, and I'm just wondering now that that there's been ... the one issue that ... Race, and certainly homosexuality have been two issues that the church has been so poor on, but how is it reacting to change now, and how are folks reacting to your candidacy?

Snow: I haven't had any real negativity about it. I was a lot more afraid when I first started running. I was afraid they'd be [a lot] to me, but most people seem super supportive. A lot of people seem to like that I'm a working class person running for office, and honestly, very little focus is given in the local press about me being trans. Far more focus is on the fact that I work in a grocery store. That's really where a lot of the focus is, or the fact that I'm a millennial. There was one report on the local media that talked all about me being a millennial, so those seem to be the issues that really get focused on. Some of the others, there's been a couple women's publications [and] national media talked about how the fact the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Utah, because Utah's never sent a woman to the U.S. Senate, so I've been interviewed by publications like Lenny Letter and Broadly and Glamour, that are more of women's publications, that focus more on me being a woman in the U.S. Senate.

Scheer: I think it's fascinating that you bring up the really critical point. What would someone who's making a half million dollars a year like your opponent, senator Mike Lee, the incumbent senator, know about living on the minimum wage as it's now, or even as it's supposed to be raised to what Bernie Sanders [would call], 15 dollars an hour, and who had a wealthy father? I know from what I've been able to research about Mike Lee, he's pretty good on some issues, like the surveillance state, and that sort of thing, but he's a Libertarian, basically, who I've ... I read a quote from you. You said he really doesn't want government to do much for anybody. Is that basically a fair assessment?

Snow: That's kind of it, but saying he's a Libertarian is kind of ... The chairman of the Utah Libertarian party has told me, "No, I don't think any Libertarians should be voting for Mike Lee," because the Libertarian party of Utah actually doesn't like Mike Lee, so he's really more of a solid conservative, because he's anti-LGBT, and Libertarians are certainly pro-LGBT. Mike Lee hasn't made any indication he'd be against de-criminalizing marijuana, or restoring the rights of legal pot users to own firearms, so Libertarians would encourage him to take different stances on those issues, but he's the guy who shut down the government. Libertarians believe in the Constitution.

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If you're in congress, passing a budget is your constitutional duty. By refusing to do that, by leading the government shutdown, you are actually abdicating your duty. He's been against giving Merrick Garland a hearing, which again, that's his constitutional responsibility. The Senate is supposed to give hearings for court nominees, and if they don't like a nominee, they're welcome to vote him down, but their job says they're supposed to actually have a hearing, and they are refusing to even do that, so there's this culture of refusing to do his job, and a poll from public policy polling in August actually showed 65 percent of Utahans actually want Merrick Garland to have a hearing, so he's really out of touch with what a majority of Utahans want on that issue, and a number of other issues, but when we look at Mike Lee's record, he's pretty much senator no.

He voted against the opioids bill, which would have provided more funding to help combat opioid addiction. He was one of just two votes on that bill. It was passed 92 to 2, and if I remember correctly, that bill was actually sponsored by the other Utah senator, Orrin Hatch, so Mike Lee is ... It's interesting to see that Mike Lee takes a complete opposite position to that, and then he voted against aid to Flint, that bill that passed last month 95 to 3. He was one of the three no votes, and [inaudible] he used a procedural hold to try to block that aid, which a lot of people find really hard, because we're talking about children drinking water contaminated with lead, which can cause brain damage. Most people are like, "Yeah, we want to do something, make sure children have clean drinking water." Mike Lee doesn't seem to care. Mike Lee voted against redoing the Violence Against Women Act in 2013. Most people are like, "We care about women having resources and places they can go so they can escape an abusive partner," and Mike Lee, again, doesn't seem too concerned about that, so he's not just necessarily even anti-gay. He's certainly that, but anti-women, anti-children, I think just anti-people. ...



Scheer: In the main, what I got from his whole attitude, it's like what they used to say about George W. Bush, or maybe his father [it] was said about, but that he was born on third base, but he thought he hit a triple, and here's a guy who, like you say, he's making half a million a year, and he'll make a lot more after he leaves the Senate, and his father obviously made a lot of money, and yet can pass judgement on ordinary folks trying to get by, and here's a government that gives enormous amounts of money to the big corporations, to the military industrial complex ... The big [rap] on Trump now, he doesn't pay taxes at the level that you pay taxes at, and yet, here's a guy under the guise of being a Libertarian ... I like things about the Libertarians, as far as keeping government out of people's personal lives in a negative way, but the fact of the matter is, there's something absurd for this guy thinking that he could understand what you understand working in that grocery store. Your mother made that point. She said, speaking about you, "She's always followed her heart. She's a brave girl." She also works in that supermarket, right? In that chain?

Snow: She works at the same company. She doesn't work at the same store. ...

Scheer: No. I know that. She went on to say, "Becoming a woman is something that she has wanted for a really long time, ever since high school. I think by running for the Senate, she's showing people that a person's gender isn't what matters. People are people. Everybody matters, and that is Misty's message."

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I'm talking to Misty Snow, who is running for the Senate as a Democrat, official Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Utah, and I think one thing that's very positive ... I know your campaign is not about your gender. It's about the issues you're raising about the quality of life, but certainly one big issue is respect for everybody out there, as your mother points out, and I think you would agree that there's been incredible progress regarding gay issues, and now, hopefully, transgender issues, and that the American public has shown an amazing openness, because they suddenly realize, "Hey, it's the guy I know from the grocery store. It's the guy I know from church, or the woman I know from church," so it's very difficult to make them the other. Is that what's been your experience in the few years that you've been out?

Snow: Yes. I think that's exactly it. A lot of people are afraid of people that are different from them, simply because they don't know anybody that's like that, and the more visibility people have, the more people become aware of them, and the less they are afraid of them. That's really just about building understanding, and building awareness, and as people become more aware, they become more understanding, and that leads to acceptance.

Scheer: I think in terms of understanding other people, I think when I try to understand why ... First of all, why Sanders was so successful, and that's the progressive side of the coin, and then why Trump is able to appeal to a lot of working people on the reactionary side, with scapegoating people and being racist and so forth, there's one common theme, though. A lot of people in this country are hurting. They're hurting. They're seeing the good jobs go. They were sold fraudulent loans, and houses that they couldn't hold on to. They're hurting, and I think that's a message that the Democratic party ... The Republican party is out to lunch on it, totally, but the Democratic party is having a hard time, on the elite level, understanding the pain out there, and it seems to me that the value of your campaign is that you are one of the most clear-thinking candidates in expressing that pain. What does it mean to try to get by in America now, given the rigged economy?

Snow: That's exactly, I think, [why I resonate]. Social Security Administration says 51 percent of people in this country make less than 30 thousand a year, so that's literally a majority of our working people barely scraping by. They're in poverty or close to it, so there's all this anger, because they don't see they economy working for them. They see the economy working for Wall Street, but not for Main Street, so Bernie Sanders, he has this great, grand vision on how to fix the economy so it actually works for people, and you have Donald Trump who, he's more of a demagogue, is misdirecting the anger. Instead of directing anger at Wall Street, and other corporate interests, he's [happy to] misdirect that anger towards minorities, and so we have this anger, and a lot of people, they want to see some change, and I think the longer these issues go un-addressed, the fundamental [inaudible].

I think these issues will keep coming up, and I think Hillary Clinton will probably win in 2016, but in 2020, I think a lot of these issues will still be present, and unless Hillary Clinton really makes good on a lot of her campaign promises, I think there will be still that bubbling frustration for some real change, and she's going to have to either take a more progressive stances and actually start really ... She has to really follow through with that or she's going to be primary challenged, or she's going to be challenged from a Republican, and then it might be a one-term presidency if she fails to actually address these issues over the next few years.

Scheer: I want to thank you, Misty K Snow. She's running for the Senate as the Democratic candidate in Utah, and before I wrap it up, I just want to say, that last statement is probably the most important message that has to be gotten through to the Democratic party in this election. Yeah, you've got a real bum there running as your opponent, and he's coming apart at the seams, but the very fact that he's even a contender shows how much pain, suffering there is out there, that people would turn to, basically, a rube like that, and I think we don't hear enough of what we just heard in the last half hour from you, somebody who's out there trying to get by paycheck to paycheck, and seeing what's going on in this country, and so I want to thank you. Do you have any last words?

Snow: ... those who've been listening, if you'd like to find out more about me and my platform, or like to donate or volunteer or see my social media, I encourage you to go to my website at mistyksnow.com, M-I-S-T-Y-K-S-N-O-W, dot com. Like I said, [I have my] donation, volunteer, social media is all linked there. My platform's there, and my final word, if I want any lesson to come out from my campaign, it's that it doesn't matter what you look like, where you're from, what your background is, what your education level is, you can run for office. You can make a difference in your community. You can give a voice to issues you care about.

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Hutchinson city council examines what to do about chickens

The issue is before the planning commission because chickens are part of land use codes written to address larger animals.
Zogics owner Paul LeBlanc shows Senate President Stanley Rosenberg and Senate candidate Adam Hinds the new gym he is building for his staff.

Zogics To Senate President: Lack of Skilled Work Force Biggest Setback



For more than an hour on Friday, LeBlanc spoke about his company with Rosenberg and Hinds. LEE, Mass.  With the state of current technology, a company can basically operate from anywhere. So can employees.

The current workforce wants more out of life than traditional jobs. They want to find ways to combine their lifestyles with a career. That's the angle Paul LeBlanc has taken when building Zogics, an e-commerce company based out of a small office in Valley Industrial Park.

"For me, it is all about lifestyle. Whether it is the company I've created, the location I've chosen to build the company or anything else. We are all faced with choices in life and if we are going to spend so much time working hard, and enjoying our surroundings why not do it in a place like this? Why not create a company that is fun and rewarding to be a part of. That's what we've tried to do here," LeBlanc told Senate President Stanley Rosenberg on Friday.

Zogics has become somewhat of a model for the Berkshires because of its perks. It is often characterized as a "millennial" company. LeBlanc offers his employees such benefits as $500 a year to attend cultural events, or pays the cost of any competitive event such as bicycle or running races. He is building a gym with a sauna, and subsidizes a community-supported agricultural membership for employees.

While LeBlanc has crafted this more modern way to recruit and retain workers with those non-traditional benefits, most of his workers weren't born and raised in the Berkshires. Out of the staff of 15, he said just a couple have grown up here. Why don't more Berkshire residents jump on such an opportunity? Because they don't possess what he needs and he won't compromise on talent.

"The biggest challenge, as we know, is finding really high caliber talent. I believe I've done that here but we'd be twice as big if I could find twice as many," LeBlanc said. "That is our limiting factor."

He's got employees video chatting in from Nashville, Tenn., or Burlington, Vt. He's offered three months rent for them to move here because he believes the face-to-face interactions in the workplace are much more valuable. But, when that fails, it isn't really that hard to work remotely.

"When we can find local talent, we're very excited and bring them on board. As you saw earlier, we are not going to limit ourselves to talent in the county or settle. What that means, when we are looking for a top notch e-commerce specialist, we will hire someone in Burlington, Vt. When we are looking for another sales specialists, we hired someone in Nashville, Tenn. I will post jobs in areas outside of the Berkshires and attempt to widen the net that I cast," LeBlanc said.

"We will try to get them here first. If they can't get here, then we will let them stay where they are. Fortunately, technology allows us to stay quite connected with those who are remote so it is not as challenging."

LeBlanc's workforce challenge isn't unique to the Berkshires; many companies have expressed the same struggle. Yet, there are still thousands of unemployed people in Berkshire County who simply do not have the right skills companies need.

"In a company like this, it is unforgiving. It is not like we can take an eager person and say, we can have you do something. It is I need an expert in a particular area and I need someone who has not only done it previously but has done it well," LeBlanc said.

A 2012 labor report showed Berkshire County has become a net importer of jobs because of a lack of qualified workforce  more and more people are living elsewhere and commuting to the Berkshires. Those living in the Berkshires tend to have a lower educational attainment than the state average. And, according to recent Berkshire Regional Planning Commission studies, the biggest group leaving the Berkshires is the young working population, specifically those who have obtained at least a bachelor's degree.

A 2015 survey of young workers in the Berkshires show that the No. 1 reason people leave is for higher paying jobs.

"Whether the jobs are here or not, there is often a feeling they are not. So people leave for that reason," LeBlanc said.

BRPC's survey showed that those with lower educational attainment and who don't attend cultural and other events want to leave, but few actually do. Those with higher education and partaking in the social offerings of the county, are more likely to want to stay  but leave because they find better paying jobs elsewhere. LeBlanc's program to offer his workers $500 to attend cultural events helps retain his employees because they become more connected with the community.

"Often times when I hear people who have left, they are often not the ones who are going out and taking advantage of all of these things. By having a program in place that kind of pushes them a little, one it makes them excited about working here because they get that benefit and two, it gets them more grounded with the community," LeBlanc said.

There seems to be a population bubble with those workers in the Berkshires, with many leaving right after college but then returning to the Berkshires in their 40s when they are looking to settle down and raise a family. The result is a large segment of experienced older workers and, on the other end, younger workers with fewer skills.

Rosenberg's visit was one in which he hoped to gain some insight on what the government can do to help match those up. There are jobs and people looking for work, but the two are not aligning in the Berkshires, Rosenberg said.

"One of the biggest challenges we face on the government side is trying to figure out how we help with this problem of not being able to meet labor market demands. We know we've got 100,000 people on any given day who have no job and 100,000 jobs sitting vacant. We have not been able, and I've served with several governors, and none of them in the executive control of agencies nor in the Legislature we've been able to figure out what government can do," Rosenberg said.

Rosenberg said the state has invested in plenty of education  leading Massachusetts overall to be one of the most educated states in the nation, a high per-capita income, and a great quality of life. But somehow, there is a still a misconnection when it comes to matching up the jobs and the workers.

"One of the things we mandated, which in 20 years still hasn't occurred once, is that the Department of Education should partner with the Secretary of Labor to do a labor market analysis to determine to the best of our ability, project forward 10 years, what kinds of jobs are going to be created, what number of jobs will we need, so we can align the training programs with what see as the potential for the labor market," Rosenberg said.

Training programs aren't going to help companies like Zogics because the need is too immediate. But one thing government can do, according to LeBlanc, is increase the viability for companies like his by building out the needed infrastructure. He said a few years ago he issued a hiring freeze because his location didn't have access to broadband and he was running low on bandwidth. He didn't have the internet capacity to sustain another employee.

"The lack of broadband in areas here is incredibly crippling. It is getting to the point where it is as important as electricity and water. Companies are run on it. Families are connected by it. There are still large pockets in the county that don't have broadband access or basic cell phone coverage," LeBlanc said.

He spoke to Time Warner Cable about running a broadband line from the street, over the bridge, and to the industrial park and the cable company asked for $13,000 to do so  a number Rosenberg characterized as robbery. LeBlanc then rallied the other businesses together to show the cable company could make a profit with the line, but Time Warner still would not run it. After more than a year of trying to get the increased bandwidth, he finally went to state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli who helped them reached an agreement.

The line was eventually run, but not until he signed a three-year contract, and the Zogics was able to grow again. While businesses can be located anywhere, companies still need that access to internet. LeBlanc says there are so many places in the Berkshires that lack internet or even cell phone.

In downtown Lenox, LeBlanc says Verizon has limited service. When the hundreds of New York City tourists visit, they will love the place, but would assume that the lack of access disallows any company from moving here  they don't know that there are "pockets" in the Berkshires with all of the infrastructure needed, LeBlanc said. Simply expanding cell phone and internet service would at least make it possible for businesses to consider moving to the Berkshires.

"Once I explored the Berkshires just a little bit I decided that if I could make a go of something here, start a business here, what a tremendous life I could have," LeBlanc said. "We get here and then try to figure out how to stay. People are falling in love with this place every single day. If we could somehow connect the desire to be here with the ability to be here, it changes everything. That ability comes back to infrastructure and people."

LeBlanc isn't a native and he says when his friends come to visit, they all say they would love to live here. But, the opportunities to do so just aren't here.

"If you are looking for that exciting urban environment where you are going to go to nightclubs, you are never going to marry that person with this area. But, there is a growing segment of the population  there is a large segment of the population that wants more than a job in a high rise building and a nightclub. Whether it is outdoor activities, or agriculture, having chickens in your back yard, you can do that all here. If you can figure out that magic sauce to make a living out here, it is appealing to a lot of people," LeBlanc said.

While much of the millennial workforce has been characterized as lazy and entitled, LeBlanc has built a company out of his garage to doing some $10 million in business across the world because of his workers. These young workers have proven to be a massive asset in the e-commerce sphere and his recruitment and retainment programs, centered around offering a lifestyle and not just a job, has built his business. But he needs more.

"Being able to combine what we have here in the Berkshires with a career is tremendously appealing," LeBlanc said. "I'm surprised there aren't 100 little companies like ours popping up."
Imperial Valley News Center

2 Colombian nationals extradited on charges of using clandestine air shipments to smuggle multi-ton loads of cocaine

Los Angeles, California - Two Colombian drug kingpins have been extradited to Los Angeles on federal charges for allegedly overseeing multi-ton shipments of cocaine from Colombian laboratories to Central American distribution hubs that were ultimately destined for sale in Los Angeles and elsewhere in the U.S.

Dicson Penagos-Casanova, 36, and Juan Gabriel Rios Sierra, 34, are charged in an indictment unsealed Tuesday with spearheading the conspiracy to coordinate aerial shipments of ton-quantities of cocaine for sale to cocaine-trafficking syndicates in Central America. The shipments included more than $70 million in cocaine recovered by international law enforcement.

The charges are the result of a probe by special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration in Los Angeles and Colombia; the Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force; and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The Colombian, Aruban and Dutch governments also provided substantial assistance.

Specifically, Penagos and Rios would transport the cocaine via overland routes from production laboratories outside Meta, Colombia, to underground storage facilities near clandestine airstrips in the western Apure Department of Venezuela. They would arrange for bribes to be paid to Venezuelan military and government officials in an effort to ensure that aircraft carrying cocaine loads enjoyed safe passage through Venezuelan airspace. Using jets that they acquired through straw purchasers in the United States, Penagos and Rios would hire pilots to fly the cocaine to the Central American distribution hubs, where the drugs would be offloaded for further distribution in Los Angeles and elsewhere in the U.S. and Mexico.

By taking key players out of commission, we are disrupting the drug cartels ability to import their dangerous narcotics into our country, said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. These defendants arrival in the U.S. for prosecution marks a significant victory for law enforcement here and in Central and South America, which have worked in concert to ensure justice is achieved in this case.

The indictment focuses on two air shipments in January and May of 2015 that collectively contained approximately 3.2 tons of cocaine, which has a black market wholesale value of approximately $72 million. Both shipments were ultimately recovered by international law enforcement after two aircraft crashed. The January 2015 cocaine shipment was shot down by the Venezuelan Air Force shortly after takeoff. Soon thereafter, Dutch law enforcement recovered kilogram-sized packages of cocaine that were floating in the Caribbean Sea near Aruba. The May 2015 aircraft crashed into the Caribbean Sea near the Colombian port of Barranquilla after its engine failed.

The indictment also outlines intercepted communications in which Penagos and Rios coordinated the cocaine shipments and discuss the two downed aircraft, including sharing an article from a Honduran newspaper reporting on the January 2015 shoot-down and speculating on whether the May 2015 crash was also the product of intervention by the Venezuelan military.

The vast majority of cocaine imported to the U.S. originates in Colombia, and a substantial amount of it transits the Los Angeles area, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Steve Comer. This investigation penetrated the highest levels of multiple drug cartels and disrupted the entire cocaine supply chain, from the production in Colombia to the distribution in the U.S. Continued collaboration between DEA and our foreign and domestic law enforcement partners will deliver similar blows to the cocaine industry, which is already being forced to rethink its logistics.

Penagos and Rios were delivered to United States custody Tuesday after Colombian courts approved the extradition request. The defendants are expected to be arraigned on the indictment Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. If convicted of the charges in the indictment, Penagos and Rios each face a statutory maximum prison term of life in federal prison.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin Barron, Carol Alexis Chen and Ryan Weinstein of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Section.
Imperial Valley News Center

Governor Brown Issues Statement on Deaths of Two Palm Springs Police Officers

Palm Springs, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued the following statement regarding the deaths of Palm Springs Police Department Officers Jose Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny:

Officers Vega and Zerebny were killed today doing what they do every day  protecting their community. We grieve with the family members, friends and fellow officers coping with this senseless tragedy. Anne and I join all Californians in offering our heartfelt condolences.

Officers Vega and Zerebny were fatally shot today while responding to a family disturbance at a home in Palm Springs. A third officer was also shot and is receiving treatment at a hospital.



Officer Vega, 63, was a 35-year veteran of the Palm Springs Police Department and was scheduled to retire in two months. He is survived by his wife and eight children.



Officer Zerebny, 27, served with the Palm Springs Police Department for one and a half years. She is survived by her husband and four-month-old daughter.



In honor of Officers Vega and Zerebny, Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff.
United States Citizen Extradited to Los Angeles From Tonga to Face Investment Fraud Charges

Los Angeles, California - A U.S. citizen who formerly resided in Turlock, California, and Auckland, New Zealand, was returned to the United States by Tonga and is expected to appear in court Monday to face federal investment fraud charges.

Antone Thomas Pedras, who also went by Chris Pedras, 64, arrived at LAX last Friday in the custody of the United States Marshals Service. Pedras was returned to the United States to face eleven counts of wire fraud in connection with several fraudulent investment schemes.

In a first superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury on August 6, 2014, Pedras is charged with inducing investors to give money to Maxum Gold Trade Program, which he claimed was a low-risk investment with monthly returns ranging between 4 to 8 percent. Pedras is also charged with soliciting investments in the FMP Renal Program, which he claimed would be publicly traded and would operate kidney dialysis clinics in New Zealand. To bolster his false claims to his investors, Pedras created false account statements for the Maxum website, www.maxumgoldbnkpcpt.com [external link].

Those who commit fraud against residents of the United States will not escape punishment simply by residing overseas, said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. This case and the extradition demonstrate the commitment of the Department of Justice to holding responsible for their actions criminals both here and outside of the country who commit fraud against U.S. residents.

If convicted of the charges in the indictment, Pedras faces a statutory maximum sentence of 220 years in prison.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

"The FBI is committed to investigating complex high-yield investment schemes," said Deirdre Fike, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. "As the return of Mr. Pedras makes clear, we are also committed to seeking justice for victims within the U.S. and beyond its borders."

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a parallel civil case against Pedras.

The investigation into Pedras is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ivy Wang of the Santa Ana office.
Former Bakersfield Police Department Detective Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Bribery, Drug Trafficking, and Filing a False Tax Return

Fresno, California - Damacio Diaz, 44, of McFarland, formerly a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, was sentenced Monday to five years in prison for bribery, possession and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and making and subscribing a false income tax return, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. ONeill ordered Diaz to begin serving his sentence on December 5, 2016. Diaz pleaded guilty to the charges on May 31, 2016. Diazs former partner, Patrick Mara, 36, of Bakersfield pleaded guilty to related charges on June 20, 2016, and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 17, 2016.

According to court documents, between April 2012 and February 2015, while employed as a police officer with the Bakersfield Police Department (BPD), Diaz handled a criminal informant who was involved in the large-scale sale and distribution of methamphetamine. Diaz continued to operate the informant even though he was fully aware of the informants ongoing criminal activity. During this time, Diaz received bribes from the informant in return for intelligence on law enforcement activities as well as protection from investigation and arrest.

In addition to accepting illegal bribes, Diaz also engaged in drug trafficking while with the BPD. On September 20, 2012, while on duty, Diaz stopped a vehicle operated by two individuals from Yakima, Washington and used a BPD dog handler and police dog to search the vehicle. The search uncovered an ice chest containing approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine divided into multiple bags. The BPD dog handler did not seize any of the drugs from the vehicle, but turned the scene over to Diaz and Mara to secure the methamphetamine and oversee the investigation of the incident. A week later, Diaz booked approximately one pound of methamphetamine from the vehicle stop into evidence. Diaz and Mara maintained possession of the remaining nine pounds of methamphetamine, and they ultimately sold it for their own personal gain.

According to the plea agreement, Diaz also filed a joint income tax return for the calendar year 2012 that falsely reported total income of $168,485 and did not include additional income of at least $97,900.

Acting U.S. Attorney Talbert stated: Diaz had a life that afforded him many opportunities, including the opportunity to serve and protect his community as an officer of the law. Diaz turned his back on those opportunities and broke the trust his community placed in him, violating the very laws he was sworn to enforce. Public corruption takes a heavy toll on our communities, and our office remains committed to prosecuting such conduct.

Bakersfield Chief of Police Williams stated: I appreciate the efforts of all agencies involved in this lengthy and exhaustive investigation and I am thoroughly satisfied with the ultimate conviction of Damacio Diaz. The behavior and criminal activity that was exposed during this comprehensive investigation is in no way reflective of the commitment and remarkable public service the over 500 employees of the Bakersfield Police Department provide to our community on a consistent basis. Diaz violated not only the trust of this organization but that of this community. The Bakersfield Police Department is committed to building and maintaining public trust by holding our employees accountable for their actions and we will continue to provide quality service to our community. We appreciate the support we have been given throughout this investigation and wish to thank the community for their patience and understanding.

DEA Special Agent in Charge John J. Martin stated, Damacio Diaz committed crimes in a community he took an oath to serve and protect. In doing so, he betrayed the trust of the public and his fellow officers.

Damacio Diaz used his lawful authority as a sworn peace officer with the Bakersfield Police Department to illegally enrich his self-interests, said Michael T. Batdorf, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. Greed was a major motivation for Diaz to begin making unfortunate decisions that brought him to conspire with drug dealers and accept bribes for money. IRS-CI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorneys Office to investigate these types of crimes that have a negative impact on our communities and the American Taxpayer.

Diaz's illegal activity caused irreparable damage to his reputation, put the lives of others at risk, undermined public trust in the Bakersfield Police Department, and facilitated criminal activity, said Special Agent in Charge Monica M. Miller of the FBI Sacramento field office. The FBI and its federal law enforcement partners will continue to identify and investigate individuals who violate their oath of service and ignore the commitment they made to their communities.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian K. Delaney and Angela Scott prosecuted the case.
Mission Viejo Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to $2.3 Million Real Estate Investment Fraud Scheme

Los Angeles, California - A Mission Viejo man has agreed to plead guilty to taking more than $2,300,000 from investors in a fraudulent real estate investment scheme in which he used investor funds to pay for personal expenses, including travel and cosmetic surgery, to make cash withdrawals, and to make Ponzi-style payments to other investors.

Francisco Frank Hobson, 39, was named in a criminal information last Friday charging him with wire fraud. A plea agreement in the case was also filed, and, in the plea agreement, Hobson has agreed to plead guilty to the information and pay at least $1,584,941 to the victims of his crime. Hobson is expected to appear to be arraigned on the charge in the information this afternoon.

The information charges Hobson, who was at the time a licensed real estate agent, in connection with his scheme of luring victims to give him money, between December 2010 and June 2016, with his promises that their investments would be used to purchase properties. In reality, the properties that Hobson advertised to his victims were not actually for sale or simply did not exist, and Hobson sent victims purported purchase agreements for the properties which were fraudulent or forged.

Hobson continued to engage in the scheme for months after being interviewed in November 2015 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with complaints from two of his victims.

The defendant made simple promises to his victims, promises he never intended to fulfill, said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. The defendant then used his victims hard-earned money to fund his personal lifestyle. That he continued to do so after law enforcement had interviewed him was all the more egregious.

As detailed in the plea agreement, Hobson would tell investors to transfer money to escrow accounts, which were, in reality, his own bank accounts that he alone controlled. After the investors money was deposited in his accounts, Hobson used the money for personal purchases at grocery stores, chain restaurants, and retail stores, as well as making cash withdrawals. Hobson also used their money to pay his landlord, and for travel, laser hair removal, and plastic surgery. Furthermore, Hobson paid approximately $757,031 of the $2,339,473 he collected in the scheme to his victims as Ponzi-style payments designed to conceal and extend the length of the scheme.

The defendant targeted Hispanic individuals and presented himself as someone they could trust in a classic affinity scheme, only to spend their money to live lavishly, said Deirdre Fike, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBIs Los Angeles Field Office. Mr. Hobsons chronic criminal behavior even after an investigation was underway is a reminder that caution should be exercised before handing over large sums of money, even when someone appears to be in a position of trust, or when someone with a similar background is offering an investment opportunity.

Wire fraud carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The case against Hobson was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anil J. Antony of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section.
Former President of San Fernando Valley Brokerage Firm Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Wire Fraud and Tax Convictions for Misappropriating Investor Funds

Los Angeles, California - The former president and CEO of the Sherman Oaks-based Morgan Peabody, Inc. brokerage and investment firm was sentenced Monday to 15 years in prison for federal wire fraud charges stemming from an investment scam in which defendant misappropriated nearly $6 million from more than 100 investors.

David Williams, 54, of Studio City, a licensed securities dealer and investment adviser, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer. In May 2015, in the midst of a jury trial, Williams pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and two counts of tax evasion. As part of his plea agreement, Williams admitted that he directed Morgan Peabody representatives to sell securities in a fund that Williams personally had created, purportedly to invest in real estate. The Sherwood Secured Investment Fund, LLC, a Studio City business that Williams owned, offered a 9 percent annual return on investments. Williams used the majority of the $3.75 million investors put in the Sherwood Fund to pay for personal expenses, including lavish vacations and a $50,000/month lease on a $6 million residence in Toluca Lake.

The defendant was also held responsible for misappropriated funds from two other securities offerings that he created, for a total of almost $6 million in investor funds that he bilked from the three offerings. Williams was also found to have obstructed justice by lying to the Securities & Exchange Commission in its investigation of the offerings, and lying to the Judge and the Probation Office in seeking to withdraw his guilty plea.

"This sentence serves as a warning to criminals who commit fraud that they face very serious consequences," said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. "The defendant callously stole the hard-earned retirement savings of numerous victims and spent it on himself. His greed and lack of remorse will continue to harm his victims for many years to come, but now he too will be paying a price for more than a decade."

"While the defendant's sentence is significant, it will not compensate for the monetary investments lost to the dozens of people he victimized through false representations," said Deirdre Fike, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Field Office. "The FBI will continue to collaborate with our partners at the IRS and the United States Attorney's Office to address significant investment fraud matters."

In his plea agreement, Williams admitted that he used investor money for personal purposes and committed tax evasion by failing to file returns with the IRS for tax years 2007 and 2008, and failing to report the more than $2.3 million in income he received. Williams agreed in the plea agreement to pay additional taxes of $777,881 for those tax years. Defendant subsequently moved to withdraw his plea, but the Court denied his motion and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $5,125,137.60 to victims of the fraud scheme, $777,881 to the IRS, and $258,940 to the California Franchise Tax Board.

"Mr. Williams squandered the life savings of his investors, putting his own selfish greed above the wellbeing of his victims," stated Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony J. Orlando of IRS Criminal Investigation. "As yesterdays sentencing demonstrates, fraudsters like Mr. Williams will be held accountable for their actions as they are unacceptable to both investors and the taxpaying public."

The investigation into Williams scheme was conducted by special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS - Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keri Axel.
FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive Brenda Delgado Extradited from Mexico

Dallas, Texas - Thomas M. Class, Sr., special agent in charge of the FBIs Dallas Field Office, announced today that Brenda Delgado, the 506th person to be placed on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, was extradited from Mexico to the United States this evening. Delgado faces a state capital murder charge for allegedly orchestrating the murder-for-hire of dentist Kendra Hatcher.

On September 2, 2015, Dr. Hatcher was found deceased from a gunshot wound in the parking garage of her apartment complex in Dallas. Based on the investigative efforts by the Dallas Police Department, Delgado is suspected of hiring two alleged co-conspirators to facilitate the murder. Both co-conspirators have been arrested and are currently in custody.

Delgado fled the country shortly after being interviewed by investigators, and a federal arrest warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution was issued by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas on October 7, 2015.

Delgado, a Mexican citizen, was placed on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on April 6, 2016. Two days later, she was taken into custody without incident in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico, by agents of the Mexican Attorney Generals Office (PGR), Criminal Investigations Agency (AIC), in close coordination with the FBI legal attache office at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.

Upon completion of extradition proceedings, Delgado was escorted from Mexico City to Dallas by members of the Dallas FBIs Violent Crimes Task Force. She was then transferred to the custody of the Dallas Police Department.

The FBI continues to work with local law enforcement to apprehend violent criminals charged with state crimes who then flee the jurisdiction interstate or internationally. Photos and descriptions of many fugitives wanted by the FBI can be found at fbi.gov.




National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong (L) and

Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen (Source: VNA)

The forum was part of the Vietnamese Days in Denmark on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (November 25th).

In her speech, Phong said the Vietnamese economy has grown nearly 6 percent on average over the past 30 years with a stable socio-political climate and improving social welfares.



On the back of free trade agreements with 55 partners, including 15 from the G20, Vietnam is becoming a key link in the regional economic chain with its deeper participation in the global value chain.



Between now and 2020, Vietnam will continue restructuring the economy in combination with shifting to a new growth model through three strategic breakthroughs, including refining market economy regulations, modernising infrastructure and developing high-quality human resources, she said.



The establishment of strategic partnership in climate change, energy, environment and green growth in 2011 and the strategic partnership in 2013 is the strongest commitment of the two governments to creating the most favourable political-diplomatic environment for business communities, she added.



She pledged all possible support in legal and administrative procedures so as to double two-way trade once the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement (EVFTA) takes effect.



During a working session with Danish Minister of Environment and Food Esben Lunde Larsen earlier the same day, Phong said Vietnam wants to promptly sign the FTA with the EU to further Vietnam-Denmark ties in particular.



As Vietnam is one of the countries hard hit by climate change and saltwater intrusion, Phong wished that the Danish government would help the country with agricultural planning in adaptation to climate change.



In the October 7th evening, the Vietnamese official attended a ceremony opening the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-Denmark ties in the capital city of Copenhagen./.
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Despite the Harry Potter series finishing almost a decade ago, JK Rowling continues to write about the wonderful wizarding world, updating fans through the website Pottermore.

However, fans have spotted a mistake in her most recent update; a short story on the Magical Congress about the United States of America in preparation for the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

JK Rowling's short story reads: MACUSA relocated to Baltimore, where President Able Fleming had his home, but the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, followed by the arrival of the No-Maj Congress in the city, made MACUSA understandably nervous and they departed for Washington. It was in Washington that President Elizabeth McGilliguddy presided over the infamous Country or Kind? debate of 1777. Thousands of witches and wizards from all over America descended upon MACUSA to attend this extraordinary meeting, for which the Great Meeting Chamber had to be magically enlarged. The issue for discussion was: did the magical community owe their highest allegiance to the country in which they had made their homes, or to the global underground wizarding community? Were they morally obliged to join American No- Majs in their fight for liberation from the British Muggles? Or was this, simply put, not their fight?

Spotted the mistake yet? Rowling writes that the debate took place in Washington in the year 1777. However, as pointed out by Radio Times, Washington wasnt actually founded until 1790, 13 years after the event took place. Of course, the fictional, magical world doesn't necesarily stick to our real-world history, so there's no doubt an explanation out their somewhere.

JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches Show all 7 1 /7 JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches Harry and the Dursleys, by J.K. Rowling JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches Quidditch, by JK Rowling JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches Peeves, by JK Rowling JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches Snape, by JK Rowling JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches Outside Privet Drive, by J.K. Rowling JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches MIrror of Erised, by J.K. Rowling JK Rowling's hidden Harry Potter sketches The Weasleys, by J.K. Rowling

In other Harry Potter news, the final trailer for Fantastic Beasts was revealed, showing Eddie Redmayne's Newt Scamander arriving in 1920s New York. Recently, it was announced that all the previous Harry Potter films will be returning to IMAX cinemas to celebrate the new film.
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As always, tickets for Glastonbury Festival sold out within minutes of being released without the line-up having been announced - people just cant get enough of Worthy Farms pleasant pastures.

Rumours surrounding the festivals headliners have been swirling for some time, the events organiser - Michael Eavis - having revealed two are already in place.

Bookies William Hill have revealed their favourites to top the Pyramid Sage, listed below with our own thoughts on who will be topping the bill.

Guns N Roses - 4/6

Slash and Axl Rose (Rex Features)

Axl Rose and his motley crew got back together earlier this year, their comeback tour earning them significantly large amounts of money. Whether theyll make the trip over to play Glastonbury, a festival known not to offer headliners much in monetary gain, is anyone's gues.

Kasabian - 6/4

Lead singer Tom Meighan at Glastonbury Festival

Having headlined the festival in 2014, its surprising to see the Leicester band quite so high up on the bookies' list. Could they come back so soon? Without a new album out, it seems unlikely, but weve still got a few months.

Stone Roses - 4/1 - debunked

They pulled out of their 1995 slot; 17 years later, could they finally play Worthy Farm? Theyve released two new singles and a rumoured album is on the way, plus theyve got some very Glastonbury friendly gigs booked. This could definitely be the year.

Radiohead - 6/4 - confirmed

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke performs at the Roundhouse (David Jensen/PA)

Radiohead was heavily rumoured to be playing a secret set last year, something that turned out to be false. With A Moon Shaped Pool out this year, thought, perhaps they could be heading to the Pyramid Stage. UPDATE: Guitarist Ed O'Brien has since responded to the rumours they will be headlining.

Ed Sheeran - 4/1

The troubadour has yet to headline a major festival but has sold out stadiums around the country; could this be his year to step up to the major leagues? No-one thought Adele would be a good headliner, but she proved them wrong. Could Sheeran do the same?

Foo Fighters - 5/1

Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters (Getty)

Dave Grohl pulled out of Glastonbury 2015 due to a broken leg, leading to Florence + the Machine stepping up for their first major headline slot. Last year, it was thought they would be back to no avail, but 2017 could very well be their year.

Rihanna - 6/1

Ever since Beyonce headlined in 2011, people have wondered when her pop-rival Rihanna would be taking to the festival. Anti was a hit - perhaps we could see her finally headline in 2017.

Lady Gaga - 16/1

Lady Gaga

A Super Bowl half-time show on the cards. A new album on the way. Lady Gaga is officially back, and what better way to top it all off than a Glastonbury slot? Regulars Kevin Park and Mark Ronson might even pop round.

Gorillaz - 9/1

Damon Albarn has been teasing Gorillaz new record for some time now, the bands social media accounts released two virtual books - The Book of Noodle and The Book of Russell - to tease the upcoming LP. Theirs a big chance they could be back at Worthy Farm to celebrate their fifth release.

Daft Punk - 9/1 - debunked

Daft Punk (Karl Walter/Getty Images)

Every year, people believe Daft Punk will play the Pyramid, and every year people are severely let down. Having released new music with The Weeknd and a rumoured new record on the way, perhaps the duo will appear on the bill - they didnt play after Random Access Memories though, so dont get your hopes up.

Who else? Green Day

Theyve got a new record out, could this be pop-Punks year atop the Pyramid stage? Theyve done Reading and Leeds countless times, so why not?

Glastonbury 2016 - in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Glastonbury 2016 - in pictures Glastonbury 2016 - in pictures Festival-goers arrive for the Glastonbury festival at the Worthy Farm site PA Glastonbury 2016 - in pictures Festival-goers wearing matching tie die t-shirts do a star jump in front of the Glastonbury sign Rex Features Glastonbury 2016 - in pictures Festival-goers relax and walk at the top of the hill over looking the tipi village, the Ribbon Tower and the Park Stage Rex Glastonbury 2016 - in pictures Participants arrive for the Glastonbury Festival at the Worthy Farm site, Somerset, where heavy rain over a prolonged period has caused isolated flooding and muddy fields PA Glastonbury 2016 - in pictures Members of the Shakti Sings National Choir sing during a procession from the Stone Circle to the Headling Field. The choir was formed to honour the earth through song Rex Features Glastonbury 2016 - in pictures A reveller carries her belongings after arriving at Worthy Farm in Somerset for the Glastonbury Festival REUTERS Glastonbury 2016 - in pictures Revellers set up their tent after arriving at Worthy Farm in Somerset for the Glastonbury Festival REUTERS Glastonbury 2016 - in pictures Participants arrive for the Glastonbury Festival at the Worthy Farm site PA Glastonbury 2016 - in pictures Festival-goers arrive for the Glastonbury festival at the Worthy Farm site PA Glastonbury 2016 - in pictures Festival-goers arrive for the Glastonbury Festival at the Worthy Farm site PA

Beyonce

With Formation breaking the internet and an incredible world tour behind her, surely the current Queen of Pop could return for another headline slot. And Mr Carter himself, Jay Z, cold come too, were not fussy.

Kraftwerk

The German band havent played a UK slot since 2013, but theyre set to play over here in 2017, the tour finishing the day Glastonbury starts. If not atop the Pyramid stage, then surely the Other stage?
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It's now five years since Gap joined forces with American GQ magazine to showcase a selection of affordable capsule collections. Created by a mix of new menswear designers, who have since gone on to forge successful careers of their own in shaping contemporary men's style, the project has been phenomenally successful. So by way of celebrating this significant anniversary Gap are collaborating yet again with a handful of the same designers and GQ.

Making a return is Michael Bastian, a designer who is now recognised the world over, primarily because what he creates can be so easily mixed into your already existing wardrobe. As if to prove this point, his knitwear for Gap and a rather dapper tweed jacket are stand-out pieces

John Elliott's zip hoodie and tailored tracksuit bottoms have made him a streetwear demigod

Steven Alan is also a part of this sartorial collective. Designing understated clothes since 1994 he's the one-stop shop for the fashion savvy gent and in this current collaboration there's a Donegal coat that should be at the top of your shopping list when searching for that new winter coat.

The label Saturdays NYC, who originally bust on to the clothing scene in 2009 taking their inspiration from surf culture, have also been invited back. As you would expect, there's plenty of worn-in sweatshirts and comfy T-shirts, all of which can be easily worked into an urban wardrobe.

The newbie in this project is Josh Elliott; his take on the zip hoodie and tailored tracksuit bottoms have made him a streetwear demigod. And with his own label going from strength to strength, this latest collaboration will only go on to cement that.

Admittedly none of the current collections are exactly breaking new ground in menswear but there's little to find fault with clothes that will fit seamlessly into our already existing wardrobes. And what Gap's involvement does is to allow men to shop high end at very affordable price points. And with high street plus designers collaborations generally aimed at women, its refreshing to see that Gap hasn't forgotten its male customers have a taste for the stylish too.

Available online or at selected stores in London and Glasgow.
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Burns surgeons are warning of the dangers of electronic cigarettes after treating a string of smokers injured by exploding devices.

The call is being echoed by fire chiefs and trading standards experts who are joining forces to highlight the dangers to consumers tempted to buy cheap or imported vaping kits.

Plastic surgeons at Morriston Hospitals Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery in Swansea said they had treated five patients for burns after e-cigarette batteries exploded.

Before this year we hadnt seen any injuries like this. Now we have had five which reflects the rising popularity of these e-cigarettes, said consultant plastic surgeon Dai Nguyen.

Three of the patients had their devices in their trouser pockets when they exploded.

They include a 25-year-old who was paintballing at the time and a factory worker who suffered thigh and groin injuries as well as burns to his hand when he tried to extinguish the flames.

Surgeons were so concerned they notified trading standards officers and also wrote a paper highlighting the cases and calling for tougher import regulations on e-cigarettes coming into the UK and more guidance for consumers.

Its not just us, this is something that is starting to be highlighted nationwide. I think we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg, Dr Nguyen said.

I suspect a lot of A&E departments may also be dealing with these incidents and were just not aware of them.

The patients she has seen only suffered superficial burns and have made a good recovery, but she said some people have not been so lucky.

I am aware of other cases which have required surgery and skin grafts, Dr Nguyen said.

There have also been reports of e-cigarettes exploding in peoples mouths which resulted in catastrophic injuries similar to those you would experience if you were shot in the face by a gun.

Swansea Council trading standards officer David Picken urged customers not to be tempted by cheap imports and to always take care when buying.

These chargers have not been constructed to the correct safety standards and are often counterfeit, he said.

Take additional care when buying online. Consider carefully if the cheapest is the best, particularly when the goods are coming directly to you from a business outside of the UK and EU.

He said customers need to make sure the e-cigarette is labelled correctly, check if it has a visible CE mark and ask the shop for information confirming they come from a reputable source.

Health news in pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Health news in pictures Health news in pictures Coronavirus outbreak The coronavirus Covid-19 has hit the UK leading to the deaths of two people so far and prompting warnings from the Department of Health AFP via Getty Health news in pictures Thousands of emergency patients told to take taxi to hospital Thousands of 999 patients in England are being told to get a taxi to hospital, figures have showed. The number of patients outside London who were refused an ambulance rose by 83 per cent in the past year as demand for services grows Getty Health news in pictures Vape related deaths spike A vaping-related lung disease has claimed the lives of 11 people in the US in recent weeks. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has more than 100 officials investigating the cause of the mystery illness, and has warned citizens against smoking e-cigarette products until more is known, particularly if modified or bought off the street Getty Health news in pictures Baldness cure looks to be a step closer Researchers in the US claim to have overcome one of the major hurdles to cultivating human follicles from stem cells. The new system allows cells to grow in a structured tuft and emerge from the skin Sanford Burnham Preybs Health news in pictures Two hours a week spent in nature can improve health A study in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that a dose of nature of just two hours a week is associated with better health and psychological wellbeing Shutterstock Health news in pictures Air pollution linked to fertility issues in women Exposure to air from traffic-clogged streets could leave women with fewer years to have children, a study has found. Italian researchers found women living in the most polluted areas were three times more likely to show signs they were running low on eggs than those who lived in cleaner surroundings, potentially triggering an earlier menopause Getty/iStock Health news in pictures Junk food ads could be banned before watershed Junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before 9pm as part of Government plans to fight the "epidemic" of childhood obesity. Plans for the new watershed have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said PA Health news in pictures Breeding with neanderthals helped humans fight diseases On migrating from Africa around 70,000 years ago, humans bumped into the neanderthals of Eurasia. While humans were weak to the diseases of the new lands, breeding with the resident neanderthals made for a better equipped immune system PA Health news in pictures Cancer breath test to be trialled in Britain The breath biopsy device is designed to detect cancer hallmarks in molecules exhaled by patients Getty Health news in pictures Average 10 year old has consumed the recommended amount of sugar for an adult By their 10th birthdy, children have on average already eaten more sugar than the recommended amount for an 18 year old. The average 10 year old consumes the equivalent to 13 sugar cubes a day, 8 more than is recommended PA Health news in pictures Child health experts advise switching off screens an hour before bed While there is not enough evidence of harm to recommend UK-wide limits on screen use, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have advised that children should avoid screens for an hour before bed time to avoid disrupting their sleep Getty Health news in pictures Daily aspirin is unnecessary for older people in good health, study finds A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that many elderly people are taking daily aspirin to little or no avail Getty Health news in pictures Vaping could lead to cancer, US study finds A study by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Centre has found that the carcinogenic chemicals formaldehyde, acrolein, and methylglyoxal are present in the saliva of E-cigarette users Reuters Health news in pictures More children are obese and diabetic There has been a 41% increase in children with type 2 diabetes since 2014, the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit has found. Obesity is a leading cause Reuters Health news in pictures Most child antidepressants are ineffective and can lead to suicidal thoughts The majority of antidepressants are ineffective and may be unsafe, for children and teenager with major depression, experts have warned. In what is the most comprehensive comparison of 14 commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs to date, researchers found that only one brand was more effective at relieving symptoms of depression than a placebo. Another popular drug, venlafaxine, was shown increase the risk users engaging in suicidal thoughts and attempts at suicide Getty Health news in pictures Gay, lesbian and bisexual adults at higher risk of heart disease, study claims Researchers at the Baptist Health South Florida Clinic in Miami focused on seven areas of controllable heart health and found these minority groups were particularly likely to be smokers and to have poorly controlled blood sugar iStock Health news in pictures Breakfast cereals targeted at children contain 'steadily high' sugar levels since 1992 despite producer claims A major pressure group has issued a fresh warning about perilously high amounts of sugar in breakfast cereals, specifically those designed for children, and has said that levels have barely been cut at all in the last two and a half decades Getty Health news in pictures Potholes are making us fat, NHS watchdog warns New guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body which determines what treatment the NHS should fund, said lax road repairs and car-dominated streets were contributing to the obesity epidemic by preventing members of the public from keeping active PA Health news in pictures New menopause drugs offer women relief from 'debilitating' hot flushes A new class of treatments for women going through the menopause is able to reduce numbers of debilitating hot flushes by as much as three quarters in a matter of days, a trial has found. The drug used in the trial belongs to a group known as NKB antagonists (blockers), which were developed as a treatment for schizophrenia but have been sitting on a shelf unused, according to Professor Waljit Dhillo, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism REX Health news in pictures Doctors should prescribe more antidepressants for people with mental health problems, study finds Research from Oxford University found that more than one million extra people suffering from mental health problems would benefit from being prescribed drugs and criticised ideological reasons doctors use to avoid doing so. Getty Health news in pictures Student dies of flu after NHS advice to stay at home and avoid A&E The family of a teenager who died from flu has urged people not to delay going to A&E if they are worried about their symptoms. Melissa Whiteley, an 18-year-old engineering student from Hanford in Stoke-on-Trent, fell ill at Christmas and died in hospital a month later. Just Giving Health news in pictures Government to review thousands of harmful vaginal mesh implants The Government has pledged to review tens of thousands of cases where women have been given harmful vaginal mesh implants. Getty Health news in pictures Jeremy Hunt announces 'zero suicides ambition' for the NHS The NHS will be asked to go further to prevent the deaths of patients in its care as part of a zero suicide ambition being launched today Getty Health news in pictures Human trials start with cancer treatment that primes immune system to kill off tumours Human trials have begun with a new cancer therapy that can prime the immune system to eradicate tumours. The treatment, that works similarly to a vaccine, is a combination of two existing drugs, of which tiny amounts are injected into the solid bulk of a tumour. Nephron Health news in pictures Babies' health suffers from being born near fracking sites, finds major study Mothers living within a kilometre of a fracking site were 25 per cent more likely to have a child born at low birth weight, which increase their chances of asthma, ADHD and other issues Getty Health news in pictures NHS reviewing thousands of cervical cancer smear tests after women wrongly given all-clear Thousands of cervical cancer screening results are under review after failings at a laboratory meant some women were incorrectly given the all-clear. A number of women have already been told to contact their doctors following the identification of procedural issues in the service provided by Pathology First Laboratory. Rex Health news in pictures Potential key to halting breast cancer's spread discovered by scientists Most breast cancer patients do not die from their initial tumour, but from secondary malignant growths (metastases), where cancer cells are able to enter the blood and survive to invade new sites. Asparagine, a molecule named after asparagus where it was first identified in high quantities, has now been shown to be an essential ingredient for tumour cells to gain these migratory properties. Getty Health news in pictures NHS nursing vacancies at record high with more than 34,000 roles advertised A record number of nursing and midwifery positions are currently being advertised by the NHS, with more than 34,000 positions currently vacant, according to the latest data. Demand for nurses was 19 per cent higher between July and September 2017 than the same period two years ago. REX Health news in pictures Cannabis extract could provide new class of treatment for psychosis CBD has a broadly opposite effect to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active component in cannabis and the substance that causes paranoia and anxiety. Getty Health news in pictures Over 75,000 sign petition calling for Richard Branson's Virgin Care to hand settlement money back to NHS Mr Bransons company sued the NHS last year after it lost out on an 82m contract to provide childrens health services across Surrey, citing concerns over serious flaws in the way the contract was awarded PA Health news in pictures More than 700 fewer nurses training in England in first year after NHS bursary scrapped The numbers of people accepted to study nursing in England fell 3 per cent in 2017, while the numbers accepted in Wales and Scotland, where the bursaries were kept, increased 8.4 per cent and 8 per cent respectively Getty Health news in pictures Landmark study links Tory austerity to 120,000 deaths The paper found that there were 45,000 more deaths in the first four years of Tory-led efficiencies than would have been expected if funding had stayed at pre-election levels. On this trajectory that could rise to nearly 200,000 excess deaths by the end of 2020, even with the extra funding that has been earmarked for public sector services this year. Reuters Health news in pictures Long commutes carry health risks Hours of commuting may be mind-numbingly dull, but new research shows that it might also be having an adverse effect on both your health and performance at work. Longer commutes also appear to have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, with those commuting longer 33 per cent more likely to suffer from depression Shutterstock Health news in pictures You cannot be fit and fat It is not possible to be overweight and healthy, a major new study has concluded. The study of 3.5 million Britons found that even metabolically healthy obese people are still at a higher risk of heart disease or a stroke than those with a normal weight range Getty Health news in pictures Sleep deprivation When you feel particularly exhausted, it can definitely feel like you are also lacking in brain capacity. Now, a new study has suggested this could be because chronic sleep deprivation can actually cause the brain to eat itself Shutterstock Health news in pictures Exercise classes offering 45 minute naps launch David Lloyd Gyms have launched a new health and fitness class which is essentially a bunch of people taking a nap for 45 minutes. The fitness group was spurred to launch the napercise class after research revealed 86 per cent of parents said they were fatigued. The class is therefore predominantly aimed at parents but you actually do not have to have children to take part Getty Health news in pictures 'Fundamental right to health' to be axed after Brexit, lawyers warn Tobacco and alcohol companies could win more easily in court cases such as the recent battle over plain cigarette packaging if the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is abandoned, a barrister and public health professor have said Getty Health news in pictures 'Thousands dying' due to fear over non-existent statin side-effects A major new study into the side effects of the cholesterol-lowering medicine suggests common symptoms such as muscle pain and weakness are not caused by the drugs themselves Getty Health news in pictures Babies born to fathers aged under 25 have higher risk of autism New research has found that babies born to fathers under the age of 25 or over 51 are at higher risk of developing autism and other social disorders. The study, conducted by the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, found that these children are actually more advanced than their peers as infants, but then fall behind by the time they hit their teenage years Getty Health news in pictures Cycling to work could halve risk of cancer and heart disease Commuters who swap their car or bus pass for a bike could cut their risk of developing heart disease and cancer by almost half, new research suggests  but campaigners have warned there is still an urgent need to improve road conditions for cyclists. Cycling to work is linked to a lower risk of developing cancer by 45 per cent and cardiovascular disease by 46 per cent, according to a study of a quarter of a million people. Walking to work also brought health benefits, the University of Glasgow researchers found, but not to the same degree as cycling. Getty

In the past year Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has been called out to six house fires caused by e-cigarettes, and it fears there have been dozens of smaller blazes that firefighters were not called to.

Deputy head of community safety Steven Davies said: We would urge the public to always charge them on a non-flammable surface away from other flammable materials, not to charge them over long periods or leave them unattended when charging.

PA
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Arnold Schwarzenegger has joined the lengthy list of Republicans and Hollywood actors who have come out against Donald Trump.

The 69-year-old former governor of California said despite the fact he had voted for the Republican party ever since he became a citizen in 1983, he would not be voting for the GOP this year.

Schwarzenegger, who took over for Mr Trump this year on The Apprentice, did not explicitly use Mr Trumps name in his statement but made it clear he would not be supporting him. He did not indicate who he would be voting for in November instead.

For the first time since I became a citizen in 1983, I will not vote for the Republican candidate for President, the Austrian-born actor said in a statement shared on his Twitter account.

Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Show all 12 1 /12 Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger Schwarzenegger said he will not vote for Trump Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Mr McConnell condemned the remarks, but has not unendorsed him Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks House Speaker Paul Ryan Mr Ryan disinvited Mr Trump from a Wisconsin campaign event following the remarks Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former Sec of State Condoleezza Rice Ms Rice called for Trump to withdraw his candidacy Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Nebraska Sen Deb Fischer Ms Fischer called on Trump to step aside and give nomination to Mike Pence Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Texas Sen Ted Cruz Mr Cruz denounced the remarks, but still endorses Trump Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former Republican candidate Carly Fiorina Ms Fiorina wants Mike Pence to take the nomination Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt Hewitt called for Trump to step down Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Utah Representative Mia Love Ms Love said she cannot vote for Trump after hearing his remarks Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former New York Gov George Pataki Mr Pataki said Mr Trump should step down Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks New Hampshire Sen Kelly Ayotte Ms Ayotte will write in Mike Pence when she votes Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Arizona Sen John McCain Mr McCain will choose Mike Pence on Election Day Getty

Like many Americans, Ive been conflicted by this election  I still havent made up my mind about how exactly I will vote next month.

I have been a proud Republican since I moved to America in 1968 and I heard Nixons words about getting the government off our backs, free trade, and defending our liberty with a strong military, he continued.

Schwarzenegger said while he was proud to label himself a Republican he was even prouder to call himself an American.

A number of senior republicans have withdrawn their support for Mr Trump after obscene comments from 2005, in which he bragged about groping and making unwanted advances on women, were broadcast. Mr Trump has since recorded a scripted apology for the sexually aggressive comments but the issue is expected to dominate his second live TV presidential debate against Hilary Clinton on Sunday night.

Despite calls from Republicans for Mr Trump to drop out of the race, he has insisted he will carry on, saying: Id never withdraw. Ive never withdrawn in my life.
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Homophobic attacks rose by 147 per cent in the three months following the Brexit vote, according to figures compiled by an LGBT anti-violence charity.

Galop, which supports victims of homophobic attacks, said the number of hate crime incidents in the July, August and September following the June EU referendum vote was up 147 per cent on the corresponding three months of 2015.

The figures add to concerns that the hatred seen after the Brexit vote  which led to an immediate 57 per cent rise in hate crime incidents reported to the police  was not restricted to racial or religious hostility.

When The Independent examined the scale of post-referendum racism in July, it also found signs that some racists seemed intent on extending their attacks to the LGBT community.

Incidents collected by the social media sites PostRefRacism, Worrying Signs and iStreetWatch included a crowd walking down Drury Lane, London, two days after the referendum result was announced, chanting: First well get the Poles out, then the gays!

The actress Juliet Stevenson reported a Romanian lesbian being attacked in Oxford and suggested the incident showed Strains of 1930s Germany.

The broad range of groups being targeted after the Brexit vote was also revealed by the fact that while 51 per cent of abusers specifically mentioned the referendum, the most commonly targeted ethnic group was in fact people of South Asian, rather than European origin.

The statistics compiled by Galop appear to suggest that LGBT people also became the targets of a minority who felt emboldened by the referendum result to express their long simmering hatred because  in one researchers words  it made them think everyone agrees with them now.

Brexit racism and the fightback Show all 9 1 /9 Brexit racism and the fightback Brexit racism and the fightback Demonstrators protest against an increase in post-ref racism at London's March for Europe in July 2016 PA Brexit racism and the fightback These cards were found near a school in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, the day after the EU referendum Twitter/@howgilb Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback Romford, Essex, June 25 @diamondgeezer Brexit racism and the fightback A worker at this Romanian food shop was asleep upstairs at the time of this arson attack in Norwich on July 8, but escaped unharmed. Hundreds later participated in a love bombing rally outside the shop to express their opposition to racism and their support of the shop owners. JustGiving/Helen Linehan Brexit racism and the fightback This neo-Nazi sticker was spotted in Glasgow on June 26 Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback But after news emerged of neo-Nazi stickers appearing in Glasgow, some in the city struck back with slogans of their own. Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback More signs began to appear in some parts of the UK, created by people who wanted to show their opposition to post-referendum racism Courtesy of Bernadette Russell

Galops detection of a post-referendum spike in anti-LGBT hate incidents was revealed as the charity published its 2016 Hate Crime Report, which highlighted how experiencing hatred remained a significant part of LGBT peoples lives.

The report found that four out of five (80 per cent) of the 467 of the LGBT people surveyed by the charity had experienced hate crime in their lifetime, and one in four (25 per cent) had been physically assaulted.

The report also noted that when it came to the last hate crime the respondents had experienced, half of those who reported it to the police felt dissatisfied with the outcome.

This compares poorly with other types of crime, said the reports authors.

A quarter of the respondents said that in future they would probably not report any hate crime they experienced, with 44 per cent of them explaining they felt they would not be taken seriously.

One bisexual man told the researchers: Imagine if in a years time I get beaten up again  do you think they would believe me if I report it?

I dont think so. I dont think they would go after [the perpetrators], I dont think anything would happen.

Nik Noone, Galops chief executive, told The Guardian: UK responses to hate crime are among the best in the world but our hate crime laws are far from perfect. The highest prison sentence a court can give for homophobic, transphobic or disability common assault is six months. That is just a quarter of the two-year maximum for race and faith common assault. This disparity needs redress.

A Government spokesman said: In a Britain that works for everyone, hatred against a person because of their sexual orientation will not be tolerated. We welcome Galops recognition that UK hate crime laws are among the best in the world, but there is more to be done  and the Governments hate crime action plan, published in July, included measures to encourage prosecutors to pursue tougher sentences for all hate crimes, including those targeting the LGBT community.
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The UK is seeking to shift frontline immigration controls to Ireland's ports and airports to avoid having to introduce a "hard border" between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as part of post-Brexit immigration controls.

James Brokenshire, the Northern Ireland secretary, reportedly said there was a high level of collaboration on a joint programme of work between London and Dublin to control immigration, with a main focus on strengthening the common travel area (CTA) - the unique arrangement that allows full freedom of movement between people from Ireland and the UK. The news appears to contradict a Leave campaign claim that EU withdrawal would help the UK "take back our borders" as the move will give greater control of British borders to the Irish government.

In an interview with The Guardian, Mr Brokenshire said the British government was "working closely" with the Irish government to prevent people from avoiding immigration controls by arriving via Ireland.

We have put in place a range of measures to further combat illegal migration working closely with the Irish government. Our focus is to strengthen the external border of the common travel area [CTA], building on the strong collaboration with our Irish partners," he said.

We are already working closely with the Irish government and other members of the common travel area to prevent people from seeking to evade UK immigration controls from entering via another part of the CTA. There is a high level of collaboration on a joint programme of work."

 Amber Rudd launches immigration crackdown

Northern Ireland shares the UKs largest land border with another EU country  the Republic of Ireland, and there have been fears that measures would have to be imposed on the 300-mile border in order to control immigration after leaving the EU, which could undermine the 1998 Good Friday Agreement peace deal.

Recommended Read more Legal arguments in court battle against Brexit revealed for first time

But Mr Brokenshire claimed Brexit would not destabalise the peace settlement set out in the Belfast agreement, saying: Political stability and prosperity in Northern Ireland has been hard fought over many decades, and we will not do anything to undermine it.

There is no reason to think that the outcome of the referendum will do anything to undermine the rock-solid commitment of the UK government and the people of Northern Ireland to the settlement set out in the Belfast agreement and its successors.

Ireland's foreign minister, Charles Flanagan, is said to have welcomed Mr Brokenshire's plans, agreeing that the sharing of information was "vital" in ensuring that "any adverse impact is minimised".

But he also urged that upgrading immigration controls between the UK and Northern Ireland would have to be negotiated alongside the other EU countries, stressing that the peace process in Northern Ireland must not be undermined as a result.

According to The Guardian, Mr Flanagan said: "I caution that this will be a decision not just by the UK or Irish governments but ultimately also by the 27 EU states.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty

"I have been impressing on my fellow 26 EU foreign ministerial colleagues the importance of maintaining what is now an invisible border. I have to say there was among them a deep understanding of the consequences for the peace process of the reimposition of a heavily fortified border."

As well as concerns over Brexit creating tensions between north and south, politicians in Ireland have expressed worries that Irish border towns such as Dundalk could become the new Calais if people-traffickers trying to send migrants into the UK via Northern Ireland.

There are also concerns that the grants Norther Ireland receives from the EU for cross-community projects between nationalist and unionist communities will be stopped following Brexit, and it is not yet known if the funding shortfall will be made up by Westminster.

Belfast High Court is considering two similar legal challenges against Brexit by local figures who say EU withdrawal could have an adverse impact on the Northern Irish peace process. One legal bid has been spear headed by Raymond McCord, whose son was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries during the Troubles. The case is backed by a cross-community alliance of local politicians including Green Party leader Steven Agnew, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, Sinn Fein MLA John O'Dowd and Alliance MLA David Ford who are supporting a similiar case arguing the Northern Ireland Assembly must be consulted in EU withdrawal. The group claim the Northern Irish peace process was based on EU membership and could subsequently be undermined by Brexit.

56 per cent of Northern Irish voters voted to remain in the EU. The only major Northern Irish party to back Brexit was the Democratic Unionist Party. The SDLP, Sinn Fein, Greens, Alliance and UUP all backed remaining in the EU.

A separate legal challenge will be heard in London this week which argues parliament must be consulted before Article 50 can be triggered. One of the main arguments in the case is that the Northern Irish peace process could be harmed by Brexit.
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A number of vehicles have been damaged and households across Kent have been without water after a 24-inch pipe burst in Crayford, south east London.

Up to 16 cars were damaged when insulation for an underground car park absorbed flood water and became swollen in Crayfords Town Hall Square development.

There was also travel disruption as roads were flooded and closed off by the authorities.

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The leak began in the early hours of Sunday but was described by a Thames Water spokesman as an extremely difficult repair which suffered a major setback.

Works continued late on Sunday afternoon.

Sadia Farzana Chitra, 42, left her black Ford Fusion in one of the affected parking spaces on Saturday, and returned to find it ruined.

The mother of two told the Press Association: "My car is crushed, the roof is gone, the ground has come up - it is a bad architectural design.

"I had another of my neighbours with me and her car was okay, but we were told we cannot move it because there is a possibility with the pressure of the car there could be a blast because of the gas inside, or something. It can blow up the whole building."

She added: "The problem is who to contact. Someone has said the car insurance might not cover it because it didn't happen from the driver. We are in really, really bad shape."

Water was cut off from houses from eleven postcodes across south London and Kent, affecting homes in Dartford, Bexley and the surrounding area.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures 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 UK news in pictures 7 September 2022 Police officers stand guard after Animal Rebellion activists threw paint on the walls and road outside the Houses of Parliament in protest, in London, Britain Reuters

While most supplies had been fixed by Sunday afternoon, some residents in the DA5 post code experienced low pressure or no water.

Bottled water was also given out to residents.

Thames Water has apologised to people affected by the leak.
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The Conservative plan to make firms list their foreign workers is worse than Donald Trumps policy to ban Muslims from entering the US, one of David Cameron's closest advisers has said.

Steve Hilton, the former No 10 policy guru who backed Brexit during the campaign, has condemned Home Secretary Amber Rudds proposal as divisive, repugnant, and insanely bureaucratic.

He said ministers may as well announce that foreign workers will be tattooed with numbers on their forearms.

Speaking at the Conservative party conference last week, Ms Rudd said foreign workers should not be able to take the jobs that British people should do and suggested measures which would effectively name and shame companies which did not employ enough UK workers.

The MP was criticised by many for the proposal, including her own brother, but defended it saying we should be able to have a conversation about what skills we want to have in the UK.

Writing in The Sunday Times, Mr Hilton said the plan would kill britains reputation as an open, enterprise economy.

He said: Think how you felt when you heard Donald Trump suggest that Muslims should be banned from entering America. This is worse.

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the BundesbankGermanys central banktold a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were equivalent between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

Trump was then a novice candidate, reacting on the fly to a shocking Islamist terror attack.

He has since replaced his Muslim ban with a sensible policy of targeted extreme vetting.

But this flirtation with foreign worker-shaming was announced by an actual minister in an actual government, assisted by, we assume, actual civil servants.

He also criticised the plan for churning out new red tape when the whole point of Brexit was to sweep away the harmful impact of the European Unions regulatory fervour.

He warned that there seems as if theres a darkness at the heart of Theresa Mays government.

The former Leave campaigner called for Britain to embrace global trade during the referendum campaign.

He said the EU made Britain literally ungovernable and was anti-enterprise, anti-market and anti-trade.
At the cultural exchange (Source: VNA)

Attending the event were Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Pham Cao Phong, Lao Ambassador to Malaysia Houmdaophone Soukhaseum.



Addressing the opening ceremony, the two ambassadors highlighted the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations diplomatic delegations over the past years.



They expressed their delights at the respective nations all-around development and believed that with regular high-level visits by high-ranking leaders, the bilateral relations will further develop in the future, contributing to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region and the world as well.



The Lao ambassador took this occasion to thank Vietnam for its support for his country in hosting the activities of ASEAN during the time when Lao assumed the groupings Chair./.
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A British diplomat who penned article 50 has urged Theresa May to let the British public vote on the final terms of Brexit.

Lord Kerr of Kinlochard, a crossbench member of the House of Lords and a representative to the European Union who drafted the formal mechanism for leaving the bloc in 2003, suggested a general election or referendum should be held on whether Brexit negotiations have lived up to the promises made during the Referendum.

Lord Kerr, who confessed he did not think article 50 would ever be enacted when he drafted it, told The Guardian: Once the government, some way down this process, has established clearly what Brexit will be like, if it turns out that Boriss policy on cake doesnt work, then it might be not a bad idea to ask the country in a general election, or possibly another referendum, whether this is actually what it had in mind.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, one of the most prominent leaders of the Leave campaign, said during the referendum he was pro having my cake and pro eating it. However, the approach has been condemned by European leaders, including the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker who insisted Britain could not have a la carte access to the benefits of the EU after Brexit.

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the BundesbankGermanys central banktold a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were equivalent between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

Lord Kerr also claimed Ms May would allow Parliament to vote on if or when to trigger Article 50, even if the two legal cases currently going through the High Court, aiming to force the Prime Minister to get parliamentary approval before triggering Article 50, fell through, saying a vote would be "risk-free" for the Prime Minister.

His comments come after the Ms May unveiled a far tougher stance than she has previously taken on EU withdrawal in her opening speech to the Conservative conference last week, in which she signalled backing a hard Brexit and even directly attacked those who want a compromise deal to allow the UK single market access.

Lord Kerr attacked Ms Mays speech saying it has played very badly in continental Europe, adding that her words had caused consternation in Europe.

On Saturday, business leaders demanded that Ms May moves to rule out the worst aspects of a hard Brexit break with the EU. Confederation of British Industry (CBI) director general Carolyn Fairbairn said it was a matter of urgency because uncertainty was impacting on investment decisions.

 Theresa May on immigration in conference speech

One of the country's top universities has also warned the Government it will stand by its foreign academics following reports it had banned them from advising ministers on Brexit.

Ms May has said she will formally trigger the two-year exit negotiations by the end of March.
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A senior British Cabinet minister has refused to criticise Donald Trump after a recording emerged of the US presidential candidate endorsing the groping of women.

Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, said he would work with Mr Trump if he won the presidential election next month and that he did not want to intervene in the US election by criticising him.

We have to be very careful not to comment on other peoples elections, because we have to respect democracy and we have to work with whoever wins. Im not going to intervene in the US election, he said when asked to criticise Mr Trump on the BBCs Andrew Marr Show.

Mr Fallons comments were however in contrast to those of Education Secretary Justine Greening, also made on Sunday morning television.

Of Mr Trumps comment, Ms Greening told ITV1s Peston on Sunday programme: As a woman I felt they were utterly crass. Obviously its up to the American people to decide whether hes the right person to be their president.

Earlier this year Mr Fallon did not seem publicly concerned by US President Barack Obamas support for the EU Remain campaign, which both men supported.

Mr Trumps comments, recorded on tape in 2005, have caused a storm in the US. The candidate has however refused to quit the race, saying to do so would let down his supporters.

On the tape, Mr Trump, who was at that time newly married to his third wife, Melania, talks about trying to sleep with a married woman, saying:

Michael Fallon, Secretary of State for Defence (EPA)

I moved on her and I failed, I'll admit it ... I did try and fuck her. I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn't get there. And she was married."

Mr Trump then talks about his approach to women in general, telling the person he is with:

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

I am automatically attracted to beautiful women. I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss, I don't even wait ... and when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.

"Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything."

Mr Trump has apologised for the comments in a pre-recorded statement.

The Republican candidate's poll rating has begun to fall away in recent weeks after signs he was running Democratic party candidate Hillary Clinton close.
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The Government has U-turned on controversial plans to force companies to draw up lists of their foreign-born employees  just a week after it unveiled them at Tory conference.

The policy, trailed after a speech by Home Secretary Amber Rudd in Birmingham, had originally mandated to be clear about the proportion of their workforce which is international, with suggestions that firms with the highest proportions could be shamed for not investing in the local workforce.

Labour said the about-face on the policy showed the Conservatives were in disarray and accused ministers of whipping up anti-foreigner sentiment to distract from the lack of a plan over Brexit.

Though public opinion polls suggest widespread support for the anti-immigrant measure, the move attracted widespread criticism from all corners of the political spectrum for its apparently authoritarian approach.

Ukip MEP Roger Helmer on Saturday said the proposals were a step too far and would be branded fascist had they been announced by his party; Labours Andy Burnham said he was not having this, while Scottish First Minister said the policy was an appalling, regressive, and hugely troubling development.

David Camerons former top aide Steve Hilton said this weekend that he believed the plan was worse than Donald Trumps proposal to ban all Muslims from travelling to the United States. Writing in The Sunday Times newspaper he said the minister might as well have announced that foreign workers will be tattooed with numbers on their forearms. Former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan also said she agreed with Mr Hiltons analysis.

Business groups also hit out at the policy, with the Institute of Directors warning that immigration would be a bone of contention between firms and the Government and the Confederation of British Industry branding the proposed policy not welcome.

 James O'Brien says Amber Rudd's speech echoes Mein Kampf

After a week of criticism over the move, on Sunday the Government said the data collected under the policy would in fact not be made public and would be for internal policymaking purposes only. This is not data that will be published. This is about informing policy so that we understand particularly which areas and parts of the country there are skills shortages, evidenced by the fact employers are not taking on local workers as much as they might do, Education Secretary Justine Greening told ITV1s Peston on Sunday programme.

It then enables us really to tailor policy in those areas so that we can respond to that  and make sure that people can take advantage of opportunities economically in their area.

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the BundesbankGermanys central banktold a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were equivalent between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

When it was pointed out that Ms Rudd and her staff had not made this clear when the policy was initially announced, Ms Greening said: Im saying it absolutely clearly now and the consultation will be coming out shortly that makes that clear too.

In her speech, before the policy was unveiled, the Home Secretary had promised incentives for businesses to invest in British workers. She warned that the current setup was allowing some firms to get away with not training local people.

We wont win in the world if we dont do more to upskill our own workforce, she said.

The clarified policy of gathering the data but not publishing it is strange because the Office for National Statistics already holds data about the proportion of foreign born people living in various local authority areas across the country. HMRC also has access to National Insurance numbers of all workers on a per-company basis.

 Amber Rudd launches immigration crackdown

Responding to the apparent U-turn, the shadow Home Secretary, Diane Abbott, said: The Tories are in disarray following Amber Rudd's worrying statement last week, contradicting each other as their policy falls apart at the seams. The Tories' anti-foreigner agenda is a distraction from their own complete failures of policy, and against the best interests of society.

Many sectors risk collapse if the Tories press ahead with these plans on overseas workers: the City, farmers, the NHS, construction.

We need answers from the Tories on how they will protect our economy, but they have no plan other than a risky hard Brexit, which would threaten our prosperity.

Despite causing an outcry on social media, polling by YouGov conducted last week found that a majority of voters from all parties, except the SNP, would have actually supported the plans to draw up public lists of foreigners.

The Conservatives are lurching from one damaging announcement to another, making the pound crash and foreign workers feel unwelcome, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said in response to the U-turn.

Even Conservatives described the plan as repugnant. It is clear Theresa May is happy to dance to Ukip's tune and only ask the difficult questions later. The Conservatives are reckless, divisive and uncaring. With Labour saying they did not object to this disgusting plan in principle, the Liberal Democrats are now the real opposition to the Conservative Brexit government.

Theresa May used her speech at her partys annual conference to attack politicians and commentators who spoke up in favour of immigrants.

Just listen to the way a lot of politicians and commentators talk about the public, she said. They find their patriotism distasteful, their concerns about immigration parochial, their views about crime illiberal, their attachment to their job security inconvenient.

The PM has pledged to end freedom of movement from the EU to Britain after the country leaves the trading bloc. In the last week she clarified that she would begin the process of leaving in the first quarter of 2017, when she would trigger Article 50.
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The Government has U-turned on controversial plans to force companies to draw up lists of their foreign-born employees  just a week after it unveiled them as Tory conference.

The policy, trailed after a speech by Home Secretary Amber Rudd in Birmingham, had originally mandated firmed to be clear about the proportion of their workforce which is international, with suggestions that firms with the highest proportions could be shamed for not investing in the local workforce.

Though public opinion polls suggest widespread support for the anti-immigrant measure, the move attracted widespread criticism from all corners of the political spectrum for its apparently authoritarian and sinister approach.

Ukip MEP Roger Helmer on Saturday said the proposals were a step too far and would be branded fascist had they been announced by his party; Labours Andy Burnham said he was not having this. Scottish First Minister said the policy was an appalling, regressive, and hugely troubling development. Lib Dem leader Tim Farron branded the proposal a nasty little policy.

After a week of criticism over the move the Government however said the data collected under the policy would in fact not be made public and would be for internal policymaking purposes only.

Education Secretary Justine Greening told ITV1s Peston programme on Sunday morning: This is not data that will be published. This is about informing policy so that we understand particularly which areas and parts of the country there are skills shortages evidenced by the fact employers are not taking local workers as much as they might do.

It then enables us really to tailor policy in those areas so that we can respond to that  and make sure that people can take advantage of opportunities economically in their area.

Justine Greening 'clarified' that the data would not be made public (BBC)

When it was pointed out that Ms Rudd and her staff had not made this clear when the policy was initially announced, Ms Greening said: Im saying it absolutely clearly now and the consultation will be coming out shortly that makes that clear too.

In her speech before the policy was unveiled the Home Secretary had promised incentives for businesses to invest in British workers.

Brexit racism and the fightback Show all 9 1 /9 Brexit racism and the fightback Brexit racism and the fightback Demonstrators protest against an increase in post-ref racism at London's March for Europe in July 2016 PA Brexit racism and the fightback These cards were found near a school in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, the day after the EU referendum Twitter/@howgilb Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback Romford, Essex, June 25 @diamondgeezer Brexit racism and the fightback A worker at this Romanian food shop was asleep upstairs at the time of this arson attack in Norwich on July 8, but escaped unharmed. Hundreds later participated in a love bombing rally outside the shop to express their opposition to racism and their support of the shop owners. JustGiving/Helen Linehan Brexit racism and the fightback This neo-Nazi sticker was spotted in Glasgow on June 26 Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback But after news emerged of neo-Nazi stickers appearing in Glasgow, some in the city struck back with slogans of their own. Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback More signs began to appear in some parts of the UK, created by people who wanted to show their opposition to post-referendum racism Courtesy of Bernadette Russell

The policy is unlikely to be a gamechanger under its new guise because the Office for National Statistics already holds data about the proportion of foreign born people living in various local authority areas across the country.

Despite causing an outcry on social media polling by YouGov conducted last week found that a majority of voters from all parties except the SNP supported the plans to draw up public lists of foreigners.

Theresa May used her speech at conference to attack politicians and commentators who spoke up in favour of immigrants.

Just listen to the way a lot of politicians and commentators talk about the public, she said.

They find their patriotism distasteful, their concerns about immigration parochial, their views about crime illiberal, their attachment to their job security inconvenient."

The PM has pledged to end freedom of movement from the EU to Britain after the country leaves the trading bloc.

In the last week she clarified that she would begin the process of leaving in the first quarter of 2017, when she would trigger Article 50.
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The Labour Party must be open to supporting the ending of current EU freedom of movement rules, the shadow Brexit Secretary has said.

Keir Starmer, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, said he believed immigration was too high and that people were understandably concerned about its effects.

The newly appointed shadow minister made the comments on Sunday, putting him at odds with past statements by Jeremy Corbyn in defence of free movement.

He blamed a skills shortage for high immigration and said the best way to reduce it overall would be to increase training of young people born in Britain. But he also said the party should support adjustments to free movement rules.

Mr Starmer however warned that the Conservatives had struck the wrong tone when it came to immigration, and that migrants themselves were not to blame for anxieties about the issue.

The warning came after the Government U-turned on plans to force firms to list foreign employees that could see companies shamed for employing too low a proportion of British people.

Theres been a huge amount of immigration over the last 10 years and people are understandably concerned about it, Mr Starmer told the BBCs Andrew Marr Show.

Jeremy Corbyn has defended free movement of people (Reuters)

I think it should be reduced and it should be reduce by making sure that weve got the skills in this country that are needed for the job that needs to be done.

As I went around the country one thing was absolutely clear: there is a skills shortage. This is a failure of government, its got nothing to do with immigrants that get blamed.

We have to be open to adjustments of the freedom of movement rules and how they apply in this country. I accept that freedom of movement was a major issue in the referendum but nobody, no matter how they voted, voted for the Government to take an axe to the economy.

Brexit racism and the fightback Show all 9 1 /9 Brexit racism and the fightback Brexit racism and the fightback Demonstrators protest against an increase in post-ref racism at London's March for Europe in July 2016 PA Brexit racism and the fightback These cards were found near a school in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, the day after the EU referendum Twitter/@howgilb Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback Romford, Essex, June 25 @diamondgeezer Brexit racism and the fightback A worker at this Romanian food shop was asleep upstairs at the time of this arson attack in Norwich on July 8, but escaped unharmed. Hundreds later participated in a love bombing rally outside the shop to express their opposition to racism and their support of the shop owners. JustGiving/Helen Linehan Brexit racism and the fightback This neo-Nazi sticker was spotted in Glasgow on June 26 Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback But after news emerged of neo-Nazi stickers appearing in Glasgow, some in the city struck back with slogans of their own. Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback More signs began to appear in some parts of the UK, created by people who wanted to show their opposition to post-referendum racism Courtesy of Bernadette Russell

Theresa May has said freedom of movement will end but not said what will be put in its place. She has however ruled out an Australian-style points-based immigration system.

Mr Starmers approach to bringing down immigration numbers is in contrast to Jeremy Corbyns. Mr Corbyn has previously said he does not think there is too much immigration.

A Labour government will not offer false promises. We will not sow division or fan the flames of fear. We will instead tackle the real issues of immigration  and make the changes that are needed, he told Labours annual party conference in Liverpool two weeks ago.

Mr Starmer also used the interview to call for MPs to be given a parliamentary vote on Theresa Mays negotiating position.

He accused her of dodging accountability and scrutiny on the matter.
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Labour has backed a plan for a parliamentary vote on the terms of Brexit negotiations, in a move that could sink the Governments plans for a so-called hard Brexit.

Keir Starmer, the partys shadow Brexit Secretary, said the opening terms of negotiations should be put to the Commons and voted on, warning that Theresa May was trying to maneuver without any scrutiny in Parliament.

The call comes after a cross-party alliance of MPs including Tories, Labour, SNP, and Green members joined forces to demand a vote on any plan to leave the single market  or the hard Brexit.

Those MPs, including Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg, Nicky Morgan and Anna Soubry, told the Observer newspaper that there was no mandate for leaving the single market from the referendum result  where voters were only asked about the EU.

Though Labours frontbench has taken a different approach in calling for a vote on the opening terms of negotiations, the end result of such a vote could be the same as a vote on the single market.

There is thought to be a Commons majority in favour of staying in the single market and MPs who were against hard Brexit would likely use the opportunity to vote against any approach that could see Britain leave it.

The referendum is clear and has to be accepted and we cant have a re-run of the question that was put to the country earlier this year, Mr Starmer told the BBCs Andrew Marr Show.

But, and its a big but, there has to be democratic grip of the process. At the moment what the Prime Minister is trying to do is maneuver without any scrutiny in Parliament.

Keir Starmer, shadow Brexit Secretary (BBC)

Thats why the terms of which were going to negotiate absolutely have to be put to a vote in the House because if we cant get the opening terms right well never get the right result.

He added: Its a question of accountability. If she cant even get the confidence of the House on the opening terms then theyre probably the wrong opening terms.

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the BundesbankGermanys central banktold a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were equivalent between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

Mr Starmer, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, was appointed as shadow Brexit Secretary late last week in Jeremy Corbyns reshuffle.

The MP said he believed that Labour should be open to changing the rules around free movement that he believed immigration was too high.

He however warned that Ms May and her colleagues had taken the wrong tone in scapegoating foreigners for concerns about immigration.

Last month Brexit Secretary David Davis said the details of Brexit negotiations would be kept secret from Parliament so that the Government could get a better deal.

Clearly there is a need for Parliament to be informed without giving away our negotiating position. I may not be able to tell you everything, even in private hearings, he told the House of Lords EU select committee.

I can entirely see accountability after the event, thats very clear. In advance, I dont think its possible for parliamentarians to micro-manage the process and wouldnt give us an optimum outcome for the country.

The Prime Minister added last week that though MPs would be informed at various stages, they would not be privy to precisely what her negotiators were doing
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Bill Clinton was interrupted by a heckler who accused him of being a rapist during a speech at a campaign rally in Milwaukee.

The former US president began his sentence by saying: "No one can dispute the fact..."

But he was interrupted as he took a pause by a protester who shouted: "That you're a rapist!"

Another audience member then repeatedly shouts: "Bill Clinton is a rapist!"

US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Show all 12 1 /12 US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump shakes hands with Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at the conclusion of their first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York Reuters US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures President Barack Obama embraces Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton on stage at the party's convention in Philadelphia US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Donald Trump's wife Melania delivered a speech at the GOP convention in Cleveland that was later found to have been cribbed in part from Michelle Obama's 2008 convention address AP US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Hillary Clinton talks to reporters aboard her new campaign plane on Labour Day, 5 September, her first 'press conference' since 2015 (Getty Images) US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Donald Trump held a joint press conference with Mexican leader Enrique Pena Nieto in Mexico City in August, hours before reiterating his harsh immigration plans at a campaign rally in Arizona Reuters US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Bernie Sanders officially endorsed Hillary Clinton, saying his progressive vision for a transformed America would be best served by the defeat of Donald Trump Reuters US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Khizr and Gazala Khan appeared at the DNC to slam Trump for his stance on Muslim immigration, citing the case of their son Humayun Khan, who was killed in combat while serving as a Captain in the US Army in Iraq US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson is doing better in polls than any third party candidate since Ross Perot, 20 years ago Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Green Party candidate Jill Stein (centre) marches with supporters in Colorado AP US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Hillary Clinton and Virginia Senator Tim Kaine at a rally in Kaine's home state in July, days before Ms Clinton tapped him to be her running mate Getty US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Trump on the campaign trail with his vice presidential pick, Indiana governor Mike Pence AP US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage appears at a Trump rally in Mississippi in August, where he told the crowd that he 'wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me'.

Mr Clinton's supporters shouted down the hecklers and removed them from the rally.

"Thank you," Mr Clinton said. "You've gotta feel sorry for them. They had a bad day yesterday so they're trying to make it up."

He went on to say: "This is what is the matter with politics.

"When other people pour poison down your throat but don't drink it. Give back good."

 Donald Trump caught on tape talking about sexually assaulting women: "Grab 'em by the pussy"

The interruption comes after Donald Trump apologised for saying he could do anything with women, including groping them.

In his video apology, Mr Trump threatened to raise the former president's infidelities.

Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims, he said.

We will discuss this more in the coming days. See you at the debate on Sunday.

Mr Trump later retweeted posts by Juanita Broaddrick, who claims Mr Clinton raped her in 1978.

Ms Broaddrick's accusations were never tested in criminal court.

Mr Clinton has long denied the allegations and Ms Clinton has declined to address them.
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A federal judge has ordered a status conference hearing after a woman filed a lawsuit claiming Donald Trump raped her when she was 13-years-old in 1994.

In the lawsuit a witness, identified by the pseudonym Tiffany Doe, alleges she saw Mr Trump and billionaire-paedophile Jeffrey Epstein repeatedly rape the plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe.

The complaint claims Epstein hired an unidentified woman to pick up teenage girls to bring to his parties.

A screenshot of the court order, courtesy of LawNewz.com

The plaintiff's third attempt in filing the lawsuit features a new witness named Joan Doe.

Mr Trump has repeatedly denied the allegations.

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

As I have said before, the allegations are categorically untrue and an obvious publicity stunt aimed at smearing my client, Alan Garten, Mr Trumps attorney, told LawNewz.com.

In the event we are actually served this time, we intend to move for sanctions for this frivolous filing.

Federal Judge Ronnie Abrams has ordered that the status conference hearing for 16 December in a New York court.

She has asked for both sides to provide information to assist the Court in advancing the case to settlement or trial.

 More Donald Trump tapes surface with crude sex remarks

Mr Trump's ex-wife Ivana previously accused him of "raping" her during their divorce in 1991 - though she later said it was not in "a literal or criminal sense".

She accused him of rape after he allegedly ripped her clothes off to have sex with her in a "violent assault".

Mr Trump denied the allegation and said it was "obviously false".
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Only one in eight Republicans say they think Donald Trump should have to end his presidential campaign after a video of him bragging about groping women surfaced.

The first poll since the tape was published showed just 12 per cent of Republicans  and 13 per cent of female Republicans  agree Trump should end his political campaign.

The survey comes amid mounting pressure for the billionaire to withdraw from the race.

Prominent Republican figures  including former presidential nominee John McCain and previous governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger  have publicly withdrawn their support for Mr Trump since the tape was revealed.

Yet according to the Politico/MorningConsult poll, GOP voters still largely want the party to give its backing to the current candidate. Almost three quarters (74 per cent) of those surveyed say officials should stand by him. Thirteen per cent think the party's politicians should rescind their endorsements.

The survey also shows Hillary Clinton ahead, with 42 per cent of the vote compared to Trumps 38.

Libertarian Gary Johnson has eight per cent of the vote and Green Party's Jill Stein is on three per cent.

Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Show all 12 1 /12 Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger Schwarzenegger said he will not vote for Trump Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Mr McConnell condemned the remarks, but has not unendorsed him Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks House Speaker Paul Ryan Mr Ryan disinvited Mr Trump from a Wisconsin campaign event following the remarks Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former Sec of State Condoleezza Rice Ms Rice called for Trump to withdraw his candidacy Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Nebraska Sen Deb Fischer Ms Fischer called on Trump to step aside and give nomination to Mike Pence Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Texas Sen Ted Cruz Mr Cruz denounced the remarks, but still endorses Trump Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former Republican candidate Carly Fiorina Ms Fiorina wants Mike Pence to take the nomination Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt Hewitt called for Trump to step down Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Utah Representative Mia Love Ms Love said she cannot vote for Trump after hearing his remarks Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former New York Gov George Pataki Mr Pataki said Mr Trump should step down Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks New Hampshire Sen Kelly Ayotte Ms Ayotte will write in Mike Pence when she votes Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Arizona Sen John McCain Mr McCain will choose Mike Pence on Election Day Getty

The poll included people from across the political spectrum and was carried out on Saturday, the day after the video was revealed by The Washington Post. By that time, 47 per cent of people said they had already heard "a lot" about the video.

Only nine per cent of people asked said they had not heard anything about it at all.

Although overall, 74 per cent of all voters said they had a negative reaction to the video, only 22 per cent of Republicans said that they had a "very negative" impression of the video. Ten per cent of Republican voters said the video gave them a positive feeling.

 More Donald Trump tapes surface with crude sex remarks

Morning Consult surveyed 1,549 registered voters including 1,390 people considered likely to vote.

Both parties parties said they thought it would take some time for the implications of the video to cement into the minds of the electorate. The second presidential debate on Sunday night provides an opportunity for the latest revelations about Mr Trump to sink in.
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A defiant Donald Trump has retaliated against calls for him to withdraw from the presidential race by retweeting a woman who claims Bill Clinton raped her in 1978.

Following the release of a recording of Mr Trump saying he could do anything with women, including groping them, the Republican presidential threatened to raise the former president's infidelities.

Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims, he said in a video apology.

We will discuss this more in the coming days. See you at the debate on Sunday.

On Saturday evening, Mr Trump retweeted a post by Juanita Broaddrick made Saturday morning saying: "Actions speak louder than words. DT said bad things! HRC threatened me after BC raped me."

He then retweeted Ms Broaddrick's second post: "Hillary calls Trump's remarks 'horrific' while she lives with and protects a 'Rapist'. Her actions are horrific."

On her account, she has pinned a tweet from 6 January which reads: "I was 35 years old when Bill Clinton, Ark. Attorney General raped me and Hillary tried to silence me. I am now 73....it never goes away."

Ms Broaddrick's accusations that Mr Clinton raped her in 1978 were never tested in criminal court.

He has long denied the allegations and Ms Clinton has declined to address them.

 More Donald Trump tapes surface with crude sex remarks

Mr Clinton speech at a campaign rally in Milwaukee on Saturday was interrupted by accusations he is a rapist.

"No one can dispute the fact," Mr Clinton began, when someone in the audience shouted: "That you're a rapist!"

Another protester then repeatedly shouts: "Bill Clinton is a rapist!"

Mr Trump has said he will carry on as the Republican candidate for president despite numerous calls for him to drop out.

Id never withdraw. Ive never withdrawn in my life, he told the Washington Post. No, Im not quitting this race. I have tremendous support."
At the reception (Source: VNA)

Receiving French Ambassador Bertrand Lortholary, Quang pledged all possible support to the ambassador during his tenure and hoped that he will visit many Vietnamese localities to gain a full insight into the countrys socio-economic development.



Lortholary said his assignment is to concretise key orientations set by French President Francois Hollande and his Vietnamese counterpart during the recent State visit to Vietnam, including developing economic and defence links on par with bilateral political and diplomatic ties, facilitating young generations exchanges through French language training by opening a French Cultural House in Ho Chi Minh City and a French high school in Hanoi.



Meeting Canadian Ambassador Ping Kitnikone, Quang suggested extending bilateral cooperation in science-technology, health care, labour, oil and gas, and banking.



The guest informed that Canada will send a delegation of 90 academia representatives to Vietnam to learn about the potential of education collaboration, adding that Canada also pays attention to strengthening people-to-people exchange.



In a conversation with Qatari Ambassador Mohamed Ismael Al-Emadi, the Vietnamese President thanked Qatar for backing Vietnams bid for a seat at the UNESCO Executive Council and the UN Socio-Economic Council, as well as welcoming Vietnamese workers and students.



He affirmed that Vietnam wishes to push ahead with the practical and deep friendship and all-around cooperation with Qatar.



The Qatari Ambassador, for his part, stressed that Qatar values ties with Vietnam, especially in the fields of economy, trade, investment, education and agriculture.



Meanwhile, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus Demetrios A.Theophylactou affirmed that the European country wants to reinforce ties with Vietnam in trade and people-to-people exchange.



The Republic of Cyprus welcomes Vietnamese labourers to the country, he said.



Demetrios A.Theophylactou said the two nations need to increase liaison at multilateral forums, adding that the Republic of Cyprus pledges to support Vietnam in boosting ties with the European Union.



The host asked for support to Vietnamese businesses operating in tourism, agro-forestry processing, and suggested actively discussing the agreement on bilateral labour cooperation.



In a reception for Ambassador of Gambia Abubacar Jah, the Vietnamese State leader proposed the two countries strengthen the exchange of all-level visits and people-to-people exchange to raise mutual understanding, as well as consider the possibility of joint work across farming and marine-based economy.



Abubacar Jah said Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has devised a strategy to ensure food security and considers Vietnam the best partner in agriculture.



In another meeting, President Quang asked Croatia to continue supporting Vietnam in running for the post of non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021 and member of the International Law Committee for 2017-2021.



Croatian Ambassador Kreso Glavac wished the two countries will hold more sport exchanges in the near future, and informed the host that Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic hopes to further the exchange of visits at all levels and will visit Vietnam next year.



Talking with Turkmenistani Ambassador Chinar Tajievna Rustamova, the Vietnamese President suggested facilitating visits to learn about cooperation opportunities in garment, footwear, farm produce, transport infrastructure, oil and gas, and construction materials.



Rustamova said the two countries established a cooperation framework to advance ties in fields of strength and demand such as trade, education, energy, construction and transport infrastructure at a sidelines meeting of the UN General Assemblys session last year./.
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Donald Trump has come out fighting ahead of the second TV presidential debate as the backlash over his obscene comments about women intensified.

As a slew of senior Republicans withdrew their support and Hillary Clinton's running mate said his remarks revealed a "pattern of sexual assault", Mr Trump struck a defiant tone and issued a series of tweets attacking his critics.

'Tremendous support (except for some Republican leadership"). Thank you," Trump wrote on Twitter.

"So many self-righteous hypocrites. Watch their poll numbers - and elections - go down!" Trump also tweeted, apparently referring to those Republicans who have withdrawn support for his candidacy over a 2005 video that emerged on Friday.

And, most controversially, Mr Trump also seized on never-proved sexual allegations against Hillary Clinton's husband, Bill.

 Donald Trump apologises for 'grab them by the p****' remarks, says Bill Clinton has done 'far worse'

The Republican presidential nominee tweeted a link to an interview with Juanita Broaddrick, which is called 'Bill Clinton Accuser Juanita Broaddrick Relives Brutal Rapes'.

Broaddrick's lawsuit against Clinton accusing him of rape was dismissed in 2001 and criminal charges were never filed.

The interview has been conducted with BReitbart, a right=wing news organisation that has been a stauch supporter of the billionaire businessman.

Mr Clinton has strenuously denied the allegations

Of those criticising Mr Trump, perhaps the most vocal came from Tim Kaine, Ms Clinton's running mate, who has said the recording reveals "a pattern of sexual assault" by the Republican presidential nominee.

Mr Kaine said "it is much more than words", adding: "There's kind of a piece of the jigsaw puzzle missing in Donald Trump where he does not look at women and consider them as equal to himself."

Meanwhile, a succession of senior Republicans  in fact, more than three dozen in total  have withdrawn their support from Mr Trump.

Senator John McCain  the 2008 Republican nominee  released a lengthy statement explaining why he reached his decision.

I have wanted to support the candidate our party nominated. He was not my choice, but as a past nominee, I thought it was important I respect the fact that Donald Trump won a majority of the delegates by the rules our party set, Mr McCain said.

But Donald Trumps behaviour this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy.

Mike Pence, Mr Trump's running mate, has also distanced himself from the billionaire, declining to appear on his behalff at a party gathering in Wisconsin and saying in a statement: he was "offended" by the comments.

I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them, Mr. Pence said, adding, We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night.

Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Show all 12 1 /12 Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger Schwarzenegger said he will not vote for Trump Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Mr McConnell condemned the remarks, but has not unendorsed him Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks House Speaker Paul Ryan Mr Ryan disinvited Mr Trump from a Wisconsin campaign event following the remarks Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former Sec of State Condoleezza Rice Ms Rice called for Trump to withdraw his candidacy Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Nebraska Sen Deb Fischer Ms Fischer called on Trump to step aside and give nomination to Mike Pence Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Texas Sen Ted Cruz Mr Cruz denounced the remarks, but still endorses Trump Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former Republican candidate Carly Fiorina Ms Fiorina wants Mike Pence to take the nomination Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt Hewitt called for Trump to step down Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Utah Representative Mia Love Ms Love said she cannot vote for Trump after hearing his remarks Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former New York Gov George Pataki Mr Pataki said Mr Trump should step down Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks New Hampshire Sen Kelly Ayotte Ms Ayotte will write in Mike Pence when she votes Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Arizona Sen John McCain Mr McCain will choose Mike Pence on Election Day Getty

Former California Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger  and new Apprentice host  issued a statement saying that he would not vote for Mr Trump.

But, on a day of very few voices of support, the former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani did stick his head above the parapet to partially defend Mr Trump, saying "men at times talk like that".

However, Mr Giuliani also said Mr Trump was "wrong for doing it" and stressed he was "not justifying it, I believe it's wrong, I know he believes it's wrong".

Speaking during an interview on CNN, Mr Giuliani said said Mr Trump made "horrible remarks" and said they were "remarks you certainly don't want to hear from anyone, much less a presidential candidate".

"I think he made a full and complete apology for it. He probably is going to do it again tonight," he added.

However, after being pressed on the claim Mr Trump made saying he could do anything with women, including groping them, Mr Giuliani said: "First of all, I don't know that he did it to anyone. This is talk, and gosh almighty, he who hasn't sinned, throw the first stone here."

He later added: "But the fact is that men at times talk like that. Not all men, but men do.

"He was wrong for doing it. I am not justifying it. I believe it's wrong. I know he believes it's wrong. I believe this is not the man we're talking about today."

In an interview with ABC News, Mr Giuliani said: "So he said some very bad things 10 or 12 years ago.

"He's apologised for it. And it seems to me we should move on."

Mr Trump has apologised for his comments after some Republicans said they were indefensible.

I've never said I'm a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone that I'm not. I've said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more-than-a-decade-old video are one of them," he said.

"Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologise."

He also accused former president Bill Clinton of doing "far worse".
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As the death count after Hurricane Matthew approaches 900 and reports of deadly cholera outbreaks begin to surface, Haitians have sent out desperate pleas for help.

Government officials estimate at least 350,000 people needed assistance after the devastating storm.

Yet accompanying many requests for aid comes a warning  do not give your money to the American Red Cross (ARC).

 Video shows Hurricane Matthew devastation in Haiti

Trust in the ARC, and in foreign aid more widely, has been badly shaken by a 2015 report that found donations had been squandered.

Despite collecting nearly half a billion dollars to provide relief after the 2010 Haiti earthquake and pledging to build 700 permanent homes, the ARC has been accused of only building six.

In the coming days, many of you are going to write and ask me how you can help Haiti, one woman said on Twitter after the hurricane, Do not give to the American Red Cross.

She asked people to give instead to Haitian organisations and requested people not send goods that could be sourced locally.

The joint investigation by ProPublica and NPR found rampant mismanagement at the heart of the ARC and charged it with consistent misrepresentation of the success of its projects, particularly in housing.

The group has also been implored to hire more Haitians in its highest ranks.

Responding to the report, the American Red Cross said in a statement it was disappointed, once again, by the lack of balance, context and accuracy in the most recent reporting by ProPublica and NPR.

Recommended Read more UN admits playing role in cholera outbreak that killed thousands

The allegations against the ARC came amid complaints against the failure of the entire international community to manage the 2010 Haitian disaster.

After the earthquake, close to 9bn was pledged to help the country in its recovery.

Yet critics argue that the money was not used so Haiti could be built back better, as officials had promised.

Instead, an estimated 55,000 Haitians are still living in tents or other makeshift shelters and few advances in disaster planning have been implemented.

The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew Show all 14 1 /14 The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew 11 October 2016 A woman illuminates her family with a candle as they sleep on the floor in a partially destroyed school used as a shelter after Hurricane Matthew hit Jeremie, Haiti Reuters The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew 11 October 2016 Mist rises off the water as a flooded building is pictured after Hurricane Matthew passes in Lumberton, North Carolina, US Reuters The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew 11 October 2016 Children sleep over metal sheets in a partially destroyed school used as a shelter after Hurricane Matthew hit Jeremie, Haiti Reuters The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew 11 October 2016 People carry the coffin of a woman who died during Hurricane Matthew in Jeremie, Haiti Reuters The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew 11 October 2016 Destroyed houses are seen after Hurricane Matthew passes Grande Cayemite, Haiti Reuters The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew 11 October 2016 Clothes hang in an area destroyed by Hurricane Matthew in Les Anglais, Haiti Reuters The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew 11 October 2016 A woman with cholera symptoms receives medical atention at the health center of Les Anglais, in Les Cayes in the southwest of Haiti Getty The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew 11 October 2016 Residents line up for food after Hurricane Matthew in Anse D'Hainault, Haiti. Nearly a week after the storm smashed into southwestern Haiti, some communities have yet to receive any assistance, leaving residents who have lost their homes and virtually all of their belongings struggling to find shelter and water AP The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew 10 October 2016 People sick with cholera receive medical assistance at Saint Antoine hospital in Jeremi, Haiti. According to the UN after hurricane Matthew the disease has spread EPA The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew 10 October 2016 A woman and a child sit on a buckets amid the ruins of their home destroyed by Hurricane Matthew, in Jeremie, Haiti AP The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew 10 October 2016 UN blue helmets load aid which arrived in US helicopters onto a truck for people affected by Hurricane Matthew, in Jeremie, southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti Getty The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew 10 October 2016 A UN helicopter lands next to aid sent by the United States for the people affected by Hurricane Matthew, in Jeremie, southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti Getty The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew 10 October 2016 A boat passes a church in Nichols, South Carolina. Nearly 1 million homes and businesses still did not have power Monday morning in the Carolinas after Hurricane Matthew AP The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew 9 October 2016 Boats sit washed up on shore amongst the twisted docks at Palmetto Bay Marina damaged by Hurricane Matthew in Hilton Head, South Carolina AP

Following Hurricane Matthew, in Grand Anse alone there were 66,000 houses destroyed and a further 20,000 badly damaged, according to Unicef.

Government officials estimate that at least 350,000 people needed assistance, and concern was growing over an increase in cholera cases following widespread flooding unleashed by the deadly storm.

An ongoing cholera outbreak has already killed some 10,000 people and more than 800,000 have been made ill since 2010, when the infectious disease was introduced into the country's biggest river from a UN base.

How you can help the relief effort in Haiti
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Donald Trumps supporters appear to have successfully campaigned to make images of former US president Bill Clinton appear at the top of Google results when searching for the word rapist.

The idea for the stunt appears to originate from the reddit forum Donald J Trump For President, and though active for some months it seems to have gained new traction in the wake of the release of tapes on Friday showing Mr Trumps own sexually aggressive comments from 11 years ago.

It also comes as Breitbart News released a new interview with Juanita Broaddrick, a woman who has accused Mr Clinton of raping her in a hotel room in 1978, when he was then the Arkansas attorney general.

On Sunday, Mr Trump retweeted Ms Broaddrick twice as she compared the billionaire saying bad things with her claim that BC [Bill Clinton] raped me and HRC [Hillary Clinton] threatened me after.

And on Saturday night, at least one Trump supporter interrupted a speech Mr Clinton was giving in Milwaukee on climate change, shouting Bill Clinton is a rapist.

On the reddit forum for Trump backers, the effort to impact Google search results appears to have begun when a user posted an image of Mr Clinton with the caption: Rapist. When people search rapist we want this image to be the first thing they see.

Users started posting the word "rapist" repeated over and over under the image, and over the course of Sunday, updated the forum with progress reports including only five images away from #1 - lets finish this, before it was finally announced that WE DID IT! Bill Clinton is #1 Google image result for RAPIST.

Mr Clinton himself has suggested that the sudden flurry of allegations is a direct result of the embarrassing audio tapes released by the Washington Post this week, in which Mr Trump could be heard boasting of his attempts to force himself on women sexually.

Faced with one heckler in Milwaukee, he encouraged supporters dont worry about it, adding: You gotta feel sorry for them, they had a bad day yesterday, so they're trying to make it up.

In the new Breitbart interview, Ms Broaddrick repeated the claim she made in 1999, when Mr Clinton was in his second term as president, that he had sexually assaulted her on the fringes of a political campaign event.

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

Then, Mr Clinton said it a statement that any allegation he assaulted Broaddrick is absolutely false. He has long consistently denied the allegations, while Hillary Clinton has declined to address them.

Google is yet to respond to a request for comment from The Independent.
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Donald Trumps campaign team is reportedly bracing itself for more hugely embarrassing revelations as condemnation of the billionaire's leaked sexually aggressive comments intensified.

Dozens of senior Republicans, including John McCain and Condoleeza Rice, have denounced their partys candidate over the scandal, and the issue is set to dominate the billionaires second live TV debate against Hillary Clinton on Sunday night.

Now, Hillary Clinton's running mate, Tim Kaine, says the words reveal a "pattern of sexual assault" by the Republican presidential nominee.

After recording a scripted apology for the sexist comments, made to Access Hollywood anchor Billy Bush 11 years ago, Mr Trump is understood to be keeping a low profile in Trump Towers, ostensibly in order to prepare for tonights head-to-head.

Recommended Read more Donald Trump retweets rape allegations against Bill Clinton

But speaking to Fox News host Ed Henry, key Trump adviser Dr Ben Carson said the campaign team believed there were more bombshells to come.

Henry said Dr Carson told him Mr Trump was staying in after the Washington Post released the audio on Friday.

And he tweeted: [Carson] told me he and [Trump] talked about more revelations coming: They have more things and they will drip them out.

The Trump campaign appears to have reason to be concerned. Late on Saturday night, a producer on Mr Trumps reality TV series The Apprentice said Fridays tapes were just the beginning.

He suggested there was evidence Mr Trump had made far worse comments than those currently causing outrage, which include the candidate suggesting he could assault women by grabbing them by the p***y because he was famous.

Bill Pruitt wrote: As a producer on seasons 1 and 2 of [The Apprentice] I assure you: when it comes to the #trumptapes there are far worse. #justthebegininng [sic].

And separately, Washington-based political correspondent Guy Benson wrote in townhall.com that a right-leaning Trump opponent told him there were at least two more mega bombs to come from Mr Trumps past.

Fridays revelations have already brought condemnation from Mr Trumps closest allies - even his own wife, Melania Trump, issued a statement saying the comments were unacceptable and offensive to me, though suggesting the public accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues.

Mr Trumps running mate, Mike Pence, cancelled all campaign engagements for 48 hours and said he was beside himself after discovering the news, a source told The Associated Press.

In an extraordinary rebuke, Mr Pence declared he could neither condone nor defend the remarks.

"We pray for his family," he said in a statement after cancelling a Wisconsin appearance scheduled with House Speaker Paul Ryan and the Republican National Committee chairman, Reince Priebus, both of whom condemned Mr Trump's remarks but stopped short of withdrawing support altogether.

Among the Republicans who did so were Ohio senator Rob Portman, New Hampshire senator Kelly Ayotte, and the party's 2008 nominee, Arizona senator John McCain, who had stood by Mr Trump even after the billionaire questioned whether the former POW should be considered a war hero because he got "captured".

Mr McCain, who is also facing a re-election challenge in November, said Mr Trump's behaviour made it "impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy".

Tim Kaine said: "It is much more than words."

The Virginia senator made the comments Sunday morning on CNN's "State of the Union."

Kaine noted that Trump has previously made disparaging remarks about women. He said, "There's kind of a piece of the jigsaw puzzle missing in Donald Trump where he does not look at women and consider them as equal to himself."

On Sunday, Mr Trump issued a series of defiant tweets in which he seemingly branded those who had criticised him "self-righteous" hypocrites.

The row started with the release of a 2005 video, obtained by the Washington Post, where Mr Trump is heard describing attempts to have sex with a married woman. He also brags about women letting him kiss them and grab them because he is famous.

"When you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything," Mr Trump said in the video. He added seconds later: "Grab them by the p***y. You can do anything." He said of his impulse to kiss beautiful women: "I don't even wait.

Republican leaders have scheduled a conference call for House GOP politicians, who are out of town for Congress' election recess. Such calls are rare and usually only held to discuss important matters.

 Donald Trump caught on tape talking about sexually assaulting women: "Grab 'em by the pussy"

While it is too late to withdraw support for Mr Trump altogether and it is still publicly behind the partys candidate, the Republican National Committee (RNC) is reportedly considering how to move forward.

Among its options, if it feels the cause is lost with Mr Trump, is to redirect all its funding and manpower to helping vulnerable Republican candidates for the Senate and House.

The move would leave Mr Trump with virtually no political infrastructure in swing states to identify his supporters and ensure they vote.

"We are working to evaluate the appropriate messaging going forward," said RNC chief strategist Sean Spicer.

All eyes turn now to Sunday nights debate, where Mr Trump is sure to be challenged on the historic comments and his views of women.

The candidate has previously said he will not stoop to bringing up the sex scandal that marred Bill Clintons own presidency, when he debates Ms Clinton. It remains to be seen whether that promise holds.

Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Show all 12 1 /12 Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger Schwarzenegger said he will not vote for Trump Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Mr McConnell condemned the remarks, but has not unendorsed him Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks House Speaker Paul Ryan Mr Ryan disinvited Mr Trump from a Wisconsin campaign event following the remarks Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former Sec of State Condoleezza Rice Ms Rice called for Trump to withdraw his candidacy Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Nebraska Sen Deb Fischer Ms Fischer called on Trump to step aside and give nomination to Mike Pence Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Texas Sen Ted Cruz Mr Cruz denounced the remarks, but still endorses Trump Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former Republican candidate Carly Fiorina Ms Fiorina wants Mike Pence to take the nomination Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt Hewitt called for Trump to step down Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Utah Representative Mia Love Ms Love said she cannot vote for Trump after hearing his remarks Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former New York Gov George Pataki Mr Pataki said Mr Trump should step down Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks New Hampshire Sen Kelly Ayotte Ms Ayotte will write in Mike Pence when she votes Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Arizona Sen John McCain Mr McCain will choose Mike Pence on Election Day Getty

And the backlash over the recording has almost completely overshadowed the release of hacked emails from inside the Clinton campaign that revealed the contents of some of her previously secret paid speeches to Wall Street.

The Democratic nominee told bankers behind closed doors that she favoured "open trade and open borders" and said Wall Street executives were best-positioned to help overhaul the US financial sector. Such comments were distinctively at odds with her tough talk about trade and Wall Street during the primary campaign.

Additional reporting by agencies
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As the Trump campaign confronts a veritable Advent calendar of October surprises, more reports have surfaced revealing the Republican presidential nominee making crass, offensive comments about women and their bodies  and his own daughter is at the centre of the most recent.

Recommended Read more Donald Trump rejects calls to quit presidential race

After scouring almost two decades of audio interviews between Donald Trump and radio personality Howard Stern, CNN published excerpts of the candidate repeatedly commenting on Ivanka Trumps body.

The audio was piled atop already damning clips unearthed by the Washington Post that feature Mr Trump bragging about grabbing women by the p***y and making unwanted advances on them because of his celebrity status.

But in multiple interviews with Stern, Mr Trump often regarded his daughter in a sexual manner.

She's actually always been very voluptuous, Mr Trump told Stern in an October 2006 interview, after the host commented on Ms Trumps breasts. She's tall, she's almost six feet tall and she's been, she's an amazing beauty.

In an interview two years prior, Mr Trump gave Stern permission to refer to a then 23-year-old Ms Trump as a piece of a**.

 Donald Trump caught on tape talking about sexually assaulting women: "Grab 'em by the pussy"

By the way, your daughter, said Stern. Can I say this? A piece of a**.

Yeah, Mr Trump approved.

Their conversations touched on womens ages  Mr Trump quipped that 35 was check-out time  race of the New York businessmans sex partners, and whether or not he had ever engaged in sex with Miss Universe contestants.

Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Show all 12 1 /12 Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger Schwarzenegger said he will not vote for Trump Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Mr McConnell condemned the remarks, but has not unendorsed him Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks House Speaker Paul Ryan Mr Ryan disinvited Mr Trump from a Wisconsin campaign event following the remarks Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former Sec of State Condoleezza Rice Ms Rice called for Trump to withdraw his candidacy Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Nebraska Sen Deb Fischer Ms Fischer called on Trump to step aside and give nomination to Mike Pence Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Texas Sen Ted Cruz Mr Cruz denounced the remarks, but still endorses Trump Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former Republican candidate Carly Fiorina Ms Fiorina wants Mike Pence to take the nomination Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt Hewitt called for Trump to step down Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Utah Representative Mia Love Ms Love said she cannot vote for Trump after hearing his remarks Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former New York Gov George Pataki Mr Pataki said Mr Trump should step down Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks New Hampshire Sen Kelly Ayotte Ms Ayotte will write in Mike Pence when she votes Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Arizona Sen John McCain Mr McCain will choose Mike Pence on Election Day Getty

The CNN tapes come as Republican leaders back away from their endorsements of the Partys nominee at an unprecedented rate  with only a month before Election Day  and continue to reaffirm a major criticism of Mr Trump from his rival, Hillary Clinton.

A large portion of Ms Clintons advertising campaign against Mr Trump has centred around his derogatory, sexist comments about women and their bodies. And after the Friday afternoon release of Mr Trumps 2005 comments Ms Clinton issued a short statement in response:

This is horrific, she tweeted. We cannot allow this man to become president."

Ms Trump has not publicly adressed the new clips, but she defended her father amid sexual assault allegations in May.

"Look, I'm not in every interaction my father has," she told CBS. "But he's not a groper. It's not who he is. And I've known my father obviously my whole life and he has total respect for women."
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A million women have publically shared their experiences of sexual abuse after a recording of Donald Trump making misogynist comments emerged.

Kelly Oxford, a Canadian writer, decided to post her own experiences of being sexually assaulted after becoming outraged at the tape of Mr Trump and radio host Billy Bush joking about groping women.

Im automatically attracted to beautiful [women], I just start kissing them, Mr Trump was recorded saying while wearing a microphone for an episode of Access Hollywood in 2005.

Its like a magnet. Just kiss. I dont even wait. And when youre a star, they let you do it. Grab em by the pussy. You can do anything.

The remarks demonstrated the rape culturewe hear and live, Ms Oxford said.

She wrote on Twitter: Women: tweet me your first assaults. they aren't just stats. I'll go first: Old man on city bus grabs my "pussy" and smiles at me, I'm 12.

She went on to describe another five assaults.

The first post went on to be viewed nearly 10 million times and received, according to Ms Oxford, nearly a response every second for several hours, with at least one million women sharing their own stories of abuse.

The hash tag #notokay, used to describe the assaults, became a top trending term on Twitter in the US and is being used regularly.

Anyone denying rape culture, look at my timeline now, Mx Oxford wrote, later adding: If my feed were a ticker tape at the bottom of a news network, it would look like there was a war on women.
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The widely anticipated second round of the US presidential debates is tonight.

Following the damning revelations of the Trump Tapes, in which the Republican candidate was heard making sexually aggressive comments about women, the event will likely be even more heated than the first.

The debates are typically where candidates attempt to make the most ground in gaining swing voters.

Recommended Read more Donald Trump should be condemned by UK politicians

But Mr Trump will have to overcome the challenge of Hillary Clinton drilling him on his misogynist remarks  and improve his performance since the last debate, when he was widely regarded as the loser.

Moderating will ABCs Martha Raddatz and CNNs Anderson Cooper.

The whole affair will be acted out at Washington University in St. Louis from 2am UK time/9pm Eastern time/6pm US Pacific time, though coverage will begin earlier.

All major channels in the US will broadcast the event, and it will also be streamed on YouTube and across digital news outlets.

US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Show all 12 1 /12 US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump shakes hands with Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at the conclusion of their first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York Reuters US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures President Barack Obama embraces Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton on stage at the party's convention in Philadelphia US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Donald Trump's wife Melania delivered a speech at the GOP convention in Cleveland that was later found to have been cribbed in part from Michelle Obama's 2008 convention address AP US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Hillary Clinton talks to reporters aboard her new campaign plane on Labour Day, 5 September, her first 'press conference' since 2015 (Getty Images) US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Donald Trump held a joint press conference with Mexican leader Enrique Pena Nieto in Mexico City in August, hours before reiterating his harsh immigration plans at a campaign rally in Arizona Reuters US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Bernie Sanders officially endorsed Hillary Clinton, saying his progressive vision for a transformed America would be best served by the defeat of Donald Trump Reuters US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Khizr and Gazala Khan appeared at the DNC to slam Trump for his stance on Muslim immigration, citing the case of their son Humayun Khan, who was killed in combat while serving as a Captain in the US Army in Iraq US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson is doing better in polls than any third party candidate since Ross Perot, 20 years ago Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Green Party candidate Jill Stein (centre) marches with supporters in Colorado AP US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Hillary Clinton and Virginia Senator Tim Kaine at a rally in Kaine's home state in July, days before Ms Clinton tapped him to be her running mate Getty US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Trump on the campaign trail with his vice presidential pick, Indiana governor Mike Pence AP US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage appears at a Trump rally in Mississippi in August, where he told the crowd that he 'wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me'.

On social media, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat will all host their own coverage of the event, tailored to their platform.

And, for the daring, there is also the option to experience the debate through virtual reality, using the AltspaceVR apps available for the major VR brands.
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A growing number of senior Republicans have openly condemmed Donald Trump as pressure grows on the Republican presidential nominee to step aside over his obscene remarks about women.

Senator John McCain has become the latest to withdraw his support for Mr Trump amid controversy sparked by comments the candidate made in 2005, bragging about groping and making unwanted advances on women.

It is now thought more than 30 Republican senators have publicly criticised his candidacy, an unprecedented state of affairs.

But Mr Trump has insisted he will "never" abandon his White House bid despite calls for him to step aside after his vulgar descriptions of sexual advances on women were revealed.

Video released by the Washington Post captured Mr Trump making his remarks while taping a segment for Access Hollywood.

You know Im automatically attracted to beautiful  I just start kissing them. Its like a magnet. Just kiss. I dont even wait, the Republican presidential nominee said in one portion of the video. And when youre a star they let you do it. You can do anything  Grab em by the p***y.

Mr McCain  the 2008 Republican nominee, long-time senator, and Vietnam veteran  released a lengthy statement explaining why he reached his decision.

I have wanted to support the candidate our party nominated. He was not my choice, but as a past nominee, I thought it was important I respect the fact that Donald Trump won a majority of the delegates by the rules our party set, Mr McCain said.

But Donald Trumps behaviour this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy.

Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Show all 12 1 /12 Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger Schwarzenegger said he will not vote for Trump Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Mr McConnell condemned the remarks, but has not unendorsed him Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks House Speaker Paul Ryan Mr Ryan disinvited Mr Trump from a Wisconsin campaign event following the remarks Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former Sec of State Condoleezza Rice Ms Rice called for Trump to withdraw his candidacy Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Nebraska Sen Deb Fischer Ms Fischer called on Trump to step aside and give nomination to Mike Pence Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Texas Sen Ted Cruz Mr Cruz denounced the remarks, but still endorses Trump Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former Republican candidate Carly Fiorina Ms Fiorina wants Mike Pence to take the nomination Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt Hewitt called for Trump to step down Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Utah Representative Mia Love Ms Love said she cannot vote for Trump after hearing his remarks Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former New York Gov George Pataki Mr Pataki said Mr Trump should step down Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks New Hampshire Sen Kelly Ayotte Ms Ayotte will write in Mike Pence when she votes Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Arizona Sen John McCain Mr McCain will choose Mike Pence on Election Day Getty

Amid the chaos that descended on the Republican Party through Saturday, high profile leaders began denouncing Mr Trump left and right.

 Donald Trump caught on tape talking about sexually assaulting women: "Grab 'em by the pussy"

Mike Pence, Mr Trump's running mate, has also distanced himself from the billionaire, declining to appear on his behalff at a party gathering in Wisconsin and saying in a statement: he was "offended" by the comments.

I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them, Mr. Pence said, adding, We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night.

Former California Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger  and new Apprentice host  issued a statement saying that he would not vote for Mr Trump.

For the first time since I became a citizen in 1983, I will not vote for the Republican candidate for President, Schwarzenegger said. I still havent made up my mind about how exactly I will vote next month.  But as proud as I am to label myself a Republican, there is one label that I hold above all else  American.

So I want to take a moment today to remind my fellow Republicans that it is not only acceptable to choose your country over your party  it is your duty.

Shortly after, former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice called for Mr Trump to withdraw from the race.

Enough! Donald Trump should not be President. He should withdraw, she wrote on Facebook. As a Republican, I hope to support someone who has the dignity and stature to run for the highest office in the greatest democracy on Earth."

And even Mr trump's own wife, Melania, released a statement saying his comments were unacceptable and offensive.
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Here are the latest updates:

Hours before a make-or-break presidential debate, Donald Trump unleashed an aggressive and politically dangerous personal attack on Hillary Clinton  by seizing on unsubstantiated rape allegations levied against her husband years ago.

The charge against Bill Clinton, outlined in an interview that Mr Trump tweeted, marks a last-ditch effort to deflect criticism from his own sexually predatory comments.

The interview, by the pro-Trump Breitbart website, described Juanita Broderick reliving "brutal rapes." Her lawsuit against Mr Clinton was dismissed in 2001 and criminal charges were never filed. He has vehemently denied the allegations.

Mr Trump's approach, which foreshadows a likely debate-stage attack, threatens to undermine his already weak standing with many women. It comes as he faces unprecedented opposition from within his own party just a month before Election Day.

More than two dozen Republican office holders have declared since Friday that they will not vote for Trump. Many have called on him to step aside after his vulgar descriptions of sexual advances on women were revealed in a recording.

"I thought about years from now when my daughter Kate is old enough to know what is in those tapes and to understand what he is talking about," New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte said of her 12-year-old daughter during a press conference Sunday. "I want her to know where I stood."

Trump's task in Sunday's debate is enormous.

Even before the recording was made public, the businessman lagged behind Clinton after an undisciplined first debate. Beyond concerns about his view of women, he is struggling to overcome deep skepticism about his temperament and qualifications to be commander in chief.
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More than 3,600 people have been killed in Philippines President Rodrigo Dutertes first 100 days in office as part of his brutal crackdown on drugs.

The President recently said his crackdown on drug dealers and criminals will continue because he cannot kill them all.

Mr Duterte was elected in May on the promise of preventing the Philippines from becoming a narco-state and vowed to kill those involved in importing or selling illegal drugs.

He even likened his national crackdown to the Holocaust and said he would be happy to slaughter as many addicts as Adolf Hitler massacred Jews.

 Philippines: President Rodrigo Dutertes 100 days in office

The scale of his crackdown has been unprecedented. A rough estimate puts the death toll around 3,600, including 1,300 suspects killed in gun battles with police  an average of 36 killings a day since he took office on 30 June.

So far police have launched more than 23,500 raids and arrested 22,500 suspected drug dealers and addicts.

More than 1.6 million houses of drug suspects have been visited by police to invite them to surrender and stop using drugs, or disengage from the drug trade.

Around 732,000 addicts and dealers have surrendered, apparently for fear of being killed. The sheer number has surprised Mr Duterte and the national police, prompting them to scramble for land and money to build rehabilitation centres.

The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Show all 9 1 /9 The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On killing drug addicts These sons of whores are destroying our children. I warn you, dont go into that, even if youre a policeman, because I will really kill you. If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Message to China I will go there on my own with a Jet Ski, bringing along with me a [Phillipino] flag and a pole, and once I disembark, I will plant the flag on the runway and tell the Chinese authorities, Kill me  AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Christmas message to law-breakers If you do not want to stop, and just continue committing crimes, then this would be your last Merry Christmas AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On sex life I was separated from my wife. Im not impotent. What am I supposed to do? Let this hang forever? When I take Viagra, it stands up AFP/Getty Images The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On the drugs trade None of my children are into illegal drugs. But my order is, even if it is a member of my family, kill him'" AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Insulting the Pope We were affected by the traffic. It took us five hours. I asked why, they said it was closed. I asked who is coming. They answered, the pope. I wanted to call him: Pope, son of a wh**e, go home. Do not visit us again AFP/Getty Images The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Joke about rape I saw her face and I thought, 'What a pity... they raped her, they all lined up. I was mad she was raped but she was so beautiful. I thought, the mayor should have been first AFP/Getty The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Insulting Barack Obama "Mr Obama should be respectful and refrain from throwing questions at me about the killings, or son of a bitch, I will swear at you in that forum" REUTERS The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants "If I have to face them, you know I can eat humans. I will really open up your body. Just give me vinegar and salt, and I will eat you. If you annoy me to the fullest... I will eat you alive. Raw" EPA

The US, the EU, the UN and human rights watchdogs have been alarmed by the brutality of the crackdown.

Amnesty International said Mr Dutertes first 100 days as President have been marked by state-sanctioned violence on a truly shocking scale.

The President has said he intended to extend his crackdown by maybe another six months.

He also called US President Barack Obama a son of a bitch in early September when it was suggested he would be questioned over the killings.

He has also launched an expletive-laden attack on the EU after it called on Philippines authorities to launch an investigation into the rising death toll from the war on drugs.

Additional reporting by AP
Source: VNA

The Ministry presented the figures to members of the National Assembly (NA) Committee for Social Affairs at their second plenary sitting in Hanoi on October 7th, in which they also discussed the areas under the management of the ministry and the Ministry of Health in 2017.

The ministry representative said over the past nine months, the tasks of developing the labour market, generating jobs, vocational training, improving human resources, as well as reducing poverty and ensuring social security were carried out efficiently.

In 2017, the ministry defines orientations of making the labour market more flexible with the needs of employers and employees easily met.

It will also improve the quality of labour maket information and anticipation and promote the role of job services centers, while increasing consultancy and occupational orientations and implementing effectively policies to create jobs for workers, especially students, people with disabilities, and those from ethnic minority groups./.
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Unaccompanied refugee children eligible to come to the UK are beng forced to stay in the Calais "Jungle" because Theresa May's government is not processing the children fast enough and refusing to respond to the French Government.

The British Red Cross report found failures at "almost every point" in the process of reuniting unaccompanied refugee children with their families in the UK.

Of the approximately 1,000 unaccompanied children in the makeshift camp in northern France, the charity said 178 have been identified so far as having family ties to the UK which makes them eligible to claim asylum in the country under the terms of the Dublin agreement.

But despite this fewer than 20 children were granted asylum in the UK in the first three months of 2016.

The charity found that it takes between 10-11 months on average to bring a child to the UK due to problems ranging from basic administrative errors to a shortage of staff to facilitate transfers on the French side of the border.

Problems include a drop-in service set up by the French government becoming so oversubscribed that child refugees are now forced to wait three months for an appointment to record their name, parents and details of their journey to France.

This is exacerbated by a lack of translators avaliable at the camps and the administrators required by French law not being avaliable to take photographs and fingerprints and photograph documents. If a refugee misses their appointment due to one of these factors it is a six week wait for another avaliable slot.

One case reported by the charity found a teenager was rejected because administrators filed his request under the wrong article of the Dublin agreement.

The issue has become more pressing as the camp is due to be demolished (Charles Platiau/Reuters)

The charity has also accused the government of ignoring France's formal "take charge" requests on pedantic grounds such as one child who rejected after the application for his movement to the UK was wrongly sent to a local council rather than the Home Office.

In other instances officials claimed they had "misplaced" requests from their counterparts over the English Channel.

The Red Cross has called on the UK government to do more to help young child refugees, highlighting reports that at least three children have died trying to make their own way across while waiting for their cases to proceed.

Alex Fraser, the Director of Refugee Support, said: Right now, the system for transferring children who have a right to be in the UK has numerous problems.

Children, who could be rebuilding their lives in safety with their only surviving relatives, are instead being left to fend for themselves in conditions unimaginable to most adults.

Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily.

He said the issue is becoming even more critical as the French government is expected to begin demolishing the camp by the end of the month and redistributing refugees to migration centres across the country.

We need urgent action from both the UK and French governments. Children with a legal right to be here should be on the Eurostar across the Channel, not being dispersed somewhere else in France, with no idea when they can join their family, he said.

It comes after senior figures from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities in the UK signed an opening letter organised by charity Citizens UK urging Theresa May to accept the child migrants.

The letter labelled the camp a stain on the consciences of Britain and France and said the children have fled conflict and persecution, are now stuck in northern France, deeply traumatised and at great risk as it is well documented by the anti-slavery commissioner you yourself appointed while Home Secretary.

The Home Office told The Independent: We have made crystal clear our commitment to fulfilling our obligations under the Dublin Regulation and we continue to work with the French Government and partner organisations to identify, assess and transfer unaccompanied refugee children to Britain.

We have made significant progress in improving and speeding up the existing processes for reuniting asylum seeking children in Europe with family in the UK under the Dublin Regulation, especially since the beginning of the year.

Over 140 cases of unaccompanied children in Europe have been accepted for transfer to the UK since the start of the year (up to 1st October), with over 80 from France. We are investing heavily in joint working with the French in order to speed up this process even further, but can only operate on the territory of other Member States in accordance with both their domestic law and EU law.
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The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the US of threatening Moscow's national security.

In an interview with Russian state TV likely to worsen already poor relations with Washington, Mr Lavrov blamed the Obama administration for what he described as a sharp deterioration in US-Russia ties.

"We have witnessed a fundamental change of circumstances when it comes to the aggressive Russophobia that now lies at the heart of U.S. policy towards Russia," Mr Lavrov said. "It's not just a rhetorical Russophobia, but aggressive steps that really hurt our national interests and pose a threat to our security."

"This is a very dangerous game given that Russia, being in Syria at the invitation of the legitimate government of this country and having two bases there, has got air defence systems there to protect its assets," said Mr Lavrov.

The remarks came as tensions continued to mount between the two powers and Russia stepped up its military presence in Eastern Europe, moving nuclear capable missiles close to Poland.

Recommended Read more Russia launches nationwide nuclear war training exercise

"We have witnessed a fundamental change of circumstances when it comes to the aggressive Russophobia that now lies at the heart of US policy towards Russia," state news agency RIA quoted Mr Lavrov as saying.

He continued: "It's not just a rhetorical Russophobia, but aggressive steps that really hurt our national interests and pose a threat to our security."

Most recently, tensions between Russia and the US have been fuelled by the war in Syria. Russia has taken the side of Syrian President Assad and was accused of war crimes by US Secretary of state John Kerry over the bombing of civilian and humanitarian targets.

But Mr Lavrov signalled a determination to protect Russian interests in Syria and said he hoped Barack Obama would reject any proposals of carpet bombing Syrian military air fields put to him by advisors.

In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Show all 19 1 /19 In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Syrian boys cry following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Aleppo Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian defense ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov speaks to the media in Moscow, Russia. Konashenkov strongly warned the United States against striking Syrian government forces and issued a thinly-veiled threat to use Russian air defense assets to protect them AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Syrians wait to receive treatment at a hospital following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Alepp Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov speaks at a briefing in the Defense Ministry in Moscow, Russia. Antonov said the Russian air strikes in Syria have killed about 35,000 militants, including about 2,700 residents of Russia AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Jameel Mustafa Habboush, receives oxygen from civil defence volunteers, known as the white helmets, as they rescue him from under the rubble of a building following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Aleppo Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civil defence members rest amidst rubble in a site hit by what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A girl carrying a baby inspects damage in a site hit by what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civilians and civil defence members look for survivors at a site damaged after Russian air strikes on the Syrian rebel-held city of Idlib, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civilians and civil defence members carry an injured woman on a stretcher at a site damaged after Russian air strikes on the Syrian rebel-held city of Idlib, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Volunteers from Syria Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, help civilians after Russia carried out its first airstrikes in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria The aftermath of Russian airstrike in Talbiseh, Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Smoke billows from buildings in Talbiseh, in Homs province, western Syria, after airstrikes by Russian warplanes AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian Air Forces carry out an air strike in the ISIS controlled Al-Raqqah Governorate. Russia's KAB-500s bombs completely destroy the Liwa al-Haqq command unit In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria A TASS/ITAR-TASS Photo/Corbis In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russia claimed it hit eight Isis targets, including a "terrorist HQ and co-ordination centre" that was completely destroyed In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A video grab taken from the footage made available on the Russian Defence Ministry's official website, purporting to show an airstrike in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A release from the Russian defence ministry purportedly showing targets in Syria being hit In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russia launched air strikes in war-torn Syria, its first military engagement outside the former Soviet Union since the occupation of Afghanistan in 1979. Russian warplanes carried out strikes in three Syrian provinces along with regime aircraft as Putin seeks to steal US President Barack Obama's thunder by pushing a rival plan to defeat Isis militants in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria, a thousand kilometres away. The targets include ammunition factories, ammunition and fuel depots, command centres, and training camps A TASS/ITAR-TASS Photo/Corbis

"[Bombing Syrian bases] is a very dangerous game given that Russia, being in Syria at the invitation of the legitimate government of this country and having two bases there, has got air defence systems there to protect its assets," Mr Lavrov said.

However, the foreign minister also said Moscow was ready to continue to the search for a long term solution to the Syria crisis despite its disagreements with the West.

Elsewhere, however, unease has been growing as nuclear-capable Iskander-M missiles were moved into the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, which is sandwiched between Nato member states Poland and Lithuania.

Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz said the country considered the matter of "highest concern" and was monitoring the situation.

Estonia, another border neighbour of Russia, is also worried about the development. The chief of staff of the Estonian Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Riho Terras, told local broadcaster ERR that he sees the move as part of a larger Russian attempt to dominate the Baltic Sea.

"In the long term, Russia's wish is to bring the Baltic Sea and the passages leading to it more and more under its control, and to control it much like it does the Black Sea," Lt Gen Terras said.

However, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov played down the concerns.

"The Iskander ballistic missile system is mobile," he said in a statement on Saturday. "As part of the plan of combat training, missile troops are engaged in training on a year-round basis, covering great distances of the Russian territory in various ways: by air, by sea, and under their own power."

He also said Russia used the deployment to determine what range a U.S. spy satellite has.

"We exposed one Iskander before loading it on the Ambal (a cargo carrier) right under a U.S. reconnaissance satellite flying above in order to verify the parameters of that space apparatus. We did not have to wait too long (for results)," he said.

Kaliningrad is the most Western Russian territory and vital to the countrys strategic interests. It is home to the Russian Baltic Fleet, as well as land forces and an air force detachment.

Russia suspended a treaty with Washington on cleaning up weapons grade plutonium earlier this month in response to what it said were "unfriendly acts" by the United States.

Mr Lavrov said both countries had the right to pull out of the treaty in the event of "a fundamental change in circumstances".

"The treaty was concluded when relations were normal, civilised, when no one ... was trying to interfere in the (other's) internal affairs. That's the fundamental change of circumstances," said Mr Lavrov.
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Kurdish militants detonated a car bomb Sunday outside a military checkpoint in southeast Turkey, killing nine soldiers and eight civilians, the local governor said.

Cuneyit Orhan Toprak, governor of Hakkari province where the attack took place, gave the death toll to the private news channel NTV and said 27 other people were wounded in the attack and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Eleven of the wounded were soldiers, the Turkish military said.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency, citing a statement by the Turkish Armed Forces, said the attack occurred at 9:45 a.m. outside a Gendarmerie checkpoint on the Semdinli-Yuksekova highway and was the work of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. The checkpoint is 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the center of the town of Semdinli.

Mr Toprak said the attackers first opened fire on the soldiers at the checkpoint to distract them, before driving up a minivan containing about 5 tons of explosives and detonating it.

The explosion produced a crater 15 metres (50 feet) wide and seven metres (23 feet) deep. An infantry station located behind the checkpoint also suffered heavy damage.

Turkish authorities imposed a temporary blackout on coverage of the attack, citing public order and national security reasons.

Energy Minister Berat Albayrak condemned the attack during a speech in Istanbul, calling on all countries to stand together against terrorism.

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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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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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Turkey has been rocked by a wave of bomb attacks since last summer that have killed hundreds of people and been blamed on either the PKK or Isis.

Fighting between the PKK and the state security forces resumed last year after the collapse of a fragile two-year ceasefire. Since then, more than 600 Turkish security personnel and thousands of PKK militants have been killed in clashes, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency. Rights groups say hundreds of civilians have also been killed in the fighting.

On Thursday, 10 people were slightly wounded by a bomb mounted on a motorcycle that exploded near a police station in Istanbul. On Friday, the militant Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, or TAK, considered an offshoot of the PKK, claimed responsibility. Six people have been detained in connection with that attack.

AP
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While the US is focused on latest revelations about Donald Trump and the turmoil they are causing in the run-up to the elections, a meeting is due to take place in Istanbul between Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan which is likely to have highly significant international strategic consequences.

The official reason for the Russian Presidents visit to Turkey on Monday is the World Energy Congress and there are, indeed, important energy issues which both Ankara and Moscow are keen to discuss. Talks on the Turkish Stream project, suspended after the Turks shot down a Russian warplane last November, have now resumed and will be pursued vigorously. The aim of the project is to transport 63bn cubic meters of natural gas a year to Europe through pipelines to the Bosphorous.

Russias transit agreement for gas with Ukraine comes to an end in two and half years time and with two countries at loggerheads over Russian support for Ukrainian separatists, Moscow is keen on an alternative route. For President Erdogan, along with lucrative revenues, the flow of energy can be added to the flow of refugees as a bargaining chip with the European Union.

But there are other immediate, pressing issues for the Russian and Turkish leader to discuss: the campaign against Isis in Syria and Iraq. And the US will be very much a factor in what transpires. Ankaras relations with Washington have cooled while those with Moscow have warmed: relations between Washington and Moscow, meanwhile, have plummeted over the pounding of Aleppo by the Syrian regime, and it is claimed, Russian warplanes.

The thaw with Moscow began after Mr Erdogan apologised for the bringing down of the plane, an admission that Turkey was suffering from the confrontation after a furious President Putin slapped on economic sanctions. The two Turkish F-16 pilots, who were praised as national heroes when they shot down the Russian Su-24, have since been arrested and accused of being part of the coup plot of three months ago. Fethullah Gulen, the exiled cleric who is the alleged orchestrator of the attempted takeover, was trying to provoke a conflict between the two countries, is now the Turkish governments line.

The coup attempt has been one of the main sources of friction between Ankara and Washington. There is widespread suspicion in the Erdogan camp that the Americans at least knew about what was going to happen and failed to pass warnings on. A key centre of the putsch was Incerlik airbase which has a large American presence. Many of the 180 military commanders detained, and 149 dismissed, in the crackdown which followed had been involved in operational work with Nato.

There is also anger that the Americans have not handed over Pennsylvania-based Mr Gulen - who denies any part in the attempted coup. The US administration says the normal judicial process is being followed, but some officials in Washington have privately expressed scepticism that the evidence against the cleric provided by Turkey is strong enough to warrant extradition and this has further antagonised Ankara.

In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Show all 17 1 /17 In pictures: Turkey coup attempt In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Erdogan attends the funeral service for victims of the thwarted coup in Istanbul at Fatih mosque on July 17, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey Burak Kara/Getty Images In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soldiers involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge with their hands raised in Istanbul on 16 July, 2016 Gokhan Tan/Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A civilian beats a soldier after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 REUTERS/Murad Sezer In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Surrendered Turkish soldiers who were involved in the coup are beaten by a civilian Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soliders involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wave flags as they capture a Turkish Army vehicle Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt People pose near a tank after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers block Istanbul's Bosphorus Brigde Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A Turkish military stands guard near the Taksim Square in Istanbul Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Pierre Crom/Twitter In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers secure the area as supporters of Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul's Taksim square AP In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Murad Sezer/Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers detain police officers during a security shutdown of the Bosphorus Bridge Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish Army armoured personnel carriers in the main streets of Istanbul Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Chaos reigned in Istanbul as tanks drove through the streets EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks to media in the resort town of Marmaris Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of President Erdogan celebrate in Ankara following the suppression of the attempted coup Reuters

Such is the level of distrust at present that President Erdogan accused the US authorities recently of targeting him and his family while dragging their feet over Mr Gulen. This followed the arrest of Turkish-Iranian gold trader, Reza Zarrab, in Miami on charges of violating American sanctions against Tehran. The Turkish leader accused US officials dealing with the case of trying to implicate him and his wife over donations Mr Zarrab made to an educational charity called Togem to which Mr Erdogan and his wife are allegedly connected.

It is against this background that Ankara has sent armour, air power and troops into Syria. The aim, President Erdogan has announced, is to clear Isis and the fighters of the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) and the Syrian Democratic Forces(SDF) an alliance of Syrian Arabs and Kurds from Turkeys borders.

The Kurdish forces are viewed by the Americans as its most effective allies against Isis, but warnings by Washington not to strike against them have been ignored by the Turkish military. President Erdogan has also indicated that the next target for his forces and allied units of the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) would be the city of Al-Bab, the gateway to the Isis capital Raqqa. The US Defence Secretary, Ashton Carter, has stressed that Washington does not want to see Turkish forces or the FSA in Al-Bab. The YPG is also trying to get there and, in Ankaras eyes, this is more proof of American support for the Kurds.

Mr Erdogan has declared that Turkey would be a willing partner to the US on the assault on Raqqa  as long as Kurdish forces are not involved. Hillary Clinton, who appears to be headed for the White House as the campaign of Mr Trump  an admirer of President Putin  implodes, has stressed that America must support our Arab and Kurdish partners to be able to actually take out Isis in Raqqa.

 Western powers and Russia clash at UN over Syria

The Turks want to establish a safety zone inside Syria, something Ankara had long wanted and US and the West have steadfastly opposed. Mr Erdogan has said: An area of 900 square kilometres has been cleared of terror so far. We may extend this area to 5,000 square kilometres as part of a safe zone.

Mr Erdogan called Mr Putin (who had called the Turkish leader a dear friend after a recent meeting in St Petersburg), immediately after Turkish forces had captured the Syrian town of Jarablus from Isis, another strategic point the Kurds have been seeking to take.

The Kremlin has not subsequently raised any major objections to what the Turks are doing in Syria and the Russian militarys chief of general staff, Valery Gerasimov, visited Ankara recently to be briefed by his Turkish counterpart, General Hulusi Akar, on the Syrian mission: Operation Euphrates Shield. Preliminary talks were held, say officials, in co-ordinating action.

Talha Kose, an academic and senior member of a think tank, SETA, which was founded by President Erdogans spokesman Ibrahim Kalin, said: The Russians are not objecting to what Turkey is doing in northern Syria. This is partly because they are really focusing on Aleppo now, but also what Turkey is doing is not harming their interests. Turkey sees what America is doing in Syria as harming Turkish interests.

The coming military offensive in Iraq, too, will be raised at the meeting between the two Presidents in Istanbul, say Turkish officials. American and Iraqi forces are preparing the launch the first stage of the operation to recapture Mosul from Isis in around nine days: Mr Erdogan has insisted that Turkish forces "will play a role in the Mosul liberation operation, and no one can prevent us from participating. He also claimed that there are plans for Kurdish fighters from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to participate in the mission something well never accept".

But neither the US or Iraq want Turkish participation in Mosul and Baghdad has accused Ankara of breaching Iraqi sovereignty by basing troops in Bashiqa, north of the city, where they are providing training for Sunni militias. Colonel John Dorian, the American spokesman for coalition forces in Iraq, stated the Turkish military force in the Iraqi territory is not part of the coalition force, it has not been there at the invitation and permission of the Iraqi government and therefore it is illegal.

It is unlikely that Mr Putin would be able to help Mr Erdogan on this one. The Turkish leader has declared that only Sunnis  Arabs, Turkmen and Kurds  should be allowed to live in Mosul after it is liberated from Isis. The demand has been dismissed by Iraqs Shia dominated government and Russia is not going to ask Shia groups, some of which are led by Iranians, to disappear. Tehran, valued ally of Bashar al-Assad and the Kremlin remains very much a player in the complex power politics in this volatile and violent region.
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Isis has lost more than a quarter of the territory it once controlled in Iraq and Syria, new data shows.

Analysis by defence analysts IHS shows that the area under the terror groups control has shrunk by 28 per cent since its peak in January 2015 as counter insurgents and air strikes push the jihadists back.

In the first nine months of this year, Isis lost a chunk of territory roughly the size of Sri Lanka as the total area under its control fell from 30,115 sq miles to 25,290 sq miles.

But the rate of territory loss appears to have slowed as Russia begins scaling back the number of air strikes against Isis targets.

IHS analysis has showed at the start of 2016 Isis was the target of 26 per cent of Russian air strikes but this had dropped to 17 per cent by the summer as it stepped up its assault on rebels in Aleppo.

In the three months to October Isis has lost just 1,080 sq miles.

Alex Kokcharov, principal Russia analyst at IHS told the BBC: Last September, President Vladimir Putin said it was Russias mission to fight international terrorism and specifically Isis.

In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij Show all 11 1 /11 In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij Women and children celebrating after being freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A man cuts the beard of a civilian who was freed from Isis by the SDF in Manbij on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij Women carry newborn babies while running after being freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A woman freed from Isis hugs an SDF fighter in Manbij on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A woman adding her veil to a pile of niqabs burning in Manbij, Syria, after being freed from Isis on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij Children celebrating on top of a lorry after being freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A man and child freed from Isis by the SDF in Manbij on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A woman carrying her children walks towards SDF fighters after being freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A woman and child freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij An SDF fighter kisses a crying man who was freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij Hundreds of civilians freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters

Russia's priority is to provide military support to the Assad government and, most likely, transform the Syrian civil war from a multi-party conflict into a binary one between the Syrian government and jihadist groups like Isis; thereby undermining the case for providing international support to the opposition.

Russia and Bashar al-Assads forces have been accused of war crimes during their prolonged assault on Aleppo.

The British, French and US ambassadors to the United Nations walked out of an emergency session of the Security Council last week after their Syrian counterpart rose to defend the assault which has included attacks on aid convoys and hospitals.

Columb Strack, senior analyst and head of the IHS Conflict Monitor, said the decline in Isiss territory since July is relatively modest in scale, but unprecedented in their strategic significance.

He said: The loss of direct road access to cross-border smuggling routes into Turkey severely restricts the groups ability to recruit new fighters from abroad, while the Iraqi government is poised to launch its offensive on Mosul.

Iraqi forces have secured the key Qayyarah Airbase as they push the group back towards Mosul.

US and Iraqi soldiers are preparing for an assault on the jihadist groups second city and last major stronghold in Iraq which experts predict is likely to begin next week.
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At least two people have been killed and five wounded in a drive-by shooting in Jerusalem in which the attacker was also shot dead by police.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the attacker, thought to be Palestinian, sped toward a busy stop of the city's light rail service and opened fire, seriously wounding a woman waiting for a train.

He then continued driving and shot another woman who was seated in her car before speeding off toward an Arab neighborhood in east Jerusalem.

Ms Samri said police officers on motorcycles chased the assailant, who eventually stepped out of his vehicle and opened fire at them. A police officer was critically wounded in the shootout.

The shooting has been described as a terrorist attack by police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.

A number of local journalists reported that Hamas, who govern the Gaza Strip, welcomed the attack as a "heroic act" and "natural response" to Israeli oppression.

Images showed bullet holes in the side of the attacker's car, a white saloon type vehicle.

A spate of Palestinian assaults, mainly stabbings, has killed 34 Israelis and two visiting Americans since it began just over a year ago, around the Jewish high holidays.

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. 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About 218 Palestinians have been killed during that period. Israel says the vast majority of them were attackers.

Israel blames the violence on a Palestinians campaign of lies and incitement. The Palestinians say it derives from frustration over nearly 50 years of occupation.

Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan said there were no specific warnings of an attack ahead of time and the quick response of security forces on the scene prevented a deadlier result. He repeated his previous criticism of social media sites that allow militants to spread their hateful messages of incitement.

"It has an impact. It pushes people out to the streets to commits acts of murder and terror," he said.
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The Saudi Arabian-led coalition in Yemen has been accused of carrying out a "genocide" after its latest airstrike killed 140 people at a funeral.

Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the Yemeni rebel government's spokesman in Sana'a said the airstrike was an act of "genocide" by the Saudi-led alliance, which is fighting the rebels.

"The silence of the United Nations and the international community is the munition of the murderers," he added. "Those murderers will not escape divine justice."

The strike is the latest of a string of bombings by the Saudi-led coalition that have hit public areas, including hospitals and markets

Saudi Arabia has consistently denied targetting civilians. The coalition did not immediately accept responsibility for the latest strike but said it would launch an investigation into "reports about the regrettable and painful bombing" in Sana'a.

The Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television network later stated the coalition had not carried out any airstrikes in the area.

The latest attack prompted the United States to launch a review of its support for a Saudi-led coalition fighting the government in Yemen after an air strike on a funeral killed 140 people and wounded more than 525.

White House national security spokesman Ned Price said the US administration was "deeply disturbed" by the attack. US support was "not a blank check", he added.

Mr Price said: "We have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led Coalition and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with U.S. principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemen's tragic conflict."

Recommended Read more Boris Johnson urged to back probe into Yemen war

The latest strike hit a gathering of mourners in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, when thousands of people were packed into the hall.

The funeral was being held for the father of Galal al-Rawishan, the rebel governments Interior Minister who sources said was seriously injured in the attack.

Other mourners included a number of military and security officials from the Houthi rebel group, which seized control of Yemen after overthrowing the internationally-recognised government in 2015.

The airstrike is one of the deadliest attacks in the countrys ongoing civil war. Witnesses reported seeing hundreds of body parts strewn across the hall and rescuers collecting them in sacks.

One rescuer, Murad Tawfiq, said: The place has been turned into a lake of blood.

The Yemeni health ministry used radio broadcasts to summon off-duty doctors and call on residents to donate blood.

"

The United Nations humanitarian co-ordinator in Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, said he was shocked and outraged by the horrific attack.

The international community must exert pressure and influence on all parties to the conflict to ensure civilians are protected, he said. This violence against civilians in Yemen must stop immediately.

A statement released by the Saudi Arabian government said: "The coalition confirms that its troops have clear instructions not to target populated area and to avoid civilians."

Yemen has been engulfed by civil war since 2014, when the Houthi rebel forces overthrew then president Addrabbuh Mansur Hadi. The Saudi-backed coalition is fighting to restore Hadi to power. The United States is also supporting the coalition with weapons, logistical support and intelligence information.

The latest attack prompted the US to review its support for the coalition, a White House spokesman said.

An estimated 9,000 people have been killed in the conflict and more than three million forced to leave their homes.

The high civilian death toll from the Saudi-led attacks has led to calls for British arms sales to Saudi Arabia to be suspended.
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The British and American governments have vowed to apply increased diplomatic pressure to their ally Saudi Arabia following the bombing of a packed funeral hall in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa on Saturday.

The attack, strongly believed to have been carried out by the Saudi-led coalition air force, killed more than 140 people and injured as many as 600 more, in one of the deadliest massacres of the countrys civil war.

The US said in the wake of the bombing that its support for Saudi Arabia on security issues was not a blank cheque, while the UK warned its decision to allow controversial arms exports to Riyadh was under careful and continual review.

The air strikes sparked a furious reaction in Yemen on Sunday, with thousands of demonstrators  some armed with automatic weapons  marching on the UN headquarters in southern Sanaa, demanding an independent investigation.

Though it controls the only air forces in the region, Saudi Arabia has not officially acknowledged responsibility for the attack, which targeted the funeral of the father of Galal al-Rawishan, the interior minister of the Houthi rebel-led government.

Yemeni officials said the dead and wounded included senior military and security officials from the Houthi ranks, and Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the Houthi spokesman in Sanaa, described the bombing as an act of genocide by the Saudi-led coalition.

The Saudi military said in a statement that it would launch an investigation into reports about the regrettable and painful bombing, while insisting its troops have clear instructions not to target populated area and to avoid civilians. Previous Saudi investigations have blamed Houthi loyalists for gathering near the sites of its attacks.

Britain is among Saudi Arabias foremost international allies and, despite ever mounting concerns among relief groups, continues to support its bombing campaign against the Houthis with arms exports and military training.

Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood phoned the Saudi ambassador to London on Sunday afternoon, raising concerns over the bombing and calling for an investigation take place as a matter of urgency.

I am deeply concerned by reports of an air strike hitting a funeral hall in the Yemeni capital Sanaa yesterday, he said in a statement. The scenes from the site are shocking.

There can be no military solution to this conflict. We urge all sides to recommit to political talks and to implement a cessation of hostilities.

10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Show all 10 1 /10 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In October 2014, three lawyers, Dr Abdulrahman al-Subaihi, Bander al-Nogaithan and Abdulrahman al-Rumaih , were sentenced to up to eight years in prison for using Twitter to criticize the Ministry of Justice. AFP/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2015, Yemens Sunni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was forced into exile after a Shia-led insurgency. A Saudi Arabia-led coalition has responded with air strikes in order to reinstate Mr Hadi. It has since been accused of committing war crimes in the country. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Women who supported the Women2Drive campaign, launched in 2011 to challenge the ban on women driving vehicles, faced harassment and intimidation by the authorities. The government warned that women drivers would face arrest. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Members of the Kingdoms Shia minority, most of whom live in the oil-rich Eastern Province, continue to face discrimination that limits their access to government services and employment. Activists have received death sentences or long prison terms for their alleged participation in protests in 2011 and 2012. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses All public gatherings are prohibited under an order issued by the Interior Ministry in 2011. Those defy the ban face arrest, prosecution and imprisonment on charges such as inciting people against the authorities. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2014, the Interior Ministry stated that authorities had deported over 370,000 foreign migrants and that 18,000 others were in detention. Thousands of workers were returned to Somalia and other states where they were at risk of human rights abuses, with large numbers also returned to Yemen, in order to open more jobs to Saudi Arabians. Many migrants reported that prior to their deportation they had been packed into overcrowded makeshift detention facilities where they received little food and water and were abused by guards. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to deny access to independent human rights organisations like Amnesty International, and they have been known to take punitive action, including through the courts, against activists and family members of victims who contact Amnesty. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison for using his liberal blog to criticise Saudi Arabias clerics. He has already received 50 lashes, which have reportedly left him in poor health. Carsten Koall/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Dawood al-Marhoon was arrested aged 17 for participating in an anti-government protest. After refusing to spy on his fellow protestors, he was tortured and forced to sign a blank document that would later contain his confession. At Dawoods trial, the prosecution requested death by crucifixion while refusing him a lawyer. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was arrested in 2012 aged either 16 or 17 for participating in protests during the Arab spring. His sentence includes beheading and crucifixion. The international community has spoken out against the punishment and has called on Saudi Arabia to stop. He is the nephew of a prominent government dissident. Getty

On the point of UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia, a Government spokesperson told The Independent the UK takes its arms export responsibilities very seriously.

The key test ... for our continued licensing of arms exports to Saudi Arabia is whether there is a clear risk that those exports might be used in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law, she said. The situation is kept under careful and continual review.

The US said it had launched an "immediate review" of its already reduced support for the Saudi-led coalition, saying it was prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with US principles, values and interests.

Ned Price, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said: US security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank cheque.

Earlier on Sunday, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the bombing and said that any deliberate attack against civilians is utterly unacceptable, adding those responsible must be brought to justice.

And the UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, said in a statement that the relief community in the country was shocked and outraged by the air strikes. He condemned the horrific attack and reminded all parties that under international humanitarian law, they are obliged to protect civilians and civilian infrastructures.

The final death toll for Saturdays attack remains unclear, such was the chaos at the site of what was once the grand hall of ceremonies on al-Khamseen Street.

Multiple strikes sent hundreds of body parts flying through the hall and into the street outside, with rescuers later collecting them up in sacks. The attack left the building little more than a shell, with most of its walls and roof gone.

The place has been turned into a lake of blood, said one rescuer, Murad Tawfiq.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it had prepared 300 body bags, while the rebel-controlled Health Ministry gave a lower figure, saying 115 bodies had been counted so far. The casualty toll of more than 140 was given by a UN official, who estimated 525 had been wounded.

It may yet be the deadliest single attack of the Saudi-led campaign, after a July 2015 bombing near a power plant in Mokha that killed at least 120 people.

Saudi Arabia reiterated in its latest statement that its coalition was supporting the legitimate government in Yemen, that of President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who was ousted at the start of 2015 by Shia Houthi rebels loyal to the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

A recent report found that coalition air strikes were responsible for some 60 per cent of civilian casualties in Yemens war, amounting to almost 3,800 deaths since they began in March last year. The UN estimates that the conflict as a whole has seen at least 9,000 people killed and nearly three million people forced to flee their homes, making for one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
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Gatwick intends to build a second runway  even if it loses out to Heathrow when the Government rules on airport expansion.

A decision on where to build a new runway in South-east England is expected within days. It is thought the Prime Minister will overrule environmental objections, including from within her Cabinet, and insist that Heathrow gets the go-ahead to grow.

But The Independent understands that Gatwicks bosses intend to press ahead with a second runway regardless of the Governments decision. They believe growth at the Sussex airport justifies expansion, and that Theresa May will not dare to block a project that shows Britain is still in business  even though the Davies Commission regard two runways as unnecessary.

After three years research, Sir Howard Davies Airports Commission reported in July 2015 and unanimously favoured a third runway at Heathrow. The commission said that Gatwick and an extended northern runway at Heathrow were also credible options.

David Camerons Government was faced with dissent from the then-London Mayor, Boris Johnson, and the MP Zak Goldsmith, who stood as candidate to in the 2016 mayoral election. It launched additional research on the environmental impact of the schemes and promised to rule by summer 2016, but that deadline was derailed by the EU referendum.

The new Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, has met proponents of all three schemes and is expected to announce a decision by 18 October at the latest.

Gatwick has been lobbying Mr Grayling and the other members of the Cabinet sub-committee on airports, with what it calls new evidence of flaws in the Davies Commission methodology  in particular, predictions of growth at the airport.

Passenger numbers are expected to reach over 43 million in 2016, making Gatwick by far the busiest single-runway airport in the world. The second-busiest runway is at San Diego in California, which handles only half as many passengers.

An executive for one of the leading airlines at Gatwick said the airport was bursting at the seams, and the Civil Aviation Authority is believed to be launching a review of its resilience. There have been suggestions that passenger numbers could be capped at below the present level in order to improve on-time performance.

Bosses at the Sussex airport believe that a second runway could be built for less than half the 18bn cost for a third at Heathrow, as estimated by the commission. A moratorium on a second runway at Gatwick expires in 2019, and it could be completed by 2025  probably ahead of a third runway at Heathrow.

The Davies Commission was confident that only one new runway in Sout-east England would be needed for the next few decades. Assuming a third runway at Heathrow, it concluded only that there would be likely to be sufficient demand to justify a second additional runway by 2050 or, in some scenarios, earlier.

Aviation experts have questioned the wisdom of building extra capacity simultaneously at both airports. The aviation analyst John Strickland said: The acid test would be how much additional traffic Gatwick would attract if Heathrow secures a third runway, which will attract the lions share of airline demand in the London market.

Malcolm Ginsberg, editor of Business Travel News, said that the ownership of each airport was significant: Heathrow is backed by in the main by pension funds and national investment corporations whose interests are long term. Gatwick demonstrated with the sale of London City Airport by majority shareholder Global Infrastructure Partners that they are in it essentially for the money.

The most delayed UK airports in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 The most delayed UK airports in pictures The most delayed UK airports in pictures 1. Gatwick Getty Images The most delayed UK airports in pictures 2. Luton PA The most delayed UK airports in pictures 3. Manchester Getty Images The most delayed UK airports in pictures 4. Glasgow PA The most delayed UK airports in pictures 5. Heathrow PA The most delayed UK airports in pictures 6. Edinburgh The most delayed UK airports in pictures 7. Bristol Getty Images The most delayed UK airports in pictures 8. Stansted Getty Images The most delayed UK airports in pictures 9. Birmingham AFP/Getty Images The most delayed UK airports in pictures 10. Newcastle PA WIRE

UK airlines are understood to be appalled at the prospect of their passengers having to pay higher airport charges in order to fund the building of one new runway, let alone two.

Gatwicks plan will also dismay environmental campaigners. A spokesperson for Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions said: Sussex and Surrey residents are bound to witness a deterioration in air quality due to the lack of infrastructure and the lack of public transport alternatives to the east or west or from the south, with passengers using private cars or taxis.

But Guy Stephenson, chief commercial officer for Gatwick, said: We are doing all we can to grow sustainably and to limit our impact on the environment. Unlike Heathrow, we have never breached legal air-quality limits and this is a track record we are determined to maintain.
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Is it the barmiest transport idea ever to have come out of Brussels  or an inspired example of binding Europe together through improving mobility?

Having already announced proposals to dish out free InterRail tickets to 18-year-olds across the continent on their birthday, the EU has mooted plans also to bestow them with unlimited pan-European travel by sea and possibly air.

Last week, The Independent revealed the vision of a German MEP, Manfred Weber. Citizens of all EU countries would receive a voucher for a free InterRail ticket on their 18th birthday.

They could then use it to explore the other member states on the same unlimited-travel basis as on InterRail.

The concept has been warmly welcomed by the European Commission, which is known to be keen on initiatives that improve the standing of the EU after the Brexit vote. But there are issues with commonality, since the railways of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania do not participate in the InterRail scheme, while Cyprus and Malta have no passenger railways.

The Transport Commissioner, Violeta Bulc, has confirmed the Commission likes this idea, and has called for further study to see if buses, ships and perhaps even aircraft could be included: Could the scheme become  at least progressively  intermodal, and not only limited to rail tickets? she said in a statement to the European parliament.

Leading travel figures, however, are divided about the schemes prospects.

Airlines have dismissed the notion that they could be involved. Unlike train operators, they typically fill 90 per cent of seats, leaving few for potential standby passengers.

Tim Jeans, former managing director of Monarch, said: Very quickly, it becomes completely impractical. Provided you want to go to Aberdeen from Luton on a wet Tuesday in November, then you might get a seat. Otherwise, forget it.

Publicly-funded ferry companies could more easily be included in an InterRailPlus scheme, since they typically have spare capacity  as do many bus operators. But Jonathan Roberts, head of communications at the UK Chamber of Shipping, said: We welcome the European Parliaments acknowledgement that ferries provide an affordable, accessible and fun option for travellers. We would suggest though that, given young people in Europe face significant levels of unemployment, not to mention a wide variety of other social and economic problems, free holidays are perhaps not the best use of taxpayers money.

Mark Smith, founder of the international rail website Seat61.com, said: Ill believe it when I see it, but in principle, if travel broadens the mind and fosters understanding between nations and cultures, boy could we do with more of that at the moment.

It would also encourage young people to experience low-carbon overland travel and avoid knee-jerk recourse to budget airlines once they realise whats possible with their feet on the ground.

Nicky Gardner, co-editor of Hidden Europe magazine and a proponent of European rail travel, said: We run across very many young people who have hardly been on a train, and to be honest would not  bar for this scheme  ever think of it. It could be a very good idea. It certainly will encourage people to discover a greater sense of European diversity.

Ms Gardner pointed out that Deutsche Bahn has offered anyone aged 18 or under the chance to buy a months travel within Germany for 149 (134). All the evidence is that it converted many young people, brought up in car-owning families, into train travellers, she said.

UK rail operators ranked Show all 22 1 /22 UK rail operators ranked UK rail operators ranked Grand Central - 79% Here is the list of best and worst train operators with their overall customer score UK rail operators ranked Hull Trains - 73% UK rail operators ranked Merseyrail - 70% UK rail operators ranked Virgin Trains West Coast - 69% UK rail operators ranked C2C - 62% UK rail operators ranked East Coast/Virgin Trains East Coast - 61% UK rail operators ranked Chiltern Railways - 60% UK rail operators ranked Scotrail - 59% UK rail operators ranked East Midlands Trains - 58% UK rail operators ranked London Overground - 56% UK rail operators ranked Cross Country Trains - 55% UK rail operators ranked First TransPennine Express - 55% UK rail operators ranked London Midland - 55% UK rail operators ranked TfL Rail - 52% UK rail operators ranked South West Trains - 51% UK rail operators ranked First Great Western/Great Western Railway- 50% UK rail operators ranked Northern Rail - 50% Phil Sangwell UK rail operators ranked Arriva Trains Wales - 49% UK rail operators ranked Southern - 48% UK rail operators ranked Abellio Greater Anglia - 47% UK rail operators ranked Southeastern - 46% UK rail operators ranked Thameslink and Great Northern - 46%

But Neil Taylor, a travel writer and tour guide, sounded notes of caution about the prospect of millions of 18-year-olds taking to the rails: Many groups will use the tickets to travel to wherever drink is cheapest as, being 18, they can obtain it legally across the EU. Think what might happen to Kosice [in Slovakia] and Debrecen [in Hungary].

In any case, a youngster who has hardly left home will not benefit from drifting around Europe. Concentrating on one area makes much better sense.

Tim Jeans said: Some of my most life-affirming moments at that age were when I was travelling to new places and encountering new and different cultures. But part of the fun was the summer job to pay for it all, and that Id still believe in.
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Are frontiers meant to make us safe? Or are they always intended to be insecure, a reminder of our own fragility on the edge of the world? You might ask the 100,000 people of Kilis  both the Turks and the Syrian refugees  since they live on a fault line that stretches from the Crusader castle at Ravandra, with its dentists nightmare of jagged, broken walls high above the mountains, to the narrow streets of the old town which is enduring a gentle peace after months of Isis rocket fire from across the Syrian border that killed 21 of its civilians this year. Three of them were Syrian refugee children.

Recommended Read more Isis loses a third of its territory in Syria and Iraq

It is an instructive, humbling spectacle to see how kindly the Turks here treat the thousands of refugees who come to beg in the narrow streets of the old town with its 16th century Islamic schools and mosques. When a Syrian peasant woman approaches our table in a small Ottoman restaurant, the locals step forward to give her coins. A grubby child, accompanied by his mother and her baby, is handed cheese rolls. It puts to shame the liars of the Brexit campaign and their hatred of the foreigners who supposedly threaten little England.

Here in the tiny promontory of Kilis, the statistics feel somehow more dreadful. Turkey looks after 2.7 million Syrian refugees. It makes you realise what mean bastards we are in Europe after last years million refugees  not all of them Syrians  poured in among us. And in the UK, of course, weve taken in just over 1,600  and promise homes to a pathetic 20,000 more. The only equivalence you can find is that Turkeys pound is falling after the tens of thousands of arrests that followed Julys attempted coup at almost the same rate as sterling is crashing after Theresa Mays contemptuous speech a week ago. Perhaps she has more in common with President Erdogan than we might think.

But this is to place mice in the context of history. There are other, more sobering thoughts as you drive along the Turkish-Syrian border. Ive spent weeks on the other side, driving along the smashed and cratered roads of Syria, the empty Turkmen and Sunni villages which the Syrian army is trying to recapture. And only 50 miles to the south is the martyr city of Aleppo, too far away to hear the bombs, close enough to see the effect. The refugees are still coming, and the camp on the border road is growing larger. Yet here the newly surfaced Turkish highways are wide and clean, the astonishing new mass of ten-floor, well-painted apartment blocks rising with pristine grace scarcely three miles from one of the Middle Easts most terrible wars.

The fields of olives and apples and grapevines and corn, as carefully groomed and regimented as any army, remind me of the northern Syria I know better and  its always this way with frontiers  I have to shake myself to remember that this is the same landmass, that its only we humans that chop it up into political bits. Thats why southern Lebanon is almost identical to Galilee, why Turkish Gaziantep and its hills to the west look like the mountains above Syrian Lattakia, why the land around Lebanese Tripoli feels like Syrian Hama. God did it. We didnt.

In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish tanks driving to the Syrian-Turkish border town of Jarabulus yesterday AFP/Getty In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish-backed gather on the outskirts of Jarabulus, Syria, ahead of an offensive on 24 August 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish army tanks make their way towards the Syrian border town of Jarabulus, Syria August 24, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish soldiers return from Syria to Turkey with tanks after a military operation at the Syrian border as part of their offensive against the Islamic State (IS) militant group in Syria, Karkamis district of Gaziantep, Turkey, 25 August 2016 EPA In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish army tanks and Turkey-backed Syrian opposition forces move toward the Syrian border as pictured from Karkamis, Turkey, AP In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish tanks on their way to the Turkish-Syria border during an operation against Isis on 24 August 2016 EPA In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Syrian opposition fighters being transported during preparations to enter Jarabulus in Karkamis, Turkey, on 24 August 2016. EPA In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria An air strike hitting Isis-controlled territory near Jarabulus, near the Turkish border, on 24 August 2016. EPA In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria A Turkish army tank and an armoured vehicle stationed near the border with Syria. Turkish media reports say Turkish artillery has launched new strikes at Isis targets across the border AP

But we knew how to divide it. Take little Kilis. A thousand years ago, it became part of the eastern Roman Empire and was regularly exchanged between Romans and Arabs. Arab raids gave way to the Crusaders until the Seljuks took it. The Mamluks were driven out by the Ottomans, and for many years Kilis belonged to the district (sanjak) of Aleppo that burned so brightly in history  as it burns so blackly today  and even an Egyptian pasha took over the town for eight years.

And then  heres a remarkable irony for us today  the British marched into town on 6 December 1918, the remnants of Allenbys army which had fought its way from Cairo through Jerusalem to Aleppo in the First World War. Its all recorded in the former town house of Neset Effendi who built his home in the 1920s and modelled it on a friends home in Aleppo. Yes, thats how close local history can be.

Unless you wish to forget the war crime of all war crimes in this area. For unrecorded in local history  and you certainly wont find it in the brochure  the Armenians of Kilis were deported on 28 July 1915 at the start of the Armenian genocide in which a million and a half Ottoman Christians were done to death. A few were apparently put on freight trains  an ancient, rusty track still runs east of Kilis to Gaziantep  while others from the larger towns were dispatched south into the Syrian desert, just beyond the present border wire, to be slaughtered, mass raped and starved along the 50 miles that stretch from Kilis and Gaziantep to Aleppo.

Their bones still lie  quite visible if youre on the southern side of the frontier line  in the lands which are now fought over by Isis, Kurds, Turkish troops, Turkmen militias, supposed Free Syrian Army operatives, a few of those US Special Forces heroes of Hollywood fame, and  further away  by Syrian troops led by the general whom Assad calls The Tiger. And maybe this is the moment for a few updates in the current war diary. If the pro-Turkish version of the FSA managed to take back land from Isis this year, the last week has seen Isis slowly recapturing villages on the other side of the border. At Karkamish (beloved of T E Lawrence), the Kurdish YPG (a branch of the PKK which Turkey has stamped long ago with the terror label) are now beyond the Euphrates. Turkmen loyal to the Turkish state (and thus the army, I suppose) are also in front of the Kilis border.

 Western powers and Russia clash at UN over Syria

Safe for the moment, perhaps. This little district has always been an Erdogan/AKP stronghold and at 2am on 15 July this year  as they tell you here  every mosque, at the very same moment, called the people onto the streets to defend their country. Forget Syria. It was Turkey that was suddenly in danger. In Gaziantep, the people flocked to the local commercial airport to prevent its seizure by army rebels.

Far away  in reality only 10 miles  a small Turkish family, hired by the state, must have heard all this. They guard the great Crusader keep of Ravandra and its worth a visit even though the touristic stone steps and electric lighting and new walkways were suddenly suspended in 2012 when the Syrian war drove every foreigner away. After clambering 500 feet to the top, you can peer through the arrow slits just as our European ancestors did 1,000 years ago. For they too had to keep an eye, didnt they, on the Muslim hordes.
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In a part of the world where state security prisoners are a state secret, Turkey has been dribbling out the figures of the tens of thousands of soldiers, cops, judges, prosecutors, academics and others arrested after the attempted coup of 15 July. From leaks to local journalists and occasional bulletins by the government, the nearest statistic for the total number of Turks imprisoned  even for a few weeks  now comes to a grand (and shocking) total of 70,756.

Any Arab state would arrest a citizen who merely uttered such figures  but these revelations are now part of the governments propaganda war in Turkey. You know nothing yet, the authorities are telling their people  just look at the figures! The plot was larger than even you believed! Whether the public do believe this, they must surely know the arrests will continue.

The most striking figure shows how deeply the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has struck at the heart of the military, supposedly the guardian of the Turkish state since Mustafa Kamal Ataturk founded the nation after the First World War. The numbers show that an astounding 7,028 members of the Turkish armed forces have now been arrested. These include 164 generals and admirals, 287 colonels, 222 lieutenant colonels, 351 majors, 471 captains, and 1,091 lieutenants. And this, remember, is the largest army in Nato.

Of the "Poor Bloody Infantry", as they used to be known in the British army  which never suffered arrests on this scale in its entire history  figures amassed by Turkish journalist Fevzi Cakir suggest that 1,161 non-commissioned officers (NCOs) have been arrested, along with 1,400 colour sergeants, 619 military school students and 528 conscripts. On top of this, 194 military judges and prosecutors have been jailed. But the civil judiciary has suffered almost as badly as the military.

These arrests include 2,385 judges, two of them members of the Turkish Supreme Court, 108 members of the High Court, 48 from high administrative courts, and five from the Higher Council of Judges and Public Prosecutors. At least 200 of the rest are more lowly judges and public prosecutors. Among local dignitaries, 19 governors have been arrested, 76 deputy governors and 59 local municipal governors. The figures show that six mayors and two deputy mayors have been detained. So have three heads of the Turkish Bar Association and 245 lawyers. And if you think this is a big bite out of the echelons of Turkish society, take a look at whats happened to the police.

Well over 7,000 have been picked up, including 629 city security directors, 47 assistant police directors  effectively police intelligence operatives  as well as 361 police chief officers, 649 superintendents, 1,110 assistant superintendents and 4,220 ordinary police officers. These figures may be considerably higher after 800 more but largely unspecified arrests in the past 48 hours. A government website has been sending detention figures to local journalists each morning, but it is almost impossible to keep pace with the overall figure.

For example, of the total of 70,756 taken into custody since the attempted coup by supposed followers of exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, 31,048 were served with arrest warrants, 1,304 are still under questioning but 1,436 were later set free. Whether their original detention was by mistake or design has not been clarified. Another 22,305 are under "judicial control"  which appears to include house arrest or regular appearances at local police stations  but more than 5,000 seem to have actually appeared in court and been set free. Just how this miracle occurred is not clear. If the evidence of a "Gulenist" plot is to be proved, there must have been a lot of doubtful evidence  even though the attempted coup against Erdogan was all too real.

In addition, it seems that 3,278 arrest warrants appear to have been issued for military officers, police and judiciary  even for university dons  who till now have managed to elude capture. But having arrested so many of the security forces, it could well be that the government is finding it difficult to muster enough soldiers and policemen to continue the hunt. Another 638 have been freed from prison  presumably without trial.

And so we turn to the Turkish universities. According to the figures printed in one paper last week, four university rectors, four provosts, five deans, 193 professors, 11 university administrative directors and a further 407 administrative staff have been picked up. Another 685 janitors and lower grade staff have also been arrested.

As the security temperature heats up or cools down in the freshly renewed Turkish 90-day state of emergency, we shall no doubt see the detention figures rise and fall accordingly. No figures for arrested journalists have been disclosed. But these days, its probably safer to be a bus driver or a street cleaner than a member of the Turkish elite. Unless, of course, you are a loyal supporter of the current President of Turkey.
Theresa May's announcement to last week's Conservative Party conference that Britain would be triggering Article 50 by the end of March 2017 with the UK leaving the EU by spring 2019, means that Brexit, most likely so-called "hard Brexit", is now upon us.

While May's announcement played well to the adoring delegates, the markets hated it. Sterling, which had already down 15pc against the euro over the previous 12 months, weakened further early last week.

However, this was merely hors d'oeuvre for what happened on Friday, when at one point sterling was down 10pc against the euro. While the British currency later staged a partial recovery it settled at about 1.11 or about 90p.

What we are now witnessing is beginning to look very like an old-fashioned sterling crisis as nervous investors dump the British currency in advance of Brexit. Employers' body Ibec predicted last March that sterling could fall to parity with the euro within two years of a Brexit vote.

Following last week's turbulence on the foreign exchange markets it would seem that Ibec was being overly optimistic - parity could be just months away.

The collapse in the value of sterling is already feeding through into exports with the value of Irish goods exports to the UK falling by almost 5pc in the first seven months of 2016. And that's almost certainly only the beginning. A near 20pc fall in the value of sterling will hurt even those indigenous exporters who have hedged forward as those hedges expire over the next 12 to 18 months.

Also in the firing line is the tourist industry. A British visitor to this country who was getting over 1.40 for her pound as recently as last November is now getting just over 1.10. While visitor numbers were up 12pc in the three months from June to August, don't bet on this continuing.

When the exchange rate begins to kick in it won't be just British visitors, 41pc of the total, who will be affected. For those travellers from mainland Europe or North America who like to holiday in cold, wet, windy countries, Scotland is now 25pc cheaper than it was a year ago.

This is going to feed through into the domestic economy very quickly. Last week the Central Bank forecast that while underlying domestic demand (the best proxy for the performance of the Irish economy in the leprechaun economics era) would grow by 4pc this year it would grow by just 2.7pc in 2017.

Any slowdown in the domestic economy will hit tax revenues and threatens to upend the fiscal calculations the political parties relied upon to fund the promises they made during last February's general election campaign. The so-called "fiscal space" has disappeared, something Michael Noonan would do well to bear in mind when he delivers Budget 2017 on Tuesday.

Now that Brexit has moved from the realm of the hypothetical to the real, two other serious threats to this country have emerged.

If the June 23 referendum result was about anything it was about immigration into the UK. A post-Brexit UK will almost certainly insist on imposing controls on the entry of EU nationals, including those from Ireland, into the UK.

What will the reaction in this country to the end of the common travel area that has existed since 1922 be? How will Irish people feel about giving up the automatic right to live and work in the UK, something which millions of us have done since independence, in order to retain a right to work in Brussels or Frankfurt that very few of us have exercised?

Meanwhile, the full implications of the European Commission's ruling against Ireland in the Apple tax case are only now beginning to sink in. If it is upheld by the European court the ruling will gut the 12.5pc company tax rate upon which we have relied to attract foreign direct investment to this country.

Although most of the coverage of a "hard Brexit", where the UK leaves the single market, has focussed on the possible economic damage to that country, there is an upside. A post-Hard Brexit UK, excluded from the single market, would opt for a low-tax, low-cost, deregulated economic model. It could also let sterling fall to levels that would make British exports hyper-competitive - regardless of whatever tariffs the EU imposed.

These threats represent a clear and present danger to this country. The Government's response, to set up an "all-Ireland civic forum" on Brexit. Stand by for a very tough economic year in 2017 as Brexit begins to bite.
Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire speaks on the third day of the Conservative party conference at the ICC in Birmingham. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Britain is hoping to move frontline immigration controls to Irish ports and airports to avoid enforcing a hard border between the North and the Republic.

Northern Ireland Secretary, James Brokenshire, has said that London and Dublin will work to strengthen Irelands external borders to prevent illegal migration to the UK.

The move would come into effect once the UK leaves the European Union.

Speaking to The Guardian, Mr Brokenshire said there was now a high level of collaboration on a joint programme of work between Ireland and Britain.

We have put in place a range of measures to further combat illegal migration working closely with the Irish government, he said.

Our focus is to strengthen the external border of the common travel area [CTA], building on the strong collaboration with our Irish partners.

He also stressed that Brexit would not destabilise Northern Irelands power-sharing institutions, and would not provide dissidents with a propaganda boost.

There is no reason to think that the outcome of the referendum will do anything to undermine the rock-solid commitment of the UK government and the people of Northern Ireland to the settlement set out in the Belfast agreement and its successors," he added.

Questions over the north-south border have been rampant since the UK voted to leave the EU, with fears that border controls would have to be put in place to control immigration.

Such measures could be seen as a violation of the Good Friday agreement.

But shifting the focus of immigration controls to Dublin Airport and Rosslare Europort could help to avoid such a violation.

The proposed measures would be mainly aimed at non-Europeans wishing to enter the common travel area between Ireland and Britain.

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said he welcomed Mr Brokenshires commitment to an invisible border between North and South.

In terms of the threat of illegal immigration through the border, the sharing of information is vital, as is the sharing of systems and the use of digital technology, he said.

These are means by which we can ensure that any adverse impact is minimised. The object of our engagement is to maintain the common travel area.

But Mr Flanagan added that upgrading immigration controls between the two countries would have to be negotiated along with Irelands EU partners.

I have been impressing on my fellow 26 EU foreign ministerial colleagues the importance of maintaining what is now an invisible border, he said.

He added that his EU counterparts had a "deep understanding" of the consequences a heavily fortified border could have on the peace process.
The Budget war over increases in social welfare payments will go right down to the wire with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail last night still at odds over when the benefit hikes should be paid.

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar told the Sunday Independent the aim of this week's Budget is to ensure "everyone feels it in their pocket - even if it is modest".

The minister's spokesman later said the Government is united in its view that there should be benefit hikes for a wide group of people - and not just pensioners.

He said the minister would like to increase all payments by 5 a week - as proposed by Fianna Fail for pensioners - but said this will not be possible as it would cost 350m a year.

Mr Varadkar proposed delaying increased welfare payments until June next year to ensure 400,000 people could receive increases in their weekly payments.

But speaking before the Fianna Fail presidential dinner last night, Micheal Martin said he wanted the pension hike to be introduced in January.

However, he did not say this was a red-line issue for the party.

"I think there's an element that Leo feels that if he can have a go off Fianna Fail consistently, and try to undermine Fianna Fail, that might gain him traction in whatever subsequent election he might find himself a party to," Mr Martin said.

The Sunday Independent understands both parties are likely to settle on payments being made in April or March.

It has also emerged that there will be no cuts to the prescription charge in Tuesday's Budget. Health Minister Simon Harris is understood to favour using his funding this year to improve services and reduce waiting times for hospital beds. It is likely he will cut prescription charges in future budgets.

The Government is also expected to approve a 10c increase in the minimum wage from 9.15 to 9.25.

Meanwhile, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe was in ongoing discussions yesterday afternoon with his Cabinet colleagues in the Independent Alliance.

Relationships between the Alliance and their Fine Gael colleagues were described as "tense" last night.

Junior Minister Sean Canney said the Alliance is still pushing to have a 25m fund for sheep farmers established next year. The scheme would see farmers who have fewer than 100 sheep paid 20 per sheep annually.

They also want a tax-back scheme for people making home improvements extended and Transport Minister Shane Ross also convinced Minister Michael Noonan to close a tax loophole exposed by the Panama Papers scandal.
Concerns in relation to Finance Minister Michael Noonan's intentions in the Budget for the tax treatment of the commercial property sector were to the fore in discussions between agents and investors with an interest in the Irish market at the Expo Real real estate fair in Munich last week.

Director at TWM Property Solutions Sean O'Neill told the Sunday Independent there was "nervousness" among international investors over potential changes being introduced on Budget day to Qualifying Investor Alternative Investment Funds (QIAIFs).

The funds, currently the main subject of a review being conducted by the Department of Finance, are regulated by the Central Bank, and have been used by several of the biggest players in the Irish property market to engage in home building, rental, retail, hotel and office development.

QIAIFs are typically exempt from Irish tax. Instead of taxing the fund, investors are taxed in the country they happen to reside. Therefore, Irish investors, for example, are typically taxed at 41pc.

Commenting on the potential consequences of any changes to the current structures, O'Neill said: "If taxes are brought in, there will inveitably be some impact on pricing.

"But it will also damage Ireland's reputation, as most funds have invested based on the structures put in place by the Government. If those structures are changed now, it would impact significantly on investors' business plans. This is creating uncertainty about the Irish market that investors simply don't like."

Despite these pre-Budget concerns, O'Neill said those investors he and his colleagues in TWM had met in Munich remained "very positive" about Ireland.

Asked what he had gleaned in relation to the international investment community's views on Brexit and its consequences for Ireland, O'Neill said: "From a property perspective , they feel Brexit will be a positive for the Irish market."

Referring to the degree of appetite among investors for Irish property at Expo Real, he said: "The Irish market is very small in comparison to the wider European market. Foreign investors are finding it difficult to get product in the lot size and quality they require."
Hundreds of millions of euro worth of property investment deals have been put on hold amid fears the Government will restrict tax exemptions on Irish Collective Asset-management Vehicles (ICAVs) and Qualifying Investor Alternative Investment Funds (QIAIFs).

The deals have been stalled pending the proposed introduction of a withholding tax on the funds, which are fully exempt from tax on income and profits, amid concerns that they are being abused for aggressive tax avoidance by some property investors.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has already announced the restriction of tax deductions to 'tax neutral' S110 property funds that are not paying tax in Ireland - or are not in an EU double tax treaty - on the profits derived from their Irish loan books.

Concerns have been raised that the funds are being used by foreign and domestic investors to avoid paying tax on rental income. It is understood the curbs on QIAIFs and ICAVs will be announced as part of the forthcoming Finance Bill.

But the uncertainty surrounding the new moves has led to investors stalling deals.

Last Thursday tax lawyer William Fogarty, partner at Maples and Calder, told the Real Estate Stakeholders Debate Brexit Summit that at least 100m worth of deals have stalled at the Dublin office of the international law firm.

Similar deals have been placed on hold at other legal and real estate firms.

International investors also debated the prospect of moving capital out of Ireland should the tax treatment of ICAVs and QIAIFs change, at last week's EXPO REAL Real Estate Trade Fair in Munich.

Director at TWM Property Solutions Sean O'Neill told the Sunday Independent that while investors remained "very positive" about Ireland, there was "nervousness" among investors over potential changes being introduced to QIAIFs.

"If taxes are brought in, there will inveitably be some impact on pricing," said O'Neill. "But it will also damage Ireland's reputation, as most funds have invested based on the structures put in place by the Government.

"If those structures are changed now, it would impact significantly on investors' business plans. This is creating uncertainty about the Irish market that investors simply don't like."

Last month CBRE's Head of Research Marie Hunt warned investors that changes to the tax treatment of the commercial property sector could result in "unintended consequences" if they are delivered in a sudden manner, or in a way that affects commitments already made or assets already acquired.

In a briefing note to clients, Hunt said the Government needs to proceed carefully to limit what she termed as "adverse impacts" on the property industry.

Noonan has told the Dail that any measures will be "targeted" to ensure they do not adversely impact on the wider funds industry.
Ballymore Group chairman and CEO Sean Mulryan, centre, Ballymores UK managing director John Mulryan, left, and Oxley Holdings chairman Ching Chiat Kwong inspect a model of Dublin Landings, at the developments launch last Thursday morning at the CHQ in Dublins docklands

Ballymore boss Sean Mulryan has called on the Government to release land that it controls in the Greater Dublin area and to enter into joint ventures with the country's housebuilders in order to address the deepening housing crisis.

Speaking to the Sunday Independent at the launch last Thursday morning of Dublin Landings, the one-million-square-foot office and residential development Ballymore is building in partnership with the Singapore-based Oxley Holdings, Mulryan warned there would be "very little improvement" in terms of housing supply until the State freed up land that he said was currently "tightly-held".

While the Roscommon-born builder said first-time home buyers should be given some help in this Tuesday's Budget, the issue of land supply needed to be "seriously" addressed.

He said: "The supply of land in the greater Dublin area is not there for the housebuilder. I know many housebuilders and they just don't have enough land. It's not available and it's tightly-held. The Government are in control of land with the local authorities, and public bodies control a lot of land in the greater Dublin area.

"I think seriously, that they need to start releasing it and doing joint ventures with housebuilders who would deliver the product. Until they do that, it (the housing situation) is going to be the way that it is right now. There's going to be very little improvement on the supply side."

Mulryan said he didn't see any "major problem" with the planning regulations, notwithstanding the concerns expressed by some commentators on the subject.

"The infrastructure is there for the land. It's just a matter of getting the land released so people like myself and my peers in the housebuilding sector who I know very well and talk to (can build homes). They're all having the same problem. They just can't get their hands on the land to build," he added.

Turning to the subject of the commercial sector, Mulryan expressed satisfaction that the supply of office space coming onstream in Dublin was appropriate to meet current and future demand.

He said: "There's a lot of office space coming, but it's hugely important for the economy if we're hoping to attract inward investment,that high quality offices are available for international companies to come and look at, to see where they can put their people. I think it's good to see all this office space coming on."

Asked what his expectations were for Dublin in terms of attracting UK companies as a result of Brexit, he said: "I think it will be demand for back office space. We have spoken to some of the banks in the UK. They don't know what they're doing yet. I believe it will be a small number. But I suppose if you got 2,000 or 3,000 jobs in from London into Dublin, it would be significant for Dublin."

Mulryan confirmed that he had spoken to Oxley Holdings chairman Ching Chiat Kwong about the major development opportunity presented by the former Irish Glass Bottle site in Ringsend.

Commenting on the economic outlook for Ireland, he said: "We have learned hard lesssons, but we're creating jobs and the economy is starting to grow. I don't think it's going to go crazy. I think it's going to be steady as it goes. If we could get 4pc growth per annum, then the future looks bright."
AIB has hired David McLaughlin - son of well-known Dublin stockbroker Kyran McLaughlin - to lead its private banking unit, the Sunday Independent has learned.

McLaughlin Jr will join from Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) - where he has headed its Irish private banking offering - later this year, an AIB spokeswoman said.

His new role will see him play an important role in increasing AIB's fee income as the 99.8pc State-owned bank seeks to position itself for a long-mooted IPO, which has been delayed by turbulence on the markets.

Fee income helps improve a bank's return on capital, as it does not absorb capital like interest-based income from lending. AIB's private banking unit typically targets high net-worth customers with annual salaries or incomes exceeding 250,000.

McLaughlin, a UCD graduate, previously worked at HSBC and Dresdner Bank before taking a corporate development role at educational software publisher Riverdeep, set up by businessman Barry O'Callaghan. He also held an investor relations role at Elan, the pharma firm that was bought by Perrigo and on whose board his father served.

Kyran McLaughlin has a long association with Davy Stockbrokers, and has held roles including joint chief executive and deputy chairman. He is also on the board of Ryanair, which he advised on its initial flotation in 1997.

AIB, which is headed by chief executive Bernard Byrne, made headlines earlier this week after news emerged that it was to cut 150 jobs across Ireland.

The bank said the job losses in its retail and business banking network would not lead to branch closures or reduced operating hours. An AIB spokeswoman said they would be voluntary.

"There are no compulsory redundancies. There is an opportunity for a limited number of staff to avail of voluntary severance and therefore we have decided to open a programme now. There are no branch closures or reductions in hours associated with this change."

Finance Minister Michael Noonan said in May that the AIB flotation - which would see up to 25pc of the bank sold off - was unlikely to happen until next year.

"We don't need to cash out. There was a time we did, to reduce debt levels, but we've all these things under control now, so there's no constraint on us," Noonan said.

"It's less likely that we'll go in the last quarter of this year now, and more likely that we'll go in the first half of next year, if the market corrects."
The Mac brand will be exculsively sold in Ireland by Arnotts and Brown Thomas

Arnotts, the Dublin department store, is to launch beauty brand Mac next month, the first time the international beauty label has been available outside of Brown Thomas in Ireland.

It represents the latest co-operation between Brown Thomas and Arnotts, which are now both owned by the Selfridges Group,

Brown Thomas first brought Mac to Ireland in 1997 and it is available in its BT2 store. Mac is also sold in Dublin Airport.

Launched here by drag queen RuPaul, it regularly collaborates with celebrities such as Ariana Grande and Ellie Goulding.

Brown Thomas had been keen to make Mac available to shoppers on the north-side of the city for some time and opened a small BT2/Mac store on Henry Street in 2012.

The new concession in Arnotts will be significantly larger and occupy a prime location in the Arnott's beauty hall. It will open in mid-November.

The existing BT2/Mac standalone store across the street from Arnotts, the country's largest department store, will continue to trade until after Christmas.

Under the new arrangement, Brown Thomas and Arnotts will be the exclusive retailers for Mac products in Ireland.

Although Selfridges and Arnotts have not revealed details of a master plan for the department store, significant investment is expected.

It has already been adding a number of new brands and designers to the store.

John Lewis Home launched this week, while Charlotte Tilbury, a luxury beauty brand will open in Arnotts later this month. This brand was launched in Brown Thomas amid great fanfare in 2014.

Donald McDonald, managing director of Arnotts, said: "We are delighted to welcome Mac into a prime location within the beauty hall of Arnotts. Widely recognised as one of the top global make-up brands, this is an exciting addition to our store.

"Our ambition at Arnotts is to continue to deliver exceptional service and quality products, and to create new and exciting experiences for existing and new customers," he added.

"Mac is one of the many new exciting brands we're introducing into Arnotts over the coming months."

The Selfridges Group, owned by Canadian businessman Galen Weston and his Irish wife Hillary, confirmed it bought Arnotts last November.

It was acquired for an undisclosed sum from Fitzwilliam Finance Partners, a corporate vehicle set up by Irish developer Noel Smyth in 2011. He plans to develop lands nearby to Arnotts.
Terry Clune's currency transfer business Transfermate is in talks with potential investors about selling a minority equity stake in the business.

The company is looking to raise capital to accelerate its growth, which is on course to be in the order of 40pc this year in revenue terms, according to the company's co-founder and chief financial officer, Sinead Fitzmaurice.

Fitzmaurice told the Sunday Independent that Transfermate - established in 2011 - may also look to raise debt.

"Our five-year plan focuses on aggressively expanding our global sales force...funded through an equity growth partner with experience in aggressive global scale of financial services and IPO preparation," Fitzmaurice said.

Clune, a co-founder of the business alongside Fitzmaurice and Transfermate's managing director Barry Dowling, told the Sunday Independent that the company's strategic focus has been to secure a global network of regulatory approvals.

"Rather than building a brand, acquiring a massive customer base and taking in investment, instead we've spent internal funding building a network...we've got 49 out of 50 licences in the States," he said, adding that around $8bn has passed through Transfermate's system thus far.

Fitzmaurice said Transfermate is in "active dialogue with 25 challenger banks across Europe who are eager to provide two-way transmission of funds between Europe, USA, Australia and Canada."

Established in 2011, it focuses on business-to-business services.

Peter Oakes, former director of enforcement at the Central Bank of Ireland, has recently joined Transfermate's board.

The company has also hired Danny Cassidy as head of growth. Cassidy was previously a senior sales director at Misys, a UK-based financial services software firm currently plotting a London IPO.

Transfermate is part of Clune's Taxback Group, other arms of which provide services including tax refund assistance.
The deal comes a year after the controversial $16.5 bn merger of Johnson Controls with Tyco in a so-called inversion, which saw the US-based Johnson establish its domicile in Ireland by buying Tyco.

Cork-based conglomerate Johnson Controls International has sold UK and Ireland-focused Ruskin Air Management (RAML) to Swedish-based company Swegon.

The deal comes a year after the controversial $16.5 bn merger of Johnson Controls with Tyco in a so-called inversion, which saw the US-based Johnson establish its domicile in Ireland by buying Tyco.

The sale is an indication of the integration of the two businesses.

RAML - which manufactures fire and smoke control products as well as ventilation products - produced revenues of Stg22m last year and market multiples for the sector would suggest a sale price in excess of 25m.

XMS Capital Partners was financial advisor to Johnson Controls on the deal.

Earlier this year XMS advised Wisconsin-based packaging company Bemis on the acquisition of Offaly-based Steripack.

Swegon is part of Investment AB Latour - an investment company nearly 80pc owned by the Swedish billionaire Gustaf Douglas and his family. Forbes magazine estimated Douglas' worth to be $5.7bn as of July this year.

"This acquisition gives us a very strong local presence and identity in UK through the well-known RAML brands," said Swegon chief executive Hannu Saastamoinen. "In addition, with RAML, we add a new competence area in Swegon in form of their extensive fire and smoke product knowledge. RAML products are complementary for us and we see good potential for cross sales in the future."
One of the country's foremost developers, Ballymore chief Sean Mulryan, has called on the Government to release land that it controls in the greater Dublin area and to enter into joint ventures with the country's house-builders in a bid to address the deepening housing crisis.

Speaking to the Sunday Independent at the launch last Thursday morning of Dublin Landings, the one-million-square-foot office and residential development the Ballymore Group is building in partnership with the Singapore-based Oxley Holdings, Mulryan warned there would be "very little improvement" in terms of housing supply until the State freed up lands which he said were currently "tightly-held".

While the Roscommon-born builder said first-time home buyers should be given some assistance in this Tuesday's Budget, it was the issue of land supply which needed to be "seriously" addressed.

He said: "The supply of land in the greater Dublin area is not there for the housebuilder. I know many housebuilders and they just don't have enough land. It's not available and it's tightly-held. The Government are in control of land with the local authorities and public bodies control a lot of land in the greater Dublin area.

"I think seriously, that they [the Government] need to start releasing it and doing joint ventures with housebuilders who would deliver the product. Until they do that, it [the housing situation] is going to be the way that it is right now. There's going to be very little improvement on the supply side."

Mulryan said he didn't see any "major problem" with the planning regulations, notwithstanding the concerns expressed by some commentators on the subject.

"The infrastructure is there for the land. It's just a matter of getting the land released so people like myself and my peers in the housebuilding sector who I know very well and talk to [can build homes]. They're all having the same problem. They just can't their hands on the land to build homes," he said.

Asked if Ballymore was pursuing further opportunities beyond its development in conjunction with Oxley Holdings of the Dublin Landings office scheme, which upon completion will include 273 luxury apartments, Mulryan said the group would continue to focus its attention on Dublin and the Greater Dublin area.

He said: "At the moment we're building in Naas in Co Kildare. We've got two projects on the go there. Generally, it's the greater Dublin area where we'd be focusing. We're hoping to do more projects and we're looking for opportunities right now, but land is very expensive, and has been over the last two years.

"We're finding it hard to justify some of the pricing, so that's why we're holding back."

While Mulryan's call for the State to free up lands for residential development will doubtless be welcomed by the growing number of young families currently searching in vain for an affordable, first home, it may not find favour with those who have persistently accused developers of 'hoarding land' with a view to increasing both its value, and their potential profits.

That accusation was levelled elsewhere last Thursday by the CEO of Hibernia REIT, Kevin Nowlan. Addressing those in attendance at the Real Estate Stakeholders Debate Brexit summit, of which the Sunday Independent and Irish Independent are media sponsors, Nowlan said: "State land is everywhere and it's not being managed. It needs to be freed up. It's all over the city centre and it's simply being hoarded".
A study published by the Central Bank claimed that most couples on average to good salaries should be able to save the deposit for a home in a reasonable enough time, (Stock image)

If you listen to the construction industry and politicians, you would believe that the big bad Central Bank has condemned decent, hard-working people to a life of rental misery.

With high rents and high house prices and the new Central Bank deposit rules, there is no possibility of them ever managing to save the deposit.

If only the Central Bank would relax the rules, then everyone could get on the housing ladder and live happily ever after in a nice four-bed semi in south county Dublin, as indeed is their God-given right.

Well, a study published by the Central Bank during the week showed that, for most couples on average to good salaries, they should be able to save the deposit in a reasonable enough time.

While it is taking some couples up to four years to save the deposit to buy a house in Dublin, in other parts of the country, they can get the deposit together with just one year of saving.

So house buying has not become the preserve of the children of rich parents. Most working couples who are prepared to save will be able to buy their own home.

Let's take a garda buying a house with his girlfriend, a nurse. They have both been working for around four years.

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Their combined gross salaries amount to around 65,000. They have a net pay of around 54k a year. If they are living in Dublin, they are probably paying around 15,000 a year in rent. If they are living outside Dublin, it's a lot less than this, down to as low as 6,000 in Ulster. They can run one car and have a modest lifestyle for around 22,000 a year, which leaves them with savings of around 20,000 a year.

After three years, they would have 60k. With 3.5 times their income, they would get a mortgage of 230k. So they can buy a house or an apartment for around the 300k mark. Sure, they will not be able to buy a three-bed house in south county Dublin, but they should be able to get a decent three-bed home in most other places in the country. Even in Dublin, there are 1,400 homes currently for sale at prices less than 300,000, according to Daft.ie.

So, it's taken them three years to get the deposit together. That is saving from scratch with no existing savings and they can buy a house without any assistance from their parents. Of course, if they already have been saving and/or if their parents give them a dig-out, they will be able to buy in less than three years.

Let's be clear, saving 20,000 a year means living on a budget of 1,800 a month. They will have to curb their lifestyle. They will have one car. They will have to stop buying take-away coffees. They won't be going on two foreign holidays a year. And when their friends invite them out to the pub for a session, they will more often than not, have to say, "sorry, we are saving up to buy a house".

Of course, if they want to smoke 20 cigarettes a day, dine out twice a week and stay bang up to date with the latest fashions, they will not be able to get on the housing ladder. But that is their choice and not the fault of the Central Bank.

If anything, the Central Bank rules are helping couples who want to buy a house. They have prevented the lenders from reckless lending. The publicity around the rules has helped to keep house prices in check.

Our garda and nurse might be happier if they could get a 100pc mortgage with no inconvenient requirement to curb their lifestyle to save money. But if every couple gets a 100pc mortgage, then prices would skyrocket. So in the absence of the Central Bank rules on prudent lending, our couple might get on the housing ladder earlier, but they would have a much larger mortgage for the same house!

It seems to me that they are better off scrimping and saving for a few years before buying, than scrimping and saving for the next 20 years to meet the much higher mortgage repayments.

It is extraordinary how the Central Bank has become the scapegoat for people's difficulties in buying a house.

At a social function recently, a couple in their late twenties were complaining that the Central Bank rules were preventing them from getting onto the housing ladder.

I was really surprised at this, as they were both professionals earning above the average industrial wage and had been doing so for a few years. But it turns out that they were renting an apartment in Dublin 4 and, last year, had spent 25,000 on their wedding, wedding dress and honeymoon. And they were blaming the Central Bank because they couldn't get on the housing ladder?

In my opinion, they simply had their priorities wrong. They wanted to live in Dublin 4 and walk to work and, no doubt, enjoy the cosmopolitan lifestyle associated with it. They wanted a big wedding. If they were serious about getting on the housing ladder, they could have got married on a budget and used the money as a deposit to buy the apartment in which they now live.

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The Central Bank study covered the case of a moderately well-paid couple without children. But what about families who are renting who already have children? It is argued that with childcare costs and high rent, they will never be able to get on the housing ladder. But that is a choice that they made.

Like our couple who chose to blow 25,000 on a wedding before buying a house, a moderately well-paid couple who chooses to have children before buying a house, should not expect the taxpayer to come to their rescue now and provide them with the means to buy a house.

Which brings us to next Tuesday's Budget. Should the government help first-time buyers to buy a house? One thing is absolutely clear, the Fianna Fail proposal to give a grant to all first-time buyers, whether they buy a new house or a second-hand house is irresponsible in the extreme.

It will do absolutely nothing except push up the prices of all houses, new and second-hand. It won't increase the supply of houses. It is a subsidy from those of us who pay taxes to those who are selling their houses. Buyers will see little or no benefit.

The key focus of the Budget must be on encouraging the building of new houses. It's not clear that there is any case for interfering.

However, if the government wants to interfere, they could provide a VAT rebate for newly-built houses which meet the highest standards of energy conservation and general building regulations. This would make it more profitable for developers to build more houses, which should increase the supply. But there should be no preference shown towards first-time buyers.

We need to see more houses built. It should not matter if they are purchased by first-time buyers, second-time buyers or, for that matter, investors. If investors were incentivised to build 10,000 houses in Dublin, it would increase the availability and bring rents down for those who will never be in a position to save the deposit to buy their own homes.

Brendan Burgess is the founder of the consumer forum, Askaboutmoney.com
After close to 30 years in the recruitment business, Anne Heraty says the change of pace in the jobs market has never been so fast.

"Every other month, we'll get a job in that's completely new, that you have to have it explained," says the chief executive of listed recruitment firm Cpl.

Technology is the driving force behind this change, which she says is reshaping how everyone does their jobs at a rapid pace.

Heraty muses that it is a far cry from the start of her career, when her first job in telesales selling photocopiers and faxes for Xerox was seen as cutting edge.

After some difficult times for the jobs market, this year is seeing growth in permanent job placements and increased hiring by Irish companies, both good signs of a recovering economy.

However, Heraty feels we have a lot to do to keep the economy growing, particularly in the wake of Brexit.

She will have plenty of opportunity to air her concerns in her new role as president of employers body Ibec.

Among the issues high on her agenda are infrastructure to support the workforce, measures to encourage entrepreneurship and personal tax rates,

"We're hearing more and more from people when they're looking to come back to Ireland, that the high rate of personal tax is an issue and it's an issue for people who are here as well," she says.

Another concern is the participation of women in the workforce and Ibec is about to publish a major report on the issue.

She says that it is a parenting agenda rather than a women's agenda. "While it's often the woman who takes that decision if the second income is lower to stay at home, I do think the guys are as keen and as focused on family first now."

Heraty, who is warm and incredibly down to earth in person, says she herself was supported by a great childminder and her husband, Paul Carroll, Cpl's business development director. She has a son in secondary school and a daughter in university.

She was aware that balancing parenting and work is challenging but was taken aback by some of the findings of the report,

"I was shocked at the dropout rate in the workforce in the 25 to 39 age group in comparison to the other OECD countries and even to the UK. It is so much higher in Ireland," she says.

"We can see it in the overall stats that while jobs have been created and there's great job growth and unemployment has come down, that the female participation rate is not back to where it was since the recession," she says.

"The second thing that I thought was really striking was the notion that the second income, was reduced overall by 92pc meaning that you're really working for 8pc of your income."

Ibec has several recommendations including the means testing of child benefit and the expansion of the early childcare scheme.

Heraty herself has worked through most of her life. She grew up in a small village in North Longford, the second youngest of a of six children."We were the local grocer, pub, undertaker and then my brother was the local doctor," she says.

"I was interested in business from an early age without even being aware of it. It's part of your DNA growing up."

She went to boarding school in Longford and then to UCD where she studied maths and economics.

She graduated in 1984, and after some years with Xerox, she signed up to a recruitment agency in search of a new position. Instead the agency asked her if she was interested in working in recruitment and she decided to give it a go.

"I found that I really liked the tech sector," she says. "I had an affinity with the tech people and a lot of the other recruiters weren't that interested."

She asked her boss if she could specialise in technology. He said no and she began to think seriously about going out on her own with the encouragement of her then boyfriend Carroll, who worked in KPMG at the time.

A husband of her friend, who was in the recruitment business, agreed to back her in 1989 and Computer Placement was founded, later to become Cpl.

It was an exciting time, although unemployment was running at 15pc.

"Loads of change was coming because a lot of assembly type companies were moving out of Ireland and the Irish software industry was starting to grow and then some multi-nationals like Microsoft had started to come in. Tech started to come into its own."

It was a slow start. "It was just me at a desk with a phone. By 1994, we had six people."

The company began to grow more rapidly from 1995 and the dotcom era was a boon for Cpl which floated in 1999.

However, the dotcom crash in 2001 was as bad for the company as the recent recession. One decision following on from that experience was to diversify the business into areas such as financial services and healthcare.

Heraty said that being publicly listed has 'worked well' for the business. She and Carroll continue to hold over 40pc of stock with Heraty saying that she continues to love the business.

One of the disadvantages of being a plc is the pressure from investors to deliver good results on a quarterly basis. When times get tough the market can be unforgiving.

Heraty said she has decided to focus on what is best for the business rather than the shareprice.

"I think you yourself have to have the strength of character to know that regardless of short term things, you're on the plan and you articulate that plan well."

"All I can do is deliver the plan and if others take a different view to that, well then so be it."

Some 30pc of the company's business is now in Europe and the UK. Cpl is about to expand into Germany and is also preparing to open an office in Boston.

Entering the US is a brave move and Heraty is talking a cautious approach.

"It will be small," she says. "We're just starting with a couple of people to start with and then see how we go.

"It's really our clients that are bringing us because they are saying to us look, you know, you're doing a good job for us here. Can you do the same for us abroad? So we have a ready-made client base." Other initiatives include the recent establishment of an executive search business, Ardlinn, to capture the top end of the market.

While Heraty has taken on the Ibec role, she limits her non-Cpl work to Ibec these days.

She has been slow to become involved in other companies since her non executive director position at Anglo Irish Bank.

Heraty said she found the fallout from Anglo very difficult.

"There was just no good side to it," she says.

"As a non-executive director you do your due diligence, everything appeared to be working really well," she says.

"The only thing I have now outside of Cpl is the presidency of Ibec," she adds. "I am much more cautious now."

While technology is fuelling Cpl, technology also brings threats. New entrants are trying to challenge traditional recruitment such as LinkedIn and Irish start-up Jobbio.

"We're all technology companies now," says Heraty. "It plays a big role in out company now. But fundamentally good recruitment is about having really good sourcing of people. And then your ability to assess people, to get them across the line for a client is really what's important.

"Clients are not just looking for people who are on the market, who have their CVs up on database.

"A lot of the time they are looking for the passive candidate, the person who hasn't even thought about moving jobs."

As far as Heraty is concerned, for all the advancements in technology, it all comes back to people. Many of the issues which are top of her agenda at Ibec relate to making Ireland a better place to work.

"The kind of things that I am very focused on are around making Ireland a good place to live and work," she says.

"What I see coming up all the time now are all these, what they call liveability issues.

"So, our high personal tax rates, kicking in at too low a salary level."

Her top concerns include education, job creation and entrepreneurship,

"Fundamentally it is businesses that create jobs," says Heraty.

"I feel business gets a bad rap. Whereas actually by and large business is a force for good and you have got to have innovative businesses, we have got to have an environment that makes it worthwhile for people to start a business.

"I would be very excited about the whole start-up community here in Ireland and the ability of companies now, indigenous Irish companies to scale as well," she says.

She believes that businesses are responding to concerns from investors and society at large.

"I think we are definitely moving into an era where we need much more transparency," she says.

Brexit and the implications for Ireland are a concern.

"I think we need a very decisive approach to Brexit," she says.

"There is lots of uncertainty out there. I think it's something we have to be really mindful about and watch it very carefully." With the Budget taking place on Tuesday she will be watching any improvement for entrepreneurs closely.

An improvement in the arrangements for capital gains tax (CGT) on the sales of businesses by entrepreneurs would be welcome. At present, the UK's lower CGT rates are far more appealing for start-ups. If you look at the entrepreneurs in the UK it's 10pc on the first 10million.

"They tweaked this in the budget last year but here in Ireland it's 20pc on your first million. They're our very near neighbour, that investment is very mobile, we have to play on a level playing field."

On the matter of women in the workforce, she believes that the current cost of childcare means that any suggestion of people not working due to choice does not hold water.

"I'm sure of course some women make the choice and that's fine and it's great to be in a position to make that choice.

"But when you look at the average wage rates and so on, that's a small percentage of people that are in a position to make that choice and I think if it's costing you an average of 92pc of the second income, it makes it very hard to understand how it's possible to work."

And she believes there is an awareness finally at Government level that something needs to be done to support parents who both want to work.

Heraty believes addressing the childcare issues and women's participation in Ireland workforce is long overdue.

"I think it's hard to be in 2016 still talking about these kind of issues," she says,

"I certainly hope for my daughter's generation that this won't be the conversation."

"I could have ended up in healthcare"

I'm currently reading . . .

A Little Life, Hanya Yanagihara. It's a fabulous book about four college friends. I like business books, I love motivational books. I'm a very broad-church when it comes to reading."

I love to dine in . . .

"La Conca del Sogna" in Italy. I've gone there with the family for years. Apart from the fact it is a lovely restaurant, I think there is a lovely association there with time spent there when the kids were young."

The type of music I like . . .

"Paul (her husband) tells me that I'm very middle of the road. Paul has helped me form my taste in music, he plays guitar and all that."

If I hadn't worked in recruitment . . .

"I think I could have ended up in healthcare. I've always been interested in it and maybe could have been a doctor or a nurse. My eldest brother is a doctor so when I was younger that is something I would have liked."
Chuck Feeney, with former President Mary Robinson, at a ceremony to honour the Irish-American philanthropist in Dublin Castle in 2012. Photo: Collins

Chuck Feeney's Atlantic Philanthropies has invested almost $2.5m in Irish pharmaceuticals startup Neuropath Therapeutics.

The company aims to develop novel treatments for central nervous system disorders.

It's likely to be one of the last investments by Feeney under the Atlantic umbrella. It is due to conclude what it calls "grantmaking" by the end of this year, before concluding all of its operations in 2020.

The investment is revealed in recently filed Companies Registration Office documents, which show that Exeter Associates Limited - a subsidiary of Atlantic based in its Bermuda Office - gave Neuropath $2.4m on August 18.

Neuropath's directors are listed as James Peter Downey and Julie Anne Kelly.

It is listed on Trinity College Dublin's website as a campus company that "will progress the commercial development of novel compounds for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, and related disorders with unmet need."

Atlantic - which has been particularly active in support of third-level projects - did not respond to a request for comment.

The Irish-American Feeney has been active with Atlantic in the Republic of Ireland since 1987.

It has invested around $1.2bn here, with beneficiaries including St James' Hospital, Barnardos and the Childrens' Rights Alliance.

In Northern Ireland, Atlantic invested $570m between 1991 and 2014.

Feeney made his multi-billion dollar fortune in the duty-free industry before transferring a large portion of his wealth to Atlantic in the 1980s.

Initially, Atlantic made donations on an anonymous basis before Feeney unmasked himself in 1997 ahead of a court row between his Duty Free Services business and the luxury goods conglomerate Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy.

Atlantic's Dublin office was recently put on the market with a guide price of 3.3m as part of the wind down. It has also made investments in Cuba, Vietnam, South Africa and the United States.
A smile is a type of universal language we all understand no matter where in the world we come from. By simply smiling, we can light up our entire demeanour and quickly convey a sense of confidence to those around us. However, for some people who have lost teeth or have ill-fitting dentures, smiling can be difficult. Self-conscious, they try hard not to smile or cover their mouths with hands when they do. That is until now. Advances in dentistry and particularly the development of implants has now made it possible for almost anyone, irrespective of how long their teeth are missing, to have their smile corrected or restored.

This week I met up with dentist Ed O Flaherty, who along with fellow dentist and business partner, Tom Linehan, co-founded Seapoint Clinic in 2007. Located in Blackrock, Co. Dublin and with over 40 staff, the Seapoint Clinic has now become the leading and largest cosmetic and implant dental practice in the country.

As I arrive to the clinic, I am immediately struck by the atmosphere and decor of the place. Complete with soft furnishings and scented candles, this is unlike any other dental practice I have ever visited. In fact, it feels more like a boutique hotel than a clinic. Staff are immediately engaging, incredibly friendly and refreshingly professional.

"We differ from many regular dental clinics in that our patients don't come for the usual filling type procedures," explains Ed. "Instead, we specialise in life changing dentistry where we help restore comfort and confidence to those who have lost teeth or may be finding it difficult to chew as a result of lose or poorly fitting dentures," he adds.

Their work largely involves placing dental implants. Made from the purest forms of titanium, these implants are man-made roots that are placed in the jaw and used to anchor new teeth or to create greater support for dentures. Implants can be used to replace crooked teeth or to replace noticeable gaps where one or more teeth have been removed. Used successfully for over 40 years, these implant are now the closest thing to a real tooth that can be found. With correct maintenance, implants have been proven to last a lifetime

"Our work really is transformational in that it transforms the lives of our patients," insists Ed.

While they cater for both men and women right up to 90 years of age, the majority of patients are women in the 50 plus age bracket. Many of these will have had some or all of their teeth removed in the 1950's when at that time, it was relatively common to have your teeth removed and a denture fitted.

"Our job here is to restore their confidence and their ability to eat properly by giving them an improved look as well as a more permanent and secure solution," he goes on.

With a staff of 40 including dentists, hygienists, nurses, receptionists and treatment co- ordinators, the clinic also undertakes all other types of dentistry from fitting braces and veneers to carrying out crowns and root canals.

"In addition, we also have our in-house own dental laboratory ensuring a fast turnaround time for patients. This means that we can make teeth and have implants placed all on the same day thereby eliminating the anxiety of patients having to wait until their next visit to get these fitted. We appreciate too that many people, possibly as a result of previous experiences, will be fearful or apprehensive about going for dental work. That's why we work hard to provide the highest standard of customer care possible," he adds.

And it shows. From the environment to the staff, Seapoint Clinic really is a benchmark in customers care.

Ed O Flaherty grew up close by in Blackrock where his father worked as a doctor. He studied Dentistry at Trinity College before heading to London where he spent the next two years working for a large corporate practice.

"The high standards of treatment as well as the level of customer care was an approach that really appealed to me and something I thought Ireland was crying out for at the time," recalls Ed.

Returning to Ireland, he bought a small practice in Dun Laoghaire and immediately set about growing his client base.

It was while undertaking a course in implant technology that he met up with his old friend and former school mate, Tom Linehan. Originally from Sutton in Dublin, Tom had attended the same city centre secondary school as well as being in the same class in Trinity.

"During our travels to the USA and Europe to undertake advanced training, we saw some amazing clinics. Here, a patient's entire dental needs could be met at one combined or centre of excellence," explains Ed.

"This really inspired us because, up to that point in Ireland, most dental practices were one-man-bands often located 'over a shop' and were pretty basic in terms of what they offered. We really wanted to change that," he adds.

However, they would have a few hurdles to overcome. The first of these was finding the right location for their new clinic. Cognisant that many patients would be travelling from across Ireland for treatment, they finally chose their current location because of its accessibility to the Dart and road network.

"After a positive initial meeting with the planners in the area, we went ahead and bought the premises as well as over a half-a-million euros worth of equipment," explains Ed. "We could not believe it then when we then got turned down for planning permission. Eventually Bord Pleanala gave permission but it was an incredibly frustrating period because we had a 100pc loan on the building and a lease on our existing premises that was rapidly running out," he adds.

In the beginning, the pair were also at a huge disadvantage because clinics in place from Northern Ireland to Hungry, were advertising in Ireland but they were prevented from advertising at the time due to restrictions on advertising by the Dental Council of Ireland due to the medical professional nature of the sector. Thankfully these restrictions were eventually lifted allowing them to promote their services to the public.

"We are very passionate about what we do and we want people to know that there really is a better and more comfortable way for people to live than having to wear dentures like our grandparents had to," explains Ed. "Our objective is to give our clients the best dental experience they have ever had. Everyone who comes here comments on how friendly our staff are. That`s no accident. That's because we only hire the best people who are themselves passionate about customer care and looking after our patients," he insists.

And it definitely seems to be working with more than 60pc of their business now coming from word of mouth from satisfied customers.

Now approaching 10 years in business, what's next I ask?

"We want to continue to expand and are planning to open a second clinic next year, this time outside of Dublin. We are also looking at opening our first clinic in the UK possibly in 2018 or 2019," he explains enthusiastically.

Having spent the morning in Seapoint Clinic with Ed and his colleagues, I can see that the standard of care is on a par with anything I have seen internationally while their level of customer care is what you might expect from a five star hotel.

When it comes to finding examples of best practice in either dentistry or customer care, I think Seapoint Clinic stands head and shoulders above the rest. I can't help but think that there are many other business around the country in a whole range of different sectors who could learn a great deal from what Ed and Tom have managed to create here.

For further information: www.seapointclinic.ie
What if men had babies?

It's a question I had to grapple with recently for What If? A Chronicle of What Might Have Been.

What If? is a collection of essays ilustrated by the award-winning cartoonist Annie West that includes alternative endings to burning questions such as What if Roy Keane had gone back to Saipan? and What if Joyce had never met Nora?

Annie threw me the curveball of What If Men Had Babies?

In my fantasy if-men-had-babies world, the human race faces the threat of extinction as men, yet to discover a cure for man flu, enter into a noble and fearless battle with natural childbirth.

The World Bank and IMF intervene with emergency fiscal measures to subdue mass public order protests against incredulous, outrageous taxes on "luxury goods" such as breastfeeding aids and sanitary pads.

Historians, I wrote (with tears streaming down my face with laughter and a large glass of red wine in hand), will later describe this revolutionary period as the Menstrual Spring, which gives birth to the 'Period Power' era.

In my alternative world, after a special meeting of the 'U-Men' in Geneva, affordable and flexible childcare is written into Constitutions. The world welcomes the four-day working week and strict employment laws mean that no man's career shall ever suffer as a result of his Having Babies.

If only, I lament, if only men had babies.

The essay is utter satire, of course.

But even that satirical jaunt, imagining an alternative world where men have babies, brought me on a more depressing journey through the many obstacles that women in the workplace still face, especially when they have children.

The business and economic case for gender diversity in the workplace has not just been met, it is beyond dispute.

Advancing women's equality can add $12 trillion to global GDP by 2025 according to the McKinsey Global Institute, while Goldman Sachs calculates that closing the gap between female and male employment rates would boost Eurozone GDP by as much as 13pc.

Irish women have gained extraordinary ground in the last 40 years, but labour market participation rates are 14 percentage points lower than their male counterparts - one of the widest gaps of any European country.

Only 14pc of Irish CEOs and 10.5pc of publicly listed company board members are female, our gender pay gap is widening as other jurisdictions decrease and many of society's challenges - including childcare and caregiving - are still framed as women's rather than societal issues.

All of which makes a new report on labour market participation of women by business group Ibec, launched days before Tuesday's budget, a most timely review of a highly pressing issue.

The Ibec report makes for sober reading.

It highlights a shocking dropout rate for women aged between 25 and 39, not helped by the fact that childcare costs in Ireland account for more than 50pc of the average wage in Ireland compared to the 27.6pc average in other OECD countries.

The industry lobby group also calculates that second earners in a family (mostly married women who return to work after having children) can lose up to 92pc of their second income.

Working for 8pc? Sure why would any second earner, male or female, do that? Ibec's recommendations, including the means-testing of child benefit, should provoke debate. Successive governments will not touch the universal nature of child benefit with a proverbial bargepole, even if better off parents are saving it for third-level education or the annual ski holiday.

Its recommendations for the extension of the Early Childhood Care and Education scheme to include children aged one to three years - and to increase the duration to four hours - are well made. So too the recommendation that the implementation of a formal out-of-school hours care system to address the needs of working parents and the atypical work day.

A recommendation to explore the feasibility and possible benefits of a tax-saver childcare voucher model to encourage the retention of parent in the labour market is a worthwhile exercise. So too is the recommendation for a broader-based system for income tax and linking the entry point to the top marginal rate to above the average wage.

The report aims its policy guns at the joint taxation of married couples, noting [as various studies have found] that "the treatment of married couples often results in married females being taxed more heavily than males or single females".

But does this overlook the benefits, taxation and otherwise, that the constitutionally enshrined family based on marriage enjoys and wields over all other taxpayers, including cohabitees as well as the single man or woman, with or without children?

The report wisely acknowledges that there are a range of possible structural and policy causes for the differences in participation rates and the significant employment gaps between the genders embedded in the economic, social and cultural makeup of the country, "some beyond the scope of this [the Ibec] paper".

These include the unequal division of unpaid work; occupational segregation; care responsibilities predominantly residing with women, availability of flexible working arrangements; parental leave arrangements, social norms and attitudes, preferences to remain in the home with young children.

But can any assessment, let alone reform of the labour-market participation of Irish women, be divorced from our deeply embedded culture, not least the Constitutional diktat that the woman's place is still in the home?

That culture won't change until (predominantly male) lawmakers and corporate leaders insist that parenting and caregiving (of elderly or sick relatives) is blind to gender and should be shared equally among the sexes.

It's not such a tall ask, all we have to do is close our eyes and imagine what society would look like if men had babies too.

I'll reserve my position on insurance fraud

Spare a compassionate thought for Ireland's beleagured insurance industry.

Facing into an investigation into suspected cartel activity in the motor insurance market by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, it is also incurring the wrath of angry drivers facing increased premiums despite a 70pc surge in the average motor insurance premium in the last three years alone.

Something has gone catastrophically wrong in the Irish insurance market despite the introduction, 12 years ago, of radical reforms designed to reduce legal costs in personal-injuries claims generally and to specifically tackle the scourge of fraudulent and exaggerated claims.

It is the latter which will be discussed on Wednesday at Insurance Ireland's fourth annual fraud conference, with yours truly throwing her thruppence worth in.

Have we set the bar too high for insurers to prove fraud? And should a little hyperbole kill off a plaintiff's claim entirely?

I'll 'reserve my position' until Wednesday, as our learned friends might say.
The Cabinet has agreed to increase the minimum wage by 10c to 9.25 an hour, resisting calls to make a more significant increase to the current rate in this week's Budget, according to a number of sources.

This increase is in line with the recommendation of the Low Pay Commission which recently backed a 10 cent rise in the minimum wage, benefiting 70,000 workers.

However, trade unions and TDs, including Minister John Halligan, had called for a larger increase.

Among the proposals was the introduction of a so-called 'Living Wage' of 11.50 per hour.

The decision to bring in a rise of just 10c, which was recommended by jobs minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor, will be welcomed by employers' groups who opposed proposals to significantly alter the current rate.

The issue was of particular concern among companies in the hospitality and retail sectors which are already worried about the impact of Brexit in the coming months.

At the start of the year an increase of 50c was introduced, which equated to a rise of just under 6pc.

However, the 10c increase will come as a disappointment to trade union groups and workers.

Under the new rate, someone working 39 hours a week would see their income increase by 3.91 a week, up to 360.75

The Government is open to further increases in the minimum wage, but will be guided by further reports from the Low Pay Commission.

The Programme For Government made a commitment to increase the minimum wage to 10.50 by 2020.
Both print and TV news outlets have seen audiences migrate to the internet in recent years - although, perhaps it's been more of a stampede for print readers, and an orderly shuffle for TV audiences. Both have been scratching their heads about what to do about it.

Last week, the Reuters Institute issued a report on how legacy news organisations in six European countries (Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom) are adapting to a digital future. The report covers both print and TV news outlets, and therefore reveals the different challenges these two media types are facing.

Of course, digital disruption hasn't been evenly distributed. Reuters found that on average, across the six markets examined, there has been a negligible average change in TV advertising expenditure from 2010 to 2014. The print picture ain't so pretty. The average change in newspaper advertising expenditure from 2010 to 2015 is a drop of 36pc. Averages, however, aren't always helpful in wildly divergent markets. Poland is the hardest hit market in terms of print ad decline; it's seen a whopping drop of 63pc. Finland is the only market left where more money is spent on print than on digital.

The upshot is that print's approach to digital initiatives is more urgent. The Reuters report tells of publishers cutting printing, distribution, and production costs to invest in digital opportunities.

But TV can take its time. According to the report, there's a belief that broadcast revenues will continue to be stable for the foreseeable future. Investment in digital innovation for broadcasters is less about revenue and more about relevance. One manager from ITV News is quoted as saying that their digital strategy is "more about brand than it is about monetisation. News is not there to perform a revenue-generating opportunity, it's to create a good brand as part of the wider ITV brand."

Social media is both a challenge and a threat. It offers the potential to refer traffic at scale. But why should a user come to a particular site for their news when Facebook's newsfeed offers them a personalised feed of content? Not all social networks are interested in supporting publishers with paywalls. The Reuters report quotes the digital editor of the Suddeutsche Zeitung saying Facebook has little interest in engaging with publishers if their strategies aren't aligned. "We realise that communication with them immediately stops when we want to discuss business models that also work for us," he says.

The growth in mobile internet use is proving challenging for print and broadcast news outlets. Smaller screens mean less room for nuanced news coverage, and less space for ads too. The average revenue per user in mobile is still much lower than desktop. And mobile is extra challenging due to the dominance of the likes of Facebook, Apple and Google. Around two-thirds of mobile ad spend goes to these big US platforms.

Another area where news publishers and broadcasters are in the same boat is online video. Legacy publishers want in on the act because a well-executed video strategy allows them to compete for TV media spends. But producing videos ain't easy for organisations whose traditional medium is the written word. Oddly enough, TV companies are struggling with online video too. The Reuters report quotes Bild Digital's editor-in-chief as saying: "We see that TV, much like print in the beginning, has enormous difficulties making use of the new technologies. Fear of self-cannibalism, strong habits: ... 'where is my big camera?' ... 'where is my soundman?' They are going through the same as we did."

The report does have some pointers towards a successful digital future. Organisations that are getting it right, whether print or broadcast, can point to a clear strategic focus, a culture that's pro-digital and a senior leadership team that's dedicated to change. Successful organisations also boast a track record of bringing together commercial, technological and editorial teams to develop new products and services. But digital revenues still pale in comparison to traditional revenues. Some 80pc to 90pc of revenues in most newspapers still come from print, and the percentage is even greater in broadcast. Strategic focus and pro-digital culture may well be what's needed. But many legacy outfits will find it hard to cast off the working practices of the past for a future that isn't yet sustainable. And for those news organisations that are embracing change, can the future come fast enough?
Spunout.ie has just beaten off some of Irelands most established businesses and organisations for redesigning their website in a way that is easily accessible for the visually impaired.

Spunout.ie has just beaten off some of Irelands most established businesses and organisations for redesigning their website in a way that is easily accessible for the visually impaired.

The Irish based, not-for-profit, youth information website provides information on a range of different topics such as education, employment, health, life and opinion.

At the recent 2016 Dot IE Visionary Awards, Spunout.ie managed to win the Best Use of Technology to Make the World a Better Place award, but the real highlight of the evening came when they triumphed in the Best in Universal Design category.

Executive Director of Spunout.ie Ian Power told Independent.ie that web developer Cian OMahony and his team of volunteers worked so hard throughout the year to make the site as assessable as possible for the visually impaired.

Were delighted to have won two awards on the night, but in particular the one that the team was most excited about was winning the best in universal design website, which was a category that all entrants were judged on, he said.

I think one of the most important things for us was to make sure the site was extremely clear, particularly for those who have limited vision.

The complex aspects of the site were removed so that the people using screen readers dont have to listen to repetitive and intricate language. It was about making sure that everything was clear and written in plain English.

Ian added that during the design process they worked with a group of young people to help steer them in the right direction, including one visually impaired young man.

We were able to understand exactly what aspects of the site needed to be improved for people who are also visually impaired. One of the things in particular was that every word on the site needed to be dramatically increased in size.

We also use a lot of colour throughout Spunout.ie, but in a way that makes sure that anyone who is colour-blind wont lose out on any information. Our high contrast mode also further assists those who have poor vision.

For the team to have taken on this redesign by themselves and delivering it with zero budget was such an amazing thing to do, he said.
Developmental therapist Ollwyn Morans experience of parenting inspired her to set up CogniKids, which has brought three products to the market. Photo: David Conachy

Cognikids is the brainchild of Ollwyn Moran, a former teacher, developmental therapist and mother of two, whose lightning bolt moment has inspired a variety of unique and innovative products to aid the early stages of child development.

"I was a secondary school teacher for years. I taught science, senior biology and maths and I loved every minute of it, but when I started I was given some weaker classes and I felt that doing my Hdip hadn't prepared me enough for," Ollwyn says.

"I went and trained for two years in the Institute of Neuro Physiological Psychology in Chester (INPP)."

Ollwyn qualified as a neurological developmental therapist and began her own practice at the weekends, while still teaching.

"Biology of the brain has always been my obsession and I became fascinated by early brain development, long before I had any babies of my own," Ollwyn says.

"My pivotal moment was when I was training in INPP and the lecturer was telling us about how much crawling is a key developmental milestone and how it can be often be overlooked by the walking milestone. "She also noted her fears for the new generation because the trend of getting rid of carpets and putting down wooden and tiled floors. I remember I was sitting beside a guy called Aidan and I nudged him and jokingly said that they should make clothes for them with grips on the legs."

A decade later, Ollwyn is at the helm of Irish company CogniKids, which has already brought three revolutionary products to the market; the Easy Grip Crawl Suit to help with early movement, which was selected as one of the top five products for safety by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association in the USA, Germany and UK last year, the Grip - a universal baby bottle holder that supports fine and gross motor skills - and Sooth, a sensory teething bib made from organic anti-bacterial bamboo fabric, which helps to minimise the effects of teething rashes.

But while the foundation for Ollwyn's success to date no doubt came from her educational and neurological expertise, it was her subsequent experience of motherhood, which proved the strongest catalyst for CogniKids.

In 2005 Ollwyn had her first child, Matthew and in 2006, her second, Alex was born.

"My first little man was seven-and-a-half weeks pre-term," Ollwyn explains. "You often hear that a little bit of knowledge can be a bad thing and that was true for me.

"I knew that premature babies are at a higher risk of neurological delay, learning or behavioural challenge, so I wanted to try and help him as much as I could once he came home and started going through his milestones.

"It wasn't until I saw him trying to crawl on the tiled floor in my kitchen, with his legs sliding down and he was bumping his little face that I had what Oprah calls my 'Aha moment.' I suddenly realised how difficult it was for these little ones; they are trying to get to grips with gravity and it is quite difficult. So we need to keep up with the pace of our changing home environments and pay attention to what they need."

Ollwyn spent the following months helping Matthew to crawl on the only carpeted area in her house, the landing at the top of the staircase, until his muscles were developed enough to take on the more difficult surfaces.

"That was really when I started thinking about something to help babies crawl and I began looking around, but there wasn't anything on the market. I was looking for some clothes with grips on the legs and there were none, so I ended up making them myself," Ollwyn explains.

A short time later Ollwyn returned to college to study for her Master's in Education.

"There was a student entrepreneur competition on and the prize fund was 6,000. I needed a new couch and wanted to bring the kids on a holiday, so I thought it sounded great," Ollwyn says.

"To enter we had to write a business plan and present it. I ended up winning, but they made it a condition that the prize money had to be spent on starting the business, so I still have the same couch."

And so CogniKids was officially born in 2012.

"I just started reaching out to people and see if anyone was interested in buying it," Ollwyn says.

"I was talking to a friend of my brothers and I knew that they ran their own clothing company, but it was women's clothes. He was amazing. He showed me how to measure fabric and what it meant when someone was talking about a certain measurement.

"He knew a guy out in China and the guy was actually from Lucan and was home for a couple of weeks so we had a coffee together and that is how I got a manufacturer.

"So I bought stuff first and it was sitting between my front room and my parents front room," Ollywn adds. "I had that small shipment, not realising then of course that you should get the order first and then have it made. The beauty, in one way, of not having a clue what you are doing is that you do things like that."

However, Ollwyn's confident approach soon garnered some very positive feedback. Mothercare was the first to come onboard and now stocks CogniKids' products nationwide while others like Llyod's, Maher's and McCabe's pharmacies soon followed.

"We want to be the Apple of the baby world, so we want to focus on design, but we very much have functionality and development to the fore," Ollwyn says.

"For example, our sensory teething bib is made from bamboo so it is thermo-regulating, so if baby feels warm it has a cooling effect and if cold if has warming effect," Ollywn says. "And Grip helps develop the pincer grip."

Ollwyn has completed a number of courses in order to boost her business acumen over the last few years, including the Propellor Venture Accelerator programme at DCU's Ryan Academy and New Frontiers, Enterprise Ireland's national entrepreneur development programme for innovative, early-stage start-ups.

CogniKids is currently in the final stages of talks with a number of large retailers in the United States and Ollwyn plans to launch into the US market in mid 2017.

By the end of this month Cognikids expects to have signed distribution agreements with at least five new territories

"It is a very exciting time for us," Ollwyn adds. "We are passionate about promoting the creation of healthy body and brain connections."

https://cognikids.com/
Victor Scheinman, who has died aged 73, designed the first electrically powered, computer-controlled industrial robot, proving that it was possible for machines to do complex manual work.

Scheinman's invention, known as the Stanford arm, was a programmable robot with six rotational joints, allowing it to duplicate the shoulder, elbow and wrist movements of a human. Unlike previous machines, which could only perform one task repeatedly, the Stanford arm was capable of following a series of instructions. In 1974, an experimental arm built in accordance with his design managed to assemble a car water pump without human help, using sensors to guide it. That same year Scheinman founded Vicarm Inc and began making his robot commercially.

He soon fell in with the engineer and businessman Joseph Engelberger, who, with his colleague George Devol, had founded Unimation, the world's first robotics company. Unimation's most reliable client was General Motors, which had already started using Devol's mechanical arm to weld together bits of metal on the factory line.

The versatility of Scheinman's design appealed, and in 1977 Unimation and General Motors started developing it as the Programmable Universal Machine for Assembly, or Puma. For the first time, factory machines began handling delicate components such as light bulbs, and completing tasks faster than their human co-workers. Today, more than 240,000 industrial robots are sold to companies around the world every year.

Victor David Scheinman was born on December 28, 1942, in Augusta, Georgia, where his father Leonard was stationed with the US Army. At the end of the war the family moved to Brooklyn and Leonard returned to work as a psychiatrist.

Though he was keen on science from an early age, Victor's first contact with robots was traumatic. Aged eight or nine, he was taken to see the science fiction film The Day The Earth Stood Still and became so frightened by the eight-foot humanoid Gort that he suffered nightmares for weeks. As therapy, his father suggested that he build his own robots out of wood. The strategy worked; by the time Victor was 16 he had graduated from high school in the Bronx and enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, studying aeronautics and astronautics.

After graduation in 1963, he studied for a Masters degree in mechanical engineering at Stanford University, taking a particular interest in rocket and nuclear propulsion. During the summer breaks he worked for the Apollo space programme, helping to build the Saturn family of rockets and the module that would eventually land on the moon in 1969.

Scheinman went on to join Stanford's artificial intelligence lab. His other projects included electronic limbs for people with disabilities, and a programmable hydraulic arm so powerful that the floor of the lab would shake when it was switched on. However, an unfortunate tendency to leak oil meant that the latter design was eventually scrapped.

In later life, Scheinman was a visiting professor at Stanford. In 1980 he co-founded Automatix, the first company to sell robots with inbuilt cameras and sensors which allow them to "see" their surroundings. During his time with the company Scheinman also developed RobotWorld, a system that allows small robots to cooperate with each another on assembly tasks - potentially negating the need for the traditional factory floor, as the whole team could operate in a space just a few feet high.

Victor Scheinman, who died on September 20, is survived by his wife Sandra Jean Auerback, whom he married in 2006, and by two children from a previous marriage.

 Telegraph

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How much does a data breach really cost? For Yahoo, it could be 1bn. The company is in deeper trouble than some of its worst critics could have foreseen a month ago.

It has suffered the biggest known data breach in history. It has been outed as an apparently willing accomplice ready to spy on its email users for the US government. And it may soon be on the receiving end of a regulatory kicking by EU data authorities that could water down its 4.4bn sale price to Verizon.

But do you even know what Yahoo, which is headed by Marissa Mayer (right), does? Be honest: aside from email, could you name three things Yahoo is engaged in?

If not, here's a quick reminder about what Yahoo is, how it makes money and why it is in so much trouble.

Advertisements

Believe it or not, Yahoo is still one of the top 10 websites visited every day around the world. That means it remains a relative powerhouse in developing, delivering and selling online display ads. It's nowhere close to Google or Facebook in scale, but it still sells enough to pull in over 1bn every quarter, largely from ads. A big portion of that comes from search ads: Yahoo is still used by lots of people (probably the same ones using Yahoo.com for other things) for basic web searches.

Shareholdings in more valuable firms

Many financial analysts now regard Yahoo primarily as an equity-holding unit. This is because the most valuable parts of its business, by far, are its shareholdings in Chinese ecommerce Goliath Alibaba and Yahoo Japan (a joint venture between it and Japanese firm Softbank). The Alibaba stake is worth around 30bn (from an investment of under 1bn in 2005), while the Yahoo Japan shareholding is worth just under 10bn. Compare this to the sum of 4.4bn being paid by Verizon for all of the active 'core' parts of Yahoo's business (including Tumblr, Flickr, email and the web portals) and you get an idea of what's what in Yahoo's hierarchy of value. (The shareholdings in Alibaba and Yahoo Japan are not included in the Verizon acquisition.)

What it does in Ireland

Yahoo has a recently refurbished building beside the Point Depot in Dublin's north docklands. There, it houses around 300 people who work in finance, HR and support roles. Last year, the company had talked about possibly taking staff numbers up to 450 people. But recent events may cause the firm to alter course.

EU regulatory challenges

The recent data breach, where Yahoo admitted that "at least" 500 million email accounts had been compromised, has sparked the interest of US and EU data authorities. But as embarrassing as that may turn out to be (Yahoo's explanation of being attacked by a "state actor" is starting to look a little questionable), it may be nothing compared to possible sanctions arising from its other current problem. If reports that Yahoo co-operated in an email-snooping exercise at the behest of US spy authorities are substantiated, the company is facing some very serious repercussions in Ireland and Europe. Both the Irish data protection commissioner and EU courts have made clear that mass surveillance by US authorities on European personal data could carry penalties up to and including a block on data transfers into the US. That is a livelihood-threatening prospect for a firm in Yahoo's position.

The Irish Data Protection Comissioner's (DPC) office has set the ball rolling on this, too.

"Any form of mass surveillance infringing on the fundamental privacy rights of EU citizens would be viewed as a matter of considerable concern by this office," said a spokeswoman for the Irish DPC last week, who confirmed contact with Yahoo on the issue.

The immediate hit to Yahoo may be 1bn

Reports in the US suggest that Verizon, which is currently in the process of buying Yahoo's core internet assets for 4.4bn, wants 1bn knocked off the 4.4bn purchase price.

Several American media outlets are reporting that Tim Armstrong, who heads up the Verizon-owned AOL unit that is overseeing the Yahoo acquisition, now has cold feet over the deal and is looking to exit it or seek a much-reduced price.

So we may now have an answer to the question: how much does a data breach actually cost? In Yahoo's case, it looks like it could be 1bn.
THE Governor of the Central Bank, Philip Lane, has called for urgent progress on the harmonisation of Europes Capital Markets Union as reliance on London as a location for euro-denominated capital markets activity weakens in the wake of Brexit.

Speaking at the Euro50 Group and Center for International Governance (CIGI) Breakfast meeting in Washington DC earlier today, Governor Lane said that further volatility in financial markets is expected as the UK and Europe seek to forge a new relationship in the wake of last Junes referendum.

Mr Lane, who said that the increase in capital ratios for European banks in recent years had helped ensure an orderly market response to Brexit, also said the substantial decline in Sterling since the poll provides an important stabilizing mechanism by which the adverse implications of Brexit for the UKs terms of trade are mapped into international relative price adjustment.

It is important to put the recent movement in the Sterling-euro exchange rate into context, Mr Lane told delegates that included Paul Tucker, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England and Domenico Siniscalco, the former Minister of Economy and Finance in Italy.

It partly just unwinds the sustained appreciation of Sterling that took place that took place between early 2013 and early 2015.

The Central Bank of Ireland has recently adjusted its 2017 growth forecast from 4.2 percent to 3.6pc owing to the close economic ties between the UK and Ireland.

Expand Close Philip Lane, Governor of the Central Bank, tells a Bloomberg Television interviewer in New York that companies might relocate to Ireland depending on how the [Brexit] negotiations go / Facebook

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Whatsapp Philip Lane, Governor of the Central Bank, tells a Bloomberg Television interviewer in New York that companies might relocate to Ireland depending on how the [Brexit] negotiations go

Dublin, along with cities such as Frankfurt and Paris, have been mooted as a potential beneficiaries of Brexit should financial services firm seek to relocate here to secure passporting rights allowing them to operate across the European Union.

Passporting rights are tied to the single market and would automatically cease to apply if Great Britain is no longer at least part of the European Economic Area.

However Governor Lane cautioned British financial firms planning to moving from the UK to European countries, that any moves should not be driven by regulation alone owing to the common EU system of financial regulation and supervision.

The locational strategies of financial firms should not be driven by regulatory considerations but should rather reflect the typical determinants in the economic geography literature: availability of skilled labour and suitable office accommodation; quality of public infrastructure; relative cost levels (both wage and non-wage components); national education, legal and tax systems; language and cultural factors; and relative attractiveness in relation to quality of life indicators, he said.

Brexit is a disruptive event that has adverse implications for both the UK and EU economies. At this point, the focus of policymakers has to be on negotiating a new UK-EU settlement that can allow both the UK and EU to prosper over the long run. For central bankers, the transition towards the new arrangements has the potential to be a source of volatility and will require continuous monitoring and risk assessment.
Darragh McManus is pleasantly surprised by a 'very fine' murder-mystery which doubles up as a moving exploration of the lives of small-town Ireland

Celebrities who've written good fiction are vanishingly rare. Carrie Fisher's Postcards from the Edge was great, although a lot of that was autobiographical. Ethan Hawke wrote a few well-received novels, as did musician Willy Vlautin. It's hard to think of too many others, while on the flipside, Morrissey - bona fide lyrical genius of pop music - vomited out List of the Lost, one of the most surreally awful books I've ever encountered.

Thankfully, Graham Norton bucks the trend with some style in Holding, his debut work of fiction - this is a rather fine novel. I suppose we shouldn't be too surprised: his 2015 memoir The Life and Loves of a He Devil was excellent (and I say this as someone who generally hates autobiographies). It was funny and clever and insightful and, most of all, brilliantly written.

Holding is a much different beast tonally. The story takes place in the (invented) West Cork village of Duneen, where a body has been discovered by builders at a new housing development. Local garda PJ Collins begins to investigate, or rather trails along after Superintendent Linus Dunne, a hot-shot detective sent from Cork City.

Norton briskly and deftly sketches out the main characters and plot points. The land on which the remains were found used to be part of Burke's farm. Their son Tommy had disappeared 20 years previously, leaving behind two broken hearts in Duneen.

The first is Brid Riordan, his then-fiancee, now an unhappily married mother-of-two with a drinking problem. The second is Evelyn Ross, one of three spinster sisters who live in the local "big house"; her sister Florence is a teacher, but Evelyn and Abigail are cut off from society to greater or lesser degrees.

PJ, meanwhile, is shy and obese and feels pretty much like a failure in life; a fifty-something man who remains a nervous, self-conscious boy inside. There's also Mrs Meaney, his ageing housekeeper, who at first glance seems something between background colour and comic relief, but assumes a role of great significance as the story progresses.

So what we have here, on one level, is a small-town murder-mystery. Whose are the bones found by the builders? Whose are the tiny infant bones subsequently unearthed? Why did Tommy leave, all those years ago? Where did he go? Why has nobody heard of him since?

Come to think of it, why is Abigail Ross the only person who can recall seeing Tommy get the bus to Cork that fateful day? Is Evelyn right when she fingers Brid as Tommy's killer? Is Brid right to do the same back?

A good narrative set-up, and more than enough to make for a satisfying, enjoyable read. But Norton has taken this premise and done something more interesting, thoughtful, surprising and affecting than this reader was expecting.

While the story tips along nicely - assured pacing, rising tension, a sprinkle of crafty twists, and all plot strands tied up with clarity and logic - you realise gradually that the murder-mystery is a kind of camouflage. The author is really interested in examining the lives, especially the inner lives, of these people - and it's fascinating.

PJ is a great main character, a likeable semi-buffoon who's afraid of life to some extent, but whose big heart and innate decency shine through. Evelyn is complex and intriguing, Brid equally so but for very different reasons.

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Even Detective Dunne turns out to be more than the swaggering a-hole he first appears.

As a native of Bandon and frequent return visitor, Norton clearly gets rural Ireland. Reading the blurb, you might be forgiven for assuming this will be a cliched, 'Hollywood' version of an Irish small town.

Norton's too clever for that, though, too perceptive. Duneen feels like a real place, grounded in a real Ireland of 2016, peopled by real human beings.

Yes, there are secrets and intrigue and parochial gossip; the local church grounds and GAA pitch and national school are the main geographical foci. But the book remains real and authentic.

Norton doesn't, for example, overplay the religious aspects - indeed, one priest in a flashback is very progressive and practical - as so many Irish writers tend to do (often, I suspect, with an eye on how well this will sell abroad). Yet there is some religion in this place, albeit a half-hearted sort, as there is in actual Ireland.

What struck me most about Holding is how sincere it is. Surprising, maybe, coming from a guy famed for his arch, ironic approach to TV. But then you think of Norton's warm, witty radio show and newspaper agony aunt column, and it makes more sense.

There's a lot of love in this book, a lot of empathy and sympathy. Norton cares for these characters, you feel, in all their flawed humanity; like a benevolent creator, he wants the best for them and accepts, with heavy heart, that it probably won't happen.

One scene near the end - involving Mrs Meaney, taking place just after a burial - is one of the saddest, most moving things I've ever read. And written just so: low-key, unadorned, not yanking on the heartstrings but allowing the simple truth of events to work its power on the reader.

Did I say a "rather fine" novel? That should read "very fine". Graham Norton, you're wasted in television. More, please.

Darragh McManus's novels include Shiver the Whole Night Through and The Polka Dot Girl
Married actress Sara Ramirez came out as bisexual during a speech she gave at a charity event in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The former Grey's Anatomy star stunned fans with the admission while she was speaking at the 40 to None Summit, a two-day benefit hosted by True Colors in a bid to end youth homelessness in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

So many of our youth experiencing homelessness are youth whose lives touch on many intersections  whether they be gender identity, gender expression, race, class, sexual orientation, religion, citizenship status, Sara said as she addressed the crowd, before disclosing her own personal experience with similar issues.

And, because of the intersections that exist in my own life: Woman, multi-racial woman, woman of colour, queer, bisexual, Mexican-Irish American, immigrant, and raised by families heavily rooted in Catholicism on both my Mexican & Irish sides, I am deeply invested in projects that allow our youths voices to be heard, and that support our youth in owning their own complex narratives so that we can show up for them in the ways they need us to.

The 41-year-old Latina, who has been married to business analyst Ryan DeBolt for four years, disclosed her bisexuality just months after making another shock announcement that she was leaving the cast of hit medical TV drama Grey's Anatomy after being part of the ensemble for 10 years.

Following the broadcast of the 12th season finale on Thursday, Sara confirmed her decade-long role as Dr. Callie Torres is finished for the time being.

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"I'm deeply grateful to have spent the last 10 years with my family at Grey's Anatomy & ABC but for now I'm taking some welcome time off. Shonda has been so incredible to work for, and we will definitely continue our conversations," she said in a statement.
A man has been charged over the murder of a father-of-three was fatally stabbed to death at the weekend.

Jay Banville (28) was knifed following a fight between two men on New Street in Waterford City in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Mr Banville, from Raheen, Clonroche, in Co Wexford, was rushed to University Hospital Waterford where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

A 35-year-old man, who is understood to be a non-Irish national who lives in Waterford, was arrested near the scene of the crime and was held for questioning by gardai at Waterford Garda Station.

Tonight gardai confirmed that they had charged the man who is expected to appear before Waterford District Court on Monday morning at 10.30am.

On Saturday night gardai issued an appeal for two young women "who may have witnessed an incident" to contact them at Waterford garda station.

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The row happened around the corner from John Street, which leads to the main thoroughfare in Waterford's city centre.

The city was marking a "purple flag weekend" aimed at promoting Waterford as a safe and vibrant place to socialise.
A murder probe is underway after a father-of-three was fatally stabbed just hours into a "purple flag weekend" aimed at promoting Waterford city as a safe and vibrant place to socialise.

The attack on New Street in the city happened following a row between two men.

During the course of the dispute Jay Banville (28), from Raheen, Clonroche, in Co Wexford, was fatally stabbed.

He was pronounced dead in hospital after emergency services found him on a city centre street just after 3.20am on Saturday.

A 35-year-old man, who is understood to be a non-Irish national who lives in Waterford, was arrested near the scene of the crime and continued to be held for questioning by gardai at Waterford Garda Station today.

On Saturday night gardai issued an appeal for two young women "who may have witnessed an incident" to contact them at Waterford garda station.

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The row happened around the corner from John Street, which leads to the main thoroughfare in Waterford's city centre.

The location is a few hundred metres from O'Connell Street where a man in his 40s was injured when he was stabbed during an incident at about 6.45pm on Thursday. A man in his 20s was arrested.

Last month a Carlow teenager was seriously injured in a stabbing, also in the John Street area.
A man was fatally stabbed in Waterford just hours into a "purple flag weekend" aimed at promoting the city as a safe and vibrant place to socialise.

The 28-year-old victim, named locally as James Banville, understood to be from Raheen, Clonroche, in Co Wexford, was pronounced dead in hospital after emergency services found him on a city centre street just after 3.20am yesterday morning.

A member of the public had alerted gardai to an "altercation" which took place on New Street between the victim and another man. On arrival at the scene, officers found that the 28-year-old had been stabbed. It's believed he was socialising in Waterford on Friday night.

He was taken by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford but pronounced dead.

A 35-year-old man, who is understood to be a non-Irish national who lives in Waterford, was arrested near the scene of the crime and was last night being held for questioning by gardai at Waterford Garda Station.

The row happened around the corner from John Street, which leads to the main thoroughfare in Waterford's city centre.

The location is a few hundred metres from O'Connell Street where a man in his 40s was injured when he was stabbed during an incident at about 6.45pm on Thursday. A man in his 20s was arrested.

Last month a Carlow teenager was seriously injured in a stabbing, also in the John Street area.
He was one of the great political planners of the modern era - but when it came to his own mortality PJ Mara died without leaving a last will and testament.

The debonair former government press secretary associated with Fianna Fail and its controversial Taoiseach Charles J Haughey left an estate valued at almost 1.6m, according to a document lodged in the probate office in Dublin last week.

Described as a company director of Wellington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, the former businessman, press secretary and consultant died on January 15 this year at the Beacon Hospital in south Dublin after a prolonged illness.

A noted raconteur who dressed in a pin-striped suit and habitually with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, he was witty, convivial and possessed a ready repartee. But he was also extremely well read and au fait with obscure political and historical references.

Born in Dublin in 1942, Mara grew up in the Drumcondra area. After finishing school in Colaiste Mhuire, he worked in a variety of businesses before going out on his own and going into the clothing business, and later selling fitted kitchens. It was during this time that he joined Fianna Fail and formed a friendship with Mr Haughey that would last for the rest of their lives.

He was appointed to the National Executive of Fianna Fail and became vice-chairman of the national organisation committee in 1981. He was appointed a senator by Haughey in 1982 during a turbulent era, but failed to win a seat in the senate election of 1983.

Although Haughey's closest aide, it wasn't until 1986 that he was finally appointed government press secretary with another close Fianna Fail adviser Fionnuala O'Kelly, now the wife of Fine Gael Taoiseach Enda Kenny, appointed head of the government information service.

According to Dermot Morgan's script for Scrap Saturday, which brought him to national attention, 'Mara' as he was known, would ask 'The Boss': "What will I tell them this evening then Taoiseach?" and Haughey would reply: "Tell them f**k all."

After the Haughey era, he established a consultancy business and had clients including Ryanair founder Tony Ryan and other wealthy businessmen, such as Tony O'Reilly and Denis O'Brien.

He travelled around the world in his capacity as a key adviser to the Digicel Group.

Mara and his wife Breda, who died in 2003, had one son, John.

At the age of 71, he had a daughter, Elena, with his partner, Sheila. He died earlier this year at the age of 73.

According to a document lodged in the Probate Office last week, Patrick James Mara, a widower, died intestate at the Beacon Hospital, leaving estate valued at 1,593,213. Letters of administration were granted to his son John, who has an address in Kinvara, Co Galway.
Gardai have failed to stand up links between the paedophile DJ, Eamon Cooke, and the disappearance of Philip Cairns, as the thirtieth anniversary of the schoolboy's last sighting approaches.

The investigation into Cooke, a predatory paedophile, was launched after a key witness made a statement in May to say she saw the DJ attack Philip Cairns in his Radio Dublin studio when she was nine years old.

However, the woman was registered as being in school on the day the 13-year-old boy disappeared in October, 1986. Detectives have also failed to reconcile the witness's account with other evidence that suggested that she first encountered Eamon Cooke some time after Cairns went missing.

The anomalies have further dampened hopes of solving the boy's mysterious disappearance 30 years ago this month.

It emerged in August that there was no forensic evidence to link Cooke to the crime. Garda confirmed DNA samples taken from Philip Cairns's schoolbag, which was found near his home, do not match those of Cooke.

The woman first contacted Gardai in 2011, but she did not make a formal statement until May this year, as Cooke was dying.

Despite some anomalies, gardai have corroborated other aspects of the woman's statement and are continuing to investigate Cooke in connection with Philip Cairns.

A team of detectives are analysing hundreds of Cooke's personal records and documents which his family released to gardai after his death.

The records are believed to include legal documents and correspondence relating to allegations of child abuse, along with old cassettes and video recordings. However expected searches of properties linked to Cooke in Dublin and Sligo have not taken place.

The supposed involvement of Eamon Cooke in the boy's disappearance has generated enormous renewed interest and social media debate about what may have happened to Philip Cairns.
Commissioner OSullivan has denied any knowledge or involvement in the alleged plot to undermine the whistleblower (Stock picture)

A damning internal Garda report has found serious mismanagement of public funds by the Garda Training College in Templemore, the Sunday Independent can exclusively reveal.

The report, compiled by Garda auditors, discovered a secret 125,000 fund created by staff using taxpayers' money which was used to buy expensive meals in local restaurants and retirement gifts for senior officers.

The revelation will put further pressure on Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan, who is currently the focus of allegations she was involved in a smear campaign against garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe.

Commissioner O'Sullivan has denied any knowledge or involvement in the alleged plot to undermine the whistleblower.

It has also emerged this weekend that Sgt McCabe has been on stress leave from the force since April.

Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, who last week established a judge-led inquiry into the smear campaign allegations, is also understood to be aware of the internal audit of the Garda College.

The audit discovered rental income from the leasing of farm land associated with the training facility was held in a bank account linked to the college's restaurant.
A teenager reported missing from her home in Dublin has been found safe and well.

Gardai have thanked the public for their assistance.
A nurse has been praised for saving the life of a seriously ill woman on a flight home from Las Vegas.

Debbie Wightman (46) - a nurse at Belfast City Hospital's cancer unit - was called into action a short time into the transatlantic flight when an elderly woman began vomiting blood in the plane's toilets and then became unresponsive.

Along with a retired community nurse and a bio-chemist on board, Mrs Wightman helped keep the woman alive until the flight landed in Heathrow nearly seven hours later.

Mrs Wightman was returning from a holiday in Las Vegas, where she celebrated her husband Greig's 50th birthday.

"I have no doubt in my mind that without their intervention this lady would not have survived," said Mr Wightman.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, the nurse and mother-of-three remained modest about her involvement, but described the challenges of helping a critically ill woman on the floor of a plane that was hours away from the nearest hospital.

"I had just closed my eyes when I heard over the Tannoy they were looking for a health professional," she said.

"I made myself known and went to the back of the plane where there was a poor little old lady lying unconscious who had vomited up a large amount of blood."

"Initially, it was quite scary because we couldn't find a pulse, even though she was breathing."

The cabin crew established contact with medics on the ground and did their best to help the stricken passenger.

"She was writhing in pain and we weren't able to lift her off the ground, so I spent six-and-a-half hours on my hunkers beside her, just outside the toilets - dear love her," Debbie said.

"The medical equipment on board is quite limited, so the dilemma is there of what you really can do.

"We established an IV line and gave her some fluid along with her medication."

At one point the British Airway's captain considered an emergency landing in Reykjavik, Iceland, if the woman's condition deteriorated.

"As nurses and medical professionals, you know in a hospital you can access more oxygen, more syringes and more fluid if you need it," said Mrs Wightman.

"You can ask others for advice, but we were quite limited in what we could do and I suppose what we were covered to do as well."

The ill passenger's husband, a man in his seventies, was left shaken and had no choice but to wait for hours as his wife lay in agony on the floor.

"He stood for a very long time," said Debbie. "He was very anxious and it was a night flight, so he was very disorientated and tired.

"For a health professional that doesn't know someone, you feel for them because you can see their pain and how scared they are. But your priorities can't be with them - it has to be on the patient."

Paramedics were at the ready when the aircraft finally landed at Heathrow airport outside London.

As passengers were led off the plane, the woman was given medical help on board before being taken to hospital.

Mrs Wightman said she was unaware of the woman's condition and added: "The thing for me is, when you help somebody, you don't always know what the outcome for them is, and there's the dread of something going wrong."

She also insisted she had acted as any other medical professional would in such a situation.

"I'm horrified my husband has even told anybody - I'm totally embarrassed," Debbie said.

"You enter that profession because you want to help people no matter where you are and whatever situation you're in. That's just what you do. It's not just nine to five - it's something I'd like to instil in my children."

Debbie is a mum of three sons aged 15, 17 and 20, and the middle child wants to follow her into a nursing career.

"He's just decided over the summer he'd like to be a nurse," she said. "I'm hoping he does. It's not an easy journey to take - you work hard and you can never really prepare someone for an encounter with someone who's at the end of their life or in pain.

"In the health service you encounter something new every day - every day is a learning day. You worry as a mother how they will cope with that."

Praising his wife, Mr Wightman said: "She tends to just deal with things in her stride. She then sits on her own afterwards and thinks about it and that's when she starts to turn to jelly.

"All in all, she's an astounding person who deserves our praise for being an exceptional human being.

"I know the Belfast Trust, where she works tirelessly, is lucky to have her - a dedicated medical professional, loving mother and wife."
The family of a conservationist murdered in the Dublin Mountains asked "if this doesn't outrage us, what will?" at his funeral yesterday.

Hundreds of mourners, including Michael McCoy's wife Caitriona, packed the church and the grounds outside to pay their respects to Michael McCoy at his funeral Mass in St Maelruain's Anglican Church in Tallaght yesterday.

Mr McCoy was beaten to death while out walking his dogs in woods near his home in Ballinascorney, Brittas, Co Dublin, last Thursday week.

It is believed he suffered head injuries after being hit with a wooden implement which has yet to be found.

Gardai arrested a 41-year-old man in connection with the killing but later released him without charge.

They suspect Michael (64) may have been killed because he was a conservationist and had been involved in objecting to developments.

His brother-in-law Daniel Kelly said Michael's love for the environment ran deep and he saw the damage being done, but was "determined to do something about it".

He compared Michael to murdered Brazilian environmentalist Chico Mendes who fought to preserve the Amazon rainforest and Honduran environmentalist Lesbia Yaneth Urquia, who was murdered earlier this year.

"Those are faraway to us - lawless places - but it's the same planet. These are people who, like Mike, went against the grain - against fatalistic acceptance of low standards of crookedness and corruption.

"A former colleague of mine from across the water remarked once in a moment of exasperation that the Irish have no sense of outrage. Look at what's happened. If this doesn't outrage us what will? If this doesn't jolt our community and our country out of its stupor in relation to environmental issues especially, what will?"

He added that Michael was a wonderful family man who was extremely proud of his three daughters Rachel, Suzanne and Sarah. He also told how Michael built his own home and at the age of 59 enrolled in Trinity College.

He added that he loved an argument and never minded being in a minority of one.

"Michael will not be forgotten. We will remember him with great pride and much love," he said.

A nephew of Michael told the congregation his life was taken away all too soon. "It's hard to understand why tragic things like this happen to such kind good people. We'll never know what lesson we were supposed to learn from this."

He spoke of many memories the family had of Michael. "He was a family man and also a father and brother and friend to many. He lived a principled life underpinned by a strong sense of right and wrong. Michael cared enough to act, to take a stand. Michael loved the outdoors."

He told how Michael would take him and other relatives on hikes in the mountains and instilled a love of nature in them. He also loved photography, bird watching, cars and guitars.

"He was the life and soul of any party or wedding afters. He was the last to finish the night and he'd be the first to rise the next morning for an early walk. He put us younger ones to shame. We can only live our lives as best we can with purpose, love and joy. Michael did all three."
A man was killed in a late-night incident when he was struck by a car in Dublin 4.

The 47-year-old man was fatally injured in the incident which occurred just minutes before 12.30am on Sunday morning.

He was struck by the car on Shelbourne Road, between Bath Avenue and Lansdowne Road.

The gentleman was treated by emergency services personnel but was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

The driver of the car was uninjured.

Shelbourne Road between Bath Avenue and Lansdowne Road is currently closed to traffic to facilitate Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

The body of the deceased has been removed to the City Mortuary and the coroner has been notified.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Donnybrook Garda Station 01-6669200 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

The death brings the weekend's death toll to three after two women died after a road collision in Co Westmeath on Saturday afternoon.

The collision between two cars and a truck happened at Hiskinstown, Delvin, Co Westmeath at approximately 3.30pm.

One of the women, a passenger (38), was pronounced dead at the scene a short time after the collision.

In a statement, released late on Saturday night, gardai confirmed that a second female, the driver of the same car, was pronounced dead at the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar as a result of injuries received in the collision.
A confidential briefing note on Waterford Hospital, written days after the formation of the new government, warned a new cardiac laboratory would be wasteful of very limited resources.

Junior Minister John Halligan had sought a review of cardiac services at the hospital in return for supporting Enda Kenny as Taoiseach. However the briefing note prepared just days later said a second cath lab wanted by Mr Halligan could potentially compromise patient safety.

The Department of Health note formed part of a briefing document prepared for an independent medical expert asked to examine the case for a second catherisation lab for University Hospital Waterford (UHW).

Elements of the briefing note and terms of reference given for the review were initially redacted from releases over the past two months.

However Independent.ie has seen the full briefing note which was written on May 27.

The minority Fine Gael Government, with the critical support of independents including Junior Minister Halligan, was formed just weeks earlier.

As part of his commitment to support Taoiseach Enda Kennys Government, Mr Halligan insisted he was promised a second cath lab for UHW.

But Health Minister Simon Harris maintained the clear understanding was the second lab would only be provided if its provision was endorsed by an independent clinical review.

The Government has now refused to fund the second lab because it was not supported by that review.

Mr Harris insisted that the review conducted by Belfast-based Prof Niall Herity was fully independent and totally free of political interference.

You could not have got a more independent review than that of Prof Niall Herity. I have published that review in full, Mr Harris said.

The Belfast expert recommended extra staff, equipment and opening hours for the UHW cardiac unit  but he did not endorse a second cath lab.

The May 27 briefing note, prepared by the departments acute hospital policy unit, stressed that such a second cath lab was contrary to policy.

In recent years there has been growing public and political pressure in the Waterford region to build and staff an additional cath lab at the hospital and to expand the existing service to a full 24/7 service, it said.

However, it has been the view of the department that providing additional facilities and extending services, in a geographical area which does not have the population base to justify such a service would be wasteful of very limited resources.

Such a unit might struggle to achieve the levels of activity essential to maintain operator and unit competency, potentially compromising patient safety. Staffing an extended service might also represent a challenge, the briefing note warned.

In a statement, released on Sunday evening, Mr Halligan said he did not receive this full document until Saturday.

He said: "I have spoken to Minister for Health Simon Harris this evening and he has agreed to come to Waterford to listen to the views of local consultants and seek a way to move forward on the issue."

A spokesperson for Mr Harris told Independent.ie that the briefing note accurately reflects the Departments and the HSEs position on the matter preceding the completion of Dr Herity's thorough and independent review which included broad consultation with a wide range of stakeholders.

The paragraph referred to was redacted on the decision of the FOI officer but was provided unredacted to Minister Halligan his on request, she said.

UHW campaigner Kieran Hartley claimed the note was clear proof the Waterford hospital was never going to be given the promised second lab.

Fine Gael could promise whatever they liked. But the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) clearly never wanted a second cath lab in Waterford, he said.

Mr Hartley said the determination to prevent UHW getting the second cath lab was borne out by the fact its catchment area was later understated from 520,000 to 280,000 and its critical cardiac risk rating was changed without UHWs knowledge.

The risk rating, the most critical assessment of a hospitals status, was changed from 20 out of 25 to 16 out of 25.

A Garda investigation into the risk rating change is now underway after a formal complaint was lodged by Mr Hartley.

The HSE rejected suggestions the key UHW risk rating was changed.

The South South West Hospital Group (SSWHG) risk rating for the interventional cardiology services at UHW is 16. This rating has not changed in the past six months, a HSE spokesperson said.

Both the hospital and the group categorised this issue as high risk.

The difference between both relates only to a slight variation in how the impact associated with the risk is interpreted.

One senior UHW consultant told the Independent.ie the latest revelations are deeply worrying.

Waterford has consistently maintained its development is being restricted so key resources can be focused on Dublin and Cork.

Critically, the briefing note also links cardiac services in Waterford with existing facilities in Cork.

(The) 24/7 services for the SSWHG are currently provided from Cork University Hospital (CUH), it said.

That hospital has three cath labs and there are no issues in relation to the capacity of the hospital to meet demand (from Waterford and the south-east).

However, another internal report revealed that 18 patients suffered heart attacks while on the cardiac waiting list at UHW over the past five years.

UHW doctors had expressed concern that waiting times for both inpatient and outpatient cardiac care had been steadily increasing since 2010.
An Irish naval vessel has rescued 130 migrants during a search and rescue operation off the coast of Libya.

A Defence Forces spokesman confirmed that earlier on Sunday, following a request from the Italian Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centre, the LE Samuel Beckett successfully located and rescued the migrants.

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The search and rescue operation took place 22 Nautical Miles north east of Tripoli.

The rescue operation commenced at 11am when the 130 people (Figures subject to confirmation by the Italian authorities) were brought on board the vessel. They are now receiving food, water and medical treatment where required.

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The LE Samuel Beckett has rescued 780 people since deploying to the area of operations.
The incident happened on the N52 at Hiskinstown. Picture: Google Maps

Two women have died after a road collision in Co Westmeath on Saturday afternoon.

The collision between two cars and a truck happened at Hiskinstown, Delvin, Co Westmeath at approximately 3.30pm.

One of the women, a passenger (38), was pronounced dead at the scene a short time after the collision.

In a statement, released late on Saturday night, gardai confirmed that a second female, the driver of the same car, was pronounced dead at the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar as a result of injuries received in the collision.

WESTMEATH: Collision on the N52 Mullingar/Delvin Rd EB just north of Williamstown. Diversions are in place. https://t.co/9H7eVw9Wjc  AA Roadwatch (@aaroadwatch) October 8, 2016

She was in her 20s.

The two women died in a collision involving a truck and two cars.

The female driver of the second car, its only occupant, has been airlifted to Tallaght Hospital in a serious condition. The male truck driver was uninjured.

The road is currently closed to facilitate a Garda Forensic Collision Investigation and diversions are in place.

In a separate incident a man in his 30s suffered serious head injuries in a collision involving a quad bike in Neilstown West Dublin.

Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics were called to the scene near The Finches bar in Clondalkin at 3pm where they found the injured man.

He was brought by ambulance to Tallaght Hospital where he remains in a serious condition.
The Chinese economy is now operating at a more stable pace, according to Yi Gang, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China. The Chinese central bank official offered his take on the economy at a panel held on Oct. 6 as part of the World Bank-International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meetings.

Judging from the latest economic data, Chinas economy is indeed seeing an upward trend. In September, the official manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 50.4, the highest reading since October 2014.

Zhao Qinghe, a senior statistician with the National Bureau of Statistics, described the current ideology behind Chinas manufacturing industry: production is maintaining smooth growth, market demand is expanding despite small fluctuations, and the new order index has grown continuously for several months. At the same time, high-tech production and manufacturing are both maintaining fast-paced growth, and imports and exports have rebounded, with the new export orders index bouncing back above the threshold, indicating that China's exports to maintain expansion in general. The import index also recently reached this year's highest point.

According to economist Tang Min, China's economy is slowly picking up compared with previous months. In the months to come, manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors, along with and small and medium-sized enterprises, will likely see slight growth, but recovery is not yet fully stable given the sluggish global economy.

Several experts have stated that, while the world economy certainly impacts China, the upward trend of Chinas economy will likely continue because China has great capacity for domestic demand, more innovative measures and the unwavering resolution to carry out reform.
Pound for pound they are probably two of the smarter politicians in the Dail: Leo Varadkar and Willie O'Dea, the urbane sophisticate from comfortable Castleknock, and the unassuming street fighter who bestraddles the divide in his native Limerick; Varadkar, the classical liberal, O'Dea, the essence of a social democrat.

For months now they have been getting the measure of each other in the Dail, and in the Fine Gael minister's office, where O'Dea attends to lay down the requirements of Fianna Fail in this era of 'new politics'. Oh to be a fly on the wall.

A begrudging respect is said to have developed between them, begrudging being the operative word. So, when it comes to analysing who has won and lost the Budget - Fine Gael or Fianna Fail - it was always going to come down to the battle between Leo and Willie.

As of this weekend, the upshot is that the Department of Social Protection looks set to receive a package of 350m in the Budget - 150m for old age pensioners and 200m for everybody else. So the real 'winner' will be pensioners, carers, the disabled, the blind, widows, and the sick and lone parents, insofar as that sum can be spread between such large numbers. But that's the problem, as far as Willie O'Dea is concerned. Spread it too thinly and nobody will really feel the benefit.

This time last year, O'Dea skewered Varadkar's predecessor in the Department of Social Protection, Joan Burton, when she boasted loudly and clearly at having increased the old age pension by the princely sum of 3 a week, or not enough for a "pint or a bag of chips" as the Limerick TD drily put it. So, he was first out of the blocks in August to demand a 5 increase for pensioners this year, lest he be in turn accused of, well, securing not enough for a pint and or bag of chips under Fianna Fail's 'confidence and supply' agreement with Fine Gael.

Word has it that Fianna Fail was not entirely pleased with what was said to be a solo run by O'Dea: a fiver for pensioners would cost around 150m, a sizeable chunk of the overall amount the Government has available to spend in this Budget. Whatever about the Fianna Fail hierarchy, certainly Leo Varadkar was smarting at having been, apparently, out-smarted in the dog days of summer, while he was abroad sunning himself and Willie was walking the streets of Moyross.

So, as is his want, Varadkar went deep into contemplation as to how to best turn the situation to his advantage, otherwise described by Fianna Fail's Dara Calleary as entering a "phone box and came out with a cape of fairness". Varadkar is now proposing the further 200m spend for said carers, disabled, lone parents, the blind, widows and the sick - a fiver a head, to trump Willie's mere 5 demand for pensioners.

The move is said to have "stunned" even Leo's Fine Gael colleagues. It is not difficult to imagine why they were stunned. Here is how this new "cuddly" Varadkar described himself in the lion's den of an ICTU conference recently: "I believe that capitalism, free trade and the market economy are most effective means of creating wealth I believe in individual liberty and the concept that people know best how to order their own lives and spend their money. I believe that low taxes encourage innovation, enterprise and ambition. I believe in equality of opportunity. We are all equally important but we are not all the same and hard work, excellence and inventiveness should be rewarded." Have a look at Leo's Twitter account, and the face on SIPTU's Jack O'Connor standing alongside Varadkar in a photograph taken at the conference.

Expand Close Political spats: A begrudging respect is said to have developed between Minister Leo Varadkar and Willie ODea Picture: Tom Burke / Facebook

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Whatsapp Political spats: A begrudging respect is said to have developed between Minister Leo Varadkar and Willie ODea Picture: Tom Burke

Anyway, this weekend Fine Gael, or the ascendant Leo Varadkar wing in the party's leadership contest, believes their man has outmanoeuvred Fianna Fail and Willie O'Dea. Hard to imagine, but yes, it may be so.

O'Dea wanted his pension increase from January 1; Varadkar's plan is to post-date all social welfare increases to June 2017, which would make them more affordable. Apparently, it would cost around 30m for every month they were brought forward, and even Charlie McCreevy, it is said, post-dated such increases in the past. Having your cake and eating it, it is called. The bottom line: everybody benefits under Leo's plan, not just pensioners, just not immediately, but in June, by which time we may have another general election on our hands, and Leo spoiling to be Taoiseach.

This is the man said to be arguing since August that Fine Gael needed to show that it had learned the lessons of the election, that the recovery had to be for everybody, not just the few; but also the man, as was pointed out here recently, who tweeted about government policies working based on recently published macro-economic statistics. Keep the recovery going, like.

As for Willie O'Dea, well, if he insists on his old age pension increases to apply immediately and not in June, the benefit of that increase may not amount to enough to pay for a pint or a bag of chips. Expect a compromise then - social welfare increases to kick in around March.

So, who wins - Leo or Willie? Old age pensioners may blame Varadkar for the postponement of increases. O'Dea certainly will blame his 'odd couple' adversary. Willie wins then. But, well, what's a few more months, when there's a leadership contest and election in the offing? Let's call it a one-all draw then, but Leo will be cheered on Budget Day. That's politics, folks, and that's how your budget is crafted.
Invasion: Maureen Ahern and Margaret Brett, from Cork, in the tower Photo: Steve Humphreys

One of Ireland's major cultural attractions which faced closure during the worst of the recession is blossoming again under voluntary management.

Movie star Pierce Brosnan was among the celebrity visitors to the tower this summer, as was UFC champion Conor McGregor this year.

More than 200 people, including broadcaster and journalist Vincent Browne, volunteered to work part-time in Joyce's Tower in Sandycove when it faced closure in 2012.

And this year, it is expected that 40,000 people will visit the former 'Martello' tower, which is the setting for the opening passages of James Joyce's 20th-century literary masterpiece Ulysses.

The tower is also of military historic significance, the only one of 26 defensive forts built around Dublin Bay during the Napoleonic Wars. It is open for free to the public.

It was built in 1803-1804 amid fears the French would invade Ireland as a stepping stone to the invasion of Britain. At one stage, Napoleon had two million soldiers massed on the Normandy coast for an invasion.

James Joyce stayed in the tower, which was rented at the time by his college friend, Oliver St John Gogarty, who then bought the building and used it as a weekend retreat.

It was later sold to Dublin architect Michael Scott, who used the adjoining land to build his home, Geragh, in modernist European style in 1954. The American publisher, Sylvia Beach, who first published Ulysses while Joyce was in Paris, took part in the original opening ceremony when the museum was established in 1962.

Until 2012, the museum charged for entry but under the new regime entry is free and the tower is now the number one visitor attraction along the south county Dublin coastline.

James Holahan, chairman of the voluntary Friends of James Joyce Tower Society, said: "It really is a good example of people power and the local community coming together to act as custodians at a time when this remarkable place was facing closure due to cutbacks.

"The group came together and undertook the staffing of the tower, arranging a roster where most could give a couple of hours a day.

"It is now open 365 days a year, even Christmas, from 10am to 6pm in the summer and 10am to 4pm in the winter.

"We've received tremendous assistance from Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and together we have helped it become the quite major attraction it now is.

"We fully expect there will be more than 40,000 visitors this year."

Mr Holahan said Vincent Browne "worked really hard and contributed in a major way" to setting up the volunteer group and the re-opening of the free attraction.

Joyce's novel is contained within a narrative of events on one day, June 16, commemorated since as "Bloomsday".
Outspoken: Ryanair chief executive Michael OLeary called for more competition in business and less corporate tax at a Fine Gael business breakfast Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Controversial Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary launched a blistering tirade against public sector workers at a Fine Gael pre-Budget fundraising event, attended by Finance Minister Michael Noonan and three other Cabinet members.

At the 55-a-head business breakfast in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin, Mr O'Leary said "immoral" striking gardai should be sacked, and insisted private bus companies be allowed to operate routes during industrial action.

The airline boss also branded RTE a "rat-infested North Korean union shop" before adding: "I can't turn on the bloody 9 O'Clock News without having to see Ingrid Miley's face giving me the latest spew from the Trotskyites and all the rest of it."

The attack on the national broadcaster brought about sustained applause and laughter from the 200-strong audience at the behind-closed-doors invite-only event in the city centre hotel.

Details of Mr O'Leary's comments were confirmed to the Sunday Independent by several sources at the event.

The Ryanair boss joked that he was not invited to Sinn Fein events because they do not want to eat with people they plan to "tax the s**t out of".

Mr Noonan described Mr O'Leary as "Ireland's leading businessman" and "Ireland's leading altogether decent person" when he introduced him to the audience on Wednesday morning.

Then for over 40 minutes and to rapturous applause from those in attendance, the Ryanair chief attacked the public sector, the European Union, the health service and Dublin City Council.

He accused the Dublin local authority of destroying the city centre through "nonsensical pandering to bloody cyclists". He said the State was "really crap at running the health service" and called for it to be privatised.

Mr O'Leary then targeted the European Union, saying it was anti-competition, but said the Government's response to the Apple tax fiasco was "weak and limp-wristed".

The multi-millionaire used the event to push for less tax on business people, insisting it would improve the economy.

Among those present at the fundraising breakfast for Fine Gael's Dublin Bay South branch were Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar, Housing Minister Simon Coveney and Education Minister Richard Bruton.

Local TD and Junior Finance Minister Eoghan Murphy has hosted the event in recent years, but was not present as he was on Government business in Washington. However, his constituency colleague Kate O'Connell was present.

International auditing and accountancy firms, along with some of the country's most successful law practices, were among the businesses to fork out for a table of 10 at a cost of 550 each.

The fundraising event was held a week before the Budget as Government ministers were in the middle of negotiations over how to spend the country's finances.

During a questions and answers session, Mr O'Leary was asked about the public service and pending strikes by gardai and bus drivers.

He said he was a "great fan" of gardai and insisted they did a "fantastic job" but said their proposed industrial action was "immoral".

"If somebody doesn't show up to work I'd sack them and if it means we've to sack 4,000 guards, I would sack all 4,000 guards," he said.

"[Former US president] Reagan did it with the air traffic controllers in America in 1987. Sometimes the State has to stand up and say 'sorry, you're the army, you're the guards, you knew you couldn't go on strike when you joined'," he added.

He also criticised the early retirement policy in An Garda Siochana which allows gardai retire when they are aged 50.

"Why aren't you working till you're 65, and we'll also promote you to be deputy inspector or something in the last year of your employment so you get higher bloody pensions for the rest of your life, which you don't contribute or pay for, that we do," he said.

He also questioned why Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann union chiefs sought meetings with Transport Minister Shane Ross over pay when they should be seeking to talk with company managers.

Mr O'Leary insisted the Government should open up bus routes to private operators if drivers go on strike again.

"If they don't want to work let somebody else do their jobs, let's allow more competition, let's continue to roll out more competition, let's make Ireland even more competitive," he added.

Yesterday a spokesman for Ryanair said: "Michael spoke at a business breakfast for Fine Gael during the week and will be speaking at one for Fianna Fail in November."
RTE's Deputy Director-General has responded to Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary's comments in which he described the national broadcaster as a "rat-infested North Korean union shop".

Kevin Bakhurst, who also holds the job title of RTE News & Current Affairs Managing Director, wrote three tweets on Sunday afternoon.

Michael O'Leary's comments, which were made at a Fine Gael party fundraiser, made the front pages of two Sunday newspapers.

He launched the blistering tirade against public sector workers at a Fine Gael pre-Budget fundraising event, attended by Finance Minister Michael Noonan and three other Cabinet members.

At the 55-a-head business breakfast in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin, Mr O'Leary said "immoral" striking gardai should be sacked, and insisted private bus companies be allowed to operate routes during industrial action.

The airline boss branded RTE a "rat-infested North Korean union shop" before adding: "I can't turn on the bloody 9 O'Clock News without having to see Ingrid Miley's face giving me the latest spew from the Trotskyites and all the rest of it."

Re M O'Leary comments:

1. Our coverage is based on the core principles of public service broadcasting-fairness, accuracy and impartiality.  Kevin Bakhurst (@kevinbakhurst) October 9, 2016

2. RTE's coverage of business leaders, unions and workers is wholly fair and even-handed.  Kevin Bakhurst (@kevinbakhurst) October 9, 2016

3. I find attacking individual journalists in this way extremely disappointing.  Kevin Bakhurst (@kevinbakhurst) October 9, 2016

For over 40 minutes and to rapturous applause from those in attendance, the Ryanair chief attacked the public sector, the European Union, the health service and Dublin City Council.

He accused the Dublin local authority of destroying the city centre through "nonsensical pandering to bloody cyclists". He said the State was "really crap at running the health service" and called for it to be privatised.

Read More

Mr O'Leary then targeted the European Union, saying it was anti-competition, but said the Government's response to the Apple tax fiasco was "weak and limp-wristed".

The multi-millionaire used the event to push for less tax on business people, insisting it would improve the economy.

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Among those present at the fundraising breakfast for Fine Gael's Dublin Bay South branch were Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar, Housing Minister Simon Coveney and Education Minister Richard Bruton.

Today, Mr Bakhurst replied to the comments, writing: "Re M O'Leary comments: 1. Our coverage is based on the core principles of public service broadcasting-fairness, accuracy and impartiality.

"2. RTE's coverage of business leaders, unions and workers is wholly fair and even-handed.

"3. I find attacking individual journalists in this way extremely disappointing."

Expand Close Outspoken: Ryanair chief executive Michael OLeary called for more competition in business and less corporate tax at a Fine Gael business breakfast Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Outspoken: Ryanair chief executive Michael OLeary called for more competition in business and less corporate tax at a Fine Gael business breakfast Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Yesterday a spokesman for Ryanair said: "Michael spoke at a business breakfast for Fine Gael during the week and will be speaking at one for Fianna Fail in November."
'If you are unlucky enough to get struck by serious illness, as even the fit and healthy can be, you need to educate yourself about your condition and learn how to communicate effectively with your doctors to ensure that you are giving yourself the best chance possible' (stock photo)

'We are literally destroying our children's future by setting them on course to be the fattest children in Europe by 2030.'

No one cares about your health as much as you, except maybe your mother. And no one cares about your children's' health as much as you. And you need to care more because collectively, our health is heading for the doldrums. If the statistics are to be believed, and I think they should be, Ireland is getting fatter, less fit and more disease-prone as each year goes by.

We are literally destroying our children's future by setting them on course to be the fattest children in Europe by 2030. We are condemning them to an early death.

Obesity is the precursor to so many life-threatening and life-limiting diseases - diabetes, heart disease, stroke and many cancers, so we need to fix this urgently for their sake, as well as our own, because the HSE is in no shape to cope with the amount of us that are getting sick due to bad lifestyle choices - at an estimated cost to society of over 1bn a year.

The Government has released its Obesity Policy and Action Plan, and it has some good points.

You need to equip yourself with the information that will allow you to maintain and improve your and your family's health and well-being and keep you strong and fit and healthy. That's your responsibility as a person and as a parent.

And if you are unlucky enough to get struck by serious illness, as even the fit and healthy can be, you need to educate yourself about your condition and learn how to communicate effectively with your doctors to ensure that you are giving yourself the best chance possible.

The health landscape is changing. Our creaking HSE aside, there has been an explosion in private, consumer-driven - and often unregulated - medical and health-related industries.

We have booming cosmetic-surgery and fertility industries - both of which can involve powerful medication and often serious surgery, dispensed by doctors and practitioners whose end goal is not necessarily our overall health, nor do they claim it to be.

There has also been an upsurge in the number of dentists offering cosmetic dentistry, some of whom advertise their low prices.

The long-awaited and welcome recognition of the importance of our mental well-being has brought a surge in the number of people claiming to be counsellors and healers.

Don't get me started on this subject. While, there are no doubt some empathic and talented people outside psychology and psychiatry who can help others through trauma, an unregulated industry that pitches directly to those suffering from trauma or mental health issues is a ticking time bomb.

If the Government is so concerned about our mental health and well-being, the first stop should be the regulation of alternative and complementary therapists. And while they are at it, they should ban personal trainers from practising amateur psychology on clients. Trust me, the good ones don't.

Starting today and continuing next week in Monday's 'Health & Living' and continuing throughout the week in the feature pages of the Irish Independent, we are going to give you the tools to empower you to own your own health.

We begin with the basics - how to assess your state of health, how to disease-proof yourself and your family through the simple food choices and easy-to-do exercises for all levels of fitness. We also have a comprehensive guide to getting the best from your doctor or GP: what questions to ask, what language to use and what to do with the information you get.

We will help you negotiate the myriad of alternative and complementary therapies, decide which discretionary vaccines are useful and what health problems men need to ook out for.

Over the coming weeks, we will extend the series to focus on specific chronic conditions that affect us in Ireland, how to use medical information on the internet safely, your mental well-being, fertility and the fertility industry and cosmetic industry.

As always, we want your feedback, so if there are any areas you would like covered, just drop us an email.
Next Tuesday is Budget day. Often property receives little attention in the Budget but this year, because of the housing crisis, it is the number one priority - as Minister Coveney confirmed at the Construction Industry Federation (CIF)annual conference last week in Croke Park. The fundamental problem in the sector is a lack of supply of new homes for both the sales and rental markets. While Mr Coveney remained tight-lipped at the conference about the intended Budget measures, they are expected to come in the form of tax breaks and incentives for first-time buyers. So what is needed and what is likely?

Firstly, the cost of construction must be addressed. Our construction costs are some of the highest in Europe, as the recent report from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland confirmed. It shows that the cost of building a 110sqm three-bed semi in Dublin, including site costs, is more than 330,000.

One possible Budget measure here would be a reduction in VAT from 13.5pc to 9pc, a move that worked well in the hospitality sector in the past and could save up to 13,000 on the three-bed semi. But it would need to be structured in such a manner that savings are not just transferred onto the developers' profit.

Separately, at the launch of the second pillar of 'Rebuilding Ireland' this week, an additional assistance to developers was announced with regard to plans for the provision of social housing. Currently, developers building new homes must set aside 10pc of every development for social housing. Up until now, builders were not paid for these units by the local authorities until after the properties were occupied. From now on they will receive payment for these Part V social housing units up front. This will improve cash flow and help developers in securing development finance.

The second likely measure to be announced in the Budget will assist the first-time buyer directly. It looks set to be in the form of a tax rebate and has been rumoured to be worth up to 20,000 on a 400,000 property. However, judging from Mr Coveney's speech at the CIF conference, I'd be surprised if the benefits were that high and expect them to be more in the region of 10,000-15,000.

Finally, the rental sector needs support to increase supply - it has experienced 40pc increases in Dublin alone over the last three years and has further increases to come. Following the downturn, the private investor has all but left the residential investment market. In an effort to incentivise this type of investor, it looks as if there will be a measure to increase the amount of mortgage interest that investors can write off against tax from 75-100pc over the next five years.

There may be further announcements next week. But whatever initiatives are forthcoming, they must focus solely on increasing the supply of homes. However, it's naive to think, as Minister of State for Housing Damien English appear to, that the effect of these measures will be felt over the coming months. It will be the second half of 2017 at the earliest before we see the benefits.

Stats, stats and more stats ...

A MYRIAD of figures and statistics for Q3 were released this week by Myhome, Daft, DNG and SF. Two reports were based on asking prices and two were based on actual prices. These followed hot on the heels of two reports from the CSO and REA in recent weeks. What is incredible is the fact that there are six property reports in a country with a population of just 4.7 million. It highlights the passion we have for property as a nation.

So what can be deduced, apart from the obvious supply issues? Prices continue to rise across the country, with the biggest increases in the large urban areas outside Dublin including Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. Average increases for the year are expected to be 6pc nationally. The cash buyer is still a major player, accounting for one in every two sales nationally. The number of properties sold in the first half of the year was down 5pc on the same period in 2015 and the number of houses on the market in Dublin down approximately 15pc on last year. The first-time buyer currently makes up one in every four purchasers (25pc). In a normally functioning market, this figure would be closer to 60pc. We are, obviously, a long way off.

Airbnb causing sleepless nights

October 31 is the deadline for self-assessment tax returns and, no doubt, many people are gathering their documentation for 2015. One issue causing sleepless nights for some landlords is Airbnb. It is allowing some landlords with property in prime locations in Dublin to secure up to three times the normal market rent. Average hotel room prices have increased by 19pc in Dublin over the last 12 months and there is a shortage of 5,000 bed spaces in the capital, with a gap of two to three years before the shortfall is addressed. On an average weekend night in Dublin, a room in a four-star hotel costs a minimum of 200 per night, while a quality two-bed (sleeping four) could be rented through Airbnb for the same price.

For landlords, the bad news is that all of the income is taxable, less costs incurred. In most cases, the 'rent-a-room relief scheme' does not apply. The number of Dublin properties listed on Airbnb is increasing by 100-200pc every year and the market is becoming so popular that investors have started buying properties for full-time use as Airbnb rentals with city-centre agents reporting that potential buyers are asking whether the property is Airbnb-able. What's the problem? Well, it is adding even more pressure to the already squeezed supply in the rental market.

Philip Farrell is a property consultant and market commentator
Finally. It's arrived. Autumn is now properly here and we can embrace knitwear again. Irish designer Laura Chamber creates beautiful, relaxed knitwear in Italian cashmere.

Colour-blocking in vibrant shades features heavily in her pieces, and every garment is given a twist with individual design details on the necklines and cuffs. Laura, who previously ran the boutique Tulle, also has a handy section on her website explaining how to love and care for your cashmere, so that you'll have it forever.

BUY: Sweaters from 245; laura-chambers.com

Offaly good

The OFFline Offaly Film Festival starts on Wednesday and runs until Sunday, October 16. One highlight is the screening of new Irish film The Flag, starring Pat Shortt (below), at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre on Thursday. As well as that, the 57-Hour Film-making Challenge will see teams creating a short film in Birr over two days, with the winner taking a spot in the 2017 Galway Film Fleadh.

DETAILS: offlinefilmfestival.com

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Bag it up

Books are my Bag - the annual celebration of books and bookshops - runs for the month of October, with bookshops around the country hosting events, parties, author readings and illustration demonstrations. Today, Big Bookshop Parties are taking place nationally. Fatti Burke, co-creator and illustrator of the best-selling Irelandopedia, has designed a special tote bag to mark the event.

DETAILS: booksaremybag.com

Fresh bling

If you have a piece of jewellery that's lost its charm, why not consider having it redesigned? Owner of Stonechat Jewellers, Ann Chapman, and her team in Dublin's Westbury Mall, will consult and collaborate with you when you bring in a piece. They will then suggest and design a new look for your jewellery, so that your new piece fits into your life now.

DETAILS: Redesign service at Stonechat starts at 250; stonechatjewellers.ie for information on booking a first consultation.

Fright night

Ireland's most terrifying scare-house experience is open at the RDS, Dublin for the month of October. The Nightmare Realm sees guests brought through a village of the damned with spine-chilling inhabitants, and plenty of classic horror film references. Children need to be 13+ and even adults may need some hand-holding.

BOOK: thenightmarerealm.ie

Soft touch

One huge trend for autumn/winter 16 is texture, and this has filtered down from the catwalk to interiors. Interesting soft furnishings are the least expensive way to update a room. We love this Beni Ourain-style cushion - so incredibly fluffy - which measures 45cm X 45cm and is stuffed with a pure down for the cosiest of cuddles.

BUY: 60, available at dust.ie

Raise a glass

There's nothing like a fancy tipple to get you in the mood for the weekend, and tomorrow the third Irish Cocktail Fest begins, showcasing the best of Irish beverages. Running until Friday, it's a country-wide initiative, with pop-up bars, special offers on cocktails at some venues, and tasty treats promised. You can also vote for your favourite drink to win Best Irish Cocktail on Twitter - #BestIrishCocktail.

DETAILS: greatirishbeverages.com

Next weekend

Top tent

Roll up, roll up, as the always wonderful, ever eclectic Wexford Speigeltent Festival comes to town. Taking place from October 14-30, it's a lively programme featuring '80s legend Paul Young, Jack L, Christy Moore, Tommy Tiernan, Ralph McTell, the Wexford Male Voice Choir and even that other '80s icon, Bosco. Add in OTT wrestling and The Rocky Horror Picture Show and you've got yourself a riotously fun festival.

DETAILS: visit wexfordspiegeltent.com for the full line-up and ticket information.

Access all areas

Next weekend is your opportunity to see some of the city's best architecture with Open House Dublin, the free annual event. The theme this year is The Presence of the Past and almost 90 building tours, many of them in private homes, as well as 40 other events, are taking place. Another feature is Open House Junior, a series of creative events for young people with fun ways to explore the city and its buildings. Most tours are open on a first come, first served basis.

DETAILS: architecturefoundation.ie/openhouse for the full programme

hotlist@independent.ie

Upwards

Velvet earrings

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Thank you Mango. We didn't know we needed these in our life until you introduced us.

Telly's strong game

Netflix is triumphing again with Luke Cage and the Amanda Knox doc.

Pyjama tops

Is there anything nicer than being practically in your nightwear but actually being respectfully dressed?

Dried hydrangeas

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As seen on best-dressed dinner tables, artfully arranged in glass vessels.

Pimped up desserts

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Dublin bar P. Macs are now serving Kinder Bueno spring rolls. Could anyone resist?

Onwards

Packed lunch fails

When you lovingly prepare something involving beetroot and goats' cheese, then forget it when you go to work.

Christmas-related anything

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Please. Not until Halloween is over at least.

The Light Between Oceans trailer

NSFW unless you want to start blubbing at your desk.

Hurry sickness

It's a real thing, where your multitasking leaves you in a constant state of agitation.

Secret weddings

As delighted as we are for Alan Hughes and Karl Broderick's nuptials, we'd have loved to have seen all the pics and gotten all the deets.
Premium

Colm McCarthy Opinion Free money is not the way to head off a crisis

Managing the macro economy involves three perspectives. These are the short-term  the next six months or a year; the medium-term  the next four or five years; and the long-term  the issues that demand to be addressed decades in advance. From the perspective of Irish governments in recent times, only the short-term merits attention, with the medium-term left to the civil service and the long-term to sporadic commissions and academic worrywarts.
China needs open research environment, emphasis on quality to catch up, say scholars

As applause from Japan and the international community engulfed biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi after he won the 2016 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, bitter introspection lingered on China's social media with thousands of netizens questioning why China has been left behind by its neighbor in the sciences.

Ohsumi, a professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discoveries on autophagy, a fundamental process cells use to degrade and recycle parts of themselves, making him the 24th Japanese or Japan-born Nobel laureate.

According to a statement from the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Ohsumi's work opened the path to understanding how cells adapt to starvation and respond to infection.

Ohsumi's win has not only drawn attention in Japan, but also sparked discussions on Chinese social media after many compared the number of Nobel science laureates in China and Japan.

According to the Nobel Prize website, Japan has garnered the second-highest number of science laureates after the US, with 11 physicists, seven chemists and four laureates for physiology or medicine.

Last year, pharmacologist Tu Youyou won the physiology or medicine Nobel, the first Chinese scientist to win for work done in the Chinese mainland.

Research quality

Netizens are asking just why China is lagging so far behind Japan, and what can be done to improve the quality of scientific research in China.

Rao Yi, a neurobiologist at Peking University, was quoted by news website ifeng.com as saying that China's biomedical research is 10 years behind Japan's.

An article titled "Why Japan can win so many Nobel Prizes" on Sina Weibo has analyzed Japan's advantages in science, including cultivating children's independent spirit of exploration while at school and learning from developed countries.

The article had been viewed more than 1.23 million times as of press time.

Tang Yongliang, a deputy director with the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that Japan is reaping the benefits of prioritizing scientific development in the past decades and it has had a policy of personnel exchanges with developed countries in the most cutting-edge scientific fields.

The open research environment in Japan, which encourages innovation and allows scientists to express different ideas, and highly advanced technology also contribute to scientific discoveries, Tang said.

Tang said that Japan's good social credibility system also helps to cement Japanese scientists' preciseness and persistence in science.

Optimistic future

Many netizens pointed out that China only started to develop strongly in science and technology from the 1990s onward, and research leading to Nobel awards often has been carried out two or three decades before. Some expressed hope that this would lead to a slew of Nobel Prizes from 2020 onwards, and that people should have more confidence.

This year's three physics laureates won for research they did in the 1980s and 1990s.

But Xiong Bingqi, deputy director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, told the Global Times that it might be too optimistic on the part of netizens to say that there will be a surge in laureates by 2020.

"We should envisage our gap with Japan and other developed countries in an objective and reasonable way - admitting our deficiencies in the fundamental research fields," Xiong said. China has long prioritized research in applied science, such as engineering.

He added that China should pay more attention to investing in fundamental research and promoting the quality of research and development by giving more freedom to scientists.

"China sometimes emphasizes quantity rather than quality when appraising scientific endeavor, which may overlook that breakthroughs in science take a long time," Tang noted.
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Eoghan Harris Opinion Misery media fails to give due credit to the Taoiseach

Taoiseach Micheal Martin must drive his advisers mad. Unlike Leo Varadkar or Donald Trump, he never bigs up success stories such as the effect of Level 3 Plus on Covid or his visionary Shared Island project. Last Friday, Tony Holohan and RTE cheerleaders seemed to imply Level 5 was responsible for the improved Covid situation. Not so.
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Gene Kerrigan Opinion This time, we did the right thing

The people act in solidarity. Children donate their pocket money and adults offer the use of a spare room. Refugee fundraising goes on in all the usual places, with the Late Late Show leading the way. When the Ukrainians needed help, we did the right thing.
Not for nothing was Barbara Bush known as 'The Enforcer'

Barbara Bush, tougher than her husband and known to her family as 'The Enforcer', is probably the most popular of all ex-US first ladies of recent times. Jackie Kennedy is remembered across the globe for elegance and tragedy, but she was not loved. Rosalynn Carter worked hard and was a noted campaigner on issues of mental health, but she has suffered in retrospect because of her bitterness at his defeat by Ronald Reagan, who is widely perceived to have been as great a success as Carter was a failure. The brittle Nancy Reagan was an essential support to her husband, but was thought to care little for anyone else. Hillary Clinton was loathed by those who thought her a careerist. The likeable Laura Bush did a lot of useful work but lacked her mother-in-law's commanding personality. And although Michelle Obama had rock-star status, that has diminished as she and her husband embrace luxury and celebrity. Betty Ford is probably the closest rival, having been far more effective and formidable than her husband Gerald, the 38th president, and still having a posthumous reputation for her prowess as a campaigner on addiction, not least because so many of the famous troop to the Betty Ford Clinic.
Just the ticket: Sophie (left) pictured with a friend in Ibiza as she took a life-changing trip through Europe

Like the small town equivalent of small man syndrome, I've always considered myself a big smoke kind of gal. I'm exhilarated by vast metropolises and the mass humanity of big cities. Despite this, I hail from a barely-there city myself and so four years on I still find myself surprised to be living in Dublin. The realisation that home may in fact be the last place you envisage is one of the greatest discoveries of travel.

It's 2011 and I am following love across the globe. After a heady six weeks between London, Dublin, Rome, Berlin, Munich, Dublin again and now Paris, I find myself utterly heartbroken. I'm with my gregarious Bavarian friend Martina staying in the one-room apartment of Swann, a diminutive French artist.

Martina and I go to the Louvre. She drags me to the Mona Lisa who is obscured entirely by an army of smart-phones pointed at the wall. I leave Martina in the fray and find the Napoleon III apartments where I sit for four hours, eyes glazed over with tears, the ornate upholstery blurred to resemble melting Neapolitan ice cream.

Paris is quiet in January, its boulevards beautiful and aloft, its bridges heavy under brass padlocks of love that glint dully in the silver light. If there's anywhere in the world to be heartbroken, the City of Love is it.

Two years later, I've made a home in Dublin and take a trip back to Paris with the person I had cried over in the Louvre. Hearts mended, we stroll hand in hand through the Marais and hole up in a kitsch hotel in the 17th. This time Paris is gold. I can't quite believe where life has delivered me, and it is this very sentiment that is gaining momentum in a campaign to give every 18-year-old a one-month InterRail ticket.

"Imagine it is your 18th birthday and you find a personalised letter from the European commission in your postbox. In it: a voucher to travel Europe. Your life will change."

This comes from the campaign behind the proposal that came before the European Parliament this week. The catch? It's estimated to cost around 3bn.

Despite coming with such a steep price tag, the benefits for Europe could prove priceless. At 18, we are largely unbruised by life, unbiased and unabashed.

Travel builds confidence as we successfully navigate foreign countries and ingrains us with tolerance as we meet people so different from ourselves. It reminds us that we are all foreigners as soon as we leave home.

Giving an 18-year-old a free ticket to mooch around Europe is the very best thing you could do.

What better way to do this than by train? Forget bawdy Topdeck bus tours and imagine four wonderful weeks country-hopping across Europe. With their inward-facing seats that induce conversation, trains are synonymous with romance.

The small confines of a vehicle are the ideal way to form fast friendships.

Young people should learn from the school of life, before they are swallowed by work or university. It's the best education anybody can receive. Such a scheme would give any young person this opportunity, regardless of their financial constraints.

Certainly there will be some questionable decisions made. For me it was that nasty case of bed bugs contracted from that dodgy bedsit in New Orleans, and the misjudged couch surfing host with a 'guest bed' draped in silk sheets. For a friend of mine it was the broccoli tattoo she got on her leg during a raucous week in Budapest.

But there will also be brilliant, life-changing decisions. Introducing yourself to people who become lifelong friends, or even lifelong partners.

Visiting the country you fall in love with and decide to make your home and learning a language that becomes second nature to your tongue.

As an Australian, I've done my share of travelling across the continent. And before you say it, I will. We're irritating. We "go overseas" to fling ourselves around Europe, snaffling all the low bunk beds in hostels.

When we do Europe, we really do it. And perhaps that's the kind of attitude the EU needs to mobilise in its youth.

As often happens we don't explore what is already on our doorstep. What the EU has is a smorgasbord of culture, language and opportunity.

For Europe, the success of such a scheme could secure a united future as the next generation grow up with an intimate understanding of their neighbours, give or take the odd irritating Australian.
Fianna Fail is not afraid of another general election but it doesn't want to cause it. Having relocated from its recessionary bunker to the moral high in the wake of February's vote, Micheal Martin and his TDs are performing a delicate balancing act.

On one side there have been populist pronunciations such as their now total aversion to water charges and demands for a 5 pension hike in the Budget.

But on the other side they want to be seen as mature and responsible at a time of great political uncertainty all over the world.

On Tuesday, they will underwrite Budget 2017 with a level of ease that didn't seem possible during the often fraught negotiations over their 'confidence and supply' agreement with Fine Gael.

It won't be because they believe Enda Kenny has actually pulled together a functioning government that can solve the crises in health, housing and education.

They will sign off on the 1.2bn package because it's the right thing to do, right now, for themselves and for the country.

"The alternative to a Budget being passed is another general election with months of uncertainty at a time when the country needs stability," said Fianna Fail's finance spokesman Michael McGrath.

"That's not to say that we will agree to the passage of a Budget at all costs. We are not afraid of an election but we don't believe that parties should sleepwalk into one because they are afraid to take on responsibilities."

Those 'parties' he refers to are Sinn Fein and the Anti-Austerity Alliance/People Before Profit, and to a lesser extent the Labour Party, Social Democrats and Greens.

When McGrath takes to his feet on Tuesday afternoon to give a rebuttal to Finance Minister Michael Noonan, his scripted attacks will fly more towards his rivals on the Opposition benches than the Government.

He will talk about how Sinn Fein shirked the chance of going into the room and forcing Fine Gael to change its bad habits.

He will claim credit for bringing Fine Gael's budgetary policy in a "new direction" with the 2:1 split in favour of spending over tax cuts.

And the mild-mannered Cork TD will accuse Gerry Adams of having taken a 10-week holiday while Fianna Fail ensured that a second election wouldn't be necessary.

Finding a way of attacking and defending the Budget at the same time won't be easy though.

McGrath and the party's public expenditure spokesman Dara Calleary will have half an hour each to speak. That's a lot of air time to fill.

That's why for some months Fianna Fail has strategically been laying the groundwork for budget day.

The three-point plan goes like this:

1. Secure enough wins to be able to claim credit for the good things.

2. Leave a few obvious gaps so that they can point out what they would have done better had they "actually been in power".

3. Create a narrative that they are acting in the most responsible manner possible.

The first part has been achieved. They won out on inheritance tax, forcing Mr Noonan to raise all three tax-free thresholds by 10pc.

Tax on savings will fall slightly, against the minister's wishes too.

And there will be 15m for the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to help reduce hospital waiting lists.

Of course Fine Gael will claim that it would have done some of those measures anyway but the row will be lost in the haze of Budget Day announcements.

The second part of the Fianna Fail plan is slightly trickier, because the complaints cannot be so grievous that it would feel obliged to bring down the Government.

As a result it has cherry- picked fights in specific areas, with housing and education likely to be the biggest.

Fianna Fail does not like the tax rebate for first-time buyers which will see househunters receive up to 20,000 from the Government to help them secure a deposit for a new build.

"Our key concern is that it will push up the cost of new homes. There should be a full impact assessment carried out," said cGrath, before adding: "It's not something we will be bringing the Government down on."

If the plan fails to stimulate the market, then you can expect plenty of "we told you so".

The other key line of attack is likely to be education.

Over recent months, Fianna Fail has made a concerted effort to turn education into the new health.

There's logic to the idea. Martin made a big play on the state of the health service during February's election campaign, but it was too easy for others to point to his four-year stint as minister between 2000 and 2004.

After all, it was under his watch that the HSE was established. And there comes a time when people tire of hearing about how great the smoking ban is.

But Mr Martin is on more solid ground when it comes to education.

His party has demanded that an extra 100m be injected into the struggling third-level sector.

They want guarantees around school buses, money for post-graduate grants, a flood of guidance counsellors and a reduction in pupil-teacher ratios.

It's one area where Fianna Fail can confidently turn up the rhetoric, such as during Leaders' Questions a fortnight ago when Martin warned the Taoiseach: "It behoves us to act now, in the next two to three weeks, to make a serious provision in the Budget for expenditure for third-level education.

"Otherwise we are ignoring the future of this country at our peril."

And then there is Brexit. It plays nicely into the third element of Fianna Fail's plan to be seen to "pull on the green jersey".

A briefing document compiled by the party last week notes Ireland needs to navigate "these increasingly choppy geo-political waters and do what is right for the people on this island.

"We will continue to bring forward constructive policies rather than join the protest of Sinn Fein and other extreme left-wing groupings," it says.

Yet the difficulty facing Fianna Fail shouldn't be underestimated. The media and the public has been slow to buy into 'new politics', and it runs a major risk of being outflanked by Sinn Fein in the coming days.

Already there has been a row with RTE, after Prime Time suggested it wanted Pearse Doherty to be the voice opposing Michael Noonan on Tuesday night rather than McGrath.

So what's the end game?

Well, ultimately Fianna Fail wants to get over Tuesday unscathed and in a position to really start thinking about an election.

While some described a mid-week opinion poll showing a 7pc drop in support for Fianna Fail as a reality check, I would argue it has reassured Martin and his strategists that their wait-and-see approach is the best one.

In an ideal world, the Independent Alliance would pull the rug or some unmanageable scandal like the Garda whistleblowers controversy will bring the House crashing down while Enda Kenny is still at the helm of Fine Gael.

Fianna Fail is ready to pounce but doesn't want to strike too soon.

"This is not about opinion polls. If this was about opinion polls we'd have pulled the Government down long ago," said Michael McGrath.

Fianna Fail has influence, but no more than the 5 pension hike, it comes at a cost.
After the 2014 local and European elections the Labour party, despairing at its poor performance, started a 'shove' - 'coup' seems too clinical - to remove Eamon Gilmore. He left quickly, albeit unwillingly.

It was felt Gilmore was an impediment to the party's performance. Polls showed that Joan Burton was the most popular of senior Labour politicians. She easily won the leadership contest, reshuffled some of the older, more comfortable ministers out, for younger, hungrier guys. The 2016 election came and Labour was annihilated.

Was it that Joan Burton wasn't the right choice? Perhaps she grated with the public once they got to know her? Or could it be something else?

What's happening in the US presidential election might provide an answer. The next few weeks will be dominated by it. In particular we'll hear about whether Donald Trump can keep a lid on his temper. The election is about the two individuals, the candidates for president. We'd reasonably expect if Joe Biden - who has managed to overcome his image as an affable idiot - had been running against Trump he'd wipe the floor with him. We're told that if the Republicans had picked a centrist candidate, Hillary would be history.

Trump appears to be breaking all the rules. He's barely got a campaign organisation in place. He has almost no endorsements in the press or from senior party figures. He spends much of his time insulting voters, and has been hit by so many scandals that he should be on the deck. Other candidates in the past were sunk by far less, but his campaign seems impenetrable. Could it be that Trump is the strategic genius he likes to portray - the smart guy who knows the voting market and can sell his product - even if it is a draft-dodging tax avoider in a septuagenarian body with bad hair and a loose tongue?

For some this can all be explained by sexism. It's proof that women are held to a higher standard. Hillary Clinton is obviously a more stable, better qualified candidate, but because she's a woman many voters and many in the commentariat refuse to accept her. Perhaps Joan Burton faced the same problem. That may be it, but I suspect it's not.

It could be that she's not a very good candidate. Hillary does not give the warm and fuzzy feeling that her husband managed to convey to those he met. He was The Natural. Ronald Reagan lived happily unburdened by anything close to the intelligence that either Clinton has, but he had that easy manner and quick wit that voters lapped up.

Warmth, we're told, is important. We like to like our candidates. George W Bush may not have been bright, but in 2000 when we didn't know much about him, he was the guy you'd pick to have a beer with over the policy wonk Al Gore.

Hillary Clinton has never been popular - even when she was First Lady she was regarded as self-righteous, then hated equally by the liberal elite and the lumpen masses. She has struggled to overcome this, and much of the campaign has been about 'humanising Hillary'.

Could they be wasting their time? Could it be that the candidate, or the leader doesn't matter as much as we think they do?

The success of Trump - he's managed to make himself competitive when almost no thought he could - could be because he's just lucky that his opponent's personality is not that attractive either. Candidates are supposed to appear strong, competent and likeable. She's obviously competent, but when she collapsed in the New York heat it suggested to voters she may not be physically strong.

Or could it be that the candidate's personality doesn't matter that much?

Research in the US shows that ever fewer people care about the candidates' personalities or personal qualities. We forget that Bill Clinton won despite being questionable on integrity.

A couple of things are at work. Attachment to a party is still so important in the US that Republicans will vote for their candidate, even if that's Donald Trump. By now there are such big policy differences between US parties that the personality is a minor factor.

For Joan Burton the problem wasn't that she was the wrong leader. The problem was that Labour was unpopular. Voters felt it had broken its promise. Burton's problem was that when she took over, apart from changing a few faces, she didn't change the relationship within the government. Nothing substantive changed.

That's not to say parties shouldn't take care when picking a leader. They're the mouthpiece through which we hear the party's message. But it is their role in shaping the party's message that matters more.

The other parties need to be aware of this. John Deasy said last week that Enda Kenny could cost Fine Gael more seats at the next election. But when Kenny is replaced, his replacement needs to think about what he or she will do differently. Kenny was lucky in 2011 when the party effectively ran unopposed. His and his party's failings didn't really matter.

But now Fianna Fail is competitive again Fine Gael needs more than a new leader. It must be clear what it stands for. Following everyone else into the centre might just lose it more support to Independents.

And last week's poll numbers show Fianna Fail isn't on a single track to success because it has Micheal Martin. Fianna Fail did well this year because Fianna Fail was more popular than before. That was probably because Fine Gael and Labour were less popular. Micheal Martin might have helped on the margins, but he's not the cause of its slight recovery. Voters might move away if its policies suggest it hasn't learned the lesson of the crash.

It is probably that most people make a decision on whether they like the party and its policies first. The leader can help in that decision, but he or she isn't the deal-maker. However, if the leader can make a difference to some voters, a few extra points for a party can still turn an election.

Dr Eoin O'Malley is a senior lecturer in political science in the School of Law and Government at DCU
Autumn symbolises that the year is growing old - but that doesn't make it any less lovely. Indeed, in many ways this season has more to offer than summer - quite literally - with fruit and nuts in abundance around the countryside and yours for the taking.

It's no different with people, for folk with many years on their motors can have more energy and verve than greenhorns half their age, as I was reminded by octogenarian Ned Egan, reclining like a nymph on the riverbank in the autumn sunshine recently, while a cameraman filmed the two musicians serenading him.

Ned looked like something out of a painting by an old master, appropriately enough, his hat rakishly tipped on his mop of snowy white hair and an indecent number of buttons left undone on his shirt. Clearly living by the adage that age is just a number - instead of worrying about when his might be up - this mature maverick tells me that he is beginning his filmmaking career by recording more than a dozen musicians performing his songs and poetry.

"Their expertise ranges across the broad spectrum," Ned says. "From absolutely excellent to sheer genius!" He plans to launch his masterpiece at the Kilkenny Watergate Theatre. "The staff there have been tremendously helpful to me."

That positivity, combined with gratitude galore, probably explains how Ned managed to persuade so many accomplished musicians to give him their time and energy. And which also lies behind Ned's ridiculously full life. Though it includes its share of tragedy, such as when TB "swept away" three of Ned's sisters and landed him in Peamount Sanatorium for two years.

"Good grub there," says Ned, characteristically seeing the bright side of that ordeal. "The young Dubs were mighty to me. I returned strong, able to look after myself."

Just as well, because Ned got kicked out of school when he was 13. Though not before getting "knocked out a few times by a wild Mayo teacher". Who nevertheless Ned remembers as "a good man at heart; no doubt he suffered the same himself."

Ned high-tailed it to England in his late teens, where he got "involved in all the drinking and running amok; that was the form in the 1950s. It was a great time to be alive."

Though for how long? Because Ned was soon called up by the British military and sent to the Middle East, where he faced "baddies who were interested in creating more orifices than the usual seven!" He subsequently served in a regiment guarding bomber airfields during the Cuba Crisis.

Clearly that wasn't enough excitement, for Ned then took aim at Australia, where he "fished the wild seas off the West Coast for the Great White and the lobsters they liked to jaw on. Had a few close shaves; a friend was 'taken'."

Ned was nearly over and out too, when he was blown up by dynamite. It left him blind and deaf for years. "But I got a glim back in one eye. That still does me."

As Ned likewise continues to 'do' life so marvellously.
The mansion Murphy once shared with former partner Gerald Kean was targeted by callous thieves, who tied her up before getting away with more than 1m worth of precious jewellery.

Lisa Murphy has said news of the armed raid on Kim Kardashian in Paris brought back haunting memories of her own terrifying ordeal in Wicklow in 2011.

The Brittas Bay mansion Murphy once shared with former partner Gerald Kean was targeted by callous thieves, who tied her up before getting away with more than 1m worth of precious jewellery.

Speaking to The Sunday World, the socialite said she identified with Kim Kardashian, whose Paris residence was attacked by a masked gang earlier this week.

It brought the terror back to me again. Im quite shocked because of the amount of security she has all the time. It was bringing me back to when I went through it and its horrendous. I obviously know what she went through and its horrendous, she said.

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Murphy, who split with her solicitor beau Kean earlier this year, revealed that Kardashian's experience made her relive the moments when she was bound using cable ties as thieves ransacked her home.

They used cable ties and my hands were held behind my back. They had a knife and they were going to stab me in the back if I didnt tell them where [the safe] was.

I was screaming and I was crying. I was praying to my brother in heaven. I was there for nearly three hours screaming my head off and in tears before Gerald got home and freed me, she said.

Lisa admitted the thieves had analysed her routine and had a particular interest in the ring gifted to her by former fiance Michael Flatley.

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The first thing they did was to ask specifically for Michaels ring. They were pulling at my fingers trying to get my rings off. I said, I will take them off, but they were just trying to get in and out as quickly as possible.

But they said,Look we will do this the hard way, and they basically ripped off my fingers. All the jewellery was worth in excess of 1m, she said.

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The thieves were never located despite extensive Garda investigations and the value of the jewellery was never reimbursed by the couples insurance company.

I still have nightmares. I suffered from panic attacks after the incident.

It still affects me. You learn to live with it, and I went to counselling, but you certainly never get over it, she said.
17 people have been killed in a car bomb blast in Turkey

Nine soldiers and eight civilians have been killed when Kurdish militants detonated a car bomb outside a military checkpoint in south-east Turkey, the local governor said.

Cuneyit Orhan Toprak, governor of Hakkari province where the attack took place, gave the death toll to news channel NTV and said 27 other people were wounded in the attack and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Eleven of the wounded were soldiers, the Turkish military said.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency, citing a statement by the Turkish Armed Forces, said the attack occurred at 9.45am outside a gendarmerie checkpoint on the Semdinli-Yuksekova road, and was the work of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK.

The checkpoint is 12 miles from the centre of the town of Semdinli.

Mr Toprak said the attackers first opened fire on the soldiers at the checkpoint to distract them, before driving up a minivan containing about 5 tons of explosives and detonating it.

The explosion produced a crater 50 feet wide and 23 feet deep. An infantry station located behind the checkpoint also suffered heavy damage.

Energy minister Berat Albayrak condemned the attack during a speech in Istanbul, calling on all countries to stand together against terrorism.

Turkey has been rocked by a wave of bomb attacks since last summer that have killed hundreds of people and been blamed on either the PKK or the Islamic State group.

Fighting between the PKK and state security forces resumed last year after the collapse of a fragile ceasefire.

Since then, more than 600 Turkish security personnel and thousands of PKK militants have been killed in clashes, according to the Anadolu Agency. Rights groups say hundreds of civilians have also been killed in the fighting.

On Thursday, 10 people were slightly wounded by a bomb mounted on a motorcycle that exploded near a police station in Istanbul.

On Friday, the militant Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, or TAK, considered an offshoot of the PKK, claimed responsibility. Six people have been detained in connection with that attack.

AP
The Chinese mainland's will to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity remains rock solid, a mainland spokesman said Thursday, after Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen spoke with foreign media.

Experts believe the interviews were an attempt to seek support from the US and Japan.

Adhering to the 1992 Consensus, which stresses the one-China principle, is not negotiable, said An Fengshan, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, commenting on Tsai's latest remarks to The Wall Street Journal.

An stressed that the mainland and Taiwan belong to the same China, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

"Our position is steadfast on opposing any 'Taiwan-independence' activities. Any forces and any people should not underestimate the resolution of more than 1.3 billion people on the mainland," the spokesman said.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, Tsai said Taiwan is "a sovereign, independent country."

She pledged to avoid confrontation with the mainland, saying that both sides should sit down to eliminate misunderstanding, without any preconditions.

"I also hope that [the Chinese mainland] does not misinterpret or misjudge the current situation, or think that it can make Taiwanese bow to pressure  No administration in Taiwan is able to make any decision that goes against the opinion of the people," the female leader said.

Separately, Tsai expressed hope in an interview with Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun on Thursday that the Chinese mainland will display more wisdom in resolving its differences with Taiwan, the Taiwan-based Central News Agency reported on Friday.

She called for Beijing to put to one side "the baggage of history" and resolve cross-Straits differences through constructive communication and interaction without preconditions.

In the interviews, Tsai vowed to avoid conflicts while stating that Taiwan is a sovereign country. The seemingly contradictory remarks shed a light on her less aggressive approach toward independence, Liu Xiangping, deputy head of the Institute of Taiwan Studies at Nanjing University, told the Global Times on Friday.

However, the eclectic stance cannot mask her real intention to advocate for independence, an approach which did not work out well on the island during the "presidency" of former leader Chen Shui-bian, Liu said.

"All secessionist attempts to seek 'Taiwan independence' are doomed to failure," Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said late September after Tsai delivered an open letter to members of her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in which she urged resistance to pressure exerted by the mainland, according to Xinhua.

Echoing Liu, Jin Yi, an expert at the Institute of Taiwan Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "Her increasingly hard-line comments are a response to requests of the pro-independence group within the DPP, since the group has gained more say in her decision-making."

Her frequent interviews with Japan and US media aimed to "pour out grievances" and seek more support from the two countries, Jin told the Global Times on Friday.

As Tsai was disappointed with Japan and the US for failing to help Taiwan attend an assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN aviation agency, her subtext in recent interviews is that "the two countries should help Taiwan, otherwise they will embolden the Chinese mainland," Jin said.

The ICAO said arrangements for its assembly, scheduled for September 27 to Friday in Montreal, did not follow the pattern ahead of a meeting in 2013, when China had asked for Taiwan to be invited, Reuters reported.

"ICAO follows the UN's 'one-China' policy," the agency's communications chief Anthony Philbin said.

If Tsai persists in further promoting "Taiwan independence," the mainland will take economic countermeasures, which are expected to deliver heavy blows to the already difficult economy on the island, and military preparation, Jin noted.
People unload food and water boated in from the Mission of Hope charity after Hurricane Matthew swept through Jeremie (AP)

Residents pray at a church that was destroyed by hurricane Matthew in Jeremie, Haiti (AP)

Survivors of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti put on their Sunday finest and picked their way through the debris to pray in ruined churches, while desperation grew in other parts of the country and international rescue efforts were stepped up.

Haitian authorities are still unsure of the extent of the disaster, with some communities still cut off. But tens of thousands of homes were obliterated and the death toll is already in the hundreds.

Guillaume Silvera, a senior official with the Civil Protection Agency in the storm-blasted Grand-Anse Department, which includes Jeremie, said at least 522 deaths were confirmed there alone - not including people in several remote communities still cut off by collapsed roads and bridges.

National Civil Protection headquarters in the capital Port-au-Prince, meanwhile, said its official count for the whole country is 336, which includes 191 deaths in Grand-Anse.

Despite the loss, families packed what remained of Jeremie's churches, many seated in pews under open sky because Matthew ripped away roofs and even walls of the sanctuaries. At least one was so badly damaged that worshippers set up an altar and prayed outside.

Elise Pierre, 80, said she believed it was a divine miracle that she and her loved ones survived.

"If God wasn't protecting us we'd all be gone today, blown into the ocean or up into the mountains," said Ms Pierre, who had a gash on her forehead she sustained when her sheet metal roof collapsed during the height of Matthew's fury.

The sound of hammering could be heard on nearly every street in Jeremie, a city near the tip of Haiti's south-west peninsula, as people patched their roofs as best as they could.

On one corner, Jameson Pierre was mixing cement and making them into blocks. The 22-year-old storm refugee, whose family is in an emergency shelter, saw at least one bright side to the disaster.

"There will be lots and lots of jobs since so many homes were knocked down. I've been working for the last three days straight," he said, adding that he is earning about 80p a day.

The first two cargo planes of humanitarian aid from the United States arrived on Saturday in the capital, and three more are due in the next few days.

But there are difficulties in getting aid to the needy, including the fact that the airstrip in Jeremie is unable to accommodate large cargo planes, and only operates during the day.

Many of the villages in the south-western peninsula are difficult to reach. And people are growing increasingly desperate after losing everything when the storm ripped through the area on Tuesday.

Dony St Germain, an official with El Shaddai Ministries International, said young men in villages off the road between the southern city of Les Cayes and Jeremie are starting to put up blockades of rocks and broken branches to halt the convoys.

"They are seeing these convoys coming through with supplies and they aren't stopping. They are hungry and thirsty and some are getting angry," he said.

Government officials estimate that at least 350,000 people need assistance, and concern is growing over an increase in cholera cases following widespread flooding unleashed by Matthew.

An ongoing cholera outbreak has already killed roughly 10,000 people and left more than 800,000 unwell since 2010.

Maria Sofia Sanon, a health worker overseeing the open-air cholera treatment centre in a corner of Jeremie's main hospital, said they are ill-equipped to deal with patients.

Jocelyne Saint Preux was part of the crowd that lined up in an orderly fashion in Jeremie to get food as aid began to arrive, including shipments of food and other emergency supplies from the US.

The mother-of-three, whose home was destroyed, said officials are handing out wheat, beans, oil and salt.

"Yes, they brought food, but it's not sufficient," she said. "There's no water. There's no charcoal."

AP
On Monday, millions of Polish women refused to go to work. Instead, they donned black clothes and took to the streets of more than 60 cities to protest about proposed legislation to effectively make abortion completely illegal there.

The country had not seen anything like it since the monster marches of the Solidarity movement in the early 1980s. Polish expats in other cities - including Dublin - also hit the streets on the same day to raise awareness about the controversial plans put forward by the conservative, right-wing ruling party, Law and Justice (PiS).

Within 48 hours, the government found itself on the back-foot and on Thursday the parliament rejected the citizens' bill for a near-total ban on abortion. Jaroslaw Gowin, minister of science and higher education, suggested the trenchant opposition had "caused us to think and taught us humility".

Activist Agnieszka Graff says the scale of the movement caught everyone, including PiS, by surprise.

"The protest was bigger than anyone expected - people were astonished," she says. "Warsaw was swarming with women in black. It was amazing to feel the energy and the anger, the emotional intensity was incredible."

Former prime minister Ewa Kopacz praised people-power and suggested PiS had "backtracked because it was scared by all the women who hit the streets".

The so-called 'Black Protests' appear to have shifted public opinion on the abortion issue, with recent surveys indicating not just overwhelming opposition to the opposed ban, but increasing support for liberalisation of existing laws, which are among the strictest in the EU.

Ula Kapala was among an estimated 300 to 500 people who protested outside the Polish Consulate on Eden Quay, Dublin. "It wasn't just Polish people who were protesting," she says, "but Irish people, too. There was a strong feeling of togetherness about it. The laws in Poland are quite restrictive as it is, so there was a lot of anger that the rights that were there would be taken away."

At present, abortion in Poland is only permissible to rape and incest victims, in cases of fatal foetal abnormality and when the mother's life is at risk. "But some doctors refuse to perform abortions, even when the conditions are met," Kapala says.

She says there have been several incidences of that happening including the Dr Chazan case from 2014, when said medic refused to terminate the pregnancy of a severely deformed foetus. The mother was not referred to another doctor in time and had to go ahead with the birth. The child died after 10 days.

Another Irish-based Pole, Karolina O Beachain Stefanczak, also attended this week's Black Protest. "I'm very relieved that the government is not going to push these ultra-conservative proposals through," she says. "I have friends who are very conservative, but they considered it a step too far and they took to the streets to make their opposition felt.

"While some people, myself included, would like to see far more liberal abortion laws than currently exist in Poland, I don't think there is enough support there for that. It is a more conservative country than Ireland, especially in the eastern part of the country. I don't think the marriage equality referendum that we had here last year would be passed in Poland today."

O Beachain Stefanczak is married to an Irishman and has been resident in this country for several years. She took part in the fifth annual March for Choice event in Dublin on September 24 and believes a referendum on the Eighth Amendment looks inevitable. "It's something that is really on the national agenda, so I think it's only a matter of time," she says. "My daughter is both Irish and Polish and I would like her to have more liberal abortion rights both here and in Poland. It's an issue that is not border-specific - it's one that's important to women everywhere."
Equipment is carried at the scene in Kos, Greece, as officers from South Yorkshire police start excavations in relation to the missing toddler Ben Needham

Equipment is carried at the scene in Kos, Greece, as officers from South Yorkshire police start excavations in relation to the missing toddler Ben Needham.

A view of the scene in Kos, Greece, as officers from South Yorkshire police start excavations in relation to the missing toddler Ben Needham

Undated handout file photo of Ben Needham as police investigating the disappearance of the missing toddler will begin excavation work on the Greek island of Kos on Monday in the search for possible remains

Police investigating the disappearance of a young boy who went missing on the Greek island of Kos in 19991 have come across 60 'items of interest'.

The police are investigating claims Ben Needham, who was 21 months when he went missing, was run over by a digger 25 years ago.

They have now extended their stay on the island to search a second site, 750 metres from where Ben was last seen and close to the farmhouse where the dig began last month, BBC reports.

Det Insp Jon Cousins of South Yorkshire Police said: "There are over 60 items that need looking at and I'll engage with the magistrates here in Kos, to explain the significance of them.

Expand Close A view of the scene in Kos, Greece, as officers from South Yorkshire police start excavations in relation to the missing toddler Ben Needham / Facebook

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Whatsapp A view of the scene in Kos, Greece, as officers from South Yorkshire police start excavations in relation to the missing toddler Ben Needham

"They are items I want to compare to other things, either information or items that were recovered throughout the past 18 months or in 2012."

Material that was deposited on the second site over the past few decades is being broken up so the soil can be dug to a depth of two feet.

Expand Close Equipment is carried at the scene in Kos, Greece, as officers from South Yorkshire police start excavations in relation to the missing toddler Ben Needham. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Equipment is carried at the scene in Kos, Greece, as officers from South Yorkshire police start excavations in relation to the missing toddler Ben Needham.

It is understood the team will spend two or three days on the site.

Ben vanished from a farmhouse, which his grandfather was renovating, in the village of Iraklis in July 1991.
In this undated photo released by the Palm Springs Police Department shows slain officer Lesley Zerebny, 27, who was killed in the line of duty Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. She was married with a four-month-old daughter. (Palm Springs Police Department via AP)

In this photo released by the Palm Springs Police Department shows slain officer Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega, a 35 year veteran who was killed in the line of duty Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Vega, the father of eight, planned to retire in December. (Palm Springs Police Department via AP)

A California Highway Patrolman holding a firearm, talks with a Riverside Country Sheriffs Deputy as they search for a suspect in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Palm Springs police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were shot to death Saturday when a man they had been speaking calmly with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief told reporters. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Peva)

Riverside Country Sheriffs Deputies stand near the scene of a shooting in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Palm Springs police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were shot to death Saturday when a man they had been speaking calmly with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief told reporters. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Peva)

Riverside Country Sheriffs Deputies walk along a street in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Palm Springs police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were shot to death Saturday when a man they had been speaking calmly with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief told reporters. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Peva)

Two Palm Springs, Calif., police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were shot to death Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, when a man they had been speaking calmly with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief told reporters. (Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun via AP)

Police officers are shown near their armored vehicles during a standoff where three officers were shot by a suspect in Palm Springs, California, U.S. October 8, 2016. REUTERS/Sam Mircovich

Police officers from various agencies are shown at their command center during a standoff where three officers were shot by a suspect in Palm Springs, California, U.S. October 8, 2016. REUTERS/Sam Mircovich

A Palm Springs police officer returns to his car during a standoff where three officers were shot by a suspect in Palm Springs, California, U.S. October 8, 2016. REUTERS/Sam Mircovich

Armed police officers are shown during a standoff where three officers were shot by a suspect in Palm Springs, California, U.S. October 8, 2016. REUTERS/Sam Mircovich

Palm Springs Police Officers carry the body of a fellow officer from Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs to a hearse bound for the coroner's office in Indio, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Two Palm Springs police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were killed Saturday when a man they had been speaking with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief said. A third officer was wounded and remained hospitalized. The shooter was not immediately identified. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Peva)

Flowers and candles pay respect to the fallen officers in front of the Palm Springs Police station on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Two Palm Springs police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were killed Saturday when a man they had been speaking with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them, the city's police chief said. A third officer was wounded and remained hospitalized. The shooter was not immediately identified. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Peva)

Family and friends of two slain Palm Springs Police Department officers board a bus to join a procession to the county coroner in Palm Springs, California, U.S. October 8, 2016. REUTERS/Sam Mircovich

Hearses carry the bodies of two slain Palm Springs Police Department officers in a procession to the county coroner in Palm Springs, California, U.S. October 8, 2016. REUTERS/Sam Mircovich

Palm Springs Police officers salute as the bodies of two officers who were shot by a suspect earlier in the day in Palm Springs, California, U.S. October 8, 2016. REUTERS/Sam Mircovich

Members of the Palm Springs Fire Department salute as the cortege passes, led by the bodies of two officers who were shot by a suspect earlier in the day in Palm Springs, California, U.S. October 8, 2016. REUTERS/Sam Mircovich

A hearse carries the body of one of two slain Palm Springs Police Department officers in a procession to the county coroner in Palm Springs, California, U.S. October 8, 2016. REUTERS/Sam Mircovich

A citizen lights candles at a memorial for two slain police officers in Palm Springs, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Police Chief Bryan Reyes says three officers in Palm Springs, Calif., were trying to resolve a family dispute Saturday when a man fatally shot two of them and wounded the third. (AP Photo/Robert Jablon)

Members of the Palm Springs Fire Department salute as the cortege passes, led by the bodies of two officers who were shot by a suspect earlier in the day in Palm Springs, California, U.S. October 8, 2016. REUTERS/Sam Mircovich

Two US police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were killed when a man they had been speaking to suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on them.

A third officer was wounded and remains in hospital following the incident in Palm Springs, California. The gunman was not immediately identified.

SWAT officers quickly surrounded the house where the shooting took place, and authorities said on late Saturday night that the gunman might still be inside.

"It was a simple family disturbance and he elected to open fire on a few of the guardians of the city," said police chief Bryan Reyes.

The chief, near tears, identified the killed officers as Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny.

Ms Zerebny, 27, had been with the department for about 18 months and only recently returned from maternity leave. She was the mother of a four-month-old daughter.

Expand Close In this undated photo released by the Palm Springs Police Department shows slain officer Lesley Zerebny, 27, who was killed in the line of duty Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. She was married with a four-month-old daughter. (Palm Springs Police Department via AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp In this undated photo released by the Palm Springs Police Department shows slain officer Lesley Zerebny, 27, who was killed in the line of duty Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. She was married with a four-month-old daughter. (Palm Springs Police Department via AP)

Mr Vega, a father of eight, was a 35-year veteran who planned to retire in December. He had been working overtime on his day off on Saturday.

Mr Reyes said the three were standing near the front door speaking with the man, "trying to negotiate with the suspect", when he suddenly shot them.

Expand Close In this photo released by the Palm Springs Police Department shows slain officer Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega, a 35 year veteran who was killed in the line of duty Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Vega, the father of eight, planned to retire in December. (Palm Springs Police Department via AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp In this photo released by the Palm Springs Police Department shows slain officer Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega, a 35 year veteran who was killed in the line of duty Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Vega, the father of eight, planned to retire in December. (Palm Springs Police Department via AP)

Riverside County SWAT officers quickly sealed off the normally quiet residential neighbourhood in the desert resort town as police evacuated some residents. They told others to stay inside their homes, keep their doors locked and not to open them for anyone until further notice.

Mr Reyes also asked the media and others not to stream live video of officers' movements on social media, adding it could put them in danger.

"Understand that we're actively looking for a cop murderer," he said.

A neighbour, Frances Serrano, said she called authorities after the father of the shooting suspect came to her house across the street and told her his son was "acting crazy".

Expand Close Family and friends of two slain Palm Springs Police Department officers board a bus to join a procession to the county coroner in Palm Springs, California, U.S. October 8, 2016. REUTERS/Sam Mircovich / Facebook

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Whatsapp Family and friends of two slain Palm Springs Police Department officers board a bus to join a procession to the county coroner in Palm Springs, California, U.S. October 8, 2016. REUTERS/Sam Mircovich

"He said his wife left because she was so scared of him," Ms Serrano said, adding the father warned her that his son had threatened to shoot police if they arrived.

She had gone back inside her home before officers arrived, Ms Serrano said, and a few minutes after they got there she heard gunfire. Moments later officers were knocking on her door, warning her to stay inside.

Expand Close Hearses carry the bodies of two slain Palm Springs Police Department officers in a procession to the county coroner in Palm Springs, California, U.S. October 8, 2016. REUTERS/Sam Mircovich / Facebook

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Whatsapp Hearses carry the bodies of two slain Palm Springs Police Department officers in a procession to the county coroner in Palm Springs, California, U.S. October 8, 2016. REUTERS/Sam Mircovich

Ms Serrano said the man police are looking for had been in jail at one time and had to wear a monitor on his ankle when he was first released. But she added that he had always been friendly and polite to her and her family.

"We never had any problems with him," she said.

Although Mr Reyes did not identify the shooting suspect, he indicated police had had previous dealings with him. He declined to elaborate, adding that Riverside County sheriff's deputies were now in charge of the investigation.

As the shooting scene remained locked down late into the evening, scores of police officers, several fighting back tears, gathered at Palm Springs Desert Regional Medical Centre to offer a salute as the bodies of Ms Zerebny and Mr Vega were placed into white hearses for transport to a coroner's office.

Meanwhile, in front of police headquarters, scores of local residents gathered to leave flowers and cards.

Expand Close A citizen lights candles at a memorial for two slain police officers in Palm Springs, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Police Chief Bryan Reyes says three officers in Palm Springs, Calif., were trying to resolve a family dispute Saturday when a man fatally shot two of them and wounded the third. (AP Photo/Robert Jablon) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A citizen lights candles at a memorial for two slain police officers in Palm Springs, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. Police Chief Bryan Reyes says three officers in Palm Springs, Calif., were trying to resolve a family dispute Saturday when a man fatally shot two of them and wounded the third. (AP Photo/Robert Jablon)

"I don't even remember anything so vicious and cruel," said Palm Springs resident Heidi Thompson. "These officers are responding to a domestic call for somebody in need that they don't even know. They put their life on the line for us, the community. And they get gunned down? I don't understand it."

The shooting occurred just three days after a popular Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant was shot and killed in the desert town of Lancaster.

Sgt Steve Owen was answering a burglary call when sheriff's officials said he was shot by a man who then stood over him and shot him four more times.
Donald Trump has refused to step down as the Republican presidential candidate (AP)

Millions of women have shared their personal experiences of sexual assault after Donald Trumps controversial comments about groping women.

Amid the outrage over Trump's comments, Canadian writer Kelly Oxford shared her own story of being groped by a man on a city bus at the age of 12.

She asked women to share their own stories to show they aren't just stats on Friday night. By the early hours of Sunday morning, 9.7 million people had tweeted at Oxford sharing their stories.

Oxford said she was receiving 50 replies a minute for 14 straight hours.

Women shared stories about attacks by strangers, partners, family members and friends. Many of the assaults took place when the women were children.

Oxford said she was in horrendous shock and yet so proud of the women sharing their assaults.

The hashtag she asked women to tweet with, #NotOkay, was trending in the US yesterday due to the number of stories being shared.

More of the tweets can be found on Oxfords timeline here.

If you have been affected by the issues in this article, you can call the 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline on 1800 778888 or the Samaritans on 116 123.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will go head to head for the second US Presidential debate on Sunday evening.

Here are the five things you need to know before tonight's debate.

1. How, where and when to watch it

The second debate will take place in Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri at 9pm Eastern Standard Time; thats 2am in Ireland. The debate will last 90 minutes and you can watch a live stream here:

2. The new format

Tonights debate is a town hall-style event. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will face questions from the audience, which will be made up of undecided voters.

Candidates will have two minutes to respond to the questions, and moderators may extend the questions by a minute.

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3. The big issues

The audience are expected to focus on big issues in domestic politics, since the last debate will focus on foreign policy.

Gun control will undoubtedly be on the agenda, if the votes cast on the website posting questions are anything to go by; the most popular question relates to criminal background checks for buying guns.

Climate change, social security and campaign finance have also been tipped as issues to watch out for.

The issue of character will almost certainly come up in the wake of a leaked video from 2005 which depicts Donald Trump making casual remarks about groping women and his accusations that Hillary Clinton is crooked.

Hillary Clintons email scandal and paid speeches got relatively little airtime in the last debate, and may get more scrutiny tonight.

Expand Close Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump before Monday nights debate. Photo: AFP/Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump before Monday nights debate. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

4. The stakes

Following Trumps video scandal, the Republican nominee is under fire from every direction: voters, media and his own party.

His running mate and even his wife condemned the comments and several prominent Republican politicians have called for him to drop out of the race and allow Vice Presidential nominee Mike Pence to take over.

Expectations could not be lower for Trump, with the New York Times claiming that Hillary Clinton has an 83pc chance of winning the election.

If he can use the debate to show voters a more presidential side to himself, he could see a bump in the polls. It seems unlikely, since his debate prep is still lacking, but Hillary Clinton would be wrong to count her chickens.

Expand Close Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump listens to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump listens to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

5. The moderators

This debate will be moderated by ABCs Martha Raddatz and CNNs Anderson Cooper.

These two veteran journalists will face a little less of the spotlight than Lester Holt at the last debate, since the questions are coming from voters and neither will have to do it alone.

But the two will be under intense pressure after the last debate.

Lester Holt was accused by Democrats of being too soft on Trumps misinformation and by Republicans of failing to ask Hillary Clinton tough questions. Some Trump supporters are already accusing Cooper and Raddatz of bias against Trump, and they will have to strike a delicate balance to temper the accusations.
Four men with artificial pregnant bellies gathered in Subway Line 2 in Chengdu, Sichuan province on Oct. 8. Wearing T-shirts printed with statements like "Pregnant women do not have it easy, please give them more space, freedom and tolerance," the "pregnant" men were all supportive fathers-to-be. Their goal was demand greater support for women during pregnancy.
Pope Francis has named 17 new cardinals - 13 of them under the age of 80 and so eligible to vote in a conclave to elect his successor.

Three of the new cardinals are Americans, including leading US moderate Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich and Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin.

As is Francis' tradition, the new cardinals hail from some of the most far-away and peripheral corners of the globe, with Africa, Asia, South America and Oceania getting far more representation than Europe, which has long dominated the College of Cardinals.

New to the club of the "princes" of the church are bishops from Bangui, Central African Republic; Port Louis, Mauritius and Tlalnepantla, Mexico.

Significantly, only one Italian elector was named: Francis' ambassador to "the beloved and martyred Syria", Cardinal-elect Mario Zenari.

Francis said the 17 would be elevated at a consistory on November 19, on the eve of the close to his Holy Year of Mercy.

Of the new cardinals, Archbishop Cupich is very much a pastor in Francis' likeness, emphasising the merciful and welcoming side of the church - somewhat to the dismay of US conservative Catholics.

His nomination as Chicago archbishop was Francis' first major US appointment and he was a papal appointee at the Pope's big family synod last year.

The nomination for Archbishop Tobin could indicate Francis' appreciation of his support for American nuns. He had been the No. 2 in the Vatican office for religious orders for only two years when in 2012, then-Pope Benedict XVI sent him back to the US to head the Indianapolis archdiocese, which had fewer than 230,000 parishioners.

The transfer was seen in some Vatican circles as being tied to Archbishop Tobin's efforts to promote dialogue and resolve tensions between the Vatican and US nuns who were the subject of two separate Holy See investigations. After Francis was elected, both investigations were concluded with Vatican praise for the work of the sisters.

The third American, Cardinal-elect Kevin Farrell, the outgoing bishop of Dallas, was an expected nomination. Francis in August named him to head the big new Vatican secretariat for laity, family and life issues.

AP
A man takes photos of a road damaged by floodwaters caused by rain from Hurricane Matthew in Fayetteville, North Carolina (AP)

The death toll in the US from Hurricane Matthew has climbed to at least 17, with nearly half of the deaths in North Carolina.

Thousands of people found themselves suddenly trapped in homes and cars when the hurricane dumped torrential rains on the state.

Rescuers in Coast Guard helicopters plucked some of them from rooftops and used military vehicles to reach others, including a woman who held on to a tree for three hours after her car was overrun by flood waters.

In another dramatic rescue, a woman with her small child perched on the roof of her car had to be helped to safety as the waters rose around them, underscoring how quickly Matthew wreaked havoc 100 miles or more inland after sparing much of the south eastern US coast the catastrophic damage once feared.

Governor Pat McCrory said authorities were searching for five people and feared they may find more victims.

The problems were far from over as all that rain - more than a foot in places - flows into rivers and downstream, probably causing days of major flooding in many of the same places devastated by a similar deluge from Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

"Hurricane Matthew is off the map. But it is still with us. And it is still deadly," Mr McCrory said.

More than a million people in South Carolina and North Carolina were without power, and at least four separate sections of Interstate 95 - the main artery linking the east coast from Florida to Maine - were closed in North Carolina.

The ferocity of the rain caught people by surprise.

"The forecast said it wasn't supposed to be anything major. Just rain and wind. Well, considering what happened weeks prior with the rain and combined with this, Mother Nature's at its best," said Lamont England, who was trying to get to his parents' home in Fayetteville.

In Wilson County, rescuers were called when a 63-year-old woman did not make it home from work. They heard her cries for help while riding on top of a Humvee, and when they could not get her with a rope, a National Guard soldier swam to her, staying until a rescue boat arrived, Emergency Management Director Gordon Deno said.

Even animals had to be saved. WRAL-TV showed a dog swimming around floodwaters on Saturday. Mr McCrory said he and his wife were riveted by the coverage and relieved to find out from the Coast Guard that the dog managed to get into a tree and they were able to rescue it.

Most of the dead were swept away by flood waters.

The governor said there were rural areas that search and rescue teams had not been able to make it to and places that flooded overnight.

"There could be some back roads where we had people swept away. I'm praying that is not going to be," Mr McCrory said.

The rainfall totals were staggering: Nearly 15in in Fayetteville and 8in in Raleigh.

Mr McCrory warned that cities along rivers in eastern North Carolina needed to be prepared for days of flooding. The Lumber River in Lumberton was 4ft above its record level on Sunday afternoon and was forecast to remain there for at least five days.

Shortly before daybreak, the hurricane was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone. As of 2pm local time, the storm was centred about 150 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, moving out to sea. It still had hurricane-force winds of 75mph.

Elsewhere along the Atlantic coast, things were slowly returning to normal. Much of Savannah, which had 17in of rain, was still without electricity. About 150 people stood in line for a grocery shop to open like it was a Black Friday sale.

Debbie Berta said she waited more than an hour to get propane gas for her grill. She also wanted "bread, potatoes, eggs - and a piece of sanity".

Matthew killed more than 500 people in Haiti last week, ploughing into the desperately poor country at 145mph.

The fearsome storm then sideswiped hundreds of miles of the US coastline from Florida through Georgia and the Carolinas, its eye staying far enough offshore that the damage in many places along the coast was relatively modest, consisting mostly of flooded streets, flattened trees and blown-down signs and awnings.

A shift of just 20 or 30 miles could have meant widespread devastation nearer the ocean.

An estimated two million people in the south east were ordered to evacuate their homes as Matthew closed in.

In addition to the eight deaths in North Carolina, there were four in Florida, three in Georgia and two in South Carolina.

Some were killed by falling trees, others by carbon monoxide fumes from a generator.

One 66-year-old man near Columbia, South Carolina, died at a nursing facility when he got pinned under his electric wheelchair in water after the heavy rains.

Property data firm CoreLogic projected that insured losses on home and commercial properties would amount to four billion to six billion dollars (3.2 billion to 4.8 billion), well below Hurricane Katrina's 40 billion dollars (32 billion) and Superstorm Sandy's 20 billion dollars (16 billion).
Thousands of Yemenis have marched in the capital Sanaa to protest against an air strike which hit a funeral hall packed with hundreds of mourners, killing more than 140 people.

More than 500 people were also injured in the strike on Saturday, according to UN figures, which was one of the deadliest single attacks of the country's civil war.

Some of the demonstrators who marched outside the UN building in southern Sanaa blamed the organisation for not ending the conflict and urged an independent investigation. The Saudi-led coalition has been blamed for the air strike.

Some protesters brandished automatic weapons and rebel supporters in the crowd called on people from the region to rise up and attack Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi military announced on Sunday that it will launch an investigation into "reports about the regrettable and painful bombing" in Sanaa, without acknowledging that its coalition battling rebels in Yemen is the only force with air power in the conflict.

It is the latest in a string of bombings by the coalition that have struck hospitals, markets and other places where civilians congregate.

"The place has been turned into a lake of blood," said one rescuer, Murad Tawfiq.

Yemeni officials said the dead and injured includes military and security officials from the ranks of the Shiite Houthis rebels and their allies, loyalists of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

In an address on Yemeni state TV, Saleh called on citizens to head to the Saudi border and attack soldiers there to avenge the deaths. The rebel alliance is battling the internationally-recognised government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Saturday's funeral was held for Sheikh Ali al-Rawishan, the father of Galal al-Rawishan, the interior minister in the rebel-led government. Among those killed was Maj Gen Abdul-Qader Hilal, head of the capital's local council, officials said, while Galal al-Rawishan was seriously injured.

The strike left the building little more than a shell, with most of its walls and roof gone. Cars parked outside were mangled by the blast.

Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the Houthi spokesman in Sanaa, angrily denounced the air strike as the latest act of "genocide" by the Saudi-led coalition.

"The silence of the United Nations and the international community is the munition of the murderers," he said. "Those murderers will not escape divine justice."

In its statement, Saudi Arabia said: "The coalition supporting the legitimate government in Yemen has announced that it is aware of reports about the regrettable and painful bombing of the Great Hall in Sanaa, which led to the killing and injuring of casualties, as reported.

"The coalition confirms that its troops have clear instructions not to target populated area and to avoid civilians."

Jamie McGoldrick, the UN humanitarian co-ordinator in Yemen, said in a statement that the relief community in the country is "shocked and outraged" by the air strikes.

He condemned the "horrific attack" and reminded all parties "that under international humanitarian law, they are obliged to protect civilians and civilian infrastructures". He called for an immediate investigation into the incident.

"The international community must exert pressure and influence on all parties to the conflict to ensure civilians are protected," he added said. "This violence against civilians in Yemen must stop immediately."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the bombing in a statement, saying that "any deliberate attack against civilians is utterly unacceptable... Those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice."

Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood said he would be raising the matter with the Saudi ambassador.

''I am deeply concerned by reports of an air strike hitting a funeral hall in the Yemeni capital Sanaa yesterday. The scenes from the site are shocking.

''I am raising my concerns with the Saudi ambassador to London today and urge the Saudi-led coalition's announced investigation into the incident to take place as a matter of urgency.

''There can be no military solution to this conflict. We urge all sides to recommit to political talks and to implement a cessation of hostilities.''

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said: ''It cannot be right that, when faced with the conflict we see in Yemen - the scale of civilian casualties, and millions of children across the country facing starvation - the Government's primary diplomatic involvement is selling planes and weapons to the Saudi-led coalition, with no guarantees that they won't be used against civilians.

''Instead, Labour urges the Government to follow the lead of the United States in the wake of this attack, and urgently review its support for the Saudi-led coalition, as well as placing an immediate suspension on the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia until there has been a full and independent investigation into these attacks against civilians."

AP
On the second day of the murder trial for Alejandra Guerrero, accused of killing a Chinese graduate student, the defendant admitted to attacking the young man. She went on to say that she and her co-defendants  Jonathan Del Carmen, Andrew Garcia and Alberto Ochoa  chose their target, Ji Xinran, because they assumed that, as a Chinese person, Ji would have money.

According to a World Journal report on Oct. 8, court proceedings have revealed two segments of security video footage that captured the attack. In the footage, Guerrero, Del Carmen, Garcia and Ochoa can be seen with a fifth person, a girl who was not yet 15 at the time. The five were seen riding together in a dark-colored car at 12:46 a.m. on July 24, 2014. When they arrived at the scene of the crime, they spent several minutes parked on the side of the street, after which time they got out of the car and approached Ji.

Guerrero acknowledged at the trial that they set their sights on Ji because he was Chinese, and they assumed he would be carrying money. She said she and Garcia asked him what he had in his pockets, but that he responded in Chinese, so they couldnt understand him. Garcia then punched Ji in the face at least three times. Guerrero admitted that she also hit Ji, but insisted that it was in self-defense since Ji had grabbed her arm.

She called Garcia to come help, Guerrero explained. Eventually Ji ran away, and they never managed to take anything from him, according to Guerrero.

Ji, who was born in Inner Mongolia, came to USC as a graduate engineering student in the fall of 2013, according to a Peoples Daily article. After his beating on July 24, Ji stumbled back to his dorm room, leaving a trail of blood in his wake. He later died in his room.

Since it occurred, the event has garnered a great deal of attention and resentment from media as well as other Chinese students living abroad. Guerrero and her three co-defendants all plead not guilty. According to NBC Los Angeles, Guerreros attorney said at the trial that Guerrero never punched Xinran, never caused a death blow to Xinran.
(Photo of Zhang Huanguo, who receives his undergraduate degree when he is 88 years old. Photo/China National Radio)

An 88-year-old undergraduate student has received his degree in eastern Chinas Jiangsu province, making him the oldest recipient of a bachelor's degree in the nation.

Zhang Huanguo, the elderly student, earned his degree in culture industry management at Jiangsu Open University. Zhang, along with 21 other people, joined the universitys special program for senior citizens in 2014, China National Radio reported.

The group was the first batch of students in Jiangsu province to go through the continuing education program. The average age of students in the program was 67.4, and most majored in photography or Chinese poetry. Some 20 students, including Zhang, received full undergraduate degrees, while two others received degrees in professional training, Nanjing Daily reported.

According to 66-year-old Sun Haili, who also majored in cultural industry management, students attended courses such as Introduction to Arts and Cultural Industry Innovation and Planning. They also completed capstone graduation projects.

Pei Ziqiang, class adviser for the special program, said the curriculum includes self-instruction, online teaching and face-to-face lectures. The degrees are all approved by the Ministry of Education.

University lectures for senior citizens used to focus mainly on part-time learning and habit cultivation. With its continuing education undergraduate program for senior citizens, Jiangsu province is a pioneer, paving the way for the elderly to access formal education.
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Ajay Devgn and KJo's relationship has turned bitter, all thanks to Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Shivaay clash. From the KRK fiasco to passing sly comments about each other, there seems no scope of reconciliation between the two.

In a recent press conference, Ajay Devgn was asked to comment on the Uri attacks and the ban of Pakistani artists that followed. He said,

BCCL

I dont think they realise right now what the situation is, how deep and grave the situation is, so I think they would take time to understand because some think which hits you suddenly, I think you take time to understand and get out of it. Lot of people, not the whole industry is the way you are saying, there are some people and out of those some people also Ive seen that in arguments have changed their stance.

When he was further asked if Pakistan's ban on Indian films means losing money, he said,

"Sir lekin paise se pehle desh aata hai na, desh doob gaya toh fir paise se kya karenge? (Sir, but the country comes before money. Because, if the country sinks, what will we do with the money anyway?)

When he was asked how Salman Khan, Karan Johar and others are not in the favor of ban of Pak artists, he said,

Star India

I really dont know what situations they(Salman Khan and Karan Johar) are in, this is my stand and I can talk about my stand and anyway, I dont think our industry is united in any which way.

However, in an interview with Indian Express, when Ajay was asked to comment about his strained relationship with KJo, he said,

"No. My issue with Karan is on a different level. Its got nothing to do with the film. Its got nothing to do with our professions."

Umm, okay, then.
There are many "copycat parks" around the globe, but a park in Ningbo, Zhejiang province might just take the prize for being most thorough. Situated on Dapeng Mountain in northwest Ningbo, the park houses proportional miniature replicas of the Egypt pyramids, the Sphinx, the Acropolis, Rome's Colosseum, the Statue of Liberty and several others. Altogether, park visitors can tour more than 50 of the worlds best-known structures. Although they are obviously replicas, Chinese netizens have joked that its like touring the world without traveling at all.
The worst part about silence is that it is often misconstrued and misunderstood. This is exactly what happened with Pakistani actors, who were expected to condemn the Uri attacks but their silence was misinterpreted into various versions.

Fawad Khan, last seen in Karan Johar's Kapoor & Sons was one of the prominent names which were under fire after the whole Pak artists controversy ban. Fawad, who has been in Pakistan since July was shell shocked to read various quotes about him criticising India. Various websites reported several versions of Fawad's statements, that were fake and created just to gain publicity.

Zindagi Channel

However, all thanks to Fawad's Facebook post that he cleared the air surrounding all fake statements. In a recent post, he condemned the attacks and even tried justifying his delayed silence on the same. Many have again targetted him saying, it was a diplomatic take. However, one day after Fawad's statement, Mahira Khan too took to Facebook to justify her stand on the Uri attacks. Mahira is all set to make her big Bollywood debut with Shah Rukh Khan in Raees.

Excerpts from Mahira's statement reads:

Twitter



"As a Pakistani and citizen of the world I strongly condemn any act of terror, any loss of human life no matter which soil it is on. I will not rejoice in bloodshed and war. I will always hope for and dream of a world where my child can live without it, and always plead with everyone to imagine a peaceful world.

It has also been in this time my faith in saner minds and goodness has been restored, thank you for the messages, love and support. In the 5 years that I have been working as an actor I believe that I have tried my best to keep my country's respect intact - by being a professional and by representing Pakistan here and elsewhere to the best of my abilities."

Here's Mahira Khan's full post:
Ajay Devgn has been voicing opinions on the ban of Pakistani artists and the controversies surrounding the Uri Attacks. Just two days ago, Ajay had expressed that he would never work with a Pakistani artist in the future because the country comes before any artist for him. During a recent chat with Bombay Times, Ajay Devgn said that he stands by the Indian Jawans and that we should stop the exchange of culture until the problem subsides.

He also emphasized on the fact that this is not just a political issue now but a national one. He added,

Indian Express

"This is not a political issue, it's a national issue and terrorism affects everyone, like it did in Peshawar. Our security forces personnel are getting killed by terrorists at the border. Imagine how they would feel if we say we'll still carry on with our cultural exchange. It's not fair to them and their families."
Following a backlash from the residents and crackdown by the police, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and its youth wing, the Bajrang Dal, have decided to withdraw its purification through gau-mutra drive in Gandhinagar.

The authorities woke up to the controversy after Mirror reported about VHP and Bajrang Dal activists sprinkling cow urine on visitors despite many of them objecting to it at the Lions Club and Thanganat garba venues at Sector 11 in Gandhinagar on Thursday. Following strict instructions from the top, cops of all police stations in Gandhinagar increased patrolling and stepped up policing at all the garba venues on Friday.

ALSO READ: After Cow Urine Fighting Cancer, Now RSS Says Cow Poop Can Make Nuclear Bombs Ineffective

Reuters

The right wing outfit was reined in by the top cops who told them in no uncertain terms to stop their purification drive. Even the organisers have now opposed it. As the saffron group threatened to repeat the drive at Gandhinagar Cultural Forum Garba in Sector 6 on Friday, the organisers called in the police to ensure a trouble-free garba and prevent any such untoward incident.

Indiatoday

When asked about the drive at the cultural forum on Friday, VHP Gandhinagar incharge Mahadev Rabari was on the back foot as he said, As the whole drive has taken a political turn, we dont want any more controversy. We met the garba organisers and accepted their request to cancel our drive. We have decided to withdraw the campaign in the city, but we may continue in towns of the district. There will be no gau-mutra but only tilak. Amit Upadhyay of Bajrang Dal said, We will withdraw the gau-mutra drive. We will meet our leaders and decide on the future course of action. We may continue the drive, but only with tilak to prevent any controversy.

How Things Changed

Mirror had on Thursday reported of Bajrang Dal and VHP activists forcefully sprinkling cows urine on visitors at Lions Club and Thanganat garba in the state capital. At both the venues, some people had opposed the gau-mutra being sprinkled on them. Only after one garba reveller filed a complaint against the Bajrang Dal for sprinkling gau-mutra against his wishes and Mirror reported about it on Friday, did things change.

ALSO READ: Islamic Seminary Issues Fatwa Against Products With Cow Urine, Calls It Inappropriate

Ahmedabadmirror

Range IG Manoj Sashidhar and SP Virendrasinh Yadav instructed all police stations in the capital to immediately stop this activity. Following their instructions, all garba venues in Gandhinagar were seen with police bandobast. As right wing groups threatened gau-mutra drive at the cultural forum garba, strict police bandobast was kept directly under the supervision of Police Inspector D D Sodha.

Ahmedabadmirror

Deputy Superintendent of Police Vijay Patel said, We have deputed PI Sodha at the cultural forum garba on Friday to prevent this drive. We never allow such type of activities. We have also asked organisers not to allow such people under any political pressure. It should be noted that on the eve of first day of Navratri, VHP general secretary Ranchhod Bharwad cautioned non-Hindus from visiting garba venues in the name of love-jihad and creating nuisance. Organiser of Gandhinagar Cultural Forum Garba who did not wished to be named said, We do not want any controversy. So have asked those conducting the gau-mutra drive not to come to our venue. We also have the support of the police.
In India, it's a rare sight to see parents appreciating their children coming out of the closet. Of course, it's a truth that changes one's entire life, but for those who seek acceptance, the approval sometimes never comes.

This story, however, is a step towards a change where parents are warming up to their children embracing new gender norms.

Canada-based Kama La Mackerel, who is a transgender, recently shared a powerful post on Facebook, hailing her mother for accepting Kama's newfound identity. Here, the garment 'sari' assumes symbolic significance as the mom literally passes over her trust, her love, and her undying support to her daughter.

Read the entire post here.

"Thank you mom, for gifting me your own favourite sari, and for insisting that I wear it to my best friend's wedding. My relationship to my family, just like my relationship to femininity, has always been a fraught one, my family having been the first site of punishment that I experienced for transgressing gender norms. These two relationships are tied in a knot that I've had to unravel, one alongside each other, over the years.

Facebook

Embroidered in these six yards of silk are the thirty years it took me to find who i am and slowly become who I was meant to be;

Hidden in the deep blue of this sari are three decades of navigating rejection and acceptance, punishment and compassion, rage and forgiveness;

Threaded in this fabric is a lifetime of silence and dejection, the weaving of the unspoken over my skin, the (un)wrapping of shame around my body;

Facebook

Embedded in this garment are the feet of a young child walking in pain, the hands of a suicidal teenager holding the pieces of a broken heart, the lungs of an insecure adult still learning how to breathe a steady rhythm...

But wrapped around my body is also the gift of peace & acceptance: an offering of love, a request for forgiveness, the recognition of souls beaming truth in the sunlight, and the possibility of re-imagining, re-creating and re-enchanting ourselves, each other and our relationships."
In a verdict that will send shockwaves through Indias gender activist circuit, the Supreme Court has amended the Domestic Violence Act by having the words "adult male" deleted. It means that women, and even children can be prosecuted for for subjecting a woman relative to violence and harassment.

The court ordered adult male to be removed from Section 2(q) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. The Act defines respondents who can be sued and prosecuted under the Act for harassing a married woman in her matrimonial home. The apex court said "the microscopic difference between male and female, adult and non adult, regard being had to the object sought to be achieved by the 2005 Act, is neither real or substantial, nor does it have any rational relation to the object of the legislation."

Section 2(q) of the Act reads: "'respondent' means any adult male person who is, or has been, in a domestic relationship with the aggrieved person and against whom the aggrieved person has sought any relief under DV Act."

A bench of Justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman paved way for prosecution of any person irrespective of gender or age under the DV Act, ordered deletion of the words "adult male" from the statute book saying it violated right to equality under the Constitution.

The bench said that the words "adult male person" were contrary to the object of affording protection to women who have suffered from domestic violence "of any kind".

"We, therefore, strike down the words 'adult male' before the word 'person' in Section 2(q), as these words discriminate between persons similarly situated, and far from being in tune with, are contrary to the object sought to be achieved by the 2005 Act," it said. The verdict came after two girls, a woman and a minor boy were called to court for a domestic violence case, and their lawyer claimed that they were not "adult male" and hence cannot be prosecuted under the DV Act. The bench said that the term "adult male" contained in the Act was "discriminatory".
Dengue has no cure or formal treatment, but an international vaccine has just been approved across 11 countries. India, however, has refused to accept 'Dengvaxia'.

India's dengue problem

asiaone

According to a 2014 study by the government's National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW), India could have had "an annual average of 5,778,406 clinically diagnosed dengue cases, or 282 times the reported number per year" between 2006-2012. The study reported that the "National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme captures only 0.35 per cent of the annual number of clinically diagnosed dengue cases in India". In 2013, an assessment by a team of 18 researchers from seven countries, published in the British journal Nature, said "India alone contributed 22-44 million dengue infections" in the world - which suggested that the Ministry's estimate could be lower by a 1,000 times.

"The government numbers are just the tip of the iceberg," said Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

She added that nobody really knew the real burden of dengue, and the truth lay somewhere between the 282-times-more and the 1,000-times-more estimates. It is for this reason that the country desperately needs a vaccine against dengue.

Vaccines

breakdengue

Globally the most advanced is a vaccine made by pharma giant Sanofi and recommended by the WHO that is only effective in the age group 9 years to 45 as a tool to tackle dengue. Earlier this year the Indian health ministry rejected the introduction of the Sanofi dengue vaccine to India as the company wanted fast track introduction and sought a waiver of the Phase III clinical trial in India. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare noted that "the evidence was not sufficient to waive conducting a clinical trial in India."

In the last few weeks the company has approached the regulatory authorities to re-consider the rejection and a committee headed by clinicians from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Maulana Azad Medical College have suggested that the vaccine be introduced under strict post marketing surveillance. But there are hoops still to be overcome.

Jean-Pierrre Baylet, Country Head, Sanofi Pasteur India, Mumbai says, "There are at least 5 good reasons to believe in our dengue vaccines: 20 years of research including India, recommendation from the World Health Organization, 10 countries have already adopted the vaccines, high against severe dengue and 5 lakh people globally have already been vaccinated so far."

The countries who have approved Dengvaxia by health authorities are Mexico, The Philippines, Brazil, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Guatemala, Peru, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.

Qatarshub

In the clinical study population nine years old and older, the dengue vaccine has been documented to prevent two-thirds of dengue cases due to all four serotypes of dengue.

Even As Delhi Hospitals Get Flooded With Dengue, Chikangunya Victims, A Mafia Rules Over Blood And Platelet Supply
The US is playing a "positive role in pushing and prodding India" to lower tension and start dialogue with Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's envoy has said.

AFP

"We feel that the US has a positive role in pushing and prodding India to lower the temperature and start talking to Pakistan rather than talking at Pakistan," Special Kashmir Envoy of Sharif, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed told PTI at the conclusion of his five-day trip to the US.

"One expression of that was the phone call initiated by Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and there has been a follow up phone call. The purpose of those phone calls was to defuse tension," said Syed, who was here with Shezra Mansab, another Kashmir Envoy.

He said Modi is "not from the Indian Delhi establishment, where you have unsmiling crusty old men who are always sulking and who are stuck in old cold war mentality, as he is an outsider.

AFP

"I feel that there would be SAARC Summit in Islamabad. Mr Modi will come there. And he would embrace Mr Nawaz Sharif. I think, Modi would realise that this is the way forward," Syed added.

"Mr Modi has the capacity to spring a surprise. One good thing about him is that he is flexible enough to do U turns. So I expect a good U turn probably in the coming months in our relations and we might see pleasant surprise in relations with South Asia, because Mr Modi and Mr Sharif have a good rapport and I think, Mr Modi is preparing his people for this U turn.

"Because he (Modi) realises that two important core interest of India are linked with that. Number one relationship with Pakistan and the Kashmir conflict are the biggest impediment in the rise of India. India wants to rise, they want to be on the high table, Nuclear Suppliers Group, UN Security Council. No, till you have better relationship with Pakistan," Syed said.

AFP

Syed warned that a war with Pakistan would push back Indian economy by 10 years, which he said Modi does not want.

"He (Modi) cannot afford. This raising of tension would be devastating, debilitating and damaging for India. We do not want to respond to war rhetoric (coming from India) by war rhetoric. We are not responding to India in its tone. We still want peace," Mansab said.
US government officials and think tanks told Islamabad's special envoys to Kashmir who visited Washington last week to "end cross-border attacks if Pakistan wants its stance on Kashmir to be heard", Dawn reported today.

AFP

After five days of getting no love from Washington on the Kashmir issue, the envoys, who started their Washington trip with bluster, ended it with a whimper.

At the start of their 5-day trip, the Pakistani envoys warned that their country would join the "China-Russia-Iran" axis if the US didn't intervene in the Kashmir issue. They even sent a message to India that they would invoke the Maoists and small rebellions in northeast India, if India continued to talk about Balochistan, TOI reported yesterday.

At the end of their trip yesterday, though, the envoys struck a more conciliatory note saying "there's no role for militancy in policy-making and non-state actors cannot be allowed to operate from the Pakistani territory," the Pakistani newspaper wrote.

ALSO READ: No Diwali Bonus This Year For Army Till Indo-Pak Tensions Are Resolved

AP

Mushahid Hussain Syed, one of the two envoys sent to the US to present Pakistan's case on Kashmir, said that there was complete consensus on this issue in parliament, where all parties jointly drafted a 22-point resolution asking the government to end militancy. Syed's comments came a few days after Dawn reported that the civilian government recently sent a blunt message to the country's military leadership, saying Pakistan will be completely isolated if it didn't stop cross-border militant attacks.

ALSO READ: Two Terrorists Killed After Failed Attempt To Attack Army Camp In Handwara, Three Infiltration Bids Foiled

dwan

Dawn further wrote today that diplomatic sources in Washington said the Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif's envoys "noticed the damage the militancy has done to Pakistan's image in general, and to the Kashmir cause in particular, and it is likely to figure prominently in their assessment of the current mood in Washington."

Referring to the unrest in Kashmir, following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani, the news report said that "in the US media, the Uri attack sidelined whatever sympathy the uprising" in Kashmir had attracted.

ALSO READ: After 5 Attacks On India In A Day, Pakistan Now Calls Us Asking For Peace

AFP

"In the initial days of the uprising, major US media outlets condemned Indian atrocities against civilians and stressed the need for resolving the Kashmir dispute. But after the attack, the coverage shifted to militancy, with some reports clearly blaming Pakistan for allowing militants to use its territory,"the article said.

Pakistan was similarly sidelined in the UN General Assembly last month, Dawn wrote.

"Pakistan faced a similar isolation at the UN General Assembly in New York last month where the prime minister forcefully raised the Kashmir issue but failed to gain as much sympathy as he would have, had there been no militant attack,"the report said.

BCCL

Yesterday, after 5 days of having to answer to questions about the Uri terror attack, the envoys said the US was doing "positive pushing and prodding" for reducing tensions between India and Pakistan. They added that they would not be surprised if Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally came to Islamabad to attend the SAARC summit "and embrace Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif".
While Bihar Intermediate Arts "topper" Ruby Rai had initially blamed her father for making her a "topper", it turns out that she never even wrote her paper. This is what a report prepared by the forensic science laboratory confirmed. Experts" wrote the examination for Ruby Rai who had pronounced political science as "prodigal science" saying the subject deals with cooking.

BCCL

This was confirmed by the Forensic Science Laboratory, who said that handwriting on the answer sheets of Ms Rai were not her's, but of the experts who wrote for her, Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said today.

ALSO READ: 'I Told Papa To Get Me Passed But He Made Me Topper' Says Bihar Prodigal Scientist Girl

BCCL

An examination of answer sheets also found that marks jotted down on her copies were tampered with many times, the SSP said. Class XII science stream topper Saurabh Shreshtha was also caught on camera giving wrong answers to basic science questions.

He was among 20 students booked under Section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 465 (forgery), 467 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record), 120(B) (criminal conspiracy).

ALSO READ: Weeks After Arresting Ruby Rai, Bihar Police Finally Files 4,000 Page Chargesheet Against 32 In Topper Scam

BCCL

The mass cheating came to light after the state toppers in a TV interview appeared totally clueless on the subjects they supposedly topped. Rai couldn't even pronounce political science properly and called it prodigal science, and explained it as a subject about cooking.

After their blunder came to notice, the exam board had summoned them for a second test, where they performed poorly, ascertaining doubts that the marks they scored in the exam was through cheating.
thehindu

According to a widely quoted report in the Hindu, Indian soldiers undertook a 2011 surgical strike. And it was truly surgical  our soldiers crossed the border, beheaded Pakistani soldiers, and brought back their heads.

Here are 5 more stories that might interest you!

1. Indian Youth Joined ISIS Not For Jihad, But To Get Sex Slaves!

freakymoscato.com | Representative Image

Investigating agencies say the Parbhani-based ISIS suspect's inclination towards the terror outfit stemmed from his attraction for sex slaves. After a discreet operation of about three months, the state Anti-Terrorism Squad sleuths arrested 31-year-old Naser, alias Qadir Bin Abu-bakr Yafai Chaush, from Parbhani, nearly 187km from Aurangabad, on July 14, for his suspected ISIS connections.

2. Special Soldier Medals For ITBP Canines, Horses

BCCL

For the first time, four-legged 'soldiers' who accompany troops in combat zones for sanitisation exercises and logistical tasks will be decorated with special medals instituted exclusively for them on lines of those given to troops.

3. Pakistanis Go To US To Talk Peace, US Tells Them: Stop Cross Border Attacks!

dwan

US government officials and think tanks told Islamabad's special envoys to Kashmir who visited Washington last week to "end cross-border attacks if Pakistan wants its stance on Kashmir to be heard", Dawn reported today. After five days of getting no love from Washington on the Kashmir issue, the envoys, who started their Washington trip with bluster, ended it with a whimper.

4. After India, Now Dubai Plans To Get 1220 Km/h Hyperloop Trains!

After India, now Dubai is considering the levitating Hyperloop pod train transport that zips through tunnels at speeds as high as 1,220 kph (760 mph). The Dubai government has partnered with Los Angeles-based Hyperloop One to identify opportunities in the city.

5. 'Prodigal Science' Student Ruby Rai Didn't Even Write The Paper She Topped, Forensic Lab Finds!

BCCL

While Bihar Intermediate Arts "topper" Ruby Rai had initially blamed her father for making her a "topper", it turns out that she never even wrote her paper. This is what a report prepared by the forensic science laboratory confirmed. Experts" wrote the examination for Ruby Rai who had pronounced political science as "prodigal science" saying the subject deals with cooking.
To strengthen its ecological protection work, Sansha, China's southernmost prefecture-level city, has banned activities near the world's deepest blue hole.

A notice issued on Oct. 8 forbid any institution or individual from conducting fishing or sightseeing activities in the area within 1 nautical mile of the Sansha Yongle Blue Hole, the world's deepest underwater sinkhole, which is located near the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea.

The notice requires relevant departments to enhance education about maritime environment protection. It also stipulates that scientific studies in the area must get approval from the Sansha municipal government.
After India, now Dubai is considering the levitating Hyperloop pod train transport that zips through tunnels at speeds as high as 1,220 kph (760 mph). The Dubai government has partnered with Los Angeles-based Hyperloop One to identify opportunities in the city.

Reddit

It could cut down a 108 km trip from Dubai to Fujairah to only 10 minutes  something which is currently a 2.5 hour drive. If successful, UAE citizens could one day travel a 300 km trip from Abu Dhabi to Doha in 22 minutes, which today takes 6 hours. Saif al-Aleeli, the CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, told the Daily Mail: 'Imagine that you can live in Riyadh, work in Dubai, have your dinner in Abu Dhabi and watch a movie in Qatar.

'Dubai is trying, as a mission, to prove that concept.'

Hyperloop UC

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The Hyperloop concept was conceived by Elon Musk, the CEO, CTO and founder of Space X, CEO and product architect of Tesla Motors in 2013, when he was stuck in traffic. He thought of this pod being propelled through a tube 12 feet in diameter, transporting 20-30 people faster than anyone could ever imagine. The tube would have low air pressure in order to minimise the air resistance, making it possible for the pod to go that fast.

Hyperloop would make a journey from Delhi to Mumbai possible in 1 hr 14 mins, making it the fastest mode of travel for man. They are looking to India as one of its first target markets and as a source of technology talent, according to senior company executives. HTT, which is based on the idea of mass collaboration and crowdsourcing, will open conversations with government authorities to begin assessing opportunities for bringing Hyperloop to India, Joel Michael, the chief global operations director of the Los Angeles based company told the Economic Times.

"Imagine Chennai to Bengaluru in less than 30 minutes for a fraction of the cost of air travel today," said Michael.

Right now, HTT is building a five-mile (8-km) test track in Quay Valley, California which it expects to open in early 2019. The company expects top speed of 1,200 km per hour. HTT says it will rely heavily on renewable and kinetic energy and keep costs low by using medians for the pylons.

It estimates that a single tube could carry 1.44 lakh passengers daily at 40-second intervals. Over a distance of 500 km, it is aiming for ticket price under $30, or Rs 2000.

Also read: Dubai Employees Moved Into An Office That Was Created By A 3D Printer!
Barack Obama forgetting his phone at the White House and sprinting back to get it shows that the President is not very different from the rest of us humans.

The President of the United States left the White House on Friday to fly to Chicago. As soon as he was about to board Marine One, he realized something was amiss - his phone!

Twitter/Mark Knoller

Obama instantly doubled back, broke into a sprint and headed back to his Oval Office to retrieve his device.

Funny: @POTUS walks towards Marine One, then realizes he forgot his wallet and keys (maybe?) and runs back in. pic.twitter.com/T7lvLaAZUK  Steve Kopack (@SteveKopack) October 7, 2016

CBS News's White House Correspondent, Mark Knoller also clicked Obama in action wherein he realizes he has forgotten something and runs back to the White House to get it.

"He forgot something," said @Schultz44 of @POTUS' hasty return to the Oval. "He's human like the rest of us." pic.twitter.com/PzqI288JVe  Mark Knoller (@markknoller) October 7, 2016

He may be the President but he's just like us.
Two suspected cultists have been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command sin connection with the alleged killing of 20 members of rival groups.

Confirming the arrests, the Police Zonal Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the suspects were arrested in Ota and Ifo.

Operatives of the Zonal Intervention Squad, Zone 2 Command, Lagos, have arrested 2(two) suspected cultists for their involvement in the killings of more than 20(twenty) members of their gang(Aiye confraternity aka Black Axe) and rival gang(Eye Confraternity) in Otta and Ifo areas of Ogun State, he said.

According to the Police PRO, they were arrested while planning on carrying out another killing spree in Agosi area of Ifo.

He added that the arrested suspects have confessed to many killings including the murder of one Niyi aka Neyo, the then number 1 of Aiye confraternity in Ifowhich was done to overthrow Niyi.

Mr Adejobi said Niyi was axed to death by the duo and others at large at the Western City Street in Ifo, Ogun State, on March 29.

He gave identities of the suspected killers as Sheriff Afeeri and Owoseeni Wasiu, who were arrested with some dangerous weapons including an axe, the logo of Aiye Confraternity.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos, AIG Abdulmajid Ali, has directed proper investigation into the case and apprehension of other members of the gang who have been linked with series of killings in the area and in Ogun State in general, he said.

Mr. Adejobi added that the AIG has vowed to get the zone rid of cultists and hoodlums who have been terrorizing residents of Lagos and Ogun States.

He said those arrested and others at large will be treated as murderers.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has decried yesterdays arrest of some serving Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the Federal High Court by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, describing it as an inexorable slide into fascism.

The PDP said the invasion and arrest of the judges is the latest in a series of actions taken by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration which reveal its disregard for the rule of law and its abject disdain for the Principle of Separation of Powers.

This slide into fascism has included a sustained attack on the leadership of the National Assembly as President Buhari has sought to break its independence and make it a rubber stamp to suit his will, the party said in a statement made available today via its official social media platforms on Facebook and Twitter.

The statement, which was signed by its National Publicity Secretary Prince Dayo Adeyeye, further noted that never in the history of Nigeria has any president attacked the judiciary in such a manner.

Even the late dictator  General Sani Abacha, whose regime is remembered by many as the second worst regime in Nigerian history, did not carry out such Gestapo style attacks on the members of the Judiciary.

By bringing this attack to the Judiciary, President Buhari has shown that he has no desire to respect the pillars of our democracy. He has shown his desire to kill off our democracy and convert it to an autocracy without checks and balances, the party said.

It also faulted Buhari for not obeying a court order pronounced by the ECOWAS Court with respect to the continued detention of former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

The government has no regard for the rule of law. They do not care about Court Orders . This Government has disregarded the Orders of the ECOWAS Court and every other Courts in the land and continue to detain Dasuki illegally. They continue to detain hundreds of Nigerians without bringing them to trial and against valid Court Orders.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Constitution in Section 153(1)(i) and Part 1 of the Third Schedule thereto establishes the National Judicial Council (NJC) and empowers same to regulate and discipline judges across the Country. The proper path to follow to discipline erring judges will be to forward a petition containing any wrong doing to the NJC along with any evidence in support thereof, the PDP said.

The opposition party said Nigerians could no longer stand and watch the Buhari Administration destroy the foundations of the countrys democracy.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday disclosed that his administration still has decisive military action on the cards to tackle the growing militancy in the Niger Delta.

He made the disclosure in Kaduna on Saturday at the passing out parade of officers cadets of the 63 regular course of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

The president, however, added that his administrations priority still remained constructive engagement of the stakeholders in the region for peace.

He said: Recently, we flagged off the Clean-up of Ogoniland as part of the programmes to salvage the ravaged environment. We are convinced that undertaking such a monumental project will contribute to addressing the root causes of militancy in some parts of the Niger Delta region.

However, for the avoidance of doubt let me state that other options are still open including decisive military action, if necessary, to deal with the criminal elements disguised in ethnic regalia to sabotage the country largely for their selfish and parochial interests. However, our priority still remains constructive engagement of the stakeholders for peace. Buhari recalled that this administration inherited a badly managed Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, saying the violence even spread beyond North Eastern states.

But the capacity of the insurgents to launch attacks has now been significantly curtailed. Boko Harams capacity to hold territories has been obliterated. What is on-going now are mop up operations to clear the remnants of the insurgents from their numerous hideouts. All these successes are largely the efforts of our gallant troops of the Nigerian Military. I therefore commend our men and women in uniform and the intelligence community for their roles in dealing with the emerging threats, he stated.

Describing terrorism and insurgency as new global phenomena requiring concerted international cooperation to be defeated, Buhari said: Weve, therefore, strengthened our participation in the Multi-National Joint Task Force. We expect that other countries in the sub-region will continue to give the MNJTF and our efforts maximum cooperation. Some of our diplomatic shuttles to Niger, Cameroon, Chad and Benin have significantly contributed to defeating Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in the sub-region.

Terrorism has a global reach: during my trips to the United States, Europe and China, we discussed strategies to strengthen cooperation towards tackling insurgency and global terrorism. These diplomatic shuttles have contributed towards strengthening our battle against the insurgents. But we must sustain our momentum.

The president also noted that Todays challenges, however, go beyond Boko Haram, saying Weve seen the negative impacts of kidnapping, cattle rustling and renewed militancy in the Niger Delta on our economy. The repeated attacks in the Niger Delta have been impacting negatively on oil revenues. The scourge of illegal Small Arms and Light Weapons, and the drugs war among others remain issues which we are tackling seriously.

He, however, called on all Nigerians to give peace a chance and jettison negative tendencies on our land and join government efforts at addressing the numerous challenges in the path of building a better Nigeria.

He said as his government tackled the challenges of nation building and sustainable development, the military should continue to operate within the rules of engagement.

According to him, The military needs to constantly abide by the laws which guide armed conflicts as you carry out your constitutional roles. Without this, you will be doing a lot of damage to the institution and the constitution as a whole. It is the extent to which you respect the laws of armed conflicts that success in the real context of global best practices will be measured.

Mr. Buhari acknowledged the openness with which information flows to the public these days on military-civilian relationships.

In addition, we have facilitated engagement between local and global stakeholders in the civil society. I note with delight the conscious effort of the armed forces to safeguard human rights of citizens but which the insurgents violate at will, he added.

The president also congratulated the leadership of NDA and thanked members of its governing council for providing a well-focused and transparent strategic direction to the academy.

The passing out parade comprised of 59 cadets for the Nigerian Army, 40 for the Nigerian Navy and 29 for the Nigerian Air Force.
The Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, has dismissed as false, speculation in some quarters that the Federal Government is working against the people of the Niger Delta region.

This is just as he pointed out that the Federal Government has not pulled the plugs on ongoing dialogue with the people of the region to find lasting solutions to the lingering violence and pipeline vandalism in the region.

The minister made the clarification on Saturday in an interview at the end of the 2016 Convocation Ceremony of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta.

According to Kachikwu, President Muhammadu Buhari was very supportive of dialogue to ensure that government reached an agreement with the people through dialogue by ensuring that the old model which failed, was restructured.

The dialogue with the militants has not collapsed, I have laid that process and the president is very supporting of that process.

But what the president does not want to do is to put in place same model that failed after four months and militants are back to the creeks.

We are looking at a long term model and I have presented to Mr President a road-map and it encompasses short, long term solutions, engagement and inclusiveness of the communities.

We absolutely believe that the Niger Delta is key to the country, they have contributed so much in very many ways but the society has failed them

And I use the word, society, not necessarily government because if you look at what has been provided over the years, its a lot and some of them have not got it right for certain reasons like corruption at different levels.

We need to begin to look on how these benefits will get to them; so, let everybody be calm, destruction doesnt lead you anywhere.

I am from here and every money that the state loses because of militancy is lack of development in the state.

I went to the creeks and I talked with some of the militants and we dialogued and some of the results you are seeing today are the results of those dialogues.

But I do agree that we must have a robust, permanent, aggressive, inclusive dialogue on the table, he said.

Kachikwu stated that PTI and its management team were the right answer to bridging the gap in producing the local manpower in the oil and gas industry.

He said that government would do all it could to expand the role of PTI in providing needed facilities in the sector as a means of cutting cost in the sector.

He said that Nigeria imported fuel from any country, including Ghana, to meet its daily needs, adding that it was cheaper to import from closer countries.

But the reality is that the quantity we import from Ghana is small, the closer they are around us the cheaper, so we mop everything around us before we look outside.

But we are the one powering Ghana, all the gas we produce is used in Ghana but we are reengineering our facilities and soon we shall take over the production of petroleum products, he added.

Mr. Kachikwu further said that government was presently looking on how to cut cost, find other financing models and improve infrastructure in the oil and refining sector to produce for domestic consumption.

He said the hard times in the country were temporary and appealed for the understanding of Nigerians.

He, however, said that solutions to the present challenges could take some time.
Following violent demonstrations by two of Ethiopias two largest ethnic groups, the government has declared a six-month state of emergency. The Oromo and the Amhara are protesting that power is held by the Tigrean minority who are the elite.

The protests reached a peak following the death of 55 people at a protest in Oromia. The Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said in a televised address: We put our citizens safety first. Besides, we want to put an end to the damage that is being carried out against infrastructure projects, education institutions, health centres, administration and justice buildings.

SEE ALSO: Dangote Cement Factory Destroyed By Protesters

The state of emergency is the first in 25 years for Ethiopia and the government says it is to deal with anti-peace elements that have allied with foreign forces and are jeopardising the peace and security of the country.
One Margaret Agwu, on Friday, sought the dissolution of her 33-year-old marriage to her husband, Onu, at an Igando Customary Court in Lagos.

She lamented that her husband sometimes strips her naked and beats her to pulp and narrated how her husband deceived her and her parents and paid just N600 as her bride price when she was still 12 years old.



The trader told the court, When I was 12 years old, my husband came to my village to ask for my hand in marriage.

He also lied to my parents that he was a businessman and that he owned a provision store and that he lived in a flat.

My parents told him that they cannot release me for marriage because I was too young and besides I was still schooling.

Onu told my parents that he will send me to school after the marriage, my parent agreed and he paid the bride price.

When I got to his house, I discovered that he was staying in one-room apartment, selling popcorn at the roadside.

He also refused to fulfill his promise of sending me to school.

He once punched me in my stomach and I lost my first pregnancy after a fight. I have lived every minute of my life in fear but I cannot go back to my parents because of the bride price.

My husband absconded with our five children 16 years ago. When I called him after he packed out, he just told me that he was no longer interested in the marriage and since then he refused to pick my calls.

His relations told me he relocated with the children to Port-Harcourt. It is 16 years now that I have not seen nor heard from them.

I heard that my husband gave our first daughters hand in marriage without my knowledge and that she had given birth to a son, she sobbed, urging the court to help her return the N600 bride price paid by her husband and dissolve the marriage.

I am no longer in love and I want to move on with my life, she added.

Onu, was however, called on telephone by an official of the court and he said the petitioner was no longer his wife.

Passing his judgement, the President of the court, Mr. Adegboyega Omilola, said that it was obvious that the marriage had hit the rocks.

Omilola said, Throughout the duration of this case, the respondent refused to honour court summons, therefore, the court has no other choice than to dissolve the union.

The marriage between Margaret Agwu and Onu Agwu is hereby dissolved from today, both parties are no longer husband and wife.

Both are free to go their separate ways without any hindrances and molestation, the president ruled.

Source: Dailypost
The Kaduna State Government has ordered the arrest and subsequent prosecution of one Ibrahim Musa, who has acknowledged that he is the spokesman of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), which the state government recently declared unlawful.

The state government had last week Friday issued an order declaring the IMN as an unlawful society in Kaduna State.

The order took effect from Friday, October 7, 2016.

Violation of the order according to sections 97a and 97b of the Penal Code attracts penalty of imprisonment for seven years or a fine or both.

Musa, who has been issuing statements on behalf of the IMN, violated the order when he admitted to be a member of the unlawful society, identified himself as its spokesman and went ahead to issue a statement condemning the action of the state government few hours after the commencement of the order.

This is deemed a deliberate and determined affront to the order, and the law has to take its course, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Samuel Aruwan, said in a statement on Sunday.

Mr. Aruwan added that the Commissioner of Police has been directed to ensure the arrest of the said IMN spokesman to enable prompt prosecution by the Kaduna State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice.

All security agencies in the state have been directed to vigorously enforce the law and demonstrate clear resolve by arresting the said Ibrahim Musa who is further advised to report himself to the nearest police station or any of the security agencies. Government cannot allow the laws of the state to be wantonly tested and confronted by anyone or group who might have the mistaken belief that they are above the law. The Kaduna State Government respects freedom of religion and other rights as guaranteed by Sections 38 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution.

The same Constitution imposes an obligation on government to secure the state and protect every citizen against infringement of their rights by others. Drawing on powers vested by Section 45(1) of the Constitution, and Section 97a of the Penal Code, the governor signed an order declaring the IMN as an unlawful society in the interest of public order and to protect the rights and freedoms of all persons in Kaduna State, the statement reads in part.
Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Sunday ordered the immediate demolition of all shanties around the creeks and on the waterways.

Gov. Ambode gave the order when he visited the Ilubirin Lagos Homes project during an inspection tour of some parts of the state.

The governor asked all illegal occupants of the shanties to evacuate the area within seven days adding that the safety of citizens was paramount, hence the governments zero tolerance for kidnapping and other crimes.

Ambode assured residents that government would review the laws on kidnapping and promised prompt and quick rescue of the students and teachers of Igbonla Model College, Epe, kidnapped on Thursday in their school.

Most of the issues we have with kidnapping are perpetrated by illegal settlers by the waterfront.

All shanties along the waterfront of the state must go because the safety of Lagosians is paramount in this administration.

We will not allow a few set of people who come into Lagos illegally, then stay on our waterfront and use it as an opportunity to kidnap our people.

We want to assure our people that we are up on the Igbonla kidnap and very soon we will get the students and the teachers back.

I believe the era of kidnapping has come to an end and I can tell you sincerely, we will deal with kidnappers from from this moment on, Ambode assured.

On housing, he said the rent to own scheme as promised by his administration would commence in the next few weeks.

We believe our people should be able to pay one month rent and live in these housing schemes.

We do not think in a recession we should be having a situation where we allow people to come and buy when they do not have money, he said.

Ambode said other housing schemes were on course, adding that a lot of houses would be rolled out in the next few months.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Housing, Mr Gbolahan Lawal, said the Ilubirin housing scheme, which sits on 25 hectares of land to house over 1,500 families, would be completed in partnership with the private sector.
(Photo/Official website of Xiangshan Forum)

The seventh Xiangshan Forum is set to open on Oct. 10 in Beijing, with the theme of building a new type of international relations.

Over 400 representatives from 64 countries and organizations will attend this years forum, which will continue until Oct. 12. Some 350 of the representatives will be from overseas. Apart from Asian countries, participants from Europe, Africa and the South Pacific are increasingly active in the forum, according to He Lei, vice president of Chinese Academy of Military Science. He noted that foreign delegations are also more active in requesting meetings and exchanges with other delegations.

This years forum will cover four topics during the plenary sessions: Role of Militaries in Global Governance, Responding to New Security Challenges in the Asia-Pacific through Cooperation, Maritime Security Cooperation and International Terrorism Threats and Countermeasures.

There will also be four concurrent panels: Major Power Relations and Global Strategic Structure, Globalization vs. Deglobalization: Implications for International Security, Developments in Terrorism and Creative Approaches to Cooperation and Maritime Crisis Management and Regional Stability.

The forum was first launched in 2006, and was held once every two years until 2014. However, last year China began inviting more foreign defense officials and scholars, changing it from a biennial event to an annual one, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, on Saturday urged Nigerians not to blame President Muhammadu Buhari for the current economic hardships they are passing through.

The royal father made the call in a speech to mark his 15th Ofala festival in Onitsha, Anambra State on Saturday.

According to him, things went wrong because of the collective decisions made by the previous regimes.

Igwe Achebe, however, urged President Buhari to consider the advice of many Nigerians on the way out of the economic hardships.

Many Nigerians, including Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Cardinal Francis Arinze, have spoken and joined attention to the sufferings of the people.

Buhari should look into the collective views of Nigerians in addressing the current recession, he said.

He urged the president to also look into the alleged constant harassment of citizens by herdsmen across the country.

Achebe commended Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra for his policies and major strides in agriculture, security, education and health, pointing out that it had yielded results in the state.

While also commending the governor for the N20 million special projects in the 177 communities of the state, the monarch pointed out that Onitsha, which generated a large chunk of the state revenue, was marginalized in the arrangement.

The Obi of Onitsha, therefore, urged Gov. Obiano to complete the hydrocarbon and petroleum projects in the state as well as the five star hotels under construction in Awka and Onitsha.

Mr. Achebe noted that peace building, love and mutual respect now reign in Onitsha under his leadership, adding that he had commenced an anti-drug rehabilitation of youths in the area.

According to him, this is aimed at preventing drug abuse among youths.

In his remarks, the governor said that he reduced some taxes on wheelbarrow pushers, petty traders, tricycle operators and motorcycle riders to ameliorate the effect of the current recession.

Obiano also said that all the people with disabilities in the state had been offered employment.

He promised additional N20 million projects, each for Onitsha North and Onitsha South Local government areas, and said the ones already executed in the communities were of desired standard.
The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mr. Francis Mobolaji Odesanya, has denied reports in a section of the media that policemen and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) attempted to kidnap a Judge of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, early hours of yesterday.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State had accused the Police and DSS of manhandling him when he confronted them while attempting to kidnap a judge residing at Number 35 Forces Avenue in Port Harcourt, the state capital, at about 1:00am yesterday.

But, Odesanya, who spoke through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Omoni Nnamdi, said he led a team of policemen to restore law and order following heated argument between operatives of the DSS and policemen attached to the affected judge.

He said, What actually happened was the operatives of the Department of State Security was there to effect the arrest of a certain judge and when they got there, argument ensured. Police were invited.

The commissioner of Police led the team of policemen that were there. When the police got there, the argument was still mounting and mounting until the commissioner of Police in his wisdom pacified the situation and restored law and order.

What would have led to breakdown of law and order was forestalled by the wisdom of the commissioner of Police. We were able to carry out our professional duty of protecting lives and property.
Freelance journalist, Ahmad Salkida, yesterday blamed what he called a lack of hunger on the part of government, for the continued captivity of the Chibok girls.

The Chibok girls have been in Boko Haram captivity since April 2014.

In an electronic mail he sent to Daily Trust on Sunday yesterday, Mr. Salkida narrated how he met the Chibok girls during negotiations and how a lack of understanding by political and security officials bungled the negotiation process.

Though he did not give the exact date he met with the abductees, Salkida said he met the girls and their captors at the instance of the federal government.

At least, today, I am probably the only one who has gone to location of swaps with detainees and I set my eyes on the girls in their early days in captivity, under a presidential cover to negotiate, he said.

The United Arab Emirates-based journalist, who has been on self-exile since 2013, is known for his access to Boko Haram and has been reporting on the terrorist sect for more than 10 years.

Salkida also faulted the narratives of the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and President Muhammadu Buharis official biographer, Professor John Paden, on why the rescue of the Chibok girls remains problematic.

Salkida said it was not true that the leadership of Boko Haram demanded 5 billion Euros (roughly N1.7 trillion) as ransom for the release of the abducted girls as stated by Paden in his book Muhammadu Buhari: The challenge of leadership in Nigeria.

He said as the chief negotiator, he was also at a loss as to why Mr. Mohammed addressed a conference where he shifted the blame of the failed swap mission on Boko Haram.

Im not sure I understand why our leaders choose to declassify important aspects of this negotiation when the girls are still in captivity, but I can categorically say that the claim of a demand of 5 billion Euros as published by President Buharis biographer is not the truth.

While it is true that the captors of the Chibok girls have shifted the goal post several times when a swap deal was near, we must ask ourselves, what was responsible for the volatility that has denied the rest of the surviving Chibok girls and other captives freedom?

How did I know this and write with such audacity? I was the only negotiator that was flown to Maiduguri with some detainees in an Air Force plane and I stayed in the Maimalari military barracks for over three weeks with the detainees, trying to reach a deal.

From my professional experience with both parties namely government authorities and the insurgents, I can state that these abducted girls would long have returned home if political and security officials in government had shown better understanding of what is at play.

Never, even from the days of former President Goodluck Jonathan to todays dispensation has government accepted a window of say two, three weeks and abided by it. So, we are dealing with insurgents who do not recognize your bureaucratic heritage and continue to shut out the windows each time the indicated timelines elapsed, and also dealing with political and security authorities that never considered it expedient to do their housekeeping ahead of acceptance of negotiation windows that are tied to timelines.

There is no point to delve into much detail at this point, but suffice it to state that both sides have their share of blame. My experience is that both the Buhari led government and the preceding Jonathan administration desired a negotiated end to this imbroglio but none ever showed any hunger in tracking the footprints and understanding the tendencies of the enemy.

I was not only involved in one or two attempts to free the Chibok girls with the current government, but on three separate occasions and even as recently as May/June, 2016, few months before I was declared wanted for allegedly refusing to cooperate with the same government and for having links to terrorism by the Nigerian Army, he said.

According to him, there is vested interest within government circle undermining the rescue efforts.
If John Wick was not annoying and childish enough for you, the Universe has decided to punish you a little more, as the teaser trailer for John Wick 2 has just been released.

If you dont remember, John Wick is the titular character who went on a killing spree because some guy wanted to buy his vintage car and he refused to sell it to him. Sounds really stupid yeah?



John Wick refuses to sell the car to him and said guy then decided to kill John Wicks dog. Then the killing began;



Long story short, Wick killed everyone in the movie

Brace yourselves people, Winter is coming
National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday threw his weight behind the withdrawal of the forgery charges against Senate President Bukola Saraki, and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

He said the move was particularly welcome at what he described as this crucial time when active and innovative governance is required to bring the progressive change the APC vowed to the people of this nation.

New legislation will be required to help pull the nation out of the economic mire. More importantly, such visionary legislation will be even more needed to permanently reform our national economic architecture so that we may promote the type of diverse, durable economic growth and employment that will ensure a stronger future and better insulate the nation from the fragility inherent in basing the economic welfare of the nation on the global price of a single commodity, Tinubu said in a statement in Lagos by his Media Office.

He added that with these forgery charges found not to apply, it is good that they be dismissed so that the national assembly may focus on this important work ahead.

While those involved may understandably feel a sense of relief or vindication, this is no time for them to celebrate or to believe all is well with the nation simply because all has turned out well for them on this matter.

All is not well. Throughout the nation, the people stagger and groan under the weight of economic hardship. This government and our party must hear and respond to their plea. We must lead the way.

A mind and heart unburdened by the specter of possible legal liability is also free to devote itself to the pressing matters of state. Consequently, this action presents a unique window of opportunity for the national assembly to reset its bearings and to focus on the real issues at hand.

History will not look kindly on those involved if they were to squander this fine chance.

As never before, Nigerians look to the various arms of government to perform their roles so that the country can walk the path of change and renewal.

Tinubu tasked Saraki and those who are the beneficiaries of this legal outcome to now rededicate yourselves to fulfilling the progressive tenets of the APC and to honoring the promises we made to the people with regard to their governance and well being.

Now that you have overcome this legal battle, you must dedicate yourselves to helping Nigeria win the greater war against poverty, despair and failure. No matter our past difference, in this effort we must stand united in purpose and resolve. Nigeria must do more than survive. It must thrive.
A woman has revealed how she wanted to destroy prophet T.B. Joshua, the General Overseer of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) during his last crusade in Peru.

The lady said a huge force restricted her from destroying the pastor when she got close to him.

Uncontrollably welling within, her anger reached bursting point. Only one devilish thought flashed incessantly through her mind  to destroy TB Joshua at all cost. Rushing towards him in a violent fit of rage, a supernatural force suddenly hit her, crashing her to the ground. Evil was defeated!

The malicious spirit of anger had plagued Cezia Carassas life for almost as long as she could remember. I used to hit my husband and punch him in the face, she recalled. I used to get really mad. It was really strange force inside me.

Cezia didnt really want to attend the crusade with Prophet TB Joshua but curiosity eventually triumphed and she decided to join 50,000 other attendees at the historic event.

When the Mass Prayer started, I went down to the pitch because I wanted to destroy Prophet TB Joshua, she candidly described. I felt a huge force inside me. I wanted to attack everyone. I wanted to destroy.

The demonic spirit of anger had been rudely exposed by the Spirit-filled prayer! When I got near to the prophet, I felt some strength and force pushing me away from him. And then I fell.

Since that Divine encounter, an incredible sense of peace and tranquility has filled Cezias life. I felt that the opposite force that was pushing me to destroy things were gone. But other force made me new. I felt brand new! When I looked at the mirror, I was not the same. Before I used to look like an angry women, but right now I feel very new. And I look even younger! Truly, the evidence of Jesus Christ is lives changed!

Source: BreakingTimes
Bonds tied to weather risks tumbled the most in four years as Hurricane Matthew lashed Florida.

The Swiss Re Cat Bond Price Return Index dropped 1.7 percent last week, the steepest decline since Superstorm Sandy in 2012. The benchmark, which is recalculated every Friday, had climbed 14 straight weeks through Sept. 23.

Investors in the securities get above-market yields in exchange for the risk that principal could be wiped out by a major disaster in a specified area. S&P Global Ratings said 15 catastrophe bonds risk losses from Matthew, including the $1.5 billion Everglades Re, which protects exclusively against losses in Florida.

There is still a bit of fear and uncertainty with some market participants, with respect to what the ultimate outcome would be, said Brett Houghton, a managing principal at Fermat Capital Management, which oversees about $5 billion for institutional and high-net-worth investors. At this point we think those fears are unfounded.

Matthew was not industry-changing event, said TigerRisk Partners.

Matthew weakened to a category 2 hurricane Friday after knocking out power to more than 1 million Florida homes and businesses and leaving hundreds dead in Haiti. The system is forecast to continue moving north off the coasts of Florida and Georgia through late Friday and may make landfall in South Carolina Saturday.

Stock Rebound

Insurers shares rebounded Friday after slumping earlier in the week. The S&P 500 Property & Casualty Insurance Index advanced 1.6 percent. Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Universal Insurance Holdings Inc., which focuses on its home state, jumped 15 percent, but still trailed its closing price from Sept. 30.

Youre going to have thousands of $5,000 claims, Rod Fox, the chief executive officer of reinsurance broker TigerRisk Partners, said by phone. For all the people thinking it was going to be an industry-changing event, it just didnt happen.

Still, Matthew could cause as much as $25 billion in economic losses, Chuck Watson, a disaster modeler with Enki Research, said earlier. That would make it one of the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

U.S. Risks

Approximately 70 percent of outstanding cat bonds are tied to U.S. hurricanes, according to Bill Dubinsky, who leads the insurance-linked securities practice at Willis Towers Watson Plc. Primary insurers use the securities to spread their risks in the capital markets.

The lack of major U.S. hurricanes since Wilma struck Florida in October 2005 helped lure pensions and hedge fund firms to weather-related bets. Also, catastrophe bonds offer returns that arent correlated to stock and credit markets.

There are instances in which investors have lost their principal on catastrophe bonds. The first major default was Kamp Re, a $190 million issuance, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Six years later, damage from an earthquake in Japan caused $300 million of losses for securities issued by Muteki Ltd.

The cat bond index is often most volatile during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June through November.

With assistance from Mark Chediak.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters USA Florida Hurricane
More than 1.5 million people are still without power as Matthew on Sunday brought Hurricane-force wind gusts and flooding to the outer banks of North Carolina, where the storm left at least seven dead.

Almost 423,000 homes and businesses were still in the dark in Florida, and more than 1.1 million had lost power in Georgia and North and South Carolina, as of noon New York time. Duke Energy Corp. said it will need to rebuild sections of its electrical systems in the states after heavy damage. Matthew has been downgraded from a hurricane to a post-tropical cyclone, and no further damage is expected as it moves east away from the coast.

Top winds of 75 miles (121 kilometers) per hour are expected to dwindle to between 30 and 40 mph by the afternoon as Matthew pulls farther away from the coast, allowing fuel terminals and pipelines to start returning to service. The storm will gradually weaken as it is absorbed within a frontal boundary Monday night, according to a U.S. National Hurricane Center advisory. On Saturday, Matthew made landfall in South Carolina. The death toll in the U.S. reached at least 16, after the storm earlier lay waste to Haiti, where it left hundreds dead.

Matthew roiled markets for everything from natural gas to orange juice as traders bet on the extent of supply disruptions. Gas futures rallied to the most in 21 months Friday on speculation that limited outages would keep demand for the power-plant fuel high.

For some Duke service areas, the electrical system will need to be rebuilt after Matthew left large portions of the Carolinas more heavily damaged than projected, the company said in a statement Sunday. The company is reporting 660,000 outages in the region and estimates it could take as much as a week to complete restorations.

Tyson Foods Inc. had to shut a plant in Jacksonville, Florida, as Matthew neared the coastline, and Kinder Morgan Inc. closed terminals, pipelines and a liquefied natural gas terminal near Savannah, Georgia.

Twelve U.S. power generators, including two nuclear plants, were in the storms path, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. NextEra Energy Inc.s nuclear reactor at the St. Lucie complex in Florida remained closed on Sunday, according to company spokesperson Bud Fraga, who declined to provide a date for its restart.

Cotton and peanut crops were most at risk from heavy rains, David Streit, senior lead forecaster at Bethesda, Maryland-based Commodity Weather Group LLC said Friday. The extent of damage to Floridas oranges and grapefruit may not be known for days, said Shannon Shepp, executive director of Floridas Department of Citrus, on Friday.

Published Oct 9th 2016, 3:02 pm

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Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics USA Florida
On Friday, a catastrophe modeling firm slashed its estimate for insurance losses from Hurricane Matthew on Friday, as the storm skirted Florida but failed to make landfall.

Kinetic Analysis had estimated the insured losses on Thursday at $25 billion, but cut its forecast to $4 billion on Friday morning, a spokesman told Reuters by telephone.

Matthew has been threatening the first direct hit on the United States in more than a decade, and was shaping up to be the second costliest U.S. hurricane on record for insurers, according to initial industry estimates.

But industry participants said the insurance impact remained hard to gauge.

People are looking at this literally every minute and working overnight on it, one trader said.

Hurricane Matthew killed more than 800 people and left tens of thousands homeless in its rampage through Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, earlier this week before lashing Florida with high winds on Friday and rolling northward up the U.S. Atlantic coast.

Based on the storms current trajectory and strength, the catastrophic impact from Matthew appears to be less than feared 24 hours ago and we would begin to buy P&C (property & casualty) insurers on the back of yesterdays sell-off, JP Morgan analysts said in a client note.

A $25 billion loss would have made Matthew the second most costly hurricane in U.S. history behind Katrina in 2005, JP Morgans analysts wrote late Thursday.

Other estimates had come in at losses of $20-30 billion.

The ratings agency Fitch said on Friday that Hurricane Matthew was not likely to present a major capital challenge to insurance underwriters in Florida and other southeastern U.S. states.

Shares in Heritage Insurance Holdings bounced after it gave a preliminary estimate on Friday of a loss of $500 million from the hurricane, well within its $1.9 billion catastrophe reinsurance cover.

The financial information firm S&P Global said late on Thursday that the hurricane represented a real test of reinsurers exposure, but that it was unlikely to affect their ratings due to the reinsurers strong capital buffers. ($1 = 0.8093 pounds)

(Additional reporting by Jonathan Gould; Editing by Simon Jessop and Mark Potter)

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Topics Catastrophe USA Florida Profit Loss Hurricane
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has arrived in the Republic of Turkey for a working visit to attend the 23rd World Energy Congress.

A guard of honor was arranged for President Ilham Aliyev at the Ataturk International Airport decorated with the national flags of Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The chief of the guard of honor reported to the Azerbaijani President. The head of state saluted the guard of honor.

President Ilham Aliyev was welcomed by the high-ranking state and governmental officials of Turkey.
What Is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)?

A free trade agreement is a pact between two or more nations to reduce barriers to imports and exports among them. Under a free trade policy, goods and services can be bought and sold across international borders with little or no government tariffs, quotas, subsidies, or prohibitions to inhibit their exchange.

The concept of free trade is the opposite of trade protectionism or economic isolationism.

1:25 Free Trade

How a Free Trade Agreement Works

In the modern world, free trade policy is often implemented by means of a formal and mutual agreement of the nations involved. However, a free-trade policy may simply be the absence of any trade restrictions.

A government doesn't need to take specific action to promote free trade. This hands-off stance is referred to as laissez-faire trade or trade liberalization.

Governments with free-trade policies or agreements in place do not necessarily abandon all control of imports and exports or eliminate all protectionist policies. In modern international trade, few free trade agreements (FTAs) result in completely free trade.

Key Takeaways Free trade agreements reduce or eliminate barriers to trade across international borders.

Free trade is the opposite of trade protectionism.

In the U.S. and the E.U., free trade agreements do not come without regulations and oversight.

For example, a nation might allow free trade with another nation, with exceptions that forbid the import of specific drugs not approved by its regulators, or animals that have not been vaccinated, or processed foods that do not meet its standards.

The benefits of free trade were outlined in "On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation," published by economist David Ricardo in 1817.

Or, it might have policies in place that exempt specific products from tariff-free status in order to protect home producers from foreign competition in their industries.

The Economics of Free Trade

In principle, free trade on the international level is no different from trade between neighbors, towns, or states. However, it allows businesses in each country to focus on producing and selling the goods that best use their resources while other businesses import goods that are scarce or unavailable domestically. That mix of local production and foreign trade allows economies to experience faster growth while better meeting the needs of its consumers.

This view was first popularized in 1817 by economist David Ricardo in his book, "On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation." He argued that free trade expands the diversity and lowers the prices of goods available in a nation while better exploiting its homegrown resources, knowledge, and specialized skills.

Public Opinion on Free Trade

Few issues divide economists and the general public as much as free trade. Research suggests that faculty economists at American universities are seven times more likely to support free-trade policies than the general public. In fact, the American economist Milton Friedman said: The economics profession has been almost unanimous on the subject of the desirability of free trade.

Free-trade policies have not been as popular with the general public. The key issues include unfair competition from countries where lower labor costs allow price-cutting and a loss of good-paying jobs to manufacturers abroad.

The call on the public to Buy American may get louder or quieter with the political winds, but it never goes silent.

The View from Financial Markets

Not surprisingly, the financial markets see the other side of the coin. Free trade is an opportunity to open another part of the world to domestic producers.

Moreover, free trade is now an integral part of the financial system and the investing world. American investors now have access to most foreign financial markets and to a wider range of securities, currencies, and other financial products.

However, completely free trade in the financial markets is unlikely in our times. There are many supranational regulatory organizations for world financial markets, including the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, the International Organization of Securities Commission (IOSCO), and the Committee on Capital Movements and Invisible Transactions.

Real-World Examples of Free Trade Agreements

The European Union is a notable example of free trade today. The member nations form an essentially borderless single entity for the purposes of trade, and the adoption of the euro by most of those nations smooths the way further. It should be noted that this system is regulated by a bureaucracy based in Brussels that must manage the many trade-related issues that come up between representatives of member nations.

U.S. Free Trade Agreements

The United States currently has a number of free trade agreements in place. These include multi-nation agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which covers the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which includes most of the nations of Central America. There are also separate trade agreements with nations from Australia to Peru.

Collectively, these agreements mean that about half of all goods entering the U.S. come in free of tariffs, according to government figures. The average import tariff on industrial goods is 2%.

All these agreements collectively still do not add up to free trade in its most laissez-faire form. American special interest groups have successfully lobbied to impose trade restrictions on hundreds of imports including steel, sugar, automobiles, milk, tuna, beef, and denim.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.9

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has had a meeting with President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul.

The Azerbaijani and Turkish presidents expressed satisfaction with the successful development of friendly and fraternal relations between the two countries in a variety of fields, including in political, economic, energy, transport and other areas.

The presidents expressed their confidence that the bilateral relations will continue to expand in all areas.

The heads of state also exchanged views over prospects of relations.

The presidents then had a joint dinner.
Business Trade Deficit Reaches US$1.73 Billion in Govts First Six Months

The Asia World Port, Burmas biggest container port, on the Hlaing River in Rangoon, May 14, 2016. (Photo: Reuters /Soe Zeya Tun)

RANGOON  Burmas trade deficit has reached US$1.73 billion in the National League for Democracy governments first six months, beginning in April, significantly lower than the $2.24 billion deficit reached over the same six-month period last year.

From April till the end of September this year, Burmas total trade volume amounted to US$12.9 billion, with exports worth $5.6 billion and imports $7.3 billion, according to figures from the Ministry of Commerce.

This puts exports $11.9 million higher than the same period last year, but imports $495 million lower, signaling an overall decline in the total volume of trade.

Exports of oil and gas, and of gems, are significantly down this year, U Yan Naing Tun, director-general of Ministry of Commerce, told the Irrawaddy. However, he said that increases in agricultural exports had helped make up some of the shortfall.

The director-general attributed the decline in imports to a relative slowdown in construction and infrastructure development during the period.

Burmas major exports are oil, gas, gems, marine products, and agricultural products including rice, beans, pulses and rubber. Its major exports include electronics and materials used in construction.

The Ministry of Commerce anticipates a total trade volume of $32 billion through the current fiscal year ending on March 31, 2017. The total trade volume for the previous fiscal year reached $26 billion.

Burmas trade volume increased steadily year on year after political and economic reforms were launched under former President U Thein Sein in 2011. However, in 2015, the last year of U Thein Seins term, the trade volume appeared to be leveling off.
Asia Buddhist Monks Lead Commemoration of 1976 Thai Massacre

Thai Buddhist monks walk with candles through Bangkoks Thammasat University on Oct. 6, 2006 / Adrees Latif / Reuters

BANGKOK, Thailand  Buddhist monks, survivors, mourners and activists gathered Thursday to mark the 40th anniversary of one of the darkest days in Thailands history, when police killed scores of university students at a peaceful protest, and vigilantes defiled the dead.

Students at Bangkoks Thammasat University had been protesting the return from exile of a hated former dictator in 1976 when they were trapped by a right-wing mob and heavily armed paramilitary police, who fired guns and grenades at the defenseless crowd of several thousand.

After the students were subdued, thugs rushed in and grabbed as many as a dozen. They were then taken to a nearby public field, beaten to death, hanged and abused, with the bodies tossed onto a makeshift funeral pyre. The official death toll was 46, though credible independent estimates put it at more than 100.

The disorder was used as an excuse for the army to seize power later that day, undoing a student-led democratic revolution three years earlier.

The anniversary comes as Thailand is again under military rule since a 2014 coup, a situation referred to by some speakers at the anniversary ceremony.

I think we all have heard the term Brexit used to describe the process of Britain leaving the EU. I would like to propose that the first necessary condition for democracy in Thailand is Mexit; meaning the first necessary condition is to take the military out of politics, said Surachart Bamrungsuk, a former student leader who was present at the Thammasat tragedy and then was held in prison for two years on trumped-up charges.

If we cant take the military out of politics, then dont even think about democracy, said Surachart, now a professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

This years commemoration has drawn broader interest than usual because an invited speaker, teenage Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong, was not allowed into the country by Thai authorities, making headlines worldwide. Wong was supposed to speak at Chulalongkorn, which this year joined Thammasat for the first time in marking the anniversary.

The rector of Thammasat, Somkit Lertpaithoon, said the university teaches its students about the violence and even has survivors on its staff.

Even though the events of Oct. 6 may not be documented in Thai history, the new generation still strives to learn about it, he said in a speech at the university.

The Thammasat massacre has always been a sensitive issue, both because the images of lynchings speak to a dark side of the Thai character and because the assault on the university showed how the state could carry out human rights abuses with impunity. No perpetrators were ever punished.

An increasing awareness of human rights since 1976 has led to much questioning of the use of state violence, especially because of a sometimes-violent struggle for political power that has troubled Thailand for the past decade, including bloody street battles in Bangkok in 2010.

The massacre is still of interest 40 years after the fact because it remains officially unresolved. Those who were involved in the violence have not been held to account, even as there has been a wave of transitional justice processes around the world, and even expanded questioning and investigations in relation to the violence of April-May 2010, Tyrell Haberkorn, a fellow in political and social change at the Australian National University, said earlier this week.

The incident has relevance to the current state of Thai politics because it becomes possible to continue to stage coup after coup while repressing dissent because those who have done so in the past have not been held to account for doing so, she said.
Burma Burmese Climbers Summit Everest

Two Burmese mountaineers summit Mount Everest, becoming the first climbers from the country to reach the peak of the worlds tallest mountain.

Burmese mountaineers Pyae Phyo Aung and Win Ko Ko summited Mount Everest on Thursday morning, becoming the first Burmese nationals to accomplish the feat.

The two climbers, from the Technical Climbing Club of Myanmar group, left the nearest base camp on Sunday and ascended toward the 29,000-foot summit. More than 3,000 people are believed to have successfully climbed the worlds tallest mountain, but none has been Burmese.

Pyae Phyo Aung confirmed the successful attempt during a call with tycoon Tay Za, chairman of the Htoo Foundation, which financed the climb.

We reached the summit at 7:07 a.m., planted the Myanmar flag and the Htoo Foundation flag and will climb back down today, he told Tay Za.

A trio of Burmese climbers began the expedition in late March and was joined by three Brazilian climbers in Nepal. The third Burmese climber, Nyi Nyi Aung, was unable to summit and stayed at base camp for support.

In 2014, five mountaineers from the Htoo Group attempted the climb but were forced to abandon their ascent at base camp due to an avalanche.

Tay Za expressed pride in the climbers on his Facebook page and wished them a safe return.

The Burmese climbers are among 289 mountaineers that the Nepalese government granted permits to this season.
Burma Four MNHRC Members Resign over Tailor Shop Abuse Case

Dr. Than Nwe, Daw Mya Mya, U Zaw Win, Dr. Nyan Zaw (L to R) pictured at a press conference in Rangoon on Sept. 21, 2016 where they defended their response to the case. / JPaing / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON Four members of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) have resigned following public outcry over their negotiating a financial settlement in a high-profile abuse case of two teenage maids in downtown Rangoon.

The Presidents Office announced on Thursday the resignations of U Zaw Win, Dr. Nyan Zaw, Dr. Than New, and Daw Mya Mya have been authorized with the signature of President U Htin Kyaw.

The commissioners faced calls to resign after it transpired they urged families of the victims to accept cash settlements totaling US$ 4,000 from the accused abusers rather than push for legal action.

The two victims of the abuse case, 16-year-old Ma San Kay Khaing and 17-year-old Ma Tha Zin from Rangoons Kawhmu Township, described being beaten, cut, and forced to work for five years with little or no pay by the family who owns Ava Tailor Shop in downtown Rangoon.

The case was initially filed at the Kyauktada Township police station three months ago by U Swe Win, chief correspondent of Myanmar Now news agency, after a member of the family informed him about the abuse and asked for help in rescuing the girls.

When the police failed to take action, U Swe Win contacted the human rights commission. But the commission failed to speak directly to the victims and have been criticized for what was perceived as taking advantage of the victims and their families lack of legal knowledge.

Amid public anger for what was widely deemed insufficient action by the commission, the Yangon Police Forces Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement opened the case against the perpetrators and six family members connected to the case were detained at the end of last month.

An urgent proposal was also submitted and approved in the Lower House of the Union Parliament on Sept. 22 to take action against the commission for failing to help the victims and violating their human rights.

U Swe Win told The Irrawaddy that it is good that the resignations have been announced so soon after the Lower Houses proposal but the whole commission needs to be reorganized.

Though the commission members resigned, it is not enough. If we dont have a body which truly works for the sake of human rights matters, it will be loss for the country, he said.

And another important thing here is that a journalist [referring himself] was at the commissions closed door meeting, said U Swe Win. In previous cases details of the commissions work were not released. It is also important to have transparency on the commissions work he added.

The six family members of the Ava Tailor shop are facing several charges under the Anti-Human Trafficking Law, and the Child Law, Penal Code 325 and 326 for voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means, and 344 for wrongful confinement for ten or more days.
Burma KIO: Burma Army Launched Air Strikes

KIA troops on the march in Chi Phway Township near the China-Burmese border in Kachin State. / J Paing / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) alleged that on Friday morning the Burma Army launched air strikes from four fighter jets on its armed wing, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).

The Burma Army attacked Inkaren Hill in Waingmaw Township where KIA Battalion No. 252 was deployed, KIO information officer Lt-Col Naw Bu told The Irrawaddy.

We can confirm that [the Burma Army] attacked with four fighter jets for about an hour from 8am. I have not yet received information about the situation on the ground, so I have no comment about that, he said.

The Burma Army has not made a statement about the alleged attack and The Irrawaddy was unable to obtain a comment from the Directorate of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare under the Ministry of Defense.

U Koi Darn, who is in charge of a relief camp at Mongna Baptist Church in Waingmaw Township, told The Irrawaddy he saw planes overhead around 9am on Friday.

After the 21st Century Panglong peace conference, the Burma Army has frequently launched offensives on the KIA. The KIO views these actions as an attempt to pressure the KIA to sign the NCA before the second round of the peace conference.

While we are dedicated to building peace through negotiation, it is not right to pressure us into political talks through military operations, said Lt-Col Naw Bu.

Since the recent conflict flared, Kachin locals in state capital Myitkyina and Tanai Township have held mass demonstrations calling on the Burma Army to immediately end military offensives. Demonstrators also demanded federalism and self-determination and stressed the need to solve political problems by political means.

The KIA is a member of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC)an ethnic alliance of non-signatories of the NCA.

The KIA signed a ceasefire agreement with Burmas ruling military regime in 1994 that collapsed when the Burma Army and the KIA came to blows over the Tarpein Hydropower Project in 2011, forcing hundreds of thousands of local people from their homes.
Burma Military Officials, Cronies Released from US Blacklist

A combination of file photos shows, from L-R, former dictator Snr-Gen Than Shwe, General Maung Aye and Thura Shwe Mann. / REUTERS / Archives

RANGOON  Burmas former dictator Snr-Gen Than Shwe was among individuals removed from the US Treasurys blacklist following the lifting of Burma sanctions on Friday.

Another 16 senior military officials, including former Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye, have been removed from the US Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List.

Apart from senior military officials, military-related businesses removed from the list include Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited, the Myanmar Economic Corporation, Myawaddy Bank and the Directorate of Defence Industries, which is Burmas state-owned arms and ordnance manufacturer.

Five top crony business men, along with their family members and businesses, are no longer under sanction; they are U Tay Za, U Khin Shwe, Yuzana U Htay Myint, U Zaw Zaw and Stephen Law, whose late father was once described by the US Treasury as one of the worlds key heroin traffickers.

President Barack Obama formally announced the lifting of US sanctions on Burma on Friday by terminating an emergency order that deemed the policies of the former military government a threat to US national security.

The move followed a meeting between Burmas State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and Obama in Washington last month, in which she called for the lifting of economic sanctions against her country.

More than 50 individuals along with their families and their businesses in hotels, agriculture, construction, banking, and logging were released from sanctions on Friday.

A key figure is LtGen Thein Htay, chief of the Directorate of Defence Industries, who was blacklisted in 2013 for alleged arms trading with North Korea.

Another three Burmese firms, Soe Min Htike Co. Ltd., Asia Metal Company and Excellence Mineral Manufacturing Company, sanctioned in 2013 for working with North Korea, have been removed from the SDN list.

Also among the individuals are family members of Thura U Shwe Mann, a former Union Solidarity and Development Party chairman and Daw Aung San Suu Kyis close ally from the previous U Thein Sein government. He is a former general and was considered the third most powerful man in the State Peace and Development Council.

His wife Daw Khin Lay Thet and son U Aung Thet Mannwho is the CEO of Ayer Shwe Wah, a subsidiary of Htoo Trading Company owned by U Tay Zaare also no longer sanctioned.

The lifting of sanctions was welcomed by Burmas business community on Saturday.

U Khin Shwe, the president of Zay Gabar Company who was also removed from the list, said it was a very nice move by the US government at the right time as Burma now has a civilian government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Any delay in lifting sanctions could lead to backsliding in the countrys democratic transition as Burma is in urgent need of economic development, he told The Irrawaddy.

We [businesspeople removed from the list] can create jobs for thousands of people when international investment comes in, he added. U Khin Shwe explained that the sanction lift will encourage other countries, aside from the US and EU countries, to invest in Burma, such as South Korea.

They will no longer feel reluctant to work with us as there are no sanctions, he said.

The US Treasury Department said the termination of the Burma sanctions program does not impact Burmese individuals or entities blocked pursuant to other sanctions authorities, such as counter-narcotics and North Korea sanctions, barring any business dealings with the US.

They include alleged drugs kingpin Wei Hsueh Kang and the United Wa State Army, one of Burmas biggest ethnic armed groups. They remain on the SDN List, and their property and interests in property remain blocked.
Burma Mon Armed Group Warned to Stop Violating Ceasefire

New recruits of the Mon National Liberation Army have undergone training in recent months at a camp in Kyainseikgyi Township of Karen State. / Ah Ar / Facebook

The Mon State Government has delivered a formal warning to the New Mon State Party (NMSP), an ethnic Mon armed group, demanding that it stop taxing locals, acting as law enforcement, cracking down on illegal drugs, and recruiting locals in government-controlled areas.

In a meeting on Friday involving the Mon State Chief Minister and the military-appointed Minister of Security and Border Affairs, along with senior NMSP members, the ethnic armed group was accused of violating the 2012 bilateral ceasefire agreement, and told that it must respect the rule of law, according to NMSP spokesman Nai Win Hla, who was present.

We responded that we would stop these actions only if the government found political solutions, he said, maintaining that the NMSP was moved to enforce law and order locally and stamp out drugs because the Burmese government had failed in its responsibility to do so.

According to Nai Win Hla, the border affairs minister Col Win Naing Oo accused the NMSP of disrespecting the government. Nai Win Hla said the group did not respond to this accusation.

The Mon State government had sent 28 letters in total to the NMSP since January this year, alleging violations of the bilateral ceasefire. The border affairs minister brought up two such cases at the meeting: the killing of a civilian during a raid on an illegal drug ring in Kawkareik Township of Karen State, and the arrest of a man accused of forcing a woman to marry him in Mudon Township of Mon State (after the Burmese police had failed to take action, according to local Mon sources).

The NMSP, whose armed wing is called the Mon National Liberation Army, is active across areas of southeastern Burma, and is a member of the influential ethnic armed group alliance the United Nationalities Federal Council.

Although the NMSP reached a bilateral ceasefire agreement with Burmese government in 2012, it chose not to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) last yearafter which tension between the MNSP and the Burma Army has grown, according to NMSP leaders.

We have to keep tight control of our soldiers, to ensure our troops movements stay within the boundaries [agreed under the bilateral ceasefire], said Nai Hong Sar, vice chairman of the NMSP, who said the group did not want to have problems with the Burmese Army and the government.

They are trying to create problems with us because we refused to sign the NCA, he claimed.
Burma NLD Lawmaker Claims Foreign Workers are Flouting Visa Regulations, Harming Local Interests

A high rise under construction in Rangoon. / JPaing / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  National League for Democracy (NLD) divisional lawmaker U Than Naing Oo called on the Rangoon Division government to investigate the legal status of foreign workers in the city, who he believed were flouting visa regulations and harming local interests.

In the Rangoon Division parliament on Thursday, U Than Naing Oo, who represents Pabedan Township (constituency-1), claimed that many skilled foreign workers on social visas were employed in the construction sector, getting paid more to do the same jobs as locals, and that some were running small shops, in apparent violation of laws that prevent foreigners from operating small businesses in competition with locals.

He said he had seen evidence from nongovernmental organizations that are in contact with foreign workers.

The lawmaker also accused these foreigners of anti-social behavior, saying he had witnessed Chinese men drinking beers on the sidewalkto which the Arakanese Ethnic Affairs Minister U Zaw Aye Maung responded, citizens should bring them [drinkers] to the police station.

The Arakanese ethnic affairs minister, speaking on behalf of the divisional government, stated that 3,928 foreigners were currently working in Rangoon on business visas, having received permission to work from various ministries.

The Burmese government offers 12 kinds of visas, including social, tourist, business, religious, educational and journalist. Thai nationals are allowed to enter Burma visa free for a certain period; this allowance is not extended to Chinese nationals. After an initial three-month period, visas covering work can be extended by six-month followed by 12-month and then 22-month periods.

Minister U Zaw Aye Maung claimed that candidates are rigorously examined, often by different ministries and sometimes at the Union level, before permission to work is granted.

U Aung Myo, who represents Sanchaung Township (constituency-1), asked the divisional government to disclose the amount of income tax received by foreigners working in Rangoon. Those earning less than 2 million kyats (US$1,573) are not taxed; those earning 2-5 million kyats a month are taxed at 5 percent; 5-10 million kyats at 10 percent; 10-20 million kyats at 15 percent; 20-30 million kyats at 20 percent; and over 30 million kyats at 25 percent.

Minister U Zaw Aye Maung said that over the 2015-16 fiscal year the Rangoon divisional government collected 61.298 billion kyats (US$48.2 million) in tax from 6,596 foreigners working in the city.

He warned against locals collaborating with unscrupulous foreigners in setting up businessesso as to get around legal barriers to foreigners competing with localsfor instance by allowing the businesses to be registered in their name: Dont give your name to foreigners for a little money, he said. Be faithful to the nation. Liars will come here to exploit.

Lawmaker U Than Naing Oo told journalists after the parliamentary session that he had learned that the Junction Square construction project, located in Sanchaung Township, and the Junction City project in Pabedan Township, were together employing almost a thousand foreign workers. On enquiring at the township Immigration departments, he was told that many of the workers were on social visas.

He said he was not fully satisfied with the response of minister U Zaw Aye Maung, because he did not say whether the government was going to investigate these construction projects.

He said he was calling for the government to take effective action on the ground.
Burma Obama lifts sanctions against Burma

US President Barack Obama talks to the media as he meets with State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C. on September 14. / Reuters

WASHINGTONPresident Barack Obama formally announced the lifting of US sanctions on Burma on Friday by terminating an emergency order that deemed the policies of the former military government a threat to US national security.

I have determined that the situation that gave rise to the national emergency  has been significantly altered by Burmas substantial advances to promote democracy, including historic elections in November 2015, Obama said in a letter to the US House and Senate speakers.

A US Treasury statement said that as a result of the termination of the emergency order the economic and financial sanctions administered by the Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control were no longer in effect.

The move followed a meeting between Burmas State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and Obama in Washington last month, when she called for the lifting of economic sanctions against her country, and he said he was willing to do this.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy won a sweeping victory in the November elections.

Obamas letter pointed to the formation of a democratically elected, civilian-led government as a result of the election, the release of many political prisoners and improved human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and freedom of association and peaceful assembly.

While Burma faces significant challenges, including the consolidation of its democracy, the United States can, and intends to, use other means to support the government and people of Burma in their efforts to address these challenges, Obamas letter said.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and democracy icon, helped persuade the West to impose sanctions on Burma during her years as a jailed opposition leader. She is now trying to strike a balance between showing her people the economic rewards of a democratic transition while keeping pressure on the countrys generals for further reforms.

Some members of the U.S. Congress have expressed concerns about the extent and durability of change in Burma and introduced legislation seeking to give lawmakers some influence on the process of easing sanctions.

Rights groups condemned last months announcement, saying it forfeited leverage on Burmas military.

Officials of the US administration have said the removal of sanctions would not apply to military-to-military assistance, given the extent of the militarys involvement in politics and rights abuses.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi herself has been criticized for doing too little to address the plight of Burmas stateless Rohingya Muslim minority.

The State Department said last month that several restrictions would remain in place, including barring visas for military leaders.
Burma Rangoon Govt Reviewing Motorcycle Ban

Two men ride on a motorcycle in the outskirts of Rangoon. / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  Rangoon regional government is reviewing a ban on motorcycles in central areas of Burmas commercial capital, the regions transport minister told lawmakers during the regional legislative session of parliament on Thursday.

Responding to a question concerning official permission for motorcycle licenses and dealers in the outskirts of the citys municipal council-controlled areas, the minister of electricity, industry, roads and transportation Daw Nilar Kyaw said that the regional government was completing reviews on rules and regulations related to setting territories for motorcycle riding.

After setting areas [for motorcycle use], motorcyclists must have a driving license and a license for their vehicle, she said, adding that the regulation must be robustly enforced.

While there is no specific law for riding two-wheeled vehicles in Rangoon, motorcycles have been banned in 33 municipal council-controlled townships since the early 2000s while government officials were allowed to ride motorcycles until July 2009, as per guidelines released by the citys transport authorities.

There are currently 14 townships that are not under the administration of the citys municipal authorityYangon City Development Committee (YCDC)where many residents regularly use motorcycles.

Burma has an estimated four million registered motorcycles in the country, based on official figures, and many more are imported illegally.

Daw Nilar Kyaw said she could not say when an announcement on the updated regulations would be made.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

Customs duties on the export of hides will be introduced in Azerbaijan for 5 years, according to the decision of the countrys Cabinet of Ministers published in the Azerbaijani official press.

The changes, in particular, will affect the export of cattle hides, raw hides of sheep and lambs, including fresh, salted or dried hides.

In accordance with the changes to the Cabinets decision On rates of customs duties regarding export-import operations in Azerbaijan, the new customs duties on the export of furs will range from $150 to $500 per 1,000 kilograms.

The amendments will enter into force November 7, 2016.
Burma Rangoon Motel Sues NLD Lawmaker for Alleged Drunken Brawl

The Motel Shwepyithar, the site of the alleged brawl. / Facebook

RANGOON  A Rangoon motel has filed a lawsuit against a National League for Democracy lawmaker, U Nyan Linn, accusing him and two friends of swearing, threatening and drunkenly fighting with motel staff on Saturday evening.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the Motel Shwepyithar claimed that the lawmaker, who represents Rangoons Shwepyithar Township in the Lower House, arrived drunk at the motel with two friends at around 11 pm, with the intention of singing karaoke. The three became enraged when staff told them that the karaoke machines were out of order, sparking the brawl.

U Nyan Lin is a lawmaker and a respected person in light of his position. We will proceed in line with the law against his anarchic actions in our hotel, motel supervisor Ko Maung Maung Lay told The Irrawaddy.

The supervisor said the motel was opened a year ago and the karaoke machines were intended mainly for guests, who each received a free one-hour session.

U Nyan Lin however denied that he had gone to the motel to sing karaoke: I went because I had received complaints about the motel from locals, he told The Irrawaddy.

He said he had no plan so far to respond to the motels allegations because I did not commit any of the charges.

He added that he had informed the Shwepyithar Township administrator and the police prior to visiting the motel, and chose to go in plain clothesposing as an ordinary customer to verify locals complaintsout of concern that the hotels image would suffer in the case of a more official inspection.
Burma This Week in Parliament (October 3-7)

Members attend a meeting at the Lower House of Burmas parliament earlier this year. / Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters

Monday (October 3)

In the Lower House, lawmakers voted to reject Dr Maung Thins proposal for the government to design an inclusive basic education policy by holding seminars at different levels and inviting input from different levels of society.

In the Upper House, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr Tun Win responded to a question from Daw Ei Ei Pyone of Irrawaddy Division (8), saying that his ministry is disseminating knowledge about good agricultural practice, soil management and the use of fertilizer and pesticides, right down to local level, while prioritizing research and development.

Tuesday (October 4)

In the Lower House, lawmakers debated a proposal from U Than Nyunt, representing Phyu Township of Pegu Division, for the government to upgrade rail transport in line with international standards. The house put the proposal on record.

The Union Parliament revoked the widely derided 1950 Emergency Provisions Act, which had been used frequently by successive military governments to imprison dissidents.

Wednesday (October 5)

In the Lower House, U Myint Lwin, who represents Twante Township of Rangoon Division, asked whether the government had plans to support Burmas film industry, with an eye to penetrating international movie markets. Minister of Information U Pe Myint replied that a dedicated motion picture law is a precondition for developing Burmas film industry and said his ministry was working with relevant individuals, associations and ministries to develop one.

The Upper House approved the draft of the hotly anticipated Myanmar Investment Law, which merges and updates the provisions of the 2012 Foreign Investment Law and the 2013 Myanmar Citizens Investment Law.

Thursday (October 6)

The Lower House approved amendments to the civil service law. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Maj-Gen Aung Soe responded to a question from U Tun Tun, of Pwintbyu Township in Magwe Division, saying that his ministry is taking legal action against illegal liquor shops and bootleg sellers, and is making brewing plants undergo checks before extending their licenses.

In the Lower House, lawmaker U Tin Aye asked about the governments security plans in light of increasing terrorist attacks in other countries in the region. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Maj-Gen Aung Soe replied that his ministry has blacklisted international terrorist organizations and their members, in accordance with lists supplied by Interpol, Aseanpol and partner organizations, and has developed counter-terrorism plans based on international practice.

In the Upper House, U Hla Hsan of Magwe Division (1) asked about five state-run fertilizer plants and about fertilizer imports. Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr Tun Naing said that two plants, in Myaungdaga and Kangyidaunt, are still operating but manufacturing below normal levels while three others, in Sale, Kyunchaung and Kyaw Swar, have halted production because of a shortage of natural gas needed for fuel. He said that the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation regulates imports of fertilizer to ensure their quality and accessibility.

Lawmakers in the Upper House also debated a new bill to protect citizens privacy and security from state intrusion, which was previously passed by the Lower House.

Friday (October 7)

The Lower Houses term formally concluded. According to the Lower House speaker, a total of 225 asterisk questions and 407 non-asterisk questions were asked throughout the term. Sixteen proposals, including two important proposals, were submittedfour were approved, nine others documented, two rejected and one was not discussed. Ten out of 19 bills were passed.

In the Upper House, divergent views were expressed over the bill to protect citizens privacy and security. The debate will continue at the Union Parliament during the next parliamentary term.

In the Union Parliament, lawmakers ratified an Asean protocol concerning an enhanced dispute-settlement mechanism.
Burma Whats Next in Mongla and Wa Tensions?

UWSA soldiers on military parade / Shan Herald Agency for News

RANGOON  Military tensions arose unexpectedly between the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and its closest ally, the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) better known as the Mongla Group, at the end of September.

On Sept. 28, around 600 UWSA troops raided Mongla Group outposts in Loi Hsarm Hsoom, Loi Kiusai and Parng Mark Fah inspection gate between Kengtung and Mongla in eastern Shan State and arrested over 150 Mongla Group troops, local media reported.

As observers reacted with surprise to the unexpected conflict between the two groups who share former affiliations with the Communist Party of Burma (CPB), the Mongla Group released a statement on Oct. 3.

The statement said that UWSA troops had conducted field exercises in the area controlled by the Mongla Group and that some UWSA troops had made serious mistakes during the exercise, resulting in terrible consequences.

The statement did not provide details about the alleged incidents, but said that leaders of the two groups subsequently met on Oct. 1, when UWSA leaders commanded its officers who performed the military exercises on the ground to correct the mistakes.

U Kyi Myint, a spokesperson for the Mongla Group, refused to provide specific information when asked by The Irrawaddy about the case. Just refer to the statement. We have no problem. Everything is just all right, he said.

Local media outlets questioned both the Mongla Group and the UWSA about the incident, but neither provided details.

According to information leaked from troops on the ground, the UWSA freed Mongla Group troops and returned the Parng Mark Fah inspection gate within three days, but it has continued to hold the strategically important bases of Loi Hsarm Hsoom and Loi Kiusai and to send reinforcements and ammunition into the areas.

Sources close to the UWSA said it had done so in preparation for military activities by the Burma Army.

A person close to the UWSA told The Irrawaddy on condition of anonymity: The place(s) [previously] held by the Mongla Group are militarily important, but their deployment there is not strong enough. Losing this area would put both the Mongla Group and the UWSA at grave risk.

Some military analysts had a different view, arguing that the Mongla Group had released the statement as a bid, using peaceful means, to persuade the UWSA to retreat.

In 2009, when the Burma Army was putting pressure on ethnic armed groups to transform into sections of the Burma Army-aligned militia known as the Border Guard Force, the UWSA deployed its troops in the area with the approval of the Mongla Group, said U Maung Maung Soe, an ethnic affairs analyst.

He concludeds that the UWSA was now conducting military activities in the area as a response to the Burma Armys recent attacks on ethnic groups, including the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).

The UWSA and the Mongla Group have traditionally shared similar views on Burmas government and on ethnic issues, but after the National League for Democracy (NLD) government took office this year, the UWSA started to perceive that the Mongla Group had changed its standpoint, according to some military analysts.

Some analysts assessed that that the UWSA was not satisfied with the Mongla Groups repeatedly making statements in support of the new government and expressing trust in the governments peace initiative. The latest confrontation may reflect the UWSAs irritation with the Mongla Group after the 21st Century Panglong peace conference, they say.

The problem is that the Mongla Group talked about its support for the 21st Century Panglong peace conference and signing the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA), which upset the UWSA, a military analyst told the Irrawaddy on condition of anonymity.

At the conference, the Mongla Group suggested that it may sign the NCA and engage in peace and development talks, while the UWSA has repeatedly said that the NCA was not necessary.

The two allies, which often refer to each other as brothers, approached the 21st Century Panglong peace conference differently. While the Mongla Group dispatched senior leaders, the UWSA only sent officers in charge of liaison offices to the government-organized event/ On the second day of the conference, the UWSA staged a dramatic walk-out, apparently as a result of a misunderstanding over ID cards issued to itsdelegates.

The UWSA has felt some concern over closer ties between the Mongla Group, the government and the Burma Army and therefore took preemptive action to occupy militarily strategic areas, said Khun Sai, chief editor of the Shan Herald News Agency which is monitoring ethnic armed group issues in Shan State.

Im not sure how important those places are for the Mongla Group, but they are absolutely crucial for the UWSA. If those places fell into the hands of Burma Army, the UWSA is finished, U Khun Sai told The Irrawaddy.

The UWSA is based in two places. It has territory on the Thailand-Burma border while its headquarters are on the China-Burma border, both areas within Shan State. The Mongla region lies in a strategic position connecting the two territories. If the Wa have to choose between the Thailand-Burma border and that area in Mongla, they would choose the latter. That place is that important to them, said U Khun Sai.

Apart from its military importance, the area recently newly occupied by the UWSA is in the economically strategic Golden Triangle area straddling Burma, Thailand and Laos. Burma Army battalions are also deployed in the area.

The UWSA may also be more concerned that the Mongla Group will draw closer to the Burma Army than to the government, some have suggested. Such ties would constitute a real threat to the UWSA, one analyst said.

Now, despite the Mongla Groups recent public statement, the UWSA has brought in large reinforcements to the areas in question. It remains to be seen how tensions between the two groups will develop and what impact this may on Burmas peace process.
News Damaged Bagan Temples Under Detailed Assessment

One of the temples in Bagan seen after the earthquake on Aug. 26. / JPaing / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON Ancient temples and pagodas in Bagan which were damaged in a powerful earthquake in August are currently under detailed assessment by Unesco experts and the Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library.

Officials from the department told The Irrawaddy that the detailed assessment was started in early September, after emergency responses and an initial assessment took place from Aug. 28 to Sep. 10, and is targeted to finish by the end of November.

The director of Bagans Archaeological Department U Aung Aung Kyaw explained that the detailed work would assess individual temples with severe damage while the rapid assessment helped analyze the severity of the damaged temples, all of which have high historical and cultural heritage value.

Detailed assessment takes time, he said. It will assist technical experts in planning restoration works for individual damaged temples more effectively.

There are things that cant be done easily, U Aung Aung Kyaw said, citing the difficulty of constructing scaffolding on the big temples to clean debris at the top of the structures.

According to the latest data released by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, the earthquake affected a total of 449 temples out of 3,252 across the ancient capital on Bagan plain.

This included iconic structures Sulamani, Ananda, Htilominlo, Myazedi, Shwesandaw, Lawkananda and Dhamma Yazaka, and the murals at Ananda Oakkyaung.

U Than Zaw Oo, director of Burmas branch of the World Heritage Site Committee, told The Irrawaddy that five teams led by the department, and under Unescos guidance, are conducting a detailed assessment on individual structures in order to ascertain the extent of the damage, including harm to murals.

The detailed assessment will be reported to the technical expert team comprised of archaeology experts from Unesco, the Association of Myanmar Architects, the Myanmar Engineering Society and the ministry itself, for thorough analysis and recommendations for restoration work, U Than Zaw Oo explained.

We have only finished about thirty temples now, he said. Depending on the severity of the damage, we prioritize which temples to assess first.

It is expected that they will work on over one hundred temples during the process, he added.

A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck central Burma at 5:04 p.m. on Aug. 24, centered about 15 miles west of Chauk in Magwe Division. It damaged ancient temples in Bagan, located to the north of the epicenter.

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi sent notice to officials in the Bagan archaeological zone not to rush the restoration of the damaged pagodas and temples, and to seek technical assistance from Unesco.

She met with the director general of Unesco in New York during a trip to attend the UN General Assembly and stressed the importance of Bagans cultural heritage. Unesco also pledged to support the restoration of the damage temples.

The temples of Bagan, dating from between the 9th and 13th centurieswhen the Kingdom of Pagan ruled over much of lowland Burmaare considered Burmas biggest tourist draw, although the ancient capital has yet to be granted World Heritage Site status, allegedly on account of sub-standard, inauthentic restoration efforts under previous governments.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

By Ilhama Isabalayeva  Trend:

It is necessary to prevent the artificial rise in prices in Azerbaijan to protect the domestic market, the countrys MP Aydin Huseynov said.

He was commenting on the speeches made during the meeting of Azerbaijans Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to results of socio-economic development in nine months of 2016 and objectives for the future.

Huseynov said that it is necessary to use Azerbaijans inner potential and local raw materials to protect the countrys domestic market.

The raw materials should be sent not for sale, but for the production, he noted. Manufacture of goods should be ensured at the expense of local raw materials. The main objective of the economic strategy of Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev is the diversification of the countrys economy and the complete elimination of economic dependence on the oil factor.

It is necessary to develop the agricultural sector, industry and tourism spheres for that, the MP said. At the same time, enhancement of export potential of Azerbaijan, reducing the countrys dependence on imports, manufacture of competitive products should be important factors.

Huseynov said that the food provision of Azerbaijan should be implemented fully at the expense of the domestic market.

Regarding the importance of creating large-scale industrial complexes, the MP said that the growth of competitive export products should be one of important steps for the inflow of foreign currency into Azerbaijan.
Earlier this year, Sony launched its flagship phones on Mobile World Congress (MWC) namely Xperia X Performance, Xperia X and Xperia XA. Releasing just last month to the public is Sony Xperi XZ after its predecessor, Xperia X.

Sony Xperia XZ Deep Pink Exclusivity To O2

Sony Xperia XZ' specs are a 5.2 inch full high definition (HD) display with 1920 x 1080 pixels. It is powered by Snapdragon 820 processor, 3GB RAM, internal memory of 32GB and 64GB and 23-megapixel rear snapper and 13-megapixel front snapper.

Sony first introduced three colors of Xperia XZ such as Mineral Black, Platinum and Forest Blue. The company just recently introduced its newest color, Deep Pink, in a report on Android Headlines.

Unfortunately, Deep Pink Xperia XZ is exclusive to the British carrier, O2 and that is the reason why it was not launched anywhere. The new variant of the flagship phone will be available outside parties but it is yet to be announced when.

In U.K., Deep Pink variant of Sony Xperia Xz seems to be the favorite of the device. Some customers from other countries wish that it will be available in their respective places, according to Phone Arena.

Sony's Fingerprint Sensor Can Be Activated Again

This week, Sony launched Xperia XZ and Xperia X compact in U.S. The American versions of the flagship phones do not have the fingerprint sensor anymore.

According to The Verge, surprisingly, XDA developers revealed that Sony did not really disregarded the fingerprint sensors. They also discovered that the function was locked by certain restrictions. The only answer to the sensor problem is to unlock it with software from other regions where it is working.

This is not the first time that Sony has restricted fingerprint sensors in the U.S. Don Mesa, senior director of marketing said that removing the function is a business decision needs to make for the transition from the carrier to unlocked market.
"Underworld: Blood Wars" star Kate Beckinsale hinted at the possible comeback of Marvel's powerful vampire slayer, Blade, during a panel interview at the 2016 New York Comic Con.

Beckinsale might have unconsciously teased a new "Blade" project when she was asked by the press at 2016 NYCC on Oct. 7, Friday. The actress was interrogated about a possible crossover with the hero character Blade who, in Marvel stories, is a strong vampire hunter. She denied the crossover rumors, and said that the idea might have crossed some minds but nothing surfaced. The actress also teased that Marvel is currently working on something with Blade, but did not further elaborate.

"No. We had that idea," Beckinsale said, and added, "They're [Marvel] busy. They're doing something with Blade."

Marvel has not done any promotion for the Blade character for a long time. The last "Blade" solo movie that went out was 2004's "Blade: Trinity." However, rumors about Blade guesting in the "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" TV series went out earlier this year since the original comic book has a part in the story for the character.

Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. And BLADE

Marvel's story for "Captain America: Civil War" had superheroes of the Marvel Universe split over the Superhuman Registration Act. In the comic book, Blade was one of those who registered and began to cooperate with S.H.I.E.L.D. Blade's alliance with the organization gained him his gun hand, which he used in his quests.

Though the story in the books went this way, rumors about a different opportunity for "Blade" came out. Rumors have it that the vampire hunter will have another solo movie in a date yet unconfirmed. Marvel, however, remains silent until now about its plans for its vampire slayer character.

Blade In The Past Years

Marvel's last Blade movie project, "Blade Trinity," was said to be largely panned by the studio and only gathered 25 percent approval rating. The series had not been touched upon since then. Two years later, "Blade" got another chance to revive its popularity as Spike TV decided to air a short-lived "Blade" TV series, but after the show's cancellation, it has not been back on TV or theaters since.

Blade was rumored several times in the past to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Wesley Snipes, for one, has been vocal about his interest in creating a fourth "Blade" movie where he was supposed to meet with Marvel to discuss a project for the character, yet nothing solid came to work.

But now that Beckinsale spilled something about Blade, fans are eager to see what Marvel will come up with for the hero, if it is going to be a movie reboot or a solo TV series.


An article in yesterday's USA Today by Kim Komando, How to keep hackers out of your router, claims that updating the firmware in a router will keep out hackers. This is not even close to being true and, in another context, would be considered malpractice.

I'll illustrate how flawed her premise is with an analogy. Suppose you went to a doctor seeking advice on being as healthy as possible and were told that simply taking a vitamin pill is all that's necessary to live to 100. Obviously, there's more to it.

The article as it appears on USAtoday.com

Not only is the advice terribly incomplete, but Ms. Komando seems to be living in a fantasy world where router manufacturers always fix security flaws. Often, they do not.

Komando also engages in scare mongering, writing that

Hackers are continually looking for targets. Armed with just a few details that are readily available online, your personal files and devices are at risk. It only takes knowing a routers IP address and administrative password to get on a network. A simple Google search is all it takes to find both for just about any router make and model.

To hack into a router, a bad guy needs more than just an IP address and a router password. Most routers do not respond to commands issued to them over the Internet. If a router does, then chances are that it was configured that way by an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

This leads to one of the first recommendations I make on my RouterSecurity.org site - don't use a router provided by your Internet Service Provider. ISPs are notorious for the security failings in the way they configure routers.

Perhaps the best thing you can do for router security is to buy one from a company that cares about the software it runs. That means avoiding consumer routers too. Manufacturers of consumer routers want the software to be cheap, not secure. There is no reward in the consumer marketplace for router security.

As for the actual configuration changes that can make a router more secure, I have a list of 13 items on the RouterSecurity.org home page. This is not a complete list, but it would make any router far more secure. Updating the router firmware is the last item on the list.

CHANGES ARE COMING

Interestingly, the router world is changing. More and more routers are dumping the web interface with 312 options and replacing it with a mobile app with very few configuration options. It can be thought of as Routers for Dummies.

My fear with these new consumer-focused routers is that security features may get thrown overboard.

I don't know for sure, because no router review ever discusses the security of the router, other than to recommend WPA2. Anyone can read a multitude of reviews of the Eero, Luma, Starry Station and OnHub routers and come away with no clue whether they can disable UPnP, Telnet, SSH, SMNP, WPS, IPv6 or how isolated their Guest networks really are. Reviewers care about Wi-Fi speed, Wi-Fi range and little else.

Another change, as Ms. Komando mentioned, is that some new routers can self-update. That is, they download and install new firmware on their own, much like a Chromebook. Among the self-updating routers are Google's OnHub, Eero, Luma, the Synology RT1900ac, Starry Station and the upcoming Turris Omnia, if it ever ships.

However, self-updating is not necessarily nirvana. For example, if a network starts mis-behaving on a Wednesday, was it because the router was updated Tuesday? Can you even tell the last time a self-updating router was updated? Does the vendor document the changes in each update?

Item 16 on my Router Security Checklist has fifteen considerations for self-updating routers. I hope to get my first self-updating model soon, and I will report how well it does when measured against these criteria.



ADVICE FROM REAL EXPERTS

USA Today claims that "Tech columnist Kim Komando offers the best advice for keeping your Internet router secure." This could not be further from the truth.

The best advice is available, without ads, on my RouterSecurity.org site.

But, you don't need to believe me. Excellent advice is also available from Lucian Constantin of IDG News Service (July 2016), Kevin Dearing at Ghacks.net (March 2015), Leo Notenboom of AskLeo.com (May 2016) and Craig Young of Tripwire (Feb. 2014 and again in April 2015). Much of the advice overlaps, the list of security tweaks is only so long.

Banner from Komando.com

Ms. Komando describes herself as America's digital goddess. I see her as unqualified.
President of Middle-East & North-Africa Total Exploration & Production, Stephane Michel, said on Saturday that oil giants are in competition to come back to Iranian market, IRNA reported.

The Persian daily, Iran, quotes Michel as saying that in the wake of lifting the sanctions and implementation of the Joint Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran's international relations have undergone major change.

The ice of economic and commercial relations between Iran and other countries in the years of sanctions are getting melted.

He said that the oil industry, standing as the most important source of income for Iran, was one of the Iranian economic sector which suffered from the sanctions.

Under sanctons, oil production fell down due to restrictions on oil exports due to lack of proper and timely investment to the extent that export of gas lowered to less than one million bpd from more than 2.2 million bpd.

However, good predictions were envisaged for the propspects of Iranian oil economy were made in 2014. In addition to reforms in government's macro policies, which led to considerable growth in oil production even before lifting the sanctions, new atmosphere was created for return of investors and oil giants to Iran.

From the early days of the the nuclear deal, directors of the the international companies active in oil industry visited Tehran along with their respective country's economic delegations and voiced interest in resumption of the ties cut-off for years.

Officials of the most reputable European oil companies held talks with Iranian officials. Total SA of France, the world's fourth major oil company that signed four contracts with Iran in the years prior to sanctions, is willing to come back to Iran.

The subject of the first contract is purchase of 160,000 bpd oil from Iran by Total, indicating the company's interest. In the post-sanctions era, Total team of experts and senior officials visited Iran four times following up issues of mutual interest.

This time reporters went to the 46-storey building of Total in Paris to hold talks with the senior officials. Michel took part in the Q&A session with reporter of the Persian daily of Iran.

During the interview, the senior director of Total said that the French company is highly willing to return to Iranian oil industry. He said that all the world oil giants have got prepared for entering Iranian oil industry and are competing with each other.

Michel said Total team of managers set two main conditions for resumption of ties with Iran and that fortunately two of the conditions have been met. The first condition of Total was elimination of international sanctions on Iran, that was met in January 2016, and now all sanctions are lifted.

The second condition was related to oil contracts. According to the Total official, Iran's previous contracts, which was the basis of cooperation with foreign companies, was based on the buy-back model, being less beneficial for the foreign party.

For this reason, foreign companies had called for amendment of Iranian oil contracts.

Of course, Iranian government had prior to the sanctions lifted, decided to attract foreign investment.

After months of debate and approval of the new model of oil contracts, the so-called IPC, the contracts were finalized and published.

In an interview with Iran, Michel reiterated Total's willingness for presence in Iranian oil industry.

'We are fully prepared for beginning projects and signing contracts with Iran. We are only waiting release of the new oil contracts to foreign companies. Total is ready for cooperation in oil production and exploration, willing to enter Iranian petrochemical industry.'

The Total of France official said that the contract for joint production of engine oil, signed several years ago between a private Iranian company and Total, will be activated.

The gas industry is also one of the main priorities of Total for investment in Iran.

Of course, the point Michel is stressing is transfer of the technical and engineering know-how.

The director said the MoU signed between Iranian Ministry of Petroleum and the company was enforced during visit of Iranian president to Paris.

He added that since the deal was signed, Total team of experts launched needs assessment job on the projects for cooperation, amount of investment and the technology.

Noting that Iran is a big country and is an influential player in energy for enjoying giant oil and gas reserves, Michel said Total SA of France can meet part of the investment needed for the oil projects, in parallel with transfer of technology and know-how.

He noted that of course, due to the world's economic recession over the past several years, investment has been on the downward trend so far.

In 2014, Total SA of France made more than 28 billion euros investment and it is predicted that the figure will rise to 15 billion to 17 billion euros in 2017.
Tehran, Iran, Oct. 8

By Emil Ilgar  Trend:

Irans non-oil trade balance stood at $1.398 billion in the first half of the current fiscal year(started on March 21).

According to the monthly report of Irans Custom Administration, Iran exported $21.706 billion worth of commodities, 5.99 percent more than in the same period of the last fiscal year, while its imports decreased by 2.61 percent to $20.308 billion.

Iran includes gas condensate and liquid gases in its non-oil export basket, while the total amount of Irans gas condensate, propane, butane and other liquid gases was about $7 billion.

Irans exports in 1HFY Volume (million tons) Y/Y change Value (billion $) Y/Y change Gas condensate 8.901 - 3.36% 3.496 - 12.85% Petrochemical products 18.719 + 53.50% 8.698 + 22.04% Other commodities 31.512 + 22.49% 9.512 + 1.84% Total 59.132 + 25.46% 21.706 + 5.99%

China was Irans major trade partner during the last six months. According to the report, China shares 18.43 percent of Irans total non-oil exports as well as 23.93 percent of Irans total imports.

Germany also increased exports to Iran by 26.04 percent to $1.122 billion.

Latest
Tehran, Iran, October 9

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

Iran exchanged more than 2,000 megawatts of power with its neighbors on October 8.

For the day, Iran exported 1,428 megawatts of power while importing 603 megawatts, adding up to 2,031 megawatts, Ministry of Energys News Agency reported October 9.

Also for the day, the peak power consumption in Iran was registered at 38,856 megawatts, 3,026 megawatts more than the same day last year.

The countrys industrial sector on October 8 consumed 4,040 megawatts power.

Irans power storage in its nightly peak reached 7,118 megawatts during the mentioned time.

Iran exchanges power with Armenia, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Irans installed power generation capacity is 74,000 megawatts. One percent of it is nuclear generated, less than one percent comes from new energy sources, and the rest is hydro or fossil fuel generated.
GREENSBORO  State legislators say a judge shouldnt be allowed to see a list of documents theyre withholding from plaintiffs in the Greensboro City Council redistricting lawsuit.

On Thursday, attorneys for seven Republican lawmakers and one legislative researcher asked the U.S. District Court in Greensboro to amend an order requiring such a privilege log.

The legislators, all Republicans, include members of the Guilford County delegation: state Reps. John Faircloth and Jon Hardister and state Sen. Trudy Wade.

In September, U.S. District Court Judge Joe Webster ordered the privilege log as a compromise: The legislators are fighting subpoenas from a group of local residents suing to stop the redistricting because they say its unfair to black voters.

Webster gave the legislators 30 days to create a list of documents they want to keep private  and to describe the documents and explain why they should be withheld.

He said he would look at the privilege log privately, then decide whether to make legislators comply with the subpoenas.

But creating such a list  even for a judges eyes only  would create a chilling effect on confidential communication between lawmakers and staff members, attorneys for the legislators said in Thursdays filing.

It said allowing other legislators or legislative staff to review and assess documents in order to create a privilege log would in itself breach the privilege.

Legislators said they instead will give the court a categorical privilege log, which defines documents by categories rather than explains each document.

Any more detail would chill legislative action over concern that communications meant to be confidential, in order to facilitate the legislative process, could be subpoenaed, the filing said.

The subpoenas demand documents Wade, Faircloth, Hardister and other legislators used to redraw the City Councils voting lines last year. The attorneys say the legislators have provided all the information thats not covered by legislative privilege.

In July 2015, the N.C. Senate and N.C. House passed a law that drew eight new voting districts for the council. It eliminated the three at-large members  those elected by all city voters.

Instead, the new council would have eight members elected from newly drawn districts. It also would have a mayor elected by all city voters who couldnt vote on proceedings except in the case of a tie.

A federal judge stopped the law from going into effect for the 2015 council election. But the city moved ahead with the lawsuit to stop the plan from taking effect for the 2017 election.

Filing for that election begins in July.

The trial is scheduled to begin early next year.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Iran exported its seventh powdered milk cargo to Russia though Astara border checkpoint, Bahram Pourzarb, head of Astara Veterinary Bureau, said.

The cargo was 20 tons, worth $36,800, Pourzarb said, IRNA news agency reported Oct. 9.

Iran has exported 300 tons of powdered milk to Russia during the current fiscal year (started March 20) through Astara border checkpoint.

The first cargo worth $34,000 was exported in June.

Astara is situated in Irans border with Azerbaijan and is the countrys door to Central Asia and the Caucasus.
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By TeleSur |  

Saudi Arabia and 10 of its Middle East allies began their military offensive in Yemen with over 100 warplanes and 150,000 troops.

Saudi-led warplanes killed at least 82 people when they struck mourners at a hall in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Saturday, the acting health minister in the Houthi-run administration said, but the coalition denied any role in the incident.

[Update: The death toll has allegedly risen to between 150 and 750:

#Breaking DEATH TOLL Rises: 720 civilians killed & injured today when 4 Saudi airstrikes attacked funeral hall in #Yemen capital #Sanaa. pic.twitter.com/8MflN5DTIX  Yemen Post Newspaper (@YemenPostNews) October 8, 2016

}

Ghazi Ismail also said that 534 other people were wounded in the air strike in the southern part of the city, where a wake was taking place for the father of the administrations interior minister, Jalal al-Roweishan, who had died of natural causes on Friday.

The death toll was one of the largest in any single incident since the Saudi-led alliance began military operations to try to restore President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power following his ousting by the Iran-aligned Houthis in March 2015. Among the victims were military and security officials from the rebel group fighting the government of Saudi-backed President Mansour Hadi, who is currently in exile in Riyadh.

The coalition has been conducting deadly airstrikes that have constantly targeted civilians, United Nations recently said that nearly 10,000 people have been killed in the 18-month-long armed conflict in Yemen, among them 3,799 civilians including women and children.

The Houthis, whose name means Supporters of God, follow a similar ideology to Lebanons resistance movement Hezbollah and played a prominent role during the ousting of dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh in 2011.

Saudi Arabia has constantly targeted civilians and public facilities like hospitals, including those run by international organizations like Doctors Without Borders.

Via TeleSur



Related video added by Juan Cole:

AFP: Yemenis say say dozens killed in Sanaa air raids 
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

The de facto criminalization of being Muslim or speaking Arabic, which is contrary to every core American value and contradicts the First Amendment, is proceeding apace. The number of anti-Muslim attacks in the US is up by 80% since Donald Trump announced his proposed Muslim ban last fall. The article just linked to concerns a Muslim man who was sitting in a parked care in Washington DC when a passer-by threw a fire-bomb into it and said, Take that, Muslim! The victim is in hospital.

In early September, a 32-year-old Brooklyn woman punched, kicked and tried to rip the veils off two Muslim women pushing baby carriages. She shrieked, This is the United States of America, youre not supposed to be different from us  You dont belong here!

Then in mid-September, a man came up to a traditionally-dressed Muslim woman in a department store in New York city, and used his lighter to set her blouse on fire. She didnt notice him at first but felt the heat and patted out the fire.

Two veiled Muslim women were kicked off a Jet Blue flight by a flight attendant who said she did not like the way the women were staring at her. The airline maintained that the real reason the passengers were removed was that they had filmed the sensitive in-flight activities. If airlines are going to make it illegal to take phone videos of ones flight, which lots of tourists and first-time flyers do, then they have to announce that policy beforehand.

A young UC Berkeley graduate was kicked off a Southwest Airlines plane at LAX for making a quick pre-take-off call to his uncle in Baghdad, at the end of which he used the phrase inshallah or God willing in Arabic. The young man said he had lived under Saddam Hussein in Iraq and recognized discrimination when he saw it. I guess hes liberated, now.

Something like 400 million people in the world speak Arabic at home, and it is a liturgical language for 1.6 billion Muslims. It is spoken also by Lebanese and Egyptian Christians and by Moroccan and Tunisian Jews.

It is worth explaining inshallah. It is the same as in Christianity. Consider James 4 from the New Testament:

13 Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money. 14 Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wishes [Ean ho Kyrios thelese], we will live and do this or that. 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.

Muslims feel just as the apostle James did, that you shouldnt be overly proud and make plans for the morrow when we are mortal. There is an Omar Khayyam poem in which he says we dont even know if we will live to expel the breath we just took in. So to mark that humility before God, Christians say about the future, God willing. And Muslims say the same thing, inshallah. In fact the sentiment behind the word is contrary to the attitude of terrorists from any religion, who try to take destiny in their own hands.

In September, a Trump-inspired felon allegedly set fire to and destroyed a prominent mosque about an hours drive north of West Palm Beach. His slogan? All Muslims are radical. Not even professional Islamophobes would say that. There is a long history of white supremacists destroying Black churches. The mosques have joined that fate.

If you follow all these disturbing incidents around the country, it is extremely alarming and shows the United States going in a very disturbing direction. Muslims comprise about 1% of the US population, about 3 million people. 99.999% of them are law-abiding, kind and generous citizens. A significant proportion of our physicians are Muslim. Only 100 Americans have died in terrorist attacks done by people of Muslim background in the past decade, and most of those were in the Orlando nightclub attack, which surely was more about conflicted gay identity than Muslim radicalism. You cant criminalize 3 million people over the actions of a tiny fringe. At a time when the Alt-Right is boasting of being a Trump constituency, it should be remembered that the white far right kills far more Americans in terrorist attacks, but no one discriminates against white people on that basis.

-

Related video:

RT America: New York City launches ad campaign against Islamophobia
[JURIST] US District Judge Miranda Du on Friday issued a preliminary injunction in favor of the Pyramid Lake and Walker River Paiute [official websites] Native American tribes in their challenge to Nevadas voting procedure. The tribes alleged Washoe County, Mineral County and the Nevada Secretary of State [official websites] were in violation of the Voting Rights Act [backgrounder] by failing to have polling places on Native American reservations in Northern Nevada. Du agreed with the states argument that requiring it to setup new voting booths would be a huge, costly challenge, but granted the tribes sought injunction anyway, stating, [t]he court acknowledges the substantial costs that injunctive relief places upon the counties, especially at this late hour. It is difficult, however, to balance a financial and logistical hardship with a burden on constitutional rights.

Voting issues have become especially contentious as the presidential election approaches. Late last month California Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation [JURIST report] clarifying felons voting rights. The law now clarifies that those sentenced under the third category of Criminal Justice Realignment Act of 2011, a term in county jail, are not stripped of their constitutional right to vote and confirms that only those serving a state-prison sentence or on parole and under California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation supervision lose the right to vote. Earlier in September a judge for the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois granted a motion [JURIST report] blocking Illinois from allowing voter registration on Election Day in the states most populated counties. The week before the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit struck down [JURIST report] a procedure implemented by the Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted that effectively eliminated inactive voters from registration rolls if they failed to respond to letters requesting confirmation of their status and addresses.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) [official website] in a press briefing [text] on Friday welcomed the presentation [UN News Centre report] of a draft bill on constitutional justice reforms in the Guatemala legislature. Stating that this represents an historic opportunity to consolidate the remarkable progress the country has achieved in the fight against impunity and corruption in recent years, the OHCHR expressed hope that the bill would be swiftly approved by the Guatemala Congress [official website]. Among other things, the bill seeks to improve access to justice for women and indigenous peoples, recognize indigenous peoples legal jurisdiction over internal matters, strengthen the independence and objectivity of judges and magistrates and depoliticize the nomination and appointment of officials in the justice system. The bill was the result of the collaborative efforts of indigenous authorities, civil society organizations, academicians, judicial officials and members of the private sector who were in turn assisted by the Guatemala attorney general, Human Rights Ombudsman and the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) [official website]. However, the OHCHR has warned that the reforms will not bear fruit unless the safety and security of judicial and other authorities are ensured. The OHCHR highlighted its concerns over the threats against judicial authorities, widespread attacks on human rights defenders and journalists and, particularly, the growing death threats launched against Attorney General Thelma Aldana, who has thus far played a crucial role in the fight against impunity and corruption in the country. Welcoming the measures already taken to protect Aldana, the OHCHR urged Guatemala authorities to ensure that such measures remain effective at all times.

Aldana has played a primary role in the fight against corruption in Guatemala exposing many high profile government officials, which has ultimately led to a growing number of death threats against her. In June Aldana accused [JURIST report] former Guatemala president Otto Perez Molina and ex-vice president Roxana Baldetti of taking nearly USD $130 million in bribes beginning in 2011. Aldana and CICIG presented allegations [press release, in Spanish] of illicit campaign finance, illegal association, passive bribery and money laundering. Molina and Baldetti have faced a swath of legal challenges since their resignation. In April, Aldana accused [JURIST report] Molina of accepting part of a $25 million bribe while in office. In December Molina was charged [JURIST report] with illicit association, customs fraud and bribery. Molina was jailed [JURIST report] pending investigation in September 2015 following an indictment over corruption charges. Also that month Molina sent a letter [JURIST report] to both the Guatemala Congress and reporters announcing his resignation and his intention to stand before justice. The day before his resignation, Molina was stripped of his presidential immunity [JURIST report] in a unanimous vote by Congress. After Molina had previously announced in August of last year that he had no plans to resign, Guatemalas Supreme Court approved [JURIST reports] prosecutors requests to impeach the president.
Uruguays Foreign Minister, Rodolfo Nin Novoa, on Friday urged a former Guantanamo prisoner, Jihad Diyab, to call off his hunger strike, stating that Uruguay is attempting to transfer him to another country. Diyab is a Syrian national who was held for 12 years in Guantanamo without being formally charged and was released in 2014 [JURIST report] along with five other prisoners. Diyab started this strike two months ago demanding that he be reunited with his family. According to rights groups, Diyab is conscious although in weak physical condition. Novoa reiterated that his country will continue looking for a better future for him and his family and urged Diyab to abandon his hunger strike [Reuters report] immediately.

Last month Diyab was hospitalized [JURIST report] owing to his weak physical condition following the first month of his hunger strike. However, Diyab continued his hunger strike post his discharge from the hospital. Republican lawmakers who have been demanding President Barack Obama halt further transfers of Guantanamo prisoners often cite to Diyabs movements [JURIST report] as an example of why such transfers present a security threat. Diyab was first transferred to Uruguay in 2014, but Uruguayan officials lost track of Diyab [NYT report] sometime around July of this year. The previous month Diyab had stated that he would be unreachable by phone or e-mail due to a religious retreat. Diyab was deported to Uruguay [Reuters report] after it was discovered that he had traveled through Brazil and Venezuela unauthorized. Republican lawmakers point out that the released detainees from Guantanamo are being placed in countries which lack the required oversight capabilities.
SPARK Week: Schedule of Events

SPARK (Students Promoting the Advancement of Research at K-State) Week is a week of campus-wide collaboration celebrating and promoting the opportunities for undergraduate research & creative inquiry at K-State. Mark your calendars for the following dates and take advantage of the many offerings during the week!

Check us out on social media!

Monday, October 5

OURCI Information Table  11:00-1:00, Student Union

Visit our table in the union to get more information about the Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry and the events of SPARK Week.

Alpha Chi Sigma Chemistry Magic Show  12:00-1:00, Bosco Plaza

Come help us kick off SPARK Week with a Chemistry Magic Show in Bosco Plaza put on by Alpha Chi Sigma, K-State's professional Chemistry Fraternity! Stop by to see our special guest, chemistry wizard Dean Dorhout; check out some fascinating magic tricks; and get more information about the events of SPARK Week!

Get Published as an Undergraduate!  3:00-4:00 p.m., Leadership Studies Town Hall

Join us for a panel discussion on tips and tricks to getting published as an undergraduate. Our panelists will provide helpful advice for publishing undergraduate research and welcome an interactive dialogue on the ins and outs of undergraduate publishing. Panelists include: Dr. Linda Thurston, Editor-in-Chief of the Prairie Journal of Undergraduate Research; and Tim Cochran, Feature Article Editor of Crossing Borders: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship.

Tuesday, October 6

McNair Scholars Information Table  11:00-1:00, Student Union

Visit the McNair table in the union to get more information about the McNair Scholars Program.

Research & Creative Inquiry Campus-Wide Displays  11:00-1:00

Curious about opportunities in your department? Participating departments will have a staff member at their display to provide more information and answer questions about undergraduate research/creative inquiry involvement opportunities. Visit the link above for a directory of displays.

Tap to Togetherness: Building family relations & enhancing child development through Tap Dance  11:00-1:00, outside area between Nichols Hall and McCain OR Nichols Hall studio 26

The current research team including the K-State Tap Dance Ensemble and the Manhattan, Kansas Parents as Teachers Program, the Department of Early Childhood Development and Research and Extension will be present to answer questions about their research.

Undergrads NOT in the Lab  3:30-4:30, Student Union Little Theatre

Who is the Undergrad NOT in the Lab? Join us for a panel discussion on undergraduate research opportunities NOT in the sciences (e.g.: the arts, architecture, business, education, and the humanities) and how to get involved. Panelistis include Dr. Traci Brimhall, Creative Writing/Poetry; Dr. MJ Morgan, Professor of History and Research Director for the Chapman Center for Rural Studies; and Daniel Warner, Graphic Design.

Wednesday, October 7

Developing Scholars Program Information Table  11:00-1:00, Student Union

Visit our table in the union to get more information about the Developing Scholars Program and the events of SPARK Week.

Spark Tank  12:00-2:00, Union 227

Present your research idea to a panel of judges and receive feedback to strengthen your OURCI Research/Travel Grant Application. Two OURCI Grants will be awarded! Sign-up online by September 30 to participate.

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS ON UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH with President Kirk Schulz  3:00-4:00, Student Union Forum Hall

Join us for President Schulz's address on the relevance and benefits of undergraduate research.



Thursday, October 8

KS-LSAMP Information Table - 11:00-1:00, Student Union

Visit our table in the union to get more information about the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program.

SPARKx - 3:30-4:30 p.m., Leadership Studies 123

K-State and DSP alumnus, Jorge E. Mendoza, shares his journey in research which led him to study sloths in Costa Rica.



Computers and Technology Movie series - 7:00 p.m., Nichols 126

Friday, October 9

OURCI Information Table - 11:00-1:00, Student Union

Visit our table in the union to get more information about getting involved in undergraduate research.

Workshop with Career & Employment Services - 2:30-3:30 p.m., Union 227

Learn how research can help you reach your next step and how to format your research experience on your resume.


Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9

By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for expansion of ties with Thailand in all spheres.

Speaking at a meeting with Thailands Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Rouhani said that Iranian and Thai governments have will to expand ties in diplomatic, economic, cultural and scientific fields, IRNA news agency reported.

Hassan Rouhani is in Thailand, on the final leg of his three-nation tour of Southeast Asia.

President Rouhani left Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur Oct. 8 for Thailand to discuss expansion of trade ties.

The Iranian president launched his Asian tour Oct. 5. The Vietnamese capital of Hanoi was his first destination.

Before departure, Rouhani briefed reporters about his agenda of talks in the three countries.

He described Asia as a highly important continent for Iran, adding, The 21st century belongs to Asia.

An economic delegation has accompanied President Rouhani during the visit where a couple of documents on cooperation have already been signed.
Tehran, Iran, October 9

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:



Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen which left hundreds dead or injured on October 9 have drawn strong response from Iran.

Irans Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan said Saudi rulers are war criminals and should be put on trial, IRIB news agency reported October 9.

They have committed an unforgiveable crime which should not go unnoticed by the world Whoever keeps silent against the barbarity will have assisted the House of Saud with the crime.

More than 150 people were killed and over 500 wounded when airstrikes hit a funeral ceremony in Yemens capital, Sanaa on October 8.

In the aftermath of the strike on Saturday, hundreds of body parts were found strewn in and outside the hall. Rescuers collected them in sacks.

Elsewhere, Secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani denounced Washingtons role in the Saudi airstrike, saying US weapons were used in the attack.

The Yemeni people at the funeral ceremony were bombed with American weapons delivered to the aggressive Saudi army, Shamkhani said, stressing that the US is an accomplice in the crime and should be held accountable for it.

Sales of arms to Saudi Arabia and the (United Arab) Emirates play a key factor in the military aggression against Yemen and the killing of innocent Yemenis, and the West should stop it, he added, saying the Western public opinion should realize what role their governments are playing in the continuation of the war on Yemen.

Thousands of Yemenis took to the streets of Sanaa October 9 to denounce the airstrike.

Carrying flags and placards, the demonstrators gathered outside the United Nations office in Sanaa on Sunday to express their outrage at the Saudi aggression against their country.

The protest rally was called by Yemens Supreme Political Council.

Seeing the severity of the military campaign, the US said its security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check as the Obama Administration strongly condemned its key ally's recent air strikes.

"US security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check," said Ned Price, Spokesman of the National Security Council, the White House.

"Even as we assist Saudi Arabia regarding the defense of their territorial integrity, we have and will continue to express our serious concerns about the conflict in Yemen and how it has been waged," Price said October 8.

"In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led Coalition and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with US principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemen's tragic conflict," he said.

"We call upon the Saudi-led Coalition, the Yemeni government, the Houthis and the Saleh-aligned forces to commit publicly to an immediate cessation of hostilities and implement this cessation based on the April 10th terms," Price said.
By Mehdi Sepahvand

A recently published review by the EU entitled An EU Strategy for relations with Iran after the nuclear deal has drawn positive response from Tehran.

The European Union on October 7 published a document in which it delineated the prospect for relations with the post-sanctions Iran, emphasizing what the EU and Iran need is a strategic and structured dialogue.

The document was released by the European Parliament nearly fifteen months after Iran and key international players, including the European Union, struck a historic deal over Tehrans nuclear program.

Tehrans response is remarkable in that it has focused on the issue of human rights, on which Iran formerly had said would not consider cooperation with the West. The Islamic Republic used to say that with the nuclear deal enough was enough, because there would be no end to the Wests expectations of Iran, ranging from human rights issues to missile program and regional security developments.

However, one day after the EU document was published, Irans Human Rights chief Mohammad Javad Larijani said Iran can drastically reduce the number of death penalties issued by the countrys judiciary system in short notice.

Death verdicts should be limited to drug ringleaders. Doing so, the number of death penalties will quickly decrease. This is under discussion and I think in six to seven months we will reach the primary results in our revision, he told Brazils O Estadao daily.

Larijani, however, peppered his statement by saying that the West should not impose its lifestyle on the Iranian nation.

We do not think that universality provides any ground for imposing lifestyles, cultures, or civilizations. Americans, Germans, or the French cannot claim that lifestyle is exactly what they have in their countries.

He went on to assert that Iran shares 800 kilometers of border with Afghanistan, the worlds repository of opium, and that Tehran, as the biggest drugs fighter, expects more help from Western countries to brace its anti-drug campaign.

Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi on the same day said the country will hold human rights talks with the European Union in the near future.

Reacting to the EU review, the Iranian diplomat said although the document contains some grain of truth, some parts of it are unreal and affected by the campaigns of anti-Iran circles.

In a situation when human rights talks are about to begin between Iran and the EU, such statements are non-constructive and therefore questionable. They not only do not help at all the improvement of human rights talks, but also create ground for assumptions that what is the case is intervention in our countrys internal affairs.

However open and welcoming, Tehrans position entails some fallacy in that it restricts human rights talks to the sphere of drugs.

Official reports say some 90 percent of death penalties in Iran are drugs-related. Knowing this, Tehran is eying a drastic reduction of its overall death penalties by easing big on drugs. This way, it will provide itself with a good record of human rights status improvement and buy considerable negotiation power against the West.

However, no expectation of a decline in death sentences of other natures than drugs is raised from the recent statements.

Follow the author on Twitter @mehdisepahvand
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP)  A California jury determined Friday that Samsung infringed Apple smartphone patents and awarded $120 million in damages.

The panel delivered its verdict in federal court San Jose in the latest lawsuit involving the two tech giants. It also ruled that Apple infringed Samsung patents and awarded $158,000 in damages.

Apple Inc. had sought $2.2 billion after accusing Samsung Electronics Co. of infringing five of its patents covering functions such as slide-to-lock, universal searching, quick linking, automatic word correction and background syncing.

Samsung had sought $6 million after arguing Apple that had infringed two of its smartphone patents related to camera use and video transmission.

The verdict marked the latest intellectual property battle between the worlds top two smartphone makers. Apple and Samsung have sued each other in courts and trade offices around the world.

Two years ago, a separate jury ordered Samsung to pay Apple $930 million after finding it had used Apple technology to create older generation devices. Samsung is appealing that order.

The lawsuits were filed as Apple and Samsung are locked in a bitter struggle for dominance of the $330 billion worldwide smartphone market. Samsung has become the leader of the sector with a 31 percent share after being an also-ran with just 5 percent in 2007. Apple, meanwhile, has seen its market share slip to about 15 percent from a high of 27 percent three years ago.

The jury of four men and four women delivered its verdict in the latest case after beginning deliberations on April 29.

During the monthlong trial, Apple argued that many of the key functions and vital features of Samsung phones were invented by Apple. Samsung countered that its phones operate on the Google Android software system and that any legal complaint Apple has is with the search giant.

Much of the testimony focused on Google. The search giant wasnt a party to the case, but Samsung argued in court that Google and its Android software were the real targets of Apple.

More than 70 percent of smartphones run on Android, a mobile operating system that Google Inc. has given out for free to Samsung and other phone makers.

Google entered the smartphone market while its then-CEO Eric Schmidt was on Apples board. The move infuriated Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who considered Android to be a blatant rip-off of iPhone innovations.

After removing Schmidt from Apples board, Jobs vowed that Apple would resort to thermonuclear war to destroy Android and its allies. At the recent trial, Samsung attorneys produced an email Jobs sent to executives in 2010 urging them to wage a holy war against Android in 2011.

Early in deliberations, the jury wanted to know if Jobs had mentioned Google when considering the lawsuit that was eventually filed in 2012, several months after the Apple founder died of cancer.

U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh told jurors no additional evidence was available to them beyond what was presented during the trial.

Koh answered similarly to questions about Samsungs chief executive officers reaction when informed that Apple executives had complained to executives at the South Korean company about alleged patent infringement.
Monitoring groups and international observers have confirmed that yesterdays parliamentary elections in Georgia expressed the will of the electorate and reaffirmed Georgias democratic credentials, Georgians government reported. They also confirmed that the preliminary results were accurate. The statements by the EU, NATO, OSCE, and Council of Europe, as well as those from domestic election observers, were welcomed by the Government of Georgia.

We dont yet have the final results, but according to the preliminary results, we have convincingly won the electionsThis brings us both great joy and even greater responsibility, and our team, will work tirelessly to justify this trust. said Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

He added, I would like to express my appreciation to the many observers for their active monitoring efforts.

Nearly 30,000 non-partisan observers monitored the election, coming from 111 local and 55 international organizations. 5,368 representatives of 184 international and domestic media organizations also covered the election on October 8.
More than 150 years ago, Abraham Lincoln declared as he accepted the Illinois GOPs nomination as the states U.S. senator that a house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved  I do not expect the house to fall  but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.

His words ring true today, as America is divided into at least two nations. The line that runs through America is not as clear the Civil Wars between free states and slave states. The line that runs through America runs through our hearts.

During the Civil War, the confederate states refused to recognize Lincoln as their president. The outcome of the election this November will reveal the split between those who recognize the winner as their president and those who will not.

While the president currently represents all of us before the United Nations, in welcoming the troops home, etc., he does not represent us in the moral realm in the sanctity of human life from conception to birth.

We have witnessed the holocaust of 50 million, and counting, potential Americans.

I lived through the sexual revolution when the freedom of reproductive rights was discovered and played out through birth control and abortion. That resulted in no birth and no control.

The very notion of reproductive rights is a political concoction that violates reason. Is there such a thing as respiratory rights, digestive rights, optical rights, circulatory rights? The notion that body parts have rights cuts a person into pieces.

The Supreme Court began this notion when it ruled in Roe v. Wade that human life begins at birth, thereby shrouding woman in a right to privacy that cuts her off from all human relationships to ensure her decision to terminate the potential human life within her. It cuts her off from the man who impregnated her, both of their parents and grandparents by placing her in a bell jar of privacy. To consider the fate of the potential human life within her, she must be cut off from the human community.

All this while Justice Andrew Blackmun, writing for the court in Roe v. Wade, concluded that if a fetus were a person, the case upon which he consented would collapse because the fetus right to life would then be guaranteed specifically by the 14th Amendment.

This is the same human institution, that ruled in the Dred Scott case that blacks were not to be considered human persons, but instead were cast as chattel, property to be bought, sold and worked for the benefit of their owner.

The justices are obviously out of their league.

This is not an emotional issue, as detractors are quick to note; it is a moral issue rooted in eternal law.

That all men are created equal was unanimously declared by our founders, who stated that we the people are endowed by our Creator with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Roe v. Wade denies the most elemental and obvious understanding that life begins at fertilization.

At conception, the newly created being is immediately a part of a continuum, a point on his lineage, connecting him to his ancestors, extending rights through him into his progeny.

It is time for each American to ask his better self a question this November, Is the life that is within me, the life I cherish and seek to preserve, this life I want others to recognize and respect, is this life mine alone, or does this life belong to some infinitely higher being other than myself?

Then let us stand with Abraham Lincoln and recognize, A house divided cannot stand.

It is time to become, in the words of Lincoln, all one thing!

Tom Martin is the O.K. Bouwsma endowed professor of philosophy at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

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FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2013, file photo, a Taser X26 sits on a table in Knightstown, Ind. In the recent shootings of unarmed black men in a San Diego suburb and in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the police officers who fired the fatal shots were accompanied by officers who simultaneously drew their stun guns. Civil rights advocates say the different response by officers facing the same suspect and the same apparent threat illustrates a breakdown in police training and communication and shows that some officers are too quick to turn to deadly force. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Russia's proposed United Nations Security Council resolution which called for Al-Nusra Front terrorists (al-Qaeda) to be evacuated from the city of Aleppo in order to advance peace failed with several Western countries refusing to support it.

On Saturday, Russia proposed an alternative United Nations Security Council resolution on the crisis in Syria's Aleppo that called for Al-Nusra Front terrorists to be evacuated from the city in order to allow peace and reconciliation efforts between the Syrian government and the so-called moderate rebels to advance, but that proposal died on the floor with the Western bloc of the UN refusing to support the proposal.

The idea behind the proposal is based on observations by the United Nation's Envoy to Syria who viewed the removal of the notorious terrorist group that was formerly Syria's al-Qaeda affiliate as a positive step that should be taken and a potential precursor to bringing down the growing level of violence in the besieged city of Aleppo.

The Russian proposal only received four votes in favor while nine countries voted against it and two countries abstained so a veto was not needed to stop the vote.

The situation in Aleppo has worsened in recent weeks with following a US-led coalition airstrike on the Syrian Army base in Deir Ez-Zor killing 82 and wounding several hundred others right in the first days of the ceasefire. Additionally, Russia recorded over 300 ceasefire violations by the so-called moderate rebels who openly refused to participate in the peace deal brokered between the United States and Russia with one leading rebel group  Ahrar al-Sham  also saying that they would not disband from their union with Al-Nusra.
Access to space has long been an interest area of space agencies. In this domain, China became a force to be reckoned with as several Chinese space companies made great strides in the space race, Sputnik reported.

For several years China's space program has been kept secret. But earlier this year China launched its Long March 7 rocket, developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, marking "a moment when China firmly staked its position as one of the world's great space-faring nations," according to Ars Technica. That class of booster is capable of lifting up to 13.5 metric tons to low-Earth orbit.

Now, Expace, one of the most promising emerging commercial space launch companies in China, plans to launch a new-generation quick response rocket. The company was founded in February this year by the Fourth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASIC) and has already signed $14.9 dollar launch contracts with some domestic clients, the company's deputy director Zhang Di said. CASIC makes solid fueled, 2 diameter Kuaizhou rockets.

According to China Daily, the academy is now developing Kuaizhou 11, the newest successor of the low-cost, quick-response rocket family for the commercial launch market. It is capable of lofting a 1.5 ton payload to low Earth orbit at a launch cost of $10,000 per kg. First launch of the rocket is slated for early 2017, preceded by another Kuaizhou rocket launch.

China also plans to launch a video satellite of Jilin-1, the country's first domestically-developed remote sensing satellite for commercial use. It will be launched via Kuaizhou-1 near the end of 2016, according to Zhang Di.

Kuang Chi Group, a Chinese tech giant, designs a project of futuristic tourism and a space theme park. The project expects to send paid customers almost 79,000 ft above the Earth in a "Cloud" high altitude balloon. It can also help in serious missions from natural disaster relief to missile defense and serving as communication nodes if needed.

On September, 30 at the International Aeronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, another Chinese aerospace research giant, The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technologies, unveiled a plan of producing the world's largest single stage spaceplane. It is said to be capable of flying up to 20 passengers to space and will run on liquid oxygen and liquid methane, like the Space X Raptor and Blue Origin BE-4 engines. The company said that a seat would cost between $200,000 and $250,000.

"China is developing very rapidly into one of the major space players," said Fabio Favata, head of the programme coordination office at the European Space Agency's (ESA) directorate of science, according to the Guardian.
  " "  

       ( )      ( )   .            
CAIRO, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Egypt's recent spike in purchase tenders for petroleum products is part of ongoing efforts to build strategic stocks, the petroleum ministry spokesman said on Sunday on local television amid questions over a possible suspension of Saudi oil aid.

Saudi Arabia agreed to provide Egypt with 700,000 tonnes of refined oil products per month for five years under a $23 billion deal between Saudi Aramco and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) signed during a state visit this year by Saudi Arabia's King Salman. Egypt has not received October allocations of petroleum aid from Saudi Arabia, traders told Reuters, forcing its state oil buyer to rapidly increase tenders even amid a severe dollar shortage and growing arrears to oil producers. "We asked for an oil tender because Egypt always seeks to increase its strategic reserves," Petroleum Ministry spokesman Hamdi Abdelaziz told local broadcaster CBC. "Oil shipments not arriving from Saudi Aramco could be for various reasons... this is something that happens with some shipments."

Delivery of the Saudi Aramco products was halted as of Oct. 1 though the reason remains unclear. Abdelaziz told CBC the Aramco deal was "purely commercial" in nature.

Egypt announced in April a maritime border accord with Saudi Arabia, which could see it lose control of two Red Sea islands. The accord caused a public uproar and rare protests by Egyptians.

An administrative court voided the accord in June saying Egyptian sovereignty over the islands held and could not be given up. Another court then suspended that verdict, and a third court will now decide the fate of the islands.

(Reporting by Ali Abdelaty; Writing by Ahmed Aboulenein; editing by Diane Craft)
A group of activists discovered a mass grave with more than 600 human remains in Mexico's Coahuila region, local media reported on Sunday, Sputnik reported.

The activists who searched for their missing relatives handed over the bodies to local human remains to local authorities for identification.

Coahuila region is destabilized by skirmishes between numerous criminal groups trying to gain control over regional drug traffic. With nearly 1,800 people gone missing in the region, over 455 bodies have been discovered buried in mass graves for the last five years.
MILAN, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Italian bank rescue fund Atlante said on Sunday it had no plan to invest in Monte dei Paschi di Siena as Italy's third-biggest bank tries to raise 5 billion euros ($5.60 billion) in capital to avert the risk of being wound down.

"The Atlante fund is not assessing a possible investment in the bank's capital," the fund's manager Quaestio Capital Management said in a statement.

Quaestio also denied a press report that its Chairman Alessandro Penati could become the next Monte dei Paschi's chairman, saying "Penati had not been contacted by anyone and was anyway unavailable."

($1 = 0.8928 euros)

(Reporting by Valentina Za, editing by David Evans)
Yields mixed on Egypt's T-bill auction



CAIRO, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Yields on Egypt's three-month treasury bills dropped while yields on the nine-month treasury bills rose at Sunday's auction, data from the central bank showed. The average yield on the 91-day bill dropped to 14.507 percent from 14.775 percent at the previous auction on Sept 25. The 266-day bill's yield rose to 16.415 percent from 16.394 percent at the last similar auction.

(Reporting by Ola Noureldin; editing by Mark Heinrich)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

kitco news
SHARE Larry Steagall | Kitsap Sun Richard LeMieux is the center of attention with his dog Willow as he attends a church service at the Salvation Army in Bremerton on Sunday. LeMieux, who fell from the lap of luxury into homelessness, now devotes himself to helping the less fortunate. Larry Steagall | Kitsap Sun Richard LeMieux works on the next manuscript for his next book. LeMieux who had it all, then became homeless, will have his first book published in the fall. Larry Steagall | Kitsap Sun Richard LeMieux carries his dog, Willow, after she went for a walk before church Sunday at the downtown Bremerton Salvation Army. Larry Steagall | Kitsap Sun Richard LeMieux used a free typewriter to write the manuscript for his book, which will come out in the fall. Notes for a speech that he will give for a benefit for Benedict House sit the to right

Richard LeMieux knows what it's like to live in a luxurious beach home  and in a van. He writes about his homelessness in a new book.

By Rachel Pritchett

rpritchett@kitsapsun.com

BREMERTON

The sun went down that frigid Christmas Day in 2002.

Cracking the window in his parked van for his little dog, Willow, Richard LeMieux shut the door and stepped out onto the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

Wind bit at his face. Rain quickly penetrated his shivering skin.

Tired to death of living, LeMieux began his walk.

He slung his leg over the rail. The water far below invited him.

A few fading thoughts flittered like tiny butterflies.

One was of Willow, who he thought he heard barking and pawing hysterically back in the van. But the wind roared like a freight train, so the sounds couldn't have come from her.

Concern for his powder-puff dog caused LeMieux to pull his leg to safety. Running back, he stumbled and bloodied himself. There she was, barking out of control.

Soaked and crying, LeMieux got in and embraced her. Both were shaking uncontrollably.

THE BIG FALL

A few years earlier, LeMieux was flying high. His business producing medical directories had rewarded him richly. He had a 6,000-square-foot beach home in Indianola with two hot tubs. He had two boats. There were trips to Rome, Florence and Monte Carlo, and a second wife to help him enjoy it all. He gave his three grown children $65,000-a-year jobs in his company.

His banker made personal visits.

"I had a dream going and the dream was good," said LeMieux, now 64.

The dream died.

Instead of buying his directories, his hospital clients began pouring thousands into developing Web sites.

"After 15 years of growth and success, my marketplace changed," he said.

LeMieux frantically used credit cards to sustain his lifestyle, but to no end.

He sank into a deep depression.

With nothing left, LeMieux and Willow were living in his van. Sometimes he parked at a casino at Suquamish. Sometimes in campgrounds. Sometimes, church parking lots.

He begged for change and food outside Poulsbo groceries stores and was told to scat. He sold fancy ties he'd bought in France to a Poulsbo knick-knack dealer for $5 each.

Drugs and alcohol were not in the picture.

BREAKFAST AT SALLY'S

Wet and cold that terrible Christmas night, LeMieux drove from the bridge to a Bremerton convenience store. The man behind the counter gave him $5 in gas. He drove to a parking lot at the Salvation Army in downtown Bremerton and slipped into an exhausted slumber. Willow pressed against his neck, asleep too.

The sounds of people moving about woke him. LeMieux peered out and saw men and women going into the Salvation Army for breakfast. Hungry, he joined them.

He listened to the jive talk of some of the homeless men. He was greeted by Maj. Jim Baker, head of the Bremerton Salvation Army.

LeMieux felt comfort.

"I just felt this tremendous sense of unconditional love in the room that I had never felt," he said.

LeMieux's new morning ritual would become known as "Breakfast at Sally's," Sally's being short for the Salvation Army. Over the next two years, LeMieux lived in his van on $329 a month.

He learned to love the homeless men and became deeply touched by each of their stories. At picnic tables in parks, he wrote about them on his manual typewriter.

Eventually, the Rev. Earl Rice of Bremerton United Methodist Church offered him a couch in the church basement for a few nights.

FOREVER CHANGED

He stayed for nine months and, by now, had become part of the congregation. Rice and LeMieux's psychologist suggested he get an apartment. A church couple vouched for him, because his credit was ruined.

LeMieux now has a place of his own in East Bremerton. The walls of his small apartment are covered with photos of his homeless friends, a poem written by Baker and drawings by children from his church.

And he has a book from all those writing sessions on park picnic tables.

Skyhorse Publishing of New York has agreed to publish it. Copies of "Breakfast at Sally's: One Homeless Man's Inspirational Journey," are expected on bookstore shelves in the fall.

His second wife is long gone.

"One of her last comments to me was, 'You're not the same person anymore,' " he said.

It is true.

"I perceive myself much differently than I ever did before. I am a wonderful person, no matter what I have, even though I don't have a lot of things," he said.

Because he's been there, LeMieux today is devoted to supporting and loving Bremerton's least loved in any manner he can.

"This has been a journey that few people will ever have, that could be ever possible," he said.

LeMieux to Speak

Former homeless man and author Richard LeMieux will speak at a breakfast to benefit Benedict House, the Bremerton facility for homeless men. It takes place from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Friday at Summit Avenue Presbyterian Church, 403 South Summit Ave. To make a reservation, call Beverly Kincaid at (360) 895-1321 or e-mail soundgrants@wavecable.com.
SHARE Fishing derbies have been popular in local waters since the early 1930s. Boat rental and launch facilities at Point No Point, Hansville, Seabeck and Bremerton have allowed anglers a chance to catch prizewinning salmon at Kitsap's doorstep. Here participants display their catch at a derby sponsored by the PSNS' Foundry Shop at Hansville around 1935. Some of the people mentioned in the picture are C. Walter Johnson, Albin S. Nelson and Charles Cornsby. To see more photos from the Kitsap County Historical Society Museum archives, visit www.facebook.com/kitsaphistory, Twitter KitsapMuseum, or stop by the museum at 280 Fourth St. in Bremerton. Call 360-479-6226 for information.

In 1941 (75 years ago)

Toward war in the Pacific:

TOKYO  Harsh criticism of the United States appeared today in Tokyo newspapers for the second successive day.

Typical of the comments was this appearing in Hochi:

"When there is no spirit of mutual concession and sincerity, it is obvious there is no possibility of any success in diplomatic negotiations. It seems the height of insane folly for the United States to present such an attitude of hostility and aggressiveness ... thereby taking responsibility for whatever catastrophe there might occur."

The newspaper said that "the cancer of the Pacific" was nothing but "the willful, arrogant intentions and actions of the United States."

POULSBO  Promised the speeding up of government action on plans for three new portable classrooms, nearly 200 Chico children will return tomorrow to the overcrowded and antiquated yellow schoolhouse on the Silverdale Highway after two days of parent-approved hooky.

The parents who kept the children home today and yesterday on "strikes" intended to draw attention to their plight and have reluctantly agreed to permit the youngsters to resume their education under a "stagger system" of classes.

Under a plan adopted last night by the Chico school board on the recommendation of the state superintendent of public instruction, the pupils from Wildcat Lake and Erlands Point districts will be taught from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and those from the Chico and Kitsap Lake districts from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

A total of $11,576 was trimmed from Kitsap County's budget for 1942 when it came before the board of commissioners for final passage yesterday.

The total disbursements for the year will be $287,086 as compared to $189,301 budgeted for 1941, an increase of approximately $97,785.

The largest cut made in the preliminary budget is the amount set aside for claims and lawsuits filed against the city. This was cut fro $18,000 to $8,000.

In 1966 (50 years ago)

BREMERTON  Next week has been designated Fire Prevention Week and Bremerton firemen will be passing out literature and conducting a campaign in the schools.

Special emphasis this year will be on educating people on how to develop their own home fire escape plans, to hold home fire drills and to avoid the careless use of flammable liquids.

Firemen point out that a city ordinance prohibits the sale or storage of flammable liquids in plastic or glass jugs.

The ordinance stipulates that the container must be made of metal, painted red with the word flammable printed on it.

All grade schoolchildren will be given Junior Fire Marshall magazines and badges. Kindergarten children will be given red fire marshal helmets.

In 1991 (25 years ago)

POULSBO  In the last six weeks, public testimony from Bainbridge Island to Silverdale has established that racism and religious harassment are genuine concerns in Kitsap County.

Members of minority groups have told both the county Human Rights Council and unofficial panels that they've been victimized by racist attitudes they consider intolerable.

About 40 schools, governments, religious and social leaders in Poulsbo took the next step Tuesday by discussing not only the problems of racism but also some possible solutions.

It's the first time in the last six weeks such a group has started seeking long-term answers to what many perceived as a problem.

In 2006 (10 years ago)

KENT  A system that notifies the state's crime victims of their offenders movements in the prison system will be launched today at the King County Regional Justice Center.

The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, which includes leaders from all state law-enforcement agencies, will "flip the switch" and activate the Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification System, or SAVIN at a special ceremony.

SAVIN, which has the ability to send out automated emails or phone messages for events such as an offender's release date from prison, is seen by members of local law enforcement as a practical tool that will give victims the ability to go on with their lives with greater peace of mind.

"We're seeing some practical, worthwhile uses of technology like this to enhance our service level to people that really need the help," said Kitsap County Sheriff Steve Boyer.
A young patient at St. Christopheras Hospital for Children got an unexpected visit and Navy ball cap from Sailors off USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735) during their tour of the hospital. Pictured with the patient, from left, is Machinist Mate 1st Class Donald Everett, Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Eric Pope, Commanding Officer Cmdr. Gustavo Gutierrez, and Chief of the Boat Master Chief Machinist Mate John Moore. The aCaps For Kidsa visit coincided with Philadelphia Navy Week 2011.

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By Lt. John Harrop

Last month, Sailors from the Trident ballistic missile submarine USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735) recently visited their boat's namesake state to participate in Philadelphia Fleet Week.

Five Pennsylvania Sailors, led by Commanding Officer Cmdr. Gustavo Gutierrez, took part in various events in the region throughout the week.

"It is a great way for the Navy and the USS Pennsylvania to explain to the public what their Navy is doing for them everyday and what their tax dollars are being spent on," Gutierrez said.

To kick off the week, Gutierrez and Machinist's Mate 1st Class (SS) Donald Everett discussed the purpose of Navy Week and the Navy's role throughout the world with radio host John DeBella on Philadelphia radio station WMGK.

Gutierrez and Pennsylvania's chief of the boat, Master Chief Machinist's Mate (SS) John Moore, attended the Mayoral Proclamation of Navy Week aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Kauffman (FFG 59). The two presented Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter with a plaque from Pennsylvania to the city of Philadelphia.

Fleet Week also featured several visits to local hospitals and schools. During one such visit, Pennsylvania Sailors joined Rear Adm. Scott A. Weikert, deputy commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), in touring the Philadelphia Veterans Administration Medical Center, visiting with numerous patients and nursing home residents.

"It is a tremendous honor to meet with the brave men and women that have gone before us and to be able to express to them how much we appreciate all of their hard work and sacrifices," said Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Eric Pope.

In addition, the visiting Sailors were also guest speakers at the Delaware Military Academy, the first publicly chartered high school consisting entirely of NJROTC students. The crew had the opportunity to speak to approximately 200 students in eight different classes, answering questions about the Navy and life aboard submarines.

Crewmembers were also guest judges during the National Sea Perch Challenge held at Drexel University, sponsored by the Office of Naval Research. The competition offered middle school and high school students the opportunity to compete at the national level in the arena of underwater robotics by designing a submersible robot and navigating various underwater obstacles with their robot.

Pennsylvania, currently undergoing an engineered refueling overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, is one of eight Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines homeported at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor.
SHARE

No matter what you think of Hillary Clinton, you have to admit that she is fair. She recently resupplied the Trump camp with ammunition in their rhetorical war against her. She did so by placing half of Trump's supporters in a "basket of deplorables."

I'm reminded of the classic sword fights I've seen in old movies. Early in the duel, when the bad guy drops his sword, the good guy hands it back to him, thereby demonstrating that the good guy doesn't take unfair advantage and that he wins through superior swordsmanship.

In all fairness, good sportsmanship was probably the last thing on Clinton's mind, and the majority of Trump's supporters don't belong in Clinton's basket of racists, sexists, homophobes, xenophobes, and Islamophobes. But judging from some of the conduct we've witnessed at Trump's rallies, and from some of the claims and statements of support circulating on the Internet, many do belong in that basket of bigots, and others are in a category all by themselves.

A case in point was a recent Facebook posting of an interview with two middle-aged women who support Trump  "Trumpettes," as their T-shirts proclaimed. "Jesus sent Trump to us," one of the Trumpettes said. If that's true, then the 18th-century English poet William Cowper was more right than he realized: God indeed "moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform."

Would that we could get these women, along with all like-minded Trump supporters, to consider a claim made by Shakespeare's Hamlet  that he has been appointed to be heaven's "scourge and minister." Hamlet is alluding to Attila the Hun, who was commonly known as the "scourge of God." Christians believed that God had sent a barbarian to pillage and punish the Roman Empire.

Unfortunately, those two Trumpettes are not alone in their conviction. Judging from one of his recent columns in the Kitsap Sun, the conservative columnist Cal Thomas must consider Trump to be God's "scourge and minister." Thomas likens Trump's upsetting of the status quo in Washington to Christ's driving the money changers from the temple. ("It's the time for Trump," Sept. 27)

Personally, I think Thomas's analogy is far-fetched. I don't believe that Trump is God's minister. (A better case could be made for God's scourge perhaps.) I'm just hoping that God will save us  here at home and abroad  from people who believe God to be on their side. The bard of my generation, Bob Dylan, put it best: "You never ask questions when God's on your side." And whether they believe Trump to be heaven sent or not, too many of his supporters are acting as if he is. They accept Trump's promises, exaggerations, and distortions at face value and without question.

To fall back on the bard, this "winter of [our] discontent" will not be made "glorious summer" by Trump's election, and the bitterness and polarization will persist should he be defeated. Washington Post columnist and Brookings Institute fellow E.J. Dionne recently discounted the hard-core racism and the naive nativism that have drawn some to Trump's side. Dionne traces Trumpism back to the elites on both sides of the political spectrum who feel little or no sense of empathy for the Americans who have been disadvantaged and displaced by the cultural and economic revolution that began in the 1970s.

We now have a growing underclass of Americans who resent having their traditional views and values disrespected by progressives and their "economic security" threatened by globalization. What we're facing, according to Dionne, is essentially a counterrevolution on the part of those who have been marginalized, and that problem, according to Dionne, transcends Trump.

Back when I was in college, circa 1970, one of my professors held that Vietnam was a metaphor. The Vietnam War, of course, was an objective reality and not a metaphor for those of us who served there. But it was a metaphor for the rice paddies of the American mythos.

Our Vietnam involvement grew out of our sense of manifest destiny, first articulated by John Winthrop in his fabled "City on a Hill" sermon in 1630. Our Puritan forebears believed they were on a mission from God to found a new Eden for the rest of the world to admire and emulate. That special sense of election morphed into our secular sense of manifest destiny  first, the conviction that we were destined to push back the frontier all the way to the Pacific Ocean and, later, the conviction that the American way was right for the rest of the world.

Likewise, Trump is a metaphor. His promise to "make America great again" harks back to that same hubris that got us "locked in dubious battle" in Vietnam and in Iraq. And mark my words: Should Trump get elected, here we go again!
David Seymour announced:

Britains revision of immigration settings is a chance to propose a free movement zone, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

We cant stand by and let the traditional Kiwi OE be put at risk, says Mr Seymour.

Successful nations like Britain and New Zealand shouldnt be putting up walls and shutting off from each other when its the exchange of ideas that has made our nations so prosperous.

Brexit provides new options as Britain pivots away from European immigration. Lets approach Britain with a proposal for a two-way free movement agreement, similar to what we have with Australia.

In the long term, we could even negotiate a broader free movement zone for citizens of Britain, New Zealand, Australia and Canada  all English-speaking, industrialised Commonwealth nations. CANZUK.

We already have strong connections with these nations through family, friendship, and business. Lets break down the walls and make the great OE even greater.
You can now donate to Kiwiblog
Some 3 million of the nationals are expected to come to 1,996 polling stations throughout the country to elect members of its 141-seat unicameral parliament, Sputnik International reported..

Total of 16 political parties will participate in the parliamentary election.

According to Lithuanias legislation, 70 lawmakers will be elected in a nationwide constituency under a proportional system, and 71 lawmakers in single mandate constituencies under a majoritarian voting system.
Shooting that took place in the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, killed one person and injured eight people, local media reported on Sunday, Sputnik International reported.

According to the WOOD TV8 broadcaster, the shooting took place at 4 a.m. local time in the 1800 block of the 28th Street SE, where a group of some 60 people gathered for a party. Police are processing the evidence at the scene.

Were currently trying to figure out exactly what took place. Were very early on into this incident, Grand Rapids Police Sgt. Terry Dixon said as quoted by the media.

The people injured in the shooting have been hospitalized to the local Saint Marys Hospital.
Growing. Thriving. Prospering. Black entrepreneurs make Knoxville proud!

Knox News reporters and photographers have spent the last year reporting the stories of local Black-owned businesses.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had a phone conversation on Saturday, which was dominated by the Syria crisis, diplomatic sources said, Anadolu reported.

According to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, the two ministers exchanged views on providing a permanent political solution to the ongoing Syrian crisis and ending the violence in the country as soon as possible.

Kerry called Cavusoglu while the minister was in Bangkok to attend the Second Asia Cooperation Dialogue Summit.

Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests  which had erupted as part of the Arab Spring uprisings  with unexpected ferocity.

The Syrian Center for Policy Research, a Beirut-based NGO, has put the death toll from the six-year-old conflict at more than 470,000.
15:13 (GMT+4) Terrorist attack in Semdinli resulted in death of 17 people, including 9 servicemen with 27 others wounded, NTV reported.

13:38 (GMT+4) Death toll in explosion in Turkey has reached risen 9 people, TRT Haber reported.

30 people have been hospitalized.

13:00 (GMT+4) Eight Turkish soldiers were killed in a car bomb explosion near a gendarmerie post in the Semdinli district of the Hakkari province in southeast Turkey, local media reported on Sunday.

Another five soldiers were injured in the explosion, according to the NTV broadcaster.

Turkish security forces have repeatedly carried out operations against members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) outlawed by Ankara in the Hakkari province.
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Korea renovates a senior citizen center in Mapo District, downtown Seoul, into a comprehensive community hall. JTI Korea employees not only painted the structure, but also donated books and household items to the facility. The lower right corner image shows the building before the renovation.

/ Courtesy of JTI Korea



By Lee Hyo-sik

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Korea has been attracting keen attention from business circles these days for its distinctive corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, aimed at improving the quality of life for senior citizens.

The multinational cigarette maker has been implementing a project over the past few years to overhaul old community centers for the elderly in Seoul, drawing positive responses from senior citizens and other community members.

Recently, the company renovated a senior citizen center in Mapo District, downtown Seoul, into a comprehensive community hall. JTI Korea employees painted the structure and opened the Green Book Cafe on the second floor of the building where senior citizens and other residents can read books and drink coffee or tea free of charge.

In addition to donating 600 books, the company provided sofas, tables, chairs and air conditioners to the cafe, turning it into a place where people in the neighborhood want to congregate.

JTI also promised to pay for the cafe's operating expenses for the next two years.

"Since the cafe opened, the number of senior citizens coming to the center has doubled. More children and other community members also visited the facility," community center manager Yang Young-soon said. "We would like to extend our gratitude to JTI Korea for turning the place into one of the most vibrant community centers in the country."

JTI Korea general manager Steve Dyer said the company will continue to expand its CSR programs for the elderly in the coming years.

"There is a growing need for society to improve the welfare of senior citizens in line with Korea's rapidly aging population. We will continue to provide what communities need to support senior citizens in the coming years," Dyer said.

In addition, the company said it will implement the "JTI Korea Care Bundle" project this winter for a second time. It received an appreciation plaque from the Korea Parent Federation for its efforts to help poor senior citizens get through last winter.

In December 2015, JTI delivered packages, containing blankets, socks, and winter scarves, as well as a variety of snacks, to 1,200 senior citizens living alone in 16 cities across the country.

"We will continue to do what we have been doing to make a difference for the elderly," a JTI spokeswoman said. "We will also look for other opportunities to help senior citizens live more active lives."
By Lee Hyo-sik



Hyundai Motor Group was fined the most for unfair business practices among the country's top 30 conglomerates over the past five years.



According to data submitted to Rep. Park Yong-jin of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), Sunday, the anti-trust agency fined Korea's second-largest business group a combined 349.6 billion won ($317.8 million) from January 2012 through September this year.



Hyundai Motor and its affiliates violated the Fair Trade Act on 64 occasions, according to the data. Of the 64, the companies were slapped with fines in 26 instances, and referred to the prosecution by the FTC in 12 cases.



"Hyundai Motor Group, which has long been criticized for discriminating against Korean consumers, has been engaged in a wide range of unfair practices by using its dominant market position," Park said. "The FTC and other government agencies should look more closely into how the automaker treats consumers differently from country to country and its other unfair behavior."



Samsung Group came in second as its affiliates were fined a total of 283.2 billion won for an array of antitrust practices over the past five years. Samsung units were ordered to pay fines in 19 cases and referred to the prosecution 10 times.



POSCO and its units were also slapped with a 217.6 billion won fine, the third most, as they were caught breaking the antitrust law 49 times. FTC imposed fines on the steelmaker and its subsidiaries 21 times, while asking prosecutors to launch a probe into 13 cases.



According to the data, Lotte Group was found to have breached the fair trade law most frequently at 124 times. The retail and hospitality-focused chaebol has numerous business partners and deals with hundreds of thousands of consumers every day, making it "easier" for its employees to be involved in unfair practices.



By company, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, the building arm of Hyundai Motor Group, was fined the most at 241 billion for being engaged in high-profile construction bid rigging. Daelim Industrial came in second with 147.4 billion won, followed by SK Engineering & Construction at 115.2 billion won.



Among telecom firms, FTC fined SK Telecom 47.1 billion won over the past five years, as it was involved in a host of unfair business schemes to keep the No. 1 spot in the highly competitive mobile telecommunication market. KT was also ordered to pay 16.6 billion won in fines.




A delegation of World Bank recruitment officials will visit South Korea next month to attract more Korean professionals to its workforce, according to the bank on Sunday.

The delegation, led by Sean McGrath, the World Bank's vice president of human resources, will hold a job fair at a university in Seoul during the five-day visit starting Nov. 14.

The World Bank is said to be looking to hire about 7 Korean professionals during the fair.

A total of 94 Koreans are working at the World Bank, accounting for 0.6 percent of the bank's workforce.

South Korea's stake in the World Bank stands at 1.63 percent.

Other global institutions, including the International Monetary Fund and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, are expected to join the job fair in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Taksen 400 Ibuprofen, a new antipyretic analgesic developed by Green Cross Corp.

/ Courtesy of Green Cross Corp.

By Chung Hyun-chae

Green Cross Corp. has released a new antipyretic analgesic.

The medicine, Taksen 400 Ibuprofen, contains 400 milligrams of ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory drug that is highly effective in reducing fever and has few gastrointestinal side effects.

A company spokesman said Taksen 400 Ibuprofen is effective in relieving fever caused by flu, back pain, menstrual pain, osteoarthritis and in postoperative analgesia.

"For those looking for a strong antipyretic effect, our new drug could be a better choice," the spokesman said.

He said Taksen could also be a good choice for those looking for a stronger anti-inflammatory effect, because its main ingredient is naproxen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent.

He said the new medicine is fast-acting because the liquid ingredients are in a soft capsule.

While ibuprofen is a type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is poorly water-soluble, the company made Taksen 400 Ibuprofen as a capsule by using a special method called Neosol. This is used to make soft capsule medicines that have poor water-soluble ingredients.
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon took to the K-pop stars' "Seoul Concert," which was followed by the 2016 Seoul International Fireworks Festival on Yeouido, Saturday. / Korea Times photo by Hong Dam-young



By Hong Dam-young





Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon danced on stage with K-pop stars amid cheers from the crowd hours before the night sky over the Han River lit up with the 2016 Seoul International Fireworks Festival.

The annual festival began at 7:15 p.m. at the Han River in Yeouido.

Hanwha, one of the nation's largest conglomerates, sponsored the event.

The cheers came three hours before the fireworks on Saturday, with a massive crowd rushing toward the main stage where various artists performed.

A highlight was the K-pop stars' "Seoul Concert."

Girl band I.O.I opened the concert, followed by bands including 24K, MAMAMOO and B1A4.

People of all ages sang and danced.

But the real highlight came with Park dancing on stage with hip-hop band DJ DOC near the end of the concert.

His showbiz appearance brought joy and surprise to many in the audience. The concert ended with Park's greetings.

"Park's appearance on a hip-hop stage was unexpected. It was very interesting," said an audience member in her 20s.







As darkness descended, the fireworks lit up the night.

The river breeze was chilly enough for people to snuggle up in blankets.

But the crowd seemed to forget about the cold as the spectacular fireworks began.

Fireworks shows from Japan, Spain and Korea each had a unique theme.

Music ranging from popular pop to rock to opera played loudly in sync with the fireworks.

Korea, the final performer and host country, gave a stunning grand finale by adding storytelling to the performance.

With the breathtaking finale fireworks in the sky, a male voice, via the speakers, reminded the audience: "Don't give up on what you want. Follow your dreams, because there is no right answer in life."




Seoul superintendent Cho Hee-yeon, left and Lee Eun-jae / Screen capture from YouTube



By Lee Han-soo

Citizens were amazed on Thursday when a video of ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker Lee Eun-jae criticizing Seoul superintendent Cho Hee-yeon for buying Microsoft Office from Microsoft Korea was made public.

Only Microsoft sells and licenses Microsoft Office, a suite of applications, servers and services.

Lee called for Cho's resignation, arguing that Cho had violated the law by not allowing official bidding for school office software.

Cho, amazed at the lawmaker's claim, tried to explain that MS Office was available only from Microsoft.

But Lee, who seemed not to know that MS office was an abbreviation for Microsoft Office, kept criticizing Cho for giving a private contract to Microsoft.

Lee even claimed that Cho had violated antitrust policy and should be charged.

Cho pointed out that by buying MS Office in bulk, Seoul Education Office saved 2.9 billion won ($2.6 million).

But whenever Cho tried to explain that only Microsoft sold MS Office, Lee criticized him and told him to stop avoiding the topic.

"You told the committee that you didn't make an official bid and gave a private contract to a single company," said Lee even after her time on the stand was up.

"How dare you lie in a place like this? You should resign from office."

Citizens were amazed at Lee's ignorance, especially as she had studied at Claremont McKeena College in California, where MS Office is mandatory.

After the video went viral, Lee tried to explain herself at a press conference on Sunday.

"I feel dejected," she said. I have used computers since my study in the U.S. in 1983.

"I know what Microsoft Office is."

She claimed Cho should have allowed a bid from Hancom  Korea's second-most used office suite  or makers of other office suites.

Lee apologized for raising her voice at the hearing.

But she said the video of her shouting was during a parliamentary inspection, and she was concerned that details could go public.

Netizens have criticized the apology and comment.

"Isn't it obvious that a parliamentary inspection of the administration hearing is made public?" a netizen commented.

"We have the right to know what is going on because we pay taxes."
Samantha Power, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations, visits the truce village of Panmunjeom on the inter-Korean border, Sunday. / Joint press corps



By Jun Ji-hye

North Korea may test an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) soon, as the country is apparently preparing to launch a satellite.

Pyongyang claims that the launch is a peaceful space program, but the international community views it as a cover to test technologies used in the development of an ICBM.

The latest commercial satellite images show increased activity at the repressive state's satellite launch site, backing up the speculation.

The indications come as the North celebrates the anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party, Monday. The country likes to time its provocations for national holidays, as evidenced by its fifth nuclear test on its foundation day, Sept. 9.

The ICBM, believed to have a range of more than 10,000 kilometers, is capable of striking targets on the U.S. mainland in theory.

The North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Saturday that the Kim Jong-un regime will "promote exchange and cooperation with international space organizations and space institutions of other countries."

"We will also continue to have the door wide open with greater enthusiasm towards conquering the world of outer space, as a proud member of 10 major space faring nations, while ensuring transparency in conformity with the relevant international norms and practices," the KCNA said.
By Yi Whan-woo

Thailand and Korea are bolstering efforts to help the former's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the fashion business expand their market in Seoul.

The ASEAN-Korea Centre, a Seoul-based inter-governmental organization aimed at promoting cooperation between Korea and 10 ASEAN countries, invited Thai SMEs specializing in making garments to a workshop in Bangkok from Oct. 5 to 7.

The Thai Garment Manufacturers Association and the Thai Garment Development Foundation organized the meeting.

Korean business executives and fashion industry experts gave lectures on topics including strategies to better promote brands and products, how to capitalize on mobile commerce in selling goods, enhancing marketing, the latest fashion trends and prospects in Asia. The workshop also included question and answer sessions.

"I believe that Thailand has great prospects to be the fashion hub in Asia by developing its own brands," ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Kim Young-sun said. "I hope this workshop will serve as a stepping stone for SMEs in the fashion industry of Thailand to further strengthen competitiveness, particularly in terms of branding, marketing and e-commerce strategies, thus gaining more access to the Korean market."

Thailand has been pushing to develop its own fashion brands after producing apparel for international labels as original equipment manufacturers.

Thailand had been a leading garment exporter in the region, according to the ASEAN-Korea Centre. But it said fashion companies have been facing challenges from a rise in the minimum wage, a shortage of workers and a fall in exports.

Meanwhile, Thailand joined an annual fair organized by the ASEAN-Korea Centre in Korea from Oct. 1 to 3 to promote the culture of ASEAN countries. The nine other participating nations were Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

The 8th ASEAN Culture and Tourism Fair 2016 took place in Gwangju on Oct. 1 and Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, on Oct. 2 and 3.

The programs included traditional dancers wearing masks, and drum performances.

"I hope this event can offer an opportunity for Korean people to feel, savor and experience the rich and diverse cultures of ASEAN, thus to better understand ASEAN," Kim said.
By Yi Whan-woo

The British Embassy in Korea has rejected speculation that Seoul's anti-graft law may affect Korean students applying for a U.K. government scholarship program.

The embassy said it will continue to receive applications for the Chevening Scholarships through Nov. 8, as scheduled.

Successful applicants will study at British universities during the 2017-2018 academic year. The scholarships mainly offer a one-year master's degree program for those who demonstrate leadership potential and have strong academic backgrounds.

The U.K. government plans to choose over 1,500 recipients worldwide this year.

"We have been reassured by the Korean government that scholarships do not contravene the law, provided they are awarded through a transparent selection process," the embassy said on Oct. 6.

It cited Korean media reports on possible negative effects on the program after the anti-corruption act took effect on Sept. 28.

The law restricts bureaucrats, public enterprise officials, school faculty and journalists from offering or receiving money, goods and favors, in an effort to root out corruption.

Foreign diplomats in Korea are also subject to the law, although they will be entitled to diplomatic immunity.

Speculation has been rampant that scholarships offered by governments and enterprises break the law.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, the anti-corruption watchdog under the wing of the Prime Minister's Office, concluded that offering the Chevening Scholarships is not illegal.

"The U.K. government is committed to ensuring that the selection process is as clear and transparent as possible and, therefore, we do not envisage any impact from the new law on our Chevening Scholarships program," the embassy said. "We encourage all those eligible to apply ASAP as this year's November 8 deadline is fast approaching."

The U.K. government picked 24 Koreans for a Chevening Scholarship this year, according to the embassy.

There are some 46,000 alumni in over 160 countries, including 1,100 in Korea.

The Korean alumni include former Prime Minister Chung Woon-chan and former National Pension Service Chairman Choi Kwang.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its partner organizations fund the Chevening Scholarships.
Minister discusses bilateral ties



John Halligan, Ireland's minister of state for training, skills, and innovation, visited Korea from Oct. 5 to 8 to discuss ways to bolster bilateral cooperation, according to the Irish Embassy in Seoul.



He visited the Irish enterprises running businesses in Korea and their Korean partners during his three-day stay. He shared thoughts on increasing trade between the two nations, particularly in technology sectors.



During his visit to Gyeonggi Province, he went to the Center for Creative Economy and Innovation to discuss how the two sides can bolster their economies driven by export and high-technology.



Halligan joined a reception for the Korea-based alumni of all Irish universities and higher education institutions at Irish Ambassador Aingeal O'Donoghue's residence in Seoul.



This was the first reception aimed at enhancing networking among those alumni here. They included researchers at Seoul National University and Kyungpook National University.



Ireland has the fastest-growing economy among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member states, according to the embassy.



Ireland and Korea's common ground is that they both have export-led economies.



"Irish government policies are focused on driving innovation and supporting entrepreneurship and high-potential startups," the embassy said.







President to visit Seoul this week



Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis will make an official visit to Korea from Oct. 11 to 14, the Costa Rican Embassy in Seoul announced last week.



It said he will hold a summit with President Park Geun-hye at Cheong Wa Dae, Oct. 12, and discuss how the two countries can work together to maintain their cooperative ties.



The agenda includes science and technology, infrastructure development as well as joint efforts to press North Korea for denuclearization.



They are scheduled to sign a set of memorandums of understanding concerning bilateral cooperation after the summit.



Solis is also scheduled to meet Korean media individually.



Costa Rica and Korea established diplomatic relations in 1962.







France to attend robot exhibition



France will join "Robotworld 2016," an annual exhibition aimed at promoting the use of robots in various industries in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province from Oct. 12 to 15.



The exhibition at the KINTEX is anticipated to draw 160,000 visitors, including officials from 150 enterprises in eight countries, according to Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, which will host the event.



The French Embassy in Seoul said last week that the country's participation will be meaningful to celebrate the 130th anniversary of France-Korea diplomatic relations..



The participating firms and organizations will include Softbank Robotics, Aquitaine Robotics, Awabot, Big Robots, Innorobo, Navya Technologies, Robotswim, Rovenso, Renault Samsung Motors, Yomzeo, Youth in France and Dojo.



"The exhibition is expected to offer leaders of the Korean robotics industry an opportunity to build relations with French companies," the embassy said in a press release.




Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit Turkey for the first time since the relations between two nations soured following the downing of a Russian bomber over Syria by a Turkish fighter jet, Sputnik International reported.

On October 10 Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to meet with Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and to deliver a speech at the World Energy Congress, which is being held in Istanbul.

The two leaders will discuss the current events in the Middle East and in Syria, as well as bilateral relations between Turkey and Russia and joint energy projects, including the potential revival of the suspended Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline.
A Flourishing Democracy in Asia

On Oct. 10, 2016, the Republic of China (Taiwan) celebrates its 105th anniversary, an important event for Asia's first republic and one heralding the dawn of a new era characterized by innovation, reform and the building of a more progressive, caring society.

The election of President Tsai Ing-wen as the ROC's first female head of state in January, as well as the third transition of power in May, signals the maturing of the nation's hard-earned democracyone in which the efforts of the citizenry to safeguard freedom, protect human rights and uphold the rule of law are recognized worldwide.

Central to this process is Tsai's "Steadfast Diplomacy." Based on the principle of mutual assistance for mutual benefits, the initiative paves the way for Taiwan to work with all like-minded countries and territories in playing a more significant role in the international community and making greater contributions.

This approach is important as momentum builds for Tsai's New Southbound Policy, which aims to deepen Taiwan's trade and cultural links with Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand, and ensure all segments of society can share in long-term prosperity. The policy also helps the nation quickly adjust to changing global conditions and the trend toward regional economic integration.

As the ROC further strengthens its robust economy and vibrant democracyproud achievements in Asia  it will continue making the nation's culture, lifestyle and social diversity a global benchmark. Toiling for a better tomorrow is a worthy goal on Double Tenth National Day.





The Fruits of Innovation





Lychee Fruit: The fruit of the lychee tree (Litchi chinensis) is small and round, with a light-red rind covering translucent flesh. Bursting with aromatic sweetness and renowned for its health benefits, it has been enjoyed for centuries, from the Tang dynasty imperial court to Taiwan's famous night markets.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) embraces a New Model for Economic Development on its 105th National Day

On Oct. 10, the 105th National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan), the country reaffirms the determination and spirit of innovation that has made it a vital link in the global economy. Its information and communications technology industry is one of the most advanced in the world, its manufacturers supply goods to a myriad of industries, and its solar panels play an important role in powering a green revolution. The determination and ingenuity that turned this once agrarian island into an industrial powerhouse is alive and well, as Taiwan again undergoes an economic transformation.

Under its New Model for Economic Development, the nation is transforming its efficiency-driven economy into one based on innovation. This shift will not only create jobs, but also help reduce the wealth gap via the equitable distribution of the nation's economic gains. At the heart of the plan is the promotion of five major innovative industries, namely biotech and pharmaceuticals, the Internet of Things, sustainable energy, national defense, and smart machinery.

In these sectors, Taiwan already has considerable experience, made all the more effective through international collaborative partnerships. For example, the government has already outlined plans to foster cooperation between local firms and their peers in biomedical hubs from Boston to Basel, and the high-tech mecca of California's Silicon Valley.

These efforts are but a part of Taiwan's economic transformation. By harnessing the spirit of innovation, and through enhanced international collaboration, the new development model will have a lasting impact on the nation, the region and the world.





Taiwan: Key Segment of Global Society

Custard apple: Native to Latin America, the sugar apple, or custard apple, was introduced to Taiwan some four centuries ago by Dutch colonists. Taiwan is now the world's largest producer of the fruit, which is rich in calcium, potassium and vitamin C.



As it celebrates its 105th National Day, the Republic of China (Taiwan) seeks to deepen cooperation with all nations on the basis of shared values.

A model global citizen, Taiwan upholds the universal values of peace, freedom, democracy and human rights. And it is in keeping with these principles that the nation reaches out to the world.

Taiwan is a committed provider of humanitarian aid. From malaria prevention programs in Africa to agricultural projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, from medical missions in the South Pacific to disaster relief in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East, it has consistently strived to make a real difference.

The nation actively engages in climate change research, supports anti-terrorism cooperation, and works with its partners to tackle transnational crime. Furthermore, through its participation in the World Health Assembly, it has shared its renowned expertise in disease control and prevention, among other areas.

As a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Taiwan is also a dedicated contributor and active promoter of regional economic integration. Through the forum, it fosters capacity building and cooperation in such diverse fields as small and medium-sized enterprises, information and communications technology, energy, food security, women and the economy, public health and disaster prevention.

This Oct. 10, as the Republic of China (Taiwan) celebrates its 105th National Day, its goal is to do more. However, the country's efforts to contribute further are restricted by its absence from many major organizations. Taiwan's meaningful participation in bodies such as the World Health Organization, Interpol, U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and International Civil Aviation Organization would make international mechanisms truly global.

Taiwan strives to advance multifaceted cooperation with nations across the world on the basis of shared values. It is an indispensable partner for the international community.
By Jun Ji-hye

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (U.N.) vowed to make full efforts to make the North Korean regime change its ways and improve human rights conditions there during a meeting with North Korean defectors in South Korea, Sunday.

Amb. Samantha Power arrived in Seoul, Saturday, amid growing tensions, sparked by Pyongyang's another possible military provocation to mark the anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers' Party that falls Monday.

The U.N. ambassador's visit is seen as unusual since the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) is currently working on a fresh resolution to penalize the North following its fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9.

She will stay here until Tuesday.

According to the Ministry of Unification, Power met with the defectors during her visit to the Settlement Support Center for North Korean Refugees, also known as "Hanawon," in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province.

The ministry said that she took part in a prayer session with some of the defectors there.

During the meeting, she told the defectors that the international community is well aware of sufferings of the people living in the North and that the U.N. and the United States will do their best to improve their human rights conditions.












Trade between Beijing, Pyongyang jumps despite international sanctions

By Kim Jae-kyoung

SINGAPORE  China's ambivalent attitude to North Korea has exacerbated nuclear issues, leaving a series of sanctions against Pyongyang ineffective and allowing the Kim Jong-un regime to continue with its provocative actions.

China officially agreed to UN sanctions last March following the North's fourth nuclear test, and is now in talks with the U.S. and other countries to seek harsher sanctions after a fifth test last month.

However, latest data show that Chinese President Xi Jinping and his government have turned a blind eye to bilateral trade between the two countries, indicating that China has no intention of punishing the regime led by young, unpredictable leader.

According to the latest Chinese customs data, exports to North Korea, excluding non-reported crude oil shipments, reached $337 million in August, up 41 percent from a year ago. The amount, the highest total since December 2014, has brought bilateral trade back to near record levels seen in 2013.

China's imports from the North also jumped 16 percent to $286 million during the same period. Anthracite coal, at $113 million, provided the biggest boost, despite specific UN prohibitions on buying North Korean coal.

William Brown, a professor at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, said that any hopes that last spring's harshest-ever UN sanctions would cripple North Korea's economy won't be realized.

"The absence of any obvious crisis in China-North Korea trade might easily be seen as Beijing disregarding economic pressure tactics on North Korea or as retaliation for this summer's Seoul-Washington agreement to install the THAAD missile defense in South Korea," he said.

"Either or both are possible, but it's important to recognize that Chinese interpretation of the UN sanctions are very different from U.S. official views, which may be rather exaggerated."

Brown pointed out that even worse, the strong China-North Korea trade data stand in contrast to recently dismal global Chinese trade patterns.

According to him, exports to South Korea through August, for example, fell 6 percent from year-to-date levels in 2015, and imports from South Korea fell nearly 10 percent, hurting South Korean GDP growth.

Worldwide, Chinese exports year-to-date also were down 6 percent and imports were down 9 percent.












Samantha Power, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations, visits the truce village of Panmunjeom on the inter-Korean border, Sunday. / Joint press corps



By Jun Ji-hye

Washington will use every possible means to pressure North Korea to give up its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (U.N.) said Sunday.

During a news conference at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Amb. Samantha Power said sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) were one tool to force the North to abandon its nuclear ambitions, but the United States was willing to use all the tools it has, including diplomatic pressure, to deal with the North.

Power arrived in South Korea, Saturday, for a four-day stay after visiting Japan amid the possibility of more provocative actions by Pyongyang to mark the anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers' Party that falls today.

The U.N. ambassador's visit is seen as unusual since the UNSC is currently working on a fresh resolution to penalize the North following its fifth nuclear test, Sept. 9.

"While the Security Council resolutions are one tool in our toolbox and a very important instrument of pressure, we are committed to using all the tools in our tool kit to address this serious threat, including diplomatic pressure that we are mobilizing around the world to convince other nations to isolate the regime," Power said.

The ambassador added that other means include deterrence provided by the U.S. armed forces, saying that Pyongyang's nuclear and missile program pose a threat to the entire international community, not just South Korea and the United States.

"We are determined to stand with you in addressing this threat," she said. "Our resolve is unwavering, our commitment is ironclad. We are by your side."

Earlier in the day, Power toured the truce village of Panmunjeom on the inter-Korean border, which officials here called a "symbolic event" that would send a strong message of Washington's resolve to the North.












By Young Hoy Kim Kimaro

A new phenomenon of motorbike taxis is sweeping through Tanzania. The phenomenon, which started in towns, caught on in the last five years and has spread even to remote villages. It is an important source of employment for young people. In hitherto sleepy villages, this phenomenon has brought greater speed and convenience to life for average folks: a sure game changer.

Let's step back and get an overview of how people in villages on Kilimanjaro get around so that the impact of these motorbike taxis becomes clearer. For the graying generation among my readers, some scenes may sound familiar and bring back memories

Streets in Moshi Town are flooded with small vans which we call "daladala." They typically have capacity to carry 11 or 15 passengers. These privately owned and operated vans provide the main means for local transport. Two things stand out about them: (1) They take twice as long as by car to reach a destination and (2) they are typically packed to the brim, far beyond their carrying capacity.

These vans take twice as long because along the route they stop to pick up or drop off passengers wherever and whenever it suits them. Conductors are constantly on the lookout for passengers. Spot people who appear to be looking for transport vans? They immediately slow down and conductors shout out their destination.

Should there be a show of interest, vans stop and suck them in, so it seems, because no matter how full the van, they still manage to squeeze in more. But I have yet to see anything like the belly shove with which young female conductors used to push passengers into "hapsung" that were already bulging at the seams in Seoul. Do you remember that?

With the coming of tarmac roads, "express" vans  popularly called "Hiace" because Toyota Hiace minivans have become the vehicle of choice for this service  have appeared on the scene. Hiaces get much less packed and they pick up and let off passengers only at few designated stops. Hence, they get to their destination at twice the speed of normal daladalas and with much less discomfort. They, of course, charge double the price of daladalas. Still, this has been a welcome relief for those who are in the modern sector and operate on a tight schedule.

Daladalas confine their service to the main thoroughfare leading up the slope and another that skirts around the mountain midriff about 1,300 meters to 1,500 meters above sea level which are both tarmacked. They don't venture beyond Mwika onto rough, unpaved and narrow feeder roads on the mountain. People made the last legs of their journey on foot until motorbike taxis, or "bodabodas," appeared on the scene.

At Madukani, the heart and business center of Mwika where one thoroughfare intersects the other, throngs of "bodabodas" wait for passengers who alight from daladalas or Hiace vans. There are no "taxis" as we know it in the village. These motorbikes will ferry passengers to their final destination for 1,000 won per trip. Bodabodas can go where cars cannot. They can negotiate through narrow footpaths and deliver passengers to their door.

Bodabodas are to carry only one passenger other than the driver. But this directive is often ignored. Two passengers happily climb behind a driver and hang on tight. "Mshikaki," or kebabs, they're called. Against regulations, for sure, but people still do it and police look the other way.

Bodaboda services are hired not only to transport people but also goods. They are seen carrying huge mounds of hay tied to the back, practically enveloping the driver. They carry even 15-20 kg heavy, uncut bunches of bananas holding 8-10 bananas on one stem. Two, three of these are tied to backseats. They offer formidable competition to men who cart them to the market in time-old wooden wheelbarrows with wooden wheels.

In a community where there is no postal delivery, no DHL, bodabodas fill the void. They are all-purpose couriers. They deliver whatever and whenever from door to door. Just ask them. They will willingly deliver a letter, wait for a reply and bring the response to the original sender.

Since practically everyone owns a cell phone, this service is only a phone call away for any villager. At 500 won to 1,000 won per trip, their services are readily affordable to villagers of Mwika.

Such a great development in transport has come with challenges. Injuries from motorcycle accidents are high. Many motorcyclists lack training, they pay little attention to safety precautions and enforcement of regulations is lax.

Numerous blind spots emerge as roads twist and turn on the mountain terrain which becomes slippery when it rains, as it often does, exacerbating the situation. Then there is a feeling of invincibility and daredo typical of the young. Put these together, and the outcome is not difficult to predict. There are just one too many tragic, avoidable accidents.

The writer resides on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. She worked for the World Bank for nearly 30 years and her email is youngkimaro@gmail.com.
By Stephen Costello





The U.S. and South Korean presidents seem to be trying to topple the DPRK government through sanctions. This may work, but it probably won't. It will certainly provoke strong retaliatory actions from the North Koreans. There are new reports of activity at three nuclear test sites there. Despite these alarming signals, and the greater threat of mistakes leading to violent clashes, little will likely change for the next two months.

South Korea or US

The public discussion about Korea in the U.S., and primarily in Washington, assumes that the next U.S. president will have the power and authority to change the dynamic with North Korea. The current dynamic is as dangerous, heated and unstable as it has been in almost 20 years. So the new president will choose among three available options: increase economic and military pressure, do nothing, or engage with the North in a serious manner for the first time in 16 years. We should hope that the third option gains the president's support. That option would mean that the U.S. would credibly offer to work toward win-win goals like ending the Korean War, assisting in preparing for the DPRK to join the international monetary system, reducing most sanctions, and establishing diplomatic relations.

There is a fourth option, and there are both political and practical reasons for the U.S. leader to choose it. That option would be to attempt half-hearted engagement, while ramping up sanctions and maintaining heightened military pressure. In such a case, there would be new background U.S.-DPRK talks, but the basis would be short-term, and based on the most immediate needs of the governments. Despite repeated calls from the most experienced and informed specialists, recognition of the U.S. history of flip-flopping policies and strategic mistakes, and new realities in North Korea, would be ignored. The symbolic needs of the U.S. administration will be insisted upon, so that a deal would be unlikely. If one is achieved at all, it will be smaller, take longer, and have less chance of success.

All of this means that Washington's next Korea policy is unclear. It also means that the kind of Korea policy from the White House that would be needed to begin to secure the long-term interests of North Koreans, South Koreans and Americans  among others  is unlikely. This is true even while we may urgently wish for such a change and work hard to make it happen. At meetings in New York last week, I had long discussions with three people involved in serious Track II discussions with Pyongyang. All three were cautiously optimistic that a new President Clinton would get the input, and choose an approach to the Korea issues, that would be more bold and realistic than Obama's or Bush's. I very much hope they are right.

Even in the best case, with the new U.S. administration putting together a good, senior team and working on big changes in thinking, it will be a year before they could have a full diplomatic partner in South Korea. During that year, the U.S. president would be dealing with President Park Geun-hye, and her apparent commitment to North Korean regime change, as well as with the extensive industry of coercion-only/anti-diplomacy interest groups at home. All senior Republicans in the U.S. Congress oppose the nuclear agreement with Iran. They oppose the diplomatic opening to Cuba. They would surely oppose new negotiations with North Korea. A new U.S. approach will not be easy.

So who will lead North Korea in from the cold? It won't be Beijing or Tokyo. The North Korean leaders do not look to either of them to solve their most important and fundamental strategic challenges. And neither has the leverage to move the North Koreans by themselves.

Matter of life and death

Could South Korea take a leading role in helping North Korea in from the cold? For Korea to play this role again, after 10 years, Koreans would have to elect a new president who is even more bold and experienced than his or her U.S. counterpart. After all, the North Korea problem is existential for Seoul. As Kim Dae-jung said to Kim Jung-il in June 2000, important strategic decisions by North and South Korea are "Korean business." On his first day as President in February 2003, Roh Moo-hyun was criticized by a former American diplomat at a long table in the Blue House, who implied that his outreach to North Koreans in his inauguration speech was a betrayal of U.S. sacrifices in the Korean War. Roh barely waited for the translation before pointedly answering. "It can be fun to play with these concepts in a seminar or at college. But for U.S. this is a matter of life or death. We will take these issues seriously."

But not all parties across the political landscape in South Korea agree that the North-South divide is existential and is "Korean business." In 2008 President Lee Myung-bak attempted to eliminate the Ministry of Unification. In February this year President Park closed the Gaeseong Industrial Complex. Her Foreign Minister has traveled the world asking other countries to help isolate North Korea. The U.N. Secretary-General's office has greater power to convene and to propose solutions than almost any in the world. Yet during his term Ban Ki-moon was never able to create any initiative to restart talks with North Korea. He made no discernable effort to balance the many UN sanctions with pressure for a real solution.

Like the U.S., South Korea is divided between two major political groups who see the issues in starkly different terms. In both places the prospect for forward movement on security and development issues surrounding North Korea and the northeast Asia region depends on which group wins the presidential election. For South Korea, the issue is already a top priority. Depending on who wins the Korean election of December 2017, Seoul could drag its heels and be dragged around by other powers, giving up its natural interests in leading diplomacy with North Korea. Or it could take the lead once again, helping or prodding its ally to be supportive. The behavior of Korean political parties, as they address the proper role for diplomacy in inter-Korean relations, will be especially important over the next 14 months.

Sixteen years ago in December Kim Dae-jung received the Nobel Peace Prize in the ornate Oslo City Hall. The award was primarily in recognition of Kim's decades of principled leadership of the democratic movement in South Korea, and of his sacrifices. But both he and the Norwegian legislators who chose him that year hoped the prize would help him overcome all the obstacles to pursuing a fundamental resolution of the North-South divide. They could not have known that at the same moment in Florida the U.S. presidential election was being decided in favor of George W. Bush, who would go on to destroy what Bill Clinton and Kim Dae-jung had so carefully and successfully built in the Agreed Framework and North-South engagement.

Elections can make a difference. It is just possible that the alignment of political forces in Washington in 5 weeks, and then in Seoul in 14 months, will again allow Seoul to help lead North Korea in from the cold.

Stephen Costello is a producer of AsiaEast, a web and broadcast-based policy roundtable focused on security, development and politics in Northeast Asia. He writes from Washington, D.C. He can be reached at scost55@gmail.com.
By Choe Chong-dae

My interest in Slovakia began in the early 80s, when I met Czechoslovak delegates at a reception held at the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) Camp in Panmunjeom Truce Village in the DMZ. I was both concerned and excited to meet them, because Korea had no diplomatic ties with their country or any Communist countries including the Eastern bloc at that time.

After World War I and the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, the Slovaks and Czechs established Czechoslovakia as a sovereign state. A separate Slovakia had existed in World War II, as a vassal state of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. The federal state of Czechoslovakia was reestablished in 1945 under Communist control as part of the Eastern bloc.

As a result of the nonviolent Velvet Revolution in 1989, the Slovak Republic finally became an independent state on Jan. 1, 1993 after its peaceful separation from Czechoslovakia.

Then, in the second half of 2016, I was delighted to learn of the first Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union, as it is a unique opportunity for the country to increase its diplomatic influence, expertise and managerial skills.

Slovakia will play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable solutions for the EU's political agenda, with a sense of respect, enthusiasm and responsibility as well as a positive attitude toward new challenges.

In preparation for dealing with a range of challenges during its EU presidency, Slovakia has reinforced its diplomatic core in Brussels with a considerable number of experts. These efforts are to reassure other members of the union of its commitment to strengthen regional order and global governance to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

For me, it is hard to think of Slovakia without referring to its capital Bratislava, which is also the center of Slovak culture and arts. Bratislava is linked to its neighbors, Vienna in Austria and Budapest in Hungary, by the majestic Danube River.

The picturesque Bratislava Castle, a magnificent rectangular medieval building with four corner towers, stands proudly on the isolated rocky hill of the Little Carpathians, over the Danube River in the heart of Bratislava. The castle fascinates many foreign tourists.

Bratislava, once known by its Hungarian name Pozsnoy, is historically significant because it hosted 11 royal coronations. During the Ottoman/Turkish occupation of Hungary, the city served as the seat of Royal Hungary. Remarkably, Maria Theresa, one of Austria's most powerful and influential monarchs, was crowned in 1741 at St. Martin's Cathedral located in the Old Town below Bratislava Castle. Nonetheless, Bratislava, the center of a once-thriving royal city where a splendid culture flourished, is not well-known by Koreans.

Noticeably, 12 years of EU membership have contributed to Slovakia's outstanding economic development. It is one of the fastest-growing economies in the EU. Slovakia has many advantages such as its great geographical location, political and economic stability, a skilled labor force, good incentives for foreign investment and the warm welcoming spirit of its people, which attracts much foreign investment.

My wish is that Slovakia's leadership of the EU will successfully coordinate and handle internal and external challenges, particularly regarding migration, human rights and the refugee crisis, the escalation of terrorism, continuing conflicts, the Greek bailout and Brexit issues. And, the EU should promote an international system to strengthen security and peace in their region as well as around the whole world, based on multilateralism. A strong EU that shares a vision and acts together is necessary.

Choe Chong-dae is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co. and Director of the Korean-Swedish Association. He can be reached at choecd@naver.com
Hungarians voted in a referendum Sunday to support Prime Minister Viktor Orban's policy of trying to keep migrants from war-torn countries to the east out of Hungary. The vote in favor was about 92 percent, but the 3.3 million who came to the polls were too few, representing 40 percent of registered voters; Hungarian law requires a 50 percent turnout for such a measure to become operative. Orban's government has signaled its intent to go ahead anyway, in defiance of the law.



European Union planning anticipates Hungary accepting 1,294 migrants as its part from the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. That is a tiny percentage of Hungary's 10 million population. Instead, in addition to the anti-migrant referendum, Orban's government has posed obstacles to accepting refugees. These include fences, a clampdown on the Hungarian press and resistance to the courts. The foreign minister of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, called for the expulsion of Hungary from the EU, saying that Hungary was treating asylum-seekers "worse than wild animals."



There a supreme irony of the position of Orban's government and the vote on Sunday. In 1956, the world responded quickly and sympathetically when Hungary's own revolt against the Soviet Union resulted in some 188,000 Hungarians, 2 percent of the population at the time, fleeing the country. The United States, as one example, accepted and resettled some 35,000 of them.



Hungarians clearly have a right to express their opinions, including at the ballot box, but migration into Europe from the east and south is a European problem and they have an obligation to play a part in a European solution to it. EU popularity and leverage are slipping in general, in part because of the United Kingdom's vote in June to leave. At the same time, over the 12 years it has been a member of the EU, Hungary has received an estimated $7.4 billion in development aid, with 95 percent of public investment in Hungary co-financed by the European Commission.



Hungarians need to recall their own recent history and remember that responsibilities go with benefits.



This editorial appeared on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.




By Tong Kim

It is an undisputed assessment that North Korea has an offensive capability to strike all parts of South Korea and Japan with short and midrange missiles. It keeps advancing its nuclear and missile technology faster than expected, posing a threat directly to the United States. What should be done about it?

First, let's not rely on the same strategy  sanctions and deterrents  that has not worked for the past decade. The theory behind this strategy was if pressed hard enough "to the pain in the heart of the North Korean leadership," they would come to the table.

The sanctions failed to bring the North to negotiations or to slow down its nuclear and missile programs. Yet, the sanctions have slowed down Pyongyang's economic development. The sanctions are designed to block revenue from overseas and the import of dual use materials that could support the illegal weapons programs.

The U.N. Security Council Resolution 2270 excludes trade from punishment if it is related to the livelihood of the North Korean people. China utilizes this clause fully to keep a lifeline to the North Korean economy. Currently, the U.S. and its allies are trying to remove these loopholes by writing a new UN Security Council resolution.

There are plenty of predictions that Hillary Clinton, if elected, will toughen the sanctions to press harder on North Korea. But, it would be only doing the same thing that does not work.

China is not cooperative. Beijing is more concerned about instability on the Korean peninsula that may develop from a collapse of the regime in Pyongyang. China will not welcome a likely flood of refugees, and it fears a unified Korea allied to the United States. China needs North Korea as a buffer.

Donald Trump's China card will not work. He said, "China should solve the problem for us. China is totally powerful as it relates to North Korea." Trump is wrong: China does not want to solve the problem in the way preferred by the U.S. and South Korea, and China does not have that much influence on Pyongyang.

Second, let's stop wishing for a North Korean collapse. Collapse scenarios have been around for the past two decades. A regime collapse may not lead to unification with South Korea, and unification by collapse would not be the only way to end the nuclear problem.

President Park seems more determined to seek a regime change in Pyongyang by way of collapse. Recently, she encouraged North Koreans to defect to the South "to live a new life in freedom." The Wall Street Journal praised her "ground-breaking speech," concluding, "The real key to ending Kim Jong-un's rule is liberating the North's people. Let North Koreans vote with their feet for an end to tyranny."

The leader of a second major opposition party in Seoul characterized President Park's call for massive defections from the North as "a declaration of war" against Pyongyang. His comment served as another moment of political division.

President Park said internal division is more threatening than the North Korean nuclear program. Ironically, she created more internal division by welcoming massive defections. Most of the 30,000 defectors who came to the South are struggling to make a living in a free society.

Kim Jong-un tightens security to stop his people from fleeing to the South. An increased number of defectors by threefold or tenfold would be unlikely to lead to an immediate collapse of the North. It would only create a bigger burden for the South to take care of.

Third, let's exclude the option of a preemptive strike, being touted because of the inefficacy of the current policy. This option, so pervasive, was a question during the vice presidential debate between Tim Kaine and Mike Pence last Monday. Kaine said a Clinton administration would authorize it if necessary; his Republican opponent said a Trump administration would deal with the problem from "a position of strength."

The reason for excluding the notion of a preemptive strike or a preventive strike is simple and obvious. There is no way to wage such a strike without inflicting unbearable damage to lives and properties in the South  an instant loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and a major destruction to the nation's capital.

No one can rule out the retaliatory capability of the North that would survive the first strike to wage a desperate counterattack. It would easily lead to an all-out war, which Kim Jong-un would not go for until he judges the end of his rule is near. We don't even have all the targets to strike. Most of the North Korean nuclear materials and missiles are hidden underground.

During the Cuban missile crisis, John F. Kennedy rejected his generals' recommendation to strike the Soviet missiles on Cuba, after he learned such a preemptive strike would take out 95 percent of the missiles, and the surviving missiles could strike back at the United States.

Fourth, let's keep exploring a diplomatic solution. As the U.S. presidential election is approaching, several experts are making recommendations for the next administration on how to deal with North Korea. Most of them think dialogue and engagement  no matter how loath to the regime in Pyongyang  should be the path to take.

A bold decision is required to reduce tension, contain the nuclear arsenal in the North, and contribute to peace and stability. Shows of force by either side  the U.S.-ROK by strengthening the deterrent and North Korea by conducting more missile tests  would not contribute to a peaceful resolution. Start working on a freeze, then nonproliferation, move to moderation of joint exercises, and negotiate a peace agreement. This is the path to an eventual denuclearization. What's your take?

Tong Kim is a Washington correspondent and columnist for The Korea Times. He is also a fellow at the Institute of Korean-American Studies. He can be contacted at tong.kim8@yahoo.com.
Free trade agreement between Turkey and Russia may be signed at the end of 2017, Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said Sunday, Sputnik International reported.

"During today's negotiations the sides agreed that a free trade agreement between our countries may be signed at the end of 2017," Zeybekci told journalists.

He added that the parties agreed on the implementation of the four-year medium-term program.

Following the negotiations, Zeybekci and his Russian counterpart Alexey Ulyukaev signed the joint statement on the development of bilateral trade and economic relations.

Zeybekci added that Russia and Turkey will contribute 500 million dollars each to the Turkey-Russia Joint Investment Fund.

We have discussed an important topic for both of the countries, namely, the establishment of the [Turkey-Russia] Joint Investment Fund by cooperative efforts of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and Turkish fund of capitals. The first step involves each states contribution of 500 million dollars, Nihat Zeybekci said.
Turkey has agreed to sign a joint investment fund with Russia on Sunday, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said, Anadolu reported.

The $1 billion fund aims to boost relations in many areas such as tourism, energy, agriculture and transport.

Speaking to journalists in Istanbul following meeting with Russian counterpart Alexey Ulyukaev, Zeybekci said: We have reached a significant level in a free trade agreement between countries.

The minister added they were working on a free trade agreement.

"We have agreed on signing a historical deal with Russia by the end of 2017," he said.

The investment fund will be instrumental for business," added Ulyukaev. "There might be some investment in agricultural industry as well, in producing products with high added value."

Diplomatic relations between Turkey and Russia soured following the downing of a Russian warplane that violated Turkish airspace last November, prompting Kremlin to order sanctions on Turkish food products, an end to visa-free travel and a ban on Russian tourists taking package holidays in Turkey.

Relations were normalized this June and July through a letter and subsequent telephone calls between the countries leaders. Since then, increasingly Turkey and Russia relations have become normalized and are expected to get higher.
Photography now is mostly digitized. (Photo : Getty Images)

In 1937, the China Photo Studio was established by Yao Jingcai, a renowned portrait photographer in Shanghai. He and 18 other photographers set to travel to Beijing, the city that was set to boom at that time.



Yao Jingcai brought his 80-kilogram bulk camera that used silver plates.



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Yao Jianzhong, the son of Yao Jingcai, was born in Beijing in 1956. His father was still operating the photo studio.



"If it wasn't for the China Photo Studio, I wouldn't have been born in Beijing," he said.



Beijing was set out to be the next center of the country's businesses. Yao recalled, "Somewhere between the discussions, I suppose, the idea of introducing old brand names from across the country to the capital was proposed. In the spring of 1956, several old Shanghai brands were 'brought' to Beijing, in a way that would be hard to imagine today."



Along with the photo studio, several businesses went to Beijing in 1937. There was one restaurant, one laundry shop, and four barber shops.



"They were all on the same train, with their belongings, heading for a strange city they would call home. For many, it was the first time in their life they'd left Shanghai," said Yao. "People say that a photo studio is a place to record stories in images, but there's no story about this institution that's more compelling than the one experienced by our forefathers--men who made it in Beijing after having made it in Shanghai."



The studio had to adapt to new technology over the years. Gao, one of the photographers, said he had to eventually learn how to use a computer.



"Gone are the days when a picture is hand-colored and the first thing a trainee like me learns is to sharpen a pencil in a way that it won't be easily broken," said Gao.


As a testament to this focus on developing Africa, Kenya has been listed by China as a pilot and demonstration country for the expansion of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. (Photo : Getty Images)

The first modern electrified standard gauge railway in East Africa, linking Ethiopia and Djibouti, was inaugurated on Wednesday, Oct. 5, China Daily reported.



Built by two Chinese companies and financed by a Chinese bank, the 750-kilometer railway connects Addis Ababa to Djibouti, a port city to the Red Sea. The railway is expected to reduce travel time from seven days by road to about 10 hours, through railway designed for a speed of 120 kilometers per hour.



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The event was led by Hailemariam Desalegn, prime minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and Ismail Omar Guelleh, president of the Republic of Djibouti.



The two Chinese firms that developed the railway were China Railway Engineering Corp and China Civil Engineering Construction Corp. while China Export and Import Bank provided the loan to support 70 percent of the capital.



"This train is a game-changer," Mekonnen Getachew, CEO of the Ethiopian Railways Corp, said. "Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. The connection to the ports (of Djibouti) will give a bounce, and our economy will grow faster."



Ethiopian PM Desalegn said in his keynote speech that the $4 billion railway project is a clear indication of Africa's desire and commitment to hasten the integration process.



"Ethiopia is once again in the continental map as a pioneer toward implementing modern infrastructure, courtesy of China," Desalegn said.



Meanwhile, Djibouti President Guelleh said that the project, which was conceived in 1897 and achieved only with China's help, is a symbol of friendship and integration between the two countries.



"China has stood by us and has been instrumental in building not only our regional infrastructure but the whole of Africa," Guelleh said. "We see a prosperous future as a more integrated continent. This railway represents the new face of Africa, which is ready to take charge of its destiny."



Xu Shaoshi, special envoy of President Xi Jinping and head of the National Development and Reform Commission and Yuan Xingyong, vice-president of Export-Import Bank of China, were present during the occasion, as well as Togo's President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe.



According to Xu, the railway is an achievement of cooperation and friendship, calling it a road map to the future.


Already a growing haven for artists, fashionistas, foodies and techies, the Arts District is about to get a major influx of song and dance.

In a shift that reflects the increasing importance of infusing the music industry with tech culture, Warner Music Group plans to move hundreds of employees from Burbank and the Westside into a renovated former auto plant in the downtown neighborhood.

The Arts District has witnessed a flood of new residences, shops and restaurants  and the development of a nascent start-up scene. But the move of the companys West Coast headquarters into the historic Ford Factory building is a watershed moment, said Carl Muhlstein, international director at real estate brokerage Jones Lang LaSalle.

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After years of courting tech and media, downtown has finally snagged a whopper, said Muhlstein, who was not involved in the deal. Downtown has been rehearsing for this part for close to 10 years, and Warner Music took them up on it.

Los Angeles music industry has been confined mostly to Hollywood and the Westside, with Universal Music Group anchored in Santa Monica and Sony Music in Beverly Hills and Culver City.

Warner Music, whose existing leases were expiring in the coming years, considered Culver City, Santa Monica and other neighborhoods, according a person familiar with the matter not authorized to publicly comment. But it decided it wanted an entire building it could make its own.

The Ford building, at 777 S. Santa Fe Ave., fit the bill. Constructed in 1912 by Ford Motor Co. to assemble Model Ts and other cars, it later housed U.S. Rubber, Lockheed Aircraft and Imperial Toy Co.

The building, where Ford factory workers began assembling Model T cars a century ago, will become home to the worlds third-largest music company. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times )

San Francisco real estate investor Shorenstein Properties acquired the 4-acre industrial complex in 2014 for $37 million with plans to turn it into creative offices with ground-floor shops, according to CoStar Group.

Warner Music leased the 257,000-square-foot building for 13 years for about $10 million annually, with an option for an additional 10 years, according to a regulatory filing. The lease starts in August and the company plans to move in 2018.

Online publisher BuzzFeed and some technology companies toured the Ford building too, sources said last year. Negotiations with BuzzFeed reached advanced stages before the New York company backed out, opting for space in Hollywood.

The worlds third-largest music company plans to build offices, recording studios, performance spaces, a cantina and artists lounges. It envisions a large outdoor space leading to a 750-vehicle parking garage. Warner Music said it would spend $40 million to $50 million to complete the structure to its liking, the regulatory filing said.

Warner Music Chief Executive Steve Cooper told employees by email Friday that the Arts District is a burgeoning art, fashion and food scene thats a magnet for businesses, entrepreneurs, and creatives.

Above all, we wanted an exciting space that enables us to preserve our unique company cultures, while promoting greater collaboration across divisions, Cooper wrote. The Ford Factory will be given a dramatic new life, preserving its architectural character while bringing it fully into the 21st century.

Architect David Rockwell, known for his efforts on Nobu restaurants and Hollywoods Dolby Theatre, has been hired to work on the project, the source said.

The consolidation of the firms West Coast operations follows a similar move two years ago in New York, where the company has its official headquarters. The firm, whose talent roster includes Beyonce, Coldplay, Flo Rida and Sheryl Crow, found that consolidating offices on Broadway nears Times Square boosted productivity and creativity, according to the source familiar with the deal.

Warner Music, which has long had offices on the lot of Warner Bros. Studio  a separate company  and leases a large building in Burbanks Media District, hopes to foster relationships with up-and-coming artists and songwriters drawn to the Arts District.

Like others in the music industry, Warner Music has been hit with a decline in music downloads as consumers have shifted to streaming services. The privately held company, controlled by billionaire investor Len Blavatniks Access Industries, recorded just a $33-million profit in the nine months ended June 30, but that was better than its $65-million loss for the same period last year.

In moving to the Arts District, the company decided on a neighborhood undergoing huge changes. Real estate firm CBRE estimates 2 million square feet of office space is under construction in the district, already a fast-growing hub for media and tech that has lured businesses such as venture capital firm Greycroft Partners and crafts-selling start-up Seedling.

Transportation start-up Hyperloop One, which is seeking to build high-speed transit tubes worldwide, has an expanding campus of more than 55,000 square feet a few blocks from the Ford building.

Other development envisioned in coming years could make the area more of a residential community.

Last month, Irvine-based SunCal announced plans to erect two 58-story condo and apartment towers at 6th and Alameda streets. The mixed-used project, also featuring hotels and creative offices, would dominate the skyline in the largely low-rise area.

paresh.dave@latimes.com

Twitter: @peard33

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Preeminent Japanese dancer Kazuo Ohno was in his 70s when he created two of his landmark works, Admiring La Argentina (1977) and My Mother (1981).

Now, six years after Ohnos death, his countryman Takao Kawaguchi, a prominent and singular performer in his own right, took up the somewhat blasphemous challenge of becoming Ohno onstage, replicating the master.

Kawaguchis two-act piece of dance-theater is About Kazuo Ohno  Reliving the Butoh Divas Masterpieces, which opened Friday at REDCAT and runs through Sunday. The performer, whos in his 50s, studied recordings and learned eight excerpts from Ohno  the 1977 and 1981 masterpieces as well as one from Dead Sea, Ghost, Wienerwaltz (1985).

As precise as Kawaguchi is at duplicating Ohnos twisted body moves and ascetic style, his primary purpose is something other than the creation of an exact copy  because he knows thats impossible.

In one piece, Kawaguchi hands out candy to the audience, saying, Thank you, as audio of Ohno offering arigato during a performance decades ago plays in the background. (Lawrence K. Ho / REDCAT) (Test)

Kawaguchi slyly shares that recognition with the audience. To wonderful affect, he dances each segment to audio from Ohnos actual performances. It dawns on you that the stamping noises you hear, which dont quite sync with what Kawaguchi is doing live, were made by Ohno, and the clapping comes from a crowd watching Ohno. We are asked to experience and consider the entire piece as a kind of visual echo of the past.

Kawaguchi purposely makes About Kazuo Ohno something apart from Ohnos art; unlike pieces in a museum display, the object (that is, the dance) is not the point here.

Directly before intermission, Kawaguchi crouches in a spotlight and applies heavy makeup Ohno-style: white all over his face and neck, blue eye shadow drawn up onto his forehead, red lips and black outlines. After smiling triumphantly, he disappears, and a video plays of Ohnos son, Yoshito Ohno, manipulating a stick figure of his father. The world is left with memories and imperfect likenesses of Ohno. Kawaguchi suggests that he is not so different from that puppet.

Takao Kawaguchi performs as a visual echo of Kazuo Ohno. (Lawrence K. Ho / REDCAT) (Test)

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All these layers make for interesting intellectual reverie. The format of excerpts, however, was not entirely satisfying. I never saw Ohno perform live (and neither did Kawaguchi), but its clear even from still photographs that he was a mesmerizing artist. (Dont miss the gorgeous posters of him in the REDCAT lobby.)

This is not to diminish what Kawaguchi accomplishes. He is lean and muscular, and every nerve ending and fiber works independently as he transforms him before our eyes into the unnatural poses, awkward gaits and slow, controlled movements that Ohno originally created. It is the art of self-sculpting.

In The Daily Bread section from Admiring La Argentina, he makes those movements with a soft orange mask covering his head, its childlike facial features hiding Kawaguchis own expressions. And yet, in one long scene, Kawaguchi stays almost motionless while he clenches his chest, arms and leg muscles and his deep gulping breathes are audible. It took on the urgency of a life-and-death struggle, expressed by a man who was simply standing still.

------------

Takao Kawaguchi: About Kazuo Ohno  Reliving the Butoh Divas Masterpieces

When: 5 p.m. Sunday

Where: REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., Los Angeles

Tickets: $10-$25

Information: (213) 237-2800, redcat.org

A Naoto Iina film based on Takao Kawaguchi's performance "About Kazuo Ohno."

Follow The Times arts team @culturemonster.

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Disruption is just about the hoariest cliche in contemporary culture, but few artists can better claim the term than David Lynch. The director, musician, meditation activist and onetime local weatherman has upset the dreams of more filmgoers than almost any living director, with a career spanning unnerving classics like Mulholland Drive, Eraserhead, Blue Velvet and a soon-to-be-revived Twin Peaks series on Showtime.

On Saturday and Sunday, at the Ace Hotel and surrounding environs in downtown L.A., Lynch threw his own Festival of Disruption, a genre-expansive event of music, film, talks and theater made all the more Lynchian for sounding like a culty Thought Leader event. The headliners included Robert Plant, St. Vincent and even Mel Brooks, but everything passed through a filter of Lynch.

And as Twin Peaks special agent Dale Cooper might have put it, on Saturday, there were many damn fine cups of coffee to be had.

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The festival was a benefit for Lynchs eponymous foundation, which promotes the practice of transcendental meditation, a technique that has earned fans from pop figures including Oprah, Katy Perry, Russell Brand and even Rupert Murdoch. Throughout the weekend, onstage imagery and video alluded to its positive effects for healing PTSD-affected veterans and trauma victims.

TMs omnipresence at the festival only added to the sense that that, whatever the wide-ranging aesthetics of the acts, Lynchs eye was everywhere.

1 / 6 Attendees pack the Theatre at Ace Hotel for David Lynchs Festival of Disruption on Saturday. The event featured music from Robert Plant and St. Vincent along with an array of talks and film screenings. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 6 David Lynchs Festival of Disruption on Saturday. The festivals name refers to a quote attributed to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi: Life is a festival of disruption. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 6 The musician St. Vincent, also known as Annie Clark, performs at the festival. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 6 Dancers perform during St. Vincents set at David Lynchs Festival of Disruption. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 6 The Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown L.A. hosted the Festival of Disruption. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 6 The David Lynch film Blue Velvet is shown at the festival on Saturday. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

The human brain has 60,000 thoughts per day; 80,000 if youre stressed, and if youre in the West, youre stressed. Meditation can be a tool to look inward, said Jessica Harris, the foundations executive producer for live events, as she leaned over a table in the Aces Segovia ballroom. Musicians go into that same space when theyre creating -- they go into another world.

By day Saturday, most of the exhibits were decidedly otherworldly. A virtual-reality exhibit from director Chris Milk looked to the deep future; a talk with the legendary Brooks looked back at his incomparable career in humor. At the nearby Well gallery, as a harsh, noise-serrated John Malkovich short played on a projection loop, Blondie guitarist Chris Stein hung out behind a curtain next to a new series of his photographs. They often captured his frequent and perhaps favorite subject: Debbie Harry, posing in the throes of lost downtown New York City decrepitude, setting dinner on fire, laughing with Joey Ramone or simply leaning on a wall next to a giant spider.

Theres a romance in decay, Stein said. Nostalgia is a trap, and nobody had any clue what was going on at the time. But I do appreciate [70s New York] more in retrospective. There was a time when you took your life into your hands walking around with a camera.

St. Vincent, featuring singer Annie Clark, performed at the David Lynch Festival of Disruption on Oct. 8. (Barbara Davidson/Los Angeles Times )

Of course, with Lynch, you sometimes take your life into hands watching what comes out of his camera. Before the concerts, Lynchs own photography exhibit focused on still lifes of L.A. entropy and weird glamour. A string of interstitial short films, including a pain-inducing commercial for the pain reliever Anacin and a video for Nine Inch Nails Came Back Haunted, set the mood for the show to come -- spooky, funny, and technically masterful.

First off, U.K. electronic producer Jon Hopkins married steel-toed techno with lovely ambient passages. Hes worked with Coldplay, Brian Eno and Herbie Hancock, but at the Ace, he went all-in for a set of mind-frying club music punctuated with melancholy piano work. Hopkins has cited meditation as a key driver of his work, and he made as good an argument for its efficacy as anyone could.

St. Vincent used a more intimate framework for her set -- just her and a guitar, with a multitasking pianist and sampler on the side stage and a trio of costume-changing dancers splaying around a living-room stage set. Dressed in a Daytona Beach-style bikini babe airbrushed shirt, she looked droll as hell while sounding piercingly beautiful on stripped-down version of songs like Teenage Talk and I Prefer Your Love.

Most of Plants classic rock peers were out in Indio headlining the Desert Trip festival all weekend, so its poignant that the Led Zeppelin frontman chose to spend his Saturday headlining this festival. Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters sounded marvelous on his newer cuts like Turn It Up, weaving African desert guitar lines into American blues and 70s arena-rock howling.

But a cover of the Zep staple Black Dog got turned inside out, with its tumbling riff cut off at the seams to make it sound eerie and open. Recognizable, but uncannily weird and new -- a perfect way to sign off of a night of David Lynch.

For breaking music news, follow @augustbrown on Twitter.
The sandblasting contractor was in a bind. It was almost 9 a.m. and his crew was waiting for instructions. But the people wouldnt leave.

They sat on folding chairs under his scaffolding, ate potluck offerings and danced to Cumbia music.

His boss, the stucco contractor, faced off with a leader of a group of tenants who say they have formed a union.

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Were asking you in solidarity to move on to another site, she said. Theres plenty of other sites.

Youre stopping us from work, he said. Weve got bills to pay too.

She gave no ground.

Were going to mask the windows and were going to fire up the rig, he said.

The late August confrontation outside the 60-unit Marmion Royal apartments in Highland Park marked a flashpoint in L.A.s slow-burning drama over income inequality, cultural identity, housing affordability and neighborhood preservation.

With its rents and real estate prices rising dramatically in recent years, Highland Park has become the latest front in the wave of gentrification that has swept nearby communities such as Echo Park and Atwater Village, uprooting working-class Latinos from neighborhoods they have called home for decades.

Highland Park is now ground zero, not only in L.A., but in the whole country, said Peter Dreier, professor of urban and environmental policy at Occidental College in Eagle Rock.

Hedge funds and private equity firms are gobbling up properties all over the country, he said. They buy buildings for speculation. Theres enormous pressure on landlords to get rid of tenants.

In the first half of this year, 20 multi-family buildings changed hands in Highland Park, five more than the same period last year, according to the real estate data firm CoStar.

Many of those buildings are rent-controlled, limiting raises to 3% a year and requiring owners to pay relocation fees to anyone evicted for renovations.

But Marmion Royal was built in 1987, years after the citys Rent Stabilization Ordinance went into effect, making the apartment complex exempt.

When a new owner began renovating units and asked to negotiate higher rents, tenants saw it as a move to force out longtime low-income residents. They banded together and demanded de facto rent control  long-term leases with limited increases.

Owner of apartment complex Gelena Skya-Wasserman, right, talks a group of tenants who are picketing to block workers from sandblasting their courtyard. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times )

Theyve stood up, said John Urquiza, a freelance photographer and designer who organizes for an anti-gentrification group called the North East Los Angeles Alliance. Thats a lot different from whats been going on, people negotiating their way out and retreating.

Skya Ventures, a Tarzana investment company, bought the complex in May from Azusa Pacific University. The university had acquired the property as a donation and remained a distant landlord, allowing rents and maintenance to lag.

The boxy, two-building complex was no beauty on the outside. But at $14.3 million  and free of city rent controls  it was full of potential.

A Gold Line station is across the street, and the long-sleepy North Figueroa Street business district, which sits a block away, is stirring with trendy restaurants catering to Highland Parks burgeoning influx of urban professionals.

Skya planned to upgrade the apartments and bump up the rents 50%, said the firms management agent, Chris Gray. The idea was a gradual renovation, allowing tenants to re-lease a few at a time as vacant units were refurbished, Gray said.

For Rudy Rosales, a 50% increase would be the same as an eviction notice. A cook who works double shifts in West Hollywood, Rosales lives with his children, ages 3, 5 and 7, in a one-bedroom apartment costing $1,000 a month.

Rosales said he had turned down a move into a two-bedroom unit because he couldnt afford the $1,500 rent.

Tenants contend Skya has negotiated with only the few white and well-off families in the complex.

Gray disputes the contention. He said he attended a tenant meeting and asked all present to contact him.

The only people we have negotiated with are people who have approached us, Gray said.

One of those, Marmion Royal resident Hannah Weinstein, a Pasadena labor lawyer, said she met with Skya just to see what was on the table.

The landlord offered to rent her a two-bedroom unit for more than $2,600 a month, Weinstein said, but they told us to please negotiate.

The price was eventually dropped to $2,100, an increase of just over 50% over her current rent, but Weinstein wasnt taking.

Brothers, Mathew Rosales, 3, left, Emiliano, 5, and Rudy Jr., 7, accompanied by their father Rudy Rosales, 34, pass between scaffolds in the court yard of Marmion Royal apartments in Highland Park. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times )

We see ourselves as part of the union, she said. We want our neighbors to stay in the neighborhood theyve lived in all their lives.

In late June, guided by a tenant advocates group called the Eviction Defense Network, residents declared their intention to withhold rent until Skya met their condition to re-lease to them under the terms of rent control.

As a show of good faith, they are holding cashiers checks for each months rent.

Since then, the tenants union had been engaged in an escalating tit-for-tat with Skya and its management over piecemeal evictions, pest infestations and the scheduling of repair work.

The tension erupted in late August over sandblasting. Workers set up scaffolding along the outside walls and reduced the two-tone, beige-and-sandstone finish to a base of gray stucco.

Tenants complained that even with the windows masked, their homes were penetrated by dust, aggravating health conditions.

Then the workers erected steel and wood plank walkways in the narrow courtyard of one building and notified residents they would have to stay indoors or leave the building from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on four consecutive days.

The tenants asked to be relocated to a hotel during the sandblasting. Gray said Skya offered rent credits to individuals who had identified health problems. But the tenants wanted Skya to deal with all of them equally.

On Aug. 29, a picket line of mostly men blocked the gated entrance on Marmion Way. Police arrived and warned the tenants that they could be arrested for preventing the workers from entering the building. By then the sandblasting crew had left.

Urquiza, the tenant organizer, came up with a new strategy: Instead of facing off with the workers, the tenants would throw a party.

The next morning, they were waiting when Gilbert Nunez, owner of Elite Sandblasting in of Monte, arrived with his truck and crew to play an elaborate bluff that would shortly be called.

We bid the job; Im here to complete it, Nunez told two women who met him on the sidewalk.

Out front, a smartly dressed woman walked the sidewalk with a cellphone to her ear.

She was Gelena Skya-Wasserman, founder and owner of Skya Ventures.

As the crew began unrolling high-pressure hoses, Skya-Wasserman aimed the cellphone at an anti-Skya sign the tenants had hung above the courtyard entrance.

Two young women on the stairs gave her looks.

Take my picture, one said, striking a modeling pose.

You can give me the middle finger, Skya-Wasserman said. Thats OK.

The ice was broken. Ten minutes later, Skya-Wasserman was sitting in a folding chair in the courtyard surrounded by stony-faced young men, women with infants in their arms and toddlers playing under the scaffolding.

She tried to show empathy.

I respect where you are coming from, she said at one point. I respect your needs. To whatever extent I can get it, I get it.

But the tenants positions remained hardened.

Whats important to say, if youre not paying rent, nothing can be negotiated, Skya-Wasserman concluded.

By then the sandblasting crew had pulled down the masking and reeled in the hoses.

Nunez said he called the sandblasting off.

Later in the day, a process server arrived and handed out 60-day no fault eviction notices to many of the remaining tenants, a procedure that is legal in non-rent-controlled buildings.

Gray, Skyas agent, said the move was planned and had not resulted from the days confrontation.

Urquiza called it an escalation.

The next night the tenants met in the nearby All Saints Episcopal Church. Urquiza rallied those who were shaken by the mass eviction.

Elena Popp, the tenants lawyer, assured them that the earliest they could be summoned to court would be January.

If they stuck together, and kept putting their deposits into the trust account, they could win, she said.

At the end of the night, they reached a consensus to stick together and be ready the next morning for the return of the sandblasters.

On Thursday morning, the courtyard was more crowded than before with supporters in solidarity from the L.A. Tenants Union, Union de Vecinos of Boyle Heights, North East Los Angeles Alliance and even Occidental Students United Against Gentrification.

The sandblasters didnt show.

Weve won the day, Urquiza told the tenants. But we have to keep our vigilance up.

Since then, the outside walls have been painted, the scaffolding has been removed without sandblasting and several tenants have received unlawful detainer notices, beginning the court process to evict them.

doug.smith@latimes.com

Twitter: @latdoug

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The California Supreme Court appeared unwilling Wednesday to allow prosecutors to withdraw plea bargains affected by Proposition 47, which reduced some felonies to misdemeanors.

During a hearing, several justices cited a precedent that said plea bargains cant be revoked even if a subsequent change in the law results in a different penalty.

The court is considering a Los Angeles County case in which prosecutors dropped a felony charge of robbery in exchange for a defendants plea of guilty to theft, which at the time was a felony. The agreement said the defendant, Morris Harris Jr., would serve six years in prison.

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Voters subsequently passed Proposition 47, which reduced theft to a misdemeanor punishable by six months. The 2014 measure was retroactive.

Harris had served only half of his sentence when he applied to have his conviction reduced to a misdemeanor under Proposition 47.

Prosecutors argued they should now be able to withdraw the agreement and have Harris tried for robbery. They said they never would have made the deal if they knew theft would later become a misdemeanor.

John F. L. Pomeroy, arguing for the Los Angeles district attorney, said no one imagined that a six-year prison term could become six months in the county jail.

Justice Goodwin Liu appeared skeptical of the L.A. prosecutors arguments.

Courts are not going to reopen these things, Liu said.

Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye noted that Proposition 47 voters intended to curtail the powers of prosecutors in certain cases.

Doesnt [your argument] undermine the purpose of Proposition 47? she asked Pomeroy.

Mark J. Harvis, who represented Harris, noted that 95% of criminal cases are resolved by plea bargains.

An estimated 750,000 cases in Los Angeles were potentially affected by the 2014 ballot measure, Harvis said. If the court allowed prosecutors to unravel previous agreements now, he added, it would mean that only 5% of defendants benefited from Proposition 47.

It was never within the thought process of voters that plea bargains would not be covered by the change in law, said Harvis, a deputy L.A. public defender.

Justice Carol A. Corrigan said that Proposition 47 created enough trouble for the courts without resurrecting all those cases resolved by plea bargains.

When you engage in a plea bargain, dont you run the risk that the law may subsequently change? she asked.

The court will issue a decision in the case within 90 days.
One of the most influential American scholars of Judaism has died. Jacob Neusner died Saturday at his home in Rhinebeck, N.Y. He was 84 and suffered from Parkinsons disease. Bard College, where he had taught since 1994, confirmed his death.

Neusner transformed the way Judaism was studied. He made Judaism a topic, alongside Christianity, in secular religious studies programs at colleges and universities.

His translations of rabbinic texts made many accessible in English for the first time. Neusner wrote or edited more than 900 books and articles. His work on Judaism and Christianity was quoted extensively by retired Pope Benedict XVI.

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Neusner was born in West Hartford, Conn., and earned degrees from Harvard University, Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary.

A funeral is set for Monday.
Some Republicans want Donald Trump to end his candidacy in the hopes of salvaging the partys electoral chances. But hundreds of thousands of ballots have been cast, and this week, voting opens in a fifth swing state with Trump still at the top of the ticket.

Early voting will commence in Ohio on Tuesday. More than 200,000 ballots have already been cast in Florida, Iowa, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

Those battlegrounds are among the 14 states where some form of early voting is underway, with a combined 429,337 ballots already received by election officials, according to data compiled by the United States Elections Project in conjunction with the Associated Press.

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Hillary Clintons campaign is analyzing the daily intake in key states for clues about the effectiveness of its get-out-the-vote efforts.

Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | Sign up for the newsletter | The race to 270

Clinton and top supporters will hit the trail in a coordinated effort to encourage early voting. She will campaign in Ohio on Monday on the eve of early voting. Former President Bill Clinton will be in Iowa starting Wednesday, during the second full week of early voting there.

But both parties see evidence in the early vote that augurs well for their side.

Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook predicted last week that, based on early data, more early votes will be cast this year than in any previous presidential election. More than 2.7 million voters had requested early ballots as of last week, up from 1.8 million at the same point four years ago.

It is possible, because of the campaigns aggressive efforts in Nevada, North Carolina and Florida, that we could build an insurmountable lead in those key states before election day, Mook said.

Separately, Republican National Committee political director Chris Carr said his party was working hand in glove with the Trump campaign to turn out voters, citing early voting statistics that he said were bad signs for the Clinton campaign. Among them: More registered Republicans were requesting absentee ballots either overall or on key days in states such as Florida, Iowa and Michigan.

He also said the RNC had put a renewed focus on registering new voters, conceding that Democrats had outpaced Republicans in recent cycles on that front.

Ultimately we are going to keep our foot on the gas and continue our work of engaging voters, building relationships with them, registering them to vote and making sure they come out to vote Republican up and down the ticket, he said.

Of the states most aggressively contested by both candidates, only New Hampshire and Pennsylvania have no major early vote or vote-by-mail program. In Colorado, by contrast, only 1 of 6 votes was cast on election day 2012.

michael.memoli@latimes.com

For more 2016 campaign coverage, follow @mikememoli on Twitter

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What we know about Ken Bone, Karl Becker and the rest of the town hall debate questioners

James Carter asks a question during the debate. (Paul J. Richards / AFP/Getty Images)

Eight audience members asked questions of the nominees Sunday night. By nights end, some had been declared the winners of the chaotic town hall debate and at least one audience member inspired a fake Twitter account and a song.

Here are the questions and everything we know about the questioners:

1. Patrice Brock: The last debate could have been rated as MA, mature audiences, per TV parental guidelines.... Do you feel youre modeling appropriate and positive behavior for todays youth?

Ken Karpowicz asks a question during the town hall debate. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

2. Ken Karpowicz: Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, it is not affordable...What will you do to bring the cost down and make coverage better?

A Facebook profile identified by several of Karpowiczs high school classmates says he is a foreman at a sheet metal company and graduated from high school in Illinois.

3. Gorbah Hamed: There are 3.3 million Muslims in the United States, and Im one of them. ...With Islamophobia on the rise, how will you help people like me deal with the consequences of being labeled as a threat to the country after the election is over?

4. Spencer Maass: What specific tax provisions will you change to ensure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share in taxes?

According to a LinkedIn profile that appears to belong to Maass, he is a credit analyst at a bank in Missouri. Maass is a recent graduate of the University of Missouri where he studied finance, the LinkedIn page says, was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and was involved in student government.

5. James Carter: Do you believe you can be a devoted president to all Americans?

6. Beth Miller: What would you prioritize as the most important aspect of selecting a Supreme Court justice?

7. Kenneth Bone: What steps will your energy policy take to meet our energy needs, while at the same time remaining environmentally friendly and minimizing job loss for fossil power plant workers?

Bone was clearly the social media favorite of the town hall participants. His cameo, and his apparent use of a disposable camera after the debate, quickly spawned memes and a parody Twitter handle. More than an hour after the debate ended, Ken Bone continued to be a trending topic on Twitter.

The REAL star of #debatenight? Kenneth Bone, uncommitted voter pic.twitter.com/hmqWggkdr7  Ron Sullivan (@CornerPubRon) October 10, 2016

America, meet Ken Bone  pic.twitter.com/KHeCshT2Dh  BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) October 10, 2016

8. Karl Becker: Regardless of the current rhetoric, would each of you name one positive thing that you respect in one another?

Becker is a sales executive at an auto parts distributor in St. Louis, according to a LinkedIn page that appears to belong to him. After Becker was declared the nights winner by several users on social media, a woman who said she is his daughter responded to the praise:
Reluctant Trump supporter Paul Ryan faces a test today

Saturday was supposed to be the first joint campaign appearance by Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, with the two men appearing at an autumnal festival in rural Wisconsin to send a bucolic message of party unity.

Now, in the wake of a video showing Trump vulgarly boasting about groping women, the GOP presidential nominee wont be there  but Ryan will be the focus of massive attention as to what course he takes.

Ryan, the nations top elected Republican, endorsed Trump even as he frequently expressed discomfort with Trumps views. Now the speakers calculation is even more vexing.

If he backs away entirely from Trump, he could encourage other Republican politicians to abandon their nominee, which could hamper turnout and cost the GOP some House seats. If he sticks with Trump, the 2012 vice presidential nominee and likely future presidential contender risks his Boy Scout reputation for upright and earnest behavior.

Within hours of the videos release, members of Ryans caucus such as Reps. Jason Chaffetz of Utah and Barbara Comstock of Virginia said they had reached their breaking point and disavowed their partys standard-bearer. The question is whether Ryan will follow suit.

Aides to Ryan said he did not speak with Trump following the report about the video, which was published in the Washington Post. But his decision to disinvite Trump from the Fall Fest in Elkhorn, Wis., and his statement about the matter were striking.

I am sickened by what I heard today. Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified, Ryan said. I hope Mr. Trump treats this situation with the seriousness it deserves and works to demonstrate to the country that he has greater respect for women than this clip suggests. In the meantime, he is no longer attending tomorrows event in Wisconsin.

Its not the first time the two men have tangled.

After Trump clinched the GOP nomination, Ryan initially refused to endorse him, saying, Im just not ready to do that at this point.

Shortly after he did endorse Trump, Ryan called Trumps statements that a Mexican American judge could not fairly adjudicate a trial involving him a textbook definition of a racist comment.

Ryan rebuked Trumps attacks on the parents of a Muslim soldier who was killed in the line of duty, as well as his initial refusal to condemn support from David Duke, a former leader of the Ku Klux Klan.

Ryan has repeatedly condemned Trumps ban on Muslims entering the nation as un-American and called on Trump to release his tax returns.

Trump, for his part, also has been critical of Ryan. He partly blamed the GOPs 2012 White House loss on Ryans budget proposal that included cuts to Medicare. This summer, Trump initially declined to endorse Ryan in his reelection bid, praising his GOP rival, Paul Nehlen, and echoing Ryans language by saying, Im just not quite there yet. He ultimately endorsed the House Speaker.
Researchers work in a medical lab of Novartis in Shanghai. (Photo : Getty Images)

Novartis is cutting off jobs in China, Singapore and Switzerland as parts of efforts to centralize its operations.



According to Reuters, the Swiss pharmaceutical company will be slashing 18 positions in Shanghai as it shuts down its development center in the city. However, the group will continue the operations of its recently opened Shanghai campus, on which the company splurged $1 billion.



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"The NIBR research and development center in Shanghai is established to discover and develop new therapies that address the unmet medical needs of patients in China," a spokesman told Reuters. About 500 personnel work in the research and development department in the campus.



Meanwhile, the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD), the company's research facility in Singapore, will be relocated to Emeryville, California as newly appointed president of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research James Bradner bares his strategic plan.



"It's a difficult decision," said Dr. Bradner, as quoted by The Straits Times.



"Moving the NITD is really intended to empower the research through the strength of collaborative proximity," Dr. Bradner added.



The NITD was established in 2002 as a public-private partnership between the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and Novartis. The center currently employs 85 physicians, scientists and other professionals.



Despite the move, the pharmaceutical company still expects to work with Singapore-based scientists and medical professionals particularly in the field of digital medicine.



Christopher Snook, Novartis Singapore's country president, told The Straits Times that the company will "work with affected staff one-on-one" and assist them in applying for positions at the California center or see other options within the company.



Since announcing a new strategy for its pharmaceutical department, Novartis has been cutting off its costly operations. Last August, the company shut down its Cell and Gene Therapy division, axing about 120 jobs, most of which are based in the U.S.


Donald J. Trump has been flaunting the crass, bigoted and boorish sides of his personality since the day he launched his campaign in June 2015. Again and again, he delivered off-the-cuff remarks that were deeply offensive to one group after another, leading pundits to say hed finally sunk his improbable and unorthodox presidential candidacy  and again and again Trump survived.

But the release Friday of an 11-year-old tape in which Trump is recorded boasting about groping beautiful women  because when youre a star, they let you do it  has produced a stampede of defections by prominent Republicans from his cause. Some have urged Trump to step aside in favor of vice presidential nominee Mike Pence, a course Trump has said will never happen in a million years.

These Republican leaders need to repudiate a man who never should have been awarded the nomination in the first place

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Its nice to see members of the party that Trump is wrecking, bull-in-a-china-shop style, cast off the willful blindness that kept them from seeing the real-estate mogul for the disaster that he is. But one has to wonder what took them so long  why the sexually predatory braggadocio struck a nerve somehow missed by the xenophobic comments about Mexicans, the calls for religious discrimination against Muslims, the blithe comments about arming more countries with nuclear weapons and blasting Iranian vessels out of the water, and the musings about abandoning NATO allies  to name just a few of Trumps more outlandish comments.

Besides, it has been obvious for months that Trump  in addition to his shocking ignorance of domestic and international affairs, his bigoted attitude toward racial minorities and his hair-trigger temper  lacked respect for women and often viewed them primarily as sex objects. That impression wasnt dispelled by elaborate attempts by the Trump campaign and Trumps daughter to portray him as an executive who encouraged women employees.

Yet some of his most eminent supporters  including Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell  have continued to support Trump even as they condemned the behavior revealed in the tape, which Ryan said sickened him. This continued clinging to a discredited candidate disserves the party and the country. Better late than never, these leaders need to repudiate a man who never should have been awarded the nomination in the first place.

It was last August that Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly reminded Trump during a Republican debate that he had described some women as fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals. Trump later proved the point of Kellys question by complaining that there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever.

The tape made public by the Washington Post showed Trump not only engaging in crude talk but boasting about sexually assaulting women (and in terms so unusually profane for a leading public figure, many newspapers considered them newsworthy enough to abandon their usual policies against printing lewd language). Its inconceivable that Ryan, McConnell or even Pence could give Trump a pass for such misconduct and recommend that the voters put such a morally compromised candidate in the White House.

Their condemnations mean little unless they rescind their endorsements.

As theyve done throughout his campaign, Trump and his defenders have sought to deflect attention away from the latest revelation by attacking his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. Their latest angle is to talk up Bill Clintons sexual misdeeds and the way Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims, as Trump put it in a videotaped apology. But Bill Clinton isnt running for president; Trump is. And its ridiculous to suggest that her approach to women and their issues is anything like Trumps.

For those of us who have long argued that Donald Trump is unfit for the White House, the ugly disclosures of the last couple of days are further proof of what already seemed obvious. But if it takes this last straw to break the back of the Republican denial, so be it. Now those who profess to be shocked by this latest detail must act on their outrage and say the words: Never Trump.
At a GOP fundraiser in this picturesque swath of southeastern Wisconsin, Donald Trump was supposed to join the states popular congressman, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, for their first joint campaign event Saturday.

But Ryan, the nations highest-ranking Republican who has struggled to embrace Trumps candidacy, rescinded the invitation after a recording emerged of the businessman making vulgar comments about groping women.

When Ryan took the stage to speak Saturday, shock and anger over the incident was still palpable. But to Ryans disappointment, it was mostly directed at him.

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Paul Ryan sucks! said Paul Anderson, 28, who drove nearly an hour from Milwaukee to hear Trump speak.

As Ryan began to speak, hecklers started chanting Trumps name and one screamed at Ryan, You turned your back on us!

While a number of top-name Republican politicians renounced Trump on Saturday in the aftermath of the recording, many of his rank-and-file supporters stood behind their standard-bearer, heckling and attacking GOP leaders who distanced themselves from the billionaire.

While few openly defended Trumps lewd remarks, many of his supporters dismissed the incident as overblown, blaming the media for hyping the story and GOP elected officials for panicking in response.

Many Trump supporters saw the tide of criticism against the businessman as the latest push by the political elite to cripple his candidacy. And the disconnect between their continued backing for Trump and the sense of crisis among elected officials underscored the potential for the final phase of Trumps campaign to deepen the divide between the Republican Party establishment and its grass-roots base.

In Nevada, Joe Heck, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, was also heckled and booed Saturday after withdrawing his endorsement of Trump.

In New York, throngs of Trumps supporters gathered outside Trump Tower in a gesture of support, cheering when he briefly emerged to wave.

Inside the Trump campaign, officials were initially concerned about a backlash from the incident, but quickly regrouped and remain optimistic that they can recover, according to a person familiar with the campaign who did not want to be identified speaking about internal conversations.

Theres a plan to move forward, and its going to be aggressive, the person said. Its all voter support.

Even those Trump supporters who said they found his remarks repugnant said he remained a better alternative than Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

At the Fall Fest fundraiser in Wisconsin, Sally Luell, 68, called Trumps remarks abhorrent, but said she would vote for Trump because she cant stand Hillary.

I think Hillary Clinton backing her husband when he was doing what he was doing was worse, said the retired municipal worker from Muskego.

Ryan, who was heckled throughout his appearance, never mentioned Trumps name but acknowledged the controversy during his eight-minute speech.

There is a bit of an elephant in the room, Ryan told about 1,000 Republican voters at the annual barbecue, where political leaders give speeches amid hay bales, pumpkins and American flags.

It is a troubling situation, and Im serious, it is, he said. I put out a statement about this last night. I meant what I said and its still how I feel. But that is not what we are here to talk about today.

Ryan focused on the U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin, and on his six-point congressional agenda called A Better Way.

In the House, were offering people a better way. We are offering solutions, Ryan said. But the hecklers would not relent; one yelled that Ryan supported President Obama.

Anderson, who owns a gourmet popcorn store, brushed aside Trumps remarks in the 2005 recording as some naughty words and said they were no reason for Ryan to disinvite the candidate.

Hillary Clinton is laughing at Paul Ryan right now, he said. Or laughing with him.

Some voters were sympathetic to the position Ryan finds himself in -- he has a Boy Scout reputation and has been distressed by numerous previous comments Trump has made, such as his call for banning Muslims from entering the country and his description of a Mexican American judge as incapable of judging a case fairly because of his heritage.

But Ryans primary goal this election year is to retain a strong majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. If Republicans abandon Trump en masse, that could be disastrous for the party in down-ballot races.

Beth Lock, 54, jumped to Ryans defense.

He supports us. This is his district, she told Anderson. He has done a tremendous amount for our area here. Hes a wonderful man.

But Lock also said she was standing by Trumps remarks, which she did not find surprising.

I would rather vote for somebody who did guy talk with somebody, which we all know everyone does, including girls. I would rather have that rather than someone whos had people killed in Benghazi, she said, referring to the death of four Americans in an attack on American facilities in Libya while Clinton was secretary of State. My God, look at the list of whats gone on with the Clintons.

The notion that Trumps comments, which include hitting on a married woman and using crass words to describe womens anatomy, were commonplace behind closed doors was widespread among his defenders.

Its mildly vulgar. He shouldnt have said it. But this is how men talk at times, said Orville Seymer, 62, of Franklin. Its locker room talk. Im not excusing it, but he apologized. We need to focus on whats important to this country and getting it back on track.

Seymer, a property manager, added that the discussion about whether Trump should step down was moot because he didnt think it was possible to replace Trump on the ballot.

Logistically, I dont see how to do it. The ballots have already been printed. Early voting has started. People have cast their vote. What can you do? he said.

Given the backlash, it wasnt surprising that nearly all the elected officials who spoke Saturday tried to avoid mentioning Trump, even as the crowd chanted, We want Trump! We want Trump!

Wearing a Green Bay Packers sweatshirt and jeans, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker did not mention Trump by name and instead focused on the Senate race, legislative races and Republicans achievements in the state capital. Sen. Ron Johnson did likewise.

State Attn. Gen. Brad Schimel was the sole official to address the nature of Trumps remarks head on.

I know Donald Trump said some things that are bad, said Schimel, adding that he was the father of two daughters. I dont like hearing anyone talk that way about women.

The crowd groaned and one man yelled out, That was like 12 years ago! Get over it!

Staff writer Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report.

seema.mehta@latimes.com

For the latest on national and California politics, follow @LATSeema on Twitter.

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Gov. Mike Pence struggled uncomfortably this summer when he was forced to address Donald Trumps maligning of a Mexican American judge from Indiana, Pences home state.

If I wanted to comment on everything thats said in the presidential campaigns, I would have run for president, Pence said after giving Trump a brief rebuke for his remarks about federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who was presiding over lawsuits filed against the defunct Trump University real estate program. Im focused on the state of Indiana.

Pence relinquished the luxury of avoiding Trumps controversies five weeks later when he signed on as Trumps running mate, taking on a life of comparing Trump to Ronald Reagan and waxing about the strength of his broad shoulders. Others had made it clear that they could not or would not take the job.

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Pences competing impulses  to remain aloof from Trumps controversies and to defend him vigorously  are now colliding. The vice presidential nominee spent Saturday huddled with family and advisors, at the center of intense pressure on multiple fronts, after a 2005 recording was unearthed Friday that showed Trump bragging in vulgar terms about his ability to grope women.

Some in his party want Pence atop the ballot, replacing Trump. Others may never forgive him for joining on Trump. And Pence, who has been precariously balancing his own ambitions with Trumps since he became his running mate, is undoubtedly trying to preserve his own reputation without appearing disloyal to the man who remains the GOPs standard-bearer.

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He jumped in with the devil and now hes in a huge predicament here, said Brian Howey, publisher of a website chronicling Indiana politics. If the guy had any shred of integrity, hed resign the ticket.

Pence has not reached that point. On Saturday, he issued a statement that leaves him room to maneuver and makes it clear that he would not defend Trump in the near term, as he has on so many other occasions in recent months. The statement, an unusually sharp admonishment from a presidential running mate, put the onus on Trump to rehabilitate himself during Sundays debate.

As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the 11-year-old video released yesterday. I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them, Pence said. I am grateful that he has expressed remorse and apologized to the American people. We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night.

Pence was beside himself, and his wife was furious at the revelations, according to the Associated Press, citing a person familiar with Pences thinking.

The politics are particularly fraught for Pence, who rose to national prominence as a social conservative, with moral issues at the center of his political identity.

My Christian faith is at the very heart of who I am, Pence said during Tuesdays vice presidential debate, rejecting the argument from his opponent, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, that political decisions should be kept at a greater distance from matters of personal faith, including abortion laws.

With my wife at my side, weve followed a calling into public service, he added. Weve tried to keep faith with the values that we cherish.

The debate also showcased Pences strategy of defending Trump.

At times, Pence has distanced himself from long-held positions, such as his support for trade agreements opposed by Trump, or his prior condemnation of Trumps call to ban all Muslims from entering the country.

At others, he has simply rewritten Trumps words or policies, insisting that Trump, who has repeatedly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, regards him as a bully.

Hes not a polished politician, Pence said during the debate, insisting that Trump would not, as he once said, support laws to punish women who have abortions.

The strategy has been tricky for Pence, leaving him open to accusations that he has recast Trump in his own image or bolstered his brand at Trumps expense.

Trump has insisted on keeping himself at the center, saying after last weeks debate performance was praised that Im getting a lot of credit for choosing Pence.

Hes coming as close to the line as he can in defending Trump, said Rick Tyler, a former aide to Texas Sen. Ted Cruzs presidential campaign, referring to Saturdays statement. But theres a point where you cant defend the absurd without diminishing yourself.

Tyler argued that Pence, in protecting himself, is helping the ticket in a situation that is difficult to defuse.

Howey said Pence would have faced a tough reelection campaign for governor this year after he supported a religious freedom law that business groups and other critics said allowed businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians. Pence later signed a second bill intended to prevent discrimination, upsetting some social conservatives. But in joining Trump, he hardly found an easy way out.

Mike Pence saw a chance to opt out of a reelection bid, Howey said. Hes in almost an impossible position here, and a totally predictable one.

noah.bierman@latimes.com

Twitter: @noahbierman

Is there any practical way for Republicans to replace Trump at this point? Not really

Donald Trump has a default setting: What I did may be bad, but Bill Clinton has done even worse

A growing number of prominent Republicans withdraw support or condemn Trump  heres who is speaking up
A deeply wounded Donald Trump struggled to salvage his presidential campaign Saturday as Republicans who had remained at his side out of loyalty or fear abandoned him to try to save themselves and their partys congressional majorities.

Even as Trump insisted that he would remain in the race and battle Democrat Hillary Clinton in Sundays second presidential debate, a parade of Senate and House incumbents and party challengers repudiated him throughout the day for vulgar comments made in a 2005 interview made public Friday. The video included his assertion that he was able to grope women because when youre a star, they let you do it.

The public enmity toward the partys standard-bearer one month before election day marked a brutal break from what had been the practice during earlier Trump controversies. Before now, most Republicans would disavow his statements and urge him to watch his words  without taking the additional step of saying they would not back him for president.

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Some continued to take that stance Saturday; House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate leader Mitch McConnell and Republican Party chief Reince Priebus remained in Trumps camp. But others made a different calculation: that it was more dangerous to stick with him than to leave.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, who had endorsed Trump despite the presidential candidates dismissal of him as not a war hero for being captured and tortured during the Vietnam War, spoke as many did Saturday when he said he had tried to support Trump but could no longer do so.

Donald Trumps behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy, McCain said.

For many Republicans, the day carried the whiff of disinfectant, as if the goal was to stop the contagion from spreading beyond Trump himself. Blunting his reach is particularly important when it comes to keeping control of the Senate, where Republicans hold 54 seats to 46 for Democrats and their independent allies.

Their hold on the House is far more firm, but some Republicans were growing concerned that Trumps campaign could collapse so precipitously, and so damage GOP voter turnout, that anything was possible even if not probable.

Its time for the GOP masters to spend the next month figuring out how to save the Senate, the House, the governors, said Rich Galen, a GOP strategist who has worked for Newt Gingrich and Dan Quayle. The presidency is gone.

Unless your polling says you live in Trumpville, I think most people will bail in droves and I think thats the right thing to doThe presidency is a done deal and lets not be shy about it, its every man and woman for themselves.

Trump had no scheduled public events Saturday. He left his residence in New York Citys Trump Tower briefly in the afternoon to meet with supporters chanting outside.

The visit before television cameras seemed intended to remind his own party that he retains a hold on a significant band of voters  and that the resilient candidate has survived plenty of stumbles that outsiders had predicted would destroy his campaign.

Early in the day, he tweeted as if joking: Certainly has been an interesting 24 hours! Then he insisted he was in the race to stay.

The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly, Trump tweeted. I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN!

His running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, issued a statement that, in the diplomatic language of political alliances, served as a pointed rebuke.

Pence, who did not appear as planned at a Wisconsin rally with Ryan, said he was offended by the words and actions of Trump.

I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them. I am grateful that he has expressed remorse and apologized to the American people, Pence said. In a strong hint that Trump apologize further during Sundays debate, he added that we pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night.

Repudiation of Trump was bipartisan; both McCain and Vice President Joe Biden referred to Trumps words about groping as indicators of sexual assault.

The Clinton campaign, for its part, stayed largely out of the fray so as not to intrude on the Republican immolation; it mostly issued routine reminders of voters to cast ballots in early voting states. But it added a snippet of Trumps sexually aggressive remarks to an ad highlighting his verbal miscues.

Those most endangered were candidates in contested races for whom  as for the Republican Party as a whole  Trump has been both a salvation and curse.

The developer-turned-television-personality used his fame and fortune and a finely honed populist message to win over blue-collar white voters in many states who previously had either sided with Democrats or stayed home on election day. That amounted to a well of fresh support for Republicans in some areas.

But with the same message that Trump was using to attract blue-collar white voters, he was also repelling women and minority voters as well as the college educated, whom Republicans depend upon in many areas for their winning margins.

In New Hampshire, Trump had already been an albatross for incumbent Sen. Kelly Ayotte. She came under fire and was forced to backtrack last week when, in a debate, she said that Trump would be a role model to children. And that was before the video surfaced with more incendiary remarks.

On Saturday, Ayotte said in a Facebook statement that she had wanted to support Trump because he represented change.

However, Im a mom and an American first, and I cannot and will not support a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting women, she said.

But she then came under a withering, daylong assault from her Democratic opponent, Gov. Maggie Hassan, whose campaign said Ayottes decision to withdraw her endorsement of Trump amounted to craven political self-preservation. Hassans campaign sent repeated emails to voters ticking off the times Ayotte had stuck with Trump through earlier insults against women.

The dynamic for Republican incumbents in tight races is fraught with danger: If they have not brushed aside Trump, they will be under pressure to do so. If they have pushed him away, they are likely to be questioned about why they had not done so earlier, given the repeated controversies. And in some cases, they will face punishment from his backers regardless.

Alice Stewart, a Republican strategist with close ties to the partys religious activists, said that Trumps remarks were disrespectful and not presidential  particularly one segment in which he talked of his desire to have sex with a married woman.

Trumps words will not change the minds of most of his supporters, she noted, but had the potential to turn away from the Republican ticket the sliver of suburban voters whose judgments could determine the next president.

Ever since the convention, his primary goal was broadening his appeal to the voting electorate and bringing in those on the fence, she said. All they need is one thing like this and theyre going to either sit it out or vote for Hillary or one of the others.

That said, she added, Trump has been counted out before. Those who write off Donald Trump do so at their own peril, said Stewart, who worked for two of the GOP candidates Trump dispatched in the primaries.

Others cast Trumps status as far more dire. Republican strategist Charlie Gerow said the events of recent days accelerated a downward spiral that will be very, very hard to pull out of. But he did not believe Trumps problems would be visited upon all Republicans.

I dont think theres going to be as much down-ballot bleed, said Gerow, who is based in Harrisburg, Pa. I think people will view this as a reflection of Donald Trump and not the other candidates.

But at the very least the nominees difficulties could serve to obliterate the candidates own messages.

In Pennsylvania, Trump had inched closer to Clinton in recent weeks. Last week her lead in Pennsylvania, a must-win state for Trump, firmed up.

The question now, as it is in states such as New Hampshire, Missouri and North Carolina, is whether Trumps troubles will sweep out not only him but the Republican senate candidate. In Pennsylvania, Republican incumbent Pat Toomey has been locked in a close race with Democrat Katie McGinty.

Democrats have done their best to tie Trump to Toomey, even if Toomey has not formally endorsed the nominee. A new ad by the liberal group Move On replayed part of the now-famous video and closed with the logo Defeat Trump-Toomey.

Gerow said that several motivations  party loyalty, hatred of Clinton  had kept many Republicans aligned with Trump even given his penchant for the outrageous. But there was a visceral distinction, he said, between where Trump stood before the 2005 video surfaced, and after.

For Republicans, what is left is an effort to salvage their standing among the voter groups they need  a major one being the group Trump may have most offended.

Donald Trumps challenge was always among college-educated women in Pennsylvania, Gerow said. He had to bring those voters back into the fold.

He paused, then added with a wry laugh: This wasnt the best way to go about doing it.

For more on politics 

cathleen.decker@latimes.com

Twitter: @cathleendecker

Updates on California politics

Live coverage from the campaign trail

To read the article in Spanish, click here

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The National Rifle Assn. has poured $4 million into fighting a Nevada initiative that would require background checks for firearms buyers but just $145,000 into battling a gun control measure in California.

The difference has not been lost on gun owners and those pushing Proposition 63 on the Nov. 8 statewide ballot.

One activist frustrated by the lack of help on a drive to overturn other new gun laws wrote on his Facebook page last month: Hello, NRA? Is Anyone There? Another wrote: Im also rethinking my NRA dues.

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Others on the front lines of the campaign against Proposition 63, like Craig DeLuz of the Firearms Policy Coalition, say the NRA has more than California to worry about.

Obviously wed like to see more being done in California, DeLuz said, but the reality is this fight is being fought in numerous states, and in this election, there are a number of battles at the federal level to make sure there is a majority in the Senate that supports the Second Amendment.

The NRAs comparatively small investment in California has left the campaign against Proposition 63 at a major disadvantage financially, forcing it to rely on social media for much of its messaging.

Those campaigning against the measure, including the NRA-affiliated California Rifle and Pistol Assn., have raised a combined $703,000, compared with $4.7 million raised by the pro side.

The campaign against the measure has put out some online video ads, but nothing on television.

The brainchild of Lt. Gavin Newsom, who is running for governor in 2018, Proposition 63 would ban possession of high-capacity ammunition magazines, require background checks for ammo purchasers, provide a process for taking guns from felons and make possession of an illegal gun a felony.

The campaign has received $1.1 million from the California Democratic Party, $727,000 from Newsoms campaign committee for lieutenant governor and $400,000 from former Facebook President Sean Parker, who also is championing a measure to legalize recreational marijuana in California.

Amy Hunter, a spokeswoman for the NRA, denied the group is missing in action in California.

The NRA continues to fight for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners in California and we are committed to educating voters about the duplicative and draconian gun-control initiatives on the November ballot, she said in a statement.

She added that by giving to the Coalition for Civil Liberties and other pro-Second Amendment groups, the NRA is seeking to maximize grassroots and paid media efforts to defeat these misguided laws that will not make anyone safer.

Hunter also told The Times recently it is just one member of the broad spectrum of member groups and referred a request to have an NRA spokesperson appear at a debate to the Coalition for Civil Liberties.

There is no question the gun lobby has other priorities. The only broadcast television ads the NRA has paid for in California attack Hillary Clinton, accusing her of undermining gun rights and urging voters to support Donald Trump.

Perhaps the NRA has not jumped into the Proposition 63 fight in a bigger way because of polls showing its support, including a recent USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll that found the initiative favored by 64% of registered voters.

In addition, California has a large majority of Democratic voters who might not be open to the NRAs message, said Adam Winkler, a UCLA law professor who has written about the history of gun control in California.

Another possibility: The NRA is battling the group Everytown for Gun Safety, mostly funded by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, which has put $3.7 million into the Nevada effort and also is spending nothing in California.

Updates from Sacramento 

Winkler said the biggest factor in the NRAs token involvement in California may be the fact that key provisions of the initiative that are objectionable to gun owners already were put into law this summer.

Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), who has been feuding with Newsom over who is the true leader on gun control, convinced lawmakers to approve bills requiring background checks for ammunition purchasers and outlaw magazines that hold more than 10 bullets.

I think the issues in Newsoms initiative would have been big issues to the NRA had they not already been enacted, Winkler said.

From the moment he announced the initiative, Newsom has sought to portray the battle as one of his standing up against the NRA, an effort that could help him with voters two years from now.

The Proposition 63 website features the headline Stop the NRA, and Newsom urged voters in a recent speech to send a message to the National Rifle Assn. Weve had enough and were not waiting around for Congress to solve this.

Even if the NRA does not significantly boost its role in the campaign, Winkler said Newsom still will be able to campaign saying he beat the gun lobby if Proposition 63 passes.

When he runs for governor, he will be able to demonize the NRA, Winkler said. California voters know who the NRA is, and they know what the NRA stands for.

patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com

@mcgreevy99

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Even Republicans, who would love to change the balance of political power in Sacramento, know which party will control both houses of the Legislature after Nov. 8.

The only real election drama is if Democrats can grab at least 54 seats in the Assembly and 27 seats in the Senate  a two-thirds supermajority long seen as the Holy Grail of state government politics.

With a supermajority, a political party can raise taxes, place measures on the statewide ballot, enact laws immediately with an urgency clause and override a governors veto. In theory, its an enormous amount of power.

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Democrats grabbed two-thirds of all legislative seats in 2012  the first time any political party had done so in both houses since 1933  aided by newly drawn political maps and President Obamas romp over Mitt Romney.

Republicans erased that Democratic supermajority in 2014 by throwing everything they had into legislative elections. And theyre trying to hang on this year.

Theyre fighting to stay alive, said Darry Sragow, publisher of the nonpartisan Target Book that handicaps state politics. Theyre fighting to stay relevant.

Democrats can reclaim their Assembly supermajority by winning two of the four seats they lost in 2014. These closely watched races in communities surrounding Torrance, Santa Ana, Palmdale and the suburbs east of San Francisco are attracting millions of dollars in campaign cash.

Big money is also at play in an effort to oust a Republican assemblyman near San Bernardino. Democrats would also love to steal an Assembly seat near Corona thats in the GOP column.

The Republicans are in this very difficult, unenviable position, Sragow said.

Political Roadmap: Theres a reason why Gov. Brown signs so many bills 

In the Senate, the path looks more narrow even though Democrats only need to pick up a single seat. Contested districts in the Antelope Valley and northeast Orange County have usually been won by Republicans.

Sragow said he believes that GOP voters wont abandon down-ticket races, even in this difficult presidential season and with 16% of voters saying they dont plan to vote in the U.S. Senate contest between two Democrats.

If political insiders are assuming that, because of Donald Trumps unpopularity in California, fewer Republicans are going to turn out and vote, that assumption would be a huge mistake, he said.

Still, lets play out the what if game: What could Democrats do with a supermajority of seats in the Legislature?

In truth, its probably more bragging rights than brawn.

Business groups that used to spend campaign cash electing Republicans now work to elect kindred souls who happen to be Democrats. Thats made the majority party, especially in the Assembly, a lot more heterogeneous.

Recent battles, from climate change policies to workplace rules, have proved how fractious Democratic politics can be.

And theres still the governor to stop liberal-leaning tendencies. A former leader of Assembly Republicans once famously called Gov. Jerry Brown the adult in the room when it comes to saying no.

The more perilous question for Republicans is what happens in 2018 and beyond. Under the term-limits law revamped by voters four years ago, newly elected legislators can serve up to 12 years. That means even Democrats who dont agree on everything would be in a position to act unilaterally should they agree to close ranks.

john.myers@latimes.com

Follow @johnmyers on Twitter, sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast

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The majority of Americans see science and religion in conflict, according to a Pew Research Center report. But as it turns out, when people are asked about their specific beliefs, theyre less likely to see conflict.

Nearly 60% of the 2,002 adults surveyed found conflict in 20 issues of science and religion, the Religion News Service reports. However, when pressed about their personal beliefs, only about 30% reported any conflict.

The perception gap highlighted by the Pew analysis can be addressed by building bridges between both groups so that they dont rely on media stereotypes, said Jennifer Wiseman, program director for the Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion.

Q. The report seems to suggest that the perceived divide between science and religion isnt as wide and unmendable as its portrayed in the national dialogue. Do you agree with the findings? Where do you think this divide comes from?

--

We can begin to answer this weeks questions with the very first words in the Bible: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

God created all of the universe, all of the life in it and all of the natural laws that govern them. He is the truth, and all truth points to him. His handiwork never denies him.

As Paul said in Romans 1:20: since the creation of the world his invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they [those people who deny Him] are without excuse.

Any disparity between what is believed about God and what is believed about the natural world can be attributed to ignorance about one or the other, or both. The more truth a person knows about both, the more they will be shown to be in harmony.

Jesus Christ is the unique union of all things in question. He is the Creator, for All things came into being through him, and apart from him nothing came into being that has come into being (John 1:3). He currently possesses a physical body, now eternally resurrected after his death on the cross for our sins. Having taken on human nature in full through the incarnation He is a man. He created us with souls and minds to know him and to appreciate his handiwork in nature, and with an inquisitive nature that we might seek to know more about both.

Pastor Jon Barta

Burbank

--

Religion and science do overlap when religion attempts unsuccessfully to answer questions that should be left to science. And, contrarily, the evolution of religious thought has been profoundly reshaped by facts revealed through scientific discovery.

Religion is supposed to disseminate and investigate philosophy and moral truths. It is a salve for humans who feel anxious confronting unanswered questions and difficult situations. One reason it overlaps with science is that so much of what is written conflicts with proven science. Therefore, since many people dedicate their lives to and, indeed, define their lives by religion, in order to keep up their faith, they have no choice but to shove a square peg into a round hole and conform their beliefs to scientific truth or deny it altogether. As a humanist, I think it is only through science, the objective search for truth by observation, investigation and experimentation, that we can find answers to both empirical and ethical questions.

Many believers are intelligent and well-meaning, but since religious practice itself often employs deception and prejudice by denying scientific facts like evolution, preventing life-changing technologies, denying women the right to control their own bodies, marginalizing the LGBTQ community, etc., science should, as Steven Weinberg and others contend, help free people from religious superstition.

Religion has evolved so successfully that, there are, as the article pointed out, many who simply reject scientific truth altogether and, even if science proves something as fact, they would "...continue to hold to what their religion teaches. Some scientists themselves, inconceivably, are of faith.

Finally, the world is filled with so much turmoil and strife, and, as fallible and emotionally driven humans, many of us feel we need the comfort provided by the magical thinking of religion, regardless of truth. So, the answer to the question is that, even though religion and science are not compatible, for the foreseeable future, it appears they will continue to intermingle.

Joshua Lewis Berg

Humanist Celebrant

--

The perceived divide between religion and science is portrayed by those who, for their own needs, continue to portray it as unmendable. Religion has become a political tool of the conservative right  the abortion controversy is a good example  while the ultra-liberal left worships at the throne of human endeavor, for example, misquoting the first sentence in Genesis as In the beginning he (man) created God.

We moderate liber-religionists would like to remind both groups that even the most religious of peoples still go to practitioners of medicine for treatment, whether they be Western or Asian, and the most scientifically minded parent still marvels at the birth of a healthy child.

With all due respect to physicians, may I quote a joke that epitomizes the continuing discussion over which is more powerful, God or science?

What is the difference between a doctor and God?

God doesnt want to be a doctor!

May all your doctors be religious and may God watch over all your computers.

Rabbi Mark Sobel

Temple Beth Emet

Burbank

--

Since modern science is so hyper-naturalistic, it leaves little room for spiritual variables such as God. And this is funny, given all the speculation that goes on in science; from the hypothetical and invisible dark matter, to the unobservable theory of evolution  things postulated as fact rather than possibility  and I think this is where our two sides run afoul of one another.

Certainly there are scientists who are Christians, but they seem to be squelched in their careers: They dont get the grants, and theyre simply marginalized and considered politically incorrect by those in power. Dont get me started on the subject of creation science, where believing scientists provide facts to evidence God, only to have the atheist scientific elite scoff and ridicule its mere suggestion. All creation science does is to understand the world in light of a necessary being such as God, rather than saying the whole thing just popped into existence out of nothing; without design, order or material.

As Christians, we want to see our Bible and our scientific discoveries supporting one another, but even among ourselves we will forever debate such issues as the age of the universe (which may or may not be strengthened by the knowledge of current science).

Of course, science is not God, but to our modern culture it is almost regarded as such, with its scientists tantamount to priests. This is the default religion of all those who have none. And so we find ourselves constantly in a battle to defend the Bible against atheistic science attacks, despite the fact that much of the attack is on perceptions about religious dogma rather than on actual biblical teachings. However, the Bible does teach that there is a God. If science cant even bring itself to countenance that possibility, that hypothesis (if you will) then well always be at odds.

Christians do not hate science, just some of its theoretical conclusions that deny God, which are the exact opposite of the conclusions that should be drawn. For since the creation of the world Gods invisible qualities  his eternal power and divine nature  have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people (scientists?) are without excuse (Rom 11:20).

Science should lead us to see God, not blind us from the truth about him.

Rev. Bryan A. Griem

Tujunga

--

I agree that the gap between science and religion is not as wide as it is portrayed, and that reasonable discussion could make it narrower still. But too often, as Wiseman suggests, the debate is framed through stereotypes that highlight the most extreme positions.

Science and religion have very different purposes. Science seeks to explain minute details of how our universe, and life within it, function. Religion does not. For the most part, it focuses on our relationships with God and with one another. Conflicts arise when people try to make religion conform to sciences purpose.

Those who are religious tend to assume that God has the answers that science seeks, and that someday he may share them with us. They realize that for the time being, it is challenge enough to master love one another. People who have this perspective are less likely to see a conflict when scientists announce a discovery that appears to contradict religious teaching. They recognize the new knowledge as simply one more piece of the larger, still-unfolding picture.

In a response to an In Theory question about creationism some time ago, I offered the example of Henry Eyring to illustrate the compatibility of science and religion. Eyring, a devout Mormon, won honors including the National Medal of Science and the Wolf Prize for his work in theoretical chemistry. He saw little conflict between his faith and his devotion to scientific truth. I believe that both the scientific and religious communities have much to learn from his example.

Apparent contradictions between religion and science often have been the basis of bitter controversy, he wrote. Such differences are to be expected as long as human understanding remains provisional and fragmentary. Only as ones understanding approaches the divine will all seeming contradictions disappear. In the meantime, we can only continue our quest for the balanced view that comes from weighing all evidence carefully in the search for enduring values.

Michael White

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

La Crescenta
It captured just about 5% of the vote, but an ultranationalist party has won enough votes to join the Georgian parliament for the first time, presenting a challenge to the two pro-Western parties that have dominated the countrys politics.

The sounds of election night victory reverberated across the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, late Saturday as supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream party honked car horns and proudly waved their partys blue and yellow flag in the heart of the city.

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FOR THE RECORD

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Oct. 10, 12:50 p.m.: This article misidentifies Gutsa Gvelesiani and incorrectly transcribes her comments about election gains made by the Patriotic Alliance, a pro-Russian party. Gvelesiani is a member of an advisory office on NATO issues, not a Georgian representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. While referring to support of the Patriotic Alliance from Russian President Vladimir Putin, she was quoted as saying: All I can hope for is that they dont care at all about actually governing. Theyll just take Putins money and disappear. Her quote should read: My hope is that they dont know anything about actual governing and theyll lose [the next election]. Anyway, it [their support] is all from Putins money.

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The incumbents reportedly captured between 40% and 54% of the vote, with the main opposition party, the United National Movement, or UNM, garnering upward of 32% of the ballots cast, according to various unconfirmed news reports.

The ultranationalist Patriotic Alliance, meanwhile, has tapped into the growing discontent with the West, and initial exit polls indicate that the alliance and other pro-Russian parties made significant gains in Saturdays election

It looks as though for the first time since the Soviet Union we will have several small pro-Russian parties in the national government, journalist Tamar Svanidze said.

Georgias political culture is defined by a rough and tumble character and corrosive brand of personality-driven politics.

This years campaign season has been no different, with televised punch-ups, incriminating sex tapes, assassination attempts and coup plots.

After breaking free from Moscows orbit following the Soviet Unions collapse in 1991, Georgia spent the next decade mired in a self-destructive cycle of civil wars, reprisal killings and rampant organized crime.

It was not until Mikheil Saakashvili led the 2003 pro-democracy Rose Revolution that Georgia began to turn the corner.

As president, Saakashvili quickly implemented several key reforms that overhauled the countrys economy, but those early advances were slowly undone by what many Georgians described as unhinged behavior.

Following an ill-advised war with Russia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia in 2008, the Wests support for Saakashvili dried up, though the former president still remains leader of the UNM.

Georgian Dream, led informally by its founder, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, unseated the UNM in 2012, but the overwhelming majority of Western-educated Georgians view Ivanishvili with extreme skepticism, polls show.

Ivanishvilis close association with Russian businessmen worries many Georgians as he guides the country down a more Moscow-friendly path.

Georgian Dreams dismal handling of the struggling economy, which has scared away many foreign investors, and Ivanishvilis lavish spending on eccentric vanity projects has angered the population.

A lot of people in this country are looking for a savior  but what is important is that we dont have another Misha [Mikheil] Saakashvili. The [Georgian Dream] may not be doing a lot, but it isnt a party of dictators who arbitrarily arrest and kill people, said Ia Giorgadze, a classically trained musician.

Though the UNM and Georgian Dream publicly bicker, the two agree that Georgia must pursue eventual integration into the EU and NATO military alliance.

But the process of Euro-Atlantic integration has been painfully slow, and Brussels has thus far failed to grant Georgia visa-free access to the EU. NATO has sent mixed signals in the hope it does not provoke Russia, despite frequently stating that it fully supports Georgias goal on joining the alliance.

Angry and disillusioned, a significant part of the electorate has turned to fringe ultranationalist parties with close ties to the Kremlin. The parties have been backed by a robust media presence that spouts anti-Western propaganda.

This has played into the Russian narrative that post-Soviet republics mean little to Western governments and should stay closely tied to Moscow.

Russia has coveted Georgias strategic position on its southern flank, by the Black Sea and Turkey, for three centuries, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been waiting for an opportunity to bring the country back into Moscows orbit.

The Patriotic Alliance is known for its xenophobic, anti-Western rhetoric, and its platform claims to uphold traditional Orthodox values and rejects womens and LGBT rights.

Its leader, Irma Inashvili, hopes to block Georgias moves toward joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The emergence of the Patriotic Alliance and now its likely representation in the next government is a disaster for the country. I am shocked, truly shocked, Gutsa Gvelesiani, a Georgian representative to NATO, said.

All I can hope for is that they dont care at all about actually governing. Theyll just take Putins money and disappear, she added.

Fringe pro-Russian parties like the alliance are seen as viable alternatives for Georgians with a deep nostalgia for the Soviet Union and are supported by radical members of the powerful Georgian Orthodox Church.

Led by the elderly former KGB informant Patriarch Ilia II, the church is helping to steer the country toward an open embrace of the Eurasianist doctrine espoused by Moscow Patriarch Kirill and Putins chief ideologist Alexander Dugin.

Georgias newly elected parliament will find itself at a major crossroads.

It can no longer rely on guaranteed Western support the way that it could more than a decade ago.

The question moving forward for the new government will be whether archrivals the UNM and Georgian Dream can bridge their differences and caucus with other pro-Western parties to reverse Putins most recent gains.

Waller is a special correspondent.

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Survivors of Hurricane Matthew put on their Sunday finest and picked their way through downed power lines to sing praise and pray in ruined churches, while desperation grew in other parts of devastated Haiti and international rescue efforts began ramping up.

Haitian authorities were still unsure of the extent of the disaster, with some communities still cut off. But tens of thousands of homes were obliterated, and the dead number in the hundreds.

Guillaume Silvera, a senior official with the Civil Protection Agency in the storm-blasted Grand-Anse Department, which includes Jeremie, said at least 522 deaths were confirmed in that area alone  not including people in several remote communities still cut off by collapsed roads and bridges.

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National Civil Protection headquarters in Port-au-Prince, meanwhile, said Saturday that its official count for the whole country was 336, which included 191 deaths in Grand-Anse.

Despite the loss, families packed into what remained of the citys churches, many seated in pews under open sky because Matthew ripped away roofs and even walls of the sanctuaries. At least one was so badly damaged that worshipers set up an altar and prayed outside.

Elise Pierre, who said she was about 80, said she believed it was a divine miracle that she and her loved ones survived.

If God wasnt protecting us, wed all be gone today, blown into the ocean or up into the mountains, said Pierre, whose straw hat almost concealed a gash on her forehead she sustained when her sheet-metal roof collapsed during the height of Matthews fury.

The sound of hammering could be heard on nearly every street in Jeremie, a city near the tip of Haitis southwest peninsula, as people patched their roofs as best as they could.

On one corner, Jameson Pierre was mixing cement and making blocks. The 22-year-old storm refugee, whose family was stuck in an emergency shelter, saw at least one bright side.

There will be lots and lots of jobs since so many homes were knocked down. Ive been working for the last three days straight, he said in the fierce morning sun. He said he was being paid about a dollar a day.

The first two cargo planes of humanitarian aid from the United States arrived on Saturday at the Toussaint LOuverture International Airport in the capital, Port-au-Prince. U.S. Ambassador Peter Mulrean said three other planes are expected to arrive in the next few days with a total amount of 480 metric tons of humanitarian supplies.

But there were choke points in getting aid to the needy, including the fact that the airstrip in Jeremie is unable to accommodate large cargo planes and only operates in the daytime.

Many of the villages in the southwestern peninsula are difficult to reach. And people are growing increasingly desperate after losing everything when the storm ripped through the area on Tuesday.

Dony St. Germain, an official with El Shaddai Ministries International, said young men in villages off the road between the southern city of Les Cayes and Jeremie were starting to put up blockades of rocks and broken branches to halt the convoys.

They are seeing these convoys coming through with supplies and they arent stopping. They are hungry and thirsty and some are getting angry, said St. Germain.

Government officials estimate that at least 350,000 people need assistance, and concern was growing over an increase in cholera cases following widespread flooding. An ongoing cholera outbreak has already killed roughly 10,000 people and sickened more than 800,000 since 2010, when the infectious disease was introduced into the countrys biggest river from a U.N. base where Nepalese peacekeepers were deployed.

Maria Sofia Sanon, a health worker overseeing the open-air cholera treatment center in a corner of Jeremies main hospital, said they were ill-equipped to deal with patients. The area was strewn with broken tree branches, and a group of young mothers sat outside holding up the arms of their glassy-eyed children being rehydrated via IVs.

Theyre not supposed to be in the sun, but we have no more beds, Sanon said.

The World Food Program says there has been massive destruction of crops. Hospitals and clinics have been damaged or destroyed as they struggle to deal with an increase in patients with injuries sustained during the storm as well as an apparent increase in cholera. UNICEF said that in Grand-Anse alone there were 66,000 houses destroyed and 20,000 heavily damaged.

Information gathered from various sources in the field suggests that the human toll (dead and injured) will be heavier than the current official figures, the agency said in a report.

Jocelyne Saint Preux was part of the crowd that lined up in an orderly fashion to get food as aid began to arrive, including shipments of food and other emergency supplies from the U.S. Agency for International Development carried by waves of military transport helicopters.

The mother of three children, whose home was destroyed, said officials were handing out wheat, beans, oil and salt.

Yes, they brought food, but its not sufficient, she said. Theres no water. Theres no charcoal.
Scientists who created tiny molecular machines and illuminated the properties of exotic states of matter were among those honored with Nobel Prizes this year.

The prizes cannot be revoked, so the judges must put a lot of thought into their selections for the six awards.

A discovery might seem groundbreaking today, but will it stand the test of time?

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Prize founder Alfred Nobel wanted to honor those whose discoveries created the greatest benefit to mankind. Here are five Nobel Prize decisions that, in hindsight, seem questionable:

When a German who organized poison gas attacks won the chemistry prize

The Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery outside Ypres, Belgium. (Chris Reynolds / Los Angeles Times )

Fritz Haber was awarded the 1918 chemistry award for discovering how to create ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen gases. His method was used to manufacture fertilizers and delivered a major boost to agriculture worldwide.

But the Nobel committee completely overlooked Habers role in chemical warfare during World War I. Enthusiastically supporting the German war effort, he supervised the first major chlorine gas attack at Ypres, Belgium, in 1915, which killed thousands of Allied troops.

When the medicine committee awarded a cancer discovery that wasnt

Danish scientist Johannes Fibiger won the 1926 medicine award for discovering that a roundworm caused cancer in rats.

There was only one problem: The roundworm didnt cause cancer in rats.

Fibiger insisted his research showed that rats ingesting worm larvae by eating cockroaches developed cancer. At the time he won the prize, the Nobel judges thought that made perfect sense.

It later turned out the rats developed cancer from a lack of vitamin A.

Oops.

When the chemistry prize honored a man who found use for DDT, which was later banned

The 1948 medicine prize to Swiss scientist Paul Mueller honored a discovery that ended up doing both good and bad.

Mueller didnt invent dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, or DDT, but he discovered that it was a powerful pesticide that could kill lots of flies, mosquitoes and beetles in a short time.

The compound proved very effective in protecting agricultural crops and fighting insect-borne diseases such as typhus and malaria. DDT saved hundreds of thousands of lives and helped eradicate malaria from southern Europe.

But in the 1960s environmentalists found that DDT was poisoning wildlife and the environment. The U.S. banned DDT in 1972, and in 2001 it was banned by an international treaty, though exemptions are allowed for some countries fighting malaria.

When the man who invented lobotomy won the medicine prize

Carving up peoples brains may have seemed like a good idea at the time. But in hindsight, rewarding Portuguese scientist Antonio Egas Moniz in 1949 for inventing lobotomy to treat mental illness wasnt the Nobel Prizes finest hour.

The method became very popular in the 1940s, and at the award ceremony it was praised as one of the most important discoveries ever made in psychiatric therapy.

But it had serious side effects: Some patients died and others were left severely brain damaged. Even operations that were considered successful left patients unresponsive and emotionally numb.

The method declined quickly in the 1950s as drugs to treat mental illness became widespread, and its very seldom used today.

When Indias Mohandas K. Gandhi didnt win the peace prize

Indian independence leader Mohandas K. Gandhi addresses a crowd in 1931. (James A. Mills / Associated Press )

The Indian independence leader, considered one of historys great champions of nonviolent struggle, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize no fewer than five times. He never won.

The peace prize committee, which rarely concedes a mistake, eventually acknowledged that not awarding Gandhi was an omission.

In 1989  41 years after Gandhis death  the Nobel committee chairman paid tribute to Gandhi as he presented that years award to the Dalai Lama.
A worker welds parts of a ship in a shipyard in Chongqing. (Photo : Getty Images)

Amid a slump in global ship orders, China's two biggest state-owned shipping companies are set to merge 11 shipbuilding yards, in the biggest consolidation in the sector, The Wall Street Journal reported.



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Sources familiar with the matter said that the merger will be announced early next year, which is expected to reduce shipbuilding costs.



Last year, the two companies have already combined their fleets and port operation, which created the China Cosco Holdings, the world's fourth biggest container operator.



The recent merger is seen to create the third biggest shipbuilding group in China, the report said.



China Shipping Group has five shipping yards while Cosco owns six and also operates two other yards in joint venture with Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.



In the first half of the year, Cosco lost about $1.1 billion, as global outlook for ship orders remains sluggish.



"It will be a major challenge to turn a profit from shipbuilding," an executive at one of the companies, who wish to remain anonymous, said. "If the merger proceeds and works out, synergies will cut down costs substantially but the operating environment is highly challenging especially if you don't want jobs to be lost."



According to the official, the down payment for new vessels was 30 percent but in the past 18 months, it was reduced to 10 percent.



Chinese industry officials said that the combined workforce of the two companies reach more than 25,000 as the government tries to avoid job losses. The merger will be used as a model by the government in a planned merger of the country's biggest shipbuilders: China Shipbuilding Corp. and China Shipbuilding Industry Co.



In the past four years, the shipbuilding industry has been shrinking and although China builds about half of the world's new ships, the government has ended giving subsidies to unprofitable enterprises.



In 2009, China has closed about three-quarters of its 1,800 shipyards "as Beijing stopped subsidizing the sector," according to George Xiradakis, chief executive of Athens-based XRTC maritime consultancy and an adviser to China Development Bank.



"The word from Beijing is that it will continue to finance with strict performance criteria a handful of state shipbuilding conglomerates which are pushed to consolidate," Xiradakis said, "but the rest are left on their own."



As part of its strategy, China's shipbuilding consolidation aims to get more growth from services and consumption rather than construction and heavy industry.


School was in session for 350 junior high school students in a gritty, working-class section of Tijuana on a recent afternoon when shots rang out next door. By the time it was over, the assailants had fled and two people were dead: the owner of a small Clamato and car wash business, and a 17-year-old customer.

Homicides have been back in the headlines in Tijuana, casting a pall over a period of economic hope. They come as the city has seen a rise in maquiladora employment, plans for a new bus rapid-transit system, a boom in high-end residential construction, the flourishing of a craft beer scene, the opening of new bars and restaurants, and the staging of numerous festivals where crowds celebrate everything from opera to art to tequila to Caesar salad.

With 636 killings in Tijuana through the end of September, 2016 is shaping up to be the most violent year since 2010, and last months 89 homicides made it the most violent so far this year.

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Law enforcement authorities have said the great majority of victims and perpetrators are members of Tijuanas neighborhood drug underworld, often street dealers with addictions and criminal records. But even so, the rising tally is an uncomfortable reminder of the unprecedented violence that gripped the city eight years ago as rival trafficking groups waged a brutal battle for control of the plaza.

See the most-read stories in World News this hour 

Its what all the reporters keep asking me, Are we going back to the way we were in 2008? said Miguel Angel Guerrero, head of special investigations in Tijuana for the Baja California Attorney Generals Office. God save us from going back to what we went through in 2008.

A rise in homicides in different parts of Mexico has been a source of growing concern. Because of its high numbers, Tijuana is among 50 cities nationwide targeted by a federal anti-crime initiative launched this month and being implemented gradually over the coming months.

A series of incidents in recent weeks have helped draw renewed attention to the issue in Tijuana.

On Sept. 3, a driver on Bulevar Benitez crashed after her windshield was struck by a dismembered corpse that fell from a bridge. At the scene, police found two other dismembered bodies and a sign with a threatening message ostensibly from members of the Sinaloa cartel to members of another group, Cartel Tijuana Nueva Generacion.

On Sept. 7, an 18-year-old Imperial Beach resident named Desteny Hernandez turned up shot repeatedly in eastern Tijuana off the busy Via Rapida highway. Investigators are looking into the dead teenagers boyfriend and his connections to organized crime.

On Sept. 24, Jesus Armando Martinez Escobar, a 35-year-old Tijuana police officer, was shot dead while making a routine traffic stop in the citys Zona Norte, or red light district. Two arrested suspects in their 20s said they had just driven across the border from San Diego with two AR-15 assault rifles that they claimed they planned to sell in Tijuana, according to the Baja California Attorney Generals Office.

The owner of the Clamato and car wash business was with four young customers when an assailant with a .40-caliber pistol got out of a car and opened fire, authorities said. The target was the owner, they said, but the clients were also shot, one of them fatally.

Hearing the gunfire, administrators at Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Numero 11 quickly locked the front door and ordered students to the floor, a practice already in place after a shooting near the school last year.

Just a few years ago, Tijuana was held up as a national model for combating crime, with a strategy that involved the close collaboration of members of the military with civilian law enforcement agencies, and the involvement of business leaders, and other groups from civil society. Critics say the collaboration forged during that period of adversity has weakened, and the three levels of government are not working together as they should.

There is no strategy, there is no coordination, theyre not talking to each other, and they havent been able to do the cleansing thats been necessary in the police department, said Juan Manuel Hernandez, a former Tijuana business leader who now writes a column in the Tijuana daily newspaper, Frontera.

Alvaro Gonzalez, a criminal defense attorney, sees the need for a long-term strategy addressing the root causes of crime, one that would place a strong emphasis on preventing and treating drug addiction.

With the constant changes in government, one party coming in, then another party coming in, there is no continuity, said Gonzalez.

Guerrero, head of special investigations, believes the key is taking down the financial structure of criminal organizations.

Later this month, the Tijuana Chamber of Commerce is hoping to bring together church, civic and business groups with military and government officials to form a common front against the violence.

Government on its own cant do it, said Gilberto Leyva, the chambers president.

The killings that culminated in 2008 with 844 homicides did not spike up overnight. Members of the private sector group, Coparmex, were among those sounding the alarm as early as 2006.

Two years later, the crisis became overwhelmingly apparent as shootouts and grisly scenes of dismembered corpses with threatening messages became commonplace.

The Arellano Felix Organization, which long dominated the drug trade in Baja California, was fighting an unprecedented challenge from one of its top lieutenants, Teodoro Garcia Simental, who found backing from the rival Sinaloa cartel. Police themselves were frequent targets of the violence  some for their links to organized crime, others for refusing to give in.

With civilian law enforcement agencies struggling against internal corruption and the better-armed and better-financed drug groups, the Mexican military stepped in, even taking over top roles in civilian law enforcement agencies such as the Tijuana police department.

In the meantime, world recession hit, jobs were lost, tourists stayed away, restaurants went empty.

Tijuana today is a different city than it was in 2008, more hopeful and economically stronger.

A lot of the violence were seeing is at the lower levels, not necessarily at the cartel levels, said William Sherman, special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in San Diego. It tends to be more street dealers battling over turf.

The violence dropped as the Sinaloa cartel became the dominant drug trafficking organization in the region, according to law enforcement accounts.

NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj 

But now a new force, the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion from central Mexico, has come on the scene, joining forces with remnants of the Arellano Felix Cartel to form the Cartel Tijuana Nueva Generacion and challenging Sinaloas control of the market.

Guerrero said that with leaders of the various groups staying away from Tijuana, there has been a lack of control in the underworld.

A lot of times, there is no order to kill, and they end up killing just to kill, Guerrero said.

But while homicides have risen, the DEAs Sherman has seen no signs of a return to the past.

If the level starts to get back to what it was in 2008, were going to know before it happens, Sherman said. Weve got enough sources who would say, Theres going to be a war, and were not hearing that right now.

Dibble writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. This article originally public on the Union-Tribunes site on Oct. 4.

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The Iraqi army general spoke calmly with tribal leaders in the oil town of Qayyarah, while delivering his message in no uncertain terms.

The military had received reports of several homes being destroyed  blown up, actually  because some residents or their relatives had suspected ties to Islamic State, said Gen. Karim Shoeyli, deputy commander of the armys Nineveh Operations Command.

Such retribution after government forces backed by a U.S.-led coalition pushed out extremist fighters was unacceptable, Shoeyli told about 15 leaders during a recent meeting outside the towns Ministry of Interior building.

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It is not the duty of anyone -- security official, civilian or sheik to do this, Shoeyli said. Youre not in a jungle. What you blew up will not change what happened.

But one tribal leader angrily interrupted as the general spoke about patience and faith in the law.

Daesh blew up our houses. I have no house, and their families are living there happily, he said, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

This guy from Daesh, he killed my three brothers, and my uncle, and I saw him hit my mother, said the leader, who did not want his name published for safety reasons. You expect me to accept seeing his son and his wife in front of me?

In Qayyarah, a town of about 15,000 people less than 20 miles south of Mosul, Islamic States self-declared capital, and elsewhere, tension exists in part because the families of some extremist fighters remained after the government regained control of the area. Relatives of extremists have taken some blame for the destruction wreaked upon the town, and many residents see no reason to stop holding them responsible even if they have done nothing wrong.

Oil fields in the town of Qayyarah, Iraq, burn on Oct. 4, 2016. (Bram Janssen / Associated Press )

The town, so rich in oil that its name is derived from the Arabic word for tar, had remained under Islamic State control for more than two years. It fell to the group in June 2014 during a blitz offensive that marked the rise of the groups self-proclaimed caliphate - and made Qayyarah its treasury. At its peak, residents said, more than 60 oil tankers per day were filled to sell on the black market.

Islamic State also recruited and worked with local tribesmen sympathetic to its cause. According to humanitarian organizations and residents, extremists helped subjugate the population through summary executions, rape and confiscation of property.

Then, as they fled government forces in August, Islamic State fighters found another use for the oil, setting fire to the nearby wells to create a smokescreen.

Weeks later, the fires still raged, leaving a layer of soot that turned the entire town  buildings, birds, the sheep grazing in the field - a palette of gray.

In the aftermath of Islamic States departure, with a lack of judges and state structures to determine violations of law or punishment, people have turned to tribal law, a system of codes that works in tandem  or overrides  the state judiciary.

This is a major social issue. The governments official position, which it communicated to all parties, is that it does not accept any violation of human rights or actions outside the law, Hussein Adeli, a consultant to the Iraqi governments National Reconciliation Committee, said in a phone interview.

The tribal law punishment has centered around diyyah, financial compensation to victims or their families in cases of murder, bodily harm and damage of property. Its scope and amount is determined by tribal sheiks acting as adjudicators. In return, the victims families agree to not take revenge against the other tribe.

But the system has been strained by the scale of violations attributed to Islamic State; what worked to punish someone who stole his neighbors cow may not work when an Islamic State fighter confiscated his neighbors house and slaughtered his family members.

Members of the Iraqi government forces and the elite counter-terrorism service in Qayyarah on Aug. 24, 2016. (Mahmoud Saleh / AFP/Getty Images )

Many of the tribal mechanisms that are used by communities to manage social tensions and promote reconciliation are overwhelmed, Lise Grande, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, said in a phone interview.

Families are looking for  they expect  compensation for relatives who have been killed, injured or violated, Grande said. They also expect compensation for property thats been appropriated or destroyed.

The power of tribal leaders is also tied to their custodianship of the diyyah process. This, along with the percentage the sheiks receive of every diyyah paid, motivates them to push for the highest compensation possible. It has made returning to an area impossible for some families.

If youre a family trying to get home, youre worried about whether you will be compensated or whether you will have to pay compensation, said a senior Western diplomat, who asked for anonymity to avoid alienating any of the parties. If the amount you are told to pay is very large, you are going to have to figure out how to extract resources from other parts of the community.

If a sheik fails to negotiate a high diyyah, gangs may step in, offering to kidnap someone to extract a higher ransom - but pocketing a 60% cut, the diplomat said.

In cases where a diyyah cannot be negotiated, some injured parties have been granted evictions of those related to Islamic State collaborators, even if they have no connection to the offenses.

Such issues arise in many towns. Last month in Duluiya, 55 miles north of Baghdad, police announced through loudspeakers that families with Daesh members would have to leave, according to a resident whose brother had run errands for Islamic State.

The man, who did not give his name for fear of reprisals from other residents, said his family went to a tribal leader to severe ties with the brother and obtained legal documents from the government disassociating the family from him.

Those with relatives associated with Islamic State who have not taken the necessary steps to stay in their homes, find themselves in limbo, he said. They may also find themselves barred from staying in other provinces, where authorities view them as security risks.

They tell you, Your areas are liberated, youre not allowed to stay here. They go to Samarra, Baghdad, its the same thing. So where should they go, to areas of Daesh? the resident said. And then Daesh slaughters them.

Bulos is a special correspondent.
A Replica of Shakespeare's Hometown May Soon Rise in China's Fujian Province

Shakespeare's birthplace at Stratford-upon-Avon is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. (Photo : Getty Images)

Chinese fans of Shakespeare may soon visit his birthplace without traveling to England as China plans to create a replica in one of its provinces.



If the project called Sanweng Town successfully pushes through, the city of Fuzhou in the Fujian Province would soon see the replica of Shakespeare's hometown in Stratford.



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Sanweng Town will feature the playwright's 16th-century house, River Avon and the Holy Trinity Church.



Officials from Fuzhou have traveled to Stratford in April this year during the celebration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, and from the visit have gotten inspiration for the project.



"A memorandum of 'friendly co-operation' was signed when the Chinese delegation visited England, which will encourage schools and cultural groups in both countries to work together," a report by inews said.



Last week, upon the invitation from the Fujian provincial government, delegates from the Stratford District Council led by Chris Saint came to China to discuss the project.



According to Saint, the project is at its early stage, with concepts still being discussed, and the start of the actual construction has no date yet.



A study, which involved a survey of 18,000 people in 15 countries, revealed that China is one of the countries where Shakespeare is "more popular and better understood than he is in the U.K." Adaptation of Shakespeare's stories to traditional Chinese forms shows China's love for Shakespeare.



Sanweng Town is part of a bigger development project Wenquan New Town which also honors Miguel de Cervantes of Spain and China's own Tang Xianzu. The project aims to promote the opera and arts and to attract tourists to Fujian.



Using the worldwide influence of Shakespeare, China hopes that by association they could promote Tang, a famous playwright whose hometown was Fujian and who also died 400 years ago.


Lenovo's Smart Assistant, a speaker made in collaboration with Amazon Alexa, will be available for purchase in May. (Photo : Getty Images)

Lenovo Group is in talks to buy the PC business of Fujitsu, with a final deal set to be closed this month, sources reported.



About 2,000 Fujitsu employees are said to be moving to the Chinese company once an agreement has been inked, Reuters reported, citing information from the Nikkei.



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The deal will make Fujitsu the second Japanese PC assembler after NEC Corp. to tap Lenovo's help amid a struggling PC market. In 2011, Lenovo and NEC inked a joint venture to improve both side's PC business.



"Fujitsu may transfer its design, development and manufacturing operations to a joint venture led by Lenovo or Lenovo may opt to buy a majority stake in the Japanese company's PC unit," Reuters said, citing the Nikkei.



Earlier, Fujitsu had considered Toshiba in a possible merger that could potentially spun-off Sony's Vaio.



Meanwhile, the Nikkei said that a PC tie-up with the Japanese company could be inserted into the Lenovo-NEC JV, allowing the Chinese maker to have 40 percent of Japan's PC market.



Fujitsu's shares jumped 7.2 percent while Lenovo's were up 1.2 percent on Thursday's opening, following the reports.



The worldwide PC market has been struggling for some time now, due in part to the sales cannibalization by smartphones and tablets.



According to IDC, global PC shipments dipped 4.5 percent in 2016, beating the forecast of -7.4 percent.



"The PC market continues to struggle as we wait for replacements to accelerate, along with some return of spending from phones, tablets, and other IT," said IDC's Loren Loverde.



"Our long-term outlook remains cautions. However, the strong results in the U.S. offer a glimpse of what the market could look like with pockets of growth and a stronger overall environment. It's not dramatic growth, but it could push the market into positive territory slightly ahead of our forecast for 2018," Loverde added.


Final Australian-built Fords headed to auction, museum

Oct 8, 2016, 5:01pm ET

Ford is donating auction proceeds to charity.

The final four Fords available to the Australian public have rolled off the assembly line, and will be auctioned off for charity.

After 91 years of manufacturing in Australia, Ford is pulling the plug on its factories Down Under. The last four saleable cars  a blue Falcon inline-six sedan, a gray Falcon inline-six turbo ute, a white Falcon Turbo Sprint sedan with 496 horsepower, and a silver V6-powered Territory crossover  are available for bidding now on the FordFinal4.com.au website.

Proceeds for the auction will go to several charities, including one that supports robotics programs in local schools that is called, awesomely, Robo Kids.

To be clear, these aren't the very, very last of the cars  just the last ones available to the public. Ford's keeping the final versions of the Falcon, Falcon Ute and Territory, which will go on a promotional tour across Australia before ending up in Ford's museum there.

Despite the departure of Ford's manufacturing, the Blue Oval will keep 2,000 employees around, including 1,100 designers and engineers to support its R&D efforts.

Ford announced the end of Australian manufacturing in 2013, citing high labor costs making business there untenable.
Cedar Crest College soon hopes to be helping the Lehigh Valley and the nation meet the demand for nurses with advanced degrees.

Nurse practitioners Peggy Leiter, right, and Paula Schlechter check codes and dates of vaccines at the CVS MinuteClinic in this New Jersey Advance Media file photo. Nurse practitioners in high demand.

The college trustees have approved a new doctor of nursing practice program that is awaiting approval from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

Cedar Crest hopes to launch the first class next fall. Students will be able to focus on three specialties: family medicine nurse practitioner, adult/gerontology acute care nurse practitioner and nurse anesthetist.

"It takes their knowledge to a higher level in terms of health care management," said Sharon Melincavage, Cedar Crest associate professor and director of the graduate nursing program.

The program is designed to meet students where they are in their careers, so they could begin with earning a bachelor's, master's or a doctorate.

"One of the things we think is a strength is that there are multiple entries and exit points," said Elizabeth Meade, Cedar Crest provost.

Pending accreditation, the nurse practitioner programs would begin in the fall of 2017 and offer all courses online.

The nurse anesthetist program is expected to start in 2018 and be taught face-to-face. In anticipation, the nursing building is getting a $1.8 million overhaul, including a simulation operating room.

DeSales University began offering the Lehigh Valley's first doctorate of nursing practice program in 2014, but its tracks are different -- general nursing, clinical leadership and executive leadership.

Many factors are converging to make nurse practitioners with advanced degrees in high demand across the country.

In 2010, the Institute of Medicine issued a report callling on the country to double the number of nurses with doctorate degrees by 2020. It found a scarcity of higher educated nurses available to train future nurses at the collegiate level and to lead change in the communities where they work.

"There is a direct and immediate need for nurses to impact the health of vulnerable populations, particularly the aging, and to influence health promotion across populations," said Wendy Robb, chair of Cedar Crest's nursing department.

Nurse practitioners are also stepping up to respond to the shortage of family medicine doctors and meet the mandates of the Affordable Care Act, which emphasizes wellness visits and has brought new patients into the health care system.

"(Nurse practicioners) are able to see patients at an equal quality of care at a lower cost," said Cynthia Cappel, who just earned her own doctorate of nursing degree and is director of education services for Lehigh Valley Health Network.

That 2010 report found that if nurses are going to be leaders and sitting at important tables they need further education, Cappel said. Lehigh Valley Health Network has implemented the eight recommendations laid out in the report and its nurses are heeding it, she said.

"If you look at pharmacy and physical therapy, they are moving to doctoral and education as well," she said. "Quite honestly a pharmacist and a physical therapist doesn't spend the time that a nurse does with a patient."

As it developed the program, Cedar Crest worked with Lehigh Valley and St. Luke's University Health Network and used that input to decide on the nurse anesthetist and other doctorate programs, Meade said.

Cedar Crest already has a very strong nursing program, Meade said, noting that the school has one of the highest nursing test pass rates in Pennsylvania.

"Our students are extremely successful and we feel extremely connected to the health care community in the Lehigh Valley," Meade said.

But it was also hearing demand from its own nursing students. Almost 68 percent reported that they planned to further their education after earning their bachelor's degrees.

"Our students are very loyal to us," Meade said. "A lot of our undergraduate students come back to our master's program."

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent raised the volume on his condemnation of Donald Trump on Sunday, calling on Republican leaders to abandon Trump's presidential bid.

The Republican Lehigh Valley lawmaker appeared on ABC's "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos and said GOP leaders should act quickly to make a change at the top of the ticket.

"Nobody should be surprised by what's happened here," said Dent, whose 15th District includes parts of Northampton and Lehigh counties. "We've been listening to these incendiary and inflammatory comments for over a year now."

Dent said Friday's revelations of Trump's lewd comments against women only added to embarrassing statements by him against Sen. John McCain's military service, mocking the disabled, smears against Mexicans and Muslims and criticism of Gold Star families.

"Will Donald Trump withdraw from the race. No. Should he? Yes," said Dent, who said he has never been a supporter of Trump's campaign. "We have to look out in the best interests of the Republican Party."

Dent, chairman of the House Ethics Committee and seeking a seventh U.S. House term this fall, said Trump's weaknesses on policy issues have been drowned out.

"It's hard to discuss policy in this election when we're debating the weight of Miss Universe or now the Billy Bush video," he said in reference to the latest scandal. "It's very frustrating to many of my colleagues."

Trump on Sunday night is set to debate Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, whom Dent said is also unfit to be president.

"I think she's disqualified based on how she has negligently and carelessly handled classified material," he said.

Stephanopoulos asked Dent who he intends to vote for.

"I'll cross that bridge when I get to it," Dent said. "I'll have the opportunity to write someone in."

Dent said former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels are all worthy of consideration.

"They're all impeccable people who could actually win this race in 30 days," Dent said.

Dent had supported Kasich in the Republican primary race won by Trump.

Dent said he intends to join other GOP lawmakers in a conference call with House Speaker Paul Ryan on Monday to try to convince him to abandon Trump.

"If many of my colleagues stand up and do what I've done ... I think that can put a lot of pressure on Republican leaders to follow their members who are moving very quickly," he said.

Dent is scheduled to debate at 7 p.m. Tuesday with Democratic challenger Rick Daugherty and Libertarian Paul Rizzo at PBS39 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.
The Stewartsville Volunteer Fire Co.'s new, $285,000 tanker truck rolled into town for the first time.

The gleaming, 3,000-gallon custom-built pumper-tanker replaces a tanker that was destroyed by fire at the township public works garage in March.

Fire Chief Joe Mecsey III said it will be a few more weeks before the truck is put into service and responds to calls.

Officials will use the truck as a water supply in rural areas in Greenwich and elsewhere in Warren County, Mecsey said. Since March, Greenwich has relied on surrounding communities for tanker truck service and now will finally be able to return the favor. Besides hauling water, the new truck can pump 1,000 gallons a minute.

The volunteer fire company has about 35 members and eight auxiliary members, and several of them stopped by the station Saturday to get a look at the new vehicle, Mecsey said.

It's on a Freightliner chassis and was built by Pierce Manufacturing Inc. in Bradenton, Florida. The new truck is owned by the township and was purchased through insurance, said Mecsey, who is also the township's superintendent of public works.

The tanker-pumper is one of four firefighting vehicles used in Greenwich, accompanying two other pumpers that carry 1,000 gallons each and a 100-foot aerial platform truck.

Mecsey, in his 23rd year as chief, said the goal is to have it equipped and manned by the end of the month.

"We have driver training and operations training, and we still have to get equipment on it," he said. "Today we'll go through a checklist and review warranty forms.

"The guys here are opening cabinets and taking a good look at it. We'll do a little driver training today just so they get a feel for it and we can hit the ground running by the end of October."

The March 1 fire devastated the township's vehicle fleet. In addition to the tanker truck that was stored there, the township lost two 10-ton plow/salt trucks, a new front loader, five pickup trucks and sidewalk equipment.

Officials ruled the fire was accidental, sparked by an electric heater, he said.

Once in service, the new truck will be stored in a bay at the main township building next to the fire station on Greenwich Street. Ultimately, the fire company plans to build a new station on land it owns about a quarter-mile away on Greenwich Street.

The township has yet to rebuild the garage ruined by fire. Demolishing the remains and replacing lost equipment took precedence, Mecsey said. Delivery of a new plow and salt truck is expected by Nov. 1.

A new garage likely won't be built until after the winter, he said.

Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.
Huawei Gains Ground in Myanmar with Partnership with Top Local IT Distributor

Huawei is recognizing Myanmar as one of its key markets by partnering with the country's top IT distributor. (Photo : Getty Images)

Huawei is gaining ground in Myanmar after announcing its partnership with KMD, the country's top IT distribution company.



The Chinese company announced recently that it is tapping KMD to be the official distributor for its products in Myanmar, which is one of the world's rapidly growing handset markets today.



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The country has about 90 percent mobile phone penetration rate, affirming Huawei's "strategic commitment to Myanmar as a key market," China Daily reported.



Currently, Huawei has the "highest brand power" in the country "for its ability to boost sales or gain market share," China Daily wrote, citing a brand research called "Spotlight on Myanmar" by Millward Brown and WPP. Researchers interviewed 1,660 consumers and covered 42 regional and international brands.



Huawei's brand power is indexing 436, higher than its global average score of 81. Its performance in Myanmar is better than in its home market China, the news website wrote.



Huawei has been assisting Myanmar with its information and communication technology (ICT) resources for some years.



In 2014, Huawei inked a memorandum of understanding with the Science and Technology Departments of Myanmar to establish Huawei Authorized Information, Network Academy (HAINA) and develop the country's ICT resources.



HAINA targets to harness human resources in Myanmar with Huawei's ICT globally. The first HAINA was inaugurated in Thanlyin University of Science and Technology in Yangon last February. This is the 147th academy unveiled by Huawei out of the 140 HAINAs set up in more than 20 countries worldwide.



The emerging market of Myanmar bodes well for Huawei, which has been looking for other opportunities as competition gets tighter and the smartphones space becomes more saturated back at home.



Myanmar is also being hailed as the "last true telecoms greenfield in Asia," per Oxford Business Group, with international companies competing for operating licenses and foreign brands attempting to tap its burgeoning mobile subscribers.


In April this year the Laois Enterprising Womens Network (LEWN) was re-launched by the Local Enterprise Office Laois to support women in business.

Two local business women addressed their recent meeting last Wednesday in the Killeshin Hotel, and shared their business story with the 30 plus LEWN members.

Lucinda Layton of Rose & Alice Handcrafted Soaps and Gifts told a compelling business story of how she decided to move her family from Silicon Valley, California to set up a business on the Mooney family farm in Rosenallis.

A thriving business that is increasing the number of local people employed to meet the growing demand for their product in Ireland and the UK. With plans to launch in Europe in the next year and a move into the American market also planned, the future looks bright for this local company.

The second speaker was MaryRose Simpson of My Lady Bug who runs an online business based in Laois.

She was the 2015 Laois winner of Irelands Best Young Entrepreneur under the category of best new idea.

Celebrating her first year in business, MaryRose advised on the importance of getting good PR, particularly for her type of business as she needs to drive traffic to her website.

A workshop on using Public Relations to grow a business was given by Margaret McKeon-Boyle of Extensive PR.

This business womens network meets regularly to hear from inspirational speakers, learn from workshops and network to do business.

The Laois Enterprising Womens Network is inviting business women to join them, whether a business owner, starting a business or working for a company.

For more information contact the Local Enterprise Office Laois.
By Dr Eddie Murphy, the Portarlington Psychiatrist with Operation Transformation

Many women are scared that one day they will be told, "you have breast cancer,"

For some its the word cancer, for others, it is the fear of surgery and chemo.

Psychological Aspects

Some women go into denial and are so overwhelmed that they delay seeing a doctor, for fear of bad news. Yet lives are saved by finding and treating cancer early.

Fear is Pervasive

Women newly diagnosed go through an emotional rollercoaster from denial to anger and confusion.

Reality bites when treatment begins. At this point many feel more in control because they are fighting.

Those who survive, fear a return. Many experience treatment-related distress, changes in body image and sexuality, and physical toxicities from chemotherapy.

Some feel depression. These are normal reactions to one of the most difficult trials in life.

Cancer can be beaten

Advances in detection and treatment mean that most people survive breast cancer. When treated at its earliest stage, 98% of patients have full recovery.

Tips on Support

The Psychological Society Of Ireland has ten tips on how to help someone diagnosed with cancer.

1. Being positive doesnt always help. Trying too hard to be positive can end up making people miserable.

2. Admit that I dont know what to say. Learn to tolerate your own emotional discomfort. Simply listen and allowing them to express what theyre feeling, even if it doesnt always make sense or seem logical.

3. Dont expect emotions to progress in neat stages. There will be many ups and downs,changing day-to-day (sometimes hour-to-hour).

4. Avoid advice giving. This can make people feel they should be doing a better job at coping. Advising people to keep positive and battle on is not helpful for everyone.

5. Try not to personalise. If youre at the brunt of their anger, your loved one may be angry at the situation, not at you personally. We tend to vent frustrations on our nearest and dearest.

6. Eat well, exercise and get enough sleep. Take care of yourself. You might not have cancer, but this is difficult for you. By taking care of yourself you are in a much better position to care for others.

7. Dont be afraid to ask for help, and say no when you need to, so you can focus on supporting a loved one with cancer. Resources like the Cuisle Centre are there to help not only patients but those supporting them.

8. Avoid vague offers like let me know if I can do anything, be specific and practical about how you might help. I can collect the kids or I can bring you to the hospital on Fridays are clear offers more likely to be accepted.

9. A surprising way to cut stress is by wanting things to be different. Allowing yourself permission to be who you are in this moment is likely to be more helpful in the long term.

10. A cancer diagnosis propels our minds into the future or back to the past. Focus on the present. Simply bringing attention to your breath can help.
The upcoming centenaries of the War of Independence and the Civil War would prove challenging, the panellists agrred at last Saturday's James Fintan Lalor Autumn School.

So much so that historian Diarmuid Ferriter suggested there was a case to be made for not marking it at all but rather letting it lie, particularly if it was going to stoke deep rooted animosities.

Catriona Crowe said it would be an interesting challenging. The job and obligation for people is to inform themselves about what happened. Let's hope some maturity and sensitivity isbrough to bear on it.

Conor Brady noted that the presence of urbanised liberal classes who had been sanitised by two to three generations of removal from local areas. For those still living in local areas there was awareness of who did what to whose grandparents. I don't know how it will be managed, he stated. However, he noted the example of the Finns who also had a civil war during the same era, and who had decided not to commemorate it.

Fergal McGarry said he believed that partitition would be a lot more difficult than the civil war.
This week saw two new reports from daft.ie and myhome.ie which outlined that house prices in the county have risen by 20% and 10% respectively.

This is causing some confusion in the market and local auctioneers have warned against the inconsistency of such reports.

Carrick-on-Shannon estate agent Joe Brady told the paper In general I believe prices are going up by 1% per month. However its worth noting that here in Leitrim, (in most cases) we are still selling below the cost of construction and below the prices that were achieved 12 years ago.

There is still lots of value left in our market. Buyers have recognized this and are all off the fence and most definitely in the market trying to buy. The amount of buyers trying to buy the value that is in the market currently is surprising us, pointing to the recent sale of an apartment in Carrick within 10 days.

Ballinamore auctioneer Gordon Hughes said The latest figures from daft.ie are broadly in line what we have experienced over the past 12 months.

Property prices in the south Leitrim area have typically rose by approx 20% which is mainly due to the increase in number of mortgage buyers and also the continued influx of buyers from the UK. Average prices are now in the region of 120,000 and we would expect property prices to continue to rise in this area as typically they are still significantly below build cost levels and therefore it is cheaper for people to buy rather than build their own homes for the foreseeable future.

As a result of the increase in demand for property availability of stock is at historically low levels last seen at the peak of the market in 2006/7 with as few as 30,000 homes now for sale nationwide.

The average prices in Leitrim for a 1 bed apartment are 41,000 and 52,000 for a 2 bed apartment, whilst a 3 bed semi is making 76,000 and a 4 bed bungalow in the region of 150,000.

We presently have a number of first time buyers in particular urgently seeking 3 bed semi-detached and detached homes whom have been outbid on this type of properties.

We are finding these type of homes in particular are selling within a matter of a few weeks and in one example last week we sold for a price 15% over the asking price due to the number of bidders and which was only on the market for 3 days!

Another example is the Lakeview estate in Keshcarrigan which primarily was a ghost estate in 2010 and the 1st and 2nd phases have now been completely sold out with a waiting list for the 3rd and final stage.

Since the initial launch prices have increased by 22% in a 12 month period with prices in the region of 85,000 now being achieved for a 3 bed semi-detached home, Gordon concluded.

North Leitrim seeing price increase of between 5-10 percent

In North Leitrim the situation is not as black and white.

Tony Feeney from DM Auctions in Manorhamilton said that on balance they are seeing an increase of between 5-10% with cottages making a bit more than that.

However it varies with prices going over and back and at the end of the day it is all down to employment and the type of property.

He outlined that recently they sold a property in Dromahair, on the market for 120,000 but achieving a sale price of 132,000.

Similarly a property in Killargue was on the market for 25,000 but sold for 36,000.

He takes reports such as daft.ie and myhome.ie with a pinch of salt. He advises clients to put in a reasonable guide price.

There has been a noticeable slowing down in the market since Brexit but he comments that you just never know.

He further highlighted a recent property on which the sale fell through but within an hour of it going back on the market he received a call from Australia about it.

You cannot write a script for this type of thing.
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Thirty-eight Irish tourism enterprises, including Leitrim Tourism, travelled to London earlier this week, to take part in Flavours of Ireland 2016.

Flavours is Tourism Irelands annual B2B tourism workshop, now in its 14th year, which saw some 100 representatives of the top in-bound tour operators based in Britain come together to do business with the various tourism organisations from Ireland.

Flavours of Ireland aims to grow our share of the huge worldwide travel market. Attended by representatives of top UK inbound tour operators, who are responsible for putting in place the arrangements for holidaymakers to Britain and the island of Ireland from all over the world, this event was an excellent opportunity for the participating Irish tourism providers to highlight and sell their product to these important decision-makers and to encourage them to feature the island of Ireland in their 2017 holiday programmes.

David Boyce, Tourism Ireland, said: Tourism Ireland is delighted that so many tourism organisations from around the island of Ireland and so many of the leading UK inbound tour operators took the time to join us at our Flavours event again this year. We very much welcome the business and networking opportunities it presented. Our aim is to increase awareness of the island of Ireland among these hugely influential tour operators and to help Ireland and our tourism partners secure a greater share of the huge worldwide tourism market.
Have you seen Gary Johnson forgetting what Aleppo is? If not Id recommend it. His baffled expression is hilarious.

But when you have finished chuckling, may I ask you a question? Where is Shenzhen?

My guess is most of you are now stumped. I only know because I once had to catch a train from Shenzhen station. Which is embarrassing because by one definition it is the 8th largest city in the world. It is adjacent to but several times the size of Hong Kong. Which, remarkably, is no longer among the twenty largest Chinese cities. And China is an enormous country in an enormous region:

Credit: Redditor valeriepieris

Despite this the last Liberal Democrat manifesto includes more references to Israel  which has 0.001% of the worlds population  than to all the countries in the Asia-Pacific combined. And they are only mentioned in the context of advocating EU membership. There are (or have been) groups declaring themselves to be the Liberal Democrat Friends There are the Chinese Liberal Democrats but they exist to promote closer links between the Party and the Chinese and South East Asian community in the UK. of Israel, Palestine, Kashmir, India and Turkey but not of China, Indonesia or Vietnam. Basically, if a Lib Dem says they care about foreign policy that usually means they are interested in Europe or the parts of the Islamic world somewhat adjacent to it.

We have done better than that in the past. Before Hong Kongs return to China, Paddy Ashdown was the foremost advocate of giving passports to the citys residents. This helped prove the Partys relevance after the disaster of merger but my impression is that our credibility on the issue depended on the fact that Ashdown had lived in Hong Kong and spoke Chinese. I struggle to think of another senior figure in the Party who has anywhere near that insight.

This matters because Britain has close connections to the Asia-Pacific. We once ruled much of it and as a result many Britons can trace their ancestry there. China is our second largest import partner. When money moves to and from the Asia-Pacific, it often does so via British banks like the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. More than 100,000 students from the region study in the UK. And thousands of British citizens, myself included, live there.

We must not imagine that Asia has been placid amidst the turbulence in Europe and the Middle East. That the British media often makes it seem that way simply demonstrates our national blind spot for the region. Its economic transformation has been staggering. In 1990, 65% of East Asians lived in extreme poverty. Now just 3.5% of them do. And its international relations are changing to reflect that. China (and North Korea?) now have enough military might that it is no longer a given that the US can hold the ring in East Asia. But the most significant development for a party called the Liberal Democrats is probably an ideological one. The Singaporean model of authoritarian technocracy  from which the Chinese Communist Party borrows extensively  has emerged as a viable competitor to liberal democracy.

When a crisis eventually pushes one of these issues into the spotlight of British politics will the Liberal Democrats have more to offer than a Gary Johnson style blank stare? Will our leaders understand the region or will they be looking to Lord Ashdown for a primer? If that winds up being the case then that will be a major failing on our part. The Asia-Pacific is set to be the fulcrum of the twentieth-first century. If we have nothing to say about it, in a real sense we have nothing to say about the world we live in.

* The author is a Lib Dem member living (and renting) in London. He works in a politically restricted role.
Theresa Mays plan to introduce worker directors onto company boards is a start, but she still has a long way to go to catch up with liberal thinking: Jo Grimond advocated worker-owned firms more than 50 years ago, and she hasnt reached that point yet.

But the Lib Dems need to be more consistent and outspoken in support for worker-owned firms and other types of co-operatives, too. Over the decades, weve had the occasional burst of enthusiasm, such as when Nick Clegg called for the creation of a John Lewis economy in 2012, but it doesnt appear to be integrated into our policy-making as it is over at the Co-operative Party. It ought to be for the following three reasons:

First, by supporting co-operatives we can create a coherent, credible, principled centre-left alternative to Corbynite state socialism that might help us find common ground with some Labour and Co-operative Party supporters. Significantly, the Co-operative Party is increasingly keen to distinguish itself from Labour now, and shares some of our views on key issues. As Labour MP and chairman of the Co-operative Party, Gareth Thomas, says, the co-operative movement is pro-business and pro-EU; so are we.

And, of course, by supporting co-operatives we reinforce our claim that we are now the party of business, not the Tories.

Second, mutuals work. Twice as many cooperatives survive their first five years than other types of businesses. Whats more, co-operatives are efficient providers of low rent homes and successfully develop human-scale regeneration projects.

Third, if the rise of the SNP and the Brexit referendum have told us one thing, its that people want more control over their lives. Looking to break-up the United Kingdom or have Britain reject collaborative working with our European neighbours are, of course, wholly destructive. Much better and more meaningful to give people a greater say over their affairs by looking for ways to extend mutualisation in more areas of our daily life: more housing co-operatives to help ease the housing shortage by providing low rent homes, and more businesses owned by their workers and even their customers to sell honestly-made goods and services at honest prices in an honest way. And, of course, to pay a decent salary.

Indeed, support for co-operatives could form part of a policy package aimed at giving people more power over their lives. Other components could include our continued support for proportional representation.

Co-operative ownership comes in many guises. Which is best, if any, is something to discuss. Companies dont necessarily need to be wholly owned by their workers and customers: The Co-operative Party is arguing for carers, care recipients and their families to be represented on the boards of private companies providing social care, for example.

Co-operatives themselves are looking for their voices to be heard more loudly, and some feel both the Labour and Co-operative Parties have let them down in recent years. We would be doing them, ourselves and the country a service if we gave them a home in our party.

* Richard Warren is a journalist who is a member of Richmond Park Liberal Democrats.
China Refuses to Stop Producing Deadly Carfentanil Drug Killing Tens of Thousands in the US

Carefentanil mixed with heroin. (Photo : Getty Images)

Chinese firms are still producing and exporting to the United States a death-dealing drug called "carfentanil" that's banned in the United States and other countries as a chemical weapon of mass destruction.



The central government in Beijing has so far taken no steps to comply with a request from Washington that Beijing immediately curb production of this deadly synthetic opiod, most of which is still being produced by Chinese firms in mainland China.



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Shockingly, carfentanil is not a controlled substance in China, where it is manufactured legally and sold openly online.



Drug dealers are mixing this drug, which is a controlled substance in the U.S. used to euthanize elephants, with heroin and other banned substances to deliver a higher "high" and to make more money. Drugs laced with carfentanil have been directly linked to tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S. over the past few years.



Only recently, carfentanil was confirmed as being behind 19 more deaths in Wayne County in Detroit, Michigan. Carfentanil has also been linked to many deaths in Ohio and U.S. authorities are bracing for a spike in deaths caused by this synthetic opioid.



One reason for carfentanil's popularity as a drug additive is it's very cheap. And Chinese producers, while acknowledging the deadliness of this substance, still continue to produce it because demand remains high in the U.S.



U.S. media said 12 Chinese firms are selling carfentanil for as low as $2,750 a kilogram, no questions asked. These firms are marketing this death-dealing chemical to the U.S., the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium and Australia.



Drug dealers are adding carfentanil to heroin and other illicit drugs to boost profit margins.



The U.S. government is urging China to blacklist carfentanil, but Beijing refuses to act for whatever reason.



Before being used by drug dealers, carfentanil were viewed as chemical weapons. Carfentanil is so deadly that an amount smaller than a poppy seed can kill a person. Carfentanil is chemically similar to a sister drug called fentanyl, but is 100 times more lethal than fentanyl, which is also used as an additive to drugs.



"It's a weapon," said Andrew Weber, assistant Secretary of Defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs from 2009 to 2014.



"Companies shouldn't be just sending it to anybody."


I have to say that Im finding the outrage among senior Republicans about the latest scandal to hit Donald Trump pretty ridiculous. Where the hell were they when he was calling Mexicans repists and threatening to make the Mexican Government build a wall between the two countries? Where were they when he was threatening to ban Muslims from the US?

I am dismayed at the way some media outlets, including the BBC, have minimised Trumps comments. Grabbing a woman in an intimate area is not lewd talk, its an admission of a serious sexual assault and should be treated as such. His so-called apology, if anything, makes things worse. Leah McElrath put together an analysis of how his words sound very much like those of an abuser.

Even if the GOP decided to get rid of Trump, its too late to get anyone else on the ballot in enough key states to actually win the presidency, so they have to suffer the ignominy of going to the country with a candidate who isnt fit to be an employer let alone be leader of the most powerful western democracy.

I suspect the Clinton campaign will be putting even more effort into voter turnout. People might think that Trump is bound to lose. Brexit proves that electorates can make disastrous choices so there is no room for complacency. That man could still end up in the White House.

It just goes to show how dangerous the US political system is. One man with a lot of money has basically been able to take over an established party. That has to be a cause for concern. Will they now consider stronger curbs on funding and spending limits in their elections? Would the Democrats? Would they be willing to consider measures which could make the political system fairer for third parties? They should, but I cant see them voluntarily dismantling a system that gives the so much power and influence.

The sense of disillusionment that many Americans have long had for a politics that doesnt work for them will therefore continue they may yet fall victim to someone with lots of money and populist rhetoric who could win one of the most powerful positions on earth.

At least in this election, Americans have the choice of someone who is not the lesser of two evils, a brilliant, credible candidate who has a serious track record of making things better for the disadvantaged and who wants to dismantle the barriers that exist for women and girls across the planet.

I have been a massive fan of Hillary Clinton for a quarter of a century. I always thought she was the brains of the Clinton partnership. She has been demonised by the press more than any other candidate in US history and she is still standing. Ive seen people decide to reluctantly support her. If they do now, I think that in four years time, they will be able to back her enthusiastically.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
A WOMAN has spoken out about her familys nightmare at University Hospital Limerick, after her husband spent 52 hours on a trolley in A&E, and spent almost a week in a ward waiting for an MRI scan.

Anne Clancy, of Broadford, Clare, told the Limerick Leader that, on September 12, her husband Tom was admitted to the emergency department in Dooradoyle after a serious fall. She said that Tom, 63, who is originally from Ballynanty, suffers from high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and had a mild stroke last November.

Despite being unconscious for 30 minutes before arriving at UHL, Tom did not get a hospital bed for another three days, spending 52 hours on a trolley.

She said, because the hospital did not have enough trolleys, they had to bring chairs down from the wards for patients to sit on. The staff are working under such tough conditions.

According to figures released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, September was one of the hospitals worst months for overcrowding, as 825 patients were treated on A&E trolleys and additional trolleys or beds in the wards.

Last Thursday, Mr Clancy had a fall in the wards while visiting his daughter, Shona, who was also being treated at UHL. Immediately brought to A&E, the father had to wait 25 hours before being admitted to a bed. Waiting for an MRI scan, he did not get one done until this Tuesday.

Shona, 21, also endured a delay. She spent three days at UHL before a doctor put in a request to get her seen by an ears, nose and throat doctor, on Tuesday, September 27.

The doctor was happy to leave Shona go home on the Tuesday, provided she saw a doctor from the ears, nose and throat department. They thought she had vertigo and, seemingly, that is the only department that can diagnose or confirm vertigo.

"They put in a request to see her on the Tuesday, and nobody came up to see her until the following Friday. The doctor was with her, for 20 minutes to 30 minutes.

Though she commended the staff, she said that her daughter found the experience very upsetting. She wanted to go home.

Somebody else could have been using that bed, she added.

Annes daughter, Jennifer, told the Leader that it was a distressing experience looking after Shona and Tom, who were in separate parts of the hospital, on Thursday and Friday.

They cant cope with the amount of people coming into the hospital, so we had Dad downstairs and Shona upstairs, and we had no idea what was going on with the two of them at the time.

This Tuesday, Anne and Jennifer expressed concern about leaving Tom by himself in the ward, while waiting for his MRI scan.

Jennifer said this Tuesday: We dont know if he is going to be on his own, if I will be there or if Mam will be there. Hell just be called. The way he is, he cant be left unaided, he cant get out of the bed by himself.

Anne commended the fantastic medical staff treating her husband and daughter.

They cant physically work any faster than they are going. I dont know how they arent coming to burn-out. They need to get staff in there to deal with the patients that are coming in. They should never have closed the hospitals until they were ready to take everybody into one place.

A spokesperson for the UL Hospitals Group said that it was unable to comment about individual patients due to patient confidentiality, but added that it regrets that any patient had to face long waits in our ED during busy periods.

A new A&E is due to open next May.

Once built, the experience of our ED patients will improve immeasurably in terms of comfort, privacy and dignity.

The spokesperson added the ENT department provides an urgent referral system for patients in A&E.

Upon clinical examination if the patient is deemed not to be urgent, then the patient can be referred to a dedicated ENT Outpatient Clinic, this ensures that patients are seen in clinical priority.
THREE months after being shot in the head by a garda, a Lithuanian man is still in the care of University Hospital Limerick.

Fragments of the bullet remain in his neck but his family say it is a miracle he is alive.

Tomas Mikalajunas, aged 36, protested his innocence in a bedside interview with the Leader. The other Lithuanian man in the vehicle when they were stopped at a checkpoint between Ardagh and Shanagolden on June 28 - Aurimas Petraska  has been charged in connection with a series of robberies in three counties.

I was driving home with my friend. I saw the police with their lights and I stopped. One of the guards was shouting and screaming. I put my hands up and I was shot, said Mr Mikalajunas, who denied he was involved in any criminal activity.

He says he was only in Ireland to look for work as a truck driver to make money for his family.

I am in a lot of pain. I am three months here. I cant eat, I cant drink, my jaw is crushed, my ear is damaged. I cant feel the right side of my face. The doctors dont know how long I will be here, said Mr Mikalajunas, speaking through a family friend.

It is understood the firearm was accidentally discharged.

His wife Gintare Mikalajuniene said a member of GSOC has spoken to her husband but that no garda has interviewed him.

A GSOC spokesperson confirmed this week that the investigation is ongoing but wouldnt release any more details.

Mrs Mikalajuniene said they want answers on how he was shot.

Why has everything calmed down? Do they want to delete this event completely? Our whole life is turned upside down. Doctors can not say when and how he recovers. I am very afraid that he will never be as he was before this terrible disaster. Maybe he cant or wont have the strength to work in his beloved job or live a full life for a 36-year-old man.

Im glad that my husband is alive, however, he will never be as he was, said Mrs Mikalajuniene, who adds that their financial situation is critical.

They both emphasise the excellent care he has received in UHL.

My family is very thankful to the doctors and nurses for saving my husbands life and the good care, said Mrs Mikalajuniene.

They are being represented by Michael ODonnell, solicitor, who confirmed he has initiated civil proceedings in the matter.

They are disappointed about the delays. The ombudsman has made contact with me concerning the investigation and complexity of the case. No indication has been given to me to date as to any findings, said Mr ODonnell.
THEY say familiarity breeds contempt, but in the theatre, close working relationships and recurring themes will often serve to create magic for an audience.

In Druid Theatre Companys case, there is no piece of work as familiar as Martin McDonaghs seminal play The Beauty Queen of Leenane, which the company first produced twenty years ago.

The brilliantly subversive piece won international acclaim for playwright and company alike, and a Tony Award for director Garry Hynes, the first woman ever to do so at the time.

Druid return to the Lime Tree with the special anniversary production, one that has been receiving glowing reviews all over again for the company, simply the finest Irish theatre troupe on tour, in our opinion.

Beauty Queen stars Aaron Monaghan, Marie Mullen, Marty Rea and Aisling O'Sullivan, telling the story of Maureen Folan, a plain and lonely woman in her early 40s, and Mag, her manipulative, aging mother. Mullen, in a reversal of the role she played 20 years ago, returns as the mother to OSullivans character.

It is this familiarity, from an ensemble that has been touring and working cheek by jowl for five years now  across DruidMurphy, the Colleen Bawn and DruidShakespeare, all of which have come to the Lime Tree in recent years  to Hynes superbly steely and evocative direction of each project, together with the resonant themes present amid McDonaghs breathtaking writing, that has again wrought this magic from the story.

You would be hesitant to say anything like that, because you would sound like you are blowing your own trumpet, but I think the actors that appear time and time again in the shows lend a strength and added dimension to the work. We have a stronger relationship on stage, no matter what we are doing, reflects Marty Rea  so impressive in all of the works mentioned and playing Pato in Beauty Queen.

And hopefully that, as well as the works that we keep visiting, are bound to add something.

It is Hynes assured direction that keeps each piece new and fresh, eschewing the pitfalls within that sense of familiarity. Themes of emigration and financial hardship abound across the works.

She does revisit things, but she only does so when she feels that there is something new to be found in it. I think she would be bored and underwhelmed by it if there wasnt, says Marty.

I think Garry is able to appreciate and acknowledge a good writer when she sees one. And a story written by a good writer, will always be resonant, no matter where or when we live, because they will understand something essential about human communication or the need for story telling or the need to observe another character.

Rea was too young to have seen the original production, but admits its presence was looming over us a little bit.

Those of us who were new were thinking are we going to be able to do as good a job, or what are people expecting? Or are you supposed to try and kill the old one in order to present a new one? But actually it doesnt matter, it is new in its own right by the fact that it has new people involved and 20 years has passed  there is a different reaction to it now possibly, people are in a different place to then. But all of that has been interesting and all the more exciting for that.

For the actor, this first play in the so-called Leenane trilogy  also including A Skull in Connemara and The Lonesome West  is his personal favourite, one that continues to resonate because of McDonaghs incredible craftsmanship as a writer.

I think that kind of dark humour really appeals to people. The pace and the rhythm of how he writes, how he delivers character and plot points, gags, payoff lines  just how he drops them in is always almost exactly where an audience needs it.

It is a very modern piece, he understands modern storytelling very, very well, the pace of it and the need for a new piece of information in a story. That is what it is for me anyway and also it is very, very funny too, and there is huge heart in it as well.

The heart in it is very appealing, there is a huge sense of missed opportunity and the heartache of that. I think this, in my mind, is the best of the three of them.

See www.limetreetheatre.ie for booking details.
May 4, 2021, 2 AM

Dog owners in Ireland paid a 2-shilling tax for each dog between 1866 and 1922.

Each Irish dog license between 1866 and 1922 needed 2 shillings worth of stamps for each dog, plus a 6-penny stamp like this one showing Queen Victoria for the license document itself.

The fee per dog was raised to 4 shillings in 1919. This 4sh stamp is overprinted Northern Ireland."

By David A. Norris

The Dogs Regulation Act for Ireland was passed by the British Parliament in 1865 and took effect Jan. 1, 1866.

Passage of this act created a new revenue stamp collecting specialty.

Every year, dog owners in Ireland had to obtain new licenses for their animals. The cost was 2 shillings for each dog, plus 6 pence for each license.

Payments were represented by affixing revenue stamps to the license forms. Thus, each Irish dog license had two different kinds of stamps: one for the dog, and one for the license itself.

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Owners of more than one dog had to buy a 2sh stamp for each animal, so examples exist of license documents with multiples of those stamps.

However, no matter how many dogs one owned, the license required only one 6-penny stamp.

The 1866 act was a response to countless complaints of livestock killings that were blamed on loose dogs.

Police stations and courts of petty sessions kept registry books with descriptions of dogs, with the names and addresses of their owners.

Hundreds of Irish dog registry books dating from 1866 to 1922 still exist. These annually updated lists of dog owners are extensive enough to make a useful genealogical resource.

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There were two different types of dog license stamps.

What one might call the dog tax was paid with pictorial revenues showing an Irish wolfhound.

Pictured here is a used 2sh Irish Wolfhound dog license stamp. License Two Shillings appears across the bottom of the stamp.

The 2sh stamps are the most common, but there were also 10sh and 20sh stamps to accommodate owners of multiple dogs. In 1919, the fee was raised to 4sh per dog, and stamps were redesigned to reflect the new 4sh rate. The 6p stamps were petty sessions revenue stamps, overprinted with the words for dog licence.

Until Irish independence in 1922, these stamps appeared with portraits of Queen Victoria, Edward VII, and George V.

After Irish independence, dog license revenues remained in use in Northern Ireland. The per dog stamp fee rose to 4sh. These later stamps appear with overprints reading Northern Ireland. Petty sessions stamps of Northern Ireland picturing George V and George VI were overprinted for dog licence.

After decimalization, a 20p stamp with Elizabeth IIs portrait appeared in 1971. Dog license stamps were eliminated in 1983.

Irish dog licenses, with their revenue stamps, show up fairly often on eBay and might also be found in the dealers stocks of revenue stamps as well as paper ephemera.
Detailing all of the pop-up restaurants, pop-up bars, pop-up shops, pop-up galleries, and pop-up gigs in London, complete with maps. Please send any tips to dan.calladine@londonpopups.com or via twitter - I'm @LondonPopups
In defiance of the Bishop of Kilmore Most Rev Dr Quinn, who closed their chapel-of-ease on May 2, over 400 parishioners from Portlongfield, near Killeshandra, Co Cavan on Sunday night last, heard Mass outside the church.

The celebrant of the Mass was 75-year-old Rev Clarence Duffy of Shercock who celebrated what was in fact a Penal Mass. Several days beforehand a council of 14 parishioners approached Fr Duffy to say evening Mass outside the white building (originally a Protestant school) despite the Bishop's ruling of invalidity.

They constructed a church of gun-barrel piping, overlaid with polythene normally used to protect silage. The altar was a borrowed dining table, the sanctuary was carpet felt stretched over planks and for rows the congregation used newspapers and wedges of lino.

Fr Duffy said the Mass formulated by Pope Pius V in 1570 which was the Mass he celebrated on Monday could not be changed. It was the Mass as it always was and that the Bishop of Kilmore should talk a little more sense and not say it was invalid.

Fr Duffy continued: I am here to make a stand for the faith. I am in an impregnable position and who put me here  the Bishop of Kilmore. I can laugh at them. I am laughing at them.
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

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Amira Ibrahim was heading to Sharm El-Skeikh for celebrations marking 150 years since the formation of the Egyptian parliament

An Egyptian female MP for a Nile Delta constituency did in a car accident on Sunday, Ahram Arabic news website reported.

Amira Ibrahim, 35, who was a representative of Menoufiyas Shebin Al-Koum district, north of Cairo, died when her car flipped over on a highway in South Sinai. She was on her way to take part in celebrations marking 150 years of parliamentary life in Egypt due on Sunday in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.

Her six and 12-year-old children were injured, one suffering brain haemorrhage and the other abrasions and bruises.

Under Egypt's parliamentary elections law, the House of Representatives and the country's election commission would call elections for her now-vacant seat within 60 days.

This is at least the fifth-time the parliament would order a new vote for a vacant seat.

In July, Sayed Farrag, the MP for the eastern Cairo district of Hadyek Al-Quba, died due to illnesses. Farrag was a representative of the Masr Balady Party -- a member of the Support Egypt bloc.

In April, independent MP Mohamed Mostafa El-Khouly of Fayoum passed away; his wife was elected to his seat two months later.

MP Sameh Seif El-Yazel, who was head of the Support Egypt bloc, died also in April.

In March, elections were held for the seat of controversial TV host Tawfil Okasha in Daqahliya governorate after he was dismissed from the chamber due to holding talks with Israel's envoy to Cairo at a dinner at his home.

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The Egyptian law restricts land and property ownership in Sinai to Egyptians who hold no other nationality and are born to Egyptian parents

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi issued a decree equating King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa with Egyptians in terms of property rights in Sinai, the Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported on Sunday.

Egyptian law restricts land and property ownership in Sinai to Egyptians who hold no other nationality and are born to Egyptian parents.

The amendment, as published in the official gazette, would allow Al Khalifa to purchase three villas in Sharm El-Sheikh's Naama Bay for residential use.

Al Khalifa visited Naama Bay in April.

In 2012, El-Sisi, then defence minister, banned the ownership of land in Sinai by non-Egyptians.

The 2012 decisiopn also banned the ownership of property by all civilians in strategic areas of military importance, including all land and property within five kilometres of Egypts borders with Gaza, exempting the northern Sinai city of Rafah.

The law, before its the 2012 changes, granted Arabs the right to own land in Sinai on a 99-year-lease-period basis.

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Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2016 > Why Unrest Never Dies In Kashmir?

by Fayezah Iqbal

In the once serene and bewitchingly beautiful Kashmir Valley, unrest and wild turbulence has spelt unimaginable horror in the lives of the people. A colossal deal of irreversible damage and destruction to the lives, property and peoples faith in democracy and government has been unleashed ever since the imposition of AFSPA in 1990, implemented to combat insurgency in the region primarily.

For that matter AFSPA has only added fuel to fire in all the regions where it had been implemented to contain separatist tendencies and threat, given the indemnity which safely masks the deluge of atrocities committed by the armed forces on the innocent civillian people as aptly quoted by Human Rights Watch: AFSPA has become a tool of oppression, state abuse and discrimination. Even UNHCR raised concern over it in 1991 and in 2012 the UN urged India to repeal this draconian law.

Coming back to our blood-stained Valley, ever since the killing of Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016, 86 deaths have been reported following the 85th day of shutdown of colleges, universities and offices in the throes of the Army and civilian conflict. The infamous pellet guns, used recklessly to disperse the unarmed crowd, is outrageously ridiculous. It is leaving behind a trail of young disabled and scarred generation.

Now the question that needs to be answered at this juncture is whether all of this will result in any solution. The answer is an unambiguous NO. Its NO when both the State and Central governments have been inept to even barely ensure the peoples security, dignity, livelihood and inclusion in the mainstream. Its NO when one after another innocents are being muted aggresively with pellet firing and rapes and unaccounted killing. Its NO when none of the perpetrators are prosecuted, but are instead awarded court martial to mock the entire gravity of the situation. Its NO when similar crowd and mob fury in other parts of the country are dissipated by innocuous tear gas, water spray and pepper spray. Not when such intermittent upheavels cripple education, trade and governance for months on. Not when these inconsolable and aggrieved souls of Kashmir are forcibly quietened by unbridled violence. And not obviously when they see their children going blind, limp and shot down by the AFSPA forces.

This is only heightening the distrust of the already alienated Kashmiris. And thus giving way to the violent outlets of the burgeoning forces of youth like the Hizbul Mujahideen who vow thereafter to avenge the insurmounatable suffering by taking up arms to counter the Army and government which they view as their united foe.

And we as a nation are not only losing numerous lives, resources, wealth and peace but also allegiance of our own countrymen. Its due time that a humane and apolitical vision is taken on the Kashmir issue. Firstly, the conundrum of what the masses in Kasmir actually want should be studied with a just perspective.

Kashmiris, first and foremost, want peace from the violence, arms and killings. They want liberation from the abnormal civilian life that they have been living amidst the millitary and separatist uprisings on one hand, and, Pakistans assertion over the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Kashmir on the other hand, which it claims as Azad Kashmir. They want liberty from the unending saga of crackdowns, intensified surveillance, censored internet and mobile services, intrusion in their private lives, and a slew of dissapeared lives, half-widows and fake encounters.

This accounts for the unceasing unrest and inquietude in the Valley.

If one takes a cursory glance over the other AFSPA-reigned and insurgency-afflicted areas in other parts of the country, then it would be astonishing to assess that Kashmir is by far the most adversely affected area among them in terms of education, infrastructure, political representation and mainstreaming of youths. The North-East States like Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland have their own gory tales of suppression which they faced in their longstanding strife between the Indian Army and separatist forces. But they have fared well educationally and economically after the government gave them their space to live their ethnicity and individuality by safeguarding their interests constitutionally by Schedule V and VI.

Thus it becomes imperative for the government to instil similar security and confidence in Kashmir in order to first pacify the unrest.

In the light of the recent Uri attack, one can dissect prudently through the entire incident where the simmering discontent and agitation in Kashmir has been exploited to Indias disadvantage by the terrorists to further aggravate the fragile condition on the Pak-Kashmir border. Thus it is expedient that the groundwork of analysing the real issues and woes of the people is dealt with in a compassionate and gentle way.



The present uproar and such imminent outbreaks can be deintensified and dismantled only by immediate halting of the ongoing firing on civilians, fostering a one-on-one level approach, allaying the fears of the people by communicating directly to them through various government bodies, ensuring unobstructed functioning of educational institutes, livelihood and official work.

Besides this, proactive measures should be taken to engage the youth from Kashmir in various academic activities in premier schools and colleges of the country, sufficient exposure should be given to them about the life, politics, government nation and the world and thus acquainting them to a more healthy and normal state of affairs in and around the country. Giving employment opportunities will turn the tide in both Kashmir and the governments favour and dissuade them from extremist steps.

Lastly, by discarding the old sceptical and isolationist view of seeing them as an internal threat to the country and treating them at par with other citizens as valuable assets, the intrinsic healing process of their unattended wounds will be generated drawing them closer to India and identifying them as Indians.

Thus necessary pathos, political will, and homely warmth are the only ingredients to alleviate the trauma and turmoil plaguing Kashmir since decades of exclusionary violent politics. Its time that they are embraced and integrated seamlessly with fellow countrymen as our long-forsaken brethren.

Fayezah Iqbal did her Masters in Spanish from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Writing being her passion, she has been writing for various blogs since the last three years. She can be contacted at e-mail: fayezah.iqbal[at]gmail.com
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2016 > Pressure Counter Pressure / The Twilight Hour

From N.C.s Writings

Pressure Counter Pressure

Behind the angry protests and almost interminable complaints of Cease Fire violations, there is a feeling in New Delhi about the overall situation with regard to Pakistan which, though not vocal, is significant.

It is geneally conceded here that a full-scale war between India and Pakistan is practically ruled out for the present. The theory that the cessation of hostilities provided by the Security Council Resolution is being utilised as a breathing space by Pakistan is countermanded by two factors: first, it is not easy for any command to push up the tempo of a military campaign once it is switched off. Secondly, there is a persistent belief in New Delhi about the crisis in the political leadership in Pakistan.

With regard to this second factor, there is a suspicion, widely held in many of the leading quarters in the Capital, that the reports of differences between Ayub and Bhutto as also between the Pakistan High command and the US Government are assisduously spread by the Western sources mainly to get round New Delhi to make concession on the issue of Kashmir, the line of the whisper campaign being that unless Ayub is given some concessions on Kashmir, Bhuttos tough line might prevail and India might have to face the two-pronged offensive of Pakistan and China. It is understood that Mr Arthur Goldeberg also stressed this point in his talks with Sri Parthasarathi.

While it is true that this whisper campaign is being pursued quite widely by Western diplomatic sources both here and in the UN, an important section of informed opinion in the Capital is not prepared to dismiss reports about the Ayub-Bhutto crisis as pure Western fabrication.

The point to note, however, is that New Delhis appraisal of the situation rules out for the time being a flare-up on a large scale on the Indo-Pak border. The current round of clashes is mainly due to the anxiety of both sides to straighten out some of the inconvenient bulges that could be noticed at many points along the present Cease Fire Line, so that in case of any resumption of full-scale hostilities between the two countries their armies may not be put into difficulty because of the existence of these bulges. It is true that the arrival of the UN Observers Teams has resulted in slowing down these operations, though they have not yet been able to completely stop them.

All this is happening because of the underlying belief that the present Cease Fire Line will de facto continue to be the border between the two countries, perhaps for a very long time. This means that the possibility of a political settlement of the dispute is hardly in sight. In fact, the three weeks war has hardened the position on both sides, and has falsified the expectations of those who had counted on a decision by arms for a solution of the Kashmir question. This incidentally is an additional proof of the fact that despite all the patriotic valour churned up by the war itself (which is not of Indias making) it has put off the chances of a political settlement between India and Pakistan more than ever before.

In the present context, it is easy to understand why New Delhi has been so critical of U Thants decision to separate the UN Observers Team in Kashmir from that for the Indo-Pak frontiers outside Kashmir. Because, New Delhi now regards itself as being placed in a position of advantage in bargaining with Pakistan with regard to the Kashmir situation: it will agree to withdraw its troops from the Pakistani soil from the Sialkot and the Lahore sectors and also from a point in Sind only on condition that Rawalpindi finally recognises that J&K State, as at present constituted, as part of India. To split up the two sectors, namely, the Jammu and Kashmir front and the rest of the Indo-Pak front for the purpose of UN observation, was suspected by New Delhi as a thin end of the wedge, inspired by Pakistans Western backers which might ultimately grow into a demand that the settlement of the two sectors should be taken up separately; that means the withdrawal of troops on the Indo-Pak front outside the borders of Jammu and Kashmir taking place separately, without reference to any decision on the withdrawal of forces of both sides in the Jammu and Kashmir sector. If such a demand arises, naturally it weakens Indias bargaining power: the position of strength that New Delhi holds today will be very much undermined if the bargaining is restricted only to the withdrawal of the Pakistani troops from the Chhamb sector in Jammu in exchange for the Indian troops quitting posts in Haji Pir, Tithwal and Kargil. At the present moment, India would prefer to stick on to the line along the Sialkot sector and Ichhogil canal for the political recognition by Rawalpindi of the J&K State being part of India.

The UN Secretary Generals latest decision that General Nimmo would be in overall command of both the UN Observers Teams, namely, the one for the J&K and the other for the Indo-Pak border outside Jammu and Kashmir, is interpreted here as a partial acceptance of the Indian demand that there should be no split up in the UN teams. There is thus a continuous, though silent, tussle going on in the diplomatic lobbies whether in New Delhi, Rawalpindi or the UN, each side trying to gain as much through back-stairs pressure as it could.

Viewed in this background, it is not surprising that the suggestion for a four-power mission to tackle the Kashmir question would be rejected by New Delhi. Such a mission, it is felt here, would have been heavily weighed against India, and the Soviet Union would have been outvoted in such an outfit. Contraposing this has come the alternate suggestion for a joint US-Soviet move to solve the Kashmir deadlock. This has the advantage that the most rabid of the pro-Pak power, Britain, could be kept out of it.

While it appears that Sri Shastri himself would not object to such an initiative on the part of the two superpowerssince it is expected to silence both his Right and Left criticsthere is as yet no evidence to show that the central leadership here has been working out any minimum terms for the settlement of the Kashmir question, the terms which it can get the country in its present mood to agree to and at the same time have the merit of showing the way to a compromise. One is tempted to conclude that the war by itself has provided no way-out of the Indo-Pak dispute on Kashmir; if anything, it has made it more difficult for both sides to come to the conference table.

Political observers in the Capital do concede that in the present climate of Pakistan it is not possible even for a peacemaker politician to go in for any settlement which does not give it a chance to question the present status of the J&K State. It is therefore assumed that there is very little scope for political settlement of the Kashmir dispute coming off in the immediate future. However, if President Ayub agrees to go to Tashkent for the Soviet-sponsored talks with Prime Minister Shastri, or accept a joint US-Soviet mission, then New Delhi will take it that the government in Pakistan has been able to set its own house in order to the extent that it is in a position to go in for a settlement recognising the status of Jammu and Kashmir State as part of the Indian Union. Once this point is accepted by Rawalpindi, there will be no difficulty for New Delhi to withdraw its troops from the Pakistani soil and even to agree to a boundary commission to straighten out the line of demarcation between the present Pak-held Kashmir and the J&K State which is inside the Indian Union.

Apart from the military initiative having been lost by Pakistan in the present phase, there is a feeling here that Rawalpindi has lost considerably in terms of political initiative as well. The backing which Peking offered to Rawalpindi has not amounted to very much, while the present turmoil in Indonesia has also gone against Pakistan in terms of diplomatic advantage. For one thing, Rawalpindi has so long bragged a lot about the support given by Indonesia, particularly by its flamboyant President. Secondly, the fiasco of a policy of dependence on Peking which Indonesia has so long followed has also had an indirect impact on Pakistans prestige, since it shows up the unreliability of any diplomatic strategy that counts on Pekings support.

The explanation therefore available here for Rawalpindis extraordinary decision to break-off diplomatic relations with Malaysia is that it is the manifestation of bitter frustration that has at the moment gripped the Pakistani authorities. Malaysias identification with the Indian case in the present round of the Kashmir debate in the Security Council is interpreted here as a return gesture for Indias undeviating support for Malaysias candidature for the Second Afro-Asian Confeference. Besides, the open support of China for Pakistan has alienated Malaysia which was the first Asian power to condemn Chinas attack on India in October-November, 1962.

A typical example of the Indo-Pak tug-of-war for the purpose of enlisting support by either side is provided by the Malaysian episode itself. While Bhuttos rather unbalanced diplomacy has cost Pakistan the friendship, not to speak of the support, of Malaysia, New Delhi has not been slow at striving to strengthen its own ties with Kuala Lumpur. The visit of Sri Dinesh Singh to Malaysia this week is, therefore, particularly significant. His painstaking efforts at explaining Indias case to the Arab diplomats in New Delhi have not been unsuccessful, despite reports circulated to the contrary. There is no doubt that among the junior colleagues of Sri Shastri, Sri Dinesh Singh has made his mark during the present emergency, thereby bringing into sharper relief the almost universally acknowledged ineffectiveness of the Foreign Minister himself.

In the non-aligned world, some of the recent developments are counted as being favourable for New Delhi. Mr Ali Sabrys exit from the UAR Government has not been unwelcome here, since it has long been known that he has been critical of this country in the India-China dispute. The general impression here is that Mr Ali Sabry has mostly thrown has weight in favour of Cairo taking a pro-Peking line in many of the crucial issues of the day.

Another significant gain for New Delhi has been Yugoslavias forthright stand on Kashmir as officially expressed in the Tito-Radhakrishnan joint communique. It is understood that the original draft of the communique mentioned Kashmir as being an integral part of India: President Radhakrishnans discussions at Brioni led to an improvement in the draft as the communique characterises Kashmir as consti-tuting an internal affair of India.

With regard to the West, there are indications here that Britain and the USA have been trying hard to recover from the setback they suffered in New Delhi during the recent crisis. While the demand for quitting the Commonwealth has not slackened in the ranks of the Congressincidentally, this demand seems to have the blessings of the confirmed pro-US elements in the Capitalquiet diplomacy to restore Indo-British relations has not broken down at all. One of the essential Indian requirements is the supply of spares for defence equipment from Britain. It appears that in the recent talks the demand for the lifting of the arms embargo has been strongly canvassed on behalf of India and it is expected that the UK Government will soon respond to it. Although the Indian Defence forces are in a much better position than Pakistan on this score, it is recognised here that without the supply of essential spares, particularly from Britain, our armed forces will be greatly handicapped, if not paralysed, in some vital sectors. In this sense, the present war has helped to underline the urgency of getting essential components from abroad for our military hardware. Self-sufficiency in Defence is not an easy slogan to realise.

The US circles in New Delhi have not been idle all this time. Reinforcing Mr Chester Bowles efforts, the pro-US elements in the government have been harping on the immediate need of securing pukka assurance from Washington about regular delivery of PL-480 instalments. Sri S.K. Patil seems to have come out of the wilderness into which he was forced, thanks to his reluctance to take up a firm stand against Pakistan: his claim to closer personal acquaintance with important Washington personalities, and thereby his indispensability in the present crisis, are being sold by some of his lieutenants (including at least one Cabinet Minister). Besides, he holds out the prospect that by his initiative he can prepare the ground for a Shastri-Johnson meeting, which Sri B.K. Nehru is reported to have been pressing for, as an urgent necessity, Out of his proposed explanatory tour in the West, Sri Patil hopes to emerge as an entrenched and indispensable element in the government.

The established lobbies in the Capital have thus been working overtime to regain for the Western powers the positions that were threatened during the recent war. For New Delhi, the arduous battle on the diplomatic frontg has yet to be won despite the sacrifices in blood made on the hills of Kashmir and the plains of Punjab. 

(New Delhi Skyline, Mainstream, October 9, 1965)

The Twilight Hour

This is like the twilight hour we are passing through these days in which we are not at war nor at peace. Our soldiers are destroying tanks and our men sabre-jets, but we have still our High Commissioner perched at Islamabad, loose talking in a manner that makes the world wonder which country he is really serving.

Many a time in the past few months it was said that the crucial phase had been reached in the Bangladesh struggle. But never before has it been so true as it is today. In fact, the crucial phase started when the Prime Minister returned from her Western tour with the realisation that the utmost that the Western Powers would do would be to appeal to President Yahya Khan to come to a settlement with the Awami League leaders, and beyond that they would not be prepared to do anything which would usher in an early political settlement so that the millions of refugees could go back to their homeland. It is no secret that hard experience has told New Delhi that the only world power which has stood by Indias position is the Soviet Union despite the fact that in the present alignment of world forces that has caused almost a total erosion of Moscows political leverage in Pakistan.

The diplomatic aftermath of Smt Gandhis Western tour could be seen in the Belgian move to raise the Bangladesh issue as an Indo-Pak confrontation in the Security Councila move which could only have been inspired with the connivance, if not the initiative, of Washington. President Nixons latest proposal has not been very different from what the US authorities have been saying for the last two months, namely, the defusion of the tension by the withdrawal of troops from the frontier. Even what President Yahya Khan tried to sell to Sri Atal was a variant of the same Western brand, namely, the so-called civilian set-up, and not Yahya Khan, could negotiate with Awami League leadersand Sri Atal, if one goes by indiscreet press interviews, almost fell for it.

Incidentally, this is not the solitary instance of mistaken judgement in Sri Atals diplomatic career. One has only to recall his insistence on Nehru visiting Turkey, only to find himself in the midst of a political coup. Sri Atal however showed distinction at Addis Ababa as an excellent connoisseur of polo horses.

In a nutshell, the basic issue in the Bangla-desh crisis, namely, an immediate effort at settlement between the Pakistan Government and the Awami League leadership is being meticulously evaded by Washington and its entourage powers. This is obviously not due to the reason that Washington has lost its weight in Islamabad but because Washington does not want to do anything which might jeopardise the stability of the military junta at Islamabad. For, it is part of the global strategy of the Pentagon to prop up the Pak military junta by all means.

One should not forget the strategic location of West Pakistan as a soft underbelly of Soviet Central Asiathe very reason why both Washington and Peking are equally interested in backing Islamabad to the hilt. The additional reason for these two to stand solid by the side of Pakistan is to mislead the Arab world into believing that these two powers are the friends in need of the biggest Muslim state existing, that is, Pakistan.

There is a sizable body of opinion in New Delhi which has for sometime been thinking that China would not come to the side of Pakistan in the event of a military confrontation with India. This school of thought does concede that China would be making a lot of noise in support of Pakistan, but its calculation that there would be no military intervention on the part of Peking is more in the nature of intelligent guess-work than based on solid intelligence data.

However, this calculation may not be very wide of mark because of three reasons: first, the Chinese leadership with all its big-mouth revolutionism in the UN does not want to expose its own military limitation; a full-scale intervention against India might lead to logistic difficulties which might show up the weak-nesses of its Army, already in the throes of a political crisis. Secondly, Peking must have read carefully the terms of the Indo-Soviet Treaty and any armed move against India might land it into a situation where it might have to face counter-pressure on the Soviet border. Thirdly, with the successes of the liberation forces in Bangladesh it will be more and more obvious to the astute Chinese leadership that Bangla-desh as an independent entity is inevitably going to emerge, and any military intervention on its part would earn Peking the open hostility of this new emerging Asian state not far from its own border.

At this stage it is important to assess as a long-range exercise the various phases in New Delhis strategy with regard to Sino-Pak relations. In the fifties just about the time when Sino-Indian understanding was being strengthened, there came the US-Pak arms pact which openly pronounced its hostility towards the Communist powers, while Pakistan on her part made no secret of her intention to use her increased arms strength with American support for the purpose of grabbing Kashmir. It was no accident that this was the time when the American moves, both subtle and open, were made to mislead Sheikh Abdullah and his group into believing that an independent Kashmir could be formed, dislinked from India. While nipping this move in the bud, New Delhi not only took the initiative in consolidating the forces of non-alignment in the Afro-Asian world, but also made a definite move to come to an understanding with Pakistan: the Nehru-Noon Agreement is an example of this policy and its culmination could also be seen in the Indus Water Treaty which Nehru signed with President Ayub.

It was in this period that Pakisan, obviously at the instigation of Washington, made the suggestion that there should be a joint Indo-Pak defence arrangement against Communist powersin other words to inveigle India into some offshoot of the military bloc into which Pakistan herself had entered under American allurements and pressures. This was rejected outright by Nehru.

Next came the phase of Sino-Indian antago-nism leading to the Chinese attack on the Indian frontier in 1962. Whatever might have been the lapses in Indian diplomacy in trying to handle this issuePandit Sunderlal has of late been giving publicity to this point of view, backing Neville Maxwells thesisthere is no gainsaing the fact that the Chinese assessment in the late fifties was definitely hostile to India, branding her as having gone over to the Western camp and backed by Soviet Revisionism. It is to be noted that about this time Pekings animosity towards the other Communist countries had already begun, evidence of which was furnished at the Moscow conference of the world Communist Parties in late 1960, where one of the charges levelled against the Soviet Communist Party by Peking was that Moscow was backing India against China.

It is worth recalling that on the very morrow of the Chinese attack on the Indian frontier, when Nehru was under fire from the Right Opposition and Sri Krishna Menon had to quit the Cabinet because of the mounting pressure of the US lobby, there came the proposal fully backed by the Western Powers for an Indo-Pak agreement on Kashmir on the basis of a virtual partitioning of the Valley itself. Incidentally, the pro-American elements in the government at that time were even in favour of withdrawal of troops from the Pakistan frontier to draft them against the Chinese.

As soon as New Delhi made it clear that it could not accept such a proposal of partition of Kashmir, the Sino-Pak understanding began to be forged in a very demonstrative way. First came the demarcation of the boundary between Western Tibet and Sinkiang on the one side and the Pak-occupied portion of Kashmir on the other. This was followed by a number of other agreements leading to the Chinese military help to Pakistan even to the point of helping to the setting up of guerilla training centres in the Pakistan-occupied area of Kashmir for the purpose of organised infiltration into the Valley.

During the 1965 Indo-Pak conflict, the Chinese made no secret of their full support of Pakistan; their military experts were known to have helped in the training of the infiltrators who swarmed across the Cease Fire Line into the Kashmir Valley. And at the crucial moment of the war, the Chinese threatened to attack the Eastern frontier. Their calculation at that time was that if the war had spread to East Bengal, then the Chinese would force a wedge through Bhutan and help the depleted Pakistan Army in that sector. Unfortunately for the Chinese, the Indian strategy at that time was to make it clear that there would be no military operation against East Bengal. When the Chinese move was thus foiled, then came the famous threat about the theft of sheep and goats by India which was made into an excuse for an angry threat of war by Peking. If the war had continued longer than it did, one would not have been surprised if the Chinese attack had materialised at least on the Himalayan frontier.

The two options which seemed to have alter-nated in the main in the evolution of Indian policy are: first, whether an Indo-Pak under-standing could be reached in facing the challenge of China; and secondly, whether a Sino-Indian thaw could be maintained while the threat from Pakistan has to be met.

The first trend was re-presented by the pro-US elements in this country: they had long thought if detente could be established with Pakistan then a common front could be built against Communist China. This was the basis of the so-called Indo-Pak reconciliation move-ment sponsored by some of the pro-Swatantra elements in this country. Unfortunately for them, the latest Nixon policy for making up with China has led to the collapse of this plateform. They are now floundering and have caught on to a new slogan that there should be understanding with China as a counter to an understanding with the Soviet Union. In other words, the Indo-Soviet Treaty has become their main target of attack, thereby making it clear that in their estimate, the real Communist threat comes from Moscow and not from Peking.

The other school which thinks that an understanding with China could be possible while Pakistan is the main source of animosity against India, believes that a friendly positive approach to Peking might disrupt or at leas weaken the prevailing Sino-Pak entente. The point to note is that in the present configuration of world forces, both the US and Chinese policies are strongly in favour of propping up Pakistan, if not the whole of it, at least West Pakistan. It will therefore be idle to think that Peking which has already shown its hand in the UNwhere it has not shown any hesitation to side with the US against any Soviet proposal, however reasonable it may bewill let down Pakistan in the case of an Indo-Pak confrontation. Every day more and more evidence is mounting about Chinses stand with regard to Bangladesh. The entire attack is directed against India as the instigator of the Bangladesh freedom fighters and this is being linked up even with the Tibetan rebellion and exodus of refugees which came in the wake of Chinese repression of that rebellion. There is room for honest difference of opinion about the wisdom of not immediately answering those charges by Peking, particularly when Peking is in a position to mislead quite a large number of countries in the Afro-Asian world. Whether such silence is really golden, when New Delhis main concern is not to allow any new advantage to be scored by Pakistan over the Bangladesh crisis, only the future will tell. But it will be rather naive to think that the Chinese could be persuaded to behave in a friendly way by such a gesture of demonstrative silence on the part of New Delhi.

The overall picture is that in standing by the side of the Bangladesh freedom fighters and standing up to the bullying tactics of the Western Powers in defence of Yahya Khan, there is no scope for New Delhi to minimise the dimension of the crisis.

The nation is placed in a state of expectancy and yet there is still a resistance to go in for all-out war because underlying all the calcu-lations, there remains the great imponderable as to the price of a major confrontation in terms of economic, social and political liabilities. One is tempted to recall T.S. Eliots lines that

War is not a life: it is a situation,

One which may neither be ignored nor accepted,

A problem to be met with ambush and stratagem,

Enveloped or scattered.

Nothing better can describe New Delhis preoccupation today.

(Political Notebook, Mainstream, December 4, 1971)
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2016 > Indias Clarion Call at the Margarita NAM Summit!

by Sudhanshu Tripathi

The Non-Aligned Movement, while holding fast the true spirit of the doctrine of non-alignment, must act as the vanguard of all principal international debates on political, strategic and socio-economic issues and must also suitably modernise itself to remain relevant in the world.

Introduction

The 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned countries of the Third World, spreading over the continents of Asia, Africa and Latin America, was held at the Margarita island in Venezuela during September 13-18, 2016 with all enthusiasm and fervour, though Indias Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, could not attend the summit and instead its Vice-President, Hamid Ansari, represented the country, leading the Indian delegation. As the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which began its journey in 1961, during highly tense days of the ongoing fierce Cold War between the two antagonistic blocs led by the USA and the then USSR, as a global movement of just 25 countries, now consists of 120 countries and that proves its continuing popularity and relevance since the origin of the movement after the Second World War.

Obviously the NAM, which is based upon the doctrine of Non-Alignment, known as the brain-child of Indias first Prime Minister, late Jawaharlal Nehru, today has enough grounds to stay as well as sustain due to the continued adherence and upholding of its core ideals, namely, freedom of action and independence of judgment and also sovereign equality of nation-states, established by the Peace Treaty of Westphalia of 1648. All these were very popular then among the newly independent countries of the Third World because they had long suffered the agony and trauma of centuries of inhuman and wicked course of colonialism and, therefore, they had the sole desire to protect and preserve their new hard won freedom and also to rebuild themselves as independent nations in the international community.

An Alternative Model of International Behaviour

It was this desire that the late Jawaharlal Nehru sincerely grasped immediately after the Second World War and some other prominent leaders of the Third World, like Marshal Joseph Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, President Garnal Abdel Nasser of Egypt and President Sukarno of Indonesia who proposed an alternative and independent course of action for the newly independent Third World countries in the world divided into two hostile ideological camps of capitalism and communism and each vying for increasing its membership by inviting newly independent countries into their respective folds in a bid to consolidate their strength for establishing their supremacy in the world. Thus this dominant desire of the Third World countries later crystallised into the doctrine of Non-Alignment and that was first elaborated by Pandit Nehru on September, 7, 1946 in his radio speech to the nation, even prior to the independence of India. In fact, this desire to remain independent of group rivalry and bloc-politics was a very timely remedy to save the world from another impending World War, which was to be a nuclear holocaust in all likelihood, marred by bitter Cold War tensions and several ongoing regional wars.

In this horrible scenario, the NAM under Indias founding leadership, while deriving its strength and sustenance from the countrys ancient cultural ethos and deeply religious traditions advocating eternal moral values, made a clarion call for three Ds, namely, Decolonisation, Disarmament and Develop-mentall for the noble cause of establishing permanent peace in the world which had already been torn by two humanitarian disasters in the form of unfortunate World Wars.

Present Turmoil

Once again, the world is passing through, perhaps, the worst ever phase of terrorism and religious fundamentalism as well various kinds of heinous and macabre crimes of untold and unimaginable magnitude, besides other challenges like economic recession, environ-mental degradation and sustainable development, feudal-monarchic social set-up both at the national and international levels demanding democratisation of international relations and reforming the United Nations, violation of human rights, gender bias, child abuse and sexual crimes and many more, which cannot be honestly tackled simply by formulating laws or concluding international treaties.

These challenges can only be sincerely addressed if a collective global human endeav-our, based upon a value-based and philosophical vision, is initiated under the aegis of the United Nations, representing the global wishes and aspirations. And that vision is truly provided by the doctrine of non-alignment which, indeed, stands for equality, justice, fraternity on equal footing, and global peace, thereby paving

the way for creating a new world order characterised by these eternal and moral values.

India Exhorts

This is why, Indias Vice-President, Hamid Ansari, exhorted the movement by his inspiring words: Our theme for the next three yearsPeace, Sovereignty and Solidarity for Developmentis in congruence with our founding principles. He made Indias founding position of the NAM clear by emphasising upon peace and sover-eignty being the essential prerequisites for development and cooperation along with ensuring the dignity and development of all humankind.

He also recalled the spirit inherent in the unforgettable words of the late Indian PM, Smt India Gandhi, about the NAM as the largest peace movement of the world that she had said during the course of the Seventh NAM Summit at New Delhi in 1983. He further stressed in the summit that the NAM must stand as the vanguard of all substantial international debates on political, social, economic and strategic issues and must also suitably adapt itself to the matching times so as to remain relevant and convincingly responsible towards its members in particular, and the entire humanity upon the mother earth in general.

Final Communique

The final communique of the Summit made a vigorous call for meaningful UN reforms, perhaps in an apparent reference to the United for Peace Resolutions adopted during the Korean War of the 1950s, when the UN Security Council was torn by the Cold War politics and no substantive decisions could be arrived at due to the mutually antagonistic views of the USA and the then USSR thereby crippling the global body, that may return the glory of the UN General Assembly of yesteryears so that it may function effectively despite hurdles created by the UN Security Council. Similarly it addressed all other prominent issues already pending under the forum of the movement, namely, South-South cooperation, New World Infor-mation and Communication Order, protection of environment and maintaining climate balance, inclusive growth and pending economic reforms for a New World Economic Order, Sustainable Development, Restraining Human Rights Violations, Child Abuse and Gender Bias, Total Conventional and Nuclear Disarmament, and last but not the least, elimination of terrorism of all shades and forms etc.all with a view to establish a just and rule-based international democratic order ensuring equality, freedom, progress and prosperity for all countries in the world.

Thus the NAM, though often called irrelevant and redundant by the crooked American campaign, because it has no reason to exist after the end of the Cold War, has once again proved its vigour and vitality and also its reasons to exist because there is no end to challenges in the world, which come one after the other, and that will always demand a collective global voice and action. And for that the NAM is always useful and meaningful. What else can be the reason of its existence which is further supported by its consistently rising membership. As a British commentator had said a few decades back, NAM has come to stay and it will stay as long as Super Power elephants threaten to trample the grass where lesser animals also graze. It still holds true and will hold so forever.

Conclusion

Though the challenges are grave and threats unimaginable, but there is enough scope for sincere efforts with honest intentions and that one is not alone today as there is no dearth of saner minds and conscientious and God-fearing people. Let us all unite to defeat all evil forces in the world, particularly terrorism in all its forms, besides accomplishing all other goalswas Indias clarion call at the Margarita NAM Summit. This is possible because nothing is beyond human endeavour.

Dr Sudhanshu Tripathi is an Associate Professor of Political Science, M.D.P.G. College, Pratapgarh (UP). He can be contacted at e-mail: sudhanshu. tripathi07[at]gmail.com
Neither the French nor Russian draft texts on Syria passed the UN Security Council, because of 'constant disagreement between the council's members,' according to Egypt's UN ambassador

Egypt says it regrets the UN Security Council's failure to take action to save Syria's Aleppo after two resolutions to end fighting in the Syrian city failed to pass on Saturday.

Egypt's UN Ambassador Amr Aboulatta said Cairo, which represents Arab countries, on the 15-member council, voted on a French-drafted resolution and a rival Russian proposal that would have scaled down military action in Aleppo, according to a foreign ministry statement.

Aboulatta expressed "regrets" over the council's "failure to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people and eliminate terrorism in Syria as a result of such disagreements."

Russia vetoed on Saturday the draft resolution presented by France demanding an end to the bombing of Aleppo, but its own rival draft text was rejected after it failed to get a minimum nine votes in favour.

Britain, France and the United States voted against the Russian measure that called for a ceasefire but did not explicitly mention a halt in air strikes.

Russian and Syrian jet fighters have been pounding rebel positions in the eastern part of Aleppo for weeks, leaving dozens dead and hospitals destroyed.

The Egyptian ambassador said the two alternate resolutions gave priority to "ending hostilities in Aleppo and urged the resumption of the political process and negotiations on a transitional period in Syria."

Aboulatta added that a settlement is possible on the basis of those elements.

"The main reason for the failure of the two drafts comes down to constant disagreement between the council's members," Aboulatta said.

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Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2016 > A Bill sans Will and Wit

by Joydeep Biswas

The Citizenship (Amendment Bill), 2016, now before the Joint Committee of the two Houses for a thorough examination, contrary to popular perception, does not guarantee citizenship to the religious minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. It only seeks to convert the illegal migrants to legal migrants.

The Union Home Minister introduced the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in the Lok Sabha during the recently concluded monsoon session further to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955. The Bill, sent through a floor consensus to the thirty-member Joint Committee of Houses (JPC) on August 11 for a thorough examination with one-third of its members drawn from the Upper House, contains proposals for bringing in changes to sections 2 and 7, and the Third Schedule of the principal Act.

The Bill, inter alia, states that the persons belonging to the minority communities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, such as, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, who entered India with or without valid documents, would now onwards cease to be treated as illegal migrants, and, thereby, would be made eligible to apply for Indian citizenship under the provision of naturalisation under Section 6 of the principal Act. In a strict legal interpretation, this proposed piece of legislation is more of a nature of a technical tweaking of the statute book when the vexed issue at hand calls for the exercise of sheer political wisdom rather than mere bureaucratic wrangling.

In the run-up to bringing the Bill in Parliament, the Union Government had issued two orders on September 7 last year. The Foreigners (Amendment) Order, 2015 and the Passport (Entry into India) Amendment Rules, 2015 were issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs to regularise the stay of the same section of the people in India by incorporating suitable amendments in the principal rules, namely, the Foreigners Order, 1948 and the Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950. Unlike in this Bill the twin orders of the Central Government contain an arbitrarily chosen cut-off date, December 31, 2014. The Home Ministrys notifications also mention that the religious minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who had arrived at India prior to this date for religious persecution or the fear of it, would be allowed to stay back in India. But, surprisingly enough, those administrative orders were not followed up with the required legislative intervention meaning thereby that the corresponding Acts, namely, the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 have not been amended in tandem to lend teeth to the Home Ministry-level orders.

Infructuous

Even as the Bill covers the whole of India acquisition and determination of citizenship being a Union subjectits implication is expected to be far more pronounced in Assam than in any other part of the country. Migration from erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and its consequent impact on the society and polity of this North-Eastern State has produced a wide ranging fall-outfrom the xenophobic anti-foreigners movement to racial profiling of citizenship to identity-based electoral config-uration.

With more than 1.5 lakh Doubtful Voters on the electoral rolls thanks to an unheard of and dubious directive from the Election Commission of India applicable only in this State, and over one thousand five hundred migrants languishing in six detention camps, Assam exhibits a perfect case-study wherein the rationale behind the Centres move towards citizenship legislation could be best examined. The precursor to the Bill, the twin orders from the Home Ministry, have so far appeared to be infructuous as neither the State Police nor the judiciary is ready to take cognisance of these administrative orders while dealing with the cases of detection, detention and deportation of the suspected foreigners. The logic behind the administrative orders turning out to be toothless is that the amended provisions are clearly at odds with the principal Acts which have been left unchanged. The net result that follows is that none of the migrantsfor whom such orders were promulgatedhave got any relief from the two orders.

With these orders proving to be inconse-quential, the next round of expectation of the partition-victim migrants in Assam was the Bill which the BJP had included in its poll promises during the campaigns ahead of the Lok Sabha hustings of 2014 and also the Assembly elections in Assam this year. In fact, the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, had made personal commitments that once in power his government would provide citizenship to the Bengali Hindu migrants from Bangladesh. The Bill, therefore, its all-India coverage notwith-standing, is practically meant to serve the interests of the Bengali Hindu migrants of Assam who have been steadily with the BJP for the last two decades if we go by the electoral arithmetic of the State.

Contradictions

But even a cursory reading of this Bill tells us that the proposed amended provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955 are sure to clash with some other Sections of the principal Act, thereby reducing the whole legislative exercise to an attenuated status. While Section 3 of the Citizenship Act covers the acquisition of citizenship by birth for the rest of the country, Section 6 A therein, incorporated by an amendment in 1985, is meant for providing special provisions for citizenship in Assam covered under the Assam Accord. According to this 6 A of the Citizenship Act, read with the provisions in the Schedule under Section 4A (4) of the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003, any person who crossed over to the Indian territory after March 25, 1971 shall be treated as an illegal migrant. Naturally, such a case of illegal migration would attract the relevant provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Foreigners Tribunal Order, 1964.

At present there are one hundred Foreigners Tribunals operating in Assam where more than two lakhs of cases are pending. The Bill practically proposes to enable the post-1971 stream of migrants apply for Indian citizenship via the route of naturalisation. In order that these people can apply for citizenship under Section 6, they are proposed to be decriminalised by lifting the prefix illegal before the word, migrants. While this is indeed an affirmative action towards granting citizenship to this hapless section of migrants, who had to flee their homeland for no fault of theirs, mere easing of the mandatory waiting period of 11 years to six years in the Third Schedule in no way guarantees citizenship to them. The Bill, even if enacted, shall remain as just a piece of enabling legislation. The future governments may very well take shelter under Section 14 of the Citizenship Act in refusing what the present government is seemingly grantingthe much coveted citizenship.

One more area of legal contention is the ongoing process of preparation of the National Register of Citizens only for the State of Assam. The arrangement, initiated by a notification of the Registrar General of India (Citizens Registration) on December 6, 2013, and carried forward under the direct monitoring of the Bench comprising Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman of the Supreme Court, is expected to come up with the first set of numbers of the actual foreigners in Assam. The moot point in this context is that the cut-off date being used for determination of who would qualify for enrolment in the updated NRC, and who not is also given by that 6 A of the Citizenship Act. This effectively implies that the legal sustainability of the new amendment Bill is still open to close scrutiny.

Brief for JPC

As the Joint Committee of Houses takes up the brief of examining the merit of the Bill, the members therein need to take a hard look at not only the legal nuances, enumerated above, but, more importantly, the political niceties or otherwise of this newly devised communal binary in the matter of awarding of citizenship as well. Within the structure of a secular jurisprudence and an inclusive Constitution, India certainly can ill-afford to offer naturalised citizenship on the basis of the religious identity of migrants. The political compulsion of the BJP under the Sangh Parivars tutelage has been understandably at work in drawing the fine lines of this Bill. It is one thing to make historical amends by granting citizenship to a section of migrants who were wrongly knifed out through the Radcliffe Line, but it is altogether a different plan to turn India into an Israel for the persecuted Hindus all over the world.

The Bill also needs to be read in conjunction with the nitty-gritty aspects of the process of preparation of the National Register of Citizens presently underway only in the State of Assam. As referred to earlier in this discussion, the NRC update process, once completed with the publication of the final list, will bring on table the exact number of foreigners or illegal migrants dwelling on the soil of Assam. Till such time, it effectively means that the Central Government shall remain clueless as to the real cardinal number of the expected beneficiaries from the provisions of the Bill in question. This, to say the least, exposes the government to a complete lack of wit. As per the data released to the press by the NRC authority in Assam, a total of 68.13 lakh families have submitted applications for inclusion of names on the NRC. Based on the population size of the State obtained from the 2011 census figures, arithmetic tells us that 104 per cent of the population have come under the NRC net. And theres no surprise that all such have claimed to be Indian citizens, albeit by self-declaration. A tricky question then surfaceswhose Bill is it anyway? To get that answer, as has been argued earlier, one has to wait till the NRC authority comes up with a flawless register of Indian citizens residing in Assam with March 25, 1971 being taken as the reference time-line. Once this screening is over, and with the full knowledge of the quantum of post-1971 stream of illegal migrants, can the government do its brainstorming on their fate. After all, the dimension of a problem dictates the policy on it! The Bill in that sense is slightly premature.

If the BJP is indeed very sincere in finding a permanent solution to the question of citizenship for the Bengali migrants in Assam, the only option open is to scrap the special provision enumerated under Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955. This section appears problematic to both the accused and the accusers in Assam. The Bengali in Assam finds that her right to citizenship by birth under Section 3 of the Citizenship Act is notoriously narrowed by the provisions in 6 A. The Assamese nationalists have reservation against this very section from an opposite angle. They maintain that this unique feature in the Citizenship Act has actually disproportionately expanded the connotation of Section 5 to offer deemed citizenship to the post-1951 migrants from across the eastern border of the country. In a significant judgment of the Supreme Court (JJ, R. Gogoi, R.F. Nariman), dated December 17, 2014, while disposing the writ petitions challenging the constitutionality of Section 6 A of the Citizenship Act, the honourable judges considered it a substantial question as to the interpretation of the Constitution which, they observed, should be decided by a minimum of five Judges under Article 145(3). After all, in a dispensation of sabka saath, sabka vikas, India badly needs uniform citizenship provisions throughout the country. The JPC should propose jettisoning this special provision for Assam, and keep the remaining sections of the Citizenship Act unchanged. Only then the Bill can deliver to those for whom it was primarily purported.

Joydeep Biswas, an Associate Professor of Economics at Cachar College, Silchar, is a scholar with the Department of Political Science, Assam University. He can be contacted at e-mail: joydbiswas[at]gmail.com
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2016 > Resurrecting Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya who Died a Mysterious (...)

by Shamsul Islam

PM Modi, a senior seasoned swayamsevak of the RSS who describes himself as a Hindu nationalist, misses no opportunity to denigrate the minorities of India, specially the Muslims. The latest was when on September 25, 2016, while addressing a national level BJP conclave at Kozhikode, Kerala, he did not forget to share his belief with his captive audience about Muslims being other or different from us borrowing directly from the RSS archives. For him, Muslims were not like any other citizens of India but a problem and to put across his message with more clarity he quoted a senior ideologue of the RSS, Deendayal Upadhyaya (1916-1968).1 According to Modi:

Fifty years ago, Pandit Upadhyaya said do not reward/appease (puraskrit) Muslims, do not shun (tiraskrit) them but purify (parishkar) them. Do not treat Muslims like vote ki mandi ka maal (vote-banks) or ghrina ki vastu (object of hatred). Unhe apna samjho (regard them as your own).2

This statement of Modi was widely reported by the media. But the most shocking aspect was that the Hindi word parishkar, which means to purify, was changed to empowerment by the English media and sashaktikaran by the Hindi media. Even media houses, which are supposed to be objective, did it3 and the same was with the print media4 except a few exceptions like The Tribune and The Telegraph. It is to be noted that in none of the Hindi/Sanskrit to English dictio-naries parishkar is translated as empowerment. Why this creativity was done to change the meaning of a word spoken by PM Modi is not difficult to explain. The media is working overtime to present Modi as a great democrat despite his Hindutva and anti-democratic/secular leanings.

It is to be noted that at a time when Indian defences are being breached by the terrorists from Pakistan (Pathankot and Uri), in which dozens of brave Indian soldiers have laid down their lives, different parts of the country like Haryana and Maharashtra are witnessing caste-wars and Karnataka and Tamil Nadu water-wars; when Dalits and minorities across the country are facing unparalleled persecution, heinous crimes against women have crossed all limits, and unemployment and rise in prices are at an all-time high in the last five years, PM Modi instead of concentrating on talking on the above problems, chose to talk about Muslims.

It is to be noted that Deendayal was not against minorities, specially Muslims and Christians, only. As a Hindutva zealot and ideologue he believed in casteism, converting democratic-secular India into a Hindu state, centralisation of powers and defended non-participation in the anti-British freedom struggle. He propounded the theory of Cultural nationalism which was Hindu nationalism, a part of the Hindutva ideology.

Muslims as a Complex Problem

IT is to be remembered that Deendayal throughout his life treated Muslims not as equal citizens and part of the Indian polity but as a complex problem. According to him,

after independence many important problems had to be faced by the government, the political parties and the peopleBut the Muslim problem is the oldest, the most complicated and it assumes ever-new forms. This problem has been facing us for the last twelve hundred years.5

This hatred for Indian Muslims was, in fact, the continuation of the Hindutva brigades inimical attitude towards Islam and Muslims. The most prominent ideologue of the RSS, M.S. Golwalkar, who personally groomed Deendayal as a politician, had earlier described Muslims as Internal Threat No. 1. Christians were declared to be Internal Threat No. 2.6 According to him, these two communities could not be described as minorities.

Defence of Casteism

DEENDAYAL was a votary of casteism describing it as not only natural but also practical. He went to the extent of equating it with swadharma (ones own religion). In fact, he declared inequality to be natural to human society, thus treating casteism also as a natural institution. Defending casteism he said:

Even though slogans of equality are raised in the modern world, the concept of equality has to be accepted with discretion. Our actual experience is that from the practical and material point of view, no two men are alike Considerable bitterness could be avoided if the idea of equality as conceived by Hindu thinkers is studied more carefully. The first and basic premise is that even if men have different qualities and different kinds of duties allotted to them according to their qualities or aptitudes, all duties are equally dignified. This is called swadharma, and there is an unequivocal assurance that to follow swadharma is itself equivalent to the worship of God. So, in any duties performed to fulfill swadharma, the question of high and low, dignified and undignified does not arise at all. If the duty is done without selfishness, no blame attaches itself to the doer.7

Questioning Freedom Struggle

DEENDAYAL joined the RSS when he was 26 years old and India was facing one of the most brutal repressions unleashed by the British rulers. Like any other leader or cadre of the RSS, Deendayal too did not participate in the freedom struggle for the obvious reason that it was a united struggle of people of all religions for a democratic-secular India and not an exclusive Hindu project. He denigrated the glorious freedom struggle in the following words:

we were obsessed by the misleading notion that freedom consisted merely in overthrowing foreign rule. Opposition to a foreign government does not necessarily imply genuine love of Motherland During the struggle for independence great emphasis was laid on the opposition to British rule It came to be believed that whoever opposed the British was a patriot. A regular campaign was launched in those days to create utter dissatisfaction against the British by holding them responsible for every problem and misery which the people in our country had to face.8

Only Hindus form the Nation

DEENDAYAL did not subscribe to the idea of Indian nationalism and stood for Hindu nationalism. He refused to accept Muslims and Christians as co-nationalists despite residing in India for hundreds of years. According to him, only Hindus could be the flag-bearers of Indian nationalism as only they worshipped the Motherland. For them Motherland was like the goddess Durga wielding ten weapons. Hindus formed a stable nation as only they had a common view of life. For him,

Hindutva alone is the basis of nationalism in Bharat [] It is altogether wrong for the Hindus to prove their nationhood by European standards. It has been accepted as axiomatic for thousands of years.9

Harmful Federalism

DEENDAYAL, like K.B. Hedgewar, the founder of the RSS, and Golwalkar loved centralisation of power and hated federalism as an integral part of the Indian Constitution. According to him,

ethos of Bharat is such that a Unitary form of government would fit in and that in the very first article of the Constitution, a clear statement that Bharat shall be a Unitary State was essential.10

Mysterious Death of Deendayal Upadhyaya

ON February 1, 1968, the dead body of Deendayal was found under mysterious circumstances at Mughalsarai railway station in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Late Balraj Madhok, a senior RSS/Bharatiya Jan Sangh (BJS) leader who preceded Deendayal as the President of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, levelled serious allegations against a few of his old colleagues of the RSS/Jana Sangh for conspiring to kill Deendayal. In his autobio-graphy he stated: He was killed by a hired assassin. But the conspirators who sponsored this killing were those self-seekers and leaders with criminal bent of mind of Sangh-Jan Sangh.11

He went to the extent of pointing fingers towards former Indian PM Atal Behari Vajpayee and late Nanaji Deshmukh, a senior RSS ideologue, as the main conspirators in the murder of Deendayal.

According to the autobiography, the murder of Deendayal was not undertaken by Communists or some robber but planned by those who were kept out of the leading positions of the BJS by Deendayal as the President. It is to be noted here that Deendayal, after taking over as the President of the BJS from Balraj Madhok in December 1967, had kept out both Atal Behari Vajpayee and Nanaji Deshmukh from important posts.

According to Madhok, Deendayal was murdered because

he was constantly ensuring that ill-reputed people should get no career advancement in BJS, so that the reputation of the organisation is not tarnished. For this reason, some characterless selfish people were finding him a stumbling block in their path of self-seeking fulfilment.12

It is really unfortunate that the present RSS/BJP regime in India, led by PM Modi, instead of strengthening the Indian democratic-secular polity, are resurrecting the Hindutva ghosts and ideologies from the past which have been inimical to our polity. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyayas Hindutva politics needs to be consigned to dustbin. However, Deendayals mysterious murder needs an answer from our PM and the RSS, they should not shy away from sharing facts on this murder with the nation.

Shamsul Islam, a well-known theatre personality, is a former Associate Professor (now retired), Department of Political Science, Satyawati College, University of Delhi. For some of the authors writings in English, Hindi, Urdu and Gujarati see the following link: http://du-in.academia.edu/ShamsulIslam
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2016 > Corruption in the Contractor Raj

by K. Narayana

Ever since the NDA Government of the RSS Parivar or the RSS family rule came to power with absolute numbers in 2014, tricks have been played to show that they are above corruption. The media houses, mostly of the corporate bodies or the ones that depend upon their ads, keep on telling us that there is no corruption in the Modi Government and everything is transparent. Yes, it is transparent for the select few business houses and their nominees in the bureaucracy who prepare documents of policy for the government on the basis of the dictates of the corporates to whom they owe their allegiance.

We have been listening to the kind of skirmishes between the Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, and the Ambani nominee as the Lt Governor of Delhi, Najeeb Jung. Interestingly, there is absolute agreement between the previous government and that of the NDA in matters of economic policy and the issues that follow. In fact the NDA is sincerely implementing what the Congress had been doing for decades with every important Congress-man involved in some scam. The difference is that Modi and his masters, including the RSS, have selected some contractors and corporates only as their nominees to carry on the business. While the Congress used to talk about secularism and go to Ayodhya up to Hanumans feet, the BJP /RSS direct groups to indulge in all kinds of petty mafia activities like lynching Dalits, Muslims and others to divert the attention of the common man about the economic plunder. You can see that there will be an orchestrated social tension created by the cohorts of the parivar whenever a serious contract of transferring of huge public resources is involved.

Common sense tells us that whenever Modi or Naidu go out on foreign tour they take an entourage of corporates and the bureaucratic clique along with them to get agreements signed not for the country but for the chosen corporates. Once the papers are ready, a signal goes to the RSS headquarters to create issues of diversion in the form of social tension or huge festival or a yagna etc. to divert the attention of the people and the agreements would be signed. Now, the General Budget is going to be introduced along with Railway Budget in February hinting that the government companies are ready for transfer to private companies. They brought some business economists, who were advisers to corporates entities, to do the exercise of privatisation and kept them in the Yojana Bhavan and called it NITI Ayog. Their job is to identify the units, resources that can be given to the corporates. They do the exercise with the help of their paid experts or intellectuals. One important example is one of their members has produced a report to privatise the Railways and now the time has come to do it in the Budget.

It is against this background that several things are happening in the name of agreements and policy-changes involving not billions but trillions of rupees worth of public sector resources. Now Adani is considered to be the most efficient person than hundreds of trained executives in making the coal and oil sectors productive. Therefore, it is reported (The Times of India, September 21) that the Indian Oil Corporation and GAIL are going to invest in Adanis Dhrma project in Orissa worth Rs 5000 crores. If Adani had any problem with capital or incurring losses in his ventures, public sector units are there to come to his rescue and by intelligently showing his prowess, both in financial and government loyalty to him, he would expand his empire. In all his tours Modi, it is alleged, goes with the Gujarati banias. Another impor-tant business deal initiated by the Steel Ministry is that of Laxmi Mittal of the UK; he is in trouble and will be given the responsibility of promoting SAIL through perhaps merger or joint venture.

It is strange that no one is raising the issue of corruption that involved direct Cabinet Ministers in the case of Orissa, Mr Pradhan of the Petroleum Ministry and Mr Singh, Minister of Steel, in the above two issues. It is without shame that the RSS functionaries talk about corruption of others while members of their own parivar are deeply connected with the above economic operations that involve trillions of rupees. It will be known later that these mergers or investments would be under the direct control of the corporates transferring properties acquired with peoples money and sacrifices.

The GSPC, the petroleum company of Gujarat, claimed the gas discovery in the Deen-dayal field with exaggerated reserves of over 20 tcf to recklessly spend thousands of crores of public money. It is not difficult to assume that huge kickbacks might have gone to the ruling party. Let us not forget that during that period the GSPC was constantly under the keen supervision of Chief Minister Narendra Modi, and his eyes and ears were the nominated Director of the Board, Urjit Patel, the present RBI Governor. The final approved reserves are slightly over 1 tcf of gas and the Auditor General pointed out the over-spending. The ONGC is now being forced to farm in to the Gujarat company with over Rs 20,000 crores debt.

The kind of transfers and handovers of the government companies and peoples resources to individuals is much deeper now than before. The corrupt Congress is silent on the issues as it was they who brought all this and maybe some of their business cohorts are behind these with the tacit understanding of the NDA. We need to expose this cheating in daylight by the NDA Government. How is it that one individual like Adani or Ambani is more intelligent than the whole system of government? It is simply deceit! Let us expose them.

Dr K. Narayana is the Secretary, CPI National Council. He can be contacted at e-mail: narayanacpi[at]gmail.com
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2016 > Modi Remodelling the Politics of Ultranationalism

by Arun Srivastava

Indias surgical operation in Pakistan occupied Kashmir has boosted the personal image of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, as a strong ruler; but it has nonetheless provided the politically correct ambience to the BJP to refurbish its nationalist image and instil a new sense of nationalism in the people of India.

Modi, whose political initiatives and actions during the two years of his stay as the Prime Minister, have come under public scrutiny in recent months and he was being seen as a also ruled Prime Minister, has resurrected himself as the new face of Indian nationalism and the only leader who can take India to new heights. He has ignited the imagination of the Indians. People have come to compare his governance with the last 15 years rule of the Congress and secular parties.

But unfortunately the euphoria over the triumph of the patriotic operation in PoK has met with an checkmate with Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon saying: The UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has not directly observed any firing across the LoC related to the latest incidents.

On his part, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistans Prime Minister, had also dismissed Indias claims that its military conducted surgical strikes. Pakistan rejected the claims as an illusion but acknowledged the loss of two of its soldiers in the exchange of fire. Sharif strongly condemned the unprovoked and naked aggression of Indian forces and pledged that the military was capable of thwarting any evil design to undermine the sovereignty of Pakistan.

Pakistans denial has no element of surprise. It is merely portrayal of fantasy. Why should India make a false claim? The rebuttal of Pakistan has too many holes. Accepting the Army action would amount to acceptance of the fact that terror camps exist in PoK, a charge denied by the Pakistani rulers. The moment Sharif accepts it, Pakistan would be held guilty of patronising terrorism in Kashmir. It would also negate its claim that Kashmir is witnessing homegrown rebellion, not terrorism. In case if Pakistan accepts it, in that situation it has no alternative but to retaliate against India. Any dithering would inflict severe damage to the Pakistani Army which the Pakistani rulers would not accept.

Surgical strikes happened even during the Manmohan Singh regime, but he didnt employ the Twitter army for credit. On the contrary, the people with Right-wing ideology moved in with lightening speed to hurl I-told-you-so jibes at their liberal enemies. While they heaped praises on Narendra Modi, the pro-saffron media took upon their unfinished task to project a national hero out of Modi. Intriguingly, a TV channel in its report projected Modi as the super-warrior; as if Modi had single-handedly conceived, planned and executed the entire operation.

What was most shocking was that the media conveniently tried to ignore and forget its own report of how the Army during the UPA regime had carried out surgical operations across the LoC. Obviously the question arises: why has the media launched a misinformation campaign? Is it a partner to some kind of deep design to malign the former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and his rule?

Hours after Modi and his colleagues started patting their backs for carrying out the first surgical operation, the former Army Chief, General Bikram Singh, came on record to say that such strikes by Indian soldiers have taken place, including in the wake of the decapitation of two Indian soldiers in January 2013 when Man-mohan Singhs UPA was in power. The difference, this time, is that Modi made a political call to own the cross-LoC strikes. In 2013, no one knew that such a strike had even taken place.

The only difference between the two has been this: Manmohan Singh never publicised such operations while Modi removed all stops to create frenzy in his favour. The Congress even did not allow its party leaders to speak in public about these operations. As a result the people did not come to know about the govern-ments intentions and actions.

In sharp contrast, in the present scenario the BJP and the media were trying to build up an atmosphere to show the UPA Government and the Congress in extremely poor light; as a weak and timid leadership. What is most cynical and harmful to the interest and morale of the Army is that the supporters of Modi, the media and saffron leaders have been playing the nasty game of negating the gains of the Army under General Bikram Singh during the UPA rule. Dr Manmohan Singh owes an explanation to the people of the country and he must come out. It is time to speak up and tell them what always happens and what happened under the UPA. No more official secret is violated.

Significantly, the General, who was holding the news conference to inform about the surgical strikes, made it abundantly clear that the September 29 strikes werent the first surgical strikes by any stretch of imagination. Even senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said that the claims of this being the first surgical strike were far from the truth as the Army under the UPA Government too had conducted several cross-border offensives but never hyped the issue as much as it was being done by the present regime.

The Indian Army conducted at least two surgical strikes between 2007 and 2013 and those were reported too. But unlike this time around, Manmohan Singh did not stay awake or even if he did, he chose not to leak the information to favourable media outlets to seek cheap publicity or felt the need to prove any other point.

The then Indian Army Chief, General Bikram Singh, admitted killing of 10 Pakistani soldiers in a surgical strike. General Singh warned Pakistan that India would respond in equal measure if Pakistan violated any rules. He rejected the perception that the Indian military had not retaliated against the beheading of its soldiers by Pakistani troops. He had said: Let me assure you that action has been taken...If I can invite the attention to the Geo TV report on December 23 which talked of their one officer and nine soldiers being killed with 12-13 being wounded. This has happened due to firing of your soldiers on ground.

A nation needs wisdom of patriotism and nationalism is the natural corollary to this. After coming to power the BJP has been consistently harping on patriotismwhenever it is banning beef or implicating the JNU students in sedition case. The BJP along with the Sangh has been creating a psychological pressure on the people, especially on the Dalits and minorities, to submerge their individual identities in a presumed national identity. The RSS tried to preach of one ethnicity, one race, one culture and one system of values that binds the people of India. Based on this ideological orientation the Sangh leaders tried to lay down rules on what one should eat or wear or read or view; they in fact conspired to define the Indian life through their narrow prism of Hindutrva.

The BJPs attempt to define a nationalist as one who will say Bharat Mata ki Jai was a gross distortion of history. After some protest the Sangh Parivar retreated. But this continued to be on the agenda of the BJP and Sangh. The sad episode of Uri provided the Sangh Parivar the opportunity to exploit the sentiment of the common Indians and reach out to them with their repackaged mission.

It would be purely an act of naivety to believe that the Congress lost only because of corruption and misrule. The manner in which the other secular forces were marginalised and wiped out from the electoral scene underlined that the element of ultranationalism, a far-Right sentiment, has percolated deep down in the psychology of the people, particularly the urban middle class, which witnessed the Congress being pulped. The Congress leadership could not comprehend the changing nature of the polity. Basically this was the prime reason for the worst electoral defeat of the Congress. Like the BJP, the Congress does not have a strong and ideological think-tank to analyse the socio-political developments in the right perspective.

The secular ethos has been basically Centrist in character. It is not a sort of ideology under which the cadres play the decisive role. The regional satraps of the Congress have their own perceptions which imbibe the regional feelings and aspirations. The fact has to be conceded that the Congress and secular forces have provided ultranationalism with the right type of breeding ground.

The BJP coming power after long years marked the blossoming of a perilous ultra-nationalism. For decades the aggressive nationalist forces have been lurking in the shadows. Now they are out in the open and trying to push their agenda with tremendous velocity. No doubt the rise of the extreme Right polity is a reality in India today, but once in power they have been treading cautiously. While they have been assiduously pursuing their programme and ideology, they never give the impression that they are in a hurry. Significantly this task is being performed by Modi with adroitness and with utmost excellence. Modi took upon himself the task to launch an ethnic cleansing of the nation.

The strategic importance of Modi for the Sangh Parivar could be gauged from the simple fact that his jibes and indictments were not taken seriously by the RSS. It helped create the feeling that Modi is a changed person and he was committed to protect the ethical chord and traditions of the country notwithstanding his bitter and harsh criticism of Nehru and the latters legacy. In the present situation Modi was projected as the man who can redeem India from the curse of terrorism.

At the Delhi meet of March 23, 2016 of the partys National Executive, Amit Shah in his presidential speech had declared that the BJP would take on the anti-national elements and echoed the RSS demand that firm action be taken against anti-national activities in the universities. At the meet the BJP pushed its version of aggressive nationalism which in reality is Hindu nationalism. The resolution adopted at the meet described refusal to chant Bharat Mata ki Jai as disrespect to the Constitution. The BJP had declared that this is not just a slogan but the reiteration of our constitutional obligation as citizens to uphold its primacy. Simply through a resolution the BJP turned the chanting of Bharat Mata ki Jai into a constitutional obligation.

It is worth mentioning that the BJP had in fact complied to the demand of the RSS chief, Mohan Bhagwat, who had earlier said: Now, the time has come when we have to tell the new generation to chant Bharat Mata ki Jai.

The BJP and RSS have been indulging in the most dangerous game. While the task to present the facade of good governance and vikas has been entrusted upon Modi, the party boss, Amit Shah, and other leaders of the front organisations of the Sangh Parivar have been assigned the task to propagate the Hindu nationalist agenda and the communal campaign against the so-called anti-national elements. The operational success of the tasks is regularly monitored by the RSS boss.

Ultranationalism is divisive and not very different from fascism though senior Marxists nurse divergent views and are reluctant to accept the Modi Government as fascist. Fascism is opposed to liberty, and the only liberty worth having, the liberty of the state and of the individual within the state.

The debate on nationalism has also helped the BJP turn the public focus away from the more pressing social and economic issues the country is facing. Incidentally, the Modi Government has not been able to implement any of its policies and keep the promises made to the people during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Party MPs took out tiranga yatras in their constituencies to celebrate Independence Day, another pet idea of the PM.

True enough, even during the 2014 election campaign Modi had dropped enough hints of the possible course of events that would emerge during the rule of the BJP. That the party would follow the ideology of divisive ultranationalism was clear. The RSS and BJP want to change society so that India becomes a strict Hindu nationalist nation, and dissenters are given short shrift had become obvious. The saffron leadership is aware of the fact the unless a renewed surge of ultranationalism takes place and swallows Indias regional and international prospects, the saffron cannot think to survive in India which is basically a Centrist polity.

The RSS is dedicated to the cause of Hindutva, or Hindu nationalism and the establishment of a Hindu Rashtra, or Hindu polity. RSS volunteers played an important part in Modis campaign. Obviously the RSS and its Parivar members expect him to deliver on the key demands of the RSS. During Modis rule the core agenda of Hindutva nationalism has become central to the politics of the country. The way in which the BJP is situating itself as a central force in Indian politics might well mean that the coming decade will see the rise of a new saffron hegemony.

By giving too much publicity to the surgical operation, Modi was in fact trying to accomplish the task of the RSS. He was seeking to shake the Hindutva feeling of the people. In a significant move in the post-surgical operation scenario Narendra Modi also invoked Jana Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya to say Muslims should not be treated as a votebank. Rather they should be considered your own and be empowered. Modi said at a time when nationalism was looked at in negative light and there were questions on how minorities should be treated, Upadhyaya had suggested a solution.Dont reward Muslims. Dont rebuke Muslims. Empower them. Dont think of them as votebanks or commodities, think of them as your own, he quoted Upadhyaya as saying.

The author is a senior journalist and can be contacted at sriv52[at]gmail.com
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2016 > Indias Surgical Strikes Remain an Enigma

The Indian journalists must be compulsorily made to read the parting speech by Helen Boaden, Director of the BBC Radio, as she resigned from her position last weekend, on how the scramble for breaking news is degrading and destroying what used to be a wonderful profession. She valiantly makes a case for slow news. (Independent)

At issue here is the Indian media coverage of our surgical strikes across the Line of Control at Pakistan on September 29. India has been whipped into frenzy by the media. What happened is not good for the healthof indivi-duals or of the nation. Fortunately, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley interjected with perfect timing to take the mind away to the exciting vista of the biggest disclosure in independent Indias history by tax-evading crooks.

But that crime thriller can make the surgical strikes go away only momentarily. According to news from Islamabad, a top aide to PM Narendra Modi contacted a key figure on September 30 to convey to PM Nawaz Sharif Indias desire not to escalate. But then, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar promptly undercut Modi the very next day by just recalling the Caesarean section by India to take out the little Bangladeshi infant out of the Pakistani womb. (The Hindu)

So, Jaitley is passe. The prospect of war with Pakistan is wide open, again. Parrikar must be rather pleased with himself. In fact, he is only being true to himself. Remember his famous statement in June last year that the people of India were losing respect for the Indian Army, because it no longer fought wars! (DNA)

Meanwhile, the surgical strikes as such remain an enigma wrapped in mystery. The government has officially stated very little on the actual operation. Almost the entire Indian media coverage is based on off-the-record briefings or hearsay, or, worse still, the fiery imagination of journalists. Spin doctors had a whale of a time.

Two things must be said about Indian Army: one, it takes the business of war very seriously and will not make exaggerated claims; and, two, it is very precise with words. Especially so, the office of the Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO), the transcripts of whose conversations with Pakistani counterparts I have had occasion to read in their dozens while heading the Pakistan Division in the Ministry of External Affairs.

However, in his entire presentation on September 29, DGMO Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh actually said nothing to corroborate what the media reported. And he read out from a prepared text.

Troubling questions arise.

Not a single American lawmakerand there could be quite a few who are within the orbit of the Indian embassys influencehas spoken specifically about our surgical strikes. They only speak about Indias commitment to counterterrorism. These are of course Congress-men who are willing to speak up for India in real time, rain or sunshine. Why are they so aloof?

The US State Department briefings too neatly sidestepped our surgical strikes and stuck to old mantrassupreme importance of India-Pakistan engagement, etc. Nor did the White House read out on the conversation between NSA Susan Rice and her Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, make reference to surgical strikes. (One could argue, perhaps, Doval couldnt be expected to disclose beforehand an imminent James Bond-style operation, but then, Rice represents Washingtons defining partnership with the Modi Government.)

To be sure, Americans have positioned military satellites above India that could spot a bat flying in the dark. And they must be knowing what exactly happened.

Again, Russians too have advanced capabi-lities. In fact, a Russian Army contingent is conducting exercises in Pakistan. Yet, the Russian official media tiptoed around our surgical strikes. The RT report pointedly noted: He (DGMO Ranbir Singh) did not elaborate on the nature of the operations, or whether Indian troops had entered Pakistani territory.

There were no references to our surgical strikes by the FO spokeswoman in Moscow, either. Maria Zakharova, in her briefing on September 29, touched on 12 different topics and took thirteen questions, but there was no take on surgical strikes.

Now, the unkindest cut of all is that United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moons spokesman disclosed in New York on October 1 that the UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan has not directly observed any firing across the LoC related to the latest incident (of September 29). We simply stonewalled the UNs remark.

It is all becoming rather murky. In the absence of authoritative statements, Pakistani version gains the upper handnamely, that there were no surgical strikes and that Indians simply hyped up artillery exchanges and are hiding heavy casualties.

Perhaps, the MEA spokesman could at least contest the Pakistani version factually. Its anyway slow news already, as Helen Boaden put it.

Ambassador M.K. Bhadrakumar served as a career diplomat in the Indian Foreign Service for over 29 years, with postings including Indias ambassador to Uzbekistan (1995-1998) and to Turkey (1998-2001).
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2016 > Surgical Strikes, Indo-Pak, Kashmir

EDITORIAL

In both Pakistan and India there have been certain noteworthy developments following the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces across the LoC on September 29.

In Pakistan there were mass demonstrations in PoK protesting against the rulers move to shift the jihadi terrorists into places where they would reside by the side of the common citizens since the terror group members are frequently coming in conflict with the locals. There was also an ugly spat between Shahbaz Sharif, who heads the Punjab Government, and the ISI chief. Also the Pakistan Army Chief, Rahil Sharif, delivered a hard-hitting speech against India pledging a fitting rebuff if New Delhi attempted to attack Pakistan. Is this a precursor to the armed forces under Rahil Sharif taking over the reins of power in our neighbouring state dislodging the elected head of government in Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif? Whether or not such an apprehension would come out to be true, what is indisputable is that instructions have been given to the non-state actors working at the behest of the military to inflict heavy casualties and damages on the Indian Army in Kashmir; the possibility of large-scale terror-acts during the festive season in India is also not being ruled out.

In India, some of the Opposition parties demanded proof from the Modi Government to verify the latters claim of the special forces having carried out the surgical strikes inside PoK. An undercover operation by a TV channel yesterday has revealed that an SP in PoK (of the Mirpur Range) had admitted of the surgical strikes which, according to his information, had resulted in the death of 20 persons among whom were five Pakistani militarymen. This has put a lid on the controversy in this regard.

However, the strikes have not been able to end cross-border terrorism as the incident in Handwara today, wherein three terrorists were gunned down, shows.

At the same time, Rahul Gandhi has come out openly to accuse the PM and BJP of hiding behind the jawans and seeking to profiteer on the soldiers blood. There has been a huge outcry with the spokesmen of the ruling party assailing such a statement but even non-Congress Opposition parties have been prompt to point to posters in Lucknow comparing Modi to Lord Ram after the surgical strikes and decrying the naked attempt to politicise the Army action for the BJPs petty electoral benefit. Just yesterday Modi had warned his party leaders not to resort to chest-thumping after the successful strikes but the first to violate that directive was his own Defence Minister today at a rally in Agra.

All these bring out the level of politicisation among parties in India and persisting India-Pakistan tensions after the surgical strikes. And the Kashmir Valley continues to bleed while there is no sign of public alienation from the authorities ending soon.

October 6 S.C.
Thiruvananthapuram: A non-bailable case has been filed against three people associated with the Peace International School in Kochi for teaching non-secular, objectionable content as part of its curriculum. The case was filed on the basis of a report by the Ernakulam District Education Officer.

The school is said to be run by a trust headed by some influential businessmen and has been under scrutiny by intelligence agencies for a while. Some of the Islamic State supporters arrested from the state have been found to have links to this school.

It is also suspected that the school administration has links with the Mumbai-based controversial Muslim preacher Zakir Naik.
Srinagar: As per the reports, Pakistani troops have violated ceasefire over 25 times in the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir since the Indian army conducted the surgical strike in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir on September 29.

The army officers said that the major ceasefire violations were on 3,4 and 5 October along the Line of Control. On October 5, three Indian jawans were injured in a ceasefire violation in Poonch. Nine of the Pakistani soldiers were also injured in a retaliation by the Indian army

But the Pakistani troops continued heavy firing and motor shelling in Jammu and Poonch. Last year, 16 civilians were killed and 71 others injured in 405 incidents of cross border firing by Pakistan.
Pentagon Begins Low-Intensity Stealth War in Syria

Last Wednesday, at a Deputies Committee meeting at the White House, officials from the State Department, the CIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed limited military strikes against the (Assad) regime  One proposed way to get around the White Houses long-standing objection to striking the Assad regime without a U.N. Security Council resolution would be to carry out the strikes covertly and without public acknowledgment.  Washington Post

Call it stealth warfare, call it poking the bear, call it whatever youd like. The fact is, the Syrian war has entered a new and more dangerous phase increasing the chances of a catastrophic confrontation between the US and Russia.

This new chapter of the conflict is the brainchild of Pentagon warlord, Ash Carter, whose attack on a Syrian outpost at Deir Ezzor killed 62 Syrian regulars putting a swift end to the fragile ceasefire agreement. Carter and his generals opposed the Kerry-Lavrov ceasefire deal because it would have required military and intelligence cooperation with the Russians. In other words, the US would have had to get the greenlight from Moscow for its bombing targets which would have undermined its ability to assist its jihadist fighters on the ground. That was a real deal-breaker for the Pentagon. But bombing Deir Ezzor fixed all that. It got the Pentagon out of the jam it was in, it torpedoed the ceasefire, and it allowed Carter to launch his own private shooting match without presidential authorization. Mission accomplished.

So what sort of escalation does Carter have in mind, after all, most analysts assume that a direct confrontation between the United States and Russia will lead to a nuclear war. Is he really willing to take that risk?

Heck no, but not everyone agrees that more violence will lead to a nuclear exchange. Carter, for example, seems to think that he can raise the stakes considerably without any real danger, which is why he intends to conduct a low-intensity, stealth war on mainly Syrian assets that will force Putin to increase Russias military commitment. The larger Russias military commitment, the greater probability of a quagmire, which is the primary objective of Plan C, akaPlan Carter. Take a look at this clip from an article in Tuesdays Washington Post which helps to explain whats going on:

U.S. military strikes against the Assad regime will be back on the table Wednesday at the White House, when top national security officials in the Obama administration are set to discuss options for the way forward in Syria Inside the national security agencies, meetings have been going on for weeks to consider new options to recommend to the president to address the ongoing crisis in Aleppo,A meeting of the National Security Council, which could include the president, could come as early as this weekend. Last Wednesday, at a Deputies Committee meeting at the White House, officials from the State Department, the CIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed limited military strikes against the regime The options under consideration include bombing Syrian air force runways using cruise missiles and other long-range weapons fired from coalition planes and ships One proposed way to get around the White Houses long-standing objection to striking the Assad regime without a U.N. Security Council resolution would be to carry out the strikes covertly and without public acknowledgment, the official said. (Obama administration considering strikes on Assad, again, Washington Post)

Dont you think the Washington Post should have mentioned that Carters sordid-little enterprise is already underway?

Consider the bombing of Deir Ezzor, for example. Doesnt that meet the Posts standard of U.S. military strikes against the Assad regime?

Sure, it does.

And what about the two Syrian bridges US warplanes took out over the Euphrates last week? (making it more difficult to attack ISIS strongholds in the eastern quadrant of the country) Dont they count?

Of course, they do.

And lets not forget the fact that Carters jihadist buddies on the ground launched a mortar attack on the Russian embassy in Damascus on Tuesday. Thats another part of this low-intensity war thats already underway. So all this rubbish about Obama mulling over these new options for military strikes is complete hogwash. Plan Carter is already in full swing, the train already left the station. The only thing missing is presidential authorization which probably isnt necessary since Il Duce Carter decided that it was his turn to run the country.

Now check out this clip from a Memo to the President from a group of ex-U.S. intelligence agents who compelled to warn Obama about (among other things) asserting White House civilian control over the Pentagon. Heres an excerpt:

In public remarks bordering on the insubordinate, senior Pentagon officials showed unusually open skepticism regarding key aspects of the Kerry-Lavrov deal. We can assume that what Lavrov told his boss in private is close to his uncharacteristically blunt words on Russian NTV on Sept. 26: My good friend John Kerry  is under fierce criticism from the US military machine. Despite the fact that, as always, [they] made assurances that the US Commander in Chief, President Barack Obama, supported him in his contacts with Russia apparently the military does not really listen to the Commander in Chief. Lavrovs words are not mere rhetoric  Policy differences between the White House and the Pentagon are rarely as openly expressed as they are now over policy on Syria.

(Obama Warned to Defuse Tensions with Russia, Consortium News)

How shocking is that? When was the last time you read a memo from retired Intel agents warning the president that the Pentagon was usurping his Constitutional authority? That sounds pretty serious, dont you think?

Bottom line: The Pentagon is basically prosecuting their own little war in Syria and then chatting up the policy with Obama when they damn-well feel like it. Heres more from the Washington Post:

The CIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff  expressed support for such kinetic options, the official said  That marked an increase of support for striking Assad compared with the last time such options were considered. (Washington Post)

Of course they want to bomb Assad. Theyre losing! Everyone wants to bomb someone when theyre losing. Its human nature. But that doesnt mean its a good idea. Its a very bad idea. Just like supporting Sunni extremists is a bad idea. Just like giving shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles (MANPADS) to fanatical crackpots is a bad idea. How crazy is that? And how long before one of these religious nutcases use their new toys to take down an Israeli or American jetliner?

Not very long, Id wager. The idea of doubling-down on homicidal maniacs (By providing them with more lethal weapons) is really one of the dumbest ideas of all time, and yet, the Pentagon and CIA seem to think that its tip-top military strategy. Heres one last blurb from the WA Post article:

Kerrys deputy, Antony Blinken, testified last week that the U.S. leverage in Russia comes from the notion that Russia will eventually become weary of the cost of its military intervention in Syria. The leverage is the consequences for Russia of being stuck in a quagmire that is going to have a number of profoundly negative effects, Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. (Washington Post)

See? There it is in black and white. Quagmire. The new Plan C strategy is designed to create a quagmire for Putin by gradually ratcheting up the violence forcing him to prolong his stay and deepen his commitment. Its a clever trap and it could work, too. The only hitch is that Putin and his allies appear to be making steady headway on the battlefield. Thats going to make a lot harder for Syrias enemies to continue the provocations and incitements without triggering massive retaliation.

But maybe Carter hasnt thought about that yet.

NOTE: Russia issues warning to Pentagon; Hostile aircraft that threatens Syrian troops will be shot down

This is from a Thursday report on Sputnik International:

The Russian Minister of Defense said that Russian S-300, S-400 air defense systems deployed in Syrias Hmeymim and Tartus have combat ranges that may surprise any unidentified airborne targets. Operators of Russian air defense systems wont have time to identify the origin of airstrikes, and the response will be immediate. Any illusions about invisible jets will inevitably be crushed by disappointing reality. No More Deir ez-Zors I point out to all the hotheads that following the September 17 coalition airstrike on the Syrian Army in Deir ez-Zor we took all necessary measures to exclude any similar accidents happening to Russian forces in Syria, Konashenkov said. (Sputnik)

By Mike Whitney

Email: fergiewhitney@msn.com

Mike Whitney lives in Washington state. He is a contributor to Hopeless: Barack Obama and the Politics of Illusion (AK Press). Hopeless is also available in a Kindle edition. He can be reached at fergiewhitney@msn.com.

 2016 Copyright Mike Whitney - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

Mike Whitney Archive

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MARTINSVILLE-A good library is at the heart of all church programs, say the librarians at First Baptist Church of Martinsville.

The Sue Martin McCabe Library at First Baptist will host the Virginia Church Library Associations Fall Conference Friday and Saturday. That conference is to help other churches either start or enhance their own libraries, the McCabe librarians said.

A church librarys purpose is to support all of the organizations there are in the church, said Dottie Lewis, the head librarian. Those organizations include mens and womens groups, day care, craft-related ministries, the choir and Sunday school.

A library really undergirds everything a church does, from the cradle to the grave, said Lewis. The library staff agreed, piping up with titles of books ranging from how to name a baby to dealing with death. A library supports any phase of your life.

The other library staff members are Roslyn Wingett, Linda Gale, Debby Simpson, Linda Reed, Martha Perdue and Linda Dorr.

The library also has general books of interest, both fiction and non-fiction. Each of us is a retired school person, Perdue said, and were all readers of books.

The Sue McCabe library has 4,000 volumes. It gets 200 to 300 new books each year, most of them childrens books.

The library is staffed every Sunday, but its open all the time. Church members may check out books on their own. The church operates a day care center in its building, and the children visit the library once a week to check out books. Before and after each service on Sunday, the library staff has a rolling bookshelf with books by the sanctuary.

Getting a book on the shelf

Most people dont appreciate what it takes to get a book on a shelf, Lewis said. It generally starts with reading reviews of many books, and narrowing down the possibilities to the book that will be ordered.

Then the book must be catalogued. Five cards are created, so the book can be found through a variety of searches. That information used to be on typed cards; now, it is in a database.

The book must be labeled and placed in a category. It can be tricky to decide where a nonfiction book is best kept, because nonfiction books can cover several topics, the librarians said. The hardest to categorize are those based on religion or politics, because each book could cover many themes.

To guide them, the librarians use the Dewey Decimal System, which is better for small libraries, Lewis said. Many larger libraries, on the other hand, follow the system developed by the Library of Congress.

The full outline of the Dewey Decimal System comes in a large four-volume set, Lewis said. The McCabe library uses the abridged version, which is one big book.

The Dewey Decimal System organizes books numerically by subject. Shakespeare has his own number, Lewis said. Every book of the Bible has its own number. For example, the Old Testament is 221. Genesis is 222.11, Exodus is 222.12 and so on.

Subjects used to be abbreviated, she said, but now that the writing is more efficient with computers, they are written out. Old Testament used to be referred to as O.T. before computerization was commonplace.

A wide range of books

The biggest section in the McCabe library is the 200 section, Religion, Lewis said. We try to represent it all, so we can get an unbiased view.

The library has books on the Baptist and a wide range of other religions.

We tend not to be into censorship and book-burning, Simpson said. Some of the churches weve been to have been told what they can and cant have.

It also has books on every book in the Bible, to support the Sunday schools mission.

Its helpful, if you teach Sunday school, to have books on all the different books of the Bible, said Wingett. The information goes beyond whats available in standard Sunday school materials, to give teachers better understanding.

There is a wide range of other reference books as well. They make sure to stock up on knitting and crochet books because the church has a strong knitting ministry. We have a lot of cookbooks. Baptists love to eat, Lewis chuckled.

We dont buy a lot of fiction books, Wingett said, but they make sure to carry popular ones. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak was in such demand the library stocked three copies of it.

Some of the most popular books in the fiction section are by Jan Karon, David McCullough, Lynne Hinton, Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Sparks, J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter) and Ann B. Ross (the Miss Julia series).

Frederick Buechner, Corrie ten Boom, Henri J.M. Nouwen and C.S. Lewis are among the favorite religious writers at the church, the women added.

Many churches have large CD and DVD collections, but McCabe doesnt, Lewis said. However, we have a few videos, and we have a few machines to play them, Lewis said.

The librarys history

First Baptists library was started by Sue Martin McCabe, the wife of pastor Dr. James P. McCabe, in the 1930s. He arrived in 1907 as the churchs third pastor. The church at that time was located at what is now the Bridge Street parking lot.

The Rev. McCabe had a large collection of books that were stored on shelves that ran all the way to the ceiling in his office next to the sanctuary. His wife let people borrow them.

When the church decided to start a library, those books were used for it.

In the 1940s, the churchs religious education director, Lola T. Kessler, was in charge of the library, which was in the church basement. Every summer, she went to Ridgecrest, a Baptist convention in North Carolina, to classes on running a library.

A revival coming

Church libraries have suffered over the past several years, the women said. When a church is looking at cutbacks, the library is the first to go, Simpson said.

However, said Lewis, I think theres going to be a revival in libraries.

Were running a campaign, as subtly as we can, on how important libraries are, Lewis said. People think they can find everything online. We disagree with that.

The women agree a computer screen cant compare to the physical experience of books. Most of the people I talk to like to read a real book, Lewis said. I always like to hold a book.

The children like the books, Gale said.

The children love the books! Perdue added.
MARTINSVILLE  Most candidates for Martinsville city council in the Nov. 8 election said during a forum Thursday night that they would not support the city reverting to a town.

Under reversion, Martinsville, an independent city, legally would become a town in surrounding Henry County. In turn, the county would begin providing certain government services  such as constitutional offices and, maybe, schools  to Martinsville, which would reduce the latters expenses.

City revenues are stagnant while costs for providing services are increasing, officials have said. The city has studied reversion several times but never pursued it.

State lawmakers would have to approve a reversion.

Although several independent cities exist elsewhere in the nation, Virginia is the only state in which all places incorporated as cities are independent of surrounding or nearby counties and, thus, responsible for supplying all local government services to their residents. In other states, cities, like towns, are part of counties.

Reversion would be a big decision, said Efigenia Cuenca Mota, one of six candidates running for council. She said that she personally does not favor it, but she thinks the issue ought to be voted on by city residents.

Candidate Chad Martin said that among people in both Martinsville and Henry County with whom he has discussed the issue, most do not favor it.

Asked his personal opinion, he said its not how I feel, its how the citizens feel and, if elected, he will support what they want.

Candidate Joe Martin said that while he does not favor reversion, he is not afraid of it. However, he would like to see more information about how reversion would affect the community, he said.

There are other ways to fix the budget problem, Joe Martin said, such as by combining duplicate services with the county and initiating conversations with county officials about other shared interests.

Based on her experiences as a former Martinsville mayor and council member, candidate Kathy Lawson said the county does not want to talk with the city about reversion.

The county has said, though, that it does not want to take over the Martinsville schools, she said.

Its going to cost the city a lot of money to pursue reversion, Lawson continued, adding that she does not favor it.

Lawson and candidate Ural Harris, another reversion opponent, said they favor pursuing the city and county combining services.

Like city councils, town councils can make bad spending decisions, said Harris, who frequently has spoken from the floor during council meetings and criticized officials actions.

Sharon Brooks Hodge, the lone incumbent seeking re-election, recalled voting against reversion in the past due to her concerns about how the schools would fare and whether the influence of African-American votes would be diluted.

Martinsville and Henry County ultimately need to come together as one municipality, Hodge said.

At the least, the city should strive to convince the state to repeal its ban on cities being able to annex land in adjacent counties, she said. Annexation would enable the city to acquire more private land that it could tax to generate additional revenue.

The candidate forum was sponsored by the Martinsville-Henry County Voters League and held at Mount Sinai Church on Peters Street.

Filling available jobs

According to local officials and company executives, more than 1,000 jobs are available in Martinsville-Henry County, but companies are having trouble finding people qualified for the positions.

The community has many jobs for which students do not need to go to college for four years to receive needed training and in which you can earn more than a living wage, Chad Martin said.

Mount Sinai Pastor J.C. Richardson Jr., the forums moderator, asked the candidates how that situation can be reversed.

The question is, Are young people being prepared for jobs that are open and available? Hodge said.

Our workforce is uneducated to do the jobs that are available, Lawson said.

Our educational system must speak to the needs of our young people, Chad Martin added.

Although high-tech industries have moved to the area in recent years, not everyone can have a high-tech job, Harris said. Not everybody wants one.

The candidates generally agreed that more vocational training is needed.

Hodge mentioned that the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce is looking to start a skilled trades incubator at the West Piedmont Business Development Center uptown.

Asked if they would be willing to spearhead discussion about starting a vocational/technical education center in Martinsville, perhaps in a joint venture with Henry County, the candidates indicated they would.

But officials must make sure that it is economically feasible first, Joe Martin emphasized.

Would there be a source of money to fund it, Hodge said, adding that she would be hesitant to launch a new program that would involve spending taxpayers money.

Lawson suggested looking at establishing a dual-enrollment program  one in which high school students earn college credits for courses they take  for students in vocational programs. That should help students who do not plan to go to college get meaningful jobs after they graduate from high school, she said.

Some employers have reported hardships in filling job vacancies because of applicants testing positive for using illegal drugs. Cuenca Mota and Joe Martin said they would support establishing more mental health services to help people stop abusing drugs and alcohol.

Also, more ways should be developed to make the public aware of job vacancies, both Martins said, indicating they think newspaper classified ads and Internet job listings are not enough.

Economic cooperation

Richardson asked the candidates what roles they think the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC), the chamber and a community development corporation focused on rejuvenating the citys largely minority west side should have in efforts to improve the local economy.

Some candidates responses went off onto different tangents, including criticism of the EDC.

Chad Martin said the chamber and EDC have a lot of positive efforts in place to help small businesses and people wanting to start them, including women and minorities.

However, Harris said the council made the right decision when last year it reduced its annual allocation to the EDC and redirected the money to the Chambers Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG), which now is helping the city with small business development.

It didnt seem like the EDC was interested in bringing anything here, he said.

The EDC is not interested in  our little small businesses. Theyre going after the big guys (industry), Lawson said. Yet the community needs industry, she said.

Hodge basically took credit for the EDC reduction.

I was adamant that its allocation be cut, she said, and I stood my ground.

More council members need to be willing to stand their ground on issues, she added.

Lawson recalled that when she was on the council, she made a motion to reduce the EDCs funds, but it was supported by only one other council member, so it failed.

It took the city council six years to realize that it wasnt getting its moneys worth from the EDC, she said.

We need to keep investing in our small businesses, Joe Martin said.

And, we need to advertise what we have, he said. There is so much to offer uptown and in the area, and people just dont know it.

Harris suggested that a merchants association be established to find ways to help existing businesses and recruit new ones.

We have businesses, but we dont have the customers, said Cuenca Mota, who owns a small business uptown. She suggested that merchants consider changing their merchandise or bring in more new items to sell.

Cuenca Mota also said efforts should be made to work with owners of empty buildings to attract businesses to the structures.

Earlier this year, C-PEG gave six uptown businesses a total of more than $50,000 to help them get established or expand through Startup Martinsville, Virginia, a boot camp-style program for entrepreneurs.

Joe Martins business, Whats Your Sign?, received money to help it expand. He said he thinks the program should be moved around to different sections of Martinsville, including the west side, in the future.

Chamber officials have said next years program will be targeted citywide.

Money matters

Money matters, including funding for public assistance programs, were discussed during the forum.

We dont have a choice but to help fund programs such as social services because the city is mandated by the state to do so, Hodge mentioned.

Harris said he thinks funding for some public assistance programs  he did not say which ones  should increase.

But amid city financial constraints, he said, I dont see any way we can without increasing taxes. He indicated that would hurt residents.

Lawson said the city has spending discretion on only about one-third of the funding it gets from the state. The rest is earmarked for specific programs, she said.

For many local programs that are state-funded, the city really is just the fiscal agent that holds the money and then distributes it to the programs, Chad Martin said.

Joey Martin said there is waste, I believe, in all (city) departments that should be eliminated. He said that in efforts to eliminate it, departments that provide nonessential services need to be looked at the toughest.

He did not elaborate on what services he thinks are not essential.

Cuenca Mota did not participate in the discussion. She indicated that she did not yet know enough about specific city financial matters to provide relevant insight.
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said that the parliament reflects the maturity of political life of the country

Egypt marked on Sunday 150 years since the election of its first parliament in a celebration attended by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi along with international parliamentary dignitaries.

Egypt's first parliament was elected in 1866, the first in the Arab world and Africa, with 76 representatives, compared to the 596 MPs in the current chamber.

During his speech at the celebration gathering in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, El-Sisi said that the parliament mirrors the landscape of Egypt's political parties in a manner that speaks of "development and maturity of the country's political experience."

He said last year's legislative election marked a new phase of parliamentary life in Egypt by "electing the most pluralist chamber in the country's history," with over 40% youth and 90 female MPs.

The two-day celebration that kicked off today was attended by 19 parliament speakers as well as 15 parliamentary delegations from around the globe, state news agency MENA said.

Attendees included Martin Chungong, the secretary-general of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Parliament's speaker Ali Abdel-Al said during his speech that the event celebrates "Egypt reliving its past and the struggle of its people on the path of democracy."

Abdel-Al added that Egypt's 2014 constitution entrenches "rules to establish a modern democratic state based on pluralism, rejection of sectarianism and one that does not undermine rights or infringe on individuals' rights and defends the independence of judiciary."

He called on MPs to reconsider the "definition of terrorism in all its forms and identify legal means to root it out."

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COLLINSVILLE  A judge denied bail for a 19-year-old charged with four counts of forcible sodomy involving a child. At a bond hearing Thursday in Henry County Circuit Court, Judge Martin F. Clark Jr. denied bond for Justin Lee Cannaday of Ridgeway.

According to a criminal complaint and other court records, Cannaday allegedly committed a total of four acts of sodomy involving a 12-year-old boy on May 7 and May 8, 2016. Cannaday was 18 years old at the time. The offenses allegedly happened at a home in the 100 block of Horsepasture Price Road, according to the criminal complaint.

HENRY COUNTY GENERAL DISTRICT COURT

Also this week, a judge in Henry County General District Court set a $7,500 secured bond for a woman who allegedly broke into a local restaurant while she was out on bond for allegedly stealing a motor vehicle.

In August, Emily Ann Church, 21, of Grand Lake Drive, Ridgeway, was charged with grand larceny of a motor vehicle, a felony, and her bail was set at $2,500 secured, which a bail bondsman put up.

A criminal complaint and other court records allege the following in that case:

On July 29 Carl Lawson of Stuart, gave Church permission to drive his 1997 Honda vehicle to Kmart and back to the Travel Inn in Ridgeway.

Church allegedly did not return the vehicle. Lawson contacted Church and told her he wanted the vehicle returned. Church stated she would bring it back on July 30. The vehicle still had not been returned sometime later, and Lawson could not get in contact with Church. The Honda was valued at $1,500.

Another criminal complaint and other court records allege the following:

On Sept. 23, a man and woman broke into China Buffet, 1090 Memorial Boulevard. Footage from surveillance cameras showed a male and female inside the restaurant after it had closed. The footage also showed both people taking items out of the restaurant, items that were China Buffets property.

After further investigation, the female allegedly was identified as Emily Ann Church by a tattoo on her right foot.

On Sept. 27, Church allegedly admitted being involved in the burglary at China Buffet, according to the criminal complaint.

Two TVs, one gumball machine, jewelry and $200 cash  together valued at $1,900  were stolen from the restaurant. Two surveillance cameras were damaged in the process.

Church was charged with breaking and entering with intent to commit larceny; grand larceny; and destruction of property in connection with the break-in at China Buffet.

Barry Wood J r., 33, of 14477 A.L. Philpott Highway, Martinsville, was charged with the same three offenses as Church in connection with the break-in at China Buffet.

Judge Marcus Brinks set a number of conditions for Churchs $7,500 secured bond, including that she not have contact with Wood and another person, not leave Virginia, not possess a firearm or other dangerous weapon, not use alcohol or illegal drugs, that she maintain or seek employment, that she live with her mother, and that she abide by a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Wood is scheduled to have a bond hearing in Henry County General District Court on Oct. 13 at 3 p.m., according to online court records.
Related Ethiopia declares state of emergency

Egypts foreign ministry confirmed on Sunday media reports that Egypt's ambassador to Addis Ababa met with Ethiopia's minister of foreign affairs on Wednesday to answer questions related to the authenticity of a video reportedly showing unidentified Egyptians hailing the separatist Oromo Liberation Front during a recent public gathering of alleged Oromo supporters in Cairo.

"Egypt does not interfere in any countrys domestic affairs," Egypts ambassador to Ethiopia Abu Bakr Hefny told the East African country's state minister for foreign affairs Taye Atske-Selassie, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the Egyptian ministry of foreign affairs.

Hefny said that the video "does not reflect the reality at all," describing it as an attempt by third parties to sow discord between Egypt and Ethiopia, especially considering that bilateral relations have been improving in recent months, the statement read.

Ethiopia declared a state of emergency on Sunday following a week of violent anti-government protests by Oromo supporters, which led to deaths and property damage across the country.

Egypts foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid added today that the discussions in the Wednesday meeting reflected a mutual understanding of the importance of securing the positive momentum in bilateral relations while not giving a chance for any subversion between the two countries.

The meeting in Addis Ababa last week came hours after the Turkish news agency Anadolu reported that Egypt was supporting the Oromo Liberation Front, which has been leading protests against the Addis Ababa government.

Shortly after the Turkish agency's report was published on Wednesday, Egypt denied in an official statement that it was backing the opposition group, denouncing "attempts by some malicious parties to sow discord between Egypt and Ethiopia.

Egypt and Ethiopia had witnessed tensions in recent years over the construction of Ethiopias Grand Renaissance Dam mega project, with Cairo expressing fears that the dam would negatively affect its Nile water share. Addis Ababa has maintained that the dam project, which Ethiopia needs to generate electricity, would not harm downstream countries.

However, relations improved after Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan signed in September the final contracts for the long-awaited technical studies on the potential impact of the dam on downstream countries.

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SPRINGFIELD "Amazing" Armenian food including baked goods and fun with family and friends are the highlights of an upcoming Armenian Bazaar.

St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church will sponsor an Armenian Bazaar on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 135 Goodwin St., Indian Orchard.

Armenian dinners, baked goods, pickled vegetables, Armenian cookbooks, activities for children and Armenian music are part of the event.

IF YOU GO

Event:

St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church Armenian Bazaar

When:

Saturday, Oct. 15, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where:

135 Goodwin St., Indian Orchard

Admission:

Free

To order take out:

Call 543-4763

Leo Vartanian, a church member, Board of Trustees member and choir director, helped to make nearly 90 quarts of tourshi, a pickled mixture of cauliflower, carrots, celery and green peppers with a brine of garlic and hot pepper flakes. "It's got a little bit of zing," he said.

Tourshi is popular at the bazaar; it makes a good hors d'oeuvre or can be eaten with stew.

Homemade Armenian food and pastries will include shish kebab and chicken kebab dinners. Take out will be available. Call ahead: 543-4763.

The food is "amazing," said Claudia Muradian-Brubach, a Board of Trustees member

and parishioner. "The event is timed so that our parishioners and friends can stock up on Armenian baked goods and other items in time for the holiday season."

"We live in a multi-cultural area," Vartanian said. "People are exhibiting their culture, and we do the same. We like to perpetuate that culture."

The families of many local Armenians came to the area following what has been called the Armenian Genocide. In 1915, leaders of the Turkish government activated a plan to expel and massacre Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire. By the early 1920s, when the massacres and deportations ended, some 1.5 million of Turkey's Armenians had been killed; others were forced to leave the country.

Those who came to the Springfield area banded together, Vartanian said. "They brought with them the recipes and culture they grew up with and passed on to their families. All this culture is good to perpetuate because it is part of our roots."

Born in the United States, he is Armenian on both his mother's and father's side. "We are proud of our heritage and like to tell it to the public in different ways, and one is this bazaar," he said.

Muradian-Brubach grew up in the church and spent each bazaar with her parents and siblings eating and visiting with their Armenian friends. Now she enjoys spending the day with her children there.

"I spend a lot of time working at the bazaar like many of our other church members, but it is very gratifying knowing we can hold such an enjoyable event for the Armenian community and the community around us and be able to raise funds to continue promoting programs at the church," Muradian-Brubach said. "This event allows the community to experience our Armenian culture that has been preserved for decades by picnics and bazaars at our church."

This is one of the church's two annual fundraising events. The other event is the annual Father's Day picnic in June.

Proceeds from the bazaar are used for programming, other events, maintenance of the church and other needs.

Admission and parking for the bazaar are free.
IMG_0206.JPG

Memorial Hall in Shelburne Falls, MA moments before the live Metropolitan Opera broadcast of Wagner's "Tristan and Isolde" on Saturday.

(Photo by Ken Ross)

SHELBURNE FALLS - It's Saturday morning, just before noon in the small, picturesque village of Shelburne Falls.

I'm 185 miles from 30 Lincoln Center Plaza in New York City and I'm about to watch Wagner's epic, 5-hour-long opera, "Tristan and Isolde," live in Shelburne Falls Memorial Hall, a charming, old theater with a balcony and wooden seats.

This wouldn't have been possible 10 years ago. Back then, if you wanted to see the Metropolitan Opera live, you needed to make the journey down to the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

All that changed on December 30, 2006. That's when this legendary opera house began showing operas live in movie theaters in North America. Now, you can watch the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD in thousands of theaters around the world.

I will admit I was skeptical at first. As someone who was dragged to the Met as a kid by opera-mad parents, then willingly started going to operas on my own in the early 90s, I thought there was no way a live broadcast in a theater could ever compare to actually going to an opera and hearing the performers in person.

The first few times I went to a movie theater to a see Met broadcast in 2007 or 2008, I remember thinking, it's just not the same as seeing an opera live in New York. But over time, I started to appreciate the live movie theater broadcasts. That's because I stopped comparing the movie theater presentations and live performances. They're different. And they each have their own merits.

Nothing will ever compare to hearing an opera live in person, without speakers or any sound amplification of any kind.

The Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls, MA on Saturday.

But I have really grown to enjoy the Live in HD broadcasts for different reasons. In particular, I actually look forward to the intermissions. That's when you get to hear live interviews with the performers who just walked off stage a few seconds ago. You also get to watch the stage crew taking apart and putting back together the sets in between acts.

And while I'm not a sound engineer, I think the sound quality of the Live in HD broadcasts has improved dramatically in recent years.

Plus there's no deny the cost and convenience of seeing an opera live in a theater versus driving or taking the train down the New York to see an opera. Although I would like to point out that the actual cost of the tickets is fairly comparable. We paid $22 each to see the Live in HD broadcast in Shelburne Falls on Saturday. As for tickets for a live performance at the Met, they start at $25. You can also purchase same day, rush tickets online for $25 for some of the best seats in the house.

I also especially enjoy seeing the Metropolitan Opera performances at Memorial Hall in Shelburne Falls. The theater's charming. And instead of being stuck inside a mall, you can actually go outside and be on a bustling street in a beautiful, small town.

This year's Live in HD series got off to a fantastic start on Saturday with "Tristan and Isolde." I have seen this opera live several times, including in 2008 at the Met in a spine-tingling performance featuring Deborah Voigt as the doomed Isolde.

Voigt served as the host of Saturday's live broadcast, which featured soprano Nina Stemme as Isolde and Australian tenor Stuart Skelton as Tristan. I was also especially interested to hear what the Metropolitan Opera orchestra would sound like under the direction of conductor Simon Rattle, the principal conductor of the phenomenal Berlin Philharmonic, which will perform Nov. 11 in Boston at Symphony Hall.

Rattle and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra did not disappoint on Saturday. Then again, they were working with one of the most beautiful pieces of music. The first 10 minutes of the overture alone to "Tristan and Isolde" is a masterpiece. Wagner had a magical ability to write some of the most haunting, delicate music, as well as some of the most bombastic barrages of explosive sound.

The overture to "Lohengrin" and several of Wagner's Ring Cycle operas contain such stunning contrasts. But the sheer, dramatic beauty of the overture to "Tristan and Isolde" (as well as the opening music in Act 3) never fails to make the hair on the back of my neck stand up, especially when the violins swell to a gorgeous climax a few minutes into the opera.

Shelburne Falls Bowling Alley in Shelburne Falls, MA.

On Saturday, Rattle and Met orchestra squeezed every single drop of emotion out of every single note. I also loved the new staging of the opera by Mariusz Trelinski. Unlike the bare-bones, minimalist, glitch-prone nightmare known as "the machine" created for the Met's 2012 Ring Cycle (which I saw in person), Trelinski's use of modern technology actually enhances the performance, rather than taking away from it.

As the overture to "Tristan and Isolde" plays, we see a large image of a circular sonar device projected onto the curtain. This image is soon filled with a small battleship braving rough seas and fleeting images of men in uniform and more vague, mysterious images.

It's the perfect opening for this mysterious opera which begins on a ship carrying the star-crossed lovers from Ireland to Cornwall. Without even knowing the plot, you can tell from the music that this opera will not end well.

But while the plot is tragic, it's the thrilling music that has kept audiences coming back year after year for more than 150 years.

Stemme sounded spectacular Saturday as Isolde, expressing all the fury and passion that makes her character so compelling. And when Stemme sang the final, fantastic aria in Act 3 known as the Liebestod, you could hear a pin drop in the theater in Shelburne Falls.

Skelton was also superb as Tristan, a character driven mad with passion for Isolde. In fact, the entire cast was excellent. Skelton completely inhabited the role and I'd love see him in other, iconic Wagner roles.

And in between acts, my wife and I watched some of the interviews (I especially enjoyed hearing Rattle and Skelton talk about this challenging opera), then raced around the corner through an alley to have a quick drink at the charming, candle-pin Shelburne Falls Bowling Alley.

It's not same as having a glass of wine in a balcony at the Metropolitan Opera. It's different. And they're both great ways to experience an amazing, live performance at one of the world's greatest opera houses.

The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD can be seen in thousands of theaters around the world. In Western Massachusetts, you can see the Met Opera Live at the following movie theaters:

West Springfield 15 in West Springfield, MA

Hampshire Mall 15 in Hadley, MA

Memorial Hall in Shelburne Falls, MA

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, MA

The remaining Metropolitan Opera Live in HD performances for 2016-2017:

Sat., Oct. 22 (12:55 p.m.) - Mozart's "Don Giovanni"

Sat., Dec. 10 (12:55 p.m.) - Saariaho's "L'Amour de Loin"

Sat., Jan. 7 (12:55 p.m.) - Verdi's "Nabucco"

Sat., Jan. 21 (12:55 p.m.) - Gounod's "Romeo and Juliette"

Sat., Feb. 25 (12:55 p.m.) - Dvorak's "Rusalka"

Sat., March 11 (12:55 p.m.) - Verdi's "La Traviata"

Sat., March 25 (12:55 p.m.) - Mozart's "Idomeneo"

Sat., April 22 (12:55 p.m.) - Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin"

Sat., May 13 (12:30 p.m.) - Strauss' "Der Rosenkavalier"
ae armory 1.jpg

A woman ordnance worker at the Springfield Armory during World War II.

(The Republican file photo)

SPRINGFIELD -WOW.

That's short for Women Ordnance Workers.

They will be the focus of activities Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site.

Filling the shoes of men who left for wartime military service through the 20th Century, thousands of women hammered steel and shaped wood into Springfield Armory's famous rifles.

Free programs throughout the afternoon are scheduled:

11:30 a.m.: "Rosie" dance by Albany Berkshire Ballet

Noon: "Rosie the Riveter" play by and starring Judith Black

1 p.m.: "Rosie" dance by

2 p.m.: "Home Front" play about Springfield Armory WOWs written and performed by Judith Black.

"Rosie the Riveter" is a cultural icon, representing the American women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II, many of whom produced munitions and war supplies.

"Rosie the Riveter excerpt from Rockwell Suite," originally choreographed by and featuring members of Albany Berkshire Ballet will be performed on the first floor of the Armory museum. This piece was written for the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. The armory audience will see "Rosie" step out of the famous Rockwell painting to dance. Other dancers will join "Rosie" in this modern/jazz dance. This is the ballet's first visit to the armory.

Women played an important role throughout Springfield Armory's history. They worked in different departments, undertaking such roles as machine operators, inspectors and assemblers.

Shera L. Cohen, vice president of the Springfield Armory Alliance Inc. -- sponsor of the Springfield performances - noted that women made up about 50 percent of the American workforce during World War II. "That was amazing in those days," she said.

"Rosie the Riveter" is a play written by and starring Judith Black in the museum theatre. Black is a renowned, award-winning writer, storyteller, and actress who has performed throughout the world. She performed at the armory in April, portraying Civil War abolitionist and suffragette Lucy Stone, a noted anti-slavery and pro-woman's rights speaker.

Black received "such a great response" to her Lucy Stone performance and "people loved her, so we brought her back," Cohen said.

"'Rosie' creates a folk heroine out a combination of women and the issues they faced as they worked in traditionally male industries during the Second World War," explained Black, of Marblehead. "Sadly these issues: sexism, Holocaust denial and racism are still with us today."

"Home Front" is an hour-long play written specifically about Springfield Armory WOWs. Black will star in the roles of various women of World War II.

These programs are sponsored by Springfield Armory Alliance and paid for through a grant from the Springfield Cultural Council, an agency of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

In World War I, 15 percent of the workers were women. At the height of World War II, more than 5,000 Women Ordnance Workers comprised 42 percent of the armory's workforce.

"It feels as if these stories are coming home," Black said.

The museum site is indoors and wheelchair accessible. There is free parking.

For information, email armoryalliance@gmail.com or call 413-271-3982.
WILLISTON, Vermont A wrong-way driver on Interstate 89 killed five people in several crashes, Vermont State Police said.

Steven D. Bourgoin, 36, is in custody after police said he drove his pickup truck northbound in the southbound lanes on the interstate beginning in Williston between Exits 11 and 12. Bourgoin reportedly smashed into one car, which burst into flames.

A Williston Police officer arrived, raced to the car and pulled a woman from the flaming vehicle. While he was extinguishing the blaze with a fire extinguisher and tending to the woman, Bourgoin allegedly stole the cruiser and fled, police said.

Police said Bourgoin headed south in the proper lanes toward Richmond, Vermont when Richmond police attempted to stop him. He then made a U-turn and headed north in the southbound lanes of the highway.

Police say near mile marker 80, Bourgoin collided with seven more vehicles. Several were killed and others injured in the crashes and at least one car burst into flames. He was ejected from the cruiser he was driving.

Five people were pronounced dead at the scenes of the crashes, but police cannot say how many people were injured. The injured were brought to the University of Vermont Medical Center by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Bourgoin was transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington where he is under treatment. Police have not released information about the extent of Bourgoin's injuries.

Williston is adjacent and east of Burlington.

The major east-west highway in the state was closed for a period of time. The northbound lanes were reopened at about 3 a.m. The southbound lanes, where the majority of crashes occurred, will remain closed as investigators examine the numerous crashes.
BOSTON -- A 9-year-old girl was shot in Roxbury Sunday morning around 1 a.m. on Annunciation Road, according to Fox25 News.

Police were called to the area and found the little girl with a gunshot wound, but the injury is non-life threatening, police told the television station.

Authorities did not say exactly where the shooting occurred.

Police are also investigating a killing in Roxbury after officers were called to the area for a report of a shooting around 11 p.m. Saturday. A man was found a man with a gunshot wound. He was found in the area of 5 Cleaves Court, according to a news release.

The victim was taken to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

Police are investigating both shootings and no arrests had been made as of Sunday morning.
A Giza criminal court ordered on Sunday the conditional release of two well-known 25 January activists under strict probationary provisions after 170 days of detention over charges of inciting April protests against the Egyptian-Saudi Red Sea island deal.

Socialist activist and rights lawyer Haitham Mohamadein and 6 April group member Hamdi Qeshta were arrested in April and accused by prosecution of joining an unlawful group and attempting to overthrow the government.

Mohamadein was among several activists arrested days before the 25 April protests against the Red Sea island agreement.

Qeshta was arrested by police during a Boulaq El-Darkour protest on the planned day of protests.

Prosecutors had extended the detention of both activists on more than one occasion before today's court decision.

The Egyptian governments decision in early April to cede sovereignty over the islands of Tiran and Sanafir in the Gulf of Aqaba to Saudi Arabia sparked widespread public outcry and protests.

Dozens of protesters were arrested and put on trial but most of them have been released after paying hefty fines.

The maritime deal is currently being challenged in Egyptian courts.

Egypts High Administrative Court is expected to issue in October a ruling on the governments appeal against a verdict overruling the controversial deal.

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Once a seemingly forgotten slice of Montanas voting population, candidates running for and elected to Congress are focusing more attention on people from the states seven Indian reservations and the state-recognized Little Shell Tribe, where residents often struggle with alcoholism, poverty, unemployment and crime. In Montana, the Indian population is growing faster than the white population and now makes up about 8 percent of its 1 million residents.

Christopher Doering , Great Falls Tribune

Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/politics/2016/10/06/montana-lawmakers-push-attract-native-american-voters/91462212/
MPs said the alerts issued by a number of Western embassies were 'highly irresponsible'

Egyptian MPs denounced on Sunday security alerts issued by the US embassy in Cairo warning American citizens to avoid large gatherings and crowded spaces in Cairo on Sunday.

The MPs condemned the US embassy's action at a celebration marking the 150th anniversary of parliamentary life in Egypt at the Sinai resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.

MP and businessman Akmal Qortam told Ahram Online that the security alert issued by the US embassy was "highly irresponsible," and that it led other Western embassies in Cairo, including those of the UK, Canada and Australia, to issue similar warnings.

"International and diplomatic protocols dictate that foreign embassies should first coordinate with concerned authorities in their host countries before they issue such warnings," said Qortam.

"What these embassies did was in violation of all kinds of traditions," said Qortam, adding that the "vague warnings issued by these embassies cast doubts on their real intentions towards Egypt."

"These warnings go hand in hand with the negative reports [regularly] issued by Western media against Egypt," said Qortam.

The date mentioned in the security alerts, 9 October, is the fifth anniversary of clashes between security forces and mostly Coptic demonstrators in front of Cairo's Maspero television building, which resulted in the deaths of 24 protesters.

Coptic MP Magdi Malak stressed on Sunday that Egypt has been able to recover from the bloody events of the Maspero clashes.

"The high level of tension in Egypt that followed the 25 January Revolution led to the clashes between Coptic demonstrators and security forces," said Malak, "but now, after five years, we have been able to heal these wounds."

"While the government is doing everything possible to ensure that Egyptian Christians exercise their religious rituals freely, parliament also [recently] issued a new law that makes it much easier for Christians to build churches," said Malak.

Malak agreed that the "security alerts issued by Western embassies only contribute to opening old wounds and spreading a climate of uncertainty about security in Egypt."

Mohamed El-Orabi, the chairman of parliament's foreign relations committee, told reporters that the "successful holding of the 150-year anniversary celebrations on Sunday refutes Western claims about security threats in Egypt."

"The fact that the event was held in Sharm El-Sheikh in particular sends a message that the major Red Sea resort is completely safe and that Western embassies should help deliver this message to their citizens," said El-Orabi.

MP Tarek Radwan, who visited New York last month as a member of an Egyptian parliamentary delegation, pointed out that "when we were [in the US], a number of explosions hit the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan."

"We did not see any foreign embassies in the US issue security alerts before or after these explosions," said Radwan.

Radwan added that although foreign embassies have the right to issue security alerts to ensure the safety of their citizens, "what these embassies did lacked transparency, and the warnings were issued for no clear reason and without coordination with local security officials."

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The Saudi-led coalition fighting rebels in Yemen said Sunday it will investigate an air raid that killed more than 140 people, after Washington announced it was reviewing support for the alliance.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have blamed the Arab coalition for Saturday's attack, one of the deadliest since it launched a military campaign against the Shiite insurgents in March last year.

The attack could further sour US-Saudi ties already strained over the coalition's military intervention which is suspected of causing almost half of the more than 4,000 civilian deaths in Yemen's conflict.

After initially denying any responsibility, the coalition said it was ready to launch a probe into the "regrettable and painful" strike, which the UN said also wounded more than 525 people.

"The coalition will immediately investigate this case along with... experts from the United States who participated in previous investigations," it said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

"The coalition is also willing to provide the investigation team with any data and information related to its military operations today, at the incident's location and the surrounding areas," it said.

The UN said aid workers were "shocked and outraged" by the attack that hit a community hall in Sanaa where mourners had gathered.

The insurgent-controlled news site sabanews.net said coalition planes hit after hundreds had gathered to mourn the death of the father of rebel interior minister Jalal al-Rowaishan and denounced the "massacre".

The Houthis did not say if Rowaishan was present in the building at the time of the attack, nor did they indicate if other senior figures were attending the funeral.

But Sanaa mayor Abdel Qader Hilal was among those killed, according to the rebels' Almasirah television.

Riyadh's key ally Washington warned it had launched an "immediate review" of support to the Arab coalition.

"We are deeply disturbed by reports of today's air strike on a funeral hall in Yemen, which, if confirmed, would continue the troubling series of attacks striking Yemeni civilians," White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

"In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led coalition and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with US principles, values and interests," Price said.

However, the US Fifth Fleet spokesman Lieutenant Ian McConnaughey said mid-August that the reassignment of personnel, around June, occurred because "there was not the same sort of requests coming in for assistance" from the Saudis.

He added that the reassignment of personnel does not affect their ability to support the Saudis and is a more efficient allocation of resources.

The US has sponsored the Saudi-led coalition with arms sales and provided logistical and intelligence support since its launch in March 2015.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said late August in Jeddah that Saudi Arabia has the right for self-defense in the backdrop of missiles being launched by the Iran-backed militias into its territories, Al Arabiya reported.

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Nineteen months into Yemen's war in which civilians have paid the heaviest price, an air strike has killed over 140 people at a funeral ceremony in the capital Sanaa.

The United Nations says the conflict has killed more than 6,600 people -- almost two-thirds of them civilians -- and displaced at least three million since a Saudi-led Arab coalition backing the internationally recognised Yemeni government launched military operations in March 2015.

UN rights office spokesman Rupert Colville said Tuesday that from March 2015 through September 30, 4,014 civilians had died and nearly 7,000 had been injured.

Casualties climbed steeply in August and September, following the collapse of a ceasefire, with the coalition held responsible for six times as many civilian deaths and injuries as the rebel forces, Colville said.

The coalition said it is ready to investigate together with the United States the air strike Saturday on the funeral ceremony in the capital.

President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government is battling Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels and allied forces who have seized control of large parts of Yemen since 2014 and still hold swathes of territory including Sanaa.

The following is a list of alleged human rights violations in the Yemeni conflict and incidents in which civilians have been targeted.

- On August 15, a coalition air strike killed 19 people at a hospital in northern Yemen that is aided by the French charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF). It was the fourth strike on an MSF-backed site in a year, the group says, and raised concern in Washington, which supports the coalition.

The coalition, which says it does not deliberately target civilians, vowed to conduct an internal investigation, as UN chief Ban Ki-moon stressed that attacks on hospitals, medical personnel or civilians were "a serious violation of international humanitarian law".

- On August 4, the coalition acknowledged "shortcomings" in two out of eight cases it had investigated of air strikes on civilian targets. They took place in 2015 and involved a residential complex in Mokha, where 65 people died according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

- On March 15, air strikes on a market killed at least 119 people, including 106 civilians, of which 24 were children, in the northern rebel-held province of Hajja.

- On September 28, 2015, a suspected coalition air strike killed at least 131 civilians at a wedding near the Red Sea city of Mokha. The Saudi-led alliance denied involvement.

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A Palestinian was killed and two Israelis died as a result of their injuries, while at least three Israelis were wounded on Sunday in an alleged shooting attempt in East Jerusalem, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

According to an Israeli police statement as cited by the state-run Palestinian agency, the Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli occupation police when he attempted to shoot officers in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

Since October 2015, Israel's deadly use of force against Palestinian protests in Gaza and the West Bank has killed 230 Palestinians and 34 Israelis.

Many analysts say that Palestinian frustration with the Israeli occupation and illegal settlement building in the West Bank, the complete lack of progress in peace efforts and their own fractured leadership, have helped feed the unrest

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by Jess Nelson , October 9, 2016

SAN FRANCISCO -- Three weeks after announcing its new artificial intelligence service, Salesforce provided more details about Einstein at its annual Dreamforce conference here this week.

Einsteins presence was abundant at Dreamforce, with images of the companys cartoon avatar (based off of the real-life Albert Einstein) littered across the venues Trailhead-themed design.

With the tag line AI for Everyone, Salesforce Einstein consists of an integrated set of AI technologies that deliver data insights, such as lead scoring or product recommendations, to Salesforce customers.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff introduced Einstein during his keynote address this week amidst a round of applause from attendees, stating that Einstein will be integrated into all of Salesforces sales, marketing, commerce and customer service products.

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Shubha Nabar, director of data science at Salesforce, joined Benioff on the stage to explain how Einsteins data process works. Einstein first collects and then processes data from email, calendar, social media and connected devices with machine-learning algorithms and language and image processors. Einstein then processes that data to discover patterns and make predictions about the future.

The large-scale machine-learning algorithms are built to maintain a unique predictive model that understands and anticipates user behavior. Marketing content, such as email promotions or mobile offers, is optimized to most likely generate a sale through predictive personalization.

Marketers are always thinking about four things: audience, channel, timing and content, says Meghann York, director of product marketing at Salesforce. She says Einstein helps marketers become better at promoting their brands by operating more efficiently and increasing conversion rates.

From an email marketing perspective, York describes how email content powered by Einstein populates dynamically when the email is clicked on rather than when it was sent. This way recommendations are more relevant, reflecting the last time the customer engaged with a company.

Your last click is the best predictor of your next click, says York, describing how in-Web recommendations also change in real-time according to what a customer is clicking on and searching for.

In addition, Einsteins predictive sort feature can personalize search and sort results based on a customers preferences and individual behavior.

York says a lot of the marketers she has spoken to say that artificial intelligence frees up their time to do the stuff they enjoy the most, such as strategy and creative.

It can only make their jobs better and more successful, says York, recommending that marketers get on board sooner rather than later to take advantage of the opportunities machine-learning offers.

This is especially important considering that the greatest benefits of machine-learning algorithms can take two to three months to come to fruition, says York, because the machines need to take the time to learn. However, marketers can start right off the bat with geotargeting and personalized recommendations based off of top sellers.
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With data from 233 patients going through treatment for advanced cancers, the researchers showed that the COST (COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity) questionnaire identified patients at financial distress, which was found to be a "clinically relevant patient-centered measure.""As expected, we found a strong association between a patient's use of health care resources and his or her sense of financial toxicity," said the study's lead author Jonas de Souza, a head-and-neck cancer specialist and health services researcher at the University of Chicago Medicine. "This is something we need to look for, to recognize early and make sure it does not become a barrier to care."More than two admissions to the hospital, for example, had a significant impact on a patient's sense of financial toxicity. "This is reasonable," de Souza said.The research team kept the COST questionnaire short and simple. It includes 11 brief statements about costs, resources and concerns. For each question, patients were asked to circle one of five possible responses that help determine their level of concern.Faced with statements such as: "I feel financially stressed," or "My out-of-pocket medical expenses are more than I thought they would be," patients had to choose the answer that best described their situation.The questionnaires revealed several factors that were closely tied to financial toxicity. Employment status was at the top of the list, followed by household income, psychological distress, the number of hospital admissions, and race. African-American individuals tended to have more financial toxicity, on average, than Caucasians.One surprise was the lack of a perceived financial benefit from participation in clinical trials. "Usually the maker of an innovative device or the company that supplies a new drug will pick up the costs related to the investigational drug," de Souza said. "But that did not reduce our patients' sense of financial toxicity. We've added that to our model."The next step is to go back to our patients and understand the factors that drive financial toxicity for each kind of cancer," said de Souza. "Then we need to learn how to intervene. How can we help these patients, perhaps with financial counselors? And how can we decrease the costs of what we do to treat cancer overall and, at the same time, lessen the financial burdens that fall on the patient."It's important to note that the financial distress identified by the COST scale captures a unique set of stressors affecting patients above and beyond the physical and psychological strains of their disease," notes Lauren Hersch Nicholas, a health economist at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and member of the study team. "Being able to quantify this burden is an important step towards giving patients, their families and care team the information necessary to make the best treatment decisions for each patient's situation.""As society increasingly considers the costs incurred by patients with cancer as a side effect of treatment, instruments to measure financial toxicity should be patient centered, scientifically derived, and clinically relevant," the authors wrote. "It is time to start measuring and talking about the costs of care for patients as we would with any other side-effect," De Souza said.Or, as the Irish mathematical physicist Lord Kelvin put it in 1883: "When you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind."Source: Eurekalert
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"Thrombus is a jelly-like mass occluding blood vessels, which is composed of polymerised fibrin strands (fibrin is a protein) held together mostly by non-covalent forces. We reasoned that if we apply local heat to thrombus the component fibrin strands will be separated and will be washed away from the lesion site by the flow of blood," explained Dash, the lead researcher of the study.The researchers deployed mice as a test bed for their reasoning. The study involved scientists Nitesh Singh, Anand Varma, Ashish Verma, Babu N. Maurya and is published in the journal 'Nano Research'.The currently available therapy for busting blood clots is medication with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), streptokinase or urokinase. It is however, fraught with bleeding complications, pointed out Dash."Administration of these drugs is associated with serious life-threatening complications, including severe haemorrhage and thus requires consistent physician supervision and monitoring. Secondly, these medications are not directed at a localised clot and therefore, lead to a generalised effect. This represents another major limitation of traditional thrombolytic therapy," elaborated Dash.But the new method circumvents the limitations. It is specific and enables usage of lower doses of the traditional drug."Our method uses targeted-GNR which specifically binds to thrombi and generates local photothermal heat (that breaks down the non-covalent interactions) upon NIR- laser exposure. In combination with photothermal heat, we administered streptokinase at a dose which is significantly lower than the therapeutic dose. Combining it with streptokinase therapy abolishes the life-threatening side effects associated with streptokinase," highlighted Dash.What intrigued the scientists even more, was the synergism between the two techniques."In mice, the light therapy in combination with a low-dose streptokinase cleared blood clots more efficiently than laser therapy alone. NIR laser has a penetrating power up to 10 cm. Hence, it can effectively access and ablate any intravascular thrombus within this range," said Dash, adding the blood flow in the vessel was slowly restored following the application of the radiation.They contended there is "no major side effect of this procedure in sight"."The heat generated by laser exposure did not harm the blood vessel in mice. Gold nanorods are relatively safe for human use. They have been widely suggested for intravenous administration in order to target cancer cells. Photothermal therapy is a non-invasive mode of treatment," said Dash.This study has been funded by ICMR, DBT and DST. To take it forward, the team intends to target clots in non-human primate model. A patent has already been filed for this study.Source: IANS
Valery Fedorov, CEO of the Russian Public Opinion Research Center ( believed to have close ties to Kremlin ) in an extensive interview with correspondent Viktor Khamraev from Kommersant's weekly political supplement Vlast, provided a post mortem on last month's Russian Duma elections. Fedorov was asked to explain the basic anomaly of the results which gave the ruling United Russia party its greatest success despite Russia's economic crisis and hardships triggered by the plunge of oil prices and the imposition of Western sanctions following the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the continued tension with Ukraine. Fedorov viewed the elections as validating the Russian preference for one boss over a Western style division of power. This one boss system is mitigated by unofficial competition and this state of affairs existed under the tsar, under Stalin and Leonid Brezhnev and continues under Putin.

Excerpts from the interview[1] follow below:



Viktor Fedorov (Source: Kommersant.ru)

The Economic Crisis Actually Helped United Russia

"Since 2015, there has been growing social concern due to the price rises and other crisis-related problems judging by your social inquiries. Against this backdrop, the ruling party [United Russia] scored in the elections the best results in its history. "

A great deal depends on the design of the electoral system. Some systems artificially stimulate political mobility while others constrain it. A 'party list' system i.e. proportional [representation] splinters the political forces. But the majoritarian [system] with single seat districts enlarges them and so on. In other words the institutional design has significance.

"But with us for some reason only one political power grows immensely stronger".

"It all became clear already in 2012, when new election rules were legislated. Those who planned to participate in the 2016 elections should have then started their campaigns They had to look around them, find sponsors, establish relations with the authority, with the mass media, assemble friends. The ones who engaged in this turned out to be mainly United Russia candidates."

"They established relations with the authorities in a timely fashion?"

"Who is the single- seat nominee in an average region? He is an influential political player in a territory that has its own legitimacy, and autonomy both from the regional authority as well is from the party which put him forward. He is protected for five years, he has a Duma platform he has a support infrastructure in a defined domain (for example, in business), he can be regarded as a real candidate for the post of governor. and other positions."

"He becomes that way after victory. But victory smiles upon whoever has administrative resources, judging by the fact that opposition single-seat candidates won only in 'pre-agreed' districts, where the United Russia [party] did not put forth any candidate [of its own]..."

"If someone's victory was stolen, it is necessary [for the candidate] to assert it in court. Personally I tend to judge the honesty of elections by the speed in which the results are summarized..."

Chechnya, Dagestan and Kemerovo and some other regions [where United Russia racked up huge percentages] distinguished themselves by [such] speed. But these results always aroused doubt both amongst the opposition as well as amongst experts.

"Each region has its own level of political cultural developments It was all a matter of political cultural development..."

Putin Is The Source Of The Duma's Legitimacy

Is it possible to consider a Duma, for which less than half of the country's adult population voted, legitimate?

"The Duma's legitimacy does not depend on the parties or turnout of voters, but rather on the President. If Vladimir Putin has confidence in the Duma and supports it, while the population trusts and supports Putin - the Duma will do just fine".

"What then happens to the constitutional principle of a division of power?"

"We first began hearing about this principle in the late 1980s [towards the collapse of the Soviet Union] when massive propaganda in favor of Western models began. In 1993 [when armed clashes between Russia's President Boris Yeltsin and the opposition-controlled Duma erupted each claiming legitimacy] all understood, that division of power is a direct route to exchanges of fire in the center of Moscow. And we do not need this. So the ideal of a division of power never managed to crystallize. Now, no one is excited about the fairy tales depicting the segregation of powers, independent parliament and independent courts, which will come and save us. We are not against it, but we don't look forward to them and expect much of them."

Maybe then eliminate parties or leave only a single party?

"Well that is not the case. The overwhelming majority of people believe that we do not need a monopoly. We like one boss but we fear a monopoly and for that reason almost no one wants a one party sytem... People understand that there should be only one Tsar, but a monopoly of powers is very dangerous. But a monopoly amongst us does not exist at all...there is no division of power but there is competition..."

"By that logic, even the Soviet totalitarian system could be recognized as non-monopolistic meaning competitive."

The USSR Was A Competitive System

"Unconditionally so. Under Stalin, and under Brezhnev and under the Tsar there was competition and even fierce [competition].

"Behind the scenes?"

"Yes. Under the Western model it is more open, frequently party competition. The instruments guaranteeing that competition are an independent parliament, and an independent court. We have a different sort of competition, [political] clan, ministerial and personal [based competition]."

"Under such competition people would not go to the polls"

"Well according to the Central Electoral Commission statistics 48% still went and that is a lot. It is not certain that previously the [turnout] was much stronger, simply the tolerance by the CEC for violators was higher...The voting took place in mid-September, when people had not mentally exited the state of dachas and vacations and did not participate in the political agenda.

"Secondly the country is in that phase of the economic cycle such as stagnation and depression. And if we now had been in a boom phase the turnout would have been higher and United Russia's results would apparently have been poorer. Why so? Because in a boom people want everything and in a hurry. And they would have presented more demands to the parties of power! But now people are uneasy about the future and cling closely to what there is - stability. At the same time, to vote for the officials is undesirable and hence the low turnout."

The Opposition Had Nothing To Offer

"Why did the opposition fail to mobilize its voters, especially in the large cities where United Russia's positions were always less firmly entrenched?"

Evidently, a disparity existed between their political demands and political proposals. In the major cities many intellectuals, educated and self-sufficient people were prepared to go out and vote, if they were offered something worthwhile. It emerged that most parties had nothing to offer them."

"They did make suggestions. But it was impossible to understand them in the prime time debates that the television channels presented us with."

"We are in an economic crisis and there were major concerns that now the opposition would play full time upon this. Therefore they structured the debates in the format of monologues rather than 'dog-fights'. And this aroused great disappointment amongst all who awaited them, listened and then gave up. "

"And now how should United Russia with such dominance treat the numerically small opposition? "

And how can it treat parties that have lost everything? I repeat - we are in an economic crisis. But neither the Communist Party of the Russian Federation nor Just Russia brought up the 'social' hobby horse of the leftists even once during the campaign. In my opinion, on September 19 [the day after the election] Gennady Zuganov and Sergey Mironov [the Communist and Just Russia leaders] should have assembled their party's leadership in order to tell them a single phrase 'I am leaving' but no such speeches have been heard."

But it is thanks to them that the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia has almost become the second [largest] party

.... The main credit goes to the LDPR itself. It's traditional ultra-national rhetoric has now returned it to the mainstream from being a marginal topic. Thanks to this the LDPR has escaped its negative rating and obtained respectability. The highest negative rating goes to the [liberal] Yabloko party (due to its position on Crimea)... The LDPR's real achievement is in becoming the party of 'second choice' including for the elite."

This means that United Russia can now disregard everyone with the exception of the LDPR

Theoretically yes. Practically the tenor of relations with the opposition will be strongly dependent on who becomes speaker.

On what should United Russia now use its constitutional [super] majority [that allows it to pass constitutional amendments unilaterally]?"

The New Majority Will Tackle The Economic Crisis

"It is not for United Russia to decide on what to use its 344 mandates is obliged first of all to the president. He is the one to decide how that political resources to be used. And the president has already said clearly that the support of the electorate is a [political] advance that must be worked off and it is necessary to work it off on the social-economic front! To exit the crisis economic reforms are needed. When the country confronts the necessity of tough, burdensome and painful reforms, it was compulsory to move up the elections in order to receive a mandate from the people for these reforms. The mandate has been received. But on what will it be used the president will decide... we will know soon..."

Behind-the-scene competition?

"Even in the most democratic regimes most decisions are made unofficially...We are not an exception"

"What then was the necessity for [ the slogan] COL - 'competitiveness, openness and legitimacy' ?What sort of 'electoral competition' did the author [of the slogan, the new speaker] Vyacheslav Volodin have in mind -the native unofficial competition or Western model [based competition]?"

The previous 2011 elections results concluded [with the mass 60,000 strong demonstration]at Bolotnaya Square. [They] succeeded in pulling people into the streets charging the authorities with stealing from the people the right to vote by falsifying the electoral results. So, in order to avoid a repetition, a political reform was implemented. Intra-system competition increased and that is good. But there were much less political protests. And this in spite of the economic crisis!

"However, the main questions of the country's development as it's widely understood - are not being decided by the Duma elections. The president and his team will decide them. There as well competition definitely exists ...but it does not carry a party character and it is unlikely that during our lifetime it will bear such a [partisan] character"

Endnote:
Syrian government forces Sunday kept up their blistering assault on rebel-held eastern Aleppo after a divided UN Security Council failed to agree on a truce to "save" the war-battered city.

Regime forces and their allies were advancing street by street in the eastern sector which has been out of government hands since 2012.

"Clashes on the ground as well as fierce air strikes went on all night and are continuing Sunday, especially in the Sheikh Said district" of eastern Aleppo, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

It said regime forces took control of the Jandul crossroads in the northeast of the city.

The latest advances aim to clear the way for "a crucial and decisive land offensive", said the Damascus daily Al-Watan which is close to the government.

The army launched its assault on the besieged sector of Aleppo more than two weeks ago with the backing of Russian air strikes, aiming to reunite the city which was Syria's economic hub before its conflict erupted in 2011.

According to the Observatory, air strikes by the regime and its Russian ally have claimed 273 lives, mostly civilians and including 53 children, since the September 22 launch of operations to reunite the government-held west and the east of Aleppo.

Another 17 civilians have died in artillery bombardment of eastern districts, says the Britain-based monitoring group.

The Observatory, which compiles its information from sources on the ground, said 50 civilians, including nine children, have also died in rebel bombardment of regime-controlled western districts.

On Saturday at the United Nations, Russia vetoed a French-drafted resolution demanding an end to the bombing of Aleppo, but its own rival measure on a truce was rejected.

The failure of the two resolutions deepened divisions at the UN Security Council between Moscow and the Western powers backing rebel forces in Syria's five-year war which has killed 300,000 people.

France's draft called for an end to all military flights over Aleppo and to air strikes on the rebel-held east that has 250,000 inhabitants.

"What is at stake today is first and foremost the fate of Aleppo and its people," France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told the council, urging it to take "immediate action in order to save" the city.

It was the fifth time that Russia used its veto to block UN action on the war in Syria.

Shortly after Russia's veto, the Security Council rejected a rival draft presented by Moscow that called for a ceasefire but did not mention a halt in air strikes.

Britain's ambassador to the United Nations, Matthew Rycroft, described Saturday's failure in New York as "a bad day for Russia, but an even worse day for the people of Aleppo".

Following the meeting, his Russian counterpart Vitaly Churkin insisted that diplomatic efforts on Syria were not dead.

"No, no, no," he said.

The assault on Aleppo was launched just days after the collapse of a ceasefire in Syria that was brokered jointly by Russia and the United States.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that the mounting tensions between Washington and Moscow over the Syrian conflict had created a situation "more dangerous" than the Cold War.

"It's a fallacy to think that this is like the Cold War," Steinmeier said in an interview published by Bild newspaper. "The current times are different and more dangerous."

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Iran has temporarily released a journalist for medical treatment after he became sick following a hunger strike, local media reported Sunday.

Ehsan Mazandarani, who runs reformist daily newspaper Farhikhtegan, was arrested in late 2015 and sentenced in April to seven years for "acting against national security".

"The health of my client, due to a hunger strike he was on, turned bad and he was transferred to hospital," his lawyer Hooshang Pourbabayi told the ISNA news agency.

Mazandarani's wife, Maliheh Hosseini, told local media that a doctor at Tehran's notorious Evin prison reported concerns over the journalist's health.

"We were told to go to Evin prison and take my husband to hospital," she told the reformist-linked ILNA news agency, adding that he had suffered bleeding in the stomach and his blood sugar level had plunged.

Four other journalists are thought to have been arrested around the same time as Mazandarani and have been given sentences ranging from two to 10 years.

The elite Revolutionary Guards claimed to have disrupted an "infiltration network linked to hostile Western governments".

That followed warnings by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei against "infiltration" by Western media.

Mazandarani's lawyer said he had heard that his client's sentence has been reduced to two years, but had no official confirmation.

Mazandarani was previously arrested in 2009 for acting against national security and having contacts with foreigners as protests swept the country following the disputed re-election of hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Journalists in Iran frequently face prosecution.

Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post's Tehran correspondent and a dual Iranian-American citizen, was arrested in July 2014 and convicted last year of espionage and other charges.

He was freed in January this year as part of a prisoner swap between Iran and the United States that saw several Iranians released.

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Syrian government forces and their allies recaptured more territory from rebels in Hama province in the west on Sunday, building on advances they have made in the last two days, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

They seized Maan and al-Kabariya, two villages in rural northern Hama, which the insurgents took control of last month, the British-based monitoring group reported.

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Donald Trump headed into a crucial debate with Democrat Hillary Clinton Sunday with his White House hopes in peril and the Republican party in chaos over his lewd boasts about groping women.

With the US election less than a month away, Republican lawmakers and governors abandoned Trump in droves, despite a rare televised apology by the candidate, whose sexually aggressive remarks were caught on a live mike in 2005.

Trump himself was defiant, tweeting: "So many self-righteous hypocrites. Watch their poll numbers -- and elections -- go down!"

But even his surrogates went to ground, leaving former New York mayor Rudolf Giuliani as the billionaire's lone defender on Sunday television talk shows.

Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway and Republican National Committee chairman Reince Preibus both backed out of scheduled television appearances ahead of the debate in St. Louis, Missouri.

Mike Pence, Trump's running mate, also suspended his campaign appearances after declaring on Saturday that he did not condone and "cannot defend" the Republican standard-bearer.

The scandal -- just the latest involving his treatment of women -- could not come at a worse time for Trump, who has taken a beating in the polls since his sloppy performance in the first presidential debate September 29.

An average of national polls compiled by RealClearPolitics.com has Clinton in the lead by 4.5 percentage points.

National media, meanwhile, have dug up the candidate's past behavior, including agreeing with an interviewer that his daughter Ivanka was a "piece of ass". In a 2002 interview with Howard Stern, Trump also said he preferred leaving women over a certain age.

"What is it at 35? It's called check-out time," he quips.

The two candidates face off starting at 9:00 pm (0100 GMT Monday) at Washington University in St Louis, with the added twist that this time they will take questions from the audience in a town hall-style forum.

"He's as prepared as he's ever been and he's all ready for the debate tonight," Giuliani said on NBC's Meet the Press.

"He obviously, you know, feels very bad about what he's said. He apologized for it, will probably do it again. What he'd like to do is move onto the issues that are facing the American people."

How much the "elephant in the room," as Republican House speaker Paul Ryan referred to the tape on Saturday, dominates the debate is an open question.

Giuliani warned that Trump could well go after Clinton's past marital troubles with her husband Bill, the former president.

"I do believe there's a possibility he'll talk about Hillary Clinton's situation if it gets to that. I don't think he prefers to do that. But I think he will."

Tim Kaine, Clinton's running mate, suggested that while audience members would have questions about Trump's treatment of women, the former secretary of state intended to stick to basic issues like the economy and national security.

"If Donald wants to talk about something other than what voters want to talk about, that's his choice," Kaine said on CNN's State of the Union show. "But I suspect that Hillary Clinton is going to talk about the things that voters really care about."

Clinton may also have to worry about a WikiLeaks disclosure of excerpts from private speeches she gave to major banks in 2013 and 2014.

Although overshadowed by the Trump tape, they show she expressed views in favor of open trade and Wall Street self-regulation to those audiences that are at odds with her positions as a candidate.

John Podesta, a Clinton adviser from whose email account the excerpts were hacked, insisted there were taken out of context.

"They are not diametrically opposed," he said on Fox News Sunday. "Again, you can pull a few words out of context, but what he said on this campaign trail is she'll be tough on Wall Street. That's exactly what she'll do."

Even a winning performance by Trump, however, seems unlikely to mend the deep breach he has opened in the Republican party, alarmed about the scandal's fallout in other down-ballot races.

Notable defectors included Senator John McCain, the 2008 Republican nominee, who said Trump's "demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy."

The New York Times reported that by late Saturday 36 Republican members of Congress and governors had disavowed Trump's candidacy.

Some leading Republicans called on Trump to quit the race, but he vowed he would never do that and legal experts said removing him from the top of the ticket would be extremely difficult.

Trump predicted Saturday that the controversy would blow over.

"I think a lot of people underestimate how loyal my supporters are," he told the Times.

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However, tourism experts expect numbers to rise soon - expecting more European countries to resume flights to Sharm El-Sheikh and other Egyptian destinations - as Cairo makes progress on airport security provisions

The number of tourists visiting Egypt declined 45 percent in August 2016 compared to the same month last year, as the number of Russian holidayers in the country remains more than halved, state's official statistics body CAPMAS announced on Sunday.

The total number of tourists who arrived in Egypt during August registered 503,000, 47 percent of whom came from Arab countries, CAPMAS said in an e-mailed press release.

The number of tourists who visited Egypt in August 2015 was 915,200.

The average stay of a tourist reached 6.4 nights during August 2016 versus 9 nights during the same month in 2015, CAPMAS said.

Russians, who represent the largest single tourist group in Egypt - along with other European vacationers - have shifted their touristic destination from Egypt since December 2015 due to security concerns following the deadly crash of a Russian jet minutes after taking off from the airport at the Sinai resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh in November.

All 224 people on board were killed in that crash, which was claimed by Islamist militants

In Late September, Russia's Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said that Egyptian authorities are making headway in resolving Russia's concerns over flight safety out of Egypt.

Russian officials have conducted several airport safety inspections in Egypt over the past months.

Poland and Turkey have already resumed flights to Sharm El-Sheikh, while Germany decided last May to ease restrictions on flights between its airports and the Egyptian resort.

Adel Zaki, a travel agent, told Ahram Online that the return of Turkish flights to Sharm El Sheikh last September signalled a promising start for this winter season, as Turks represent a large percentage of travel agents in Europe.

"The Turkish plane that arrived in Sharm El Sheikh last September carried mostly Russian tourists," Zaki said.

He added that the Russian travel company Aeroflot's resumption of operations in its office at Cairo International Airport is also a good sign for the return of Russian flights, which is expected by 2017.

Omaima Al-Husseiny, the media adviser to the tourism minister, expects that German flights to Sharm El-Sheikh would return soon, after the resumption of German charter flights to Upper Egypt's Luxor.

Al-Husseiny told Ahram Online that Luxor received four direct flights from Germany last week.

The countrys revenues from tourism dropped by 48.9 percent to $3.8 billion in 2015/16 from $7.4 billion in 2014/15, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced last month.

.

Receipts from the tourism industry are expected to range between $4 billion to $4.5 billion by end of the current year, Finance Minister Amr El-Garhy said in July.

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(Beijing)  China's State Council said this weekend it will not approve the establishment of new factories that manufacture gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles except in special circumstances.

The rule was among other issues that China's cabinet discussed Saturday at its regular meeting, chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, according to a statement on the State Council's website.

"In principle, local governments should not approve the formation of new car factories that produce traditional fuel-powered vehicles," the State Council said. However, one analyst said exceptions may be made in certain situations, such as when an additional factory is necessary to meet a company's previously approved sales targets.

The guideline comes as Beijing is pushing for cleaner electric and hybrid cars to curb air pollution and foster the development of a cutting-edge sector of the economy. However, a lack of national coordination in the electric-vehicle industry has resulted in widely varying standards for various brands of cars, batteries and charging stations.

Although sales of new-energy cars quadrupled to 331,000 last year  making the country the world's largest electric-car market  it was a fraction of the 24.6 million vehicles sold in the country, according to the government-backed China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

"Now that the government will stop approving traditional fuel-powered factories, it will boost battery and charging posts manufacturers' confidence," said Ye Junwei, an analyst at WAYS Consulting Co., a Guangzhou-based consulting group for the automotive industry.

The policy shouldn't threaten the business of traditional-car manufacturers in the short term because the government usually approves companies' annual sales targets several years in advance, Ye said. For example, the government has approved the SAIC Volkswagen joint venture's plan to sell 2 million cars in China in 2020, he added. The company would be permitted to meet that goal even if it meant opening a new factory, he said.

Contact Chen Na (nachen@caixin.com); editor Ken Howe (kennethhowe@caixin.com)
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The following companies are subsidiares of Pfizer: AH Robins LLC, AHP Holdings B.V., AHP Manufacturing B.V., Agouron Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alacer, Alpharma Holdings LLC, Alpharma Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alpharma Specialty Pharma LLC, Alpharma USHP LLC, American Food Industries LLC, Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Angiosyn, Array BioPharma, Ayerst-Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, BIND Therapeutics Inc., BINESA 2002 S.L., Bamboo Therapeutics, Bamboo Therapeutics Inc., Baxter International - Marketed Vaccines, BioRexis, Bioren, Bioren LLC, Blue Whale Re Ltd., C.E. Commercial Holdings C.V., C.E. Commercial Investments C.V., C.P. Pharmaceuticals International C.V., CICL Corporation, COC I Corporation, Catapult Genetics, Coley Pharmaceutical GmbH, Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Coley Pharmaceutical Group Inc., Continental Pharma Inc., Covx, Covx Technologies Ireland Limited, Cyanamid Inter-American Corporation, Cyanamid de Argentina S.A., Cyanamid de Colombia S.A., Distribuidora Mercantil Centro Americana S.A., Encysive Pharmaceuticals, Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc., Esperion LUV Development Inc., Esperion Therapeutics, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals Inc., Farminova Produtos Farmaceuticos de Inovacao Lda., Farmogene Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Ferrosan A/S, Ferrosan International A/S, Ferrosan S.R.L., FoldRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Foldrx Pharmaceuticals, Fort Dodge Manufatura Ltda., G. D. Searle & Co. Limited, G. D. Searle International Capital LLC, G. D. Searle LLC, GI Europe Inc., GI Japan Inc., GenTrac Inc., Genetics Institute LLC, Greenstone LLC, Haptogen Limited, Hospira, Hospira (China) Enterprise Management Co. Ltd., Hospira Adelaide Pty Ltd, Hospira Aseptic Services Limited, Hospira Australia Pty Ltd, Hospira Benelux BVBA, Hospira Chile Limitada, Hospira Deutschland GmbH, Hospira Enterprises B.V., Hospira France SAS, Hospira Healthcare B.V., Hospira Healthcare Corporation, Hospira Healthcare India Private Limited, Hospira Holdings (S.A.) Pty Ltd, Hospira Inc., Hospira Invicta S.A., Hospira Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, Hospira Ireland Sales Limited, Hospira Japan G.K., Hospira Limited, Hospira Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Hospira NZ Limited, Hospira Nordic AB, Hospira Philippines Inc., Hospira Portugal LDA, Hospira Produtos Hospitalares Ltda., Hospira Pte. Ltd., Hospira Pty Limited, Hospira Puerto Rico LLC, Hospira Singapore Pte Ltd, Hospira UK Limited, Hospira Worldwide LLC, Hospira Zagreb d.o.o., ICAgen, Idun Pharmaceuticals, Industrial Santa Agape S.A., InnoPharma, InnoPharma Inc., International Affiliated Corporation LLC, JMI-Daniels Pharmaceuticals Inc., John Wyeth & Brother Limited, Kiinteisto oy Espoon Pellavaniementie 14, King Pharmaceuticals Holdings LLC, King Pharmaceuticals LLC, King Pharmaceuticals Research and Development LLC, Korea Pharma Holding Company Limited, Laboratoires Pfizer S.A., Laboratorios Parke Davis S.L., Laboratorios Pfizer Ltda., Laboratorios Wyeth LLC, Laboratorios Wyeth S.A., Laboratorios Pfizer Lda., MTG Divestitures LLC, Mayne Pharma IP Holdings (Euro) Pty Ltd, Medivation, Medivation Field Solutions LLC, Medivation LLC, Medivation Neurology LLC, Medivation Prostate Therapeutics LLC, Medivation Services LLC, Medivation Technologies LLC, Meridian Medical Technologies Inc., Meridian Medical Technologies Limited, Monarch Pharmaceuticals LLC, Neusentis Limited, NextWave Pharmaceuticals, NextWave Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, P-D Co. LLC, PAH USA IN8 LLC, PF Americas Holding C.V., PF Asia Manufacturing B.V., PF PR Holdings C.V., PF PRISM C.V., PF PRISM Holdings S.a.r.l., PF Prism S.a.r.l., PFE Holdings G.K., PFE PHAC Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Pfizer Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Wyeth Holdings LLC, PFE Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) LLC, PHILCO Holdings S.a r.l., PHIVCO Corp., PHIVCO Holdco S.a r.l., PHIVCO Luxembourg S.a r.l., PN Mexico LLC, PT. Pfizer Parke Davis, Parke Davis & Company LLC, Parke Davis Limited, Parke Davis Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Parke-Davis Manufacturing Corp., Parkedale Pharmaceuticals Inc., Peak Enterprises LLC, Pfizer, Pfizer (China) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Pfizer (Perth) Pty Limited, Pfizer (Thailand) Limited, Pfizer (Wuhan) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer AB, Pfizer AG, Pfizer AS, Pfizer Africa & Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Veterinarian Products & Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer Anti-Infectives AB, Pfizer ApS, Pfizer Asia Manufacturing Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., Pfizer Atlantic Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Australia Holdings B.V., Pfizer Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Pfizer Australia Investments Pty. Ltd., Pfizer Australia Pty Limited, Pfizer B.V., Pfizer BH D.o.o., Pfizer Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer Biofarmaceutica Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Pfizer Biologics (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, Pfizer Biologics Ireland Holdings Limited, Pfizer Biotech Corporation, Pfizer Bolivia S.A., Pfizer Canada Inc., Pfizer CentreSource Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Chile S.A., Pfizer Cia. Ltda., Pfizer Colombia Spinco I LLC, Pfizer Commercial Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Commercial Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Commercial TRAE Trading Kft., Pfizer Consumer Healthcare AB, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare GmbH, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare Ltd., Pfizer Consumer Manufacturing Italy S.r.l., Pfizer Corporation, Pfizer Corporation Austria Gesellschaft m.b.H., Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Pfizer Croatia d.o.o., Pfizer Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Development LP, Pfizer Development Services (UK) Limited, Pfizer Domestic Ventures Limited, Pfizer Dominicana S.R.L, Pfizer ESP Pty Ltd, Pfizer East India B.V., Pfizer Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer Egypt S.A.E., Pfizer Enterprise Holdings B.V., Pfizer Enterprises LLC, Pfizer Enterprises SARL, Pfizer Europe Finance B.V., Pfizer Export B.V., Pfizer Export Company, Pfizer Export Holding Company B.V, Pfizer Finance Share Service (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Financial Services N.V./S.A., Pfizer France International Investments, Pfizer Free Zone Panama S. de R.L., Pfizer GEP S.L., Pfizer Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer Global Supply Japan Inc., Pfizer Global Trading, Pfizer Group Luxembourg Sarl, Pfizer Gulf FZ-LLC, Pfizer H.C.P. Corporation, Pfizer HK Service Company Limited, Pfizer Health AB, Pfizer Health Solutions Inc., Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, Pfizer Hellas A.E., Pfizer Himalaya Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Holding France, Pfizer Holding Ventures, Pfizer Holdings Corporation, Pfizer Holdings Europe Unlimited Company, Pfizer Holdings G.K., Pfizer Holdings International Corporation, Pfizer Holdings International Luxembourg (PHIL) Sarl, Pfizer Holdings North America SARL, Pfizer Hungary Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Inc., Pfizer Innovations AB, Pfizer Innovations LLC, Pfizer Innovative Supply Point International BVBA, Pfizer International LLC, Pfizer International Markets Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer International Operations, Pfizer International S. de R.L., Pfizer International Trading (Shanghai) Limited, Pfizer Investment Capital Unlimited Company, Pfizer Investment Co. Ltd., Pfizer Investment Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Ireland Investments Limited, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 1 LLC, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 2 LLC, Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Ireland Ventures Unlimited Company, Pfizer Italia S.r.l., Pfizer Italy Group Holding S.r.l., Pfizer Japan Inc., Pfizer LLC, Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Limited, Pfizer Laboratories Limited, Pfizer Laboratories PFE (Pty) Ltd, Pfizer Leasing Ireland Limited, Pfizer Leasing UK Limited, Pfizer Limitada, Pfizer Limited, Pfizer Luxco Holdings SARL, Pfizer Luxembourg Global Holdings S.a r.l., Pfizer Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer MAP Holding Inc., Pfizer Manufacturing Austria G.m.b.H., Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland Grundbesitz GmbH & Co. KG, Pfizer Manufacturing Holdings LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Manufacturing LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Services, Pfizer Medical Technology Group (Belgium) N.V., Pfizer Medicamentos Genericos e Participacoes Ltda., Pfizer Mexico Luxco SARL, Pfizer Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pfizer Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Animal Health and Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer New Zealand Limited, Pfizer Norge AS, Pfizer North American Holdings Inc., Pfizer OTC B.V., Pfizer Overseas LLC, Pfizer Oy, Pfizer PFE ApS, Pfizer PFE AsiaPac Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Pty Ltd, Pfizer PFE B.V., Pfizer PFE Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Belgium SPRL, Pfizer PFE Brazil Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE CIA. Ltda., Pfizer PFE Chile Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Colombia Holding Corp., Pfizer PFE Colombia S.A.S, Pfizer PFE Commercial Holdings LLC, Pfizer PFE Croatia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer PFE Finland Oy, Pfizer PFE France, Pfizer PFE Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Ireland Pharmaceuticals Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco 2 S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Pfizer PFE Limited, Pfizer PFE Luxembourg S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Mexico Holding 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE Netherlands Holding 1 C.V., Pfizer PFE New Zealand, Pfizer PFE New Zealand Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Norway Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE PILSA Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Peru Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Peru S.R.L., Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer PFE Private Limited, Pfizer PFE S.R.L, Pfizer PFE Service Company Holding Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer PFE Singapore Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Singapore Pte. Ltd., Pfizer PFE Spain B.V., Pfizer PFE Spain Holding S.L., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding 2 S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Switzerland GmbH, Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 2 B.V., Pfizer PFE UK Holding 4 LP, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 1 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 2 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 4 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 5 LLC, Pfizer PFE spol. s r.o., Pfizer PFE Ilaclar Anonim Sirketi, Pfizer Pakistan Limited, Pfizer Parke Davis (Thailand) Ltd., Pfizer Parke Davis Inc., Pfizer Parke Davis Sdn. Bhd., Pfizer Pharm Algerie, Pfizer Pharma GmbH, Pfizer Pharma PFE GmbH, Pfizer Pharmaceutical (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceutical Trading Limited Liability Company (a/k/a Pfizer Kft. or Pfizer LLC), Pfizer Pharmaceuticals B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Global B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Korea Limited, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals LLC, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Pfizer Pigments Inc., Pfizer Polska Sp. z.o.o., Pfizer Private Limited, Pfizer Production LLC, Pfizer Products Inc., Pfizer Products India Private Limited, Pfizer Research (NC) Inc., Pfizer Romania SRL, Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A. (Belgium), Pfizer S.A. de C.V., Pfizer S.A.S., Pfizer S.G.P.S. Lda., Pfizer S.L., Pfizer S.R.L., Pfizer SRB d.o.o., Pfizer Saidal Manufacturing, Pfizer Sante Familiale, Pfizer Saudi Limited, Pfizer Seiyaku K.K., Pfizer Service Company BVBA, Pfizer Service Company Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Services 1, Pfizer Services LLC, Pfizer Shared Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Shareholdings Intermediate SARL, Pfizer Singapore Holding Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Singapore Trading Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Spain Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Specialties Limited, Pfizer Strategic Investment Holdings LLC, Pfizer Sweden Partnership KB, Pfizer TRAE Holdings Kft., Pfizer Trading Polska sp.z.o.o., Pfizer Transactions Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Transactions LLC, Pfizer Transactions Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer Transport LLC, Pfizer Ukraine LLC, Pfizer Vaccines LLC, Pfizer Venezuela S.A., Pfizer Venture Investments LLC, Pfizer Ventures LLC, Pfizer Worldwide Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Zona Franca S.A., Pfizer spol. s r.o., Pharmacia, Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc., Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn S.A. de C.V., Pharmacia Brasil Ltda., Pharmacia Hepar LLC, Pharmacia Holding AB, Pharmacia Inter-American LLC, Pharmacia International B.V., Pharmacia LLC, Pharmacia Limited, Pharmacia Nostrum S.A., Pharmacia South Africa (Pty) Ltd, PowderJect Research Limited, PowderMed, Purepac Pharmaceutical Holdings LLC, Redvax, Renrall LLC, Rinat Neuroscience, Rinat Neuroscience Corp., Roerig Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Roerig S.A., Sao Cristovao Participacoes Ltda., Searle Laboratorios Lda., Serenex, Servicios P&U S. de R.L. de C.V., Shiley LLC, Sinergis Farma-Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Site Realty Inc., Solinor LLC, Sugen LLC, Tabor LLC, The Pfizer Incubator LLC, Therachon, Thiakis Limited, Treerly Health Co. Ltd, US Oral Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, Upjohn Laboratorios Lda., Vesteralens Naturprodukter A/S, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AB, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AS, Vesteralens Naturprodukter OY, Vicuron Holdings LLC, Vinci Farma S.A., W-L LLC, Warner Lambert, Warner Lambert Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Warner Lambert del Uruguay S.A., Warner-Lambert (Thailand) Limited, Warner-Lambert Company AG, Warner-Lambert Company LLC, Warner-Lambert Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Warner-Lambert S.A., Whitehall International Inc., Whitehall Laboratories Inc., Wyeth (Thailand) Ltd., Wyeth AB, Wyeth Australia Pty. Limited, Wyeth Ayerst Inc., Wyeth Ayerst S.a r.l., Wyeth Biopharma, Wyeth Canada ULC, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare LLC, Wyeth Europa Limited, Wyeth Farma S.A., Wyeth Holdings LLC, Wyeth Industria Farmaceutica Ltda., Wyeth KFT., Wyeth LLC, Wyeth Lederle S.r.l., Wyeth Lederle Vaccines S.A., Wyeth Pakistan Limited, Wyeth Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Company, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals FZ-LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Limited, Wyeth Puerto Rico Inc., Wyeth S.A.S, Wyeth Subsidiary Illinois Corporation, Wyeth Whitehall Export GmbH, Wyeth Whitehall SARL, Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) Limited, Wyeth-Ayerst International LLC, and Wyeth-Ayerst Promotions Limited.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Dover: APM Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, Accelerated Production Systems, Acme Cryo Intermediate Inc., Acme Cryogenics, Acme Cryogenics Inc., Acme Elevator, Advansor A/S, Advansor Dover International (Poland) sp. z o.o., Advansor Germany GmbH, Alfred Fueling Systems Holdco Ltd., Alfred Fueling Systems Inc., Alfred Fueling Systems Intermediate Holdco Ltd., All-Flo Pump Company, Anman LLC, Anthony Equity Holdings Inc., Anthony Holdings Inc., Anthony Inc., Anthony International, Anthony International Foreign Sales Corp., Anthony International Holding Company, Anthony Mexico Holdings LLC, Anthony North Holdco Inc., Anthony Specialty Glass LLC, Anthony TemperBent GP LLC, Audax ECII Blocker Inc., Auto Glanz Solutions LLC, AvaLAN Wireless Systems Incorporated, BELVAC CR spol s r.o., BSC Filters Limited, Belanger, Belanger Inc., Belvac Middle East FZE, Belvac Production Machinery Inc., Blackmer, BlitzRotary GmbH, Blue Bite LLC, Blue Bite LLC, Butler Engineering and Marketing S.P.A., CDS Visual, CDS Visual Inc., CEP Liquidation LLC, CP Formation LLC, CPC Europe Inc., CPI Products Inc., Caldera, Canada Organization & Development LLC, Chief Automotive Technologies (Shanghai) Trading Company Ltd., Chippewa Square Captive Insurance Company, Colder Products Company, Colder Products Company GmbH, Colder Products Company LTD, Cook Compression LLC, Cook Compression Limited, Cook-MFS Inc., Cryogenic Experts LLC, DD1 Inc., DDI Properties Inc., DE-STA-CO Benelux B.V., DE-STA-CO FRANCE, DE-STA-CO Shanghai Co. Ltd., DESTACO UK Limited, DFH Corporation, DFS Netherlands B.V., Datamax International Corp, De Sta Co (Asia) Company Limited, De-Sta-Co Cylinders Inc., DeStaCo Europe GmbH, Delaware Capital Formation Inc., Delaware Capital Holdings Inc., Dositec Sistemas SL, Dosmatic U.S.A. Inc., Dover (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Dover (Schweiz) Holding GmbH, Dover (Shanghai) Industrial Co. Ltd., Dover (Shenzhen) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover (Suzhou) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover Asia Trading Private Ltd., Dover Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Dover Business Services EMEA Limited, Dover Business Services Europe S.R.L., Dover Business Services LLC, Dover Business Services Philippines Corporation, Dover CLP Formation Limited Partnership, Dover Canada Holdings ULC, Dover Canada Operations ULC, Dover Corporation Regional Headquarters, Dover DEI Services Inc., Dover Denmark Holdings ApS, Dover EMEA FZCO, Dover Energy UK Ltd, Dover Engineered Products Segment Inc., Dover Europe Inc., Dover Europe Sarl, Dover Fluids UK Ltd, Dover France Holdings, Dover France Participations, Dover France Technologies, Dover Fueling Solutions Segment Inc., Dover Fueling Solutions UK Limited, Dover Germany GmbH, Dover Global Holdings LLC, Dover Holdings de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dover Imaging & Identification Segment Inc., Dover India Pvt. Ltd., Dover Intercompany Services UK Limited, Dover International B.V., Dover International Operations Inc., Dover International Ventures Inc., Dover International ithalat ihracat ve Pazarlama Limited Sirketi, Dover Italy Holdings S.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Finance Sarl, Dover Luxembourg Participations Sarl, Dover Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Services Sarl, Dover Operations South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Dover Overseas Ventures Inc., Dover Pumps & Process Solutions Segment Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment Segment Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment UK Ltd, Dover Resources International de Mexico S. de R.L. C.V., Dover Solutions Colombia SAS, Dover Southeast Asia (Thailand) Ltd., Dover Spain Holdings S.L., Dover Switzerland Participations GmbH, Dover UK Pensions Limited, Dover WSCR Holding LLC, Dover WSCR LLC, Dover do Brasil Ltda., Dow-Key Microwave Corporation, Dresser Wayne Data Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Dresser Wayne Fuel Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ECI - IGT Holdings LLC, ECI Holding Company LLC, ECI RegO S. de R.L. de C.V, ECI RegO Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., ECII (Mexico) LLC, EOA Systems Inc., Ebs-Ray Holdings Pty Ltd, Ebs-Ray Industries Pty Ltd, Ebs-Ray Pumps Pty Ltd, Em-Tec, Engineered Controls International LLC, Espy, Ettlinger, Ettlinger Kunststoffmaschinen GmbH, Fairbanks Environmental Limited, Fibrelite Composites Limited, Fibresec Holdings Limited, Fibresec Limited, Finder, GAL LLC, GIIER LLC, Gala Industries, Guangdong Tokheim LIYUAN Oil Industry Technology Limited Company, Highland Park Insurance Company, Hill PHOENIX Inc., Hill PHOENIX WIC LLC, Hill Phoenix Costa Rica Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, Hill Phoenix El Salvador Limitada de Capital Variable, Hill Phoenix Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Honduras Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hiltap Fittings Ltd., Hydro Systems Company, Hydro Systems Europe Ltd., Industrial Motion Control LLC, Innovative Control Systems, Innovative Control Systems Inc., Inpro/Seal LLC, JK Group, JK Group S.P.A., JK Group USA Inc., K S Boca Inc., K&L Microwave DR Inc., K&L Microwave Inc., KPS (Beijing) Petroleum Equipment Trading Co Ltd., KPS Fueling Solutions Sdn. Bhd., KPS Hong Kong Holding Limited, KPS UK Limited, KS Formation Inc., KS Liquidation Inc., KSLP Liquidation L.P., Kiian Digital (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Knappco LLC, Knowles Electronics, LIQAL, LIQAL B.V., Liquip, Liquip, Liquip International Pty Limited, MAAG, MARKEM FZ SA, MARKEM-IMAJE Corporation, MIP Holdings Inc., MS Printing Solutions, MS Printing Solutions S.R.L., Maag, Maag Automatik Plastics Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Maag Gala Inc., Maag Germany GmbH, Maag Italy S.R.L., Maag Pump Systems, Maag Pump Systems (US) Inc., Maag Pump Systems AG, Maag Reduction Inc., Maag Service (Malaysia) Sdn. Bdn., Maag Service (Taiwan) Ltd., Maag Systems (Thailand) Limited, Macro Technologies LLC, Malema, Marathon Equipment Company (Delaware), Markem Imaje Center of Competencies Spain S.L.U., Markem-Imaje, Markem-Imaje (China) Co. Limited, Markem-Imaje - Unipessoal Lda, Markem-Imaje A/S, Markem-Imaje AB, Markem-Imaje AG, Markem-Imaje AS, Markem-Imaje B.V., Markem-Imaje CSAT GmbH, Markem-Imaje Co. Ltd., Markem-Imaje GmbH, Markem-Imaje Holding, Markem-Imaje Identificacao de Produtos Ltda., Markem-Imaje Inc., Markem-Imaje India Private Limited, Markem-Imaje Industries, Markem-Imaje Industries Limited, Markem-Imaje KK, Markem-Imaje LLC, Markem-Imaje Limited, Markem-Imaje Ltd., Markem-Imaje N.V., Markem-Imaje Oy, Markem-Imaje Philippines Corporation, Markem-Imaje Pty. Ltd., Markem-Imaje S.A., Markem-Imaje S.A. de C.V., Markem-Imaje S.r.l., Markem-Imaje SAS, Markem-Imaje Sdn. Bhd., Markem-Imaje Singapore Pte. Ltd., Markem-Imaje Spain S.A., Markpoint Holding AB, Midland Manufacturing LLC, Midwest Cryogenics Inc., Mouvex, Northeast Services Inc., Northern Lights (Nevada) Inc., Northern Lights Funding LP, Northern Lights Investments LLC, Nova Controls Inc., OK International, OK International Holdings Inc., OK International Inc., OK International Ltd., OPW Engineered Systems LLC, OPW Fluid Transfer Group Europe B.V., OPW Fluid Transfer Solutions (Jiang Su) Co. Ltd., OPW Fluids Group Inc., OPW Fuel Management Systems Inc., OPW Fueling Components (SuZhou) Co. Ltd., OPW Fueling Components LLC, OPW Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., OPW Slovakia s.r.o., OPW Sweden AB, Officine Meccaniche Sirio S.R.L., PDQ Manufacturing, PDQ Manufacturing Inc., PISCES by OPW Inc., PSD Codax Holdings Limited, PSD Codax Limited, PSG (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PSG (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PSG California LLC, PSG Germany GmbH, Petro Vend Sp. z o.o., Pike Machine Products Inc., Pole/Zero Acquisition Inc., Precision Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Para Postos De Combustiveis Ltda., Precision Service - Servicos De Manutencao E Instalacao De Postos De Abastecimento De Combustivel Ltda., Production Control Services, Pump Management Services Co. LLC, Quantex Arc Limited, Quantex Patents Limited, RAV France, Ravaglioli S.P.A., Reduction Engineering GmbH, RegO (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., RegO Holding GmbH, RegO Products, RegO Valve (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Rego GmbH, Revod Corporation, Revod Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Revod Sweden AB, Robohand Inc., Rosario, Rosario Handel B.V., Rotary Lift Consolidated (Haimen) Co. Ltd., SE Liquidation LLC, SWEP France, SWEP Germany GmbH, SWEP Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., SWEP North America Inc., SWEP Slovakia s.r.o., SWEP Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Seabiscuit Motorsports Inc., Shanghai RegO Flow Technology Company Ltd., Shine Bloom - ECI A Blocker Corp., Shine Bloom - ECI Blocker Corp., Shine Bloom - ECI S Blocker Corp., Simmons Sirvey Corporation, So. Cal. Soft-Pak, So. Cal. Soft-Pak Incorporated, Soft-Pak, Solaris Laser, Solaris Laser S.A., Somero Enterprises, Sound Solutions, Sound Solutions, Space S.R.L., Spirit, Start Italiana S.R.L., Superior Holding LLC, Superior Products LLC, Swep Energy Oy, Swep International A.B., Swep Japan K.K., Sys-Tech Solutions, Sys-Tech Solutions Inc., Systech, TQC Quantium Quality S.A. de C.V., TTSI III Inc., TWG Canada Consolidated Inc., TXHI LLC, Tartan Textile Services Inc., The Espy Corporation, The Heil Co., Tokheim, Tokheim Belgium, Tokheim China Company Limited, Tokheim GmbH, Tokheim Group, Tokheim Hengshan Technologies (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Tokheim Holding B.V., Tokheim India Private Limited, Tokheim Sofitam Applications, Triton Systems, Tulsa Winch Inc., UPCO Inc., US Synthetic, Unattended Payment Solutions LLC, Unified Brands, Val TemperBent Glass L.P., Vectron Frequency Devices (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vehicle Service Group LLC, Vehicle Service Group UK Limited, Vos Food Store Equipment Ltd., WSCR Corp., Warn Automotive LLC, Warn Industries, Waukesha Bearings, Waukesha Bearings Corporation, Waukesha Bearings Limited, Waukesha Bearings Russia LLC, Wayne Fueling Systems, Wayne Fueling Systems (Rus) Limited Liability Company, Wayne Fueling Systems Australia Pty Ltd, Wayne Fueling Systems Canada ULC, Wayne Fueling Systems Italia S.R.L., Wayne Fueling Systems LLC, Wayne Fueling Systems Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems Sweden AB, Wayne Fueling Systems UK Holdco Ltd., Wayne Industria e Comercio Ltda., WellMark, WellMark, and em-tec GmbH.

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OGE Energy Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy and energy services provider that offers physical delivery and related services for electricity, natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids in the United States. The company generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric energy. It provides retail electric service to approximately 879,000 customers, which covers a service area of approximately 30,000 square miles in Oklahoma and western Arkansas; and owns and operates coal-fired, natural gas-fired, wind-powered, and solar-powered generating assets. As of December 31, 2021, the company owned and operated interconnected electric generation, transmission, and distribution systems, including 16 generating stations with an aggregate capability of 7,207 megawatts; and transmission systems comprising 54 substations and 5,122 structure miles of lines in Oklahoma, and 7 substations and 277 structure miles of lines in Arkansas. Its distribution systems included 350 substations; 29,494 structure miles of overhead lines; 3,365 miles of underground conduit; and 11,125 miles of underground conductors in Oklahoma, as well as 29 substations, 2,795 structure miles of overhead lines, 349 miles of underground conduit, and 662 miles of underground conductors in Arkansas. The company was founded in 1902 and is based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
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.
(Beijing)  A crucial $15 billion piece of funding is still missing in the complex financial structure that China National Chemical Corp. (ChemChina) plans to use in its mega-acquisition of Swiss agribusiness giant Syngenta AG, according to several people close to the deal.

The proposed $43 billion takeover is the biggest overseas offer ever made by a Chinese company. It has received attention worldwide in part because it needs the approval of Chinese, American and European authorities, and also because of the complexity of the financing.

China National Agrochemical Corp.(CNAC), a wholly owned subsidiary of ChemChina, will use a three-layered structure involving six special-purpose vehicles to raise capital for the deal, according to documents from the company that have been seen by Caixin.

Investors that are to provide loans to the plan include bank consortiums led by HSBC and Citic, according to the documents.

The cornerstone to the highly leveraged financing arrangement  one that the rest of the financing depends upon  is $15 billion to be injected into CNAC, according to company documents.

But it remains unclear who will provide these funds, according to people close to the bank lenders. They insisted on anonymity because they are not allowed to comment on the acquisition.

Based on the latest documents related to the financing structure, which may be revised, none of the investments will come from ChemChina itself or its subsidiaries.

A report by Bloomberg in September said China's state-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission and the Silk Road Fund will each provide $10 billion to support the acquisition. It cited the information from dealReporter, an equities news and data service provider.

But people from both government bodies told Caixin they were not considering such investments.

Nevertheless, the Chinese government will want to see the deal completed one way or another, according a person close to Syngenta. Yet it's hard to tell how it will be completed because ChemChina's financing plan still has uncertainties, he said.

State-owned ChemChina has only 11 billion yuan ($1.65 billion) in registered capital. It is heavily indebted with a debt-to-total assets ratio exceeding 80 percent at the end of March, according to its quarterly financial report.

"Under normal commercial conditions, it's impossible for a company with such a high leverage ratio to raise funds at such a large scale," a person close to the situation said.

The proposal has cleared one regulatory hurdle after the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., or CFIUS, gave it a green light in August. It still needs approval from the Chinese government and European Union's anti-trust authorities ahead of an extended deadline of Nov. 8.

Failure to get the approvals would lead to ChemChina paying fines of at least $3 billion to Syngenta, according to the firms' earlier agreement.

Contact Wang Yuqian (yuqianwang@caixin.com); editor Ken Howe (kennethhowe@caixin.com)
UPDATE: Ruth's Chris in Ann Arbor completely booked for Michigan football promotion

ANN ARBOR, MI - The Rutgers Scarlett Knights aren't the only ones hurting following the 78-0 loss to the Michigan Wolverines Saturday night. A promotion at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Ann Arbor went a little more extreme than planned.

The steakhouse began a promotion last week that offered guests a percentage off of their bill based on how large the Michigan victory was that week.

The ideas is that if Michigan won by 15 points, all bills would be discounted by 15 percent. However, the gimmick sort of backfired after Michigan pounded Rutgers 78-0 on Saturday, Oct. 8. The promotion did cap the discount at 50 percent, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been, but through Thursday, Oct. 13, all meals will be discounted by 50 percent.

Attention #UMfootball fans! When Michigan wins, you win! For the remainder of U of M's football season, mention our "... Posted by Ruth's Chris Steak House Ann Arbor on Friday, October 7, 2016

A few restrictions do apply according to a post on the restaurant's Facebook page.

"Some conditions apply: cannot be combined with other offers, excludes groups or private dining, excludes alcohol, purchase of an entree required, and gratuity is based on bill total prior to discount," the post reads.

The promotion will be ongoing throughout the rest of the 2016 season. Luckily for Ruth's Chris, the Wolverines are off next week and return to action on Oct. 22 when they play Illinois.
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BAY CITY, MI -- More than two years ago, Bay City businessman Art Dore bought the former PNC Bank building at Center and Washington avenues in downtown Bay City for $100,000.

At the time, real estate officials called the sale of the 85,000-square-foot building "the definition of value."

That sale was bested this week.

On Monday, Oct. 3, developer Jenifer Acosta closed the purchase of the former Chemical Bank building, also at the Center-Washington intersection, for $25,000. Acosta, who is partnering with her father Rod Hildebrandt on the purchase, has big plans to redevelop the former bank building into a multi-use structure with residential apartment rentals and commercial space.

(Swipe photo to see before and after)

Tom Starkweather, with American Real Estate Advisors, brokered the deal.

"This is a case where the developer has to sink millions and millions of dollars into this thing to make it work," Starkweather said. "In my opinion, it was an opportunity for the bank to avoid having to tear it down. (The bank) doesn't want to go through all the details to renovate one of these buildings."

The building was last assessed at $484,000.

In 2014, Chemical Bank officials explored plans to demolish the 125-year-old Crapo Building and rebuild a smaller branch with a parking lot and drive-thru at the main downtown intersection. That news sparked public outcry and caught the attention of potential developers.

Earlier this summer, Acosta and her father entered into a purchase agreement with the bank with plans to transform the historic building into something of use again, effectively saving it from the wrecking ball.

A rendering of The Legacy building in downtown Bay City. Neighborhood Development Co. is looking to transform the former Chemical Bank building into a multi-use building with residential apartment rentals and commercial space.

In August, Acosta received the OK from the National Parks Service to get the Crapo Building on the National Register of Historic Places -- a required step in order for her to go after about $2 million in federal tax credits for the $11.6 million redevelopment project.

Walter Szostak, president of Bay City Chemical Bank, declined to comment on the sale price of the building. He said the deal is "good for the bank, good for (Acosta) and good for the community."

"We wish her luck and hope everything progresses nicely at the building," Szostak said.

Local real estate officials say the low sale price shouldn't impact other commercial real estate deals in Bay City.

"It sold for a nominal number," said Steve Lockey, a longtime Bay City commercial real estate broker. "This is a sale just to get the building off the bank's books. When you have a building that is functionally obsolete, you typically look at the cost of the land that it sits on and go with that price."

Starkweather, who brokered the Crapo building deal, recently negotiated a deal for Bay City-based Pyramid Paving. The company, currently located at 1010 Adams St., closed on the former First American Title building at 600 N. Jefferson for $225,000.

Acosta, who is also redeveloping the former Bay City Times building, has renamed the former bank building "The Legacy." She plans to develop rental apartments on the upper floors and find a restaurateur to lease the ground level space where Chemical Bank used to operate its downtown branch.

After closing on the building on Monday, Acosta took to social media by sharing a few photos of the historic Crapo building. "Looking forward to giving this building another 100 years," she said.
powerlinesnew.jpg

(Roberto Acosta | MLive.com)

GENESEE COUNTY, MI - Consumers Energy is still working on the cause behind multiple power outages for customers during the past week in northeast Genesee County.

Three outages took place over the past seven days, including Sunday, Oct. 2, mid-week, and Friday, Oct. 7 that left thousands in the dark for varying chunks of time in Otisville, Forest and Richfield townships, and Davison area.

The Jackson-based company released a statement over the weekend stating crews are trying to diagnose the exact cause for the outages, including modification of a section of a 46,000-volt transmission line in Davison.

It's believed the line sagged and caused interruptions to happen due to the above-average weather that increased customer demand for electricity, as well as a higher load that allowed for another section of line to have work done.

"We are doing this (modification) by installing fault detectors and re-positioning wires in one area to address an identified issue between our high and low voltage distribution lines," reads the statement.

Several residents have expressed disappointment on social media about the number of recent power outages.

"We understand the frustration electric interruptions can cause and appreciate your patience as we as quickly and safely as possible correct this situation," concludes the statement.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids residents expressed shock and outrage on social media after one man was killed and eight others injured in a shooting at a party.

The Grand Rapids Police Department said in a statement that the shooting occurred at 3:45 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9 near the 1800 Block of 28th St SE. A man in his early 20s was found dead at the scene, a victim of a gunshot wound.

Eight others were injured and were taken to various hospitals to be treated. The department's Major Case Team is investigating the incident.

Grand Rapids residents responded to the news with prayers for the victims and outrage against the violence.

Let's take a moment out of our busy lives today and pray for the young man who lost his life last night and for the... Posted by Shenice Vanessa Kvas on Sunday, October 9, 2016

After Last Night I'm Good on Goin Out in GR.. I Shouldn't Have to Second Guess Losing My Life Just To Go Out & Enjoy... Posted by Segen Abraha on Sunday, October 9, 2016

OMFG I hope it isnt anyone I know. That is the time people are out waiting for the bus to go to work these are... Posted by Cheyanne Glenn-Clark on Sunday, October 9, 2016

Praying for all effected by the shooting last night/this morning. Praying extra hard for the young man that lost his life and his fam&friends. GR We gotta do better.  #PrayingForMyCity Posted by Stella Prater on Sunday, October 9, 2016

@TweetneyMoore This is why I carry a concealed weapon. Happens all the time here sadly. https://t.co/g4Erdcvgrx  Will (@JinxtrrWill) October 9, 2016

Sgt. Terry Dixon said he did not have information about the condition of the victims as of Sunday morning. Dixon said there were 60 to 80 people were convened at a "large party" when the shooting occurred.

No suspects have been arrested.

If anyone has additional information, contact the police at 456-3400 or call silent observer at 774-2345.

More information will be released throughout the day.
Donald Trump

This Oct. 7, 2016, file photo shows Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump pausing during a meeting with members of the National Border Patrol Council at Trump Tower in New York. A defiant Trump insisted Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, he would "never" abandon his White House bid, rejecting a growing backlash from Republican leaders nationwide who disavowed the GOP's presidential nominee after he was caught on tape bragging about predatory advances on women.

(Evan Vucci | AP)

A bombshell recording of demeaning and vulgar comments about women of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump made in 2005, released just before the second presidential debate, is already having wide-ranging impacts on the election.

In the video, Trump said, "when you're a star, they let you do it," among other more graphic comments.

The question now isn't if, but how the issue will rear its head in Sunday night's presidential debate. The debate begins at 9 p.m. Eastern.

Trump said in a video statement addressing the remarks that "there is a big difference" between words and actions and plans to argue that former president Bill Clinton has abused women, and Hillary Clinton has "bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims" in the coming days.

Here is my statement. Ive never said Im a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone that Im not. Ive said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more than a decade-old video are one of them. Anyone who knows me, know these words dont reflect who I am. I said it, it was wrong, and I apologize. Ive travelled the country talking about change for America. But my travels have also changed me. Ive spent time with grieving mothers whove lost their children, laid off workers whose jobs have gone to other countries, and people from all walks of life who just want a better future. I have gotten to know the great people of our country, and Ive been humbled by the faith theyve placed in me. I pledge to be a better man tomorrow, and will never, ever let you down. Lets be honest. Were living in the real world. This is nothing more than a distraction from the important issues we are facing today. We are losing our jobs, we are less safe than we were 8 years ago and Washington is broken. Hillary Clinton, and her kind, have run our country into the ground. Ive said some foolish things, but there is a big difference between words and actions. Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims. We will discuss this more in the coming days. See you at the debate on Sunday. Posted by Donald J. Trump on Friday, October 7, 2016

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton weighed in on Twitter, calling Trump's comments "horrific" and adding, "We cannot allow this man to become president," but has otherwise not weighed in on the issue. She has reportedly decided to wait until the debate to respond further, according to Time Magazine.

In Michigan, prominent Republicans such as Lt. Gov. Brian Calley and U.S. Reps. Fred Upton and Justin Amash have called on Trump to step aside.

Michigan Republican Party chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel said she "cannot and will not" defend Trump's comments. in a 2005 recording in which Trump is heard making crude remarks about women.

State Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons, who is currently running for Kent County Clerk, said on social media that she had been quiet on the presidential race out of respect for voters, but said "it is clear that Donald Trump has not earned my respect or my vote" after his comments on women were made public.

U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Rochester Hills, did not renounce his support of Trump, but said no one should ever talk about women the way Trump did in the conversation made public this weekend.

"I am disgusted by it," Bishop said. "Senator John McCain said it best when he said, 'He alone bears the burden of his conduct and alone should suffer the consequences.'"

Meanwhile, Michigan Democrats criticized Republican Congressional and state House candidates who did not renounce their support of Trump.

"It's not just what Trump said about women that deserves condemnation, it's the man himself that should be condemned and support for him unequivocally renounced," Michigan Democratic Party Chair Brandon Dillon said. "Republicans like Mike Bishop, Tim Walberg, David Trott, Jack Bergman, and every, single GOP candidate for the State House, have hidden behind empty statements or said nothing at all...By standing with Donald Trump, each of these individuals is saying that they do not stand with the women of Michigan."

State House Democratic Minority Leader Tim Greimel said it's impossible to listen to Trump's comments about women "without feeling outrage and disgust."

"Trump boasts of his wealth allowing him to kiss or grab women anywhere he pleases without asking," he said. "He has clearly disqualified himself from the office he seeks by speaking so degradingly about half of America's population. These kinds of comments must never be tolerated, and those who speak them must never be given the privilege to serve as our president."
Michael Sweeney

Hillsdale College professor Michael Sweeney has received the 2016 Michigan Association of CPA's Accounting Teaching Excellence Award.

(Courtesy HIllsdale College)

HILLSDALE, MI - A Hillsdale College professor has received the 2016 Michigan Association of CPA's Accounting Teaching Excellence Award.

Michael Sweeney received the award at an Oct. 5 ceremony in West Bloomfield.

Sweeney has taught at Hillsdale College for 20 years and holds the Evert McCabe/UPS Memorial Endowed Chair of Economics.

In addition, Sweeney is chairman for the Hillsdale Hospital Authority Finance Committee and teaches "Decision Making for Managers" as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland.

Sweeney also coordinates Hillsdale College's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, an IRS-sponsored program that pairs students with local community members in need of tax-preparation support.

The Accounting Teaching Excellence Award recognizes educators who excel in teaching accounting and promoting the CPA profession.
I voted

The League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass County will host three candidate forums this week.

(MLive file)

DOWAGIAC, MI -- The League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties will hold three candidate forums this week.

On Monday, Oct. 10, the League of Women Voters will hold an event starting at 6:30 p.m. with a forum for Cass County 43rd Circuit Judge candidates Mark Herman and Scott Teter. At 7:30 p.m., a forum will feature Michigan House 59th District candidates Carol Higgins, a Democrat, and Aaron Miller, a Republican. Miller is the incumbent. The event will be held at the mathews Conference Center East at Southwestern Michigan College's Dowagiac Campus, 58900 Cherry Grove Rd., Dowagiac.

On Thursday, Oct. 13, a 7 p.m. forum will feature Michigan House 78th District candidates Dave Pagel, a Republican, and Dean Hill, a Democrat, along with Michigan House 79th District candidates Kim LaSata, a Republican, and Marletta Seats, a Democrat. The forum will be held at the Berrien RESA Conference Center, 711 St. Joseph Ave., Berrien Springs.

Also at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, Niles mayoral candidates Robert Durm and Nick Shelton will answer questions at the Niles District Library, 630 E. Main St., Niles.

The first questions at each forum will come from the League of Women Voters, and then the audience will be allowed to submit questions in writing. The exception is the judicial forum, where questions will only come from the sponsor because the types of questions to ask judicial candidates are limited.

The forums are free and open to the public.
MUSKEGON, MI - Muskegon District Court Chief Judge Raymond Kostzewa this week appointed Patrick A. Finnegan the court's administrator.

Court administrators are behind-the-scenes workers who manage important matters of the court in order to free up judges for ruling from the bench.

"If I do my job right, you don't see me," Finnegan said.

But court administrators do manage important matters such as dockets and special courts.

Muskegon County's 60th District Court operates a Sobriety Court, a Veteran's Treatment Court, and a Mental Health Court with leadership and participation from all four district judges. The special courts allow some offenders to be diverted into treatment programs, in order to reduce the likelihood they'll become a repeat offender.

"We know that recidivism is a serious problem for our courts system," Finnegan said. The idea is to identify the root cause people are coming into the court system, identify "barriers to compliance," and help individuals at a high risk for repeat offenses to work out their issues.

Most recently, Finnegan worked in the field of International and Corporate Compliance for Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. In New York City. Finnegan also served as a Muskegon County prosecutor in 2011 and a Friend of the Court Establishment Attorney from 2012 to 2015.

Finnegan said he's excited to return to the sphere of public service.

"I've always thought that's where my interests and abilities aligned," he said.

Finnegan is a graduate of University of Michigan and Cooley Law School.

The District Court Administrator position has passed into a few different hands since seven-year veteran administrator Nancy Hennard left in February 2014.

Finnegan's predecessor, Kathryn Howard, left and was replaced by an Interim Administrator, Jim Hughes, this spring.

Finnegan said he's in it for the long haul. He lived in Muskegon County for a while growing up and attended middle school in Whitehall .

"I want to make this home," he said. "I'm at a stage of my life where that's appealing to me."
OGEMAW COUNTY, MI -- Police report that the body of a missing Skidway Lake man was recovered four days after the 51-year-old and his dog went missing.

The Michigan State Police dive team recovered the body of Harold W. Brown on Sunday, Oct. 9, according to a press release issued by the agency.

The man's body was found in the Rifle River near Skidway Lake, where Brown lived. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death, according to the release.

The discovery comes on the fourth day of a search operation that began when Brown and his dog, Ginger, went missing on Thursday, Oct. 6.

On Thursday afternoon, hunters found Brown's red Ford F-150 on a two-track road near Skidway Lake, running but unoccupied. When the hunters noticed that the truck hadn't moved five hours later, they notified police.

Michigan State Police troopers determined the truck was registered to Brown and sought him, unsuccessfully, at his Skidway Lake home.

Brown's relatives told troopers he suffers from depression and other health issues. They also told troopers the man was likely traveling with his dog, a female boxer named Ginger, as she is also missing.

Troopers and K-9 units immediately began searching the area where Brown's truck was found. On Friday, Oct. 7, a Michigan State Police helicopter and volunteers joined the search, which continued on Saturday, Oct. 8.

A staging area was set up at the American Legion Post #370 in Skidway Lake, from which about 75 civilian and first-responder volunteers were organized to continue the search.

The dog, Ginger, was located by members of the Michigan State Police emergency services team on Friday and was returned to family members.

But the search for Brown himself ended at about 11:50 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, when the man's body was recovered.

Michigan State Police 1st Lt. Chris Luty, commander of the West Branch Post, expressed thanks on behalf of the agency and Brown's family for the efforts of all the volunteers over the four-day-long search.

"Both the Michigan State Police and Mr. Brown's family are grateful the volunteer community was willing to dedicate their time and effort to finding Mr. Brown," Luty said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Michigan State Police West Branch Post at 989-345-0955 or Ogemaw County Central Dispatch at 989-345-9911.
SAGINAW, MI -- Volunteers and staff of the City Rescue Mission are holding their Third Annual Dutch Apple Pie Sale to benefit the homeless. The sale takes place Saturday, Oct. 15, at the City Rescue Mission, located at 1021 Burt St.

The pies are handmade by staff, volunteers and mission guests. All ingredients are local to Michigan and have been donated by companies in The Great Lakes Bay Region. Pies are $10 each and supplies are limited.

All proceeds benefit emergency shelter services. The Saginaw Rescue Mission averages 100 guests per night. Guests are provided with three meals a day, clothing, a job readiness program and Christian counseling. To purchase a pie online, visit www.rescuesaginaw.org or call the Saginaw Rescue Mission at (989) 752-6051
Update: Divers find body of missing Ogemaw County man after four-day search

WEST BRANCH, MI -- The search for a missing Skidway Lake man and his dog is now in its fourth day.

The Michigan State Police is working with volunteers in Ogemaw County this weekend to search for Harold W. Brown and his dog, Ginger. The pair have been missing since Thursday, Oct. 6.

On Thursday afternoon, hunters found Brown's red Ford F-150 on a two-track road near Skidway Lake, running but unoccupied. When the hunters noticed that the truck hadn't moved five hours later, they notified police.

Michigan State Police troopers determined the truck was registered to Harold W. Brown, 51. They checked his residence, but Brown was not there.

Throughout the night, troopers and three K-9 units from the Houghton Lake and Flint Michigan State Police posts searched the area where Brown's truck was found, though the agency reports inclement weather hindered their efforts.

On Friday, Oct. 7, about 50 civilian and first-responder volunteers assisted Michigan State Police personnel in their search, which included the use of a State Police helicopter.

The larger search was called off at 7:30 p.m. Friday due to darkness, though Michigan State Police Emergency Services Team and Canine Unit members continued to search until 10 p.m.

The search resumed at 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, and continued on Sunday, Oct. 9.

Michigan State Police Lt. David Kaiser said volunteers have been "instrumental in reducing the area to be searched."

Brown's relatives told troopers he suffers from depression and other health issues. They also told troopers the man was likely traveling with his dog, a female boxer named Ginger, as she is also missing.

Anyone with information about the missing man is asked to call the Michigan State Police West Branch Post at 989-345-095 or Ogemaw County Central Dispatch at 989-345-9911.
President John Mahama has hit out at critics of his government who are overlooking the significance of the international credit ratings agency, Moodys recent reassessment of the Ghanaian economy.

He has continued to use Moodys revised outlook on Ghana's long term bond ratings from negative to stable as political capital by citing it as evidence of his governments progress with the economy and establishing disciplined expenditure.

In subtle jabs at the Flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, he said, when somebody sits and says the economy is in crises, you fail to understand where he sees that crisis. He probably has some lens that sees crisis were crisis does not exist.

Recently Mood's, one of the recognised international credit agencies upgraded Ghana. At the time Moody's was downgrading us between 2012 and 2013, the same people said Ghana has been downgraded and it means the economy is bad, you credit rating is poor and we have fought to try and restore that confidence in Ghana's economy.

Now the same Moody's upgrades us and an opposition leader says Moody's doesn't know what it is talking about, President Mahama said.

Nana Addo rubbishes new rating

Nana Akufo-Addo had described as inaccurate , Moody's recent revision of Ghana's Long Term Bond Ratings from negative to stable.

According to the NPP flagbearer, the rating is not a true reflection of the current state of Ghana's economy since there are still some challenges that the governing NDC is still struggling to tackle.

Is NDC taking the massive unemployment rate in our country into account?This is not the way that the Ghanaian people want to be governed. They expect to be governed with truth not with deception, with honesty and not with lies, with policy and not with propaganda, Nana Akufo-Addo said.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana


The New Patriotic Party in the Volta Region have accused the ruling Government of victimizing the Paramount Chief of Asogli Traditional Area Togbe Afede over his recent condemnation of the government's attitude towards the voter in the area.

Togbe Afede XIV recently lambasted the ruling NDC for taking the Volta Region for granted despite the political support it enjoys from the region.

He said the NDC and its officials in public offices disrespect the chiefs and people of the area but call on them during elections.

Following his condemnation, the Volta Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr John Peter Amewu said the Chief have since been suffering victimization from the ruling government.

Accusing the NDC of suffocating businesses and frustrating business people who do not belong to their camp, Peter Amewu at a press cnferecne in Ho today [Saturday] said business initiatives of the Paramount chief are being crippled.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it will shock you to note that Togbe Afede who is one of the finest and hardworking Ghanaian entrepreneurs has become a target of Mahama led NDC administration as a result of his constant crusade for good governance and incorruptible leadership he claimed.

Making references, the Regional Chairman said it is no more hidden secret that Togbe's Coastal/Beach Development Project which has been given a blessing by the Ga Chiefs and gone to cabinet several times for discussions had been shot down by president Mahama and his cronies

He added a wonderful idea by Togbe Afede to introduce 1000 megawatt of coal as proportion of our energy mix has been hijacked by the NDC government. it is unbelievable to note that for over five months now the Asogli power plant has been idle due to lack of security of supply of gas from Nigeria and government failure and inability to make payment due Asogli.

He however wondered why government continued to support foreign initiatives at higher cost instead of promoting indigenous businesses.

How can this government continue to stifle the private sector initiatives and still have moral grounds of creating jobs? Government finds it more expedient to advance payment to KAR Power Project, a foreign initiative at a rather higher rate. 

Peter Amewu implored the people of the Volta region and business people to support the NPP to win the general elections to enhance socio economic growth of the country.

Ladies and gentlemen, to those Voltarians who are not NPP sympathizers if you have passion for positive economic, social and political change, come join the NPP. Together we can achieve a strong Volta and Independent Ghana

-citifmonline
09.10.2016 LISTEN

More than five hundred members of the National Union of Ghana Students have converged at the Ideal College, Accra campus to attend the 50th NUGS residential delegate congress.

The congress which is under the theme "Building a Modernised Society with the influence of Quality Education: the Challenges, Lessons and Prospects for the Ghanaian Policy Maker, NUGS in Perspective" is aimed at electing ten national officers out of the twenty eight viable candidates.

In an interview at the Launch of the Congress, Thomas Takyi, Public Relations Officer of NUGS listed the following activities for the four days congress. Education seminar, Relationship and Health talk, Talent show, Movie and Awards night.

The rest are Beach Carnival, Manifesto reading, Presidential debate and Election. The gathering will among other things discuss key matters confronting the students of Ghana and possible recommendation for the policy makers in the education sector.

For his part, Coordinating Secretary of NUGS, Paul Gyan observed that every necessary arrangements in the area of feeding, accommodation and Security was highly provided for, and that this year's congress will be a colourful one devoid of any incident, he added.

He further stated that this year's congress was specially dedicated to the founding founders of NUGS, which is the mother union of all sub students groupings in Ghana.

He observed that fifty years of NUGS existence as a major stakeholder in the democratic dispensation in Ghana requires a book to tell.

Touching on the impending 2016 general elections, Mr. Gyan called on all NUGS constituents not to allowed themselves to be used as vessels of violence before, during and after the elections.

He challenged the actors in the education sector to take a second look at government's refusal to pay the bursaries of the Graduate students for the past two years, a situation he described as very alarming.
Health Minister, Alex Segbefia, has said medical doctors in the country have no justifications to complain about being unemployed, especially when they have turned down postings to areas they consider deprived.

Responding to concerns raised by doctors over government's inability to engage new doctors who have completed their housemanship training at the 58th Annual General Conference of the Ghana Medical Association in Ho, the Minister said, medical doctors are among the few workers that are prioritized in terms of recruitment.

He observed that, the challenge however has been that the new doctors refuse posting to certain parts of the country, explaining that most of the doctors prefer postings to urban areas to the rural areas, a situation he described as unfortunate.

The last placements that were done, we had on average for every region, a one third representation of the doctors that were placed turning down. In other words; when you place 21 doctors in every region we got seven going. But in Greater Accra, we had 100% turnout: we placed 20 and they all turned out :nobody fell sick, nobody complained.

Now if any those doctors now go around saying they are unemployed then it's unfair to us. Because we have placed you and got your financial clearance; but you have not gone to where we thought we should place you, and instead you are in Accra, he lamented.

He therefore encouraged young doctors to be ready to take up postings to places where their services are most needed. This year's conference was under theme Cardiovascular Diseases: emerging trends.

The Special Guest of Honour, Professor John Owusu Gyapong, the Vice Chancellor of The University of Health And Allied Sciences, made a presentation on the disease, which includes high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes among others. He called on the public to adopt healthy lifestyles and avoid excessive smoking and intake of alcohol.

The Volta Regional Minister, Hellen Adjoa Ntosu, also charged the doctors to be dedicated to service, since the health and well-being of the citizens are entrusted in their hands.



By: King Nobert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana
09.10.2016 LISTEN

A book written about Americas first black president, Barack Hussein Obama, by a Ghanaian Dr Etse Sikanku, has been launched in Accra Saturday.

Many are the books written about him, by him, but none connects with a comb, the African heritage which gave Obama not only an identity but a global figure status.

A researcher that he is, Afrocentric Obama and Lessons on Political Campaign-the title of the book- is Dr Etse Sikankus own contribution in filling the gap in the literature and telling a profound story of the towering figure whose name belonged and so he belonged.

After a global launch of the book in the US , and an illuminating book reading sessions across some Ivy League schools, the British Council in Accra became the spotlight for the Ghana launch.

With the man behind the book, others who reviewed it and a guest speaker equally gifted with the power of oratory all sharing the lessons of what Obama stands for, and why Ghana, Africa must begin to assimilate these lessons for the growth and development of the country, continent.

How Afrocentric Obama began

Until Afrocentric Obama came, Dr Etse Sikanku was many things but a writer. He is a lecturer, a researcher, a journalist, political analyst and lately a show host.

While conducting one of his research, incidentally on Obamas African identity, his supervisor tossed that little idea of a book into his mind. That idea was mixed by a little dream he had of his late father handing a book over to him and that stimulated a powerful urge and a burning motivation to add authorship to his long list of careers. He added it and birthed a book of great global importance with lessons for all.

In his colourful batakari, on top of his long sleeved white shirt, Etse as he would have his students call him, shared with his guests how the African values shaped Obamas style of communication, campaign and the political lessons of communalism, decency, empathy that can be learnt by other leaders.

Dr Sikanku said while Africa gave Obama the unique identity he needed, his ascension into the White House, gave Africans a pride of place in global politics which resulted in over 54 babies being named after Obama and a national holiday and prayer meeting declared in Kenya to herald Obamas feat.

Guest Speakers Oratory

With an enduring fondness and deep abiding lust for American politics Kwaku Sakyi Addo, who was Guest Speaker on the night situated how relevant Afrocentric Obama is to the extraordinary story of the Obamas.

Slow in speech, as if each word was of equal importance, and it was, Kwaku Sakyi Addo narrated how unfathomable it was for a man with an African first name, Muslim middle name will enter the symbol of global authority and manifest what Michael Dukakis and others like him with strange names tried but failed to do.

Sakyi Addo dramatised how Obama did it with a great fight, surmounted an unbelievably long odds which saw him topple none other than a colossus, a Clinton, and a war hero, McCain to become Americas president; the one who after two terms, never once had a scandal which a great many detractors were waiting for, to tear him apart.

Obama run a politics of heart, not of pocket, a politics of communalism, not sectarianism, a politics of fundraising, not fund giving which inevitably will end in fund grabbing, Kwaku Sakyi Addo emphasised.

The Telecommunications Chamber CEO challenged Ghanaian and African leaders to learn the lessons of Obama, captured in the Afrocentric Obama, and live a legacy in their modest places of work.

Deputy Education Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said whilst Obamas success remains a feather in the cap of all Africans a lot still remains to be done.

He cited a poll put out by CNN which revealed that 54 percent of Americans believed that race relations had gotten worse under Obama which has manifested in attacks on Black people and vice versa.

He said the effort by Etse should spur others on in helping to build a global society in which there is mutual respect for all, no matter the colour or creed of the person.

The launch of Afrocentric Obama would not have been complete without the presence of the American representatives,

Press Attache at the US Embassy in Ghana Sara Stealy and Jennifer Hasty, Professor of Anthropolgy, University of Pennsylvania, USA were present at the launch to support the Dr Sikanku cause.

Afrocentric Obama and Lessons on Political Campaign was auctioned by Kafui Dey and was well patronized by the guests.

-myjoyonline
By Laudia Sawer, GNA

Tema, Oct 8, GNA - Nii Bortey Klan, Klangon Mantse, has asked the public to ignore some publications challenging his legitimacy as a chief in the Klangon area.

Nii Klan said the public especially, residents of Klangon in the Tema Metropolis should see the publication as an attempt to tarnish his image and therefore should ignore it and go about their businesses peacefully.

The Tema Traditional Council in the Tuesday, October 4, 2016 edition of the Daily Graphic published that Nii Klan who is a native of Nungua could not be a chief of Klangon as according to the Council, the area was an extension of the Tema Stool.

In a reaction to the publication, he told the Ghana News Agency that Klangon was not an extension of Tema stool but rather belonged to the people of Nungua.

He explained that the fact that Klangon was under the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) does not mean traditionally it is part of the Tema Stool.

Nii Klan added that Nungua lands include Lashibi, Klangon, Adjei Kojo, Santeo, Suncity Borteman and Sakumono village.

He therefore advised the Tema Traditional Council (TTC) not to use the political demarcation or the Tema Development Corporation's (TDC) acquisition area to claim lands that do not belong to them.

On the issue of the decision of TTC to seek the annulment of his gazetting, the chief said that was not possible as he was lawfully selected, installed and gazetted by National House of Chiefs as number 500 in 2003.

GNA
Obuasi (A/R), Oct. 9, GNA - Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has said government is committed to see to the revival of the Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi mine.

He said the effort of government to reactivate the Obuasi mine was to create jobs for the people.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur said this when he addressed hundreds of NDC supporters at a joint campaign launch for the party's parliamentary candidates for Obuasi East and West constituencies in the Ashanti Region.

Mr Ofori Agyemang Boadi, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Obuasi and Mr John Alexander Ackon, the Ashanti Regional Minister, are the NDC parliamentary candidates respectively for the two constituencies.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur said the mine is very crucial to the agenda of government and it would provide practical measures to rejuvenate the mine's operation, adding that 'the mine is at the heart of the president'.

'We will make the Obuasi mine attractive so that it can create jobs for the people' he said.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur also entreated the electorates to vote massively for President Mahama and the party's parliamentary candidates to ensure that the party retains power in the December elections.

He said President Mahama over the years has demonstrated that he is a capable leader who delivers on every work that is given to him.

Dr Samuel Sarpong, former Ashanti Regional Minister, speaking at the function, said the New Patriotic Party's presidential candidate, Nana Akufo Addo cannot be compared with President Mahama.

He said President Mahama has a proven track record and experience both as President and Vice President of Ghana.

Dr Sarpong, who is also the NDC parliamentary candidate for the Nhyiaeso constituency, expressed the hope that the track record of President Mahama delivering on his promises would reflect positively in the outcome of the December elections.

'We have done so much in the last four years and this will win Mahama the seat again', he said.

He urged the electorates in the area to vote massively for the NDC to continue with its developmental agenda.

Mr John Ackon, on his part, recounted the achievements of the government in Obuasi and its environs.

He said government's provision of infrastructure like schools and water among others was outstanding.

He said the Obuasi-Kumasi road has been awarded to a contractor and soon work would start on the project.

Mr Boadi also recounted the numerous developmental projects undertaken by government in the Obuasi municipality.

He urged electorates to vote for President Mahama and the NDC parliamentary candidates to bring more development to the area.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur also introduced the NDC's Parliamentary Candidates for Obuasi and West, Mr Ofori Agyemang Boadi, and Mr John Alexander Ackon respectively to the crowd.

GNA
By Belinda Ayamgha, GNA

Accra, Oct. 9, GNA - McOttley Holdings has donated $6000 to support the surgical operation of Abdul Kadri Umar, a four year-old hole-in-heart patient at the Korle Bu Children's Hospital.

The donation follows a news report on Light TV early this year, calling on corporate institutions and individuals to come to the aid of little Abdul.

Mrs Happy Forson, Managing Director of McOttley Capital, in a statement issued to the GNA, said the donation was part of its commitment to give back to society and showed its dedication to financially empower the vulnerable.

'We have already supported a number of medical situations and will continue to support the vulnerable as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility', she said, adding that this formed part of McOttley's third anniversary celebration program.

A year ago little Abdul was diagnosed with the heart condition. This made him vulnerable to severe infections and life threatening crisis, preventing him from actively playing with his peers as he was confined to his hospital bed for several months.

Mariam Kadri, Abdul's mother, expressed her gratitude to McOttley Holdings for the charitable act and prayed God's blessings over the company.

She said since Abdul's heart condition and subsequent admission at the hospital occurred, the family has endured many challenges.

'We will remain eternally grateful to McOttley Holdings for its timely intervention' - said Mariam Kadri.

Mr Anthony Akweatea Mensah, Director of McOttley Money Lending, Head of Group Human Resource- Mr Owusu Mensah Abunyewa, and other senior managers were present at the donation.

McOttley Holdings over the years has demonstrated its corporate responsibility through several projects such as donations to the June 3rd Flood victims and the Dzorwulu Special School amongst others.

McOttley Holdings Limited is an international award winning holding company with subsidiaries such as McOttley Capital, McOttley Money Lending and McOttley Properties. It has interest in areas such as commodity trading, logistics, international corporate finance advisory, International Real Estate Advisory, etc.

GNA
Accra, Oct. 9, GNA - Energy Bank Ghana says it would continue to work with legal and accountancy firms to deliver solutions in the area of wealth preservation and transfer for its private banking customers.

It will also work with tax consultants to proffer solutions on taxation and related issues of importance to private banking clients.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a cocktail for private banking clients to mark the bank's customer week celebration, Mrs Christiana Olaoye, Managing Director and Chief Executive officer of Energy Bank, said the bank was in the business of providing solutions to challenges confronting them.

'We will in future establish customer engagements with our Private Banking clients to share insights regarding issues in this areas,' she said.

She said Energy bank's private banking service is a one-stop shop that meets all the banking needs of our high net worth individuals, offering a full range of banking services, complemented by e-banking services and products, guide by the promise to support your aspirations,' she said.

Mrs Olaoye also announced that in the bank's quest to become a stronger player in the retail banking space, it has reviewed its business model to cater for the various banking publics.

'We have also strengthened our service delivery points to effectively reach all of our banking customers,' she said.

She said the bank was working on technology -enabled products and services that would be instrumental to its goal of improving financial inclusion throughout out the country.

Throwing more light on the customer week celebration she said the week was dedicated to celebrating the bank's private banking customers.

She said the bank's objective for private banking was to provide financial solutions that would facilitate wealth creation and preservation.

Nana Akua Otchere, Head of Private Banking, Energy Bank, said the bank would continue to tailor products and services to meet the changing needs of customers.

'We are enhancing our private banking business by introducing sophisticated and state-of-the-art solutions to meet the diverse financial needs and interests of our high net worth clients,' she said.

Energy Bank began full scale banking operations in Ghana in 2011 after acquiring a class 1 universal banking license.

GNA
By Belinda Ayamgha, GNA

Accra, Oct. 9, GNA - `The Ministry of Education under its Transforming Teacher Education and Learning (T-TEL) programme has held its third stakeholder forum on the review of the national teacher education curriculum framework.

Aimed at providing a curriculum framework which provides the key elements of pre-service teacher education curricula and also to serve as a basis for the review of the Diploma in Basic Education (DBE) curriculum, the framework is in its final draft, and will be presented to the ministry of education after it is finalised.

Mr Akwasi Addae-Mensah, National Programme Manager of T-TEL, said the programme was close to achieving these aims and its mandate of supporting the transformation of Colleges of Education to become tertiary centres of excellence and to fully implement the requirements of the Colleges of Education Act (Act 847).

He said most teacher training institutions in the country currently use different curriculums and this means that there was no framework with each of trained teachers, thus the new framework will ensure standardization of the curriculum.

The framework covers four key areas: pedagogic knowledge, content knowledge, supported practice and language studies, which will be infused with cross-cutting issues such as equity and inclusivity to inspire learning among students.

Mr. Addae- Mensah said it was working to ensure that there will a working document that can be introduced by next academic year.

Dr Emmanuel Newman, who represented Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman, the Minister of Education and the National Council for Tertiary Education, said well trained teachers are main requirements needed to attain the national educational goals.

'A well trained teacher will awaken joy in learning and stimulate creative expression and knowledge in his or her pupils. He or she does this by opening the minds and touching the hearts of the people' the Minister said.

She said giving all children the right to a good education through well-trained qualified teachers in all schools, irrespective of their location, was the biggest investment the country can make in the lives of its children.

She said there is the need to build solid foundations at the early grades to ensure that children are able to read, write and do simple arithmetic.

Prof Opoku Agyeman said preparing teachers for quality education in the country required policies and practices which would raise the profile and status of teachers to attract the highest calibre of candidates and pledged the Ministry's support for the review process and the institutionalisation of the revised curriculum that will be produced.

Mr Charles Ahedor-Tsegah, who chaired the forum, urged participants in the educational sector to demand accountability from all actors to ensure effective implementation of the framework.

'We are moving from business as usual to business unusual', he said.

GNA
Akwatia (E/R), Oct. 9, GNA - The youth activists of five political parties in the Akwatia constituency of the Eastern Region have resolved to promote political tolerance and ensure violent free elections.

They also pledged to conduct their campaigns devoid of hate speech and derogatory statements and utterances.

They declared their intentions in a communiquA issued at the end of a three - hour engagement of the National Commission For Civic Education (NCCE) with political activists of the Akwatia constituency at Akwatia.

The political parties that took part in the dialogue include the National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention People's Party (CPP), Progressive People's Party (PPP) and the Nation Democratic Party (NDP).

They promised not to invade any rally or campaign of political competitors and to conduct all political activities in line with the content of the constitution of Ghana and the political parties code of conduct.

They also pledged to adhere to the C194 in respect to the rules and regulations guiding the 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

The NCCE engagement with the political party youth activists was held under the theme 'Empowering the Youth to stand up for Ghana for a peaceful election 2016' in collaboration with the Ghana News Agency and was sponsored by the European Union.

It was attended by 40 representatives of the five political parties.

Films on consequences of electoral violence in some African countries were screen for participants to witness what had occurred in other political jurisdictions.

Mr Asante Kissi, the District Electoral Officer, said it is incumbent on all to ensure that the December 7 is very peaceful.

He said previous election violence had earned Akwatia a bad name and expressed the hope that a peaceful election this year would erase the bad impression.

Mr Kissi called on political parties to get copies of electoral laws C194 and use it to educate their agents to strictly abide by the laws since anyone breaking any law will be dealt with by the security agencies.

ASP Francis Aboagye, the Akwatia District Police Commander, called on political parties to be guided by the Public Order Act since the Police were ready to ensure peace and protect law -abiding citizens.

Mr Alex Sackey, the Eastern Regional Director of NCCE, speaking on the code of conduct for political parties and directive principles of state policy called for attitudinal change so that Ghana would continue to enjoy peace.

He called on political parties to avoid inflammatory and foul language which could create violence and instead sell their messages to convince Ghanaians on why they should vote for them.

GNA
A sympathiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has donated 20 cartons of the Kalyppo fruit drinks to the party's campaign.

This was disclosed by Alan Kyeremanteng during the party's launch at the International Trade Fair Center, Saturday.

picture of New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo sipping on a fruit juice has set off a social media craze that has shown no sign of abating.

Social media active youth and supporters of the party have been uploading pictures mimicking the act.

As a sign of how far the craze has traveled involves how acting NPP National Chairman, Freddie Blay, not known to social media has joined the frenzy.

Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com
I apologise unequivocally. If I am able to get the opportunity to talk to the president, I will definitely apologise vehemently and if Im not able to, Im doing so through your outfit. I do apologise unequivocally. I will not at any point in time insinuate anything evilexcept to state my opinion, flat as it is (Fadi Dabbousi)

CLOSING REMARKS

The problem of Africa is because folly is set in dignity and the wise have been reduced to nothing. People who have no business telling anybody anything shoot their mouths everyday and people who have something to say shut up every day and the rest look on

It is very interesting that many people who step into the corridors of power are not fit to walk in those corridors. People who influence our world mostly are people who have no business influencing anything because they are not good examples themselves; many of those who determine how we live our lives have been failures in their own lives (Mensa Otabil).

JOURNALISM AND THE ERROR OF LEADERSHIP

Of course, no one says journalism is an exact science. It is not.

Regardless, it should be the conscience of society speaking truth to power, promoting humanism, entertaining, educating, challenging the status quo and so on.

That is, journalism should be a watchdog of the public interest as well as of the public morals.

Our journalists must therefore put partisan politics aside and work towards a platform for positive dialogue across ideological, ethnic, religious, class and political lines, exposing the rotten underbelly of society even if it is inconvenient and uncomfortable, through temperate language.

Thus, journalism should be the moral and political voice of the people and not only those of the elite and the privileged few.

This means out journalists speaking inconvenient and uncomfortable truths where it hurts the most.

Certainly, we cannot expect journalism to be perfect because it is a human invention. We can improve it nonetheless.

However, oftentimes the complex question of subjectivity permeates opinion pieces to the point of exaggerated infallibility because the writer thinks he or she exclusively owns the facts.

But these facts may actually be a fictive imagination of the writer, mere opinions in other words.

Opinions on the other hand are not necessarily facts. Anybody can have opinions just about everything but not everybody can have facts.

Particularly in the case of lampoons and satires opinions sometimes resolve seamlessly into facts, fiction into facts.

Dabbousi correctly points to this contrastive blend of facts and opinions as concoction of malice.

It bears pointing out that the entire geopolitical conflagration of the Middle East, so-called, is premised on concoction of malice.

Also his empire of yellow or right-wing journalism is built on a strong foundation of this bizarre concept.

It is interesting how he quickly he diagnostically imputes this concept to others and not to himself.

This fact alone does not mean we should tolerate any kind of Donald Trump-like journalism in our body politic. In fact society should frown upon this dangerous breed of journalism.

After all, the kind of Donald Trump-like journalism we are talking about surely belongs in the political caliphate of ISIS, Boko Haram, Al-Shabab, Al-Queda, the Lords Resistance Army, and the like.

And the contemporary history of ISIS, Boko Haram, Al-Shabab, Al-Queda, the Lords Resistance Armyis the ancient history of the National Liberation Army (NLM), the United Party (UP), and the National Liberation Council (NLC), all of which have metamorphosed into the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

More so, one of these Donald Trump-like journalists, Thomas Sowell, compared President Obama to Adold Hitler, Mao Tse-tung, and Jim Jones. He writes in this regard:

Telling a friend that the love of his life is a phony and dangerous is not likely to get him to change his mind. But it may cost you a friend.

It is much the same story with true believers in Barack Obama. They have made up their minds and not only don't want to be confused by the facts, they resent being told the facts

Some of Senator Obama's most fervent supporters could not tell you what he has actually done on such issues as crime, education, or financial institutions like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, much less what he plans to do to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear nation supplying nuclear weapons to the international terrorist networks that it has supplied with other weapons.

The magic word change makes specifics unnecessary. If things are going bad, some think that what is needed is blank-check change

These ranged from Jim Jones who led hundreds to their deaths in Jonestown to Hitler and Mao who led millions to their deaths.

Apparently, Sowell made these right-wing apocalyptic forecasts before Obamas first assumption of the highest office in the land, the United States.

And here we are today, such politically and ideologically motivated auguries that have proven patently false.

Obama is certainly not Jim Jones, Adolf Hitler, or Mao Tse-tung (see Comparing George Bush With Adolf Hitler at the end of this article).

This is the kind of journalism we are getting from our Lebanese-Ghanaian pilot, journalist and author Fadi Samih Dibbousi.

Our friend must pay close attention to Pope Franciss views on journalism, bearing in mind he does so outside the protracted conflicts between his Western neo-Christians and Arabs-Muslims, the point being that Pope Francis and the Catholic isunderstandablypart and parcel of the axis of what he, Dabbousi, had referred to as neo-Christians.

Yes, right-wing Fadi Sadih Dabbousi is in a good Eurocentric camp, the afore-referenced political caliphate where bigots from Akufo-Addo, Kennedy Agyapong, Yaw Osei-Marfoto Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, and their village and useful idiots inhabit.

Kwame Nkrumahs Ghana does not need these kinds of men and women as leaders. No! Never!

COMPARING GEORGE BUSH WITH ADOLF HITLER

It is amazing what a people will blind themselves to when they wrap themselves with the banners of nationalism and patriotism. Good quickly becomes evil and evil quickly become good.

Compare George Bush's words with Adolf Hitler's. Although Americans are presently blind to this fact, the United States is presently doing and supporting the very same kinds of evils done by the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler:

COMPARE

I BELIEVE that God wants me to be president. (George W. Bush)

with:

I would like to thank Providence and the Almighty for choosing me of all people to be allowed to wage this battle for Germany, (Adolf HitlerBerlin March, 1936).

COMPARE

God is not on the side of any nation, yet we know He is on the side of justice. Our finest moments [as a nation] have come when we faithfully served the cause of justice for our own citizens, and for the people of other lands. (George W. Bush) with:

If we pursue this way, if we are decent, industrious, and honest, if we so loyally and truly fulfill our duty, then it is my conviction that in the future as in the past the lord God will always help us (Adolf Hitler, at the Harvest Thanksgiving Festival on the Buckeburg held on 3 Oct. 1937).

COMPARE

Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them. (George W. Bush) With:

Never in these long years have we offered any other prayer but this: Lord, grant to our people peace at home, and grant and preserve to them peace from the foreign foe! (Adolf Hitler - Nuremberg Sept. 13, 1936).

The state America is in today mentally through media propaganda, the next president whether Democrat or Republican will probably be of the same spirit. The same money owns both parties.

SOME QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

Is President Mahama Obama or George Bush? To answer this question we need to make some hypothetical assumptions first:

If as some historians claim is true that gonorrhea was partly responsible for Hitlers rabid racism and anti-Semitism, then might it well be possible that Presidents HIV-AIDS condition could be partly responsible for his poor management of the economy and, in retrospect, for his having children outside his marriage, for his philandering tendencies?

We know this parallel comparison is problematic, one being the question of anachronism, but it is only a hypothetical assumption. However beyond this parallel comparison, who then is Akufo-Addo?

Could his prostate cancer have been partly responsible for his poor leadership, the results of which are intra-party internal division and needless suspensions and intolerance and anarchy, and, in retrospect, for his murdering his wife, for his wee-smoking habits, for his philandering proclivities?

All these speculative assumption do not make any sense, yet, once again, Dabbousi makes it worse by not looking at the diagnostic and prognostic profiles of Akufo-Addo and President Mahama from the viewpoints of holistic evaluation and parallel comparison yardsticks.

In any case if President Mahama is not Obama and Obama is Hitler but President Mahama is Obama to a certain extent, then who is President Mahama?

If Akufo-Addo is not Obama and Obama is Hitler but Akufo-Addo is Obama to a certain extent, then who is Akufo-Addo?

But, we strongly suspect that in Dabbousis closet journalistic mind President Mahama is either Obama or George Bush. The connection to Hitler becomes obvious, otherwise why has he not negatively speculated on Akufo-Addos potential illnesses as President Mahamas?

This is why Kweku Baako, Jr. has opined that Dabbousis write-ups on President Mahama are serious and hugely offensive.

The former added that the latter relied on none existing and fake media organizations.

It is funny how Dabbousi quickly makes a volte-face, reportedly making the equally funny claim that his write-ups on President Mahama were without malice, a sharp detour from his concoction of malice.

This is how the claustrophobic cage of the BNI can transform hardened avian loudmouths from Dabbousi to Captain Edmund Koda (rtd). Finally and quite expectedly, Dabbousi would say the following in an interview after his release from this claustrophobic cage:

I respect President Mahama a lot because he is our President whether we like it or not but that will not deter me from criticizing him when he is taking the people of Ghana for granted and to the wrong direction. I didnt intend to insult him

Further questions:

Dabbousi didnt intend to insult President Mahama but ended up insulting the anyway?

Perhaps inadvertently?

This is why his corpus of journalistic writings should be collected and stuffed into Akufo-Addos mock coffin and buried deep in an ocean of human feces.

Thus, the rhetorical violence of Dabbousis journalism rather subtracts from Akufo-Addos political capital if, in fact, he has any to start with. All this is not to say he should not criticize the Mahama administration where it deserves criticism. We approve this statement of his:

I will criticize the president but of course

Except that it should not be essentialist in rhetorical tone because if indeed it is, there will be a deluge of quick critical rhetorical reversion to the conflict-prone geopolitics of his Lebanese/Middle Eastern background. The essentialist pathway is counterproductive. Then also maybe, just maybe, the government is not doing nearly enough by way of fighting corruption.

But President Mahama and his government are not the originating parents of corruption in the body politic. As a matter of fact Dabbousis conman John Kufuor, the originating grandparent of Adam and Eve, is also the great-grandparents of political corruption. Kufour nailed the etiology of political corruption on his two grandchildren, Adam and Eve, who have always lived in the Flagstaff House, built by the generous children of South Africas racist Gandhi.

And equally true, let us just say, yes, there is so much the government can do, for corruption is as much a huge problem in the Flagstaff House and parliament as it is in our mosques and churches, including Pastor Otabils. In the churches and mosques it is Gods problem, Gods mercy, that is, to deal with it, but rather absurdly it is seen as an entirely different animal once it is in the court of the secular world. Why is Dabbousi running away from this basic fact? Is it because politicians, particularly those in the ruling government, are a different species of political animals, wicked and unconscionable ones at that, and so they must be held to different if higher standards of moral critique? How about the moral corruption of Dabbousis own political writings?

This excruciating etiology of moral illusion probably explains why corruption cannot be traced to President Mahama and his government. Furthermore, neither President Mahama nor Akufo-Addo is or represents the deity of corruption in the nation. The Ghanaian society is that which corrupt to the bone. The Second Coming of Christ and the Judgment Day will both surely take place in Ghana, a friend once told this author, on account of the heightened level of corruption in that country.

Fadi the Savior (or Redeemer) should simply tell us when this Second Coming of Christ and the Judgment Day are due in Ghana through his yellow journalism. He should also tell us, convince us as to why he thinks the politics of The Satanic Verses in the Ghanaian body politic is not unique to the two major political parties.

The above notwithstanding, we all need to come together as we direct our collective efforts toward neutralizing what Pastor Otabil calls error of leadership. Unfortunately, both the former (and Dabbousi) misses the bigger picture. Either he is being mischievous or economical with the truth.

Which politician in Ghana is not religious, either his [Otabils] kind of Christian or Dabbousis kind of Moslem for the most part? Those he referred to as Christians are already in the business of running state bureaucracies and government in various capacities. A chunk of the most corrupt politicians are arguably Otabils Christians (and Dabbousis Moslems). These Christians (and Moslems) steal from state coffers and then dish out part of these booties to pastors and churches in the form of offertory/tithes and as donations to religious charities.

These charitable acts are done to confirm the spiritual effectiveness of Otabils prosperity theology. These criminal philanthropists in turn get preferential treatments in the Ghanaian church. They also make pastors fabulously wealthy. Today it is difficult telling a criminally rich politician from a criminally rich pastor. It is the same with Dabbousis criminally rich Moslem and criminally rich imam. All these examples attempt to explain why moral education and its expected remediation ramifications have remained endlessly illusionary, a hopelessly useless platform for dealing with corruption.

Thus, influential religious personalities like Otabil sometimes misuse the church as a bully pulpit in a way that it should not, although we acknowledge and endorse his practical wisdom in matters of political expediencyfor the most part. In other words they tend to explain why the moral and political fight against corruption in the country remains a mirage. In the end Dabbousis slandering of the office of the presidency without the benefit of verifiable forensic evidence is not good journalism. It is journalistic demagoguery! It is journalistic McCarthyism! It is journalism of the kind Salman Rushdie provocatively called The Satanic Verses. It is simply terrorism in the wise words of Pope Francis!

And it is not as if his idol, Akufo-Addo, Dabbousis man known for his post-factual politics, is a strong leader in political and moral terms. He is not. What Dabbousi needs to do at this point in time, is effectively exploring Akufo-Addos moral and political weaknesses, rather than President Mahamas, and initiating a strategic program of policy formulations to eradicate or suppress these lapses, before he [Akufo-Addo] finally resolves into an uncontrollable bombshell of monumental failure, ideally against the backdrop of his potential resumption of political office if the favor popular sovereignty looks his way.

Indeed, it is a question that remains to be answered if the name Fadi Dabbousi is not a pseudonym under which Soloman Nkansah, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Chairman Wontuni, Ofosu Kwakye, Koku Anyidoho, Kofi Adams, Kennedy Agyapong, Akua Donkor, Omane Boamah, or Gabby Otchere writes his or deeply polarized articles. Thus, his kind of journalism is at best a concoction of malice even when he says his anti-Mahama write-ups are written without malice.

This volte-face is a poor attempt at sophistry.

REFERENCES

Ghanaweb. Im Not ScaredFadi Dabbousi. September 27, 2016.

Ghanaweb. Error of leadership, Cause of Ghanas Woes Otabil. October 6, 2016.

Ines San Martin. Pope Says Journalism Based On Rumors and Fear Is Terrorism. September 22, 2016. Retrieved from https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2016/09/22/pope-says-journalism-based-rumors-fear-terrorism/

The True Statesman. Kill All Ewes in The Ashanti RegionKennedy Agyapong. April 16, 2012. Retrieved from http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Kill-All-Ewes-in-The-Ashanti-Region-Kennedy-Agyapong-236095

Ghanaweb. Akufo -Addo neglected 'Kumi Preko' victimsNyaho. May 12, 2016.

Desmond Tutu Calls for Blair and Bush to be Tried Over Iraq. September 2, 2012. BBC News.

Ghanaweb. Akufo-Addo more dangerous than Gitmo 2Akua Donkor. January 15, 2015.

Thomas Sowell. (October 20, 2008). Believers in Obama. Townhall. Retrieved from http://townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/2008/10/20/believers_in_obama

Tsedaka Emeth. (2016). Comparing George Bush With Adolf Hitler. Tentmaker. Retrieved from http://www.tentmaker.org/Quotes/bush_hitler_quotes.html

Ghanaweb. Who Is a Comedian Than YouAgya Koo Fires Akua Donkor. October 4, 2016.

Ghanaweb. Fadi Dabbousis Write-ups on Mahama Hugely OffensiveKweku Baako. October 1, 2016.

Ghanaweb. My Running Mate Does Not Know Her Date of BirthAkua Donkor. October 4, 2016.

Ghanaweb. My Articles About Mahama Were Without MaliceDaboussi. October 2, 2016.

Ghanaweb. I respect President MahamaFadi Dabbousi. September 26, 2016.
New Patriotic Party (NPP) Vice-Presidential candidate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says President John Mahamas display of economic understanding is getting embarrassing.

He says Mahama has misinterpreted international Credit Ratings Agency Moodys latest rating of the health of the economy which is now considered B3 with a positive outlook.

It had been rated B3 with a negative outlook in March 2015, a tag that has lasted for 18 months.

The news of a revised outlook for Ghanas economy has been hailed by government as a sign of economic progress.

We have fought to try and restore confidence in the economy, the President pointed out while on the campaign trail in the Brong Ahafo region last Friday.

He criticised the opposition for deliberately ignoring the Moodys report and urged the opposition to swallow their pride and admit progress.

They were happy when we were being downgraded now the same Moodys upgrades us and an opposition leader says Moodys does not know what it is talking about, President Mahama said.

The President also stressed that the constant refrain from the NPP that the economy is in crisis is a fabricated mischief.

when somebody sits and says the economy is in a crisis you fail to understand where he is seeing that crisis. He probably has some lens that sees a crisis where crisis does not exist.

Seizing an opportunity to respond to the President at the launch of the NPP 2016 manifesto, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who is a former deputy governor of the Bank of Ghana insisted that the President got it wrong.

Moody's did not upgrade Ghana's rating. Ghana's rating under Moody's is still B/Negative. It is only the outlook that has been revised, and that is not equivalent to a rating upgrade.

Dr. Bawumia asked the President to seek an explanation on economic matters.

Sometimes one wonders whether they don't read or they don't understand. So, let me give Mr. President a free piece of advice.

Mr. President, please desist from embarrassing yourself by stating that Moody's has upgraded Ghana. Your economic management team should explain that difference to you, he jabbed.

Drawing attention to the NPPs record in government, Dr Bawumia said Moody rated the economy favourably in the last year of the NPP government in 2008.

 Without oil, Ghana was being rated at B+ Positive under the NPP. We've now come down with oil under the NDC and John Mahama to B  (negative) with a stable outlook in 2016

He said if President continues to insist that economic crisis is an imagined creation by the NPP, then he is clearly out of touch.

Mr. President the economic crisis is out there if you care to look out of the Flagstaff House, the former deputy governor of the Central Bank said.

-myjoyonline
Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akufo-Addo describing himself as biblical David in the upcoming election, says he will champion the assault for the fall of President Mahama on December 7.

Nana Akufo-Addo says although the President has state resources to his advantage in the campaign, the battle is going to be the Lords.

"They have more outboard motors, more roofing sheets, more laptops, more sewing machines to give away, but the battle is the Lords.

They have more giant-sized billboards than us, but the battle is the Lords. In truth, however, fellow Ghanaians, we are many and they are few and the battle remains the Lords, he stressed.

The NPP has accused the incumbent of using state resources in their campaign which they say amounts to vote-buying.

Addressing party supporters, members of the diplomatic corps, the media and other party functionaries at the partys 2016 manifesto and campaign launch Sunday, the NPP leader said, They have more money than us, but the battle is the Lords.

It is Nana Akufo-Addos prayer that God will deliver Ghana from Mahamas bad governance as it happened to the Israelites.

He assured Ghanaians that the party delivered a lot in terms of economic and infrastructural developments during President John Agyekum Kufuor administration and will take us to a higher level under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Tell them, it doesnt matter if they have never voted NPP or have regularly voted NDC. Tell them that this is a battle to save Ghana.

The three-time presidential candidate of the NPP quoted 1 Samuel 17: 45-47:

45 Then David said to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.

He implored all party supporters to "make sure our message is heard loud and clear from Axim to Aflao, and from Accra to Paga" and "spread the message of the NPP."

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor was today [Sunday], pictured sipping a Kalyppo drink at the New Patriotic Partys (NPP) manifesto launch, which has been interpreted as his endorsement of the Kalyppo craze, which has caught up like wildfire particularly on social media.

The Accra International Trade Fair Centre, which was the venue for the launch, was awash with party paraphernalia and cartons of Kalyppo which has seen a resurgence following the recent social media storm.

A photo of the flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, sipping the drink with a straw went viral on social media after it was mocked by opponents.

The response to the photo was huge as officials and supporters of the NPP, posted photos of themselves drinking Kalyppo in a show of support for Nana Addo.

Others have taken the trend a bit further, taking pictures of themselves in some creative and humorous scenarios with the fruit juice, which have been dubbed the Kalyppo challenge and shared widely .

One of the traders at the Trade Fair Centre told citifmonline.com before the launch that; I decided to sell Kalyppo here because I knew it will be highly patronised by party members. Every NPP member is now interested in Kalyppo because of Nana Addo.

The NPP launched their manifesto and campaign on Sunday in front of thousands of supporters who thronged the Trade Fair Centre.

There were speeches from several members of the party including the former president, flagbearer Nana Addo, running mate Mahamudu Bawumia and Alan Kyerematen among others.

NPP Manifesto Launch



By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Bamako (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday warned against Africa suffering from a "brain drain" as she arrived on a three-day tour of the continent focused on security and stemming the migrant influx to Europe.

Merkel also underscored the need to "establish coherent cooperation" in development policy and military support in Mali, her first port of call.

"The military cannot alone bring security and peace," she said, addressing a news conference with Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

"It is important that Africa does not lose its best minds," she added.

The International Monetary Fund this month said skilled workers were leaving sub-Saharan Africa in rapidly increasingly numbers, producing a "brain drain" that causes long-term social damage.

The IMF said that the number of sub-Saharan migrants living in developed countries could increase from about seven million in 2013 to about 34 million by 2050.

Merkel earlier told Die Zeit weekly that bringing more stability to Africa and improving living conditions on the continent would help reduce the numbers of people seeking to leave.

In Mali, Merkel is due to visit German troops taking part in the UN peacekeeping operation MINUSMA and the European Union Training Mission in Mali.

The ongoing international military intervention that began in 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.

Merkel later heads to Niger and then Ethiopia where she is to visit the African Union headquarters in the capital Addis Ababa.

The Malian president pledged to try and limit the number of migrants leaving for Europe.

"We want our youths to remain here rather than drown in the Mediterranean," he said, adding that the area had "become an open cemetery."

Since 2014 more than 10,000 migrants have lost their lives in the Mediterranean, according to UN figures.

The German chancellor has said that she wants the European Union and North African countries to do deals modelled on a controversial agreement with Turkey to curb migrant flows to Europe.

Under the EU-Turkey deal, Ankara agreed to take back Syrians who made it to Greece in return for being allowed to send refugees from its massive camps to the bloc in a more orderly redistribution programme.

The pact also pledges billions of euros in EU aid for Turkey and visa-free European travel for Turkish citizens.
09.10.2016 LISTEN

By Adoboli Dominic, GNA

Akatsi (V/R), Oct. 9, GNA - The total assets of the Avenor Rural Bank has increased to GH11,311,838 in 2015, rising 29.14 per cent from GH8,759,087 in 2014.

Its total investments also jumped 50.98 per cent from GH2,640,272 to GH3,986,226, thus improving its liquidity and reserve requirements, within a general performance outlook described by the ARB Apex bank as 'very impressive'.

Mr Simon Nerro Davor, Board Chairman, in a report at the Bank's 33rd Annual General Meeting (AGM), said the bank's profit before tax grew from GH209,194 in 2014 to GH322,482, and this represents a 54.15 percentage jump.

He said total income also rose to 28.98 per cent to GH2,482,437 from the GH1,924,716 figure of 2014.

Gross advances also increased by 8.16 per cent to GH5,599,529 from GH5,177,172, while total deposits went up from GH6,780,689 to GH9,050,477 in 2015 - 33.47 per cent rise.

Savings deposit accounted for about 48 percent of the total deposit, while operational expenses increased from GH1,607,082 to GH2,038,653; that is 26.85 per cent.

Shareholders' equity increased 22.67 percent from GH1,704,236 to GH1,317,727 as a result of improved profit and additional contributions by shareholders.

Mr Davor said it is the intention of the bank to increase upon its seven operational agencies by opening a branch in Ashiaman.

He said the bank is improving its shareholder value, with key strategies directed at marketing, staff training, an improved ICT platform, to particularly polish internal risk management and control to remain buoyant in the rather difficult environment.

Mr Davor appealed to shareholders to increase their portfolios to enable the bank meet the Bank of Ghana's GH500,000 stated capital requirement by December this year and GH1 million by December 2017.

Mr Davor said the bank has met all supervisory demands regarding the minimum capital, capital adequacy ratio and reserve requirements.

Mr Charles Pinkrah, Head, ICT, ARB Apex Bank, on behalf of the Apex Bank's Managing Director, Kwadwo Aye Kumi, said the Avenor Bank must sustain the 'impressive performance', by maintaining a high compliance environment in regulatory, statutory and legal regimes for RCBs.

He urged the bank to ensure prudence in compliance, deposit mobilization, ICT, quality loan and control and risk management in areas of fine balancing act between profitability and liquidity, keeping close eyes on credit risks.

He entreated shareholders and customers to remain firm behind the bank's growth agenda.

Mr Pinkrah said the Apex Bank will play its monitoring and support roles for viability of RCBs to contribute to socio-economic development of their catchment areas.

He said RCBs need to build customer service into performance contract or job description of staff and tied it to periodic staff appraisals.

The meeting approved a dividend of GH0.0045 per share totaling GH62,815.25 for the year.

GNA
09.10.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Oct. 9, GNA - Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, says whilst the university continues to receive large numbers of applications for admission each year, many qualified applicants get turned down due to limited facilities.

'For the 2016/17 academic year, the university received a total of 40,435 out of which 25,295 applicants were admitted,' he said.

Professor Owusu said this, during the 2016 Matriculation Ceremony, to formally welcome newly admitted level 100 or first year students into the University

The university admitted students into programs on the Main Campus, the Korlebu Campus, the Accra City Campus, with others studying under the distance learning option.

Professor Owusu said for the sixth year running, the university made it possible for students who completed their West African School Certificate Examination in May this year, to enter the University in the same year of writing their exams.

'Again, the University took up the additional challenge of admitting students in the West African sub-region, who wrote their final Senior High School examinations in May, 2016.'

The Vice Chancellor said 'I salute the teams who worked hard to make this a reality.'

He urged the matriculants to strive for excellence saying 'in an institution like ours, students achieve excellence by having the right balance.'

Professor Owusu continued 'the amount of time you spend on your books should be balanced with social engagements and other forms of social learning.'

The Vice Chancellor also urged them to be critical of thought and not merely repeat what they are taught during lectures.

He concluded by reminding the matriculants that their primary aim at the university was to study hard and graduate successfully.

'Your loved ones have sacrificed greatly that you may enjoy the privilege of a university education. Honor their sacrifice by behaving responsibly, and making the most of this wonderful opportunity,' he said.

Out of 25,295 students who were admitted for the 2016/17 academic year, 20,621 were under-graduates and 3,691 graduate students.

Out of the number offered admission, 10,551 have registered, consisting of 7,611 under-graduate students and 2,940 graduate students.

The 7,611 registered under-graduate students consist of 3,841 males and 3,770 females.

With the 2,940 registered graduate students 1.702 are males and 1,238 are females.

GNA
09.10.2016 LISTEN

By Regina Benneh, GNA

Sunyani, Oct. 9, GNA - Two children died through rabies in 2015 in the Tain District of the Brong-Ahafo Region after they were bitten by dogs.

Dr Saviour Denueme, the Regional Director of the Veterinary Services, said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA on Thursday in Sunyani.

He said rabies has become rampant lately in the country and expressed worry about the non-corporative attitudes of some owners of domestic animals towards the vaccination exercises.

Dr Denueme said the unit recorded 12 confirmed rabies cases during the year which resulted in the deaths of the two children, adding that the Unit as at September this year had recorded two cases in the Sunyani and Dormaa Municipalities, as against eight confirmed cases recorded in same period last year.

He said any dog or cat bite could develop to rabies if the spot bitten or scratched by the animal was not immediately and thoroughly washed with soap and running water as a first aid before proper medical treatment at a health facility.

Dr Denueme said his office had a target of about 267,000 domestic animals to vaccinate in 2016 but as at September only a little over 9,000 of them had been vaccinated, representing 3.5 per cent of the target.

He said before rabies could be eradicated in the region there must be coverage of about 70 per cent vaccination of its dog and cat population.

Dr Denueme said the normal vaccination cost of any animal was GH10.00 but the cost of rabies vaccine was about GH300.00 after a dog or cat bite.

He said the environmental officers had the right to kill dogs and cats without tags indicating that they had been vaccinated.

Dr Denueme urged the public to be mindful of stray dogs and cats, saying the affected dogs did not only carry the rabies virus but also had some parasitic diseases that they spread in the communities through defecation.

He therefore advised the public to take proper care of their domestic animals for the safety of the family and the society and promised that the Unit would continue in its educational programmes through the local radio stations till the public adhered to their vaccine campaign messages.

GNA
Accra, Oct. 9, GNA - Driven by its passion to empower Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana, events and marketing communications firm, Creative Trends, is holding the third Vodafone African SME Summit in Accra.

With Vodafone as the headline sponsor, the two-day event scheduled for 13th and 14th October on the theme: 'Entrepreneurship- Being a Ready Business," will provide SMEs opportunity to learn from major industry players and also understand business growth essentials.

The summit will also provide networking and mentoring opportunities for SME owners, and avenues for them to showcase their products.

Mr Yaw Asamoah, the Convenor of the Summit, said SMEs are important players for accelerated economic development and there is the need for entrepreneurs to learn new skills for sustainable businesses.

He said the seminar has been designed to empower and offer SMEs with essential business knowledge and solutions to help increase their productivity, drive efficiency and increase growth.

The African SME organization defines small medium enterprises as organizations with a revenue base of up to $30m and employing up to 300 people while small are those with not less than 100 employees and annual turnover of US$5 million and micro enterprises as those employing not less than 10 and with not less than US$1 million annual turnover.

Mr Asamoah said the future resides in Africa; the youngest population in the world, the continent with tremendous natural resources and a land of opportunities.

He said the Summit will bring together some of the brightest, oldest and youngest business minds on and outside the continent for an exciting discourse, exhibition and networking event.

To be able to compete effectively with peers globally and to sustain their businesses over time, Mr Asamoah urged Ghanaian SMEs to embrace good corporate governance and adopt innovation as well as effective management.

'Ghanaian SMEs must embrace good corporate governance, be able to innovate and look beyond the narrow horizon to succeed,' he added.

Mr Caleb Ayiku, a business consultant and a conference speaker, said the three-in-one event of exhibition, conference and networking would address pertinent issues relating to SME growth and development and urged entrepreneurs to register to participate and benefit from the insights of the expert panels of speakers.

Among the speakers are Professor Pikay Richardson from the Manchester Business School, Professor Matthew Tsamenyi from China Europe International Business School (CEIBS); Mr Dhananjay Tripathi, and Mr Victor Yaw Asante of First National Bank.

The summit is also supported by First National Bank, Phoenix Insurance, the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), the National Investment Bank (NIB), with Graphic Business as the main media partner.

GNA
By Iddi Yire, GNA

Accra, Oct. 9, GNA - A Centre for Ageing Studies which will focus solely on ageing related research and education, has established at the University of Ghana (UG).

Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, UG Vice Chancellor, said the Centre would spearhead research, advocacy and policies within the limit of traditional upbringing and development, purposely towards the welfare of the aged.

He said at the governmental level, little provision has been made for the well-being of the elderly, as such, a policy on ageing in Ghana is urgently needed to deal with the problems facing the ageing population.

Professor Oduro Owusu said this at the sixth Joint Psychology/ Psychiatry International Research Conference, held on the theme: 'Ageing: Prospects, Challenges and Research in Africa'.

The Vice Chancellor said the absence of a comprehensive information means that ageing is poorly understood and, as a result, adequate resources are not allocated to meet the needs of the older population.

Citing United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and HelpAge International, 2012, he said recent rejections indicate that the elderly in Africa could account for 4.5 per cent of the continent's population by 2030 and could reach nearly 10 per cent by 2050.

He said the rise in population particularly in Africa had become a global concern given the associated demographic, social and economic implications for the well-being of the aged, the implications for the future generations as well as the social and economic development of the country.

"How prepared are we to accommodate the continuous increase in the aged population", Prof Oduro Owusu said and urged all stakeholders to start developing interest in the affairs of the Aged.

Mrs Irene Vida Gala, the Brazilian Ambassador to Ghana in her address, said Africa would be more populated than China by 2100; hence, it is appropriate to look at aging in Africa now.

She said despite these figures that put ageing as a long term process for Africans, 'we must recognize that there are Africans who are ageing, and the traditional social system that use to be in place, is rapidly collapsing, most likely due to the changes in our societies and way of living'.

The Ambassador said this could also occur in countries where governments are not yet committed to provide good and efficient services to elders and retired people adding 'my first point would be, how to get the attention from democratically elected governments'.

She suggested that there should be pressure groups to stand for the elders and push for public policies oriented to the specific group of the societies; and also the subject 'ageing' must be brought to the headlines of the media, and as well linking democracy to ageing.

The Ambassador said politicians are expected to respond to voters; whereas, in a society with a youthful population politicians would not bring this issue to their agenda.

"Do you know if any of the political parties have included in their manifestoes a specific policy towards the ageing population?" she asked.

She said prospects, challenges and research on ageing population in Africa are clearly linked to the democratic political process, however, researchers and new students who are participating in the debate have a role to play, to drive ageing related research to inform public policies and pressure groups. GNA
By Albert Futukpor, GNA

Tamale, Oct. 9, GNA - The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has held a town hall meeting for key institutions and stakeholders in the country's electoral process.

It was held to deliberate on ways to ensure that this year's general election was organized in a peaceful manner.

Institutions represented at the event, held in Tamale with funding support from Ford Foundation, included the Ghana Police Service, National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), traditional leaders, political parties and various student youth groups.

Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, Chairman of the National Peace Council, called on the citizenry to stand for peace by doing things that promoted peaceful coexistence.

Reverend Professor Asante also urged political parties to conduct their affairs with decency to demonstrate their commitment to peace.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Ken Yeboah, Northern Regional Police Commander, enumerated measures adopted by the Regional Police Command to ensure peaceful elections in December saying over 3000 police officers would be deployed across polling stations in the region to ensure order and peace.

Alhaji Abdul Razak Saani, Northern Regional Director of NCCE, said NCCE was intensifying its voter education campaign to increase citizens' participation in the electoral process as well as promote peace.

Professor Amin Alhassan, Dean of the Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Sciences of the University for Development Studies, urged the media to desist from sourcing content from social media and publishing it in mainstream media without cross-checking the facts.

Various political parties including the National Democratic Congress, New Patriotic Party, People's National Convention pledged to undertake their campaigns in a manner that would ensure the sustenance of peace in the country.

GNA
The Ashaiman Constituency in the Greater Accra Region virtually came to a standstill on Saturday, when the National Democratic Congress' parliamentary nominee, Ernest Norgbey, had his campaign launch.

Thousands of supporters and sympathisers of the NDC party poured out onto the street for the campaign launch.

Party supporters were clad in the party colours of red, green, white and black.

Party paraphernalia, posters, flags and huge and small bill boards were on display on almost every advertising space available on the streets of Ashaiman.

Thousands of party supporters and sympathizers who graced the occasion defied the clouds and subsequently the rains, and cheered on party bigwigs who addressed them.

The General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, in his address, noted that the NPP's continuous criticism of the NDC partys infrastructure record is surprising because it is the same infrastructural development that is needed to propel the country into higher heights.

The NPP is saying the massive infrastructural development that is being undertaken by the NDC is needless; yet they are rather going about promising heaven on earth in terms of building factories in each District and the provision of jobs for the teeming unemployed youth.

He said I wonder why the NPP which is hoping to lead this country is rather the one going about challenging His Excellency John Mahama in terms of infrastructural development. If you say you want to put up factories in each District in this country, how will your dream materialise if there are no roads to convey both raw and finished products to and from the factory? He questioned.

He said the NDC understands the issues affecting Ghanaians and has the people of the country at heart better than the NPP; hence their massive infrastructural development to ensure the provision of jobs for the people.

If we do not build schools, hospitals, roads and buildings for our people, in which facility are you going to employ the nurses and teachers you are going about promising jobs when given power?.

He urged the voters to ignore the promises of the NPP, saying they are not feasible without the NDCs infrastructural development.

The NDC's Parliamentary nominee for the constituency, Ernest Norgbey, on his part assured the people that his policies are not going to be different from that of the national policies.

He said he would operate a more transparent and accountable administration when elected as the Member of Parliament for the area.

He urged the people to work hard to ensure the realization of the target of 85,000 votes.

Ernest Norgbey and NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia.

My policies will not be different from that of national when elected. I will ensure our youth are given jobs, our sanitation problems are addressed and our roads fixed when elected he maintained.

Background

The Ashaiman Constituency has since 1992 been occupied by the NDC, except in 2004, when the current MP, Alfred Agbesi lost the seat to the NPP's Enoch Teye.

Mr. Agbesi however returned in 2008 to reclaim the seat and has held it till date. He will however not be eligible to contest the 2012 polls after losing the primary.



Elvis Washington/citifmonline.com/Ghana
STATESVILLE  Judging by what makes the front pages, the top of the newscasts, and the list of whats trending on social media, North Carolina politics consists of spirited debates about House Bill 2, spirited debates about voting laws, spirited debates about teacher pay, and spirited debates about why we arent talking more about HB2, voting laws and teacher pay.

All three issues are important and worthy of attention. But there are others at least as important and worthy of attention. How about this one: Did you know that, by some credible estimates, North Carolina owes public employees some $71 billion in compensation for which the state has no money set aside?

Im talking about non-wage benefits. When they retire, most government workers are expecting to receive a monthly pension as well as supplemental coverage from the state employee health plan. Its been a key consideration for many who might otherwise have taken a higher-paying job in the private sector but place a higher value on those promised (and tax-advantaged) benefits. To attempt to fund these benefits on a pay-as-you-go basis would be foolish, illegal and doomed to fail.

So, with regard to the pensions, North Carolina has used taxes, employee contributions, and investment returns to build up a portfolio of assets with a market value approaching $90 billion. Unfortunately, nothing comparable has been done to accumulate assets to offset the states liability to pay retiree health benefits. Virtually that entire liability is unfunded. And Im told that, according to a new state estimate, it is now approximately $33.5 billion, up from a $26.6 billion valuation last year.

Theres still more bad news. That pension fund of $90 billion comes close to funding North Carolinas pension liabilities (SET ITAL) in theory (END ITAL). But the theory the state has been using  that the pension fund will realize a long-term average rate of return of 7.25 percent on its assets  appears to be far removed from reality.

According to Andrew Biggs, an American Enterprise Institute scholar and former deputy commissioner at the Social Security Administration, if state pension plans were required to use the same rate-of-return projections that private plans use, North Carolina would have an unfunded pension liability of about $37.6 billion. Just to be clear  that would still give North Carolina, at 70 percent, one of the highest funding ratios for state pension plans in the country. But it still represents a very big hole in the states finances. Even a more liberal estimate, using a higher discount rate, would yield an unfunded liability in the many billions of dollars.

The two candidates for the office of North Carolinas state treasurer, Republican Dale Folwell and Democrat Dan Blue III, met in Statesville on Sept. 27 to discuss these and other issues at a Hometown Debate co-hosted by the N.C. Institute of Political Leadership and the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce.

The state health care plan is bankrupt, and our state pension plan, one of the largest pools of money in the world, has tremendous headwinds that have to be attacked and solved, said Folwell, a certified public accountant who previously served as a state representative and assistant secretary of commerce.

Blue, a bond attorney, agreed that the unfunded liability for retiree health benefits was a big problem, but said North Carolinas pension fund was 95 percent to 96 percent funded and getting adequate returns on its investments, although the last couple of years have experienced a very dicey market. He called for incremental change, not the fundamental changes Folwell advocates such as slashing investment fees and building up state assets more quickly.

If you dont work for government, perhaps you dont think these matters dont affect you. You are mistaken. If North Carolinas next state treasurer, legislature and other officials dont take immediate action on these unfunded liabilities, youll be among those stuck with a larger bill in the future  in the form of higher taxes and fewer government services.

The stakes here are massive. Alas, the media coverage is puny.

John Hood is chairman of the John Locke Foundation and appears on the talk show NC SPIN. You can follow him @JohnHoodNC.
With flat faces, curly tails and wrinkles in between, pugs are an unmistakable dog breed. But while theyre known for their inquisitive head tilts, snorting sounds and personable demeanor, not all pugs have an easy life.

We have already rescued a little over 300 pugs this year, DFW Pug Rescue Executive Director Marianna MacCormick said in a phone interview.

DFW Pug Rescue is one of the largest organizations of its kind in the United States, and is the biggest of the three major pug rescues in Texas. The nonprofit has been in operation since 1997, and while the name might point to the Metroplex, DFW Pug Rescue serves more than the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

We have people that not only relinquish their pugs to us from all over the state, but we also adopt out throughout Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, MacCormick said. We try to help those areas of the state that dont have their own rescue.

More Information To learn more about donating, adopting or volunteering with DFW Pug Rescue, visit dfwpugs.com. See More Collapse

That includes West Texas.

Jan Oberle of Midland is a three-time DFW Pug Rescue adopter. She became enamored with pugs after finding an abandoned stray.

My husband, Kent, and I decided we wanted a dog, she said. I said I wanted a toy dog, but I didnt want a pug and I didnt want a male dog. Oberle cited the adage that dogs choose you, not the other way around, when discussing one fateful visit downtown.

Our first pug had been thrown out of a car, she said. We found him at the Museum of the Southwest, and it was a male pug. Once you have one (pug), its just like popcorn or potato chips: You cant just have one. The Oberles named the pug Ming, after Ming the Merciless from Flash Gordon. One rescue turned out to not be enough for them, however, and they eventually sought more.

Jan Oberle learned about DFW Pug Rescue through a friend. She sought to adopt a black female and followed the application online. A volunteer performed a home study, and DFW Pug Rescue described the pugs they had available. We narrowed it down to two, she said. One was our Vivian, an owner surrender. The other was Chloe, a puppy mill survivor the rescue club found on Craigslist. She had heartworms and food allergies, and untreated chronic dry eye left her mostly blind. This didnt dismay the Oberles.

We couldnt decide, so we ended up taking them both.

Oberle said Chloe was challenging because puppy mill dogs live in harsh conditions. We had her a year before she played, she said.

MacCormick explained: The ones that come from puppy mills are not socialized at all. They dont know what to do with a toy. If you can imagine, they dont know how to play with a toy. Theyre fearful of human touch.

MacCormick says DFW Pug Rescue knows the puppy mills in Texas. We have established a relationship with many of the puppy mills. Some of the conditions that these pugs are in is just deplorable, she said.

The rescue club, however, operates without the help of public safety authorities for fear that breaching the relationship with the puppy mills would lead to euthanasia. If we reported them to the authorities, we wouldnt have the opportunity to rescue those dogs. Its a matter of DFW Pug Rescue stepping up and taking responsibility for them or they would not survive.

DFW Pug Rescue does not have a shelter. Rather, it relies on a network of volunteers to provide foster homes to bring pugs back to full health before adoption, even sometimes-challenging pugs, such as puppy mill rescue Chloe.

When you get (rescue dogs), you dont know what youve got, Oberle said. When you get a puppy, you can start from scratch. There is a lot you find out. Oberle says Chloe fits right in with the family, and even though Chloe has poor vision, she gets around the house, and she knows what treat means.

Daisy is the fourth pug the Oberles adopted. A veterinarian was forced to amputate an infected leg brought on from an untreated bite wound before they got her, but being tripedal hasnt slowed down Daisy. Oberle said Daisy is as much of a companion dog as the others. If I have the recliner up, I have one between my feet, and one on either side. If my husband is there, he has one or two.

The need to place pugs in forever homes is perpetual, MacCormick said. DFW Pug Rescue has about 90 pugs ready for adoption. So far, the rescue club has taken in more than 300 pugs, and the expenses are piling up.

Community Foundation of Texas recent North Texas Giving Day fundraiser brought in $23,330 for the rescue club, and while it certainly will help, MacCormick said it will cover only one month of veterinary bills. Our vet expenses are over $200,000 a year

Right now, we are in some pretty serious financial straits because we had a large mill rescue in July, she said. We rescued 32 pugs from a puppy mill in East Texas. The majority of them were in bad shape and required a lot of surgeries. Almost all required heartworm treatment. They were some really sick puggies.

Adding that many pugs in need has been financially difficult for DFW Pug Rescue. But there is a silver lining. We only lost four of them, which I think is pretty darn good, MacCormick said. Eighteen of them have already been placed in adoptive homes. However, The cost has been almost overwhelming.

The rescue club hopes to bring in about $30,000 at its Oct. 23 Pug-O-Ween event in Grapevine, where pug owners can bring their costumed canines to socialize and where adoptable pugs will be available.

Over the past five years, DFW Pug Rescue has placed pugs with six families in the Midland-Odessa area. We would welcome more, MacCormick said. She said there are opportunities to volunteer by conducting home studies or transporting pugs. Oberle has done both for the rescue club, and says that while it sometimes can be difficult, she thinks of her own rescue dogs and the joys she has experienced having them in her family. They give me more than I give them. When I come home, if it was the worst day in the world, theyre thrilled to see me. They want to lick me, sit on my lap and be held. Who gives you that?

MacCormick considers the job of rescuing pugs a labor of love. Whether its taking in a surrendered dog or nursing a pug hanging onto life by a thread back to health and finding them a home, her efforts are rewarded.

To watch them become socialized and part of a family (is incredible). They respond so well to humans who are kind and loving. Its rewarding to see that transformation, she said.

Pugs are resilient, MacCormick says, and she thinks it might come from deep within the breeds history. They were bred by Tibetan monks, and Ive always felt that spirituality comes forth in so many different ways.

Disclosure: Trevor Hawes has donated in the past to DFW Pug Rescue.

Like Trevor on Facebook and follow him on Twitter at @HowdyHawes.
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A new non-partisan political action committee has announced its intention to endorse John Kennedy and Bryan Murry for the upcoming school board elections in November.

Concerned residents and parents earlier this year formed the political action committee Midland Students First to raise awareness of school board elections and support strong, reform-minded candidates, according to a press release announcing the endorsements.

Kennedy is running against Rachel Stone in District 4, which includes the areas around Bowie Fine Arts Academy and Houston, Lamar, Long and Burnet elementaries.

Murry and Margy House are running in District 7, which includes a large portion of northwest Midland, specifically the areas around Parker, Greathouse and Fasken elementaries and Green Tree Country Club.

The PAC did not make an endorsement in the District 1 race between incumbent James Fuller and Ernie Garcia. District 1 includes areas around Pease Communication & Technology Academy, Lee Freshman High School, Carver Center, Milam Elementary, Washington Math & Science Institute and some areas around Crockett Elementary. Midland Students First said the race was too close to call.

The elections will take place on Nov. 8. Early voting is scheduled to begin Oct. 24.

The election of school board members is the most impactful tool that we have to improve our students education, and we believe John and Bryan have the background and passion to shake up the board and make a real difference for our kids, said board member Kate Williamson. We will spend the next five weeks educating the public on why they should vote and why we believe these are the best candidates.

Board member Julia Swallow said Midland Students First exists because its members believe that every Midland student deserves a quality education, and thats why were working hard to raise awareness and to support strong, reform-minded leaders who will make tough decisions and be accountable to our parents, students and educators.

She cited recent Education Resources Group data, which showed Midland ISD ranked 199th of 200 of the largest districts in the state in terms of performance. Only Ector County ISD ranked lower. She called the ranking unacceptable.

We owe it to our kids and community to get involved, elect strong leaders and fight for reforms that will reverse this trend, Swallow said.

Midland Students First plans to do more than just endorse candidates. Its members attend school board meetings and plan to issue a report card of school board members and post a vote tracker for people to follow. The site also will include information about the district and post opportunities for those looking to volunteer with the PAC (work at events, knock on doors, etc.).

Reform has been on the minds of a lot of Midlanders and community organizations. Earlier this year, the organization Educate Midland presented education town halls to provide information about the district, its performance and the community-impact model that has made strides in other regions of the state. Three Midland foundations -- Scharbauer, Abell-Hanger and Henry -- have promised to fund Educate Midlands first years.

The Scharbauer Foundation also showed its commitment to reform with a $10 million donation to help the district with its $25 million deficit, heading into the 2016-17 school year. Large employers and Midlands most prominent foundations have also announced their support to bring change to Midland schools.

Midland Students First endorsements, according to a press release, are based on candidate questionnaire responses and in-person interviews with each candidate. Scoring will be posted on the groups website.

To view the scores or to learn more about the Midland Students First and its members, visit www.midlandstudentsfirst.com.

Website: www.midlandstudentsfirst.org.

Founding members

Rod Aguilar, Sara Burleson, Christine Foreman, Alison King, Jim Nelson, Jessica Rule, Julia Swallow and Kate Williamson

Core principals of Midland Students First:

1. We believe in making tough decisions that put students first.

2. We believe that all students deserve outstanding teachers.

3. We believe that great schools have empowered and accountable leaders.

4. We believe in high expectations for everyone involved in education.
The 1990 Texas election was days away, and the Republican front-runner was a millionaire known mostly for his money and his mouth.

Finally, a reporter asked again about his income taxes, and Clayton Williams blurted: Ill tell you when I didnt pay any income tax, was 1986.

The headlines the next day were published in big, stark letters: Williams Didnt Pay 86 Taxes. The next week, Democrat Ann Richards came from 5 points down to win the 1990 Texas governors race.

I thought right then, Oh man, we just lost it,  said Bill Kenyon, Williams former campaign spokesman.

But nobody else asked about it. I thought it might be our lucky day.

A quarter-century before Trump-vs.-Clinton, the Midland oilman blustered his way through a Texas election against a high-profile Democratic woman, and lost.

Williams is most remembered for telling reporters a rape joke. But he did not slip behind until the offhand tax comment to reporters in College Station four days before the election.

Kenyon, now a consultant in California, played keep-away the rest of the day, putting Williams under wraps and offering coy reporters an open bar. Nobody asked more questions, and that night, he called an assistant and said, God-dangit, we dodged the biggest bullet in the history of mankind.

Not quite.

WFAA/Channel 8 (the ABC affiliate in Dallas) reporter Doug Fox and videographer Tom Loveless were in College Station and did a double-take when they heard Williams tell the Houston Chronicles Cindy Rugeley he didnt pay taxes.

I had this glorious story written about the bands and the crowds and the cheers, Fox said by phone from his Colorado home. But Tom had been looking through his viewfinder, and when Clayton said that, his wife [Modesta] looked like something came up in her throat. ... We said, Weve got to redo this whole story.

Kenyon believes that an editor at The Associated Press in Dallas saw Foxs 6 p.m. report and wrote an urgent update to the days campaign story. Meanwhile, reporters following both candidates crossed paths at Houston Hobby airport and exchanged notes, while a Democratic lawmaker phoned Richards campaign staff.

Former Star-Telegram reporter Joe Cutbirth remembers Richards calling a late-night news conference in a Houston labor hall.

Until midday, Williams had been attacking Richards for hedging on opposing a state income tax. Now, she turned the tables.

Weve just heard Clayton Williams admit he didnt pay any income taxes for a number of years, Richards said, the way Cutbirth remembered.

And thats why Im against a state income tax, she said. Because the rich people wont pay it.

Fox, the WFAA reporter, thought about Williams the other night when tax returns showed that Trump might not have paid for several years.

It brought back a lot of memories, he said. Its not illegal, but to the people, it doesnt look right.

Richards won by nearly 100,000 votes.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency
Be measured in the margins you ...
Lakeland police are investigating an early morning shooting that led to the death of Jean Makenson Desroche.

A man died early Sunday after a shooting in Lakeland

Jean Makenson Desroche, 21, was killed in front of his apartment

No information has been released regarding a suspect in this case

Around 4:30 a.m. Sunday, officers received reports of shots fired at the Lakewood Terrace Apartments on W. 14th Street. Upon arrival, investigators said they found Desroche, 21, lying on the ground next to his car.

He was taken to the hospital where he died. Detectives said he was shot multiple times.

His mother, Emose St. Juste, said she went outside right after it happened, and found her son on the ground bleeding.

"He didn't even talk to me, said St. Juste.

His mother spent the morning going back and forth between English and Haitian-Creole, talking to family about her son.

"Jean, Jean, I love him so much," said a distraught St. Juste. "I love him so much."

Jean's girlfriend, Taquavia Gousby, was with his mother after the shooting. She said Jean worked in a warehouse, and that they had a nine-month-old daughter together.

"This morning she was saying 'Da Da,' just calling 'Da Da' and I couldn't tell her because she don't know and I just held her and I just kissed her because I know she's going to miss her daddy," said Gousby.

She believes her boyfriend went out with friends Saturday, dropped them off, and returned home to the Lakewood Terrace apartments.

"I just love him so much," said Gousby. "I don't know what else to say about him."

While more than a dozen family members gathered inside, police processed the crime scene. Neighbors were then left with the task of cleaning up his blood.

The investigation into his death is ongoing. So far, Lakeland Police havent made an arrest, and do not have any suspects. Theyre hoping witnesses will come forward to help them solve the case.
Two Florida senators got a look at damage from Hurricane Matthew damage from a very unique vantage point Saturday -- from high above onboard a U.S. Coast Guard HC-144 aircraft.

Senators Nelson, Rubio invited on survey by Coast Guard Admiral

3-hour flight departed from Orlando

Nelson: "We dodged a bullet."

Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio conducted an aerial survey of Florida's east coast after Nelson said the Coast Guard admiral called and asked them to come along on a visual inspection.



Nelson, a former astronaut, says he was anxious to see Kennedy Space Center.



"I was very glad to see that there had not been the erosion from the beach onto the launch pads, the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and then the two big launch pads at Kennedy Space Center," said Nelson.



The 3-hour flight departed from Orlando's Signature Flight Support. It was part of a Coast Guard process to assess damage in the wake of the storm.



"The worst is from above Marineland and the Matanzas Inlet northward -- thats where the storm surge really eroded the beach and the bluff," said Nelson. "The long and short of it is, we dodged a bullet."
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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  A trial is set to begin in the case of a police officer suing Connecticut State Police for arresting him and later revoking his pistol permit, which resulted in him being placed on unpaid leave.



Mark Minto of East Hartford accuses state police of wrongful arrest, illegally seizing his firearm and revoking his pistol permit without justification. Hes seeking damages of at least $500,000.



The trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday in federal court in Hartford. State police deny doing anything wrong.



Minto is an officer with the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.



He says he was arrested and his gun was seized after he followed a woman who was driving recklessly with a child in her car and reported her to police. The woman was not charged.






Three children and five adults were recovering Sunday after a boat carrying 30 people capsized the day before and sank 100 yards off Pier 45 at Fishermans Wharf.

A 5-year-old was unconscious and not breathing when the child was taken from the water, said Assistant Chief Bob Postel of the San Francisco Fire Department. The child was given CPR on the scene and rushed to San Francisco General Hospital in critical condition. But by Sunday, the child was doing well, said Lt. Jonathan Baxter, a fire department spokesman.

In all, eight people, including three children, were taken to various hospitals for problems induced by cold water, fire officials said.

This is a situation that could have been really, really catastrophic, Postel said. This is a really great example of how things can go right.

The cause of the capsizing remains under investigation, police spokesman Sgt. Michael Andraychak said Sunday. He said officials will use a sonar device to find the boat wreckage, although it likely wont be found until Monday because the recovery process cant go forward during busy Fleet Week activities.

Police will investigate whether all safety requirements, including the number of life jackets, were met aboard the privately owned boat, Andraychak said. Officials didnt release other details on who owned the boat or the people on board, but said it was a 34-foot-long vessel named Khaleesi.

The first distress call came at 4:07 p.m. from a fishing boat, which reported that a motorized yacht had flipped over. Within minutes, a flotilla of boats, both civilian and otherwise, was on the scene, pulling people from the water.

We were already in the vicinity due to Fleet Week, said Petty Officer Third Class Lou Stewart, a Coast Guard spokeswoman. So we were on the scene pretty quickly, with two cutters, three small boats and a helicopter.

There were lots of resources on the water because of Fleet Week, so we were fortunate, Postel said. Boats from the South San Francisco Fire Department and Oakland Police Department joined in the rescue effort.

The original call said there were people trapped under the hull of the overturned boat.

At least one person swam into the cabin of the capsized ship and rescued a father and child, said Giselle Talkoff, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco Police Department.

It was a frantic but organized madhouse, both in the bay and along the shore. Boats of all sorts brought the soaked, shivering victims to the landing at Capurros restaurant, 498 Jefferson St.

Rescue workers there wrapped the children and adults in thick blankets and helped them into emergency vehicles. At least a dozen fire trucks, multiple police cars and a Coast Guard helicopter were at the scene, along with several rescue boats.

Much of Jefferson and Hyde streets was blocked off from the heavier-than-usual weekend tourist traffic to make way for the rescue effort.

The Coast Guard credited the efforts of Good Samaritans on nearby boats with helping to save lives by throwing life preservers and life vests to the people floating and struggling in the bay.

Fisherman David Griffiths, who had been in his own boat not too far from the yacht, tossed life jackets to the people in the water. He was taking off his shoes and getting ready to jump in when the first rescue teams arrived, Griffiths said.

The water was calm, Griffiths said, with plenty of boats on the bay because of Saturdays unseasonably warm weather and the spectacle of Fleet Week.

It was jarring to see the boat upend during what had been an otherwise beautiful day on the water.

Seeing the bottom of it, thats not a normal thing, he said.

Baxter, the spokesman for the fire department, urged people aboard boats to wear life jackets, citing statistics that show people are six times as likely to drown without one.

The Coast Guard is trying to determine whether the sunken yacht poses an environmental threat or a hazard to navigation.

If theres no risk, the boat may remain at rest, Talkoff said.

Chronicle staff writers Kurt Aguilar and Kimberly Veklerov contributed

to this report.

Marissa Lang and Filipa A. Ioannou are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mlang@sfchronicle.com, fioannou@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Marissa_Jae
Bexar County Courthouse. San Fernando Cathedral. The Steves Homestead. The Majestic, Empire and Alameda Theaters. The Sullivan Carriage House. The Missions.

All of those magnificent buildings are such well-known places in San Antonio that it is easy to forget they and many others were restored to their former glory or embellished through the highly skilled work of some very special people.

Someone had to carve and re-point limestone blocks; forge and fashion iron for gates, grates and fences; re-plaster and paint ornately decorated interior walls and ceilings; refinish or pour new terrazzo floors; carefully apply stucco over stone or adobe; forge and install new brass candelabras; carefully apply the lathe to wooden railings or rebuild ancient doorways and shutters; or repair and install new stained glass for San Antonios great old homes, private and public buildings, missions and churches.

The artisans and craftspeople who do that work in our region are the heroes and heroines of Barbara Dean Hendricks beautifully written and illustrated book on the traditional building arts of our region.

In this labor of love, produced over several years of continuous effort, Hendricks engagingly profiles 10 of the most noted South Texas building artisans and members of their families.

Hendricks top 10 list includes Thomas Michael Battersby, stuccoist and lead beater; Manlio & Adrian Cavallini & Sons, leaded, faceted and etched glass artisans; Carlos Cortes, faux bois/trabajo rustico concrete sculptor; Richard Di Filippo and family, terrazzo artisans; Othon Garces, metalworker; John Hall, woodworker; Curtis Hunt & Family, master stone masons; Cisi Jary and daughters, paint and finish restoration artists; Kurt Pankrantz, blacksmith; and Johannes Scholze, woodcarver and furniture maker.

More Information The Building Arts of South Texas: Stories of Endangered Building Arts and the Craftsmen Who Keep Them Alive By Barbara Dean Hendricks Franklin Scribes, $25 See More Collapse

Hendricks not only interviewed each of these artists and members of their families, but visited their studios and work sites to document and photograph their tools, works-in-progress, finished works and ways of working.

The result is a series of 10 richly illustrated, fascinating chapters that feature extensive verbatim quotes from the artists juxtaposed with a total of more than 250 photos, some from archival sources.

The artists explain their apprenticeships, artistic worldviews and the progression of their careers in a manner that kaleidoscopically illuminates their distinctive personalities and, above all, their passion for their work.

Hendricks, too, clearly had a passion for this book, for she lavishes 473 pages on the body of it, making this a work to be savored. Even if the reader considers himself or herself well-informed about historic buildings in San Antonio  as I presumed to do  the text and photos reveal many wonderful surprises.

Hendricks concludes with an extraordinarily detailed six-part appendix that features a glossary of terminology particular to each artisan plus acknowledgments; an extensive listing of the buildings on which each artisan has worked; a list of the artisans work by location; plus generous credits to the books funders, which included Emily Denman Thuss, the San Antonio Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the San Antonio Chapter of Associated General Contractors, the San Antonio Conservation Society and Alamo Hardwoods.

Thuss, who is well known for her decades of community leadership in historic preservation and affordable housing, also serves as leader of the Building Arts Group, which shepherded this project in coordination with Hendricks. The group also includes Monte Adams, photographer and Tommy Adams, contractor. They have created the website www.thebuildingartsgroup.com.

I hope The Building Arts of South Texas will inspire some young, talented people to follow in the footsteps of the masters profiled in these pages, and become, in their time, valuable resources to anyone who loves our magnificent legacy of historic buildings.

A book signing with Barbara Dean Hendricks is set for 6-8 p.m. Friday at the Twig Book Shop at The Pearl, 306 Pearl Parkway. 210-826-6411, the twig.com.
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Spurs Jesus and his celebrity friends kicked off the weekend Friday with an event where art, live music and food combined for a rooftop party that benefited the River Walk.

He told mySA.com his party at the St. Anthony Hotel is the official after party of the ScHoolboy Q and Joey Bada$$ concert at Aztec Theatre.

RELATED: 'Spurs Jesus for President' mural pops up at Southtown's Tito's Mexican Restaurant

Live music was performed by Jukebox Heroes. A set by Carlton Zeus was also on the night's happenings.

The live action was from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and attendees had the opportunity to watch local artists like Albert Gonzales, Carlos Cantu and Joe Chenzo create new pieces to sell. The proceeds, like the $8 donation ticket to the party, will benefit Paseo del Rio.

"I'm inviting all of San Antonio to the biggest rooftop party downtown San Antonio has ever seen, there are big things to come and it's all for a good cause," Spurs Jesus said Friday before the show.

RELATED: San Antonio 6-year-old's Drake-themed birthday party made all others look like child's play

Paula Schechter, spokeswoman for Paseo del Rio, said the group is on board with Spurs Jesus' benevolence and added that he has been "going strong" to raise money for the River Walk recently.

Three other events throughout the month include a 5K run and two additional St. Anthony Hotel-based functions.

RELATED: San Antonio celebrities compete in Wingstop eating competition for charity

Spurs Jesus kicked off his initiative in late September with a "Spurs Jesus for President" mural on an exterior wall of Tito's Mexican Restaurant in Southtown. The St. Anthony Hotel and Alamo Brewery will each donate $1 to Paseo Del Rio for each social media post including "#SpursJesus4President" until Nov. 8.

mmendoza@mysa.com

Twitter: @MaddySkye
BRIDGEPORT  Interim School Superintendent Fran Rabinowitz stepped into the hallway from a noisy school board meeting at Tisdale School to place a call to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

No, she would not become the states next commissioner of education, she whispered into the cellphone that evening in March 2015, moments after the board voted 7-2 to extend her contract through June 2017.

I want to stay here and do the work here, Rabinowitz said after she ended the call. I feel we can move the district forward.

Later that night, Maria Pereira, at the time a former Board of Education member but nonetheless at odds with the interim schools chief, took to Only In Bridgeport, a local political blog. Pereira posted: Fran Rabinowitz will not be here through July 2017 ... If Fran wants to play politics, she has to take what comes with it.

On Wednesday, Pereiras pronouncement came true.

Rabinowitz is leaving at the end of December. In her resignation letter last week she said that Pereiras relentless, negative crusade to undermine and discredit everything she tried to do is the reason.

More for you Greg Casar gets major boost from political superstar

On the day Rabinowitz resigned, school board member Kevin McSpirit said he was quitting. Hes the third board member to resign this year.

Three other board members  Chairman Dennis Bradley, Joe Larcheveque and Annette Segerra Negron  have started boycotting meetings and say they will continue until Pereira resigns. Pereira  aligned with board members Sauda Baraka, Howard Gardner and Ben Walker  says she has no intention of resigning.

More Information An acrimonious year 1/11 - Pereira calls for an evaluation of Rabinowitz. 2/22 - A nearly 5 hour meeting, is marked by clashes. 3/28 - Half the board walks out of a meeting. 5/23 - Hennessy resigns from board. 7/23 - Ganim appoints replacement. 8/15 - Baker resigns from board. 9/12 - Pereira sues Ganim for appointing board member. 9/12 - Four board members start boycotting meetings until Pereira resigns. 9/28 - Ganim appoints second board member. 10/5 - Rabinowitz resigns. 10/5 - McSpirit resigns from board. See More Collapse

The standoff puts the states third-largest urban school system  still feeling the effects of a failed 2011 state takeover  into turmoil once more.

I would say its pretty unique, said Rob Rader, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education. I have seen other contentious school boards. Nothing like this.

I dont have a dysfunctional board; I have one dysfunctional member, Rabinowitz told a roomful of people at Burroughs Community Center last week.

Pereira said Rabinowitz has only herself to blame for the districts predicament.

Ms. Rabinowitz is the interim-superintendent of the third largest school district in CT with a nine-member board, yet she consistently tries to utilize me as her scapegoat, Pereira said in an email. She only needs to take a long hard look in the mirror to find the real culprit responsible for the position she finds herself in today.

The trouble began when early in Rabinowitzs tenure she agreed to a financial arrangement  set in motion before she arrived  that allowed the city to count so-called in-kind services and state cash toward its share of school funding. Pereira wanted to sue the state instead.

(Pereira) was furious that I agreed to do it, Rabinowitz said.

On that point, both agree.

As a result of her illegal and poor decision to promote in-kind services versus cash; the district had to deal with a $15 million dollar deficit this school year instead of a $10 million dollar deficit, Pereira said.

There would be other clashes, including a board decision to stop recognizing the districts Parent Advisory Committee when the group refused to allow parents associated with charter school groups to take leadership roles.

Pereira, a charter school opponent who was on the executive board of the PAC, blames Rabinowitz for leaving it in complete and utter shambles.

Shadow of state takeover

Pereira, a Harding High School graduate, first won a seat on the board in 2009 on the Working Families Party ticket. Midway through her term, the state displaced the local school board and took control of the district.

The state takeover of the school board sharpened Pereiras protest skills. She successfully fought the states move and took the issue to court, which found the takeover to be an illegal power grab that wrested control from local residents.

Pereira, 49, returned to the board in December 2015, and the states regime was gone. Rabinowitz, who grew up in Bridgeport, spent 29 years working in the district and had been superintendent in the Hamden schools, was serving as an interim.

At meetings since Pereira returned to the board, hours have been spent exploring whether Rabinowitz was sitting in the interim job legally and why she wasnt being evaluated. Often, Pereira reminded Rabinowitz she answered to the board, not the other way around.

Upon Rabinowitzs resignation, Pereira, issued a statement wishing her well, and said she looked forward to a search for a permanent superintendent with a record of success in an urban school district.

Walker, Baraka and Gardner all defend Pereira, saying despite her tactics, she is getting the district where it needs to go.

No one prepares more thoroughly for meetings than Ms. Pereira, Walker said.

Not knowing what to think

Robert Hannafin, dean of the College of Education at Fairfield University, said Rabinowitzs departure has him worried that collaborations built over two and a half years with the district in the areas such as reading instruction would be in jeopardy.

We spent so much time building trust and a relationship, Hannafin said. I know Fran pretty well. She is extremely professional, cooperative, always put kids first.

Jessica Martinez, president of the reformed Parent Advisory Committee, lamented Rabinowitzs resignation.

It is shameful and sad that Bridgeport has yet again lost a leader of her caliber, Martinez said. In the midst of it all, the childrens future and progress within the system is in limbo.

But Albert Benejan, president of the Bassick Parent Teacher Organization, was pleased to see Rabinowitz go.

Its the best thing that has happened in Bridgeport Public Schools in a very long time, Benejan said. Hopefully, we can move forward and give our kids the education they deserve.

School boards, Hannafin said, are designed to provide support and direction, not to micromanage or second guess every decision of the expert theyve hired to run the district.

Its OK to disagree, but then you resolve issues, Hannafin said. I think it will be very challenging to find someone willing to come into a dysfunctional relationship like this.

District staff members are worried, too.

Frankly, Im concerned about the future of our schools, said Shaun Mitchell, an English teacher at Central High School and a 2016 runner-up for Connecticut Teacher of the Year. Fran is the model urban superintendent, a fierce teacher supporter and an equally fierce student advocate.

Mitchell said the boards reputation could make it hard for the district to find a replacement.

No professional worth their salt would willingly walk into the lions den that has become our Board of Ed, Mitchell said.

Rob Traber, president of the Bridgeport Education Association, called Rabinowitzs resignation a huge loss.

Unfortunately, it is also a reprehensible setback to our efforts to eliminate bullying in our schools, Traber said.

Victor Black, a high school principal and president of the school administrators union, said his group is also disappointed. The district is in the midst of contract negotiations.

Our schools will continue to operate fully, Black added. And we hope to be at the table when the smoke clears to ensure the children in our care each school day are given the best opportunities and preparation for the future they will face.

Going forward

Since the board members boycott of their regular meetings, they have held special meetings to address specific issues, with a very limited agenda. That cant last forever, said Joseph J. Cirasuolo, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents.

With respect to the Bridgeport board, Cirasuolo said, given what one board member has been able to do to make regular meetings non-functional, the only alternative that the majority of the board members have is to function via special meetings.

As for finding a new superintendent, Rader, of CABE, said the struggle for Bridgeport will be finding someone willing to come into as situation that appears so difficult.

There are people who will see it as a challenge, Rader said. But will they find the right person?

lclambeck@ctpost.com; @lclambeck
Congressman John Moolenaar encourages high school students in Michigans 4th Congressional District to enter the 2016 Congressional App Challenge.

The winner from the 4th District will have their app displayed in the U.S. Capitol and on House.gov

This competition inspires students to learn skills for the job opportunities of the future. It promotes STEM education and will help maintain Americas role as the world leader in technology and innovation,  Moolenaar said.

Last years competition was entered by more than 1,700 students. Some of the winning entries included apps that helped students learn math and study for AP exams.

The 4th Congressional District is made up of 15 counties: Clare, Clinton, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Osceola, Roscommon, Shiawassee, and Wexford counties, as well as portions of Montcalm and Saginaw counties.

Entries must be submitted on the Congressional App Challenge website. Details and a checklist for submissions are online at: www.congressionalappchallenge.us

More for you Greg Casar gets major boost from political superstar

The deadline for entry is noon on Nov. 2.

Additional questions about the App Challenge can be directed to Moolenaars Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-3561.
The Daily News will run a weekly Political Round-up, highlighting the campaigns of candidates for both the 98th House and 99th House races. All four candidates have been contacted and asked to submit items for the round-up.

In the 98th House District, Republican Gary Glenn, R-Midland, will be facing Democratic challenger Geoff Malicoat in the Nov. 8 general election. The 99th House race will have Democrat Bryan Mielke squaring off against Republican Roger Hauck.

GARY GLENN

 Glenn Monday participated in a candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Midland Area and broadcast live by Midland Community Television. The forum will be re-aired multiple times before the Nov. 8 election on Charter cable channel 191 and can also be viewed online at MCTV.Midland-Mi.org

 Glenn Thursday attended the 15th annual Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame banquet at the H Hotel in Midland as a guest of Dr. Charles Ted Skinner, an entrepreneur and Dow Corning retiree who was one of the four 2016 inductees.

More for you Greg Casar gets major boost from political superstar

 Glenn was endorsed last week by the Michigan Manufacturers Association, which represents the states largest economic sector and source of jobs, employing over 604,000 state residents.

 Glenn last week was named a recipient of the Guardian of Small Business Award by the Michigan chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business, in recognition of his 100 percent voting record on small business issues scored by NFIB.

 Glenn has won the support of at least two Democratic elected officials in the 98th District, Fraser Township trustee George Augustyniak, and Garfield Township trustee Paul Niemiec.

 Literature for Glenn's campaign contains a positive quote from former Democratic state Rep. Dan Scripps, D-Newport, who from 2008 to 2010 served as vice-chairman of the House Energy Policy Committee, the same committee leadership post Glenn now holds.

For more information: GaryGlenn.US

GEOFF MALICOAT

 Geoff Malicoat has continued to earn the endorsement of workers groups as the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 876 endorsed his candidacy for the Michigan House of Representatives.

 On Monday, October 3, Malicoat took part in a televised candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters. During the forum Malicoat pledged to support equal-pay legislation. I was raised by a single mother, so I know how difficult it is for one parent households. We need to demand that women earn as much as men for doing the same work. It is not only the right or the fair thing to do, but it makes economic sense. If we achieved pay equity, we would cut the poverty rate in half. That means fewer people collecting welfare benefits, fewer people using food stamps, and fewer children stuck in a generational cycle of poverty.

 On Monday, October 10, Malicoat as well as several candidates for the Midland Schools Board of Education are going to be at a non-partisan Education Forum hosted by the Central Michigan Labor Council, taking place at the Steelworkers Hall at 3510 James Savage Road. The moderated forum will feature opening statements followed by questions fielded from the audience. The event is open to the public and does not require reservations. So far, the following school board candidates have confirmed their attendance: Mary Fredell, Michael Knoff, Yvonne Gorton, Scott McFarland, Kurt Yockey and Gerald Wasserman. All of the school board candidates as well as State Representative Gary Glenn have been invited.

For more information about Malicoat: malicoatforhouse.com

Midland GOP Victory Center new hours

The Midland County Republicans will be expanding office hours of its Victory Center through the November general election. The Victory Center, located at 109 Ashman Circle Plaza, across the parking lot from Gill-Roys Hardware, will be open from noon to 9 p.m. Monday  Friday and 10 a.m.  1 p.m. on Saturdays.

We have had a tremendous response since we opened the center five weeks ago, said Victory Center Director Matthew Ivan. Weve had packed houses for our Meet the Candidates Night, our debate-watch party, and a Speaker Series event with Republican strategist Steve Linder.

There is a lot of enthusiasm for our candidates up and down the ticket. Trump/Pence yard signs are flying out the doors along with signs for John Moolenaar for Congress, and State Rep. candidates Gary Glenn and Roger Hauck. Volunteers are also canvassing neighborhoods throughout the county in support of our candidates at all levels.

Upcoming events at the Victory Center include a screening of Dinesh DSouzas film Hillarys America at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, followed by a watch-party for the final presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton at 9 p.m. Pizza, popcorn, and refreshments will be provided. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP as space is limited. You can contact the Victory Center at midlandcountygop@gmail.com or (989) 486-8998.
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What started as a social club for women will mark a significant occasion Tuesday when it will celebrate its 100th anniversary at 1:30 p.m. at the Midland Country Club.

The Womens Study Club spun off from the Monday Club, another study group in Midland, on Nov. 21, 1916. Tuesdays event will feature vocal soloist Grace Marra accompanied by Jantz Black.

In addition, the program will feature 10 of the club members outlining the history of the organization by decades. For instance, member Elsie Misner has reviewed the minutes of the meetings from 1916 through 1925 and will make a presentation of highlights of that 10 years. Nine others have done the same for the ensuing decades

Were going to have some music, were going to have some fun, were going to have some history, said Alice Morgan, a club member for 39 of the years since 1963.

She quit the club when she went to work for The Dow Chemical Co. in 1978 but returned to the club in 1993 after retiring.

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She said that the club decided to celebrate its birthday in October because, historically, more people are still in town and because November is the business meeting.

For me this group is wonderful, because we come from so many different interests, Morgan said. We have musicians, like Sally Stebleton, long time member, and Cathy White, and we have artists, and we have people with a variety of different interests. We have club members who are active in many different parts of the community, and so the programs always enlighten me about something I am not particularly following.

When the club began in 1916, members would meet in each others homes twice a month and the hosts would prepare and present the program themselves. Oftentimes, at that time, it might be the only socialization for women.

The women used to do the programs themselves, Misner said. And they were very aware politically and worldly about what was going on. They all did their own papers and presented them to the group on whatever subject they had chosen. That was where these hot discussions got started. That was their intellectual stimulation.

In fact, some of the discussions became so heated that, come dinnertime, some of the women would have go home and cook dinner, and then they would return.

It has changed. It has transformed from when it began, Misner said. When it began that was the only social life in the community, practically, because women stayed home. Today it is totally flip-flopped because women are working and they have so many interests other than a club.

Norma Camp, who was quick to point out that she wasnt the oldest member of the group, is the longest serving member, having joined in 1954. She echoed Misners assessment.

She said that then, women from the club were more interested in the community, like getting a traffic light up.

Even early on, though, the club was influential. Misner related that the out-county libraries for the out-county schools, sprung from discussions at the club.

And crossing guards in town.

It was quite close to the beginning of the club when women sat around and worried about the safety of schoolchildren getting to school, Camp said. Traffic was becoming an issue.

Clean water in the schools, too, was an issue that began at the meetings.

A lot of that started at these womens clubs, Misner said. Because they were the mothers who were concerned about their children. And then the men, Im sure, took over and made it happen.

As a matter of fact, Morgan said, the study club format is now being implemented all over the world. She used the example of Heifer International, to which she donates, which is helping to start womens clubs in the mountains in Central America, Africa and Asia. Originally it began after World War II to restock agricultural areas with birds and animals.

The pattern that American women started in womens clubs to look at the communities and see the need that exists  and the well-being of children and families, that is what the womens clubs did in America. And now that is what they are trying to do all around the world, she said.

Camp said womens clubs also serve another purpose in the town. Newcomers find the clubs a social network.

Its a good way for people who have moved to Midland to get to know each other, she said.

Today, the club meets for fellowship, education and philanthropy once a month at the country club. Most often, speakers are invited rather than the members providing one.

One thing that hasnt changed is the clubs ongoing interest in training women leaders. Although they have provided scholarships for a student between her junior and senior years to Camp Miniwanca for two weeks, at the anniversary members will announce a new scholarship for women leaders though the Midland Area Community Foundation.

Misner said the diversity of womens interests over the years makes a difference for her.

There have been a lot of people who have been in the club who have been very important to Midland over the years and that has helped keep us informed as a club, she said.
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Victoria Moreno, 39, was clutching a small, pink stun device as she answered her door Saturday evening, almost a day her family had reported that a clown invaded her home and attempted to shoot her 14-year-old brother.

I made a joke like OK boys be careful, dont open the door for clowns, she recalled saying to her family immediately before the incident.

Across the nation, there have been reports of clowns frightening and terrorizing communities. School districts including Northside, North East, San Antonio and Harlandale have been the subject of clown-related threats that have been empty.

RELATED: Copycat: Threatening clowns seen in UK, following US trend

Until Fridays home invasion, which San Antonio Police confirmed, San Antonio had not seen any real threats.

According to Moreno, her adopted brother had been sitting outside on a chair listening to music at about 7 p.m. in the 300 block of San Carlos Street when he decided to go inside.

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In the living room, he was changing a CD in his electronic device when he looked up for a moment and saw a reflection in the living room television.

He turned around to see a clown wearing red and yellow standing before him in the living room, Moreno said.

The teen recalled the clowns suit as somewhat tighter than most, and that he was wearing a mask instead of grease makeup.

Startled and frightened by the sight, Moreno said her brother reeled backward stumbling against the television, sending both falling backward.

He told police the clown insulted with an obscene name, while pulling out a gun and taking aim.

The first pull of the trigger, the gun jammed, Moreno said. A second attempt, and it jammed again.

RELATED: Punishment, and a lesson, for student who sent clown photo

By the third try, the teen was on his way out of the house, and the clown fired off a shot inside the living room, Moreno said. No one was was hit.

My little brother had run across the street, he was shaking and crying saying there was clowns inside the house, Moreno recalled.

The clown fled eastbound on San Carlos, the teen told police. As of Saturday, officials had no new details about the incident.

We never have any problems. Leaving him here for 20 or 30 minutes is not a big deal when Im just up the street, Moreno said. Now I know its for real. The clowns arent playing any kinds of games. Theyre serious.

Other than a shattered sense of security, the noticeable evidence remaining the next day was a bullet hole near a window.

RELATED: DC police arrest teen for making threats to her school

Im glad that my little brothers alive, thats all that matters, Moreno said. Everything else is replaceable.

Its the most horrific thing Moreno said has happened in the six years shes lived at the home, which the family now wants to leave.

Meanwhile, the teen is staying with relatives, Moreno said.

Everybody needs to be careful ... take care of your children because theyre out there theyre really playing games with our lives, Moreno said. If he started shooting then he was out to hurt somebody, it wasnt fun and games. Its not Halloween yet, so theres no reason for anybody to be dressed as a clown right now.

jbeltran@express-news.net

Twitter: @JBfromSA
Sonic Automotive, the fourth-largest auto dealership group in the U.S., is entering the San Antonio market for the first time with plans to build five locations of its EchoPark used car retail brand in the next two years, reported the Express-News last month.

San Antonians are likely encouraged about the possibility of new jobs and further competition in the car market. But how many potential new customers would know that the vast majority of cars sold in the U.S.  some 70 percent  take their first ride on the back of a rail car?

Due to its massive network, freight rail has the unique ability to ship certain goods more efficiently than other modes of transportation, providing one of the most cost-effective ways to ship big items in bulk. A single train can transport 750 cars. In 2015, railroads transported more than 17 million autos.

It is all part of a mainstay, yet evolving, U.S. industry that has long-supported our economy and way of life by moving goods we depend on. From energy resources to the agricultural yields now in peak transportation season, freight railroads connect to almost everything we use in our daily lives. Major U.S. rail carriers, like BNSF and Union Pacific in Texas, supported 1.5 million jobs, generated $33 billion in local, state and federal taxes, and produced $274 billion in economic activity nationally in 2014 alone.

That is why it is increasingly important for the freight rail industry to be able to continue investing in its privately owned and maintained infrastructure, and why federal regulators should forgo proposed policy changes that disregard current market realities and harken back to a time when heavy-handed government involvement in pricing and routing suffocated earnings and left the industry in dire straits. Federal regulators should stick to the path forged last year by elected officials with direct oversight of railroad regulators, including Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, which by no means called for industry reregulation.

The Surface Transportation Board, or STB, is today advancing two particularly troubling measures, both lacking empirical backing. One would cap rates  nothing less than government price control  while the other would force railroads to open their lines to competitors.

The latter is called reciprocal switching  or more accurately, forced access. Under this framework, Railroad One gets access to Railroad Twos privately owned infrastructure and customers because the government forces Railroad Two to do so  not because it is the optimal route. This may sound simple, but because a switch of just one rail car involves multiple timely steps, shipments could be dramatically slowed.

It would vastly complicate rail operations, labor agreements, and, perhaps, compromise safety while reducing money needed to expand capacity, says transportation expert Robert Gallamore.

It is anti-free market to suggest the government can dictate property usage of a private owner or increase competition through more intervention. But more practically, it is naive to think widespread switches wouldnt affect operations.

A slower rail network would lessen railroad efficiencies and reduce railroads abilities to invest in their networks, all the while raising costs for Texas businesses and consumers. Only a small group of shippers would benefit. Texans would suffer if critical goods  food, water treatment materials, agricultural fertilizer or home-powering energy sources  move to market slower because of government-imposed rules that jam the network.

Like many American industries, freight railroads face major challenges as the nation shifts from manufacturing to services. The U.S. has lost 5 million manufacturing jobs since 2000.

With coal production at its lowest level since 1980, railroads are especially grappling with structural market shifts. To advocate rules that ignore the realities of todays marketplace and the new economic landscape is to regulate with blinders on.

Congress has always maintained a key role in overseeing railroads. Just last year, it reauthorized the STB. However, it never dictated actions to be taken. Continued leadership by Congress, and the preservation of sensible public policies that do not overburden railroads, is as important as ever today.

Ian Jefferies is senior vice president of government affairs at the Association of American Railroads.
Readers, you get a heaping double ration of links for your holiday reading pleasure. Also, theres rather a lot happening. lambert

Still No Deutsche Bank Agreement: Dillutive Stock Sale Coming Up? MishTalk (Furzy Mouse).

Deutsche Bank eyes asset management unit IPO FT

Germanys Schaeuble says too much talk on Deutsche Bank Reuters

Tina keeps the rally in equities going FT

Get ready for a computerized teammate in your car Yahoo Finance. Note the teleology that assumes progress from computer-assisted to autonomous.

Sheriffs deputies arrived at a car crash  and stumbled on an active meth lab in a minivan WaPo

Medicine as a Public Calling Michigan Law Review (Re Silc). Quaint.

Insulin Prices Soar While Drugmakers Share Stays Flat WSJ

Tenet Healthcare pays $513 million for fraud and kickbacks, whistleblower awarded $84 million The FCPA Blog (J-LS).

Revealed: The Scots firm at the heart of $1bn theft The Herald

Brexit?

Every EU migrant can stay in UK after Brexit: all 3.6 million to have residency rules or get amnesty Telegraph (RS). [T]he Home Office discovered that five in six could not legally be deported. Oopsie.

Mays Government Facing Split Over Plan to List Foreign Workers Bloomberg. The minister said the immigration proposal had gone down like a bag of vomit.'

Black Injustice Tipping Point

Clinton and Podesta Wikileaks Release

The WikiLeaks material is highly relevant to how Clinton would actually govern, as opposed to how she says she will govern. Because of the oddly timed release of the Trump hot mike tape, this story seems to be getting buried, so Ill go into it in some detail. First some links:

Hillary Clintons Wall St speeches published by Wikileaks BBC. Published, and not allegedly published, or appear to reveal (WaPo).

In paid speeches, Hillary Clinton said she represented and had great relations with Wall Street Salon

Sanders supporters seethe over Clintons leaked remarks to Wall St. Reuters

Contradicting FBI view, Clintons leaked speeches portray her as computer savvy McClatchy

How the Clinton campaign decisions get made Politico

And now some quotes. Just to underline what we aleady know:

*CLINTON SAYS YOU NEED TO HAVE A PRIVATE AND PUBLIC POSITION ON POLICY* *Clinton: But If Everybodys Watching, You Know, All Of The Back Room Discussions And The Deals, You Know, Then People Get A Little Nervous, To Say The Least. So, You Need Both A Public And A Private Position.*

(The email is a compilation of quotes from Clintons paid speeches, not otherwise available. It begins: Attached are the flags from HRCs paid speeches we have from HWA. The asterisked material is how the Clinton campaign staffer flagged the quotes they considered dangerous.) Since these quotes are from paid speeches, we can expect Clintons private position  expect, that is, if we assume that Clinton isnt cheating her clients by failing to deliver value for money in terms of services to be rendered  to be a more accurate representation of her views than her public one. In other words, were looking at a pitch to the donor class, when Clinton was laying the groundwork for her campaign. In an oligarchy, this would be natural.

I believe Ive mentioned to readers that my vision of the first 100 days of a Clinton administration includes a Grand Bargain, the passage of TPP, and a new war. So you can read the following as confirmation bias, if you will.

On the Grand Bargain and Social Security (Morgan Stanley, 2013):

But Simpson-Bowles  and I know you heard from Erskine earlier today  put forth the right framework. Namely, we have to restrain spending , we have to have adequate revenues, and we have to incentivize growth. Its a three-part formula. The specifics can be negotiated depending upon whether were acting in good faith or not [!!].

Readers will of course be aware that the fiscal views intrinsic to Simpson-Bowles have been the perennial justification for Social Security cuts (the progressive give-up formula) and austerity generally. And if you think Democrat orthodoxy on SImpson Bowles has changed, see Robert Rubin today (below). If you buy Simpson-Bowles, you buy Social Security cuts. The policy is bad enough, but depending upon whether were acting in good faith or not is, to me, the real mind-boggler.

On trade (Banco Itau, 2013):

Hillary Clinton Said Her Dream Is A Hemispheric Common Market, With Open Trade And Open Markets. *My dream is a hemispheric common market, with open trade and open borders , some time in the future with energy that is as green and sustainable as we can get it, powering growth and opportunity for every person in the hemisphere.

On green, see Clinton below on climate change. On trade, anybody with a dream like that will not surrender TPP lightly.

On war, Clinton said (Goldman Sachs, 2013):

Hillary Clinton Said One Of The Problems With A No Fly Zone Would Be The Need To Take Out Syrias Air Defense, And Youre Going To Kill A Lot Of Syrians. So were not as good as we used to be, but we stillwe can still deliver, and we should have in my view been trying to do that so we would have better insight. But the idea that we would have like a no fly zoneSyria, of course, did have when it started the fourth biggest Army in the world. It had very sophisticated air defense systems. Theyre getting more sophisticated thanks to Russian imports. To have a no fly zone you have to take out all of the air defense, many of which are located in populated areas. So our missiles, even if they are standoff missiles so were not putting our pilots at riskyoure going to kill a lot of Syrians. So all of a sudden this intervention that people talk about so glibly becomes an American and NATO involvement where you take a lot of civilians. [ Speech to Goldman Sachs, 2013 IBD Ceo Annual Conference, 6/4/13]

Not that theres anything wrong with that.

And speaking of beating the war drums, theres this gobsmacking quote on climate change (tinePublic, 2014):

Clinton Talked About Phony Environmental Groups Funded By The Russians To Stand Against Pipelines And Fracking. We were up against Russia pushing oligarchs and others to buy media. We were even up against phony environmental groups, and Im a big environmentalist, but these were funded by the Russians to stand against any effort, oh that pipeline, that fracking, that whatever will be a problem for you, and a lot of the money supporting that message was coming from Russia. [Remarks at tinePublic, 6/18/14]

Wowsers. I wonder what 350.org thinks about that?

Avoiding Viruses in DNC/DCCC/CF Excel Files Another Word For It. For readers playing alone at home.
Josh Williams, Sherry Pollex and Jes Ferreira recognized as 2022 Comcast Community Champion of the Year finalists Comcast is honored to announce Josh Williams, Sherry Pollex and Jes Ferreira as the finalists for the 2022 Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award.
Tipperary Co. Council will stop issuing and collecting water charges bills from commercial businesses and other non-domestic water users around the county at the end of this month as this function will transfer to Irish Water.

Co. Council Director of Water Services Sean Keating told the monthly meeting of Carrick Municipal District councillors that six councils have already transferred the collecting of non-domestic water charges to Irish Water and the same will happen in Tipperary from the end of October onwards.

The billing and collection of non-domestic water charges will transfer from all 31 local authorities to Irish Water by the end of the year.

Non-domestic water charges customers, who have queries about their next bills, will have to contact Irish Water rather that the Council for information. Mr Keating said they will receive an information pack about who and where to contact if they have queries and how to pay their charges.

Mr Keating confirmed to Mullinahone Cllr Eddie O'Meara (Ind) that Irish Water plans over the next decade to regionalise water services infrastructure maintenance and the design and roll out of capital water services projects. Water services staff in county councils currently do much of this work under contract to Irish Water. Discussions about this have been taking place over the past 12 months at national level.

Irish Water was looking at setting up a "regional hub" similar to the National Roads Authority's Roads Design Office, he explained. Mr Keating, however, pointed out water services staff reporting to a regional centre would continue to be based in the councils.

"That is all subject to agrement.It would be Irish Water's intention to move to a regional basis over the next 10 years but for the time being our service level agreement with Irish Water covers us to handle the water services in the county, he added.

Cllr O'Meara declared it would be a "disaster" and "retrograde step" to regionalise water services maintenance, capital projects and design and warned it would cause "endless headaches".

"It's another layer of bureaucracy," he complained.

Water services staff in Tipperary Co. Council knew exactly where every metre of water piping was in the county. If you had to report to Kilkenny, Waterford or anywhere else they wouldn't have the knowledge the local knowledge, he argued.

Meanwhile, Cllr John Fahey (FG) from Killenaule complained about the delays in fixing water leaks in his area that were reported to Irish Water.

"The public are frustrated about leaks. I was at a funeral the other night and in the kitchen having a cup of tea when I was literally attacked by people saying they were ringing Irish Water for the past month and leaks were still there. There is no point in saying (to Irish Water) you are from Killenaule. The person at the other end of the phone hasn't heard of Killenaule," he told the Municipal District meeting.

Mr Keating responded the Council has been in discussion with Irish Water about getting additional assistance for repairing water leaks in the form of extra staff.

He explained that what was happening at the moment was that water services maintenance crews in the country were being called first to areas where there were major leaks, which meant more minor leaks took longer to reach and repair.

"Irish Water appreciates we have a shortage and are looking to get sufficient staff for us."

He pointed out that Irish Water had introduced "find and fix" leak repair crews in six local authorities on a pilot basis and Tipperary Co. Council will be in the next phase of the roll out of this extra staffing programme.
The 2017 actress assault case refers to the abduction and sexual assault of a leading South Indian actress in Kochi.
(NaturalNews) Venezuela's experiment in socialism continues to wreak havoc on the country's economy and its people, to the point now where one-third of those admitted to hospitals  even for minor scrapes  die from shortages of key medicines. reported recently that if the South American nation  once the hemisphere's richest and most successful  has collapsed into such an economic basket case that it is now difficult enough for even the healthy to get by. The sick and injured often have nothing to look forward to except death.The AP, citing government reports, noted that one in three people admitted to a hospital last year died. Operational hospital bed totals have fallen by 40 percent since 2014. And as the economic collapse deepens, the country is now shot on 85 percent of needed medicines, according to the national drugstore trade group."I really don't know of any other country where things have deteriorated so quickly, to such an incredible extent," Rafael Perez-Escamilla, a Yale University School of Public Health professor who has worked in Latin America and Africa, told AP. "Venezuela's health system was a model for Latin America. Now you are seeing an implosion where people cannot get basic care."Socialism is to blame, of course, but like President Obama won't say "Muslim extremists," academics and establishment media reporters won't say " socialism ." When you're a fan of that economic model, you can't quite bring yourself to acknowledge the big, fat gorilla in the room. Rather, Venezuela's problems are blamed on "economic mismanagement," as the AP reported, and a plunge in oil prices.Granted, oil was a mainstay of the Venezuelan economy, but as thisstory noted , the country has suffered steady economic decline and collapse since the days of Chavez.Now, after nationalizing much of the country's businesses and industries, everything is falling apart. Local production of nearly everything has all but stalled and there is no money in the treasury (or in business hands) to import much, especially medicines.Meanwhile, Maduro is going out of his way to ensure that his failed "socialist revolution" is not blamed for the problems it is causing. His government mouthpieces say that Venezuela's medical crisis is not real  "an invention peddled by opponents," as the AP reported. But then Maduro, like every other socialist dictator, contradicts himself by telling Venezuelans "to start growing medicinal herbs," the AP said.And there is this: Maduro refuses to let international aid into his country. So now, tons of much-needed medical supplies and medicines are sitting idle in warehouses in the U.S., Spain and Panama. How's that for dangerously delusional? Maduro ought to stand trial in an international court for crimes against humanity.This is what it has come to: In recent days, the family and cousins of a dying three-year-old Venezuelan girl  dying from what started as a simple infection from a scraped knee  went from hospital to hospital in the capital of Caracas begging administrators for a chest-drainage machine she needed to stay alive. No one would help and some even accused family members of wanting to obtain the equipment so they could sell it.Finally, around midnight on the day the girl's doctors had told her parents she wouldn't live past, a local physician donated the needed machine, called a Pleur-evac. The cousin who secured it ventured down the capital city's crime-ridden streets at 1:30 in the morning, well past the unofficial curfew, to get it to the failing child's bedside.But her leg had grown even more swollen and red; it needed to be drained, surgically. There were only two functioning operating rooms and 150 children waiting for them.In the end, the child  Ashley  lived. But other children had to die first. The entire sad, frustrating and angering story is recounted here Read it, so that the next time Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton, or some other socialist-wannabe "revolutionary" politician tells youis the better economic model, you'll be sure to vote for their opponent.
(NaturalNews) On 22 September a judge in the Criminal Court of Paris found Marc Fellous guilty of forgery and the use of forgery in order to defame Prof Gilles-Eric Seralini and CRIIGEN, a research association which focuses on the risks of genetic engineering and pesticides and the development of alternatives.(Article republished from GMWatch.org Marc Fellous is a GMO proponent who was formerly President of the Biomolecular Engineering Commission (CGB), which assessed the safety of GMOs in France for the ministries of agriculture and environment from 1998 to 2007. In 2016 he became president of the French Association for Plant Biotechnology, a lobby group that was set up to promote GM crops. [1]Last November Fellous lost a libel case to Seralini. The court ruled that Fellous had defamed Seralini. [2]During that court case, Fellous used or copied the signature of a scientist without his agreement ("forgery" and "use of forgery") to argue that Seralini and his co-researchers were wrong in their reassessment of Monsanto studies. The Seralini team's re-assessment reported finding signs of toxicity in the raw data from Monsanto's own rat feeding studies with GM maize. [3]The new court ruling means that Fellous will be sentenced in a few months' time  probably in early 2017  at a public correctional hearing. The use of forgery in a court case is a serious offence and may result in a jail sentence.The ruling marks a second court victory this year for Prof Seralini , his research team, and CRIIGEN. On September 7 they won a libel suit in the Appeals Court against Marianne magazine and its journalist Jean-Claude Jaillette, who repeated the defamatory words of the American pro-tobacco and -GMO lobbyist Henry I. Miller. [3]Read more at: GMWatch.org Sources:[1] Fr.Wikipedia.org [2] GmoSeralini.org [3] GmWatch.us6.list-manage.com
In spite of the genetic separation between tuna and sharks, it has been found out that both share the same "super predator" genetic traits such as their ability to swim quickly and their fast metabolism.

In a study published in ths journal Genome Biology and Evolution, researchers at Imperial College London found out that tuna fish and Lamnid sharks, where great white sharks belong, are surprisingly similar to each other, particularly with metabolism and the ability to produce energy.

For the study, the researchers examined muscle tissues from six tuna species and mackerel species and three species of Lamnid sharks.

"Lamnid sharks and tuna both have stiff bodies and tails that allow them to swim in bursts. They can also keep their temperature up in colder waters. Both of these things make them more effective predators, allowing them to snatch prey in usually inhospitable waters," study co-author Professor Vincent Savolainen from the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial said in a press release.

As mentioned by Tech Times, tuna is known for swift hunting of mackerels and sardines while white sharks are notorious for being a brisk hunter for anything, from seals to other big fishes.

A gene called glycogenin-1 (GLYG1), which was found in both tuna and Lamnid sharks was linked with metabolism and energy boost the predators need for catching their prey.

The researchers also found out that the genes related to the mentioned trait are actually selected preferably, meaning the traits can be passed on all through the next generations. Through the genetic analysis, they have found out that the species earned the same traits through the process called convergent evolution.

This could aid to understanding the relationship between genetics and physical traits.

"These are simple traits, and ones that have evolved twice. They give us a great point to start really examining the underlying genetics and understanding the relationship to physical traits."
A couple accused of attempting to carry a dead toddler inside a duffel bag across the U.S.-Mexico border will be tried in Los Angeles County, the LA Deputy District Attorney said Thursday.

The suspects -- Mercy Mary Becerra, 43, and Johnny Lewis Hartley, 39 -- of Whittier, California, face four felony counts of murder, torture, human trafficking and assault on a child in connection with the case.

Both Becerra and Hartley are set to appear in court this Friday at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, the LA District Attorney Office confirmed.

Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Lisa Coen of the Sex Crimes Division has been assigned to the case. Between Nov. 2012 and Aug. 2016, prosecutors said Becerra and Hartley allegedly trafficked a woman.

During that time, they kidnapped the woman's daughter, severely abused the child and eventually killed her on or around Aug. 9, 2016, the LA District Attorney's Office said in a press release Thursday.

On Aug. 9, prosecutors say the couple tried to cross the U.S.-Mexico border at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in south San Diego. Hartley was carrying a duffle bag, which held the body of the two-year-old girl they had allegedly been abusing.

When Mexican law enforcement officials scanned Hartley's bag in an X-ray machine, they discovered the body of the little girl, San Diego police said.

Hartley and Becerra were arrested by Mexican authorities and deported back to the U.S. side of the border where they were turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Ultimately, investigators determined the child had been drowned. San Diego Deputy DA Kurt Mechals said the drowning happened in Whittier.

If convicted, prosecutors say Hartley and Becerra each face a maximum sentence of life in state prison. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Whittier Police Department and San Diego Police Department, are working together in the ongoing investigation.
The NFLs biggest comeback story happened before any games were even over on Sunday. Before the Chargers and Raiders kicked off, JRon Erby walked on to the field at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.



Erby is the 23-year-old Chargers intern who was struck by a hit-and-run driver in early August while he was out celebrating a friends birthday party in Pacific Beach. Erby suffered a skull fracture and brain trauma. Doctors were unsure if he would live and if he did, if he would ever make a full recovery.



But on Sunday, October 9  three months and two days after the accident  Erby roamed the sidelines and said his recovery is well ahead of schedule.



Erby told NBC 7 that even he is somewhat surprised at how quickly his body has healed. He says he still has hearing loss in his left ear and his energy level ebbs and flows. Sometimes he has trouble remembering things.



Like the other day, said Erby, I couldnt remember the word for airplane. Simple things like that. But Im getting better.



Erby says he still has work to do but doctors have told him, if he progresses as he has been, he will be back to 100% healthy in a year. After that, would he be willing to come back to San Diego and continue his budding career with the Chargers?



Absolutely, Erby said with a smile that, had this been a night game, would have been enough to light up the entire stadium.
A San Diego man who used cleaning solution to refill beer bottles and then returned the tampered brews to stores for a refund was sentenced to 30 days behind bars on Friday.

Eduardo Cossio III pleaded guilty in the beer tampering case in late August.

The investigation into tampering of beer in San Diego began in May 2014. Thats when two beer brewing companies, as well as Target and Walmart, reported getting consumer returns for tampered or altered beer.

In all, there were 13 reported incidents of 12-packs. In each case, someone was emptying the contents of the bottles without damaging the bottle cap. Inside the bottles was some kind of soapy solution that had been dyed to make it look like beer.

The bottle was then recapped and either re-crimped or glued with a silicone type adhesive to maintain a seal, according to court documents.

Investigators with the San Diego County District Attorneys Office started looking into who was returning the 12-packs of beer.

On Oct. 7, 2015, a 12-pack was returned to the Target on Jamacha Road in El Cajon. When investigators looked into the person who returned the beer, they found the same customer returned beer five times between September and October 2015.

Surveillance video showed Cossio returning the alcohol.

According to court documents, investigators served a search warrant at Cossios home on Oct. 28, 2015, and found evidence of the beer tampering. Among the items were cleaning solution, glue sticks and glue guns.

Court documents state Cossio told investigators he replaced the beer using whatever cleaning solution was cheapest and sometimes experimenting with dyes."

He pleaded guilty to three felony charges of poisoning or adulterating food, drink or medicine with a special allegation of intending to defraud a company.

He was placed on probation ahead of his sentencing hearing. Cossio was also ordered to pay more than $59,000 in restitution to one of the beer brewers and more than $1,300 to Target.

Cossio's attorney says his client did not mean for his actions to harm anyone.

"It's really silly but he was trying to get free beer. And that's what it comes down to," Attorney Dan Greene said. "He wasn't trying to hurt anyone. He really didn't think that any beers would be reshelved."

A restitution review hearing was set for October 28.

In the initial charging document, Cossio was accused of 32 counts of returning beer between December 2014 and October 2015, at numerous stores, including several Target stores throughout San Diego County and three separate Walmart stores in Chula Vista, Logan Heights and San Ysidro.
Two adult males were taken to the hospital following a double shooting in San Francisco Saturday night, police said.

One of the victims, reported to be in his 20s, is suffering from life-threatening injuries. The other victim, also in his 20s, does not have life-threatening injuries, Sgt. Michael Andraychak said.

The shooting occurred on the 500 block of Precita Avenue just after 9 p.m., Andraychak said.

No suspect information is available at this time and no arrests have been made, Andraychak said.

Another man in his 20s was shot earlier Saturday just before 6 p.m. near 6th Street and Natoma Street in San Francisco. He was transported to the hospital, but was later pronounced dead, police said.

It is unclear if the shootings are related.

Anyone with information is asked to call the anonymous tip line at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.
Attacked while waiting at a red light last month, an East Bay Sikh man believes he was the victim of a hate crime and targeted because he wears a turban.

Lawyers for Maan Singh Khalsa, 41, of Richmond, said he was driving home from work via Hilltop Drive at around 8:50 p.m. on Sept. 25 at the time of the assault.

Three men, traveling in the back seat of a white, four-door truck, threw a half-full beer can at Khalsa, while he idled at a light at Blume and Hilltop drives. The can hit Khalsa's door and fell onto the ground. According to a police report, Khalsa opened his door, picked up the can, and threw it back at the passengers, saying, "You forgot something."

However, Harsimran Kaur, Khalsa's lawyer, said he did not throw the beer can pack at the men.

The trio responded by yelling and cursing, but the light turned green and Khalsa drove forward, the report said. At the next light on the Highway 80 overpass, Khalsa called 911 when he realized the truck was following him. As he waited at this second light, the three men climbed out of their vehicle and accosted Khalsa through his car window.

They were beating his face mercilessly, said Kaur, the Sikh Coalition's legal director. His turban got knocked off and they yelled, Cut his f***ing hair! and one of them cut his hair with a knife.

The police report, however, says the men attempted to cut Khalsa's hair when he raised his hand to defend himself. That's when the suspects' knife cut Khalsa's pinky finger. When Khalsa tried to flee from the men, they began following the vehicle on foot while the truck driver tried to block Khalsa in, the report said.

Khalsa made a U-turn, traveling in the wrong direction on the on-ramp, and sped to a gas station. The police report says Khalsa admitted that he was "blacking out" after having been pummeled in the face repeatedly.

"I saw Khalsa had a moderate amount of blood on his clothing and had his right pinky finger covered in bandages," Officer Joseph English wrote in the police report. "I also saw Khalsa's left side of his face was swollen. Khalsa was unable to open his left eye, due to the swelling."

The report also states that Khalsa believes he was targeted because the trio mistook his turban as an indication that he is Muslim.

Richmond Mayor Tom Butt offered a statement to the city and the Sikh community over the weekend.

"I was distressed to learn on Friday about a horrible attack against Mr. Khalsa, one of our Sikh residents," he said. "The account of this assault has left the Richmond community shocked and seeking justice for Mr. Khalsa."

Butt continued: "No one should have to experience the fear of being targeted or attacked based on their identity or for practicing their religion. I regret that this violence has penetrated our community, and it underscores the importance of working towards establishing more connections and compassion in our society."

The Contra Costa County sheriff's deputies arrested Chase Byron Little, 31, of Texas, and Dustin Micheal Albarado, 25, of Louisiana, on the scene of the attack. The third suspect escaped, police said.

We want and we are looking for justice, said Kulwant Singh of the El Sobrante Sikh Center, where Khalsa prays.

Members of the Sikh community are outraged, stressing that turbans and uncut hair are articles of faith. Many were at a wedding celebration Friday afternoon, but took time out to talk to NBC Bay Area about their concerns.

[Forcefully] cutting the hair is very serious  very, very serious, Darshen Singh Mundy said. This is not a road rage incident. This is a hate crime.

According to the Contra Costa County District Attorney's office, the attack is being investigated as a hate crime.

Khalsa and other Sikhs deserve to have their own identity, Kaur said, noting, We are human beings. We must show respect for each other.

Little and Albarado are out-of-state contractors working at the Chevron Richmond Refinery. They were arrested on felony assault charges. It is unclear whether they are still in jail or have been let out on bail.

Prosecutors plan to re-interview Khalsa next week to get to the bottom of certain discrepancies between the police report and his lawyer's allegations. District Attorney Mark Peterson will then decide whether to charge Little and Albarado with hate crimes.
An 11-year-old boy confessed Saturday to posting threats against Salinas elementary schools on Instagram, police said.

The Instagram account in question was created last week and depicted a photo of a "scary clown," according to Salinas police Cmdr. Sheldon Bryan.

The Instagram user posted threats against schools in the Alisal Elementary School District, creating widespread fear and leading some parents to pulling their children out of school.

A Salinas police detective spent "hours" writing a search warrant for the Instagram user's IP address, but before completing it, elementary school officials learned that another 11-year-old student knew the user's identity, Bryan said.

The suspect, a student at a different elementary school, confessed to a Salinas police officer who contacted him Saturday.

The boy said he was trying to scare students and copying other nationwide "creepy clown" threats.

The boy was cited for cyber bullying, Bryan said.

Clown threats and sightings have been reported throughout the Bay Area all week, most menacingly in Concord, where a mother reported a "creepy clown" tried to kidnap her 1-year-old child on Wednesday afternoon.

The woman kicked the clown in the shin and the person fled.

The FBI is investigating the threats, according to a spokesman for the Oakland Unified School District.

Schools in the district were placed on lockout Friday after school officials decided the situation was getting out of hand, a district spokesman said.

The lockout, which means officials at each school put strict controls on traffic and people coming in and out, began at around noon and was lifted at 2 p.m.

No students, faculty or staff at the schools have been injured because of the threats or sightings. School officials said the lockout was intended to avoid any distracting "creepy clown" antics, rather than fears about any threats.

The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety said that officers responded to nine clown sightings between Tuesday and Friday, though nothing criminal was suspected.

Sonoma State University has responded to clown sightings as well as an unrelated person in a gorilla suit, according to Rohnert Park police.

Fremont police reported a clown sighting Friday morning. A clown was seen in Richmond Wednesday near Planet Fitness at 4925 MacDonald Ave., police spokesman Lt. Felix Tan said.

Other sightings and threats were reported in Antioch, Burlingame and Fairfield this week.

The East Side High School District in San Jose has responded to the threats by deciding that they will not allow anyone to wear a clown costume or any costume that hides the identity of the student for Halloween.

The "creepy clown" threat has been directed mainly toward schools in the Bay Area and across the country this year. The threats, posted on social media sites like Instagram, began earlier this year on the East Coast of the U.S. and have spread to the West Coast.

Most of the threats have been hoaxes. The clowns that have been seen have scared people, but few have been dangerous.
A Willimantic police investigation that started at a local nightclub spread to a residential neighborhood on Emerald Avenue early Sunday morning, police said.

Police told NBC Connecticut they were called to the Abracadabra restaurant and dance club at 600 Main Street around 1:45 a.m. Police said the investigation spread to another location.

Though police have not confirmed the address, an NBC Connecticut crew on scene reports detectives have been photographing evidence on Emerald Avenue and a crime scene has been established in the area.

As of 4:50 p.m. police had not confirmed the exact nature of the investigation, but did say the entire detective unit was involved in the case.

Neighbors told NBC Connecticut they woke up to what they believe was the sound of gunfire this morning.

I heard pow, pow, pow and then I heard some woman screaming, and then I called police, said Andrew Martin, who lives across the street from the scene.

Police said the incident has been contained and that there is no immediate danger to the public.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
A Fort Worth man is accused of burglary and criminal mischief after breaking into the State Capitol in Austin early Sunday morning.

The Texas Department of Safety arrested 22-year-old Tanner Christian Graeber. He faces two felony charges.

DPS said a trooper observed Graeber enter a temporary wooden walkway around 3:27 a.m. on Sunday.

The walkway was constructed for the Capitol's renovations.

The trooper said Graeber then climbed up the scaffolding on the south side of the Capitol, broke a window and entered the second floor.

DPS said Graeber "intentionally" damaged a portrait of former Governor Fletcher Stockdale. The motive is not known.

Graeber remains in the Travis County Jail.
Fort Worth police confirmed to NBC DFW the arrest of an undocumented immigrant for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl on Saturday.

Police arrested Edis Leonel Moya Alas Sunday morning and charged him with aggravated kidnapping. Police added the charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child Sunday afternoon. His bond is set for $100,000 on each charge.

Immigration Customs Enforcement also determined Alas is in the United States illegally. He remains booked in the Mansfield Law Enforcement Correction Center.

The victim's parents reported her missing to police after waking up at 4 a.m. to find the girl gone from their Fort Worth home and the front door open.

A person helping search for the girl found later found the child screaming in the wooded area of Titus Paulsel Park. Police also took Alas into custody.

"We thank God for what happened," said the victim's family. "It was real hard, but then finally we got her back."

Editor's Note: It is NBCDFW's policy not to identify sexual assault victims. Earlier her father told NBC DFW that his daughter had not been sexually assaulted and allowed her to be photographed by several outlets. Once FWPD added the charge Sunday, we edited our articles and removed the girl's name and picture.
Pope Francis named 17 new cardinals Sunday -- three of them American moderates, including outgoing bishop of Dallas, Kevin Farrell, Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich and Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin -- in a clear signal to the conservative U.S. church hierarchy that he values pastors focused more on mercy than morals.

Tobin's nomination also carries a political message, given that he openly opposed a request from Indiana Gov. Michael Pence, now the Republican running mate of presidential candidate Donald Trump, to not settle Syrian refugees in the state.

Thirteen of the new cardinals, including all the Americans, are under age 80 and thus eligible to vote in any future conclave to elect Francis' successor.

As is Francis' tradition, the new cardinals hail from some of the most far-flung and peripheral corners of the globe, with Africa, Asia, South America and Oceania getting far more representation in this round than Europe, which has long dominated the College of Cardinals. Despite the new nominations, though, Europe still has the most voting-age cardinals with 54.

New "princes" of the church include bishops from Bangui, Central African Republic; Port Louis, Mauritius and Tlalnepantla, Mexico. In all, seven countries that have never had a cardinal are getting one in this, Francis' third batch of red-hatted churchmen.

Significantly only one Italian elector was named: Francis' ambassador to "the beloved and martyred Syria," Cardinal-elect Mario Zenari.

Cardinal-elect Farrell was an expected nomination. Francis in August named him to head the big new Vatican secretariat for laity, family and life issues.

Speaking at the end of a special Mass on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica, Francis said the 17 would be elevated at a consistory on Nov. 19, on the eve of the close to his Holy Year of Mercy.

"Their provenance from 11 nations expresses the universality of the church that announces and is witness to the good news of the mercy of God in every corner of the world," Francis said.

Their elevation will bring the number of voting-age cardinals to 120 by the end of November, the maximum allowed under current rules. With the non-voting cardinals included, the college by that time will number 228.

With Sunday's appointees, Francis will have appointed 44 cardinal electors and 11 non-electors.

Of the new cardinals, Cupich is very much a pastor in Francis' likeness, emphasizing the merciful and welcoming side of the church -- somewhat to the dismay of U.S. conservative Catholics. His nomination as Chicago archbishop was Francis' first major U.S. appointment and he was a papal appointee at the pope's big family synod last year.

The nomination for Tobin is significant both for the U.S. church and the U.S. election and reflects Francis' ongoing concern for refugees.

A U.S. federal appeals court recently used stinging language in a ruling that will keep Pence from barring Syrian refugee resettlement in Indiana for now. Trump, the Republican nominee for president and Pence's running mate, has proposed deporting millions of immigrants and banning the entry of Muslims from other countries.

"You can find a political message" in the Tobin appointment, said Massimo Faggioli, a Villanova University expert on the Vatican.

Tobin's nomination could also indicate Francis' appreciation of his support for American nuns. Tobin had been the No. 2 in the Vatican office for religious orders for only two years when in 2012, then-Pope Benedict XVI sent him back to the U.S. to head the Indianapolis archdiocese, which has fewer than 230,000 parishioners.

The transfer was seen in some Vatican circles as being tied to Tobin's efforts to promote dialogue and resolve tensions between the Vatican and U.S. nuns who were subject of two separate Holy See investigations at the time.

After Francis was elected, both investigations were concluded with Vatican praise for the work of the sisters.

Francis has made it a point to no longer automatically name cardinals from big dioceses as had been the practice for centuries. The Italian cities of Venice and Turin, for example, have been without cardinals for several years.

The same goes for the U.S., where such staunchly Catholic archdioceses as Philadelphia, which hosted Francis last year at the Catholic Church's big family rally, was passed over again. Philadelphia is headed by the conservative Archbishop Charles Chaput, who has insisted on traditional church doctrine on issues such as whether civilly remarried couples can receive Communion -- areas where Francis has sought greater flexibility.

"It's a clear message to the United States Catholic bishops about the kind of church Francis has in mind," Faggioli said.

The geographic distribution of electors still heavily favors Europe, which has 54 voting-age cardinals. The Americas come next with 34 cardinals in North, South and Central America. Africa has 15, Asia 14 and Oceania four. On Nov. 28, Cardinal Theodore-Adrien Sarr of Senegal will turn 80, bringing the voting number down to 120.
U.S. Rep. Will Hurd has become the first member of Texas' Republican congressional delegation to call for Donald Trump to step aside as his party's presidential nominee.

A first-term congressman whose district includes 800-plus miles of U.S.-Mexico border, Hurd previously refused to endorse Trump - though he said Trump still had time to win him over.

But campaign manager Justin Hollis said Saturday that Hurd had released a statement saying he "cannot in good conscience support or vote for" someone who "degrades women, insults minorities" and has no solid plan to keep America safe.

Hurd added that Trump should bow out "for a true conservative to beat Hillary Clinton."

An ex-CIA agent, Hurd is one of just three black congressional Republicans. His is Texas' only competitive congressional district in November.

U.S. Rep. Will Hurd has become the first member of Texas' Republican congressional delegation to call for Donald Trump to step aside as his party's presidential nominee.

A first-term congressman whose district includes 800-plus miles of U.S.-Mexico border, Hurd previously refused to endorse Trump - though he said Trump still had time to win him over.

But campaign manager Justin Hollis said Saturday that Hurd had released a statement saying he "cannot in good conscience support or vote for" someone who "degrades women, insults minorities" and has no solid plan to keep America safe.Hurd added that Trump should bow out "for a true conservative to beat Hillary Clinton."

An ex-CIA agent, Hurd is one of just three black congressional Republicans.

His is Texas' only competitive congressional district in November.
When Hurricane Matthew dumped torrential rains on North Carolina, thousands of people found themselves suddenly trapped in homes and cars. Rescuers in Coast Guard helicopters plucked some of them from rooftops and used military vehicles to reach others, including a woman who held on to a tree for three hours after her car was overrun by flood waters.

In another dramatic rescue, a woman with her small child perched on the roof of her car had to be helped to safety as the waters rose around them, underscoring how quickly Matthew wreaked havoc 100 miles or more inland after sparing much of the Southeastern coast the catastrophic damage once feared.

The storm killed more than 500 people in Haiti and at least 19 in the U.S.  nearly half of them in North Carolina. Most were swept away by flood waters.

Gov. Pat McCrory said authorities were searching for five people and feared they may find more victims. The problems were far from over as all that rain  more than a foot in places  flows into rivers and downstream, likely causing days of major flooding in many of the same places devastated by a similar deluge from Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

"Hurricane Matthew is off the map. But it is still with us. And it is still deadly," McCrory said.

Princeville, a town of 2,000 that disappeared in the waters of the Tar River during Floyd, was evacuated Sunday as the river was expected to rise to 17 feet above flood stage by late Monday  a level not seen since Floyd. McCrory expected more evacuations as some rivers were predicted to crest next Friday.

David Bullock's sister called him as he bought lottery tickets to tell him police were knocking on doors saying they had to go. He rebuilt his home after the 1999 flood.

"If I get flooded again, I can't take it. I can't go back and take the expense. If I get flooded again I'm going to say, 'it's yours, I'm gone,'" Bullock said.

More than a million people in South Carolina and North Carolina were without power, and at least four separate sections of Interstate 95  the main artery linking the East Coast from Florida to Maine  were closed in North Carolina.

The ferocity of the rain caught people by surprise. Ezekiel Crowe, 10, escaped the floods in Fayetteville on Saturday with his parents and seven brothers and sisters when a police boat plucked them from an apartment as the waters rose.

"I was scared. I was scared. And I thought, I thought the world was going to end. But it didn't," he said.

In Wilson County, rescuers were called when a 63-year-old woman didn't make it home from work. They heard her cries for help while riding on top of a Humvee, and when they couldn't get her with a rope, a National Guard soldier swam to her, staying until a rescue boat arrived, Emergency Management Director Gordon Deno, said.

Even animals had to be saved. WRAL-TV showed a dog swimming around floodwaters Saturday. McCrory said he and his wife were riveted by the coverage and relieved to find out from the Coast Guard that the dog managed to get into a tree and rescue it.

The rainfall totals were staggering: Nearly 15 inches in Fayetteville and 8 inches in Raleigh. McCrory warned that cities along rivers in eastern North Carolina needed to be prepared for days of flooding. The Lumber River in Lumberton was 4 feet above its record level Sunday afternoon and was forecast to remain there for at least five days.

Shortly before daybreak, the hurricane was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone. As of 2 p.m. EDT, the storm was centered about 150 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, moving out to sea. It still had hurricane-force winds of 75 mph.

Elsewhere along the Atlantic coast, things were slowly returning to normal. Much of Savannah, which had 17 inches of rain, was still without electricity. About 150 people stood in line for a grocery store to open like it was a Black Friday sale.

Debbie Berta said she waited more than an hour to get propane gas for her grill. She also wanted "bread, potatoes, eggs  and a piece of sanity."

Matthew killed more than 500 people in Haiti last week, plowing into the desperately poor country at 145 mph. The fearsome storm then sideswiped hundreds of miles of the U.S. coastline from Florida through Georgia and the Carolinas, its eye staying far enough offshore that the damage in many places along the coast was relatively modest, consisting mostly of flooded streets, flattened trees and blown-down signs and awnings. A shift of just 20 or 30 miles could have meant widespread devastation nearer the ocean.

An estimated 2 million people in the Southeast were ordered to evacuate their homes as Matthew closed in.

In addition to the eight deaths in North Carolina, there were five in Florida and three each in Georgia and South Carolina. Some were killed by falling trees, others by carbon monoxide fumes from a generator. One 66-year-old man near Columbia, South Carolina, died at a nursing facility when he got pinned under his electric wheelchair in water after the heavy rains.

"People were hit. They weren't hit as directly as we had feared, but it has left a lot of devastation in in its wake. Lives have been lost, property has been severely damaged and there's still continuing risk of flooding going on," President Barack Obama said at a fundraiser in Chicago.

Property data firm CoreLogic projected that insured losses on home and commercial properties would amount to $4 billion to $6 billion, well below Hurricane Katrina's $40 billion and Superstorm Sandy's $20 billion.
Kids throughout southern California took action Saturday as a way to help raise funds for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

The fundraising events were part of Action Day, during which Childrens Hospital Los Angeles junior ambassadors hold different fundraisers in their own communities to benefit the hospital.

This year, more than 30 ambassadors  mostly kids in middle and high school  hosted bake sales, pizza parties and other events in an effort to raise $10,000 plus matching funds for the hospital.

I just love the opportunity to give back to my community with my community, said 12-year-old Sandra Koretz, who is an outpatient at the hospitals orthopedic department.

A photo posted by THE SASHA PROJECT LA  (@thesashaprojectla) on Oct 8, 2016 at 7:32am PDT

Koretz and Kalea Doryon, 13, struck up a deal with Big Sugar Bakeshop in Studio City in which half of all the cupcake and pastry sales went to the hospital.

As part of their participation in Action Day, kids can choose which hospital department their money benefits.

Koretz decided the money she and Doryon collected will go to the Mark Taper and Johnny Mercer Artists Program, which teaches patients about music, art and drama.

On Nov. 29, the kids will hand-deliver checks to various departments at the hospital.

"It's really heartwarming to see kids who care about someone other than themselves, especially at their age," said Bridgette Thompson, one of the Big Sugar Bakeshop customers.
A sheriff's Special Weapons team Sunday assisted South Pasadena police with a barricaded suspect at a two-story home, and the suspect was wounded in a shooting as he was arrested.

His injuries were described as non-life threatening. It was immediately disclosed if he shot himself or was hit by gunfire from an officer or deputy sheriff.

South Pasadena police were called to a home in the 1300 block of Huntington Drive a little after 4:25 a.m.

Police told deputies that they had confronted a man, an officer-involved shooting occurred, and the man fled from the officers and barricaded himself inside the residence, said Deputy Mike Barraza of the Sheriff's Information Bureau.

SWAT members were called in at about 5:30 a.m., according to Deputy Kimberly Alexander of the Sheriff's Information Bureau.

"After several hours barricaded inside the residence, the suspect, a male white adult, surrendered to LASD Special Enforcement Bureau deputies without incident,'' he said.

No officers were injured during the incident.

The suspect suffered a minor gunshot wound to the arm and was booked for burglary.

Sheriff's homicide detectives asked anyone with any information regarding the incident to call them at (323) 890-5500.
Police say they have found a vehicle they believe was involved in the shooting of a tourist Sunday on Miami Beach.

The fatal shooting occurred along Eight Street and Ocean Drive near News Cafe, just before 7 a.m. Detectives recovered a Jeep as part of their investigation.

The victim, a tourist from New York City, suffered two gunshot wounds. He was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he later died, police said.

He has been identified as 30-year-old Lavon Walker. According to social media posts, Walker was a youth minister and founding member of Save Our Streets Brooklyn, an organization that works to end gun violence.

Investigators are currently looking for three black males who may have been involved. Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.
Authorities issued a Florida Amber Alert for four-year-old girl Rebecca Ann Lewis who has been missing since Saturday.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement are asking for the public's assistance in locating Lewis who was last seen at the 1300th block of Rumble Road in Forsyth, Georgia near Interstate I-75. She was last seen wearing a pink dress.

Officials believe Lewis may be in the company of 31-year-old West Hogs,

formerly known as Matthew Clark Pybus. Hogs has a scar shaped like the letter "L" on the left side of his head and a tattoo of a blue cross and another tattoo of a Chinese symbol. He was last seen wearing a light colored shirt and blue jeans.

The Polk County Sheriffs Office said Hogs and Lewis were seen at a gas station in Forsyth, Georgia Saturday evening.

The pair may be traveling in a 2012, silver four-door Nissan Versa, Alabama handicap tag number 4JL26, FDLE says. The vehicle has a magnetic animal rescue paw on the driver side portion of the trunk.

If you have any information concerning the whereabouts of Lewis, please contact FDLE at 1-888-FL MISSING(1-888-356-4774) or the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 863-298-6200 or 911.
What to Know Three cars of a Long Island Rail Road train derailed after hitting a work train in New Hyde Park

33 people were injured, seven of whom were employees

The MTA hopes to have "at least one" track running by Monday morning

A Long Island Rail Road train derailed in New Hyde Park Saturday night, injuring 33 people.

Of the 33 injured, seven were employees and the rest were commuters, MTA Chairman Thomas F. Prendergast said in a news conference Sunday morning. Four were seriously injured, with one person sent to have surgery yesterday and another with broken bones.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo had earlier said there were 600 people on the train and that the worst of the injuries were broken bones.

"The train is seriously off the tracks," he said at the press conference. "It's in a dangerous, precarious position."

An eastbound commuter train sideswiped a work train traveling in the same direction at about 9:10 p.m., causing the commuter train to derail and the work train to catch fire, according to Nassau County police and the MTA.

Cuomo said the main priority will be to clear the trains from the tracks and to get at least one track running as soon as possible.

"If we have to work all day and all night long, we will," he said. "We want to make sure tomorrow's commute is as easy and normal as possible."

Photos on social media showed trains tipped at an angle next to the tracks and smashed glass inside at least one car. Emergency crews were using ladders to get passengers off the derailed train.

"So the train was going normally, it was going at its normal speed, and then it started to shake, but thats sort of normal, and then everyone started to sort of scream  so I realized something was wrong," Lindsay Javitz, who was on the derailed train, told NBC 4 New York.

"And the train was really (going) back and forth and shaking  and then I look out the window and I saw a spark or a fire type thing  and then the train abruptly stopped and the car in front of mine was tilted, as if it wasnt fully on the track."

The LIRR said three cars derailed and were damaged. According to the MTA, the tracks are generally wide enough for trains to travel side-by-side. The agency is investigating why the collision occurred.

Service was suspended on three branches of the railroad and there was no estimate on when trains would start running again.

Limited alternate service is available to and from the Hicksville, Ronkonkoma and Port Jefferson Stations. A diesel shuttle train will operate between Hicksville and Babylon. Transfers can be made at Hicksville for trains to other destinations.

Limited bus service will be provided between Jamaica and the New Hyde Park, Merillon Avenue, Mineola, Carle Place and Westbury stations. Bus service will also replace some trains on the Oyster Bay Branch line.

For more information, commuters are advise to check the MTA website for service updates.

The LIRR is the busiest commuter rail in North America, carrying an average of 300,000 people each weekday.

So my #LIRR train just derailed. Everybody seems to be ok. pic.twitter.com/zkSUEFrY5m  Ray Martel (@Marteljr) October 9, 2016

The accident comes three days after a CSX derailment in the Bronx caused widespread Amtrak delays, and about 10 days after a deadly New Jersey Transit crash in Hoboken that continues to snarl service.
Fire officials say flames swept through an eastern Pennsylvania apartment complex, causing extensive damage to a unit of about a dozen homes.

More than a dozen firetrucks and ambulances responded to the blaze at the Parkland View Apartments on Cetronia Road in the Breinigsville section of Upper Macungie Township shortly before noon Sunday.

Gusting winds rapidly spread the fire from the ground floor to the rooftop area, sending flames 20 feet above the two-story homes.

Chief Arlan Wright of Goodwill Fire Company No. 1 of Trexlertown said he knew of no injuries to residents. The flames were declared under control at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday. The Red Cross assisted 20 adults and three children who were affected by the fire.
Pope Francis on Sunday named more than a dozen new cardinals, and although Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput was believed to be on the short list, he was not among those named.

Three Americans were among those named. Pope Francis looked to the American Midwest when picking his first, choosing Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich and Indianapolis, Indiana Archbishop Joseph Tobin. Both will become cardinals at a Nov. 19 ceremony in Rome.

Bishop Kevin Farrell, who led the Diocese of Dallas, was also among those selected. He is leaving his post in Dallas for a prominent post in the Vatican.

The three men Pope Francis selected are moderates and follow Francis' emphasis on mercy over rules.

Tobin drew national attention this year for rejecting a request from Indiana Gov. Mike Pence for the church to stop settling Syrian refugees in the state. Pence is the Republican nominee for vice president and running mate of Donald Trump, who has proposed deporting illegal immigrants and banning entry of Muslims from other countries.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia released a short statement Sunday after learning Chaput would not become a cardinal.

"The Archdiocese of Philadelphia sends congratulations and prayerful best wishes to all those whom Pope Francis has named for elevation to the Cardinalate," the statement read. "May God grant them strength and wisdom as they prepare to accept this new role in service to the Universal Church."
A group of protesters overtook Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney's annual Pride flag raising ceremony on Sunday, demonstrating against alleged racism in the city's LGBTQ community.



The protesters interrupted the city's seventh annual flag raising ceremony in the Mayor's Reception Room. The ceremony is normally held outside City Hall but was moved indoors on Sunday due to rain. The flag raising coincides with the city's annual OutFest.



The controversy began last month when an LGBT business owner in the section of Center City commonly called the Gayborhood came under fire for allegedly using racial and homophobic slurs.

Kenney issued a statement after the interrupted flag raising:

As I have said previously, there is no denying that racism and discrimination is an issue within the LGBT community. The Gayborhood should be a sanctuary for all in the LGBT community, but sadly not everyone is welcome at some of its institutions, and until real steps are taken to address racist dress code policies or other instances of institutionalized discrimination, I will not go to those institutions.

Discrimination in the Gayborhood and across the city is not something that one person or one office can be expected to solve on its own  its on all of us  and I hope the hearing that the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations is holding on racism in the Gayborhood will start to move that ball forward. I intend to be there to do my part in ensuring that it does, and I encourage all others that are invested in change to attend as well.

NBC10s cameras were rolling as protesters interrupted Mayor Jim Kenney and other city officials as they held the citys annual Pride flag raising ceremony at City Hall on Sunday. Protesters called for more to be done about racism and discrimination in the citys LGBTQ community.

The city's Office of LGBT Affairs also issued a statement Sept. 29 after receiving what it called "reports of discriminatory practices by businesses in the Gayborhood, and the use of racist and homophobic slurs against members of the LGBT community." The city plans to hold a public hearing Oct. 25 about racism and discrimination in the community and has subpoenaed a number of business owners to speak at that hearing.



The protesters at Sunday's flag raising argued that the Kenney administration and the Office of LGBT Affairs, helmed by former assistant district attorney Nellie Fitzpatrick, are in denial about racism in the city's LGBTQ community and called for more to be done to combat it, according to an NBC10 photographer who attended the event. City officials and Mayor Kenney left the room to the protesters when they overtook the event.
Disneyland's Haunted Mansion ride may elicit fear in young children, but to many older adults, it is a lifestyle and obsession.

SoCal native filmmaker James H. Carter II is working on a documentary on the macabre theme park ride. The upcoming film, "Foolish Mortals," explores the giant fan base the Haunted Mansion has attracted.

Its fan base is dedicated and notorious, citing the spooky ride as inspiration for house decor, artwork and costumes.

Carter chose to focus on the Haunted Mansion because of its dark and spooky demeanor compared to the cheerful and pleasant disposition Disneyland is known for.

"When people think about Disney, they think about the happy, safe stuff but there's always been dark things behind it," he said.

The movie is expected to be completed by March 2017, and will include interviews with artists, actors, cosplayers and home haunters.

Carter found fans to interview for the film by sending a casting call on his podcast Creepy Kingdom, which explores spooky tales surrounding Disneyland theme parks. Also included in the documentary will be legendary Imagineer Roland Crump, who had a large part in designing the beloved theme park ride.

One interview also includes cosplayer and vendor, Miss Mansion, who is heavily featured in "Foolish Mortals" trailers.

"She creates all these Haunted Mansion and Disney villain-inspired things for her Etsy store so she could send her kids to a private Christian school," Carter said. "I think it's very interesting that she sells these things to send her kids to that school."

Because they are not allowed to film inside any Disney theme parks, Carter's crew is working on a computer 3-D replica of the Mansion.

The filmmakers are currently in Orlando working on the film.

"No hurricane is going to stop us from getting this film made," they tweeted.

Carter started a GoFundMe page to cover the rest of the film-making costs.

The group has so far raised over $800 of its $4,060 goal.

The page breaks down the cost of expenses ranging from production, travel and shooting location rental.

"Every dollar raised for this film will go directly towards the completion of the project," Executive Producer Ryan Grulich said on the page. "We are truly grateful for those who have already supported, and no amount is too small to help us along this journey."
The suspected shooter accused of killing two Palm Springs officers and injuring another was identified early Sunday, the Riverside County Sheriff said.

John Felix, 26, of Palm Springs, was taken into custody after a 12-hour standoff and was to be booked of two counts of murder on a peace officer. The Riverside County District Attorney's office was expected to file murder charges.

Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin said Felix may be eligible for the death penalty.

In an emotional news conference, Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes broke down in tears describing the dedication of the slain officers, Jose Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny.

"To see her laying down with her eyes open and witness her husband, in full Riverside County Sheriffs uniform because hes a deputy sheriff, kiss her on the forehead for the last time... its tough," Reyes said, describing the moment Zerebny had been shot.

The shooting occurred just after noon at 2700 Cypress Road, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.

The officers had responded to a report of a family disturbance call before the shooting occurred, an officer with the Palm Springs Police Department said.

A woman reported that her adult son was causing a disturbance. When officers arrived, the man threatened that he would shoot through the door, police said.

As the gunfight ensued, three officers were shot, authorities said. Officers began using life-saving methods to help the injured officers.

All three were taken to a hospital where Vega and Zerebny died.

The third officer was recovering.

"I am awake in a nightmare right now," Reyes said at an earlier news conference.

The shooter refused to surrender and barricaded himself in his home.

As a precaution, neighbors were evacuated as others were told to stay inside and lock their doors.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department said on Twitter early Sunday morning that the suspect had been taken into custody.

SWAT teams used chemical agents to flush Felix out of the house, and when he fled through a back door, he was detained.

He was wearing "soft body armor," and had high capacity magazines on him, but was not armed when being taken into custody.

Felix was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Vega was a 35-year veteran of the police department. The 63-year-old was due to retire in December. He was not scheduled to work Saturday and chose to work overtime at the time of the shooting, according to Reyes.

Vega is survived by his wife and eight children.

Zerebny, 27, was with the department for a year and a half, Reyes said. She had just returned to work after giving birth. She was a new mom to a 4-month-old baby.

Zerebny is survived by her husband, a sheriff's deputy, and baby daughter.

A candlelight vigil is set for Sunday evening at 5 p.m. in front of the Palm Springs Police Department located at 200 S Civic Dr.

NBCLA.com's Jessica Rice and Whitney Irick, and NBC News' Andrew Blankstein and Scott Patterson contributed to this report.
One person has died after a stabbing in Encanto, and San Diego Police (SDPD) are investigating the crime as a homicide.

A witness first reported the stabbing to police at approximately 12:28 p.m. on Sunday.

Officers rushed to the scene of the stabbing on the 1000 block of Evelyn Street in San Diego's Encanto neighborhood.

When they arrived, a witness was performing CPR on an unconscious 44-year-old man from Lemon Grove, lying on the ground with stab wounds to his torso.

Officers took over CPR and medics who later arrived continued life-saving measures, police said. The victim, whose identity has not yet been released, was pronounced dead on scene.

Witnesses told police they heard an argument and went outside to investigate when they saw two men fighting. One of the men fled the scene. When residents further investigated, they found a victim lying on the ground and called police.

Elton Stovell knows the woman who lives at the home where the suspect was stabbed. The woman told NBC 7 her children heard it happen from inside.

Im sorry for her, scary, Stovell said.

A similar stabbing happened on the same road when police found another body with stab wounds last September, and neighbors are now worried their dark, county-like road is attracting crime.

The incident is under investigation. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to call the San Diego Police Departments Homicide Unit or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

No other information was immediately available.
A one-acre fire scorched brush along a canyon in El Cajon Saturday afternoon, looming close to homes in the area.

Heartland Fire & Rescue said the blaze began at 2:45 p.m. in a canyon near the 500 block of Tyrone Street. Fire officials said heavy, dry brush in the canyon quickly fueled the flames quickly.

As we moved into our brush fire mode, it took us about 10 minutes to get folks surrounded and in the right positions to attack the fire, El Cajon Interim Fire Chief, Greg Mcalpine, told NBC 7. Control of the fire was about 10 minutes later after the initial attack.

Engines from various agencies, including the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, and Santee and La Mesa fire departments, rushed to the neighborhood. Aircraft made drops on the fast-moving flames.

#BREAKING: #SD Fire putting out a brush fire that was threatening homes near Tyrone St in #ElCajon pic.twitter.com/gRZ16uMn4a  Ashley Matthews (@ashleyNBC7) October 8, 2016

For a time we did have the fire creeping up and around homes in the canyon area. We had assistance from our partners in the area including CAL FIRE, San Diego, Santee, in addition to the helicopters, Mcalpine said.

[[C,396427301]]

Crews still on scene after brush fire in #ElCajon. Check out how close it got to nearby homes. #NBC7 pic.twitter.com/LkTeZO7SXm  Ashley Matthews (@ashleyNBC7) October 9, 2016

One resident went door-to-door around the neighborhood to make sure everyone got out of their homes safely.

Nidhal Talia said one of her neighbors came by to warn her husband of the fire.

Neighbors using hoses to help put out brush fire near Tyrone St in #ElCajon. #NBC7 pic.twitter.com/nlN3ZaBcme  Ashley Matthews (@ashleyNBC7) October 8, 2016

The doorbell was ringing so hard and a woman was knocking on the window screaming get out, get out, there's a fire in the canyon! Talia said. "He was home sleeping and he just heard the sirens and he was so surprised, the dogs started barking like crazy. The doorbell was ringing so hard and a woman knocking on the window."

Within 10 minutes, firefighters had a handle on the blaze and were putting out hot spots. Residents helped, too, grabbing hoses from their yards to drench the scorched earth. Small flames lingered but soon, those were also knocked out.

The canyon is surrounded by homes, so crews launched a heavy, swift response to ensure those properties weren't destroyed.

And, though the fire came close to homes, there was no damage to surrounding properties, officials said. No one was injured.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The fire sparked as San Diego County endured a hot, dry weekend. Earlier this week, Santa Ana conditions were forecasted and a fire weather watch was issued by the National Weather Service, but that advisory was later cancelled. Still, NBC 7's Whitney Southwick said Friday the county was in for very hot temperatures and dry conditions, also known to fuel October wildfires in San Diego.

This was the second brush fire reported Saturday. In the morning, another fire burned one acre of vegetation near Valley Center.
A car exploded near a Mira Mesa neighborhood Saturday evening. The fire spread to a nearby tree, but no homes were burned, San Diego police confirmed.

The car caught fire around 9 p.m. at Bootes Street and Aquarius Drive.

No injuries were reported.

A spokesperson for San Diego Fire-Rescue said it appears a propane torch ignited the trunk. San Diego Police confirmed the cause appeared to be accidental. No crime report was filed.

Ed. Note: A previous version of this article reported drug paraphernalia led to the fire based on initial information from the scene. SDPD confirms this was not the case and the article has been revised.
Prince Georges County, Maryland, police are investigating the stabbing death of a man early Sunday morning.

Police said officers arrived at the 7800 block of Parston Drive in District Heights, Maryland, just before 3 a.m. The incident occurred outside of Reflextions Xclusive, an event location.

The victim was taken to the hospital, where he died. His identity has not been released.
Police in Prince William County are investigating a homicide in Woodbridge, Virginia.

Just before 6 p.m. Saturday, police went to the 1400 block of Bayside Avenue, where they had received a report of shots fired. In front of an apartment building, they found a man who had been shot.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. He was later identified as Jose Moises Garcia Flores, 40.

Officers searched but could not find a gunman.

Teresa Arias, Flores' wife, said his wallet, cellphone and keys were left behind by the gunman. She described her husband as a man without enemies.

"It is important for people who saw it happen to say something. Don't be scared," said Arias. "Moi was, kind of, like, everything to me."

Police are hoping that by releasing Flores' photo, potential witnesses may feel better about coming forward with information.

In any homicide case, its a tragedy. And we want to show the community, show the public, who it is whos victimized," said Prince William County police Sgt. Jonathan Perok. "Sometimes, we put out a name and a name sometimes gets lost. But when you put out a photo, it, sometimes, adds that personal touch thats needed to have someone come forward.

A GoFundMe page has been started to help Flores' family cover expenses. Police believe the shooting may have been an attempted robbery.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call police at 1-866-411-TIPS, send a text message with PWC to 274637 or visit www.pwccrimesolvers.org/webtips. Tipsters can remain anonymous and receive a reward of as much as $1,000.
It was only a fender-bender, though a late-night one. A car rear-ended the one that Kishon Wiggins was in, at an intersection in Oxon Hill, Maryland, just after 3 a.m. Saturday.

She and a friend stepped out of the car to exchange information with the other driver. It was routine.

Then a pickup truck hit Wiggins, killed her, and drove away.

Wiggins was 23 and lived in southeast D.C. Her family was left devastated by her sudden death.

"My mom, her sister, her brothers, were hurting," said Dominika Thomas, Wiggins' sister. "Her friends, her family, everybodys hurting.

"That was my heart," Thomas said, choking on tears. "That was my heart, that was my one."

"How do you accept the fact that I was with you five minutes ago and now it's like theres no more you?" said Latoya Bradley, Wiggins' friend.

The crashes happened at the intersection of St. Barnabas Road and Wheeler Road. Her sister rushed to the scene and learned her sister's fate.

"The crime investigator came to me and was like, 'Your sister was pronounced dead at the scene. She got struck by a vehicle,'" Thomas said.

The driver of the pickup truck left the scene, then turned himself in to police later Saturday. Police have not named the suspect, but said charges against him are pending.

But Thomas and her family are left without Wiggins, who they remembered as a person who loved kids and walking outside. They are planning to remember her at a candlelight vigil Monday night, and they've set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help her family.

"She always willing to give, give, give," Thomas said. "Even when she didn't have it she was willing to give."
Police in Boston are investigating an attempted sexual assault in the city's Mission Hill section that occurred Saturday afternoon.

Authorities said a woman told police she was approached from behind by a man at 1:38 p.m. in the area of the Kevin W. Fitzgerald Park on Saint Alphonsus Street.

The man allegedly threw the woman to the ground and attempted to sexually assault her before fleeing on foot.

The victim described her attacker as a man in his late 20s, approximately 5 feet 8 inches in height with a slim build. The man had a goatee and black hair which was in a ponytail. The victim said the man, who had tattoos on both arms, was wearing black and white sneakers, black shorts and a black T-shirt with white lettering.

Police said the man was later seen riding a mountain bike towards Huntington Avenue.

Anyone with information is urged to call the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1(800)494-TIPS or by texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463).
A hiker in Maine had to be rescued by a U.S. Coast Guard crew based on Cape Cod on Saturday, after falling from a cliff.

Coast Guard officials said the man fell from an 80-foot cliff at Acadia National Park at about 1:45 p.m.

Rescue crews at the park rappelled down the cliff to provide medical assistance, but called the Coast Guard to meet them at a landing zone to transfer the man out of the area.

Coast Guard crews on the Cape landed in a ball field in Bar Harbor where they picked the hiker up in a MH-60 helicopter and transferred him to an ambulance.

The hiker was then taken Mount Desert Island Hospital where he was reported to have an arm and leg injury.
Five young people are dead following a crash with a wrong-way driver on Interstate 89 in Williston, Vermont State Police said.

According to a post shared through the Facebook page of The Valley Reporter from Harwood Union High School co-principal Amy Rex, the crash claimed the lives of four Harwood juniors and another student who is a junior at another school.

Rex identified the students as Eli Brookens, 16, of Waterbury, Janie Cozzi, 15, of Fayston, Liam Hale, 16, of Fayston, Mary Harris, 16, of Moretown, and Cyrus Zschau, 16, of Moretown. School administrators said the students were friends.

The chaos started just before midnight, investigators said, with 911 callers reporting a wrong-way driver in a pickup truck barreling north in the southbound lane of Interstate 89 in Bolton.

Soon after the initial reports were filed, that truck crashed into a small sedan in Williston, police said. That vehicle ended up in the median and burst into flames.

State Police said the five teens in the car died at the scene.

"This is extremely unusual to have this many fatalities in one crash," Captain Mike Henry told necn affiliate NBC 5 early Sunday morning. "This is difficult not only for the members on scene, rescue personnel who responded, fire personnel, but also the family members who are going to have to deal with this after the fact."

Harwood's crisis team opened the school Sunday for students, faculty, staff, families, and neighbors. It will be open again Monday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Facebook post said.

"This is an unprecedented tragedy," the Harwood Facebook post said. "We have suffered a tremendous loss. These students were vibrant members of our school community, actively involved and all with a promise for a bright future."

The Harwood faculty, staff, and coaches will meet Monday to plan how to best reopen the school and support students, the Facebook post said.

Vermont State Police have been on the scene all night and will not stop until they determine exactly what happened, Gov. Peter Shumlin, D-Vermont, said in a written statement Sunday afternoon. The loss of five young Vermonters in such a senseless tragedy is heartbreaking. Vermont is a community, and today we share the sadness and loss of the families and friends of these teens. My deepest sympathies are with their loved ones. We will keep the public updated as more facts are known.

Henry said while a Williston officer was tending to one of the victims and trying to put out the fire, the officer looked up to see a man stealing the officer's police cruiser and speeding off.

Police identified the cruiser thief as Steven D. Bourgoin, 36, of Williston. Henry said after Bourgoin fled the scene, he turned around before police could intercept him and he once again raced the wrong way on the interstate. That's when he's accused of smashing into seven other vehicles in the stolen police cruiser, investigators said.

Sunday morning, a wrecker hauled the mangled and charred cruiser off the interstate.

Henry could not immediately say if Bourgoin was under the influence of alcohol or drugs because the investigation was still ongoing and because Bourgoin needed hospitalization. Late morning, the University of Vermont Medical Center listed Bourgoin in critical condition.

According to the Williston Fire Department, five patients in varying conditions from the vehicles struck with the stolen cruiser were transported by four ambulances. Police described their injuries as non-life-threatening.

"There are no words that can truly describe the horrific events as they occurred last night," senior firefighter Prescott Nadeau of the Williston Fire Department said in a statement Sunday afternoon. "The Williston Fire Department would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of those lost in this tragic event. Please keep all those involved in your thoughts and prayers."

Three neighboring fire departments provided mutual aid assistance with equipment and manpower, including covering the town while firefighters were committed to the interstate, Nadeau added.

Police reopened I-89 in both directions shortly after 9 a.m.

This crash is still under investigation and Vermont State Police asked anyone with information to call the barracks in Williston at 802-878-7111.
A Rhode State Trooper was injured on Sunday morning after he was struck by a vehicle in Lincoln.

State police said the trooper was outside of his cruiser assisting a disabled vehicle on Route 146 south at 11 a.m. when a vehicle in the left lane lost control on the wet roadway.

The vehicle slid, striking both the cruiser and Trooper Jeremy Gaucher who was standing near the front of his vehicle.

Trooper Gaucher was transported to Rhode Island Hospital where he was treated and released for non-life threatening injuries.

Police said drugs and alcohol did not appear to be involved but weather was a possible contributing factor in the crash.

The incident is currently under investigation and no criminal charges have been filed at this time.

Rhode Island State Police are cautioning motorists to exercise caution and to reduce speed while driving during inclement weather.
Senator Kelly Ayotte met with reporters Sunday at the Manchester Fire Department, trying to distance herself from the latest Donald Trump controversy.

"He's talking about assault of women," said the Republican Senator from New Hampshire.

A video surfaced Friday, showing Donald Trump caught in a hot mic moment from a 2005 Access Hollywood video bragging about groping women.

"And I thought years from now, when my daughter Kate is old enough to know what is in those tapes and to understand what she is talking about, I want her to know where I stood," said Ayotte.

Last monday, during an necn debate, Ayotte said she believed Trump was a good role model for children. Hours later, Ayotte walked that back and said she mispoke.

With her U.S. Senate seat up for grabs and the polls showing she's vulnerable, her democratic challenger New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan pounced on the opportunity.

"Republicans who have been standing with Donald Trump for a better part of a year, can't make any excuses," said Hassan.

Hassan is already putting out attack ads using parts of Ayotte's debate performance and this latest trump video.

However Ayotte says she won't be defined by this moment, hoping the flames from this public relations inferno, won't burn down her campaign.

Polls show this Senate race is a toss up, with less than a month to go until the election. Ayotte says she's now voting for Trump's running mate Mike Pence, as a write in candidate.
Replacement Galaxy Note 7 phones may not be any safer than the Note 7 devices which caught fire and caused a recall, based on three replacement Note 7 devices catching fire in the past week.

Samsung is reportedly investigating the fire fiascos, claiming that the company takes every Galaxy Note 7 fire report seriously. Yet after a company official goofed and mistakenly sent a text message meant for a colleague to one of the melted phone owners, the companys concern for customers hardly seems sincere.

Replacement Galaxy Note 7 catches fire, fills bedroom with smoke

Michael Klering of Kentucky had his replacement Galaxy Note 7 for a little more than a week. On Tuesday, October 4, he was scared to death when he and his wife awoke to a bedroom full of smoke.

Klering told WKYT that around 4 AM his bedroom was just covered in smoke. He added, I look over and my phone is on fire.

The phone is supposed to be the replacement, so you would have thought it would be safe. It wasnt plugged in. It wasnt anything, it was just sitting there, he said.

Klering started feeling ill later that day and went to the hospital. He was diagnosed with acute bronchitis caused by smoke inhalation.

Although he refused to give Samsung the charred and partially melted Note 7, as Samsung had asked, the company did pay for the phone to be x-rayed.

But then the company really messed up. A Samsung representative committed a rather serious mistake by accidentally sending Klering a text message that was not meant for him. It read:

Just now got this. I can try and slow him down if we think it will matter, or we just let him do what he keeps threatening to do and see if he does it

Klering is seeking legal help now. He also wants people to know the replacement phones are not safe. They're in kids' pockets, people's cars, all kinds of things. We saw with the first ones. Samsung needs to do something to get these off the market.

Samsung refused to comment about the text message, but claimed that until it can retrieve Klerings phone, it cannot confirm that this incident involved the new Note 7.

The company is investigating two additional replacement Note 7 fires that occurred within the last week; both happened after Kerings Note 7 overheated and spewed smoke.

Replacement Note 7 caught fire in teenager's hand

In Minnesota, 13-year-old Abby Zuis received a minor burn on her thumb when her replacement Note 7 overheated and melted in her hand. She told KSTP that she felt a weird, burning sensation in her thumb while holding the phone.

The Samsung caught fire on Friday, October 7, turning into a warped and melted mess. The family had exchanged the recalled Note 7 for a replacement on September 21.

Her mother had warned her about using the first phone, but she wasnt too worried. If it explodes, it explodes. Whatever. Never did, said the teenager. Then I got the replacement one and then it explodes.

Her father said, We thought we were safe with the new phone.

Replacement Note 7 spews smoke, caused evacuation of plane

A few days earlier, on October 5, a Southwest Airlines plane at Louisville International Airport had to be evacuated after a replacement Note 7 caught fire and filled the cabin with smoke.

The phone was turned off, as the FAA has asked Note 7 owners to do when they are on a plane, and tucked into owner Brian Greens pocket. He said he first heard popping, like a ziplocked bag popping open, and sizzling sounds before there was smoke just billowing, pouring out of my pocket.

He dropped the phone onto the floor as thick gray-green angry smoke spewed out the device. The flight was evacuated with no one being injured. Later, when passengers returned for personal belongings, they reported the phone had burned through the carpet and scorched the subfloor of the plane.

The replacement Note 7 had a green battery indicator and its box had a black square icon on the back, things Samsung say are indicators of a phone allegedly being safe to use. Both The Verge and CBS ran the replacement Note 7s serial number against Samsungs recall eligibility checker and found the phone was not in the list of affected devices.

Green said the battery was charged to about 80 percent capacity when he turned it off for the flight and that he had only charged it wirelessly since he obtained the replacement phone. After the smoke-spitting Note 7 incident on the plane, he switched to an iPhone 7.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall for Note 7 devices after reports in the US included 92 batteries overheating, 26 people being burned and 55 cases of property damage.

In September, Samsung assured customers that replacement Note 7s were safe. CBS reported that CPSC chairman Elliot Kaye said the feds are investigating the smoking replacement device.
Council rejects TV presenter's application saying it goes against planning guidelines

TELEVISION presenter Chris Tarrants plans to extend his Bucklebury home have been rejected by West Berkshire Council.

The former Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? presenter wanted to add a two-storey extension  including an extra two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a utility room and a snug  to the property.

The 69-year-old was also seeking permission to extend the existing sitting room and build an en-suite bathroom for the master bedroom of his home.

However, West Berkshire Council has refused permission, saying the extension would be going against planning regulations, which state buildings should not be developed to beyond 50 per cent of their original size.

Bucklebury Parish Council had previously objected to the extension on the same grounds, while some of Mr Tarrants neighbours also voiced their concerns.

Mr Tarrant originally submitted the plans in 2014, but they were withdrawn shortly after he suffered a stroke while on a flight from Thailand to London Heathrow.

Giving its reason for refusal, the council said: The proposed extension, together with previous extensions to the original dwelling, will result in a total cumulative increase in floor space of approximately 126 per cent, and is regarded as disproportionate to the original dwelling.
Residents respond to survey rating district as one of the county's happiest

BEAUTIFUL countryside and friendly people are the things that make West Berkshire residents the most satisfied and happy in the county.

Following the NWN report last week that, according to a national survey, the district was the joint-happiest, least stressed and most satisfied with life in general, we wanted to find out just what puts a spring in our steps.

Retail worker and Newbury resident Chris Boury, 25, said: In general, as a place to live its quite aesthetically pleasing.

It is a nice place. Its not inner city its quite calm and relaxed.

While Pcso Sue Gillespie, who has spent the last 10 years patrolling the streets of Newbury, said: It was a nice thing to hear and yes, generally people are lovely. Theres a lot of smiley people in Newbury.

Its lovely just walking down by the canal, its a lovely place to go.

Everybody has their stresses and strains going on but its a really nice place to be  Im very lucky.

Also stopping to speak to the NWN were Chris Pearce and Laurie Symons, who were engaged last week.

Mr Pearce said: We live in Hermitage and it just seems like everybody gets on with everybody.

I used to live in Wiltshire and, as a place to live, West Berkshire is much better.

Theyve got better amenities here and people are friendlier.

Ms Symons, who has lived in West Berkshire for nine years, said: I grew up in Essex and have lived in London and everybody is so nice here.

I think the countryside around you makes it feel like its a better place.

Mr Pearce added: Ive been working in the Middle East and you just come back here and everything is so green and lush, its lovely.

In West Berkshire youve got some beautiful places around you.

According to the survey by the Office for National Statistics, West Berkshire residents scored the district 7.67 out of 10 for happiness  the joint-highest score across Berkshire, with Windsor and Maidenhead.

The area scored a relatively chilled 2.94 out of 10 for anxiety.

And people in West Berkshire appear to be more than content with things in general, scoring 7.87 out of 10 for life satisfaction  the highest in Berkshire.

However, some residents felt the survey was somewhat inaccurate, with many commenting on social media their surprise at the news.

Commenting on the Newburytoday Facebook page, Glynn Swain wrote: There must be a lot of unhappy people about other than West Berkshire then.

Dan Smith commented: I am NOT happy about this!

Jon Davies said: Try buying a house and tell me its a happy, stress-free place to live. London commuters are the happy ones, not those living and working locally.

Beverley Holliday echoed many residents concerns, writing simply: Traffic is horrendous.

And Malcolm Ward added: You can get to Heathrow faster than crossing Newbury, theyre all talking crazy!

However, Newbury MP Richard Benyon said: I think we are blessed in West Berkshire by having as near to full employment as it is possible to get, because we have got companies that want to base themselves in the Thames Valley.

We are surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside, we have got good schools and good services and I think a combination of those factors give people a sense of well-being.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The issue of womens safety in the Indian societal mileu has been a topic of conversation, policy and debate for years, coming into the limelight after the tragic rape and murder of a young woman in New Delhi. The event also saw a rapid explosion in the use of technology and technology enabled services that try to ensure safety. But are they really effective?

According to experts, technology has the inherent potential to implement saftey, not just for women, but for all. At the core of most successful systems, however, there needs to be a strong technical infrastructure tied into government agencies that need to respond to emergencies.

Amit Bandre

I strongly believe that technology holds the key to ensuring womens safety in the modern world. Especially if it is tied into actively monitored government emergency response services, said Gender Park CEO Dr PTM Sunish. Gender Park runs the Government of Kerala initiative She Taxi.

The mobility service is meant exclusively for women, and is operated by women drivers. But what makes it a success in Kerala is the fact that it comes loaded with safety technology and is tied into an active emergency

response mechanism.

This essential. Our customers and drivers can both resort to instantaneous communication witha call centre that monitors the service. This call centre is tied into government emergency response. This nexus is vital, said Sunish.

Other companies have also brought in viable safety systems enabled by new technology, including GPS tracking and the internet of things (IoT).

For example, startup Leaf Wearables provides necklaces that are both highly fashionable and act as a safety feature.Last year, Leaf Wearables released its first safety device  Safer. The device could be worn as as a pendant and has an in-built panic button. This panic button can be connected to both the users phone and those of her emergency contact.

The system works through an app which has to be downloaded and synced to the device/pendant. In case of emergencies, user needs to press the pendant, triggering an alarm to all connected users and to anyone in the vicinity using the application.Meanwhile, other startups have also made a mark in using technology to enhance womens saftey. Safetipin, an app that maps out areas that are safe and those that are not, is one.

Safetipin warns users of whether they are entering an unsafe area. It also has a list of apps and features  Safetipin, Safetipin Track and Saftipin Night. Safetipin crowdsources information based on nine factors in order to measure how safe the area in question is. These factors are lighting, openness, visibility, people density, security, walk path, transportation in the area, gender, and feeling, says the company on its blog.

Similar apps and wearable tech are beginning to come in at a rapid pace, but women themselves feel that while technology can enhance safety and reduce response time in emergencies, it does not do quite well in preventing incidents from taking place.For India to become a safe place for women, whether in broad daylight or at night, just technology alone is not enough. But good solutions do make us feel safer, said Gayatri Suresh, a software engineer in Chennai.

Sunish however, feels that technology and effective government response can itself act as a detterent to criminals and anti social elements. If the system is effective, then the rapid response and consequences of attacking women will act as a detterent to other potential criminals. But it has to be a combination of technology and government initiative, like what we have in SheTaxi, he said.

CHENNAI: The issue of womens safety in the Indian societal mileu has been a topic of conversation, policy and debate for years, coming into the limelight after the tragic rape and murder of a young woman in New Delhi. The event also saw a rapid explosion in the use of technology and technology enabled services that try to ensure safety. But are they really effective? According to experts, technology has the inherent potential to implement saftey, not just for women, but for all. At the core of most successful systems, however, there needs to be a strong technical infrastructure tied into government agencies that need to respond to emergencies. Amit BandreI strongly believe that technology holds the key to ensuring womens safety in the modern world. Especially if it is tied into actively monitored government emergency response services, said Gender Park CEO Dr PTM Sunish. Gender Park runs the Government of Kerala initiative She Taxi. The mobility service is meant exclusively for women, and is operated by women drivers. But what makes it a success in Kerala is the fact that it comes loaded with safety technology and is tied into an active emergency response mechanism. This essential. Our customers and drivers can both resort to instantaneous communication witha call centre that monitors the service. This call centre is tied into government emergency response. This nexus is vital, said Sunish. Other companies have also brought in viable safety systems enabled by new technology, including GPS tracking and the internet of things (IoT). For example, startup Leaf Wearables provides necklaces that are both highly fashionable and act as a safety feature.Last year, Leaf Wearables released its first safety device  Safer. The device could be worn as as a pendant and has an in-built panic button. This panic button can be connected to both the users phone and those of her emergency contact. The system works through an app which has to be downloaded and synced to the device/pendant. In case of emergencies, user needs to press the pendant, triggering an alarm to all connected users and to anyone in the vicinity using the application.Meanwhile, other startups have also made a mark in using technology to enhance womens saftey. Safetipin, an app that maps out areas that are safe and those that are not, is one. Safetipin warns users of whether they are entering an unsafe area. It also has a list of apps and features  Safetipin, Safetipin Track and Saftipin Night. Safetipin crowdsources information based on nine factors in order to measure how safe the area in question is. These factors are lighting, openness, visibility, people density, security, walk path, transportation in the area, gender, and feeling, says the company on its blog. Similar apps and wearable tech are beginning to come in at a rapid pace, but women themselves feel that while technology can enhance safety and reduce response time in emergencies, it does not do quite well in preventing incidents from taking place.For India to become a safe place for women, whether in broad daylight or at night, just technology alone is not enough. But good solutions do make us feel safer, said Gayatri Suresh, a software engineer in Chennai. Sunish however, feels that technology and effective government response can itself act as a detterent to criminals and anti social elements. If the system is effective, then the rapid response and consequences of attacking women will act as a detterent to other potential criminals. But it has to be a combination of technology and government initiative, like what we have in SheTaxi, he said.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Eighty per cent of the 240 million new accounts opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana are now functional with cash balances, stated Finance Minister Arun Jaitley stated in Washington on Saturday.

According to him, 80 of these Jan Dhan accounts did not have any money at first. But all government programmes now transfer payments in these accounts.

Eighty per cent of these accounts didnt have money, in the first instance. So all government programmes -- from central to regional to local bodies which give assistance to the weaker sections  now transfer payments in these accounts. The payments come from schemes like rural employment guarantee scheme and subsidies on fuel, food and ferlilisers, said Jaitley.

He went on to add that the entire banking system, coordinated and the gap was bridged substantially in 100 days.

Jaitley also spoke about the benefits of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)s Aadhar program, stating that it has been able to cover a billion people  98 per cent of the adult population.

Collectively we have been able to bring a lot of people under financial inclusion, but it is still a work in progress, Jaitley said.



Praise for the UIDAI also came from World Bank president Jim Yong Kim.

Whats been going on in India is fantastic. Billions of dollars have been saved because of focus on bank accounts. India is a fantastic example of how we can spread benefits of unique identification, Kim said.

Jaitley was attending the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Bank Annual Meetings Plenary.

(With inputs from agencies)

CHENNAI: Eighty per cent of the 240 million new accounts opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana are now functional with cash balances, stated Finance Minister Arun Jaitley stated in Washington on Saturday. According to him, 80 of these Jan Dhan accounts did not have any money at first. But all government programmes now transfer payments in these accounts. Eighty per cent of these accounts didnt have money, in the first instance. So all government programmes -- from central to regional to local bodies which give assistance to the weaker sections  now transfer payments in these accounts. The payments come from schemes like rural employment guarantee scheme and subsidies on fuel, food and ferlilisers, said Jaitley. He went on to add that the entire banking system, coordinated and the gap was bridged substantially in 100 days. Jaitley also spoke about the benefits of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)s Aadhar program, stating that it has been able to cover a billion people  98 per cent of the adult population. Collectively we have been able to bring a lot of people under financial inclusion, but it is still a work in progress, Jaitley said. Praise for the UIDAI also came from World Bank president Jim Yong Kim. Whats been going on in India is fantastic. Billions of dollars have been saved because of focus on bank accounts. India is a fantastic example of how we can spread benefits of unique identification, Kim said. Jaitley was attending the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Bank Annual Meetings Plenary. (With inputs from agencies)
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Bathukamma festival, which is fondly celebrated by women in Telangana during Dasara entered the Guinness World Records on Saturday.

As many as 9,292 women from various parts of the State took part in Bathukamma celebrations held at LB Stadium with a special focus on creating a world record, while Telangana brand ambassador Sania Mirza and Olympian P V Sindhu added glamour to the event. Taking a cue from Kerala womens Guinness record accomplishment where 5,015 women celebrated Onam in 2015, Telangana women succeeded in ensuring Bathukamma festival create similar world record. In its bid to popularise Bathukamma festival across the globe, the State government held Bathukamma celebrations with 9,292 women at LB stadium here. The womenfolk played Bathukamma by revolving around the Bathukammas (beautiful flower stack arranged with different unique seasonal flowers) by singing folk songs with synchronising steps and claps.

They performed this dance for 12 minutes at a stretch, making it get into the Guinness World Records like Keralas Onam celebrations. The programme recognised by the Guinness World Records committee as world record. Soon, a certificate in this regard will be issued by it, said GHMC Commissioner Bonthu Rammohan. Earlier, as women started coming to LB Stadium from morning itself, the surroundings wore a festive look making the environs colourful. Bathukamma Bathukamma Uyyalo.. Bangaru Bathukamma Uyyalo songs reverberated and filled the air with festivity. Women formed circles around the 20ft tall Bathukamma set up in the middle of the stadium and started performing Bathukamma dance.

Though more than 10,000 women belonging to all age groups enthusiastically participated in Bathukamma celebrations, thanks to the elaborate arrangements made by officials, there was no untoward incident or congestion. Even sudden rain during the celebrations was unable to dampen the spirits of the women. Women from foreign nations also participated in the celebrations. We have been celebrating Bathukamma festival since childhood. We wait for Dasara festival holidays especially to celebrate Bathukamma. No other celebration is as beautiful and joyful as Bathukamma. Our joy only got doubled to be part of world record, said Divya Sapandana a young woman from Attapur. Telangana government is officially celebrating Bathukamma celebrations and to ensure that the world record accomplishment goes smoothly, officials belonging to GHMC, culture, tourism departments and police made elaborate arrangements. We have been planning and working for the past one week to smoothly conduct Bathukamma celebrations. The number of women participated in the celebrations have exceeded our expectations but we are able to successfully conduct the world record winning celebrations, said GHMC Commissioner Bonthu Rammohan.

Many eminent people participated in the festivities along with their family members.

HYDERABAD: Bathukamma festival, which is fondly celebrated by women in Telangana during Dasara entered the Guinness World Records on Saturday. As many as 9,292 women from various parts of the State took part in Bathukamma celebrations held at LB Stadium with a special focus on creating a world record, while Telangana brand ambassador Sania Mirza and Olympian P V Sindhu added glamour to the event. Taking a cue from Kerala womens Guinness record accomplishment where 5,015 women celebrated Onam in 2015, Telangana women succeeded in ensuring Bathukamma festival create similar world record. In its bid to popularise Bathukamma festival across the globe, the State government held Bathukamma celebrations with 9,292 women at LB stadium here. The womenfolk played Bathukamma by revolving around the Bathukammas (beautiful flower stack arranged with different unique seasonal flowers) by singing folk songs with synchronising steps and claps. They performed this dance for 12 minutes at a stretch, making it get into the Guinness World Records like Keralas Onam celebrations. The programme recognised by the Guinness World Records committee as world record. Soon, a certificate in this regard will be issued by it, said GHMC Commissioner Bonthu Rammohan. Earlier, as women started coming to LB Stadium from morning itself, the surroundings wore a festive look making the environs colourful. Bathukamma Bathukamma Uyyalo.. Bangaru Bathukamma Uyyalo songs reverberated and filled the air with festivity. Women formed circles around the 20ft tall Bathukamma set up in the middle of the stadium and started performing Bathukamma dance. Though more than 10,000 women belonging to all age groups enthusiastically participated in Bathukamma celebrations, thanks to the elaborate arrangements made by officials, there was no untoward incident or congestion. Even sudden rain during the celebrations was unable to dampen the spirits of the women. Women from foreign nations also participated in the celebrations. We have been celebrating Bathukamma festival since childhood. We wait for Dasara festival holidays especially to celebrate Bathukamma. No other celebration is as beautiful and joyful as Bathukamma. Our joy only got doubled to be part of world record, said Divya Sapandana a young woman from Attapur. Telangana government is officially celebrating Bathukamma celebrations and to ensure that the world record accomplishment goes smoothly, officials belonging to GHMC, culture, tourism departments and police made elaborate arrangements. We have been planning and working for the past one week to smoothly conduct Bathukamma celebrations. The number of women participated in the celebrations have exceeded our expectations but we are able to successfully conduct the world record winning celebrations, said GHMC Commissioner Bonthu Rammohan. Many eminent people participated in the festivities along with their family members.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Days after a 13-year-old girls death following her 68-days-long fast, the Hyderabad city police entered the information in General Dairy (GD) and questioned the parents of the deceased in connection with the incident on Saturday.

The girls community elders found fault with the family members, who failed to take precautionary measures during the minors fasting. The additional deputy commissioner of police, North Zone, PY Giri, told Express that they had received information in connection with the incident of 13-year-old Aradhanas death after she observed fasting for 68 days as part of community rituals.

After we received information, we made an entry in the General Dairy (GD) and initiated further action. Based on the result of probe, we will initiate action, Giri said. The police also questioned the parents and family members of Aradhana on Saturday. Police said that parents allowed Aradhana to observe such long fasting after she pressured her parents.

Minor observing such a long fast is objectionable

Jain Association representatives found fault with the parents for allowing the minor to observe such a long fast. Rajesh Shah, President of Shree Simandhar Digambar Jain Mandir, Ramkote, told Express that it was objectionable that a minor was allowed to observe such a long fasting.

Meanwhile, child rights activist and AP State Commission for Protection of Child Rights member, Makkapati Sumitra said below the age of 18 a childs consent does not amount to consent. Quoting the Convention of Rights for Child (CRC) article that mandates adults/guardians to take decisions based on best interests of child, she added, Making a child starve to death, even if parents say that it is in the best interests of the child or according to religious rituals or beliefs, amounts to crime against children.

HYDERABAD: Days after a 13-year-old girls death following her 68-days-long fast, the Hyderabad city police entered the information in General Dairy (GD) and questioned the parents of the deceased in connection with the incident on Saturday. The girls community elders found fault with the family members, who failed to take precautionary measures during the minors fasting. The additional deputy commissioner of police, North Zone, PY Giri, told Express that they had received information in connection with the incident of 13-year-old Aradhanas death after she observed fasting for 68 days as part of community rituals. After we received information, we made an entry in the General Dairy (GD) and initiated further action. Based on the result of probe, we will initiate action, Giri said. The police also questioned the parents and family members of Aradhana on Saturday. Police said that parents allowed Aradhana to observe such long fasting after she pressured her parents. Minor observing such a long fast is objectionable Jain Association representatives found fault with the parents for allowing the minor to observe such a long fast. Rajesh Shah, President of Shree Simandhar Digambar Jain Mandir, Ramkote, told Express that it was objectionable that a minor was allowed to observe such a long fasting. Meanwhile, child rights activist and AP State Commission for Protection of Child Rights member, Makkapati Sumitra said below the age of 18 a childs consent does not amount to consent. Quoting the Convention of Rights for Child (CRC) article that mandates adults/guardians to take decisions based on best interests of child, she added, Making a child starve to death, even if parents say that it is in the best interests of the child or according to religious rituals or beliefs, amounts to crime against children.
Mouli Mareedu By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Mohammed Nayeemuddin alias Nayeems death in an encounter in August has opened a can of worms for the police and politicians alike in Telangana. Even as reports of the student leader-turned-Naxalite-turned-gangsters many crimes steady trickle out to the media, few seem to believe that his victims will find justice at the end of the Special Investigation Teams probe as his reported collusion with senior police officials is considered an open secret in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Evolution of a gangster

Born to a poor family in Bhongir, Nalgonda district, Nayeem started off as a student leader. In time he was drawn to the Naxalite movement and joined the Radical Students Union and then CPI-ML (Peoples War) in 1990. Just three years later, as part of a gang of four he allegedly murdered IPS officer K S Vyas, the founder of the anti-Naxalite police unit, Greyhounds. The killing was a sensation, but Nayeem, arrested 10 months later in December 1993, was subsequently acquitted for lack of evidence. Eventually he was expelled by his party. After being released on bail in 2000, Nayeem turned against his former comrades, and allegedly began to work for the police as an informer against the Maoists, even killing several of those who had surrendered. This was part of his evolution into a gangster known for murder and extortion. By the time he was gunned down in August this year, he was an accused in 100 criminal cases, including 20 murders.

A can of worms

Days after his death, the Telangana government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by senior police officer Y Nagi Reddy. The investigation is giving sleepless nights to the powerful, retired or otherwise. Speculation is rife in police and political circles about who may have had links with Nayeem.

Sree Ram Tiwari, a retired IPS officer, who headed the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) from 1997 to 2000 has stated on record that Nayeem would sometimes visit the SIB office in Begumpet to provide information against Maoists.

Political leaders such as TDP leader and former minister Uma Madhava Reddy, MLA R Krishnaiah and former MlA Malreddy Ranga Reddy have accused MLA Machireddy of having teamed up with Nayeem to grab land. Some TRS leaders have also been mentioned in connection with this. Of all these politicians, however, only Krishnaiah has said he knew Nayeem when he was a student leader but lost touch after Nayeem moved towards extremism. But he did speak to Krishnaiah a few years ago after some of the gangsters victims sought his help. Krishnaiah claimed he warned Nayeem to stay away from illegal activities. Prior to being elected as an MLA, Krishnaiah was a key agitator for backward class rights.

Since his killing, more accusations are being made against Nayeem. A businessman from Bhongir, Gampa Narender, has lodged a police complaint alleging that Nayeem demanded `2 crore from him as mamool (protection money). The businessman refused to pay and stated in his complaint that TRS leader Neti Vidyasagar called him and asked him to pay up.

Separating wheat from chaff

Since its formation, SIT has seized hundreds of sale deeds along with crores of rupees in cash in connection with cases against Nayeem. The detectives are also said to have found a 200-page diary in which the slain gangster allegedly penned down valuable information about his activities. The focus of the investigation is on three areas. First, the information in Nayeems diary. Second, SIT is pursuing leads from the Call Detail Record (CDR) of phones seized from Nayeemj. Third, the team is looking into complaints lodged by people claiming to be victims of the gangster. According to SIT chief Nagi Reddy, 83 people have been arrested so far in 99 cases in Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Khammam, Karimnagar, Warangal and Ranga Reddy districts.

Credibility of police probe low

Given the gangsters alleged ties with the establishment, and the suspicious circumstances of his death, few believe that a police-led investigation will lead to justice. Various groups have called for an independent investigation into Nayeems crimes. Some of the findings of SIT are also raising questions. For instance, during a raid on Nayeems residence in Puppalguda near Hyderabad, SIT seized AK47s and other weapons. However, it has not been explained how he came to possess such weapons. The government has directed police to be transparent.

HYDERABAD: Mohammed Nayeemuddin alias Nayeems death in an encounter in August has opened a can of worms for the police and politicians alike in Telangana. Even as reports of the student leader-turned-Naxalite-turned-gangsters many crimes steady trickle out to the media, few seem to believe that his victims will find justice at the end of the Special Investigation Teams probe as his reported collusion with senior police officials is considered an open secret in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Evolution of a gangster Born to a poor family in Bhongir, Nalgonda district, Nayeem started off as a student leader. In time he was drawn to the Naxalite movement and joined the Radical Students Union and then CPI-ML (Peoples War) in 1990. Just three years later, as part of a gang of four he allegedly murdered IPS officer K S Vyas, the founder of the anti-Naxalite police unit, Greyhounds. The killing was a sensation, but Nayeem, arrested 10 months later in December 1993, was subsequently acquitted for lack of evidence. Eventually he was expelled by his party. After being released on bail in 2000, Nayeem turned against his former comrades, and allegedly began to work for the police as an informer against the Maoists, even killing several of those who had surrendered. This was part of his evolution into a gangster known for murder and extortion. By the time he was gunned down in August this year, he was an accused in 100 criminal cases, including 20 murders. A can of worms Days after his death, the Telangana government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by senior police officer Y Nagi Reddy. The investigation is giving sleepless nights to the powerful, retired or otherwise. Speculation is rife in police and political circles about who may have had links with Nayeem. Sree Ram Tiwari, a retired IPS officer, who headed the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) from 1997 to 2000 has stated on record that Nayeem would sometimes visit the SIB office in Begumpet to provide information against Maoists. Political leaders such as TDP leader and former minister Uma Madhava Reddy, MLA R Krishnaiah and former MlA Malreddy Ranga Reddy have accused MLA Machireddy of having teamed up with Nayeem to grab land. Some TRS leaders have also been mentioned in connection with this. Of all these politicians, however, only Krishnaiah has said he knew Nayeem when he was a student leader but lost touch after Nayeem moved towards extremism. But he did speak to Krishnaiah a few years ago after some of the gangsters victims sought his help. Krishnaiah claimed he warned Nayeem to stay away from illegal activities. Prior to being elected as an MLA, Krishnaiah was a key agitator for backward class rights. Since his killing, more accusations are being made against Nayeem. A businessman from Bhongir, Gampa Narender, has lodged a police complaint alleging that Nayeem demanded `2 crore from him as mamool (protection money). The businessman refused to pay and stated in his complaint that TRS leader Neti Vidyasagar called him and asked him to pay up. Separating wheat from chaff Since its formation, SIT has seized hundreds of sale deeds along with crores of rupees in cash in connection with cases against Nayeem. The detectives are also said to have found a 200-page diary in which the slain gangster allegedly penned down valuable information about his activities. The focus of the investigation is on three areas. First, the information in Nayeems diary. Second, SIT is pursuing leads from the Call Detail Record (CDR) of phones seized from Nayeemj. Third, the team is looking into complaints lodged by people claiming to be victims of the gangster. According to SIT chief Nagi Reddy, 83 people have been arrested so far in 99 cases in Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Khammam, Karimnagar, Warangal and Ranga Reddy districts. Credibility of police probe low Given the gangsters alleged ties with the establishment, and the suspicious circumstances of his death, few believe that a police-led investigation will lead to justice. Various groups have called for an independent investigation into Nayeems crimes. Some of the findings of SIT are also raising questions. For instance, during a raid on Nayeems residence in Puppalguda near Hyderabad, SIT seized AK47s and other weapons. However, it has not been explained how he came to possess such weapons. The government has directed police to be transparent.
Toby Antony By

Express News Service

KOCHI: Will you give your life for Islam? How to treat non-Muslims? These are some of the content police found in the Islamic studies text book meant for the Class II students of the Peace International School run by Peace Education Foundation in Kochi against which a case has been registered.

A police team under Kochi range IG S Sreejith was following the syllabus and activities of the school after getting hints that the missing persons from Kerala, who reportedly joined the Islamic State, were connected to the institution. Police officials, who conducted a probe against the institution, told Express that the school had avoided Biology texts as they teach reproduction and sex.

There was nothing in the syllabus to teach about India or nationalism. Islamic study is the main subject from Class I to Class VIII. Other subjects like Maths, Social Studies and Science are elementary. The students were not having any Biology lessons as they have been considered unnecessary. The students have to be admitted to other schools as the school offers classes only up to the standard VIII, said the official.

Police officials said they found several maps of Tehran in one of the computers when they raided the school following the missing of Merin Jacob, a Kochi native who is suspected to have joined the IS.

We suspect that more persons working with the establishment were planning to join the IS. All those missing persons who allegedly joined the IS have been connected - directly or indirectly - with Peace International School. At present, there are 11 teachers for Islamic Study subjects from Bihar, said the official.

An FIR has been registered against the school management committee, which include three businessmen as its trustees. There are 13 schools in the state under the foundation with M M Akbar, Islamic preacher, as its director. The FIR was registered under IPC Section 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) at Palarivattom police station following the report by Ernakulam District Education Officer.

The school was functioning without proper CBSE accreditation. We had interrogated the three businessmen as part of the initial inquiry. They claimed ignorance of the syllabus and told us that they provided funds as requested by Akbar. However, their role will be probed, said the official. Babu Moopan, chairman of Nippon Toyota and a trustee of the school, said his responsibility was to provide infrastructure facilities. The syllabus is prepared by Peace Educational Foundation. All the schools run by the Foundation in the state and outside follow the same syllabus. Charges are levelled only against the school in Kochi. People who are trying to tarnish the reputation of the institution are behind this, he said.

Siraj Mather, Managing Director of Asten Realtors and another trustee of the institution said a false campaign was being carried out against the school. This time we are moving legally. The school with over 600 students has been in existence for eight years. There are no clandestine activities in the school and anyone having doubts can visit the institution. Moreover, 60 per cent of the staff and teachers are non-Muslims, he said. Earlier, when reports connecting the 21 missing persons with them surfaced, Peace International School had organised a press meet, denying any link with extremism. Attempts were made to contact Akbar, but he is currently attending a function abroad.

KOCHI: Will you give your life for Islam? How to treat non-Muslims? These are some of the content police found in the Islamic studies text book meant for the Class II students of the Peace International School run by Peace Education Foundation in Kochi against which a case has been registered. A police team under Kochi range IG S Sreejith was following the syllabus and activities of the school after getting hints that the missing persons from Kerala, who reportedly joined the Islamic State, were connected to the institution. Police officials, who conducted a probe against the institution, told Express that the school had avoided Biology texts as they teach reproduction and sex. There was nothing in the syllabus to teach about India or nationalism. Islamic study is the main subject from Class I to Class VIII. Other subjects like Maths, Social Studies and Science are elementary. The students were not having any Biology lessons as they have been considered unnecessary. The students have to be admitted to other schools as the school offers classes only up to the standard VIII, said the official. Police officials said they found several maps of Tehran in one of the computers when they raided the school following the missing of Merin Jacob, a Kochi native who is suspected to have joined the IS. We suspect that more persons working with the establishment were planning to join the IS. All those missing persons who allegedly joined the IS have been connected - directly or indirectly - with Peace International School. At present, there are 11 teachers for Islamic Study subjects from Bihar, said the official. An FIR has been registered against the school management committee, which include three businessmen as its trustees. There are 13 schools in the state under the foundation with M M Akbar, Islamic preacher, as its director. The FIR was registered under IPC Section 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) at Palarivattom police station following the report by Ernakulam District Education Officer. The school was functioning without proper CBSE accreditation. We had interrogated the three businessmen as part of the initial inquiry. They claimed ignorance of the syllabus and told us that they provided funds as requested by Akbar. However, their role will be probed, said the official. Babu Moopan, chairman of Nippon Toyota and a trustee of the school, said his responsibility was to provide infrastructure facilities. The syllabus is prepared by Peace Educational Foundation. All the schools run by the Foundation in the state and outside follow the same syllabus. Charges are levelled only against the school in Kochi. People who are trying to tarnish the reputation of the institution are behind this, he said. Siraj Mather, Managing Director of Asten Realtors and another trustee of the institution said a false campaign was being carried out against the school. This time we are moving legally. The school with over 600 students has been in existence for eight years. There are no clandestine activities in the school and anyone having doubts can visit the institution. Moreover, 60 per cent of the staff and teachers are non-Muslims, he said. Earlier, when reports connecting the 21 missing persons with them surfaced, Peace International School had organised a press meet, denying any link with extremism. Attempts were made to contact Akbar, but he is currently attending a function abroad.
Express News Service By

KOCHI: Maj Gen Ahmed Shiyam, Chief of Defence Forces(CDF), Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), accompanied by his spouse Khateeja Naeem and MNDF delegation has arrived on a two-day official visit here. It is as part of the official visit to India from 18- 23 September for firming up bilateral ties between New Delhi and Male that the archipelago nation's defence chief arrived here.

And Maj Gen Shiyam, who met Rear Admiral R B Pandit, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command (SNC), was briefed on the training activities conducted by the SNC. The visiting delegation undertook a trip to the Observer School, Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 322 which has Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), Naval Aircraft Yard facilities, Joint Operation Centre and Indian Coast Guard(ICG) ship C- 421. The CDF also had interacted with the MNDF trainees undergoing training at the IN(Indian Navy) training facilities.

In the mean time, the Maj General's wife Khateeja Naeem met members of Navy Wives Welfare Association, Southern Region {NWWA (SR)}. Besides, she visited Kerala Folklore Museum, where she had a ringside view of the state's rich cultural heritage. Later, the MNDF chief along with his wife and entourage found time to soak in the splendours of backwater tourism by visiting Kumarakom. The delegation is scheduled to fly back home on Thursday.

KOCHI: Maj Gen Ahmed Shiyam, Chief of Defence Forces(CDF), Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), accompanied by his spouse Khateeja Naeem and MNDF delegation has arrived on a two-day official visit here. It is as part of the official visit to India from 18- 23 September for firming up bilateral ties between New Delhi and Male that the archipelago nation's defence chief arrived here.And Maj Gen Shiyam, who met Rear Admiral R B Pandit, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command (SNC), was briefed on the training activities conducted by the SNC. The visiting delegation undertook a trip to the Observer School, Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 322 which has Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), Naval Aircraft Yard facilities, Joint Operation Centre and Indian Coast Guard(ICG) ship C- 421. The CDF also had interacted with the MNDF trainees undergoing training at the IN(Indian Navy) training facilities.In the mean time, the Maj General's wife Khateeja Naeem met members of Navy Wives Welfare Association, Southern Region {NWWA (SR)}. Besides, she visited Kerala Folklore Museum, where she had a ringside view of the state's rich cultural heritage. Later, the MNDF chief along with his wife and entourage found time to soak in the splendours of backwater tourism by visiting Kumarakom. The delegation is scheduled to fly back home on Thursday.
By Express News Service

Chintans directorial debut Chakravarthy has been getting a lot of attention because a major portion of the film has been shot on a 12-storeyed cruise-liner, while sailing in the sea.

The team is back in the city after a 20-day schedule. The recently released picture of Darshan on the liner shows just how the actor has tried a cool new style for Chakravarthy. In a grey three-piece suit and a fitting bright-coloured shirt, he rounds off his look with his hair dyed blonde, gold accessories and black boots.

The director says that the crew shot on the cruise for four days when the ship travelled from Singapore to Malaysia and back. Shooting on a cruise was different. We shot scenes on board after the ship had set sail and was in the mid of the sea.

Darshan in a scene from Chakravarthy

The team felt like they were in a small city. We shot in almost all places of the liner, except at the casino because we were not permitted to take our camera inside, he says.

Chintan who is directing the star for the first time tells City Express that he is marveled by the actors drive and his transformation with every look. As Ive said before, the character has three shades in the film, he says, and adds, "This particular look (of the bright shirt and hair dyed blonde) is for the ongoing shoot. This is the first time ever that he has tried a different hair colour.



We had initially planned to give him a salt n pepper hair, but later, we decided to go with gold. He is thoroughly enjoying these transformations in Chakravarthy.

The makers, having completed 75 per cent of shoot, will be finishing the rest in Bengaluru before heading to Bangkok on October 25 for an introductory song.



Preparations are on for the opening song, which will be another highlight of the film. The other song will be shot with the actor here, after which we will start on the post-production work, he says.

The film produced by Anaji Nagaraj and Siddhanth features Deepa Sannidhi in the female lead. With Dinakar playing the antagonists role, Chakravarthy also sees Srujan Lokesh, Aditya and Kumar Bangarappa in the cast. The music is by Arjun Janya and cinematography by

K S Chandrashekar.

Chintans directorial debut Chakravarthy has been getting a lot of attention because a major portion of the film has been shot on a 12-storeyed cruise-liner, while sailing in the sea. The team is back in the city after a 20-day schedule. The recently released picture of Darshan on the liner shows just how the actor has tried a cool new style for Chakravarthy. In a grey three-piece suit and a fitting bright-coloured shirt, he rounds off his look with his hair dyed blonde, gold accessories and black boots. The director says that the crew shot on the cruise for four days when the ship travelled from Singapore to Malaysia and back. Shooting on a cruise was different. We shot scenes on board after the ship had set sail and was in the mid of the sea. Darshan in a scene from ChakravarthyThe team felt like they were in a small city. We shot in almost all places of the liner, except at the casino because we were not permitted to take our camera inside, he says. Chintan who is directing the star for the first time tells City Express that he is marveled by the actors drive and his transformation with every look. As Ive said before, the character has three shades in the film, he says, and adds, "This particular look (of the bright shirt and hair dyed blonde) is for the ongoing shoot. This is the first time ever that he has tried a different hair colour. We had initially planned to give him a salt n pepper hair, but later, we decided to go with gold. He is thoroughly enjoying these transformations in Chakravarthy. The makers, having completed 75 per cent of shoot, will be finishing the rest in Bengaluru before heading to Bangkok on October 25 for an introductory song. Preparations are on for the opening song, which will be another highlight of the film. The other song will be shot with the actor here, after which we will start on the post-production work, he says. The film produced by Anaji Nagaraj and Siddhanth features Deepa Sannidhi in the female lead. With Dinakar playing the antagonists role, Chakravarthy also sees Srujan Lokesh, Aditya and Kumar Bangarappa in the cast. The music is by Arjun Janya and cinematography by K S Chandrashekar.
Malini Mannath By

Express News Service

With even big names taking to it, horror-comedy seems to have gained a certain amount of respectability. It is another thing that a majority of such films did not deliver. Devi falls in that category.

A multilingual, (Tamil, Telugu, Hindi) Devis lazy screenplay and lacklustre treatment ensures the film has nothing much going for it, apart from generating curiosity around the lead pair.



After Baahubali, Tamannaah is at her alluring best here. Prabhu Deva returning to Tamil screen after more than a decade manages to infuse some humour with his inherent flair for comedy. Apart from this, genuine fun is lacking.

The plot revolves around a dilapidated apartment of a mansion rented by newly married Krishna and Devi. Events begin to unfold when Krishna finds his wife behaving strangely.

Film: Devi

Director: Vijay

Cast: Prabhu Deva, Tamannaah, Sonu Sood, Murali Sharma



The apartment, he learns, is haunted by the ghost of Ruby, an aspiring actress who could not make it big. And her ghost finds a way to fulfil her dream. From here on, Its a battle of wits between the husband and the ghost.

For those who have watched the American horror-comedy Maxie, Devi would lend a feel of Deja Vu. The original tweaked with its punch and fizz removed, it degenerates further. What is appreciable is that the usual flashback that would reveal the ghosts past is given the go-by. We learn of Ruby from a brief narration to Krishna. Also, thankfully the film is without eerie sounds, noises and hovering apparitions.



Tamannaahs ruby-act is commendable, and she sizzles with her sheer glamour. But the transformation of Devi from a traditional wife to a seductive woman, is never really brought out. Apart from the dressing and the uninhibited dances, one cannot find much difference between the two avatars.



Balaji pitches in as the heros friend. Sonu Sood has less to do as Raj, the top star who promotes the new heroine. Murali Sharma (who plays in all three versions) is aptly cast as Rajs fawning manager.

When Prabhu Deva dances, as in the opening scene, it is sheer magic unsurpassed. One wished he had chosen a more worthy vehicle to make his come-back.

With even big names taking to it, horror-comedy seems to have gained a certain amount of respectability. It is another thing that a majority of such films did not deliver. Devi falls in that category. A multilingual, (Tamil, Telugu, Hindi) Devis lazy screenplay and lacklustre treatment ensures the film has nothing much going for it, apart from generating curiosity around the lead pair. After Baahubali, Tamannaah is at her alluring best here. Prabhu Deva returning to Tamil screen after more than a decade manages to infuse some humour with his inherent flair for comedy. Apart from this, genuine fun is lacking. The plot revolves around a dilapidated apartment of a mansion rented by newly married Krishna and Devi. Events begin to unfold when Krishna finds his wife behaving strangely. Film: Devi Director: Vijay Cast: Prabhu Deva, Tamannaah, Sonu Sood, Murali Sharma The apartment, he learns, is haunted by the ghost of Ruby, an aspiring actress who could not make it big. And her ghost finds a way to fulfil her dream. From here on, Its a battle of wits between the husband and the ghost. For those who have watched the American horror-comedy Maxie, Devi would lend a feel of Deja Vu. The original tweaked with its punch and fizz removed, it degenerates further. What is appreciable is that the usual flashback that would reveal the ghosts past is given the go-by. We learn of Ruby from a brief narration to Krishna. Also, thankfully the film is without eerie sounds, noises and hovering apparitions. Tamannaahs ruby-act is commendable, and she sizzles with her sheer glamour. But the transformation of Devi from a traditional wife to a seductive woman, is never really brought out. Apart from the dressing and the uninhibited dances, one cannot find much difference between the two avatars. Balaji pitches in as the heros friend. Sonu Sood has less to do as Raj, the top star who promotes the new heroine. Murali Sharma (who plays in all three versions) is aptly cast as Rajs fawning manager. When Prabhu Deva dances, as in the opening scene, it is sheer magic unsurpassed. One wished he had chosen a more worthy vehicle to make his come-back.
Malini Mannath By

Express News Service

Deviating from his close-to-reality scripts and characters, Vijay Sethupathy attempts a formulaic scenario in Rekka. The actor essaying the role of a larger than life hero has lyrical dreams, singing with his lady love, and later turns into a one-man fighting machine who wards off a dozen and at a point, a hundred and more armed rowdies.

Awkward and self-conscious, Sethupathy looks like a fish out of water as he tackles these moments. His soft improvised style of dialogue delivery seems out of place and his attempt to be realistic in this far-from-realistic scenario backfires. But the actor cannot be blamed entirely. Add to this, a dull screenplay and an unimaginative treatment.

Film: Rekka | Director: Rathina Shiva | Cast: Vijay Sethupathy, Lakshmi Menon, Harish Uthaman, Kishore, K S Ravikumar



Sethupathy plays Siva, a law student who returns to his home town. The story is built on the happenings that follow when David (Uthaman), the villain, has a score to settle with Siva.

As Siva prepares for his sisters wedding, David predictably throws a spanner in the works, forcing Siva to strike a deal. Davids demand is that Siva kidnap the daughter of a powerful politician. What follows is the inevitable and the predictable.



The characters are superficially etched, with none of the actors leaving an impact. Kishore cuts a pathetic sight.

While Uthaman gets a lot of screen space, Kabir Singh as the other baddie gets an apology of a role. The few good moments are in the scenes of camaraderie between Siva and his father (Ravikumar).

It is understandable that every hero aspires to do a formulaic film that would take him to the masses. But then its necessary to select the suitable script, a sensible intelligent one. One wonders what happened to Sethupathys keen sense of choosing the right script!

Deviating from his close-to-reality scripts and characters, Vijay Sethupathy attempts a formulaic scenario in Rekka. The actor essaying the role of a larger than life hero has lyrical dreams, singing with his lady love, and later turns into a one-man fighting machine who wards off a dozen and at a point, a hundred and more armed rowdies. Awkward and self-conscious, Sethupathy looks like a fish out of water as he tackles these moments. His soft improvised style of dialogue delivery seems out of place and his attempt to be realistic in this far-from-realistic scenario backfires. But the actor cannot be blamed entirely. Add to this, a dull screenplay and an unimaginative treatment. Film: Rekka | Director: Rathina Shiva | Cast: Vijay Sethupathy, Lakshmi Menon, Harish Uthaman, Kishore, K S Ravikumar Sethupathy plays Siva, a law student who returns to his home town. The story is built on the happenings that follow when David (Uthaman), the villain, has a score to settle with Siva. As Siva prepares for his sisters wedding, David predictably throws a spanner in the works, forcing Siva to strike a deal. Davids demand is that Siva kidnap the daughter of a powerful politician. What follows is the inevitable and the predictable. The characters are superficially etched, with none of the actors leaving an impact. Kishore cuts a pathetic sight. While Uthaman gets a lot of screen space, Kabir Singh as the other baddie gets an apology of a role. The few good moments are in the scenes of camaraderie between Siva and his father (Ravikumar). It is understandable that every hero aspires to do a formulaic film that would take him to the masses. But then its necessary to select the suitable script, a sensible intelligent one. One wonders what happened to Sethupathys keen sense of choosing the right script!
Pradip R Sagar By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: As India thumps its chest over the surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Army is struggling hard to maintain its surgical-strike capabilities.

When it carried out the surgical strikes across the Line of Control in Pakistan-occuped kashmir, the Special Forces were actually working at 1/6th of its operational requirement of combat, free-fall parachutes  special military parachutes designed for operations that have to be carried out in the cover of darkness in enemy territory. The Special Forces are trained in unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance and to carry out cross-border surgical strikes.



Sources in the establishment admitted that the Special Forces are desperately short of combat, free-fall parachutes and oxygen equipment because the countrys premier defence research agency, DRDO, had failed to develop them even after spending over `100 crore for for 12 years research.



During last trials, the combat, free-fall parachutes developed by the DRDOs Kanout-based lab, Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, miserably failed to clear the trial as 18 out 25 such parachutes failed in field trials and eventually classified as seriously life threatening. These are specialised military parachutes which carry weapon loads of upto 300 kg. In the absence of such parachutes, our skills were going down. For any strike on enemy soil, paradrop is used to avoid detection and cut down travel for the Special Forces. It can operate from inside enemy lines outwards, a source explained.



The Special Forces are not getting any parachutes from the Ministry of Defence and is surviving with the minimum procurement from the local commanders fund to maintain the limited operational capability. Besides combat, free-fall parachutes, the Special Forces also lack oxygen equipment required to undertake high-altitude operations. After the Kargil war in 1999, the security establishment worked out a plan to strengthen the Special Forces to carry out covert operations, and from 2001 to 2004, the Army added its three parachute battalions to the Special Forces and added the fourth assault team in all Special Forces units. With this, the requirement of combat, free-fall parachutes also went up.



Subsequently, the Army projected its requirement of 1,100 of such parachutes. While nearly 700 were promised to de developed indigenously by the Kanpur lab, the rest were to be bought from foreign players to meet the urgent need of the forces. But eventually, the UPA government, in 2006, decided to put a ban of importing chutes and suggested that these be developed indigenously. In 2014, the such parachutes developed by the DRDO lab failed to clear trials.

NEW DELHI: As India thumps its chest over the surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Army is struggling hard to maintain its surgical-strike capabilities. When it carried out the surgical strikes across the Line of Control in Pakistan-occuped kashmir, the Special Forces were actually working at 1/6th of its operational requirement of combat, free-fall parachutes  special military parachutes designed for operations that have to be carried out in the cover of darkness in enemy territory. The Special Forces are trained in unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance and to carry out cross-border surgical strikes. Sources in the establishment admitted that the Special Forces are desperately short of combat, free-fall parachutes and oxygen equipment because the countrys premier defence research agency, DRDO, had failed to develop them even after spending over `100 crore for for 12 years research. During last trials, the combat, free-fall parachutes developed by the DRDOs Kanout-based lab, Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, miserably failed to clear the trial as 18 out 25 such parachutes failed in field trials and eventually classified as seriously life threatening. These are specialised military parachutes which carry weapon loads of upto 300 kg. In the absence of such parachutes, our skills were going down. For any strike on enemy soil, paradrop is used to avoid detection and cut down travel for the Special Forces. It can operate from inside enemy lines outwards, a source explained. The Special Forces are not getting any parachutes from the Ministry of Defence and is surviving with the minimum procurement from the local commanders fund to maintain the limited operational capability. Besides combat, free-fall parachutes, the Special Forces also lack oxygen equipment required to undertake high-altitude operations. After the Kargil war in 1999, the security establishment worked out a plan to strengthen the Special Forces to carry out covert operations, and from 2001 to 2004, the Army added its three parachute battalions to the Special Forces and added the fourth assault team in all Special Forces units. With this, the requirement of combat, free-fall parachutes also went up. Subsequently, the Army projected its requirement of 1,100 of such parachutes. While nearly 700 were promised to de developed indigenously by the Kanpur lab, the rest were to be bought from foreign players to meet the urgent need of the forces. But eventually, the UPA government, in 2006, decided to put a ban of importing chutes and suggested that these be developed indigenously. In 2014, the such parachutes developed by the DRDO lab failed to clear trials.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Centre has declined to make public a panel's report on the death of research scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad University.

Replying to an RTI query, it said that the file concerned is "under submission" and copy of the report cannot be provided.

"The file concerned is under submission. Therefore, copy of report cannot be provided at this point of time," Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry said in reply to the RTI query filed by PTI.

It did not cite any provision of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in declining the information. A government department is expected to mention relevant provision of the RTI Act under which information is being withheld.

The HRD Ministry had in February appointed a Commission of Inquiry under Justice (retired) Ashok Kumar Roopanwal to look into the events at the University of Hyderabad, culminating in the death of Vemula.

It was also tasked with reviewing the existing grievance redressal mechanism for students at the university and to suggest improvements. The Commission was asked to submit its report within three-month time.

The panel has submitted its report to the HRD Ministry.

Recent media reports have claimed that the Commission has raised questions on Vemula's Dalit status and attributed his suicide to personal reasons.

University authorities too have been absolved of any blame for Vemula's death as the Commission has held that they were not working under political pressure, the reports said.

Vemula's suicide had triggered a huge political furore with the then HRD Minister Smriti Irani coming under attack along with Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya for having written a letter related to the matter.

The Commission in its report is understood to have emphasised upon proper grievance redressal mechanisms and equal opportunity cells so that unfortunate incidents like Vemula's suicide can be prevented.

NEW DELHI: The Centre has declined to make public a panel's report on the death of research scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad University. Replying to an RTI query, it said that the file concerned is "under submission" and copy of the report cannot be provided. "The file concerned is under submission. Therefore, copy of report cannot be provided at this point of time," Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry said in reply to the RTI query filed by PTI. It did not cite any provision of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in declining the information. A government department is expected to mention relevant provision of the RTI Act under which information is being withheld. The HRD Ministry had in February appointed a Commission of Inquiry under Justice (retired) Ashok Kumar Roopanwal to look into the events at the University of Hyderabad, culminating in the death of Vemula. It was also tasked with reviewing the existing grievance redressal mechanism for students at the university and to suggest improvements. The Commission was asked to submit its report within three-month time. The panel has submitted its report to the HRD Ministry. Recent media reports have claimed that the Commission has raised questions on Vemula's Dalit status and attributed his suicide to personal reasons. University authorities too have been absolved of any blame for Vemula's death as the Commission has held that they were not working under political pressure, the reports said. Vemula's suicide had triggered a huge political furore with the then HRD Minister Smriti Irani coming under attack along with Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya for having written a letter related to the matter. The Commission in its report is understood to have emphasised upon proper grievance redressal mechanisms and equal opportunity cells so that unfortunate incidents like Vemula's suicide can be prevented.
By PTI

Panaji: Goa government will hold an all-party meeting tomorrow to discuss the state government's stand on the Mahadeyi water diversion issue after Mahadeyi Water Dispute Tribunal suggested Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka to explore an "amicable solution".

"Chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar will chair an all party meeting tomorrow at the Secretariat on the Mahadeyi water diversion issue as Mahadeyi Water Dispute Tribunal has suggested the three states to explore the possibility of amicable solution on this long-pending water dispute," a senior state government official told PTI today. State unit presidents of several parties have been called for the meeting where they would be giving their suggestions on the matter, he said. Karnataka and Maharashtra have planned dams upstream Mahadeyi river, which meets Arabian Sea near Panaji.

The Goa government has raised objections over the diversion, claiming that such an act would hamper the ecology of the coastal state. Karnataka plans to construct at least seven dams and three hydroelectric projects by diverting the water to river Malprabha. Meanwhile, NGO Mahadeyi Bachao Abhiyan (MBA), which will be a part of the crucial all-party meeting, has said that it will keep a close watch on it. The NGO has raised concern that the proposed dams site on Mahadeyi river in Karnataka is just 300 metres away from Mahadeyi Wildlife Sanctuary and poses a threat to the surrounding ecology and the wildlife.

"We are closely watching what state government intends to do. We will not allow any compromise on this issue," MBA secretary Rajendra Kerkar said. "When Goa has won half battle, finding an amicable solution at this stage is not advisable," he said, adding that they will strongly object to the suggestion of "amicable solution". "With an aim to politically appease someone, if the government tries to compromise state interest, we will approach the National Green Tribunal against Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa governments," Kerkar said.

Panaji: Goa government will hold an all-party meeting tomorrow to discuss the state government's stand on the Mahadeyi water diversion issue after Mahadeyi Water Dispute Tribunal suggested Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka to explore an "amicable solution". "Chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar will chair an all party meeting tomorrow at the Secretariat on the Mahadeyi water diversion issue as Mahadeyi Water Dispute Tribunal has suggested the three states to explore the possibility of amicable solution on this long-pending water dispute," a senior state government official told PTI today. State unit presidents of several parties have been called for the meeting where they would be giving their suggestions on the matter, he said. Karnataka and Maharashtra have planned dams upstream Mahadeyi river, which meets Arabian Sea near Panaji. The Goa government has raised objections over the diversion, claiming that such an act would hamper the ecology of the coastal state. Karnataka plans to construct at least seven dams and three hydroelectric projects by diverting the water to river Malprabha. Meanwhile, NGO Mahadeyi Bachao Abhiyan (MBA), which will be a part of the crucial all-party meeting, has said that it will keep a close watch on it. The NGO has raised concern that the proposed dams site on Mahadeyi river in Karnataka is just 300 metres away from Mahadeyi Wildlife Sanctuary and poses a threat to the surrounding ecology and the wildlife. "We are closely watching what state government intends to do. We will not allow any compromise on this issue," MBA secretary Rajendra Kerkar said. "When Goa has won half battle, finding an amicable solution at this stage is not advisable," he said, adding that they will strongly object to the suggestion of "amicable solution". "With an aim to politically appease someone, if the government tries to compromise state interest, we will approach the National Green Tribunal against Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa governments," Kerkar said.
Abhijit Mulye By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: Will Maharashtra strongman Sharad Pawar hand over the charge of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to her daughter Supriya Sule soon? Speculation is rife in political circles in the State over the issue.

Of late, NCP MP Supriya has put up a very aggressive posture against the BJP in general and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in particular.

While speaking at a womens meet of her party at Jalgaon on Saturday, Sule warned Fadnavis of the womens anger. The CM says that he has every information (Kundali) of his opponents which he would use at an appropriate time. But, let me warn him of the womens wrath. If they go against him, all his powers would just vanish, Supriya said.

A couple of days back, she said that Fadnavis is not able to handle the CMs post. He is constantly fighting like women who fight at community water taps. He is always screaming in his speeches. Sometimes, I think he forgets that he is the Chief Minister of the State and no longer in the Opposition, she had said. Whenever I go to meet him next, I will go wearing a helmet as he might throw something at my face, she had said during the party meet at Pune.

Earlier, at Nandurbar, Supriya had slammed Fadnavis for his language of revenge. It is unfortunate that the CM speaks the language of revenge. We will not be scared despite your threats. I, too, have seen power and it wont scare me, she had said.

Supriyas unprecedented attack on Fadnavis had taken everyone by surprise as she is normally known as a calm and soft-natured person, who refrains from making any personal attack.

State BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari termed Supriyas outburst as part of her efforts to establish her worth in the NCP succession war. Supriya Sule should stop using Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for establishing her leadership in the NCP. The recent attacks are nothing but a ploy to make herself eligible as a successor (to Sharad Pawar), he said.

However, NCP insiders have a different take. The Maratha community, the principal vote base of the NCP for a long time, is on a warpath after the gang-rape and murder at Kopardi and the significant thing at the rallies is the strong participation of women.

The party leadership might have decided to bring in Supriya tai (sister) to lead NCP in the State. Her leadership will certainly bring the womenfolk closer to the party, a senior party member told Express.

The Maratha community is considered to be quite orthodox when it comes to conduct of women in society. The women from the community were hardly seen in political rallies. However, for the first time, women formed a major portion of the recent Maratha rallies.

Politically, this assumes significance as the elections are due in around 500 local bodies, including zilla parishads, panchayat samitis, municipal councils and municipal corporations. Over 10,000 peoples representatives are expected to be elected in these elections till March 2017 and half of them would be women.

Having a woman as the top leader while going in for such crucial elections can benefit a party. Moreover, while several top leaders of the NCP, including Ajit Pawar, are battling corruption charges, Supriya can

be projected as an ideal non-controversial face, party insiders feel.

MUMBAI: Will Maharashtra strongman Sharad Pawar hand over the charge of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to her daughter Supriya Sule soon? Speculation is rife in political circles in the State over the issue. Of late, NCP MP Supriya has put up a very aggressive posture against the BJP in general and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in particular. While speaking at a womens meet of her party at Jalgaon on Saturday, Sule warned Fadnavis of the womens anger. The CM says that he has every information (Kundali) of his opponents which he would use at an appropriate time. But, let me warn him of the womens wrath. If they go against him, all his powers would just vanish, Supriya said. A couple of days back, she said that Fadnavis is not able to handle the CMs post. He is constantly fighting like women who fight at community water taps. He is always screaming in his speeches. Sometimes, I think he forgets that he is the Chief Minister of the State and no longer in the Opposition, she had said. Whenever I go to meet him next, I will go wearing a helmet as he might throw something at my face, she had said during the party meet at Pune. Earlier, at Nandurbar, Supriya had slammed Fadnavis for his language of revenge. It is unfortunate that the CM speaks the language of revenge. We will not be scared despite your threats. I, too, have seen power and it wont scare me, she had said. Supriyas unprecedented attack on Fadnavis had taken everyone by surprise as she is normally known as a calm and soft-natured person, who refrains from making any personal attack. State BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari termed Supriyas outburst as part of her efforts to establish her worth in the NCP succession war. Supriya Sule should stop using Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for establishing her leadership in the NCP. The recent attacks are nothing but a ploy to make herself eligible as a successor (to Sharad Pawar), he said. However, NCP insiders have a different take. The Maratha community, the principal vote base of the NCP for a long time, is on a warpath after the gang-rape and murder at Kopardi and the significant thing at the rallies is the strong participation of women. The party leadership might have decided to bring in Supriya tai (sister) to lead NCP in the State. Her leadership will certainly bring the womenfolk closer to the party, a senior party member told Express. The Maratha community is considered to be quite orthodox when it comes to conduct of women in society. The women from the community were hardly seen in political rallies. However, for the first time, women formed a major portion of the recent Maratha rallies. Politically, this assumes significance as the elections are due in around 500 local bodies, including zilla parishads, panchayat samitis, municipal councils and municipal corporations. Over 10,000 peoples representatives are expected to be elected in these elections till March 2017 and half of them would be women. Having a woman as the top leader while going in for such crucial elections can benefit a party. Moreover, while several top leaders of the NCP, including Ajit Pawar, are battling corruption charges, Supriya can be projected as an ideal non-controversial face, party insiders feel.
Hemant Kumar Rout By

BHUBANESWAR: It was a hat-trick success for Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) which achieved a feat by test launching Indo-Israeli long range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) thrice in two days from a defence test facility off the Odisha coast.

While twin tests of the state-of-the-art Gen-Next missile developed in collaboration with Israel were successful on Tuesday, it performed as coordinated during third test conducted in a different altitude on Wednesday.

The tests assumed significance as those were carried out two days after Uri terror strike. Once inducted the weapon system will provide an air-shield to sensitive defence installations and important metro cities besides the protection from hostile attacks.

Defence sources said the missiles with dummy payloads were launched from a mobile launcher from the launching complex - III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea. The missiles fired in full operational configuration against pilot-less target aircraft - Banshee, a British drone to prove the weapon system's 'killing' efficiency.

The naval version of the SAM system, this time has been tested from land, which was earlier flight tested from Naval ships. The trajectory of the missile was throughout tracked and monitored by the radars and electro-optical systems installed at ITR.

Jointly designed and developed by Indias Research Centre Imarat (RCI), a DRDO laboratory and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the missile has a Multi Functional Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MFSTAR) to detect, track and guide the system.

The missile having a strike range of 90 km can fill the gap that India has in its armory at present and will provide the users with the capability to neutralise any aerial threat. It weighs around 2.75 tonne and can carry a payload of 60 kg flying at a speed of Mach 2.

Both Israel and Indian scientists participated in the mission. The Israel team was led by Vice President of IAI Boyes Levy and team India by Project Director Patrick DSilva. Director of DRDL MSR Prasad, Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and DG (MSS) Dr G Satheesh Reddy and ITR Director Dr B K Das witnessed the tests.

Congratulating the scientists Director General of DRDO Dr S Christopher said it is an important achievement and will pave the way for production of the system.

As precautionary measures, 3,652 people living within a 2.5 km radius of the test facility were temporarily shifted to nearby shelter camps.

BHUBANESWAR: It was a hat-trick success for Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) which achieved a feat by test launching Indo-Israeli long range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) thrice in two days from a defence test facility off the Odisha coast.While twin tests of the state-of-the-art Gen-Next missile developed in collaboration with Israel were successful on Tuesday, it performed as coordinated during third test conducted in a different altitude on Wednesday.The tests assumed significance as those were carried out two days after Uri terror strike. Once inducted the weapon system will provide an air-shield to sensitive defence installations and important metro cities besides the protection from hostile attacks.Defence sources said the missiles with dummy payloads were launched from a mobile launcher from the launching complex - III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea. The missiles fired in full operational configuration against pilot-less target aircraft - Banshee, a British drone to prove the weapon system's 'killing' efficiency.The naval version of the SAM system, this time has been tested from land, which was earlier flight tested from Naval ships. The trajectory of the missile was throughout tracked and monitored by the radars and electro-optical systems installed at ITR.Jointly designed and developed by Indias Research Centre Imarat (RCI), a DRDO laboratory and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the missile has a Multi Functional Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MFSTAR) to detect, track and guide the system.The missile having a strike range of 90 km can fill the gap that India has in its armory at present and will provide the users with the capability to neutralise any aerial threat. It weighs around 2.75 tonne and can carry a payload of 60 kg flying at a speed of Mach 2.Both Israel and Indian scientists participated in the mission. The Israel team was led by Vice President of IAI Boyes Levy and team India by Project Director Patrick DSilva. Director of DRDL MSR Prasad, Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and DG (MSS) Dr G Satheesh Reddy and ITR Director Dr B K Das witnessed the tests.Congratulating the scientists Director General of DRDO Dr S Christopher said it is an important achievement and will pave the way for production of the system.As precautionary measures, 3,652 people living within a 2.5 km radius of the test facility were temporarily shifted to nearby shelter camps.
PTI By

LUCKNOW: Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over "failure" to prevent terrorist attacks, BSP supremo Mayawati today said while he is advising Pakistan to concentrate on welfare of its people, he should also introspect on the working of his government.

"It is good to advice Pakistani counterpart to concentrate on welfare his people. PM should also introspect of working of his government. There is anger among people of the country after the killing of 18 armymen in Uri attack.

"People expect concrete assurance and effective action from PM to check recurrence of such an incident," Mayawati told reporters here.

People of the country are "upset" with the BJP government due to terrorist attacks on soldiers and want such incidents to end, Mayawati said and lamented that "PM has failed to give any assurance to people of the country that such acts will not be repeated and our borders are safe.., there will be no terrorist inflitration..and none of your soldiers will have to sacrifice their lives due to terrorism."

"This is failure of the Centre to fulfill aspirations of the people," she added.

She said instead of framing any "long term policy" to counter such attacks, Modi government is "misleading" the people and trying to divert attention by advising Pakistan to fight "unemployment, poverty, illiteracy".

"The PM should also see that his record is bad on the fronts of eradicating poverty, controlling price rise and fighting illiteracy," she said adding that due to failure of BJP to fulfill its promises it had to taste "humiliating defeats" in Delhi, Bengal, Bihar, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

On Jammu and Kashmir, Mayawati said that the situation there could not be controlled in past three months due to which the "people of the country are concerned".

Alleging that PM Modi was trying to "emotionally blackmail" people ahead of Assembly polls, Mayawati said advising Pakistan was a "political conspiracy" and people of UP and Punjab should be aware of it.

Addressing a rally in Kozhikode yesterday, Modi asked Pakistan's people to question leaders of their country as to why India exports software and Pakistan exports terrorism despite getting Independence together.

Lashing out at the neighbouring country, the Prime Minister said its leaders used to say that they will fight for 1000 years with India and wondered where they were now.

"I accept this challenge. I want to tell you that India wants to fight with Pakistan. If you have the courage then why not fight to end poverty, unemployment, illiteracy. Let us see which country wins, India or Pakistan," he said.

Accusing Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh of failing to check spread of Dengue and Chikangunia, Mayawati said common man were facing hardships but Samajwadi party is busy in "Grihyuddh" (family dispute)".

LUCKNOW: Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over "failure" to prevent terrorist attacks, BSP supremo Mayawati today said while he is advising Pakistan to concentrate on welfare of its people, he should also introspect on the working of his government."It is good to advice Pakistani counterpart to concentrate on welfare his people. PM should also introspect of working of his government. There is anger among people of the country after the killing of 18 armymen in Uri attack."People expect concrete assurance and effective action from PM to check recurrence of such an incident," Mayawati told reporters here.People of the country are "upset" with the BJP government due to terrorist attacks on soldiers and want such incidents to end, Mayawati said and lamented that "PM has failed to give any assurance to people of the country that such acts will not be repeated and our borders are safe.., there will be no terrorist inflitration..and none of your soldiers will have to sacrifice their lives due to terrorism.""This is failure of the Centre to fulfill aspirations of the people," she added.She said instead of framing any "long term policy" to counter such attacks, Modi government is "misleading" the people and trying to divert attention by advising Pakistan to fight "unemployment, poverty, illiteracy"."The PM should also see that his record is bad on the fronts of eradicating poverty, controlling price rise and fighting illiteracy," she said adding that due to failure of BJP to fulfill its promises it had to taste "humiliating defeats" in Delhi, Bengal, Bihar, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.On Jammu and Kashmir, Mayawati said that the situation there could not be controlled in past three months due to which the "people of the country are concerned". Alleging that PM Modi was trying to "emotionally blackmail" people ahead of Assembly polls, Mayawati said advising Pakistan was a "political conspiracy" and people of UP and Punjab should be aware of it.Addressing a rally in Kozhikode yesterday, Modi asked Pakistan's people to question leaders of their country as to why India exports software and Pakistan exports terrorism despite getting Independence together.Lashing out at the neighbouring country, the Prime Minister said its leaders used to say that they will fight for 1000 years with India and wondered where they were now. "I accept this challenge. I want to tell you that India wants to fight with Pakistan. If you have the courage then why not fight to end poverty, unemployment, illiteracy. Let us see which country wins, India or Pakistan," he said.Accusing Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh of failing to check spread of Dengue and Chikangunia, Mayawati said common man were facing hardships but Samajwadi party is busy in "Grihyuddh" (family dispute)".
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has only himself to blame for becoming a butt of ridicule. A known critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he changed colour soon after the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) to avenge the killing of 18 Indian soldiers at Uri on September 18. He praised Modi and the strike against Pakistan in the Delhi Assembly.

Soon afterwards, he changed his stance when Pakistan took a group of journalists to the LoC to claim that the surgical strike was a cock and bull story. Kejriwal expressed the need for India to prove that its contention was indeed true. In doing so, he relied more on the credibility of Pakistan than on the Indian Army. Public opinion, especially as reflected in Twitter and Facebook, turned decidedly against Kejriwal. It provoked biting and sarcastic comments against the chief minister. He could not have ignored the fact that the social media played a major role in promoting his anti-corruption campaign that ultimately brought him to power.

It was against this backdrop that he donned the cap of an ultra-nationalist in going ballistic against the neighbour. He has also come down heavily against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for accusing Modi of hiding behind the blood of a soldier. Kejriwal sought to project himself as an ultra-nationalist.

Needless to say, such postures are unwarranted. India is a democracy and it is only natural that there are many different voices. Nonetheless, a political leader holding such an important post as chief minister has some limitations in expressing his views. Kejriwal is certainly not one who follows such an etiquette. His views on the surgical strike is a case in point. There can be two or more views on the advisability or otherwise of publicising the retaliatory action against Pakistan. Once a stand is taken, there is no need for a flip-flop as it would only show the person in a poor light. Alas, that is what has happened in Kejriwals case.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has only himself to blame for becoming a butt of ridicule. A known critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he changed colour soon after the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) to avenge the killing of 18 Indian soldiers at Uri on September 18. He praised Modi and the strike against Pakistan in the Delhi Assembly. Soon afterwards, he changed his stance when Pakistan took a group of journalists to the LoC to claim that the surgical strike was a cock and bull story. Kejriwal expressed the need for India to prove that its contention was indeed true. In doing so, he relied more on the credibility of Pakistan than on the Indian Army. Public opinion, especially as reflected in Twitter and Facebook, turned decidedly against Kejriwal. It provoked biting and sarcastic comments against the chief minister. He could not have ignored the fact that the social media played a major role in promoting his anti-corruption campaign that ultimately brought him to power. It was against this backdrop that he donned the cap of an ultra-nationalist in going ballistic against the neighbour. He has also come down heavily against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for accusing Modi of hiding behind the blood of a soldier. Kejriwal sought to project himself as an ultra-nationalist. Needless to say, such postures are unwarranted. India is a democracy and it is only natural that there are many different voices. Nonetheless, a political leader holding such an important post as chief minister has some limitations in expressing his views. Kejriwal is certainly not one who follows such an etiquette. His views on the surgical strike is a case in point. There can be two or more views on the advisability or otherwise of publicising the retaliatory action against Pakistan. Once a stand is taken, there is no need for a flip-flop as it would only show the person in a poor light. Alas, that is what has happened in Kejriwals case.
By Express News Service

COIMBATORE/ KOCHI: The National Investigating Agency (NIA) here has on Sunday questioned 16 youth from the city in the last seven days, as they are suspected to have links with the banned IS module.

On October 1, six persons including a youth belonging to Coimbatore was arrested by the NIA personnel for having links with the IS. Following this, late on October 2, NIA personnel conducted raids in the houses of five youths in the city, suspected to have IS links.

Based on the call records and other digital footprints taken from the mobile phone and laptops of the suspects, police picked 11 youth. Based on their statements, three more were picked on Saturday and two more were picked on Sunday for questioning.

Intelligence sources said that the youths were picked up only for questioning, since some were close to Abu Basheer, who was arrested for having links with the IS. Police are to interrogate the youths for two more days in the city, as they still have not got a clear idea about their links with Abu Basheer.

It is also learnt that police seized mobile phones and laptops of some youths held for questioning. They are also checking for the social media contacts of the suspects, as they might have used it for communication. Police said that few among the suspects had taken passports recently, about which the NIA is enquiring.

Meanwhile, suspected IS operative Subhani Haji Moideen, who was arrested from Kadayanallur in Tirunelveli, was taken to his native Thodupuzha in Kerala on Sunday as part of collecting evidence. The NIA said Subhanis family members came to know about his extremist links only after his arrest.

The sleuths recorded the statements of other relatives and friends of Subhani.

According to NIA officers, Subhani was radicalised and recruited to IS by recruiters active on online social media platforms. He was taken to Mosul in Iraq, where he underwent detailed training in Shariya followed by combat training for more than five months. Besides, he was paid $100 per month as subsistence allowed by IS along with common available accommodation and food without any additional charges, NIA sources said.

The NIA team recovered a few documents from the residence of Subhani on Market Road, Thodupuzha, after conducting searches for about one-and-a-half hour.

Meanwhile, a few BJP workers protested by assembling near the house and raising slogans against the IS, when the sleuths were taking Subhani back after the proceedings.

COIMBATORE/ KOCHI: The National Investigating Agency (NIA) here has on Sunday questioned 16 youth from the city in the last seven days, as they are suspected to have links with the banned IS module. On October 1, six persons including a youth belonging to Coimbatore was arrested by the NIA personnel for having links with the IS. Following this, late on October 2, NIA personnel conducted raids in the houses of five youths in the city, suspected to have IS links. Based on the call records and other digital footprints taken from the mobile phone and laptops of the suspects, police picked 11 youth. Based on their statements, three more were picked on Saturday and two more were picked on Sunday for questioning. Intelligence sources said that the youths were picked up only for questioning, since some were close to Abu Basheer, who was arrested for having links with the IS. Police are to interrogate the youths for two more days in the city, as they still have not got a clear idea about their links with Abu Basheer. It is also learnt that police seized mobile phones and laptops of some youths held for questioning. They are also checking for the social media contacts of the suspects, as they might have used it for communication. Police said that few among the suspects had taken passports recently, about which the NIA is enquiring. Meanwhile, suspected IS operative Subhani Haji Moideen, who was arrested from Kadayanallur in Tirunelveli, was taken to his native Thodupuzha in Kerala on Sunday as part of collecting evidence. The NIA said Subhanis family members came to know about his extremist links only after his arrest. The sleuths recorded the statements of other relatives and friends of Subhani. According to NIA officers, Subhani was radicalised and recruited to IS by recruiters active on online social media platforms. He was taken to Mosul in Iraq, where he underwent detailed training in Shariya followed by combat training for more than five months. Besides, he was paid $100 per month as subsistence allowed by IS along with common available accommodation and food without any additional charges, NIA sources said. The NIA team recovered a few documents from the residence of Subhani on Market Road, Thodupuzha, after conducting searches for about one-and-a-half hour. Meanwhile, a few BJP workers protested by assembling near the house and raising slogans against the IS, when the sleuths were taking Subhani back after the proceedings.
Pradip R Sagar By

NEW DELHI: In order to weed out the dead woods, countrys premier defence research agency Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which is often faced criticism for its tardy performance, is looking for young scientist to head one of its laboratory. It was Prime Minister Narendra Modis advise to DRDO to hire young scientists, not over the age of 35 years to head at least five laboratories of defence research agency.

Following PMs advise, Uttarakhand based Defence Institute of Bio-energy Research (DIBER), which is engaged in research in the first of bio energy and non conventional energy for defence use, has invited applications from candidates before the age of 35 years to head the lab. Officials claim this is the first step in the chain of events to give important role to young scientists, as Modi government has already banned giving extensions to scientists who have completed their tenure. It is notable that till two years back, DRDOs top 15 scientists were on extension of service.

PM Modi in his first interaction with DRDO scientists had sent a stern message to defence research agency for their chalta hai attitude, as most of DRDO projects, ranging from Tejas light combat aircraft to long-range surface-to-air missile systems have been missing repeated deadlines with huge

cost overruns.

But sources in the agency said, appointing youch scientists to head laboratories may not go down well with senior scientists working with defence research.

but, officials said that hiring of Director of lab below the age of 35 years will send message to everyone working in DRDO to deliver. Modi has last year short listed Satish Reddy, the youngest ever scientific advisor to the defence minsitry.

Certainly its an effort to get rid of non-performing scientists. Merely age seniority will not matter. If India wants to be a superpower, our defence research has to be cutting edge. India remains to be top buyer of military hardware globally with nearly 70 per cent defence requirements meet by imports, said an officer. It is the successful governments failure to build a strong domestic defence industrial base due to sluggish performance of 52 DRDO laboratories, five defence PSUs , four shipyards and 39 Ordnance factories.

NEW DELHI: In order to weed out the dead woods, countrys premier defence research agency Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which is often faced criticism for its tardy performance, is looking for young scientist to head one of its laboratory. It was Prime Minister Narendra Modis advise to DRDO to hire young scientists, not over the age of 35 years to head at least five laboratories of defence research agency. Following PMs advise, Uttarakhand based Defence Institute of Bio-energy Research (DIBER), which is engaged in research in the first of bio energy and non conventional energy for defence use, has invited applications from candidates before the age of 35 years to head the lab. Officials claim this is the first step in the chain of events to give important role to young scientists, as Modi government has already banned giving extensions to scientists who have completed their tenure. It is notable that till two years back, DRDOs top 15 scientists were on extension of service. PM Modi in his first interaction with DRDO scientists had sent a stern message to defence research agency for their chalta hai attitude, as most of DRDO projects, ranging from Tejas light combat aircraft to long-range surface-to-air missile systems have been missing repeated deadlines with huge cost overruns. But sources in the agency said, appointing youch scientists to head laboratories may not go down well with senior scientists working with defence research. but, officials said that hiring of Director of lab below the age of 35 years will send message to everyone working in DRDO to deliver. Modi has last year short listed Satish Reddy, the youngest ever scientific advisor to the defence minsitry. Certainly its an effort to get rid of non-performing scientists. Merely age seniority will not matter. If India wants to be a superpower, our defence research has to be cutting edge. India remains to be top buyer of military hardware globally with nearly 70 per cent defence requirements meet by imports, said an officer. It is the successful governments failure to build a strong domestic defence industrial base due to sluggish performance of 52 DRDO laboratories, five defence PSUs , four shipyards and 39 Ordnance factories.
Toby Antony By

KOCHI: Kerala Police is investigating a school of terror suspected of launching jihadis to join Islamic State (IS) in Syria from Kerala. When they raided the Peace International School here after receiving a tip-off about a Malayali IS fighter from the city, they were taken aback by the textbooks. Questions read, Will you give your life for Islam? How to treat with non-Muslims? A case has been registered against the school, which is run by the Peace Education Foundation. The curriculum doesnt believe in teaching on India. It avoids Biology as unnecessary. Islamic Study is the main subject in the classes from standard I to VIII, said a police officer.

We suspect that more persons working with the school were planning to join IS. All those missing from Kerala who joined IS were connecteddirectly or indirectlywith Peace International School. At present, there are 11 teachers alone for Islamic Study subjects, who hail from Bihar, pointed out the officer.

The police retrieved several strategic maps of Tehran from a school computer. They had been informed about the link between the school and a student, Merin Jacob, who the police suspect of fleeing to Syria. Many missing Malayalis travelled to Iran and crossed the Afghan border before joining IS.

KOCHI: Kerala Police is investigating a school of terror suspected of launching jihadis to join Islamic State (IS) in Syria from Kerala. When they raided the Peace International School here after receiving a tip-off about a Malayali IS fighter from the city, they were taken aback by the textbooks. Questions read, Will you give your life for Islam? How to treat with non-Muslims? A case has been registered against the school, which is run by the Peace Education Foundation. The curriculum doesnt believe in teaching on India. It avoids Biology as unnecessary. Islamic Study is the main subject in the classes from standard I to VIII, said a police officer. We suspect that more persons working with the school were planning to join IS. All those missing from Kerala who joined IS were connecteddirectly or indirectlywith Peace International School. At present, there are 11 teachers alone for Islamic Study subjects, who hail from Bihar, pointed out the officer. The police retrieved several strategic maps of Tehran from a school computer. They had been informed about the link between the school and a student, Merin Jacob, who the police suspect of fleeing to Syria. Many missing Malayalis travelled to Iran and crossed the Afghan border before joining IS.
Harpreet Bajwa By

CHANDIGARH: A day after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a security review meeting in Jaisalmer and said India will seal its entire 3,323-km border with Pakistan by December 2018, five battalions of Punjab Armed Police (PAP) were deployed along the border in Punjab. PAP is the second line of defense after the Border Security Force (BSF).

Twenty-five companies of PAP that form five battalions have been deployed in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts. The force is equipped with weapons, night vision devices, bullet-proof jackets and vehicles. Around 1,200 cadets of Punjab Police Training Academy have also been deployed in these areas. We have asked villagers to install CCTV cameras and to keep a tab on any suspicious movement, said a police officer.

Orders have been issued that there should be no movement from evening till dawn within 500 metres of the border except by BSF, police, defence and customs officials. Wild bushes have been cut to improve visibility, and the government is mulling cutting the 10- to 15-foot high sugarcane crop.

The state government has decided to acquire 400 acres of land (11 feet long path) along the international border, said a senior officer.

Director-general of Punjab Police (Law and Order) Hardeep Singh Dhillon held meetings with BSF, Army and Indian Air Force officers along the border. Punjab Police is buying two drones for Rs 10 lakh to keep a watch from the sky. It is also buying two Adityas, Indias first mine-protected vehicles developed by Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, for Rs 1 crore each, a dozen armoured vehicles costing Rs 36 lakh each and a dozen light bullet-proof vehicles for Rs 42 lakh each. Twenty-four tractors are being bullet-proofed to be used in fields and terrain where other vehicles cannot go. Seven-hundred bullet-proof jackets are also being bought for Rs 40,000 each.

Police and BSF have seized Pakistani SIM cards and mobiles from smugglers, intruders and terrorists.

Punjab Deputy CM and the states Home Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had requested Rajnath Singh in Jaisalmer to allow Punjab to raise the five PAP battalions. Badal said Punjab government has identified 75 places where check-points are needed. He stressed the need for technology to seal the border effectively. He also sought funds to modernise Punjab Police and said though the Centre gave Rs 18 crore for it, the state has spent Rs 100 crore on the modernisation drive after the Pathankot terror attack.

CHANDIGARH: A day after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a security review meeting in Jaisalmer and said India will seal its entire 3,323-km border with Pakistan by December 2018, five battalions of Punjab Armed Police (PAP) were deployed along the border in Punjab. PAP is the second line of defense after the Border Security Force (BSF). Twenty-five companies of PAP that form five battalions have been deployed in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts. The force is equipped with weapons, night vision devices, bullet-proof jackets and vehicles. Around 1,200 cadets of Punjab Police Training Academy have also been deployed in these areas. We have asked villagers to install CCTV cameras and to keep a tab on any suspicious movement, said a police officer. Orders have been issued that there should be no movement from evening till dawn within 500 metres of the border except by BSF, police, defence and customs officials. Wild bushes have been cut to improve visibility, and the government is mulling cutting the 10- to 15-foot high sugarcane crop. The state government has decided to acquire 400 acres of land (11 feet long path) along the international border, said a senior officer. Director-general of Punjab Police (Law and Order) Hardeep Singh Dhillon held meetings with BSF, Army and Indian Air Force officers along the border. Punjab Police is buying two drones for Rs 10 lakh to keep a watch from the sky. It is also buying two Adityas, Indias first mine-protected vehicles developed by Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, for Rs 1 crore each, a dozen armoured vehicles costing Rs 36 lakh each and a dozen light bullet-proof vehicles for Rs 42 lakh each. Twenty-four tractors are being bullet-proofed to be used in fields and terrain where other vehicles cannot go. Seven-hundred bullet-proof jackets are also being bought for Rs 40,000 each. Police and BSF have seized Pakistani SIM cards and mobiles from smugglers, intruders and terrorists. Punjab Deputy CM and the states Home Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had requested Rajnath Singh in Jaisalmer to allow Punjab to raise the five PAP battalions. Badal said Punjab government has identified 75 places where check-points are needed. He stressed the need for technology to seal the border effectively. He also sought funds to modernise Punjab Police and said though the Centre gave Rs 18 crore for it, the state has spent Rs 100 crore on the modernisation drive after the Pathankot terror attack.
Siddhanta Mishra By

NEW DELHI: Yet another shocker from UP Police! Cops in Noida violated the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, resulting in the incarceration of a 16-year-old juvenile from Nepal. They had omitted to mention his age in the FIR, and hence the minor has spent the last one year in Noida jail, meant for hardened criminals and rapists. He was 15 when he was arrested. Under law, a minor should be sent to a juvenile correction home.

The jail authorities and UP Police have ignored the several claims made by the juvenile that he is a minor and he should be sent to observation home rather than prison.

The UP police told The Sunday Standard that they were not aware of his juvenile status. Station House Officer Bijendra Singh of Sector 49 Police Station, under whose supervision the juvenile was arrested and sent to prison, said: At the time of arrest, there were no documents of his identity on him. Chargesheet has been filed by the police and the case is in the sessions court. The Nepali citizen and one more are under arrest and the other two fled.

Satya Prakash of NGO Childline, who is pursuing the case, however, refuted Singhs claims. He stated: As per the law, it is illegal to hold a juvenile in an adult prison. According to his birth certificate from Nepal, he is 16 years of age. This is gross injustice to the child. While hearing the case, the judge should have asked the police for a bone test done to verify the age if documents were not available immediately.

The juvenile, a resident of Surkhet district in Nepal as per his birth certificate, was apprehended in November last year after an FIR was registered. The juvenile, along with another man, was caught for smuggling liquor and ganja into Noida from Haryana. Four people were accused in the case; two fled the spot while the juvenile and one more remained in the car and were arrested.

Satya Prakash of NGO Childline said a fellow villager of the juvenile with promise of work lured him to Delhi. Later, he was put to work in a shop that sold alcohol illegally. After the case was filed, he was booked as an adult due to lack of proof of his age. The juvenile managed to get a word out to his family in Nepal through a fellow inmate, who happened to be a Nepali citizen. His farmer parentsDil Bahadur and Mansaracontacted the NGO and the embassy of Nepal in Delhi with the required documents. For the last six months, the juvenile is being tried as an adult.

NEW DELHI: Yet another shocker from UP Police! Cops in Noida violated the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, resulting in the incarceration of a 16-year-old juvenile from Nepal. They had omitted to mention his age in the FIR, and hence the minor has spent the last one year in Noida jail, meant for hardened criminals and rapists. He was 15 when he was arrested. Under law, a minor should be sent to a juvenile correction home. The jail authorities and UP Police have ignored the several claims made by the juvenile that he is a minor and he should be sent to observation home rather than prison. The UP police told The Sunday Standard that they were not aware of his juvenile status. Station House Officer Bijendra Singh of Sector 49 Police Station, under whose supervision the juvenile was arrested and sent to prison, said: At the time of arrest, there were no documents of his identity on him. Chargesheet has been filed by the police and the case is in the sessions court. The Nepali citizen and one more are under arrest and the other two fled. Satya Prakash of NGO Childline, who is pursuing the case, however, refuted Singhs claims. He stated: As per the law, it is illegal to hold a juvenile in an adult prison. According to his birth certificate from Nepal, he is 16 years of age. This is gross injustice to the child. While hearing the case, the judge should have asked the police for a bone test done to verify the age if documents were not available immediately. The juvenile, a resident of Surkhet district in Nepal as per his birth certificate, was apprehended in November last year after an FIR was registered. The juvenile, along with another man, was caught for smuggling liquor and ganja into Noida from Haryana. Four people were accused in the case; two fled the spot while the juvenile and one more remained in the car and were arrested. Satya Prakash of NGO Childline said a fellow villager of the juvenile with promise of work lured him to Delhi. Later, he was put to work in a shop that sold alcohol illegally. After the case was filed, he was booked as an adult due to lack of proof of his age. The juvenile managed to get a word out to his family in Nepal through a fellow inmate, who happened to be a Nepali citizen. His farmer parentsDil Bahadur and Mansaracontacted the NGO and the embassy of Nepal in Delhi with the required documents. For the last six months, the juvenile is being tried as an adult.
By ANI

LONDON: After Baloch Republican Party (BRP) founder Brahumdagh Bugtis asylum request to New Delhi, another Baloch nationalist leader of Free Balochistan Movement Hyrbyair Marri may seek asylum in India.

If he does not feel safe in the United Kingdom or if the U.K. plans to deport him back to Pakistan, Hyrbyair Marri may seek asylum in India, said Balochwarna News editor Faiz M Baluch.

According a report published on the BBC Urdu website last year, Hyrbyair Marri, who is the fifth son of nationalist leader Khair Bakhsh Marri who lives in London, had last year said the Baloch people are not in favour of seeking help from India to gain freedom, reported the Dawn under the heading Will never seek help from India: Hyrbyair Marri on October 10, 2015.

Marri said that he was not seeking assistance from India for his movement: I have never sought help from them, nor will I in the future. He also rejected reports that he travelled to India to start the Free Balochistan Movement.

Hyrbyair Marri  who has been living in self-exile in London since 2000  is alleged to have been leading the banned BLA.



In June last year, an anti-terrorism court in Quetta had indicted Marri and 32 others in the Ziarat Residency bombing case.



This development comes after Bugti last week announced that he would appeal for a political asylum in India.



Earlier, Bugti approached the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva for filing asylum paper.



He was reportedly asked by the Permanent Mission of India to approach the Indian High Commission in Bern, in Switzerland, for the same.



According to reports, the Ministry of Home Affairs received Bugtis application on September 22, which was being examined.

LONDON: After Baloch Republican Party (BRP) founder Brahumdagh Bugtis asylum request to New Delhi, another Baloch nationalist leader of Free Balochistan Movement Hyrbyair Marri may seek asylum in India. If he does not feel safe in the United Kingdom or if the U.K. plans to deport him back to Pakistan, Hyrbyair Marri may seek asylum in India, said Balochwarna News editor Faiz M Baluch. According a report published on the BBC Urdu website last year, Hyrbyair Marri, who is the fifth son of nationalist leader Khair Bakhsh Marri who lives in London, had last year said the Baloch people are not in favour of seeking help from India to gain freedom, reported the Dawn under the heading Will never seek help from India: Hyrbyair Marri on October 10, 2015. Marri said that he was not seeking assistance from India for his movement: I have never sought help from them, nor will I in the future. He also rejected reports that he travelled to India to start the Free Balochistan Movement. Hyrbyair Marri  who has been living in self-exile in London since 2000  is alleged to have been leading the banned BLA. In June last year, an anti-terrorism court in Quetta had indicted Marri and 32 others in the Ziarat Residency bombing case. This development comes after Bugti last week announced that he would appeal for a political asylum in India. Earlier, Bugti approached the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva for filing asylum paper. He was reportedly asked by the Permanent Mission of India to approach the Indian High Commission in Bern, in Switzerland, for the same. According to reports, the Ministry of Home Affairs received Bugtis application on September 22, which was being examined.
P K Balachandran By

Express News Service

COLOMBO: The Swiss government has said that the need to protect Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers with links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is decreasing with the improvement in the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.

Today we acknowledge that considerable progress has been made in the area of human rights, for example in the freedom of expression and assembly. Therefore more restrictive conditions now apply for recognizing the refugee status of journalists, human rights activists and opposition politicians. And the need to protect those with a link to the vanquished Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), is decreasing, the Swiss website swissinfo.ch quotes the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) as saying.

However, the Swiss authorities still see some gaps in the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and therefore, each application for political asylum will be examined separately to see whether or not there is a case for admission.

In response to concerns expressed by the Swiss and Tamil human rights lobbies that those who get back to Sri Lanka will be tortured and jailed, SEM said that no one who will be tortured will be sent back.

Individual circumstances will be taken into consideration when examining asylum requests, the SEM assured.

Although police violence is known to be a general problem (in Sri Lanka), no recent information is available on ill-treatment upon entry at the airport in Colombo, the department noted.

On October 4, the Swiss Minister of Justice, Simonetta Sommaruga, signed an agreement with the Sri Lankan government to govern the repatriation of Sri Lankans who do not fulfill the conditions for continued stay in Switzerland. The agreement will enable voluntary repatriation as well as re-integration in Sri Lankan society. It will help curb human trafficking in which many Sri Lankan Tamils are involved.

Sommaruga promised further tightening of regulations based on greater progress on human rights in Sri Lanka as per the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution of October 1, 2015.

During Sommarugas visit to Sri Lanka last week, the Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran pleaded with her not to send Tamils back as they will be tortured and jailed.

In a Sri Lankan Tamil population of about 50,000 in Switzerland, 3674 had been granted political asylum by May 2016. About 1613 asylum cases are under consideration.

COLOMBO: The Swiss government has said that the need to protect Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers with links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is decreasing with the improvement in the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. Today we acknowledge that considerable progress has been made in the area of human rights, for example in the freedom of expression and assembly. Therefore more restrictive conditions now apply for recognizing the refugee status of journalists, human rights activists and opposition politicians. And the need to protect those with a link to the vanquished Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), is decreasing, the Swiss website swissinfo.ch quotes the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) as saying. However, the Swiss authorities still see some gaps in the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and therefore, each application for political asylum will be examined separately to see whether or not there is a case for admission. In response to concerns expressed by the Swiss and Tamil human rights lobbies that those who get back to Sri Lanka will be tortured and jailed, SEM said that no one who will be tortured will be sent back. Individual circumstances will be taken into consideration when examining asylum requests, the SEM assured. Although police violence is known to be a general problem (in Sri Lanka), no recent information is available on ill-treatment upon entry at the airport in Colombo, the department noted. On October 4, the Swiss Minister of Justice, Simonetta Sommaruga, signed an agreement with the Sri Lankan government to govern the repatriation of Sri Lankans who do not fulfill the conditions for continued stay in Switzerland. The agreement will enable voluntary repatriation as well as re-integration in Sri Lankan society. It will help curb human trafficking in which many Sri Lankan Tamils are involved. Sommaruga promised further tightening of regulations based on greater progress on human rights in Sri Lanka as per the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution of October 1, 2015. During Sommarugas visit to Sri Lanka last week, the Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran pleaded with her not to send Tamils back as they will be tortured and jailed. In a Sri Lankan Tamil population of about 50,000 in Switzerland, 3674 had been granted political asylum by May 2016. About 1613 asylum cases are under consideration.
Express News Service

COLOMBO: The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the premier Tamil political group in Sri Lanka, fears that the proposed new law to replace the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) may well be old wine in a new bottle with most of the controversial provisions being retained.

It may even be worse than the PTA going by the influence of the Security Establishment on governments thinking on these matters, TNAs spokesman and MP, M.A.Sumanthiran, told Express on Sunday.

The Law Commission in its report to the government on replacing the PTA had apparently given suggestions which would have put the new law in line with international best practices. But I hear that the government consulted the Security Establishment and rejected the commissions suggestions.

When I raised this issue in parliament in October 4, neither the Justice Minister nor any other minister reacted, though the Justice Minister reacted to my remarks on the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, Sumanthiran said.

This despite my warning the government that Sri Lanka will not get the European Unions trade concessions under the General System of Preferences if it violates the UN Human Rights Commissions resolution of October 1, 2015 which had clearly said that PTA has to be replaced with a law in tune with international best practices, the MPsaid.

Sri Lanka had jointly sponsored the UNHRC resolution along with the US.

The Tamil MP, who is also a Supreme Court lawyer, fears that the new law will retain objectionable features of the PTA like preventive detention for indefinite periods and legal acceptance of confessions made to police officers in the first instance.

In the case of amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe rejected Sumanthirans demand to allow a detainee to get legal assistance when his first statement is recorded. Rajapakshe cited objections from the Security Establishment to any kind of legal assistance at that stage and said that their views could not be overlooked.

Unconvinced, Sumanthiran approached Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who got the introduction of the Cr.PC amendment bill postponed to allow consideration of the TNAs objections.

COLOMBO: The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the premier Tamil political group in Sri Lanka, fears that the proposed new law to replace the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) may well be old wine in a new bottle with most of the controversial provisions being retained. It may even be worse than the PTA going by the influence of the Security Establishment on governments thinking on these matters, TNAs spokesman and MP, M.A.Sumanthiran, told Express on Sunday. The Law Commission in its report to the government on replacing the PTA had apparently given suggestions which would have put the new law in line with international best practices. But I hear that the government consulted the Security Establishment and rejected the commissions suggestions. When I raised this issue in parliament in October 4, neither the Justice Minister nor any other minister reacted, though the Justice Minister reacted to my remarks on the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, Sumanthiran said. This despite my warning the government that Sri Lanka will not get the European Unions trade concessions under the General System of Preferences if it violates the UN Human Rights Commissions resolution of October 1, 2015 which had clearly said that PTA has to be replaced with a law in tune with international best practices, the MPsaid. Sri Lanka had jointly sponsored the UNHRC resolution along with the US. The Tamil MP, who is also a Supreme Court lawyer, fears that the new law will retain objectionable features of the PTA like preventive detention for indefinite periods and legal acceptance of confessions made to police officers in the first instance. In the case of amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe rejected Sumanthirans demand to allow a detainee to get legal assistance when his first statement is recorded. Rajapakshe cited objections from the Security Establishment to any kind of legal assistance at that stage and said that their views could not be overlooked. Unconvinced, Sumanthiran approached Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who got the introduction of the Cr.PC amendment bill postponed to allow consideration of the TNAs objections.
By AFP

TURKEY: A total of 18 people were killed in a car bomb in southeastern Turkey on Sunday, among them eight civilians, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said.

"The attack was perpetrated by a suicide bomber who detonated a van with five tons of explosives," Yildirim told a press conference in Istanbul. Earlier reports put the toll at nine dead.

Another 26 people -- 10 soldiers and 16 civilians -- were injured in the blast in Hakkari province which was blamed on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the official news agency Anadolu said.

TURKEY: A total of 18 people were killed in a car bomb in southeastern Turkey on Sunday, among them eight civilians, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said. "The attack was perpetrated by a suicide bomber who detonated a van with five tons of explosives," Yildirim told a press conference in Istanbul. Earlier reports put the toll at nine dead. Another 26 people -- 10 soldiers and 16 civilians -- were injured in the blast in Hakkari province which was blamed on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the official news agency Anadolu said.
By Associated Press

SANAA: Thousands of Yemenis marched in the capital Sanaa on Sunday to protest a Saudi-led coalition airstrike a day earlier that hit a funeral hall packed with hundreds of mourners, killing over 140 people.

The casualty toll, given by a U.N. official, also mentioned over 525 wounded in what was one of the deadliest single attacks of the country's civil war. The rebel-controlled Health Ministry gave a lower figure, saying that 115 bodies had been counted but that the number will likely rise because "charred remains" were still being identified. Of the 600 wounded it tallied, it said many cases were serious and at least 300 would need treatment abroad.

Some of the demonstrators who marched outside the U.N. building in southern Sanaa blamed the organization for not ending the conflict and urged an independent investigation. Some protesters brandished automatic weapons and rebel supporters in the crowd called on people from the region to rise up and attack Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi military announced early Sunday it would launch an investigation into "reports about the regrettable and painful bombing" in Sanaa, without acknowledging that its coalition battling rebels in Yemen is the only force with air power in the conflict.

It is the latest in a string of bombings by the coalition that have struck hospitals, markets and other places where civilians congregate.

"The place has been turned into a lake of blood," said one rescuer, Murad Tawfiq.

Yemeni officials said the dead and wounded included military and security officials from the ranks of the Shiite Houthis rebels and their allies, loyalists of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Houthi leader Abdul-Malek al-Houthi decried the attacks in a televised address, saying that they had been done with U.S. weapons and with a "green light" from Washington. Saleh also took to state TV to call on citizens to head to the Saudi border and attack soldiers there to avenge the deaths. The rebel alliance is battling the internationally-recognized government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Saturday's funeral was held for Sheikh Ali al-Rawishan, the father of Galal al-Rawishan, the interior minister in the rebel-led government. Among those killed was Maj. Gen. Abdul-Qader Hilal, head of the capital's local council, officials said, while Galal al-Rawishan was seriously wounded.

In the aftermath of the strike, hundreds of body parts were found strewn in and outside the hall. Rescuers collected them in sacks. The strike left the building little more than a shell, with most of its walls and roof gone. Cars parked outside were mangled by the blast.

Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the Houthi spokesman in Sanaa, angrily denounced the airstrike as the latest act of "genocide" by the Saudi-led coalition.

"The silence of the United Nations and the international community is the munition of the murderers," he said. "Those murderers will not escape divine justice."

In a statement early Sunday, Saudi Arabia said an investigation would be launched into the strike. Previous investigations by the Saudis have blamed Houthi or rebel forces for gathering near the sites of their attacks.

"The coalition supporting the legitimate government in Yemen has announced that it is aware of reports about the regrettable and painful bombing of the Great Hall in Sanaa today, which led to the killing and injuring of casualties, as reported," the statement read.

It added: "The coalition confirms that its troops have clear instructions not to target populated area and to avoid civilians."

Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, said in a statement that the relief community in the country is "shocked and outraged" by the airstrikes. He condemned the "horrific attack" and reminded all parties "that under international humanitarian law, they are obliged to protect civilians and civilian infrastructures." He called for an immediate investigation into the incident.

"The international community must exert pressure and influence on all parties to the conflict to ensure civilians are protected," McGoldrick said. "This violence against civilians in Yemen must stop immediately."

Initial reports from health officials in Sanaa indicate that over 140 people were killed and more than 525 injured, McGoldrick said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the bombing in a statement Sunday, saying that "any deliberate attack against civilians is utterly unacceptable ... Those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice."

The strike also prompted outrage in Hadi's government, with Foreign Minister Abdulmalik al-Mekhlafi taking to social media to condemn it as a "crime."

The incident has led the U.S. to initiate an immediate review of its already reduced support for the Saudi-led coalition, White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said. He warned that U.S. security cooperation with Saudi Arabia "is not a blank check."

The United States has backed the coalition with multi-billion dollar arms sales and provided logistical and intelligence support, though it reportedly began pulling some soldiers from that task in August over concerns about civilian casualties in Saudi-led airstrikes.

The Saudi-led coalition backs Hadi's government which, together with its own allies, is fighting the Houthis and Saleh loyalists in a civil war that broke out in 2014. It's a war largely overshadowed by the conflict against the Islamic State group elsewhere in the Middle East, though rights groups have mounted increased criticism of the Saudi-led airstrikes in recent months.

Saturday's attack comes after a Saudi-led coalition March 15 airstrike on a market in Yemen's northwestern city of Mastaba that killed at least 119 people. Saudi forces reportedly used U.S. munitions in that strike, which at the time was described as the second-deadliest of the Saudi campaign, after a July 2015 attack near a power plant in Mokha that killed at least 120 people.

A recent report by the U.N.'s human rights chief, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, estimated that 3,799 civilians have been killed since the Saudi-led air campaign began in March of last year. The U.N. and rights groups estimate the conflict has claimed the lives of at least 9,000 people and displaced nearly 3 million more in the Arab world's poorest country.

According to the report, coalition airstrikes were responsible for 60 percent of civilian deaths over a yearlong span starting in July last year. Just under one-quarter  475  civilian deaths were attributed to rebel forces like those loyal to Saleh, and another 113 to affiliates of al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

SANAA: Thousands of Yemenis marched in the capital Sanaa on Sunday to protest a Saudi-led coalition airstrike a day earlier that hit a funeral hall packed with hundreds of mourners, killing over 140 people. The casualty toll, given by a U.N. official, also mentioned over 525 wounded in what was one of the deadliest single attacks of the country's civil war. The rebel-controlled Health Ministry gave a lower figure, saying that 115 bodies had been counted but that the number will likely rise because "charred remains" were still being identified. Of the 600 wounded it tallied, it said many cases were serious and at least 300 would need treatment abroad. Some of the demonstrators who marched outside the U.N. building in southern Sanaa blamed the organization for not ending the conflict and urged an independent investigation. Some protesters brandished automatic weapons and rebel supporters in the crowd called on people from the region to rise up and attack Saudi Arabia. The Saudi military announced early Sunday it would launch an investigation into "reports about the regrettable and painful bombing" in Sanaa, without acknowledging that its coalition battling rebels in Yemen is the only force with air power in the conflict. It is the latest in a string of bombings by the coalition that have struck hospitals, markets and other places where civilians congregate. "The place has been turned into a lake of blood," said one rescuer, Murad Tawfiq. Yemeni officials said the dead and wounded included military and security officials from the ranks of the Shiite Houthis rebels and their allies, loyalists of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Houthi leader Abdul-Malek al-Houthi decried the attacks in a televised address, saying that they had been done with U.S. weapons and with a "green light" from Washington. Saleh also took to state TV to call on citizens to head to the Saudi border and attack soldiers there to avenge the deaths. The rebel alliance is battling the internationally-recognized government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Saturday's funeral was held for Sheikh Ali al-Rawishan, the father of Galal al-Rawishan, the interior minister in the rebel-led government. Among those killed was Maj. Gen. Abdul-Qader Hilal, head of the capital's local council, officials said, while Galal al-Rawishan was seriously wounded. In the aftermath of the strike, hundreds of body parts were found strewn in and outside the hall. Rescuers collected them in sacks. The strike left the building little more than a shell, with most of its walls and roof gone. Cars parked outside were mangled by the blast. Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the Houthi spokesman in Sanaa, angrily denounced the airstrike as the latest act of "genocide" by the Saudi-led coalition. "The silence of the United Nations and the international community is the munition of the murderers," he said. "Those murderers will not escape divine justice." In a statement early Sunday, Saudi Arabia said an investigation would be launched into the strike. Previous investigations by the Saudis have blamed Houthi or rebel forces for gathering near the sites of their attacks. "The coalition supporting the legitimate government in Yemen has announced that it is aware of reports about the regrettable and painful bombing of the Great Hall in Sanaa today, which led to the killing and injuring of casualties, as reported," the statement read. It added: "The coalition confirms that its troops have clear instructions not to target populated area and to avoid civilians." Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, said in a statement that the relief community in the country is "shocked and outraged" by the airstrikes. He condemned the "horrific attack" and reminded all parties "that under international humanitarian law, they are obliged to protect civilians and civilian infrastructures." He called for an immediate investigation into the incident. "The international community must exert pressure and influence on all parties to the conflict to ensure civilians are protected," McGoldrick said. "This violence against civilians in Yemen must stop immediately." Initial reports from health officials in Sanaa indicate that over 140 people were killed and more than 525 injured, McGoldrick said. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the bombing in a statement Sunday, saying that "any deliberate attack against civilians is utterly unacceptable ... Those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice." The strike also prompted outrage in Hadi's government, with Foreign Minister Abdulmalik al-Mekhlafi taking to social media to condemn it as a "crime." The incident has led the U.S. to initiate an immediate review of its already reduced support for the Saudi-led coalition, White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said. He warned that U.S. security cooperation with Saudi Arabia "is not a blank check." The United States has backed the coalition with multi-billion dollar arms sales and provided logistical and intelligence support, though it reportedly began pulling some soldiers from that task in August over concerns about civilian casualties in Saudi-led airstrikes. The Saudi-led coalition backs Hadi's government which, together with its own allies, is fighting the Houthis and Saleh loyalists in a civil war that broke out in 2014. It's a war largely overshadowed by the conflict against the Islamic State group elsewhere in the Middle East, though rights groups have mounted increased criticism of the Saudi-led airstrikes in recent months. Saturday's attack comes after a Saudi-led coalition March 15 airstrike on a market in Yemen's northwestern city of Mastaba that killed at least 119 people. Saudi forces reportedly used U.S. munitions in that strike, which at the time was described as the second-deadliest of the Saudi campaign, after a July 2015 attack near a power plant in Mokha that killed at least 120 people. A recent report by the U.N.'s human rights chief, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, estimated that 3,799 civilians have been killed since the Saudi-led air campaign began in March of last year. The U.N. and rights groups estimate the conflict has claimed the lives of at least 9,000 people and displaced nearly 3 million more in the Arab world's poorest country. According to the report, coalition airstrikes were responsible for 60 percent of civilian deaths over a yearlong span starting in July last year. Just under one-quarter  475  civilian deaths were attributed to rebel forces like those loyal to Saleh, and another 113 to affiliates of al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.
PTI By

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has claimed that the Uri terror attack could be the result of a "reaction" of the people to the situation in Kashmir as he criticised India for blaming Pakistan "without any evidence".

"The Uri attack can be the reaction of the atrocities in Kashmir, as the close relatives and near and dear ones of those killed and blinded over the last two months were hurt and outraged," Sharif told reporters yesterday in London where he had stopped on his way back from New York after attending the UN General Assembly session.

Sharif said that India hastily blamed Pakistan without any investigation. He said India behaved in an "irresponsible way" when it blamed Pakistan "without any evidence".

"How could India accuse Pakistan only hours after the Uri incident without holding any inquiry or investigation," Sharif was quoted as saying by Pakistani media reports.

"The whole world knows about the Indian atrocities" in Kashmir where around "108 people have so far been killed, over 150 blinded and thousands injured," he alleged.

Stressing on alleged "brutalities being perpetrated against innocent Kashmiris", the Pakistani Prime Minister said that before accusing Pakistan, India should have looked at its "atrocious role" in Kashmir.

He called on India to also conduct a probe into the "killings" of Kashmiris.

Sharif said the achievement of lasting peace in the region was impossible without the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

18 soldiers were killed when Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists attacked a highly-guarded army camp in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that those behind the despicable act will not go unpunished.

The incident triggered a diplomatic dust-up with both India and Pakistan hitting out at each other including at the UN General Assembly.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has claimed that the Uri terror attack could be the result of a "reaction" of the people to the situation in Kashmir as he criticised India for blaming Pakistan "without any evidence"."The Uri attack can be the reaction of the atrocities in Kashmir, as the close relatives and near and dear ones of those killed and blinded over the last two months were hurt and outraged," Sharif told reporters yesterday in London where he had stopped on his way back from New York after attending the UN General Assembly session.Sharif said that India hastily blamed Pakistan without any investigation. He said India behaved in an "irresponsible way" when it blamed Pakistan "without any evidence"."How could India accuse Pakistan only hours after the Uri incident without holding any inquiry or investigation," Sharif was quoted as saying by Pakistani media reports."The whole world knows about the Indian atrocities" in Kashmir where around "108 people have so far been killed, over 150 blinded and thousands injured," he alleged.Stressing on alleged "brutalities being perpetrated against innocent Kashmiris", the Pakistani Prime Minister said that before accusing Pakistan, India should have looked at its "atrocious role" in Kashmir.He called on India to also conduct a probe into the "killings" of Kashmiris.Sharif said the achievement of lasting peace in the region was impossible without the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute.18 soldiers were killed when Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists attacked a highly-guarded army camp in Uri in Kashmir on Sunday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that those behind the despicable act will not go unpunished.The incident triggered a diplomatic dust-up with both India and Pakistan hitting out at each other including at the UN General Assembly.
Queen Mathilde and King Philippe of Belgium pictured during the departure of the Belgian Royals for a state visit to Japan, Sunday 09 October 2016, at Melsbroek airport in Brussels. The visit is made for the purpose of developing "more friendship, good will and relations of cooperation in various fields". Also, that visit is made between October 9-15 in order to celebrate the 150th anniversary of beginning of bilateral relations between Belgium and Japan. Royal Couple of Belgium will visit Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka cities and attend an official dinner to be held at the Imperial Palace.
What's next for Water Brothers? Sid Abbruzzi has some ideas

The local surf and skate legend was evicted from his space on Memorial Boulevard earlier this year.
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New Delhi: India will not release any proof of the Armys surgical strikes, top sources have told CNN-News18, seeking to draw a line under the ongoing debate on whether it would or should reveal additional evidence about the commando operation that took place in the wee hours of September 30.



New Delhi believes releasing footage of the operation that destroyed terror launch pads inside Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) will only escalate the tension between the two-nuclear-armed neighbours and could lead to a war-like situation.



One top government source told CNN-News18 that New Delhi also feels releasing footage of the raid could undermine Indias successful diplomatic efforts to isolate Pakistan because the proof could be construed as evidence of wrong-doing on Indias part.



India has impeccable proof but giving proof would make us look as if we are answerable to Pakistan, the source said, requesting anonymity since he is not authorized to speak to media.



The call to cross the LoC shows the will of Indias political leadership and that the strike was planned for over 10 days since the Uri terror attack on September 18, the sources said. The Army plans received a Go from the top political authority of the country and were finally executed on September 29 midnight.



The sources said while India has intensively engaged with the global and south Asian diplomatic community after the Uri attacks, no other country knew of the surgical strikes before the operations were over.

New Delhi is now closely watching the Pak reaction, and will step up response if there is any provocation from Islamabad, the sourced said.



Indian Army special forces carried out surgical strikes along a 250-km arc across the Line of Control (LoC) into PoK in several sectors on the wee hours of September 30 destroying terror launchpads. The raid came in retaliation to the fidayeen attack by Pakistan-based terrorists in an Indian Army camp in Uri on September 18 that killed 18 Indian soldiers.



Pakistan has all the while maintained that what transpired on September 30 was routine cross-border firing and there were no surgical strikes. The issue became a political hot potato after a few Congress leaders, BSP and AAP demanded the Narendra Modi government furnish proofs to refute the Pakistani claim.




New Delhi: The Human Resource Ministry (HRD) committee probing alleged misappropriation of 'Sarva Siksha Abhiyan' funds by an NGO run by activist Teesta Setalvad is learnt to have raised questions over the manner in which the amount was allocated by the previous UPA government.



According to officials, the committee comprising Supreme Court lawyer Abhijit Bhattacharjee, Gujarat Central University Vice Chancellor S A Bari and a Ministry official Gaya Prasad was formed to look into allegations against the NGO Sabrang Trust, based on a complaint.



"The committee has raised questions over the manner in which the funds were provided to the NGO," a source said.



It is learnt that the NCERT, which was the appraiser of the particular project, had raised some objections yet the Ministry sanctioned Rs 3 crore for the project.



Sources said that while the committee has not found any misappropriation of the funds, it has blamed the ministry for the manner in which the amount was sanctioned in the previous dispensation.



When contacted, a senior ministry official confirmed that the committee had submitted a report but refused to comment on the findings.


Srinagar: Authorities on Sunday imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar to prevent protests in the wake of a 12-year old boy's death due to pellet injuries.



"Restrictions have been imposed in areas falling under the jurisdiction of seven police stations in Srinagar to maintain law and order," a police official said.



"Adequate deployment of security forces have been made at other places," he said here.



Authorities had clamped curfew in seven police station areas here on Saturday as Junaid Ahmad Bhat, 12, died in a local hospital after he was admitted with pellet injuries in Saidpora area on Friday.



Locals and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the boy had not been part of any protests and his death should be probed.



Life across the valley remained paralysed for the 93 consecutive day on Sunday due to the separatist called protest shutdown.



All educational institutions, public transport and main markets have remained closed in the valley.



At least 91 people have been killed and over 12,000 injured in the present violence that started here on July 9, a day after Hizbul commander, Burhan Wani, was killed in a gunfight with the security forces.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Sunday accused the Narendra Modi government of "doing drama" over the Army's surgical strikes, saying such attacks have been carried out across the Line of Control (LoC) in the past as well.Natakbazi on surgical strikes by BJP is to divert attention of people from failure to perform on the promises made by it during the run-up to 2014 polls, Mayawati said at a rally to observe the death anniversary of Kanshi Ram, her mentor and founder of the BSP.Mayawati said the surgical strikes carried out by India came in too late and questioned Prime Minister Modis assertion this was the first such task by India post-Independence.Reading out from a written text, the BSP chief said this was not the first time that such surgical operations have taken place across the LoC.The former State Chief Minister criticised Modi for choosing to celebrate Dusshera in Lucknow even while the ashes of jawans are still warm, adding that the Prime Minister's visit to the capital of poll-bound UP is for his own political gains.Alleging that minorities were facing bias under Modi government, BSP Chief Mayawati cautioned Muslims that voting for Samajwadi Party or Congress will only help BJP and sought their support "to stop" the saffron party.Muslims should not waste their vote as there is infighting in Samajwadi Party and Congress lacks a voter base in Uttar Pradesh, said Mayawati."Ever since the BJP government has come at the Centre, Muslims and other minorities are being subjected to bias.The minority status of Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia is being snatched away. Communal forces are becoming stronger and Muslims are being targeted in the name of love jihad, 'gau raksha' (cow protection) and religious conversion," the BSP supremo alleged, launching a scathing attack on the Modi government.Mayawati also made it clear that her party will go alone in the three states going to polls early next yearUttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, and cautioned the people against any canard that BSP might enter into an understanding for forming as government with the BJP in case it fell short of majority.She said there was no truth in these rumours which were being spread to divide Muslim votes and asserted that such a situation will not arise.Coming down heavily on the ruling Samajwadi Party, Mayawati said because of "rampant crime and anarchy" incidents such as Muzaffarnagar, Dadri, Mathura and Bulandshahr have occurred and promised to restore rule of law in Uttar Pradesh."There is a tussle for supremacy going on in the SP between Mulayam Singh Yadav's son Akhilesh Yadav and brother Shivpal Singh Yadav and its result will be that the Yadav vote will split as each will try to ensure the defeat of candidates owing allegiance to the other," Mayawati said."In such circumstances Muslims should not waste their ballot by voting for them or else it will help the BJP.... Similarly Congress does not have a vote base and voting for it will also benefit BJP," Mayawati said."To stop the BJP, the vote should not go to either the Samajwadi Party or the Congress as with every Assembly seat having 22 to 23 per cent dalit votes, BSP can sail through with the help of Muslim votes or else the same scenario can emerge that was seen in 2014," she stressed.Mayawati, who had faced criticism for spending hundreds of crores of rupees in setting up memorials of herself, Kanshi Ram and B R Ambedkar, said her party will not construct any more memorials.Mayawati claimed she will form the next government with absolute majority and that it would be the real tribute to the late Kanshi Ram.Also read: Two Killed, Several Others Injured at Mayawati Rally in Lucknow (With inputs from PTI)
Lucknow: Two women were on Sunday killed and at least 12 people injured in a stampede after a massive rally by BSP chief Mayawati at the Kanshi Ram Smarak Maidan.



"A few people coming down the stairs at one of the two gates lost balance and fell on each other. Shanti Devi (68) of Bijnore and another unidentified woman were killed in the incident due to suffocation," police said.



Rumours of a live power line having snapped triggered the stampede. The injured have been rushed to a local hospital, a BSP spokesperson said.



Party's state unit chief Ram Achal Rajbhar, however, said the women died due to humidity and heat.



The BSP workers had gathered in large numbers at the ground on party founder Kanshi Ram's 10th death anniversary.



In 2002, at least 12 party workers were killed and 22 injured at the Charbagh Railway station after a BSP rally in Lucknow.










So proud of my husband for taking a non political and absolutely correct stand . @ajaydevgn #ProudIndian  Kajol (@KajolAtUN) October 7, 2016

As the debate over whether or not should Pakistani actors be allowed to work in Bollywood continues, Kajol has backed the stand of her husband Ajay Devgn who came out heavily on Pakistan film stars.Kajol took to Twitter to support her husband and wrote, "So proud of my husband for taking a non-political and absolutely correct stand . @ajaydevgn #ProudIndian."Speaking to CNN News18 , the actor commented on the recent Uri attacks and the IMPPA's ban on Pakistani artists in Bollywood. He said, "Not (working with Pakistani artists) at the moment. I heard some people say that talks are the only way to continue. I want to see you getting into a fight with somebody after he gives you a tight slap on your face and you say 'let's have a talk right now."Ajay will next be seen in which is scheduled to release on October 28.
Mumbai: Actress Priyanka Chopra's Marathi film production Ventilator is set to premiere at the upcoming Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star.



Now in its 18th edition, the fest will celebrate Marathi cinema with the launch of its new segment Marathi Talkies. The programme will showcase Marathi films through the day at PVR, Lower Parel on October 25.



The film line-up has been curated by Marathi film critic Amol Parchure.



Ventilator is written and directed by Ferrari ki Sawaari fame director Rajesh Mapuskar.



Mapuskar said in a statement: "I am glad that MAMI has provided this new platform for Marathi cinema and they are hosting the world premiere of 'Ventilator'."



The film revolves around an ailing senior member of a family who is being put on the ventilator just days before the Ganpati festival leading to varied degrees of speculation and panic amongst the large clan he belongs to.



Parchure said: "We have seen some unconventional and splendid films take over the world cinema stage and win hearts across countries, breaking the language barrier. Film festivals like MAMI have also proven beneficial to the industry as they provide a platform for progressive Marathi cinema to showcase itself."



A staunch supporter of Marathi cinema, actor-producer Riteish Deshmukh said: "I am pleased that MAMI continues to support regional cinema and this year, have dedicated a day to Marathi films. It is because of the platform provided by international film festivals that regional cinema is growing faster than ever."



Jio MAMI with Star Festival Director Anupama Chopra said: "Marathi cinema has always been an integral part of MAMI.AWith Marathi Talkies, we are creating a special showcase for great Marathi cinema.AWe hope that this will help to serve both the Marathi film industry and viewers.a



Other films to be showcased this year at Marathi Talkies are Vakratunda Mahakaya, Bioscope and Rajwade and Sons.








UP: Poster put up in Muzaffarnagar saying that SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav advised Indian Govt on #SurgicalStrike pic.twitter.com/f4mld4gtc7  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 9, 2016

New Delhi: Samajwadi Party (SP) on Sunday put up a hoarding in its stronghold Muzaffarnagar claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered the surgical strikes across Line of Control (LoC) on the advice of its party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.Party spokespersons however refused to either back the surprising claim or distance themselves from the hoarding, saying they "don't want to politicise" the surgical strikes."Mulayam Singh Yadav has contributed immensely when it comes to any issue of national integrity and sovereignty and he has always given his inputs to the government. However, we maintain that there shouldn't be any politicisation of surgical strikes," SP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia told CNN-News18.When asked whether the party distances itself from the claim in the hoarding, Bhatia said: "Samajwadi Party has supported honourable Prime Minister Modi's decision to conduct surgical strikes. We don't want to indulge in any politics like Congress or some of the BJP leaders who have put up posters. We don't want to stoop that low."In poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, all the major parties have been accused of politicising the Army's action against terrorists in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).First, the Congress accused the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) of putting up posters to claim credit for the Army action. Party vice-president Rahul Gandhi then created a big controversy with his remark that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was doing "khoon ki dalali" or profiteering from the blood of martyrs. The last to join the bandwagon was Bahujan Samajwadi Party( BSP) chief who accused the Modi government of natakbazi ( doing drama) over the strikes.
San Francisco: Non-registered Americans can now enroll themselves in the voters' list through Facebook Messenger for the upcoming presidential election following the launch of an automated tool by a US-based organisation.



The non-profit public service organisation, Ad Council, launched its GoVoteBot programme aiming to pique interest among the youth, who are likely not to show up during November 8 polls.



The automated tool within Facebook's Messenger is designed to make it easy for prospective ballot casters to get registered as voters and know election related logistics during the polls.



The tool will not only simplify and personalise the task, but it will also provide some amusement along the way, digital media website, Mashable technology, reported.



"It has a bit of a cheeky personality. But it's completely nonpartisan. It has no opinion on who you vote for," said Dzu Bui, Thed Council's VP for campaign development.



The users have to type a simple introductory greeting to the bot, and it will respond with a drop-down menu of options, including a polling location finder and absentee options, in addition to registration options and links.



Voters can choose one of the options according to their needs and complete the process.



The integration is made possible by data pulled from Google Civic - the search giant's repository of electoral information - and the US Vote Foundation.



The Ad Council, which is committed to non-partisanship in all of its campaigns, has a decade-long history of encouraging civic engagement. But this project marks the first time that the organisation has ever experimented with automated bots.



"We set out to encourage millennials to vote, but wanted to find a fun and simple way to have a conversation (about) where they are," said Chloe Gottlieb, the executive creative director at R/GA ad agency, which has partnered with Ad Council for the campaign.



"For us, it made sense to create this on Facebook Messenger. We designed it to pull in thousands of data points from all 50 states and then streamed it into one interface [so that participants] could use [it] quickly and easily," Gottlieb said.



Facebook first launched its big bot push in April at its annual F8 developer conference, although the initial batch left a lot to be desired. By July, the number of bots on the platform had grown to 11,000, the report said.
Beleaguered Republican nominee Donald Trump has 90 minutes to save his faltering presidential campaign, US media said on Sunday ahead of his encounter with Hillary Clinton in a do or die debate, taking place soon after his obscene remarks about women surfaced.



The second edition of the three presidential debates to take place in St. Louis will cap one of the most extraordinary weekends in American political history, CNN commented and went on to say that Trump will have 90 minutes Sunday night to save his presidential campaign.



Republicans -- including vice presidential nominee Mike Pence -- are criticising Trump, 70, for his vulgar comments about advances he has made toward women in 2005 that came to light on Friday.



Ahead of the prime-time debate, American media gave an ever-growing list of senators and top Republican officials who want Trump replaced on the ticket. They included former Republican presidential candidate John McCain and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.



Trump insists he won't leave the race, and he and allies indicate he'll go on the attack against Clinton.



One thing that is on everyone's mind is what will Trump say on the tape.



Soon after the "Access Hollywood" tape became public on Friday, Trump released a statement that read, in part: "I apologise if anyone was offended."



Hours later, he released a video message: "Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologise," Trump said.



He made a brief appearance Saturday on Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower, and a couple of calls to newspapers vowing to stay in the race. But this will be his first live appearance and one that guarantees follow-up questions.



Although Trump has apologised, he has not yet addressed serious concerns raised by the hot mic video. Most notably, Trump's suggestion that he made aggressive advances toward women has raised grave new questions about whether he touched women without their consent, CNN reported.



"This is Trump's chance to convince Americans that he is sincere in his apology and that he can be trusted as commander in chief. If he can do that, as well as score points on his core issues of trade and security, he may be able to survive," the leading network commented.



Washington Post, which published a video on Friday showing Trump making crude remarks about sexual assault, said the beleaguered candidate was delivering conflicting messages: one of apology, insincere as it seemed to many viewers, and one of defiance. It was not clear that either message could rescue him after the expose.



"Trump's extraordinary campaign has been guided by his own instincts, and on Friday, his instinct was to hunker down and fight. Trump spent the next 24 hours in New York mostly ensconced in Trump Tower with only his most loyal advisers, steadfastly refusing to accept or recognize the full reality of what was happening outside," the paper said.
Lahore: Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) on Sunday strongly denied the media reports that Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen head Sayed Salahuddin have visited some army camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).



"Reports that Hafiz and anyone else visited any army camp is rubbish," a JuDspokesman told PTI.



He said 'propaganda machinesin India' are active to malign the JuD chief.



Earlier, some media reports had claimed that both Saeed and Salahuddin have visited army camps in Muzaffarabad in PoK.



The reports came on a day when Pakistan's army chief General Raheel Sharif also visited the Line of Control (LoC) for the first time since the surgical strike conducted by Indian troops.
Controversial posters supporting beheading of transgenders have been put up in Pakistan's financial capital Karachi's busiest commercial and shopping areas, prompting the police to sound an alert to ward off any trouble.



The posters highlighting the growing extremism and intolerance in the country have come up near and inside shopping malls, causing anxiety and fear among many transgenders who frequent the area and ask for alms.



A senior police officer said they have sounded an alert in the area to watch out those behind this campaign.



"We are keeping a close watch and any transgender can come and lodge a complaint with us as these posters endanger their lives," he said.



A security guard at a shopping mall said since the posters came up, there has been a significant decline in the number of transgenders in the area.



Another police official said the posters could be the work of some shop owners as they considered these transgenders as a nuisance for their business.



A shop owner supported the posters, saying transgenders were in-fact men disguising themselves as women.



"They touch women, hold their arms and beg for money, which should not be allowed at all," he said.
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Golden Bells healthy, tasty Korean cuisine

Lets Eat paid a visit to the restaurants new branch at Royal Palm Plaza, Saddle Road, Maraval and chatted with owner Minsoo Lim.

He is from South Korea and explained that his family had a restaurant in the East Asian nation.

So how did he end up in Trinidad? Lim explained that he had a Korean friend that lived in Trinidad for a long time working in Chaguaramas.

All the time (he would be) talk(ing) about Trinidad and Tobago, he recalled.

Lim first visited this country eight years ago and after spending just two weeks he decided to open a business here. He said that it was very easy to make the decision because he liked the country. He was particularly drawn because of the stability of the local currency in relation to the US currency, as well as the economy being very stable.

There is good business in restaurant in Trinidad. In Korea and States, economy too much up and down, he explained.

Golden Bell first opened their doors at Marli Street, Newtown, Port-of-Spain seven years ago and subsequently moved to its current location at Maraval Road three years later. Lim recalled that when the restaurant first opened people were not familiar with Korean food and some assumed it was Chinese. On one occasion a man came in and asked for chow mein chicken.

Golden Bell expanded this year and the branch at Royal Palm Plaza, Maraval, where we met with Lim, has been open for six months.

This branch has a bright, clean aesthetic and cozy, simple layout.

But just dont confuse it with a fast food restaurant.

So at this point you may be wondering what is the difference between Chinese and Korean food? Lim explained that the two are totally different - Korean food is more healthy, they do not use too much oil or frying, but instead they grill, steam and stir fry. And they also avoid using Mono sodium glutamate (MSG).

At Golden Bell the stir fried chicken with Korean sauce - a traditional pepper paste sauce called go chu jang - is among the most popular. He said that Korean food is a little spicy.

Korean people like a lot of pepper.

Like Trinidad (people), he added.

Other favourites are the bibimbap (mixed rice), which features Jasmine rice and four types of vegetables, topped off with either beef or a fried egg. It is then mixed together with the go chu jang sauce.

For our meal we had it with beef.

The bibimbap was mildly spicy and you were not getting too much of everything in one spoon.

There was a sweetness from the beef. It was also a nice mix of sweet and savoury.

We also had gimbap, which is a seaweed roll done Korean style which looks like a sushi roll. Inside everything is cooked and you can have it with beef, shrimp or chicken.

It was flavourful and a great textural mix of soft and crunchy.

We also had beef ribs, which was bursting with flavour, paired with a delectable Jasmine rice and fresh salad or galbi.

During the interview there was a steady stream of customers, some dining in and a few carrying out.

Lim said that people like the food especially because it is healthy and, he reiterated, totally different from Chinese food. He also pointed out that currently many Trinidadians are looking for more healthy food options, which Golden Bell offers.

The restaurant has an impressive 4/5 rating on website tripdadvisor.

One reviewer wrote: Every thing was delicious, and there were times during the meal that I actually forgot I was in Trinidad. The beef for the barbeque was melt-in-themouth tender. Another reviewer wrote: Always fresh and great flavours. Service is pleasant and efficient.

Great for a lunch time meal sit in or take away. A third reviewer wrote: I always write about vegetarian foods and you must try this place, at least once! A quaint place in the middle of Maraval Road, Golden Bell offers really tasty Korean food at a decent price. I always order the bibimbap and never regret it. The sauce is a bit spicy but worth it. Lim said they are planning to expand further, most likely in the Diego Martin area and possibly with slightly different menus. For more information you can contact Golden Bell Kore- .
Aisha, still smiling

One can only be amazed at the positive attitude of Aisha Harrigin, 31, her reliance on God, and her determination to be as happy as possible in her life.

She survived ten years in an abusive relationship, continues to undergo the mental, emotional, physical and financial rigours of having breast cancer and the corresponding treatments, a mastectomy, a heart condition, and, as of last week, being diagnosed with skin cancer. Harrigins fight with cancer began when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 28, while she was four months pregnant.

At the time, the stay-at-home mother had two girls from a previous, unhealthy relationship. She said when she became pregnant with her third child, she was extremely excited as she was convinced it was a boy.

Harrigin said she had always had a lump in her breast but two months into her pregnancy, she began to feel a lancing pain in her right breast.

She went to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where a needle aspiration was performed, but no fluid was extracted. The doctor told her it was just a lump and not cancer, but decided to perform a lumpectomy to test the lump.

Two months after removing the lump, the results came in. They told her the cancer was contained in the lump, not outside, but still advised her to abort the baby and to have a mastectomy or else the cancer would spread and she could die. Confused and upset, she went to her obstetrician, who was located in the same hospital, and advised Harrigin to go to the National Radiotherapy Centre in St James.

I was so angry, knowing that I never got a break in life. From an abusive relationship for years, finally I was so happy about being pregnant to get this news, and then, on hearing I had cancer, the babys father and I separated, she told Sunday Newsday.

When she went to the centre, a team of doctors said it was the first time they heard about cancer being contained within a lump and not affecting the cells outside. Again, they told her she would have to abort the baby, which is a common practice because she could not be treated without it affecting the baby negatively.

However, she told them she would wait until the baby was born before accepting any treatment.

One of the doctors jump up and said if I want to die, so be it. I told him that none of them were God, and I got up and walked out of that room, she said.

One doctor followed her, told her they would induce labour eight months into her pregnancy, allow her two months with the baby, at which time she would return for treatment. She did this, the lump was tested, and eventually a doctor made plans for her treatment.

At first I got a lot of run around and delays because they couldnt find my doctor... it was really frustrating.

Then my family was saying things like, You know when they cut you its then the cancer spreads even more, putting fear in your mind, making you feel to not go back, she said.

However, by that time, the lump had recurred, so she started chemotherapy.

At the time Harrigin was unemployed and on welfare and her situation remains unchanged. She said her eldest daughter attends a special school, the other childrens schools always need something, she tries to contribute to the home with respect to food, and still has to buy clothes, books toiletries, medication, treatments, and other incidentals for herself and her children.

Thankfully, she lives with her mother, but she and her three children - ages 13, 11 and two - all sleep in one room.

Harrigin recalled that initially, her friends and family felt pity for her and would often help, but as time went on, they became less willing to assist her. In addition, after chemotherapy, she would be sick for days but, as soon as she could, she would get up and do things for herself, and so people believed she was not really sick.

Sadly, the physical and financial hardships were not the only things she had to endure. She said as she began to look sickly and lose her hair, she would often cry when she looked at herself in the mirror. Also, she said if she and her siblings argued, they would say hurtful things like, she should hurry up and die.

It was all very stressful for her.

However she continues to be thankful for her mother who, she said continues to support her in any way she can. Harrigin told Sunday Newsday she underwent chemotherapy for two years. Initially, the mass shrunk but at one point when her mother became ill, she stopped going for treatment for four months to help with her mothers business.

She was jolted into returning to her treatment when another patient she had developed a relationship with died. He friend was only diagnosed one year previously with stage one cancer.

When she returned, doctors found that the mass had not grown but the drug no longer worked and they had to experiment again to find another that did. She explained that about eight sessions of chemotherapy is done with a particular drug and, if that does not work, the doctors try with another. One drug made her extremely sick and they had to try again. The doctors finally found one that worked, but it soon became unavailable and so she had to start the process over again. And so it continued for two years.

She stressed that the mass was attached to her muscle and so doctors could not operate until it was small enough, however, she said there is only so much chemotherapy the body could endure. The whole process is an effort to reduce the lump to be able to do the surgery safely. But then more cancer nodules began to pop up in more areas of my breast and they had to do the surgery although it was risky.

So they did my mastectomy on the 9th of August, she said.

Doctors told her 95 percent of the breast was cancerous and that she was at deaths door.

Because of the amount of cancer in the breast, doctors decided she had to do radiation and chemotherapy after the surgery, which included a skin graft. However, because the wound from the surgery has not yet healed, they cannot perform radiation because the cut could become infected. So, a few weeks ago, Harrigin went through one session of chemotherapy, had a reaction to the drug, and had to be hospitalised for a week and a half with fluid in her lungs and chest wall.

Because you have to wait so long for everything in the public health system, it was only after the surgery that they got the results of my CT scan and realised my lymph nodes were swollen. If they had gotten the results before they would have known I had abnormal lymph nodes and an increased chance of infection, she said. If that was not enough, during the X-ray to view her lungs, doctors realised her heart was enlarged, which she could have been born with it or it could have been a side effect of the chemotherapy.

Then, during one of her post-op check-ups at the centre, she noticed bumps on her skin. Doctors immediately performed a biopsy and on Monday she was informed that she had skin cancer.

Soon she has to start back chemotherapy, on a drug that would not affect her heart and that would hopefully be compatible with her system, as radiation has to wait until she is fully healed.

To tell you the truth, when I found out about the skin cancer, I smiled because with all of this, you draw closer to God. In life, there are things humans cannot control.

I told God that I have no control of this, and I left it in His hands. When I smiled the doctors watched me like I was crazy but I have no choice.

What else could I do? Cry? No matter how I feel I have to see about the problem so its best that I smile and live life happy every day. Thats the most I can do other than pray and try to fight it. If its aggressive to me, let me be aggressive towards it and see how it works, she said.

Harrigin added that during her mastectomy her lymph nodes were also removed. Until she is fully healed she is not allowed to lift anything heavier than 15 pounds, and she can not go near direct heat.

This means that she cannot lift her son, iron her childrens clothes, or cook for them. She said sometimes her daughters complain, or say they want to go live by their father because she cannot do anything for them, and it desperately hurts her feelings. But, she said she knows they are just upset and do not really mean it.

She said she did not know what she would have done without the help of the members of Embracing All Real Survivors (EARS) Cancer Support Foundation, whose members understand what she has been going through and provide financial and emotional support.

Despite all this, Harrigin has never regretted waiting for her son to be born before taking treatment even though those months could have made a difference. She said she always tells her children no one is guaranteed tomorrow, that she may not necessarily die of cancer, that she could leave the house and be killed by a stray bullet, so they should not live with regret.

Cancer makes a person watch life and live life differently. It makes me want to be more happy everyday.

I dont want to die with a setup face. I want to die smiling, she said.
RC Bishops: Abolish death penalty

In a release yesterday from the Catholic Commission for Social Justice it was reported that the statement was issued on September 21, 2016 and tomorrow (October 10) the world will observe World Day Against The Death Penalty.

The Bishops in their statement reaffirmed that the prophetic voice of the Church must be heard especially in times of moral and social crisis. Thus, while we are appalled by the rise of violent crime in our region and express solidarity with the victims of crime and all those affected by crime, we urge politicians and citizens in our region to abolish capital punishment, that is, the death penalty and embrace a restorative justice approach to crime and violence. The key watchwords of a restorative justice approach lie at the heart of Christian living, for example, repentance, conversion, reparation, restoration, restitution, reconciliation, rehabilitation, forgiveness, empowerment, and re-integration with a sense of responsibility  as opposed to revenge, retribution, and vengeance. The Bishops pointed out that all recent international studies and research show that capital punishment does not act as a deterrent, nor does it foster respect for life in our communities.

Hence, regardless of the potential unpopularity of our gospel message that informs our position, we reaffirm the position: capital punishment symbolizes a form of despair for the effective reform of persons. Let us pray and work for the renewal of hearts and minds and find more sustainable and effective solutions aimed at reducing crime and violence in our region and in the world. We urge our governments to strengthen the capacity of public institutions, including criminal justice systems, to address crime and violence; to address the risk factors that contribute to crime, for example: poverty, urban decay, social inequality and exclusion, family disintegration, poor parenting, lack of quality education and employment, poor housing, the proliferation of guns, drugs and gangs in the region, and to employ related preventive measures.

We stand ready and urge our faithful and all people of good will to work together to this end, the Bishops stated.

The Bishops also noted that Pope Francis has repeatedly called for the abolition of the death penalty and has described it as an offence to the inviolability of life and to the dignity of the human person. He is urging nations to realise that Gods infinite mercy extends to everyone  including those who have committed heinous crimes, the Bishops added.

Pope Francis was again quoted as saying For the rule of law, the death penalty represents a failure, as it obliges the state to kill in the name of justice. There is discussion in some quarters about the method of killing, as if it were possible to find ways of getting it right. But there is no humane way of killing another person. The commandment thou shall not kill has absolute value and pertains to the innocent as well as the guilty.
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(Newser)  Science has given tired women everywhere their I-told-you-so-moment, and it comes courtesy of the hapless Arctic ground squirrel: The males of the species appear to spend most of their non-hibernating months soaking up the rays above ground while the females are kept busy either nursing their young below ground or foraging for food when above. "It is not clear what [the males] are doing while above ground," the Northern Arizona University biologists write in an article headlined "The secret life of ground squirrels" in the journal Royal Society Open Science. "The additional time spent above ground may be simply to loaf/bask in the sun."

The researchers set out to learn how these squirrels spend their energy from one season to the next given they hibernate from late fall through early spring, reports Quartz, which notes the squirrels "have a hefty to-do list: They have to eat to replenish energy stores lost to hibernation, store energy for next season, and mate." They equipped 30 females and 18 males with tiny photosensitive collars and accelerometers to track their movement and their time above and below ground. The team found that the females are about as active as males when below ground, largely nursing their young, but considerably more active than the males when above groundforaging for enough food to cover their considerable energy expenditure, not to mention enough for their offspring. (This woman was hit with a $2 million bill after boyfriend started a fire burning fur off a squirrel.)
(Newser)  More than three dozen Republican lawmakers either rescinded their endorsements of Donald Trump or urged their supporters not to vote for him Saturday, reports Deadspin, which is keeping a running tally. Notable names include Sen. Kelly Ayotte, Sen. Mike Lee, Gov. John Kasich, and Sen. John McCain. "Donald Trump's behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy," the Arizona Republic quotes McCain as saying in a statement. On Friday, a 2005 video was released showing Trump endorsing sexual assault and otherwise speaking lewdly about women.

"Nothing that has happened in the last 48 hours is surprising to me," Politico quotes a statement from Kasich, who says he won't be voting for Trump. And Carly Fiorina is calling for Trump to drop out of the race, the New York Times reports. Trump's running mate, Mike Pence, decried Trump's statements, saying he was unable to defend them. And Trump's replacement on Celebrity Apprentice, Arnold Schwarzenegger, says he won't be voting for a Republican presidential candidate for the first time in 33 years, according to the Hill. But Trump is far from losing all support. Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and others are still sticking by their endorsements for the time being. And Rep. Joe Heck of Nevada was booed and heckled at an event when he took back his Trump endorsement. Trump has said he will remain in the race. (Read more Donald Trump stories.)
(Newser)  Donald Trump has a message for those calling on him to drop out of the race after his videotape scandal: There is "zero chance I'll quit," he tells the Wall Street Journal. He expresses a similar sentiment to the Washington Post: Id never withdraw. Ive never withdrawn in my life, he says. "No, Im not quitting this race. I have tremendous support. His remarks come as more than three dozen GOP lawmakers, including John McCain, ditched Trump, and as running mate Mike Pence delivered what the New York Times calls "an unheard-of rebuke" by refusing to appear on Trump's behalf at a GOP gathering in Wisconsin. Pence pronounced himself "offended" by the lewd remarks Trump made about women in a newly surfaced "hot mic" tape from 2005.

Trump's wife, Melania, is both criticizing him and standing by him. "The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me," she says in a statement, per USA Today. "This does not represent the man that I know. He has the heart and mind of a leader. I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world." Support Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame, meanwhile, says people "need to lighten up," reports NBC News, which rounds up similar sentiments from others. I never, ever give up, Trump tells the Journal. "The support Im getting is unbelievable, because Hillary Clinton is a horribly flawed candidate. (Read more Donald Trump 2016 stories.)
(Newser)  Police have taken into custody the man suspected of fatally shooting two officers and wounding another in Palm Springs, Calif. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department made the announcement early Sunday, reports the AP Police have not released the suspect's identity. Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes says two officers trying to resolve a family dispute were killed Saturday when a man suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire. A third officer was wounded and remains hospitalized. The chief identified the slain officers as Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny. Twenty-seven-year-old Zerebny had been with the department for about 18 months and returned from maternity leave after giving birth to a daughter. Vega was a 35-year veteran who planned to retire in December. (Read more police stories.)
(Newser)  Pope Francis named 17 new cardinals Sunday13 of them under age 80 and thus eligible to vote in a conclave to elect his successor. Three of the new cardinals are Americans, including leading US moderate Chicago Archbishop Blaise Cupich and Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin. As is Francis' tradition, the new cardinals hail from some of the most peripheral corners of the globe, with Africa, Asia, South America, and Oceania getting far more representation than Europe, which the AP reports has long dominated the College of Cardinals. New to the club of the "princes" of the church are bishops from Bangui, Central African Republic; Port Louis, Mauritius; and Tlalnepantla, Mexico. Only one Italian elector was named: Francis' ambassador to "the beloved and martyred Syria," Cardinal-elect Mario Zenari. Francis said the 17 would be elevated at a consistory on Nov. 19, on the eve of the close to his Holy Year of Mercy.

Of the new cardinals, Cupich is very much a pastor in Francis' likeness, emphasizing the merciful and welcoming side of the churchsomewhat to the dismay of US conservative Catholics. His nomination as Chicago archbishop was Francis' first major US appointment and he was a papal appointee at the pope's big family synod last year. The nomination for Tobin could indicate Francis' appreciation of Tobin's support for American nuns. Tobin had been the No. 2 in the Vatican office for religious orders when in 2012, then-Pope Benedict XVI sent him back to the US to the Indianapolis archdiocese, which had fewer than 230,000 parishioners. The transfer was seen as being tied to Tobin's efforts to resolve tensions between the Vatican and US nuns who were subject of two Holy See investigations. After Francis was elected, both investigations were concluded with Vatican praise for the sisters. The third American, Kevin Farrell, is the outgoing bishop of Dallas. (Read more Pope Francis stories.)
(Newser)  Saturday Night Live wasted no time in lobbing grenades on Donald Trump's current dumpster fire, with Alec Baldwin making his second appearance as the Donald to "apple-gize," reports the Washington Post. Quartz notes that statement was aimed at "all the people who were offended by my statementsbut more importantly to the people who were turned on by them. I hear its really 50-50." The sketch descends into one long hot-mic moment for Baldwin's Trump, before cutting away to Kate McKinnon's gleeful Hillary Clinton, whose "debate prep" apparently involves dancing to Kool & the Gang and swilling champagne. As Aaron Blake puts it in the Post, "It's pretty much the sketch you knew was coming." (Click to watch a SNL sketch about Trump's campaign manager.)
(Newser)  British conservationists say two critically endangered eastern black rhinos bred in captivity in England have given birth in the wild in Africaa development likely to please Prince William. The Aspinall Foundation said Sunday that the two females bred at its wildlife park in southern England and released near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania have given birth after mating there with a male who had also been bred in captivity, reports the AP. The two females named Grumeti and Zawadi had been given a sendoff by Prince William when they departed for Tanzania in 2012. William has been active in recent years in trying to protect wildlife in various African countries.

The foundation says each female has given birth in recent weeks to healthy babies. Conservationists say only about 700 of this sub-species of rhinos remain in the wild. Many have been killed by poachers seeking rhino horn. Foundation chairman Damian Aspinall says the births represent a "vital" breakthrough in the bid to protect this endangered species. "Reintroduction combined with robust protection is an incredibly effective conservation tool, helping to protect habitat as well as repopulate a nearly extinct species," he said. "This is what modern conservation should be about and is the culmination of decades of effort and commitment by the Aspinall Foundation." (A Texan won a lottery to kill a black rhino for $350,000.)
(Newser)  US officials are threatening to cut off aid after a deadly airstrike linked to Saudi Arabia killed 140 and wounded more than 500 at a funeral in Yemen's capital city of Sanaa. The airstrike on Saturday targeted the funeral of a Yemeni official's father, Reuters reports. According to Al-Jazeera, many high-level figures from Yemen's Houthi-led government were in attendancesome are among the dead and more are still missing. Blame for the airstrike has fallen on the Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen since March 2015. Saudi forces categorically denied participation in the attack, saying their troops had instructions not to target populated areas.

Nonetheless, the Saudis agreed to cooperate on an investigation after US officials expressed their displeasure. "US security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check," said US National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price. "In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led coalition." The tiny Gulf nation of Yemen has been in the throes of a civil war for well over a year. (Read more Saudi Arabia stories.)
The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574.
New Delhi:

Like every year, President Pranab Mukherjee performed Pooja and rituals before Durga Puja at his ancestral home and birthplace- Mirati Village in Birbhum, West Bengal.

Fondly called Poltuda, President Mukherjee arrived at his native village on October 7 to perform rites for this years Durga Puja and will stay till the Durga idols immersion on 11 October. After which he will head back to Delhi.

Political compulsions makes it tough for President to visit Mirati but every year he makes sure that he visits for Durga Puja.

Pranab Mukherjees tenure as President will get over in 2017.

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United Nations:

India has strongly rejected Pakistans references on Kashmir at the UN, saying such remarks are a self-serving attempt by Islamabad to bring extraneous issues to the world body for its territorial aggrandizement.



India, exercising the Right of Reply after Pakistans envoy to the UN Maleeha Lodhi raised the Kashmir issue at the UN, said on Saturday Pakistan had made references to the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir in a self-serving attempt to bring extraneous issues before the Committee.



Such efforts were a flagrant misuse of the body for Pakistans own territorial aggrandizement, India said, recalling that the Special Committee on Decolonisation was concerned only with Non-Self-Governing Territories. It asserted that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.

Read: Home Minister Rajnath Singh talks tough, says India wont count bullets if attacked



Pakistan responded by saying that the United Nations recognised that all people under alien subjugation had a right to self-determination.Exercising its Right of Reply, Pakistan said India continued to perpetrate misinformation on the Kashmir issue year after year.



Raking up the Kashmir issue again at the UN, Pakistan had said the non-implementation of UN Security Council resolutions for a plebiscite in Kashmir is the most persistent failure of the UN.



The decolonisation agenda of the United Nations will remain incomplete without resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, among the oldest items on the UNs agenda, Lodhi had said yesterday at a debate of the Special Political and Decolonisation Committee in the General Assembly.

Read: No possible thaw in Indo-Pak relations under its current Prime Minister Modi rule, says Sartaj Aziz

She said for over six decades UN Security Council resolutions promising a plebiscite under UN auspices to allow the Kashmiri people to determine their destiny, have not been implemented.



This is the most persistent failure of the United Nations, she said, adding generation after generation of Kashmiris has only seen broken promises and brutal oppression.



She asserted that Jammu and Kashmir never was and can never be an integral part of India but is a disputed territory, the final status of which has yet to be determined in accordance with several resolutions of the UN Security Council.



Lodhi said the UN has a moral responsibility towards people suffering under colonial domination and foreign occupation.



There is an urgent need to bring the work on this unfinished agenda to closure and eliminate the last remaining vestiges of colonialism. We hope that we will be able to achieve this shared goal sooner rather than later, she said.

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New Delhi:

Praising India's efficiency in talent, filmmaker Farah Khan stands in favour of the demand for ban on Pakistani Artistes in Bollywood. The 51-year-old director, however, said Hindi films, featuring Pakistani actors, which are set for release should not be banned.



When asked for her views on Pakistani artistes working in Bollywood, Farah said "There are a handful and I suppose not even a handful, we are only talking about two and when they did those movies it wasn't illegal to have Pakistani actors working in the movie.



"I don't think it's fair to ban those movies. I think from now on we are saying that we should not work with them. We have enough talent in our country and we should work with the people from our own country. What do we have not amongst the talent that they have. We are far better. I would definitely prefer to take somebody from my country in my movies."



Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan and other Pakistani actors were targetted by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which had issued an ultimatum to them to leave India within 48 hours or be forced out.



The party also threatened to stall the releases of "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", featuring Fawad in a cameo, and "Raees", Mahira's Bollywood debut.



Subsequently, Indian Motion Picture Producers Association passed a motion to ban artistes from across the border from working in the industry till Indo-Pak relations are normalised.



Meanwhile, Farah also said it's sad that there are not many commercially successful woman directors in Bollywood.



"It is so sad if I am the only commercially successfully female director. It is really a sad state of affairs if I am still the only commercially successful woman director. We need a lot more commercially viable women, not only in direction," she said.



The filmmaker called herself a "living" example of feminism and said she is taking a battle head-on with male directors. "I think I am fighting the battle head on with male directors. I am not anti-men I believe truly that we are meant to be equal. We should be judged equally and I think I am a living example of feminism," she said.



The director also remarked that the Hindi film industry works around two things-- chivalry and chauvinism. "Bollywood doesn't care about your gender, orientation or origin. There are two aspects around which the dynamics of Bollywood revolve- chivalry and chauvinism," she said.

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New Delhi:

The Indian Territorial Army is celebrating its 67th anniversary on October 9. The 67th Territorial Army Day was celebrated with a splendid parade that unfolded at the Army Parade Ground at Delhi Cantonment, Delhi on Sunday morning. The parade witnessed a magnificent display of marching by columns of the TA battalions who were smartly attired in their regimental uniform.



It is noteworthy that the Indian Territorial Army was formally raised by the first Indian Governor General Shri C Rajagopalachari on 09 Oct 1949.



So let us look into what role does the Indian Territorial Army play in the defence set up of the country.



Indian Territorial Army



Role: The Indian Territorial Army famously called the Citizens Army is part of the Indian Army and its present role is to relieve the Regular Army from static duties and assist civil administration in dealing with natural calamities and maintenance of essential services in situations where life of the communities is affected or the security of the country is threatened.



Strength and Structure: Presently the Territorial Army has strength of approximately 40000 persons comprising of Departmental TA units such as Railway, IOC and ONGC units and the non-Departmental TA units of Infantry Battalion (TA) and Ecological Battalion (TA) affiliated to various Infantry regiments.



History: The Territorial Army was raised by the Britishers in 1920 through Indian Territorial Act of 1920 and it was organised into two wings namely - The Auxiliary Force for Europeans & Anglo-Indians and The Indian Territorial Force for Indian Volunteers.



After Independence Territorial Army Act was passed in 1948 and the Territorial Army was formally raised by the first Indian Governor General Shri C Rajagopalachari on 09 Oct 1949.



The Territorial Army initially had various types of units such as Armed Regt (TA), Infantry Battalion (TA), Air Defence (TA), Med Regt (TA), Engineers Field Park Coy (TA), Signal Regiment (TA), EME Workshop (TA), Coast Battery (TA), ASC GT Company (TA), ASC Composite Platoon (TA), AMC Field Ambulance (TA), by 1972 these units had either been disbanded or converted to Regular Army except Infantry Bn (TA).



Read more about Indian 'Special Forces': Garud (Air), MARCOS (Navy), Para Commandos (Army), Rashtriya Rifles (BSF & Army)



Operational Engagements: The TA units were actively involved in 1962, 1965 and 1971 operations.



The Terriers have also taken part in OP-PAWAN in Sri Lanka, OP RAKSHAK in Punjab & J&K, OP RHINO and OP BAJRANG in North East in the most active manner.



Departmental units have come to the aid of the civil authorities during Industrial unrest and natural calamities, most famous being earthquake in Latoor (Maharastra), Uttarkashi in Garhwal Himalaya and the Super Cyclone in Orissa.



The Ecological units have played a pivotal role in stalling environmental degradation by planting close to 2.5 crore trees over 20,000 hectare of land in Mussoori Hills & Pithoragarh (UP), Bikaner & Jaisalmer (Rajasthan), Assam and ravines of Chambal in Madhya Pradesh.



Notable Personalities who have donned the TA Uniform



The Indian Territorial Army is celebrating its 67th anniversary on October 9. The Indian Territorial Army was formally raised by the first Indian Governor General Shri C Rajagopalachari on 09 Oct 1949. Many industrialists, politicians and eminent personalities from Bollywood and the sporting arena have been conferred with the honorary rank in the TA.

Former Indian Test captain Kapil Dev was commissioned as an honorary Lieutenant Colonel in Territorial Army on September 24, 2008.

On November 1, 2011, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Abhinav Bindra were awarded the rank of Lt Colonel in the Territorial Army for their respective contributions in the field of cricket and shooting.

BCCI President Anurag Thakur, Member of Parliament from Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat was commissioned to the rank of a lieutenant on July 29, 2016 in the Territorial Army.

Malayalam cine star Mohanlal was conferred the honorary rank of a Lieutenant Colonel on July 9, 2009. He was the first and only actor to have been conferred with this title.

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New Delhi:

The details of two deadly surgical strikes by India and Pakistan in 2011 have surfaced, in which at least 13 soldiers were killed, six of them decapitated.A



According to documents procured by an Indian English news daily, Pakistan attacked Indian post and killed six soldier in July, 2011. Indian Army replied with one of the deadliest cross-border raids carried out by it in the recent memory.



Official documents, video and photographic evidence accessed by the daily, chillingly capture the two cross-border raids and the brutality of the tit-for-tat cycle which seems far deadlier than what is publicly acknowledged.



Then chief of Kupwara-based 28 Division Major General (retired) SK Chakravorty, who planned and executed the operation, confirmed the raid to the newspaper, but refused to divulge any further details, the report said.A

The then DGMO and the then Army Chief(VK Singh) was informed about it: SK Chakravorty(then GOC Kupwara) on 2011 Operation Ginger a ANI (@ANI_news) October 9, 2016

Ye ek avenge operation tha, humne border ke paar jaa kar strike kiya tha: SK Chakravorty(then GOC Kupwara) on 2011 Operation Ginger pic.twitter.com/Wr1yMVsDvn a ANI (@ANI_news) October 9, 2016

Yes such an operation did happen across the LoC on August 30,2011, all details which have come out are true:SK Chakravorty(then GoC Kupwara) pic.twitter.com/dTJ6vRBZNZ a ANI (@ANI_news) October 9, 2016

Pak attack on Rajput and Kumaon regiments

According to the report, the Pakistani raiders struck a remote army post in Gugaldhar ridge in Kupwara, on the afternoon of July 30, 2011, surprising the six soldiers from the Rajput and Kumaon regiments.A



The 19 Rajput Battalion was to be replaced by 20 Kumaon around the time the Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) struck. The attacking team took back the heads of Havildar Jaipal Singh Adhikari and Lance Naik Devender Singh of 20 Kumaon. A soldier of the 19 Rajput, who reported the attack, died later in a hospital,a the report said.A

Indiaas revengeA

The documented proof with the newspaper reportedly shows that, in revenge, the Indian Army planned Operation Ginger, which would turn out to be one of the deadliest cross-border raids carried out by the Indian Army in recent memory.



Recce of Pak vulnerabilitiesA



Indian Army carried out at least seven physical and air surveillance reconnaissance missions to identify potential targets. The recce identified three vulnerable Pakistani army posts Police Chowki, a Pakistani army post near Jor, Hifazat and Lashdat lodging point, the newspaper reported.A



According to a secret report of the raid, accessed by the newspaper, different teams for ambush, demolition, surgical strike and surveillance were constituted following the Gugaldhar beheadings.



Operation Ginger: The attack



According to the detailed report filed by the English daily, the Indian Army launched Operation Ginger on Tuesday, August 30. On the D-Day, 25 soldiers, mainly Para Commandos, launched an attack through ambush at four Pakistani soldiers at around 7am.A



aOne of the Pakistani soldiers fell into a stream that ran below. Indian soldiers rushed to chop off the heads of the other three dead soldiers. They also took away their rank insignias, weapons and other personal items. The commandos then planted pressure IEDas beneath one of the bodies, primed to explode when anyone attempted to lift the body,a the report said.A



The news report goes on to give detailed account of the surgical strike which ended at around 2:30pm, when Indian troops returned back to the Indian territory, having killed eight Pakistani troops. The report said that the Indian Army carried back heads of three Pakistani soldiers along with three AK47 rifles.A



According to the report, the heads were later burnt to remove all traces of evidence of the incident.A

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Beijing:

A 500-year-old section of Chinas Great Wall called Moon Gate in northern Shanxi province has collapsed after being hit by strong winds, officials said.

The section had been the remains of a former watchtower on the Guangwu Great Wall section built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1662). It was called the Moon Gate by Great Wall aficionados due to its round shape, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Officials said the section collapsed due to high winds, refuting rumours that the historic attraction broke down because local villagers had been using their bricks for construction.

A few weeks ago, concerns were raised after a 780-metre stretch of wild, or original, wall in Liaoning dating back to the 14th century was found to have been covered in white cement, state-run China Radio International reported.

Many people complained the restoration work was ugly and made the attraction look like a city sidewalk.

The stretch in the wall that collapsed in Shanxi was also built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and served as a key historical and cultural reference when Beijing repaired its own sections.

In 2006, the Great Wall Protection Ordinance was passed by the State Council, Chinas Cabinet, to improve protection and strengthen regulation. Wu Guoqiang, secretary-general of the Great Wall Society of China said that after 10 years, however, many parts of the wall remain structurally compromised, especially in areas not visited by tourists.

A lack of detailed procedures and renovation standards were at the root of lacklustre repairs, but these criteria take time to be established, and a special foundation for Great Wall protection should be established, he said.

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New Delhi:

Pakistan's high commissioner to India Abdul Basit on Saturday said that Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is staying firmly put in the driving seat of the nation. Denying reports about the growing rift between Pak army and elected government, Basit assured that Sharif-led government has no problems and is instead seeking to resolve its problems with India through fresh beginnings.



However, speaking to an Indian newspaper on Saturday, Basit said that Pak army will always have a role in international affairs of the country. When it comes to issues concerning India, Afghanistan and other issues which are security related... obviously our army or military has an important role to play. It has important inputs to give. So to expect that it will not have any role in Pakistan's India policy or Afghanistan policy and other such issues is incorrect, he said.



Nuclear attack not an option:



On being asked about Pakistans consistent nuclear threats to India, the Pak envoy said that Pakistan wants to retain the credibility of its deterrence, To even think along those lines is suicidal Pakistan is not into an interminable arms race with India. Nuclear deterrence, or deterrence as a whole, is an indispensable part of our calculus but that is meant to promote peace, not to wage war.



Kashmirs internal conflict is enough:



Reacting over the allegations of consistent infiltrations attempts by Pak troops, Basit said that struggle in J&K does not need any infiltration. As far as we know, there is no infiltration taking place from our side. Pakistan stands by its commitment given in 2004 (to India on terrorism) On infiltration, the Indian narrative was different before July 8 but after that, the discourse changed and all of a sudden claims were made about cross-LoC infiltration.



Diplomatic isolation: SAARC was collective loss; Pak is ahead of India in global connectivity



In the interview, Basit assured that Pakistan is not worried about international isolation, as reported in Pak media, because it is well poised to become global economic hub in a few years.



On cancelled meeting of SAARC, the diplomat said that the incidence was collective loss. I know it is India's stated policy to isolate Pakistan but I can assure you it is not going to happen. Pakistan is contributing to international peace. It remains one of the largest contributors to the UN peace keeping missions. We know our place in the world, he said.

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New Delhi:

BARC, NDRF officers have cleared the Delhi IGI airport as there is no anticipation of any harm because there is no radioactive leakage is within permissible limits.A

"An inadvertently radiological emergency message was conveyed. A nuclear A medicine Molibdenum 99 was being brought from Air France flight on behalf of BL Kapoor Hospital, Pusa Road, the DM of New Delhi told media on Sunday afternoon.

The quantity of radiation emitted from the nuclear medicine is below 1 mill rongen (measurement of radiation). There is no beta radiation in the surrounding areas and there is no leakage, he said.A

"Hence it cannot be termed as an emergency. A final call has thus been taken and the Radiological Emergency has been called off at 01.55 pm," DM said.A

Earlier, a suspected radioactive leak was reported from a medical shipment at cargo terminal of Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, following which authorities cordoned off the area.

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) rushed its team to the spot.



aA call was received from the airport around 10.45 AM regarding suspected radioactive leak from medical equipment,a said Atul Garg, Chief Fire Officer.



He said the equipment has come from Air France plane and was kept at the cargo terminal.



The entire area has been cordoned off and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also been informed about the incident, Garg said.

Updates:A

UPDATE: Flight operations at the Delhi airport are normal. a ANI (@ANI_news) October 9, 2016

BARC,NDRF officers cleared there is no anticipation of any harm as there is no radioactive leakage as leakage is within permissible limits a ANI (@ANI_news) October 9, 2016

FLASH: No radioactive leakage (at Delhi airport) as the leakage is within permissible limits. a ANI (@ANI_news) October 9, 2016

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NEW DELHI:

The details of two deadly surgical strikes by India and Pakistan in 2011 have surfaced, in which at least 13 soldiers were killed, six of them decapitated. According to documents procured by an Indian English news daily, Pakistan attacked Indian post and killed six soldier in July, 2011. Indian Army replied with one of the deadliest cross-border raids carried out by it in the recent memory.

1. India conducted deadliest surgical strikes across LoC in 2011, says report

According to the report, the Pakistani raiders struck a remote army post in Gugaldhar ridge in Kupwara, on the afternoon of July 30, 2011, surprising the six soldiers from the Rajput and Kumaon regiments.

2. Suspected radioactive leak at Delhi cargo terminal, NDMA at spot

A suspected radioactive leak on Sunday occurred from a medical shipment at cargo terminal of Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, following which authorities have cordoned off the area.

3. No conflict between Sharif Govt and army, says Basit

Pakistan's high commissioner to India Abdul Basit on Saturday said that Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is staying firmly put in the driving seat of the nation. Denying reports about the growing rift between Pak army and elected government, Basit assured that Sharif-led government has no problems and is instead seeking to resolve its problems with India through fresh beginnings.

4. Hillary Clinton stands good chance of winning if she scores in two swing states, say expert

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has a very good chance of winning against Republican rival Donald Trump if she is able to win Florida and one of other three biggest swing states of North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania, an election expert has said.

5. BSP supremo Mayawati holds massive rally on Kanshi Ram death anniversary

The Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati is conducting a massive rally in Lucknow on the tenth death anniversary of its founder Kanshi Ram on Sunday.







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Goa:

A man has been arrested from Bengaluru in connection with the murder of perfume specialist Monica Ghurde, whose naked body was found in her rented flat near, said Goa Police on Sunday.

Rajkumar Singh, a native of Punjab, was nabbed late last night with help from the police of Karnataka capital and was being brought to Goa, a top official said. "A team of Goa Police arrested one Rajkumar Singh in Bengaluru in connection with the Monica Ghurde murder case," Deputy Inspector General of Police Vimal Gupta told PTI.

Police declined to provide further details. A senior police official said they were tracking the movement of the accused during his journey through Maharashtra and Karnataka on the basis of his ATM transactions. After the murder, Singh took away Ghurde's ATM card and mobile phone.

Police sources said the accused had withdrawn money at several locations in Maharashtra, including Miraj (Sangli district) and Nashik, before travelling to Karnataka. The 39-year-old's naked body was found at her rented flat in Sangolda village near Calangute beach in Goa on October 6. She had shifted to the flat in July this year after separating from her husband.

A post-mortem on Saturday revealed that she died of strangulation, but it was not clear if she was raped. A few hours before her death, Ghurde had spoken to her Mumbai-based brother Anand. "Anand had called her around 7.30 pm on October 5. She told him she would be moving out after some time.

This is the last known communication she had with anyone," Superintendent of Police (North) Umesh Gaonkar reporters earlier on Sunday. Gaonkar said the CCTV footage of the building where she stayed was being scanned for clues. Investigation has revealed that on October 5 afternoon a renowned businessman had seen Ghurde at a coffee shop in Porvorim, located 5 km from her house.

Gaonkar said the coffee shop, owned by a well-known chain, does not have CCTV cameras. Ghurde had done her photography course from Mumbai's JJ Institute of Applied Arts. She moved to Chennai in 2009 to pursue her interest in perfumes, and shifted to Goa in 2011. She had set up a perfume-making company, Mo Lab.

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Malegaon:

Former corporator of Malegaon Municipal corporation (MMC) Shakil Ahmed, who was missing since Saturday, was found dead on Sunday morning in a "suspicious" state, said police.

"Ahmed, who went out of his residence last evening did not return home. His body was found in a suspicious state under the new Girna bridge", Deputy Superintendent of Police Gajanan Rajmane told PTI.

Claiming that the 50-year-old ex-corporator was murdered allegedly by his political rivals, his kin refused to take the body after post-mortem demanding arrest of the accused, the Dy SP said.

Prima facie, Ahmed was beaten on his chest, but the exact cause of his death will be revealed only after the post mortem report. A case of accidental death was registered at Killa police station and a probe was underway, police said. Ahmed was a corporator in MMC between 2001-2006.
Riyadh:

The Saudi-led coalition fighting rebels in Yemen said on Sunday that it was ready to investigate an air strike on a funeral ceremony in Sanaa which led to the death of more than 140 people together with the United States.

The Iran-backed Huthi rebels have blamed the Arab coalition for yesterday's attack, one of the deadliest since it launched a military campaign against the Shiite insurgents in March last year.

But after initially denying any responsibility, the coalition said it was ready to launch a probe into the "regrettable and painful" strike, which a UN official said also wounded more than 525 people.

"The coalition will immediately investigate this case along with Joint Incidents Assessment Team in Yemen and experts from the United States who participated in previous investigations," it said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency. "The coalition is also willing to provide the investigation team with any data and information related to its military operations today, at the incident's location and the surrounding areas," it said. "The result of the investigation should be announced as soon as it's completed."

The UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, said aid workers were "shocked and outraged" by the attacks that hit a community hall in the Yemeni capital where mourners had gathered. Following the report, the United States said it would review its support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

"We are deeply disturbed by reports of today's air strike on a funeral hall in Yemen, which, if confirmed, would continue the troubling series of attacks striking Yemeni civilians," White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

"In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led coalition and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with US principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemen's tragic conflict."

Price stressed that "US security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check", and called on all sides to implement an "immediate" ceasefire. In August, the US military announced it had slashed its number of intelligence advisers supporting the Saudi-led coalition following concerns over civilian casualties.

In its statement, the coalition expressed its "deepest condolences and support to the families of the victims of hostilities since the coup takeover of power in Yemen during 2014". "The coalition confirms that its troops have clear instructions not to target populated areas and to avoid civilians," said the Saudi-led alliance.

The coalition - which also comprises Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Qatar, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates - has faced repeated criticism from rights groups over civilian casualties in its campaign in Yemen.

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DANBURY  The combination of hard work and fortitude that has helped generations of Americans achieve their dreams is not working for hundreds of thousands of families in Connecticut.

The reason: The rising cost of living is outrunning wages in western Connecticut and across the state at such a pace that 27 percent of working families now live paycheck to paycheck, unable to afford basic necessities, according to a study released Sunday by the United Way.

Combined with the 11 percent of Connecticut households the federal government defines as living in poverty, the new figures show 38 percent of families across the state cannot make ends meet.

There are people in our communities who think this isnt a problem for us, said Kimberly Morgan, CEO of the United Way of Western Connecticut, which covers Greater Danbury and Stamford. But when we are looking at families with incomes between $40,000 and $70,000, their household survival budget is so tight that if a problem comes into their life  and we all have that on a regular basis  they are in serious trouble.

The numbers of working families who cant afford basic necessities such as child care, health care and food is higher than the state average in some western Connecticut cities.

For example, 40 percent of Bridgeport families live above the federal poverty limit of $24,000 for a family of four, but below the $70,000 survival budget computed in the United Way study. As a result, those families cannot pay all their bills on time or save for emergencies.

More Information Struggling families by town The percentage of families living above the federal poverty line, but below the "survival" budget: Sherman, 13 percent Danbury, 31 percent New Milford, 22 percent New Fairfield, 17 percent Brookfield, 20 percent Newtown, 17 percent Bethel, 25 percent Redding, 14 percent Ridgefield, 13 percent See More Collapse

In Danbury, 31 percent of working families live paycheck to paycheck.

Other western Connecticut cities are at or under the state average. Norwalk is even with the state average, with 27 percent of working families unable to afford basics. In Greenwich, 20 percent of working families are living paycheck to paycheck, according to the study.

We have to remember that these are the people we depend on every day to take care of our family members, who have really crucial roles in our society, said Caroline LaFleur, United Ways local community impact coordinator.

The profiles of the 360,000 families statewide who cant make ends meet vary, but their stories are often similar  of working hard at several jobs, getting less sleep and feeling more stress, United Way experts said. Yet these are the people who care for children, nurse the elderly and counsel the troubled.

Meanwhile, 49 percent of all jobs in Connecticut pay wages of $20 or less an hour, the report says, while the cost of living has jumped in the last decade. According to the report:

Housing costs have increased 15 percent

Groceries cost 20 percent more

Child care costs are up 24 percent

Health-care costs have increased 57 percent

People dont realize, its like a cancer that grows, said Lauren Ziegler, 50, of Danbury, a single mom raising a teenager with special needs who says she was living the American dream before her divorce and the onset of the Great Recession. If you lose your job or you have a medical issue, it is a life-changing event, and you cant keep your head above water.

The United Way study, which follows a similar study two years ago, is titled ALICE, an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

The studys purpose is not only to put a face on the growing class of paycheck-to-paycheck families, but to identify ways to help hard-working people get back on track.

The federal poverty level means nothing, because nobody can live on that, Morgan said. This study redefines the economic terms of what we consider poor.

Struggling families

Although western Connecticut might be catching up to the idea that more people are struggling than the traditional definition of poverty suggests, the local United Way has been at work in the last year reaching out to needy working families to understand their dilemma.

United Way has interviewed more than 500 people in greater Danbury, Stamford and New Milford about their biggest concerns.

The response from scores of salespeople, janitors, nursing assistants, customer service representatives and teaching assistants is that they are often short of money to pay for basics, such as child care, health care, housing and food, even in cases where both parents are working.

Getting into an apartment can cost what a down payment on a home used to be, said LaFleur, calculating that first and last months rent plus a security deposit on a typical Danbury apartment costs $4,500. Many of the people we talk to are paying up to 50 percent of their income on housing, which is way beyond what a financial adviser would suggest.

Although families might have health insurance, they often avoid using it because deductibles and co-payments have grown so expensive, LaFleur said.

And half of paycheck-to-paycheck families contacted by the United Way report not having enough money to keep food in the

refrigerator.

I look at that 3-pound package of ground turkey and I say, How am I going to stretch this?  said Ziegler, who lives with her 16-year-old daughter, Pearl, in a two-bedroom apartment one block from Danbury Hospital. I say, One night, this is going to be tacos, one night its going to be meatloaf and one night its going to be burgers  and you make sure you eat every crumb of leftovers.

Ziegler, who has worked as a medical aide in the anesthesiology department at Danbury Hospital and as an ambulance EMT, is looking for a higher-paying job after five years working for a floral arrangement wholesaler. Her situation is complicated because she is bound by a contract with Danbury schools to provide daily transportation for her daughter to a therapeutic school 40 miles away in Orange.

You might get your rent paid one month, but then you are behind on your electric, so you rob Peter to pay Paul, Ziegler said. You literally feel like the life is being choked out of you.

Morgan and her colleagues at the United Way say they are not going to let that happen. The first step, they say, is to document that families are struggling everywhere, so that government, businesses and nonprofits can respond with new programs.

Families are not just struggling in inner cities, Morgan said. The ALICE population is at least 20 percent in 67 percent of our towns across Connecticut.

The report shows the number of struggling working families living above the poverty line outside of Danbury to be 22 percent in New Milford, 17 percent in New Fairfield, 20 percent in Brookfield, 17 percent in Newtown, 25 percent in Bethel, 14 percent in Redding and 13 percent in Ridgefield.

Recent programs the United Way launched in response include mobile, farmers market-style food centers conducted after work hours, so working families can pick up groceries.

United Way officials say it is unclear whether the numbers of struggling working families will increase, although the report identifies trends that pose challenges, including the projection that low-wage jobs are expected to grow faster than high-wage jobs in Connecticut.

Some of these people are working 60 and 80 hours a week, LaFleur said. They are working incredibly hard.
In a land before time (2005 to be exact) the words "New York Comic Con" did not exist. Fast forward to the future (now!) and New York Comic Con is not only a thing, it is the premiere convention dedicated to comic books, anime, video games, toys, movies and television. People come to the event to collect, nerd-out over sneak peeks, listen to awesome creator panelists and more than anything else, play dress up.

I went to the Jacob Javitz Center to check out this year's offering. In an office space overlooking the vast floor of the convention (kind of like a mad scientist's volcano lair, only with more water bottles and beige walls) I spoke with Lance Fensterman, creator of NYCC and senior global VP of ReedPOP, the company that runs the show.

While he did rub his hands together and cackle madly gazing over the insanity he created, never once did he threaten to wipe humanity from the face of the Earth.

What's New York Comic Con's origin story?

In 2006, we were in one single hall downstairs in the Javitz Center. The idea basically came from the question: why doesnt New York City have a big con? The prevailing answer was, Because it is really expensive! But in 2006, we gave it a try. It was a tiny show, tiny hall and big crowd. It did not go well. [Laughs] It was 10 pounds of show in a 5-pound bag. The fire marshal shut it down, people who bought tickets didnt get in, people who didnt buy tickets got in, it was a mess. But there was something there.

We apologized, made good with the fans and figured out how to do it better. Now in 2016, weve grown so big that we cant fit in all in the Javitz Center, and are using other venues in the city.

Related: Check Out Mind-Blowing Cosplay at New York Comic Con (Slideshow)

Was this your first big idea?

In a way. Reed Exhibitions was in the business trade show space, and dabbled a bit on consumer trade shows but never in a big way. This was the first consumer show. ReedPOP is the offshoot. We realized quickly that ReedPOP needed its own brand, its own culture, its own identity. We went on to do the New York Anime Festival, acquired a small video game show in Seattle called Penny Arcade Expo, we struck a deal with Lucasfilm to run their Star Wars Celebration and now were in 10 countries around the world with about 30 events.

How do you maintain consistency across all of those events in all of those countries?

Its the question that is constantly on my mind. How do you get bigger but maintain the thing that makes it special? I think we do it primarily one way, which is to stay close to the people who matter most, which are the fans. Find out what they want, try to anticipate what they might want before they even think of it. If we stay core to that, we wont stray too far from the DNA that made us who we are.

Did fandom lead you to doing this?

Im a comic book fan, video game guy, huge LEGO collector. But whats interesting though is that you go to these shows and you realize you dont know what a fan is until you start to meet these people. Like I have a lot of LEGO sets, but there are people who have thousands of unopened boxes. Theyre like, You open them and build them?! They look down on me. [Laughs] Those guys are fans. Im an amateur.

What does being a big LEGO fan mean exactly?

It means that when I was moving once and the last thing I was moving was my LEGOs, because theyre my most precious possessions. So Im in the elevator and Ive got one of multiple loads of LEGOs and this person goes, Oh, your son must be so happy. And Im like, Yeah, my son  who doesnt exist  Im not weird, Im just a grown man with thousands of LEGOs in this elevator alone!

I had a personal bounty of $500 cash to my team for whoever could get LEGO to come to the show. And we got them four or five years ago. And now I get to get their exclusive toy with the logo of my show on the box, and thats like little kid Lance going, Alright, good job adult Lance!

There are a ton of businesses out there on that floor. Do you give them tips and best practices?

Whats funny is that the smaller guys know what theyre doing. They know how to get customers, bring the right stuff -- they know what theyre doing! The bigger guys are the ones who need a little bit of assistance. Theyre not used to hand-to-hand combat with fans! We definitely lend our expertise to non-endemic brands that are here so that they can connect in an authentic way that will be meaningful.

The best way is when you can solve a problem for someone. Like, I think it was Progressive last year, they had professional line standers. Meaning, they had people who would wait in line for you while you walked around enjoying the show. And the fans were like, Progressive, thats awesome! You provided more fun time for me. Thats a great example of a non-endemic activation that fans loved.

How far in advance do you plan this?

Im looking at my phone and have e-mails about 2017 right now! We are constantly researching and make use of surveys, taking in comments to see what people want and how to make it better. My team, in part, is paid on how much people enjoyed themselves. I found that helps keep us focused.

Related: Hulking Great Investments: 12 Comic Books That Are Now Worth A Fortune

Any regrettable moments over the years?

Um, yeah, OK. Once we did a sponsorship with a toilet paper brand. I thought it was clever, but it wasnt. It was bad, looked like a total sellout. It wasnt, I thought it was funny! And there was another campaign, Im not going to name the brand, that had a clever play on words that was really kind of crass. And it was just stupid. And it was on a lot of our screens in our panel rooms. And our artists and creators would see it on the screen before they spoke and would be like, What the f*ck is that? [Laughs]

We realized we should never have taken their money, or happily taken their money and then help them do what they were trying to do in a much cooler way. So yes, there have been regrettable moments!

When you talk about Comic Con, the first thing a lot of people think of is the cosplay. Im not sure that people realize those are just fans who built these elaborate and expensive costumes just for fun.

Its true! And it is kind of an indicator for us if one of our cons around the world is a success. The elaborate costumes and sheer number of them is amazing, and we see it wherever we go. Its not I like this, its I want to become this. Thats a passionate fan base!

Are there any countries where the culture alters what Comic Con is?

No, it is generally very similar. Ive been all around the world and there is a strain of personality that goes across all cultures and just loves this stuff. Politics sometimes brings in slight differences. Like in Australia, they have very strict age rules on video games, so there will be bigger walls and different configurations to make sure kids wont be exposed to any of the more mature games.

What is the next step for NYCC?

We want to move into not just curating great stuff, but become more a part of the creation. Were looking to make this a citywide event, which isnt easy. Hey, you have a great idea for a podcast? Go do it at Barcade in Brooklyn. We want to facilitate and help people who are passionate about this stuff.

What do you think when you look out over that floor?

Well, its hard not to see the flaws. These people love this, and it is our job to allow them to enjoy it as much as possible. So for example, this morning, the lines to get in were too long. That took time away from people doing what they love and thats not OK. But we fix that stuff and keep improving.

An important thing to me is that we help small businesses here. There are a lot of people that are going to make a lot of money here this weekend and thats important. And whats funny is we have an interesting dynamic with these sellers. Theyre not entirely Incentivized to tell us how well they are doing. If they say, Im killing it! then they assume wed be like, Were not charging you enough! So theyre a little cagey. Yeah, its going OK. But trust me, if they werent doing well out there, wed hear it!

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Breaking Into the Video Game Industry

What does seeing NYCC grow mean to you?

We build fun for a living. Theres nothing serious here. I watch the debates, there is some depressing shit going on out there. So I love the fact that people can come here and forget all that, dress up, spend some money and just have fun. I mean, theres a guy in a fucking 10-foot Hulk costume out there! It's wonderful.

Who would you most like to be dressed as down there?

I think Ill cosplay as a real business man. I'll wear a suit, shave, carry around, I dont know, spread sheets or a binder or some shit? And Id spew things about IBIDA or whatever.

Related:

Meet the Evil Genius Behind New York Comic Con

Check Out Mind-Blowing Cosplay from New York Comic Con (Slideshow)

Tune in Tonight for the 6th Annual Streamy Awards



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The Direct Fusion Drive (DFD) concept provides game-changing propulsion and power capabilities that would revolutionize interplanetary travel. DFD is based on the Princeton Field-Reversed Configuration (PFRC) fusion reactor under development at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. The mission context we are proposing is delivery of a Pluto orbiter with a lander. The key objective of the proposal is to determine the feasibility of the proposed Pluto spacecraft using improved engine models. DFD provides high thrust to allow for reasonable transit times to Pluto while delivering substantial mass to orbit: 1000 kg delivered in 4 to 6 years. Since DFD provides power as well as propulsion in one integrated device, it will also provide as much as 2 MW of power to the payloads upon arrival. This enables high-bandwidth communication, powering of the lander from orbit, and radically expanded options for instrument design. The data acquired by New Horizons recent Pluto flyby is just a tiny fraction of the scientific data that could be generated from an orbiter and lander. We have evaluated the Pluto mission concept using the Lambert algorithm for maneuvers with rough estimates of the engine thrust and power. The acceleration times are sufficiently short for the Lambert approximation, i.e. impulsive burns, to have some validity. We have used fusion scaling laws to estimate the total mission mass and show that it would fit within the envelope of a Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle. Estimates of the amount of Helium 3 required to fuel the reactor are within available terrestrial stores.

In this Phase I study, we propose to analyze the Pluto mission concept using new models of the engine. We will develop an optimal trajectory including limits on the thrust steering and range of throttle. The throttling of the thrust and specific impulse will affect the efficiency, which we have not yet attempted to model.

Direct Fusion Drive is a unique fusion engine concept with a physically feasible approach that would dramatically increase the capability of outer planet missions. The fusion-enabled Pluto mission proposed here is credible, exciting, and the benefits to this and all outer planet missions are difficult to overstate. The truly game-changing levels of thrust and power in a modestly sized package could integrate with our current launch infrastructure while radically expanding the science capability of these missions

There was a 2014 presentation on the Princeton Direct drive fusion concepts. and a work from 2013

 The DFD design envelope fits between traditional chemical, electric and nuclear propulsion methods.

 Fusion products of the deuterium-helium-3 (D/He3) reaction have a very high exhaust velocity: 25,000 km/s

 We can convert some of their kinetic energy into thrust by transferring energy from the fusion products.

The work has been covered at Nextbigfuture back in 2014 and in 2013

This is different than the John Sloughs direct fusion drive rocket design. John Slough also had NASA funding.
The Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the arrest of some judges by the operatives of the Department of State Services.

The Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the arrest of some judges by the operatives of the Department of State Services.It said that the Gestapo-like raid on the homes of a number of Justices of the Supreme and the Federal High court judges was unwarranted.In a statement by its Spokesperson, Dayo Adeyeye, in Abuja on Sunday, the PDP said, This invasion is the latest in a series of actions taken by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration which revealed its disregard for the rule of law and its abject disdain for the principle of separation of powers.The party said Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State was assaulted by DSS operatives for insisting on that the security agents should uphold the rule of law, while the affected judges were manhandled and their workers beaten up.According to the party, President Muhammadu Buharis administration is becoming fascist.It said the slide into fascism started with the invasion of the Akwa Ibom State Government House by the DSS and the continued detention of several people despite courts orders to the contrary.The PDP said, This slide into fascism has included a sustained attack on the leadership of the National Assembly as President Buhari has sought to break its independence and make it a rubber stamp to suit his will.It is worthy to note that never in the history of our country has any President attacked the judiciary in such a manner.Even the late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, whose regime is remembered by many as the second worst regime in Nigerian history did not carry out such Gestapo-style attacks on the members of the judiciary.By bringing this attack to the judiciary, President Buhari has shown that he has no desire to respect the pillars of our democracy.He has shown his desire to kill off our democracy and convert it to an autocracy without checks and balances.The PDP further alleged that the government had no regard for the rule of law and does not care about court orders.This Government has disregarded the orders of the ECOWAS court and every other court in the land and continue to detain Sambo Dasuki illegally. They continue to detain hundreds of Nigerians without bringing them to trial and against valid court orders, it said.It argued that the right thing for the DSS to have done with regard to the judges accused of corruption is to forward a petition containing any wrongdoing to the NJC along with any evidence in support thereof.It argued that the right thing for the DSS to have done with regard to the judges accused of corruption is to forward a petition containing any wrongdoing to the NJC along with any evidence in support thereof.The path not to follow is this Gestapo-style invasion in the middle of the night that involves the use of sledgehammers to breakdown gates and front doors for DSS to gain access to the homes, it said.Nigerians can no longer afford to stand aside and watch the Buhari Administration destroy the foundations of our democracy that we have built for several years.
In a bid to douse the outrage that greeted its midnight arrest of two Supreme Court Justices and three other judges, the Department of S...

In a bid to douse the outrage that greeted its midnight arrest of two Supreme Court Justices and three other judges, the Department of State Security (DSS) yesterday said the sting operations yielded a mind-boggling N93, 558,000.00, $530,087, 25,970, 5,680, from three of those in its custody.Those under arrest are Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro both of the Supreme Court , the suspended Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya , Justice Kabiru Auta of Kano State High Court and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja.Justice Tsamiya had earlier been recommended by the National Judicial Commission (NJC) for retirement for meeting a litigant thrice and demanding N200million bribe.The commission also recommended the sack of Justice Auta for receiving N125million from a litigant through an account approved by him and recommended that he be handed over to the police for prosecution.Briefing reporters at the DSS headquarters in Abuja yesterday, spokesman for the organisation, Mr. Abdullahi Garba said attempt to recover another $2million cash from an unnamed judge was thwarted by the governor of the state.Garba alleged that the governor mobilized thugs and operatives of an unspecified sister agency against DSS operatives and craftily relocated the $2 million.He said: The Department of State Services (DSS) in the past few days, has embarked on series of special sting operations involving some Judges of the Supreme, Appeal and High Courts.These operations were based on allegations of corruption and other acts of professional misconduct by a few of the suspected Judges.The service action is in line with its core mandate, as we have been monitoring the expensive and luxurious lifestyle of some of the Judges as well as complaints from the concerned public over judgment obtained fraudulently and on the basis amounts of money paid.The judges involved were invited, upon which due diligence was exhibited and their premises searched. The searches have uncovered huge raw cash of various denominations, local and foreign currencies, with real estate worth several millions of Naira and documents affirming unholy acts by these Judges.Meanwhile, some of them have made useful statements while a few have declined even with the glaring evidences that were found against them in terms of material cash, documents and property recovered pointing to their compromise.In one of the States where the Service operations were conducted, credible intelligence revealed that the Judge had Two Million United States Dollars ($2,000,000 USD) stashed in his house.When he was approached for due search to be conducted he, in concert with the State Governor, mobilized thugs against the Service team.The team restrained itself in the face of unbridled provocative activities by those brought in by the Governor; unfortunately, the Judge and Governor also engaged the tacit support of a sister security agency.The Service surveillance team noticed that upon frustrating the operation, the Judge with the active support of the Governor craftily moved the money to an unknown location which the Service is currently making effort to unravel.Meanwhile, large amount including foreign/local currencies have been recovered and summaries of these include:NAIRA  N93, 558,000.00DOLLARS  $530,087POUNDS  25,970EURO  5,680Other foreign currencies were also recovered; the above were recovered from just three of the judges.These in addition to other banking documents, including real estate documents have been recovered.According to the DSS, the new initiative to cleanse the judiciary of corrupt elements will be sustained while those found culpable will be prosecuted.The DSS spokesman dismissed speculations that the operation was aimed at stopping Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen of the Supreme Court from succeeding Chief Justice Mahmud Mohammed who is due to retire next month.He said the operation did not affect Onnoghen at all and he is not under any investigation whatsoever.The Service would want to clearly state that it has never invited Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen for investigation; neither is he being investigated by this Service, Garba said.In addition, the Service would like to put it on record, that it has tremendous respect for the Judiciary and would not do anything to undermine it or its activities.The Service will also join hands with this noble institution in its fight to rid it of few corrupt Judges whose actions is undermining not only the Judiciary but the common bond of our national life.This current operation will be sustained and followed till sanity and sanctity is restored to the esteemed third arm of government and public confidence is regained.Members of the public are also encouraged to avail the Service of any information which could assist in this drive to rid our nation of corrupt practices and tendencies, Garba said.The DSS spokesman declined to take questions from reporters after reading his prepared text.He said the operation is a continuing exercise and that reporters would be invited later for further briefing.However, further investigation by The Nation showed that the service had actually traced N1.5billion to one of the arrested Supreme Court justices.The DSS had also submitted a confessional tape and a security brief on Justice Pindigas alleged involvement in a N500m deal to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed.The NJC was said to have cleared him of any wrongdoing.A highly placed source said the sting operation was informed by alleged low response of the Judiciary to reported cases against some of the judges.The source said: We have all the records intact. In the residence of one of the Supreme Court justices, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, about N35, 208,000 raw cash $319,475 and other hard currencies were found during the operation.The second, Justice Inyang Okoro had N4,350,000 cash and about $38,833.We have been able to trace about N1.5billion mansion to one of the arrested judges of the apex court.All the affected judges will be arraigned in court on Monday (tomorrow) with evidence against them.Responding to a question, the source added: In the case of Justice Pindiga, we have been conducting investigation on him in respect of alleged N500million inducement and two houses in Abuja.When confronted, he admitted and the confessional tape was forwarded to the CJN for consideration by the NJC.But interestingly, the NJC gave him a clean bill of health. No government will sit idly and allow such a judge to remain on the bench.We adopted due diligence in investigating these judges. Nigerians will hear more when their trial begins.Found at the residence of Justice Ademola, according to sources were: N54million,$171, 779.00,80.00, 1,010.00 Indian Rupees and 4,400.00.At the residence of Justice Ngwuta the following currencies were allegedly found: N35,208,000,$319,475,25,890,280,UAE 380,GAMBIA DALASI 420,ARGENTINE PESO 4, and GHANA CEDIS 20,while the followings were allegedly found in Justice Okoros:N4, 350,000,$38, 833,25,890 and 1,000.00.Justice Ngwuta was later released late last night.ADENIYI F.A. ADEMOLANAIRAN54millionDOLLARS$171, 779.00POUNDS-80.00RUPEES- 1,010.00EURO-4,400.00NWALI SYLVESTER NGWUTANAIRAN35, 208,000DOLLARS$319,475POUNDS-25,890EURO-280UAE-380GAMBIA DALAIS-420ARGENTINE NOTES4GHANA CEDIS-20JOHN INYANG OKORONAIRAN4, 350,000DOLLARS$38, 833POUNDS-25,890EURO-1,000.00SUMMARY OF RECOVERED MONEYDOLLARS$530,087POUNDS-25,970EURO5,680NAIRAN93, 558, 000.00RUPEES-1,010UAE380GAMBIA DALLALIS430ARGENTINE NOTES-4GHANA CEDIS-20
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has described Professor John Paden's book o President Muhammadu Buhari's official bi...

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has described Professor John Paden's book o President Muhammadu Buhari's official biographer as a liar.The former Minister said Professor John Paden is a man that is very comfortable with distorting the truth and telling lies. He is also a man that has been doing so for virtually all his adult life.It is nothing but an illusion: an extraordinary and fantastic fairy-tale built on a shady foundation of pseudo-intellectual clap-trap and garbage.He, therefore listed some misconception in the book:- The first was that three names were sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for the position of Vice President, namely Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Yemi Osibanjo and Babatunde Raji Fashola in 2014 for the 2015 presidential election. This is false and it is simply an attempt to demean and belittle Tinubu and the role that he played in the whole exercise. The truth is that it was Tinubu and Tinubu alone that forwarded the only name that was given serious consideration for the Vice Presidential slot by President Buhari. That name was Professor Yemi Osibanjo.- Tinubu never pressured Buhari to make him his Vice President as Paden has asserted because he had decided to drop that ambition long before then simply because the idea of a Muslim/Muslim ticket, which was originally on the cards, had eventually been jettisoned and rejected by the party due to public presssure and the division and outrage it attracted. If the Muslim/Muslim ticket had not been rejected Tinubu would have been the Vice Presidential candidate of the APC and no-one else, including his erstwhile protegee Babatunde Fashola, would have had a hope in hell of getting it.- Another lie which was infinitely more dangerous and repugnant than the first, was that President Buhari has documents which are signed by President Jonathan which prove that the latter sought for what he described as extra-budgetary funds.- He also suggested that other senior figures in the political and military configuration in our country committed serious crimes and indulged in damning acts of corruption without being specific or even providing details of those acts. Instead of doing so he suggested that the individuals concerned, which included President Olusegun Obasanjo, would have been prosecuted, brought to justice and called to account for their allegedly dastardly acts whilst in government if not for the fact that this could have had implications for the stability of the nation and national security.Obasanjo, who is always quick off the mark and who was actually present at the launching of the book in Abuja as was Tinubu, responded in a measured manner by saying that there were some insinuations in it which he disagreed with. Frankly that was a cop out. Obasanjo was being far too polite and this was probably due to the fact that he had not read the whole book as as that time and he did not want to dampen the enthusiasm of the biographer, upset the President or ruin the occasion.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that he is ready to sacrifice his life in order to protect the state from external ...

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that he is ready to sacrifice his life in order to protect the state from external forces.The governor also charged the people of the state to rise up to defend the state and her interest in the coming weeks as anti-democratic forces have ganged up against Rivers people.Speaking during the flag off of the construction of the Abua-Emoh-Egbolom road in Abua/Odual Local Government Area on Saturday, Governor Wike said: This is the time to say no to illegality. If they are testing the waters for rigging and mayhem, it will not work.Briefing the people on the failed abduction of a Federal High Court Judge by the Police and DSS, the governor said that the security operatives were on an illegal mission to entrench an evil scheme in Rivers State. He said: I told the security operatives who planned to abduct the judge that instead of this impunity, you better take my life.I will always protect the interest of this state. When God gives you an assignment, he will give you the enablement to complete the assignment. Rivers people must be ready to fight any form of injustice.I am ready to defend Rivers State with my life. On the construction of the Abua-Emoh-Egbolom road, Governor Wike said that the project will be completed in seven months, pointing out that he will wipe away the tears of Abua/Odual people with quality projects.He said the contractor, MCC Nigeria Limited has the capacity to deliver a quality project within the scheduled time. He called on the people to support the contractor all through the duration of the roads construction.The governor said that he had promised to construct the road during a rally to celebrate his Supreme Court victory in March.He charged the people to remain committed to the PDP as it is the only political party that will promote their welfare. Member representing Abua/Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency, Mrs Betty Apiafi and the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assemby, Mr Marshal Uwom lauded Governor Wike for bringing development to the people.They said since the creation of the local government 25years ago, no serving governor has initiated a major project in the area. According to them, Governor Wike deserves commendation for being the first serving governor to initiate a major project for Abua/Odual Local Government Area.Commissioner for Works, Mr Harrison Iheanyichukwu said the 8.2kiometre road will connect the seven communities on the route to the rest of the state.
Former governor of Delta State, James Onanefe Ibori, is due to become a free man in December, after spending half of his jail term in Un...

Former governor of Delta State, James Onanefe Ibori, is due to become a free man in December, after spending half of his jail term in United Kingdom prisons, according to a report from London.Ibori was jailed for money laundering offences by Southwark Crown court in 2012.But it is unclear yet whether he will return to Nigeria immediately as legal proceedings concerning the confiscation of his assets worth tens of millions of dollars are yet to be resolved.The delay in resolving the issue stems from allegations of police corruption in the Ibori matter and the likelihood of the former governor taking his case to the Court of Appeal.His lawyer told the court on Friday that the former governor would appeal against his conviction on the grounds that British police and lawyers involved in his case were themselves corrupt.Ibori, who governed Delta State from 1999 to 2007, is serving a 13-year sentence after pleading guilty in 2012 to 10 counts of fraud and money-laundering.While in office, Ibori acquired luxury properties in Britain, the United States, South Africa and Nigeria. He is the most senior Nigerian politician to have been held to account for the corruption that has blighted Africas most populous nation.His jailing in Britain, where he had laundered millions of pounds and sent his children to an expensive private school, was hailed as a high point in the international fight against graft and an important signal to other corrupt politicians.But his lawyer Ivan Krolick told Southwark Crown Court on Friday that Ibori was 95 percent certain to challenge his conviction in the Court of Appeal based on documents that have only recently been disclosed to the defence by the prosecution.At the same hearing, Stephen Kamlish, a lawyer for Ibori associate and convicted money launderer Bhadresh Gohil, said the documents showed there had been widespread police corruption followed by a cover-up that was still going on now.The main allegation is that a police officer involved in the Ibori probe took payments for information in 2007 from a firm of private detectives working on Iboris behalf. At the time, Ibori had not been arrested and was still in Nigeria, but knew that British police were investigating his finances.Kamlish said prosecution lawyers had known there was evidence of police corruption but had failed to disclose it to defence lawyers. Krolick told Reuters on the sidelines of Fridays court hearing that Ibori did not know about the payments at the time.The police have said that the allegation was thoroughly investigated and that no one was arrested or charged, and no misconduct identified. The officer against whom the allegations have been made is still in active service.The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), after a lengthy internal investigation, said in September it was confident that the convictions of Ibori and Gohil remained valid.The CPS has said it found material to support the assertion that a police officer received payment in return for information. It did not use the word evidence, suggesting it did not consider the material in question amounted to proof.But the CPS conceded in September that the material should have been disclosed to the defence, and handed over thousands of documents to defence lawyers. Those were the documents that Kamlish and Krolick were referring to in court on Friday.Gohil has already filed an appeal against his conviction. Krolick said Ibori was likely to do so once his legal team had finished going through all the newly disclosed documents.As is normal under British procedures, Ibori is due to be released in December after serving half his sentence, taking into account pre-trial detention.Gohil, a British former lawyer, has already been released after serving half of a 10-year term for his role in laundering Iboris millions.
The Presidency appears to have passed a vote of confidence on the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, fol...

The Presidency appears to have passed a vote of confidence on the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, following the moves by some members of the House of Representatives to remove him from office. A Presidency source said, at the weekend, that the Federal Government has confidence in Emefiele to see the country, alongside top government officials in the economic sector, out of recession. Emefiele A motion sponsored by Hon. Ali Isa (Balanga/Billiri constituency, Gombe State), titled, Call for investigation of the Central Bank of Nigerias forex policies, last week, had called for the sack of Emefiele and his team over the fate of the Naira.The call was supported by Hon. Mojeed Alabi, representing Ede North/Ede South/Egbedero/Ejigbo (Osun State) and Hon. Wale Raji, representing Epe (Lagos), among other lawmakers in the House. A Presidency official, reacting to the moves, told Sunday Vanguard that President Muhammadu Buhari is far from convinced that Emefiele is responsible for the currency crisis or the economic recession. The CBN Governor briefs the President regularly on the situation, on the inflow of dollars every month and how much is being demanded by importers.The President has seen the progression and regression over the years and how the scarcity of forex is causing the sharp drop in the value of the Naira. He believes it is very unreasonable to sack Emefiele and CBN management, said the official, who declined being named because he was not mandated to officially speak on the issue. He added: When oil price was $120 per barrel and we had reserves of over $60 billion, the Naira was doing well.That was when we should have checked the import dependency to grow the local economy. We did not do that. The President is not convinced that now that crude oil price is less than $50 and production has dropped drastically because of militant activities, Emefiele should be blamed for the falling Naira. According to the source, the President believes Emefiele has done his best in the difficult circumstances that Nigeria has found itself. It was learnt that the CBN has made many interventions since the crisis started to stabilise the finances of states and the Federal Government.A source at the Ministry of Finance said the CBN, acting as lender of last resort, has provided loans of over N420 billion to several states to pay workers salaries in the last two years, outside their statutory allocations. Each of the 36 states has also collected N10 billion for infrastructure development, while the N350 billion stimulus spending recently announced by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, was provided by the Central Bank.Everything you hear about agric revolution in rice is from the CBN. Kebbi alone is on track to produce one million metric tonnes this year under the CBNs Anchor Borrowers Programme. So far, 14 states have collected huge sums for this programme to pursue other crops, the official said.
There are four gospels in the New Testament Bible said to have been written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. However, these books were w...

There are four gospels in the New Testament Bible said to have been written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. However, these books were written anonymously; there were no names in any of the original manuscripts. As Rev. Dr. Hooykaas says: The titles placed above them in our Bibles owe their origin to a later ecclesiastical tradition which deserves no confidence whatever.Can everything in the Bible therefore be said to be true? Certainly, the Holy Spirit did not inspire the Catholic Church to assign fictitious names to gospel writers, giving the false impression they were written by Jesus apostles.SelectivityMoses says an eye for an eye. (Exodus 21:24). Jesus says turn the other cheek. (Matthew 5:39). Which one of these is of God? Certainly, both cannot be true. When you exercise the prerogative to accept Jesus prescription and to reject that of Moses, Christians confounded by bibliolatry accuse you of being selective. They insist you must either accept every contradiction in the Bible hook, line and sinker; or reject the Bible in its entirety.What they dont seem to know, however, is that those who compiled the Bible were highly selective. They not only accepted certain books as being inspired while rejecting others, they also accepted parts of certain books and rejected other parts.For example, Bible redactors accepted the book of Daniel, but removed chapters 13 and 14 of Daniel from the Bible. Thereby, the book of Daniel in the Bible ended in chapter 12 instead of the original chapter 14. They also removed a big chunk of the dialogue between the Hebrew children and an angel in the fire in Daniel Chapter 3. (You can read the removed parts today on the internet).Who then is the inspired one? Is it Daniel or those who compiled the Bible? If Bible redactors can be selective, not only among books but within books, why cant the believer do likewise?Double-mindednessIf those who compiled the Bible were completely inspired in their choice, why were they so confused? They ascribed Hebrews to no one, then to Paul, then to no one. The book was rejected then accepted, then rejected and then accepted again. Revelation was accepted as a genuine book up to around A.D. 325. It was dropped at the Council of Laodicea in A. D. 363; only to be re-included in A.D. 397.The Book of Enoch was accepted until A.D. 363. It was dropped at the Council of Laodicea. Nevertheless, it was retained by the Christian Church in Eastern Europe. Can this confusion be of God? Is this not the confusion of men?The New Catholic Encyclopedia says: According to Catholic doctrine, the proximate criterion of the biblical canon is the infallible decision of the church. This decision was not given until rather late in the history of the Church at the Council of Trent. The Council of Tent did not take place until between 1545 and 1563. This shows the Catholic Church did not accept the earlier canons.Jesus says salvation is of the Jews. (John 4:22). Why then should Christians accept a Bible canon chosen by Roman Catholics? The current Catholic Bible includes books not in the Protestant Bible, such as Tobith, Judith, six extra chapters of Esther, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, two extra chapters of Daniel, and 1 & 2 Maccabees. So which is infallible, the Catholic Bible or the Protestant Bible?Other Christian churches also have their own canons, such as the Ethiopian, Coptic, Syrian, Byzantine and Armenian canons. All these differ one from the other. Can they all be infallible at the same time? Surely, the Holy Spirit cannot be responsible for this confusion.FallaciesIt is said repeatedly in the Bible that the earth does not move. The world also is firmly established, it shall not be moved. (1 Chronicles 16:30; Psalm 96:10). Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved. (Psalm 93:1). You who laid the foundations of the earth, so that it should not be moved forever. (Psalm 104:5).But this is not true. The earth is always moving. It is moving very fast at 66,622 miles per hour (mph); faster than a typical plane which only flies at 550 mph. The earth completes a full rotation in 24 hours, which makes a day. So the scriptures saying the earth does not move cannot be of divine inspiration.Solomon says: The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. (Ecclesiastes 1:5). This cannot be an inspired statement either. Science has since shown beyond reasonable doubt that the sun does not hurry back to where it rises. It is the earth that revolves around the sun and not vice-versa.So what can we say about the scripture where instead of telling the earth to stand still in order to extend daylight, Joshua ignorantly commanded the sun to stand still? (Joshua 10:12-13). Confronted with such obvious blunder, some Christians become outright liars. They came up with the cock-and-bull story that a computer at NASA actually discovered Joshuas missing day in the calendar of the universe. NASA itself has declared this to be pure fiction.GalileoAround 1500, Nicolaus Copernicus wrote a book claiming the earth revolved around the sun. The Church of Rome banned it for contradicting the Bible. Martin Luther called Copernicus an upstart astrologer. John Calvin asked: Who will venture to place the authority of Copernicus above that of the Holy Spirit. The sun runs from one end of the heavens to the other.About 100 years later, Giordano Bruno also taught that the earth orbited the sun and that the stars were distant suns with planets orbiting them. He was burned at the stake for heresy by the Catholic Church.In the 1600s, Galileo built a telescope and observed the planetary system. He concluded that the earth orbited the sun and not vice-versa as Joshua, Solomon and other biblical writers had implied. Galileo was indicted by the Catholic Church for having the audacity to hold an opinion contrary to the Holy Scripture. He was forced to recant of this heresy and sentenced to house arrest for the rest of his life.But in November 1992, long after the invention of different modern telescopes and after man had gone to space and even walked on the moon, the Catholic Church finally admitted officially that the Bible got it wrong. The earth did revolve around the sun after all. Pope John Paul was constrained to vindicate Galileo.He said: Galileo, who practically invented the experimental method, understood why only the sun could function as the centre of the world, as it was then known, that is to say, as a planetary system. The error of the theologians of the time, when they maintained the centrality of the earth, was to think that our understanding of the physical worlds structure was, in some way, imposed by the literal sense of Sacred Scripture.In 2000, the pope issued a formal apology for all the mistakes committed by Catholics in the last 2,000 years of the Churchs history, including the trial of Galileo among others. This was a diplomatic way of admitting the Bible is not infallible.
The Federal Government should know that this is not 1984. By 1984, I refer to that year and the dystopian novel written by George Orwell ...

The Federal Government should know that this is not 1984. By 1984, I refer to that year and the dystopian novel written by George Orwell on dictatorship. Nigeria is a country ruled by law and even for the worst of crimes, we must follow the process of law. If we dont, we will end up like Uganda under the autocrat, Idi Amin. We cannot bear such oppression. So, whatever the DSS is doing must be in line with the dictates of the law. Under no circumstance should they try to invade a judges residence at 9 or 10pm, wielding weapons and wearing masks. It is totally deplorable. It is abhorrent and what we must all know is that they are infringing on the rights of people. The courts exist for a reason. This system of law enforcement seems to be discriminatory, whimsical and contrary to the rule of law. It wont get us anywhere as a country. It is the worst form of corruption you can think of. It is not right. In Pakistan, the chief judge of the country decided that since the military government was not obeying the law, there was no point in the courts carrying on and it became a flashpoint in that country. Dr. Kanyinsola Ajayi (SAN)Courts should go on indefinite strikeI read with great amazement and total disbelief, the news of the invasion of the homes of judicial officers in Port Harcourt and in Abuja, by the executive arm of government through the Department of State Services.As judges have no voices to speak officially, I call on the Nigerian Bar Association to declare an indefinite strike so that all courts of law in Nigeria will be boycotted until there is respect for the rule of law and the Constitution. This should commence from Monday, October 10, 2016, until further notice.This is full blown dictatorship now in action. It is now a case of anarchists in power. The clampdown on judges has been on for a long time, through agents of government in the various institutions of oppression. We are now back to the 1984 jackboot system of intolerance, where all dissenting views and opinions must be silenced.It is now clear, without any shadow of doubt, that the so-called anti-corruption war is a hidden agenda to perpetuate the president in office beyond 2019. It is meant to silence the opposition and to cover the inefficiency and cluelessness of this administration.In a democracy, the rule of law prescribes the independence of the judiciary, whereby judges must be allowed the unfettered right of taking decisions, according to law and according to their consciences.It is in this regard that the invasion of the homes of judges by the DSS is totally condemnable. It should never happen that the executive is indirectly threatening and intimidating members of the third estate of the realm.The judiciary is the arm that stabilises democracy and should not be exposed to ridicule in the manner that the DSS is currently doing. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, lawyerThere must be sanity in the systemThere are ways of effecting arrests. The one I remember recently is where the National Judicial Council, that is responsible for the discipline and appointment of judges, referred a particular judge to the EFCC or the police for arrest. For me, that is a tidier way of doing things.We operate constitutional democracy; the constitution is sovereign and has a binding effect on all persons and authorities. There is also what is called judicial immunity. As such, if the judicial immunity should be broken for the purpose of effecting an arrest, what is appropriate in this instance is that the National Judicial Council would be notified of the intention, in terms of the report leading to the dismissal or removal of the judge, and then an arrest can be effected.What happened is unconstitutional; it is actually a rape and desecration of the Nigerian constitution. Quite frankly, this is not a banana republic. Due process must be followed.While we cannot continue to shield people who are corrupt, I think we should follow due process. There is nowhere in the world where such an action would be condoned. If you must effect the arrest of an executive judge, there are ways of going about it. If a judicial officer makes a pronouncement that one is not comfortable with, if one has evidence that the judicial officer has been compromised, there is a way to go about it. The National Judicial Council is responsible for the discipline and removal of judges.Judges should boycott court hearings because of what happened. This is nothing but an encroachment on the powers of the judicial council. If a judge is corrupt, as alleged, the NJC is responsible. Recently, some judges have been recommended for dismissal, and some were asked to lose their promotion. There are certain things the NJC has put in place.There are three arms of government; the executive, legislature and the judiciary. Findings have been made. If there is a report, they should submit it to the NJC, monitor what the outcome will be and see what the NJC would do. The judiciary is responsible for cleaning its stable.If the judiciary is independent, there must be sanity in the system. Some years ago, the late Justice Abdulkadir Jega, when he was still sitting as a judge in Ilorin, made a pronouncement that the government wasnt comfortable with. Owing to this, his police orderly was withdrawn. And then the bar rose up to support his position and his orderly was restored. How can we continue like this? This is not a military system, this is a constitutional democracy. Mr. Norrison Quakers (SAN)Arrests irregular, bizarreIt is an irregular and bizarre situation. It is unheard of. The hour the invasion was allegedly done (1am) in the wee hours of the morning is uncalled for. No arrest should be executed in the middle of the night, especially in a country where we know that all kinds of people are running around to kidnap, rob and kill people. I think this is a condemnable act. I have to say that if there is an allegation against a judge, the first thing to do is to invite the judge for interrogation and if the judge refuses, then you can begin to make an arrest of the judge if it is a criminal offence. But nobody should execute an arrest warrant or a search warrant at 1am. So, it is very condemnable. Judges render essential services because they secure the liberty of the citizens of this country just as the courts are instituted to secure the liberty of the citizens. We need to get to the root of this and find out who authorised this raid and why such a person did so. Due process must always be followed in every law enforcement process. Mr. Onueze Okocha (SAN)Arrests are wrongWhether one is a judge or not, everybody deserves his peace and liberties. So, the DSS should not have gone to arrest anybody, whether a judge or not, without evidence that such a person had committed an offence. I am saying this not because they are judges, but because they are also citizens of Nigeria. They must have committed an offence or maybe there is a warrant of arrest for such a person to be arrested. But without such evidence, of committing offences worth being arrested for, be he a citizen, the DSS and others have no right to do that, not to talk of a judge.If a court is handling a case and the government is not happy about it, the right thing to do is to appeal. As for the report on the blocking of the court premises, there is no reason to do so on a Saturday when the court is not sitting. Unless the DSS operatives have security reports that the judge is harbouring criminals or harbouring documents related to the security of the nation. But otherwise, it is not right for any organ of government to do that. Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN)The media is nextI am not surprised. I am rather surprised that some Nigerians are still surprised. Some of us warned, wrote, preached and talked. But, we were ignored due to political partisanship. A leopard cannot change its spots. It started with political opponents and the opposition. Some of us cried out. Then, they moved against some very senior and well-respected lawyers. Some clapped. They said it was anti-corruption. We cried out. It extended quickly to the National Assembly, another arm of government. Many described the government as tough, no-nonsense and anti-corruption-inclined. Some of us warned. Now, it is the judiciary. Up to the very apex court of the land, the Supreme Court, has been targeted and is now being intimidated and humiliated.Virtually all the judges are southerners. My prediction is that the media will be the next. The recent onslaught against the judiciary signals great danger to our democracy, freedom, human rights, independence of the judiciary and the doctrine of separation of powers as espoused in 1748 by the great French philosopher, Baron De Montesquieu.We are supposed to be operating a constitutional democracy, not military dictatorship or tyrannical absolutism. Governor Wike was almost shot dead by fully armed DSS operatives. His offence was that he came to rescue a Federal High Court judge who was being abducted. Other serving judges, who would ordinarily respond to a mere phone call, are being humiliated and rounded up in the ungodly hours of the night, like common criminals. Mr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN)
BRIDGETON -- A man died Friday night after being shot while sitting in a vehicle, authorities said.

A man was fatally shot in Bridgeton Friday, authorities said. (File Photo)

The victim was identified as Davonte Lee, 21, of East Commerce Street, Bridgeton, by Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae.

This is the second shooting death in Bridgeton in a week. On Wednesday morning, a man was found shot to death in a city yard.

In Friday's killing, Lee was sitting in a vehicle at 25 Reeves Rd. in Bridgeton around 6:15 p.m. when he was shot, the prosecutor said.

From there he was taken to his sister's home at Tip's Trailer Park in nearby Fairfield Township where New Jersey State Police and medical personnel responded.

Lee was taken from the trailer park to Inspira Medical Center Vineland where he was pronounced dead, Webb-McRae said on Saturday afternoon.

Authorities didn't immediately release any other details in the case.

Lee's death is being investigated by the Bridgeton Police Department and the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office's Major Crimes Unit. Anyone with information should call Det. Cara Kahn at 609-381-3349.

Anonymous information can also be submitted to authorities in three ways: Downland the CCPOTIP App at the Android or iPhone store and choose the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office; submit an anonymous tip via text to 847411 with CCPOTIP and your tip in the message line; or visit the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office's Facebook page and click "Submit a Tip" to provide information to authorities.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
BRIDGETON -- Authorities have charged a juvenile in the Friday night shooting death of a Bridgeton man, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office.

U.S. Marshals arrested a 17-year-old Bridgeton resident on Sunday afternoon in Millville. He is charged with homicide and related charges, Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae announced.

Davonte Lee, 21, of East Commerce Street, was shot shortly after 6 p.m. Friday as he sat in a vehicle at 25 Reeves Road.

Lee was taken to his sister's residence in neighboring Fairfield Township, where state police and medical personnel responded.

He was transported from Tip's to Inspira Medical Center Vineland, where he was pronounced dead.

Authorities have not revealed a motive in the crime or indicated if the accused shooter knew Lee.

The case remains under investigation by the prosecutor's office and Bridgeton Police. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Cara Kahn at 609-381-3349.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
For women who remember JFK's assassination or the moon landing, sexual harassment on the job was often just part of work.

Whether women flipped burgers or brokered million-dollar deals, some men behaved obnoxiously toward them. And though we still have a long way to go until true equality, women have come far.

And that's because of trailblazers, including the 52 who shared their stories with Joann S. Lublin in "Earning It" (Harper Business, 295 pp, $27.99). This should be required reading in business school and conferred with diplomas - to men and women.

Among the anecdotes from women executives that haunt is this one from 2000 when Penny Herscher was CEO of Simplex Solutions Inc., a California start-up that made software for the design of semiconductors. She was meeting with investment bankers, who wanted to serve as advisers during the firm's initial public offering, and who didn't know her. As she entered the conference room, one of the male bankers spilled his soda.

"Without missing a beat, the banker turned to me and said, 'Sweetie, can you clean that up?' Herscher wrote on The Grassy Road, her blog. She grabbed a paper towel from the kitchen, cleaned up his mess, and washed her hands. She then reached out her hand to the banker and with a big smile said, 'Hello my name is Penny. I am the CEO'."

The easy read includes sensible tips on everything from checking your posture (always assured, never meek) to balancing two-career couples (someone's going to give). Lublin, of Ridgewood, chatted with New Jersey Authors and what follows is an edited version of the interview.

What sparked the idea to write Earning It?

A column I did for a Journal blog. I did this when my daughter was really new to the workforce and was pretty smug about how easy it is for women. She did enter the nonprofit world.

What was your goal when you started the book?

To give back to the younger generation of women, not just her -- to talk to them about the fact that everything has not come into nirvana today. We do not yet have parity in jobs and management, and the women in key leadership roles have overcome obstacles of all kinds. Some of them dealt with horrendous personal attacks and I basically set about trying to talk about how overcoming the setbacks made them better leaders.

Executives credit their mentors and explain how hard they had to work to get that corner office in this book which is a terrific guide for women and men on succeeding in the workforce.

What stories resonate most with you?

The story about Dawn Lepore, the situation she found herself in when her husband was diagnosed with what was expected to be a fatal illness. She was chief executive of Drugstore.com. Her daughter was in kindergarten and son in third grade. She was on the board of The New York Times and eBay.

She went to him every night (in the hospital) and stayed with him until 2 in the morning and he just wanted her to lie on the bed next to him. She would go home, fall in bed, wake up to have breakfast with the children. During that time her housekeeper was stealing money from her. The most gripping part of her tale was women of her age were criticizing her for staying at work. She was 53, the family sole breadwinner. The interesting thing was when she told her husband she was ready to quit everything, he said, 'If you quit the cancer would have won. And we won't let the cancer win.'

As management news editor at the Wall Street Journal, you edit and write all day, how and when did you fit in the book?



I had to do this on my own time. I worked every night, six nights a week and Sundays. I always said Saturday was not a day to work on the book.

Where did you get your first library card?

I grew up on Long Island in Syosset. When my parents moved there it was in the process of becoming a suburb, I used to find potatoes in backyard because it had been a potato farm. There was a community free library in a storefront. They had not yet done the bond issue. I remember my mom taking me to there. I was like 6-years-old and at that point I was not reading and was desperate to learn.

What do you hope people take away from "Earning It"?

Overcoming obstacles you become a better leader in whatever profession you are in.

What would you like to add?

For my daughter, what I hope her reaction is, is I can't really relate to the kinds of companies where these women did work; she works for a fairly small company, but I can certainly relate a lot to their humanity. And, thank you mom for doing this.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  The House Jan. 6 committee plans to unveil "surprising" details at its next public hearing about the 2021 attack at the U.S. Capitol. The session Thursday afternoon is likely to be the last public hearing before midterm elections next month. The panel is expected to include new evidence from the U.S. Secret Service about its actions with Donald Trump that day. Ahead of a report later this year, the panel is summing up its findings. The committee says Trump, after he lost the 2020 presidential election, launched an unprecedented attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's victory. They say the result was the deadly mob siege of the Capitol.
Welcome to nonleaguedaily.coms news provision, your go-to source for all non league updates, rumours, interviews, and much more besides.

Founded by a team with a genuine passion for the world of non league football, nonleaguedaily.com understands exactly what supporters of the so-called lower leagues are looking for. You want the high-quality reporting, in-depth analysis, and match reporting that matches that is more commonly found in the journalism for the top flights, but with the focus firmly fixed on the national leagues.

We understand that your passion, interest, and dedication is constant, and we believe you need a news service that matches that commitment with its own dedication and thoroughness  so thats what you can expect from our site.

The latest non league news, as and when it happens

Conventionally, non league news has always travelled fairly slowly, especially when compared to the instantaneous, constant breaking news cycles found in the upper leagues. Tales are told on terraces, rumours passed between pub patrons and circled between supporters at the latest game, often forced to remain somewhat local initially before word eventually spreads to other locales.

For us, this slow spread may be fairly organic in nature, but it simply isnt compatible with the modern football environment. Its also not conducive to the current fast-paced, always-available media landscape, nor the way that people tend to consume news nowadays. Thats why we have put together a non league news source that fans can turn to for the latest updates, as and when they happen, and as and when you want to read them. Non-league news now is the only acceptable speed at Betting.co.uk.

We update our non-league football news coverage constantly, bringing you all the latest developments and seeking to spread the word as quickly and accurately as possible. So if youre wondering whats happening both with your local team and with the lower leagues as a whole, you can visit us for non league news now, and be confident the stories you find are completely up to date.

News reported by passionate fans

Our efforts to bring you the very best non league football news are undeniably a professional concern, and one that we take seriously. We are  if youll excuse the uncharacteristic tooting of our own horns  good at what we do, and we know that the efforts we make in this regard are one of the reasons our site has enjoyed such success thus far.

However, everyone who writes for us also shares our readers enthusiasm for non league football. Were not just churning out content in the hopes of cashing in on a professional dream; were here because we want to be, and will always be dedicated and committed to non league football as an entity and thriving in the experience of being able to talk about our favourite subject whenever we can. We create non-league news now that is written by genuine fans and enthusiasts, for fans. We know what you want to know and what matters most to an ardent non league supporter, and we always ensure that focusing on these elements is our guiding principle as we seek to solidify our status as an online non league paper fans can always rely on.

When compiling non league news, we think with the mind of a fan first and foremost. We cover the angles and stories that we find compelling and that we know our fellow non league enthusiasts also care about. News doesnt have to be dry and formulaic, in our opinion. When its written by people who are genuinely as fascinated by the stories they are reporting on as their readership will be, we believe news can be interesting, compelling, and even have a sense of personality and humour.

News content written with passion and expertise

We believe that thanks to our dedication, insightfulness, and commitment to our subject matter of non league today, we are offering the best of both worlds to those searching for an online non league paper. We give you the professional approach we feel is appropriate for news about one of the most intriguing aspects of UK football; an aspect that we genuinely feel does not receive the interest and plaudits that it should be generating. Nevertheless, we dont let that professionalism take over everything we do: we remain committed fans, nurturing our own personal interest in non league football and ensuring every word we compose is infused with a sense of passion and dedication that enhances the posts we create.

Its therefore obvious that our non-league content today isnt ever going to be dry, basic, or put together by a tired staff writer who has never heard of any team below the Championship before they rush off to the pub for the evening. Our writers are genuine experts: were covering non league football because we want to, because we believe in it, and because its where our strengths lie. The result is informed content that capitalises on our deep knowledge of the history, as well as the present-day realities, of non league football in the UK.

Beyond news: the nonleaguedaily.com interview series

One of our goals with nonleaguedaily.com is to not just dryly report the news from an outsiders perspective, effectively regurgitating press releases that are devoid of genuinely illuminating information. We also go right to the source of the stories: the managers and club insiders who have direct experience, and often influence, on the sport and how it is managed.

We regularly conduct interviews as part of our news provision, asking the questions that are on everyones lips and providing the best possible view into the non league world. We have reporters pitchside at matches, microphone to hand and plentiful questions ready to be asked. The end result for you, the reader, is the kind of information and close-up looks into the non league world that just cant be found anywhere else.

As our commitment to providing interesting interviews amply demonstrates, we want to be involved in breaking the stories that everyone then talks about, rather than following along and focusing solely on what everyone already knows. If youre looking for leading content that you cant find anywhere else, and that goes right to the centre of the non league world, then you can turn to nonleaguedaily.com for all the benefits of a conventional non league paper, but in electronic, easily-accessed form.

A host of other content to enjoy alongside the non league today

Our focus on providing non league news will always be maintained: we consider this aspect the most important of what we do, and it will always be the recipient of our time, dedication, and interest. Well be here, a consistent and trustworthy news portal, for as long as non league football news exists.

With that said, when you have read up on the latest goings-on, were here with further content for you to enjoy. Naturally, given our partnership with leading brand Betting.co.uk, we provide guidelines for those interested in the world of sports betting. Well help you find the best UK bookmaker with our plentiful coverage of existing brands; ideal if youre looking to put your newfound knowledge, courtesy of us, about non league to use and place a few bets.

Furthermore, we also provide highlights of all the latest UK betting offers, so you can ensure youre achieving the best value with all the latest betting deals whenever youre betting on the latest non league matches. Youll find all of this coverage is as consistent and reliable as our non league news provision,

Non league features and deep dives

Returning to the world of non league football, we also provide a range of feature content that goes deeper and further into the non league world than ever before. Less instantaneously topical but still hugely relevant to the modern game, our features are the dream deep dives that we feel non league fans deserve. Were always striving to do better, offer more, and ensure that non league fans can enjoy the same wealth of content as followers of the top tiers, so you can expect top-flight content with the same commitment and dedication as found throughout the upper echelons of the sport.

So whether youre looking to find the most recent non league football news, seeking a new bookmaker for your non league bets, or hoping to delve deep into a niche non league-related topic, nonleaguedaily.com is always going to be worth a visit.

Return to nonleaguedaily.com for all your non league news needs

Weve told you what you can expect from nonleaguedaily.coms news; now we need to put our confidence where our promises are, make sure we deliver on those promises, and establish trust as an online non league paper you can trust. We look forward to welcoming you back to our news section and showcasing the best we have to offer, from exciting new non league interviews to cutting-edge news to transfer speculation. If you want to truly have your finger on the non league pulse, then nonleaguedaily.com is always going to be here for you.
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In 1979 Steve Clapp got a call to see if hed be interested in teaching a pottery class at McCook Community College. Now, 37 years later hes still teaching art and was recently honored by the college for his commitment.

Technically, since ceramic and sculpture classes were not offered every semester, Clapp was recognized for 30 years of service to Mid-Plains Community College.

Steves commitment as an adjunct faculty helps me cover the demand for classes, and I can rely on him to address certain elements that are essential and carry over to my other classes, said MCC art instructor Rick Johnson.

For Clapp, that means Mondays are long days. Until his retirement from McCook High School after the 2014-15 school year his days were filled with high school art students and his nights filled with college students. Despite the sometimes long hours Clapp admits hes enjoyed his time teaching at MCC.

Its a nice break working with a different age group of students from the 19-20 age-level to a mixture of individuals up to retirement age. Clapp said. Theyve brought a lot of diversity into the classroom and a lot of unique ideas and perspectives. We do a lot of learning from each other.

Hes also taught students with a wide range of experience from those with no ceramic background to professionals taking the class so they had access to the kiln. In that case I was the one who learned a lot from those students.

Hes had students from other countries. He once had a first-time pottery student who had no fingers, and a married couple who left the area and moved into a missile silo in North Dakota. Always, hes had characters in the classroom and the common thread is the art.

Ceramics is a craft that you learn one step at a time then move on to the next one. Its a progression where after you learn the basic steps then the creativity comes, Clapp said.

He likes how the Internet has opened up a lot of possibilities with video demonstrations and social media sharing.

As an MCC alum, Clapp said he likes how the arts programs have grown at Mid-Plains Community College from the large variety of classes to the level of instruction both at North Platte and McCook. The demand has grown to the point that in addition to teaching pottery and sculpture, this semester hes teaching an art structure class as well.

Weve got quality instructors leading both campuses and they are focused on providing students with a quality starting point for their art. Students get a lot of one-on-one instruction and MPCC is great place for any students interested in art, Clapp said. I know a lot of my students have gone on to get art and graphic design degrees.
CURTIS  Americans have been inundated over the past few months with messages from across the political spectrum. This range of ideas will be explored at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Political Issues Forum at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, , at the NCTA Education Center, University and Siminoe streets.

The forum will feature three speakers representing three different political views.

Chauncey Brown of Gothenburg will represent the Democratic Party position. Brown is a registered Democrat who has worked in politics for the last eight years, including at the Nebraska Legislature, the Nebraska Democratic Party, and in several local and state races. She is also involved in the Nebraska Young Democrats, having served three years as its president.

Justin Baugher of Stockville is a Donald Trump supporter and he will represent the Republican viewpoint. Baugher received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Northern Illinois University and is the IT Services Manager at NCTA.

Eric Reed of Curtis will represent the Libertarian Party point of view. Reed is a registered Libertarian. He is pursuing a PhD in Technical Communication and Rhetoric online at Texas Tech University and has obtained masters degrees in History, English, and Political Science.

Reed, an NCTA associate professor, is chair of the colleges Division of General Education, the event host.

This event was organized as part of our new diversity program, Reed said. Most people think of diversity as the ability to understand and effectively communicate with people of other cultures and backgrounds, and that is accurate, Reed said. But another important type of diversityone I would call critical in higher educationis diversity of opinion, or of viewpoint. Hearing diverse viewpoints is essential for deep thinking.

Tee Bush, NCTA associate professor of mathematics and horticulture will serve as moderator. The event is free and open to the public.

Voters can register or check their registration information at their county clerk or election commissioners office, or online atnebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration.
OMAHA  U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska steadfastly stood by Donald Trump all summer, defending him against critics and arguing he was far better than Democrat Hillary Clinton.

On Saturday, Fischer had enough.

Fischer joined Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska and about two dozen other GOP members of Congress over the weekend to denounce her partys presidential nominee and call for Trump to step aside after the release of a lewd, trash-talking Trump tape.

It had to be a sweet moment for Sasse, an original member of the anti-Trump movement. He was praised in some quarters Saturday for his early  and sometimes lonely  opposition to Trump.

Sasse argued Saturday that Trump could not win and needed to bow out. He can still make an honorable move, Sasse wrote on Twitter. Step aside & let Mike Pence try.

Fischer agreed with Sasse that Trump could help his party by getting off its presidential ticket. The comments made by Mr. Trump were disgusting and totally unacceptable under any circumstance. It would be wise for him to step aside and allow Mike Pence to serve as our partys nominee, Fischer said.

The states two Republican congressmen, Reps. Jeff Fortenberry of Omaha and Adrian Smith of Gering, also condemned Trumps comments. Fortenberry called on Trump to step aside, while Smith argued Trump should step down if he could not restore confidence in his candidacy. (Smith did not say how or when he would determine if Trump had achieved that goal.)

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert also denounced Trumps comments but did not call for him to get out. Instead, Ricketts said he would no longer consider even donating cash to Trump, while Stothert said she may or may not be able to vote for the New Yorker in November.

Finally, Papillion congressional candidate Don Bacon urged Trump to withdraw. However, Bacon refused to rule out the possibility that he would vote for Trump in November if the Republican remained on the ticket. Im grappling with it because I believe Hillary Clinton is not the right person. Im in a quandary. I hope he steps down and does the right thing, said the retired brigadier general.

Bacon is running against Democrat Brad Ashford in the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District. Ashford has endorsed Clinton and condemned Trump for his recent remarks.

Fischers decision to repudiate Trump came as somewhat of a surprise Saturday. She has staunchly backed Trump since he sewed up the nomination this spring, cheering him on at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. She also stood up for him at the State Republican Convention in Omaha, where Sasse took heat from party officials for his anti-Trump views.

Sasse opposed Trump from nearly the beginning, becoming a leader of the de facto Never Trump Movement before the Iowa caucuses in February.

Sasse has earned accolades from some national political figures for his stance, while facing stiff opposition from some Republicans back home.

If more Republicans had listened to Sasse and opposed Trump from the beginning, the party would not be facing its historic presidential woes, said Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia.

You have to give special credit to people like your Sen. Sasse. He was way out front on this and took a lot of abuse, but he clearly did the right thing, Sabato said.

Of course, there are still plenty of Trump supporters who will continue to rally around their candidate and for whom todays opposition from elected GOP officials will only serve to stiffen their support for Trump, the anti-establishment candidate.

Sabato argued that such hard-core Trump supporters pose political risks for candidates like Bacon, who are running tough races in swing districts.

Most politicians act in their own interest. If theyre coming out against Trump, they think it is in their best interest, except you dont know how many Trump supporters you are losing, Sabato said.
LOWELL  Donning an apron, 8-year old Samantha Caldwell, intent on balancing a fresh egg in a spoon, walked across the barnyard grass, hand steady, to deliver the egg intact to the next girl.

For first-time visitor Caldwell, of Lowell, the pleasure Saturday at Buckley Homestead County Park was in soaking up the beautiful autumn day, the old-fashioned artisans and games, and a good tasting pierogi.

It was all part of Buckleys Lasting Traditions fall festival which continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Nearby in the barn, Simon Yuk watched intently as an old-fashioned braiding machine fashioned shoelaces. Im intrigued by it all, he said of the many artisans demonstrating their skills and selling their wares. Im from England, on holiday with friends. Its quite interesting. ... You actually do it yourself, he said of operating the turn-of-the-century machines.

Walking arm in arm with their grandson, nearly 2-year old Emmett Meixner, of Valparaiso, Pam and Bob Simon, of Cedar Lake, said their first visit to the festival was a delight.

He liked the pigs and the rooster, Bob Simon said of his grandson, adding he personally enjoyed the old machines on display as well as the sawmill and panning for gold. Its lots of fun.

Watching the the blacksmith and cooper make barrels was a pleasure, too, Pam Simon said. He was very knowledgeable.

Admitting a visit to the barber at the parks Main House was at first scary, 6-year old Tucker Vesely said it was good in the end. He was treated to a lathering up with soap and its removal plus a pretend trim.

He got a nice, clean shave, his mother Jamie Vesely said, smiling. For Tucker, of Lowell, though, the best part of his visit was seeing the old tractors and the schoolhouse, he said.

Pretty fall colors, mums and pumpkins, were too much to resist for Morgan Born and Mike Vicari, of West Creek Township. They propped their daughter Rylie, 2, among the blooms for a perfect photo opportunity. We come all the time. ... Life was so much simpler, Born said.

I love the homesteading of it, the farm life, Vicari said.

With a saloon and the Coles County Trust bank as backdrops, Richard Regnier, of Chicago, readied for his stint as one of the Coles Regulators and their shoot-em-up cowboy show. He said three generations in his family are re-enactors with the group popular with the festival crowd.

It was a family affair with his granddaughter Allison Regnier, 6, also of Chicago, enjoying the childrens old-fashioned games as steam whistles sounded in the background.

Admission is $5 with children 7 and younger free. East of Lowell off of Ind. 2, visitors should enter on Hendricks Road and go one-fourth mile south to the visitors center.
Indiana Department of Insurance Commissioner Stephen Robertson has approved a reduction in the state's Workers' Compensation rates. The 9.3 percent reduction, which will go into effect January 1, is expected to save Indiana businesses more than $82 million.

Mayor: Region Would Score Big With Proposed Port

The mayor of Lawrenceburg says he's viewing the prospect that Indiana's fourth port would be located in his city as a "group project" involving surrounding communities. Kelly Mollaun says "we're going to be good stewards of whatever is given to us in Lawrenceburg," but adds he's looking to collaborate with stakeholders in Dearborn County and neighbors like Aurora and Greendale to help see the project through.

Magnetation Ceasing Operations in Reynolds

Minnesota-based Magnetation LLC has officially announced plans to end operations at its Pellet Plant facility in Reynolds. WLFI-TV reports the company was unable to secure an investor that could have kept it afloat.

Wurth Relocating to Johnson County

An Indianapolis-based subsidiary of Germany-based Wurth Group is relocating operations to Greenwood. Wurth Service Supply plans to invest more than $21 million to build a 230,000 square-foot facility in the Southpoint Business Park and add 60 jobs over the next five years.

Brown, Johnson County Land Pulls In Millions

Nearly 1,000 acres in Brown and Johnson counties has sold for more than $2.8 million in two auctions. The bulk of the Brown County property is either part of the Forest Legacy program, which protects "working forests," or considered Classified Forest.

First Lady Awards Charitable Grants

First Lady Karen Pence has awarded grants to 40 organizations and charities as part of the Indiana First Lady's Charitable Foundation. Pence also awarded the fourth and final major grant to the Art Therapy Program at Riley Hospital for Children.

Years in The Making: Clark County Museum Now Open

A new attraction is now open in Jeffersonville. Indiana Landmarks says the Clark County Museum, which has been dedicated as an Indiana Bicentennial Legacy Project, has been in the works since 2008.

Winnecke Named IACT President

Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke has been elected president of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns for 2017. Winnecke succeeds Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight and will begin his new role on January 1.
WASHINGTON  A dozen big-name business leaders, including lifelong Republicans and independents, say they won't support real estate mogul Donald Trump for president. They say he would be bad for the economy, and they question how successful he's been as a businessman.

"For sustained investment, economic growth and job creation, American business needs as much predictability, reliability and stability in our government as possible," they write. "Donald Trump is simply too reckless for American business."

A copy of the letter was given to The Associated Press ahead of the group's push for others to sign on, as well as the release of the group's new website. It comes on the heels of an open letter by more than 30 former GOP members of Congress condemning the Republican presidential nominee as "disgraceful."

Signers of the latest letter include Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, famed chef Jose Andres and Carlos Gutierrez, U.S. secretary of Commerce under President George W. Bush and the former CEO of the Kellogg Company. Andres is tussling with Trump over his decision to pull his planned restaurant out of Trump's new hotel at the Old Post Office in Washington.

"I'm hoping we reach other Republicans who may feel that they have to vote for Trump because they are Republicans," Gutierrez said. "A lot of us are following our instincts and not going to vote for him."

The group came together as John Stubbs, who has been organizing Republicans who back Clinton, realized that business leaders  of all political persuasions  have particular concerns about a Trump presidency, Stubbs said.

A former Republican staffer in Washington, Stubbs said he has not been working with the Clinton campaign.

Trump has many business leaders in his corner. Some of his highest profile supporters include investor Carl Icahn, financier T. Boone Pickens and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel.

The anti-Trump letter makes a two-front case against the Republican nominee. They say he has not been particularly successful in his decades in real estate. And they believe he is offensive and dangerously erratic.

"Trump's harmful rhetoric regarding immigrants, women, racial and religious minorities, the disabled and American veterans is not only unacceptable, it creates an atmosphere of vulgarity that poisons the climate, as does his general approach to business and many of his economic ideas," they write. "And how do you lose nearly a billion dollars in a single year?"

The New York Times said it obtained several pages of Trump's 1995 state income tax filings that showed he took a net loss of $915,729,293 in federal taxable income for the year.

The letter cites Trump's businesses' six business bankruptcies, several thousand lawsuits and repeated failure to pay subcontractors as evidence that he's not a successful businessman.

"This approach is anathema to Democrats and Republicans alike," said Bill Cummings, who also signed the letter. Cummings is the founder of a Boston-based commercial real estate company.

Sara Sutton Fell, another letter-signer and the Colorado-based founder of the employment search firm FlexJobs, said she wouldn't be able to sleep at night running her company as Trump runs his.

"The fact that he's running on his business skills is terrifying," she said.
The Gary International Black Film Festival is a three-day cultural event that brings independent Black film to local audiences, providing rich, authentic opportunities to celebrate African-American heritage and culture. This years festival runs Oct. 14 through 16 at Savannah Hall on the IUN campus, beginning with director Ava DuVernays 13th. By burrowing deep into the national psyche, exposing incriminating documents along with potent archival footage and drawing from interviews with activists, politicians, historians and leaders, DuVernay has created a work of crucial and illuminating historical scope. Tickets for the opening night red carpet reception and post-screening discussion are $25. 219/200-4243 or www.gibff.org

The Golden Age

Fathom Events presents choreographer Yuri Grigorovichs The Golden Age, broadcast live from the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow! In a seaside town where business and the mafia are flourishing, The Golden Age cabaret is the favorite nightly haunt of dancers, bandits and young revelers. Here, the young fisherman Boris falls in love with Rita, a beautiful dancer, but also the friend of a local gangster. Set to music by Dmitri Shostakovich, The Golden Age is a satire of Europe during the Roaring 20s, a dazzling show with a jazzy score, music-hall atmosphere, vigorous chase scenes and decadent cabaret numbers. At AMC Showplace Schererville 16 on Oct. 16. 219/322-9762 or www.fathomevents.com

Wait Until Dark

Beatniks on Conkey takes on this suspenseful thriller. Harry Roat, a sinister con man, and two ex-convicts are about to meet their match. They have traced the location of a mysterious doll to the Greenwich Village apartment of Sam Hendrix and his blind wife, Susy. Sam had been persuaded by a strange woman to transport the doll across the Canadian border, not knowing that sewn inside were several grams of heroin. When the woman is murdered, the situation becomes more urgent and a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues. When darkness falls, Susy turns off the lights, leveling the playing field between her and her assailants. Opening night is Oct. 21 and runs through Nov. 6. 219/852-0848 or www.beatniksonconkey.com

Nature, Art & Me

DeMotte artist Mary Ann Van Soests art fills both galleries at the Chesterton Art Center throughout the month of October. Retired in 2009 after a successful 33-year career in real estate, Mary Ann found her niche as a fiber artist, combining batiks, hand-dyed fabric and paint to create art quilts inspired by the natural world. Mary Ann has exhibited locally, statewide and nationally, most recently at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Opera House Gallery in Delphi and Artists Own gallery in Lafayette. Nature is the thread that binds it all together. The opening reception for Mary Anns show will be from 2 to 4 p.m. today. 219/926-4711 or www.chestertonart.com
Virtual reality, spooky Airbnb rentals and the start of a final season for Disneylands Twilight Zone of Terror are all part of this Halloweens freaky fun.

Heres a sample of whats happening around the country. Check with individual venues for dates, times, prices and ages.

DISNEY

Its the final Halloween season for Twilight Zone of Terror at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. If you visit after twilight, youll get a chance to free fall in the haunted elevator shaft in total darkness. The tower closes for good Jan. 2.

Also at Disneyland this season is the Frightfully Fun Parade at Mickeys Halloween Party, featuring grinning ghosts, Disney villains and the headless horseman from Sleepy Hollow. Two other attractions have been given holiday makeovers: Space Mountain is Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion is now Haunted Mansion Holiday, combining themes from Halloween and Christmas.

In addition, theres a giant Mickey Mouse jack-o-lantern on the theme parks Main Street, U.S.A., and the Mexican Dia de los Muertos tradition is celebrated with a skeleton display in Frontierland, near Rancho del Zocalo restaurant.

In Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Walt Disney World hosts Mickeys Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Mickeys Boo-To-You Halloween Parade and a green-and-orange fireworks display called HalloWishes.

UNIVERSAL

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles include the transformation of the theme parks famous tram ride into a Terror Tram, themed on the story of a celebrity clown turned murderer, created by horror-genre filmmaker Eli Roth. The Hollywood park also features a Walking Dead attraction that opened this past summer.

New for Halloween at Universal Orlando Resort is The Repository, a virtual reality experience in which participants undo an ancient curse by following clues through rooms in an old warehouse.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal parks on both coasts also feature haunted houses, scare zones and freaky mazes. Many attractions are themed on horror films like The Exorcist and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

ZOMBIES, VIRTUAL REALITY AND MORE

According to the Haunted Attraction Association, technology and interactive experiences are playing a bigger role in Halloween than ever before, with escape rooms, virtual reality monsters and zombie battles.

Its Fright Fest season at Six Flags parks. At Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, Georgia, in addition to mazes, scare zones and more than 400 zombies and monsters, guests can don VR headsets to experience an interactive virtual reality roller coaster, Rage of the Gargoyles at Dare Devil Dive, that includes a simulated helicopter ride and a futuristic battle with gargoyles.

At Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, the Terror Behind the Walls attraction challenges guests to become part of the story of escaping what was once an actual prison. Guests can either explore the prison and watch, or they can mark themselves for interaction with the freaky prisoners.

At Creepy Hollow Haunted House outside Houston, guests can play a virtual reality zombie first-person shooter game wearing VR headsets. The Fear Factory in Salt Lake City offers a VR haunted house. Lake EERIE Fear Fest at Ghostly Manor Thrill Center in Sandusky, Ohio, offers five haunted houses including The Haunted Mine Ride, a motion-theater experience using VR technology to create a roller coaster with 4-D effects.

Derailed Haunted House in Ramer, Tennessee, is offering a new technology that lets users control colors, flickers and strobe lighting they see.

Zombie laser tag is part of Shocktoberfest in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania. In Pittsburgh, at The Basement at the Scarehouse, guests 18 years and older must sign a waiver allowing themselves to be touched, restrained and blindfolded.

For those who dont mind being scared silly all night, the Wisconsin Fear Grounds in Waukesha are offering an overnight event called Night Terrors: 13 Hours of FEAR! on Oct. 8, complete with tents, fright trail, bonfire ghost stories and scary movies.

Nashville Nightmare in Tennessee is offering Night Terrors Haunted House, billed as an industrial horror complex.

HAUNTED SCREENS

If you prefer Halloween with an artsy veneer, the Milwaukee Art Museum is hosting a show called Haunted Screens: German Cinema in the 1920s. The traveling exhibition, opening Oct. 21, looks at a groundbreaking period in filmmaking during the Weimar era in Germany after World War I. The display of art and artifacts from the Expressionist movement includes set design drawings, photos, posters, documents, equipment and film clips. The aesthetic is very much in keeping with Halloween sensibilities, including what the museum describes as dramatic lighting, shadows, off-kilter framing and distorted perspectives. Classics explored in the show include The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and the murder mystery M.

AIRBNB

Airbnb hosts are offering some spooky accommodations for Halloween. Listings include a 600-year-old dwelling in Yorkshire, England, billed as a madness chamber; a rental in New Orleans Parks-Bowman Mansion that the owners advertise as The Haunted Bedroom; and a Victorian home in the Haunted Castle House in Brumley, Missouri, that cheerfully claims to have more than a century of paranormal activity.
GARY -- Two 29-year-old Gary men were found shot, with one pronounced dead on the scene, Saturday morning in an alley south of 20th Avenue and Virginia Street, according to police.

The Lake County coroner's office identified the deceased man as Akeem Oliver, 29 of the 4200 block of 20th Ave., Gary. Police declined to name the other shooting victim Saturday.

Gary police were dispatched to the area at approximately 8:30 a.m. after receiving a call of shots fired. En route to the scene, the call was upgraded to gun shot victims, police said.

Police discovered a vehicle in the alley upon arrival, with one of the gunshot victims found outside it, according to a news release. He was transported to a hospital for treatment.

Oliver was found inside the vehicle with a gunshot wound. He was later pronounced dead on the scene by the Lake County Coroner's office.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact Detective Ed Gonzalez of the Lake County/Gary Metro Homicide Unit at (219) 755-3855 or the Crime Tip Line at 866-CRIME-GP.
WASHINGTON  Politicians love trying to use the tax code to highlight their goals to voters. This year, its a battlefield between Hillary Clinton, who wants to boost levies on the rich to pay for expanding social programs and Donald Trump, who says cutting taxes would gird the economy. The clash has consequences for the rich, poor and those in the middle.

Where they stand

Donald Trump: The Republican trotted out an initial plan but has pared it back twice so far. Hed slice individual income taxes across the board: the current seven brackets, which peak at 39.6 percent, would collapse into three tiers with a maximum 33 percent rate. The corporate tax rate would fall from 35 percent  which few companies pay because of deductions  to a maximum 15 percent. There would be new tax breaks for some expenses for caring for children or the elderly. And hed eliminate the estate tax, which hits inheritances exceeding $10.9 million this year for married couples. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center says the proposal would likely bestow outsized benefits to the wealthiest families, but it lacks sufficient detail to be too specific.

Hillary Clinton: The Democrats proposal is more detailed than Trumps and targets the rich  big-time. Shed slap a 4 percent surtax on incomes over $5 million, impose a minimum 30 percent tax on those earning over $1 million and cap itemized deductions for higher earners. Shed impose the estate taxes on inheritances starting at $7 million for couples. Clinton would leave corporate tax rates alone, though shed raise levies on U.S. companies shielding overseas income and would eliminate tax breaks for fossil fuel producers. Shed help some families pay for child care but without involving the tax code. The Tax Policy Center says the bottom 95 percent of taxpayers  those earning under $300,000  would see little if any change in their tax bill.

Gary Johnson: The Libertarian nominee says hed eliminate the income tax, corporate tax and the IRS if elected, replacing all of it with one 28 percent federal sales tax. Johnson says that his 28/39 percent sales tax would raise as much money as the current tax code, said Bloombergs Ramesh Ponnuru. If thats right, then it has to sock the middle class: The poor are mostly protected by the prebate, and rich people come out ahead from the abolition of the progressive income tax.

Why it matters

One way or another, tax proposals by whoever becomes president will affect most Americans.

Major tax overhauls are enacted infrequently because they spark brutal battles over winners and losers, especially if Congress and the White House are controlled by opposite parties.

Yet with Republicans expected to retain House control next year, Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has already outlined plans to cut families and businesses taxes. Hed no doubt find it tougher to find common ground for reshaping the tax code if Clinton, not Trump, wins the White House.
Seventeen Muslim, Christian, and Jewish women visited Northwest Indiana due to the efforts of the Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana.

The Cooking a Dialogue program was started to encourage a dialogue between Arab and Jewish women in the Western Galilee region of Israel. They have gotten to know each other on a personal level as well as learn about each others culture, customs, and food.

Some of the groups goals are to strengthen connections, encourage a dialogue, form personal relationships between Muslims, Christians, and Jews, and strengthen ties between neighboring communities. They are one of the first groups of women to be formed in Israel for this purpose and hope to be an inspiration to others there as well as in the U.S. communities that they have visited.

Before visiting Northwest Indiana, the women visited Indianapolis. While in Northwest Indiana, the women attended services and visited with the congregation at Temple Israel in Miller, toured Chicago, did a presentation at the Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana, and wrapped up their visit with a well-received presentation at the Art in Focus program at South Shore Arts before heading to Louisville, Kentucky for more presentations.

All of their visits were coordinated by the Partnership2gether Western Galilee. The Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana as well as 12 other Jewish communities in the central states, as well as Budapest, Hungary, are all part of this organization.
CROWN POINT  St. Mary Catholic Community School conducted CPR/AED training and certification for its seventh grade students and adult lunch helpers last month.

The training was led by Crown Point Fire Department Fire Chief Greg DeLor, who explained to the group that this was he has come to St. Marys to train every seventh grade class for the last 15 years.

Some of the students from the early years are probably parents by now, DeLor said. Weve been glad to teach these life-saving skills to approximately 1,000 students at St. Marys. It happened to be the chiefs Birthday and the St. Marys students made him a banner.

The entire St Mary Campus staff along with all seventh and eighth grade students are CPR/AED certified. There are three AEDs on site which are located in the church, near the school gym, and outside Hammes Hall (school cafeteria).

St. Mary Church and School remains committed to ensuring the safety of its members, students, and visitors. The training session was organized by Debra Huber RN, wellness coordinator for the St. Mary Campus.
CROWN POINT  Christopher A. Williamson received a 15-year prison sentence from Lake Criminal Court Judge Clarence Murray on Friday for his role in the November 2014 residential robbery and beating of a then 72-year-old man, but not before defending himself against a remark made by his own defense attorney during the sentencing hearing.

Williamson, 26, pleaded guilty to the felony level 2 count of robbery resulting in serious bodily injury in a plea agreement that called for a cap of 15 years with the Indiana Department of Correction. His co-defendant, John W. Waite IV, 25, received the same 15-year sentence in June from Murray after pleading guilty.

During the hearing, defense attorney Arlington Foley read a part of the probable cause affidavit in court stating that Williamson was acting as a goon for the co-defendant. Foley repeated the goon comment when he described Williamson as subordinate to Waite in the crime that left the victim requiring 32 stitches to his face.

My client was on parole. He had just gotten out of prison four days (ago), Foley said about the crime he attributed to Waites planning. The attorney asked for a 10-year sentence for Williamson.

In his own lengthy statement to the court, Williamson apologized for his repeat offenses but said, Im not a goon. Im not a follower. Im a leader.

The defendant cited a number of programs hes completed while incarcerated in Lake County Jail and said, I found God. Looking to the back of the courtroom where the victim sat, Williamson asked forgiveness from the man who chose not to testify.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Bruno said the victim found himself facing two young men wearing masks and armed with knives when they broke into his Lake Station home.

They beat him senseless, then tied him to a chair  Just so they could take what doesnt belong to them, Bruno said.

Williamson and Waite left with the homeowners car keys and money, then returned the next day to steal his car, the deputy prosecuting attorney said.

Any leniency has already been given to him, Bruno said in asking Murray to sentence Williamson to the agreed-on prison term.
Last month Northwest Indiana Cancer Kids Foundation, Inc. held cancer awareness walks in both Lake and Porter counties. They were held at Redar Park in Schererville and Sunset Hill County Park in Valparaiso to honor the cancer warriors and angels of Northwest Indiana.

The NICK Foundation has expanded its area of service to six counties (Lake, Porter, LaPorte, St. Joseph, Newton and Jasper). It is also working with state legislators to expand treatment options to cancer children from the region. The NICK Foundation is also part of a National Coalition (CAC2.org) coming together to form one voice for kids with cancer. For more information, visit nwicancerkids.org or email info@nwicancerkids.org.
Sitting on one anothers steps this summer, Martiza Lopez and her neighbors in East Chicagos Calumet neighborhood have realized theyre not alone.

Were living on this contamination, she said. Were discussing this, and its like, Oh, my God, I thought I was the only one that had these body jerks. Then we realize we all have them.

Lopez, 53, and many of her neighbors have lived most of their lives on ground contaminated with lead and arsenic. Theyre also dealing with health problems, including cancer, breathing problems and neuropathy.

Though the EPA held meetings over the years to inform residents of the contamination and cleanup plans, the situation reached crisis level this summer after the city told more than 1,000 people living in the nearby West Calumet Housing Complex to relocate.

The Calumet neighborhood, which has been divided into three cleanup zones, was included in the USS Lead Superfund site when it was added to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys National Priorities List in April 2009.

Now, seven years later, Lopez and several other residents are working toward forming a Superfund Community Advisory Group under EPA guidelines. A CAG allows residents to take their needs and concerns to the EPA as part of the decision-making process.

Residents find their voice

Its unusual for a CAG to form this late in the Superfund process, said Debbie Chizewer, an attorney at Northwestern University Pritzker Law Schools Environmental Law Clinic. Shes working with residents in all three cleanup zones.

CAGs usually are formed shortly after a site is added to the National Priorities List, so residents have a say in the planning stages.

Chizewer said the EPA normally plays a role in helping residents form a CAG, but she wasnt sure of the circumstances in East Chicago.

Its a shame that it wasnt formed earlier, she said.

The EPA considers East Chicago an environmental justice community because of its low median income and significant environmental challenges. The CAG concept was created because of the difficulty faced by residents in environmental justice communities accessing information and effectively communicating their concerns, Chizewer said.

A CAG will provide an opportunity to be clear as far as expectations about work that can be done as part of the cleanup, she said. That could include addressing exposure pathways beyond the contaminated soil, including lead paint that may still be present inside and outside homes built before 1978 and lead pipes.

An EPA spokeswoman said the agency has identified an employee who specializes in CAGs to meet with East Chicago residents.

EPAs initial plan was to offer a Technical Assistance Grant to help residents participate in the decision-making process, the spokeswoman said. The program makes an initial $50,000 grant available to qualified community groups.

Information about the TAG program was included in a 2009 fact sheet distributed in East Chicago and in the agencys 2011 community involvement plan, the spokeswoman said.

Now is the time to participate

Lopez said she began attending meetings in 2012 and doesnt recall seeing any information about how a group could be formed to provide input to the EPA. If she had, she would have pursued that option, she said.

While it hurts knowing residents were left living on the contamination for years, now is not the time to point fingers, Lopez said.

The blame is going to come out, she said. The paperwork is there.

Now is the time to begin communicating and addressing the issues she and other residents are facing, she said.

CAG meetings are set for 2 to 4 p.m. Oct 15 and 22 at the East Chicago Public Library, 1008 W. Chicago Ave. An EPA representative who specializes in CAGs will meet with the group from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 29, Lopez said.

Chizewer, the attorney, said the CAG will be open to all residents from zones 1, 2 and 3.

Its important for a variety of people to participate, so any statements that the CAG makes to EPA reflect a range of views from the community, she said.

A CAG allows the community to have an official role in the cleanup, but it will not take away from other roles community groups may have, she said.

Its just another way for residents to participate at the site and have their voices heard, she said.

At a meeting Saturday, Calumet Lives Matter members said their group  while working with state Sen. Lonnie Randolph  had done a lot of good for residents in West Calumet, including zones 1 and 2.

Chizewer assured them, Nothing in the CAG is a threat to what Sen. Randolph is doing.

Bishop Tavis Grant II, of Greater First Baptist Church in East Chicago, leads a committee for the Calumet Lives Matter group. He raised his children in zone 2, and his church was located there for 40 years, but hes no longer a resident of the Superfund site.

Grant said many residents in the Superfund site are seniors. Their children, who dont live in the Superfund site, often speak for them.

A CAG could help eliminate duplication, he said.

The concept is needed, he said.

People are greatly afraid

Some concerns center on the value of homes, Grant said.

Many people in zone 2 can see the soon-to-be-demolished West Calumet Housing Complex from their homes and wonder why they arent being told to move if residents of the complex must. The EPA has said the city ordered the relocation, but that it would have been safe for complex residents to remain during cleanup.

Some are seniors living on pensions. Some just survived the housing bubble. Theyre barely holding on, Grant said.

Many residents in zone 2 are living in homes first purchased by their elders, who migrated from plantations in the South to work in Northwest Indianas steel mills, he said.

These homes were slated to be turned over to the second and third generations, he said. The likelihood of these homes increasing in value is up in the air. This is a huge loss in terms of what families have invested in.

It may make sense to some to coordinate redevelopment with the EPAs excavation work, but so far the process has been chaotic and dysfunctional, he said.

People are greatly afraid of what they dont know, and they dont trust the system, he said.

He wondered how the city will attract people back to the Calumet area after more than 1,000 people leave the complex. Public officials will have to work hard to build trust, reassure people the cleanup will address the problems and persuade them it will be safe to live in the neighborhood, he said.

For Lopez, staying is the preferred option.

She and her family moved to East Chicago when she was 6 months old, she said. They lived in the 4800 block of Grasselli Avenue before moving into her current home in the 4900 block of Euclid Avenue.

If they were to tear up the driveway and the sidewalk, they would uncover my Barbies and my brothers Tonka truck, she said.

To children, the citys industrial landscape was a playground.

We were kids. We didnt know, Lopez said of the health risks.

Sitting on their steps and talking, she and her neighbors have come to realize they now must put their health first. However, choosing to buy her family home was the best decision she ever made, and she doesnt want to leave it.
CHESTERTON  Dr. Christine Faron of Duneland Dental Group is looking forward to the fourth year of giving back to area veterans by assisting them in getting some needed dental care on Nov. 4, with other area dentists.

The staff at Duneland Dental decided it would be a great opportunity to give back to the men and women once again who have helped secure and maintain the nations freedom by helping them have a healthier smile. Most veterans have access to medical care, but dental care is not always an option due to financial constraints so its important that they have a way to get dental work done.

Everyone here at Duneland Dental has had family or friends serving in the military, said Faron. We feel we have a special bond to the veterans and we are honored to arrange this dental day for them.

Faron attended IUPUI for undergraduate studies and graduated from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1988. She is a member of the American Dental Association as well as the Northwest Indiana Dental Society. Faron has been practicing for 28 years and enjoys family dentistry with an emphasis on cosmetics.

Any veterans interested in obtaining a free dental procedure (cleaning, filling or extraction) through this joint venture are encouraged to call and leave a message at (219) 617-9289 for medical pre-screening and more information.
If youre a parent of school-aged children, chances are the phrase digital citizenship has recently hit your radar. This is the idea that every person adheres to a set of appropriate and responsible behavior expectations in the digital realm. Teachers are discussing examples of these appropriate, responsible digital choices in classrooms across the country. But what does this mean for adults? Are you modeling positive digital citizenship for your children?

Positive digital citizenship means that you are protecting yourself online. You have secure passwords that you do not share with others; you do not give out information such as credit card or bank account numbers on sites that are not secure; and you guard your identity including your full name, birthdate, and home address. Even pictures posted on social media accounts can be protected from being copied by strangers. Once your information is out there it will be accessible by a myriad of people. It is difficult, sometimes impossible, to truly delete something from the digital world.

Digital citizenship also holds an expectation that you will treat others with kindness and respect. It is unkind and unfair to launch an attack on someone through social media where the platform can be anonymous. Cyber-bullying is another new phrase born of the technological age. Students are warned against cyber-bullying and teachers discuss the ramifications of hurtful actions. Adults can easily become cyber-bullies as they hide behind a device screen in the comfort of their own homes. Would you allow your children to witness an altercation between yourself and a family member? If the answer is no, then do not carry out that altercation in public view online.

There are other aspects to digital citizenship as well. Minding your manners and using technology at appropriate times; knowing when to tuck the smartphone away in your bag; communicating in a professional tone when sending emails to businesses or employers; and being aware of health impacts such as eye strain, neck strain and sleep loss associated with overuse of devices are just a couple of other things to keep in mind. As parents, guardians, and role models we work hard to show positive behavior choices in world situations. Our behavior in the digital world should be no different. Our children deserve to have appropriate digital role models to help them navigate the confusing, sometimes scary, digital world.
VALPARAISO  From Thursday to Oct. 19, the Confucius Institute at Valparaiso University and the Valparaiso University Department of Music will host the ninth annual Great Lakes Confucius Institute Music Festival that will include a total of more than 10 joint concerts at Valparaiso University and surrounding areas presented by visiting Chinese artists as well as local student and professional musicians.

On Oct. 17 on the Valparaiso University campus, the 16 visiting musicians from China and more than 300 student musicians from Valparaiso University and six invited high school orchestras from the Great Lakes area will perform. Presentations and mini classes on Chinese music and musical instruments given by the Chinese musicians will allow each and every participating American student the chance to try or learn to play up to three different traditional Chinese instruments. Fifty of them will learn to play the famous Chinese song Jasmine Flower (Moli Hua) on the erhu (a two-stringed Chinese fiddle) during the classes and perform it at the Festival Concert, which will culminate in the performance of both Chinese and American works by a joint symphony of several hundred musicians from the two nations, on both Western and Chinese instruments.

This years festival will feature the Jiangsu Provincial Traditional Chinese Orchestra from the city of Nanjing. The orchestra will be led by the internationally renowned erhu master Zhu Changyao, who is the first Chinese soloist to give a recital at Carnegie Hall. Zhu will collaborate with the Valparaiso University Symphony Orchestra on Qiaos Grand Courtyard Suite, which is composed by Chinas most famous movie composer Zhao Jiping.

Organizers of the festival include Professor Jianyun Meng and Professor Bin Yu, both Directors of the Confucius Institute at Valparaiso University, and Professor Dennis Friesen-Carper, director of the symphony orchestra at Valparaiso University.

Consistent with CIVUs mission to teach about China and bring people together through music, the Great Lakes Confucius Institute Music Festival has attracted tens of thousands participants from both China and America, and has grown into one of the largest cultural exchange events in Northwest Indiana and the Greater Chicago area.
Veterans have always had a special bond with one another. No one but another veteran knows what military service and war is like.

There is a group of veterans, however, who take that bond one step more. They are the some 1.8 million who have been awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded in combat.

Frank Garcia, of Hammond, knows. He was wounded twice in 1969 in Vietnam.

Ted Uzelac Jr., of Portage, knows, too. He was wounded in Iraq in 2005.

Garcia is a member of the John R. Kondra Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, based in Hammond. It is the only chapter in Northwest Indiana.

Uzelac, Portages assistant police chief, wants to change that. He, with the help of the Hammond chapter and Indiana division of the MOPH, is attempting to charter a chapter in Porter County.

It is an organization that its members, everyone of them, was wounded in battle while engaged with the enemy, said Uzelac, adding the MOPH addresses the needs of those veterans and is the only group that specifically represents the wounded warriors and Purple Heart recipients.

Uzelacs father and grandfather also were Purple Heart recipients.

Garcia said there are 117 members in the Lake County chapter, which was founded in 1998.

The exact number of Purple Heart recipients in the Region and state is unknown. According to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, 5,802 Purple Heart plates were issued in 2015 in the state. Of those, 400 were issued in Lake County; 199 in Porter County and 140 in LaPorte County. BMV spokesman Dennis Buterbaugh said those numbers may not be reflective of the actual number of Purple Heart recipients because a recipient may purchase more than one license plate and some may have none at all.

Garcia said the purpose of the group is to help other veterans. Much of the assistance comes in helping file benefit claims. He said they are also working on a memorial at Harrison Park and participate in various charitable efforts.

We are all combat wounded veterans. We have a bond that others dont have. We have been through the same thing, Garcia said.

Nationally, the groups mission is to foster an environment of goodwill and camaraderie among combat wounded veterans, promote patriotism, support necessary legislative initiatives, and most importantly, provide service to all veterans and their families.

It offers a network of trained service officers and assistants to help veterans. The organization also operates a volunteer, Americanism and scholarship program. In 1992 it established a Purple Heart Trail through all 50 states to recognize men and women wounded in action.

Uzelac said he needs to gather at least a dozen new members to form a Porter County chapter. Any Purple Heart recipient in Porter County may reach Uzelac at tuzelac@portage-in.com.
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While the pundits, the intelligentsia and the establishment as weve known it for years are grappling with the rise of Donald Trump and trying to make sense of it all, a significant swath of the people know.

They see a world changing, where Caucasians steadily slip into minority status. Where people of different sexual persuasions unite and seek mainstream treatment. Where mixed-race marriages are increasing. Where a troubled world full of jihadists and suicide bombers, hackers and cyber thieves invade their public spaces and their personal bank accounts, creating a world they perceive as increasingly unstable and inherently risky.

So when Gov. Mike Pence decides to ban Syrian refugees from resettling in his state, the pundits, like myself and the intelligentsia, object asking, What would Jesus do?

But there are few objections from the public. The issue, Democratic sources tell me, polls well. It prompted 7th Circuit Appellate Judge Richard Posner to write in his decision maintaining a lower court injunction on the Pence order, The governor of Indiana believes, though without evidence, that some of these persons were sent to Syria by ISIS to engage in terrorism and now wish to infiltrate the United States in order to commit terrorist acts here. No evidence of this belief has been presented, however; it is nightmare speculation.

When Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination July 21, he gave the antithesis of President Reagans morning in America. Trump said, Our convention occurs at a moment of crisis for our nation. The attacks on our police, and the terrorism in our cities, threaten our very way of life. Any politician who does not grasp this danger is not fit to lead our country.

While most of the Hoosier RNC delegation only came around to Trump after Pence was selected for the ticket, many with more internationalist Lugar roots, theyve been swept up in a movement against globalism and integration. They find their constituents chanting, Build that wall. Look no further than Europe to find a nationalist, rightward movement fueling on similar fears.

Last spring, British voters stunned the pollsters by supporting the Brexit with 52 percent of the vote, setting the stage for Great Britain to the leave the European Union. It was a turn of events that has Russian President Putin grinning.

In Austria, the Freedom Party, founded and led by two former Nazi SS officers a generation ago, has positioned Norbert Hofer to win a December runoff election after coming within 31,000 votes of the mainstream contender earlier this year.

The Alternative for Germany Party, founded in 2013 as an anti-EU organization, has gained footholds in 10 of 16 state parliaments. The right wing Hungarian government is building a wall to keep Syrian immigrants out, with wide public support. The governments of Estonia, Poland, Slovakia and Bulgaria want to accept only Christian refugees. And in France, Marine LePens National Front won a record 6.8 million votes out of 25 million cast in regional elections, making him the presidential front-runner in 2017.

As Time magazine observed, All the rising rightist parties are aligned with Trump in what they encourage voters to fear: Migrants taking your jobs, Muslims threatening your culture and security, political correctness threatening your ability to speak your mind and, above all, entrenched elites selling you out in the service of the wealthy and well-connected.

This Trumpian populism prompted NBC Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd to observe that whether Trump somehow wins on Nov. 8, the Republican Party and the broader American establishment will be left to grapple with why more than 40 percent of voters have rejected mainstream politics. The Bushes, the Romneys, the Foreign Service, the military establishment, mainstream Protestants and a significant portion of the Republican Party have warned about this populism.

The reality of 2016 is that Trump and Pence are headed in the opposite direction. It is why Pence can call Trumps Muslim ban proposal of December 2015 unconstitutional and offensive, yet switched his position in July on a 60 Minutes broadcast.

It is a bargain with the demographic devil. This could be a closing window for Trump/Pence. They might be able to pull off a stunning upset next month, then work to change laws favoring a white, aging population in statistical decline.

The math beyond is one of a browner population, more urban, more tolerant. A different type of populism lies over the horizon.
Convincing state leaders to expand pre-K beyond the state's pilot program in five counties shouldn't be an uphill effort.

Those who would stand in the way or lay obstacles to this expansion should listen to a bipartisan chorus singing the praises of pre-K merits to our state's growth and well-being.

Late last month, key legislators expressed skepticism regarding the need for greater preschool access and whether limited state funds might be better spent elsewhere.

Among them was state Rep. Tim Brown, R-Crawfordsville, chairman of the budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee. Brown said he appreciated the "effort, intensity and passion" of pre-K expansion advocates.

But he said he wasn't convinced of its merits and suggested the state could more wisely invest by focusing on improving high-school graduation rates.

Its wrong, however, to view improving high school graduation rates and pre-K expansion as mutually exclusive. Both are important aspects to the success of Hoosier children.

Pre-K expansion skeptics seem to be ignoring key data and studies showing the importance of brain development in children younger than 5.

Numerous studies show pre-K evolves into better education outcomes, and polls show most Hoosiers support expanding pre-K beyond the current pilot program.

That program, which includes Lake County, offers low-income families a chance to send their preschoolers to accredited, participating programs.

Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb, who's running for governor on the Republican ticket, has emphatically endorsed expanding the pilot program to other low-income families throughout the state.

He sees the quality of life and economic benefits that would clearly follow a better prepared, more educationally competitive student population. Holcomb said he would leave it to the Legislature to determine how to fund pre-K expansion, but he understands its importance as a Hoosier investment.

So does his opponent, Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg. Gregg is proposing $150 million in annual funding to expand an option of pre-K to all of the state's 4-year-olds, not just the economically disadvantaged.

We remain encouraged by the common threads of both candidates desire to grow Hoosier pre-K.

Indiana can't afford to remain static or take a step backward on this issue. Regardless of the expansion effort adopted, pre-K must move forward for the sake of future generations.

Dozens of states have seen the merit and figured out ways of funding universal preschool for their residents. Indiana shouldn't allow itself to be left behind.
State lawmakers next year are expected to debate whether to expand Indiana's On My Way Pre-K program for low-income children beyond Lake and four other pilot counties.

Here's what the candidates for governor recently have said in speeches and policy proposals about their pre-K expansion goals:

John Gregg, Democrat

The results of quality early learning are clear. Students attending quality early education programs are more likely to complete high school, earn a college degree and hold a skilled job. Forty other states have figured out how to fund preschool  so can Indiana. My agenda is pretty straightforward. It is universal optional preschool for all 4-year-olds. It's estimated that implementing this program would cost $150 million per year. Funding for these efforts can be found by re-purposing existing Indiana Department of Education dollars and awarding grants to school districts that partner with public/private coalitions to implement high-quality programs. A Gregg/Hale administration will also seek the federal dollars Mike Pence turned away.

Eric Holcomb, Republican

I'm all in for pre-K. We need to get every Hoosier child on a positive path that will ultimately lead to a fulfilling life. That's why I'm committed to responsibly expanding Indiana's first-ever, state-funded early education pre-K program, specifically for those who have the greatest financial need. I want to start by moving the children that are trapped at the back of the line to the front. I believe it should be administered in an affordable and a responsible way. It should include a mixed delivery system that leverages all sources of revenue  federal, state, parental and private  to achieve our goal.

Rex Bell, Libertarian

Getting involved in the education of 3- and 4-year-olds is something we think the government shouldn't be doing. The family involvement carries through more than what a pre-K program would. We should be encouraging that instead of having the government stepping in and saying we're going to take care of this. It's a matter of defining government's proper role. When kindergarten started, it was voluntary, and there's a push now to make it mandatory. I don't have any reason to suspect if pre-K is implemented now that eventually, I'm not going to say it's going to start that way, but eventually it will become a mandatory program too, as I suspect kindergarten will soon.
WAUKEGAN, Ill.  An Illinois man who was awarded $20 million after he was wrongfully convicted in the death of an 11-year-old Waukegan girl may have to split the money as part of a divorce case.

Juan Rivera was imprisoned for 20 years before DNA evidence cleared him of Holly Stakers killing, the Chicago Tribune reported. Now an Illinois appeals court has ruled that the settlement proceeds are marital property.

We feel its a further injustice to Mr. Rivera, said Michael Berger, Riveras divorce attorney. Hopefully well be able to reverse the appellate court decision. But if the result remains, hopefully a jury would only grant a nominal amount, if any, to Mrs. Rivera.

If the ruling stands, the trial lawyer in the divorce could determine how much of the settlement money Melissa Sanders-Rivera, Riveras estranged wife, will receive.

The two met in 1998, after Rivera was convicted in a second jury trial. Sanders-Rivera has said she had taken interest in the legal field and volunteered to work on Riveras case.

Rivera and Sanders-Rivera married in 2000, when Rivera was still serving a life sentence. Rivera filed for divorce in July 2014, two and a half years after his release.

Sanders-Rivera contends in court filings that she has a right to a piece of the settlement money. She specifically cites a portion of the proceeds from a defamation of character claim in Riveras lawsuit, which took place during their marriage.

Berger argued that the injustices against Rivera began before his marriage.

The injuries (Rivera suffered) started before the marriage, continued through the marriage and will (continue) for the rest of his life, Berger said. He was tortured into confessing a crime he didnt commit.

The newspaper couldnt reach Rivera nor Sanders-Rivera for comment Wednesday.
WASHINGTON TWP.  Kristin Miller has been a Superman fan ever since she can remember.

"I've been collecting comic books since I was 3 years old and I was always a Superman fan until I turned 15 then I branched out a little," Miller said.

Miller honored her comic book character favorite by wearing a Supergirl costume and dressing her 8-month old daughter, Zoe, in a similar outfit on Saturday at the Porter County Monster Comic Con  a convention celebrating comic books, toys, celebrities, art and collectibles.

"I'm a big geek and it's a place where you can be ourselves. When you dress in costume, you become that person and there are no worries," Miller said.

Her friend, Brandy Winiecki, also of Portage, wore a Supergirl T-shirt in support.

"I'm slowly geeking her out," Miller said.

Miller, her daughter and friend weren't the only ones dressing up in costumes that included "Star Wars," "My Little Pony" and "Ghost Busters" characters to name a few.

Juli Trapp, one of the organizers, said people dress primarily to escape reality for awhile.

"People like to dress up and be something they aren't," Trapp said.

Trapp said this is the second consecutive year for the event to be held at the Porter County Expo Center.

"We're already signed up for a third year, next year, for Oct. 14," Trapp said.

Trapp owns a comic book and collectibles shop in LaPorte called Monroes, which sells toys and clothing.

Other organizers of the event include her husband, Mark Trapp, along with Matt and Abby Paige.

Trapp said she and the others had attended a similar event in the area and had had a good time.

"We decided we wanted to have something closer to home," Trapp said.

Those who attend such events, held all over the world, are generally into collectibles and wearing costumes, Trapp said.

Sue Smith, of LaPorte, wore a purple tinged wig and a fake unicorn horn to mimic Twilight Sparkle from My Little Pony.

It was the first time Smith and her friend, Russ Harsh, had attended such an event.

"It's like the adult version of Halloween. There's nowhere to go to dress up," Smith said.

Harsh, who was dressed as Ezio the Assassin Creed, said he was enjoying getting away from his usual job which is as an overnight cashier.

"It's being able to get into the mindset of someone other than your everyday self. I can actually become an assassin for a little while without getting arrested," Harsh joked.

Christine and Jimmy Sherwood, of South Bend, said they had attended other conventions but it was their first attending one in Valparaiso.

Christine Sherwood came dressed as Princess Leia and her husband as Obi-Wan Kenobi from "Star Wars."

"I enjoy most the camaraderie. Everyone enjoys dressing up. It gives you a moment to be someone else and not worry about the rest of the world," Jimmy Sherwood said.

New at the event this year was a 1960s-style Batmobile built by Mark Racop.

"I'm a lifelong fan of the TV show," Racop said.
A Catholic group in Harlem celebrated its 100th anniversary Saturday with the Archbishop of New York. NY1's Lyndsay Christian has the story.

The spirit flowed through the Church of St. Charles Barromeo in Harlem Saturday.

A celebratory mass was held in honor of the Franciscan Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary  one of only three orders of mostly black nuns in the United States.

The group, led by Sister Gertrude Ihenacho, is commemorating its centennial year.

"This is 100 years of love and service," said Sister Ihenacho. "We were founded at a time where black people were going through a hard time."

She says the group was on the verge of closing its doors in 2014, as it faced economic hardships and an aging membership. But, prayer and faith kept it going, which is why this milestone is so significant.

"The archbishop encouraged us to start making all things new, he said your work is not completed," Sister Ihenacho said.

"And, it ain't over yet, right?" Cardinal Timothy Dolan said in his sermon to the sisters.

Dolan, presided over the mass. And he encouraged nuns like Sister Evelyn Anyarogbu, one of the youngest in the group, to keep the mission alive.

"We are hoping to carry-on the legacy to which they have left, as the younger generation with anticipation to move the congregation forward," said Sister Anyarogbu.

The order launched one of the first preschool programs in New York in 1923. Today, the group operates this day care center in Harlem and a food pantry in Staten Island, feeding more than 20,000 families each year.

"The sisters have given so much to the Harlem community, especially over at our church serving the homeless," said Harlem resident Theresa Lewis.

"We're ending this century and entering a second century as a vibrant community," said Sister Ihenacho.

An enthusiastic order of nuns  dedicated to its calling for the next 100 years.
Parts of the United States are seeing the effects of Hurricane Matthew as we speak. The storm left a path of destruction after hitting Haiti earlier this week, and New Yorkers are pitching in to help those affected. NY1's Bree Driscoll has the details.

As Harry D'Janite stopped by Kafe L'Ouverture to pick up his morning coffee he brought with him a bag full of soap to donate to the Haitian victims of Hurricane Matthew.

"I'm Haitian and that's my people so of course I just can't sit idly by and not do anything to help," said D'Janite. "I had to get up out of my bed and say how can I help."

After seeing the devastation Hurricane Matthew caused and watching the death toll rise to the hundreds, the shop's co-owners start collecting supplies.

"I am looking for toiletries, feminine products, soaps, bar soap, batteries, flashlights," said Anthony Cunningham, co-owner of Kafe Louverture. "Things they would need every day to go through their daily life."

Co-owner Joanne Saget was born in Haiti and still has family living there.

"I have been in contact with my mom," said Saget. "She was in Port-au-Prince when the storm hit. She said there was a lot of rain, a lot of wind."

Thankfully Saget says her family is safe. They were also in Haiti during the 7-point magnitude earthquake that hit in 2010 killing more than 100,000 people. But there were accusations then that money raised for the victims was mismanaged. Saget and Cunningham say they would like to see things done differently this time.

"Haitians are coming together," Cunningham said. "Other groups are coming together. The products are going directly to the people. This is a grassroots effort."

Organizers say they hope fill up 25 barrels just like these full of supplies to send to Haiti. Community members say after seeing the devastation they feel compelled to help.

"Its heartbreaking," said Bedford Stuyvesant resident Alfanzo Lee. " It's heartbreaking. They just can't seem to get a break down there."

"I just feel like we have an obligation and responsibility to help out whenever and wherever we can," said neighbor Richard Beavers.

Organizers now say they are looking for freight carriers to donate their services to help deliver the goods to Miami, where they will be sent to Haiti for distribution.

You can drop off donations at Kafe Louverture at 392 Haley Street in Brooklyn during business hours.
Tenants at a Manhattan apartment building owned by the New York Archdiocese say they haven't had gas for over a month.

The residents held a meeting Friday night to discuss the problem.

They say their building at 131 Broome Street has been without gas for more than 38 days, and the Archdiocese has been unresponsive to their pleas for help.

Those we spoke with say they're particularly upset because the building underwent a major renovation a few years ago.

"They did not fix the repairs at all," said one. "They didn't even look at the gas pipes. So this is the result of their negligence."

"I feel that it's disgusting that it's taken 38 days to take care of this matter when it should have been done, you know when we had the $97 million renovation," said another.

"If we were not minorities, this would never go this long," said a third. "If it was the co-ops across the street, those fancy co-ops, they would have had gas already."

We have reached out to the Archdiocese for comment.
Demonstrators rallied at Central Park Saturday to demand reform to the city's animal shelters.

Animal rights' activists gathered to call attention to the conditions at Animal Care Centers of New York, accusing them of maintaining unhealthy conditions for shelter animals.

Protestors say animals often get diseases inside shelters and are too easily put down.

"They're going in healthy," one protester said. "They're contacting disease and they're dying. If they don't die, then they're put on a kill-list. Very few ever make it out and we want to change that."

"They need to do what they need to do to make sure that these animals are taken care of," said another. "There are animals that are getting sick because they're putting animals right next to sick animals, now they're developing pneumonia."

"They call themselves animal care and control but these animals are just thrown in a cage and left to suffer," said a third.

We have reached out to the ACC for comment.

It says its shelters took in more than 36,000 animals last year.
Wolfgang Suschitzky, an Austrian-born photographer and cinematographer who was a key figure in a British film movement of the 1930s and 40s that saw documentaries as a force for social good, died on Friday at his home in London. He was 104.

His family confirmed his death.

Mr. Suschitzky started working in documentary film in the late 1930s, when he collaborated with Paul Rotha. Along with the filmmaker and critic John Grierson, who was widely credited with coining the term documentary, Mr. Rotha was a leading proponent of the genre as an instrument that could dignify and elevate everyday life.

Mr. Suschitzky brought a similar social consciousness to his street photography. Duncan Forbes, who organized a show of Mr. Suschitzkys work for the National Galleries of Scotland in 2002, said Mr. Suschitzky had been careful to highlight social grades and distinctions in photographs that often expressed quiet hope over despair.

Whether his subjects were workers laying down paving stones or men in fedoras browsing secondhand bookstore shelves, he depicted them as content doing whatever they were doing.
Sarah Jessica Parker, an HBO legend, returns to that cable channel with Divorce  but this time shes no Carrie Bradshaw. Issa Rae boldly follows her with Insecure. And Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump meet at the second presidential debate.

Whats on TV

DIVORCE 10 p.m. on HBO. Twelve years after the end of Sex and the City, Sarah Jessica Parker returns with a series that suggests a bitter aftertaste to the love found amid all those cosmos. But dont expect Carrie Bradshaw in the burbs. In this new series, created by Sharon Horgan of Amazons Catastrophe, Ms. Parker plays Frances, an arty type turned corporate recruiter, navigating marital purgatory in Westchester County with Robert (Thomas Haden Church), a flailing real-estate developer. But when a friends 50th-birthday party turns amusingly violent, existential navel-gazing ensues. Divorce feels middle-aged in its bones, from the themes to the wintry setting to the 70s-rock soundtrack, James Poniewozik wrote in The New York Times. Its not going to reinvent the breakup comedy or the HBO comedy. Its goal is more modest and midlife-appropriate: to tell one more story of two people trying to reinvent themselves.

THE SECOND PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE 9 p.m. on ABC, Bloomberg, CBS, CNBC, CNN, C-Span, C-Span 2, Fox, Fox Business, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC, NY1, PBS, Telemundo and Univision. Expect things to grow even more heated as Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump face off at Washington University in St. Louis. Martha Raddatz of ABC and Anderson Cooper of CNN moderate the town hall forum, in which the candidates respond to questions of public interest, as determined by social media, as well as those asked by voters.
Christopher Lawrence Pierce and Jonathan Richard Pollock were married Oct. 8 in Detroit. Dr. Robert Sweetman, a friend of the couple who became a Universal Life minister for the occasion, officiated at the Detroit Institute of Art.

The couple met in 2005 at Harvard Business School, from which each received an M.B.A., Mr. Pierce with high distinction.

Mr. Pierce (left), 36, is a senior director, overseeing the global commercial department for hematologic malignancy therapies, at Pfizer Oncology in New York, a unit of Pfizer, the pharmaceutical company. He works with the research and development team that discovers new drugs and with the regional marketing and sales teams to develop strategy on how to market the drugs. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard.

He is a son of Yvette Pierce and Lawrence R. Pierce of Ada, Mich.

Mr. Pollock, 37, is the founder and owner of Ciao Andiamo, a travel agency that focuses on Italy and is based in New York. He graduated magna cum laude from Duke.
Hai-Ching Yang and Tao Jin were married Oct. 8 in Santa Rosa, Calif. Yue Y. Xu, a friend of the couple who became a Universal Life minister for the event, officiated at DeLoach Vineyards.

The bride, 31, and the groom, 32, met at Cornell, from which they graduated.

Ms. Yang, who will keep her name, is a corporate counsel for Coursera, an education technology company in Mountain View, Calif., that provides online courses. She received a law degree from the University of Washington. From 2006-7, she was a Fulbright scholar at Tsinghua University in Beijing, where she conducted research on relations between the United States and China.

She is the daughter of Shuzu Ling of Flushing, Queens, and the late Koahsiung Yang.The brides mother is an assistant vice president for global asset servicing at Citigroup, and works in Jersey City. The brides father was the president of the Voyager Corporation, a technology company that was in Zhongshan, China.

Mr. Jin is a senior consultant in the power and utilities practice in San Francisco of PricewaterhouseCoopers, the accounting and consulting business. He received an M.B.A. and a masters in engineering management from Northwestern.
Shardee Sheryce Caesar and Shane Everett Douglas were married Oct. 8 at the Solage Calistoga Resort in Calistoga, Calif. Devon Fanfair, a Universal Life Church minister, officiated.

The bride, 31, is a marketing manager in Santa Clara, Calif., for Shutterfly, creating marketing strategies for the Wedding Paper Divas brand. She graduated from Rice University and received an M.B.A. from Columbia.

She is the daughter of Felicia G. Caesar and Michael G. Caesar of the Woodlands, Tex. The brides father works in Spring, Tex., as a global oil-field chemicals strategist for Exxon Mobil. Her mother is a case manager and registered nurse in the Woodlands office of United Healthcare.

The groom, 30, is a product partnerships manager in San Bruno, Calif., for YouTube, where he works with YouTube Red, the paid subscription product, and creates partnerships with large telecom companies. He graduated from Dartmouth and received an M.B.A. from Stanford.
Harriet Lyman Brooks and Scott Pieter Caputo were married Oct. 8 at the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, N.Y. Zachary Goldman, a friend of the couple who became a Universal Life minister for the occasion, officiated.

Mrs. Caputo, who is 32 and known as Tory, works in New York as the associate director of customer insights at Chanel. She graduated with distinction from Stanford and received an M.B.A. from Harvard.

She is a daughter of Holly Brooks and William Brooks of Russell, Ohio. The brides father retired as the chief executive of Hyatt Legal Plans, a company in Cleveland that offers legal services as part of employee benefit packages. He is now a general manager at Globality, a technology start-up in Menlo Park, Calif. The brides mother, a lawyer, is on the national board of trustees of Facing History and Ourselves, a nonprofit organization based in New York that empowers teachers and students to think critically about bigotry and prejudice.

Mr. Caputo, 34, is a senior financial adviser at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York. He graduated from the University of Virginia, from which he also received an M.B.A.
Heavy rain was still pounding parts of the state as the governor spoke, and Mr. McCrory said floodwaters could rush through North Carolina for days. The fallout, he said, is going to be a prolonged event.

This is still an extremely dangerous situation, Mr. McCrory said. And I cannot stress it more especially in the areas of Rocky Mount, Kinston, Greenville, Goldsboro and other eastern towns, cities. Were going to have major issues with rivers and flooding.

Mr. McCrory said 58 boat crews had rescued nearly 900 people by Sunday morning.

More than 4,000 people were in shelters on Sunday, Mr. McCrory said, and about 760,000 homes and businesses were without electricity. Parts of Interstate 40 and Interstate 95 were shut down.  ALAN BLINDER

In South Carolina, a Surge of Water

The storm lashed South Carolinas Lowcountry with rain and sent the sea surging upward. It turned roads into rivers and ripped trees from the inundated ground before making landfall north of Charleston. More than 430,000 people around the state had been left without power as of late Saturday.

Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina said on Sunday that she had lifted evacuation orders for four counties, including Charleston.

But residents in four other counties  Beaufort, Georgetown, Horry and Jasper  were still urged to stay away.

We had a lot of rain, for many hours, said Capt. Bob Bromage, the public information officer for the Sheriffs Department in Beaufort County, southwest of Charleston. We had flooding, we may have had some surge that were not aware of yet, we have downed trees, we have reports of downed trees on houses already.
AUSTIN, Tex.  Attorney General Ken Paxton of Texas, who is fighting criminal charges of personally duping wealthy investors before taking office, has won a major court victory after a judge dismissed a nearly identical civil case brought against him by the federal government.

A federal judge on Friday gave the Securities and Exchange Commission two weeks to refile charges against Mr. Paxton, but for now, he has shed one of two cases that have marred his political rise.

Mr. Paxton, a Republican, has spent most of his 20 months on the job under felony indictment. He has pleaded not guilty in the criminal case while trying to preserve a high profile nationally, leading lawsuits against the Obama administration over immigration, transgender rights and Syrian refugees.

The collapse of the civil case gives Mr. Paxton a long-sought court victory over allegations that he deceived investors in a high-tech start-up called Servergy Inc. by not disclosing that the company was paying him. He has twice failed in his attempts to have the July 2015 criminal indictments against him thrown out and is trying again before the states highest criminal court.
The police in Palm Springs, Calif., are mourning two officers who were shot and killed on Saturday while responding to a call about a domestic disturbance. One of the victims was a young mother and the other a veteran months away from retirement.

Dozens of law enforcement officers converged on the scene, where a third officer had been wounded, to help search for the gunman.

I am awake in a nightmare right now, said Chief Bryan Reyes of the Palm Springs Police Department.

The Riverside County Sheriffs Department, which took over the case, said on Sunday that a suspect, John Felix, 26, of Palm Springs, had been arrested.
When Donald J. Trump promised to turn Muslims away from American shores, they wagged their fingers.

When he mimicked a journalist for his lifelong disability, they tsked-tsked.

When he mocked the mother of a valorous soldier killed in combat, they threatened to walk away from him.

But Republican leaders never did. They justified his behavior, they minimized his offenses, they excused his insults.

So why this?

Why did a decade-old three-minute video provoke a sudden revolt by party officials against their nominee, an uprising that could very well destroy their chances of taking the White House?
 After Mr. Trump said again that he opposed the war in Iraq, despite past public statements that contradict him, Mrs. Clinton reiterated that we have it on tape that Mr. Trump had not been against the war before it began. Its not been debunked, he insisted, turning the issue back on Mrs. Clinton. You voted for it and you shouldnt have.

 A black audience member asked if the candidates could serve as president for all Americans. Mr. Trump said that he could, before moving quickly to a standard of his stump speech: wondering aloud what some voters have to lose. It cant get any worse, he said. After Mr. Trump again criticized Mrs. Clintons Senate tenure, she noted that she won re-election by a wide margin. She added, If you dont vote for me, I still want to be your president.

 Mrs. Clinton was asked about a remark, leaked from a private speech, in which she seemed to stress the importance of keeping both a public and a private position on given issues as a political figure. She said she was following the example of Abraham Lincoln as he sought to convince lawmakers to ally with him. Now shes blaming the lie on the late, great Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Trump said. Honest Abe never lied.

 Mrs. Clinton cited the specter of Russian hackers seeking to influence the election with strategic leaks, which she suggested were intended to help Mr. Trump. Believe me, theyre not doing it to get me elected, she said. (She has spoken often of Mr. Trumps kind words for Vladimir V. Putin, Russias president.) Mr. Trump claimed ignorance. Maybe there is no hacking, he said, adding, I know nothing about Russia.

 Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump tussled over taxes, touching on Mr. Trumps efforts to avoid paying them given past losses. He was giving zero for our vets, zero for our military, she said. That is wrong. Asked directly if Mr. Trump had used a near-billion-dollar loss in the mid-1990s to avoid paying taxes, he replied, Of course I do. Of course I do. He accused Mrs. Clinton of not doing enough as a senator to reform the tax code.
She added that she worried the tape of Mr. Trump would encourage that type of behavior to come out from the background, essentially legitimizing it. Its the opposite of how we want people to behave in our society, she said.

Not every woman agrees. Dotann Dunton, a home health aide from Brooklyn, said she was not offended by Mr. Trumps comments and dismissed them as banter. Ms. Dunton, 62, said she had been a registered Democrat, but became an independent so she could vote for Mr. Trump.

It was 10 years ago, she said of the tape. We all say things 10 years ago that we change our minds about later. It was just mens talk. Females, we do the same thing.

If people were offended by Mr. Trumps comments on the tape, They need to grow up, she said. Big deal already.

But Pene Charles, 61, a retired school principal visiting New York from Sydney, Australia, said the comments were a very big deal. Mr. Trump should be held to a higher standard than other men who engage in trash talk, she said, because he is seeking to lead the country. Id like to see better from our leaders, Australian and American, she said.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.  The internal watchdog of the Health and Human Services Department says the often substandard quality of care at hospitals serving Native Americans is the result of outdated equipment and technology, lack of resources, and difficulty attracting and keeping skilled staff.

The Office of Inspector General on Friday released two reports that looked into the longstanding challenges of the 28 hospitals directly operated by the federal Indian Health Service. The office, which acknowledged that reports of inadequate health care services for Native Americans had been of concern to the federal government for almost a century, criticized the agencys limited oversight regarding compliance with federal regulations and quality of care, detailing how the agencys regional administrators had few sources of information to assess the services provided at the hospitals.

The Indian Health Service, commonly referred to as I.H.S., is responsible for providing health care services to enrolled tribal members as part of the governments treaty obligations to Native American tribes. But the agency has faced challenges for decades, and within the past year has been under increased scrutiny from Congress after inspections of hospitals in the Great Plains uncovered severe deficiencies.

The inspector generals office said that the Indian Health Services eight regional offices conducted activities to monitor the quality of the hospitals, but that those efforts were minimal in some areas.
In 2007, in a breakthrough appearance, the Simon Bolivar Youth Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela played two programs at Carnegie Hall. It felt as though an inspiring roster of dedicated, eager young artists, against great odds, had come from South America to jolt classical music with fresh purpose and energy. Under Gustavo Dudamel, their charismatic conductor, 26 at the time, they delivered electrifying performances of Beethovens Fifth Symphony and Bartoks Concerto for Orchestra, among other works.

But much has changed in the intervening years, including the turmoil now roiling Venezuela, with a catastrophic food crisis, breakdown in mental health care and anti-government demonstrations. Against that backdrop, the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, as it is now called, returned to Carnegie Hall to play three demanding programs on consecutive nights to open the halls new season. The most impressive was the last, on Saturday, when Mr. Dudamel conducted a rhapsodic and glittering account of one of the most formidable 20th-century works: Messiaens mystical, ecstatic, 75-minute Turangalila-symphonie. The superb pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet played the daunting piano part commandingly; Cynthia Millar performed the eerily alluring music for Ondes Martenot.

A decade ago, the orchestra was the flagship ensemble of El Sistema, a government-supported program that provides instruments and training to children across Venezuela. Social betterment through music has always been its driving mission.

But several years ago, under Mr. Dudamel, the youth orchestra was turned into a more permanent ensemble, rather than a top student group with periodic influxes of new players. Difficult questions about its affiliation with a government hated by most of its citizens now hover over the Simon Bolivars artistic endeavors, which include recording with a major label and international tours.
In the years Ms. Bennett spent writing the novel, the narrative morphed from a narrow story focused on Aubrey, Luke and Nadia into a layered portrait of a community. She modeled the setting on her hometown, a multiethnic beachside city in San Diego County with a large military population, which often felt suffocatingly small to her.

Ive had people be shocked that the book is not set in the South or some Northern urban city, but its like, black people exist everywhere, Ms. Bennett said. Theres a way in which we have these familiar expectations from black narratives, of where theyre set and what theyll be about, and it wasnt something that I felt I had to push back against or whatever, but I wanted to represent the place that I was from and the people I knew.

Growing up in Oceanside, Ms. Bennett, the youngest of three sisters, was a serious and driven child who started writing when she was 7 or 8. Her early efforts included a play about a coyote and a short story about a Native American boy whose home is destroyed. Before she started writing The Mothers, she wrote another full novel about a group of high school students and the teacher who tries to change their lives.

Her parents worried that her ambition to be a novelist was impractical. Her father, a lawyer who was Oceansides first black city attorney, and her mother, who worked for the sheriffs department as a fingerprint analyst, held out hope that she would go to law school. In college, when her friends and classmates were cramming for chemistry exams or building apps, she wondered at times if her parents might be right.

I knew they had certain expectations for me, but I also had certain expectations for myself, and I think part of it is, being one generation out of poverty can be similar to being a first-generation American, she said. My mom grew up sharecropping in Louisiana, and my dad grew up in South Central L.A., and both of them were able to scratch and claw and go to college, so whats my excuse?

At Stanford, she took creative writing classes and found mentors who urged her to get a master of fine arts degree. During summers, she kept working on successive drafts of The Mothers.
Ms. Whitley said Calpers had snared Loyalton in a Catch-22. The agency would not tell the town the cost of terminating its contract until the contract was ended, she said. But once that was done, it was too late to go back.

We were very confused about why we owe $1.6 million, and why didnt they tell us that before we signed all the papers, she said.

Mr. Davis, the Calpers spokesman, said that since 2011, Calpers had been giving its member municipalities a hypothetical termination liability in their annual actuarial reports, so there was little excuse for not knowing.

Ms. Whitley disagreed. Its just too confusing, she said. I looked at whats been happening with all the other entities, and I saw that eventually its got to collapse. Its almost like a Ponzi scheme.

The bill was due immediately, but Loyalton did not pay it. It has been accruing 7.5 percent annual interest ever since.

Meanwhile, Calpers has continued to pay Loyaltons four retirees their pensions. But at a Calpers board meeting in September, some trustees said it was time to find Loyalton in default and cut the pensions. The board is expected to make a final decision at its next meeting, in November.

In Loyalton, Mr. Cussins, the retiree and City Council member, said he was so frustrated about being barred from the councils pension discussions that he and another former town worker drove to Sacramento to attend Calperss last board meeting.

The trustees were cordial, he said, but they held out little hope.

We had a bunch of them come and shake our hands, he said. I said, We need some guidance. They told us the city could apply to get back into Calpers next spring. But they made it very clear that they will not allow the city to get back into Calpers until that $1.6 million is paid.
I dont think theres anyone doing anything like theyre doing right now, said Dean Crutchfield, a brand consultant based in New York who advises young companies on marketing strategies.

Most brands, he said, are leery of doing anything political during an election cycle because they fear alienating any customers. Even an attempt at a playful ad is too risky for many companies.

Its so intense right now, and uptight and aggressive, Mr. Crutchfield said of the political climate, to position a brand flat in the middle of that fight that makes it friendly and tongue-and-cheek, I think it does stand out.

Mr. Andrews said deciding if the company was comfortable was not easy. One complicating factor is that The Onion tries to be provocative in its advertising.

We always push a little further than probably most brands are comfortable with, just to see how far we can go, said Julie Scott, the general manager of Onion Labs, The Onions internal agency, which has worked with companies and products like Ford, Bud Light and Overstock.com.

She added: We are always trying to maintain the same level of satire and comedy that we would write for ourselves. Were always thinking about what our audience expects from The Onion. And we ask brands to work with us at that same level.
When you look at the actual damage of the situation, the silver lining is were fortunate that more people werent severely hurt, he said. Behind him, three of the commuter cars sat tipped at odd angles on the track, with deep gashes in the steel visible along the length of the train. The damage to the train cars is extensive, and we had a number of injuries, he added, but frankly that we didnt lose any life is something to be thankful for.

The collision occurred just after 9 p.m. on Saturday on the Main Line when a track maintenance train, moving on an adjacent track, entered the track space of the commuter train. The cause is being investigated by the Federal Railroad Administration.

There was a moment when Liana Salgado said she thought, All right, Im dead. Ms. Salgado, 19, was on her way back from New York Comic Con on Saturday night with friends, all dressed as comic book characters. She said the train suddenly gave a tremendous jolt, sending her coffee flying. Ms. Salgado said she injured her shoulder but declined medical treatment.

Ray Martel, 41, a radio producer who lives in West Hempstead, N.Y., was on the train when it came to a screeching, shuddering halt. He described himself as shaken but unharmed. He said the collision, as well as the crash in Hoboken, had made him concerned about the safety of trains. I think we need to spend more money on infrastructure; we need more safety features, Mr. Martel said. Im not scared to ride them, but now I think we need to make this a priority.

Investigators walked along the tracks on Sunday, examining the damaged cars. At least one was splattered with yellow paint  the contents of the maintenance track vehicle that had hit it, officials said.
MEXICO CITY  In 2006, Felipe Calderon, then the incoming president of Mexico, vowed that change was coming to fix the problem of drug trafficking and drug-related violence. To fulfill this promise he sent the army into the streets and embarked on a full-on war against drug trafficking.

Things did indeed change.

The year before he took over, Mexicos homicide rate was 9.5 per 100,000 inhabitants. The rate soon doubled, prompting the government to deny there were any civilian victims: those dead in the war against drugs were either evildoers (drug traffickers) or heroes (the policemen and soldiers who fought them). A decade later, too many unknown victims have fallen in this war. The estimates are close to 150,000 dead and 28,000 missing. Mr. Calderons promise was epic; his strategy, simplistic.

The war of drug traffickers against the government and among themselves has expanded. In places like Tamaulipas, along the border with the United States, to speak out is often a death sentence. In whats known as the Golden Triangle (Chihuahua, Durango, Sinaloa), controlled by the Sinaloa drug cartel, threats by sicarios (the cartels hit men) force the inhabitants to flee their communities. Tourist resorts are no longer sanctuaries. Acapulco is now the countrys most violent city, and one of the worlds most violent.

Even if Mexicans believed Mr. Calderons promise, the question to ask was and still is: Why would thousands of people work in drug trafficking?
Ms. Broaddrick has said that the rape occurred in an Arkansas hotel room in 1978. Twenty years later, she told F.B.I. investigators working on behalf of the former independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr that Mr. Clinton had raped her, recanting an affidavit that she had signed the previous year in which she said that the incident had not taken place.

At the end of the video that was published Sunday morning, Ms. Broaddrick accuses Hillary Clinton of being a knowing enabler of her husband.

She says that Mrs. Clinton had at first thanked her kindly for helping with Mr. Clintons campaign for governor, before changing her attitude, and with this very angry look on her face asking Ms. Broaddrick if she understood the impact of her actions.

And that frightened me, Ms. Broaddrick says.

Aaron Klein, the Breitbart reporter who interviewed Ms. Broaddrick, asks her if she thinks Mrs. Clinton knew what Ms. Broaddrick says she had experienced.
As Republicans across the country contend with the fallout from a newly released recording in which Donald J. Trump made vulgar and sexually degrading comments about women, perhaps nowhere was reaction more swift and decisive than in Utah, home to a sizable Mormon population already deeply unsettled by a sense of the candidates moral shortcomings.

Within hours of the videos release on Friday, a number of top Republican officials in the state yanked their endorsements, including Gov. Gary Herbert, a Mormon, who declared Mr. Trumps statements beyond offensive and despicable. Representative Jason Chaffetz, who is also Mormon, said that if he voted for Mr. Trump he would no longer be able to look his 15-year-old daughter in the eye.

On Saturday, the Deseret News, a media outlet owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, broke with an 80-year tradition of refraining from presidential endorsements to publish an editorial calling on Mr. Trump to step aside.

We prefer to stand for something rather than against someone, Deserets editorial board wrote. But this is one of those rare moments where it is necessary to take a clear stand against the hucksterism, misogyny, narcissism and latent despotism that infect the Trump campaign.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia  Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn declared a six-month nationwide state of emergency on Sunday, saying months of unrest threatened Ethiopias stability.

Human rights groups say more than 500 people have been killed in protests in the Oromia region, Ethiopias largest and most populous region, since last year, when anger over a development plan for the capital turned into broader antigovernment demonstrations over politics and human rights abuses.

The government says the death toll is inflated.

A state of emergency has been declared because the situation posed a threat against the people of the country, the prime minister said on state-run television.

Vital infrastructure, businesses, health and education centers, as well as government offices and courts have been destroyed, he said.
Shame on him, she said. The fact he has no control over his mouth is distressing.

Distressing but not deal killing. Ms. Glenn said she would still vote for Trump. Ill be damned if Im going to let Hillary Clinton take my gun, she said.

Thats the kind of thing Ive heard time and again since arriving in America this summer to cover this campaign from the perspective of a foreign correspondent. From coal country in West Virginia to the Southwestern borderlands, Trump supporters have casually dismissed the litany of insults and outrage that has characterized his campaign. No matter what their candidate said or did  insulting beauty queens or the parents of a soldier who was killed in Iraq; expressing admiration for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia; inflating his wealth or hiding his taxes  Mr. Trumps loyal legions stuck steadfastly by his side.

To them, Mr. Trumps unfiltered populism, including its offensive elements, is actually the attraction: the ability to jab a finger at a political establishment they regard with suspicion, frustration and erupting anger. Nothing can be beyond the pale, because they refuse to recognize the pale itself.

Its a situation somewhat redolent of Italy under Silvio Berlusconi in the 1990s and 2000s, when, despite a stream of gaffes, insensitive remarks and accusations of sex with an underage woman, voters still swarmed to Mr. Berlusconis populist touch. (Not that the two men are cut from the same cloth. Trumps style is antagonistic all the way, whereas Berlusconi was much more of a pleaser, a charmer, noted Roberto dAlimonte, a professor of political science at Luiss University in Rome.)

The contest for the White House, the most powerful job on earth, is much more consequential than anything in Italy. And the yawning chasm between Mr. Trumps supporters and the countrys political class, so apparent this weekend, highlights the delicate position America finds itself in.
KABUL, Afghanistan  As Afghan forces struggle to break a weeklong Taliban siege of central neighborhoods in the provincial capital of Kunduz, insurgents are also stepping up pressure on urban centers in western and southern Afghanistan, officials said Sunday.

In Farah Province, in the west, Afghan security forces have called for reinforcements to hold the line against the insurgents offensive. Fierce battles are also raging around Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province, in the south, which has been surrounded for months as Afghan forces have failed to reverse Taliban gains.

The fall of central areas of Kunduz City, where street-to-street fighting has displaced tens of thousands of people, has punctured the belief that Afghan forces, trained and financed by Western allies, could protect major urban centers. In recent months, Afghan troops have suffered record casualties.

Still, Afghan and Western officials say, the inexperienced Afghan forces, operating largely on their own now that the NATO mission has drawn down to an advisory role, have so far held their own despite being stretched to defend several areas simultaneously.
MANILA  President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to expel American troops from the Philippines, accused the C.I.A. of plotting to kill him and insulted President Obama with an obscenity.

But beyond the blasts of hyperbole  he recently compared himself to Hitler  lies a real and potentially historic shift in Philippines foreign policy.

In public statements and interviews during the past week, Mr. Dutertes top foreign policy advisers said he was seeking to break the Philippines out of the United States orbit and signal to China that he is ready to negotiate closer ties after years of wrangling over its military presence in the South China Sea.

The move is a radical departure for a country that has historically been the most dependable American ally in Southeast Asia, and could undermine Mr. Obamas so-called pivot to Asia, a keystone of his foreign policy. That strategy depends on American allies to counter Chinas increasing power in the region.
TBILISI, Georgia  The governing party in Georgia retained power with a decisive victory in the countrys parliamentary election, according to a nearly complete vote count released on Sunday.

With more than 99 percent of votes counted, the governing Georgian Dream party, which is pro-Western but favors closer ties with Russia, had 49 percent of the vote, while the opposition United National Movement was running a distant second with 27 percent. Smaller parties received the remainder of the votes.

Georgia, a former Soviet state in the Caucasus region, hopes to join the European Union and NATO one day, though Russia strongly opposes both moves. The country is crisscrossed by strategically important oil and gas pipelines, and one-fifth of its territory remains under the control of pro-Russian separatists after a short war with Russia in 2008.

Georgia is one of the few former Soviet states to evolve into a multiparty democracy, though its political stability has been fragile. The authorities were keen to have the latest election, held on Saturday, be accepted as free and fair, despite some problems. Violence related to the vote ranged from rock-throwing at polling stations to an apparent attempt to kill an opposition lawmaker with a car bomb.
ISTANBUL  Kurdish militants detonated a car bomb outside a military checkpoint in southeastern Turkey on Sunday, killing 10 soldiers and eight civilians, the prime minister said. Turkey immediately launched a military operation against the rebels in response.

At a news conference in Istanbul, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim condemned the attack.

For the stability of our country, we will continue doing everything we can to save our homeland and our nation from the forces of terrorism, Mr. Yildirim said.

Cuneyit Orhan Toprak, the governor of Hakkari Province, where the attack took place, told the private news channel NTV that 27 others had been wounded in the attack.

Eleven were soldiers, the Turkish military said.

Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency, citing a statement by the Turkish armed forces, said the attack occurred at 9:45 a.m. outside a checkpoint on the Semdinli-Yuksekova highway and was the work of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or P.K.K. The checkpoint is 12 miles from the town of Semdinli, near the borders with Iraq and Iran.
Pope Francis on Sunday named 17 new cardinals, including three Americans, adding prelates from developing countries to give them a greater voice in selecting the next pope. Francis American appointments elevate moderates in the church hierarchy, bypassing doctrinal conservatives from large archdioceses.

The three Americans, the most Francis named from any one country, are Archbishops Blase J. Cupich of Chicago and Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis and a former Dallas bishop, Kevin Farrell, whom Francis recently reassigned to the Vatican to lead a new department for family, laity and life. Francis had skipped over the United States in two previous rounds of appointments.

The pope announced the new cardinals from the steps of St. Peters Basilica at the end of a special Mass on Sunday, saying their diversity represents the universality of the church and the mercy of God in every corner of the world. He said he will elevate the cardinals on Nov. 19.

The group includes men from five countries that had never before had a cardinal: Bangladesh, the Central African Republic, Lesotho, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. Francis also named as cardinal the Vatican envoy to Syria, a signal of the churchs concern for that war-ravaged country. Other appointees are from Venezuela, Brazil, Spain, Belgium, Mauritius, Mexico, Italy and Albania.
The assailant, whose name was not released because of a court order, was supposed to report to an Israeli jail on Sunday morning to serve a four-month term for assaulting a police officer in 2013, according to Israeli and Palestinian news reports. He had been jailed in the past for security offenses and incitement to violence, the reports said.

A day before the shooting, he told Maan, an independent Palestinian news agency, that he intended to report to prison in Ramla, a city in central Israel, at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Instead, he apparently headed to the area around the police headquarters in Jerusalem.

The Magen David Adom Israeli ambulance service got the first call about the shootings at 10:12 a.m. In addition to the two deaths, it said, three people were wounded by gunshots and two women were slightly injured when the assailants car hit their vehicle as he tried to flee.

Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls the Palestinian coastal territory of Gaza, praised the attack and described the gunman as one of ours.

Al Quds, the Hamas-affiliated television station, broadcast a video that it said was exclusive to the channel and that it described as the perpetrators last words. It was not clear when or where the video had been filmed.
When Jessica Lewis, 32, and Jas Jeet Singh, 36, were tracking the early weather forecasts for Sunday, the day their wedding was to take place on Jekyll Island, Ga., they were disappointed to see that it was supposed to be 81 degrees and partly sunny.

For their outdoor ceremony, they joked, 79 degrees would be ideal.

But a two-degree difference in temperature became the least of their worries as the forecasts took an ominous turn and Hurricane Matthew came into sharper focus. Still, they remained optimistic, telling guests they were certain that the storm would pass and the venue would be cleaned up and ready in time.

We kept telling people, Look, were going to be there, Mr. Singh said in an interview on Friday.

On Wednesday, as the door was closing on their plane from Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington to Jacksonville International Airport in Florida, they learned that the island, which is about 75 miles north of Jacksonville, was under a voluntary evacuation order.
Californias growing diversity has reached the voting booth.

Thirty years ago, the average voter roll in California had scores of Smiths, Millers, Joneses and other common white surnames. Today, youre more likely to see Garcias, Lopezes and Nguyens.

Californias electorate is becoming more Latino and Asian American and less Caucasian. The trend, building for years, has reached a tipping point in this election cycle and is expected to last for decades.

A 2014 report from the California Civic Engagement Project, a non-partisan initiative based at UC Davis, put it this way:

By the 2016 elections, California is projected to have a majority-minority electorate. For the first time, non-Latino whites will fall below 50 percent of the states eligible voters.

Its unclear what that will mean in November and after.

If the GOPs current tough-on-illegal-immigration platform turns out to be a winner at the polls, the Republican Party might coalesce around that message going forward. In that scenario, California, with its emerging nonwhite voting bloc, probably will continue to trend blue, as it has for a generation.

But if Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his build that wall rhetoric lose big in November, the result could be a schism in the GOP  with one version of the party reaching out in some ways to nonwhite, younger voters and another version of the party rallying around voters who support tighter borders and no amnesty, among other things.

Either way, Californias 21st-century voting bloc could play a part in that change.

THE NUMBERS

On thing thats certain is this: There are more nonwhite voters in California because there are more nonwhites, period.

From 1980 to 2014, the states Latino and Asian American populations grew by 230 percent and 331 percent, respectively, while the white population fell about 6 percent, according to a January report from the Civic Engagement Project. The African American population remained fairly constant.

But many of those nonwhite residents are too young to vote or otherwise not registered. So far, the voter rolls havent made the minority-majority jump. A Field Poll found that 59 percent of Californias registered voters are white, down from 83 percent in 1978.

Of all 50 states, California has the most Latinos eligible to vote, according to the Pew Research Center. More than half of Californians age 18 and younger are Latino, with nine in 10 being U.S. citizens.

Millennials, or people of all races and ethnicities who reached adulthood around 2000, make up 29 percent of the states registered voters, second only to baby boomers, according to a report from CALmatters, a nonprofit journalism venture.

Those millennial voters could have an influential say on ballot measures regarding marijuana legalization, the death penalty and gun control.

But the youth share of the California vote is projected to decline in the next 20 years, said Mindy Romero, a political sociologist and director of the Civic Engagement Project.

The greatest challenge for the political voice of millennials is their lower turnout rates, Romero said. Theyre punching below their weight, so to speak.

PROPOSITION 187 ECHOES

An increase in Latinos has meant good news for Democrats.

More than half of Latino voters were registered Democrats in 2014, compared with 17 percent who were Republicans and 24 percent who were independents, according to Romeros group.

Before 1994, Republicans fared well in California. Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush took Californias presidential electoral votes in the 1980s.

Then came Proposition 187, a 1994 ballot measure that would have denied public benefits to immigrants here illegally. Championed by Republican Gov. Pete Wilson  and sold with an advertising campaign that some believed maligned Latinos  Prop. 187 won at the polls before succumbing to a court challenge.

Though registration data dont totally reflect it, Prop. 187 marked a turning point in Latino support  or lack thereof  for the GOP.

Before Prop. 187, the Latino voting population was smaller, not only in raw numbers but in the slice of the bigger voting pie. Also, though Republicans didnt get a majority of Latino votes before Prop. 187, they did well enough to be successful, said Mark DiCamillo, director of the nonpartisan Field Poll, which routinely surveys California voters.

Two things changed after Prop. 187, according to DiCamillo and others.

First, Latinos started registering in greater numbers than before 94. Second, they started voting more reliably for Democrats.

With fewer non-Latinos to compensate, the Latino voting bloc became a powerful force for Democrats in California politics, DiCamillo said.

Democrats control all statewide elected offices and hold majorities in the Legislature and the states congressional delegation. As of July, 45 percent of the states registered voters were Democrats and 27 percent were Republicans.

As more Latinos vote, expect to see a gradual increase in Latinos holding public office, said Francisco Pedraza, an assistant professor of public policy at UC Riverside who studies the political attitudes and voting behavior of ethnic minorities.

That doesnt mean there will be a huge shift in the issues.

(Latino voters are) like any other voter in California, Pedraza said. They tend to think about these issues very carefully.

Voting blocs in California are changing geographically, too.

The southern San Joaquin Valley and Northern Californias eastern half are among the regions of the state that are becoming more Republican, and coastal areas are trending Democratic, said Dan Putler of Alteryx, an international data analytics company.

Asian Americans, who tend to vote Democratic, are concentrated the most in the Bay Area, Los Angeles County and Orange County. Voters are more white in counties bordering Oregon and Nevada, according to maps provided by Putler.

SO MUCH ENERGY

Though sheer population growth will create more Latino voters, its unclear how powerful that vote will become.

Historically, Latinos vote at lower rates than other ethnicities, especially in midterm elections when the White House is not up for grabs.

Luz Gallegos, community programs director at TODEC, a Perris-based Latino outreach nonprofit, is confident Latinos will turn out and vote in greater numbers. Observers have speculated that Trumps candidacy might spur a rise in Latino participation, with voters angry about his campaign rhetoric turning out to cast ballots.

We continue to see so much energy around (this) election, Gallegos said. We have noticed it since last year that more and more people are actually calling or walking in to our sites to register to vote.

Gallegos hopes Latinos will remain engaged beyond November.

Sometimes, we complain in respect to different issues or candidates. But if we are not casting our vote, we shouldnt complain, she said.

We cant allow others to decide for us.

jhorseman@scng.com
I wasnt there in Charlotte that night. I can only imagine what it was like for the people of Charlotte to watch their neighborhoods looted, vandalized and in flames. Like millions, I helplessly watched in horror, waiting for safety updates from my friends in North Carolina, wondering together if this world was going to ever get back on track.

As a mother and a human being, my heart breaks for this divided nation. As a psychologist, my reactions are distilled to one question; Can an individual make a positive difference?

Psychologists have long studied the art of blaming. The human nature of blaming others and avoiding personal recrimination goes beyond the self-serving attempt to feed egocentric desires. Our brains subconsciously exercise a strong preference of coding, storing and retrieving data that strengthens our already established assumptions and biases. In other words, it is much easier for our brain to securely store newly inputted information in a pre-existing drawer already labeled for that theoretical framework.

According to social psychologists, we perceive what we wish to expect. We make external attributions to defend what we perceive as attacks. We point to injustice in an unfair world and even go as far as blaming victims for their fate as we seek to distance ourselves from the possibility of suffering the same plight. We see ourselves as more unique, multidimensional and intentional, while we ascribe others as more predictable and blameworthy.

We collect data to strengthen our interpretations of peoples behaviors. But the truth is, the data gathered is, more often than not, reliant upon informal social communication, mass media or other indirect sources rather than our own firsthand experience. Moreover, the speed at which we come to conclusions is far faster than the breadth of information available for us to accurately examine the situation.

Too often we judge other groups by their worst examples, while judging ourselves by our best intentions. Isnt it true that when it comes to other peoples actions, we are quick to blame their character, attitude or personality, yet when it is about our own flawed actions, we attribute the situation to be the problem? After all, when we are late to a meeting, its because of traffic. When someone else is late, they must be deficient in time-management skills.

Besides the blames and the self-serving biases, the tragic death of a 28-year-old woman in 1968 opened our eyes to an astonishing theory about human social interaction. Kitty Genovese was brutally stabbed to death in front of her New York apartment, where 38 law-abiding citizens reportedly heard the half-hour attack yet almost all failed to act. Some chalked it up to the true nature of peoples calloused indifference. That same year, researchers Dr. Bob Latane and Dr. John Darley published a study that replicated the same phenomenon in a lab setting. This classical studys finding linked the amount of time it takes people to take action and seek help in an emergency with the number of other observers in the room. In short, when there are a lot of people around, individuals innately feel less accountable to act. Contrary to common belief, the chance of you receiving help in an emergency is better when there is only one person around rather than a dozen, and you can increase the sense of accountability by singling people out.

Amidst the protests following the death of Keith Lamont Scott, a young African American man named Ken Nwadike Jr. was seen standing between the wall of Charlotte police armed in militarized riot gear and the outraged mob. This young mans voice is steady, calm and firm over the crowds emotional tirade. And rather than addressing the crowd as a whole, he squarely makes eye contact with each individual, to whom he is pleading. He asks individuals, not groups to join his effort. What unfolds before the camera is remarkable and consistent to Latanes and Darleys five-decade-old finding. When this young man addressed people individually, he in turn reversed the sense of deindividuation and increased the feeling of accountability in them. Their angry faces began to relax and what started as a shouting match eventually turned into a respectful dialogue.

With more than 324 million people, this nation is one of the most ethnically diverse and multicultural places on earth. We have grown accustomed to looking to the police, the politicians and formal leaders to fix the problems. But to change the current conditions, it is on each and every one of us to constructively create peace through our everyday actions. It is on individuals to show compassion and understanding to those who are different from us  something that Latane and Darley theorized, and what Nwadike in Charlotte risked his life to prove.

Dr. Christine Choe is a police psychologist based in Southern California and a former department psychologist for the Long Beach Police Department. Contact her on Twitter @drcchoe
Nate Svihlik has been appointed mall manager for The Shops at Mission Viejo. Svihlik is responsible for local leasing, tenant relations, building operations, security and marketing efforts. Svihlik joined Simon Property Group in 2014.

Christopher M. Robertson and Denisha P. McKenzie have joined Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger in Irvine. Robertson rejoins as a partner to provide prelitigation counseling and legal solutions on all workplace-related issues. McKenzie joins as an associate and will provide legal counsel to clients regarding employee rights and benefits.

Diane Pritchett, executive director of the South Coast Metro Alliance, has joined the board of nonprofit Project Independence of Costa Mesa. Pritchett is also a member of the board of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

NEW VENTURES

First Foundation Inc., a financial services company with two wholly owned operating subsidiaries, First Foundation Advisors and First Foundation Bank, is acquiring two branches from Pacific Western Bank in Laguna Hills and Seal Beach. The deposits in the branches total roughly $200 million. No loans are being acquired in connection with the transaction, which is expected to be completed before the end of the year, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. At deals end, First Foundation Bank will operate 11 branches, nine of which are in California.

Mission Viejo-based Ensign Group, which has skilled nursing, rehabilitative care services, hospice care, assisted living and urgent-care companies, has sold its 14 urgent-care operations in the Seattle region to MultiCare Health System, a nonprofit health care group, for undisclosed terms. Ensign runs roughly 230 health care facilities in 14 states, including California. The sale includes 14 clinics in the area and two that are under development.

OReilly Auto Parts is opening a location at 500 N. Harbor Blvd. in La Habra. The store will celebrate its grand opening Wednesday through Oct. 25.

MILESTONES

Matt Shapiro, managing partner of the Seasons 52 in Costa Mesa, has achieved Diamond Club status with parent company Darden Restaurants. Shapiro joins a group of five top-performing managing partners selected from the 40 Seasons 52 restaurants in North America.

Marquee Staffing in Irvine received the American Staffing Association Genius Grand Award for 2016. A panel of communications and marketing experts selected the honorees among ASA member companies.

Jone Pearce, a deans professor of organization and management at the Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine, was inducted Sept. 6 into the College of Fellows during the 30th annual British Academy of Management Conference in Newcastle, England. Pearce was among four professors recognized for outstanding academic contributions to business and management scholarship and to the general well-being of business and management education.

Kevin Ruiz, an Orange County District Attorneys Office investigator, was recognized by Orange County Probation Department for his collaborative work at the Annual Chiefs Award Ceremony. Ruiz has been in law enforcement for 40 years and is assigned to the Orange County Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership. He partners with police departments to provide education and recreational opportunities for at-risk students, which increases school attendance and decreases gang activity.

GOOD WORKS

The Orange Coast College Foundation has received $240,000 from Pimco co-founder Bill Gross and his wife, Sue, to establish a a scholars program that will support students pursuing career and technical education at OCC. The Grosses established a similar scholarship program at Saddleback College in 2014, giving 80 students a chance to earn a scholarship that would prepare them for skilled jobs.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire raised a record-breaking $1.5 million to support the nonprofits one-to-one youth mentoring programs. Some 400 of Southern Californias business and community leaders attended the fundraiser in Newport Beach, where Rudy J. Baldoni, CEO of Newport Investment Associates, received the organizations highest honor, the 2016 Joel K. Rubenstein Award. Baldoni, serves on the executive board for the local agency and became national chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America earlier this year.

Allstate agency owner Jesse Lewis in Anaheim Hills received the Allstate Agency Hands in the Community Award for helping others. The Allstate Foundation awarded $1,000 grants to Hispanic 100 Foundation, Canyon High School Education Foundation, Pop Warner Little Scholars and Crescent Elementary School.

Jaguar Land Rover North America in Irvine will hold an open house today for veterans seeking work. The company wants to hire 180 veterans in the U.S. by the end of the year. Attendees will speak with local retailers, tour the training center and watch technical demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Jaguar Land Rover Academy, 9292 Jeronimo Road.

Navy Federal Credit Union will host shred-a-thons at its Orange County branches between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday.The bank, with locations in Fountain Valley and Santa Ana, requests paper items only. Remove all clips and metal fasteners beforehand. Do not bring business or commercial materials, CDs or hard substances. In Fountain Valley: 18709 Brookhurst St., Suite 5A; in Santa Ana: 2022 E 17th St.

Jackie Slater, a former Rams offensive tackle, will be the keynote speaker at the 2016 KidWorks Foundation for Success fundraising luncheon. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Santa Ana/Orange County Airport. Tickets and event sponsorships are available. Sponsorship can be arranged by visiting kidworksonline.org or contacting Lisa Gels at 714-834-9400 Ext. 126 or lisa@kidworksoc.org.
SANAA, Yemen  An airstrike on Saturday hit a funeral hall packed with thousands of mourners in Yemens capital, Sanaa, and local health officials indicate that over 140 people were killed and more than 525 wounded, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Yemen said.

Nasser al-Argaly, the Health Ministrys undersecretary, told a news conference earlier that the Saudi-led coalition was responsible for the airstrike, which one rescuer said turned the site into a lake of blood. At the time, al-Argaly said at least 82 people were killed and 534 wounded, but cautioned that the casualty figures were not final.

Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, said in a statement that the humanitarian community in the country is shocked and outraged by the airstrikes. He condemned the horrific attack and reminded all parties to the conflict that under international humanitarian law, they are obliged to protect civilians and civilian infrastructures. He called for an immediate investigation into the incident.

He said initial reports from health officials in Sanaa indicate that over 140 people were killed and more than 525 injured, McGoldrick said.

Yemeni security and medical officials said the dead and wounded include military and security officials from the ranks of the Shiite Houthi rebels fighting the internationally recognized government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi as well as the Houthis allies, loyalists of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Among those killed was Maj. Gen. Abdul-Qader Hilal, head of the capitals local council, according to the officials. Saturdays funeral was held for Sheikh Ali al-Rawishan, father of Galal al-Rawishan, the interior minister in the rebel-led government. Galal Al-Rishwan was seriously wounded in the attack.

In the aftermath of the strike, hundreds of body parts were found strewn in and outside the hall. Rescuers collected them in sacks. The strike left the building little more than a shell, with most of its walls and roof gone. Cars parked outside were mangled by the blast.

The place has been turned into a lake of blood, said one rescuer, Murad Tawfiq.

Ambulances rushed to the site to ferry the wounded to hospitals. In radio broadcasts, the Health Ministry summoned off-duty doctors and called on residents to donate blood. Rescuers, meanwhile, sifted through the rubble in search of more casualties, but a fire that erupted hindered their work.

The humanitarian community provided trauma kits, blood bags and medical supplies, and deployed medical staff to local hospitals, McGoldrick said.
IRVINE  A 26-year-old man was killed after he was hit by a semi-truck on the I-5 freeway Saturday morning, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The crash was reported just after 4 a.m. on the southbound 5 freeway near Lake Forest Drive in Irvine, according to a CHP dispatcher.

The man was identified as Ryan Tornell, of Laguna Hills, by the Orange County coroner.

Circumstances surrounding the crash were not available.

Contact the writer: lawilliams@scng.com
GSK strengthens China R&D commitment Updated: 2016-10-09 14:11 (chinadaily.com.cn)

Li Min, GSKs global head of neuro sciences and general manager of R&D in China, delivers a speech at the Enterprise Forum, an event during the 2016 Pujiang Innovation Forum on Sept 25, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

GlaxoSmithKline, the UK healthcare company, will continue to strengthen its commitment to research and development in China to better serve Chinese patients and patients around the world.

"In the field of neurological diseases, we are very much committed to neurodegeneration and neuroexcitation," said Li Min, GSK's global head of neurosciences and general manager of R&D China.

"In medicine, you need to stay focused. You have to commit to one direction and make it happen," Li said.

Li Min joins the panel discussion at the Enterprise Forum, an event during the 2016 Pujiang Innovation Forum on Sept 25, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The company has invested heavily in neuroscience research in China in the past few years. In 2015, it launched Neuro2020, a project aimed at strengthening partnerships with universities in order to convertthe best neuroscience research into products on the market, thereby benefiting patients.

"Neuro 2020 is a program to interact with Chinese universities, research organizations and biotech. We believe great science is not limited inside an organization but around the world," Li said. "It is a part of our five-year plan to establish both our research as well as connectivity to the rest of our ecosystem, especially in China."

The company is working with four leading universities in China, according to Li.

"We believe there is great science in China with clearpotential for drug development," he said.

Li Min delivers a speech at the Enterprise Forum, an event during the 2016 Pujiang Innovation Forum on Sept 25, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

GSK has established a headquartersfor neuroscience research and development in Shanghai to deal with related matters in an effective and efficient manner.

Li said the decisionmaking processat the Shanghai headquarters is one of the key advantages that separates GSK's R&D center from those of other companies.

In addition to having the power to decide on research and development processes, the headquarters plays a key role in attracting global talent, according to Li.

"Outstanding leaders in science hope to work in a place where they have a high probability of contributing to something that makes a real difference. By setting up our R&D structure in this way, we are committed not only to patients in China but also to talent in China," Li said.

Meanwhile, GSK's research and development centers in Philadelphia, San Diego, and London will continue to provide support to Shanghai's research base.

With more than 70 years' experience working in antibiotics and an active pipeline in the area, GSK is keen to provide support to China's public health development.

GSK announced in March it will form a new public health institute in Beijing to help China tackle the health threats posed by antibiotic resistance and infectious diseases.

The Institute for Infectious Diseases and Public Health aims to create sustainable, affordable treatment options for patients in China by aligning GSK's R&D capabilities in infectious diseases with the country's public health interests, and will act as a focal point for academics, government, healthcare providers and regulators, according to the company.
As the fourth anniversary of her husbands suicide by train approaches, Kristi Hugstad looks from her condo in Dana Point to the railroad tracks across the bay where he perished.

In between, a world-class view unfolds. Yachts, sailboats, kayakers, paddlers flow through the busy harbor. Mothers and toddlers play on the shore. Beyond, the sea sparkles before a horizon of undulating mountains. At night, thousands of lights twinkle.

The scene is both salve and reminder of the unique pain of losing a loved one drowning in depression and mental illness. Almost always, survivors ask themselves, What if ?

RELATED: Suicide by train: Shared tragedies upend string of lives

Yet through therapy, counseling classes and teaching her own clients how to cope with grief, Hugstad has not only changed the course of her own life, she has changed the course for others.

With perseverance, will and that sometimes elusive but oh-so-powerful human trait called hope, coming out the other side of the tunnel of even a very public suicide is possible.

ANABOLIC STEROIDS

To understand Hugstad is to understand family.

Before I met Hugstad, I knew her sister, Debbie, the receptionist at a gym I frequented. But Debbie is more than a receptionist. She is a friend to anyone walking in the door and a light for anyone going through dark times.

Thats the way the Hugstads roll.

Along with another sister and a brother, Hugstad grew up on her familys farm near a small town in Minnesota called Wanamingo, a village of 1,086 people. The Hugstads tended to 6,000 chickens and 40 cows. Her high school graduation class was 38.

Hugstad followed her brother to Augsburg College in Minneapolis where she earned a masters degree in exercise physiology. Then she followed Debbie and became a teacher.

Twenty years ago, Hugstad decided to leave behind teaching physical education as well as the winters of Minnesota and follow Debbie once more, this time to the sunny promise of California.

Sitting in her living room perched on a cliff overlooking Dana Point Harbor, Hugstad laughs at the memory. It was New Years Day, 30 degrees below zero when she left Minnesota. When she stepped off the plane, it was 90 degrees warmer.

It was a welcome change for someone used to hearing, Cold nuff fer ya?

Hugstad traveled the world as a fitness instructor for Cunard Cruise Lines, worked as an instructor at Golden Door Resort near Escondido and eventually settled in Dana Point where she started her own business, a Spinning and Pilates studio called the Sweat Shop.

Soon, a friend introduced her to the owner of nearby Headlands Fitness, a weight-lifting gym owned by Bill Brotherton Jr., a competitive body builder.

Brotherton had been a skinny 6-foot-2 high school athlete in Houston, Texas. In college, he discovered bodybuilding and dropped out to focus on competition. At the peak of his powers, Brotherton put on 150 pounds of muscle.

You dont do that, his widow cautions, just by lifting weights alone.

Her husband, Hugstad says, was deep into the murky, illegal and often personally dangerous world of anabolic steroid injections.

On top of that, he piled GHB, known as the date rape drug, to calm his nerves, as well other tranquilizers such as Xanax.

MENTAL ILLNESS

After a few years dating, Hugstad and Brotherton married in 2005. They combined their gyms into Pulse Fitness and life looked good. Then, the effects of the recession started to hit.

Five years ago, the couple sold Pulse Fitness and moved to their condo in Rosarito, Mexico. The plan was to enjoy the leisurely life of expats. But beneath layers of pumped up muscle, a time bomb ticked.

Decades of steroids combined with the massive amounts of prescription drugs and a need for admiration was about to explode.

Brotherton missed his gym buddies, being known as the big guy not just on the block, but throughout a city. At his gym in Dana Point, there was constant buzz about his muscles.

At the condo tower in Rosarito, there was no buzz  and practically no people.

The couple tried a gym in downtown Rosarito. But it didnt offer the fix that Brotherton craved.

He needed his ego validated by other people, Hugstad allows. Inside, he was an insecure little boy. He had low self-esteem.

Hed had 30 years of adulation. He needed comments on his physique.

Soon, Brotherton became so agitated, the couple moved back to Dana Point. But gym rat couldnt climb out of rock bottom. He grew more shaky, more nervous, more paranoid.

Therapy didnt help. Prescriptions from psychiatrists didnt help.

Four years ago today, Oct. 9, 2012, Brotherton wouldnt let his wife out of the bathroom. He said she had to divulge the name of the man she was having an affair with. But the girl from Minnesota wasnt having an affair.

Her husband was delusional.

Still a mountain of muscle at 240 pounds, Brotherton frightened. He repeated his demand, tree trunk arms blocking the doorway.

Sam Smith, Hugstad blurted, desperate to say anything to get out of the home. Jim Jones.

Finally, Hugstad said, Bill, stop it. Youre scaring me.

In a moment of lucidity, the tower of muscle softened. He let Hugstad flee.

As his wife disappeared out the door, Brotherton had a final request, Can you get me some food?

It was the last time Hugstad saw her husband.

FINDING A NEW PATH

Hugstad spent the night at Debbies.

Alone, Brotherton called his parents. Im in trouble. My brain is scrambled.

Dad hopped a plane to San Diego. He texted his son that he would arrive an hour before sunset on the northbound train. Son texted back hed meet him.

But instead of going to a train station, Brotherton returned to an area hed checked out before: A place where a footbridge crosses railroad tracks.

The weightlifter paced. He ducked down a small ravine near some bushes.

A massive train with Dad aboard approached.

Suddenly, the man who had been a star athlete as a teenager stepped in front of the speeding engine.

His arms, Hugstad says, were outstretched like Jesus.

The next morning, Brotherton Sr. learned the man on the tracks was his son. Hugstad got a call from her mother-in-law. Theres been an accident. Bill was hit by a train.

Looking back, this widow realizes she enabled her husband to continue a life of steroids, that she pretended to herself that he was only taking a little, that somehow it was OK, that it was a part of his profession.

But cleaning out her husbands drawers, an array of syringes screamed truth.

For awhile, Hugstad took on blame, wondered about ifs. What if she hadnt gone to Debbies that night? What if she had insisted on stopping the steroids?

There was disbelief, Hugstad confesses, and guilt. The train looped in my mind for months.

Little by little, however, Hugstad rediscovered the depth of her farm roots, the love of family, the importance of friends. She learned to turn negative thoughts into positive ones, to focus not only on the bad, but also on the good times she and her husband had together.

You need to allow happiness in, Hugstad explains, to let things go.

She heard Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren preach about channeling pain into helping others and decided to make that her lifes work. She took classes and became certified as a grief recovery specialist trained in such losses as career, relationships, death, suicide.

I want to abolish the stigma of mental illness, depression and suicide, she offers, so people like Bill can get the help they need.

Today, Hugstad blogs, has a podcast, a website, TheGriefGirl.com, and is looking forward to her book coming out in December. Called What I Wish Id Known: Finding Your Way Through the Tunnel of Grief, it is both memoir and guide.

One of the things Hugstad teaches is that pain and joy can coexist, that time helps but it doesnt necessarily heal.

Ill always have that little hole in my heart, Hugstad says. But Ive learned thats OK.

On some nights when the wind is just so, Hugstad hears the train whistle blow. She considers it a sign that her husbands doing fine.

Contact the writer: dwhiting@scng.com
KUWAIT CITY  An Egyptian driving a garbage truck loaded with explosives and Islamic State papers rammed into a truck carrying five U.S. soldiers in Kuwait on Saturday, injuring only himself in the attack, authorities said.

The attempted attack is the first by the Islamic State group to target American troops in the tiny, oil-rich emirate thats a stalwart U.S. ally. It comes as authorities already increased security ahead of a major Shiite commemoration in the coming days.

Kuwaits Interior Ministry identified the attacker as Ibrahim Sulaiman, born in 1988, and published a picture of the alleged assailant in a hospital bed, a bruise beneath his right eye. The ministry said the five soldiers were not injured. It said Sulaiman had multiple fractures and injuries.

It was not immediately clear if the Egyptian had a lawyer. The ministry did not offer a location for the failed attack, though it published pictures of the aftermath of the crash showing a wrecked garbage truck, as well as items it described as a suicide belt loaded with shrapnel. The white pickup truck apparently carrying the soldiers had the left side of its bed smashed in.

American forces and others have troops stationed at Kuwaits Camp Arifjan. The U.S. militarys Central Command referred a request for comment to U.S. Army Central, based in both South Carolina and Kuwait. The Army did not immediately respond, while the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait City had no immediate comment.

Kuwait is a solid U.S. ally following the 1991 American-led Gulf War that ended the Iraqi occupation there. Terror attacks are rare in the emirate, where Shiites and Sunni Muslims largely live in peace.

An Islamic State-claimed suicide bombing in 2015 targeting a Shiite mosque in Kuwait City killed 27 people and wounded scores. The extremist group, which holds territory in both Iraq and Syria, did not immediately claim the failed assault Saturday, though the Interior Ministry described Sulaiman as having paper in his handwriting indicating he had adopted terrorist thought and had pledged allegiance to the group.

Such attacks on U.S. forces are incredibly rare in Kuwait. In 2003, a former U.S. Army sergeant named Hasan Akbar in the 101st Airborne Division threw four hand grenades into tents in Kuwait as members of his division slept, then fired his rifle at soldiers in the ensuing chaos in the early days of the American-led invasion of Iraq. He was sentenced to death for killing two soldiers and wounding 14.

Earlier in 2002 ahead of the invasion, a U.S. Marine was shot dead and another wounded in an attack by Islamic extremists in Kuwait, while a police officer later shot and wounded two other American soldiers.

The reported failed attack comes ahead of the Shiite commemoration of Ashoura, which marks the death of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala in present-day Iraq in the 7th century.

Kuwaiti police have promised increased security ahead of Ashoura. Two Iranians were arrested in recent days for taking suspicious photographs ahead of the commemoration.
Would teen use of marijuana drop and roads become safer if Californians vote to legalize cannabis in November, as Rep. Ted Lieu has claimed? Or would pot shops begin luring kids with clever TV commercials that push drug-infused candy, as Sen. Dianne Feinstein has argued?

In August, those wildly divergent claims landed before Sacramento Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne W.L. Chang, who had to referee a battle over dueling assertions that proponents and opponents wanted to include in the states official voter guide.

Her ruling?

Both sides were exaggerating and needed to tone down their depictions of a California future with legal, recreational cannabis.

Novembers election is polarized like few in modern memory, from the presidential choices on down. But the intensity of the fight over Proposition 64, which would legalize the recreational use of cannabis, has stood out. Out of 17 controversial initiatives on the state ballot  including efforts to increase gun control and ban the death penalty  the question about pot is the only one so far thats led to lawsuits.

Ever since cannabis got sucked into the 1960s culture wars, the debate over legalizing marijuana has been about more than whether adults should get to choose between lighting a joint or sipping a beer to unwind. It has been cast as a series of choices between the defense of personal freedom or public health, social justice or public safety, reality or morality.

Many of those supercharged arguments linger, stifling responsible policy decisions even as prohibition crumbles across the nation, argues Mark A.R. Kleiman, a New York University professor and leading expert on legalization.

Legislators remain afraid to tackle the topic. So its been left up to activists on both sides, with many pro-weed advocates clinging to claims that marijuana is harmless while opponents issue warnings that smell a bit like Reefer Madness.

ALMOST LEGAL

Similar arguments arose 20 years ago, when California voters passed the nations first and most relaxed medical marijuana measure.

Today, no ones going to jail for small amounts of the drug.

Marijuana is easy enough to get, with ads for stores on bus stops and billboards. There are cannabis-theme yoga classes, city tours and museum exhibits. There are high-end restaurants mixing marijuana molecules into craft cocktails.

Thats why, unlike the impact legalization might have in Texas or Indiana, many scholars contend California wont change dramatically if voters take the next step and regulate marijuana more like alcohol.

Since possession of an ounce of cannabis has meant only a ticket for six years, passing the measure wouldnt, as some supporters suggest, free up much space in crowded jails. It also wouldnt do much to stabilize the state budget, since the estimated $1 billion in tax revenue generated by the new market will be targeted narrowly for youth prevention programs and public safety. And legalization would only undercut, not eliminate, the black market, which experts say will persist so long as marijuana remains illegal in other states and for those under 21.

Despite fears expressed by some opponents, people still wont be permitted to walk down the street smoking pot, since the initiative prohibits public consumption. Employers could still hire and fire workers based on drug tests. Dispensaries wont pop up everywhere because cities could still regulate or ban marijuana businesses. And medical marijuana patients would face a bump in taxes, but otherwise retain their 20-year-old right to cannabis access.

Significant changes are in store for Californias unregulated medical marijuana market, though theyre coming regardless of the vote on Prop. 64. Thats because Sacramento lawmakers approved a regulatory overhaul last year that soon will require marijuana legally produced in California to be tracked, tested for safety and sold to patients through state-licensed shops.

Its too soon for definitive answers on how legalization impacts crime, drugged driving and teen use. Conflicting studies out of Colorado since the state voted to allow recreational marijuana in 2012 show both slight increases and slight decreases in all three concerns. There are scattered reports of more marijuana-related hospital visits and school issues.

Still, a majority of Coloradans tell pollsters that legalization has been good for the state, creating jobs, boosting tourism and generating new revenue.

Given that California already accounts for half the nations legal cannabis market, experts say theres no reason to expect more dramatic results if recreational use is legalized here.

MATTER OF PRINCIPLE

So the question remains: Why does Prop. 64 even matter?

Many supporters  including the measures top funder, former Facebook president Sean Parker  argue its about social justice.

Though no one is jailed in California for minor pot possession anymore, a report from the pro-Prop. 64 Drug Policy Alliance found there were 8,866 felony arrests for growing and selling marijuana in 2015, with enforcement disproportionately affecting minorities and young people. Prop. 64 reduces penalties for most marijuana-related crimes, giving adults convicted of possession with intent to sell six months in jail rather than two years in prison and teens caught with the drug counseling and community service instead of criminal records.

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom says he doesnt like marijuana. But hes a leading proponent of Prop. 64, arguing it would begin to fix a broken system thats consumed law enforcement resources and made marijuana easier for kids to get than alcohol.

On the other side, Feinstein and other vocal opponents of the measure say legalizing recreational marijuana sends the wrong message. And they warn that children, whose brains may be harmed by early exposure to the drug, could find cannabis-laced candy or be enticed by dispensary ads on TV.

The anti-Prop. 64 camp also points to a conflict with federal regulators, who still rank marijuana as a top-tier narcotic on par with heroin and wont give the industry access to banking services.

I believe in the rule of the law, Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said. And the rule of law is that, federally, its against the law.

Stanford professor Keith Humphreys, who served on a Newsom-led commission that studied marijuana policy, predicts the industry will flourish in California if the business-friendly measure passes.

That means adults can expect easier access to cheaper marijuana. While that may sound good to consumers, Humphreys said it also raises concerns about abuse and a corporate takeover of the market.

CALIFORNIA IMPACT

Theres one thing advocates, opponents and scholars appear to agree on: The outcome of the Prop. 64 vote will sway the broader conversation on legal marijuana.

It may matter more for people outside California than in, Humphreys says. Were a trendsetter.

California led the way in banning cigarette smoking in restaurants, with two-thirds of states following suit. It pioneered strict emission regulations on new cars  policies now standard for the auto industry. And it was the first to sanction medical marijuana. Today, 25 states let patients use the plant.

Its perhaps surprising that California has approached recreational marijuana legalization more cautiously. But polls show the Golden State is now on track to join four others that have already permitted adult cannabis use.

And as California is the sixth-largest economy in the world, experts say the Nov. 8 vote has the potential to either delay the legalization movement or propel it past the point of no return.

bstaggs@scng.com

Contact the writer: 714-796-7963 or bstaggs@ocregister.comTwitter: @JournoBrooke
This November, California voters will again take matters into their own hands, making historic decisions on whether to ban the death penalty and legalize pot smoking for fun.

But wait, theres more 

Restrictions on guns and grocery bags. Condoms on porn actors. School bonds and hospital fees and cigarette taxes and drug price controls. Voters are being asked to decide 17 statewide issues  the most for a state election in 16 years. Thats in addition to city, school and county measures and an often lengthy lineup of candidate elections.

The public is turned off by the length of the ballot and the range of issues, said Jan Wagner, president of the League of Women Voters of North Orange County. Among the states likely voters, 67 percent say there are too many ballot measures and 83 percent say wording is often too complicated, according to a survey by the Public Policy Institute of California.

But while voters gripe about the details, the power to circumvent the Legislature and pass laws is held dear. The institute survey found 76 percent of Californians have a positive perception of the initiative process.

Some of the states most popular landmark laws have been the product of ballot measures, with 1978s Proposition 13 limit on property tax hikes among the prominent examples.

But a recurring complaint that there are too many measures is bolstered by studies examining the phenomenon of voter fatigue. The situation was exacerbated by the Legislatures 2011 decision to consolidate all citizen initiatives on the November ballot, ending a half-century of spreading measures over both primary and general elections.

A side effect is that voters are likely to reject more of the measures. Thats because the longer the list of propositions, the more likely voters are to say no  or simply abstain.

John Matsusaka, president of USCs Initiative & Referendum Institute, examined 442 ballot measures in California and Texas from 1958 to 2015, finding that each additional measure resulted in a 0.3 percent lower approval rate for all propositions on that ballot.

By that calculation, each of the 17 measures on the November ballot will be nearly 5 percent less likely to pass than if it was the only initiative on the ballot. The study did not look at whether the content of a particular measure would affect the likelihood of it losing support on a long ballot.

Some believe propositions at the top of a long list of ballot measures have a greater chance of passing. Mastusakas findings dont support that view, only that all measures lose support on longer ballots.

But he and other experts interviewed dont suggest the number of ballot measures should be reduced.

Seventeen is manageable, but its up there, said Matsusaka, whose data show the average number of measures on the fall ballot is 16 over the 116-year history of the initiative process.

Voters have shown that if they hear the arguments, they demonstrate their will and democracy works, he said. Any benefits from higher approval rates on short ballots would have to be balanced against the downside of curtailing the number of public issues on which voters are allowed to decide.

Inherent flaws

Like the legislative process it often seeks to sidestep, the states initiative process is a compromise of competing interests.

Make it easier to qualify initiatives and you not only get longer ballots, but also increase the likelihood that voter-imposed mandates will conflict with existing laws and increase expenditures without considering other budgetary obligations.

The initiative process is whats best and worst about California democracy, said Jodi Balma, a Fullerton College political scientist.

Among good reforms cited by Balma is 2008s Proposition 11, which removed redistricting from the partisan interests of the Legislature and put it into the hands of an independent commission.

The downside can be found in measures such as 2006s Proposition 83, known as Jessicas Law, Balma said. The measure bans convicted sex offenders from living near schools or parks.

But the absence of public hearings and expert vetting meant inadequate consideration of an existing mandate that ex-cons return to the county where they were convicted. As a result, theres no residential area in San Francisco where convicted sex offenders can legally reside, despite the requirement that they live there. In 2014, legislators approved several reforms to the initiative process. Once proponents of an initiative gather 25 percent of the signatures to qualify for the ballot, public hearings are held by the Legislature, and the initiative sponsor is allowed to amend the proposal to correct shortcomings.

Additionally, in an effort to reveal the special interests behind a proposition, the top 10 donors for each campaign now must be listed on the secretary of states website.

Voters believe special interests use their financial resources to pass ballot measures that benefit them, according to the PPIC survey. Studies by the group and others have found that special interests do have a high success rate in defeating unfavorable propositions but that theyre less successful at getting yes votes for pet measures.

Voters want the initiative process, but they know special interests can be pushing what they want, said Mark Baldassare, PPICs president. Theyre on the lookout for special interests.

Special interest success in defeating ballot measures was demonstrated in November 2014, when voters rejected measures affecting health insurance, medical malpractice and tribal casinos. In each case, opponents outspent proponents by seven times or more.

Defeating ballot measures is easier in part because voters tend to default to saying no on propositions they dont understand clearly or havent taken the time to adequately examine. Even if opponents cant convince voters a measure is bad, their argument can stir reservations or confusion.

In general, voters are tired by the time they get to the ballot measures, Balma said, noting that they are listed after candidate elections. Its a whole lot easier for special interests to use their money to cast doubt on a measure than to ensure voters really understand the benefits.

mwisckol@scng.com

Contact the writer: mwisckol@ocregister.com
If Hillary Clinton becomes the 45th U.S. president, the 2016 election will be remembered as one in which much of the mainstream media all but admitted aligning itself with the Democratic Party. Having said that, there are ample reasons for Americans  even those who dont believe the Fourth Estate should take sides the way it has  to vote against Donald Trump.

Just off the top of my head, here are 10:

1. You dont like the way he treats or talks about women. 2. Electing the first female U.S. president in history excites you. 3. Youre a conservative unconvinced that the thrice-married Trump is a sincere convert to your cause. 4. You find his comments on race, ethnicity and religion insensitive  or worse. 5. He sounds woefully uninformed about domestic and foreign policy. 6. He often does not tell the truth. 7. He lacks the qualifications, having never held government office. 8. You think Trump is an overrated, perhaps shady, businessman. 9. It bothers you that he brags about his wealth, while refusing to release his taxes. 10. He cant pronounce China or Nevada.

OK, the last one was in jest, although Lord knows the media are having fun with The Donalds tomato-tomahto routine about Nevada. But the medias partisanship this year is no joke. The nations most prominent news outlets appear to be in a Trump-bashing competition.

The Washington Post calls Trump (but never Clinton) a liar in ostensibly straight news stories; its columnists, left, right and center, routinely take aim at Trump supporters; the paper termed Trump a unique and present danger in an editorial it published during the Republican convention. This was comparatively measured prose: An earlier Post editorial compared Trump to Stalin and Pol Pot.

The New York Times editorial board was also not content to merely endorse Clinton: It used a separate editorial solely to excoriate Trump, the worst presidential nominee in modern history, while saying that Americans leaning toward him have an obligation to reconsider. The Times published a front page essay essentially arguing that covering the 2016 election even-handedly is an abdication of a higher principle.

The star outlets of the New Media are even more unfettered. After fact-checking both candidates for a week, Politico introduced its findings thusly. The conclusion is inescapable: Trumps mishandling of facts and propensity for exaggeration so greatly exceed Clintons as to make the comparison almost ludicrous.

Thats not how journalists traditionally present facts, but it was restrained compared to The Huffington Post, which announced in 2015 it wouldnt cover Trump. When that became untenable, it resumed covering him, but now ends every Trump story with an editors note calling him a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist Theres more, but perhaps you get the idea.

This is not traditional journalism. Its a kind of open advocacy that makes perennial Republican Party complaints about liberal bias seem quaint. It also makes large swaths of the media indistinguishable from Democrats.

Perhaps Trump has earned every bit of this opprobrium, but I have a question. If Trump is so horrible  so far beyond the pale  why do his critics find it necessary to twist his words, characterize everything he does in the least charitable light, pretend they dont know when hes kidding, and exaggerate their own records?

Want examples? Theyre everywhere.

In his debate with Trump running mate Mike Pence, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine repeatedly asserted that Hillary Clinton and the Obama administration had ended Irans nuclear weapons program. This is not a claim even made by John Kerry  the secretary of state who actually negotiated the deal after Clinton left.

Kaine did this kind of thing all night. He said that 15 million new jobs have been created during the Obama administration. The real number is 10.5 million. He said that both Trump and Pence think we ought to eliminate the federal minimum wage. Actually, Trump said once that states should set the minimum wage, although he said subsequently there should be a federal minimum wage and that it has to go up.

The Democratic vice presidential nominee repeated an assertion made by California Sen. Barbara Boxer at the partys convention: that Trump and Pence want to punish women who have abortions. Trump was baited by Chris Matthews into saying there has to be some form of punishment for abortion, but he rescinded that statement within hours. And Pence has never said anything of the sort.

Hillary Clinton goes around saying Trump believes its dangerous for wives to work outside the home. Trump often says odd and uncharitable things about women, but Clinton has deliberately misconstrued his words. Trump did say, in a 1994 ABC interview, that putting a wife to work is a very dangerous thing, but he said it in response to a question about why his marriage to Ivana Trump failed  he was describing the problem of putting his wife in charge of one of his casinos so that he was, in effect, her boss.

If youre in business for yourself, he said, I really think its a bad idea to put your wife working for you, he said. I think that was the single greatest cause of what happened to my marriage with Ivana.

It was one of the few times Trump has sounded remotely reflective. But in the Democrats telling, it was one more example of Trump being a sexist pig.

Just last week, he expressed solicitude for military veterans with PTSD, and vowed as president to make helping them a priority of his presidency. But because he spoke  as Trump often does  in the vernacular, instead of the lingo of health professionals, Democrats and the press pounced. Trump was called any manner of names by Democrats (Joe Biden said he was ignorant) and liberal journalists, and the veterans they stirred up pretended they didnt know Trumps heart was in the right place.

Politics aint beanbag, as the old saying goes, but Americans loathing of politics-as-usual is precisely why Donald Trump became an unlikely presidential nominee this year, and if the Democrats and their media allies think Trump is Frankenstein, they ought to consider their own role in creating him. They might want to consider another thing, too. Whoever fights monsters, Friedrich Nietzsche cautioned, should look to it that he himself does not become a monster.

Carl M. Cannon is executive editor and Washington Bureau chief of RealClearPolitics.
I have always had a special relationship with music, learning to play piano when I was 10, and to sing in a choir when I was 30, with my first solo at 40. Now well into my 60s, music still plays an important role. It is well established that the arts not only feed the soul, but also inspire creativity and problem-solving and are an essential part of achieving success in school, work and life. Yet, as we celebrate the arts for the value they add to learning and life, study of the arts is quietly disappearing from our schools.

Thats why the Irvine Companys announcement last week of a $20 million gift to the Irvine Unified School District was worth a rousing Hallelujah Chorus. This gift will help place more than 30 music, arts and science teachers in every fourth- through sixth-grade classroom for the next decade, and follows the companys initial 10-year, $20 million grant in 2006 for the districts Excellence in Education Enrichment Program.

In return, the district has developed the best music, arts and science enrichment program in the nation, benefitting more than 7,400 students annually. Superintendent Terry Walker has repeatedly said  and shown  that the enrichment program isnt a luxury add-on to the districts curriculum, but rather is an essential part of it, and has helped make Irvine Unified the best school district in California.

The results of this partnership are extraordinary. Heres a partial list of accomplishments:

More than half of the 220 Pacific Symphony Youth Ensemble musicians are Irvine Unified students, far more than any other district.

For the past two years, Irvine Unified was the highest-performing school district in California in math and English language arts/literacy.

Irvine Unified students routinely receive top honors at the annual Orange County Science & Engineering Fair, sending the most students to the state competition.

This year, Irvine was the first district to have all four high schools named GRAMMY Signature Schools for their music education.

This year, Irvine Unified was named a top-five district in the U.S. for student achievement by the nonprofit Education Cities.

Since 2006, state test scores in science for Irvine Unified fifth graders have jumped from 60 percent to 88 percent. Those same scores for Irvine Unified eighth graders have risen from 77 percent to 92 percent.

What makes this all the more remarkable is that, because of state formulas, Irvine Unified ranks at the bottom in per-pupil funding. The public-private partnership between the district and the Irvine Company illustrates that the educational bar can be raised in creative ways to produce top-quality students (and, later, professionals for the Orange County business community) along with schools and communities that are the envy of California.

According to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, As a nation, we are close to reaching a collective understanding that all students benefit from the opportunity to learn about and experience the arts. Art and music in school are critical components to a well-rounded education and future career opportunities. Many studies have shown that arts education improves childrens ability to understand traditional subjects like math, science and English. It also helps students develop communication skills, problem-solving skills, creativity and openness. As technology continues to advance and change Orange Countys industries and businesses, the workforce will rely even more on workers equipped with these skills. In fact, according to the 2016-17 Orange County Workforce Indicators Report, those skills are among the top 10 most in demand for current job openings.

OCBC and Orange County Development Board will dig deeper into these trends at the release of the report on October 11 at the Hotel Irvine. The report findings will provide a clear picture of Orange Countys current education landscape, performance metrics and comparisons with other regions. This is a great opportunity to celebrate success but also note where more focus is needed  including arts education  to prepare the countys students for 21st-century careers.

OCBC commends the Irvine Company for its gift of arts education. We encourage others to follow its lead by supporting the arts to enhance student achievement, ultimately benefitting Orange County with a high-quality, skilled workforce.

Lucy Dunn is president and CEO of the Orange County Business Council.
Factory jobs and what trade policy means to manufacturers has been a hot-button topic on the presidential campaign trail.

Republican Donald Trump has threatened to play hardball with major trading partners as a way to bring back U.S. jobs, especially at factories. Democrat Hillary Clinton has been more measured in her critique of trade arrangements that may be of disservice to U.S workers. (We wonder why nobody highlights the benefit of cheap imported goods to the U.S. consumers wallets.)

Manufacturing jobs, while on the decline, are still a significant part of the U.S. economy. And tough talk on trade can cut two ways for factory jobs, as many goods and services made in the U.S. are exported.

Heres a quick statistical primer showing five economic impacts of the manufacturing business and exported goods. I used my trusty spreadsheet to analyze data from the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Commerce Dept. to detail factory works impact on the national economy, plus California and two Rust Belt states seen as toss up contests in the race for the White House  Pennsylvania and Ohio.

1. Factories pay well.

These are jobs worth fighting for when you look at average compensation for 2015.

Nationwide, manufacturing workers averaged $79,553 in compensation. Thats 24 percent more than all workers.

California factories pay even better: Workers averaged $92,801 last year, or 66 percent more than all workers in the state.

Premium wages also were found in the Rust Belt. Ohio factory compensation averaged $71,178 per worker, or 49 percent above the statewide average. In Pennsylvania, manufacturing pay was $70,414, or 39 percent more than the typical worker in the state.

2. Still big job slice

While some rhetoric suggests we dont make much these days, 12.3 million U.S. manufacturing jobs are a noteworthy slice  9 percent  of the national workforce.

California is the national factory job giant, with 1.27 million workers in manufacturing fields  more than Pennsylvania and Ohio combined. But manufacturings slice of all the states jobs is below average at 7.9 percent. Contrast to Pennsylvania, where its 568,000 manufacturing jobs equal 9.7 percent of workers in the state.

And wonder why Trumps pro-factory arguments sell in Ohio? Its 688,200 manufacturing jobs are 12.7 percent of all jobs in the state.

3. Its big dollars

Manufactured goods go for prime dollars, with their share of gross domestic product well in excess of factories corresponding share of the workforce in 2014.

Nationally, the value of U.S. manufacturing  $3 trillion in 2015  was 12 percent of U.S. output .

California, the largest state in term of total dollars produced  $256 billion  actually had a below-average share of statewide output: 11 percent.

Pennsylvania factory pulled a similar output share: 12 percent. But in Ohio, factory output is 17 percent of state domestic product.

4. Goods get exported

Rearranging trade deals could put at risk an employment growth sector as U.S. exports could possibly be harmed.

California had 707,000 workers in jobs tied to exports last year, the nations second-largest export workforce behind Texas at 1.046 million. But California export jobs grew just 7 percent in 2009 through 2015.

Compare that to growth of 15 percent in the last six years seen nationally (6.7 million jobs), Pennsylvania (190,000) and Ohio (260,000.)

5. The Pacific riddle

Theres been much political debate about the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a pending trade agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries, including the U.S. and minus trade-giant China.

Ill allow others to debate the merits of the deal, noting that both major party presidential candidates think the deals unfair to U.S. workers and are against it.

Just note the scope of whats on the table: U.S. trading partners in the Trans-Pacific pact account for 46 percent of the value of all U.S. exported goods in 2015; 43 percent for California exports; 50 percent of Pennsylvanias and 61 percent of Ohios.

Those hefty shares show why trade deals matters  and the huge need to get the pacts done correctly.

Contact the writer: jlansner@scng.com
LOS ANGELES  The civilian commission overseeing the Los Angeles Police Department is considering implementing new rules involving officer-involved shootings, including releasing video of the shootings to the public more quickly.

Also under consideration by the Los Angeles Police Commission is a proposal to provide more training to officers on how to handle tense confrontations without resorting to gunfire.

The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday that the commission will take up the issues next week.

The proposal to release video of a shooting more quickly has been one police departments have traditionally resisted to avoid tainting an ongoing investigation.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck recently dispensed with the tradition, however, when he quickly released video showing a teenager killed by police was armed with a gun.

Some witnesses said the teen was unarmed.
In a political climate where intense polarization between the major political parties and their presidential nominees is the norm, there is an issue where both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump seem to almost agree. Which issue is it? The answer may surprise you  its marijuana. Clinton has called states passing legalization laws laboratories of democracy, while Trump has suggested that federal regulators leave it up to the states.

The reasoning and relevance of these positions is clear. In a major trend, four states (along with the District of Columbia) have already legalized recreational use, and as many as five more could join their ranks come November. California is fortunately among them. Proposition 64, up for a vote this year, puts legalization on the ballot, giving the Golden State an opportunity to reform current law in a measured, methodical way that better serves the public and private interest.

By now, Californians can consult a large body of evidence on the economics of marijuana  today and tomorrow, in-state and beyond. The numbers are striking. One in eight adults in America, 13 percent, now say they currently partake  nearly double the percentage who reported smoking marijuana only three years ago, according to Gallup. And in California, the market is already booming, accounting for $2.7 billion of total sales of $5.7 billion nationwide, according to Politico. Within just a year of legalization, industry research indicates, sales will increase by over $1.5 billion. According to some estimates, Californias market alone could eventually reach $15 billion or more.

That means the potential tax receipts from legalization are substantial too. By passing Proposition 64, Californians will approve a 15 percent sales tax on all marijuana products, plus a flat tax applied to commercial cultivation. Meanwhile, according to state officials, the current system that will punish some 20,000 residents for marijuana offenses this year is likely to cost the state about $100 million. Thats wasted tax money.

In the face of opportunity, many legislators recognize where the center of gravity in state politics is shifting on the issue, and theyre acting accordingly. In addition to a broad coalition of private groups, Prop. 64 enjoys bipartisan support, including Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. In Sacramento, two lawmakers have already prepared marijuana tax bills that will likely go up for a vote after the election.

Unfortunately, among the measures political opponents, some elected officials have warned of an adverse effect on children that Prop. 64 was explicitly drafted to prevent. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, for instance, claimed that legalization would lead to ads targeting children with appealing treats. But ads and products aimed at those under 21 years of age are expressly prohibited by Prop. 64. The states political old guard may not be ready to catch up with the desires and interests of those they serve. But no constituent is served by unfounded charges that confuse the statewide electorate instead of helping people make well-informed decisions.

These misleading arguments and ads are meant to instill fear in parents likely already grappling with whether or not they should vote for legalizing recreational marijuana because they worry about their children gaining access to weed. But legalizing and, particularly, regulating marijuana could make pot less accessible to minors.

In fact, minors are likely more able to gain access to marijuana now than if it were legalized and regulated. Ask a high school student or young adult under 21 if its easier to get marijuana or alcohol today. Id bet you find that its marijuana. Thats because retailers realize that the risk of losing a liquor license or facing steep fines far outweighs the benefits of a one-time sale of alcohol illegally to an under-age consumer. Within the status quo, it does not matter if a dealer sells marijuana to an adult or child; they are both illegal activities and the consequences for selling to adults or children are essentially the same. Legalization fixes this and gives clear direction to law enforcement.

Marijuana sales  medical or otherwise  have been in the shadows for far too long. And because the industry has operated outside the bounds of a legal framework, a slew of unnecessary problems have occurred. Consider this: because marijuana sales are illegal it is largely a cash business. And any law enforcement official will acknowledge cash businesses, by their very nature, are prone to more crime including theft and even murder. Legalizing marijuana in California will not fully solve this problem  that will take federal action so that marijuana businesses are able to use banks instead of safes  but its a start and certainly sends a message to Congress.

California officials  and fellow citizens  face some simple and significant facts around recreational marijuana today. As part of a state-by-state process, passing Prop. 64 would align California law with public opinion and with the growing scope of the marijuana industry and its tax base. To some residents, legalization will feel like a big step, and in a way, it is. But more importantly, its a thoughtful, reasonable one, well in sync with the times.

Brian Calle is opinion editor for the Southern California News Group.
The U.S Department of Justice recently announced plans to phase out its use of private prison contracting. And for nearly a year now, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton been going even further, expressing support for a wholesale ban on the use of private prisons by state governments. A private prison ban would be bad for California.

The state has used private prisons in targeted ways dating back to late 2006, when California began to house inmates in privately operated out-of-state prisons as part of a multifaceted strategy to reduce severe overcrowding in state-run prisons. At the time, California had just seen its prison health care system placed under federal receivership due to a court ruling that the medical care California was providing to prison inmates was inadequate and an unconstitutional form of cruel and unusual punishment. Years later, this was followed by a ruling from three federal judges demanding the state dramatically reduce its prison population to address overcrowding that the court found threatened the health and safety of inmates.

Private prisons have provided California with an important relief valve for a decade, serving as part of a larger package of efforts designed to end prison overcrowding and reduce the high cost of corrections. Without private prisons, California would have been forced to spend billions building new prisons or renovating existing prisons to comply with court orders. The debacle of the state-run prison system, which featured massive prison overcrowding and operated a failing health care system that performed so badly the federal government took it over to end ongoing civil rights violations, needed help from the private sector.

California started sending several hundred inmates to out-of-state private prisons in late 2006. But by the end of 2010, the state had sent over 10,000 inmates to be housed in such facilities.

Notably, Gov. Jerry Brown once expressed his intention to phase out Californias use of private prisons upon taking office. However, dealing with the realities of Californias prison woes has prompted Brown to continue to rely on private prisons. As of last month the state still had nearly 4,800 inmates housed in out-of-state private prisons.

Banning states from using private prisons would take vital options off the table. How would California have dealt with its overcrowding crisis without shifting thousands of inmates to private prisons over the past decade, for example? Failing state prison systems like Californias  or even states simply needing to address aging prison facilities in need of replacement  wouldnt have options to turn to in times of need if a ban were imposed.

Private prisons should be viewed as a tool that lawmakers can use to improve the criminal justice system. Were seeing countries like the United Kingdom, and states like Pennsylvania, experiment with corrections contracts that connect private prisons compensation to making demonstrable progress in reducing recidivism rates of their inmates after theyve completed their prison sentences. Not only do such these agreements prompt the private prison providers to improve their inmate rehabilitation and education services to drive better outcomes when people re-enter society, but they also shift the overall focus of private prisons from simply filling prison beds to actually helping offenders so they dont re-offend and cycle back through the prison system again later.

Given this emerging paradigm in contracting in private prisons, and the state governments epic failures in prison management, banning private prisons would be foolish. Californias decade of sensible use of private prisons to help address severe prison overcrowding shows how private prisons can assist states in times of need. Instead of scapegoating and targeting private prisons, state and federal officials should embrace them as tools to help improve offender rehabilitation programs, reduce recidivism rates, and deliver on needed criminal justice reforms.

Leonard Gilroy is director of government reform at the Reason Foundation.
Companies from 30 nations to attend industrial expo in Guangzhou Updated: 2016-10-09 14:22 By Qiu Quanlin in Guangzhou(chinadaily.com.cn)

More than 2,700 small and medium-sized companies from over 30 countries and regions will showcase their products in an industrial expo in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, according to the organizers.

The annual China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF), which focuses on equipment, textile and garment, construction material and furniture, energy saving and cross-border e-commerce, will be held in Guangzhou on Oct 10.

Delegations consisting of officials and business people from Cote d'lvoire, India, South Africa, Nigeria, Bulgaria, Kenya, Myanmar, Mexico, Vietnam, Russia and Poland will attend the fair, looking for opportunities to boost economic ties with China.

"As one of the largest consumer markets, India will strengthen ties with China in terms of cooperation in industrial sectors," said P. Udayakumar, director of planning and marketing of the National Small Industries Corporation Ltd, a government of India enterprise.

The fair, co-hosted by India and Cote dlvoire, will end on Oct 27.
Its increasingly unfashionable to celebrate those who made this republic and established its core values. On college campuses, the media and, increasingly, in corporate circles, the embrace of diversity extends to demeaning the founding designers who arose from a white population that was 80 percent British.

In this American version of Maos Cultural Revolution, which tried to eviscerate traces of Chinas past, venerable buildings are being renamed, athletes refuse to stand for the national anthem and, on some campuses, waving the American flag is now considered a microaggression, while English students at Yale want to avoid reading the likes of Milton, Shakespeare and Chaucer.

Of course, some changes are justified. Asking anyone, particularly African Americans, to revere the Confederate flag or attend schools named after the founder of the Ku Klux Klan is, indeed, offensive. But in our zeal to address old wrongs, we may also be sacrificing the very things that have made this republic so attractive to millions from distinctly different backgrounds for the last two centuries.

Why we come here

Just to clear the air, I have not a single drop of British blood in me. The closest ties I have to what I consider my cultural and political home country come from my great uncle Simon, who served in Gen. Allenbys Jewish brigade in World War I, and that my wife, born in Montreal, came into the world a subject of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. Career wise, I did work for a think tank in London for several years.

But what ties most Americans to the founders is not race, but our embrace of a political and legal culture based on distinctly Anglo-Saxon ideas about due process, representative government, property rights and free speech. These proved infinitely superior to the divine right of czars, kaisers, emperors and other hereditary autocrats for generations of non-Anglo-Americans.

This system, always capable of amendment, has allowed waves of traditional outsider groups  African Americans, Latinos, women, Mormons, Jews and Muslims  to join the economic, political and cultural mainstream. In some cases, as in the case of President Obama, they have also secured the highest reaches in the national firmament.

The idiocy of cultural appropriation

The Maoist nature of the current anti-Anglo campaign is exemplified by the current notion of cultural appropriation. By this theory, writers and analysts are being told to stay away from topics that dont resonate with their DNA.

This approach undermines the very purpose of art as a means of transformation. Can we imagine reconstructing the realities of the antebellum South without Huckleberry Finn? Should all of the producers and directors responsible for Zoot Suit or Roots have been forced to submit to DNA screening? Do we kick Elvis Presley, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones out of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame because of their appropriations from African American culture?

When working well, a multicultural society works both directions. Think of the hit play Hamilton, written and conceived by a Hispanic, played largely by African Americans and adored by an entire generation of young theater lovers, many of whom are getting their first good taste of American history. By the standards of cultural appropriation, the Daughters of the American Revolution should be filing suit.

The road to nihilism

Cultures, and nations, get stronger when they can incorporate new elements into their existing narrative. The Roman Empire, by offering citizenship to non-Italians, extended its period of pre-eminence. Rome, declared the second-century Greek writer Aristides, is a citadel which has all the people of earth as its villagers.

As in the case of the Roman Empire, Americas greatest achievement has been to incorporate other cultures into its mainstream. Despite the current racial discord, it must be noted that America has succeeded in welcoming, and integrating, vast numbers of Hispanics, Asians and Middle Easterners over the past half-century.

Their growing success puts the lie to existing racist sentiments that have been fanned, in effect, if not consciously, by the candidacy of Donald Trump. Neither are our multicultural prospects made better by Hillary Clintons demeaning of largely white deplorables or her embrace of the Black Lives Matter politics of division and victimization.

Both Clinton and Trump seem unable to acknowledge what America already is, or, more importantly, what it can be. On our streets, in our theaters, in our foods and in our music, we experience a rich commingling of cultures every day. Politicians may see advantages in stirring up enmity but America is becoming a profoundly less racist nation, and will be even less so in the future. For example, the percentage of Americans who approve of interracial marriages has grown from 4 percent in 1958 to 87 percent today.

So lets have more African Americans donning colonial garb to tell the national story while whites add black, Asian or Latino notes in their music, cooking and writings. This is a testament to the greatness of our Anglo founders vision, which should be embraced  even by those of us whose lineage extends far from the British Isles.

Joel Kotkin is the R.C. Hobbs Presidential Fellow in Urban Futures at Chapman University in Orange and executive director of the Houston-based Center for Opportunity Urbanism (www.opportunityurbanism.org).
Wednesday at 1.

Two people, five years later, lucky to be alive.

Tillie Boitel will never forget the day she rescheduled her hair appointment at Salon Meritage, the little beauty shop on Pacific Coast Highway in Seal Beach. Doug Childers will never forget the violent sounds that interrupted his lunch break.

It was Oct. 12, 2011.

Boitel still marks Oct. 12 on her calendar to honor her friend.

I think of Victoria, said Boitel, 69. Shes missed the birth of her grandchild, and so many other things.

Wednesday at 1.

Its been five years since the worst mass shooting in the history of Orange County. A madman, armed with three handguns, shot nine people in and around Salon Meritage. Only one of the victims survived. The memorial flowers are long gone. And the smell of gunpowder. And the innocence that once led people to describe the town as Mayberry by the sea.

Childers was working across the street from the salon at a construction site.

Wednesday at 1.

Childers had taken his lunch break in a trailer on the site. He heard gunshots. Childers had been a combat Marine, so he knew immediately what he had heard.

He ran toward the sound. He heard more shots. He kept going.

Childers still has nightmares about what happened in the next 21 minutes.

Police arrived at Salon Meritage five years ago Wednesday at 1:21 p.m.

  

Tillie Boitel walked past Salon Meritage last week. Running shoes, sunglasses. Her husband, Rich, 70, held the leash for Mindy, their German shepherd/husky.

Everybody is just more aware of their surroundings, Rich Boitel said.

Today, Salon Meritage looks basically the same. The lettering on the front has gone from all capital letters to capital and lower case. The tagline  A fine blend of hair, skin and nails  has stayed the same. The inside has been remodeled and the bullet holes repaired. The phone number has been changed.

People were just shocked that something like that would happen in Seal Beach, Tillie Boitel said. This has been very, very hard for everybody.

Doug Childers was one of the first people to arrive on the scene of the shooting. Today, hes a construction consultant, doing a job in Big Bear. He married one of Salon Meritages former hairdressers, Tammy Hetzel, whom he met at the first Salon Meritage funeral.

Like the Boitels, Doug and Tammy find themselves drawn to Salon Meritage.

Sometimes we go down there just to sit, Childers said.

  

Doug Childers saw the shooter come out of Salon Meritage.

He stood face to face with Scott Dekraai, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder 21/2 years after the shooting rampage. Dekraai was holding two handguns.

Dekraai pointed one of the guns at Childers.

I was going to keep going forward no matter what, Childers said.

Without shooting, Dekraai lowered the gun and walked into the parking lot. Thats where he shot his final victim.

  

Boitel needed to get her bangs trimmed before a trip to Las Vegas to see Jimmy Buffet.

She also needed an allergy shot.

So she had a decision to make.

Getting an appointment slot at Salon Meritage wasnt easy. She got Wednesday at 1 because she always set it up a year in advance. Victoria Buzzo, her hairdresser for 25 years, wouldnt take two clients at the same time. She wanted to give everyone her individual attention.

But this was a special circumstance. This was Jimmy Buffet.

Boitel told Buzzo about her dilemma. Buzzo said she had a Tuesday opening. So Boitel switched her normal Wednesday at 1.

She loved getting her hair done at Salon Meritage. Buzzo, whose lipstick always complemented her dress, had a most infectious laugh. She had a laugh that would crack you up, Boitel said.

Boitel talked about loving Jimmy Buffet. Buzzo loved rockabilly.

Buzzo also loved dogs. She would come out of the shop to say hello and pet Mindy when Tillie and Rich walked by.

The last thing Tillie Boitel laughed about in Salon Meritage was her exit.

She gave Buzzo a hug for Tuesday, and another one for Wednesday.

I got two hugs, Boitel said.

  

Doug Childers opened the front door and saw a body on the floor.

It was horrific, he said. I remember the smell of gunpowder.

He was worried there was a second shooter. But as he looked around the small shop, he could see the danger was gone.

He cried out: Im here to help. The shooter is gone.

Suddenly, Childers saw movement. Closet and cabinet doors opened. About 10 people appeared.

People were hiding in places I didnt think a person could fit.

One of the victims tried to speak to him. But no words came out.

He heard another shot, so he ran outside. He found David Caouette, who had been shot in the front seat of his car. Caouette talked briefly before he died.

Things that were said were private, Childers said. I told the families.

  

Tillie Boitel was at home, just a couple of blocks away, when she heard the sirens.

Boitel turned on the television and saw the horrible coincidence. Salon Meritage had been terrorized during her regular appointment time.

She dialed Victorias number.

No answer.

So, in a daze, she walked toward the little shop.

I saw Victorias husband (Dave), Boitel said. I knew if Victoria was OK, he wouldnt be here. Hed be with her.

He approached her and said, Its not good.

Boitel has not been inside Salon Meritage since.

All the people I would have kept in contact with  they were killed, she said.

  

Coincidentally, Doug Childers also went to Las Vegas after the shooting. But he had a different purpose.

I went on a drinking binge, he said. I was trying to drink away the nightmares.

He didnt come back to Southern California for 10 days. He returned for the first Salon Meritage funeral.

It was at Laura Lee Webb Elodys memorial service that he was approached by a woman. She had heard he was in the construction business, and she needed some work done. Her name was Tammy Hetzel, and, two years earlier, she had worked at Salon Meritage.

A friend of his said, You just met your future wife.

The friend was right.

They were married in less than a year  Sept. 29, 2012.

They like to take walks together on Main Street in Seal Beach, and sometimes they end up at Salon Meritage.

Were still here, Childers said. For all of them.

Contact the writer: ksharon@ocregister.com
If you lived in the Golden State in 1994, you likely saw the television ad.

They keep coming, the narrator intoned, as black-and-white images of men running across the Mexican border into California flashed by, accompanied by an ominous drumbeat.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Pete Wilson then appeared on screen vowing to deny state services to illegal immigrants. Enough is enough.

This August, a television ad, similar in tone, began airing in battleground states for GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. Again, the black-and-white images, this time of immigrants in handcuffs, led through the desert by U.S border agents.

In Hillary Clintons America, the narrator says, illegal immigrants convicted of committing crimes get to stay, collecting Social Security benefits. Two decades after Wilsons campaign, Trump is tapping into a similar, national vein of frustration over unauthorized immigration as migrant populations have risen and working- class Americans have experienced growing economic insecurity.

Whether Trumps message ultimately succeeds with voters remains to be seen. His ad aired even as the candidate was saying he might be softening his earlier pledge to immediately deport all of the countrys estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants  3 million of whom live in California.

Whats clearer is the Golden State has moved steadily in the opposite direction of Proposition 187, a Wilson-backed 1994 measure to deny public schooling and non-emergency medical aid to the undocumented  a law later overturned.

Latinos now represent 28 percent of the states electorate and have ascended to leadership positions in the Legislature. And California leads the way in extending drivers licenses, higher education and other benefits to immigrants living here illegally.

The shift, coupled with estimates that California has more undocumented residents than any other state, means the Golden State has a critical stake in the immigration debate.

The campaign is between a candidate who regularly emphasizes crimes committed by undocumented residents and his opponent, whose website features her hugging a Latina girl as a background sign declares Estoy contigo  Im with you.

Critically for Trump, more than one in 10 Americans now eligible to vote is Latino. And overall, 72 percent of the public now says that undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. should be allowed to stay legally if certain requirements are met, according to a Pew Research Center survey.

Clintons immigration platform reflects those numbers. Its first plank: Introduce comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to full and equal citizenship  and bring millions of hardworking people into the formal economy.

Trumps immigration platform begins: When politicians talk about immigration reform they mean: amnesty, cheap labor and open borders.

Immigration legislation  a bipartisan 2013 Senate bill ultimately blocked in the Republican-led House  was nothing more than a giveaway to the corporate patrons who run both parties, Trump adds.

And the Republican nominees plan contains a radical proposal  one that would have a dramatic effect on Southern California: End birthright citizenship, which, Trump says, remains the biggest magnet for illegal immigration.

Ending automatic citizenship for U.S.-born children of unauthorized immigrants would require repealing the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which holds that, All persons born or naturalized in the United States  are citizens of the United States. Trump hasnt explained how he intends to overcome that obstacle.

By contrast, Clinton would expand President Barack Obamas program of deferring deportation of undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, if theyve not committed serious crimes.

And she is expected to appoint Supreme Court justices likely to approve a second Obama program: deferring deportation of undocumented immigrants who are parents of U.S. citizens  a measure now deadlocked due to Congress refusal to confirm a new justice.

In California, 1.6 million unauthorized immigrants could fall under the two programs, giving them the right to work and go to school without fear of deportation.

A third of those live in Los Angeles County, with an additional 334,000 spread across Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

If Trumps original plan to eventually round up most, if not all, unauthorized immigrants were to be enforced  a prospect that many experts consider impossible both practically and legally  the impact on Californias economy would be devastating, said UC Irvine professor Leo Chavez, who has written several books on Latino immigration.

Our economy is dependent on immigrant labor  restaurants, hotels, farms, construction. These are the people who take care of our kids and our elderly.

The human trauma would ripple across the state, Chavez said, because the undocumented dont live in a little box. They are parts of families who include citizens and legal residents. What happens to their spouses and their children if they are deported?

Dan Schnur, former communications director for Wilson who now heads the Institute of Politics at USC, said Trumps immigration views appeal to a group of white working-class voters who are not prepared for the demands and necessities of a tech-based economy.

They are frightened for their future, and Trump has adroitly convinced them that immigration and trade are responsible for their difficulties.

As for building a wall and forcing Mexico to pay for it, Trump has doubled down on the idea despite doubts over its feasibility and cost.

The GOP nominee has backed off his initial plan to temporarily ban all Muslim immigrants from entering the U.S., saying recently that he would require an ideological screening test  extreme vetting from countries where terrorists are active.

Clinton has said she would respond to the worst refugee crisis since the end of World War II by boosting the number of Syrian refugees allowed in the country to 65,000, but would also immediately put into place the mechanisms for vetting the people that we would take in.

It is unclear how much either approach would affect Southern California, but If Trump wants to institute a religious or loyalty test, he would need congressional support, said UC Irvine political scientist Louis DeSipio.

As for excluding refugees from countries with terrorists, he adds, Barring immigration from France will be a hard sell.

mroosevelt@scng.com

Contact the writer: mroosevelt@scng.com; Twitter @MargotRoosevelt
Only most American elections are boring.

And, lets be honest, thats a good thing.

Elections that land in the not-boring camp launch national tragedies (1860), or end weirdly (2000) or theyre shaped by foundering (1932, 2008) economies. Details differ from cycle to cycle, but the national votes widely viewed as historically interesting have tended to come during tough times  or create them.

Which is just one reason Election 16 is so weird.

On the surface, the conditions arent right for an exciting election. Civil War isnt looming. The vote isnt likely to require a Supreme Court intervention. The economy isnt in free fall.

Yet theres zero debate that this election is interesting. A woman heads one of the two big-party tickets; a reality TV host heads the other. And thats not even all of the exciting stuff.

At a time when voters disagree on pretty much everything, people of all political stripes tell pollsters the same thing about the upcoming vote: Whichever way it goes, the result could send our country spinning in a new direction.

Certainly there is hunger for something  anything  new. Voters who back GOP nominee Donald Trump and voters who backed Sen. Bernie Sanders arent the same folk, and they dont have the same ideals, but they share at least one common desire  a new political playlist.

There are reasons for that. The disconnect between people and politicians is growing. Polls on issues as diverse as gun control, corporate crime and campaign finance reform show overwhelming majorities of voters wanting change and extreme reluctance from members of both parties in Washington to make those changes.

In a democracy, the solution to such differences is supposed to come every other November. But, lately, that solution hasnt worked.

So people seem to want new answers to old questions: Who is qualified to lead us? What should government do? Where is this so-called real America we all live in?

In fork-in-the-road times, none of the answers are obvious.

Election 16 reflects all that. And our choices, particularly in California, are extreme.

Starting at the top.

Trump is a big-talking, big-tweeting, racially insensitive TV character come to life, a nonpolitician hoping to bulldoze his way into the most powerful political job on Earth. Depending on ones view, Trump comes off as a powerful CEO or a wannabe dictator. Every policy idea seems to hinge on his personality or his wisdom or his will.

Trump also is an extrovert. Scratch that  Trump is to extroversion what Shaquille ONeal is to humongousness. Its why all Americans  supporters and detractors alike  feel like they know him. Contrived or not, Trumps brand is about authenticity and authoritarianism.

Hillary Clinton is the anti-Trump.

She might be a bloviator in her own way and might dabble in social media (her Twitter account describes her as pantsuit aficionado), but where Trump is brash and often nonsensical, Clinton is contemplative and thorough and, at times, PowerPoint dull. Clinton is a career politician, in every meaning of that word, and her traditional qualifications to be president are almost laughably complete.

Where Trump would tell everyone what to do, Clinton would work the room.

Critically, Clinton is no extrovert. After decades in the public eye, she rarely seems comfortable in it. Maybe its why shes been unable to win peoples trust. Another reason might be the secrecy shes invoked on issues as diverse as her Goldman Sachs speaking fees, her email server while secretary of state and her long-ago investments in cattle futures.

Fair or not, Clintons brand can be summed up in two words: competent and slippery.

But personalities arent even the biggest contrasts of Election 16. For that, look at policy ideas.

Trump would build a big, beautiful wall on our southern border. He says many immigrants from Mexico and Muslims (immigrant and nonimmigrant alike) pose threats to America, and he wants them kept out or tested for loyalty, or both.

Clinton would build only on the Obama administrations plan to legalize the undocumented. She describes immigrants and diversity in general as critical to Americas strength. She says we should let in up to 65,000 refugees from the current de facto epicenter of global terror, Syria.

Trump says Americas trade pacts and treaties must be re-evaluated or tossed. Clinton says international alliances should be strengthened.

He would kill Obamacare. She would build on it.

He would cut taxes for rich people. She would raise them.

Trump says global warming is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese. Clinton has co-written legislation to curb global warming and describes the problem as potentially cataclysmic for the future of the planet.

The list drones on, but you get the idea. Trump and Clinton see diametrically different Americas; it follows that many of their ideas for fixing America are polar opposites.

And the Trump vs. Clinton question is just one item in Election 16s long buffet of contrasts.

The death penalty? Californians arent just voting to toss it or keep it (weve done that before). No, this time weve got separate measures to either repeal the death penalty (Proposition 62) or speed it up (Proposition 66). If nothing else, thats a high-contrast first.

Or consider recreational weed, (Proposition 64). Were voting yes or no on that too, same as we have previously. But with cannabis gaining acceptance, a yes vote could be a final break in the dam leading to a nationwide flood of pro-weed legislation.

Were even voting on a brand-new idea about gun control  background checks for the sale of ammunition (Proposition 63). Acceptance could kick off a national trend.

With questions on death and pot and ammo on the ballot, a vote on taxes might seem quaint. But Proposition 55 would extend a supposedly temporary state tax on incomes of $250,000 or more. Depending on the economy, a yes vote could add $9 billion a year to the state coffers during the 2020s.

Maybe a high-contrast election is what we want.

The electorate is more fragmented and partisan than ever. A Gallup study earlier this year found 90 percent of Democrats and Republicans would never vote out of party, the highest such number in the history of the poll.

Whats more, voters dont even agree on the basic problems. In July, Pew Research asked supporters of Clinton and Trump what issues they cared about the most. Only the economy and terrorism cracked the top five for both groups. Meanwhile, issues like the environment, the treatment of minorities and gay rights sparked keen interest on one side and collective yawns on the other.

Its unclear when, if ever, that will change.

More than 1 in 3 eligible voters this year is Latino, Asian American or African American, according to Pew. And, in April, millennials passed baby boomers as the biggest chunk of Americas voting-age population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. How these groups vote  or if theyll vote in huge numbers  figures to provide the answers to this years high-contrast, high-stakes vote.

And every one of those votes could matter.

In 2000, the election came down to a few hundred supposedly confused voters in Florida. A lot of historians have said, only half-jokingly, that the 1960 election came down to a few thousand supposedly dead voters in Chicago.

This year? Who knows. If all American elections are choices  and if most offer tiny, piddling, inconsequential choices  Election 16 might be offering the biggest choice of all.

It might be about Americas soul.

amouchard@scng.com
Skyscrapers, casinos and steaks have carried his name. First lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state have preceded hers.

He blabs his thoughts; she curates hers.

He has tangled with tabloids, contractors, the women of The View; she has sparred with Republicans, the national press, liberal Democrats.

One thing Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton do have in common is their lack of popularity with Americans. But the similarities end there. Their biographies, their views of the world, their personas and battlefield instincts  all of it is remarkably at odds in a presidential election that has turned most conventional thinking on its head.

Their main argument against each other is each other, said Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State Los Angeles. Its no Ali and Frazier. Its more like Frazier and, I dont know, a late-night television host?

Proper analogies elude even the sharpest political observers. Thats in large part because of Trump, the only major party nominee in history who has neither held political office nor served in the military. Hes been a candidate unlike any other, Republican or Democrat.

No surprise. Even though he started his professional life with a generous jump-start from his developer father, Trump has long played the role of outsider, noted Dan Schnur, executive director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC. He is brash and ready to duke out his battles in court and in the press. He boasts of his wealth, his private planes and, once to radio host Howard Stern, even the discreet bowel movements of wife Melania. Trump was never one of New Yorks genteel old-money types.

His approach to business and real estate has always been confrontational, said Schnur, who served as communications director of John McCains 2000 presidential campaign. He always seemed to have a chip on his shoulder and was trying to prove himself against the establishment.

That style has come through in the campaign with the combative tone and arsenal of insults hes fired at everyone from old-guard Republicans such as Jeb Bush to Fox News reporter Megyn Kelly to, more recently, the Gold Star parents who criticized him at the Democratic National Convention.

He didnt have to do a lot to sell his name, said Jaime Regalado, professor emeritus at Cal State Los Angeles and former executive director of the Pat Brown Center.

Regalado noted that Trump skipped the usual campaign infrastructure and relied on free media. He was a developer brand, a media brand, and hes always had that mouth  the unfiltered tongue.

He has shown, too, a business moguls sense of timing. Trump came on the scene during an intensely anti-establishment campaign cycle that, on the Democratic side, saw the unexpectedly strong challenge to Clinton from Vermonts U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Mike Schroeder, a former state GOP chairman who served as Ted Cruzs California director, said the rise of the Tea Party had been one of the most concrete outgrowths of voter anger with the establishment. But polls in this election, he said, show levels of anger Ive never seen.

They dont want to change the chess pieces; they want to kick the table over, Schroeder said. It was a perfect storm for Donald Trump.

Trump tapped into this anxiety of decline, focusing as he has throughout his career on tweaking the establishment. At the Republican National Convention, he spoke of the nation losing too often, as a dark place where people and police arent safe, where regular people cant get ahead because of trade agreements and immigration policies beyond their control.

For his supporters, its exactly what theyve wanted to hear from a potential leader.

Hes an outsider who speaks not with focus group-tested scripts. People are thirsty for authenticity, said Tony Beall, a Trump supporter who works as an attorney and serves as mayor of Rancho Santa Margarita. I think for myself as well as millions of Americans, we felt a sense of betrayal by the political establishment, both left and right.

FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT

For Beall and other Trump supporters, Hillary Clinton is a classic insider. In many ways, that is correct.

Clinton has worked from inside institutions, starting as an attorney with the Childrens Defense Fund and continuing as a policy-oriented first lady and, later, as public official. She has succeeded throughout her career by working

within the system, Schnur said.

Clinton showed her pragmatic view of how change happens in a recorded conversation last year with a Black Lives Matter activist. Asked how she would change hearts and minds on systematic racism, Clinton said, I dont believe you change hearts. I believe you change laws, you change allocation of resources, you change the way systems operate.

Her speech at the Democratic National Convention reflected this theme and took a far more positive view of the state of America than did Trumps. Thats not a surprising move for the nominee of the party that holds the White House, said Schnur, but Trumps own approach to his campaign intensifies that difference.

In that speech, she seized on a line from Trumps RNC address: I alone can fix it, he had said of the nations woes. Clinton dismissed those words as dangerous bravado. Americans dont say: I alone can fix it,  she said. We say: Well fix it together. 

The contrast highlighted the differences in potential leadership styles between someone like Clinton, who has worked within a political system that, at least in theory, emphasizes compromise, and someone like Trump, a longtime CEO who once wrote, You must plan and execute your plan alone.

Clintons experiences as first lady  including her failed attempt at a national health care program and her husbands impeachment proceedings  also contributed to what many acknowledge is a wariness toward the typical give-and-take of political life. Clinton famously said that she and her husband were the victims of a vast right-wing conspiracy, and she has never had much of a working relationship with reporters, with whom she rarely speaks. She learned, Never give an inch,  Schnur said.

Because so much attention has been on Trump, Clinton has managed so far to avoid huge blowups about significant problems of her own, namely her use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state and revelations that donors to the Clinton Foundation enjoyed special access to the State Department while she was at the helm.

I think shes lucky to have Trump to run against, Regalado said. Shes just running alongside somebody who keeps shooting himself in the foot.

As the long summer shifts into fall debate season, news stories have suggested that even those preparations have illustrated the deep differences in the two candidates. Clinton, always the grinder, straight-A student, is buried in policy briefs as her campaign tries to pinpoint the best ways to poke at her opponents insecurities.

Trump, meanwhile, has engaged in short, more freewheeling prep sessions, The New York Times reported. I believe you can prep too much for these things, Trump told the newspaper. You can sound scripted or phony.

But as observers are already speculating about Trumps Plan B  that is, how would he spin a loss into some kind of win?  some wonder whether the pair will have different aims by that point in the election.

If Trump is already looking ahead to another opportunity, said Sonenshein, they might not be competing in the same debate.

jtillman@scng.com
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In the wake of Cabela's announced sale to Bass Pro Shops, Sidney homeowners are facing a new reality: They may be stuck with nice homes that no one wants to buy. As one Cabelas employee put it, the housing market has been the only topic of conversation in my house for the past year.
A newcomer to elective politics faces a newcomer to the district in a race to fill an open seat in the State Legislature from northeast Nebraska.

Ardel Bengtson, 68, a retired South Sioux City teacher who now runs a flooring business there, has lived in District 17 for decades. Her opponent, Joni Albrecht, 58, grew up in Sarpy County and held elective office there for 12 years. She married a Thurston farmer/rancher, Mike Albrecht, and moved there six years ago.

In a year of sometimes gutter politics on the national stage, the two women are running a contest that embodies Nebraska Nice.

Its a real amicable race, Bengtson said. The biggest difference is that I have lived here since 1969, and she did not. She has a lot more political experience than I do.

District 17 encompasses Dakota, Thurston and Wayne Counties. Its a farm-oriented district that includes South Sioux City, Wayne, Pender and much of the Omaha and Winnebago Indian reservations. The population is 17 percent Hispanic and 9 percent Native American.

It is now represented by Sen. Dave Bloomfield of Hoskins, who is prevented from running again because of term limits.

This is Bengtsons first run at elective office, but she has served on several local boards, including the South Sioux City library and parks boards and the citizens advisory board for a cancer center.

Albrecht, originally from Papillion, worked 33 years at an auto dealership while raising three children and, later, caring for aged parents. At the same time, she held public office: eight years on the Papillion City Council, then four years on the Sarpy County Board of Commissioners. She also has served on the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation board.

Busy with farming, Albrecht nevertheless misses politics.

I feel its something I can jump back into, Albrecht said. Thatll be a plus to be able to go back to Lincoln and bring people together.

Both candidates are focused on taxes and education. They believe state government is shortchanging schools, especially in rural areas.

Albrecht described the funding formulas as antiquated and said adjustments are needed. Bengtson notes that Nebraska ranks 49th in support for public education.

The state needs to pick up their share of it and take a little of the pressure off property taxes, Bengtson said. Education is so important. We just need to give it the priority it deserves.

Albrecht would like to see schools focus more on training youngsters for future careers  jobs that might help them stay in Nebraska.

Its so difficult in rural Nebraska to find an electrician, a plumber, a drywaller, a welder, Albrecht said. We need to let (children) know they have other choices besides four years (of college) and out.

Both candidates worry about the weakening farm economy. Albrecht would like to see property tax relief for farmers, a priority of Gov. Pete Ricketts during the last legislative session.

Were going to start losing farmers left and right, Albrecht said. The hard times are here. I hope its not like the 80s.

Bengtson is skeptical about property tax relief because she doesnt believe it would solve farmers real problems: low commodity prices and high costs for essentials like chemicals and farm equipment.

Id like it to be something that isnt a Band-Aid approach, she said.

Bengtson thinks the state could boost its tax collections by encouraging business development in rural areas  especially building up clean energy sources. That approach already is working in District 17, she said, citing new solar and wind energy projects and an ethanol plant.

We have plenty of wind and plenty of sunshine, Bengtson said. That should be something we can use to create jobs.

Albrecht is a registered Republican, and Bengtson is a Democrat, but the unicameral Legislature race is officially nonpartisan.

Albrecht has raised nearly $62,000 and has just more than $23,000 in cash on hand, according to a campaign finance report filed this month with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.

Ricketts is the largest single contributor to her campaign, with $6,000. She has also received contributions of $1,000 or more from political action committees representing the telecommunications industry, bankers, chambers of commerce, road construction contractors and chiropractors.

Bengtsons October report is not yet on the commissions website. Through June, she had taken in about $17,000, much of it from educators, trial lawyers and labor union PACs.

Albrecht tallied twice as many votes in the May primary. Bengtson blames that in part on a hot GOP presidential contest that inflated Republican turnout. (Democrats selected their delegates earlier, in caucuses.)

A lot of people didnt vote, Bengtson said. Were working on getting out the votes.

********

Joni Albrecht

Age: 58

Party: Republican

Home: Thurston

Occupation: Farmer

Public offices held: Papillion City Council, 1998-06; Sarpy County Board, 2006-10

Education: High school diploma

Family: Married, six children

Faith: Christian

Ardel Bengtson

Age: 68

Party: Democratic

Home: South Sioux City

Occupation: Retired teacher and partner in Bengtsons Cardinal Floor Store

Public offices held: Served on South Sioux City library and parks boards

Education: Bachelors degree, Moorhead State University; masters degree, University of South Dakota

Family: Widow, three children

Faith: Christian
More than 20 years ago, Douglas County Commissioner Mary Ann Borgeson was managing a medical technology company. Back then, public office never crossed her mind. She took the political plunge in 1994, at the encouragement of her husband, Bob, and has been working for the public good ever since.

As an elected official, Borgeson champions a variety of causes but one in particular stands out  the Veterans Housing Unit at the Douglas County Correctional Center in Omaha. It's the first rehabilitation program of its kind for inmates in Nebraska and one of about a dozen in county jails nationwide.

Open to all incarcerated male veterans who meet intake criteria, the military-structured unit is particulary laser-focused on helping those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mental health issues, and other life challenges.

Ive always been a proponent of providing services that people need for mental health issues, and there is a direct connection between mental health and veterans in jail, said Borgeson, chair of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners. I asked myself, How we can deal with this?

The Veterans Housing Unit, which will mark its first anniversary in November, is proving to be a key piece of the puzzle. At the three-month mark in February, the unit already was exceeding expectations, according to Douglas County Corrections Department Director Mark Foxall.

Described by Borgeson as a working experiment, the unit operates from a base of respect and understanding and is overseen by corrections officers who are veterans.

Currently, about 40 incarcerated veterans are housed in the unit.

Some are serving sentences for misdemeanor crimes. Others are awaiting trial on felony charges, which could lead to prison time. Some have been convicted of felonies and are awaiting sentencing. All go through their day in a structured environment similar to military boot camp. All participate in rehabilitative programs, activities and support groups. And all have access to services from the VA and other veteran support networks.

Borgeson salutes a select group of inmates for contributing to the final unit layout and days structure. They came up with the routine, the military symbols on the walls, the morning calisthenics, right down to the pledge they say together. We wanted this to be by them as well as for them.

Their input was important "because it gave them buy-in toward its success, said Borgeson, the first public official to receive the Public Sector Award from the National Alliance to End Homelessness in Washington, D.C., and a four-time recipient of the Nebraska Association of Counties Presidents Award for leadership in health and human services and juvenile issues.

The Veterans Housing Unit provides a familiar environment for the veterans as they serve their sentences and take advantage of agencies and programs offering help with everything from substance-abuse addiction and mental health issues to military discharge upgrades, education, housing and employment.

Theres definitely a brotherhood among veterans, no matter the branch, and having correctional officers who are fellow military veterans makes a big difference for those in the unit, said Borgeson, who serves on the board of RESPECT, an anti-bullying group, among others. There is a strong camaraderie that definitely works as the inmates prepare for discharge.

Inmate Justin Polland, 30, and recently diagnosed with PTSD after suspecting it since age 17, said the past four months of military-style discipline and positive messages have helped keep things moving in the right direction for him while awaiting an Oct. 7 court appearance.

Described by his corrections officer as a team leader, the former U.S. Marine said his post-release action plan includes being in my 6-year-old daughters life again  every day.

Vicente Buenrostro  "Panda to his comrades  is resident comedian, Spanish interpreter and self-appointed ombudsman. I speak up for people who are afraid to say things, he said. Incarcerated 5 months now, the 24-year-old said he has learned about himself in more ways than he thought possible through rehab.

Gerry Crawford, the Grandpa of the unit at 59, was using a walker when he arrived last March. Today the U.S. Navy vet has graduated to a cane, thanks in part to daily P.T. (physical training). Crawford hopes to go before the Veterans Treatment Court early next month to determine his next steps.

Give me a hand up, not a hand out, he said. His dream: To take what Ive learned here and help other vets . . . This place has opened my eyes to so much stuff. I had no idea of the VA services when I left the service 40 years ago. I never knew I had PTSD until I came here.

While some might cite Borgeson as a fearless unsung hero for the work she does on behalf of all citizens of the county, the commissioner said her work really is a calling  one she didn't realize she had until entering the political arena.

Being an elected official, its my responsibility to bring issues to the forefront so we can discuss them and find solutions so they dont get shoved under the rug, said Borgeson.

Her next step, she said, is to work with the University of Nebraska at Omaha to develop a data analysis to gauge success of the Veterans Housing Unit.

No matter how long it might take, its worth it to me to fight the battles, and mental illness, especially among our homeless and veterans.
Omaha and Catholics of the Archdiocese of Omaha received historic news Sunday: A native priest, a homegrown son of the archdiocese, is being elevated to the position of cardinal.

The Vatican announced Sunday that Pope Francis has named Archbishop Blase Cupich of Chicago as one of 17 new cardinals, one of the highest stations in church hierarchy. Cardinals under age 80 would elect a new pope.

Cupich, 67, served as an altar boy at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in South Omaha and graduated from the now-closed Archbishop Ryan High School before becoming an Omaha parish priest. He brings his Omaha roots to his high-ranking role, said Deacon Timothy McNeil, chancellor of the Omaha archdiocese.

As a cardinal, Cupich will serve as an adviser to Pope Francis, bringing with him traits of bedrock South Omaha, with its emphasis on family and its work ethic and with the giving nature of the people of Omaha, McNeil said.

Growing up in South Omaha, among the tight neighborhoods where people looked out for each other, helped form Cupich as a collaborator, the deacon said. I think thats all part of him. I think thats all part of his tools.

Archbishop George J. Lucas expressed the feelings of many in the Omaha archdiocese. All of us in the archdiocese are proud that Pope Francis has chosen Archbishop Cupich to become one of his trusted collaborators, the archbishop said. We will continue to support him with our prayers.

Cupich and two other U.S. bishops are among those named Sunday to become cardinals on Nov. 19, at the close of the churchs Jubilee Year of Mercy. The two other U.S. bishops are Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin and Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell.

Cupich is much like the pope who named him a cardinal, said Eileen Burke-Sullivan, vice provost for mission and ministry at Creighton University.

Hes very pastoral and deeply compassionate for people struggling to stay faithful in the church, Burke-Sullivan said. He has been enabling people to come close to Jesus Christ. Thats at the heart of who he is.

Cupichs elevation was not seen as a surprise. Several previous archbishops of Chicago have become cardinals, having been entrusted with one the major U.S. archdioceses. Tobin and Farrell would be more surprising picks, McNeil said.

Cupichs family might be getting accustomed to their brothers increasing role in the Catholic Church, after seeing him rise from an Omaha archdiocesan priest to bishop of the Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota, in 1998, bishop of Spokane, Washington, in 2010, and archbishop of Chicago in 2014.

Richard Cupich of Omaha said his brother called about 6:15 a.m. Sunday with the news. The archbishop apparently tried to not wake up his family too early. He said in Chicago that he learned he would become a cardinal in a 5 a.m. call from Rome.

Cupich had eight siblings to call Sunday morning, four of them in the Omaha area. Cupichs late parents, whom the brother described as devout Catholics, would have been thrilled with the news, Richard Cupich said. I wish they were here and could embrace the announcement, he said.

Richard Cupich said his phone conversation was brief. I told him congratulations and that I was happy for him and the city of Chicago.

Its a big honor for Nebraska, too, he said. It kind of gives another meaning to Go Big Red.

McNeil said Sundays announcement speaks of Cupichs devotion to his faith. The premier quality a cardinal must have is personal holiness, McNeil said.

Education, experience, strengths and skills are all secondary to that, he said, but Cupich is accomplished, too, having assisted in U.S.-Vatican diplomatic relations, serving as the rector of a seminary in Ohio and as bishop in three locations. Cupich distinguished himself in Spokane, where he helped the diocese recover from a sexual abuse scandal and ensuing financial difficulties, making himself available to victims and their families and restoring confidence in the church, McNeil said.

Cupich was a papal appointee at a church synod on the family last year and served on a committee to select other bishops.

* * * * *

Statement from Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago

The news this morning that Pope Francis has named me to the College of Cardinals is both humbling and encouraging. I offer my best wishes to the other Cardinals-elect, especially Kevin Farrell and Joseph Tobin, and I look forward to joining with them and the other cardinals as we work together with the Holy Father for the good of the Church.

When Pope Francis appointed me Archbishop of Chicago more than two years ago, the people of the archdiocese welcomed me as a friend and brother, and I committed wholeheartedly to serve them. The role of Cardinal brings new responsibilities, but with your prayers and help, we will continue the task we have begun of renewing the Church in the archdiocese and preparing it to thrive in the decades ahead.
Candidates for the Bennington school board all pinpoint the same challenge for the district: retaining its small-town, personalized feel while student enrollment continues to skyrocket.

Enrollment numbers are up nearly 13 percent this year, and voters approved a $38.5 million school construction bond measure last year to build the districts first middle school and an auxiliary gym. The district has also been experimenting with new technology initiatives, such as allowing kids to bring their own devices to school and issuing more Chromebooks at the middle school level.

Four candidates are running for three, four-year terms on the school board. Three are incumbents: Kara Neuverth, Brad Renter and Darren Siekman. Bob Bruhn is a newcomer who said he can bring fresh eyes and ideas to the board.

Bruhn is semi-retired but has a background in farming and real estate that he said would bring a business perspective to the board, especially as the district is in the midst of construction projects.

He serves on the Douglas County Planning Commission.

Ive been a business owner my whole life, he said. Im used to negotiating, mediating, that sort of thing, and bringing a business sense.

Neuverth was appointed to a vacancy on the board in 2015. A former PTO president, she said that her background in TV news and corporate communications helps her explain to families what policies and initiatives the district is working on.

Keeping class sizes manageable will be a challenge as enrollment continues to climb, she said.

(The district) is growing so fast, and that is one of the challenges, keeping that Bennington flavor, she said.

Renter has served on the board since 2008, and said its important to retain some board members with institutional knowledge and experience crafting policy.

The board will have to continue to keep an eye on enrollment numbers and facilities, while also balancing finances that will be affected by the elimination of the Learning Community common levy and changes in state aid that could be coming down the pipeline.

Its being able to continue to have the facilities we need to educate students in our district, and provide that high-level education and curriculum, while being able to balance that with the funding that we have, he said.

Siekman, who was first appointed to the board in 2002, said the district has been addressing its rapid growth and space needs while still keeping per-pupil and administrative expenses down. Its important to parents and taxpayers that the district maintains its small-town atmosphere, he said.

Were just going to have to stay in front of that growth as well as we can, but at a rate that doesnt completely burn out our taxpayers, he said.

******

Bob Bruhn

Age: 57

Home: Bennington

Party: Republican

Public offices held: None

Occupation: Farming

Education: Graduated from Elkhorn High

Family: Two children

Faith: Catholic

Website: None

Kara Neuverth

Age: 47

Home: Bennington

Party: Republican

Public offices held: Bennington school board, 2015 to present

Occupation: Media relations director at Boys Town

Education: Bachelors and masters degrees, University of South Dakota

Family: Married, two children

Faith: Methodist

Website: None

Brad Renter

Age: 45

Home: Bennington

Party: Democratic

Public offices held: Bennington school board, 2008 to present

Occupation: Business analyst for Mutual of Omaha

Education: Bachelors degree, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Family: Two children

Faith: Catholic

Website: None

Darren Siekman

Age: 49

Home: Bennington

Party: Republican

Public offices held: Bennington school board, 2002 to present

Occupation: Director of business development, Valmont Irrigation

Education: Bachelors degree, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Family: Married, two children

Faith: United Methodist

Website: None
The Trump campaign was rocked Friday when the Washington Post released a 2005 video of Trump making lewd comments that included bragging about how his fame allowed him to kiss and grope women at will. Sasse wrote on Twitter Saturday morning that Trump is obviously not going to win the election and that its time to hand over the nomination to Pence.
Midlands voters share their thoughts on the role of government and the 2016 presidential race. The World-Herald is asking a series of questions during this election season to get a better understanding of where voters stand and how they view the race.

TODAYS QUESTION: Who do you think was the best president of your lifetime, and how does your candidate measure up?

Greg Miller

Age: 41

Occupation: social studies teacher

Home: Seward

Registered party: Republican

Candidate: undecided

The best president of my lifetime, in my opinion, was Ronald Reagan. He helped lead America out of the unrest of the 1960s and doldrums of the 1970s and into the countrys economic and confidence revival of the 1980s. He also helped lead to the end of the Cold War and the Soviet Union. Instead of lamenting what was wrong with our country, he helped Americans focus on the good of our country and helped build a sense of pride and patriotism. He did this with a strong, pleasant and flexible leadership style that unfortunately I dont see in either of our two main candidates today.

He was elected at a time in U.S. history where the country was in a rather rough patch at the dawn of the 1980s. The tumult, turmoil and developments of the 1960s were followed by the malaise and economic struggles of the 1970s. The United States was, in many ways, on the ropes. It reminds me of the present status of our divided and wounded country in the unsettled world today.

His optimistic and endearing personality helped Americans put their guard down and assisted us in becoming confident and proud again. He had a way of selling not only his domestic policies that helped lead to economic improvement, but also his foreign policies. He was strong enough to tell the Communists to tear down this wall yet flexible enough to negotiate nuclear treaties and the like to help thaw the relationship with the Communist regimes.

President Reagan was not perfect, but someone like him would surely be a welcome addition to this years election, thats for sure!

Linda Jones

Age: 63

Occupation: retired artist

Home: Omaha

Registered party: Democratic

Candidate: Hillary Clinton

President Abraham Lincoln was a well-read, intelligent lawyer who had the wherewithal to stand up against slave owners and risk our countrys future to abolish slavery and name it unlawful. Many perished in the years that followed, but slaves won their freedom. Blacks are still battling to keep their rights through the Black Lives Matter movement. Mr. Trump favors the stop-and-frisk policy which harms black people, but that is unconstitutional and our legal system will never allow it. Hillary has offered the solution of training our nations police to enforce other means of arrest or questioning and stop killing suspects. I believe Hillary will have many more solutions to combat the unrest when in office, all within the law and without walls. In addition, Hillary will protect all citizens with common-sense gun laws including no fly rules and a ban on mail order weapons. Hillary is a well-read, intelligent lawyer who can lead our nation.

I believe American needs to turn off the 24/7 news that motivates anxieties to its listeners and they need to start reading.

Please read the endorsement for Hillary from the Atlantic. Here is a quote: Hillary Rodham Clinton has more than earned, through her service to the country as first lady, as a senator from New York, and as secretary of state, the right to be taken seriously as a White House contender. She has flaws (some legitimately troubling, some exaggerated by her opponents), but she is among the most prepared candidates ever to seek the presidency.

Troy Arthur

Age: 45

Occupation: prosperity strategist, TS Prosperity Group

Home: Council Bluffs

Registered party: Republican

Candidate: Donald Trump

The best president in my lifetime was Ronald Reagan. He single-handedly reignited the conservative movement when he gave his speech A Time for Choosing, while endorsing a presidential candidate 16 years before his own presidency. He said, This is the issue of this election: whether we believe in our capacity for self-government, or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capitol can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves. Reagan believed in a smaller government beholden to its people. He believed in the power of main street to drive its prosperity, and in a communitys ability to handle local issues. He spoke of tax burdens, unbalanced budgets and out-of-control government debt as destructive for our economy. He grew a fragile economy by righting those economic negatives. And he gave us pride in America.

So how does Trump stand up? Well, he doesnt. Comparisons to one of our great presidents is far too lofty, but it is obvious he was at least listening. Trump is not eloquent like Reagan, but he speaks with passion. He believes America should be considered the greatest nation on earth, an innately Reaganesque belief! This concept is foreign to our president and Hillary Clinton. Trump defends the Constitution, especially the 2nd Amendment, as Reagan did. The most striking similarity is how both spoke to the hearts of the common man. Trump bluntly states what is broken in America, such as out-of-control government spending and debt and expanding regulation. He is downright obnoxious when he ad-libs, but that doesnt mean he isnt speaking some truth. Why do we allow policies that kill our industries and jobs? What other sovereign nation repeatedly puts the rights of illegal immigrants ahead of her own people? Why have those in power operated with a different set of rules than the rest of us? These speak right to my heart, and I assume, yours.

There is a saying: The hard thing to do and the right thing to do are often the same thing. Fixing our economy will be a hard thing to do. Trump, I hope, is the man who can start fixing it.

Michael Tapp

Age: 41

Occupation: educator

Home: Omaha

Registered party: Democratic

Candidate: Hillary Clinton

I wouldnt say there was a single best president in my lifetime, but a few did some things better than others. Foreign policy-wise I would say Reagan was probably the strongest. In the 80s, the U.S. wasnt the worlds primary superpower as it is today. We were still in the midst of the Cold War, and there was a lot of contention between the U.S. and Russia to determine who was the worlds ultimate superpower. As a kid, I remember the threat of nuclear war between the U.S. and Russia as being a real possibility. Reagans strength was in the confidence he showed, and that filtered down to the rest of Americans. I also feel he was fairly strong diplomatically. Instead of just making veiled threats toward Russia, he would meet and negotiate with (Soviet leader Mikhail) Gorbachev.

Domestically, his policies were terrible for poor and lower-middle-class people and helped widen the gap between the haves and have-nots. The best president domestically, in my opinion, was/is Obama. If you think about where we were eight years ago, on the brink of a depression with the banks in serious trouble and the housing market tanking, to where we are today, its nearly a complete one-eighty. Hes also been great for the LGBT community, repealing dont ask, dont tell and being an advocate for gay marriage, and for women.

Hes also conducted himself with class and has stayed above the fray.

Im voting for Hillary, and I think she measures up well in some ways to these gentlemen and not so well in other ways. I think her strength is going to be on the foreign policy end. As secretary of state and as first lady she has had an opportunity to meet with and negotiate with a great number of foreign leaders and dignitaries. Listening to her, you can tell that she has an excellent grasp on issues that affect various parts of the world. Her opponent, on the other hand, does not. Did Hillary make some mistakes as secretary of state or wish that she had done some things differently? Probably, but thats part of being in a position of power where your decision could swing a number of different ways and is dependent on the actions of others as well.

Domestically, she is just as knowledgeable as she is on the foreign policy end of things, and I think that she will be able to work with the Republicans in Congress. But what may hold her back is the same thing that makes Obama great  keeping yourself drama-free. She always seems to be in the midst of some kind of controversy and, even as a supporter, its sometimes hard to know what is the truth and what is spin. If she can keep herself relatively controversy free, I think shell do fine domestically.
Omaha Public Schools Superintendent Mark Evans, who announced last week that he is retiring at the end of the school year, will leave Nebraskas largest school district in much better shape than he found it.

Evans chief accomplishment was refocusing 7,000 employees and 52,000 students on what matters most: improving academic performance.

Students and staff, during his four-year tenure, have improved the districts state test scores in reading and math, even in some historically challenged schools, and continue to narrow achievement gaps rooted in poverty. High school graduation rates have trended up, as have ACT scores.

Evans results-focused management style has rubbed some the wrong way. But it is typical for change agents such as Evans to upset longtime employees and entrenched political interests while implementing needed reforms.

Evans himself acknowledges he has had some stumbles along the way, such as moving too quickly last year for a longer school day without enough input from parents and teachers. And parents werent happy this year when significant bus driver shortages created weeks of turmoil.

But such mistakes shouldnt overshadow the significant progress the district made under this superintendent. Evans set the positive vision OPS needed after a divisive end to 15 years under former Superintendent John Mackiel and will leave a strong sense of momentum in his wake.

The superintendent from Kansas made clear in his 2012 interview for the OPS top job how much importance he would place on strategic planning. He pushed the district to set its first realistic, publicly vetted plan for academic improvement in more than a decade.

This document helped get OPS teachers, principals, parents and central office staff on the same page about what the district should prioritize and what efforts it might have to abandon.

Among other district accomplishments:

 OPS is competing better for teaching talent by paying new and returning teachers more, hiring them sooner and better mentoring new hires.

 Instead of continuing to have 86 principals report directly to the superintendent, Evans hired four former principals to supervise and support them. These directors make sure the strategic plans academic goals are carried out in every building and help mentor these building leaders.

 The district started a principals academy to prepare employees for future leadership roles and evaluate the talent the district has on-hand so administrators can maintain a leadership pipeline.

 OPS is deploying tablets, computers and other technology faster to classrooms and doing a better job of training teachers on ways to use technology to improve student learning.

 The district responsibly evaluated its school building maintenance and replacement needs and is now budgeting more wisely for maintenance after putting off costly work. The district had gone 15 years without a bond issue.

 OPS mended fences at the State Capitol, which helped the district secure a needed acknowledgment in the state aid formula that it costs more to educate students in poverty and students learning English, two groups OPS serves in large numbers.

 The district revitalized its relationships with the local business community and listened to business concerns about its graduates needing new skills. Hence, Benson High Schools new career academy is focused on modern job skills.

All of this fostered a marked turnaround in public confidence in OPS. Taxpayers overwhelmingly endorsed the districts new direction in 2014, when 60 percent of voters passed Nebraskas largest bond issue, at $421 million.

Under Evans, OPS might have tackled too many controversial topics too quickly, including the new policy on student discipline and the updated human growth and development curriculum. In the process, friction developed between some board members and the superintendent.

It is unfortunate that a lack of board support for Evans was a factor in his decision to leave. Members need to more prudently evaluate progress under the next superintendent.

Overall, Evans earns top grades for his tenure. In 2011, OPS eighth graders posted their worst scores in 18 years on the California Achievement Test in math, language and reading. By contrast, state tests this year showed reading proficiency rise in all seven grades tested.

Come June, Omaha will lose a transformational leader. Evans service merits our thanks. Heres hoping his replacement continues the good work.
The New York Times will get you if you dont watch out, at least if your name is Donald Trump and if getting you means publishing a story about a scandal that isnt one.

The paper did just that in a piece saying Trump was maybe not paying taxes because of some business losses. The Clinton camp was joyous, and Tim Kaine kept barking about it in the vice presidential debate. No matter the topic, Kaine would go woof on something else, never letting Trump and his taxes get far away.

What the Times said in its front-page story was that Trumps businesses took a $916 million hit one year and that could have meant he paid no taxes for another 18 years down the road.

The implication was that this mere possibility, stemming from something Trump clearly did not plan, should make all voters say no to Trump.

The common sense response is thats silly.

Even if he did enjoy a no-taxes stretch, deducting business losses in a given year from future taxes is commonplace, and for good reason. Without this feature in the tax law, we would have a distorted tax system, fewer thriving businesses, less entrepreneurship, fewer jobs, higher prices and even less tax revenue.

Here is how it works.

You have a nice business. But one year or more, your profits disappear and your losses slap you in the face.

Sometimes for survivals sake, you try to put things back together. That becomes a lot harder if the government in effect punishes your recovery efforts. What it does instead is look at your net income over time.

It is not a case of letting you off the hook. It is a case of evening things out.

None of this is meant to say that there are not all kinds of tax intricacies that can get you better results if your finances are such that you can afford terrific tax lawyers. Trump obviously could, and that maybe helped after 1995 when much went sour for him  a losing gamble on casinos, a Manhattan hotel not filling its rooms and an airline investment that never took off.

If he then took tax breaks, thats what any sensible person would do, and it would have been legal, which could be one up on the Times.

What Kaine kept saying was that, by not paying taxes, Trump was not doing his share to support various national causes. What Pence kept asking in return was whether Kaine took his allowable deductions.

Question: Have you ever heard of anyone intentionally sending the government more money than is owed?

Some moralize on all of this, saying Trump was so rich he should have beneficently ponied up anyway. Do they understand that that money could have been crucial for his operations and that rich businesses go out of business all the time? Those who are hurt can include thousands of employees.

Fevered Kaine had a better point when he said Trump ought to divulge his tax returns. He should. An audit is no excuse not to.
In a first, two inmates of Institute of Mental Health tie the knot

Update on Jayalalithaas health: Stalin visits hospital, CM undergoes lung decongestion treatment

Chennai

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Chennai, Oct 9: For the time being politics can take a backseat, as arch rival and DMK leader MK Stalin visited Apollo Hospital in Chennai to enquire about Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's health condition.

DMK treasurer and Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly visited the hospital and talked to the doctors there regarding Jayalalithaa's condition on Saturday.

"We have been told that her condition is improving. Our wishes on behalf of the DMK and our party chief Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi) for a speedy recovery and resumption of her work," he told reporters after the visit to the hospital.

Accompanied by party colleagues, including Deputy Leader of Opposition in Assembly Duraimurugan and former minister K Ponmudi, Mr Stalin also called on Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, state Finance Minister O Panneerselvam and state Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar at the hospital and enquired about the health of the chief minister.

Meanwhile, Jayalalithaa, who was hospitalised last month, is undergoing lung decongestion as well as other "comprehensive measures" and continues to be under constant monitoring, Apollo Hospital said.

"The honourable Chief Minister continues to be under constant monitoring by the intensivists and consultants in the panel (of specialists)," it said.

The hospital's chief operating officer Subbiah Viswanathan said in a short press release that respiratory support "is being closely watched and adjusted."

"Lungs decongestion treatment is being continued. All the other comprehensive measures including nutrition, supportive therapy and passive physiotherapy are under way," he said.

The 68-year-old chief minister was admitted to the hospital on September 22 for "fever and dehydration". In subsequent health bulletins, the hospital said Jayalalithaa was "responding well to the treatment" but has been advised "a few more days" under observation.

On Thursday, Apollo said Ms Jayalalithaa "continues to improve, but requires a longer stay at the hospital".

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Sunday, October 9, 2016, 10:21 [IST]
Nashik tense after teenage boy tries to rape 5-yr-old girl

India

oi-PTI

Nashik, Oct 9: A teenage boy allegedly tried to rape a five-year-old girl near Trimbakeshwar in Nashik which led to large scale protests and tension in the district, even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appealed for calm and assured that the case would be tried in a fast track court.

The 16-year-old boy, who has been taken into custody, allegedly tried to rape the minor girl at Talegaon village near Trimbakeshwar in the district yesterday, Nashik Superintendent of Police Ankush Shinde said today.

Offence has been registered against the boy under relevant sections of the IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said.

As soon as the news spread, tension gripped Talegoan as locals gathered at the police station last night demanding that the boy be booked and arrested. The villagers staged 'rasta roko' in Wadovhare, Ghoti and Anjaneri-phata areas.

Some people set tyres on fire, and also damaged a tractor in Talegaon. A group of people also protested at Nashik Civil Hospital last night and demanded that the victim be examined by a woman doctor.

The enraged people gathered at several places this morning also and damaged three police vehicles, including the car of Special IG, Nashik Range, Vinaykumar Choube, when he was rushing to Talegaon today. Police had to lob teargas shells and also fire some rounds in the air at Talegaon to disperse the mob, a rural control room official said.

People also staged 'rasta roko' on Nashik-Igatpuri road, Nashik-Aurangabad road and Mumbai-Agra National Highway today where later extra police force was deployed and the routes cleared.

Some angry people also observed bandh at Ojhar town in the district against the incident. Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, who is also the Guardian Minister of Nashik, visited the girl's family and termed the incident as "unfortunate".

He said a rape attempt was made on her by the boy and said the case would be fast-tracked. Mahajan assured that charges will be framed in the case within a fortnight and it will be heard in a fast track court.

Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam will be appointed as prosecutor in the case, he said. No senior doctor or civil surgeon of Nashik Civil Hospital were available for comments on the issue.

PTI
PM Narendra Modi chokes up as he talks about Morbi tragedy | Video

Rahul Gandhis dalali barb fiasco: Congress accuses Narendra Modi of insulting Army

News

oi-PTI

Under attack over Rahul Gandhi's "dalali" barb, Congress today hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of "insulting" the Army when BJP was in opposition.

"The Govt, which is taking credit for the bravery of our Armed Forces, is headed by the same man who insulted the Army when in Opposition," the party tweeted.

It posted a purported tweet by Modi when he was the Gujarat Chief Minister on its twitter handle which read, "We are facing many a crisis. Is all this happening due to weakness of our Army:Narendra Modi (sic)."

In the picture containing the tweet, Congress alleged that Modi even targeted the Army to grab power.

"In 2008, Modi ji touched a new low - instead of showing solidarity with forces, he held a press conference at attack site & cursed the Govt (sic)," it said in another tweet.

The tweet accompanied a picture that showed Modi addressing media in Mumbai in the wake of the 26/11 terror strikes.

Congress said the Modi government "insulted the sacrifices" of martyrs "by inviting the ISI to probe the Pathankot terror attack".

BJP chief Amit Shah had yesterday launched a blistering attack on Rahul for his 'dalali' remarks, saying he "crossed all limits" and "insulted" the army's valour.

The Congress Vice President had on Thursday accused the Prime Minister of "hiding behind the blood of soldiers" and politically exploiting their sacrifices.

PTI
Operation Ginger: When Indian Army killed 8 Pakistanis in 2011 surgical strike

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Oct 9: A deadly surgical strike by the Indian Army in Pakistani territory in 2011 left at least eight Pakistani soldiers dead, with three of them decapitated, a report published on Sunday said.

Details regarding the tit-for-tat attack that took place in the summer of 2011 have come out amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions marked by an Indian surgical strike on September 29.

The Hindu newspaper citing confidential official documents, video and photographic evidences said India and Pakistan carried out "two of the bloodiest cross-border surgical strikes" killing 13 soldiers.

Five of the slain soldiers were decapitated. The Pakistani soldiers took away the heads of two Indian soldiers and left behind a third badly wounded who died in hospital, the daily said.

In the revenge attack, Indian soldiers brought back heads of three Pakistani soldiers, the Hindu said.

Major General (retired) S.K. Chakravorty, who planned and executed the operation as the chief of Kupwara-based 28 Division, confirmed the Indian raid but refused to discuss details.

According to the newspaper, Pakistani raiders struck a remote army post in Gugaldhar in Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir on July 30, 2011.

The attackers returned with the heads of Havildar Jaipal Singh Adhikari and Lance Naik Devender Singh of 20 Kumaon. A soldier of the 19 Rajput, who reported the attack, died in a hospital.

In revenge, the Indian Army planned "Operation Ginger" -- which, the daily said, turned out to be one of the deadliest cross-border raids across the LoC.

The Indian operation was planned to precision. Seven reconnaissance - physical and air surveillance mounted on UAV - missions were carried out to identify vulnerable Pakistani army posts.

The mission was finalized to spring an ambush on Police Chowki to inflict maximum casualty.

Finally, the Indian troops launched the covert operation on August 30, 2011.

About 25 soldiers, mainly Para Commandos, crossed the LoC stealthily. They planted claymore mines around the strike area.

Four Pakistani soldiers, led by a Junior Commissioned Officer, walked into the ambush. Mines were detonated, grenades lobbed and they were fired at.

One Pakistani soldier fell into a stream that ran below. Indian soldiers chopped off the heads of the other three dead soldiers and also took away their rank insignias, weapons and other personal items.

The commandos then planted pressure IED's beneath one of the bodies, primed to explode when anyone attempted to lift it.

Two more Pakistani soldiers rushed in after hearing the explosions. They were killed by a second Indian team waiting near the ambush site.

Two other Pakistani army men tried to trap the second team. But a third Indian team covering them killed the Pakistanis, the daily said.

While the Indian soldiers were retreating, another group of Pakistani soldiers were spotted moving towards the ambush site. Soon they heard loud blasts, indicating the concealed IEDs had exploded, the report said.

According to Indian assessment, at least two to three more Pakistani soldiers were fatally injured in that blast.

The operation lasted for about 45 minutes and the Indians headed back across the LoC, carrying the heads of Subedar Parvez, Havildar Aftab and Naik Imran.

The severed heads were photographed and buried. Two days later, one of the senior most Generals in the command turned up and ordered the heads to be dug up, burnt and the ashes strewn into Kishenganga river.

This was done to do away with all DNA traces, the daily said.

IANS
Even if not contesting 2020 polls, Hillary Clinton will not be entirely out of scene

Hillary Clinton says Julian Assange must 'answer for what he has done'

Donald Trump faces do or die presidential debate

International

oi-PTI

Chicago, Oct 9: Beleaguered Republican nominee Donald Trump has 90 minutes to save his faltering presidential campaign, US media said today ahead of his encounter with Hillary Clinton in a do or die debate, taking place soon after his obscene remarks about women surfaced.

The second edition of the three presidential debates to take place in St. Louis will cap one of the most extraordinary weekends in American political history, CNN commented and went on to say that Trump will have 90 minutes Sunday night to save his presidential campaign.

Republicans -- including vice presidential nominee Mike Pence -- are criticising Trump, 70, for his vulgar comments about advances he has made toward women in 2005 that came to light on Friday.

Ahead of the prime-time debate, American media gave an ever-growing list of senators and top Republican officials who want Trump replaced on the ticket.

They included former Republican presidential candidate John McCain and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Trump insists he won't leave the race, and he and allies indicate he'll go on the attack against Clinton.

One thing that is on everyone's mind is what will Trump say on the tape. Soon after the "Access Hollywood" tape became public on Friday, Trump released a statement that read, in part: "I apologise if anyone was offended."

Hours later, he released a video message: "Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologise," Trump said.

He made a brief appearance Saturday on Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower, and a couple of calls to newspapers vowing to stay in the race. But this will be his first live appearance and one that guarantees follow-up questions.

Although Trump has apologised, he has not yet addressed serious concerns raised by the hot mic video. Most notably, Trump's suggestion that he made aggressive advances toward women has raised grave new questions about whether he touched women without their consent, CNN reported.

"This is Trump's chance to convince Americans that he is sincere in his apology and that he can be trusted as commander in chief. If he can do that, as well as score points on his core issues of trade and security, he may be able to survive," the leading network commented.

Washington Post, which published a video on Friday showing Trump making crude remarks about sexual assault, said the beleaguered candidate was delivering conflicting messages: one of apology, insincere as it seemed to many viewers, and one of defiance.

It was not clear that either message could rescue him after the expose. "Trump's extraordinary campaign has been guided by his own instincts, and on Friday, his instinct was to hunker down and fight.

Trump spent the next 24 hours in New York mostly ensconced in Trump Tower with only his most loyal advisers, steadfastly refusing to accept or recognize the full reality of what was happening outside," the paper said.

PTI
Husband's remarks unacceptable, offensive: Melania Trump

International

oi-PTI

New York, Oct 8: Describing Donald Trump's lewd remarks about groping women, shortly after his third marriage in 2005, as "unacceptable and offensive", his wife Melania Trump today exhorted the people to accept his apology, just as she has.

"The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me. This does not represent the man that I know. He has the heart and mind of a leader," Trump's wife said in a rare public statement, following a video that surfaced recently in which Trump was caught on mic making extremely lewd and sexually offensive remarks against women.

Melania, Trump's wife of 11 years and a former Slovenian model, said she hopes people will accept her husband's apology "as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world." Trump, 70, had married his third wife Melania, 46, in 2005.

He was newly married in 2005 when he spoke in an uncovered video about trying to have sex with married women and groping others without permission.

Earlier, the Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence said that he won't "condone his (Trump's) remarks and cannot defend them."

"We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night," the Indiana governor said.

Meanwhile, Trump remained defiant in the face of the severe backlash and criticism within his own party over his remarks in the video, telling the Washington Post that he will not quit the presidential race.

PTI
India Post employees to get Rs 10 lakh as compensation for death due to COVID-19 on duty

In pics: Know interesting facts about World Post Day

International

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

Gone are the days when long letters were written for loved ones. Times are changing, so are the modes of communication. In the changing communication landscape, Posts across the world innovate to remain relevant.

On the occasion of the World Post Day, celebrated across the globe on October 9, we look at some fascinating facts about the world of mail.

Importance of the World Post Day: The event was declared by the 1969 Universal Postal Congress in Tokyo as a means to mark the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union's (UPU) creation in 1874.

The purpose of World Post Day is to bring awareness to the Post's role in the everyday lives of people and businesses, as well as its contribution to global social and economic development.

India is a postal leader: India has the largest postal network in the world with 1,54,939 post offices as on March 31, 2015, of which 1,39,222 (89.86%) are in the rural areas. At the time of independence there were 23,344 post offices.

The most expensive stamp: According to the Mirror, the most expensive stamp sold so far is a British Penny Red for 550,000.

Rare Indian stamps: According to Sandafayre, some of the rare Indian stamps feature Mahatma Gandhi (1948) and Lion and Palm Tree (1853), to name a few.

Unique post in history: According to the MSN, NASA astronauts Dave Scott and Jim Irwin spent three days exploring the moon in 1971. Scott carried with him two special space stamps. On the last day of the trip, he postmarked this cover. Being 238,000 miles (383,024 kilometers) away from Earth made this a unique post in history.

Online sale of rare stamps: If you are interested in philately, eBay is the place to find some of the rarest stamps from Indian postal service.

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Story first published: Sunday, October 9, 2016, 11:27 [IST]
Security of Taj Mahal beefed up, vital installations in UP

Lucknow

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Lucknow, Oct 9: Security has been heightened at many important places, tourist spots and government installations across Uttar Pradesh following an IB alert of a potential threat by terrorists, officials said on Sunday.

Additional security has been deployed at the Taj Mahal, in Agra the biggest draw for foreign and domestic tourists.

Officials informed that 36 extra commandoes have been deployed at the Taj Mahal, on the outer periphery, in and around the entry points. Other than this, CISF personnel who guard the world famous monument of love, have also been alerted on the possibility of a terror attack, a senior home department official informed.

As the festival season is underway and important festivals like the Durga Puja, Dusshehra and Muharram are on the anvil, security has also been beefed up important cities like Lucknow, Agra, Kanpur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Varanasi and Allahabad, a police official said.

IANS


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Previewing This Month's Hotly Anticipated Berlin Affiliate Conference 2016

Published October 9, 2016 by Mike P

Watch out for the upcoming Berlin Affiliate Conference this October, with a number of delegates expected to attend the four-day event.

Coming later this month is the Berlin Affiliate Conference (BAC), which is expected to break attendance records by surpassing the 3,000 mark. Organiser iGB Affiliate has scheduled the four-day conference to run from 20 to 23 October 2016, with the Messe Berlin exhibition centre playing host to the industry event.

BAC 2016 has secured some major companies as sponsors, with bet365 being the overall sponsor. From the other categories, the conference is also sponsored by 888, William Hill, Intertops, NetBet, 10Bet, and Paysafe, along with many more.

Learn from Expert Speakers

With thousands due to attend, iGB has ensured BAC 2016 will be filled with leading industry experts to share insights from within their fields. From gambling operators and regulators to software developers and legal specialists, there is a diverse curriculum for attendees to learn from.

For instance, Alexandre Tomic is a speaker who made the rise from working in affiliate networks to being a casino operator, while Dr Andreas Blaue can advise on marketing and advertising to all major gambling channels. Merkur Media CEO Dr Dirk Quermann then provides a software perspective, with Jake Pollard of iGB taking time to cover the topic of producing online content.

Breaking Down BAC 2016s Schedule

The first day of BAC 2016 will begin pre-registration before continuing with late-afternoon welcome drinks and then an official networking party to kick-start proceedings. Everybody will then rise the next morning on day two to begin the exhibition, which will feature displays from an array of casinos and affiliate networks. During that time, there will be a full schedule of speakers covering various topics, with an evening networking party planned.

Day three will have a similar approach, with many more speakers lined up to speak on their areas. All delegates will then be invited for a last party on the Saturday evening, with delegates given one final chance to network and form new connections. A Sunday session will then be held during the afternoon of day four to wrap everything up.

Here at Online Casino Reports (OCR), we are looking to another fascinating conference  there is an official BAC app breaking down the entire schedule.


Without words, Global warming

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Civilization has begun to implode.

The mammalian species that have gone extinct in the last ten years already outnumber the plant and animal species that died off during the Fifth Extinction, which took place some 66 million years ago and killed the dinosaurs; the rate of die-off is also faster. You may live to witness and be impacted by the Sixth Extinction. My guess is that homo sapiens will be replaced by cetaceans (dolphins, whales) as the dominant species. Maybe. In a few millennia.

The Fifth Extinction was caused by a 6-mile diameter meteor landing off the coast of Yucatan, darkening the sky with dust and dropping the temperature of the biosphere for decades. The coming Sixth Extinction is caused by humans burning fossil fuels in combination with over-population.

The battle against global warming is over. We lost. And there is no turning back or recovery possible. Meteorologists in Great Britain are recording all-time high temperatures across the country. The Arctic Ocean was largely ice-free this spring, the first-ever such condition, and Alaska has been warmer than the U.S. East Coast. Russia and Canada are building naval and coast guard bases along their northern coasts, expecting to need to monitor an influx of oil tankers and tourist ships.

The El Nino phenomenon in the South Pacific Ocean is medium strength lately, and yet is seen as cause for warm and wet jet stream clouds moving northward to Alaska and Canada. So the water needed to support California agriculture is not arriving and the crops will not be growing -- first the heavily-irrigated crops like almonds and rice and alfalfa, followed by drier crops like corn and cotton.

Over a third of the country's vegetables and two-thirds of the country's fruits and nuts are produced in California. Oops, no water, no food. The glaciers in the Andes Mountains are mostly melted away, so no water for their crops, and no imported food either. We are already seeing spot shortages in the fresh and packaged food sections in our local grocery stores. Prices will skyrocket and the rest of the economy will disappear.

McDonald's is the largest owner of meat and dairy cattle in the U.S.A. (plus herds down in Argentina and Brasil); as their herds shrink further there won't be any Big Macs -- no beef, no food, no jobs.

** ** ** **

The CEOs of Wall Street are still raping and pillaging the economy. The Wall Street pirates take money out of the system and ignore the economics of Main Street. Money is quite like rain water: the less that circulates the harder it is to keep the system going. The Middle Class is shrinking in silence -- under-reported, with little protest to the government, which doesn't listen anyway. The solution is Keynesian economics, which is feared by the fascist Republicans (because it works); we also need to institute www.ReasonBasedTaxation.info/index.htm" target="_blank">Reason-Based Taxation, which barely has a toehold among politicians.

** ** ** **

Eco-activist Bill McKibben founded a group called WWW.350.org/" target="_blank">350.org back in 2007. The number was chosen because it signifies the parts-per-million (ppm) for CO2 that the atmosphere can healthily recycle -- carbon fuels burn, plants and the oceans absorb the CO2, trees and plankton produce oxygen thru photosynthesis.

Recent news reports detail the several official scientific weather research facilities that have recorded CO2 levels at 400 ppm. Increased global warming is now inevitable and unstoppable.

The twelve months of 2015 are the warmest on record (i.e. since 1880) all around the planet, with 2016 expected to continue to set high-temperature records.

The South Pacific Ocean contains a floating garbage pile the size of the State of Texas. That mostly-plastic garbage absorbs heat. As the warmer ocean waters there and around the world absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, the water is turned several pH levels toward the acidic. The acidity is already dissolving the shells of tiny animals at the bottom of the oceanic food chain, destroying sustenance for larger creatures.

The krill (swarms of tiny shellfish) near the Antarctic are decimated and near extinction. The melting of the Antarctic ice shelves and glaciers prevents penguins from swimming out to where the krill used to be. The melting in the Arctic prevents polar bears from swimming out to their seal herd food source, so the polar bears have started to learn how to kill elk and deer. (No reports yet of polar bears forming packs to attack Inuit/Eskimo settlements.)

** ** ** **

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Reprinted from Consortium News



Russian President Vladimir Putin, following his address to the UN General Assembly on Sept. 28, 2015.

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The neoconservative president of the U.S.-taxpayer-funded National Endowment for Democracy [NED] has called for the U.S. government to "summon the will" to engineer the overthrow of Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that the 10-year-old murder case of a Russian journalist should be the inspiration.

Carl Gershman, who has headed NED since its founding in 1983, doesn't cite any evidence that Putin was responsible for the death of Anna Politkovskaya but uses a full column in The Washington Post on Friday to create that impression, calling her death "a window to Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin autocrat whom Americans are looking at for the first time."

Gershman wraps up his article by writing: "Politkovskaya saw the danger [of Putin], but she and other liberals in Russia were not strong enough to stop it. The United States has the power to contain and defeat this danger. The issue is whether we can summon the will to do so. Remembering Politkovskaya can help us rise to this challenge."

That Gershman would so directly call for the ouster of Russia's clearly popular president represents further proof that NED is a neocon-driven vehicle that seeks to create the political circumstances for "regime change" even when that means removing leaders who are elected by a country's citizenry.

And there is a reason for NED to see its job in that way. In 1983, NED essentially took over the CIA's role of influencing electoral outcomes and destabilizing governments that got in the way of U.S. interests, except that NED carried out those functions in a quasi-overt fashion while the CIA did them covertly.

NED also serves as a sort of slush fund for neocons and other favored U.S. foreign policy operatives because a substantial portion of NED's money circulates through U.S.-based non-governmental organizations or NGOs.

That makes Gershman an influential neocon paymaster whose organization dispenses some $100 million a year in U.S. taxpayers' money to activists, journalists and NGOs both in Washington and around the world. The money helps them undermine governments in Washington's disfavor -- or as Gershman would prefer to say, "build democratic institutions," even when that requires overthrowing democratically elected leaders.

NED was a lead actor in the Feb. 22, 2014 coup ousting Ukraine's elected President Viktor Yanukovych in a U.S.-backed putsch that touched off the civil war inside Ukraine between Ukrainian nationalists from the west and ethnic Russians from the east. The Ukraine crisis has become a flashpoint for the dangerous New Cold War between the U.S. and Russia.

Before the anti-Yanukovych coup, NED was funding scores of projects inside Ukraine, which Gershman had identified as "the biggest prize" in a Sept. 26, 2013 column also published in The Washington Post.

In that column, Gershman wrote that after the West claimed Ukraine, "Russians, too, face a choice, and Putin may find himself on the losing end not just in the near abroad but within Russia itself." In other words, Gershman already saw Ukraine as an important step toward an even bigger prize, a "regime change" in Moscow.

Less than five months after Gershman's column, pro-Western political activists and neo-Nazi street fighters -- with strong support from U.S. neocons and the State Department -- staged a coup in Kiev driving Yanukovych from office and installing a rabidly anti-Russian regime, which the West promptly dubbed "legitimate."

In reaction to the coup and the ensuing violence against ethnic Russians, the voters of Crimea approved a referendum with 96 percent of the vote to leave Ukraine and rejoin Russia, a move that the West's governments and media decried as a Russian "invasion" and "annexation."

The new regime in Kiev then mounted what it called an "Anti-Terrorism Operation" or ATO against ethnic Russians in the east who had supported Yanukovych and refused to accept the anti-constitutional coup in Kiev as legitimate.

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Reprinted from Consortium News

A new front in the historic struggle of Native Americans to force the U.S. government to respect their rights is the protest against a pipeline that would go through the territory of a small tribe in North Dakota.

This protest has drawn the support of Dennis J. Banks, the co-founder of the American Indian Movement (AIM), who sat down for an interview in San Francisco after helping out with the growing resistance to the pipeline in North Dakota.

Banks was born in 1932 on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota. In 1968, he co-founded A.I.M., "which was established to protect the traditional ways of Indian people and to engage in legal cases protecting treaty rights of Native Americans, such as treaty and aboriginal rights to hunting and fishing, trapping, and gathering wild rice."

In 1972, AIM organized and led the Trail of Broken Treaties Caravan across the United States to Washington, D.C., calling attention to the plight of Native Americans. Banks led a protest in Custer, South Dakota, in 1973 against a judicial process found a non-Indian innocent of murdering an Indian. Banks also participated the 71-day occupation of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, in 1973.

His activities led to his arrest, along with 300 others. Banks was acquitted of charges stemming from his participation in the Wounded Knee takeover, but was convicted of riot and assault stemming from the confrontation at Custer. Refusing to serve time in prison, Banks went underground but later received amnesty from Gov. Jerry Brown of California.

Banks's autobiography, Sacred Soul, was published in Japan, and won the 1988 Non-fiction Book of the Year Award. He had significant roles in the films "War Party" (1988), "The Last of the Mohicans" (1992), and "Thunderheart" (1992). Banks was in San Francisco, as a part of a multi-state tour as a 2016 Vice Presidential Candidate on the Peace and Freedom Party when I interviewed him on KPFA.

Dennis Banks: First of all I want to say thank you to KPFA for allowing for us to come on. We have, when I say we, Native People, we needed Standing Rock, and we needed the people to support us there. As you know, they're trying to run the pipeline roughshod through a lot of our territories, and we're scrambling; we thought they were going to win totally, but now, it's been about ["] nine weeks ago that I first was made aware that there was going to be an encampment going on.

And I kind of followed it at first to see what was going on. It developed, there was 200 people that showed up and made the encampment, and then I was telling my children, I said "Hey, we gotta get involved in this. I don't know what's going to happen but we've got to get up there."

Well, my daughters went first, and then they reported back to me, and I realized that something big is going to happen. But I thought at first that the big thing would be that the confrontation would begin quickly, coming to push and shove. But I noticed that the tribal council of Standing Rock had taken a firm, legal action against Dakota Access right away, and that's when I felt that we could win.

Looking at the brief, looking at the strategy that was going to develop, I thought, "Oh man, this is going to get big." And I want to say from now, there were 400 people when I first came there, to now seeing on Labor Day weekend, it rose to about 10,000 people. Some say it was 9,500 but we are now listed as the 13th largest village in North Dakota.

And the camp has become a community. And I've never seen this kind of support. You know, the struggle with Wounded Knee ended up being a confrontation with the FBI and the U.S. marshals, and weapons and guns. But this one is, oh my God, I've never seen and I probably will never see this kind of support again for a really small tribe.

DB: Well, tell us what you saw and more about what moved you?

Banks: Well, first of all, when we reached over, almost close to 1,000 people, the people started to create some learning sessions for a lot of the children that were there. And there was about 15 horses that came there, young boys and girls were riding them. There was a lot of happiness, there was a lot of good feeling. The cooking started to grow, from one big major station, cooking station, where we now have 10 major stations, where they feed the 6,000-7,000 people, we'll feed them within an hour and a half. And that's how we're getting it down.

And, also, the children, the learning situation became really vital. And it began to show and become clear that we're not there just for a couple of days. We're going to be in it for the long run. Knowing that the teachers -- some are retired, some are active teachers in other colleges, universities -- they came there to teach for a week. Now some of them have been there for four or five weeks. It's growing. It's growing with a sense of huge love. I've seen tractor trailers coming in there with logs, with food and warm clothing, and recently, just a lot of warm clothing, and a lot of big tents.

And then I've seen also from the first amount of flags. I saw it go from 30 flags, National flags, to now where I've seen over 250 flags flying right now, and we've got them in formation. It looks like the United Nations, better, bigger than the United Nations.

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To the editor:

The editorial by Norbert Bufka made outrageous claims and convinced me the problem of our society today is that weve drunk too much Kool-Aid. David Brooks is also guilty of this wrongdoing when he judges Donald Trump on his past business career instead of looking at the role Donald could play as a public servant. This does not mention the success of the Trump children, nor does it factor the thinking Trump must have made to become the success he is. He created thousands of jobs for employees by becoming an icon.

He respects all and the comment on the disabled man, although unfortunate, was really taken out of context and blown way out of proportion for Hillary purposes. The comparison Bufka made to Nietzsche was a little much and the last straw. I must object.

Does anyone really understand what this means? I suspect not. Nietzsche was a German philosopher and cultural critic who added to Hitlers thinking before he killed at least 6,000,000 Jewish people. Donald concerns himself with the end result of whatever he touches and how he can bring value to whatever his project may be. Can Hillary say that?

Call me another deplorable, but Hillary is just the status-quo. She has done nothing admirable or worthy to deserve the office of the president. She has stated: deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed. She will appoint progressive-minded judges to the U.S. Supreme Court who will make their own changes to the interpretation of the Second Amendment; so when Bufka states Hillary will leave the Constitution alone, concern is justified. She wont. Hillary will continue in igniting Gods wrath on America for the sin of abortion. No restrictions will be made to the practice. Ive seen articles where she plans to do away with the Hyde Amendment.

And when Bufka speaks on world view I cant help thinking, what is so wrong with America being put first as Donald wishes? Many other countries have banned Muslims and refugees based on the fact that they generally do not assimilate. Japan is the latest to object and Russia has also made such objections. Increasing the refugee rate by 550 percent may not be in our best interest. But that does not mean the U.S. does not care. Creating safe havens in their own country could be the answer.

The fact Donald earned such Christian support is because he listened to the pastors. They objected to the Johnson amendment of 1954, which was a change to the tax code status of nonprofit should they endorse or support a political candidate. Donald will repeal this amendment. Does Hillary give a hoot what Christians want? No. She will continue with the progressive secular agenda that church and state should be separate. This ends up killing religious liberty. The protections the religious used to enjoy increasingly will come under assault; think no further than The Little Sisters of the Poor.

Risk is essential to the good life. Remember the parable of the talents in the Bible? The master upon departing for a journey gave five talents, two talents and one talent to his three servants according to their ability and on return rewarded the servant most who had been given five talents because he had made five more. Donald has proven to me I can trust him; Hillary has not.

MARY LAFORET

Midland
Bloomington-Normal

Kindred; Oct. 9-10, Jan Brandt Gallery, 1106 W. Bell St., Bloomington; works in various media by ISU printmaking alumni; viewing by appointment at janbrandtgallery@gmail.com.

Mickell Duncan; 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-noon Sat., through Oct. 31, IAA Credit Union lobby, 808 IAA Drive, Bloomington; paintings; free.

ISU University Galleries; noon-4 p.m. Mon., 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Tue., 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed.-Fri., noon-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun., Uptown Station, 11 Uptown Circle, Normal; rotating exhibits in three galleries; free; 309-438-8321.

Wonsook Kim: Lines of Enchantment; through Oct. 16, ISU University Galleries, see above; cast bronze outlines, paintings, prints and drawings.

Placelessness: Marissa Lee Benedict & David Rueter and Sarah Rothberg; through Oct. 16, ISU University Galleries, see above; interactive installations.

Beyond the Norm: International Juried Print Exhibition; through Oct. 16, ISU University Galleries, see above; works by 54 artists.

And There's the Humor of It: Shakespeare and the Four Humors; through Oct. 29, IWU Ames Library ground floor; six-panel touring exhibit exploring role of four humors in Shakespeare's work; free.

IWU Merwin and Wakeley Galleries; school hours, noon-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 1-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun., 7-9 p.m. Tue.; 302 E. Graham St., Bloomington; rotating exhibits; free; 309-556-3391.

Fences and Courts; through Nov. 3, IWU Wakelely Gallery, see above; paintings, collages and sculptures by Lloyd Ahern.

Chromatic Candela; through Nov. 3, IWU Merwin Gallery, see above; installation by Erin Taylor.

McLean County Arts Center; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tue., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Fri., noon-4 p.m. Sat.; 601 N. East St., Bloomington; rotating exhibits, sales, rentals, art classes and lectures; free; 309-829-0011.

40 Years NEW; through Oct. 22, McLean County Arts Center, see above; 40th anniversary retrospective of ISU's New Editions Workshop.

Behind Every Print; through Oct. 22, McLean County Arts Center, see above; works by ISU faculty and Normal Editions Workshop staff.

McLean County Museum of History; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. (until 9 p.m. Tue.), 200 N. Main St., Bloomington; permanent and rotating exhibits; adults $5, seniors $4, students, children under 12 and members free; 309-827-0428.

Challenges, Choices and Change: Making a Home; McLean County Museum of History, see above; new permanent exhibit exploring experiences of people from around the world who made McLean County their home.

Abraham Lincoln in McLean County; McLean County Museum of History, see above; new permanent exhibit on Lincoln's life in Bloomington.

Prairie Aviation Museum; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thu.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., 2929 E. Empire St., Bloomington; permanent and rotating exhibits and displays with aerial history themes; adults $5, ages 6-11 $3, 5 and under free; 309-663-7632.

Central Illinois

U of I Krannert Art Museum; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. (until 9 p.m. Thu. during fall and spring semesters), 2-5 p.m. Sun., 500 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign; paintings, porcelain, historical artifacts, traveling art exhibits; $3 donation suggested; 217-333-1861.

Borderline Collective: Northern Triangle; through Dec. 22, U of I Krannert Art Museum, see above; installation featuring art works and historical documents.

Amity Township Museum; 1-3 p.m. first Sun. of month or by appointment, 510 Main St., Cornell; displays and artifacts relating to history of Cornell and Amity Township; free; 815-358-2973.

Eureka College Burgess Hall Art Gallery; 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays and by appointment on weekends, third floor of Burgess Hall, Eureka College, Eureka; rotating exhibits; free; 309-467-6866.

Simpkins Military History Museum; 1-5 p.m. Tue., Thu., Sat., or by appointment; 605 E. Cole St., Heyworth; permanent and rotating military history exhibits; free (donations accepted); 309-473-3989.

The Vietnam War 50th Anniversary; through Nov. 30, Simpkins Military History Museum, see above.

Dickson Mounds Museum; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, 10956 N. Dickson Mounds Road, Lewistown; displays, special exhibits; free; 309-547-3721.

Lincoln Heritage Museum; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 1-4 p.m. Sat., Lincoln Center at Lincoln College, 300 Keokuk St., Lincoln; Lincoln-era items, audio-visual displays, tours, exhibits, more; adults $7, children/tours $4; 217-735-7399.

Contemporary Art Center of Peoria; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., Riverfront Arts Center, 305 S.W. Water, Peoria; rotating exhibits in two galleries; free; 309-674-6822.

Building Space: The Objects of Adam G. Perschbacher; through Oct. 21, Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, see above; geometric abstractions.

Under, Above, Everywhere; through Oct. 28, Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, see above; paintings by Deborah Barlow, photographs by Kay Canavino, ceramics by Ramah Commanday.

Peoria Art Guild; Foster Arts Center, Harrison and Washington streets, Peoria; rotating exhibits, gift shop; free; 309-637-2787.

Peoria Riverfront Museum; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Wed. and Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thu.-Fri., noon-5 p.m. Sun., downtown riverfront Peoria; permanent and rotating exhibits, planetarium shows, Giant Screen Theater and events; $8-$11; 309-686-7000.

Changing Perspectives: The Landscapes of Harold Gregor; through Oct. 16, Peoria Riverfront Museum, see above; paintings.

Museum of the Gilding Arts; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sun., April-Oct., and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Sun., Nov.-March, 217 N. Mill St., Pontiac; displays, history and hands-on exhibits dedicated to the art of gilding and gold beating; free (donations welcome); 815-842-1848.

Pontiac Community Art Center; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun., 103 W. Madison St., Pontiac; rotating exhibits; 815-844-5831.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sun., 212 N. Sixth St., Springfield; Lincoln-themed exhibits, historical displays, special events, more; adults $12, seniors and students $9, ages 5-15 $5, under 5 free; 217-558-8844.

Rare and Rarely Seen; through Jan. 29, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, see above; rarely exhibited items from museum's permanent collection.
CHICAGO  A 36-story Chicago landmark, the Tribune Tower, has been sold  gargoyles, flying buttresses and all.

Tribune Media Co. announced that it closed the sale of the tower and two other properties last week. The company has received $430 million in gross proceeds for the assets, and may receive up to an additional $45 million in contingent payments.

The Tribune Tower, purchased by CIM Group, sits on three acres along Chicago's Michigan Avenue.

Here are some features of the historic edifice that make it significant:

Monument to 'the Colonel'

News mogul Robert R. McCormick, known as the Colonel, became president of Tribune Company in 1911. To mark the 75th anniversary of the Chicago Tribune, McCormick held an international design competition to create "the most beautiful office building in the world," with a $50,000 prize for the winner. A renowned eccentric who directed Tribune editors to use his own system of spelling, McCormick requested secret doors and passages in case the building was ever stormed.

Something old, something new

Raymond Hood and John Mead Howells won the design competition, and their Gothic Revival building was completed in 1925. The crown of the building, illuminated by floodlights and reaching a height of 462 feet, looks like a Medieval European tower complete with flying buttresses. The sculptural details include grotesques and gargoyles.

Stones from all over

Studded with history, the tower's facade holds pieces of the Parthenon, the Great Wall of China and the Alamo. The first fragments were collected by Tribune correspondents in the field. All told, nearly 150 stones from notable locations around the world are embedded in the building's walls. Other stones are from the Taj Mahal, the Colosseum, the Cave of the Nativity in Bethlehem and a piece of steel recovered from the World Trade Center.

Famous quotations

The building's lobby walls bear quotations from Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison extolling the freedom of the press. The Hall of Inscriptions also features a passage from an Illinois Supreme Court decision in 1923 in an unsuccessful libel suit brought against the Tribune by the city of Chicago. Col. McCormick's own words are here, too, proclaiming that a newspaper is "that check upon government which no constitution has ever been able to provide."

Poker party
At Martin's Patershof hotel in Mechelen, Belgium, the owners don't roll out the average welcome mat for you. No, when you arrive you will find spread out at your feet a projection of a long stained-glass window.

A harbinger of surprises to come when you stay at this boutique hotel -- transformed from a Franciscan monastery dating to 1867. The stained-glass projection, it turns out, is of one of the few original windows that have been preserved but can no longer be seen in the hotel, which had to be renovated and repurposed under the extremely strict preservation guidelines of the Belgian government. Monsumenten en Landschappen, the government's architectural organization, required that the historic value of the monastery, which eventually fell into disuse when there were not enough monks to sustain it, be preserved in all respects. One of the stipulations was that the circular stained-glass rose window above the main entrance remain visible in its entirety. The columns, the choir and the altar also had to be retained. It was a challenging -- sometimes almost impossible -- project. But the executives at Martin's Hotels were used to such situations. Architectural challenges are de rigueur when turning historic buildings into modern hotels.

Martin's Hotels, based in Belgium, has distinguished itself over the past decade for such repurposing projects; it now has eight historic properties in Belgium and is on the lookout for properties to add to its portfolio. And Martin's is but one of many companies embracing the idea of repurposing, rather than building new hotels from the ground up.

It's a trend that is partly spurred by the growing competition for prime locations for urban hotel development. It's not a money-saving tactic, by any means. As with the Patershof, there are usually strict preservation guidelines involved in the process and expensive research and expertise is required to come up with solutions.

But in these times of experiential and authentic travel, a hotel with historic bones, an authentic story -- not to mention a very cool guestroom -- is going to appeal to travelers.

The Martin's portfolio includes a former sugar refinery dating to 1836 (Martin's Grand Hotel in Waterloo) and a 15th century Carthusian monastery (Hotel de Orangerie in Bruges), among others.

Here's a sampling of hotels where history is built into the very foundations of the guest experience:

Domestic

The Vanderbilt Grace, Newport, R.I.: Built in 1909 by the Vanderbilt family as a retreat during the Gilded Age. It was bought by Grace Hotels, a relatively new, upscale chain, and is one of the few private homes of the era to operate as a fully functioning luxury hotel in the area. Features 33 guestrooms and suites, plus a spa and two restaurants.

Built in 1909 by the Vanderbilt family as a retreat during the Gilded Age. It was bought by Grace Hotels, a relatively new, upscale chain, and is one of the few private homes of the era to operate as a fully functioning luxury hotel in the area. Features 33 guestrooms and suites, plus a spa and two restaurants. The Langham, Boston: If you've got a good set of olfactories, or a good imagination, you may be able to smell the money at the Langham, which used to be home to the Federal Reserve Bank. The 1922 Renaissance revival building was turned into a hotel in 1981, giving it bragging rights as one of the first repurposed buildings turned hotels.

If you've got a good set of olfactories, or a good imagination, you may be able to smell the money at the Langham, which used to be home to the Federal Reserve Bank. The 1922 Renaissance revival building was turned into a hotel in 1981, giving it bragging rights as one of the first repurposed buildings turned hotels. The Langham, Chicago: If its East Coast chain-mate can claim being the first, the Langham Chicago can call itself one of the newest repurposed hotels; it opened last month. The hotel occupies the first 12 floors of the 52-story landmark known by locals as the IBM Building, designed by Mies van der Rohe.

If its East Coast chain-mate can claim being the first, the Langham Chicago can call itself one of the newest repurposed hotels; it opened last month. The hotel occupies the first 12 floors of the 52-story landmark known by locals as the IBM Building, designed by Mies van der Rohe. Fitger's Inn, Duluth, Minn.: The former brewery, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is now a luxury inn with a variety of amenities and views of Lake Superior. The entire property has been turned into a shopping/dining/entertainment complex, complete with Duluth's Lakewalk just steps away.

The former brewery, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is now a luxury inn with a variety of amenities and views of Lake Superior. The entire property has been turned into a shopping/dining/entertainment complex, complete with Duluth's Lakewalk just steps away. The Courtyard New Orleans Downtown/Iberville: The building, which dates to 1878 and is just a block from Bourbon Street, was once the Maison Blanche department store.

The building, which dates to 1878 and is just a block from Bourbon Street, was once the Maison Blanche department store. Caboose Motel, Avoca, N.Y.: At this sleepy outpost in the Finger Lakes region, guests can get cozy in one of five cabooses, dating to 1916, on tracks dating even further back, to 1896. Owner Jack McBride will greet you, most probably, in his striped railroad cap, and show you to your room, updated but by no means luxurious. This is a caboose, after all, not the Orient Express.

At this sleepy outpost in the Finger Lakes region, guests can get cozy in one of five cabooses, dating to 1916, on tracks dating even further back, to 1896. Owner Jack McBride will greet you, most probably, in his striped railroad cap, and show you to your room, updated but by no means luxurious. This is a caboose, after all, not the Orient Express. Kendall Hotel, Cambridge, Mass.: The former Engine 7 Firehouse has been carefully repurposed by owners Charlotte Forsythe and Gerald Fandetti. The former firehouse became a hotel in 2002, and today has 77 rooms, completely with firefighter bunkhouse touches.

The former Engine 7 Firehouse has been carefully repurposed by owners Charlotte Forsythe and Gerald Fandetti. The former firehouse became a hotel in 2002, and today has 77 rooms, completely with firefighter bunkhouse touches. Chattanooga Choo Choo, Tenn.: The station that marked the final stop on the train immortalized by Glenn Miller was scheduled to be demolished in the 1970s, but investors turned it into an amazing 25-acre hotel complex instead. You can now choose from among 48 rooms in the hotel's converted train cars. BYO train whistle.

International
NORMAL  As someone who has fostered Sister City relationships and traveled to Russia and other countries in Europe and the Middle East, Joe Grabill is listening carefully as international issues are discussed in this year's presidential campaign.

It shouldn't be a surprise to any of us who've studied Russian history that (Vladimir) Putin has arisen, said Grabill, professor emeritus of history at Illinois State University. Putin needs to be handled carefully. He must not be treated as an enemy but as a partner.

International relations and the role of the United States in the world is the second in a five-part series published in The Pantagraph, Decatur Herald & Review and Mattoon-Charleston Journal Gazette-Times Courier.

Other topics to be covered are health care (Oct. 16), education (Oct. 23) and energy (Oct. 30).

In addition to relationships with other countries and security matters, immigration policies are a focus of attention.

Mike Snow of Mattoon thinks it is important to keep the doors open to refugees and international visitors.

We have welcomed in our home students and adults from many different countries, said Snow, an exchange student host who is active in the Mattoon Rotary Club. It has been a rich experience for us.

The reality is the rest of the world  no matter how much they criticize us  looks to us as the only real player who can solve their international problems, said retired Eureka High School history teacher Don Samford, immediate past president of the Peoria World Affairs Council.

We are the single most important player, said Samford. Whatever we do affects everyone else.

Grabill noted that the United States and Russia have many common concerns, such as controlling the spread of nuclear weapons, particularly in North Korea. Addressing that also requires deep cooperation with China, he said.

Better cooperation among nations also is needed to address international terrorism.

The whole situation with ISIS has to be more coordinated than it is, said Grabill, pointing to Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Russia and NATO as necessary partners.

National security is also a major concern of Mike Moffitt of Bloomington, a Vietnam-era veteran and past commander of American Legion Post 56 in Bloomington.

We've got to build our military back up, said Moffitt. You've got to be a strong country to keep others from attacking. ... You can't be a strong nations without a strong military.

Samford agreed that a strong military is an important part of diplomacy, in addition to a strong economy.

You don't have diplomacy if you don't have cards to play, said Samford, who has traveled in Europe, the Middle East, China, Cuba, Australia and New Zealand.

But the United States can't do it alone, Moffit said.

Moffitt would like to see the next president push U.S. allies to contribute more militarily and monetarily, he said.

Samford agrees that the cost is killing us.

Grabill said, We can't continue to be the world's policeman. That's too large a responsibility.

Instead, he said, We need to strengthen the United Nations so the Security Council veto power doesn't stymie everything.

Samford is worried about the rhetoric against free trade in the current campaign and the pressure to retreat from free trade.

People don't realize the devastating impact historically that's had, Samford said. I'm concerned that we're going backwards.

Snow thinks the U.S. role in the world should include doing all we can to protect the innocent, working toward peace through diplomacy.

Talk of deportations that would divide families bothers me greatly, said Snow, as do suggestions that refugees and immigrants should be limited based on religion or race. Snow calls that totally unconstitutional and unjust.

I am concerned for the Syrian refugees, said Snow. We currently have a thorough enough vetting process. Changes don't have to be made in terms of that.

Snow worries that restrictions on immigration could have a negative impact in other areas, such as foreign exchange students.

We have hosted international students for almost 10 years, he said, describing it as a good way for young people to learn about people from other countries and other cultures.

You build peace through greater understanding, said Snow.

Likewise, William Elliott, assistant dean of international and graduate admissions at Eastern Illinois University, expressed concern that changes in U.S. immigration policies could impact non-immigrant student visas. EIU has 431 international students from 40 countries this year, out of an enrollment of about 7,400.

International education as a whole  reflects quite positively on our reputation as a nation, said Elliott, who has been involved in international education since the late 1990s.

Students who study in the United States and return home serve as ambassadors, he said. I'm proud of the fact that we make a difference in people's perceptions of the United States.
In May 1971, a ceremony was held at Scrogin Hill Cemetery southwest of Bloomington for Civil War veteran William B. Strode. Although the war had ended 106 years earlier, such graveside memorials were not uncommon. What made this gathering unusual, though, was the fact that Strode had fought for the Confederate States of America.

Befitting a dashing Confederate cavalryman of the Lost Cause, Strode participated in Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgans lively but ill-fated incursion into southern Indiana and Ohio in the summer of 1863. Morgans Raid, as it became known, terrorized many northerners and served as a morale booster for desperate southerners reeling from the twin defeats at Gettysburg, Pa. and Vicksburg, Miss.

Many of Morgans nearly 2,500 mounted Johnny Rebs, including Strode, were captured in late July 1863 in Ohio and sent to Camp Douglas, a prisoner of war camp in Chicago. After the war, Strode settled in Shirley, and it was there, lo and behold, that he came upon and recognized local resident John Foster. During Morgans Raid a few years earlier, Fosters family was living in Ohio and Strode had apparently taken an uninvited and unwelcomed nap at their home!

Strode died in 1892, and he was first laid to rest at the Shirley Cemetery but later reinterred at Scrogin Hill.

At the time of the 1971 ceremony, many area residents believed Strode was the only Confederate veteran buried in McLean County. That proved untrue. Subsequent research by area genealogists, Civil War buffs and the McLean County Museum of History has turned up at least 25 Confederates buried in the county. There are undoubtedly more.

Most of these men settled in McLean County after the war, some soon thereafter and others later in their life. Sometimes marriage pulled them north, but more often than not it was the promise of economic opportunity in the emerging Corn Belt and its booming railroad towns and cities.

Despite having fought to secede from the union and create a new nation forged not in liberty but in slavery, these Confederate veterans were welcomed by their new Yankee neighbors. And despite several transplanted sons of the South remaining adamantly unapologetic and unaccepting of the wars moral, civil and constitutional reckoning, they were looked upon as comrade-in-arms by most Union veterans, and as veterans worthy of esteem by the general public.

The warm reception was somewhat surprising, given McLean Countys war record. In the first months after the fall of Fort Sumter, more than 3,200 men from the county joined 15 different Union regiments. By wars end almost 7,000 county men had enlisted in the Union Army, and around 700 of them never made it back home. Their wartime letters to family and friends often featured vitriolic disparagement of lowly southerners and the damned secesh (the latter being the preferred slur for secessionist).

The postwar embrace of southern soldiery in the North was galling to some, especially black Union veterans who fought for their freedom and the freedom of all African-Americans in bondage. Colored veterans faced discrimination in the North upon returning home, and all too often were denied educational and occupational opportunities afforded Confederate veterans simply by virtue of the color of their skin.

By 1915, the 50th anniversary the wars end, the nations racial climate had turned far uglier. For many white Americans, the Civil War had become a tragic national story of shared sacrifice and suffering on the battlefield. Meanwhile, the many looming questions involving African-American civil and political rights were either shunted aside or purposefully forgotten.

Frank M. Crickenberger is one of five Confederate veterans buried in Wiley Cemetery, located outside of Colfax in Martin Township. Mr. Crickenberger was highly respected and well like by a large acquaintance in Colfax and surrounding territory, noted the Colfax Press newspaper upon his death in 1938 at the age of 91. The highlight of his life was his service as a soldier in the Confederate army, being a resident of Virginia at the time of the rebellion his sympathies were naturally with the South.

Crickenberger and his wife,Eva Cline Gish, settled in Colfax in 1880, and he went on to earn a living as a contractor and mason. He was accepted as a companion and comrade by the federal soldiers (Union veterans) in Colfax and vicinity after coming here, and spent many hours discussing the great conflict with them, continued the Colfax Press, but he never quite forgave the North for their part in the war.

There has been considerable controversy this year over the display and meaning of the Confederate battle flag, as well as the legacy of many public monuments to the Confederate cause. That said, few Americans question the right and propriety of fellow Americans to decorate and honor the graves of southern soldiers, especially those from the rank-and-file.

Take, for instance, the local example of Luther Penick Chaudoin (1842-1896).

Born into a Kentucky slaveholding family, he enlisted in the 6th Kentucky Infantry Regiment in the fall of 1861. Chaudoins regiment was part of the famed First Kentucky Orphan Brigade that was initially led by John C. Breckenridge, the former U.S. vice president and 1860 presidential candidate. From the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862 to Shermans March to the Sea and the bitter end during the spring of 1865, the First Kentucky Brigade was in the thick of some of the worst fighting of the war. The brigade lost two commanders on the battlefield, including Benjamin Hardin Helm (President Lincolns brother-in-law, no less), who was mortally wounded at Chickamauga.

Chaudoin himself was wounded and permanently disabled on May 28, 1864, after being shot in the face in the meat grinder of the Atlanta campaign. After the war he married Mary Ellen Bray and remained in Kentucky. He then moved to Heyworth sometime around 1893 to join one of his sons, James.

In June 2012, Gary Simpkins and the Simpkins Military History Museum in Heyworth organized a ceremony for Chaudoin at his Heyworth Cemetery grave. Chaudoins military background was pieced together by Heyworth historian Lona Soice.

The commemoration included Union and Confederate reenactors and buglers, and the unveiling of a Confederate cross of honor at the gravesite. Those in attendance included great-great-grandson Lloyd Chaudoin and great-great-great-granddaughter Bree Chaudoin, both of Clinton.
Its decision time. When both major party presidential candidates are unpopular, voters should choose using a philosophy of doing the least harm. Clinton would bring a wealth of knowledge and build on progress made in the last eight years, while Trump, who is unprepared and unprincipled, could become a puppet of the GOP that brought us Bushs Iraq War and financial collapse, or worse, an alt-right or Putin puppet.

If voters split and no candidate gets 270 electoral votes, the Republican House would put Trump in power and courts would be stacked with far-right judges. There would be much uncertainty and discord. America would suffer even more than we did during the last GOP administration.

The White House is no place for a scripted, celebrity apprentice with hate group support, admiration for dictators and tyrants and little impulse control. Representative democracy or plutocratic dictatorship; voters must decide.

Linda L. Doenitz, Bloomington
Cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), an illness that causes temporary or permanent paralysis, has been reportedly increasing in the United States. The AFM Syndrome attacks the nervous system and is often indicated by weakness of facial muscles, sagging eyelids and strained speech.

In addition to physical manifestations, patients affected by AFM syndrome may experience difficulty in urination. The harsher symptom involves the weakening of the respiratory muscles. Thus, it causes difficulty in breathing.

Fifty cases of AFM cases has been recorded year to date by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is reportedly alarming, taking into consideration that only twenty-one cases were noted in 2015, ABC News details.

Dr. Manisha Patel, a Pediatrician from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention affirmed to CBS that ninety percent of these cases in 2016 are in children. Viruses such as poliovirus and other non-polio enteroviruses, flaviviruses and adenoviruses have been denoted to cause acute flaccid myelitis.

Although the definite cause is primarily unknown, analyses are vigorously conducted by researchers. Scientists are continuously running tests of respiratory, nasal, spinal cord and blood specimens to pinpoint the mainspring of the disorder.

There is no specific treatment for AFT but therapy may be recommended by health experts, according to Fox News. Washing hands on a regular basis, steering clear of sick people and using disinfectant cleansers could be counter measures.

Dr. Michael Grosso of the Northwell Health's Huntington Hospital has recommended giving children necessary vaccines. The medical director and chief medical officer expressed that there may be more than one infection that upshot to this isolated complication.

Vanderbilt Medical Center's Dr. William Schaffner, urges everyone to observe proper hygiene. Fever and rash are early symptoms of the illness, the infectious disease expert disclosed. Hence, parents should pursue preventive measures in order to safeguard their children's comprehensive well-being.
This is not the year for the multinational electronics company Samsung. Another replacement Samsung Galaxy Note 7 caught fire in Taiwan.

The South Korean brand has been receiving the ire of people and companies for producing Samsung Galaxy Note 7 with defective batteries. What Samsung did was to recall the units sold to a million customers in the market.

Customers who have returned their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 have been sent replacement phones, but to everybody's surprise, these replacement phones are still blowing up! In Taiwan, a 26-year-old woman was walking her dog when her Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in her rear right pocket started burning, according to Android Headlines.

Ms Lai heard a bang and felt a warm feeling in one of her pockets prompting her to get the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and thrown it on the ground. White smoke appeared, as reported by Ms Lai.

The burnt phone was a replacement phone Ms Lai just got 10 days after returning her Samsung Galaxy Note 7 which she bought just in August. Samsung Taiwan already released a statement saying they are already reaching out to Ms Lai but still could not confirm whether the phone was a replacement or not.

Parent Herald previously reported that a replacement Samsung Galaxy Note 7 also burned in a plane. The smoking of the unit, which was placed in the back pocket of the owner after the cabin crew requested passengers to power all gadgets off, promoted evacuation of the passengers of the flight.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 left in the plane burned through the carpet. The owner said his Samsung Galaxy Note 7 emitted "angry, thick-grey" smoke.The owner, Brian Green, got his replacement phone from an AT & T shop.

Samsung was massively hit by this issue since it issued the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Recalls have caused millions of money to the company. But what is more important is the health of their customers. With the replacement phones still exploding, customers should think whether they will get another replacement or just get a refund. Any gagdet is not worth dying for.
Millions of people have been hooked to the hype of 'Pokemon Go" as soon as it was first released months before. The idea of catching your own Pokemon from your area, training these Pokemon and having your very own gym has alluded certain players worldwide, and that includes the Prime Minister of Norway.

Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg has been recently caught playing "Pokemon Go" while attending a debate in parliament. Solberg who is the leader of the Conservative Party was caught playing the augmented reality game while the Liberal Party's leader, Trine Skei Grande, was giving her speech.

Grande was supportive as well when she responded via Twitter that roughly translates to "She heard what I said. We, ladies, can do two things at the same time, you know" with a winking emoji. It comes off as no surprise as Grande was also seen playing "Pokemon Go" during a recent hearing about shutdowns of military bases in the country.

The Prime Minister was known to enjoy her lot on cellphone games as she once proclaimed her love for Candy Crush Saga and bragged to the press that she had already cleared up 300 levels as of that point. In her own words, she says that playing Candy Crush was relaxing as it was uncomplicated, and that was way back in 2014; it turns out her gaming habits still have not died down.

According to Quartz, the Prime Minister's love for Pokemon Go is no secret as she had confessed her love in August while she was on an official trip towards Slovakia. Solberg says that she really walked in order to hatch some eggs (some of them required 10km to hatch), and hunt some Pokemon whilst on foreign land with, of course, her body guards just to be safe.
Eczema or atopic dermatitis is a skin irritation characterized by rough, swollen and often itchy or sore areas. Commonly found in children, the skin condition causes great discomfort due to inflammation and itching. Irish scientists, however, uncovered that some skin bacteria can safeguard babies from developing the skin disorder.

Atopic dermatitis often appears early in life. Typically, red spots appear on the hands, feet, cheeks and elbows. In infants, the affected areas are often widely distributed.

Those who suffer from this disorder carry the bacteria familiarly known as Staphylococcus aureus. To those suffering from eczema, the bacteria can cause infection and cause injury to the skin barrier, the Medical Xpress affirms.

Some bacteria may function as defensive mechanism against the growth of eczema in babies, scientists at the University College of Cork's INFANT Center uncovered. Professor Alan Irvine of Trinity College explained to the Irish Mirror that this has been the first study that involved babies and observed the bacterial region of their skin on their first year.

Some bacteria has been detected to aid in impeding skin infection in these children. Moreover, it was found in a study led by Irvine that Staphylococcus came after the development of the skin condition. Furthermore, the University Times reported that some species of the aforementioned bacteria protected against eczema after a year.

Meanwhile, the research has been published Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology October issue. It has been a collaboration between the National Institutes of Health, Trinity College in Dublin, University College Cork and the University of Dundee.

This research is a breakthrough that progresses people's understanding why some babies develop atopic dermatitis and what preventive measures should be taken, as per Deirdre Murray. The Cork School of Medicine has learned in a previous research that the frailty of a baby's skin can predict development of food allergies.
There is more that Id like to share here about Zen practice now, our experiment to revitalize the way of awakening in the global culture in the 21st Century. And I hope to get back to that when I return from Bhutan.
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
President Rouhani visits Kuala Lumpur: Iran, Malaysia agree to deepen ties

10/09/16

Source: Tehran Times (photos by Islamic Republic News Agency)

President Hassan Rouhani said on Friday that Iran and Malaysia reaffirmed to strengthen ties and restore economic transactions to the pre-sanctions time.





Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (L) with Malaysian PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Kuala Lumpur



During a joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Kuala Lumpur, Rouhani said, "We stressed that 2016 should be the year of expanding relations in political, cultural, scientific and economic areas."

He said that the two countries' governments support investment and economic activities in each country.

The Iranian and Malaysian private sectors should become aware of capacities in both countries and use them to deepen ties, Rouhani added.



The Malaysian prime minister said that Rouhani's visit to Malaysia allows both countries to explore ways to further expand economic ties.

Malaysian Prime Minister said, "The key to this objective (deepening ties) is to enable business transactions to take place within the banking system of our two countries."

"The key to this objective is to enable business transactions to take place within the banking system of our two countries," New Straits Times quoted Najib as saying.

Najib added, "As you know, sanctions (on Iran) had restricted ways of doing business there. But we want this (mechanism) to happen, and I am confident it will be found in the shortest time."

He also said Malaysia will be sending a delegation comprising the Plantations Industries and Commodities Ministry, and the Malaysia Palm Oil Board (MPOB) to Tehran.

In the visit to Malaysia Rouhani was accompanied by his Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, senior cabinet ministers and senior government officials. He reached the Perdana Square at 4.25pm and accorded an official welcome by the 1st Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment.

Prime Minister Najib hosted an official dinner in honor of Rouhani at Seri Perdana, New Strait Times reported.

According to a statement from Wisma Putra, Rouhani's official visit was aimed at reaffirming and further strengthening the warm and close bilateral relations between Malaysia and Iran, Bernama news agency reported.

Malaysian firms invited to Iran's energy, industrial projects

Malaysian firms are invited to participate in Iran's energy and industrial projects, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said.

In a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Rouhani stated that the post-sanctions era is a great opportunity for Malaysian companies to boost presence in Iran, Shana news agency reported.

During the meeting which was held in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, the Iranian president stressed the need to revive banking relations as the stimulus for enhancing economic collaboration between the two countries.

He also underscored the potentials and capabilities of Iranian companies in various sectors including construction, energy, and modern technologies, and said the two countries can cooperate in such areas.

Najib Razak for his part expressed his country's interest in cooperation with Iran in all areas and said the two governments should try to increase the bilateral trade to the pre-sanctions level.

"Since banking relations are the key element in trade cooperation we hope for the hurdles in this regard to be removed very soon," he noted.

'Iran-Malaysia trade anticipated to quintuple in 2 years'

Meanwhile, in an interview with IRNA on Friday, Iranian Communications and Information Technology Minister Mahmoud Vaezi, who is also the co-chairman of Iran-Malaysia Joint Economic Committee, said that with oil and petrochemical products added to the equation, it is expected that the value of trade between the two sides will increase five-fold over the next two years.

Referring to his talks with Mustapa Mohamed, Malaysia's minister of international trade and industry who is also Iran-Malaysia Joint Economic Committee's new co-chairman, Vaezi said bilateral trade relations were very good but fell short due to the unjust sanctions over the past years.

He went on saying "The two countries' joint economic committee meeting has not been held since 2008 and it has caused bilateral trade value of $1.5 billion in 2013 to fall to $500 million in 2016."

Further in his remarks the official noted that Malaysia's minister of international trade and industry is due to visit Iran within the next two weeks and he will be accompanied by a high-ranking trade delegation.

"30 Malaysian representatives and managers of large companies in various sectors will be accompanying the minister and this could be a new beginning to the further development of bilateral cooperation," he said.
Iran says may limit death penalty for traffickers to drug lords

10/09/16

Source: Tehran Times

The secretary of Iran's Human Rights Council has said Tehran may reconsider capital punishment for drug smugglers, limiting it to drug lords only, seemingly a setback from a tougher stance taken previously. "Capital punishment should be limited to drug lords. This will cut the number of executions (in Iran) immediately," said Mohammad Javad Larijani in an interview with O Estadao, a daily published in Sao Paulo, Brazil.





Mohammad Javad Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Human Rights Council

(August 2014 file photo by Islamic Republic News Agency)





Signs of changing attitudes in Iran toward capital punishment was already underway.

Last Tuesday, Hassan Norouzi, a spokesman with the Iranian Parliament's Legal and Judicial Committee, announced a bill would be brought to the Majlis (parliament) in an effort to rethink capital punishment for drug smugglers.

Reportedly, more than 100 lawmakers have helped draw up the legislation as a measure against growing execution reports in the country.

"The number of executions is high in Iran and all in compliance with law. But execution is not a good idea," said Larijani.

"93 percent of executions in Iran are related to drug-related offences," he said.

Larijani's comments make more sense when seen within a broader perspective where the human rights issue is increasingly turning into a sticking point between Iran and the European Union.

While the official line in Iran has been leaning toward capital punishment over the past years, the EU lends supports to what it calls "reduction efforts."

In a recent document titled "An EU strategy for relations with Iran after the nuclear deal," concerns have been voiced.

"The EU has a long standing policy of opposing capital punishment," read part of the document."

"The response from the EU has been to concentrate on harm reduction and other drug demand reduction efforts and avoid drug supply cooperation where the death penalty is part of the Iranian approach to reduce the drug trade," read another part of the blueprint.

Commenting on the text, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi called on the European side to be "more realistic and forward-looking."

"We expect the members of the European Parliament and members of its foreign policy committee to look at such issues more realistically..." Qassemi said.

To come up with a more realistic understanding, the two sides need to discuss first-hand issues of mutual concerns, negotiations, which according to the Foreign Ministry spokesman, will start soon.

Previously Iran's Judiciary Chief Sadeq Amoli Larijani had highlighted that human rights negotiations with the West should be preconditioned upon a bilateral framework.





Iran's Judiciary Chief Sadeq Amoli Larijani





In the same vein, Iranian High Council for Human Rights Deputy Chief for International Affairs Kazem Qaribabadi says that "dialogue would provide a platform for both sides to reach a better, mutual understanding of one another's judicial and legal mechanisms."

Future talks between the two are happy news to hear, but whether they bear fruit is open to question.

While European countries have been hurling human rights charges at Iran, Tehran has replied with theoretical and practical queries in connection with the issue of human rights in Europe.

Theoretically, Tehran believes the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights has been drafted upon an utterly secular-liberal view with no concern for philosophical, logical, or religious underpinnings.

From a practical standpoint, also, Tehran has discouraged the West of imposing its take on the human rights on the whole world.

These paradoxes, however, do not mean dialogue between the two is doomed to failure. Both need to keep in mind that the human rights debate in not more challenging that the nuclear deadlock which they could find a way out successfully.
All 15 people seated in a circle in a Lakeside High School classroom on a recent afternoon shared an interest  in cancer.

Two of them were cancer survivors. One was a representative from a local cancer resource agency.

The other 12? All students at Lakeside, involved in the drama departments upcoming theatrical production Wit, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Margaret Edson about a literature professor stricken with ovarian cancer.

Lakeside High performing arts teacher Scott Karlan said he has been interested in doing the play for quite some time, but wanted to make sure he had a student cast that could meet the challenge of the material.

Really, its not a typical high school play, said Karlan, who will direct.

Juliana Cuevas, a 16-year-old junior, will handle the rigors of playing the lead character, Vivian Bearing, a brilliant but emotionally distant professor of English literature specializing in the holy sonnets of 16th century poet John Donne.

Cuevas will sport a shaved head to portray Bearing.

The process to prepare for the play hasnt been typical either. It started with three weeks of auditions which involved numerous script readings and the involvement of Robin Maupin.

Maupin, 66, of Yucaipa, is an ovarian cancer survivor, the same cancer that afflicts Bearing. She started a support group called Oasis (Ovarian Awareness Support Involvement Survivorship) of Southern California and regularly speaks publicly about cancer awareness and patient empowerment. This was the third time Maupin met with the students.

The other cancer survivor in the circle during the recent meeting was Laura Cuevas Lawrence, 47, of Menifee, who beat breast cancer seven years ago and now works for Michelles Place Breast Cancer Center in Temecula. Ashlee Collins, the agencys communications director, also sat in with the group.

The kids have reached out to the community and the community has responded, said Karlan.

Madison Lacey, 17, who plays Susan Monahan, the nurse who befriends Bearing, asked Maupin and Lawrence about their real experiences with nurses.

Is there a nurse you remember going above and beyond for you? asked Lacey.

I had a nurse that protected me from my doctor, said Maupin, who has gotten to know the students from previous interactions,

Maupin shared the story of her surgeon before. How he told her that the medical team may not have saved her, but at least they bought her some time. She said the incident was brutal, but explained to the students that she sincerely believes the doctor was a victim of burnout.

Her nurse helped her stand up for her rights, Maupin explained, during an episode revolving around the delivery of her final pathology report. Maupin insisted that her family be there when she got the news.

Of course, Maupin eventually got the last word. She has been cancer-free since 1997.

I didnt expect to be this lucky, to be here 19 years later, Maupin told the students.

In the play, Bearings character, an expert in the loftiest literature, finds comfort in the reading of a simple childrens book.

Lawrence shared with them the approach she developed for dealing with her cancer diagnosis. It started with a box full of Mel Brooks movies, including Spaceballs, and packed with other comedies such as Tommy Boy.

Im going to kill my cancer with humor, said Lawrence.  I tried to laugh my way through my treatment.

In the play, Bearings character, an expert in the loftiest literature, finds comfort in the reading of a simple childrens book.

Karlan said that Maupin and Lawrence arent the only medical professionals that have come out to talk with the cast. Two nurses  one a former student  have also met with them to demonstrate, for example, how to administer exams which will be portrayed in the play.

The play opens on Friday, Oct. 21.

Ive been wanting to do this play for 10 years, said Karlan. It just felt right this time.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9682 or tsheridan@scng.com
A dozen years ago, as people started moving into the master-planned neighborhoods sprouting up like mushrooms around Menifee, the Menifee Valley Historical Association was created to inform new residents that their community did indeed have a history.

Now that Menifee  which incorporated in 2008  has a population already pegged at around 90,000, that mission is as vital as ever to Elinor Martin, the association president. Getting the message across, though, has become a little easier since the Menifee Valley Historical Museum opened this spring.

Martin  whose family started operating a fishing camp at what is now Canyon Lake in the late 1930s  played docent during a recent tour, squeezing it in before an afternoon appointment with state Sen. Mike Morrell, R-Rancho Cucamonga.

We think its very important to preserve and protect our history, said Martin. Because there are no (historic) buildings or a town to speak of. So we have researched and found lots of pictures and a lot of historic information that the early settlers managed to keep.

The Menifee Valley Historical Museum, which started operations in May in a couple of classrooms on a former elementary school site, features displays for Native American artifacts, dry sluice mining instruments and eye-catching printed material mounted on walls and presented as stand-alone exhibits.

The city came to take the name of 19th-century miner Luther Menifee Wilson, who dug himself into a healthy vein of gold quartz, according to Steve Lech, who wrote a book Along the Old Roads about the settling of the region. The Menifee Mining District was formed using his middle name.

Martin said the birth certificates of her father and his siblings all say they were born in Menifee. One of her maternal ancestors, James B. Farrell, had a local ranch that will be recognized in a monument marker program the historical association is supervising in conjunction with Menifee and Riverside County to bring attention to significant local sites.

Everyone and everyplace has a history, Martin said. And this museum will help the population here to learn about all those early days. Thats really important.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9682 or tsheridan@scng.com
Not too long after he was honored with the "compilation of the Order of the Star of Ghana Honorary Division", President John Dramani Mahama is set to bless the former Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan with yet another recognition.



At his recent succesful tour of the Brong Ahafo region, the President directed the chief executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board(GCB) Steven Kwabena Opuni to ensure the ongoing road construction project at Jinijini-Drobo-Sampa should be extended to Anyimon in honour of the immediate past EC boss Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan.

This announcement drew thunderous cheers from the Chiefs and hundreds of residents of Jinijini who attended the rally, when the President visited the area with his campaign.

The President said "I have directed Dr. Opuni to ensure that the road leading to Anyimon, where the former EC boss hails from, in his honor."

He was born on June , 18 , 1945. He academic, Political Scientist and an election administrator. He was the chairman of the EC from 1993-2015.

The President said "Dr. Afari-Gyan has served the nation well."

The President assured the Chiefs and people of the area that five more Poly Clinics would be established in the Brong Ahafo region in addition to the current five of which Jinijini would have its share.

The President who spent a week in the region together with his wife Dr. Nana Lordina Mahama, a deputy Chief of Staff Ken Wujangi, NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia and minister of communication Dr. Omane Boamah.

The rest are; a vice chairperson of the NDC Anita De So So, the regional minister and parry executives.

The President and his team campaigned vigorously in many communities amidst ecstacy and joy in the faces of the crowd.

The president spent his last days in these communities; Nkwabeng, Wenchi, Nsawkaw, Sampa, Drobo and Jinijini.

He urged the people to work in unison to ensure a comprehensive victory on Dec 7.

Source: Ghanaweb









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Current US President Obama who is famous for also being calm had his patience tested by former US President Bill Clinton on Friday as Clinton delayed the US Airforce one from leaving from Israel when he kept talking to other people on the Tarmac.



The current and former presidents flew into Tel Aviv early Friday morning to attend the funeral of former Israeli President Shimon Peres. After the funeral, the presidents were supposed to get back on Air Force One to fly straight back to Washington, DC, for a dinnertime arrival.



President Obama boarded the plane first and waved to the crowd below, but grew impatient as Clinton delayed the jet from leaving. -

Watch video









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The Chairman of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches (GPCC), Greater Accra, Apostle Emmanuel Achim Gyimah has blamed the proliferation of quack pastors on failure of Christendom to unite.



He noted that these false prophets who are gaining root in the country have succeeded in exploiting many people in this generation.



Apostle Achim Gyimah who is also the Kaneshie Area Head of the Church of Pentecost was addressing members of the GPCC Kaneshie Zone on Monday at this years GPCC Week Celebration.

The adage United we stand, divided we fall has really affected negatively the growth and development of the Christian Church, especially after the early apostolic Church era. The divided Church has opened the door for proliferation of false prophets and quack ministers in our contemporary generation. Many Christians will be misled and exploited by false teachers and Prophets.

Source: 3news









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ghana Prisons Service is currently overcrowded by 3,810 prisoners, the Ghana Prisons Service has revealed.



Although the 43 prisons in the country are to hold a total of 9,875 prisoners, they are currently holding 13,685 prisoners.

Out of the total number,189 are females.

According to the service, the convict population was 11,390, while those on remand were 2,295.

The acting Director General of the Ghana Prison Service, Mr Emmanuel Adzator, disclosed this at the launch of the 10th anniversary of the Prison Ladies Association Service (PRILAS) in Accra.

The one week celebration is on the theme: Celebrating a proud past: empowering the female prison officer for excellence.

According to Mr Adzator, the alarming fact was that 86 per cent of the convicts were aged between 18 and 45, making the convict population predominately youthful.

The situation required of us to provide opportunities for the self-enhancement of the able bodied men and women in custody, he stated.

He ,therefore, called for support to cater adequately for the welfare and training needs of the inmates.

Touching on the PRILAS anniversary, Mr Adzator congratulated the association and commended them for their relentless efforts in supporting themselves, as well as female inmates.

He urged them to develop their potentials, and position themselves to take up more challenging roles within the administrative set up of the service to support the transition from the old prison system to adopting new modern systems.

Women have moved from being matrons to constituting 33 per cent of the staff strengthen of 5,443, he said, adding that they are gradually becoming a force to reckon with.

In her address, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection?, Nana Oye Lithur, said empowering female prison officers was essential to the development of the service and ,therefore, called for continuous investment in their capacity building.

She noted that the empowerment of female prison officers and other females depended on the government creating the enabling envrionment to ensure that all women were given equal opportunities.

It was for this reason that she said the government had taken the issues of women at heart to break the glass ceiling that existed in the public service by passing the National Gender Policy, as well as working to get the Affirmative Action Bill into law.

Earlier in her welcoming address, the President of PRILAS, Director of Prisons (DOP), Mrs Josephine Fredua-Agyemang, said the association, since it was established, had pursued its aims and objectives with enthusiasm.

She said the association had made numerous donations to various prison establishments and orphanages.

The association, in its effort to enlarge its outreach activities, inaugurated the Corrections Reforms Platform, a non-governmental organisation, in 2015 to solicit for funds for programmes geared towards the reformation and rehabilitation of convict prisoners, she added.

Source: Daily Graphic









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
President John Dramani Mahama has urged Ghanaians to reject the "propaganda" by his opponents that the economy is in crisis.



In a brief assessment of the health of the economy while addressing staff and students of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyani yesterday, he said: "The economy is healthy, and so when somebody says the economy is in crisis, we don't see where the crisis is coming from."

He was at the University as part of his campaign tour of the Brong Ahafo Region.

President Mahama said various international institutions had noted the gains in the economy and added that every objective Ghanaian would realise that the economy was gaining ground.

The strides, he explained, were partially due to prudent spending by the government, even in an election year when there was the temptation to over-spend.

"Even in an election year when the temptation is to open the spending gate, our spending is on track," he said.

He said for the first time in many years, all public sector salaries, subsidies and other statutory payments were being made from government revenue rather than borrowing from the Central Bank to pay.

The President touched on Moody's recent economic report on Ghana which defined the economic outlook of the country as positive and expressed surprise at the negative comments some people made about the report.

Meanwhile, he said, when the same rating agency downgraded Ghana's economy earlier, they welcomed the report.

Many countries in the world, including well-endowed ones, he said, were undergoing some form of economic crisis, noting that Ghanaians had to take pride in the fact that the Ghanaian economy was getting better.

Touching on energy, President Mahama took the audience through where Ghana started from and where it had got to.

He said failure over the years to take power generation seriously had resulted in the power crisis, as demand exceeded supply, and mentioned how the government worked extra hard to end the crisis.

Ghana, he said, was entering energy security, which would make the country a net exporter of power.

The President said it was to improve access to education that his flagship community day senior high school (SHS) project was born.

"This academic year, we will have 42 of the community day SHSs running, and if each can take 1,000 students, it means we are providing access for 42,000 children," he said.

He stated that the public service did not have enough space to employ many of the graduates coming out of the universities.

The public service currently employs about 600,000.

To make sure that the private sector became a major employer, President Mahama said, the government was creating the enabling environment to enable the sector to expand.

He said emphasis was also being placed on skills training for the youth.

Source: Daily Graphic









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Thanks to the continual efforts of abuse survivors  and a handful of highly-publicised cases  the culture of sexual assault on university campuses is finally gaining mainstream attention, along with the maddeningly lax institutional responses to those abuses.

Sunday Nights latest investigation into the issue has revealed that across universities nationwide, a staggering 575 cases of sexual assault, harassment and indecent behaviour have been reported in the past five years  with only six reports leading to student expulsions.

Survivors of sexual violence told their stories on the program, and each revealed facets of Australias university culture that accompany an apparent lack of decisive university action against perpetrators of sexual violence.

Jannika Jacky didnt go to the police after her rape on campus, partly due to a fear she wouldnt even be believed. (While she did eventually inform the police and her abuser didnt return to the residential college, he kept his enrollment and graduated this month.)

Similarly, Emma Hunt was raped at a university party, but was only convinced to report it to the university by a friend. Her reason for not reporting it immediately was that the universitys services didnt seem to be obvious and available to me, and it was hard to find the avenues of support. Her case was reported to the police months after her assault.

Sharna Bremner, founder of End Rape On Campus, said support systems are difficult for someone to navigate who hasnt suffered any trauma, but when youve got trauma on top of that it basically becomes impossible.

She also described the horrible Catch-22 where you report to the police, or the university can help you, but once youve reported to the police, the university cant help you.

Of course, its not solely an institutional problem. The program spoke to Dr Roslyn Arnold in an attempt to understand what kind of culture could foster such toxic conditions in the first place.

When asked if the so-called rape culture exists, Dr Arnold said I dont want to believe it any more than anyone else does, but yes it does exist. And its terrifying.

Regarding the abuses perpetrated on young women, Dr Arnold says an environment where its acceptable to denigrate them, humiliate them, to act violently towards them has served as a terrifying catalyst.

The program touched on many of the interrelated issues that contribute to this horrific set of circumstances, but could have said so much more about the culture that nurtures this kind of violence, the institutional quagmire survivors need to deal with, and tertiary educations seemingly lenient response to abusers.

Perhaps theyll return to it in the coming months  the program ended with a reference to a survey being conducted by the Australian Human Rights Commission, which has been issued on a targeted basis to university students in Australia. Concurrently, if you are interested in submitting your own experiences, the AHRC is also running a separate submissions process (which is available right here), the results of which will surely be worthy of investigation.

Source and photo: Sunday Night / Channel 7.

Sexual harassment or violence is not acceptable. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual harassment or assault, you can talk to the friendly people at 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732  its never your fault, and there are safe ways to speak out or talk to someone.
Gable Tostee, the Queensland man accused of murdering New Zealand woman Warriena Wright in 2014, will go on trial today in the Brisbane Supreme Court in what will be one of the highest profile cases this year.



Wright  who was known as Rrie to her friends  fell to her death from Tostees 14th floor apartment building mere hours after the pair met on Tinder in August 2014.

She had turned a friends wedding in Queensland into a two-week holiday, meeting Tostee shortly before she was due to return home to New Zealand.

Tostee has always vehemently maintained his innocence, drawing ire for his continued habit of taking to Facebook (violating the terms of his bail) to protest the charges and blame the media for painting him in a negative light.

It is not yet known if he plans to take the stand to defend himself. News Corp reports that Crown prosecutors intend to call 22 witnesses, meaning the trial is unlikely to run for more than two weeks.

Wrights mother, father and sister will travel to Brisbane to attend the trial.

Source: News.com.au.

Photos: Facebook.
Finding Prince Charming, otherwise known as the gay bachelor, otherwise known as one of the best-worst cringe-watching experiences of the current reality TV season, is airing now on the US network Logo.

In the very first episode, host Lance Bass pondered whether a gaggle of thirsty, sweaty gay dudes packed into a California mansion with nothing to do all day wouldnt just start hooking up with one-another instead of their Prince Charming.

Its a question that lingers over the series like the faint, sweaty smell from an Andrew Christian jockstrap, and in a interview this week, eliminated suitor Robby LaRivere confirmed that yup, dudes in the house were definitely doing it.

Robby, the sassiest, white wine swigging-est, truth bomb dropping-est contestant on the show was eliminated by bachelor Robert Sepulveda in the fifth episode, breaking our little hearts in the process.

Speaking to Vulture about his time on the show, Robby confirmed that, during shooting, he spent close to five weeks cooped up in the mansion with lots of other guys, lots of alcohol (we presume) and no cell phone access.

He said that, while the deprivation in the house mostly kept people lusting after bachelor Robert, this was not the case for everyone:





People there were thirsty, girl  Two of the suitors did hook up with each other, although it never made the air because we didnt know about it until after we were eliminated  I think Sam and Chad hooked up on the first night. So, thats what happened on night number one. And then night number two, remember Chad had his hands in his pants and he was making the move on Eric. So there was definitely some canoodling, but for the most part, everyone was very ladylike  and I think it was a house full of bottoms too, Mary.

He also heavily intimated that bachelor Robert may be less than the prince charming the producers like to portray, pointing to an incident that occurred at the shows masquerade ball but was not aired, saying:

Robert came and sat on me, and he was very heavy, his bony butt. I was like, Get off of me. I just wasnt into him. Then I stepped into the kitchen just to have a breather and talk to some of the producers and Robert storms into the kitchen, starts yelling in my face, pointing in my face, saying I sent Paul home for you!, and that I should cut the shit. He was screaming and yelling in my face. The show is trying to portray Robert in this prince perfect thing. But viewers can see through that. Viewers want reality. Thats why its a reality show. They want to see the real deal. I think maybe, logistics-wise, there were producers in the room, so I dont know if the cameras were shooting in there. It was a very real argument. It wasnt for show. It wasnt for cameras. He can flip the switch, that boy.

Robby LaRiviere currently has a gig as a style expert on the Hallmark Channel in the US, but as far as were concerned is welcome to appear on any other show he damn well pleases from now until the end of time.

Source: NY Times.

Photo: Robby LaRivere / Instagram.
There was a minor flutter of controversy a few months ago after the first trailer for Matt Damon star vehicle Great Wall dropped  people were immediately pissed that it was a movie about a white bloke defending China from monsters. Why couldnt an Asian actor defend China from monsters, the critics asked.

A second trailer for the film dropped yesterday, just before Damon commented on the controversy:

Damon was a little baffled by the response.

Yeah, it was a fucking bummer. I had a few reactions. I think I was surprised, I guess, because it was based on a teaser. It wasnt even a full trailer, let alone the movie. So, to get those charges levied against youwhat bums me out actually is that I read The Atlantic religiously. And there was an article in The Atlantic, [so] I was like really guys? To me whitewashing, I think of Chuck Connors when he played Geronimothere are far more nuanced versions of it and I do try to be sensitive to that.

He continued:

I really do agree with and try to listen and try to be sensitive to, but ultimately I feel like you are undermining your own credibility when you attack something without seeing it. I think you have to educate yourself about what it is and then make your attack or your argument and then it is easier to listen to from my side.

Its worth noting that  while whitewashing is a huge issue which holds people of colour back in Hollywood  the Great Wall controversy is a bit of a non-starter, to be quite conest. Its a Chinese-produced film, directed by legendary Chinese director Zhang Yimou. Blockbuster films are a way that China can flex its soft power in the world.

Zhang Zhou, chief executive of Le Vision Pictures, says that Chinese partnerships in Hollywood blockbusters are the next big thing. The movie industry has reached the stage of globalisation, he says. While we are making movies like Expendables, putting money into co-producing movies with Hollywood studios, those movies are still developed by them; meanwhile, we need to develop movies that allow them to work with us.

Lets talk about Hollywood whitewashing. But honing in on Chinese-produced blockbusters which comfortably sit within a programme of spreading a Chinese cultural vision to the world is probably a poor place to start.

Source: Screen Rant.

Photo: Great Wall.
The split between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie remains pretty ugly, but there was one piece of good news for Pitt overnight, when it was confirmed that the FBI will not be prosecuting him for the alleged incidence of child abuse that took place on his private jet.

It was reported last month that, in the days leading up to the separation, Pitt became verbally abusive towards his family while on a flight between France and California, and an unspecified altercation occurred with his 15-year-old son Maddox.

The FBI have the power to investigate as the alleged incident took place in the air, however, gossip monsters TMZ have this weekend spoken to law enforcement sources who say that there is no open FBI investigation, as there is no case against Pitt.

Yet another source claims that an anonymous call was placed to the US Department of Children and Family Services after the incident, but that no further action was taken after Jolie and Pitt agreed to be interviewed.

Jolie originally demanded sole custody of the couples children, however, they have since reached a temporary custody agreement, granting Pitt visitation rights.

The actor has voluntarily agreed to undertake drug and alcohol tests, and the first of these came back negative.

Source: US Weekly.

Photo: Marc Piasecki / Getty.
The 15-year-old daughter of Pennsylvania state Sen. Daylin Leach appeared on CNN Saturday night to declare she had not been "planted" in a campaign forum to ask the "perfect question" of Hillary Clinton.

Brennan Leach was the first person called upon to ask a question of Clinton at a Q&A session held at the Haverford Community Recreation and Environmental Center in Delaware County Tuesday.

She said: "I'm Brennan and I'm 15 years old. At my school, body image is a really big issue for girls my age. I see with my own eyes the damage Donald Trump does when he talks about women and how they look. As the first female president, how would you undo some of the damage and help girls understand they are so much more than what they look like?"

Her appearance almost immediately generated media reports that she was a paid actress planted at the event to ask just that question.

But she told CNN's Michael Smerconish that she wasn't paid and wasn't planted in the audience. Clinton, she said, "didn't know I was going to ask a question, she didn't know what I was going to say at all."

And, she said, no one - including her father -- wrote the question for her.

"This is an issue that's really important to me," she said. "Body image is something that's really relevant to girls my age and when a public icon like Donald Trump is calling woman fat and ugly pigs and, you know, judging them only based on how they look, it really does affected us. So I wanted to write this question. I came up with it.

"Obviously, if you think you're going to speak in front of a future president, you have your parents look over it and help you edit it, and I practiced a couple times. I mean he definitely helped me sort of compose myself and fix my wording, but other than that It was my idea and I came up with it on my own."

Daylin Leach said there was one reason his daughter was the first to be invited to ask a question of Clinton: She raised her hand when no one else did.

"There's no grand conspiracy here," he said, faulting the media for failing to check the facts.

He said he and his family have "been getting so much outright hate from Trump supporters," which he said included thousans of twitter messages, other social media posts and threats.

"At some point, human decency should take over," he said.
harold-mcgurl.jpg

Police are searching for Harold J. McGurl who is a suspect in a stabbing that occurred early Saturday morning in Ashland, Schuylkill County.

(State police at Frackville)

Police are searching for a man who is wanted for a stabbing in Ashland Borough in Schuylkill County at 1 a.m. Saturday.

Harold J. McGurl, 43, formerly of Ashland whose last address was at the Wernersville Community Correction Center in Wernersville, is said to be considered armed and dangerous and was last seen in the Ashland area shortly after the 1 a.m. Saturday attack, said state police at Frackville.

Police said McGurl has been identified as the person who attacked a 28-year-old man victim in the 1200 to 1400 block of Spruce Street. The victim was taken from treatment for multiple stab and/or slice wounds.

The Schuylkill County District Attorney's office issued a warrant for his arrest on an attempted homicide charge. If McGurl is located, police urge caution and ask that police be notified immediately.

Anyone who witnessed or has information about this incident is asked to contact state police at 570-874-5300.
State police are looking for a jobseeker whom they say fired multiple shots in the air when he was told no employment was available at a Dauphin County nightclub.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Lykens, the incident occurred early Saturday at the Cabin Night Club on the first block of Newport Road in Reed Township.

Police are now looking for the 29-year-old suspect, whose name was not released.

According to investigators, the incident occurred like this:

Around 1:20 a.m. Saturday, the 29-year-old showed up at the nightclub to apply for a job.

When he was told no job was available, he entered the passenger side of a silver BMW sedan and raised a semi-automatic handgun out of the window and fired 11 shots in the air.

The BMW sped away, heading east on Route 322. Witnesses told police he continued to fire the gun in the air as the car left the club.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the police, 717-362-8700.
By Tony May

Three polls released last week show Hillary Clinton with a stable or growing lead over Donald Trump in Pennsylvania.

Tony May

What the public isn't hearing about, though, are the underlying demographics that make a Trump surge less and less likely during the last month of the campaign.

We all love to hear the Pennsylvania "horse race" figures.

The Franklin and Marshall poll -- Clinton 47, Trump 38; Quinnipiac Poll - Clinton 45, Trump 41; Monmouth Poll - Clinton 50, Trump 40.

But we don't hear much at all about the margins of support among key groups making up the pool of likely voters.

They tell a story about why, day by day, the election is slipping beyond the grasp of the Trump-Pence ticket.

We do hear a lot about the divide between male and female white voters. According to the Monmouth poll, Trump still leads Clinton among white male votes, 57-35.

But Clinton leads among white women, 55-35. The key here is more women are registered to vote than men and their turnout at the polls is typically higher.

Clinton is making Trump's views on women a centerpiece in her campaign and the Trump response until now has been weak to non-existent.

Advantage, Clinton.

Digging deeper via other questions asked by Monmouth interviewers, it's clear that Trump will have a very difficult time changing the narrative of the election.

We hear all the time that Trump is basically unpopular; that people share an unfavorable opinion of him.

Among Monmouth subjects, only 27 percent have a favorable opinion of him

For Clinton, its 41 percent favorable.

But it gets worse.

When asked if they thought Trump "does or does not have the right temperament to be president," 65 percent says he does not (including 41 percent of Republicans and 58 percent of independents).

When asked the same question, 64 percent of voters said they believed Hillary Clinton has the right temperament.

Asked if they believed Trump "does or does not understand the day to day concerns of people like you" only 38 percent said they believed he does understand.

A total of 53 percent said they think Hillary gets it.

The F&M poll has more bad news for Trump as undecided and vacillating voters make up their minds as election day approaches. When F&M asked who "has the experience needed to be president," Clinton wins 60 percent to 18. On foreign policy, Hillary wins 60 to 23 percent.

When asked whose "beliefs are closest to how you feel about values issues such as abortion and gay marriage, Clinton wins 48 to 29. Asked about "character and good judgment," Clinton wins 48 to 23.

The only "feelings" issue where Trump is competitive was when voters were asked who will change government policies in a way that make4s things better."

An equal number of voters - 36 percent - gave the nod to Clinton or Trump.

Voters were pretty evenly divided, too, on who would do best against terrorism (Clinton 44, Trump 39), who was best prepared to fix economic problems (Clinton 43, Trump 40) and who is "the most honest and trustworthy" (Clinton 34, Trump 29).

The three polls also show a difference in support for the two candidates region by region around the state.

People in Central Pennsylvania who see strong support at street level for Trump might be surprised to hear how much stronger voter preference is for Clinton in other areas of the state.

According to F&M, Trump is doing well in Central PA (49 to 31) and in Northwest PA (49 to 37) and is doing best in Southwest PA -- outside of Allegheny County (52- 36).

But he trails Clinton in Philadelphia (67-22), Southeast PA (59-33), Northeast PA (53-31) and Allegheny County (64-27). The key here is that 57 percent of the voters live in strong Clinton country.

Voter support by age also favors Clinton.

She has a 44-36 lead among voters under 35 and 47-40 lead among voters aged 55 and older. Her lead shrinks among voters aged 35 to 55 (46-42).

Even the gun rights issue is not likely to save Trump's skin. He leads among gun owners, 56-31) but loses among non-gun owners (58-28).

But the bad news for Trump is that only 31 per cent of those surveyed identified themselves as gun owners. Advantage: Clinton.

The numbers don't lie. Pennsylvania will very, very likely go to Clinton. But we can't say it's all over but the shouting ... because there will be shouting, and pushing, kicking and eye-gouging, before Nov. 8.
By Charlie Gerow

Sandwiched between the first and second presidential debates was 2016's one and only vice presidential debate.

Republican strategist Charlie Gerow (PennLive file)

This was only the tenth Veep debate ever held. None of them has changed much. Even Lloyd Bentsen's famous verbal smack down of Dan Quayle failed to alter the outcome.

Nevertheless the vice-presidential showdown gives voters their only real look at the men competing to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.

While the audience paled in comparison to the top of the ticket show, more than 40 million tuned in.

Going into the debate, many thought that Republican Mike Pence and Democrat Tim Kaine were each more appealing than their respective running mates.

Emerging from the debate was a less flattering view of Kaine and increased admiration for Pence.

How much, if any, impact their debate had is an open question.

Did Pence's performance provide Republicans still skeptical about GOP nominee Donald Trump an additional reason to vote for the ticket?

Or did he merely put added pressure on Trump to dramatically improve in the next debate?

Interest in the vice presidential debate was short lived, though, as Hurricane Matthew dominated the news and political eyes turned to Sunday's second presidential debate.

Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Trump will face off for the second time on Sunday in St. Louis.

The format will be different than their first confrontation. The town hall will provide a very different look and feel.

The candidates' ability to interact with the audience, their grasp of the issues and their personalities will tell who "wins" the main event.

The stakes are high.

The 10 days following the first debate have not been kind to Trump. The momentum he had going into that debate has been quelled.

Clinton now leads in virtually every battleground state, making the electoral path for Trump more narrow and putting pressure on him to quickly reverse his fortunes.

The challenge for Trump is clearly reflected in Pennsylvania, a state he believes he has a real shot at winning.

Republicans always face an uphill battle in the Keystone State. Outnumbered by nearly a million registered voters, the GOP candidate for President hasn't won here since 1988 and no Republican has won a statewide election in five years.

Things look different to Team Trump, though.

They figure that Trump's strong appeal among working Pennsylvanians, many of whom are Democrats, and the lack of enthusiasm for Clinton combine to put the state in play.

Clinton also thinks Pennsylvania is a swing state. Both campaigns have poured in time and money. The candidates have spent enough time here to claim local zip codes.

For Trump his strategy has worked in part. He's running at warp speed among less than college educated white voters.

He's topped out at more than 75 percent of these voters; more than 10 points ahead of what Mitt Romney garnered. The problem is that there aren't enough of those voters to win.

Among college-educated whites Trump doesn't fare as well, especially among women. That bloc has never been lost by a Republican candidate for president. It's the most essential group for Trump to recapture if he is to win. It must be the principle focus of his efforts in Sunday's debate.

The lack of enthusiasm for Hillary Clinton is real. Whether or not she can gin up enough excitement to get voters in Philadelphia to turn out at anywhere near the level they voted for Obama is the key to her prospects.

Polls in Pennsylvania have fluctuated wildly.

Prior to the first debate Trump enjoyed leads in some polls and all showed the race very tight. Now polls show Clinton opening up a wide lead in the commonwealth.

The double-digit margin she now enjoys equals what Obama swept the state with eight years ago.

Some in the media are now speculating that Pennsylvania is being taken off the board.

That would make the path for Trump more difficult, although not impossible. While Pennsylvania is a must win for Clinton, Trump can win without the Keystone State, although getting to 270 is much tougher without Pennsylvania's 20.

Trump isn't a traditional candidate and can't be accurately measured by traditional methods. First, he consistently outperforms the polls once voters head for the ballot box. Call it "The Bradley Effect," but it's a fact that doesn't get factored into the number crunching of the media.

Second, Trump has an uncanny ability to bounce back from political adversity. He's trailed before, only to regain the lead. He took on a Federal Judge and suffered in the polls. He reversed the slippage. He got into a verbal feud with a Gold Star family and his numbers slipped seriously. He turned that around.

Whether or not he can regain his momentum after his dust up with a former Miss Universe may hinge on his performance in the St. Louis debate.

Time is now working against Trump. He's got to get back on the offensive quickly. Sunday night is the best opportunity for him to do so.
PHOTOS: Downtown Petoskey Halloween 2022

Check out some photos from downtown Petoskey's Halloween celebrations on Saturday.
Lagniappe

PW: The Northern Miner editorial:

Colombians reject peace deal

Citizens in Colombia rejected the peace accord made by President Juan Manuel Santos. Many articles have been publish since last week refusal by the majority of Colombians to vote yes for the peace agreement negotiated by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. The fact is that the NO succeeded in defeating the YES, why? various reasons; the principal one been that even do everybody wanted peace, but not at the agreed conditions. A satisfying for the majority agreement has to be renegotiated now, and that include getting advice from the leader on the NO vote, former president Alvaro Uribe.



The following article by the Northern Miner express a positive point of view towards the peace goal that everyone wants. PW The Northern Miner: Editorial



Colombian voters in a national referendum narrowly defeated a peace agreement negotiated between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, throwing the ongoing peace process into a fresh round of uncertainty. The referendum question was: Apoya el acuerdo final para terminacion del conflicto y construccion de una paz estable y duradera? (Do you support the final agreement to end the conflict and build a stable and lasting peace?) The Si vote in favour of the deal came in at 6.38 million (or 49.8% of valid votes), versus 6.43 million No votes (50.2%). The No side won by only 54,000 votes, and turnout was a mere 37%, with 13 million total votes from a potential field of 34.9 million eligible voters. Many blamed heavy rainfall in the country for the depressed turnout. At 52 years and counting, Colombia's civil war stands as Latin America's longest-running hot conflict, with 220,000 dead, and millions injured and displaced. The countryside remains riddled with land mines. The primary conflict between the national government's armed forces and the Marxist FARC guerrillas is further complicated by the participation of the smaller National Liberation Army (ELN) left-wing guerrillas, so-called right-wing death squads and violent drug cartels, as well as the country's falling, but still high, crime rate. The U.S. government notably stepped up its military support of the Colombian government in 2000 with its US$9-billion Plan Colombia assistance package, even as Venezuela's Hugo Chavez supported leftist guerrillas in Colombia as they crisscrossed between the two countries. FARC's active guerrilla membership numbers shrunk from 20,000 in 2002 to 7,000 currently, and its leadership took particularly hard hits in 2008, when senior leader Raul Reyes was killed in a bombing raid and FARC founder Manuel Marulanda died of natural causes, and in 2011 when Alfonso Cano, who took over from Marulanda, was similarly killed in a bombing raid. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos's government began talks towards a peace agreement with FARC negotiators in August 2012 in Havana, Cuba, and only concluded a final agreement in late August 2016. The proposed agreement is said to have covered some of the most complex issues to have arisen in the conflict, including ceasefire schedules, rural reform, political participation and the problems with illicit drugs, as well as mechanisms to implement the agreement. Even if they didn't spend enough time securing actual votes, those promoting the Si side had the best stagecraft to accompany their campaign, culminating in a ceremony on Sept. 26, attended by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and a dozen Latin American leaders, where Santos signed the agreement with FARC's current leader Rodrigo Londono Echeverri (aliases Timoleon Jimenez, or Timochenko) using a pen made out of bullet casings, and crowds waving Colombian flags with an extra white stripe added to symbolize peace. The referendum result was a shock to many, as most Colombian and international media and left-leaning elites pitched the vote as a sure thing. President Santos, in power since 2010, staked all his political capital on the deal and ratcheted up the pressure for a Si vote by suggesting there was no plan B and that rejection of the deal meant a dissolution of the current ceasefire and a return to a shooting war. On the other side of all this loomed influential former Colombian President and current Senator Alvaro Uribe  Santos' predecessor and to the right of him on the political spectrum  who led the No side from his political base in Antioquia department. As president, Uribe leaned heavily on military victories over FARC and ELN forces, including retaking the Angostura gold deposit from guerrilla forces in open combat in the mountains south of Bucaramanga. No voters wanted the FARC commanders sent to prison for their crimes, to be prohibited from entering the national Congress and to forfeit ill-gotten land and money  all items the Yes side considered worthwhile trade-offs for lasting peace. A magnanimous Uribe said after the votes were tallied that all Colombians want peace, no one wants violence, while from Havana, Londono called on the peace agreement to proceed and said it couldn't be undone despite Sunday's vote, and that Peace with dignity arrived, and will remain. And so, for the mining community involved in Colombia, there are many reasons to believe it wasn't peace that was rejected, it was this particular peace, and some new deal can be worked out between combatants in the years ahead.



The Northern Miner has been an industry leader, delivering trusted mining news and analysis for over 100 years. Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these views. Editor's Note: This commentary was originally published by The Northern Miner on Oct. 4, 2016. Link to original article . Petroleumworld reprint this article in the interest of our readers. All comments posted and published on Petroleumworld, do not reflect either for or against the opinion expressed in the comment as an endorsement of Petroleumworld. All comments expressed are private comments and do not necessary reflect the view of this website. All comments are posted and published without liability to Petroleumworld. Use Notice:This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of issues of environmental and humanitarian significance. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.



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ConocoPhillips sued PDVSA on 'fraudulent' bond swap

Venezuelan bonds plunged the most in almost nine months after state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA - PDVSA extended early deadline for bondholders until Oct. 12.



CARACAS

Petroleumworld.com 10 10 2016

Subsidiaries of U.S. oil company ConocoPhillips have sued Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA in Delaware, according to a court filing, accusing it of fraudulent operations involving its U.S. subsidiary Citgo.

ConocoPhillips said in an Oct. 6 filing PDVSA operations, including an ongoing bond swap that uses shares in Citgo Holding Inc as collateral, are part of an effort to prevent Conoco from collecting compensation in a dispute over a 2007 nationalization of its Venezuela holdings.

ConocoPhillips has for nearly a decade been pursuing a case against Venezuela in a World Bank tribunal to obtain billions of dollars in compensation for the 2007 takeover of its Venezuela assets by late socialist leader Hugo Chavez.

The tribunal known as ICSID in a partial ruling in 2013 said that takeover was illegal.

The U.S. company cited numerous operations involving Citgo, including an attempt to sell it in 2014, a debt offering that financed dividend payments to PDVSA, and most recently a bond swap operation that uses Citgo Holding as collateral.

"The purpose behind each of these transfers is the same: to remove assets from the United States to Venezuela and/or to encumber assets in the United States, with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud PDVSA's and Venezuela's arbitration award creditors, including ConocoPhillips," it said in the document.

ConocoPhillips says Venezuela has also sought to protect its assets from being seized in any of some 20 arbitration cases filed by companies ranging from U.S. oil giant Exxon Mobil to small Canadian mining company Crystallex.

PDVSA said in a statement on Friday that the bond swap was "perfectly legal" and that the lawsuit did not have any legal basis.

"These claims are one more instance of manipulation by ConocoPhillips," the Caracas-based company said in a statement, adding that operations would continue as planned.

A court decision will likely take several weeks, said Carlos Bellorin, petroleum analyst at IHS.

"Before taking any additional steps the tribunal has to weigh the merits of the case and if Conoco's claims are sufficiently strong," said Bellorin.

PDVSA's bonds dropped sharply on Friday after it postponed a deadline for offering to swap debt due to low participation, signaling that investor reluctance could scuttle the operation, and following news of Conoco's suit.








Tijuana crime scene Mexico

A simmering struggle between two of Mexico's most powerful cartels continues to drive violence in Tijuana, a major Mexican city and focal point for trafficking activity just a few miles from San Diego.

Through August this year, the Tijuana municipality recorded 518 intentional-homicide cases, a sharp increase from the 382 registered over the same period in 2015.

The violence appears to be driven by two of Mexico's major cartels  the Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico's most powerful organized-crime groups, and the Sinaloa Cartel, led by imprisoned drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

Tijuana's 2016 homicide tally has put it on track to have its most violent year since 2010. The 89 homicides in September made that month the most violent so far this year. Some have drawn comparisons to the violence between 2008 and 2010, when the Sinaloa cartel and the then-powerful Arellano Felix Organization went to war over the drug-trafficking territory in and around Tijuana.

Though the cartels appear to be driving the violence, the lion's share of those involved are dealers who have criminal records and problems with drugs, law-enforcement officials told Sandra Dibble of The San Diego Union-Tribune.

The current fighting in Tijuana has yet to reach the scale seen during the final years of the 2000s, William Sherman, special agent in charge of the US Drug Enforcement Administration in San Diego, told The Union-Tribune. "Its not like 2008, it tends to be more street dealers battling over turf."

Mexico Tijuana cartel battle violence

Story continues

Over the last year, a number of reports have detailed the growing presence of the CJNG in Tijuana, where it is believed to be partnering with remnants of the Arellano Felix Organization (AFO) to take on Sinaloa.

According to a US State Department report on crime and safety for Tijuana from March:

"In 2015, there was a noticeable increase in public announcements (normally done by placing banners in public places or near/on murdered bodies) by self-proclaimed members of rival cartels (AFO and CJNG) against the Sinaloa cartel and conversely boasts from the Sinaloa Cartel of their continued dominance over the 'plaza.'"

Homicides in Tijuana by month, 2012 to 2016

A message left at the scene of a homicide in February this year announced that "The cleansing continues in Baja [California] on the part of El Mencho," referring to the leader of the CJNG.

The following month, Gualberto Ramirez Gutierrez, the head of the kidnapping unit within the Mexican attorney general's office, announced the arrest of a suspected Sinaloa cartel operative who he said was fighting with Sinaloa's rivals in the area, namely the CJNG.

A grisly development in September saw a dismembered body crash through the windshield of woman driving under a bridge in Tijuana.

At the scene, authorities found two more mutilated bodies, and signs purportedly from the Sinaloa cartel threatening their CJNG rivals.

There have also been reports that both Sinaloa operators in the area and their counterparts tied to the CJNG have made threats against local security forces.

Tijuanas homicide rate jumped from 28 per 100,000 residents in 2012 to 39 per 100,000 in 2015, which made it the 35th-most-violent city in the world that year, according to a Mexican think tank. The homicide rate has only gone up, reaching 44.45 homicides per 100,000 in 2016, according to Mexican news site Animal Politico.

Criminality in Tijuana has likely been exacerbated by weaknesses in the city's police, which are not only suspected of being deeply corrupted but are also understaffed, according to the director of the city's police. According to locals, police respond to calls promptly but provide few services.

'Nobodys controlling the plaza like they used to'

The recent violence has conjured up unwelcomed memories about the cartel-related violence the city experienced in the late 2000s.

At that time, the ascendant Sinaloa cartel, led by "El Chapo" Guzman, had moved into the area and grappled with the then-dominant Arellano Felix Organization for control.

Tijuana Cartel

This period not only saw spikes in homicides, but a rise in other kinds of crime, a consequence of decreased cartel control opening spaces for lower-level criminal groups to operate.

While these groups and their leaders may have had ties to or the backing of the Sinaloa cartel or AFO, they didn't have the same resources and "didn't quite have the operational capabilities that the Arellano Felix or the Sinaloans had and wound up resorting to other kinds of criminal endeavors to finance" their activities, David Shirk, a professor at the University of San Diego, told Business Insider.

"So kidnapping became a huge problem around 2007 to 2009 ... We saw kidnapping cells. We saw grand theft or larceny as a huge problem," Shirk, who heads USD's Justice in Mexico program, added.

In January 2007, then-President Felipe Calderon, just a month into his term, deployed about 3,000 troops and federal police to the city, part of a nationwide surge meant to crack down on organized crime.

Mexico Tijuana federal police drug trafficking crime and violence

Those federal forces assumed the top roles in many local civilian law-enforcement agencies, as local and municipal polices forces were outgunned and often riven by corruption.

The spike in violence was accompanied by economic struggles, as tourism diminished, businesses suffered, and jobs disappeared. By 2009, 700 of the 1,000 businesses on the city's main avenue had closed, according to BuzzFeed.

After 2010, however, the Sinaloa cartel assumed control of the city, dominating drug-trafficking in the region. With a single organization in control, homicides dropped, falling from more than 650 in 2010 to less than 350 in 2012.

Homicides in Tijuana annual

Since then, Tijuana has seen an upswing, attracting investment and tourism and undergoing a gentrification that has seen much of the city improve but that has also marginalized many of the area's poor residents  including many of the 1.1 million deportees who settled in the city between 2003 and 2011.

The vulnerability of the city's poor residents to these criminal groups, coupled with the more assertive presence those criminal groups, have some warning that dark days could soon return to Tijuana.

"It's a false calm," Adela Navarro, general director of Tijuana-based investigative magazine Zeta, told BuzzFeed in May.

"Tijuana is sitting on imminent danger," she added.

Sherman, the DEA agent in charge in San Diego, told The Union-Tribune this month that sources on the ground had not reported a looming cartel war, though he noted that, "Nobodys controlling the plaza like they used to."

NOW WATCH: There's a terrifying reason people are warned to stay inside at 5:45 p.m. in parts of Mexico





More From Business Insider


Kimshung Expedition 2016: Francois Cazzanelli, Giampaolo Corona & Emrik Favre establish Base Camp

09.10.2016 by by Planetmountain

Italian alpinists Francois Cazzanelli, Giampaolo Corona and Emrik Favre are currently in Nepal where they have established base camp at the foot of the Himalayan giants in the Lang Tang Valley. The goal of the expedition is the hitherto unclimbed Kimshung (6781m) or to ascend Langtang Lirung (7221m), first climbed in 1978 by Seishi Wada and Pemba Tsering.

Having set off on Friday September 30, 2016 from Italy, the mountain guides Emrik Favre and Giampaolo Corona, as well as Italian Military Mountain Squad member Francois Cazzanelli arrived in Kathmandu (Nepal) on Saturday 1 October 2016. They quickly completed the final preparations and then travelled via public transport to the Langtang valley. They continued on foot and reached the base of Lirung and Kimshung on Thursday, October 6, 2016.

The trio established base camp one day ahead of schedule on the grassy section at the edge of the large moraine in the upper part of the valley, where the alpinists have easy access to water and from where they can easily head upwards to explore the area.

The alpinists are highly motivated and currently on good form. The same does not hold true for the weather though, which at present is poor with visibility reduced significantly. The team will rest for a couple of days therefore before beginning the acclimatization stage and evaluating conditions on the surrounding mountains.

The Italian expedition is currently the first and only expedition in the area and saw first-hand how tirelessly the local population has worked to reconstruct the villages after the massive earthquake from a year ago.

Further information is expected as of Monday 10 October when the climbers will begin their acclimatization.
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As a bow-wrapped present for the 20th Anniversary of the openly racist Fox News Network, the 2nd Anniversary of Friday Fox Follies, and the 7th anniversary of this reporter writing Fox News criticism, Megyn Kelly and Sean Hannity have buried the hatchet, and not in each others back, either.

Before I get to this weeks meat, Id be negligent without any mention all the time Fox News spent on Trump compared to the other nets; all the various ways Fox News bashed Hillary Clinton; while at the same time providing cover for Trump on issues ranging from his genius tax strategy when his businesses were tanking; or defending his poor debate performance, especially when compared to Mike Pence, despite his lies; and the candidates inherent misogyny, which aligns with the stations. [See: Ailes, Roger] Even Top Adviser Roger Stone [admits]: Trump Mostly Does Interviews With Hosts Like Hannity And OReilly To Eliminate Risk, which is an admission that neither men are FAIR & BALANCED.

But I have bigger fish to fry. Like an entire racist tee vee network celebrating an anniversary today.

THE FOX HOLE IS RACIST: When called out, the last refuge of racists is Its just a joke. Whassamattah? Doncha got a sense of humour? Compare that to Jesse Watters non-apology apology:

My man-on-the-street interviews are meant to be taken as tongue-in-cheek and I regret if anyone found offense.  Jesse Watters (@jessebwatters) October 5, 2016

Racist Fox News has since declined comment, as has racist OReilly. However, theres been commentary elsewhere. A small sampling:

As a palate cleaner try The Daily Shows Ronny Chiengs righteous indignation:

Lets not forget this happened on racist Bill OReillys Ugly Carnival, as I quote from The Atlantic:

Whats more specifically racist than sending a reporter to Chinatown to make ostensibly Chinese jokes involving taekwondo (a Korean martial art), nunchucks (an Okinawan weapon), stolen watches, dragons, and foot massages? Probably nothing. There are so many cringe-worthy moments in Jesse Watterss Chinatown video for Foxs OReilly Factor that its almost tedious to enumerate them. But possibly the worst are the ones featuring elderly Asians who stand silently on camera while Watters pokes fun of them and their apparent inability to speak English. Who punches that far down for a laugh? Fox, apparently.



After the segment aired, OReilly and Watters sat on set, chuckling at what OReilly termed the gentle fun in Watterss video, though OReilly cautioned that he suspected, were going to get lettersinevitable, betraying an inkling that what had just aired might offend some people out there, somewhere.

Its just a joke, right?

Meanwhile, heres what else Loofah Lad was up to this week:

OReilly Uses Old, Repeatedly Debunked Right-Wing Myths

To Call For Independent Prosecutor Of Corrupt DOJ

Bill OReilly Wants Chuck Todd To Apologize

For Pointing Out Giulianis Marriage Hypocrisy

Bill OReilly Says Trumps Disdain For Obama Motivated

Presidential Run But Hes Not A Grudge Holder

OReilly: Hillary Clinton Needs To Back Away

From Its All About Me And Make It All About Us'

Fox Newss Bill OReilly is just fine

with Donald Trumps fat-shaming ways

Bill OReilly Trumpets Yet Another

Of His Voter Fraud Investigations

Bill OReilly steering clear of Hannity-Kelly feud

REMEMBER: No matter how odious one may find racist Bill OReilly, he created racist Jesse Watters. Heres a Media Matters supercut of awful:

Jesse Watters: The Worst Of The Worst

MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO: Any wonder the denizens of Fox Nation (probably no longer curated by racist Jesse Watters) get away with open racism and hate? More alarming? How long it took to get credible death and assassination threats removed.

My former NewsHounds editor tells how after she reported someone to the FBI, how long it still took to bring him to justice in Fox Nations Wannabe Murderer Sentenced To One Year In Jail.

So this guy has been threatening murder since at least 2009 and he posted tens of thousands of comments on Fox Nation since 2012, including at least six murder threats we stumbled on in 2015. How many more do you think there had to be? The point is, regardless of the number its simply inexcusable, if not some kind of legal negligence, for Fox Nation to have allowed this to continue. For any length of time.

I wont link, but check out Fox Nation the next time you feel like wandering through an open sewer.

FAMILY FEUD: Megyn Kelly and Sean Hannity entertained the innertubes this week with open hostilities, in which Hannity leveled the worse kind of attack on Kelly that one could toss at a Fox personality: That Kelly supports Hillary Clinton. Sadly, theyve now made up, but a lot of people aint buying it. When Hannity denied they were ordered to play nice, it was as good as a confirmation they were.

The best reporting on the inside of this feud is How an old-boys network helped sideline Fox Newss Megyn Kelly in campaign 2016.

No matter, shes still a partisan. This weeks proof? Like when she mocked Hillary Clinton for staged moments on campaign  err  stages, or when she retailed already debunked Clinton conspiracies, but called out the medias for reporting accurately on Trump, or even Why Would Megyn Kelly  Who Always Stays Above-the-Fray  Now Start Taking Shots? [Writers note: shes not above the fray, just subtle.]

For his part, theres no subtlety to Hannitys partisanship, nor his racism:

FAIR & BALANCED? In what Bizarro World?

HERE COME THE JUDGE:

Geraldo Rivera sues over water damage to his Upper East Side pad

Fox News Harris Faulkner & Hasbro Settle

Lawsuit Over Harris Faulkner Hamster

MORE AILES FALLOUT: In her first tee vee interview, On Good Morning America, Andrea Tantaros Explains The Pervasive  Culture Of Misogyny And Sexism At Fox News, while Post-Ailes, Fox News struggles with snipes and gripes.

Headly Westerfield considers his Fox News criticism a public service, because he earns so little from it.

Photo: Twitter
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Mike Pence is in an increasingly difficult spot, as the running mate of a guy Republican politicians are fleeing from at an ever-increasing rate. But no matter what he does, from continuing the pretense that Trump doesnt, in fact, exist, as he did at the VP debate, or hiding, as he is now  or actually disavowing Trump altogether, he wont escape the taint.

Pence cancelled an event taking place with Paul Ryan in Wisconsin today, offering no explanation, though we all know perfectly well what it is. One can only imagine what Pence is thinking today, but we do have his official stance.

This was Pences reaction to Trumps sexual assault tape as of this morning:

Notice the false allusion to Trumps expression of remorse and his alleged apology, which was really just an attempt to cast the blame on Bill Clinton, as noted by the New York Daily News:

Early look at tomorrow's front page

What Trump said he liked to do to attractive women: "GRAB THEM BY THE PY" https://t.co/HPZdvyep1p pic.twitter.com/cYd9IRB4sP  New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) October 7, 2016

As Paul Begala observed this morning,

Keep in mind Pence was ok with Trump mocking a persons disability, dissing POWs, the racist attack on a Mex-Am fed judge, birtherism, etc.

Pence can pretend all he wants, but Trump expressed no remorse, and whatever Pences hopes, any opportunity for Trump to show what is in his heart has been repeatedly filled by misogynist, racist, hateful rhetoric. At no point has Trump taken the opportunity to show love for anyone but himself.

If Pence had any remaining doubts about the goodness of his running mate, these should have been dispelled when Trump took credit for his victory at the VP debate.

Trumps former ghostwriter Tony Schwartz tweeted this morning that

I believe Trump when he says hes unfazed. Why? 1. He has no conscience & thinks hes done nothing wrong. 2. He lives in a total bubble.

It is going to be bad no matter what he does, but pretending Trump actually cares is only going to make it worse.

The only question remaining is to what extent Pence plans on remaining in a total bubble.
Piles of steel pipes to be exported are seen in front of cranes at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province March 7, 2015. REUTERS/Stringer (Reuters)

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Commerce Ministry has expressed concern and regret after the European Union set provisional import duties on two types of Chinese steel coming into the bloc, calling its investigation methods "unfair".

The duties announced on Friday are the latest in a line of trade defenses set up against Chinese steel imports over the past two years to counter what EU steel producers say is a flood of steel sold at a loss due to Chinese overcapacity.

Some 5,000 jobs have been axed in the British steel industry in the past year as it struggles to compete with cheap Chinese imports and high energy costs.

G20 governments recognized last month that steel overcapacity was a serious problem. China, the source of 50 percent of the world's steel and the largest steel consumer, has said the problem is a global one.

The substitute country investigation method used by the EU, a practice typically reserved for countries deemed non-market economies, are "unfair and unreasonable" and "seriously damage the interests of Chinese enterprises," the Commerce Ministry said in a statement posted to its website late on Saturday.

"Reckless trade protectionism and mistaken methods that limit fair market competition are not the proper ways to develop the European Union steel industry," it said.

Chinese steel products represent less than 5 percent of the European market and do not present a serious threat to European industry, the ministry said. The root cause of Europe's steel problems was not trade but weak economic growth, it said.

"China hopes the EU will strictly respect relevant World Trade Organization rules and fully guarantee Chinese companies' right to protest," the ministry said.

The EU's duties are set at between 13.2 and 22.6 percent for hot-rolled flat iron and steel products and at between 65.1 and 73.7 percent for heavy-plate steel.

As provisional duties they are in place for up to six months until the European Commission completes its investigation. If upheld, they would typically be set for five years.

Story continues

The commission has committed to speed up its trade defense actions under pressure from EU producers.

The EU has also been debating whether to grant China "market economy status", given the Chinese government's hand in guiding industry and markets. China says the status is its right come December, which marks 15 years since it joined the WTO. Failure to do so could spark a trade war.

The commission has said that China is not a market economy and that it would not recognize it as such, but would adopt a new method to set duties that would abide by WTO rules.

(Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Paul Tait)
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Instead of preparing for the second presidential debate on Sunday night, Donald Trump took to Twitter and went on a paranoid morning rant against his fellow Republicans and the American people.

Trump retweeted several of his followers who sent him pledges of support, but also showed where his mind is:

So many self-righteous hypocrites. Watch their poll numbers  and elections  go down!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2016

"@maidaa17: @realDonaldTrump GOP traitors! Not supporting U is voting for her, destroying America.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2016

"@CharleneOsbor17: @realDonaldTrump politicians don't count. It's the people. We are behind trump all the way to White House."  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2016

"@eericmyers: @realDonaldTrump "Republican leadership" should have only one job: Help elect the nominee we voted for, Donald J. Trump."  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2016

"@eericmyers: @realDonaldTrump "Republican leadership" should have only one job: Help elect the nominee we voted for, Donald J. Trump."  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2016

A normal presidential candidate would have immediately apologized for the tape, begged for forgiveness, and tried to patch things with his party.

Donald Trump is showing signs of a complete paranoid meltdown. Judging from his tweets, Trump is planning on declaring war on the Republican Party at the debate. It is a given that the Republican nominee is going to use every baseless Bill Clinton conspiracy theory in an ugly attempt to save his campaign.

What Republicans might not have been expecting was that Trump would use the debate platform to attack his own party.

Trump is handling this self-caused crisis. He is melting down, and his psychological collapse could play out live in front of the largest debate audience in the history of the United States.

Donald Trump does not seem well. He appears to be gearing up to unleash his illness on Hillary Clinton, the Republican Party, and the American people.
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On the morning of the second presidential debate and for the first time in a century, the Columbus Dispatch is endorsing a Democrat. The endorsement comes in the wake of the revelations of Donald Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women.

Hillary Clinton is qualified, they write , and Donald Trump is unfit.

The editorial board of the Columbus Dispatch explained that they really dont know how we got here and while they arent a fan of Hillary Clinton, they are sure she can do the job of president.

On the other hand, the things they say about Donald Trump are scathing. A taste:

The Dispatch traditionally has endorsed Republican presidential candidates, but Trump does not espouse or support traditional Republican values, such as fiscal prudence, limited government and free trade, not to mention civility and decency. We are disappointed that so many Republican leaders have accommodated a narcissistic, morally bankrupt candidate who is so clearly out of step with those values.

 He has proved himself a liar of epic proportion. He is a bigot, a braggart and an admirer of foreign thugs such as Russias Vladimir Putin. He is reckless and thin-skinned. He has demeaned Mexicans, demonized Muslims, insulted women and mocked the disabled.

So sure are they that Donald Trump must not be helped into the White House that they urge readers not to vote third party on either side, because a third party vote is a vote for Trump.

They commend Clintons long career and long record of service to families, women and children as well as writing that she understands and practices the art of compromise, which once was respected by Republicans and Democrats in Congress, and which allowed for progress rather than gridlock.

They arent just endorsing Clinton, they are rather desperately urging voters to vote for Clinton, The stakes are too high to sit out this election and risk letting Trump misuse the awesome power of the presidency. The Dispatch urges voters to elect Hillary Clinton.
An exhaustive month-long procurement appeal hearing in the largest procurement ever undertaken by Department of Public Works finally came to a close yesterday afternoon. But while the formal hearings have concluded, it may take more than a month for the Office of Public Accountability to issue its decision on the matter.

There are additional filings that still need to be made by Oct. 21 and, according to Public Auditor Doris Flores Brooks, the OPA has 30 days to issue its decision afterward. This leaves a potential final conclusion to the protest sometime in mid-November.

The Guam Educational Facilities Foundation (GEFF), Core Tech International Corp. (CTI) and the Office of the Attorney General  representing DPW  have been engaged in formal hearings since Sept. 7. CTI had appealed to the OPA the dismissal of its protests of a $100 million school renovation and rehabilitation procurement. The majority of that money was slated for the total reconstruction of Simon Sanchez High School.

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During closing arguments, attorney Joyce Tang, legal counsel for CTI, pointed to emails between DPW officials that seemed to indicate her client's price was disclosed during the negotiation phase of the procurement. Tang said witnesses all testified that CTI's price was not disclosed, but with regard to the letter and its specific reference to $63 million proposed by the second offeror, CTI's price and ranking in evaluations, she said that "this was not true."

Sen. Tom Ada, the legislative chairman of the committee on procurement, in a previous interview with the Post, said prices should not be shared with offerors at any point during procurement, and DPW Deputy Director Felix Benavente stated in his testimony that doing so would violate law.

GEFF proposal

But the letter also raised questions about the responsiveness of GEFF's proposal, according to Tang, who questioned witnesses on the same topic during the hearings. The letter contained inquiries on whether GEFF's $89 million proposal should be rejected because it was not the same proposal submitted in response to the RFP, which was $73 million. It was stated during hearings that GEFF omitted $16 million in its original price submission.

"Why did they not stop negotiations right then and there. What did legal say? Did legal say anything? We don't know," Tang said.

The larger point behind referencing price discussions contained in the letter was to point out deficiencies in the completeness of the procurement record, one of the grounds for CTI's appeal. Without the proper documentation, Tang said it was impossible to know definitively why negotiations continued despite the issues in the letter.

Assistant Attorney General Tom Keeler, counsel for DPW, said testimony during the hearing indicated that GEFF's proposal specifically stated that certain items weren't included.

"The government therefore was on full and proper notice as to what the proposal was," he said.

Procurement record

With regard to the procurement record, Keeler said CTI has the burden of proof to establish that the record is not complete but has not identified a single document that it knows to have been omitted from the record.

Attorney Ignacio Aguigugi, counsel for GEFF, said it was his client's position that there was enough documentation available in the record to know when key actions took place and why they took place. The record, so far, is thousands of pages worth of documentation. Aguigui also reiterated that it was GEFF's position that sound recordings are not required for negotiations.

CTI held the opposite position. Tang said near the beginning of her closing statements that they believed law required sound recorded documentation because the negotiation phase is one of the most important phases for procurement.

"Also, when people are being recorded, we know behaviors change," Tang said. "And we also hope that there's less hanky-panky."
Congressional candidate Jim Moylan will not let truth or distortions stop him from saying anything to get elected. It is up to political analy Read morePolitical ploys at the last part of election?
Before Friday, I thought Donald Trumps mission in the upcoming debate should be to persuade Americans hes not a bad guy. After Friday, his mission may be to persuade people hes not a monster.

You prove these things by conducting yourself accordingly. You cant prove them by attacking your opponents character. And if you attack the character of your opponents spouse, you tend to confirm that youre a bad guy.

Nor is there any need for Trump to show that Hillarys character is bad. America understands this. The electorate favors her only because it believes Trumps character may well be worse.

Thus, the hit back twice as hard philosophy is ill-suited for tonights debate. Its perfectly suited for Trumps persona, though. Therefore, he will be tempted to revert to it at some point. Count on Hillary and/or the moderator to push hard on that button.

If Trump can resist the temptation, the debate provides him an opportunity to make a full-throated and unqualified apology for his remarks. The apology will be heard, unfiltered, by a much larger audience than he otherwise could reach so soon after the release of the p****y grabbing video. And it will be heard during an event that may create other things to talk about.

In addition, Trump will be answering questions from voters in a town hall setting. This setting increases his opportunity to come across as human.

To capitalize on this opportunity, Trump shouldnt say that the remarks arent him. He needs to say they arent him anymore. He cant try to explain the remarks any as meaningless locker room talk. No matter how many times they come up, he needs to repeat his apology and pivot to the issues.

His model should be Hillary Clinton. When the emails came up in the first debate, she didnt trot out any of her lame excuses or explanations. She said that using the private server was a mistake for which she apologizes, and she quickly moved on.

Trump needs a fuller, more heart-felt apology the first time the issue arises  one that could go something like this. After that, he needs to repeat the apology and move on.

In tonights debate, Trump should focus on getting off the mat, not landing haymakers. If he survives this debate, he can go for a knockout in the final one.

But does Trump even realize that hes on the mat?
The Associated Press reports on Donald Trumps talking about Hillary Clintons role in her husbands rape and sexual harassment scandals. Perhaps recognizing that some people might consider being an accessory to rape and sexual assault more serious failings than talking crudely about women, the AP doesnt take any chances. You almost have to read between the lines to extract the story from the spin:

Hours before a make-or-break presidential debate, a defiant

Defiant means he is in trouble, his back against the wall.

Donald Trump unleashed an aggressive  and politically dangerous 

So pointing out that Hillary was deeply involved in Bills rape and sexual harassment scandals is politically dangerous to Trump? Might there not be some political danger to Mrs. Clinton? The AP apparently thinks not.

personal attack on Democrat Hillary Clinton Sunday

When eleven-year-old video of Trump talking crudely was released, was it a personal attack? No. But Trumps criticism of Hillary Clinton is.

by seizing on

Seizing on warns the reader that the person in question, Trump, is desperate and the issue he is seizing on is not important or meritorious.

unsubstantiated rape allegations

The rape allegation is substantiated by the victim, Juanita Broaddrick. If the AP means that there werent any corroborating witnesses to the rape, that is true. As with most rapes, there were only two people presentthe rapist and his victim. But calling Mrs. Broaddricks story unsubstantiated is intended to suggest that it has failed some test of veracity, which is false.

levied against her husband years ago.

The years ago is a nice touch, given that the video that supposedly has ended Trumps chance for the White House dates from 2005.

The pointed and unproven charge against Bill Clinton

There they go again! Mrs. Broaddricks testimony is evidence that the rape occurred. Bill Clinton, on the other hand, has denied that a rape took place. Whether the charge is proven depends on ones assessment of Mrs. Broaddricks credibility. If you think she is a truthful witness, the charge is proven. By calling it unproven, the Associated Press is coming down on Bill Clintons side, even though he is a notoriously untruthful person.

outlined in an interview that Trump tweeted, marks a dramatic escalation of an already nasty campaign

The dramatic escalation wasnt the release of the Trump video, it was Trumps pointing out that Hillary has a long history as an enabler of her husbands career as a sexual predator. So Trump is the one dragging the campaign into the gutter.

as Trump seeks to deflect fallout from his own sexually predatory comments.

Got that? No substance to Trumps claims, he is simply trying to deflect attention from his own predatory comments. And note what a strange phrase that is. How can a comment be predatory? Actual predatory behavior (not comments) was shown by Bill Clinton when he raped Juanita Broaddrick, grabbed Kathleen Willeys breast, and sexually harassed Paula Jones. But the AP wants you to think that such criminal conduct is minor (and in any event unproven), whereas Donald Trumps crude bluster is predatory.

There is much more, but you get the point. I would continue, but the spin is making me dizzy.
Republicans are deserting Donald Trump in droves. John McCain, Kelly Ayotte and Carly Fiorina are among the most prominent. Here in Minnesota, I think just about the entire Republican Party has disavowed him. Many people whose judgment I admireAndy McCarthy, John Thune and Hugh Hewitt, to name just threehave called on Trump to step down. Are they right? I think the question needs to be examined from several angles.

First, the most recent revelationTrump making crude comments on video in 2005doesnt materially change my evaluation of the candidates. I was never under any illusions as to Trumps character, his competence or his conservatism. I think he is a horrible Republican nominee. But he is still better than Hillary Clinton. His character is no worse than Hillarys, he is more conservative (or less liberal), and he would make a better president. So I have every intention of voting for him as the lesser of two evils. I strongly reject the idea that there is some kind of moral obligation to abandon Trump.

Second, it can be useful to ask, What would the Democrats do? Here there is no need to speculate: we saw what they did in the 1990s. They circled the wagons and defended their man to the hilt, using whatever smears and lies were helpful, even though he was credibly accused of rape and multiple instances of sexual harassment. Indeed, that is what the Democrats are doing now with Hillary Clinton, as revelations much more material to her performance in office than the Trump video have come out over the past year or two. See, generally, Clinton Cash. Republicans are always held to a higher standard than Democrats, but why? Maybe this is as good a time as any to reject the double standard and fight fire with fire. E.g., this Drudge headline: KATHLEEN WILLEY CALLS FOR HILLARY TO RESIGN FROM CAMPAIGN

Finally, calling on Trump to resign signals, at best, an unprecedented and humiliating disarray within the GOP. It still may make sense if the party has an opportunity to substitute a better candidate with a greater chance of winning. But, as Paul noted earlier, it is not clear that such a switch is practical. If Mike Pence (not Mitt Romney) could be substituted on the ballot for Trump, it would be an improvement. But I doubt that any such smooth transition is possible.

If a switch to another candidate, with Trumps consent, can be carried out quickly and smoothly, fine. But if that is not possibleI assume the partys leaders, Reince Preibus et al., have scoped this outthen I think Republicans whose election chances are not imminently in jeopardy are better served to stand by their nominee, bad as he may be. It is easy to answer reporters questions by explaining why Trump, with all his faults, is superior to the incompetent, corrupt and left-wing Hillary Clinton. In fact, this may be one of the few chances that most Republicans get to attack Hillary on camera. Why not take advantage of the opportunity? Republicans everywhere should be prepared to tell reporters that even an inept, immoral, centrist rookie like Donald Trump is not as bad as Hillary Clinton.

Damn the torpedoes, in other words, and once the election is overlost, in all likelihoodRepublicans can sort out lessons learned in private. That is what the Democrats would do.
I started noodling on a few What if thoughts about this long election cycle the other day, but the one on my mind this afternoon is this: What if the electoral college actually worked the way the framers intendedas a gathering of eminent citizens who would pick a good man to be president, rather than a Byzantine mechanism merely for channeling a popular majority? Remember, in most states you arent actually voting for either Trump or Clinton or Gary Johnsonyoure voting for electors pledged to them. And I believe it is not possible legally to bind electors, and weve had a few faithless electors in recent decades. (One Ford elector in 1976 cast his electoral college vote for Ronald Reagan, for example.)

So what if Trump won an electoral college majority on election day, but then a number of electors cast their votes for Mike Pence instead, thus throwing the presidential selection to the House of Representatives? Since the Constitution provides that the House chose from the top three finishers, they could then select Pence to be president. Crisis solved. (Not really: Trump and his passionate supporters would scream from the rooftops, sue everybody in sight, and it would be a worse mess than Bush v Gore in 2000. But its interesting to think about.)

Some other what ifs:

What if? What if Jeb Bush had not run, and Mitt Romney had run again instead? Romney was rightly faulted for being relatively inarticulate, especially about conservative ideas. Next to Trump, Romney is Demosthenes. All the more reason to be annoyed that Jed scared off Romney from running again, only to train his fire mostly on Rubio and others in the field who might have stopped Trump.

What if? What if Marco Rubio had not been part of the ill-considered Gang of Eight immigration reform bill of 2009? Or what if hed simply apologized early in the campaign, admitted that he made a mistake in backing comprehensive immigration reform, instead of trying to defend his ghastly mistake?

What if? What if Republican leadership had taken more seriously the portents of the Tea Party defeats of Bob Bennett, Richard Lugar, and Eric Cantor? These men were not RINOs, and yet did not see, as much of the party still does not see, the depth of the discontent with Republican leadership at the present time.

What if? What if we find out six or nine months from now that the Clintons were secretly behind Trumps candidacy? Sort of the way Nixon is said to have helped pave the way for McGovern to be his opponent in 1972? We know that Trump is said to have spoken with Bill Clinton about whether he should run. . .
The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has waded into the case of an alleged N170.3 million contract scandal involving Zinox Computers.

The fraud was uncovered in 2013, but despite police investigations establishing the necessary details, no one has been prosecuted for the fraud.

The contract was awarded by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to an Ibadan-based IT firm, Citadel Oracle Concept Limited in 2012.

But, the contract was allegedly hijacked by some top officials of Zinox Technologies Limited and its subsidiary, Technology Distributions Limited (TD), and illegally executed with allies using the name of awardee.

The Managing Director of Citadel Oracle Concept Limited, Joseph Benjamin, whose company was awarded the contract, had accused some top officials of Zinox Group, including the Chairman, Leonard Stanley Ekeh, and wife, Chioma, of conspiracy with suspects.

Other suspects included Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Zinox Group and TD, Chris Ozims, and a director of TD, Folashade Oyebode; the chief executive of Admas Digital Technologies Limited and Pirovics Engineering Services Limited, Onny Igbokwe, along with one Princess O. Kama, and some officials of Access Bank PLC.

They were accused of conspiring to forge Mr. Mr. Benjamins signature on a fake Board resolution used to open an account No. 0059202675 with Access Bank PLC used in receiving the proceeds of the fraud.

Although investigations by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigerian Police Force have since 2014 been concluded and a prima-facie case established against the suspects, prosecution had since stalled.

On May 8, 2015, Mr. Benjamin petitioned the immediate past Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, to highlight his companys frustration to get the police to transfer the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for prosecution of the suspects.

But, Mr. Arase wrote back on May 15, 2015 to advise Mr. Benjamin that he would prefer the civil aspect of the case to run its full course before prosecution of the criminal aspect, to prevent a miscarriage of justice.

Not satisfied, Mr. Benjamin petitioned the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, who directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to wade in, with a view to resolving the matter.

Before his redeployment a few months ago, the immediate past DPP, Muhammad Diri, sent several unsuccessful requests to the then IGP, including the one on March 9, 2015, for the release of the case file for the prosecution of the suspects.

Although the suspects were recently quizzed by the anti-graft agency, the police, rather than prosecuting the accused persons, charged Mr. Benjamin on June 16, three days before the expiration of Mr. Arases tenure.

On June 2, Mr. Benjamin was formally arraigned before Justice Peter Kekemeke of Court 14, Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja, accused of misinforming the former IGP.

The police prosecution counsel, Simon Lough, in a one-count charge No. CR/216/16 of false petitioning, said Mr. Benjamin, through his petition of July 3, 2014, provided false information about the Board resolution used in opening the bank account with Access Bank PLC, used in committing the fraud.

But, a senior Justice Ministry official told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday the new DPP, Mohammed Umar, was worried that the case was still not resolved, being one of the first he received briefing on shortly on his assumption of office.

The official, who requested that his identity be protected because of the sensitive nature of the matter, said Mr. Umar was worried that weeks after he wrote to the police to request the case file to enable his office commence the prosecution of the accused, the police was yet to respond.

Although Mr. Lough was sighted in the DPPs office last week, the official told PREMIUM TIMES he did so without the requested case file.

The DPP is very concerned about the development. He has directed that the issue should be one of the priority subjects he would take up during his planned meeting with the Police Commissioner on Legal Matters next week, the ministry official said.

All attempts to get the police to speak on why they have not been able to send the case file to the DPP failed on Friday. Calls to the Force spokesperson, Don Awunah, were not answered. He equally did not respond to a text message send to him.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lough was at the Federal High Court, Apo on Wednesday and Thursday as the police prosecution at the opening of the trial of Mr. Benjamin.

On October 5, one of the accused persons, now a principal witness for the prosecution, Princess Kama, told the court Mr. Benjamin, a long-time friend since their days at Enugu State University in 2001, had betrayed her kind gesture, investing her personal financial and material resources to help package and deliver a contract awarded by FIRS to his company.

Miss Kama blamed Mr. Benjamins allegation of fraud against her on her rejection of his marriage proposal shortly after school for incompatibility reasons.

She told the court she took pity of her former friends condition when she met him again in 2011 in Lagos, saying using her experience and private resources to get the FIRS contract for him was her little way of helping him recover from series of bad business experiences he had.

Apart from helping Mr. Benjamin register his first ICT business, Miss Kama said she also deployed his contacts to facilitate his registration as certified Hewlett Packard products distribution partner, which boosted his companys profile to be pre-qualified for the FIRS contract he eventually won.

To execute the contract, Miss Kama said because Citadel Oracle could not afford the required funding, she went out of her way to approach her uncle, named also as one of the accused, Onny Igbokwe, to help guarantee a credit facility from TD, one of the accused companies.

Miss Kama told the court the loan from TD was on condition that an account would be opened based on a Board resolution by Citadel Oracle making its officials sole signatories.

As part of the agreement, Miss Kama told the court she agreed with Mr. Benjamin that on completion of the contract, Citadel Oracle would take the value of one of the three lots, after TD had deducted its loan principal, while she would take the balance.

She said following the supply of the computers to the FIRS and payment made into the Access Bank account, she was not only surprised, but felt betrayed by Mr. Benjamins rejection of agreed share of the profit.

My Lord, I was shocked that when the contract was completed and I asked my friend to send his account for his share of the profit to be transferred, he refused, demanding for everything to be sent to him. I cannot see any other reason for my good friends strange behavior, whom I wanted to help, than that I rejected his marriage proposal, Miss Kama said.

During cross examination, Miss Kama could not recall some of the most vital information about documents she told the court she helped package, nor the locations, dates and participants in various meetings she attended throughout the contract period.

For instance, although she had told the court the previous day Citadel Oracle could not afford the funding for the contact, one of the documents included in the bid she said she submitted to FIRS was a reference letter from First Bank guaranteeing the company credit facility of a minimum of N500 million if awarded the contract.

Asked why she had to solicit a credit facility from TD, when the document showed the company had the financial capacity to fund the contract, Miss Kama said the reference letter from First Bank did not amount to anything more than information the company had an account with the bank.

At a point the judge had to caution Miss Kama to remember: Only the truth can set you free. Any other thing will emasculate you.

The case was adjourned till December 7 and 8 for continuation of trial.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has sent an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari requesting him to use his good offices and leadership to urgently instruct the Department of State Service, DSS, to immediately and unconditionally release all the judges arrested by them and to ask the DSS to end continuing intimidation and harassment of the judiciary.

The organization said that, If following the receipt and/or publication of this letter, your government fails or refuses to immediately and unconditionally release the judges as requested, SERAP would promptly consider appropriate legal options nationally and internationally to ensure the full and effective implementation of our requests.

SERAPs letter dated October 9, 2016 and signed by its executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni said that, We are seriously concerned about the wave of arrests, intimidation and harassment of judges across the country by the DSS. While we fully support the governments efforts to eradicate judicial corruption, we cannot accept anticorruption strategies and methods which patently offend the rule of law and undermine the authority, integrity, sanctity and independence of the judiciary.

The letter copied to both Zeid Raad Al Hussein UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Monica Pinto, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers reads in part: SERAP believes that strategies and methods to sanction suspected corrupt judges must never have an inhibiting or chilling effect on the authority, sanctity, integrity and independence of the judiciary.

Uncertainty of the processes and grounds on which suspected corrupt judges can be sanctioned would affect the capacity of all judges to act independently, and public confidence in the judiciary. Judges, like other constitutional functionaries must face the law if they depart from or deceive the law, such as when they are suspected of engaging in corruption. But what the DSS has done is a blow to the independence of judiciary, and a dangerous precedent that should not be allowed to stand.

The value of the principle of judicial independence is that it protects judges from arbitrary sanctions by the Government. The way this country dispenses justice and treats its judges will show the moral and legal character to which it can pretend.

SERAP is concerned that the action by the DSS if allowed to stand or continue, would make judges susceptible to pressure from the executive. Thus, instead of fulfilling the stated aim of eradicating judicial corruption, the actions of the DSS has served to undermine the independence of the judiciary in Nigeria, and reinforce the practices under successive governments of undue political interference in the judiciary.

Judicial accountability must respect the fundamental principles of the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers, and its proceedings must be in line with constitutional and international standards of due process and fair trial. Indeed, international standards require that the bodies responsible for sanctioning corrupt judges should be independent from the government, and that any legal sanction against suspected corrupt judges must be determined in accordance with well-established procedures that guarantee the rights of judges to a fair and transparent trial, and to an independent review.

One of the cardinal pillars of the rule of law is an independent judiciary. Without a judiciary that is independent, the concept of rule of law becomes a mockery. The requirement of independence and impartiality does not exist for the benefit of the judges and prosecutors themselves, but rather for court users as a part of their inalienable right to a fair trial.

SERAP therefore urged President Buhari to:

1. Urgently instruct the DSS to immediately and unconditionally release all the judges arrested by them, and to end continuing intimidation and harassment of the judiciary across the country;

2. Publicly commit that your government will not seek to undermine the integrity, sanctity, authority and independence of the judiciary in its efforts to combat judicial corruption;

3. Avoid any action that tends to weak judiciary independence and public confidence in the judiciary;

4. Ensure that justice is not only done, but must also appear to be done in the fight against judicial corruption;

5. Promptly, thoroughly, transparently and impartially investigate attacks against judges by DSS and bring to justice anyone responsible

According to reports, two Justices of the Supreme Court Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okorowere arrested after a raid on their homes in Abuja by operatives of the DSS early Saturday morning. The two men are said to be currently in the DSS custody in Abuja. Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja was also said to be arrested by the operatives of the DSS after breaking into his official residence at about 1am on Saturday.

There are also reports of invasion of the houses and harassment of judges of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Gombe and Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The raids on the judges houses were reportedly carried out at 2am. The official residence of another judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba was also searched. SERAP notes that at least two of the judges had recently ruled against the DSS and condemned its disregard of the laws of the land during its operations.
A joint operation by the State Security Service and the police has led to the arrest of two Army personnel allegedly responsible for the abduction of Margaret Emefiele, wife of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin, PREMIUM TIMES can report.

Musa Maidabara, a corporal attached to the 322 Artillery Regiment, and Edwin George of 371 Artillery Regiment in Maiduguri were arrested in separate locations with cash and other material possessions, security sources told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mrs. Emefiele was kidnapped along Benin-Agbor Road on September 29, 2016, alongside four others including her police detail.

The suspects reportedly chased Mrs. Emefieles security into the bush and took their victim to their den where she remained until the next morning.

The Emefieles reportedly parted with a large amount of money as ransom.

Sources told this newspaper that the suspects, both of whom are students of Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, had nearly 15 million with them.

While Mr. George, a lance corporal, was arrested at his hometown in Otukpo, Benue State; Mr. Maidabara was arrested along Benin-Asaba Road.

Mr. Maidabara visited his brother, also a soldier, at 14 Field Engineer Regiment, Onitsha, Anambra State, with whom he kept all the money where operatives later recovered them, sources said.

They also had two Honda Accord cars with them at the time of their arrest.

The investigation into Mrs. Emefieles kidnap is, however, still ongoing.

Army spokesman, Sani Usman, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES request for comment.

However, a senior police official in Delta State confirmed that the police were aware of the arrest of one of the soldiers. He declined official comment saying he was not authorised to do so.
At least eight more senior judges in Nigeria are being investigated for corruption and may be arrested anytime from now, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

The eight are part of 15 judges that are being investigated by the State Security Service for alleged corrupt practices.

Already, seven judges were arrested between Friday night and Saturday morning in raids that have been condemned by lawyers and Nigerian rights groups.

The seven judges arrested and currently in detention at the SSS office are Justice Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court; Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja; Kabir Auta of the Kano High Court; Muazu Pindiga of the Gombe High Court, Mohammed Tsamiya of the Court of Appeal in Ilorin, and the Chief Judge of Enugu State, I. A. Umezulike.

Messrs Umezulike, Auta, and Tsamiya had earlier been recommended for sack by the National Judicial Council for alleged corrupt activities.

The seven arrested judges were still at the SSS office on Sunday evening, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

A source at the headquarters of the security service also confirmed that the judges were allowed to see their families and have made relevant statements to the security agency.

Although the identity of the eight others being investigated is not yet clear, at least one of them is a member of the Supreme Court, a source said.

Apart from the judges, at least three members of the registry staff of relevant courts have also been invited for questioning by the SSS and have made relevant statements, the source said.

On Saturday, the security service gave reasons why it arrested the judges.

In a statement, the SSS said it also recovered various sums of money from those arrested including over N93 million in cash as well as over $530,000 in cash.

The mode of arrest of the seven judges has led to intense criticism from Nigerians including by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), and foremost rights group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order the release of the judges.

The judges may be released even this evening or tomorrow, once they finish with their statements which we are allowing them write at their own pace, our source said.

An emergency meeting called by the NJC on the arrests is expected to hold on Monday in what may pit the Judiciary against the executive arm of government.
Armed men have kidnapped the wife of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State, Ajibola Oyedele.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the kidnappers have since demanded a ransom of N40 million from Mr. Oyedele.

Mr. Oyedele, popularly called 50-50 by his political fans, revealed on Saturday night that he was able to speak with his wife at about 5:45 p.m.

She was abducted late Friday at about 8:30 p.m. at the family home in Omuo Oke, a town in Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State. The woman did not resist her abductors.

According to Mr. Oyedele the kidnappers claimed that he was their actual target.

At gunpoint, my wife surrendered the key to our Nissan Ultimate to the kidnappers and they drove her away to an unknown destination.

We have not heard anything from her since the incident. All her lines are switched off, he said in an earlier post on Facebook.

Mr. Oyedele who defected to the APC in July this year, was the only PDP member of the last Ekiti State House of Assembly.

He was subsequently appointed Special Assistant on Parliamentary Affairs by Governor Ayo Fayose.

But he resigned from the government on May 31, 2016, citing poor remuneration.
The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, says some of the newly commissioned female officers will be deployed to the Intelligence, Signal and Ordnance Corps, where their services are needed.

Mr. Buratai spoke on the role of female officers in the army after the Passing out Parade of 133 Cadets, including 18 females from the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna on Saturday.

Eight of the females were commissioned into the Nigerian Army.

We have a situation whereby we have to bring them  female officers on board. We have considered several options and several implications as regard our cultural sensitivities and general environment.

We need to have them where they will have to play their role in the military. We need to address the issue of gender both in peace and war times, he said.

Mr. Buratai, a Lieutenant General, also said that female combatant officers were needed both in the background and fore front.

Look at what we are facing in the North East, majority of the Internally Displaced Persons are females, female officers have important roles to play for the IDPs, to find a way to take care of them being the same female folk in terms of cultural issues.

On whether army operations would be reviewed to favour the female officers, he said that Nigeria would not be an exception as other countries recruit female officers and deploy to artillery and armoured corps.

The army chief explained that female soldiers had been in theatre of war in the country. He added, however, that these were the first female cadets trained and commissioned as combatant officers.

But by and large, we are working on policy that will address female deployment both in combatant and peace times, Mr. Buratai said.

(NAN)
A 41-year-old man arrested by the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command for stealing the phone of his helper has pleaded that he should be saved from going to prison the eighth time.

Emmanuel Oyewunmi, from Ikale, Ondo State, was arrested by the operatives on Friday night at Ojodu Berger Bus Stop for stealing N600 and a phone from a bus driver and a passenger.

Mr. Oyewunmi had been on the wanted list of RRSs operatives for stealing a Samsung Galaxy S4 belonging to one Adesewa Oni from her car, the police said in a statement Sunday.

On the penultimate day, Oyewunmi was a park keeper outside Shoprite Shopping Mall, Ikeja when Oni drove in to attend a ceremony at the Adeyemi Bero, Auditorium, Alausa, the statement said.

For keeping an eye on her car, Oni instead of offering Oyewunmi the N200 he requested decided to drive him to a nearby ATM to withdraw some money out of which she gave him N1,000.

Unwittingly for her, she left Oyewunmi inside her car while she gets the money from the ATM. Upon returning, she handed Oyewunmi the N1,000 and she drove off.

Mrs. Oni said she had driven for five minutes, after leaving Mr. Oyewunmi when she realised her phone was gone.

Quickly, my mind raced to him and I realised my folly, she said.

How could I have left a total stranger in my car alone, leaving documents and valuable items in the car with him? It was just a silly thing to do for me. I traced him back to that spot but he was gone.

Mrs. Oni said she was advised to report the incident at the RRSs Headquarters the same day.

The police said the suspect on interrogation admitted stealing Mrs. Onis phone when she left him in the car to get money through the ATM last week Sunday.

I was pushed into it by the need to get hard drugs, Mr. Oyewunmi said.

As soon as I got the phone, I went to Ipodo in Ikeja to get hard drug. It was the hard drug dealer that bought it from me. He bought it for N8,000.

I spent the rest on drug. I was so pained that I forgot to shave and barb from the proceeds of the stolen phones.

Hard drug has spoilt my life. It was the cause of my rejection by my wife, and my father. I got hooked on drug while I was young and getting out of it has been extremely difficult for me.

Mr. Oyewunmi said some faith based non-governmental originations had assisted in his rehabilitation in the past, but he had always found his way back to drugs.

Drug has been the predominant cause of my imprisonment, he said.

If I am imprisoned now, it would be the eighth time and third time this year.

On his second offence, Mr. Oyewunmi admitted stealing a phone and N600 from the bus driver and a passenger but pleaded that he was under the influence of drug.

Confirming the arrest of the suspected thief, the Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, urged Lagosians not to expose themselves to criminals.

The police said the suspect had been transferred to the Lagos State Taskforce for prosecution.
The Presidency has expressed satisfaction over the South African Supreme Court of Appeals decision to confirm the conviction of Henry Okah to 20 years in prison.

A presidency official, who preferred not to be named, confirmed this development to State House correspondents in Abuja on Saturday.

The court, on October 3, found Okah guilty on two out of the 6-count charges relating to the Warri bombing filed against him.

The Court also upheld the 12-year sentence for his role in the Abuja bombing that claimed many innocent lives.

The convictions that were upheld are those in respect of the Warri bombing, relating to Okahs providing finance and equipment without which the bombings would not have been executed.

The source stated that already the Nigerian government had written a measured letter to the South African government, hailing the judicial decision as a big step forward towards removing terrorism from the continent.

South Africa has projected itself an enduring partner to Nigeria in the war against terrorism.

When African countries act jointly against terrorism, they send out clear and unambiguous signals that there is no more a place for terrorism on our continent, the source maintained.

The Court held that Okah provided more than N2 million to three individuals for the purpose of acquiring vehicles and explosives for use in the Warri bombing.

On the Abuja bombing, the Court upheld that Okah conspired, planned and instructed people in relation to its execution while he was in South Africa.

The Court, therefore, held that exemption clause on extra-territorial application could not apply as Okah orchestrated the Abuja bombing while in South African territory.

The Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa, by this judgment has effectively reduced the 12-year sentence for Warri bombing to eight years but maintaining the 12year sentence for the Abuja bombing, making the period 20 years all together as against the 24 years ruling by a lower Court.

The source opined that the latest judgment is a victory for the fight against terrorism in all its form and shape, which should be hailed by all well meaning Nigerians and citizens of the world.

The South African authorities are therefore, urged to ensure that Okah is made to face the full wrath of the law for his acts of international terrorism.

The scourge of terrorism as perpetrated by the Boko Haram terrorists and the so-called `Niger Delta Avengers or militants, has led to the death of several Nigerians and the monumental destruction of national assets.

It will be recalled that Okah was granted Permanent Residency in South Africa in 2007, and was arrested in Johannesburg on October 2, 2010.

Commenting on this development, Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Buhari, confirmed that the Presidency viewed the conviction positively as serious signal in cleansing Nigeria of terrorism.

(NAN)
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the arrest of judges in some states across Nigeria as a descent to fascism.

The party, in a statement by its spokesperson, Dayo Adeyeye, on Sunday, described the arrests of some Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the Federal High Court in their homes in the early hours of Saturday by men of the Directorate of State Security Service, SSS, as Gestapo like invasions.

The affected Justices of the Supreme Court were, Sylvanus Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro, while the Judges of the Federal High Court were Muazu Pindiga, Adeniyi Ademola, Abdullahi Liman and Nnamdi Dimgba.

PDP said Justices Ngwuta, Okoro, Adeniyi and Pindiga had been abducted and detained, while Justice Dimgba only escaped abduction because he was not in when the DSS operatives arrived at his home.

Justice Abdullahis abduction was prevented by the timely intervention of Governor Nyesom Wike, who insisted on the observance of the rule of law and the application of due process.

Governor Nyesom Wike was assaulted by the men of the DSS during his intervention, causing him to sustain injuries on his arm. At a point, an officer pointed a fully cocked gun at him and threatened to shoot him, the party said.

During the invasion, the Justices were manhandled and members of their families as well as their household staff beaten up.

This invasion is the latest in a series of actions taken by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, which reveal its disregard for the rule of law and its abject disdain for the Principle of Separation of Powers.

This inexorable slide into fascism began with the invasion of the Akwa Ibom State Government House by the self same DSS, the continued detention of several people despite Courts ordering their release, the invasion of the Ekiti State House of Assembly and detention of Hon. Akanni Afolabi and the invasion of the Zamfara State House of Assembly.

This slide into fascism has included a sustained attack on the leadership of the National Assembly as President Buhari has sought to break its independence and make it a rubber stamp to suit his will, it said.

PDP said no president in the history of Nigeria has ever attacked the Judiciary in such a manner.

It said even the late dictator, General Sani Abacha, whose regime is remembered by many as the second worst regime in Nigerian history, did not carry out such Gestapo style attacks on the members of the Judiciary.

By bringing this attack to the Judiciary, President Buhari has shown that he has no desire to respect the pillars of our democracy. He has shown his desire to kill off our democracy and convert it to an autocracy without checks and balances, the party said.

PDP said the Nigerian government has no regard for the rule of law.

They do not care about court orders. This government has disregarded the orders of the ECOWAS Court and every other court in the land and continue to detain Dasuki illegally. They continue to detain hundreds of Nigerians without bringing them to trial and against valid court orders.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Constitution in Section 153(1) (i) and Part 1 of the Third Schedule thereto establishes the National Judicial Council (NJC) and empowers same to regulate and discipline judges across the country. The proper path to follow to discipline erring judges will be to forward a petition containing any wrong doing to the NJC along with any evidence in support thereof.

The path not to follow is this Gestapo style invasion in the middle of the night that involves the use of sledgehammers to breakdown gates and front doors for DSS to gain access to the homes.

Nigerians can no longer afford to stand aside and watch the Buhari Administration destroy the foundations of our democracy that we have built for several years. Nigerians have a duty to speak out against this sort of tyranny, the party said.
The Kaduna State Government has ordered the arrest and prosecution of Ibrahim Musa, the spokesperson of the Shiite group, Islamic Movement of Nigeria.

Mr. Musa speaks for and signs press statements for the group which was banned by the Kaduna State Government on Friday.

Mr. Musa, after the announcement of the ban, signed a statement on behalf of the group saying the IMN would seek redress in court.

The IMN accused the Kaduna government of injustice especially as the soldiers who killed over 300 members of the group within three days in December last year had not been prosecuted.

The extrajudicial killing of the Shiites has been condemned by local and international groups including Amnesty International. The Army justified its actions by saying the Shiites blocked a major road in a plot to kill Nigerias Army chief, Tukur Buratai. The IMN has denied that allegation.

A panel set up the Kaduna government to investigate the crisis was boycotted by the IMN which demanded that its leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, be released first.

Mr. El-Zakzaky is still being held by the federal government without any court order.

Read Kaduna governments full statement ordering the Shiites spokespersons arrest below

The Kaduna State Government has ordered the arrest and subsequent prosecution of one Ibrahim Musa who has owned up to being the spokesperson of an unlawful society, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).

An order declaring the IMN as an unlawful society in Kaduna State went into effect on Friday, 7th October 2016. Violation of this order attracts penalty of imprisonment for seven years or a fine or both, according to sections 97a and 97b of the Penal Code.

A few hours after the commencement of the Order, the said Ibrahim Musa admitted to membership of an unlawful society and identified himself as its spokesman in widely publicized statements. This is deemed as a deliberate and determined affront to the order, and the law has to take its course.

The Commissioner of Police has been directed to ensure the arrest to enable prompt prosecution by the Kaduna State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice.

All security agencies in the state have been directed to vigorously enforce the law, and demonstrate clear resolve by arresting the said Ibrahim Musa, who is further advised to report himself to the nearest police station or any of the security agencies.

Government cannot allow the laws of the state to be wantonly tested and confronted by anyone or group who might have the mistaken belief that they are above the law.

The Kaduna State Government wishes to reiterate that it fully respects freedom of religion and other rights as guaranteed by Sections 38 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution. The same Constitution imposes an obligation on government to secure the state and protect every citizen against infringement of their rights by others.

Drawing on powers vested by Section 45(1) of the Constitution, and Section 97a of the Penal Code, the governor signed an order declaring the IMN as an unlawful society in the interest of public order and to protect the rights and freedoms of all persons in Kaduna State.
The current economic crisis has forced some Nigerian dailies to cut staff strength in their newsrooms across the country, PREMIUM TIMES learnt weekend.

Sources in Leadership Newspaper in Abuja and The Punch in Lagos told PREMIUM TIMES the media giants recently let go of over a hundred journalists between them, citing rising cost of operation amidst a general economic downturn.

Nigerias economy slipped into recession late August after contracting for two consecutive quarters due to months of low crude prices.

Several businesses have closed shop or downsized as the economic situation continues.

Sources in The Punch said the paper, one of the largest employers in the industry, cut between 30 to 40 jobs within the past week.

A management source who confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES said some of the staff were dismissed following a staff performance appraisal.

Its true that they were dismissed, but not entirely because of the economic situation, the official said. We look at staff productivity like every year and those who didnt meet up were many this year.

A senior editorial staff said the company would soon engage new hands to replace those recently fired.

I think we already have training and recruitment exercise underway, the staff said. Very soon, we should be able to employ a few replacements.

Punch staff in Abuja, Lagos and elsewhere were affected by the exercise which another source said was the broadest for the company since 1998.

The cut was deeper in Leadership, where about 70 per cent of the companys staff were either converted to freelance or furloughed.

A reporter who was recently converted to freelance said the development marked the toughest time for his career, but, nonetheless, expressed optimism.

There are many of my colleagues in other papers who have nothing t be hopeful for, the reporter said. So dont assume I am being timid when I said mine is better than most.

An editor in the paper said the changes had taken a terrible effect on production.

I am an editor, but the sack made it difficult for me to make specific and timely demands from reporters, the editor said. I cant ask them to go to this place and do that story within the deadline.

Zipporah Tanko, Director of Human Capital at the newspaper, said the management received a recommendation to cut staff strength by 70 per cent but it found the conversion more expedient.

Yes, it is true that we had to convert them to freelance, but this was even after a painstaking effort by the management, Mrs. Tanko told PREMIUM TIMES Sunday. The recommendation we got was to dismiss around 70 per cent of our staff and the management said that would be too draconian.

So what we did was to tell them to keep their beats and keep the companys ID so they can still have a sense of belonging as a Leadership Newspaper family, Mrs. Tanko said.

Mrs. Tanko said the paper has plans to reabsorb the reporters as full staff once the economic situation turned around.

Their full employment status will be reconfirmed immediately we have a better economic environment and the company witnessed an improvement in its business.

The Nigerian media has been experiencing crisis for several years with many media houses going years without paying reporters.
Christians on pilgrimage to Jerusalem from Adamawa State are now to seek new skills in agriculture, in addition to spiritual upliftment.

The Executive Secretary of the State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Jinga Mayo, said the board was introducing agriculture pilgrimage to derive more from the religious exercise by injecting a platform that will enable pilgrims learn new farming skills from agriculture experts in Israel.

Jerusalem is a centre of annual pilgrimage for some Christians seeking practical experience of what the bible teaches.

Mr. Mayo, speaking at a programme titled Touch a Heart organized by the board to encourage more sponsors of pilgrimage to Jerusalem, said the new component would ensure that between 50 and 100 pilgrims from the state benefitted from agricultural training while in Israel.

He said those trained would be expected to serve as facilitators in training others in their communities when they return.

The board is selecting people that will double the pilgrimage with opportunities to learn from the Israelis the secrets of their survival as a nation in a desert land that has no oil and yet has a strong economy in the world today, Mr. Mayo said.

The Board urged well to do Christians to not only perform the pilgrimage but support others to do so.

Mr. Mayo lauded the support given the board by the state government and urged intending pilgrims to reciprocate by praying for peace and prosperity of the state and Nigeria in the Holy land.

Governor Muhammadu Bindow, who was represented at the event by the Commissioner of Education, Kaletapwa Farauta, said his administration was committed to supporting pilgrims.

He also lauded the board for its effort in encouraging non-government sponsorship.

Today is remarkable in the history of the State Christian Pilgrim Welfare Board for organizing this wonderful programme, Mr. Bindow said.

I am glad seeing these category of personalities that responded to the call by the management of the board towards private sponsorship which is gratifying.

In their respective remarks, chairman of the board, Amos Yakubu, and the National President of Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, David Kadzai, lauded the state government for its commitment to transforming the state, in spite of daunting challenges. He called for unity among the diverse people of the state to complement governments efforts.
A Niger Delta-based nongovernmental organisation, One Love Community Development and Promotion of Peace Initiative, on Saturday empowered over 200 youth in the regions creeks in pursuance of a crisis free region.

The programme, which held at the Youbebe Community town hall Ogulagha Kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, was the first stage in a youth training project in such skills as electrical engineering, welding, fabrication, fashion designing, among others.

This youth orientation programme is primarily driven to re-orient the Niger Delta youth about the need to engage in activities that will lead to the overall development of the region and society in general, said Godspower Tomone, a Niger Delta activist and founder of the NGO.

Mr. Tomone charged the youth to be ambassadors of peace, stressing that beneficiaries should make full utilization of the opportunity given to them while noting that development will continue to elude a volatile environment.

He also condemned the spate of violence that has engulfed the region in recent times, adding that peace remains the most viable option for the thorough development of the region.

You cannot stop a quarrel with a quarrel, Mr. Tomone said.

When these youth engage in productive activities, there will be peace, because they wont have the time for destructive activities, that is what this NGO is focused on achieving.

We bring them together, orient them, let them know that violence is not the way forward, its not the way peace can be achieved, rather it will raise more dust.

For Niger Delta to be development we need peace, and for peace to be achieved, we need education, not violence, that is why we are orienting the youths for a better tomorrow.

While calling for partnership from the government and multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region, Mr. Tomone said the NGOs programmes had been self-sponsored over the years and that the gains to be derived from such peace-oriented venture could not be overemphasized.

The empowerment programme is expected to be conducted in stages monthly: once a new set of youth are engaged, the set before them graduates to another level until it gets to the third round where the youth are expected to pass out with different vocational skills and knowledge depending on their area of interest.

My message to the government is that they should key into this youth orientation programme, Mr. Tomone said.

Most youth, especially from oil producing areas are complaining, if nothing is been done, there is a tendency that they will carry arms and join their peers.

If these youths are been oriented rightly, everyone will benefit from it, even the government, because hostility will definitely come to an end.

Clement Oriwabor, the general coordinator and resource person of the NGO, said they are concerned with the happenings in the Niger Delta region.

The Federal Government is concerned, the State Government is concerned, the Local Government is concerned and One Love Community Development and Promotion of Peace Initiative is also concerned, he said.

Paul Preboye, a beneficiary of the programme, said government has abandoned the youth living in the Niger Delta regions.

This will no doubt bring peace and development because through the NGO, we are being oriented to shun violence of any sort and embrace peace, they are training us and at the same time, helping us develop the gifts in us, thereby making us to engage in productive activities, Mr. Preboye said.

Another beneficiary, Sarah James, said they learnt skills that would enable them stand out.

Building us to do the right thing at the right time is what this NGO is doing, it is a good thing, said Ms. James, Secretary, Ogulagha Kingdom Youths Association.

This will bring peace and development because the NGO is orienting us, making us know that violence is not the way forward, instead, we should shun violence, embrace peace and engage in productive activities.
The Nigeria Police said they have arrested two suspected cultists for allegedly killing 20 members of rival groups in Ogun State.

The Police Zonal Command Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said police officers arrested the suspects in Ota and Ifo towns of the state.

Operatives of the Zonal Intervention Squad, Zone 2 Command, Lagos, have arrested 2(two) suspected cultists for their involvement in the killings of more than 20(twenty) members of their gang(Aiye confraternity aka Black Axe) and rival gang(Eye Confraternity) in Otta and Ifo areas of Ogun State, he said.

Mr. Adejobi said the suspected cultists were arrested while planning to have a meeting and possibly carrying out another killing spree in Agosi area of Ifo.

He said the arrested suspects have confessed to many killings including the murder of one Niyi (surname unknown) aka Neyo, the then number 1 of Aiye confraternity in Ifo. He said that was done to overthrow Niyi.

The police spokesperson said Niyi was axed to death by the duo and others at large at the Western City Street in Ifo, Ogun State, on March 29.

He gave identities of the suspected killers as Sheriff Afeeri and Owoseeni Wasiu, who were arrested with some dangerous weapons including an axe, the logo of Aiye Confraternity.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos, AIG Abdulmajid Ali, has directed proper investigation into the case and apprehension of other members of the gang who have been linked with series of killings in the area and in Ogun State in general, he said.

Mr. Adejobi added that the AIG has vowed to get the zone rid of cultists and hoodlums who have been terrorizing residents of Lagos and Ogun States.

He said those arrested and others at large will be treated as murderers.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has rejected the results of Saturdays local government elections in Ogun State and called for cancellation of the exercise.

The partys South-West Zonal Secretary, Bunmi Jenyo, at a press conference on Sunday in Abeokuta, said the elections were characterized by fraud and irregularities.

According to the results declared by the state electoral commission, the ruling All Progressives Congress swept the poll.

The conduct of the election by Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGISIEC) across the 20 local governments and 37 newly created LCDAs is condemnable, irresponsible and unacceptable for height of irregularities and violence masterminded by the APC, due to the ruling partys imminent loss to opposition PDP in the process, Mr. Jenyo said.

He alleged that APC resorted to rigging because of the rejection of its candidates by the people across the state.

Mr. Jenyo said the action of the ruling APC was barbaric, primitive and ridiculous, taken because PDPs popularity scared them to resorting to violence which marred the entire process completely.

He said election materials were not supplied in some local governments, such as Ijebu water side, and that ballots boxes, papers and other electoral logistics were not provided by OGISIEC.

The PDP spokesperson said ballot boxes and papers were hijacked by miscreants in some local government areas, particularly in Abeokuta.

He further alleged that there were sporadic shooting in some local councils, and that some PDP members who resisted the hoodlums sustained injuries from gun shots and machete cuts in Ilara, Remo North Local Government Area.

Mr. Jenyo said some of his injured party members were being treated at Backcock University Teaching Hospital in Remo council area of the state.

As a result (of the violence), many voters were scared and terrorized to leave their polling units, he said.

Definitely, with the aforementioned facts, it is obvious that the election exercise must be cancelled outrightly, if democratic values are anything to go by in Nigeria. And we therefore call for its cancellation.

However, the Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, said the election was free and fair, and therefore acceptable to the council.

The council, which comprises all political parties in the state, stated this at a press conference in Abeokuta. The press conference was boycotted by the PDP, Unity Party of Nigeria and Labour Party.

The Chairman of IPAC, Moshood Adesina, told journalists at the conference that those calling for cancellation of the elections were disgruntled elements within the council.

Mr. Adesina said the process leading to the elections was transparent and inclusive, as the electoral body provided a level playing ground devoid of irregularities.

We have resolved that the outcome of the elections, as announced by OGSIEC, is a true and fair representation of the performance of the different political parties that participated in the process. In all we express our satisfaction with the conduct of the elections and outcome, the council declared.
Sequel to the response given by the Lagos State Deputy Governor to a question on hijab in which she gave the official government position, some concerned Muslims raised eye brows immediately. Although we made an attempt to douse tension by issuing a press statement immediately the issue broke in the public domain, we are still constrained to update our press release on this burning issue.

We fully understand and respect the feelings of fellow Muslims who expressed concern. Most people expressed genuine fear without an iota of malice. We appreciate them. But the facts must be put on the table and critically analysed in order to avoid hurting the innocent and labelling a committed Mother-of-Islam unjustly.

She was confronted with a delicate question during a television interview. The question had to do with Islam, her own personal faith and hijab to be precise. Incidentally the state government already has an official position on the issue and she happens to be the sitting deputy governor. Ceteris paribus, she is expected to give the official position of the state government. Anything to the contrary would have been tantamount to desecration of the office she holds, a betrayal of her sacred oath of office and an attempt to undermine the state government.

Muslims in Lagos State and all over the country must consider the fact that the question was put to her as the Deputy Governor, not as a Muslim. The fact that she gave the official position of the state government does not mean that she has jettisoned her faith or abandoned her fellow Muslims. She does not need to betray her personal emotions in official matters.

It was a difficult moment. Whereas a judge can afford to step down in a case in which he has personal interest, like when his junior brother is arraigned before him, a politician cannot resign because he is a stakeholder in an issue in which the press seeks to know the governments official position. Parrying the question could have been worse as it is likely to imply that she had something to hide.

We must separate government officials from their religion in order to get the best out of them. Idiat Adebule is well respected in academic and political circles. But she is not the Deputy Governor of Lagos Muslims. She is the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, of the good and progressive people of Lagos State, of the indigenes and non-indigenes and of the Christians, the Muslims and the Traditionalists.

She is therefore expected to speak for all and attend to all regardless of tribe or faith. She should not be guillotined for giving the official position of the state government. She would have been deemed to have failed in her duty if she had done otherwise.

In view of the foregoing, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) hereby reposes full confidence in the Lagos State Deputy Governor. We are proud of her as a practicing Muslim, a non-extremist and a public servant of high integrity. We appeal to the Deputy Governor to treat the events of the last few days with equanimity. It is part of the challenges and sacrifices of leadership. We plead with her to bear the comments with fortitude and to continue to serve the state with her well known passion, accommodation and humility.

We invite Muslims in Lagos State and indeed in the whole country to join us in working for peace and progress in Lagos State. We appeal to Muslims who expressed the fear ab initio that the Deputy Governor had abandoned her fellow Muslims to ponder over the above analysis for a better assessment of the situation. We are all working towards the emancipation of the oppressed Muslims of Nigeria. We assure you that there will be no retreat, no surrender until our goals of equal rights and justice are attained.

We remain oppressed until the right of the Muslim girl to use hijab is fully recognized everywhere in Nigeria. Hijab is the symbol of our right to self-determination and we will employ every legitimate means to ensure it becomes fait accompli.


Pobierz zdjecie Przeczytaj o zasadach pobierania zdjec President Andrzej Duda and his wife Agata Kornhauser-Duda (photo by Grzegorz Jakubowski / KPRP) (1)

President Andrzej Duda and his wife Agata Kornhauser-Duda have voiced their support for the organisation of the 2023 World Scout Jamboree in Poland's northern city of Gdansk.

"It's our wish that scouts from all over the world come to the Jamboree in Gdansk," the presidential couple said in a film published on the President's Office website on Saturday.

Gdansk is one of the two cities willing to host a meeting of scouts from all over the world. The other one is Saemangeum in South Korea. The final decision will be taken in August 2017.

There are two recordings published on the presidential website: one in Polish delivered by the presidential couple and the second one in English, delivered by the president.

President Duda stressed that the organisation of Jamboree "is a great privilege and honour for the selected country".

"We would very much like this distinction being awarded to Poland in 2023. The idea of scouting has been known and developed in our country for as long as over 100 years," president Duda said, stressing that Poland's candidacy enjoyed full support of the authorities of the Republic of Poland.

"It's our wish that scouts from all over the world come to the Jamboree in Gdansk, the birthplace of Solidarity, which brought freedom to the Polish people and expressed in a unique way the spirit of community, so important also for scouting," the president said.

President Duda stressed that Poland was beautiful, open, safe and perfectly prepared to organise big events.

The World Scout Jamboree is the largest regular event organised by the Scout Movement, gathering up to 40,000 people from all over the world. It takes place every four years in a different country. The first World Scout Jamboree was held in England in 1920. Japan hosted the World Scout Jamboree in 2015, and the next one will be held in the U.S. in 2019. (PAP)
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Udaipur.The communist Party of India (ML) took out a rally in Sarada Panchayat Samiti on 5th of October demonstrating against the scam in distribution of ration to the villagers by the ration dealers who did not provide ration to the villagers and misappropriated it through black marketing. The member of state committee of CPI(ML) comrade Shanker Lal Chaudhary alleged that there is a nexus between the local BJP leaders, administration and the ration dealers. Dr. Chandra Deo Ola, district secretary of the party alleged that the villagers in some twenty Panchayats of Sarada Panchayat Samiti have not been distributed ration and claimed that he has a record of some two hundred ration cards which show no entry since June last. They demanded stringent action against the ration dealers as well as public officers who were responsible to ensure timely distribution of ration.More than a hundred villagers marched through the streets of Sarada bearing red party flags and banners demanding jail for the culprits of the scam. They raised the slogans " Ration ke dalalon ko Jail Bhejo", Inquilab Zindabad, "Tehsildar Hosh mein Aao", CPI(ML) Zindabad" Mazdoor -Kisaan Ekta Zindabad" etc. The rally reached Tehsildar office where a meeting and demonstration was held. Comrade Saurabh Naruka conducted the meeting. Comrade Shankar Lal Chaudhary read out the two memoranda while the district secretary of the party Dr. C.D. Ola addressed the meeting. He alleged that the BJP led state and central governments were insensitive to the problems of the masses and were serving the interest of the capitalists only. Himmat Seth, Chief Editor of Mahaveer Samata Sandesh demanded a complete ban on liquor in Rajasthan saying that it causes severe problems in the lives of the rural poor. Prof. Hemendra Chandalia also addressed the rally. He said that the union and state governments are making anti people policies and are indifferent to the sufferings of the people. He demanded immediate release of the ration to the villagers of Sarada tehsil.Among those who addressed the rally were comrade Gautam, Comrade Vishnu, Comrade Vikas Chaudhary, comrade Kamla Bai, comrade Sen and many more people. Later a set of two memoranda was given to the Tehsildar by a delegation of ten representatives in the leadership of Comrade Shankar Lal Chaudhary , member state committee and Comrade Chandra Deo Ola , secretary district committee. The delegation demanded action on the demands of the people within a months time.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP The names of more than 200 deceased Holocaust survivors were read aloud in the pouring rain and blustery wind Sunday morning as their sons, daughters, nieces and nephews gathered for the annual Mitzvah Zecher Avot, or the good deed of remembering family, at Rodef Sholom Cemetery.

The service, which included clergy from throughout the area, was hosted by the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton University.

Despite the stormy weather, about 50 people stood at an archway that read Holocaust Survivors to pay their respects and remember those who survived the Nazi-led mass genocide of millions of Jews.

Mona Trocki-Ozlek, of Margate, said she grew up in Laureldale with her parents, survivors Jack and Mira Trocki, in a close-knit community.

She said she often spent time with her aunt, Selda Karas, and fondly recalled her aunt Riva Narkunskis apple cake.

I am a child of Holocaust survivors, so a memorial to my family and the community is so important to me, Trocki-Ozlek said. Many of the community were survivors like my parents. I was growing up with this environment. I would like to continue having remembrance.

To that end, she said she recently decided to start a Yiddish club. Those interested in joining may call the Holocaust Center at Stockton at 609-652-4699.

Trocki-Ozlek said the memorial service was important to continue the memory of those who were able to pick up their lives and start anew.

Theres a bond with second generation because all of us grew up knowing there were so many stories that we did not hear because they didnt want to upset us. More and more have left their legacies through (director Steven) Spielbergs video. And were so lucky to have Stockton and have a collection of memoirs on tape because we dont want to lose what our families meant to us and what they went through.

As the names were read aloud Sunday morning, the readers shared anecdotes.

Cyla was an inspiration to everyone. She was always interested in the other person, one man said.

Another person recalled Blanche Horowitz, who died much too young.

Meir Judelewitz always had a caramel candy in his pocket, said another.

And Meta Larsen had the most indomitable spirit. The most positive person Ive ever met.

Gail Rosenthal, director of the Stockton Holocaust Center, said the service takes place every year on the Sunday before Yom Kippur.

Today, were one community, she said.

Rabbi Aaron Krauss thanked God for keeping Hurricane Matthew away from South Jersey.

The rain is a test, and you all passed, Krauss said.

Rosenthal said that the rain could not cancel such an important event.

The fact is that there are fewer and fewer Holocaust survivors that are with us. Several people said to me, Do you remember last year, this person was here and that person was here. Theyre no longer with us. Theyre children are here and were remembering their names, Rosenthal said.

She said, Ldor vador, which means from generation to generation.

And hopefully this ceremony will continue for years to come, Rosenthal said.
When Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort opened 26 years ago, it was like nothing the city had ever seen.

From over-the-top chandeliers to its lavish 4,500-square-foot penthouse suites to its Indian theme, everything about the property was different from the other casinos that lined the Boardwalk at the time.

The building is so good, its so grand, its so popular, its so beautiful, said Donald J. Trump, now the Republican nominee for president, days before the opening of the $1 billion property in April 1990. People are going to flock toward it.(tncms-asset)4ef55b98-8c08-11e6-9d04-00163ec2aa77(/tncms-asset)

Now, more than two decades later, the property once called the Eighth Wonder of the World by Trump closed for good early Monday morning, two months after management accused striking Unite Here Local 54 members of preventing a path to profitability.

The closing will leave more than 2,800 employees looking for work.

Its sad, said Wilma Hopper, of Wayne, as she walked out of the casino Thursday afternoon for the final time. The life is gone from the property. This was such a great property. I remember coming here when it first opened and there was nothing else like it.

During the last week, the sound of slot machine winner payouts has been replaced with an eerie silence that has taken over the 14-acre site. Some casino-goers have taken pictures to remember the last moments of the dying property. For the last couple of weeks, employees have been busy closing down the property, including roping off slot machines with police tape.

It was so glamorous when it opened, said Ingrid Lutzen, of Atlantic City. The day it opened was a huge party. I remember meeting Donald and Ivana several times when they were down here. I still think that its the most glamorous place here.

Everything about it was an ode to an era of excess, said Robert Ambrose, an instructor at the Center for Hospitality and Sport Management at Drexel University.

The legacy of the Taj is a monument built on the ideology of the day, reflecting the excess of the 80s and 90s, Ambrose said. In some respects it is a model to a lack of vision among some of the corporate power brokers and government entities that influenced decisions during that period.

Since the concept of the Taj Mahal was first discussed in the 1980s, it has been fraught with financial issues. After Trump took over the project in the 1980s, the construction cost for the project ballooned to more than $930 million.

While it cost more than $1 billion to build, Trump had approximately $750 million in debt on the property and had to generate at least $1 million per day to pay the $100 million in interest to break even. Despite the debt on the property, Trump was still bullish about the casino.

I think that it will be very successful, Trump said during the opening. I thought it would be a tremendous boost for Atlantic City and I think it will be. Its just what Atlantic City needs.

But the weight of the interest payments on the debt was too much for the property, as it went bankrupt a year after opening. Trump lost control of the property in 2004 to bondholders following the casinos 2004 bankruptcy filing.

The Taj Mahal came to the brink of closing in 2014 as its parent company went through bankruptcy, but ultimately remained open under the new ownership of Icahn Enterprises, owned by billionaire Carl Icahn.

Trump, now the Republican presidential candidate, left Atlantic City, except for name on the Taj Mahal, years ago. Icahn formally took control of the Taj Mahal this year and installed the management team from the Tropicana Atlantic City, which he also owns, to run the Taj.
AVALON  The volunteer fire department has a problem: finding enough people to properly staff the firehouse overnight.

An aging population in the small resort, where the average home is assessed at nearly $1.3 million, means the fire chief has responded alone to middle-of-the night calls.

Young firefighters simply cannot afford to live there, opting for the less expensive mainland, he said.

So Avalon is considering what some other South Jersey shore towns do  offer stipends to volunteers.

We struggle with the same basic population problems that all of the shore towns do, Avalon fire Chief Ed Dean said. Getting volunteers from within the municipality has become a real challenge.

Philly resident shows love for Wildwood motels with photos Mark Havens love for the Wildwoods motels has been a consuming passion for the last 10 years.

Borough Council will vote Wednesday on implementing a program similar to what exists in Stone Harbor and Sea Isle City, in which firefighters who meet a certain number of shifts get monthly payments.

The amount has not been determined, but Dean proposed a maximum of $400 per month.

He said most of the time, the firefighters who live off-island  about two-thirds of the department  dont respond because by the time they would arrive, the call would be over.

Dean said that in the event of a true emergency, middle-of-the-night calls become a safety issue for the few firefighters who do respond.

Dean said nearly nine out of 10 calls triggered by smoke or carbon monoxide detectors are false alarms.

He said the fire department averages about a dozen actual fires per year. The firefighters also participate in water rescues year-round.

Frank Gunson, president of the New Jersey State Firemens Association, which provides death benefits and relief to needy firefighters, said firefighter retention issues are neither new nor unique to barrier islands.

Gunson said the economy has played a large role, requiring some volunteers to take on two jobs.

You need firefighters regardless of where, and I know many of the volunteer companies are struggling with the retention, he said.

Property values in Avalon have steadily increased almost every year.

Meanwhile, Avalon residents are getting older. Census data show the median age increased from 56 in 2000 to 62 in 2014.

Avalon is populated predominantly by second homeowners.

There were 1,852 year-round residents in Avalon in 2014 and 5,600 taxable properties, according to Census and county tax records.

This is a problem that is not going away, Dean said.

Because of its large housing stock and low percentage of year-round residents, the borough has seen an increase in fire calls.

Dean said the prevalence of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, combined with so few people around to check for false alarms in their homes, has increased the number calls dramatically.

Avalon received 254 fire calls in 2015. Dean expects more than 300 calls for 2016.

Stone Harbors and Sea Isles fire chiefs say their stipend program has greatly improved both response and morale in their departments.

The Sea Isle City Volunteer Fire Company began its stipend program last year.

It turned out to be better than I thought it would be, Chief Frank Edwardi Sr. said. The camaraderie is better than its ever been now.

At a maximum of $150 a month, Sea Isles volunteer firefighters earn $25 for answering calls and attending meetings throughout the month. They are paid quarterly.

Edwardi said Sea Isles problems are similar to those of other shore towns  aging population, dwindling year-round residency and increased property values.

When I first started here, we had at least 70 percent of the fire guys live here, said Edwardi, who has been a firefighter for 42 years.

Now, he said, fewer than one-third live in Sea Isle City.

Stone Harbor fire Chief Roger Stanford said the boroughs stipend program started 11 years ago for the same reason.

Now, the department is up to 47 volunteers from 20 in 2005. Stanford said an average of 20 volunteers responds to calls, day and night.

Stone Harbors stipend program is based on the percentage of calls a volunteer responds to on a monthly basis.

The important thing is this program only costs the town $60,000, so when you compare $60,000 to the cost of a paid fire department, you can see what the benefit is, he said.

Rain doesn't dampen Sea Isle City Italian Festival Saturday SEA ISLE CITY  Residents and visitors, proud of their Italian heritage, did not let a littl

Avalons stipend program will be in addition to its Length of Service Award Program, or LOSAP, which provides payment to volunteer emergency workers based on a point system.

We determined LOSAP cant really solve the problem, Avalon Business Administrator Scott Wahl said.

Dean has proposed a maximum of $400 a month for staffing four overnight shifts. Duties in the overnight hours will include training, equipment maintenance and housekeeping.

Dean said state labor laws require the stipend to be less than 20 percent of the salary of a career firefighter in the area.

Wahl said the borough realizes it may not be able to have the department staffed every night, but were going to try to staff as much as we can.

The stipend program is estimated to cost the borough about $150,000 per year.
The people of Atlantic County probably dont want to hear that the cure for their depressed economy will be long and difficult. But at least there is a cure, and as soon as the county starts moving forward, people will begin feeling relief.

Richard Perniciaro, the most experienced local economist, detailed whats wrong and what to pursue in a recent Press editorial board meeting. He based his analysis on federal data and work by the Center for Regional & Business Research he directs at Atlantic Cape Community College, where hes also a dean.

For starters, the shrinking casino industry has left the county with personal incomes a quarter lower than the state overall, single-family-housing stock for tens of thousands of low-paying service jobs that wont be coming back, and a lack of serious support for any industry but gambling.

Although casinos reduced personal income, they created so many jobs that the local economy performed adequately. Now most of those jobs are gone or going, leaving Atlantic County with the worst employment and income growth in New Jersey, which itself is lagging the nation.

The casino gambling monopoly was a magic bullet, a political fix in lieu of addressing decades of Atlantic City corruption and mismanagement. There is no magic bullet today, no single industry to come in and provide a foundation for the local economy.

Even aviation research development in conjunction with the William J. Hughes Technical Center will only contribute about 2,000 good-paying jobs if successful.

So what needs to be done? Perniciaro suggested several short-term goals  encouraging entrepreneurs and existing successes such as Teligent, Comar and Barrette Outdoor Living; leveraging the Atlantic City Gateway project; and restoring the countys nongaming tourism sector.

Cape May Countys tourism brings it other peoples money, enough that its per-person income is $8,000 more than in Atlantic County. Existing state money for Atlantic County tourism promotion is used to market gaming. Nongaming tourism needs promotional funding, either from the state or the county.

Long term, the county needs to restructure neighborhoods and towns to make them appealing to the population groups that could help drive area growth  millennials and retirees. Both groups prefer townhouses to single-family homes, Perniciaro said, and walkable communities.

Most importantly, a countywide approach is needed to create the business environment necessary for private-sector growth.

Perniciaros assessment is similar to that made a year ago by national redevelopment consultant AngelouEconomics. Its Atlantic County Economic Development and Strategy Plan set overarching goals of empowering regional economic development, driving industry diversification, improving economic development work and rethinking the countys appeal to tourists.

Redeveloping the county would deliver the better lives its residents want, and wed like to see more progress on that plan. As AngelouEconomics noted, investments by major corporations already have been missed because they werent welcomed.

And with Atlantic City government failing and a state takeover imminent, this is a good time to remember the warning of AngelouEconomics not to fall into a crippling, lazy dependence on the shrinking casino industry.

A better future awaits, if the people and leaders of Atlantic County will work toward it.
SEA ISLE CITY  Residents and visitors, proud of their Italian heritage, did not let a little rain stop them Saturday at the Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival.

Rain delayed the 2 p.m. parade and caused some participants to ride in cars instead of walk. Parade founder Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio walked the route to show that overcast skies would not dampen his sunny disposition.

Parades keep people together. They bring a community together. My family has been sponsoring both parades (including the Irish parade). This is our 26th year, Desiderio said.

The Ocean City High School Marching Band with its horns and drums braved the elements along with Desiderio. Rain did scare off the live bands, but a DJ spun tunes and held karaoke sessions inside Kix McNutleys at 63rd Street, which was where the parade ended.

There were fewer food trucks than usual, but Maries Seafood and Braca Cafe had trucks at Kix McNutleys to feed people after the parade.

Rodney Greco, 66, was named the Italian man of the year. His father is Sicilian, and his mother is from Naples, Italy.

Im honored to be selected, said Greco, who is retired.

A former freeholder from Camden County, Greco is always involved with community events. He makes red wine in his garage and shares it with people.

Vincent James Farina, 4, was named the prince of the festival. He wore a sash with his title. His mother, Lisa Farina, 41, a lifelong resident, told him it is an honor.

He said he wanted to be the mayor, Farina said. He is a really good boy.

Lisa Farinas grandfather, who died in 1988, was from Genoa, Italy. She said she lived with him for a little while. Contact: 609-272-7202 VJackson@pressofac.com Twitter @ACPpressJackson
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.




- Results of first of two-part phase 1 study demonstrate that DS-8201a was well-tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicities

- Overall preliminary efficacy results report an objective response rate of 35 percent and a disease control rate of 90 percent in HER2 expressing breast and gastric cancer patients

- In a subgroup analysis, preliminary efficacy results report an objective response rate of 42 percent and a disease control rate of 92 percent in T-DM1 treated HER2+ breast cancer

- Daiichi Sankyo will be advancing DS-8201a to the second part of the phase 1 study examining the safety and efficacy of DS-8201a in four different HER2 expressing cohorts

TOKYO and PARSIPPANY, New Jersey and MUNICH, Oct. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (hereafter, Daiichi Sankyo) today announced safety and preliminary efficacy data from a phase 1 study of DS-8201a, a novel investigational HER2-targeting antibody drug conjugate, which suggest that it was well-tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicities. These results, from the dose escalation part of a two-part phase 1 study of DS-8201a, will be presented today during a late-breaking poster discussion session at the ESMO 2016 Congress, the annual meeting of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).

DS-8201a is an investigational antibody drug conjugate comprised of a humanized anti-HER2 antibody attached by a peptide linker to a novel topoisomerase I inhibitor (DXd) payload, utilizing Daiichi Sankyo's proprietary payload and linker-payload technology.

Preliminary overall efficacy results in 20 evaluable patients demonstrated an objective response rate of 35 percent (seven partial responses) and disease control rate of 90 percent, including 12 patients previously treated with ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) and five patients with HER2 low expression (IHC2+/FISH- or IHC1+). In 15 patients with HER2+ disease defined as IHC3+ or IHC2+/FISH+, the disease control rate was 100 percent. Seventeen patients are still on treatment, and five of the first 10 patients have been under active treatment (0.8 to 6.4 mg/kg) for more than 24 weeks. Median progression free survival has not been reached.

"Despite recent advances in treating HER2+ breast and gastric cancer, there still remains a large unmet need for patients with HER2+ disease whose tumors are no longer controlled by currently approved targeted HER2 treatments or for tumors that express low HER2," said Antoine Yver, MD, MSc, Executive Vice President and Global Head, Oncology Research and Development, Daiichi Sankyo. "These preliminary results are compelling and warrant further clinical evaluation of DS-8201a in several different patient populations expressing HER2."

"The components that make up DS-8201a are unique from any other antibody drug conjugate currently in clinical development and may explain the clinical activity observed at such an early phase of development," said Jose Baselga, MD, PhD, Physician-in-Chief and Chief Medical Officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. "While the results of this study provide important preliminary proof-of-concept for the novel mechanism of action of DS-8201a, additional research will be needed to further confirm these findings."

A total of 22 patients (16 breast cancer, 5 gastric cancer, 1 gastroesphageal junction adenocarcinoma) were treated in the dose escalation part of the study. The maximum tolerated dose was not reached (0.8-8.0 mg/kg given every three weeks) and there have been no dose-limiting toxicities at pharmacologically-active exposure and a favorable pharmacokinetic profile. Seven grade 3 adverse events were seen in three patients (1 hypokalemia, 1 anemia, 1 neutrophil count decreased, 2 lymphocyte count decrease, 1 ALP increase and 1 cholangitis). Most common adverse events were mild or moderate gastrointestinal and hematological events.

HER2+ Breast Cancer Subgroup Analyses

A total of 18 patients enrolled in the study received one or more prior anti-HER2 therapies (18 received trastuzumab, 13 ado-trastuzumab emtansine, 5 pertuzumab, 4 lapatinib). In 12 evaluable HER2+ breast cancer patients previously treated with ado-tratuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), the objective response rate was 42 percent with a disease control rate of 92 percent.

"It is impressive that DS-8201a showed activity in these patients since many were heavily pre-treated with more than one HER2-targeting agent including T-DM1, and some with very substantial tumor load or large tumors," said Kenji Tamura, MD, PhD, Chairman, Department of Breast and Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan and lead investigator of the study. "This finding will be further evaluated in the second part of this study where one cohort will include only advanced breast cancer patients previously treated with T-DM1."

About DS-8201a

Pre-clinical models have demonstrated that DS-8201a has a unique mechanism of action (MOA) where it selectively binds to the HER2 receptor on a tumor cell surface, triggering an antibody-dependent cell cytotoxic (ADCC) response.1 DS-8201a is then internalized via endocytosis (transportation into cells by an energy-using process) and the intracellular lysosomal enzymes break down the peptide to release the DXd payload, which then inhibits topoisomerase I activity, causing DNA damage and cell death.1

The linker-payload combination of DS-8201a allows for a higher drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) of about 8 compared to a DAR of about 3.5 seen with ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1).1 The higher DAR of DS-8201a may help target low expressing HER2 tumors by supplying more payload per antibody to a tumor.1

About the DS-8201a Phase 1 Study

DS-8201a, given as an intravenous infusion every three weeks, is currently being evaluated in an open-label two-part phase 1 study in patients with advanced/unresectable or metastatic breast cancer, gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, or other solid tumors that is/are refractory to or intolerable with standard treatment or for which no standard treatment is available.

The primary objective of part 1 of the study (dose escalation) is to assess the safety and tolerability of DS-8201a and determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Secondary objectives include evaluating the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and human anti-human antibody (HAHA) against DS-8201a.

The second part (dose expansion) of the ongoing phase 1 clinical trial is enrolling patients in Japan and the United States into one of four cohorts: patients with HER2+ breast cancer previously treated with T-DM1; patients with HER2+ gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma previously treated with trastuzumab; patients with HER2 low expressing breast cancer; and patients with other solid cancers that express HER2. For more information about the study visit ClinicalTrials.gov.

Unmet Need in HER2+ Metastatic Breast Cancer

HER2 (known as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) is a tyrosine kinase receptor growth-promoting protein found on the surface of some cancer cells.2 About one in five breast cancers overexpress the HER2/neu gene, which causes these cancers to grow more aggressively.2 To be considered HER2+, cancer cells are tested by one of two methods: immunohistochemistry (IHC) or fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH).2 IHC test results are reported as: 0, IHC1+, IHC2+ or IHC3+. A finding of IHC3+ is considered HER2+.2 A finding of IHC2+ is borderline and typically is confirmed by a positive FISH test.2

Several unmet needs remain today in HER2+ metastatic breast cancer. Many tumors advance to the point where no currently approved HER2-targeted treatment continues to control the disease.3 Additionally, there are no existing options indicated for HER2 low expressing tumors (IHC2+/FISH- or IHC1+) as well as HER2 heterogeneously expressing tumors (tumors with some tumor cells having high HER2 expression and some having low HER2 expression), which generally have poor prognosis.1,4

About Daiichi Sankyo Cancer Enterprise

The vision of Daiichi Sankyo Cancer Enterprise is to push beyond traditional thinking to align world-class science to create innovative treatments for patients with cancer. The oncology pipeline of Daiichi Sankyo continues to grow and currently includes more than 20 small molecules and monoclonal antibodies with novel targets in both solid and hematological cancers. Compounds in phase 3 development include: quizartinib, an oral FLT3-ITD inhibitor, for newly-diagnosed and relapsed/refractory FLT3-ITD+ acute myeloid leukemia (AML); pexidartinib, an oral CSF-1R inhibitor, for tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT), also known as pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) and giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath (GCT-TS), which also is being investigated in combination with anti-PD1 immunotherapy, pembrolizumab, in a range of solid tumors; and tivantinib, an oral MET inhibitor, for second-line treatment in patients with MET-high hepatocellular carcinoma in partnership with ArQule, Inc.

About Daiichi Sankyo

Daiichi Sankyo Group is dedicated to the creation and supply of innovative pharmaceutical products to address diversified, unmet medical needs of patients in both mature and emerging markets. With over 100 years of scientific expertise and a presence in more than 20 countries, Daiichi Sankyo and its 16,000 employees around the world draw upon a rich legacy of innovation and a robust pipeline of promising new medicines to help people. In addition to a strong portfolio of medicines for hypertension and thrombotic disorders, under the Group's 2025 Vision to become a "Global Pharma Innovator with Competitive Advantage in Oncology," Daiichi Sankyo research and development is primarily focused on bringing forth novel therapies in oncology, including immuno-oncology, with additional focus on new horizon areas, such as pain management, neurodegenerative diseases, heart and kidney diseases, and other rare diseases. For more information, please visit: www.daiichisankyo.com. Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, is a member of the Daiichi Sankyo Group. For more information on Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., please visit: www.dsi.com.

Contact

Jennifer Brennan

Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.

jbrennan2@dsi.com

+1 973 944 2393 (office)

+1 201 709 9309 (mobile)

References:

1. Ogitani Y, et al. Clin Cancer Res. March 29, 2016.

2. American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer Overview. 2016

3. De Melo Gagliato D, et al. Oncotarget. 2016.

4. Seol H, et al. Modern Pathology. 2012:25:938-948.

2016-10-06T085321

DSC 16 0019 October 2016

SOURCE Daiichi Sankyo
Results highlight need for tools to help identify patients who may benefit from chemotherapy

GENEVA, Oct. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Results from a large-scale observational study1, presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) annual meeting, October 7  11 in Copenhagen, Denmark, showed outcome disparities in breast cancer-specific mortality between patients 70 years and greater and those under 70 with a higher breast cancer mortality for the older patients.

Following up on the work of the multinational TEAM study2, which reported worse outcomes for older patients with hormone-receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer, this study examined Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score results in patients 70 years and greater versus those under 70. It then evaluated breast cancer-specific mortality in both groups.

In the study, Recurrence Score results were provided to the National Cancer Institute's SEER registry, the premier source of cancer statistics in the United States, and linked to breast cancer cases. More than 207,320 eligible patients were identified among those with node-negative, HR+ breast cancer diagnosed between 2004 and 2011. The results showed that mortality was indeed higher in patients over 70 who were either not tested with Oncotype DX, or had a Recurrence Score result greater than 18. Patients aged 70 or older also had much lower reported chemotherapy use, supporting continued examination of the often reported issue of under-treatment of the elderly.

"In our modern world, researchers are continually working to refine and streamline breast cancer treatment, including the use of tools such as genomic testing that aims at improving the assessment of prognosis and the prediction of treatment benefit. It is concerning that cancer diagnoses in older patients are rising as the population ages and life expectancy increases, and yet, their treatments and outcomes are unequal when compared to younger patients," said Prof. Etienne Brain, President of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology. "This landmark study provides insightful data which stress the importance of addressing and improving the care for older patients, including the use of tools that lead to a more personalized treatment strategy for this vulnerable patient group."

Last year, the European Registration of Cancer Care (EURECCA) study3, a large-scale international comparison of the treatment of elderly patients with non-metastatic breast cancer, showed that there are substantial differences in the use of surgery, hormone therapy and chemotherapy between European countries. According to the study authors, this is due to a lack of evidence for the treatment of older patients with breast cancer.

"The results presented at ESMO reveal disparities in Oncotype DX testing use and patient outcomes, showing poor breast cancer specific survival in untested patients and in those with intermediate and high Breast Recurrence Score results, contrary to the general perception that older women tend to have only low-risk disease," said Steven Shak, M.D., chief scientific officer, Genomic Health. "These new data reinforce the specific value of examining tumor biology with Oncotype DX in older women and add to unprecedented evidence that the Recurrence Score provides critical information to improve treatment approaches and outcomes in breast cancer patients."

Additional data solidify utility of Oncotype DX in node-positive breast cancer patients

Two posters were also presented at ESMO providing further evidence in more than 7,300 patients that Oncotype DX accurately predicts outcomes and has important clinical utility in node-positive disease.

In the first study4 from Clalit Health Services (Israel), medical records of more than 700 patients with micro metastases and node-positive disease who were tested between January 2008 and December 2011 were examined to verify given treatment and subsequent outcomes. The results showed that use of chemotherapy was aligned with Recurrence Score results, and that patients with Recurrence Score results of less than 18, the vast majority (92.9%) of whom were treated with hormonal therapy alone, had very good outcomes with low rates of distant recurrence after a median follow-up of 5.9 years.

Another analysis of the SEER registry5 looked at breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) in more than 6,700 patients with node-positive disease. The results showed that five-year BCSS was excellent in patients with Recurrence Score results less than 18 and micrometastases, one, or two positive nodes. Survival worsened with increasing number of lymph nodes involved and higher Recurrence Score results.

About Oncotype DX

Oncotype DX is the only genomic test validated for its ability to predict the likelihood of chemotherapy benefit as well as risk of recurrence in early-stage breast cancer.

Healthcare systems across Europe are recognizing the value of the test, which is incorporated in all major international clinical guidelines. Following assessment and recommendation by NICE in 2013, the Oncotype DX test is now widely available to patients across the UK. Other European countries that reimburse the test include Switzerland, Ireland, Greece and Spain. In France, Oncotype DX is available through a funding mechanism for genomic tests. To learn more about the Oncotype DX test, visit: www.OncotypeDX.com

About Genomic Health

Genomic Health, Inc. is a world's leading provider of genomic-based diagnostic tests that address both the overtreatment and optimal treatment of cancer. With its Oncotype IQ Genomic Intelligence Platform, the company is applying its state-of-the-art scientific and commercial expertise and infrastructure to translate significant amounts of genomic data into clinically-actionable results for treatment planning throughout the cancer patient's journey, from diagnosis to treatment selection and monitoring. The Oncotype IQ portfolio of genomic tests and services currently consists of the company's flagship line of Oncotype DX gene expression tests that have been used to guide treatment decisions for more than 600,000 cancer patients worldwide. Genomic Health is expanding its test portfolio to include additional liquid- and tissue-based tests. The company is based in Redwood City, California with international headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information, please visit, www.GenomicHealth.com and follow the company on Twitter: @GenomicHealth, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the ability of any potential tests Genomic Health, Inc. may develop to optimize cancer treatment and the ability of the company to develop and commercialize additional tests in the future. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risks and uncertainties associated with the regulation of the company's tests; the results of clinical studies and their impact on reimbursement and adoption; the applicability of clinical study results to actual outcomes; the company's ability to develop and commercialize new tests and expand into new markets domestically and internationally; the risk that the company may not obtain or maintain sufficient levels of reimbursement, domestically or abroad, for its existing tests and any future tests it may develop; the risks of competition; unanticipated costs or delays in research and development efforts; the company's ability to obtain capital when needed and the other risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in the company's yearly report on Form 10-K for the quarter ended June 30, 2016. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Genomic Health disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

NOTE: The Genomic Health logo, Oncotype, Oncotype DX, Oncotype IQ and Recurrence Score are trademarks or registered trademarks of Genomic Health, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.





1 Shak S. et al., abstract #146 O, presented at ESMO 2016 2 Van de Water W. et al. JAMA 2012 3 Derks M. et al., abstract #1808 presented at ECC 2015 4 Stemmer S. et al., abstract #147 PD, presented at ESMO 2016 5 Miller D.P. et al., abstract #150 PD, presented at ESMO 2016

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130425/SF01493LOGO

Related Links

http://www.genomichealth.com



SOURCE Genomic Health, Inc.
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, October 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

SEDCO Capital, a leading Saudi licenced asset manager announced the acquisition of seven quality real estate assets over the past 19 months on behalf of SEDCO Capital Real Estate Income Fund II ("SCREIF II"), bolstering the firm's realty portfolio in Saudi Arabia.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402150LOGO )



SEDCO Capital Real Estate Income Fund II is a Shariah-compliant, close-ended investment fund established in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under Article 4-B-4 of the Investment Funds Regulations and managed by SEDCO Capital as Fund Manager. The fund's objective is to invests in high quality income generating real estate assets in the main cities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The main purpose of investment of the Fund is to provide investors with a cash income with the possibility of a capital increase by investing in real estate assets in Saudi Arabia.

In-line with SEDCO Capital's commitment and strong belief in the strength of the Real Estate market in Saudi Arabia, SEDCO Capital on behalf of SEDCO Capital's Real Estate Income Fund II, acquired seven properties since its inception in November 2014, which included an anchored standalone Hyper Panda retail in Dammam as well as the adjacent land used for parking, Olya School in Riyadh, Dar Al Baraa School in Riyadh, an anchored standalone Extra Store in Dammam, Alhamra Plaza retail strip outlet in Riyadh and Irgah Plaza retail strip outlet in Riyadh.

The acquisitions collectively total SAR 473 million in purchase price for approximately 88,000 square meter of built up area across Riyadh and Dammam. This portfolio of assets benefits from a weighted average lease expiry of 16 years to credible and investment grade tenants.

Commenting on the acquisition, Hasan Al-Jabri, Chief Executive Officer of SEDCO Capital said, "Over the past five years, the SEDCO Capital Core/Core Plus Real Estate Strategy has demonstrated an impressive track record of adding value for its clients. Responding to increased demand from investors for commercial real estate investment opportunities, SEDCO Capital launched SCREIF II on 13th November 2014 and has steadily added to its holdings, accumulating a well-diversified portfolio. The success of the past five years has also led to the notable growth of the SEDCO Capital team, which now boasts four highly experienced members in real estate investment and asset management. "As our total assets under management reach the $5.2 billion mark," Hasan Al Jabri, CEO of SEDCO Capital, believes, "it is a testament to the confidence our clients have placed in our team and our approach."

SEDCO Capital's real-estate portfolio in Saudi Arabia has grown to include 15 assets under SEDCO Capital's two Real Estate Income Funds (SCREIF I and II) with a portfolio value exceeding SAR 1.1 billion.

Sherif Selim, Head of MENA Real Estate at SEDCO Capital said: SEDCO Capital has acquired two different types of properties being retail and education for SCREIF II that met our criteria of being stable, defensive, well located and income-producing. We have a healthy pipeline of assets that are either defensive by nature or structured defensively and we look forward to the deals we will close in the last three months of the year."

He also added "We have identified the Saudi real estate market in particular, as an attractive asset class for investors and our dedicated team offers funds, separate accounts and syndicated transactions across the full spectrum of real estate strategies. The team is also continuously looking for opportunities to deliver to investors attractive risk adjusted returns."

Notes to Editors:

About SEDCO Capital SEDCO Capital is a leading asset manager offering investment solutions in a wide scope of geographies and diverse range of asset classes. Having established a strong track record of advisory services and investment management, SEDCO Capital currently manages assets in a diversified spectrum of investments in real estate, equities and other businesses with a total AUM of about 5.2 Billion Dollars. SEDCO Capital employs highly-efficient investment professionals throughout the world. The company follows the highest standards of corporate governance rules and practices including the use of advanced information technology systems. SEDCO Capital is also the first Saudi asset manager and the first fully sharia compliant asset manager to be a signatory of the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investing (UNPRI). Through its successful track record, SEDCO is committed to offering innovative Islamic-compliant investment products and today has the largest sharia compliant investment fund platform in Luxembourg through its SEDCO Capital Global Funds platform.

Find out more at http://www.sedcocapital.com

Reham Asad - reham.asad@ogilvy.com - +966-2-651-0704

SOURCE SEDCO Capital
CHICAGO, Oct. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC congratulates Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich on being named Cardinal by Pope Francis. The Pope will formally elevate Cupich at a Vatican ceremony on November 19.

"We are delighted Pope Francis has recognized Archbishop Cupich's invaluable contributions and leadership. He is a dear partner of AJC and Chicago's Jewish community," said David Inlander, National Chair of AJC's Interreligious Affairs Commission.

Inlander, who represented the Jewish community at Archbishop Cupich's interfaith installation service, meets regularly with the Archbishop. "Cupich, following on the traditions of his predecessors, has worked energetically to strengthen Catholic-Jewish relations, reinforcing in the diocese the teachings of Nostra Aetate, and assertively combatting anti-Semitism," he said.

"We sometimes get naive and think that the effort of education, and speaking against anti-Semitism, is kind of a done deal, and it isn't," Cupich said at the annual Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Jerusalem Lecture, co-sponsored by AJC Chicago. "As we look at the landscape of the world today, we see that there are large numbers of people who have not embraced the changes in Church doctrine and continue to embrace the old narrative [vis a vis Jews]."

Cupich was appointed Archbishop of Chicago in 2014, after serving as bishop in Spokane, Washington, and previously in Rapid City, South Dakota. He will continue to serve as Chicago Archbishop after his elevation to Cardinal.

"We look forward to continuing our productive, cooperative, partnership with the Chicago Diocese and Archbishop Cupich in advancing Catholic-Jewish understanding," said Inlander.

AJC, the global Jewish advocacy organization, has long been a pioneer in Catholic-Jewish relations in the United States and globally. AJC Chicago leaders joined the AJC Board of Governors delegation meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2014.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

Related Links

http://www.ajc.org


"It is critical that we support families during this time," Kevin Novotny, Save the Children's Country Director in Haiti said. "Children are at risk of gender based violence and placement into orphanages or long term domestic servitude if their parents are unable to provide them with food and meet other basic needs. We cannot allow this to happen."

Save the Children's emergency response team is working with staff and partners to assess damage done to schools we support as well as provide food to some shelters and identify needs for non-food items. We have also deployed our emergency health unit, which will help with cholera prevention and basic health services.

"We are in a race against time to avert a mass cholera outbreak," Dr. Unni Krishnan, Director of the Emergency Health Unit said. "Recent emergencies such as Ebola and the cholera outbreak in Haiti in 2010 have highlighted the urgent need for clearer, more streamlined health responses. Our emergency health unit meets that need. It responded to yellow fever in DRC and will make an important contribution in Haiti."

Additionally, up to 130,000 vulnerable children nationwide are estimated to be out of school. Early estimates are that 50 percent of the 131 schools we support in Sud, Grand' Anse and Port au Prince have been damaged.

"It is imperative that children return to school as soon as possible," Novotny added. "Being in school gives children a sense of normalcy and a feeling of security that is missing during disasters. Where children cannot immediately return to school, we will be setting up child friendly spaces, so children have a place to be safe and engage in educational play while their parents start the recovery process."

Save the Children has worked in Haiti since 1978. To support our work in response to Hurricane Matthew, please visit: savethechildren.org/Matthew.

Save the Children gives children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We invest in childhood  every day, in times of crisis and for our future. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Kevin Novotny, Save the Children's country director in Haiti (+509 3701 4223), Dr Unni Krishnan, director of the Emergency Health Unit (+61 428 541 822), and Carolyn Miles, President & CEO of Save the Children are available for comment. Please contact Erin Taylor ([email protected]) to arrange an interview.

Media contact: Erin Taylor ([email protected]), 267-250-8829

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ANNAPOLIS, Md., Oct. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) and its member companies are sponsoring International Plasma Awareness Week, October 9-15 designed to:

Raise global awareness about source plasma collection

Recognize the contributions of plasma donors in saving and improving lives

Increase understanding about lifesaving plasma protein therapies and rare diseases

Patient organizations representing users of plasma protein therapies have pledged their support and are working to promote the event via websites, newsletters, social media, and outreach. These include: the Alpha-1 Foundation, GBS/CIDP Foundation International, the Hemophilia Federation of America, the Immune Deficiency Foundation, the Jeffrey Modell Foundation, the Platelet Disorder Support Association, Primary Immunodeficiency UK, and the US Hereditary Angioedema Association.

Plasma protein therapies, which include plasma-derived therapies and recombinant analogs, are used to treat chronic, life-threatening diseases including bleeding disorders, primary immune deficiencies, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and certain rare neurological disorders. In addition, these therapies are used in emergency and surgical medicine.

"We are delighted to have the support of so many patient organizations. Their participation is key in helping us achieve our goal 'to increase understanding about lifesaving plasma protein therapies and rare diseases.' By sharing their personal experiences, patients are able to convey the impact of living with a rare disease in a meaningful way. Their stories inspire us all every day," said Joshua Penrod, PPTA, Vice President, Source & International Affairs.

Plasma, a biological material derived from humans, is used to create lifesaving therapies. There are more than 500 plasma collection facilities in Canada, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, and the U.S. In addition to meeting regulatory requirements, the majority of these centers have achieved International Quality Plasma Program (IQPP) certification. PPTA's voluntary standards program provides global leadership for the industry's goal of continuous improvement with a focus on safety and quality from the donor to the patient.

About PPTA

The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA), a global industry trade association, represents the private sector manufacturers of plasma-derived and recombinant analog therapies, collectively known as plasma protein therapies and the collectors of source plasma used for fractionation. These therapies are used by millions of people worldwide to treat a variety of diseases and serious medical conditions. PPTA also administers standards and programs that help ensure the quality and safety of plasma protein therapies, donors and patients.

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SOURCE Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA)

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RIDGEFIELD, Conn., Oct. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Boehringer Ingelheim today announced the LUME-Colon 1 trial, investigating nintedanib plus best supportive care (BSC) versus BSC alone, met one of the co-primary endpoints of progression-free survival (PFS) in pre-treated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), who no longer responded to or tolerated other available treatments. While nintedanib showed clear anti-tumor activity and significantly reduced the risk of disease progression by 42% versus BSC, this did not translate into an overall survival (OS) benefit, the second co-primary endpoint. The data showed that the types of adverse events were consistent with those observed in previous nintedanib oncology trials, with no new or unexpected safety signals.

Lead investigator Professor Eric Van Cutsem, M.D., PhD, Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Leuven in Belgium, commented, "The data confirmed nintedanib is an active compound and had a significant effect in stabilizing disease for patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, this benefit did not lead to an increase in overall survival and we are currently analyzing the data to better understand this outcome."

LUME-Colon 1 results will be presented today at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2016 Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark, October 711 (abstract #LBA20_PR - Proffered Paper, Gastrointestinal tumors, colorectal 1, Sunday, October 9, 14:4516:15 CEST (8:4510:15 ET)).

Mehdi Shahidi, M.D., Vice President and Global Head of Medicine, Oncology, Boehringer Ingelheim said, "The ultimate goal of our oncology programs is to develop treatments that will change clinical practice to benefit the lives of patients and their families. While the outcome of the LUME-Colon 1 trial is not what we had hoped for, we continue to learn and evolve our research strategy with every study result from our development program."

Nintedanib continues to be studied in other cancers, such as malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Data from the Phase II LUME-Meso [NCT01907100] trial investigating nintedanib for patients with MPM will be presented at the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in December. The Phase III part of this global study is currently recruiting patients.

About LUME-Colon 1

LUME-Colon 1 [NCT02149108] is a Phase III double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nintedanib plus best supportive care (BSC), versus placebo plus BSC in pre-treated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) refractory to other available treatments. LUME-Colon 1 enrolled 768 patients with mCRC and was conducted at 150 sites worldwide, with locations in the U.S., Europe and Asia, amongst others. Patients received either oral nintedanib 200mg twice daily plus BSC, or matching placebo plus BSC. BSC is defined as the best palliative care per investigator decision. A statistically significant improvement in PFS was observed (HR=0.58, p<0.0001, median PFS: nintedanib 1.51 vs placebo 1.38 months) but no difference in OS (HR=1.01, p=0.8659, median OS: nintedanib 6.44 vs placebo 6.05 months). The most frequent Grade 3 adverse events were liver related elevations (16% vs 8%) and fatigue (9% vs 6%).

About Boehringer Ingelheim in Oncology

Boehringer Ingelheim's oncology research is driven by a passion to advance clinical practice and a determination to improve the lives of patients who are battling cancer. Through our own scientific innovation and partnerships, we are focused on discovering and providing novel best-in-class, breakthrough cancer medications that fit the needs of patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. We have a clear strategy to become a leader in the field of lung cancer. Boehringer Ingelheim has successfully launched two products globally for NSCLC that have been widely adopted and established as valuable additions to current clinical practice. Continuous insights and learnings from research and development are key parts of innovation and our way forward to advance clinical practice in lung cancer and other cancer types.

About Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Ridgefield, CT, is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation.

Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, the company operates globally with 145 affiliates and more than 47,000 employees. Since its founding in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel treatments for human and veterinary medicine.

Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to improving lives and providing valuable services and support to patients and their families. Our employees create and engage in programs that strengthen our communities. To learn more about how we make more health for more people, visit our Corporate Social Responsibility Report.

In 2015, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about $15.8 billion (14.8 billion euros). R&D expenditure corresponds to 20.3 percent of its net sales.

For more information please visit http://www.us.boehringer-ingelheim.com/, or follow us on Twitter @BoehringerUS.

Further Media Channels

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"Matthew isn't done with us yet. In North Carolina, the storm is causing deadly flooding and we have safe shelters open where conditions permit," said Brad Kieserman, vice president, Disaster Operations and Logistics for the Red Cross. "Our first priority is keeping people safe. We anticipate flooding may continue for days in the Carolinas and we are working with the entire response community to make everyone safely gets the help they need."

HUNDREDS OF BLOOD, PLATELET DONATIONS GO UNCOLLECTED

As flooding from Hurricane Matthew inundates the Carolinas, the storm continues to impact the nation's blood supply. So far, Hurricane Matthew has forced the cancellation of approximately 40 Red Cross blood drives in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia resulting in more than 1,500 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. More cancellations are likely along the Southeast coast of the U.S. as floodwaters ravage many areas.

The need for platelets is especially critical due to the loss of these donations in affected areas. Platelets, a key clotting component of blood often needed by cancer patients, must be transfused within five days of donation and, therefore, are always in demand.

In parts of the country unaffected by the storm, the Red Cross needs eligible individuals to please give blood or platelets now to help ensure we have a readily available blood supply for patients in need. Even before the threat of Hurricane Matthew, there was an urgent need for donors of all blood types, especially type O. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

U.S. DISASTER RESPONSE

North Carolina is facing power outages and record-breaking flooding. Overnight there were 80 Red Cross and community evacuation shelters open with more than 4,000 people. In South Carolina, 61 evacuation shelters were open overnight with more than 4,500 people. In Florida, many people have returned home but overnight there were 72 shelters open with more than 340 people seeking refuge. Evacuation shelters are transitioning to disaster shelters for people who can't return home and kitchens are operating today to provide meals for those affected. In Georgia, 34 evacuation shelters were open with more than 4,500 people. As the storm moved north into Virginia, there were 25 people in a shelter overnight.

A total of more than 2,700 Red Cross disaster workers are supporting relief efforts. The Red Cross has also mobilized 133 response vehicles, 3 kitchens and 97 trailers filled with water, ready-to-eat meals, shelter and kitchen supplies, cleaning supplies and comfort kits, insect repellent, gloves, masks, shovels, rakes, coolers and more. The Red Cross is working in close collaboration with government officials and community partners to coordinate response efforts to ensure people receive the help they need as quickly as possible.

If someone needs to find a shelter, they can visit redcross.org, check the Red Cross Emergency App or call 1-800-768-8048. The free Red Cross Emergency App gives users emergency weather alerts, safety and shelter information on their mobile devices. Red Cross apps are available in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

MAKE A DONATION The Red Cross depends on donations to provide immediate relief. Help people affected by Hurricane Matthew by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word MATTHEW to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. Learn more about the Red Cross response to Hurricane Matthew here.

HAITI RESPONSE

The American Red Cross is working closely with the Haitian Red Cross to assess the extent of damage and get much-needed supplies to the 61,000 residents displaced by Hurricane Matthew.

Basic infrastructure such as communication systems, water systems and electricity are highly damaged and non-functional in some locations. Major needs include shelter, clean water and sanitation, and American Red Cross teams in Haiti pre-deployed to the affected areas are now distributing a first round of life-saving relief supplies, including hygiene (cooking) kits, and cholera-prevention kits.

Destruction in the affected area has complicated transit and communications. Given the extent of the damage and the continued difficultly in reaching several of the affected areas, the American Red Cross is playing a key coordination role with local authorities and international humanitarian organizations to ensure life-saving support and supplies reach all those in need as soon as possible.

Initial assessments indicate major needs are shelter, clean water, sanitation and disease prevention related to water-borne illnesses such as cholera, dengue and Zika. Additional relief supplies, such as water purification products, shelter kits, and mosquito nets are being procured locally and internationally.

Destroyed communication systems, coupled with poor road accessibility, are preventing people from reaching their family members in affected areas. Those searching for non-U.S. citizen family members can contact the American Red Cross Restoring Family Links unit at redcross.org/reconnectingfamilies. The best way to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling overseas is to contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or +1 202-501-4444.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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SOURCE American Red Cross

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New Delhi, Oct 7 : The Union government on Friday told the Supreme Court that 'triple talaq', 'nikaah halaal' and polygamy as practised by the Muslims in India were not "integral to the practices of Islam or essential religious practices."

"The fact that Muslim countries where Islam is the state religion have undergone extensive reforms goes to establish that the practise in question cannot be regarded as integral to the practices of Islam or essential religious practices," argued the government in an affidavit filed on Friday.

Referring to the changes in the personal law that have already taken place in Islamic countries, the government has cited the instances of changes in marriage laws in Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

"It is noteworthy that even theocratic states have undergone reforms in this area of the law and therefore in a secular republic like India, there is no reason to deny women the right available under the constitution," it said in its response to top court's September 5 order asking it spell out its position on the right of Muslim women in matrimonial matters relating to divorce and maintenance, including triple talaq.

An apex court bench of Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel had by their October 16, 2015 order, issued notice to Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi and the National Legal Service Authority as it directed the separate listing of a PIL addressing the question of the rights of Muslim women.

The government said that the question of triple talaq, where husbands can summarily divorce their wives by pronouncing the word 'talaq' thrice, 'nikaah halaal' under which a divorced couple cannot remarry unless the woman marries again and becomes single again through divorce or death of the second husband, and polygamy needs to be considered in the light of the "principle of non-discrimination, dignity and equality".

It said that the question is whether triple talaq and polygamy was compatible with contemporary constitutional morality and the principle of gender equality enshrined in the constitution.

Saying that the right of women to human dignity, social esteem and self-worth are important facets of right to life, the government said that the gender justice is important and any practice by which women are left socially and financially or emotionally vulnerable or subject to whims and caprice of men folk is against gender justice.

It said that the constitutional right should be given to all irrespective of religion and pointed out that India was a signatory to international covenants which guarantees right to equality to women.

Personal laws must be examined in light of gender justice and dignity of women and those inconsistent with fundamental rights are void.

"The fundamental question for determination is whether in a secular democracy, religion can be reason to deny equal status and dignity, available to women under the constitution," the government said in its response affidavit.
New Delhi, Oct 8 : Slamming Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said all the decisions taken by the Delhi government in the last one and a half years are being rendered "null and void", leading to chaos.

"This will have serious ramifications for the city and it will send Delhi back by almost two years. But unfortunately, that is exactly what is happening in Delhi," he said while addressing a press conference here at his residence.

Kejriwal's remarks come a day after the LG declared Mehboob Alam's appointment as Delhi Waqf Board CEO illegal and dissolved the religious body on Friday.

Jung has also asked the Delhi government to withdraw its last year's notification of increasing circle rates of agricultural land in Delhi.

Kejriwal said if there is corruption involved in all those decisions, then the Lt. Governor can get them investigated, but they should not be made null and void just because his consent was not taken.

"We have made many flyovers, now will they be demolished? We constructed 8,000 classrooms. Will they have to be demolished as well," he asked.

Kejriwal said before the August 4 High Court order, the government took various decisions "legitimately" believing that LG's consent was not needed for some issues.

The Delhi High Court on August 4 had held that the LG had primacy over the Delhi administration.

"However, LG believed that his consent was needed. Our intention was not wrong while taking those decisions. The court case was going on and now there's the interpretation that his approval is needed," Kejriwal said.

He said that in future, decisions will be taken as per orders of the High Court, and whatever order is given by the Supreme Court.

"But I request the Central government not to victimise the people of Delhi," added Kejriwal.
Riyadh, Oct 9 : The Saudi-led coalition denied on Saturday carrying any air strike in Yemen's capital Sanaa, sources from the coalition confirmed to local news Al Arabiya.

Earlier on Saturday, Yemen's acting health minister Ghazi Ismail said the Saudi-led coalition air strikes on a funeral hall in Sanaa have killed 82 and injured 534.

The mourning ceremony was held for the father of the acting interior minister and rebel Houthi loyalist Jalal al-Ruwaishan.

The Yemeni official strongly condemned what he said "barbaric air attacks against civilians and civilian targets."

However, the sources from the coalition said it has in the past avoided such gatherings and they have never been a subject of targets.

The Saudi-led coalition, which supports the internationally recognized Yemeni government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi against Shiite Houthi rebels, have been air striking Yemen from March 2015.

Houthi rebels, supported by forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, seized Sanaa and some other cities in September 2014, forcing Hadi and his government into exile.

The airstrikes and fighting on the ground have killed over 10, 000 Yemenis, many of them women and children, and injured around 35,000 others, according to a UN report.
United Nations, Oct 9 : China on Saturday called on the international community to keep the general direction for a political solution and push for the solution of the Syrian crisis through dialogue by all the parties in Syria.

The statement came as Liu Jieyi, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, was taking the floor at the UN Security Council after two opposing draft resolutions on Syria failed to pass the 15-nation UN body.

"On the question of Syria, the international community should keep the general direction for a political solution and push for the solution of the question of Syria through dialogue by all the parties in Syria so that the war can be ended as soon as possible, " Liu said.

China abstained from the French-drafted resolution, which sought to end airstrikes on the north Syrian city of Aleppo by grounding the Russian and Syrian military planes over Aleppo, and voted in favor of the Russian draft which called for an end to hostilities in the Middle East country and ensure humanitarian access to the Syrian people in need. The two draft resolutions both failed to be approved by the Security Council.
London, Oct 9 : Music mogul Simon Cowell has beefed up his own security following the robbery of reality TV personality Kim Kardashian in Paris.

The 57-year-old, is currently filming the UK version of "The X Factor" alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne, and has pledged to protect the show's contestants at the TV studios in Wembley, north London, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"Yeah, we are (increasing security). We are. You have to nowadays. It's just gone a bit nuts. There's a really dark side out there and Christ you've got to be careful," Cowell told The Sun newspaper.

In December last year, Cowell was robbed while he, his partner Lauren Silverman and son Eric were asleep in their London mansion.

Earlier this week, the name of the outspoken TV personality appeared on a spreadsheet of potential victims of an alleged murderer.

"It's the crazy world we live in.

"I opened up a newspaper and you've got one guy who's in court because he's robbed my house, second guy has murdered somebody and I'm number two or three on his list. It's like 'this is getting a bit nutty'," he added.

However, Cowell also insisted he did not wish to become unduly concerned about security issues in light of recent incidents.

"At the same time you don't want to get too paranoid. Because it is what it is. I only mentioned what I said because in terms of perspective that was about as bad as it can get yesterday. Not so much for me, but for Lauren and Eric. I'm very conscious now," Cowell said.
Tehran, Oct 9 : Iran has condemned the air strikes of Saudi-led coalition on mourners in Yemen's capital Sanaa which left more than 150 people dead.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi on Saturday expressed regret that the international community is silent over the military aggression of the coalition and the killing of the innocents, Xinhua news agency reported.

In order to put an end to the fabricated crisis in Yemen, there is no way but to stop the belligerent aggressors and begin serious dialogue with the participation of all Yemeni sides, Qasemi said.

He expressed Iran's strong disapproval over such an "inhumane and heinous crime" and sympathised with the families of the victims.

Over 150 people were killed and more than 500 injured in Saudi-led coalition air strikes on mourners in Sanaa on Saturday afternoon.

Reports said that a number of Iran-backed Shia Houthi officials and their ally former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh were present in the mourning ceremony.
Srinagar, Oct 9 : Authorities on Sunday imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar to prevent protests in the wake of a 12-year old boy's death due to pellet injuries.

"Restrictions have been imposed in areas falling under the jurisdiction of seven police stations in Srinagar to maintain law and order," a police official said.

"Adequate deployment of security forces have been made at other places," he said here.

Authorities had clamped curfew in seven police station areas here on Saturday as Junaid Ahmad Bhat, 12, died in a local hospital after he was admitted with pellet injuries in Saidpora area on Friday.

Locals and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the boy had not been part of any protests and his death should be probed.

Life across the valley remained paralysed for the 93 consecutive day on Sunday due to the separatist called protest shutdown.

All educational institutions, public transport and main markets have remained closed in the valley.

At least 91 people have been killed and over 12,000 injured in the present violence that started here on July 9, a day after Hizbul commander, Burhan Wani, was killed in a gunfight with the security forces.
New Delhi, Oct 9 : President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday greeted all Indians on Durga Puja, hoping it inspires an equal participation of women in the task of nation-builiding.

"On the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja, I extend warm greetings and best wishes to all my fellow countrymen, in India and abroad.

"May this festival be an occasion for revival and rejuvenation. May it inspire us to tread the path of moral rectitude and build a society in which woman are respected as equal partners in the building of our nation. Let us pray to Goddess Durga that she guide us on the path of right conduct and service to our nation," he said.

Touching on the importance of the festival, he said: "Durga Puja marks the victory of righteousness over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Goddess Durga is the mother of the Universe and personification of all virtues."

Durga Puja is celebrated on the last two days of a nine-day long 'Navratra' festival, during which many people observe fasts. The festival is celebrated throughout India, but more enthusiastically in the north and east, especially West Bengal.
Islamabad, Oct 9 : Pakistan must welcome India's decision to seal its entire border by 2018 and the need of the hour is a peaceful frontier, a Pakistani newspaper said on Sunday.

The Daily Times also urged the leadership of both countries to resolve all bilateral issues "in a civilised manner, paying heed to each other's opinions to address grievances and seek solutions.

"Serious efforts must be made for re-establishment of amicable relations between Pakistan and India," an editorial said.

The daily urged Pakistan to treat positively the Indian decision to seal its entire 3,323-km border with Pakistan.

"It will not only help obstruct the illegal smuggling of drugs and other items but also bring to an end constant Indian claims of cross-border movement," it said.

Relations between India and Pakistan have seriously deteriorated since a terror attack on an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir killed 19 soldiers, and New Delhi retaliated with a surgical strike in Pakistani territory.

The editorial said there was also a need to ease tensions at the border through meetings between Pakistan Rangers and the Border Security Force of India.

"A peaceful border is the need of the hour, and to this end both countries should respect each other and hold a dialogue to resolve all issues.

"They should join hands for developing bilateral relations, and resolving all outstanding conflicts," it added.

Pakistan and India should also formalise a strategy for a complete ceasefire on the Line of Control that divides Jammu and Kashmir between the two countries.

"Both the countries need to reaffirm their resolve that they will not resort to the use of force or threat of the use of force under any circumstances."

It added: "So far, there are no indications that both states will be on good terms any time soon."
Chennai, Oct 9 : Puduchery Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy and leaders of various political parties on Sunday visited the Apollo Hospital to enquire about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa's health.

The 68-year-old Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital here last month with fever and dehydration. The doctors have since said she was suffering from infection and was on respiratory support.

Speaking to reporters, Narayanasamy said that the doctors had reported improvement in Jayalalithaa's condition.

CPI leader D. Raja, Tamil Nadu Congress President G.K. Vasan and Tamil Maanila Congress leader S. Thirunavukkarasar, MMK leader M.H. Jawahirullah and others visited the hospital to wish Jayalalithaa speedy recovery.

DMK leader M.K. Stalin and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had gone to the hospital earlier.

Meanwhile, AIADMK leaders and cadres continue to hold special prayers for the Chief Minister's speedy recovery.

On Saturday, Apollo Hospital said: "The respiratory support is closely watched and adjusted. Lungs decongestion treatment is being continued. All other comprehensive measures including nutrition, supportive therapy and passive physiotherapy are under way."
New Delhi, Oct 9 : A grouping of Muslim women on Sunday welcomed the government's stand that Triple Talaq violated the issue of women's equality and must go.

"We ... whole-heartedly welcome the stand taken by the government in the Supreme Court," 16 women activists said in a joint statement.

"We welcome the clear statement in the (government) affidavit that practices such as Triple Talaq, Nikah Halala and polygamy are violative of womens' equality and dignity and therefore need to be abolished."

The statement said Triple Talaq took place in gross violation of Quranic injunctions and values of justice and equality enshrined in the Indian constitution.

"We further welcome the statement that gender equality is non-negotiable... There can be no progress without gender equality and justice.

"We also welcome the stand that the fact that these practices are legally regulated in several Muslim countries indicates these are not essential practices in the Islamic religion," the statement said.

"The Constitution allows for personal laws with the objective of upholding diversity and pluralism in our country. But it nowhere sanctions violation of the principles of gender justice."

The women said that Muslim women were entitled to legal justice just as Hindu women had moved towards justice through the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and the Hindu Succession Act, 1956.

"The Shariat Application Act, 1937 is incomplete and archaic and we urgently seek reform in order that Muslim women citizens are able to live a life of justice and dignity."

The signatories to the statement included Afreen Bano, Badar Syed, Farhat Amin, Khatun Shaikh, M. Nasreen, Mariya Salim, Nasim Akhtar, Nishat Hussain, Noorjehan Safia Niaz, R. Jeibunnisa, Rahima Khatun, Safia Akhtar,Shadab Bano, Sharifa Khanum, Shayara Bano and Zakia Soman, Co-Founder of the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan and a petitioner in the Supreme Court.
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Dr. Vickie MD is a trailblazer in medicine and the book captures the depth of her perseverance and drive in a manner that is empowering for all. - Member, National Medical Association (N.M.A)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Mabry-Height is a graduate of Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, and the University of Southern California (UCLA) School of Public Health. Her undergraduate training was at York College of the City University of New York and she is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP). She is a practicing physician in Internal Medicine in southern California and owner of Medical & Compensation Consultants, a healthcare consulting firm.

Learn more at: http://www.DrVickieMD.com. Order your copy from http://www.Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com
The Champion Companies Our team members are the backbone of Champion." - Michelle Yeager-Thornton, Co-Founder of Champion

The Champion Companies was recently named one of Central Ohios Best Places to Work by Columbus Business First.

The annual Best Places to Work competition conducted by Columbus Business First draws hundreds of nominations from which 50 companies are honored, 10 in each of the five company size categories: micro, small, medium, large and extra large companies.

"We could not be happier about being a Best Place to Work in Central Ohio," said Kelli Berner, Champion's human resources director. "As a small, but growing company, maintaining employee satisfaction is always top of mind for us, and it is reassuring that our efforts are noticed and appreciated."

To determine the Best Places to Work in Central Ohio, Business First collaborates with Quantum Workplace to conduct employee satisfaction surveys for each nominee. Anonymous surveys are distributed through email to collect feedback and then scores are tallied to determine overall employee satisfaction.

Out of the 80 Champion team members who were eligible to be surveyed, per the requirements of Quantum Workplace, 71 gave their feedback, an impressive 89 percent response rate.

Our team members are the backbone of Champion. Without all of their hard work, we would not be where we are today, said Michelle Yeager-Thornton, co-founder and COO of The Champion Companies. It is a rewarding feeling, knowing that they are as happy to work at Champion as we are to have them on our team.

So far in 2016, Champion has grown to 97 team members. The company will learn where it is ranked among the 10 winning medium-sized companies at the annual awards luncheon on November 10.

About The Champion Companies

Founded in 2010, Champion is a full-service, multi-family investment and management firm. Champion currently owns and manages nearly 5,000 apartments within Central Ohio, with 12 communities in the growing cities of Columbus (Easton), Delaware, Dublin, Hilliard, Lewis Center (Polaris), New Albany, Westerville and Worthington. Champion has been named a Columbus Business First Fast 50 company for five consecutive years. Champion has also been recognized for its philanthropic efforts, receiving a Medical Mutual Pillar Award for Community Service and a Columbus Business First Corporate Caring Award in 2015.
Alpharettas culinary scene is still on the rise and growing by leaps and bounds.

With over 175 dining options, locally owned and chef-driven restaurants, festive foodie events, specialty craft beer and wine stores and authentic culinary experiences, epicureans around the country are quickly putting Alpharetta at the top of their list of places to visit. Visitors are very interested in delighting their palates with tasting experiences found throughout Alpharettas culinary landscape.

Alpharettas culinary scene is still on the rise and growing by leaps and bounds, said Janet Rodgers, president and CEO of the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau. The city is known as a shopping and dining destination because of the eclectic retail stores and the diversity of food. Visitors can delight their taste buds with popular eateries that are exclusively found in Alpharetta.

To highlight the culinary scene in Alpharetta, the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau has mapped out four restaurants, only found in Alpharetta, that will please any foodies palate.

Executive Chef Michael Perez, Colletta Italian Food & Wine

Chef Michael Perez relocated to Atlanta, Georgia in February 2015 to take the helm of Indigo Roads latest Italian endeavor, Colletta, as executive chef. Perez says his favorite part about cooking is learning new things while teaching his staff and fellow chefs. When not in the kitchen, Perez appreciates a full day of snowboarding or fishing, exploring new restaurants with friends, and fulfilling his love for travel and exploring new cultures.

Owner and Executive Chef Leif Johnson, Bite Bistro & Bar

As a self-proclaimed, self-taught chef, Leif truly learned to cook from his grandmother crediting her with cultivating his passion for cooking. In 2007, Leif launched Bite Catering in Atlanta, spending three years growing the catering company until opening the original Bite Creative Cuisine & Catering restaurant in 2011. Due to popularity after just a year and a half in business, Leif expanded and doubled the restaurant space and reopened as Bite Bistro & Bar in 2013. Bite offers an eclectic menu that Leif calls New American that gives him the liberty to pull flavors from different profiles including Asian, Latin and East Coast dishes that he is able to weave together to create unique yet familiar cuisine.

Executive Chef Mike Fuller, Rays at Killer Creek

Chef Fullers love for food developed at an early age growing up in Hilton Head, South Carolina, where he apprenticed with a classically trained and lively chef through high school. After graduation, he moved to Charleston, SC to study culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University where he developed an appreciation for sourcing local and seasonal ingredients and has carried this farm-to-table influence throughout his career.

Executive Chef Christy Stone, South Main Kitchen

Chef Christy Stone began her culinary career as a baker in Sandy Springs, GA. Her fascination in showcasing her artistic and cooking abilities propelled her to further pursue a career in the food and beverage industry, leading to her career as a chef in the restaurant business. Having a love for health and fitness, Stone enjoys preparing healthy foods without skimping on flavor. She uses her creativity and skills in the kitchen to invent various entrees that she calls a healthy take on modern American comfort food.

Get up close and personal with four of Alpharettas renowned chefs. Getaway Package for one lucky winner includes:



Two (2) one bedroom suites at the Hampton Inn & Suites Alpharetta for two nights, checking in on Friday, January 20, 2017, checking out on Sunday, January 22, 2017. Hotel stay includes a hot breakfast each morning at the hotel.

VIP Chefs Table Experience for four adults at the following restaurants:

Friday dinner at Colletta Italian Food & Wine

Saturday lunch at Bite Bistro & Bar

Saturday dinner at Rays at Killer Creek

Sunday brunch at South Main Kitchen

Enter and see the official rules at http://www.awesomealpharetta.com. Enter through October 31, 2016.
This is an excellent deal for us, said Scott Cooper, CEO and Creative Director for World Patent Marketing. This is a tremendous advance in home fitness technology. This product is a natural fit with our expanding health and beauty line, now supported by Past News Releases RSS World Patent Marketing Invention...

World Patent Marketing Success Team...

World Patent Marketing Invention...

World Patent Marketing, a vertically integrated manufacturer and engineer of patented products, has received the exclusive right to license, engineer, prototype, manufacture, distribute, and market Peak Fitness. This comes as a prime opportunity to address the rising obesity levels in America. In the current market, there is enormous potential for this invention.

This is an excellent deal for us, said Scott Cooper, CEO and Creative Director for World Patent Marketing. This is a tremendous advance in home fitness technology. This product is a natural fit with our expanding health and beauty line, now supported by the addition of Kelsey Swanson, Miss Rhode Island USA 2017, as the companys goodwill ambassador.

One of the things we really like about this product, is that it is going to have a really positive benefit on society, said Jerry Shapiro. That is one of the things we are all committed to here at World Patent Marketing. I know a lot of our Board Members are really committed to that, and so is the inventor. Sure its about money, but it isnt just money. If Peak Fitness can make a positive difference in the lives of people across the country, its a total win-win.

Peak Fitness provides a complete body workout in one, easy-to-use, compact machine. It is easily transportable and can be stored anywhere in the home and motivates anyone to work out with its fun exercises and fast results. Yet, despite all how easy it is, Peak Fitness delivers fantastic results, increasing the users strength, flexibility, and stamina. This is a revolutionary invention that will spark millions to get up and get in shape.

I wanted to share with you why I decided to make an invention that would benefit millions of people, said Vicklyn G. I have always had a passion for being an inventor. I wanted the world to know about me in a positive way. I wanted to be a proprietor so I started to think about what I can come up with that would be a blessing to others and still become a household name.

About 25 years ago, I worked for the state of New York, caring for young people with disabilities. The Lord at once put an idea in my heart, and I have been pursuing it since then. I noticed that individuals with disabilities require good health and fitness like everyone else, but they need the support of an excellent, easy-to-use workout machine. I have also been passionate about working out, staying healthy and fit. There are millions of people living today who are overweight and obese; a good exercise machine will help them. When it is a household name, that will encourage them even more. It helps people stay healthy and fit.

Peak Fitness has been in my heart for a very long time. In the early 2000s, I came up with Peak Fitness Machine, I believe this brand will help millions of people reach their full healthy potential. Its a calling from God, and Im very passionate about the brand and the benefits it holds for a healthier lifestyle.

ABOUT WORLD PATENT MARKETING

World Patent Marketing is always looking for new invention ideas. The company provides invention services and is one of the only patent companies that engineers and manufactures its own products. The company is broken into six operating divisions:

Patent Intelligence and Research * Prototypes and Manufacturing * Distribution and Retail * Digital Marketing and Social Media * Direct Response TV and Internet Video Production * Patent Licensing & Investments

As a global leader in the patent invention services industry, World Patent Marketing is by your side every step of the way, utilizing its capital and experience to guide the invention process towards a successful product launch so you can be one of the next World Patent Marketing Success Stories.

World Patent Marketing Reviews enjoy an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (World Patent Marketing BBB) and has earned five-star ratings from Google and consumer review sites such as Consumer Affairs, Trustpilot, Shopper Approved, Customer Lobby, ResellerRatings, My3Cents and World Patent Marketing Glassdoor.

The CEO of World Patent Marketing, Scott Cooper, is also a Director of The Cooper Idea Foundation is the founder of the New York Inventors Exchange and has also been a proud member of the National Association of Manufacturers, Duns and Bradstreet, the US Chamber of Commerce, the South Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, the Association for Manufacturing Excellence and the Society of Plastics Engineers.

Those who are wondering how hard is it to get a patent or how much does it cost to patent an idea, should contact the invention marketing experts.

World Patent Marketing credits its invention success to it's powerful and influential advisory board and its controversial shock content approach to invention marketing. According to Scott J. Cooper, the CEO and Creative Director of World Patent Marketing, complaints from competitors are just part of the World Patent Marketing cost of doing business.

To submit invention ideas, contact World Patent Marketing at (888) 926-8174. Corporate headquarters located at 1680 Meridian Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139.
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Shes energetic, loves people and is eager to learn on her first-ever job. Just seeing her go about her duties makes her co-workers smile.

All she demands is a few pats on the head, a bed on the sales office floor and as many treats as she can eat.

Meet Sandy, one of the newest employees at Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa in Fort Lauderdale. A 40-pound exuberant black Labrador retriever, she joins the pack roaming inns, hotels and luxury resorts across the globe.

Their titles may be different: canine ambassador, director of pet relations or, in Sandys case, simply mascot. But their mission is the same: to give guests a taste of home, ease travel stress with a wag of the tail and set their hotel apart from the competition.

When Sandy started here, we had immediate positive reaction. Within two or three days, we saw a post on Trip Advisor from a guest, talking about her, said Pam Cook, membership sales director for The Club, a program allowing nonguests to use the resorts amenities and receive discounts. She also owns 6-month-old Sandy, who lives in Pompano Beach with Cooks family and her canine parents.

Christopher Bielski, the resorts director of sales and marketing, said when theres a tough problem or ruffled feelings to deal with, the staff jokes: Go get the dog. Weve been surprised that the employees have benefited from Sandy as well as the guests, he said.

Cook was the one who proposed having Harbor Beachs first four-legged employee, Bielski said, after her Labs had a nine-puppy litter earlier in the year. She drafted a detailed proposal that included how the then-unnamed dog would be trained, the benefits for guests and the resort and costs.

It probably didnt hurt that the submission included an adorable photo of an 8-week, sloe-eyed doggy labeled as pup. Management loved it, Bielski said. Harbor Beach employees held a contest in May, when pup started work, and the name Sandy won.

It fits. Sandy sure loves the beach, said Cook, taking her for a walk on her lunch break. The dog bolted across the sand, startling a cluster of conferencegoers who perhaps had been expecting a cabana attendant bearing drinks versus a puppy wearing a bright red monogrammed vest.

So sweet! cooed Claudia Lopez, 26, a therapist from Miami who has a Labrador of her own, as she touched Sandys head. This is a nice surprise.

Lopezs friend and fellow therapist, Vanessa Cabrera, of Miami, said shes met Catie Copley, a black Lab canine ambassador at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston. Originally trained as a guide dog for the blind, Catie has been featured in two childrens books and has her own email account for fans.

Fairmont has dogs in 10 hotels in Canada, the United States and Africa, many of them former service animals.

Hotel dogs bring a smile to my face and make me happy, said Cabrera, 28, as Sandy sat politely next to her.

Then the mascot was off for the rest of her day: a stop in Cooks office where she has a bed and a box load of toys, then the 2:30 p.m. daily lemonade and cookie distribution, followed by greeting guests and photo ops in the lobby. Bielski said recently a departing guest, scrambling to make a flight, insisted she wasnt leaving until she had her picture taken with Sandy.

Whos my baby, whos my girl? said Howard Rudolph, a club member regular, who came in to say hello as Sandy was finishing a power nap before her cookie appearance. She rushed over as Rudolph pulled dog treats out of a black waist bag that also held the oxygen canister feeding air to his damaged lungs.

A former Broward Sheriffs deputy, Rudolph developed severe pulmonary and medical conditions after serving at the World Trade Center in New York City immediately following the 9-11 terror attack. Seeing Sandy, he said, is better for him than relaxing in a beach chair and listening to the sea.

It brightens up my day and makes it easier for me to breathe, said Rudolph, who lives in Davie and has two service dogs at home. There is no such thing as a bad day when youre with a dog. I would have no problem if there was an official dog greeter at every Marriott.

Sandy does not earn a salary, but her job perks include lots of attention, snacks and gifts from employees and guests. Cook is training her to become a certified therapy dog, and the resort plans to use her for community events such as trips to childrens hospitals.

Amy Burkert, founder of the GoPetFriendly.com website that promotes travel with animals, said she is seeing more lodging establishments with resident pets.

Many hotel guests are traveling without their furry family members, and its comforting for them to be able to pet a dog when they are missing their own, Burkert said. They may even choose a pet-friendly hotel over other options if they know there will be a happy pup greeting them when they arrive.

One new development, Burkert said: More hotels are partnering with local animal rescue groups and employ dogs up for adoption until they find homes. The Red Mountain Resort and Spa in Utah features a Pound Puppy Hike, where guests can pick up a hearty pup at a nearby shelter and go off for a 1.5-mile ramble through the desert. So far, the program has led to 20 adoptions.

While dogs appear to rule at hotel jobs, travelers could find other species welcoming them at check-in. The historic Algonquin Hotel in New York City, today part of Marriotts Autograph Collection brand, has had a total of 11 resident cats, all rescues, stretching back to the 1920s.

The current reigning queen is Matilda, the third of her name there, who keeps busy on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. She draws her pay in bonito flakes, has her holiday meals prepared by the executive chef and sometimes people watches in a special window that was cut for her, said Algonquin spokesman Nicholas Sciammarella.

Matildas main duty is promoting cat adoptions, Sciammarella said, last year raising $10,000 for the Alliance of NYC Animals.

Shell be even more famous when the book Matilda: The Algonquin Cat is published in October.

Matilda is a very special member of the team, Sciammarella said. Most people are aware we have a house cat, but those who find out always are surprised and delighted. When they are arriving or leaving the hotel for the day, they ask to see that cat.
State Sen. Chuck Weaver, R-Peoria, is looking for a few good students wanting a hands-on experience with state government.

Sen. Weaver, whose 37th District includes Mercer County and most of Henry County, is one of two state senators who oversees a Youth Advisory Council that recruits high schools students for mock lawmaking sessions, communication with legislators and local leaders and a trip to Springfield to observe the real thing and meet more legislators.

"Our Youth Advisory Council is an exciting event that helps engage students in the process of how their government writes the laws that govern all of our daily lives," Sen. Weaver said.

Last year -- Sen. Weaver's first with the program -- included 32 students. This year he said he hopes to increase that to 50 or 60. He is contacting all of the high schools in his district -- about 50 -- and asking each principal to nominate two students. He said he's hoping for a 60 percent response rate.

For more details about the program, call 309-693-4921.

The program includes two "immersive" days: an initial session Nov. 2 at the Black Hawk College East Campus in Kewanee with guest speakers and the start of students' "committee" work to formulate and discuss proposed legislation; and a day in April to take in some of the spring legislative session.

In between, the students will complete their own work -- researching, discussing and drafting legislation, and compromise and get bills passed.

"It's amazing to watch students take on the actual process of proposing legislation," Sen. Weaver said. He said he's convinced the YAC is good training for future leaders.

"I will begin the Nov. 2 event by telling them to look around the room, because that room is filled with future judges, future legislators and future mayors," he said. "These are the cream of the crop that their principals select to come."

Isaiah Harlan, an alumnus of last year's session and a senior at Galesburg High School, is clear on his future plans.

"I want to go to Bradley University and major in political science and then come back and run for mayor of Galesburg," he said. "And after that, run for state rep. And so on. I'll have a career in statesmanship."

He said the council was "a phenomenal experience." He and his committee formulated and passed "legislation" on drug testing for welfare recipients after researching issues of constitutionality, similar legislation elsewhere and other issues.

The day in Springfield was an eye-opener, Mr. Harlan said, and convinced him of the value of the governing process.

"It was really neat to get to Springfield and see how politics in Illinois works," he said. He paused and laughed, acknowledging a widespread notion about that.

"When you say 'politics' in Illinois, the first thing you think of is people like (former Gov. and now prison inmate Rod) Blagojevich and other corruption," he said. "But really, it's not like that.

"You go there, and the politicians are just trying to represent their constituents. They're doing what they can. And when you go there, you realize that," he said. "They want to hear from you. They think that you're important. And you are. Every voice is important."

He said two encounters with state senators helped underscore his enthusiasm to be a part of good governance. The first was with state Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris.

"She said she never stopped learning," Mr. Harlan said. When you're very young, he said, it doesn't always occur to you that learning can extend throughout adulthood. "She's always reading and learning new things, and that way she can be a better educated statesperson."

Then, Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, "made a really good point that I really liked," Mr. Harlan said.

"He said politics is a dirty word, but it doesn't have to be," Mr. Harlan said. "That quote was really interesting, because politics is not a dirty thing, it's not a bad word. It's just people representing people. ... The people are their employers."
International nuclear nonproliferation norms are increasingly being tested. Equally concerning is that nuclear nonproliferation  a cornerstone of U.S. national security strategy since the dawn of the nuclear age  is now teetering on a dangerous precipice. So what can the United States do to reverse these trends?

Despite concerted efforts by the Obama administration beginning with the president's Prague speech in 2009 and biannual Nuclear Security Summits, the potential for state proliferation of nuclear weapons capabilities seems more likely now, even with the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, with Iran. North Korea's recent nuclear and missile tests and a likely arsenal of 8-12 weapons clearly demonstrates growing capabilities that are rapidly becoming a threat to allies in the region and even the U.S. homeland.

On Monday, Russia's President Vladimir Putin signaled a halt to the bilateral Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement with the United States that would have resulted in the two nations disposing of 34 metric tons of plutonium with the potential for producing 17,000 nuclear warheads.

A public dialogue in the United States about extended nuclear guarantees and the modernization of the nuclear triad unnerve many nations that rely on the U.S. nuclear umbrella as a foundation of their security and defense. This talk led several nations  Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia to name a few  to consider whether their long-term security interests are better served with national nuclear weapons programs.

Even worse, these new national programs would likely be designed for deterrence against regional adversaries. Such objectives favor smaller yield weapons and present a greater chance of use. Both the potential for increasing the number of nuclear weapons states and increasing potential for use are unthinkable outcomes.

Notwithstanding significant efforts to eliminate loose fissile material, terrorist interest in acquiring nuclear capabilities has not waned. This interest is amplified with persistent proliferation challenges such as concerns about security at civilian nuclear sites, failure to properly and quickly dispose of the highly enriched uranium or plutonium at these facilities, difficulties in detecting nuclear smuggling and the proliferation of nuclear weapons technology.

Against this increasingly disconcerting backdrop, the United States could take several key steps to reverse these trends.

First and foremost, the United States should reassure allies about the viability of U.S. nuclear security guarantees and the stockpile. The next administration will need to conduct a Nuclear Posture Review ( PDF ) to set the country's nuclear policy for a five- to 10-year period. This review will undoubtedly include guidance on such issues as stockpile modernization, strategic deterrence and the security guarantees. By necessity, it will be conducted within the context of an increasingly aggressive Russia. Until this review has been completed, no major changes to U.S. nuclear posture should be unilaterally undertaken.

The U.S. should emphasize its absolute support for the goals of the NPT  nonproliferation, disarmament, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Second, the United States should emphasize its absolute support for the goals of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT  nonproliferation, disarmament and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. These three goals require maintaining a delicate balance. For example, unilateral disarmament by the United States could lead to proliferation as nonnuclear states look to develop nuclear capabilities to assure their security. Likewise the peaceful uses of nuclear should not be allowed to include the proliferation of enrichment capabilities throughout the globe. Assuring this balance remains the most effective way to achieve the NPT's goals.

Third, the two most immediate state nuclear proliferation issues must be addressed: Iran and North Korea. On Iran, the United States should build support for the JCPOA, both domestically and across the globe. The JCPOA was necessary to curtail Iran's near-term enrichment capacity for 10 years and bans reprocessing for 15 years, as well as to reduce Iran's stockpile of low-enriched uranium. Despite being in the early stages of implementation, Iran appears to be adhering to the terms of the agreement. The lessons learned in the negotiation of this framework agreement could also be used to strengthen nuclear monitoring and verification around the world.

International approaches toward an increasingly unpredictable and capable North Korea should be reinvigorated. A recent Council on Foreign Relations report highlights the inadequacy of strategic patience and calls on China to play a more productive role in pressuring North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.

Fourth, Russia's nonstrategic nuclear weapons remain a growing concern and should receive considerable scrutiny. They are the most destabilizing weapons in their nuclear arsenal, given the potential for loss of control and potential for use. Recent revelations about development of low yield warheads exacerbates an already concerning trend. These nuclear weapons pose a serious threat of fumbling into a nuclear confrontation.

Fifth, intelligence and international information sharing should form the foundations for addressing nuclear terrorism, which remains a grave concern. The world's worst weapons in the hands of the world's worst people is a dangerous combination. New technologies, strong international agreements, and national and international law enforcement should also combine to reduce this threat. Civilian nuclear facilities should assure the prompt removal and secure storage of spent fuel. International efforts such as the Global Initiative to Counter Nuclear Terrorism, the Proliferation Security Initiative and most recently the Nuclear Terrorism Convention ( PDF ) should be strongly supported across the globe.

Nuclear weapons continue to pose a significant threat to the United States and its allies. Strong and viable global nuclear nonproliferation norms should remain a cornerstone of U.S. security now and into the future. Friends and allies must continue to have confidence in the U.S. strategic nuclear guarantees. Failure to do so could result in a new arms race with the global proliferation of nuclear weapons capabilities and an increased likelihood of a nuclear conflict.

Daniel M. Gerstein works at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation. He was the undersecretary (acting) and deputy undersecretary in the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security from 2011 to 2014.

This commentary originally appeared on U.S. News & World Report on October 5, 2016. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
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Karl Griffiths got his first job nearly 40 years ago at Tay-Van Car Wash on Hilltop Drive in Redding.

Now he owns the place.

But this isn't a story about a homecoming.

You see, Griffiths never left.

In 1978, Griffiths was a junior at Enterprise High School, and he needed gas money for his pickup. So he applied for an opening at the car wash in January of that year and got the job about a month later.

Two years after starting at Tay-Van, Griffiths became the manager for owners Howard Taylor, founder of Taylor Motors, and Dr. Vance Vaupel, a general practice physician who retired in 1992.

And he continued as manager until he officially got the keys to the business Monday.

"People have told me that I deserved this opportunity, that I earned it by working hard," Griffiths said.

Probably true. But Griffiths says there's a more important reason why he's worked the same job since high school.

"Two really good men. They took care of me and they continue to do it by giving me this opportunity to buy it," Griffiths said.

Tay-Van Car Wash opened in 1976. It also was a gas station until 1998, when Taylor and Vaupel decided to ditch the pumps and turn it into strictly a car wash business.

"I wasn't sure it was going to work out until after the first month," Griffiths said.

Not much will change at Tay-Van. Griffiths has run the business for several years now.

"He has been dedicated for so many years," Vaupel said. "In fact, Howard and I really had done very little. We left it up to him at least the last 10, 15 years. So he has been pretty much in charge of it. He has been there every day, all the time."

Griffiths says when he tells longtime customers he is the new owner, they are surprised by the news.

"Ninety percent of the customers thought I owned it," Griffiths said.

Now he doesn't have to correct them.

MOORE'S TO OPEN NEW RETAIL LOCATION

Moore's Flour Mill owner Bob Moore has been on the move this year.

He's been relocating his operation from downtown Redding to Shasta View Drive north of Redding Municipal Airport, where he built a 60,000-square-foot plant that opened in early 2016.

Granola production made the move in March and Moore has been phasing in other operations there throughout the year.

If you go by the plant you will notice the banner "Open Soon" draped across the front. That's in reference to the retail store Moore hopes to open this year.

For the record, Moore's retail store on Shasta Street will stay open, at least initially. Moore's Flour Mill was established there in 1975 and a lot of customers have a real attachment to the location.

But back to the new store.

"We are trying to get it in there (open) before Thanksgiving, but I don't know," Moore said. The new store will be about three times the size of his downtown location. It will have the same hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

"The problem is it is not my number one priority," Moore said of opening a second retail location.

Moore is pushing hard to get all of his production operation to the new plant.

"I wind up using resources and manpower on that. I find it difficult to dedicate man hours and get shelves built, all the things you need to do for retail," Moore said.

THAT BUILDING ON NORTH MARKET STREET

It's been more than a year since plans were unveiled for a Mexican restaurant at the northwest corner of North Market Street and Benton Drive in Redding.

But work toward getting the place open has progressed slowly. The building was painted and there is still a sign on the side facing North Market that announces "La Hacienda" coming soon.

A peek inside reveals exposed rafters as it appears the owner is gutting the building. Clearly much still needs to be done.

Erich Mayne, the city's development services supervisor, told me recently that the owner got an extension to his building permit, which means it's now good through Feb. 24, 2017. The original permit was issued in December 2015.

"It sounds like there are some internals in their business plan that they are working out, but they are going forward," Mayne said.

If you've lived here long enough, you remember the building was home to Catanio's Ristorante, an Italian restaurant that closed in 2007. Casa Ramos occupied the spot before it moved to Hilltop Drive. And going further back, it was another Mexican restaurant, El Papagayo.

Ramos Holdings owns the building. A phone message left for Raul Lecona of Ramos Holdings was not returned. Lecona's uncle is Casa Ramos founder Marco Ramos, who died in June 2015 at the age of 52.
ACA case taking a bite out of profits

Let's start with some good news. The governor signed AB 72 giving some protections to individuals when a non-contracting individual health care professional provides services in a contracting health care facility. This new law will take effect in July 2017.

Kudos to the National Association of Health Underwriters for their work on this new law. Essentially it limits insured cost sharing for these covered services to no more than the cost sharing required had the services been provided by a contracting health professional. There is also a relief process provided in the bill if one falls victim to this situation. .

Some not so good news for those employers in the food service industry as well as retail, minimarts and the like. The lawsuit against Dave & Buster Restaurants has been allowed to proceed.

The suit alleges that the employer reduced hours mainly to avoid providing the required benefits under the ACA (Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare).

According to an article by Jennifer Carsen, JD, (Legal Editor for BLR's human resources and employment law publications), Maria Marin filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging illegal interference with her right to health care coverage protected by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

The Southern District of New York denied Dave & Buster's motion to dismiss the case, noting two meetings at the Times Square location in which company leaders stated, in so many words, that the ACA would cost the company "two million dollars" and that they would be reducing the number of full-time employees in an effort to avoid that expense. There was also evidence that similar meetings were held at other Dave & Buster's locations.

"The critical element," the court noted, "is intent of the employer  proving that the employer specifically intended to interfere with benefits." As Marin "sufficiently and plausibly" alleged this element of intent, Dave & Buster's motion to dismiss the case was denied. (Marin v. Dave & Buster's et al., SDNY 1:15-cv-03608, 2/9/16)

This case could have serious ramifications for many employers. When the ACA was first approved, there was a scramble to try to find a way to deal with the increased costs. All manner of benefits professionals were discussing ways around this law. But in reality it all came back to the simplest solution. Reduce employee hours. This statement by Dave & Busters about reducing hours is not uncommon.

In reality, most companies of this type did the exact same thing. They simply decided to manage their employees' hours to keep them under 30 hours per week. There are a few that actually simply raised the cost of their product to cover the cost of benefits. I have seen two interesting examples. One is in the San Francisco Airport where there is a placard at the check-out counter that states that you are paying about 2 percent more for your purchase so the employer can comply with the benefits law as well as the San Francisco minimum wage.

Rangoon Ruby Burmese Cuisine in San Carlos states on their tables that there is a surcharge on your purchase to offset the additional cost of benefits. However they give you an option to request that the surcharge be removed. I called the restaurant to see how often that might happen, but received no return call.

Food service employees now typically have two jobs with different entities in order to get the 40-plus hours needed to provide a living income. This creates scheduling challenges for the restaurateur as well as the employee.

I must wonder "aloud" what the response would be in Shasta County if the restaurants provided benefits but gave the Rangoon Ruby option when you paid your bill.

In any event, all groups of over 50 employees are facing big challenges as this year's renewal season approaches. Looking at options such as offering multiple plans to meet the needs of a diverse work place is critical to the success of a benefits plan. Online enrollment and benefit management platforms allow the most efficient way for employers and employees to manage benefits. Blue Shield of CA will now be offering products on the Exchange that will create another option for small employers to consider.
Voter guide: Race previews, what to know before you vote

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In this photo taken Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, rhinos graze in the bush on the edge of Kruger National Park in South Africa. As teams of poachers stalk rhinos and elephants in the park, wildlife officials are turning to nearby communities to help stop the slaughter by using local knowledge to deter poachers, not join them. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

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By CARA ANNA, Associated Press

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, South Africa (AP) a On the edge of South Africa's largest wildlife reserve, the line between poacher and park ranger can be uncomfortably thin. Sometimes, Marianne de Kock watches it disappear.

She oversees young South Africans during a yearlong ranger training and, on the final day, she looks graduates in the eye.

"Have you ever poached?" she asks. Some admit they have. "Give me three poachers' names," she says. And they do.

As teams of poachers stalk rhinos and elephants in Kruger National Park, nearly the size of Israel, wildlife officials are turning to nearby communities to help stop the slaughter.

The carcasses of more than 450 poached rhinos have been found in the park between January and the end of August, and elephant poaching is growing. Both are top issues at the conference of the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, which ends Wednesday in Johannesburg.

The aim is to use local knowledge to deter poachers, not join them. In the two South African provinces where the park is located, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, the official unemployment rates were 29 percent and 18 percent early this year.

While well-off tourists with expensive gear bounce through the park on game drives and stay at upscale lodges, their money often doesn't make it to villagers. Poaching becomes an attraction.

At the Southern African Wildlife College on the edge of the park, a new government-funded job program is training 119 young men and women "living in marginalized areas" to become field rangers and guides in wildlife reserves that are often near their homes.

"You get the poorest of the poor," de Kock said. Some who apply have never heard of wildlife conservation. They just want a job.

The applicants first must pass a week-long, military-style selection course that includes not being allowed to sleep more than two hours at a time. By day three, people are dropping out.

The trainers have learned to spot signs of determination, such as the hopefuls who arrive in borrowed sneakers a size or more too small. Day by day, pieces of the shoes are cut away to make room for fresh blisters.

"Those people are the quality that we want," said one trainer, Excellent McCabe.

Those selected are taught how to track, shoot, navigate and live in the bush, sometimes lying camouflaged in the grass for days at a time.

"Kids once learned to track from a very young age," said Gawie Lindeque, a head trainer and guide at the wildlife college. "The bush is not their school anymore." The training strips away basic comforts, such as electricity, and reintroduces nature skills. One lesson sends trainees into the bush to collect animals' dung.

As new rangers, the graduates will earn about 6,500 rand ($475) a month. No training is foolproof; there have been cases of Kruger rangers and park staff involved in poaching in the past.

"One is not looking after money, just protecting nature," said one of the 28 women in the program, Dzunisani Ndhlovu. The tall 27-year-old from Limpopo said there are "too many poachers" in her home community who don't know the importance of wildlife, and she called the job of park ranger very challenging.

It's also dangerous. Unlike in neighboring Botswana, rangers in South Africa cannot shoot poachers on sight and have to prove self-defense. Poachers have even shot at Kruger National Park's helicopters as they scan the vast, dry landscape for intruders.

"Better to shoot first" in a confrontation with an armed poacher, said one senior trainer, Wouter Combrinck. "Poachers, they don't care. As long as they get to that rhino, they will shoot."

In August, the shooting of a suspected poacher by Kruger rangers set off days of protests by people in the suspected poacher's nearby village. Burning tires were used to block a road, and tourists were advised to avoid one of the park's gates.

For park rangers from local communities, the risk from both poachers and local sympathizers can follow them home.

"Some, we just meet in the town," Wisdom Makhubele said of poachers. He pretended to duck. "I'm just hiding myself. But my work is my work."

The 28-year-old from a nearby village used to stock supplies at a game lodge. A year ago, after completing his ranger training, he became a full-time trainer and handler of poacher-tracking dogs. He received a gun and the authority to handcuff poachers until the police arrive.

"I'd die for this," Makhubele said of his work in conservation. "This is our legacy. We have to look after it."

___

Associated Press writer Christopher Torchia and videographer Renee Graham in Johannesburg contributed.
SHARE Michelle Dawn Johnson Date of birth: Aug. 13, 1985 Vitals: 5 feet, 8 inches; 127 pounds; blond hair, hazel eyes Charge: Receiving stolen property Ryan Michael Campbell Date of birth: April 2, 1977 Vitals: 5 feet, 11 inches; 230 pounds; brown hair, hazel eyes Charge: Termination of probation Rebecca Ann Wood Date of birth: May 10, 1977 Vitals: 5 feet, 8 inches; 140 pounds; blond hair, blue eyes Charge: False impersonation Ishmael Sarafum Gilmore Date of birth: Sept. 9, 1986 Vitals: 6 feet; 190 pounds; brown hair, brown eyes Charge: Prohibited from owning ammunition

By Staff Reports

Shasta's Most Wanted, featured in the Record Searchlight in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, targets people who have failed to show up in court for sentencing after being convicted.

As of Friday, a total of 704 arrests had been made through the Most Wanted program since it began in September 2013. Authorities say they have seen an increase in criminals failing to appear in court since the onset of Assembly Bill 109. Also known as prison realignment, the state program shifted certain state prison inmates to county supervision.

Redding Police Chief Robert Paoletti said court appearances have gone up since the rollout.

Five new people are added each week. Those caught will be held until at least their next court appearances. Shasta County Secret Witness is offering a reward of up to $250 for information leading to an arrest. Tips can be provided anonymously at 530-243-2319 or at www.scsecretwitness.com/home/submit-a-tip.

Anyone with information also can call SHASCOM at 245-6540. The feature appears Sundays in the Record Searchlight's Northern California section and on Redding.com.
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Controlled burn set north of Redding

Shasta-Trinity National Forest officials plan to conduct a controlled burn starting Monday in the Shasta Lake National Recreation Area north of Redding.

The fire is scheduled to occur over a two-day period as part of the agency's Green Mountain Vegetation Management Project.

The plan is to burn 1,300 acres to reduce the amount of dead and downed tree limbs, branches and shrubs to lower the risk of a devastatin wildfire, Forest Service officials said.

Smoke from the prescribed fire will be visible from the eastern portion of Lake Shasta, along Interstate 5 near Bridge Bay, and the Silverthorn and Jones Valley area.

Once the burn is completed, grass and shrubs will sprout and draw deer and elk back into the area. Some of the funding for the Green Mountain project came from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Wild Turkey Foundation in order to provide habitat for animals such as elk and wild turkeys.

Driver, boy injured in wreck

David Wideman, 38, of Anderson and his 8-year-old passenger were taken to Mercy Medical Center in Redding on Friday evening after they suffered injuries in a collision that tied up traffic on southbound Interstate 5, the California Highway Patrol said.

Wideman was going south on I-5, about a mile south of Knighton Road, just before 6 p.m. when a tractor-tractor slowed in front of him due to a previous collision, the CHP said. Wideman didn't immediately see the truck slowing down and when he braked, he lost control of the VW van he was driving.

Wideman rear-ended the tractor-trailer, slid sideways and rolled over, the CHP said. Wideman suffered major injuries and the boy passenger suffered minor injuries, the CHP said. The van blocked the slow lane of southbound I-5, but was reopened about 7 p.m.

The crash clogged traffic all the way from south of Knighton Road to the South Bonnyview Road exit in Redding.

Crews extinguish fire in attic

Firefighters extinguished an attic fire at a residence in the 19000 block of East Niles Lane south of Redding on Saturday.

Fire crews got the call at 4:09 Saturday and went to the building in the Churn Creek Bottom, according to dispatch reports.
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By Rob Rogers

WEAVERVILLE - Local investigators think they can finally close the case of a first-grader who went missing nearly 30 years ago.

Donna Lee Fowler, who was 7 at the time, disappeared from downtown Weaverville on a chilly November afternoon, after she had threatened to run away from home.

Wayne Harvey Smith, who is now 61 and serving a life sentence in Los Angeles County, admitted in December to killing Donna and dumping her body in the town's landfill, said Detective Bryan Ward of the Trinity County Sheriff's Department.

Donna was last seen by a friend - the granddaughter of Weaverville resident Mary Adrian - about 2:30 p.m. Nov. 10, 1980.

"They were on their way home, sitting on the steps of the (Joss House) museum," Adrian said.

The two girls got up, and Adrian's granddaughter went one way and Donna went the other. Adrian declined to name her granddaughter.

"She doesn't want to get involved," Adrian said.

After Donna failed to come home later that evening, her mother, Darcy Cook, called the Sheriff's Department about 11:30 p.m. to report her missing daughter. At the time, Cook told investigators that she had waited so long to call because she believed her daughter had run away to a friend's house, according to news accounts at the time.

Donna's grandfather had helped her pack a suitcase, later telling family that he thought she was just playing a game, according to news accounts. When it was clear Donna was not with friends and not coming home, Cook reported her missing.

At the time, investigators suspected Smith was involved with the disappearance.

"(He) was the lead suspect because he was mom's boyfriend at the time," said Trinity County Sheriff Lorrac Craig, who joined the Trinity County Sheriff's Department in 1988.

An intense manhunt began the next day on Nov. 11. News accounts at the time revealed that local temperatures had dropped to 15 degrees the night before and investigators worried they would find Donna frozen to death.

A special search and rescue team was flown in by helicopter from Truckee and German shepherds aided in the search. Later, volunteers brought in bloodhounds, news accounts reported.

Donna was never found. Smith, who was 33 at the time, left town several days after Donna's disappearance, Ward and Craig said. He had been questioned by investigators a couple of days after Donna's disappearance, but refused to take a polygraph test and wouldn't cooperate with deputies.

"There wasn't enough evidence to issue a warrant and go after the guy," Ward said.

So deputies didn't chase after Smith to seek an arrest, he said.

Five years later, Smith turned up in Los Angeles where he had been convicted of murder and was sentenced to life without parole, Ward said. Nearly two decades later in 2004, DNA linked Smith to a second Los Angeles County murder that happened in 1983, he said.

With Smith already serving a life sentence, Ward said prosecutors wanted to seek the death penalty against him for the second murder, but Smith agreed to give the details of Donna's disappearance so long as prosecutors didn't pursue the death sentence.

Craig added that part of the deal included Trinity County not prosecuting Smith for Donna's murder as well. But even with a confession, law enforcement in Trinity County still couldn't prosecute Smith.

"We didn't have enough evidence - we didn't have any evidence," Craig said. "We still don't."

With Cook's blessing, prosecutors agreed to the deal in October, Craig said.

Smith admitted to murdering Donna the afternoon she disappeared and to dumping her body in the town's landfill, Ward said. Smith told investigators he was angry with Donna and strangled her because she wouldn't leave his house.

Officials and Cook decided not to attempt the recovery of Donna's remains, Craig said.

Rob Rogers can be reached at 225-8217 or at rrogers@redding.com.
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The names and parties have evolved, but over the last half-century, California's two U.S. senators have displayed sharply contrasting styles.

One has been the workhorse, tending to the state's prosaic, if complex, interests in Washington, such as water.

The other has been, if not a show horse, something of a showoff, saying and doing things that garner media attention, but often are symbolic at best and frivolous at worst.

For two decades, Democrat Alan Cranston was our worker bee while one-termers who said much and accomplished little  Republican George Murphy, Democrat John Tunney, and Republican S.I. Hayakawa  sat in the other seat.

Late in his career, Cranston went awry, catching the presidential bug and becoming enmeshed in scandal, but by then Republican Pete Wilson was on hand for serious business.

In 1992, the state's voters elected two new senators, Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, and the pattern continued. Feinstein took care of business while Boxer made headlines, such as her infamously egocentric berating of an Army general in 2009 for calling her "ma'am" during testimony.

"Do me a favor, can you say 'senator' instead of 'ma'am'?" Boxer pointedly asked the general. "It's just a thing. I worked so hard to get that title, so I'd appreciate it. Thank you."

Boxer is retiring, and two Democrats, Attorney General Kamala Harris and Rep. Loretta Sanchez, are vying for her seat.

Harris has the money, endorsements from virtually every major party figure, including President Barack Obama, Gov. Jerry Brown, Feinstein and Boxer. She also leads in every statewide poll, and seems bent on coasting to victory by saying and doing as little as possible.

Underdog Sanchez has always something of a maverick in Congress, and rails against "the establishment" -- meaning the politicians who've endorsed Harris. But she's been an erratic campaigner, not making sustained statewide appeals to independent and Republican voters she needs to win.

Their essential traits were on display in Los Angeles on Wednesday during their only debate, seen by a tiny portion of voters and probably inconsequential in effect.

Harris, characteristically, offered predigested, politically correct bromides, saying nothing that she hadn't said before.

On immigration, for instance, Harris' pale response was "It is time Congress acts," followed by touting her support from the United Farm Workers.

Sanchez, meanwhile, was more animated, calling immigration reform "the moral imperative of our times," but her scattergun verbiage came across as unfocused.

On terrorism, Sanchez was blunt: "We have to eliminate ISIS." Harris was vague: "We have to be smart and tough as a country."

As a senator, Harris would probably continue her cautious-to-a-fault mien, more concerned with image than substance, while Sanchez would probably be a worthy addition to California's unbroken string of ineffective, motormouth senators.

Whoever wins, Feinstein will remain in harness as our only senatorial workhorse  until she retires.

Reach Dan Walters at dwalters@sacbee.com.
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Our community will be better off if Measures D and E pass than if they fail.

That's the bottom line for the public safety proposals, and it's the reason we recommend strongly and unequivocally that Redding voters mark "yes" on both. The half-cent sales tax, estimated to generate $11 million a year for 10 years, will probably not do everything its proponents say it will. But it will help keep our community safer and its passage will signal a sense of unity and progress that is desperately needed right now.

We'll be honest: It has been hard to come around to supporting this. The critics and naysayers have valid points.

City and county leaders stage-managed the process of crafting this plan in a way that excluded the public and undermined trust. The guarantee that the money will be spent as promised is only as good as the word of three council members on any given Tuesday night  and the reality that they could be tarred and feathered by the voting public. Even if spent as planned, the funds are nearly all earmarked for reactive measures  not addressing root problems.

People can mock Councilman Gary Cadd for being obsessed with pensions, but he's not delusional  we've made massive promises to public employees and there's a real possibility the bill for those will rise more rapidly than city management has projected. Would that suck up part or all of this new money sometime down the road? It certainly could.

But our strongest objection is one we haven't heard widely discussed  we don't believe the city is asking voters for enough. If we're going to do this, we should have done it right and gone for a full cent increase, $22 million a year. The problems are at least that big, and probably bigger.

Not one of those is a good enough reason to vote "no" and risk allowing our community to keep treading water and pointing fingers. We need to work together here. This isn't the exact plan we wish we had. It's the plan we do have:

Funding for Redding police: Protects the four officers in the Neighborhood Police Unit (their funding expires in 2017). Adds 16 new officers, 13 community service officers, two records technicians and extra crime analyst time.

Slowing the revolving door: Sets aside money for out-of-county jail space immediately, and puts $3 million into a jail renovation that would add 64 beds in the basement. If the Superior Court ever moves, allocates money for installing another 64 beds in what's now a courtroom.

Building a sobering center. This is just a small down payment, but the tax allocates $375,000 toward the project. The city is counting on selling its vacant and decrepit old police station to fund the rest.

Funding mental health crisis services. Again, this is anemic  but $1 million a year would go toward a mental health crisis unit, matched by another $1 million from Shasta County.

Funding for Redding's fire department. Adds enough firefighters to field 3-person crews at all stations. With proper staffing like this, firefighters can actually go into your home when it's burning.

Vice Mayor Brent Weaver, who initiated the Blueprint for Public Safety and speaks for the "yes" campaign on Measures D and E, rightly says the plan's elements support each other. You have to have accountability (cops and jail cells) in order to get people to take rehabilitation programs seriously. A sobering center can intervene in a downward spiral. Mental health? Well, if it was funded in a serious way it would provide a truly significant piece of this puzzle.

And don't buy the idea that the city could just use its $3 million to $4 million "surplus" to solve this. The tax would raise $110 million over 10 years. The surplus won't come close.

You may not trust the City Council. Fine  call their bluff. Vote for this thing and then hold them accountable. For a few more bucks a month, you can say, "We did our part. We gave you what you asked for. What have you done for us?"

We believe they will keep the commitment. But if not? You'd better believe we'll be leading the charge to kick the bums out, and their appointed executives with them.

This vote is not the final step in raising Redding to its potential. It's important, but more important work lies ahead.

We still must address the non-criminal homeless, the drug problem, our weak economy and the achievement of students beyond high school. So let's do this, and then let's get back to work.

Vote "yes" on Measures D and E.
Needling India on the Kashmir unrest, Pakistan on Sunday said the death of a 12-year-old Kashmiri boy due to pellet injuries was the worst example of state terrorism.

Condoling the death of Junaid Akhnoon, Pakistans foreign office claimed the incident was part of continued Indian atrocities in Kashmir.

The cold-blooded murder is the worst example of state terrorism of the Indian government and is indeed deplorable, it said in a press release.

The government and the people of Pakistan convey their deepest condolences on the death of Junaid to his bereaved family, it added.

The FO said the people of Kashmir are demanding their fundamental human rights, especially the right to self-determination, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.

The grave situation of human rights violations in Kashmir, growing atrocities and genocide of Kashmiris should be a matter of concern to the international community and the UN and warrants an immediate intervention to stop the bloodshed by India, it said.

The culture of impunity by Indian forces must come to an end, it said, adding there should be a fair, independent and transparent inquiry into the grave human rights

violations of the Kashmiris.

Junaid, who was hit by pellets in the head and chest, succumbed to his injuries on Friday, taking the death toll in the three-month-long unrest in Kashmir to 84.

His death sparked fresh clashes between protesters and security forces at various places in Kashmir on Saturday even as curfew continued in interior areas of Srinagar.

Image: Women protest after a 12-year-old Kashmiri boy died due to pellet injuries. Photograph: Umar Ganie
Two women were on Sunday killed and at least 12 people injured in a stampede after a massive rally by Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati at the Kanshi Ram Smarak Maidan.

IMAGE: A woman is rushed to the hospital after a stampede broke out after Mayawati's rally at the Kanshi Ram Smarak Maidan. Photograph: ANI/Twitter

A few people coming down the stairs at one of the two gates lost balance and fell on each other. Shanti Devi, 68, of Bijnore and another unidentified woman were killed in the incident due to suffocation, police said.

Rumours of a live power line having snapped triggered the stampede. The injured have been rushed to a local hospital, a BSP spokesperson said.

Partys state unit chief Ram Achal Rajbhar, however, said the women died due to humidity and heat.

The BSP workers had gathered in large numbers at the ground on party founder Kanshi Rams 10th death anniversary.

At the rally, BSP chief Maywati cautioned Muslims that voting for Samajwadi Party or Congress will only help BJP and sought their support to stop the saffron party.

Muslims should not waste their vote as there is infighting in Samajwadi Party and Congress lacks a voter base in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati said while addressing the rally.

Ever since the BJP government has come at the Centre, Muslims and other minorities are being subjected to bias. The minority status of Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia is being snatched away.

IMAGE: Rumours of a live power line having snapped triggered the stampede. Photograph: ANI/Twitter

Communal forces are becoming stronger and Muslims are being targeted in the name of love jihad, gau raksha (cow protection) and religious conversion, the BSP supremo alleged launching a scathing attack on the Modi government.

Mayawati also made it clear that her party will go alone in the three states going to polls early next year -- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, and cautioned the people against any canard that BSP might enter into an understanding for forming as government with the BJP in case it fell short of majority.

She said there was no truth in these rumours which were being spread to divide Muslim votes and asserted that such a situation will not arise.

Coming down heavily on the ruling Samajwadi Party, Mayawati said because of rampant crime and anarchy incidents such as Muzaffarnagar, Dadri, Mathura and Bulandshahr have occurred and promised to restore rule of law in Uttar Pradesh.

There is a tussle for supremacy going on in the SP between Mulayam Singh Yadavs son Akhilesh Yadav and brother Shivpal Singh Yadav and its result will be that the Yadav vote will split as each will try to ensure the defeat of candidates owing allegiance to the other, Mayawati said.

In such circumstances Muslims should not waste their ballot by voting for them or else it will help the BJP.... Similarly Congress does not have a vote base and voting for it will also benefit BJP, Mayawati said.

To stop the BJP, the vote should not go to either the Samajwadi Party or the Congress as with every assembly seat having 22 to 23 per cent Dalit votes, BSP can sail through with the help of Muslim votes or else the same scenario can emerge that was seen in 2014, she stressed.

IMAGE: BSP chief Mayawati cautioned Muslims that voting for Samajwadi Party or Congress will only help BJP and sought their support to stop the saffron party. Photograph: Sandeep Pal

Mayawati, who had faced criticism for spending hundreds of crores of rupees in setting up memorials of herself, Kanshi Ram and B R Ambedkar, said her party will not construct any more memorials.

Mayawati lashed out at the BJP saying its condition in UP is most dismal.

The BJP is in such a bad shape that it is depending on rejected or expelled leaders of other parties or those who have committed atrocities on their own family members, she alleged.

Without naming him, she trained her guns at former party leader Swami Prasad Maurya terming him as bhashanbaaz leader who had said unsavoury things against Hindu gods and Swati Singh, wife of expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh.

The BSP chief also criticised the BJP for making a beeline to the state for laying the foundation stones of schemes which are nowhere to be seen.

IMAGE: Thousands of people converged at the rally to hear the BSP chief talk. Photograph: Sandeep Pal

She said backward and upper caste votes have not voted en-mass for any one section but this time round that may not be the case.

Alleging that Uttar Pradesh was reeling under goonda and jungle raj, she said the state needed a BSP government and voting the party to power will be a true homage to Kanshi Ram.

Criticising the Congress, Mayawati said that it has projected a Brahmin woman as its chief ministerial candidate in UP who during her stint as the chief minister of Delhi had held the people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar responsible for spreading filth and used the funds meant for Dalit welfare on other heads because of her anti-Dalit mentality.

In such a scenario people will not accept Congress and its CM candidate even if its top leader resorts to any drama or goes about promising that power bills will be halved once its government comes to power, Mayawati said referring to Rahul Gandhis Deoria to Dilli kisan rath yatra which ended recently.

Rejecting the claims of Congress that its governments had waived loans worth Rs. 70,000 crore of farmers, she said that it had benefited only the affluent farmers sitting in AC rooms while the small and medium farmers were left empty handed.

In the name of development the government is only laying foundation stones and holding inaugurations and crores of rupees are being spent on advertisements which could be spent on welfare works, she said.

She claimed that the very few works of development which have been carried out by this government are the ones which were started during the previous BSP government headed by her.

They have only changed the names of our schemes...at the government and administrative level, mostly the corrupt officials, favourite of the Yadav family, have their hold since the very beginning, she alleged.

Development and crime control in UP have come to a halt, she said alleging the SP governments term has been dismal, casteist, biased and ridden with political vendetta.

It is unfortunate that the central governments, both previous and present, have not fulfilled their constitutional obligations due to their political motives, Mayawati said.
Political leaders, including Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, on Sunday visited the Apollo Hospital to enquire about the condition of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa even as special prayers were held for her good health across Tamil Nadu.

I pray to the Almighty that she recovers fully and get back to her routine. I am fully confident that she will recover soon, Narayanasamy told reporters after visiting the hospital.

Tamil Manila Congress chief G K Vasan also visited the hospital where Jayalalithaa is undergoing treatment since September 22. He said she is being given specialised medical care.

He met the director of the hospital and interacted with doctors, state ministers and was told that she is improving. Our best wishes to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for a speedy recovery. We wish on behalf of Tamil Manila Congress that she should resume her work for the people, he said.

Communist Party of India leader and Rajya Sabha MP D Raja said he spoke to doctors and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leaders present at the hospital and expressed his partys wishes for her early recovery.

Meanwhile, special prayers continued at places of worship in the state for Jayalalithaas speedy recovery.

After observing ritualistic stipulations for days, a massive milk pot procession was taken out in Madurai by AIADMK workers and supporters in which a sizable number of women cadres participated.

The procession began from Saravana Poigai tank and culminated at the Subramania Swamy temple in Tiruparankundram where the milk carried in pots was used for worship by them.

State Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar and his party workers participated in the prayers.

Also, yagnas were performed in several temples seeking a healthy and long life for Jayalalithaa in which former state minister Valarmathi participated.

Similarly, special prayer sessions were organised by Christians at various churches.

Image: AIADMK women wing members having food from the floor as a prayer for a speedy recovery of party supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, at a temple in Chennai. Photograph: PTI
A five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a teenage boy at Trimbakeshwar which led to tension as angry villagers protested at several places in the district demanding his immediate arrest, police said on Sunday.

The boy has been taken into custody, they said.

In view of the situation, Nashik Police Commissioner Ravindra Singhal has appealed people to maintain peace.

The 16-year-old boy allegedly raped the girl at an isolated place at Talegaon village under Trimbakeshwar taluka in the district on Saturday, Trimbakeshwar police station in-charge Mukund Deshmukh said.

As soon as the news spread, tension gripped Talegaon as locals gathered at the police station on Saturday night demanding that the boy be booked and arrested.

The villagers also staged rasta roko in Wadovhare, Ghoti and Anjaneri-phata areas. Some people set tyres on fire, and also damaged a tractor in Talegaon.

A group of people also protested at Nashik Civil Hospital on Saturday night and demanded that the victim be examined by a woman doctor, Deshmukh said.

According to the rural control room, some people staged rasta-rokos at Talwade village on Nashik-Trimbakeshwar road, Girnare village, which is about 10 kilometre from Nashik district headquarters, and near Mohadi on the busy Mumbai-Agra National Highway on Sunday morning against the incident.

Police had to rush to the sites and clear the roads.

Meanwhile, the boy has been booked under IPC section 376 (rape) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

Nashik Police Commissioner Singhal has appealed to people to maintain peace and assured that proper action would be taken against the guilty.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, who is also the Guardian Minister of Nashik, on Sunday visited Talegaon and met the victims family members.

He assured the girls family that stern action will be taken by police against the culprit.

The minister also asked people to remain calm.

The girl has been examined at NashikCivilHospital by lady doctors, and it was clear that only an attempt of rape was made by the boy, he told reporters.

Special Inspector General of Police, Nashik Range, Vinaykumar Choube also visited Talegaon on Sunday morning even as some people threw stones on his car, a rural control room official said, adding that Superintendent of Police (rural) Ankush Shinde was keeping a close watch on the situation.

The situation was under control but tense, the official said.

Taking precautionary measures, the city as well as rural police has beefed up security.
IU Health Morgan opening walk-in primary care service Nov. 8

A new walk-in primary care service unit is opening at IU Health Morgan very soon as the healthcare provider looks to offer more convenience to Martinsville and Morgan County residents.
Who has been too busy with "going" that she didn't have time to give her Fall Speech, so ...

Jumping into Christmas  a few ladies over at the Woman's Club are crazy enough to make this offer: they will present "Christmas Market" on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They will have 40 vendors and 25 decorated tables. They will also have three food trucks for have lunch. All of this is open to the public and every AWC member for only $5 a ticket. Get ahead  bring your kin folks and say Merry Christmas. Call Debbie Blake at 733-8999 and say "Thank You."

Membership at AWC is certainly alive with plans ... maybe it's the election. No, this Reporter believes it is the Junior Woman's Club. They are all under 50 and use their time wisely. At any rate  here are some of the events: Style Show  Oct. 21. House Tour  Nov. 12. On the 7th the Club hosted a luncheon for the old ladies (32 of them) who have been members for 25 years (and could still eat). And a sure 'nuff nice luncheon on Assembly Day Sept. 30 when the Club year ends. Past Presidents are recognized, current presidents step up and step down and new department chairs appear. It was a traditional meeting with Barbara Pittman giving a glowing review of this year's accomplishments (her husband Larry Pittman had adoring looks). Celina Fennell graciously accepted the presidency a second time (her husband Wendell Fennell had supportive looks). Hostesses were: Peggy Morris, chair; Anita Westmoreland; Donna Paris; Judith Phaneuf; and Audrey Perry.

Abilene Community Theater offered a different play directed by Mike Stephens who told the audience to expect the unexpected ... and it turned out to be a rootin', tootin' melodrama with old West heroes, lily pure maidens, and black hearted gamblers There also were stolen golden mines, long lost daughters, kidnapped heroines and heartbreadth escapes, more or less  more less. Each of the 25 characters in the cast (they were listed in the paper sackcloth program) did his/her part to perfection, more or less  a saying which kept ringing. It was nice to see Robert Holladay, he hates to miss anything where the word "talent" is used, and there was talent. Ron Hart saw Charles and Lela Dick, Russell and Paula Berry, Dr. Fred and Carol White, Makee and Piboon.

MizC thinks "I Hate Hamlet," a comedy by Paul Rudnick, directed by David Ainsworth, at McMurry Theatre, was popular. The cast included Lauren Bridwell, Cody Kover, Katrina Pearson, Lacey Reece, Graeme Regan and David Lee Herrera.

In the Notes of the Director ... "'I Hate Hamlet' is very timely because it affirms that classical theater is general (and Shakespeare in particular) is still the benchmark of achievement for any actor ... this play has particular resonance for those who produce theater, but this charming whimsical play reaches much further by making the broader point that personal growth in any endeavor is only possible beyond one's 'comfort zone.' ... The more materialistic our culture becomes, the more relevant this play seems.

Rosh Hashana: Dr. Marc Orner, is President of Temple Mizpah, which as a mission is to provide a place and means for all congregants to worship God in the tradition of Judaism.

They gather together as a religious community to worship, study and observe their religious traditions. They affirm these values: Torah, Tefilla (prayer), Tikkum Olam (deeds of loving kindness). Through all this, they endeavor to create a loving atmosphere that promotes Jewish continuity and the enhancement of its congregants and members.

They  congregants  were happy to have Cantor Monica Braverman, who directed thinking with her voice, accompanied by Eliza Williams, who produced soft, meaningful tones. Catered Jewish foods were served from their side/atrium. It was a cozy atmosphere where MizCheevus met: Don and Cherry Shiflet, Don and Dyanne Spease, Barbara Pollack, Ms. Sybil Crane, and Henry and D'Dee Kearny. Gay Beitscher made the bread and brought MizCheevus. Schoolchildren used to call it the Cohen Chapel because there is a plaque cornerstone dedicated to the memory of Ben Cohen, pioneer businessman who came to Abilene in 1909 and died in 1932. Seems like not too long ago there were also Harry and Saddie Goltz, but son Mr. Eugene Goltz was there soliciting readers.

Events to come: Yom Kippur  Tuesday and Wednesday.

Things which need to be discussed: A man who served 50 years on Abilene Zoological Society Board  Donald McDonald. Fashions for the Cure  changed its format but not its purpose. Cattle Baron's Ball where life is not necessarily a dance, but it always helps American Cancer.
MONDAY

Movie at the Mockingbird Library

A free showing of a film about students participating in a robotics competition will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Mockingbird Branch of the Abilene Public Library, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane.

Other ...

Overeaters Anonymous, noon, Hinds Square Building, 100 Chestnut St., Room 112.

Schizophrenia Support Group, 1-2 p.m., Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300.

Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 5:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St.

Anorexics Bulimics Anonymous, 6 p.m., Shades of Hope, 402A Mulberry St., Buffalo Gap. 800-588-4673.

Hendrick Ostomy support group, 6:30 p.m., Diabetes Center, 1742 Hickory St.

Central Texas Gem & Mineral Society of Abilene, 7 p.m., 7607 Highway 277 South. 325-692-0063.

Abilene Toastmaster's Club 1071, 7 p.m., Conference Center, Texas State Technical College, 650 E. Highway 80. 325-692-7325 or abilene.toastmastersclubs.org.

Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1501 N. Broadway, Ballinger. 817-689-2810 or 325-977-1007.

Mid-City Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First Christian Church. 325-670-4304.

Memory Men (4-part a cappella singing), 7 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church, 1165 Minter Lane. Park on east side, enter through kitchen. 325-676-SING.

Abilene Quilters Guild, 7 p.m., Highland Church of Christ, Room No. 112. Meet-and-greet at 6:45 p.m. 325-676-1478.

Abilene Community Band rehearsal, 7:30 p.m., Bynum Band Hall, McMurry University. 325-232-7383.

South Pioneer Al-Anon Group, 8 p.m., 3157 Russell Ave.

Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Avoca United Methodist Church. 325-773-2611.

Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Group. 325-676-1400.

TUESDAY

Bunco for Breast Cancer

The annual Bunco for Breast Cancer Tournament will begin at 6 p.m. at the Taylor County Coliseum. Registration is $30. For more information, email bunco@ehendrick.org.

Business workshop

Texas Tech Small Business Development Center Abilene will conduct a workshop, 'Adding to My Profit,' from 6-8 p.m. in the Texas Tech Training Center, 749 Gateway St., Suite 301. To make a reservation, call 325-670-0300.

Tree program

Bruce Kreitler, owner of Broken Willow Tree Service, will present 'Put Fall and Winter to Work for Your Trees' at 6:30 p.m. at the Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St. Admission is free.

Square dance workshop

TYE  The Key City Squares will conduct a square dancing workshop at 6:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel.

'Marx in Soho'

The one-man show 'Marx in Soho' will be presented at 7 p.m. in the Ryan Little Theatre at McMurry University. Admission is free.

Other ...

Mission on the Move Soup Kitchen, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Southwest Drive Community United Methodist Church, 3025 Southwest Dr.

Abilene Southwest Rotary Club, noon, Beehive Restaurant, 442 Cedar St.

High Noon Al-Anon, noon, Southern Hills Church of Christ, 3666 Buffalo Gap Road (south end; follow the yellow signs).

Stroke/Aphasia Recovery Program support group, 1:30-2:30 p.m. West Texas Rehabilitation Center boardroom, 4601 Hartford St. 325-793-3535.

Dystonia Support Group, 5:15-6:15 p.m., Not Without Us, 3301 N. First St. Suite 117.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), 5:30 p.m., Brook Hollow Christian Church, 2310 S. Willis St. 325-232-7444.

Legacies Al-Anon Family Group, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Open Door Building, 3157 Russell Ave. 325-280-7584.

Family (of Mental Health Consumers) Support Group, 6-7 p.m., Mental Health Association in Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300.

MHAA Bipolar/Depression Peer Support Group, 6-8 p.m., Ministry of Counseling & Enrichment, 1502 N. First St. 325-673-2300.

Free certified nurturing parent class (pregnancy to toddler), 6-8 p.m., Mission Church, North Third and Mockingbird streets. 325-672-9398.

Methodist Children's Home Foster Parent Orientation, 6-8 p.m., 500 Chestnut, Suite 1621. 325-672-9398.

Abilene Star Chorus, 6:15 p.m., Wisteria Place Chapel, 3202 S. Willis St. 325-829-1470.

Abilene Chapter of American Association of Professional Coders, 6:30 p.m., in the board room next to the Tom Roberts Conference Center, second floor, Hendrick Medical Center, 1900 N. Pine St. Free AAPC CEU offered at every meeting. 325-435-9059.

Women of Combat Veterans Group, 6:30 p.m., Anson Housing Authority building.

Overeaters Anonymous, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Exodus Metropolitan Community Church, 1933 S. 27th St.

Al-Anon Parents Group, 7 p.m., Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave. Use Church Street entrance.

Al-Anon, 7 p.m., Doug Meinzer Activity Center, Knox City. 940-658-3926.

Abilene Society of Model Railroaders, 7-8:30 p.m., 2043 N. Second St.

Unity Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St.

WEDNESDAY

Square dance workshop

TYE  The Wagon Wheel Squares will conduct a square dancing workshop at 6:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel.

Other ...

Overeaters Anonymous, 8 a.m., Hinds Square Building, Room 112, 100 Chestnut St.

Blood drive, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Woodson High School.

Abilene Cactus Lions Club, 11:45 a.m., Cotton Patch Cafe, 3302 S. Clack St.

Abilene Wednesday Rotary Club, noon, Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway. $12 for lunch. Jo Ann Wilson, 325-677-6815.

Kiwanis Club of Abilene, noon, Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway Blvd.

Clearly Speaking Toastmaster Club, noon, Westgate Church of Christ, 402 S. Pioneer Drive. 325-795-5570.

Diabetes Support Group, 2-3 p.m., Stonewall County Library.

Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 5:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St.

Veterans Peer Support Group, 6 p.m., 765 Orange St. 325-670-4818.

Midweek Al-Anon Family Group, 6-7 p.m., Open Door Building, 3157 Russell Ave. 325-698-4995.

Advanced Square Dancing, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Wagon Wheel.

Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1501 N. Broadway, Ballinger. 817-689-2810 or 325-977-1007.

DivorceCare support group, 7 p.m., Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave. 325-691-4200.

THURSDAY

Women's luncheon

A Christian Women's Connection luncheon will begin at 11:25 a.m. at the Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway Blvd. Cindy Simmons will be the guest speaker. Tickets are $16. For reservations, or for more information, call 325-370-6567.

Class for iPhones and iPads

Tom Miller will present a free class for iPhone and iPad users at 1 p.m. at the Mockingbird Branch of the Abilene Public Library, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane. Registration will begin at 12:30 p.m. Information: 325-692-1087.

ArtWalk

ArtWalk, a program of the Center for Contemporary Arts, will take place from 5-8 p.m. in downtown Abilene. The theme will be 'Nightmare on Cypress Street.'

Poetry night

The Abilene Christian University Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi and the Department of Language and Literature will present 'Una Velada Poetica  A Night of Poetry' from 6-7 p.m. at The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. Works by Antonio Machado and Pablo Neruda will be presented in both English and Spanish.

Square dance workshop

TYE  A-Team will conduct a square dancing workshop 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel.

Chamber meeting

The Abilene Chamber of Commerce will conduct its annual membership meeting and awards ceremony from 6:30-10 p.m. at the Abilene Civic Center, 1100 N. Sixth St. Tickets are $60. For more information, go to www.abilenechamber.com.

Grace After Dark  En Espanol

Screenings of several short Spanish language films will be presented during Grace After Dark  En Espanol at 8:45 p.m. on the roof of The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. Food trucks will open at 6 p.m., and a cash bar will be available. Admission will be free, but will be limited to 100 viewers. Participants must be 18 or older.

Other ...

Abilene Garden Club, 10 a.m., 300 Westwood St.

Blood drive, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Loraine High School.

Blood drive, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Westbrook High School.

Chronic Pain and Depression Group, 11 a.m. to noon, Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St., 325-673-2300.

Abilene Founder Lions Club, 11:30 a.m., Al's Mesquite Grill, 4801 Buffalo Gap Road.

Kiwanis Club of Greater Abilene, noon, Beehive Restaurant, 442 Cedar St. 325-695-0092.

Mental Illness Open Support Group, 1-2 p.m., Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300.

Abilene 42 Club, 6 p.m., Rose Park Senior Center.

PEP (People Enjoying People) Club, 6 p.m., Wylie Baptist Church, 6097 Buffalo Gap Road 325-692-4909.

Teen Recovery Group, 6-7 p.m., Mission Abilene, 3001 N. Third St.

Free certified nurturing parent class (all ages), 6-8 p.m., Mission Church, North Third and Mockingbird streets. 325-672-9398.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 6:30 p.m. Brook Hollow Christian Church. Weigh-in begins at 5:30 p.m. 325-665-5052.

Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 6:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St.

Gambler's Anonymous, 6:30 p.m., Unity Spiritual Living Center, 2842 Barrow St. 325-338-2575.

West Texas Genealogical Society, 6:30 p.m., Rose Park Senior Citizen Center.

Round Dancing, 7 p.m., Wagon Wheel. 325-829-1517.

Tea Party Patriots of Eastland County, 7 p.m., Myrtle Wilks Community Center, Cisco.

South Pioneer Al-Anon Group, 8 p.m., 3157 Russell Ave.

Unity Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St.

Hendrick Hospice Care sponsors a 'Gone But Not Lost' support group the second Thursday of each month for any bereaved parent who has lost a child of any age. Information: 325-677-8516 or 1-800-622-8516.
SUNDAY

Trade Days of West Texas

Trade Days of West Texas will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2501 E. Highway 80. A variety of vendors will be present. Admission is free.

Nolan County Fair and Rodeo

SWEETWATER  The third annual Nolan County Fair and Rodeo will continue with a carnival at 1 p.m. at the Nolan County Coliseum. The rodeo will begin at 2 p.m. For more information, go to sweetwatertexas.org.

'The Addams Family Musical'

A production of 'The Addams Family Musical' will be presented at 2 p.m. in Van Ellis Theatre at Hardin-Simmons University. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students, seniors and military, and $5 for HSU faculty, staff and students. For tickets, go to hsutx.thundertix.com.

'An Evening Under the Stars'

BUFFALO GAP  The 'An Evening Under the Stars' fundraiser concert benefiting the Camp Able equine therapy program will be presented from 4-10 p.m. at the Red Dirt Pavilion. Participants are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, and food trucks will be available. Admission is by donation.

Other ...

Blood drive, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., South Pointe Church, 3050 Buffalo Gap Road.

MONDAY

Movie at the Mockingbird Library

A free showing of a film about students participating in a robotics competition will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Mockingbird Branch of the Abilene Public Library, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane.

Other ...

Overeaters Anonymous, noon, Hinds Square Building, 100 Chestnut St., Room 112.

Schizophrenia Support Group, 1-2 p.m., Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300.

Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 5:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St.

Anorexics Bulimics Anonymous, 6 p.m., Shades of Hope, 402A Mulberry St., Buffalo Gap. 800-588-4673.

Hendrick Ostomy support group, 6:30 p.m., Diabetes Center, 1742 Hickory St.

Central Texas Gem & Mineral Society of Abilene, 7 p.m., 7607 Highway 277 South. 325-692-0063.

Abilene Toastmaster's Club 1071, 7 p.m., Conference Center, Texas State Technical College, 650 E. Highway 80. 325-692-7325 or abilene.toastmastersclubs.org.

Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1501 N. Broadway, Ballinger. 817-689-2810 or 325-977-1007.

Mid-City Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First Christian Church. 325-670-4304.

Memory Men (4-part a cappella singing), 7 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church, 1165 Minter Lane. Park on east side, enter through kitchen. 325-676-SING.

Abilene Quilters Guild, 7 p.m., Highland Church of Christ, Room No. 112. Meet-and-greet at 6:45 p.m. 325-676-1478.

Abilene Community Band rehearsal, 7:30 p.m., Bynum Band Hall, McMurry University. 325-232-7383.

South Pioneer Al-Anon Group, 8 p.m., 3157 Russell Ave.

Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Avoca United Methodist Church. 325-773-2611.

Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Group. 325-676-1400.

TUESDAY

Bunco for Breast Cancer

The annual Bunco for Breast Cancer Tournament will begin at 6 p.m. at the Taylor County Coliseum. Registration is $30. For more information, email bunco@ehendrick.org.

Business workshop

Texas Tech Small Business Development Center Abilene will conduct a workshop, 'Adding to My Profit,' from 6-8 p.m. in the Texas Tech Training Center, 749 Gateway St., Suite 301. To make a reservation, call 325-670-0300.

Tree program

Bruce Kreitler, owner of Broken Willow Tree Service, will present 'Put Fall and Winter to Work for Your Trees' at 6:30 p.m. at the Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St. Admission is free.

Square dance workshop

TYE  The Key City Squares will conduct a square dancing workshop at 6:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel.

'Marx in Soho'

The one-man show 'Marx in Soho' will be presented at 7 p.m. in the Ryan Little Theatre at McMurry University. Admission is free.

Other ...

Mission on the Move Soup Kitchen, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Southwest Drive Community United Methodist Church, 3025 Southwest Dr.

Abilene Southwest Rotary Club, noon, Beehive Restaurant, 442 Cedar St.

High Noon Al-Anon, noon, Southern Hills Church of Christ, 3666 Buffalo Gap Road (south end; follow the yellow signs).

Stroke/Aphasia Recovery Program support group, 1:30-2:30 p.m. West Texas Rehabilitation Center boardroom, 4601 Hartford St. 325-793-3535.

Dystonia Support Group, 5:15-6:15 p.m., Not Without Us, 3301 N. First St. Suite 117.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), 5:30 p.m., Brook Hollow Christian Church, 2310 S. Willis St. 325-232-7444.

Legacies Al-Anon Family Group, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Open Door Building, 3157 Russell Ave. 325-280-7584.

Family (of Mental Health Consumers) Support Group, 6-7 p.m., Mental Health Association in Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300.

MHAA Bipolar/Depression Peer Support Group, 6-8 p.m., Ministry of Counseling & Enrichment, 1502 N. First St. 325-673-2300.

Free certified nurturing parent class (pregnancy to toddler), 6-8 p.m., Mission Church, North Third and Mockingbird streets. 325-672-9398.

Methodist Children's Home Foster Parent Orientation, 6-8 p.m., 500 Chestnut, Suite 1621. 325-672-9398.

Abilene Star Chorus, 6:15 p.m., Wisteria Place Chapel, 3202 S. Willis St. 325-829-1470.

Abilene Chapter of American Association of Professional Coders, 6:30 p.m., in the board room next to the Tom Roberts Conference Center, second floor, Hendrick Medical Center, 1900 N. Pine St. Free AAPC CEU offered at every meeting. 325-435-9059.

Women of Combat Veterans Group, 6:30 p.m., Anson Housing Authority building.

Overeaters Anonymous, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Exodus Metropolitan Community Church, 1933 S. 27th St.

Al-Anon Parents Group, 7 p.m., Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave. Use Church Street entrance.

Al-Anon, 7 p.m., Doug Meinzer Activity Center, Knox City. 940-658-3926.

Abilene Society of Model Railroaders, 7-8:30 p.m., 2043 N. Second St.

Unity Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St.

WEDNESDAY

Square dance workshop

TYE  The Wagon Wheel Squares will conduct a square dancing workshop at 6:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel.

Other ...

Overeaters Anonymous, 8 a.m., Hinds Square Building, Room 112, 100 Chestnut St.

Blood drive, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Woodson High School.

Abilene Cactus Lions Club, 11:45 a.m., Cotton Patch Cafe, 3302 S. Clack St.

Abilene Wednesday Rotary Club, noon, Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway. $12 for lunch. Jo Ann Wilson, 325-677-6815.

Kiwanis Club of Abilene, noon, Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway Blvd.

Clearly Speaking Toastmaster Club, noon, Westgate Church of Christ, 402 S. Pioneer Drive. 325-795-5570.

Diabetes Support Group, 2-3 p.m., Stonewall County Library.

Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 5:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St.

Veterans Peer Support Group, 6 p.m., 765 Orange St. 325-670-4818.

Midweek Al-Anon Family Group, 6-7 p.m., Open Door Building, 3157 Russell Ave. 325-698-4995.

Advanced Square Dancing, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Wagon Wheel.

Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1501 N. Broadway, Ballinger. 817-689-2810 or 325-977-1007.

DivorceCare support group, 7 p.m., Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave. 325-691-4200.
Medications  prescription and nonprescription  have made our lives better in many ways. Safely managing your medications involves understanding a little bit about drugs in general and how to talk to your doctor, pharmacist and other health providers. It also involves dealing with medications that are unused, expired or no longer needed.

With prescription medications, the label often will tell you when the medicine should be discarded. With over-the-counter medicines and sample drugs, the expiration date is often printed on the label under 'EXP,' or stamped without ink into the bottom of a bottle, carton or the crimp of a tube.

For medicines without an expiration date, unless you know you purchased it within the past year, it's best to toss it. As time passes, medications may lose their effectiveness, especially if they are stored in a medicine cabinet in a warm, moist bathroom. In rare cases, outdated medication could become toxic.

The Food and Drug Administration offers the following guidelines to encourage the proper disposal of medicines and to help reduce harm from accidental exposure or intentional misuse:

Follow any specific disposal instructions on the prescription drug labeling or patient information that accompanies the medicine. Do not flush the medicines down the sink or toilet unless this information specifically instructs you to do so.

Take advantage of programs that allow the public to take unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal.

If no disposal instructions are given on the prescription drug labeling and no take-back program is available in your area, throw the drugs in the household trash following these steps:

1. Remove them from their original containers and mix them with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds, dirt or kitty litter (this makes the drug less appealing to children and pets, and unrecognizable to people who may intentionally go through the trash seeking drugs).

2. Place the mixture in a sealable bag, empty can or other container to prevent the drug from leaking or breaking out of a garbage bag.

A few other tips from the FDA:

Scratch out all identifying information on the prescription label to make it unreadable. This will help protect your identity and the privacy of your personal health information.

Do not give your medicine to friends. Doctors prescribe medicines based on your specific symptoms and medical history. Something that works for you could be dangerous for someone else.

When in doubt about proper disposal, ask your pharmacist.

The same disposal methods for prescription drugs could apply to over-the-counter drugs as well.

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy and Hendrick Health System will conduct a Medication Cleanout from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 22 at the pharmacy school at 1718 Pine St.

This free event provides a great opportunity for individuals to bring their unused or expired medications for proper disposal. Organizers ask that all medications be left in their original containers.

For more information, and a list of restrictions, go to MedicationCleanout.com or call 806-414-9495.

Jane Rowan is the extension agent for family and consumer sciences at the Taylor County Extension Office. Contact her at 325-672-6048 or l-rowan@tamu.edu.
COMANCHE  Waving that dang fly from my face, my arm froze with a reflexive thought  did I just buy a bull?

Glancing up, I noticed the bid taker, Jim Boyd, was looking the other way. Phew, squeaked by again.

I briefly considered the ludicrous thought of where I'd put a Hereford bull if I brought one home. I guess I could stash him in the small bedroom, my youngest has moved in with her sister, but I don't know how I'd get him down the hall.

The 55th Annual Dudley Bros. Bull Sale was Friday. Bidders from around the region converged on the ranch just south of town, both in person and online. Among those in the bleachers were Albany's Cliff Tienert and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.

The original three brothers  Gail, Eltos and Tom  have long since left us. The business they nurtured is still going strong, however, thanks to their descendants.

'My dad and uncle started the production sale in 1962 and so now this is 2016  wow, that's a long time,' exclaimed John Dudley, adding they used to hold the sale in a tent before they built the barn. 'Before that, we were selling bulls, but by private treaty on the ranch.'

While they have a purebred registered herd, the company's emphasis is on selling to commercial breeders and not other registered breeders.

'That's not our niche, our niche is to raise bulls and sell them to commercial ranchers who will turn them out on black cows, Brahmin cows, red cows, the whole thing,' he said. 'This will be the 78th year that the Dudley Bros. has been selling Hereford Bulls, and the 131st year that we've been ranching in Comanche County.'

I've been to plenty of cattle sales and the mechanics of them are all about the same, including this one. The buyers sit on bleachers around a dirt-filled pen, the livestock comes in one sliding door and walks around while an auctioneer, like Leo Casas on Friday, is seated above the pen and rattles off the current price. When it's done, the bull in this case goes through an opposite door, out to a pen, and then waits to go home with his new owner.

But that's about where the similarities appeared to end.

'If you're going to the local auction barn, you're watching calves and mainly mature cattle going to slaughter,' Dudley said. 'You're seeing the slaughter price, whereas these bulls are going out into the pasture to be service sires in people's organization.'

A general rule of thumb is one bull can be paired with 20 cows. If you've got 400 cows, you're going to need a lot of bull. And a bit of cash.

The first bull went for $10,000. The second sold for $7,500 and the third was either $8,500 or $9,500. I can't say for sure because as I was sitting in the front row, the bull chose that moment to shower me and two others with a hoof's worth of dirt kicked from the ring. Since he was only the third sale, at least it was clean dirt.

Kent Moore drove four hours to get to the sale and didn't leave empty-handed.

'I bought three and I'm going to Oklahoma with them,' he said, adding that he is looking to build his herd up.

'I run steers mainly, and I never had much need for bulls before. I knew this was a good place to come buy Hereford bulls,' he said. 'I was impressed to see this many good bulls, that are all the same age, same size.'

Jason Barber was fielding bids for Superior Livestock Auction, cradling a phone with his neck while watching a laptop in front of him. When one of his online customers would make a bid, Barber would yell out and wave a hand. It seemed a little nerve-wracking.

'It's not bad, I've done it for about 10 years now and it's pretty fast-paced, but it's more efficient than what you'd think it would be,' he said. People who bid through Superior can either click a button online or go old-school and call on the phone.

There were 128 bulls sold Friday. The fall is also the time of year on the ranch when calves are born, in the spring they are weaned from their mothers.

'Then we have yearling bulls which will be developed for next year's sale,' he said. 'The calves that are landing on the ground right now, they'll get tattooed and registered and they'll be (sold) the year after that.'

It's around Thanksgiving when the herd bulls are turned out to the cow herd once more.

'They'll be producing the calves which will be sold four years from now,' he finished.

I had 'fess-up to Dudley; my only experience with bulls was from cartoons as a kid. I wasn't too sure that I'd care to be in pen with a group of them.

'Hereford cattle are inherently docile,' he said, adding it's a breed trait.

That made sense, they did seem kind of mellow even to my newbie eyes. Sort of, anyhow.

'Now, when you put all these 2-year-old bulls together, think about a locker room; a bunch of teenage boys scuffling, fighting,' Dudley said. 'It would be a rare circumstance when you walk into a pen of bulls when the bull turns around and goes for you. That would be almost unheard of in our sale. But if you're standing in the pen when Bull A gets after Bull B, you can get in the way.'

Yes, sometimes I have a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong moment. His scenario wasn't hard to envision.

'Think of the NFL. They're fighting and scuffling and carrying on with each other,' he said. 'They're big boys, you can get hurt.'

Yeah, I don't think that little bedroom is going to work out.
A 5-year-old boy brought to the Abilene/Taylor County Child Advocacy Center said he was angry at the police.

Angry at the police for taking away his parents.

When asked why the police did that, the boy responded that the police found ice  methamphetamine  in his home.

The forensic interviewer asked the boy where they found the ice.

In his sock drawer, he said.

It's a case Taylor County Judge Downing Bolls cannot forget.

As a board member of the Child Advocacy Center, where children who are victims of crime are interviewed, Bolls hears the occasional Child Protective Services case, but this one made him wonder: 'How does a 5-year-old child in this community know about ice?'

How could a parent produce drugs and leave them in a child's drawer?

'There's things that make you go 'I wish I didn't know that,'' Bolls said.

But there are many more cases like that 5-year-old boy's in Taylor County and the surrounding Big Country.

In this area, there have been 'too many cries,' Police Chief Stan Standridge said.

For the past five years the Abilene region has reported the highest rate of child abuse and neglect in Texas, doubling the state average most of those years.

Officials who respond to allegations of child abuse and neglect in Taylor County  one of 30 counties in the region  say the rate is a result of a high degree of people reporting possible abuse and close collaboration among agencies and community partners.

But the numbers are still stark in comparison.

In fiscal year 2015, the Abilene-Wichita Falls region had 21 confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect per 1,000 children, according to the most recent Department of Family and Protective Services statistics. That amounts to 2,763 confirmed victims.

The next-highest rate came from the Tyler region, which had 14.7 confirmed cases per 1,000 children, nearly 50 percent lower than Abilene's rate.

The state average rate for 2015 was 9.1 confirmed cases per 1,000 children. That means 66,721 children were confirmed victims of abuse or neglect across Texas.

An expert on child abuse said the high rate could be caused by a number of factors  ranging from a statistical anomaly to heightened public awareness of the issue, from a heavier-handed approach to child abuse in the area to just more abuse.

Others claim the rate is a direct effect of the immense use of methamphetamine and other drugs among adults.

In all likelihood, there is no one reason or solution.

Small population distorts rate

The Department of Family and Protective Services, the state agency tasked with protecting the health and safety of children and adults, divides the state into 11 geographic regions. Child Protective Services is one of five programs under the DFPS umbrella.

The headquarters of Region 2 is in Abilene, with the region extending north to Wichita County, south to Brown County, west to Scurry County and east to Eastland County. It has the smallest child population, through age 17, of all 11 regions  131,651 in 2015.

The most populous region is Region 3, which includes Dallas-Fort Worth, with a child population of almost 2 million. Its 2015 rate of child abuse and neglect was 9.4 cases per 1,000 children, or 18,571 confirmed victims.

The only years in the past eight that Region 2 has not had the highest rate were 2009 and 2010, according to DFPS statistics. The region surpassed the other 10 regions in the state from 2007 to 2009 and again from 2011 to 2015.

From 2007 to 2015, the Abilene region had the highest reporting rate of any of the regions, according to DFPS statistics, even if it did not have the highest rate of child abuse and neglect. The reporting rate represents the number of claims made that have not yet been investigated.

Chris Greeley, chief of Public Health Pediatrics at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston and pediatrics professor at Baylor College of Medicine, said there could be various reasons for Region 2's high rate.

Because of its small child population, any increase in the number of child abuse or neglect cases in Region 2 would result in a bigger climb in the rate than in Region 3, for example, because it is about 10 times the size of Region 2, Greeley said.

'Any changes are much more apparent statistically,' said Greeley, who holds a master's degree in clinical research. 'Part of it looks really disproportionate because the denominator is so small compared to all the other regions.'

The region next closest in size to Abilene's is Region 9, whose headquarters is in Midland. Region 9 includes 30 counties with a child population of 159,694 in 2015, yet its rate of child abuse and neglect for that year did not come close to Region 2's  11.2 confirmed cases per 1,000 children. That is 1,789 children, almost 1,000 fewer victims than in the Abilene-Wichita Falls region.

Awareness leads to more reporting

Another potential reason for Region 2 having the highest rate of child abuse in the state is that people in the area are more attuned to the issue and report it more often, Greeley said.

'They may just be more aware,' he said. 'So they tend to call it in more often, rightly or wrongly, whether it's real or not.'

Greeley called this a 'surveillance bias.' The 'immediate response' to a public awareness campaign on recognizing child abuse and neglect would cause an increase in reporting the issue, he said.

'Much like when you're trying to buy a new car, you then see it everywhere on the street, and that's just a reality,' he said. 'Maybe we're just seeing it more often. Bias doesn't mean there's something wrong. It's just a systematic skewing.'

Another consideration is that regions with large cities tend to have lower reporting rates, while regions that are more rural typically have higher reporting rates, said Sherrel Mathews, former Region 2 director for CPS.

'In the smaller areas, you have the opportunity to have better relationships with the partners in the community, and I think people are just more aware and see things and report,' said Mathews, who oversaw the region for 3 years. 'When you get to the Abilene region and our alleged rate being almost twice the state rate and our confirmed rate being more than twice the state rate, that I truly attribute to our working relationships in these communities.'

The alleged rate is the reporting rate, or the reports of potential abuse and neglect made to the statewide intake hotline. The alleged rate represents claims that have not been substantiated.

'It's easier in Houston or Dallas for a family to get lost,' Mathews said.

Before Mathews became regional director, a high profile case, the 2012 death of 22-month-old Tamryn Klapheke, brought a lot of attention to Child Protective Services. It prompted changes to the way local entities work together to address child abuse and neglect, she said. Three local CPS supervisors were fired in the aftermath of the case, and two of the three were indicted on charges of tampering with evidence.

'From that point, that began a real big emphasis for us on really building those partnerships even stronger than they had been in the past,' Mathews said. 'When you have those kind of strong working relationships with law enforcement, the school, your domestic violence community  the professional partners out there  you're going to get more reports. But I also think it's the common citizen in these communities, too, that is more aware.'

Police Chief Standridge agreed. He said he does not believe the region has more child abuse than any other, just more reporting.

'All law enforcement in the southern part of this region has direct access to CPS supervisors via cellphones,' Standridge said. 'This may not be the case all across the state, but Abilene has worked diligently in recent years to cement strong relationships between the agencies.'

Law enforcement informs Child Protective Services when children are present during domestic violence investigations or in vehicles in which adult drivers are arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated or drug possession, he said. Two CPS investigators work out of the police department to streamline the investigative process.

'Proactive notifications drive numbers up, but all of Region 2 law enforcement will tell you that our children deserve such protections,' Standridge said. 'Collaboration is a must, and it is done well in Abilene. When a child makes an outcry, investigators from the police department, CPS and (the Child Advocacy Center) will stand shoulder to shoulder and investigate the circumstances.'

Sgt. Craig Griffis, criminal investigations supervisor for the Taylor County Sheriff's Office, echoed Standridge, saying the stakeholders in this region work well together because they communicate often. Two CPS caseworkers are assigned to the sheriff's office, and they conduct investigations alongside law enforcement.

The death of Tamryn Klapheke, which Griffis called an 'eye-opening experience,' forced CPS workers and law enforcement to build better relationships, he said, adding that the relationship between the two entities has never been better.

He recalled a meeting in late July when the new Department of Family and Protective Services commissioner, Henry 'Hank' Whitman, visited the Child Advocacy Center to speak with the staff and area law enforcement officers. Griffis said the commissioner applauded how well law enforcement cooperates with CPS and said that should be the standard across the state.

Whitman thanked the representatives at the meeting for their 'cooperative working relationship with CPS' and their 'obvious commitment to child safety,' said Patrick Crimmins, DFPS state spokesman, in an email.

'He's had nothing but good things to say about the local commitment to child protection,' he said.

Regional approach raises reporting

Judge Paul Rotenberry of the 326th District Court has seen an increase in child abuse cases.

He has experienced such a surge that other courts are 'catching the overflow,' he said. Weekly, other judges must stand in for him because his docket is so full.

As the family court judge, Rotenberry handles Child Protective Services cases, including those in which the agency believes a child should be removed from the home. Emergency removals, which is when CPS investigators determine a child's environment is dire enough that there is not enough time to get a court order for removal, must be heard within 14 days of removal.

'The circumstances are so bad that they've got to make an immediate removal,' Rotenberry said.

Since he took the bench Jan. 1, 2015, the number of emergency removals, which usually involve multiple children, have more than doubled.

Emergency removals in Taylor County:

2013  103

2014  112

2015  230

January-September 2016  191

Bolls, the county judge, said the problem is significant enough in Taylor County that the Commissioners Court plans to petition the Legislature to place a court here dedicated solely to CPS cases.

At a request by the district attorney's office, the Commissioners Court last year added another prosecutor position to help handle the CPS caseload. Now there are three assistant district attorneys in Taylor County who prosecute CPS cases.

Rachal Blake is one of those prosecutors. She has been with the district attorney's office since 2014.

'It probably took me five months to get caught up to the pace I'm at today because it was so backlogged,' Blake said. 'I was working late every night, coming in on weekends, and it was still super backed up.'

She said the third position was 'desperately needed' due to the exponential increase in CPS cases, most of which are related to methamphetamine abuse. There are so many cases, Blake said, they 'crowd out the docket' in the 326th District Court. And that's not the sole purpose of that court. It's for all family law matters, including divorces, adoptions and custody matters.

'The big increase that I saw came around February of last year,' Blake said. 'It was always busy, but we didn't have the docket problem that we have now. A whole court set aside just for CPS could be very beneficial to the county.'

The rise in CPS cases could be a result of more abuse and neglect, or it could reflect the region's approach to child maltreatment, said Greeley, who serves as co-chairman of the Texas Pediatrics Society committee on child abuse and neglect. He also is incoming president for the Helfer Society, the international society for physicians practicing in the field of child abuse and neglect.

'These are human beings from CPS workers to judges who don't have truly objective scales, and they have to decide yes or no,' Greeley said. 'There could be regional differences in saying yes versus saying no.'

For instance, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was accused of child abuse in 2014 after disciplining his 4-year-old son with a switch at his home in Spring. He agreed to a plea bargain that reduced his felony child abuse charges to a single charge of reckless assault, a misdemeanor, The New York Times reported.

Greeley said the incident occurred in an area of the state where the idea of whipping a child with a switch would be considered child abuse. In other parts of the state, that would have been 'well-accepted parenting' that did not raise any red flags.

'That's just an example of how regions handle the very same thing differently,' he said. 'Neither is right. Neither is wrong. They're just different.'

Meth use 'explodes'

Rotenberry said 2016 is set to surpass the previous year's number of emergency removals. He credits the increase to more CPS investigators in the area and 'the absolute explosion of methamphetamine.'

'My guess is that 90 percent of cases filed involve meth, and probably 80 percent of those have children testing positive for meth,' he said. 'If meth's involved and the parents are taking care of the kids while they're high, we're going to remove those kids. And if the children are testing positive for meth, that's a no-brainer.'

Rotenberry said he initially worried that the rise in removals was a result of the change in judges. He said he eventually dismissed that concern after seeing child after child test positive for meth.

'You could have any judge sitting here,' he said. 'There's basically no discretion.'

Angela Derrick, a former CPS supervisor who worked for the agency for seven years, said the biggest issue right now with children entering foster care is substance abuse. Derrick currently is the director of social services at Christian Homes & Family Services, an adoption and child-placement agency in Abilene.

'We had a foster parent who was interviewed a few weeks ago who said eight of their nine placements were drug-exposed children,' she said. 'That seems to be a very common theme among CPS cases and the number of children who are in foster care right now.'

The drug most parents are using is methamphetamine, Derrick said. When children are exposed to that, health, behavioral and educational issues can arise, especially if the children are exposed while the mother is pregnant.

Both Rotenberry and Derrick attributed the accessibility of methamphetamine to the high number of children being removed from their homes by CPS in Taylor County. Derrick said the fact that Interstate 20 runs through town makes Abilene a big, red bull's-eye for drug traffickers.

Plus, Rotenberry said, it's so easy to find how to make meth and so cheap that it seems impossible to rein in its hold on users.

'When everyone can be a chef, how do you stop the cooking?' he said.

The judge said some cases involve heroin, but overwhelmingly the problem is meth. Most cases entail parents who cannot take care of their children because they are high on meth, and there is no food in the refrigerator or pantry. The children are not getting to school. They do not have what they need, and they are left home alone.

Because of how meth affects the brain, rehabilitation is extremely difficult, Rotenberry said. Some users lose all ability to be rehabbed, he said.

'We know what it does with adults. But what about these kids? What type of future do they have and what type of future does that mean for society?' he said. 'These are the things that keep me up at night. How can we take care of the children that are here through no fault of their own? They're not choosing to use meth.'

Most cases involve neglect

CPS breaks down child abuse and neglect by 10 categories: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, abandonment, medical neglect, physical neglect, neglectful supervision, refusal of parental responsibility, sex trafficking and labor trafficking.

The most common form of child mistreatment  both nationwide and statewide  is neglectful supervision, Greeley said. It comprises between 75 and 80 percent of all cases.

'This isn't controversial, but people can debate it,' Greeley said. 'There are a lot of families that struggle. They struggle because of poverty or violence or circumstances that are beyond their control, and the question is at what point in time is that considered neglect? What point in time is that considered people just having a difficult life?'

Greeley, who is board-certified in both general and child abuse pediatrics, said many families struggle, and that is not something that should be reported to CPS. Examples of neglect that should be reported include parents who leave their children at home to go out partying or parents who fail to supervise their children, who then end up wandering into traffic or away from home.

'There's often judgment calls in neglect, which I think is where the challenge comes in,' he said. 'What's reasonable and what's not in places are often different.'

Mathews said cases involving neglectful supervision can be accompanied by other types of abuse.

'That's the category that substance abuse-related cases fit into,' she said. 'A huge, huge percentage  the majority  of those neglectful supervision cases involve substance abuse.'

The region's  particularly Taylor County's  'aggressive approach to substance abuse' continues to drive up the number of cases, Mathews said. That also is the most prevalent reason for having children removed from their homes, she said.

In those cases, Mathews said, the caseworker must determine whether the children are safe by evaluating the effect of the parents' substance abuse on the child. Typically, CPS will remove young children from homes in which parents are abusing drugs because those 'little bitty' children are completely dependent on their parents for their care and supervision, she said.

'With meth, most of the cases that we see there is severe enough meth use that a short-term work with the families doesn't seem to be enough,' Mathews said. 'Those are the ones we do have to then petition the court for temporary custody of the children and place them either in foster care or with relatives.'

Although neglectful supervision constituted almost 81 percent of child abuse cases across the Abilene region in 2015, other types of abuse still occur.

About 17 percent of cases that year fell under the physical abuse category, while nearly 8 percent involved sexual abuse, according to Department of Family and Protective Services data.

Sgt. Mike Moschetto, supervisor of the Abilene Police Department's Special Victims Unit, said those are the cases his unit investigates alongside CPS, although he sometimes sees matters that do not rise to the criminal level.

'Any criminal investigations, it's always physical and sexual abuse,' he said. 'I would say sexual abuse outweighs physical abuse in this county.'

A lot of physical abuse can be ruled out as discipline, Moschetto said, unless it is 'extreme discipline.'

The majority of child abuse is committed by 'family members or adults who have access to them, which could be boyfriends or girlfriends of the parents,' he said. 'It's never 'stranger danger.''

'It's a community issue'

If it were up to Chief Standridge, more than just one month a year  April  would be dedicated to child abuse awareness.

'Child abuse knows no social demographic. It occurs in families of all races and all economic backgrounds,' he said. 'Offenders are known to their victims because the abuse occurs in our homes. We must now acknowledge that no family is immune from child abuse, and we must advocate awareness every month.'

County Judge Bolls said parents need to be educated early on and referred to programs that can help them before abuse or neglect occurs. Early intervention is key to stemming the flow of child abuse, but it's not always easy to identify the parents who need help. Some don't want it.

'I don't know what the answer is, but I know what it's not, and that's not to do anything,' Bolls said.

Derrick, the former CPS supervisor, said open communication and collaboration among community partners spur awareness of child abuse and neglect. In the Big Country, an effort is made to treat child abuse as a community problem, she said.

'Child abuse is a problem for our community,' she said. 'It affects our kids in the education system. It affects our kids in the juvenile justice systems. It's a community issue, not just a family issue.'

Like the adage says: It takes a village.
Tiffany Klapheke

Child Protective Services came under scrutiny in Abilene in 2012 following the death of 22-month-old Tamryn Klapheke.

The case resulted in the conviction of the child's mother, Tiffany Klapheke, for injury to a child, and indictment of two CPS workers on charges of tampering with evidence.

Here is a timeline of the case:

April 9, 2010: Child Protective Services receives a medical report that alleges a 9-month-old child of Thomas and Tiffany Klapheke was not being administered prescription medication for a chronic condition. The case is "ruled out" by CPS, meaning it no longer suspects the neglect is occurring.

April 27, 2011: CPS receives a report of physical neglect of another Klapheke daughter  Tamryn, then 6 months old. Services, including Early Childhood Intervention, were provided and CPS agreed to provide day care for two months after investigation ends. Dyess Family Advocacy Center is involved and the case is ruled out by CPS.

Sept. 29, 2011: CPS receives a report of alleged medical neglect of two Klapheke children, one of which is Tamryn.

Oct. 1, 2011: Last CPS face-to face contact with Klapheke family.

Oct. 19, 2011: The family's caseworker met with her supervisor and agreed that allegations of medical neglect "would be ruled out and the case closed."

Aug. 22, 2012: CPS investigator Claudia Gonzalez closed neglect case on Tamryn Klapheke.

Aug. 28, 2012: Tamryn is pronounced dead at Abilene Regional Medical Center. The Abilene Police Department investigates the child's death. At the time, the father, Thomas Klapheke, was deployed overseas.

Aug. 29, 2012: Tiffany Klapheke, 21, is booked into Taylor County Jail on three counts of felony injury to a child  one count for each of her children. Two of those counts would later be dropped.

October 2012: Thomas Klapheke files for divorce.

Oct. 16, 2012: Abilene detectives seized evidence from the local CPS office, and searched a CPS supervisor's home and car. Police announced three CPS supervisors are under investigation for possibly tampering with or withholding evidence in Klapheke case.

June 13, 2013: Tiffany Klapheke is indicted by a Taylor County grand jury on one count of injury to a child.

June 2013: Two CPS workers resign after the agency learns one of them had an "inappropriate relationship" with Thomas Klapheke. Two others are disciplined for not reporting they knew of the relationship.

July 31, 2013: Divorce of Thomas and Tiffany Klapheke is finalized.

Oct. 18, 2013: Dyess Senior Airman Christopher Perez, Tiffany Klapheke's live-in boyfriend, is found guilty of child endangerment and adultery in a court martial. Perez is sentenced to three years in prison and is dishonorably discharged.

Feb. 12, 2014: A jury finds Tiffany Klapheke guilty of injury to a child. Two days later she is sentenced to 30 years in prison.

July 17, 2014: A Taylor County grand jury indicts CPS worker Martha Kiel "Bit" Whitaker on a charge of tampering with physical evidence.

August 2015: A Taylor County grand jury indicts CPS worker Gretchen Denny on a charge of tampering with physical evidence in connection with the case.

July 27, 2016: Prosecutors from the state Attorney General's office are assigned to Denny and Whitaker's cases.

Friday: Hearings are scheduled for Denny and Whitaker.
If a child is removed from a home:

First hearing before a judge must be within 14 days to determine whether removal was valid.

If judge rules removal was justified, CPS holds family group conference to discuss reasons for removal.

Second hearing, status hearing, must be held within 60 days of removal. Judge issues court order for services parent(s) must complete to get child back.

Permanency hearing within 180 days of removal held so judge can check parents' and child's progress.

Second permanency hearing held within 120 days of first permanency hearing for same purpose.

State law requires removal cases to be completed within 12 months of removal.
Susie Striegler had a very busy month of August, and that is definitely not a good thing.

As the sexual assault nurse examiner coordinator at Hendrick Medical Center, she steers an emotional ship through the waters of some of the most disturbing cases of child abuse. It's her job and that of other Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) at Hendrick to consult with potential victims to determine the validity of any claims.

With adolescents especially, that's usually a difficult venture, at least in terms of physical evidence, she said.

'It's usually between 10 months and three years before they report,' Striegler said. 'That's usually the time it takes for them to report, if they report at all. And if they do, it sometimes means it could be happening to someone else they know, too. Usually, it's them seeing it happen to a brother, their mother or someone else. It takes them over the edge and they'll say something to try to stop it.'

Volume  a total of 73 childhood examinations performed between January and August 2016, according to Hendrick Medical Center  isn't the only disturbing part, she said. There's also a timing mechanism to this. Striegler said in previous years, August has been a slow month because of who makes the majority of reports to Child Protective Services and law enforcement.

It's teachers, school counselors and other education-related individuals who make those reports, she said, and they really pick up once school goes into session in September and October.

Striegler said the nature of her job shapes how she looks at a calendar.

'I always hated long breaks,' she said. 'Because those watchful eyes are not on the kids. Our numbers definitely go up (in the fall) because those new teachers become very familiar with their students.'

EDUCATING THE EDUCATORS

For teachers to be the No. 1 reporters of child abuse and neglect  not just of a sexual nature  they must first be trained. Both Abilene and Wylie ISDs provide training and refreshers each summer to new and returning educators dealing with the signs.

Wylie ISD Superintendent Joey Light said the abuse reporting training is one of four required trainings each educator must complete before school.

It is all part of Texas Family Law, which requires any professional, including teachers, to report within 48 hours any suspicions of abuse or neglect. Chapter 261, section 101 says: 'If a professional has cause to believe that a child has been abused or neglected or may be abused or neglected, or that a child is a victim of an offense  the professional shall make a report not later than the 48th hour after the hour the professional first suspects that the child has been or may be abused or neglected or is a victim of an offense.'

If this segment of law seems familiar, it is the statute former Abilene ISD Superintendent Heath Burns, in August 2015, pleaded guilty to violating after a pair of teacher-student sex scandals between December 2014 and January 2015. Two other administrators at the time were investigated, with one cleared and the other entered into a pretrial supervision program.

For its part, Abilene ISD said it ensures every teacher is informed of this law and it's drilled into their heads before the school year begins. District spokesman Phil Ashby said there's also a video shown during summer training stressing this and other actions that are required.

Other district leaders continue to stress reporting immediately.

'Accurate and adequate reporting of potential child abuse is of paramount importance in Abilene ISD,' Superintendent David Young said in an email. 'Unfortunately, recent history in our community includes a couple of instances where individual employees failed to follow appropriate guidelines and practices related to the reporting of potential child abuse. These events, while tragic, spurred a rededication in the district's collective efforts to constantly educate staff and students regarding best practice related to the reporting of potential child abuse. Such efforts include the continual monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment, if necessary, of our professional practice to protect the students and staff of Abilene ISD.'

Karen Clemmer is a special education counselor at Abilene ISD. Her job is to work, districtwide, with students who need special attention or face special circumstances, either through developmental or physical limitations.

In her line of work, she said she has made reports to Child Protective Services, which is done anonymously through either a special website, www.TxAbuseHotline.org, or by calling a hotline at 800-252-5400.

She said those reports, though, are simply alerts. The teachers and counselors aren't expected to do any investigative work getting to the bottom of any situation they encounter. They simply listen to the student and make their reports.

It's up to CPS and law enforcement what happens next, she said.

'We can't just assume anything,' she said. 'Things sometimes happen. You have to be aware of the kids and notice if anything is out of the ordinary. But we don't do any of the digging. If the student makes an outcry to us, we need to report it.'

AWARENESS IS KEY

A team of seven SANE nurses, with two more in training, is an abnormally high number for a city the size of Abilene, Striegler said. They hold jobs in other fields, too, and serve in child and adult abuse cases only when called upon. Striegler herself is a nurse in the women and children's department of Hendrick full-time.

In fiscal year 2015, according to data released by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Taylor County had a confirmed 76 cases of sexual abuse of children. While it amounts to just 8.3 percent of all confirmed cases of abuse and neglect in the county that year, according to the data, Striegler knows that figure is definitely high.

Going beyond just Taylor County  and beyond sexual abuse  the neglect and abuse issues of Abilene have begun to trickle into the national spotlight. Striegler said she went to a conference in Florida and heard all about 'the small town in Texas' that's got really high numbers. She said it's time that stops.

'We cannot raise enough awareness,' she said. 'We need to blow this out of the water. I want commercials, billboards, I want it in churches. I want the silence broken in Abilene. I don't want it to be the topic at child abuse conferences. I'm never going to be satisfied with that.'

There's also the matter of people in the area surrounding Abilene, she said. They're falling through the cracks, either because they can't be reached quickly enough or there's not enough resources to make sure they know they can report or how.

Those people need someone there for them, too, she said. They matter just as much as the woman in Abilene or Dallas or Houston.

'Abilene's a great town,' Striegler said. 'But what about those who live in areas with such a small pool (of resources) to draw from? We're losing them in the neighboring communities. And just because they happen to be in small towns doesn't mean their safety is any less significant.'

IN THE HOSPITAL

Dr. Brad Barham, a pediatrician at Hendrick Medical Center, knows the rules. He's allowed to keep his reporting private, telling no one about the call he made or the online form he completed telling CPS about a potential situation.

Like teachers and counselors in schools, doctors like Barham are required to report under the same Texas Family Code statute. He makes a lot of reports.

And he lets the families know, he said.

'I'm not required to tell, but I will,' Barham said. 'I let the family know what I am doing and why. And just because I'm making a report, it doesn't mean it's abuse.'

What happens when he's telling them depends on the family and the situation they're in, he said. Sometimes, it's not abuse or neglect but rather a lack of resources or education.

A family may be diluting formula for a baby's bottle simply because they can't afford enough for an entire week's feeding. Sometimes, bruising may occur in situations where the parents aren't even aware, like at day care.

But then there's the times when families get defensive, he said. Those get a little more suspicious, he said, but that's for the investigators to figure out. He's in the business of helping children, he said.

'My job isn't to make families happy,' he said. 'I'm doing what I'm doing to advocate for children. If there's anything suspicious, I need to do what I can to advocate for the child. Talking to the families may reveal some real needs that can be addressed.'

A major red flag, Barham said, is when there's bruising on the ears. He said he also checks in children's mouths. The point is to narrow down the cause. The most frequent reason for bruising, in a physical abuse-like situation, is actually development. Is a child learning to walk and falling over? They're going to just naturally be bruised, he said.

Some of the signs they see are inconsistent with development.

'Sometimes there's a reason, if the story makes sense,' Barham said. We sometimes see a major trauma and story is that the child fell. But the bruising and the story are inconsistent. One warning sign is if the child got a serious injury but the family didn't come in for 24 or 48 hours. Another thing we're trained to watch for is if a child has been abused, they'll come in and pass the blame. 'My brother did this,' or something like that.

'Anything is possible, but at the same time it's very unlikely a sibling will inflict some major trauma.'

Twitter: @TimothyChippARN
The United Way of Abilene kicked off its 2017 campaign 1950s-style Thursday at the Paramount Theatre.

Wearing a satin 'Pink Ladies' jacket, Cathy Ashby, president and CEO of United Way of Abilene, welcomed the crowd to the event, which marked the 60th anniversary of the organization and featured music, vehicles and campaign advertising from the 1950s.

'It's great to see so much of United Way's history in this room,' Ashby told the crowd. 'So many people have given back through acts of service and philanthropy, and even though more than $51 million has been raised and invested since 1956, the work is not done.'

Ashby showed a documentary highlighting the history of the United Way, which began June 13, 1956, with the name United Fund of Abilene.

In 1976, the name was changed to United Way of Abilene, and five years later, the organization saw its first $1 million campaign year. It was that same year that 2-1-1 Texas: A Call for Help was formed as an agency of United Way.

Over the years, many agencies have benefited from their partnership with United Way. Seven of those agencies  Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, the Abilene Boys Ranch (now the Ben Richey Boys Ranch), the Salvation Army, Negro Day Nursery (now Day Nursery of Abilene), the YMCA and the YWCA (now the Alliance for Women & Children)  have been community partners since the beginning.

'The support we receive from the United Way is critical for kids and families,' said Cynthia Pearson, president and CEO of the Day Nursery of Abilene. 'It's more than just that, though, because United Way impacts businesses and the community as a whole in a positive way.'

Tom Ambrose, director of development for United Way of Abilene, introduced 34 'Pacesetter' companies, entities that already have completed their respective 2017 United Way campaign.

Ambrose also recognized 16 loaned executives  individuals recruited from corporations and small businesses. Businesses 'loan' their representatives to United Way on a part-time basis during the fall to assist other businesses with their United Way employee campaigns.

'Being a loaned executive was a great experience,' said Justin Crowe with Hendrick Health System. 'We get to go share the United Way message with the community and experience what it is like to be the first touch point for United Way's focus of giving, volunteering and advocating.'

The annual United Way campaign secures community investments from individuals and businesses to meet community needs. The money is directed to local programs.

'We are honored to have served our area for 60 years,' Ashby said. 'Much has changed in our organization's history. However, the same generosity and volunteer spirit of our community remains.'

Bethany Ashlock, community impact and marketing director for United Way of Abilene, said the 2016 campaign raised $2 million.

The goal for 2017 will be to meet or exceed that figure, Ashlock said.
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Every city has the responsibility to its resident to take care of the core duties of a city, which include water, sewer, streets, drainage and public safety.

They also have the duty to listen to and take seriously the concerns and complaints of the people.

It has been pretty clear to me since we moved here in 2007 that Mayor Archibald and the City Council members who rubber-stamp everything the mayor wants, have not been focused on those core issues. Two current exceptions on the City Council who are not 'rubber stampers' and have focused on core issues are Steve Savage and Bruce Kreitler.

In 2007, the big issue the mayor wanted was to 'rebrand' the city, which for many years was correctly and accurately referred to as 'The Friendly Frontier.' He paid an out-of-state company more than $100,000 and they came up with 'Frontiering.' 'Potholing' would have been a more accurate branding.

He then decided that it was an urgent matter to redo north Pine Street by installing median islands with landscaping. The business people along that street objected that it would impede traffic into their business. The mayor ignored them and spent about $450,000 to do it anyway. People traveling that section of street notice that all of the curbs of those median obstacles have been repeatedly hit by vehicles causing damage to their vehicles and the median.

The next urgent issue for the mayor was to pass a multi-million dollar bond issue for a 21-mile hike and bike trail far on the east side of town for the approximately 300 people in town that might drive way out there to use it. What it will cost to maintain it is unknown, but if they can't maintain the streets, how are they going to maintain the hike and bike trail? Why didn't the mayor just improve existing trails through the neighborhood parks? Residents wouldn't have to drive all the way out east of town; they could just use their neighborhood park trails.

Still on his quest to serve the people, the mayor once again proposes to rebrand the Civic Center into The Abilene Convention Center. That issue already has failed before because the hotel industry was completely uninterested in a money loser. He now proposes to use vast amounts of taxpayer money to bribe a hotel chain to come in to downtown Abilene. That taxpayer money subsidy will never end and become a yearly albatross to the taxpayers of Abilene.

The costs to residents and visitors of the neglect to the roads and water are a big and ignored issue. The American Society of Civil Engineers reports that the average yearly cost per vehicle caused by poorly maintained streets at $325, the TRIP Group pegs that yearly cost at $516 per vehicle caused by potholes and rough streets to tires and suspension systems on vehicles. Abilene is probably higher than that.

The cost to homeowners of the brown/hard water is also large in ruined clothes, water heaters and dishwashers. The city of Abilene says the water is safe to drink, but isn't that what the residents of Flint, Michigan, were told? I, like many others, have had to install water filters which have to be changed monthly at $8 per filter per month.

In accounting, this is called 'cost shifting' where the cost of something is shifted elsewhere. In this case, the City Council, by not fixing the street and water problems have just shifted that cost to residents in the form of repairs to vehicles and appliances. Currently, people are complaining about inaccurate water bills and they are being ignored (with the exception of councilmen Kreitler and Savage) by the city, mayor and City Council.

In an issue of 'Say Cheese,' a picture showed a man in a lawn chair fishing in a large pothole (Reporter-News, Aug. 11). I suggest that all of the thousands of potholes in the city be collectively named 'Lake Norm Archibald' in honor of the person who created them.

John Matthews lives in Abilene.
Consider the grizzly bear, while you can. Gone from California since 1924, despite gracing the state flag. Gone from Utah the year before that, when Mormon Boy Scouts stoned to death a bear called Old Ephraim. In Colorado, the last grizzly was thought to have been killed in 1952, though one more was found and killed by a bow hunter in 1979.

Now in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho there is a move to remove  'delist'  endangered-species protection for the grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. These 'recovered' bears would be subject to a trophy-hunting season should they venture  as they do  outside Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.

Delisting is a terrible idea, motivated more by politics than science. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking a splashy 'mission accomplished' victory by 'saving' an important endangered species. Western conservatives would like to see grizzlies, and everything else on public lands, controlled by individual states: a bewildering Balkanization of nature.

As to the condition of the bears, after 40 years of federal protection and intense conservation efforts, Yellowstone's grizzlies may have only a little more than doubled, to 700 or so, up from population estimates that ranged from 136 to 312 when the grizzly was declared endangered in the 1970s. (About 1,800 grizzlies now survive in the U.S. outside Alaska, scattered in less than 1 percent of their historic range.) However encouraging Yellowstone's slow rebound, these bears remain in jeopardy.

What science there is behind the delisting effort purposely avoids a full examination of the risks grizzlies still face. In even the wildest parts of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, the bear's richest food sources are vanishing. Pine nuts, the single most important food for female grizzlies with cubs, are disappearing along with the white bark pine, a victim of the bark beetle and the warming climate. Mother bears with cubs are unable to feed on winter-killed bison, which are claimed by larger males.

Another diminishing resource grizzlies require: wide swaths of secure, wild country without roads. Better yet, wide swaths of wild country that are connected, so the small remnant grizzly populations in the contiguous U.S. and Canada can intermingle.

The Fish and Wildlife Service doesn't deny such needs so much as ignore them. It justifies delisting the Yellowstone bears based primarily on the size of the population, even though its estimates are just that  a matter of sample counts and extrapolation (bears don't sit still for a census). Nor is the agency asking how many of the bears are females, or how old they are. It's no real science at all.

Delisting proponents go so far as to suggest that grizzlies in the greater Yellowstone area have outgrown the ecosystem. The proof, they say, is that bears are showing up where they haven't been seen in years. But the real reason for the grizzlies' spread may be simpler. With their food and habitat ever diminishing, they are venturing into unfamiliar places, often closer to humans, where 'negative interactions' get bears killed despite their endangered-species status.

Under these circumstances, trophy hunting should be out of the question; it is the worst of what delisting would bring. Besides the obvious threat it represents, no one seems to have thought about what to do with the wounded bears that will escape  pioneer journals remind us it takes a lot of flying lead to bring down such a large animal. Bigger bears will be most  not all  hunters' prizes. What of the cubs and sub-adults that will be left behind? Younger populations are more fragile; young bears disperse widely, leading to more negative human-bear interactions.

Big-game hunters and others argue that if Yellowstone's bear population falls precipitously after delisting, the federal government can come back in and declare the bears endangered again. But 're-listing' is a lengthy process, sometimes requiring decades, and it is highly politicized. The Fish and Wildlife Service generally doesn't list a species as endangered unless ordered to do so by a court. In the meantime, grizzly bears would keep dying, and the culture of the surviving bears would be altered further.

Yellowstone's bears aren't the only grizzly population the federal government is willing to put at risk. In the isolated million-acre Yaak Valley of northwestern Montana, maybe 20 or so grizzlies are left  perhaps only five breeding-age females  and yet local U.S. Forest Service leadership supports creating and promoting a recreational trail in that territory. This new human highway, along the Canadian-U.S. border (and a known drug-trafficking interface), would bring thousands of legal users and countless unpermitted wayfarers into the heart of habitat that is supposedly committed to grizzly bear recovery.

The grizzly is the West's, and the nation's, most intriguing, complicated and sentient land mammal. It represents the gold standard of wildness, the 'intangible and spiritual resource' that is the fabric of the American character, as Wallace Stegner famously wrote.

It will be a historic mistake if the federal government delists the grizzly, over the outcry of independent scientists and, indeed, even over the doubts of the superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, Dan Wenk. The great bear deserves better. So does the great American wilderness, which like everything else is in swirling, fragmenting readjustment due to the onrush of global warming. Amid such turbulence, the best science should matter more, not less, than ever.

Rick Bass is a board member of the Yaak Valley Forest Council and writer-in-residence at Montana State University. He wrote this for the Los Angeles Times.
A project five months in the making comes to fruition today. And it's just the starting point.

On Sunday's front page, and on our other platforms, are stories by reporters Brooke Crum and Tim Chipp related to Child Protective Services. Since the death of a 22-month-old girl in late August 2012, CPS has been in the news, and under scrutiny. What we learned recently is that Region 2, headquartered in Abilene, has a higher rate of confirmed cases of abuse or neglect than any of the other 10 Department of Family and Protective Services regions in Texas. Way more. And that's with the smallest child population.

Our rate is 21 confirmed cases per 1,000 children. Second was Region 4, based in Tyler, with 14.7.

Why is that?

Let's pause. This is not where this story started. But it's where the direction the project quickly turned when Crum began asking questions.

Crum is the lead reporter in this series. It was her idea in early June to take a look at the response time of CPS to reported incidents. She initially found good news  the Region 2 rate was the second best in Texas.

And why are we so focused on CPS? Because Tamryn Klapheke, 22 months, died in 2012. CPS became involved in a possible neglect case in April 2010 but erred in closing it, just days before the youngster was found unresponsive in her home. Her mother, Tiffany, in February 2014 was found guilty of neglect and given a 30-year prison term. Klapheke's boyfriend, a Dyess Air Force Base senior airman, was found guilty of not reporting suspected abuse or neglect. (His retrial scheduled for this week after a successful appeal was postponed.)

The local CPS office was investigated and three supervisors were accused of tampering with evidence. None now are with CPS.

The numbers Crum studied were shocking. The Abilene region consistently topped or was near the top in the number of cases confirmed.

'It wasn't a one-time thing, it was a pattern,' Crum said.

What was putting our children's safety in danger?

There are reasons, she found. Cases are reported; elsewhere, particularly in urban areas, that may not be happening. Thus, there would be no chance at resolution.

And because of low numbers, any change greatly alters the statistics.

The increased use of methamphetamine is to blame.

A lack of parenting skills is to blame. Some parents become overwhelmed, others start with few parenting skills.

While child abuse and neglect is a disturbing problem, we found good news.

Crum said there is increased interaction between agencies, particularly between law enforcement and CPS. The public also is more aware and willing to report.

She found a willingness by officials to tell the story and be transparent. Judge Paul Rotenberry, who sits at the designated local 'family court,' proved a valuable resource. These cases fills his docket.

'Excellent cooperation,' Crum said. 'There was no resistance. No one was dodging the problem. They were open to talking about it.'

This project is not about selling newspapers or clicks or referrals. It's about taking a serious look at a serious problem and something getting done.

'I hope this makes someone get off their butt and do something about it,' said Crum, whose eyes have been opened to her own volunteer opportunities. 'Donate supplies. Take a CPS worker to lunch. Do something.'

She said this is a community issue that requires a community response.

'We need to help these parents, and not judge,' she said.

We plan continuing coverage. Our next step, now that the facts have been given, is letting the people involved  foster parents, for example  tell their stories. There are heart-warming stories to share.

We will offer solutions. All of us want a happy ending.

Crum, who has been with Reporter-News for 15 months, didn't just stumble onto this information. Through her primary beat, local government, she paid attention to and acted on what she was reading and hearing. She did not let a dislocated elbow in September derail her efforts.

We have a problem, which is being addressed. But we're not done, nor is our coverage.
Afghan officials say a National Army helicopter has crashed in the northern province of Baghlan, killing at least seven people onboard.

Officials said the crash took place in the Dand-e Ghowri district on October 9 while the aircraft was supplying a military base in the Qorghan Tepa area.

The Defense Ministry blamed a technical problem with the Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter, but the Taliban group claimed it was shot down by its fighters.

Afghan officials say the base in Qarghan Tapa base has been surrounded by militants for about a week, leaving some 100 soldiers trapped inside.

In recent months, Taliban militants have increased their attacks on Afghan security forces in Baghlan and the neighboring province of Kunduz.

In the city of Kunduz, Afghan forces continue to battle Taliban militants seven days after they stormed into the city.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and Khaama
Georgias governing party has won parliamentary elections according to near-complete results released amid accusations of vote rigging from the opposition.



With votes in 99 percent of the constituencies now counted, the Georgian Dream party had clinched about 48.6 percent, while the opposition United National Movement (ENM) came in second place with 27 percent, the Central Election Commission (CEC) said.

The pro-Russian Alliance of Patriots has 4.9 percent of votes, falling short of the 5 percent threshold required in order to win parliamentary mandates.

The preliminary results that have been released are for a proportional ballot that will decide 77 of the 150 seats in the legislature. The 73 other seats have been contested in single-seat constituencies.

Because of Georgia's complex election laws, the final composition of the country's legislative assembly might not be determined until late next month.

Voter turnout was low, with just over 51 percent of those eligible casting ballots, according to the CEC.

International observers monitoring Georgia's parliamentary elections say the October 8 vote was competitive, well-administered, and that fundamental freedoms were generally respected.

However, their preliminary statement released on October 9 also said that the campaign atmosphere was impacted by allegations of unlawful campaigning and some incidents of violence.

'Pluralistic But Polarized'

"Strongly competitive and well-run, yesterday's elections offered an opportunity for voters to make informed choices about their options in a pluralistic but polarized media environment," said Ignacio Sanchez Amor, the special coordinator and leader of the short-term observer mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The isolated incidents of violence "did not undermine an otherwise positive election," Amor added.

WATCH: OSCE Calls Georgia Elections 'Strongly Competitive'

"Georgia has reaffirmed its status as the leader of democratic transformation in this region," said Paolo Alli, head of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegation. "The conduct of this election is greatly encouraging for all those who support Georgia on its path towards Euro-Atlantic integration."

Speaking to a cheering crowd of supporters gathered outside the Georgian Dream headquarters late on October 8, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said a "huge victory" had been won based on exit polls.

Kvirikashvili praised the election as "truly free and fair," but the ENM accused the government of attempts to "steal elections."

"We will defend our votes," Nika Melia, chief of the ENM's campaign and an MP candidate, told protesters outside the CEC early on October 9.

Georgian Dream, which has been in power since 2012, was formed by the billionaire businessman and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.

The ENM was founded by Ivanishvili's rival, former President Mikheil Saakashvili.

'Evidence Of Fraud'

Several other opposition parties denounced vote rigging during the elections.

"Our party will not recognize these results," former parliament speaker and the leader of Democratic Georgia party, Nino Burjanadze, said. "The elections were not free and fair."

"We have evidence of electoral fraud in favor of Georgian Dream, such as, for example, multiple voting," Burjanadze added.

An October 5 car bombing targeting ENM lawmaker Givi Targamadze in central Tbilisi saw the party accuse authorities of creating "a climate of hatred" before the polls.

The blast raised security concerns, as did reports of a foiled terror plot on a gas pipeline and authorities' publicly expressed suspicions that a postelection coup might be in the planning.

WATCH: Crowd Tries To Storm Georgian Polling Station (natural sound)

On election day, about a dozen men tried to storm a polling station in the village of Kizilajlo, about 40 kilometers southwest of Tbilisi, and clashed with police.

The Interior Ministry said two police officers were hurt in that incident, but authorities prevented the men from entering the polling station.

With reporting by civil.ge, AFP, AP, AFP, and Rustavi-2 TV
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.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that the United States has been taking "aggressive steps" that threaten Russia's national security.

"We have witnessed a fundamental change of circumstances when it comes to the aggressive Russophobia that now lies at the heart of U.S. policy toward Russia," Lavrov told Russian state TVs Channel One, according to the text of his interview published on the Foreign Ministry's website.

"It's not just a rhetorical Russophobia, but aggressive steps that really hurt our national interests and pose a threat to our security, Lavrov added.

The minister cited an increased U.S. military presence along Russia's borders, the deployment of a missile shield in Eastern Europe, and the sanctions imposed on Moscow for its actions in Ukraine.

Moscow's relations with the West have plunged to levels of acrimony unseen since the end of the Cold War following Russia's military seizure of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula in March 2014 and an ensuing war between Kyiv's forces and Russia-backed separatists that has killed more than 9,500 people.

Lavrov also commented on the conflict in Syria, saying that Moscow had the means to protect its assets there if the United States decided to carpet bomb the Syrian government's military air fields.

"This is a very dangerous game given that Russia, being in Syria at the invitation of the legitimate government of this country and having two bases there, has got air defense systems there to protect its assets," Lavrov said.

The minister said he had heard that this was one option being advocated by some policymakers in Washington, adding that he was convinced U.S. President Barack Obama would not agree to such a scenario.

Hundreds of civilians have been killed by Russian and Syrian government air strikes in rebel-held areas of Aleppo since a U.S. and Russia-brokered cease-fire broke down on September 19.

Washington and Moscow, which have been on opposite sides of the Syrian conflict, have criticized each other for not following through on the truce agreements.

Based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax


Eight militants have been killed in a shoot-out with police in Chechnya, Russian news agencies reported.



Police shot the militants dead in southern Russia around midnight on October 8 after the men, traveling in two cars, opened fire when asked to stop at a checkpoint for inspection, the Interfax news agency said on October 9.



Interfax said the militants had opened fire with automatic weapons and thrown grenades at police officers who tried to stop them.



Four police officers were reportedly wounded in the shooting.



A spokesman for the Chechen Interior Ministry told the TASS news agency that the armed group had planned to stage a series of attacks in Chechnya, which is governed by Moscow-backed Ramzan Kadyrov who is accused of serious human rights abuses.



The group was led by Ali Demilkhanov, who was on a federal wanted list, Interfax reported. It said authorities had received advance intelligence about the militants and had deployed 200 men to try to intercept them.

Based on reporting by Reuters, ITAR-TASS, and Interfax
The town of Dabiq, in northern Syria, around 25 miles from Aleppo, with its population of just under 3,500, is an unimpressive site for a battle that is supposed to herald the Apocalypse.

Yet, according to the Hadith (a collection of reports about the sayings and doings of the Prophet Muhammad), that is exactly what will happen: According to Abu Hurayrah, a companion of Muhammad, the prophet said, "the Last Hour would not come until the Romans land at al-A'maq or in Dabiq. An army consisting of the best of the people of the earth at that time will come from Medina [to defeat them]."

Dabiq is central to the highly sophisticated propaganda operation of the extremist group Islamic State (IS). The group's official magazine even carries its name. At Dabiq, IS claims, the ultimate battle between Christians and Muslims will be fought. That last claim is less than half-right. A coalition of U.S. Special Forces and air support (nominally Christian), supporting Turkish forces, and Syrian rebels (both Muslim) is now advancing on the town. "If matters proceed as planned, within 48 hours we will be in Dabiq," Ahmed Osman, commander of the Sultan Murad Free Syrian Army (FSA) group, told Reuters on October 4.

Unlike the nearby city of Aleppo, the town is not militarily significant for IS, being merely one among many that must be cleared on the way to Al-Bab and (ultimately) the city where Islamic State is headquartered, Raqqa. But if IS were to lose Dabiq, it would still be a blow. As Kyle Orton, a Research Fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, points out, IS uses the Hadith on Dabiq to "call on Muslims to come and buttress the ranks of Islam in this fight. In combination with the formation of an actual statelet, this propaganda has worked: the apocalypticism and the caliphate have given IS an appeal its jihadi rivals don't have and this is reflected in the number of foreign volunteers who have flocked to their banner as compared with, say, Al-Qaeda."

IS originally conquered Dabiq on August 13, 2014, and it has held it ever since. The Turkish intervention into the conflict, crossing the border and then on 24 August, along with its proxy rebel forces, throwing IS out of Jarabulus -- a crucial point for passing militants -- was the beginning of the advance on Dabiq. In recent days, Turkish bombers have struck several IS targets in the areas around the town.

Syrian Unity

Turkey's entry into the war has complicated almost everything. Mistrust of the United States is rife across forces opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad due to their belief that it has done little to prevent his massacre of the Syrian people since the conflict began in 2011. As Orton further points out, the situation -- and mistrust -- is deepened as Washington has chosen fighters associated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) as its primary proxy on the ground. Based across Syria and Iraq, Turkey views the PKK as a separatist force, working to establish a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria and parts of Turkey (which the PKK denies) and therefore a potential threat to its territorial integrity. The PKK's supposed separatist agenda is, however, divisive across all parties. "If there is one uniting factor for Syrians -- regime and rebel," says Orton, "it is Syrian unity."

Fighting around the town, led by U.S.-led air strikes, which has already claimed 15 rebels and 13 IS fighters, is intensifying and a showdown is imminent. IS, for its part, has protected the town with land mines and other explosives as well as calling on its strongest fighters in other areas to travel to Dabiq for its defense.

'Fiercest Ever Battle'

In truth, the town's fall is inevitable. Mostafa Sejari, from the FSA-linked Al-Mutasim Brigade, told the British newspaper the Daily Express: "We expect that the battle of Dabiq will be the fiercest ever. Daesh" -- a derogatory term for IS -- "has brought hundreds of fighters into the area, including their special forces, to confront us.... [It] has built its myth in Dabiq, exploiting the ignorance and lack of knowledge among people and taking advantage of history and religion to achieve its evil project. By controlling Dabiq, we break the myth of Daesh and open a road to reach Marea."

The question is: At what cost? IS, while operating in some senses as a traditional army (with its own quasi-state), also operates as an insurgent force. If the odds are stacked against it, which in Dabiq they are, the group is likely to put up a show of force (given the town's importance to its brand, it has no other choice), but it is unlikely to waste significant manpower in what is a fight it knows it cannot win. If the battle for Dabiq follows previous battles IS has fought in urban centers, it is likely to retreat in the face of a superior enemy but -- as with the insurgents in Iraq -- leave the city filled with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), booby-trapped buildings -- along with the odd sniper and suicide bomber thrown in for good measure. It may lose; but it won't go quietly.

Nonetheless, the war in Syria is not going well for IS. Further incursions into its territory are inevitable, but as Orton concludes: "They have already prepared the ground ideologically for this loss. The end of the state and the return to the deserts is part of the cycle...and conditions for a revival are favorable. The Coalition's chosen method of dismantling the caliphate -- particularly its collaboration with Iran's proxy militias and the PKK as replacement forces -- means the Islamic State has much to work with going forward. The stress on hardship in Islamic State propaganda also means that they can just say this is one more test for the believers, and the grand contest will come next time."

Not for nothing has IS repeatedly been called the most sophisticated terror group ever. Almost as important as its mastery of insurgent tactics on the ground is its mastery of social media. IS might lose this battle, but it will continue to rally more fighters to its cause; more will be radicalized online; more will flock to the black flag. And the violence will continue unabated -- possibly for many more years to come.

The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of RFE/RL.
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are preparing to meet in their second face-to-face presidential debate, nearly one month before the election.

The debate in St. Louis, Missouri, comes as more senior Republicans withdrew support for Trump after the release on October 7 of a 2005 recording of him making lewd comments about women and boasting about behavior that could amount to sexual assault.

Republican senators, members of the House of Representatives, governors, and former political figures have called on Trump to quit the campaign.

Clinton has called Trumps comments "horrific."

The billionaire real estate tycoon has issued a rare apology for the remarks and vowed to continue his campaign for the November 8 election.

He also attacked his Democratic rival and her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

"Bill Clinton has actually abused women, and Hillary has bullied, attacked, and shamed his victims, he said in his video apology.

"We'll discuss this in the coming days," Trump added. "See you at the debate on Sunday [October 9]."

Donald Trump should step aside, Republican Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan said after the comments emerged. I will support [vice presidential nominee] Mike Pence for president.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wrote on Facebook that Trump should withdraw, adding that she will "support someone who has the dignity and stature to run for the highest office in the greatest democracy on earth."

Former California Governor and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger called on all Republicans to withdraw their support for Trump, saying "it is not only acceptable to choose your country over your party -- it is your duty."

'More Revelations Coming'

U.S. Senator John McCain (Republican-Arizona), who was the Republican presidential candidate in 2008, issued a statement saying he will not vote for Trump, but stopped short of calling on him to withdraw.

Former New York Governor George Pataki called Trumps campaign "a poisonous mix of bigotry and ignorance."

The entire Republican leadership of the conservative western state of Utah, including Governor Gary Herbert, has called on Trump to step aside.

The Deseret, a Utah newspaper owned by the Mormon church, published an editorial saying that Trump's comments demonstrate "a willingness to use and discard other human beings at will."

"That characteristic is the essence of a despot," the editorial continued in its call for him to withdraw from the race.

A few hundred Trump supporters gathered outside the Trump Tower skyscraper in New York City, and Trump made a brief appearance to wave to them.

Meanwhile, Bill Pruitt, a former producer of The Apprentice, the reality television show that featured Trump, posted on Twitter that "there are far worse" tapes of Trump that have yet to come to light, adding the hashtag "#justthebeginning."

Fox News journalist Ed Henry tweeted that former Republican presidential contender and Trump adviser Ben Carson had told him that there are "more revelations coming."

With reporting by AFP, the BBC, Reuters, AP, politico.com, dpa, and The Hill
Russia's announcement that it is suspending its participation in a Black Sea grain export deal requires a strong international response from the United Nations and the Group of 20 (G20) major economies, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on October 29.

"This is a completely transparent attempt by Russia to return to the threat of large-scale famine for Africa, for Asia," Zelenskiy said in a video address, adding that Russia should be kicked out of the G20.



"Why can a handful of people somewhere in the Kremlin decide whether there will be food on the tables of people in Egypt or Bangladesh?" Zelenskiy asked. "Russian terror and blackmail must lose. Humanity must win."

Russia told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a letter that it was suspending the deal for an "indefinite term" because it could not "guarantee safety of civilian ships" traveling under the pact, Reuters reported.

U.S. President Joe Biden denounced the move as "purely outrageous" and said it would increase starvation.

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.

"There's no merit to what they're doing. The UN negotiated that deal and that should be the end of it," Biden told reporters.

The United Nations urged Russia not to withdraw from the deal, and deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq said negotiations with Russia were ongoing.

"It is vitally important that all parties refrain from any actions that could jeopardize the Black Sea Grain Initiative," Haq said, using the formal name for the deal.

The European Union said it supported UN-led efforts to keep the Ukraine grain deal alive.

Nabila Massrali, spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy at the European Commission, said the EU stressed that "all parties must refrain from any unilateral action that would imperil the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is a critical humanitarian effort that is clearly having a positive impact on access to food for millions of people around the world."

Russia also asked the UN Security Council to meet on October 31 to discuss an alleged attack on its Black Sea Fleet, Russian Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky said.

It said some of the ships attacked in Sevastopol in the early hours of October 29 were civilian vessels involved in ensuring the security of the grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that in light of the attack, which it said Ukraine carried out "with the participation of British experts," Russia "suspends participation in the implementation of agreements on the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports."

The ministry said earlier that drones were used in the attack and that they were all destroyed. Only one Russian ship, a minesweeper, sustained minor damage, it said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said earlier on Twitter that Ukraine had previously warned that Russia planned to "ruin" the grain-export deal.

Kuleba called on "all states to demand Russia to stop its hunger games and recommit to its obligations."

The grain export deal between Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the United Nations allowed a resumption of grain exports. Under the July 22 agreement, Ukraine was able to restart its Black Sea grain and fertilizer exports, and some Russian fertilizer exports also resumed.

The agreement was set to last 120 days with the option for renewal on November 19 "if no party objects," a UN spokesman said on October 28.

Russia had threatened to pull out of the agreement on grounds that the grain was not being sent to poorer countries, which at the time the deal was signed desperately needed the grain to ensure their populations did not starve.

Analysts have pointed out that Moscows withdrawal from the deal would deprive Ukraine of a major part of its hard-currency revenues and at the same time would drive up global food prices and inflation in Europe.

Photo Gallery: Ukrainian Farmers Risk Their Lives As Global Food Crisis Looms The inability of Ukraine to transport millions of tons of grain and other agricultural products amid Russia's invasion has aggravated a global food crisis. The country is a major exporter of seed oils, corn, and wheat, but the war and Russia's blockade of Ukraine's ports have effectively stopped a significant amount of that flow. While Ukraine's leaders seek ways to export the country's agricultural output, its farmers face perilous conditions as a result of the ongoing conflict. Share on Facebook

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The United Nations on October 28 had urged parties to the Black Sea Grain Initiative to renew it.

"We underline the urgency of doing so to contribute to food security across the world, and to cushion the suffering that this global cost-of-living crisis is inflicting on billions of people," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

The agreement freed up exports from three of Ukraine's ports -- Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhne -- which had been blockaded since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February.

The deal set up a corridor that is exclusively humanitarian, the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure said.

The ministry says that since the first ship left the port in Odesa on August 1, Ukraine has exported more than 9 million tons of food, of which more than 5 million tons went to countries in Africa and Asia.

At the same time, 190,000 tons of wheat were sent to countries on the brink of famine within the framework of the UN World Food Program, the ministry said.

"Ukraine remains a reliable partner for the civilized world and is ready to continue promptly collecting and shipping agricultural products to ensure global food security," the ministry added.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP
When 21-year-old Umida Kuliyeva's family rushed her to the maternity ward of her local hospital in southern Uzbekistan on September 28, there was no reason to suspect the decision would cost the young mother the life of her first baby.

But soon after she arrived at the hospital in the Qashqadaryo region of Uzbekistan, deep in one of the country's major cotton-producing districts, there were signs there could be trouble. The number of hospital staffers at work was dramatically reduced, as much of the personnel was away bringing in the cotton harvest -- an annual tradition in which citizens are essentially ordered to work in the fields as volunteers.

Umida's mother, Norgul Nurmatova, says she thought it was unusual that, upon registration, her daughter was taken not to the maternity ward on the second floor but to an ordinary room on the first floor that was not equipped for childbirth. There, a harried doctor who was just finishing his shift performed a cursory examination and said the family should return home and that Umida was still far from her delivery time.

Then the situation deteriorated rapidly.

"Her water broke, then she began vomiting continually and bleeding started," Umida's mother told RFE/RL's Uzbek Service, known locally as Radio Ozodlik, on October 3. "I pleaded with the nurses to call a doctor from the [maternity ward], but they told me there were no doctors there."

As Umida went into contractions, nurses and a few general practitioners present in the hospital tried to help her. But with no obstetricians among them, their aid was limited to shouting encouragement to the young woman to push. After hours of effort, and totally exhausted, Umida gave birth to her baby, then fell unconscious. The baby died afterward.

Umida's family is now trying to come to terms with a tragedy they say is all the more unexpected because, until she went to the hospital, both the baby and mother had experienced no complications. Umida's husband, Shohruh Nurmatov, told RFE/RL that for nine months doctors told the expectant couple that the baby's health was fine.

Skeleton Staff

Exactly why the infant died is still not known, but some blame may rest with Uzbekistan's yearly practice of constraining vast numbers of its citizens, including hospital workers and other state employees, to leave their jobs and head to the cotton fields. The mass mobilization assures that Uzbekistan brings in its biggest cash crop in a timely fashion, but it also means that only a skeleton staff remains in key facilities and essential services go neglected.

For weeks every September and early October, local authorities arrange transportation to take people out to the fields that dot much of Uzbekistan. The picking day begins soon after dawn and lasts till sunset, with citizens required to bring their own food and often spend weeks in makeshift camps. State enterprises and private companies are required to continue paying their employees' salaries no matter how many days they are away, but no other compensation is provided.

A report released in May by the Australia-based Walk Free Foundation ranked Uzbekistan as the world's second worst country, after North Korea, in terms of the prevalence of state-sponsored forced labor in proportion to the population.

Umida's family believes it has been the victim of gross negligence, but so far has had no luck in getting the local authorities in Guzor district, where they live, to investigate their case.

"When we went to the hospital after the baby's funeral, they told us: 'Go away, we do not have anything to do with you,'" Shohruh Nurmatov says.

Efforts by RFE/RL to learn independently what happened have encountered the same problem Umida faced when she learned there were no doctors in the maternity award. When correspondents called the official responsible for all hospitals in Guzor district, Normahmat Kalonov, they found he, too, was away in the fields.

Speaking briefly to RFE/RL, Kalonov said he had not heard of the case because "from the very beginning of the cotton season I have been at the harvesting site in the fields."

But he denied that the hospital could have been understaffed because of the cotton harvest.

"This cannot be, because I left two physicians on duty in the hospital, he said. "All conditions there are excellent." He then cut short the conversation and later attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.


Powhatan County resident Kathleen Willey, who in the 1990s accused Bill Clinton of groping her in the White House, took to Twitter on Saturday to defend Donald Trump and attack Hillary Clinton.

In a series of tweets and retweets that began about noon, Willey defended Trump, who apologized for a video released Friday that showed him using vulgar language about women.

DT said things that were wrong. He apologized. He never brutally raped anyone twice like BC raped Juanita. DT didnt murder 4 men in Benghazi, Willey wrote in one tweet.

Juanita is in reference to Juanita Broaddrick, who alleged that Bill Clinton sexually assaulted her in a Little Rock, Ark., hotel room in 1978.

Willey also took the Clintons to task for allegedly not apologizing to several women who have accused Bill Clinton of sexual improprieties.

While Willeys tweets began as a defense of Trump, they quickly escalated into a personal attack on the Clintons, accusing Bill Clinton of being a rapist and calling Hillary Clinton a hag.

In one tweet, she said Hillary Clinton called women who had accused Bill Clinton of sexual impropriety bimbos, sluts, trailer trash, whores, skanks and asked, When will u resign from ur campaign?

And in another, she wrote that if Hillary Clinton wins the election, Bill Clinton should be chemically castrated before he enters the White House to protect young women on Bring Your Daughters to Work Day.

The campaign of Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president, did not respond to several requests for comment Saturday.

Willey, a former White House volunteer who had worked on Bill Clintons presidential campaign, was a prominent figure in the late 1990s during the lead-up to the then-presidents impeachment and subsequent Senate acquittal.

On 60 Minutes in 1998, Willey claimed that on Nov. 29, 1993, Bill Clinton fondled and tried to kiss her in a private study off the Oval Office.

She had approached him to ask for a paying job because her family faced a financial crisis.

Her husband, Richmond attorney Edward E. Willey Jr., faced hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt and was being investigated by the Virginia State Bar.

Edward Willeys body was found in woods in King and Queen County on Nov. 30, 1993. Authorities ruled that he had shot himself on the day his wife met with Clinton.

Saturdays tweetstorm came as the specter of Bill Clintons sexual indiscretions and the impeachment saga hang over his wifes campaign.

Trump  the Republican nominee for president  and his surrogates have brought up the issue several times on the campaign trail and have said it could become a topic of discussion in tonights presidential debate.

And Trump said Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims when he apologized for speaking about women in vulgar terms on the video.

About the time Willey was tweeting about the Clintons on Saturday afternoon, she left a voicemail message for a Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter accusing the couple of a continuing pattern of criminal activities.

Rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment are not infidelities as the mainstream media is trying to portray it. These are crimes and felonies, Willey said.

The Clintons have spent their entire lives doing two things: lying under oath and obstructing justice. They tried to get me to lie under oath in court to silence me. By doing that, they threatened the lives of my children.

Willey did not provide details of any specific threats, but her accusations that Clinton surrogates tried to keep her from testifying about her involvement with the president are well-documented.

Willey had been scheduled to sit down for an interview with The Times-Dispatch at 1:30 p.m. but canceled about an hour and 20 minutes beforehand. She cited the newspapers previous coverage of her as the reason for canceling.

She did not respond to several follow-up calls.

In addition to tweets about the Clintons, Willey posted the link to a video of Barack Obama using a vulgar term for a womans genitalia.
A lecturer at the University of Virginia has agreed to take leave after comparing the Black Lives Matter movement to the Ku Klux Klan on social media, according to the universitys School of Engineering and Applied Science.

The comment posted by Douglas Muir, an adjunct lecturer at the engineering school and the Darden School of Business has also prompted a Charlottesville city councilman to call for residents to boycott Muirs restaurant.

On Tuesday, Charlottesville real estate agent Roger Voisinet wrote a Facebook post about Black Lives Matter, and Muir left a comment on the post stating that Black lives matter is the biggest rasist (sic) organisation (sic) since the clan. (sic) Are you kidding me. Disgusting!!! The comment has since been deleted.

A statement from the engineering school issued Friday night said that while free speech and open discussion are fundamental principles of our nation and the university, Mr. Muirs comment was entirely inappropriate. U.Va. Engineering does not condone actions that undermine our values, dedication to diversity and educational mission.

U.Va. Provost Tom Katsouleas said the university stands firmly against racism and social injustice of any kind.  This position in no way squelches academic freedom, which welcomes dissent and encourages the voices of others whose perspectives may differ from ours  thereby adding new insights to our own. But statements such as Mr. Muirs do not foster intellectual exploration, nor do they encourage the voices of others.

In a tweet Friday, the Darden School also distanced itself from Muirs comment. Muir could not immediately be reached Friday.

The original post referred to an event Tuesday night at Charlottesvilles Paramount Theater that featured a series of speakers addressing the issue of injustice. Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza was one of the presenters and spoke to the audience on the topics of white privilege, the struggle of black Americans and the focus of the movement.

Black Lives Matter aims to end state-sanctioned violence once and for all, Garza said at the event. We are fighting for the sanctity and dignity of all of us, and not just for black men. We are fighting for black women, black queer people, black trans people, immigrants and the disabled community.

When Charlottesville City Councilman Wes Bellamy heard about Muirs comment, he took to social media and called Muir out for his comments.

How can you compare people standing up for justice to the KKK, who have unapologetically hung many African-Americans? Bellamy said. They are outright and blatantly racist, and when you look at Black Lives Matter, thats white people, Latino people, Asian people and young and old people. Its a collective call to bring people together to face systemic oppression.

Comparing that to the KKK shows me how culturally incompetent some people can be, he said. It shows me how much work we need to do in this country.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
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 ...
By SA Commercial Prop News

Gugulethu Square Mall.



In a R530-million deal announced on 28 February 2012, the recently listed property loan stock company Synergy Income Fund has increased the value of its retail portfolio by 50% with the purchase of two shopping centres from the unlisted Old Mutual Ideas Fund and associated shareholders.

The acquisition of Gugulethu Square (25 300m2 GLA) in the Western Cape and Setsing Crescent (21 500m2 GLA) in the Free State further strengthen Synergys focus on the growth opportunities presented in South Africas emerging retail market.

We are delighted to be able to announce the conclusion of this deal to acquire two high quality retail assets and through these acquisitions deliver further growth to our investors, says Synergy chief executive officer William Brooks. We identified these shopping centres for potential acquisition some time ago and when the opportunity arose to make an offer we were ready. Both centres are well located in strong demographic nodes and tenanted to leading national retail groups. We are confident that these investments will deliver sustainable growth to our unit holders.

The transaction is subject to approval by the sellers Board of Directors and shareholders, Synergys unit holders and the Competition Commission. Funding will be through a combination of debt, and the issue and placement of linked units.

Situated in the heart of Gugulethu outside Cape Town, Gugulethu Square is a newly-built 25 300m2 gross lettable area shopping centre designed by Bentel Architects and developed by the Old Mutual Ideas Fund in 2009. Gugulethu Square is the only formal shopping centre within the greater Gugulethu catchment area and is dual anchored by both a SuperSPAR and a Shoprite supermarket. It is tenanted by all the major national retail groups and has enjoyed strong growth in trading densities since opening.

Setsing Crescent is a 21 500m2 shopping centre located in the town of Phuthaditjhaba, 60km outside Harrismith, in the Free State province. Dual anchored by SuperSPAR and Game, the Setsing Crescent serves a regional community in excess of 360 000 people. Phuthaditjhaba is the centre of the Maluti regional node that includes extensive local industry, provincial and local municipalities, and the Qwa Qwa campus of the University of the Free State.

Synergy is a specialised retail property fund with a specific focus on mid-sized community and regional shopping centres that are predominantly in the high-growth low-LSM markets.

We will continue to focus our acquisition strategy on the opportunities presented in the emerging retail economy where we are seeing good growth assets. We have built a strong portfolio in this sector with the acquisition of shopping centres in Ulundi, KwaMashu, Elim, Hammanskraal and Witbank. Gugulethu Square and Setsing Crescent will give this portfolio further critical mass and provide our investors with focused exposure to this high growth market, says Brooks.

The acquisition of Setsing Crescent and Gugulethu Square brings the Synergy portfolio of shopping centres to 14, with a total gross lettable area of more than 176 800m2 and valued in excess of R1.7 billion, steadily strengthening its specialist retail offering within the listed property sector.
Kelly, Schmidt not talking much about possible school choice expansion

While education has been a key issue in the Kansas governor's race, both campaigns have talked less frequently about the issue of school choice.
Orchids & Onions celebrates its 40th anniversary this month after celebrating the good and skewering the bad in San Diegos architecture, landscapes and other elements of the built environment.

Unlike so many awards programs run by and for professionals, this one collects nominations from the public not only to honor greatness but also to chide those projects that come up short.

Pauly De Bartolo, president of the San Diego Architectural Foundation that puts on the annual event, said O&O has endured because San Diegans strive to better the region around them.

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If we all sit back and are complacent about design principles and planning policies, we cant expect to move forward and be a dynamic, edgy city, he said.

Orchid 1976: The Civic Center Plaza building at 1200 Third Ave. included a fountain, Bow Wave by sculptor Malcolm Leland, and plenty of seating. The jurors admired this urban plaza with a human quality which acts as an important gathering place for people. (Roger Showley/U-T )

Whether its a civic landmark or city ordinance, a rocks-only landscape or a tasteful piece of public art, nothings too big or too small to be noticed and called out as an example to emulate or avoid. The cumulative total through 2015 is 469 Orchids, 273 Onions and 39 miscellaneous awards.

The 2016 set of winners and losers, due to be unveiled Thursday, will follow the formula set from the beginning: Gather at 5 p.m. for a VIP reception ($105, Horton Plaza Park), enjoy a riff from the MC (celebrity chef Troy Johnson) at the awards program ($20 for nonreception goers, 8 p.m., Spreckels Theatre), and watch the Orchid winners beam and Onion winners grimace as they accept their beautiful plants or pungent veggies.

Inspired by a similar program in Chicago, Paul McKim, 1975 president of the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects, hosted such an event at his firms downtown office; there is no record of who won. The local AIA chapter launched it officially in November 1976, when eight Orchids and five Onions were handed out at the Atlantis Restaurant that used to operate next to SeaWorld.

One of the first Orchids went to what is now the Civic Center Plaza building at Third Avenue and B Street, where the lunch crowd gathers daily to people watch. The awards jury said the space, dominated by sculptor Malcolm Lelands Bow Wave fountain, served as an urban plaza with a human quality.

One of the Onions that year went to what is now the AT&T building at Sixth Avenue and Robinson Street in Hillcrest. Still topped by satellite dishes and other electronics, it was criticized for being out of scale and a barrier to the natural flow in this community shopping district.

Onion, 1989: The Golden Triangle around Westfield University Towne Centre, was Like the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle; we see the streets, we see the buildings, but where on earth are all the people? said the jurors. (Roni Galgano/UT )

Sometimes the Onion winners get the message and return later for an Orchid when theyve made a fix. For example the San Diego Unified School District received a metamorphosis award in 1984 for changing its one-size-fits-all approach to designing schools one by one. However, the district continued to receive Onions from time to time, including in 2007 for the Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Scripps Ranch because of its depressing stucco boxes and poor traffic management.

The Orchids always outnumber the Onions and include restored historic sites, civic landmarks and exemplary landscapes. But its the Onions that get the most attention.

Doug Manchester, who has received five Onions, the most by any developer, said in an email, As always, I continue to believe that saying something negative serves zero purpose but instead, salute good!

Rob Quigley, one of San Diegos few nationally known architects, said he initially supported the program because it prompted developers and institutions to pay more attention to good design. But in recent years he has boycotted the event, despite winning several Orchids himself, most recently for the downtown Central Library. He thinks developers fear theyll receive an Onion and warn their architects to be careful in what they design.

The program became one that discouraged exploration in architecture, he said.

Mindful of such criticism, O&O committees have tweaked the categories, experimented with who should serve on the jury and pulled back from some of the over-the-top rhetoric common in earlier years.

The program nearly died in 2003 when the AIA chapter canceled it to focus on planning for the national architects convention in San Diego. The San Diego Architectural Foundation took over in 2006 after a three-year hiatus.

Orchid, 1996: The California Center for the Arts in Escondido previously won an Onion for poorly located access for disabled visitors. The Orchid was granted for interior design: A rare combination of Old World elegance and cutting-edge design. (Charlie Neuman/UT )

Today it may be the only such program left in America. In the UK there are two programs, the Carbuncle award and cup, sponsored by a Scottish newspaper and a builder magazine, respectively. They were inspired by Prince Charles withering criticism in 1984 of a National Gallery addition he likened to a monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend.

Mike Stepner, the former city architect and now a professor at the NewSchool of Architecture and Design who helped found Orchids & Onions, said other architectural and design organizations canceled similar programs because they thought it unseemly to encourage criticism of their members. But in San Diego, O&O has endured because the public bought into it.

Its caused people to think a little differently about design, its caused community groups to act a little differently or caused cities to write policies and plans a little differently because of the influence of Orchids & Onions, Stepner said.

De Bartolo, the architectural foundation president, said depending on funding and volunteer support, plans are afoot go beyond the annual awards program and look for other ways to engage the public. Tours of winners buildings are in the works and a search is on for a permanent home for exhibits, special events and other design-oriented activities.

When given an opportunity, people want to be part of that discussion, De Bartolo said.

Orchid, 2014: The city received an Onion in 1998, an overdue notice, as the jurors put it, for failing to move the new Central Library forward. After it opened in 2013, the jurors said, it was a grand gesture that has created an iconic addition to the skyline of San Diego. (James Gregg/UT )

Onion, 2006: The jurors did not like developer Doug Manchesters hotel, saying it continued a Bay Front Wall on the South Embarcadero. They called it clunky, aloof and dehumanizing and the lobby impenetrable. (Nelvin C. Cepeda/UT )

roger.showley@sduniontribune.com; (619) 293-1286; Twitter: @rogershowley
Protecting North Countys buried treasure of prehistoric and Native American artifacts requires tight lips and deep pockets.

Over the past several decades, workers in this region have unearthed the fossilized bones of long-extinct mammals and other ancient creatures, and the stone tools and grave sites of people who roamed the coast for thousands of years. Though such discoveries have thrilled scientists and sociologists, theyre an expensive wrinkle for cities bound by state and federal laws that require culturally and historically significant relics to be painstakingly protected and preserved.

No city knows that better than Carlsbad, where costs linked to monitoring and preserving artifacts during a massive road-widening project along El Camino Real recently spiked by more than $1.2 million.

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City officials and contractors wont comment about what was unearthed during the road-widening job, or why the costs associated with archaeological work have more than doubled from the original estimates. State and federal laws discourage the release of such information to protect culturally significant sites from thieves and vandals.

Preserving and protecting those resources is just the right thing to do, said Casey Arndt, the citys project manager.

Scientists and Native American groups have worked for years in Carlsbad on important finds.

Initial excavations in 2007 for the 600-home Robertson Ranch community, near the present El Camino widening project, unearthed bones from an ancient sloth, and the tusks, jawbone and other bones of a mastodon that lived there 200,000 years ago. Several other Ice Age fossils, including bones from a mammoth and a prehistoric bison, were discovered last year at the Quarry Creek development east of El Camino Real along state Route 78. Those fossils are now at the San Diego Natural History Museum, where some of them are on display.

A much more rare item turned up in Carlsbad in 1985, when a dig overlooking the Agua Hedionda Lagoon uncovered a small volcanic stone chipped into the shape of a bear by a Native American craftsman between 7,000 and 8,000 years ago. That relic, possibly a religious icon, is now the official California State Prehistoric Artifact and is kept by the Department of Parks and Recreation at the state archives in Sacramento.

El Camino Real has its own historic status as one of the oldest roads in California, and a major north-south route through Carlsbad. Much of the present-day road was established in the late 1700s as a trail connecting the Spanish missions along the coast.

The ongoing work there now will expand a narrow section of the thoroughfare to three lanes in each direction, with the city tackling the stretch between Chestnut and Tamarack avenues, and Toll Brothers  the developer behind Robertson Ranch  handling the part from Tamarack south to Cannon Road. Also being built are new sidewalks on each side, a new landscaped median, new storm drains, underground utilities and other features.

Carlsbad hired two separate companies to monitor cultural resources on its portion of the project.

Saving Sacred Sites, a privately held arm of the Luiseno band, signed a contract with the city originally estimated at $9,120, however, as work progressed that amount increased three times to a final total of $337,633. The city also contracted with Atkins North America for archaeological recovery and processing services on the site. That contract was originally for $588,757 and climbed to $868,228 as the work unfolded.

Cami Mojado, president of Saving Sacred Sites, did not return a phone call last week about the contract. The citys updated agreement with Atkins states that culturally significant material was found, but that specific details  such as the type and location of the finds  are exempt from disclosure.

Van Lynch, Carlsbads city planner, said he didnt know those details, but that the increased costs werent unexpected.

We hire an archaeologist to go out and survey the site, and determine the potential for finding these artifacts, said Van Lynch, Carlsbads city planner. If anything is found, there is going to be additional work.

Several state and federal laws passed in recent decades add layers of protection to ancient cultural resources. Stone tools that once might have gone to a museum or private collectors now are returned to the soil. Human remains are an especially sensitive topic. A federal law passed in 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, requires remains to be reburied in place or nearby, sometimes with a small ceremony, according to the wishes of the tribe thats determined to be the most likely descendant. It also requires important artifacts such as stone tools or religious objects to be returned to the Native American group they came from.

Work on the El Camino Real road-widening began in late 2014 and is several months behind schedule for a number of reasons, said Arndt, the project manager. Any cultural remains found are one of the lesser factors.

Rain required work to be stopped for 27 weather days last year, he said, and the city added 40 days to install recycled water pipelines for the new landscaped medians. Other problems compounded the delays.

For example, when vehicles were diverted onto the old medians during construction, workers found the thin asphalt was insufficient to carry the weight of full-time traffic.

The minute we put traffic on that, it failed, Arndt said. We had to remove the bad areas  and put back hot-mix asphalt. We had to do two to three weeks of emergency paving just to keep the road usable.

Another problem was the geology of the site, he said. Saturated soils made it difficult to dig the new storm drains in the plan. Also, an old landfill filled with trash found in a sloped bank near Chestnut Avenue had to be dug out and filled with clean soil.

The additional expenses bring the total cost of the project to about $15.7 million project, he said, which remained within contingency funds budgeted for the project. A combination of developer fees, county TransNet sales tax proceeds, and city general fund money is paying for the work.

Construction has disrupted traffic for several blocks north and south of Tamarack for well over a year. That should end in a few weeks.

At the end of the day, its going to be a wonderful project, Arndt said. It will enhance peoples commute well into the future.

Twitter: @phildiehl
A group of San Diego seventh graders thought outside the box about homelessness when they created the worlds largest cardboard box mosaic on Sunday, using nearly 4,000 cereal packages slated for a local food bank.

The students, from Francis Parker School, lined the floor of their gymnasium with red boxes of Quaker Puffed Rice in the shape of a heart, set against a blue backdrop of Puffed Wheat. Their design measured 2,213.22 square feet, beating the previous record - 250.62 square feet of fragrance boxes  by more than eight-fold. Afterward they sent the boxes to Interfaith Community Services, which will distribute them to its clients in the coming weeks.

The project took over a year to plan and most of the weekend to execute, and was the idea of Kenan Pala, a seventh grader at the school. At the beach with his dad, he saw a group of people caring for an injured seal, and wondered if they would take similar interest in a human.

1 / 14 Looking boxed in, a student from Francis Parker School waits for additional cereal boxes to be handed to her to fill in the walk way created to access the center of the mosaic. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 14 7th graders from Francis Parker School attempt to break the worlds largest cardboard box mosaic yesterday morning on Sunday. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 14 7th graders from Francis Parker School attempt to break the worlds largest cardboard box mosaic yesterday morning on Sunday. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 14 Aubree Dethloff works on their attempt at the largest cardboard box mosaic. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 14 Taj Gillin (left) and Cade Dethloff maneuver in the middle of the cardboard mosaic as he places red cereal boxes in the shape of a heart. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 14 7th graders from Francis Parker School attempt to break the worlds largest cardboard box mosaic yesterday morning on Sunday. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 14 Cade Dethloff maneuvers in the middle of the cardboard mosaic as he places red cereal boxes in the shape of a heart. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 14 Students from Francis Parker School receive confirmation that they have broken and set a new Guiness World Record for the largest cardboard box mosaic yesterday morning on Sunday. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 14 Cade Dethloff maneuvers in the middle of the cardboard mosaic as he places red cereal boxes in the shape of a heart. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 14 7th graders from Francis Parker School attempt to break the worlds largest cardboard box mosaic yesterday morning on Sunday. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 14 Aadam Awad places cereal cardboard boxes into position as he and his class mates from Francis Parker School attempt to break the worlds largest cardboard box mosaic yesterday on Sunday. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 14 Christina Conlon the official adjudicator with Guiness World Records checks the measurement of the cardboard box mosaic created by students from Francis Parker School. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 13 / 14 Taj Gillin works on aligning the cereal boxes as he and his team from Francis Parker School attempt to break the worlds largest cardboard box mosaic on Sunday. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 14 / 14 Rory Allen (left) and Jenna Kim work on some of last pieces as 7th graders from Francis Parker School attempt to break the worlds largest cardboard box mosaic on Sunday. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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We thought, what if that was a homeless person? asked Kenan, 12. Would they still help out? So that led me to the idea of raising awareness about homelessness. People tend to care about animals, but dont care about their own kind.

He decided to organize a food drive while also setting a record, reasoning that the quirky task could put shine a spotlight on the problem.

Its a fun process, he said. If you get in the book, its good advertising.

When he approached Interfaith about his plan, the first reaction was surprise, Executive Director Greg Anglea said.

I didnt know that such a record existed, he said. It seemed a little abstract.

He welcomed the donation though, and the compassionate message it sent.

I think it just shows that everybody can make a difference, whether its donating a box of cereal or making the worlds largest cereal box mosaic, Anglea said.

Jenna Kim, one of the team members assembling the mosaic, was working on the food drive and mosaic to help earn her Girl Scout Silver Award, and said it showed that such efforts can help the world become a better place.

Guinness Adjudicator Christina Conlon said many of the records she judges are a bit obscure, from the worlds largest Nerf gun battle to the most people making sandwiches at one time. That novelty can help spread the word about charitable causes, she said.

This cereal box mosaic isnt something people would know is a thing, she said. But when you see it laid out, its pretty amazing.

Students unloaded the cereal boxes, donated by Quaker, on Saturday, and began piecing together the heart. On Sunday they completed the mosaic, stepping carefully between boxes to straighten rows and fill in the spaces.

It got stressful when they had to tiptoe into the mosaic to fix a gap or replace a busted box, said Kenans classmate Taj Gillin, 12. But as they neared the end of the project, he said it was worth the effort.

I think it will empower kids to help because were just a bunch of seventh graders breaking a record, but were also helping a cause, he said.

deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan
High school students in San Diego can expect to see more recruiters from UC Merced this year as the Central Valley school pushes to add 3,000 students by 2020.

Recruiters made 82 visits to San Diego in the 2015-16 school year, and more are expected next year, said UC Merced Chancellor Dorothy Leland during a trip to the city last week.

Leland said many of the visits have been specifically in the San Diego Unified School District because its demographics are seen as a good match with the universitys.

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San Diego Unifieds enrollment is 46 percent Latinos and 26 percent English learners. UC Merceds enrollment is 48 percent Latinos, with 67 percent the first in their family to attend college.

The school district has an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and 52 percent of UC Merced students study STEM.

Were a young, innovative, rapidly growing campus, amazingly diverse with lots of opportunities for students to work with faculty on cutting-edge research with a focus on STEM disciplines, Leland said about the school, which opened in 2005 as the 10th and newest campus in the University of California system.

Its a strong pitch, but convincing young San Diegans to leave the beach for the San Joaquin Valley might be a tough sell.

The Merced Chamber of Commerces website lists one activity for October, the Eggs & Issues State of Education Breakfast, and one dinner and auction next month. The Merced Main Street Association has no upcoming events listed on its website. A Yelp listing of the top 10 fun things to do in Merced lists only five things that are actually in Merced.

Leland acknowledges that Merced isnt the most happening town, but said the region has plenty to offer.

The Bay Area is two hours away, and students go on organized weekend trips to the beaches of Santa Cruz or to watch the San Francisco Giants, 49ers or Oakland As.

Merced also has a nature preserve, a beautiful lake and plenty of hiking and biking trails. Yosemite National Park is a two-hour drive away, and the cost of living is significantly lower than Southern California, Leland said.

The university also is home to the Sierra Nevada Research Institute and is the only school with research labs in Yosemite. Students who intern in the Yosemite Leadership Program are exempt from taking the civil service exam to become park rangers.

For young people who like outdoor activities, its a great place to be, Leland said.

Besides San Diego, the university also recruits heavily in San Francisco, Los Angeles and other areas. Leland said its had good success in Southern California, which generates about a third of the enrollment.

Recruiters have increased visits to San Diego by 20 percent each year, and the school had an 11 percent increase in applications from the city in 2015-16.

The push to add students comes at a time when all universities are trying to increase enrollment to meet a project workforce shortfall in the state. That push coincides with UC Merceds plans to double the size of its campus from 12 to 24 buildings and reach an enrollment of 10,000 by 2020.

Leland expects that enrollment growth to come from within the state, unlike other universities that have recruited large numbers of out-of-state and international students as a way of generating money from higher fees paid by nonresidents.

A state audit released in March criticized the UC system for the practice, which it said put California residents, and minorities in particularly, at a disadvantage. The system increased admission of California freshmen by more than 15 percent this fall.

The criticism didnt apply to UC Merced, which was created to provide more access to California students, who make up 99 percent of the enrollment.

The school also is earning some recognition. U.S. News & World Reports annual ranking of best colleges placed UC Merced at No. 78 among public schools and No. 152 overall in the National Universities category.

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recently identified UC Merced as a research institution. Leland said she expects in five to 10 years the school will have a Research One classification, the highest level and the same as UC San Diego, San Diego State University, UC Berkeley and UCLA.

Just past its first decade, the university is beginning to have a number of successful alumni. During her trip to San Diego this week, Leland met graduates who are doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs at Tribute Pizza, which was opened this year by UC Merced alumni Matt Lyons and Kurt Winbigler. As students, the two opened the Coffee Bandit Cafe, which is still in operation in Merced.

Its really good, Leland said about the North Park pizzeria. We had a great time.

gary.warth@sduniontribune.com

760-529-4939

@GaryWarthUT
Mayor Kevin Faulconer has hired a longtime public relations professional and former Clinton White House staff member to help address San Diegos homeless problem.

Stacie Spector, 52, has a diverse background that includes politics, education and the private sector, but has not worked in public housing or on homelessness before.

I manage big things, said Spector, who started her new job as the mayors senior adviser on housing solutions Monday. Im often brought in to fix things and manage big things, assess things and figure out how we take things to the next level.

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Spector served as deputy communications director in the Bill Clinton White House from 1997 to 1999 and most recently ran Spector Consulting, where clients have included the Democratic National Committee, Step Up Womens Network, Pro Choice Resource Center, Busby for Congress, HBO/Everyman Pictures, and the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties.

She also was vice president of strategy and external relations of the Nutrition Science Initiative from 2013 to 2015, chief communications officer at the Salk Institute from 2011 to 2013 and worked in communications at UC San Diego from 2004 to 2009 as an associate vice chancellor.

Faulconer said Spector will not be a homeless czar who will lead the region in solving the problem, but rather will collaborate with all stakeholders and be a single point of contact internally and externally.

The city attorney, environmental services and city attorney are among the city departments that regularly deal with homeless issues internally, he said.

This is a new thing with the city, and one thats necessary, Faulconer said. Stacie comes from a background of bringing people together, working and collaborating with people to solve problems and issues. Shes not here to replicate the great work that our advocates and providers are doing.

Faulconer also said there is an unprecedented level of cooperation among the city, county and various agencies in helping find a long-term solution to the areas homeless, which number about 8,700 countywide and about 1,000 in downtown San Diego.

I believe it was important for us to hire somebody who can really work collaboratively with our experts who are doing great things and give them the support they need, and not with a particularly agenda, he said.

Bob McElroy, president and CEO of the Alpha Project, said it was a good call for Faulconer to hire an outsider who is not involved in any homeless agency.

Shes unencumbered, he said She hasnt been tainted by local politics.

McElroy met Spector earlier this week and was enthused about mayors new hire.

I think Kevin did an outstanding job, he said. Shes a first-round draft pick. The thing I love about Stacie is, not only is she sharp as a tack, shes very organized. And she has a heaping helping of common sense, and thats whats missing some times.

McElroy referred to Spector as someone you could have a beer with and said he was impressed that she did not want to be called a homeless czar, a title he said had been used by others in the past without good results.

Kris Michell, CEO and president of Downtown San Diego Partnership, also was pleased.

The Downtown San Diego Partnership commends Mayor Kevin Faulconer and the city for taking another proactive step to support our homeless community members and assist them in connecting with the resources they need, she said in an e-mail. This is critical to improving the quality of life in downtown and the rest of the San Diego region. Stacie Spector is an incredible addition to the team and the right choice for our city. She will be a great asset to the region and facilitate cooperation between the many agencies and providers working on a solution.

Michael McConnell, a downtown homeless advocate and former vice president of the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, also was happy with the hire.

Weve been asking the mayor to step up and provide a point person on this, to lead and participate more meaningfully, he said. I think this is great. She seems like a super smart person.

McConnell said this will be the first time there has been a single voice speaking about homelessness on behalf of the city.

The mayor hasnt been really overly involved, and thats one of the missing pieces, he said.

Spector spent much of her first week meeting people in the homelessness arena. She also has called various cities to learn about homeless programs in other areas, but said she isnt proposing any change to how things are done here.

I do believe that in many cities across the country, there are things being done that are quite successful, she said. I dont think theres a silver bullet anywhere. Honestly, if it were easy, everybody would be doing it..

Spector, who lives in Rancho San Diego with her husband, a fourth-grade teacher, has worked for various progressive causes and on Democratic political campaigns during her career.

She was deputy campaign manager for Al Gores presidential bid in 1999, deputy communications director of the Clinton-Gore campaign of 1996, director of Americans Against Discrimination for the Human Rights Campaign in 1994 and 1995, and throughout 1992 was campaign manager for Maryland for Choice, a successful statewide ballot initiative for abortion rights.

gary.warth@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @GaryWarthUT

760-529-4939
In a tent behind New Vision Christian Fellowship on Saturday afternoon, Ciara Goliath enjoyed a bit a pampering as a volunteer carefully painted her nails with lilac polish. The disabled Navy veteran was one of more than 50 homeless people who showed up at the University Heights church for free lunch, clothing and services as part of the San Diego Rescue Missions Sleepless San Diego event this weekend.

Now in its 10th year, Sleepless San Diego is an overnight fundraising event that invites families to a sleep-free, activity-filled outdoor slumber party at Liberty Station. Created to give participants a better understanding of the challenges faced by people living on the streets, Sleepless San Diego raises more than $100,000 a year for the Rescue Missions outreach programs. This year, organizers decided to try something new by adding an afternoon event, where families could help the homeless directly at New Vision and three other locations in North Park, Spring Valley and downtown San Diego.

New Vision youth pastor Brent Hyden said the new service day program, which took place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, was developed from feedback from young participants who have taken part in past Sleepless San Diego events.

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The youth of today look for social activation rather than just information, Hyden said. We wanted to find a way to take it to the next level.

Raymond Caldwell, who lives in a hotel in downtown San Diego, gets a free haircut by Kevin Goforth as Debra Rachal, a volunteer, gets her hair done by Pat Stewart during Sleepless San Diego. (Hayne Palmour/U-T )

At New Vision, nearly 200 volunteers showed up to serve burgers and bratwurst, sort and display racks of used clothing, pack bags of personal hygiene products, hand out groceries and assist with haircuts and manicures.

Besides getting her nails done, Goliath  who said shes been homeless in San Diego for nearly 10 years  proudly showed off a bag of used clothing, a new purse and socks, fresh strawberries and a hygiene kit that she had collected during her afternoon visit.

Its not very often I have opportunities like this, she said. Today is a beautiful day.

Inside the church annex, 15-year-old Sarah Hofmeister of Scripps Ranch was on the hygiene kit assembly line, sealing items like shampoo and conditioner into quart-sized plastic bags. The Francis Parker High School sophomore said she likes doing community service work for the homeless.

What were doing today may not have a long-term effect on the homeless problem, but its something we can do to make their lives a little easier today, she said.

Heather Melone of La Mesa came to volunteer with her 5-year-old son, Grayson. She said she wants her son to learn a tradition of service.

Were so blessed with what we have, its important to show him the importance of helping others less fortunate, said Melone.

Standing with a spatula at the barbecue, church member Leo Vigil of Chula Vista figured hed cooked more than 100 burgers and 200 brats in the first 90 minutes of the event. The longtime volunteer said hes seen many peoples lives turned around by the Rescue Mission.

Theyve been through a hard time, got a hand up and now theyre just like anyone else, Vigil said.

One of those success stories is Brandon Stafford, 18, who was volunteering Saturday in the free clothing room. Three months ago, Stafford said family troubles and drug use landed him on the streets. He bounced among a series of youth shelters before Hyden took him in six weeks ago as a live-in office intern at New Vision. Now sober and happy to be doing productive work, he said he was happy to give back to others in the homeless community.

I think something like this is good for everyone, he said. It not only helps the homeless, it helps the volunteers because it helps them understand the problems (the homeless) have faced.

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com
Supporters describe Measure J on the Nov. 8 ballot as a chance to guarantee many millions in long-term funding for upgrades to Mission Bay Park and other regional parks, but critics are raising some concerns.

Measure J would secure an estimated $1.5 billion for city of San Diego parks by extending the end date from 2039 to 2069 of a previous ballot measure that directs lease revenue from Mission Bay Park to parks upgrades across the city.

No one disputes that, but critics say the initiative could potentially allow more commercial development of Mission Bay, and that it might delay priority environmental projects there in favor of smaller upgrades like building bathrooms.

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They also say it was rushed on to the ballot, and some complain that it would direct less money to Mission Bay Park and more money to Balboa Park and other regional parks by changing the earlier measures funding formula.

San Diego officials say the initiative, spearheaded by Mayor Kevin Faulconer, would definitely not allow more commercial development of Mission Bay and that priority environmental projects wouldnt be delayed, but would be tackled simultaneously with less ambitious upgrades.

They say both of those criticisms are based on confusion among residents and community groups.

City officials say the revised funding formula makes sense because regional parks badly need more money and because extending the funding policy by 30 years would guarantee Mission Bay Park has more than adequate funding anyway.

In addition, the extension would allow the city to get $44 million in up-front capital, primarily for upgrades in Balboa Park, by creating a long-term funding stream the city could use to sell bonds.

While city officials dont dispute that things moved quickly with Measure J, they note that comments were gathered at several public meetings. They also said securing so much money for long-term parks upgrades was too important to be delayed until the next scheduled elections in 2018.

We really think this is extremely beneficial to the parks and we didnt want to delay that opportunity over multiple years, said Katherine Johnston, Faulconers director of infrastructure and budget policy.

Johnston said the public, and particularly lovers of local parks, should embrace Measure J.

This is a win/win for the city of San Diego, she said. We will be able to do projects that make a difference for families and that enhance the visitor experience, while also seeing some critical improvements in places like Balboa Park.

Critics say that may be true and concede they might be confused about Measure J.

But many blame that possible confusion on the mayor and other city officials rushing it onto the ballot only a few weeks after unveiling it, which sharply limited opportunities for the public to evaluate the complex initiative and possibly lobby for changes.

Denise Friedman, a member of the Pacific Beach Town Council and the Mission Bay Park Committee, said she is frustrated and disgusted that community leaders havent gotten answers to many of their questions about Measure J.

Instead of a more typical process where a significant proposal would make the rounds of local committees long before going on the ballot, Friedman said she first read about the proposal in the newspaper in early July and it was placed on the ballot in early August.

Never had these ideas been presented to the Mission Bay Park Committee, and it wasnt until the day after the mayor addressed the City Council that his representative came to our July meeting, she said.

Johnston said despite the process seeming rushed, public input was gathered at multiple meetings, including two council meetings and a meeting of the councils Infrastructure Committee.

There was a lot of opportunity for the public to weigh in, she said.

The concern about more commercial development of Mission Bay Park is based on Measure J allowing the city to add adjacent park land to the areas eligible for upgrades funded by the measure.

Former City Councilman Ed Harris, whose district included Mission Bay, said that because the City Charter limits commercial development of the park to 25 percent of total acreage, adding acreage to the park would allow more commercial development,

Youve allowed yourself to build out Mission Bays waterfront with hotels, Harris said. I think its a boondoggle.

Johnston said attorneys for the city have assured her thats not the case.

It just makes these parcels eligible for Mission Bay Park improvement funds, it doesnt make them part of the park, she said. Its confusing. I could see why someone would interpret it that way, but the park boundaries are not being expanded.

The concern about Measure J delaying priority environmental projects in Mission Bay Park is also based on a misunderstanding, Johnston said.

Critics of Measure J, including former Councilwoman Donna Frye, said it was important that the earlier measure, 2008s Proposition C, prioritized dredging, wetlands restoration, shoreline protection and habitat work.

Measure J would amend that to allow the city to pursue projects lower on the priority list simultaneously with the higher priority ones.

Johnston said the change makes sense because the high-priority projects all require extensive environmental analysis and it will be many years before the city can start all of them except the dredging.

Because of that, the city has accumulated $13 million in unspent funds for Mission Bay Park upgrades, an amount projected to climb to $21 million in fiscal year 2019.

The change would allow the city, without delaying analysis and work on the priority projects, to tackle smaller projects like bathrooms, bike paths and other upgrades.

There will be other funds available to move forward with other projects that dont require as extensive environmental review, like playgrounds and sidewalks, Johnston said. Lets move forward with these priority projects, but lets also move forward with the stuff people can feel and see.

Frye said shes worried the city will use the new policy to delay the priority projects.

That money is apparently burning a hole in their pocket so they want to put it into bathrooms, she said. Telling people you dredged it isnt cool and exciting.

On the revised funding formula, Johnston said it was crucial for more money to be available for regional parks so that the city could sell bonds to complete urgent restoration on aging buildings in Balboa Park.

A recent facilities assessment showed $60 million of work in Balboa Park is immediately needed, she said.

Under the existing formula, the first $20 million in annual lease revenue from Mission Bay Park goes to the citys general operating fund, with any money above that getting split 75 percent for Mission Bay Park and 25 percent for regional parks.

The revised formula proposed in Measure J would direct 65 percent of annual revenue above $20 million to Mission Bay Park and 35 percent of that money to regional parks, which include Balboa Park, Chollas Lake Park, Mission Trails Regional Park, Otay River Valley Park, Presidio Park and the San Diego River Park.

The city typically collects between $28 million and $30 million per year in lease revenue from hotels, SeaWorld, campgrounds and other businesses in the park.

Johnston stressed that all parks would benefit from Measure J, saying the city estimates it would raise $1 billion for Mission Bay Park by 2069 and about $500 million for regional parks over that time.

This isnt robbing Mission Bay to pay for Balboa Park, she said. This is tremendously beneficial to the entire park network.

Measure J needs support from a simply majority of voters to be approved on Nov. 8. No groups either in support or opposition have filed campaign documents with the city.

david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick
San Diego on June 27 opened the new $4.7 million lifeguard tower at La Jolla Childrens Pool beach  a milestone that was to be short-lived, as the facility closed three weeks later amid sewage backups and other construction flaws.

On July 18, a bank of public restrooms that were part of the project overflowed, leaking into the lifeguard showers and locker rooms and eroding sand banks below. The city paid $1,400 to clean up the mess  only to have the toilets back up again (and pay another $1,200).

The public toilets remain closed today, pending further fixes. Lifeguards have retreated to a nearby temporary trailer, where they have running water.

The project, originally pegged at $3 million, has been plagued with delays, permit problems and design hiccups from the beginning, according to a U-T Watchdog review of public records. Drinking fountains, door handles and railings are already starting to rust. Rat and bird feces surround the buildings exterior because of missed opportunities to keep pests away.

Its just poor construction  design flaws that were overlooked and now were paying for it, said Chester Mordasini, president of Teamsters Local 911, the union that represents more than 160 lifeguards. Its my opinion that the inspections did not hold the contractors accountable.

Lee Swanson, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, said a number of unexpected delays and site conditions added to the projects cost and lengthened its completion time. All construction was inspected and deemed complete before the city took possession of the tower in June, he said.

The tower was built to standards, Swanson said. There are operational issues that we are working to rectify, but they are not the result of poor construction.

Not according to plan

Construction of the Childrens Pool tower, which monitors nine city blocks, including one of the most dangerous rip currents in the city, is nearly four years in the making. Its one of three recently built along La Jollas shore.

The city entered a contract with Stronghold Engineering Inc. of Riverside in December 2012. The agreement included demolishing the old tower (condemned by city officials in 2008), engineering and design services and the construction of a new 1,900-square-foot facility, equipped with public restrooms for beachgoers.

Construction began in July 2013 and was expected to last eight months. Lifeguards operated out of the pod-like temporary trailer, installed when the old tower was condemned.

Construction didnt go as planned.

There was unexpected demolition of the old towers drainpipes and foundation, which contractors had planned to use for the new facility. Three seal breeding seasons caused delays. Even seagull nests blocked progress.

Nesting seagulls are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, said Scott Robinson, a city senior public information officer. Seagull nesting at the site stopped construction activities by a total of four months.

Before long, the project was pushed well past its completion date.

Borre Winckel, CEO of the San Diego Building Industry Association, said building regulations in California make delays and extra expenses unavoidable at times, but he was surprised that a lifeguard tower would cause as much trouble as it did.

In a state with the longest coastline in the country, we should have a templated kit on how to build a lifeguard tower by now, Winckel said. Deviation from the original design could have created a domino effect.

The Lifeguard tower at Childrens Pool in La Jolla opened to the public in June, and promptly closed again three weeks later with a myriad problems, including sewage backing up. (Peggy Peattie / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Unplanned expenses

As of July, at least 30 unplanned expenses listed on contractor purchase orders have increased the lifeguard tower project bill by more than $430,000. Added expenses included $60,800 for portable toilets and cleanup and $20,000 in extra building permits because of delays.

Records show nearly $87,000 of sewage system upgrades were added to the project to ensure the facilitys plumbing could handle public and lifeguard use  although the upgrades apparently were not enough to meet the challenge.

Windows for the observation deck were installed at an angle that created a mirror effect, so lifeguards looking out at the shoreline to the north had to peer through a distracting reflection of the shoreline to the south. Stronghold tacked on an extra $2,650 to redesign the deck and re-install the windows.

Eventually, the city officially accepted the building from Stronghold in June of this year, records show, although Stronghold continues to work on the facility today.

For at least some of the post-acceptance work, taxpayers are footing the bill.

This is a service call and [we] will be charging for our time, said an email to city officials from Denny McGahey, a project manager at Stronghold, after the first sewage backup.

Swanson, of Fire-Rescue, said the facilitys sewer pumps were designed to be capable of withstanding materials up to two inches in diameter, easily handling most materials and products flushed down the toilet. However, items such as diapers, articles of clothing and feminine hygiene products were flushed, which clogged the facilitys sewer pumps, he said.

The pump system as initially designed had its limitations. In January 2014, designs were upgraded at a cost of $35,100 to include a new sewer pump and four-foot-by-eight foot sewer basin to prevent backups.

According to the manufacturer, the pump does not come with a macerator, which would have ground down larger items thrown into toilets for better flow.

Robinson, the city spokesman, said city officials met after the backups with the pump manufacturer and decided to install a new pump system with a bladed vortex that can better handle frequent use and the irregular items beachgoers flush.

A new remote notification alarm system will also be installed to notify city personnel of high wastewater levels and of any pump failures, he said.

The proposed work will be completed in a few weeks, pending availability of material, he said. The additional work will not be covered under warranty, Robinson said, and costs have not been finalized.

Brian Silva, a plumber in San Diego who has serviced dozens of sewage systems all over the city, said the basin as installed is small for such a significant public facility, especially one that would be used on a frequent basis.

Silva said he installed a larger basin in a restaurants basement, connected to one toilet that would only be used by employees.

Public restrooms in particular are subject to a wide range of abuse, he said, and installing a grinder would have prevented larger items from backing up the system.

Hundreds of people are going to be using it. There will be a line outside the door at all times, he said. Since the city has built this kind of facility before, they probably should have known better."

Robinson said grinders are not a standard for city restrooms.

The plumbing is shut down because of a sewage problem and the freshly poured concrete floors are already cracked. (Peggy Peattie / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Unavoidable impacts

According to Robinson, there was nothing officials could have done to prevent the delays, extra costs or current issues with the tower. The city carefully plans to avoid risks and proactively prepares for all scenarios to minimize the high cost of construction and service delays, he said.

However, even with all the planning and numerous measures taken to deliver the project on time and on budget, unique unavoidable impacts occurred, Robinson said.

Currently, the city holds an open bidding process and chooses the company that can perform the work at the lowest price.

According to court records, Stronghold has been involved in more than a dozen lawsuits alleging breach of contract, intentional interference with contractual relations, fraud, negligence and wrongful death.

A Stronghold project manager in San Diego referred questions about the lifeguard tower to the city, and the corporate office did not respond to a request for comment on its track record elsewhere.

The majority of the lawsuits accuse Stronghold of delaying projects with design changes, increasing its cost with expensive purchase orders and withholding payment to subcontractors on projects with government agencies including the Navy and Internal Revenue Service.

In 2011, All Day Electric Company Inc. filed a lawsuit against Stronghold accusing the contractor of withholding more than $4 million in compensation for work performed at Camp Pendleton.

The Solana County firms lawsuit said Stronghold was responsible for numerous delays in construction and a significant increase in the projects total bill.

The project and All Day Electrics work was delayed, made more difficult and expensive, and at times impossible, because of Stronghold, said the complaint filed in federal court in San Diego.

The parties reached a private settlement in 2013.

San Diego City Council President Sherri Lightner said issues with Stronghold and other lifeguard tower contractors were the main motivation behind the Purchasing and Contracting Charter Amendment, appearing on next months ballot as Measure H.

Lightner said the amendment would allow city officials to consider both cost and quality of work to provide a better value for taxpayers.

There needs to be more flexibility in how we award these contracts, Lightner said. We can then make sure were hiring someone whos qualified to do the job.

Swanson, the Fire-Rescue spokesman, said all capital improvement projects are inspected by the Public Works Departments Construction Management and Field Services Division to ensure quality work.

A punch-list of deficient items is created, and the city accepts the project only when all punch-list items are corrected.

According to the sole list released by the city, there were more than 65 such items identified during a walkthrough of the tower on March 17, three months before it was accepted.

The list says, among other things, that Stronghold diverged from original building plans on several occasions, either constructing items incorrectly or not installing them at all. For example, a shower seat was installed backwards, drains were left uncovered, screws and thresholds were rusting and the paint job was incomplete.

Officials also noted plumbing and drainage issues, such as sink backups, stagnant water and shower runoff pooling against the side of the building.

During site visits in August and again this past week, U-T Watchdog saw rusting fixtures, water pooling against the side of the building and drains covered with temporary plates.

The Lifeguard tower at Childrens Pool in La Jolla opened to the public in June, and promptly closed again three weeks later with a myriad problems, including a rat infestation in the walls. (Peggy Peattie / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Health issues

After the towers acceptance by the city, lifeguards noticed an odor emanating from a sewage trap in the basement. A six-square-foot opening into the trap was covered with an open grate, allowing sewer gasses to fill the building, especially on warm days.

Email records show guards told city officials in mid-July.

In August, lifeguard Sgt. Marcus Schreiber sent an email to city engineers.

It has been recently brought to my attention that a significant odor is still present in the Childrens Pool facility, he wrote. Guards are reporting this to be unbearable at times.

Swanson said the city removed the open grate and installed a solid plate over the hole to help contain the odor at the end of September. The city also plans to steam clean the area and apply an acrylic seal to the floor to further minimize the smell on a permanent basis. Officials began preparing a purchase order for the work this past week, he said.

Another message from Schreiber in August indicated that there was a significant [rat] infestation in the hollows between the siding and the facility, he said. Three large rats were seen in the new facility.

Emails show lifeguards had also complained of a rat and ant infestation at the temporary trailer in October 2015. During this time, the city was paying Cartwright Termite and Pest Control, Inc., $35,000 to control gophers, ground squirrels, mice and rats at ten city parks and beaches, including the Childrens Pool.

Swanson said exterminators began visiting the Childrens Pool site in September of this year to remedy the infestation. The Watchdog found a dead rodent near the trailer Thursday.

Expensive seagull-prevention methods not only dont work, they are falling apart. (Peggy Peattie / San Diego Union-Tribune) (Peggy Peattie / San Diego Union-Tribune )

Bird problems

In 2011, bird feces began to pile up around the condemned building and surrounding areas, while lifeguards occupied the temporary trailer nearby. Staff requested that the city bird proof the area to ensure the health and safety of lifeguards frequently exposed to the fecal matter.

In response, Michelle Abella-Shon, a project officer for the city, said they could not continue to spend thousands of dollars on a building thats going to be demolished. However, our No. 1 priority is the health and safety of our fellow staff.

Erik Jones, a city lifeguard for more than two decades, said he was one of three employees that contracted meningitis while working at the Childrens Pool that year.

Jones said lifeguards were surrounded by a buildup of seal, seagull, pigeon, rat and squirrel feces on both the condemned and temporary facility.

There was about six inches of feces, Jones said. It was pretty filthy.

Meningitis is a swelling or inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Humans can contract a certain type of fungal meningitis by inhaling dust or dirt contaminated with bird feces.

I cant prove that my meningitis was from there but I got it in April and two weeks later another coworker got it, and then another co-worker got it, Jones said.

Jones said the city would not cover the medical expenses or reimburse the sick time because it was not a work-related injury. City officials declined to discuss the meningitis cases, citing health privacy laws.

Emails show the city sent cleanup crews to the condemned tower to address the fecal buildup.

Despite the citys history with bird proofing and rat infestations, a large amount of bird and rat feces started to accumulate around the new tower, and on rails and landings.

Officials listed bird-proofing as an unexpected expense for the new building, adding another $25,300 to the total bill in December 2015.

Its like they dont learn their lesson, Mordasini said. If you dont bird-proof it, it will be covered in bird droppings in no time at all and it builds up quickly.
To you who claim men are more gifted mechanically, Im an embarrassment.

If directions written with the technical stiffness of heavy starch say screw it in here, I screw it in there. If Im holding a hammer, my thumb is not safe. This talent dearth is not to be admired, and its not funny if youre my observing wife, Kathy, who can only chide me by saying, Dont use that language.

Often coming to my rescue is my neighbor Hubbard Hub Rushing. Hes a retired airline captain who could probably use a wrench and screwdriver to overhaul any 767 he ever flew.

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The big advantage of his help (other than getting things fixed) is that he tells me stories of more than a half-century of flying. Now, at age 72, he instructs young airline pilots in a simulator, which is almost exactly the same as being there.

Hub is outgoing in a mellow Alabama way. He seems to know half the people in Cardiff and would walk across the street to greet a stranger.

Lately, weve talked about his old friend and fellow pilot Chesley Sully Sullenberger. Sully, as you certainly know, is the pilot who landed a US Airways Airbus A320 in New Yorks Hudson River in January 2009 without human loss. Thats a feat best not attempted twice. Sullys story is now a popular movie of the same name.

Hubs career parallels Sullys in almost eerie ways: Both are Air Force veterans and flew together at PSA and US Airways as senior captains. Hub admires Sully as a pilot who he says handled his crippled-plane crisis with great skill.

He also says  and this should reassure travelers, with no loss of respect for Sully  virtually every airline pilot would have handled it the same way.

Drawing on 43 accident-free years with airlines, Hub deconstructs Sullys Flight 1549. As an instruction exercise, he has recreated the flight on his simulator down to the details. He knows the route scheduled for Flight 1549 that day  he flew it many times himself for US Airways.

By study, experience and intuition, he knows the way it would have gone down.

*

The narrative that follows is all Hub.

The plane is on Runway 4 at New Yorks LaGuardia Airport about 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 15, 2009. Its bound for Charlotte with perhaps 15,000 gallons of fuel in the wing tanks. The day is clear and cold. LaGuardia sits close to marshlands that attract migratory birds.

He says the plane takes off northeasterly rising to 2,800 feet in about a minute and a half. First officer (co-pilot) Jeff Skiles is flying the plane. They are about to start a gradual turn when the plane collides with a flock of migratory Canada geese. Each bird can weigh up to 14 pounds with a wingspan of 6 feet.

The pilots can hear the thump-thump of the geese hitting the plane like Kansas hail, but theyre unaware that multiple birds have been sucked into both engines.

Hub says, The birds bodies create whats called a compressor stall. The engines have air and fuel coming in, but the engines are immediately slowed to a stop because of being gummed-up by dead birds.

Though the sight of birds being sucked into the engines was not visible from the pilots vantage point, Sully would have almost certainly put two-and-two together quickly and figured out what caused the malfunction.

But knowing that didnt restart the engines. Totally uncharted territory.

Hub says, The captain, Sully, takes over the controls of what has become a glider. He directs co-pilot Skiles to consult the checklist, or whats called the QRH, Quick Reference Handbook. That tells them to attempt to get an engine started. All they need is one engine.

They have to read a book to tell them to start the engines?

Well, theres more to it than that. The handbook is about this thick. Hub holds his fingers about 3 inches apart. And there are constant updates. Also, quickly going to the manual makes sure the pilots minds are in an organized mode.

Hub also makes it clear that starting engines on an aloft plane is more than pushing a button. There are many other controls that have to be in sync.

The manual will direct them to a dual-engine failure page, which will say little because both engines going out simultaneously almost never happens. Its a one-in-a-billion occurrence. In fact, its never happened on a jetliner so close to the ground, Hub says.

Sully is on his own. If the plane is traveling at greater than 260 mph, unobstructed engines should restart automatically. But at the time of collision, the air speed was only about 210 mph and its now slowing by the second. Sully knows the automatic start cant happen. What he doesnt yet know is that engines stuffed with dead birds cannot function, period.

Sully and 155 others are now in an unpowered airplane at 2,800 feet. The plane has become a very heavy glider that can stay aloft for only about three minutes.

The co-pilot engages the auxiliary power unit as the only other way to start the engines. That procedure brings air into the ducting that goes straight to the engines. But nothing happens. Nothing can happen, but they dont know that.

He continues to try.

The seconds tick away and gravity continues doing its job, pulling them earthward. In the 30-45 seconds since the collision, the plane has dropped several hundred feet. The ground is closer, and getting larger by the second.

In less than three minutes, the plane will crash. How and where are yet to be determined.

I ask: The pilots have more than 150 people behind them and with full fuel tanks. The lives of all those people, and their own, could be incinerated in a matter of seconds. What is likely going on in their minds?

Nothing, except saving the plane. They are alone with an airplane thats dying, and theyve got to save it. Nothing else matters.

Hub says while the co-pilot tries to coax the engines alive, Sully considers alternatives: The only airport option is returning to LaGuardia. JFK, Newark and Teterboro (N.J.) airports are too far. He decides that returning to LaGuardia is too risky. Also, returning to LaGuardia would require a sweeping turn, and that would break the levelness of the planes guide, hastening its loss of altitude.

Without power, the huge machine is as ungraceful as a goony bird. And Sully would have enough altitude for only one approach. There would be no pull-up and no go-around. The slightest misjudgment could make the plane fall short or skid off the far end of the runway. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, on the ground could be killed.

Sully acts as he must  quickly and decisively.

While Skiles continues his futile effort to restart the engines, Sully speaks into the intercom to the cabin behind him: Brace for impact, he says. Theres nothing else to say. He now knows that unless at least one engine restarts, impact is inevitable.

Hub says that as soon as Sullys plight is clear, he advises the control tower of the situation and traffic is cleared for an emergency landing at all airports in the area. He owns the sky, but he knows he wont be heading for a runway. He cant risk it. Sully is sitting atop a huge bomb, and below him in the New York area are 20 million potential victims.

Its now almost two minutes since the geese collision, and the plane has descended to perhaps 1,500 feet. Sully has to do something. He looks down and sees an alternative landing site. Its long, wide and flat. Its the silver expanse of the Hudson River near midtown Manhattan. Its almost empty of traffic. Thank God its January.

Its the logical place to set down. Its actually the only place.

Sully hasnt given up hope of restarting the engines. The co-pilot continues his efforts until the plane is only a couple of hundred feet above the water. As Sully approaches impact, he lowers flaps fully to slow the plane to the maximum extent possible. That reduces speed to about 130 mph. Even at that speed, the water is like concrete.

As he swoops in, Sully keeps the landing gear up and elevates the nose about 15 degrees so the tail hits first. The plane then belly flops and skids a couple of hundred yards and comes to rest in the frigid water.

The tail is ruptured, so the cabin loses its flotation integrity as baggage spills out and water flows in, but not at a rate that immediately threatens passengers.

Sully, true to the historic role of the captain staying on his sinking ship until the last, remains and assists his passengers into the waiting rescue boats that quickly converge. Everyone is saved.

Youve seen on TV the images of passengers standing on the planes wings, and you know the happy ending.

*

I ask: Out of any 100 commercial airline pilots flying today, how many would handle the situation the way Sully did?

Somewhere on the far side of 90, Hub says. Perhaps a few might have attempted to turn around and go back to LaGuardia, but I think the vast majority would have handled it exactly as Sully did.

Could the air traffic control towers have helped?

Theres nothing they could have done. They cant start an engine. You have a choice: Youre either going to land on the Hudson River or youre going to get an engine started. But you have to act decisively and fast.

What I hear you saying  with all respect to Sully  is that this was not a tough deal.

Not in a professional, procedural sense. However, its a tough deal to be the one in the pilots seat. There are very few things that todays trained pilot does not feel capable of handling. In this particular case, Sully and his co-pilot were trained to make every attempt to first get an engine started. When that was unsuccessful, and only then, did they decide that an airport return was too dangerous and the only place left was the Hudson.

How about the airplane? Is the Airbus an easy plane to put down?

This airplane is no different from any other. Theyre all reasonably easy to fly. In training, we scenario a failed engine all the time. We fail an engine right at lift-off. We fail an engine on go-around. We fail an engine during landing.

But we dont train for losing two engines simultaneously that close to the ground. Its too remote. Aviation has been around a long time, and as I said, this is the first time any two-engine jet has lost both engines at the same instant at such low altitude.

Hub nods decisively. Sully did a great job.

*

It was to Sully Sullenbergers great fortune (literally) that his accident happened on the Hudson River in New York City, the media capital of the universe. Had it happened, say, on the Cumberland River in Nashville, it would probably only receive a brief flurry on network news, a front page photo and a commendation in his personnel file.

The media, with heavy breathing, called Sullys ride the miracle on the Hudson. But it was not a miracle, not actually. Just really good piloting  the type of expert aviation that veteran pilot Hub Rushing says we receive thousands of times each day on hundreds of airliners.

In its own way, thats a real miracle we can thankfully take for granted.

Fred Dickeys home page is freddickey.net. He believes every life is an adventure and welcomes ideas at freddickey1@gmail.com.
Even if Kevin Faulconer remains mayor for his full four-year term, theres still going to be a lot of big things he started that someone else will have to finish.

A new Chargers stadium, meeting the goals of his Climate Action Plan and bringing the San Diegos infrastructure up to snuff  none of those will be completed when he leaves office in 2020. And thats not taking into account the possibility that something else might attract him away sooner.

Faulconer recently ended the regions political guessing-game when he endorsed Measure C, the Chargers hotel-tax increase that would help build a stadium-convention facility downtown. He did so because of concessions he negotiated with the Chargers which he said add further financial safeguards for the city, among other things.

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Faulconer essentially agreed with what critics said about the side deal: that it wasnt part of the ballot measure and, thus, not legally enforceable.

But the mayor, who was overwhelmingly re-elected in June, said he would hold the Chargers feet to the fire and that the stadium wouldnt move forward if the Chargers didnt follow through. He also said there would be approvals needed down the line by the city that would also help require the Chargers to perform.

Critics pointed to past deals with the Chargers that turned out to be less than popular.

Non binding gentlemens agreement is the new ticket guarantee, City Councilman Todd Gloria said on Twitter.

All the discussion these days is about how the stadium effort moves forward after Measure C likely fails to get the needed two-thirds majority to pass on Nov. 8. Theres the notion that these kinds of concessions could be baked into a subsequent proposal, which, one way or another, would go on another ballot.

That could be in November 2018, depending on circumstances, though a special election or the June 2018 primary would be possibilities. If that happens, it would begin a years-long process  werent they saying five-to-seven years just to make the needed bus yard property available?

Faulconer would be long gone.

 See what a downtown Chargers convadium might look like.

As for the Climate Action Plan that gained him international praise, the heavy lifting was always destined to happen after he was no longer mayor. Sort of like back-loaded bond payments.

But even grabbing some of the comparatively low-hanging fruit in the early stage of the plan has been a challenge. Critics, including some who helped shape the plan, have already questioned the citys follow through.

And recent action on some community plan updates have some insisting they dont meet climate-action goals, either in terms of not enough housing density or the lack of means to get people out of their cars.

On infrastructure, the mayor can take claim for increasing funding, doing more work on roads and methodically directing money toward needed public works. But not even Faulconer tries to make the case that his approach fully addresses the billions in infrastructure backlog the city faces.

The idea of a big infrastructure bond  that would have increased property taxes  gained some momentum for a while but talk died out when it was clear Faulconer wasnt enthused.

Its not that Fauconer wont, and hasnt, made progress during his tenure as mayor on these issues. And maybe a stadium deal will be fully buttoned up by the time he leaves.

But maybe not.

Brother, can you spare several grand?

Measure D, the other San Diego city hotel-tax measure on the ballot, has fallen on hard times. After some generous contributions helped the Citizens Plan qualify for the ballot, theres nothing left in the well. And attorney Cory Briggs, one of leading proponents of the measure, says his folks dont expect to raise much from here on.

But theyve got an ad ready to go that can be viewed on Facebook.

Check this out, said an email from San Diegans for Open Government, a Briggs-affiliated organization. Measure D, also known as Yes on D or the Citizens Plan, has a TV ad but no money to buy airtime.

If you know anyone who might be interested in helping the campaign get this on the airwaves, please have them contact the campaign at press@yesforsandiego.org.

The only poll that counts

A poll released Thursday that was commissioned by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee shows that, for the first time by the political organizations measure, Doug Applegate leads incumbent Republican Darrell Issa in the North Countys 49th Congressional District.

A month ago a poll released by the Issa campaign showed the Vista Republican with a sizable lead.

In the Democratic poll, Applegate led 46 percent to 42 percent, with 12 percent undecided.

It found that 49 percent of people polled support Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, while 35 percent support Republican nominee Donald Trump, who Issa has endorsed.

The poll of likely voters conduced Sept. 28-30, just after the first presidential debate. The poll had a 4.9 percentage-point margin of error.

The Issa poll, conducted Sept. 6-8, had him ahead 52 percent to 38 percent. At that time, the poll said only about a third of voters had heard of Applegate.

That survey said Issa has a 52 percent approval rating and a 30 percent disapproval rating.

The poll also had a 4.9 percent margin of error.

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California man pleads guilty to killing up to 20 catsTHE ASSOCIATED PRESSFirst posted: Tuesday, October 04, 2016 08:16 PM EDT | Updated: Tuesday, October 04, 2016 08:37 PM EDTSAN JOSE, Calif.  A California man has pleaded guilty to the killing or harming of more than 20 cats he abducted from a San Jose neighbourhood.The Santa Clara District Attorneys office says 25-year-old Robert Ray Farmer entered his plea Tuesday. He faces more than 16 years in prison.Prosecutors say Farmer abducted the cats from the quiet residential Cambrian Park neighbourhood.Investigators arrested him last year after they found him sleeping in a car where the carcass of an orange tabby cat and several cat collars were later discovered.Authorities say Farmer may have killed up to 16 cats. Only four bodies were found.Surveillance video of one of the cat abductions coupled with many resident tips to police led to Farmers arrest.
Parents often tend to argue as to whom their children get their skills and intelligence from. This never-ending catfight between parents can now be solved as a current research shows that children inherit their intelligence from their mothers.

Researchers from the University of Washington claim that children's intelligence come from their mothers. According to the study, women are more likely to transmit genes that shape the child's intelligence. The experts noted that the genes that influence the intelligence are carried on by the X chromosome and women have two of these while men have only one.

Your height is generally determined by your father. Your intelligence, emotional strength and body shape is determined by the mother.  Learning (@FactsGuide) October 6, 2016

Meanwhile, a new study conducted by a team of researchers from Scotland noted that genes responsible for advanced cognitive functions are inherited from the father. However, the genes are either deactivated or remain suppressed. They stated that if ever a child inherits the smartness of the father it will remain deactivated.

The researchers also conducted an experiment with the help of genetically modified mice. They gave an extra dose of maternal genes to the mice and it developed larger brains and relatively smaller bodies. But, when the scientists gave the rats an extra dose of paternal genes it had a smaller brain and larger bodies, as reported by The Independent.Uk.

Experts concluded that the brain development comes from the mother's genes, the physical development, however, comes from the father's genes. Researchers said that genes are not the only determining factor of intelligence. Environment also can play a lead role in the child's development of advanced cognitive functions. Experts added that a child can only absorb 40 to 60 percent of the genes from thier parents, according to Genetic Literacy Project.
Apple Inc. has now planned to unify its various individual internet services team into a single campus in an attempt to compete with its rivals. The company is about to unify all its cloud services teams at its Infinite Loop headquarters located in Cupertino, California.

Apple cloud services teams, which are run by executive Eddy Cue, are to move together into the company's Infinite Loop campus in California, Bloomberg reports. The cloud services include Apple's assistant Siri, Apple Pay, Apple News, Maps, iCloud and some parts of Apple Music and iTunes. At present, most of these Apple services are developed separately in other parts of California.

The New Setup: Codename Apple Pie

According to several reports, Apple will shift its cloud services, including Siri, to a single, Apple-made backend system, which has been codenamed Apple Pie. The infrastructure change is reported to give Apple more control. Earlier in March, it was also reported that Apple is currently working on a cloud storage system named McQueen to reduce the company's dependence on other services.

Apple will begin moving its employees to the Apple Campus 2 in 2017, Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook stated earlier. Although some Apple executives want the company to relocate the teams to their new campus, Cue believes that unifying the team at the old campus is a suitable way to improve Apple's organization.

The new campus is reported to include long work tables, bench seating, and also open cubicle spaces. Apple's presentations to the city of Cupertino have indicated that the open floor plan designs are conducive to collaboration between teams.

Why the change?

While Apple's services category has continued to grow, the company experienced a decline in the iPhone sales this year. According to MacRumors, Apple's current structure also contributes to software bugs and very slow product development.

Apple's cloud services have continuously been criticized by users due to the technical issues and the lack of new features. Also, Google's new Apps and Pixel Smartphone coupled with Amazon's rising spot in the market, Apple is under a grave threat.

The company had stumbled in 2008 with MobileMe Launch and also in 2012 with Maps. By bringing the teams together, Apple believes, there'll be a growth in the services business.
Although the Automobile dealers in the southern and eastern part of the state have been spared from the rage of Hurricane Matthew, the automobiles in Jacksonville, Georgia as well as South Carolina are now under threat as the storm has headed north.

Flooding in Norfolk. Monticello and 17th street. Water up to hips. People stranded in vehicles #HurricaneMatthew pic.twitter.com/VpLrkW6C6J  Hannah Wallsmith (@HWallsmithTV) October 9, 2016

The Weather Channel had reported earlier that Hurricane Matthew hit the Cape Canaveral, Florida with wind speed being as high as 107 mph. The storm resulted in heavy rainfall and flooding alongside the coastal areas of Georgia and Southern-southern North Carolina.

Jeff Raynor, used car manager at Duval Ford in Jacksonville stated that the four stores, the Duval Family owns, in Jacksonville were closed Thursday afternoon after employees had finished shifting inventory away from the potential flooding zones.

The port of Jacksonville is also serves an automotive trading hub. Several automakers including Toyota Motor Corp. hold latest vehicles at this port before its final shipment to dealers. In a statement given to Reuters earlier, a Toyota spokesman said that the company had moved most of its vehicles parked at the port inland before the storm.

In an earlier press release, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal issued an order for mandatory evacuation of Bryan, Chatham, Liberty, McIntosh, Glynn and Camden counties. Deal also issued evacuation of people from any other low-lying coastal areas located west of Interstate 95. He also stated that he had deployed 45 state's National Guard members.

Is the worst finally over?

Ted Serbousek, president of Ritchey Cadillac-Buick-GMC, said earlier that the eye of the hurricane had been moving off from the shore of Daytona Beach. He has four dealerships in the area. Serbousek and about a dozen of his employees took shelter in the store.

A metal canopy's roof was blown off by the heavy winds. The storm also took off cameras and ceiling tiles from the service drive, Serbousek said, but the inventory hasn't suffered that damage. "The worst is almost over," he added.

AutoNation Inc. also reopened its corporate headquarters this Friday after the stores and the office tower were closed on Wednesday. There are still 23 AutoNation stores closed but the company plans to reopen the stores anytime soon.

Ray Saez, digital media coordinator for the Dyer Auto Group, said the stores appear to be fine with no damaged windows or vehicles but they are without power. Rick Case, CEO of the Automotive Group having nine stores in South Florida, stated that they had taken all the precautions for a Category 5 and they got a Category 0 hurricane. The hurricane has been reported to be a Category 3 storm.

According to AutoNews, calls were made to the auto dealers in Georgia and South Carolina as the storm headed north but were not immediately answered.
Fifteen years ago this week, the US launched the longest war in its history: the invasion and occupation of remote Afghanistan. Neighboring Pakistan was forced to facilitate the American invasion or be bombed back to the stone age.America was furious after the bloody 9/11 attacks. The Bush administration had been caught sleeping on guard duty. Many Americans believed 9/11 was an inside job by pro-war neocons.Afghanistan was picked as the target of US vengeance even though the 9/11 attacks were hatched (if in fact done from abroad) in Germany and Spain. The suicide attackers made clear their kamikaze mission was to punish the US for occupying the holy land of Saudi Arabia, and for Washingtons open-ended support of Israel in its occupation of Palestine.This rational was quickly obscured by the Bush administration that claimed the 9/11 attackers, most of whom were Saudis, were motivated by hatred of American values and freedoms. This nonsense planted the seeds of the rising tide of Islamophobia that we see today and the faux war on terror.An anti-communist jihadi, Osama bin Laden, was inflated and demonized into Americas Great Satan. The supposed terrorist training camps in Afghanistan were, as I saw with my eyes, camps where Pakistani intelligence trained jihadis to fight in India-occupied Kashmir.Afghanistan, remote, bleak and mountainous, was rightly known as the graveyard of empires. These included Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Timur, the Moguls and Sikhs. The British Empire invaded Afghanistan three times in the 19th century. The Soviet Union, worlds greatest land power, invaded in 1979, seeking a corridor to the Arabian Sea and Gulf.All were defeated by the fierce Pashtun warrior tribes of the Hindu Kush. But the fool George W. Bush rushed in where angels feared to tread, in a futile attempt to conquer an unconquerable people for whom war was their favorite pastime. I was with the Afghan mujahidin when fighting the Soviet occupation in the 1980s, and again the newly-formed Taliban in the early 1990s. As I wrote in my book on this subject, War at the Top of the World, the Pashtun warriors were the bravest men Id ever seen. They had only ancient weapons but possessed boundless courage.During the 2001 US invasion, the Americans allied themselves to the heroin and opium-dealing Tajik Northern Alliance, to former Communist allies of the Soviets, and to the northern Uzbeks, blood foes of the Pashtun and former Soviet Communist allies.Taliban, which had absolutely nothing to do with 9/11, had shut down 90% of Afghanistans heroin and opium trade. The US-allied Northern Alliance restored it, making Afghanistan again the worlds leading supplier of heroin and opium. US occupation forces, backed by immense tactical airpower, allied themselves with the most criminal elements in Afghanistan and installed a puppet regime of CIA assets. The old Communist secret police, notorious for their record of torture and atrocities, was kept in power by CIA to fight Taliban.Last week, Washingtons Special Inspector General for Afghan Relief (SIGAR) issued a totally damning report showing how mass corruption, bribery, payoffs and drug money had fatally undermined US efforts to build a viable Afghan society.Whats more, without 24/7 US air cover, Washingtons yes-men in Kabul would be quickly swept away. The Afghan Army and police have no loyalty to the regime; they fight only for the Yankee dollar. Like Baghdad, Kabul is a US-guarded island in a sea of animosityA report by Global Research has estimated the 15-year Afghan War and the Iraq War had cost the US $6 trillion.Small wonder when gasoline trucked up to Afghanistan from Pakistans coast it costs the Pentagon $400 per gallon. Some estimates put the war cost at $33,000 per citizen. But Americans do not pay this cost through a special war tax, as it should be. Bush ordered the total costs of the Iraq and Afghan wars be concealed in the national debt.Officially, 2,216 American soldiers have died in Afghanistan and 20,049 were seriously wounded. Some 1,173 US mercenaries have also been killed. Large numbers of US financed mercenaries still remain in Afghanistan and Iraq.Noble Peace Prize winner Barack Obama promised to withdraw nearly all US troops from Afghanistan by 2016.Instead, more US troops are on the way to protect the Kabul puppet regime from its own people. Taliban and its dozen-odd allied resistance movements (terrorists in Pentagon speak faithfully parroted by the US media) are steadily gaining territory and followers.Last week, the US dragooned NATO and other satrap states to a voluntary donor conference for Afghanistan where they had to cough up another $15.2 billion and likely send some more troops to this hopeless conflict. Washington cannot bear to admit defeat by tiny Afghanistan or see this strategic nation fall into Chinas sphere.Ominously, the US is encouraging India to play a much larger role in Afghanistan, thus planting the seeds of a dangerous Pakistani-Indian-Chinese confrontation there.There was no mention of the 800lb gorilla in the conference room: Afghanistans role as the worlds by now largest heroin/opium/morphine producer  all under the proud auspices of the United States government. The new US president will inherit this embarrassing problem.
The question which is bothering Microsoft fans and tech enthusiasts is when will the official announcement about Microsoft's next gen Surface Pro 5 release date, specs, features and pricing details be made. Rumors about Microsoft Surface Pro 5 have been making rounds for quite some time now. But, unfortunately, the software giant hasn't spoken even a single word about the highly anticipated device.

Notably, Microsoft has already sent out invites for its fall hardware event which will take place on Wednesday, October 26 in New York City starting 10 am ET. According to The Verge, the tech giant's upcoming event will revolve around Windows 10 software updates, Xbox related updates, Microsoft Surface device news as well as OEM devices. Microsoft's 2015 October event saw the unveiling of the Surface Pro 4, Microsoft Band 2 and the Surface Book laptop.

Microsoft to launch new Surface PC at October 26th event https://t.co/03RB5vNNps pic.twitter.com/75dvXXeZpX  The Verge (@verge) October 7, 2016

But, as per reports, the company seems to be in no mood to refresh its existing Surface devices. In fact, rumors are that the tech giant will showcase OEM products instead. There are also reports which claim that Microsoft will launch a Surface All-in-One type device at the event. So, going by the reports, it seems Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is very much unlikely to get a 2016 release date.

It is expected that Intel's latest Kaby Lake processor and Windows 10 Redstone 2 update are the main reasons behind the release delay. Among other specs, the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is expected to come with a 4K Ultra HD display, 16 GB of RAM, AMD or Nvidia Pascal GPU, a 16MP main camera, an 8MP front camera, a fingerprint sensor, a rechargeable Surface Pen, a USB Type-C port and Thunderbolt 3.

The base model Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is expected to be priced around $899, while, the high end model is expected to cost a whopping $1,599. Interested people can live stream Microsoft's Oct. 26 Fall hardware event here.

Be sure to check with SWR for latest news and updates on Microsoft Surface Pro 5 release date, specs and price details.
There are 169 members of the U.S. House (38 percent) and 57 members of the Senate (57 percent) that hold law degrees. Congress overrode Obamas veto allowing 9/11 lawsuits against Saudi Arabia by 97 to 1 in the Senate and 348 to 77 in the house.

This is a definite conflict of interest. It is obvious that the lawyers and courts will benefit from this law more than the victims families. Since we have taken on the role of mercenary of the world, our military activities around the word will be subject to continuous litigation.

The lawmakers voting for this bill belatedly portray themselves as being patriotic and sympathetic; however, the opposite is true. If this is one of those mission accomplished moments, remember the consequences of the last mission that extolled success. The results being a devastated Iraq, Al-Qaeda resurgence, 9/11, Taliban conflict, war-torn Syria, ISIS, Benghazi and the current Middle East mess.

It would have been wiser to allow the 9/11 families timely legal redress against the United States, because our governmental policies accelerated these situations.

Saudi Arabia has a dominant sharia system (Islamic Law) and only allows business visitors in their country under very restrictive conditions. We defended this country with our troops against Iraq. Our presence there on Islamic Holy land fueled Bin Ladens anti-Americanism, which resulted in the 9/11 attacks primarily by Saudis. It is very unlikely that this country will pay the plaintiffs any monetary compensation, unless the U.S. performs some secret back-door quid pro quo arrangement.

Only time will reveal the consequences of this law and also reveal if it was only motivated for congressional greed and votes. Of course, this is all conjecture.

The 9/11/01 terrorists and their countries were identified by the FBI on Sept. 14, 2001. These families are and have been suffering through grief, trauma and fear. The real story is this shameless, sad display of pseudo bipartisanship in a blatant attempt to deflect the failures of Congress to the president and his office.

Fifteen years after the attack, joint compassion is displayed by Congress weeks before presidential and national elections. The charade is over.

DENNIS TAYLOR

Florence
Plattsmouth police arrested a Hy-Vee employee Friday morning and charged her with stealing $15,000 from the store over the last year.

The police conducted an investigation of 38-year-old Lisa Smith, the employee, and her involvement in several incidents of theft at the store. Smith is from LaVista.

The investigation resulted in Smiths arrest Sept. 30 at Plattsmouth Hy-Vee, located at 16418 Westside Dr. The investigation is ongoing.
Photo: Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton appear at their first debate at Hofstra University. Credit: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst Over the course of the 2016 election season, there were 22 primaries and town halls between the Republicans and Democrats. So far in the general, two debates have been held, one between the presidential candidates and another between the prospective vice presidents, and two more are scheduled, one of which will take place at Washington University in St. Louis this evening.

The scope of the responsibilities of presidency demands that potential office-holders bear a broad knowledge of and policy solutions for a range of issues, dealing with everything from the economy to national security and more.

Moderators no doubt will cover these topics, but what often gets lost over the course of a debate are questions relating to the sciences, and a nonprofit group, ScienceDebate.org, aims to change that. Supporters of the efforts of ScienceDebate.org include dozens of Nobel laureates, hundreds of organizations and thousands of ordinary voters.

RELATED: The Election Is Stressing People Out

According to a 2015 poll commissioned by the group, 87 percent of Americans surveyed want their elected leaders to have a basic understanding of the science informing policy decisions, and there was broad support across the political spectrum for a debate about health care, climate change, energy, STEM education and other issues specific to the sciences.

It's not unusual for the focus of a candidate forum to be on national security or economic policy. In 2012, for example, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney participated in three debates, one of which focused on domestic policy and another on foreign affairs. Topics related to the sciences can be just as broad and are global in scope.

The group has made an effort to get the aspiring office-holders on the record with their responses for the past couple of presidential election cycles, and this year is no different, with the candidates from the two major parties as well as third parties invited to a forum to discuss their views.

Knowing that getting the candidates to agree to such an event would be a long shot given the demands of the campaign trail, the organization also published a list of the top 20 science and engineering questions, provided and voted on by members of the public. The candidates' responses, touching on issues ranging from mental health to nuclear power to food security and water scarcity, highlight the different policy approaches each prospective president would pursue.

What's missing from this online Q&A though is the audience, both at the live event and watching at home. While anyone can access the candidates' responses online, north of 80 million Americans tuned in the first debate between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Could a debate about the sciences draw a similar crowd? That's just one more question we won't get the answer to this election cycle.

WATCH VIDEO: The Mind Games Politicians Use to Win Votes
Otzi the Iceman has at least 19 living male relatives in the Austrian Tirol, according to a genetic study into the origins of the people who now inhabit the region.

Scientists from the Institute of Legal Medicine at Innsbruck Medical University analyzed DNA samples taken from 3,700 blood donors in the Tyrol region of Austria.

During their study, they discovered that 19 individuals share a particular genetic mutation with the 5,300-year-old mummy, whose full genome was published last year.

PHOTOS: Iceman Mummy 20 Yrs On: Mysteries Remain

"These men and the Iceman had the same ancestors," Walther Parson, the forensic scientist who carried out the study, told the Austrian Press Agency.

The researchers focused on parts of the human DNA which are generally inherited unchanged.

"In men it is the Y chromosomes and in females the mitochondria. Eventual changes arise due to mutations, which are then inherited further," Parson explained.

People with the same mutations are categorized in haplogroups. Designed with letters, haplogroups allow researchers to trace early migratory routes since they are often associated with defined populations and geographical regions.

Indeed, Otzi's haplogroup is very rare in Europe.

"The Iceman had the halogroup G, sub category G-L91. In our research we found another 19 people with this genetic group and subgroup," Parson said.

ANALYSIS: The Ice Mummy: Little-Known Facts

Having carried Y chromosome haplogroup analysis, Parson was able to trace only the male descendants of the Neolithic man.

So far the 19 individuals have not been informed of their genetic relationship to Otzi.

Found in 1991 in a melting glacier in the Otztal Alps (hence the name), the mummy is one of the most heavily investigated human corpses of all time.

Scientists discovered that Otzi had brown eyes and very bad teeth, was lactose intolerant, had a genetic predisposition for an increased risk for coronary heart disease and probably had Lyme disease.

It's certain he died a violent death: In 2007, CT scans showed that an arrowhead had lacerated his left subclavian artery, leading to fast bleeding.

ANALYSIS: The Iceman Suffered Brain Damage Before Death

CAT scan of the mummy's brain and a paleoproteomic study have recently pointed to a cerebral trauma - a violent blow to the head - as the cause of death.

As investigation into the mummy continues, new relatives, alive and well, could be added to the list of the 19 descendants.

According to Parson, the genetic mutation might be also found in the nearby Swiss region of Engadine and in Italy's South Tyrol region.

"We have already found Swiss and Italian partners so that we can continue our research," he said.

Image: Facial reconstruction of Otzi the Iceman. Credit: Heike Engel-21Lux/SUdtiroler Archaologiemuseum
For several years running now, humankind has been on the verge of wiping out another species entirely -- on purpose and with good reason. Julian Huguet has the details in today's decidedly oogy DNews report.

Even though it's on the edge of extinction, no activists are coming to the defense of the guinea worm -- one of the planet's most horrific organisms. Technically termed a nematode, it's a parasite that lives in contaminated water, and you really don't want to ingest it. Once guinea worm larvae get to the intestine, they chew their way out and burrow into the abdominal muscles. After growing to maturity, the guinea worms commence to mating -- in your abdomen, mind you -- and the female works its way down into the leg.

It gets worse. Female guinea worms can grow to more than a meter in length, and the last portion of their life cycle is the stuff of body trauma nightmares. The worm chews its way out of the leg or foot, causing a wound which it then further inflames by spitting out irritants. When victims attempt to sooth the burn by putting their feet in water, the mama worm expels millions of embryos, starting the process all over again.

RELATED: The Botfly is a Particularly Gross Parasite

Modern medicine has no vaccine or drug that kills the guinea worm. The only way to get rid of it, once it has migrated to the legs, is to cut it out or literally reel it out around a stick, couple of centimeters at a time, over the course of weeks.

Here's the good news: The guinea worm has been very nearly eradicated thanks to preventative measures alone, including water filter distribution and a massive campaign of public education. In 1980, there more more than three million cases of guinea worm disease. In 2015, there were 22.

Here's the bad news: The guinea worm -- previously believed to be an exclusively human parasite -- appears to have adapted and jumped species over to dogs. After decades of coordinated efforts worldwide, the guinea worm was on the edge of becoming the first parasitic disease to be globally eradicated by modern medicine.

Alas, the worm may have dodged extinction after all. Check out Julian's report for more details, including some interesting bits on smallpox -- the one disease humans have fully eradicated. Double Secret Bonus Fact: Even the guinea worm's scientific classification name is scary: Dracunculus medinensis.

-- Glenn McDonald

Learn More:

IFL Science: We're Close To Achieving The Second Ever Global Eradication Of A Human Disease

NPR: The Last Days Of Guinea Worm

Seeker: Can 3D Printing Save Rhinos From Extinction?
Press Release

October 8, 2016 Legarda Renews Call for PHL Ratification of Paris Agreement as it Takes Effect Soon Senator Loren Legarda today said that the government should expedite the process of ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change for the country to benefit from the pact, which will take effect next month. Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Champion for Resilience of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), made the statement after the threshold for entry into force of the Paris Agreement was achieved. "More and more nations are ratifying the Paris Agreement. Vulnerable small island states, such as Fiji, Marshall Islands, Palau and Maldives, took the lead and, recently, the largest emitters of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, US, China and India, and now the European Union, have deposited their instruments of ratification. We see no reason for the continued delay on the Philippines' ratification, especially that our own experience from Supertyphoon Haiyan was one of the rallying points for a more ambitious climate deal," she explained. To date, 75 Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) covering more than 55% of global GHG emissions have ratified the climate pact. The Paris Agreement will enter into force on November 4, 2016. "We have nothing to lose, but everything to gain with the Paris Agreement. We worked hard for this Agreement. The Philippines was at the forefront of the Paris climate talks, leading climate-vulnerable developing nations in pushing for the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal. Now, with the imminent entry into force of the Agreement, it is ironic that we are taking our time," said Legarda. "I urge the Climate Change Commission and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to work together in expediting the process so that the Executive can immediately transmit the instrument of ratification to the Senate for concurrence," said Legarda. The Senator reiterated that the Paris Agreement is very important for the Philippines, being one of the most vulnerable nations to the impacts of climate change. "There is no provision in the Paris Agreement that would prevent our industrialization. In fact, it addresses the issue of climate justice. There are clear provisions in the Climate Agreement saying that industrialized nations must come up with the funding needed to help the vulnerable nations," Legarda explained. Under the Paris Agreement, developed nations are asked to decarbonize economy-wide. They must raise $100 Billion every year to help vulnerable nations for mitigation and adaptation, and to transfer technology. On the other hand, the Agreement acknowledges that developing nations, like the Philippines, will take time to decarbonize and will be able to do so with external support. This means that the success of the country's conditional target to reduce its GHG emissions to 70% by the year 2030, as stated in its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC), will depend on both its efforts and the technical and financial support that will be provided to the country. The Philippines was among the most influential countries in the crafting of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which seeks to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and possibly not more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Philippines also signed the Agreement in New York last April 22 and will be considered to have joined the Agreement once the President ratifies it and the Senate concurs in the ratification.
Press Release

October 8, 2016 Villanueva committed to address flood woes in Bulacan Senator Joel Villanueva has committed to solve the decades-long flood problem of the province of Bulacan as he led the dredging operations in Bocaue on Saturday. Bulacan has been recently hit by heavy rains and flashfloods brought by the southwest monsoon which forced the evacuation of 1,559 individuals or 356 families from various towns which includes 77 families from Meycauayan, 200 families from Marilao and 79 families from Sta. Maria. Commuters were also reported to have been stranded from SM Marilao to Meycauayan and SM Marilao to Bocaue. Villanueva, the only incumbent senator who hails from Bulacan, believes the said problem must be acted upon at the soonest time possible. "As a Bulakenyo, I personally witness the disastrous flooding in my hometown. Many families are being evacuated and individuals get stranded due to flooding every time heavy rains hit the province. This calls for a speedy action," the senator said. Villanueva initiated the dredging operations in Bocaue with the help of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the local government units of Bulacan. The turnover of the equipment was attended by DPWH officials led by Region III Director Jun Molano, District Engineer Ruel Angles, CIBAC Party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna, local officials led by Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva and other stakeholders. For decades, flooding has been a serious problem in Bulacan since the province serves as a natural catch basin for floodwaters coming from central and northern Luzon's mountainous areas. "The worsening and prevalent flooding in Bulacan already calls for an immediate solution. I believe that through the dredging of the Bocaue River, we would be able to mitigate flooding in the area," Villanueva explained. Upon the turnover of the dredging equipment, the DPWH will manage the operations which is believed to increase the carrying capacity and flood spill of the Bocaue River which will ease the flooding in Bocaue, Meycauayan, Sta. Maria , Obando and Marilao. "Ito pong proyekto na ito ay simula pa lamang, makakaasa po kayo na maipaglalaban natin sa Senado ang mga proyektong makatutulong para sa patuloy na pag-angat at pag-unlad ng makasaysayang lalawigan ng Bulacan," Villanueva said.
Bam: Support for troubled youth to curb suicide and drug use

A senator wants to create a mental health program for the youth to reduce the rate of suicide attempts and drug use among young Filipinos.

"We should provide troubled youth with professional support and a place of refuge so they don't resort to drugs or even suicide," Sen. Bam Aquino said in Senate Bill No. 657 or the Adolescents and Youth Mental Health Program Act.

In a fast urbanizing nation, Sen. Bam said the youth find themselves facing increasing amounts of pressure while being exposed to negative influences.

According to latest report by the Dangerous Drugs Board in 2015, around 49 percent of first-time drug users belong to the age group of 15-19 years old.

The World Health Organization also found that in 2011, 16 percent of Filipino students aged 13 to 15 had contemplated suicide, while 13 percent had attempted suicide.

The bill proposes the creation of a Mental Health Program for the youth aged 15 to 30 years old, to be implemented by the Department of Health, in conjunction with various other government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

If enacted into law, every public or private educational institution must employ at least one qualified guidance counselor who is authorized as a mental health practitioner to provide support and advice to students.

"We must ensure that the next generation of Filipinos are mentally resilient and don't fall prey to drug use," the senator stressed.

The WHO observes every October 10 as the World Mental Health Day.
It has been more than 60 years since Edward Von der Porten first saw the little cove just beyond a sandy Marin County beach in the Point Reyes National Seashore where Sir Francis Drake and a crew of seafarers claimed California for England.

The place, he thinks, is one of the most important historic sites in the United States. Drakes visit to the Point Reyes area in spring 1579 happened 28 years before the first English colony in what is now the United States, and 41 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.

This is the first place the English claimed land in what is now the United States, said Von der Porten, a teacher turned maritime scholar.

Years of dispute over exactly where Drake landed ended in 2012 when the federal government designated Drakes Bay a national historic landmark, one of a select group of places that possess exceptional value and quality in illustrating or interpreting the history of the United States. On Oct. 22, the Point Reyes National Seashore will dedicate a plaque marking Drakes Bay as an official landmark.

The plaque will also commemorate the shipwreck of the Spanish galleon San Agustin in the same area in 1595. The monument is not going to be placed exactly at the site of Drakes landing, but at the end of a road on nearby Limantour Beach.

The actual site is accessible only on foot  after a mile-long beach walk best made at low tide.

The walk, which is not marked, starts at Drakes Beach near the Kenneth Patrick Visitors Center. It heads south on the beach, past tall, white cliffs, until the beach ends at the entrance to a broad estuary, an arm of the sea. The way continues around a sandy point, along the shore of the estuary, then through brush close to a hill where Drakes men kept watch 437 years ago.

The sailors were apprehensive and homesick. They had landed on the edge of an unknown land on the far side of their world. They had no help and no resources except their own skill.

They were totally on their own, Von der Porten said.

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Von der Porten has spent years studying Sir Francis Drake and his times. He is in his 80s now, and was a little out of breath as he climbed the short hill above Drakes Cove. He pointed to a small lagoon, under a cliff and cut off from the ocean by sand.

They called this place Portus Novae Albion  the Port of New England in Latin, Von der Porten said.

The site is only 30 miles from San Francisco, but there is almost no sign humans were ever there. There were occasional beachcombers exploring the shore, flotsam from wrecked ships and a marker put up by the Drake Navigators Guild, a band of historians, but nothing else.

This is all still wilderness, a great place to see, Von der Porten said.

As he walked on the long beach that leads to Drakes Cove, he talked about Drake, who was the most famous English sea captain of his time. He sailed against Spain, Englands enemy. It was personal for him. He detested the Spanish.

He sailed a private ship in government service  a privateer. He had the backing of Queen Elizabeth, and his mission was to raid and loot the Spanish possessions on the Pacific Coast of South America. The Spanish said he was a pirate and offered a kings ransom for him, dead or alive.

Drakes biggest haul was a ship laden with gold, silver and priceless porcelain captured off South America. He loaded the treasure aboard his small ship, the Golden Hind, which was so full of loot Drake stacked silver bars in the hold as ballast. He got away from his Spanish pursuers and headed home.

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

But the Golden Hind was leaking badly and the nearest dry dock was a world away. So he sailed north up the nearly unknown Pacific Coast, looking for a safe harbor. He sailed as far as Oregon, maybe farther, and then turned south on the rocky coast of what is now California.

He rounded Point Reyes and found his harbor, not far from a steep cliff that reminded the crew of the white cliffs of Dover. The harbor had a deep entrance that led to an estuary. There was a small cove, where he could unload his ship and lay it on its side to make repairs.

Though it was nearly summer, the weather was cold, windy and damp, and the coast was cursed with what the English called stinking fogges. But the land was full of people, hundreds of them  Miwok people, probably, and friendly.

One day, an important man placed a crown of feathers on Drakes head. The English took that to mean the native people had somehow agreed to become subjects of her majesty, the Queen, and they made a brass plate announcing their claim and nailed it to a tree. After 56 days, they sailed away.

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Drake paused at some rocky islands he named after St. James. They are now called the Farallones. He did not see the entrance to San Francisco Bay. They sailed west and south, to the East Indies, to Africa, and back to England. Drake and his crew were the first Englishmen to sail around the world.

Drakes voyage lived on in legend, but for years arguments raged over where Drake had landed. Some said he had come ashore inside San Francisco Bay, or Bolinas, or Bodega Bay or north in Oregon, in British Columbia or even Alaska. In all, 17 places have been proposed as Drakes landing place.

But it became clearer over the years that he and his men had come ashore and repaired their ship at the little cove inside Drakes Estero, a small, shallow bay that opens into Drakes Bay. The cause was advanced for years by a group called the Drake Navigators Guild. Von der Porten, who joined as a young man, is now the president.

The preponderance of evidence indicates that this is Drakes landing place, said John DellOsso, chief of interpretation at the Point Reyes National Seashore. The federal government agreed in 2012.

In truth, the historic cove is not much to look at. It has been cut off from the ocean by winter storms and shifting sands so that it comes and goes, like an illusion, like a phantom from a time when a strange vessel appeared on the coast, bringing men from another world, who claimed the land for a foreign queen, and then sailed away, never to return.

An amazing place, said Von der Porten.

Carl Nolte is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cnolte@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carlnoltesf
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Although five cities on the West Coast have Fleet Week, Saturdays celebrations had a distinctly San Francisco flair. The city celebrated with drag queens and dogs, music and ships and, of course, the Blue Angels.

Its very special to us on a personal level, to be able to celebrate equality for our LGBT service members for the first time  its wonderful, said David Cruise, a spokesman for Fleet Week.

A lot has changed since the citys first Fleet Week in 1981, especially for the countrys thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service members. On June 30, Defense Secretary Ash Carter lifted the Pentagons ban on transgender men and women serving in the military. And in August, San Francisco hosted a naming ceremony for the Navys Sealift Military Command ship Harvey Milk, after the iconic gay rights advocate.

Saturday boasted Fleet Weeks first ever equality celebration, #WeAreFleetWeek, at the Cafe, a gay nightclub in the Castro district.

Fleet Week events are expected to draw 1.2 million people, including more than 4,000 sailors, soldiers and airmen, into the city by weeks end. At Pier 35, locals and tourists waited in a winding line for hours in the sun to get a chance to tour the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon and the guided-missile cruiser Mobile Bay.

The tours not only teach visitors about the ships, they also give service members a chance to see familiar craft through fresh eyes.

The best thing is to see how excited people are, to see how it is to be new to everything, said Navy Lt. Laura Price.

But for some, waiting to tour the ships is a familiar ritual.

Weve come every year since he was born, said Julie De La Cruz, gesturing at her 12-year-old son, Isaiah.

In Duboce Park, San Franciscos drag empress Donna Sachet emceed an event showcasing the K-9 heroes from the San Francisco Fire Department, Marines and many others. It was a fitting celebration for a city where dogs sometimes outnumber children.

But for most, the Blue Angels air show is the days most spectacular event. The team, borrowing its name from a then-popular New York nightclub, was formed in 1946 to showcase the prowess of U.S. Navy aviation at the end of World War II, originally flying Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat fighter planes.

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 Air Forces F-22 Raptor, the Canadian Air Forces CF-18, and Frances Breitling Jet Team, made up of seven Aero L-39 Albatros jets, took to the skies alongside the Blue Angels and their F/A-18 Hornets on Saturday.

The Blue Angels performance is not without its critics, who say the demonstration is too dangerous in a dense urban area like San Francisco. After the June 2 crash of a Blue Angels jet in Smyrna, Tenn., San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos called for restricting the Blue Angels practice and performance to the airspace above the bay, barring them from flying above the city.

But for the crowds who lined the Embarcadero to watch the Angels fly, the show is worth it, the worries of officials far from their minds.

I think people need to put it in perspective. Its not an all-the-time thing, said Alison Vance, who is in the process of joining the Navy. Its something special.

Filipa A. Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email fioannou@sfchronicle.com
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The 775-acre Shipyard property in Bayview-Hunters Point is 7 miles from the heart of San Franciscos Financial District, about as far as one can get from the engines of banking and technology that power the downtown economy without leaving the city.

But when it comes to winning approvals for new commercial buildings, downtown high-rise sites and the long-abandoned Shipyard property are treated as equals. Both are subject to Proposition M, a 1986 voter-approved office development cap that limits the amount of new office space to 950,000 square feet a year. There are far more development proposals pending than there is room under the cap.

That is something Five Points Holdings, the subsidiary of Lennar developing the Shipyard, wants to change.

The developer is asking voters to exempt the Shipyard from the Prop. M cap. The measure on next months ballot, Proposition O, would allow Five Points to win approvals for up to 5.1 million square feet of office space at its Shipyard and Candlestick Point properties without competing against projects in high-rent districts like SoMa and the south Financial District.

Former Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, a leading proponent of the ballot measure, said it represents a chance to create upward of 17,000 jobs in a poor, largely African American neighborhood that has never recovered from the closing of the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in 1974.

People in the Bayview have been waiting a long time, Maxwell said. Mission Bay has been developed  were still waiting. Other neighborhoods have been developed  were still waiting. Its time. We dont need any other encumbrances. We dont need to stand in line.

Prop. O comes at a time when the citys office development pipeline is stuffed with far more proposals than at any time since the 1980s high-rise boom that led to Prop. M in the first place. With companies like Dropbox, Twitter and Uber increasingly picking San Francisco over Silicon Valley for their headquarters, developers have filed applications to build more than 8 million square feet of office space, more than five times the 1.4 million square feet available under the cap. Under Prop. M the 950,000 added each year rolls over if not used up.

Originally, the Shipyard plan envisioned 2.1 million square feet of office space, but the environmental study considered a 5 million-square-foot alternative. When the San Francisco 49ers opted to move to Santa Clara rather than build a new stadium at Candlestick Point, additional land for office and retail space was freed up.

Thats where access to transit comes in.

Opponents of the measure say that Prop. M was not aimed just at downtown, but designed to ensure that office development was accompanied by the infrastructure needed to accommodate growth. Sue Hestor, a local land use attorney who helped write Prop. M, said the basic problem is that there is no real transit capacity to move people into those offices.

They really didnt plan for a 5 million-square-foot dot-com office park, Hestor said. You are going to create a massive traffic problem. The developers are getting enthusiastic about how much money they are going to make, but they dont deal with improving Muni.

The Shipyard plan also will eventually include 12,000 housing units, 1 million square feet of retail and hotel uses and over 300 acres of parkland.

Community organizer Calvin Welch, another architect of Prop. M, said Prop. O is also unfair to other developers who are playing by the Prop M rules.

Lennar gets to set up their own, separate little stand, he said. If youre a developer with a site in the South of Market waiting in line for a Prop. M allocation, why wouldnt your customer say forget you and go to Lennar?

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.

Kofi Bonner, who heads up Five Points, which recently spun off from Lennar, said there is a big difference between the Shipyard and most office developments.

We have to actually build the roads, build the utilities, build all those pieces to connect the pads. That means we have to plan three or four years ahead, said Bonner. With Prop. O we can have some visibility into the future.

And Prop. O proponents are quick to point out that the Shipyard includes an extraordinary set of public improvements, including the rebuild of the Alice Griffith public housing development, the parkland, $37.5 million for job training and overall affordable housing level of 32 percent.

Shamann Walton, a San Francisco Board of Education member and Bayview nonprofit director, said that Prop. M was meant to stop the proliferation of high-rises  not keep the community of Bayview-Hunters Point disenfranchised.

If we are going to be serious about countering displacement, if we are going to be serious about countering out-migration of the black population, then we have to be serious about providing the economic engine that is needed for us to stay, to live and work in the community, he said.

From 1970 to 2010, the African American population of San Francisco decreased 50 percent, down to less than 6 percent of the citys population.

J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SFjkdineen
Three children and five adults were recovering Sunday after a boat carrying 30 people capsized the day before and sank 100 yards off Pier 45 at Fishermans Wharf.

A 5-year-old was unconscious and not breathing when the child was taken from the water, said Assistant Chief Bob Postel of the San Francisco Fire Department. The child was given CPR on the scene and rushed to San Francisco General Hospital in critical condition. But by Sunday, the child was doing well, said Lt. Jonathan Baxter, a fire department spokesman.

In all, eight people, including three children, were taken to various hospitals for problems induced by cold water, fire officials said.

This is a situation that could have been really, really catastrophic, Postel said. This is a really great example of how things can go right.

The cause of the capsizing remains under investigation, police spokesman Sgt. Michael Andraychak said Sunday. He said officials will use a sonar device to find the boat wreckage, although it likely wont be found until Monday because the recovery process cant go forward during busy Fleet Week activities.

Police will investigate whether all safety requirements, including the number of life jackets, were met aboard the privately owned boat, Andraychak said. Officials didnt release other details on who owned the boat or the people on board, but said it was a 34-foot-long vessel named Khaleesi.

The first distress call came at 4:07 p.m. from a fishing boat, which reported that a motorized yacht had flipped over. Within minutes, a flotilla of boats, both civilian and otherwise, was on the scene, pulling people from the water.

We were already in the vicinity due to Fleet Week, said Petty Officer Third Class Lou Stewart, a Coast Guard spokeswoman. So we were on the scene pretty quickly, with two cutters, three small boats and a helicopter.

There were lots of resources on the water because of Fleet Week, so we were fortunate, Postel said. Boats from the South San Francisco Fire Department and Oakland Police Department joined in the rescue effort.

The original call said there were people trapped under the hull of the overturned boat.

At least one person swam into the cabin of the capsized ship and rescued a father and child, said Giselle Talkoff, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco Police Department.

It was a frantic but organized madhouse, both in the bay and along the shore. Boats of all sorts brought the soaked, shivering victims to the landing at Capurros restaurant, 498 Jefferson St.

Rescue workers there wrapped the children and adults in thick blankets and helped them into emergency vehicles. At least a dozen fire trucks, multiple police cars and a Coast Guard helicopter were at the scene, along with several rescue boats.

Much of Jefferson and Hyde streets was blocked off from the heavier-than-usual weekend tourist traffic to make way for the rescue effort.

The Coast Guard credited the efforts of Good Samaritans on nearby boats with helping to save lives by throwing life preservers and life vests to the people floating and struggling in the bay.

Fisherman David Griffiths, who had been in his own boat not too far from the yacht, tossed life jackets to the people in the water. He was taking off his shoes and getting ready to jump in when the first rescue teams arrived, Griffiths said.

The water was calm, Griffiths said, with plenty of boats on the bay because of Saturdays unseasonably warm weather and the spectacle of Fleet Week.

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.

It was jarring to see the boat upend during what had been an otherwise beautiful day on the water.

Seeing the bottom of it, thats not a normal thing, he said.

Baxter, the spokesman for the fire department, urged people aboard boats to wear life jackets, citing statistics that show people are six times as likely to drown without one.

The Coast Guard is trying to determine whether the sunken yacht poses an environmental threat or a hazard to navigation.

If theres no risk, the boat may remain at rest, Talkoff said.

Chronicle staff writers Kurt Aguilar and Kimberly Veklerov contributed

to this report.

Marissa Lang and Filipa A. Ioannou are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mlang@sfchronicle.com, fioannou@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Marissa_Jae
UC Berkeley journalism student Daphne Matziaraki recently won the Student Academy Award Gold Medal for her harrowing documentary short, 4.1 Miles.

The native of Greece had closely followed the Syrian refugee crisis, with people flooding into her homeland through Turkey, and felt the coverage wasnt conveying the truth in a visceral way. She hit on the idea of following one of the coast guard boats that had been forced into the Herculean task of rescue duty.

I needed someone to tell me the story from the inside, not just to do an interview, Matziaraki says.

I finally got this man, a local captain on a coast guard vessel. His job used to be routine border patrol for this peaceful island.

Theyre not trained to do CPR; they dont have thermal cameras or any of the equipment youd think theyd need for such an emergency.

Matziarakis film shows a man who tries his best but is simply overwhelmed by the seemingly endless deluge. He goes out for rescue after rescue, pulling men, women and children out of the water  usually alive.

His life has changed so much in the past year, the filmmaker says. I think he is psychologically breaking down. And he has no other options but to continue doing this.

All the footage in this film is from one day. And I didnt include two of the rescues that happened that day because I thought it was too much for the audience to digest.

4.1 Miles is too immersive to feel political. Like this coast guard captain who had dreamed of being in the merchant marine, the audience is simply thrown into the rough waters of the story.

I had read a lot about it before I started, but the situation I saw was 100 times worse. And the worst part of it was, there was no help, she says.

I could see people drowning in the sea in front of me. And there was no help from the state, from Europe.

That really, really shook me and upset me.

To see 4.1 Miles: www.nytimes.com/video/op-docs

Obscurity

no obstacle

Th Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences music branch lately has made a habit of nominating songs from obscure films and even documentaries seen by few  Im Not Gonna Miss You, Simple Song #3, Til It Happens to You in the past two years alone.

J. Ralph may be the most frequently nominated songwriter in the past few years most filmgoers have never heard of  his Before My Time was tabbed for the doc Chasing Ice in 2012, and Manta Ray, from the doc Racing Extinction, got a nomination last year.

Dont be surprised if he makes it a trifecta this year with his Sting collaboration, The Empty Chair, from the HBO documentary Jim.

And dont be shocked if Tori Amos joins those ranks with Flicker from the Netflix documentary Audrie & Daisy.

Listen to Tori Amos Flicker: http://tinyurl.com/j5 ms8l4

Listen to J. Ralph and Stings The Empty Chair: http://tinyurl.com/hf43rsd

Trivia question

What Student Academy Award winner went on to become a leading visual pioneer, direct 15 films with $4.1 billion in worldwide grosses so far, and win the Oscar for best director?

Heck, why not?

The Lion King was a huge animated hit, then a huge Broadway hit, and now is the next example of the cartoon-to-live-action trend as Jon Favreau has signed on to direct Disneys upcoming remake.

Not only have these pencil-to-flesh translations become commonplace (Cinderella, Maleficent, Beauty and the Beast), but Favreau is a blockbuster name. His live-action The Jungle Book has grossed $966 million so far.

Who would have expected it from the writer of Swingers and director of Made? But there he is, with $2.7 billion in total grosses.

Trivia answer

Robert Zemeckis.

Michael Ordona is a Los Angeles freelance writer. Twitter: @michaelordona
Jason Henry/Special To The Chronicle

Treasure Island Music Festival is looking for a new home. While event promoters are still scouting locations for the two-day concert in 2017, The Chronicle came up with some places that might work around the Bay.

Golden Gate Park: San Franciscos premiere park hosts outdoor festivals like Outside Lands and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.
The president made his 14 Points, then he helped end the Great War with this statement.

The Chronicles front page from Oct. 9, 1918, covers President Woodrow Wilsons response to Germanys request for a World War I armistice.

President Wilson today informed the German government that before the United States can discuss an armistice German troops must withdraw from all invaded territory, the story read. He asked Chancellor Maximilian whether he represented the German people or the authorities of the empire who are conducting the war.

Wilson, depicted on the front page standing tall in the middle of the story, had made his famous 14 Points speech for peace in January 1918, and this response served to lay the groundwork for the pact to end the war in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

In precise language, Wilsons order made it clear the U.S. would not negotiate the wars end without Germanys retreat to its native land. This proved vital to put an end to the fighting.

The president feels bound to say, the statement read, with regard to the suggestion of an armistice, that he would not feel at liberty to propose a cessation of arms to the governments with which the government of the United States is associated against the central powers, so long as the armies of those powers are upon their soil.

The good faith of any discussion would manifestly depend upon the consent of the central powers immediately to withdraw their forces everywhere from invaded territory.

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 every day for 366 days. Library director Bill Van Niekerken and producers Kimberly Chua, Michelle Devera and Jillian Sullivan contributed to the project. Tim ORourke is the executive producer and editor of SFChronicle.com. Email: torourke@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TimothyORourke

(Click to enlarge)




The contentious struggle to restore threatened fisheries in the San Francisco Bay-Delta and the Central Valley has focused mostly on reducing the amount of water exported from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to farms and Southern California cities. Thats now changed.

The State Water Resources Control Board has asked San Francisco and other communities that withdraw water from rivers that feed into the delta from the south to be part of the solution.

Declaring that the Bay-Delta is in ecological crisis, the state water board has proposed leaving 40 percent of the natural flow of these rivers untouched. Water agencies will either have to develop new supplies or make do with less, especially in dry years when water supplies are at a premium.

San Francisco derives 85 percent of its supply from the largest of these rivers, the Tuolumne. The city and county of San Francisco operates three reservoirs in the upper watershed, including the controversial Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park. San Francisco itself uses only one-third of this supply, and sells the rest to other Bay Area communities.

Downstream, the Turlock and Modesto irrigation districts use about three times as much Tuolumne water as San Francisco. The irrigation districts own and operate Don Pedro, by far the largest reservoir on the Tuolumne. San Francisco paid the irrigation districts one-half of the cost of Don Pedros construction in exchange for water bank storage credits. The Don Pedro agreement also specifies that any future increase in required flows on the Tuolumne might be apportioned 51.7 percent to San Francisco and 48.3 percent to the irrigation districts.

Water agencies rarely give up any of their supply voluntarily.

The irrigation districts have already stirred up fierce local opposition to the state water boards proposal. San Francisco is opposing the proposal as well  even though Bay Area support for protecting salmon and other fisheries dependent on healthy flows into the delta is strong. The final outcome is anything but certain, but major changes are indeed expected.

The state water board does not specify how the burden of compliance should be shared. Board Chairwoman Felicia Marcus, with explicit support from Gov. Jerry Brown, has asked the various agencies to work together on a cooperative solution, but warned that the board has the power to impose a solution should the agencies fail to do so.

The board has suggested specific alternative sources of supply for San Francisco, along with discussion of their feasibility and analysis of their cost. None is easily accomplished, but all are possible.

In recent decades, California cities and farms have made significant changes in how they store, move and use water, often because of collapsed fisheries. Central Valley farmers have installed enough drip irrigation to reach the moon and back. Innovative cities have built surface reservoirs closer to urban populations, recharged local groundwater basins and paid distant farmers to recharge the groundwater beneath their lands. Cities are also increasing their use of recycled wastewater  a supply that is virtually drought-proof. The list goes on.

San Francisco has pursued very few of these options. It has not needed to. To date, the city has not been required to help solve problems in the San Francisco Bay-Delta. It has also avoided requests to consider alternatives necessary to restore Yosemites Hetch Hetchy Valley.

The Bay-Delta Plan lays out water quality protections for California drinking, irrigation and fisheries. The proposed update analyzes the impacts, benefits and costs of the proposed revisions. The state water board must consider all beneficial uses of water and balance those interests.

The legal mandates within the Bay-Delta Plan require, however, that all parties who divert water within the watershed be part of the solution. Others have done their part, now its San Franciscos turn.

Spreck Rosekrans is executive director of Restore Hetch Hetchy. To comment, submit your letter to the editors at http://bit.ly/SFChronicleletters.
What youll see: With one little twist, you can turn the Coastside Trail in Half Moon Bay into a sensational bike ride with a series of payoffs. The ride spans 6 miles one way, from Half Moon Bay State Beach to Pillar Point Harbor, for a 12-mile ride round trip. Bike rentals are available.

One little twist: On weekends, it can be a mistake to attempt to drive Highway 1 from Montara south past Pillar Point Harbor en route to Half Moon Bay. The section from Princeton past El Granada and Surfers Beach often has bumper-to-bumper traffic, multiple stoplights and a lot of traffic entering the road or trying to find parking on the shoulder. Instead, avoid that and take Highway 92 and go directly to the s tate b each.

Coastside Trail: On one side, you get views of a series of beaches and out to sea. On the other, you can scan across the southern ridge that extends from Montara Mountain across miles of virtual wilderness. Its a flat ride, and when you start, a paved section is available for bikes and an adjacent unpaved route is for walking or horseback riding. You will pass access points to a series of beaches, including Venice Beach, Miramar and Surfers Beach (because of cliff erosion, the trail is partially incomplete here) en route to Pillar Point Harbor. Restaurants, marina, kayak rentals available.

Bike rentals: 7-speed Specialized, $10 per hour, $40 for 24 hours; Rockhopper mountain bike, $50 per day; WeeHoo trailers for youngsters 2 to 7, $40 per day. Info: The Bike Works, 520 Kelly Ave., Half Moon Bay; (650) 726-6708, www.bikeworkshmb.com. Closed Mondays. Located 0.8 of a mile from the entrance to Half Moon Bay State Beach and trail.

About the name: Many assume this is the California Coastal Trail and call it that. The official name, dedicated in a plaque when the route was first started in 1992, is the Coastside Trail.

Cost: State Beach parking, $10; free passage for bikes on Coastside Trail.

State-park facilities: Visitor center, restrooms with coin showers (two minutes per quarter), campground with sites for RVs, tents and RV dump station.

Dogs/rules: Leashed dogs permitted on Coastside Trail. No dogs on state beach; tickets common for offenders. No fires or collecting on state beach.

Map/brochure: PDF at state park website.

Contact s : Half Moon Bay State Beach, (650) 726-8820; park headquarters, (650) 726-8819, www.parks.ca.gov; marine forecast, Pillar Point Harbor, (650) 726-6070, Ext. 2.

How to get there: GPS  use 520 Kelly Ave., Half Moon Bay.

Half Moon Bay State Beach: From San Francisco, the Peninsula or East Bay, drive to Highway 92, then west on Highway 92 to Crystal Springs. Continue west on Highway 92 over the causeway at Crystal Springs and drive 8 miles to Half Moon Bay and Highway 1. Turn left on Highway 1 and drive south for 0.3 of a mile (get in right lane) to Kelly Avenue. Turn right on Kelly and drive 0.7 of a mile (after Balboa, road curves to right and crosses Coastal Trail) and continue short distance to park entrance on left.

Bike rentals: In Half Moon Bay, at the junction of Highway 92 and Highway 1, take Highway 1 south 0.3 of a mile to Kelly Avenue (get in left lane). Turn left and go short distance to the Bike Works on right at 520 Kelly.

Distances: 14 miles from San Mateo, 29 miles from San Francisco, 29 miles from Hayward, 34 miles from Sausalito, 39 miles from Dublin, 41 miles from San Jose.

 Tom Stienstra
DENVER  Many Californians will vote to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use Nov. 8 because  hell, yeah! But many of the rest of us are hoping for a longer, deeper high from legalization. Were hoping it brings some social justice.

That benefit of legalization, I fear, is being a bit oversold in California. Ask Candi CdeBaca. Legalizing pot hasnt started to solve decades of inequities in her neighborhood because not enough people there have made social justice a priority.

CdeBaca was born and raised in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood of Denver, a poorer, predominantly Latino neighborhood. It used to be an industrial hub  the Purina pet food factory is still open nearby  and there used to be a cabinet-making plant across the street from where CdeBaca grew up. But like in many big cities, a lot of those industries moved away, leaving behind empty warehouses. Then Colorado legalized marijuana for adult recreational use in 2012.

A lot of the progressive people here, we thought legalization would impact us favorably, CdeBaca told me. But CdeBaca, who is the executive director of Project VOYCE, Voices of Youth Changing Education, thought it would bring jobs to a community that desperately needed them.

On paper, the industry delivered. A Denver Post survey this year found that Swansea  because of its low rents, vacant warehouses and zoning laws friendly to weed businesses  had one of the highest concentration of cannabis businesses in the city.

But CdeBaca said a lot of people who started those cannabis businesses werent from the neighborhood. Because marijuana is a business emerging from the shadows of illegality, you want to hire people you know, she said. And so the white people who had the money to start the businesses hired mostly other white people, she said.

Its not been for the people in the community, she said.

A central argument for marijuana legalization has been that people of color are disproportionately subject to pot-related arrests, even though they dont use the drug more than whites. Legalization was supposed to even out the arrest rates, but that hasnt happened in Colorado.

The good news is that in the first two years of legalization, marijuana arrests fell 46 percent as many people complied with the new regulations, according to the Colorado Department of Public Safety. However, while the number of arrests decreased 51 percent for whites, they dropped only 33 percent for Latinos and 25 percent for African Americans. The pot-related arrest rate for African Americans remained nearly triple that of whites.

When I asked Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has methodically spent the past two years shepherding marijuana legalization to the ballot while talking up the social justice benefits, whether this would happen in California, he said the early stats from Colorado represented a legitimate concern.

Those problems wont go away overnight, Newsom said.

Lynne Lyman of the Drug Policy Alliance, an organization thats been fighting for years for legalization and social justice around the country  including in California  said a yes vote on Nov. 8 is just the first step.

Nothing we do eliminates racism, Lyman said. We cant get at underlying racism, but we can offer the tools to neutralize some of it.

Learning from whats happened in Colorado, the people who wrote Californias Proposition 64 included some provisions aimed at making the industry more open to all. The ballot measure gives local governments the power to make laws that can right some of Americas drug wars wrongs.

And that brings us to Oakland, which is in the midst of trying to do just that by making laws that are trying to make sure that everybody has a chance to make it in the new industry. But its not easy. Terryn Buxton, a cannabis business consultant who represents one of Oaklands poorest neighborhoods on the citys Cannabis Regulatory Commission, understands whats happening in CdeBacas Denver neighborhood, because he fears thats what would happen in his.

Given that most growers are coming out of the black market, its not surprising that you only going to hire people who you trust, Buxton told me. Thats why it is so important that there are local hire provisions.

The early ways Oakland has tried to make the weed business equitable  trying to make sure that African Americans and Latinos have equal footing in the industry have been riddled with problems that my colleague Rachel Swan has written about. Its not surprising. Making this industry equitable requires us to untie centuries of problems related to race and class and power.

But at least Oakland is starting to have a really tough conversation about equity. Other cities should pay attention, because they are going to have to wrestle with the same one.

Theres an urgency here because California may be the countrys last chance to get this right. Lyman said longtime funders of cannabis legalization efforts, many of them motivated by social justice concerns, are growing weary of footing the bill for ballot measures around the country. They want people in the weed industry to take over funding of those efforts. But theres no telling whether enough new cannabis entrepreneurs are as interested in social justice as they are in cashing in on the green gold rush. So how we solve this in California will set the template for the rest of the country.

So  hell, yeah!  if Prop. 64 passes, it will give lot of people a big buzz. But before that wears off, all of us  white progressives, weed entrepreneurs, black and brown activists, social justice believers and weed lovers of all shades  are going to have to figure out how to make sure everybody equally shares in the green. Or else this industry is no more enlightened than any other.
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Although five cities on the West Coast have Fleet Week, Saturdays celebrations had a distinctly San Francisco flair. The city celebrated with drag queens and dogs, music and ships and, of course, the Blue Angels.

Its very special to us on a personal level, to be able to celebrate equality for our LGBT service members for the first time  its wonderful, said David Cruise, a spokesman for Fleet Week.

A lot has changed since the citys first Fleet Week in 1981, especially for the countrys thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service members. On June 30, Defense Secretary Ash Carter lifted the Pentagons ban on transgender men and women serving in the military. And in August, San Francisco hosted a naming ceremony for the Navys Sealift Military Command ship Harvey Milk, after the iconic gay rights advocate.

Saturday boasted Fleet Weeks first ever equality celebration, #WeAreFleetWeek, at the Cafe, a gay nightclub in the Castro district.

Fleet Week events are expected to draw 1.2 million people, including more than 4,000 sailors, soldiers and airmen, into the city by weeks end. At Pier 35, locals and tourists waited in a winding line for hours in the sun to get a chance to tour the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon and the guided-missile cruiser Mobile Bay.

The tours not only teach visitors about the ships, they also give service members a chance to see familiar craft through fresh eyes.

The best thing is to see how excited people are, to see how it is to be new to everything, said Navy Lt. Laura Price.

But for some, waiting to tour the ships is a familiar ritual.

Weve come every year since he was born, said Julie De La Cruz, gesturing at her 12-year-old son, Isaiah.

In Duboce Park, San Franciscos drag empress Donna Sachet emceed an event showcasing the K-9 heroes from the San Francisco Fire Department, Marines and many others. It was a fitting celebration for a city where dogs sometimes outnumber children.

But for most, the Blue Angels air show is the days most spectacular event. The team, borrowing its name from a then-popular New York nightclub, was formed in 1946 to showcase the prowess of U.S. Navy aviation at the end of World War II, originally flying Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat fighter planes.

The Air Forces F-22 Raptor, the Canadian Air Forces CF-18, and Frances Breitling Jet Team, made up of seven Aero L-39 Albatros jets, took to the skies alongside the Blue Angels and their F/A-18 Hornets on Saturday.

The Blue Angels performance is not without its critics, who say the demonstration is too dangerous in a dense urban area like San Francisco. After the June 2 crash of a Blue Angels jet in Smyrna, Tenn., San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos called for restricting the Blue Angels practice and performance to the airspace above the bay, barring them from flying above the city.

But for the crowds who lined the Embarcadero to watch the Angels fly, the show is worth it, the worries of officials far from their minds.

I think people need to put it in perspective. Its not an all-the-time thing, said Alison Vance, who is in the process of joining the Navy. Its something special.

Filipa A. Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email fioannou@sfchronicle.com
STARCAST: Mars, a one-planet SWAT team, has joined forces with mighty (and mysterious) Pluto. Their venue, ambitious Capricorn, is a fertile field for accomplishment. Go out, see and be seen. Make exciting, enterprising plans then carry them forward.

ARIES (March 20-April 18)

Pluto and Mars blast a trail through your fame sector this month and into the next. Strike while the stars are hot to stake your claim. Like it or not, what you do is a mission statement for who you are. Is Minerva preaching to the choir?

TAURUS (April 19-May 19)

If there's one thing a Taurus knows it's the old throw yourself off the cliff of experience and pray for last minute wings number. You have it down cold, but even the most experienced Bull requires an occasional reality check. This involves a secret you won't care to "share." You know the one.

GEMINI (May 20-June 19)

Mars and Pluto do their best to raise the thermostat where shared resources are concerned but remain a mixed blessing. Challenges arise around yours, mine and ours issues. Compromise is the answer, but you may not want to go that route. What's that you're humming "My Way"?

CANCER (June 21-July 21)

Current planetary configurations lend themselves to review. Expect closures and/or contracts that eluded you throughout 2016 to begin coming together now. By Turkey Day, you should be the poster kid.

LEO (July 22-Aug. 21)

Mighty Mars and plucky Pluto drive a hard bargain in your nitty-gritty house. If only hot pants in high places alliances weren't so tricky! Look around, people are getting sued and fired. Is it worth it? No! But that's always easier for someone else to say. Whatever happens, 2016 continues to be lively.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 21)

You Virgos are such flirts! But subtle ones. (That's why you're so deadly.) With Mars and Pluto frolicking in your fun sector and jovial Jupiter manning your money house, someone should send out an all points bulletin. You're a force to be reckoned with.

LIBRA (Sept. 22-Oct. 21)

Like it or not, you're a natural to find yourself the designated homemaker. As such, the dream of a fall fling won't really kick in until the last plastic plate is tossed, the final picnic hamper put away. Virtue is its

own reward. Right? Practice saying no nicely, then do what you want.

SCORPIO (Oct. 22-Nov. 20)

Pluto and Mars add weight and muscle to your personal communications. The right word to the right person counts big time. Added to this, lucky Jupiter sees to it that past efforts pay off. Expect the warming trend to continue into 2017.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 21-Dec. 20)

Excitement grabs you by the short hairs. Fasten your seatbelt and get ready for a roller coaster ride involving personal finance. Mars and Pluto are all about force and sudden change. Since this duo is focused on your

assets, what happens next could be great . . . or not so great.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 21-Jan. 19)

You Goats work so hard at being cool. Nothing ruffles you. Or so it seems. Guess again. Mars and Pluto are crowded into your sign, potent reminders of what a hottie you really are. You'll want to raise the ante now, push to the max. The time has come to not only leap tall buildings but build a personal monument

AQUARIUS (Jan. 19-Feb. 17)

Mars and Pluto continue as guests in your house of drawn shades through out the year. Fortunately, you're such a past master/mistress at perfecting the light touch that few will guess the hidden agenda currently challenging you.

PISCES (Feb. 18-March 19)

You Pisces kids have the devil's advocate role down cold. Just don't be a brat about it. Admittedly that's a temptation with wily planets doing a twinkle toes number in your friendship house. Communicate with fun friends who think you're just darling. You are, aren't you?

MINERVA'S MAIL BAG:

Question: I'm a Gemini contemplating a partnership with a Scorpio. What do you think?

Answer: Scorpio's magnetism, intensity and focus would surely draw you. Each of you will find a delightful friend in the other and probably an office ally. Already clever and intellectual, you'll gain substance and power while teaching your Scorp to laugh away dark moods. You both enjoy matching wits and thrive on head games-some of which can be turned to money.
1 Deadly crash: A man driving the wrong way on a highway in Vermont caused several crashes that left five people dead and at least two vehicles in flames, including a stolen police cruiser, state police said Sunday. Local news outlets reported those killed were teenagers  all high school juniors  riding in the same vehicle, which had been traveling south on Interstate 89 in Williston. Emergency dispatchers started getting calls about a vehicle traveling north in a southbound lane of the interstate Saturday just before midnight. The driver of the stolen police cruiser, identified as Steven Bourgoin, 36, was critically injured, and police had not determined whether he caused the initial crash.

2 Pump prices: The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. has risen four cents over the past two weeks to $2.29, industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday. Gas prices have risen 13 cents over nine weeks. The highest average price for regular gas among the cities surveyed was $2.80 in San Francisco, while the lowest was $1.97 in Tucson.
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This article originally appeared on Hoodline.com.

Another South of Market construction site has broken ground.

Tipster Robert F. informed us this morning that the McDonald's that's long stood at the corner of Third and Townsend is now closed, and demolition of the one-story red and gold building has begun.

Photos posted on Yelp yesterday, showing construction crews removing the McDonald's signage, confirm that observation.

Socketsite pointed out earlier this year that this particular fast-food joint holds a place in pop-culture history. In 1983, before McDonald's moved in, it was transformed into 'Acorn Cafe,' where Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry uttered the famous words, "Go ahead, make my day," after a shoot-out with robbers in the film Sudden Impact.

The corner, just steps from AT&T Park, will soon become a 230-room Hyatt Place hotel. The 11-story building will include a public courtyard and 2,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, and roof decks on the ninth and 12th floors for guests. Construction is expected to wrap by the end of 2017.

With the neighborhood's two other McDonald's (1455 Market St. and 820 Bryant St.) also long gone, the nearest place to score a Big Mac and Gilroy Garlic Fries appears to be the Market and Second Street location. You can also walk a bit further and hit the recently remodeled 'Create Your Taste' McDonald's on Front Street between California and Sacramento.

This article originally appeared on Hoodline.com.
When attorneys for Rep. Mike Honda and Ro Khanna face off in federal court Tuesday, they will be fighting a battle thats as much about politics as any legal issues.

In the request for a preliminary injunction, Hondas campaign is accusing Khanna, his challenger for a South Bay congressional seat, of conspiring with his campaign manager to illegally download lists and personal information on the congressmans campaign donors for his own use.

We want to be sure there is a court order forcing them to do the right thing, which is returning the computer records allegedly taken by Khannas former campaign manager and ensuring they arent used against Honda, said Gautam Dutta, the congressmans attorney.

But Khanna argues theres nothing to return, because Brian Parvizshahi, who resigned as campaign manager hours after Hondas suit was filed last month, never provided the campaign with any information about the congressmans donors.

The Honda campaign presents no evidence that Mr. Khanna did anything wrong or even knew of anything improper, his attorney said in a court filing last week.

Neither side denies theres a political aspect to the injunction request, which will go to court less than a month before the Nov. 8 election. Khanna, a Fremont attorney who finished on top in the June primary, is considered the favorite to take away the seat Honda, a fellow Democrat, has held since 2000.

Even the most cursory analysis demonstrates that this lawsuit, and particularly the timing of this case and this motion, was chosen solely for media consumption during the run-up to election day, Khannas court papers assert. The case is about a desperate attempt by an incumbent congressman to hold on to his seat through the publicity of litigation against his opponent.

In an interview, Khanna was even more direct.

In 99.9 percent of these cases there wouldnt be a hearing, there would be a settlement, he said. But since any actual court case wouldnt be held until well past election day, the only question (for the Honda campaign) is what the headline will be.

While Hondas campaign staffers have argued that they filed their lawsuit as soon as they had finished their investigation into what had happened and what information may have been compromised, they agreed that the politics of the case is a concern.

This is important for voters, said Michael Beckendorf, Hondas campaign manager. The central question (of the election) is if you can trust Ro, who is willing to break the law to get what he wants.

The court case itself, like many civil battles, is hundreds of pages of conflicting views of the same reality. Its almost the legal equivalent of kindergartners at recess yelling Yes, you did! and No, I didnt, with the judge acting as playground monitor.

But theres some fire under all the legal smoke.

For a few weeks in 2012, Parvizshahi, now 26, worked as an intern for the Arum Group, which then handled fundraising for Honda. When he left to work on President Obamas re-election campaign, the company never took away his computer access to Hondas campaign files.

The suit charges that Parvizshahi, who began working for Khanna when the attorney ran unsuccessfully against Honda in 2014, illegally accessed Hondas files while he was on Khannas campaign staff.

But while Honda campaign officials argue that they have Parvizshahis electronic fingerprints on data in the congressmans computer file, any direct link to Khanna is more circumstantial.

The suggestion that Khannas campaign used any data obtained from Honda, which Khanna has denied in a sworn statement, is pure speculation  conjecture on top of conjecture, his attorney said in the court filing.

Parvizshahi, in his own court papers, said he never printed or downloaded any information from Hondas files and that Khannas campaign had never asked him to access or download anything from Honda.

But Khannas team didnt do Parvizshahi any favors when they said in the legal papers that there was no conspiracy between Khanna and his former campaign manager and if Mr. Parvizshahi accessed these files he did so on his own, unilateral volition.

Even if Judge Edward Davila rules against Khanna on Tuesday afternoon, theres a real question of what effect that actually would have, especially because Khanna has argued that any campaign information in dispute has already been pushed aside and wont be used in the final weeks before the election.

In the worst case, all the judge can do is order us to do what were already doing, he said Saturday, adding that he cant return information he doesnt have.

Any actual trial on Hondas suits wouldnt take place until well after the election, and Khanna said his attorney already plans to ask that the suits be dismissed.

But if the judge agrees with Hondas case, it will embarrass us politically, Khanna said.

Thats what Honda is hoping for, especially after finishing second to his challenger in the June primary.

Democracy calls for a level playing field where no one is above the law, Hondas attorney said in his court papers. An injunction ... will vindicate (emphasis theirs) the rights of Mike Honda for Congress and its supporters in the weeks that remain before the election.

John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth
It doesnt take long after climbing off the packed commuter train to realize that Kaifeng, once one of the most powerful ancient capitals of China, clearly has been left behind.

Which makes it a very special place.

Having previously visited the gargantuan metropolises of Beijing, Nanjing, Xian and Hangzhou, Im shocked to find Kaifeng is tiny, comparatively. I know it hosts a trove of remarkable historical sites, so I had been expecting to see a modern, booming city, rather than a more subdued, less developed one.

This makes Kaifeng a true anomaly in China, a country which has changed beyond recognition in the space of 20 years. In that time, many of its cities have increased in population three or four-fold. Yet Kaifeng is scarcely bigger now than it was 1,000 years ago.

All of which means that here, being left behind equates to more original culture and architecture, a slower pace and a tiny fraction of the foreign and domestic tourists who swarm Chinas more popular cities.

Some of those other cities  Beijing, Nanjing, Xian and Hangzhou among them  are sophisticated, cosmopolitan places that managed to build on their fame as imperial capitals. Yet Kaifeng has a major advantage: being left behind isnt necessarily a bad thing.

Amid a period of wild change, in some ways, being left behind can be the very opposite.

Ronan O'Connell/Special to The Chronicle

In the 11th century, when it was the capital of Chinas Song Dynasty, Kaifeng was the largest city in the world, according to research by the late Berkeley historian Tertius Chandler. Kaifengs population reportedly swelled to about 700,000 people in this period.

These days it has not many more than 800,000 residents. This makes it positively miniscule in a country that has more than a dozen cities with populations of at least five million people.

The comparative lack of development in this city in Henan Province in eastern China means it has a less westernized appearance than the big Chinese cities, not to mention a wealth of well-preserved historical sites. From magnificent temples, to grand pavilions and timeworn pagodas, Kaifengs architectural heritage is healthy and beguiling.

Many parts of Kaifeng look and feel similar to what I imagine most Chinese cities were like 25 years ago, before the countrys metamorphosis. This includes its train station, which is small and basic, unlike the enormous, glass-and-steel rail hubs found all over China.

As I trot down the steps of the station entrance I seem to bend time. The people around me are moving almost in slow motion, their necks craning to stare at the tall westerner. Kaifeng is passed over by tourists in the same way it has been by property developers.

The dearth of tourists means I have Kaifengs attractions nearly all to myself. As I stand at the entrance to the imposing and majestic Dragon Pavilion Park, Im struck by the peace and quiet. There are no touts trying to sell me trinkets. There are no tour groups led by guides with megaphones. There are no lines at the ticket office.

Its the same at each of the fascinating attractions I visit across the city.

Ronan O'Connell/Special to The Chronicle

Walking along the long, stone-paved bridge that leads across Yangjia Lake to the beautiful Dragon Pavilion, I imagine the momentous events that would have unfolded here a millennium ago. Grand imperial parades and deadly battles took place on this site, which was home to successive royal palaces before the pavilion was built over their ruins in 1692.

I dont have to use my imagination for long. Just as I arrive at the foot of the pavilion, a troupe of actors is beginning a performance. Decked out in brightly-colored, traditional Chinese garb, they march into a nearby temple and begin to interact in an animated fashion.

While I cant understand a word they say in Mandarin, a spectator tells me in broken English they are recreating an Imperial meeting from the Song Dynasty period. This era, from 960 to 1279, marked the high point in Kaifengs history. When this dynasty began its rule of China, it made its capital at Kaifeng.

Unlike in the current day, when Kaifeng is poorly placed geographically, it was then a key port along Chinas original Grand Canal. This man-made waterway built at the start of the seventh century stretched for about 1,000 miles, from near Beijing in Chinas north all the way down to Hangzhou on its central-eastern seaboard.

Kaifengs convenient location on the canal made it the obvious choice of several regional authorities before the Song reunified China as an empire. In the 11th and 12th centuries Kaifeng flourished, becoming arguably the most significant trading hub in Asia.

But what the Grand Canal gave, it later took away. When the canal was given a new path in the 14th century, Kaifeng was bypassed and swiftly faded as a commercial center. It was here, on the site of the Dragon Pavilion Park, that the imperial palaces of six different dynasties were based, the most recent being the Jin Empire of 1115 to 1234.

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China was riven by conflict throughout most of Kaifengs glory days. As a result, there are limited vestiges of its imperial era, with many of the major structures from this period long having been destroyed and buried beneath the city. The imperial splendor of Kaifengs past has been recreated at the Millennium City Park.

On the Western side of Yangjia Lake, opposite the Dragon Pavilion, this 40-hectare theme park has been modeled after Kaifengs appearance during the Song Dynasty. It is a kitschy, albeit well executed project punctuated by faux-palaces, bridges and tea houses. But Kaifeng is not short on real heritage sites.

Between Dragon Pavilion and the Kaifeng train station sits one of Chinas most famous Buddhist monasteries, Xiangguo. Beyond the earthen-red walls of its ornate entrance gate are more than 60 temples.

Monks congregate at Xiangguo each day to chant prayers inside Tathagata Hall, more than 1,400 years after this religious complex was built. In its Octagonal Glazed Hall are hundreds of statues, including a golden likeness of Avalokitesvara, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, which is adorned by dozens of eyes.

I feel as if almost as many eyes are trained on me as I wander down a quiet back street just West of Xiangguo, past dusty shop houses where families sit drinking tea and playing board games. For more than an hour, my stomach has been rumbling, sending me a message loud and clear: Find dumpling soup.

There are many decadent dishes in China. The only problem is that in a small city like Kaifeng, if you dont speak or read Mandarin, the restaurant menus offer you no clues. Again and again in China I fall back on my rough Mandarin translation for the simple and ubiquitous dumpling soup.

Sitting on a child-sized plastic chair in a no-frills alleyway restaurant I attempt to order. Jiaozi tang, I say to a young waitress who has looked dazed and confused from the moment I stepped in the door.

After I repeat myself for the third time, tweaking my pronunciation on each occasion, she grins and nods her head vigorously. I get the thumbs-up signal from not one but two men who had been hunched over their meals but who are now sitting bolt upright, transfixed by my interaction with the waitress.

My food arrives swiftly and I hand over just 10 yuan, roughly $1.50, for a generous bowl of steaming hot soup filled with about a dozen pork dumplings. It is delicious. Rather than trying to deliver this praise in broken Mandarin, I give the thumbs-up to the staff and the seven or eight fellow diners studying me.

Kaifeng is a friendly place for westerners. Many locals seem fascinated by me and if you meet their stares with a smile and a wave, the warmth is returned. This is not always the case in China.

In big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, foreigners are common and residents are often in a rush so they take little notice of tourists. Combined with the language barrier, this can make travel in those places a lonely experience. Meanwhile, in Kaifeng, Ive got more mates than I do back home.

With my hunger sated, I hop in a taxi to the impressive Youguo Temple, a Buddhist monastery from the Song Dynasty. It was built in the northeast portion of Kaifeng, just inside the boundary of the towering city walls, small sections of which have been restored and can be climbed by visitors. Looming above the manicured grounds of the monastery is a monument that embodies the architectural style of the Song Dynasty.

As I rest at the foot of the 180-foot-tall Iron Pagoda, tilting my head back to take it all in, I understand momentarily the discomfort the Kaifeng locals had felt as they strained to stare up at me. Unfortunately, Im not nearly as majestic or significant as this enormous monument.

Glazed gray tiles cover the roofs of each of its 13 levels, with more than 100 small bells hanging from its eaves. Most of the brick pagoda is embellished by wonderfully intricate, hand-carved depictions of flowers, animals and Buddhas.

I enter the pagoda and ascend step after step until finally I earn a sprawling view of Kaifeng. With a squint of the eye it is possible to trace the rough route once followed by the old city walls. As was the case 1,000 years ago, there is little of significance outside the lines of this rectangular fortification.

What was once the biggest city on Earth, and the capital of one the worlds superpowers, is now little more than a footnote in Chinese history. Kaifeng has been sidelined.

But in a country becoming ever more westernized and modern, it is a charming throwback.

Ronan OConnell is a freelance writer. Email: travel@sfchronicle.com

If you go

Getting there

Kaifeng doesnt have its own airport, but you can fly into sister city Zhengzhous Xinzheng International Airport. Eva Air, Air China and Cathay Pacific offer flights from San Francisco to Zhengzhou with stopovers in Taipei, Beijing and Hong Kong, respectively. Alternatively, you can fly into Beijing and catch a bullet train to Zhengzhou that takes two and a half hours.

Where to stay

Pullman Kaifeng Jianye: No. 16 Longting North Road, Longting District; (+86) 371 2358 9999. New hotel in the historic heart of Kaifeng, near the Dragon Pavilion Park and the Millennium City Park. Superior rooms start from $100, and the hotel has a pool, a relative rarity in China.

Kaifeng Sunshine Holiday Inn: Building 5, Qishengjiao Business St.; +86 371 2238 2222. A neat hotel with a traditional-style Chinese courtyard. Boutique rooms start at $65.

Where to eat

Kaifeng has amazing street snacks, including steamed pork buns (50 cents to $1 each) sold by mobile vendors all over the city. Pork dumplings, called Xialongbao, are found more commonly in restaurants. This includes Di Yi Lou, a popular Xialongbao haunt right next to Xiangguo Temple, where a basket of 10 cost about $6, and a cold beer just $2.

What to do

Kaifeng is a fantastic city for temple hopping, from the ancient Xiangguo complex, to the sprawling Youguo Buddhist monastery, and the fascinating Yanqing Taoist Temple. On the kitschier side of things, the Millennium City Park holds various cultural demonstrations throughout the day. These range from the enchanting (water puppets and drumming displays) to the strange (cockfighting and fire-breathing performances).

If you have time, it is highly recommended to make do a day trip to Luoyang (two hours by train), another of the eight ancient capitals of China. The UNESCO Heritage listed Longmen Grottoes on the outskirts of Luoyang is one of the most astonishing sites in China yet, bizarrely, is almost entirely overlooked by foreign tourists.

More Information

Henan Province Tourism: www.visithenan.org

Kaifeng City website: www.ekaifeng.gov.cn/enIndex.html

Chinas seven other ancient capitals

Beijing: This city has been the capital of the Peoples Republic of China since that was formed in 1949. Beijing previously acted as the hub of various Dynasties and regional authorities throughout Chinas history.

THIERRY ROGE/REUTERS

XiAn: Like Beijing, XiAn long has been a center of political power in China, serving as the capital of more than 10 dynasties. This stretches back more than 2,000 years to its time as the hub of the Western Han Dynasty, back when the city was called Changan.

Nanjing: These days one of Chinas largest and most cutting edge cities, Nanjing has been the capital of many different dynasties and governments over the past 1,800 years. Most significantly it was a capital of the mighty Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Luoyang: The capital of nine ruling dynasties, Luoyang these days is a small, sleepy city compared to Beijing, XiAn and Nanjing. Now it is famed for the Longmen Grottoes, a complex of incredible, giant rock carvings.

Hangzhou: Twice this city was the capital of dynasties, most notably the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). As the southern bookend of the Grand Canal it for many centuries was a major trading port.

Anyang: This is a truly ancient hub of China, having served as a capital only once, roughly during the period between 1600 and 1046 BC when the city was known as Yin. The archaeological site of Yin, close to Anyang, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Zhenzhou: Just 60 kilometers west of Kaifeng, this city has superseded Kaifeng both in size and in political clout as the capital of Henan Province. It became known as the eighth ancient capital of China after the recent discovery within Zhenghou of the remains of a capital city of the Shang Dynasty (from about 1760 to 1030BC).

 Ronan OConnell
JERUSALEM  A Palestinian motorist engaged in a shooting spree near the national headquarters of the Israeli police in Jerusalem on Sunday, killing two people and wounding five others before being shot dead after a frenzied chase through the streets of the holy city, police and emergency services said.

The attack, carried out by a member of the Hamas militant group, was one of the bloodiest during a yearlong spate of Palestinian assaults. Israel had beefed up security in recent weeks, warning that the potential for violence could rise during the current Jewish high holiday season.

The police headquarters has been a frequent location of attacks, both because of the large number of officers in the vicinity and because of its location along the invisible line between predominantly Jewish west Jerusalem and the Palestinian neighborhoods of east Jerusalem.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the attacker sped toward a busy stop of the citys light rail and opened fire, hitting a 60-year-old woman. He continued driving and shot another woman who was seated in her car before speeding off toward an Arab neighborhood in east Jerusalem.

Samri said police officers on motorcycles chased the assailant, who eventually stepped out of his vehicle and opened fire at them. A separate police force ultimately shot and killed the attacker, Samri said.

Israels national rescue service, Mada, said two people were killed. Police identified one of the dead as a 29-year-old officer, Yosef Kirma. The 60-year-old woman, identified as Levanah Malichi, also died.

Police said the shooter was a 39-year-old man from the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan. They did not release his name.

Israeli media reported the man had previously served multiple sentences for violent acts and was due to report to prison Sunday for another sentence over assaulting a police officer.

The Hamas militant group stopped short of claiming responsibility for the attack. But in a statement issued in the Gaza Strip, it identified the shooter as Musbah Abu Sbaih.

Instead of handing himself over, he chose the best way of the holy warriors, to carry out a heroic attack, the group said.

The Palestinian attacks began around the Jewish holidays a year ago. Since then, they have killed 36 Israelis and two visiting Americans. About 219 Palestinians have been killed during that period. Israel says most of the dead were attackers, though Palestinians have accused Israel of using excessive violence.
BERLIN  German police searched nationwide Sunday for a 22-year-old Syrian man, believed to have been preparing a bombing attack, who eluded capture as officers were closing in on him.

Police said they were questioning a second Syrian man on suspicion he was involved in the plot.

The man in custody was one of three apprehended in the eastern city of Chemnitz on Saturday. He was the renter of the apartment that police raided in their search for the main suspect, Jaber Albakr from the Damascus area of Syria, said Saxony police spokesman Tom Bernhardt. The other two have been released.

He said the man in custody was Albakrs countryman, but wouldnt give other details. We believe he is a possible co-conspirator, Bernhardt said.

Another man who knew Albakr was taken into custody for questioning Sunday afternoon in a raid on his Chemnitz apartment.

On Saturday morning, as police prepared to raid the apartment building, Albakr was observed leaving the premises. Police fired a warning shot but were unable to stop him, Bernhardt said. They thought he had turned back into the building but that wasnt the case, he said.

Bernhardt also confirmed reports that Albakr had come to Germany in the flood of 890,000 refugees who entered the country in 2015 and had been granted asylum.

Nobody was in the apartment when police SWAT teams blew down the door Saturday, but investigators found several hundred grams of a volatile explosive hidden in the unit, enough to cause significant damage, Bernhardt said.

With this highly volatile explosive, even a few hundred grams is no trifle, he said. For an explosive of this type, it was a considerable amount.

He said experts were still trying to determine whether it was the same explosive used in the deadly Nov. 13 attacks in Paris and the March 22 attacks in Brussels known as TATP, or triacetone triperoxide. Its comparable to that, he said.

The raid came after Saxony police were given a tip from Germanys domestic intelligence service that Albakr may be planning an attack.

German media have reported that Albakr is believed to be connected to Islamic extremist groups, but Saxony police have not commented on his possible motivation or the bomb plots target.
CAMP SWIFT, Iraq  Thirteen years ago, Chase Snows father was among the American troops who moved into the Iraqi city of Mosul during the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Now Snow, a U.S. Army specialist, is deployed in Iraq to help in the fight to retake the city from the Islamic State group.

The assault on Mosul, Iraqs second largest city, is bringing American forces into their most significant role in Iraq in years, in terms of numbers and presence on the front lines.

The lead-up to the assault has already brought some U.S. forces into combat with the militants. Special forces carry out raids alongside Iraqi troops inside Islamic State-held territory around Mosul. And now as Iraqi forces prepare for the operation to retake the city, those raids have increased in frequency, according to a coalition official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The U.S. has also sent Apache helicopters to aid in the Mosul fight, according to the Pentagon, a step that was not taken when Iraqi forces retook the western cities of Ramadi and Fallujah.

The number of U.S. troops in Iraq has steadily grown over the past two years to nearly 6,000 service members, up from almost none following the 2011 withdrawal from Iraq. The latest group, numbering nearly 600, began to deploy in September to Qayara air base, the facility 30 miles south of Mosul that is to be the main staging ground for the assault on the city. Trucks have been rolling in the base for weeks with supplies and equipment, preparing it so coalition warplanes will be able to operate there.

Youve got to look at Mosul as the crown jewel right now, said Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky, the head of U.S ground forces in Iraq, regarding the build-up of forces. The deployments have all been targeted to assist in the Mosul attack.

Besides the hundreds of special forces, most of the American personnel operate back from the front lines, coordinating coalition air strikes, tracking Iraqi ground troops, sharing intelligence and helping plan operations.

Snow, from Nashville, Tenn., with the 101st Airborne Division, is advising Iraqi officers carrying out the Mosul operation. His father was also with the 101st in Mosul in 2003. Now on Snows Iraq deployment, he carries the same American flag his father kept with him on all of his tours and his fathers good luck charm: a St. Michael prayer card.

U.S. presence at bases closer to Mosul in the lead up to operation is essential to the advise-and-assist mission, said U.S. Army Col. Brett Sylvia, the commanding officer at Camp Swift, a coalition base some 45 miles southeast of Mosul.

If youre not there, then you dont have a voice, Sylvia said, standing in front of the bank of televisions and desktop monitors that he says constitutes the forward edge of the battle for his men.
KIEV, Ukraine  Just three days after Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr Lazarenko was taken prisoner in the war in Ukraines east, a peace agreement was signed under which the sides agreed to an all-for-all prisoner exchange. A year and a half later, his wife still waits desperately for his return.

The Minsk Agreement on ending the war between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces is floundering on many issues, but prisoner releases appear to be one of the most intractable.

Amnesty International and Human Rights watch allege both sides have arbitrarily detained civilians, sometimes holding them incommunicado for months in prisons that authorities dont acknowledge exist.

The sides cite widely varying figures for how many prisoners theyre holding. Both appear to be holding the issue over the others head to force concessions on other topics, which include having elections in Ukraines separatist region and restoring Ukraines full control over its border with Russia.

Our expectations have been thwarted by politicians plans, said Lazarenkos wife, Natalya. After Minsk, the prisoners became an instrument of political trading.

Even that frustration and anxiety is something of an improvement. For three months after her husband was seized, she had no information on whether he was dead or alive.

Lazarenko was captured by a Cossack formation that was not under the rebels control. Eventually, he and 12 others were found by the rebel governments Committee on POWs and transferred to a detention facility in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, the rebels main stronghold.

Finally allowed to call his wife, Lazarenko said the Cossacks had held him in a windowless basement where he could only lie down on sacks of potatoes. He told her that he and the other prisoners were beaten and fed scraps.

Although the numbers held by each side are in dispute, its clear that the pace of releases has slowed markedly for Ukrainians held by the rebels. Since the Minsk agreement was signed in February 2015, 83 Ukrainian prisoners have been released, but only 12 of them were freed this year.

Rebel officials said last month they had reached a tentative agreement with Ukraine to release 47 prisoners, in exchange for Ukraine freeing 618.

Who those 618 might be is uncertain. Rebel military spokesman Eduard Basurin said Ukraine is holding 962 easterners, of whom 316 are fighters and the rest are either political prisoners or civilians with no connection to the conflict. Ukraine says it is holding about 500 people in connection with the war.
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New Zealand lamb meat prices advanced last month on lower supplies but analysts expect the uplift will be temporary due to weak demand in the UK market, where around two thirds of the country's lamb legs are exported.

The benchmark CKT price for a leg of lamb in the UK rose to 4.20 British pounds per kilogram in September, from 4.10 pounds/kg in August and 3.40 pounds/kg in September last year, according to AgriHQ data. In New Zealand dollar terms, returns were $7.51/kg in September, from $7.41/kg in August, and compared with $8.04/kg a year earlier.

In New Zealand, the average price from local meat processors lifted to $5.80/kg, from $5.68/kg in August,and compared with $6.05/kg a year earlier, AgriHQ said.

New Zealand lamb numbers are forecast to decline this season after the number of breeding ewes fell 3.1 percent last season, the 10th consecutive annual decline. While the lower supply has bolstered prices in recent weeks, that's expected to ease once the main production period gets underway due to weak demand in the UK and as export returns are hurt by the elevated level of the kiwi dollar combined with a weak British pound.

"UK demand for New Zealand product is low, not helped by low consumer demand for lamb, which is priced much higher than alternate proteins such as chicken and pork," AgriHQ analysts Reece Brick and Shaye Lee said in their report. "A larger portion of UK lamb is continuing to stay within the local market as well, providing little incentive for buyers to source from New Zealand."

Major supermarket chains in the UK have indicated they will be taking a step back from promoting chilled lamb this Christmas as they are unwilling to absorb the same losses generated in previous seasons, according to the report.

The lower prices mean it won't be economic for many meat processors to air freight lamb meat to the UK, resulting in a narrower production window and ensuring there will be very few new seasons lambs ready in time to make the slaughter window for sea freight, it said.

NZ exporters are looking at how to divert product away from the dominant UK market, he said.

Meanwhile, the price for US imported 95CL bull beef, the raw ingredient for meat patties, slipped to US$2.02 a pound (weight) in September from US$2.18/lb in August, AgriHQ said, citing increased local US production, uncertainty around the potential for increased supply following the approval of Brazilian beef imports, and competition from cheaper proteins such as pork and poultry.

"Market signals indicate the imported beef trade will continue to be burdened with weaker prices through until at least the start of 2017," the report said.

Meat is New Zealand's second-largest commodity export behind dairy products, and was worth $6.39 billion in the year through August, according to Statistics NZ data.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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October 31st Morning Report


The New Zealand dollar gained against the British pound as investors continue to weigh up the impact of the UK's exit from the European Union, triggering a brief slump in sterling on Friday.

The kiwi rose to 57.78 British pence at 8:30am in Wellington from 57.56 pence, rising as high as 57.87 pence when the pound sank to a 31-year low in light trading last week. The local trade-weighted index advanced to 76.75 from 76.32 last week.

The British pound dropped 600 basis points on Friday for no apparent reason during the Asian trading session in what's been described as a 'flash crash' by traders. The UK currency has become increasingly volatile since the June referendum in favour of leaving the EU, and Prime Minister Theresa May has indicated the country will focus on curbing immigration over remaining in the single market when it leaves the European pact. The pound recently traded at 1.2408 US cents, dropping as low as 1.18 cents during last week's collapse.

"Whatever the cause, it only served to highlight the perils of the pound and, although it recovered, it still ended the day down 1.4 percent," Bank of New Zealand currency strategist Jason Wong said in a note. "The NZD traded through the GBP crash without much of a hiccup."

The kiwi rose to 71.83 US cents at 8:30am from 71.58 cents on Friday in New York and 71.32 cents at 5pm in Wellington last week after US non-farm payrolls data printed at the lower end of expectations with 156,000 jobs added in September.

Local data today includes electronic card spending in September scheduled for release at 10:45am.

The kiwi dollar was little changed at 94.49 Australian cents from 94.45 cents and rose to 4.7873 Chinese yuan from 4.7733 yuan. It gained to 74.02 yen from 73.66 yen last week and increased to 64.16 euro cents from 63.89 cents.

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October 31st Morning Report


AMES --The 16th Annual Iowa Organic Conference will be held Nov. 13-14 on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City as a joint effort between Iowa State University and the UI Office of Sustainability.

Producers and experts from across the country will share tips for transitioning into organic production and methods to enhance organic operations.

"The U.S. market for organic products reached $43 billion in 2015 and the demand for organic grains and produce continues to exceed supply," said Kathleen Delate, ISU organic agriculture specialist. "Growers everywhere are encouraged to consider the potential for organic production. With worldwide interest in perennial systems that retain cover on the land, our conference theme is 'Perennial Passion: Building Resilience into Organic Systems' to highlight how organic practices, including pastures, buffers, and perennial plants, have been critical for preserving pollinator habitat and reducing erosion."

To complement this theme, Monday's keynote speaker will be Fred Iutzi, president of The Land Institute.

On Sunday, Nov. 13, the conference begins at 2 p.m. with farmer-mentor roundtables (farmer experts to answer questions on organics), then a keynote talk at 4 p.m. by Caroline Halde of Quebec, who will share a slideshow of extraordinary local food producers who use organic practices very successfully to meet market demand. A reception featuring local and organic food and drinks will be at 6 p.m. in the UI Memorial Union, followed by the movie, "What's on Your Plate," at 7 p.m. which explores the benefits of local and organic food production.

The conference lunch on Monday afternoon highlights local and organic produce, meats and dairy products assembled into a gourmet meal by UI award-winning Executive Chef Barry Greenberg and his team.

Monday's break-out sessions include transitioning into organic farming, weed management, organic livestock health, organic no-till for grain and vegetable crops and growing small grains.

The conference also includes information on soil and water quality research, crop insurance for organic producers, economics and financial assistance for organic producers, and local food system initiatives, including food hubs and Grow Johnson County.

Farmer-mentor sessions will allow farmers interested in transitioning to organic or with specific organic questions, to meet one-on-one with organic farmers and organic certification experts.

"The Iowa Organic Conference is the largest University-sponsored organic conference in the country," says Delate.

Last year's conference brought over 50 exhibitors, ranging from organic seed sales to local food system non-profits, to government offices working with transitioning and certified organic farmers.

Despite the challenges of wet weather at planting and the early weed management period this year in many parts of the state, organic farmers are anticipating successful yields with organic soybean prices currently averaging $19 per bushel and organic corn at $8.50 per bushel.

Conference information is available online at https://sustainability.uiowa.edu/2016-iowa-organic-conference. The link to register for the conference is www.signmeup.com/site/online-event-registration/116550.
DES MOINES  Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are traveling different electoral roads, but both hope their final destination is the White House.

It is far more important to Trump than Clinton, experts say, that the road include a victory in Iowa.

The winner of a U.S. presidential election is the candidate who garners the most Electoral College votes, which are allocated to each state based on population. The candidate to reach a majority 270 electoral votes wins the election.

History and polling show where most states electoral votes are headed even before the campaign starts, leaving a small portion of states and electoral votes that are truly up for grabs.

While Iowas six electoral votes are few by comparison  fellow swing state Florida, for example, has 29  they have been highly sought after by both parties in recent elections, during which the state has supported a Republican (George W. Bush) and a Democrat (Barack Obama), and has featured competitive races.

This year, however, Iowas electoral votes may not be as valuable as in other recent elections  at least not to both candidates.

Multiple experts told the Des Moines Bureau that Iowa is critical to Trump. Without the states six electoral votes, it becomes extremely difficult for the Republican candidate to defeat Clinton.

Clinton, on the other hand, does not necessarily need Iowa in order to keep the White House occupied by a Democrat. She has many paths to 270 electoral votes, and not all of them require Iowas half-dozen.

I think Iowa is more critical for Trump getting to the White House than Clinton, said Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of the Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report.

Even though Iowa has been in the Democrats column the last two cycles, the Democratic nominee just has more wiggle room, he said. Hillary Clinton doesnt need a clean sweep of the toss-up states in order to win, whereas Donald Trump probably does.

Clinton, as the Democratic nominee, started the election with a built-in advantage. States that went to the Democrat in each of the past six elections dating back to 1992 provide 242 electoral votes. So if Clinton manages merely to hang on to each of those loyally Democratic states, she needs only 38 more electoral votes for victory. Florida alone would put her over the top.

Trump, meantime, starts with only 179 electoral votes based on states that went Republican each of the past four elections dating to 2000. That means he has to win 91 out of the 117 electoral votes available from 10 toss-up states, or steal a loyally blue state or two while hanging onto all the traditionally red states.

The electoral map is not favorable for a Republican, so any number of electoral votes are going to be critical (for Trump), said Christopher Larimer, a political science professor at the University of Northern Iowa.

Most polls in Iowa have showed a very close race between Trump and Clinton, although two post-Labor Day polls showed Trump leading Clinton by 7 and 8 percentage points. Those polls, however, were taken before the first debate, which gave Clinton a polling bump nationally and in other states, and before news reports Saturday showed Trump in 2005 making lewd comments about women.

Iowa is one of four hyper-critical states for Trump, along with Florida, Ohio and North Carolina, according to Nate Silvers data-based journalism website fivethirtyeight.com, so named after the 538 total electoral college votes in a presidential election the site.

Trumps chances of winning the election drop markedly if he loses Iowa, according to the site.

While fivethirtyeight.com has shown Iowa leaning toward Trump since early September, it is now back in Clintons column, according to its data updated Saturday.

The Clinton campaign will spend resources in Iowa largely for cosmetic reasons, but it isnt necessary for Clinton to win the state to win the election, said David Wasserman, an editor for the Cook Political Report. It is necessary, on the other hand, for Trump to win the state to win the election.

Some campaign activities can signal how serious a candidate is about winning a given state. If a candidate truly craves a states electoral votes, he or she will devote resources in the form of paid staff, appear at campaign events, and advertise on television and radio.

But Clinton and Trump are sending mixed signals in Iowa, Larimer said.

I think its interesting. I think you see more organization from the Clinton campaign in Iowa, but you dont see the candidate. I think its the reverse for the Trump campaign, Larimer said.

Clinton has campaigned in Iowa just twice in the general election, although she also made a stop in the Quad Cities, just across the Mississippi River from Davenport.

In the past few weeks, however, the Clinton campaign has unleashed an army of surrogates on Iowa, including former Democratic primary competitors Bernie Sanders and Martin OMalley, her daughter Chelsea and current U.S. ag secretary and former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack.

Trumps campaign operation in Iowa is much smaller than Clintons, but his team works closely with the Republican Partys national and state organizations established here.

Naturally, both campaigns insist Iowa is crucial to their efforts. Clintons team has maintained as much from the start and as proof points to its staff, organization and voter turnout programs.

Our volunteers and supporters are working hard to mobilize Iowans to cast their votes early for Hillary Clinton and win Iowas six electoral votes, Clinton campaign spokesman Yianni Varonis said in an email.

The Trump campaign also said Iowa is important to its plans.

Our campaign has long known that Iowa is a key state if we are to successfully defeat Hillary Clinton and put Donald Trump in the White House, Eric Branstad, the Trump campaigns state director and son of Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, said in an email.

Both candidates insist they hope to win Iowa. Only one, according to the experts, truly needs it.

(Clintons) path to 270 electoral votes mainly lies through other states, mainly states like Virginia, Colorado and Pennsylvania, perhaps even, in terms of securing the win for her, I look at Florida and North Carolina as the states that if she can win one of those, theres basically no way Trump can win, said Geoffrey Skelley, an associate editor for Sabatos Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

I dont think shes necessarily given up on (Iowa), but its tough for her, I think, to see that as a priority state compared to a state like Florida and North Carolina.

But on the other hand, Trump in order to win obviously needs to add on to the states that Mitt Romney won (in 2012), so for (Trump) Iowa is a good starting point.  For them, picking off Iowa and Ohio gets them 24 more electoral votes, which still they have to get more to win, but its a starting point.
Today was an ordinary day.

It had its ups and downs; pleasant surprises came between the mundane and the irritating and youll look back at it tomorrow with clarity, perhaps, but its details will be sketchy in a decade.

It was an ordinary day which, says Gary Younge, also means an average of seven kids in the U.S. lost their lives to a bullet. In Another Day in the Death of America, he explains.

On Nov. 23, 2013, most Americans were preparing for Thanksgiving. We were marking the anniversary of JFKs assassination and watching the weather, the news on Iraq, or the Baylor/Oklahoma State game. We were enjoying our weekend. And on that Saturday, 10 random children died of gunshot wounds in this country.

That, says Younge, has become too normal. It barely even registers anymore. For awhile, there were websites that tracked this kind of thing but for the most part, the deaths of these kids  coincidentally, all boys on this day; seven African Americans, one white, two Hispanic  are unmarked, except to families and locals.

The youngest, nine-year-old Jaiden Dixon, was a giving soul with a valentine he thought he might marry someday. Preparing for school on a Friday morning, he opened the door for his mothers ex-boyfriend, who shot Dixon in the face.

Dixon died the next day.

The girlfriend of Kenneth Miller, who was just three days shy of his twentieth birthday, learned of his death through Twitter. Seventeen-year-old Stanley Taylor was killed over spontaneous drama. Legally blind, 18-year-old Pedro Dado Cortez worked for his father and dreamed of learning to drive.

Eleven-year-old Tyler Dunn was shot by a playmate, while 16-year-old Edwin Rajo was accidentally shot in the chest by his best friend. Samuel Brightmon was conflict averse, Tyshon Anderson had been shot several times before, Gustin Hinnant was an honor-roll student, and Gary Anderson was killed because he wore a red hoodie.

One bullet tore apart a small town. All devastated families and friendships. Some were in areas where Nobody knows where the next shot is coming from ... But everybody knows its coming.

Before we get any further, theres this: British-born author Gary Younge doesnt overtly advocate, nor does he denigrate, gun control but astute readers can catch a clue. He also writes about parenting, particularly within the black community; about gangs; prisons; and about the NRA and its influence.

And these are interesting subjects but the real power comes in the stories he uncovers in Another Day in the Death of America. Younge doesnt just write about the demises of the 10 kids he found; he also helps readers understand the men they mightve become and what we truly lost in losing them. That kind of unflinching journalism packs gut-punching, timely meaning, and you wont forget it.

Pick a different day, you get a different book, says Younge on the randomness of his research, which is perhaps the most poignant sentence youll ever read. So pick Another Day in the Death of America. Its no ordinary story.
OSAGE  Missionaries, Tim and Diane Fonderlin, from Haiti, will be speaking at 9 a.m. in Sunday, Oct. 23 at the Osage United Church of Christ, 630 State Street.

They will give a presentation during worship service, followed by a question and answer session after the service.

There will be a potluck meal served.

The Fonderlins have been serving as missionaries to Haiti since 2012.

Tim has been teaching economics and is a coordinator for missional activities in Haiti, and Diane teaches theological studies. Their mission work is supported by the generosity of the United Church of Christ, the Disciples of Christ and the One Great Hour of Sharing special offering.

They are originally from Ohio.

Please come and join us for worship on Oct. 23 and welcome Tim and Diane to Osage, said UCC Pastor Charles Owens. It isnt every day we have missionaries come to visit. They are as much guests of the community as they are guests of my church. I would hope to see a good community turnout.

Haiti is a fascinating county with a rich history. Im looking forward to hearing about their time in Haiti and all the good work they are doing.
Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore), the New York co-chair of Donald Trump's campaign and was among the first of Staten Island's elected officials to publicly endorse him. (Photo courtesy of Joe Borelli)

Update, Oct. 9: This story has been updated to include comments from Sen. Diane Savino.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The release of an audio clip featuring Donald Trump making sexually explicit comments about women has the blogosphere in an uproar -- but borough leaders aren't backing off their support of the GOP presidential candidate.

They've accepted his social media mea culpa -- and expressed hopes that the focus now will shift back to the issues.

"His comments were awful, period. It's good he apologized immediately, but he also needs to address this properly in the debate and then get back to talking about the issues," said Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore), the New York co-chair of Trump's campaign who was among the first of Staten Island's elected officials to publicly endorse him and often appears on cable news shows as a Trump mouthpiece.

"It is still a choice between him and four years of Clinton lies, dishonesty and scandal," Borelli said, adding that he has no intention of stepping down from his co-chair position. "At the same hour last night, Wikileaks docs showed that everything Clinton has campaigned on has been a lie and a fraud. Will the island dems supporting her answer for that?"

The Washington Post published leaked audio transcripts from a 2005 conversation between Trump and Billy Bush of NBC's "Access Hollywood" on Friday afternoon.

Early Saturday morning, Trump announced there's "Zero chance I'll quit" the race, despite losing support from some conservative supporters.

Councilman Steve Matteo (R-Mid-Island) -- who said he's more motivated by party loyalty and disdain for Clinton than enthusiastic support for Trump -- said he's "quite frankly, disgusted" by Donald Trump's comments about women.

"They displayed a complete lack of respect and common decency. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect regardless of gender, race, or creed," Matteo said. "I hope that what is left of this year's campaign will finally focus on the issues facing the American people so that voters can make the most informed and best decision possible. Our country deserves that."

Assemblyman Ron Castorina Jr. (R-South-Shore) said he feels Trump's apology -- a one-and-a-half-minute video posted on the GOP nominee's social media accounts -- is sincere.

"Although there is no excuse for Mr. Trump's crude and offensive private comments made more than a decade ago, I do not think that those words are emblematic of who he is as a candidate or individual running for President today," Castorina said. "His quick and sincere apology is compelling and indicative of the sort of person he has evolved to be."

Castorina has previously stated that he isn't always in agreement with Trump -- but still feels it is "imperative" that he is the next president: "Despite his shortcomings, I find him to be the more qualified candidate. This election is about the ideological trajectory of our nation and people have a choice ... For me, that choice is clear -- I will continue to support Donald J. Trump."

Gov. Mike Pence, Trump's vice presidential running-mate and a self-described "Christian, conservative and Republican," said he won't "condone his remarks and cannot defend them" and looks forward to Trump showing "what is in his heart" in the coming days.

On the borough's opposite side of the aisle, Democratic Assemblyman Matthew Titone said he can't believe people are even surprised at Trump's remarks.

"What's shocking [to me] is that this comes as a shock to so many people. Why is this shocking to anybody?," said Titone, the borough's only Democrat office holder to respond to requests for comment by deadline. "This has been his pattern, not only towards women but to Muslims, Mexicans, veterans and the list goes on and on," Titone said.

He said that trying to excuse the comments as "guy locker room talk" doesn't make it okay -- it makes it worse.

"And to the people who are saying 'I have a daughter, a mother, etc.,' well, what about people who have sons? What is the message to your male child? That you can hate women but you have to do it in private in a locker room? I'm a guy, I go into locker rooms, I don't talk that way about other people. And if that is the excuse, what's his excuse towards Muslims, Mexicans, veterans; there's no backpedaling this; no explaining it away. This is who he is, period."

Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn), who has been a firm supporter of Hillary Clinton since before her nomination, said the Donald is "not fit to serve" and is adamantly urging people to "reject this overgrown fratboy who is not fit to wipe the floors of the women he has insulted."

"I am not naive, not by any stretch of the imagination. I know men talk smack about women; hell, women talk smack about men! That is not the issue. The issue is that this man has repeatedly exhibited his disdain for women in his life and his campaign. The fact that he so cavalierly stated that men of wealth and stardom are able to do what they want to women, including sexually assault them, without impunity because of their position in life is an indictment of his character," Savino said.

Adding: "His repeated commentary that a woman is only as valuable as the sum total of her parts, all to the snickers of others. You can't be a 10 if you are flat chested, you must be beautiful, and of course, the worst of all, young. His direct sexualization of his own daughter, Ivanka, a remarkable, talented young woman who he belittles as good enough to have sex with if only she weren't his daughter."
222872_10150185197902365_6533143_n.jpg

Frank Nathanson, 64, of Bulls Head was recognized by the Owner-Operator Independet Drivers Association for 13 years accident-free driving of a commercial tractor-trailer. (Courtesy of Frank Nathanson)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Can you imagine driving your car in New York City for 11 hours a day without getting into a car accident?

Frank Nathanson, 64, of Bulls Head, has done just that for 13 long years. As a result of this milestone, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has recognized him for his safe driving.

The OOIDA Safe Driving Award Program is designed to recognize members for their safe, accident-free years while operating a commercial vehicle.

"I have a lot of experience driving in different city and in any kind a weather conditions after living in Minnesota for most of my life," Nathanson said.

Nathanson, who has two children and three grandchildren, moved to Staten Island in 1985 because he "had enough of the cold weather of Minnesota."

Once he moved to Staten Island, Nathanson started working for the Jewish National Found, a non-profit organization focused on improving the quality of life for all who live in the Middle East.

"I would drive roughly 100 miles a day starting Staten Island stopping by Long Island and then driving into Manhattan," Nathanson said.

After he retired at the age of 50, Nathanson decided to start working as truck driver as a second career.

Since then, he has driven in 48 states and he plans to keep on trucking.

"I bet no one can spend that much time behind the wheel without getting into a car accident," Nathanson said.

The local truck driver offers this advice for those who get behind the wheel.

"Pay attention, respect other drivers' rights," Nathanson said. "Keep a long safe distance (between cars)."
DES MOINES  If Donald Trump needs a safe space, he should come to Iowa.

Across the country Saturday, the Republican presidential candidate faced withering criticism over recently published lewd comments he made in 2005 about groping women.

Since the comments were published, more than 30 Republican members of Congress and governors who had not previously ruled out supporting Trump disavowed his candidacy, the New York Times reported Saturday.

In Iowa, however, Republican leaders  as they gathered for their annual fall fundraiser  condemned Trumps comments but continued to support his candidacy, either directly or by way of opposing Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

A new Iowa Poll published Saturday evening showed Trump leading Clinton, 43 percent to 39 percent, in Iowa, although the survey was taken before Trumps latest comments were published.

When you look at the whole picture, I think what he said was absolutely wrong and reprehensible, yet this has happened in 2005 and we need to look to the future, and we need to look at what kind of a leader were going to have for this country, said Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, whose son Eric is the Trump campaigns Iowa director.

I think that the vision Trump and (running mate Mike) Pence have is much better for the future of America than what Hillary Clinton offers, he said.

During their remarks at the fundraiser, Iowas U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst both made the case for voting for Trump without using his name.

Ernst dedicated most of her remarks to criticizing Clinton, and Grassley said Republicans must vote for a candidate they want making appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court.

This is not an election about whos going to be president just for the next four years. This is an election about the direction of the Supreme Court for the next 40 years, Grassley said.

Neither Grassley nor Ernst spoke to reporters before the event, although Ernst gave a brief answer to one question as she hurried to her seat. When asked whether she still supports Trump, Ernst replied simply, I do not support Hillary Clinton.

The states Republican Party chairman Jeff Kaufmann condemned Trumps comments, which he called disgusting, but said he still will encourage Republicans to vote for Trump.

Kaufmann said he thinks voters face a choice between two flawed candidates.

The only way to avoid a disaster and the Clinton gang returning to the White House is to do just that, is to elect Donald Trump, Kaufmann said.

The evenings sharpest rebuke of Trump came from a non-Iowan: U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, of Arkansas, the events keynote speaker.

Cotton said Trump has let down Republicans again, and said at Sundays presidential debate Trump must take full responsibility for his words and actions and pledge to finally change his ways.

If he does those things, then he can right this ship, Cotton said. If he does not do those things, if he will not do those things, then he needs to consider whether its time for him to step aside and allow our party to nominate an elder statesman who will do those things and who will carry our banner into November.

Trump issued a video statement in which he apologized for the comments, which were caught on microphone in a leaked 2005 video that was released Friday. Trump also called the footage of his comments a distraction from bigger issues at stake in the Nov. 8 election.

Trump told reporters Saturday that he would never withdraw from the race, even as pressure mounted for him to step aside.

The Clinton campaign in Iowa addressed Trumps comments with a letter signed by four local mothers.

The language Trump uses to describe women is not just shocking and hurtful, but disqualifies him for the presidency, the letter says.

As mothers of young children and grandchildren, we want our president to set the example for young people that every person is their equal regardless of gender and physical appearance, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and religion. Instead, Trump continues to divide the country with his hateful rhetoric, volatile temperament, and demeaning views toward women and too many Americans.
nws Reichard

Richard Reichard speaks at his campaign kickoff Sunday morning as Assemblyman Matthew Titone looks on. (Staten Island Advance/Rachel Shapiro)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Standing inside the Staten Island Democratic Party headquarters in New Dorp on a rainy Sunday morning, Richard Reichard took aim at his Republican congressional opponent, blasting the incumbent for continuing to support Donald Trump after sexually explicit audio from a 2005 appearance on NBC's "Access Hollywood" made headlines.

Reichard and a handful of supporters, including his wife, Denise Varriano-Reichard, officially kicked off the congressional campaign the Democrat is waging against Rep. Daniel Donovan, who is serving his first term.

Reichard, a 63-year-old retired city employee and former president of the Staten Island Democratic Association, is running his inaugural campaign.

He said he wants to ensure the future of Social Security and Medicare, see more government-backed green and alternative energy, make college tuition more affordable and eliminate tax loopholes like the one that allowed Trump to avoid paying taxes for 18 years.

"If people sit down and look at the issues, I think I can win this campaign," the candidate said.

Reichard is running against Donovan, 59, a popular congressman who won his May 2015 election with an almost 20-point margin and previously served as district attorney for 12 years.

The 11th Congressional district has been considered a "safe Republican" seat in this election but Reichard is optimistic.

He's hoping Trump's offensive remarks will hurt people like Donovan running on the Republican Party line in down ballot races.

Reichard noted his attendance every evening on Staten Island streets, going door-to-door, meeting voters.

"Dan Donovan's not even running, he's not even campaigning and Richard's out there every day," party Chairman John Gulino said.

Reichard noted he and his opponent have strengths in the portions of the district most likely to vote for them.

"He's running a mid-Island, South Shore race, and I'm running a North Shore, Brooklyn race," he said.

Reichard and Donovan both appeared at a recent South Shore Civic Association candidates panel, speaking separately.

"I'm not afraid to show up on his turf," he said.

But Reichard criticized Donovan for not doing the same. The congressman has skipped two meet-the-candidate-type panels in Brooklyn in recent weeks, one with the Bay Ridge Council on Aging and one with the Bay Ridge Community Council.

The man who was in Reichard's shoes a little more than a year ago, State Sen. Vincent Gentile, attended the kickoff one month before the election and endorsed Reichard.

"Why is it that Dan Donovan is unwilling to come out and debate the issues and debate his opponent?" Gentile said.

During one of the Brooklyn meet-the-candidate events, Donovan was in Washington, and he had already committed to speaking at the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation Health Expo when the second event was taking place, his campaign said.

Gentile ran against Donovan in the 2015 special election, blasting the congressman then as well for not attending debates. He also criticized Donovan for not backing away from Trump after his remarks 11 years ago made in private to Billy Bush were made public Friday.

"It's a very troubling thing," that Donovan hasn't distanced himself from Trump, Gentile said.

Like many in his party, Reichard is capitalizing on Trump's comments to put the spotlight on his opponent.

"It is time for Dan Donovan to withdraw his support of Donald Trump," he said.

Councilwoman Debi Rose and Assemblyman Matthew Titone attended the kickoff, speaking in favor of Reichard.

Titone also criticized Donovan's absence at debates, saying, "That comes from arrogance."

His turn to attack the congressman for supporting Trump, Titone noted Donovan's 17-month-old daughter and Councilman Joe Borelli's 2-year-old son (Borelli is a strong Trump supporter).

"In my opinion, they're putting their children in harm's way because of their failure to absolutely tackle the character of Donald Trump square on," Titone said.

Donovan has said previously that he often disagrees with Trump and his offensive statements.

Donovan spokeswoman Jessica Proud said, "In a little more than a year in office, Congressman Donovan successfully negotiated permanent extension of Zadroga benefits for our 9/11 heroes, increased transportation funding, including for the Staten Island Ferry, restored President Obama's homeland security cuts, passed significant FEMA reform legislation, and more. He is focused on solutions and results over politics, and we are confident voters recognize his successful record."
nws RMA120

he NYPD is asking for the public's help identifying two males in connection with an attempted robbery within the confines of the 120 precinct. (Photo courtesy of DCPI)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYPD is asking for the public's help identifying two males in connection with an attempted robbery within the confines of the 120 precinct.

It was reported to police that on June 30, 2016 at approximately 11:20 p.m. a 23-year-old male was walking in the vicinity of Corson and Westervelt avenues when he was surrounded by three males.

The individuals then grabbed the victim by the throat and removed his gold chain and iPhone 6 before fleeing from the scene, according to a statement from the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

One of the males was subsequently arrested and charged in regards to the incident.

The two individuals wanted in connection with the incident are pictured in the above photos provided by DCPI.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS 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 texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.
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CEDAR FALLS  A change that evaded Area Education Agency 267 when it was created through a merger 13 years ago occurred Wednesday as its board of directors approved a new name.

Central Rivers Area Education Agency will officially become AEA 267s name July 1, 2017. It will start to be phased in around the first of the year when a new agency website is launched. Supplies bearing the current name will be used up throughout the spring before the official changeover.

Officials cited a desire to present a more unified image and take advantage of timing in making the change.

The board rarely makes unilateral decisions, but in this case we felt it was appropriate to move ahead, Roberta Kraft-Abrahamson, the boards vice president, said in a news release. The timing is right given recent conversations around updates to facilities, the fact that our website is in the midst of a complete overhaul and many of our building signs are in need of replacement.

From a dollars and cents standpoint we had to make these improvements anyway, she noted.

In spring 2003, as a merger of AEAs 2, 6 and 7 loomed, the board embarked on a process to come up a name for the new agency. It had been informally known as AEA 267 since the merger talks began. After gathering about 100 suggestions from staff of the agencies and member schools, the possible names were narrowed down to two.

But the board didnt choose either of the names, instead formalizing the use of the combined numbers. The name just chosen was not one of the 2003 finalists.

Officials said site visits from the Iowa Department of Education personnel echoed the sentiment that others have had about the current name for years  it honors the three agencies that merged in 2003 but doesnt project the image of a single entity.

Cedar Falls-based AEA 267 provides special education, school technology, media and instructional/curriculum support to schools in 18 central and Northeast Iowa counties. Other central offices are located in Clear Lake and Marshalltown.
"The Iskander ballistic missile system is mobile," he said in a statement Saturday. "As part of the plan of combat training, missile troops are engaged in training on a year-round basis, covering great distances of the Russian territory in various ways: by air, by sea, and under their own power." He also said Russia used the deployment to figure out what range a U.S. spy satellite has.
Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast are exploring separate trade deals that could see them secure top three draft picks, beating early bids for their highly rated academy players while accessing one of the best young players in the country.

The Giants and Fremantle have discussed a deal that would see the Dockers give GWS pick 3 in this year's draft, in return for pick 7 and forward Cameron McCarthy.

The Dockers are unlikely to do that deal without having something more worked into it, but it is among a number of scenarios the clubs have been discussing.

They have also explored the idea of working future picks into the deal, and looked at McCarthy's standalone worth, with a deal believed to be close.
Australia's $2.1 trillion pool of retirement savings is being targeted disproportionately in serious cyber attacks on the financial sector, official figures suggest.

Banks, insurance companies, and wealth managers all face an increasingly elaborate array of cyber attacks, but a recent survey by the financial regulator shows the superannuation industry was attacked most frequently within the sector.

Cyber security breaches at Sony and JP Morgan Chase in recent years has prompted large publicly listed companies to address the growing threat of cyber crime.

While financial institutions have not yet suffered a "material" loss from these incidents, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority plans to take a tougher line in making sure the sector can fend off cyber attacks.

APRA last week released the results of survey looking into cyber security incidents at 37 financial institutions between last October and this March, and how they were managed.
During her teenage years Galy O'Connor had a job in a factory where she worked mixing paint colours.

What she didn't know then, but discovered only recently, was that the factory was riddled with asbestos.

Galy O'Connor.

At the age of 50, the mother of six from St Ives, joined a new generation of Australian women with deadly asbestos-related disease.

She had been working as a fitness instructor and enjoyed mountain climbing before she felt a lump in her abdomen and saw the doctor.
Going with the flow Landholders in the southern basin are not opposed to environmental flows that are well managed and occur in consultation with local landholders. Working closely with locals can provide opportunities for win:win environmental flows, such as the 60,000 megalitre watering event in the Wakool system last summer. This was done in consultation with locals and resulted in a watering event where water was used wisely and environmental goals were achieved to the benefit of the local system. The vast majority of landholders and local communities support the need for a long-term plan for the basin that is based on balanced outcomes for the environment and regional communities. However, the current plan is based largely on political goals and imperatives. The goals and targets of the plan need to be reviewed so we can achieve social, economic and environmental objectives. Landholders are opposed to environmental flows that have unacceptable impacts on public and private land, and this issue has still not been addressed.

Landholders have a willingness to consider all aspects of an effective basin plan and work with authorities to achieve it. Unfortunately we are not yet seeing this same willingness from either a political or implementation perspective. John Lolicato, Barham No need for insults I do appreciate Marcia Langton's thoughtful concerns and advocacy regarding indigenous constitutional recognition.

However, it is also important to not conflate two distinctly separate social issues, and realise that conservatives will have varying views on both, which, in some cases, will be mutually exclusive. The planned plebiscite regarding same-sex marriage is essentially one of giving justice to definition, and not discrimination. Constitutional recognition of our first peoples is an issue involving the inherent factors of race and historical reconciliation, and taps more deeply into our national pulse, than simply the latest trendy inner-city cause. If there is indeed a hate campaign, then it is currently being waged by those who brazenly badmouth Christian bishops, pour scorn on the teachers of SRI in schools, or dance semi-naked on a papier-mache bust of the Reverend Fred Nile in the annual Mardi Gras. In our most liveable democracy, we should be capable of rigorous and robust debate, without resorting to semantic insults.

Peter Waterhouse, Craigieburn No marriage equality I'm a conservative, and I also consider myself a Christian (others can judge how good or bad). So I'm getting a bit cheesed off with all those saying it's only "conservatives" and/or "conservative Christians" opposing the counterfeit claims/notions of taking the  truly retrograde  step of true "marriage" to be inclusive of homosexuals of the same sex "marrying" each other; based on some "equality" with heterosexuality fallacy! Proponents of same-sex "marriage" are using emotional blackmail in trying to bludgeon politicians into biting the bullet on this matter. Well, chew on this one: Australia's Western society is built on the cornerstone of the laws and principles of the 10 commandments.

Howard Hutchins, Chirnside Park Lagging behind One of the pictures in the news showed an electricity pylon with its legs in the air. It showed only a small amount of concrete on the end legs. That looked like it was erected to the 1960s engineering standards. I was involved in a broadcast tower upgrade some years ago. It had a 600mm diameter three-metre long concrete foundations (about one cubic metre) on each leg. After two upgrades to deal with extra hardware on the tower and changes in the engineering standards, it ended up with nine cubic metres per leg. Sounds like South Australia suffered from insufficient maintenance of existing infrastructure.

Rodger Bean, Watson Road solution, not trams A significant component of the Gungahlin-Civic tram infrastructure yet to be mentioned (and probably a future budget item) comprises the many sets of vehicle recognition technology that will be required to police the right of way and prevent motorists of various persuasions using the system. The necessity for this technology suggests an enterprising way forward for a Liberal government in renegotiating the construction contract with Canberra Metro. Build the roadway as planned without the rail lines and the ugly overhead catenary structures that would be the most permanently disfiguring aspect of the changes to Northbourne Avenue.

Allocate the new road lanes to a dynamic car-pooling system similar to Uber Pool (not the Uber taxi system currently operating in Canberra). Developed under contract by one of our leading technology groups, the Canberra Pool control system would link to the roadway monitoring system in order to ensure that the new road lanes were only used by vehicles (including buses) currently carrying a pool passenger. Canberra Pool would be the first step in the transition to ride-sharing in driverless vehicles as these fleets become part of the public transport mix of the future. A. Smith, Farrer Prisoners to light rail

The long-term budgetary cost of the Barr government's decision to commit its light rail project to construction is akin to a long-term jail sentence for Canberra taxpayers. Nicholas Stuart (Canberra Times October 4) points to, by way of example, the disastrous financial decision by the NSW Labor government to plough ahead with the Darling Harbour to the city monorail despite numerous warnings about the project's long-term viability and in particular the shonky optimistic predictions of passenger numbers used to justify their decision. Sounds familiar doesn't it? If they have not already done so, Gungahlin residents should ask themselves "Would I use the light rail?" Eventually, in 2012, the NSW government bought the failed monorail from the private owners and demolished it. This was the fine NSW tax0 payers had to pay to get out of jail. Graham Brady, Hughes

Jewish hyperbole I found Gerry Murphy's (letters CT October 6) claim that "even orthodox Jews are respectful and tolerant of their host society's cultural norms" well and truly over the top. The Jews of Israel have done nothing but push the people of Palestine to the margins of their society, and yet the people of Palestine are the "host society". It has reached the stage were the Palestinian people are beggars in their own land and not allowed to be part of their own society in a country in which they have lived for several hundred years. The Jews "respectful"? I don't think so! Especially now they have had another massive increase in American arms to keep the impoverished "host society" people away.

Geoff Barker, Flynn Diplomatic impunity The time has come for the annual rant on diplomats avoiding the payment of traffic fines by claiming "diplomatic immunity". Along with this comes the stock answer from DFAT that they will do something about it. The result. Nothing changes. I spent three years on a posting to Canada.

I was fortunate enough to be there with diplomatic privileges and my motor vehicle had diplomatic registration. As part of the arrival briefing given by the Australian High Commission we were advised that even though we had diplomatic privileges we were obligated to pay any traffic and parking infringements. We could not claim diplomatic immunity to avoid this and any attempt to do so would not be supported by the Australian government. Michael Booth, Macgregor No place for hate

As a proud Australian and member of Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth from Blacktown, NSW, I'm relieved to find out that a Pakistani religious scholar has been shown the door to leave Australia. Australia is not a place to spread hate in the name of free speech. I understand that it is difficult to check all statements of religious scholars from past years but all Muslims must report any hate preachers to the authorities. It is all of our responsibility to keep Australia safe and protect all Australians. Aqeel Ibraheem, Blacktown Vocal minority railing

In response to questions relating to light rail in cities similar to Canberra (A. Smith CT Letters, September 16) the Gold Coast is a good example. The Gold Coast's recently constructed light rail has patronage figures that have exceeded the wildest expectations of the operators and political leaders. The success of stage one has galvanised support for stage two; with the federal government contributing a further $95million for the Gold Coast light rail network. Maybe there is a community vision in the Gold Coast that Canberra does not possess at this time; or maybe we are just being bombarded by the opinions of a vocal minority and politicians desperate to divide the community. Ian Ruecroft, Bonner

Illogical dogma I can't completely agree with Father Robert Willson (Letters, October 4) that religion is the remedy for superstition. Muslims and Christians, Protestants and Catholics, and Sunnis and Shiites have been trying to remedy each other's superstitions for centuries, without success. Mike Dallwitz, Giralang TO THE POINT BANK WHISTLING

Four major banks admit much more than shortcomings, and all policing authorities shout: "Stop! Or I'll blow my whistle again!" Business as usual ... bring on the royal commission, Malcolm. Obvious! Greg Simmons, Lyons ELECTION STAKES I think I may collect the political zombie boards along the roadside. I am in need of tomato stakes and, if I keep the photo, it may scare off the birds. See, this election isn't a waste. Kevin Kubank, Evatt

MULTINATIONALISM Pauline Hanson and One Nation are an embarrassment, as immigration is making Australia more interesting, diverse and cosmopolitan, and is creating hybrid national strength. But multiculturalism is essentially an Orwellian word used by our leaders to soften the reality of multiracialism, placating doubters. Rod Matthews, Melbourne MISSING CANDIDATES Well, I am mightily disappointed. I looked up the website of Canberra Alliance for Participatory Democracy to view my local candidates. Only 24 per cent of the candidates in my electorate had bothered to fill in details by Wednesday and they were all from the major parties. Come on candidates, how can we vote for you if you remain anonymous?

James Walcott, Mawson DONATIONS SHAME The ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott told the Standing Committee on Economics that the ANZ is considering ending donations to political parties. The follow-up question the politicians failed to ask is: what was the business case for making the donations in the first place? I guess I shouldn't be surprised that neither side wanted to go there. Richard Manderson, Narrabundah DEFENDING FLORIADE

After the many negative letters regarding Floriade this year I felt I must write in praise of the event. On Friday I met two friends from the Perth at the airport and drove them straight to Floriade. They both thought it was a wonderful display and thoroughly enjoyed their visit. They were amazed at the number of flower beds and blooms. Patricia Kneebone, Bruce LIGHT ON INTELLIGENCE The PM claims the SA government failed to keep the lights on during some of the worst weather SA has experienced. The same can be said of the PM for failing to turn on some intelligence during what he knows was a rare event. John Sandilands, St Marys, Tasmania
MASON CITY  Harrison Truck Centers has joined in support of the Keeping NIACC First capital campaign by donating the use of a new Freightliner Cascadia truck to North Iowa Area Community College.

The gift is intended to enhance the diesel technology program at NIACC.

This gift is a yearly commitment for use of a new truck each year for five years at a total value of $75,000 over the course of the five years.

Chad Harrison of Harrison Truck Centers said in a press release that as the largest diesel repair shop in North Iowa, We rely on NIACC to provide us with skilled technicians to help us grow our business. Our careers started with NIACC and we are proud to help future community leaders get their start at NIACC as well.

Diesel instructor Dennis Salz said the new truck will give students a first-hand look at the latest technology.

Its a great asset to the program for students to be able to experience the latest in drive train, electronics, fuel systems, brakes and all the other systems on a truck, he said.

NIACC President Steve Schulz said the truck gives the college an opportunity to promote its diesel technology program.

North Iowa has countless opportunities for truck technicians and drivers and we hope to fill many of those openings with our graduates, he said. 
I wonder if the Budgie Nine's swimming costumes were made in Malaysia. Tim Egan Mosman In Malaysia men got arrested for stripping off. In France women got in trouble for covering up. Walter Lee Leichhardt Morally bankrupt banks must be investigated

The similarity with the call for a royal commission into banks and the one into the NSW Police Force in 1995 could not be more striking. That inquiry exposed endemic corruption. A total of 380 officers left the force and a number were convicted. The then police commissioner, Tony Lauer, however, retired on a full pension. Prior to the royal commission a NSW parliamentary committee was established to examine the relationship between Lauer and police minister Ted Pickering. As an independent MP committee member, I witnessed lying, prevarication and cover-up. The commission forced massive reform of culture, practice and structure. The subpoena of documents, witnesses, forensic examination, whistleblowers and expert cross examination revealed what the chief investigator Nigel Hadgkiss called the biggest expose of corruption in any police force in the world. Now, 21 years on, the focus is on the unconscionable actions of banks. As with police corruptions and the sexual abuse of children, the victims' stories must be told, investigated and acted upon. The bankers in charge massaged the recent parliamentary committee hearings. Without a royal commission, they remain in control of the information, evidence, process and the witnesses.

John Hatton (former independent member for the South Coast) Nowra Elderly facing death are left to fight for themselves I did not need to read your article to know that the highest rate of suicide was in men over 85 years ("Stereotype male image stymies bid to seek help", October 8-9). I am living through these years and am confronted by the pressures outlined in your other relevant story in the same issue, "Silver tsunami of death about to hit nation". These figures would be even more alarming if the real number of suicides was not disguised as due to natural causes by those who have either refused medication or starved themselves to death. Is it any wonder that people of my age would have the suicide solution utmost in our minds when we have been called "leaners" by this government? In addition, from July 2015, just to get a bed in an aged-care facility I must pay anything from $250,000 to over $700,000. For those who do not have these funds, the prospects are bleak.

As the American expert on palliative care noted in Damien Murphy's article, most of us would like to die in our homes. However, the government has no plans or policy to deal with the "tsunami" of baby boomers who are moving into end-of-life years, which will send the figures for aged suicide to astronomical heights in the not distant future. This is made worse by the fact that the federal Opposition does not appear to have a solution to the tragedy that is being painfully lived out in this land of plenty. Frank Ward Shoal Bay Anglican hypocrisy must be confronted Elizabeth Farrelly exposes the hypocrisy within the Anglican Church by cleverly juxtaposing the delicensing of Sydney Anglican priest Dr Keith Mascord, for his advocacy of same-sex marriage, with child-sex abuse whistleblower Greg Thompson, the Anglican Bishop of Newcastle ("When the church can't follow its own code", October 8-9). The fact that Bishop Thompson is being persecuted by his own people for putting the interests of child-sex abuse victims above the interests of the church brings into question how priests can be wrongly condoned for performing homosexual acts on children while the church itself officially looks upon homosexuality as a sin.

According to Dr Mascord, as many as one third of all Anglican bishops in Australia support same-sex marriage. Clearly, it will take a lot more personal courage for these bishops and all other Christians to overcome such hypocrisy. Rev Vincent Zankin Rivett (ACT) Although the Anglican dioceses of Newcastle and Sydney belong to the same denomination, they are as far apart as fourth cousins. Newcastle is known for its high-church stance while Sydney has an evangelical nose in the air. They are more alike, however, than they wish to admit. Both have similar outdated attitudes to women and equality. Truth-seekers like Bishop Greg Thompson, Rev Rod Bower and Dr Keith Mascord are paying the price for speaking out.



Julie Robinson Cardiff Elizabeth Farrelly's diatribe against Anglicans for action over heterodox views is a bit like insisting the the ALP must keep as a member someone who has decided they now believe in the compulsory abolition of unions. Continued membership is not unreasonably contingent on continuing to believe and support the basics of the platform you signed up for. Rev Sandy Grant St Michael's Cathedral, Wollongong

Sharks more in danger Thank you, Garry Linnell, for the compliment ("How on earth did sharks become the new dolphin?", October 8-9). I am one of those "flaky" people in the save-the-shark movement, borne of years of scuba diving with them, and I am glad the message is getting through. But we obviously still have a way to go, judging by the fear and ignorance displayed in your comments. While you rely on anecdotes to declare that shark numbers have swelled, the science shows that sharks worldwide are under an existential threat from an even more bloodthirsty and dangerous predator  humans. We kill tens of thousands of these creatures each year, while an average of eight humans are killed by sharks annually. Reducing the argument to a choice between loving sharks or humans is simplistic in the extreme. Andrew Nieuwenhof Lennox Head Blue Poles madness paints a silly picture

Imagine the furore that would engulf America if it proposed selling off the Statue of Liberty ("Stupid way to make a blue", October 8-9). Yet, like Blue Poles, it originates in another country (France) and represents a unique contribution to the world's iconography. Senator James Paterson would be better off thinking before he makes such suggestions about the sale of what has become a major Australian artistic asset and drawcard to the National Gallery. Perce Butterworth Annandale James Paterson's suggestion to sell Blue Poles to ease the budget deficit does not go nearly far enough. Why not sell off the entire National Gallery? The proceeds from those un-Australian Monets and other masters would swell the coffers even further, taxpayers would no longer have to stump up for the salaries of gallery staff; and just think of how much developers might fork out for such a delightful potential building site on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. It might also force those "leaners" who amble round looking at paintings all day to get a productive job. Kevin Harris Beecroft Suffering dogs deserve better treatment

Philip Begbie says greyhounds are not treated cruelly ("Racing greyhounds are not treated with cruelty", Letters October 8-9). That's a matter of opinion. My occupation takes me into many backyards and recently, in one of them, I came across a large, gloomy, junk-filled shed with four cages tucked away in the corner. Inside these cages were four beautiful greyhounds who yelped joyfully when I approached them and tried to lick my hand. When I asked their owner when they came out for a run, I was told breakfast time and 3pm, when they were brought from the shed on leads, wearing bulky plastic muzzles. They were put in a narrow pen where they relieved themselves and looked overjoyed to be out in the sunshine. Three minutes later they were taken back to the gloomy shed. I was heartbroken. These sweet dogs deserve better. Jenny Moxham Monbulk Vic I wonder how many of those totally opposed to humanely euthanasing dogs and cats, and saving them from pounds, think much about all the animals killed to feed them for the rest of their lives. Peggy Fisher Killara

Law bows to MPs It's a nice cosy idea to believe that the police are there for (usually) law-abiding citizens but, as one roughly handled protester in her sixties has rudely discovered, the thin blue line of protection can be very friable indeed ("WestConnex tree cull protesters removed", October 8-9). The reality is that whenever it comes to any kind of a showdown, no matter the cause, the uniformed ones will always be on the side of the ruling politicians and not the hoi polloi. Alicia Dawson Balmain The Ford sequel Far be it for me to suggest cause and effect ("'Sad day': Ford calls time on car-making", October 8-9). But I note that Ford shut down production on a Friday and on Saturday, the Herald's News Review section carried a Ford vehicle safety recall notice.

Victor Marshall Erskineville Donny do-right Donald Trump assures us he has never withdrawn. There is a first time for everything. Mark Porter New Lambton The astounding thing about the latest Trump revelation is that it happened on a bus. I had previously been dismissive of Margaret Thatcher's bald statement that: "If you are over the age of 35 and find yourself on a bus, you can consider yourself a failure." Now I think she may have known something.

Peter Bourke Rockdale Lightbulb moment One million people are without power in Florida.That can't possibly be due to the hurricane, can it, Mr Turnbull? No, it must be those damn renewables again, just like in South Australia.



Paul Doyle Glenbrook Ross Higgins RIP No more Neville, no more Gay Akubra, no more Repco Lad and now, no more Ted Bulpitt. What are we gonna do?



Mary Grocott Orange
V8 racing legend Peter Brock's life is about to hit TV screens in a Channel 10 miniseries but his partner is warning the show is likely to be "absolute bulls--t".

Beverley Brock was Peter's partner for 28 years. While she never married racing's "King of the Mountain", she changed her name to Brock and Peter referred to her as his wife.

Bev Brock, former wife of motor racing champion Peter Brock, has blasted Channel Ten's upcoming miniseries. Credit:Craig Abraham

But she has lashed out at the upcoming miniseries, The Peter Brock Story, which she claims the production company, Shine, never consulted with her about the facts of his life.

"They did the INXS story which is a little bit sensationalist and that's what I find concerning," Ms Brock told a Triple M radio program this week.
Senate sparring partners Pauline Hanson and Derryn Hinch have exchanged heated words in the hallways of Parliament House over the revelations about United States presidential candidate Donald Trump's attitudes to women.

Their spat, caught on camera, followed an interview with Seven's Sunrise program in which the two were asked whether the Republican contender should quit the race for the White House following the airing of 2005 comments in which he bragged about groping women.

The argument between two of the most outspoken crossbench senators came as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, in rare commentary on the eyebrow-raising US election campaign, labelled Mr Trump's remarks "loathsome".

In the Monday morning interview, Senator Hinch said Mr Trump's behaviour was despicable and he should not have been a nominee in the first place but predicted he wouldn't quit the race.
Pauline Hanson's One Nation party will deliver Malcolm Turnbull a key win in the Senate this week, ushering through industrial relations changes to "safeguard" volunteer firefighters in the wake of the CFA dispute.

The proposed amendments to the Fair Work Act will make it unlawful for any enterprise agreements to "undermine" volunteers, and strike out any existing provisions deemed to do so.

The legislation, announced by Mr Turnbull during the federal election campaign, follows a long-running stoush over an industrial deal backed by the Andrews Government that critics fear will undermine volunteers and allow the union to interfere in CFA management decisions.

A separate industrial agreement with the MFB has created similar worries. On Monday, MFB deputy chief officer David Youssef quit after about 30 years. In a message to staff, MFB chief executive chief executive Jim Higgins said Mr Youssef would be leaving later this month "to pursue new opportunities".
If the truth about UFOs really is out there, don't bother telling the Australian government.

Department of Defence documents previously marked "SECRET" show the Royal Australian Air Force moved to stop investigating UFO reports in the 1990s because the majority weren't visitors from outer space and only about 3 per cent of sightings could not be explained.

The policy statements and correspondence, released through freedom of information laws, outline a new policy for RAAF personnel to refer reports of sightings to civilian UFO groups.

Between 1960 and 1973, about 815 UFO sightings were reported to Australian authorities.
It's a story of two resource-rich countries with two very different ways of harnessing the wealth they are blessed with.

By 2021 Australia will eclipse the Persian Gulf state of Qatar to become the world's biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas.

In that year, when both countries are forecast to pump and ship roughly 100 billion cubic metres of LNG each, Qatar's government will receive $26.6 billion in royalties from the multinational companies exploiting its offshore gasfields.

According to Treasury estimates, Australia will receive just $800 million for the same volume of gas leaving its shores.
And that's it from me for today.

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My thanks to Andrew Meares and Alex Ellinghausen for their excellent work and to you for reading and commenting. We'll speak soon, yes?
Theodora Taousanis sits by her husband, Nick Taousanis, in Prince of Wales Hospital after he had a stroke. Credit:George Taousanis INR specialist Jason Wenderoth said doctors were aware of two deaths in the last few months and other cases where people had completed their strokes and ended up in a nursing home because the theatres could not be opened after hours. Doctors reported each of them to health administrators as "SAC-1" events  the most serious category of clinical incident. But in each case they were downgraded by the local health administration, which meant they were not forwarded to the ministry. "There are plenty of doctors, but they won't fund doctors, nurses and technicians to work after hours," Dr Wenderoth said. "[Endovascular clot retrieval] is the most significant breakthrough in my career in medicine. It is 10 to 15 times as effective in getting patients back to normal as stenting for coronary artery disease."

Anticipated demand for the procedure has created an industrial stand-off between specialists in interventional neuroradiology [INR] and the state government. The handful of doctors qualified to perform the procedure in NSW claim they are inadequately compensated for after-hours work and local health chiefs have launched an overseas recruitment drive for new INR clinicians to shore up their negotiating position. INR clinicians say their numbers are sufficient, but the department has not provided funding for theatres, ICU beds, nurses, radiographers and anaesthetists for endovascular clot retrieval. TOO LATE FOR PROCEDURE Mr Taousanis, 81, was admitted to Wollongong Hospital on August 13 after he was felled by a huge stroke at his home in Shell Cove.

He was identified as a good candidate for endovascular clot retrieval and an ambulance was ordered to transfer him to Prince of Wales Hospital, but it was 90 minutes late and Mr Taousanis did not arrive until close to 9pm. The INR specialist was waiting for Mr Taousanis, but told the family that the operation could not be performed due to hospital policy, Mr Taousanis' son George said. "I said, 'If it's a cost issue let me know and I will pay'," George Taousanis said. "The doctors then proceeded to tell me that there were no more procedures available for my father and the blood clot would continue to block oxygen and blood to his brain causing considerable and irreversible damage to his brain, which in turn would more than likely cause him to die." Two days later, the hospital administrators called him to a meeting where they explained that the doctor been ready to perform the operation but could not because the team had finished their shift at 8pm.

"I was really angry because they were talking about my father's life," George Taousanis said. "I was appalled that the team did not stay back to assist with the operation." Doctors reported the incident as a "SAC-1", but this was downgraded by hospital administrators to a SAC-2. South Eastern Sydney Local Health District medical director James Mackie told Fairfax Media the operation did not go ahead because it was more than six hours after the stroke and outside clinical guidelines for endovascular clot retrieval to be performed. But he said it could have been better handled.

"Although it was unlikely the patient would have gained therapeutic benefit from the procedure, the matter should have been escalated to the Chief Executive for consideration of the procedure taking place outside the usual hours of service," Dr Mackie said. The incident was reclassified as a SAC-2 after an independent review, he said. NSW Health said the unavailability of a procedure at a particular hospital would not ordinarily constitute a SAC-1 incident. MORE PATIENTS But Mr Taousanis is not the only patient who missed out on treatment after hours.

A 64-year-old man admitted to Nepean Hospital in November last year died after he arrived out of hours and was not transferred to Westmead where an endovascular clot retrieval could have been performed. INR specialist Brendan Steinfort subsequently complained to the Nepean health chief in an email obtained by Fairfax Media that it appeared an endovascular clot retrieval had been attempted by an untrained practitioner. "As a result not only was the stroke not treated, but the stroke was made a good deal worse," Dr Steinfort's email said. "The patient now looks like they will need the bone removed from their skull to cope with the swelling, and may well die regardless." Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District said in a statement that a panel of experts had investigated the incident and found no evidence that a doctor had performed outside their scope of practice.

It found the care had been appropriate and in accordance with guidelines. A third patient, 89-year-old Edward Grubel, died in September after he presented out of hours for a stroke that doctors said was suitable for endovascular clot retrieval. Mr Grubel's granddaughter, Brittney Grubel, said he was transferred from St George Hospital to Liverpool Hospital because the closer facility, Prince of Wales, did not accept patients after 7pm, and by the time he arrived it was too late. "We will never know whether [an endovascular clot retrieval] would have been effective," said Ms Grubel, who works as a radiographer at Prince of Wales. "It's frustrating when there are good services and great doctors and we're unable to provide this at certain times of the day."

POLITICAL BATTLEGROUND The advent of endovascular clot retrieval as a stroke treatment has created a stand-off between the nine INR specialists qualified to perform the procedure in NSW and the state government. INR specialists approached the NSW government in 2012 with concerns they were working long hours for inadequate remuneration for their after-hours work, which on an award rate of $198 per hour was reduced to $80 an hour after parking, tolls, taxes and having to cancel their surgical lists the day after being called out. NSW Health originally invited them to submit a tender for a statewide neurointervention service, but negotiations broke down over the price, with seven clinicians who formed a company to bid for the contract seeking more than double the $10 million that the local health chiefs were collectively willing to offer. The parties then entered "direct negotiations" with the local health chiefs, but these also petered out when the parties differed over the scope of the solution. The INR clinicians wanted to lock into place a broad service agreement where after-hours activity was concentrated at two hospitals, while the department's proposal focused on an after-hours metropolitan-wide roster and some extra funding for the clinicians.

MEETING THE DEMAND FOR AFTER HOURS PROCEDURES INR clinicians estimate it would cost $30 million for the NSW government to set up a system similar to the one that exists in Victoria where after-hours cases are transferred to one of two hospitals designated to perform the procedure overnight. This would include $4 million to $6 million for theatre upgrades, staff and imagery at each of the six adult hospitals in NSW that currently conduct the procedure, with 1 to 2 per cent used to pay doctors for after hours. NSW Health said in a statement there were protocols for after-hours treatment and health districts arranged with other sites to transfer patients and ensure they got the right treatment. NSW Health deputy secretary of strategy Nigel Lyons said the department was not aware of any cases in which patients had missed out on care through a lack of support staff, and if they occurred they should be escalated to the chief executive immediately.

The hospitals had an after-hours network and health districts would boost their capability to do the procedure at night as demand increased under the activity-based funding model, he said. "The plan was, when there were times that there was a hospital that didn't have these services available, there was a hospital that did have that cover," Dr Lyons said. "We have data that these procedures are being done [after-hours] at a number of hospitals across the district." A draft planning report on neurointervention services recommends the recruitment of 12 to 18 INR specialists over the next 15 years, which would provide for each of them to perform 100 procedures over three years. But INR clinicians say that if there are too many doctors in the field they will not each be able to perform the minimum 33 procedures each year that is required to maintain their skills in Australia.
A six-year-old boy has drowned in a backyard swimming pool in Sydney's south-west.

Emergency services were called to a home on Spitfire Drive at Raby just before 5.30pm on Sunday, after the boy was found unconscious in the pool.

The boy was rushed to The Children's Hospital at Westmead under a police escort, but he died a short time after arriving.

Chief Inspector of Macquarie Fields Local Area Command, Dean Smith, issued a warning to homeowners to check backyard pools to ensure that they comply with safety laws.
A man has allegedly been caught travelling at 205km/h, or 95km/h over the speed limit, on the Hume Highway.

NSW police said the officers from Holbrook Highway Patrol were on the Hume Highway near Little Billabong, west of the ACT, when they detected a Holden Commodore travelling at 205km/h in a 110km/h zone about 7am.

The Holden Commodore was travelling at 205km/h in a 110km/h zone. Credit:Cathryn Tremain

"Police stopped the vehicle and spoke to the driver, a 25-year-old man from South Australia," they said in a statement.

The driver's licence was suspended for six months, and he is expected to appear in court next month charged with driving at a dangerous speed and exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h.
An unexpected hike in energy bills from Alliant Energy over the past few months has left many North Iowans angry and overwhelmed.

Lori Riha lives with her husband in a three-bedroom home in New Haven. Their bill for electricity typically runs about $120 per month.

Last month it was $276 and this month its $249, Riha said.

Their home was rewired in 2013 after a fire. The couple put in an energy-efficient water heater six years ago.

I could see if we had five kids running around, but its just us, Riha said. I was pretty upset.

Though Alliant offered to spread the payments over 12 months, Riha doesnt like the idea of being behind on an electric bill.

The couple feels Alliant is taking advantage of them and others.

We have no other options, Riha said.

Alliant issued an apology Oct. 2 to Iowa customers for the high bills, saying they were caused by a combination of higher energy use due to hotter weather and a new billing system.

The billing system resulted in many customers receiving estimated bills that were lower than actual use, then much higher bills when the system caught up and charged for actual usage during the estimated months.

We let many of you down, Alliant said.

Added Alliant Energy spokesperson Justin Foss: This is not how we want to operate.

A consumer group, however, has asked the state to push for more answers.

According to Don Tormey, communications manager for the Iowa Utilities Board, the board was informed by Alliant of an issue Oct. 3. By that time, the board had already received complaints from customers.

The next day the Office of Consumer Advocate requested the state board formally investigate Alliants billing problems.

The board will be reviewing this request from the OCA and rule if they will grant or deny the request, Tormey said.

More than 160 people commented on the Globe Gazettes Facebook page to voice complaints and surprise at the higher bills, many claiming that their bills doubled or even tripled.

Angie Tomkowiak-Ackley of Mason City said her bill is through the roof!

We did an energy audit and put new water heater, upgraded furnace, have efficient washer and dryer new fridge put in the light bulbs they suggested, Tomkowiak-Ackley said. And our bill went up considerably!

Customers have been affected across the state. Amanda Reynolds of Monona said that her bill placed a financial burden on her household.

I know we used more energy and we never got a chance to shut it off, but $300 seems a little high, Reynolds said.

Their bill was usually about $100 per month but jumped to $300.

My fiance was laid off and opening that bill was a surprise, Reynolds said. They ended up with $600 past due.

We just paid it off this week, Reynolds said. It sucked, but they worked with us.

New system, new problems

Foss, the Alliant spokesperson, said that it was not a meter reading issue but a combination of higher temperatures and a new billing system.

This summer was hotter than normal, Alliants apology post said. Our customers used more energy than last summer.

Some customers arent buying it. Several commented on Facebook that they dont believe Alliant.

I find it peculiar that they say it was so much hotter than last year, yet our bill says it was an average temp of 68 this year and 66 last year, Camille Cook Lee of Mason City said.

Foss said that the average temperature does not account for cooling degree days.

Alliant acknowledged some of the bills were surprising, but said they are accurate.

We are sorry for this surprise. We were not expecting this either, Alliant said.

The new billing system was put in place earlier this year. A computer system, also new, checks monthly usage against previous usage. Each time the system finds usage that is notably higher or lower than normal, it forwards the bill to a representative for a manual review.

Foss said the time frame between the electronic and manual review is much tighter. The triggers, he said, happened so frequently during the the higher temperatures that the staff members could not keep up with the reviews.

Since the bills could not all be reviewed, the system automatically sent estimated bills to customers based on the previous years usage, according to Foss.

We werent giving them bills that showed their actual usage, Foss said.

Once the actual usage was reviewed, the bills increased to make up for the difference between the estimated bill and actual use.

Now they are receiving catch-up bills, Foss said. Thats why theyre seeing the big bill.

For those struggling to pay their bills, Alliant said that the company will work with them.

Officials said they will spread the additional charges over the next 12 months with no negative impact to the account or credit score.

We are stopping disconnection for those affected, and weve stopped late payment fees, Foss said.

Alliant/Interstate Power and Light Co. filed a request for temporary waivers with IUB.

Alliant looks to suspend late payment fees and disconnection of service until Dec. 31.

The utility company said it is adjusting the billing process to prevent estimates for multiple months during periods of extreme hot or cold temperatures in the future.

In addition, the company is recruiting more employees to handle the review process.

That hasnt been enough for some.

Not a happy customer here, Stacy Krein said on Facebook. Our bill has pretty much doubled and last month we didnt even run the central air!
A man allegedly waved a replica pistol above his head before he was tackled to the ground by security guards at The Sugarmill Hotel in Kings Cross on Saturday night.

Panicked clubgoers were forced to hit the ground shortly before 9.30pm after the 23-year-old man allegedly pointed the replica pistol at a fellow patron before waving it above his head.

The Sugarmill Hotel in Kings Cross. Credit:Jon Reid

Inspector Paul Dunston from King Cross police station said the man "caused an immediate reaction when he removed the pistol from his waistband and raised his right hand to point it in the air".

"I'd imagine everyone dropped to the floor," Inspector Dunston added.
Peak-hour traffic in Sydney has worsened in the past year, according to a new index that uses travel information from Uber.

In a first for the global ride-sharing company, Uber has shared aggregated information about the travel patterns of users to a transport lobby group, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia.

The result of that sharing, the IPA Transport Metric, uses an index to depict the level of congestion in major capital cities and on some common routes within those cities.

And Uber says it could start to make more of its data, rich with thousands of trips made every day in Australian cities, available to policymakers and transport planners.
Social media clowns can expect to have the smile wiped from their face if they engage in anti-social behaviour in Queensland.

Police in the state have warned anyone taking part in the social media stunt to dress as a clown and step out in public to scare random people should be careful not to break the law.

"While there have been no reports of physical threats or acts of violence involving 'clowns', police will not tolerate anyone engaging in intimidating or anti-social behaviour," police said in a statement.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has asked anyone who is intimidated or concerned by anyone dressed as a clown to contact police.
One man has been caught while two others remain on the run after separate robberies south of Brisbane.

A knife and axe were used to hold up a tavern on Sunday morning, resulting in two men fleeing on foot with cash.

Police used a taser to subdue one alleged robber and are searching for two others after separate incidents south of Brisbane. Credit:Glenn Hunt

About 2.50am police were called to the Luprena Street business and believe the robbers broke in, before confronting staff and demanding money.

No one was injured and investigations are continuing.
I know a minister who preaches about the Kingdom of God as "the Kindness". She suggests we invite and inhabit it, allowing it to come towards us.

Kindness lands in the dailiness of life away from the corridors of power. It does not need to wait for the trickle-down effect. The Kindness assumes an accessibility.

Kindness should never be underrated. Credit:Ronnie Kaufman/Larry Hirshowitz

It is similar to the way Jesus spoke in agricultural images to farming communities in Galilee. He assumed the Kingdom of God as something already there for the seeking and finding.

Kindness is available to everyone, it is a choice. I felt this was echoed in Waleed Aly's plea for "radical generosity". It is simplistic to say that such an invitation unfairly calls on victims to forgive bigots. I think Waleed was saying something much bigger than that.
A man who kept sexts sent between his teenage stepdaughter and her boyfriend because he wanted police to act has been convicted of possessing child pornography and placed on the sex offenders register.

In a case that could have consequences for parents concerned about sexting, the 57-year-old man was sentenced in the County Court this week after admitting to copying the naked images on to a computer and USB stick.

A man who kept sexts sent by his teenage stepdaughter to her boyfriend was convicted under child porn laws. Credit:Stocksy

Despite warnings he could be prosecuted, the man kept the pictures because he was not satisfied by the response from police and the girl's school. He had informed them about the sexual photos his stepdaughter had sent to her boyfriend.

After refusing to delete the pictures, the man's computer and USBs were seized in multiple raids by police in 2013. They found 18 images on the devices.
Back in October 2008 as the American people were poised to choose between Barack Obama and John McCain  it was a more innocent time  The New Yorker magazine's David Sedaris tried to put himself in the frame of mind of an undecided voter.

"I think of being on an airplane. The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat. 'Can I interest you in the chicken?' she asks. 'Or would you prefer the platter of s--- with bits of broken glass in it?'

"To be undecided in this election is to pause for a moment and then ask how the chicken is cooked."

Coarse as his metaphor might be, Sedaris was not suggesting one candidate was more vile than another, just that by this stage of the race, how could anyone possibly remain undecided?
Jerusalem: A Palestinian gunman, known to Israeli police for violence and incitement on social media, killed two Israelis and wounded several others while shooting a rifle from his car in Jerusalem on Sunday.

The assailant, who could not be named due to a court order, died after motorcycle police opened fire on him.

Israeli border police raid the family home in the West Bank town of al Ram, north of Jerusalem, of the Palestinian gunman who killed two in Jerusalem on Sunday. Credit:AP

At his first stop, a busy light rail station, the assailant shot Lehava Melihi, 60, killing her and wounding others.

He was then chased at high speed by police along the seam line between the Israeli west of the city and the occupied east. As police officers on motorcycles closed in on him, he shot and killed one of them, Yosef Kirma, 29, before he was killed in turn.
Republican vice-presidential nominee Mike Pence said in a remarkable statement that he could not defend Trump's comments. Credit:Patrick Semansky But many party elders, elected officials and donors are arguing publicly and privately that Republicans must go further in isolating or even abandoning Trump. Growing numbers of prominent GOP figures are publicly revoking their support for the party's nominee, and some are urging that he be replaced at the top of the ballot by his running mate, Governor Mike Pence of Indiana. Senator John Thune became the first member of the Senate Republican leadership to urge Trump to stand down. Credit:AP "Donald Trump should withdraw and Mike Pence should be our nominee effective immediately," Senator John Thune tweeted from his official account early on Saturday afternoon.

In doing so, Thune became the first member of the Senate Republican leadership to urge Trump to step down. Thune serves as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, the third-ranking position in the party's leadership team. Key supporters told Donald Trump he had no choice but to say sorry: "I said it, I was wrong, and I apologise". Credit:Sky News The South Dakota senator had endorsed Trump in May, saying: "We have to get it right in 2016 because the future of our country is hanging in the balance in so many different ways." Other Republican lawmakers also joined the chorus for Trump to drop out. Among them: Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Mike Crapo of Idaho and lawmakers Martha Roby of Alabama and Jason Chaffetz of Utah. Republican Senator John McCain wants enquiry into Russian cyber activities. Credit:AP

"I'm out," Chaffetz said in a televised interview on Saturday. "I can no longer in good conscience endorse this person for president." Carly Fiorina, a former Republican presidential candidate, tweeted: "Today I ask Donald Trump to step aside and for the RNC to replace him with Gov. Mike Pence." For those who must share the ballot with Trump this year, the rallying cry has become everyone for himself - or herself. "I think each person running for election has to make his or her decision about what is best, and act accordingly," said Fred Malek, a major fundraiser and finance chairman of the Republican Governors Association. "I don't think there is one formula that works for all." Senator Kelly Ayotte, from New Hampshire, who is in a difficult re-election battle, issued a statement on Saturday declaring that she planned to write in a vote for Pence as president.

"I wanted to be able to support my party's nominee, chosen by the people because I feel strongly that we need to change the direction of the country," Ayotte said. "However, I'm a mom and an American first and I cannot and will not support a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting women." Senator John McCain, from Arizona, the party's 2008 presidential nominee and a candidate this year for a sixth term in the Senate, announced that he and his wife, Cindy, will also write in a candidate - "some good conservative Republican who is qualified to be President" - rather than vote for Trump. Practically speaking, there is no way for the party to rid itself of a nominee this late in the election season, short of Trump voluntarily dropping out of the race - something the celebrity real estate magnate declared on Saturday that he would "never" do. Many states have printed their ballots, and 400,000 early and absentee votes have already been cast, according to a tally by the United States Elections Project. The party would have to persuade states to put the new nominee on the ballot by appealing to secretaries of state and seeking emergency injunctions through the courts - no easy lift at this late date. And even if Trump did withdraw, "it's not like Pence automatically becomes the nominee", said Nathaniel Persily, a constitutional law expert at Stanford Law School. "Remember poor old Ted Cruz [the senator from Texas who came in second in the GOP primaries]."

Major donors and party leaders are privately - and frantically - looking for options to salvage the GOP congressional majority, which is their largest since the New Deal era. One long-time party fundraiser put it this way on Saturday: "The entire donor community is pulling back [from Trump]" and redirecting efforts and resources to Senate and House races. Former Minnesota representative Vin Weber was blunt in describing the mood of the series of conversations he has had with fellow Republicans. "The presidency has been lost, but the Congress and the party can be saved," he said in an interview with The Washington Post. "We need to immediately focus all resources on the Congress, try to replace Trump and, failing that, settle on one alternative for principled Republicans to vote for, be it an existing third party or an agreed upon write-in candidate." He hailed reports that the Republican National Committee has started to halt spending on some Trump-related election efforts, at least temporarily.

"That's a very good sign," Weber said, hoping it would be one factor of several that might lead Trump to resign. "It means that regardless of what happens [to Trump], we will immediately shift resources to Senate and House races." He said that focus would inspire a discouraged donor base to provide resources and call attention to real strength that still exists in the GOP. Weber has been talking to RNC members and others about encouraging Pence to resign temporarily from the ticket, in hopes it would lead Trump to quit. He called it "the nuclear bomb". Loading
Donald L. Morrison

OSAGE  Donald L. Morrison, 93, of Osage, died Friday, Oct., 7, 2016, at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage with Father Raymond Burkle officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage with a rosary at 5:30.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage, is in charge of arrangements.
What you need to know about Powerball and the $1 billion jackpot
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, ARMENPRESS. -made in Yerevan exhibition has been opened in Yerevan History Museum on the occasion of Erebuni-Yerevan celebrations, press service of Yerevan Municipality informed Armenpress.

Light and food industrial products, which were produced in Yerevan during Soviet times, from the Museums rich collection of production assets were presented in the exhibition.

First Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Kamo Areyan, Deputy Mayor Aram Sukiasyan, City Council members attended the exhibition.

The Museums Director Armine Sargsyan said the exhibition is dedicated to the 2798th anniversary of Yerevan, as well as the 85th anniversary of the Museum.

-made in Yerevan exhibition will operate until the end of this year from Monday to Saturday at 11:00-17:30.
Joseph Malfero

GREENE  Joseph Malfero, 76, of Greene, died Friday, Oct. 7, at his home.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at Major Erickson Funeral Home in Mason City with Pastor Ed Bard, chaplain, Hospice of North Iowa, officiating.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, at Major Erickson Funeral Home and continue one hour prior to the service.

Memorials may be directed to the Joseph Malfero memorial fund in care of the family.

Arrangements are with Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory of Mason City.
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Brussels (Belgium), October 9, 2016 (SPS) - Saharawi deputy minister for Europe, Mohamed Sidati, has called on the European Union to assume its responsibilities towards the Saharawi people by supporting the effective implementation of the UN resolutions that set out their right to self-determination.

"The EU should assume responsibility and abide by the international law by making sure that sovereignty violations do not continue, and ensuring its member states are not accomplices in the occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco," Sidati wrote in a contribution published Friday on the European news website euractiv.com.

In his findings released in September in the case Polisario Front vs the European Union Council about the agreement on exchange of agricultural produce and fishing with Morocco, The general attorney of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), underlined that Western Sahara territory is on the UN non-autonomous list since 1963, and which is linked to UN resolution on colonial people's right to self-determination.

"Saharawi people turn to Europe, which is a model in the basic values of liberty, democracy and respect of the international law," he said.

"We turn to the EU which will have to show a clear commitment to abiding by the international law, by making sure the use of Western Sahara's natural resources is not included in EU-Morocco agreement and by conforming to the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union." (SPS)

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New York, October 9, 2017 (SPS) - Debates of the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) expressed the international community's strong support to self-determination referendum in Western Sahara.

During the debate on decolonization of non-autonomous territories, participants showed a great interest in the Sahrawi issue following the recent developments in the occupied territories.

The South-African delegation, which partook in this debate, stressed that Morocco is an occupying power, according the UN General Assembly and decisions of the International Court of Justice.

Representative of the South Africa Wouter Hofmeyer Zaayman reiterated his country's solidarity with the Sahrawi people's struggle, recalling that the right to auto-determination is the foundation stone of the South African democracy.

Zaayman called on the UN Security Council to include the human rights protection staff in the Minurso mandate, which must resume its functions in accordance with resolution 2285 of the UN Security Council.

Representative of Nicaragua affirmed that "any solution to the Sahrawi issue depends on the self-determination referendum."

Ruben Ignacio Zamora Rivas from Salvador advocated the resumption of negotiations between the Polisario Front and Morocco, reiterating his support to the resolution on Western Sahara presented by 25 countries including Algeria.

For his part, Bolivia's representative Sacha Sergio recalled for the adoption of resolution 1540 adopted by the Assembly General in 1960 recognizes peoples' right to decolonization.

The Fourth Committee will meet next Monday to adopt some draft-resolutions on decolonization. (SPS)

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Nels Larsen

CLEAR LAKE  Nels Larsen, 92, of Clear Lake, Iowa, died Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.

Memorial services will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, Iowa, with the Rev. Drew Rietjens officiating.

Inurnment will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake, with military honors provided by the Clear Lake V.F.W.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, and then one hour before the service on Wednesday. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Nels was born and raised in Dysart, Iowa, the son of Peter and Emma (Landgrave) Larsen. He enlisted in the United States Navy during WWII spending most of his time in the Admiralty Islands, north of New Guinea. After the war he moved back to Dysart and farmed until 1949 when he got a job as a mechanic in Traer.

Nels married Dolores Dolly Petersen Oct. 30, 1949, in Marshall County, Iowa. They spent their honeymoon in Clear Lake and they decided they liked it so much they stayed in Clear Lake.

He went to work for Burns DX station. He served as Clear Lake police chief from 1955-1971 and later was citys civil defense director and street superintendent retiring in 1986.

He was one of the first responders on the scene of the Buddy Holly crash.

He served on the Clear Lake City Council from 1988-2003. He was a member of the Clear Lake Volunteer Fire Dept., Clear Lake V.F.W., Clear Lake V.F.W. Honor Guard, and the Clear Lake United Methodist Church.

He enjoyed watching the Vikings, Twins and the Hawkeyes.

He is survived by his two sons Mike (Jennifer) Larsen, Clear Lake, Iowa and Craig (Lori) Larsen, Cedar Falls, Iowa; six grandchildren Jake Larsen, Tanner Larsen, Bailey Larsen, Alec Larsen, Madison Larsen and Ashlyn Larsen and one great-granddaughter Paislee Larsen. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Dolores Dolly Larsen; one brother Raymond and his sister Minnie.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake, Iowa. 641-357-2193. ColonialChapels.com.
A new pop-up bar in Brick Lane allows whisky enthusiasts to blend their own bottle in an Art of Blending session.

Scotch whisky brand Chivas Regal is offering bargoers the chance to learn the history of grain and single malt whiskies, and how to create their own.

The malts range from The Highland and Lowlands, to Speyside and Islay, which visitors can sample before blending at the new pop-up bar.

Phil Huckle, UK ambassador for Chivas Regal, said: The sessions last for about an hour and theyll learn all about the history of whisky, how to blend the whisky, but for the bulk of the time theyll actually be creating their own from five different whiskies, and theyll be taking home their own 250ml bottle.

Art of Blending sessions allow Londoners to create their own unique blend of single and malt whiskies

In really simple terms, its a blend of grain whiskies, which are generally quite light and smooth, and single malt whiskies which have lots of very different, complex flavours.

Brick Lane is the perfect area for this  its easy to get to, its very buzzy, and also its very close to the City.

Blending sessions cost 15 at The Blend, which is open for nine weeks until December 4 at the Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane.
A new film coming to the London Film Festival explores issues surrounding gentrification in the rapidly-changing area of Brixton.

A Moving Image follows young actor Nina, who returns home to Brixton and doesnt recognise the area as it is today.

Actor Tanya Fear, who plays Nina, told London Live: She realises its not the place she used to know, so shes making a visual art project about Brixton and in the process gets accused of being a gentrifier herself so shes struggling with her own complicity in the issue.

We were shooting on the streets and Brixton is very much a character in the film, so it felt very alive.

Thats the beauty of this film  we have real people on the streets talking about their experiences, and its kind of seamless: you dont know when people are acting and when its a real person.

A Moving Image: Exploring gentrification in the capital

Tanya added that gentrification is an issue of personal importance to the team behind the film.

She said: I think it was really important for us because our director is from south east London, so hes really witnessed whats been going on over the last 20, 30, years.

We hope that this film can be part of the conservation, can start some new conversations  we just want to explore the subject from the point of view of artists and creatives.

Actor Tanya Fear says the issue resonated with the filmmakers

Having had its world premiere in LA, Tanya said she feels really proud that A Moving Image will be screened as part of the London Film Festival.

She said: We wanted London, so were really proud that its here.

A Moving Image is being screened at various locations across London as part of the London Film Festival.
Welcome to the economic development buffet.

It is a wonderful place where economic development officials from all over can come in and fill their plates with whatever looks appetizing.

And what a wide variety to choose from  everything from a gas station to a pancake house; from a mom-and-pop gift shop to a factory that employs 250 people.

All of the economic development people in the buffet line smack their lips as they choose what they think will benefit their communities.

One guy chooses a machine manufacturer; a woman picks up a fabric store; another person selects a service industry.

Everyone goes away happy, with their plates full and their communities richer for it.

Oh, if it was only that easy.

But there is no buffet for cities. There are no easy pickings. Economic development is a highly competitive business in which literally hundreds of communities throughout the country may all be trying to lure the same company to their town.

But beware. The companies always have the upper hand. They know what they want. The cities that win are the ones that come closest to providing them with what they want.

Some people are critical of business relocations or start-ups in North Iowa. They say, It will never work, or Why dont we go after such-and-such a business? or Why are they locating in this part of town when another area needs some development?

Its free enterprise, folks. If a business wants to locate in North Iowa or anywhere else, the risk of failure is theirs. Sure, cities often offer incentives to attract them but most development agreements have escape clauses that provide rebates to cities if plans dont work out.

Regarding location  most big companies have marketing experts on their payrolls who have scouted out a town and know exactly where they want to locate to get the biggest bang for their buck. Locating somewhere else in the city is not an option.

So in a sense, it is the business prospect that goes through the buffet line of a city to see what it has to offer. Government can only try to provide the right environment  such as having a shovel-ready site available.

It is interesting to see how government has reacted to economic development over the years. In a 1985 New York Times story, Mason City Mayor Ken Kew said he was not a big fan of recruiting big businesses to town, preferring to have many small businesses. His thinking was that if a big industry left town, it would be devastating to the local economy.

There is a fascinating context to this: Kew was speaking not too long after the Armour meatpacking plant closed, idling hundreds of workers. And Southbridge Mall was opening, replete with many small businesses.

Kews successor, Stan Romans, was a proud, idealistic man who bristled at having to offer companies the sun and the moon to get them to locate in Mason City. He believed we had a great city and our culture and assets should be incentive enough. It was during his tenure that General Foods (now Kraft) opened in Mason City.

In todays economic development world, businesses play a cat-and-mouse game with cities, often not even identifying themselves until negotiations are well underway.

Companies gather information about cities they are interested in and make contact through a third party. The cities then respond, seeking more information about the unidentified company. At some point, the company will zero in on one city and serious negotiations begin.

Make no mistake, the city that offers the most gets the big prize.

Its not a buffet. Its more like Lets Make a Deal.
A man was stabbed and another was struck repeatedly with a heavy object after a mass brawl broke out outside a takeaway in north London.

Police raced to the scene of the fight outside Tastys Chicken and Pizza in Edgware in the early hours of this morning.

The alleged brawl began between a large group of men in the high street at about 3.30am.

Shocked bystanders dialled 999 after witnessing the fight.

Scotland Yard said officers arrived at the scene within minutes and found a man stabbed and another with blunt trauma injuries.

Medics rushed the pair to a central London hospital where they are in a stable condition.

Detectives from Colindale Police station are investigating and issued an appeal for witnesses to the fight.

No arrests have been made at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or via Crimestoppers anonymously.
P olice are investigating after two men allegedly pulled down a womans hijab in north London.

The victim, aged in her 20s, was with another woman outside The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London, when two men came up behind them last month.

One of the men, described as a white man in his late 20s or early 30s, pulled down the womans headscarf, leaving her shocked and distressed.

Both men then fled towards Pelham Road just after 7.30pm on September 28.

The first man was believed to have had blond or ginger shaved hair and stubble.

He was around 5ft 6in tall, wearing a burgundy hoody and carrying a Tesco carrier bag.

The second man was described as being of Mediterranean appearace, aged in his late 20s or early 30s, and clean shaven with spiky hair.

He was said to be wearing a grey hoody.

Detective Constable Ben Cousin, of Haringey Community Safety Unit, said: "This was a shocking attack in broad daylight in the middle of a busy street.

"Racially and religiously motivated crimes will not be tolerated I would appeal to anyone who witnessed this attack to contact police. "

Anyone with information is asked to contact Haringey Police via 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A burst water main has sparked chaos in south-east London, leaving a busy high street under water.

Hundreds of homes in Greenwich, Bexley and Crayford, as well as large parts of Dartford, in Kent, have been left without water due to the issue.

Dramatic footage showed Crayford Retail Park under water as fire crews and Thames Water officials worked to solve the issue.

Shocked residents took to Twitter to discuss the problem.

Graham Gainsford branded the issue as big trouble while others commented on the vast amount of people rushing to stock up on water.

Transport for London have urged motorists to avoid the area and warned of long queues across south-east London caused by the flooding.

A spokesman for Thames Water said: Were sorry to any customers in the DA1, DA2, DA4, DA5, DA6, DA8, DA9, DA14, DA15, DA16, and SE9 postcode areas who are waking up without water or low pressure this morning.

View of the Crayford flooding taken on the ground

This is due to complications with overnight water pipe repair work in Crayford Road.

Were working hard now to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible.

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade added: Firefighters are dealing with a burst water main in Crayford. It will cause huge traffic issues so please avoid the area if possible.
A London artist is painting colourful murals of some of the worlds most endangered species in an eye-catching bid to raise awareness for their fight for survival.

Louis Masai, 34, from Forest Hill, has spent three years sprucing up walls across the capital with his stunning imagery to highlight the plight facing creatures under threat.

He said he started to combine his artistic talents with his fascination for the natural world to shine a light on fears more animals will fall into extinction unless drastic action is taken.

Examples of his work include a red-shanked douc, a species of monkey listed as endangered, on a wall in Walthamstow and two whooping cranes, the tallest birds in North America, in Bethnal Green.

Colourful: A pair of whooping crane dancing on a wall in Bethnal Green, painted with Jerry Rug aka birdo from Canada / Louis Masai

His work has featured in collaborative art project Endangered 13 in which 13 artists transformed disused railway arches in Tower Hamlets to raise awareness of critically-endangered creatures.

Mr Masai told the Standard: I was already painting animals, and was looking for what was at the time rare species.

But then I noticed they weren't rare but endangered, or even in some cases extinct.

I wanted to use my ability to engage with my audience via my involvement in the public arts movement and focus purely on the message of highlighting the sixth extinction (a new era of extinction according to US researchers).

Mr Masai, who is currently touring the US on a new project to highlight endangered species, says he hopes his injection of colour will spark interest among global leaders.

He added: Id like governments to take note.

The general public seem to be embracing it and starting to do their little bit, but the leading powers are the ones that can make the big changes we need.

The feedback Ive had is very positive. I feel very humbled by how rewarding the experience of passing on this information has become.

For more information visit his website.
A moped rider was rushed to hospital tonight after a crash with a car at a busy junction in east London.

Police raced to the scene after the moped and the car collided in the street in Shoreditch.

The moped rider, a man aged in his 20s, was rushed to hospital after the crash in Hackney Road at the junction with Columbia Road just after 7pm.

A picture taken at the scene showed police officers treating the man on the ground as they waited for the arrival of an ambulance.

A woman, who witnessed the crash, posted on Instagram: Horrible accident in Shoreditch, still no ambulance or paramedics after almost 45 minutes. Very worrying times.

The driver of the car stopped at the scene, police said.

Officers await an update on the moped riders condition.

No arrests have been made.
A YouTube blogger has hailed the breath-taking response he received after dressing as a homeless Muslim in Leicester Square for a social experiment.

Hassan Saleemi decided to prove Londoners were indeed kind and caring by secretly filming himself in disguise in the busy square.

Holding a cardboard sign with the words Im homeless on it, he is ignored by many people who walk straight past at first.

However, some stop to ask if he is okay and one man also offers him food. Mr Saleemi, 23, is then approached by three girls who generously offer him a 50 note.

Disguise: Hassan Saleemi wanted to test reactions to a homeless Muslim / Hstar Vlogz

The Middlesex University graduate is forced to reveal his cover in order to turn down the girls kind offer.

Speaking about the video, uploaded to YouTube channel Hstar Vlogs, he told Mail Online: I was born and bred in London and I have never experienced some of the negativity you see and hear about.

As a Muslim I wanted to show that there are people out there who want to help and it doesn't matter if you are homeless, Muslim or anything.

When the three girl's approached me and asked if I was OK and one of the girls offered me a 50 note it was a feeling I could not explain.

To be honest I had to let them this was a social media experiment. After the kind gesture I just had to let them know.

He said that during the hour-long experiment, more than 15 people approached him rather than walking by.
U kip leader Nigel Farage has waded into the crisis engulfing Donald Trump's US presidential bid, putting the Republican candidate's obscene remarks about groping women down to "alpha male boasting".

Speaking in St Louis, Missouri, where he is attending this weekend's televised presidential debate as a Trump supporter, Mr Farage said the comments were "ugly", but stated that women also make remarks they would not want to see reported.

"Look, this is alpha male boasting. It's the kind of thing, if we are being honest, that men do. They sit around and have a drink and they talk like this.

"By the way, quite a lot of women say things amongst themselves that they would not want to see on Fox News, or the front page of a newspaper. I'm not pretending it's good - it's ugly, it is ugly," he added.

Mr Farage's comments echo the initial response of Mr Trump who dismissed the obscene language on a 2005 video tape as "locker room banter" before the scale of the crisis overwhelming his presidential campaign forced him to issue an apology for the remarks.

On the tape, Mr Trump, who was newly married to his third wife, Melania, at the time, talks about making a pass at a married woman, saying: "I moved on her and I failed, I'll admit it ... I did try and f*** her. I moved on her like a b****, but I couldn't get there. And she was married."

Mr Trump then talks about going after women, saying: "I am automatically attracted to beautiful women. I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss, I don't even wait ... and when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.

"Grab them by the p****. You can do anything."

Mr Farage has previously spoken at a Trump rally, and was reported to be helping the Republican candidate prepare for the second presidential debate in the early hours of tomorrow morning.

Mr Trump has insisted there is "zero chance" he will quit the race for the White House after the comments provoked a firestorm of outrage.

The remarks have seen him dubbed "the groper in chief" on social media and been branded "horrific" by Mrs Clinton, and "sickening" by the Republican speaker of the US house of representatives, Paul Ryan.

Senator John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, withdrew his support for Mr Trump yesterday.
A killer clown craze sweeping Britain has seen Thames Valley Police called to 14 incidents in just one day.

Police forces across the country have issued warnings about the potential consequences of the craze, which appears to have been inspired by clown-related pranks in the US.

Known as "killer clowns", the pranks involve people dressing up as scary or gruesome clowns to deliberately scare or intimidate members of the public.

In the space of 24 hours this weekend, Thames Valley Police (TVP) attended 14 reports of people being intimidated or frightened by others dressed as clowns.

Police said the reports have been made across the Thames Valley area including Bracknell, Milton Keynes, Abingdon and Chesham.

This follows similar reports throughout Britain. Gloucestershire Police said it had received six reports of clown-related incidents, while South Wales Police has also attended numerous similar reports.

Chief Supt Andy Boyd, head of TVPs neighbourhood policing, said: While we do not want to be accused of stopping people enjoying themselves, we would also ask those same people to think of the impact of their behaviour on others and themselves.

Frightening: it is believed the clown pranks originated in the US (PA)

Their actions can cause fear and anxiety to other people, this could be perceived to be intimidating and threatening which could lead to public order offences, arrest and a criminal record.

In addition, their behaviour is causing multiple reports to our call takers and is tying up police resources which could impact on calls to other incidents.

While we realise that reports of this kind are not restricted to the Thames Valley area, the issues of intimidation, potential arrest and waste of public resources are the same across the country and we would urge people to refrain from such activity.

Nobody has been injured in any of the incidents, police said.

In Essex, two Clacton County High School schoolgirls were approached by two people dressed as clowns who asked them if they wanted to attend a birthday party at 9.20am on Tuesday.

A young boy in Suffolk was chased by "several people dressed as clowns" in Beatty Road, Sudbury, at 8pm on Thursday, Suffolk Police said.

Earlier this week, Northumbria Police issued an appeal and warning after a series of incidents in Newcastle involving people dressed as clowns jumping out and scaring schoolchildren.

A 13-year-old boy was arrested in the Blakelaw area of the city following reports of someone dressed as a clown attempting to scare passers-by.

While others have mostly escaped unharmed from the "frightening" incidents, police are warning potential offenders they still may be committing a Public Order Offence.

People on social media have also reported clown sightings in London, Cheshire, North Wales, Dundee, Norwich, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield.
People's lives are being forever changed thanks to funding from United Way of North Central Iowa. As a United Way Partner Agency, Opportunity Village has received funding to provide training and support for families of children who have autism.

Opportunity Village's Children's Autism Center works with over 80 families to help them understand autism, to navigate available resources and services and to collectively support one another's journey of living with autism.

United Way of North Central Iowa funding is essential to the Children's Autism Center family support program.

Families have reported that they felt hopeless, alone and confused before they connected with our programs. Now, thanks to United Way support, families have hope and a sense of belonging. They feel knowledgeable and empowered to make a difference for their child with autism. Most importantly they report that they feel connected with their child and can see a promising future. They are truly grateful.

Our United Way of North Central Iowa partners with 24 local nonprofits to facilitate 29 programs designed to help community members achieve their best lives.

Among many things, money donated to United Way helps feed the hungry, move people from homelessness to financial stability, mentor children, supports reading education and provides much needed assistance to victims of physical and sexual abuse, all within in our North Central Iowa region.

I encourage you to join me in supporting our United Way of North Central Iowa. Together, we can continue to build our community and Live United.

Michael Mahaffey, chief development officer, Opportunity Village, Clear Lake
NEW YORK, Oct. 09, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Correction Corporation of America (CCA or the Company) (NYSE:CXW) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Middle District of Tennessee, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired CCA securities between February 27, 2012 and August 17, 2016 both dates inclusive (the Class Period). This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act).



If you are a shareholder who purchased CCA securities during the Class Period, you have until October 24, 2016 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

[Click here to join this class action]

CCA, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates privatized correctional and detention facilities in the United States. The Company owns, operates, and manages prisons and other correctional facilities, and provides inmate residential and prisoner transportation services for governmental agencies. As of 2015, CCA was the largest private corrections company in the United States, and manages more than 65 correction and detention facilities in 19 states and the District of Columbia.

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Companys business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) CCAs facilities lacked adequate safety and security standards and were less efficient at offering correctional services than the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities; (ii) CCAs rehabilitative services for inmates were less effective than those provided by BOP; (iii) consequently, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) was unlikely to renew and/or extend its contracts with CCA; and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, CCAs public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On August 18, 2016, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates announced the DOJs decision to end its use of private prisons, including those operated by CCA, after officials concluded that the facilities are both less safe and less effective at providing correctional services than those run by the federal government.

On this news, CCAs share price fell $9.65, or 39.45%, to close at $17.57 on August 18, 2016.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com




NEW YORK, Oct. 09, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against The GEO Group, Inc. (GEO or the Company) (NYSE:GEO) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, and docketed under 16-cv-81494, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired GEO securities between March 1, 2012 and August 17, 2016 both dates inclusive (the Class Period). This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act).



If you are a shareholder who purchased GEO securities during the Class Period, you have until October 24, 2016 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

[Click here to join this class action]

GEO provides government-outsourced services specializing in the management of correctional, detention, and re-entry facilities, and the provision of community based services and youth services in the United States, Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The Company operates through four segments: U.S. Corrections & Detention, GEO Community Services, International Services, and Facility Construction & Design.

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Companys business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) GEOs facilities lacked adequate safety and security standards and were less efficient at offering correctional services than the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities; (ii) GEOs rehabilitative services for inmates were less effective than those provided by BOP; (iii) consequently, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) was unlikely to renew and/or extend its contracts with GEO; and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, GEOs public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On August 18, 2016, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates announced the DOJs decision to end its use of private prisons, including those operated by GEO, after officials concluded that GEOs facilities are both less safe and less effective at providing correctional services than those run by the federal government.

On this news, GEOs share price fell $12.78, or 39.58%, to close at $19.51 on August 18, 2016.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge will have two antlerless deer hunts from Oct. 22 to 23 and Dec. 17 to 18.

Hunters will be allowed to hunt the entire refuge, and both hunts are muzzleloader and antlerless deer only.

Permits are still available for both hunts. Nebraska residents can apply through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission office. Iowa residents can apply at DeSoto, or by sending in a card with their name, address and phone number. The remaining unfilled slots will be available on a first come basis. For Iowa residents, the October and December hunt will only require antlerless licenses that are specific for the DeSoto hunts and will not count against the hunters take.

Archery deer hunting is also available on DeSoto and is open to the public. The archery season runs from Oct. 1 to Jan. 10.

Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge will also have a muzzleloader-only antlerless deer hunt from Dec. 10 to Dec. 18. Hunters will need a Season Choice-Wahoo or a state-wide muzzleloader license, which can be obtained through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Pheasant hunting for youths

Youth ages 15 and younger are encouraged to participate in special youth pheasant hunts during the Oct. 22 and 23 statewide youth pheasant, quail and partridge season.

Rooster pheasants will be released at 14 wildlife management areas before the special youth season. The hunts are open to the public, and the number of participants is not limited. No registration or special permit is required.

Special regulations posted at each of the 14 WMAs will apply to all portions of the designated areas normally open to hunting. All other current youth and regular hunting regulations also will be in effect on these designated areas.

Pheasants will be released at: Pressey (Custer County), Sherman Reservoir (Sherman County), Oak Valley (Madison County), Branched Oak (Lancaster County), Twin Oaks (Johnson County), Hickory Ridge (Johnson County), Wilkinson (Platte County), Peru Bottoms (Nemaha County), Yankee Hill (Lancaster County), Cornhusker (Hall County), Arrowhead (Gage County), George Syas (Platte County), Randall W. Schilling (Cass County) and William Gilmour/Tobacco Island (Cass County).

The special regulations include:

 Only nontoxic shot may be used at Wilkinson, Peru Bottoms, Randall W. Schilling and William Gilmour WMAs.

 Adult mentors must be licensed hunters age 19 or older to accompany a youth.

 Adult mentors may harvest one rooster pheasant per day only.

 The 14 WMAs are the only locations where adults may harvest pheasants during the youth season.

 Only one adult mentor per youth will be allowed to hunt.

 Youth may harvest two roosters per day.

Calendar

SUNDAY

 Rendezvous and Muzzleloader Sight-In, Platte River SP, Louisville, 402-234-2217

 Humanities Nebraska Program: Jesse James in Nebraska, Fort Hartsuff SHP, Burwell, 3 p.m.

MONDAY

 Columbus Day, Game and Parks offices closed; Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center is open

 Centerfire Challenge, Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln, 6 p.m. Also Oct. 24

TUESDAY

 Upland bird hunting workshop, Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln, 6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

 Bird Walk, Lake McConaughy SRA, Ogallala, 7:45 a.m. Also Oct. 19 and 26

FRIDAY

 Shadows on the Street, Fort Kearny SRA, Kearney, 7 p.m.

 Introduction to Competitive Pistol Shooting, Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln, 6 p.m. Also Oct. 21 and 28

SATURDAY

 Duck and coot hunting seasons open in Zone 1

 Trick or Treat, Branched Oak SRA, Raymond, 7 p.m.

 Halloween Decorating Contest and Trick or Treat, Fremont Lakes SRA, Fremont, 5:30 p.m.

 Pink Pumpkin Walk, Indian Cave SP, Shubert, 10 a.m.

 Jack-O-Lantern Junk and Craft Market, Indian Cave SP, Shubert, 9 a.m.

 Trick or Treat by the Buses, Indian Cave SP, Shubert, 2 p.m.

 Trunk or Treat, Calamus Reservoir SRA, Burwell, 5:30 p.m.

 Clear Shot Firearms Concealed Carry Class, Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln, 8 a.m.

 Living History, Rock Creek Station SHP, Fairbury, 10 a.m.

 Great American Pastimes, Arbor Lodge SHP, Nebraska City, 10 a.m.
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Do you think insurance companies deserve a taxpayer bailout? President Obama apparently does. As a reward for insurance companies who participated in the failed Obamacare marketplace, the Obama Administration is now looking to cushion their losses with your tax dollars.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) pays tribute to the memory of the Holocaust victims of Romania and worldwide, expressing solidarity with the survivors of the tragic events of the Second World War, on the National Day of Commemoration of Holocaust Victims.

"The MAE reiterates the fact that the promotion of diversity, of respect to the citizens' equality in relation with the others as regards the fundamental rights, freedoms and obligations are essential principles for a democratic society's development. The understanding and respect are the more important as today new manifestations of anti-Semitism could be noticed in several countries, unfortunately," on Sunday reads a MAE release sent to agerpres.

In this respect, the MAE reaffirms its resolution to further contribute by diplomatic means to strengthening the legislative, institutional instruments capable to prevent and sanction anti-Semitism, as well a s any other manifestations of racism, xenophobia, racial discrimination and intolerance.

"The MAE stresses the significant efforts Romania has achieved in the past years as regards the assuming of its past, the condemnation of the Holocaust denial and of anti-Semitism and hails at the same time the progresses achieved lately at academic level, as well as the several formal and informal educational programmes regarding the Holocaust," says the source.

The knowledge of the past in a responsible way by the new generations means in the MAE opinion to educate the society in the spirit of tolerance, compassion and justice, the affirmation of Romania as a European democracy and regional pattern in this respect.

"These have been and will continue to be commitments that will be pursued consistently by the Romanian authorities. The education, the memory and the research of the Holocaust are action guidelines backed by the MAE in the context of holding the Romanian chairmanship of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)," the MAE release adds.

According to the source, the year 2016 is significant to Romania from the perspective of paying tribute to the Holocaust victims in our country. It is 75 years since the Legion's pogrom in Bucharest of January 1941, 75 years since the Iasi pogrom of June 1941 and the deportations to Transdniester of October 1941.

The official remembrance ceremony of Holocaust victims of Romania will be held on 10 October 2016, attended by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Lazar Comanescu alongside other members of the Romanian Government.

In Romania by Government Decision 672 / 5 May 2004 the date of 9 October (the very day when the deportation of the Jews from Romania to Transdniester started in 1941) has been approved to officially commemorate the Holocaust Day at national level.
The agenda of president Klaus Iohannis for Tuesday, 11 October, is canceled, since the head of state's mother-in-law has passed away, the presidential spokesperson, Madalina Dobrovolschi said in a release on Sunday.

The president had announced a visit to the western border city of Nadlac, Arad County, alongside a participation in an economic forum together with the visiting Slovak president, Andrej Kiska and a meeting with representatives of the Slovak community of this city.

The visit of the Slovak president will take place according to the schedule already announced, the spokesperson specified.

agerpres.
A group of 11 African and Asian migrants were spotted on Saturday in the surroundings of Nerau and Moravita - Timis County, while attempting to illegally enter Romania from Serbia.

''After Friday midnight, the officers of the Moravita Border Police tracked with the Attica Optronic Surveillance System a group who were walking across the field, heading from Serbia to Romania. The officers promptly took specific action and caught, perched in the bushes near Moravita, 11 people (six men, one woman and four children) who were taken to the headquarters of the Border Police for investigation,'' spokesman of the Timis Border Police Petre-Ionut Nicola said in a release on Saturday.

Preliminary investigations determined that the illegal border crossers had no identity papers, and they declared their nationality to be Syrian, Iraqi, Egyptian and Algerian, respectively. The adults are between 18 and 50 years of age, the children are aged 5 to 11. The adults said they had left Serbia heading for a West European state.

In the same time span, the officers of the Lunga Border Police spotted in the surroundings of Nerau three men from Kosovo, aged between 18 and 24, who could not justify their presence in area. They were taken to the headquarters of the Lunga Border Police where it was determined that they had crossed the border coming from Serbia.

The Timis County border authorities are investigating the illegal crossing of a state border and contacted the Serbian authorities for joint action and the enforcement of the readmission agreement.

A total of about 100 migrants from Africa, Asia and Kosovo have been tracked in the past month in Timis County, while attempting to illegally enter Romania from Serbia.

agerpres.
DANVILLE, Calif., Oct. 09, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dental disease can affect other areas of a pets health and become a significant source of discomfort for a beloved pet, reports Tassajara Veterinary Clinic. This veterinary practice offers responsible pet owners a 15 percent discount on initial teeth cleaning when a pet is diagnosed with a dental disease for the first time. This discount is good for two months and saves pet owners $45 to $65 dollars, depending on the size of the dog or cat. Tassajara Veterinary Clinic supports the needs of their community and offers compassionate care and a range of veterinary services to local pets and their owners.



The most common dental problem veterinarians see is periodontal disease. This process starts with the buildup of plaque on the pets teeth. When teeth are not being brushed daily, the plaque will pick up minerals from the animals saliva and morph into tartar. Tartar must be scaled or scraped off, and then the teeth are polished to restore a normal smooth surface. Oftentimes pets wont give any indication that theyre suffering from oral pain, therefore regular dental exams are essential.



When teeth are covered with calculus and plaque, the pets immune system may react by creating inflammation of the gums. This inflammation leads to gingivitis and, eventually, periodontal disease. Loose teeth and infected gums allow abnormal bacteria to begin growing in the mouth. These bacteria and the toxins they produce are absorbed directly into the bloodstream every time the animal moves its mouth and tongue. Advanced periodontal disease may require the extraction of teeth.

After dental procedures and removal of teeth in cases of advanced periodontitis, pets use pain medicines and antibiotics during the early healing period. Often clients report that within just a few days their pets are playing, grooming and acting much more comfortable than they were before their procedure. Daily tooth brushing and homecare helps maintain the oral health of their pet.



Pet owners need to be aware of the importance of pet dental care and how to prevent gingivitis and periodontitis, said Dr. Elisa Dowd. We know pet owners want their pets to stay healthy. Our staff takes the extra steps to educate pet owners and offer advice and services to improve the oral health of a beloved pet.

Dr. Elisa Dowd, D.V.M., owner and veterinarian at Tassajara Veterinary Clinic, serves pets and owners in Danville and Black Hawk along with Dr. Jeff Johnson. Their staff offers high-quality, compassionate veterinary care at this full service animal clinic. Services include wellness exams, microchipping, pet dental care, chemotherapy cancer treatment, an in-house lab, and specialized care for puppies, kittens and senior pets.

Call (925) 736-8387 to learn about the pet dental services at Tassajara Veterinary Clinic or to schedule an appointment. Further details about the veterinary practice can be found by visiting http://tassajaravet.com/.

Tassajara Veterinary Clinic, (925) 736-8387
LAKE FOREST, Calif., Oct. 09, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Lake Forest Animal Clinic would like to make pet owners in the Orange County area aware of some special programs they are currently offering. They are especially designed to give back to the community and to increase the quality of life for pets.

Simply Spay and Neuter of OC was created by Lake Forest Animal Clinic to address the needs of pet owners looking for low cost spay and neuter services while maintaining the highest quality of pet healthcare possible. Surgical prices cover many facets of the spay and neuter procedure including a pre-surgical exam, IV fluids, anesthetic monitoring, thermal support, pain medication, and anesthetic recovery monitoring. Cat spaying for females is $100, and neutering for males is $60. Prices for dog spaying and neutering varies depending upon the size of the canine. Blood testing for pets is also highly recommended prior to undergoing surgery.

The Lake Forest Animal Clinic veterinarians recommend protecting your pet from a variety of diseases by adhering to a regular pet vaccination schedule in order to prevent the likelihood that they will become sick. They recognize that it can be challenging to budget all of your familys expenses while still looking out for your pets best interests; therefore they offer a weekly low cost pet vaccine clinic. If you are a current client with pets that have been previously seen at Lake Forest Animal Clinic, you may take advantage of their Express Vaccine Clinic service. See LFAC website for details.

Vaccine services are available Saturdays from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the clinic. Vaccines are provided on a first-come, first-served basis with no appointment necessary. Annual pet exams are also available at a reduced cost of $52; although exams are recommended, they are not required.

The dog vaccines offered include DHP for $10.00, which protects against distemper, parainfluenza and hepatitis. The Parvo vaccine is $10.00, which protects against a viral disease of the intestinal tract that can affect puppies. Dogs can also receive protection against kennel cough with a Bordetella vaccine for $17.00.

Low cost cat vaccines include FVRCP for $16.00, which protects against Feline Rhinotracheitis Virus, Panleukopenia and Calicivirus. The Feline Leukemia Virus vaccine is available for $24.00. Rabies vaccinations are also available for both dogs and cats for $14.00. A $4.00 hazardous waste fee for each pet vaccinated will be assessed and services under $60.00 must be paid in cash.

Melissa A. Byers, D.V.M., owner of Lake Forest Animal Clinic, says, We are committed to supporting pet owners in giving the best quality of care possible to their pets at reasonable prices.

Lake Forest Animal Clinic is located in Suite P at 24301 Muirlands Boulevard in Lake Forest, California. Those who have questions may call (949) 837-7660. Additional information is also available on their website at http://lakeforestanimalclinic.com/.
To understand why Americans pay twice as much for health care as people in other wealthy nations, imagine that youre shopping for a car.

Most of us know cars, and theres plenty of information on quality and price. Since youre paying for it, youll bargain for the best price you can get. If Ford wont give you a good deal, youll talk to Chevy.

Competition keeps quality up and costs under control. Thats free market economics. It doesnt work in health care.

Imagine you need surgery. If youre like most of us, you know little about medical quality measures, and you trust your doctor. So, a hospital with a so-so surgical record still draws patients  quality doesnt count much.

You probably have no idea what your surgery will cost  and good luck trying to find out. But once it exceeds the out-of-pocket limit on your insurance, you dont care. You wont walk over to Chevy for a cheaper price.

The result is a fun-house mirror reflection of free market economics. People dont understand what theyre buying, and insurance is paying most of the bill. So medical providers dont really have to compete on quality or price.

The things they do compete on  convenience, whiz-bang technology, heart-tugging TV ads  push prices up, not down.

Weve surrendered cost-control efforts to private health insurers, who have failed at it. None have enough clout to force real efficiency on medical providers. Instead, the insurers themselves milk the system and add flab.

To understand how things might be different, look at two figures: 2 percent versus 17 percent.

The first is original Medicares overhead costs. It spends 2 percent of the budget to run the program. The rest goes to medical bills.

Seventeen percent is the overhead for the typical private health insurance company. It includes profit, executive pay, marketing, negotiating with medical providers, and the bureaucracy that decides what medical bills get paid.

That doesnt count the cost of counter-bureaucracies set up by hospitals and doctors to deal with dozens of insurance companies and bill patients.

So, when you buy health insurance, youre financing flab.

Next, look at the miniscandal involving some kidney dialysis centers. Dialysis is covered by both Medicare and private insurance, but Medicare will pay $300 for a dialysis session, while a private insurer will pay up to $4,000. The difference is so huge that dialysis centers can pay their patients private health insurance premiums and still come out on top. At least one company is alleged to have done just that to keep its patients off Medicare.

Medicare, our government-funded insurance system for old people, pays 20 percent of all health bills. Its huge size lets it set the prices it will pay doctors, hospitals and other providers, something private insurers cant do. For instance, Medicare pays doctors about 80 percent of what private insurers pay, according to a CNN analysis. Doctors take it. They need the patients.

Lately Medicare has been using its financial clout to force hospitals to improve their quality of care. (Medicare is forbidden by law from negotiating drug prices.)

Medicare shows what an efficient medical finance system can look like. Other wealthy nations have it, or some variant of it, for everybody. Thats a big part of why they pay half what the U.S. spends on health care per person, while insuring everyone and getting medical results roughly equal to those in the United States. The U.S. leaves 9 percent of its people uninsured.

The Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, punted on cost control, putting only a 15 percent to 20 percent limit on private insurance overhead and no limits on the price of care. Instead, the law known as Obamacare extended insurance coverage to 16 million people. A plan for a government insurance option was rejected.

So, lets look at how things are done in a couple of other rich nations, Canada and Germany, as described last year by the London School of Economics and the Commonwealth Fund. Those nations pay 53 percent and 55 percent of what America pays per person for health care. Medical results are roughly similar to ours on things such as immunization rates, medical error rates, breast cancer and heart attack survival. Canadians and Germans see doctors twice as often as Americans, and the foreigners live longer.

During the Democratic debates, Sen. Bernie Sanders called for putting everybody on Medicare. Canada has done that. The Canadians have a single-payer system for hospital and doctor care. It covers all Canadians.

Taxes finance it, and patients rarely see a medical bill. (Canadians buy private insurance for drug, dental and vision care, which the government doesnt cover.)

The government bargains fee rates with doctors, sets budget for hospitals, and controls drug prices. Canadian pharmacies do a lively business mailing cheap drugs to Americans.

As the owner of the big checkbook, Canadian government calls the shots on cost, and it keeps costs low. Costs are so low that Canadian patients have to wait for nonemergency treatments  specialist appointments, cataract surgeries, hip replacements and the like. Waits run from under two weeks to begin radiation therapy, to as long as six months for a knee replacement.

In Canada, 18 percent of people wanting elective surgery wait at least four months. That was 7 percent in the U.S. Then again, Americans get big medical bills. Canadians dont.

Germany controls costs with no waiting. The Germans fund care mainly through an 8 percent payroll tax on wages up to about $58,000 a year. The money goes to giant sickness funds, which function like nonprofit insurance companies. The sickness funds get together as a group and negotiate fees with big associations representing doctors and hospitals. That gives the insurers clout.

Patients have small co-pays, about $11 or so for a first doctor visit. There are no significant waits for surgery.

Its clear that the American system of financing health care makes no sense at all. The solution from the right  and from corporate America  has been to push more costs on to patients. The average insurance deductible is now $1,478, up 49 percent in five years, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The theory is that we Americans will seek less care and shop for cheap services if we have to pay more for them. Hows that worked out for you?
My artist husband likes to say that if I were in charge of our spending, wed be sitting on milk crates instead of furniture and that if he were in charge, wed have no retirement accounts.

The fact that we have both nice furniture and retirement funds is a testament to compromise  and the wealth-building power of marriage.

Married people are significantly wealthier than single people in every age group, and the gap tends to widen as people approach retirement age. Married couples age 55 to 64 had a median net worth, excluding home equity, of $108,607 in 2011, the latest available Census Bureau figures show. By contrast, single men in the same age bracket were worth a median $14,226 and single women $11,481.

Income and education also contribute heavily to wealth  and to the likelihood that people will marry. But a 15-year study of 9,000 people found that even after controlling for those and other factors, marriage itself contributed to a 4 percent annual increase in net worth. The same study found that wealth typically began to drop four years before a divorce, which ultimately reduced peoples wealth by 77 percent.

Since marital status is so powerfully associated with financial status, people would be smart to view marriage as a business arrangement in addition to a romantic one. Taking a few pages from the business world has certainly made our 19-year marriage stronger as well as wealthier.

Heres what works for us:

Conduct due diligence

Before a merger of equals, companies can spend millions of dollars and countless hours scrutinizing each others financial details, performance and prospects. You dont need to hire a fleet of lawyers and accountants, but knowing what each person owns and owes before marriage can prevent unpleasant surprises later.

Create your own financial statements

You need two: a balance sheet showing your net worth as a couple  your assets minus your debts  and a cash flow statement, which shows your current incomes and expenses. Use these documents to judge your financial health, spot potential problems, such as spending more than you make, and track your wealth-building progress.

Draft your business plan

Successful businesses have to set priorities and decide where to concentrate their resources. So do couples, who have to figure out how to save for the future (with retirement, emergency and college funds, for example), pay off the past (mortgages, student loans, credit card debts) and live their lives in the present (paying the bills and having some fun). Youre likely to have more goals than money to achieve them, so youll need to decide together which are the most important and how to divvy up your income among them.

Appoint a chief financial officer

Chances are one of you is better at the day-to-day financial details, such as paying bills and monitoring financial accounts. Having one person take responsibility for these chores helps make sure they get done. The CFO also may be the person who researches large purchases, does the tax returns, shops for insurance and rebalances the investment accounts. The CFO does not, however, make financial decisions unilaterally. In the business world, the CFO is responsible to the board of directors. In a marriage, the partners are responsible to each other and should be making the big decisions together.

Commit to full disclosure

Publicly traded companies have to keep their shareholders informed with quarterly financial statements, audited annual reports and announcements of major events. Couples dont have to keep to a federally mandated schedule, but regular meetings to review the finances are a good idea. Disclosure is key if youre going to make sound financial decisions together. Unfortunately, a recent Harris poll for NerdWallet found that 1 in 5 Americans in a relationship with a partner whos saving for retirement have no idea how much their partner has saved.

A similar proportion of those saving for retirement havent disclosed the amounts to their partners. Thats bad enough, but whats worse than lack of disclosure is deliberate dishonesty. Hiding debts, concealing purchases and having secret accounts all undermine intimacy and trust. That doesnt mean you cant have separate accounts or no questions asked spending money to reduce conflict. But you shouldnt conceal or lie about your financial situation to avoid a fight. Thats a red flag that theres something you two should be discussing.

Liz Weston is a certified financial planner.
Updated at 10:50 p.m.

'A mess'

Throughout the night students congregated around the MSNBC and CNN stages alternately cheering on and heckling the on-air personalities.

But as the debate started, several hundred students descended on the Fox News stage where ice cream and fruit cups were handed out.

The majority of the crowd was pro-Hillary Clinton, with one student yelling out, "low-energy!" after Trump answered his first question of the night.

A smaller group of Trump supporters frequently cheered and clapped for their candidate, sometimes yelling out "crooked Hillary."

After the 90-minute debate, supporters of both candidates said nothing either Trump or Clinton said moved the needle.

Graduate student Katie McManus, a Trump supporter, said she was torn about her candidate's performance.

"I'm probably going to end up voting for Trump because I really don't like Hillary, but I'm not big in him either.

Junior, Liam Gibbs, a Clinton supporter, simply called the debate, "a mess."

--Koran Addo

Hundreds march

A large number of teens and children, even some kids in strollers, were among the marchers who started on Delmar Boulevard in the Loop on Sunday to head toward Washington University before the debate.

A few hundred activists rallied for human rights issues, including a minimum wage increase.

One mother  carrying a megaphone in one hand and her toddler's hand in the other  said she wanted her daughter to be a part of the march to understand why she fights so hard for a better quality of life and higher wages.

Several St. Louis and Kansas City fast-food workers were advocating that politicians raise minimum wage to $15.

"Candidates need to come get our vote, and today we are going to remind them of that," local McDonald's employee Bettie Douglas said.

Beside activists for reproductive rights, racial and gender equality, and environmental action were supporters of Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

Young activist Aaron Henschel, 14, said he had been a supporter of Bernie Sanders since the 7th grade but switched his support to Jill Stein, saying she is a "trustworthy candidate" who enveloped "remnants of the Bernie Sanders movement."

Quoting Ted Cruz, Aaron said he believed voters should vote their conscience.

--Ashley Lisenby

Student watch party

Hundreds of students filed into the Washington University student union building Sunday ahead of the presidential debate, staking out a seat for the campus' largest student watch party.

Out of the almost 15,000 students on campus, 352 landed a coveted ticket to get into the Athletic Complex to watch the debate.

The students were chosen at random from a pool of thousands who entered into a lottery system weeks ago.

Not getting into the debate didn't stop a few students from having a good time Sunday.

Juniors Katie Shapiro and Hayley Herzog grabbed a table early Sunday, and used the space to study while the student union filled up with media and onlookers.

"I wanted to be engaged somehow," Shapiro said. "I'm really proud of our campus, and glad I could be present for this."

She jokes that since the Division III school isn't big on sports, this is as close as it gets to an exciting game day.

"There usually aren't this many people out," Herzog said. "This feels historic."

--Ashley Jost

Anti-Trump women build jumpsuit wall

A group of 25 women wearing "brick" jumpsuits showed up at the designated protest area to show support for Hillary Clinton. Sewn onto each jumpsuit were words or phrases Trump has said about or to women, including "bimbo", "dog" and "slob."

The New York based Brick x Brick group organized the appearance, raising $11,000 through a crowd-funding site to get 200 jumpsuits made in sizes from 6 to 18 to be as inclusive to as many women as possible, said organizer Andrea Lauer. She wore a backpack filled with spare jumpsuits.

"Instead of being angry, we wanted to create a public demonstration, for people to see these words on us. I can't imagine this is someone who could be president of this country," Lauer said.

-- Doug Moore

Trump supporters sticking with him

Patricia Kruse of St. Louis was among a large group of Donald Trump supporters who marched into the Public Expression Zone chanting "Lock Her Up," a common mantra referring to Hillary Clinton. Several in the group wore T-shirts with a photo of Bill Clinton on it, with the word "RAPE" underneath.

Their chants of "Vote for Trump" were met with "Vote for Clinton'' from others. Without missing a beat, Kruse said: "Been there, done that."

When Kruse was asked about the recently discovered audio of Trump and the vulgar remarks he made regarding women, Kruse said she did not approve. But she said she believed it was no worse than what Democrats such as Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy had done.

"Trump is the only answer we've got right now," Kruse said. The country under Clinton would be more of President Barack Obama, meaning more "division and chaos," she said.

Ben Murphy, who supports Trump, is a scheduled speaker in the public expression area. Murphy, who works with the all-volunteer Trump campaign office in Fenton, said he was advised by his wife what to say regarding the Trump remarks from 11 years ago.

"She told me: 'Tell the people that it was from 'O5 when he was a Democrat. He's straightened up now.' "

-- Doug Moore

Many rules

Many rules in 'public expression zone'

Want to protest Sunday's debate in person?

A fenced-in ballfield at the southeast corner of Forsyth and Big Bend boulevards is the place to be for Sunday's debate.

Beginning before 4 p.m., protesters started arriving at the so-called "Public Expression Zone'' across Forsyth from the site of the presidential debate. The zone is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Three St. Louis County dump trucks, several concrete jersey barriers, fences and a phalanx of St. Louis County police block the intersection at Big Bend to prevent anyone from getting closer to the Washington University Athletic Complex. Protesters entering the area are being checked to keep everyone safe.

Many rules apply. Anyone planning to speak at the site must register. No amplification is allowed. Balloons can only be filled with air. Signs must be made from cloth, paper or flexible cardboard only. No weapons allowed of any kind, including no SuperSoaker water guns.

One disappointed protester who was carrying a baton was turned away. Police said there were no arrests associated with the debate.

-- Doug Moore

Democratic leaders rally

Missouri Democratic leaders helped launch a tour bus designed to help people talk with voters about presidential nominee Hillary Clintons policies and initiatives.

At a kick-off event Sunday at the Missouri History Museum, Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon, Democratic U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay and the Rev. Jesse Jackson talked about the need for a president who will champion the rights of women, people of color, children and workers. The Forward Together tour bus that debuted in St. Louis is one of two buses the other will begin in Ohio that will tour at least 20 states throughout October.

Are we ready to turn Missouri blue? Clay asked a crowd of a couple dozen people outside the museum.

Democratic leaders said the issues closest at heart are those on reproductive rights, racial and gender equality, college debt, tuition costs and labor issues. Speakers also used the moment to talk about their concern with the states voter ID amendment.

The most important thing the right to vote, Jackson said. We must demand free and open elections.

Clay and Jackson praised Nixons efforts to knock down the amendment that the Legislature managed to circumvent. Joan Lipkin, a St. Louis activist and writer, said she created a play called the "Dance the Vote" to address voters rights to engage people with the issue. She said Clinton is someone she most closely aligns herself with on issues of justice and equality.

[She] represents a continuation of progress in this country, Lipkin said.  Shes the whole package. Watching the rhetoric that Donald Trump has perpetuated against woman and girls is distressing... among other things.

-- Ashley Lisenby

Student group registers nearly 3,000 to vote

Free food and a student-led debate fair brought the Washington University community out en masse Sunday afternoon.

The "Meet a Muslim" booth allowed students and others credentialed to be on campus Sunday to learn about a different culture. Another student group promoted Black Lives Matters. But the largest booth was a group of volunteers registering students to vote.

This has been a push on campus for weeks while the so-called "Registration Squad" drops into student events and meetings helping students register, whether its here in Missouri or in their home state. The push is an initiative of the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement.

Cassie Klosterman, a voter engagement fellow with the institute, said Friday that theyve registered almost 3,000 students through TurboVote, an online platform that many universities use to register students.

The student debate fair wraps up in a few hours, and it might take that long for students to get through the long line for free Clementines ice cream.

-- Ashley Jost

The other debate

Forget Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. There was another big debate at Washington University Sunday.

The top economic advisers from each campaign hosted their own Sunday afternoon in Washington University's Steinberg Hall.

Unlike what some 80 million or more viewers will undoubtedly see when the candidates themselves square off Sunday evening at 8 p.m., there were minimal interruptions before a crowd of more than 100. But the discussion still got personal.

Peter Navarro, a University of California-Irvine business professor, spoke on behalf of Republican Donald Trump's campaign, and Gene Sperling, economic adviser for President Barack Obama and former president Bill Clinton, spoke on behalf of Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Mirroring a larger campaign strategy, Navarro outlined a series of problems  a limited GDP growth, for example  and laid blame on Clinton's leadership history and Sperling's involvement.

Similar to the national message, Sperling touted Clinton's experience as a positive, accusing Navarro and Trump of not being able to back up their ideas of raising gross domestic product with laden plans.

-- Ashley Jost

Looking for swag

Hundreds of Washington University students flocked to the major news network set-ups Sunday to pick up branded T-shirts, pins and other swag.

Others brandished signs of support for candidates or causes, waiting for their chance to make it in a live shot on CNN, Fox News or MSNBC as all eyes are on the campus host of Sunday night's presidential debate.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity," junior Josh Hollman said. He and a friend made the rounds, picking up news souvenirs. "I just hope the debate is not all ad hominem."

Hollman is one of many politically-active students at Washington University.

"No place for groping," one student's sign read, referring to comments made by Republican Donald Trump during 2005 that recently came to light.

Another student wearing a Trump campaign "Make American great again" hat also donned a sticker that said, "Hillary (Clinton) for prison."

Students showed unwavering support for presidential nominees Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, who will be on the debate stage, and others, including Libertarian Gary Johnson, who won't.

Senior Rachel Weiss said outside the Fox News stage Sunday she doesnt know who she will vote for yet, but Donald Trumps lewd comments revealed in Access Hollywood audio outtakes from 11 years ago dont dissuade her from giving him her vote.

Nothing is going to be perfect in this election, she said. There are other things I have to prioritize.

Weiss said while she thought his statements were deplorable and she wouldn't want a misogynist for president, she was more concerned about economic and foreign policies and the countrys relationship with Israel.

Another pair of students who held signs supporting Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson said they believed he stood for personal liberty and that they supported his efforts to focus on national issues. They condemned Clinton and Trump for policies they believed depended too heavily on big business.
MOUNT VERNON, Mo.  On Saturday morning, as Donald Trumps campaign for president showed signs of implosion, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., wanted an apology. An 11-year-old video showing Trump gloating about a sexual conquest was absolutely unacceptable. The nominee needed to show contrition in a way that people believe hes sorry.

But when asked if Trump should quit the race, Blunt couldnt see how.

I think thats an unrealistic solution, said Blunt. The devastation of Obamacare, the out-of-control regulators, the foreign policy [in which] our friends dont trust us, make a third Obama term an unacceptable alternative.

Asked if he would vote for Trump, Blunt wondered why that wasnt already clear.

Didnt I just say that? he said. We dont need to make this harder than it is. Weve got to change things.

All day Saturday, in the aftermath of the release of the video, Republicans scrambled for ways to denounce Trump.

Some simply condemned his comments. Some, such as Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.  like Blunt a freshman senator in a tough re-election bid  said they would write in the name of vice presidential nominee Mike Pence.

Others, such as Blunts leadership colleague Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., called on Trump to quit and let Pence become the nominee.

As Blunt said, that last, dreamy option looked neither legal nor possible. And as he campaigned through southwestern Missouri, an area he has represented in one office or another for 32 years, Blunt was confident that voters would separate him from Trump.

He also found conservative voters sticking with the presidential nominee who had narrowly won this states primary.

This started at Mount Vernons Apple Butter Makin Days parade, the 50th year of the food-and-crafts festival. In 2012, Mount Vernon and the rest of Lawrence County gave Mitt Romney 72.5 percent of the vote. That same year, the Republicans Senate candidate, Rep. Todd Akin, lost in a statewide landslide after suggesting that women could not get pregnant by rape unless the rape was legitimate. Akin won Lawrence County by 17 points.

Jason Kander, the Democratic secretary of state who is challenging Blunt, had no trouble attacking Trump. My mom asked me how we could have a president that she would have to mute the TV when shes with my son so he doesnt learn offensive words, he said in a statement. Families across the country are probably thinking the same thing today. Donald Trump is unfit to be president.

But as Blunts float wound through the town, its speakers playing the Toy Story theme song Youve Got a Friend in Me, no voter challenged him about Trump.

One, who would give her name only as Janice, said Trump had made the crude remark when he was still a Democrat.

Joe Patton, 70, said that every Trump-is-toast news item was disproven, in a hurry, by actual voters. I dont think people realize that everywhere he goes, 20,000 or 30,000 people show up, said Patton. People in line, theyve got suits, cutoffs, tattoos, Harley-Davidson stuff. Thats not the people they poll.

Blunt had never indulged in this theory of Trump. Like most Republicans on the ballot this year, he had preferred to rebuff questions about the nominee as if a reporter had just asked him something totally frivolous.

Its my view that I need to focus on what Im focused on and not spend my time every day responding to whatever hes talking about that day, Blunt said over the summer. I think he should talk about jobs and national security and stay focused on what I believe voters are concerned about.

In Mount Vernon, the churn of bad Trump news seemed far away, but familiar. Heather Schlabach, 52, said she had already decided to vote against Trump, and for Kander over Blunt. Donald Trump is the epitome of rape culture, she said. But she would be casting a protest vote for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate, not for Hillary Clinton.

Its a binary choice, explained Jay Ashcroft, the son of former attorney general John Ashcroft who is running for secretary of state. I can either vote for Hillary Clinton, who ought to be in the big house instead of the White House, or I can vote for Donald Trump.

Blunt finished the parade walk early and headed up the highway to a Republican Party office in Springfield. Inside, there was no evidence of a move against Trump. Trump lawn signs are still selling for $2. A trio of mannequin heads sported Make America Great Again hats, also on sale, in patriotic colors. One T-shirt read Itll be YUGE, and several advertised that the wearer was a deplorable, a reference to Hillary Clintons September speech denouncing some of Trumps voters.

Trump went missing when Blunt spoke. As a few dozen conservative activists listened, Blunt said that 2016 would be the year to elect a new governor, a new secretary of state, and a new attorney general. Ashcroft promised that a Republican governor  the partys candidate, Eric Greitens, is trailing in polls  could sign a right-to-work law and get Missouris economy humming.

Blunt quickly exited through a back door, the one not being watched by a Democratic tracker. After a few more speeches, Scott McGill, the leader of the districts Republican Assembly  a conservative group  mentioned the elephant in the room.

You hear people say, they cant agree with 50 percent of what Trump says, argued McGill. Well, you cant agree with 100 percent of what Hillary says.

Amen! said one activist.

We know today from WikiLeaks that she truly believes in open trade and no borders, said McGill.

No borders! said another activist.

Thats what were up against, said McGill. I am reminded of the great song from the movie Camelot. At the end of that show, King Arthur sings the song  that I will not sing  that every evening, from December to December, before you drift to sleep upon your cot, think back on all the tales that you remember of Camelot.

As Blunt headed to his next stop, a family day at Springfields fairgrounds, more Republican senators had called on Trump to quit. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., became the first member of Missouris congressional delegation to tell Trump to move aside for Pence. Conservative activists were not there, not yet. Ed Martin, who had been the late Phyllis Schlaflys right-hand man at her St. Louis-based Eagle Forum, said in an interview that the only people calling for Trump to quit had always opposed him.

Im glad he apologized, and Im glad hes been clear in his apology, Martin said. That tape has existed for a long time  theres a political overlay here, in terms of when it was released.

At the fairgrounds, Blunt moved briskly and ahead of schedule. On his way out, he greeted a couple who knew him by name and confessed not to pay much attention to politics.

Im a woman, and I dont think a woman should be president, said Yvonne Cline, 59.

Clines husband, James, was more concerned with Clintons unfitness to be president than anything Trump had said. Echoing a TV ad run frequently by the National Rifle Association, he said that Clinton wanted to grab my guns and that her Secret Service should be disarmed, to see how she liked it. Trump had said the same thing, and hed appreciated that.

Hes got a mouth that gets him into trouble, said James Cline. Its because hes a businessman. Hes not a politician.

Asked about the Republicans calling on Trump to quit, James Cline laughed, then paused for thought. I do like his running mate better, he said. He turned Indiana around. Maybe he could turn the country around.
mihir0710 wrote:

Hello Sir,



Please evaluate my profile and suggest points of improvement and my chances at the below listed schools



Name : Mihir Patel

Age : 28

Nationality : Indian

GMAT : 720 (Q49 V39 IR 6 AWA 5)

UGrad : BE in Instrumentation and Control with 71% (First Class with Distinction)

Work Ex : 6 Years (break up as below)



L&T CHIYODA Pvt. Ltd. (a division of Larsen and Toubro (L&T) Pvt. Ltd)

Sr. Engineer, Jan-2014  Mar-2015

Executive Engineer, Sep-2010  Dec-2013

With L&T being India's largest Engineering and Construction Company, L&T-Chiyoda (a JV between L&T and Chiyoda Corp, Japan) is L&Ts main center for engineering.

Report to AGM of the Department and responsible for engineering & design for Oil and Gas Projects.

- Selected as Management Trainee (MT) from the pool of 1000+ Graduate Campus recruits who joined L&T in 2010)

(MT Scheme of L&T is aimed at identifying potential managers / leaders evaluated on the basis of several key parameters such as Leadership qualities, Vision, Interpersonal communication and Creativity through a series of aptitude tests and interviews conducted by Company level VPs).

- Reduced man hour consumption on preparation of deliverables by 20% by developing standardized templates and implementing effective automation using excel VB Macros



DODSAL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION Pte. Ltd. (Dubai, UAE)

Executive Engineer, Mar-2015  Present

Dodsal Group is a leading EPC player in the Energy, Industrial and Infrastructure sectors with a strong track record of executed project in 22 countries the Middle East, Europe, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent and South-East Asia.

Report to Project Lead and responsible for engineering & design of Control Systems and interfacing with other department

- Led a team of two colleagues through all phase (conceptual design, procurement, detail design & Factory acceptance test) of a Safety System costing around $ 3Mn (approx. 0.5% of Project Cost).



Education

L D ENGINEERING COLLEGE, Gujarat, India

BE, Instrumentation and Control, 2010. Result: 71.02% First Class with Distinction.

- As a Department Placement Coordinator helped fellow students & juniors in improving their aptitude & communication skills by conducting mock placements & communication workshops.

- Member of Technical Festival Campaigning & Fund raising Team



Class X and XII : 88% & 82% respectively



Extra  Curricular

- Started & managed the first in-house e-magazine for I&C Dept. at L&T Chiyoda with a team of six fellow colleague

- Taught basic math to students of economically underprivileged group as a part of Teach India campaign by The Times of India during 2008-2009





Post MBA goals : Consulting in Energy (both renewable and Non-renewable) and Infra sector

Interested in : Business Analytics, General Management and Leadership

Target Schools :

1. Darden

2. Ross

3. Tepper

4. Tuck

5. Mendoza

6. Yale

Request to indicate chances for each school in terms of achievable, ambitious and safety option.



Thank you so much for reading and evaluating my profile.

Warm Regards

Mihir Patel

Dear Mihir,First of all, most excellent to hear from you!First of all, nice GMAT!! You have overall a very solid profile with good experience and even some strong leadership. I think your selection as management trainee in your first job is your strongest advantage.At the same time, you have some built in challenges to your profile -1. You are an Indian male candidate, so the applicant pool you are coming from is the toughest2. You are not an IIT/NIT grad.3. You have a soso GPANow none of these things are terrible, but taken together, to be honest it will make Top 10 schools a real challenge. So that means that your school list as it currently is, is too tough. My initial suggestion would be for you to expand your school list in the 10-30 range. Right now all of your schools ( with the exception of Mendoza) are very challenging. Which means to me that the school list needs adjustment to be strategically balanced.I hope this helps!!Feel free to drop us a line for a full on profile evaluation: http://admissionado.com/free-consultati ... n=mba_blog Best,Jon
The recent passage of the Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016 in the Senate raises a new question about the reliability of online reviews for travelers.

User-generated reviews on websites such as TripAdvisor.com and Yelp.com contain information from people who claim to have stayed at a hotel, dined at a restaurant or visited an attraction. About 9 in 10 travelers consult these reviews, but only half of them trust what they read, according to surveys.

You dont have to look far for the reasons.

Some businesses try to rig their online profiles by submitting flattering reviews of themselves, paying guests to write puff pieces about their stays or trying to muzzle those who are unhappy with the service they received. And some companies are known to place negative reviews about their competitors.

You might think youre always reading accurate reviews, says brand strategist Rachel Weingarten. But at times, youre pretty much going in blind.

The proposed law, which would prohibit companies from imposing penalties or fees against reviewers, would effectively offer these reviewers more freedom to express themselves online, particularly when they have had negative experiences.

The Senate bill needs to be reconciled in committee with the already passed House bill and signed by the president to become law.

The question is: Will the new law make the process any better?

The Consumer Review Fairness Act will essentially make it illegal for companies to prohibit their consumers from leaving honest, negative reviews or criticisms about their goods or services online, says Joe Sullivan, an attorney with the Atlanta law firm Taylor English. Sullivan consults with companies to determine how to respond to user-generated reviews.

It ensures that consumers have the freedom to tell the truth, says Eric Goldman, a professor at Santa Clara University School of Law, who testified in support of the law before the Senate Commerce Committee.

Online review sites also have supported the legislation. Laurent Crenshaw, Yelps director of public policy, says something needed to be done about the increasing number of gag clauses being slipped into contracts.

The most common example is a vacation home rental owner who stipulates in the fine print of a contract that he may keep a deposit if a guest leaves an unflattering review.

These clauses can have a chilling effect on consumers and businesses alike, Crenshaw says. People nationwide expect to have their legitimate speech protected.

Trying to silence a reviewer with tactics such as the gag clause is an unscrupulous way of preventing critical reviews from being published, says Adam Medros, a senior vice president of global product at TripAdvisor. The result is an incomplete and thus less reliable collection of information for reviewers, and an uneven playing field for that businesss competitors. Curtailing the freedom of expression of Americans is simply wrong.

But what constitutes freedom of expression?

It is a fairly common misconception that the First Amendment grants the public an unfettered right to voice an opinion, says Kathleen Kirby, a partner at the Washington law firm Wiley Rein, who has expertise in First Amendment issues.

In fact, she says, the First Amendment prohibits the government from dictating what citizens may say  but it does not prohibit private companies from trying to do so.

In other words, a business can still sue you over a negative review, even one thats true. The most common tactic would be whats called a strategic lawsuit against public participation, or SLAPP  essentially, a nuisance lawsuit designed to shut down a critic.

These lawsuits are often used by businesses to threaten and intimidate consumers to remove reviews and other content online, explains Michael Lai, a co-founder of SiteJabber.com, an online review site. Consumers, not wanting to be sued and often not having the resources to fight a costly lawsuit, will often back down and remove their online reviews  even if they know they are on the right side of the law  for fear of legal retribution.

The current bill would not halt that practice.

Questions remain about other aspects of consumer review sites. I have interviewed dozens of travelers who write online reviews, and virtually all of them reported a positive experience. Their write-ups were published promptly and are still online months and even years later.

But not all of them. Danielle Rollins, a bookkeeper from Dallas, recently complained that her one-star hotel review on a popular travel site had been held in purgatory while another five-star review published instantly. The one-star review posted  eventually, she says. Although its unusual, others have reported that their reviews  negative or positive  never went live.

Rollins experience, and those of others like her, continue to raise suspicions about the reliability of online review sites. And it leaves you wondering if travelers need to be protected from more than just vindictive hotels, restaurants and vacation rental owners.
SAN FRANCISCO  Theres a quirky twist on tourism emerging amid the Silicon Valley whirlwind of innovation that has tethered everyone to their smartphones.

Those omnipresent devices are being used to track down technological touchstones scattered around the San Francisco Bay area so selfies can be taken, videos can be recorded and the experience can be celebrated in a Facebook post, Snapchat or tweet.

Heres a tourists guide to nerd nirvana for those more interested in seeing the suburban home where The Woz built the first Apple computer alongside Steve Jobs than the spooky prison in the Bay where the Birdman of Alcatraz once served time alongside Machine Gun Kelly.

Growing up

in a garage

Silicon Valley startups have a history of humble beginnings, dating to 1939 when Hewlett-Packard Co. was founded in a Palo Alto, Calif., garage. It still stands at 367 Addison Avenue, considered by many to be the birthplace of Silicon Valley. HP now owns the place.

Jobs was one of many entrepreneurs influenced by the HP legacy as a teenager, eventually inspiring him and his engineering friend, Steve The Woz Wozniak, to begin working on Apples first computer in the home of Jobs parents. That ranch-style house at 2066 Crist Drive in Los Altos, California, is now owned by Jobs sister, Patricia.

After they started Google in 1998, co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin built what would become the worlds dominant search engine in a garage and room they rented from Susan Wojcicki, whom they later hired (she now runs YouTube for them). The Menlo Park, Calif., house, at 232 Santa Margarita Avenue, is now owned by Google.

Shortly after starting Facebook in his Harvard dorm room in 2004, Mark Zuckerberg and a few friends moved to Silicon Valley for what they thought would be just one summer. Zuckerberg never returned to Harvard, and the world hasnt been quite the same since then.

The Palo Alto, Calif., house where Zuckerberg did a lot of computer coding and threw some wild parties, if you believe the movies, is located at 819 La Jennifer Way. The place is still rented out by young entrepreneurs hoping some of Zuckerbergs magic will rub off on them.

Todays technology temples

The headquarters of Apple, Google and Facebook have turned into must-see shrines to products that have become part of cultures lifeblood.

None of the companies offers public tours, but that doesnt mean you cant steal glimpses at these factories of innovation.

Search starts here

Google is the most accessible of the three headquarters. The hub of its Mountain View, Calif., campus is at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, with other Google offices sprawling almost all the way down to the nearby NASA Ames Research Center, where Page and Brin keep personal jets in a hangar.

Walk down Charleston Road and you are bound to see one of the companys employees (also known as Googlers) cruising on yellow, green, blue and red bikes placed outside all the offices to get to meetings more quickly.

While strolling around, make sure to swing into the office at 1981 Landings Drive, where you can take a selfie with Android statues memorializing different versions of the operating system that powers most of the worlds smartphones.

Each statue represents a dessert because Google has nicknamed each version after something sweet. The menu includes Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KitKat, Lollipop and Marshmallow. The latest serving of Android, called Nougat, has just started rolling out.

Finally, in the Google store on the main campus, you can buy company-branded merchandise, including shirts, hats, mugs, pens and even notebooks (the kind with paper).

A place everyone likes

The giant thumbs-up sign replicating Facebooks symbol for liking a post has become one of the most photographed spots in Silicon Valley since the social networking company moved its headquarters from Palo Alto to 1 Hacker Way in nearby Menlo Park five years ago.

Unless you happen to be in a plane or have a camera-equipped drone, you wont be able to see whats on top of another Facebook building across the street (an underground tunnel connects the offices). That building, designed by famed architect Frank Gehry, features a 9-acre park atop the roof.

One more thing

Apple, founded in 1976, has had a fiercely loyal following for decades, so its Cupertino, Calif., headquarters has long drawn tourists looking to get a picture of its famous logo and the 1 Infinite Loop sign denoting its address.

There is, of course, an Apple store at the headquarters, where people can buy company-branded merchandise not sold in most of its other stores. But you cant get help fixing your iPhone, iPad or Mac here. Youll have to go to another store for an appointment at the Genius Bar that serves as Apples customer-help desk.

The current headquarters will be overshadowed next year when Apple plans to open a nearby 2.8 million-square-foot, circular office that has been likened to a huge spaceship sitting on a 176-acre site. Known as Campus 2, the new building is designed to accommodate about 12,000 workers. Before Jobs died in 2011, he stipulated that the campus should be surrounded by about 7,000 trees.

What about the house on TV?

The HBO comedy Silicon Valley has won many accolades over three seasons, so fans may want to see the house that serves as headquarters for the fictional startup, Pied Piper.
CHICAGO, Oct. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC congratulates Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich on being named Cardinal by Pope Francis. The Pope will formally elevate Cupich at a Vatican ceremony on November 19.

"We are delighted Pope Francis has recognized Archbishop Cupich's invaluable contributions and leadership. He is a dear partner of AJC and Chicago's Jewish community," said David Inlander, National Chair of AJC's Interreligious Affairs Commission.

Inlander, who represented the Jewish community at Archbishop Cupich's interfaith installation service, meets regularly with the Archbishop. "Cupich, following on the traditions of his predecessors, has worked energetically to strengthen Catholic-Jewish relations, reinforcing in the diocese the teachings of Nostra Aetate, and assertively combatting anti-Semitism," he said.

"We sometimes get naive and think that the effort of education, and speaking against anti-Semitism, is kind of a done deal, and it isn't," Cupich said at the annual Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Jerusalem Lecture, co-sponsored by AJC Chicago. "As we look at the landscape of the world today, we see that there are large numbers of people who have not embraced the changes in Church doctrine and continue to embrace the old narrative [vis a vis Jews]."

Cupich was appointed Archbishop of Chicago in 2014, after serving as bishop in Spokane, Washington, and previously in Rapid City, South Dakota. He will continue to serve as Chicago Archbishop after his elevation to Cardinal.

"We look forward to continuing our productive, cooperative, partnership with the Chicago Diocese and Archbishop Cupich in advancing Catholic-Jewish understanding," said Inlander.

AJC, the global Jewish advocacy organization, has long been a pioneer in Catholic-Jewish relations in the United States and globally. AJC Chicago leaders joined the AJC Board of Governors delegation meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2014.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ajc-congratulates-archbishop-cupich-on-elevation-to-cardinal-300341616.html

SOURCE American Jewish Committee
KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwaiti security forces have detained a suspected Islamist militant who rammed a truck believed to be carrying explosives into a car carrying five Americans, state news agency KUNA reported on Saturday.

The agency quoted an interior ministry statement as saying the Americans were unhurt, but the assailant, identified as Egyptian national Ibrahim Suleiman, was injured and was taken to a hospital under security escort.

"After an initial investigation of the suspect Suleiman, who was born in 1988, by specialized security apparatus, a hand-written note was found indicating that he had adopted the terrorist Daesh ideology and pledged allegiance to this organization," KUNA said, referring to Islamic State.

The agency published a photo of a bearded man. It said a belt and materials believed to be explosives were also found in the vehicle, "suggesting he was plotting a terrorist act".

It was the second time in three months that Western-allied Kuwait had announced it had captured suspected militants.

In July, the OPEC oil exporter and home to U.S. military bases said it had foiled three planned Islamic State attacks on the country, including a plot to blow up a Shi'ite mosque.

Kuwait suffered its deadliest militant attack in decades in June last year when a Saudi suicide bomber blew himself up inside a packed Shi'ite mosque, killing 27 people. Islamic State claimed responsibility.

A U.S. ally and neighbor of Saudi Arabia and Iraq, Kuwait is part of a 34-nation alliance announced by Riyadh in December aimed at countering Islamic State and al Qaeda in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Afghanistan.

(Reporting by Sami Aboudi; editing by Andrew Roche)
Satellite dishes damaged by Islamic State militants are pictured inside a mosque in Turkman Bareh village, after rebel fighters advanced in the area, in northern Aleppo Governorate, Syria, October 7, 2016. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

By John Davison

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Russia vetoed a French-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution on Saturday that would have demanded an immediate end to air strikes and military flights over Syria's Aleppo city and called for a truce and humanitarian aid access throughout Syria.

Meanwhile, a rival Russian-drafted resolution that aimed to revive a failed Sept. 9 U.S. and Russia ceasefire deal on Syria did not garner the minimum nine votes.

Fighting continued in the almost six-year conflict with Syrian government forces recapturing territory from insurgents in several western areas.

President Bashar al-Assad's forces, backed by Russian air power and Iranian, Lebanese and Iraqi fighters on the ground, hold the upper hand around the key battleground of Aleppo, whose opposition-held eastern sector has been encircled for all but a short period since July.

The government side's bombardment of Aleppo since a ceasefire brokered by Washington and Moscow in September collapsed after a week has drawn condemnation from the United Nations and countries supporting the Syrian opposition.

France, which opposes Assad, demanded in its draft resolution an end to air strikes and military flights over Aleppo city. Russia has backed Assad with a year-long air campaign against the rebels.

French President Francois Hollande on Saturday had urged United Nations Security Council members not to use their veto against a resolution that calls for an end to bombardments of Aleppo.

Russia's draft, which does not include that demand, urges Moscow and Washington to revive the ceasefire deal.

Syrian opposition negotiator Asaad al-Zoubi said on his Twitter account that its High Negotiations Committee would not accept any new ceasefire deal without guaranteed monitoring of it by European and Arab countries.

Rebels also suffered setbacks further northeast near the Turkish border on Saturday, in fighting against Islamic State militants, British-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

Syrian government forces and their allies, backed by air raids, took over an area on Aleppo's northern outskirts on Saturday, state media and the Observatory said.

The advance in the Awaija area strengthened their hold on areas surrounding rebel-held east Aleppo, the Observatory said.

Rebel official Zakaria Malahifji of the Aleppo-based Fastaqim faction denied there had been a government advance there.

But he did confirm government advances further south in Hama province, reported by pro-Damascus media and the Observatory.

The Syrian army and its allies recaptured several towns and villages from rebels in Hama's northern countryside, reversing recent insurgent gains in the area.

Rebels had seized towns and villages north of Hama city after launching an offensive at the end of August in rare advances while insurgent factions were pressed elsewhere.

The government's Hama advances were their first in the area since then, the Observatory said.

It said the government side had taken advantage of recent infighting between two Islamist insurgent groups in the countryside of Idlib, north of Hama's provincial boundary.

In a separate government advance against insurgents near Damascus, the Syrian army and allied forces seized a large portion of the town of al-Hameh to the northwest of the Syrian capital, the Observatory said.

ISLAMIC STATE ADVANCES

Russia's air power has been crucial for strengthening Assad's position in the past year, pounding rebels including foreign-backed factions.

Washington accuses Moscow and Damascus of war crimes for intentionally targeting civilians, aid deliveries and hospitals which have been hit particularly around Aleppo in recent weeks.

Moscow and Damascus say they are targeting terrorist groups.

The ceasefire deal brokered by Washington and Moscow in September was meant to pave the way for joint U.S.-Russian targeting of extremists including al Qaeda and Islamic State.

All sides in the multi-sided Syria conflict, now in its sixth year, are fighting a number of separate battles against IS.

Members of the jihadist group recaptured several villages from foreign-backed rebels in their counter attack near the Turkish border, the Observatory said.

The rebels, whom Turkey has supported with tanks and air strikes, had been pushing toward the IS stronghold of Dabiq, a village of symbolic importance to the militants.

The stiff resistance the insurgents have encountered in recent days shows the challenge they face in capturing Dabiq and flushing the jihadist group out of more areas it controls in northern Syria.

(Reporting by John Davison; additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations and Daren Butler in Istanbul; editing by John Stonestreet and Bernard Orr)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two U.S. servicemembers were injured by a roadside improvised explosive device in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday morning, a U.S. defense official said.

The troops were conducting "a normal security patrol" near Jalalabad Airfield in Nangarhar province when their vehicle hit the bomb, the official said.

They were taken to Jalalabad Airfield for treatment. There was no word on their condition.

(Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati; Editing by Toni Reinhold)
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, ARMENPRESS. Newly appointed Minister of Culture of Armenia Armen Amiryan attaches importance on strengthening the culture of visiting bookstores and calls the representatives of the sector to make proposals, as well as a business model for it.

Amiryan visited Grapunj bookstore in Yerevan, which has been established by Hrant Dink and his brothers several years ago and it is Oxford University Press representative in Yerevan, reports Armenpress.

Dinks relative, painter animator Vrej Kasuni presented the Minister and Deputy Minister Nerses Ter-Vardanyan the possible projects which will attract people to visit bookstores.

Armen Amiryan asked to present a business model. Lets see how it is closer to our impression on keeping closer a citizen to a book. You must decide how it can be done. Please, calculate what is needed for it: ties, opportunities, support, tax privilege, money, help, loan for small business development We will discuss together what the Ministry can do for it. Maybe we will find a person who will help you, or an organization which will support you. We will organize a fundraising in order to implement our plan, Amiryan said.
I am no expert. But Glenn Pettit has a gut instinct about books. Knowledge accumulated from being a book lover all my life I suppose.

He can sniff out a good book and certainly a valuable one. Valuable as in rarity.

Hes worked at many book fairs. And if I spot a volume I havent seen before, it makes me wonder.

Like the classic 1969 publication of Mr Explorer Douglas which recounts the South Island exploits of a great early European explorer of New Zealand, Charlie Douglas.

Its in good nick. It will be a good buy.

A good buy because on the internet some dealers are asking for more than $80 for a copy of the same book. But at the Tauranga harbour City Lions Book Fair on November 11 they will strike what they call a reasonable compromise.

Not top dollar, go low and adjust it down a bit, says Glenn. So about $20 or $25. A nice little find. We will have a good collectibles table at the fair.

Glenn is a retired newspaperman. You decide what you want to call me. A wordsmith then, someone who loves the written word. Hes collected books all his life, passionate about books, New Zealand history, military history and history generally. How many books? God knows. Too many.

And here he is today at book fair central, 168 Devonport Rd, opposite the AA, ferreting through everybody elses books, masses of them, all non-fiction. Im looking for the special one, the one that may be more valuable than the others.

But he still needs more books to ferret through. The Lions are still accepting contributions at Payless Plastics in Cameron Rd, Liquor King in Brookfield and Livings Quarters at Bethlehem Town Centre.

Then Glenn strikes pay dirt. These will be the prizes at this particular fair. Three tomes hailed as one of the most significant cultural projects of 19th Century Australia.

They are the Picturesque Atlas of Australasia published in 1886.

Brilliant, says a delighted Glenn. The engravings are absolutely magnificent. Apparently they were some of the finest engravings to be found anywhere in the world at that particular time. And all 1100 of them.

Thats because writers, artists, academics and politicians came together to prepare a book of what they deemed to be unprecedented grandeur and ambition.

They are certainly beautiful things. Substantial books, gilt titles front and spine and leather-bound corners and spine. You would need a big bookcase.

And the market will decide the value of the three books. There will be a tender process. Make an offer and as long as we get a reasonable offer, they will go. But as a set of three and maybe $100 for each volume.

Then again they are as valuable as the sum someone is prepared to pay. It may be a lot more.

And there are duplicates of two volumes  not quite in the same condition. But also a good find, says Glenn.

Further down the trestles there are dozens, hundreds rather, of other bargains. Patricia Cornwell for $3  which would pull $35 in the bookshop.

Martina Cole $3, which would be $40 in the shop. Lee Child, almost brand new for $4, usually commands $35 on the label. Bargains to be had, good cheap reads to be had and substantial money raised for Tauranga charities.

Still, the Tauranga Harbour City Lions need more books. The fair went off last year. The place was crammed, says Lion Christine Currie. Crammed also meant a very lucrative fundraiser.

But still the Lions are wanting more books for this years sale, many more.

The Tauranga Harbour City Lions annual book fair is on at 168 Devonport Rd on Friday, November 11. Friday night its open between 5pm and 9pm and on Saturday, November 12 and Sunday, November 13 from 8am-5pm.
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MEXICO, N.Y. -- A former town justice has pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter charges after causing a crash in Oswego County that left one man dead, according to reports.

Douglas B. Horton

Douglas B. Horton, 52, of Mexico, is facing two to six years in state prison after pleading guilty Oct. 5 to first-degree vehicular manslaughter, a felony, according to Oswego County News Now. He pleaded guilty this past Wednesday, the news site reported.

On March 26, Horton drove his 2016 Dodge pickup off the road, causing it to flip over multiple times, according to the Oswego County Sheriff's Office.

He and his three passengers had been out at 7:15 p.m. near 115 Rowe Rd. when the crash happened.

The accident injured three people in the car and left one, Michael Fredette, 51, of Oswego, dead, deputies said.

Deputies determined Horton had been driving while intoxicated.

Horton served as Mexico's town court justice from 2008 to 2012 before being admonished by the state Commission on Judicial Conduct. The admonishment came after Horton was accused of pushing his girlfriend into a wall in 2010 at a Mexico Fire Department banquet.

Horton will be sentenced in January 2017.

Reporter Kira Maddox covers crime for syracuse.com. She can be reached anytime: Email | Facebook | Twitter
ITHACA, N.Y. -- A man the Ithaca Police Department had been searching for in connection with a stabbing near Cornell University in late September has turned himself in, according to police.

Khlaliq Gale

Khaliq Gale, 21, of Ithaca, showed up to the Ithaca Police Department with an attorney Friday morning, police said.

He was charged with second-degree assault, a felony, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor. An order of protection was also filed against him.

At about 7:41 p.m. Sept. 28, police responded to a report of a stabbing near the 400 block of Stewart Avenue, police said. They found one victim with a stab wound.

Gale and another man had gotten into a dispute with two others, ending with Gale stabbing the victim with a knife, police said.

The man Gale was with allegedly flashed a handgun during the fight, but police have not released any information about that person.

The Ithaca Voice reported that the incident happened after the victim saw Gale and the other man stealing from his vehicle.

Gale was arraigned in the Ithaca City Court and remanded to Tompkins County Jail on $1,000 cash bail or $2,000 bond.

He is currently no longer in custody, according to VINE.

Reporter Kira Maddox covers crime for syracuse.com. She can be reached anytime: Email | Facebook | Twitter
Each week, David and Leah Valvo of Wineforecaster sample Finger Lakes wines here. This week, they explain the difference between a sauterne and a Sauternes. Here's a hint: One goes for about $200 a bottle, the other for about $10. The Finger Lakes sauterne is from Pleasant Valley Wine Co. (popularly called the Great Western Winery) on the southern end of Keuka Lake.

Pleasant Valley Wine Co.

>> Winery website

>> Directions to the winery

>> On a wine tour? 5 best Finger Lakes wineries to visit on Keuka Lake

>> Keuka Lake Wine Trail website

>> See more Wineforecaster reviews on NYUP.com and wineforecaster.com.

Contact us

>> Have wine questions for Wineforecaster.com? Want to suggest a Finger Lakes wine for review? Drop us a note at features@syracuse.com. Follow news on Upstate New York beer and wine on Twitter.
The great Patsy's Feud of 2013 has been reignited: local pizza chain Patsy's Pizzeria is now accusing Patsy's Italian Restaurant on 57th Street of copyright infringement for using the name "Patsy's of New York."

Patsy's Pizzeria is now claiming that the U.S. Trademark Office blocked its application to register the name "Patsy's Pizzeria" because of confusion with the Midtown restaurant's "Patsy's Of New York" trademark according to the Post. A representative for the pizzeria told the Post that they need to register the trademark in order to make it easy for franchisees to enter newer markets. Paul Grandinetti, the attorney for Patsy's Pizzeria is alleging that Patsy's Italian Restaurant is "blocking our guy's application at the trademark office."

Norman Zivin, attorney for the Midtown Patsy's, told the Post that any trademarking issues the pizzeria has are "of their own making."

"They've raised this same issue over and over again, and have been shot down every time," Zivin said.

During the previous installment of the Patsy's v. Patsy's saga, the 80-plus-year-old Patsy's Pizzeria was trying to cut down on all the alleged copycat Patsy's popping up around the city. In 2013, they sued Patsy's Italian Restaurant (which does not serve pizza and was once one of Frank Sinatra's hangouts) over a Twitter handle. It looks like the fight isn't over yet.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- As it is getting closer to Halloween, if you want to get spooky, you cannot miss the annual Fright Nights at the Fair including four haunted houses full of made-up actors ready to scare people.

Now in its 11st season, Fright Nights this year features a new haunted house called Zombie Paintball Hunt, where you escape the room with your own "weapons".

Fright Nights owner Grazi Zazzara said: "As you go further into the trip, the zombies are alive, the only way to get rid of the zombies is, you get to shoot them. Don't let them bite you, if they bite you, you become one of them."

Looking forward to terrifying more people, George, a first-time actor playing as a clown said, "Personally I have a lot of fun just chasing people around. I got good reactions from all ages. They all seem to be just in the Halloween."

Fright Nights at fair is open from 7 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays, and Sunday 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. It runs through Oct. 30 at the Beef cattle barn inside New York State Fairgrounds.
1. Fill in your name or an alias. Do not leave blank or use the name 'guest' or 'anonymous'.

2. No Nivul Peh. Profanity will be deleted.
the SGJ7 Prime appears to be the Korean Giant's answer to the metal-clad midrange Android smartphones with more than decent specs by Chinese manufacturers

there are at least three departments where Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime can be deemed superior compared to the Samsung Galaxy J7 2016

Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime and Samsung Galaxy J7 2016, respectively.

I would to give credit to Mr. Zaryab Khan of ZEE TECH CARE for all photos in this post.

I'm not sure if you'll agree with me when I say that J7 Prime looks more attractive than J7 2016

Another area where J7 Prime is superior to the J7 2016 that's out locally is that the former has more RAM

Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime has 3GB of RAM compared to the 2GB of the SGJ7 2016

Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 lacked this useful sensor for quickly unlocking the device with but a touch of a finger. That said, I'm sure Pinoy mobile consumers would be glad to know that the new Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime already has this

Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime has features that appear to be 'upgraded with compromise' when placed vis-a-vis the Samsung Galaxy J7 2016.

Yes, overall, I believe Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime is better than Samsung Galaxy J7 2016. Although, my 'yes' would have been louder and more resounding if the Korean Giant had given the fresh model a SuperAMOLED display and front-facing soft LED flash.

The newwill be officially launched in the Philippines on Monday, October 10, 2016.If you're a big Samsung fan, you might be wondering:(For those who are hearing about this model for the first time, as I've shared in an earlier TP Post,that are now selling well in emerging markets including the Philippines.)Going straight to the point of this entry,There's an old saying that goes,-- so. However, I've shown these photos to a few friends and they all said that it's true.Whereas J7 2016 has a polycarbonate back plate and metallic rim, Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime comes with a full metal shell (with plastic ends to improve reception), which I think makes it looks more elegant and luxurious. Not to mention, this newer release is lighter weighing in at only 167 grams vs. the 170 grams heft of the older one. So there; That's one thing.. (Note, however, that there's a 3GB version of the Samsung Galaxy J7 2016, which was not officially launched in the Philippines.) Having more RAM can help a smartphone deliver a smoother multitasking with less lags and stuttering.Many midrange smartphones by international manufacturers that hit the Philippine market this year already featured a Fingerprint Scanner. Odd enough, however,For all of its highlights, however,Most notable of which is the 5.5-inch Full HD TFT display panel, which saw an increase in resolution along with a downgrade in screen type. Note that SGJ72016 has a 5.5-inch HD SuperAMOLED display, which is known for industry-leading brilliance and energy efficiency.A similar compromise was made on SGJ7Prime's upgraded 8 MegaPixel f/1.9 front facing camera for selfies, which now lacks a complementary front-facing Soft LED flash that comes in handy low to zero lighting conditions. Again, although SGJ72016 only had a 5 MP f/1.9 front cam, this snapper came with an LED flash for illumination in settings with little ambient light.Other than those features, the technical specifications of Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime and J7 2016 are largely the same, including the 13 MegaPixel f/1.9 main camera, Full HD video recorder, Dual SIM Dual Standby capability (2 x microSIM), LTE Cat4 support, non-removable 3,300 mAh Li-Ion battery pack, 64-bit Octa-Core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 and Mali-T830MP2 based Exynos 7870 processor, and 16GB of internal storage that's expandable via the dedicated microSD card slot.Now, to wrap this up, let me answer the question that I posted earlier:
Smallest. Transistor. Ever. For more than a decade, engineers have been eyeing the finish line in the race to shrink the size of components in integrated circuits. They knew that the laws of physics had set a 5-nanometer threshold on the size of transistor gates among conventional semiconductors, about one-quarter the size of high-end 20-nanometer-gate transistors now on the market. A research team led by faculty scientist Ali Javey at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has done just that by creating a transistor with a working 1-nanometer gate. Berkeley Lab

Boeing CEO vows to beat Musk to Mars Boeing Co. once helped the U.S. beat the Soviet Union in the race to the moon. Now the company intends to go toe-to-toe with newcomers such as billionaire Elon Musk in the next era of space exploration and commerce. Boeing Chief Executive Officer Dennis Muilenburg sketched out a Jetsons-like future at a conference Tuesday, envisioning a commercial space-travel market with dozens of destinations orbiting the Earth and hypersonic aircraft shuttling travelers between continents in two hours or less. Bloomberg

Sam Altman's manifest destiny One balmy May evening, thirty of Silicon Valley's top entrepreneurs gathered in a private room at the Berlinetta Lounge, in San Francisco. Paul Graham considered the founders of Instacart, DoorDash, Docker, and Stripe, in their hoodies and black jeans, and said, "This is Silicon Valley, right here." All the founders were graduates of Y Combinator, the startup "accelerator" that Graham co-founded: a three-month boot camp, run twice a year, in how to become a "unicorn" -- Valleyspeak for a billion-dollar company. The New Yorker

Comcast's 1TB data caps start to roll out nationwide Comcast's data restrictions are going from testing to reality for most of its customers. Its 'Xfinity Terabyte Internet Data Usage Plan' is already in place in a number of places, and will roll out to 18 new markets (including California, Michigan, Florida and others listed on its FAQ) beginning November 1st. For its part, the ISP claims 99 percent of customers use less than 1TB of data per month, and that median use is just 75GB. Engadget

Samsung knew a third replacement Note 7 caught fire on Tuesday and said nothing Another replacement Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has caught fire, bringing the total to three this week alone. This one was owned by Michael Klering of Nicholasville, Kentucky. He told WKYT that he woke up at 4AM to find his bedroom filled with smoke and his phone on fire. Later in the day, he went to the hospital with acute bronchitis caused by smoke inhalation. The Verge

Linus Torvalds admits 'buggy crap' made it into Linux 4.8 Linus Torvalds gave the world Linux 4.8 earlier this week, but now appears to wish he didn't after spotting some code he says can "kill the kernel." When Torvalds announced Linux 4.8 on Sunday he said the final version added "a few stragging fixes since rc8." But by Tuesday he was back on the Linux Kernel Mailing list apologizing for a bug fix gone bad. The Register

53% of DDoS attacks result in additional compromise DDoS attack volume has remained consistently high and these attacks cause real damage to organizations, according to Neustar. The global response also affirms the prevalent use of DDoS attacks to distract as "smokescreens" in concert with other malicious activities that result in additional compromise, such as viruses and ransomware. Help Net Security

A fascinating film about the last day of hot metal typesetting at the New York Times On July 2, 1978 the New York Times made a significant technological leap when they scuttled the last of 60 manually-operated linotype machines to usher in the era of digital and photographic typesetting. When working at 100% efficiency with an experienced operator the Linotype machines could produce 14 lines per minute cast on the spot from hot lead. That number would increase to 1,000 lines per minute the very next day using an array of computers and digital storage. This Is Colossal

Designing the Elusive Targets system in 2016's Hitman One of our mandates for the first season was to present Agent 47 as the apex predator, traveling the world, meeting interesting people, and killing them. Part of this mandate was a challenge to the design team: create a moment in time, "a snipe where your one shot matters" -- the purest possible experience of being the assassin. Another objective was to create an ongoing pulse of experiences throughout the first season of Hitman, with tense assassination missions at the heart of those experiences. Gamasutra

USA Freedom Act requires government to declassify any order to Yahoo In the wake of reports this week that the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC)ordered Yahoo to scan all of its users' email in 2015, there are many unanswered legal and technical questions about the mass surveillance. But before we can even begin to answer them, there is a more fundamental question: what does the court order say? EFF

It came from Redmond: Windows Server 2016 could rattle the competition A couple of decades ago, Microsoft was the kaiju of network computing. First came MS-DOS, and Windows soon followed. Each simply took over business desktops. Before Novell knew what hit it, Windows was then infused with the DNA of OS/2 and became Windows NT and in turn NT Server. Novell had dominated the early PC networking market, but by the end of the 1990s the company was a shadow of its former self. Ars Technica

The cost of forsaking C The C programming language is not trendy. The most recent edition of the canonical C text (the excitingly named The C Programming Language) was published in 1988; C is so unfashionable that the authors have neglected to update it in light of 30 years of progress in software engineering. Everyone "has been meaning to" learn Rust or Go or Clojure over a weekend, not C. There isn't even a cute C animal in C's non-logo on a C decal not stuck to your laptop. Medium

Tech giants race for edge in artificial intelligence Major technology firms are racing to infuse smartphones and other internet-linked devices with software smarts that help them think like people. The effort is seen as an evolution in computing that allows users to interact with machines in natural conversation style, telling devices to tend to tasks such as ordering goods, checking traffic, making restaurant reservations or searching for information. Phys.org (also, MIT AI lectures)

'Nano-machines' win European trio chemistry Nobel prize A European trio of chemists have won the Nobel prize in chemistry for developing "nano-machines", an advance that paved the way for the world's first smart materials. Sir Fraser Stoddart, from Scotland, Bernard Feringa, from the Netherlands, and Jean-Pierre Sauvage, from France, will share the 8m Swedish kronor (718,000) prize announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm today. The Guardian

Baltimore police took 1 million surveillance photos of city Baltimore Police on Friday released data showing that a surveillance plane secretly flew over the city roughly 100 times, taking more than 1 million snapshots of the streets below. Police held a news conference where they released logs tracking flights of the plane owned and operated by Persistent Surveillance Systems, which is promoting the aerial technology as a cutting-edge crime-fighting tool. ABC

We made a Doom level and got id designers to critique it I've played, and reviewed, a lot of first-person shooters. So when id Software announced SnapMap---an accessible map editor bundled with their superb Doom reboot -- I decided to try to apply that experience to creating my own level. Without having to worry about coding and all the other stuff actual game developers have to deal with, I'll be free to focus purely on the design. PC Gamer

What SMART stats tell us about hard drives What if a hard drive could tell you it was going to fail before it actually did? Is that possible? Each day Backblaze records the SMART stats that are reported by the 67,814 hard drives we have spinning in our Sacramento data center. SMART stands for Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology and is a monitoring system included in hard drives that reports on various attributes of the state of a given drive. Backblaze

Netflix CEO: Movie theaters are "strangling the movie business" It's no surprise that Netflix would disagree with the traditional release schedule movie theaters stick to -- premiering new movies in theaters and delaying their release to TV or on-demand services months later -- and today the company's CEO Reed Hastings took that a step further, saying theater chains are discouraging innovation in the industry. The Consumerist

We need to save the internet from the internet of things Brian Krebs is a popular reporter on the cybersecurity beat. He regularly exposes cybercriminals and their tactics, and consequently is regularly a target of their ire. Last month, he wrote about an online attack-for-hire service that resulted in the arrest of the two proprietors. In the aftermath, his site was taken down by a massive DDoS attack. Vice

Why AI makes it hard to prove that self-driving cars are safe Car manufacturers will have difficulty demonstrating just how safe self-driving vehicles are because of what's at the core of their smarts: machine learning. "You can't just assume this stuff is going to work," says Phillip Koopman, a computer scientist at Carnegie Mellon University who works in the automotive industry. Spectrum IEEE

Chip card lawsuit to move forward against Visa, Mastercard, others A federal judge has ruled it is plausible that four national credit-card companies improperly conspired "in lockstep" to set a deadline of Oct. 1, 2015 for requiring retailers to upgrade their technology to accept embedded chip cards for credit and debit card purchases. Computerworld
When Apple unveiled its new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus handsets last month, it pointed out the onboard camera's huge advancement in terms of image quality. Everything inside it was entirely new.

Both the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus sport a 12 MP shooter that's the same as last year's iPhone 6s, but Apple says the new iPhones do not have the same sensor as the previous models.

The iPhone 7 models feature a 28 millimeter lens and a redesigned camera system having a faster f/1.8 lens as compared to the f/2.2 on their predecessors. In laymen's terms, this change in aperture lets in about 50 percent more light, leading to better autofocus, shallower depth-of-field, and better image stability.

The camera also performs 60 percent faster with 30 percent more efficiency, which is helpful for battery life especially if you're using the phone as your daily driver.

Although the bigger iPhone 7 Plus features the same camera system as its smaller sibling, it comes with a second camera out-of-the-box. Called the "telephoto" lens, this f/2.8 with 56mm lens shooter lets you capture images with up to 2x optical zoom capability.

Up front, both phones are fitted with an improved 7MP FaceTime HD camera, 2 megapixels better than the iPhone 6S.

Other noteworthy photographic features of the iPhone 7 consist of a QuadLED TrueTone flash, optical image stabilization, image signal processor for faster shots, and 4K video recording.

Low Light Performance

While the iPhone 6s performed pretty well at taking images in low light, the iPhone 7 camera is notably better.

"Both cameras automatically trade off resolution for low light sensitivity when shooting stills in poor lighting," reported Apple Insider. This camera system creates trouble for both phones when there are bright light sources around the subject during nighttime.

However, overall results proclaim the iPhone 7 as the winner since it has more accurate colors, more detail, better contrast, and better lifelike depth and image quality.

Alternating between the 56mm telephoto and 28mm wide angle lenses generally make the subjects more flattering, especially with the 2x optical zoom that is really great for portraiture and low light surroundings.

What Others Think

Glenn Fleishman, a writer from Macworld, dove deeper into the iPhone 7 camera system and shared what he found out.

"The optical image stabilizer (OIS) built into the wide-angle lens provides an additional advantage, because reducing the motion of a camera allows a slower shutter speed without making an image blurry," he said.

"The 4mm lens with OIS in low light might be able to let in the equivalent of four times as much light as the 6.6mm lens," he added.

Professional photographer, Austin Mann, took note of a feature that wasn't discussed anywhere yet: time lapses.

"I've seen a huge improvement in time-lapse quality with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. In the past, the iPhone struggled to adjust exposure in dynamic lighting conditions (like a sunrise or sunset), and you'd often see dramatic flickering as the camera adjusted exposure over time."

Unlocked versions of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are now available starting at $649 for the 32 GB iPhone 7 and $769 for the 32 GB iPhone 7 Plus. Buyers can also avail of carrier-locked versions of the phones.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Google will be launching a pop-up at 96 Spring St. in New York City. The Mountain View company's upcoming physical location is expected to feature a bunch of new hardware that it has in the pipeline, including the Google Pixel line of mobile devices.

The pop-up will open its doors on Oct. 20, Thursday, which is the same day the Google Pixel and Pixel XL will be available on retailers' shelves. Moreover, with the Made by Google branding, the pop-up will go beyond just the mobile device.

Bear in mind that aside from the Pixel and Pixel XL, Google also introduced a handful of other products during an event held Tuesday, Oct. 4. The list includes the Daydream View virtual reality headset, the Google Home smart speaker that has a lot of similarities with Amazon Echo, the Chromecast Ultra, which supports 4K HDR streaming, and the Google Wifi, which can form a mesh of networks using multiple routers.

But it's not just the latest products. Their predecessors will also be featured in the pop-up. For instance, the Chromecast and Chromecast Audio. It is unknown whether other Google devices will find their way to the pop-up's shelves, as Google is yet to hint at other devices aside from the mentioned ones.

However, the Made by Google pop-up should not be expected to be a purchase point for the mentioned devices or any device from Google for that matter. Rather, the pop-up will open its doors to give consumers the "experience" and have them try out the company's product offerings.

Aside from the Spring Street location, Google has not specified any other venues. But granted that this one becomes successful, it may lead the Mountain View company to open Google experience centers in other key locations within the country.

Having such physical locations to host product demos and provide users the chance to try out its latest wares can play out well for Google and its future product releases.

More than any of Google's other recently introduced products, consumers are likely to line up for the Google Pixel smartphone and Pixel XL phablet. Aside from the awesome ad, both devices will come out of the box with Android 7.1 Nougat on board. They'll also sport the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 SoC, which Qualcomm claims will deliver 10 percent more performance over the Snapdragon 820. This should be plenty when coupled with 4 GB of RAM on the two devices.

And yes, they both come with fast charging and 3.5mm headphone jack. Below is Google's ad for the Pixel, which is branded as a "phone by Google."

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Tesla's set to ramp up production of its electric vehicles to hit the 500,000 mark by 2018, a tenfold increase from the 50,000 cars it assembled and delivered in 2015. Elon Musk, Tesla chief executive, is pushing to expand Tesla's factory in Fremont, California to accommodate production.

To put things in perspective, the company delivered 24,500 cars in the third quarter of the fiscal year, bringing a delivery total of more than 57,000 cars delivered before Q4. Tesla plans to ship 50,000 cars in the second half of 2016. If the goal is achieved, the total cars it will have shipped by the end of the fiscal year would sum up to more than 80,000. If Tesla is targeting 500,000 by 2018, the ambitious growth spurt would have to occur between 2017 and 2018.

Tesla's first preparation for this trajectory is a planned expansion of its California factory. According to the city planning documents published by the San Francisco Chronicle, Tesla plans to double the size of its factory by adding 4.6 million square feet on top of the factory's current size of 4.5 million square feet. The company is looking for possible extra spaces where the expansion can be erected, with the parking lot and the vacant lot beside the test track as two of the many probable options.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the plans Tesla submitted to city officials are scheduled to be discussed by the Fremont Planning Commission on Oct. 13. Once Tesla is given the go signal by the commission and the City Council, the company would follow up with permit applications for the specific planned expansions on the site.

A huge chunk of the targeted 500,000 cars will come from the forthcoming Tesla Model 3, expected to ship at the end of 2017. The Model 3 is a much more affordable Tesla variant out of all the models, marketed as an affordable entry point for potential electric vehicle adopters. The Model 3 was revealed in March this year, and has since garnered 400,000 reservations to date.

Elon Musk wants Tesla to be producing a million cars each year after 2020, a far cry from the paltry 50,000 it was able to assemble and deliver in 2015. To legitimize this massive target, Elon has remarked that it will eventually need to build new factories to pump up the numbers. The surge, while ambitious, might not be entirely impossible. Once the Fremont plans are given the green light, and if Tesla finishes the construction of its Gigafactory, the numbers might be within reach.

Tesla is seemingly having a hard time patching things up with Wall Street, as its stock continues to dip against expectations. But as a silver lining, Musk revealed that a total of 222 million miles have been recorded from autopilot travels. Part of the selling point of Tesla electric vehicles is the revolutionary autopilot feature, and this is one of the features the company must progressively improve if it wants to attract sales in order to justify Musk's goal of 1,000,000 cars each year after 2020.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Individuals clad in evil clown costumes  out to wreak havoc on unsuspecting pedestrians  are behind the Creepy Clown craze now sweeping across the United States and overseas, and trending on social media for sinister reasons.

These clowns aren't your average jesters, with a hilarious trick or two to amuse onlookers.

'Killer Clowns'

The bozos in question have been nicknamed "killer clowns" because they are often seen waiting outside schools, wielding a knife, threatening children and chasing them down the street  as though the clowns' evil grimace isn't enough to terrorize their young victims.

The bizarre trend has sparked panic in communities, especially among parents, but some are fighting back.

In a community near San Francisco, for instance, Tiffany Martin, mother of a 1-year-old girl, attacked one of these creepy clowns.

"I thought he was going to kiss her hand," Martin recounted. "Instead, he pulled her arm literally, so I pulled her arm back and I kicked him."

At Penn State University late one night, students trooped to campus by the hundreds to hunt down a killer clown that was reportedly seen lurking the premises.

Security Concerns Over Creepy Clowns

While some netizens may find humor in the macabre behavior of these creepy clowns, local law enforcement units in the U.S.  and other countries where the craze is spreading  are beginning to see the prank as a security concern.

Law enforcers have arrested about a dozen individuals for disorderly conduct, and have increased police visibility in their communities.

"The perpetrators probably think it's funny but it's not," said James Berlin, police chief of Roseville, Michigan. "It's terrifying people."

Berlin's unit on Thursday arrested two 18-year-old women who donned evil clown costumes and allegedly scared young teens in the neighborhood.

Creepy Clowns Spreading In Canada, UK And Australia

Up north, in Canada, the social media fad has spread and caused worry among professional clowns.

"People have to remember these are not clowns," shared Miles Leahy, a 62-year-old professional clown and second vice president of Clowns Canada. "These are people dressed up in a clown costume who enjoy the power of being able to terrorize people."

Across the Atlantic, creepy clowns are said to be on the loose. Over the past week, at least six creepy clown sightings were documented by Northumbria police in the UK. On Friday morning, a man who was wearing a clown mask and carrying a knife also followed 11- and 12-year-old children to school, The Guardian reported.

In Australia, three separate clown incidents have also been reported in the suburbs of Melbourne.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Maserati, a unit of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, could be the last luxury automaker to enter the electric vehicle space, but it will not be following the footsteps of any other car company.

In an interview with Car and Driver, Maserati engineering chief Roberto Fedeli revealed that the company is already working on its own electric car model, and then afterwards criticized the current batch of electric cars and the apparent leader of the industry, Tesla Motors.

According to Fedeli, who is the Italian engineering guru that masterminded the creation of some of the best modern vehicles of Ferrari, FCA boss Segio Marchionne has ordered him to release a Maserati electric vehicle as soon as possible. Fedeli thinks that the electric car could be unveiled in 2019, with a likely start of production in early 2020.

The Maserati electric vehicle, however, will be unlike the cars that other companies have currently released or are planning to launch by then. Only a low number of units of the electric vehicle will be made, which means that it will not be a direct competitor to the vehicles of Tesla Motors.

Also, by 2020, other luxury carmakers such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Volvo, Lexus and Jaguar would have released electric models.

"We will be last (with a production EV), and we have to arrive to the market with something different. Very different," Fedeli said, with Maserati to release a sleek grand touring coupe instead of a sedan or an SUV.

Fedeli went on to fire shots against Tesla Motors, claiming that it vehicles, while being made to the tune of 50,000 units per year, are not the best in the market, with the solutions that the company offers also being lackluster. He compared the quality and execution of the company's electric cars to those of the famed German automakers, but from back in the 1970s and not to where the companies are right now.

Fedeli added that the current electric vehicles are too heavy for drivers to enjoy being behind the wheel, with no emotion coming after the burst of acceleration for three seconds.

For the Maserati electric vehicle, one of the biggest hurdles is how to make it feel like a Maserati, as electric vehicles will not have the engine sound that Maserati cars are known for.

"The EV is something different and we have to [give] the car [Maserati character] without having one of our most important parameters," Fedeli said.

With Fedeli's statements, enthusiasts would likely be looking forward to what kind of electric car Maserati would come up with under his guidance. It might not be looking to challenge Tesla Motors like Henrik Fisker's new company, but it will likely be an automobile masterpiece nonetheless.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
This week, we witnessed the launch of iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, along with Google Pixel smartphones and other smartphones. We even came across the expected launch date of the much awaited Lenovo Phab 2 Pro that comes with Google Tango and uses AR and VR to sense and map surroundings.

Along with this, we also witnessed Motorola announcing a list of 15 smartphones that get Android Nougat update, and also, interestingly, a so-called safe Galaxy Note 7 unit caught on fire.

A lot happens in a week, and this week is no different. Like every week, this week too, we covered a lot that happened in the tech industry. However, we cannot compile everything in a single listicle, but we bring you 10 best stories that we have covered this week.

Airtel Offers The iPhone 7 And iPhone 7 Plus On A 12 Month Contract

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are launching in India today. As you may already know, the phone's starting price is Rs 60,000, whereas the top model will set you back for Rs 92,000. Now, that's a lot of money. For those who can't pay such a big sum upfront, Airtel has come up with a postpaid contract. Under this scheme, will have to pay Rs 19,990 as down payment and choose one of its Infinity billing plans for the iPhone 7 (32 GB). The minimum billing period is 12 months.

Read The Full Story Here

Lenovo Phab 2 Pro May Come Out In November

Lenovo finally seems to be all set to launch its new and much awaited smartphone, Phab 2 Pro in November, after the company silently postponed the release that was due in September. To refresh your brains, the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro was announced during the Lenovo Tech World event that was held in June this year, and the smartphone is the world's first smartphone that supports Google's 'Project Tango' and uses AR and VR to sense and map surroundings.

Read The Full Story Here

15 Motorola Smartphones Soon Get Android Nougat Update

Ever since Google launched Android 7.0 Nougat, many smartphone companies have been listing out their smartphones compatible with the update. And, its about time for Motorola to follow the same routine. The company, acquired by Lenovo, has announced a list of 15 smartphone that are expected to receive the Android 7.0 Nougat update pretty soon.

Read The Full Story Here

The "Safe" Galaxy Note 7 Unit Catches Fire On A Plane

The Galaxy Note 7's battery explosion issue is turning out to be a never-ending nightmare for Samsung. Just as the Korean company has been busy replacing the potentially affected devices with the "safe" ones, a Note 7 from the fresh batch has burst into flames in the US. The incident took place in the Southwest Airlines flight 994, where a Note 7 began emitting smoke in passenger Brian Green's trouser pocket. According to him, he dropped the handset on the plane's floor immediately.

Read The Full Story Here

WhatsApp Allows You To Draw, Write, And Edit On Pictures While Sharing

WhatsApp has recently introduced new camera features on its instant messaging app on Android platform. However, for iOS devices, the company has announced that the roll out may start soon. Under the new update, Android users can write and draw on photos and videos captured on the WhatsApp camera. Also, users can add in different emojis and make the captured pictures and videos more interesting than every before.

Read The Full Story Here

Android 7.1 Nougat Developer Preview To Be Out Soon

We have already witnessed that Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones by Google run on the all new Android 7.1 Nougat operating system, at the recently held 'MadeByGoogle' event. However, Google did not give any details regarding the roll out of Android 7.1 Nougat to other smartphones. But, it seems, now the Search Engine giant has confirmed that a developer preview of Android 7.1 Nougat would be available for Nexus devices and Pixel C.

Read The Full Story Here

Google Pixel Event: Complete Coverage

At its event in San Francisco, Google unveiled interesting hardware. For the first time, the search-giant introduced phones and other products completely designed by the in-house teams. Till now, most of its gadgets were made in collaboration with its hardware partners including Samsung, LG, Huawei, and Asus to name a few.

Read The Full Story Here

Google Maps Integrates With Calendar To Show Your Events On Map

Google has recently announced a new update for Google Maps for Android app and the update brings interconnection between Maps and Calendar. Basically, the update adds a new Upcoming Tab in the Maps app that gives all information regarding where the user has to go in order to attend the upcoming events. Adding further on the update features, you can find the new tab inside the Menu, in 'Your Places' section and the app will show all events that have been fed inside the Google Calendar app, either manually or via the email.

Read The Full Story Here

Nokia D1C Android Based Handset Renditions Leaked

For those waiting for Nokias return to the smartphone making business, need not wait too much longer. Among the recent renditions leaked on Geekbuzz, the mid-range handset, current called D1C, has been leaked with specifications and pictures. Amongst some of the common features in the handset, would be Qualcomm octa-core processor powering the handset clocked at 1.4GHz with Adreno 505 GPU and 3GB of RAM.

Read The Full Story Here

Moto Z And Moto Z Play Now Available In India

After all the recent reports surfacing online, Lenovo has finally launched two models in its Moto Z range (Moto Z and Moto Z Play) in India, with price starting from INR 24,999. Speaking about the technical specifications, the Moto Z comes with a 5.5 inch Quad HD AMOLED display while being powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor coupled with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. On the camera front, the smartphone comes with a 13 MP f1.8 rear camera and a 5 MP front facing camera. Along with this, the smartphone gets a fingerprint sensor and a 2,600 mAh battery.

Read The Full Story Here

Top 10 Stories
"Safe" Galaxy Note 7 Catches Fire, Owner Hospitalised | TechTree.com

Just a few days after the Southwest Airlines incident, another replacement Note 7, which has been marked "safe" by Samsung has set itself on fire. According to the report, Kentuchy resident, Michael Klering woke up at 4 am to find his room filled with smoke. The source of this fire was his recently replaced Note 7. If that wasn't enough to ruin his day, the poisonous smoke made him suffer with Bronchitis. He stated that I was vomiting black so it was very scary. Hospital records supported his claims.



When Michael contacted Samsung, they asked for the possession of his Note 7. Although he refused to hand over the device to the South Korean company, he did agree to allow them to scan the device with x-ray machine. So far, the company was on the damage control mode by offering free replacement to affected units. However, now with multiple reports of these so called safe units catching fire, Samsung has been left red faced. With increasing number of consumers reporting battery heating issue in the replacement Note 7 units, nobody has an idea on how many people are carrying a potential time bomb in their pockets.





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Creepy Solar-Powered Bike Path That Emits A Ghostly Blue Is Wooing Everybody in Poland

Cyclist enthusiasts and citizens in Poland were in for a surprise last week when they received a unique, awesome present from the local authorities  a brand new sun-powered bicycle path that glows bright blue all night long. The bicycle patch is fast becoming a tourist attraction because of the creepy ghostly blue that it emits in dark.

The path near Lidzbark Warminski in the Mazury region is illuminated by blue luminophores, a synthetic material that emits light after its charged by sunlight. Cyclists and ordinary Poles are making a beeline to get a glimpse of the newly laid bicycle track which evokes strange sort of romanticism in moonlit or moonless skies.

Created by construction company TPA Instytut Badan Technicznych in Pruszkow, the track is still in its testing phase. It chose the town of Olsztyn in the Masurian Lakes District of Poland to test it out, partly because the landscape created an attractive setting.

The glow is a very nice complement to the areas lovely nature, lakes, small hills and countryside.

The officials added: Right now, its only about 100m

While the luminophores can emit a variety of colors, the engineers picked up blue color for the path, as they thought it would best fit in with the surrounding landscape.

TPA president Ruttmar told Polish publication Gazeta Wyborcza that the material used in the bike path can emit light for more than 10 hours, which means that it can glow throughout the whole night and re-charge the next day as it absorbs the suns rays.

Waldemar Krolikowski, director of the Board of Regional Roads in Olsztyn, said that the luminous bike path is meant to improve the safety of people biking at night. They also researched the sustainability of the materials they used, and how to make the materials as cost effective as possible since this illuminated bike path does cost more than traditional lanes. The hope is also that the environmentally friendly cycle route will help prevent accidents without the city having to resort to installing costlier street lamps.

While the Starry Night bike path in Netherlands provided inspiration, the technology utilized in the Polish bike lane is quite different. The Dutch path lights up via solar-powered LEDs, whereas the Polish path requires no additional power supply.

Check out the bike lane in the video (in Polish) below.
SoftBank Group to Invest $4.5 Billion in South Korea Technology Sector

By Dane Lorica, | October 09, 2016

SoftBank plans to invest in South Korea's technology sector.

Japanese telecommunications and Internet company SoftBank Group has announced its plan to invest $4.5 billion in South Korea's technology sector.



A spokesperson for SoftBank revealed that the company's founder and CEO Masayoshi Son told South Korean President Park Geun-hye that he intends to invest in smart robots, artificial intelligence and "Internet of Things." He added that the investment would cover approximately 30 years of technological advancement.



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Son is said to have also discussed the "Internet of Things" and South Korea's semiconductor industry with the Samsung's vice chairman Lee Jae-yong.



This is not the first time the Japanese conglomerate would fund projects in South Korea. In 2015, SoftBank made its largest internet investment in South Korea worth $1 billion to Coupang, which is the biggest mobile-commerce company in the country.



SoftBank recently acquired ARM Holdings PLC, a chipmaker based in the United Kingdom for $32 billion. This is said to be the largest buyout in the European technology industry. The acquisition is expected to help the company create artificial-intelligence functions in devices that contain chips made by ARM.



SoftBank is known for products carrying artificial intelligence which include Pepper, a human-like robot capable of sensing human feelings.


The winner of the Brazilian presidential elections on Sunday, former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2003-2011), assured that he would work to put his country back on the international... | Read More
Helena writer Virginia Reeves is turning heads in the book world.

She just had her first published novel, Work Like Any Other, longlisted for the prestigious Man Booker Prize, a literary award for the best original novel written in English.

Its an honor that has Reeves traveling to speak at book festivals in say -- Australia and Paris, France.

But you wouldnt guess it meeting her.

Relaxed, genuine, friendly -- she hasnt let the recognition go to her head.

Monday morning she was happy to be relaxing a la casual in beat-up jeans and bare feet in her Benton Avenue living room.

She was planning a day of writing, with a visit to a writing class at Helena College, where she also teaches a creative writing class.

When you open her novel you quickly see just what grabbed reviewers eyes and hearts.

You find yourself standing in an Alabama corn field with Roscoe Martin, a man who is not at all happy to have been thrust into the life of a farmer.

Its the 1920s in rural Alabama, and Roscoe gets the idea of how to use his electrician skills to turn his wifes dying farm into a moneymaker.

All it takes is borrowing a little electricity from Alabama Power.

What seems a beautiful and simple plan has one fatal flaw.

And its one that Roscoe will pay an exceptional price for.

Reeves and Roscoe pull you in, almost against your will.

One moment youre drawn to Roscoe, a moment later -- repelled. But there is something about him that wins over the reader by the end.

Reeves' storytelling and writing skills are drawing admiring fans.

A striking debut about love and redemption, wrote author and reviewer Philip Meyer, there is not a false note in this book. Reeves is a major new talent.

Began as a child

Reeves has wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember.

I think as soon as the form was introduced to me as a little child, I loved it, she said. I started writing stories in early elementary school. My mom still has all these ridiculous stories of sea monsters and puppies. 

A pivotal moment in her early writing career came in her ninth grade honors English class at Helena High School.

Her teacher Dave Miller told the class, I have this incredible poem by a great poet I want to read to you all.

And then he read one of Reeves poems, never revealing to the class who the author was.

She got to just sit and savor the moment and see the reaction of her peers.

That was such an instrumental moment, she said of the support she felt. This moment with Dave Miller really stands out as having a mentor and somebody who really believes in me.

Her parents, John and Debbie Reeves, believed in her, too.

They are voracious readers, she said. I was raised in a house of books.

There were just books everywhere.

As with them, the voracious appetite for books lives on in her household -- with three bookshelves in immediate view loaded with books.

Reeves graduated from HHS in 1996 and earned an English writing degree at Carroll College in 2000, and a masters of arts and teaching at Willamette University in 2001.

After her graduation from Carroll, she would meet Loren Graham, an English professor there whos been a major influence on her writing. She offered to volunteer in his creative writing classes in return for his critiques of her stories.

I count Loren as one of my closest friends and mentors. ... It was while I was working with Loren that I began to master the form of story.

Meeting Roscoe

Why choose Roscoe and place him in 1920s' Alabama?

My fathers mother retired to Alabama, Reeves said. Ive been visiting Alabama since I was 8, sometimes twice a year.

The South is so rich in history, she said. Theres so many relics of a disastrous and sad past in America.

She began writing stories about Alabama and decided while a graduate student at the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas in Austin to take a history writing class to beef up her stories.

The first thing she found when diving into Alabama history was a book, These Came Back, which is a 1940s study of which prison parolees are most likely to break parole.

As Reeves read the book, the personality of Roscoe Martin began to take form.

And piece by piece, through other research, the other pieces of Roscoes story began to fall into place.

Im a lover of old books, Reeves said. And among the treasures she found was an old electricity book, On the Various Forces of Nature.

Thus, she discovered the spark for Roscoes passion.

A writer's life

Writing is not an easy life, she admitted, despite the warm glow of the current recognition.

It was a long time coming.

I had always wanted to do a masters of fine arts in creative writing, she said. It was a dream.

When I finally did achieve that, it was the third time I applied to MFA programs and I was 30.

I would stop writing if I could, she admits. Theres a lot of rejection. Theres a lot of solitude.

But shes realized writing is who she is and has been since she was a little girl.

You just have to keep writing, she said. Ive wanted to accomplish this goal for as long as I can remember.

It is this drive and focus that Reeves mentor Loren Graham admires.

When I saw her work for the first time, I thought, This kid is going places, if she doesnt give up. She is really talented.

I think her particular gift is her insight into characters. She just understands human motivations in a way that not everybody does.

It allows her to create characters that are imminently believable.

Graham not only likes the way she writes, but how she worked with his Carroll students.

Shes a very generous, lovely person and an extraordinarily gifted writer. Sad to say, the best writers are not always the best people, he said, which is not the case with Reeves. Shes entirely genuine.

I see a bright future for her.

Reeves is already well into her next novel, which is set a lot closer to home -- the Montana Developmental Center in an earlier era.

She admits shes a bit surprised to find herself writing another historical novel when she had previously focused on contemporary fiction.

Its interesting how much I have fallen in love with writing of history and being able to find stories that have been forgotten. ... I just find it speaks so well to the present day, as well.

When shes not writing her next novel, you just might find Reeves teaching a writing class at Helena College.

Its much more interesting to me, she said of teaching there rather than in a writing program. Its a different path.
It's impossible to view Sunday night's presidential debate apart from all the news of the weekend.
MARYSVILLE -- Tammy and Tom Griggs were parked across the street from the Cotton Club and General Store building and chatted with neighbors as people from out of town arrived for the Marysville Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival.

Saturdays event at the Cotton Club and General Store began Thursday and continues today (Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It was being held in conjunction with KW Events of Helena and made finding a parking place a bit of a challenge. The warmth of the day made the short walk to the fest pleasant.

Children, often hand-in-hand with parents and grandparents, headed for the pumpkins that had been placed outside of the store that was recently restored and now provides a venue for community events.

This is the first year for the fall fest, and its bringing a lot of people to town, said Tammy.

I think it brings to mind our Pioneer Picinc in July, she said of the towns annual event that showcases Marysville history.

The fest will also help remind people that theres a ski area just up the mountain from the town, Tammy added.

Wooden signs that greet visitors tell of the towns naming for Mary Ralston in 1870 by Thomas Cruse, owner of the Drumlummon Mine. By 1900, the Marysville mining district was reportedly the richest gold mining area in the world with production amounting to $60 million, of which half came from the Drumlummon Mine.

Some 4,000 people lived here at that time, and the 60 businesses included a brewery and 27 saloons before a national depression and mining company legal woes in 1895 put the town into decline.

The only bar in town today is the Marysville House where dinner is served too. During ski season, Great Divide also offers drinks and meals. But as a couple headed toward the Marysville House for lunch, Tom advised them that it didnt open until 4 p.m.

Because this is the first year for the fall fest, its a learning experience for the community, Tom said, and explained that its something that can be expanded.

With the crowd that came for the event, the owner of the Marysville House may consider being open earlier next year to cater those interested in lunch, he said.

Maybe the Marysville Pioneer Memorial Building might be decide to be open so fall fest visitors can see the artifacts of the towns history that are displayed there, he added.

Marysville is a blend of old and new. Well-cared for homes with trim yards and firewood stacked neatly for the coming wintry months are as much a part of the town as are the weathered wood and old stone or brick buildings that linger from its past.

With the arrival of the summer months, the 70 or so year-round residents will see the population increase to perhaps 100, Tammy said.

Shes been a part of the community for maybe a decade. Her husband has been a Marysville resident for 15 years, ever since he retired from the Navy in 2001. Bored with retirement, he works at the ski hill.

Were all really close with everybody, Tammy said. We know all our neighbors.

Tom tosses a stick for a neighbors Australian shepherd, who catches it and brings it back to where he sits next to Tammy in their dune-buggylike vehicle parked outside of the Marysville House.

Born and raised in Conrad, he planned on returning to Montana after the Navy. It was always a dream for him, he explained.

Everybody knows everybody, he said of the towns appeal for him.

If anybody has a problem or needs help  everybody kind of helps everybody out if they need something.

Ginny Thomas was up the street talking with friends when she paused to explain her ties to the community. Shes been a resident for 15 years and said her husbands a fourth generation Marysville resident.

From where Thomas stood, she could see the cars and crowd at the fall fest.

Its really nice to get people up here, she said.

For her, Marysville is like paradise. Its quiet. Its peaceful. Its beautiful.

Those who arrived for the festival drove slowly on the towns gravel streets. Traffic waited for someones dog that was old and moved slowly toward where its owner waited.

Gary and Dawn Schwalm of Lincoln were among Saturdays visitors. This was Garys first time in Marysville. Dawn took the grandchildren, Garrett, 4, and Dylan, 2, to the pumpkin patch and the inflatable house where several children were inside bouncing.

Theres not a lot to do in Lincoln unless you hunt or fish, said Gary, a retired firefighter after 37 years, who moved to Lincoln in 2012 from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Events like this, he said, give family a chance to get out with young kids.

Its nice. Its a nice old town, he said and made note of the dates on some of the old buildings that he and Dawn found interesting.

The opportunity for a family outing brought Aleece and Chase Berg here from their home in Helena. With them were their four daughters, Crimsyn, Caisa, Cambri and Calstyn who are all younger than age 6.

The fall fest, Aleece said, was something nice to do on a Saturday afternoon.

Crimsyn sorted through the pumpkins to find the one she wanted as Chase watched and helped.

I think its good to bring people into small towns, Chase said of the festivals value to Marysville and to those who had the opportunity to savor the towns ambience.

Small-town atmosphere is always warm and welcoming, he said.
Photo provided by Sharon Phillips -- Science lesson -- Zachary Mayor David Amrhein, right, and Zachary Chamber Executive Director Kate McArthur, center, toured MedComp Sciences in Zachary March 9, as part of a video segment about Zachary. Billy Beasley, MedComp's chief financial officer, gave the two city leaders a tour of the facility's clinical laboratory, which offers urine toxicology testing. Coupled with pharmacogenetic testing, MedComp can aide physicians in providing personalized drug therapy for individual patients.
Stewing since the unlikely election last fall of a Democrat to Louisianas highest office, conservative critics pounced when it emerged a month ago that Gov. John Bel Edwards had named a top fundraiser to oversee a controversial lawsuit blaming the oil and gas industry for destroying much of the coast.

The Louisiana Republican Party accused Edwards of dishing out a big contract to campaign cronies and, using the Twitter hashtag #dishonorcode, mocked a key Edwards campaign slogan from last year.

Edwards, a West Point graduate and former Army Ranger, rode the political equivalent of a white horse into the Governors Mansion by repeatedly pledging his allegiance to the military academys Honor Code, questioning his opponents ethics and promising to always put Louisiana first.

But the straight-arrow governor has been on the defensive since launching the lawsuit  which brings together politics, law and money in a combustible mix  and hiring Taylor Townsend, 53, a trial attorney and former state House member from Natchitoches, to oversee it.

Critics focused on the report that Townsend raised money for Edwards last year and was later named to head the outside super PAC supporting the governor.

Townsend has 26 years of work as a trial attorney, but the critics also noted that he has little experience trying complex cases alleging environmental damage by oil and gas companies.

A typical broadside came from Don Briggs, president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, which co-hosted a fundraiser for the governor in January in an apparently failed effort to win influence. I believe he was chosen  like many others tied to the litigation  simply because of the cronyism and the contributions they made to his campaign, Briggs said.

Both Edwards and Townsend dismiss aspersions on Townsends hiring.

There is nothing dishonorable about hiring a qualified, competent attorney who happens to be a friend and supporter, Edwards said in a telephone interview. Since when am I obligated to do business with people who dont support me? His knowledge of the law and his experience in the courtroom and his knowledge and familiarity with state government make him an ideal choice to perform the role.

Said Townsend, who has mostly ducked the media because of what he considers to be unfair coverage: The governor trusts my legal acumen, and he trusts me. I can tell you that I trust him. He and I have assembled the best team that can prosecute this case.

Though he has often handled complex lawsuits, Townsend readily admits that he has tried only a few cases that have anything to do with erosion or damage to land.

His role with the coastal suits is not to be the expert, he said. Rather, he said, Edwards hired him to provide legal and political strategy to oversee the cases and the four law firms that will be in the trenches.

There are a thousand moving parts to this litigation, he said. My job is to make sure these lawyers are doing what is needed to protect the state of Louisiana from further coastal erosion and to do what is in the best interests of the state.

The close relationship between Townsend and Edwards is a new one. The two say they knew each other in passing from trial-lawyer and political circles but got to know each other well only during last years campaign, when Edwards upset conventional wisdom by defeating Sen. David Vitter, the Republican favorite.

Townsend said he was not part of the inner circle that advised candidate Edwards on a day-to-day basis. Instead, Townsend visited with Edwards when the candidate traveled to the Natchitoches area, where the attorney serves as a go-to rainmaker for Democratic candidates.

Townsend said he co-hosted two fundraisers for Edwards last year in Natchitoches  one before the primary, another before the runoff  and brought in what he said was tens of thousands of dollars.

Campaign finance reports show that he and his family alone gave $25,000 to Edwards during the governors race and another $5,000 for the post-election transition.

After he won, Edwards named Townsend one of the six chairs of his transition team. And afterward, Townsend was asked to take over Edwards' super PAC, Louisiana Families First. He said it has turned out to be a non-job because the group has not raised or spent any money during his tenure and will soon be disbanded.

High-stakes legal and political battles arent on the resumes of most small-town lawyers. For Townsend, the entree into that world came through his uncle, Don Kelly, who served in the state Senate from 1976 through 1996 and had such a keen grasp of politics and power that he served as a floor leader for whoever was governor.

Townsend, who had grown up in Coushatta, went to live with Kelly in Natchitoches while in ninth grade after his parents divorced. Kelly not only helped raise him but gave him a taste for politics, beginning with a summer job at the state Capitol when Townsend was 15.

Townsend went on to graduate from Northwestern State University and the Southern University Law School  a less prestigious pedigree than most of the high-dollar lawyers hes supervising in the coastal litigation.

Just because you come from a small town and go to a not-prestigious school doesnt mean you cant be a good lawyer, he said.

Ronald Corkern, a Natchitoches attorney who has often faced off against Townsend in the courtroom  with Townsend usually representing an injured plaintiff and Corkern an insurance company  said Townsend stands out for his courtroom demeanor.

He has charisma in the courtroom, Corkern said. He understands the language that non-lawyers speak. He is able to speak to jurors especially in a language they understand. He can laugh at himself. Jurors then have a tendency to associate with those people since they are real. In a jury trial, you better hope they like you. If they dont, they wont like your client.

In 1999, four years after his uncle chose not to seek re-election, Townsend ran for the state House, over the objections of Kelly and his mother.

My uncle begged me not to run, Townsend said. My mother cried. Neither one of them wanted me involved in politics.

Kelly had served with the longtime House incumbent, Jimmy Long, for 20 years in the Legislature. His mother didnt want her son to face the slings and arrows that come with running for office and serving.

You know, politics divides communities and people, Townsend said.

He decided to challenge Long, in part, he said, because the incumbent had supported tort reform  a series of new restrictions on trial attorneys' lawsuits pushed through the Legislature by Gov. Mike Foster.

Townsend won the race and breezed to re-election in 2003. He excelled at the inside game, bringing home what he estimates was $75 million to $100 million in funding and infrastructure projects for Natchitoches and Northwestern State.

Townsend gives Kelly the credit for much of his political success .

Among his uncles insights: While debate is the lifeblood of that place, compromise is the soul, Townsend said. If you go to the Legislature not willing to compromise and not willing to understand the needs of other constituents through their elected representatives, youre doomed for failure.

During his eight years in the House, in the battles that often pit business groups against trial lawyers, Townsend sided with trial attorneys, as well as unions. His positions earned him a 38 percent voting record with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry during those two terms. That score put him among the bottom 15 to 20 percent of lawmakers on LABIs scorecard.

In 2007, Townsend chose not to seek re-election and instead ran for an open state Senate seat. Gerald Long, Jimmy Longs younger brother, evened the score by defeating Townsend, aided by major donations from business groups. Long, a Republican from Winnfield, still holds the seat.

My politics didnt fit with the voters at that time, Townsend said, shrugging off the loss. I was a Democrat. Democrats werent popular.

By the time he lost the election, Townsend had already gotten a payout from one big legal case. Kelly, his law partner, was an adviser to the Castano Group of attorneys that settled a huge class-action lawsuit on behalf of the state and smokers against tobacco companies. Some 60 law firms split a reported $114 million.

The amount that went to the Kelly Townsend law firm is not clear, but they were not major players, said Russ Herman, a veteran New Orleans trial attorney who was one of the lead lawyers in the case,

Financially, we did well in the case because we were successful, Townsend said. I cant give you the numbers off the top of my head.

Townsend now practices law by himself. He specializes in personal injury cases, including workplace accidents, slip and fall cases and medical malpractice, according to his website.

In many ways, its fulfilling to know that youre fighting for these people, Townsend said. Youre the only person who has taken up the cudgel for them and is pursuing the cause. If you prevail, theres a lot of satisfaction in that.

Townsend said he had no interest in representing insurance companies.

Theyve been the people Ive generally fought against for the last 26 years, he said.

Now his targets are the oil and gas companies, which, according to the lawsuits, got state permits to drill and explore for oil but violated the permits by failing to restore the wetlands they destroyed. The governor hopes the litigation will force oil and gas companies to agree to a settlement that would yield billions of dollars to restore the state's disappearing coast.

Townsend is captaining the legal team, said Donald Price, a veteran trial attorney now at the Department of Natural Resources who is serving as the Edwards administrations point man on the lawsuit.

Taylor wont write the briefs, draft petitions or take the depositions, Price said. Hell be parceling that work out to those who are best able to handle it."

Critics charge that greed rather than altruism drives Townsend and his cohorts in the coastal suits.

They are motivated by (the) allure of driving a new Mercedes to the coast with the proceeds of this lawsuit, U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, said in a recent letter to Edwards.

Critics also say that the attorneys, many of whom donated generously to Edwards last year, are positioned to raise even greater sums for his re-election campaign.

Townsend acknowledged he is getting good money  $225 per hour  compared with everyday wages in Louisiana, but noted that he is receiving far less than the maximum of $500 an hour that the law allows lawyers representing the state to be paid. He also noted that he doesnt know when or whether he will get paid because the Legislature hasnt yet appropriated any money for it.

Townsend added that the other private attorneys will get paid only if they win the case. Under a so-called fee shifting arrangement, a judge or the Legislature would have to decide how much they would receive.

I reject the notion that its cronyism in any form whatsoever, Townsend said. The right word here is courage  the governors courage to assemble a great legal team without regard to politics, and most importantly his courage to fight this fight to save dozens of coastal communities, their citizens, their culture and their businesses. The governors courage trumps cronyism every hour of every day of the week.
You might be forgiven for missing the U.S. Senate races biggest rollout of television commercials  what with checking your smartphone and fast-forwarding through DVRd programs.

With 30 days to go before the Nov. 8 primary election, the television stations reported last week to federal authorities massive buys for commercials. Last year at this time, during the governors race, voters already were well versed on the infidelities of Sen. David Vitter, how Scott Angelle handled the Bayou Corne sinkhole and Jay Dardennes travel to Europe.

Not so much in the 2016 campaign for Vitters seat.

Police shootings, murdered cops, massive flooding, and a bitter presidential campaign have distracted many voters attentions. But, with the exception of white supremacist David Duke, who polls show is not really a factor, the races well-known candidates arent household names, nor very charismatic.

For all of John N. Kennedys folksy patter, the longtime state treasurer is trained as a bond attorney. U.S. Rep. Charles Boustanys bearing is still one of a cardiothoracic surgeon about to deliver the bad news. And U.S. Rep. John Fleming showed up to a muggy 4th of July Day parade in a rural Cajun town wearing pressed khaki slacks.

Polls show a statistical dead heat with at least a quarter of the voters still undecided. Candidates need to stick their head above the crowd if they hope to make the Dec. 10 runoff, said Martin Johnson, an LSU professor who studies communications in the realm of politics. Its just a little harder this campaign.

Study after study shows a dramatic change in viewing habits. Fewer than half the viewers in one recent survey reported they primarily watch live television. The second most popular practice is recording programs, then skipping the commercials.

Of course, voters are also getting their political news from Facebook, Twitter, and other social media, Johnson said. But, voters still rely on television for a lot of their political information.

The campaigns themselves have been trying to create buzz about their ads with emails praising their spots. Republican Boustanys spokesman, Jack Pandol, last week claimed rave reviews for one that parodied fellow Republican Kennedys getting to know you commercial.

Fleming released a commercial that likened the bickering between Boustany and Kennedy to a junior high food fight, which Johnson called a bank shot negative spot.

On the other hand, this is probably the first campaign in history in which one of the major candidates runs an ad promising to commit suicide  drink weed killer, Kennedy says  rather than be a political insider.

While Kennedys commercials are sticking to his views on things, a national Super PAC backing him is funding TV spots that go after Boustany and Fleming. One ad by the ESAFund calls Boustany and Fleming millionaires (they are) and places photos of the two Republicans next to one of Democratic President Barack Obama.

The ESAFund, based in Washington, reportedly received a couple million dollars from a Louisiana political action committee supporting Kennedy. ESAFund reported to federal authorities last week its Super PAC spent $154,229 to run spots against Boustany, $119,990 against Fleming and $110,420 in support of Kennedy.

The trick to politicking in an ADD-HD TV world is repetition and message, which means spending about 30 percent more money on television ads than in the past, says Roy Fletcher, a veteran political strategist and media buyer.

The technology makes for a more cluttered atmosphere, but Fletcher said today is still similar to the 1995 gubernatorial race when he engineered Mike Fosters breakout from a pack of 16 candidates.

In Louisianas unique primary system, in which candidates of all political parties run together, the goal for a candidate is to mobilize more of his targeted supporters than the other guy.

Fletcher produced and aired commercials showing little-known Foster  a patrician whose planter grandfather had been governor  in hunting camouflage talking about his Christian faith. People said, Yeah, hes like me, Fletcher recalled.

In the 2016 Senate races, Fletcher said the Democratic candidates  Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell and lawyer Caroline Fayard  are doing a better job breaking through the clutter than the feuding Republicans.

Campbell and Fayard both talk about raising the minimum wage and enforcing equal pay between men and women. Both issues poll well in Louisiana, though theyre staunchly opposed by the business community and are an anathema for conservatives.

They wont win crossover voters, but thats not the point in the open primary.

Essentially, what theyre doing is ringing the bell for Democrats and white progressives. Theyre saying Hey look up from your laptop, vote for me, Im one of you, Fletcher said.

Email Mark Ballard, The Advocate's Capitol Bureau chief, at mballard@theadvocate.com.
As south Louisiana residents struggle to recover from August's epic flood, the challenges of rebuilding will be especially hard in poorer neighborhoods. That's why state and local leaders should heed the lessons of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, when a lagging rebound among low-income residents frustrated New Orleans broader recovery.

The rebirth of New Orleans is a miracle, celebrated across America. But a handful of miscalculations in the Road Home program continue to vex the city, which struggles with a shortage of affordable housing and never fully regained its population, leaving East Baton Rouge as Louisianas largest parish.

The flood of 2016, the largest American natural disaster since Superstorm Sandy, was an equal-opportunity catastrophe, as richer and poorer neighborhoods suffered alike. But local leaders in Baton Rouge worry that lower-income residents won't have the resources to make repairs or to rent a short-term home while they wrangle with their insurance companies or wait for word on federal aid that can help them rebuild.

The Rev. Chris Andrews, executive director of Rebuilding Together Baton Rouge, is concerned some people may receive help to make the minimal repairs allowed under the Shelter at Home program  which includes basic items like exterior doors, a toilet and a mini-fridge  but be unable to do more.

"They're beginning to see that (Federal Emergency Management Agency payouts are) not enough money to fix their houses," added Mid City Redevelopment Alliance Executive Director Samuel Sanders. "The heartbreaking part for me ... is seeing the number of individuals still living in these homes. That's just hard to wrap my arms around."

Classes of victims are emerging. Renters made homeless by the flood are unlikely to return any time soon, as landlords navigate the path toward rebuilding and rents have increased in response to the acute housing shortage. Other poor residents own their homes outright but were already behind in their repairs before the water rose. A foot of water inside those delapidated homes did much more catastrophic damage than a foot in newer construction. In many cases, mortgages that required flood insurance had long been paid off, so many owners -- without regard to income, probably -- let their coverage lapse.

Louisiana, which won $500 million from Congress last month, faces crucial decisions in setting up a homeowner aid program. The state cannot repeat the mistakes of the Road Home, which left many of New Orleans poorer neighborhoods with a mixture of tidy, rebuilt homes and blighted , abandoned housing.

After Katrina, said demographer Allison Plyer, head of the Data Center in New Orleans, money first went to owner-occupied housing, meaning rental units were slower to bounce back. The U.S. Department of Justice eventually filed suit against the state, saying aid to rental properties was unreasonably blocked, and the state agreed in 2014 to allow more affordable-housing funding in the city.

Another problem was that the Road Home compensated affected homeowners based on property values, not replacement costs, which often left homeowners in poor neighborhooods without the money they needed to rebuild.

For the second time in this young century, Louisiana will be crafting a program to provide federal aid to residents upended by a cruel flood. The rebirth of New Orleans is testament to the hard work of our states leaders and the generousity of the American people. In rebuilding the Baton Rouge area, we can do even better.
The FBI recently reported that Arizona and Illinois election systems had been hacked. It could have just as easily been in Montana. Election security is a serious matter!

As I campaign for Secretary of State across Montana, I am reminded of how important it is to balance our desire for larger voter participation with assuring the integrity of our voting process isnt compromised by expediency or carelessness. If we have the mindset that its not a matter of "if" we get hacked, but "when" we get hacked, then well be more vigilant and proactive in keeping Montana elections fair and secure.

I have been a member and leader on Information Technology boards which oversee computer systems, in all three branches of Montana government. Ive operated sophisticated weapons and navigation systems on U.S. warships. I can tell you this much: computer systems always have glitches, and human error can never be eliminated. The solution is to have an excellent system of operators and users where feedback is encouraged and problems are dealt with honestly and thoroughly. As your next Secretary of State, I have three goals:

1. Improve business services across Montana. Secretary of State is not only our business officer, but in many ways, our Chief Information Technology officer. Montana has just begun rolling out SIMS(BE), an information system that allows Montana businesses to file and maintain all business documents online. I welcome your feedback in the coming months on how we can improve your online experience and innovate new solutions for small businesses.

2. Provide leadership on the Land Board. I look forward to balancing the responsibilities of developing Montanas natural resources (coal, oil, gas, and timber), while protecting our public lands and access.

3. Manage elections with integrity and fairness. Whether you prefer voting absentee ballots, or showing up in person, my goal is to have consistency across all 56 county election offices. I will be actively involved throughout the state, encouraging voter turnout and assuring election security.

Montana may only have three electoral votes for president, but we have fascinating down-ticket races due to our large state and varying geography. I hope youll get out and vote your conscience this fall, and keep our Republic strong!

Corey Stapleton, R-Billings, is a former naval officer and state senator, and current candidate for Montana Secretary of State.
Australian officials are ready to begin work on a free-trade deal with Britain and have recently flown in to begin hammering out details of a landmark pact, the country's top official in Britain has revealed.

A senior negotiator from Canberra has arrived in Britain, while top civil servants from Australia have briefed their counterparts in London on the ins and outs of trade deals, high commissioner Alexander Downer said.

Australia and Britain have agreed to kickstart trade talks imminently. Credit:Chris Ratcliffe

British Prime Minister Theresa May met Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last month, when they agreed to kickstart trade talks imminently, while Australia's Trade Minister Steven Ciobo also met his British counterpart Liam Fox.

A deal could make goods such as wine, beef and dairy cheaper as British shoppers would no longer have to pay the EU's import taxes, while Australia is a big buyer of British cars such as Land Rovers and Bentleys. A deal would cover services such as finance.
John Ellenby, businessman, who was an early developer of the laptop computer.

John Ellenby, a British-born computer engineer who played a critical role in paving the way for the laptop computer, has died in San Francisco. He was 75.

Ellenby's pioneering work came to fruition in the early 1980s, after he founded Grid Systems, a company in Mountain View, California. As chief executive, he assembled an engineering and design team that included the noted British-born industrial designer William Moggridge.

The team produced a clamshell computer with an orange electroluminescent flat-panel display that was introduced as the Compass. It went to market in 1982. The Compass is now widely acknowledged to have been far ahead of its time.

"The Grid Compass was the first successful clamshell laptop computer," said Marc Weber, a historian at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View.

It went on to become a valuable tool for big corporations, government spies, White House and Pentagon officials and even astronauts, surviving the mid-air explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in which seven people died.
That no crisis should go to waste is a hoary adage, but like most cliches, it gets repeated for a reason.

The focus on the reliability of the national electricity grid and the role of renewable energy since South Australia lost power late last month offers a rare opportunity for a new path to be forged. It is urgently needed.

The blackout was caused by the state's worst storm in living memory. It may yet prove that the state of its electricity supply  about 40 per cent wind, some gas-fired plants, and reliance on a limited interconnector with Victoria  reduced resilience to a storm of this scale. Despite claims to the contrary in some media outlets, the Australian Energy Market Operator's preliminary report released last week is silent on this point.

While it is important to establish what, if anything, could have been done to prevent the blackout, it is just as important to seize this moment to reconfigure the National Electricity Market to meet the needs of the 21st century.
A wet and windy afternoon is set to follow Canberra's mild Monday morning as a cold front moves through the region.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for parts of the ACT, Illawarra, Snowy Mountains, South Coast, Southern Tablelands and South West Slopes.

A wet and windy afternoon is set to follow Canberra's mild Monday morning as a cold front moves through the region. Credit:Jonathan Carroll

Winds averaging 60 to 70 kilometres an hour with peak gusts of 120 km/h are forecast for alpine areas above about 1400m on Monday.

The Brindabellas and the South Coast could get winds averaging 60 km/h with gusts reaching 90 km/h.
The state government registered a $70 million increase to its budget for consultants last financial year, spending that is now double levels reported four years ago.

The government ended up spending more than $200 million on external advice last year compared with a budget of $135 million, according to updated budget forecast figures.

Mike Baird: Spending more on consultants. Credit:Daniel Munoz

It is the fourth year in which the Coalition government has exceeded its budget for external advice. In 2013-14, the government overshot by about $60 million.

Ironically, much of the blowout came with a $50 million bill accounted to the state's Crown Finance Entity, which is responsible for keeping charge of the state's liabilities.
A 12-year-old Queensland girl had to argue for an abortion in Queensland's Supreme Court in April 2016 despite having approval from her doctor, her family, her obstetrician and a public hospital for the termination.

"Q's case" has prompted two Queensland academics to argue it is time to change "outdated" 100-year-old abortion laws in Queensland and New South Wales.

Restrictive abortion laws in Queensland and New South Wales are being challenged by the push for reform. Credit:Science Photo Library

"The decision of the health service to seek direction from the court underlines the fear and uncertainty on the part of doctors and administrators regarding the legality of abortion in Queensland," the authors write.

"It is to be hoped that both states will see abortion decriminalised in the near future and placed in the health regulations, so that practitioners have clear guidance for abortion care."
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad on Sunday unveiled a new housing project with 900 new house blocks at Carsedline as an example of the State Government's plan to sell or lease state-owned land to drive infrastructure.

Ms Trad announced a four-year project to transform the former Queensland University of Technology campus at Carseldine into a $35 million urban village near the Carseldine train station.

Carseldine's new housing village - artists impression released on Sunday. Credit:Tony Moore

It is close to the future urban growth centre on Brisbane's northside at Fitzgibbon Chase, which had been earlier identified and developed by the two previous state governments.

"The Carseldine Urban Village site is a prime parcel of under-utilised state land in the Fitzgibbon Priority Development Area," Ms Trad said.
Start-up founders Nik Mirkovic and Alex Tomic have much to smile about after generating a $10 million turnover in just 18 months. They credit the glowing results from their teeth-whitening business HiSmile to just one thing  social media influencers.

The pair took a scattergun approach to targeting social influencers when they launched HiSmile in 2014. They have since refined whom they select, aiming for big names with broad reach.

HiSmile founders Nik Mirkovic and Alex Tomic have used Kylie Jenner to spruik their product.

The biggest name to spruik the product is Kylie Jenner, part of the Kardashian clan, who posted a photo of herself with a HiSmile box to her Instagram account and 75.7 million followers.

"It's really just putting your product or your brand where the attention of your target market is," Mirkovic says.
Melbourne's highly protected leafy middle suburbs would be forced to squeeze in more housing over the next five years under a contentious push to manage the state's population boom.



With Victoria growing by an extra 100,000 people annually, the Andrews government has been warned that it must find a way to redirect more growth to areas with well-established infrastructure in the east and south-east, or risk jeopardising the city's liveability.

The proposal  outlined in Infrastructure Victoria's 30-year draft strategy  would mean that prized areas such as Glen Waverley, McKinnon or Camberwell could soon come under growing pressure for greater development, paving the way for fierce battles with residents keen to protect their neighbourhoods.

Leafy Eastern suburbs of Melbourne Credit:Craig Abraham

"I exploded when I saw that proposal," said Jack Roach, from the Boroondara Residents Action Group. "Established suburbs don't want that. It's our lifestyle, our property, and we'll furiously oppose any overdevelopment in the area."

However, Infrastructure Victoria argues that "there is much greater opportunity" to amend planning schemes to create more housing in suburbs that already have good transport, schools and services.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, ARMENPRESS. While on an official visit to Yerevan the French delegation led by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has been hosted in Yerevan Municipality, press service of the Municipality informed Armenpress.

Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan thanked his French counterpart for accepting the invitation and said the strengthening of friendly and partnership ties between the two capitals, the development of bilateral projects are really important for Yerevan.

Mrs. Mayor, once again I want to thank you for accepting the invitation and visiting Yerevan. We attach a special importance to strengthening and expanding the ties with Paris, and I am sure your visit will boost our cooperation. I want to thank you for the special attitude provided to the Armenian community which is also very important for us. There is a really wide field of cooperation between Yerevan and Paris which will enable us to further expand the joint projects in local self-governance, economic development, boosting tourism, and other sectors. In this regard, I will suggest to create a working group which will develop and present the directions where we have wide cooperation prospects, Taron Margaryan said.

In her turn Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo thanked for the warm reception and congratulated Yerevan Mayor on the capitals day.

Mr. Mayor, it is really a pleasure for me to be in a city that has a 3000-years-old history. We also attach importance on expanding the cooperation projects with Yerevan, the evidence of which is our delegations visit here. I must give a special importance to the Armenian community on the development of Paris. Mr. Mayor, I once again want to thank you for the invitation, I am grateful for your consistency and readiness which is directed towards expanding and developing Yerevan-Paris ties. I am confident we will achieve significant progress in near future, Paris Mayor said.

At the end of the meeting Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan awarded Anne Hidalgo with Yerevan Mayor Gold Medal for the great input on strengthening the friendly ties between Yerevan and Paris.
The last few years Syria has been in the news. Why? Well, according to our newspapers and TV, freedom fighters are battling the evil Syrian government of Bashar Al-Assad. Before taking their word for it, let me offer you a different story.

A few years back, the United States and its allies decided that they wanted to overthrow the Syrian government. Step one was to get someone else to conquer Syria for us so we could deny responsibility for our war.

We began supplying weapons and training to anyone who was willing to pick up a gun. It didnt matter that we were arming known terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda and al-Nusra, we just wanted it to look like it wasnt us attacking Syria. But, it didnt go well.

Syria defended herself in spite of the US-funded terrorists. It got bloody. Newspapers and TV reported that freedom fighters were struggling against the Syrian regime. Many of the terrorists we armed formed an extremist group called ISIS. The Syrian government asked Russia for help defending herself.

Our Air Force just directly bombed the Syrian military. Act of war or simple mistake?

Is it time to get out of Syria?

Erik Pritchard

Helena
Melbourne has suffered the biggest increase in traffic congestion of any major Australian city this year, according to a new travel time index that uses journey data from Uber.

The journey times of 14,000 Uber drivers in Melbourne have been analysed as part of a new measure of congestion in the nation's four biggest cities, in a first for the global ride-sharing company.

Uber has shared the aggregated information about the travel patterns of its customers to a transport lobby group, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia. The data has been used to produce an index, the IPA Transport Metric, to depict the level of congestion in major capital cities and on some common routes within those cities.

The initial report using the metric, released on Monday, compares average car travel times at non-peak hours with travel times at peak hours.
Manila: In just 100 days in office, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has presided over state-sanctioned violence on a shocking scale and undermined his country's 65-year relationship with the United States.

He has picked fights with Barack Obama, the United Nations, the European Union and others who have criticised his deadly war on drugs.

From Canberra to Tokyo to Washington, policymakers are trying to figure out if the 71-year-old is all bluster or whether his foul-mouthed rhetoric could threaten Asia's stability.

Duterte seems to defy classification. In public he appears irrational and impulsive. His time in office could generally be characterised as "if you're not with us, you're against us".
Addis Ababa: Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn declared a six-month state of emergency on Sunday, saying it was to restore order after weeks of protests that have resulted in deaths and damage to mostly foreign-owned factories and flower farms.

Last week, protesters also destroyed scores of vehicles, adding economic casualties to a rising death toll in a wave of unrest over land grabs and rights.

Ethiopians chant slogans against the government during their march in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. Credit:AP

"A state of emergency has been declared because the situation posed a threat against the people of the country," Mr Hailemariam said on state-run television.

"The state of emergency is vital. It is essential to restore peace and stability over a short period of time," he said, adding the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front coalition was also looking at reforms, and planning to hold talks with opposition parties.
Carolina Beach, NC: Emergency crews in boats rescued hundreds of people from floodwaters and plucked others from rooftops by helicopter in North Carolina as former hurricane Matthew flooded much of the US Southeast before weakening on Sunday and turning out to sea.

Matthew, the most powerful Atlantic storm since 2007, was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Sunday after its rampage through the Caribbean killed nearly 900 people in Haiti. In the United States, 17 people died and more than 2 million US homes and business had lost power.

The storm continued moving out to sea, according to the National Hurricane Centre's 2pm report, which placed the center of the storm about 240 km off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

Although Matthew lost its tropical characteristics, the storm still packed hurricane force winds as far as 110 km from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds 390 km away.
St Louis: Donald Trump made final debate preparations Sunday while facing an unprecedented constellation of problems: Crude remarks on tape he made about women, falling poll numbers and an expanding list of Republicans who want him to somehow exit the presidential race.

As Trump prepared to leave New York City for the debate site at Washington University in St. Louis, the GOP presidential nominee served notice he is preparing to attack those Republicans who are abandoning him in the wake of his comments about groping women.

"So many self-righteous hypocrites," Trump tweeted early Sunday. "Watch their poll numbers -- and elections -- go down!"

Trump also tweeted out a Breitbart News interview with Juanita Broaddrick, a woman who once accused Bill Clinton of a sexual assault -- a sign that he may raise past allegations against the former president in Sunday night's debate.
President Barack Obama says Donald Trump's comments about women - captured in footage that was released over the weekend - are "disturbing".

"One of the most disturbing things about this election is just the unbelievable rhetoric coming at the top of the Republican ticket," Mr Obama said.

"I don't need to repeat it. There are children in the room."

Mr Obama's comments came after Vice-President Joe Biden said in a Twitter message on Saturday that the Republican presidential nominee's conduct was worse than simply lewd.
Ford Asia Begins Production Of Ranger In Thailand

October 7, 2016; Ford has announced the official start of production for the segment-defining Ranger pickup truck at its Ford Thailand Manufacturing (FTM) facility to help meet demand across the Asia Pacific region.

The Ranger is also built at Fords joint-venture facility, Auto Alliance Thailand (AAT), which remains the companys main production facility for Ranger in Asia Pacific.

With AAT forecast to operate at or near maximum capacity for the foreseeable future, Ford invested an additional US$186 million in the FTM facility to allow for increased Ranger production.

The Ranger is Fords best-selling pickup truck in the Asia Pacific region. This includes being the best-selling pickup truck overall in New Zealand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Cambodia and Myanmar, as well as the second-best selling pickup in Australia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

As the No.3 pickup truck in Thailand, the Ranger has continued to increase segment share since the all-new Ranger was launched in 2011. This includes capturing its highest ever share of the segment in August at more than 10%.

The incremental Ranger volume will allow us to meet strong customer demand across the region for this Built Ford Tough truck, said Mark Kaufman, president, Ford ASEAN. Our additional investment in FTM also underscores our long-term confidence in Thailand, including the world-class quality being delivered by our workforce.

Ford is one of the largest automotive investors in Thailand, having invested a total of more than US$2.7 billion between its wholly-owned and joint-venture manufacturing facilities, and currently employs about 10,000 people in Thailand.

Hirunya Suchinai, secretary-general, Thailand Board of Investment, said, On behalf of the Thailand Board of Investment, I would like to congratulate Ford Motor Company on this auspicious occasion. Ford continues to play an important role in the ongoing development of our automotive industry, and their latest milestone will help further strengthen Thailands position as a leading automotive manufacturing and export hub in the region.
if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi...
MISSOULA -- In the final debate between Democrat Gov. Steve Bullock and his Republican challenger Greg Gianforte on Saturday, the rules went by the board at times as some of their exchanges grew testy.

Each candidate for governor sought to accuse his opponent of politically convenient lies, with Bullock painting Gianforte as a businessman who aims to provide breaks for wealthy friends while Gianforte characterized Bullock as career politician who is reckless with the state budget.

But the live televised debate from the KRTV studio in Great Falls opened with a moment of partial agreement over the recent news that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump had made lewd comments and described sexually assaulting a woman during a taped 2005 conversation.

These comments are completely inappropriate and outrageous, Gianforte said.

What Mr. Trump said is not appropriate for a dogcatcher, let alone a presidential candidate, Bullock said.

Both also tried to distance themselves from their partys nominee.

I have previously said I would vote for Donald Trump. I reluctantly continue to believe thats the right of course of action, Gianforte said, listing concerns he had with Hillary Clintons policies. I wish I had a different choice but this is the choice were left with.

Bullock said he disagreed with Clinton on issues such as the Second Amendment and coal policy.

Whoever gets elected governor or president, that the end of the day, my job is the same: to make sure they understand Montanas values, Montanas interests and Montanas needs, he said, noting he had opposed emission reduction requirements proposed for the state under the Clean Power Plan and filed suit as former attorney general against efforts to implement a national REAL ID.

With that, Gianforte shifted the debate back to a common thread in his campaign attacks on Bullock.

I also believe we need a state administration that will stand up to Washington, he said. And yet ... the No. 1 issue Ive heard is that our state administration is not standing up to federal overreach.

He later argued Bullock had not done enough to fight federal policies that contributed to a loss of jobs in coal and timber industries. He also noted Bullocks campaign received contributions from the group that sued to shut down Colstrip, referencing a suit filed by the Montana Environmental Information Center and the Sierra Club, and voted against the Powder River Basin lease.

Bullock fired back that his campaign has received contributions from 7,500 Montanans including coal company CEOs.

I do have a plan to take our state forward and it does include coal, he said.

Earlier this year, he released an "Energy Blueprint" that suggested the state do more to diversify its natural resource economy with further investments in wind and solar energy. Bullock also has sat down federal officials who presented options for upgrading the technology at the Colstrip plan to keep it viable for years more even with stricter emission standards, although those proposals require securing billions of dollars in funding largely through federal loans.

Bullock did not address the comments about his vote as a member of the Montana Land Board. In 2010, he was one of two officials to vote against leasing public mineral rights in the Powder River Basin, often referred to as the Otter Creek tract, to Arch Coal for $86 million. He said at the time that the price was simply too low.

Gianforte has repeatedly said one of the biggest challenges to developing the states natural resources is simply bureaucratic.

Weve seen environmental extremists appointed to various boards across the state and at the (Department of Environmental Quality) where some organizations have waited almost two decades to get a permit that wouldve created jobs here in the state, Gianforte said, again referencing the Otter Creek tract that was never developed in part because it was still seeking final permits but ultimately died when the project no longer was profitable as coal prices dropped and the company filed for bankruptcy.

The most heated moments of the debate came after the candidates were asked about one of the longest-running campaign attacks: an accusation by Bullock that Gianforte blocked public access to an easement on his property along the East Gallatin River and sued the state to get rid of it altogether.

Heres the lawsuit, Bullock said as he unfolded a printed copy of a lawsuit filed by the Gianforte-owned East Gallatin LLC in 2009 against Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. He read a portion of it then leaned to his left as he tried to hand it to Gianforte.

I stand by my statement. Access was never blocked, Gianforte said, characterizing the incident as an example of poor state leadership that led to simple matter being drawn out for months.

As IR's State Bureau has previously reported, the suit sought to remove an easement that provided public access along the East Gallatin River, arguing that users were damaging adjacent land, the original 1993 agreement by a previous owner was invalid and that the public had sufficient access via two other nearby sites. Records show the complaint was filed to create a foothold for a case, but the papers were never served to the agency. Gianforte has said the filing was just to get the agencys attention after waiting 14 months.

The dispute was resolved after a department visit to the site in July 2009 led to trail and fence upgrades that did a better job keeping users off the rest of the Gianforte property and the agency updated records on the easement boundaries, according to state documents and emails.

As moderators tried to move the debate to the next question, Gianforte dinged Bullock for bringing the copy of the lawsuit into the studio.

I just want to note the governor violated the rules of the debate, he said.

I just want to note Greg Gianforte sued all of Montana, Bullock retorted.

Moderators also asked Gianforte whether he would support tougher restrictions on abortions or work to keep federal money for Planned Parenthood out of the state. He declined to answer beyond noting he is pro-life.

I dont have any particular plans, he said. Im running because we need more high-wage jobs and thats my focus.

Bullock reaffirmed his support for womens right to make health care decisions by themselves.

The candidates also discussed figures showing that some state revenues have declined while others have grown more slowly than in recent years. By next summer, the states cash balance, which had been about $400 million in 2015, is projected to drop to $119 million.

Bullock said his good fiscal management means Montana is still in the black while neighbors like North Dakota and Wyoming have had to call special sessions to make steep cuts. He acknowledged, however, there will be some hard-fought decisions as the budget works through the 2017 Legislature.

Gianforte called the declining revenues proof of poor fiscal management. He noted that the states general fund spending had grown $800 million since Bullock was elected. The state spends about $6.2 billion annually across all funding sources.
MISSOULA -- Despite a contentious election, Gov. Steve Bullock and Republican challenger Greg Gianforte do agree on at least one matter: a belief that Missoulas new background check ordinance for gun purchases isn't in line with existing law.

During a meeting with the Missoulians editorial board on Thursday, Gianforte said he supports the Second Amendment, and thinks the ordinance is unconstitutional and against Montana law.

Our Second Amendment is really clear. It says the right to bear arms shall not be infringed, he said. I dont think anybody would argue that the ordinance that was passed is a lessening of restrictions; its an increasing of restrictions.

The new ordinance mandates background checks before the private transfer of firearms in Missoula city limits, with some exceptions. Such checks are already required for the purchase of a gun at a store.

Jason Pitt, Montana Democratic Party spokesman, said governor and former attorney general Bullock believes the ordinance is against state law.

"Steve believes that while it's critical for local leaders to be able to make their own decisions for their communities, those decisions have to be in line with the laws of our state, he said.

Gianforte said Thursday it was not clear that local municipalities have the authority to pass such a regulation.

The challenge you have is when you put these sort of rules in placem the only ones they burden are law-abiding citizens, he said. Criminals in a gun exchange are not going to do a background check."

Municipalities that pass their own ordinances regarding firearms could create a patchwork of regulations that would make it difficult for gun owners to obey the law, Gianforte said, but he also doesn't support a statewide universal background check statute.

I believe background checks are a step towards a gun registry, which I am opposed to, he said.

Legal opinion sought

The evening the ordinance passed at the Missoula City Council on Sept. 26, the speaker of Montana's House of Representatives, Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, wrote on his campaign Facebook page that he would ask Attorney General Tim Fox to issue a legal opinion on whether it conflicts with state law and the Montana Constitution.

John Barnes, director of communications for the Montana Department of Justice, said Friday that Foxs office has not received a request from Knudsen, who did not return a request for comment.

If issued, a legal opinion from Fox would would only be able to be overruled by a state district court or the Montana Supreme Court.

Knudsen, an attorney who graduated from the law school at the University of Montana, had said previously he felt the ordinance violated the Montana Constitution's right to bear arms and a state law, saying that except in certain circumstances, local governments cannot regulate the sale or transfer of firearms.

Last fall when the City Council first took up the ordinance, Missoula city attorney Jim Nugent issued an opinion that said the ordinance fell under such an exception. State law allows local governments the power to prevent and suppress ... the possession of firearms by convicted felons, adjudicated mental incompetents, illegal aliens and minors.

Nugent said Friday that is still the citys position, and it is prepared to defend the ordinance in a court if necessary, but declined to respond to the politicians questioning its legality.

I would prefer not to get in the midst of a political fight and thats what this is. Its politics season, he said.

Nugent said the proposal for the ordinance was brought to the city by local members from the nationwide group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and that public comment evenly split during a hearing last October, showing signficant support for the measure. Nugent said he thinks much of the controversy from opponents of the measure extending background checks to private sales is overreaction.

You cant prevent the City Council from giving consideration to a matter like this. That's what local governments are in part in place to consider, he said. "The courts will decide the law and the city is ready to defend the ordinance."
It seems as though the Republican Party finally looked in the mirror and realized they got a botched nose job.

But lopping off their Trump-sized problem this late in the presidential contest may prove difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish.

The fallout from the new audio that surfaced Friday of Trump demeaning women, even joking about violently pulling them around by their private parts, has been swift and is coming from every part of the GOP's diverse political spectrum.

On Saturday, congressional Republicans fled Trump in droves.

Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, who recently made headlines for calling Trump a good role model for her children (only to recant the statement within hours of making it), now says she won't be voting for Trump.

I wanted to be able to support my partys nominee, chosen by the people, because I feel strongly that we need a change in direction for our country, Ayotte said in a statement Saturday. However, Im a mom and an American first, and I cannot and will not support a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting women.

Female Republican senators followed her lead Saturday but three took it a step further. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, Deb Fischer and Lisa Murkowski called for him to step aside. Sen. Susan Collins declared she would not support Trump last summer. Only one female senator, junior Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, is still supporting Trump, but she too condemned his comments, calling them reprehensible.

But, of course, it wasnt just female members ending their support of Trump.

Many Republicans are now hoping to push Trump out, with mere weeks left in the election, and put his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, at the top of the ticket.

"Donald Trump should withdraw and Mike Pence should be our nominee effective immediately," tweeted Sen. John Thune (R-SD), who is a member of the Republican leadership team in the Senate.

Former Republican presidential nominee John McCain has also rescinded his support, while moderate Republicans who never tossed their support behind Trump in the first place, including Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman and Ohio Governor John Kasich, further condemned him.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who ran against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, told The Daily Beast: His comments are offensive and unacceptable. But for now, Paul is not pulling out of his endorsement.

GOP Rep. Joe Heck, who is running to replace Harry Reid in Nevada's open and close Senate race, has also walked back his support of Trump.

"I can no longer look past the pattern of behavior and comments that have been made by Donald Trump," Heck told a crowd in Nevada. "Therefore I cannot in good conscience ... continue to support Donald Trump, nor can I vote for Hillary Clinton."

Other prominent GOP Senate incumbents, like Pat Toomey (Pa.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.), stopped short of rescinding their support of Trump, even as they criticized him for the vulgar recording.

"Donald's comments were vulgar, egregious & impossible to justify. No one should ever talk about any woman in those terms, even in private, said Rubio, falling short of rescinding his support.

In total, around three-fourths of Republican members of the Senate either condemned the comments, said they wouldn't vote for the Republican nominee or demanded that he step aside.

And thats not all.

House Republicans are also jumping on the anti-Trump bandwagon. Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who has been spearheading many congressional investigations of Hillary Clinton, was the first member of the House to abandon Trump.

I cant tell the good people of Utah that I endorse a person who acts like this, Chaffetz said Friday night on CNN, adding that he doubts his state will go blue this year. Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Col.) and first-term Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) soon followed suit in pulling their endorsements.

The fight went beyond Republicans currently serving in office.

Republican action star and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Utah governor Jon Huntsman both rescinded their support of Trump. Huntsman went as far as to ask him to step aside for Pence, his running mate.

Even Condoleezza Rice weighed in. The former secretary of state, who seems allergic to election year politics, posted a message on Facebook Saturday evening.

Enough! Donald Trump should not be President. He should withdraw, she wrote.

As a Republican, I hope to support someone who has the dignity and stature to run for the highest office in the greatest democracy on earth.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, who threatened moderate Republicans who had previously withheld their support of the party's bombastic nominee, suspended the RNC's Victory Campaign, according to Politico, which was in place to help Trump win in November.

Pence canceled an event he was supposed to hold Saturday with House Speaker Paul Ryan, after the Trump campaign initially said the Indiana governor would be replacing him. Pence released a statement that read, in part: As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump.

I am sickened by what I heard today. Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified," Ryan said in a statement. "I hope Mr. Trump treats this situation with the seriousness it deserves and works to demonstrate to the country that he has greater respect for women than this clip represents."

For his part, Trump issued a rare apology, potentially a first for the brash billionaire who has written and bragged about never apologizing, for joking about violently handling women.

"I've said and done things I regret," Trump said in a video statement released late last night. "Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize.

The video statement, though, was somewhat of a double-down on the campaign's attempts to tie Hillary Clinton to her husbands marital infidelities.

Hillary Clinton and her kind have run our country into the ground, Mr. Trump continued. Ive said some foolish things, but theres a big difference between the words and actions of other people. Bill Clinton has actually abused women, and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims.

Those lines of attacks have angered some Republican operatives because of Trump's own infidelities. And the GOP candidate desperately needs suburban white female voters in his corner if he has any hopes of winning in key battleground states like Pennsylvania and Ohio.

The fallout from these newly released comments from Trump comes a week after the headlines were dominated by Trump's tongue-lashing of former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, whom he had previously called "Ms. Piggy" and "Ms. Housekeeper," after she gained weight.

Many Republicans are now hoping to push Trump out, with mere weeks left before the election, and have Pence carry the partys banner.

So far the former reality TV star has rebuffed calls for him to exit the race and save the party from fighting to maintain majorities in the House and Senate with a seemingly toxic nominee on top of the ticket.

And there were hints that his remorse was short lived. On Saturday afternoon he tweeted a statement blaming Democrats and the media for the current state of his campaign.

The controversy and rank and file blood-letting by the GOP comes a day before the much-anticipated second presidential debate in St. Louis, which is slated for Sunday night at 9pm EST.

Polls indicated that Hillary Clinton resoundingly won the first debate, which broke records for viewership. With Trump's newly-unearthed comments leading cable news Friday evening and into the weekend, millions of viewers are expected to tune in on Sunday to watch Trump's train wreck of a campaign continue to unfold in real time.
Mike Pence has denounced his running mate . Kellyanne Conway is literally running away from the press . Dozens of prominent Republicans have either withdrawn their support or called for their candidate to drop out of the race. But there are still a few brave souls willing to defend Donald Trump in public.

You can find them on cable news, especially on CNN, which has made the audio of Trump bragging about sexually assaulting random women its latest wall-to-wall story since it was leaked to the Washington Post on Friday afternoon. The channel that Trump has taken to calling the Clinton News Network has made an effort to represent his side throughout its ongoing coverage of the story, and somehow has not had much trouble finding surrogates, including several women, eager to defend their man.

It started early in the evening on Friday when Trumps former campaign manager-turned-paid media booster Corey Lewandowski tried to explain away the comments as just more speaking from the heart, claiming that fucking women and grabbing pussy is how people talk around their dining room table.

But while there was nothing particularly surprising about an accused abuser of women like Lewandowskior Fox News Bill OReilly, who called Trumps words crude guy talkdismissing the candidates behavior, there was something more unnerving about watching Trumps army of female surrogates rushing to rationalize his most disgusting display of misogyny yet.

In primetime, CNN welcomed both Kayleigh McEnany and Scottie Nell Hughes, who have spent the last year and a half taking Trumps side in countless cable news showdowns, and asked them, how do you defend this? While both women called Trumps comments inexcusable they stressed that the words were not unforgivable. Instead of holding Trump accountable, Hughes laid equal blame on pop culture and rap music and tried to pivot the conversation to the Wikileaks release of excerpts from Hillary Clintons Wall Street speeches.

More than four hours later, Trump had finally released his 90 second taped video apology during which he again claimed that the Clintons have done far worse to women that he has. When the video ended, Hughes was still on CNN and still excusing her candidates behavior. As longtime #NeverTrump-er Ana Navarro once again denounced Trumps disgusting behavior, Hughes looked like she might be about to break down.

Every single Republican is going to have to answer the question, what did you do the day you saw the tape of this man boasting about grabbing a womans pussy? Navarro asked. That last word went un-bleeped, as it had throughout the night, during the live broadcast.

At that moment, even though it was nearly 1 a.m. on the East Coast, Hughes asked Navarro to stop saying that word because her daughter was watching. Dont tell me youre offended when I say pussy but youre not offended when Donald Trump says it! Navarro shot back.

On Saturday, as more and more Republicans continued to run away from Trump, more of his defenders came out of the woodwork for damage control. Former GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann, who has been out the spotlight since she quit Congress two years ago, emerged to accuse the Clinton campaign of orchestrating the tapes release in an attempt to manipulate the media despite all evidence to the contrary.

Later, conservative radio host Stacy Washington laid blame on a culture, from hip hop to Hollywood, that has allowed women to be degraded on a daily basis. But instead of that being an argument against Trump, she was using it as an excuse for his admittedly disgusting behavior.

Shouldnt there be a different standard for someone who wants to be president of the United States, host Fredricka Whitfield wanted to know? Since Bill Clinton, weve seen a steady degradation of what we expect from our public officials, Washington replied. Like Trump, she seemed be saying, Hillary Clintons husband did some unsavory things too, so we should give the Republican a pass.

By Saturday evening, McEnany was laughing off the idea that Trump could ever do something bad enough to lose her support alongside perennial Trump boosters Jeffrey Lord and Andy Dean. She even applauded Trumps response, saying he rose to the occasion with his perfunctory video apology. She was looking forward to a heartfelt moment during Sundays debate in which she predicted he will connect with the American people in a meaningful way. She may have to keep waiting.

These are people who were virtually unknown before Trump launched his bid for the presidency and have now achieved some modicum of fame, at least in the incestuous world of political news. They arent about to give that up just because the man theyve pledged their lives to once said some things are currently giving America collective nausea. Like Trump, they are in too deep. Quitting now would go against their politically-incorrect-at-all-costs brand. Common decency be damned!

But one woman who at least thinks she may still have time to save herself is Trumps current defender-in-chief Kellyanne Conway. The prolific tweeter has been silent on Twitter for more than 24 hours. And while she was scheduled to appear on the relatively-friendly Fox News Sunday this weekend, the campaign has just announced that she will be replaced by Rudy Giuliani.
After Donald Trumps latest round of rants, a fourth-generation Minnesota Republican like Vin Weber tells me in an email, The honest and truthful response is that I dont know who Ill vote for. Just that it wont be Trump. Asked if he will vote for Hillary Clinton, he wont say yes; he wont say no. It sounds like he is leaving the door open for Hillary.

How does it feel crossing over from being a top lieutenant in Newt Gingrichs revolution to being seen as a pillar of the GOP establishment? Thats what I asked Weber, who served six terms in the House from 1981 to 1993 as the bombastic Gingrichs mild-mannered sidekick. Im not entirely comfortable, but I get why youre asking, he replied. Being part of the establishment is not necessarily where I want to be.

Weber once reveled in defying party leaders and kicking open the doors of power. But two decades of lobbying for various business interests in the health field and banking industry tends to sand down those hard partisan edges. And then there is Trump. Weber concluded early on that he couldnt support Trump, and as Election Day nears, hes setting aside some of his Minnesota nice to unload on his partys nominee.

A party needs to think hard about putting somebody in the most powerful government position on the planet who has not one days experience in governing, he said in a phone interview from his cabin in Walker, Minnesota. We spoke on the afternoon of Trumps tweet storm about former Miss Universe Alicia Machado.

You dont need to go into all his personal characteristics, just look at his policies, Weber urged. Deporting 11 million people. If some Third World country did that, we would call it a human rights atrocity. He also cites the things Trump has said to undermine NATO and how he has cast the GOP as more protectionist on trade than the Democrats, policy positions that kick away time-honored strongholds of Republican thinking.

I reminded Weber that he and Gingrich had stood up as leaders of a faction within the GOP in 1991 to oppose President George H.W. Bushs proposed tax increase, a defiance that set the stage for Bushs reelection defeat, and for the GOPs subsequent takeover of the House. Visiting the White House with Gingrich, Weber asked the president what worried him the most about the two of them, and Bush replied, I worry that sometimes your idealism may get in the way of what I think of as sound governing.

He was very nice, Weber recalled. He could have used much different words. He talked about our idealism instead of saying our utter irresponsibility. Breaking with him on the tax issue was painfulits still painful for me.

Yet he defends his opposition on economic groundshes a supply-sider, and didnt think a tax increase was neededand on political grounds. Giving away the tax issue was ludicrous, he says. It was a huge political mistake, and he paid the ultimate price, losing reelection.

Asked if there was anything else he did along the way during that turbulent time on Capitol Hill that he regretted, he singled out targeting individual members for corruption. He was referring to then-Democratic Speaker Jim Wright, whom Republicans essentially drummed out of office for profiting from bulk purchases of his book, Reflections of a Public Man.

Bringing ethics charges became a tool of partisan warfare. I dont want to defend his behavior, but we set out to win (the House) and we targeted individuals. It did poison the atmosphere. Im sorry we did it, says Weber.

What goes around comes around, and Weber himself chose not to run again in 1992 after becoming ensnared in what was known as the House banking scandal. The revelation that the House bank routinely covered overdrafts written by lawmakers angered the public and ended a number of careers.

Its important to remember the mindset back then, Weber says. Ronald Reagan had won a 49-state landslide not long before, but even after that, he couldnt pass a positive conservative agenda on domestic issues. Weber and Gingrich knew there was no way Republicans, whod been out of power in the House for 40 years, could achieve a positive conservative agenda without controlling the House.

And thats where their idealism came in, says Weber: I can tell you we really believed that our policies would make the economy better for everybody. We may have been wrong, but Im not sure todays conservatives believe that. A lot of them believe that they need to stop something bad from happening, and that disaster will come if we dont win.

In this campaign, Weber started out backing Jeb Bush, whose optimistic vision was embodied in the name of his Super Pac, Right to Rise, and in his emphasis on economic growth and social mobility. Thats what we used to believe in, says Weber. Nothing about that is anti-establishment, though, and the need to be discourteous is what appalls me so much.

Weber serves on numerous boards, including the Council on Foreign Relations and the Aspen Institute, associations that widened his circle of associates and friends and broadened his outlook. All of these things put me in the position of working with Democrats and liberals, and its made me realize all of life is not a competition for power between competing blocs, he says.

In 1998, he worked with Democrats to try and tamp down the fever for impeachment among his former House colleagues. There was no way it was in our national interest to remove the president, he argued.

In August, Weber told CNBC, I cant imagine Id remain a Republican if he (Trump) becomes president. Hed like to amend that vow, and now says, I will not abandon the fight, and there will be a fight regardless of whether he wins or loses. I cant imagine being part of a Donald Trump party.

Its worse if he wins because he will be the president. Hes developed a faction in the Republican Party, and thats bad enough. If he wins the presidency, there will be fights, but the president has the upper hand. It will be a very uphill fight.

And if Trump loses? A man who wont accept he lost the first debate is unlikely to go quietly, Weber says. Hes laid the groundwork to claim the result is rigged. To raise questions about the legitimacy of the election is dangerous in a democracy. But its when the establishment could have its finest hour. I know Hillary only a little and I know some of her best friends very well, he says. And I know Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell, and theres no reason they cant sit down together because all these people want to get things doneand ditto Chuck Schumer (likely Senate leader should the Democrats gain the majority).

Webers long journey from the partisan fringe of Congress to the center of power in a divided city and country could be a saving grace. Win or lose the White House, the GOP is at war with itself. And just as Weber as a young man helped define the GOP that came to power in the 1990s, he will now at age 64 be an elder statesmen wise enough to build bridges that he once helped burn down.

But hes not saying whether he can go so far as to vote for Clinton. He has occasionally voted for Democrats in down-ballot races in Minnesota, he says, but he never went public about it. What he will do in the privacy of the voting booth will be left to the imagination of others.
When it comes to the political hurricane surging over Donald Trump and his presidential juggernaut, Breitbart News seems to be flirting with a messaging technique that was embraced more than a decade ago by Baghdad Bob.

Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf, Saddam Husseins minister of information during the second Gulf War, enjoyed a brief period of notorietyand acquired that memorable nicknamefor his uncanny ability to find the silver lining in every dark cloud, especially when it didnt exist.

In April 2003, as thousands of American troops in armored vehicles took control of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad Bobs daily briefings for Western journalists included his confident, smiling pronouncement that U.S. soldiers were being slaughtered and beginning to commit suicide at the walls of the city; denials that allied tanks had arrived, even as they could be heard rumbling through nearby streets; and, on his final public appearance before his world came crashing down, a prediction that the infidels are going to surrender or be burned in their tanks. They will surrender, it is they who will surrender.

It is no doubt unfair to ascribe the same level of fanatical fact-avoidance to the right-wing populist media outletnamed for its late founder, the rabble-rousing firebrand Andrew Breitbart, and dubbed TrumpBart during the 2016 campaign.

Yet theres a conspicuous disconnect between the political reality reflected on Breitbart.com and the one represented in The New York Times, Washington Post, broadcast and cable networks, and other mainstream media organizations which are portraying a Trump campaign in deep crisis over the candidates ugly and obscene remarks on the Access Hollywood outtake as he prepares for his second televised debate opposite Hillary Clinton.

In Breitbarts coverage, the GOP nominee remains within striking distance of the White House while buoyantly swatting away the hemorrhaging of official Republican support and rising calls from GOP office-holders for his resignation. Trump has sincerely apologized for his comments, and he remains happily married to his wife Melania, who accepts his apology and calls him a man with the heart and mind of a leader.

That the website is accentuating the positive, and minimizing the negative, is hardly surprising given that Breitbart News Chairman Stephen K. Bannon, a pugnacious ideological warrior and former Goldman Sachs banker, took a leave of absence from the site in order to become CEO of Trumps campaign. Former Breitbart employees have suggested that Bannon, with his famously hands-on attention to detail, still regularly weighs in on how Breitbart reports on the campaign; Breitbart editor in chief Alex Marlow didnt respond to a series of emails from The Daily Beast asking if thats true, among other questions.

Instead, a PR rep sent a link to Breitbarts brief summary of The Washington Posts Friday scoop on Trumps offensive remarks in off-camera banter 11 years ago with then Access Hollywood host Billy Bush, and noted: It got 16,000 comments. We think that is a robust group of readers.

Still, Breitbart is playing the weekends top political news as, at best, a side issue. On Sunday, The Posts website led with the headline, Crisis grips GOP as more Republicans urge Trump to quit. But Breitbart splashed EXCLUSIVE VIDEOBROADDRICK, WILLEY, JONES TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME, in which Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Willey, and Paula Joneswho all say theyve been victimized by Bill Clintons alleged sexual harassment and attackswent on camera to express their personal fear of Hillary Clinton and to warn voters that Clinton does not stand for womens issues, the website reports.

Trump helpfully tweeted that one out.

A second story is headlined EXCLUSIVEVideo Interview: Bill Clinton Accuser Juanita Broaddrick Relives Brutal Rapes, in which Broaddrick, a nursing home administrator in 1978, tearfully recounted her alleged sexual assault by the future 42nd president that she said occurred 38 years ago when Clinton was running his first race for governor of Arkansas.

Its a story she has been telling repeatedly since a 1999 network television interview on Dateline NBC.

Im afraid of him, a sobbing Broaddrick confides to Breitbart Washington reporter Aaron Klein, especially if she becomes president, and I know its looking that way.

Unmentioned in Breitbarts coverage of the case is that Bill Clinton categorically denied the allegation or that Broaddrick, as Jane Doe No. 5 in a sworn affidavit in January 1998, also had refuted rumors that Mr. Clinton had made unwelcome sexual advances toward me in the late seventies.

Kleins accompanying story, which echoes Trumps reported debate strategy against Clinton Sunday night, began: While The Washington Post was busy putting the finishing touches on the release of a video in which Donald Trump boasted about hitting on womena decidedly bowdlerized description of Trumps obscene, coarse misogyny in the outtake, in which the then-Apprentice star bragged that his fame allowed him to force himself on women and grab their genitalsJuanita Broaddrick was in town at the historic Watergate Hotel, where she repeatedly broke down in tears during a powerful video interview exclusive to Breitbart News

Scrolling down from the top of Breitbart.com, readers can find stories headlined HOW HILLARY CLINTON TREATED BILL CLINTONS FEMALE ACCUSERS; POLL: GOP VOTERS READY TO STAND BY TRUMP DESPITE LEWD COMMENTS; and WIKILEAKS: CLINTON ADMITTED TO LYING ABOUT GENDER PAY GAP.

Meanwhile, a headline about the Republican speaker of the Housea frequent Breitbart target for his lack of enthusiasm for Trump, among other sinsclaims: PAUL RYAN SHOUTED DOWN BY TRUMP SUPPORTERS IN WISCONSIN, no matter that Ryan (who called Trumps comments sicken[ing]) never lost stride as he kept speaking over a group of pro-Trump hecklers at a Saturday rally to which Ryan had disinvited the Republican nominee, and Trumps running mate, Mike Pence decided at the last minute not to attend, apparently out of distress at the standard-bearers comments. (Breitbartwhose story about Indiana governors condemnation of Trumps comments ran under the headline, PENCE: GRATEFUL THAT TRUMP HAS EXPRESSED REMORSE AND APOLOGIZED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLEdutifully reported Pences non-attendance, but didnt give a reason.)

A constant theme of Breitbarts coverage is anti-Trump bias in the mainstream media. For instance, a headline over a story about NBC News political director and Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todds conversations with Republican officialsNBCs Chuck TODD: THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE IS OVERwrongly attributes to Todd the reported views of Republicans. At no point did Todd cite polling data to support his claims, which appeared to be his own analysis, reported at the top of the news hour, the story pointedly notednever mind that Todd was citing his talks with Republicans.

Nowhere is the websites worldview on more vibrant display than in stories under the byline of Matthew Boyle, Breitbarts Washington political editor who has privately boasted to fellow journalists that he expects to be named White House press secretary if Trump happens to win the presidency.

The three stories hes written seem to reflect that ambition (although Boyle claimed seven months ago in an email to this reporter that he was merely trash-talking at dinner).

A Boyle story on Saturday, headlined Melania Trump Accepts Donalds Apology, Implores Nation to Join Her in Backing Him Against Hillary Clinton, highlights this rosy scenario: The issuance of this statement shows how strongly she supports her husband, and shows how seriously the campaign is taking this matter, since Melania Trump rarely speaks out in public. Her acceptance of his apologywhich he issued in a video statement late Friday nightand imploring of the country to support him and join her in accepting his apology may eventually put a stop to the political fallout Trump is facing.

A second story about the debacle, Anti-Trump Republicans Rush to Express Outrage over Trump Video with George H.W. Bushs Nephew, seems to imply without quite saying so that perhaps the anti-Trump, Republican-establishment Bush family might have had something to do with the damaging leak.

Meanwhile, mainstream media outlets have engineered it into a major scandal. And the Bushes and anti-Trump Republicans appear at the center of every turn in it, Boyle reports.

A third Boyle story published since the scandal exploded is headlined, ExclusiveBreitbart/Gravis Colorado Poll: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton Tied in Key Western Battleground State.

Posted on Saturday morning, as other news organizations were reporting that the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee were grappling with a Category 5 controversy, Boyles story declared: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is [emphasis added] tied with Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton in the all-important western battleground state of Colorado, a new Breitbart News Network/Gravis Marketing survey from the state shows.

The Gravis Marketing survey resultsan outlier in a Real Clear Politics polling average that shows Clinton with a 7.3 percent lead in Coloradocome from questioning registered voters three and four days before the eruption of Trumps game-changing scandal.

Perhaps Breitbart and Boyle can argue, as someone once said a very long time ago, it depends upon what the meaning of the word is is.
A shooting at the scene of a Palm Springs home Saturday left two police officers dead: one a veteran of the force two months away from retirement, the other a new mother who had just returned from maternity leave.

Police say the Saturday confrontation began as a domestic dispute. Twenty-six-year-old John Felixs parents called on police, then neighbors for help after their son allegedly began acting crazy shortly after noon. But the family dispute turned into a deadly, night-long standoff after Felix allegedly opened fire on officers, killing two and wounding another as they approached the home.

I am awake in a nightmare right now, Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes said in a Saturday evening press conference. Until that day, the southern California city had only seen two police officers killed on duty: one shot during a 1961 armed robbery, and another killed in a 1962 car crash, the citys Desert Sun newspaper reported.

But by Saturday, that figure had doubled, with the deaths of one the forces longest-serving veterans, and of one their newest members.

Officer Jose Gil Vega had served on the Palm Springs force for 35 years, before he was shot and killed Saturday, Reyes said. A decorated officer and a father of eight, the 63-year-old Vega had already submitted his paperwork for a December retirement. But until then, Vega was dedicated to his work. He hadnt been scheduled for duty on Saturday, but had chosen to work overtime when he responded to the call at the Felix home.

Officer Lesley Zerebny had served on the Palm Springs force for 18 months when she answered the Saturday call. Reyes remembered the 27-year-old as a dedicated officer who worked to improve her community, relating an incident several weeks prior, in which Zerebny had tried to calm a woman acting erratic in a local supermarket. Zerebny had recently returned from maternity leave, after giving birth to her daughter, now four months old. In the wake of her death, Zerebnys friends and family have started a donation campaign for her husband, a sheriffs deputy who will now raise their daughter alone.

Details of Felixs arrest early Sunday morning are still emerging. Responding to the domestic dispute call shortly after noon on Saturday, officers approached the front door, attempting to coax Felix outside. Instead of complying, Felix allegedly shot three officers through the door, killing Vega and Zerebny, and injuring a third, unnamed officer. What followed was a 12-hour standoff, during which police deployed armored vehicles, chemical agents, and a robot-mounted camera to sweep the house where Felix was hiding.

When a SWAT team captured Felix as he exited the home early Sunday morning, he was wearing soft body armor and carrying a number of high capacity [gun] magazines, police announced in a Sunday press conference. It is unclear whether he had planned for the standoff.

The 12-hour standoff was a night of terror on the quiet Palm Springs street, neighbors said.

Neighbor Frances Serrano arrived on the scene before police. She had been pulling into her driveway when Felixs father called her for help, she told The Daily Beast.

I saw his dad outside the garage. He was waving at me, calling me. He was shaking, Serrano said. He said I need help. My sons in the house. Hes not supposed to be in the house. He has a restraining order. Hes acting crazy. My wife and I are scared.

Felix, a confessed gang member, had a formidable rap sheet. In 2009, he was charged with attempted murder, which was later downgraded to assault with a deadly weapon. He served two years in prison for the crime, and an additional two years for gang-related charges, which kept him in prison until 2013, the Desert Sun reported. In 2013 he was charged with malicious noise after an incident at the same Palm Springs address where he allegedly shot police on Saturday. He also has a 2009 conviction for disturbing the peace, and a 2014 DUI conviction.

So when a dispute broke out Saturday, Felixs parents were quick to call for help. Serrano offered to call police, but Felixs father said police were already on their way. The father said [Felix] had a gun, she said. He said [police] were going to save him.

Police say Felixs mother placed the first 911 call. A female caller reported that her adult son was causing a disturbance at the residence, Reyes said. The officers, from what I understand, were at the front trying to negotiate with the suspect to just comply It was a simple family disturbance and he elected to open fire.

Serrano, who watched Felix grow up in the neighborhood, said she knew hed gone to prison, but that his alleged actions still came as a shock. He was a young nice guy. Very polite, very nice. I cant believe he could do such a thing, she said. Even though hes 26, hes still acting like a kid. You see him outside playing ball. You think theres no way he can do a thing like this.

When she heard the first gunshots, Serrano didnt recognize the sound. I thought he was banging the garage door, she said of Felix.

But what followed was a terrifying night of watching and waiting. As Felix barricaded himself in the home, police stationed floodlights and megaphones outside his house, demanding in English and in Spanish that he come out with his hands up. Then they began ramming down doors and walls with an armored car and firing some kind of spraylikely teargasthrough cracks before Felix tried escaping out the back door.

The attic was falling apart, Serrano said, speculating as to Felixs hiding place. They were spraying for a good 45 minutes to an hour with the armored car before he emerged.

Felix was arrested on two charges of murdering a police officer, and one charge of attempting to murder a police officer. He is expected to appear in court on Thursday.

My employees are broken. If theres ever a time to pray for Palm Springs PD, its now, Reyes said. We will get through this.

When recalling the standoff, Serrano kept returning to the moments after the officers deaths.

Its very scary when you hear those gunshots, she said. Just nonstop. It was 50, 60, 70 [shots]. It was nonstop. It just kept going and going and going.

And then it became very quiet.
Donald Trumps plan to rescue his campaign ahead of the second presidential debate became clear on Sunday morning: apologize, then attack.

The Republican presidential nominee has lost endorsements from key Republicans in the wake of his lewd and sexually explicit comments about women in 2005 that were revealed for the first time on Friday. The remarks essentially legitimized sexual assault, many said, and are likely to doom his campaign barring a major turn-around, as new polls show him trailing in key battleground states.

Trump and his surrogates indicated on Sunday morning that they are gearing up for a fightboth against the Clintons as well as the Republicans who have abandoned him in the fallout from the remarks.

The next battlefield will be in St. Louis on Sunday night for the second presidential debate, when Trump faces off with his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

In the early aftermath from the universally condemned remarks, Trump issued a rare apology in a video statement late Friday nightonly to go on the attack 60 seconds later against Hillary Clinton, painting her as a bully who intimidated the women with whom Bill Clinton had extramarital affairs.

On Sunday, that strategy was put into full force.

While Rudy Giuliani, one of his top surrogates, was making the Sunday show rounds, Trump retweeted some of his supporters who were clearly angry that top Republicans were pulling their support from the nominee. One supporter called them traitors.

In another tweet, Trump called those abandoning him self-righteous hypocrites who are sure to lose their respective elections, thereby placing the GOPs House and Senate majorities in jeopardy.

On Sunday, Trump demonstrated his willingness to rebuff anti-Trump Republicans and bring the rest of the party down with him.

According to The New York Times, Trump surrogates were urged to wage war on the congressional Republicans no longer supporting him.

They are more concerned with their political future than they are about the future of the country, is one of the talking points Trump surrogates have reportedly been encouraged to use when describing fleeing Republicans.

Trump won the primary without the help of the insiders and hell win the general without them, too, reads another.

However, on Sunday morning, top Trump surrogates including campaign manager Kellyanne Conway and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, in addition to Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, were unwilling to stump for Trump in the immediate aftermath.

All three were pulled from the political talk shows in favor of Giuliani, who previewed what to expect from Trump on Sunday night as he looks to rebound from a less-than-stellar performance at the first contest.

In addition to reiterating the apology from team Trump and the assertion that the former reality TV star is a different man than he was in 2005, Giuliani repeated Trumps lines about Hillary Clintons role in the aftermath of her husbands infidelities.

In other words: this means war.

At the first presidential debate, Trump refrained from mentioning Bill Clintons infidelities. But Trumps video statement as well as his Sunday morning tweet-storm indicate he might be changing coursegearing up to unload on the Clintons on Sunday night.

For his part, Giuliani said on ABCs This Week that he did not know for sure whether that was part of Trumps debate plan, but added that it depends on how the debate goes.
I never considered marrying someone who wasnt Jewish. The thought of wedding and starting a family with someone who was not a member of the tribe was not up for debate in my mind.

Or that was the case when I moved to New York City after college.

I assumed that in a city with over one million Jews, more than any other urban area in the country, sticking to dating within the faith wouldnt be hard.

Now, roughly five years of post-college dating has got me rethinking that original convictionspecifically, the five years of seeing the same guy show up on Jswipe, then Bumble with a little purple Jewish star icon to indicate on this secular dating app that hes NJB (Nice Jewish Boy), and that same guy messaging, scheduling a drink, and then flaking, sometimes trying to reschedule in a half-assed way, sometimes not.

I dont mean to imply that such frustrating dating experiences are exclusive to courtship within the Jewish pool. It should go without saying these irritating experiences are a facet of dating across religions, as well as sexes and sexual orientations. When I feel dating fatigue, I think of HBOs Sex and the Citys Charlotte York, who wailed Ive been dating since I was 15. Im exhausted. Where is he?

Charlotte has a few more years of dating experience on me, but that exhaustion resonates (and, ironically, WASPy Charlotte ultimately converts to Judaism for her husband, Harry).

It may be the biggest reason why now I give greater pause when a friend from college (Jewish but with an emphasis on the ish) says Finding the right person is hard enough as it is. Why limit yourself?

I turned to Naomi Schaefer Riley, who wrote 2013s Til Faith Do Us Part: How Interfaith Marriage Is Transforming America, for which she commissioned a study on interfaith couples.

Riley, herself, is Jewish and married a man who is not. I asked her if intermarrying tended to increase when, like me or Sex and the Citys Charlotte, we get older and, to be frank, were tired of the canceled drinks, the last-minute dates, the frustration.

I definitely found that the older you are when you marry, the more likely you are to marry out, Riley told me. However, she noted, its not the stereotype that theyre desperate and marry anyone.

Rather, Riley explained, I think its were all putting marriage off later and later, and that decade between twenty to thirty is a time when were not that religious, traditionally. Weve left our parents home; were living in this single netherworld, moving to different cities. All these factors put the pressure on people not to be part of a religious community. Their lives are so transient.

If your religion isnt playing a significant (or any) role in your social life, it doesnt necessarily make sense that the romantic partner you pick at this time would share your religion. A lot of people say marriage is an issue of opportunity the people we go to school with, work with, Riley said. If youre not a part of a religious community, attending services regularly, the chance youll marry someone in that community drops significantly.

Perhaps, then, its no wonder that the rates of Jewish intermarriage have been growing since the 1960s and are pretty darn high. According to a 2013 survey from the Pew Research Center, the rate of intermarriage among non-Orthodox Jews is 71 percent.

Thus, statistically, as an American Jew who is not Orthodox, there are overwhelming odds that I will, ultimately, marry someone who is not Jewishif I marry at all (the fast-growing number of single Americans suggest theres also a decent shot I wont wed).

Moreover, its not just, as Riley referred to, an issue of opportunity. The logic behind exclusively marrying someone who shares your religion doesnt necessarily seem compelling in a modern and increasingly secular society.

Paul Golin, the Executive Director of the Society for Humanistic Judaism and co-author of How to Raise Jewish Children Even When Youre Not Jewish Yourself spoke to me about his own experience marrying someone who wasnt Jewish.

Like myself, Golin was raised in the Conservative Judaism, so less observant than the more traditional Orthodox community but more so than Reform.

I grew up with messaging from my parents, my rabbi, and my community that I should only be with Jewish women. My mother was born in a displaced persons camp in Berlin right after the war because her parents lost their homes in the Holocaust. My grandma told me regularly, If youre marrying someone who is not Jewish, youre finishing what Hitler started, Golin said.

At the same time, Golin said he received this counter-message, meaning he was also taught by his community and family to judge everybody as an individual. If youre judging people for their race, their religion, or or their socioeconomic status, youre the worse for itexcept when it comes to who you marry. I felt that was a very hypocritical message growing up.

Golin said his familys views on his marrying outside the Jewish faith had significantly changed by the time he walked down the aisle Heres a secret, he told me with a laugh. If you wait until youre 36 to get married, your folks are just so happy youre getting married.

He even sensed a change of heart in his grandmother when she met his then-girlfriend, now-wife, who is of Japanese heritage. After meeting her at a family event, his grandma, who was hard of hearing, shouted, Japan saved some Jews during the war, Golin recalled. I took it as, Okay, I got my grandmas stamp of approval.

Golins story is an inspiring one. Yet, at the same time, it also reminded me of some of my friends who have not so-distant cousins who perished in the Holocaust; two generations later and an intermarriage or two along the way, they do not think of themselves as Jewish at all.

Granted, theres hardly a simple and direct relationship between such full-on assimilation. Rather, I cite this example as one of the stories that reminds me that maintaining an identity is a concerted effort.

And its critical to me that I and any children I may have share that Jewish identity. I know that I ultimately desire my own Jewish familya desire that feels especially strong around this time of year, the High Holidays.

As I attend my familys synagogue and notice the young broods, sticky with pieces of apple and honey (traditional Rosh Hashanah food for a sweet new year), I cannot imagine a happy future without these milestones.

Then again, dating and marrying someone who is not Jewish is not necessarily mutually exclusive with such a future. The message of Sex and The City, and romantics and pragmatists alike is: you love who you love. Follow that and dont be constrained by any boundaries.

Golin pointed out that if youre going to talk about millennials and the younger generation, half or more of them who consider themselves Jewish are from intermarried families.

The same Pew Research Center study that showed the intermarriage rate for non-Orthodox Americans Jews at over 70 percent also revealed that a solid 59 percent of Americans aged 18 to 29 from intermarried families (where one parent is Jewish and one is not) identifies as Jewish.

As someone who is intermarried and currently raising her children Jewish, Riley certainly makes it seem like that Jewish family is viable. However, she stressed that it takes work and doesnt come without taboo or difficult conversations.

I am definitely in a distinct minority. I told my future husband on our first date I wanted to raise my children Jewish, and in most first date contexts, that would make me seem like a lunatic, Riley said.

Bringing up those religious issues early on is critical to navigating an interfaith relationship, even if theyre frowned upon, especially if youre a woman. Theres a lot of pressure on women not to seem so serious early on in a relationship. The stereotype is they seem like nags, said Riley. Thats part of the problem.

In her research for Til Faith Do Us Part, Riley found that half of the couples she interviewed didnt discuss bring up these childrearing concerns until after they already said I do.

Its funny. On one hand, we date for longer; we feel we know so much about them [our spouses], Riley said. But, I found that half the people I surveyed didnt talk about what religion they wanted to raise their children. How did you skip over that? You skip over it because its deeply uncomfortable.

As I ring in the Jewish new year, I realize expanding my dating pool beyond the tribe could potentially give me more options, more chances at finding that match, in year 5777. But, what I really may need more of is mazel.
After eviscerating Donald Trump in its cold open, this weeks episode also gave a platform to Jimmy Fallon to offer a mea culpa of sorts for his critically savaged softball interview with the presidential candidate on The Tonight Show earlier this fall.

Does one tongue-in-cheek hair tousle from Tina Fey absolve a negligent late-night interviewer of his crimes? Well, never underestimate the power of Fey.

Fey and Fallon appeared in the Weekend Update segment of the show as two undecided female voters from suburban Pennsylvaniathe demographic with the potential to make the most impact this election season.

The best part of their appearance: their Clifton Heights accents and intensely specific, spot-on Delaware County allusions. The most groan-worthy part: Jimmy Fallon, after all this time, is still breaking in SNL sketches. The ehfine part: Fallons redemption.

The two women begin the sketch by flaming that they dont know who theyll vote for. Whatever, you love Trump! Everyone thinks you love Trump, Fey says to Fallon, ribbing him then messing with his (well, her, in character) hair, mimicking the much-derided noogie Fallon gave Trump.

Fallons character claims its not true: I said it one time! Get off my bra strap, cool police, seemingly addressing critics of his Trump interview. He adds, I dont like Trump! I dont like that he called Alicia Machado fat.

Then the two traded a handful of cracks about the candidates and the election. On Trumps attack on Alicia Machados weight, Fey says, Does this guy have mirrors in his house? He looks like someone opened a quesadilla to pick the chicken out.

They do an extended bit on not respecting Hillary Clinton because she didnt exact good enough revenge on any of the women who accused Bill Cinton of having an affair with them. In Delco, a wife would at the very least cut off the other womans ponytailif not unleash a family of mice in the drop ceiling of her pizza placefor something like that.

As for Trumps grab them by the pussy comments? It doesnt bother them. When youre a big star like that, the rules are different, Fey says. Like when youre at the Mummers Parade and the firemen dressed as clowns are already drunk and sort of honk your boob as they walk past. (Again, these Delaware County references are amazing.) So hes like a drunk clown on the street? Weekend Update co-host Colin Jost asks.

In the end, it was silly fun to see Fey and Fallon back together at the Update desk. And its interesting that Fallon is using another late-night show for celebrity image rehab. Thats typically what his series is for, and arguably what got him in hot water in the first place: offering a jovial safe space to humanize and make Trumpand by extension, his values and behaviorseem fun.

But hey, were not the cool police. Who are we to judge?
When Kate Kelly, founder of the Mormon feminist group Ordain Women, was accused of apostasy, she couldnt readily access the Church Handbook of Instructions, Volume 1, for the definition. So Kelly and Nadine Hansen, a lawyer representing her in her hearings, had to turn elsewhere.

"The only way that women can access that volume is by accessing it online at WikiLeaks, Kelly told The Daily Beast.

Before Church insiders began leaking Latter Day Saint videos and documents through the so-called MormonLeaks, WikiLeaks was an unlikely ally for church members looking for ease of access to restricted texts. And while the online organizations religious troublemaking is best known for its expose of Scientology, it also revealed previously unavailable documents from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Fellowship of Friends, and other organizations.

The Mormon Church didnt take the leaks quietly. They tried to fight distribution by claiming copyright infringement. (WikiLeaks will not remove the handbooks, which are of substantial interest to current and former mormons, a representative of the group said at the time.)

It is frankly annoying, as a woman, to be told, in a patronizing fashion, that I'm not allowed to see and read the CHI for myself, but that it has to be interpreted for me by a male priesthood holder, a woman identifying herself as the original source posted.

Kellys church troubles started with her advocacy for womens ordination. In the Mormon Church, all men in good standing can hold the priesthood, but no women can. The church relies heavily on lay leadership, and men who hold the priesthood cycle through positions as bishops or stake presidents, local leaders, and a few make it up the hierarchy to higher office.

But the very disparity she was protesting impeded Kellys ability to prepare her own defense. There are two volumes of the Church Handbook of Instructions, and the second is available to anyone. The first, however, is designed for church leaders.

Only a handful of women have regular access to Volume 1, which outlines disciplinary proceedings, while many men cycle through positions that require them to read it. "No other women have access to that, except lots of people who have downloaded it from WikiLeaks, Hansen, the lawyer, said. (Women are sometimes permitted to review parts of it with their local bishops, Hansen noted.)

The result is "like being governed in a place where you're not allowed to have access to the statutes that you're required to follow, Hansen told The Daily Beast. "None of those rules are unnecessarily given to the people."

In addition to rules and definitions, the handbook outlines disciplinary proceedings, which start start with counseling by the offenders local bishop. But people who dont have access to the first volume of the handbook may not realize that the counseling is not just concern, but the first level if being disciplined by the Church.

"They understand that they're being counseled, but they don't understand that where Church discipline starts is in that counseling session, Hansen said.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did not respond to requests for comment.

And in subsequent disciplinary proceedings, women are tried by their local bishop and two other men, while men get 15 men to hear their case, under the stake president. (They also get assigned six of the 12 high council members at the hearing to advocate for them.) Yet the first volume of the handbook states that women can object to a hearing by their bishop, and have the 15-member trial instead.

"But how could they even know that hey could object to the bishop and move it up to the high council if they want to?" Hansen said.

In Kellys case, however, the leaked rulebook was the only guide to her perceived offenses.

In this Statement, references will be made to the Church Handbook of Instructions, 2010 version, Hansen wrote in a statement in support of Kelly. I do not know whether that version is the version currently in use, or whether there have been any updates, because of the extremely limited access to the book, but that version is being used because a downloadable version exists on the internet.

Lacking any authorized access to the book as a woman, I am forced to use this bootlegged version to review the rules, she added.

The definition of apostasy was spelled out as a four-pronged rule, and it allowed Hansen to focus on the only two points that Kelly could have been perceived to have violated.

But it still didnt work. Kelly was excommunicated, and didnt win her appeals.

In a letter about her excommunication, Kellys bishop wrote that she was being punished for conduct contrary to the laws and order of the Church.

"The difficulty, Sister Kelly, is not that you say you have questions or even that you believe that women should receive the priesthood," Mark Harrison wrote. "The problem is that you have persisted in an aggressive effort to persuade other Church members to your point of view and that your course of action has threatened to erode the faith of others."
MUNICH, Germany  Of the innumerable palaces that dot the Bavarian lands, few, in my opinion, are as bizarre and delightful as the Nymphenburg Palace in Munich.

Situated on what was once the western outskirts of the city, the palace was begun in 1664 and expanded and redecorated for two centuries. It is dominated by, for lack of a better description, a stretched out cubic Italianate edifice which is in turn flanked by wings that are capped by smaller cubes. Pyramid roofs of red-orange top each of the cubes, contrasting nicely with the cream and periwinkle grey walls. Its Baroque grounds are famed for its swans as well as the show-stopping Amalienburg Hall of Mirrors. The Rococo and Neoclassical interior is no less stunning, most notably the lavish Great Hall.

But one room in particular should not be missed as it is not only a unique window into the past, but holds within it a love affair that brought down a kingLudwig Is Gallery of Beauties.

This otherwise unremarkable cream-colored room, dimly lit by crystal chandeliers, is the repository for three dozen portraits of women deemed exquisite beauties. The subjects were selected by none other than King Ludwig I himself. What sets this collection apart from the Hampton Court Beauties, the Windsor Beauties, or Max Emanuels Gallery of Beauties on the other side of Nymphenburg Palace is not only the quantity of portraits, but that these were women from all social classes and were contemporaries of Ludwig I.

Ludwig I, like his grandson Ludwig II, considered himself a connoisseur of beauty. Godson and namesake to Frances Louis XVI, he was born on Aug. 25, 1786 in Strasbourg. In 1810 he was married to Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, and their wedding was the first Oktoberfest. In 1825 he ascended to the throne. His reign would be notorious for his architectural and artistic legacy, as well as being marked throughout by civil unrest, which would eventually culminate in his abdication after the 1848 revolutions. It was Ludwig who gave the Residenz its famous facade inspired by the Pitti Palace in Florence, and for dotting Munich with Neoclassical buildings. His work there gave it the nickname of New Athens. After he abdicated, Ludwig would live for another 20 years. His son Maximilian would assume the throne in Bavaria, and his other son, Otto, would take the newly created one in Greece.

But his obsession with beauty was not merely relegated to the fine arts. In Ludwigs time (as if he needed an excuse) beauty was considered a reflection of inward moral purity, and so there was some justification for being a rich king collecting portraits of females. From 1827 until 1850, the court painter Joseph Stieler painted 36 portraits, one of which was lost. In 1861 the painter Friedrich Durck added two more.

The two most famous are the Schone Munchnerin" (the Beauty of Munich) Helene Sedlmayr, and the infamous Lola Montez. Sedlmayer, who was a shoemakers daughter, came to symbolize the ideal Bavarian beauty. Montez, however, was one of the 19th centurys more intoxicating and curious figures.

Born Eliza Rosanna Gilbert in Ireland in 1821, she went with her parents to India as an infant as her father, a captain in the army, had been ordered there. However, a couple years in, her father died of cholera. For the next decade Gilbert would grow up all over, spending significant parts of her formative years in Scotland, London, Paris, and Bath.

Her scandalous life began at the tender age of 14 when she found out she was betrothed to a wealthy Nabob in India and instead eloped with a soldier and became Mrs. James. Sadly for Gilbert, when her new husband was sent to India he deserted her and eloped with another woman. Lola returned to Calcutta to her mother where she was reportedly kept locked up. Upon her return to Europe shortly after, she took to the stage with the intention of becoming a dancer, and her first performance was a success. Her mother chose to regard her as dead from the moment she stepped on the stage of Her Majestys Theatre.

But Gilbert, now known as Lola Montez, the Spanish dancer, went on to Paris where her interest in the stage waned as her interest in politics increased. She became engaged to the editor Alexandre Dujarrier, but he was killed in a duel just a few days before the wedding. Alexandre Dumas once said of her that, She has the evil eye and is sure to bring bad luck to anyone who closely links his destiny with her.

So Montez left town on a dancing tour. She strutted her way across Europe, wrote the historian Christopher McIntosh, causing riots in Warsaw, tangling with the police in Berlin, [and] having a love affair with Franz Liszt in Dresden. In 1846 she arrived in Munich for the first time. As The New York Times put it in her obituary, she managed to seduce King Ludwig, a monarch who was willing to receive political consolation from lips so ruby. He was 61 and she was 28. Shock among the nobility gave way to outright indignation and hostility as many believed the king was also now under her sway politically. Ludwig, who had previously been a repressive monarch not afraid to crack down hard on civil unrest, began to change course. At the same time, Montez was given the titles Baroness of Rosenthall and Countess of Landsfelt and gifted a palace and pension of twenty thousand florins a year. The kings Cabinet resigned in response, and so Lola (her enemies claimed), undeterred, went about selecting a new Cabinet full of people from various socioeconomic stations. The king even went so far as to make a Protestant the head of his Ministry.

In a twist likely to be jarring for the modern citizen, the students filling the classes at the University of Munich were right-wing and ultra-Catholic and therefore strongly opposed to the kings moves. During one of the riots, Lola marched out in front of the protesters and defended herself with her riding whip. In another, the king and Lola were attacked by university students and nearly pulled from their carriage. In response, the king shut down the university, which sparked a revolution. The king, tired of fighting the opposition, abdicated in favor of his son and left the monarchy weakened.

In an attempt to calm the public, the king also banished Lola and she fled, disguised as a peasant.

Montez would continue a life of scandal and fame, as her next romance did end in marriage but was blown up when it was discovered the soldier shed previously eloped with was still alive and she was sued for bigamy. She eventually made her way to the U.S. where she made her mark everywhere from New Orleans to California (where she married, and divorced, again). Before spending her final years in New York giving lectures, Montez managed to fit in a trip to Australia, where she performed with success or so claimed The New York Times.

While Montez is surely the juiciest of the stories that fill Ludwigs wall of Beauties, she is not the only interesting one.

Auguste Strobl was the daughter of Ludwigs chief accountant. Hair filled with gold-trimmed red ribbons, she gazes back at the viewer with startling blue eyes that explain why Ludwig made her the object of many of his numerous (and often ridiculed) poems. The portrait that currently hangs in the hall was reportedly the second made of her, as Ludwig didnt like her neck in the first.

Charlotte von Hagn was another actress, called the concubine of two kings by Franz Liszt. Multiple religions were represented in the Hall of Beauties. Nanette Kaula, for instance, was the daughter of a Jewish court agent and is dressed in a striking green velvet dress. Daughters of a meat dealer (Anna Hillmayer), Ludwigs daughter-in-law Marie, Crown Princess of Bavaria, his half-sister Princess Sophie of Bavaria, and his daughter Alexandra are all included. So is Lady Jane Digby, the English aristocrat who had affairs with Ludwig I, his son Otto of Greece, and Felix Schwarzenberg, and died in Syria as the wife of an Arab sheikh 20 years younger than herself.

Some women, like Marianna, Marquesa Florenzi, were more than mere beauties. Marianna was a literary and intellectual icon of the 19th century known for her translations of major works, and promoting Northern European philosophers in Italy. Perhaps the most intriguing is Katharina Botsaris, a Greek woman from Ioannina whose father was a well-known Greek military leader who died fighting for Greek independence from the Ottomans.

While standing in the room looking from portrait to portrait and furiously Googling each name to discover their stories, its hard to know whether or not one should appreciate or be disturbed by the scene. The collection (which is now, ironically, housed in a room next to what was the queens apartments) was open to the public during Ludwigs reign, allowing (or forcing) the public to compare itself to these lofty beauties, who were clearly being objectified. But there is also something touching about yet another quixotic Bavarian king, channeling his obsession with beauty into such a specific and unique undertaking.
The unthinkable has already happened: A presidential nominee has been caught bragging about sexual assault, his party committee has pulled its funding, major party leaders have un-endorsed him, and the nominees running mate has scaled back his public appearances.

So now, equally unprecedented scenarios are being considered: compelling Donald Trump to withdraw, kicking him off the ticket, and Mike Pence withdrawing, among others. A few months ago, I outlined the legal steps for how the Republican National Committee could dump Trump. But could it still do so with less than 30 days until the election?

Mostly, yes. Heres why.

1. Trump withdraws. What then?

The simplest post-Trump scenario is if he is persuaded to withdraw. This seems increasingly unlikely: Trump himself has said there is zero chance of his quitting, and over 75 percent of Republican voters want him to stay. But suppose that changes. What would happen?

According to the RNC rules, the committee itself picks a replacement. That person does not have to be Mike Pence; it could be absolutely anyone. Indeed, although Pence seems like the obvious choice (if hed do it), it might be easier to bring in another figureperhaps an elder statesman as some Republicans have been proposing.

Because the state ballot deadlines have now all passed (and some overseas votes have already been cast), Trumps name would stay on all the ballots. But dont forget the electoral college. You dont really vote for presidentyou vote for delegates to the electoral college, who in turn vote for president.

The rules for electors vary state by state and believe it or not, in 25 states, electors are technically free to vote however they please. These states are Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia. Virginia has a statute, but its only advisory (electors are expected to vote for nominees), so it should count as state 26.

Of course, electors are chosen from among party loyalists, so in normal years, none of this matters. But this is not a normal year.

In the remaining 24 states, plus the District of Columbia, the statutes vary.

In five states, electors must sign a pledge that commits them to a specific individual: Alabama, Massachusetts, Mississippi, South Carolinaand since Michigan requires electors to vote for the candidates appearing on the Michigan ballot, it should be on this list too.

In 15 states plus D.C., however, electors sign a pledge that commits them to the party, not the individual: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Note that in most of these states, electors simply pledge to vote for the candidates of the party that chose them. So in these states, even if the electors were hardcore Trump supporters, they would be required by law to vote for the Republican Partys candidate.

Colorado, Maryland, Vermont, and Wyoming require electors to vote for the candidates receiving the highest number of votes. Is someone still a candidate, legally speaking, if they have withdrawn but their name appears on the ballot? Probably not, so Ill put these four states on the party list.

In sum, 26 states leave it up to the electors, 19 (plus D.C.) specify the party, and only five states specify the individual candidate. And even in those five states, surely no court would enforce a pledge signed for a candidate who is no longer a candidate. It may be the letter of the law, but hardly the spirit.

(Politico recently ran a story saying 31 states have restrictive laws, but the article relied on a page that says Last Updated December 2009. My research above is based on the official U.S. National Archives page, updated March 1, 2016.)

Of course, while it may be legal for a non-Trump candidate to receive the Trump votes, politically this would still be a disaster for Republicans, with tens of millions of Trump voters outraged at the rigged system even if Trump withdraws voluntarily.

But it would be legal.

2. Trump stays, but the party tries to dump him

Since The Daily Beast first explored the issue in August, pundits have been split on whether the GOP could dump Trump without his consent. Most recently, experts in The New York Times called doing so a triple bank shot.

A better analogy is a foul shot; while not certain, Id put the odds around 50/50.

As we reported in August, the key bit of language (PDF) is that the RNC can fill any and all vacancies which may occur by reason of death, declination, or otherwise of the Republican candidate for President of the United States or the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States.

I agree that the plainest meaning of otherwise is some other form of physical incapacitation. But is it so outrageous to include mental unfitness or some other inexact condition within the ambit of that term? I dont think so. The RNC would be interpreting its own rules here, and Trumps (inevitable) lawsuit would have to claim that theyre wrong.

This wouldnt be a case of the RNC just changing its mind; it would be based on Trumps long history of instability and inability to control himself, from the 2005 tape (and numerous previous examples) to Humayun Khan and Alicia Machado. It would be based on every mainstream Republican in leadership calling Trump unfit for the presidency.

Yes, it would be unprecedented. Yes, it would lead to open revolt among Trumps supporters. But if the overall survival of the Republican Party is really at stake, is it really that far-fetched?

If courts were to uphold a non-consensual Trump Dump, then the same process would unfold as in the first scenario: new nomination, Trumps name on the ballot, electors voting for the replacement candidate. If said candidate wins any states, of course.

3. Pence withdraws

Finally, what about Mike Pence, the Evangelical Catholic whose faith is apparently sincere, conservative, and antithetical to everything a sexual-assaulting, profanity-spewing Lothario stands for?

The Pence camp has sent mixed signals on the Indiana governors interest in staying in the race. From a religious perspective, it wouldnt be that difficult; the sexual assault conversation happened in 2005, and evangelicals love the sin-contrition-forgiveness narrative. Indeed, when liberals often complain of conservative hypocrisy, they misunderstand conservative religious beliefs, which often acknowledge that all of us are sinnerswhich is precisely why we need God/The Bible/the law to save us from ourselves. The more sin, the more need for salvation.

But suppose Pence has had enough. If he were to quit, the process is straightforwardbut has a crucial twist. Unlike Pence, who was selected by the Trump campaign, the new vice presidential candidate would be selected by the RNC.

In other words, the Republican leadership could put up a VP candidate who runs against Trump, rather than with him. And why not? Theyre already conceding the presidential election at this pointthe best they can do is staunch the bleeding and try to preserve the Republican brand. A Trump-McCain ticket (for example) is ludicrous on the face of it, but it would give the Republican mainstream a strong platform to say Were Not With Him.

This actually does have precedent. Remember what happened in Hamilton? Until the 12th Amendment was ratified in 1804, the office of vice president was given to the runner-up in the presidential electioni.e., the person who had just run against the president.

Of course, the reason the 12th Amendment was ratified in 1804 was exactly what happened in Hamilton, with the 1800 election resulting in Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson serving withbut really againstthe Federalist John Adams. (That election didnt work out well for Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr either.) But it would be no coincidence that a provision put into place with the advent of the modern party system is now tweaked as that party system seems to be falling apart.

In any case, if Pence drops out, the RNC picks his replacementwith or without Trumps approvaland that replacement will get most electors votes, even though Pences name would remain on the ballot.

The most likely of all these scenarios? None of them. Most likely, we will muddle through with Trump versus Clinton, the Republican Party will focus on other races, and no one will much care about electoral college rules.

Then again, this year, unlikely is the new likely.
Domestic violence cases increase in Des Moines County this year

Advocates say there was a spike in domestic abuse cases in Des Moines County this past year. But not all incidents are being reported to police.
SEATTLE  Elizabeth and Terry Boyle, of Mercer Island, Wash., were not surprised when their son, Matthew, 15, wanted to be an Eagle Scout  like his older brother. But they knew a regular Boy Scout troop wouldnt work for their son, who has special needs.

Just like it didnt work for Bob Hiers 19-year-old son, Bill, of Maple Valley, Wash.

Nor did it work for Robert Laurensons teenage son, Patrick. The experience with a mainstream troop left the Mercer Island father feeling like he was banging his head on a wall.

Wed go to an event and the other boys werent really into waiting and taking the time, Laurenson said. Theyre not set up for special needs and they didnt understand.

The three families, however, found a better fit in Boy Scout Troop 419, the states only special-needs troop and one of fewer than a dozen in the nation. Because members dont age out of this troop, it has Scouts who range from 12 years old to 50.

Troop 419 was founded 20 years ago when scoutmaster Ted Kadet was looking for activities to do with his stepson, Colin Silvestri, now 33, who has neurological damage from a seizure disorder.

He was familiar with Scouting and discovered that Boy Scouts of America had already established guidelines for special-needs troops.

So he, his wife and several other parents started the troop and meet every other week at the Veterans of Foreign War Post 9430 in the Skyway neighborhood of Seattle.

The parents are the most committed Boy Scout parents Ive ever met, and the guys each have their own unique personality, said Larry Weldon, the junior vice commander of the VFW post. They all really love being in this troop and were happy to help. 

Campfires and smores

At the troops first meeting of the year this month, members  dressed in regulation khaki uniforms and sashes covered with badges  begin with a ceremonial procession of the honor guard before saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

As the night goes on, they laugh, clown around, applaud each other, slurp spilled cocoa off a tabletop and play the piano loudly without a self-conscious bone in their bodies.

Or they sit quietly, next to a friend or parent, and watch, joining in as they please.

When asked what he likes about Boy Scouts, Joey Jelly, 22, of Renton, Wash., smiles and says, Everything. He declares the smores  made that night while learning how to pitch tents, start campfires and carry backpacks  to be yummy.

Patrick Laurenson, 15, demonstrates some mixed-martial arts moves while his friend, Jadon Kerr, 19, of Kent, Wash., watches with a big smile.

As Laurenson explains why he loves veterans, the military, uniforms and the Declaration of Independence, he winds up commenting on politics.

Who does he want to win the presidential election?

Me, he says. I think I could do a better job.

They close the meeting as they always do, by singing with Kadet as he plays his ukulele.

Working together

In the past two years, theyve earned badges for shooting and archery during campouts at Camp Pigott in Snohomish, Wash., and for birding at a wildlife refuge near Olympia. For citizenship, they wrote letters to presidents and other political figures and framed the letters they got back.

Theyve also earned badges in home repair, space exploration, art, radio, weather and more.

Scout Daniel Anthony Noonan, 23, said his favorite badges to earn were archery and shooting. His least favorite: chess.

Silvestri, who also volunteers at the Veterans Affairs hospital, worked in the kitchen during the troops visit to Camp Pigott this year.

I made sure the camp didnt burn down, and I got to yell Get the forks, Get the spoons, Mop the floor, he said.

Though the Boy Scouts of America generally recommends including people with special needs in traditional troops, Kadet believes the special-needs Scouting program should expand. He said hed like to see 25 more similar troops in Washington state alone.

With minor modifications, Scouting works so beautifully for this population, and the guys love it, Kadet said.

There are no agendas, no cliques and nobody is trying to hurt you, said Matthews father, Terry Boyle.

For us, it was like coming home, said his wife, Elizabeth. When you first come here, a lot of times you are not even sure what your child is capable of, but the troop gives them opportunities, put the tools in their hands and, every time, we are surprised by how capable they are and amazed at what they can do.
DECATUR  There's a first time for everything, and for John Tazz Joplin on Saturday, riding his motorcycle through town dressed as Santa Claus was a first.

Tugging at the fake beard as he waited to depart from the Airport Plaza Kroger on his sleigh  a 2012 Harley-Davison CVO Street Glide in ruby red  the Oreana man said he doesn't get many chances to participate in Prairieland ABATE activities because he's an over-the-road truck driver.

Yeah, I'm hot, Joplin said, but I'll be all right once we get moving.

Saturday's 30th annual Christmas in October fundraiser was also a good cause that drew more than three dozen other bikes to ride with him to a benefit at the chapter house at 1901 N. Railroad Ave.

Not to mention escort vehicles, including Decatur police cars and two fire trucks, sirens blaring, one from the Harristown Fire Protection District and the other from Argenta-Oreana.

One wonders if anyone could hear the Christmas music chapter president John Gambrill of Decatur played playing on a stereo he'd just added to his motorcycle.

This is our most popular event, Gambrill said. I've worked on it for four years now, and the lowest amount we raised was $4,300 and the most was nearly $7,000.

The money, generated in part by the $10 admission to a party featuring live music, live and silent auctions, raffles and food, is used to buy toys for the Salvation Army's toy drive.

Terrie Brandon of Decatur said the shopping is her favorite part.

It's fun knowing it's going to put a lot of smiles on the faces of a lot of kids who don't have very much for Christmas, she said.

Gambrill said chapter members like the event so much, they've stepped up over the years to donate the gift baskets that are auctioned off after other donors had to bow out.

Chad Osman, activities coordinator, said the chapter even had a coolest basket contest among the membership Friday night for the chance to win a T-shirt.

Participants Saturday ranged from first-timers Bret and Candy Petersen of Decatur, who are not ABATE members, to Raymond Durbin of Decatur, who's been with the chapter more than 30 years and missed his first Christmas in October just one year ago.

ABATE, which stands for A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education, is a nonprofit motorcycle safety awareness organization.

I'd like to see 250 to 300 bikes out here like we used to, Durbin said. It's for a good cause.
The Boys & Girls Club of milford hosted its first ever Pumpkin Plunge along with Pumpkins on the Pier on October 8, 2016 at Walnut Beach. Guests enjoyed a pie eating contest, pumpkin decorating contest, pumpkin carving and the Pumpkins on the Pier contest. This year, brave attendees dressed up and dipped into the chilly Long Island Sound. Were you SEEN?
MATTOON  The Lake Land Board of Trustees is scheduled Monday to consider a recommendation to not increase tuition and fees for spring semester 2017.

Vice President for Business Services Bryan Gleckler wrote in his report that based on current information available from the various funding sources, he has recommended maintaining the tuition and fee structure as is for the upcoming spring semester.

The current tuition structure is $102.50 per credit hour for in-district students, $229.96 for out of district, and $423.36 for out of state. The activity fee is $2.50 per credit hour and the service fee is $21.30 per credit hour. This structure resulted from a tuition increase for fall semester 2016.

Tuition and fees combined would continue to be $126.30 per credit hour for in-district students, or about $1,900 a semester for a full-time student taking 15 credit hours in spring 2016.

"Lake Land College continues to be very cost effective for the students it serves based on these tuition and fee rates," Gleckler said. "The college remains well below the state average for community colleges for both in-district and out-of-district per credit hour cost totals."

Gleckler said Lake Land did receive its portion of state funding allocated as part of the stop gap budget, which was consistent with the 50 percent funding anticipated by the college in its fiscal year 2017 budget projections.

"However, there still remains substantial uncertainty over state funding levels over the long term," Gleckler said.

The board is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Monday in Webb Hall 081 on the main campus in Mattoon.

In other matters, the board will hear a report on the dual credit program with various high schools in the district and an update on the new Career Academy program. The Career Academy offers automotive, construction, manufacturing and information technology courses for high school students.

The board also will consider accepting a $10,000 dual-credit enhancement grant from the Illinois Community College Board.

Emily Ramage, director of grant development, wrote in her report that the grant will enable Lake Land to expand upon dual-credit offerings to include a computer troubleshooting certificate and a computer technician certificate in the Career Academy.

"Grant monies will fund materials and supplies, instructor training, and other activities required to support the program's expansion," Ramage said.
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Linkedin Inforial (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia  Mon, October 10, 2016

The new management of the Batam Indonesia Free Zone Authority (BP Batam) has voiced its commitment to providing the best service to investors coming to Batam. For land, BP Batam will allocate only ready land so that investors are not burdened with land acquisition, which often proves problematic, especially when dealing with illegal land occupants.

The third deputy of the Batam Concession Body overseeing RC facilities concession, Eko Santoso Budianto, said in the future, BP Batam will transform its business model in terms of land acquisition for investment.

R.C. Eko Santoso Budianto , Deputy Chairman for Business Facilities - Batam Free Trade Zone Authority (BP Batam)(-/-)

BP Batam will not sell pictures anymore to investors. We wont allocate land using the old system. We will clear land beforehand, and should there be any illegal occupants on the land, we are going to ask them to move first. When the allocated land is ready, investors can then come and build, Eko said.

He added that this would help investors requiring land for investment ventures in Batam. They dont need to be hassled by land acquisition and related other matters.

The consequence is that leases will be higher, as the land given or allocated is ready, he said.

This reform in the land allocation system is the commitment of BP Batams new management to improving its performance. It is a known fact that land acquisition often leads to various problems involving many parties.

Eko further said BP Batam was also reforming its system for the payment of annual mandatory authority money (UWTO). The reform will start with a name change, which is still under study.

We will change the term, UWTO refers to money for land lease as part of non tax state revenue (PNBP), said Eko.

BP Batam will also make a rate adjustment for land leases. The draft for the new rate will be submitted to the government through the Finance Ministry. While waiting for the government to issue a new regulation on the rate, payments for land leases will be put on hold.

We have submitted the draft on the new rate, we cannot accept payment using the old rate. If we do, we will face legal implications, Eko explained.

Eko said management realized that the payment halt may create the perception of stagnation in land acquisition services, which is one of eight authorities of BP Batam

First, we need to define what people mean by stagnation. In land acquisition, there are eight matters to resolve. Out of these eight issues, only two are impacted by this new regulation, Eko said.

Photo courtesy of BP Batam (-/-)

He explained that related to the eight issues on land for investment, the new management had completed 990 recommendation documents and 1,095 legalized files. For transfer of rights permits, out of the 10,859 documents BP Batam has received, 10,586 of them are complete. The management has also finished processing 3,567 out of 3,672 transfer of title documents, as well as 1,086 out of 1,104 UWTO endorsement documents. (Based on August 2016 data)

So, there is no stagnation. Based on the data we have, everything is running well, Eko said.

Eko added that aside from UWTO payment, the system for new land allocation requests was also being revamped, as the previous system had created several problems. For instance, there has been overlapping land allocation involving land designated as part of a protected forest or for catchment area; and several findings made by the Development Finance Auditing Agency (BPKP).

When the problem has reached this point, we cannot process the land allocation. We need to reform the system, Eko cautioned.
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Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, October 9, 2016

The Dutch Cultural Institute, Erasmus Huis, has invited electronic dance music enthusiasts to a string of events this weekend at its place in Jakarta in collaboration with event organizer Electric Ocean.

Dubbed the Dutch House of Dance, the events included seminars and a dance party on Saturday. The seminars were attended by dance music household names like Alda Events global director for commerce and strategic partnerships Arthur Chin, Pacha Festival manager Hans Smith, Young Gunz founder and owner Mike Elderenbosch and Dreamfields Festival representative Theo Greene.

There will be four technical workshops; the maximum number of participants is 15-20 people. It will be more about how to mix and remix and produce an album, so the participants are people who are into DJ-ing, music and programs," said Electric Ocean representative Eq Puradiredja.

Meanwhile, the dance party featured performances by renowned Dutch DJs Alvita, Gathier, Joey Monroe, Patrix Johnson, Sharooz and local DJ Putri Una.

(Read also: Meat products banned from Morrissey concert in Jakarta)

DJ Joey Monroe (left to right), DJ Shahrooz, DJ Gathier, Electric Ocean representative Eq Puradiredja, DJ Alvita and Erasmus Huis director Michael Rauner during a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.(JP/Ni Nyoman Wira)

The cultural institute has planned the event since last year as part of the exchange between the Netherlands and Indonesia. Erasmus Huis, as one of the institutions that oversee bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands, supports this event to offer opportunities for knowledge-sharing and networking," said Erasmus Huis director Michael Rauner, adding that 1,000 people were expected to participate in the event.

Erasmus Huis usually stages classical music [events] and performing arts, but this year they want to change, said Eq. They have started to work with consultants from Indonesia and will have a punk band that will come at the end of this month.

In Indonesia, the development of electronic dance music is very rapid; it also has a lot of enthusiasts. I hope this event will be beneficial for the industry in Indonesia and that we can bring our local DJs to the Netherlands, which in fact is already happening," Eq added.

The Dutch House of Dance is free for visitors who have registered on its official website. (kes)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, October 9, 2016

Japanese IT company Fujitsu Ltd. revealed plans to sell its PC business to Chinese tech giant Lenovo Group Ltd. on Thursday in a bid to improve profits.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Fujitsu said in an official statement, We are considering various options for the PC unit, including a possible deal with Lenovo.

Amid increasing popularity of smartphones and tablets among netizens, global PC shipments are estimated to shrink even more this year by up to 30 percent from five years prior, according to IDC.

(Read also: Lenovo aims to be number one in PC, server markets)

Prior to leaning to Lenovo, Fujitsu previously worked on a merger with Toshiba's Dynabook unit and Sony's former PC arm, Vaio Corp., but the attempt was unsuccessful.

Lenovo is currently dominating global PC shipments in the second quarter with 21.1 percent, followed by HP Inc. with 20.7 percent. Based on IDC data, Fujitsu is in ninth place with a share of only 1.1 percent.

The Chinese company acquired IBM's PC business, along with its ThinkPad brand, back in 2005, as well as NEC Corp. in 2011. (kes)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, October 8 2016

A legal think tank, the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR), has called on the government to include a moratorium on the death penalty in its reform packages aimed at rejuvenating the countrys legal system.

ICJR executive director Supriyadi Widodo Eddyono said a moratorium on capital punishment must be put in place if the government was serious about reforming the countrys legal system, given that numerous executions, including that of drug trafficker Zainal Abidin in April last year, had been carried out without fair trials.

Zainal filed a case review in 2005 over the ruling on his execution with the Palembang District Court in South Sumatra. He had to wait 10 years, only to have the Supreme Court reject his appeal.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, October 8 2016

Whether or not a pawnshop has a business permit does not seem to be an issue for many Indonesians as they seek to obtain fast money, even though a new regulation has been put in place to guarantee their

security.

Thirty minutes. That is how long it took for construction worker Saputro Projosubagio to obtain money after pawning his mobile phone at a pawnshop in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta.

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Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, October 8 2016

As the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR) kicked off the debate for the fifth amendment of the 1945 Constitution, political factions have put forward some proposals that they hope could shore up their political bases.

In a bid to strengthen its appeal with Muslim voters, the Islamic-based United Development Party (PPP) has proposed that the amendment includes a provision stipulating that only individuals with indigenous roots would be allowed to run for the countrys top jobs.

Currently, Article 6 of the 1945 Constitution only stipulates that Indonesian presidents and vice presidents must be citizens by birth who had never taken up the citizenship of other countries.

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Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Mataram  Sun, October 9, 2016

The state-owned firm tasked with developing tourism in the Mandalika special economic zone (KEK) in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, says it is currently focusing on supporting infrastructure, including access roads, water treatment facilities and solar power plants.

We have also started the construction of the Mandalika Grand Mosque to make the KEK Mandalika a Muslim-friendly destination, said Edwin Darmasetiawan, development director at the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC).

It was expected that around 1,500 hotel rooms could enter operation in 2018, Edwin said in Mataram on Thursday. Those rooms would be provided by several hotels, including Pullman, Club Med, Royal Tulip (Lee Group), Marriott by EBD Bauer and Intercontinental by PT Jiva Samudera Biru, he went on.

Edwin added that ITDC was currently carrying out various empowerment programs for Lombok people, especially those who lived in the Mandalika area. These included English language and hospitality training for vendors, drivers and security officers.

We are working with tourism college STP Bali and NTB Tourism Polytechnic to prepare human resources, because based on our projection, the KEK Mandalika can absorb more than 5,000 workers in 2018, he said. (ebf)
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Linkedin Andi Hajramurni (The Jakarta Post) Makassar, South Sulawesi  Sun, October 9, 2016

The South Sulawesi Prosecutors Office has frozen Rp 8.7 billion (US$670,649.94) in funds allocated to the clearance of land for the expansion of Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

The funds, belonging to state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I, were kept in an account with state-owned lender BRI in Maros, South Sulawesi.

South Sulawesi Prosecutors Office information and legal affairs head Salahuddin said the move was connected to the offices investigation into a mark-up of costs for the airport area expansion.

The marked-up funds of Rp 520 billion were allocated to clear 6o hectares of land. Of the total, Rp 8.7 billion was still kept in a bank account. Thats what we confiscated today, Salahuddin said on Thursday. He said the funds would be kept at BRI but could not be used until there was a valid and legally binding court ruling on the case.

Salahuddin said the clearing of the 60 ha of land had been planned in 2011-2012, with Rp 188 billion allocated for the task. When the land clearance was still in progress, the [earmarked] funds had swollen to Rp 300 billion and later to Rp 520 billion, he said.

The allocation of funds increased twice, because in the 2014-2015 period, part of the land had been sold to third parties, even though the South Sulawesi administration had determined it as the location for the airport expansion in 2013. The case caused Rp 200 billion in losses to the state.

Salahuddin said South Sulawesi Prosecutors Office investigators had named four people suspects in the case. (ebf)
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Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam, Riau Islands  Sun, October 9, 2016

The Riau Islands Legislative Council has urged President Joko Jokowi Widodo to continue to strive for Indonesian authorities to take over control over the Flight Information Region (FIR) over Riau and Riau Islands from Singapore.

The call comes after Indonesia failed in its bid for International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council membership for the period 2016-2019.

The councils speaker, Jumaga Nadeak, said Indonesias failed ICAO Council membership bid was bad news for all Riau Islands residents, because it meant the islands airspace control would be still in the hands of Singapore. Indonesia could take over the FIR control only if it became an ICAO Council member.

Indonesias sovereignty extends to land, airspace and territorial waters. Therefore, the control of airspace above Riau Islands must be discussed again and renegotiated. We will convey this matter to President Jokowi via the defense minister [Ryamizard Ryacudu] and foreign minister [Retno LP Marsudi], Jumaga told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

The lawmaker explained that on Oct. 7, 2015, Riau Islands Legislative Council members met with then-Air Force chief of staff Air Marshal Agus Supriatna, adding that during the meeting, Agus had said the FIR control over Riau Islands would be handed over to Indonesia in 2019, several years earlier than initially planned.

Now, that information must be followed up. We will remind President Jokowi to take over the FIR control from Singapore. We are a sovereign country, said Jumaga.

Hang Nadim Airport general manager Suwarso said technically Indonesia would get many benefits if it took over control over the Riau and Riau Islands airspace from Singapore.

If Indonesia controls the FIR, flight traffic in Riau and Riau Islands will be managed with economic considerations. Routes assigned to airlines will be shorter, which means there will be a more efficient use of fuel, said Suwarso.

Currently, he said, Indonesian airlines had flight routes longer than they should and this was not economically feasible.

Citing an example, Suwarso said flight routes assigned to Indonesian airlines that served haj pilgrims departing from Hang Nadim Airport in Batam were from the north, causing unnecessarily long distances.

Haj airplanes fly longer and spend more fuel because of the routes determined by aviation authorities in Singapore, and we cannot do anything about it, because its within their authority, he said.

Although an airborne training module conducted by the Indonesian Military in the airspace above Riau and Riau Islands was fully controlled by the Air Forces radar in Tanjung Pinang, in general Singapore still controlled and monitored it, he went on.

Its just like someone owns land but its use is controlled by other people, said Suwarso. (ebf)
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Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara  Sun, October 9, 2016

Ownership claims by local residents to 135 hectares of land inside the Mandalika special economic zone (KEK) in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), pose a challenge to investment in the designated tourism area.

The 135 ha of land those people have laid claims to and that have not yet been cleared by developers are spread over 31 points, most of them strategic locations along coastlines. This is one of the obstacles to investment [in the KEK Mandalika], the development director of Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), Edwin Darmasetiawan, said on Thursday.

ITDC, a state-owned enterprise, handles the development of the KEK Mandalika, which covers an area of 1,171 ha.

Edwin stressed that ITDC, since 2008, held legal evidence as the holder of a land-use permit for the entire 1,171-ha area, in the form of a capital injection decree issued by the Finance Ministry.

He said ITDC had coordinated with the NTB administration to solve the problem. A team set up by the administration would collect data on land people had claimed. A string of meetings had brought together representatives of NTB and the Central Lombok administrations and the people.

They agreed solutions on land disputes in several points during the meetings but no solution has been achieved yet in around 13 points, most of which are located in potential investment locations.

Edwin said ITDC and the NTB administration had sent a letter on the problem to State-owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno. (ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, October 9, 2016

London School of Public Relations (LSPR) lecturer Buni Yani says he has received threats from an unidentified caller after spreading a video clip of a speech by Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama.

A staff member of the LSPRs post-graduate program apparently picked up the call on Saturday.

Utin, the staff member, told me that the caller had asked to meet me, in harsh words. The caller threatened to send people to attack the campus, Buni claimed, as reported by tempo.co on Saturday.

Previously, a group calling itself the Ahok-Djarot Saiful Hidayat Young Advocate Community reported Buni for using his Facebook account to spread a clip of a speech the governor gave when visiting Thousand Islands last week. Buni was accused of editing the video.

In his speech, Ahok referred to verse 51 of the Quran. The governor was reported to the police over religious defamation for citing the verse when saying that the people had been lied to and fooled.

Buni expressed his concern over the threat received by his workplace, saying that the case had nothing to do with his institution. He said he may resign from his institution over the case.

It is my activity outside the campus, therefore, it would be better for me to resign, so that they would not link it to the LSPR, he added. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, October 9, 2016

The US presidential election in November could negatively impact currency market sentiment in Indonesia, leading to depreciation of the rupiah, economists have predicted.

Singapore-based DBS Group Research economist Gundy Cahyadi said uncertainties in the market would drive market volatility.

We may see market volatility ahead of the US election. The rupiah trend going forward will be driven by the broad dollar theme as well, especially considering the expectation of a US Fed rate hike by the years end, he told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Gundy predicted that before the end of the year, the US dollar would likely appreciate against most currencies, including the rupiah.

Samuel Asset Management chief economist Lana Soelistianingsih said two scenarios could happen depending on which candidate won the election.

Lana thinks that if Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wins, investors may take a wait-and-see approach before making any decisions. She predicts that if Trump wins, the rupiah will slide to between Rp 13,000 and Rp 13,100 per dollar by the end of 2016.

Meanwhile, if Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton wins, then the situation will be far more helpful for the rupiah because the market will be less volatile. She forecasts the rupiah to balance between Rp 12,900 and Rp 13,000 per dollar by the end of the year in that scenario.

Meanwhile, Bank Indonesia asserted on Friday that the rupiah exchange rate would not suffer any impacts from the election. (win/bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, October 9, 2016

Hundreds of members of the youth group Inter-Ethnic Youth Nusantara have called on candidates in upcoming regional elections to avoid stirring up ethnic, religious or racial (SARA) sentiment in their campaigns, in a bid to avoid social tensions.

They made their call during the Car Free Day (CFD) event at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Sunday.

Lets maintain our unity in diversity by not spreading SARA issues during the regional elections, said action coordinator Imam Aulia during the event, as reported by tribunnews.com

He called on people at the CFD event to reject any requests from certain parties to use SARA issues during the campaign period prior to the regional elections on Feb. 15, 2017.

We call on the candidates to respect the diversity of this country, Imam said, adding that all parties needed to support that cause to ensure the success of the regional elections. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, October 9, 2016

Police have arrested five people suspected of involvement in a string of robberies in Bekasi, West Java, and are chasing two more suspects.

The group was involved in four robberies, Bekasi Police chief Sr. Comr. Awal Chairudin said in Bekasi on Saturday, as reported by tempo.com. He added that the groups two latest robberies had occurred in September in the district of Cikarang Utara.

Awal said the robbers were known for their brutality and did not hesitate to use violence against their victims.

Police said they had arrested the suspects after studying CCTV footage from several minimarkets held up by the group, adding that one suspect, identified only as IF, was a convicted criminal only recently released from prison.

Bakasi Police spokesman Adj. Comr. Endang Lolngla said IF was the first to be arrested over the string of robberies, before the four others. All five are reportedly detained at the Bekasi Police office and stand accused of violating Article 365 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximal sentence of 20 years in prison. (bbn)
NORMAL  As someone who has fostered Sister City relationships and traveled to Russia and other countries in Europe and the Middle East, Joe Grabill is listening carefully as international issues are discussed in this year's presidential campaign.

It shouldn't be a surprise to any of us who've studied Russian history that (Vladimir) Putin has arisen, said Grabill, professor emeritus of history at Illinois State University. Putin needs to be handled carefully. He must not be treated as an enemy but as a partner.

In addition to relationships with other countries and security matters, immigration policies are a focus of attention.

Mike Snow of Mattoon thinks it is important to keep the doors open to refugees and international visitors.

We have welcomed in our home students and adults from many different countries, said Snow, an exchange student host who is active in the Mattoon Rotary Club. It has been a rich experience for us.

The reality is the rest of the world  no matter how much they criticize us  looks to us as the only real player who can solve their international problems, said retired Eureka High School history teacher Don Samford, immediate past president of the Peoria World Affairs Council.

We are the single most important player, Samford said. Whatever we do affects everyone else.

Grabill noted that the United States and Russia have many common concerns, such as controlling the spread of nuclear weapons, particularly in North Korea. Addressing that also requires deep cooperation with China, he said.

Better coordination among nations also is needed to address international terrorism.

The whole situation with ISIS has to be more coordinated than it is, said Grabill, pointing to Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Russia and NATO as necessary partners.

National security is also a major concern of Mike Moffitt of Bloomington, a Vietnam-era veteran and past commander of American Legion Post 56 in Bloomington.

We've got to build our military back up, said Moffitt. You've got to be a strong country to keep others from attacking. ... You can't be a strong nation without a strong military.

Samford agreed that a robust military is an important part of diplomacy, in addition to a strong economy.

You don't have diplomacy if you don't have cards to play, said Samford, who has traveled in Europe, the Middle East, China, Cuba, Australia and New Zealand.

But the United States can't do it alone, Moffitt said.

Moffitt would like to see the next president push U.S. allies to contribute more militarily and monetarily, he said.

Samford agrees that the cost is killing us.

Grabill said, We can't continue to be the world's policeman. That's too large a responsibility,

Instead, he said, We need to strengthen the United Nations so the Security Council veto power doesn't stymie everything.

Samford is worried about the rhetoric against free trade in the current campaign and the pressure to retreat from free trade.

People don't realize the devastating impact historically that's had, Samford said. I'm concerned that we're going backwards.

Snow thinks the U.S. role in the world should include doing all we can to protect the innocent, working toward peace through diplomacy.

Talk of deportations that would divide families bothers me greatly, said Snow, as do suggestions that refugees and immigrants should be limited based on religion or race. Snow calls that totally unconstitutional and unjust.

I am concerned for the Syrian refugees, Snow said. We currently have a thorough enough vetting process. Changes don't have to be made in terms of that.

Snow worries that restrictions on immigration could have a negative impact in other areas, such as foreign exchange students.

We have hosted international students for almost 10 years, he said, describing it as a good way for young people to learn about people from other countries and other cultures.

You build peace through greater understanding, Snow said.

Likewise, William Elliott, assistant dean of international and graduate admissions at Eastern Illinois University, expressed concern that changes in U.S. immigration policies could affect nonimmigrant student visas. Eastern has 431 international students from 40 countries this year, out of an enrollment of about 7,400.

International education as a whole  reflects quite positively on our reputation as a nation, said Elliott, who has been involved in international education since the late 1990s.

Students who study in the United States and return home serve as ambassadors, he said. I'm proud of the fact that we make a difference in people's perceptions of the United States.
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Linkedin Wahyoe Boediwardhana (The Jakarta Post) Lamongan, East Java  Sun, October 9, 2016

Seven students from the Langitan Islamic Boarding School in Tuban, East Java, were found dead on Sunday after their boat sank on Friday on Bengawan Solo River.

The body of Afiq Fadli, 19, was the first found on Saturday, some 1.5 kilometers away from Widang Bridge in Tuban regency, in the eastern part of the boarding school.

Eddy Sutriyanto, head of East Javas national unity and politics division, said that following the discovery of Afiq body, a search and rescue team had found six other bodies near the location of Afiqs body.

The latest body, Arif Mabrudy, 18, was found on Sunday at 3:11 a.m., Eddy told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

All bodies were handed over to their respective families in a ceremony led by East Java Deputy Governor Saifullah Yusuf.

The East Java administration offered condolence money of Rp 5 million (US$385.43) to the families of those who perished in the incident and Rp 3.5 million to the families whose children survived.

As reported previously, a wooden boat carrying 25 students from the Langitan Islamic Boarding School capsized in a section of the Bengaran Solo River on the border area between Tuban regency and Lamongan regency in East Java.

The other students who have passed away are M. Barikly Amri, Rizky Nur Habib, Abdul Umar, Lujaini Dani and Muhsin. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, October 9, 2016

Approaching the commemoration of World Mental Health Day on Oct.10, the Health Ministry has urged the public to reduce its stigma against people with mental illness by treating them equally.

During a health walk event themed Walk the Talk held in Jakarta on Sunday, Tritarayati, an expert staffer with the Health Ministry, emphasized that the role of the family was crucial in providing psychological support for people with mental health problems.

Psychological pressures can happen everywhere; in houses, schools or offices. Thus, public participation is needed because medical professionals are not always available at times of crisis, she told the audience.

Indonesia Health Research (Riskesdas) in 2013 recorded that 6 percent of 14 million people aged 15 years or older showed symptoms of severe depression and anxiety.

The data also revealed that the prevalence of severe mental disorders (psychosis or schizophrenia) in Indonesias population was 1.7 per 1,000 people.

Fidiansjah, the Health Ministrys director for the prevention and control of mental health and drug problems, encouraged people to talk and listen to people with mental illnesses without judging them.

People with mental health problems should be given equal treatment as people with physical health problems. They should be given special attention by their family, he said. (win/bbn)
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Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara  Sun, October 9, 2016

The Information Commission (KI) and the Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Ministry have declared 995 villages in eight regencies across West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) as Desa Benderang Informasi Publik (DBiP), or Public Information-Friendly Villages.

KI chairman John Fresly said the declaration was a follow up to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on May 16 by the commission and the ministry. With the MoU, the government aims to hold assistance programs to promote public information openness at village-level administrations.

NTB is the first province in which all of its villages are declared as DBiP. We hope other areas can follow, said Fresly on Thursday.

Suprayoga Hadi, the ministrys special region development director general, NTB governor M.Zainul Majdi, regents and deputy regents and around 900 village heads from areas across the province attended the event.

Fresly further explained that public information openness in villages was crucial for establishing clean and transparent administrations at the village level.

Suprayoga said the DBiP program was based on Law No.6/2014 on village administrations, which stipulates that the organizing of village administrations be based on a principle of openness.

He said this year, the government had channeled Rp 46.8 trillion (US$3.61 billion) in village funds to more than 75,000 villages across Indonesia, or around Rp 600 million-Rp 700 million per village.

There should be transparency in the use of funds, he added. (ebf)
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Linkedin Jessicha Valentina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, October 9, 2016

A new riverside hotel has opened in Rattanakosin Island, Bangkok's old royal district, which is bordered by the famous Chao Praya River.

Riva Arun Bangkok is the latest addition to SilverNeedle Collection, a luxury boutique hotel chain run by SilverNeedle Hospitality. It is nestled in a Chinese colonial building and features 25 guest rooms, ranging from studios to Jacuzzi suites, with prices starting from US$75 per night. It also hosts a rooftop restaurant named Above Riva, which serves a wide array of Thai dishes.

For those who prefer to walk everywhere, the hotel is only a stones throw away from the city's major tourist attractions, like Wat Pho, Wat Arun, the Museum of Siam and the Grand Palace.

(Read also: Thailand's first halal hotel aims to lure more Muslim travelers)

Thailand is a primary growth country for SilverNeedle Hospitality and Bangkok is a continuously growing destination for international tourists. Riva Arun offers business and leisure travelers a unique, refined and authentic Thai experience, said the company's managing director for Southeast Asia, Francis Zimmerman, in a press release.

In addition to Riva Arun, SilverNeedle Collection also manages Riva Surya Bangkok and 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai, both located in Thailand, and Kirdara Luang Prabang in Laos. (kes)
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" " Brian Ingram found some of Cooper's $20 bills, now badly decomposed. Bettman/Getty Images

That's not to say Cooper vanished without leaving anything behind. There were the two chutes he left. The FBI found his skinny tie and tie pin on board the 727. They also recovered his Raleigh cigarette butts (he'd smoked eight over the five hours aboard the plane; all eight butts have since been lost) and a hair from the headrest. That was about it.

Cooper thwarted the FBI's most routine evidence, fingerprints. They couldn't find a single print on any of the cigarette butts Cooper had left behind. This was particularly maddening, since such prints could conclusively be shown to be Cooper's. They did find prints around the area where he sat, including on an in-flight magazine, but no known print of Cooper's was found.

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Outside of the plane it would be seven years before a trace of the hijacking was found, and even then it was fairly humdrum. In 1978, hunters in the Oregon woods found a plastic instruction placard showing how to lower the aft staircase on a 727-100. While it was definitively shown to be from Flight 305, the placard was found along the plane's flight path, so the clue generated no new leads. Instead, it was remarkable for reigniting interest in the case, enough to inspire a 1981 movie called The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper, starring Treat Williams as Cooper and Robert Duvall as the insurance investigator pursuing him after he successfully gets away.

In February 1980, the first sensational clue turned up. Eight-year-old Brian Ingram was on a camping trip with his family and was smoothing out sand to make a fire pit on Tina (or Tena) Bar along the Columbia River, 5 miles (8 kilometers) downstream from Vancouver, Washington. Ingram turned up three stacks of rotting $20 bills, totaling $5,880. Ingram's parents contacted the police and then the FBI, which asked Ingram's father to read out one of the serial numbers. The stacks turned out to be part of the ransom money given to D.B. Cooper.

After years of analysis, investigators have not conclusively determined how the money could have arrived at the point where Ingram found it. In the state of preservation the money was in after nine years, Agent Himmelsbach and others believe it was exposed to water for only a year or so prior to being found. Tina Bar is more than 20 miles (32 kilometers) away and along another river from the Ariel, Washington, search area along the Lewis (which does flow into the Columbia downstream from Ariel).

A hydrologist consulted by the FBI suggested that either the money ended up there when the Columbia was dredged and the sand taken from it was deposited along Tina Bar in 1974, or when the Columbia River flooded in 1977. Who knows?

For his part, Brian Ingram got to keep $3,000 of the loot later on, and in 2008 he sold 15 of the bills for a total of $37,000.

After Ingram found the cash, no other clues turned up for 28 years. In 2008, in the area around Amboy, Washington, a few miles southeast of the Ariel search zone, kids noticed a piece of fabric sticking out of some freshly graded ground on their family land. As they pulled, more and more fabric was exposed. It turned out to be a military parachute and one that looked to have been buried for some time. When the kids reached the lines and cords attached to the fabric, they cut them and took their discovery to their father who alerted the cops.

The FBI showed it to Earl Cossey, the owner of the now-defunct skydiving center, to see whether it was one of the ones he'd provided as part of Cooper's ransom. It wasn't. The chute Cooper used was nylon; this one was made of silk. Instead, amid much hubbub in the national media over the possibility that a major clue from the Cooper heist had been discovered, it was identified as a far older parachute, specifically the one that jet pilot Marine Lt. Floyd Walling ditched in the woods after he bailed out of his Corsair fighter one night in December 1945.

While the chute wasn't Cooper's, its discovery did shine a light on the possibility Cooper survived. Walling had. In the same type of weather, Walling had survived his jump and the walk in the woods as he made his way for 8 miles (12.9 kilometers) to a nearby town.
Ghost hunters seek spirits at Sisseton orphanage, Watertown auditorium

The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Paranormal Society have explored dozens of locations, including the Sisseton orphanage and the Watertown city auditorium.
There are very few people in the world who do not have a smart phone. There are even fewer people of that number who...
Senior Showmanship

Junior Placings:

The Junior division winner, receiving the W. Terry Howard award, was Natalie Roe from Monticello, Wis. The youngest class, ages 9 to 12 years old, was judged by Dr. Lucy Middleton from England.

1. Natalie Roe, Monticello, Wis. 2. Jacob Harbaugh, Marion, Wis. 3. Kolton Crack, Richmond, Que 4. Haley Ronnebaum, Earlville, Iowa 5. Delana Erbsen, Lanark, Ill. 6. Xavier Labba, St-Lambert-De-Lauzon, Que 7. Wyatt Zehr, Graymont, Ill. 8. Colton Hartman, St. Thomas, Pa. 9. Aaliyah Borchert, Auburndale, Wis. 10. Amelia Stone, New Palestine, Ind.

Intermediate Placings:

Savannah Crack, from Richmond, Quebec, received the Intermediate division title, taking home the Howard Voegeli award. Participants are ages 13 to 16. Stephanie Warner of Hastings, Ontario, Canada, placed the intermediate youth.

1. Savannah Crack, Richmond, Que 2. Cally Finley, Woodinville, Ont. 3. Taylor Vander Meulen, Brighton, Ont. 4. Dawson Nickels, Watertown, Wis. 5. Hanna Dellaire, Rockwood, Ont. 6. Maude Labbe, St-Lambert-De-Lauzon, Que 7. Kurtis Frischknecht, Teeswater, Ont. 8. Mason Mazzaro, Williamsfield, Ohio 9. Ashley Smith, Hickson, Ont. 10. Deanna Gould, North Brookfield, Mass. Senior Placings: The Keith King award, presented to the winning senior showman, went to Lars Zeldenrijk, Mount Elgin, Ontario, Canada. Jerome Meyer of Wisconsin placed the seniors, ages 17 to 20 years. 1. Lars Zeldenrijk, Mount Elgin, Ont. 2. Megan Rauen, Farley, Iowa 3. Karlee Ketelboeter, Dane, Wis. 4. Katelyn Neff, Cochranton, Pa. 5. Josh Karn, Woodstock, Ont. 6. Olivia Brandenburg, Fort Atkinson, Wis. 7. Laura Deklein, Mossley, Ont. 8. Regina Pozzi, Petaluma, Calif. 9. Rieke Eggers, Papendorf, Germany 10. Paul Grulke, Mayville, Wis.

Many exhibit their own project animals, but it is not a requirement. Some contact exhibitors ahead of time to be able to borrow an animal that is being exhibited at Expo. This allows youth from far away to still be involved in World Dairy Expos youth activities without owning an animal being exhibited.

Return to Hoard's at Expo Patti Hurtgen Top 10 Senior Showmanship Winners

The author is the online media manager and is responsible for the website, webinars and social media. A graduate of Modesto Junior College and Fresno State, she was raised on a California dairy and frequently blogs on youth programs and consumer issues.

Youth exhibitors had to outshow, outlead and outlast their competitors until 11:15 p.m., when the last showmanship final was complete on Thursday evening. Three rings filled the Coliseum floor with junior, intermediate, and senior exhibitors. All totaled, 393 youth participated in this international event.
Grand Champion Red & White

Pheasant Echos Turvy-Red was the winning 5-year-old, Senior Champion, Grand Champion, and Best Bred and Owned of the Red & White Show. Marylands Kenny Stambaugh is the breeder, owner and exhibitor of this KHW Advent-Red-ET daughter.

Intermediate and Reserve Grand Champion went to Heatherstone Redhot-Red, the winning Junior 2-year-old, owned by Milk Source Genetics of Wisconsin. She is sired by Rainyridge Barnie-ET. Reserve Intermediate Champion was Underwood Dusk Jazz-Red, exhibited by Milk Source Genetics, Wisconsin. Milk Source was Premier Exhibitor and Premier Breeder of the cow classes.

The Junior Champion was Booth-Haven Lady In-Red-ET. She was bred and exhibited by siblings Cole, Ava, Campbell, and Royce Booth, Wisconsin, and won the Spring Yearling class. Reserve went to Greenlea Ad Annie-Red-ET, exhibited by Mike Heath and Mark and Will Iager of New York. Milk Source was Premier Exhibitor and Premier Breeder of the heifer classes.

A favorite class for breeders is Best Three Females. Jason Cleland of Wisconsin took top honors with two cows he exhibited and Cleland Advnt Alexia-Red-ET, the Reserve Senior Champion, who is owned by Golden Oaks, Illinois.

The Nasco International Type and Production Award was awarded to Cleland Advent Korie-Red-ET, owned by Minnesotas Arnie, Ashley, and Andy Gruenes.

Premier Sire was awarded to Apples Absolute-Red-ET. It was the first time he earned this honor, dethroning Advent-Red, who is a brother to Absolutes dam.

The Junior Show

Grand Champion of Red & White Junior Show

There were four very excited junior members when the Grand Champion of the International Red & White Show was announced. Milksource Dty Tammy-Red-ET was led by co-owner Dawson Nickels and joined his sister Kylie and Grady and Lane Wendorf of Wisconsin in the winners circle.

Reserve Grand and Intermediate Champion honors went to Chase Savage of Maryland with Redtag Destry Sneezy-Red-ET

Junior Champion of the Junior Show went to Lyn-Vale Cherry Wine-Red, also owned by the Booth siblings. Reserve went to Del-Frie-Acres Ad Ruthy-Red. She is owned by Joseph Thomsen of New York.

Best Bred and Owned of the junior show went to Morgan Olbrich of Illinois with Holbric Action Chill-Red.

Judge Nathan Thomas judged 250 head in the International Red & White Show. He was assisted by Matt Templeton of Australia.

Patti Hurtgen





The author is the online media manager and is responsible for the website, webinars and social media. A graduate of Modesto Junior College and Fresno State, she was raised on a California dairy and frequently blogs on youth programs and consumer issues.
FILE - This March 3, 2016, file photo, 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney weighs in on the Republican presidential race during a speech at the University of Utah, in Salt Lake City. Utah's favorite political son, Romney, is a leading critic of the 2016 Republican presidential candidate. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that this year's Vijaya Dashami is "very special" for the country, an apparent reference to the Army's surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the Line of Control, even as he stressed that a "very capable" armed forces is a must for a strong nation.

"We will celebrate Vijaya Dashami in the coming days. This year's Vijaya Dashami is very special for the country," he said, evoking a thunderous applause from the audience at a function at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi.

His remarks came in the backdrop of Indian Army's surgical strikes in PoK. He also gave his best wishes to the people on the occasion of the festival that marks victory of good over evil.

The prime minister released a compendium of 15 books on the life and teachings of former Jana Sangh chief Deendayal Upadhyay whose birth centenary year is being celebrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Modi said Upadhyay's biggest contribution was the concept of organisation-based political party and not a political outfit run by a handful of individuals.

Quoting Upadhyay, the prime minister stressed on the need for an exceptionally strong military as a prerequisite for a strong nation and said the country must be a capable one which is a present-day requirement.

"He (Upadhyay) used to say that the country's armed forces should be very very capable, then only the nation can be strong," Modi said.

"In this time of competitiveness, the need is that the nation should be capable and strong," he said.

In a veiled reference to Pakistan, Modi said, "Being strong does not mean being against anyone. If we exercise for our strength, then the neighbour need not worry (thinking) that it is to target him. I am exercising to strengthen myself and for my health."

Referring to Upadhyay, he said even Ram Manohar Lohia spoke about the Jana Sangh leader's efforts that led to the evolution of an alternative to Congress in 1967.

The prime minister said that as a tribute to Upadhyay, who talked of integral humanism, his government was making the poorest of the poor the focus of schemes evolved by it.

"In a short span of time, one party completed the journey from vipaksh to vikalp and this was due to foundations laid by Deendayalji," he said, adding that simplicity was the hallmark of the former Jana Sangh leader.

Lauding the ideology of Upadhyay, Modi said he gave impetus to karyakarta nirman (building party workers) and the workers inspired by him were party-centric and the party nation-centric.

He said at the core of Upadhyay's thoughts were the poor, the villages, the farmers, the dalits and the marginalised and that is why this government is laying focus on such sections during the centenary year celebration.

"The poor is the central point of Panditji's entire thinking. He used to say that the poor should be the central point of every thing. That is why in this journey towards development, our government is focussing on the poor and to help empower it.

"This government is celebrating Panditji's centenary as gareeb kalyan varsh. Because of that government decisions focus on the poor and poor-centric schemes and policies are evolved. I am confident that there will be no shortcoming in this journey," he said.

BJP president Amit Shah and RSS second-in-command Suresh Bhayyaji Joshi spoke on the need for strengthening India's security with Joshi saying that India's pursuit for national security was inspired by the need to defend itself rather than to defeat others.
Political leaders, including Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, visited the Apollo hospital in Chennai on Sunday to enquire about the condition of Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa even as special prayers were held for her good health across Tamil Nadu.

"I pray to the almighty that she recovers fully and gets back to her routine. I am fully confident that she will recover soon," Narayanasamy told reporters after visiting the hospital.

Tamil Maanila Congress chief G.K. Vasan also visited the hospital where Jayalalithaa has been undergoing treatment since September 22. He said she was being given specialised medical care.

He met the director of the hospital and interacted with doctors and state ministers, and was told that she was improving.

"Our best wishes to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for a speedy recovery. We wish on behalf of Tamil Maanila Congress that she should resume her work for the people," he said.

CPI leader and Rajya Sabha MP D.Raja said he spoke to doctors and AIADMK leaders present at the hospital and expressed his party's wishes for her early recovery.

Chennai: AIADMK supporters pray for the speedy recovery of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. pic.twitter.com/0bPg2W300r  ANI (@ANI_news) October 9, 2016

Meanwhile, special prayers continued at places of worship in the state for Jayalalithaa's speedy recovery.

After observing ritualistic stipulations for days, a massive "milk pot" procession was taken out in Madurai by AIADMK workers and supporters in which a sizable number of women cadres participated.

The procession began from Saravana Poigai tank and culminated at the Subramania Swamy temple in Tiruparankundram where the milk carried in pots was used for worship. State Revenue Minister R.B.Udhayakumar and his party workers participated in the prayers.

Yagnas were performed in several temples seeking a healthy and long life for Jayalalithaa. Minister Valarmathi and many other leaders participated in the Yagnas.

Similarly, special prayer sessions were organised by Christians at various churches.
Clashes broke out in Srinagar after a boy with pellet injuries died in hospital on Saturday, taking to 91 the toll in the nearly three month-long cycle of violence. The incident has forced authorities to impose curfew, while violent protests were also reported from other parts of the Kashmir Valley.

Twelve-year-old Junaid Ahmad Bhat of Saidpora area, who was admitted to a hospital with pellet injuries on Friday, died on Saturday morning, leading to tension.



Bhat had been injured on Friday after security forces fired pellets at him.



Local residents, as well as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said Bhat had not been part of any protests in the area and his death needs to be probed.



PDP General Secretary Nizamuddin Bhat demanded a probe into the boy's death.



Hundreds of protesters, carrying Bhat's body, clashed with the security forces in Eidgah area, and the latter had to use tear smoke shells to disperse the mourners.



As trouble spread to other areas of Srinagar, authorities quickly imposed curfew in areas falling under seven police stations here.



The prevailing tension checked the progress towards peace in the city where private transport and pedestrian movement had nearly normalised during the last one week.



In the evening, tensions, however, decreased marginally in the uptown civil lines area where private vehicles moved following relaxation in protest schedule by the separatists from 5 p.m. to 6 a.m.



However, the old city areas did not witness any lowering of tensions where authorities continued with curfew to prevent protests and violence.



With the boy's death, as many as 91 people have died and over 12,000 injured during the last 92 days since July 9, when the current unrest started in the Valley after the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.



For the 13th consecutive Friday, no congregational prayers were allowed inside the historic Jamia Masjid in old city's Nowhatta.



Authorities also foiled the separatist march to the uptown Sonawar area where the office of the United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) is located.



Meanwhile, clashes also erupted in Pulwama and Shopian districts in south Kashmir and Bandipora in the north Kashmir after Friday prayers.



All educational institutions, public transport and main markets have remained shut in the Valley.

Train services between the Valley and Bannihal town in the Jammu region have also remained suspended during this period.
At least 11 people sustained injuries when a passenger train running on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) in the US state of New York derailed on Saturday night.



New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said: "At this time 11 people have sustained injuries."



But a Nassau county police spokesperson told the media that an estimated 50 to 100 people were wounded.



All information pointed that none of the injuries was life-threatening.



There were about 600 passengers on board when the first three of the train's 12 cars derailed, according to the governor.



The cause of the incident remains unclear, but the media reports said the derailed train had struck a work train on the tracks.



Launched in 1834, the LIRR is a commuter rail system stretching from New York city to the eastern tip of Suffolk county on Long Island.



With an average weekday ridership of nearly 340,000 passengers in 2014, it is believed to be the busiest commuter railroad in North America.



The Saturday derailment came on the heels of another major train accident on September 29, when a New Jersey Transit commuter train crashed into the Hoboken Terminal in New Jersey.



One person died and 114 injured in that incident, the cause of which is still being probed.
Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro has hit out at the US presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying he wants to punch the politician in his face.

The 73-year-old star's remarks feature in a video produced by Anonymous Content, which has been making a series of short interviews for an initiative called #VoteYourFuture, reported Variety.

"I'd like to punch him (Trump) in the face," he said in the clip.

In the video, De Niro can also be heard calling Trump a 'blatantly stupid' and 'punk' artist.

He's a national disaster. Hes an embarrassment to this country. It makes me so angry this country has gotten to this point that this fool, this bozo, has wound up where he has.He talks how he'd like to punch people in the face? Well, I'd like to punch him in the face, said the actor.

(With inputs from PTI)
Dozens of US Republican leaders have abandoned presidential nominee Donald Trump after the release of a video showing him speaking about women in vulgar sexual terms, delivering a punishing blow to his campaign and plunging the party into crisis just a month before the election.



A group of Senators and House members on Saturday withdrew support for Trump, with some demanding that he step aside, fearing his candidacy was on the verge of undermining the entire Republican ticket in the upcoming poll in November.



Trump, however, vowed to stay in the race, saying he 'will never quit', the New York Times reported.



The list of party figures publicly rejecting Trump included a host of prominent elected officials, most notably Senator John McCain of Arizona, the 2008 nominee.



"I thought it important I respect the fact that Trump won a majority of the delegates by the rules our party set," McCain said in a statement.



"But Trump's behaviour this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy," he said.



In an unheard-of rebuke by a running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence -- the Republican vice-presidential candidate -- declined to appear on Trump's behalf at a party gathering in Wisconsin.



Pence said he was "offended by the words and actions described by Trump" in the 2005 video, and cast his second debate with Democratic presedential candidate Hillary Clinton on Sunday as an urgent moment to turn around the campaign.



"I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them," Pence said, adding: "We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation on Sunday night."



By Saturday evening, no fewer than 36 Republicans of Congress and governors who had not previously ruled out supporting Trump, disavowed his candidacy in an unprecedented desertion by the institutional party of its own standard-bearer just a month before the Election Day.



The growing wall of opposition recalled the determination of the party this year to deny Trump the nomination in the first place.



Aides described Trump as shaken, watching news coverage of the video with a mix of disbelief and horror.



Shortly after midnight, Trump had released a video, saying: "I've said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more than a decade-old video are one of them."



In a brief interview on Saturday, he shrugged off the calls to leave, saying he would "never drop out of this race in a million years".



"I haven't heard from anyone saying I should drop out, and that would never happen, never happen," Trump said. "That's not the kind of person I am. I am in this until the end."



Far from sounding rattled, Trump insisted that he could still prevail in November.



"Oh, yeah, we can win -- we will win," he said. "We have tremendous support. I think a lot of people underestimate how loyal my supporters are."



The situation has grown so dire that many in the party were all but pleading with him to withdraw and let Pence serve as the presidential nominee.



Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the chairman of the Republican Conference, became the most senior Republican to call on Trump to make way for Pence.



The exodus began late Friday night when a handful of Utah Republicans who said they would support Trump indicated that they could no longer tolerate their nominee.



But it was not until a pair of conservative women, Representatives Barbara Comstock of Virginia and Martha Roby of Alabama, implored Trump to withdraw that previously hesitant Republicans stepped forward to reject his candidacy.



Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire was the first Republican Senator facing a competitive re-election to say she would no longer back Trump, announcing that she would write in Pence for President instead.



"I'm a mom and an American first, and I cannot and will not support a candidate for President who brags about degrading and assaulting women," she said.



According to the New York Times, Ayotte was joined just hours later by McCain, who is also running for re-election, and Representative Joe Heck of Nevada, who is locked in a close race for the Senate seat now held by Harry Reid, the Democratic minority leader, who is retiring.



Trump crassly boasted about groping women's genitals, vulgarly commented on their bodies and generally described women as sex objects who could not resist his advances.



In his statement, Trump said: "Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize."



"I pledge to be a better man tomorrow and will never, ever let you down," he added, before ending the message with a promise to bring up the sex scandals of Bill Clinton's presidency and Hillary Clinton's response to them.




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By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times

It is the first point that everyone joins in when the Chazan repeats the Shmoneh Esreh. In the Shmoneh Esreh of the aseres yemei Teshuvah we add a number of requests to be remembered for life.

These additions to the Shmoneh Esreh were not added by the Tannaim nor were they added by the Amoraim in the Gemorah. The additions were made by The Gaonim and are not found at all in the Talmud.

WHO WERE THE GAONIM?

The Gaonim were the Rabbis who formed the great transitional period between the era of the Talmud and the era of the Rishonim. They lived in Bavel  what is now Iraq which was the same country in which the Babylonian Talmud was formed.

The Gaonim enacted a number of measures. They made takanos which substantively and substantially changed halachic observance. Many of their enactments are still with us today.

WHY DID THEY MAKE SUCH CHANGES?

The question is, why did they make these changes? Why did they add these additions to the Shmoneh Esreh  when their predecessors didnt?

Some Jewish history professors have expressed the notion that the Gaonims self-perception was beyond that of the Amoraic period Rabbis that preceded them. Those with a yeshiva training, of course, cannot accept this. The Gaonim certainly shared the view that exists in traditional Jewish circles  the generations have gotten smaller. They looked up at those who wrote and compiled the Gemorah.

A LIST OF SOME CHANGES MADE BY GAONIM

Yet they made some significant changes.

1] According to the Gemorah, a Ketuvah can only be collected on landed properties (karkaos) not movable properties (metaltelin) . In other words, when a wife wished to collect what was contractually due to her from her marriage document she could only collect what was owed to her from land that was owned by her husband  but not from cows or horses or other movable properties. The Gaonim changed all that. They allowed her to collect from any type of property.

Why?

2] A Meshumad is not yoresh his father. But this is a halacha not found in the Gemorah. why did the Amoraim not make this takana  enactment? The Ravyas comments to Kiddushum 17a says that it is a takana from Rav Tzaddok Gaon. Why the need?

3] It is clear that the minhag of avoiding gebrokts on pesach started during the time of the Gaonim. There are three reasons for this minhag but we will start with the earliest one  that people may come to put real flour in these mixtures. The Gaonim forbade it across Bavel. The question is why? During the time of the Gemorah it was only in the home of the raish galusa that Rava assured it. Why did the Gaonim extend it?

4] The Gaonim made a takana that meat that was not salted within three days after the shechita may only be roasted and cannot be eaten. Why? This same meat existed in the time of the Ammoraim. Why didnt they make the enactment?

5] According to the Gemorah  we could eat liver by cooking it if we previously cut it up criss- cross  shesi ve-erev.. The Gaonim said  No  only tzalua  roasted..They were afraid people would not do it properly. But why  all of a sudden?

6] The Gaonim added special additions to the Shmoneh Esreh during the Yamim Noraim. Why did they do this? The Amoraim felt no need to do so. Why did they?

7] The nusach of Pidyon haBen also dates from the period of the gaonim  Why now?

8] The nusach of the bitul of Chometz was during the time of the gaonim, again  why then? Why didnt the Gaonim think, The Amoraim did not do this  why should we?

9] According to the Gemorah, udders, where cow milk come from, were permitted to be cooked and eaten after they were dried. The gaonim said no, they must be roasted. Why?

A SOCIO RELIGIOUS CHANGE THAT OCCURRED

Why did they make such changes in Jewish Tefillah and in halacha? There had to have been socio-religious changes that occurred during the Gaonic era to account for their enactments. Otherwise they would not have made them.

The answer?

It was the Muslims.

During the time of the Gemorah, the Rabbis were under the Sassanian Persians who practiced the Zoroastrian religion. During the time of the Gaonim, however, the Umayyad Caliphate had taken over and had conquered Bavel. There were three aspects of the Umayyad conquest which had enormous repercussions on Judaism in the Gaonic era.



Firstly, the Umayyads murdered people left and right. They killed Jews at the drop of a hat. This early holocaust was probably responsible for the Gaonim requesting that hashem grant us life.

Secondly, the Umayyads had an agenda of trying to convert as many people as possible to Islam. Thirdly, their economic policies of taxing all land equally, regardless of the specific fertility of that land also wreaked havoc in Babylonia.

It could be argued that all three of these aspects of the Umayyads contributed to the need of the gaonim to make these changes. For our first question, the enactment of allowing the collection of debts from movable properties  the Muslim courts specifically allowed this. If Jewish courts forbade it and Islamic courts did not there was a chance that a woman would seek redress in the Islamic courts and possibly be further attracted to that system as well. By the same token, since the Umayyads promulgated a tax for non-Muslims and there was a concern that people may convert to avoid the tax, the gaonim felt a need to create a counter balance by not allowing a convert to inherit his fathers possessions. The upheavals caused by the Umayyad economic policies accounted for a drop in knowledge of Torah too, since Jews were moving into cities and looking for Parnassah. People would have been confused about halacha. Therefore they made the Takana, at least temporarily, concerning grain and water. The nuschaos of Pidyon HaBen and Bitul Chometz can be explained by the same concern. The enactment about the udder was out of concern that the weakened Jews may inadvertently think that other types of milk-meat issues are permitted too.

The enactment about not letting meat go for three days without removing the blood was out of concern that the weakened Jewish people might give in to arguments that Muslims may present about Muslim slaughter being better since that removes all blood.

The additions to the Shmoneh Esreh were to help prop up the Jewish nation so that they could better connect with Hashem during this period to fortify them against the new physical and spiritual dangers of the era.

The conclusion? Firstly, far from being innovators with a perception of having greater powers than their predecessors, the Gaonim used the tools they had available to them to respond to the new challenges of the time. Their innovations were limited to these areas alone. The respect and admiration for the Amoraim the Gaonim had  was remarkably high.

And secondly, when we daven Shmoneh Esreh and add these crucial additions, let us contemplate what Klal Yisroel was undergoing at the time and realize that this Ummayad conquest served to bring us ever closer to Avinu shbashamayim. Let us resolve to come closer to him during the next few days and Yomim Tovim as well  but without the physcial and spiritual threats. Amain! May we all have a gmar chasima tovah!

The author can be reached at [email protected]
10:14AM IL: [PHOTOS AND VIDEOS IN EXTENDED TEXT] Preliminary report of automatic gunfire directed at the Jerusalem light rail in the area of National Police Headquarters. MDA has received reports of numerous wounded.

More to follow.

10:20AM IL: There are multiple wounded at the scene of the terror attack. One responding unit reports hearing a hand grenade explode but this is unconfirmed. There were reports of automatic weapons fire.

10:21AM IL: Witnesses report shots were fired from a passing vehicle at the Ammunition Hill Jerusalem light rail station.

10:24AM IL: There are persons wounded by gunfire in more than one location. One of the victims are listed in critical condition and four others serious-to-moderate. It is reported that there were two people in a vehicle, with one driving and the second firing at Shimon HaTzaddik Junction and at the Israel Police National Headquarters.

Channel 2 News reports the shooter has been neutralized.

10:28AM IL: It appears the first shots were fired near National Police Headquarters. The attackers fled and were pursued by Yassam commandos on motorcycle. The terrorists opened fire again at Shimon HaTzaddik Junction and then they were killed by the Yassam commandos.

One person, a woman in her 60s, has just arrived at the emergency room of Hadassah Mt. Scopus Hospital. Her condition is described as grave, with wounds to her upper body.

10:35AM IL: Update on the wounded from Hadassah Mt. Scopus Hospital: Two women have arrived in critical condition along with one in light condition.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos:    Via Media Resource Group)
The attached video was taken by an eastern Jerusalem Arab internet-based news, showing police apprehend and fire at the terrorist vehicle in the Sheik Jarah area of the capital. The terrorist has been identified as a 39-year-old resident of the capital.

Hamas has already announced the attack is a natural reaction to the ongoing occupation.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Video: Via Media Resource Group)
The official number of wounded in this mornings shooting attack in Jerusalem is now listed at eight, which includes some treated for hysteria. A Yassam policeman and a woman in her sixties are in critical condition, fighting for their lives.

A white vehicle stopped, albeit briefly, on Bar Lev Blvd. not far from the Ammunition Hill station of the Jerusalem light rail and opened fire at pedestrians. This is where the critically injured woman was hit by gunfire. The vehicle continued in the direction of Kellerman Junction, where gunfire was directed at another female inside a vehicle.

The terrorist continued, heading towards Sheik Jarrah and stopped the vehicle on the side of the road when he saw a Yassam commando unit on a motorcycle. He opened fire and struck both of them, one in critical condition and the second reportedly in light condition. Border police in the area responding to the reports of shooting detected the vehicle and fired at and killed the lone terrorist, who has been described as a 39-year-old resident of the capital.

Police have requested and received a gag order from the courts, prohibiting the release of the identities of the terrorists or wounded nor any details of the investigation into the attack.

The wounded from the attack were transported to Hadassah Hospitals in Ein Kerem and Mount Scopus as well as Shaare Zedek Hospital.

MDA paramedic Aaron Adler arrived on his MDA ambucycle and began treating the wounded. He explains When I arrived at Chaim Ber-Lev I saw a woman in her 60s wounded by gunfire to her upper body. She was already unconscious and in cardiac arrest. We began lifesaving measures and got her on a paramedic ambulance to the hospital, Mt. Scopus, in critical condition.

Another paramedic on the scene, who transported the critically wounded Yassam policeman to the hospital explained We arrived and saw the policeman down on the ground in a pool of blood. We evacuated him quickly

Hadassah has established an emergency information number for people seeking updates on the wounded. The number is good for both Hadassah Hospitals. The number is 12-55-121.

Israel Police Chief Roni Alsheich arrived on the scene and spoke to the media. He stated emphatically This does not represent an escalation in the situation. This was a lone attack, a lone attacker, and sadly, there have been attacks in the past and there will likely by others in the future.

Alsheich praised the performance of troops. Some of the areas involved in the attack remain closed at this time.

Also on the scene was Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, who concurred, stating police do have a handle on the situation but this does not mean to say every attack is preventable as seen in Jerusalem today.

The terrorist who perpetrated this latest attack was arrested this year for incitement to terror over social media. A police request to hold him without bail was rejected by the court. This morning, Sunday, 7 Tishrei, the terrorist was to have reported for questioning in the case but it appears instead, he carried out the shooting attack.

Photo: Above photo is of the terrorists vehicle after his elimination. Below is a photo of the terrorist YMS.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo: Media Resource Group)
In a rare move, a New York City prosecutor has made public a 71-page, detailed report of a fatal police shooting of a man authorities say was armed.

In releasing the report on Friday, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown stated that there was no basis for criminal charges against the officers in the death of George Tillman on April 17 in South Ozone Park, Queens.

The family of the Maryland resident said in a statement through their lawyer that the officers should face a trial.

Only a jury can help us understand why a father of five, a licensed electrician being investigated for an open container, can get shot 11 times  without getting a shot off  after allegedly pulling a gun on police officers, their statement said. It made no sense when it happened and it still makes no sense today.

The report included accounts from police, emergency workers, witnesses and details on evidence gathered by investigators, the New York Times reported.

It was released amid mounting calls nationwide for more transparency in reviews of police-involved shootings after a series of fatal shootings of black males by white officers. Ordinarily, in such cases authorities only release brief public statements on whether they expect to file charges.

The report says plainclothes officers initially stopped Tillman, who is black, for holding an open bottle of vodka near his car. Tillman gave the bottle to a friend but as the officers started to walk away, they observed what looked like a gun in his waistband. As they went to talk to Tillman, he ran, according to the report. Prosecutors say four officers opened fire when he pointed a loaded weapon at an officer.

Any fair and reasonable person would agree that to bring criminal proceedings against the officers would be totally unwarranted, said Brown. The officers had no choice but to fire in order to stop Mr. Tillman from firing his weapon at them.

The attorney for the family of Eric Garner, who died after a fatal police chokehold in 2014 on Staten Island, praised the reports release.

If youre not going forward with the case, its a good idea to explain why. More information is always better than less, said Jonathan Moore.

(AP)
Authorities involved into the ongoing corruption investigation into the Jerusalem Religious Council announced at the end of last week that two senior officials have been suspended. (Names on file)

The Civil Service Commission has suspended the heads of the councils mikvaos and kashrus units as the probe continues. Police, the Jerusalem Comptroller and State Comptroller are all involved in the ongoing probe, which has led to removing the two from their current posts.

Criminal indictments are expected against some of those under investigation.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
In the eyes of Education Minister Naftali Bennett, IDF soldier Elor Azariya, who is on trial for manslaughter, must return home regardless of the verdict in his trial. Bennett told the media is continues to monitor the trial, and if the young soldier is convicted, he must immediately be pardoned without spending a day in prison. He released the same message on his Facebook page.

Bennett feels the probe into the shooting was tainted and the soldier simply was not treated fairly, placing a finger of blame at Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon.

Bennett feels the main message that soldiers must receive is that the nation stands behind them amid a realization the last year was plagued with Arab terror attacks and that the soldiers are on the frontline doing their best to protect the nation.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
On Thursday morning, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) was hosted by Agudath Israel of Illinois (AIOI) at Congregation Agudas Yisroel of West Rogers Park in Chicago. Senator Kirk has been one of Israels staunchest supporters. Wishing to express their gratitude for his service, a full capacity crowd came to meet the senator. Many of Chicagos preeminent rabbonim took the time to attend this meeting, while Chicagos leading askanim along with a broad cross-section of its Orthodox community filled the rest of the room.

AIOIs director of government affairs, Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, opened the event by explaining how Jews pray in their synagogues during the Yomim Noraim that Hashem inspire the hearts of government officials and their advisors to be favorably disposed towards us. Jewish communities throughout the generations often simply prayed for a reprieve from unbearable persecution. It is a true blessing to live in the United States where leaders like Senator Kirk advocate and assist the Jewish community and it is something that the Jewish community doesnt take for granted.

The senator then began by relating fascinating anecdotes regarding his personal relationships with various Israeli leaders and his efforts to assist in a broad range of areas. Among other things, Senator Kirk, who served as an intelligence officer in the Navy, played a crucial role in ensuring Israel has access to critical military intelligence and funding for missile defense, co-authored the legislation that imposed tough sanctions against Iran, and has vociferously fought the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement both in Chicago and nationwide.

Senator Kirks presentation and responses to questions from the attendees were detailed, enlightening, and witty. In a passionate response to a participant who asked what motivated him to fight for Israel and the Jewish people, Senator Kirk explained that he views it as a primary moral obligation. He described himself as a student of history who appreciates the uniqueness of the Jewish people and the persecution they have endured for generations. We must learn lessons from the 1930s: take the threats of Israels enemies seriously and understand that appeasement only emboldens them. We must do whatever we can to right the wrong done to the Jewish people. It is the moral test of our generation to stand up and do what we can to protect this special nation.

Mr. Avi Goldfeder, AIOA executive committee member, delivered closing remarks and thanked Senator Kirk for all he has done. An invitation was sent to Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth to host a similar event for her in the upcoming weeks.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The Time Warner Cable News/Siena poll released last week asked 24th Congressional District voters which is the most important issue they want their representative to be working on in Washington.

Thirty-six percent of voters said jobs and the economy. The runner-up? "Keeping America safe." Twenty-eight percent of respondents said national security is the most important issue their member of Congress should be focusing on.

That's significant in a race featuring a candidate, U.S. Rep. John Katko, who has already established a lengthy legislative record on national security issues. He's a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, chairs a transportation security subcommittee and led a task force that examined ways to stop the flow of terrorists.

He's become a leading voice on aviation security, whether it's the need for stricter employee access controls at airports or raising questions about security equipment in place at Cuban airports.

While Democratic challenger Colleen Deacon has discussed security issues on the campaign trail, much of her focus has been on economic issues  a smart decision, based on the poll results. She has advocated for a higher minimum wage, the establishment of paid family leave and wants to fight trade policies that have negatively impacted central New York.

National security issues matter to voters. Among women in the 24th District, 32 percent said "Keeping America safe" should be their representative's No. 1 priority. By comparison, 31 percent said the economy and jobs should be at the top of the to-do list.

Among men, 24 percent said they wanted the district's congressional representative to make national security their top priority.

Perhaps most telling is where national security ranks for Katko's supporters versus Deacon's. According to the survey, 35 percent of voters supporting Katko said national security is the most important issue their member of Congress should be working on. That nearly eclipsed jobs and economy (36 percent) as the top issue among Katko's backers.

Among Deacon's voters, 17 percent said keeping America safe should be their representative's top priority. The most popular choice for Deacon's supporters was jobs and the economy (37 percent).

The poll's findings could be viewed as good news for both candidates.

For Katko, it's a piece of data that shows his work on homeland security issues can resonate with voters throughout the district. It's an important subject to many voters and they want to see their member of Congress working on it. What separates himself from Deacon is that he already has a record. He can go to voters and say, "This is what I've been doing to keep you safe." That counts for something.

From Deacon's standpoint, the results show that her economic message could be enough to win the race, but she should also mix in more discussion about national security. This hasn't been a major theme throughout her campaign. Republicans have attempted to highlight that with TV ads claiming she has "no clue" on how to fight ISIS  an attack Deacon has repeatedly said is false.
AbbVie Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals in the worldwide. The company offers HUMIRA, a therapy administered as an injection for autoimmune and intestinal Behcet's diseases; SKYRIZI to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults; RINVOQ, a JAK inhibitor for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients; IMBRUVICA to treat adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), and VENCLEXTA, a BCL-2 inhibitor used to treat adults with CLL or SLL; and MAVYRET to treat patients with chronic HCV genotype 1-6 infection. It also provides CREON, a pancreatic enzyme therapy for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; Synthroid used in the treatment of hypothyroidism; Linzess/Constella to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and chronic idiopathic constipation; Lupron for the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer, endometriosis and central precocious puberty, and patients with anemia caused by uterine fibroids; and Botox therapeutic. In addition, the company offers ORILISSA, a nonpeptide small molecule gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist for women with moderate to severe endometriosis pain; Duopa and Duodopa, a levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel to treat Parkinson's disease; Lumigan/Ganfort, a bimatoprost ophthalmic solution for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension; Ubrelvy to treat migraine with or without aura in adults; Alphagan/ Combigan, an alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist for the reduction of IOP in patients with OAG; and Restasis, a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant to increase tear production, as well as other eye care products. AbbVie Inc. has a research collaboration with Dragonfly Therapeutics, Inc. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois.
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.
Tidewater Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides offshore marine support and transportation services to the offshore energy industry through the operation of a fleet of marine service vessels worldwide. It provides services in support of offshore oil and natural gas exploration, field development, and production, as well as windfarm development and maintenance, including towing of and anchor handling for mobile offshore drilling units; transporting supplies and personnel necessary to sustain drilling, workover, and production activities; offshore construction, and seismic and subsea support; geotechnical survey support for windfarm construction; and various specialized services, such as pipe and cable laying. The company operates and charters deepwater vessels, including platform supply and horsepower anchor handling tug supply vessels for use in transporting supplies and equipment from shore bases to deepwater and intermediate water depth offshore drilling rigs and production platforms; towing-supply vessels for use in intermediate and shallow waters; and crew boats, utility vessels, and offshore tugs to transport personnel and supplies from shore bases to offshore drilling rigs, platforms, and other installations. It also operates offshore tugs for use in tow floating drilling rigs and barges; and assisting in the docking of tankers, as well as in pipe and cable laying, and construction barges. The company serves oil and natural gas exploration, field development, and production companies; mid-sized and smaller independent exploration and production companies; foreign government-owned or government-controlled organizations, and other related companies; drilling contractors; and other companies, such as offshore construction, windfarm development, diving, and well stimulation companies. As of December 31, 2021, it owned 135 vessels. Tidewater Inc. was incorporated in 1956 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Ryder System, Inc. operates as a logistics and transportation company worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Fleet Management Solutions (FMS), Supply Chain Solutions (SCS), and Dedicated Transportation Solutions (DTS). The FMS segment offers full service leasing and leasing with flexible maintenance options, as well as maintenance services, supplies, and related equipment for operation of the vehicles; commercial vehicle rental services; and contract or transactional maintenance services of trucks, tractors, and trailers, as well as fleet support services. This segment also provides access to diesel fuel; offers fuel planning and tax reporting, cards, and monitoring services, and centralized billing; and sells used vehicles through its 63 retail sales centers and www.ryder.com/used-trucks website. The DTS segment offers equipment, maintenance, drivers, administrative, and additional services, as well as routing and scheduling, fleet sizing, safety, regulatory compliance, risk management, and technology and communication systems support services. The SCS segment comprises distribution management services, such as designing and managing customer's distribution network and facilities; coordinating warehousing and transportation for inbound and outbound material flows; handling import and export for international shipments; coordinating just-in-time replenishment of component parts to manufacturing and final assembly; and offering shipments to customer distribution centers or end customer delivery points, as well as other value added services, such as light assembly of components. This segment also offers transportation management services, such as shipment optimization, load scheduling, and delivery confirmation services; knowledge-based professional services; and e-commerce and last mile services. Ryder System, Inc. was founded in 1933 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.
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ALLETE, Inc. operates as an energy company. The company operates through Regulated Operations, ALLETE Clean Energy, and Corporate and Other segments. It generates electricity from coal-fired, biomass co-fired / natural gas, hydroelectric, wind, and solar. The company provides regulated utility electric services in northwestern Wisconsin to approximately 15,000 electric customers, 13,000 natural gas customers, and 10,000 water customers, as well as regulated utility electric services in northeastern Minnesota to approximately 145,000 retail customers and 15 non-affiliated municipal customers. It also owns and maintains electric transmission assets in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Illinois. In addition, the company focuses on developing, acquiring, and operating clean and renewable energy projects; and owns and operates approximately 1,000 megawatts of wind energy generation facility. Further, it is involved in the coal mining operations in North Dakota; and real estate investment activities in Florida. The company owns and operates 158 substations with a total capacity of 10,066 megavolt amperes. It serves taconite mining, paper, pulp and secondary wood products, pipeline, and other industries. The company was formerly known as Minnesota Power, Inc. and changed its name to ALLETE, Inc. in May 2001. ALLETE, Inc. was incorporated in 1906 and is headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota.
Flowserve Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, distributes, and services industrial flow management equipment in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Flowserve Pump Division (FPD) and Flow Control Division (FCD). The FPD segment offers custom and pre-configured pumps and pump systems, mechanical seals, auxiliary systems, replacement parts, upgrades, and related aftermarket services, including installation and commissioning services, seal systems spare parts, repairs, advanced diagnostics, re-rate and upgrade solutions, retrofit programs, and machining and asset management solutions, as well as manufactures a gas-lubricated mechanical seal for use in high-speed compressors for gas pipelines. The FCD segment provides engineered and industrial valve and automation solutions, including isolation and control valves, actuation, controls, and related equipment, as well as equipment maintenance services for flow control systems, including advanced diagnostics, repair, installation, commissioning, retrofit programs, and field machining capabilities. This segment's products are used to control, direct, and manage the flow of liquids, gases, and fluids. The company primarily serves oil and gas, chemical and pharmaceuticals, power generation, and water management markets, as well as general industries, including mining and ore processing, pulp and paper, food and beverage, and other smaller applications. The company distributes its products through direct sales, distributors, and sales representatives. Flowserve Corporation was incorporated in 1912 and is headquartered in Irving, Texas.
Trinseo PLC, a materials solutions provider, manufactures and sells plastics and latex binders in the United States, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company operates through six segments: Engineered Materials, Latex Binders, Base Plastics, Polystyrene, Feedstocks, and Americas Styrenics. The Engineered Materials segment offers rigid compounds, including polycarbonate compounds, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene compounds, and PC blends to consumer electronics and medical markets for equipment housing applications; thermoplastic elastomer soft plastic compounds, such as overmolds, sealings, tubing, and films for footwear shoe sole, personal care, consumer electronics, and automotive high-end applications; and PMMA products to building and construction, automotive, medical, and consumer goods applications. The Latex Binders segment provides styrene-butadiene, styrene-acrylate, vinylidene chloride, and butadiene-methacrylate latex products for the commercial and niche carpet markets, as well as performance latex products for the adhesive, building and construction, and technical textile paper markets. The Base Plastics segment offers various compounds and blends for automotive and other applications. This segment also engages in the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-acrylonitrile, and polycarbonate businesses. The Polystyrene segment provides general purpose polystyrenes and high impact polystyrene for use in appliances, food packaging and food service disposables, consumer electronics, and building and construction materials. The Feedstocks segment offers styrene monomer, a basic building block of plastics. The Americas Styrenics segment provides styrene and polystyrene. The company was incorporated in 2015 and is based in Berwyn, Pennsylvania.
The following companies are subsidiares of Eli Lilly and: 1096401 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, ARMO BioSciences Inc, ARMO Bioscience, Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Alnara Pharmaceuticals, Alnara Pharmaceuticals Inc., Andean Technical Operations Center, Applied Molecular Evolution Inc., AurKa Pharma, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals Inc., ChemGen, CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, CoLucid Pharmaceuticals Inc., Dermira, Devices for Vascular Intervention(DVI), Disarm Therapeutics, Dista Ilac Ticaret Ltd. Sti., Dista S.A., Dista-Produtos Quimicos & Farmaceuticos LDA, ELCO Dominicana SRL, ELCO Insurance Company Limited, ELCO Management Inc., ELCO for Trade and Marketing S.A.E., ELGO Insurance Company Limited, Elanco Animal Health Ireland Limited, Elanco Switzerland Holding Sarl, Eli Lilly (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Eli Lilly (Philippines) Incorporated, Eli Lilly (S.A.) (Proprietary) Limited, Eli Lilly (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Eli Lilly (Suisse) S.A., Eli Lilly Asia Inc., Eli Lilly Asia Pacific SSC Sdn Bhd, Eli Lilly Australia Pty. Limited, Eli Lilly B-H d.o.o., Eli Lilly Benelux S.A., Eli Lilly Bienes y Servicios S de RL de CV, Eli Lilly CR s.r.o., Eli Lilly Canada Inc., Eli Lilly Cork Limited, Eli Lilly Danmark A/S, Eli Lilly Egypt for Trading, Eli Lilly European Clinical Trial Services SA, Eli Lilly Export S.A., Eli Lilly Finance S.A., Eli Lilly Ges.m.b.H., Eli Lilly Group Limited, Eli Lilly Holdings Ltd., Eli Lilly Hrvatska d.o.o., Eli Lilly Interamerica Inc., Eli Lilly Interamerica Inc. y Compania Limitada, Eli Lilly International Corporation, Eli Lilly Ireland Holdings Limited, Eli Lilly Israel Ltd., Eli Lilly Italia S.p.A., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Eli Lilly Kinsale Limited, Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., Eli Lilly Nigeria Ltd., Eli Lilly Norge A.S., Eli Lilly Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., Eli Lilly Polska Sp.z.o.o. (Ltd.), Eli Lilly Regional Operations GmbH, Eli Lilly Romania SRL, Eli Lilly S.A., Eli Lilly Saudi Arabia Limited, Eli Lilly Services Inc, Eli Lilly Services India Private Limited, Eli Lilly Slovakia s.r.o., Eli Lilly Sweden AB, Eli Lilly Vostok S.A. Geneva, Eli Lilly and Company, Eli Lilly and Company (India) Pvt. Ltd., Eli Lilly and Company (Ireland) Limited, Eli Lilly and Company (N.Z.) Limited, Eli Lilly and Company (Taiwan) Inc., Eli Lilly and Company Limited, Eli Lilly de Centro America S.A., Eli Lilly do Brasil Limitada, Eli Lilly farmacevtska druzba d.o.o., Eli Lilly y Compania de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Eli Lilly y Compania de Venezuela S.A., Glycostasis Inc, Greenfield-Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Heart Rhythm Technologies Inc, Hybritech, Hypnion, ICOS Corporation, ImClone GmbH, ImClone LLC, ImClone Systems Holdings Inc., ImClone Systems LLC, Imclone Systems, Irisfarma S.A., Ivy Animal Health, Kinsale Financial Services Unlimited Company, Lilly (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd, Lilly Asia Ventures Fund I L.P., Lilly Asia Ventures Fund II L.P., Lilly Asian Ventures Fund III L.P., Lilly Cayman Holdings, Lilly China Research and Development Co. Ltd., Lilly Deutschland GmbH, Lilly France S.A.S., Lilly Global Nederland Holdings B.V., Lilly Global Services Inc., Lilly Holding GmbH, Lilly Holdings B.V., Lilly Hungaria KFT, Lilly Japan Financing G.K., Lilly Korea Ltd., Lilly Nederland Finance B.V., Lilly Nederland Finance B.V. - GCC, Lilly Nederland Holding B.V., Lilly Pharma Ltd., Lilly Portugal - Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Lilly S.A., Lilly Suzhou Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Lilly Trading Co. LTD, Lilly USA LLC, Lilly Ventures Fund I LLC, Lilly del Caribe Inc., Lilly ilac ticaret limited sirketi, Lohmann Animal Health, Loxo Oncology, Lylly Centre for Clinical Pharmacology PTE. LTD., Novartis Animal Health, OY Eli Lilly Finland AB, Origin Medsystems, PT. Eli Lilly Indonesia, Pacific Biotech, Pharmaserve-Lilly S.A.C.I., Physio-Control, SGX Pharmaceuticals, SGX Pharmaceuticals Inc, Spaly Bioquimica S.A., UAB Eli Lilly Lietuva, Valquifarma S.A., and Vital Pharma Productos Farmaceuticos.

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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.
EnerSys provides various stored energy solutions for industrial applications worldwide. It operates in three segments: Energy Systems, Motive Power, and Specialty. The company offers uninterruptible power systems applications for computer and computer-controlled systems, as well as telecommunications systems; switchgear and electrical control systems used in industrial facilities and electric utilities, large-scale energy storage, and energy pipelines; integrated power solutions and services to broadband, telecom, renewable, and industrial customers; and thermally managed cabinets and enclosures for electronic equipment and batteries. It also provides motive power products that are used to provide power for electric industrial forklifts used in manufacturing, warehousing, and other material handling applications. In addition, the company offers mining equipment, diesel locomotive starting, and other rail equipment. Further, it provides specialty batteries for starting, lighting, and ignition applications in transportation; and energy solutions for satellites, military aircraft, submarines, ships, and other tactical vehicles, as well as medical and security systems. Additionally, the company offers battery chargers, power equipment, battery accessories, and outdoor cabinet enclosures, as well as related after-market and customer-support services for industrial batteries. The company sells its products through a network of distributors, independent representatives, and internal sales forces. The company was formerly known as Yuasa, Inc. and changed its name to EnerSys in January 2001. EnerSys was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Regions Financial Corporation, a financial holding company, provides banking and bank-related services to individual and corporate customers. It operates through three segments: Corporate Bank, Consumer Bank, and Wealth Management. The Corporate Bank segment offers commercial banking services, such as commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, and investor real estate lending; equipment lease financing; deposit products; and securities underwriting and placement, loan syndication and placement, foreign exchange, derivatives, merger and acquisition, and other advisory services. It serves corporate, middle market, and commercial real estate developers and investors. The Consumer Bank segment provides consumer banking products and services related to residential first mortgages, home equity lines and loans, consumer credit cards, and other consumer loans, as well as deposits. The Wealth Management segment offers credit related products, and retirement and savings solutions; and trust and investment management, asset management, and estate planning services to individuals, businesses, governmental institutions, and non-profit entities. The company also provides investment and insurance products; low-income housing tax credit corporate fund syndication services; and other specialty financing services. As of March 01, 2022, it operated through a network of 1,300 banking offices and 2,000 automated teller machines across the South, Midwest, and Texas. Regions Financial Corporation was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.
MILTON  Authorities have released the names of a man and a teenage girl killed in a head-on crash in southern Wisconsin.

The Rock County Medical Examiner's Department identified the victims as 16-year-old Hannah Church of Fort Atkinson and 28-year-old Robert Frank of Milton.

Sheriff's officials say Frank was driving a pickup truck that collided with a car driven by Church on North Highway 26 in the Town of Milton late Friday. Both drivers died at the scene.

A 16-year-old girl, also from Fort Atkinson, who was a passenger in the car was hospitalized in critical condition.
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By Patrick Donachie

A man was charged with the murder of his mother after she had gone missing, according to the NYPD. The news came hours after police confirmed human remains had been found in a lake in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

Roman S. Gorbunova, 21, was charged with murder in the second degree for the death of Lyubova Gorbunova, 58. Police confirmed a body had been recovered with in Flushing Meadows. The body was found at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Police could not confirm it was Gorbunova, 58, who has missing since Sept. 27 at 9 a.m., but the New York Post reported that police had been searching the park for her remains.

Gorbunova went missing from her residence in Rego Park. The Post said police suspected the womans son of murdering her and dumping her body inside the park. According to the Post, the son had been arrested Friday. In addition to the murder charge, he was charged with criminal concealment of a corpse and criminal possession of a weapon.

A spokesman for the NYPD said that they could only confirm a body had been recovered and could not yet speak about the identity.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting rebels in Yemen said on Sunday it is ready to investigate together with the United States an air strike on a funeral ceremony in Sanaa that killed more than 140 people.

The Iran-backed Huthi rebels have blamed the Arab coalition for Saturday\s attack, one of the deadliest since it launched a military campaign against the Shiite insurgents in March last year.

But after initially denying any responsibility, the coalition said it was ready to launch a probe into the "regrettable and painful" strike, which a UN official said also wounded more than 525 people.

"The coalition will immediately investigate this case along with Joint Incidents Assessment Team in Yemen and experts from the United States who participated in previous investigations," it said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

"The coalition is also willing to provide the investigation team with any data and information related to its military operations today, at the incident\s location and the surrounding areas," it said.

"The result of the investigation should be announced as soon as it\s completed."

The UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, said aid workers were "shocked and outraged" by the attacks that hit a community hall in the Yemeni capital where mourners had gathered.

Following the report, the United States said it would review its support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

"We are deeply disturbed by reports of today\s air strike on a funeral hall in Yemen, which, if confirmed, would continue the troubling series of attacks striking Yemeni civilians," White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

"In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led coalition and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with US principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemen\s tragic conflict."

Price stressed that "US security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check", and called on all sides to implement an "immediate" ceasefire.

In August, the US military announced it had slashed its number of intelligence advisers supporting the Saudi-led coalition following concerns over civilian casualties.

In its statement, the coalition expressed its "deepest condolences and support to the families of the victims of hostilities since the coup takeover of power in Yemen during 2014".

"The coalition confirms that its troops have clear instructions not to target populated areas and to avoid civilians," said the Saudi-led alliance.

The coalition  which also comprises Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Qatar, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates  has faced repeated criticism from rights groups over civilian casualties in its campaign in Yemen.

SOURCE: AFP
Q&A with PA-16 candidates Robert Matzie and Rico Elmore

Both Beaver County natives, Matzie and Elmore have expressed their interest in making Beaver County a better place in their own unique ways.
Park Street has become a lot brighter and more vibrant in the past few weeks thanks to a new sea life mural at Burnies on Park.

Its almost a restructuring of how you perceive that same building, just through color, said Sonali Franke, who owns the store with her husband, Nevin Franke, and did much of the artwork herself. And you get to see a lot of the beautiful nuances and niches within the building.

Sonali Franke said she and Nevin wanted a little more exposure because the building is tucked back from the street. They intended to paint the southern wall with some brighter colors and when they started painting, decided on adding artwork as well.

The concept is sea life: past, present and future. Like a little Darwinian Atlantis of the Ocean, Sonali Franke said.

The Frankes, who own Burnies Rock Shop, 901 E. Johnson St., opened the second store at 636 S. Park St., in May 2014, after buying the building where the artisan craft and gift store Chiripa used to be.

While the popular Johnson Street store sells jewelry, minerals, gems and rocks, the newer store is more than just a rock shop, and strives to be a gift shop specializing in unique, fair trade products made by artists.

Nevins father, Burnie Franke, started Burnies in 1962 in the basement of the old Brooks Street YMCA, where he first set up his lapidary equipment and made some sales. He opened his first shop on Monroe Street the same year, before moving to Johnson Street in the late 70s.

As for the mural, Nevin Franke said he sat back and let Sonali, an artist with a degree in textile design as well as gemology, take the lead.

I had no preconceptions, he said. To me, with more or less a neutral eye, I think it turned out pretty awesome. I like the marine theme that she chose. It goes with our color scheme, the intense blue color.

Nevin Franke said hes been enjoying his wifes entertaining take on the creatures shes chosen to illustrate, from the crinoids to the octopus. It really showed some great imagination.

Karin Wolf, arts program administrator for the City of Madison, said shes been pleased that more and more private business owners and developers are incorporating art into their projects.

She pointed to the Waterfall project at 316 W. Washington Ave, that she said also shows commitment to the community.

Sonali Franke got help painting from Burnies employees Peregrine Balas and Paisley Koch, as well as from former employee and friend Mollie Baker, who came from Indiana and volunteered her time.

Bill Scheer, who was putting on mirrored tiles one recent day to frame some sections of the mural, said, The light shining on these mirrors is going to make everything pop.

Sonali Franke said theyve been overwhelmed with the response from the neighborhood, from children, and from people driving by on their evening commute.

I cannot tell you how many people have just stopped and yelled out and said, Awesome, thanks for sharing your gift. Thank you for making Park Street look beautiful.
PLAYOFFS?! Breaking down postseason scenarios for local high school football teams

Who's in? Who's out? Who can clinch with a win? We break down the postseason scenarios for every local high school football district.
Times Record News file photo A trauma patient receives care in the emergency room at United Regional Health Care System. A 2016 Wichita County health assessment shows access to health services is excellent in the area ranking 13th out of 241 counties in Texas in access to clinical care.

SHARE TIMES RECORD NEWS FILE PHOTO Jessica Bachman, nutrition services director for the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank, talks about the healthy eating with a group of Kirby Junior High students. Overweight and obesity rates were a problem area for Wichita County in a 2016 health assessment with 39 percent of residents overweight and nearly 31 percent reported obese. TIMES RECORD NEWS FILE PHOTO A Midwestern State University nursing student, Judith Justice, demonstrates food portions at a community health fair held at the D.L Ligon Coliseum. In a 2016 Wichita County health report, the area suffers from high heart disease, obesity rates and other preventable health risks. The county fared well in high school graduation rates, unemployment, and access to health care services. TIMES RECORD NEWS FILE PHOTO A 2016 Wichita County health report shows the area has better than state average access to clinic care, general dentists and mental health services. Times Record News file photo Candace Pichoff, left, teaches Sam Houston Elementary second graders Jhon Reynolds, left, Carly Davis, Gabrielle Moreland and Armando Rodriguez about healthy food choice during Healthy Kids Day, sponsored by Kids Kitchen, a Junior League of Wichita Falls community project. A 2016 Wichita County health report shows 29 percent of children in the area living in poverty. Adult obesity rates appeared to be declining after a high more than 30 percent in 2010.

By Claire Kowalick of the Times Record News

An annual health assessment for Wichita County shows some improvement in areas  and work to be done in other areas.

The report, prepared by Assistant Health Director Amy Fagan and Dr. Kirk Harlow, includes a summary of health and quality of life indicators for Wichita County residents. The numbers place Wichita County near the middle overall at 137th out of 241 Texas counties.

The 2016 Community Health Assessment report was compiled from data pulled in late 2015, examining health and quality of life factors for residents in the area. The study examines two major categories of health status and outcomes and health influences and factors.

In self-reported perception of health study, 40 percent reported having "very good" or "excellent" health and 21 percent perceived themselves as in "fair" or "poor" health. Correlating age and income level, the study found residents making less than $25,000 perceived themselves to be less healthy regardless of age group.

The first category, heath status and outcomes, looks at how long people in the area live, primary causes of death, and current health status. A striking outcome in this category is a high number of years lost due to preventable causes. Wichita County rated higher than the national benchmark and state average for age-adjusted years of life lost. The mortality rate for the county is 923 per 100,000 for 2013, compared to the Texas rate of 749 per 100,000. The county rate has not changed significantly from previous years, but remains disturbingly higher than both national and state levels.

The leading causes of death in Wichita County are heart disease and cancer, with rates more than twice those of any other categories. Other causes of death charted were chronic lower respiratory diseases, accidents, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular diseases, Alzheimer's Disease, and a category for all other causes. Of the leading causes of death in the county, all except Alzheimer's Disease, have clear prevention options. The county sees this as an opportunity to install preventive measures to mediate these health issues.

In all categories, men had a higher mortality rate than women, following a consistent pattern in which men have a shorter life span than women. Male mortality rates were notably higher in categories for malignant neoplasms, heart disease, chronic lower respiratory disease, intentional self-harm, and cirrhosis.

Mortality patterns by race in the county shows Hispanics have a lower mortality rate than either black or white groups in three categories  all causes, malignant neoplasms (cancer), and disease of the heart. The Texas Department of State Health Services had similar results meaning the finding is not specific to Wichita County.

Mortality rates in blacks appears to be higher than both whites and Hispanics, especially in the rate of infant mortality, death of a child under age 1.

Causes of death vary by age group with mortality rates generally increasing with age. Malignant neoplasms were uncommon before age 15, except for Leukemia. Alzheimer's Disease as a cause of death begins around age 45, but is most common after age 75. Intentional self-harm (suicide) and motor vehicle accidents have mortality rates in nearly every age group. Suicide rates in men (22.9 per 100,000 population) were much higher than women (7.6 per 100,000).

Motor-vehicle accident deaths were similar to state and national rates with numbers highest in ages 15-24 and 25-34.

Infant mortality rates in Wichita County are low, but still higher than the objective rate of six per 1,000 live births. In 2013, the county had a rate of 8.5 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. The mortality rate for infants under age 1 for blacks was higher than both Hispanics and whites. The county also ranked higher than they would like in low birth weights of infants. The target was to have 7.8 per 100 live births having low birth weight, but through years 2006-2012, the county had eight of every 100 births having low weight. The rate of low birth weight was higher for blacks (rate of 13.6 per 100 births in years 2010-2013) than either Hispanic (8.1) or white (8.3) groups.

The study found about 11 percent of county residents had a heart disease diagnosis. The rate was slightly higher for men than women, which is similar to the state average. Heart disease correlated with income, with increasing rates as income decreased. This continues the pattern seen of lower income individuals having a higher risk for health problems.

The overall rate of cancer is just under nine percent. The rates for females was slightly higher than males, which varies from the state norm where males have a higher cancer rate than females. For cancer, there was no statistical difference in income groups. Males still had a higher mortality rate from cancer than females.

Information on diabetes prevalence showed a promising decrease from years 2004-2012, but the county said it was too soon to tell if this was a true downward trend.

Rates for females (17.4 percent) in the county were slightly higher than males (12.7 percent) and lower income again correlated with higher rates of diabetes (21.34 percent with diabetes reporting $25,000 or less in income).

Depression rates were on par with other state numbers with more women (28.71 percent) than men (13.35 percent) reporting depression. Here as well, income level plays a significant factor with depression rates greatly increasing with lower income levels (32.83 percent reported income less than $25,000).

The second category, health influences and factors looks into behaviors, health care resources, and socio-economic, cultural factors.

In the realm of negative health behaviors, Wichita County has room to improve, falling to 214th out of 241 counties. In several categories  including smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, sexually transmitted diseases, and teen births  Wichita County numbers were higher than both the state average and top U.S. performers. The county received a health-food environment index (HFEI) of 5.5, with zero being the worst and 10 being the best. The state average HFEI was 6.5 and U.S. was 8.3.

Tobacco use remains slightly higher than state average at 19 percent of the county population. Income, again, plays a factor with 26.7 percent of smokers making less than $25,000 and 23.5 percent making $25,000-$50,000. Smoking rates drop sharply with increased income with just 6.6 percent of smokers in the county making more than $50,000 per year.

Adult obesity rates have leveled off after an all-time-high in 2010, but the rate is still above average at around 30 percent.

Alcohol-related traffic fatalities appear to be on a strong decline for the county at around 20 percent in 2014, down from about 35 percent in 2010.

Teen birth rates were similar to the rest of the state with higher percentages for black and Hispanic mothers over white or other races.

The report shows availability of health care is a strong positive feature of the Wichita County area. The county ranks 13th of 241 in access to services.

Uninsured populations continue to decline with only about 12.9 percent of residents without insurance in 2014. The report shows since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the number of people without insurance should continue to decline even further. The county has a primary care provider ratio similar to top performing areas of the U.S. and is better than the state average. Wichita ranked 30th among Texas counties with a ratio of 1 physician per 1,171 residents. The county also performed well in ratios for general dentists and mental health providers.

A summary of socio-economic factors was favorable to the county showing a higher than state average high school graduation rate (93 percent), lower than average unemployment rate (4.9 percent), and lower number of violent crimes (405).

Some weaknesses were a high number of children living in poverty (29 percent) and median income of $44,854 which is lower than the Texas average of $52,576. There were much higher levels of Hispanic (39 percent) and black (46 percent) residents living in poverty than whites (15 percent).

The county said in the future they hope to tailor health programs to lower income populations and direct attention to affordable care for all residents. They also aim to target issues specific to men and the county's black population.
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Blaine S. Purcell, Wichita Falls

This is a belated public "thank you" to Judge Gossom and Commissioner Harvey asking Senior German Leadership representative, LTC Thorston Zurek to recognize former congressman Graham Purcell's (deceased) role in bringing the German Air Force to SAFB. The occasion was the German Roll call celebrating the 50th Anniversary of German Pilot Training.

We are well served by public servants such as Judge Gossom and Commissioner Harvey going beyond anything we could have asked.
Albany

The city announced Saturday that it expects to save $250,000 in 2017 by hiring Triad Group, LLC, a new third-party administrator to oversee the city's workers' compensation claims.

The hiring of the Troy-based claims management firm, which will act as a liaison between the city and injured workers, is expected to save the city $250,000 in administration fees in 2017, according to a news release issued by the city.

The savings represents a major part of the reduction in expenditures in the mayor's 2017 budget, the release stated. The hiring is part of the first re-evaluation of the city's workers' compensation process in 25 years. This decision was made following the hiring of a workers' compensation consultant and the issuance of an request for proposals tailored to Albany's needs.

"This re-evaluation is in line with my administration's commitment to putting safety first for all city workers," said Mayor Kathy Sheehan. "These new procedures will help injured workers get care more quickly and get back to work faster, creating major efficiencies in the process."

Triad is expected to bring savings by processing claims with in-house nurses and attorneys, rather than outsourced reviewers; ensuring injured workers receive care without waiting, enabling them to return to work faster; and creating efficiencies by using workers' comp software instead of paper filings.

Triad Group is headed by Victoria E. Manes, whose clients include cities, towns, villages, counties, and school districts across New York.
Kuwait City

An Egyptian driving a garbage truck loaded with explosives and Islamic State papers rammed into a truck carrying five U.S. soldiers in Kuwait on Saturday, injuring only himself in the attack, authorities said.

The attempted attack is the first by the Islamic State group to target American troops in the tiny, oil-rich emirate that's a stalwart U.S. ally. It comes as authorities already increased security ahead of a major Shiite commemoration in the coming days.

Kuwait's Interior Ministry identified the attacker as Ibrahim Sulaiman, born in 1988, and published a picture of the alleged assailant in a hospital bed. The ministry said the five soldiers were not injured. It said Sulaiman had multiple fractures and injuries.

It was not immediately clear if the Egyptian had a lawyer. The ministry did not offer a location for the failed attack, though it published pictures of the aftermath of the crash showing a wrecked garbage truck, as well as items it described as a suicide belt loaded with shrapnel. The white pickup truck apparently carrying the soldiers had the left side of its bed smashed in.

American forces and others have troops stationed at Kuwait's Camp Arifjan. The U.S. military's Central Command referred a request for comment to U.S. Army Central, based in both South Carolina and Kuwait. Kuwait is a solid U.S. ally following the 1991 American-led Gulf War that ended the Iraqi occupation there.
A building in Cohoes that will provide the Capital Region's first apartments geared toward adults with autism; the final phase of Trinity Place in Selkirk and a progress report on phase two of the Residences at the Crossings in Colonie are what's new this month.

Mosaic Village, at the corner of Ontario and Sargent streets in Cohoes, will contain 68 units  a mix of affordable housing and apartments geared for adults with developmental disabilities. It is the brainchild of 3tarchitects in Troy, the Autism Society of the Greater Capital Region, the Spotted Zebra Learning Center in Albany and the Vecino Group, a Missouri firm that develops supportive housing. They are seeking funding through the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal to build a community that welcomes adults with and without disabilities, including autism.

Of the 68 units, 14 of them will be geared toward people with developmental disabilities. For example, the whole building will use LED lights instead of fluorescents, which emit a buzz that can make people with autism uncomfortable. Scott Townsend, a partner and the design director at 3tarchitects, is researching the best method for security that doesn't involve keys or a pass card that can be easily lost. The building has particular importance for Scott and his wife, Sheri Townsend, because they have a son who is on the autism spectrum.

"Scott has taken everything we learned as a family and incorporated it into the design," said Sheri Townsend, owner of the Spotted Zebra.

More Information Have an item? If you have an item for What's New, please contact Leigh Hornbeck at 454-5352 or by email at lhornbeck@timesunion-.com. See More Collapse

There will be an integrated preschool on the first floor and office space for service providers who will support the tenants on the spectrum with education, therapy, job training, life skills training and more. Both Mosaic Village residents and people from the surrounding communities will be able to take advantage of this "One Stop" concept, explained Sheri Townsend. The rest of the units will be rented to people whose annual income is 60 to 130 percent the median income for Albany County, approximately $82,000 for a family of four.

Construction will cost roughly $11 million. Scott Townsend said. City officials in Cohoes approved the project. The development team will submit the plan to the state in December and expect to hear if the project has been approved in early 2017. They hope the design will be replicated in the Capital Region and elsewhere to serve the thousands of people on the spectrum who could live independently with just a little support. More than 4,100 people have signed a petition in support of Mosaic Village. Go to the Facebook page to learn more: https://www.facebook.com/TheMosaicVillage.

Crisafulli Associates tapped into the apartment boom in a big way with the Residences at the Crossings off Wolf Road. When the first phase, a 46-unit, three-story building opened in mid-August, 85 percent of the apartments were already leased, said Michael Crisafulli, vice-president of Crisafulli Associates. There are now only four available. The company broke ground in June for phase two, a three-story building with 105 units. It won't be ready until 2018, but Crisafulli has already taken one deposit.

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The Residences didn't find popularity because of the price point. Rent starts at $1,350 per month. But Crisafulli said the combination of location and quality created the demand. The complex, on Aviation Road, is walking distance to both the Rudy A. Ciccotti Recreational Center, where Residences tenants get a 10 percent discount off membership, and the Crossings Park, as well as several grocery stores and Colonie Center Mall. The building has a hushed hotel vibe; there's a fireplace in the lobby, free coffee every day and free pastries on the weekends from Professor Java's Coffee Sanctuary. The courtyard is furnished with patio furniture and a gas-powered fire pit. There will be 48 one-bedroom/one bath apartments in the new building, 56 two bedroom/two bath (many will have dens) and one three-bedroom/two-bath. Rents start at $1,550 per month. The majority are in the $2,250 range. Contact Michael Crisafulli for a tour. http://www.crossingsliving.com.

Rosewood Homes started Trinity Manor in Selkirk with single-family homes in 2009. The builder will complete the rental development next year, with 30 townhouses under construction now. Parent company Rosetti Development is promoting the townhouses' proximity to work and play, but with "country" surroundings. They are slighly cheaper than other local apartment options. Two floor plans, both with three bedrooms and a garage, are offered. They range in size from 1,589 to 1,925 square feet. Cable and Internet service, snow removal, landscaping and 24-hour maintenance are included in the rent. Pets are not allowed.

A model will open in January as will as several completed homes. Contact real estate agent Cindra Windover for more information at 470-7745 or visit www.trinitymanorrcs.com.

lhornbeck@timesunion.com
New York's community colleges didn't have to weather the recession, like most industries. It's the recovery that has them tightening their belts.

The recession, in fact, ushered in a heyday for the nation's community colleges. The job market was bone dry. Higher education was a refuge, a place to ride out the storm and gain new skills  if you could afford it, that is. And community colleges, where cheap tuition has always been the draw, saw enrollment surge as a result.

In New York, enrollment soared 19 percent from 209,059 students in 2006, the year before the housing crash, to a high of 249,343 in 2010, when the effects of the Great Recession were still widely felt. As the economy started to recover, enrollment dropped off. Since its peak, enrollment has dipped 12 percent to 219,942 last year.

Today, community colleges say the long slog down, though expected, has been tougher than anticipated, thanks to demographic changes that are occurring at the same time and shrinking the pool of college-age students. It has, however, forced the industry to look at new recruitment strategies, tailored degree programs and alternative funding mechanisms.

More Information Community college enrollment in New York YearEnrollment 2005208,370 2006209,059 2007214,129 2008220,995 2009239,243 2010249,343 2011247,667 2012243,007 2013239,791 2014233,812 2015219,942 About this series "The High Cost of Higher Learning" will examine economic issues affecting the Capital Region's colleges and universities, as well as their students, employees and communities. See More Collapse

"You could talk to any community college in the country, and they'll tell you they're underfunded," said Dustin Swanger, president of Fulton-Montgomery Community College in Johnstown. "But I'm very concerned about the model we have in place now  how dependent it is on enrollment. I just don't think it's a sustainable model."

By statute, community colleges are to be funded in equal part by students, counties and New York state. In reality, though, these revenue streams have never split evenly.

Over the past decade, New York's community colleges have seen their combined budgets grow from $1.36 billion in the 2006-07 academic year to $1.83 billion in 2016-17  the result of rising health care costs and operational costs, defenders say. And despite declining enrollment, students have picked up much of the increase through higher tuition and fees.

In 2006, student revenue made up 39 percent of community college budgets. Today, it makes up 42 percent. The county share has also ticked up from 31 percent to 32 percent. The state's share has fallen, meanwhile, from 31 percent to 26 percent over that time.

The State University of New York, which operates the state's 30 community colleges, has called each year for an increase in state support, citing local constraints due to property tax caps. Although not as large as hoped, the final 2016-17 state budget provided an increase of $100 per full-time equivalent student, bringing base aid per student to $2,697.

Still, community college advocates say the state ought to provide a higher minimum level of aid to at least cover fixed costs, like employee benefits. Swanger was recently picked to serve on a new SUNY committee exploring other possible funding mechanisms that could help take the pressure off when economic tailwinds cause enrollment to dip.

"Different states do different things for their community colleges," he said. "Some states provide a base level, some states fund based on certain performance measures, many are enrollment-driven. We're looking at all of them, but we're still in our infancy."

The idea that community college enrollment is countercyclical with the economy is not a new one. So as the economy started to tank in the late 2000s, some colleges turned to a temporary labor pool to handle the enrollment surge.

At FMCC and other community colleges, this meant hiring more adjunct faculty  a low commitment alternative to full-time, tenure-track faculty. Not only do adjuncts get paid less, but they don't usually receive offices, benefits or much in the way of job security.

As the economy has recovered, adjuncts have typically been the first to go, administrators say. Attrition has also helped. When full-time employees retire, colleges avoided filling those positions.

"We are better planners than people might give us credit for," Swanger said. "We knew that the enrollment surge was primarily due to the slowing of the economy. We knew it was going to be a four- to five-year bubble. So any plans on our part to beef up  we tried to keep flexible."

Programming has also gotten a good, hard look during the enrollment slump. Any class sections with too few students are cut or combined with another section, while programs with low enrollment or waning job market potential have gotten the ax entirely.

"We had a massage therapy program we had to cut, though to be honest it probably wasn't going to be sustainable anyway," said James Campion, president of Columbia-Greene Community College. "We've had others we've had to eliminate, because student interest just hasn't been there."

Conversely, colleges are expanding programs they think will draw more students in and are launching new programs altogether that cater to the local job market  in particular, those with guaranteed jobs at the end.

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In Schenectady, for example, a casino being built on the shores of the Mohawk River will need to hire management, hospitality staff, game dealers and security within the next year. Schenectady County Community College, as a result, has launched several new programs designed to fill these jobs, including a casino and gaming hospitality program and a business administration-casino program.

The college also launched a craft beer brewing certificate program in response to local and national markets, and is currently working to launch a biological technician program.

"It used to be that you could choose from 15, 20, 50 different options when planning your degree program," said Penny Haynes, vice president of academic affairs at SCCC. "They call that the cafeteria approach. But it's no longer enough. Students want to know, OK I can take this and this and this and it's a clear, specific path to a job or a transfer school."

For FMCC, this has meant advertising its nanotechnology program as a pathway to a job at GlobalFoundries. At Columbia-Greene, it's meant a partnership with Toyota that guarantees students who complete an automotive technology program the certifications needed to work at the dealership.

The recession offered community colleges an unexpected silver lining, said Mark Bessette, director of financial aid at SCCC. As belts tightened and the national student loan debt ballooned past credit card debt, the national conversation around higher education took a distinct turn.

Students and parents were no longer satisfied with the long-held concept of college as four years of liberal arts education followed by well-paying careers. Students wanted to know two things: Am I going to get a decent-paying job when I'm done and how much debt will I have when I graduate?

Those are concerns Bessette thinks will linger well into the economic recovery.

"If you come to a community college, you're not going to get the frills," he said. "You're not going to get gym facilities and swimming pools. But as students become more and more apprehensive about the cost and value of college, I think that's when they'll realize: Community colleges are actually their allies. We offer quality education at the best price there is."

bbump@timesunion.com  518-454-5387  @bethanybump
Imagine being told of a national liberation movement that has secured freedom and protection for a minority group that had suffered unspeakable discrimination and persecution for centuries. Imagine being told that the democracy established by this movement granted full equal rights to all its citizens regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender or religion.

Imagine being told that citizens of this democracy enjoyed the full panoply of civil liberties  freedom of speech, free press, freedom of association and freedom of conscience  and that, as a result, evolved a society that was diverse, dynamic, and rich in culture and creativity.

Imagine this democracy safeguarding its liberal values in spite of wave after wave of terrorist violence directed toward it and despite being surrounded by a region dominated by tyranny and extremism. Imagine that this society not only looked after its own citizens but reached out to other communities in need around the world, assisting developing countries to acquire agricultural technology, health care, earlyage education and renewable energy.

Imagine that this society took in thousands of wounded Syrian refugees, including dozens of injured Syrian children, for medical treatment in its world-class medical facilities, despite a history of hostility from that nation.

Would you doubt for one moment that supporting this democracy from attempts to isolate and delegitimize it should be a cause for every progressive to get behind? The country you have been imagining is Israel. Ironically, many who define themselves as progressive regard supporting Israel as being inconsistent with a progressive agenda.

Instead of embracing Israel as being an exemplar of a progressive agenda, some, like Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), are proud proponents of BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanctions) against Israel, undermining Israel's capacity to provide for its people and for people beyond its borders, often the very people about whom JVP purports to be concerned. JVP has little to do with showing compassion to Palestinians and a lot to do with showing hatred for Israel. While peace groups in the Middle East and in America work together to build coexistence and harmony, JVP and others work toward boycotts and embargoes.

Israel is not a perfect society and Israelis will be the first to admit it. A vibrant, dynamic, free press reflects the ongoing discourse among the spectrum of Israeli citizens. A peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has eluded them time and time again, due in the most part to the intransigence of the Palestinian leadership, which has rejected every single peace proposal put before them by Israel, the United States or anyone else. There is no doubt that the Palestinian people have suffered terribly in the course of this conflict and there is no doubt that Israel can and should do more to minimize their suffering. Israel would warmly welcome any serious initiative aimed at improving the welfare and the prospects of the Palestinian population while insuring that all Israeli citizens are safe from terrorism.

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While conflicts in the region persist, for Israel politics this has no effect on the obligation to save human lives and treat those in need. At Hadassah Medical Center, physicians recently performed a complex and innovative procedure to remove a tumor wrapped around the spinal cord of a 3-year-old Palestinian boy from Gaza, saving the child from permanent paralysis. In recent weeks, busloads of children from Syria, along with their parents, have been brought to medical centers in Tzfat and Nahariya for treatment. At Haifa's Rambam Hospital, a young girl brought in for injuries received during a battle between warring Syrian factions was discovered to have cancer. A search for a potential bone marrow donor turned up a relative in a country designated an "enemy state." Israeli security services arranged an operation to smuggle the relative into Israel.

Like all nations, Israel is a work in process. It should be recognized for its efforts as the only truly democratic state in the region, and as a society that seeks to exemplify its core values in its ongoing care for its neighbors, and even its enemies, who are suffering. Perhaps it is best expressed by Syrian refugee Aboud Dandachi, whose website, Thank You Am Israel, states, "Thank you to the people of Israel and the Jewish people the world over, for showing kindness and charity to Syrians, whether it is through your IDF medical teams, your aid workers in Greece and the Balkans, or your congregations in North America raising money to aid and sponsor Syrian refugees."

David M. Eligberg is the rabbi of Temple Israel. Sue Farber is chair of the Israel Committee of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York.
Q: What is the electoral college?

A: The Electoral College is the method the United States uses to choose the president.

Through this process, voters are not directly voting for the president, but voting for their state to give Electoral College votes to the voters candidate of choice.

Each state has a number of (Electoral College) votes, equal to the number of seats it has in the House of Representatives, said Kenneth Mayer, a professor of political science at UW-Madison. States get two additional Electoral College votes for their U.S. senators.

Wisconsin has 10 Electoral College votes, since it has eight congressional districts.

The District of Columbia has three votes, Mayer said.

Almost all states, including Wisconsin, award all of their Electoral College votes to the winner of the states popular vote, Mayer said. Maine and Nebraska are the only states to award a vote to the winner of each congressional district with the final two votes going to the statewide winner.

Since most states award all votes to the winning president of their state, candidates only need to ensure that a majority of a states voters select the candidates party on the ballot. With some states almost always leaning Republican  like Texas and Oklahoma and some leaning Democrat  like California and New York  swing states become important.

Swing states are those in which the popular vote can go to either major political party since that state doesnt have a legacy of leaning toward a particular party. These are the states where candidates believe they can win or lose an election based on their ability to sway voters.

Politico named 11 swing states based on their inconsistency for voting Democrat or Republican in the last four to five elections  Wisconsin is included in that list.

The Electoral College does increase the profile of states  especially swing states, which will receive virtually all of the campaign attention, Mayer said. It can also limit the extent of election disputes, confining them to single states  like Florida in 2000  rather than a nationwide fight over the popular vote.

Because of the allocation of Electoral College votes to states, it is possible for a candidate to win the nationwide popular vote but lose the election, which happened in 1824, 1876, 1888 and 2000.

The Electoral College was a compromise that the Constitutions framers decided on to protect state power and balance the interests of small and large states as well as the interests of northern and southern states, Mayer said. No other democratic country has a similar election process.

 Shelley K. Mesch
In suburbs, a fight for the soul of local school districts intensifies

Slates of conservative candidates are gunning for the majority on school boards nationwide, with the potential to impact school for thousands of kids.
Two months before New York's presidential primary, U.S. Rep. John Katko visited The Citizen for an editorial board meeting.

At that gathering, he revealed that he didn't have a horse in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. But he did offer an assessment of one of the candidates  Manhattan real estate mogul Donald Trump.

"People like Trump because he's anti-establishment. I understand that," Katko, R-Camillus, said in February. "But what does he really stand for? That's my concern."

Katko's official position on the presidential race at the time was that he would support the Republican nominee. It wasn't long after he met with The Citizen that the field of GOP candidates was whittled down to three  Trump, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Two months later, Trump would go on to win the New York GOP primary. He received 89 of the state's 95 delegates, including two of three in the 24th Congressional District.

Trump's win put him in a stronger position to seal the GOP nomination. In fact, two weeks later, he would be declared the presumptive nominee after winning the Indiana primary and Cruz dropped out.

While Trump was padding his delegate count, Katko faced a dilemma: Either keep his word to support the nominee or take a new stance. He chose the latter.

In early May, Katko issued a statement on the presidential race. He ruled out voting for eventual Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and he didn't back Trump.

"Any candidate has to earn my vote  including Donald Trump. He has a lot of work to do in that regard," he said. "I'm concerned with some of the comments he's made, and with the general tone that he's taken."

Meanwhile, Democrats began pressuring Katko and sought to link the GOP congressman to Trump. It's no secret that Democrats view Trump as a liability for Republicans running in down-ballot races. Tying Katko and other GOP candidates to Trump has been part of their strategy in this election.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee issued a statement in June calling on Katko to "stop playing word games" and endorse Trump. Katko, though, wasn't budging. His position remained the same: Trump had to earn his vote.

The odds of that happening didn't look good in June. When Trump proposed a temporary ban on Muslim immigrants entering the U.S., Katko questioned the constitutionality of such a plan.

"If we can't verify where people come from and verify that they're not a threat risk, they shouldn't come here," Katko said in June. "But by banning whole groups of people based on their ethnic origin  it's just not what we're about as a country."

Later that month, Katko spoke at the Auburn Rotary Club luncheon. He was asked about Trump and repeated his previous comments. He also offered a new concern  that Trump wouldn't be able to work in a bipartisan manner.

Katko had an opportunity to hear from Trump in early July. The then-presumptive GOP nominee met with House Republicans in Washington.

After the meeting, Katko issued a statement. In short, his position hadn't changed.

"I continue to have concerns about the divisive tone of Mr. Trump's campaign and the lack of substantive dialogue on the issues that matter most to central New Yorkers and to all Americans," Katko said. "Nothing was said this morning to ease those concerns."

Following the Democratic primary in the 24th Congressional District race, Katko increased his focus on re-election. His Democratic opponent, Colleen Deacon, embraced her party's strategy to link Katko and Trump. Katko said he would run on his record.

Deacon, D-Syracuse, accused Katko of silence after Trump criticized the family of Humayun Khan, a U.S. Army captain who was killed in Iraq.

Khan's parents spoke at the Democratic National Convention.

Katko released a statement saying he strongly disagrees with "statements made against Captain Khan and his family  and believe that any candidate for office should strongly resist the urge to politicize this further."

Deacon again challenged Katko after Trump made another controversial remark. This time, his target was Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

"If she gets to pick her (Supreme Court judges), nothing you can do, folks," Trump said at a rally in August. "Although the Second Amendment people  maybe there is, I don't know."

A spokesperson for Katko issued a statement reiterating many of the same points he's made throughout the year  that he has "significant concerns" with Trump's tone and that he's eager to run on his record instead of focusing on presidential politics.

Democrats weren't alone in wondering when Katko would endorse  or not endorse  Trump.

Onondaga County Republican Chairman Tom Dadey said he was hopeful that Katko would come around and support Trump. Dadey, who was the first New York county GOP chair to back Trump, said Katko had two candidates to choose from.

"He's got Hillary Clinton and he's got Donald Trump," Dadey said. "I think he's gone record saying he's not going to support Hillary. Hopefully sometime in the next 90-plus days he can get on board the Trump train and support the Republican nominee. I'd like to have the party unified as we get closer to Election Day."

And here we are.

The election is less than a month away. Trump's sexually charged comments about women in that 11-year-old video clip were enough. Katko said Saturday he won't vote for Trump, his party's nominee. He'll either support a third-party candidate or submit a write-in vote.

There was another development this week that could've contributed to Katko's decision. A Time Warner Cable News/Siena poll found Trump losing to Clinton by 12 points in the 24th Congressional District. Trump's favorable rating in the region is 32 percent. Among Republicans, it's 56 percent. (By comparison, Clinton's favorable rating among Democrats is 80 percent.)

Of the voters supporting Katko, 53 percent said they're voting for Trump. Nearly one-quarter said they plan on voting for Clinton.

The big takeaway from the poll: There are plenty of voters who will support Katko and not Trump.

Katko's announcement won't stop Democrats from using Trump against him. According to the latest poll, Katko leads Deacon by 19 points. With so much ground to make up in a short amount of time, Democrats will likely double down on attacks. They won't let Katko off the hook, even if he's publicly shared that he's not voting for Trump.

Will it matter? There are other factors affecting this race. The number one issue for voters is the economy. They'll want to hear what Deacon and Katko have to say on the subject. National security is also important. Health care, immigration and the environment are other high priorities.

Democrats will want to make Trump a major issue. A rally is planned for Sunday to oppose Katko's "dishonest disavowal of Donald Trump." Deacon and local Democratic Party members are hoping to capitalize on the attention this story is getting.

Whether that's enough to erase Katko's big lead remains to be seen. We won't know the answer until Nov. 8.
Jackson Street Plaza used to be just a patch of green grass with a bike path, until a catalyst for development came in the form of an ice cream shop.

The triangle of land created by Atwood Avenue, Jackson Street and St. Paul Avenue was predominantly used as a throughway for dog walkers and bikers on the Capital City Trail before Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream moved into the small commercial space across Jackson Street in 2014.

The small storefront didnt allow for any indoor seating  instead, customers would buy their ice cream from a street-side window. Without any chairs or benches when the store opened, people walked across the street to the plaza area to sit on the grass while enjoying their frozen treats.

The Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Yahara (SASY) neighborhoods Jason Tish and others noticed the increase in passersby and people stopping in the space.

Tish  who is spearheading the development of the Jackson Street Plaza and created an ad hoc neighborhood committee for the project  led a discussion about developing social spaces at the Mayors Neighborhood Conference Saturday.

The space has become used organically, Tish said. What the neighborhood is doing is taking control of the evolution to make it better for pedestrians.

The repurposing of underutilized spaces was a major topic for this years conference at Monona Terrace. Attendants participated in roundtable discussions and watched presentations and a keynote address from New York Citys Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver.

Silver spoke during the lunch break in one of the Terrace ballrooms about changing demographics and social equity as well as creating social gathering spaces for residents.

As part of his plan for New York City, Silver has taken land that the city already owns to create a more community-friendly atmosphere. The effort includes planting trees and flowers and installing benches in the sidewalk areas around the parks to make them more inviting.

Silvers ideas are similar to those of Tish in the SASY neighborhood. The city already owns the area of Jackson Street Plaza, so creating an inviting space just means revamping what is already there without purchasing land.

Tish and another SASY resident will meet with city engineering representatives this week to talk about possible improvement projects. Since the city owns the land, the neighborhood association cant install benches or plant trees without city approval.

Tish isnt going into the meeting unprepared. Multiple community surveys, focus groups and development planning created a base to show the city that the small piece of land is a desirable destination for people in the neighborhood.

Everyone has seen its become a gathering space and social node, so we asked what (neighbors) wanted to see in the evolution, Tish said.

While Tish took the approach of getting suggestions directly from residents, Silver said he took a different approach when beginning to develop public land in New York City.

We used a data-driven approach because before that, officials would say spend the money here and whoever screamed the loudest got the money, Silver said. That created a very unequitable system because some neighborhoods didnt have champions.

Silver instead decided money should be allocated to the parks that had received the least amount of funding in the last few decades.

Aaron Crandall, president of the Spring Harbor Neighborhood Association, went to Tishs roundtable about creating public spaces and said he would like to see a space similar to Jackson Street Plaza in his neighborhood.

It helps build community, Crandall said. I struggle with that on the West Side. People dont really walk from place to place.

Most of the traffic through the Spring Harbor neighborhood is on bicycles or in cars, Crandall said, and finding a space for people to walk to is not easy. He said local businesses are more focused on attracting drivers than foot traffic.

Tish agreed that it would be hard to create a space like Jackson Street Plaza in Spring Harbor. He said he doesnt think that the plaza would have become a popular destination without Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream or a similar business as a starting point to bring people near the lot.

That didnt leave Crandall hopeless. He walked away from the table saying he would talk to a business with a similar adjacent lot that would just need some renovation.

Maybe we can do this, Crandall said.
The search for a missing boater after an abandoned boat was found on the shoreline of Lake Monona Friday will continue Monday, the Dane County Sheriffs Office said.

Deputies with the Marine and Trail Enforcement team began their search Friday, resumed it on Saturday and continued their search on Sunday but did not find the person, said Lt. Krista Ewers-Hayes with the sheriffs office.

Around 7:15 a.m. on Friday, several people reported an unoccupied boat near John Nolen Drive.

When it was found, the boat had indications a fisher had been on it, and the sheriffs office found out it was launched into the water on Thursday from a nearby location.

No damage on the boat was apparent and the sheriffs office doesnt believe it was involved in a crash.

The family of the boater has been notified, but the persons name wont be released as the search continues, Ewers-Hayes has said.
TRANSIT ACTIVISTS DEMAND THE TOY TRAIN START CHARGING A FARE IN ORDER TO MOVE TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY AND CAPITALIZE ON CLAIMS OF POPULARITY!!!

Free Ride is Over

There is no reason that KCMO should be the only city in the US (possibly in the world) giving away free streetcar rides. Implementing a fare system would be easy. Automatic ticket dispenser kiosks ($1000 ea) would be added and fare enforcement is done by random inspection. This is the system used in other cities.





Using the same fare as the bus, those 6800 per day riders would generate $3,750,000 per year. Unfortunately, this is not enough to cover the $8,400,000 per year the trolley costs KCMO; but it would be a start.

Despite Hollywood accounting tricks and propaganda from both consultants and toy train enthusiasts; ultimately all of Kansas City subsidizes the tiny Downtown streetcar line to the detriment of other pressing civic priorities.The attention, press events, and time spent promoting the line by City Hall staff and elected officials comes at a cost to other pressing KCMO needs. Furthermore, anybody who has been following our declining urban core situation realizes that there are fewer police on the streets, less focus on trash pickup and street maintenance along with an overall abandonment of neighborhoods throughout this town amid the rise of Kansas City streetcar culture.To wit . . .Like it or not, this editorial crunches the numbers and hopes City Hall will enact a more equatable streetcar system that charges a fare. Here's the word . . .##########You decide . . .
New clinical evidence on apremilast for the treatment of psoriasis was presented in the 25th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology held in Vienna from September 28 to October 2. Tablets that contain apremilast are the first to receive approval for psoriatic arthritis in the last 20 years.

It has recently been approved by the European Medicines Committee and the National Organisation for Medicines. It will be launched in the Greek market in March. Professor of Dermatology and Venereology at the University of Athens, Director of Hospital "Andreas Syngros", Christina Antoniou explained that the pharmaceutical treatment of the disease has changed. "First of all we have the traditional medicines that are often accompanied with serious side effects, the new ones that are injectable, and the newer ones that are small molecules, such as apremilast, in the form of a tablet and constitute the latest weapon in our medical tool kit. Apremilast is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis, which is the most common form of the disease, while studies are being made in order to get the approval for other auto-inflammatory diseases like the Crohn's disease.

Clinical studies showed results in 16 weeks, and even greater improvement in 24 weeks," Antoniou stressed. Asked by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency on the benefits of the new drug in relation to the existing ones, Antoniou said that the new drug is friendly to the patient, because it is not in the form of an injection, it is neither nephrotoxic, nor hepatotoxic, there is no need for often liver exams as other similar drugs and does not lose its effectiveness in long term use. She also stated that it does not interact with normal concomitant medications for psoriasis. Psoriasis is not related to mange and it is not contagious. In its 2016 report, the World Health Organisation (WHO) stressed that psoriasis is not a simple skin condition, but a chronic, non-contagious, painful, distorting disease that causes disability and for which there is no definitive cure.

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
His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia attended the opening session of the Hellenic Swedish Business Forum on Mon. Oct. 3, 2016 at the IVA Conference Center in Stockholm. Greeces Ambassador to Sweden Dimitrios Touloupas was on hand to receive the Metropolitan, while a meeting with Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitrios Mardas followed, during which Metropolitan Cleopas expressed his pleasure at making the latters acquaintance, as well as how touched he was to hear that the minister was born in Constantinople  the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

On noon of that same day, Mr. Mardas visited the St. George Cathedral in Stockholm, accompanied by the Greek Ambassador, where he was received by Metropolitan Cleopas, who welcomed him on behalf of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Metropolitan Cleopas briefed the deputy foreign minister on the state of the ministries being provided throughout Scandinavia during the two years he has been shepherding the Metropolis, especially noting the establishment of four new parishes and one monastery, as well as the addition of eight new clergymen and five lay associates to the personnel of the Metropolis.

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
A man armed with a gun robbed an East Side gas station Friday, taking off with a small amount of cash, the Madison Police Department said.

Around 9:40 p.m., the robber entered Citgo Gas Station, 3401 Milwaukee St., approached the clerk and aimed a handgun at the clerk, police said. He demanded money and took off on foot on South Fair Oaks Avenue after the robbery, police said.

The robber was described as a 6-foot-tall black man approximately 20 years old of thin build, police said. He was wearing a camouflage jacket, black shoes with white bottoms and has short braids or dreadlocks, according to police.
Dubais non-oil foreign trade added up to Dh647 billion ($176 billion) during the first half (H1) of the year, with imports claiming the lions share at Dh401 billion, while exports and re-exports accounted for Dh74 billion and Dh172 billion, respectively, according to figures released by Dubai Customs on Saturday.



The Emirate also saw a remarkable 17 per cent upsurge in the total volume of traded goods in the first half of 2016, rising as high as 49 million tons of commodities from 41 million tons the same period last year.



The latest trade figures show that Dubai is progressing well in its plan to reduce reliance on oil revenues and move towards an economy that depends on foreign trade as well as other income sources.



To offset the impact of the general slowdown in world economy, lower commodity prices and the slump in oil prices, Dubai has wisely restructured and broadened its sources of revenue while taking considerable measures to stimulate growth in the affected sectors, said DP World Group chairman and CEO and chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.



Dubai, according to Bin Sulayem, has early on realized that attracting foreign investments is a necessary must-do step. To maintain Dubais business appeal, an advanced trade infrastructure, convenient government services at seaports and airports, a well-established legislative structure and a unique public-private partnership were all in place.



We had the honour of receiving His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, lately at Dubai Customs headquarters. We hope to live up to the role HH Sheikh Hamdan set for Dubai Customs during the visit, particularly as Expo 2020 draws near, he added.



As Dubai has already positioned itself as a leading global and regional IT trading hotspot, smart, mobile and fixed phones made up the biggest chunk of the commodities traded through Dubais borders in H1 2016, with a total value of Dh84 billion, whilst computers amounted to Dh20 billion.



Dubais foreign trade of automobiles had a Dh30 billion share, which reflects the emirates healthy automotive market. Petroleum oils worth of Dh21 billion were traded across Dubai during the first six months of this year.



Dubais growing tourism and travel industry, coupled with strong consumer purchasing power of local populations, continued to sustain foreign trade in precious metals and gemstones. Gold represented Dh75 billion of Dubais total foreign trade. Diamonds reached Dh51 billion worth of trade, while jewelry was valued at Dh34 billion.



The director of Dubai Customs, Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, expressed Dubai Customs commitment to tailoring new projects and initiatives that best respond to customers expectations and make them happy.



One of the most prominent initiatives targeting trade facilitation and growth is the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, which offers numerous benefits to licensed AEOs. Back in 2015, we announced the Virtual Corridor initiative, which is currently being developed and, once implemented, will lead to a much smoother cargo movement within Dubai.



We are propelled by the leaderships unwavering support to our development ventures, and see their recognition of our efforts as a great incentive to do even better, Musabih said.



With a bilateral trade worth Dh79 billion, China was - by far - Dubais primary trading partner in H1 2016. India came in second with bilateral trade at Dh48 billion. The USA followed closely with Dh43 billion trade value.



Once again, Saudi Arabia was Dubais fourth top trading partner globally and first in the GCC and Arab regions, at Dh27 billion. A 12 per cent upsurge in trade was enough to make Germany Dubais fifth top trading partner, with a trade value of Dh24 billion. Moreover, a substantial increase of 49 per cent in trade value was recorded between Switzerland and Dubai, taking their two-way commerce to Dh23.7 billion.



Direct trade was the main component of Dubais foreign trade in H1 2016, standing at Dh420 billion. Free zones and customs warehouses contributed Dh211 billion and Dh16 billion, respectively.



In terms of modes of cargo conveyance, Dh300 billion worth of goods were conveyed by air, Dh233 billion by sea, and Dh113 billion of cargo value was carried by land.  TradeArabia News Service
Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), the regulatory body for Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Department of Science, Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship of Moscow (DSIPE of Moscow).



DSIPE is an integrated free zone technology park, the executive body for developing and implementing national policies related to industrial, scientific and technological activities and innovations, among other key areas in the Russian capital.



Signed by Dr Juma Al Matrooshi, deputy CEO of Operations and Client Affairs at DSOA and Oleg Bocharov, head of DSIPE of Moscow, the memorandum of understanding (MoU) mandates the two organizations to collaboratively develop technology-based entrepreneurial projects.



The agreement also aims to facilitate the exchange of data and experiences in developing the industrial, technological and entrepreneurial sectors. The partnership will ensure the strengthening of collaboration through official delegation visits and exchange programs, as well as joint participation in conferences and trade shows. Under the agreement, both parties will focus on developing shared technology projects and exchange lessons learned as well as best practices.



Dr Al Matrooshi said: This partnership with DSIPE of Moscow marks a vital step in our foray into a prominent market and strengthens the historical association shared by Dubai and Moscow, as well as the wider UAE and Russian Federation. Through collaborative efforts and the proactive exchange of experiences, we will be able to develop mutual technological competencies and establish cutting-edge industrial and technology-focused complexes in the two cities.



He added: We are confident that the unified efforts of the two organizations will positively impact each affiliate and help shape an ideal environment that encourages investments. We will work closely with the Department of Science, Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship of Moscow in supporting entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises, especially in the technology sector, to grow their business, develop their skills and raise performance levels and efficiency.



The Department of Science, Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship of Moscow encourages activities related to the scientific, industrial, technological and entrepreneurial sectors in Moscow. It also supports business development, plans for a suitable investment atmosphere, and develops specialized industrial areas in the city.



The Russian Federation is one of the most notable economic partners to the United Arab Emirates. Bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to more than $3 billion in 2015. Furthermore, mutual investments between the two exceeded $18 billion for the same year.



A wholly-owned entity of the government of Dubai, DSO operates as a free zone technology park for large enterprises, medium and small companies looking to set up their offices in Dubai.  TradeArabia News Service
Egypt has signed a $500 million agreement with the World Bank to fund the Upper Egypt Local Development Programme, including the improvement of key infrastructure at Qena and Sohag governorates, said a report.



The agreement was signed by Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation Sahar Nasr and World Bank vice president Hafez Ghanem on the sidelines of the World Bank and IMF annual meetings in Washington, DC.



The Upper Egypt Local Development Programme will focus on Qena and Sohag, two of the poorest governorates in the country, and is aimed at enhancing competitiveness of economic sectors with unrealised potentials, reported Amwal Alghad.



The World Bank funding will help the government support industrial zone management and on delivering services to lagging regions, providing youth and women with job opportunities, and improving infrastructure, stated the report.



This programme comes within the framework of the World Banks Country Partnership Framework (CPF) with Egypt for 20152019, which provides about $8 billion for supporting the countrys economy, it added.
Sedco Capital, a leading Saudi licensed asset manager, said it has acquired seven quality properties across the kingdom on behalf of its second real estate income fund for SR473 million ($126 million) over the past 19 months.

The Sedco Capital Real Estate Income Fund II is a Shariah-compliant, close-ended investment fund established in the kingdom under Article 4-B-4 of the Investment Funds Regulations and managed by Sedco Capital as the fund manager.



Its objective is to invest in high quality income generating real estate assets in the main cities of Saudi Arabia and provide investors with a cash income with the possibility of a capital increase through these real estate assets.



The major buys of Sedco include an anchored standalone Hyper Panda retail store in Dammam as well as the adjacent land used for parking, Olya School in Riyadh, Dar Al Baraa School in Riyadh, an anchored standalone Extra store in Dammam, Alhamra Plaza retail strip outlet in Riyadh and Irgah Plaza retail strip outlet in Riyadh, said a statement from the Saudi firm.



The acquisition of these properties by Sedco has bolstered the firm's realty portfolio in Saudi Arabia.



The acquisitions collectively total SR473 million ($$126 million) in purchase price for approximately 88,000 sq m of built-up area across Riyadh and Dammam. This portfolio of assets benefits from a weighted average lease expiry of 16 years to credible and investment grade tenants, it stated.



On the acquisition, CEO Hasan Al Jabri said: "Over the past five years, the Sedco Capital Core/Core Plus real estate strategy has demonstrated an impressive track record of adding value for its clients. Responding to increased demand from investors for commercial real estate investment opportunities, Sedco Capital launched SCREIF II on November 13, 2014 and has steadily added to its holdings, accumulating a well-diversified portfolio."



He pointed out that the success of the past five years had also led to the notable growth of the Sedco Capital team, which now boasts four highly experienced members in real estate investment and asset management.



"Our total assets under management have reached the $5.2 billion mark, a testament to the confidence our clients have placed in our team and our approach," remarked Al Jabri.



Sedco Capital's real estate portfolio in Saudi Arabia, he stated, has grown to include 15 assets under its two real estate income funds (SCREIF I and II) with a portfolio value exceeding SR1.1 billion ($293 million).



Sherif Selim, the head of Mena Real Estate at Sedco Capital, said: "We have acquired two different types of properties being retail and education for SCREIF II that met our criteria of being stable, defensive, well located and income-producing."



"We have a healthy pipeline of assets that are either defensive by nature or structured defensively and we look forward to the deals we will close in the last three months of the year," he stated.



Selim said the company had identified the Saudi real estate market in particular, as an attractive asset class for investors and its dedicated team now offers funds, separate accounts and syndicated transactions across the full spectrum of real estate strategies.



The team is also continuously looking for opportunities to deliver to investors attractive risk adjusted returns, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Oman Investment Fund (OIF) plans to develop iconic residential and leisure destinations on Muscats coastline, aiming to set up the sultanates own version of the Riviera, a report said.



We visited the first designs of this area that is located near Shangri-Las Barr Al Jissah Resort. And we are awaiting the participation and investment of all in this area. I think its a model area  a continuation of old Muscat. I think it will become the Muscat Riviera! Shaikh Hassan Ahmed al Nabhani, chief executive officer of OIF, was quoted as saying in the Oman Observer report.



OIF plans to develop Yiti and Yenkit, further along the coast from Barr Al Jissah in Muscat Governorate, into modern communities and destinations highlighting Omans culture, the report said.



An integrated developmental plan for the two destinations, covering a combined area of 12 million sq m, is proposed to include hotels ranging from three-star to upscale luxury properties, affordable to luxurious residential propositions, retail, food and beverage outlets and office areas, according to the report.
Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC), the sultanates landmark business events hub located in Seeb area, is set to officially open its doors on Monday (October 10).



Infra Oman 2016, the 6th edition of Omans International trade event for infrastructure and industrial projects, will be the opening event at the brand new facility.



One of the regions leading facilities for conferences and exhibitions, OCEC has been developed by Omran, a government-owned company mandated to drive the investment, growth and development of the tourism sector in Oman.

Omran is the master developer of major tourism, heritage and urban developments in the sultanate.

Located about 4 km from the Muscat International Airport, the new convention centre is part of Madinat Al Irfan Urban Development. It boasts two-tiered auditoriums that can seat 3,200 and 450 people, while the five exhibition halls will feature 22,000 sq m of column-free exhibition space.



Designed to meet the demands of global conference organisers, are 19 meeting rooms, conveniently located on the second floor and easily accessible from the Theatre and Grand Ballroom, which offer 25-360 seats and overlook luscious landscapes, said the statement from Omran.



Hall One will have a superior fit-out, specialised acoustic treatment, advanced lighting and rigging requirements to act as a multi-purpose space for plenary sessions, concerts, performances and gala dinners on a larger scale. Halls One and Two combined will seat up to 10,000 in theatre style, said the developer Omran.



The centre will also include an additional 13 meeting rooms for 80 to 300 delegates, two well-appointed ballrooms to seat up to 2,590, 10 hospitality suites, a VIP pavilion, a spacious food-court and a multi-storey car park with a capacity for 4,000 vehicles.



The precinct includes a five-star hotel linked to the convention centre, two four-star properties, a three-star hotel and apartments with a combined total of 1,000 rooms.



A business park and a retail shopping mall, surrounded by a nature reserve, which will be a haven for Omans exotic birdlife, together with parklands and a wadi (valley) park, are also part of this picturesque precinct.-TradeArabia News Service
Almost two thirds (65 per cent) of business managers in the UAE said their companys corporate wellness programmes had improved the health of their employees, according to a new report.



Nearly half of respondents (48 per cent) said that corporate wellness programmes had improved employee engagement, 35 per cent said the schemes had reduced business costs, while 24 per cent said the rate of workplace accidents had been reduced, said the survey carried out by Meed, a top Middle East business intelligence provider.



Dr Michael Bitzer, CEO at National Health Insurance Company  Daman said: The work place is where most people spend at least a third of their day. From the perspective of the general well-being of an individual it then becomes imperative that the environment that they spend so much time in supports wellness. Employers must take necessary steps to ensure that work environments remain inspiring and pleasant as that motivates staff and keeps them positive. Positivity, as we all know, influences productivity.



We are delighted with the feedback that a majority of the businesses utilising corporate health and wellness programmes have found them to be effective in improving the health of their employees. Such programmes, as demonstrated by winners of previous awards, are scalable to suit every budget and workplace from organising weekly walks around the local park to broad programmes involving experts and specialists venues, he added.



Meed carried out the survey in 72 of the UAEs top firms with well-established corporate wellness programmes ahead of the 2016 Daman Corporate Health Awards, which recognises the best employers in the UAE for their commitment and success in corporate health and wellness.



Managing workload is by far the biggest cause of stress in the workplace, according to the survey. Almost half of respondents (49 per cent) said that workload was the main source of stress, with 24 per cent saying that juggling work and personal life was the main factor. Other causes of stress include lack of job security (14 per cent) and issues with colleagues (6 per cent).



The concept of happiness has been a hot topic in the UAE this year since Ohood al Roumi was announced the countrys first Minister of State for Happiness in February.



In March Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved a 100-day national programme for happiness and positivity. The programme features several initiatives focusing on government policies and community development, including benchmarks to measure happiness with dedicated employees to ensure client satisfaction.



The Meed survey found that 62 per cent of respondents considered themselves and their colleagues happy the majority of the time at work. Some 12 per cent of those surveyed said they were not happy the majority of the time, with 27 per cent responding that they were indifferent.



The 2016 Daman Corporate Health Awards will be held at The Westin in Abu Dhabi, UAE on November 9.  TradeArabia News Service
Growing automobile sales coupled with expanding vehicle fleet will drive the Saudi Arabian tyre market to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of over 11 per cent during 2016  2021, a report said.

Improving macroeconomic scenario, growing vehicle fleet, increasing automobile sales and favourable government policies are some of the major factors anticipated to boost the demand for tires in the country over the next five years, added the report entitled "Saudi Arabia Tyre Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2021" from TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm.



The cumulative sales of passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the country grew at a CAGR of 8.91 per cent during 2011-2015.



On the basis of vehicle type, the tire market in Saudi Arabia has been segmented into five categories, namely, passenger car, medium & heavy commercial vehicle, two-wheelers, off-the-road and light commercial vehicle. In 2015, passenger car segment dominated the country's tyre market.



According to the World Bank, the Gross National Income per capita of Saudi Arabia was $23,550 in 2015. Moreover, the Government of Saudi Arabia banned the import of used vehicles over the age of five years in 2009.

Backed by increasing purchasing power and favourable government policies, the passenger car segment is anticipated to maintain its dominance in the country's tire market over the next five years as well.



"Eyeing robust demand for various vehicle types, some of the prominent tire suppliers such as Chinese, Bridgestone, Michelin, Continental, Goodyear, Yokohama, Hankook, etc. are operating in Saudi Arabia, said Karan Chechi, research director with TechSci Research.



Moreover, due to its strategic location in the Middle East region, many companies use Saudi Arabia as a re-exporting hub," he stated.

Imports from Asian countries such as Thailand, China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan dominates the Saudi Arabia tyre market.

These countries accounts for more than 85 per cent of the total tyre imports in Saudi Arabia. Lower overheads and local raw material sources are the major reasons for tyres being imported from these countries, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
The state Department of Health Services overreached in seeking to recoup Medicaid payments from dozens of independent private duty nurses who care for severely disabled patients in their homes, a Waukesha County judge has ruled.

The health department exceeded its authority when it asked the nurses to return Medicaid payments because the nurses didnt fully comply with various rules in documenting the care they provided, Circuit Court Judge Kathryn Foster decided Sept. 27. The cases dont involve alleged fraud.

The nurses say state auditors became aggressive beginning in 2012, asking them to pay back $7,000 to $142,000 or more each because of paperwork mistakes, such as not providing proof that doctors had ordered vitamin D or Tylenol.

I will never do this work again, said Heidi Unke, a nurse from Waterford who cared for a paralyzed man in his home until 2013, when the state said she had to return $58,000.

The states demand for repayment led her to get a job at a hospital. Her recoupment case is pending.

People need nurses in homes, said Unke, 43, a mother of three. But I have to protect my family.

The state, which has until Nov. 11 to appeal the ruling, said auditors conducted proper reviews of the independent nurses, who bill Medicaid directly for their services.

Clearly, a key component of verification is the creation and maintenance of complete and accurate records, Christopher Blythe, an assistant attorney general, wrote in the states defense of the case. What constitutes adequate documentation? That can only be answered on a case-by-case basis.

Elizabeth Goodsitt, a spokeswoman for the health department, said the departments Office of the Inspector General was created five years ago to improve fraud prevention and public assistance program integrity.

Documentation of medical care is a vital part of patient care and patient safety, Goodsitt said.

Nearly 2,000 independent nurses in Wisconsin provide in-home care through Medicaid for patients with complex needs, many of whom are on ventilators, said Kathleen Papa, a board member of Wisconsin Professional Homecare Providers, which represents about 350 of the nurses.

Its not clear how many of the nurses were subject to questionable recoupments. Diane Welsh, an attorney who represented Papa and her association in a lawsuit that resulted in the ruling, said she has worked on behalf of about 20 such nurses and believes at least another 20 or more cases exist.

Among the 10 nurses Welsh currently represents who face recoupment, the state is seeking a total of about $470,000, said Welsh, of the Madison law firm Pines Bach.

Welsh said the state sought repayment for multiple days of full shifts when nurses wrote that they had fed patients according to plans of care instead of specifying times and amounts, and when nurses didnt sign pre-authorization documents for care even though state rules are contradictory on whether signatures are required.

In other cases, the state said nurses didnt prove that employer-based health plans wouldnt cover the care, even though the plans dont cover such ongoing care, Welsh said.

In at least one case, the state sought thousands of dollars for many entire shifts because a nurse didnt include a doctors prescription for vitamin D, a supplement that can be bought over the counter.

In the last few years, the nature of the findings has changed and the demand for recoupment has skyrocketed, Welsh said. Even those (nurses) who had not yet been audited had the risk of being audited.

Unke said her $58,000 repayment request stemmed from a misplaced decimal point in recording the dosage of a drug for which the correct dosage was given, and for not specifying that her patient wore shoes to protect his feet, as he did.

Foster determined that the health department is limited to recovering payments when it cant verify that a service was provided or when the amount claimed is inaccurate or inappropriate.

The judge said requiring nurses to abide by numerous policies contained in various codes, letters and handbooks at the level of a perfection rule exceeds the departments authority.

Papa said many independent nurses left their practices because of the states demands to give back money they earned, and that caused hardship for families who depend on the nurses. Papa said that now, with the ruling, she hopes some of the nurses will return.

I think it will give them some security, she said. They should be able to retain their money for services provided and not work in fear that the state will audit them and take back every penny for something minor.
Batelco, the leading digital communications services provider in Bahrain, has signed a partnership agreement with Durrat Al Bahrain management that will see the launch of super-fast fibre Internet services for residents of the prestigious development which is located in the South of Bahrain.



This launch is part of Batelcos network expansion plans to deliver super-fast Internet services all over the kingdom, stated Batelco Bahrain CEO Muna Al Hashemi after signing the deal with Durrat Al Bahrain CEO Mahmood AbdulRahman during a recent meeting at Batelcos Hamala headquarters.



Under the agreement, Batelco will offer fibre Internet choices to satisfy all needs with speeds of up to 500 Mbps for its new Durrat Al Bahrain customers.



Thanks to the amazing high speeds and reliable service, customers will be able to download movies, stream high-definition videos, play online games and upload large files in seconds without experiencing any delays, said Al Hashemi.



Additionally, Batelcos popular TV service which delivers a full digital home solution to customers and a selection of OSN pay TV packages will also be available. In addition, Batelco will now also offer mobile boost to its mobile customers to improve the indoor mobile coverage within their homes, she added.



As a special launch offer, Durrat Al Bahrain residents can benefit from exclusive offers which have been designed especially and exclusively for them. Batelcos roadshow sales team will be available in Durrat Al Bahrain to register customers and help them choose the best package to meet their requirements.



Al Hashemi said: "We have been investing continuously over recent years to expand our fibre network into new developments throughout the kingdom. We are very pleased with the progress made so far and also with the enthusiastic response from customers who have subscribed for the fibre services."



On the deal, AbdulRahman said: "We at Durrat Al Bahrain continuously strive to provide our residents with the latest developed services from infrastructure and building technologies to a comfortable and sustainable living environment."



"With the advancement of technology available in the kingdom, we are now able to extend the same superior services to our residents in Durrat Al Bahrain, this time with Batelcos super-fast fibre internet services," he noted.



According to him, the partnership with Batelco came after an open invitation to all the four major operators in the island, which the telco giant won by its comprehensive offer of services.



This move was supported by the representatives of the shareholders of Durrat Al Bahrain project in the board; Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company and Kuwait Finance House  Bahrain, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Abdul Latif Jameel Land (ALJ Land), one of Saudi Arabias leading property developers, said it aims to invest about SR7.5 billion ($1.9 billion) in various development projects across Saudi Arabia by 2022, including SR2 billion ($532 million) this year.

In line with this, ALJ Land said it will develop fully integrated Toyota sales and service facilities in Makkah, Hofuf, Yanbu and Hail at an investment of SR200 million ($53.2 million).



The new customer-centric facilities will feature dedicated areas for showrooms, along with after-sales service and maintenance centres, according to ALJ Land.



These facilities will be fully operational by the end of 2017, it stated.



Ammar Izziddin, the managing director of Tatweer Jameel, an ALJ Land subsidiary and the development managers of the four new locations, said: "We are proud to be undertaking the development of these projects that will bring best-in-class sales and service facilities and further enhance the Toyota ownership experience in Saudi Arabia."



"By utilising the companys pool of expertise in construction and development, and by leveraging our longstanding relationships with leading contractors and blue-chip consultancy bureaus in the industry, we are confident that these projects will be executed to the best quality standards," noted Izziddin.

This investment reaffirms the companys readiness to support Saudi Arabias national agenda for economic diversification, as outlined in the Vision 2030 plan, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Thailand is looking to further grow the number of medical tourist arrivals from the Gulf region with the opening of the Thai pavilion today at International Medical Travel Exhibition & Conference (IMTEC 2016) in Dubai.



Held at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, the opening ceremony was led by Tanes Petsuwan, the newly appointed Tourism Authority Thailand (TAT) deputy governor for International Marketing Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas, TAT Director for Dubai and Middle East market along with 11 Thailand-based companies from the health, wellness and hospitality industries.



Participants included Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, Landmark Lancaster Hotel, HMC Clinic, Al Meroz Hotel, Thanyapura Integrative Health Center, Panacee Medical Center, Phyatai 2 Hospital, Vitalife Corporation, BB Beauty and Beyond, Bangkok International Hospital and Absolute Health Clinic.



Speaking about their participation at IMTEC 2016, Petsuwan said: Medical tourism is identified as high-yield niche markets for TAT and it is one of the key components to build the quality benchmark and improve tourism spend. The GCC market is one of the key source markets of TAT for medical tourism and we plan to expand our promotion by visiting cities such as Kuwait and Oman to further create more partnerships in the Gulf region.



The week-long medical tourism roadshow will kick off in Dubai by having a presence in the annual IMTEC event and an Amazing Thailand Health and Wellness Networking Dinner 2016, which takes place today (October 9). The roadshow continues to Oman on October 11 and Kuwait on October 12.

The delegates from Thailand will meet travel agencies, local government officials and health authorities in each respective city to forge new partnerships on medical tourism.



Commenting on TATs first-ever medical tourism roadshow in the Gulf, Chalermsak Suranant, director of TAT - Dubai and Middle East Office, said: We are extremely proud of our health and wellness industry.



At either end of the wellness spectrum, you will find that our private hospitals are world-famous medical tourism magnets in themselves. This has been a great success story, especially from the Middle East market. Thailands track record on the medical frontier has frequently won international acclaim. Many hospitals out of 200 international standard hospitals and clinics, have Arabic-speaking interpreters, prestigious American and European board doctors and gentle Thai nurses.



Nationals of GCC countries; Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, can enjoy their medical treatment in Thailand for 90 days without a visa. The regulation also allows a patient to have not more than three individuals who are GCC nationals (i.e. parents, children, spouse or maid), accompanying him or her to stay in Thailand for 90-days without visa as well.



Further details are available on the website of the Royal Thai Embassy and Royal Thai Consulate in all GCC countries.

Imtec 2016 runs from October 9 to 10. - TradeArabia News Service
Turkish Airlines is providing its guests from all over the Middle East with special fares to Istanbul, Turkey.



Starting from today and until October 27th, travellers from the Middle East, which includes the countries of UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan, can book these special fares to Istanbul to travel between October 17, 2016 and March 31, 2017.



Passengers will be able to choose from 786 weekly flights in the Middle East and especially in the GCC region, in which flights from Dubai, UAE and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia start for as less as Dh1,519 ($413.4) and SAR1,089 ($289.9) respectively (including taxes and fees).



Other appealing flights include flights from Kuwait for KWD59 ($194.8), Doha, Qatar for QAR980 ($268.9), Bahrain for BHD99 ($260.8) and Muscat, Oman for OMR159 ($411.4).



From October to April, several events, festivals, concerts and biennials are held in Istanbul, which are frequented by travellers from all over the world. - TradeArabia News Service
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) congratulated states which, under the leadership of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), have achieved n historic agreement to implement a market-based measure that will support airlines efforts to stabilize emissions with carbon neutral growth.



The agreement was reached by states attending the 39th ICAO Assembly which concluded today in Montreal, Canada. ICAOs 191 member states agreed to implement a Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (Corsia).



"The historic significance of this agreement cannot be overestimated. Corsia is the first global scheme covering an entire industrial sector.The CORSIA agreement has turned years of preparation into an effective solution for airlines to manage their carbon footprint. Aviation is a catalytic driver of social development and economic prosperityit is the business of freedom making our world a better place. This agreement ensures that the aviation industrys economic and social contributions are matched with cutting-edge efforts on sustainability. With CORSIA, aviation remains at the forefront of industries in combatting climate change," said Alexandre de Juniac, Iatas director general and CEO.



Corsia is set to commence with a voluntary period (2021-2026) after which it will become mandatory. "The enthusiasm and commitment of states in the voluntary period is impressive. Even states that would normally not be required to participatesmall island nations and developing economieshave shown their commitment by signing up. The list of states volunteering for the first phase now numbers 65, giving Corsia which we estimate will cover more than 80 per cent of growth post 2020. And we continue to encourage more states to join," said de Juniac.



By itself, Corsia will not lead to a sustainable future for aviation. Along with this global market-based measure, the industry will continue to drive its four-pillar strategy on climate change, comprising improvements in technology, operations and infrastructure, complemented by Corsia.



"Todays agreement shows what can be accomplished when we work together. The aviation industry understands that sustainability is critical. Airlines will continue to invest in new technologyparticularly new aircraft and sustainable alternative fuels to improve their environmental performance. And we will continue to ask governments to do their part with investments to modernise air traffic management and with supportive polices to help commercialise sustainable alternative fuels for aviation," said de Juniac.



To ensure that Corsia is fair and without market distortions, the scheme will include provisions to deal with special circumstances such as those of fast-growing airlines and airlines which have made significant investments to improve environmental performance already.



"This agreement marks the end of the process to gather the political will to implement a global market-based measure for aviation. There is still a lot of technical work to ensure effective and efficient implementation; and to ensure the environmental integrity and administrative simplicity of the scheme. In the coming years we will be working closely with ICAO on capacity-building both for regulators and the industry," said de Juniac. - TradeArabia News Service
MILLSTON  Static and staccato-like beeps crackled on Scott Roepkes hand-held, battery-powered receiver as he slowly turned a directional antenna in his right hand extended above his head.

Somewhere, maybe a half-mile to the east, was an elk equipped with a radio collar.

There were other signs of elk, such as the rain-faded tracks in the sand, distinct trails leading into the forest, a tree rubbed raw from a bull elks antlers and thousands of Junior Mint-sized droppings.

This would be as close as Roepke, a wildlife biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources, would get Wednesday to experiencing one of the states largest mammals.

Spotting a 700-pound elk in a 320-square-mile area isnt a guarantee, but the animal is building excitement along the Interstate 94 corridor of Jackson County. And in a few years, tourists armed with spotting scopes and cameras could be more of a regular occurrence and add to the economy of this area less than two hours from Madison. Ultimately, there could be a hunting season.

The reintroduction of elk to this rugged part of the state was first talked about nearly 20 years ago. But it has been just in the past two years that elk from Kentucky were trapped, quarantined in a holding pen near a mix of grassland, woods and swamp in the Black River State Forest south of Highway 54 and set free to roam.

When you look at projects of this magnitude and when you think about bringing partners together, sometimes its overwhelming and you wonder if you can even set your differences aside to work toward something like that, said Karen Sexton, a wildlife biologist for the Ho-Chunk Nation, which has contributed $200,000 to the program. Its not just happened here. Its happened in a very ... amazing way.

The project, with about 60 elk in the herd, is a joint effort that includes the Ho-Chunk, DNR, Jackson County Wildlife Fund ($50,000), Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation ($300,000) and Jackson County Parks & Forestry. Officials have a goal of 390 elk in the herd.

At the Highway 54 exit on I-94, a large fiberglass orange moose, whitetail deer and a mouse greet visitors to the area, but large billboards that announce the elk are back in the Black River Country can also be found nearby. In the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce visitors guide, a photo of a large bull elk appears on page 28 with directions to a potential viewing spot.

And at Sand Creek Brewing Co. in Black River Falls, $1 from each case of Bugler Brown Ale is donated to the countys wildlife fund. Last year, the brewery donated $1,300. The logo for the beer, launched in 2014, includes the silhouette of a bugling bull elk at dusk. The idea came from Sexton, who worked part time as a bartender in the brewerys tap house.

Right now (the elk) are tucked off into the corner of the state forest and to be honest, I havent seen one yet other than whats on the bottle label here, said Jim Wiesender, co-founder of the brewery. I think its just a matter of time before (elk viewing) really starts popping along.

Until the mid- to late 1800s, elk could be found in every county of Wisconsin, but development and hunting eliminated the animal. An attempt was made in the 1930s to reintroduce elk but failed due to poaching, with the last four animals killed in 1948.

In 1989, the state legislature directed the DNR to study the feasibility of elk reintroduction. That directive led to 25 elk being trapped in Michigan and released in 1995 into what is now the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest near Clam Lake in far northern Wisconsin. The herd has grown at an average rate of 13 percent annually and today has about 160 elk.

The DNRs goal is to grow the Clam Lake herd to 1,400 animals and a hunting season could come as soon as the fall of 2017. Although, based on a herd of 200 elk, only about 10 permits would be issued, with half of those going to Native American tribes, the DNR has said.

When the Clam Lake herd was first established, Jackson County was identified as a second region for a herd. But staff changes and the growth of chronic wasting disease in southern Wisconsin put the project on hold.

In 2012, the states elk management plans were updated under the guidance of Kevin Wallenfang, the states big game ecologist. Two years later an agreement with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife was reached to bring up to 150 elk to Wisconsin, with half released in Jackson County and the remainder in the next two to three years in Clam Lake.

The state released 23 elk in Jackson County in 2015. Ten of those animals died, with two hit by vehicles and six killed in January by some of the estimated 30 wolves that make up eight packs that roam the region. In July, 50 more elk were released but four have died, two from unknown causes, one from a bacterial infection and another from a broken leg. No elk, who wear blaze orange radio collars, have been mistakenly shot by deer hunters.

If elk are going to make it on the landscape theyre going to have to learn to deal with wolves, Roepke said. Were trying to learn as much as possible from the elk that are on the landscape. All of the elk have radio collars on them, so with that data we can monitor what type of habitat theyre using, what their movements look like, where theyre going, where theyre spending their time and what some of the potential conflicts are like predation, vehicle collisions and elk getting into areas they shouldnt be.

That would include keeping them out of cranberry bogs where elk can trample plants, knock berries off the vine and potentially erode marsh banks. The DNR has offered to pay for 8-foot-tall fencing for any cranberry farm in the elk range. So, far five farmers have accepted, and the DNR has spent about $250,000 on fencing. One farmer filed a damage claim last year, but it was only for a few hundred dollars, Roepke said.

We have had elk on other marshes, but those marshes have chosen not to enroll in the damage program, Roepke said. So they either didnt have enough damage or they werent all that concerned about it.

Jackson County will never be confused with elk-centric Yellowstone National Park, Jackson, Wyoming, or Colorado. However, the Jackson County program has the potential to bring elk to those who dont want to invest a two-day drive out west or a half-day drive to northern Wisconsin. Other states in the Midwest and in the eastern U.S. that have elk populations, include lower Michigan, Arkansas, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

We didnt have any trouble at all of developing a groundswell of grassroots support, said Allen Jacobson, a member of the Jackson County Wildlife Fund, founded in 1985. They were traditionally here, historically, and weve managed to get wolves, bears, whooping cranes, wild turkey, fishers  all those things back and were just missing having elk.

The return of elk also has spiritual and cultural significance for the Ho-Chunk Nation, based just north of Black River Falls. The community has a 12-clan structure with most associated with animal spirits. They include eagle, pigeon, bear, wolf, deer, fish and elk.

Sexton took the lead on the elk program for the Ho-Chunk when she was hired in 2008 after stints at an Oregon wildlife refuge, researching big horn sheep in Idaho and bobcat in Michigan.

The elk effort has brought together stakeholders outside the Nation who sometimes dont always agree on other issues.

Its been such a positive project, Sexton said. To have that clan species return to the landscape and allow those spiritual connections to occur and be a part of their culture is significant.
Just 1 in 4 respondents to a national poll last month agreed Donald Trump was honest and transparent about his financial, business and investment dealings.

And the publics view of Hillary Clinton isnt much better. Only 1 in 3 viewed her as truthful on the same issues, according to a scientific survey of more than 1,000 people by the Center for Public Integrity.

Given that Trump, the Republican nominee for president, is the first major White House contender in 40 years not to release his tax returns, its amazing anyone believes what he says about his wealth, connections and obligations.

Clinton, to her credit, has released her tax returns going back decades. Yet her history of sneakiness has hurt her public standing.

This includes the closed-door meetings she held as first lady while drafting a national health care plan in the 1990s, as well as the Whitewater and travel office controversies. More recently, she hid her communications as secretary of state by using a private email server, and she gave secret speeches to Wall Street firms for millions of dollars in fees.

Tonights presidential debate in St. Louis should explore the candidates views and records on transparency. The moderators  Martha Raddatz of ABC and Anderson Cooper of CNN  should start with a simple question suggested by open government advocates including the American Society of Newspaper Editors:

What steps do you believe are necessary and what policies would you implement to guarantee and advance public access to government information and sources?

President Barack Obama promised to oversee the most transparent administration in history  a commitment he never came close to fulfilling. Yet compared to Clinton and especially Trump, Obama is relatively forthright. And the public agrees. More than half of the respondents in the Center for Public Integritys poll considered Obama honest and transparent.

You shouldnt run for the most powerful office in the world and expect lots of privacy. Clinton and now Trump have learned that the hard way. Allowing public access to information about the candidates will help citizens make better choices in leaders. The unwillingness of candidates to be open about themselves suggests theyll be guarded with government information should they win power.

Hiding public information  even when embarrassing  does more harm in the long run than simply releasing the truth from the start. Clinton still struggles with this. And Trump appears to be a lost cause. He chronically denies the very things hes just been recorded saying. Hes a serial exaggerator and master of distraction when the facts catch up with him.

America deserves better.

Raddatz and Cooper should press the two major candidates for president on transparency, starting with their commitment  or lack thereof  to providing public access to the federal government, including the White House.

Openness isnt a luxury. It is an absolute necessity if the American people are to have any say over what their government does.




Bethany Lutheran Videos at Each Live Worship Service

Such is the contrast between the Bible of the old and the Bible of the new theologies. That there are compromise systems between the twoor at any rate attempts at a compromise  is certainly true; but it is impossible to effect a compromise between systems fundamentally and essentially at variance. This is a case of either  or, Delitzsch was right when he maintained that a deep chasm existed between the old and the new theology, and this chasm exists because there is a chasm between the Bible of the old and the Bible of the new theologies. In one word, the Scriptures of the one is the Bible without God; the Scriptures of the other is the Bible of and with God.

The Bible Of The Old And The Bible Of The New Theology. By Rev. Professor George H. Schodde, Ph. D., Columbus, O. in Loy, ed. The Columbus Theological Magazine. Vol. 18, 1898. LutheranLibrary.org
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 9

The bomb disposal squad of the Army today diffused one live shell, which was recovered from near Amritsar-Attari railway lines yesterday.

Panic gripped Sandhu Colony of the Chheharta area, when 11 rusted bombs were found in a bag close to the Amritsar-Attari railway line. The bag was found near fields by the owner, who was de-weeding the area. He sounded an alert following which the city police and the Government Railway Police reached the spot.

Police Commissioner Amar Singh Chahal said the bombs were old and without any explosive material. Only one of them was live and it was diffused by the Army by way of controlled explosion, he added.

According to the police the bomb was diffused after placing it in a dug up pit. The explosion triggered panic among residents, who came near the railway lines.
Manav Shayog School conducted a rally on to village Kang Saboo in order to sensitise people and widen their horizon towards the use of pesticides and life taking disease rabies. The rally took its first step from the school itself in determination to eliminate and eradicate rabies. The next significant step of the rally was the PPT presentation in order to explain elaborate and highlight various aspects of the malady and role of the rabies and tackle with the fatal aliments and to impart knowledge regarding the spread of the virus and importance of the vaccination. Students also threw light upon the hazardous use of pesticides which contaminate the body. Nukkad Natak was also conducted and public interaction programme was conducted to elicit the feedback. MR Gupta (MD Alaska Industries was present.

Workshop held on creative writing

PG Departmnet of Journalism and Mass Communication of Doaba College Jalandhar orgnized three day workshop on creative writing primarily focused on fiction writing .Noted creative writer and RJ Inderjit Singh Paintal graced the occasion to conduct the workshop. Dr Simran Sidhu- head, faculty and 60 students were also present. Inderjit Singh Paintal motivated the students to take inspiration for their creative writing story from their childhood experiences, fears and joys. He discussed in detail with examples the art of character delineation and goaded students to create realistic characters through the methods of sifting and selection. He emphasized that plot itself should be so effective that it should be able to create the title of the story. He also told the relevance of narrator, narrative technique and setting in a fiction. Students also participated in the meaningful exercises given by Inderjit and created characters and stories on the occasion

Mega science carnival

As many as 2,500 students from different 70 schools of Punjab gathered at the mega science carnival at CT Group of Institutions - Vigyan Uday 2016 at its Shahpur campus on Friday. Manav Sehyog School bagged the overall trophy of science carnival, Vigyan Uday while CT Public School bagged the runners-up and MGN Public School bagged the second runners-up trophy. The winning teams were awarded the prize money of Rs 21,000, Rs 11,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. The event was based on Clean India Green India theme. The carnival included number of events like young mathematician contest, young scientist contest, on the spot programming contest, quiz, kabaad se jugaad, life science and biotechnology, energy conversation, antriksh vigyaan, life science and health, art in science and others in which more than 500 students participated. The main highlights of the day were the models presented by the students. The models were depicting the solutions of various domestic and environmental problems. The models were highly appreciated by the experts and audience for enthralling the show. The event was inaugurated by S Charanjit Singh Channi (Chairman, CT Group of Institutions), Dr PS Bedi (Campus Director, CT Group of Institutions) in the presence of other management members, faculty and students. The dignitaries lit the lamp to declare the carnival open. Dr PS Bedi (Campus Director, CT Group of Institutions) thanked the participating schools for their enlightening presence. He urged the students to focus on their aim and put best of their efforts to get the extreme result in their favour. S Charanjit Singh Channi (Chairman, CT Group of Institutions) thanked the dignitaries and students for their enlightening presence.

Students pledge to vote

Over 2,000 students at Lyallpur Khalsa College today pledged to cast their vote in the elections, in a special voting right awareness programme organised on the college campus as per the instructions of the Election Commission. Speaking on the occasion the principal of the college Dr GS Samra said not casting of ones vote could mar the future of the nation as in a democracy even a single vote mattered. He urged the students and teachers to cast their vote positively. The nodal officer of the district administration Surjeet Lal said citizens above 18 years age could get themselves registered as voters in the voting list of their area and added that for this reason booth level officers could be contacted.

Badminton tournament

Badminton players (boys-14) won the second position in district level by defeating the team of Police DAV School. Harimedha, a pride of Loharan branch bagged the third position amongst the girls. District level badminton tournament was conducted at Hans Raj Stadium. Abhinav Thakur, Anuj and Jatin Goyal brought laurels to the school with their outstanding performance in the tournament. Abhinav Thakur, already won at state level in U-13 contest of badminton. Director Principal of the School  Dheeraj Banati congratulated the players and their hard working mentor, Sanjeev Bhardwaj, HOD Sports. He also motivated the children to win at state level. Academic Secretary of Bowry Memorial Educational and Medical Trust, Dr Anup Bowry promised to grant fee concession to such skilful players.

Awareness drive

As youngsters are the future of a nation, NSS unit and youth club of Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar organised an awareness drive to sensitise them to use their right to vote. The youngsters were enlightened to use this basic right to choose a deserving candidate and political party to make India corruption and crime free. By uniting themselves in a human chain, students spread a message to eliminate any kind of discrimination based on caste and creed. A poster making competition was also organised in this regard in which more than 50 students wholeheartedly expressed their views through handmade and digital posters. Principal Dr Sucharita shared her views that India is the largest democracy of the world and young generation is its strength. By enlightening these youngsters about the right use of their votes, we can bring a great change in our nation. She highly appreciated the efforts of Apra, Dean, NSS unit and Youth Club of the college for organising this drive.TNS
Sandeep Dikshit

IN these bleak times of unremitting bloodshed, the Nobel Prize committee has sprung a welcome surprise by awarding the Peace Prize to a loser.

Juan Manuel Santos, the winner, belongs to the same predictable lot of activists, statesmen and institutions who pick up the Nobel Peace Prize every year. But he got the award when his cause seemed lost. Weeks before the award was announced, Santos narrowly lost a referendum for approving the peace pact with the Colombian militant group FARC.

The Peace Prize has not just helped revitalise Santos into declaring he will pursue the peace process to the end. World over governments have been signing peace accords, ending decades of jungle warfare with militant groups. New Delhi inked one last year with the biggest faction of Naga militants. The Venezuelan peace accord is different because of the militant group's Marxist genealogy.

It is significant that the accord with FARC was struck on the 10th anniversary of the Nepal Maoist peace accord and the 25th anniversary of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) laying down arms in El Salvador. Both were rewarded for their timing. A former rebel chief is the Prime Minister of Nepal and a former journalist running on a FMLN ticket is now the President of El Salvador.

Nobel's recognition of the Colombia-FARC peace pact should give hope for ending another long-running Marxist insurgency in the Philippines as well as compel Marxist\Maoist groups in India to re-examine their strategy.

The Indian Maoists themselves realise the attrition in their strength. Nine politburo members of the CPI (Maoist) have been killed and six arrested since the time former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called them India's single biggest internal security challenge.

Newer technologies like drones have curtailed their impunity of operations in areas that security forces couldn't enter. They will soon lose the advantage of forest cover when security forces get the foliage-penetrating radars. However, the external and internal conditions in which Maoists operate in India do not compare with Latin America. The Latino rebels get sympathy from Presidents of neighbouring countries who were earlier militants. Maoists have no political allies. They are rivals with Indian Communist parties in their strongholds.

Otherwise, why has Sitaram Yechury never spoken of peace talks with the Indian Maoists but played a key role in ending a similar insurgency in neighbouring Nepal? In contrast, Cuban President Raul Castro presided over a handshake between Santos and FARC chief Timochenko that ended the insurgency. FARC also saw the writing on the wall. Its chief benefactor Venezuela's economic knees had given way. Cuba, the setting for three years of peace talks, too was talking of normalising ties with the US and could have counselled FARC in private not to hold out.

There was considerable US interest as well. The Americans are very sensitive to the colour of the government in their neighbourhood. Another reason was to choke the drug trade from Colombia. US Special Forces were already operating in Colombia against its deadly drug cartels and it required no additional incentive to go after FARC which might have been dabbling in the drug trade.

In case of FARC, the Americans went into a worldwide overdrive, including a confrontation with Moscow when they snatched a Russian high roller in Bangkok. Viktor Bout (played by Nicholas Cage in Lord of War) was arrested in Thailand for alleged gunrunning to FARC after a two-year tug-of-war between the US and Russia. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison, described later by the judge as excessive and inappropriate.

The FARC insurgency also attracted attention because it was much more deadly than the Maoist insurgency in Central India. Guns held by FARC, Colombian army, US forces and Salwa Judum type of state-landlord sponsored militias accounted for over two lakh deaths in a country of just four crore (less than the combined population of Punjab and Haryana). Yet, Santos lost the referendum not because his cause was not right. His ratings at that time were worse than that of his main opponent opposing the referendum. The conservative right was already on the war path over a new manual in schools to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation. They redoubled their efforts after Santos handed over the leadership of the yes campaign to a lesbian.

The Nobel Prize would work to restore the balance in Colombia lost by anti-incumbency and tactical mistakes. It should accelerate peace talks between Manila and the New People's Army. Can the Peace Prize to Santos trigger soul searching among members of the Indian Deep State and the civil society sympathising with the Maoists for a similar farewell to arms?

Sandeep4731@gmail.com
BS Malik

Sonepat, October 8

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today claimed that the BJP government was not discriminating with any area in the state on the basis of political consideration. Equal importance is being given to the Assembly constituencies being represented by the MLAs of opposition parties, he added.

Addressing a Vikas rally at Gannaur in the district, he said: I have so far addressed Vikas rallies in 76 Assembly constituencies so far and many of these, including Gannaur, are represented by MLAs of opposition parties, he said.

The Chief Minister said that after inception of the BJP government in Haryana, the budget allocations had been increased by 28 per cent for the first time. Also, he claimed, the state government had disbursed compensation of Rs 2,300 crore for crop losses in the last two years, whereas the earlier state governments had disbursed only Rs 1,800 crore in the last 48 years.

Referring to speedy completion of various ongoing mega projects, including KMP and KGP expressways in Sonepat district, the Chief Minister said that Sonepat was going to become a part of Delhi-like Faridabad and Gurgaon in near future.

The occasion was marked by launching of development projects of more than Rs 300 crore. These included inauguration of RoB at Bahalgarh and additional bridge at Rasoi on the GT road and three substations and laying stone of another substation and a veterinary hospital building in Gannaur.

Sanctioning all demands of the area given by Sonepat MP Ramesh Kaushik, the Chief Minister said the demands were estimated to cost around Rs 150 crore. Besides, he also announced Rs 15 crore for development works in the rural areas and Rs 7 crore for the Gannaur urban areas.

Among those who addressed the rally included Urban Local bodies Minister Kavita Jain, Sonepat MP Ramesh Kaushik and district president Dharambir Nandal.
Brig Jagbir Singh Grewal (retd)

UNDECLARED trans-LoC operations have been carried out by our Army in J&K for years now for retribution. However, such ventures are invariably not undertaken at the international border, where the sanctity is sacrosanct, unless there is a provocation. One such situation did arise 15 years ago in the Gurdaspur-Amritsar sector during Operation Parakaram.

The Sutlej flowing along the border, meanders into Pakistan and back into Indian territory, creating pockets in each others territory. At one such enclave, Pakistan had raised a bundh for an observation post. A provocateur had hoisted their flag, bang on the international border. The first thing I noticed while alighting from the vehicle was the flag. I looked at the flag and at the commanding officer (CO) of the Sikh Light Infantry Battalion deployed there. They had erected it the previous night, he told me. The flag could not be hoisted on the border. The adversary was perhaps trying to gain the upper hand. However, our jawans appeared unperturbed as I discussed with the CO about the ways to remove it. The jawans went about their chores unconcerned about the turmoil in our minds. It occurred to me that battles are won or lost in the minds of commanders.

It was already dusk, so we decided to wait for the next day to ask them to remove their flag. I wanted to avoid confrontation. The next day, much before daybreak, the CO called me up rather unusually before the scheduled time of giving the situation report, or the morning prayers as it is referred to. The flag has been removed, Sir, he enthusiastically declared, one of our jawans did it! I asked whether any orders were given to do so. No, Sir, he replied, the jawan did it on his own, and now the flag and the pole are with us. In the darkness of the night, the jawan had crawled up to the flag, uprooted the pole and crawled back. The noise of his movement had perhaps got drowned in the sound of the Sutlej. It was a clear breach of military discipline, but I was elated on this display of dare devilry, and unwittingly told the CO not to be harsh on the jawan.

The situation reports made no mention of the erection or removal of the flag, but the incident was reported verbally and accurately up the channel. Commanders at all levels were apprised and knew about the happening that had otherwise gone unreported in any written form.

The place that needs your presence must be visited, I thought to myself as I drove to the Sikh LI Battalion. The place where the flag had fluttered looked humbled. The jawan was presented before me. He stood at savdhan. Obviously, he could not have accomplished his mission without the tacit approval of his post commander, at the least. Notwithstanding that, I placed my hand on his shoulder and said: Shabash, but in future, take approval before such a task. That he was rewarded with a promotion is another story. The occasion turned into mirth and fun over tea and pakoras that followed. As the elderly Subedar Major displayed the flag and the pole, I asked him what they would do with it. He thought for a moment, then uttered: Sir, jhanda tan unhanda hai, par danda tan jisde hath vich hove, usida hunda hai (The flag is theirs, but the pole belongs to the one who holds it).
KV Prasad

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 9

The Central Government sounded an all-clear at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday following reports of a radioactive leak from a consignment brought in by Air France.

'"Officers from BARC and NDRF have cleared at 1355 hrs that there is no anticipation of any harm because the leakage is within permissible limits, government chief spokesman Frank Noronha said.

A regular consignment of 16 packets of material for cancer treatment arrived by Air France AF 226 for Dhiti Biotech India Pvt Ltd on Saturday at 10.30 pm. The packages, 10 in all sent by CISBIO International, were picked up by ground handling agency.
Baramulla/New Delhi, October 9

Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) suffered the maximum damage in the cross-LoC surgical strikes on terror launch pads carried out by the Indian Army, with assessment reports of radio intercepts indicating that around 20 of its militants were killed.

The assessment reports available from Indian Army field units, which included radio conversations between various Pakistani formations, showed maximum damage was inflicted on the LeT, a banned terror group, at Dudniyal launch pad in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, opposite to Kupwara sector of North Kashmir, according to sources in the know of details of the recent surgical strikes.

The sources said on Sunday that five teams culled out from the Army division in the area were tasked to destroy launch pads of terror groups located at Kail, also known as Kel and Dudniyal.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

In a well calibrated operation, which started on the intervening night of September 28 and 29, the Indian Army moved across the LoC and smashed four launch pads that were under the guard of a Pakistani post located 700 metres from the LoC.

The sources said that the terrorists were not expecting an action by the Indian Army and therefore were taken by surprise.

The terrorists, mainly belonging to the LeT, were seen running towards the Pakistani post when they were killed by the Indian troops, according to the assessment reports.

After the successful strike inside the PoK, an effective radio monitoring and strict vigil was maintained, the sources said, adding the wireless messages from radio intercepts of the Pakistani Army indicated that at least 10 LeT terrorists had been killed during the multiple and near-synchronised surgical strikes on four launch pads.

There was heavy movement of Pakistani Army vehicles till the break of dawn and all the bodies were cleared off and taken away, the sources said, adding as per the radio intercepts there was a mass burial in the Neelum Valley.

Similar blow was dealt to the terrorist launch pads located at Balnoi area opposite of Poonch in which nine terrorists belonging to the LeT were killed as per the radio intercepts of the Pakistani Army, the sources said.

Two Pakistani soldiers belonging to 8 Northern Light Infantry were also killed in the strike in this sector, they said.

However, the sources said that post 8.30 am of September 28, radio and wireless intercepts between various formations of Pakistan have fallen silent.

According to the sources, there were intelligence reports that terrorists were planning to enter into India from various directions in Kashmir as well as Jammu region.

The sources said that the Army waited for the opportunity when the terrorists were in the process of gathering at one place before giving them a bloody nose.

Pakistan has contested the claims of the Indian Army and said that there was no surgical strike carried out. They only admitted that two of their soldiers were killed in cross-border firing.

However, after the operation was over, the sources said, duty officer at the Director-General of Military Operation in Pakistan was informed about the strikes carried out by the Indian Army in PoK. PTI
Baramulla/New Delhi, Oct 9

Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) suffered the maximum damage in the cross-LoC surgical strikes on terror launch pads carried out by the Indian Army, with assessment reports of radio intercepts indicating that around 20 of its terrorists were killed.

The assessment reports available from the Indian Army field units, which included radio conversations between various Pakistani formations, showed the maximum damage was inflicted on LeT, a banned terror group, at Dudniyal launch pad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, opposite to Kupwara sector of north Kashmir.

Sources said five teams culled out from the Army division in the area were tasked to destroy launch pads of terror groups located at Kail, also known as Kel and Dudniyal.

In the operation, on the intervening night of September 28 and 29, the Army moved across the LoC and smashed four launch pads under the guard of a Pakistani post located 700 metres from the LoC. Sources said the terrorists were taken by surprise. Mainly belonging to the LeT, they were seen running towards the post when they were killed by the Indian troops, according to the assessment reports.

After the successful strike inside PoK, an effective radio monitoring and strict vigil was maintained, the sources said, adding that the wireless messages from radio intercepts of Pakistani army indicated that at least 10 LeT terrorists had been killed.

There was heavy movement of Pakistani army vehicles till the break of dawn and all the bodies were taken away, the sources said, adding as per the radio intercepts there was a mass burial in the Neelum valley.

A similar blow was dealt to the terrorist launch pads at Balnoi area opposite Poonch in which nine people belonging to LeT were killed as per the radio intercepts of Pakistani army, the sources said.

Two Pakistani soldiers were also killed. However, the sources said that post 8.30 am of September 28, intercepts between various formations of Pakistan fell silent.  PTI
Our Correspondent

Jaipur, October 9

Forty-one years after the Emergency, the BJP government in Rajasthan is planning to introduce a chapter on Mrs Indira Gandhis Emergency Period of 21 months during 1975-77 in school syllabus  either in class 9 or 10  most likely from the next academic calendar.

Minister of State for School Education Vasudev Devnani said it was yet to be decided whether to introduce this course in class 9 or 10. The basic idea is to apprise students of the post-Independence history covering the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi in 1975.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The Emergency period is a part of the post-Independence history and the young generation wants to know about the toughest period of history  how people lived then and what the Indian political scene looked like during that period, he said.

The CBSE curriculum is also carrying this very important aspect of the Emergency, he pointed out.

Condemning the plan of the BJP-RSS to malign the former Prime Minister, Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot alleged that the Vasundhara Raje government was politicising education with its narrow-mindedness.

The Central and state government are spoiling and making a mockery of the education system by thrusting the RSS ideology, Pilot said accusing the BJP of trying to take political mileage out of it.

Since the BJP has got no history of its own, it has, by hook and crook, always wanted to spoil or damage the history by inducting its leaders reference or ideology, he said.

Pilot said the Congress will hold statewide protests if the Raje government went ahead with its move from the next academic session.

Reacting on the Congress charges, Devnani said, This has nothing to do with any political partys (Congress) rule. Why are Congress leaders guilty conscious? Even the Rajasthan government is paying pension under MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) to leaders who were put behind the bars during the Emergency. A Bill pertaining to this was passed in the Rajasthan House by voice vote. The Congress protest does not hold water.
Sarbjit Dhaliwal & Anirudh Gupta in Firozepur

For over a week since September 29, they turned up at the "defence bandh" several times, trying to see any unusual movement across the barbed fence on the Pakistan border, a stone's throw from their Tindiwala village, off Hussainiwala post in Ferozepur. They saw nothing of the sort. The government had swiftly ordered villagers living in Punjab's border areas to shift hours after India announced surgical strikes across Pak Occupied Kashmir. The Home Ministry's directive to the Punjab government meant that villages located within 10 km of the International Border had to be vacated at the earliest. It created panic in the six border districts of Ferozepur, Fazilka, Amritsar, Pathankot, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur.

"We are unable to understand what prompted the government to ask us to vacate our villages," asks a villager. "We did not see any army movement on either side of the border. Nor did we notice any war-like activity," said Piara Singh of the Tindiwala village, from where one can see villages across the border. In a span of a few hours on September 29, Punjab saw one of the biggest civilian displacements in recent times: about 7 lakh people in about 1,000 villages, which means about 10 per cent of the state's total population, was asked to relocate. The government did not extend any worthwhile support to facilitate people's movement. At some places buses were dispatched, but were not enough. Most government relief camps remained empty as politicians made a beeline to the affected villages trying to win voters' sympathy for the Assembly polls due in a few months. Most of the displaced people preferred to stay with their relatives.

In 1971, Tindiwala village had almost been wiped out in heavy shelling by Pakistan. Also affected were about two dozen other villages. Bahal Singh, a villager, says his grandmother and his aunt were taken away by the Pakistan army soldiers. They were brought back after about six months. In 1971, there was a sudden attack. The Army came to know about it only when Pakistan Army started resorting to heavy artillery fire targeting an Indian Army battalion engaged in routine work in the evening near Samadhi of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Over the years, not much has changed."War or no war, we have already suffered too much," says Bahal Singh.

The present scare has only served to highlight one aspect: the neglect of border areas. The road network is poor, health facilities are virtually non-existent and school dropout rate is high. Unemployment is rampant as most people work as daily wagers. Even payment under the national rural job guarantee scheme (MNREGA) gets delayed for months. And small farmers face the flood fury every year. A few days ago, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal visited the villages located along the border fence. Along with him arrived a tractor-trolley loaded with "atta-dal" bags. The villagers handed the CM a long list of demands. Since then no official has turned up to see the plight of villagers. "We have been left out, already," said a Tindiwala villager.
Beijing, October 9

About five lakh elderly people, a majority of them women, go missing every year in China due to inadequate medicare and migration of their children to cities, according to a survey released today.

The survey released by the Zhongmin Social Assistance Institute and a leading news platform Toutiao said, 1,370 senior citizens go missing every day with an average age of 76.

Women account for 58 per cent of the total, it said.

The survey noted that many of the missing suffer from mental illness, with 72 per cent suffering from some form of memory impairment and 25 per cent diagnosed with dementia, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the survey, many cases are related to poverty and the inadequate care provided by family members as they migrate to large cities in search of higher wages.

The survey calls for the establishment of a national network to record and find missing people, and recommends that aid centres arrange specialist personnel to look for missing persons.

It also suggests that local governments in areas with large population outflows cooperate with social groups to assess the living conditions of seniors citizens left at home, and explore effective methods to prevent such citizens from going missing.

China has been facing major demographic crisis due to massive increase in aged people due to three decades old one child policy.

A senior Chinese official said early this month that China will have 240 million people aged 60 or above by 2020 from the present 220 million, putting heavy strain on health care system and steady reduction of labour force.

By 2020, senior citizens will make up 17 per cent of the population with about 240 million, Liu Qian, deputy head of the National Health and Family Planning Commission was quoted by the official media as saying.

Chinese capital is already feeling the heat with number of pensioners climbing up to 23.4 per cent of about 22 million population.

In order to address the long-term impact of the population, the Chinese government this year scrapped the one child policy and permitted people to have second child.  PTI
Jacksonville, October 9

A weakened Hurricane Matthew made landfall in South Carolina, nearing the end of a four-day rampage that left a trail of death and destruction across the Caribbean and up the southeastern US coast, now swamped by record floods.

In Haiti, where Matthew was a monster Category 4 when it slammed into the poorest country in the western hemisphere Tuesday, the official death toll rose to at least 336.

Nine were killed in the United States.

The interim president of Haiti, Jocelerme Privert, announced three days of national mourning, beginning on Sunday.

The scope of the devastation in the south of the Caribbean country was becoming clearer but the toll remains provisional due to the difficulty of gaining access to some areas.

At least 336 people were dead, the head of Haiti's civil protection services, Marie-Alta Jean Baptiste, said: "We won't have a definitive toll before Wednesday," she said.

Other officials said earlier that at least 400 were dead.

Half a million children live in the worst-hit departments in southern Haiti, according to UNICEF, which said it needed at least USD 5 million to meet their immediate needs.

Pledges of aid have flooded in, with the United States announcing it was sending the USS Mesa Verde, whose 300 Marines will add to the 250 personnel and nine helicopters already ordered to deploy to Haiti.

France announced it was sending 60 troops, with 32 tonnes of humanitarian supplies and water purification equipment.

California-based charity International Relief Teams said it was donating USD 7 million in medical supplies with international organizations MAP International and Hope for Haiti.

Matthew, downgraded to the lowest-level Category 1 hurricane, lashed the coast of South Carolina as the storm moved inland. It then approached coastal North Carolina on Sunday, with record flooding expected.

Despite flooding, fallen trees and power outages, most of the American southeast appeared to have been spared catastrophic damage as the storm surge turned out to be less severe than expected.

At 0600 GMT, Matthew was just 50 km south southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

"Matthew should move near or just south of the coast of North Carolina this morning and east of the North Carolina coast by this afternoon," the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami forecast.

As Matthew approached  after storming through Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas  millions of Americans were ordered to evacuate and curfews were slapped on cities.  AFP
Tehran, October 9

Iran has condemned the air strikes of Saudi-led coalition on mourners in Yemens capital Sanaa which left more than 140 persons dead.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi on Saturday expressed regret that the international community is silent over the military aggression of the coalition and the killing of the innocents, Xinhua news agency reported.

In order to put an end to the fabricated crisis in Yemen, there is no way but to stop the belligerent aggressors and begin serious dialogue with the participation of all Yemeni sides, Qasemi said.

He expressed Irans strong disapproval over such an inhumane and heinous crime and sympathised with the families of the victims.

Over 140 people were killed and more than 500 injured in Saudi-led coalition air strikes on mourners in Sanaa on Saturday afternoon.

Reports said that a number of Iran-backed Shia Houthi officials and their ally former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh were present at the mourning ceremony.  IANS
Jerusalem, October 9

A Palestinian opened fire from a car in Jerusalem today and again as police chased him, killing two people, authorities said, after concerns over the potential for a new upsurge in violence.

The gunman was killed soon after carrying out the attack near police headquarters, close to the line dividing mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem from the mostly Jewish western sector of the city.

The shooting rampage comes at a time of increased Jewish visitors to the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem for the holidays of Rosh Hashanah, which was last week, and Yom Kippur, which begins Tuesday evening.

Police said the 39-year-old assailant fired in the direction of a tram station in the area, seriously wounding a woman.

He then continued at high speed and shot at a car, leaving another woman badly hurt, they added.

One of the women, a 60-year-old, was reported by medics to be in critical condition after being shot in her upper body.

The attacker then headed toward the nearby neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, where a number of upscale hotels are located, and got out of his car, police said.

As officers approached him by motorcycle, he opened fire on them.

Police returned fire and killed him, but two officers were wounded, including one seriously, they said.

Hadassah hospital later reported that two of the victims had died, without providing further details.

Police said the attacker was from the Silwan area of east Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at the start of a cabinet meeting today, saluted the police, saying they had "acted rapidly and very firmly against the terrorist, who was eliminated".

A spokesman for Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, welcomed the attack.

Fawzi Barhoum called it "a natural reaction to the crimes and violations of the occupation against our people".

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement also praised that attack, calling it "heroic".

The Al-Aqsa mosque compound is holy to both Muslims and Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount.

The site is central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Palestinians fearing that Israel may one day seek to assert further control over it.

Last year's Jewish high holidays led to clashes and marked the start of an upsurge in Palestinian gun, knife and car-ramming attacks.

Violence since October 2015 has killed at least 232 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese national, according to an AFP count.

Most of the Palestinians were carrying out attacks, according to Israeli authorities.  AFP
Washington, October 9

Donald Trump's presidential campaign today appeared to be collapsing like a pack of cards, with many top Republican leaders abandoning him a day after his lewd remarks about women surfaced but the controversial billionaire remained defiant and vowed to fight on.

One Republican leader after another, including top Senators and Governors, distanced themselves from the 70-year-old New York-based real estate mogul, who joined the party only a little over a year ago and emerged as its presidential nominee in the short span.

The Republican party faced an unprecedented meltdown, with an increased chorus within the party and its leadership for the reality TV star to drop out of the presidential race ahead of the election next month. Trump's own running mate Mike Pence said he could neither condone nor defend his remarks in a 2005 videotape in which he bragged in vulgar terms about kissing, groping and trying to have sex with women.

"I am grateful that he has expressed remorse and apologised to the American people. We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night," the Indiana Governor said in a statement.

Later, Pence told a Rhode Island fundraiser that he was committed to Trump. His remarks came after cancelling an appearance scheduled at Wisconsin with House Speaker Paul Ryan and Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus, both of whom had condemned Trump's remarks the day before but stopped short of withdrawing support altogether. Trump, however, put up a defiant show. In an interview to The Wall Street Journal, he said "there is zero chance I'll quit." He said the same thing in an interview to The Washington Post, which was the first to release a video of his lewd comments against women.

Trump, who has spent his last 24 hours in his Trump Tower in New York with his closest allies, also cancelled his appearance at a rally in Wisconsin. Trump who made a brief appearance before his supporters at the lobby of his Trump Towers would face a confident Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, for the second presidential debate at St Louis on Sunday night.

A number of Congressman and Senator yesterday announced that they were withdrawing their endorsement of Trump.

Top Republican Senator John McCain announced that he is withdrawing his endorsement of Trump. "Donald Trump's behaviour this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy. Cindy, with her strong background in human rights and respect for women fully agrees with me in this," McCain said.  PTI

Beleaguered Republican nominee faces do-or-die debate today

Republican nominee Donald Trump has 90 minutes to save his faltering presidential campaign, US media said today ahead of his encounter with Hillary Clinton in a do-or-die debate, taking place soon after his obscene remarks about women surfaced.

The second edition of the three presidential debates to take place in St. Louis will cap one of the most extraordinary weekends in American political history, CNN commented and went on to say that Trump will have 90 minutes on Sunday night (6.30 am - 8 am IST) to save his presidential campaign.
The Tulsa Police Department has found success on recent recruiting trips despite the high-profile fatal police shooting of Terence Crutcher, according to the agencys training director.

Transparency, community support and peaceful protests in the aftermath of the Crutcher shooting are attracting recruits toward a career with TPD because the agency is demonstrating it correctly handles difficult policing issues, Maj. Ryan Perkins said. And those aforementioned aspects are resonating with minority candidates, he added.

Factor in upcoming academies funded by the new public safety tax to bolster the force, and the departments racial makeup has a chance to begin better mirroring Tulsas general population  particularly with Hispanics and African-Americans.

Given the tense climate and scrutiny after white Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby fatally shot Crutcher, an unarmed black man, one might understand if potential applicants shied away from TPD recruiters.

But Perkins said the agencys approach and communitys reaction bathed Tulsa in a spotlight different from other cities mired in similar situations. Those municipalities didnt show as much transparency or werent able to keep protests peaceful.

Applicants actually came to us and were more interested in our agency, Perkins said.

Graphic videos capture Shelby firing one shot at Crutcher on Sept. 16 just moments after both his hands were clearly raised. The images have invited outrage as they swiftly spread across the country. Locally, public officials, including the police chief, have called the footage disturbing.

In dispute is whether the 40-year-old lowered his left hand to possibly reach through his SUVs window, prompting the fatal shot. There also isnt consensus on whether the window was open, closed or somewhere in between.

Afterward, Crutcher was found to be unarmed, with no weapons inside the vehicle, either.

Shelby, 42, is free on bond after she was charged Sept. 22 with first-degree manslaughter.

The demographics

The Tulsa World maintains a database of demographic data compiled from Tulsa Police Department records provided in open records requests. Department demographics show that the force remains predominantly white, but it has become more racially diverse than it was 10 years ago. However, the increase in diversity is due to greater percentages of races other than blacks.

As of March, 765 sworn police officers were on the force, according to records provided to the Tulsa World at the time through an open records request. This included four who were classified as full time but inactive.

White males made up the largest demographic with 462 officers, comprising 60 percent of the force.

Of the 765 officers:

 657 or 86.0 percent were male

 108 or 14.0 percent were female

 539 or 70.5 percent were white

 86 or 11.2 percent were American Indian

 62 or 8.1 percent were black

 45 or 5.9 percent were biracial

 23 or 3.0 percent were of Hispanic origin

 10 or 1.3 percent were other

American Community Survey demographic numbers show Tulsas population makeup in 2015 was 54.95 percent white, 15.19 percent Hispanic, 15.08 percent black, 4.26 percent Native American, 3.48 percent Asian and 7.05 percent other.

Future police academies may improve diversity, as the force ultimately will strengthen its numbers by more than 160 officers via the public safety tax, which was approved by voters in April as part of the Vision Tulsa packages.

Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan said his department expends a lot of resources and has been going full bore the past three years to expand diversity to become more representative of the citys general population.

While racial diversity is important, Jordan said, its not the only metric by which to judge a successful law enforcement agency.

I think if we went over our percentages that would be fine; I think sometimes we could go under and be fine, Jordan said.

Out-of-town recruitment

The Latino population is the most underrepresented racial group among Tulsa police officers. One Hispanic recruit is scheduled to graduate the academy this month, with three more to go through the first one of 2017.

TPD has 15 recruits slated to graduate Oct. 28 from its academy, with the next class of 22 recruits set to begin training Jan. 23.

The academy of 22 has three African-Americans, three Latinos and five women, which Perkins said is a very diverse class in the context of law enforcement.

Perkins said the 15 graduates in October include one Native American, one Hispanic and two women. He noted an African-American and an Asian were hired for it but withdrew and accepted positions elsewhere.

Those two academies are being paid for out of the general fund.

Academies scheduled for May and September 2017 will be underwritten with the public safety tax. Plans are to have 30 recruits in the May academy, Perkins said. Recruiters are seeking applicants for the September class.

Recruiting diversity is made difficult for the simple fact that all agencies want to attract highly qualified minorities to bring their perspectives aboard, Perkins said.

Perkins said the police department is heavily focusing on out-of-state trips targeted at netting the most Latino officers because of how far behind the curve we are on that. For years, he said, Tulsa police recruiters have gone to west Texas and east New Mexico, as well as south Texas.

Perkins said there also is emphasis on attracting African-Americans, with ventures to historically black colleges. However, he said, a large number of African-American recruits come from traditional in-state colleges, such as Oklahoma State University, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Tulsa, Northeastern State University and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.

Were trying to really build a pipeline of recruiting where people see that the Tulsa Police Department is a great place to come ... And now theyre able to see that youre going to go to an agency that is really handling even the difficult issues in policing the right way, Perkins said, noting that its resonating with these minority candidates.

Jordan expressed his dislike for recruiting so heavily outside city and state lines. He said his emphasis is on attracting local candidates, and acknowledged his department must do more on that front.

There are very qualified and dedicated applicants from outside Tulsa, Jordan said, but recruits who are invested in the community and familiar with its unique legacy will help the department become more representative of the city it serves. He cited the Tulsa Race Riots and other more recent events in the citys history, such as the Good Friday killings.

I think for us to be a representative police department it will help if we get more who are committed Tulsans, Jordan said.
OKLAHOMA CITY  A state legislator said he will propose legislation prohibiting lobbyists from giving gifts and providing meals to lawmakers.

Its time for lawmakers to pick up their own meal tickets and pay for their own entertainment, said Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie.

Lawmakers should have a code of conduct just like other professions, Murphey said.

He calls it an effort to get lawmakers off welfare.

He believes there is growing support for his proposal.

They dont like the public perceptions that all lawmakers are participating in what most of the public clearly views as inappropriate, Murphey said.

Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, agrees with the idea.

As somebody who pays for my own meals and tries to return any gifts that are given, I wouldnt be opposed to that, said Dahm. I know there are people that their decisions are influenced by lobbyists, not necessarily the gifts, but the friendships that come from the time spent at lunches and dinners and at those events.

Sen. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, said lawmakers who receive meals from lobbyists are there to collect information from a group representing a certain viewpoint.

Obviously, when you allow the monetary value to influence the process, then you have crossed the line, Quinn said.

Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, said a meal would not persuade him to vote for or against anything.

Jim Dunlap is a former Republican lawmaker and has been a lobbyist for 12 years. He said the reporting process for gifts and meals is much more transparent than it has been in the past.

He said lobbyists have a lot of information and expertise to offer to lawmakers.

Being in the Legislature is like going to college and majoring in every degree, Dunlap said.

Lawmakers are limited to serving 12 years due to term limits. As a result, lobbyists and others might have more institutional knowledge than lawmakers.

Several lawmakers who have left the Legislature are now lobbying at the Capitol.

Everyone has a lobbyist at the Capitol, whether they know it or not, Dunlap said. If you have insurance on your car or home, you have a lobbyist that protects your interests on behalf of the insurance industry. Even the media has a lobbyist, the (Oklahoma) Press Association.

Gary Huddleston, a former Senate staff member, has been a lobbyist for 20 years.

He said good lobbyists are information givers. They provide information on both sides of the issue, Huddleston said.

We are all social creatures, Huddleston said. Politics is very much about relationships. It is not a dinner securing a vote. It is about an opportunity to discuss issues outside of the Capitol.

Pat Hall has been a lobbyist, CEO of the Oklahoma Democratic Party and served as director of the Oklahoma Public Employees Association for 16 years.

This discussion has been going on for the 36 years I have been a lobbyist at the Oklahoma State Capitol, Hall said. It has always prevailed that in the end that lobbyists networking with a legislator, purchasing dinners or small gifts, have never proven to buy a vote. Therefore, legislators, when they actually think about it, decide not to ban gifts and not go the route I think a few other states have gone.

Lobbyists can provide up to $500 in meals and up to $200 in non-meals provided the two dont exceed $500, said Ashley Kemp, executive director of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, which makes the gifts public on its website.

The individuals, companies and organizations lobbyists represent can give a plaque not exceeding $200 and sponsor group events in which all lawmakers are invited, she said.

James Milner has been a lobbyist for 28 years at the state and federal level and worked for the Arizona Senate.

He said going to lunch or dinner with a lawmaker is often the only time a lobbyist has to sit down and explain an issue in depth given the multitude of issues a legislator has to deal with in one session.

While Murphey has his point of view, and is exercising it, it is really a solution in search of a problem, Milner said.
Nine may be set to sell its stake in SKY News parent company Australian News Channel as early as this week, according to the Australian Financial Review.



Nine owns one third of ANC, with Seven West Media and Britains SKY (39.3 per cent owned by 21st Century FOX), each owning another third.

Both Seven and News Corporation have previously shown interest in Nines stake.

Meanwhile The Australian reports on high-level talks between Nine and Fairfax. Nine recently sold off its entire 9.9% stake in regional affiliate partner Southern Cross Austereo for $120 million.

According to the article, one pitch drafted by investment bankers that would not require media reform involved Fairfax spinning off assets, such as its events business, its Stan stake and its 54.5 per cent interest in radio group Macquarie Media, into Nine in exchange for an equity stake in the free-to-air and digital company.

Fairfax would retain its Domain property listings business, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Australian Financial Review, while the company is open to selling its regional newspaper assets if a suitable price can be attained from an interested party.

Fairfax and Nine declined to comment.
U.S. Rep. John Katko's campaign fired back at Democratic congressional candidate Colleen Deacon after the challenger held a rally in Syracuse slamming the GOP congressman's "dishonest disavowal" of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

"Colleen Deacon is eager to nationalize a local race," said Erin O'Connor, Katko's campaign spokesperson. "The problem is that John Katko has repeatedly stood up to his own party and refused to support Donald Trump.

"Colleen Deacon, on the other hand, had no issue pledging loyalty to her party and issuing a no-questions-asked endorsement of her nominee. Today's rally is further indication of the harshly divisive, party-first approach of Colleen Deacon."

In a follow-up email, O'Connor added: "Interesting that Colleen Deacon has time for a Trump political rally, but missed the rally to save FitzPatrick. Party over service?"

Katko, R-Camillus, announced Saturday that he's not supporting Trump in this year's presidential election. His decision came after a video clip was released showing Trump making sexually aggressive comments about women.

Deacon, a Syracuse Democrat, chided Katko for deciding not to endorse Trump after months of consideration. Democrats have repeatedly pressured Katko to take a stand on the GOP presidential nominee, especially after Trump made controversial comments at various points of the race.

On Saturday, Deacon said Katko's announcement is "too little, too late."

"We've known who Donald Trump is for months now  from his insults to women, people with disabilities, Gold Star families and entire cultures," Deacon said. "It took everyone else abandoning Trump before Katko finally felt safe enough to agree.

"Leaders take stands early, they don't fall in line when politically expedient. This just proves once again that John Katko will say and do whatever will get him elected, and cares more about his re-election than the people of central New York."

Democrats are looking to tie Katko to Trump, who's lost support from several GOP members of Congress over the past couple of days.

That strategy could help Deacon. A recent poll showed her trailing by 19 points in the 24th Congressional District race. The survey also found Trump losing by 12 points and most voters  63 percent  have an unfavorable view of the GOP nominee.

Katko could be insulated from any attempts to link him to Trump, and not just because of his decision not to endorse his party's presidential candidate.

The poll also found 53 percent of voters supporting Katko are also voting for Trump. Nearly one-quarter of Katko's backers are supporting Clinton in the presidential race. That means there are already voters in the 24th District who are willing to support Katko, but not Trump.

But as Sunday's rally shows, Democrats will look to hammer Katko and mention his stance on Trump over the next several weeks leading up to Election Day.
Whatever you make of The Windsors, theres nothing else like it on television.

Its completely bonkers.

If the Royal Family were tossed into a mixmaster with Spitting Image, Dynasty, a good Carry-On movie and OK! Magazine then they would be something like this.

Camilla wants a new baby to become bump Williams as second in line to the throne; Pippa Middleton has her sights set on Prince Harry; Eugenie and Beatrice become radicalised by Islam and Prince Edward still longs for a career in showbiz.

Creators George Jeffrie and Bert Tyler-Moore (Star Stories) have no shame in skewering the Royals in this grotesque soap opera. Few in the cast bear any resemblance to their actuals (William for instance has a better head of hair here) but they mostly carry-off the persona we have come to know through the media.

Harry Enfield as Prince Charles is arguably the closest to the mark, distracting himself with pointless royal duties whilst waiting for the throne. Haydn Gwynne as Camilla is almost the villain of the piece were it not for the ambitious Pippa (Morgana Robinson) happily bedding an illiterate Harry (Richard Goulding).

The perpetually-hatted spoiled brats Beatrice (Ellie White) and Eugenie (Celeste Dring), who struggle to find an occupation, are wicked supporting players -only surpassed by a merciless Katy Wix as Fergie. Somebody thought I was Mick Hucknall, but you know, close enough, Fergie admits.

The Queen and Prince Phillip are essentially absent from the ensemble, but are referenced in the plot (Phillip is regularly berating the Chinese).

The performances are fittingly over the top as the absurd scripting ramps up the comedy. I had a few laugh out loud moments with a series that will either wear out its joke very soon, or become a guilty pleasure.

The Windsors is irreverent nonsense and loving it.

The Windsors airs 9:45pm Tuesday on Seven.
George Soros gave Ivanka's husband's business a $250 million credit line in 2015 per WSJ. Soros is also an investor in Jared's business.
Under Secretary Sewall Travels to Massachusetts

Washington, DC - Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Sarah Sewall will travel to Boston, Cambridge, Medford, and Worcester, Massachusetts October 11-14.

Under Secretary Sewall will meet with the Boston Police Department to discuss their innovative approaches to community outreach and highlight their partnership with the Department of State. She will also meet with resettled refugees at the International Institute of New England. In Cambridge, the Under Secretary will discuss challenges in strengthening civilian protection in armed conflict with students and faculty at Harvard Law School.

In Medford, the Under Secretary will deliver remarks at the Fletcher School at Tufts University on Why Civilian Security Matters for National Security. She will also travel to Worcester to deliver a public lecture at Clark University on Issues and Careers at the Nexus of Human Rights and Security.
STEM is considered by educators, lawmakers, and business leaders as the most important in building a nation;s economy. However, in this modern world where computers and software are the most prevalent, it is surprising that computer science is being left behind compared to other STEM subjects.

The information came from a recent report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) called "The Case of Improving U.S. Computer Science Education." The report was written by Adams Nager and Robert D. Atkinson

They said that it is surprising to find out that despite computer science being the "most important STEM field for a modern economy," it has the least number of enrollment in high school. They also added that there is great potential and opportunity in this field but that is often overlooked.

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there will more than 1.3 million job opportunities for Math and STEM-related fields by 2022. Furthermore, 50 percent of the 2.8 million STEM-related jobs that will be created by 2018 will largely need computer specialists.

Atkinson and Nager also noted that there are currently 25 percent among high schools who offer computer science courses and those who do usually focus on coding only and forget to teach the deeper principles of computer science.

Another surprising fact they discovered was that there is a disparaging social, economical, ethnic, and gender gap in how computer science is made available. They have found out that computer science classes seem to be highly concentrated on affluent schools. Moreover, less than 10 percent of those who take the Advance Placement test in computer science are Hispanics and 4 percent are African Americans. Even the gender gap is big with only 22 percent of the test takers are females.

The authors of the report suggest that solving this problem does not involve a huge cost. Some of their suggestions include making computer science one of the requirements to graduate, teaching the core concepts of computer science, and allowing students more hands-on experience rather than teaching them boring theories.
For quite some time, a lot of employers have been lamenting that there has been a huge skills gap due to the dynamic nature of technology nowadays and the inability of educational institutions to cope up with it thus failing to provide students the education they need to become relevant when they graduate. Because of these, a lot of experts and leaders in various industries have suggested creating an alternative form of learning and teaching to help bridge that skills gap. However, a tech panel at the recently concluded 2016 GeekWire Summit agreed that the real culprit is in fact sexism and ageism.

According to the report, it is true that tech jobs are being created each year but there are not enough qualified candidates to fill up those positions. For example, there are more than 3,000 tech jobs in Washington State alone but only 500 Computer Science graduates. However, Scott McKinley, Dean and CEO of Northeastern University's Seattle campus said that instead of creating a solution that promotes diversity in the workplace, the tech industry has refused to budge and stubbornly held on to a solution that is not relevant to the problem.

McKinley called it the 'square peg round hole approach" wherein companies reject a candidate because they don't fit the stereotype description of a new tech hire or they did not graduate from a top school. That is largely true because when one looks at the tech workplace, there are mostly young, white males in the office. If there are any females or older, they are vastly outnumbered. The panelists admitted that tech companies usually shy from hiring those who haven't got a traditional Computer Science degree.

During the discussion, the panelists also said that they are doing something to change all that. Bridget Frey, CTO of the Seattle-based tech company Redfin, said that the company has made certain efforts to encourage diversification by hiring those who come from non-traditional backgrounds and other industries. They have also increased the number of their female engineers which are already 30 percent.

Meanwhile, Microsoft General Manager of talent, learning, and insights Joe Whittinghill said that the company has started taking into account the "unconscious bias" that can influence their judgments unknowingly.

"We dont know where the next talent is going to come from, and it isnt always going to be the people who look like us or talk like us," he said.

The result of these biases then leads to the "lack" of talents in the industry resulting in poaching where companies try to steal each other's talents. This is a waste of resources said OfferUps Vice President of Engineering Peter Wilson because it costs companies a lot of money just to attract an engineer who works for another company than investing on someone to study.

In the end, the panelists have agreed that it will be a challenge to keep a very diverse workforce, remove any prejudices, and "put resources towards more broad education" but taking the necessary step no matter how small they are is a start.
Edinburgh based David Blaikie Architects release the first photographs of their recently completed remodelling of a small suburban house in the Blackhall area of Edinburgh. The dramatic, angular, glazed extension doubles the size of the house providing a generous, light filled living space for this young family to grow up in.
The kick-off event is a start to begin a series of HR activities held by Anphabe with latest HR trend sharing and the update of the survey methodology being applied this year.

The Art and Science of Talent Retention

at the event, Anphabe shared important models and essential keys on how to retain talents. After doing interviews with HR Managers from 30 leading companies, Anphabe has concluded that getting the Right People, Right Thing, Right Time combination is a popular concern to most enterprises nowadays.

Right People: Companies may apply various methods, but generally there are three key factors need focusing. Firstly, Position - which is the most basic management method. Secondly, Performance, which inquires clear KPIs, is often applied by big companies. Finally, it is Potential, combined with other methods, is applied in companies whose talent development and in-house trainings are well-developed.

Right Thing: key trends & methods to retain talents are divided into three groups of activities: Monetary programs - talent retention programs with financial rewards; Non-monetary programs - talent retention programs with benefits offerings; and Hybrid programs - which provide company culture building activities. The last two programs are seen as costs to companies, while being considered as intangible rewards or benefits by employees.

Right Time: After having Right People and Right Thing, it is Right Time that defines success. Most Human Resources managers agree that we should not wait until employees decide to resign. In the Kick-off event, Human Resources managers share and discuss about risk forecasting techniques as well as how to handle difficult situations.

Ultimately, talent retention programs are like icebergs. Employees usually see the tip of the iceberg only - Monetary programs rather than Non-monetary and Hybrid programs. Consequently, its not only the responsibility, but also the opportunity for companies to help employees realise their silent efforts because these programs are also the most effective ones for long-term purposes, Thanh Nguyen, Anphabes CEO remarked.

Vietnam Best Places to Work 2016 Survey

Presently, gen Y (who were born from 1985 to 2000) makes up more than 40 per cent of the workforce in Vietnam and are gradually replacing previous generations, who are known as Gen X and Baby Boomer. This year, the survey focuses on finding the differences in career motivations of different generations to consult companies about how to manage a multi-generational workforce.

In addition, over the past 3 years, Achieve a healthy work - life balance has always been the top career objective of Vietnam professionals; this is the first time Anphabe releases eight different definitions of work-life balance. The survey will take a deeper look at this subject to recommend companies on how to support their multi-generational employees in better achieving this career objective.

Based on the big two trends being focused this year, the organiser decided to add two new nominations, namely Vietnam Best Place To Work 2016 For Generation Y Award and The Happiest Workforce Award. The results are based on the objective evaluations of generation Y professionals and internal results from companies joining the Happiness at Work survey - the latest analysis model developed by Anphabe.

Thanks to Nielsens consultation, the measurement method has been improved dramatically. Vietnam Best Place to Work Ranking is measured by the AIDA model, which acknowledges employees objective evaluations according to four levels: Awareness, Interest, Desire and Action. From the results collected from past surveys, this year, Nielsen has come up with the importance level of each AIDA factor in order to make sure the measurement accurately reflects positive assessments towards an Employer Brand.

To fulfill our mission in supporting companies to become ideal places to work and build up a happy workforce, Vietnam Best Places To Work 2016 will provide a comprehensive picture regarding trends and expectations of employees in the new contexts and help enterprises to develop tactics for attracting and retaining talents effectively, said Thanh.

This is the fourth year that Nielsen is partnering with Anphabe in doing Vietnam Best Places to Work survey. Generally speaking, the survey is becoming an effective tool for lots of enterprises measuring their employer brand attractiveness in external talents perspectives as well as the engagement and happiness level in internal employees viewpoints. Thanks to the increasing needs in the market, Nielsen & Anphabe are relentlessly studying and improving this survey with an aim to optimise the measurement methods and give out the most reliable results, said Doan Anh Khoa, director of Consumer Insights at Nielsen Vietnam.

Tentatively scheduled, in February 2017, the organiser will hold the Awards Ceremony of Vietnam Best Places to Work 2016. Companies who join the survey will receive the total market Employer Brand report and their own Brand Health Check Report (Internal, External) combined with related consultation.

The Vietnam Best Places To Work honours top Vietnam Best Places to Work. Moving to its fourth year, the survey becomes the most reliable source of information providing latest Talent & EB trends. It is also used as a guideline to consult hundreds of leading enterprises in order to become attractive workplaces and create a happy workforce.

Anphabe is the pioneering company in Vietnam providing integrating Employer Branding (EB) solutions and being an employer brand partner for leading enterprises both in Vietnam and the region. Anphabe provides holistic services from EB Health check, EB Strategy, EB Creative to EB Activations. Anphabe also owns and operates the biggest Career Network of Management Professionals in Vietnam with more than 550,000+ members. Anphabe finance & expertise are backed by Recruit Holdings  a global HR solution provider with 109 subsidiaries, 484 offices and 25,518 employees worldwide.

Nielsen Holding N.V. is a global information and measurement company with leading market positions in marketing and consumer information, television and other media measurement, online intelligence and mobile measurement. Nielsen has a presence in approximately 100 countries, with headquarters in New York in the US and Diemen in the Netherlands.
According to newswire Tienphong, Formosa submitted a proposal to the General Department of Vietnam Customs to import coal for electricity production in its thermal power plant without any domestic intermediaries. According to the company, domestic coal is not only low-quality but also not suitable with the technology line of the plant.

Previously, the company submitted the proposal to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) as well as other relevant authorities. The MPI promised to forward the proposal to the prime minister, while the MoIT supported because of limited domestic coal resources.

On September 2, Dong Nai provinces Nhon Trach Customs Branch guided the company to complete procedures to import coal. However, the company has to go through two major Vietnamese importers, Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited and Dong Bac Coal Corporation, and will only be able to import directly upon receiving the PMs approval.

However, Formosa said that regulations prescribe co-operation with intermediaries for enterprises lacking experience as well as the coal resources. Formosa, on the other hand, has vast experience in the import sector. Furthermore, the company has its own coal sources with high-quality and suitable prices.

Nguyen Phuc Tho, deputy director of the Dong Nai Customs told VIR that there are no regulations banning private enterprises from importing coal for electricity production. The General Department of Vietnam Customs is waiting the MoIT to provide guidance on implementing the PMs directions about Formosas proposal.

According to expert opinion, the rule for enterprises in general and Formosa in particular to import coal by co-operating with domestic coal importers is to control the quality, avoiding the increased environmental pollution that comes with lower-quality coal resources.

In 2001, Formosa rented 200 hectares in Nhon Trach 3 IP to establish an industrial park subdivision. The company built a spinning and textile factory, a coal-fired thermal power plant, and other infrastructural units to attract investment projects.
A military helicopter has crashed in northern Afghanistan, killing all seven people onboard.

A Defense Ministry spokesman, Dawlat Waziri, confirmed the incident, saying three Afghan soldiers and four crew members were among the victims.

He blamed a technical fault with the Russian-made Mi17 aircraft for going down in Dand-e-Ghori district of the conflict-gripped Baghlan province while it was transporting supplies to Afghan forces.

But the Taliban claimed its fighters shot down the helicopter, claiming it was heading toward a base in the district where insurgents have besieged around 200 soldiers for more than a week.

Unclear circumstances



It was not possible to determine through independent sources the circumstances that caused the incident because of communication problems and a lack of access.

Fighting between the Taliban and Afghan government forces has been raging in several districts of Baghlan, including areas close to its capital city, Pul-e-Khumri, where the Taliban recently gained control of key outposts.

The insurgents have also been engaged in a week of sporadic clashes with government forces in the capital of neighboring Kunduz province.

U.N. officials say the fighting in northern Afghan provinces has undermined the flow of traffic to these areas and caused power outages, food shortages and communication disconnections with the rest of the country, as well as uprooting thousands of civilians.
A Bollywood film about three women who are victims of unwanted sexual advances has struck a deep chord in a country where sexual violence against women hit headlines after the horrific 2012 gang rape of a college student in the Indian capital.

Playing to packed halls, the movie "Pink" underscores India's struggle with patriarchal attitudes and the need for a male-dominated society to respect choices women make.



"I think 'Pink' is not film; it has become a movement," said Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who plays a defense attorney in the film.



The story centers on three young men who vow to teach three single working women in New Delhi a lesson after one of them hits one of the men with a liquor bottle when he fails to accept her rejection of his advances. The man has powerful political connections.

The girls are stalked and one is sexually assaulted and charged with attempted murder.

Women blamed



In the courtroom drama that follows, the lawyer for the young man accuses the women of having loose morals because they party, drink, live away from their families and wear modern clothes.

The defense counsel focuses his case on the fact that his client rejected the man's advances. He wraps up his case with a powerful speech about the meaning of 'no.'

"'No' is an entire sentence in itself," the defense lawyer says in the film. "No means no, and when somebody says it, you stop ... and the woman could be your friend, your partner, your girlfriend, or a sex worker, or even if it's your own wife."

The words have won the approval of audiences and on social media in a male-dominated society where the notion of consent is virtually nonexistent.

Some women have said they feel empowered after seeing the film.

'A real-life situation'

"It just felt like a real-life situation that we go through every day," said Pooja Prasad, 28, an art and culture consultant in New Delhi, after seeing the movie.

The Indian capital is regarded as one of the country's most unsafe cities for women.

"The film's most radical message is that it is not just a question of the right to say no, but the right to say no even when your sexual conduct may be trangressive of normative conventions," said Shohini Ghosh, a professor of mass communication at Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi.

That's viewed as important in a country where it's often suggested that rape victims bring attacks upon themselves with their conduct.

"If she goes on a rape trial, the question is of her character," Ghosh said.

Incidents of rape in India have highlighted the problem of sexual violence in both rural and urban areas.

In the country's sprawling metros such as New Delhi, many see this as a clash of the old and new India.

Changing male mindset

In the last two decades, the rapid pace of economic change has brought many women into India's metros, made them financially independent and led them to push back at traditional boundaries. But that often leads to conflict if it is not matched by a change in male attitudes, as "Pink" illustrates.

Although laws to deal with violence against women have been strengthened, women activists have stressed that societal transformation will happen only when the problem is tackled at the level of male mindsets.

Among those who hope that the message of "Pink" will make a difference is Jaya Meena, who recently completed her postgraduate studies. She said it underlined the need to focus on how boys are raised.

"We only teach girls to behave according to our culture," she said, adding that boys should be made to "understand how to respect women."

The Bollywood movie will add new energy to the debate on the treatment of women that has been underway in India for some time.

"The film is a product of its times, and it is actually representing to us the different, conflictive points of view at this moment that exist in society," Ghosh said.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her Republican counterpart Donald Trump meet for their second second televised debate Sunday night.

Since their first debate, widely viewed as having been won by Clinton, Trump has had to deal with various voter concerns, including questions about his apparent lack of paying federal taxes for many years. But those issues have been pushed aside with Friday's revelations of Trump's obscene comments about women captured on audiotape 11 years ago.

For her part, Clinton will likely have to answer for comments revealed by WikiLeaks that shows she sometimes takes one stance publicly, and an opposite stance privately on various issues, including trade and her dealings with Wall Street. Public opinion polls indicate a large number of Americans question her trustworthiness, and those polls were taken before Friday's WikiLeaks release.

Sunday is an opportunity for Clinton to show the "presidential look" that her opponent famously said she does not possess. All eyes will be on Clinton Sunday in the debate in St. Louis, Missouri to see how she calls out Trump about his lewd remarks and his financial dealings.

Trump has the opportunity Sunday to address his party's concerns about his behavior, his temperament and his ability to take on the office of the president.

The debate will in all likelihood be a "chess game" of a show between Clinton and Trump with the audience looking to see who can bait whom while maintaining their composure. The audience will also be a part of the show as the town hall format will have the candidates fielding questions from moderators and from voters invited to attend.

Trump has signaled an aggressive approach that might involve resurrecting the Bill Clinton impeachment saga in the second term of his presidency.

In the first debate nearly two weeks ago, Clinton asked Trump why he had refused to release his tax information and what he was hiding. She speculated that he might not have paid any taxes to which he replied "That makes me smart," a comment that did not go over well with many taxpayers.

Many conservatives were disheartened not only with Trumps first debate performance but also his Twitter attacks in the days that followed targeting Alicia Machado, a former Miss Universe. The more he talks about that, that doesnt help him. It is what you would call off-message, said Weekly Standard Editor Fred Barnes on VOAs Issues in the News program.

Clintons lead in national and some key state polls has surged in the wake of the first debate and she is likely to emphasize unity in her next faceoff with Trump, as she did recently with supporters at a rally in Coral Springs, Florida. My view is, we are already great and if we work together, we will become even greater in the years ahead.

Trump captured the Republican Party nomination in no small measure because of his performance in the numerous primary debates. But the general election debates are a different matter. Those were multi-candidate debates with many people on the stage where short answers and short quips were good for him, said John Fortier of the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington. This 90 minutes is a lot of time to fill and so I think Donald Trump needs to think about how he is going to complete an entire debate against one candidate who is quite experienced.

A third presidential debate is scheduled for October 19 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The electoral commission of Ghana says candidates for December's presidential and parliamentary elections must have all required fees paid by Monday.

The deadline was set after a court on Friday dismissed a petition by the opposition Progressive People's Party, which had contended that the fees were too high.

The commission had set a September 30 deadline for candidates to submit nomination forms and pay fees to be eligible for the December 7 election. It then put a hold on the fee payments because of the court challenge.

Presidential candidates must pay $12,505 each, and parliamentary candidates must pay $2,501, in addition to other requirements, commission spokesman Eric Dzakpasu said.

Critics said the purpose of the high fees, which had been increased 200 percent, was to discourage minor parties from competing in the presidential election.

Dzakpasu said Friday's ruling cleared the way for the electoral process to move forward.

"We announced to the political parties that they have up to Monday, 12 midday, to pay their filing fees in a banker's draft," he said. Once the fees are paid, he said, officials will "be able to determine those who are qualified to be candidates to contest the election."

Ballot process

Dzakpasu said 17 candidates had submitted presidential nomination forms  15 party candidates and two independents  and that their places on the ballot would be determined by a blind draw.

Since 1992, the electoral commission has awarded contracts to local printing companies to print ballots. In past years, opposing parties have questioned the selection process for printing firms, contending that the printers' links to political groups could damage the elections' credibility.

Dzakpasu said the process this year has been fully transparent, since political parties could participate in the bidding process.

"The local companies have the capacity to print ballot papers for us," Dzakpasu said. "Next week or thereabouts, after we have finished receiving the nominations, we would open the tenders for ... bid, after which we would select the companies ... to proceed with the printing of ballot papers." The security measures taken allow all political parties to be involved in the printing, packaging and transportation of ballots, he said.

During the coming week, Dzakpasu said, "Ghanaians should expect a full list of all persons who are contesting the elections in the 275 constituencies of the country, then a full list of all the presidential candidates."

Subsequently, he said, "we will come out with a notice of nomination, which would give some detailed information about the candidates, their details, and then the persons who have subscribed to their candidature. And in due course, we will come out with a notice of poll, which is a pictorial representation of the various candidates in all the constituencies and at the national level."
The presidential candidate for Ghanas opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) is promising an all-inclusive government, which, he says, is the only way to solve the myriad of problems Ghanaians face.

Hassan Ayariga, who launched the APC less than six months ago says he is confident of winning the presidential election, after launching his manifesto at the Aviation Social Center in the capital, Accra.

In an interview with VOA, Ayariga says he is confident Ghanaians will support his plans to transform the lives of citizens across the country.

We are promising Ghanaians job creation, all-inclusive governance thats the only way to Ghanas prosperity. Because over the years we have seen the change of government from NDC [National Democratic Congress] to NPP [New Patriotic Party] and from NPP back to NDC, and yet Ghana still struggles with economic crisis. That specifically tells us that one political party alone cannot be able to manage our country, said Ayariga.

It also comes to note that when you divide your front as a nation, you lose the strength and the power that you need to transform your country. Over the years, we have divided our front and for that matter our human resources, capital resources [are] not enough for us to make good use of because we have actually neglected each other, abandoned one another and we call it politics. But this is a very dangerous politics that we are practicing. This is not the normal democracy that we are practicing.

There are two main parties in Ghana, the ruling NDC led by incumbent President John Dramani Mahama and the main opposition NPP led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. They have been prominent since the re-introduction of constitutional rule in 1992 winning and losing presidential elections to each other.

Critics say the dominance of the NPP and the NDC makes it unlikely for Ayariga and his APC to win this years presidential vote. Ayariga disagreed with the assessment.

Over the years these two major political parties were given the mandate to manage our economy, but where is our economy? In crisis. So that means that these two political parties, no matter how gargantuan they are, they have failed in trying to achieve prosperity and trying to find solutions to our countrys problems. So, automatically, we have to reject them, said Ayariga.

The issue in Ghana here is that instead of us voting for political leaders that have the vision and the policies to transform our country, we rather define ourselves to political parties and voting [for] parties instead of leaders. So because we have been voting [for] parties over the years, the leadership of all these political parties are not good enough to transform our country... So the APC is presenting a young leader, a vibrant leader, a competent leader, committed and dedicated leader with a lot of wisdom, policies and strategies to transform our country.

Some supporters of the main opposition NPP says it appears Ayariga is being funded by their opponents to undermine and destabilize the party before presidential, legislative and local elections. They said recent unprovoked media attacks have hurt their presidential candidate, Akufo-Addo, and shows their opponents are desperate and afraid to lose the upcoming polls.

When you tell Ghanaians the truth, its painful. But the issue is that if we all say John Mahama is not the best man, are we now not going to scrutinize the three or four of us who think that we are the best? If we say we are the best, then lets scrutinize the leaders that are going to lead us, not the parties. And that is why I said look at the individual leaders and their leadership qualities and what they can do for the country not just the political parties."

Meanwhile, local media reports that Ayikoi Otoo, the former head of the NPP legal and constitutional committee, has accused Ayariga and his APC of plagiarizing parts of his party's yet to be launched manifesto. NPP supporters say it seems the document was leaked to Ayariga, which they said accounted for his haste to release his manifesto before the NPP's scheduled launch next week.

...NPP is saying I have stolen their policies. What kind of policies do they have? And where is their manifesto for me to plagiarize, where is that manifesto? No one has seen a manifesto from the NPP. They should be serious, said Ayariga.

He also says the NPP is to blame for its recent internal troubles, which led to the suspension of the partys chairman and deputy chairman as well as the general secretary. Ayariga questioned the rationale behind the decision to suspend the leaders of the party before the December elections.

Ayariga called on Ghanaians not to pay attention to the criticisms of plagiarism, because he says they are without merit.
The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are offering loans, insurance and practical help to Haiti after Hurricane Matthew left destruction and many deaths on the island nation. As VOA's Jim Randle reports, economic leaders from around the world gathered in Washington this week, where they are also worrying about political headwinds growing out of trade deals that critics say benefit the wealthy but kill jobs.
With tensions between India and Pakistan running high after an attack on an Indian air base, New Delhi is taking rhetorical aim at Pakistan's troubles in the restive province of Balochistan.

India in recent weeks has focused attention one of Pakistan's most intractable problems - the separatists roiling in the southern province and Islamabad's questionable record on human rights in the region.

"This is a country [Pakistan], which has systematically abused and violated the human rights of its own citizens, including in Balochistan," India's ambassador to the United Nations, Ajit Kumar, said recently.

Balochistan has been hard-hit by militancy and a military backlash against a separatist movement. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced by Pakistani army operations. Human rights groups say thousands of people have been rounded up by the security agencies with no word of their whereabouts. (Report)



Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi helped trigger the chorus of criticism during an address on India's Independence Day in August, saying people in Balochistan "have thanked me, have expressed gratitude, and expressed good wishes for me."



The remarks drew a swift rebuke from Islamabad.



"He crossed the red line by talking about Balochistan," said Nafees Zakaria, a spokesman for Pakistan's foreign office.Zakaria went on to accuse India of being involved in subversive activities in Balochistan.



While Baluch leaders and activists supporting separatism welcomed India's comments, the amped up verbal war has prompted some Pashtun tribal leaders to threaten attacks against India.



"We get very angry when we watch on television that a Hindi man [Modi] wants to attack us," Malak Jalal Khan Wazir, a tribal leader, told VOA's Deewa service at a tribal chiefs gathering in northwest Pakistan. The meeting was called to show support for the Pakistani army in the face of the recent Indian threats.



"When the army allows us, our 10 million tribesmen, God willing, will fight shoulder-to-shoulder with the army at the border," he said. "We will be even ahead of the soldiers."



Many in the region  and elsewhere in Pakistan  see the threats from some in Pashtun areas against India as hollow.



"We are not in a position to go to war against anyone," Manzoor Ahmad, a youth leader, told VOA at a recent rally held by tribal youth to condemn the tribal chiefs' bellicose, anti-India rhetoric. "We do not want to fight for others.



"We have suffered a lot, our houses and schools have been destroyed, and we have been humiliated in our own country," Ahmad added, referring to the millions of Pashtuns displaced by militancy and the ongoing Pakistani army operations in the region.



In threatening India, some alienated Pashtuns are expressing frustrations over decades of militancy, widespread unemployment, poverty, and poor education in the province, Pashtun leaders say.



"[The] majority of Pashtuns want peace in the region and have raised a strong voice against the threat of war with India," Pashtun politician Bushra Gohar said in an interview with VOA. "They have suffered death, devastation and displacement because of decades of war, violence and extremism and want an end to the madness."



Rather than engaging India, some Pashtun leaders and activists have criticized those calling the India's head should put their energy towards making life better and peaceful at home.



"They [tribal chiefs] should rather focus on the many issues their people are faced with, including their unequal treatment as citizens of the country," said Osman Kakar, a Pashtun politician who represents Balochistan in the senate.
The storm formerly known as Hurricane Matthew has lost its hurricane status, weakening to a post-tropical cyclone as it neared the end of a week-long charge through Caribbean islands and along the U.S. Atlantic coast that killed nearly 1,000 people, most of them in Haiti.

The storm also flattened communities and wrecked agriculture in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas.

Haiti has declared three days of national mourning, President Jocelerme Privet's office said, "in solidarity" with the parents and friends of the victims of Matthew and residents of the region who are suffering from the hurricane's impact.

Watch: Hurricane Matthew viewed from International Space Station

Matthew is moving northeastward over North Carolina's Outer Banks with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour - half as strong as they were a week ago, but substantial enough for U.S. meteorologists to continue warning of the storm's danger.



Serious flooding and power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of people continued along the U.S. east coast from Florida north to Virginia; at least 15 people were killed in the storm, according to media reports early Sunday.

"Our state is facing major destruction and, sadly, loss of life,'' said North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory.

Matthew was the most powerful storm to hit the U.S. coast in nearly a decade, and one of the longest-lasting major hurricanes on record. One preliminary analysis puts damage estimates in the U.S. in the billions of dollars.

Casualties still rising

The hurricane was at its most powerful when it ravaged the Caribbean nearly a week ago with winds of 235 kilometers per hour. Although more than 900 deaths have been reported in Haiti, many areas of that impoverished country have not yet been thoroughly surveyed.

Haiti says 1.5 million people have been affected by the hurricane and 350,000 are in need of immediate assistance as most are homeless.

The U.S. military has been deploying aid to Haiti by air and sea, food and medicine as well as equipment, including heavy-lift helicopters, bulldozers, water-delivery vehicles and mobile operating rooms.

UNICEF says the conditions in Haiti are "perfect breeding grounds for waterborne diseases." Marc Vincent, UNICEF's representative in Haiti says, "Every day that goes by increases the threat of cholera."

As Matthew passed over Haiti it also raked the eastern tip of Cuba. Few reports of casualties or damage have emerged since Tuesday, but the island nation is expected to need massive quantities of relief supplies.

The Dominican Republic, which lies on the eastern half of Hispaniola Island, bordering Haiti, also felt Hurricane Matthew's power. The storm later coursed through the Bahamas before traveling north along the U.S. east coast, slowly weakening, but remaining just offshore until it made landfall in South Carolina Saturday.

Haiti hit hardest



The catastrophic damage this week in Haiti was made worse because the impoverished country is still recovering from a devastating earthquake in 2010. Thousands of people who have been living in flimsy shelters since the earthquake saw those washed away by the hurricane, which also destroyed a bridge that is the only link between a large portion of southern Haiti and the rest of the country.

Officials have warned the list of casualties will likely climb, perhaps significantly, as rescuers manage to reach remote villages.

Video images from Haiti showed entire landscapes of metal shanties that lost their roofs in the winds and driving rains, along with downed trees and fields of mud from overflowing rivers.

CARE Haiti director Jean-Michel Vigreux said one Haitian town with a population of 30,000, Jeremie, is completely destroyed.

The International Red Cross has issued an emergency appeal for $6.9 billion in relief aid for Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
The closure of Hungary's main opposition newspaper, the left-wing Nepszabadsag, is a huge blow to the country's media diversity and press freedoms, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said in a statement Sunday.

OSCEs Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that it was hard to believe the closure of Nepszabadsag was solely a business decision.



Mijatovic said the deterioration of media diversity in Hungary was a bad example for countries aspiring to join the European Union.



The Associated Press is reporting that Mijatovic told the news agency in a phone interview from Vienna that the European Commission should pay greater attention to the issues related to press freedom in Hungary.

Hungary's leading opposition newspaper will be put up for sale, its chief editor said Sunday, a day after its owner suspended publication.



Austrian-owned Mediaworks, the publisher of Nepszabadsag, said Saturday that it suspended further editions of the newspaper because of considerable losses.

Journalists at the paper said they had not received advance notice and when they tried to enter the building early Sunday, they found the doors locked and the windows blacked out.

Talks between Mediaworks management and senior editors Sunday did not result in any agreement on publishing the paper's Monday edition or restarting its online version, editor-in-chief Andras Muranyi told reporters outside the newspaper's headquarters in Budapest.

Regardless of who would be the new owner, Nepszabadsag "should remain independent" he said.

Opposition parties, activists and several staff blamed the abrupt suspension on Prime Minister Viktor's Orban's ruling right-wing party Fidesz clamping down on media outlets that do not follow the government line.

Since taking power in 2010, Orban has often been accused of trying to silence critical voices in the press.

Critics said the timing of the move was suspicious, coming only days after Nepszabadsag raised corruption allegations against two close allies of Orban.

About 2,000 people expressed solidarity with the journalists of Nepszabadsagat with a demonstration Saturday in Budapest.
Russia on Saturday vetoed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution seeking to end the deadly bombing of Aleppo, Syria.

It was the fifth time in five years that Moscow has used its veto to block U.N. action aimed at stopping the bloodshed.

"The regime and its supporters claim to be acting in the context of combating terrorism," said French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who flew to New York for the rare Saturday vote.

"This is totally false and I strongly condemn it. [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad is not combating terrorism; he is fueling it," the minister said.

France and Spain drafted the text, which was co-sponsored by nearly 50 countries.

Russia vetoed, China abstained

Ayrault had spent the previous three days conducting shuttle diplomacy, going first to Moscow and then Washington, to see whether he could win support for the measure from the two capitals after the U.S. suspended bilateral cooperation with Russia on Syria.

Without the Russian veto, the measure would have passed. China and Angola abstained and Venezuela joined Russia in voting no, but 11 council members voted in favor.

"Russia and Assad want to seize eastern Aleppo to further bolster the regime in Damascus. Russia could not let this resolution stand in their way, so they vetoed it," said Deputy U.S. Ambassador David Pressman.

"Russia dropped its veto here in the Security Council to strengthen Bashar al-Assad at the expense of 275,000 Syrians," he added. That is how many people the United Nations say are besieged in the rebel-held part of the city.

Safe access for aid also rejected

The text sought immediate implementation of the cessation of hostilities that fell apart last month, including the demand that all parties "immediately end all aerial bombardments of and military flights over Aleppo city."

Only the Syrian government and its close ally Russia have warplanes in the air over Aleppo.

The resolution also sought to demand safe and unhindered humanitarian access throughout Syria.

Russia's ambassador bristled at the idea of a resolution telling a permanent council member to limit its activities without its prior agreement.

Rival resolution

In a second vote, the council soundly defeated a rival resolution drafted by Russia that was only circulated to council members late Friday.

The text urged the immediate implementation of the cessation of hostilities but did not call for a halt to the bombings that Russia's military is participating in.

Only four of the 15 council members supported the measure: Russia, China, Egypt and Venezuela. Angola and Uruguay abstained, while the rest of the council voted against.

"Our draft today  which, as I said, we weren't expecting it would be adopted, it was just a political demonstration, if you like  it was attempting to retain the multilateral format," said Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin.

Some council members complained that the timing of the resolution did not allow for any discussion or negotiation, as is customary. Others said it was imbalanced and did not go far enough.

"This text was a cynical attempt to divert attention from your veto today that once again denied any hope to the people of Aleppo," British U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said.

"It failed because it failed to demand an immediate end to the aerial bombardment of Aleppo. It's a sham, just as Russia's hollow commitment to a political process in Syria is a sham," he added.

US: Stop the slaughter

"This text was a deceptive attempt to get the Security Council to ratify what Russia and the regime are doing in Aleppo," the American envoy said. "What Russia wants is for there to be more talk, while they seek to take the city by brutal force. What we want is less talk and more action for them to stop the slaughter."

Earlier this week, U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura warned that if the bombing continued at the current rate, Aleppo might be destroyed by the end of the year. He appealed to the Security Council to act.

The United States and its European allies have been trying to isolate Russia over its actions in Syria, suggesting that they could impose sanctions and calling for war crimes investigations.
With the long-awaited military assault on Mosul possibly just days away, U.S. officials are scrambling to resolve flaring disputes between allies in the coalition to liberate Iraqs second largest city, the Islamic States last major urban stronghold in Iraq.

For weeks, the assault has been expected and had appeared imminent with coalition radio broadcasts and leaflets warning civilians in Mosul and identifying exit routes they can use to flee. But simmering disagreements between coalition allies appear to be worsening, especially over how the greater Mosul region of Nineveh will be governed after liberation and who should be involved in the fight to eject IS.

Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani warned Sunday of future problems unless there is an agreement with Baghdad on how to share power in Nineveh. We should not forget that the case of Mosul is more political than military, Barzani told at an economic conference in Irbil.

All the political and religious components should have deserved roles in the political process and determination of the future of the region and how they want to be governed, he added. Nineveh contains territory that has long been disputed between the Kurds and Arabs.

Barzani acknowledged military preparations are in place for the offensive to begin on Mosul, echoing remarks Friday in Washington by Brett McGurk, the State Departments envoy to the anti-IS coalition, who said all the pieces had been prepared for the assault. McGurk said he expected military operations are rapidly approaching.

Arab-Kurdish disputes have flared and then receded for months now. In August, McGurk engaged in shuttle diplomacy between Irbil and Baghdad to defuse tensions and mediate an oil revenue-sharing deal between the Kurds and Arabs, who had been quarreling for months over Kurdistans export revenues.

That deal advanced negotiations between the Kurds and Baghdad on the composition of forces for the offensive on Mosul. U.S. officials say the Kurds agreed not to enter the Sunni-Arab city during the assault and to allow the Iraqi Security Forces to use territory now controlled by the peshmerga to the east and north of the city.

But since that deal was struck, sectarian disputes have continued to plague pre-battle planning, concede U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

They say they have been frustrated by a series of public comments in the past week by Kurdish leaders that appeared designed to offend the Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad. Thursday, Iraqis were infuriated when the Kurdistan Regional Governments top security official told Britains Sky News the peshmerga will keep any land they seize from the terror group and will consider captured territory part of Kurdistan.

And the KRG has been lobbying Sunni tribal chiefs in Nineveh to express their support for an independent Kurdish state and to say they want their towns included in the Kurdistan region.

Sheikh Ali Rekan, a leader of an al-Shammar tribal clan in the town of Rabia, west of Mosul, told Kurdish television Friday, We have decided to be part of the Kurdistan Region, and we support Kurdish independence. We will never compromise on our decision. He added, Thousands of peshmerga soldiers have sacrificed their lives in freeing our areas. Therefore, we must be sincere to them.

KRG officials say they will go ahead with a planned referendum on independence by the end of the year.

None of the maneuvering is helping U.S. officials to keep the political parts in place for the assault on Mosul. McGurk remarked Friday that if we try to resolve everything before Mosul, Daesh (IS) will never get out of Mosul. Other U.S. officials, though, argue more work needs to be done to resolve disputes between allies.

There also are questions how local Sunni Arabs will react to the Iraqi Security Forces, which are dominated by Shiites. Iraqi officials have agreed that irregular Shiite militias known as the Popular Mobilization will not enter the city or if they do, they wont stay long. Turkey sees any involvement by the Iran-influenced militias as boosting Tehrans clout in northern Iraq, a red line as far as Ankara and Saudi Arabia are concerned.

Ankara has repeatedly rejected Baghdad's demands it withdraw its forces from the Bashiqa military camp in northern Iraq and has warned against the irregular Shiite militias playing any role. It insists that nearly 3,000 Sunni fighters it has trained at the camp 25 kilometers northeast of Mosul must play a major part in the coming campaign.

Abdelaziz Hasan, a prominent Iraqi lawmaker and member of the parliament defense committee, said Saturday the offensive to retake Mosul wont begin while Turkish troops remain on Iraqi soil.

I think that as long as these Turkish troops remain around Mosul, the operation to control the city will not start, or there must be a new agreement for the Turkish force not to take part in the offensive, he said.

He warned a sectarian war between Shiite and Sunni militias in Nineveh was in the offing if Turkey involved itself in the Mosul offensive. Turkey has waxed and waned about whether it will participate. Turkey has deployed about 2,000 military advisers at the camp to help train local Sunni fighters in a militia called Hashd al-Watani.

An Ankara official told Turkeys Hurriyet newspaper Sunday talks about Turkeys role in the Mosul campaign are ongoing. In an interview earlier this month with Rotana TV, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, I want to make it clear that Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the Western coalition will not allow sectarian domination (of Mosul). But there is a major question, who will then control the city? Of course, Sunni Arabs, Sunni Turkmen and Sunni Kurds.
Children in a Syrian town freed in August from the Islamic State militants are back in their regular classrooms after a near three-year absence.

"I'm really grateful to see children back in their seats," said Ahmed Hassan, a teacher at one of the elementary schools that reopened its doors in the northern town of Manbij.

When IS invaded in 2014, it took over schools, using them at first as military headquarters.

"They shut down all schools here," said Aqeel Hajji Mohammed, 17, a student. "They banned teachers and students from attending schools."

The student said IS fighters turned his middle school into a weapons cache. Another school, he said, was utilized as a sharia court to try locals under Islamic laws.

Mohammed was supposed to be in high school by now, but he is three years behind and does not know how long it will take him to make up the work.

Through the years, IS used some school buildings to teach extremist Islamist ideology. But many families shunned the strict IS education.

"Most people in Manbij were not sending their children to school because they were controlled by (IS)," said Wladimir van Wilgenburg, a local reporter who witnessed the town's liberation. "Parents were afraid their children would be affected by the (IS) ideology."

Manbij's prewar population was 80,000. The town had 17 schools including elementary, middle and high schools. Locals said only five schools have opened since IS retreated and are operating on limited capacity.

"We face many difficulties," teacher Hassan said. "We don't have a curriculum to rely on and we are extremely short on teaching staff."

Deciding what teaching methods to use are complicated. Government-sponsored curriculum ended in Manbij when rebel groups took control of the town at the start of Syria's civil war. Then IS took Manbij and now Kurdish forces are in control.

"I'm not sure what kind of system of education they would use," reporter Wilgenburg said, "Kurdish self-administration's or the old Syrian government system."

Some schools were destroyed during the August clashes between IS fighters and U.S.-backed forces. The rebuilding of schools and other education facilities could take a long time, town officials say.

VOA's Sirwan Kajjo contributed to this report from Washington.
Syrian government forces continued their offensive on rebel-held eastern Aleppo, after the U.N. Security Council failed to pass a resolution Saturday on a truce to end the deadly bombing of the city.

Regime forces and their allies were advancing street by street in the eastern sector of Aleppo, which had been out of government control since 2012, the British-based monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, adding that regime forces took control of the Jandul crossroads in the northeast of the city.

The Observatory said 290 civilians have died in artillery bombardment of eastern districts and 50 civilians have died in rebel bombardment of regime-controlled western districts in the past two weeks.

The Damascus daily newspaper Al-Watan, which is close to the government, said the latest advance is aiming to clear the way for "a crucial and decisive land offensive."

Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and their Russian ally launched the operation to reunite the government-held west and rebel controlled east of Aleppo on September 22.

Russian veto



At the United Nations Saturday Russia vetoed the draft U.N. Security Council resolution drafted by France and Spain demanding an end to the bombing of Aleppo.

Shortly after Russia's veto, the Security Council rejected a rival draft presented by Moscow that called for a cease-fire but did not mention a halt in air strikes.



It is the fifth time in five years that Moscow has used its veto to block U.N. action aimed at stopping the bloodshed.



The regime and its supporters claim to be acting in the context of combating terrorism, said French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who flew to New York for the rare Saturday vote.



This is totally false and I strongly condemn it. Bashar al-Assad is not combating terrorism; he is fueling it, the minister said.

Ayrault had spent the previous three days conducting shuttle diplomacy, going first to Moscow and then Washington, to see if could win support for the measure from the two capitals after the U.S. suspended bilateral cooperation with Russia on Syria.



Without the Russian veto, the measure would have passed. China and Angola abstained and Venezuela joined Russia in voting no, but 11 council members voted in favor.
Shortly ahead of Sunday's presidential debate, Donald Trump held a press conference flanked by women who have accused Bill Clinton of sexual harassment and misconduct

Thank you very much for coming. These four very courageous women have asked to be here and it was our honor to help them," Trump said. The women were Paula Jones, Kathy Shelton, Juanita Broaddrick and Kathleen Wiley. Trump has threatened to talk about Bill Clinton's past infidelities during the debate.

Mr. Trump may have said some bad words, but Bill Clinton raped me and Hillary Clinton threatened me, Broaddrick said at the small press event. She has made that comment before, but it has not led to a criminal case and the Clintons deny the accusations.

Earlier, President Barack Obama said Donald Trump is "insecure" and said the Republican presidential nominee "pumps himself up" by putting other people down.

WATCH: Challenges faced by the Republican Party

Obama was reacting to lewd comments Trump made in 2005 when he was caught on camera boasting how he can grope women by the genitals because he is a "star." A video of those comments was released by the Washington Post Friday.

Campaigning for Illinois Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth Sunday, Obama said such words show Trump would be "careless with the civility and respect" that a vibrant democracy requires.

Trump ignores calls to step aside

Even with polls showing Trump trailing Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Obama said too much is at stake take anything for granted. Obama stressed the importance for Clinton supporters to work hard and get out to vote on November 8.

Trump and Clinton hold their second U.S. presidential debate late Sunday, even as key Republicans are demanding that he drop out of the race.

Trump said Saturday there was "zero chance" that he would quit the race for the White House a month before the November 8 election and apologized for his comments.

But Clinton, a former U.S. secretary of state looking to become the country's first female president, has yet to speak in public about Trump's self-proclaimed sexual exploits and is poised to confront him at the debate in the Midwestern city of St. Louis, Missouri. In a Twitter statement, she called his comments "horrific."

"A distraction"

Meantime, Trump, said the controversy is "nothing more than a distraction," although national political surveys had shown his support slumping even before the existence of the tape became known on Friday. Clinton is holding more than a four-percentage-point advantage and gaining ground in key battleground election states.

Trump, in his taped apology, suggested that he will attempt to pivot from his bawdy conduct to cast aspersions on Clinton, claiming that she enabled infidelities by her husband, former president Bill Clinton, and disparaged women who alleged that the country's 42nd chief executive had made unwanted sexual advances on them over several decades.

Bill Clinton was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998 for lying about a sexual affair with a White House an intern, but was not convicted in his Senate trial.

Ive said some foolish things,' Trump said, "but there is a big difference between the words and actions of other people. Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims.

A Trump supporter, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, told CNN Sunday that Trump would not hesitate to talk about "the women that Bill Clinton raped, sexually abused and attacked."

On his Twitter account Sunday, the embattled Trump lashed out at Republican critics who have abandoned him, saying, "So many self-righteous hypocrites. Watch their poll numbers, and elections, go down!"

 Calls for Trump to drop out

A poll of more than 1,500 voters by the political news site Politico with Morning Consult, conducted after the disclosure of the tape, showed that about 70 percent of Democrats, but only 12 percent of Republicans, think Trump should quit the race.

Several Republican elected officials called for Trump to drop out of the contest to become the country's 45th president when President Barack Obama leaves office in late January. But there was no immediate consensus how he would be replaced on the national ticket even if he were inclined to quit.

Meanwhile, absentee and early voting has already started, with about 400,000 ballots cast in recent days. States across the country have already printed ballots with Trump's and Pence's names listed as the Republican candidates and ballots mailed to military service personnel stationed overseas.

Key Republicans, including his vice presidential running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, condemned Trump's 2005 comments that were recorded on a live microphone while he was on a backlot of a Hollywood set just before a cameo appearance on a television soap opera.

"I do not condone his remarks and I cannot defend them," Pence said as he backed out of a planned campaign appearance Saturday in Wisconsin, where he had been expected to fill in for Trump.

The 2008 Republican presidential candidate, Arizona Senator John McCain, retracted his support for Trump, but stopped short of calling for him to drop out of the presidential race. The 2012 nominee, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who like McCain lost to Obama, denounced Trump's sexual braggadocio, saying, "Hitting on married women? Condoning assault? Such vile degradations demean our wives and daughters and corrupt America's face to the world."

On the tape, Trump, a 70-year-old one-time television reality show host, said, "When you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything," and described how he would grab women's genitals.

His crude language left newspapers and media outlets across the U.S. grappling with how to depict his comments, with some printing his words verbatim and others using a variety of euphemisms.

The disclosures come on top of long-known Trump slurs against women the Clinton campaign has collected in several ads for her candidacy.

Trump's polling numbers have dropped following his first debate performance with Clinton in late September, in which she kept him on the defensive for his business practices, his refusal to release his U.S. tax returns, and his long support for the debunked theory that Obama was born in Kenya and is not a U.S. citizen.

Since then, The New York Times disclosed three pages from his 1995 returns showing that he claimed $916 million in business losses that year, a deduction of such staggering proportions that he could have legally avoided paying income taxes for an 18-year stretch. Trump called his tax avoidance "brilliant."
Ten Turkish soldiers and eight civilians were killed Sunday when suspected Kurdish militants detonated a car bomb outside a military checkpoint in Hakkari province in southeast Turkey.

Another 26 people, 10 soldiers and 16 civilians, were injured.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim blamed the Kurdistan Workers' Party for the suicide attack that detonated five tons of explosives.

"Unfortunately in Semdinli, in Hakkari [province], we have martyrs as a result of a suicide bombing attack by the vile terrorist organization," he said, referring to the PKK, Kurdistan Workers' Party. "We have citizens from the civilian population who have lost their lives.As of now, 10 of our soldiers have been martyred and and eight civilians."

The mid-morning attack occurred when a small truck approached the vehicle checkpoint and ignored an order to stop, prompting troops to open fire, authorities said.

The explosion left a crater 15 meters wide and 7 meters deep.



Turkey launched a military operation in response to the attack.



Turkish authorities imposed a temporary blackout on coverage of the attack, citing public order and national security reasons.
Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton are headed to their second U.S. presidential debate late Sunday, even as key Republicans are demanding that he drop out of the race after a 2005 tape recorded him making lewd comments about women and boasting how he groped them.

Trump said Saturday there was "zero chance" that he would quit the race for the White House a month before the November 8 election and apologized for his comments.

But Clinton, a former U.S. secretary of state looking to become the country's first female president, has yet to speak in public about Trump's self-proclaimed sexual exploits and is poised to confront him at the debate in the Midwestern city of St. Louis, Missouri. In a Twitter statement, she called his comments "horrific."

'A distraction'?

Meantime, Trump, a brash real estate tycoon making his first run for elected office, said the controversy is "nothing more than a distraction," although national political surveys had shown his support slumping even before the existence of the tape became known on Friday. Clinton is holding more than a four-percentage-point advantage and gaining ground in key battleground election states.

Trump, in his taped apology, suggested that he will attempt to pivot from his bawdy conduct to cast aspersions on Clinton, claiming that she enabled infidelities by her husband, former president Bill Clinton, and disparaged women who alleged that the country's 42nd chief executive had made unwanted sexual advances on them over several decades. Clinton was impeached for lying about an affair with an intern in the White House, but not convicted, and then finished out two terms in office in 2001.

Ive said some foolish things,' Trump said, "but there is a big difference between the words and actions of other people. Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims.

A Trump supporter, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, told CNN Sunday that Trump would not hesitate to talk about "the women that Bill Clinton raped, sexually abused and attacked."

On his Twitter account Sunday, the embattled Trump lashed out at Republican critics who have abandoned him, saying, "So many self-righteous hypocrites. Watch their poll numbers, and elections, go down!"

 Calls for Trump to drop out

A poll of more than 1,500 voters by the political news site Politico with Morning Consult, conducted after the disclosure of the tape, showed that about 70 percent of Democrats, but only 12 percent of Republicans, think Trump should quit the race.

Several Republican elected officials called for Trump to drop out of the contest to become the country's 45th president when President Barack Obama leaves office in late January. But there was no immediate consensus how he would be replaced on the national ticket even if he were inclined to quit.

Meanwhile, absentee and early voting has already started, with about 400,000 ballots cast in recent days. States across the country have already printed ballots with Trump's and Pence's names listed as the Republican candidates and ballots mailed to military service personnel stationed overseas.

Key Republicans, including his vice presidential running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, condemned Trump's 2005 comments that were recorded on a live microphone while he was on a backlot of a Hollywood set just before a cameo appearance on a television soap opera.

"I do not condone his remarks and I cannot defend them," Pence said as he backed out of a planned campaign appearance Saturday in Wisconsin, where he had been expected to fill in for Trump.

The 2008 Republican presidential candidate, Arizona Senator John McCain, retracted his support for Trump, but stopped short of calling for him to drop out of the presidential race. The 2012 nominee, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who like McCain lost to Obama, denounced Trump's sexual braggadocio, saying, "Hitting on married women? Condoning assault? Such vile degradations demean our wives and daughters and corrupt America's face to the world."

On the tape, Trump, a 70-year-old one-time television reality show host, said, "When you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything," and described how he would grab women's genitals.

His crude language left newspapers and media outlets across the U.S. grappling with how to depict his comments, with some printing his words verbatim and others using a variety of euphemisms.

The disclosures come on top of long-known Trump slurs against women the Clinton campaign has collected in several ads for her candidacy.

Trump's polling numbers have dropped following his first debate performance with Clinton in late September, in which she kept him on the defensive for his business practices, his refusal to release his U.S. tax returns, and his long support for the debunked theory that Obama was born in Kenya and is not a U.S. citizen.

Since then, The New York Times disclosed three pages from his 1995 returns showing that he claimed $916 million in business losses that year, a deduction of such staggering proportions that he could have legally avoided paying income taxes for an 18-year stretch. Trump called his tax avoidance "brilliant."




Last week, Zimbabwes main opposition party the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), celebrated its 17th anniversary. For nearly two decades, the party has pressured the government of President Robert Mugabe and his ruling ZANU-PF party to democratize. It governs in many municipalities throughout the country, and served in a government of national unity from 2009-20013. During that time, it helped create a new more democratic constitution that has still not been fully implemented by the ZANU-PF controlled parliament. Brian Raftopoulos is a senior fellow at the Center for Humanities Research at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa. He says the MDC has built a large opposition party from a number of disparate social forces and has even beaten the ruling ZANU-PF party in elections. To win power in 2018, Raftopoulos says the MDC needs to create a united opposition with other opponents of the ruling party, and must help ensure transparency in the electoral processes, voters rolls, the counting of votes, the opening up of the media, and the reduction of political violence. Reporter William Eagle asked him about some of the successes and failures of the MDC over the years.

Q: What has MDC accomplished?

A: The major achievement was to build a massive opposition party out of a conglomeration of social forces and to not only challenge ZANU PF but actually beat it in elections  but be denied victory through the violence of the state. This was a huge achievement for the MDC to beat a sitting liberation movement as it did especially in 2008, but arguably in 2002, this was a huge achievement and one that should not be underestimated.

Q: What have been some of its failures, or missed opportunities?

A: Well, I think one of the mistakes made were the divisions within the MDC. The divisions in 2005 led to the first split but particularly the lack of a consensus before the 2008 election when coming together as two MDC they would have gained an even larger victory than they did that year, and almost certainly would have made it more difficult for the Mugabe regime to steal that election the way they did. Another one is once they went into the government of national unity they didnt spend as much time consolidating the party structures, preparing the electorate in terms of registration, and the electoral processes for the 2013 election, and they became somewhat complacent when they became part of the state and while part of government

Q: Some say the MDC missed the opportunity to win in 2013 because they were too policy-orientated and failed to (articulate) their successes to voters.

A: No, I dont think that was the main reason; certainly, they could have done more to sell their message, though the state and ruling party remained in control of the main public media and therefore was responsible for putting up the main media messages. The real loss (was because) ZANU-PF kept control of the key apparatus of the state , the means of coercion, the electoral process, but also they did more work in preparation for the election than the MDC. I think it was a combination of factors.

Q: Some say as well that they failed to reform the security forces.

A: I dont think they had much opportunity or were in a position to do that. I think from the time the Global Political Agreement (GPA) was signed, ZANU-PF with the complicity of the SADC facilitator ensured that the security sector reform issue was not seriously on the agenda. And ZANU-PF was determined that that would not be part of the process. And I dont think the MDC had much leverage to change that.

(Q) They did however help negotiate a new constitution. Some complain that the ruling party government has not lived up to the spirit of it and that a lot of the old laws in the book have not been made to cohere to the new constitution.

A: The making of the new constitution was an important event. Its something the MDC and civic groups were fighting for from 1998-1999. The problem is that the ruling party ZANU PF has selectively aligned the laws with that constitution. And they will continue to do so. They have been very weak on constitutionalism historically, the ruling party. So, we have the new constitution with a great deal of potential but ZANU-PF has deliberately, selectively applied alignment of the laws with the constitution because they dont want to put in place laws that will weaken their position.

(Q) Who is in charge of making sure that the laws align with the new constitution? Is there a mechanism in place, or office charged with that task?

A: Theres the ministry of justice and parliament which is supposed to push for that alignment and ZANU-PF has a majority in the parliament right now. Effectively, the presidency whose central position has been consolidated in the new constitution. The presidency remains in charge of the pace and the manner in which the alignment of laws takes place. Thats why Mugabes central role as president remains such an obstacle and impediment

(Q): Has the MDC helped build a foundation for the global opposition that could help the country evolve perhaps either into a two-party system, or into a coalition of parties that could alternate power with the ZANU-PF?

A: I think theyve set a good foundation for building future opposition coalitions and you can see that now. There are negotiations and discussions between various opposition forces. And the fact that the MDC has remained a force however weakened at this stage for the past 17 years has been an important part of the foundational nature of that process and should not be underestimated. But what needs to be done is to ensure that before the next election there is much stronger coalition of forces and that they push for the kind of electoral reforms for which there will be no change of government.

(Q) Going into the 2018 elections, what types of changes does the MDC need to make?

(A) It needs to enter into a coalition with all the MDC formations. It needs to have some kind of electoral strategic agreement with Joyce Majurus Zimbabwe Peoples First party and it needs to ensure that the electoral processes, especially around the voters rolls, the counting of votes, the opening up of the media, the reduction of violence  all these areas are dealt with beforehand. Without that, we are going to have a repeat of other elections where ZANU PF will come into power. So, I think these opposition forces should not go into an election unless there are clear electoral reforms

(Q) Is there still confidence in Morgan Tsvangirai as the leader of the MDC or as the strongest party in this coalition of opposition forces?

A: I think its clear that Morgan Tsvangirai remains a key figure in the opposition and his party still retains majority support within the opposition and that his role will continue to be important. And that whatever discussions and negotiations take place going forward, Tsvangirai himself will be an important part of that process.

Q: What can opposition parties across Africa learn from the MDC, especially those battling a one-party system or a one-man dictatorship?

A: Well, we learn that certain kinds of elections have limited feasibility and viability and even if you win these elections, these authoritarian states will refuse to give up state power and will find ways to deny the rightful winner of elections the right to that state power.

Q: Is there a way to battle that or just hope that overtime the system evolves (in a more democratic direction)?

A: All they can do is continue to organize themselves more strongly, combine their forces, ensure that regional and continental organizations are fully aware of the problems involved in the election processes  develop a strategy where international forces can play some kind of constructive role. But the heart of that is that the opposition must be much better organized and must be much more cohesive both organizationally and strategically.
Divorce Pilot Season 1 Episode 1 Editors Rating 3 stars * * * Previous Next   Previous Episode Next Episode  Sarah Jessica Parker as Frances. Photo: HBO

Spoilers ahead for episode one of Divorce, which is streaming early on HBO Go and HBO Now.

Its entirely possible that HBO didnt need to give us another sadcom. Maybe television already has enough tragicomic 30-minute laffers about the existential crises of the upper-middle class. But let me ask you this: Have you ever seen Thomas Haden Church cosplay William H. Macy in Boogie Nights? Or heard Sarah Jessica Parker utter the words weepy butthole? Perhaps these things are of interest to you. If so, welcome home.

Divorce is created by Sharon Horgan, who also helms and stars in the fantastic British series Catastrophe. Judging by this pilot, both shows center on the realities of married (or in this case, soon-to-be-unmarried life), people who dont especially care about being likeable, and absolute smut. But where Catastrophe is warm and shambling, Divorce is chilly and staccato.

We begin in Westchester at wintertime, which is very nice, but everyone is too miserable to notice. Frances (Parker), engrossed in her skincare regimen, doesnt hear Robert (Church) knocking on the door, so he winds up stuck in the garage for 20 minutes. Hes irritated enough to try to get a rise out of her, but cant even engage her enough to bicker with him. In the car, they happily let Coldplay drown out their silence. Big houses equal big problems!

They are en route to the home of another couple, Nick (Tracy Letts) and Diane (national treasure Molly Shannon), the latter clad in a plum-and-rhinestone freakum dress befitting a Real Housewife, the former deeply disapproving of her tipsy behavior. You see, its Dianes 50th birthday (!!!), and on the eve of a womans 50th birthday, her vagina becomes a musty Longchamp tote bag and she is expected to behave accordingly. Also, Nick and Diane live in an even bigger house than Frances and Roberts, and we know what that means.

Diane and Francess third friend Dallas (Talia Balsam) has already crossed over the divorce bridge. Both women live vicariously through Dallas, or try to, but things also look pretty bleak on her end. They tease her about a guy she was just talking to. Her reply: Oh. That human loaf of bread? Diane explains that the guy is a hedge-fund friend of Nicks who lost his wife the previous year. Gee, I didnt know, Dallas says. He only told me 50 fuckin times.

Frances looks over at her husband. He is saying something inane and bro-y and burning his fingers in the fondue. So far, so broad!

Diane slams Nick: Did you see how much weight he put on? It was 100 percent to revolt me. Then she looks at Robert with equal disgust. Ugh, hes such a  wet pussy. Frances looks taken aback, but doesnt defend him. Nick is no prize either. During his toast to Diane, he makes a crack at her aging looks, then he says he was just kidding. He thinks she looks beautiful  probably one of the benefits of not having children. Which, of course, is your biological function.

As the evening proceeds, Diane and Nick have one of those subtext-free fights that tertiary characters sometimes get in order to inspire an epiphany in our protagonist. Eventually, Diane reaches into a desk drawer and pulls a gun on Nick. (This strains credibility for a bunch of reasons, one of which being that Westchester is very much what they call limousine liberal and I dont buy that a guy like Nick keeps a loaded gun by his bedside, but whatever.) Diane gets jumpy and fires, shattering a lamp and narrowly missing Robert. Nick grimaces, clutching his heart, and collapses. Hes rushed to the hospital and a dazed Diane is escorted away by the police.

Frances and Robert have a postmortem on the fucked-up events. She shares a remarkably detailed, kidding-not-kidding fantasy about a time she wanted to harm him, and confesses shes glad when hes not around. Sometimes when I get home from work, I feel happy. I actually feel happy. Then I see your car parked outside and I realize youre home, and my heart  sinks.

I dont love you anymore, she says finally. I want a divorce.

In response, he throws up.

The next morning, Frances wakes up to find Robert across the room staring at her. He went to a strip club, he says in a flat monotone, trying to make her care and knowing she wont. Jeeeesus, this shit is depressing! Im not sure you meant what you said last night, he says, About not loving me before. But Frances wont budge. Shes committed to splitting up. Robert then decides it would be good for both of them if he makes her come. I want to lick your vagina and tongue-dart your anus, he says, very stiffly. She does not want that, which confuses him, because the concept of not wanting your taint insistently chafed by the Brillo pad attached to Thomas Haden Churchs face is confusing, I guess.

Frances deposits her ungrateful kids, Lila and Tom, at the bus stop. On the commuter train to the city, Dallas gives her a divorcee reality check: Her kids will hate her even more, and her dating prospects will be slim. Which is not an issue, she says, because  dum-dum-DUUUUM!  she has been having an affair! And she thinks she loves him! Dallas opines, in slightly nicer terms, that she is a moron: Anyone who makes you come, when you havent even wanted to come in years, youre gonna think youre in love with him. This is 100 percent correct. Frances rebuts that he is kind, and creative, and he makes his own granola.

And so, Frances calls in late to work in order to rendezvous with this Sex Granola, whose name is actually Julian. (Hes played by Jemaine Clement, an excellent bit of casting. His Warby Parkerass is exactly who youd cheat with if you were married to a Robert.) They order a post-coital pizza and everything is great until she says, I told Robert I wanted a divorce, and hes like, Wait, what? She reminds him theyve discussed the chances of divorce before, but he replies: I thought that was role playing. I mean, you had kids. Her:  Ill still have kids. Now on the defensive, Frances explains how trapped she feels in her long-dead marriage: I can do banal shit all day long if there was a little love there, or happiness, but there isnt! Unfortunately, Julian makes it clear that further commitment is much more than the dirty little secret he signed up for  some bourgeois affair, he calls it disdainfully  and they part ways.

This shakes Frances up enough to reconsider what she has back in Westchester. (If that sentence were a person, I would slap it.) She treats the kids to a surprise take-out night, and backpedals frantically about her desire to split up with Robert. But its not as easy to convince him as she expected. You think youre the only one who wonders if this is working? he asks her. Well, youre not. Somehow, she talks him into it despite his better judgment  it was an impulsive mistake, its not who she is, its not what she wants.

Robert and Frances have sex. She looks bored and uncomfortable. Afterwards, Julian calls, and she doesnt pick up. Things start falling back into place; her kids are even acting a little nicer. She visits Diane. Nick is in critical condition, but shes trying not to beat herself up about it. After all, there were a lot of factors. You were unkind to him lately, Diane tells Frances. That didnt help. (An interesting thread here: When close female friends shit-talk each others husbands during bad patches, whats the subsequent fallout if the marriage recovers?)

We come full circle at the end of the episode: Frances is locked out of the house (with Dianes new dog that smells like a yeast infection), and Robert doesnt let her in. Why might that be? Because Robert snooped in her phone, called J, and discovered the affair. Shes the villain here, he says: Youre Jesse James, and I get to be Sandra Bullock, and I get to rise from the ashes of humiliation and win a fucking Academy Award. Now hes the one who wants a divorce, and it isnt the amicable kind. Im gonna make you miserable. And more to the point, Im gonna make your children hate you.

Door slams. Cue Supertramp, the soundtrack of all college-educated American men over the age of 50 contemplating a major life change.

Other Notes:
Photo: Showtime

The loudest applause during Thursday nights Homeland panel, which kicked off PaleyFest 2016, came roughly 40 minutes into the conversation. Prompted by a question from the audience, Claire Danes revealed Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend) was still alive. When we last saw Quinn, he was comatose, the result of prolonged exposure to sarin gas. Hooked up to various IVs in a hospital bed, Quinns life was very much in the hands of Daness Carrie Mathison, and it wasnt clear whether the end result of A False Glimmer would be the death of one of Homelands most complex and beloved characters.

The shows sixth season takes place in New York City, and as co-creator Alex Gansa stressed during the panel, which was attended by Mandy Patinkin, F. Murray Abraham, and director Lesli Linka Glatter, a theme of this season is an examination of the effects of the United States counterterrorism policy since September 11. Was 9/11 a black swan? Was there ever really a threat of another 9/11?, he says. Our cast of characters can take all different sides of that argument  we want to talk about the counterterrorism industry that has grown up in this country since 9/11. Heres what else we learned:

Carrie followed Quinn to New York City.

According to Danes, Quinn and Carrie both relocated to NYC while Quinn receiv[es] therapy here, on multiple levels. When asked how her character would redeem herself to Quinn, Danes quipped, By annoying the crap out of him. Other than knowing Quinn has recovered, in some sense, the cast is tight-lipped on details.

Dont expect any rogue terrorist cells.

Gansa and the writers didnt want to dramatize anything in the United States that didnt actually exist. There are no Islamic State terrorist networks or organized terrorist networks in the United States like there are in Europe, Gansa said. There is so much fear flying around right now, and Homeland doesnt want to contribute to that fear, so we are going to tell a different kind of thriller this year.

Or bomb plots, either.

Though Gansa touched on the recent bombing in Chelsea, this upcoming season will steer clear of any plots involving bomb threats. The focus will instead be on the United States $110 billion counterterrorism industry.

We have created a surveillance state at some level, and we have demonized an entire community, a Muslim community in this country, Gansa said. The intelligence officers  will say we havent had an attack since 9/11. That is a very persuasive argument. On the other hand  seven years [after 9/11], the FBI had not found a single terrorist cell in this country, after a tremendous and frantic investigation. It would appear that much of this seasons plot will focus on the community level  an engaged micro-examination of a very macro issue  and how the actions undertaken by Carrie, Quinn, and Patinkins Saul Berenson have affected a large swath of American citizens. We have engendered fear in our population, Gansa says.

We wont learn much about Dars backstory.

Abrahams Dar is an opaque character. Heading the CIAs black-ops program, Dar shed significant insight on Quinns backstory at the end of season five, but Abraham wont budge when discussing Dars machinations. I am not going to say anything more about him, except that I have a great deal of respect for the man, and love for him, says Abraham. As far as his backstory, that is my business. My whole life has been trying to reveal the truth through my work  this character you just can forget the truth. The truth belongs to him. Dar reportedly is tasked, along with Saul, with prepping president-elect Elizabeth Keane on all matters of national security, which Abraham hinted will cause some conflict: Dar believes it is necessary to achieve a balance between the impossibility of dealing with certain people and doing the just thing. The problem is, of course, when you have the kind of power that this character has, is of course bending the power. Becoming omniscient, and taking the character of God into your own hands. But thats all I am going to say.

Saul wont sing.

A legendary Broadway performer, Patinkin laughed when asked whether Saul would have the opportunity to sing at any point during Homelands run. Absolutely not, he said. That is a sure way to jump the shark. Though, if Saul was to sing in the shower, hed likely belt out Rubber Ducky.
U.S. Rep. John Katko has made his decision: He's not voting for his party's presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

That's according to an interview Saturday with syracuse.com. He told the Syracuse media outlet that he won't support Trump and believes the GOP nominee should seriously consider bowing out of the race.

In a statement published on his campaign's Facebook page, Katko offered more details about his position on the presidential race.

"As outlined last night, Robin and I find the comments made by Donald Trump offensive, disgusting and inexcusable," he said. "These comments are horrific, but are sadly only the latest in a series of vulgar and inappropriate comments and behavior.

"Faced with two candidates with serious flaws, I have long declined to endorse or support Donald Trump in this race. Today, many others in my party are joining me. Neither candidate shares my values. I cannot support Hillary Clinton, but Donald Trump has not and will never earn my vote."

Colleen Deacon, Katko's Democratic challenger in the 24th Congressional District race, believes the GOP congressman's announcement is "too little, too late."

Deacon, D-Syracuse, was on the phone with The Citizen for a previously scheduled interview moments after news broke that Katko wouldn't be voting for Trump.

"I mentioned all the terrible, disgusting, sickening things that Donald Trump has said since he's been on this campaign trail," Deacon said. "I don't think (Katko) is being honest. He's faking surprise when he knew exactly what Trump was all about."

Katko's comments came one day after a video clip surfaced of Trump making lewd comments about women. The revelation has led several Republicans, including some of Katko's colleagues in Congress, to withdraw their support of the party's presidential candidate.

Onondaga County Republican Chairman Tom Dadey, who was the first county GOP chair in New York to support Trump's presidential bid, said Saturday he remains a Trump supporter. But even he labeled Trump's comments as "offensive."

The decision by Katko was months in the making. He initially said he would support the Republican presidential nominee. He changed his position once it became clear that Trump would secure the nomination.

When Trump unveiled a proposal to ban Muslims from entering the U.S., Katko criticized it and questioned its constitutionality. And when Trump attacked a Gold Star family, Katko called the GOP nominee's comments "disrespectful."

Katko, though, didn't rule out supporting Trump  until Saturday.
Grocery giant H-E-B will expand its curbside grocery delivery service to its Greater Waco stores on South Valley Mills Drive and on Woodway Drive. The program allows customers to place orders online and pick up their items at designated times.

H-E-B has tested its curbside approach in Austin, Houston and San Antonio, and apparently shoppers in those cities found it appealing, spokeswoman Tamra Jones said.

We are excited to begin hiring and training for the new H-E-B curbside locations located at Woodway/Hewitt and South Valley Mills/I-35. H-E-B is now hiring for part-time positions in both locations, Jones said in an email.

H-E-B must build designated pick-up spots and train staffers. It does not have an exact date when it will start the service but is shooting for late November, Jones said.

Customers will be able to conveniently drive up to our curbside location on their designated time slot and have one of our specially trained H-E-B partners bring their groceries right to their car without them having to go inside, saving valuable time, she said in her email.

H-E-B is following Wal-Marts successful rollout of curbside delivery in Greater Waco, which was announced in April. Wal-Mart chose stores at Franklin Avenue and New Road, and on the Interstate 35 frontage road in Bellmead, to serve as local sites for the service that has spread nationally.

It has really taken off in our store, said Mingo Mireles, assistant manager of curbside delivery at the Wal-Mart on Franklin Avenue.

The store started with seven staffers exclusively assigned to taking and filling orders and placing them in vehicles but already has increased that number to 10, Mireles said.

50 orders a day

We are averaging more than 50 online orders per day, with the typical basket for delivery running $115 to $120, he said.

He expects growth to 70 orders per day by the holidays.

The store sees so many repeat customers that employees have learned their names and have established a good rapport with them, he said.

Deborah Marquez, 61, said she has made absentee shopping at the Wal-Mart on Franklin Avenue part of her routine.

Marquez said she appreciates the convenience and praised the staff for its accuracy in filling her orders and keeping her informed of their status.

They call me the morning of the day Im going to pick up my groceries, usually about 30 minutes before the time Ive agreed upon, she said. If Im not leaving immediately, they ask me to give them 15 minutes notice when Im on my way.

I call when I get there, and they bring it out and load it. . . . There have been a few things I couldnt find online but that I knew were in the store, so those I have to go in and get, but that takes very little time.

She said Wal-Mart provides an online survey that asks customers to grade each order filled and what could be done to improve the experience.

I order twice a week and I have not been disappointed yet. You pull up and load up, paid in advance. The employees involved are fantastic, she said.

Marquez said she is pleased to hear H-E-B will offer curbside service in the near future and she will make use of it.

Jones, with H-E-B, said the chain has heard from customers across Central Texas craving the convenience of curbside delivery. She said H-E-B also has targeted stores in Granbury and Burleson where it will add the service later this month, and the department will be a feature of the new H-E-B in Killeen when it opens next spring.

Curbside options could make their way to other H-E-B locations in Greater Waco if demand dictates, Jones said.

This is not H-E-Bs first foray into food delivery, as last year it began a national delivery service in the 48 contiguous states.

Customers can go online and choose from among 50,000 food items, including H-E-Bs own Central Market Organics and Cafe Ole Taste of Texas Coffees.

Anne Hatfield, a Wal-Mart corporate spokeswoman, said 100 Wal-Mart stores throughout Texas now have Online Grocery Pickup, the official name of the program. Seven more stores in the Houston, Dallas and Corpus Christi markets are launching the service this month.

She described the service as free, fast, convenient, and the prices are the same in the store as through Online Grocery Pickup.

Nationwide, 450 Wal-Mart stores now offer curbside delivery, and were planning a steady cadence of expansions throughout the rest of the year, Hatfield said.

The new 160,000-square-foot Wal-Mart superstore going up at Sun Valley Boulevard and Interstate 35 in Hewitt may get the service eventually but not immediately upon completion.

There are so many things new with any new store, we prefer to let the new team get in their groove first, Hatfield said.

Wal-Mart is known for its extensive line of merchandise, but groceries made up 56 percent of its sales in 2015, making it Americas largest grocer, the Washington Post reported. It also said industry titan Kroger has launched grocery pickup service, and Amazon may open brick-and-mortar locations to accommodate grocery pickups.

Grocery chains offering the online shopping option tout its convenience to busy families and to customers who may have several youngsters in the family.
Baylor University announced the designation of Master Teacher  the highest honor granted to Baylor faculty members for sustained excellence in teaching  has been conferred on Corey P. Carbonara, Ph.D., professor of film and digital media, College of Arts & Sciences; T. Laine Scales, Ph.D., professor of higher education, School of Education, and associate dean of graduate studies and professional development; and Gaynor I. Yancey, D.S.W., professor of social work, Diana R. Garland School of Social Work.

Class acts

Temple College released its honor lists for the summer.

Named to the presidents list are: Stetson Sparks, of Eddy; Bryceton Urbantke, of Holland; Jamie Ferguson, of Moody; and Eric Oliver, of Waco.

Pitching in

Girl Scouts of Central Texas is seeking nominations for its Women of Distinction.

The organization celebrates women who have distinguished themselves as outstanding members of their community through individual excellence and high levels of achievement.

They will be honored at the 2017 Women of Distinction Killeen-Temple-Waco banquet on March 9, 2017, at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center.

Nominations must be submitted by Oct. 28. Go online to www.gsctx.org to submit nominations. Call Christal Hice at 254-742-0011, ext. 802, or email Christalh@gsctx.org with questions.

Send submissions to neighborplus@wacotrib.com.
Texas State Technical College leaders are promising to refund tuition for students who graduate from certain degree programs if they cant find a job within six months of graduation.

TSTC Chancellor and CEO Michael Reeser made the announcement Friday during the opening ceremony for the newest TSTC campus in Fort Bend County.

Starting Nov. 1, students can apply to participate in the schools new money-back program during their first semester at school. To be eligible, students must meet some stipulations and graduate with a degree in high-paying and high-demand technologies, including associate degrees in welding, instrumentation, electrical linework, diesel equipment, and electrical power and controls programs. Students who fail to find a job within six months after graduation will get a tuition refund.

TSTC intends to broaden the refund promise to the majority of its degrees as the new program is perfected.

School officials hope the new program gives students confidence.

He said the youth and their families sitting around the kitchen table debating what to do after high school should have confidence that theres not a financial risk to send a student to TSTC. Either employment or a refund will come after graduation, he said.

There are many benefits to this, but the biggest impact its going to have is on the success of our students, Reeser said. Families in Texas can send their kids to school confident in the fact they arent going to be burdened by extraordinary debt or lost interest payments if they fail to get a job.

Jeff Kilgore, TSTC vice chancellor and chief marketing officer, said TSTCs unique mandate is to be Texas technical provider.

Were doing something to help reverse the student debt crisis that is crippling many in our country, Kilgore said in a statement. Were doing this for our students and for the workforce of the state of Texas.

Reeser said TSTC leaders constantly re-evaluate its programs to ensure they meet the schools primary mission of creating a skilled workforce for industry.

Its difficult to tell how many students will participate in the programs inaugural year, he said.

If I were a first-semester student in any of those programs I would opt in instantly, Reeser said.

Other than completing the degree, a student must participate in TSTCs new Get-A-Job program, which aims to teach skills including resume writing, portfolio building, professional dress, interview skills and how to do research on a company to ensure employment opportunities are a good match.

College does well at creating a credential that makes a student eligible to apply for a job, then providing students with the knowledge and skills to keep a position, Reeser said. The weak point is in teaching students how to actually land a job, he said.

Reeser said school officials already know the skills they are teaching are tuned right for the marketplace and that TSTCs placement rate is already extraordinarily good.

The refund would include all tuition paid by the student but not books, fees or parking.

Elton E. Stuckly Jr., TSTC executive vice chancellor and chief operations officer, said the bold new initiative is certainly unconventional.

The notion of a money-back guarantee may be new in higher education, but we have an outstanding track record of 50 years in successfully placing skilled graduates in great jobs and with major employers in Texas who know the quality of our graduates, Stuckly said in a statement. Weve gotten so confident in our ability to serve the state as its technical provider that this guarantee is putting our money where our mouth is.

Kilgore said the new program will make it easier for families to make college selections.

Families are increasingly concerned about what they get for their college tuition dollar, Kilgore said. If the employment goals of the student are not achieved, theyll be getting those tuition dollars back.
When it came to religious and scholarly credentials in the White House, Woodrow Wilson stood apart. His father and grandfather were Presbyterian preachers, and his mothers side of the family numbered preachers over six straight generations.

Wilson was the only president to hold a Ph.D. and had been president of Princeton University. He believed God had ordained him to be president and felt the social and governmental reforms of the Progressive movement were part of Christianitys work in redeeming the culture.

Yet when Baylor University historian and author Barry Hankins looked for how Wilson expressed his faith publicly, he found the Presbyterian teachings Wilson was raised on took a back seat to a positive idealism where Christianity was more assumed and implied than explicit.

That idealism eventually would prove a fatal flaw when the American president tried to engineer a framework for international cooperation, the League of Nations, in the aftermath of World War I. Ironically, the teachings of his upbringing, particularly the Presbyterian Westminster Confession of Faith and its belief in the total depravity of man, might have provided him a sobering pragmatism necessary to navigate compromise and support for his plan, Hankins said.

The Baylor professor and interim history department chairman looked at Wilsons religious life and practice as part of an Oxford University Press series Spiritual Lives. His book Woodrow Wilson: Ruling Elder, Spiritual President was published in August. The series will feature, in upcoming books, Benjamin Franklin, Queen Victoria, John Stuart Mill, Christina Rossetti and Ebenezer Howard.

The Baylor scholar, whose books include Jesus and Gin, which looked at evangelicalism in the 1920s, and Gods Rascal, a biography of flamboyant Texas fundamentalist J. Frank Norris, found that as much as Wilsons Christian faith flavored his strong sense of morality in public service, he rarely mentioned it in his private correspondence and writing.

The surprise was that simultaneously he was still very religious personally and how little he talked about it, Hankins said.

Born in Virginia and raised in Georgia and South Carolina, Wilson was an academic for two decades before entering public office on the wave of the reformist Progressive movement, which assumed that man and society could be improved.

Many like Wilson, particularly Northern Protestants, saw Progressivism as the essence of Christianity working itself out in culture. He seemed almost indifferent to other issues that stirred the passions of other American Christians of the time, including evolution, which he accepted, and Prohibition, which he didnt support, Hankins noted.

How faith expressed itself in his actions as president also led to a split with another prominent evangelical of his time, William Jennings Bryan, who served as Wilsons Secretary of State.

Wilson and Bryan had kept America neutral in the early years of World War I. He kept us out of war was a campaign slogan during his 1916 reelection bid. But Bryan, arguing Christianity was a religion of peace, resigned his office when Wilson and the Congress ended American neutrality in 1917. For Wilson, the war became a moral cause on the world stage.

League defeat

That moral sense led to Wilsons leadership in drawing up a post-war world, but his inflexibility ultimately proved his undoing in international negotiations of the Versailles Treaty that formally ended the war, and in a failed attempt to win Senate approval for the treaty containing the League of Nations proposal. A serious stroke in 1919 after a cross-country tour urging treaty approval effectively ended his work as president, and he died five years later, bitter at his last political defeat.

Versailles broke his health, but its hard for me to imagine things would be much different if he hadnt had his stroke, Hankins said.

Despite the failure that marked his post-war years, Wilson achieved considerable success on the domestic front as president, seeing the creation of the Federal Reserve, establishment of the income tax and a curbing of corporate trusts.

In researching Wilsons personal life, the Baylor historian also discovered that the personally upright Wilson had a tendency to go girl-crazy. As a young man, he became infatuated with a first cousin. Later, while married to his first wife Ellen, he carried on a relationship with Mary Hulbert, whom he had met while vacationing in the Bahamas. Theres no indication that Wilson and Hulbert had a physical relationship, Hankins said, but Wilsons personal letters and time spent with her showed a romantic dimension to their friendship that suggests an emotional infidelity.

It was way over the line, he said.

Ellen died in 1914, and Wilson remarried the next year, wedding Edith Galt.

While Wilsons religious faith didnt play out in his public life as one might expect, its an interaction that bears examination, Hankins said.

I think public religion informed by Christian doctrine can be healthy and I think that it might have been healthier in Wilsons case if he had retained more of the doctrines of his faith, he said. Just thinking deeply about the relationship and integration of these things is healthy.
Some people were born to serve; for them, its a calling. Retired U.S. Army Col. the Rev. John Wells is such a person. The 75-year-old Woodway resident comes from a long line of men who served their country  as far back as the American Revolution, something he learned while researching his family tree.

Wells was an Army brat, moving often with his family after his birth in Kentucky. His grandfather served during World War I and his father in WWII. Wells attended many schools over the years, including three in Germany, before graduating high school in Denver.

It seemed normal to me, he said. We have a family history of serving.

Wells career in the military was a bit rocky at the beginning. He earned an appointment at West Point but I got thrown out  twice, he said, laughing. I was not a good student in those days.

He was a private in the Army Reserve with a six-year commitment, finishing up college in Kentucky. A math major in the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps, he was commissioned in 1964 as a second lieutenant, two months after his former classmates graduated West Point. Wells would go on to serve 25 years of active duty.

Germany a familiar sight

Adding parachute training to his list of skills, Wells served as an armor officer and platoon leader of the 1st Squadron in the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. His first tour of duty was two years in Germany. He ended up at a border camp in Hof, just as his father had before him when he served on the constabulary after WWII.

Wells volunteered for Vietnam because I was afraid Id miss the war, but was initially rejected because they didnt take second lieutenants, he said.

The day he became first lieutenant, he was ordered to Bien Hoa in March 1966, where he was assigned as a platoon leader of Company D, the 173rd Airborne

Brigade, 16th Armor. That was the base camp location, and he served mainly in War Zone C, but he eventually moved all over the country.

He served until one month shy of the end of his tour, when he was injured in February 1967 by grenade shrapnel in the Iron Triangle, so-called for the Viet Minhs control there throughout the French War in Vietnam and through Americas involvement there. It was a fight that wounded several other soldiers, he said, and earned him a Purple Heart.

We were sent into the Iron Triangle, northwest of Saigon. I think we were the first units to go in there since the French, he said.

Although the memory of the day is sketchy, he remembers a couple of other divisions being there, as well. We were trying to find the enemy  and we did, he said. The enemy were located in bunkers, he added.

First tour ends abruptly

His most serious wound was in his back, but he had been nicked near an eye, which bled profusely. Medics focused on the blood and overlooked his back.

He wound up with a short hospital stay before returning stateside to Fort Knox, Kentucky, in March 1967, where he was to spend 32 weeks in an advanced officer career course. He was then assigned as commander of D Troop of the 10th Cavalry at Fort Knox.

They told me I was going to be there three years, he said. I was there a year.

On Jan. 30, 1968, the Tet Offensive began in Vietnam. Records show it was one of the largest military campaigns conducted by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Peoples Army of Vietnam.

Of course, there was a recall of a number of people, Wells included. He was back in Vietnam in January 1969, serving with the 25th Infantry, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry. It was during this second tour that he would receive his regular Army commission.

His second tour was anything but a breeze.

NEXT WEEK: Wells goes on to earn a Silver Star and two Bronze Stars. After years of military service, he answered another calling and entered the ministry. In addition, he has served as a volunteer chaplain for the Waco Police Department for over a decade.

Voices of Valor, featuring stories about Central Texas veterans, publishes every Sunday in the Waco Trib. To suggest a story about a Central Texas veteran, email voicesofvalor@wacotrib.com. Voices of Valor is proudly sponsored by Johnson Roofing.
This election cycle has been a cruel one. The presidential candidates share one thing, at least: the instinct to attack their opponent in the most cutting way possible. Our electorate is largely following suit. Many Trump supporters genuinely believe Hillary Clinton is evil. An equal number of Clinton supporters cannot imagine why anyone would vote for Trump, a man they despise.

The bruising will be deep.

Yet on Nov. 9 we will emerge as one people again. Someone will win, someone will lose. A concession speech will be given and inaugural balls will be planned. Maybe, too, in the wake of the ugliness of this campaign we will be inspired to become better advocates for the things we believe.

I have spent my career as an advocate and have taught advocacy at two law schools (including 10 years at Baylor Law School). Ive had some success and some failures. Hopefully I have learned from both.

One truth I have learned is this: Loathing the other side is ineffective advocacy. If you start out by vilifying the very people you need to convince, you give yourself little chance to change their mind. The better route is to find a point of agreement, a common principle, and start from there.

As a prosecutor, I once lost a trial to a defense attorney I underestimated. He didnt know federal law or procedure very well and the rules of evidence confounded him. But he did a great job of telling his clients story and used a technique I will never forget. In his closing argument he walked across the well of the court till he was next to the jury, then turned around, looking at the witness box. He began to talk about his clients testimony and something fascinating happened: They all turned to look at the empty chair and stopped looking at him. They were all facing the same way and all caring about the same person, and it started with that lawyer walking over to see things from their perspective.

I did the opposite. I stood and faced them and argued  and I lost.

That metaphor shaped a project I pursued through four years. Wanting to challenge the death penalty, I went to churches and religious schools in death penalty states (including Texas, twice) and performed the sentencing phase of the trial of Jesus under state law. My collaborators included a public defender; I served as the prosecutor. Once the trial concluded, we divided the audience into groups of 12 and had them come to a verdict as a jury.

At the heart of this project was the idea of starting with a principle shared by that church or school and myself: that the life and death of Christ has meaning for us, and that a troubling capital proceeding lies at the heart of our faith.

I hope that the project did some good. Some people rethought their position, others did not, and many others left troubled. I do know that it was more productive than death penalty abolitionists calling proponents murderers or death penalty supporters calling us names.

When it works, there can be transcendent moments. One of my other projects has been promoting clemency for long-term non-violent narcotics defendants, and I have been supported both by the left (the Open Society Foundations) and the right (the Koch Foundation). We started with a common principle: that tax money should not be spent on mass incarceration when it solves no problem. It has worked, too. President Obama has commuted hundreds of sentences. On one day in August, I got to call three men serving life sentences  each of whom had stellar prison records and a commitment to reformation  and tell them that they would be going home. It is a moment I wont forget.

Serious challenges face our nation. Islamic and domestic terrorism, a longstanding national debt, expensive and too often ineffective health care and educational failings all warrant attention and debate. If any of them are to be addressed in a worthwhile way, our political culture of acrimony and name-calling has to change. We are, in the end, one people, with a fate tied together by history, place and pride.

Mark Osler is author of Prosecuting Jesus. He will speak about the book at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Seventh and James Baptist Church. A former federal prosecutor who argued successfully before the U.S. Supreme Court, he is a professor and Robert and Marion Short Distinguished Chair in Law at the University of St. Thomas Law School.
It was windy and cool as we gathered around the old Sherman tank outside the Remember Museum in Clermont, Belgium. The view to our south toward Bastogne was beautiful. Rolling hills, crisp fence lines, grazing cattle, green cornfields and well-kept barns stretched as far as the eye could see.

Every September for many years now, the townspeople of Clermont and Aubel gather to honor soldiers of the U.S. Armys 1st Infantry Division. It was near there that 1,223 soldiers of this unit fought and died between Sept. 7 and Dec. 15, 1944, during one of the turning points of World War II.

Sept. 11 was the day the troops came through Clermont and cleared these fields of German encampments. That was the day that the children of Clermont first tasted freedom.

Out by the tank, townsfolk laid wreaths and old soldiers rendered salutes. An aging woman named Mathilde Schmetz told the story of Clermont and Aubel during the war. Anthems were sung. Bagpipers played Amazing Grace.

It was there we met Roger. Roger was born in 1938. He became an orphan at age 3. He was taken in by neighbors and raised as one of theirs. He remembers the occupation of German forces. He remembers hiding. He remembers the rumble and rattle of the tanks and the sound of bullets. Marcel was 7 when the war started. Mathilde was 4. They, too, offered stories mixing childhood and war and the fight for liberty.

They tell, too, of the smiles of the Americans as they came with their chocolates and freedom.

We got to know Roger at a reception for military dignitaries and World War II veterans and survivors at the opening of a new exhibit at the privately owned Remember Museum, brainchild of Marcel and Mathilde Schmetz, dubbed M&M by admiring American veterans. U.S. Air Force pilots from a nearby air base attended. Theyre tanker pilots from Utah, now based in Germany. They serve with NATO, part of that fortification against all future aggression. They were on hand to welcome World War II Spec. Vito Mastrella back to Clermont.

Vito is 92. He was there to lay a wreath in honor of the fallen. He and his unit came across the channel on D-Day and tended to the dead at Normandy. They followed the armies of victory across Europe, doing the grim and solemn work of burying the dead.

Vito worked several months at the cemetery just over the hill from Clermont. He provided decent burials for GIs who made it possible for Marcel, Mathilde and Roger to grow up in freedom.

Townsfolk during our visit arranged a picnic. They served hot dogs and chips and apple cider. Around our table Roger told us his story. And the flyboys from Utah told us of their mission  keeping a lid on a world sometimes seemingly gone mad, almost as mad as seven decades ago. Vito spoke of long days spent in the cemeteries. He knows firsthand the price we paid for today.

Roger couldnt stop talking of freedom. He made a terrible face when I asked him about the United States possibly pulling out of NATO. He and his neighbors know NATO is the reason this region of dairy farms and cornfields still lives in peace.

Belgium is about the size of New Hampshire. In Central Texas terms, Belgium is about as big as the area from Bryan-College Station to Stephenville and Corsicana to Copperas Cove. Thats it. Its a tiny nation that has seen the horrors of war too many times.

There is no way this little country can ever defend itself. Roger that day tried to explain what America meant to him and his neighbors.

As we spoke of world politics and presidential picks, Roger excused himself and went outside. He came back with an envelope. He spilled the contents onto the table. There were pictures. And there was a tattered 3-x-5 index card. He showed me a picture of his adopted parents and a tall American soldier. Another photo showed soldiers and children and families smiling.

Then he picked up the card. He explained that everyone here had one. All folks in the villages in these parts had one. On each was a name and plot number, row number and grave number.

The Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial is a mile or so from the little village and museum. There lies Rogers soldier. They never met. No one there ever met his or her adopted soldier. But they make regular trips to the cemeteries. They bring flowers. They sometimes just stand there for a while. They attend ceremonies like this Liberation Day Ceremony.

Roger offered many stories and many phrases as we communicated through his elusive English and my faltering French. But we all knew what he meant when he threw his arms in the air and gestured and exclaimed: 70 years Freedom! Freedom!

This part of the world has known more peace and tranquility in the last 70 years than it knew in the previous several hundred. People there are grateful to the American GI and the U.S. government that sent men to save them from the oppression of the German regime during World War II.

They all follow American politics. They follow American culture. Roger cant understand why we are fascinated with the Kardashians. He and his friends cannot see how we could elect Donald Trump as president of the United States. Trumps idle talk, angry rhetoric and cavalier attitude regarding NATO and the use of nuclear weapons do not stand up to the words of American leaders he has known in the past.

Roger and his friends make a point of remembering. They remember what it was like when a madman threatened the world they knew. And they remember men like Dwight D. Eisenhower and Franklin D. Roosevelt. These were men of conviction and a sense of service and duty. These were men of measured and careful speech, men who thought through and agonized over decisions that determined the fate of millions. These were men with plans for the preservation and liberation of Europe.

In November, when you cast your vote, take a moment to remember these people. Remember our friend, Roger, and his devotion to that fallen soldier and to our nation.

Roger has followed the speeches and writings of both Trump and Clinton. He hopes Clinton wins in November. He told us that Clinton has talked of her plans. Trump has no coherent plan. Clinton has served on the international stage. Trump is a businessman with a spotty record of business failures and other debts and defaults. She has the capacity to understand the profound importance of partnerships with other nations for the safety of mankind. He doesnt understand the implications of simple things like nuclear proliferation.

To Roger, she passes the test of what a world leader should be.

Roland and I will return to that hilltop in Belgium next year. We will share more stories. We will pay homage to the men who died keeping the world free for Roger, Marcel, Mathilde, Roland and me. And we will honor the memory of great leaders who did what had to be done to rid our world of tyrants.

Of course, Roger cannot vote. We can.

Restaurateur and educator Mary Duty is chairwoman of the McLennan County Democratic Party.
Hillary Clintons campaign has done a thorough job of painting Donald Trump as a sympathizer of President Vladimir Putin. Last weeks vice-presidential debate led some to believe that there was a split between Trump and his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, on this issue. Yet Trumps statements about the Russian leader and his suggestions about cooperation might be consistent with Pences advocacy of a tough stance.

Intentionally or not, a significant portion of the debate focused on Russia. Clintons running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, tried to put Pence on the defensive by reprising claims that Trump and Pence have praised Putins leadership, Trumps company has business dealings with Russian oligarchs who are very connected to Putin and the Trump campaign management team had to be fired a month or so ago because of those shadowy connections with pro-Putin forces, a reference to former campaign manager Paul Manafort s work in Ukraine.

The latter two claims shouldnt have survived on-the-spot fact-checking. Trumps proven connections to oligarchs are limited to the sale of expensive real estate. Manafort worked for deposed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, who wasnt so much pro-Putin as willing to sell his services to the highest bidder  he actually leaned toward the European Union until 2013.

The first claim is true, though: Both men on the Republican ticket have said that Putin is a stronger leader than President Obama.

If you dont know the difference between dictatorship and leadership, then you got to go back to a fifth-grade civics class, Kaine chided Pence. He was wrong. The line between the two can be fuzzy.

In 2000, when he came to power, Putin won a fair election recognized as such by international observers. He is a proven leader who has since consolidated dictatorial powers and made the rigging of elections a widespread practice. Yet he has retained much of his popularity. Instead of accusing Trump of having a personal Mount Rushmore that includes Putin, Saddam Hussein and Kim Jong-un, as Kaine did, both Democrats and debate moderators should respond to the substance of what the Republicans are saying.

Pence summed it up during the debate:

Look, America is stronger than Russia. Our economy is 16 times larger than the Russian economy. Americas political system is superior to the crony, corrupt capitalist system in Russia in every way. When Donald Trump and I observe that, as Ive said in Syria, in Iran, in Ukraine, that the small and bullying leader of Russia has been stronger on the world stage than this administration, thats stating painful facts. Thats not an endorsement of Vladimir Putin. Thats an indictment of the weak and feckless leadership.

As a Russian who closely follows Putins domestic and foreign policy and opposes it on practically every count, I hear Pence. What he says is not an attempt to deflect criticism for his and Trumps statements about Putin  its a valid criticism of U.S. policies.

Russias opportunistic cooperation with the United States in the Iran nuclear deal has helped the Kremlin forge a stronger relationship with Iran, rebuilding some of the trust Russia lost by backing international sanctions against it. Arms sales talks immediately resumed. Russia and Iran were able to coordinate military support for President Bashar Assads regime. That support has turned the tide of the war in Syria, and Assad is close to taking back the city of Aleppo  a major victory that has long eluded him.

In Ukraine, Putin has been able to hold on to Crimea and freeze conflict in eastern Ukraine, which had become difficult for him to win outright after pro-Russian rebels, perhaps assisted by Russian forces, shot down a passenger airliner in July 2014. U.S. intervention has been too timid to make him give up any of his gains.

Admitting all this sounds like praise for Putin. Yet, as Pence noted, it can also be interpreted as criticism of specific Obama administration policies, such as the Syria deal and the White Houses reluctance to allow U.S. strikes on Assads forces. That reluctance apparently isnt shared by all top officials  Secretary of State John Kerry said recently that hed argued for taking on Assad militarily and lost.

The Obama administration, with both Clinton and Kerry as secretaries of state, has produced much tough talk about Putin but little effective action. That has inspired and empowered the Kremlin: Putin is good at testing the limits of the permissible and then stretching them. The Republicans are attacking Clinton and Obama for letting him do it and they have a point.

Where they dont appear to be perfectly consistent is in their suggestions of what to do about Putin if they win the election. Trump has suggested that hed cooperate with Russia against the Islamic State in Syria, which would require him to drop the current administrations principled opposition to Assad. He has also argued for letting Russia keep Crimea.

But in the debate, Pence took the opposite stand, a more traditionally Republican one:

I just have to tell you that the provocations by Russia need to be met with American strength. And if Russia chooses to be involved and continue, I should say, to be involved in this barbaric attack on civilians in Aleppo, the United States of America should be prepared to use military force to strike military targets of the Assad regime to prevent them from this humanitarian crisis that is taking place in Aleppo.

This could mean that Pence is already looking ahead to the 2020 election and isnt bothering to agree with some of Trumps most controversial statements. But it could also mean that a Trump administration  just like the Obama administration  would have internal debates about where cooperation with Putin would be possible and where it would be inadvisable. Its possible to be selective about it  for example, to step up sanctions for the continuing stalemate in eastern Ukraine but relent on Crimea or fight alongside Russia in Syria but insist on establishing safe zones.

Trump and Pence may also be doing a good cop/bad cop routine. This might be a good tactic with Putin, a former KGB spy who plays games with his negotiating partners and adversaries. At least hed be engaged rather than isolated and planning further malicious acts.

Both Pence and Trump have said any plan for dealing with Russia must include a credible show of strength. Theyre right: Theres no other way to keep Putin on his toes. Theodore Roosevelts big stick must be wielded convincingly  but perhaps not dogmatically, because Russias cooperation can be useful against common adversaries such as the Islamic State. What the Republicans are saying is that the United States should play its own game with Putin. The Democrats response is to try to paint them as Putin allies. Its inaccurate.

Rather than using this weak line of attack, the Democrats ought to try presenting either a competing plan for dealing with Putin or say outright the United States is no longer willing to engage militarily, embracing instead Iran-style sanctions against Russia. So far, Republicans have come closer to indicating what they would do if elected.

Leonid Bershidsky was founding editor of the Russian business daily Vedomosti.
Judging from the paltry turnout at last weeks community forum about implementation of campus-carry law at McLennan Community College, folks in the neighborhood arent exactly worried about the campus erupting into some Dodge City collegiate shootout. There were more signs on campus pointing to the site of Tuesday nights forum than actual participants.

Amidst a political season full of sound and fury, we all should be thankful that paranoia and extremism concerning gun laws havent spilled over onto the campus. MCC officials have smartly conducted a number of open forums about the state law, which expands concealed carrying of handguns at public colleges and universities, including the MCC campus in August 2017. Wisely, officials have steered debate from whether the campus-carry law should exist and focused instead on the fact it does exist. The chief question now: how to implement it to the reassurance of all.

Some Second Amendment rights advocates argue that people should be able to carry a concealed handgun wherever they choose on campus. However, the bills authors recognized that administrators, faculty and students might have legitimate reasons for banning guns from certain campus areas and, thus, have allowed them that privilege so long as such exceptions dont circumvent the laws broader purpose. For instance, guns might be banned from areas involving health and wellness.

Whatever a committee on implementation recommends, it behooves all to see that this law reasonably expands Second Amendment rights while ensuring safety on campus. Two things should reassure everybody: First, its not open-carry. Even though campus-carry and open-carry legislation passed during the same legislative session, the law specifically forbids the open carrying of weapons on campus. And as resident Ed Brown shrewdly noted last week, its smart policy. Why would you want to attract the attention of a mass killer by singling yourself out as an armed threat to him or her?

The second is that concealed handgun license-holders must be age 21 or above and have passed a training course, a shooting test and extensive background checks. Statistics continue to prove that those licensed by the state of Texas to carry firearms remain among the most law-abiding among us. Even for those of us who voiced reservations about campus-carry as originally proposed in 2015, this remains one of the strongest arguments for those advocating campus-carry or even open-carry policies.
Given the lifetime appointments of federal judges and the importance that they understand the areas over which they preside, we can only second the Waco-McLennan County Bar Associations request that any successor to former U.S. District Judge Walter S. Smith come from one of the 13 counties that constitute the Waco division of the courts Western District.

In a Thursday letter to President Obama, Texas U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz as well as Orlando Garcia of the U.S. Federal Court of the Western District, the local bar association urges that the next judge not be transferred from some other stretch but rather be a presidential appointee with distinctly regional roots. We know of several qualified local individuals, Republicans and Democrats alike, who would make fine federal judges. And while they would offer a keen insight into our history and the contemporary dynamics that yet drive and inform our area, theyre no slouches in the law, including the almighty Constitution.
Avoid rabid fringe

For a long time Ive wanted to thank the Trib editors for bringing the editorial page out of the dark ages. I now read it way before opening the Dallas newspaper. It certainly reflects quality thinking by our fourth estate and exposes political insanity. Your editorials are so based on the needs, concerns and what affects people rather than the prevalent mindless ideological trash.

Bizarre letters such as Trib commies [Oct. 4] are always good for laughs and memories. The leaps of logic are stunning. But we didnt know you were commies!

I was first called a communist by a group of fanatic Neanderthals back in the 1970s. After they learned about my Marine Corps service, I was promoted to socialist. The Pope wasnt so fortunate. He talked about helping the poor and they labeled him a Marxist.

My issue was equal rights for all and my efforts were rewarded with a Molotov cocktail setting fire to our garage door. Later a cobbled cherry bomb blew my little adopted son out of bed. Police said there was nothing they could do about these cowards (my words).

Keep up your well-written and informative community service. Please dont be influenced or intimidated by the rabid fringe. By the way, David Schleicher is a really good writer.

Mike OBric, Marine Corps veteran, Woodway

Working together

In the closing paragraph of Ramesh Ponnurus Sept. 29 column, talking of divisiveness within the Republican Party, he states: Perhaps pro-Trump and anti-Trump Republicans have more in common than they realize: Both seem intent on pursuing their grievances rather than their interests.

Truth is, the same applies to the nation as a whole, Republicans and Democrats. If both parties would put aside their win-at-all-costs-big-foam-finger-sports-analogy of politics and actually sit down to do the work of the nation rather than the parties, both Republican and Democratic voters would be happier and the nation would be a better place for it.

Lets start with something on which I think both conservatives and progressives deep down agree: getting big money out of politics and reducing the influence of the Soroses, Kochs, the PACs, the unions, corporations (domestic and foreign), etc., and work to repeal the Citizens United ruling.

Terry M. Roller, Hewitt

Shooting high

My husband Stan Grant was recently in the hospital with leukemia and has been very sick. One afternoon, in walked Jennifer Roberts and the Lady Bears. We were so touched all we could do was cry. They gave us a T-shirt, hugs and said they would pray for us.

Were on Cloud Nine. They made two old people who are huge Lady Bears fans the happiest people on the earth. This was arranged by our son Curtis. We are so blessed and so thankful.

Levene Grant, Waco
I have been feeling that terrible tightness in the chest, the crippling fatigue, the sleeplessness and the restlessness that are common signs of anxiety disorder. As it turns out, it is the direct, mongrel effect on my metabolism of a tumour in my pituitary gland  which is almost certainly benign but is certainly growing and so is about to come out. The prognosis is excellent, and the surgery relatively low risk  although the thought of it has probably added to the feelings of anxiety. In all probability, I'll be fine  and meanwhile have benefited from having an insightful taste of what it must be like to suffer clinical anxiety. Should you suspect you or someone else might be experiencing undue anxiety, there is a checklist on the beyondblue website.

My recent unpleasant experience has buttressed my view that one of the key reasons the proposed plebiscite on marriage equality is a monumentally stupid idea is the risk it poses to young LGBTIQ people. It's a view informed by research. For the past five years, I have been a board member of the Young and Well Co-operative Research Centre, a national collection of private-sector firms, universities, government and not-for-profit organisations that funded and conducted research into mental health and the wellbeing of young people.

One of the most important studies done by the Young and Well CRC is a report called Growing Up Queer. It proves that the unfair treatment of non-heterosexual people is a life-and-death matter. The study found 16 per cent of GLBTIQ young Australians had attempted suicide and a third had harmed themselves, largely due to homophobic harassment. It found more than four in 10 had thought about self-harm or suicide  making them six times more likely to consider taking their own life than their heterosexual peers. As many as two in three LGBTIQ young people have been bullied about their sexual orientation. The study found widespread homophobic harassment and violence in schools, at work and at sporting events.

It's not just young people in danger should the massively wasteful, hurtful and utterly unnecessary plebiscite proceed. One in five LGBTIQ people in Australian is currently experiencing depression  more than triple the rate of heterosexuals. And as many as one in three LGBTIQ people is currently experiencing an anxiety condition  twice the rate of heterosexuals.

These facts are at the heart of a national push to get our politicians to dump the plebiscite and do their bloody job by voting in Parliament on a same-sex marriage bill. One of the nation's leading advocates for early intervention and for raising awareness about mental health, former Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry, is publicly warning that the plebiscite increases the risk of self-harm and suicide by LGTBTIQ people. It's a message he delivered personally in recent days to Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who has rightly been raising such concerns for months.
Republican vice-presidential nominee Mike Pence said in a remarkable statement that he could not defend Trump's comments. Credit:Patrick Semansky Even Trump's wife disowned his remarks. In a bid to check an outbound tide of female support, Melania Trump said in a statement issued by the campaign: "The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me. This does not represent the man that I know. I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world." But Charles Dent, A GOP congressman from Pennsylvania, was having none of that. A pained Mike Lee said in a video on Facebook that "this can't continue". Credit:AP Railing that the party could no longer "defend the indefensible"< he insisted: "If Trump won't quit, then the party must abandon him, he said. "The priority for the Republican Party has to be protecting our congressional majorities."

A pained Senator Mike Lee of Utah, posted a heartfelt video protest on Facebook: "This can't continue. Mr Trump, I respectfully ask you with all due respect to step aside. Step down." Donald Trump pauses during a meeting with members of the National Border Patrol Council at Trump Tower, on Friday. Credit:AP But it's too late  the GOP is saddled with Trump. "They're not going to make me quit, and they can't make me quit," Trump said on Saturday morning, before absurdly holding himself out as a party unifier: "The Republicans, you've got to remember, have been running for a long time. The reason they don't win is because they don't stick together." Trump is set to take on Hillary Clinton in a second presidential debate on Sunday night. Credit:AP

Rejecting repeated efforts by the Post for him to address the demands that he quit, Trump remained emphatic: "Forget that  not my deal. Zero chance. I've never quit in my life  I can give you my word that I'm never leaving." And as a wave of angry state governors and fearful down-ticket Republican candidates for the November 8 election tried to push Trump out, the carefully-worded tirades from party heavies, like House Speaker Paul Ryan who refused to be seen in public with Trump, and Senate leader Mitch McConnell, starkly proved Trump's point  they stopped short of demands that he resign. By Saturday afternoon, Republican conference chairman and senator John Thune of South Dakota, became the most senior Republican to call on Trump to drop out  and for his running mate Mike Pence to become the candidate. Pence initially went into hiding. Meanwhile, the shreds of this would-be vice-president's most recent defence of Trump, at a Friday rally, blew in the wind  Trump, he said, "gets it"; is the "genuine article"; would be a president who "respects all the American people". It was not till Saturday afternoon that Pence found gumption. In a remarkable ticket fracture, he said in a statement: "As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Trump in the 11-year-old video released yesterday. I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them."

After Trump's half-hearted apology, in a video released by his campaign in the early hours of Saturday, Republicans  actually, make that pretty well all of America  are cringing at the thought of how Trump will conduct himself in his second one-on-one debate with his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, on Sunday evening. After hunkering for 10 hours with his team at Trump Tower, during which Trump reportedly was advised not to resort to his 'equivalence' argument that the treatment of women by Bill and Hillary Clinton has been more egregious than his own, that's precisely what he did. Expect more of the same in the debate. And that's the measure of the hole the party has dug for itself  it knew what it was getting with Candidate Trump and like a headless chook it embraced him. Taking just 90 seconds, what he offered as an apology was, in fact, a defiant dare  to the party and to the Clintons. His disgusting tips on preying on women were a mere "distraction", nothing compared with the way Bill and Hillary Clinton had mistreated women, he insisted. This has been a constant Trump theme, one that he ratchets up the more his campaign teeters. Disbelieving that so much strategising by Trump's shattered inner circle would produce just more of the same in the face of what most see as an existential crisis for Trump's presidential bid, Republican strategist Kevin Madden was bewildered when he appeared on CNN: "That took 10 hours?"

Squinting and scowling as he does when he thinks he must appear presidential, Trump blathers in the "apology" video: "Hillary Clinton and her kind have run our country into the ground. I've said some foolish things, but there's a big difference between the words and actions of other people. Bill Clinton has actually abused women, and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims." Never let it be said that Trump comes unprepared. Just as he had the Tic-Tacs to freshen his breath lest he have a chance to pounce on a woman during his visit to the set of the Days of Our Lives soap opera, he's done his homework and honed his thesis argument for Sunday night's face-off. We should not be surprised  who ever said that Trump might exhibit self-control, that he might one day sheath his ugliness? Remember his mocking of the disabled reporter; his charge that the father of Ted Cruz had a hand in the assassination of JFK; his insults hurled at Senator John McCain because he was taken as a prisoner of war in Vietnam; his bludgeoning of the Muslim parents of an American war hero; his berating of an American-born judge whose parents were Mexican; his retweeting of white supremacist garbage; his demeaning of a former Miss Universe; his vacuous grasp of policy; his fomenting of violence; his scene-setting for a violent "we was robbed" counter-attack in the event that he is defeated  in all, his utter lack of self-control and discipline? Incredibly, on Saturday, Trump revisited the McCain insults as proof of his capacity to weather the worst of storms.

"Everyone said, 'It's over, it's over'. The people didn't say that, but the reporters said that," Trump said. Asked by the Post to explain his ability in the past to survive, Trump said simply: "I'm change." Surrogates defend Trump as "an entertainer," but after all the other isms that have been attached to his name, Trump now reveals himself as a sexual predator and stalker. He's already on the nose with women voters in particular. More recently there are signs of him tanking in must-win swing states like Ohio and Florida and after his lousy performance in the first debate, Clinton's faltering polls have surged  she's now about five points ahead of Trump in the Real Clear Politics average of national polls. I don't think any of this is what some of the pundits had in mind when they helpfully suggested that Trump needed a game-changer heading into Sunday's debate. Trump had one, with the leaking on Friday, via WikiLeaks, of excerpts from the multimillion-dollar Wall Street speeches that Clinton has refused to release  with the same stubbornness that has seen Trump refuse to release his tax returns.

The excerpts show Clinton grovelling, pitching unashamedly for cash and assuring the money men that they know best how to regulate the markets  because, of course, they had conducted themselves so well in the past, hadn't they? But lobbing in the same news cycle as Trump's grotesque "grab them by the p----" video, the Clinton speeches, for now, are dying for want of media oxygen. There are reports that some in the Republican National Committee are calling for the party's rules to be revisited  to find a way to dump Trump. But voting is already underway  tens of thousands of early votes have been cast. And amidst the drizzle of Saturday morning, this popped into my inbox from Trump Team Virginia: "Paul, just because it's raining doesn't mean you can't still help out Mr Trump today!
Benchmark Electronics, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides product design, engineering services, technology solutions, and manufacturing services in the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The company offers engineering services and technology solutions, including new product design, prototype, testing, and related engineering services; and custom testing and technology solutions, as well as automation equipment design and build services. It also provides electronics manufacturing and testing services, such as printed circuit board assembly and test solutions, assembly of subsystems, circuitry and functionality testing of printed assemblies, environmental and stress testing, and component reliability testing; component engineering services; manufacturing defect analysis, in-circuit testing, functional testing, and life cycle testing services, as well as environmental stress tests of assemblies of boards or systems; and failure analysis. In addition, the company offers precision machining and electromechanical assembly services; and subsystem and system integration services, including assembly, configuration, and testing for various industries. Further, it provides value-added support systems; supply chain management solutions; direct order fulfillment; and aftermarket non-warranty services, including repair, replacement, refurbishment, remanufacturing, exchange, systems upgrade, and spare parts manufacturing throughout a product's life cycle. The company serves original equipment manufacturers in the aerospace and defense, medical technologies, complex industrials, semiconductor capital equipment, telecommunications, and advanced computing industries. It markets its services and solutions primarily through a direct sales force. The company was formerly known as Electronics, Inc. Benchmark Electronics, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.
Windstream Holdings, Inc. provides network communications and technology solutions in the United States. Its Consumer & Small Business segment offers services, including traditional local and long-distance voice services, and high-speed Internet services; and value-added services, such as security and online back-up. It also offers consumer video services; video entertainment service under the Kinetic brand; voice and Web conferencing products; and advanced hosted-voice, network management, and business continuity services, as well as owns and operates cable television franchises. This segment serves approximately 1.4 million residential and small business customers. The company's Enterprise segment offers integrated voice and data services, which deliver voice and broadband services over a single Internet connection, data transport services, and multi-site networking services; and other data services comprising cloud computing, and collocation and managed services as an alternative to traditional information technology infrastructure. Its Wholesale segment provides network bandwidth to other telecommunications carriers, network operators, and content providers; fiber-to-the-tower connections to support the wireless backhaul market; voice and data carrier services to other communications providers and large scale purchasers; and special access services and time division multiplexing private line transport. The company's Consumer CLEC segment offers traditional voice and long-distance services, nationwide Internet access services, and dial-up and high-speed, as well as online backup and various email services. Windstream Holdings, Inc. also leases and sells broadband modems, home networking gateways, and personal computers; and sells home phones. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
National Bank of Canada provides various financial products and services to retail, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International. The Personal and Commercial segment offers personal banking services, including transaction solutions, mortgage loans and home equity lines of credit, consumer loans, payment solutions, and savings and investment solutions; various insurance products; and commercial banking services comprise credit, and deposit and investment solutions, as well as international trade, foreign exchange transactions, payroll, cash management, insurance, electronic transactions, and complimentary services. The Wealth Management segment comprises investment solutions, trust services, banking services, lending services, and other wealth management solutions. The Financial Markets segment offers corporate banking, advisory, and capital markets services; and project financing, debt, and equity underwriting; advisory services in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, and financing. The U.S. Specialty Finance and International segment provides specialty finance products; financial products and services to individuals and businesses in Cambodia; and investment solutions, guaranteed investment certificates, mutual funds, notes, structured products, and monetization. It provides its services through a network of 384 branches and 927 banking machines. National Bank of Canada was founded in 1859 and is based in Montreal, Canada.
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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Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure, Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Commercial Renewables. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest; and uses coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, oil, renewable generation, and nuclear fuel to generate electricity. It also engages in the wholesale of electricity to municipalities, electric cooperative utilities, and load-serving entities. This segment serves approximately 8.2 million customers in 6 states in the Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States covering a service territory of approximately 91,000 square miles; and owns approximately 50,259 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure segment distributes natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and power generation natural gas customers; and owns, operates, and invests in pipeline transmission and natural gas storage facilities. It has approximately 1.6 million customers, including 1.1 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as 550,000 customers in southwestern Ohio and northern Kentucky. The Commercial Renewables segment acquires, owns, develops, builds, and operates wind and solar renewable generation projects, including nonregulated renewable energy and energy storage services to utilities, electric cooperatives, municipalities, and corporate customers. It has 23 wind, 178 solar, and 2 battery storage facilities, as well as 71 fuel cell locations with a capacity of 3,554 MW across 22 states. The company was formerly known as Duke Energy Holding Corp. and changed its name to Duke Energy Corporation in April 2005. The company was founded in 1904 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
[October 08, 2016] Data Science Company, Mogean, Is Publicizing Updated Analysis of Evacuation Progress in Regions Impacted by Hurricane Matthew

With millions potentially impacted by Hurricane Matthew along the Southeastern U.S. coastline and traffic building along evacuation routes, Mogean is using its proprietary and patent-pending data collection capabilities and advanced data science techniques to analyze the evacuation progress in Florida, Georgia, and North and South Carolina. Mogean's analysis shows that as of Saturday midday, the following counties have made the greatest progress in evacuating residents away from areas under the hurricane warning or mandatory evacuation: Chatham, GA

Charleston, SC

Brunswick, NC The company's data found that the counties where the largest percentage of people have yet to evacuate are in: Pender, NC

Horry, SC

Berkeley, SC Additionally the company's data revealed the top counties where people evacuated: New Hanover, NC

Mecklenburg, NC

Cabarrus, NC

Guilford, NC

Gwinnett, GA "At Mogean, we decided to monitor and make this information avaiable as a public service in the hopes of helping individuals and government officials after my sister's family in Hilton Head, S.C., were forced to relocate out of the storm's reach," said Matt Reilly, CEO, Mogean. "Mogean will periodically post updates on the evacuation progress during the storm on our website at http://www.mogean.com/mogean-analyzes-matthew-evacuation/."



Mogean's data identifies the counties where the highest percentage of the population have complied with the government's evacuation order and those areas where the evacuation response has been lowest, as well as the evacuees' destinations. About Mogean

Mogean, based in Atlanta, uses advanced geospatial location data and predictive analytics to deliver the real time information companies need to offer relevant services and products to consumers. Rather than spamming consumers with unwanted mobile ads, Mogean uses advanced algorithms that analyze ambient data in real time to enable companies to assess, predict and meet consumer needs. More information is available at www.mogean.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161008005067/en/

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[October 09, 2016] KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) Showed Continued Overall Survival Benefit Compared to Chemotherapy with Longer Follow-Up in Patients with Previously Treated Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Data to Be Presented at ESMO 2016 Congress

Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), the company's anti-PD-1 therapy, demonstrated superiority in overall survival (OS) at 18 months compared to standard of care chemotherapy (docetaxel) in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) previously treated with platinum-containing chemotherapy whose tumors expressed PD-L1 (tumor proportion score [TPS] of one percent or more), as well as patients with high levels of PD-L1 expression (TPS of 50 percent or more). These data, from the phase 2/3 KEYNOTE-010 trial, will be presented at the ESMO 2016 Congress, the annual meeting of the European Society for Medical Oncology, in Copenhagen (Abstract #LBA48). "These findings - which show superior survival with longer follow-up across patients with PD-L1 expression (tumor proportion score of one percent or more), as well as improved quality of life - point to KEYTRUDA as a durable treatment option for many previously treated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer," said Roy S. Herbst, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine and chief of medical oncology, Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven. "These data also reinforce the value of using PD-L1 as a biomarker to identify patients who are likely to benefit from KEYTRUDA." In additional data at the ESMO 2016 Congress from KEYNOTE-010, an analysis of patient-reported health-related quality of life outcomes showed more patients treated with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) reported positive outcomes compared to patients treated with chemotherapy (Abstract #1219P). Separately at the ESMO 2016 Congress, researchers presented an analysis of PD-L1 prevalence across three separate studies, including KEYNOTE-010. Overall, 66 percent of patients with metastatic NSCLC expressed any level of PD-L1, and 28 percent expressed high levels of PD-L1 (Abstract #1060P). "Our research in immuno-oncology continues to show tremendous promise, with our goal being to extend the lives of significant numbers of patients with non-small cell lung cancer," said Roger Dansey, M.D., senior vice president and therapeutic area head, oncology late-stage development, Merck Research Laboratories. "In this longer-term analysis of KEYNOTE-010, among patients who responded to treatment, four times as many patients receiving KEYTRUDA were still alive without disease progression compared to docetaxel. It is gratifying to see these results continue with additional follow-up." Merck has a robust clinical development program for KEYTRUDA in lung cancer, with multiple registration-enabling studies currently underway. The KEYTRUDA clinical development program includes more than 30 tumor types in more than 350 clinical trials, including more than 100 trials that combine KEYTRUDA with other cancer treatments. Efficacy and Safety Findings from KEYNOTE-010 (Abstract #LBA48) KEYNOTE-010 is a global, open-label, randomized, pivotal phase 2/3 study evaluating KEYTRUDA (2 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg every three weeks) compared to standard of care chemotherapy (docetaxel, 75 mg/m2 every three weeks) in patients with previously treated metastatic NSCLC. The primary endpoints were OS and progression-free survival (PFS) and were assessed based on patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1 (TPS of one percent or more) and high levels of PD-L1 (TPS of 50 percent or more). Secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR) and duration of response. KEYNOTE-010 is the first study of its kind to evaluate the potential of an immunotherapy compared to chemotherapy based on prospective measurement of PD-L1 expression in patients with metastatic NSCLC. As previously announced, the study met its primary objective, showing that KEYTRUDA significantly improved OS compared to chemotherapy in patients with PD-L1 expression (TPS of one percent or more). Findings were similar in patients who received the FDA-approved dose of KEYTRUDA (2 mg/kg every three weeks) and an investigational dose of KEYTRUDA (10 mg/kg every three weeks). These data also served as the basis for the KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) application approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA (News - Alert)) in July of this year and are currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the second-line or greater NSCLC treatment setting. At the ESMO 2016 Congress, data from this study of 1,034 patients included six months of additional follow-up, with a median follow-up of 19.2 months (range, 11.7-29.7), and showed superior outcomes of OS, PFS, and ORR with KEYTRUDA compared to docetaxel in patients with PD-L1 expression (TPS of one percent or more) as well as high levels of PD-L1 expression (TPS of 50 percent or more) - with consistency of outcomes across KEYTRUDA doses. In patients with PD-L1 expression (TPS of one percent or more), OS at 18 months was 37 percent (HR, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.60-0.87]; p=0.0003) with KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg, 43 percent (HR, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.50-0.73]; p<0.00001) with KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg, and 24 percent with docetaxel. Among all patients, median OS was 10.5 months with KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg, 13.6 months with KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg, and 8.6 months with docetaxel. ORR was 19 percent (95% CI, 15-23, p=0.00025) with KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg, 20 percent (95% CI, 16-25, p=0.00004) with KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg and 10 percent (95% CI, 7-13) with docetaxel. Responses to KEYTRUDA continued to be durable; among patients with any level of PD-L1 expression who responded to treatment, 60 percent on each of the KEYTRUDA treatment arms were alive, progression-free, and had not received additional therapy for their disease, compared to 15 percent in the docetaxel treatment arm. In patients with high levels of PD-L1 expression (TPS of 50 percent or more), OS at 18 months was 46 percent (HR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.39-0.73]; p=0.00004) with KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg, 52 percent with KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg (HR, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.35-0.66]; p<0.00001), and 24 percent with docetaxel. In this group, median OS was 15.8 months with KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg, 18.8 months with KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg, and 8.2 months with docetaxel. ORR was 29 percent (95% CI, 22-38, p<0.00001) with KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg, 32 percent (95% CI, 24-40, p<0.00001) with KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg, and nine percent (95% CI, 5-14) with docetaxel. Responses to KEYTRUDA continued to be durable; among patients with high levels of PD-L1 expression who responded to treatment, 68 and 63 percent on the KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg treatment arms, respectively, were alive, progression-free, and had not received additional therapy for their disease, compared to 15 percent in the docetaxel treatment arm. The safety profile of KEYTRUDA was consistent with that observed in previously reported studies of KEYTRUDA. Treatment-related adverse events remained lower with KEYTRUDA compared to docetaxel. Among the total study population, 13, 17, and 36 percent of patients experienced Grades 3-5 treatment-related adverse events with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) 2 mg/kg, KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg, and docetaxel, respectively. Compared with the previous analysis, two additional patients in the KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg arm and five patients in the KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg arm experienced immune-mediated adverse events, none of which led to death. Grade 3-5 immune-mediated adverse events that occurred in two or more patients included pneumonitis (n=14), severe skin toxicities (n=8), and colitis (n=4). Additional immune-mediated adverse events observed in at least two patients in the KEYTRUDA arms of the study included hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, pancreatitis, adrenal insufficiency, myositis, thyroiditis, hepatitis, hypophysitis, and type 1 diabetes mellitus. In this study to date, there have been 10 treatment-related adverse events that led to death, two with KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg, three with KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg, and five with docetaxel. These data will be presented in a poster discussion session on Oct. 9 from 2:45 - 4:15 p.m. CEST (Abstract #LBA48) (Location: Oslo). Patient-Reported Outcomes Findings from KEYNOTE-010 (Abstract #1219P) Also reported at the ESMO 2016 Congress were health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes from the KEYNOTE-010 trial. Findings were based on patient-reported assessments using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), EORTC QLQ Lung Cancer 13, and EroQol-5D-3L instruments to measure for outcomes such as physical, role, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning, as well as lung cancer and treatment-related symptoms, among other measures.



Overall, from baseline to the 12-week assessment, patients treated with KEYTRUDA (2 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg every three weeks) reported numeric improvements, some of which were significant, in HRQoL and prolonged time to deterioration of lung cancer symptoms (defined using a composite endpoint of cough, dyspnea, and chest pain) compared with docetaxel (75 mg/m2 every three weeks). These findings, along with results from additional patient-reported outcomes analyses, suggest that HRQoL and symptoms were maintained or improved more with KEYTRUDA than with docetaxel.

These data were presented in a poster session on Oct. 8 from 1 - 2 p.m. CEST (Location: Hall E). PD-L1 Prevalence Findings from KEYNOTE-001, -010, and -024 (Abstract #1060P) Results from a third NSCLC abstract at the ESMO 2016 Congress explored, for the first time, the prevalence of PD-L1 in patients screened across multiple studies. The analysis assessed 4,784 patients with NSCLC who had tumors evaluable for PD-L1 expression and were screened for eligibility in three registrational studies of KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) - KEYNOTE-001, KEYNOTE-010, and KEYNOTE-024. Based on this pooled analysis, 66 percent of patients across all three trials were determined to express PD-L1 (TPS of one percent or more) and 28 percent were determined to have high levels of PD-L1 expression (TPS of 50 percent or more). These findings were similar across demographic and disease characteristics examined, including prior lines of therapy, age, tumor source (primary and metastases), and histology (squamous and non-squamous). These data will be presented in a poster session on Oct. 9 from 1 - 2 p.m. CEST (Location: Hall E). About KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that works by increasing the ability of the body's immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells. KEYTRUDA is administered as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes every three weeks for the approved indications. KEYTRUDA for injection is supplied in a 100 mg single use vial. KEYTRUDA Indications and Dosing Melanoma KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma at a dose of 2 mg/kg every three weeks. Lung Cancer KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express PD-L1 as determined by an FDA-approved test with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy, at a dose of 2 mg/kg every three weeks. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving KEYTRUDA. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. An improvement in survival or disease-related symptoms has not yet been established. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. Head and Neck Cancer KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy at a fixed dose of 200 mg every three weeks. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. Selected Important Safety Information for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) Immune-mediated pneumonitis occurred in 19 (3.5%) of 550 patients, including Grade 2 (1.1%), 3 (1.3%), 4 (0.4%), or 5 (0.2%) pneumonitis and occurred more frequently in patients with a history of asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (5.4%) or prior thoracic radiation (6.0%). Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of pneumonitis. Evaluate suspected pneumonitis with radiographic imaging. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater pneumonitis. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2; permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for Grade 3 or 4 or recurrent Grade 2 pneumonitis. Immune-mediated colitis occurred in 4 (0.7%) of 550 patients, including Grade 2 (0.2%) or 3 (0.4%) colitis. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of colitis. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater colitis. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2 or 3; permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for Grade 4 colitis. Immune-mediated hepatitis occurred in patients receiving KEYTRUDA. Monitor patients for changes in liver function. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater hepatitis and, based on severity of liver enzyme elevations, withhold or discontinue KEYTRUDA. Hypophysitis occurred in 1 (0.2%) of 550 patients, which was Grade 3 in severity. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hypophysitis (including hypopituitarism and adrenal insufficiency). Administer corticosteroids and hormone replacement as clinically indicated. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2; withhold or discontinue for Grade 3 or 4 hypophysitis. Hyperthyroidism occurred in 10 (1.8%) of 550 patients, including Grade 2 (0.7%) or 3 (0.3%) hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism occurred in 38 (6.9%) of 550 patients, including Grade 2 (5.5%) or 3 (0.2%) hypothyroidism. Thyroid disorders can occur at any time during treatment. Monitor patients for changes in thyroid function (at the start of treatment, periodically during treatment, and as indicated based on clinical evaluation) and for clinical signs and symptoms of thyroid disorders. Administer replacement hormones for hypothyroidism and manage hyperthyroidism with thionamides and beta-blockers as appropriate. Withhold or discontinue KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) for Grade 3 or 4 hyperthyroidism. Type 1 diabetes mellitus, including diabetic ketoacidosis, occurred in 3 (0.1%) of 2117 patients. Monitor patients for hyperglycemia or other signs and symptoms of diabetes. Administer insulin for type 1 diabetes, and withhold KEYTRUDA and administer anti-hyperglycemics in patients with severe hyperglycemia. Immune-mediated nephritis occurred in patients receiving KEYTRUDA. Monitor patients for changes in renal function. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater nephritis. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2; permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for Grade 3 or 4 nephritis. Other clinically important immune-mediated adverse reactions can occur. For suspected immune-mediated adverse reactions, ensure adequate evaluation to confirm etiology or exclude other causes. Based on the severity of the adverse reaction, withhold KEYTRUDA and administer corticosteroids. Upon improvement to Grade 1 or less, initiate corticosteroid taper and continue to taper over at least 1 month. Based on limited data from clinical studies in patients whose immune-related adverse reactions could not be controlled with corticosteroid use, administration of other systemic immunosuppressants can be considered. Resume KEYTRUDA when the adverse reaction remains at Grade 1 or less following corticosteroid taper. Permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for any Grade 3 immune-mediated adverse reaction that recurs and for any life-threatening immune-mediated adverse reaction. The following clinically significant, immune-mediated adverse reactions occurred in less than 1% of 550 patients: rash, vasculitis, hemolytic anemia, serum sickness, and myasthenia gravis. Severe and life-threatening infusion-related reactions have been reported in 3 (0.1%) of 2117 patients. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infusion-related reactions including rigors, chills, wheezing, pruritus, flushing, rash, hypotension, hypoxemia, and fever. For Grade 3 or 4 reactions, stop infusion and permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA. Based on its mechanism of action, KEYTRUDA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. If used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant during treatment, apprise the patient of the potential hazard to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use highly effective contraception during treatment and for 4 months after the last dose of KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab). KEYTRUDA was discontinued due to adverse reactions in 14% of 550 patients. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 38% of patients. The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in at least 2% of patients were pleural effusion, pneumonia, dyspnea, pulmonary embolism, and pneumonitis. The most common adverse reactions (reported in at least 20% of patients) were fatigue (44%), cough (29%), decreased appetite (25%), and dyspnea (23%). It is not known whether KEYTRUDA is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, instruct women to discontinue nursing during treatment with KEYTRUDA and for 4 months after the final dose. Safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA have not been established in pediatric patients. Our Focus on Cancer Our goal is to translate breakthrough science into innovative oncology medicines to help people with cancer worldwide. At Merck Oncology, helping people fight cancer is our passion and supporting accessibility to our cancer medicines is our commitment. Our focus is on pursuing research in immuno-oncology and we are accelerating every step in the journey - from lab to clinic - to potentially bring new hope to people with cancer. As part of our focus on cancer, Merck is committed to exploring the potential of immuno-oncology with one of the fastest-growing development programs in the industry. We are currently executing an expansive research program that includes more than 350 clinical trials evaluating our anti-PD-1 therapy across more than 30 tumor types. We also continue to strengthen our immuno-oncology portfolio through strategic acquisitions and are prioritizing the development of several promising immunotherapeutic candidates with the potential to improve the treatment of advanced cancers. For more information about our oncology clinical trials, visit www.merck.com/clinicaltrials. About Merck For 125 years, Merck has been a global health care leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the "company") includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline products that the products will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company's patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company's 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC (News - Alert)) available at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov). Please see Prescribing Information for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf and Patient Information/Medication Guide for KEYTRUDA at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_mg.pdf. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161008005057/en/

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[October 09, 2016] Two Major Studies to Be Presented at ESMO 2016 Congress Presidential Symposium Demonstrate Potential of Merck's KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) for the First-Line Treatment of Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in a Broad Range of Patients

Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced results from two major studies of KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), the company's anti-PD-1 therapy, in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the ESMO 2016 Congress, the annual meeting of the European Society for Medical Oncology: In KEYNOTE-024, which evaluated squamous and non-squamous NSCLC patients whose tumors expressed high levels of PD-L1 (tumor proportion score, or TPS, of 50 percent or more), KEYTRUDA provided a 50 percent reduction in the risk of disease progression or death and a 40 percent reduction in the risk of death compared to platinum doublet, the current standard of care. These data were also published today in The New England Journal of Medicine . Based upon the results observed from KEYNOTE-024, to date KEYTRUDA is the only anti-PD-1 to demonstrate superior progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of both squamous and non-squamous NSCLC in patients whose tumors express high levels of PD-L1 and do not express EGFR or ALK genetic aberrations.

. Based upon the results observed from KEYNOTE-024, to date KEYTRUDA is the only anti-PD-1 to demonstrate superior progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of both squamous and non-squamous NSCLC in patients whose tumors express high levels of PD-L1 and do not express EGFR or ALK genetic aberrations. In KEYNOTE-021, Cohort G, which included patients with metastatic non-squamous NSCLC regardless of PD-L1 expression level, KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) plus chemotherapy (carboplatin plus pemetrexed) achieved a 55 percent objective response rate (ORR) compared to 29 percent for chemotherapy alone, the standard of care, and reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 47 percent. To date, KEYTRUDA is the only anti-PD-1 therapy to demonstrate superior efficacy in combination with chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone in patients receiving first-line treatment. These data were published today in The Lancet Oncology. "Chemotherapy has been the standard treatment for most patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer for decades, but survival rates remain low," said Dr. Roger M. Perlmutter, president, Merck Research Laboratories. "Our new data suggest that KEYTRUDA treatment can offer meaningful improvement over chemotherapy in a broad array of patients. In this sense, these studies may represent a turning point in worldwide efforts to control lung cancer. We sincerely thank the patients and the clinical investigators for their participation in our studies. Together we are working to improve the health of more and more patients with cancer." Merck has submitted KEYNOTE-024 data to regulatory agencies in the United States, Europe, and Japan. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation and Priority Review, with a PDUFA, or target action, date of Dec. 24, 2016. Merck is currently advancing multiple registration-enabling studies in NSCLC with KEYTRUDA as monotherapy and in combination, including the combination of KEYTRUDA plus a platinum/pemetrexed-based chemotherapy regimen in patients with previously untreated, non-squamous NSCLC in the ongoing phase 3 KEYNOTE-189 trial. The KEYTRUDA clinical development program includes more than 350 clinical trials across more than 30 tumor types, including more than 100 trials that combine KEYTRUDA with other cancer treatments. KEYNOTE-024: Data Showed KEYTRUDA was Superior to Chemotherapy for PFS and OS in First-Line Treatment of Metastatic NSCLC KEYNOTE-024 included 305 patients who were previously untreated and whose tumors expressed high levels of PD-L1 (TPS of 50 percent or more). Patients were randomized to receive a 200 mg fixed dose of KEYTRUDA every three weeks (n=154) or four to six cycles of investigator's choice of one of five platinum-based chemotherapy regimens (n=151): carboplatin or cisplatin plus pemetrexed, carboplatin or cisplatin plus gemcitabine, or carboplatin plus paclitaxel. Pemetrexed maintenance therapy was permitted for patients with non-squamous histologies. Patients randomized to the control arm had the option of crossing over to KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) upon disease progression. The median follow-up was 11.2 months (range, 6.3-19.7). The primary endpoint was PFS; secondary endpoints were OS, ORR, and safety. The findings published in The New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated that KEYTRUDA reduced the risk of progression or death by 50 percent compared to chemotherapy (HR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.37-0.68]; p<0.001). The median PFS for KEYTRUDA was 10.3 months (95% CI, 6.7-not reached) compared to 6.0 months for chemotherapy (95% CI, 4.2-6.2). At six months, 62.1 percent of patients treated with KEYTRUDA were alive and had no disease progression (95% CI, 53.8-69.4) compared to 50.3 percent of those receiving chemotherapy (95% CI, 41.9-58.2). This benefit was observed in all study subgroups. Additionally, KEYTRUDA resulted in a 40 percent reduction in the risk of death compared with chemotherapy (HR, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.41-0.89]; p=0.005); this finding includes the 66 patients (43.7%) on the chemotherapy arm who crossed over in-study to receive KEYTRUDA once their cancer had progressed; median OS was not reached in either group. Further, ORR was 44.8 percent for patients receiving KEYTRUDA (95% CI, 36.8-53.0), including six complete responses, compared to 27.8 percent with chemotherapy (95% CI, 20.8-35.7), including one complete response. "These data from KEYNOTE-024 demonstrate the potential of KEYTRUDA to change the way non-small cell lung cancer is currently treated," said Dr. Martin Reck, head of the thoracic oncology dept., LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Germany, and lead author of The New England Journal of Medicine paper. "This provides additional evidence that testing for PD-L1 levels should become standard in lung cancer at first diagnosis to guide treatment decisions." Additional Findings and Safety Information from KEYNOTE-024 The safety of KEYTRUDA was consistent with what has been seen in previous trials among patients with metastatic NSCLC. The most common treatment-related adverse events for KEYTRUDA were diarrhea (n=22), fatigue (n=16), and pyrexia (n=16). Grade 3-5 treatment-related adverse events for KEYTRUDA included diarrhea (n=6) and pneumonitis (n=4). There was one treatment-related death in a patient receiving KEYTRUDA (cause unknown). Additionally, based on an analysis of duration of response, a pre-specified exploratory endpoint, the median duration of response was not reached with KEYTRUDA (range, 1.9+ to 14.5+ months). The median duration of response with the chemotherapy group was 6.3 months (range, 2.1+ to 12.6+). Median time to response was 2.2 months for both groups. About KEYNOTE-024 KEYNOTE-024 is a randomized, phase 3 study (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02142738) evaluating KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) as monotherapy compared to standard of care platinum-based chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC. Patients enrolled were those who had received no prior systemic chemotherapy treatment for their advanced disease, whose tumors did not harbor an EGFR sensitizing mutation or ALK translocation, and whose tumors expressed high levels of PD-L1 (TPS of 50 percent or more) as determined by a central laboratory using an FDA approved companion diagnostic, the Dako PD-L1 IHC 22C3 PharmDx test, from Agilent Technologies (News - Alert). KEYNOTE-021, Cohort G: KEYTRUDA Combined with Chemotherapy Showed Higher Response Rates Compared to Chemotherapy Alone as First-Line Treatment of Metastatic NSCLC KEYNOTE-021, Cohort G, included 123 previously untreated patients with metastatic non-squamous NSCLC regardless of PD-L1 expression and whose tumors did not have EGFR mutations or ALK translocations. Patients were randomized to receive KEYTRUDA plus platinum doublet chemotherapy with pemetrexed and carboplatin (n=60) or platinum doublet chemotherapy alone (n=63). Patients randomized to the chemotherapy-only arm had the option of crossing over to KEYTRUDA monotherapy upon disease progression. The median follow-up was 10.6 months (range, 0.8-19.3). The findings published in The Lancet Oncology demonstrated that ORR nearly doubled by adding KEYTRUDA to chemotherapy, with an ORR of 55 percent (n=33/60) compared to 29 percent (n=18/63) for chemotherapy alone (treatment difference 26%, 95% CI, 9-42%, p=0.0016); all responses were partial. Median duration of response was not reached in either group (range, 1.4+-13.0+ for KEYTRUDA plus chemotherapy; 1.4+-15.2+ for chemotherapy alone). Responses in both groups were durable, with 88 percent (n=29/33) of responders in the KEYTRUDA plus chemotherapy group and 78 percent (n=14/18) of responders in the chemotherapy alone group experiencing ongoing response at the time of data cut-off. Additionally, the KEYTRUDA combination significantly reduced the risk of disease progression or death compared to chemotherapy alone (hazard ratio 0.53, 95% CI, 0.31-0.91, p=0.0102). Median PFS was 13.0 months with KEYTRUDA plus chemotherapy compared to 8.9 months with chemotherapy alone. OS was similar between the two arms, with 92 percent survival at six monthsin both, and 75 percent and 72 percent survival at 12 months in the KEYTRUDA combination and chemotherapy alone, respectively.



Of treated patients on the KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) plus chemotherapy arm, 47 percent remained on treatment as of the cut-off date, compared to 31 percent on chemotherapy alone. Of the treated patients who discontinued treatment on the chemotherapy-only arm, 52 percent (n=32/62) subsequently received anti-PD-L1 therapy, with 32 percent crossing over to KEYTRUDA monotherapy as allowed by the study protocol and 19 percent receiving it outside of study crossover. "The results from KEYNOTE-021 show that pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy nearly doubled the number of patients responding to treatment than chemotherapy alone," said Dr. Corey Langer, director of thoracic oncology and professor of medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and lead author of The Lancet Oncology paper. "We are now gaining a better understanding that pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy may play an important role in the first-line treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer."

Additional Safety Information from KEYNOTE-021, Cohort G The most common treatment-related adverse events (occurring in at least 15% of patients) for KEYTRUDA plus chemotherapy were fatigue, nausea, anemia, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, increased AST, constipation, decreased appetite, increased ALT, dysgeusia, and decreased neutrophils. Grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events in this arm included fatigue, nausea, anemia, rash, vomiting, increased AST, increased ALT, and decreased neutrophils. The most common immune-mediated adverse events in patients receiving KEYTRUDA plus chemotherapy were hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Additionally, pneumonitis, infusion reactions, and severe skin toxicity were noted. These immune-mediated adverse events occurred at similar rates to patients receiving KEYTRUDA as a single agent. There was one treatment-related death from sepsis in a patient receiving KEYTRUDA plus chemotherapy, and two (one from sepsis and one from pancytopenia) in patients receiving chemotherapy alone. About KEYNOTE-021, Cohort G Cohort G of the multicenter, open-label, phase 1/2 multi-cohort KEYNOTE-021 study evaluated the efficacy and safety of KEYTRUDA in combination with pemetrexed and carboplatin compared with pemetrexed and carboplatin in patients with metastatic, non-squamous, EGFR- and ALK-negative NSCLC in the first-line treatment setting. Patients were randomized 1:1 to four cycles of KEYTRUDA (200 mg plus carboplatin AUC 5 (5 mg/mL/min) plus pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 every three weeks), or carboplatin plus pemetrexed alone, followed by maintenance pemetrexed with or without KEYTRUDA. Randomization was stratified by PD-L1 expression (positive expression defined as TPS of one percent or more; negative expression defined as TPS of less than one percent). Patients randomized to the chemotherapy arm were allowed to cross over to KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) monotherapy if they experienced disease progression. Response was assessed by blinded, independent central review using RECIST 1.1 every six weeks for the first 18 weeks, every nine weeks through the first year, and every 12 weeks in the second year. The primary endpoint was ORR; secondary endpoints included PFS, duration of response, and OS. About KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that works by increasing the ability of the body's immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells. KEYTRUDA is administered as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes every three weeks for the approved indications. KEYTRUDA for injection is supplied in a 100 mg single use vial. KEYTRUDA Indications and Dosing Melanoma KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma at a dose of 2 mg/kg every three weeks. Lung Cancer KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express PD-L1 as determined by an FDA-approved test with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy, at a dose of 2 mg/kg every three weeks. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving KEYTRUDA. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. An improvement in survival or disease-related symptoms has not yet been established. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. Head and Neck Cancer KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy at a fixed dose of 200 mg every three weeks. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. Selected Important Safety Information for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) Immune-mediated pneumonitis occurred in 19 (3.5%) of 550 patients, including Grade 2 (1.1%), 3 (1.3%), 4 (0.4%), or 5 (0.2%) pneumonitis and occurred more frequently in patients with a history of asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (5.4%) or prior thoracic radiation (6.0%). Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of pneumonitis. Evaluate suspected pneumonitis with radiographic imaging. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater pneumonitis. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2; permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for Grade 3 or 4 or recurrent Grade 2 pneumonitis. Immune-mediated colitis occurred in 4 (0.7%) of 550 patients, including Grade 2 (0.2%) or 3 (0.4%) colitis. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of colitis. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater colitis. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2 or 3; permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for Grade 4 colitis. Immune-mediated hepatitis occurred in patients receiving KEYTRUDA. Monitor patients for changes in liver function. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater hepatitis and, based on severity of liver enzyme elevations, withhold or discontinue KEYTRUDA. Hypophysitis occurred in 1 (0.2%) of 550 patients, which was Grade 3 in severity. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hypophysitis (including hypopituitarism and adrenal insufficiency). Administer corticosteroids and hormone replacement as clinically indicated. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2; withhold or discontinue for Grade 3 or 4 hypophysitis. Hyperthyroidism occurred in 10 (1.8%) of 550 patients, including Grade 2 (0.7%) or 3 (0.3%) hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism occurred in 38 (6.9%) of 550 patients, including Grade 2 (5.5%) or 3 (0.2%) hypothyroidism. Thyroid disorders can occur at any time during treatment. Monitor patients for changes in thyroid function (at the start of treatment, periodically during treatment, and as indicated based on clinical evaluation) and for clinical signs and symptoms of thyroid disorders. Administer replacement hormones for hypothyroidism and manage hyperthyroidism with thionamides and beta-blockers as appropriate. Withhold or discontinue KEYTRUDA for Grade 3 or 4 hyperthyroidism. Type 1 diabetes mellitus, including diabetic ketoacidosis, occurred in 3 (0.1%) of 2117 patients. Monitor patients for hyperglycemia or other signs and symptoms of diabetes. Administer insulin for type 1 diabetes, and withhold KEYTRUDA and administer anti-hyperglycemics in patients with severe hyperglycemia. Immune-mediated nephritis occurred in patients receiving KEYTRUDA. Monitor patients for changes in renal function. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater nephritis. Withhold KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) for Grade 2; permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for Grade 3 or 4 nephritis. Other clinically important immune-mediated adverse reactions can occur. For suspected immune-mediated adverse reactions, ensure adequate evaluation to confirm etiology or exclude other causes. Based on the severity of the adverse reaction, withhold KEYTRUDA and administer corticosteroids. Upon improvement to Grade 1 or less, initiate corticosteroid taper and continue to taper over at least 1 month. Based on limited data from clinical studies in patients whose immune-related adverse reactions could not be controlled with corticosteroid use, administration of other systemic immunosuppressants can be considered. Resume KEYTRUDA when the adverse reaction remains at Grade 1 or less following corticosteroid taper. Permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for any Grade 3 immune-mediated adverse reaction that recurs and for any life-threatening immune-mediated adverse reaction. The following clinically significant, immune-mediated adverse reactions occurred in less than 1% of 550 patients: rash, vasculitis, hemolytic anemia, serum sickness, and myasthenia gravis. Severe and life-threatening infusion-related reactions have been reported in 3 (0.1%) of 2117 patients. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infusion-related reactions including rigors, chills, wheezing, pruritus, flushing, rash, hypotension, hypoxemia, and fever. For Grade 3 or 4 reactions, stop infusion and permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA. Based on its mechanism of action, KEYTRUDA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. If used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant during treatment, apprise the patient of the potential hazard to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use highly effective contraception during treatment and for 4 months after the last dose of KEYTRUDA. KEYTRUDA was discontinued due to adverse reactions in 14% of 550 patients. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 38% of patients. The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in at least 2% of patients were pleural effusion, pneumonia, dyspnea, pulmonary embolism, and pneumonitis. The most common adverse reactions (reported in at least 20% of patients) were fatigue (44%), cough (29%), decreased appetite (25%), and dyspnea (23%). It is not known whether KEYTRUDA is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, instruct women to discontinue nursing during treatment with KEYTRUDA and for 4 months after the final dose. Safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA have not been established in pediatric patients. Our Focus on Cancer Our goal is to translate breakthrough science into innovative oncology medicines to help people with cancer worldwide. At Merck Oncology, helping people fight cancer is our passion and supporting accessibility to our cancer medicines is our commitment. Our focus is on pursuing research in immuno-oncology and we are accelerating every step in the journey - from lab to clinic - to potentially bring new hope to people with cancer. As part of our focus on cancer, Merck is committed to exploring the potential of immuno-oncology with one of the fastest-growing development programs in the industry. We are currently executing an expansive research program that includes more than 350 clinical trials evaluating our anti-PD-1 therapy across more than 30 tumor types. We also continue to strengthen our immuno-oncology portfolio through strategic acquisitions and are prioritizing the development of several promising immunotherapeutic candidates with the potential to improve the treatment of advanced cancers. For more information about our oncology clinical trials, visit www.merck.com/clinicaltrials. About Merck For 125 years, Merck has been a global health care leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the "company") includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline products that the products will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company's patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company's 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC (News - Alert)) available at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov). Please see Prescribing Information for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf and Patient Information/Medication Guide for KEYTRUDA at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_mg.pdf. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161008005065/en/

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Western KY counties get share of $217M for clean water
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Oct. 09, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 09, 2016 | 03:52 PM | PADUCAH, KY

A crew of five Jackson Purchase Energy Corporation workers are traveling to North Carolina to assist with power restoration in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.



The crew left Paducah Sunday morning. JPEC says they were dispatched to North Carolina by the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives at the request of the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives through the mutual aid network of the nation's electric co-ops.



When they arrive, the workers will be restoring power for Pee Dee Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) in Wadesboro, NC  about 50 miles southeast of Charlotte and 15 miles north of the South Carolina border. As of 8:00 pm Sunday night, approximately 40% of Pee Dee EMC's 20,000 customers were without power.



"JPEC is part of a network of more than 900 electric cooperatives across the nation," said Dennis L. Cannon, JPEC's president and CEO. "During emergencies, we help each other restore power quickly and safely. I'm incredibly proud of our men who have volunteered to leave their families to assist people in need. They'll be traveling a long distance to work long hours in difficult conditions."



JPEC serves almost 30,000 members in portions of six western Kentucky counties -- Ballard, Carlisle, Graves, Livingston, Marshall, and McCracken.
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By Jim Waters

Oct. 09, 2016 | LEXINGTON, KY

By Jim Waters Oct. 09, 2016 | 11:31 AM | LEXINGTON, KY

The new wrinkle in anti-smoking crusaders' annual demand to raise Kentucky's cigarette tax is that hiking taxes to fund the Medicaid expansion is somehow a better approach than moving able-bodied adults from government dependency to the fulfillment offered by work and independence.



Ironic, isn't it, that these devotees are willing to raise a tax that will hurt poor Kentuckians more than any group while vehemently defending the status quo that keeps low-income citizens  the very group they claim to represent  dependent on a government program?



They often point to Indiana, where crusaders succeeded in convincing lawmakers to raise the cigarette tax by 44 cents in 2007 by agreeing to target the increased revenues to fund health insurance for lower-income Hoosiers.



However, these same proponents conveniently ignore the fact that Indiana's current cigarette tax of 99.5 cents remains well beneath the state average of $1.65, and that sales dropped by nearly 18 percent  almost 100 million packs  in the first nine months following the hike.



While those results do reinforce the free-market maxim "what you tax you get less of," they don't exactly engender optimism that raising cigarette taxes by a whopping $1.50 would, as imagined by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, "be a stable source of additional revenue for the state."



It's fool's gold.



State lawmakers should not be conned by this very political and ideologically liberal network  which supported Obamacare even though it's had a devastating impact on cancer patients  into thinking raising cigarette taxes will increase and stabilize funding for Medicaid or any other government program, for that matter.



Plus, it's a distraction from thinking bigger concerning policies that simplify the tax code, encourage job creation and eliminate Kentucky's dependence on revenue from corporate and individual income taxes, which are particularly harmful as they discourage productivity by punishing success.



What's likely to happen if Kentucky increased its cigarette tax from the current 60 cents to the $2.10 per pack  as recommended by the network  is similar to what was predicted will now occur in Pennsylvania following lawmakers' decision this summer to hike cigarette taxes in the Keystone State by 63 percent to $2.60 per pack.



The Commonwealth Foundation's Elizabeth Stelle argues the dramatic increase could actually cause tax revenue to decrease over time as consumers travel across state lines to purchase cheaper cigarettes.



"Tobacco taxes are not going to be enough," Stelle told the Heartland Institute's Budget and Tax News. "More people are going to go out of state to buy cigarettes, more smuggling of cigarettes is going to go on in the state, and possibly more people will be in the welfare system as they find it tougher to fund their habit and meet other daily needs."



If there's a concern that raising the cigarette tax will result in black market-type activity in Pennsylvania  which at $1.60 is already 22nd-highest in the nation and is either the same or lower than five of its six neighboring states  isn't it prudent to address the possibility of such goings-on in Kentucky, where 40 percent of the population lives in a county bordering another state and where the kind of increase sought by pro-tax cheerleaders would jack up the tax from third-lowest to absolute highest among surrounding states?



Lawmakers should stay focused on following through with the common-sense reforms needed to improve our state's overall tax policy and ensure the sustainability of Kentucky's Medicaid program while leaving any and all cigarette-tax increases behind.



Jim Waters is president of the Bluegrass Institute; Kentucky's free-market think tank. Reach him at jwaters@freedomkentucky.com. Read previously published columns at www.bipps.org.
On the second Monday of October, many businesses in the United States will be closed for a federal holiday officially known as Columbus Day. You might have heard something about Christopher Columbus sailing the ocean blue in 1492 and "sort of" discovering America.Here are 10 more facts to discover about Columbus and the holiday.Christopher Columbus is an Anglicized version of the name he was given at birth in 1451 in Genoa, Italy.Columbus was a pirate or privateer, who took part in attacks on Moorish merchant vessels.He had a hard time drumming up financial support for his first voyage and spent nearly a decade pitching his plan to monarchy in Portugal, England and France before he got the financing in 1492 from Ferdinand and Isabela of Spain.When he set off from Spain in 1492 he was seeking a shorter route to China and the riches in trade that would come through the discovery. He didnt know another entire continent (ours) lay between Europe and Asia and he definitely underestimated how far away China was.near what is now known as Watling Island. But he continued to believe that he had reached the Indies and therefore thought the native people he encountered were Indians -- a misnomer that lasted for more than five centuries.(1492, 1493, 1498 and 1502) across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain brought him to the Caribbean Islands, South America and Central America. He never set foot in North America.Norse Viking Leif Eriksson is believed to have arrived in Newfoundland in 1000  nearly 500 years before Columbus.were not full of gold, silver and other treasure, Columbus decided the native people were a valuable resource and began the slave trade.tyrannical and brutal ways as governor of Hispaniola led to his arrest in 1500. He was brought back to Spain in chains, but was later freed by King Ferdinand, who financed his final voyage in 1502.Columbus Day an official holiday. It became a federal holiday in 1937. Originally celebrated Oct. 12, the holidays observance is held on the second Monday in October. Berkeley, Calif. replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day in 1992.
LOCAL COMMUNITIES SCORE WELL IN "AMERICA IN BLOOM" COMPETITION

LOCAL PARTICIPANTS WERE: CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE, HENDERSON COUNTY, TOWN OF MILLS RIVER, TOWN OF LAUREL PARK, VILLAGE OF FLAT ROCK

Top honors for the prestigious 2016 America in Bloom National Awards Program were announced at the annual awards held in Arroyo Grande, CA on October 8.

All participants were evaluated on six criteria: overall impression, environmental awareness, heritage preservation, urban forestry, landscaped areas, and floral displays. Additionally they were judged on their community involvement across municipal, residential, and commercial sectors. America in Bloom is the only national awards program that sends specially trained judges to personally visit participants. In addition, each participant receives a detailed written evaluation that can be used as a guide to future improvements.

Henderson County, NC received a FOUR bloom rating out of a possible five blooms.

A special award for Most Striking Public Wall Mural was also received.

In addition, they were awarded special recognition for their efforts in Landscaped Areas.

Karin Rindal and Pam Turrell, AIB judges, visited communities of similar populations and spent two days touring each town, meeting municipal officials, residents, and volunteers. Other competitors in the 30,000 to 50,000 category were Midland, MI, Saratoga, CA and St. Charles, IL.

America in Bloom executive director, Laura Kunkle, said, America in Bloom is helping towns and cities of all sizes achieve their potential. Every year our participants raise the bar, and the accomplishments and progress shown by this year's group is again remarkable. These are, without a doubt, some of the best places to live in America.

To date, 250 communities from 41 states have participated in the program and more than 22 million people have been touched by it.

Registrations for the 2017 national awards program can be submitted until February 28, 2017. Eligible participants include towns, cities, college and university campuses, business districts, military installations, and recognized neighborhoods of large cities.
I have preached the need for modernizing local governments as a way of improving local economies, and the quality of life, for the past 10 years. It will only come to be available with dynamic local participation. The massive changes we need to make can only come from the ground up. We do not need a strongman to dictate the way to make procedural changes, but may have to face that probability.

We are seeing examples of counties, mid-sized cities and even states successfully involved in this paradigm. The key ingredient always seems to be increased communication between government and the governed. Where this works best is where large blocs of citizens express their opinions on issues of taxing and controls. The larger, the better: Where 5,000 or 7,000 interested citizens express a common viewpoint, it gets attention.

If that does not exist, we wind up with the gridlock now seen in local and national politics. And the kind of choices we have to make on a national election. (I say national, because neither candidate fulfills the ideal characteristics we want in our president), so of course we have to choose the lesser of two evils. Note that this has been true in a majority of our past national elections. Note also that one of the best presidents we ever had, Harry S. Truman, was not elected but succeeded, and was a small-time haberdasher from Missouri who played poker and piano, but stepped up to the job.

Cayuga and Onondaga counties need big changes in local government to send up the message we need to live, love and prosper. And I dont see a narcissist dictating things that come from the top down that we need to have happen. So my choice will not be the happiest, but the safest, for now. And Ill keep talking about local follies and foibles.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 09/10/2016 (2213 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Pioneering Winnipeg businessman Alexander Macdonalds name might not be as well-known as some of his contemporaries, such as Alloway, Ashdown, Pollard or Higgins. Yet, he was involved in the formative years of some of Manitobas best-known companies and ran one of Western Canadas largest business empires, which still bears his name.

Born in 1844 to a farming family at Pitlochry, County Perthshire, Scotland, Macdonald came to Canada in 1866 and first settled in Seaforth, Ont., where he worked at a dairy farm and general store. The lure of the West beckoned, and he arrived aboard the steamship Selkirk at the foot of Lombard Street July 1, 1871.

WESTERN CANADA PICTORAL INDEX, MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTION CA, NO. 10142 A portrait of Alexander Macdonald circa 1913.

Macdonalds first job was as a clerk at Palmer Clark, a general merchant. He then moved on to the venerable Higgins and Young, a dry goods company that became a full-fledged department store serving Manitoba and all points west. It is best-known today for selling the first bushel of Manitoba wheat to Ontario in 1876  the official start of the Wests grain trade.

I was here at Winnipegs birth, I was here at her christening, and I have stayed to see her grow into one of Canadas mightiest cities Alexander Macdonald

With a secure job under his belt, Macdonald returned to Ontario in 1877 to marry Annie Sullivan. They returned to the city and began a family that would eventually consist of four sons and a daughter.

Macdonald was not a rich man. He was from a modest family and arrived with just a few dollars in his pocket. He was not well-educated, having worked on the family farm from an early age. There was something about him, however, that made a lasting impression on those he met, even those well above him in the social pecking order.

John Dafoe, editor of the Manitoba Free Press, said his first impressions of Macdonald was: strong, ambitious, energetic, aggressive and generally possessing those qualities which characterize the average Scotchman.

In the late 1870s, Higgins and Young wound down the grocery side of its business and, thanks to some financial success in the land-speculation game, Macdonald was able to pull together $30,000 to establish A. Macdonald Co., a wholesale grocery business on Market Street. He also partnered in a similar enterprise called Macdonald and Mahoney in Battleford, Sask., which at the time was the capital of the North-West Territories.

Macdonald travelled regularly between the two warehouses via Red River cart, visiting customers and new settlements along the way.

In 1882, Macdonald purchased the Fortune Block on Main Street at St. Mary Avenue from developer Mark Fortune and had the near twin Macdonald Block built on the adjacent lot as his new headquarters. The Market Street site became the company warehouse. During his time at the Macdonald Block, between 1882 and 1902, Macdonald established himself as one of the best-known and richest businessmen in the West.

Macdonald grew his wholesale business not through the traditional method of having a couple of large warehouses in key cities and an army of travelling salesman in the field taking orders. Instead, he established a network of around a dozen smaller warehouses from Thunder Bay to Victoria, and his customers came to him. Along the way, he also collected a handful of food-production facilities and packaging plants.

As the company grew, Macdonald kept up his traditional annual road trips to visit his warehouses and major customers until the year before his death. It was said he knew every one of his employees by name and knew the people of the West like few others.

CITY OF EDMONTON, HERITAGE MANAGEMENT UNIT The MacDonald Building in Edmonton in 2003. Macdonalds grocery wholesale empire stretched from Thunder Bay to Victoria.

Aside from his own companys interests, Macdonald was also a director of numerous other businesses, ranging from railroads and grain elevators to mortgage companies.

Considered a well-read man, it is not surprising Macdonald was involved in the formative years of two of Winnipegs daily newspapers.

In the case of the Free Press  where, as a new arrival, he helped operate the presses on their first few weekly editions in 1872  he returned as a director in 1886 for a period of three years. He was also a founding director of the Winnipeg Tribune when it began publishing in January 1890 and served as its chairman in 1903.

When Great-West Life was established in 1892, Macdonald was its founding chairman, a position he held until 1922. He oversaw its growth into the Wests largest company, controlling hundreds of millions of dollars in assets.

Like many leading businessmen at the time, Macdonald also dabbled in local politics, serving as an alderman in 1887 and 1888. He became mayor in 1892, declining to run for a second term, saying the job was a sacrifice of personal interest and great sacrifice of personal comfort.

By 1911, Macdonald was considered one of the most powerful and best-known businessmen in the West. The Tribune, musing about who the wealthiest man in the city was in 1911, stated: Mr. Macdonald if not the daddy of the millionaires, is well forward in the race.

In 1912, Macdonald sold 75 per cent of his company for $2.5 million to the Dominion Bond Company of Toronto, which, in turn, took it public and renamed it Macdonalds Consolidated.

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The entire Macdonald family  Alexander, Annie and their five children  are buried in the Macdonald mausoleum in Kildonan Presbyterian Cemetery.

In addition to his shares in this new company, which were managed by the Macdonald family and a couple of key employees, Macdonald was allowed to retain his holdings in British Columbia under the A. Macdonald Company name. Both companies were headquartered out of a newly constructed building at 313 Pacific Ave.

Despite the diminished role, MacDonald still had more than enough business interests to keep him busy, and he was now able to devote more time to charitable causes.

He had been a longtime benefactor of organizations such as the Childrens Home of Winnipeg, Knowles School for Boys and the Home of the Friendless, the latter a homeless mission focused on orphans, single-parent families and the elderly.

His interest in the welfare of children grew as he and Annie faced a number of personal tragedies involving their own children.

One son, Graham, died after a fall at the familys cottage at Lake of the Woods in 1910. Another, Douglas, who had been ill since birth with an unnamed affliction, died in 1914 at the age of 23. A third son, Charles, died during the influenza epidemic of 1918.

A Tribune editor who wrote a column about Winnipegs old-timers under the pseudonym the Wanderer noted in 1920 that for years, Macdonalds Sundays consisted of getting up early and going to the Childrens Home of Winnipeg and the Home of the Friendless to see what money or supplies they needed. He then visited the rooms, speaking to each of the children and stopping to stroke the heads of the orphaned babies in their cribs.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS This building at 313 Pacific Ave. became the home of Macdonalds Consolidated in 1914. When the company was sold to Safeway in 1929, the U.S. retailer established its Canadian headquarters here. Safeway is still painted on one side of the building.

After his death, it was noted in a number of eulogies and tributes the extent of Macdonalds generosity would never truly be known because many of his benefactors were sworn to secrecy.

The last year of Macdonalds life was filled with more sorrow.

Annie, once a formidable force in her own right in church and charitable work, had been in failing health for about a decade.

She died in August 1927 at their Dromore Avenue home just weeks shy of the couples 50th wedding anniversary.

The last Macdonald son, Duncan, who worked alongside his father as vice-president of Macdonalds Consolidated, died Aug. 8, 1928 of pleurisy at the Elmwood sanatorium.

Macdonald, who at the time of Duncans death was bedridden with an illness of his own, died two weeks later Aug. 23, at the age of 84.

The last surviving member of his family, his daughter Grace, was at his bedside.

Alexander, Annie and their five children are buried in the Macdonald mausoleum at Kildonan Presbyterian Cemetery.

In 1918, the A. Macdonald Company merged with the Riley-Ramsay Company to create Western Grocers Limited, a grocery wholesaler serving Western Canada.

It went on to become known as Westfair Foods and is now part of the Loblaw family of companies.

At Macdonalds Consolidated, John Forlong, Macdonalds son-in-law, took over as president, and the board quickly began selling off assets.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The Macdonald Block at 226 Main St. served as headquarters for the A. Macdonald Company between 1882 and 1902, when Macdonald became one of the best-known and richest men in the West.

Within a year of Macdonalds death, a collection of 44 retail stores the company had amassed under his guidance with the goal of creating a Western Canadian retail grocery chain was sold to Mutual Stores Limited, an arms-length company of U.S.-based retailer Safeway.

A few months later, the remainder of Macdonalds Consolidateds assets, including warehouses and food-processing plants, were sold to Safeway. This was the wholesale network the U.S. retailer needed to get into the western Canadian grocery business in 1929.

Macdonalds Consolidated still exists today and was purchased in 2013 by Sobeys as part of its takeover of Canada Safeway Ltd.

Christian Cassidy writes about local history on his blog, West End Dumplings.

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The entire Macdonald family  Alexander, Annie and their five children  are buried in the Macdonald mausoleum in Kildonan Presbyterian Cemetery.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 08/10/2016 (2214 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For the Lezak family, it started out innocently enough. Once a month theyd head down to Winnipeg Harvest  mom, dad and two teenage kids  to pack hampers and hang out.

Theyd race to see who could finish first. Theyd talk about the usual family stuff.

We made it into a fun thing, mom Sherry Lezak said.

Brooklynn Desandes, 6, is all smiles as she digs out bags and boxes of food at the bottom of large boxes while volunteering for the first time with her grandmother Eileen Kirton Saturday.

They volunteered at a few other charities, too. Just to share the wealth.

Then something happened. They realized no matter how many hampers they made for Winnipeg Harvest, or how fast, they disappeared just as quickly.

Sherry said her 17-year-old daughter, Victoria, and her 16-year-old son, Joseph, got a crash course in the never-ending demands of poverty.

It seemed to always spark something in them, said Sherry. I dont think they realized how much help was needed. Its like they became more well-rounded (personally).

Its a huge community, said Joseph, who, along with his sister, attends Sturgeon Heights Collegiate. Every week were meeting new people. Its a great feeling to know that youre helping people in need.

Added Victoria: You see how drastic it (the need) is, how necessary it is.

That sentiment is why the Lezak family was among the dozens of volunteers to attend the 30th annual Winnipeg Harvests Share Your Thanks food drive Saturday  the largest food drive of the year on the eve of Thanksgiving.

In 2015, Harvest raised 49,245,566 kilograms of donations for Share Your Thanks, which was matched by Peak of the Market and Safeway, bringing the total to 147734,698 kilograms. Both Peak of the Market and Safeway will match all donations again this year.

Harvest executive director David Northcott said the initial concept behind the event was to thank the whole culture of the organization with a turkey dinner at their headquarters on Winnipeg Avenue.

Its a really good day to generally say thank you, he said.

That picture includes the Lezaks, who Saturday were scooping dry dog and cat food into plastic baggies. It included Anastasia and Bob Glacken, along with son Savas, 16, all making individual hampers among a beehive of volunteers.

The Glacken family is approaching its one-year anniversary volunteering for Harvest.

It was a good fit, said Anastasia, who had previously worked with immigrant families for other organizations. Its worked out well.

Anastasia still hasnt forgotten the time her parents, both from Greece, told her about getting a Christmas food hamper shortly after arriving in their new country. The hamper included a tree and a turkey.

Now Glackens son Savas, a 14-year-old student at St. Johns-Ravenscourt, pays more attention to any story that involves people in need.

Photos by RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Victoria Lezak (from left) and her mother, Sherry, her brother, Joseph, and her father, Allan, have been volunteering together for four years.

Its changed my thinking, he said. I have a pretty good life, but a lot of people dont. Theyre hungry. That hits home. It makes me want to make a difference for them.

Since Ive been coming here, I understand more.

Eileen Kirton volunteered for the first time Saturday and brought her six-year-old granddaughter, Brooklyn Delandes.

Shes a caring girl, Kirton said. She likes to help.

Northcott noted Harvest is still feeding 22,000 households a month  an average of 51,000 people. Those numbers arent getting any smaller.

There are still concerns, he said: about feeding a growing number of refugee and immigrant families, that governments arent aggressive enough in dealing with systemic poverty and the faith organizations that are so important to the food-bank system are being reduced by aging populations.

All the more reason to give thanks, Northcott said.

We need another 364 days like this, Northcott said. We just dont want Thanksgiving Day, we need that sense of spirit  of helping people, of sharing  year-round.

randy.turner@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @randyturner15
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 09/10/2016 (2213 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ask the people a question, and you may not get the answer you expected. That happened to Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom with the Brexit referendum, and it happened last week to President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia.

In a plebiscite Oct. 2, Colombians made fools of the opinion pollsters and voted to reject the Santos governments peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas by the narrowest of margins  less than 0.5 per cent.

For Santos, that was an embarrassment. He had lined up an array of international support for the deal. For Colombia, it is dangerous. The deal came after four years of hard talking, and almost certainly represented the best available compromise between peace and justice. FARC leaders who confessed to war crimes would not have gone to jail, but they would have been judged and punished under a strict legal framework.

FERNANDO VERGARA / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS : A boy shows his hand at an event to promote the yes vote in the referendum on Colombias peace deal with FARC rebels just outside Bogota on Sept. 30. Voters rejected the deal by a razor-thin margin last weekend.

Several factors explain the voters rejection. The weather didnt help: hurricane Matthew struck a glancing blow to Colombias Yes-leaning Caribbean coast, where turnout was exceptionally low. Santos  who won the Nobel Peace Prize Friday, days after voters rejected the FARC deal  is an aloof, unpopular patrician presiding over a slowing economy. His predecessor-turned-foe, Alvaro Uribe, who inspired the No campaign, has the common touch.

The overwhelming factor, however, was that, after decades of terrorism, extortion, kidnapping and drug-trafficking, many Colombians look upon the FARC with mistrust and hatred.

The No campaign capitalized on these emotions with a simple and partly deceptive narrative:

The agreement granted impunity to the FARC, it said, and tougher terms can be extracted from them. In fact, however, the talks had stalled for a year over the FARCs refusal to become the first guerrilla movement in history to agree to hand over its weapons in order to go straight to jail.

So what now? Both Santos and the FARC say that they will honour a ceasefire  but, on the governments side, only until the end of the month.

Uribe has a political responsibility to back up his claim such a complex agreement can be substantially renegotiated: he should offer a serious alternative to an early return to war. It is encouraging he has met Santos and named three representatives to talk to the government. It is helpful, too, that he has rejected calls for a constituent assembly. Rather than offering a solution, that would have been an unwarranted distraction.

On the other hand, Uribes proposal for isolated measures outside the scope of the agreement, such as an amnesty for rank-and-file guerrillas, looks like an attempt to impose elements of a unilateral deal on the FARC, a move that has scant chance of success.

Uribe and Santos, once allies, abhor each other. If Colombia is to salvage anything from this mess, the two men have to find a way to work together.

FERNANDO VERGARA / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos with his wife, Maria Clemencia Rodriguez, at a news conference Friday in Bogota after he won the Nobel Peace Prize.

However, the main onus now lies with the FARC. Their commitment to peace recently has started to look genuine. They cannot ignore the verdict of the voters, however much that might suit them. They should recognize peace without political support is a mirage.

The FARC should be pressed for at least two additional concessions. The first is to accept their recent promise to declare ill-gotten assets and pay reparations to victims should become a binding addendum to the agreement. The second is the effective restrictions on liberty to be imposed on convicted guerrilla commanders should look more like a prison farm than a vacation camp.

Time is short. The FARCs troops cannot remain in limbo indefinitely, nor can the United Nations team that was to supervise their disarmament. Barring a tripartite commitment to reach a consensus, a slide back into war is all too likely.

 Economist
I am endorsing and supporting Tim Guth for seat 16 of the 3rd Judicial District in Houston County, serving the 11 counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmstead, Rice, Steele, Waseca, Wabasha and Winona.

Tim is an Army Veteran, qualified Green Beret, 18E, Special Forces Group (Airborne). Tim has 28 years of legal experience. Tim worked for Winona County Attorney Jules Gernes from July 1988 to July 1993. He served as an assistant county attorney. In that time period, he had 40 jury and court trials. My police officers and investigators worked closely on those cases with Tim. They found him to be very professional in their dealing with him. I knew Tim to be a man of strong character who was committed to bringing justice to victims in Winona County.

Since 1993, Tim has been in private practice and has participated in 28 jury trials, both criminal and civil. Tim is licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

If elected, Tim has said he will institute a veterans court for returning veterans. He will also work to secure funding for a drug court to help those who cannot fight addiction on their own. Olmsted, Wabasha, Winona, Wright, and Scott counties currently have drug courts.

In addition, Tim said he will have attorneys settle their cases before the set trial date so potential jurors are not losing their regular rate of pay for $20 per day.

Please go to houstoncountyjudge.com for his biography; more information is available on his Facebook page by searching Tim Guth for Houston County Judge.

Frank Pomeroy,

Winona
For years, climate scientists have warned that global warming will bring us more extreme weather events. As floods, earthquakes, and tropical storms sweep tragically across our various screens, most of us are starting to pay attention. It's time for our political officials to start connecting the dots, too.

Kudos to 1st District Congressman Tim Walz for putting this issue front and center on his website and along the campaign trail. Walz supports transition to renewable energy sources, and he makes a strong case that this makes good economic as well as environmental sense. Furthermore, he has the practical skills and bipartisan orientation needed to pass legislation in our polarized political era.

His challenger, Jim Hagedorn, wants to step up U.S. oil production, while "reining in" regulations on emissions and industrial pollution. When asked in a debate in Rochester whether global climate change is real, he said, "I have no idea," while criticizing carbon-reduction efforts. In other words, full-speed ahead in the wrong direction.

If we stand a chance of leaving our grandchildren with a habitable planet, we need leaders who are informed and courageous on this issue above all the rest. Please help re-elect Congressman Walz, and insist all political candidates seriously address a timely transition to sustainable technology and carbon-neutral energy sources.

Scott Lowery and Connie Blackburn-Lowery,

Rollingstone
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MILLSTON  Static and staccato-like beeps crackled on Scott Roepkes hand-held, battery-powered receiver as he slowly turned a directional antenna in his right hand extended above his head.

Somewhere, maybe a half-mile to the east, was an elk equipped with a radio collar.

There were other signs of elk, such as the rain-faded tracks in the sand, distinct trails leading into the forest, a tree rubbed raw from a bull elks antlers and thousands of Junior Mint-sized droppings.

This would be as close as Roepke, a wildlife biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources, would get Wednesday to experiencing one of the states largest mammals.

Spotting a 700-pound elk in a 320-square-mile area isnt a guarantee, but the animal is building excitement along the Interstate 94 corridor of Jackson County. And in a few years, tourists armed with spotting scopes and cameras could be more of a regular occurrence and add to the economy of this area less than two hours from Madison. Ultimately, there could be a hunting season.

The reintroduction of elk to this rugged part of the state was first talked about nearly 20 years ago. But it has been just in the past two years that elk from Kentucky were trapped, quarantined in a holding pen near a mix of grassland, woods and swamp in the Black River State Forest south of Highway 54 and set free to roam.

When you look at projects of this magnitude and when you think about bringing partners together, sometimes its overwhelming and you wonder if you can even set your differences aside to work toward something like that, said Karen Sexton, a wildlife biologist for the Ho-Chunk Nation, which has contributed $200,000 to the program. Its not just happened here. Its happened in a very ... amazing way.

The project, with about 60 elk in the herd, is a joint effort that includes the Ho-Chunk, DNR, Jackson County Wildlife Fund ($50,000), Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation ($300,000) and Jackson County Parks & Forestry. Officials have a goal of 390 elk in the herd.

At the Highway 54 exit on I-94, a large fiberglass orange moose, whitetail deer and a mouse greet visitors to the area, but large billboards that announce the elk are back in the Black River Country can also be found nearby. In the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce visitors guide, a photo of a large bull elk appears on page 28 with directions to a potential viewing spot.

And at Sand Creek Brewing Co. in Black River Falls, $1 from each case of Bugler Brown Ale is donated to the countys wildlife fund. Last year, the brewery donated $1,300. The logo for the beer, launched in 2014, includes the silhouette of a bugling bull elk at dusk. The idea came from Sexton, who worked part time as a bartender in the brewerys tap house.

Right now (the elk) are tucked off into the corner of the state forest and to be honest, I havent seen one yet other than whats on the bottle label here, said Jim Wiesender, co-founder of the brewery. I think its just a matter of time before (elk viewing) really starts popping along.

Until the mid- to late 1800s, elk could be found in every county of Wisconsin, but development and hunting eliminated the animal. An attempt was made in the 1930s to reintroduce elk but failed due to poaching, with the last four animals killed in 1948.

In 1989, the state legislature directed the DNR to study the feasibility of elk reintroduction. That directive led to 25 elk being trapped in Michigan and released in 1995 into what is now the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest near Clam Lake in far northern Wisconsin. The herd has grown at an average rate of 13 percent annually and today has about 160 elk.

The DNRs goal is to grow the Clam Lake herd to 1,400 animals and a hunting season could come as soon as the fall of 2017. Although, based on a herd of 200 elk, only about 10 permits would be issued, with half of those going to Native American tribes, the DNR has said.

When the Clam Lake herd was first established, Jackson County was identified as a second region for a herd. But staff changes and the growth of chronic wasting disease in southern Wisconsin put the project on hold.

In 2012, the states elk management plans were updated under the guidance of Kevin Wallenfang, the states big game ecologist. Two years later an agreement with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife was reached to bring up to 150 elk to Wisconsin, with half released in Jackson County and the remainder in the next two to three years in Clam Lake.

The state released 23 elk in Jackson County in 2015. Ten of those animals died, with two hit by vehicles and six killed in January by some of the estimated 30 wolves that make up eight packs that roam the region. In July, 50 more elk were released but four have died, two from unknown causes, one from a bacterial infection and another from a broken leg. No elk, who wear blaze orange radio collars, have been mistakenly shot by deer hunters.

If elk are going to make it on the landscape theyre going to have to learn to deal with wolves, Roepke said. Were trying to learn as much as possible from the elk that are on the landscape. All of the elk have radio collars on them, so with that data we can monitor what type of habitat theyre using, what their movements look like, where theyre going, where theyre spending their time and what some of the potential conflicts are like predation, vehicle collisions and elk getting into areas they shouldnt be.

That would include keeping them out of cranberry bogs where elk can trample plants, knock berries off the vine and potentially erode marsh banks. The DNR has offered to pay for 8-foot-tall fencing for any cranberry farm in the elk range. So, far five farmers have accepted, and the DNR has spent about $250,000 on fencing. One farmer filed a damage claim last year, but it was only for a few hundred dollars, Roepke said.

We have had elk on other marshes, but those marshes have chosen not to enroll in the damage program, Roepke said. So they either didnt have enough damage or they werent all that concerned about it.

Jackson County will never be confused with elk-centric Yellowstone National Park, Jackson, Wyoming, or Colorado. However, the Jackson County program has the potential to bring elk to those who dont want to invest a two-day drive out west or a half-day drive to northern Wisconsin. Other states in the Midwest and in the eastern U.S. that have elk populations, include lower Michigan, Arkansas, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

We didnt have any trouble at all of developing a groundswell of grassroots support, said Allen Jacobson, a member of the Jackson County Wildlife Fund, founded in 1985. They were traditionally here, historically, and weve managed to get wolves, bears, whooping cranes, wild turkey, fishers  all those things back and were just missing having elk.

The return of elk also has spiritual and cultural significance for the Ho-Chunk Nation, based just north of Black River Falls. The community has a 12-clan structure with most associated with animal spirits. They include eagle, pigeon, bear, wolf, deer, fish and elk.

Sexton took the lead on the elk program for the Ho-Chunk when she was hired in 2008 after stints at an Oregon wildlife refuge, researching big horn sheep in Idaho and bobcat in Michigan.

The elk effort has brought together stakeholders outside the Nation who sometimes dont always agree on other issues.

Its been such a positive project, Sexton said. To have that clan species return to the landscape and allow those spiritual connections to occur and be a part of their culture is significant.

When you think about bringing partners together, sometimes its overwhelming and you wonder if you can even set your differences aside. ... (But) its happened in a very ... amazing way. Karen Sexton,

Ho-Chunk Nation wildlife biologist, on the many organizations that have worked together

to reintroduce elk to the

Jackson County area
Wits classes to resume on Monday, 10 October 2016

Statement from the Senior Executive Team (22:00)

The Council of the University of the Witwatersrand agreed that the University will reopen on Monday, 10 October 2016, to ensure the continuation of the learning, teaching, research and administrative activities of the University, and the successful completion of each individual students academic year.

This is for the benefit of all students  undergraduate and postgraduate, local and international, full-time and part-time and all staff  academic, professional, administrative and international.

We are committed to completing the 2016 academic programme and to ensuring that examinations are written. Senate has approved a revised calendar for 2016, as well as developed contingency plans to ensure that examinations are written.

It is clear that everyone in the University community has the same goal  to work as a community to realise the goal of free, quality higher education. We firmly believe that this can be done at the same time as finishing the academic year. No student should see a years worth of work come to naught, along with the financial sacrifices that they, and their families have had to make.

We believe that this campaign has been strengthened by a collective commitment from the entire University community to seek meaningful and speedy ways to make university education accessible, but it is also clear that the majority of the University community and society at large desperately want to save the academic programme of the University. Our approach is to do both.

We call on all students, parents, staff and stakeholders to join us in this approach, to ensure that everyone has a chance to write, to pass, to create space for the next year of university intakes while at the same time giving equal priority to the broader political issues of funding and transformation.

The University has made several commitments in the last week:

The University has responded to the challenge led by students and made a commitment to joining the national call for free education. Read the draft declaration. The University will hold a General Assembly once all constituencies agree on a unified stance around the issue.

We will continue to reach out to student leaders and channels remain open for other engagements but we cannot afford the ongoing loss of the academic programme.

The University will reopen but we are obliged to put in place the following conditions:

We fully support the right to peaceful protest. Students will be allowed to protest, but only in specific, identified areas. Large groups of people engaged in protest action will not be allowed to gather outside the designated areas. We are all completely opposed to the intimidation of staff or students or the disruption of academic activities. As such, any person/s intimidating students to leave a classroom or building, or disrupting any University activity, may be suspended. We are completely opposed to violent protest. As such, anyone carrying rocks, stones, weapons or any other items that can be used to destroy property or inflict harm, will immediately be disarmed, and may be suspended. Any person using items to deliberately conceal their identity, may be suspended. Rigorous control of access to the University, including comprehensive and sporadic checks of all vehicles, including buses, will be implemented. All staff and students will be required to carry their access cards with them, as is the norm. All persons arrested by the police may immediately be suspended. All suspensions will immediately be processed for finalisation through disciplinary hearings.

We appeal to every student and staff member to please bear with us during this difficult week as we work towards getting the academic programme back on track, which is in the interest of every Wits student.

Our success can only be achieved if we all work together  we are stronger together.

SENIOR EXECUTIVE TEAM

8 OCTOBER 2016 (22:00)
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is the 5th largest bank in the world and the largest in the U.S. The current company is the result of a series of mergers that began in the earliest days of American banking history and include more than 1,200 original banks. The oldest predecessor is The Bank Of The Manhattan Company which was founded in 1799 by Aaron Burr. At the time, The Bank Of The Manhattan Company was the 3rd oldest bank in the U.S. and the 31st oldest in the world. The Chase Manhattan Bank, a precursor to JPMorgan Chase, was later formed when The Bank Of Manhattan Company purchased Chase Bank which was established in 1877.

JPMorgan & Co came to life in 1895 in order to finance the United States Steel Corporation. Itself a result of merger, the company also financed other early American businesses as well as aided the federal government by backing a bond offering. It wasnt until the year 2000 and after several more mergers that JPMorgan Chase & Co was born. It will be four more years before the merger with Bank One which is notable because it brings CEO Jamie Dimon into the picture.

JPMorgan Chase & Co was instrumental in aiding the US government during the 2008 financial crisis. It backed the accounts of several major banks including Bear Stearns and eventually took over their operations. Today, JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide with operations on every continent and in more than 60 countries.

JPMorgan Chase & Co operates through four segments that are Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). Services are available in branches in 48 of the 50 US states and around the world. Services are available via ATM, online, mobile, and telephone.

The CCB segment offers traditional banking services to consumers that include but are not limited to deposits, loans, mortgages, and lines of credit. The CIB segment provides investment banking products and services to businesses, institutions, and governments that range from prime brokerage, insurance, corporate strategy, and access to capital markets, to lending, cross-border financing, and derivative instruments. The CB segment provides financial services for small, medium, and large businesses including commercial real estate banking of all types.

The AWM segment provides investment management solutions to institutional and retail investors. This segment also provides retirement products, brokerage, trusts and estates, and investment management products.
The following companies are subsidiares of Johnson & Johnson: 3Dintegrated ApS, ALZA Corporation, AMO (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AMO (Shanghai) Medical Devices Trading Co. Ltd Beijing Branch, AMO (Shanghai) Medical Devices Trading Co. Ltd Guangzhou Branch, AMO (Shanghai) Medical Devices Trading Co. Ltd., AMO ASIA LIMITED, AMO Asia Limited (Korea Branch), AMO Asia Limited Taiwan Branch (Hong Kong), AMO Australia Pty Limited, AMO Australia Pty Limited (New Zealand Branch), AMO Canada Company, AMO Denmark ApS, AMO Development LLC, AMO France, AMO Germany GmbH, AMO Groningen B.V., AMO International Holdings Unlimited Company, AMO Ireland, AMO Ireland Ireland Branch, AMO Italy SRL, AMO Japan K.K., AMO Manufacturing USA LLC, AMO Netherlands BV, AMO Nominee Holdings LLC, AMO Norway AS, AMO Puerto Rico Manufacturing Inc., AMO Sales and Service Inc., AMO Singapore Pte. Ltd., AMO Spain Holdings LLC, AMO Switzerland GmbH, AMO U.K. Holdings LLC, AMO United Kingdom Ltd., AMO Uppsala AB, AUB Holdings LLC, Abott Medical Optics, Acclarent Inc., Actelion Ltd, Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Actelion Pharmaceuticals US Inc., Actelion Treasury Unlimited Company, Akros Medical Inc., Albany Street LLC, Alios BioPharma, Alza Land Management Inc., Anakuria Therapeutics Inc., Animas Diabetes Care LLC, Animas LLC, Animas Technologies LLC, AorTx Inc., Apsis, Aragon Pharmaceuticals, Aragon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Asia Pacific Holdings LLC, Atrionix Inc., Auris Health, Auris Health Inc., Backsvalan 2 Aktiebolag, Backsvalan 6 Handelsbolag, Beijing Dabao Cosmetics Co. Ltd., BeneVir BioPharm Inc., Berna Rhein B.V., BioMedical Enterprises Inc., Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd., Biosense Webster Inc., Branch of Johnson & Johnson LLC (RU) in Kazakhstan, C Consumer Products Denmark ApS, CSATS Inc., Calibra Medical LLC, Campus-Foyer Apotheke GmbH, Carlo Erba OTC S.r.l., Centocor Biologics LLC, Centocor Research & Development Inc., Cerenovus Inc., ChromaGenics B.V., Ci:Labo Customer Marketing Co. Ltd., Ci:Labo USA Inc., Ci:z Holdings, Ci:z. Labo Co. Ltd., Cilag AG, Cilag GmbH International, Cilag Holding AG, Cilag Holding Treasury Unlimited Company, Cilag-Biotech S.L., CoTherix Inc., Coherex Medical Inc., ColBar LifeScience Ltd., Company Store.com Inc., Conor MedSystems, Cordis International Corporation, Cordis de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Corimmun GmbH, DePuy Hellas SA, DePuy International Limited, DePuy Ireland Unlimited Company, DePuy Mexico S.A. de C.V., DePuy Mitek LLC, DePuy Orthopaedics Inc., DePuy Products Inc., DePuy Spine LLC, DePuy Synthes Gorgan Limited, DePuy Synthes Inc., DePuy Synthes Institute LLC, DePuy Synthes Leto SARL, DePuy Synthes Products Inc., DePuy Synthes Sales Inc., Debs-Vogue Corporation (Proprietary) Limited, Dutch Holding LLC, ECL7 LLC, EES Holdings de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., EES S.A. de C.V., EIT Emerging Implant Technologies GmbH, Ethicon Endo-Surgery (Europe) GmbH, Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc., Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC, Ethicon Inc., Ethicon LLC, Ethicon PR Holdings Unlimited Company, Ethicon Sarl, Ethicon US LLC, Ethicon Women's Health & Urology Sarl, Ethnor (Proprietary) Limited, Ethnor Farmaceutica S.A., Ethnor del Istmo S.A., FMS Future Medical System SA, Finsbury (Development) Limited, Finsbury (Instruments) Limited, Finsbury Medical Limited, Finsbury Orthopaedics International Limited, Finsbury Orthopaedics Limited, GH Biotech Holdings Limited, GMED Healthcare BV, GMED Healthcare BV (Branch), Global Investment Participation B.V., Guangzhou Bioseal Biotech Co. Ltd., Hansen Medical Deutschland GmbH, Hansen Medical Inc., Hansen Medical International Inc., Hansen Medical UK Limited, Healthcare Services (Shanghai) Ltd., Hickory Merger Sub Inc., I.D. Acquisition Corp., Innomedic Gesellschaft fur innovative Medizintechnik und Informatik mbH, Innovative Surgical Solutions LLC, J & J Company West Africa Limited, J&J Pension Trustees Limited, J-C Health Care Ltd., J.C. General Services BV, JJ Surgical Vision Spain S.L., JJC Acquisition Company B.V., JJHC LLC, JJSV Belgium BV, JJSV Manufacturing Malaysia SDN. BHD., JJSV Norden AB, JJSV Produtos Oticos Ltda., JNJ Global Business Services s.r.o., JNJ Holding EMEA B.V., JNJ International Investment LLC, JOM Pharmaceutical Services Inc., Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy (Holding) Limited, Janssen BioPharma LLC, Janssen Biologics (Ireland) Limited, Janssen Biologics B.V., Janssen Biotech Inc., Janssen Cilag C.A., Janssen Cilag Farmaceutica S.A., Janssen Cilag S.p.A., Janssen Cilag SPA, Janssen Development Finance Unlimited Company, Janssen Diagnostics LLC, Janssen Egypt LLC, Janssen Farmaceutica Portugal Lda, Janssen Global Services LLC, Janssen Holding GmbH, Janssen Inc., Janssen Irish Finance Unlimited Company, Janssen Korea Ltd., Janssen Oncology Inc., Janssen Ortho LLC, Janssen Pharmaceutica (Proprietary) Limited, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Janssen Pharmaceutica S.A., Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Janssen Pharmaceutical Sciences Unlimited Company, Janssen Pharmaceutical Unlimited Company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. Japan Branch, Janssen Products LP, Janssen R&D Ireland Unlimited Company, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Janssen Sciences Ireland Unlimited Company, Janssen Scientific Affairs LLC, Janssen Supply Group LLC, Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V., Janssen Vaccines Branch of Cilag GmbH International, Janssen Vaccines Corp., Janssen-Cilag, Janssen-Cilag (New Zealand) Limited, Janssen-Cilag A/S, Janssen-Cilag AG, Janssen-Cilag AS, Janssen-Cilag Aktiebolag, Janssen-Cilag B.V., Janssen-Cilag Farmaceutica Lda., Janssen-Cilag Farmaceutica Ltda., Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Janssen-Cilag International NV, Janssen-Cilag Kft., Janssen-Cilag Kft. Branch Office, Janssen-Cilag Limited, Janssen-Cilag Manufacturing LLC, Janssen-Cilag NV, Janssen-Cilag OY, Janssen-Cilag Pharma GmbH, Janssen-Cilag Pharmaceutical S.A.C.I., Janssen-Cilag Polska Sp. z o.o., Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd, Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd (Branch), Janssen-Cilag S.A., Janssen-Cilag S.A., Janssen-Cilag S.A. de C.V., Janssen-Cilag de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Janssen-Cilag s.r.o., Janssen-Pharma S.L., Jevco Holding Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Johnson & Johnson (Angola) Limitada, Johnson & Johnson (China) Investment Ltd., Johnson & Johnson (China) Investment Ltd. Beijing Branch, Johnson & Johnson (Egypt) S.A.E., Johnson & Johnson (Hong Kong) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Ireland) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Jamaica) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Kenya) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) Inc., Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) Inc. (DHCC Branch), Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) Inc. (JAFZA Branch), Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) Inc. Service Center (DAFZA Branch), Johnson & Johnson (Mozambique) Limitada, Johnson & Johnson (Namibia) (Proprietary) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (New Zealand) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Philippines) Inc., Johnson & Johnson (Private) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Thailand) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson (Trinidad) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Vietnam) Co. Ltd, Johnson & Johnson - Societa' Per Azioni, Johnson & Johnson AB, Johnson & Johnson AB Eesti filiaal (Branch), Johnson & Johnson AG, Johnson & Johnson AG (Zuchwil Branch), Johnson & Johnson Belgium Finance Company BV, Johnson & Johnson Bulgaria EOOD, Johnson & Johnson China Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Consumer (Hong Kong) Limited, Johnson & Johnson Consumer (Thailand) Limited, Johnson & Johnson Consumer B.V., Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health Care Switzerland Branch of Janssen-Cilag AG, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Holdings France, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (Dominican Republic Branch), Johnson & Johnson Consumer NV, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Saudi Arabia Limited, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Services EAME Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Del Paraguay S.A., Johnson & Johnson Dominicana S.A.S., Johnson & Johnson Enterprise Innovation Inc., Johnson & Johnson European Treasury Unlimited Company, Johnson & Johnson Finance Corporation, Johnson & Johnson Finance Limited, Johnson & Johnson Financial Services GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Financial Services GmbH (Branch Office), Johnson & Johnson Gateway LLC, Johnson & Johnson Gesellschaft m.b.H., Johnson & Johnson GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Guatemala S.A., Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc., Johnson & Johnson Health and Wellness Solutions Inc., Johnson & Johnson Hellas Commercial and Industrial S.A., Johnson & Johnson Hellas Consumer Products Commercial Societe Anonyme, Johnson & Johnson Hemisferica S.A., Johnson & Johnson Holding GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Inc., Johnson & Johnson Industrial Ltda., Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JJDC Inc., Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC, Johnson & Johnson Innovation Limited, Johnson & Johnson International, Johnson & Johnson International (Belgian Branch) (European Logistics Center), Johnson & Johnson International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Johnson & Johnson International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. (Branch), Johnson & Johnson International Financial Services Unlimited Company, Johnson & Johnson K.K., Johnson & Johnson Kft., Johnson & Johnson Korea Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Korea Selling & Distribution LLC, Johnson & Johnson LLC, Johnson & Johnson Lda, Johnson & Johnson Limited, Johnson & Johnson Limited (Sri Lanka Branch), Johnson & Johnson Luxembourg Finance Company Sarl, Johnson & Johnson Management Limited, Johnson & Johnson Medical (China) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medical (Proprietary) Ltd, Johnson & Johnson Medical (Shanghai) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medical (Shanghai) Ltd. Beijing Branch, Johnson & Johnson Medical (Suzhou) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medical B.V., Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices & Diagnostics Group - Latin America L.L.C., Johnson & Johnson Medical GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Medical Korea Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medical Limited, Johnson & Johnson Medical Mexico S.A. de C.V., Johnson & Johnson Medical NV, Johnson & Johnson Medical Products GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Medical Pty Ltd, Johnson & Johnson Medical S.A., Johnson & Johnson Medical S.C.S., Johnson & Johnson Medical S.p.A., Johnson & Johnson Medical SAS, Johnson & Johnson Medical Saudi Arabia Limited, Johnson & Johnson Medical Taiwan Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medikal Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Johnson & Johnson Medikal Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Ankara Branch), Johnson & Johnson Medikal Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Izmir Branch), Johnson & Johnson Middle East - Scientific Office, Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ - LLC (Lebanese Branch), Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC, Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC (Ghana Branch), Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC (Kenya Branch), Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC Branch (TSO) (Saudi Arabia Branch), Johnson & Johnson Morocco Societe Anonyme, Johnson & Johnson NCB (Belgian Branch), Johnson & Johnson Nordic AB, Johnson & Johnson Pacific Pty Limited, Johnson & Johnson Pakistan (Private) Limited, Johnson & Johnson Panama S.A., Johnson & Johnson Personal Care (Chile) S.A., Johnson & Johnson Poland Sp. z o.o., Johnson & Johnson Poland sp. z o.o. oddzial w Warszawie "Consumer", Johnson & Johnson Private Limited, Johnson & Johnson Pte. Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Pte. Ltd. Korea Branch, Johnson & Johnson Pty. Limited, Johnson & Johnson Romania S.R.L., Johnson & Johnson S.A., Johnson & Johnson S.A. de C.V., Johnson & Johnson S.E. Inc., Johnson & Johnson S.E. d.o.o., Johnson & Johnson SDN. BHD., Johnson & Johnson Sante Beaute France, Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision Inc., Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision India Private Limited, Johnson & Johnson Taiwan Ltd., Johnson & Johnson UK Treasury Company Limited, Johnson & Johnson Ukraine LLC, Johnson & Johnson Urban Renewal Associates, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (Shanghai) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc., Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Ireland Unlimited Company, Johnson & Johnson d.o.o., Johnson & Johnson de Argentina S.A.C. e. I., Johnson & Johnson de Chile Limitada, Johnson & Johnson de Chile S.A., Johnson & Johnson de Colombia S.A., Johnson & Johnson de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Johnson & Johnson de Uruguay S.A., Johnson & Johnson de Venezuela S.A., Johnson & Johnson del Ecuador S.A., Johnson & Johnson del Peru S.A., Johnson & Johnson do Brasil Industria E Comercio de Produtos Para Saude Ltda., Johnson & Johnson for Export and Import LLC, Johnson & Johnson s.r.o., Johnson Y Johnson de Costa Rica S.A., Johnson and Johnson (Proprietary) Limited, Johnson and Johnson Sihhi Malzeme Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, LTL Management LLC, La Concha Land Investment Corporation, Latam International Investment Company Unlimited Company, Legal Entity Name, MDS Co. Ltd., McNEIL MMP LLC, McNeil AB, McNeil Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co., McNeil Denmark ApS, McNeil Healthcare (Ireland) Limited, McNeil Healthcare (UK) Limited, McNeil Healthcare LLC, McNeil Iberica S.L.U., McNeil LA LLC, McNeil Nutritionals LLC, McNeil Panama LLC, McNeil Products Limited, McNeil Sweden AB, Medical Device Business Services Inc., Medical Devices & Diagnostics Global Services LLC, Medical Devices International LLC, Medos International Sarl, Medos International Sarl succursale de Neuchatel (Branch), Medos Sarl, MegaDyne Medical Products Inc., Menlo Care De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Mentor B.V., Mentor Deutschland GmbH, Mentor Medical Systems B.V., Mentor Partnership Holding Company I LLC, Mentor Texas GP LLC, Mentor Texas L.P., Mentor Worldwide LLC, Micrus Endovascular LLC, Middlesex Assurance Company Limited, Momenta Ireland Limited, Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc., NeoStrata Company Inc., NeoStrata UG (haftungsbeschrankt), Netherlands Holding Company, NeuWave Medical Inc., Neuravi Limited, Novira Therapeutics, Novira Therapeutics LLC, NuVera Medical Inc., OBTECH Medical Sarl, OGX Beauty Limited, OMJ Holding GmbH, OMJ Ireland Unlimited Company, OMJ Pharmaceuticals Inc., Obtech Medical Mexico S.A. de C.V., Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Inc., Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Ltd., Omrix Biopharmaceuticals NV, Ortho Biologics LLC, Ortho Biotech Holding LLC, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical LLC, Orthospin Ltd., Orthotaxy, PT Integrated Healthcare Indonesia, PT. Johnson & Johnson Indonesia, Patriot Pharmaceuticals LLC, Peninsula Pharmaceuticals LLC, Pharmadirect Ltd., Pharmedica Laboratories (Proprietary) Limited, Princeton Laboratories Inc., Productos de Cuidado Personal y de La Salud de Bolivia S.R.L., Proleader S.A., Pulsar Vascular Inc., Regency Urban Renewal Associates, RespiVert Ltd., RoC International, Royalty A&M LLC, Rutan Realty LLC, SYNTHES Medical Immobilien GmbH, Scios LLC, Sedona Singapore International Pte. Ltd., Sedona Thai International Co. Ltd., Serhum S.A. de C.V., Shanghai Elsker For Mother & Baby Co. Ltd, Shanghai Elsker Mother & Baby Co. Ltd Minghang Branch, Shanghai Johnson & Johnson Ltd., Shanghai Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Sightbox LLC, Sodiac ESV, Spectrum Vision Limited Liability Company, Spectrum Vision Limited Liability Partnership, SterilMed, SterilMed Inc., Surgical Process Institute Deutschland GmbH, Synthes Costa Rica S.C.R. Limitada, Synthes GmbH, Synthes Holding AG, Synthes Holding Limited, Synthes Inc., Synthes Medical Surgical Equipment & Instruments Trading LLC, Synthes Produktions GmbH, Synthes Proprietary Limited, Synthes S.M.P. S. de R.L. de C.V., Synthes Tuttlingen GmbH, Synthes USA LLC, Synthes USA Products LLC, TARIS Biomedical, TARIS Biomedical LLC, TearScience Inc., The Anspach Effort LLC, The Vision Care Institute LLC, Tibotec LLC, Torax Medical Inc., UAB "Johnson & Johnson", UAB Johnson & Johnson Eesti Filiaal (Estonian Branch), Vania Expansion, Verb Surgical, Verb Surgical Inc., Vision Care Finance Unlimited Company, Vogue International, Vogue International LLC, Vogue International Trading Inc., WH4110 Development Company L.L.C., XO1, XO1 Limited, Xian Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd., Xian-Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. Beijing Branch Office, Xian-Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. Shanghai Branch Office, Zarbee's Inc., and Zarbee's Naturals.

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WESCO International, Inc. provides business-to-business distribution, logistics services, and supply chain solutions in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Electrical & Electronic Solutions (EES), Communications & Security Solutions (CSS), and Utility and Broadband Solutions (UBS). The EES segment supplies products and supply chain solutions, including electrical equipment and supplies, automation and connected devices, security, lighting, wire and cable, and safety, as well as maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products. This segment also offers contractor solutions, direct and indirect manufacturing supply chain optimization programs, lighting and renewables advisory services, and digital and automation solutions. The CSS segment operates in the network infrastructure and security markets. This segment sells products directly to end-users or through various channels, including data communications contractors, security, network, professional audio/visual, and systems integrators. It also provides safety and energy management solutions. The UBS segment offers products and services to investor-owned utilities; public power companies; and service and wireless providers, broadband operators, and contractors. This segment's products include wire and cable, transformers, transmission and distribution hardware, switches, protective devices, connectors, conduits, pole line hardware, racks, cabinets, safety and MRO products, and point-to-point wireless devices. This segment also offers various service solutions, including fiber project management, high and medium voltage project design and support, pre-wired meters and capacitor banks, meter testing and metering infrastructure installation, personal protective equipment dielectric testing, and tool repair, as well as emergency response, storage yard, materials, and logistics management. The company was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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.
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. manufactures, markets, and sells skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products worldwide. It offers a range of skin care products, including moisturizers, serums, cleansers, toners, body care, exfoliators, acne care and oil correctors, facial masks, cleansing devices, and sun care products; and makeup products, such as lipsticks, lip glosses, mascaras, foundations, eyeshadows, nail polishes, and powders, as well as compacts, brushes, and other makeup tools. The company also provides fragrance products in various forms comprising eau de parfum sprays and colognes, as well as lotions, powders, creams, candles, and soaps; and hair care products that include shampoos, conditioners, styling products, treatment, finishing sprays, and hair color products, as well as sells ancillary products and services. It offers its products under the Estee Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, MAC, Bobbi Brown, La Mer, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin, Smashbox, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle, GLAMGLOW, Kilian Paris, Too Faced, Dr. Jart+, DECIEM, and The Ordinary brands. The company sells its products through department stores, specialty-multi retailers, upscale perfumeries and pharmacies, and salons and spas; freestanding stores; its own and authorized retailer websites; third-party online malls; stores in airports; and duty-free shops. The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in New York, New York.




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Richard Arrowsmith

By: Mahesh Sarin

People in the United Kingdom, were shocked when a judge allowed a man to register as a sex offender and walk free so he can have children of his own.

The man was arrested after police found that the IP address linked to his Internet account had been downloading child abuse images.

Police arrested 41-year-old Richard Arrowsmith of Derbyshire, and they confiscated his computer, external hard drive, laptop, mobile phone and USB sticks.

Investigators found that he had downloaded a staggering 137,000 photography images, many of them of child abuse.

Arrowsmith, who is married, told the court that he wants to be freed so that he can start a family with his wife, and the judge agreed.

Recorder Martin Butterworth said that the suspect is 41 years old, with no previous convictions. He pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

aI am taking into consideration your previous good character, you have a wife who supports you, a steady employment and your hopes to start a family in the near future,a Butterworth said.

Arrowsmith was sentenced to 10 months in prison, which was suspended for two years, and he will have to register as a sex offender.

He was placed on probation for 12 months, in which time he cannot leave his house between 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. He must carry out 160 hours of unpaid work and he has to pay A250 ($310) in court costs.
With a lead of almost a minute going into the final stage, Sebastien Ogier seemed to have this one in the bag. But then the Spanish asphalt bit back.

Here's our potted-summary of what happened on RallyRACC Catalunya - Rally de Espana last year.



Thursday 22 / Friday 23 October



Sebastien blitzed his rivals to win Thursday nights curtain-raising street stage in Barcelona, but he had a fight on his hands on Friday, eventually battling back into the lead after an enthralling leg in which the lead changed hands on four occasions.



The Frenchman headed his Volkswagen Polo R team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala by 4.0sec after eight predominantly gravel stages in the hills south of Barcelona. Ott Tanak was third, 11.3sec off the lead in a Ford Fiesta RS.



Ogier won just one of Friday's eight stages, but his performances in the 36km mixed surface Terra Alta, which ended both morning and afternoon loops, earned him top billing. Tyre management proved key and Ogier preserved his Michelin rubber to ensure maximum grip in the final gravel part.



Handicapped by opening the road on slippery gravel, Ogier lost his early lead to Robert Kubica. He regained it in the first run through Terra Alta, only to lose it to Latvala before winning the second pass to move back in front.



Latvala was disappointed with a cautious start which left him seventh before a more aggressive attitude propelled him up the leaderboard.

Tanak won three stages, more than any other driver, and was less than a second off the lead before the final stage. However, the Estonian overused his tyres on the asphalt and fell back to third.



Spains Dani Sordo had a consistent day to hold fourth in a Hyundai i20, 26.9sec off the lead and 2.8sec ahead of Mads stberg. The Norwegian won two stages in Citroens DS 3 and held second until a slow puncture cost nearly 30 seconds.

Saturday 24 October



By the end of Saturday's competition Ogier was comfortably ahead after a mistake from Latvala handed him a lead of almost a minute with just Sundays final leg to go.



Ogier extended his overnight advantage to 11.0sec during Saturdays opening two stages as second-placed Latvala fought brake problems. Having resolved them, the Finn attacked in the next test but an over-ambitious cut soon after the start proved his undoing. He hit a concrete block, smashed a wheel and lost 50sec driving the final 10km with a flat tyre.



It left Ogier clear, and three wins from four morning tests meant he could relax to reach the overnight halt with a 54.0sec advantage.



After Friday's mainly gravel roads, Saturday was all about smooth circuit-like asphalt in the Tarragona hills and Latvala raced back from fourth to second by winning three of the final five stages.



Sordo inherited second after Latvalas drama but was ill at ease with an understeering Hyundai i20. Andreas Mikkelsen climbed steadily from sixth to demote him in the afternoon and finish 2.9sec behind Latvala, giving Volkswagen a 1-2-3, 4.5 sec ahead of the Spaniard.



A frustrated Kris Meeke spent much of the day trying to perfect his DS 3's set-up but the Ulsterman nevertheless climbed from eighth to fifth.



M-Sport had a disastrous day. Firstly Ott Tanak retired from third after ripping a wheel from his Ford Fiesta RS when he hit a barrier and team-mate Elfyn Evans went out after nosing his car into a ditch.

Sunday 25 October



In a shocking, eleventh-hour turnaround, Mikkelsen claimed his maiden WRC victory when Ogier crashed out of the lead in the final stage.



Mikkelsen and co-driver Ola Floene finished the last stage and learned they had edged Volkswagen team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala for what should have been second after a fierce final day fight. Seconds later the Norwegian was informed that Ogier had smashed his car into a metal roadside barrier less than 4km from the finish, ripping off the rear-right wheel.



Mikkelsen was stunned into silence as he realised the significance of his colleagues error. It was his first WRC win in 64 attempts and kept alive his hopes of pipping Latvala for second in the drivers standings at the final round in Britain.



Mikkelsen and Latvala fought tooth and nail through the final leg and were less than a second apart before Latvala punctured three stages from the end. Mikkelsen then spun in the penultimate test and the duo began the final stage showdown 1.4sec apart.



The eventual winning margin was 3.1sec, with Sordo taking the final podium place at his home event in a Hyundai i20, a further 18.1sec back.



stberg finished fourth after demoting team-mate Meeke who spun his DS 3. The gap between them was 1.9sec, with Paddon completing the top six in another i20.

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Wrexham Based Air Covers Wins New Orders & Recognition For Innovation

This article is old - Published: Sunday, Oct 9th, 2016

A Wrexham based company has been named as a preferred supplier to Airbus Helicopters new H145 programme covering both civil and military versions of the rotorcraft.

Air Covers, which is based on the Wrexham Industrial Estate is the leading supplier of environmental protection for helicopters worldwide.

The company will also equip the H145M LUH SOF (Light Utility Helicopter, Special Operations Forces) of the German Armed Forces with protection covers.

The news was announced by Air Covers MD John Pattinson during a visit to their facility by Economy Secretary Ken Skates and Lesley Griffiths AM.

Air Covers expertise and innovation was also acknowledged this month by Airbus Helicopters which has named the company as one of 46 companies in their worldwide supply chain recognised for Open Innovation.

Congratulating the company Ken Skates described it as great news and said: This is quite an achievement and a significant acknowledgement of the considerable expertise and highly specialised technical work undertaken by Air Covers.

Air Covers is a small company operating in a niche market and has, through investment in skills, training, equipment and R&D, become a world leading textile engineering company. Its success clearly illustrates the importance of innovation and investment in research and development to a companys growth.

The company, founded in 2006 by John Pattinson, relocated to Bryn Business Centre on the Wrexham Industrial Estate in 2014 and subsequently doubled its turnover and seen exports increase from 10% to 60% of sales.

Mr Pattinson described the move as the best business decision the company had ever made.

He said: Wrexham is a great place to grow your business  its well connected to major airports, has an abundance of skilled people, well priced industrial premises and a great quality of life.

We have had great support from the Welsh Government and Wrexham Council which has helped us grow the business. Assistance from the Welsh Government has been spot on with support for our export drive and terrific back-up from the advanced materials and manufacturing team whenever we need it.

The advanced manufacturing, export and skills support Wales gives to its companies should attract every forward thinking business to locate here.

Air Covers design and manufacture protective helicopter covers using 21st century technical fabrics for the most extreme environments across the world, where spectral camouflage, thermal protection and heat repellent properties are essential.

Each aircraft is laser scanned and a bespoke tailored pattern is produced and the covers then carefully handmade by machinists with exceptionally high skills.

Air Covers has been laser scanning aircraft since 2008 and owns the worlds largest 3D and configurations database that includes the specifications of virtually every helicopter in operation worldwide.

The company, which has a small skilled team of nine  with plans to take on another two employees this month, has won every UK military tender for helicopter covers since 2008.

After a tour of the facility when he was shown an example of Air Covers design work for Airbus Helicopters, the Economy Secretary pressed the CNC go button to start production on a new contract for one of the worlds major airlines.
Wrexham Council (Do Not) Publish Councillor Receipts, Mileage Forms & Expenses Forms

This article is old - Published: Sunday, Oct 9th, 2016

Wrexham Council have responded to a Wrexham.com FOI saying all councillor completed mileage forms, expenses forms and associated receipt archives are now on their website.

Previously we have used a piece of audit legislation to discover which councillor claimed 1.35 mileage to attend the Remembrance Day Service, and that the Chief Executive of Wrexham Council did similar claiming 8.10.

Under the same legislation we also took a look at the Eagles Meadow lease that indicated Wrexham Council did have a say in the car parking charges there, when previously we had been told such controls were not possible.

In the forthcoming Arts Hub where the Peoples Market car park is due to be gifted to the organisation, lessons appear to have been learnt with influence on prices being suggested early on.

Other stories written included a look at the towns markets invoicing, plus general nosiness to see which elected member enjoyed Bang Bang Broccoli while dining on The Strand during a London trip  the below being unpublished notes:

Some of these stories were picked up by various media, and one made the front page of the Daily Post.

Wrexham.com enquired earlier this year when the period would be starting again, to allow inspection and make copies of the accounts and all books, deeds, contracts, bills and vouchers and receipts relating thereto.

For 2016 the period was a month early. Whereas last time around Wrexham Councils Facebook and Twitter accounts pointed to the information online they were silent on the notice this year. Eagle eyed readers deep inside local papers could have seen a published notice, but it seems such things were missed (or ignored) by those who publish them  as well as us.

Thus, Wrexham.com looked to gain access to the same information a different way  via a Freedom of Information Request.

Due to the amount of information it could have been quite a lot of hassle to print or photocopy the details requested. In our visit last year we were given the original copies contained in several folders to look through and make notes from, and were facilitated in a really open and encouraging manner.

This has usually been the case when we have looked at the gift register, or looking at submitted election expenses  the latter even prompting a correction to the Electoral Commission by one candidate.

Thus under FOI we made a request to access the information held by WCBC on Elected Member expenses for the financial year 2015-16.

Asking: Is it possible to facilitate access to the information held by means of viewing the completed milage forms, expenses forms and associated receipt archive for all elected Members at a time/date that is convenient to WCBC?

We added a note: Hopefully the above is a quicker and more cost effective way of accessing the information rather than requesting copies of the information held.

We made it clear we would be happy to do this at a time convenient to Wrexham Council, rather than to us.

Wrexham Council replied: I can confirm that the Council holds the information you requested.

The entire FOI response is copied below in full:



This information is available on the Councils website at the links below

https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/council/financial/members_allowances.htm

https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/welsh/council_w/financial/members_allowances.htm

At the time we clicked the links and noted the pages linked to do not contain completed milage forms.

The page linked to does not contain expenses forms.

The page linked to does not contain the associated receipt archive for all elected Members.

After getting the above response we wondered if Wrexham Council was taking a lead compared to other Local Authorities and putting all the detail on expenses on public view, and the links were provided in preparation for that.

We asked Wrexham Council if they would comment on the publishing of completed milage forms, expenses forms and associated receipt archives on the Wrexham.gov.uk website, noting we believed it was a first for North Wales Local Authoritiess if not further afield if that was in fact the case.

A month later there has been no reply, nor has any further details been published on Wrexham Councils website, which still contain the usual basic details.
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Friends and family of Karina Morales-Rodriguez gathered at Elmwood Cemetery in Toppenish for the blessing of her headstone Saturday. Morales-Rodriguez was one of two women fatally shot at a Moneytree store in Yakima in March.
Why, a close friend asked me, are we doing this to ourselves? It was at the end of the day in which  contrary to what many, including myself, thought  the interception of the Gaza-bound Zaytouna-Oliva boat by the Israeli Navy had fallen off the global agenda.

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Its true that bombings of civilians are going on incessantly in Aleppo, Syria , and its true that more than 10 million people, about half of Syrias residents, have become refugees; its true that Islamic terror claimed more than 1,000 victims around the world only last month  but its so good to be able to go back to Israels wrongs. Its so good that there is a small boat of Hamas supporters disguised as peace activists.

Womens boat to Gaza. Want to enter the strip? Go right ahead and deliver an official letter to Gazas residents and Hamas leaders from the Israeli government

The Gaza-bound flotilla received international media coverage, especially when Roger Waters joined the party and announced that Pink Floyd was reuniting for a special performance for the boats passengers. What did we gain from that, asked my friend, who was listening to foreign media reports. Instead of taking over the boat and reminding the world of the Gaza blockade, which turns into a siege when translated into foreign languages, Israel could have acted differently. Why confront a small group of women and turn them into heroes? We could have turned them into what they really are: Useful idiots.

Want to enter Gaza? Go right ahead. Well even equip you with medicine and tomato boxes. Its true that hundreds of Israeli trucks transfer goods into the strip every day, but if you want more  be our guest.

We could have taken the same opportunity to do other things. For example, to equip them with an official letter from the Israeli government, something that would be photographed well on the media. A letter adorned with arabesques in dozens of languages. And if Israel were smart, not only would it not have prevented media coverage, it would have invited a distinguished delegation of journalists from around the world to cover the delivery of the letter.

And what would be the content? Well, the following things should have been written: The State of Israel wants prosperity and welfare for the strips residents. For that purpose, Hamas is required to accept the simple formula of demilitarization in exchange for reconstruction. Instead of investing in tunnels of death, instead of investing in the production of rockets directed at innocent civilians, it is possible to turn over a new leaf of cooperation, of economic investments, of project building. Israel is not interested in a blockade.

The key to end the blockade is in Hamas hands. There is no need for exhausting discussions. The principles have already been set by the international community through the Quartet. The moment Hamas agrees, Israel is committed to end the blockade. Please, dear women, if you are activists for peace, rather than for strengthening jihad and hatred, relay this message to the strips residents and Hamas leaders. Israel is ready for a reconciliation. The ball is in Hamas court. If it chooses to continue the rocket fire and to rob the cement transferred by Israel in order to build tunnels of death, the blockade will continue. If it seeks welfare, peace and an end to the blockade, it could happen within 24 hours.

Israel could have taken the same opportunity to ask the distinguished women to visit the two Israelis held in the Hamas prison. After all, we are talking about a humanitarian mission. At least thats what the women on the boat claimed.

Wait just one minute, the opponents will say. What do we need another show for? Well, we do, and more and more, because these women and these flotillas are creating an inverted display. Through one action, which would not have harmed any Israeli interest  as they are not transferring rockets or secrets  we could have exposed both the foolishness of the flotillas participants and the real face of Hamas, which is insisting on an industry of death rather than on welfare, which wants a blockade rather than a reconciliation.

Its not too late to do so. The next ship is already getting organized. And all these ships are doing an excellent job serving the Hamas propaganda. They are creating a false pretense of a cruel and aggressive state against miserable and hungry residents. Israel has failed to deal with the propaganda-related side of these flotillas. The approach can be changed. The question is: Is there anyone willing to stray from the routine?
The UN High dommissioner on human rightsJordanian Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Husseincalled on the UN deputy secretary-general to prepare to publish the Black List of Israeli businesses and international corporations which have ties with the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Golan Heights to facilitate the launching of boycotts.

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Ties which can qualify a business for the Black List include those with any branches in the territories. These include, for example, banks which could be boycotted by the UN under the criteria set out by Al-Hussein even if its main operation centers are not situated in the West Bank or the Golan Heights.

It is reasonable to assume that the UN has ties with businesses which are expected to be included on the list, and therefore the UN must stop these illegitimate links, Al-Hussein wrote to the UN deputy secretary-general, the Swedish Jan Eliasson.

Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein (Photo: AFP)

He urged the issue to be highlighted as soon as possible and be brought to the attention of the UN Procurement Division which manages regular contacts with Israeli companies and only recently reported that the volume of procurement from Israel has doubled twice in the last two years.

It was also pointed out that according to previous declarations by the secretary-general and UN reports, the world body is obligated to act in accordance with the resolutions taken by the Human Rights Commision.

Last March the UN High Commission in Geneva adopted a resolution calling for the compilation of a list of businesses operating in the territories, in east Jerusalem and the Golan Heights to bring about an international boycott on them.

In the letter to the Eliasson, Al-Hussein added a description of how the council is currently engaged in institutionalizing an orderly working method for formulating annual lists, in cooperation with other countries, and "bodies and stakeholders."

Officials from the Israeli Foreign Ministry have said that that the implementation of the resolution could result in an economic disaster for the State of Israel since Israeli businesses operating outside Israel will be threatened with consumer boycotts. Furthermore, international corporations operating in Israel will be forced to choose between having their products labelled by the UN or activity in large parts of Israel.

Palestinian worker in a factory in the West Bank (Photo: Reuters)

Israels UN Ambassador Danny Danon responded to the letter by stating his intent to fight boycotts of Israeli businesses and international corporations with business ties with East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and the West Bank.

Countries need to decided if they are ready to finance activities intended to label and boycott Jewish businesses. This is crossing a dangerous line and a slippery slope into times of discrimination in history in which such Black Lists were published, he said.
A police officer and a 60-year-old woman were killed and five injured Sunday morning after a terrorist committed a shooting near a police station next to the Ammunition Hill light rail station in Jerusalem.

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According to a police report released shortly after the incident, the terrorist, who had previously served five prison sentences for a variety of offense including aggravated battery, illicit military training and setting fire to vehicles, opened fire from within his vehicle on people standing by the station situated opposite police headquarters.

The terroristlater identified as a 39 year old from the East Jerusalem neigborhood of Silwan and a full Israeli citizenthen fled the scene, continuing his rampage as he shot two people sitting in their car.

Shootout with the police

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He then proceeded in the direction of Tomb of Simeon the Just in Sheikh Jarrah where he stopped his vehicle and began shooting at riot police pursuing him on motorbikes. One of the officers, who was later identified as 1st Sgt. Yosef Kirma, was critically injured during the shootout and died from his wounds shortly thereafter. Another policeman was also lightly wounded in the fire exchange. Israel Border Police spotted the terrorist before shooting him dead.

Security forces began conducting searches for additional suspects, setting up a number of roadblocks in the area.

Wounded being evacuated to the hospital

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Paramedics arrived on the scene where they treated multiple victims, one of whom was left in critical condition and one in serious condition. Another 3 were moderately wounded while two women sustained light injuries. An additional 3 victims were taken to hospital and treated for shock.

Security arrive at the scene of the attack (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

Paramedics treat victims at the scene

Among the victims was a 60-year-old woman, who was immediately evacuated to Hadassah Medical Center in critical condition and eventually succumbed to her wounds having been shot in her upper body.

1st Sgt. Yosef Karmia killed during shootout with terrorist in Jersualem

Security stand by following shooting attack (Photo: AFP)

Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan arrived at the scene and spoke with the press, telling them there was no forewarning for this attack. But we have said the whole time that because of the increase in the amount of incitement many will plan lone-wolf attacks, he added.

Scene of the incident

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Erdan then went on to attribute responsibility for the attack to Facebook. In my opinion, Facebook and other social media sites bear direct responsibility. It was two or three weeks ago that Facebook reopened Hamas's pages following Palestinian public pressure. In my eyes, it's scandalous."

Bullet cartridges from the attack

"I don't necessarily draw a connection between this and the current attack," the minister clarified.

It is not the first time that Erdan has espoused his vociferous opposition to the paucity of effective measures to counter rife online incitement.

Light rail station glass sattered (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said Once again we are witness to cruel, merciless terror aimed at innocent civilians. (The terrorists) are trying to disrupt our lives and harm us. I wish all the wounded a speedy recovery.

Photo: Gil Yohanan

We will not bow. We will continue to live our lives, despite the uncompromising war on terror and wild incitement. I praise our security forces that acted immediately, got to the terrorist and neutralized him. I want to congratulate them for the holy work they perform year-round, especially during the holiday period, Barkat said.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum stated the attack was "a natural reaction to the continued crimes of the occupation against Palestinians and the al-Aqsa Mosque." His organization did not take responsibility for the attack, however.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett said during an event in memory of late Knesset Member Hanan Porat that one needs to sacrifice oneself to annex Judea and Samaria. This statement, which Bennett later explained as a metaphor, is part of the Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home) partys pool of messages, which also includes Justice Minister Ayelet Shakeds principles that were published last week in Hashiloach magazine.

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In her article, Shaked discussed her doctrine against anything that reminds her of the judicial activism of retired Supreme Court President Aharon Barak, who left behind a glorious legacy of rulings defending the rights of all human beings, even if they were not born as Jews in the Jewish state. Its not something to write about in a doctrine which sees Jews before being human.

Naftali Bennett. Bayit Yehudi represents only eight Knesset seats, but its representatives are dreamers endowed with the temperament of a ruling party (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

The things said by Bennett and presented by Shaked are part of thorough work conducted by the Bayit Yehudi party. Take, for example, Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel, who has succeeded in making farmers feel what Foreign Ministry workers feel. He may not be as busy as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but he is very busy with the World Zionist Congress settlement division. And lets not forget the chairman of the Knessets Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, MK Nissan Slomiansky, who knows a thing or two about the connection between funds and passing laws, and MK Bezalel Smotrich, the straight Jews rights activist, and other emotional and pragmatic MKs.

The party, which appropriated the symbol everyones house, represents only eight Knesset seats, but its representatives are dreamers endowed with the temperament of a ruling party. It sometimes seems like the secular-Jewish home, which has not appropriated catchy symbols and includes roughly 40 Knesset seats scattered in different homes, needs urgent cataract surgery. The blur joins helplessness and does point not only to a vision problem but to a deeper problem. Lets call it a leadership problem.

There is no lack of faith in the Jewish-secular home. People believe in pluralism, in live and let live, and love this country just as much as Bennett, Shaked and Ariel, even if their connection with God is not expressed in dos and donts. The problem is that the authentic representatives of this home are all dead by now, and those pretending to represent them are busy with small dreams, and the next elections are as far as they can see.

The Bayit Yehudi members, on the other hand, are investing resources in all channels simultaneously, and the end justifies all means. In order to annex the West Bank, they are working to neutralize the protectors of human rights and advancing laws bypassing morality, planting the seeds of divine promises in the state educational system, nurturing the plants grown by the National Religious Party in the public service, transferring funds to settlements at the expense of the Land of Israel beyond the Green Line and setting superior goals such as sacrificing ones soul.

Bennett took advantage of the memorial event for Porat to conduct a moral comparison between the Jewish homes. Those who frown upon settling in the Land of Israel, he said, have given up on the heart of the people of Israel. He allows himself to take the Jewish heart and transplant it only in those belonging to the settler right, although he knows very well that without sacrifices of members of the secular-Jewish home we will be able to defend neither the Gaza vicinity nor the Raanana vicinity (where Bennett lives).

Unlike the Jewish Home, the secular-Jewish home has failed to create a leadership to represent it, to sweep it away and unite it and to serve as an alternative to Bennetts messianic leadership or to Netanyahus leadership which depends on polls and on the direction of the wind. This home is the silent and unrepresented majority. A majority engaged in survival, a majority yearning for a leader. And perhaps I should say, an oppressed majority.
Rabbis, educators and community leaders in the religious community published a video on Saturday night in which they apologized before Yom Kippur for the poor treatment of the LGBT community this past Jewish year by their colleagues.

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The video is in keeping with Jewish tradition of seeking forgiveness for wrongs committed against one's neighbors during the High Holy Days. Indeed, the video begins by quoting the relevant Talmudic passage, "Yom Kippur atones for transgressions between a person and God, but for a transgression against one's neighbor, Yom Kippur cannot atone, until he appeases his neighbor."

Seven speakersfour men and three womenappear in the project that was initiated by LGBT religious organizations Havruta  Religious Gays, Bat-Kol  Religious Lesbian Organization, K'ratsono  Religious Trans Men and Woman and their Friends, Religious LGBT Community,and Shoval  Everything Was Created in His Glory. Whilst all the speakers are identified as liberal religious persons who advocate for including those with various sexual orientations and gender identities in their communities, this clip still constitutes an exceptional step on their half with rabbis and other religious leaders figuratively beating their breasts and asking for forgiveness.

Benny Lau (Photo: Yaron Brener)

Rabbi Dr. Benny Lau is the community of the Ramban synagogue in Jerusalem and the head of the Human Rights and Judaism in Action Project at the Israel Democracy Institute. One of the leading figures in Modern Orthodoxy, he has criticized in the past the speech by Rabbi Yigal Levinstein that deemed gay people "perverts." However, in the spirit of the High Holy Days, Lau took responsibility for the pronouncements of the head of the Bnei David pre-army preparatory yeshiva. "I'm commanded to perform a self-examination, not to examine my neighbor," he said.

The cousin of Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau, he asked, "How many people walk among usisolated people, people who are seeking contact, different people, people with wills, people with identities, LGBT people?

"You check yourself, ask yourself, 'Did you see? Did you see everyone among you? Did you see the people who aren't you?' I pray that in the coming year, we'll want to please we'll see, we'll be inclusive people. We'll open our ranks."

Dr. Hannah Kehat, one of the leading pioneers in the feminist movement in the religious community, added, "Over the last year, unfortunately, some of our rabbis went off the proper path, from the path of the Torah, hurt and insulted people for who they are, and especially the LGBT community. I really hope. I wish, that next year, all of us will remember that the greatest and most important rule in the Torah is to 'love your neighbor as your self.' That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation."

Rebbetzin (a rabbi's wife) Dr. Chana Friedman, one of the founders of the liberal Orthodox Yachad Tel Aviv Community, said, "The Holy One, blessed be he, can forgive us for our sins against him, but with all his greatness and abilities, he has no authority to make disappear the pain and injuries and sins that we have committed against other people. It doesn't help even if those injuries and sins were done in the name of God."

Rabbi Meir Nehorai, chairman of the rabbinical organization Beit Hillel, which last year published an unprecedented position paper on the treatment of the LGBT community, said, "It's the appropriate time to ask for forgiveness with all our hearts so that we can go into Yom Kippur in perfect purity."

Rebbetzin Malka Puterkovsky added, "The foundation needs to be a lack of judgmentalso for people with same-sex orientations, LGBT people, gays, lesbians. Attentiveness to the specialness of a person, regardless of whom, can make us wiser, can enrich us, and principally provide another viewpoint to the human soul."

Ilay Ofran, rabbi of Kvutzat Yavne, summarized, "The goal, the goal of our life, is to build a community that has a place. That has a place for the same and the different. If there are entire groups that can't aren't finding their place, then not only are we sinning between man and his fellowwe're also sinning between man and place."
Education Minister Naftali Bennett called on Saturday night to pardon Sgt. Elor Azaria, who is on trial after shooting dead a seriously wounded terrorist.

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"I've been following the trial and I've reached the conclusion that if Elor Azaria is convicted, he needs to be given an immediate pardon and not spend a single day in prison," Bennett said on Channel 2's Meet the Press.

The leader of Bayit Yehudi claimed that "the investigation was seriously tainted in an almost irreparable manner. In addition, (Azaria) and his family have already paid such a heavy price."





Education Minister Bennett (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

"That is the message that we need to send the soldiers of the Israeli Defense Force," he argued. "We send the soldiers of the IDF to protect us from a wave of murderous Palestinian terrorism. We're with you. If you blatantly stray from the path, there's a way to handle it. But not in a way in which you're condemned that very night. That's why I expect Elor Azaria to be pardoned."

Following Bennett's comments, Azaria's lawyers called on Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, also of Bayit Yehudi, to express her position on what they say is the "tainting" of the judicial procedure.

"We don't deal with speculations or assumptions; we are working tirelessly to get an acquittal for Elor, which makes sense given the evidence," the defense team said in a statement.

Sgt. Elor Azaria (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

MK Elazar Stern of Yesh Atid, a major general in reserves as well, also blasted the remarks.

"Minister Bennett has already gone up to the Knesset podium to tell us all that he had called Elor Azaria's father. It took 48 hours for the prime minister to announce to the nation that he too spoke to the soldier's parents," he said. "This evening, the education minister called for a pardon (for Azaria). I suppose it'll be two days before the prime minister urges to give (Azaria) a commendation."

"The sad, transparent clash between Bibi and Bennett is undermining the trust in the IDF. Politicians should also have limits when it comes to national responsibility," he added.
Forty-three years later, the Yom Kippur War is still remembered in the public consciousness mainly for the intelligence failure which preceded it. The Israeli intelligence received sufficient reliable information about Egypt and Syrias intentions to launch a war, but because of what was called the conception its leaders refused to read the writing on the wall. The result was that Israel was surprised and caught unprepared.

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The claims against the intelligence are correct. It was a resonating failure, which stemmed both from the devotion to that conception and from too much self-confidence. But it is uncertain that the lesson of what happened in 1973 will prevent similar intelligence mistakes in the future. History, from the days of the story of Troy to the German invasion of the Soviet Union and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, provides numerous examples of surprises and deceptions in the battlefield. The failure in identifying the deception is the result of human error, and it is impossible to guarantee that similar mistakes will not happen in the future.

Its hard to understand why the regular army was not properly prepared for war (Photo: GPO)

Alongside the intelligence mistake, there was an even greater failure in the Yom Kippur War, which was more significant result-wise, and mainly unforgiveable. I am talking about the ignorance of the IDFs top echelon. The leaders of the army, including the chief of staff, the command chiefs and others, simply did not know what they had to know by the power of their position: The military doctrine, the abilities of the IDF they commanded and how a command and control system should operate.

This was expressed, first of all, in the actual perception  both in the Golan Heights and in Sinai  that ignored the basic assumption in the defense that the contact line is expected to be broken, and that the army should therefore prepare with depth. In addition, in both fronts only one armored brigade was deployed up front, even when there were at least two available brigades  a deployment which contradicts any basic defense rule.

A lot of money was put into the erection of posts in the Golan Heights and along the Suez Canal, but the way they were built points to horrible ignorance. The way the Air Force was operated upon the start of the war exposed a complete misunderstanding of the forces abilities and of the way they are affected when its missions are changed every few hours. In the planning of the counterattack in Sinai on October 8, there was a complete disconnection between the pretentious planning and the ability to meet the plans timetable, even if the enemy had disappeared.

In the last days before the war and in its first two days, the chief of staff acted like a company commander rather than like the head of the army. The operations division simply did not exist, and in any event did not do the required minimum  make sure that it had a representative near the chief of staff to issue a written order based on his instruction and another representative to confirm on the phone that the order was both comprehended and implemented.

It is possible to understand why, despite the concerning intelligence information, Israel did not call up reserve forces until the day the war broke out. It is difficult to understand, however, why the regular army was not properly prepared. Even if they had really estimated that Egypt was only planning an exercise (which in retrospect, served as the basis for the deception), there was no diplomatic, economic, moral price in keeping the regular army on high alert for several days.

Today it is safe to say that had the regular army prepared properly, had the Air Force (which is mostly a regular system) received orders on how to act and had the alertness ordered been issued as they should have  from the General Staff to the posts  even if the intelligence had remained as it was, the results of the war could have been entirely different, especially in terms of the number of casualties in the first days.

Unlike the intelligences mistake, which stemmed from natural human weakness, ignorance which stems from neglecting the study of the profession and the position is unforgivable.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken to US Secretary of State John Kerry in an effort to mitigate the latest crisis with Washington over the Israeli government's decision to approve the construction of 300 housing units in the settlement of Shvut Rachel.

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Netanyahu told Kerry that the construction in Shvut Rachel is meant to provide an alternative for the residents of the illegal outpost of Amona, which is schedule to be demolished in December after the High Court of Justice determined it is built on privately-owned Palestinian lands.

Netanyahu added that the new housing units will be built only if no other solution is found.

US Secretary of State Kerry and Prime Minister Netanyahu (Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom)

The prime minister has been holding a series of meetings with Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and other officials in an effort to find a solution to the Amona crisis and to prevent similar such cases in the future.

Both the State Department and the White House issued unusually strong statements against the decision last week.

"Proceeding with this new settlement is another step towards cementing a one-state reality of perpetual occupation that is fundamentally inconsistent with Israel's future as a Jewish and democratic state," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement. "Such moves will only draw condemnation from the international community, distance Israel from many of its partners, and further call into question Israel's commitment to achieving a negotiated peace."

The White House also issued a sharp condemnation of the decision, saying it undermines the peace process and contradicts assurances from Jerusalem.

"We did receive public assurances from the Israeli government that contradict this announcement," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at a news briefing. "I guess when we're talking about how good friends treat one another, that's a source of serious concern as well."
It began with Knesset Member Basel Ghattas of the Joint Arab List. Former President Shimon Peres stroke was enough for him to make defamatory comments about the Zionist criminal. A small minority among the Arabs, in Israel and in the world, joined him.

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When Peres passed away , the extreme right launched its own sickening campaign. Peres, according to them, is not just the most senior Oslo criminal, he is also an arch-liar and a traitor who tried to sell the state. Just a few minutes went by, and a small part of the radical left joined the party too. Peres? All he did was talk. He is a crook. He is a liar. He didnt do anything for peace.

Amiram Levin (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

As long as it was taking place solely in the marginal coalition of Balad, the radical right and the radical left  so be it. Its unpleasant, but its not that horrible either. And then came Major-General (res.) Amiram Levins horror show.

Channel 10 News aired on Friday night a recording from three weeks ago, when Peres was fighting for his like after having suffered a stroke, in which Levin is heard calling the elderly statesman a liar and a crook and said he had played no part in Operation Entebbe and had never met Yoni Netanyahu. It was the same scornful melody, but this time it came from a person who we wanted to believe had a certain amount of common sense. He is not a member of the coalition of cursers and offenders.

Levin made a double mistake, to say the least. Peres did say in the past that he had met Yoni Netanyahu before Operation Entebbe. He even wrote about it in his book From These Men: Seven Founders of the State of Israel. What really happened? According to one versio, Peres mistook Netanyahus deputy, Muki Betzer, for Netanyahu. According to that same version, Peres himself clarified that it was a mistake and even wrote Betzer a letter of apology.

But there is a slightly more accurate version which appears, for example, in Iddo Netanyahus book, Yoni's Last Battle: The Rescue at Entebbe, 1976. According to that version, then-defense minister Peres did meet with the commandos, including Yoni. Iddo presents detailed testimonies about the days and hours before the operation, including detailed reports about the meeting between Yoni and Peres.

Late President Shimon Peres. Yes, he was controversial. Yes, he did change his opinions. Yes, he was a politician and not just a statesman. But he seemed to have had so many virtues (Photo: AP)

In any event, investigation reports released in the past, and the testimonies published by Iddo, prove that Peres involvement in Operation Entebbe was crucial, regardless of whether he had met with Betzer or with Yoni. Thats marginal. Thats not important. How can anyone claim that a defense minister did not have a crucial influence on such a military operation? And even if Levin were right about the actual meeting  and he is not  so what? What happened? Wheres the crime? Peres clearly did meet with the commandos. There was no deception and no malice. Is that a reason for such a despicable attack?

The history of the man and the legend, Shimon Peres, is not examined according to such marginal nonsense. Yes, he was controversial. Yes, he did change his opinions. Yes, he was a politician and not just a statesman. But he seemed to have had so many virtues, that its unclear what exactly made Levin blast him like that.

Levin is not alone in this game. Former Minister Yossi Beilin was there before him. Another sane person who failed to count to 10 before maliciously eulogizing former minister Benjamin (Fuad) Ben-Eliezer , even before he was buried.

Granted, public life occasionally requires blatant comments in order to gain attention and even headlines. There is no doubt that Beilin and Levin accomplished their mission. They hit the jackpot.

Its sad. Beilin and Levin each have plenty of virtues. What they are doing to others should not be done to them. They made a mistake. A day before Yom Kippur, they should apologize.
AURELIUS  October is the month for all things spooky  and the best time for paranormal researchers to explore a passion they share all year round.

A collaborated effort between the folks of Upstate Supernatural and White Light Researchers brought insight into the unknown the thrd annual Paranormal Expo at the Fingerlakes Mall Friday and Saturday.

The weekend began with a group ghost hunt overnight Friday at the mall which had approximately 30 people in attendance.

The group used typical equipment of a paranormal researcher as well as some more uncommon methods and were able to capture the shadowy figures of a man and a young child in the book return room located at the far entrance of the mall.

No one knows quite why the shadowy couple are present within that room of the mall but researchers say they have video and audio proof of their existence spanning several years.

"It could be anything, really," said Dominick Valerio of Upstate Supernatural, a locally operating paranormal research group for the past nine years. "But they are there and we are trying to figure out who they are and why they are here. Often times a mall can be a beacon for ghosts who want to be seen or heard. With so many people it's sure that they will."

Computers, equipment and other paraphernalia were a part of Saturday's event as guests had the chance to view footage, listen to sound recordings and talk with several area researchers and psychics.

"There is always something that gets us into what we do," said Michelle Renslow co-founder of White Light Research. "I have always been the type to research what I cannot explain and over the years it's just evolved into this. I remain skeptical right up until I find proof that it is spiritual in nature."

Renslow said that she has been working closely for several years with a residential home in Auburn that she said has had more than 100 deaths over the years.

"We stay with the clients forever," she said. "We stay in touch and just make sure that everything is OK. I'm there for them throughout it all."

Another ghost hunt was set to take place at the mall late Saturday night.
The terrorist who carried out a deadly shooting attack in Jerusalem Sunday morning, leaving two dead and five injured was supposed to begin a four-month prison sentence the same day for attacking a police officer.

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Moreover, Hamas announced shortly after that attack that the 39-year-old terrorist from Silwan, whose name is currently under a gag order and who held full Israeli citizenship, was "one of ours."

In a photograph circulated of the the terrorist, he can be seen wearing a Hamas scarf while holding a picture of Hamas's spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

The terrorist's vehicle (left), the terrorist supporting Hamas (right)

Given his history as a repeat offender, questions have been raised as to why he was able to walk around freely. While he had previously served a number of prison sentences for a variety of offenses including aggravated battery, illicit military training and setting fire to vehicles. He has been photographed wearing Hamas paraphernaliaand support Hamas in general.

Between January 2015 and January 2016, the terrorist sat in prison for incitement to violence and terror. During his term he was also tried for attacking a police officer on a separate occasion. Last May he received an additional four months in prison. However, after submitting a request to postpone the commencement of the sentence the court ruled that he would begin his term on October 16.

The terrorist on the Temple Mount

The state subsequently requested that the date be moved forward the ninth of the month. However, it was never requested that he remain detained in remand in the interim. Given that he had already been released during the investigative stage therefore, when the indictment was issued against him the option of extending his arrest was precluded.

According to the indictment issued against him after he attacked a police officer, it was written that in 2014 he attempted to cross a roadblock set up by police and to enter the Temple Mount. After he was asked to leave by one of the policemen, the terrorist responded by hitting him. After being arrested and put into the police vehicle, he turned to one of the officers and exclaimed, remember my face. We will meet.

Damage sustained at the Ammunition Hill light rail station (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

Furthermore, on a popular local Facebook page, it was written that approximately two weeks ago, he was barred from entering Jerusalem for his activities connected with the Al-aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount. Business owners in Eastern Jerusalem who knew the terrorist also said that he was a known activist for Al-aqsa.

Everyone knows him around here, explained one business owner."Everyone knows him here. He was like a local judge. His family also owns a sweets shop."

It turns out that the terrorist was released during his last arrest while an investigation into his actions was ongoing. Therefore, when the indictment was finally filed against him, it was impossible to also request an extension to his remand.

The terrorist wrote on his Facebook about his love of the al-Aqsa mosque before he was to carry out his sentence.

The terrorist is neutralized

"I dont miss anyone like I miss you, and I don't love anyone like I love you," he wrote.

"Despite their (the Israeli) prison, my love for you has only grown stronger. They have kept me from my beloved for four months, but I say that four months is nothing over the course of a lifetime. Don't abandon the al-Aqsa mosque."

He wrote in another post that "according to Israeli radio, I have been prevented from leaving the country due to suspicions that I my commit a terror attack. What constitutes a Hamas supporter? What constitutes a traveler? Who is defined as a terrorist?"

The terrorist was indicted in January of 2015 on charges of incitement. The indictmnt listed several examples, such as "during Operation Protective Edge, the suspect wrote Facebook statuses such as '19 of your soldiers were killed. They were child killers, the most cowardly of soldiers, despicable and vile soldiers. The heroes of al-Qassam (Hamas's military wing) sullied your heads in the mud. The al-Qassam soldiers of the resistance. God is Greatest. Praise be to God.'"
First Sergeant Yossi Kirma, a 29-year-old police officer from the town of Mevaseret Zion, is the Special Patrol Unit officer killed in Sunday mornings terrorist shooting attack in Jerusalem . He is survived by his wife, his parents , and two siblings. He recieved decorations for his work preventing a stabbing attack.

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The other victim of the attack is Levana Malihi, 60, a grandmother and former longtime employee of the Knesset who retired in 2010. She is survived by her husband, three children, and six grandchildren.

In December 2015, Kirma was patrolling the Jerusalem area when he noticed a suspicious man walking next to a preschool. Kirma and his partner decided to check the man, and found a knife on his person. The suspect admitted to planning a stabbing attack when later questioned. Kirma was given a commendation from the Jerusalem District police commander for his actions.

Levana Malihi (left) and Yossi Kirma.

Malihi worked at the Knesset for over 30 years, first at the cafeteria and then in the housekeeping department. The Knesset Spokespersons Office stated that, Veteran Knesset workers remember a very warm woman, beloved by all, dedicated, caring, and humble. Even after her retirement in 2010, Levana stayed in touch with the Knesset and kept participating in various Knesset events.

The attacker who killed Malihi and Kirma was driving a vehicle, and started his shooting spree near the Israel Police headquarters at Ammunition Hill. In addition to Kirma and Malihi, five people were wounded in the attack  three moderately, and two lightly. In addition, three people were treated for anxiety. The terrorist was shot and killed by Border Police forces.

The terrorist, who had served five months in and Israel prison in the past, was supposed to start another prison sentence Sunday. His Identity is under gag order at the time of this writing, but it can be revealed that he had shown allegiance to Hamas in social media posts.
Following controversy over the matter of women using mikves without attendants, the Ministry of Religious Services has instructed all mikvehs in Israel to allow women using their services to keep their privacy, and not to force women to be accompanied by (female) attendants who usually oversee the ritual bathing in order to assure that it conforms to religious rules.

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These new instructions come following a protest campaign that called for mikvehs to allow women to keep their privacy while at the facility. The Chief Rabbinate of Israel opposed the decision, since the attendants role is to assure that the ritual bathing is done in accordance with religious laws. This is an important matter since certain religious rights and ceremonies depend on the purity of a person, which is achieved through bathing in a mikveh.

The mikveh protest seems to have worked. (Photo: Shutterstock)

The bathing requires women to be fully disrobed, thus making it uncomfortable for some women, who do not wish to take off their clothes in front of a woman they do not know.

In addition, new instructions forbid employees at the Mikveh from asking women who come over to use the facility about their marital status, or from making their answers of these questions a requirement for admittance. Up to now, single women would generally not be allowed to bathe in mikvehs, since one of the mikvehs main uses is to purify a woman following her monthly period. The facilities are now instructed to allow women to use the mikvehs, but they will hang up signs that inform comers that according to religious authorities, single women are not allowed to bathe there.
DIYARBAKIR - Ten Turkish soldiers and eight civilians were killed on Sunday when suspected Kurdish militants detonated a five-tonne truck bomb that ripped through a checkpoint near a military outpost in the country's southeast, the prime minister said.

Another 27 people, including 11 soldiers, were wounded in the blast which hit the Durak gendarmerie station, 20 km (12 miles) from the town of Semdinli, in one of the most deadly attacks in the region of recent times.

The mountainous Hakkari province, where the attack occurred, lies near the border with Iraq and Iran and is one of the main flashpoint areas in a conflict that has pitted Turkey's army against the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) for 32 years.
After two people were killed during a shooting attack on Sunday , a video of the terrorist's daughter was made public, in which she came out in defense of her father and stated how proud she is of his actions, which ultimately led to her father being shot and killed by Israel Police.

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"We're very happy and proud of our father," she can be heard and seen on the recording. "My father is a great man. Our relationship, as father and daughter, was excellent."

The terrorist, speaking before carrying out the attack

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Terrorist has history of police confrontation

Despite the terrorist having had ties to Hamas, the Fatah party also responded to the killing, ascribing the attack to Israeli policy regarding Jerusalem and Temple Mount. The local Fatah branch in East Jerusalem additionally announced a day of mourning in memory of the terrorist.

Gazans hand out sweets in celebration of the terrorist

Video of the terrorist being nutrialized - Arabs praising attack heard in background

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Hamas-affiliated media, for its part, venerated the terrorist, and Hamas itself put out a video report chronicling his life.

The terrorist's daughter

Shortly after the attack, one of Hamas's spokespeople, Fawzi Barhoum, praised what he called "a heroic action" and said that "the action in al-Quds (the Arabic name for Jerusalem) is a natural reaction to the continued crimes of the occupation against Palestinians and the al-Aqsa mosque." A few hours later, Hamas published a statement recognizing the terrorist as one of its members and "a symbol of the city," adding that "he gave his life today for the al-Aqsa mosque and the city of al-Quds."

The terrorist was seen causing disturbances on multiple occasions

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The terrorist was supposed to go to jail Sunday morning to serve four months in prison for assaulting a police officer. He had already served five months and was convicted, among other charges, of aggravated battery, illegal military training and setting vehicles on fire.
On Trumpledor Street in the Nachlaot neighborhood of Jerusalem, there are 270 degrees of city-commissioned street art surrounding a construction site for The Jerusalem Art Campus, a new art institute that will include an acting school, a film school and a music school.

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The ephemeral art that adorns these white walls is its own gallery. In one section, there is a mural created by street artist Pesh, which features a black background with white polka dots and a large cat with two dogs on either side. The animals are very angular and all share the same light blue, red, white, and light brown coloring. Along with this mural, there is another painting created by street artist, Faluja, which features a large blue lion head on a red, green and yellow background with the words Rise and rise again until lambs become lions.

Coined the Menorah Project and featuring the works of artists like Jack TMLa street and graffiti artist in Jerusalem known for his work with charcoal spray paintand 13 other street artists, is part of a larger project to decorate temporary construction sites in the center of the capital, a city seemingly always under construction.

Contemporary art, which can be defined as art that is relevant to the issues and ideas of the present, is largely unrecognized in Jerusalem, a city deeply rooted in its past.

When tourists visit the Holy City, they do not necessarily come for the art. However, with two art schools and the emergence of new public galleries, city-commissioned street art and commercial art galleries, the small and obscure Jerusalem contemporary art community is slowly gaining more attention.

The art scene is small, but very vibrant and growing, said Jenna Romano, founder of the blog Contemporary Art in Jerusalem. Because (Jerusalem) is not so commercialized, a lot of the galleries are co-ops and artists are running their own galleries, and a lot are city funded. This really leaves a lot of room for a wide range of creativity without the pressure to sell and without the pressure to buy.

Among these contemporary art galleries is the Jerusalem Artists House, a public gallery in the city center affiliated with the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. For the past 20 years, the gallery has been committed to exhibiting seven emerging artists annually in solo exhibitions, in a format known as the Young Artists Project.

Art exhibit in the Old City (Photo: Medialine/courtesy)

All leading artists in Israel started here with this project, said Ruth Zadak, Director and Chief Curator of the Jerusalem Artists House. We believe that art should be for everyone and thats why sometimes you can find a priest from the church around the corner and an ultra-orthodox Jew viewing the same work of art, she added.

There are also a number of co-op art galleries in Jerusalem where groups of artists run, curate and exhibit their own work. Agripas 12, near the Mahane Yehuda Market, is one example. With 15 artists in residence, each has a solo exhibition for four or five weeks, and they are responsible for raising money to keep the gallery afloat.

Along with the emergence of more public galleries, two major art institutes, Bezalel and Hadassah, are also located in Jerusalem, increasing the number of young artists in the area and greatly contributing to the influx of experimental contemporary art in the ancient city.

There is a paradox here," said Zadak. "On the one hand, it is the most pluralistic city in the world, and on the other, it is the most extreme, because you have to live with everything that is different from yourself. You have to practice your pluralism from morning to night. This generates a lot of curiosity.

Living in a city so rooted in the past and as politically and religiously contentious as Jerusalem allows for art to serve as an expression of personal beliefs and attitudes.

Jerusalem is a place that, for better or for worse, lives in the shadow of history and politics and religion, Romano said. Contemporary art is significant here because there is such a modern culturenot just in art but also in music and fashion and foodand there is a whole modern dialogue and perspective in the city that many people arent familiar with. Contemporary art opens up a dialogue for locals and for visitors.

However, the dichotomy between the old and the new remains. Art commissioned by the government and other institutions makes an effort to bridge the gap between the old and the new.

Some people are scared of the buzz in Jerusalem, but this buzz is part of what makes Israeli art beautiful. There is a feeling that Jerusalem artists are creating things that honestly reflect what we have here in the city, Choni Beigel, an industrial design student at Bezalel explained.

According to Zadak, these younger artists can engage in experimental work because they do not depend on the money. The freedom to create is in Jerusalem, but the money is in Tel Aviv, Zadak said.

There is only one commercial art gallery specializing in contemporary art in Jerusalemthe Rosenbach Contemporary Art Gallery. It has been open for a little less than a year. Gallery head Uri Rosenbachsaid that he hopes to expose local artists to overseas clients. I thought that the way to do this was first to open the gallery in Jerusalem and building on that we can participate in art fairs and exhibitions and create contacts with foreign galleries.

The contemporary art scene in Jerusalem is not limited to Israelis and Israeli art. Al Mamal, established in 1988 by a group of cultural activists and artists from Jerusalem, is a Palestinian art foundation located in Jerusalems Old City aimed at raising awareness and promoting Palestinian artists.

Contemporary art is really important because for Palestinians, the medium of art is a response to the political situation, said Aline Khoury, Programs Coordinator at Al Mamal.

(Al Mamal) focuses on Jerusalem as a center, not just as an area characterized by politics but also a place for social engagement, activities and culture. It is really important to focus on Palestinian identity and cultural heritage, especially in the Old City, which is losing its identity with the current political situation, Khoury added.

Article written by Katie Beiter

Reprinted with permission from The Media Line

http://www.themedialine.org/
The family of Lea Livneh, an 81-year-old Israeli woman who recently and suddenly passed away due to a brain ailment, decided to donate her organs. Livneh this became Israels oldest organ donor, saving four other patients in the process.

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Livneh, a resident of kibbutz Maagan Michael, was a generally healthy woman who had an active lifestyle. She worked as a painter and a teacher at an ulpan where immigrants learn Hebrew. She was healthy, looked younger than her age, and kept a healthy lifestyle, Livnehs daughter, Lilach Shahaf, said.

Lea Livneh. Israel's oldest organ donor.

About two weeks ago, Livneh suffered a brain hemorrhage. She was rushed to the Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, where doctors tried to revive her for four days, but she eventually passed away.

The family sees great importance in organ donation, Livnehs daughter said, and we thought it was part of moms legacy, who not only kept a healthy lifestyle, but also always dealt with helping others, something she spoke of all her life  how it was important to do. We are proud that we could have helped others in some way, out of our harsh tragedy.

Livnehs two lungs, liver, and two kidneys were implanted in four patients who were in critical condition, and are now stable.

This transplant shows us that a lung can be donated at any age, if the donor did not suffer from lung disease, didnt smoke in the past, and (if) their lungs are exemplary, said Professor Mordechai Kamer, head of the Institute for Pulmonary Medicine at Beilinson Hospital, Theres no age limit. The lungs can function up to 120 years, and save patients who would have otherwise died waiting on the (transplant) list.
The municipal company Tel Aviv Global and the Republic of Kenya have announced Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development of a new smart city in south-eastern Kenya, as part of the DLD Tel Aviv Innovation Festival of 2016.

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The Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA), also dubbed Silicon Savannah city or Techno City, is a $14.5 billion project that will feature a science and business park, convention center, shopping malls, hotels and international schools, among other facilities. Kenyan innovators and entrepreneurs will participate in the Tel Aviv Global local start-up acceleration and skills training program.

Eytan Schwartz (L) and John Tanui sgning the Memorandum of Understanding (Photo: TPS)

The agreement was signed today in Tel Aviv by Chief Executive Officer of KoTDA Engineer John Tanui and Eytan Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer of Tel Aviv Global.

The knowledge economy is the way of the future, said KoTDA engineer John Tanui. It flourishes where international networks are there to nourish it with new ideas.

Since Israel is one of the undisputed leaders in the global innovation space, we are confident that this partnership will provide our community of innovators with a collaborative platform that will position them in the global scene, he continued.

According to the MoU, KoTDA will choose Kenyan start-ups, innovators and entrepreneurs to participate in three Tel Aviv Global initiatives aimed at creating urban and technological models for the new city.

The first venture, Start Tel Aviv, will offer workshops and practical mentorship from leading experts. The second, Launchpad Tel Aviv, will enable to launch a minimally viable product with Israeli experts mentorship.

Acceleration Academy Tel Aviv, the last initiative, will provide academic courses at leading Israeli institutions on topics such as institutional innovation, technology transfer, building and promoting entrepreneurial ecosystems, smart cities, innovation in management among others.

Tel Aviv aims to inspire global practices, said Mira Marcus, International Press Director for the Tel Aviv Municipality. As a city that spent decades learning from other cities we are proud today to work with the developing world and to assist them in developing their cities to be more innovative and more sustainable.

The new "smart city," slated for completion by 2019, will be built on 5,000 acres of land, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Nairobi. The city will be home to some 30,000 residents and offer 17,000 jobs in the initial phase. By 2030, it is expected to grow to 200,000 residents with thousands of additional jobs.

Israel has had a very good relation with Kenya in the fields of agriculture, such as irrigation and agronomy technologies, security, education for sustainable development, along with other public and private sectors ventures, said Michael Baror, Israels deputy ambassador to Kenya.

Nowadays, Kenya serves as an entrepreneurship hub in the high-tech field in East Africa and is on its way to become a regional leader. The partnership with Israel will enable Israel to place itself as a leading force worldwide and Kenya as its regional counterpart, he concluded.
Arizona News

Washington, DC - In recognition of World Teachers Day, Governor Doug Ducey today honored the countless ways that teachers contribute to our students, our schools, and our economy in Arizona.

The positive impact that teachers have on their students expands well beyond the classroom, said Governor Ducey. Children take the lessons they learn in school and use them, share them, teach them for the rest of their lives.

I spent this year and last year visiting schools across Arizona, and I have been absolutely blown away by the work teachers are doing in some very challenging settings.

Teachers need to receive the recognition and resources they deserve. You cant have strong schools without strong teachers, and Arizona will keep doing everything we can to cultivate the strong classroom bond between teachers and students where all learning happens.

Well continue to honor the work of our first-class educators by giving teachers the resources they need to succeed and by empowering them to use their expertise to do so in the best way possible.
Arizona News

Phoenix, Arizona - To raise awareness of the significant impact small and medium sized manufacturers have on Arizonas economy, Governor Doug Ducey has proclaimed October the 4th annual Arizona Manufacturers Month.

Small businesses are the backbone of Arizonas manufacturing industry and their outputs are making an impact around the world, said Governor Ducey. Arizona manufacturers make an impressive range of products, from precision parts needed to send the Rover to Mars, to radios for first responders saving lives, to the life-saving artificial heart. Arizona Manufacturers Month provides an indepth look at this key industry fueling our state's economic prosperity and a chance to learn about the innovations our manufacturers are advancing."

The manufacturing industry plays a critical role in Arizonas economic growth and success. In 2015, manufacturing output in Arizona totaled $22.2 billion. Manufacturing employment exceeded 157,000 jobs in 2015, across more than 4,600 establishments. The bulk of those businesses are small and medium sized manufacturers.

RevAZ, a program of the Arizona Commerce Authority, is specifically designed to support the growth and success of these manufacturers. RevAZ is part of the National Institute of Science and Technologys Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network, a public-private partnership with Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico dedicated to serving small and medium-sized manufacturers. Offering a comprehensive suite of customized operational and business solutions, training, and technical assistance, RevAZs mission is to make every Arizona manufacturer the most successful business it can be.

Arizona is a leader in cutting-edge advanced manufacturing across many key industry sectors, said Sandra Watson, Arizona Commerce Authority President and CEO. Notably, Arizona was just ranked the most attractive state in the nation for aerospace and defense manufacturing by PwC. Arizona Manufacturers Month is an opportunity to recognize the impact that businesses in this industry are having on our lives and our economy and to celebrate their success.

RevAZ, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Arizona Manufacturers Council, the Arizona Technology Council, ATMA Precision and the Arizona Manufacturing Partnership, all come together in partnership to sponsor and coordinate Arizona Manufacturers Month, which consists of a wide variety of events throughout October. The events are open to the public and attendance is encouraged. The full calendar and additional information can be found at www.manufacturingrevolution.com. Please check back often as new events will continue to be added to the calendar.
Arizona News

Tucson, Arizona - Tuesday, Lauterio Keanu Ace Valenzuela, 24, of Tucson, Ariz, a member of the Tohono Oodham Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 46 months in prison. Valenzuela had previously pleaded guilty to an assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

On Oct. 18, 2015, Valenzuela stabbed another Tohono Oodham Nation member following an argument. The incident occurred in the San Xavier District within the Tohono Oodham reservation. The victim was stabbed several times in the arm and suffered a laceration to the ear. The injuries were not life-threatening. Valenzuela was on federal supervision at the time of the assault. He absconded following the assault and was arrested two months later.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Tohono Oodham Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Raquel Arellano, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
Latest News

Washington, DC - At the 39th meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization, 191 countries reached a global climate deal to reduce carbon emissions from aviation. At the same time, NASA is working to create new experimental aircraft that will demonstrate new green aviation technology intended to dramatically reduce fuel use, emissions and noise  with the goal of cutting emissions from the nations commercial aircraft fleet by more than 50 percent, while also reducing perceived noise levels near airports to one-half the level of the quietest aircraft flying today.

To that end, NASA recently awarded six-month contracts to four companies, who will each define the technical approach, schedule, and cost for one or more large-scale, subsonic X-plane concepts. These concepts are in support of NASAs ultra-efficient subsonic transport research goals.

The companies are Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation of Manassas, VA; Dzyne Technologies Incorporated of Fairfax, VA; Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company of Ft. Worth, TX; and The Boeing Company of Hazelwood, MO.

Engaging these contractors now to gather this information will help us move forward efficiently and expeditiously when were ready to commit to building the X-planes themselves, said Ed Waggoner, NASAs Integrated Aviation Systems Program director.

Each company is to detail their specific X-plane system requirements for a piloted experimental aircraft capable of sustained, two to three hours of powered high subsonic flight, as well as conducting at least two research flight sorties per week over the course of a year-long program.

The requested information is to be built around a plan that would see the selected experimental aircraft eventually flying no later than 2021.

NASAs return to flying large-scale X-plane technology demonstrators  a staple of its aeronautical research heritage  is part of New Aviation Horizons, an ambitious 10-year accelerated research plan developed and announced by NASA earlier this year.

The five X-plane concepts envisioned for possible further development and the contractor responsible for providing NASA with the required information include:

Aurora Flight Services for the D8 Double Bubble, a twin-aisle, largely composite airliner in which the fuselage is shaped to provide lift  enabling smaller wings  and the jet engines are mounted atop the rear tail area, which takes advantage of the air flow over the aircraft to both improve engine efficiency and reduce noise in the cabin and on the ground below.

Dzyne Technologies for a smaller regional jet-sized aircraft that features a blended wing body (BWB) design in which the lines of a traditional tube and wing airliner are shaped to become one continuous line in which the seam between the wing and fuselage is nearly indistinguishable. As an aerodynamic shape, this configuration increases lift and reduces drag.

Lockheed Martin for its Hybrid Wing Body, which includes features of the BWB on the forward part of the fuselage but has a more conventional looking T-shaped tail, with its jet engines mounted on the side of the hull but above the blended wing. Increased lift, reduced drag and quieter operations are all potential benefits.

Boeing for both its BWB concept  versions of which the company has flight tested with its subscale X-48 program in partnership with NASA  and a Truss-Braced Wing concept, which features a very long, aerodynamically efficient wing that is held up on each side by a set of trusses connecting the fuselage to the wing. Otherwise the aircraft appears more conventional than the other X-plane concepts under consideration.

Preliminary design work already has begun on a half-scale X-plane called the Quiet Supersonic Technology, or QueSST, a piloted supersonic aircraft that generates a soft thump, rather than the disruptive boom currently associated with supersonic flight.

Work also is underway on the X-57 Maxwell, a general aviation-sized electric research airplane. Maxwell will fly for the first time in early 2018 and demonstrate battery powered, distributed electric propulsion. Transport-sized electric aircraft could reduce energy use by more than 60 percent and harmful emissions by more than 90 percent. This was the first project to get an X-plane number designation in a decade.

NASAs other green aviation initiatives include reducing airline emissions and flight delays. Working in partnership with airlines and air traffic controllers at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, NASA is beginning the first-of-a-kind demonstration of new technologies that coordinate operational schedules for aircraft arrivals, departures, and taxiing.
Latest News

Washington, DC - Great balls of fire! NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has detected superhot blobs of gas, each twice as massive as the planet Mars, being ejected near a dying star. The plasma balls are zooming so fast through space it would take only 30 minutes for them to travel from Earth to the moon. This stellar "cannon fire" has continued once every 8.5 years for at least the past 400 years, astronomers estimate.

The fireballs present a puzzle to astronomers, because the ejected material could not have been shot out by the host star, called V Hydrae. The star is a bloated red giant, residing 1,200 light-years away, which has probably shed at least half of its mass into space during its death throes. Red giants are dying stars in the late stages of life that are exhausting their nuclear fuel that makes them shine. They have expanded in size and are shedding their outer layers into space.

The current best explanation suggests the plasma balls were launched by an unseen companion star. According to this theory, the companion would have to be in an elliptical orbit that carries it close to the red giant's puffed-up atmosphere every 8.5 years. As the companion enters the bloated star's outer atmosphere, it gobbles up material. This material then settles into a disk around the companion, and serves as the launching pad for blobs of plasma, which travel at roughly a half-million miles per hour.

This star system could be the archetype to explain a dazzling variety of glowing shapes uncovered by Hubble that are seen around dying stars, called planetary nebulae, researchers say. A planetary nebula is an expanding shell of glowing gas expelled by a star late in its life.

"We knew this object had a high-speed outflow from previous data, but this is the first time we are seeing this process in action," said Raghvendra Sahai of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, lead author of the study. "We suggest that these gaseous blobs produced during this late phase of a star's life help make the structures seen in planetary nebulae."

Hubble observations over the past two decades have revealed an enormous complexity and diversity of structure in planetary nebulae. The telescope's high resolution captured knots of material in the glowing gas clouds surrounding the dying stars. Astronomers speculated that these knots were actually jets ejected by disks of material around companion stars that were not visible in the Hubble images. Most stars in our Milky Way galaxy are members of binary systems. But the details of how these jets were produced remained a mystery.

"We want to identify the process that causes these amazing transformations from a puffed-up red giant to a beautiful, glowing planetary nebula," Sahai said. "These dramatic changes occur over roughly 200 to 1,000 years, which is the blink of an eye in cosmic time."

Sahai's team used Hubble's Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) to conduct observations of V Hydrae and its surrounding region over an 11-year period, first from 2002 to 2004, and then from 2011 to 2013. Spectroscopy decodes light from an object, revealing information on its velocity, temperature, location, and motion.

The data showed a string of monstrous, super-hot blobs, each with a temperature of more than 17,000 degrees Fahrenheit - almost twice as hot as the surface of the sun.

The researchers compiled a detailed map of the blobs' location, allowing them to trace the first behemoth clumps back to 1986. "The observations show the blobs moving over time," Sahai said. "The STIS data show blobs that have just been ejected, blobs that have moved a little farther away, and blobs that are even farther away." STIS detected the giant structures as far away as 37 billion miles away from V Hydrae, more than eight times farther away than the Kuiper Belt of icy debris at the edge of our solar system is from the sun.

The blobs expand and cool as they move farther away, and are then not detectable in visible light. But observations taken at longer sub-millimeter wavelengths in 2004, by the Submillimeter Array in Hawaii, revealed fuzzy, knotty structures that may be blobs launched 400 years ago, the researchers said.

Based on the observations, Sahai and his colleagues Mark Morris of the University of California, Los Angeles, and Samantha Scibelli of the State University of New York at Stony Brook developed a model of a companion star with an accretion disk to explain the ejection process.

"This model provides the most plausible explanation because we know that the engines that produce jets are accretion disks," Sahai explained. "Red giants don't have accretion disks, but many most likely have companion stars, which presumably have lower masses because they are evolving more slowly. The model we propose can help explain the presence of bipolar planetary nebulae, the presence of knotty jet-like structures in many of these objects, and even multipolar planetary nebulae. We think this model has very wide applicability."

A surprise from the STIS observation was that the disk does not fire the monster clumps in exactly the same direction every 8.5 years. The direction flip-flops slightly from side-to-side to back-and-forth due to a possible wobble in the accretion disk. "This discovery was quite surprising, but it is very pleasing as well because it helped explain some other mysterious things that had been observed about this star by others," Sahai said.

Astronomers have noted that V Hydrae is obscured every 17 years, as if something is blocking its light. Sahai and his colleagues suggest that due to the back-and-forth wobble of the jet direction, the blobs alternate between passing behind and in front of V Hydrae. When a blob passes in front of V Hydrae, it shields the red giant from view.

"This accretion disk engine is very stable because it has been able to launch these structures for hundreds of years without falling apart," Sahai said. "In many of these systems, the gravitational attraction can cause the companion to actually spiral into the core of the red giant star. Eventually, though, the orbit of V Hydrae's companion will continue to decay because it is losing energy in this frictional interaction. However, we do not know the ultimate fate of this companion."

The team hopes to use Hubble to conduct further observations of the V Hydrae system, including the most recent blob ejected in 2011. The astronomers also plan to use the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile to study blobs launched over the past few hundred years that are now too cool to be detected with Hubble.

The team's results appeared in the August 20, 2016, issue of The Astrophysical Journal.

The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and the European Space Agency. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt,

Maryland, manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, conducts Hubble science operations. STScI is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy in Washington, D.C.
Latest News

New York - A Brooklyn man who holds dual citizenship in both the United States and Belarus was arrested Thursday on federal charges for the illegal export of controlled technology from the United States. Two Russian nationals were also arrested in Denver, on charges of conspiring in the scheme. The arrests stem from a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) in New York, the FBI the Department of Commerce (DOC) and other federal agencies.

Alexey Barysheff, 36, along with his cohorts Dmitrii Aleksandrovich Karpenko, 33, and Alexey Krutilin, 27, is charged with acquiring sophisticated military and satellite technology on behalf of Russian end-users. Simultaneous to the arrests, federal agents executed search warrants at two Brooklyn locations that were allegedly used as front companies in the illegal scheme.

Had law enforcement not interceded, the alleged perpetrators would have exported materials that are known to be used in a wide range of military devices, said Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge for HSI New York. HSI will continue to partner with other law enforcement agencies while focusing its efforts on national security and stopping the illegal flow of sensitive technology.

U.S. export laws exist to prevent potentially dangerous technology from falling into the wrong hands, said Robert L. Capers, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Those who seek to evade the scrutiny of the regulatory and law enforcement agencies by operating in the shadows present a danger to our national security and our allies abroad. We will continue to use all of our available national security options to hold such individuals and corporations accountable.

As stated in the complaint, Barysheff, Karpenko and Krutilin were allegedly involved in a conspiracy to obtain technologically cutting-edge microelectronics from manufacturers and suppliers located within the U.S. and export those high-tech products to Russia. This was done while evading the government licensing system and restrictions set up by the DOC for items that have been determined could make a significant contribution to the military potential and weapons proliferation of other nations and that could be detrimental to the foreign policy and national security of the United States. The microelectronics shipped to Russia included digital-to-analog converters and integrated circuits, which are frequently used in a wide range of military systems including radar and surveillance systems, missile guidance systems, and satellites. These electronic devices required a license from the DOC to be exported to Russia and have been restricted for anti-terrorism and national security reasons.

As further detailed in the complaints, Barysheff registered the Brooklyn, New York-based companies BKLN Spectra, Inc. (Spectra) and UIP Techno Corp. (UIP Techno) in 2015. Since that time, the alleged perpetrators have used those entities as U.S.-based front companies to purchase, attempt to purchase, and illegally export controlled technology. The scheme was to convince U.S.-based manufacturers and suppliers to sell them high-tech, export-controlled microelectronics by purporting to be employees and representatives of Spectra and UIP Techno. The alleged culprits then provided false end-user information when purchasing the items, concealed the fact that they were exporters, and falsely classified the goods they exported on documents submitted to the DOC.

The case is being prosecuted by EDNYs National Security and Cybercrime Section with assistance from the National Security Divisions Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. The charges contained in the complaints are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charges, the defendants face up to 25 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Going for the green: Prop 205 backers say tax revenue from legal marijuana would help schools, but opponents see issues
Washington DC: Donald Trump headed into a crucial debate with Democrat Hillary Clinton Sunday with his White House hopes in peril and the Republican party in chaos over his lewd boasts about groping women.

With the US election less than a month away, Republican lawmakers and governors abandoned Trump in droves, despite a rare televised apology by the candidate, whose sexually aggressive remarks were caught on a live mike in 2005.

Trump himself was defiant, tweeting: "So many self-righteous hypocrites. Watch their poll numbers -- and elections -- go down!"

But even his surrogates went to ground, leaving former New York mayor Rudolf Giuliani as the billionaire`s lone defender on Sunday television talk shows.

Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway and Republican National Committee chairman Reince Preibus both backed out of scheduled television appearances ahead of the debate in St. Louis, Missouri.

Mike Pence, Trump`s running mate, also suspended his campaign appearances after declaring on Saturday that he did not condone and "cannot defend" the Republican standard-bearer.

The scandal -- just the latest involving his treatment of women -- could not come at a worse time for Trump, who has taken a beating in the polls since his sloppy performance in the first presidential debate September 29.

An average of national polls compiled by RealClearPolitics.com has Clinton in the lead by 4.5 percentage points.

National media, meanwhile, have dug up the candidate`s past behavior, including agreeing with an interviewer that his daughter Ivanka was a "piece of ass". In a 2002 interview with Howard Stern, Trump also said he preferred leaving women over a certain age.

"What is it at 35? It`s called check-out time," he quips.The two candidates face off starting at 9:00 pm (0100 GMT Monday) at Washington University in St Louis, with the added twist that this time they will take questions from the audience in a town hall-style forum.

"He`s as prepared as he`s ever been and he`s all ready for the debate tonight," Giuliani said on NBC`s Meet the Press.

"He obviously, you know, feels very bad about what he`s said. He apologized for it, will probably do it again. What he`d like to do is move onto the issues that are facing the American people."

How much the "elephant in the room," as Republican House speaker Paul Ryan referred to the tape on Saturday, dominates the debate is an open question.

Giuliani warned that Trump could well go after Clinton`s past marital troubles with her husband Bill, the former president.

"I do believe there`s a possibility he`ll talk about Hillary Clinton`s situation if it gets to that. I don`t think he prefers to do that. But I think he will."

Tim Kaine, Clinton`s running mate, suggested that while audience members would have questions about Trump`s treatment of women, the former secretary of state intended to stick to basic issues like the economy and national security.

"If Donald wants to talk about something other than what voters want to talk about, that`s his choice," Kaine said on CNN`s State of the Union show. "But I suspect that Hillary Clinton is going to talk about the things that voters really care about."

Clinton may also have to worry about a WikiLeaks disclosure of excerpts from private speeches she gave to major banks in 2013 and 2014.

Although overshadowed by the Trump tape, they show she expressed views in favor of open trade and Wall Street self-regulation to those audiences that are at odds with her positions as a candidate.

John Podesta, a Clinton adviser from whose email account the excerpts were hacked, insisted there were taken out of context.

"They are not diametrically opposed," he said on Fox News Sunday. "Again, you can pull a few words out of context, but what he said on this campaign trail is she`ll be tough on Wall Street. That`s exactly what she`ll do."

Even a winning performance by Trump, however, seems unlikely to mend the deep breach he has opened in the Republican party, alarmed about the scandal`s fallout in other down-ballot races.

Notable defectors included Senator John McCain, the 2008 Republican nominee, who said Trump`s "demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy."

The New York Times reported that by late Saturday 36 Republican members of Congress and governors had disavowed Trump`s candidacy.

Some leading Republicans called on Trump to quit the race, but he vowed he would never do that and legal experts said removing him from the top of the ticket would be extremely difficult.

Trump predicted Saturday that the controversy would blow over.

"I think a lot of people underestimate how loyal my supporters are," he told the Times.
New York: Calling Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's lewd remarks about groping women, as "unacceptable and offensive", his wife Melania Trump has appealed to the American people to accept his apology just as she has.

Amid the widespread condemnation of Trump's outrageous remarks, Melanie said the comments do not "represent the man that I know" and that she hopes the public will accept his apology and focus on issues facing the nation and world.

"The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me. This does not represent the man that I know. He has the heart and mind of a leader," Trump's wife said in a rare public statement, following a video that surfaced recently in which Trump was caught on mic making extremely lewd and sexually offensive remarks against women.

Melania, Trump's wife of 11 years and a former Slovenian model, said she hopes people will accept her husband's apology "as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world." ? ?

Trump, 70, had married his third wife Melania, 46, in 2005. He made the lewd comments shortly after marrying her.

Earlier, the Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence said that he won't "condone his (Trump's) remarks and cannot defend them."

"We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night," the Indiana governor said.

Meanwhile, Trump remained defiant in the face of the severe backlash and criticism within his own party over his remarks in the video, telling the Washington Post that he will not quit the presidential race.
By PTI: files plaints

Mumbai, Oct 8 (PTI) Two MNS corporators from the city were arrested today, days after they allegedly forced a civic chief engineer to hold a placard on a potholed road in Dadar, which read I am responsible for potholes, police said.

Sandeep Deshpande and Santosh Dhuri surrendered before Shivaji Park police station officials in Dadar this evening, following which they were formally arrested.

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However, workers of the Raj Thackeray-led MNS filed complaints in all the 93 police stations in the city through the day seeking stern action against the road engineers and contractors for "jeopardising peoples lives" through "pothole-ridden" roads.

Talking about the corporators arrest, Deputy Commissioner of Police Paramjit Singh Dahiya told PTI here tonight, "The corporators were arrested under IPC Section 341 (wrongful restraint) and 506 (34) (criminal intimidation)."

The incident had occurred in the afternoon on October 5 when a group of workers, led by MNS leader in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Sandeep Deshpande and corporator Santosh Dhuri met BMC Chief Engineer (Roads department) Sanjay Darade at his office in Worli, an official of Shivaji Park police station said.

They asked Darade to accompany them to a spot between Sena Bhavan and Plaza Theatre in Dadar area and after reaching the spot, he was allegedly forcibly made to hold a placard which read, "I, Chief Engineer of Roads Department, I am responsible for these potholes. Citizens should take note of this."

MNS secretary Sachin More said the party workers filed complaints against the road engineers and contractors in all the 93 police stations across the city and demanded that they be booked under IPC Sections 420 (cheating) and 467 (forgery of valuable security).

"The party feels that the unholy nexus between the engineers and contractors has jeopardised the lives of over one crore people of the city due to the pothole-ridden roads across the city," More said.

"Our party has a zero tolerance policy towards potholes. These craters are a reflection of corrupt practices of road engineers and contractors, and therefore, we have demanded to book and punish them," he added.

The MNS leader said the party is firmly behind the arrested corporators.

"These engineers have the responsibility to ensure the quality of the repaired roads. But it is clear that they have failed to discharge their duties," he said.

Following Wednesdays incident, Darade had approached the Shivaji Park police on Thursday night and filed an FIR against the corporator duo and others involved.

Over 4,000 civic engineers had held protest marches outside BMCs engineering hub in Worli on Thursday and threatened to resign if action was not taken against the corporators before October 10. PTI DC VT APM NP IKA

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New Delhi: US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is all set to address a rally of Hindu-Americans in New Jersey on October 15. The proceeds of which will benefit global victims of Islamic terror.

Noteworthy, half of the proceedings from the event will be used for the benefit of Kashmiri Pandits.

The founder of Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC) Shalabh Kumar has claimed that this is the first of its kind event where Trump is scheduled to address only one specific ethnic community.

"...This is a charity concert organised for the benefit of terror victims in various countries...The 50 per cent of the proceeds from this concert will go for the benefit of Kashmiri Pandits in India," Kumar told reporters.

Kumar is also Chairman of Indian American Advisory Council to the Republican Party.

Earlier, Donald Trump had praised Hindu community's "fantastic" contributions to world civilisation and American culture.

"The Hindu community has made fantastic contributions to world civilisation and to American culture and we look forward to celebrating our shared values of free enterprise, hard work, family values, and a strong American foreign policy," Trump said in a statement.

Trump's decision is seen as an attempt to woo the small but powerful Indian-American community who can play a key role in some of the battle ground States like Virginia if the race is close.

Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, has held and attended a series of fund raisers organised by Indian Americans across the country including at their homes.

But those are all closed door events away from public glare.

A recent Pew Survey had said that Indian-Americans overwhelmingly vote for Democrats.
Islamabad: Pakistan Army chief General Raheel Sharif on Sunday visited frontline troops deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) and expressed satisfaction over their "operational preparedness".

Gen Sharif visited the Haji Pir sector in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, the News International reported.

It said the General was given a detailed briefing by the local formation commander on the situation on the LoC, which divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

Gen Sharif expressed "his complete satisfaction over the high state of morale, operational preparedness and vigil being maintained by the troops along the LoC", the daily reported.

The newspaper described the visit as "important" as it comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.

Gen Sharif earlier visited the 10 Corps Headquarters, which is responsible for the entire LoC, the report said.
Beijing: Justifying its move to blockade a tributary of the Brahmaputra to construct a dam, China sought to allay apprehensions that it would effect the river flow into India saying that there will be no adverse impact on downstream areas.

Terming the Lalho dam project on the Xiabuqu river, a tributary of the Brahmaputra which is locally called as Yarlung Zangbo, as an important livelihood project to address food security and flood safety in Tibet, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the tributary river is located completely within the Chinese side.

"The reservoir capacity of the project is less than 0.02 per cent of the average annual runoff of the Yarlung Zangbo- Brahmaputra. It cannot have an adverse impact on the downstream," Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a written reply to PTI when asked about India's concerns over the dam.

Brahmaputra flows from Tibet into Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and later into Bangladesh.

On October 1, China announced the blockade of Xiabuqu river in Tibet as part of the construction of its "most expensive" dam project.

The Lalho project on Xiabuqu River a tributary in Xigaze in Tibet involves an investment of USD 740 million. Referring to the Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) on trans-border rivers between India and China, the Chinese foreign ministry said both the countries have been carrying out good cooperation on trans-border rivers for a long time.

"Proceeding from the larger picture of China-India friendship and from the humanitarian angle, the Chinese side has overcome all kinds of difficulties, and has provided services to the Indian side such as flood season hydrological data and emergency management, and has played a positive role in areas such as flood and disaster control along the banks of the relevant rivers," the ministry said.

"China is willing to continue relevant cooperation with the Indian side through the existing expert level mechanism on trans-border rivers," it said.

India had said it would take up with China the issue of its blocking the Brahmaputra tributary

"We have conveyed to the Chinese side that they should be mindful of the interests of the lower riparian country while undertaking any projects on these rivers," foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said.
Chennai: This auto-driver from Chennai has been offering free rides for Apollo Hospital patients.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is presently undergoing treatment at Chennai's Apollo Hospital.

Who is this man?

G. Sukumar, 38, wants his chief minister to recover soon and start discharging her duties, and as means to pray for her recovery, he offers free rides to any patient and drops them off to their homes.

He says that he likes to help people and loves doing social service.

"I have been doing social service since I was kid. I like helping people. One time I saw patients were sitting outside the hospital. Most of them were handicapped. I was distressed by that because they were finding it difficult to get an auto, so I decided to give them a free ride."

Sukumar says that he was once an alcoholic and credits the chief minister for his reformed life. He also credits Jayalalithaa for reduction in traffic accidents in Chennai.

"One of the reasons I am doing this is because, I pray for the recovery of Amma (Jayalalithaa), and moreover, traffic accidents have reduced under her governance. I like her and that is why I am doing this service," he said.

Ever since Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospital, for treatment for dehydration, scores of people and AIADMK supporters have been thronging to the hospital offering prayers for her speedy recovery.
Chennai: A number of political leaders are paying visit to the Apollo Hospital to enquire about the condition of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Also, special prayers were held for her good health across Tamil Nadu.

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Sunday visited the Apollo Hospital to enquire about the condition of J Jayalalithaa.

"I pray to the Almighty that she recovers fully and get back to her routine. I am fully confident that she will recover soon," Narayanasamy told reporters after visiting the hospital.

Tamil Maanila Congress chief G K Vasan

Tamil Maanila Congress chief G K Vasan also visited the hospital where Jayalalithaa is undergoing treatment since September 22. He said she is being given specialised medical care.

He met the director of the hospital and interacted with doctors, state ministers and was told that she is improving.

"Our best wishes to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for a speedy recovery. We wish on behalf of Tamil Maanila Congress that she should resume her work for the people," he said.

CPI leader D Raja

CPI leader and Rajya Sabha MP D Raja said he spoke to doctors and AIADMK leaders present at the hospital and expressed his party's wishes for her early recovery.

Special prayers, yagnas for CM's recovery

Meanwhile, special prayers continued at places of worship in the state for Jayalalithaa's speedy recovery.

After observing ritualistic stipulations for days, a massive "milk pot" procession was taken out in Madurai by AIADMK workers and supporters in which a sizable number of women cadres participated.

The procession began from Saravana Poigai tank and culminated at the Subramania Swamy temple in Tiruparankundram where the milk carried in pots was used for worship by them.

State Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar and his party workers participated in the prayers.

Also, yagnas were performed in several temples seeking a healthy and long life for Jayalalithaa in which former State Minister Valarmathi participated.

Similarly, special prayer sessions were organised by Christians at various churches.
New Delhi: The provision of no detention, a new education policy and "mainstreaming out" of school children are the key issues that state governments and Centre will discuss in the high-profile Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) meet scheduled on October 25.

One of the key issues that will be discussed at the meeting of CABE, the most important advisory body of the Centre in education, is the 'no detention policy' under the Right To Education (RTE) law which prescribes that students will be automatically promoted to next class till Class VIII.

However, several states have expressed unhappiness over the provision saying it has affected the quality of learning and sought changes in it.

The HRD Ministry has been considering making changes in the policy and the issue will come up for discussion in the CABE meeting where Union HRD

Minister Prakash Javadekar will hold consultations with education ministers from different states, a senior official said.

Another important area on which discussions will be held is the formulation of New Education Policy.

The ministry has received suggestions from various quarters on recommendations of the TSR Subramanian committee on new education policy.

The Ministry is now planning to appoint a committee headed by an eminent educationist to work on the NEP.

Another key issue that will come up is regarding "mainstreaming out of school children".

The high number of teachers vacancies in schools will also be discussed.

Improving infrastructure of government schools, enhancing skill and technical education, extension of RTE to pre-school and secondary education are the other issues on the agenda of the CABE meeting which will be attended by top government functionaries.
Beijing: Amid fresh tensions between the two countries over India's attempts at the United Nations to designate JeM chief Masood Azhar as global terrorist, China has appointed Luo Zhaohui as its new ambassador to India.

Lou's appointment by President Xi Jinping is in consonant with the decision of the National People's Congress' Standing Committee, China's top legislature.

The 54-year-old diplomat earlier served as the country's envoy to Canada from 2014 to 2016, the state-run Xinhua reported.

Luo had also served as the director general of the Department of Asian Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2011 to 2014.

Former Chinese ambassador to India Le Yucheng had left New Delhi in April.

The appointment comes amid fresh tension between the two countries over Pakistan-based Masood Azhar whom India perceive as the fountain head of terror.

China on Saturday defended its second technical hold to prevent a UN ban on Masood Azhar, saying there were "different views" on India's application and that Beijing's move will allow more time for the "relevant parties" to have consultations.

Reacting to India's criticism that its second hold on attempts to ban Azhar sends a dangerous message, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the listing application member states submitted to the 1267 Committee of UN "must comply" with specific requirements of relevant resolutions of UN Security Council (UNSC).

Though China is the lone member among the 15-member UNSC to oppose the ban on Azhar, Beijing claims that "different views" existed about India's application against Azhar.

"There are still different views on India's listing application made this March.

The technical hold on it will allow more time for the Committee to deliberate on the matter and for relevant parties to have further consultations," the ministry said in a written reply to PTI to a question.

The reference to "further consultations" apparently referred to direct consultations between India and Pakistan over the issue.

China had put the first technical hold six months ago on India's application following Azhar's alleged involvement in the Pathankot terrorist attack.

China had extended the second technical hold valid for three months during this week despite several consultations between New Delhi and Beijing at various levels.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Sunday that terrorism and bilateral relations cannot go hand in hand, and thus, China will have to choose between India and Pakistan.

The BJP made this comment after Beijing tried to defend its second technical hold to prevent a United Nations ban on Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar.

"There is no middle path in the fight against terrorism and China will have to decide which side it is on. It will have to make up its mind whether it is going to side with terrorism just because they want to strengthen their relations with a particular country, and, how far is that going to serve humanity, and, how far is that going to serve Indo-China relations," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli told ANI.

On October 1, China had extended its veto on India`s move in the United Nations to blacklist Pathankot attack mastermind Masood Azhar and with this, Beijing for the second time prevented India`s efforts.

China defending its move yesterday said that there were 'different views' on India's application and that its move will allow more time for the "relevant parties" to have consultations even when China is the lone member among the 15-member UNSC to oppose the ban on Azhar.
Lucknow: BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday accused the BJP of trying to convert India into a "Hindu Rashtra" and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had failed to fulfil his election promises.

Addressing a huge rally here, the four-time Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also accused the government of doing "natakbaji" over the army's surgical strike on terrorist launch pads on Pakistani territory.

The Sunday event was called to mark the 10th death anniversary of BSP founder and her mentor Kanshi Ram and comes ahead of assembly elections in the state early next year.

A stampede during the rally left two aged women dead and a dozen others injured, one of them critically, police sources said.

Calling for Dalit-Muslim unity in the country's most populous state, Mayawati accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to convert the country into a "Hindu Rashtra".

If Dalits and Muslims come together, it would be enough to defeat the BJP in the state, she thundered.

Accusing the BJP of spreading communal poison, she said Dalits were also being targeted in the name of cow protection. Crimes against minorities had shot up during Modi's rule.

Mayawati was particularly harsh on the Prime Minister, accusing him of "busy converting black money into white".

Modi, she said, had done nothing but "fool" the people since taking power in May 2014.

"Modi sold a dozen dreams to the people in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls but has done nothing to deliver on them."

She also accused the BJP-led central government of using the Central Bureau of Investigation in an attempt to intimidate political opponents.

"The Modi government has connived with big industrialists and businessmen and is torturing small-time businessmen," she alleged.

She accused Modi of making frequent foreign visits and said he had woken up to the threats from Pakistan only now.

Referring to the army's September 28-29 surgical strike across the Line of Control, Mayawati said the government was doing "natakbaji" in a bid to divert the people's attention from their problems.

In any case, she argued, this was not the first time an Indian government had ordered a surgical strike on Pakistani territory.

Mayawati also targeted the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh and accused it of plundering the state coffers and letting loose criminals on the people.

If the BSP formed a government, it would dramatically improve the law and order situation, she promised.

The BSP leader said that many of the projects completed by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav were initiated during her earlier regime.

Mayawati did not spare the Congress either.

She said the Congress had done nothing for Dalits and weaker sections in the state.

She warned Muslims that voting for the Congress or the Samajwadi Party would only benefit the BJP by dividing the anti-BJP votes.
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday called on Pakistani artistes working in the Indian industry to stop having double standards on terrorist attacks and urged them to speak against terrorism mushrooming on their own soil.

BJP spokesperson Siddharth Nath Singh said that they (Pakistani artists) will do good for their country by condemning terrorism, as it will also show to the world that there are voices in Pakistan who don`t want terrorism to be part of the tool of their state politics.

"A larger section of the Indian film fraternity believes that the Pakistani artists working and earning in India should condemn terrorism and rightly, so because you cannot have double standards on terrorism. You just cannot condemn what has happened in Paris and refuse to condemn or take note of what is happening in Uri," he added.

A day after actor Fawad Khan talked about coming together to build "a more peaceful world", fellow Pakistani actor Mahira Khan Saturday issued a statement with a prayer for peace.

However, both the actors have been under criticism after the Uri attack and their detractors have been asking them to take a stand.

Meanwhile, Indian actor Ajay Devgn has said he would not share any artistic space with Pakistani actors in the current situation, while director Farah Khan, has said that she would prefer to cast "somebody from my own country".
By India Today Web Desk: There has been a lot of speculation about how the whole Shivaay vs Ae Dil Hai Mushkil battle has affected the equation between once-best friends Kajol and Karan Johar. The entire ugly episode involving Kamaal R Khan saw Ajay Devgn coming out and demanding an investigation if Johar paid the Twitter personality to trash Shivaay.



ALSO WATCH: Ajay Devgn announces he won't work with Pak artistes now

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ALSO READ: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil vs Shivaay is giving Bollywood sleepless nights

And now according to an interview which the Shivaay actor/director gave to PTI, Devgn confirms, "I am not friends with him (Karan). Even Kajol's equation is not as warm as it was. It is a personal issue... not due to any professional thing. It's a personal hurtful feeling. It has nothing to do with the clash."

The actor who was best friends with the director and even did special appearences in his movies Kal Ho Naa Ho and Student of the Year, was said to have hit rough patch with the writer-director and co-star Shah Rukh Khan when she refused Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. They then made up with My Name Is Khan, and now they seem to be back where they were after KANK.

Ajay Devgn said she is helping get the word out on his sophomore directorial venture Shivaay, since 'it is her production as well.' He said she has an understanding of what the story is about, but she is yet to see the movie. Shivaay releases on Diwali weekend, October 28.

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New Delhi: Criticising China for extended support to Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar after it prevented India`s efforts to blacklist him on the international platform, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday said that Beijing would severely regret its decision to help a terrorist.

"Our Government has tried a lot but still there are disagreements on Masood Azhar on which China has taken a stand. But China will have to regret its stand, as to help a terrorist is neither in favour of the world nor China," BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain told ANI.

Hussain further stated that India has always maintained good relations with China and have yearlong trade relations, but still there are number of issues on which both the countries have discord.

On October 1, China extended its veto on India`s move in the United Nations to blacklist Pathankot attack mastermind Masood Azhar and with this, Beijing for the second time prevented India`s efforts.

China defending its move yesterday said that there were "different views" on India`s application and that its move will allow more time for the "relevant parties" to have consultations even when China is the lone member among the 15-member UNSC to oppose the ban on Azhar.
Chennai: Five persons were killed and around 10 others injured in a blast in a fire cracker unit in Tamil Nadu's Villupuram district on Sunday, said officials.

The persons were working in the fire cracker unit in a village in Villupuram, around 170 km from here, when the blast occurred.

The blast was so intense that the building came down, trapping and killing the five workers, said a Fire and Rescue Services official.

The injured have been sent to a nearby hospital.
New Delhi: The intelligence agencies were reportedly tipped off about Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) planning a spectacular attack on Parliament at the behest of Pakistan's ISI to avenge the Indian Army's surgical strikes in PoK.

According to the Times of India, Pakistan's spy agency ISI has instructed the JeM cadres to carry out a spectacular attack in India.

Citing unnamed intelligence sources, the report claimed that JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar is thinking about attacking the Indian Parliament again.

In 2001, a Jaish module led by Afzal Guru had targeted the Parliament.

An intelligence agency and the CID department of J&K Police have been tipped off about the plan, the report said, adding the terror operatives have been asked to make every possible attempt to once again target Parliament.

And in case they fail to attack Parliament, they were instructed to target other prominent landmarks such as the Delhi Secretariat, Akshardham and the Lotus Temple, the report said citing documents with the intelligence agencies.

Part of their plan is to target crowded places like markets and places of prominence.

According to the report, this information has been forwarded to all field officers and attempts are being made to foil any such attempt.

It said that the greatest threat to the capital is from JeM and a splinter group named Jaishul-Haq Tanzeem, headed by Maulana Abdur Rehman.

The splinter group reportedly played a key role in the hijacking of the Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 to Kandahar, Afghanistan.

According to an earlier security alert, two terrorists were said to be heading towards Delhi last week and the intelligences agencies are now trying to ascertain whether that report is connected to the latest input.

Intelligences agencies are also trying to ascertain whether the latest input is in any way connected to an earlier security alert in which it was said that at least two JeM fidayeen were heading towards Delhi in a commercial vehicle.

Citing intelligence sources, the report said that the terrorists were armed with Kalashnikovs and other deadly weapons.

Both JeM and Jaishul-Haq Tanzeem are Pakistan-based terror outfits.
New Delhi: Commenting on the recent recovery of ammunition made in Pakistan Ordinance Factory found from the possession of the four terrorists killed in Kashmir`s Naugam sector, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday asserted that no amount of evidence can convince Pakistan that they are promoting terrorism.

"India is defeating the motives of Pakistan. No amount of evidence can convince Pakistan that they are promoting terrorism,"BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi told ANI.

Lekhi further said that India is maintain a proxy war with Pakistan, adding that this kind of evidence proves that Pakistan`s sinister plans are working in India.

Army officials on Saturday confirmed that four Pakistan-based terrorists were eliminated on the Line of Control (LoC) while trying to infiltrate into Kashmir's Naugam sector on October 6 adding that the UBGL grenades and hand grenades recovered from their possession was made in Pakistan Ordinance Factory.

"Pakistan Ordinance Factory made hand grenades and UBGL grenades were seized from the terrorists that confirms Pakistan's complicity in abetting, equipping terror," the army spokesperson told ANI.

"Pakistan origin markings are also seen on the medicines and eatable items recovered," the spokesman added.

Three AK-47 rifles, two UBGL launchers, three GPS, four radio search, maps and metric sheet, and medicines were recovered from them.
New Delhi: In a startling revelation, it has been claimed in a report that Indian Army had killed 8 Pakistanis in a surgical strike in 2011.

According to a report, a deadly surgical strike by the Indian Army in Pakistani territory in 2011 left at least eight Pakistani soldiers dead.

Also, the report published on Sunday claims that three of them (Pakistani soldiers) were decapitated.

Details regarding the tit-for-tat attack that took place in the summer of 2011 have come out amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions marked by an Indian surgical strike on September 29.

The Hindu newspaper citing confidential official documents, video and photographic evidences said India and Pakistan carried out "two of the bloodiest cross-border surgical strikes" killing 13 soldiers.

Five of the slain soldiers were decapitated. The Pakistani soldiers took away the heads of two Indian soldiers and left behind a third badly wounded who died in hospital, the daily said.

Revenge attack by Indian Army

In the revenge attack, Indian soldiers brought back heads of three Pakistani soldiers, the Hindu said.

Major General (retired) S.K. Chakravorty, who planned and executed the operation as the chief of Kupwara-based 28 Division, confirmed the Indian raid but refused to discuss details.

According to the newspaper, Pakistani raiders struck a remote army post in Gugaldhar in Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir on July 30, 2011.

The attackers returned with the heads of Havildar Jaipal Singh Adhikari and Lance Naik Devender Singh of 20 Kumaon. A soldier of the 19 Rajput, who reported the attack, died in a hospital.

Indian Army's 'Operation Ginger'

In revenge, the Indian Army planned "Operation Ginger" -- which, the daily said, turned out to be one of the deadliest cross-border raids across the LoC.

The Indian operation was planned to precision. Seven reconnaissance - physical and air surveillance mounted on UAV - missions were carried out to identify vulnerable Pakistani army posts.

The mission was finalized to spring an ambush on Police Chowki to inflict maximum casualty.

Finally, the Indian troops launched the covert operation on August 30, 2011.

About 25 soldiers, mainly Para Commandos, crossed the LoC stealthily. They planted claymore mines around the strike area.

Four Pakistani soldiers, led by a Junior Commissioned Officer, walked into the ambush. Mines were detonated, grenades lobbed and they were fired at.

One Pakistani soldier fell into a stream that ran below. Indian soldiers chopped off the heads of the other three dead soldiers and also took away their rank insignias, weapons and other personal items.

The commandos then planted pressure IED's beneath one of the bodies, primed to explode when anyone attempted to lift it.

Two more Pakistani soldiers rushed in after hearing the explosions. They were killed by a second Indian team waiting near the ambush site.

Two other Pakistani army men tried to trap the second team. But a third Indian team covering them killed the Pakistanis, the daily said.

While the Indian soldiers were retreating, another group of Pakistani soldiers were spotted moving towards the ambush site. Soon they heard loud blasts, indicating the concealed IEDs had exploded, the report said.

According to Indian assessment, at least two to three more Pakistani soldiers were fatally injured in that blast.

The operation lasted for about 45 minutes and the Indians headed back across the LoC, carrying the heads of Subedar Parvez, Havildar Aftab and Naik Imran.

The severed heads were photographed and buried. Two days later, one of the senior most Generals in the command turned up and ordered the heads to be dug up, burnt and the ashes strewn into Kishenganga river.

This was done to do away with all DNA traces, the daily said.
Ranchi: A retired army doctor committed suicide by stabbing himself, while five of his family members were found dead in a flat here on Sunday, police said.

According to initial investigations, the retired doctor -- Dr Sukanto Sarkar -- was apparently under stress due to threatening calls, as his daughter-in-law wanted separation from his son and demanded that property matters be settled at the earliest, a police official said.

Those found dead were wife Anjana Sarkar, son Somit Sarkar, daughter-in-law Momita Sarkar, and grand-daughters Samita Sarkar and Sumita Sarkar.

Police suspect that the five members were first poisoned by Dr Sarkar who later stabbed himself.

Dr Sarkar, who lived in Noida, had come to Ranchi on October 6 to settle the issues between his son and daughter-in-law.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination.
Baramulla/New Delhi: Barely two weeks after seven terror launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) were targeted by Indian Army, the assessment reports available from Indian army field units showed maximum damage was inflicted on Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT).

According to these assessment reports available from Indian army field units, LeT suffered the maximum damage in the cross-LoC surgical strikes on terror launch pads. The assessment reports of radio intercepts indicate that around 20 of its (LeT) militants were killed.

Assessment reports

The assessment reports available from Indian army field units which included radio conversations between various Pakistani formations showed maximum damage was inflicted on LeT, a banned terror group, at Dudniyal launch pad in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, opposite to Kupwara sector of North Kashmir, according to sources in the know of details of the recent surgical strikes.

The sources said on Sunday that five teams culled out from the army division in the area were tasked to destroy launch pads of terror groups located at Kail also known as Kel and Dudniyal.

Well-calibrated operation by Indian Army

In a well-calibrated operation, which started on the intervening night of September 28 and 29, Indian army moved across the LoC and smashed four launch pads that were under the guard of a Pakistani post located 700 metres from the LoC.

Terrorists were not expecting any action

The sources said that the terrorists were not expecting any action by the Indian army and therefore were taken by surprise.

The terrorists, mainly belonging to the LeT, were seen running towards the Pakistani post when they were killed by the Indian troops, according to the assessment reports.

Surgical strikes

Seven terror launch pads across the Line of Control(LoC) were targeted by the Army on the intervening night of September 28 and 29 in a nearly five-hour-long operation during which heliborne and ground forces were deployed.

In a first, India carried out surgical strikes on seven terror launch pads across the LoC with the Army inflicting "significant casualties" on terrorists preparing to infiltrate from PoK.
Srinagar: In a heart-warming incident, some Kashmiri youths on Sunday rescued a soldier who was trapped inside a mangled vehicle.

The vehicle had met an accident on Srinagar Bypass road near Lasjan area of the city, police said.

The army vehicle veered off the road after the driver lost control at Lasjan and hit a tree, a police official said.

WATCH video of the incident:-

#WATCH Locals rescue army jawans in Lasjan area after army truck met with an accident near Srinagar highway (J&K) (Source: Amateur video) pic.twitter.com/vZ5lpDsadR  ANI (@ANI_news) October 9, 2016

He said one soldier was trapped inside the badly damaged vehicle and efforts of other army men to evacuate him did not fructify.

"Local Kashmiri youth rushed to the spot and managed to bring the injured army jawan out by placing a truck next to the damaged army vehicle," the official said.

Some passersby shot the entire incident on their mobile phones.

The video of the incident has been widely shared on youtube and other social networking sites.

The incident comes amidst the ongoing unrest which has claimed 84 lives and thousands others injured in clashes between protestors and security forces.

In July, local residents of Bijbehara in south Kashmir Anantnag district defied curfew to rescue over 20 Amarnath pilgrims whose vehicle had met an accident during the beginning of the current unrest.
Srinagar: Curfew remained in force in interior areas of Srinagar, while there was semblance of normalcy in the uptown city as the weekly flea market opened here today, but life elsewhere in the Valley remained affected.

Curfew has been imposed in five police station areas of Srinagar -- Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safakadal and Maharaj Gunj -- as a precautionary measure, a police official said.

The curbs have been lifted from two police station areas - Maisuma and Batamaloo, the official said.

The situation in interior areas of the city remained tense after a minor boy succumbed to pellet injuries here, sparking fresh clashes between protesters and law enforcement agencies at various places yesterday.

Twelve-year-old Junaid Akhoon, who was hit by pellets during clashes between violent protesters and security personnel on Friday, succumbed to injuries at SKIMS hospital at Soura, taking the death toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir to 84.

However, in the uptown areas of the city, especially around the commercial hub of Lal Chowk, there was an increased movement of private cars and auto-rickshaws today as compared to the last two days.

The weekly flea market, popularly known as Sunday Market, also opened today as more than 100 vendors set up their stalls along the TRC Chowk-Batamaloo axis in the city.

Meanwhile, normal life remained affected for the 93rd consecutive day of the rest of the Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8.

The unrest, which has claimed 84 lives and left thousands of others injured in clashes between protestors and security forces, is in its fourth month as shops, business establishments, petrol pumps, and educational institutions remained closed, while public transport continued to be off the roads.

Top separatist leaders and youths have been arrested by police over the past three months for allegedly inciting violence. Over 300 persons have been booked under Public Safety Act (PSA).
Chennai: In Tamil Nadu, the high level central technical team led by Central water commission chairman GS Jha on Sunday visited the Mettur Dam to begin its two-day assessment of ground realities.

The high-level technical team constituted by Supreme Court visited Cauvery basin dams in Karnataka and assessed water storage.

According to reports, the team will file their report to the Supreme Court on 17th of this month.

Earlier, the technical panel constituted to solve differences between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu regarding the Cauvery water dispute said it will gather all facts regarding the matter and place them before the Supreme Court.

"We want judicious distribution of water between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, we will gather all facts and place them to Supreme Court," the team said.The panel also claimed that Karnataka has submitted a memorandum in this regard.

"We will visit the entire command, will see what distribution can be offered. Karnataka has submitted a memorandum," the panel added.
By Anvita Singh: The new chat show, Vogue BFFs is upping its ante with every passing episode. At least that is what it looks like. The third episode of the show was great fun to watch because of the great chemistry that the uncle-nephew duo, Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor, share with each other.

Both Anil and Arjun pulled each other's legs and in process ended up revealing quite a lot about each other.

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Also read:Vogue BFFs: Anil Kapoor finds THIS quality extremely unattractive in a woman



Here are the 6 unknown details about the smashing Kapoors:

Arjun Kapoor the agony aunt

Yes, thanks to the Koffee with Karan episode featuring Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor, we all know Arjun was called FUBU. And we also know the story behind the name--at one point when Arjun was not that fit, he used to wear an American brand called FUBU, which is mainly known for making clothes for bigger people, and that is how Arjun got stuck with the nickname.

But do you know the actor also has another nickname? Yes, he is affectionately called Chachu by most of his friends as he keeps giving them advice on a variety of issues. Basically, the young Kapoor is an agony aunt at heart.

Who gave Arjun his unique nicknames?

What if we were to tell you that Arjun's nickname, Chachu, was first given to him by not his friends, but superstar and his super-entertaining uncle, Anil Kapoor? Yes, the talented actor calls his nephew his chachu. Talk about confusion.

And what about FUBU, you might ask. Well, everyone's favourite Ranbir Kapoor gave Arjun that nickname. Just because. There is really no real reason behind it. That is what friends do; give nicknames to their friends just because they feel like it.

When Anil Kapoor shaved his chest

Yes, the star who has been the face of numerous memes, or should we say, the chest of numerous names, for his hairy chest, had once shaved it for a movie. And that too, not completely. The actor admitted that he had shaved his chest for a scene in Musafir.

Super-versatile actor Anil Kapoor is also a singer

During a small quiz game, The 24 actor revealed that he also has some experience in playback singing. The actor had sung the title track of the movie Chameli Ki Shaadi. Wow!

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Anil Kapoor is Arjun Kapoor's acting inspiration

The young and dapper Kapoor revealed that while he looks up to a lot of actors when it comes to acting; he thinks his chachu has a lot that he brings to the big screen, and he has always been influenced by his style and charisma on screen.

We have to admit that Anil has still got game.

All 3 questions are now out! #ContestAlert

Tweet to us @colors_infinity with the right answers & #VogueBFFs to win an autographed caricature pic.twitter.com/fjnaE4KkcO Colors Infinity (@colors_infinity) October 8, 2016

These are the three things that Anil loves the most

No, it is not his children. And we are not even talking about acting. Confused? Well, the actor said that he loves his wife Sunita and his bed the most. And the third thing he loves the most is himself. We kid you not. In fact, we suspect that Anil loves himself the most, even more than Sunita and his bed, as he just wouldn't shut up about it on the show.

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But we are not complaining, a healthy dose of self-love has never harmed anyone.

Vogue BFFs airs every Saturday at 9 pm on Colors Infinity.



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Chennai: Putting to rest rumours surrounding Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's health, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader C.R. Saraswathy has said that the their chief is improving as the reports are showing her to be recovering.

"The governor visited her, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi visited her. Everyone has been saying that CM is getting well, doctors are taking lot of care and day by day she is improving. It is true because all the leaders can`t repeat the same words, there is no need, the reports are also coming out positive, our CM is getting well," Saraswathy told ANI.

The Apollo Hospital, where Jayalalithaa is presently being treated, in its latest health bulletin stated that "The honourable Chief Minister continues to be under constant monitoring by the intensivists and consultants in the panel (of specialists)."

"Lungs decongestion treatment is being continued. All the other comprehensive measures including nutrition, supportive therapy and passive physiotherapy are under way," the bulletin added.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital on September 22, after she complained of fever and dehydration.Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasagar Rao, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, BJP state president Tamilisai Sounderarajan have paid visits to the Chief Minister.
Kanpur: Pratibha Gautam, the Judicial Magistrate in rural Kanpur area, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at her residence in Circuit House Colony here this afternoon.

The police is presently taking stock of the situation. However, the exact reason for her death is still not clear.

Further details are awaited.
California: Two US police officers were killed and one injured Saturday after a shooting in Palm Springs, according to the southern California city's police union.

"Two officers dead, one injured in Palm Springs shooting; manhunt ongoing," the Palm Springs Police Officers Association said on Twitter.

An "active scene" was unfolding in Palm Springs near the intersection of North Sunrise Way and East Racquet Club Road, according to police.
Columbia: Donald Trump's lewd videotaped remarks about women threw his White House campaign, and the Republican Party as a whole, in crisis just 30 days from the election Saturday, on the eve of his second debate with rival Hillary Clinton.

Trump nevertheless rejected growing calls from elected members of his own party that he step aside in the presidential race over the 2005 remarks, insisting there is "zero chance I`ll quit."

Trump`s own wife Melania said she was offended by her husband`s comments, which were caught on a hot mic just months after the two married -- the real estate magnate`s third marriage -- boasting about his ability to grope women as he pleases.

But she urged American voters to accept his apology and support him.

"The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me. This does not represent the man that I know," Melania Trump said in a statement.

"He has the heart and mind of a leader. I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world."

The videotape, released Friday by The Washington Post, forced a rare apology from a campaign that was already peppered by controversies over Trump`s treatment of women, and set off an uproar in his Republican Party.

The Republican National Committee appeared to have halted part of its "Victory" program to elect Trump, with the RNC asking a vendor to "put a hold" on mail production, the Politico news website reported.

But Trump stood defiant Saturday in the face of calls by some Republicans that he quit the race, telling The Wall Street Journal: "I never, ever give up."

He called the disclosure a "distraction," defiantly attacking the Clintons for husband Bill Clinton`s past infidelities, and hinting strongly he would say more on the topic in Sunday`s debate in St Louis, Missouri.

Trump denied his campaign was in crisis and predicted the controversy would blow over.

"The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly - I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN! #MAGA," he said on Twitter.

The hashtag refers to his campaign slogan: "Make America great again."Republican reaction to the videotape came fast and furious, with some calling on the bombastic billionaire to step aside, or allow running mate Mike Pence to take the top of the ticket.

Others withdrew their endorsement without explicitly stating whether they would vote for him if he stays.

Pence, the governor of Indiana, said that as a husband and father he was "offended" by Trump`s remarks.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, the top Republican officeholder, said he was "sickened" by Trump`s comments, and disinvited him from a political event in Wisconsin. Pence was to go in Trump`s place, but he canceled without explanation.

By Saturday, at least 10 senators, a dozen members of the House of Representatives and three governors -- all Republicans -- had called on Trump to bow out of the White House race. Others withdrew their endorsements.

John McCain, the Arizona senator and 2008 presidential nominee with whom Trump has sparred repeatedly, said "Donald Trump`s behavior... make(s) it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy."

McCain ruled out voting for Clinton, saying he would instead "write in the name of some good conservative Republican who is qualified to be president."

Last year, Trump insisted the celebrated veteran, who spent five years as a prisoner during the Vietnam War, "is not a war hero."

Governor John Kasich of Ohio, a former Trump adversary in the Republican primaries, said Trump`s comments were "disgusting" and that "our country deserves better."

"I respectfully ask you, with all due respect, to step aside," urged Utah Senator Mike Lee.

Illinois Senator Mark Kirk called for an "emergency replacement."With the November 8 elections one month away and Clinton leading in the polls by nearly five percentage points nationally, the latest uproar has plunged Trump in the deepest crisis of his turbulent campaign.

He had already been seriously hurt by a sloppy performance in his first debate with Clinton on September 26, a damaging Twitter war against a former Miss Universe and reports he may have paid no income taxes for 18 years.

Clinton, who is seeking to become the nation`s first female commander-in-chief, is almost certain to call out Trump about the videotape during the debate.

"This is horrific," she said on Twitter. "We cannot allow this man to become president."

In the video, Trump uses vulgar and predatory language as he describes hitting on a married woman and grabbing women`s crotches.

The three-minute video captures Trump reacting to an actress he was about to meet as he arrived on the set of daytime soap opera "Days of Our Lives," for the taping of a segment in which he was to have a cameo appearance, the Post said.

"I`ve gotta use some Tic Tacs (breath mints), just in case I start kissing her," Trump says to Billy Bush, then host of the "Access Hollywood" show about celebrities.

"You know I`m automatically attracted to beautiful. I just start kissing them. It`s like a magnet," he says.

"I don`t even wait. And when you`re a star they let you do it. You can do anything."

Trump also is heard bragging about trying to have sex with a woman he knew to be married.

Tic Tac rebuked the comments, saying: "Tic Tac respects all women. We find the recent statements and behavior completely inappropriate and unacceptable."

The statement was an echo of another by Skittles after Trump`s son Donald Trump Jr posted a message on Twitter comparing Syrian refugees to a bowl of the candy that included a few that "would kill you."
Saxony: German police were on Sunday hunting a Syrian man suspected of plotting a jihadist bomb attack, placing his flatmate under arrest and raiding a contact`s home, after finding explosives in the fugitive`s apartment.

Security was stepped up at airports, train stations and other critical infrastructure as it was unclear whether the chief suspect, Jaber Albakr, 22, was still in possession of bomb-making material or weapons.

"We do not know where he is and what he`s carrying with him," police said on Twitter, advising citizens to "be careful".

Albakr was carrying a backpack, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) newspaper reported, when he narrowly escaped police commandos at dawn Saturday from his apartment building in the eastern city of Chemnitz, 260 kilometres (160 miles) south of Berlin.

Police on Sunday questioned Albakr`s Syrian flatmate, who was formally remanded in custody as a suspected co-conspirator of a "serious act of violence", after he was detained the previous day.

Police commandos also raided the Chemnitz home of another suspected contact of Albakr, blasting open the door as they stormed the premises, and took away a man for questioning, a police spokeswoman told AFP. She stressed that the person was not Albakr.

Albakr was believed to have had internet contact with the Islamic State group, SZ reported.

According to security sources quoted, he had built "a virtual bomb-making lab" in the flat in a communist-era housing block and was thought to have planned an attack against either one of Berlin`s two airports or a transport hub in his home state of Saxony.Controversy is growing about how Albakr was able to narrowly escape police as they prepared to arrest him around 7:00 am on Saturday.

Officers fired a warning shot when they saw the man, but he managed to get away, in what Spiegel labelled a possible "police failure".

Police spokesman Tom Bernhardt rejected the criticism, saying officers had to be cautious because "it was unclear whether the man was carrying explosives and a detonator" and they had to worry about the safety of other residents.

Police later found several hundred grams of an "explosive substance more dangerous than TNT" hidden in the flat and said that "even a small quantity ... could have caused enormous damage".

Local media reported that the material was TATP, the homemade explosive that was used by jihadists in the Paris and Brussels attacks.

A bomb disposal squad destroyed it in a controlled blast just outside the building.

Police rounded up three of Albakr`s suspected associates Saturday, including the flatmate who remains in custody. The other two have been let go.

Meanwhile, federal prosecutors in the western city of Karlsruhe have taken over the case against Albakr.A police spokesman said the search for Albakr has been extended "beyond the borders of Germany", with police in contact with their counterparts in other EU countries.

Spiegel said Albakr had entered Germany on February 18, 2015 and two weeks later filed a request for asylum, which was granted in June that year.

Police said they were following some 80 possible leads against the fugitive, who was shown in a wanted picture wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt.

In one false alarm on Sunday, police led a passenger who they thought resembled the suspect off a Eurowings jet about to take off from Berlin`s Tegel airport.

Germany has been on edge since two IS-claimed attacks in July -- an axe rampage on a train in Wuerzburg that injured five, and a suicide bombing in Ansbach in which 15 people were hurt.

The bloodshed has fuelled concerns over Germany`s record influx of nearly 900,000 refugees and migrants last year.

Heightening public fears, German police say they have foiled a number of attacks this year.

In late September, police arrested a 16-year-old Syrian refugee in Cologne on suspicion he was planning a bombing in the name of IS.

A week earlier, they detained three men with forged Syrian passports who were believed to be a possible IS "sleeper cell" with links to those behind the November Paris attacks.

German authorities have urged the public not to confuse migrants with "terrorists", but have acknowledged that more jihadists may have entered the country among the asylum seekers who arrived last year.
New York: Describing Donald Trump's lewd remarks about groping women, shortly after his third marriage in 2005, as "unacceptable and offensive", his wife Melania Trump on Saturday exhorted the people to accept his apology, just as she has.

"The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me. This does not represent the man that I know. He has the heart and mind of a leader," Trump's wife said in a rare public statement, following a video that surfaced recently in which Trump was caught on mic making extremely lewd and sexually offensive remarks against women.

Melania, Trump's wife of 11 years and a former Slovenian model, said she hopes people will accept her husband's apology "as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world."

Trump, 70, had married his third wife Melania, 46, in 2005.

He was newly married in 2005 when he spoke in an uncovered video about trying to have sex with married women and groping others without permission.

Earlier, the Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence said that he won't "condone his (Trump's) remarks and cannot defend them."

"We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night," the Indiana governor said.

Meanwhile, Trump remained defiant in the face of the severe backlash and criticism within his own party over his remarks in the video, telling the Washington Post that he will not quit the presidential race.
Jerusalem: A Palestinian opened fire from a car in Jerusalem on Sunday, wounding at least four people before police shot him dead, authorities said.

The attack occurred near police headquarters, close to the line dividing mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem from the mostly Jewish western sector of the city.

It comes at a time of increased Jewish visitors to the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem for the holidays of Rosh Hashanah, which was last week, and Yom Kippur, which begins Tuesday evening.

Police said the 39-year-old assailant fired in the direction of a tram station in the area, seriously wounding a woman.

He then continued at high speed and shot at a car, leaving another woman badly hurt, they added.

The attacker then headed toward the nearby neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, where a number of upscale hotels are located, and got out of his car, police said.

As officers approached him by motorcycle, he opened fire at them.

Police returned fire and killed him, but two officers were wounded, including one seriously, they said.

Police said the attacker was from the Silwan area of east Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at the start of a cabinet meeting on Sunday, saluted the police, saying they had "acted rapidly and very firmly against the terrorist, who was eliminated".

The Al-Aqsa mosque compound is holy to both Muslims and Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount.

The site is central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Palestinians fearing that Israel may one day seek to assert further control over it.

Last year`s Jewish high holidays led to clashes and marked the start of an upsurge in Palestinian gun, knife and car-ramming attacks.

Violence since October 2015 has killed at least 232 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese national, according to an AFP count.

Most of the Palestinians were carrying out attacks, according to Israeli authorities.

Others were shot dead during protests and clashes, while some were killed in air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

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 fed the unrest.

Israel says incitement by Palestinian leaders and media is a leading cause of the violence.
Ankara: Eighteen people were killed today when a van packed with five tonnes of explosives blew up in Turkey's restive southeast in an attack blamed on Kurdish militants, the prime minister said.

The bombing, which killed 10 soldiers and eight civilians, was one of the most deadly attacks on Turkish security forces since the attempted coup of July 15 when a rogue military faction tried to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"The attack was perpetrated by a suicide bomber who detonated a van (packed) with five tonnes of explosives," Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told a news conference in Istanbul.

The attack targeted a security post in Hakkari province as security forces were searching vehicles in Semdinli district, the official news agency Anadolu said.

In a statement, the Hakkari governor said a vehicle refused to stop as it approached a checkpoint, resulting in soldiers responding with gunfire.

Militants then also started shooting, the governor's office said, quoted by Dogan news agency.

Another 27 people were injured in the blast caused by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Erdogan said in a written statement. Anadolu reported at least 16 of those were civilians.

Soon after the attack, which Anadolu said left a seven-metre (22-foot) deep hole in the road, the military confirmed it had begun a large-scale air operation which the governor's office said was launched to "neutralise" PKK militants.

The governor said commando units on the ground were continuing to search for PKK fighters.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus described today's attack as an "atrocious" and "heinous terrorist attack", vowing on Twitter that Turkey would never surrender to militant groups.

Over the past two months, the military says it has killed a total of 387 PKK militants in Hakkari province, CNN-Turk reported.

The PKK has waged a 32-year insurgency against the Turkish state, which has left nearly 40,000 dead since 1984. The group is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

Since the collapse of a two-and-a-half-year ceasefire in July 2015, more than 600 security forces and 7,000 PKK militants have been killed, according to Anadolu.

Over the past 15 months, attacks on the Turkish security forces have continued on an almost daily basis as the government has pressed military operations against the PKK to rid urban areas of fighters.

Hakkari is a flashpoint in the renewed conflict. yesterday the Turkish armed forces said it "neutralised" eight PKK militants in Cukurcu district after clashes with the group, Anadolu reported.
The RAB recovered Tk 3 million, a pistol, bullets, a sharp weapon, explosives and a mobile phone frequency jammer from the house of the chief financier of the outlawed Jama'atul-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) Abdur Rahman Ainal.

RAB spokesperson Mufti Mahmud Khan confirmed the news of Abdur Rahman Ainal's death to the media.

By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: Law enforcement agencies of Bangladesh have said that the prime financier of Bangladesh militant group Jama'atul-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) Abdur Rahman Ainal, detained during a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) drive, has died.

RAB HAD ARRESTED RAHMAN AND THREE OTHER MILITANTS

RAB in a drive arrested four militants including Rahman from a five-storey building at Baipal of Ashulia in the outskirts of the capital on Saturday.

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He succumbed to the injuries he received after jumping off the fourth floor by cutting the grills of a window during the raid, RAB-4 Nabinagar camp commander Major Masudur Rahman said.

RAB spokesperson Mufti Mahmud Khan also confirmed to the media that Abdur Rahman Ainal, detained from his house in Bashundhara area of Ashulia's Baipail in the evening, died in Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar.

MONEY, WEAPONS RECOVERED FROM HIS HOUSE

Khan said a RAB team seized Tk 3 million, a pistol, bullets, a sharp weapon, explosives and a mobile phone frequency jammer from Rahman's house. "He is the main financier of all terror attacks in Bangladesh," he added.

The RAB official said Rahman's wife and three children were also detained during the drive.

Earlier on Saturday, RAB and police killed 11 suspects in raids on two 'militant hideouts' in Gazipur and another in Tangail.

Law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh have strengthened anti-militant drives across the country since the deaths of 20 hostages, including 17 foreigners, and two police officers in the terror attack on a cafe in Dhaka's diplomatic district Gulshan on July 1.

Also read: Bangladesh kills 11 members of Islamist group blamed for cafe attack



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By PTI: Nagpur, Oct 8 (PTI) Stating that the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 cant be repealed, Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale today said his ministry was not averse to consider an amendment to the act.

"The act was passed by the Parliament after a thorough debate and discussion and the idea was to prevent atrocities on the Dalits. The police were given a free hand to deal with those cases," Athawale said.

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However, with a section of the society seeking its repeal, his ministry is ready to consider an amendment to the act, the Dalit leader and RPI president said at a press conference here.

Repealing the act will not be possible and justified under any circumstances, he added, while accepting that the act should not be used to harass innocent people.

The politically dominant Maratha community is taking out huge silent marches all over Maharashtra, demanding repeal of the Atrocities Act, apart from reservations.

When asked whether it would be desirable to amend the act when some Dalits were demanding that it be strengthened further, Athawale said the cases under the act should be investigated properly and conviction rate must improve.

On demand of quota for Marathas, he said in view of similar demand from Patels, Jats, etc., the ceiling of 50 per cent imposed by the Supreme Court on the total reserved seats can be increased to 75 percent by passing a law in the Parliament.

RPI was going to hold a joint convention of Marathas and Dalits at Shirdi on October 19, he said. PTI JOE KRK SG SDM

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By Manjeet Sehgal: The Punjab Congress is all set to kick off its mega farmer outreach campaign to reach out to each and every household in the state, beginning with the flagship door-to-door drive from October 12.

Unrolling the campaign strategy today, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President Captain Amarinder Singh said in the first phase - from October 12 to October 25, party workers will engage with more than 25 lakh households. The party will establish direct contact with 75 lakh voters, reaching out to more than 2 crore people in this period.

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Earlier, at a party meeting, Captain Amarinder Singh rolled out the programme blueprint and assigned targets for party workers to take the campaign forward effectively.

An extension of the Congress campaign led by AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh, the Punjab farm debt waiver campaign will be centered around the message: Karza-Kurki Khatam; Fassal Di Poori Rakam. On the lines of the UP Kisan Yatra, the Punjab campaign will see Congress workers in the state approaching the targeted households with a simple proforma/maang patra, which will capture the details of the household and the quantum of their outstanding debt. A receipt will be issued to serve as an agreement guaranteeing debt waiver for the farmers on priority basis once the Congress forms the government.

"Congress was committed to waive off all farm debts, and also ban farm land auctioning and subsequent dispossession, once it comes to power. The party will also ensure that procurement is carried out promptly, with higher MSP paid to farmers within 24 hours of lifting the grain. Most of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report would be implemented," Captain Amarinder said while addressing the party members.

Captain Amarinder, in his previous tenure, instituted a Rs 211 crore one time debt settlement scheme, which had benefited about 4 lakh farmers of Punjab. The UPA government in the centre waived off farm debt worth Rs 73,000 crores.

In Punjab, the average amount of agricultural loans stands at about Rs 1.2 lakh per household. Last year, 505 farmers and agricultural labourers committed suicide under their debt burden. As in the previous year, the Akali government is unlikely once again this year to meet the procurement target or make prompt payments, which is expected to exacerbate the debt burden of on the farmers.

READ| Captain Amarinder cautions against creating panic along border

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Researchers from the Human Rights Data Analysis Group (previously) reimplemented the algorithm Predpol predictive policing system that police departments around America have spent a fortune on in order to find out where to set their patrols, and fed it Oakland's 2010 arrest data, then asked it to predict where the crime would be in 2011.

Predpol's algorithm munged the arrest data, then confidently asserted that the Oakland PD should concentrate the bulk of their resources in a neighborhood that is poor and black. However, data from the census and the National Drug Use and Health Survey show that crime occurred across Oakland, meaning that if the Oakland PD had followed Predpol's advice in 2011, they would have just gone and rounded up and jailed a bunch of black people (remember, 97% of the people indicted in the USA plead guilty, an impossibly high number that guarantees that innocent people are pleading guilty to escape the extreme sentences available to prosecutors who secure a conviction at trial).

The reason that Predpol's model predicts that nearly all the crime would occur in a these neighborhoods is that police concentrate policing here, and you can only find crime in places where you look for it. The algorithm distills the bias in the input data. Unsurprisingly, these are neighborhoods predominantly populated by low-income people of color. Predpol and tools like it are sold as data-driven ways to overcome this kind of police bias, but really, they're just ways of giving bias a veneer of objective responsibility.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf has repeatedly sought an appropriation of $150,000 to buy Predpol for the city.

Other cities are dumping Predpol. In Burbank, where I live, the police got rid of Predpol after it lowered officer morale to the point where 75% of Burbank cops had "low or extremely low" morale.

Predpol is a classic weapon of math destruction in that it creates a model without regard to bias in data  every scientist and statistician knows that sampling bias is a deadly pitfall in any kind of statistical analysis. Then it predicts the future based on that biased data, and directs those in authority to act on those predictions in a way that is guaranteed to show the predictions to have been correct (regardless of whether they are, in fact, correct), and then it re-ingests data from the behavior dictated by the biased predictions, and suggests behavior that produces even more biased outcomes.

To top it off, a bad prediction by the algorithm causes black people to be overpoliced, white people to be underpoliced, exacerbates the problem of coerced guilty pleas, and is a pipeline that feeds into the equally racially biased automated sentencing systems that send black people to prison for longer than white people.

To evaluate the fairness and efficacy of predictive crime algorithms, they would need to be audited by outside parties. But most predictive police technology exists in a black box of private sector trade secrets; systems that should be up for public scrutiny are outsourced to private companies like PredPol that don't have to disclose their algorithms for a public audit. The only way researchers were able to use the software in this case was to pull a version of the algorithm from one of PredPol's own, published studies. "If predictive policing means some individuals are going to have more police involvement in their life, there needs to be a minimum of transparency," Adam Schwartz, a senior staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said in an interview "Until they do that, the public should have no confidence that the inputs and algorithms are a sound basis to predict anything."



Schwartz pointed out that in some states, such as Illinois, there are legal prohibitions on adopting systems that have a racially-disparate impact. Without being able to evaluate predictive policing systems, and strong laws in place to prevent police technology from amplifying the worst biases in police work, he says predictive policing isn't ready for actual police use. "What we want for police to do is not to be putting in place new systems of predictive policing until a lot more study is done and safeguards are put in place," Schwartz said. "Frequently these systems shouldn't be adopted at all."

(Exclusive) Crime-prediction tool PredPol amplifies racially biased policing, study shows

[Jack Smith IV/Mic]
Muhammed Ahmad didn't waste any time getting started looking for a job after arriving in Canada.

Days after landing in Calgary from Pakistan through the Federal Skilled Workers Program, Ahmad was at the BMO Centre on Saturday for the fourth annual Newcomers Canada Career Fair.

With a background in human resources, Ahmad said he understands job searching can be difficult in Alberta right now.

"I'm expecting to start from scratch," he said.

"I'm not expecting that I'll get some high job immediately because I need to be in the system."

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Erin Flynn owns and runs Newcomers Canada, which hosted the event offering a one-stop shop for resources and jobs. But with Alberta's unemployment rate at 8.5 per cent, she says the focus is shifting to education.

"When the economy changes like that we have different things we can offer," said Flynn.

"So we're maybe not full of employers this year but we're full of universities or colleges or, other settlement organizations that can all help with that, so it doesn't matter what the economy is doing, there are organizations to help with settlement and career."

Luckily for Ahmed, it didn't take long to find a job that piqued his interest.

"It says here human resources technology and finance I have done my masters back home in finance," he said.

Several employment fairs held in recent weeks in Calgary have attracted big crowds and Flynn said one of the most important things for all job seekers is to keep a positive attitude and not get discouraged.

"Everybody you talk to helps," she said.

"One exhibitor might be able to fill in, 'go see that booth,' or 'talk to that person,' it all helps to put it together," she said.

"The more people you talk to the easier it's going to get."

Similar events are planned in Toronto and Ottawa later this month and in November.

Newcomers Canada plan to hold another career fair in Calgary in the spring.
BEIJING (Reuters) - Risks in China's banking system are controllable even as bad loans increase, said the governor of the country's central bank. Lenders have adequate capital, People's Bank of China (PBOC) Governor Zhou Xiaochuan said. The PBOC published the comments, made at a G20 meeting in Washington earlier this week, on its website on Sunday. Chinese banks extended 948.7 billion yuan ($142 billion) in net new yuan loans in August, more than double the figure of the previous month. Credit growth is fast, and that is a reflection of China's efforts in boosting growth amid a weak global economy, Zhou said. But as the global economy gradually heads towards a recovery, China will have to control credit growth, he added. Analysts have attributed a substantial part of the new lending growth in August to strong mortgage demand. Chinese property prices have risen sharply in the past year, drawing the attention of the central government, and a major price correction would add to strains on banks already wrestling with souring loans. The non-performing loan rate in the banking sector increased to 1.75 percent at end-June from 1.67 percent at the end of last year, official data showed. Zhou said China's economy continues to grow within a reasonable range, with some important economic indicators showing signs of improvement. The government is due to publish September's lending data in the coming week and third-quarter gross domestic product later this month. China's economy grew 6.7 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, unchanged from the first quarter at the slowest pace since the global financial crisis. ($1 = 6.6685 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Ryan Woo; editing by John Stonestreet)
Larry Page

Google suffered a setback in an age discrimination suit this week. A judge ruled that other software engineers over age 40 who interviewed with the company but didn't get hired can step forward and join the lawsuit.

The suit was brought by two job applicants, both over the age of 40, who interviewed but weren't offered jobs.

Specifically, the judge has approved turning the suit into a "collective action" meaning that people who "interviewed in person with Google for a software engineer, site reliability engineer, or systems engineer position when they were 40 years old or older, and received notice on or after August 28, 2014, that they were refused employment, will have an opportunity to join in the collective action against Google," the ruling says.

While this isn't good news for Google, the ruling was strictly focused on whether the suit could be broadened to include more people. It doesn't meant that Google will ultimately lose the case.

Google says it's fighting the suit. A spokesperson told us, "We believe the allegations here are without merit and we will continue to defend our position vigorously. We have strong policies against discrimination on any unlawful basis, including age."

Interestingly, the judge is particularly not buying that "policies" defense from Google, writing in the ruling:

"Having such a policy does not necessarily shield a company from a discrimination suit, particularly in light of the evidence and allegations presented here ... today, most, if not all, companies are well versed in anti-discrimination and make great efforts to ensure their written policies comply with anti-discrimination law."

In terms of allegations, one of the plaintiffs alleged that a Google recruiter told her she needed to puts the dates of her graduation on her resume so interviewers could determine her age. That same plaintiff argued that she had found seven others who say they had similar experiences at Google. She also presented evidence to the court that the median age of Google's workforce is 29 while the median age in the US for programmers is 42.8 years old.

Story continues

How old are Google employees?

Google has about 61,000 employees and we asked Google if the company has publicly released statistics on its median age. Age is not included with the company's published diversity report, which discusses sex and race. Google didn't respond.

Google Greyglers

However, we do know that Google has a diversity club on campus called "Greyglers" which is for Googler employees over 40. The company describes it as a group for "company elders" that helps the company with "promoting age diversity awareness."

The company was sued way back in 2004 for age discrimination and, after winding through the appeals system, the case was ultimately settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.

Still, just allowing people who went on job interviews but didn't get a job to join a suit is a startling turn of events. Some folks on Hacker News, a site where programmers discuss news items of interest to them, worry that instead of solving the tech industry's age discrimination problem, it will make it worse.

One wrote:

"Fallout from this: Companies will go to great lengths to avoid contact with people who submit resumes that imply they are old. No phone screens, no responses. It's going to be wintertime for folks in their late 30s now."

NOW WATCH: The internet cant decide whether this purse is white or blue





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The "Hicks Locomotive and Car Works" banner at the top is taken from original artwork of the company, which was in business from 1897 to 1911. The picture behind it shows the four restored CA&E wood cars at the Museum, starting with #309, which was built by the Hicks Locomotive and Car Works in 1907.



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Four persons were arrested by Delhi Police for kidnapping a youth from Subash Place locality. The accused carried out the crime under the guise of police.

By Tanseem Haider: In a major breakthrough, Crime Branch has succeeded in solving a sensational case of kidnapping. Four persons identified as Anand, VichitarVir, Vikrant Shokeen and Vinod Kumar involved in planning and execution of this gruesome crime have been arrested.

On September 27, at about 11.20 am, one youth who was going in his BMW car to his college, was intercepted by two persons on motorbikes, who were wearing police uniform, in the area of Police Station Shubhash Place Delhi.

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One Scorpio car which was also trailing the youth's car also stopped there. The occupants of the Scorpio car and the motorcyclists took the youth captive in the Scorpio car. They all fled away from the spot along with the BMW car of the victim.

RANSOM OF RS 50 CRORE DEMANDED



In connection with the kidnapping, a ransom call demanding Rs.50 crore was received by the father of the kidnapped boy from the mobile phone of his son. The caller had asked him to arrange Rs.50 crore for the safe release of his son.

Crime Branch was also roped in for the safe release of the captive and to apprehend the criminals involved in the crime. Manual as well as electronic surveillance was mounted against the kidnappers. It was revealed that kidnappers were continuously changing their hideouts in Haryana and Rajasthan and were calling from distant locations.



The Crime Branch team was continuously trailing the kidnappers. However, considering the safety of the captive, no coercive action was taken against them. Earlier, the kidnappers had demanded Rs.50 crore from the family of the victim, but sensing the police dragnet around them, in a hurry they settled the deal for Rs.1 crore and released the captive on October 3.

ACCUSED ARRESTED AFTER TIP OFF



On October 7, a specific information was received that four persons involved in this crime would come near Jhatikra More in a white car to meet their accomplices. Accordingly, a trap was laid and at about 6.30 pm, one white Swift car from Chhawla side was intercepted and four occupants were overpowered after a brief scuffle. The occupants were later identified as Anand, VichitarVir, Vikrant Shokeen and Vinod Kumar.

They were subjected to intensive interrogation and it was revealed that they were closely associated with one Mahesh resident of Prahladpur, Delhi and most of them were indulged in property dealing and toll business. They were planning to abduct a rich businessman to become rich overnight. About six months ago, Mahesh told them about one businessman, who was a resident of Sainik Vihar, Delhi. He told them that if they could kidnap the son of the said businessman, they would easily get about Rs 50 crore for his safe release of his son.

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MASTER PLAN

Police said that that the accused made an elaborate plan to carry out the kidnapping. They arranged the police uniforms, procured SIM cards on fake IDs, vehicles, hypnotic and sedative drugs to overpower the victim in confinement, wireless set, traffic fake challan machine etc. On September 27, as per their plan, they followed the victim from his house, who was driving his BMW car and on getting an opportune moment, they intercepted his car by one motorcycle driven by two of their associates in police uniform and a Scorpio car.

They forcibly took the driver of the BMW car captive in a Scorpio car and fled away from the spot along with the BMW car. The victim was kept hostage at different locations in Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan, which were arranged by Mahesh, Aashu and other associates.

Police recovered BMW car of the victim, two cars and a motorbike used by the accused for the crime. The police also recovered sedative tablets from the accused.



Also read:

Delhi Police to up its game in tackling online stalking





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--- ENDS ---
AUBURN  The city of Auburn's slow sand filter plant is a pretty, white-stucco building tucked away behind the water treatment plant's main office on Swift Street. A few vines crawl up the sides and a bronze plaque out front shows that next year will mark its centennial, 100 years filtering the water of hundreds of thousands of residents, including approximately 43,000 current customers.

But last year, more than raw water floated into its basins. A filmy sheen of green creeped in on top of the water, something John West, water filtration plant operator, had not seen before. Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, had made its way into the plant.

West, who's worked at the plant since 1998, said operators added powder activated carbon to the water treatment process, putting in about 50 pounds per day. They also increased the amount of sodium hypochlorite to disinfect the water.

The Cayuga County Health Department conducted tests on both the treated and untreated water, something they had begun doing in 2014, the same year toxins were discovered at high levels in public water in Toledo, Ohio, causing a tap water ban and thousands of gallons of water being carted in by the state's National Guard.

External contact with blue-green algae can cause skin rash and respiratory problems. Drinking the algal toxins can cause diarrhea and stomach problems, as well as damage to the liver and kidneys.

But the Owasco Lake treated water test results in both 2014 and 2015 showed no microcystins, a toxin which can potentially be released from dying blue-green algae.

Cold weather set in, the blue-green algae blooms died off, and the water plant continued its operations as usual.

But as Cayuga County residents know, with warm weather comes algal blooms, so as summer 2016 months went by, the lakes got warmer and sightings became more frequent. In August and September, the health department reported larger blooms, some further out from the shoreline, and several showing high levels of toxins. The highest level of raw water sampled showed 1.3 micrograms per liter  high considering the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's advisory level is .3 micrograms per liter for children under the age of 6.

So when West saw the familiar film creep into the basins on Sept. 11 this year, he took up the same protocol as before, calling the county health department, adding the carbon, increasing the disinfectant.

The health department came in the next day, testing the raw water out of a spigot in one of the plant's large blue pipes, its pathway to what's called the flocculation and sedimentation basin. There, polyaluminum chloride is added, a coagulant that when mixed with the water, attaches itself to any particles. With the help of 13 jumbo mixers, the solid particles separate from the water and settle to the bottom of the basin.

The water then travels to rapid sand filters for further removal of particles. Finally, it meets in a well with water from the slow sand filter, and sodium hypochlorite is added for disinfection. The county health department took its first treated water sample from a faucet in the plant's laboratory on Sept. 12. The samples are analyzed at the Wadsworth Center, the state Department of Health's laboratory in Albany.

County health department staff either overnight ship or drive the collected samples to Albany. Cayuga County environmental health director Eileen O'Conner said she and her staff live in this community, raise families here, and are doing everything they can to help keep residents informed and safe.

No toxins were detected in either the raw water or drinking water from that day. But samples taken from the town of Owasco's filtration plant on Thursday, Sept. 22, came back with detectable levels of toxins. Samples taken on Monday, Sept. 26, showed them in Auburn's treated drinking water. It was something West had never seen before.

It was something the state of New York had never seen before.

It was not the first water-related public health concern the state has been tackling over the past year. North of Albany in Hoosick Falls, high levels of a chemical linked to causing cancer, thyroid disease and other health problems was found in the public water supply. It was not until May this year that the EPA released a lifetime standard for perflurooctanoic acid, or PFOA, in drinking water, and residents there are finding levels in their blood skyrocket above those numbers. That event has caused distrust of the state Department of Health over the time it took to ban residents from drinking the water.

Though the detection of blue-green algae toxins in Owasco Lake drinking water have been below the EPA's advisory levels, and thus not a public health concern, O'Connor told residents at an Owasco Watershed Lake Association meeting Oct. 5 that, unfortunately, there haven't been a lot of long-term studies on exposure. An EPA fact sheet created in 2015 describes a study in rats, which were exposed to advisory levels for 10 days. While residents haven't been exposed to those levels, people receiving water from Owasco's plant have had toxin levels detected in their water eight times this fall as of Friday. An EPA spokesperson said it has not released an advisory beyond the 10-day exposure mark, and the toxin is not regulated. Therefore, while it has submitted guidelines for state health departments to follow regarding toxins in drinking water, none of it is enforceable.

The state Department of Health said it's been working closely with the county, and it's provided guidelines for the water treatment plants. For example, West said the Auburn plant has increased its use of powder activated carbon to 100 pounds per day, double the amount used during last year's bloom. More disinfectant has been added to the water. Filters are backwashed more frequently. The basin where solids are separated is cleaned out more often.

Still, while plant operators are doing everything they can, treated water tests have come back with detectable levels of toxins.

For West, it's unsettling.

I intend to keep doing it until we're past this, he said, about the multiple precautions the plant has been taking.

Owasco has been taking similar precautions, too, said O'Connor, who has worked closely the past few weeks with both facilities. But the plants are designed to remove bacteria and particles in the water, she said, and not toxins.

With autumn's chilly breezes rolling in, the toxin threat may soon start to fade. But lawmakers, residents, and local officials are wonderingwhat about next year?

For a start, both Owasco and Auburn's treatment plants are in contact with their designers and engineers. There's discussion about potentially extending the plants' intake pipes into deeper parts of the lake.

Cayuga County Legislature Chairman Keith Batman said at the OWLA meeting that there is the short-term public health concern regarding the treated water, and the longer-term issue regarding the overall health of Owasco Lake.

May, June, July next year, we have to have a solution, Batman said. It will come back. There's no reason to think this is an anomaly.

O'Connor said in the EPA's reports, the No. 1 cause of blue-green algae blooms is an increase of nutrients in water bodies. While a spokesperson for the state Department of Health said the state has provided more than $5 million to study why the blooms are happening in Owasco Lake and to implement projects throughout the watershed to reduce their occurrences, the county Board of Health recently decided to send a letter to Howard Zucker, the state's commissioner of health.

In that letter dated Oct. 4, the board requests assistance from the state's Water Quality Rapid Response Team. That team is led by Zucker and the Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos. Also included are leaders of the state Department of State, Department of Agriculture and Markets, Office of General Services, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Homes and Community Renewal, Public Service Commission, Empire State Development Corp. and Environmental Facilities Corp.

The Board of Health cites the state of Vermont's new and more rigorous agricultural laws to decrease phosphorous loading. Phosphorous is one of the nutrients believed to proliferate blue-green algae, and is often found in fertilizer and manure runoff. The board's letter states that not enough is being done in New York.

The waters of New York State are currently being protected by an expired Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permit that has been shown to be ineffective given the degradation of water quality in Owasco Lake, the letter reads. It goes on to say that agriculture is responsible for 57% to 74% of the phosphorus loading of Owasco Lake. Action needs to be taken immediately.

A spokesperson for the state Department of Health said in an email Friday that the DEC is reviewing and responding to several hundred comments submitted on the draft CAFO permits, and expects to release final versions this winter. But O'Connor said she's concerned how long the process is taking. The DEC has had public comments on the draft since February, and the past CAFO permits expired in June.

The same spokesperson said that Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Water Quality Task Force is coordinating a multi-agency response to address nutrient runoff in Owasco Lake. Also in the email were references to state funding already given to the cause, including funds for the Dutch Hollow Brook Implementation Project, a water quality monitoring and agricultural water quality project, and a whole lake watershed plan.

Despite these efforts, several residents at the OWLA meeting asked O'Connor why Owasco Lake does not have the same strict farming regulations as near Skaneateles Lake, which supplies water to the city of Syracuse and other Onondaga County communities.

According to a state Department of Health spokesperson, both Owasco and Skaneateles lakes are subject to the same state rules and regulations for agricultural guidelines. However, since the city of Syracuse has an unfiltered drinking water system, the Skaneateles Lake watershed has additional agricultural best management practices.

O'Connor said about 15 years ago local and county officials met with a representative from the state's Department of Agriculture and Markets to consider implementing similar best management practices in Cayuga County.

We were told at a meeting that Ag and Markets would challenge any regulations that put any kind of restrictions on agricultural activities, she said. And we were told that they (Agriculture and Markets) had the authority to do that.

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture and Markets said the state has invested $4.4 million in 39 projects on 81 farms in close proximity to Owasco Lake, and "beyond these public investments, many farmers are proactively reducing their impact on the environment, thereby protecting the water quality of the Finger Lakes."

O'Connor said she plans to revisit the issue again at an Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council meeting.

Another wrench in the nutrient runoff reduction effort is the DEC's testing, which shows Owasco Lake is actually improving. Earlier in the year the DEC had ruled not to include Owasco Lake on its state list of impaired water bodies, but after the Cayuga County Water Quality Management Agency sent a letter detailing the harmful algae blooms occurring, the DEC changed the lake's status to impaired. That allowed more state funding to flow for research on the lake, but Jacqueline Lendrum, a research scientist and Scott Kishbaugh, an environmental engineer with the DEC, said phosphorous levels are low in the lake for having so many blooms. They said it could be that there are localized sources of phosphorous or nitrogen causing the blooms, with wind carrying the buoyant algae to a clearer area of the lake, but that it's difficult to speculate.

Andrew Snell, watershed inspector for Owasco Lake, said not only is it a mystery why the blooms are occurring, it's also a mystery why some of the algae has toxins and some does not.

Worldwide they've been seeing more BGA's (blue-green algae blooms), Snell said. Is it climate change? Is it the heating of the planet? Is it atmospheric? We need to tie these things together. It's a puzzle.
With Tamil Nadu chief minister hospitalized, the main opposition party DMK demanded a in-charge chief minister or new chief minister to streamline the governance.

By Press Trust of India: At a time when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is being treated at a hospital, main Opposition party DMK today demanded either a "Chief Minister in-charge or a new Chief Minister," to streamline governance.

However, the demand failed to find support even from the key ally of DMK, the Congress.

"When Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital, medical bulletins said that she will be discharged in a few days. Now, they say that she has to stay longer, and under such circumstances the state is also facing several issues like Cauvery," DMK treasurer and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, M K Stalin told reporters.

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"Hence, in order to ensure that the administration is being run properly, for sure, immediately a chief minister-incharge or a new chief minister should be appointed," he said.

Also read: As Jayalalithaa remains in hospital, storm brews in Tamil Nadu's political cup

DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT TO STREAMLINE GOVERNANCE



He also remarked that, "It is the duty of the government to streamline governance (by appointing a new CM or a CM-incharge)."

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Su Thirunavukkarasar however said, "A regime is in place and the Chief Ministers health is improving."

"There is a Governor for (supervising) governance, (who is) the Constitutional head of the State government like the President at the Union level ... there is a Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Secretaries for departments, Director General of Police, and senior Ministers are there ... there is a government machinery (in place)," he said, adding there was no "such need" for a Chief Minister in-charge.

Also read: Jayalalithaa will be alright soon, says Rahul Gandhi after meeting ailing Tamil Nadu CM



MDMK chief Vaiko too said there was no need for any chief minister-incharge.

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (which is part of the Peoples Welfare Front comprising MDMK, CPI, and CPI(M)) chief Thol Thirumavalavan said, "Till such time the Chief Minister recovers, a democratic and transparent interim arrangement should be made in accordance with the Constitution to run governance in Tamil Nadu."

Also read: Jayalalithaa requires longer stay in hospital, line of treatment to continue: Apollo hospital







--- ENDS ---
"He promised to help me regarding a job at his friend's NGO on the same day but before we had to meet his friend, he took me to Dwarka by his car. The flat was empty and he raped me", the victim said in her complaint.

By Ajay Kumar: An orthopedic surgeon of Gurugram civil hospital was arrested by Delhi police on the alleged charge of rape on Sunday. Dr Arvind Jindal, a noted city based doctor has raped a 43-year-old woman on October 7 at his DDA Dwarka's flat in New Delhi.

HOW IT UNFOLDED

As per the complaint by the victim, she alleged that she went to Gurugram civil hospital following some orthopedic problem in her leg. "Dr Jindal carried out an operation and installed stud two years ago. Still, It has been paining and as the problem was discussed, he has advised me to visit civil hospital for an x-ray.

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I had visited the hospital and after X-ray and other check up, he told me to wait there till he would complete OPD hours for the day. He promised to help me regarding a job at his friend's NGO on the same day. Before we had to meet his friend, he took me to Dwarka by his car. He had made an excuse that he had hired plumbers at his flat and wants to check the work progress. The flat was empty and he raped me", the victim said in her complaint.

ARREST

She further said that she had slapped him for act and come out of the flat. The victim was quite scared at the time of filing complaint with the concerned Dwarka police station. "I want to punish him. He has not only committed the crime but breached my trust too", she said "Medical examination of the victim and police investigation reveal the allegation labelled on Dr Jindal was true, prima facie.

We have registered an FIR against him under 376 of IPC and arrested him.", said an investigating officer and SI Saroj Bala. The accused was produced in local court which sent him to 14 days judicial custody.



ALSO READ:

Naked, bound body of famed perfumer Monika Ghurde found at Goa home; robbery, rape suspected

To settle debt, man allows friend to rape wife in Ghaziabad





--- ENDS ---
According to the bundler, donors said they feel betrayed by Trump -- that their efforts have been a waste.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Donors to Republican Donald Trump's presidential campaign have become skittish -- with some downright angry -- after a 2005 tape surfaced on Friday in which the GOP nominee can be heard making vulgar remarks about women.

A prominent Trump bundler told CBS News that he "could not tell you how many" calls he has gotten from donors in the course of the last day.

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ALSO READ: Melania Trump calls husband's lewd remarks 'unacceptable and offensive'



After the Washington Post first published the tape, people want their money back, he said. (The Republican party and the campaign's fundraising apparatus is not returning donations.)

DONORS FEEL BETRAYED

According to the bundler, donors said they feel betrayed by Trump -- that their efforts have been a waste. Some said they would like to see Mike Pence, Trump's running mate and the governor of Indiana, at the top of the ticket, though the means of achieving such a switch are not clear.

Other Republicans have expressed disgust and outrage over the previously unaired "Access Hollywood" footage, where Trump boasts about his sexual advances, saying that he can "grab [women] by the p***y", and that when you're a star "you can do anything".

Several party leaders, including Senate GOP conference chair John Thune of North Dakota, called for Trump to step down from the ticket, while the billionaire's wife Melania Trump asked people to forgive her husband for the "unacceptable and offensive" comments about women.

ALSO READ: Trump vows to stay in race amidst calls for him to quit over lewd remarks



Others have weighed in with forceful condemnations of the businessman, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, who said he was "sickened" by the 2005 comments, and Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus, said: "[n]o woman should ever be described in these terms or talked about in this manner".

Trump brushed aside calls for him to get out of the race, saying: "I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, I WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN!" he declared in a tweet on Saturday afternoon.

Trump is scheduled to make a fundraising swing through Texas in the days following Sunday's presidential debate with his Democrat rival Hillary Clinton.

ALSO READ:

Trump accuses US officials of letting in illegal immigrants so they can vote



Indian-American fan says Donald Trump has no anti-immigrant bone in his body

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-american-donald-trump-anti-immigrant-bone/1/782683.html

--- ENDS ---
Regardless of the strong criticism over his sexist remarks, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump continues to assert that he has 'tremendous support'.

By Reuters: Republican Donald Trump on Sunday struck a defiant tone in the face of calls for him to abandon the U.S. presidential race, attacking prominent Republicans and saying he has "tremendous support" despite a storm over vulgar comments he made about women.

On a day in which Trump was due to debate Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and with a month to go to the November 8 election, Trump took to social media to try to squelch any speculation that he could leave the race.

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"Tremendous support (except for some Republican leadership"). Thank you," Trump wrote on Twitter.

"So many self-righteous hypocrites. Watch their poll numbers - and elections - go down!" Trump tweeted, apparently referring to those Republicans who have withdrawn support for his candidacy over a 2005 video that emerged on Friday.

REPUBLICAN SENATORS WITHDRAW SUPPORT



A string of Republican senators, in reaction to the revelations in the video, withdrew their support of Trump, with some advising Trump to drop out of the race.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Trump adviser, warned in appearances on Sunday talk shows that at the debate, Trump would not rule out going on the offensive by bringing up her husband Bill Clinton's past infidelities.

The 2005 video showed Trump, then a reality TV star speaking on an open microphone about groping women and trying to seduce a married woman. The video was taped only months after Trump married his third wife, Melania.

Also read: Robert De Niro takes down Donald Trump with series of most toxic insults



Interviewed on NBC's "Meet the Press," Giuliani said both presidential contenders were flawed but that Trump feels he owes it to his supporters to stay in the race.

"He obviously feels very bad about what he said, he's apologized for it," Giuliani said. "What he'd like to do is move on to the issues that are facing the American people."

Republicans have attacked Hillary Clinton, 68, over what they say is her role in trying to discredit women who accused Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct decades ago.

Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, interviewed on "Fox News Sunday," called the Trump remarks captured on video "disgusting," adding, "This is who this guy is."

Trump, 70, is facing the biggest crisis of his 16-month-old campaign. The pressure on him will be intense at the 9 p.m. EDT (0100 GMT) debate at Washington University in St. Louis. Sources told CNN the first questions would be about the uproar.

It is the second of three scheduled presidential debates as the long-running U.S. election contest enters its final weeks.

Trump already had an uphill battle to win the White House.

Before the video surfaced, a Reuters/Ipsos poll had Clinton leading by five points on Friday. Now, the question is whether Trump's quest for the presidency has been dealt a lethal blow.

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EARLIER SETBACKS

Trump has survived a string of setbacks during this grueling campaign and is hoping that he can again recover.

A new public opinion poll by POLITICO/Morning consult, taken just after news of the video broke, found that 39 percent of voters thought Trump should withdraw from the race; 45 percent said he should stay.

But his support among Republicans was largely holding, according to the poll, which found that of those who said Trump should leave, only 12 percent identified themselves as Republicans.

Also read: After Trump's lewd comments, a million women share sexual assault stories to prove it's not okay

The 2016 elections are about more than the race for the presidency. The video renewed Republican worries that Trump's problems could hurt party efforts to retain majority control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

"There is full-on panic" about the Senate elections, said a senior Senate Republican aide, who asked not to be identified.

The Democratic Coalition Against Trump, the nation's largest grassroots anti-Trump organization, released a new attack ad that centered on the 2005 video.

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Scott Dworkin, the group's senior adviser, said, "We aim to target this ad in competitive House and Senate districts of elected Trump supporters, current or former."

The possibility of Trump abandoning his quest for the White House, however remote, raised questions about the handling of ballots already cast, such as those from soldiers overseas, the elderly who cannot go to the polls and college students living away from home.

Also read: Melania Trump calls husband's lewd remarks 'unacceptable and offensive'



Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Donna Brazile said the party would likely challenge any effort by Republicans to replace Trump as their candidate on the ballot, adding that it would be "very confusing" for voters with early ballots already being cast.

REPUBLICAN SLAM TRUMP



On Saturday, some prominent Republicans suggested that Trump withdraw from the race and be replaced by vice presidential running mate Mike Pence.

Pence, who said he could not defend Trump's comments on women, said on Saturday that Trump needs to show contrition during the debate.

"We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation," Pence said in a statement.

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Republican U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan was heckled by Trump supporters at a rally in his congressional district in Wisconsin on Saturday, after having disinvited Trump following the release of the recording of Trump making lewd remarks.

"You better back Trump!" they yelled. "You turned your back on him!" "Shame on you!"

Also read: Upset with Trump's lewd comments on women donors demand refund





--- 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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Julian Bray provides: Opinion, comment, forward thinking speculation, keynote presentations and workshops for corporate organisations on Travel, Cruise & Aviation: conflict zones, terrorist impact, cybercrime and DoS issues, drone (UAV) issues, safety (black boxes, emergencies), airline operations, aviation finance, political implications, and all forms of incident risk.

He operated at board level with several airline and aviation groups, including Alitalia, British Island Airways, British Airways, Galileo , British Aerospace, Skyways, former CEO City firm Leadenhall Assoc. (PR WEEK TOP 150) Founder CNS City News Service. Director NTN Television News (joint co. with ITV Wales TWW) Debretts People 2017 and featured in launch edition of the PRWeek Black Book. Investigative Journalist and Broadcaster.

After-dinner speaker and presenter. NUJ LIFE MEMBER & FULL EQUITY MEMBER.

Direct links to a selection of television and radio contributions can be found at foot of this page. Scroll down. Join the conversation here or on Twitter at @aviationcomment @julianbray.

A retweet, comment or other publication by any means does not constitute an endorsement. Quoted Content subject to creditline 'Julian Bray' . During career an active MCIPR, MMC & MBDS.

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US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's comment on "kissing and grabbing" beautiful women led to an outrage and Canadian author Kelly Oxford called on women to share their sexual assault stories.

By India Today Web Desk: A tape recording from 2005 has emerged in which US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump boasts to a TV host about how while approaching beautiful women he can "grab them by the pussy" and kiss and grope them.

"I am automatically attracted to beautiful women. I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss, I don't even wait and when you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything", Trump was heard saying in the tape.

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His comment did not go down well with many Republicans in Congress and of course the Twitterati. Within in no time, hashtag #TrumpTapes started trending and amid the outrage Canadian writer Kelly Oxford called on women to tweet about their first sexual assaults.

Also read: Upset with Trump's lewd comments on women donors demand refund



Tweeting to a massive following of 7,20,000, Kelly asked women to share their experiences of sexual assault on the social networking site. For 14 hours straight, women tweeted her their stories and the number went as high as 50 stories per minute.



A million women shared their stories shedding light on US' rape culture and why it is "not okay".









Here are some of the heart-breaking stories women shared after Kelly's tweets went viral:







Also read: Melania Trump calls husband's lewd remarks 'unacceptable and offensive'























Kelly Oxford too described five incidents of sexual assaults she faced and the stories have gone viral.













As women recalled their "not okay" incidents, Kelly's timeline was full of stories which are a shame to the society and reinforced that the rape culture exists and anyone who disagrees is living in oblivion or denial.





Here is Donald Trump's statement on the decade-old tape that was released by Washington Post :

Here is my statement. pic.twitter.com/WAZiGoQqMQ Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2016

--- ENDS ---
Social media can be great for allowing celebrities and influencers to communicate with their audiences. But that communication is often a one-way street. For those who want more of a two-way conversation, theres the TipTalk app.

TipTalk is a messaging app that incentivizes communication between influencers, celebrities and experts and their fans. Read more about the platform and how it works in this weeks Small Business Spotlight.

What the TipTalk App Does

Provides a platform for people to access their favorite experts and celebs.

Zachary Melamed, TipTalks CEO, CTO and co-founder told Small Business Trends, TipTalk is a messaging platform that gives users one-on-one access to their favorite experts, athletes, influencers and stars across various verticals including eSports, sports, business, finance and health and wellness. Users use $1 credits to request a text, photo or video response. If they do not receive a response within 48 hours their credits are returned. Influencers have a chance to donate a portion or all of the proceeds to a charity of their choice.

Business Niche

Actually getting users responses.

Melamed says, The trend with current social platforms that connect influencers with their fanbase is to do so in a one-to-many fashion that lacks any personalization. Users might be able to ask questions, but are not guaranteed a response as there is no incentive provided. TipTalk provides influencers with an incentive to directly connect with their fanbase.

How the Business Got Started

After an ah-ha moment.

Melamed explains, One of our co-founders, Owen De Vries, was trying to get a hold of an influencer and made a comment at dinner, I wish I could just pay this person to respond. That was the ah-ha moment that lead to further discussions with a network of influencers, who confirmed that they would respond to far more fan messages if there was incentive and better medium to do so.

Biggest Win

Launching the app.

Melamed says, Getting a first iteration of a product to market is the most important step in a companys life. We launched six weeks ago which was our biggest win to date.

Biggest Risk

Launching early.

Melamed says, We decided to launch early on in order to be first to market, with influencers who did not one hundred percent align with our companys vision. We therefore ran the risk of being branded differently than our long-term goal. We have since then pursued experts who are more in line with providing the industry insight and advice we hoped our platform would encompass.

Lesson Learned

Get insights from actual consumers.

Melamed explains, If I could start again, I would try to ship an MVP of the product earlier. You learn so much more by putting the product in the hands of actual users as compared to trying to work through everything in a conference room and on a whiteboard.

How Theyd Spend an Extra $100,000

Hiring.

Melamed says, I believe the most important factor in building a winning company is assembling a team that can produce with agility and speed. Therefore, Id put that money towards additional fast-moving engineering and product talent.

Communication Method

Their own platform.

Melamed says, We often utilize our own platform to get in touch with the participating influencers in regards to updates and opportunities. They have been particularly responsive to this approach and we will continue to outreach to them in this manner.

* * * * *

Find out more about the Small Biz Spotlight program
While its obviously helpful to promote an event a few days before the big day, social media makes it easy and practical to have your attendees spread the word for you at the party or gathering itself, in real time.

Thats why we asked nine entrepreneurs from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) the following question:

What is your best tip for getting event attendees to help promote your event/brand

on social media before AND during the event itself?

Event Promotion Ideas

Heres what YEC community members had to say:

1. Provide Great, Sharable Content

The more useful your content is, the more your attendees will want to share it. If you give out some of your best, thought-provoking information before, you can build anticipation in your audience. And if you put out even more hard-hitting content full of insights and value during your event, everyone will want to tweet it.  ~ Nicole Munoz, Start Ranking Now

2. Promote a Share for a Shirt

People love getting free swag at conferences (especially if it is worth keeping, like a high-quality shirt). Take advantage of that mindset by asking attendees to share on social media in order to get said swag, and be sure to follow up with likes/retweets/mentions to close the loop. ~ James Simpson, GoldFire Studios

3. Focus on Individual Connections

Establish connections with individuals, primarily through open social platforms like Twitter. Promote tweets ahead of the event targeted to individuals who follow the conference Twitter handle and those you have followed. Use contests youll have and swag youll give away to promote the event and get people talking about you and your brand. During an event, use platforms like HootSuite or TweetDeck to follow conference hashtags and take advantage of active conversations to make connections and increase opportunities to share what your companys doing and whats going on at your event. This will make every introduction a warm one. ~ Dan Golden, Be Found Online

4. Create Cool, Limited Items

Pay a little more on some of the items youll be giving away at your booth to create something special for your first 25-50 visitors. Creating a limited set of really cool convention swag wont cost you as much as upgrading all your orders, but youll still get visits all day long from people looking for those items. Make sure you properly advertise the items on any social media feeds for the convention as well as on your own feeds. ~ Matt Doyle, Excel Builders

5. Surprise People

Of course, you need to have a brand or an event that has intrinsic value to it, but after that, try surprising people. I find that 99 percent of what I share on social media or through group chats or emails starts with me being surprised by something. If it feels new, Im willing to share it with my friends. If its old news, I dont always discern which of my friends may or may not know this particular information and I dont bother broadcasting. But if its fresh, I feel its fresh to everyone, and I like to keep people up to date.  ~ Brandon Stapper, 858 Graphics

6. Give Them the Messaging

Tell attendees exactly what to say and they will more than likely pass it on by simply copying and pasting. Since they are already on board with you, they will want others to know. They just may not know what to say. This makes it easier for them. ~ Abhilash Patel, Recovery Brands

7. Get Attendees Involved

A great way to get attendees to promote an event on social media during the event itself is to host a giveaway with the prize given out at the end of the night. One new idea that weve used is encouraging attendees to use the events Snapchat filter and share to be entered to win. Always try new ideas to help build excitement around sharing on social media. ~ Bryanne Lawless, BLND Public Relations

8. Make It Visual

Every event has a hashtag, but the trick is making it fun to use. Create a hashtag that captures the essence of the event and pair it with a cool visual that attendees can download and share when theyve purchased their tickets. Keep the hashtag alive during the event by incorporating it into a Snapchat filter so attendees can show off their selfies and favorite moments. ~ Rakia Reynolds, Skai Blue Media

9. Live Blog From the Event

You can pay a lot of money for gimmicks. Some will work and others wont. But live blogging is basic, and it is beautiful when done sincerely. When WalkMe live-blogged from Dreamforce, we had a platform that effectively encouraged participants during Dreamforce as well as those who stayed behind in their office to follow our insights and our brand. ~ Dan Adika, WalkMe
The cannabis industry is growing fast. And that means there are plenty of potential business opportunities available for entrepreneurs who are interested in this expanding niche.

Serge Chistov, Chief Financial Advisor for the Honest Marijuana Company and president and founder of Serge Import LLC spoke to Small Business Trends in a phone interview about all the possibilities.

Chistov explained, Its a lot like any other business. If youre going to a liquor store youre going to have liquor stores that are just there and theyre convenient for people to just stop in. And then you have higher end or specialty options. And you also have the producers and the packaging and everything else. So theres a lot that goes into it.

Here are 20 potential business ideas for those seeking just the right opportunity for them.

Marijuana Business Opportunities

Cannabis Producers

Before anyone can produce or sell cannabis products for this market, of course, someone needs to actually grow it. So you can build a business by being the first step in the process, working as a farmer or grower who supplies the plants to companies that then process and make it into other products.

Cannabis Processors

You can also provide the essential middle part of that process between growing and selling finished products. Processors take the plants grown by the producers and get them ready to turn into products for medical or recreational use.

Cannabis Retailers

Once the finished product is created, you also need retailers to sell those products to consumers. You can do this in a storefront setting with basic products. But Chistov cautions businesses from simply relying on the novelty factor to keep sales high.

He says, The hype is over. You cant just hope to set up businesses and immediately become billionaires. You have to actually sell a product that is going to be up to consumer standards, with proper packaging, preservation and all the other things that go into making great products in other industries.

Licensed Distributors

There are also some states where retail businesses and other businesses that want to sell any cannabis based products need to go through distributors. So thats another potential business opportunity for those who want to manage the sale of product to businesses in certain states.

Edibles Sellers

Aside from just selling basic marijuana product, you can potentially get a little more creative in how you present your products. Marijuana edibles can range from cakes to candy and even hot sauce. You just need to be aware of the processes and challenges of creating, packaging and selling those edibles.

Beauty Products

You can also potentially use marijuana as an ingredient in other products like soaps and lotions and then sell those items to consumers in a retail setting.

Concentrate Producer

Concentrates are potent marijuana substances that people can use with vaporizers or similar devices. You need some equipment and skill to be able to produce this type of substance. But if you can do so, you may be able to sell concentrates to distributors or consumers in some states.

Accessory Maker

Aside from the actual marijuana product, you can potentially build a business around selling accessories, like glass vessels, papers and trays.

Delivery Service

If you have the right equipment to keep the products fresh and protected, you can potentially offer your services in the delivery part of this process, either getting product from growers to processors or from processors to retail businesses or distributors.

Industry-Specific Consulting

Since there are so many potential opportunities, you can also build a business where you provide consulting services to the growing number of entrepreneurs and perspective entrepreneurs in the market, as long as you have knowledge thats really specific to the cannabis industry.

Packaging

Theres also a huge need for specialty packaging of a growing variety of products. Retailers and other businesses need packaging solutions that are protective, childproof and will keep products fresh.

Specialty Lodging

You can also potentially start more of a service based business in the cannabis industry. You can start a hotel or lodging business where you also offer cannabis products to appeal to that specific customer base.

Weed Florist

You can also build a niche in the floral industry by starting a florist shop that uses marijuana plants along with other flowers and plants in its arrangements.

Event Planner

You can also specialize in planning events for cannabis businesses or even start your own events where its a main feature or draw for attendees.

App Developer

There are many mobile app possibilities related to the cannabis industry as well, from those that locate dispensaries to those that provide information or even social features to users.

See Also: Secrets Your Business Coach Never Told You About the Cannabis Industry

Social Network Founder

You can also potentially start your own social network aimed specifically at cannabis consumers. This could also present some unique advertising opportunities for other cannabis businesses.

Software Developer

Since the cannabis industry is relatively new, the businesses involved still have a long way to go when it comes to finding the exact tools that really suit their needs. Restaurants, retail stores and other types of businesses all have software programs made specifically to help them perform essential business functions. So if youre a software developer, you can potentially do the same for the cannabis industry.

Security Service

In addition, security has become a major concern for some cannabis businesses with an increasing need to protect their product and their profits.

Reviewer

Consumers also need access to information regarding the cannabis industry and the products available. So you could potentially build a business around providing reviews and other pertinent information to help consumers make informed decisions.

Tour Guide

And if you live in a place thats become a destination for cannabis consumers, you can potentially also offer a tour guide service where you take people to relevant destinations around your city or state.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  New Delhi will retaliate any attack on its territory, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday, as he visited the Indian-Pakistani border.

"We never open fire first, but if attacked, in retaliation we never count the bullets after pulling the trigger," Singh said, as quoted by NDTV broadcaster, as he addressed the Border Security Force officers.

He reaffirmed the government's pledge to boost border outposts and to improve border infrastructure.
BEIJING (Sputnik)  The court in Henan province found Bai guilty of grand corruption and stripped him of political rights, providing that death sentence might be replaced with life imprisonment if the case is reviewed, the CCTV broadcaster said.

Bai held secretary's position from October 2001 to August 2011.

After assuming office in 2012, Chinese President Xi Jinping launched a large-scale campaign against corruption, primarily targeting high-level officials in the Communist Party, the armed forces and state-run enterprises.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)Afghan Army Mi-17 helicopter was shot down by the Taliban militants in country's northern province of Baghlan while attempting to deliver weapons to the base under siege close to the provincial capital of Pol-e-Khomri, local media reported Sunday.

There are no official reports on the casualties but the helicopter crew is reportedly dead, Khaama news agency reported.

Taliban has not yet claimed responsibility for the attack.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)The cargo area of T3 terminal of the New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport has been cordoned off on Sunday over a suspected radioactive leak, local media reported.

The entire area has been evacuated with fire fighters and a team from the National Disaster Management Authority being on their way, NDTV broadcaster reported.

The leaking package has been reportedly isolated and will be tested.
ISTANBUL (Sputnik)  Russia may allow import of some types of Turkish fruits and vegetables before the end of the year, but the process of lifting the restrictions will be gradual, Russian Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said Sunday.

We are getting ready for this [gradual lifting of embargo] and we have prepared certain proposals on lifting embargo on some agricultural goods. Not all of them, but some, Ulyukayev told journalists, when asked whether the embargo on some of the Turkish goods may be lifted before the end of the year.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)German police destroyed the highly explosive material seized in the flat of the terrorist suspect in the eastern city of Chemnitz, local media reported.

"Nobody was hurt, no property damage occurred," Saxony State Criminal Police Office (LKA) representative said commenting on the controlled explosion adding that the explosive was more volatile than TNT, Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported.

On Saturday, police in the eastern German city of Chemnitz were investigating a "static threat", having evacuated residents of one of the city's districts. Police stormed one of the flats but the suspect, Jaber Albakr, had fled by then.
By PTI: detected

New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) A suspected radioactive leak was reported today in the cargo area of the Delhi airport from a shipment carrying material for cancer treatment from France, triggering a Radiological Emergency, which was withdrawn after little over three hours as the emission was found within permissible limits.

An emergency response was activated following the suspected leak with teams from Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rushing to the cargo terminal of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, about a kilometre-and-a-half from the passenger area. A team of doctors from Medanta hospital was also rushed to the spot.

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"A call was received from the airport around 10.45 AM regarding suspected radioactive leak from medical equipment," said Atul Garg, Chief Fire Officer.

The local unit of the CISF intimated the NDRF control room about the suspected radioactive leak from a sanitized container from a consignment that came on an Air France plane last night.

NDRF sources said its team rushed to the spot, sanitised the area and got the cargo complex vacated as a preventive measure.

"Detection of radiation was done by NDRF team using technical equipment. Radiation level at varied distances from the source was marked and the suspect packings were isolated," it said.

Government officials said a regular consignment of 16 packets of material for cancer treatment arrived by Air France AF 226 last night at 2230 hrs.

In a statement, District Magistrate Abhishek Singh said, "An inadvertently wrong radiological emergency message was conveyed".

"A nuclear medicine Molibdenum 99 was being brought from Air France flight on behalf of B L Kapoor Hospital, Pusa Road. The quantity of radiation emitted from the nuclear medicine is below 1 mill rongen (measurement of radiation).

"There is no beta radiation in the surrounding areas and there is no leakage. Hence it cannot be termed as an emergency. A final call has thus been taken and the Radiological Emergency has been called off at 01.55 PM," he said.

"Officers from BARC and NDRF have cleared at 1355 hrs that there is no anticipation of any harm because there is no radioactive leakage," senior government officials said.

Air France said in a statement that the shipment of radioactive medical material on flight AF 226 operated by an A 330 aircraft from Paris to New Delhi on 8 october 2016 "did not reveal any anomaly".

"After several controls by the relevant authorities including Indias independent Nuclear Energy authorities at its arrival at the New Delhi airport its acceptation has been confirmed compliant," it told PTI in a statement.

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"There is nothing to panic and there is no effect on the passenger area. Timely response by NDRF and other stakeholders prevented the situation to cause undue panic," a statement by the NDRF said.

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which runs the IGI airport, said, "There was no radioactive leakage and all operations at the Delhi airport are normal." PTI IAS AKV SLB PR NES GJS SKL PYK RT SK SK

--- ENDS ---


MOSCOW (Sputnik)Some 3 million of the nationals are expected to come to 1,996 polling stations throughout the country to elect members of its 141-seat unicameral parliament. Total of 16 political parties will participate in the parliamentary election.

According to Lithuanias legislation, 70 lawmakers will be elected in a nationwide constituency under a proportional system, and 71 lawmakers in single mandate constituencies under a majoritarian voting system.

According to the Spinter Tyrimai poll, commissioned by the Delfi.lt news portal and carried out on September 19-27, three parties are expected to lead in the election: the Social Democratic Party would gain up to 15.6 percent, the Peasant and Green Union would gain 12.4 percent, and the Conservative Party would gather 10.5 percent of the votes.
"It will not happen overnight, but it will certainly take place. Watch this space!" he said.

Omelyan cited upcoming quality upgrades of Ukrainian railways which he said "will help to get rid of dusty cushions and blankets".

His optimistic remarks came as Ukrainian experts said that the country's railway stock wear-out rate exceeds 90 percent, while the degree of wear related to railway infrastructure stands at 97 percent, according to RIA Novosti.

Hundreds of locomotives, which were built in the 1950s and the 1960s, are still used in Ukraine, RIA Novosti reported.

Earlier, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said that the country's road sector remains in a critical condition, urging the Infrastructure Ministry and State Road Agency of Ukraine to rectify the situation.
"We really do need to clarify the foundation of our common values with the US after the conflict over the NSA, but we mustn't allow ourselves to be bought by the Russian strategy," Kiesewetter added, referring to the scandal revealed last year that the US National Security Agency had been engaged in spying on the German government for decades.

In turn, Green Party co-chair Katrin Goring-Eckardt told Bild explicitly that Russia is engaged in "barbaric acts in Syria," and called on the German government to introduce new sanctions against Moscow over its alleged "war crimes."

German politicians have struggled to come to a unified position over which policies to pursue with respect to Russia for some time now, with opinions fraying regarding the sanctions imposed in the wake of the 2014 Ukraine crisis, which has since resulted in tens of billions of euros in losses for German companies, and proven to be equally devastating for the country's agricultural sector.
At least 15,000 people in France are thought to pose a terror threat and are under the surveillance of the security services, French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche reported on Saturday.

The suspects have been placed on France's FSPRT database of individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism or radicalization, created in March 2015. The database is managed by France's UCLAT unit for the co-ordination of the fight against terrorism.

Around 2,500 terror suspects and radicals are under surveillance without any further action taken against them, and over 2,000 of those on the list are known to be members of a terrorist network. About 4,000 of those on the list are considered high-risk and are being watched by France's General Directorate for Internal Security intelligence agency.
At the same time, he warned that the British referendum's results would have "broader long-term consequences".

"Brexit is an alert signal indicating that the EU should change, but everyone is busy with their own problems and this complicates the situation," according to Chase Vittorio Grilli, former Italian Finance Minister and the current head of JP Morgan Chase's European division.

Earlier, leaders of the US financial institutions urged Britain and the European Union to agree on a transitional period, during which the sides could clinch a new trade agreement.

Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem, for his part, said earlier this month that the EU-British agreement on the UK leaving the bloc will be a tough deal as Brussels is going to protect the integrity of the internal market, which implies retaining all four freedoms including the freedom of movement.

The International Monetary Fund, in turn, said in its revised World Economic Outlook that uncertainty caused by the United Kingdom's pending exit from the European Union will have negative costs for both the UK and EU economies.

ironically, the concrete consequence of Brexit so far seems to be the UK inching towards de facto joining the Eurozone.  Steve Randy Waldman (@interfluidity) 7  2016 .

In July, French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said that the UK's decision to leave the European Union called for closer integration within the 19-nation euro area to curb economic fallout. The United Kingdom is not part of the Eurozone.
In an open letter to Theresa May, an array of senior British religious figures called on the UK Prime Minister to allow 397 refugee children into Britain before the notorious Calais "Jungle" migrant camp is dismantled, media reports said.

The move came after French President Francois Hollande urged the UK government to assist in resolving the refugee crisis in Calais, also stressing the need to completely demolish the so-called Calais Jungle.

The letter, organized by the charity Citizens UK, was signed by former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Williams, and several highly-placed British Muslim and Jewish leaders.
BERLIN (Sputnik)  German police released two out of three people detained Saturday during the anti-terrorist operation in the eastern German city of Chemnitz, Saxony State Criminal Police Office (LKA) said Sunday.

Two of those detained in Chemnitz are freed again. There is a suspicion of complicity regarding the third one and the decision on his arrest is currently being determined, the German police said in a post on Twitter.

Police Comb Eastern Germany in Hunt for Terror-Plot Suspect: German authorities widened the scope of the manh https://t.co/vV0Ahc09N8  harlow keith (@hkeith8019) 9  2016 .

The search for the main suspect, a 22-year-old Syrian native, still continues. The man had been allegedly plotting terrorist attack in one of the German airports.
The campaign has been met with hostility from many Poles, who remain mindful of the nationalists' WWII-era crimes, and don't want them to be forgotten. This summer, the Polish Senate passed a law classifying the massacre of Poles in Volyn and Eastern Galicia as genocide. Before and since, people have staged protest marches and even put up monuments commemorating the victims of the massacre.

On Friday, Polish director Wojciech Smarzowski, widely considered 'the king of modern Polish cinema', made his own contribution to the Polish-Ukrainian debate with his new film Volyn, which dramatically depicts the UPA's crimes. The opening showings of the film sold out across the country, attracting considerable interest among young people.

In the run-up to the film's release, Smarzowski promised that it would be an honest portrayal of events "from the Polish perspective," adding that the subject was a "personal, difficult one" for him.

Unfortunately, ever since filming began, the film was subjected to more and more intense criticism from Ukrainian media. Ukrainian Radio Liberty columnist Andriy Lyubka even warned that the movie would "push Polish-Ukrainian relations back a decade."

For its part, EU-sponsored Ukrainian newspaper Evropeyskaya Pravda worried the film and its historical subject matter would increase tensions between modern-day Poland and Ukraine, noting that "comments posted on Polish forums do not leave any doubts: many Poles are not ready to separate what happened 73 years ago from today, and are urging their government to form its policy toward Kiev guided by an assessment of the past."
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  About 1,300 of those currently imprisoned in France were converted to radical Islam while in jail , French Justice Minister Jean-Jacques Urvoas said Sunday.

"There are those who were imprisoned under criminal law who turned radical in prison. Currently there are. 1,300 of such radicalized individuals," Urvoas said, speaking on air of the Europe 1 radio station.

Commenting on the options of keeping such people in prison, Urvoas stressed that it was possible either to group radicalized people and risk creating collective subconscious or to divide them, which may result in emergence of proselytism  attempts to convert people to Islam.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to the CEC, the country's Social Democratic Party ranks second with 15.44 percent of votes followed by Homeland Union  Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) which scores some 15 percent.

"The CEC provided preliminary results after processing results from 48 constituencies and 891 polling stations," the CEC said in a statement.

The voter turnout reached 49.90 percent in the elections.
Top government sources have confirmed that terrorists were provided protection by Pakistan Army handler, among other significant developments.

By India Today Web Desk: Top government sources have claimed that the recent surgical strikes conducted by Indian army being first of its kind have never been conducted before. They also said that these strikes, cleared by top political leadership, were well-planned and coordinated across 250 km of area from Kel near Kupwada to Balnoi near Poonch.

About six launchpads zeroing in at specific targets were recognised, some of which had more than 15 terrorists in one launch pad.



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It has also been confirmed that these terrorists were provided protection by Pakistan Army handlers.



ALSO READ: Inside story of Indian Army's daring surgical strikes against Pakistan

ALSO READ: Pakistan says Indian channel forged interview of official admitting to surgical strikes

The local army operations carried out at unit level include Operation Badla of 2008, Operation Ginger of 2013 and beheading of two Indian soldiers Lance Naik Hemraj and Sudhakar.



WHY GOVT REFRAINS FROM MAKING THE PROOF'S PUBLIC

The government sources also claimed that they have ample number of proofs on surgical strikes which will not be made public.

The reason behind not making the proofs of surgical strikes public is that these strikes were done to defend our territory, which is government's right in all capacity.

Moreover, providing proof could also send the message of India being a culprit.



ALSO READ: India's surgical record has 10 more cross-LoC hits to its credit

Government officials also cleared that it does not want to set a precedent by providing a proof of such operations.

By making proof's public, the officials said that Pakistan army could be under pressure to retaliate in any manner which doesn't conform with India's interest.

Government sources also pointed out how even US did not make any evidence public on neutralising Osama Bin Laden.

NO FOREIGN COUNTRY KEPT IN THE LOOP

The sources also clarified that no foreign country, including US and Russia, was apprised of the surgical strike until the business was finished.

ALSO READ: Muslim organisations hail surgical strikes, urge political parties to unite

It was only after CCS was briefed, friendly nations were apprised of the operation.

Some media reports earlier suggested that US and Russia were informed about the operation before it was conducted.

DIPLOMATIC VICTORY FOR INDIA

India's biggest success in conducting the surgical strikes has been the fact that no country, including China, has criticised the strike.



ALSO READ| India's intended message conveyed to Islamabad through surgical strikes: Vikas Swarup

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Since there is no reason to make provide proof for backing the surgical strikes, as in the case of Osama operation, even USA did not make any.

There could be repercussions vis-a-vis Pakistan and also, the criticism about proof is largely political.

STRATEGIC VICTORY

Earlier launch Pads were within the vicinity of 1 to 2 kilometres from Line of Control which provided terrorists with an edge on surveillance of our area from close range. This also helped the terrorists in striking in a short duration.

Post the strike, all launch pads have been vacated with terrorist pushed back eight to ten kilometres in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) from LoC and IB.



Watch Video







ALSO READ: Politicians cross swords on surgical strikes, forget moral code of conduct

ALSO READ: Lie nailed: Pakistan police officer admits India did carry out surgical strikes

ALSO READ: Khoon ki dalali: Rahul says he supports surgical strikes but slams use of Army in BJP posters



Terror masterminds Hafiz Saeed, Syed Salahuddin moved to Pakistan Army camp

Rattled by India's surgical strikes, Pakistan has moved 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin to the camp of Army's 4 Corps.

Highlights 1 Pakistan-backed terrorists moved out of PoK training camps to Army garrison camps.

2 Saeed and Salahuddin have been designated as terrorists by the United Nations.

3 Saeed pressuring Pakistan to retaliate after India's surgical strikes went public advertisement The Indian surgical strikes by Special Forces on terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have clearly rattled Islamabad and the ISI. Even as Pakistan continues to deny the surgical strikes, it has now moved 26/11 mastermind chief Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin to an army camp. In fact, intelligence agencies say the two terrorist leaders have been moved to Pakistan Army's 4 Corps camp in Lahore. Interestingly, before India announced the surgical strikes across LoC, there were some reports that claimed that many Pakistan-backed terrorists had been moved out of training camps in PoK to Army garrison camps. Both Saeed and Salahuddin have been designated as terrorists by the United Nations. Ads by ZINC

IS PAKISTAN ANTICIPATING MORE STRIKES?

This move by Islamabad gives rise to speculation that the Pakistan military may be anticipating more such strikes from India. During the press briefing by India's DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh immediately after the cross-border operation, the general had categorically said that the Indian Army has no plans to conduct any more such strikes, even as he reminded Pakistan of its commitment in January 2004 to not allow its soil or territory under its control to be used for attacks against India. advertisement The move to shield JuD chief and Lashkar co-founder Hafiz Saeed comes in the backdrop of probing questions from some Pakistani lawmakers over Islamabad's continued patronage to the Mumbai terror attack mastermind, describing it as a reason for international isolation of the country. HAFIZ AND HIS EGGS "Which eggs is Hafiz Saeed laying for us that we are nurturing him? The efficacy of our foreign policy speaks for itself when we could not curtail Hafiz Saeed," PML-N parliamentarian Rana Muhammad Afzal had said during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. Intelligence sources have claimed that Saeed had been pressuring Pakistan to retaliate after news of India's surgical strikes went public. Watch video

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MEXICO CITY (Sputnik)  The activists who searched for their missing relatives handed over the bodies to local human remains to local authorities for identification.

Coahuila region is destabilized by skirmishes between numerous criminal groups trying to gain control over regional drug traffic. With nearly 1,800 people gone missing in the region, over 455 bodies have been discovered buried in mass graves for the last five years.
TBILISI (Sputnik)  After processing results from some 31 polling stations, the CEC revealed that the UNM with 25.27 percent of votes lagged behind the ruling Georgian Dream Party which was supported by 51.8 percent of voters in the parliamentary elections held a day before.

"We want to warn the CEC and authorities from going against the will of Georgian voters and urge them to record the data consistent with reality," Levan Tarkhnishvili, UNM member, said in the interview with Rustavi 2 broadcaster.

The rally has not descended into clashes so far.
The United States has issued an "immediate review" of all aid to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen after an airstrike killed over 200 people attending a funeral in Yemen. The Saudi coalition has come under fire in the past year even being included temporarily on the United Nation's "child killer" list for their indiscriminate bombing of hospitals, schools, and other civilian infrastructure that has led to mass loss of life among non-combatants.

The White House called for an immediate ceasefire between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis in the wake of the attack with US officials describing the incident as "deeply disturbing" despite a string of similar incidents in recent months that have shocked the conscience of the international community.

Among the similar natured attacks was an airstrike on a peaceful protest of hundreds of thousands in the downtown square of the capital of Sanaa roughly one month earlier although that incident led to less loss of life with the bombs mostly careening just outside the protesters.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)The meeting is set be held at the headquarters of the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah, according to the organization, and to be attended by the member states permanent representatives to the OIC.

The meeting will be held upon Kuwait's request. Kuwait is the chair of the 42nd Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM).

The OIC Executive Committee is composed of the so-called Islamic Troika  Egypt, Turkey and Gambia  as well as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Uzbekistan, and OIC Secretary General Iyad bin Amin Madani.


TEL AVIV (Sputnik)Israeli police neutralized a man who opened fire at a tram stop in Jerusalem, a police spokesperson said on Sunday.

"The attack took place near the police headquarters. An Arab man tried to escape in a car, but he was neutralized by police special forces soldiers," the spokesperson told RIA Novosti.

According to local media, the attacker wounded at least five people, two of them are in serious condition.


ANKARA (Sputnik)Six Turkish soldiers were killed in a car bomb explosion near a gendarmerie post in the Semdinli district of the Hakkari province in southeast Turkey, local media reported on Sunday.

Another seven soldiers were injured in the explosion, according to the NTV broadcaster.

Turkish security forces have repeatedly carried out operations against members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) outlawed by Ankara in the Hakkari province.


ANKARA (Sputnik)Car bomb explosion allegedly carried out by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) left nine servicemen and eight civilians dead in the Semdinli district of the Hakkari province in southeast Turkey, governor Cuneyit Orhan Toprak said Sunday.

"Terrorist attack in Semdinli resulted in death of 17 people, including nine servicemen with 27 others wounded," Toprak told NTV broadcaster.
Earlier this week, media reported that White House officials were considering US military attacks against Syrian army airfields.

"I think that the 'hot heads' there will be calm downed and will treat the issue seriously. The good news is that according to the leaks, but it is a very reliable information, a number of senior figures in the US administration understand very well that any attack on ground targets, which belong to the Syrian army, is a flagrant violation of international law," Lavrov told Channel One in an interview.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Tens of thousands of people in Yemen joined a protest held in front of a local UN office in the capital city of Sanaa following a deadly airstrike on a funeral ceremony, local media reported.

On Saturday, the airstrike hit the funeral ceremony in Sanaa, According to UN estimates, the attack claimed over 140 lives and left more than 525 people wounded, while media suggested that 213 people may have been killed. The Saudi-led Arab coalition denied allegations of the Houthi rebels that it was involved in the incident.

According to the al Masirah television channel, the protesters carried Yemeni flags and posters, condemning the actions of Saudi Arabia.
MUSCAT (Sputnik)  Houthi rebels refuse to take part in a negotiation process under the auspices of the United Nations until the massacre in Yemen stops, Khaled Saeed, a member of Houthi Supreme Political Council and participant in peace talks, told Sputnik on Sunday.

On Saturday, the airstrike hit a funeral ceremony in Sanaa. According to UN estimates, the attack claimed over 140 lives and left more than 525 people wounded, while media suggested that 213 people may have been killed. The Saudi-led Arab coalition denied allegations of the Houthi rebels that it was involved in the incident.

The negotiations will not resume while massacre is being committed in the capital Sanaa. We will not have a dialogue while our people are being killed, we will not have a dialogue with the UN special envoy [for Yemen] while the massacre continues, Saeed said.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) The Centre has warned employees of disciplinary action if they indulge in criticism of the government or its policies.

The move comes after officers of Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise) and All India Association of Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officers among others suggested changes in Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN)-- a private company tasked with creating Information Technology infrastructure for Gods and Services Tax, and composition of Revenue Secretary-led GST council secretariat.

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"Of late, it has been noticed that some associations or federations have commented adversely on the government and its policies. It may be brought to the notice of all associations or federations that if anyone indulges in criticism of the government and its policies, appropriate action (including disciplinary action) shall be taken," an order issued recently by Finance Ministry said.

It cited service rules that bar any government servant from making any adverse criticism of any policy or action of the government.

"No government servant shall, in any radio broadcast, telecast through any electronic media or in any document published in his own name or anonymously, pseudonymously or in the name of any other person or in any communication to the press or in any public utterance, make any statement of fact or opinion which has the effect of an adverse criticism of any current or recent policy or action of the central government or state government," the service rules say.

Citing existing norms, the Finance Ministry said the primary objective of the service associations is to promote common service interest of its members.

The Ministry asked chief commissioners and directors general concerned to ensure that only recognised employees associations get the benefits mentioned in the rules. (MORE) PTI AKV ZMN RCJ

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Azadgan told Radio Sputnik that the Saudi airstrikes in Yemen will continue until the US exerts "serious pressure" on Saudi Arabia.

The "new cadre" in the Saudi Arabian government, especially the son of King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, "thought they could pursue their own policy in the Middle East," the expert said.

"They are seeing some major alerts by Washington that if they do such things, they are going to get into big trouble. Washington is bringing other issues into the fold, such as investigating 9/11 and who was really behind that. So I think they are very threatened by that," Azadgan said.

"The US is going to jump at this opportunity, where 140-150 people were butchered at this funeral, in order to force Saudi Arabia to watch its foreign policy. The Saudis seem to be out of control."
A Syrian military source speaking on the condition of anonymity said that government fighter jets smashed terrorist positions in the towns of Khan Shayku and al-Tamanaah, the region of Jisr al-Hish, the cities of Saraqib and Jisr al-Shughur, the towns of Murak and Tayban al-Iman, the city of Suran and the villages of Atshan and al-Lataminah.

Additionally in Ezzeddin district in the province of Homs, two senior terrorist commanders  Mohammad Mounir Dabbous and Rakan Abu Abdu al-Homs  were killed and five vehicles were destroyed after the Syrian Air Force bombed their compound.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On Saturday, the airstrike hit the funeral ceremony in Sanaa. According to UN estimates, the attack claimed over 140 lives and left more than 525 people wounded, while media suggested that 213 people may have been killed. The Saudi-led Arab coalition denied allegations of the Houthi rebels that it was involved in the incident.

"I call upon all members of the armed forces, security and popular committeesto head to the front, to the borders, to take revenge," he said in a televised address, as quoted by the Middle East Online media outlet.

Yemen has been engulfed in a military conflict between the government headed by Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and Houthi rebels since 2014. The Houthis are backed by army units loyal to Saleh.
Nonetheless, the international community has attempted unsuccessfully to condemn the Saudi-led coalition with the United Nations even including the forces on its annual "child killers" list until Saudi Arabia threatened UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon that they would pull all funding from the United Nations programs and get regional allies to respond in kind.

"Saudis have a black criminal record of killing innocent people. They have a cruel and evil nature, and do not respect independence of other countries. The Saudi king (Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud) would not have dared to attack Yemen if it had been without US consent," al-Houthi stated.

The leader called on all able bodied Yemenis to engage in retaliatory counter attacks against the Saudi Arabian regime leading many in the international community to fear an escalation of the crisis in Yemen.
The walkway outside of the United Nations office in Yemen's capital city of Sana'a was the staging ground for tens of thousands of angry, well-armed demonstrators who took to the streets to protest an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition on a funeral which left over 140 dead and over 525 injured.

The massive rally called the "Volcano of Rage" began outside the UN Office in Sana'a with demonstrators chanting "Allahu Akbar! America is the Great Satan" and also called for the killing of Saudi Arabia's royal family according to reports from AFP. The demonstration comes in the wake of the Saudi bombing campaign on a funeral that left over 140 civilians dead and over 525 others injured.

The leader of Yemen's Houthi movement also took to the airways on Sunday calling for all able bodied men to carry out retaliatory attacks against the Saudi regime and laying the crux of the blame for the airstrike on the United States saying that Riyadh only strikes where Washington tells them to.
"Between the never ending conflict in Ukraine, the crisis in Syria and now allegations that Russia has engaged in cyber hacking against America, relations between Moscow and Washington have reached a low not seen since the darkest days of the Cold War," said The National Interest, the think tanks glossy magazine.

In predicting the possibility for "some sort of open conflict," the publication is careful to denounce the idea that they are openly advocating for some sort of military incursion in what reads like a wink and a nod  "While no one certainly dares wish for such an eventuality, taking stock of America and Russias military assets (in a magazine and online publication available for the public?) is important," reads the editorial.
Repeating a common refrain from her campaign and the public record, Clinton told the crowd that "I was in the small group that recommended to the President that he go after bin Laden."

It was then that Clinton's narrative switched up from what was previously known by the public regarding the effort to bring the infamous terrorist mastermind to justice with many in the US public led for years to believe that the United States received a tip by somebody who stopped by at the embassy  but the root of the intelligence that captured Bin Laden was a wiretap.

"The people who were the analysts and collectors and good old-fashioned spies who were gathering bits and pieces of information, some of them from cell phone conversations, I will tell you, and then all of a sudden putting this matrix together and saying this guy used to protect Bin Laden," said Clinton. "He just made a phone call. He said this in a phone call. We need to figure out where he is. Then we need to follow him."


VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik)Recent killing of a senior Jabhat Fatah al Sham (previously known as Nusra Front) figure by the United States is an isolated case, Washington abstains from the major campaign against the group, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"We drew the attention that even such a soft mode of campaign against the Daesh seemed intense enough on the background of the fact that they did not touch Nusra Front at all. I asked the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, if there was some hidden intention to preserve this terrorist organization and to bring it out from under the strikes in order to make it the main force to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad at some point. He swore up and down that it was not the case, that they were fighting against it," Lavrov told the Channel One broadcaster in an interview.

He added that "mainly under the pressure of such conversations, the Americans declared that they killed one of the Nusra Front leaders," adding that in any case this was "a separate, isolated case" and not a part of the serious campaign against the group, outlawed in Russia.
VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik)  The US accusations of Russia employing former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden are groundless, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

We did everything to contain our conflicts [with the US]Then there was an incomprehensible offense at the situation with Snowden. We were accused of recruiting him This is just nonsense. Everybody knows it, Lavrov told Russia's Channel One in an interview.


VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik)On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the halting of the Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement over Washingtons hostile actions.

Lavrov stressed that although Russia withdrew from the agreement, Moscow said that it "will not use plutonium falling under this agreement for military purposes under any circumstances."

The official added that Moscow noted "a fundamental change in the circumstances regarding the aggressive Russophobia, which now forms the basis of the US policy towards Russia."
Indian troops had avenged the killing of a Lance Naik in 2013 and the beheading of two of its soldiers in 2011 before it carried out the surgical strikes last month.

By India Today Web Desk: The surgical strike by the Indian Army commandos in enemy territory across the LoC last month was not the first time Indian troops carried out such missions across the border. Here's a look at some operations behind enemy lines by Indian special forces that took the fight to the terrorists.

2008 | AVENGING SOLDIER'S BEHEADING

In June 2008, a soldier of the 2/8 Gorkha Rifles lost his way and was captured by a Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) in Kel sector. His body was found beheaded after a few days.

Source: India Today

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Sources have told India Today that the Indian Army retaliated a week later by raiding Pakistani posts. In the counter-attack, at least eight Pakistani soldiers were killed. The Indian soldiers brought back the heads of four Pakistani soldiers.

ALSO READ: Politicians cross swords on surgical strikes, forget moral code of conduct

ALSO READ: Lie nailed: Pakistan police officer admits India did carry out surgical strikes

2011 | OPERATION GINGER

According to a report by The Hindu, the Indian Army had carried out surgical strikes across the LoC in 2011, in retaliation to the surprise attack on an army post in Gugaldhar ridge in Kupwara in July 2011 that left six soldiers dead. The Pakistani raiders had carried back the heads of two soldiers.

ALSO READ: Khoon ki dalali: Rahul says he supports surgical strikes but slams use of Army in BJP posters

Source: India Today

According to the reports accessed by the paper, the Indian Army in response planned one of its deadliest cross-border strikes: Operation Ginger. After carrying out a detailed reconnaissance, Indian Army commandos struck three Pakistani Army posts on August 30, leaving behind a trail of death, destruction and booby traps. At least 13 Pakistani soldiers were killed. Three of these soldiers were decapitated and the heads were brought back to India.

Source: India Today magazine

ALSO READ: Muslim organisations hail surgical strikes, urge political parties to unite

2013 | AVENGING LANCE NAIK HEMRAJ

In January 2013, after a Pakistani BAT beheaded Lance Naik Hemraj, Indian troops completely destroyed a Pakistani post across the LoC from Poonch. If sources are to be believed, more than half a dozen Pakistani troops and terrorists were killed in the revenge attack named Operation Badla.

ALSO READ: India's intended message conveyed to Islamabad through surgical strikes: Vikas Swarup

2016 | URI AVENGED

On September 29, just a week after 18 soldiers of the Indian Army were killed by a militant attack at the Indian Army brigade headquarters in Uri, surgical strikes were carried out across the LoC.

ALSO READ: India's surgical record has 10 more cross-LoC hits to its credit

Source: India Today Source: India Today

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India Today had reported how the Indian Army's elite para commando teams crossed the Line of Control, silenced sentries at terror launchpads, and then destroyed the camps with explosions and flamethrowers. By 9 am, the commandos had returned to the base without a single casualty. The only difference this time was, the government decided to go public.

Watch the video







ALSO READ: Inside story of Indian Army's daring surgical strikes against Pakistan

ALSO READ: Pakistan says Indian channel forged interview of official admitting to surgical strikes

ALSO READ: Cyber attack post surgical strike: Indian techies hack into Pakistan government network



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"Right now theres a process of making alliances and making decisions regarding the balance of power going on in our region. The humanitarian situation in Syria has become intolerable, and we must put an end to the bloodshed and destruction. As a representative of the Turkish side, I believe that we and Russia should overcome the difference of opinions regarding this issue. By conducting its (military) operation, Turkey has shown that it greatly values Russias stance on the fight against Daesh. Turkey displays its unwavering determination to battle radical terrorist groups that pose the biggest concern to Russia. And I hope that Russia, being aware of that fact, will treat Turkeys approach to the Syrian issue with greater understanding, and will adhere to a balanced policy which supports the process of political transition," Conkar said.

He added that hopefully everything will occur according to his predictions, as Russia and Turkey must simply overcome the current crisis.

"The Middle Eastern region is our region; the events that transpire here directly affect both Russia and Turkey. Radicalization and instability here have a negative impact on Russia, Turkey and on the region as a whole. Therefore, I believe that Russian President Vladimir Putins visit will help bring Russia and Turkey together in search of a way to resolve the Syrian issue," he said.

All in all, Conkar remarked, despite a certain difference in opinions about how the Syrian conflict should be resolved, Russia and Turkey can still cooperate on this issue, while the mistakes committed by the US in the Middle East are plain for all to see.

"I believe that the growing strategic rapprochement between Russia and Turkey will also have a certain positive influence on the US approach to the Syrian issue. We are regional players, nations that spent millennia building close relations in this area and know the region from the inside out. The United States, however, is a new player in the region, and has already committed mistakes that made many problems here even more difficult to solve. We can see it everywhere in the region  in Iraq, Syria, Libya and in Yemen. We can see that the US failed to contribute to resolving the problem. In that regard, by adhering to a joint strategy for resolving the Syrian crisis, Turkey and Russia may nudge the US to help preserve stability in the region," Conkar explained.

He insisted that it is imperative that Turkey and Russia reach an agreement on the political transition process in Syria, and develop a joint approach to dealing with organizations that threaten the stability of the war-torn nation. He added that the countries that play a decisive role in this process are Turkey, Russia and Iran, while the United States may contribute by understanding the mistakes it made in the region and by supporting the chosen conflict resolution plan.

"If such major regional powers as Turkey, Iran and Russia display their unwavering stance on this issue, I believe that the West and the US would have to adhere to it. If we will assume the directing role, if we can stop the bloodshed, then well score a major victory for our nations and for the entire region; not to mention that from a global perspective, itll help prevent new conflicts from sprouting in the region," Conkar concluded.
"In all these cases, Russia has acted on the basis of one principle: a reluctance to accept as a fait accomplice the marginal position the West demanded Moscow take after the collapse of the Soviet Union."

"Therefore," the former top advisor noted, "Russia's leaders are looking to at least partially restore the Soviet Union's former status." This includes everything from symbolic actions (like emphasizing the USSR's enormous sacrifices in helping to defeat the Nazis in the Second World War) to attempts to maintain and grow Russia's influence in neighboring countries, and around the globe.

"It's for this reason that Russia has responded so fiercely to what it considered NATO's efforts to incorporate new countries that border Russia into the Western alliance. It's also for this reason that Moscow has refused to reconcile itself to the fact that the US, as the Kremlin believes, is trying to isolate it. Russia considers the expansion of NATO and the European Union to be threats, and does not believe explanations to the effect that these are purely defensive actions. It sees this as part of an American conspiracy to weaken and isolate the country."

The end result, Amidror noted, is that Russia directs its diplomacy specifically "against the US, considering it to be its main rival," taking particular advantage of the weakness of the current administration. That, he added, is why Moscow has refused to bend to Washington in the crises in both Ukraine and Syria.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  US Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and her Republican rival Donald Trump are set to square off in their second of three presidential debates on Sunday night at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Trump and Clinton will answer questions town hall-style allowing audience members to directly question the candidates, a more personal format than the moderator-driven first round on September 26.

Trump's poll numbers across the country have generally fallen since the previous debate, which attracted a record 84 million views.
VILNIUS (Sputnik)  The parliamentary elections in Lithuania have been recognized as valid as the voter turnout exceeded the constitutional threshold of 25 percent, the countrys Central Election Commission said in a statement on Sunday.

At 14:00 local time [11:00 GMT], voter activity at the parliamentary elections in Lithuania has amounted to 21.56 percent, throughout four days of voting a total of 28.24 percent of voters cast ballot, the statement read.

According to Lithuanias legislation, 70 lawmakers will be elected Sunday in a nationwide constituency under a proportional system, and 71 lawmakers in single mandate constituencies under a majoritarian voting system.
On October 8, as expected, Russia vetoed a French-drafted Security Council resolution calling for an immediate halt to airstrikes over the city of Aleppo in northern Syria.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russia blocked the resolution, as it promised it would, because its text "grossly distorted the actual state of affairs" in Syria, and carried a "politicized, unbalanced and one-sided nature. The blame for the escalation of tensions in Syria was placed on the shoulders of the country's authorities."

But more importantly, the Foreign Ministry emphasized, by proposing a no-fly zone over Aleppo, the resolution "made a blatant attemptto provide cover for Nusra Front terrorists and the militants amalgamated with them, in spite of UN member states' obligations to combat terrorist threats with the use of all available means."
At the same time, Lavrov said that the US Secretary of State John Kerry denied any "hidden intention to preserve this terrorist organization and to bring it out from under the strikes in order to make it the main force to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad at some point."

"Under the pressure of such conversations the Americans declared that they killed one of the Nusra Front leaders," he said claiming that it was "a separate, isolated case" that does not reflect the real US policy.

"After the administration of Ronald Reagan created al-Qaeda, and the administration of George W. Bush created Daesh we would not like the administration of Barack Obama to go down in history as the one which reinforced and ensured the success of another terrorist organization called Nusra Front," the minister continued.

However, "Obama has repeatedly told Russian President Vladimir Putin that he stands for a political solution to the crisis," Lavrov said.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)The best grain harvest in the history of modern Russia is expected in 2016, the country has a potential to become one of the largest food producer in the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday.

"This year we are expecting the best grain harvest in modern Russian history, about 115 million tonnes. Our country has taken a leading position in the world in the export of wheat In short, the Russian agriculture is on the rise, and the state will continue to provide a broad support for the industry, to those who want to work on the land and succeed," Putin said.

"I am confident that our manufacturers not only can fully satisfy nationals demand in food, we have a potential to make Russia one of the largest food producers in the world," the president added.
A new passenger airline is being set up to better connect south and central Russia, Russian Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov told RIA Novosti on Saturday.

"Up to ten Sukhoi Superjet airplanes are planned for service. Taking into account the cost of the airplanes, staff and the necessary auxiliary equipment, the volume of investments may reach up to 300 million USD," Sokolov said.

The transport ministry is inviting private companies to invest in the new firm, but it will provide some financing to acquire the necessary airplanes through the State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK).
In an analysis on the subject for news website PolitRussia, columnist Yuri Sergeev explained that the reason for Russia's growing popularity as a medical tourism destination is quite simple. "The cost of the work of Russian physicians even in Moscow lags far behind Europe, and especially in the United States, where the annual salary of an anesthesiologist is about $300,000, more than that of a senator. The downside of this is the prohibitive cost of operations, and treatment in American hospitals in general."

For example, the columnist calculated, "the cost of a coronary artery bypass graft surgery [in the US] may cost up to $130,000; in Singapore it's $18,500, and in Thailand or Malaysia  about $10,000. In Moscow such an operation would set you back anywhere from 150,000-500,000 rubles ($2,400-$8,000, respectively)."

Another example: "In Germany, a complete diagnostic medical evaluation costs between 1,500-15,000. In Israel, the figure is between 4,500-6,000. In Russia, the same service will cost 340-1,070."

In other words, Sergeev noted, the decline in the ruble's exchange rate definitely has a silver lining, leading not only "to an increase in the global competitiveness of Russian products, but of medical services as well; hence the growth of medical tourism in Russia."
MAKHACHKALA (Sputnik)  A counterterrorist operation began late on Sunday in the Suleyman-Stalsky District in the south of Russias Dagestan republic, a spokesperson for the operational headquarters of the republic said.

"At 9.45 p. m. Moscow time [18:45 GMT], the head of the operational staff decided to introduce a counterterrorist operation regime within the administrative borders of Suleyman-Stalsky District," the spokesperson told RIA Novosti.

Searches for terror suspects are ongoing, the spokesperson added.
By India Today Web Desk: The Indian surgical strikes by Special Forces on terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have clearly rattled Islamabad and the ISI. Even as Pakistan continues to deny the surgical strikes, it has now moved 26/11 mastermind chief Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin to an army camp.

In fact, intelligence agencies say the two terrorist leaders have been moved to Pakistan Army's 4 Corps camp in Lahore. Interestingly, before India announced the surgical strikes across LoC, there were some reports that claimed that many Pakistan-backed terrorists had been moved out of training camps in PoK to Army garrison camps.

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Both Saeed and Salahuddin have been designated as terrorists by the United Nations.

IS PAKISTAN ANTICIPATING MORE STRIKES?



This move by Islamabad gives rise to speculation that the Pakistan military may be anticipating more such strikes from India. During the press briefing by India's DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh immediately after the cross-border operation, the general had categorically said that the Indian Army has no plans to conduct any more such strikes, even as he reminded Pakistan of its commitment in January 2004 to not allow its soil or territory under its control to be used for attacks against India.

The move to shield JuD chief and Lashkar co-founder Hafiz Saeed comes in the backdrop of probing questions from some Pakistani lawmakers over Islamabad's continued patronage to the Mumbai terror attack mastermind, describing it as a reason for international isolation of the country.

HAFIZ AND HIS EGGS

"Which eggs is Hafiz Saeed laying for us that we are nurturing him? The efficacy of our foreign policy speaks for itself when we could not curtail Hafiz Saeed," PML-N parliamentarian Rana Muhammad Afzal had said during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Intelligence sources have claimed that Saeed had been pressuring Pakistan to retaliate after news of India's surgical strikes went public.

Watch video







READ| Operation Ginger: Indian Army carried out surgical strike across LoC in 2011 to avenge Kupwara attack

ALSO READ: 'No let-up in Pak support to terror after surgical strikes, 200 terrorists waiting to cross over'

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The spokesman explained that the movement in Kalinigrad "is no exemption here" and that the system would be relocated in the future "as part of the military training of the Russian armed forces."

Despite the explanation for the positioning of the advanced nuclear-capable system, some neighbors and regional states voiced opposition to the movement citing it as another example of Russian aggression.

"Recent activity by the Russian Federation raises concerns," Polands Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said on Saturday saying that the countrys military was in "permanent readiness" mode to ward off any potential security threat posed by Russia to Poland and its allies.

"The deployment not only increases tensions in the region, but also possibly violates international treaties," claimed Lithuanias Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius in a statement to Reuters promising to raise the matter during the next meeting between Russia and NATO officials.
According to the WOOD TV8 broadcaster, the shooting took place at 4 a.m. local time (08:00 GMT) in the 1800 block of the 28th Street SE, where a group of some 60 people gathered for a party. Police are processing the evidence at the scene.

Were currently trying to figure out exactly what took place. Were very early on into this incident, Grand Rapids Police Sgt. Terry Dixon said as quoted by the media.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to the ABC News media outlet, five people were killed by the hurricane in North Carolina, four people in Georgia and six people in Florida. There were also four people missing in Cumberland County in North Carolina as of late Saturday.

North Carolina officials confirmed that up to 670,716 power outages were registered across the state and as much as 768,856 power outages in South Carolina. Georgia was experiencing 205,220 power outages, while 561,862 outages occurred in Florida as of early Sunday.

Matthew no longer a hurricane, but still just as dangerous @CNN https://t.co/oLqPdijUY6  domingo ramirez jr. (@mingoramirezjr) 9  2016 .

In total, Matthew reportedly left 2.2 million households without power in the southeast part of the country.
Shoebridge, for his part, said that it is no surprise that the White House displays double standards as far as the Syrian issue is concerned.

"Washington lacks coherent policy on Syria because of the fact that the US foreign policy on the whole is subject to interests of various lobby groups," he said.

He also expressed hope that at the end of the day both the White House and Kerry will realize the fact that the comprehensive ceasefire agreement on Syria should be clinched "in cooperation with Russia, not in conflict with it."
VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik)  Moscow used to show strategic patience regarding Washingtons actions for a long time, but the relations between the United States and Russia have dramatically changed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

To my mind, this is a fact. Frankly, we have been showing what in the United States is called the strategic patience for a very long time, as the unilateral deterioration of the relations on the US part started long before the Ukrainian [crisis], Lavrov said, commenting on the drastic changes in the relations between Moscow and Washington.

In 2014, relations between Russia and the West deteriorated amid the crisis in Ukraine. Brussels, Washington and their allies imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia over Crimea's secession from Ukraine and Moscow's alleged meddling in the Ukrainian conflict. Russia has repeatedly refuted the accusations, and warned that the sanctions are counterproductive and undermine regional and global stability.


VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik)  Claims of Russia's involvement in cyberattacks against the US entities is a part of hysterical campaign in the context of the presidential race, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

On Friday, the US Department of Homeland Security and Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Election Security said in a joint statement that the United States believes the Russian government is responsible for recent hacking incidents of US institutions related to the upcoming elections.

"When I discussed the issue with US Secretary of State Kerry last time, I offered him that we have had some consultations. After all, we also do not want our nationals to engage in cybercrime. This can be turned against Russia. We do not want to cause any damage to other countries as well. It is funny, that there is quite a hysterical campaign underway in the context of the election debates [suggesting] that we have hacked the sites of the Democratic Party and Pentagon," Lavrov told Russia's Channel One broadcaster in an interview.
Following the negotiations, Zeybekci and his Russian counterpart Alexey Ulyukaev signed the joint statement on the development of bilateral trade and economic relations.

Zeybekci added that Russia and Turkey will contribute 500 million dollars each to the Turkey-Russia Joint Investment Fund.

We have discussed an important topic for both of the countries, namely, the establishment of the [Turkey-Russia] Joint Investment Fund by cooperative efforts of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and Turkish fund of capitals. The first step involves each states contribution of 500 million dollars, Nihat Zeybekci said.
However, labor groups in the US and other developed countries in the proposed zone have expressed concern that it could lead to jobs leaving for other TPP members with lower wages and looser labor laws. The GDP per capita in the poorest TTP country, Vietnam (1,910 USD per year in 2013, according to the World Bank) is a fraction of that in Mexico, Malaysia or Peru, let alone the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.

Like the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) currently being negotiated with the EU, the TPP is also criticized because of the secrecy of its negotiations.

In an article for the US magazine Foreign Policy, Stavridis wrote that failure to pass the deal would lead to a loss of US influence in the crucial Asia-Pacific region, to the benefit of China.

"The American Brexit is coming," warned Stavridis, who thinks rejection of the deal would be "a colossal mistake."

"It was a serious geopolitical mistake for Britain to walk away from the European Union, and it would be equally serious for the United States to leave the TPP on the table and effectively walk away from a leadership position in Asia," Stavridis, a former NATO supreme allied commander, wrote.

"China clearly intends to be the dominant actor in East Asia, and absent a strong US presence, it will succeed."

Several recent events have caused Stavridis to worry about Washington's standing in the Pacific region. President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, a traditional US ally, is talking about increasing ties with China. China is increasing its activities in the South China Sea and around the disputed Senkaku (Diaoyudao) Islands, which are controlled by US ally Japan.
Speaking about lessons to be learnt 15 years on from Afghanistan, Corbyn said:

"There has to be a political solution in Syria, and the STW group has been marching against war as a solution to any conflicts from the very start and shall continue to do so. 15 years later and what we are now advocating is the need for a change in attitude and mentality in wider Europe and the world. Politics can be done differently and those who oppose war are now more than ever, the majority voice everywhere, and not just in the UK."

On the humanitarian crisis in wider Europe and in countries such as Syria, Iraq and Yemen, Corbyn added:

"Refugees are the victims of the conflicts and the endless wars. They are not the cause. We will not solve the Refugee crisis with walls, opposition and hate. It requires us all to be compassionate and for us (the UK) to help the victims of war."

But far from providing benefit, the war on terror has made regions in the Middle East more volatile than ever and the rise of terrorist factions such as Daesh is just one of many consequences. Recent reports on the resurgence of Al-Qaeda's presence only further emphasizes the failure of international interventions.

Ben Griffin is a former soldier in the UK armed forces and spokesperson from Veterans for Peace Group. He provided his unique perspective during the conference which was met with a standing ovation by the audience:

"War is not the solution to the problems the world faces in the 21st century. If countries keep relying on aggressive military approaches to wider world issues, it will be more challenging to reach a place where diplomatic negotiations can occur ever sooner rather than later." he said.
In 2016, some 240 have died of Cholera, the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund stated on Friday.

Now, the major concern for Haitian authorities is that poor sanitary conditions in the country, which have been deteriorated by complete destruction of critical infrastructure such as water supplies, would cause the rapid spread of the disease.

"People have started dying," Eli Pierre Celestin of the state health ministry said, noting that rescue operations are hampered by the remoteness of the affected regions and the lack of personnel needed to address the possible outbreak.

A total of 62 people were diagnosed with cholera in the aftermath of the hurricane, according to official data. Celestin said that outbreaks have been registered in Port-a-Piment and Les Anglais in the southwestern tip of the peninsula.

"Hurricane Matthew is feared to significantly worsen the situation and increase the risk of a larger outbreak," UN's Central Emergency Response Fund said in a statement.

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said that a surge in disease cases will continue into 2017.

Meanwhile, people in the affected areas lack food and medical assistance. French humanitarian organization CARE estimated that up to a million people are in dire need of urgent assistance.
Long-haul trucks taking shortcuts on small roads through Finger Lakes region communities has been a problem for many years.

For tractor trailers heading to western parts of the state from the south, the prospect of paying tolls to jump on the state Thruway (Interstate 90 west) has been a deterrent to staying on the interstate highway system. Instead, many choose to exit somewhere along Interstate 81 south of Syracuse, and venture west on roads that end up cutting through small communities like Skaneateles, Owasco, Aurora and Auburn. Many of the roads they take were not designed for high-volume truck traffic, creating maintenance challenges. And the noise from so many trucks has real quality-of-life impact.

That existing problem, which state Department of Transportation officials attempted to mitigate several years ago with limited success, could get much worse.

The DOT's much-publicized I-81 reconstruction project through Syracuse has the potential to shift traffic patterns in a dramatic way for the eastern Finger Lakes region. One of the remaining options for the project is to transform a stretch of the elevated highway into a boulevard through Syracuse. The other plan is to rebuild and widen the viaduct.

This project has been the subject of numerous community meetings and other public comment opportunities in Syracuse, as one would expect given the immense ramifications it will have on the city. But while some officials in communities in the eastern Finger Lakes have spoken up about their concerns, there's been little outreach from the DOT itself.

After some leaders called attention to this shortsighted approach, the DOT now has one public meeting planned outside Syracuse. It's happening at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Skaneateles High School. We feel strongly that there should be more sessions, but no one should count on that.

And that's why it's imperative that people who understand this issue turn out and make their voice heard that night.

Obviously, the boulevard option has the most potential permanent impact on small communities to the southwest of Syracuse. But even if that option is rejected in favor of keeping a viaduct, construction work itself will likely drive more trucks off the interstates.

That's why no matter what choice is ultimately made, DOT needs to address what it will do to mitigate the problem, and it must do something. Whether that's increased restrictions on local highways for long-haul truck traffic or additional traffic calming measures or some other approach, it's going to take planning and money. And at this point, there's little we've seen to make us believe that's being actively considered.

The I-81 project is probably the most important public infrastructure that central New York and the eastern Finger Lakes will see this century. Let's be sure the entire region is involved in making it the best it can be.
Hurricane Matthew slammed into South Carolina on Saturday and topped out as a ferocious Category 5 storm days before, made US landfall.

By Reuters: Hurricane Matthew slammed into South Carolina on Saturday, packing a diminished yet still potent punch after killing almost 900 people in Haiti and causing major flooding and widespread power outages as it skirted Florida and Georgia.

Now weakened, the most powerful Atlantic storm since 2007 unleashed torrential rains and damaging winds in Florida before churning slowing north to soak coastal Georgia and the Carolinas. Wind speeds at midday had subsided by nearly half from their peak about a week ago to 75 miles per hour (120 kph), reducing the storm to a Category 1 hurricane, the weakest on the Saffir-Simpson scale of 1 to 5.

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Matthew, which topped out as a ferocious Category 5 storm days before, made US landfall near McClellanville, South Carolina, a village 30 miles (48 km) north of Charleston that was devastated by a Category 4 hurricane in 1989.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Matthew passed over Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Saturday afternoon, and warned of potentially life-threatening flooding in Georgia and North Carolina even as the storm slowed as it plowed inland.

Also Read: Watch: Florida man takes Hurricane Matthew head-on with American flag in hand

DEATH TOLL

The storm was blamed for at least 11 deaths in the United States - five in Florida, three in North Carolina and three in Georgia, including two people killed by falling trees in Bulloch County, the county coroner said.

Power was reported knocked out to more than 2 million households and businesses in the US Southeast, the bulk of those in Florida and South Carolina.

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory urged residents on Saturday evening to stay off roads and sidewalks to avoid "deadly conditions" caused by severe flooding and debris.

Conditions in eastern and central North Carolina were expected to worsen as the storm edged along the coast and toward the Outer Banks barrier islands, the governor said.

Also Read: Hurricane Matthew kills 842 in Haiti, emergency declared in Florida: All you need to know

AFTER-EFFECTS

Forecasters warned that widespread flooding was possible from heavy rain - 15 inches (40 cm) was expected to fall in some areas - along with massive storm surges and high tides.

The storm-stricken stretch of the Atlantic Coast from Miami to Charleston, a nearly 600-mile drive, encompasses some of the most well-known beaches, resorts and historical towns in the southeastern United States. Parts of Interstate 95, the main north-south thoroughfare on the East Coast, were closed due to flooding and fallen trees, state officials said.

Roads in Jackson Beach, Florida, were littered with debris, including chunks from an historic pier dislodged by the storm, with some intersections clogged by up to a foot of standing water. Beachfront businesses suffered moderate damage.

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"We rode out the storm. It wasn't this bad at our house, but here there's a lot of damage," said Zowi Cuartas, 18, as he watched bystanders pick up shattered signs near the beach.

Florida Governor Rick Scott said more than 6,000 people stayed in shelters overnight, but he appeared relieved that the state had been spared from greater harm.

"We're all blessed that Matthew stayed off our coast," he said. He predicted electricity would be restored to most homes by Sunday evening.

Also Read: Stunning video from space shows how Hurricane Matthew can be catastrophic



Streets in downtown Charleston, known for its historic waterfront architecture, were flooded to the tops of tires on some parked cars, and a few residents could be seen wading near the city's sea wall as high tide approached.

Tony Williams, 54, who said he is homeless, rode his bicycle against huge wind gusts after spending the night in a public garage. "I just got tired of laying where I was laying," he said.

On Daufuskie Island near the Georgia border, writer Roger Pinckney, 70, said it "blew like hell" as he hunkered down at home despite evacuation warnings during the height of the storm's fury, but he emerged unscathed.

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Some 8 inches (20 cm) of rain fell in the Savannah, Georgia area, downing trees and causing flooding.

The National Weather Service said record-high tides were recorded along the Savannah River at the South Carolina-Georgia border, peaking at 12.6 feet, surpassing those from HurricaneDavid in 1979.

Though gradually weakening, Matthew was forecast to remain a hurricane until at least Sunday, when it was expected to creep away from shore, the NHC said.

DEATH TOLL ROSE IN HAITI

Storm damage was far greater in Haiti, where at least 877 people died earlier when the storm plowed directly into the impoverished Caribbean island nation.

Matthew howled through Haiti's western peninsula on Tuesday with 145 mph (233 kph) winds and torrential rain. Some 61,500 people were in shelters, officials said, after the storm lashed coastal villages in high surf.

The US military began sending aid to Haiti by air and sea, including a Navy amphibious transport ship carrying heavy-lift helicopters, bulldozers, fresh-water delivery vehicles and two mobile surgical units.

The Haitian government warned that a deadly outbreak of cholera could worsen, confirming dozens of new cases of the water-borne disease since the storm hit, 13 of them fatal.

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Officials in Florida, grappling with an outbreak of Zika, said they hoped the flooding would not worsen the spread of the mosquito-borne virus, which can cause fever and birth deformities.

"We have got to get rid of standing water as quickly as we can," Governor Scott told reporters.

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Artist Tom Joyce works on "Penumbra," a charred drawing." Photographic muralist Chip Thomas is a doctor on the Navajo Nation. "Core V" by Tom Joyce. (Courtesy Of Daniel Barsotti) "Penumbra XIV" by Tom Joyce. Lisa Nevada choreographed the "Migration" dance at Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge. Prev 1 of 5 Next

516 ARTS is the knife-edge center for Albuquerque art on the fringes.

Its space lures futuristic installations, produces murals splashed across Downtown buildings and spectrum-shattering exhibits producing what author Sharyn Udall termed a portal to the extraordinary. Launched on a $100,000 McCune Foundation grant 10 years ago, it has hosted exhibitions on topics including climate change, technology, gender and race.

This year, 516 will recycle the artists deemed most critical to both its success and impact in the group exhibition Decade. Accompanying events will hopscotch across town from the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge to the Tamarind Institute, the Tony Hillerman Library, Farm & Table Restaurant and the new Silver Street Market. Art lovers can choose from installations, murals, visuals and dance.

Seven miles south of Albuquerque, 516 ARTS founder/executive director Suzanne Sbarage asked photographic muralist Chip Thomas to create Golden Migration with dancer/choreographer Lisa Nevada in the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge. Its long grasses and irrigation ditches draw ground-nesting birds, geese, cranes and wading birds to the east bank of the Rio Grande.

Thomas, who works as a family doctor at Inscription House Health Center on the Navajo Nation, first conceptualized the piece after seeing a documentary about artists who paint birds called Million Dollar Duck.

It was about a competition for a wildlife painting, he said in a telephone interview. It gives the history of the wetlands to raise money to protect migration routes.

Thomas is creating black-and-white images of dancers interacting with birds on an old concrete dairy barn still standing at the refuge. Hell repeat a smaller version of the imagery on the outside of the building at 516.

Nevada created a dance at the refuge to reflect the wildlife.

It all starts out in the barn, she said. All the dancing is informed by the surroundings.

The 13 dancers will adopt graceful bird-like movements mixed with more angular stances to represent cottonwood branches. A bus helmed by park rangers will transport visitors from the barn through the bosque to the river.

Back at 516, Tom Joyces fire-molded charred drawing will span the gallerys 18- by 16-foot wall.

Joyce creates sculptures and drawings with materials used by multinational corporations, governmental agencies and military forces around the world. The artist works from studios in both Santa Fe and Brussels, Belgium.

Joyce imprinted the charred drawing onto recycled wood fiber panels using the round gear blanks of hydraulic dams manufactured in a Chicago factory.

Its a seared impression, he said in a telephone interview from his Santa Fe studio. I think a lot of people dont realize how dependent they are on the work industrial blacksmiths do.

Originally trained as a blacksmith, Joyce was awarded a MacArthur genius grant in 2003.

The space will showcase two of his cast-iron sculptures. Designed as positive and negative cubes, each began as steel fragments from his previous pieces. Steel is an alloy of iron.

The first organisms fed on the carbon dioxide and iron in the sea to produce oxygen, he said.

It allows me to acknowledge the symbiotic relationship between the first life forms and the particles in the sea suspended in the water, he said. The fact that we are able to breathe oxygen we owe to this cyanobacteria.

In 2014, Joyce received a public commission for the Sept. 11 Memorial Museum in the form of a 100-foot-long quote from Virgils The Aeneid. Forged from recovered World Trade Center Steel, it reads No day shall erase you from the memory of time.
A man walks by the water lily pond at Shady Lakes, which will close this winter after 54 years in business. Antonio Gradillas, left, and his wife, Brenna McGuire, fish for rainbow trout at Shady Lakes. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Journal) Water fountain at Shady Lakes in the North Valley. The privately owned property provides fishing to the public and the owner also sells water plants. Jan Phillips grew up in this house on the property in the 1960s and 1970s. The property will be put on the market early next year. Owner Jan Phillips will close Shady Lakes at the end of October and sell the property, which she owns jointly with her siblings. (Elaine D. Briseno/Journal) Journal file The water lily business was added in the early 1990s by Jan Phillips when she took over from her parents. Prev 1 of 7 Next

Jan Phillips grew up on 12 acres in the North Valley that were covered with large cottonwood trees, ponds full of fish and an abundance of wildlife.

It was the coolest backyard ever, she said. We spent time climbing trees, building forts and rafts and riding neighbors horses. It was fun. It was a lot of fun.

The only drawback, she said, was the constant stream of visitors. Phillips was the daughter of Jim and Joanne Phillips, the original owners of Shady Lakes, a private fishing retreat open to the public.

Growing up here, it bothered me to have people in my backyard, she said. As an adult, when I listened to what people were saying about it, the impact it had on them, it absolutely changed my mind.

Soon after hearing these stories, Phillips found herself taking over the business when her parents retired in 1990. Now its her turn to leave the business. On Oct. 30, Phillips will shut the gates for a final time. The property will go on the market early next year.

Phillips said she is ready to move on and do something different. She said she has known for years that Shady Lakes would have to close. She owns the business, which is Shady Lakes, but she shares ownership of the property with her two sisters and a brother. Her lease expires at the end of the year and her siblings, she said, decided not to renew the lease. Instead, the four have agreed its time to sell it.

I think this is hard for all of us, she said. But Im ready. I dont want to be doing this when Im 70.

She said its her hope that the next buyer will leave Shady Lakes, which gets about 12,000 visitors a year, as is and open to the public. The property sits on the west side of Fourth Street in the North Valley nestled in between Sandia Reservation property. Dirt roads provide access to the property and eight of its 12 acres are under water. The ponds are stocked with bass, catfish, bluegill and trout that the public can catch. There are also pond fish and water plants for sale. The property is also a popular spot for photographers and artists.

If ABQ loses this, it will lose an iconic historical place, she said. Its like a landmark and it can never be copied or replaced.

Magical moment

Teacher Kerry McNellis began taking students to the property 18 years ago. She was a second-grade teacher at Chamiza Elementary when she heard about Shady Lakes.

I was hooked after the first time, she said. The experience of catching their first fish is a magical moment for these kids. Many of them dont have an opportunity to catch fish.

Phillips father, Jim Phillips, bought the North Valley property in 1962 without consulting his wife. Jan Phillips said he was working a typical 9-to-5 office job and had always wanted to do something different. The property was a bait farm at the time and he was determined to transform it into a profitable business. The family moved from a large home in the Northeast Heights and began their adventure.

Jan said both her parents were hard workers but her mother became the backbone of Shady Lakes, working 60 hours a week during the spring and summer.

Jan Phillips, who had just moved back from Colorado, worked for her parents the summer they were planning to close. Neither she nor her siblings had any interest in taking over the business.

It was then she began to hear the stories from people about what the property meant to them. She realized her parents had created something unique and special.

It convinced me that it should never be closed to the public, she said. So I took over the business.

She said the water lily market was exploding at that time and she added that component to the business when she became the owner.

Young visitors

Josh Webbs parents took him to Shady Lakes for the first time in 1990 when he was 18 years old. Hes a frequent fisherman at the park but has also been an employee off and on.

You know Im from Minnesota and there is fishing about 10 minutes away from anywhere, he said. New Mexico didnt have that. We were happy to find this place.

Through the years, Webb said hes seen many children visit the lakes.

Its sad, very sad, that its closing, he said. For a lot of children its the first fishing experience theyve ever had and thats special.

Phillips said she now has customers who came to the property in the 1960s as children and young adults and are now bringing their grandchildren and great-grandchildren to experience what they did.

But, she said, its time to move on and hopefully pass the torch to a new set of eyes with money to invest in the place and a younger energy.

The grief about this closing is real, she said. People dont want to see this close.

Shady Lakes is open 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 30. Its located at 11033 Hwy. 313 (Fourth Street).
WASHINGTON  New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez said Saturday she will not support Donald Trump for president after a leaked 2005 videotape showed the Republican presidential nominee boasting about kissing and groping women without consent, and getting away with it because he was a celebrity.

Martinez has been critical of Trump throughout his campaign and has never endorsed him. She joined a growing chorus of prominent Republicans on Saturday in denouncing his remarks heard on tape.

What Trump brags about is appalling and completely unacceptable, Martinez said in a statement. No woman should ever be treated the way he claims he treated women. Unfortunately, there is a pattern of disturbing conduct and offensive rhetoric that raises serious questions about his fitness to be President. Thats why I have withheld my support from the very beginning, and will not support him now.

In July, Martinez said she wanted more information from Trump about how he would support New Mexicos nuclear weapons laboratories and military bases, and ensure other federal funding to the state before she could consider supporting him.

But the governor, who is of Mexican descent, has long been skeptical and critical of Trump and his campaign. She excoriated the New York businessman late last year after he described Mexican immigrants as rapists and drug dealers. She also skipped Trumps unruly rally in Albuquerque in May, saying she had other business. In return, Trump harshly criticized the governors job performance during his speech.

Prominent members of the Republican establishment  including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, whom Martinez had endorsed for the presidential nomination  voiced support for Martinez after the dustup.

The contents of the Trump tape, first reported by the Washington Post on Friday, threw the GOP nominees campaign into crisis. Sens. John McCain of Arizona, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and at least two dozen other Republican members of Congress had urged Trump to drop out of the race by Saturday night. Trump said Saturday he would remain in race.

The office of Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., who has voiced support for Trumps campaign, could not be reached for comment on Trumps remarks on Saturday.

Martinez, the chairwoman of the Republican Governors Association, has also said she could not support Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, or Gary Johnson, a former New Mexico governor who is running for president as a Libertarian.

Meanwhile, Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat supporting Clinton, lobbed a verbal grenade at Trump in a statement Saturday evening.

This is consistent with the behavior of sexual predators, Lujan Grisham said of the behavior Trump boasted about on the leaked videotape. Its an assault on women of the worst kind, and it now shows that Donald Trump is not fit for the human race. For those Republicans who are still standing with Trump, they are doing so with the full knowledge that he will not change his dangerous views and behavior against women.
In the last week, New Mexicans witnessed a stark contrast between the Democrats and Republicans in our state. The Legislature convened after being called to do two things in a special session: address the recent spike in violent crime and resolve the budget deficit caused by one of the worst oil and gas crashes weve ever seen.

House Republicans answered the call. We created a plan to balance the budget and leave money in the states reserves  without raising taxes. And we passed three tough-on-crime measures with broad support.

New Mexicans have told us they are tired of witnessing horrific acts of violence against our children and law enforcement officers. House Republicans responded.

We worked to remove the arbitrary age distinction from Baby Briannas Law so that anyone who abuses a child to death can be sentenced to life in prison  regardless of the childs age.

We fought to reform New Mexicos ineffectual three strikes law so it could protect citizens as intended by keeping repeat violent criminals behind bars. Rep. John Zimmerman co-sponsored the effort.

And we passed legislation to reinstate the death penalty, giving prosecutors an additional tool to bring criminals who murder children, police or correctional officers to justice.

In contrast, the Senate, controlled by Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, came to Santa Fe for less than one day. They rushed through a handful of budget bills in the dead of night with almost no opportunity for public review.

The plan crafted by Senate Democrats raised taxes while cutting deeply into core areas like K-12 education and public safety.

Then, ignoring pleas from victims to address crime, Senate Democrats went home to resume their campaigns.

The solvency plans developed by each chamber show clear differences in the priorities of House Republicans and Senate Democrats.

The Senate attempted to raid $25 million from local school district reserve accounts. House Republicans blocked this harmful action. The state government shouldnt punish local school districts that built an emergency account for unexpected expenses. We defended these cash balances to ensure districts have the money they need.

The Senates plan cut millions from the Department of Public Safety and the Children, Youth and Families Department, the state agency that works to keep kids safe. The House Republican plan reversed these cuts and also preserved funding for sexual assault prevention and victims services.

In this fragile economy, it would be unfair to shift the states budget burden onto the backs of New Mexicos families. House Republicans kept their commitment to resolving the budget shortfall without raising taxes.

Senate Democrats also demonstrated their priorities in what they didnt do.

Namely, they did not hold a single hearing or vote on any of the three crime bills from the House. They had time to consider bills on medical marijuana and industrial hemp, but they refused to act on straightforward legislation to strengthen criminal penalties and keep the most violent offenders in prison and off our streets.

Budget reductions are always difficult, but House Republicans fought hard to protect your priorities  K-12 classroom funding, law enforcement, programs to safeguard our children and stronger penalties for violent criminals.

New Mexicans across the state have spoken, and House Republicans have acted on their concerns. New Mexicans deserve legislators that are responsive to their needs.

House Republicans delivered on their pledge to citizens and provided the serious leadership required to bring New Mexico through this crisis.
The freight rail industrys ability to provide the transportation services that support New Mexicos key industries could be curtailed if a federal agency prevails in its re-regulation quest.

The tug of war between railroads and the U.S. Surface Transportation Board  the economic regulator of freight rail  has potentially stark regional implications because the freight rail industry is a major economic enabler in New Mexico, often providing the primary transportation that allows local industries to succeed.

At issue are multiple proposed measures, including a rule that would require railroads to open up their privately owned infrastructure and unique customer base to competitors, forcing carriers to turn over their tracks to other railroads without probable cause of competitive abuse.

The Surface Transportation Board also is considering a measure that would cap rates of return that railroads can earn, a step that amounts to nothing less than government price control.

The stated goal of these heavy-handed proposals is to lower shipping costs. But make no mistake, the impact would be far-reaching, hurting far more shippers that it will help, and harming railroads abilities to pour money into the nations rail infrastructure to service industries in New Mexico and elsewhere. Investments by railroads tally more than $600 billion since partial deregulation in 1980 and $30 billion in 2015 alone.

Earning enough revenue is essential because the freight rail network is privately owned and funded and maintained by the railroads, not taxpayers. It allows for the development of facilities like the Union Pacific Santa Teresa Intermodal Ramp, a $400 million facility built to handle 225,000 intermodal containers a year.

The terminal generates $500 million in economic activity, 600 permanent jobs and a wave of businesses locating in the area for quick access.

Re-regulation threatens such projects and multiple industries, including energy exploration, mining, manufacturing and agriculture.

While unjustified to begin with, these proposals are especially egregious as railroads attempt to recover from the seismic market shifts, such as the dramatic decline of coal shipments in recent years that cannot be overstated.

Just nine years ago, the federal governments Energy Industry Administration confidently pronounced that over the next 25 years, EIA expects significant growth in the use of coal for the generation of electricity and the rail transportation system will need to be expanded to accommodate it.

Coal-based generation has been, and will continue to be, the dominant source of the nations electricity supply, EIA predicted.

Freight rail responded by investing hundreds of millions of dollars into equipment and infrastructure to haul more coal, coming on the heels of steady investment in coal hauling over a number of decades.

Less than 10 years later, its a different story.

Carloads of coal in the first quarter of 2016 were 20 percent lower than just the three months prior in 2015 and many of the investments made to meet demand are effectively unusable now.

But they were made available in the first place by an industry that was able to earn enough revenue to make that level of investment. The ability to respond to the future needs of industries in New Mexico and elsewhere will be reduced if federal regulators prevail in their misguided mission.

Congress has always maintained a key role in overseeing railroads. The Senate Commerce Committee, of which Sen. Tom Udall, D-NM, is a member of, continues to recognize the need for viable freight railroads. That is why just last year the committee passed a balanced reauthorization that kept in place the economic framework that has worked so well over the years.

Congressional leadership is as paramount as ever today as the Surface Transportation Board disregards its legislative charge. The rail industry will adeptly navigate todays economy and tomorrows challenges, but federal regulators should serve as an effective partner in this time, not a roadblock.

Ian Jefferies is senior vice president of government affairs at the Association of American Railroads.
SAN DIEGO  The media need to offer a mea culpa. On behalf of my colleagues, Id like to apologize for breaking this election. Heres how we did it:

We became obsessed with Donald Trump.

That was on display most recently in last weeks vice-presidential debate, in which moderator Elaine Quijano of CBS News fired off many more tough questions at Republican Mike Pence than she did at Democrat Tim Kaine. Quijano zeroed in on Trumps past statements and  like Kaine  demanded to know whether Pence would defend them.

The New York Times noted: Elaine Quijano, the moderator, helped Mr. Kaine along, opening one question with a recitation of Mr. Trumps statements.

Quijano also steered the conversation away from Hillary Clintons email scandal and missed at least a half-dozen chances to grill Kaine  for instance, on which of Clintons conflicting positions on trade he was most comfortable with.

We manipulated quotes.

On Sunday, ABC News tweeted that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said this about Trump on This Week with George Stephanopoulos: Dont you think a man who has this kind of economic genius is a lot better for the United States than a woman? The tweet left out the rest:   and the only thing that she ever produced is a lot of work for the FBI checking out her email.

Giuliani was emphasizing Clintons email scandal, not the fact that shes a woman.

Last month, CBS News did Bill Clinton a favor by removing the word frequently from the rebroadcast of an interview in which the former president admitted that Hillary Clinton frequently fainted due to dehydration before catching himself and saying she rarely lost consciousness.

We set the stage for this matchup.

Trump vs. Clinton has been a money-maker. Eighty-four million Americans tuned into the first debate, generating tons of revenue for broadcast media companies. Trump is getting rough treatment from the media now, but he defeated 16 other Republican contenders thanks to kid-glove treatment during the primaries.

As for Clinton, even though she was the odds-on favorite to be the Democratic nominee, it didnt hurt her chances that the media largely dismissed Bernie Sanders  and thereby missed the revolution he sparked.

At one point, Sanders wife, Jane, even complained that the media were unfairly playing up her husbands attacks on Clinton but downplaying Clintons attacks on Sanders.

We tried to accomplish conflicting goals.

We wanted to generate huge ratings and earn big profits by putting Trump front and center, while still continuing our saintly work of making Americans into good people. But now were shocked that support for Trump is actually making Americans into bad people. Suddenly, there are white high school students using the word Trump and chants such as build the wall to taunt, bully and intimidate Latino classmates.

Such are the dangers when journalists aim to be social engineers.

Meanwhile, Clinton treats lying as an art form and forces her defenders to spin one yarn after another to carry on the narratives.

Finally, we flip-flopped just like politicians do.

Take the recent about-face by The New York Times concerning Ohio.

Now that Trump appears to have jumped ahead in the Buckeye State by racking up defections by white working-class Democrats who like his tough talk on immigration and trade, a recent article in the Times insisted that Ohio is suddenly fading in importance because the electorate is too old, too white and too poorly educated. But just a few weeks before, the paper was singing a different tune about Ohio, portraying it as an essential swing state.

The reporters and editors at the Times obviously didnt think their readers were smart enough to notice the shift.

Its no wonder that a recent Gallup poll found that only 27 percent of Americans think the honesty and ethical standards of journalists are high or very high. Thats not much better than lawyers, who clocked in at a paltry 21 percent. Members of Congress were at 8 percent.

The media have lost the publics trust. Thats what happens when folks figure out that the institutions they turn to for truth are not above shading it.

Copyright, The Washington Post Writers Group.
How long does it take to deal with three pieces of legislation in the New Mexico Senate?

Not long, if the last day of any legislative session shows anything. Lawmakers can, and do, move efficiently and expeditiously when they have to.

Yet Senate Democrats under the leadership of Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, denied New Mexicans  especially New Mexicans who have been touched by horrific crime  the time it would have taken this special session to vote yes or no on three crime bills approved by the House of Representatives.

_$ID/[No_paragraph_style]>There is one obvious reason: Senate Democrats didnt want to have to cast a vote on these issues with an election just weeks away. This way, they can simply pay lip service to the issues.

Thats especially disconcerting considering a new Journal Poll found 89 percent of likely voters say crime is a serious problem, fully 62 percent say it is a very serious problem, and that during this special session a cop-killer was sentenced to life in prison and before it started a 10-year-old was brutally murdered in her own home.

The three bills do not reinvent the wheel. They cover prior legislation that has been discussed, vetted and voted on before.

House Bill 7, Reinstate the Death Penalty  sponsored by Rep. Monica Youngblood, R-Albuquerque, and Rep. Andy Nunez, R-Hatch  made it through the House Judiciary and Appropriations and Finance committees, and passed on a 36-30 vote. It would have reinstated the death penalty for three capital felonies: the murder of a peace officer, a child under the age of 18 and a corrections employee. It contained exceptions for minor and mentally disabled defendants, its final version did not contain objectionable language regarding exams of defendants who might be pregnant, and its 10-page fiscal impact report detailed the increased costs reinstating the death penalty would likely bring.

House Bill 6, Increase Certain Child Abuse Penalties, was sponsored by Reps. Conrad James, Sarah Maestas Barnes and Bill Rehm, all Albuquerque Republicans. It, too, made it through the House Judiciary Committee and passed the House with an almost unanimous, bipartisan 66-1 vote. It would have expanded Baby Briannas Law so that life in prison applies to those convicted of child abuse resulting in the death of any child under age 18; the penalty now only applies to abuse resulting in death of children under age 12. Its four-page fiscal impact report points out current law punishes only based on age. This is hard to explain to a family whose 12-, or 13-, or 17-year-old died from intentionally inflicted abuse, that the childs perpetrator will serve a lesser term. This bill would address this most egregious of offenses in a manner that does not impose artificial distinctions between the murder of a child age 11 years, 11 months, for example, and one age 12.

Finally, HB 5, Three Strikes Law, was sponsored by Reps. Paul Pacheco, R-Albuquerque, and John Zimmerman, R-Las Cruces. It also made it through House Judiciary and passed on a bipartisan 49-14 vote. It would have expanded the list of violent felonies eligible for mandatory life sentencing  a list currently so short (just 5) no defendant has been convicted under it. Its six-page fiscal impact report lists the 16 additional crimes  all violent  and estimates the potential costs involved with additional lifetime incarcerations, as well as explains the Public Defenders concern that a life sentence should be retained only for those individuals whose actions truly warrant the sentence.

So why was the Senate determined not to discuss and vote on these bills? Thats really rhetorical because the answer is fairly obvious: Its much better not to have to be accountable to the voters.

New Mexicans  again, especially New Mexicans who have been touched by horrific crime  deserve to know where their elected senators stand on these issues, as well as why.

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.
FOR THE RECORD: This story incorrectly described an earlier survey as being a Journal Poll as well. Research & Polling conducted both polls, but the January survey was commissioned by the Drug Policy Alliance and a coalition of groups including licensed marijuana producers. The poll conducted this month was commissioned by the Journal. Both polls had 61 percent of respondents supporting legalization of marijuana.

Copyright  2016 Albuquerque Journal

A majority of New Mexico voters  especially young ones  favor following Colorados lead in making marijuana legal for recreational use by adults, according to the latest Journal Poll.

Sixty-one percent of likely voters said they would support a proposal to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana for adults 21 and older, while 34 percent said they would oppose it. The remainder said they had mixed feelings or did not know.

Colorado made the sale of marijuana for recreational use legal Jan. 1, 2014. While that decision is still being debated, the change has generated a huge amount of money for the state, more than $587 million in 2015 alone. Coupled with roughly $408 million in sales for medical cannabis that year, the combined sales generated more than $135 million for the state in taxes and fees. That prospect could appeal to New Mexico legislators grappling with the states cash-strapped budget.

The Journal survey also reveals a strong generational difference. More than four in five  82 percent  of voters ages 18 to 34 said they would support a proposal to legalize pot for recreational use, while just 45 percent of those 65 and older expressed support.

The new generation that is getting onto the voter rolls are more likely to support, so its only logical that support levels have been rising, said Journal pollster Brian Sanderoff, president of Research & Polling Inc.

The results suggest that voters today would support a ballot initiative to legalize pot for recreational use, Sanderoff said.

I think if the election were held today, it would pass, he said.

Roundhouse roadblock

Getting legislative support for a measure that would put the question to voters is a goal that has long eluded supporters.

Lawmakers this year considered a proposal that would have asked voters to approve or reject a constitutional change to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana production and sales. The measure failed in the 2016 regular session. Similar proposals also failed in 2014 and 2015.

New Mexicos medical cannabis program has expanded significantly since its introduction in 2007. The number of people enrolled in the program has grown to 30,877 as of Sept. 30, up from roughly 14,000 the previous year. Most have been diagnosed with either post-traumatic stress disorder or severe chronic pain, which are among the nearly two dozen qualifying conditions for which medical marijuana is approved.

Marijuana use for any purpose remains illegal under federal law.

In addition to age, party affiliation was a key predictor of public opinion about legalizing pot. Seventy percent of Democrats, but just 40 percent of Republicans, said they would support the measure. Independents topped both, with 81 percent support for legalization.

Changing attitudes

The results are virtually identical to those of a Journal survey in January in which 61 percent of respondents supported legalization and 34 percent opposed.

But this years polling indicates that public attitudes about marijuana have changed since 2014.

A Journal survey that year found that only 44 percent of likely voters favored a constitutional change to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana. Fifty percent said they opposed legalization.

It demonstrates that public opinion (about marijuana) is shifting quickly, similar to other social issues such as same-sex marriage, Sanderoff said.

Poll sampling

The Journal Poll is based on a scientific, statewide sample of 501 voters who said they planned to vote this year and either cast ballots in the 2012 or 2014 general elections or just registered to vote.

The poll was conducted Sept. 27-29. The full voter sample has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points. The margin of error grows for subsamples.

All interviews were conducted by live, professional interviewers, with multiple callbacks to households that did not initially answer the phone.

Both cellphone numbers (52 percent) and landlines (48 percent) of proven general election voters were used.
Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson said Donald Trumps latest controversy is benefiting the former two-term governor of New Mexico in his run for the White House.

Johnson told reporters prior to a Saturday afternoon rally at the University of New Mexico that he received phone calls from dozens of elected Republican officials on Friday and Saturday who are considering supporting or endorsing him for president. Johnson said the calls started to pour in after the release of a video in which Trump bragged about kissing, groping and trying to have sex with women during a 2005 conversation.

A lot have. Such a massive amount that the campaign cant even deal with it at the moment, Johnson said about Republican officials contacting him and his campaign. Theyve told him: What is the best way we can communicate our support because were done. Were finally done.'

Johnson didnt name any of the Republicans and said hell wait to see what transpires of the support.

Were asking Republicans to consider, perhaps, an honorable alternative, he said. In my entire life, I dont think Ive ever made statements like that. In my entire life. Those are comments that arent even appropriate in a locker room. That said, its not a surprise. I think hes said 150 things that would disqualify him from being president of the United States. But I think this one maybe does go over the top.

Johnson, dressed in jeans, running shoes and a black collared shirt, then held a rally in front of several hundred supporters and campaign volunteers in the UNM Student Union Building. It was Johnsons second campaign trip to Albuquerque in less than two months. Johnson, who lives in Taos, said winning The Land of Enchantment in the general election would be a worthy prize for his campaign. A recent Journal poll showed he had the support of 24 percent of likely voters in the state.

Johnson, who has described his philosophies as fiscally conservative and socially inclusive, drew a mix of college students and adults from both sides of the political spectrum.

Michael Kirchmeier, a Johnson supporter, said he typically votes Republican. But he said hes against Trumps anti-trade, pro-tariff positions.

Its not good for the economy, basic economics tells you that, he said.

Jay Lovell, an Iraq War veteran, was at the rally wearing pins showing his support for Johnson and a shirt advocating for the legalization of marijuana. He said he likes Johnsons positions on drugs  the candidate advocates for the legalization of marijuana and is critical of the war on drugs  and foreign policy.

I like what Gary Johnson says about a noninterventionist foreign policy, Lovell said. Nothing good came from (the war in Iraq). Not for me or the country of Iraq.

Rebecca Wiebe, who normally votes for Democrats, said she was surprised by the crowd. She expected younger hippies but was surprised about how many Republicans are supporting Johnson.

I think its a mix, she said.

Johnson started his speech by talking in detail about problems he perceives with the United States current strategy concerning its approach to the conflict in Syria. Johnson has received national attention recently for gaffes hes made while answering questions on foreign affairs.

After discussing his policy positions for about an hour, Johnson closed by saying he stands 100 percent behind the main messages both Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton are telling voters.

Dont vote for Clinton, and dont vote for Trump, he said to cheers.
Filmmaker AR Murugadoss was influential in making the Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap sign on the dotted line for Imaikka Nodigal, say reports.

By India Today Web Desk: Anurag Kashyap, who was last seen as a ruthless cop in the Hindi film Akira, is making his Tamil acting debut in the upcoming thriller Imaikaa Nodigal.

According to a source, AR Murugadoss, who casted Anurag in Akira, was influential in making the filmmaker-actor sign on the dotted line for the offer.

ALSO READ: Pulimurugan movie review- Mohanlal's film is ambitious, but falls flat

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Murugadoss's erstwhile assistant Ajay Gnanamuthu is the director of Imaikaa Nodigal, which stars Atharvaa and Raashi Khanna in the lead.



Speaking about Murugadoss' involvement, a source said, "When Ajay wanted to approach Anurag with the offer, it was Murugadoss who helped set up the meeting. Having worked with Murugadoss in Akira, Anurag took his word and gladly accepted the offer. He will join the sets later this month."

Akin to his role in Akira, Anurag will once again be seen playing the antagonist in Imaikaa Nodigal.

"Anurag will slug it out with Nayanthara, who will be seen as a police commissioner. It's going to be a very interesting role," he said.

To be produced by Cameo Films, the film will have music by Hip-Hop Tamizha.





--- ENDS ---
SOCORRO  Stephen Wells called himself the Miner-in-Chief during his induction speech Friday as New Mexico Techs president.

Wells pledged during the ceremony to polish the gem that is New Mexico Tech as its new president.

Wells said he became aware of New Mexico Techs reputation while a member of the faculty at the University of New Mexico, even though he admitted people in the state may not have been aware of the university.

He said recent rankings by College Factual validated his beliefs about the university. He cited rankings by College Factual that put Tech No. 1 in a list of best colleges for the money in engineering. He noted during the ceremony that Tech was also ranked No. 1 nationally in chemical engineering and mechanical engineering, No. 1 among all public universities in computer science and physical sciences, and No. 2 in both categories among all universities by the organization.

He credited the faculty, staff and students with achieving the rankings, and pledged to continue the universitys mission to be a leader in scientific research, praising the foundation laid by previous presidents, including Larry Lattman and his predecessor, Daniel Lopez, who were present at the induction.

Lattmans presence made the ceremony an emotional one for Wells. The 92-year-old former president served as Wells graduate studies adviser during Wells time as a student at the University of Cincinnati.

Lattman used a little humor in praising Wells, whom he said prepared for the position as president of New Mexico Tech in nearly every academic stop he made.

He likened Wells to a duck that seems to glide calmly across the water while paddling deliberately and with purpose underneath.

Its nice to see he hasnt lost his sense of humor after all of these years, Wells said of his former mentor.

New Mexico Tech Board of Regents President Deborah Peacock also used a little humor in praising Wells.

She said when she thought of the word induction, she thought of a military induction.

And in his first few days (as president), he probably thought he was (being inducted into the military), she said.

But she thought the words scientific meaning was more appropriate for a man who leads a university known for its scientific research.

He has a magnetic personality and hes going to add some electricity to this university, Peacock said.
Copyright  2016 Albuquerque Journal

LAS VEGAS, N.M.  At the L&M Boarding Home for men, four residents sleep in an old travel trailer, a pillow plugging an opening to the outside next to an air conditioner. Eight others sleep in a series of connected rooms at the back of the home, many without doors and some with exposed wiring. One sleeping area is narrower than a standard jail cell.

The 12 tenants, who pay $550 a month each for a place to live and eat, share a single-stall shower. There is a collection of old sofas and chairs outdoors, where the men pass much of their time. Several residents were gathered there on a recent afternoon, most of them disheveled and some sharing a bottle of liquor. Other tenants were asleep in their beds.

One room at the L&M Boarding Home in Las Vegas is narrower than a standard jail cell. Like other rooms at the home, it also has no door for privacy. (Thomas J. Cole/Journal) A pillow fills a gap next to an evaporative cooler for a travel trailer used to house four men at the L&M Boarding Home in Las Vegas. The home's operator denies men slept in the trailer before it had heating and cooling. (Thomas J. Cole/Journal) Some rooms at the L&M Boarding Home in Las Vegas, N.M., have exposed wiring. Because of deregulation by the state, boarding homes for mentally ill people in Las Vegas are no longer required to have safety inspections. (Thomas J. Cole/Journal) The men who live at the L&M Boarding Home in Las Vegas spend much of their time outdoors, sitting on old sofas and chairs. (Thomas J. Cole/Journal) Four men sleep in an old travel trailer at the L&M Boarding Home in Las Vegas. The men share a single shower in the home with eight other men. (Thomas J. Cole/Journal) A man who said he lives at the L&M Boarding Home walks the streets of downtown Las Vegas, N.M. Many residents of Las Vegas boarding homes spend their days on the streets.(Eddie Moore/Journal) Prev 1 of 6 Next

Most, if not all, of the residents of the L&M Boarding Home are former patients at the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute in Las Vegas, the states only public psychiatric hospital.

Workers for the state Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and the Division of Adult Protective Services have investigated conditions at the boarding home, and police and emergency medical personnel are frequently called there to deal with fights, injuries and illnesses among residents.

Still, Linda Gutierrez, who owns the L&M Boarding Home along with her husband, Marvin Sena, says she runs a good home  one where she does what she can for the residents and she says the men are happy. A lot of these guys have nowhere to go. We dont want them on the street, says Gutierrez, who also houses men at a second home nearby.

L&M is one of several boarding homes in the Las Vegas area that cater to men and women released from the Behavioral Health Institute. Each year, the hospital discharges about 200 patients into Las Vegas and surrounding San Miguel County.

A Journal investigation found that residents of some of the boarding homes live in crowded conditions and may go hungry because of inadequate meals provided by operators. Reports have also been made of verbal and physical abuse and financial exploitation, as well as violence and drug abuse by residents.

Two men released from the Behavioral Health Institute died of carbon monoxide poisoning in 2013 at a boarding home where they were paying a total of $1,100 a month to live in a backyard shed without plumbing.

Many of those released from the hospital receive about $750 a month in Social Security benefits because of their disabilities. Living in a boarding home eats up most of that.

While some Las Vegas-area boarding homes have been criticized in reports by the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, a few have been praised.

Minimal licensing

Few of the boarding homes in Las Vegas have city business licenses, which require fire safety inspections when first issued but not upon annual renewal. Las Vegas Mayor Tonita Gurule-Giron declined to be interviewed for this story.

Also, only one of the boarding homes in Las Vegas identified by the Journal has a state permit to maintain custody of prescription drugs, although many of the homes store residents drugs and pass out the medications. The lack of permits and the record-keeping they require raise the possibility of drug diversion by operators.

No one knows exactly how many boarding homes exist in the Las Vegas area, where they all are located, and what kind of living conditions they provide, because the state Health Department no longer regulates them.

Through local and state records, the Journal identified about two dozen boarding homes that are operated or have operated in Las Vegas and nearby communities in recent years.

The state Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, which advocates for residents in long-term care facilities, has reported that living conditions in some boarding homes are much better than others.

But the ombudsman office doesnt have the authority to require changes, and its investigators stopped visiting the homes in recent years, because of the lack of state regulation and the resulting inability to force operators to improve conditions.

Adult Protective Services, which investigates complaints of abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults, also cant force changes at boarding homes.

Whether it has ever substantiated a complaint against L&M or any other boarding home in the Las Vegas area is unknown, because its investigation records are confidential under state law. Court records show no legal action by Adult Protective Services against L&M.

L&M Boarding Home has a city business license but not a custodial drug permit from the state Board of Pharmacy. Gutierrez, who says she stores prescription medications and dispenses the drugs to residents, says she formerly had a permit but no longer does because she believes she isnt required by law.

According to the Board of Pharmacy, a facility is required to be licensed by the board if it provides care for two or more unrelated residents and maintains custody of residents prescription drugs. Records for the receipt, administration and disposal of prescription medications are required to be kept for three years. A facility must also have a consulting pharmacist, who is required to review medication administration records.

Other homes

Documents obtained from the state Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman have raised concerns about other boarding homes in the Las Vegas area.

In an interoffice email in 2014, a health care surveyor for the ombudsman office wrote that a woman who runs a store near a boarding home reported that residents of the home were coming in and asking for food.

Residents reportedly told the store operator they received a bowl of rice for lunch and were told to bring back food from a senior center if they wanted more to eat. The woman also said residents told her they were limited to baths three times a week and had to use the same bath water as the previous person.

The woman told the ombudsman surveyor that she contacted Adult Protective Services but it declined to get involved.

In another report, an ombudsman surveyor said she visited a boarding home in the small community of Anton Chico in 2013 and found 10 men, all very thin. All wearing the same sweatshirt each in a different color. All in the same small room watching television.

In a 2010 memo about the same boarding home, an ombudsman surveyor wrote, Residents may be financially exploited.  Residents may be hungry.

The surveyor also said a social worker had been denied access to clients at the home and that a report by Adult Protective Services validates verbal abuse of residents (by the homes operator), the apparent fear the residents have of (the operator) and issues re: the residents receiving adequate food.

After a visit in 2013 to a boarding home in Las Vegas, an ombudsman surveyor wrote that all of the six residents she talked to reported they did not receive enough food and often went hungry.  They reported eating meals at the senior center. Dinner they get leftovers. Often beans and nothing else.

Some boarding home operators serve as so-called rep payees, receiving the Social Security checks of their residents directly from the government.

At least two operators of boarding homes have been terminated by the Social Security Administration as rep payees because of misuse of beneficiary funds, according to documents obtained from the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

No issues

Ombudsman surveyors reported no concerns in visits to some boarding homes.

Residents said the food was good and they got to their physician appointments without issue. Rooms were clean. Towels, sheets, blankets, toiletries, reads a report of a visit in 2013 to a boarding home in Ribera.

Fully stocked kitchen and pantry. New heating and cooling system, new large flat screen TV, hot water working, bathrooms newly remodeled, a surveyor wrote after a visit in 2013 to a home in Las Vegas.

At another boarding home in Las Vegas, residents reported in 2013 that they had a ferret and enjoyed taking care of it.

There are really a small handful (of homes) that are trying to do a good job, says Sondra Everhart, who served more than a decade as the states long-term care ombudsman.

The Department of Aging and Long-Term Services fired Everhart in June, saying she wrongly released documents to the Journal about visits to boarding homes by ombudsmen health care surveyors. Everhart is now suing the department.
ELKHORN, Wis.  At a GOP fundraiser in this picturesque swath of southeastern Wisconsin, Donald Trump was supposed to join the states popular congressman, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, for their first joint campaign event Saturday.

But Ryan, the nations highest-ranking Republican who has struggled to embrace Trumps candidacy, rescinded the invitation after a recording emerged of the businessman making vulgar comments about groping women.

When Ryan took the stage to speak Saturday, shock and anger over the incident was still palpable. But to Ryans disappointment, it was mostly directed at him.

Paul Ryan sucks! said Paul Anderson, 28, who drove nearly an hour from Milwaukee to hear Trump speak.

As Ryan began to speak, hecklers started chanting Trumps name and one screamed at Ryan, You turned your back on us!

While a number of top-name Republican politicians renounced Trump on Saturday in the aftermath of the recording, many of his rank-and-file supporters stood behind their standard-bearer, heckling and attacking GOP leaders who distanced themselves from the billionaire.

While few openly defended Trumps lewd remarks, many of his supporters dismissed the incident as overblown, blaming the media for hyping the story and GOP elected officials for panicking in response.

Many Trump supporters saw the tide of criticism against the businessman as the latest push by the political elite to cripple his candidacy. And the disconnect between their continued backing for Trump and the sense of crisis among elected officials underscored the potential for the final phase of Trumps campaign to deepen the divide between the Republican Party establishment and its grass-roots base.

In Nevada, Joe Heck, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, was also heckled and booed Saturday after withdrawing his endorsement of Trump.

In New York, throngs of Trumps supporters gathered outside Trump Tower in a gesture of support, cheering when he briefly emerged to wave.

Inside the Trump campaign, officials were initially concerned about a backlash from the incident, but quickly regrouped and remain optimistic that they can recover, according to a person familiar with the campaign who did not want to be identified speaking about internal conversations.

Theres a plan to move forward, and its going to be aggressive, the person said. Its all voter support.

Even those Trump supporters who said they found his remarks repugnant said he remained a better alternative than Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

(EDITORS: BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM)

At the Fall Fest fundraiser in Wisconsin, Sally Luell, 68, called Trumps remarks abhorrent, but said she would vote for Trump because she cant stand Hillary.

I think Hillary Clinton backing her husband when he was doing what he was doing was worse, said the retired municipal worker from Muskego.

(END OPTIONAL TRIM)

Ryan, who was heckled throughout his appearance, never mentioned Trumps name but acknowledged the controversy during his eight-minute speech.

There is a bit of an elephant in the room, Ryan told about 1,000 Republican voters at the annual barbecue, where political leaders give speeches amid hay bales, pumpkins and American flags.

It is a troubling situation, and Im serious, it is, he said. I put out a statement about this last night. I meant what I said and its still how I feel. But that is not what we are here to talk about today.

Ryan focused on the U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin, and on his six-point congressional agenda called A Better Way.

In the House, were offering people a better way. We are offering solutions, Ryan said. But the hecklers would not relent; one yelled that Ryan supported President Barack Obama.

Anderson, who owns a gourmet popcorn store, brushed aside Trumps remarks in the 2005 recording as some naughty words and said they were no reason for Ryan to disinvite the candidate.

Hillary Clinton is laughing at Paul Ryan right now, he said. Or laughing with him.

Some voters were sympathetic to the position Ryan finds himself in  he has a Boy Scout reputation and has been distressed by numerous previous comments Trump has made, such as his call for banning Muslims from entering the country and his description of a Mexican American judge as incapable of judging a case fairly because of his heritage.

But Ryans primary goal this election year is to retain a strong majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. If Republicans abandon Trump en masse, that could be disastrous for the party in down-ballot races.

Beth Lock, 54, jumped to Ryans defense.

He supports us. This is his district, she told Anderson. He has done a tremendous amount for our area here. Hes a wonderful man.

But Lock also said she was standing by Trumps remarks, which she did not find surprising.

I would rather vote for somebody who did guy talk with somebody, which we all know everyone does, including girls. I would rather have that rather than someone whos had people killed in Benghazi, she said, referring to the death of four Americans in an attack on American facilities in Libya while Clinton was secretary of State. My God, look at the list of whats gone on with the Clintons.

(EDITORS: BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM)

The notion that Trumps comments, which include hitting on a married woman and using crass words to describe womens anatomy, were commonplace behind closed doors was widespread among his defenders.

Its mildly vulgar. He shouldnt have said it. But this is how men talk at times, said Orville Seymer, 62, of Franklin. Its locker room talk. Im not excusing it, but he apologized  . We need to focus on whats important to this country and getting it back on track.

Seymer, a property manager, added that the discussion about whether Trump should step down was moot because he didnt think it was possible to replace Trump on the ballot.

Logistically, I dont see how to do it. The ballots have already been printed. Early voting has started. People have cast their vote. What can you do? he said.

(END OPTIONAL TRIM)

Given the backlash, it wasnt surprising that nearly all the elected officials who spoke Saturday tried to avoid mentioning Trump, even as the crowd chanted, We want Trump! We want Trump!

Wearing a Green Bay Packers sweatshirt and jeans, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker did not mention Trump by name and instead focused on the Senate race, legislative races and Republicans achievements in the state capital. Sen. Ron Johnson did likewise.

State Attorney General Brad Schimel was the sole official to address the nature of Trumps remarks head on.

I know Donald Trump said some things that are bad, said Schimel, adding that he was the father of two daughters. I dont like hearing anyone talk that way about women.

The crowd groaned and one man yelled out, That was like 12 years ago! Get over it!



2016 Los Angeles Times

Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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WASHINGTON  On the campaign trail, Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson frequently urges those who arent familiar with him to Google Gary Johnson.

That internet search might prompt the curious to also Google Libertarian Party and its platform. For Johnson, thats where things get complicated. The Libertarian Party platform  aimed at slashing the size and role of government  advocates the abolition of Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security, the Internal Revenue Service, almost all taxes, and even rules that mandate drivers licenses for those behind the wheel of a car.

Johnson, a former Republican governor of New Mexico, told the Journal he doesnt personally espouse some key planks in his own partys playbook for governing, including its call for the abolition of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

I dont think this is unique to the Libertarian Party, Johnson said in a telephone interview, explaining his opposition to some of the platforms principals. I certainly wasnt on board with the entire Republican Party platform, but I did run for governor as a Republican.

Johnson, who served two terms as New Mexicos governor from 1995 to 2003, won the Libertarian Partys presidential nomination in May. And while his campaign has gained some traction, he has been unable to reach the 15 percent support in national polls needed to be included in the presidential debates. A couple of recent high-profile campaign gaffes in which Johnson showed a surprising lack of foreign policy knowledge seem to have stalled  or even reversed  his once-ascendant popularity, according to the latest polls. A Real Clear Politics aggregation of national polls had Johnson between 5 percent and 9 percent support Thursday.

But the unorthodox political candidate has intrigued millions of Americans who are looking for an alternative to Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, and Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee. Many of Johnsons supporters trumpet his calls for relaxing U.S. drug laws, a less interventionist military posture, lower taxes and smaller government.

The Libertarian Party platform puts the concept of personal liberties front-andcenter, declaring in its preamble that all individuals are sovereign over their own lives and no one is forced to sacrifice his or her

values for the benefit of others. Libertarians challenge the need for a powerful state at every turn, but Johnson said that, if he were elected, he wouldnt yank the taxpayerfunded social safety net out from under the sick, poor and elderly.

Im not looking to eliminate Medicaid and Medicare, said Johnson, who is running on a ticket with former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld in the vice presidential slot. I dont think its possible to do that, and I do believe in a safety net.

But in that context, can we at least bring those programs into being solvent? Johnson added. I think that is possible. But the Libertarian platform would take it a lot further than Im believing is possible.

And what about Social Security?

Im not looking to do away with Social Security, but we do need to reform it, Johnson said. Do I understand how, theoretically, to get rid of Social Security? Yeah. But I dont think thats going to happen in my lifetime.

When it comes to the IRS, Johnson said he would, in fact, move to eliminate it.

I espouse the fair tax,  Johnson explained, noting that the tax could negate the need for an IRS.

The fair tax would replace almost every federal tax  including payroll, personal and corporate income, and estate taxes  with a 23 percent national sales tax.

The way the fair tax lays it out, the states would collect that tax as a consumption tax, alleviating the need for the IRS because  it eliminates virtually all taxes  the inheritance tax, capital gains, income tax, the corporate income tax, Johnson said. So when I say abolish or eliminate the IRS, it would no longer be a function that would be needed. That is one of the caveats to actually passing the fair tax. If the IRS is not actually abolished, then the legislation cant pass. Its all or nothing.

When he was governor of New Mexico, Johnson aggressively championed the privatization of government services and did privatize some of New Mexicos prisons. He said he would also push for privatization of government services at the federal level if elected.

Privatize whenever possible with the notion that you would have lower costs and the same services, or lower costs and better goods and services, Johnson said. Wherever that equation might present itself, I would always be on board with that.

Opponents of government privatization often contend that the profit motive would lead to cutting corners on administration and services in a way that would harm the public. Johnson takes a different view.

Its crony capitalism that has the system screwed up, Johnson said. Government interference in the marketplace is based on pay-to-play and favoritism and the status quo. You name it, and there is a special interest attached to every single (government) department.

Johnson said he hopes voters dont assess his candidacy strictly through the lens of the Libertarian Party. He said he was the most moderate candidate in the Libertarian nominating process.

I was the only candidate that was in support of (government-mandated) drivers licenses, he said with a laugh.

But the former New Mexico governor said that, although he doesnt support everything in Libertarian Party, he prefers it to either of the major parties.

Ive always said that the best political moniker is independent, Johnson said. Really  arent we all independent? But I think running as a Libertarian involves the least amount of explaining to me. Its the best fit for me.
By PTI: Washington, Oct 9 (PTI) In view of the World Bank being capital-constrained, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today emphasised on the need for re-capitalising the Bank to enable it to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting shared prosperity. "Unfavourable global scenario has made the achievement of twin goals of the World Bank Group and the ambitious SDGs even more challenging. Achievement of these goals requires trillions of dollars of development financing. This makes the role of the World Bank group even more critical ? both as a provider of finance and knowledge," he said. Jaitley was representing the Constituency of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka, at the 94th Meeting of the Development Committee (DC), the Ministerial-Level forum of the World Bank Group and IMF for inter-governmental consensus building on development issues, here yesterday. The meeting focused on the Forward Look exercise carried out by the World Bank and discussion on the Dynamic Formula of Shareholding of member countries in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), a member institution of the Bank. "In view of the Bank being capital constrained today, there is a need to expand the role of not only IDA, but also IBRD and IFC to enlarge the lending programme of the Bank Group," he said. For instance, in the case of India, during the last fiscal year, fresh commitments delivered were only USD 3.8 billion as against the requirement of USD 5-7 billion. During the last spring meeting, Jaitley had called for a USD 100 billion bank. The Forward Look Paper has proposed annual lending of USD 40 billion per annum by IBRD. It also proposes doubling of IFCs annual investment capacity. This is necessary in view of the increasing role which IFC needs to play in ramping up private sectors capacities in developing countries. "Increased financing measures need to be coupled with renewed efforts to find innovative solutions, active pursuance of knowledge sharing, coordinated responses with the private sector, other development partners and international organisations," Jaitley said.

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On growth, the finance minister said: "Our constituency countries have displayed resilience and growth in this challenging environment where India is likely to grow at more than its last years 7.6 per cent, Bangladesh at 6.3 per cent, Sri Lanka at about 5.3 per cent and Bhutan at 6.8 per cent."

He shared the assessment that the Bank should not only be bigger but be more agile, efficient and less expensive to do business with. The Banks active promotion of South-South cooperation, increased use of Country Systems and a pragmatic implementation of environmental and social standards would help considerably in making it a better Bank, he added. MORE PTI NKD ARD

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Ceritinib provides longer progression-free survival than chemotherapy in crizotinib-pre-treated patients with non-small-cell lung cancer harbouring an ALK rearrangement, according to results of the phase III ASCEND-5 study presented today at the ESMO 2016 Congress in Copenhagen.1

"Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) should receive front line therapy with the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor crizotinib," said lead author Professor Giorgio Scagliotti, head of the Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Italy. "Most patients develop resistance to crizotinib and currently second line treatment is represented by chemotherapy alone."

He continued: "This was the first phase III study to assess whether the second generation ALK inhibitor ceritinib was superior to chemotherapy upon progression on crizotinib therapy in NSCLC."

The open-label ASCEND-5 study included 231 patients with NSCLC who had received crizotinib. Patients were randomised 1:1 to receive therapy with ceritinib or chemotherapy (pemetrexed or docetaxel). Patients who discontinued chemotherapy due to disease progression could crossover to ceritinib. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival, assessed by a blinded independent review committee.

Median progression-free survival was significantly improved with ceritinib compared to chemotherapy (5.4 vs 1.6 months, hazard ratio [HR] 0.49, p<0.001). Ceritinib increased overall response rate compared to chemotherapy (39.1% vs 6.9%). There was no improvement in overall survival with ceritinib compared to chemotherapy.

Of the patients who discontinued chemotherapy due to disease progression, 75 crossed over to ceritinib.

Scagliotti said: "Progression-free survival was significantly lengthened with ceritinib compared to chemotherapy. We did not observe an improvement in overall survival with ceritinib, probably because the patients who crossed over diluted the potential benefit."

Patients taking ceritinib had similar toxicities to those observed in phase I and II studies. The most frequent grade 3/4 adverse events with ceritinib were nausea (7.8%), vomiting (7.8%) and diarrhoea (4.3%), and with chemotherapy were neutropaenia (15.5%), fatigue (4.4%) and nausea (1.8%). Ceritinib significantly improved patient-reported outcomes including lung cancer-specific symptoms and overall health status, compared to placebo (p<0.05).

"This study opens up a new treatment paradigm after crizotinib failure," said Scagliotti. "It would be logical now to give a sequence of active drugs, starting with crizotinib in first line and moving to ceritinib in second line."

Commenting on the trial, Dr Alice Shaw, director of thoracic oncology at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Centre in Boston, US, said: "This is the first randomised study to examine how a second generation ALK inhibitor compares to standard second line chemotherapy in ALK positive patients who failed the standard first line therapy, which currently is crizotinib."

"Single arm studies have suggested that ceritinib and alectinib could be standard options in the second line setting after crizotinib has failed," continued Shaw. "But the positive effect on progression-free survival in this phase III study confirms that there is greater benefit using a second ALK inhibitor over standard chemotherapy. This will establish sequential crizotinib followed by a second generation ALK inhibitor as the standard treatment for patients with metastatic ALK positive lung cancer."

She concluded: "We are now waiting on the results of trials testing the second generation ALK inhibitors ceritinib (versus chemotherapy) and alectinib (versus crizotinib) in the first line setting. The latter trial addresses one of the most fundamental questions in the field, which is what should be the first ALK inhibitor that patients receive."

1 Abstract LBA42_PR 'Ceritinib vs chemotherapy (CT) in patients (pts) with advanced anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-rearranged (ALK+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) previously treated with CT and crizotinib (CRZ): results from the confirmatory phase 3 ASCEND-5 study,'will be presented by Dr Giorgio Scagliotti during the Proffered Paper Session NSCLC, metastatic 1 on Sunday, 9 October 2016, 11:00 to 12:30 (CEST) in Room Copenhagen.

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Dhaka : Bangladeshi security forces killed 11 members of an Islamist militant group on Saturday blamed for the Holey Artisan Bakery attack in Dhaka in July in which 22 people were killed, mostly foreigners.

The 11 militants, believed to be members of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), were killed in three raids on militant hideouts on the outskirts of the capital, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters.

Seven militants were killed in a raid on one hideout after police were tipped off that the JMBs Dhaka unit chief and his associates were there.

We requested them to surrender but they opened fire at our officers, which prompted them to retaliate, Khan said.

The July 1 attack in Dhakas diplomatic quarter was claimed by Islamic State militants and was one of the most brazen in Bangladesh, which has been hit by a spate of killings of liberals and members of religious minorities in the past year.

The government has blamed domestic militants but security officials say the scale and sophistication of the July attack suggested links to a trans-national Islamist network.

Police have killed more than three dozen suspected militants in shootouts since the Dhaka cafe attack, including its presumed mastermind, Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury.

The United States believes elements of Islamic State are connected to operatives in Bangladesh, US Secretary of State John Kerry said during a visit to Dhaka in August.

The targeting of foreigners could hurt foreign investment in the poor South Asian economy, whose $28 billion garments export industry is the worlds second largest. Nine Italians, seven Japanese, an American and an Indian were among those killed in the July attack.

Source : MSN
By PTI: visit hospital

Chennai, Oct 9 (PTI) Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu today visited Apollo Hospitals and said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was responding to treatment even as the day witnessed visits by several other leaders, including Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, and prayers across the state for her speedy recovery.

"I had a detailed briefing by the doctors over the treatment that is going on, they told me that she is responding to the treatment. I am confident that she will be normal and she is improving," Naidu told reporters after visiting the Hospital.

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In the backdrop of questions being raised on her health conditions, Naidu said there should be no speculation and rumour-mongering as the hospital is regularly giving details about her condition.

"Its nor fair...especially when a person is being treated in a hospital," he said.

PMK leader and Lok Sabha MP Anbumani Ramadoss said, "We were told that she is improving. We wish her a speedy recovery and wish her to resume her work."

He said he spoke to doctors and AIADMK leader and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai and Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar.

"I pray to the almighty that she recovers fully and get back to her routine. I am fully confident that she will recover soon," Narayanasamy said.

Tamil Maanila Congress chief G K Vasan also visited the hospital where Jayalalithaa is undergoing treatment since September 22. He said she is being given specialised medical care.

He met the director of the hospital and interacted with doctors, state ministers and was told that she is improving.

"Our best wishes to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for a speedy recovery. We wish on behalf of Tamil Maanila Congress that she should resume her work for the people," he said.

CPI leader and Rajya Sabha MP D Raja said he spoke to doctors and AIADMK leaders present at the hospital and expressed his partys wishes for her early recovery.

Meanwhile, special prayers continued at places of worship in the state for Jayalalithaas speedy recovery. After observing ritualistic stipulations for days, a massive "milk pot" procession was taken out in Madurai by AIADMK workers and supporters in which a sizable number of women workers participated.

The procession began from Saravana Poigai tank and culminated at the Subramania Swamy temple in Tiruparankundram where the milk carried in pots was used for worship by them. State Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar and his party workers participated in the prayers. Also, yagnas were performed in several temples seeking a healthy and long life for Jayalalithaa in which former state minister Valarmathi participated.

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Similarly, special prayer sessions were organised at various churches. PTI VGN RC TIR

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Jammu : At least four terrorists were eliminated as Indian Army foiled their infiltration bid in Naugam sector in Jammu and Kashmir even as Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire at Poonch sector today.

The terrorists were trying to infiltrate in Naugam sector on October 6th and were eliminated by our forces in the operation, a Northern Command official told ANI.

The official added that the terrorists killed in the encounter were Pakistanis, and said that goods recovered from their possession had Pakistan origin markings.

Pakistan Ordinance Factory (POF) markings on hand grenades,UBGL grenades recovered from terrorists confirm Pakistans complicity in abetting and equipping terror, he said.

Pakistan origin markings are also seen on the medicines and eatable items recovered from terrorists possession, the official added.

Earlier today, one Indian Army personnel was injured after Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling and gunfire at Indian positions on the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian soldier was injured in unprovoked shelling and firing by the Pakistani side in Mendhar sector of Jammu region. He has been shifted to an Army base hospital for treatment.

Pakistan used 120 mm and 82 mortar shells to target army and civilian positions. Their mortar shells have fallen close to civilian areas, a police official said.

Pakistan shelling and firing started at 5 a.m. and stopped at 6.30 a.m. after the Indian Army effectively retaliated using same calibre weapons, the official added.

Continues ceasefire violations have been witnessed from Pakistanis side since the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes against terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control in Pakistan-held territory.

Source : Zee News
We at Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) have received several complaints from devout Hindus regarding the Chinese products exhibition (http://chinamumbaiexpo.com/about_the_show.html) which is going to be held in Mumbai on 15th November, 2016 organized by Worldex India Exhibition & Promotion Pvt. Ltd.

Upon reviewing the promotional material from the website and complaints, HJS team immediately decided to appeal against this upcoming exhibition.

China has never been friendly to its neighbors including India. China, being true to its nature, wants to be powerful in the region. In recent times, it has shown its aggression in the South China sea threatening all the states in that region. In the recent UNGA meeting, the Chinese Premier said his country would stand with Pakistan. We support Pakistan and will speak for Pakistan at every forum. This exhibition is against the nationalist sentiment sweeping the country in the aftermath of the terror attack on Uri Army base and consequent surgical strikes by Indian Army in retaliation. In addition, social media campaigns are also launched to boycott Made in China goods, as Chinas continued support for Pakistan and for voting in the United Nations against Indian interests. As patriotic gesture, many of the business establishments voluntarily have decided not to promote and sell any Chinese products in Indian market.

When national sentiments and patriotism are bonding Indians together, it is really unfortunate to boost and promote Chinese suppliers and products. Hence, we request the organizers to cancel this event. We should not support any activities that will harm the Indian interest and worsen India economically, socially, and morally.

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti is a registered NGO in India doing social, Hindu Dharma related and national welfare work. The Samiti is also active throughout the world, educating people about Hindu Dharma in a scientific way, campaigning against malpractices done as Hindu Dharma related practices and solving problems related to the misrepresentation of Hindu Dharma. For further details, please refer to our website www.HinduJagruti.org.

The HJS team is requesting all readers to appeal against this exhibition event peacefully and lawfully by either writing an email or calling the numbers to Worldex India Exhibition & Promotion Pvt. Ltd. requesting to cancel the exhibition.

Email  [email protected]

[email protected]

Or

Tel: Mumbai  +(91) -(22) 40376700  30, 24944672/73

Delhi  +(91) -(11) 41802033 / 26285142
Choi Sung-jin



As a shopping paradise for super-rich visitors, Seoul lags behind many of its Asian rivals, a survey shows. The capital city of South Korea neither offers diverse attractions as a shopping destination nor does it provide popular attractions and excellent food.



Jones Lang Lasalle, a global real estate consultant, released Friday the results of its survey of 140 major cities in the world in terms of the presence of global retailing and luxury brands.



London was the most attractive city for global luxury brands, followed by Hong Kong and Paris. The top three cities also had the largest number of global retail brands, and in that order, too. Chasing the three were Tokyo (4), New York (5), Shanghai (6), Singapore and Dubai (7), Beijing (9), Osaka and Taipei (10), Las Vegas (12), Bangkok (13) and Seoul (14).



Seoul ranked ninth even in Asia. It was ahead of Kuwait (15) and Los Angeles, Chengdu, Moscow (16), but Seoul's ranking as a purveyor of luxury brands falls far short of the city's status in other aspects.



Last year, some luxury brands, including Burberry and Dior, opened their flagship stores in Seoul but their effects were limited by failing to spread to other areas than the posh district of Cheongdam-dong in the Gangnam area.



This comes in stark contrast to New York's Soho and Tokyo's Omotesando districts where visitors can not only chose among luxury brand stores lining the streets with ease but also have quick access to small cafes, dessert shops and art galleries.



Another problem of Seoul is that some commercial districts, including those around Myeong-dong and Gangnam Subway Station, are concentrated in mid- to low-priced shopping, tourism experts say. In contrast, Japan offers luxurious spa experiences while European cities are deep in rich cultural contents, satisfying the tastes of super-rich tourists and linking these experiences to the shopping of luxury items, they added.



"Recently, there are changes being tried to fuse diverse digital experiences, such as online and mobile shopping and virtual reality, with physical space," the survey reported. "Korea needs to make such new attempts."




Oakland, CA A California labor lawsuit has pitted a California resident against her former employer, Hawaiian Airlines Inc. At issue is whether, or not plaintiff Kathryn Otico was entitled to payment for time spent training in a program operated by the airline. The plaintiff claims she is owed wages for the 10-day training program under regulations entrenched in the Fair Labor Standards Act and California labor law. The airline, for its part, disagrees and has moved for summary judgement in the five-month-old action.

Otico filed her California labor code lawsuit in May.The plaintiff is a resident of California who interviewed for a customer service position with the defendant in December of last year. According to court papers, the hiring process involved a 10-day training and orientation session that ran daily from 8:30am, through 5pm on the days training was provided.The sessions were unpaid. Thus, Otico attended at least 80 hours of training and orientation on her own time. Her lawsuit, citing FLSA regulations and California labor employment law, claims that training and orientation participants are required to be paid at least minimum wage because, among other things, attendance was mandatory, the course material was related to the trainees job, and attendance was during regular working hours, according to court records.The plaintiff duly completed the training, which included sessions on federal regulatory requirements and navigating standard airline software systems. According to court papers Otico completed the training in December, 2015 and upon meeting additional requirements was hired as an employee of the airline.The plaintiffs tenure, however, ended after just a few weeks when Otico resigned, citing mismanagement and other factors.The defendant, in moving for summary judgement, claims that Hawaiian Airlines meets a six-part test under the auspices of the US Department of Labor in determining whether, or not trainees are in actual fact employees. The airline claims that Otico did not meet the criteria as an employee, doing actual work. The defendant also cites a claim that similar training in kind would have cost thousands of dollars were instruction to have been taken at a vocational school. Citing an example, the airline noted that its program was similar to a five-week program provided at The Airline Academy that runs almost $7,000 for tuition and materials.The defendant also noted a cost to the airline, given that the work normally performed by the instructor over the course of the ten-day orientation and training would have been covered off by someone else, effectively translating to a cost for the defendant.Hawaiian Air also claimed the plaintiff was aware, prior to the start of training, that the training course was unpaid.Because all the economic realities demonstrate that Otico obtained the greatest benefit from the training, not Hawaiian, Otico cannot prove that she was an employee engaged in work during the [training], the airline wrote. The economic realities, therefore, do not provide Otico with any ground to seek compensation for the time she spent in training.Otico proposed her lawsuit as a California and labor law putative class action. Hawaiian Airlines moved for summary judgment on October 6. There has been no ruling on the motion as of yet.The case is Kathryn Otico v. Hawaiian Airlines Inc., Case No. 16-cv-02557, in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.
The feat, it said, was made possible by the introduction of Aadhaar-based paper-less Jio SIM activation across 3,100 cities and towns.

By Saurabh Singh: Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) on Sunday announced that its Jio Welcome Offer has garnered over 1.6 crore customer enrolments in its first month of operations. The Jio Welcome Offer was earlier rolled out for all on September 5, and has since achieved the fastest growth than any other telecom operator or start up in the world including Facebook, WhatsApp and Skype, it said.



Also Read: No, Jio 4G unlimited welcome offer will not give you unlimited high-speed data

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The feat, it said, was made possible by the introduction of Aadhaar-based paper-less Jio SIM activation across 3,100 cities and towns, something that enabled customers to complete the SIM activation process in a matter of minutes, by providing his/her Aadhaar number alone.



"The process will be extended across the country and fully stabilised for satisfactory on-boarding experience in the next few weeks," RIL announced.

"We are delighted and humbled by the overwhelming response across India to the Jio Welcome Offer. Jio is built to empower every Indian with the power of data. We are delighted that people have recognised this and are utilising our services to the fullest. We are customer-obsessed and committed to improve every day to exceed expectations of our customers," Mukesh Ambani, chairman, Reliance Industries Limited said.

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is touting Jio as the world's most affordable 4G telecom service, and it's Welcome Offer, applicable for all between from September 5 to December 31, 2016 is supposed to give users "unlimited HD voice & video calling, unlimited SMS, high-speed data and access to a host of Jio premium apps." At the same time, RIL is also claiming to offer the "lowest LTE data rates in the world, with full transparency and without any associated conditions" post December 31, 2016.

RIL Jio's tariff plans are such that the company will charge customers for data only. Voice calls will be free to any network across the country with no roaming charges. Jio will offer data at fraction of its traditional cost, according to the company. To ensure every customer gets the best out of Jio, the company will offer a total of tariff 10 plans. The plans start at as little as Rs 19 and go all the way up to Rs 4,999.



Also Read: Reliance Jio 4G after one month: Speed plummets but calls finally connect

The company promises 1GB of 4G LTE data at as little as Rs 50, if you were to average things out from one of its tariff plans. However, the company will start offering special tariff vouchers or data add-on packs (for pre-paid) from January 1, 2017 under which 1GB of 4G LTE data will be offered at Rs 150.

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- The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu has initiated a suit for contempt proceedings against the Nigerian government

- The proceedings has been filed before a Federal Capital territory High Court in Maitama

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu has taken a step to ensure the federal government and the Department of State Services and the attorney general of the federation to obey court order mandating his unconditional release from Kuje Prison.

In a fresh move, Kanu has initiated a suit for contempt proceedings against the federal government, the attorney general of the federation and the director general of DSS.

A statement by Kanu's counsel Ifeanyi Ejiofor said the proceedings filed before a Federal Capital territory High Court in Maitama is expected to commit the respondents for non-execution of the court order given by Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 17, 2015.

Kanu was first arrested by the DSS in Lagos on his return from United Kingdom on October 14, 2015.

Following his arrest, the DSS arraigned him before a Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2 in Abuja.

READ ALSO: Dasukis case: FG makes SHOCKING pledge

However, the Magistrate granted the IPOB leader bail and later acquitted him of all charges against him.

But the DSS approached the Federal High Court where the agency obtained a remand order to detain him for 90 days following terrorism investigations carried out on him, a move Kanu's counsel described as "surreptitious".

The remand order - an exparte order - was obtained in pursuant to relevant sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

Subsequently, after hearing a motion on notice praying the court to set aside the exparte order made on the November 10, 2015 together with a counter affidavit filed by the DSS, Justice Ademola made another order setting aside the exparte remand order.

Upon vacation of the remand order, the court in a similar order to that of the Magistrate Court also directed the DSS to unconditionally release Kanu.

"Few days after the order was made, President Muhammadu Buhari, during a presidential media chat, said that Nnamdi Kanu cannot be granted bail by any Court in Nigeria," the statement said.

READ ALSO: BEWARE! Read what would happen to Nigeria soon

Kanus lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor said: The order made on the 17th day of December, 2016 by His Lordship, Hon. Justice A.F.A. Ademola, directing the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu was served on the State Security Services that same day the order was made.

Still, the Department of State Security Services failed, refused and/or neglected to obey the order directing the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, apparently due to reasons best known to them, which has no justification under any law.

Thirteen days after this order was made, specifically on the 30th day of December, 2015, the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria- President Muhammadu Buhari, announced to the whole world during his presidential media chat that Nnamdi Kanu cannot be granted bail by any Court in Nigeria.

This extra judicial pronouncement by the executive had continued to influence the direction of Nnamdi Kanus political trial, as part of the reasons given by the President during this Presidential media chat was quoted by the trial Court, as constituting the grounds militating against Nnamdi kanus freedom, while delivering Ruling on his bail application, Ejiofor said.

This extra judicial pronouncement by the executive, according to the lawyer of the IPOB leader, had continued to influence the direction of Kanus political trial, as part of the reasons given by the President during this Presidential media chat.

READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE: Again, Nnamdi Kanu moves against FG, goes international

It was quoted by the trial court, as constituting the grounds militating against Kanus freedom, while delivering ruling on his bail application.

"It is of elementary knowledge that an order of court is a law, which must be obeyed by all and sundry, including all institutions of government. It is the law that orders of the court no matter how it looks must be obeyed.

"But the anti-democratic forces have continued to treat with disdain and levity, positive orders of the court granted in favour of Nnamdi Kanu, particularly in his politically orchestrated trial, the lawyer said.

Ejiofor said, the order made by Justice Ademola directing the unconditional release of IPOB leader has not been obeyed by the relevant Institutions of Government affected by that order.

Also note that Justice Ademola was among the judges who were arrested by the DSS in wee hours of Saturday, October 8.

READ ALSO: FG FLEES Nnamdi Kanus case at ECOWAS court

He is currently being held by the security outfit in their facility at the DSS Abuja headquarters.

Although no specific reason had been given for his arrest, the DSS in a briefing said investigation on the arrested judges began due to their extravagant lifestyles.

"The service action is in line with its core mandate, as we have been monitoring the expensive and luxurious lifestyle of some of these judges as well as complaints from the concerned public over judgement obtained fraudulently on the basis of money paid," the DSS said.

Source: Legit.ng
The Northern Command through a tweet thanked the local youth for rescue of soldiers stuck in accident vehicle near Pantha Chowk Srinagar.

By Mail Today Bureau: Even in the current unrest when over 90 civilian protesters have been killed by the government forces, local residents today rescued army men during a road accident.



LOCALS RESCUED ARMY MAN AFTER ROAD ACCIDENT

The Northern Command through a tweet thanked the local youth for rescue of soldiers stuck in accident vehicle near Pantha Chowk Srinagar. A video showing locals pulling out army men from the mangled vehicle has gone viral on social media.

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The accident took place early Sunday morning at Lasjan on Srinagar-Anantnag highway, on the outskirts of Srinagar. According to locals, the army vehicle hit a tree injuring two army jawans after which the locals rushed toward the spot.



ALSO READ:

Kashmir unrest: Students protest as uncertainty looms over Valley's education system

Kashmir not part of India on these globes sold in Kerala





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As the RNC winds down its efforts supporting Donald Trumpcutting off the Trump Victory project in light of newly released audio of the Republican presidential candidate making lewd, chauvinistic commentsit is becoming clear that Hillary Clinton is Americas likely 45th president. Though her lead in the polls is slim, it is consistent, so it is worth looking into how a President Clinton might govern.

Luckily, Wikileaks made that line of inquiry easy, releasing the long-awaited transcripts of her paid private speeches. Besides showing the Democratic presidential candidate taking positions inconsistent with those she has been running on, they offer other key insights.

In one speech, Clinton stressed the importance of having a both a public and private position. During the primary Clinton sought to align herself publicly with populist messages of Bernie Sanders. In June she declared, I will fight hard to end the stranglehold that the wealthy and special interests have on so much of our government. Private Clintonthe one from the speechesdoes not appear to hold this view.

On October 24, 2013, speaking at the Goldman Sachs AIMS Alternative Investments Symposium Clinton, she said the following:

Theres nothing magic about regulations, too much is bad, too little is bad. How do you get to the golden key, how do we figure out what works? And the people that know the industry better than anybody are the people who work in the industry.

Roughly a year later, on October 7, 2014, while speaking with Deutsche Bank, she reiterated her position:

Remember what Teddy Roosevelt did. Yes, he took on what he saw as the excesses in the economy, but he also stood against the excesses in politics. He didnt want to unleash a lot of nationalist, populistic reaction. He wanted to try to figure out how to get back into that balance that has served America so well over our entire nationhood. Today, theres more that can and should be done that really has to come from the industry itself, and how we can strengthen our economy, create more jobs at a time where thats increasingly challenging, to get back to Teddy Roosevelts square deal.

From these remarks, it is clear that progressives under the Sanders umbrella were right all along: President Clinton would be a status quo candidate. She would govern as President Obama has, largely through administrative agencies rather than by pushing sweeping legislation through Congress.

Under this approach, the legislature cedes some of its rulemaking authority to the executive branch. The president is then able to act without Congress, filling in the nuts and bolts regulation, and enforcing it. This allows representatives to be seen taking popular policy positions while insulating themselves from political backlash with their donors over implementation. It is a win-winespecially now that our Congressional representatives spend half of their time fundraising.

But, as everyone knows, the status quo has had limited success in curbing the abuses of major industries. On its own, it has done little to effect change, and this futility has prompted the rise of economic populism. In spite of the threat of millions of dollars in fines, Wall Street bankswhich are bigger than ever, and worth billionsstill engage in many of the risky practices that led to the Subprime Mortgage Crisis. The forming auto loan bubble is particularly troubling.

The first problem is procedural.

Whereas prior to the 1980s and especially the 90s, administrative agencies were free to make rules themselves, now the process is complicated, albeit standardized.

When an agency proposes a rule, it must first go through review by the Office of Informative and Regulatory Affairs, which conducts a regulatory impact analysis, including the costs and benefits, as well as an assessment of alternatives. Then, it goes through what is known as notice and comment, wherein the public has the ability to weigh in. Anything objectionable will then have to be justified by the agency, which can complicate an already complicated process, and open the door for industries to influence the rules they are governed by.

Authors Note: If you think this seems like a lot of hurdles meant to hinder the regulatory ability of the administrative state, youd have a strong case.

While private Hillary finds industry influence beneficial, Democrats have been distancing themselves from the self-regulation narrative in light of events like the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion, and the Subprime Crisis.

But by far the biggest downside of the administrative approach is that agencies are extremely subject to regulatory capture (the revolving door; is a very real problem), and their rules are impermanent. Those nuts and bolts discussed earlier are not binding on subsequent presidential administrations, and can be changed with no check from Congress.

The Dodd-Frank banking reform bill, which Clinton accurately (though it is a low bar) touted as the most consequential financial reforms since the Great Depression, in an interview with the NY Daily News editorial board, suffers from these pitfalls. The Volcker Rule, for example, has yet to be implemented, and even if that were to happen, the next president can still tweak or even abandon it.

That Hillary Clinton would choose to govern in this way is unsurprising given her relationship with major industry. Private Clinton fawns over those who funded her campaign and made her a small fortune. She assures her donors, or those who pay for speeches, that her public persona is different from what she really believes. And what she really believes is that the Subprime Mortgage Crisis is far more complex than the popular narrative blaming Wall Street, and there is a bias against successful individuals working in government.

The question that remains is what effect, if any, a corporate-friendly President Clinton will have on the Democratic Party. It was Woodrow Wilson who established the president as party leader, but this year could change that entire system.

Although there has been a push among Democratic lawmakers, emboldened by Clintons nomination, to welcome big money with open arms, Clintons mantra of thats just politics has already met opposition from two prominent progressives with higher approval ratings than she. Senator Elizabeth Warren, along with Sanders, have joined forces, and already declared their intentions to stand as a check against corporate influence in her administration.

If the status quo persists, populist fervor fueling the rise of progressivism on the left and Trumpism on the right will not subside. For Clinton, that could mean losing control of her own party. And that could set an interesting precedent indeed.
By: Royal Dates

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-- Royal Dates Inc. prides itself for not only importing the sweetest and softest dates, but for also identifying which dates packs the biggest punch with regards to nutritional and healing benefits. A native exclusively to Saudi Arabia, our dates are making a debut at the National Women's Show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. We will be sampling our best sellers. Be sure to drop by our booth in the Health & Wellness area.Sukkari dates are the perfect replacement to sugary treats. Moist with dessert-like sweetness, these dates never need to be soaked. We are the only supplier bringing in wet sukkari dates in North America ~ if you find any other Sukkari dates, they are usually dry, vacuum packed, and not refridgerated. We makes sure that our sukkari is harvested before they become a dried date and freshness is maintained through temperature control. Just like an apple or avocado, the fruit seed is part of preserving its freshness and shelf life; hence why we only sell dates with pitsare a heavenly fruit that is hailed for its innumerable health benefits including anti-cancer. This little black fruit is in a league of its own. Dark coloured with fine white lines, it has a distinctive flavour and subtle sweetness. Anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardiotonic, galactogogue and laxative are just some of the medicinal benefits and healing properties that have earned this fruit the title as "the king of dates". To read more about the, please click here to check out our detailed article.Our dates are all Natural, non-GMO, pesticide free making each date unique as nature intended but are handpicked to ensure they are free from any infestation.Available on Amazon.com, Arz Fine Foods, McEwan, Iqbal Foods, and soon to be hitting the shelves at Longos, our dates are slowing making their way through the North American market.Royal Dates Inc. began importing dates in March of 2015, after a short visit to Saudi Arabia by owner Ghaz Syed led to his discovery of more date fruits that were not available in the Western Market.Royal Dates Inc. will uphold its promise to import only the finest of dates. Owner Ghaz Syed stated in a recent interview "There are so many delicious flavours and nuances in taste that the West has never experienced before. Most companies import the cheapest of dates because they are easier to sell, but we're proudly taken the road less traveled. We hope to tantalize the Vegans, the Sugar-Free, and the Organic Lovers taste buds with the caramel-like Sukkari Dates." For more information, please visit http://www.royaldates.ca To learn more about Royal Dates, please contactGhaz Syed, Owner331 Military TrailOffice:ghaz@royaldates.ca
Reports of the non-existence of the so-called "sterile" neutrino are premature, say scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory -- even as they release results from two experiments that further limit the places this elusive particle may be hiding. These results, described in three papers published in Physical Review Letters (PRL) by scientists working on the Daya Bay Neutrino Experiment in China and the Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search (MINOS) at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory -- like results recently announced by another neutrino experiment known as IceCube -- greatly narrow the "phase space" where scientists must hunt.

Whether you look at the new results as "zeroing in" on the elusive particles, or largely ruling out their existence, the scientists say the search for sterile neutrinos will and should go on.

"Finding true evidence that sterile neutrinos exist would profoundly change our understanding of the universe," said Brookhaven physicist Xin Qian, one of the neutrino hunters. These light, electrically neutral particles could be components of the mysterious "dark world," including the dark matter that physicists know makes up about a quarter of the universe, but has never been directly detected.

"In the Big Bang at the very beginning of the universe, some of the energy turned into particles that so far have proven to be completely invisible," explained Milind Diwan, another Brookhaven neutrino physicist. "That there exists such matter that is dark -- undetectable -- is an established fact. What that is composed of is a big mystery. Every time we find a hint of a new neutral particle that could account for this missing energy -- or a new search method -- it offers us a window into the universe that we must explore."

Even the process of figuring out how to search for an elusive, undetectable particle -- what to measure and how to sift through the data -- is worthwhile, the scientists say, because it sparks creativity and the evolution of scientific thinking in unexpected ways.

"These analyses are all side results to the main research programs at experiments where scientists realized they had the ability to look at the data in new and interesting ways," said Diwan. "In this way, these programs are creating a group of young researchers who understand how to scrutinize data and question results, and they will become leaders with the types of skills that we need in science."

Brookhaven Lab scientists play important roles in both Daya Bay and MINOS, and were essential to understanding how the data collected for the experiments' main research goals could be used to search for "signatures" of sterile neutrinos. For example, Brookhaven's Qian led the development of the statistical methods for combining results from these experiments, working with a group of postdoctoral fellows and graduate students -- about half from Daya Bay and half from MINOS.

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"It took some effort to finalize what kind of statistical method to use," said Wei Tang, one of the Brookhaven postdocs. "Working with the two collaborations, with very different cultures, is a good example of how this work is done -- how science brings people together," he said.

Holes and hints

Both MINOS and Daya Bay are designed to explore details of neutrinos, tiny subatomic particles that carry no electrical charge and travel vast distances without interacting with anything. The Standard Model of particle physics -- a list of known particles and the forces through which they interact -- describes three known neutrino "flavors" (electron, muon, and tau), named for their relation with charged particles of those names.

But the Standard Model also says that neutrinos have no mass -- an idea recently refuted by experiments confirming these particles' ability to change identities among the three flavors. These flavor-shifting "oscillations" are only possible if neutrinos exist in different mass states -- indeed, a mixture of different masses for each known flavor. Therefore detecting neutrino oscillations, a discovery that garnered the 2015 Nobel Prize in physics, is proof that neutrinos do have mass -- pointing out at least one hole in the Standard Model.

"The fact that neutrinos have mass is a strong hint that we may discover other things we don't know about these particles," Qian said. "It would be earth-shaking if a fourth type, sterile neutrinos, really existed."

The search for sterile neutrinos is also motivated by theoretical ideas and hints from an earlier experiment at Los Alamos National Laboratory that may have observed a new kind of neutrino oscillation -- approximately described as a two-step shift that transforms existing muon neutrinos into neutrinos of a fourth, undetectable (a.k.a. "sterile") flavor, which then oscillate again to become electron neutrinos. The Los Alamos team measured the rate of this proposed two-step transformation through an undetectable intermediary flavor.

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The new results from MINOS and Daya Bay test this observation by measuring the rates of the individual steps. Multiplying the rates measured for each of the two individual steps that include the proposed sterile neutrino should equal the rate measured by the Los Alamos team -- if the sterile neutrino indeed exists.

Warning: It gets a bit tricky here

In step one -- muon neutrinos transforming into proposed sterile ones -- we're talking about measuring a transformation from a particle that scientists can create and detect to a particle they cannot "see" in any way. So instead of trying to measure something undetectable, they look for the rate at which the muon neutrinos disappear without transforming into either of the two other known types. This work was done by the MINOS experiment, which produces a beam of muon neutrinos to measure their oscillations to other flavors.

To tackle the second step -- the transformation from an undetectable particle to a detectable one -- the scientists had an even bigger challenge.

"We can't make a beam of the undetectable sterile neutrinos -- after all, we don't even know if they exist!," Diwan said.

Instead, they take advantage of one of the basic laws of Nature -- namely, that the rate of this process should be equal whether it's running forward or in reverse -- and measure the rate of the reverse process. They use a beam of electron neutrinos (actually electron antineutrinos, which for the purpose of this experiment are the same) and measure the rate at which they disappear, ruling out or accounting for those transforming into one of the two other known types.

The electron antineutrinos are generated in the cores of nuclear reactors -- in this case, a set of six that are part of the Daya Bay Neutrino Experiment in China. Detectors at varying distances from the reactors pick up signals that allow scientists to calculate oscillation rates.

In the papers publishing in PRL -- one from the Daya Bay collaboration, one from MINOS, and another presenting a combined analysis of the Daya Bay and MINOS results as well as a reanalysis of results from Bugey, an older experiment in France -- the main conclusion is that the accounting doesn't work out. Multiplying the rates of the two individual reactions did not match the Los Alamos data. Overlapping plots of results from the various analyses revealed only small remaining "parameter regions" where the sterile neutrinos could still be "hiding."

IceCube, an experiment that measures oscillations of neutrinos from the atmosphere with a detector deep under the ice of Antarctica, also recently reported new results. Its search for the disappearance of muon neutrinos to a proposed sterile flavor also came up empty handed, with no sterile neutrinos to be found.

The next frontier

Future experiments at Fermilab will continue to search in the remaining channels.

But even if they don't find the elusive particles, the search and the competition and collaboration it fosters between and among scientists from different experiments and in different nations will create new opportunities. These teams are building the technologies -- detectors, data infrastructure, and analysis tools -- needed for the next generation of experiments, including the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment to be hosted at Fermilab with widespread, international participation.

"The physics of neutrino mass and the physics of the universe -- its formation and structure -- are intimately related," said Diwan. "The discoveries in the last few decades have shown that the universe is filled with electrically neutral invisible stuff including neutrinos that could have unknown and rich interactions. Unraveling the mysterious properties of neutrinos is proving to be one of the few possible windows into this dark world."
The research, carried out by a team from the universities of Bristol, Leeds, Cardiff, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Colgate University, has been published in Science.

Uranium is more than a source of energy and a material of nuclear weapon. In nature, it occurs in all rocks, and its radioactive decay allows us to use it to look at different processes that have happened in the past.

Importantly, uranium comes in various types, called isotopes, which have different masses and different rates at which they decay -- in nature these types include uranium-238, which decays to become uranium-234.

When continental rocks are eroded they bring trace amount of uranium into the ocean. The 234U daughter isotope is more mobile than its parent 238U, so weathering has led to an ocean that has a 15 percent excess of 234U when compared to 238U.

The study's lead author, Dr Tianyu Chen, from the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol, said: "Subtle changes in the ratio in seawater have the potential to tell us about past changes in weathering.

"This is important because it is the input of material from the land to sea that provides the nutrients needed to support life in the ocean.

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"However measuring these ratios is not easy because the changes are small, and the record is not easily preserved. It turned out that reliable reconstruction of past seawater 234U/238U was quite challenging."

The team looked at 234U/238U reconstructions of the last 50,000 years based on the exceptionally well-preserved deep-sea corals from the equatorial North Atlantic and Pacific Galapagos platform.

Their results reveal a detailed record of 234U/238U in the oceans which provide new insights into how the major northern ice sheets retreated during the last major deglaciation on Earth (about 18,000 to 11,000 years ago).

The authors hypothesized that the increase in excess uranium-234 during this time period was caused by the melting from the bottom of major ice sheets -- it is in these areas where the large ice sheets has powdered the underlying rocks.

During the coldest part of the glacial this ground up rock was frozen into the ice for thousands of years -- but as Earth warmed, the ice sheets gradually started to melt from the bottom -- releasing uranium out into the sea long before the 120 metre sea level rise from the major period of ice melt.

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The authors speculate that this 'basal' melting may also have released significant amounts of nutrients to the oceans.

Dr Chen added: "Previous interest in the excess uranium-234 in the ocean has stemmed from its importance in determine the age of fossil corals.

"Fossil corals from reef areas have been used to establish the timing of major sea level change in the past. Our study puts new constraints on how these ages are calculated and verified.

"A surprising result was that the Atlantic and Pacific records are different -- only converging half way through the deglaciation.

"The timing of this convergence lines up with other evidence that suggest a major change in ocean circulation -- to a world that looked more like today than the previous glacial period.

"We observed a clear 234U/238U difference between the Atlantic and Pacific about 17,000 years ago, but such differences vanished after the abrupt resumption of the Atlantic overturning circulation."

The authors believe their study has fundamentally changed our understanding about the behavior of U isotopes in the ocean, with importance for paleoclimatic reconstructions of nutrient fluxes to the oceans and U-series dating of marine materials.

Two University of Bristol undergraduate students were involved in the study through their final year thesis work. Matthew Beasley, an MSci student in Geology, explored how uranium behaves in high latitude systems -- involving laboratory studies of how glacial rocks behave when they weathered, as well as exploring the history of uranium on land and in the sea.

Louis Claxton, also a Msci Geology student, spent his third year at the University of California on the Bristol study abroad exchange program. When he returned his final year research project examined the history of the Tropical Pacific during times of major climate change. A surprising finding of his work, and a critical piece of the published paper, was that the uranium history of the Pacific Ocean is different to the Atlantic.
While on October 3 the Mehbooba Mufti-led government ordered the reopening of schools, it couldn't win the confidence of the parents and students as it failed to push out the paramilitary forces from the schools.

Schools in Kashmir have been shut for over three months now. (Picture for representation--Photo: AP

By India Today Web Desk: As the Valley marks 92nd day of the unrest since the violence broke out in July this year the students staged a protest demanding normalcy to be restored at the earliest.

Kashmir has been shut for over three months now. With schools closed, internet services blocked, newspapers banned and normal life restricted, the Valley is living under modern day 'stone age'.

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ALSO READ: Kashmir unrest: Terrorism grossest violation of human rights, says India; rejects UNHRHC proposal



FAILED EFFORTS



The efforts made by the state government to re-open the schools haven't yielded desirable outcomes and the education system in the Valley looms under uncertainty.

While on October 3 the Mehbooba Mufti-led government ordered the reopening of schools, it couldn't win the confidence of the parents and students as it failed to push out the paramilitary forces from the schools.

ALSO READ: 90 days of Kashmir unrest: 93 killed, over 13,000 injured; clashes and restrictions continue



In last 92 days of the unrest, which was triggered after the killing of the Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani on July 8, as many as 93 people have been killed, more than 13,000 have been injured and 7,000 have been arrested with hundreds of them booked under the controversial Public Safety Act. The use of much criticised and debated pellet guns have resulted into over 1,000 severe eye injuries.

ALSO READ:

Kashmir unrest: 12-year-old dies in pellet gun firing, clashes erupt

Kashmir unrest: Valley remains shut for 89th day, police on arrest spree



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The addition of the CDK4/6 inhibitor ribociclib to letrozole therapy significantly improves progression-free survival in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer, researchers reported at the ESMO 2016 Congress in Copenhagen.

The first interim analysis of data from the randomized, double-blind MONALEESA2 study showed a 44% improvement in progression-free survival with ribociclib plus letrozole as a first-line treatment combination.

"This was THE definitive study to demonstrate the superiority of the combination of ribociclib and letrozole over letrozole alone," said principle investigator, Professor Gabriel Hortobagyi, from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, US.

Researchers randomized 668 postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, who had not undergone any prior systemic treatment, to ribociclib (600 mg/day, 3 weeks on/1 week off) and letrozole (2.5 mg/day, continuous), or letrozole plus placebo.

In the ribociclib arm, there was a 44% improvement in the primary objective of progression-free survival compared to the placebo arm (HR: 0.556, p = 0.00000329). Median progression-free survival was 14.7 months in the placebo arm, but was not reached in the ribociclib arm at data cut-off.

"The results of this trial represent a compelling proof of principle, and suggest a paradigm shift in metastatic, HR+ breast cancer. They also suggest that testing combinations of ribociclib with other inhibitors of various signaling pathways might lead to additional progress in the management of several subtypes of breast cancer," Hortobagyi said.

Patients with measurable disease at baseline showed a significantly higher objective response rate to ribociclib plus letrozole compared to letrozole alone (53% vs. 37%; p=0.00028), and improved clinical benefit rate (80% vs. 72% p=0.02).

Serious adverse events occurred in fewer than 5% of patients in both arms but other adverse events were significantly more common in the ribociclib arm. Neutropenia occurred in 59% of patients in the ribociclib arm compared to 1% of the placebo arm; leukopenia occurred in 21% vs 1%; lymphopenia in 7% vs. 1%, and patients in the ribociclib arm had a higher incidence of elevated alanine aminotransferase and elevated aspartate aminotransferase.

The number of deaths in the study was too low to enable a reliable analysis of the impact of ribociclib therapy on overall survival.

Commenting on the findings, Professor Giuseppe Curigliano, Director of the New Drugs and Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies Division at the European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy, said, "I believe the results of this study are significant because now we have a new CDK4/6 inhibitor for patients with estrogen-receptor positive metastatic breast cancer, in addition to palbociclib (already FDA approved) and abemaciclib (under development)."

"The addition of ribociclib to letrozole does increase the rate of toxicity, but overall, if we evaluate the magnitude of clinical benefit, there is definitely a benefit to be gained from adding ribociclib."

Curigliano also suggested that further studies of ribociclib should examine the use of cancer biomarkers to better identify patients who would respond to the combination.
Five new novels worthy of your bedside table and many hours of good reading.

Serial Monogamy, Kate Taylor (Doubleday Canada, 352 pages, $32)

The focus of the Toronto writers deft third novel is marriage and fidelity. Sharon, a writer and mother of twin girls, is fighting breast cancer and dealing with her husbands affair with a student. As a distraction, she agrees to write a serial for the local newspaper to commemorate the bicentennial of Charles Dickenss birth. Her topic: the authors mid-life affair with a young actress named Nelly Ternan. Taylor is a smooth writer and her time shifts  in Sharons life and between 19th century Britain and contemporary Toronto  are executed without a stumble.

Mischling, Affinity Konar (Random House of Canada, 352 pages, $32.95)

Mischling, a term used by the Third Reich to describe people of mixed blood, is a term that blond Jewish twins Pearl and Stasha hear a lot when they arrive in Auschwitz in 1944. The two 12-year-olds soon join other multiples in Josef Mengeles Zoo, which poked and prodded, measured and explored, the bodies and minds of as many as 3,000 twins, few of whom survived. Pearl and Stasha tell their stories in alternating chapters, documenting bit by bit the brutalizing of their familial bond.

The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead (Doubleday, 320 pages, $34.95)

In a cleverly flipped metaphor, the acclaimed African-American author imagines the underground railroad as a literal network of underground tunnels and tracks, complete with conductors and porters, transporting slaves to free states and Canada. This is the gripping story of a teenager named Cora, who escapes from a Georgia cotton plantation, killing a young white man along the way. The novel chronicles her escape from slave catchers, bounty hunters and other members of a racist society. The book is a finalist for the U.S. National Book Awards.

The Conjoined, Jen Sookfong Lee (ECW Press, 272 pages, $18.95)

Jessica is a disillusioned Vancouver social worker whose mother  seemingly a sainted individual known for her good works  has recently died. While Jess and her dad are sorting through her household effects, they discover a body at the bottom of the freezer. They call the police, who discover a second body. Jess has little doubt about the identity of the frozen corpses: two teenage sisters, Casey and Jamie Cheng, who disappeared in 1988 while in the foster care of Jesss mother. The Vancouver writers fourth novel is an insightful look at a daughters efforts to come to terms with the past.

Today Will Be Different, Maria Semple (Little, Brown, 272 pages, $35)

Eleanor Flood is the very embodiment of First World problems  distracted, anxious, irritable, grinding her way through the day until it is blessedly time for bed. But on this day she awakes, determined to be her best self, a caring mother (she will play with Timby, her 8-year-old son) and accommodating wife (she will initiate sex with her hand-surgeon husband). None of these good intentions go as planned, of course. Maria Semples last novel, the bestselling Whered You Go, Bernadette, established her as one of Americas quirkiest talents.

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OTTAWAThe Canadian Forces has launched the first internal review of the military justice system in generations and among the issues being looked at is whether all military sexual crimes should be handled by civilian courts.

The military justice system has been under the microscope over the last two years following complaints that many sexual crimes committed by service members have been glossed over or ignored.

Currently, such offences can be referred to either civilian court or the military court system for a court martial, depending on the circumstances. But Col. Robert Holman, the Canadian Forces deputy judge advocate general for military justice, says that could change.

One of the constant parts of discussion, particularly in the context of things like sexual offences, is why does the military have to have jurisdiction over sexual offences in courts martial? Holman said in an interview. Why cant it go downtown? Well take a look at that.

Holman is leading the year-long review, which was ordered in the summer by the judge advocate general, Maj.-Gen. Blaise Cathcart.

While the military justice system has been regularly updated over the years, particularly in 1998 after the Somalia Inquiry, Holman said this is the first real top-to-bottom examination since the 1950s.

Holman acknowledged there are concerns about the system, particularly as it relates to sexual offences. And he said those complaints as well as defence chief Gen. Jonathan Vances pledge to stamp out such misconduct had some impact on the decision to open the review.

But he also suggested such a study is long overdue. And while making the system more responsive is one consideration, I would frankly say theres another issue, and that is resources.

RELATED:

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Canadian military creates special team to investigate sex crimes

High number of military sex assaults involve cadets, figures show

The Canadian Forces has three full-time military judges whose sole job is to preside over courts martial. But while the Canadian Forces had 47 courts martial last year, only 11 were contested trials. Meanwhile, there are more than a dozen military prosecutors and several defence lawyers for the accused personnel.

Meanwhile, we have lots of other legal business that needs to be done, Holman said. So to me, its a legitimate question as to whether or not we would use our scarce legal resources more efficiently by redirecting them somewhere else and looking at other options.

Holman was careful to say that any decisions are at least a year away and, depending on the changes, likely need government and parliamentary approval.

But the fact of the matter is we intend to look at the full spectrum of options, from continuing to have military judges, military court reporters, military prosecutors, military defence counsel, all the way to potentially having civilians in many, if not all, of those roles.

The review will also look at other areas, such as how evidence is used in courts martial and whether the military has the right offences and punishments. And in the end, Holman said, it could find the current system is the best for the Canadian military.

If we end up with the same scheme that weve got now, we will know darn well why we ended up with the same scheme.

Lawyer Michel Drapeau, a retired colonel who now represents many military clients, described Canadas military justice system as so out of date its not funny. He said there are many concerns, starting with a desperate need for stronger victims rights.

But he said he had no confidence that the Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) could fix the system themselves. He noted that many changes approved by Parliament in 2013, some of which would help victims of military crimes, still havent been implemented, which he blamed on the JAG.

The militarys top prosecutor and the deputy commander of military police recently called for those changes to be implemented, saying they would help victims of military sexual offences. Holman would only say the JAG is working on implementing the changes.

Rather than having military officials conduct the review, Drapeau said parliamentarians should be in the lead. He said that is what happens in the U.S., where congressional committees are responsible.

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GUELPHBujar Morava looms over the corner of Yonge and Bloor Sts. like a benign Godzilla.

Hes not intent on stomping the model towers at his feet to rubble. Rather, Moravas aim is to protect their real-life versions from a true skyscraper assailer.

The wind.

That is a critical, critical parameter to control in the design of tall buildings, says Morava, a principal with RWDI Consulting Engineers and Scientists, a Guelph company that leads the world in skyscraper design testing.

In RWDIs massive wind tunnel, Morava is currently buffeting a detailed 1:400 scale mock-up of the streets and structures that are built or proposed for Torontos Yonge-Bloor area.

The shrunken cityscape is arrayed on a 3.65-metre disk, which can rotate 360 degrees towards the tunnels wind source to simulate every breeze, gust or gale direction.

Existing structures  like the Manulife Centre, Four Seasons Hotel and a newly topped-off condominium tower at One Bloor St. E.  are displayed in grey Styrofoam.

Related: Toronto's skyline is about to join the big-leagues: What the city could look like in 2020

Future developments proposed for the area  some of the many that will transform Torontos skyline in coming years  are cast in green.

And at the centre of the circle, the target of the blustery exercise  an exact model of a proposed, 80-storey building at One Bloor St. W.  stands out in a dark red resin.

Dubbed The One, the proposed Mizrahi Developments building could become this citys first supertall skyscraper  a designation conferred by the respected Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat on habitable towers of 300 metres or more.

And like many of the worlds tallest and most iconic skyscrapers, The One has been significantly reshaped, re-engineered and re-contoured in light of RWDIs wind tunnel testing.

Weve done a lot of the worlds most recognizable skyscrapers, says Morava, an Albanian native who cut his teeth in his earthquake-prone homeland.

For the 58-year-old father of two, theres a pride in knowing his input has shaped skylines around the world. On trips to Toronto with his 14-year-old son, Morava will often point to the RWDI-tested buildings.

When you see things coming up and standing and a lot of winds and earthquakes go through and they perform well, thats the satisfaction of the structural engineer.

The trouble with tall and slim

In the early 20th century, as the worlds first skyscrapers were being constructed, builders had no option of a wind-tunnel test. They relied on accumulated experience, gained during the erection of progressively taller projects, to stabilize their towers.

But they could also rely on relatively ample real estate  and the brute structural strength that large, anchoring footprints allowed them to build into the structures  to ward off wind effects.

As real estate became more scarce and expensive in city cores, however, buildings were forced to slim down and scale ever upward to accommodate enough residents or companies to make the projects viable.

The main reason that you go in the wind tunnel (is) to investigate the wind performance of tall, slender buildings, Morava says. (Its) to be able to reliably predict what the pressure distribution along the height of the tower will be, and how the structure will absorb those loads.

Morava chats excitedly as he walks through RWDIs new facility  just opened in Guelphs south end  where cityscapes from around the globe sit on tables, floors and against the walls of the expansive shop.

This is Chicago  theres the river, he says. And this is Shanghai.

After earning an engineering degree in Albania, he trained for his PhD in Japan  another earthquake hotspot  before coming to Hamiltons McMaster University to complete his studies. My interest was the response of structures under the severe, intense excitation by earthquakes.

In Canada, where quakes are rare but tower-rocking winds plentiful, RWDI offered a fit for the structural knowledge learned in seismic zones. Basically, Im (still) dealing with things that move under external excitation.

The company  which employs 250 people in Guelph and nearly 500 worldwide  also looks at the effects proposed buildings will have on such things as glare and shadowing on the city below.

This work often creates tensions with architects, who dont want to modify their designs, and developers, who dont want to pay for suggested changes.

But RWDI president Michael Soligo says many architects enjoy the design challenges that come with his companys testing results. And developers can often find savings, with upgrades on one segment of a tower frequently allowing them to use less expensive materials elsewhere.

The widespread use of wind tunnels in building design was originally spurred by the wind-caused downing of Washington States Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940. (No one died as it had been closed because of swaying.)

Tinkering with skyscrapers is a far cry from the focus of RWDIs early days. Though it now transforms urban landscapes, the company traces its roots to an agrarian past.

The company, which began work in 1972, owes its origins to the research of Frank Theakston, an engineer at the Ontario Agricultural College, a predecessor of the University of Guelph. That work centred on snow-load testing. It was motivated by a series of barn and arena collapses in the area, which had taken a lethal toll on both people and livestock.

Stopping skyscraper seasickness

Its a long way up from snowy stables to the top of The One.

The Toronto skyscraper designed by famed British architect Norman Foster has gone through major contour, building material and internal engineering alterations in light of the RWDI recommendations.

We had to do quite a bit of aerodynamic shaping of the tower, says Morava.

He points, for example, to a series of recessed rings interspaced up the model towers rise, which were added to Fosters original design to diffuse wind loads.

Because of the wind pressures that were revealed, new and stronger building materials were subbed into Fosters blueprints, says Morava, who directed the testing.

Of the remedial measures prompted by the Guelph tunnel work prompted, however, perhaps the most intriguing is a 600-tonne mechanical device that will be installed at The Ones summit.

The technical term is Tuned Mass Damper, or TMD. But think of it as a giant pendulum.

The TMD structures can take several forms, but they are all tuned to a towers specific sway rate, which is determined by the stiffness and mass of the building.

The Ones planned TMD will be tuned to counter a natural sway rate of about eight seconds  which is the time the tower takes to tilt from one side to the other and come back to its starting position. Basically, if winds at Yonge and Bloor begin inducing this eight-second movement, the TMD will shift its mass to counter the rocking.

If you didnt have the damper, the tower would have moved twice as much, Morava says. The damper reduces the motion to a level that wont disturb the occupants, who dont want to get seasick.

Such wind remedies are common in many modern skyscrapers, says Dan Bacon, a senior project manager at RWDI.

Bacon says decades of wind-tunnel work have increased the number of skyscrapers, and their height. Because builders no longer have to wait to see how other towers perform in the wind, skyscraper projects can be confidently planned and approved more quickly, he says.

For their wind tests on proposed buildings  and bridges, large statues and art installations  RWDI impregnates models of the structures with hundreds or thousands of sensors. These tiny, tubular devices are attached by bundles of minuscule hoses that drop through the wind tunnels floor to feed those wind pressures from every part of the model to analyzing equipment below.

Like the models, winds in the tunnel are scaled-down versions of real-world gusts. Their turbulence can be manipulated by dozens of horizontal and vertical slats, opened and shut to sculpt the wind appropriately.

For testing on The One, for example, gusts that were blown over the models north wind orientation were made more turbulent than the steadier breezes aimed at its southern facing.

But its not just the structural integrity of the towers that concerns Morava and Bacon. Its also how those proposed buildings will alter the winds for pedestrians. To determine this, Bacon says, tunnel testing is first conducted to establish wind conditions prior to construction.

In the case of The One, this was done using models of the old Stollerys clothing store that anchored the corner for decades.

Next, alterations in those sidewalk-level winds were gauged by placing a model of the proposed structure on the miniaturized cityscape.

Finally, other area buildings in the planning stages were added to determine how they may alter pedestrian-level winds at the target towers base in the future.

In addition to sensors, the cityscape models can also be bathed in concert smoke to visually check street-level wind conditions.

If new buildings will alter winds in unduly uncomfortable or hazardous ways, RWDI can work with developers to break the gusting with changes in towers and at ground level, Bacon says. These can include re-sculpting the tower  using step-backs, for example  to minimize downdrafts, or adding canopies, recessed entryways, trees or art instalments on the ground.

In contrast to The Ones tower itself, on the ground, because its so built up, there wasnt a whole lot of issues in this area, Bacon says.

And so another skyscraper is taking shape, with help from a firm whose hometowns most elevated structure remains an 1880s cathedral.

Wind-tested by RWDI

Burj Khalifa, Dubai

The worlds tallest structure  163 floors and 828 metres  was substantially reshaped during its design phases due to RWDI testing. Its distinctive set-back edges were added to cut wind loads and it was reoriented on the ground so that its most aerodynamic facing was directed towards the prevailing Persian Gulf gusts.

One World Trade Center, New York

Formerly dubbed the Freedom Tower, the 541.3-metre skyscraper is the tallest building in the U.S.

Taipei 101, Taipei

The bevelled Taiwan skyscraper is 508 metres and was the worlds tallest habitable building until surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in 2009.

Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur

At 452 metres, the twin towers in Malaysia are still the highest twin buildings on Earth.

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PALM SPRINGS, CALIF.A SWAT team remains at the scene in Palms Springs where two police officers were fatally shot and another wounded Saturday while responding to family disturbance call, police said.

The shooting occurred when the officers went to the scene shortly after noon. They tried to make contact with the suspect, who threatened to shoot the officers through the front door.

They were responding to a simple family disturbance and (the gunman) elected to open fire, an emotional police Chief Bryan Reyes told reporters.

Reyes identified the two victims as Officer Jose Gilbert Gil Vega, a 35-year veteran of the department who was supposed to retire in December, and Officer Lesley Zerebny, who has been with the department for a year and a half and is the mother of a four-month-old. He said the third officer, who was being treated at a hospital, was doing well and was helping investigators.

Today Palm Springs lost two of its brave officers, Reyes said, his voice quivering. They go out every day with their boots on the ground. They gave their all for you.

Reyes said it was still an active scene, and the officers believed the suspect might still be in the house. He said police would have an update later Saturday on the suspect and the departments history of calls for service at the residence.

Frances Serrano, who lives across the street from where the shooting took place, was coming out of her garage around noon Saturday when her neighbour came bursting out of his own garage.

The man sought Serranos attention.

He said, Help. I need help. My son is in the house, and hes crazy. He has a gun. Hes ready to shoot all the police,  Serrano recalled he father saying.

The father was very nervous, Serrano said. He was afraid of his son.

Serrano, 65, said she called authorities, and as soon as she began walking back into her house, she heard gunshots, starting with a loud I mean really loud bang!

Law enforcement and the suspect appeared to be exchanging gunfire, she said.

There were police everywhere, Serrano said. I looked out the window and saw police with rifles. Serrano said she remembered her neighbours son, who she believed was in his mid-30s, as a very nice young man  very polite.

By 5:50 p.m. with police on every street corner and officers in helicopters overhead continuing their search, Serrano said she was really scared, and had locked her windows and doors.

Some are saying (the suspect) is still in the fathers house. Others say hes on the run, she said. I knew there were problems before between the father and this young man. But I never imagined he would do something like this. I dont want to believe it.

I feel so sad for the officers, she added. Its like a nightmare.

Lee Weigel, the citys former police chief and a one-time city councilman, learned of the shooting while out of town Saturday at his sons baseball game.

The police department is relatively small and everyone knows one another, said Weigel, who worked in the department for 32 years.

Its a family, he said. This is the worst incident in the history of Palm Springs in terms of officer shootings . . . . This is shocking, a blow to the entire department and community.

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Catherine Barbe-Daoust wants $45,000 to carry and deliver babies for childless parents-in-waiting.

The 27-year-old, who advertises her services online and lists herself as being from Laval, Que., calculates her fee based on her time, expenses and her education.

Im searching for future parents who will be willing to pay for all my expenses (mortgage, electricity, Internet, phone, food, etc.), says Barbe-Daousts online profile currently posted on two popular surrogate-finding websites where hopeful parents seek women willing to carry their child.

Paying surrogates for their services is illegal in Canada. But with plenty of room for interpretation in Canadas imprecise federal law, reimbursements for expenses such as lost wages, extra groceries and travel to medical appointments have become common practice.

Those reimbursements are about to come under the microscope as Health Canada moves to bring clarity to the long-ignored area of surrogacy financing  a move experts fear could either kill surrogacy in Canada or drive it underground.

An email Barbe-Daoust sent to intended parents last month and obtained by the Star estimates her services will cost $45,000  that includes a month of postnatal breast milk pumping.

All invoices will be provided weekly. They should be refunded regularly, she instructs.

The Star reached out to Barbe-Daoust for interview about her expense demands.

She agreed to speak but only if she was paid for her time during the interview.

The Star does not pay for interviews and explained this policy.

When approached again in writing, Barbe-Daoust refused comment and then deleted one of her online profiles. On her other profile, she replaced her photo and contact information with a Star reporters image and contact details. She also threatened legal action if her name or excerpts from her email or profiles were used.

Her solicitations are among thousands posted by Canadian women seeking to help the childless couples have a family. The vast majority do not list financial demands up front. But the Stars investigation has found that money typically changes hands over a variety of expenses once surrogate/parent partnerships are established.

Each one of those claims remains in a regulatory grey area in Canada.

Legal landmine

In the midst of an ongoing Star investigation into Canadas growing role as an international surrogacy destination, Health Canada announced last week it is taking steps to strengthen and clarify the regulatory framework governing assisted human reproduction in Canada.

The move comes six years after a 2010 Supreme Court of Canada decision that created a regulatory vacuum in the Assisted Human Reproduction Act (AHRA) by ruling some sections fell under provincial jurisdiction.

The Court found that other key sections of the AHRA  related to protection of health and safety, enforcement, and the reimbursement of surrogates  were Health Canadas responsibility.

But those sections have remained unenforced and open to interpretation.

Regulations are needed to bring these critical sections into force, says a Health Canada press release released Sept. 30.

The government says it will address regulations governing testing and screening egg donors, the safety of donor semen and to clarify eligible reimbursable expenses.

While a crackdown could stop blatant payment demands  like those made by Barbe-Daoust  industry stakeholders warn it could also disqualify many Canadian women who dont want to be a surrogate if it costs their families money.

I understand not being paid or having your phone bill not covered, but if nothing is, I definitely wouldnt, says Alexandria Faith Carter, an Ottawa-based surrogate. Im not doing it for the reimbursement, but having security for my family is very important.

Section 12 of the act  which is not in force  says intended parents must not reimburse their surrogate for an expenditure incurred by her in relation to her surrogacy unless expressly permitted by regulations that have yet to be drafted.

Health Minister Jane Philpott declined interview requests from the Star seeking clarity on what those regulations might allow  or ban  when it comes to surrogacy expenses.

A written statement provided to the Star offers little hint: While the AHR Act prohibits payment for surrogacy, new regulations will clarify the eligible expenses related to surrogacy that may be reimbursed.

Family and fertility lawyer Shirley Levitan sys the issue is a legal landmine.

If the regulations are going to remove that grey and make it black and white, thats helpful. But if its going to be restrictive, its going to be a problem. Its going to limit an already small population who is willing to help couples in this way. Its quite tragic. The consequences of this is pretty heart-wrenching stuff.

While it remains unclear which direction the government will go, Toronto fertility lawyer Sara Cohen has a bad feeling.

My gut is this is really bad for many reasons, she says. Generally, I want clarity. But I dont think we should be criminalizing people who are trying to have children. By providing these regulations, were giving teeth to the criminal law and prohibition.

Sally Rhoads-Heinrich, owner of Canada Surrogacy Online, one of the countrys largest surrogacy agencies, says any government moves to heavily restrict payment of expenses will, dramatically affect the number of women choosing to be surrogates in Canada.

It has serious potential for exploitation and harm. Many women who apply to be surrogates in Canada are in a lower socio-economic bracket. They could easily fall into bankruptcy or financial disaster because the pregnancy causes them to lose employment (through complications or sickness) or they fail to gain employment as pregnancy discrimination is unfortunately alive and well in the workplace.

Surrogates backlash

Most of the surrogates the Star interviewed said they wouldnt be able to carry on as a surrogate if they are not reimbursed.

Ottawa-based surrogate Shell Patton says banning all expenses would stop her from volunteering for surrogacy again.

Im donating my time and body, she says. If this were the case, Id be paying to have someone elses baby . . . how does that make sense?

Newfoundlander Terrilyn Meehan is about to be impregnated with egg and sperm she will carry for a gay couple from London, U.K.

She says the prospects of limiting reimbursement of expensesfor surrogates  on top of nonpayment for their time and efforts in delivering children for others  will send prospective surrogates in Canada running.

We are trying to help peoples dreams come true but we shouldnt have to make our families suffer to do so, she says. Its going to cause a lot of surrogates to drop out. And we wont be having any new ones. Its crazy that it should cost a surrogate to not only give her body and possibly her life in birth but not even cover her lost wages.

And the stress of having to manage the expenses of a surrogacy pregnancy could undermine the health of the mother and child, she says.

Why add more stress by making them worry if they can pay their bills? It does not make sense at all.

Childless Canadians will be left with three options, Rhoads-Heinrich says: Finding a family or friend to carry their baby; go to the U.S. and pay tens of thousands of dollars in a commercial surrogacy industry; or go underground.

My fear is this will cause illegal payments of cash/gifts to surrogates out of complete and utter desperation.

Here are some updates on the three surrogacy teams the Star is following over a 10-month period

Team USA

Baby Vivian, who was delivered this week from Peterborough surrogate Trudy Lalone, defied one-in-365 odds.

She was born Oct. 4  Lalones birthday.

Yes very exciting times here, says Lalone, who delivered after three hours of labour. Vivian weighed in at 8 lbs. 2 oz.

Floridian dads Paul and Steve were right there.

Paul and Steve have not stopped smiling since she arrived, Lalone told the Star in an email the morning after the delivery. I had my sister, Sherry, in as support and she was an amazing support. She got to experience the joys of seeing a couple become a family while shedding a tear or two.

Steve and Paul brought their new daughter home to the house they rented near Peterborough for the month while paperwork is completed to bring her back to Florida with them.

We are over the moon and falling in love with our little girl, says Steve. She is a very mellow, happy, hungry good sleeper. Our families and friends have been asking for pics faster than we can take them. Half the time we just sit there and stare at her in disbelief that after our long journey she is finally here. It has taken a lot of planning, hoping and searching and we are so happy that we have been given such an amazing opportunity to be her dads.

Steves parents are visiting this weekend and Pauls parents are coming shortly thereafter to join together as a big family with a new addition.

Team Spain

Spanish couple Michael Serwa and Jordi Piqueras are experiencing every foreign intended parents nightmare: what if your government wont recognize your baby?

Noa will be a foreigner in her own country. She wont be truly Canadian nor will she be truly Spanish, reads a panicked Whatsapp message from Serwa who is expecting his daughter Jan. 11, 2017.

Everything went fine until we told them its a surrogate baby, writes Serwa. Then suddenly they told us they cant help non-residents of Canada.

In an email from the embassy dated Sept. 22, the embassy wrote they were authorized to help only Spanish citizens who live in their constituency, or in some cases are passing through the constituency, but not those who actually live in Spain.

Serwa says the embassys lack of interest in helping them went so far as them mis-addressing that particular note to James, not Jordi.

They arent the only foreign intended parents who have faced this roadblock.

We get a lot of this, says Toronto fertility lawyer Sara Cohen. A lot of places wont recognize surrogacy. Generally, what has to happen is they have to go back (home) and . . . adopt their own child.

Serwa and Piqueras are left with one option: to fly Noa back to Spain on a Canadian passport after she is born and wait until they can battle their way through the red tape.

They also face another headache: without the Spanish government recognizing Noa as their child, neither father is allowed to take paternity leave.

I will have to use up all my vacation days and once they are used up I will have to go on unpaid leave, says Serwa, which is also hard when you have just paid several bills for the surrogacy.

Team Australia

On Wednesday morning Kitchener, Ont., surrogate Paula Capa had a video chat with her Australian intended parents, Caryn and David Crabb.

On Sept. 28, Capa was impregnated with two embryos made with sperm and eggs from two Toronto donors. This is the trios third attempt at a successful transfer and the wait to find out if it worked was no less anxious.

We are all very excited and nervous all at the same time, wrote Caryn in an email to the Star.

On Oct. 5, Capa took a pregnancy test as Caryn and David waited on the other end of the line.

The two tests were negative.

We all thought this was it this time around. I honestly thought so, said Capa. We changed up what we did before, during and after transfer time and I felt so good about it. I operated under the assumption that I was indeed pregnant, so when we got the negatives again it was heartbreaking.

Next week Paula will go for a blood test to confirm the results of the at-home tests. Then its onwards and upwards to the next transfer; the date of which is still to be decided.

We still have two precious embryos needing us, wrote Caryn. It is amazing how much love and support we have.

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ISTANBULKurdish militants detonated a car bomb Sunday outside a military checkpoint in southeast Turkey, killing ten soldiers and eight civilians, the prime minister said. Turkey immediately launched a military operation against the rebels in response.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim gave the death toll during a press conference in Istanbul and condemned the attack.

For the stability of our country, we will continue doing everything we can to save our homeland and our nation from the forces of terrorism, he said.

Cuneyit Orhan Toprak, governor of Hakkari province where the attack took place, told that private news channel NTV that 27 others wounded in the attack were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Eleven of them were soldiers, the Turkish military said.

Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency, citing a statement by the Turkish Armed Forces, said the attack occurred at 9:45 a.m. outside a Gendarmerie checkpoint on the Semdinli-Yuksekova highway and was the work of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. The checkpoint is 20 kilometres from the town of Semdinli.

Toprak said the attackers first opened fire on the soldiers at the checkpoint to distract them before driving up a minivan containing about 5 tons of explosives and detonating it. The explosion produced a crater 15 metres wide and 7 metres deep. An infantry station located behind the checkpoint also suffered heavy damage.

Turkish authorities imposed a temporary blackout on coverage of the attack, citing public order and national security reasons.

Energy Minister Berat Albayrak condemned the attack during a speech in Istanbul.

I would like to remind all friendly countries that there is great need to take a common stance and display solidarity against terrorism, he said.

Turkey has been rocked by a wave of bomb attacks since last summer that have killed hundreds of people and been blamed on either the PKK or the Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL.

Fighting between the PKK and the state security forces resumed last year after the collapse of a fragile 2 -year cease-fire. Since then, more than 600 Turkish security personnel and thousands of PKK militants have been killed in clashes, according to the Anadolu Agency.

Rights groups say hundreds of civilians have also been killed in the fighting.

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When the Arab Spring came to Egypt in 2011, Khaled Al-Qazzaz was full of hope for the countrys future.

Instead, he and his wife Sarah Attia were caught up in a three-year nightmare that left them and their four young children struggling to recover from emotional scars  and Al-Qazzaz from serious physical injuries that may require years of rehabilitation.

A Canadian permanent resident and University of Toronto engineering graduate, he was arrested while serving as an aide to Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi, who was ousted in a military-backed coup in July 2013.

Now back home in Mississauga, 37-year-old Al-Qazzaz recounted the ordeal that continued even after his release without charge in January 2015.

The hardest parts were when I was separated from my children, not being able to make them feel safe, he said. And never knowing what was going to happen in the future. I was totally cut off from the outside world.

Al-Qazzaz and Attia  a Canadian who was born in North York  met during graduate studies at U of T. Both deeply involved in human rights and social justice issues, they fell in love and married in 2004.

On the eve of Egypts 2011 Tahrir Square revolution they were in Cairo, helping Khaleds ailing father to run a chain of private schools. Sarah became a school principal and ran volunteer programs in orphanages and homes for the elderly.

So many new opportunities opened up, said Al-Qazzaz. What we taught in the schools had more meaning. And with our experiences across cultures we could bridge the gap between Egyptians and people in other countries.

When the first free elections were called, in 2012, Al-Qazzaz was excited by the prospect of a new era of democracy and respect for human rights in Egypt.

Although he had not been involved in politics and was not a member of Morsis Muslim Brotherhood movement, he believed that after deposed president Hosni Mubaraks authoritarian rule ended, at last it was possible to have direct access to real, positive social change. Everything we hoped for we could do.

Al-Qazzazs language skills and experience in Canada, as well as with social justice issues, made him an asset for the newly elected government and he agreed to became Morsis foreign affairs adviser and a liaison with foreign officials. He helped to start a human rights office, headed by a woman, and prepared to open a branch of the UN womens agency.

But his dreams of a democratic future melted down as anger against Morsi rose and massive demonstrations against him began. Morsi was accused of autocratic and incompetent rule and failing to restore security. The economy declined and voters felt betrayed.

The backlash turned violent when Morsi supporters took to the streets, sparking a bloody crackdown by security forces. Hundreds were killed and more than 40,000 suspected Morsi sympathizers arrested, as well as curious bystanders.

It was a dramatic end to Al-Qazzazs hopes. Along with Morsi and others working for the government he was arrested, then held in a military administration building for more than five months in secret.

When he was arrested it was his birthday, and we had a cake for him, said Attia. Khaleds last message was forgive me, I chose to stay. 

For five months her efforts to learn her husbands fate came to nothing and he was unable to contact her. Then he was taken to the maximum security wing of Cairos feared Tora Prison, known as the Scorpion.

It was designed especially for political prisoners, its brutal conditions widely documented. In a recent report, Human Rights Watch said that among other abuses, inmates are isolated, beaten and denied food and medicine.

For 11 months, Al-Qazzaz was locked in solitary confinement in an insect-infested, unventilated two-by-three metre cell with no natural light, his possessions taken away and even books and writing material forbidden.

At first he slept on a dirty concrete floor, which severely damaged his spine, and left him in constant pain. Later he was allowed a sort of mattress.

The only thing I could do was talk to other prisoners, through (a slot) in the cell, he said. One of them was Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy.

The conditions were so grim that even after Attia found where he was being held, she hesitated to take her children to visit him. Meanwhile, the authorities could find no case against Al-Qazzaz  but refused to release him.

I had injuries to seven vertebrae, said Al-Qazzaz. The sanitary conditions were terrible and I had skin and stomach problems. My health was deteriorating. After nearly a year of isolation and threatened by paralysis he was taken to a private hospital, but under detention.

Finally, in January 2015, he was released. But in April, when the family attempted to fly to Toronto, they were turned back. In spite of assurances that there were no charges against Al-Qazzaz, he was barred from leaving the country.

Money saved for his medical care in Canada was confiscated and the couples bank accounts frozen  a situation that continues in spite of court orders for the return of the funds.

The Egyptian authorities eventually allowed him to leave in August, on medical and humanitarian grounds.

Al-Qazzaz credits Foreign Minister Stephane Dion for his return to Canada, which was granted after Dions diplomatic visit to Egypt in May  as well as thousands of supporters throughout the world who campaigned for his exit. The government at different levels was very helpful, he said. They even escorted Sarah and the kids to make sure they were safe.

Since his return he is struggling to regain his health. A tall man with a large frame, he lost 65 kilograms since his prison ordeal and is under medical care.

Children Abdelrahman, 10, Amena, 8, Fatema, 6, and Tahrir, 4, are also readjusting to life in Canada. The little one, Tahrir, didnt even know Khaled at first, because she was so small when he was taken away, said Attia. But they are happy here. Theyre with friends and cousins, theyre back in their schools. But they still have a lot of fears.

The couple has launched an NGO to promote democracy and human rights, the Al-Qazzaz Foundation for Education and Development.

Our first project is to provide education as well as mental-health services for underprivileged communities that dont have them, said Al-Qazzaz. Thats where the biggest need is. Going through this experience we understand that. Its what needs to be done so that people, whoever they are, can have a better future.

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Authorities say a Virginia Beach middle school teacher is facing charges after he became upset at an eighth-grader and wrote the word focus on the students forehead.

According to the Virginian-Pilot, Daniel Board had just started working at Landstown Middle School when the incident occurred last month. The 46-year-old math teacher got upset with the student for asking questions and not focusing in class, according to a criminal complaint cited by the paper.

Board, who was arrested and charged Monday with misdemeanour assault and battery, kept the student from wiping the word off his forehead until he finished his school work, the Virginia-Pilot reported.

In a statement sent to The Washington Post, Virginia Beach City Public Schools Superintendent Aaron Spence said the incident is a painful reminder that harm is not always physical.

Without question, this action was humiliating for the student and made him the subject of ridicule, Spence said. Certainly, it showed a lack of judgment and empathy on the teachers part, and is at odds with our divisions core values.

The incident occurred Sept. 16. School officials began an investigation after finding out about it three days later, according to media reports.

No one from the Virginia Beach Police Department was available for comment on Saturday.

District spokeswoman Eileen Cox told local reporters that Board, who started working for school district in August, was placed on unpaid administrative leave late last month. He resigned from his job on Thursday.

Efforts to reach Board by phone were unsuccessful.

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Kashmiri youth rescued a soldier, who got trapped in a mangled army truck, after the driver lost control while crossing Srinagar bypass.

By India Today Web Desk: For over past two months, clashes between locals and security forces have dominated the reports coming from Kashmir Valley. But, on Sunday, a video emerged which showed Kashmiri youth rescuing an army jawan, who was trapped inside a mangled vehicle.

According to police an army vehicle met an accident on Srinagar Bypass road near Lasjan area of the city. The army truck veered off the road after the driver lost control and hit a tree, a police official said.

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LOCALS RUSH FOR HELP

The police official said that one soldier was trapped inside the badly damaged vehicle and efforts of other army men to evacuate him did not fructify.

"Local Kashmiri youth rushed to the spot and managed to bring the injured army jawan out by placing a truck next to the damaged army vehicle," the official said.

Some passersby shot the entire incident on their mobile phones. The video of the incident has been widely shared on 'youtube' and other social networking sites.

WATCH VIDEO HERE

#WATCH Locals rescue army jawans in Lasjan area after army truck met with an accident near Srinagar highway (J&K) (Source: Amateur video) pic.twitter.com/vZ5lpDsadR ANI (@ANI_news) October 9, 2016

MISPLACED MISTRUST?

The incident occurred at a time when there have been reports of unrest, which has claimed 84 lives and thousands others injured in clashes between protestors and security forces. It was being said that there was deep mistrust between the locals and the armed forces. Sunday's incident belied that notion.

Earlier in September, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had said that only five per cent people were involved in the ongoing unrest. She had blamed the separatists for creating a false image of the protests that erupted after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

In July itself, local residents of Bijbehara in south Kashmir Anantnag district defied curfew to rescue over 20 Amarnath pilgrims whose vehicle had met an accident during the beginning of the current unrest.









--- ENDS ---
The Mounties may have thought this past week that they had finally put a stop to years of bad publicity over bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment. After all, RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson had just tearfully delivered an apology and announced the government had set aside $100 million for payouts in two class-action lawsuits involving hundreds of female officers.

But, in reality, the test of their ability to deal with a force marred by misogyny for the past 42 years  since women were first allowed to become Mounties  is just beginning. And one might wonder whether Commissioner Paulson is up to the task.

The commissioner sounded truly sorry when he said: To all the women, I stand humbly before you today and solemnly offer our sincere apology. You came to the RCMP wanting to personally contribute to your community and we failed you.

But Paulson has headed up the force since 2011 and so far has failed to stop the harassment he acknowledged back then, despite ongoing efforts.

Indeed, in 2012 he had to be prodded by then-public safety minister Vic Toews to create a hard plan within two weeks to reverse troubling gender bias in the force.

That year he also promised that new legislation would help him get rid of rotten apples in the force by beefing up disciplinary measures and making it easier to fire offenders. That was followed in 2013 by a 37-point plan to stop harassment.

More recently, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale asked the RCMP watchdog, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission, to revisit the issue of bullying and harassment in the force. And the commission itself is now looking at whether recommendations it made three years ago have been implemented.

One wonders how much has really changed in the past five years. As recently as this past July, the Mounties were once again apologizing for failing to deal properly with a sexual misconduct and harassment scandal at its explosives training unit, after a damning review turned up more allegations of inappropriate behaviour by bomb instructors at the Canadian Police College.

Nor has the force been supportive or sympathetic to the hundreds of female officers who have had to go to court to fight ongoing harassment. In 2012, when Cpl. Catherine Galliford became the first female Mountie to sue the force over harassment, bullying and assault, the force tried mightily to undermine her credibility before finally settling with her last spring.

To be fair, misogyny was deeply embedded in the force when Paulson took over. And, with his apology, he announced promising new initiatives to end harassment in the force. Among them:

National and divisional advisory committees to advise the commissioner and divisional commanding officers on issues related to gender, sexual orientation, harassment, equity and inclusivity.

An annual public report to be issued by the national advisory committee to which the RCMP will openly respond.

Mandatory anti-harassment training in the cadet program.

Continued recruitment initiatives to meet targets of 30 per cent women in regular member positions and 30 per cent in executive officer positions by 2025. (Currently the numbers stand at 21.5 per cent and 11.2.)

It all sounds like a step forward. Still, Goodale should be watching very closely. If harassment of female officers continues, he should consider three things: establishing a civilian oversight body to ensure new anti-harassment policies are being followed; creating an ombudsmans position to give officers someone they can trust to follow up on their complaints; and appointing a new commissioner.

In 2012, former minister Toews warned Paulson: The time for review and report . . . has passed. To that we can now add, long passed. The time for change is now.

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We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.

It is not known who first articulated that phrase but the sentiment captured a seismic policy shift in our political landscape this past week as the Liberal government, supported by the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois, voted 207-81, to endorse the Paris agreement on Climate Change, a legally binding pact reached by nearly 200 countries.

The agreement seeks to alter and limit the rate of greenhouse gas emissions while building robust global mechanisms to withstand the effects of climate change.

The vote symbolizes a radical change in tone and attitude for Canada. It was only 5 years ago, in 2011, that Peter Kent, the former Conservative Party Minister of the Environment, abandoned Canadas original commitment to the Kyoto Protocol, a predecessor to the Paris Agreement.

However, the vote was not the only change in direction for the government. Federal provincial relations were shaken up when the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also chose to announce a phase-in period for carbon pricing, just as provincial environment ministers were meeting in Montreal with their federal counterpart, Catherine McKenna, the Minister of the Environment.

What followed was predictable. Allegations and accusations that the government was imposing a carbon tax were thundered back and forth in Question Period. Several provincial environment ministers left the Montreal meeting in protest of the timing and the substance of Trudeaus announcement, while others who either already have a carbon tax or a cap and trade program, remained.

Perhaps the PMO was fed up and therefore, with nearly a year of meetings on this issue, decided on a shock and awe strategy. Only time will tell whether that type of behaviour stands the government in good stead for future negotiations with the provinces. However, whatever the reasons for doubling down on both the announcement and the vote, no one should have been surprised.

Decades of wrangling and exhaustive attempts at some kind of solution to global warming preceded this weeks actions. Different models had been tried with varying success. For example, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework on Climate Change, designed after years of negotiations, attempted to place a heavy burden on 41 developed countries plus the European Union, to commit to emission reductions while China, India and South Africa, as developing countries, were only encouraged to reduce their targets. Understandably, the U.S. Senate voted against Kyoto in a 95-0 vote, denying its ratification.

As Kyoto struggled with a framework between nations, individual voices were becoming louder. In 2006, former Vice President Al Gore released his widely acclaimed, Academy Award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth, which served as an early warning signal about global warming. Simultaneously, his book was published and was immediately popular with both consumers and educators.

In addition, Pope Francis published a highly influential encyclical that called for action against climate change. Finally, the general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation wryly repeated that there are no jobs on a dead planet.

The turning point was last December in Paris. This time, there were no distinctions between countries. All nations agreed to the long term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2C above pre industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5C. Signed by every country, Paris effectively replaced Kyoto.

The key now is implementation. Canada must do its share, whether individuals or provinces disagree.

Our ancestors worked our land and our waters. Others extracted from the environment and still others worked hard to protect it. But no matter if you are a farmer, a miner or an environmentalist, Canadians loves a quiet canoe paddle on a beautiful river, a shivering dive off a cottage dock into a lake, an exhilarating lift on a gondola to the top of a majestic mountain, or a stunning bike ride along the shores of one of our oceans. We also enjoy our 41 National Parks and 171 heritage sites, all of which will be free to the public for Canada 150.

Those who oppose a price on pollution may be correct. The cost of protecting our environment is not yet quite clear. But the price of not protecting it is unthinkable. It is priceless.

Handed over to us for generations, we are the stewards of our land, not its owners. It is our responsibility to nurture it for our children and grandchildren. Its now . . . or never.

Penny Collenette is an adjunct professor of law at the University of Ottawa and was a senior director of the Prime Ministers Office for Jean Chretien.

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Army National Guardsmen assist with evacuation efforts over the weekend during torrential rains from Hurricane Matthew in Fayetteville, N.C. (Staff Sgt. Jonathan Shaw/Army National Guard via AFP/Getty Images)

Hurricane Matthew has left at least 11 dead in North Carolina, Gov. Pat McCrory said Monday, pushing the death toll across the Southeast to at least 22 even as the weakening storm still carried dangers of flooding.

Five people also remained missing in Johnson and Cumberland counties, while thousands across North Carolina still lacked power after the storm struck Sunday with downpours and high winds in its slow march up the Atlantic coast, McCrory (R) told reporters.

McCrory warned that flooding remained an acute threat to people across central and eastern North Carolina.

The people who live near rivers, streams and levees need to be extremely careful, he warned, stressing that this would extend through much of the week.

He said that in Lumberton  a small city about 70 miles inland  about 1,500 residents were stranded by flooding, with some stuck on roofs.

Footage captured by residents along the North Carolina coast shows flooded streets and houses in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. (Erin Patrick O'Connor/The Washington Post)

Helicopters, boats and swift water teams are going very heavily to that area, McCrory said.

[Rescue teams surprisingly busy away from coast]

The latest confirmed victim was a 75-year-old man whose body was found in his car in an area of Gates County that was inundated by floodwaters, the state Emergency Operations Center reported. The car was discovered when the floodwaters began to recede Monday.

McCrory said the Federal Aviation Administration had issued temporary flight restrictions to keep the airspace over Lumberton clear for helicopters involved in rescue missions and pleaded with people not to send drones to the region.

I cannot stress that more, he said. The drone is a whole new technology, but it can be a very dangerous technology also in this type of situation.

Across the region, officials have also blamed Hurricane Matthew for six deaths in Florida, three in Georgia and one death each in Virginia and South Carolina. In the Caribbean, hundreds of deaths in Haiti have been attributed to the storm, and contaminated water is causing an outbreak of cholera there.

Even after the storm was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Sunday and it moved out to sea, officials warned that the worst is not over. It could be days before waters crest and repair crews are able to reach all of those who have been affected, they said.

1 of 33 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  See photos of the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew along the East Coast View Photos Matthew knocked out power to more than 2 million people and has been blamed for more than a dozen deaths. Caption Matthew knocked out power to more than 1.3 million people and has been blamed for more than a dozen deaths. Oct. 10, 2016 National Guard Sgt. Jeremy Stellhorn carries Cathalawa Olivia, 2, through floodwater as part of a rescue of residents of a mobile home park in Lumberton, N.C. Jonathan Drake/Reuters Wait 1 second to continue.

Significant flooding continues in parts of South and North Carolina, according to the National Weather Service. Up to 20 inches of rain have been reported in some areas, with more expected.

Officials in North Carolina had feared a repeat of 1999s Hurricane Floyd, the states worst natural disaster, a weeks-long event that destroyed whole communities. As with Floyd, Matthew followed a prolonged period of rain in eastern and central North Carolina.

A day and a half ago, we warned that this was going to be like Hurricane Floyd, McCrory said. I was afraid we were exaggerating. Now, people in eastern North Carolina are telling us we may have underestimated it.

By Sunday, strong winds had toppled trees through much of the central region of the state, knocking out power to about 770,000 homes. In Raleigh, the dam at Lake Benson was breached. Forty-three counties declared local states of emergency, and 4,200 people were in shelters.

More than 1,700 people have been rescued in North Carolina. Were still rescuing people, said Michael Martin, a battalion chief with the Fayetteville Fire Department, on Sunday. In the early hours of the storm, most of those rescued were motorists, he said, but as floodwaters rose, teams started evacuating people trapped in homes.

Local officials expect the wreckage to get worse through the next few days, following the pattern of Hurricane Floyd. A massive wall of water will flow east to the Atlantic, flooding the same towns and submerging the same low-lying communities along the creeks and rivers. It would be the second 500-year flood event in the region in two decades.

Communities along the Tar River, where Floyds floodwaters dealt their most serious blow, are facing the same or worse. The river is due to crest at record levels early this week in Princeton, a small, historic African American community that was almost completely submerged in 1999 and whose rebuilding was an emblem of recovery.

Those towns and cities that are in the way of this massive water coming down are in danger as we speak, McCrory said in a briefing Sunday afternoon.

On Sunday, the Cape Fear River at Manchester near Fayetteville stood at 31 feet, two feet above its record. By Friday, that water is expected to flood more than 200 structures in the town of Burgaw, about 75 miles downriver. Heavy flooding now in Raleigh is flowing into the Neuse River and is due in Kinston on Friday at a level one foot above the record set in 1999.

Kinston is preparing for the worst flooding theyve ever seen, McCrory said.

Residents of the southeastern coast of North Carolina emerged shaken after two days of intense wind and rain.

Dave Sinclair, owner of the Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar at Carolina Beach, ventured out with his two children during a lull in the storm to survey the damage. As they watched the waves claw at the coastline, Sinclair said he told his children to respect Hurricane Matthews power even in its weakened state. I told them, Guys, this is barely a 1, keep this in mind,  Sinclair said. These are intensely powerful storms.

In South Carolina, where nearly 650,000 people are without power, state and city officials are urging residents to stay away as authorities assess the damage to bridges and roadways. Communities such as Folly Beach and Sullivans Island remained closed to residents who had evacuated from their homes days earlier.

Nearly three feet of water threatened homes in downtown Charleston, and several streets were under about a foot of water as residents came out to start cleaning up. The flooding brought dirt, trash and debris onto the carefully manicured lawns and front porches of homes in the historic city.

[Matthew leads to power outages, widespread flooding in southeast Virginia]

While Charleston is beginning to clean up, coastal communities to its south remain under evacuation orders, state officials said.

Residents in parts of Georgetown and Horry counties have not been allowed to return home.

Several coastal roads were impassable, blocked by fallen trees and debris, local officials said. Meanwhile, sand dunes were washed away on the beach, and roofs were lifted off homes.

It looks like the areas further south were the worst-hit. We arent completely sure and assessments are ongoing, said Derrec Becker, a spokesman for the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.

The storm hugged the Florida coast, delivering a severe downpour and strong winds that downed trees for hundreds of miles and left 1.1 million people without power, but Matthew didnt make landfall and cause the level of damage some local officials had feared. We are blessed that Hurricane Matthew did not make landfall in Florida, but there has been significant damage across our east coast, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) said in a tweet on Sunday.

Still, it reduced Floridas scenic Atlantic Coast Highway or A1A  the economic lifeline of the states small beach towns  to an impassable pile of concrete and asphalt rubble. The National Guard is preventing access to the southernmost tip of Crescent Beach, where the storm chewed up A1A, leaving eight-foot holes in some places.

And in St. Augustine, the oldest city in the country, the wreckage is severe. Flagler College and City Hall, which both date to 1888, are waterlogged. Trees are down and power is out.

In the Davis Shores neighborhood of St. Augustine, some residents put the entire contents of their homes on their lawns to be thrown away because of contamination from raw sewage and water, said Mayor Nancy Shaver, who toured the area.

But forget property and businesses, Shaver said. We came so close to losing many lives.

In Georgia, the damage also was not as bad as local officials feared. Thirty counties have been declared federal disaster areas, and residents should continue to stay away from St. Simon Island. It is considered a public health hazard due to raw sewage on the streets, said Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R).

Deal, who surveyed the area between Savannah and Brunswick by helicopter, said he  was pleasantly surprised on what I saw.

We have been very fortunate. I am grateful, he said.

Ross reported from Fayetteville, N.C.; Hernandez in Charleston, S.C.; Merle in St. Augustine, Fla. Sharon Dunten in Brunswick, Ga., and Mark Berman in Washington contributed to this report.
Storm surge and rainwater burst the banks of Colonial Lake and partially submerging park benches after Hurricane Matthew hit Charleston, S.C.

Oct. 8, 2016 Storm surge and rainwater burst the banks of Colonial Lake and partially submerging park benches after Hurricane Matthew hit Charleston, S.C. Jonathan Drake/Reuters

The strongest hurricane to menace the United States in a decade is continuing its trek north as it rumbles near the coastline.

The strongest hurricane to menace the United States in a decade is continuing its trek north as it rumbles near the coastline.

The strongest hurricane to menace the United States in a decade is continuing its trek north as it rumbles near the coastline.

Hurricane Matthew reduced Floridas scenic Atlantic Coast Highway  the economic lifeline of the states small beach towns  to an impassable pile of concrete and asphalt rubble after the powerful storm surge washed away sand dunes and earth supporting the roadway.

Large chunks of the northbound lanes tumbled and caved into the beach below, causing local law enforcement to shut access to about six miles of A1A. While most of the state, which reported four storm-related deaths, escaped the most dire predictions of the hurricanes potential wreckage, it left many communities along a 35-mile strip of the northeast coast in shambles.

It looks like a war-torn area, said Patti King, whose home is just a few blocks from one damaged stretch of the highway. Its shocking. Entire parts of the road buckled and fell into the sand. Most of the homes survived, but the road didnt.

From Flagler Beach, a tiny town known for its pristine, unobstructed views of the ocean, to St. Augustine, which claims the distinction of being Americas oldest city, Matthew ripped power lines and large oak trees out of the ground and flooded neighborhoods. On Vilano Beach, houses collapsed onto the beach, according to a city official.

No community may have been more affected than Flagler Beach. The close-knit town of classic cinder-block houses has successfully fought commercial development to preserve the mom-and-pop restaurants and shops that give it the Old-Florida vibe lost in other places. But developers are not a Category 4 hurricane, which this part of Florida had not seen in decades.

Hurricane Matthew knocked down trees and flooded roads in parts of Georgia and South Carolina as it continued its trek north along the Atlantic coast. (Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post)

Structurally, most of the towns homes and businesses fared well, save a few roof shingles and toppled fences. The beach, however, was destroyed. The dunes, the walkways, the right of way and nearly half of the roadway  gone.

After the storm passed, authorities soon realized the highway was gone, too. The state had recently reinforced parts of the roadway, but they were swept away by the force of wind and water.

Its going to be a lot of work, said Jim Troiano, spokesman for the Flagler County Sheriffs Office, as he surveyed the damage along A1A on Saturday.

Florida National Guardsmen were stationed at the border of Flagler and Volusia counties to keep traffic from trying to navigate the unstable road. Frustrated residents attempted to negotiate their way home only to be devastated by what they saw.

This is pure heartbreak, Flagler Beach resident Amy Glenn said. The ocean can wash away our beaches and roads but not our memories.

Nurse Terri Brendle said she had never seen anything like it.

Next weekend is Biketoberfest, a huge motorcycle rally in Floridas coastal towns that typically draws tens of thousands of bikers. With the A1A closed through this stretch, traffic will have to be diverted.





We are going to lose a lot of business, said Tony Lulgjuraj, who owns a local business with his brother. State officials said repairing and fortifying the roadway could take months.

Farther north along A1A is Crescent Beach, which sits on a narrow strip of land with the ocean on one side and the Mantanzas River on the other. Some homes there flooded with more than three feet of water. On one lot, only the stilts remained.

In the Summer Haven neighborhood, the hurricane tossed around heavy boulders put in place a few years ago to reinforce an old road in the area. Some ended up in residents yards.

It was a solid mass of water and foam and debris. I saw pieces of the old highway float by, said Bill Meeler, who watched the storm from his beachside home.

Then there was the Hut, a popular beach house that dates to the 1800s. The storm ripped away parts of its front, toppling a coquina stone fireplace and fully exposing the claw-foot tub.

My heart is breaking. This was my childhood stomping ground, said Liz Bennett, who had come to check on her mothers property nearby.

Still farther north, in St. Augustine, four National Guard troopers in camouflage and with rifles slung over their shoulders blocked cars from driving across the Bridge of Lions from the historic downtown to the barrier islands there. Some residents walked or biked across the bridge, surfboards under their arms.

As of Saturday evening, there was no power or sewage service, and some parts of the city lacked water service, Mayor Nancy Shaver said. The city suffered significant damage, but it would have been worse if not for a 20-mile shift in Matthews path out to sea as it neared St. Augustine, she said.

We will make them shine again, she said of the City Hall building and a historic church. We are 451 years old. We expect to get to 452.

Meanwhile, just a few miles away, there was another kind of damage assessment underway.

First United Methodist Church ships hundreds of pumpkins in from New Mexico every year for its annual youth-group fundraiser. But the storm scattered the stockpile over several blocks. Some pumpkins rested in the parking lot of the burger restaurant down the street, while others were discovered badly scabbed and broken at a nearby gas station.

They just floated away, said Lauren Birkhimer, 17.

About a quarter of the pumpkins are believed to be lost forever, while others may be too damaged to be sold, group members said. Were still assessing the damage, said Birkhimer, the co-president of the youth group. Its our biggest fundraiser of the year.

Susan Cooper Eastman in St. Augustine and Lacey McLaughlin in Daytona Beach contributed to this report.
Muriel Hasbun. "Homage," 2013. El Congo, archival pigment print, 2015. (Muriel Hasbun/Civilian Art Projects)

From opposite walls, Muriel Hasbun and Janine Janowski speak to each other in Calling to You. The daughter-mother conversation at the heart of the Civilian Art Projects exhibition is complicated. Two pairs of lips, Hasbuns and Janowskis, seen on computer screens, begin two sets of photographs. The first is by Hasbun, documenting her late mothers life and art gallery in El Salvador. The second is by Caroline Lacey, Hasbuns former student. It chronicles Janowskis gallery, as well as the bygone Corcoran Gallery of Art, where Hasbun taught and Lacey studied.

The dialogue proceeds by individual images but also overall impressions. Hasbuns photographs are larger and darker, with intense reds and blues, and are framed in black. Laceys are somewhat smaller, as well as lighter in hue, and are in white frames. Although each set includes interior shots, Laceys pictures appear sunnier.

Some of hers are also more immediate, at least to viewers familiar with Washingtons art scene, because they poignantly depict the emptying of the Corcoran. One shows the temporary wooden ramp down which artworks were removed from the building. Another depicts a white wall thats blank, save for the words Please Do Not Touch, a plea to preserve the art at an institution that itself was not preserved.

Both photographers make images of images. The wispy clouds in a Lacey picture are actually from an Edward Hopper painting; Hasbun rephotographs old family snapshots and her mothers passport picture. The content and purpose of the original object is not always clear, signifying the loss of understanding as the past recedes.

Nothing in these photos explicitly says that Janowski was a Holocaust survivor, born in Paris in 1940 and hidden as a child. Or that she became a champion of the art of the nation where she moved as an adult, a country later devoured by civil war. But the pictures do connote damage, fragility and loss. Hasbuns Trace, for example, is a close-up of a spoon chest, empty except for notches in the dark green fabric. Whats missing is simple and obvious, yet evocative of far more than silverware.

Muriel Hasbun & Caroline Lacey: Calling to You On view through Oct. 22 at Civilian Art Projects, 4718 14th St. NW. 202-607-3804. civilianartprojects.com.



Michael Janis. "Radiance," 2016, glass, glass powder imagery, steel; on view at Maurine Littleton Gallery. (Michael Janis/Maurine Littleton Gallery)

Michael Janis

If Michael Janis worked with pencil or charcoal, his draftsmanship would be impressive. But the D.C. artist draws photorealist portraits with pulverized glass, placing the powder exactly with tiny tools. Which is extraordinary.

Most of the pieces in Echoes of Leaves and Shadows, at Maurine Littleton Gallery, include depictions of pretty young women. These gamines, who might be ballerinas or French New Wave stars, are rendered in granulated black glass fused by heat to clear glass sheets. The pieces arent just black-and-clear, though. Janis overlays and underlies patches of translucent colored glass, and often adds such 3-D glass elements as butterflies or flower petals. Aqua and orange are common in this array, among other hues. In one picture, an abstract yellow-green swirl contrasts the subjects slightly darker green eyes.

Janis employs many variations, slicing faces into three equal parts or contrasting them with panels of textured glass. There are ceramic busts garlanded with glass leaves, and portraits embellished with near-opaque peacock- or dark-blue circles. The latter combine the stateliness of stained-glass windows with the vivacity of pop art  half medieval cathedral, half 1960s Vogue.

Michael Janis: Echoes of Leaves and Shadows On view through Oct. 15 at Maurine Littleton Gallery, 1667 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-333-9307. littletongallery.com.



Farrah Skieky, "Homosuperior," photograph, 2016; on view at Kaplan Gallery at VisArts at Rockville. (Farrah Skieky/VisArts at Rockville)

Noise Body Music

If Noise Body Music is thematically jumbled, that might reflect that curator Eames Armstrong designed it for his teenage self. The VisArts shows motifs include punk rock and transgender identity. But alongside the hyperkinetic videos and the pictures of a queercore band named Homosuperior are Antibody Corporations photos of abandoned buildings in Bulgaria and a black monolith whose circular openings reveal changing colors. The latter, by Nate Alex Lewis and Michael Schiffer, responds electronically to ambient noise.

The show relies heavily on audio-visual and computer gear, and some of the entries just dont fit well into a gallery format. Homosuperior member Amy kc Odens From the Back of the Room, a documentary about female punk musicians, is interesting. Its also 105 minutes, which is a long time to stand in front of a video screen in an art gallery.

Noise Body Music On view through Oct. 16 at Kaplan Gallery, VisArts at Rockville, 155 Gibbs St., Rockville. 301-315-8200. visartscenter.org. On the shows closing date, at 2 p.m., there will be a performance by Scotlands FK Alexander, whose work is excerpted in a video in the show.



Lina Hosek, "On the Eve of Orlando," 2016. (Linda Hosek/39th Street Gallery)

United in Passion and Pride

The title of the 33-artist show at 39th Street Gallery, United in Passion and Pride, omits another pertinent adjective: grief. The selection was inspired by the June massacre of 49 people at Orlandos Pulse nightclub. The pieces include such specific responses as Mark Bieraugels diagram of the club, with the location of each body marked by a red sequin, and Elisabeth Jacobsens collage-painting of an assault pistol atop a canvas fixed to its frame with 49 staples.

The majority, however, offer more general commentary on American homophobia and violence. In Rosabel Goodman-Everards 3-D version of the U.S. flag, each star contains a white-painted toy soldier. Annie Bissetts contemporary Pieta includes names of gay martyrs from long before the Orlando killings. One of the most effective entries is Damiano Durantes close-up of a man, emphasizing feet and hands. This realist painting could be seen as political only by those who would deny others their essential humanity.

United in Passion and Pride On view through Oct. 22 at 39th Street Gallery, 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Second Floor, Brentwood, Md. 202-487-8458. 39thstreetgallery.org.



Elizabeth Catlett, "Star Gazer," 1997, black marble. (Copyright Catlett Mora Family Trust/Licensed by VAGA, New York)

Elizabeth Catlett

As an African American woman, Washington-bred Elizabeth Catlett (1915-2012) struggled to become an artist in her homeland. She eventually found her way to Mexico, where she flourished as a printmaker and, later, a sculptor. Hemphill Fine Arts is now showing nine of her sculptures, mostly bronzes. All depict the heads or full bodies of vital black women, employing a streamlined realism that reflects the influence of mid-20th-century abstract sculpture.

Yet Catlett was as much a neoclassicist as a modernist, as she demonstrated by skillfully simulating soft fabric in hard metal or stone. Rather than assault tradition, she expanded it to include her vision, and women like herself.

Elizabeth Catlett On view through Oct. 29 at Hemphill Fine Arts, 1515 14th St. NW. 202-234-5601. hemphillfinearts.com.
Dear Amy: I was adopted as an infant, and through an agency I tried to contact each of my biological parents.

I have not heard back from either of my birth parents and am respecting their decision not to contact me.

I assume my contact might have come as a shock, especially to my biological father, who might not realize he had fathered a child.

I am okay with not hearing from them.

What I am confused about is the issue with my half-siblings.

As far as I know, these siblings do not know I exist.

While part of me thinks that is unfair and that they should be able to decide on their own whether or not to communicate with me, another part of me says I shouldnt contact them (even though they are adults like me).

I dont want to create any stress or tension in their families.

Is my adoption my secret to share with a potential half-sibling?

I dont want to upset anyone, but family is very important to me and I know I would want a half-sibling to find me, but maybe thats just me.

Conflicted

Conflicted: You should walk this journey carefully, and with professional, friend, and family help and support.

You have the right to try to locate and contact any family members, and with the onset of social media, as well as companies that can decode your DNA, there is a dramatically increased interest in finding bio-relatives, even among people who were not separated by adoption.

There is no right answer here, and you are appropriately sensitive to the potential impact on siblings, but you should also be mindful of the impact on you.

Are you prepared for more silence or possible outright rejection from others who are biologically related to you? If so, then you should gingerly reach out with an open heart and mind. I hope your queries are received enthusiastically and with affection, but as you know from reading this column, families are complicated.

Dear Amy: In one of your columns, you responded to a question from a reader by citing young boys punching girls in the arm as flirting.

Reader responses, which have accused you of sanctioning abuse, expose an interesting trend.

We are attaching very adult words and motivations to childrens behavior. Of course children should be taught not to hit each other, but it is not abuse. When children do this, it is because they dont understand how to express their feelings in words.

A child should not be labeled an abuser, but should be taught how to express him or herself in a socially appropriate way.

Faithful Fan

Faithful Fan: I agree with your take on this, and thank you.

In my childhood, I was a bit punchy when I liked a boy  so it isnt only boys who need to be taught that punching isnt cool.

Labeling this sort of physical contact between children as abuse is inappropriate.

Dear Amy: As a clinical psychologist, I appreciate and envy how direct you can be with your readers.

Regarding the letter from Worried Parents, I understand your suspicions about the 50-year-old man who invited the parents 19-year-old son (and other young men) on trips to see sporting events.

However, I disagree with part of your advice.

I will change the details slightly to show you why: Would you advise a concerned parent to contact and set limits on a wealthy 49-year-old man whom their 20-year-old daughter met and wants to go with on a weekend trip to New York City to shop and see Broadway shows?

I doubt it.

Sounds a bit more like a romantic movie plot, no?

I wonder if unconscious societal homophobia (i.e., the homosexual as dangerous predator of young boys) factored into your advice

But I agree that the parents  in both cases  should freely express their concerns to their child and offer their support should the need arise.

Thank you for the hours of entertaining and thought-provoking reading your column provides.

Psychologist in LA

Psychologist in LA: If you think I would perceive a 49-year-old man taking my 20-year-old daughter on a trip to New York as the plot of a romantic movie, then you have seriously misread me, as well as described the plot to the creepiest movie, ever.

Other readers worried about homophobic undertones regarding my answer, but Im not a homophobe  Im a parent with an active yikes meter, so I can handle it.
In Part II of Tony Kushners wry masterwork, Angels in America, we learn that God has left the building. The befuddled spirits whom the Lord has deserted are reduced to sitting around heaven, trying to pick up signals on a scratchy radio for what they should do next.

Theyre as rudderless, it seems, as the stressed-out mortals adrift back on Earth in a scary era of metastasizing disease  and selfishness. A time, were advised, of chaos that is badly in need of some messianic intervention, which the angels deem to be supplied in the guise of Prior Walter, a gay New Yorker ravaged by AIDS.

But Prior, in Tom Storys deeply affecting portrayal, rejects the deus ex machina role: Hes actually far more grounded than these celestial know-nothings, who are supposed to know everything. He just wants to live out whats left of his life  in, with their grace, a miraculous remission  among people he cares about.

The tale of that simple wish provides a compelling spine for the longer, and yet just as engrossing, second half of Round House Theatre and Olney Theatre Centers co-production of Angels. Kushners tapestry portrays marginalized gays, Jews, Mormons and African Americans struggling to survive and find meaningful connection in a 1980s America that offers them little help with either.

Bolstered by some extremely high-caliber performances, director Ryan Rilette picks up with aplomb at Round House where Jason Loewith, who staged Part I, left off. In this half of Kushners Pulitzer- and Tony-winning epic, several of the actors, like Story, who laid down exemplary foundations, build marvelously on what has come before. In particular, Kimberly Gilbert, as flaky, drug-addled Harper Pitt, a Mormon wife pushed away by her tormented, closeted gay husband Joe  the excellent Thomas Keegan  comes into her own in Part II, as a woman who gains courage as her dependence on a man is jolted out of her.

Sarah Marshall, too, blossoms here in the role of Joes stereotype-defying mother Hannah, whose background suggests unworldliness and suspicion but who is, in fact, open to new ideas and is heart-meltingly compassionate. In a similar vein, Jonathan Bock, playing Priors lover Louis, a cerebral if underemployed legal clerk who leaves Prior when the going gets rough (there are a lot of abandonment subplots in Angels), gives a persuasive account of Louis as he turns a corner toward responsibility and maturity. And Jon Hudson Odom as Belize, the gay nurse assigned the awful task of ministering to the dying, self-hating Roy Cohn (an at-all-times amusingly deplorable Mitchell Hebert), is downright stellar as the plays fount of gimlet-eyed wisdom.

Several major threads from the first part (called Millennium Approaches) are resolved at luxurious length in the three-hour, 40-minute second half, all having to do with the deftly developed stories of characters seeking comfort in an America rigidly resisting finding antidotes for their suffering.

This part, titled Perestroika, can feel labored as a result of lessons being hammered home: The play is bookended by declarations about a country unmoored from principles that extend beyond materialism and self-promotion. This sense of overkill reveals itself most plainly in the message-laden heaven scene late in the evening. But the sequence in which Storys Prior answers the call of his visiting angel (a majestically persuasive Dawn Ursula, descending impressively, courtesy of D2 Flying Effects) is in this case seasoned by Rilette and cast with enough humor to reduce archness to a minimum. Instead, were kind of tickled to see the actors whove been playing such singular roles all night converge at last on the stage as an ethereal chorus, in wings and robes.

Round House and Olney offer such a fully realized serving of Kushners epic that you would be inaccurate if you asserted youve had the Angels experience without seeing both. Its a big commitment, for sure. But Kushners a big thinker.

Angels in America Part II: Perestroika, by Tony Kushner. Directed by Ryan Rilette. Set, James Kronzer; projections, Clint Allen; costumes, Ivania Stack; lighting, York Kennedy; sound, Joshua Horvath; dialects, Zach Campion; fight choreography, Casey Kaleba; flying, D2 Flying Effects; stage manager, Che Wernsman. About 3 hours, 40 minutes. Tickets: $30-$75. Through Oct. 30 at Round House Theatre, 4545 East-West Hwy., Bethesda. Visit roundhousetheatre.org or call 240-644-1100.
By PTI: Warangal (Telangana), Oct 9 (PTI) Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao offered a gold crown said to be worth Rs 3.7 crore to goddess Bhadrakali here today.

Accompanied by his wife Shobha and some ministerial colleagues, Rao presented the crown weighing 11.7 kg at the Bhadrakali temple on behalf of the state government as part of Dussehra celebrations.

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Rao, popularly called KCR, had vowed to offer gold ornaments to various deities if Telangana state was created.

The Chief Minister and his wife also offered special prayers at the temple. PTI COR NRB BSA SK SK

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Sinan Zeino, 26, left his university in Syria after a bus exploded in front of him. He came to the United States to finish his schooling through a scholarship at Salve Regina University in Rhode Island. (Courtesy of Sinan Zeino)

Sinan Zeino had almost completed college when war got in the way. In 2013, Zeino was just six credits short of graduating from Al-Baath University in Syria. Then, one day on his commute to school, the bus in front of the one he was riding in drove over a land mine and exploded.

Most of the people on that bus died, I think, Zeino, 26, said. You dont know whats going on. Youre just traumatized.

Zeino returned to his home town of Masyaf, where his family told him his life was more important than school. So he dropped out and began looking for opportunities to study abroad.

That search eventually led him to a full scholarship at Salve Regina University, a small, Catholic liberal arts college in Newport, R.I. In response to the ongoing and increasingly deadly civil war in Syria, the university had established one scholarship a year for students from the Middle Eastern nation whose studies had been interrupted by the war that has killed more than 400,000 people and created a refugee crisis.

[U.S. surpasses Syrian refugee goal set by Obama, expects more next year]

We know its just a drop in the bucket in terms of the sheer scale of this and how many students need opportunities, but we felt we had to do something, said Erin FitzGerald, the schools director of international operations.

A small number of other schools have also made slots available for Syrian students, but educators and activists are worried that the higher education of an entire generation of Syrians is at risk. They say that the careers of the men and women who would one day become the countrys doctors, teachers, scientists, business leaders and artists are in jeopardy.

A growing campaign, Books Not Bombs, is appealing to colleges and universities in the United States and around the world to offer as many scholarships as possible to students from the war-ravaged country.

Currently, 28 institutions in the United States, including American University and Notre Dame of Maryland University, are taking part in the program, which is coordinated by the Institute of International Educations Syria Consortium for Higher Education in Crisis. Universities in other countries are also offering scholarships. The push is on for more schools to take part.

More than 10,000 students at colleges across the country have signed a petition asking their schools to offer scholarships. Christopher Records, a 27-year-old graduate student in public policy at the University of Southern California, has been organizing students at his campus and others to encourage participation.

This is the rare global crisis that universities can actually do something about, Records said. We can offer space and funding so that real students can come to this country and continue their education and then go back to their country and hopefully make a difference.

Hes seen an uptick in support for the campaign with the start of the fall semester, and the school is now providing six scholarships for Syrian students.

Our success at USC solidified in my mind that a lot can be accomplished in a fairly quick time when you have student and faculty support and it becomes evident that its a campus priority, Records said. The administration is generally sympathetic, so its just a matter of garnering campus support.

The Illinois Institute of Technology, Monmouth College in Illinois, Montclair State University in New Jersey and the University of Evansville in Indiana have offered the largest number of scholarships to Syrian students. Other schools, including Dartmouth, Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, DePaul in Chicago and the University of New Mexico have also provided scholarships. More than 60 institutions around the world are taking part in the program.

Arazk Khajarian is another Syrian student studying at Salve Regina. At home, her university classes had become intermittent. Students would only travel to school for exams. The 21-year-old left her home in Damascus last year to come to the United States. Shes grateful for the opportunity to study in the United States, but her optimism about what the future holds for her country is guarded.

In the long term, I do think it will become better and will eventually flourish, Khajarian said. I believe people will go back and rebuild there. But I think its far in the future.
Flooded cars are stranded on Monticello Ave. in Norfolk, Va., after heavy rains and high tides from the remnants of Hurricane Matthew on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (Steve Earley/AP)

The remnants of Hurricane Matthew pummeled the Virginia coastline overnight, bringing heavy winds, widespread flooding and power outages to the Hampton Roads region, and causing at least one death, officials said Sunday.

Late Saturday, high winds toppled a tree onto Interstate 64 in Chesapeake, Va., causing an 18-wheel tractor-trailer rig to stop on the highway. A pickup truck then slammed into the back of the rig, killing the pickup driver, according to Barbara Moore-Scruggs, a spokeswoman with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

Moore-Scruggs said she did not know how many people might have suffered storm-related injuries.

The storm halted travel in the Hampton Roads area, where many streets were left underwater, before weakening and veering off the Atlantic Coast.

Virginia Beach and Norfolk declared states of emergency, and the National Guard was called in to assist with cleanup and response effort.

Cellphone footage captured by a Virginia Beach resident shows inside one home submerged in water on Sunday, Oct. 9, after Hurricane Matthew caused severe flooding and power outages in the area. The homeowner, like many others, was forced to evacuate. City officials have declared a state of emergency. (Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post)

The storm dumped as much as 10 inches of rain on parts of Southeastern Virginia, with locally higher amounts, according to weather officials. While the hurricane was expected to bring stormy conditions and strong wind gusts, the rainfall totals were buoyed by a clash with another weather system. In the hardest-hit areas  concentrated around Hampton Roads  the ferocity of the storm caught some by surprise.

The National Weather service warned wind gusts in the area could reach about 60 mph through Sunday night.

The rain stopped, but the wind is bad and the water is continuing to rise, said Danielle Belanger, 29, from her Virginia Beach townhouse, just a block from Chesapeake Bay. High tide had not yet arrived, she said, so the flooding would get worse.

Hurricane Matthew came right over top of us, stuck there for a good amount of time, she said. Now there are a lot of trees down, a lot of flooding. It was not anticipated whatsoever.

Said Julie Hill, a spokeswoman for the city of Virginia Beach: Were seeing a little bit of everything, its downed trees, downed limbs, power lines, some debris blown around, certainly a lot of flooding. Some of the streets are impassable so we cant even get to the other sides to assess damage.

Nonetheless, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management said it was prepared for the worst.

Given that Monday and Tuesday we thought we were going to be looking at a direct hit from Hurricane Matthew, we were fully ready to handle this, said Dawn Brantley, another spokeswoman for the department. Speaking by phone from an underground bunker in Richmond, she said, We were ramping up and ready to respond to a much greater impact than we got.

Beatrice Dunnavan rides her bike down Moticello Ave as she tours the flooded areas of Norfolk, Va., on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (Steve Earley/AP)

She said nearly all major damage from the storm was concentrated in the Hampton Roads area. There, as of late afternoon Sunday, she said, 220,000 homes were still without power and 124 roads remained closed because of flooding and piles of debris-- mostly downed trees and branches. She said three emergency shelters were open with 33 occupants.

Around the state, rescue efforts took place throughout the night, officials said.

The storm also canceled dozens of flights: more than 30 percent of flights out of Norfolk International Airport were called off. The airport recorded about 10 inches of rain overnight, according to the National Weather Service.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Mike Dutter said steady rainfall began Saturday afternoon and continued well into Sunday morning, dumping anywhere from 6 to 10 inches in most of southeastern Virginia, with local amounts up to 12 inches. The storm brought sustained winds of 30 to 50 mph, with gusts up to 65 mph.

The higher-than-expected moisture came after the hurricane clashed with a cold front that had originated in the Ohio valley.

The timing of it was just ideal in that sense that the hurricane was moving up off [The Outer Banks] at the same time the front was moving in, and it just caused the dramatic rainfall, Dutter said.

After a downed tree blocked road access in his neighborhood, Virginia Transportation Sec. Aubrey Layne held a news conference in Little Neck, where he lives, the Virginian-Pilot reported.

The effects of the storm were more severe than we anticipated, Layne said, according to the paper, saying standing water, severe winds and downed trees were the biggest issues facing the state.

Hill said most of the rescue efforts involved motorists who were stranded by the floodwaters, which ranged from knee-deep to neck-high, sometimes submerging cars, she said.

I dont think anybody expected it to continue coming up this far north or to stall out, she said of the hurricane. There are some areas that are absolutely underwater and a lot of other roads blocked because of trees down.

The storm was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical cyclone early Sunday, but officials with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management said to expect continued flooding and rainfall through the day.

It is going to take time for water to recede. Stay inside and off roads. It is still dangerous outside, the city of Virginia Beach warned in a tweet.

On Sunday, Brantley said, 160 National Guard members were still busy helping local officials deal with the aftermath of Matthew. She said some of the Guard personnel were using high water vehicles to transport stranded motorists and others impacted by the storm, and some members were part of debris removal teams clearing roads.

As for the dollar cost of the damage, Brantley said, we havent even begun to measure that yet, and it may be several days before officials offer an early estimate. She said that assessment process will start Monday when Virginia National Guard officials begin surveying the Hampton Roads area from the air.
Maryland congressional candidate Amie Hoeber (R) condemned her partys presidential nominee, Donald Trump, for his lewd comments about women in 2005 that were caught on tape but said sending Democrat Hillary Clinton to the White House would be the wrong response.

Hoeber, who is challenging two-term Rep. John Delaney (D) in Marylands 6th Congressional District, posted a Facebook message Saturday evening saying she was offended as a woman and as a candidate by Trumps remarks, which The Washington Post had revealed the previous day.

But unlike many prominent Republicans, Hoeber, a defense expert who has said she will back her partys presidential nominee, stopped short of withdrawing support for Trump or calling for him to leave the ticket.

Having spent much of my professional life in a male-dominated world, I am . . . no stranger to being subjected to the attitude he expressed, she said. The proper response is a rejection of the sexist, abusive attitude. It is not, in my view, appropriate to respond by subjecting our great country to the damage it would suffer under a Hillary Clinton presidency.

[GOP challenger Amie Hoeber aims to upend John Delaney in Md.s 6th District]

Marylands Republican U.S. Senate candidate, state House Minority Whip Kathy Szeliga (Baltimore County), took a similar position on Saturday, saying she was appalled by Trumps comments and calling for him to sincerely apologize to all women immediately.

But she went a step further than Hoeber in maintaining her support for the GOP nominee, with her campaign saying she will support and vote for him.

Like most Marylanders, I wish we had a different option, but we dont, Szeliga said.

[Delaney accuses Hoeber of illegally coordinating with super PAC]

Szeliga is running against U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) to succeed retiring Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D), who has held the seat for three decades.

Trump issued a brief video apology Friday night, after backlash from prominent Republicans nationwide.

Ive never said Im a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone that Im not, he said. Ive said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more-than-a-decade-old video are one of them. Anyone who knows me knows these words dont reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize.

Trump and Clinton are scheduled to debate on CNN at 9 p.m. Sunday.
Two men were shot and wounded in Northeast Washington late Saturday, D.C. Police said Sunday.

Just after 10 p.m., an unknown assailant opened fire in the 3500 block of Hayes Street Northeast, according to police. Two men suffered gunshot wounds and were taken to local hospitals, according to D.C. Police spokesman Officer Hugh Carew said. The shooting scene was a third of a mile northwest of the Minnesota Avenue Metro station, in a U-shaped curve lined with apartment complexes.

Police were still investigating the incident Sunday.

Elsewhere overnight, in the 2600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, a man was stabbed in a domestic dispute just before 2 a.m. Police arrested 45-year-old Tressa Chambers, of Southeast Washington, in the incident. The man was taken to a local hospital, police said.
Yvonne Thornton Neal, foreground, reminisces in the place where she spent her grade-school days, as volunteers gather to restore the Ashburn Colored School, a 19-century schoolhouse that was recently marred with racist graffiti. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

With the oldest of her nine children pushing her wheelchair Sunday, 84-year-old Yvonne Thornton Neal took in the one-room schoolhouse where she and other African American children had attended first through seventh grades during segregation.

Oh my goodness! Neal exclaimed before pointing to a place in the front where a potbellied stove once stood. Oooh wee!

Neal hadnt been inside the tiny Ashburn Colored School in Northern Virginia since 1945. She recalled the hour-long walk that she and her 14 siblings had made there each day, often with their father carrying them through the mud because the school buses took only white children.

Much has changed in seven decades, but a week ago, vandals left a reminder of an ugly past. Someone had spray-painted the historic Loudoun County schoolhouse with obscenities, swastikas and a message of white power.

I burst into tears, Neal said of her reaction when she heard about the vandalism. I wondered why anyone would harm such a beautiful place that had stood for so many years.

A group of volunteers paint the exterior of the Ashburn Colored School after it was vandalized with graffiti of racist symbols and hate language. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

But Sunday morning, Neal was smiling as hundreds of volunteers painted over the graffiti, scrubbed mold from the classrooms baseboards and spread fresh mulch out front. More than 300 people turned out for what organizers called a community restoration celebration intended not just to help save a 124-year-old schoolhouse, but to form a united front against hate.

By early afternoon, the faded wood building had a fresh coat of white primer and more than $64,000 in new contributions toward its continued restoration.

It shows love  love by everyone who has made this possible, said Neal, of Manassas, beaming as a dozen volunteers looked on. Its just unbelievable. It shows we are still so loved by so many people.

Authorities announced last week that five Loudoun teenagers would be charged in connection with the graffiti.

[Teens arrested in vandalism of historic black schoolhouse]

Deep Sran, founder of the Loudoun School for the Gifted, said the event stemmed from the enormous frustration his school and others in the community felt upon hearing about the vandalism. The private school recently bought the empty schoolhouse, which operated from 1892 to the late 1950s, and an adjoining parcel on Ashburn Road, where it plans to build a new campus. The schools students have been working on the schoolhouse restoration for two years and plan to open it as part of a museum.

News of the vandalism that was discovered Oct. 1 spread quickly via social media and in the international press, and Sran said the school has been overwhelmed with offers of help from across the United States. Sundays event, he said, was intended to show a swift community response.

There was a sense of frustration and anger, but the larger sense was, Were not going to let this stand. This is not our community,  Sran said.

Local businesses donated food, dumpsters, paint and other supplies. Volunteers shoveled rocks to spread around the foundation and climbed ladders to paint the wood siding.

Many volunteers said they came both to help the schoolhouse and to combat feelings of being demoralized amid growing racial tension across the country in a particularly contentious election season.

Nicole Fulgham, 47, a Lansdowne resident, said she felt compelled to bring her 10-year-old daughter, Mackenzie, after she was outraged upon hearing about the vandalism and then moved by the outpouring of community support.

I think what gets more attention in our country right now is the negative, Fulgham said. It can make you almost feel that its the majority of our country, but its not. This act was horrible, but it was [by] a small number of people, and there are hundreds of people here to make things right.

[While building a new school, Va. students work to save a historic one]

Melanie and Christopher Starks of Ashburn brought their 3- and 4-year-old sons. The vandalism, they said, was out of character for a community they chose in part for its diversity and high levels of education.

Its a little sobering for someone raising two black sons, Christopher Starks, 36, said. You move to an area like Ashburn to sort of insulate your kids from this.

We were pretty distressed about the whole thing, Melanie Starks, 37, added. This was too close to home to be happening.

Gwyneth McCrae, 17, a senior at the Loudoun School for the Gifted, said she cried when she heard about the vandalism.

I was just taken aback that wed put two years of effort into [restoring] it, and someone decided to spend 20 minutes vandalizing it, McCrae said. I definitely think its good to draw attention to it to let people know that this kind of behavior still happens.

Ironically, McCrae and others said, the vandals have ended up helping the project. Because of the public attention and the new donations via the projects GoFundMe site, the schoolhouses restoration has been sped up by about two years. Sran said he hopes to open it to the public by summer 2017.

The schoolhouse already has something new: a security system.
Hurricane Matthew came through this county in a fury, dumping rain at a rate of two inches per hour, but by nightfall Saturday, Debra Cain figured its havoc was over. The wind and rain had so shaken her houses foundation that her front door wouldnt fully close. She spent the night with her neighbors and slept fitfully on the couch.

Then she woke up before sunrise, looked out the window and screamed.

Tim Edge, 43, came out of his bedroom, grabbed a flashlight and gazed at his street. It had turned overnight into a lake.

Water lapped at the front steps. Mailbox posts were two-thirds submerged. And on lower ground, across the street, a firehouse barely poked out of the murky, brown water.

You have oceanfront property, Cain said.

Rescuers from Dayton, Ohio, bring a group of stranded neighbors to dry land, including Wyatt Wood, 16, seated in front. (Chico Harlan/The Washington Post)

Edge started gathering clothing into plastic bags.

They could either swim out or call for help, and nobody wanted to brave waters where copperheads might be slithering. And so, there would have to be another rescue mission in North Carolina.

For all the attention paid to Matthews churn along the coastline, its most lasting damage is emerging many miles inland, where rainfall totals were greatest and flooding overwhelmed dams and drainage systems. Fifteen inches deluged Fayetteville, N.C.  three times more than the city normally sees in a month  and by Sunday that water was spilling across neighborhoods and highways, trapping people and animals, and leaving inland North Carolina subdivided into countless crisis-stricken islands. Officials reported eight deaths and nearly 1,000 water rescues statewide.

More than half of those rescues took place in Cumberland County, which includes Fayetteville, particularly in areas like Edges neighborhood, where residents had initially figured they were safe. The 911 calls started Saturday but surged Sunday, when officials at an emergency management center saw the result of a paralyzing and unpredictable water flow:

A driver waiting on the hood of a car;

A family that had just seen a front door knocked in by currents;

A woman in a wheelchair with water up to her torso;

Several hundred people sent to shelters for the displaced.

With the destruction it left behind, Matthew resembles Hurricane Floyd, which socked North Carolina in 1999. Most of Floyds fatalities occurred because of flooding after the rain had subsided.

This time, as Matthew headed up the coast, the Federal Emergency Management Agency sent several teams to North Carolina  firefighters from New Jersey, New York and Ohio who double as federal rescue workers during disasters. Some of the rescuers saw duty after Katrina, Ivan and Sandy. A few had even climbed into the twin towers during 9/11. The 80-person unit from Dayton, Ohio, left Thursday night in a convoy, and by Sunday morning teams of four or five were getting addresses of homes by walkie talkie and moving from one hot spot to the next, armed with rafts, 16-foot boats, life vests, ropes and chain saws.

Were sticking with 12-hour shifts for our first responders, Fayetteville Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Martin said.

Yeah, on paper, said Steve Shupert, a rescue team manager from Ohio. But weve been awake 30 or 40 hours. And thats without supper or breakfast.

In Cumberland County, Ohio Task Force 1 began its Sunday with a panicked call before sunrise. A family in a deluged home needed help evacuating someone. She was in the upper ranges of 300 pounds, said Ryan Hogsten, a fire captain in Lexington, Ky. By the time the rescue team reached the house, water had risen to chest level. The woman was losing consciousness but managed to say that she didnt want to die.

We basically floated her out of the house, Hogsten said. That was a close call.

As the rescue team members moved through Cumberland, they saw roads closed, water spreading, traffic backed up.

Around noon, a new emergency call came in at Fayettevilles emergency center.

The word was radioed in to the Ohio rescuers: Brooklyn Circle. Several people stranded. Maybe some animals, too.

Kevin Kings team got there first.

A quarter-mile from Edges house, the road was no longer drivable. Water stood several feet high, so rescuers put their boat in the water. They navigated past a barely visible parking sign and over fire hydrants. A snake darted through the water. After several minutes, they reached the driveway at Edges home.

Cmon in, one of the rescuers said.

Cain clutched her miniature Australian shepherd and took some careful steps toward the water. Edges wife, Billie, and 16-year-old son Wyatt carried several bags of belongings.

They had never felt like their lives were in jeopardy, they said, but now they worried about different things. Cain, a widow who drives a school bus, said that she had lived in her home for 30 years; now, she feared it might not be habitable. Edge, a pastor, said that he would have to tear out the familys hardwood flooring, at best. Neither had flood insurance.

After 10 minutes, the rescue boat deposited everyone back on dry ground. Edge fed a Slim Jim to one of his dogs.

We could go to Mommas tonight, but I dont know about Cannon Road, Billie said.

I heard Cannon Road is closed, one of the rescuers said.

Oh, gosh.

The group stayed still for an hour, uncertain of where to go, and they stared at the new lake on Brooklyn Circle. Almost certainly, they said, the water had rushed here after a nearby dam break  one that they had heard about the previous night while listening to a battery-powered radio. A creek ran parallel to the road, but it was at the bottom of a 30-foot hill.

So just think about that, Edge said. Before the water even started to fill in up here, it had to fill up those 30 feet from the creek.

Cain pulled out a cigarette.

Thats the power of water, she said.
Sensing the police dragnet around them, the kidnappers settled for a ransom of Rs 1 crore in a hurry and released the victim.

By Mail Today Bureau: Four men were arrested by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police on Sunday for allegedly abducting the 20-year-old son of a former Congress MCD councillor and demanding a ransom of Rs.50 crore.



THE KIDNAPPING

According to the police, the victim was kidnapped on September 27 while he was going to his college in his BMW car on September 27. He was released by the kidnappers after the councilor agreed to pay a ransom of Rs.1 crore, police said.

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"Accused have been identified as Anand (27), Vichitar Vir (30), Vikrant Shokeen (30) and Vinod Kumar (32), all residents of Delhi, were arrested on Friday for their alleged roles in planning and executing the abduction," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav said.

The probe agency also recovered the BMW car, a Swift, a Scorpio and a motorcycle used in the crime. Sedatives and some police uniforms along with a number of mobile phones have also been seized from the kidnappers, Yadav said. Police said the 20-yearold was kidnapped from near Subhash Nagar as he was going to college on the morning of September 27.

Two men on a motorcycle, wearing police uniform, waylaid him. Two men were also following in a Scorpio and stopped nearby. The occupants of the car and the motorcyclists pushed the victim in the Scorpio car and fled from the spot. They also took the BMW, police said.

A complaint was registered at the Subhash Nagar Police Station on the complaint of an eyewitness, Yadav said. The youth's father then received a ransom call of Rs.50 crore and the caller asked him to arrange the money for the safe release of his son, he added.



POLICE INVESTIGATION

"During surveillance, it was seen that the men were continuously changing their hideouts in Haryana and Rajasthan, calling from distant locations and sensing the police dragnet around them, they settled the deal for Rs 1 crore in a hurry and released the victim on October 3," Yadav said. On October 7, police received a tip-off about the location of the accused. A trap was laid and the abductors were arrested.

During their interrogation, it was revealed that they were involved in property dealing and toll business. They had planned the kidnapping of a businessman with sound financial standings in order to become rich overnight and give a boost to their business, the joint commissioner said.

Yadav said that six months ago, the four men had learnt about the excouncillor, also a businessman and a resident of Sainik Vihar here. They planned to abduct his son to get RS.40-50 crore from him. The accused executed the abduction after monitoring the youth's daily activities for a few days. All the four accused have previous criminal cases against them also, he added.

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ALSO READ:

Bengaluru: Kidnappers release top executive's son, no arrests made

Delhi: 4 arrested for kidnapping youth in the guise of policemen





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People with replacement joints have long been told to take antibiotics before having even routine dental treatment. But that advice isnt as widely supported as it once was. (Edward Olive/Getty Images/iStock)

Joint replacement is among the most reliable of common surgeries. Since getting my left hip replaced seven years ago and my right hip a couple of years after that  and following up with physical therapy so I could relearn how to walk like a regular person  I hardly ever think about the fact that I have metal and plastic where bone used to be.

Except when I go to the dentist.

For years, people with artificial joints have been told they should take a single large dose of an antibiotic one hour before any dental treatment, whether a routine teeth cleaning or an invasive root canal procedure.

The reasoning is simple: Your mouth is filled with bacteria, and when the dentist or hygienist starts poking around, some of those bacteria can get into your bloodstream. If they travel to an artificial joint and take up residence, they can form a biofilm (in common language, a kind of slime) on the metal or plastic parts. Biofilms are very tenacious and can ruin the joint, forcing a new surgery to replace it, says Helen Boucher, a professor of infectious diseases at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. Taking a dose of antibiotics before dental treatment is supposed to kill off any stray bacteria, reducing the chances of this unpleasant outcome.

[Does flossing really prevent cavities?]

Thats the idea, anyway. But surgeons do not all offer the same advice. The orthopedist who replaced my left hip told me that I should take a pre-dental antibiotic for the first two years after my surgery but after that it was fine to stop, provided all was well with the new hip. He moved from the area, and my right hip was replaced by another surgeon in the same practice. His recommendation: Take an antibiotic before you go to the dentist for the rest of your life.

Current guidelines from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons say that orthopedists might consider discontinuing routine prescription of antibiotics before dental procedures. The wording may be judicious, but its unhelpful to someone trying to reach a thoughtful decision.

My original concern was that taking antibiotics unnecessarily contributes to the emergence of resistant strains of bacteria, but I learned that there are more immediate risks. Occasionally, people die after an allergic reaction to an antibiotic. There are also cases, Boucher says, when a single prophylactic antibiotic dose disturbs a persons intestinal bacteria so much that they succumb to a fatal infection by the notoriously hard-to-treat bacterium Clostridium difficile .

Heart issues, too

Its not just people with artificial joints for whom prophylactic antibiotics pose a quandary. For decades, the American Heart Association told people with heart murmurs caused by congenital or other problems with their heart valves  such people face a greater risk of a devastating and potentially heart infection called infective endocarditis, or IE  to take antibiotics before they see the dentist. Similar advice was given to anyone with an artificial heart valve.

Yet its far from clear that prophylactic doses of antibiotics are necessary for all these heart patients. Some cases of IE are definitely associated with bacteria that live in the mouth, says Ann Bolger, a cardiologist at the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine. But we cannot connect the dots  we cannot associate any given episode [of dental treatment] with infection down the road.

[Could your cavity-filled tooth repair itself with stem cells in the future?]

Despite the connection of IE to oral bacteria, the American Heart Association changed its guidelines for dental doses significantly in 2007, reducing the population for which prophylaxis is recommended (among them people with artificial valves, a history of IE and certain types of heart disease).

IE is a terrible thing, Bolger says. If I thought prophylactic antibiotics would prevent [one patient from getting IE], I would drive the truck to their house to deliver the drugs.

Thomas Sollecito of the University of Pennsylvanias School of Dental Medicine chaired a 2014 American Dental Association panel that reviewed studies comparing the dental histories of people who had contracted infections of artificial joints with those of similar people with replaced joints who remained infection-free. Bottom line: There was no statistical connection between dental visits and subsequent joint infections, regardless of whether patients had taken antibiotics.

In 2015, the ADA revised its clinical practice guidelines to say that the group no longer recommends prophylactic antibiotics for patients  like me  with replacement joints.  The current best evidence failed to demonstrate an association between dental procedures and prosthetic joint infection, the ADA noted.

Of course, infected joints and cases of IE still happen. What causes these infections? Research shows that oral bacteria get into your bloodstream all the time  not just because of your dentist, but also when you brush or floss, even when you simply chew food. Your immune system typically mops up the intruders, but theres always the chance a few bacteria will get away, with potentially serious consequences.

Because you brush and floss every day  you do, right?  its far more likely for those routine actions to be the source of an infection than the occasional visit to the dentist. Bolger and Sollecito say that the first line of defense for patients in at-risk groups is good dental hygiene. Of course, flossing can make your gums bleed, especially if you havent been doing it regularly. Theres been a debate recently about the lack of research regarding its effectiveness, but most dentists believe that daily flossing improves gum health and reduces bleeding, minimizing the risk of sending nasty bacteria into your bloodstream.

[Iron deficiency, even mild anemia, may protect against malaria, TB and cancer]

Bolger says that she continues to recommend antibiotic prophylaxis for heart patients covered in the current AHA guidelines not because I believe there is data that it works, but [because] for those people the [effect] of infection is so overwhelming that its too far to go to change the 50-year-old recommendation. She points out that in the United Kingdom, prophylactic antibiotics have not been recommended for heart patients since 2008.

Doctors skepticism

If the weight of evidence points to discontinuing routine prophylaxis, why do many surgeons and dentists continue to recommend it?

One factor is that old habits die hard. The professional organizations  AHA, ADA, AAOS  can issue guidelines, but they cannot tell their members what to do. Robert Quinn, head of orthopedic surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, is moderator of an AAOS panel thats reviewing the 2015 ADA guidelines with a view to revising their own guidelines. He says his groups conclusions, set to appear at the end of this year, are unlikely to be very different from what the ADA has suggested, but he acknowledges that a lot of people who have been in practice for a while tend to be skeptical of change. There is a big push for evidence-based decisions, he says, but there is also pushback [based on long-standing practice]. We need to navigate thoughtfully.

Bolger takes the same line: As health-care providers, she says, our obligation is not to do useless and potentially harmful things, but its hard to challenge assumptions people have held for a long time.

So where does that leave me, with my artificial hip joints and a long history of dental woes?

I was already leaning against taking antibiotics before routine dental cleanings, and talking with the experts gave me more confidence in that decision. But then fate threw up another challenge.

Just as I began working on this story, I developed an ache in a tooth with root-canal treatment and a crown dating back at least 25 years. There seemed to be some infection. It can be fixed, at the cost of several visits to different dentists over the next few months. Taking a series of single-dose antibiotics doesnt seem like a good idea: Surely my gut wont thank me, and it seems like just the sort of antibiotic use that contributes to the problem of resistance that everyone is concerned about. On the other hand, my tooth has an infection!

I dithered, and went to the endodontist without taking an antibiotic but with pills in hand, in case he refused to proceed unless I took my medicine. As it happened, he was well aware of the arguments against prophylactic antibiotics and not at all fazed by my preference to avoid them. Ive seen him several times now, the tooth appears to be recovering and my hips are working just fine.

Im not under any illusion that my personal actions will have great consequences for national policy on antibiotic use. As Quinn puts it, bacterial resistance is a societal problem, not individual. But I like to think Im doing my bit. Youre welcome.

Read more:

Who should take statins? A vicious debate over cholesterol drugs.

Are we approaching the limits of human life span?

The first thing cancer patients saw when they got to this hospital: An ad for a funeral home
In August, a medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York jumped out of an eighth-story window to her death.

Stories like this are too common among budding doctors across the United States. In May, a medical student at the University of Southern California took his own life. At the University of California at San Diego, a third-year medical student killed himself last year. Two years ago, when I was a medical student at Harvard, a fellow student died of suicide.

We dont have great data on how many of the nations 80,000 medical students take their own lives each year. Few studies have addressed the issue, with varying results. But suicide is a major issue for medical schools. In surveys, roughly 10 percent of medical students have reported having thoughts of killing themselves within the past year.

What drives these bright young people to take their own lives?

Research has found that students may arrive at medical school feeling less burnout and depression than other people of their age. Yet once in medical school, they go on to have greater risk of mental-health problems and suicidal thoughts. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, medical students suffer from depression at rates 15 to 30 percent greater than the general population.

[How a young doctors fear of raising questions causes a big mistake]

Academic competition might explain these findings. Thousands of applicants compete for spots in these schools. In 2015, the average medical school accepted just 6.9 percent of applicants, according to U.S. News and World Report; Mayo Medical School had the lowest acceptance rate at 1.8 percent. By screening for the best and the brightest, these institutions can serve as breeding grounds for competition and feelings of inadequacy.

The academic burdens at these schools can be intense. Medical students must learn a startling amount of material in a short time. For example, in our anatomy class, my classmates and I had to dissect and learn the entire human body in a matter of weeks. A well-known saying is that medical school is like drinking water from a fire hose. Students grapple with high-volume workloads while studying for multiple rounds of national licensing exams and preparing applications to residency programs.

Outside the classroom, medical students face additional stressors. Entering clinical settings brings students face to face with sick and dying patients, often for the first time. Immersing oneself in human suffering each day can leave its mark. Medical students spend days and nights with patients who die of cancer, who lose limbs to amputation, who depend on ventilators to breathe, who will never walk again.

Rather than receiving support in these situations, these students often suffer humiliation from senior clinicians. Doctors work in a hierarchy, with attending physicians above residents, who are above interns. At the bottom of the totem pole are medical students.

[Pain kept this medical student from eating for 5 years. Doctors couldnt figure out why]

This hierarchy engenders a culture of bullying toward medical trainees. More than 80 percent of medical students report mistreatment from supervisors. Ive seen classmates shouted at, cursed at and mocked in clinical settings. A surgeon referred to me as Helen Keller because I couldnt suture fast enough.

Money can also weigh heavily on the minds of medical students, who shoulder astounding debts to finance college and medical school. According to 2015 data, 81 percent of medical students reported academic debt at graduation, with an average indebtedness of more than $180,000.

Unrelenting pressure

Amid these unrelenting pressures, many medical students descend into despair. Some turn to suicide.

No suicide is the same, just as the causes of depression and despair vary from individual to individual. But with medical students, the shared stressors of medical school are undoubtedly a common thread. In recent years, these schools have taken steps to tackle this issue.

Reducing competition in the classroom may help. The majority of medical schools have embraced pass-fail grading systems for the first one to two years when students take classes, reforms shown to enhance well-being among students without affecting academic outcomes.

Team-based learning is another emerging trend in medical education. By encouraging collaboration, educators hope to increase cohesiveness among classmates and decrease social isolation while better preparing future doctors for team-based patient care.

[If health-care providers cant overcome the stigma of mental illness, who will?]

Universities and hospitals have sought to change the culture of medical education in other ways as well. Schools have introduced a variety of wellness programs, including counseling, group fitness activities, outdoor retreats and healthy eating seminars. Nationwide, the medical community has aimed to eradicate mistreatment of medical students in clinical settings.

But one part of medical school culture has been especially hard to overcome: the stigma of mental illness. When they need help most, medical students in anguish rarely reach out. Students attribute this reluctance to seek care to fear of stigmatization by peers and to concerns over professional ramifications, particularly during applications for residency and licensing.

Last spring, I wrote publicly about my own struggle with depression during medical school. The days leading up to the articles publication were terrifying. I worried I might lose the residency slot I had matched into or forfeit the trust of future colleagues. Again and again, I checked the medical licensing requirements in California to make sure I wouldnt lose the ability to care for patients.

[When doctors commit suicide, its often hush hush]

Yet my fears have gone unfounded and, in the days that followed, I received nothing but support from colleagues and mentors. Fortunately, others are speaking up as well. In online magazines and on NPR, medical students who have lived through suicide attempts, depression and other mental-health issues are standing up against this stigma. Medical schools are now training faculty to recognize risk factors for suicide and assuring students that seeking help isnt a sign of weakness.

Despite these efforts, too many medical students still take their lives, as the recent tragedy at Mount Sinai reminds us. In May, two physicians started a petition urging the governing bodies of medical education to do more to prevent suicide among medical trainees. As of this writing, the petition has garnered around 75,000 signatures.

Medical students spend their days learning how to help others. Can we learn to care for them, too?

Morris is a resident physician in psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Read more:

How one mans idea made the country pay attention to a health crisis

If parenthood makes us miserable, why do we keep having kids?

$1,300 to take one test? Med students are fed up.

This is the kind of sexism women who want to be doctors deal with in med school
Officers aim their weapons at a home in Palm Springs, Calif., after gunshots were fired. Two police officers were killed and one was shot during the incident. (Omar Ornelas/Desert Sun via AP)

CALIFORNIA

2 ofcers killed, 1 hurt in Palm Springs attack

Two Palm Springs police officers trying to resolve a family dispute were fatally shot Saturday when a man they had been speaking calmly with suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire, the citys police chief told reporters. A third officer was wounded.

It was a simple family disturbance, and he elected to open fire on the guardians of the city, Police Chief Bryan Reyes, his voice breaking, told reporters.

The chief, near tears, identified the slain officers as Jose Gil Gilbert Vega, a 35-year veteran of the department and father of eight who was supposed to retire in December, and Lesley Zerebny, 27, who has been with the department for a year and a half and is the mother of a 4-month-old. He did not reveal the wounded officers name.

One witness said the suspects father told her his son expressed a desire to kill police just moments before the shooting, the Desert Sun newspaper reported.

He came over and asked for help, Frances Serrano said of the father, who added that his son had mental issues, according to the newspaper.

Reyes said that it was still an active scene and that the officers believed the suspect might still be in the house. He said Riverside County Sheriffs Department SWAT officers had the residence surrounded and were leading the investigation.

Police Sgt. William Hutchinson said officers were warning people already inside their homes in the neighborhood to stay there, lock their doors and not answer them until further notice.

 Associated Press, Reuters

NEW YORK

Commuter train derails, dozens injured

A commuter train derailed east of New York City after it hit a work train on the tracks Saturday evening.

A spokesman for the Long Island Rail Road said the eastbound train derailed east of New Hyde Park just after 9 p.m. Saturday.

A spokeswoman for the Nassau County Police Department said there were 50 to 100 injuries, none of them life-threatening.

LIRR spokesman Sal Arena said the first three cars of the 12-car train derailed. He said the work train caught fire.

Photos shared on social media showed part of the train off the rails and tilted at an angle.

Train service was suspended in both directions.

 Associated Press

5-year-old critical after boat capsizes in San Francisco: A boat capsized in the San Francisco Bay, sending five adults and three children, including one in critical condition, to a hospital Saturday, officials said. The 5-year-old boy in critical condition was unconscious and not breathing when he was pulled from the water, said Fire Department Assistant Chief Bob Postel. Photographs posted on social media showed youths and adults barefoot and wrapped in thick gray blankets on shore after being rescued. The boat, which was carrying 30 people, was fully submerged.

 From news reports
North Dakota

Work resumes on part of

tribal land pipeline

A federal appeals court on Sunday opened the door for construction to resume on a small stretch of the four-state Dakota Access pipeline while it considers an appeal by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

The ruling removed a temporary injunction that halted work on the project.

The tribe had asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to continue work stoppage on the pipeline within 20 miles of Lake Oahe in North Dakota. The court earlier ordered work to stop while it considered the motion.

In a statement, Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II said the tribe is not backing down from this fight.

New York

Commuter train derailment injures 33

A 12-car commuter train and a work train performing track maintenance were traveling the same direction when they sideswiped one another, causing the commuter train to derail and injuring 33 people, four seriously, state officials said Sunday.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, speaking at the site of the Saturday night accident, said initial reviews indicate that the yellow maintenance train somehow entered the clearance space of the eastbound Long Island Rail Road train, causing it to derail and leaving a splatter of yellow paint where the first collision occurred.

Both trains were running in the same direction  one was a work train, one was a revenue train and they sideswiped each other, said Cuomo, a Democrat. The question is why.

Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were to determine what caused the accident, Cuomo said.

 Associated Press

Police assailant wanted to shoot, father says: In the minutes before three Palm Springs officers were shot, two fatally, the suspected gunmans father told a neighbor that his son was armed, acting crazy and wanted to shoot police. John Felix, 26, was apprehended early Sunday after a lengthy standoff and will be charged this week with murder. Police said Felix emerged wearing soft body armor and carrying ammunition but no weapon after police shot a chemical agent into the home where he had holed up. A neighbor, Frances Serrano, told the Associated Press that the suspects panicked father, Santos Felix, earlier said that his son, a gang member, had a gun.

 Associated Press
Anti-Brexit campaigners, Borders Against Brexit, set up a mock customs hut during a protest against Britain's vote to leave the European Union, at the border town of Carrickcarnon in Ireland. (Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters)

GERMANY

Suspect sought in possible bomb plot

German investigators found several hundred grams of highly volatile explosives in an apartment they raided Saturday in the eastern city of Chemnitz as they sought a Syrian man suspected of planning a bombing attack. The suspect remained on the run, but three contacts were being questioned, police said.

Saxony police put out an alert, identifying the suspect as 22-year-old Jaber Albakr from the Damascus area, and urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact authorities.

Two people who had contacts with Albakr were taken into custody near the Chemnitz train station, and a third was found downtown. Authorities have not said where or when they think the suspected attack was going to take place.

 Associated Press

KUWAIT

Attempted attack targets U.S. troops

An Egyptian driving a garbage truck loaded with explosives and Islamic State papers rammed into a truck carrying five U.S. soldiers in Kuwait on Saturday, injuring only himself in the attack, authorities said.

The attempted attack is the first by the Islamic State group to target American troops in the tiny, oil-rich emirate that is a stalwart U.S. ally. It comes as authorities have increased security ahead of a major Shiite commemoration.

Kuwaits Interior Ministry identified the attacker as Ibrahim Sulaiman, born in 1988, and published a picture of the alleged assailant in a hospital bed. The ministry said that the five soldiers were not injured and that Sulaiman had multiple fractures and injuries.

 Associated Press

Russia moves nuclear-capable missiles to Kaliningrad: Russia has moved nuclear-capable Iskander-M missiles into the Kaliningrad enclave bordering Poland and Lithuania, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday, adding that it was part of routine drills. These missile units have been deployed more than once [in the Kaliningrad region] . . . and will be deployed as part of military training of the Russian armed forces, ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement. A U.S. intelligence official said Friday that Russia had started moving the Iskander-Ms into the enclave on the Baltic in what he said could be a gesture to express displeasure with NATO.

Thousands mourn death of 12-year-old in Kashmir: Thousands of people carried the body of a 12-year-old boy killed overnight during an anti-India protest in the main city of the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. Chanting Go India, go back! and We want freedom! thousands of residents marched to the main martyrs graveyard in Srinagar for the boys burial. The boy was critically injured Friday evening when he was hit by shotgun pellets. He died at a hospital overnight. On Saturday, police and paramilitary soldiers fired warning shots, pellets and tear gas, fearing the procession could become a larger rally calling for an end to Indian rule in the disputed Himalayan region, according to a police officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity in keeping with department policy.

Mock customs checkpoints set up in N. Ireland: Anti-Brexit campaigners erected six mock customs checkpoints Saturday along the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, in a protest over the possible impact to peace, jobs and the free movement of workers. Northern Ireland, a British province, will be the only land frontier between the United Kingdom and the European Union once Britain leaves, and some fear that will mean a return to checks at the border, where about 30,000 people cross each day for work.

 From news services
WHAT LESSONS were learned from the stunning scandal in 2013 at Baltimores main city jail, where dozens of inmates and their prison guard accomplices ran a cash-and-sex for drugs smuggling enterprise that turned the facility into a symbol of mismanagement and corruption? Three years after that travesty, an even bigger federal investigation has yielded 80 indictments at Marylands largest state-run prison, the 3,300-inmate Eastern Correctional Institution.

The similarities between the criminal enterprises at the facilities in Baltimore and the Eastern Shore are so striking that they suggest a corrections system that even now struggles to police or reform itself. In both instances, guards became middlemen in a vast scheme to smuggle drugs, tobacco, cellphones and other contraband into the prison from contacts outside. In both instances, vigilance at facility entrances was inadequate to the task of detecting the contraband that guards carried as they passed through security on a daily basis. In both instances, prison guards took their sworn obligations as officers so lightly that they engaged in sex with inmates, who had effectively taken control of the institution.

Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and his top corrections officials cite the indictments, in which state and federal investigators cooperated, as a clear victory against corruption and proof of their determination to crack down. Yet if a major scandal is uncovered every few years  and before the Baltimore jail indictments in 2013, there was another major bust in 2009, at yet another state-run corrections facility in Baltimore  that suggests the problem is systemic, not that it is being solved.

Any large prison system faces the challenge of permeable walls and imperfect security, but Maryland seems an acute case. Among those indicted Wednesday were 18 guards; thats a lot of bad apples for one facility, even a big one.

The scale of the scheme is mind-boggling. Among those indicted were one inmates father and anothers mother, along with each of their sons. In both cases, the parent on the outside was part of the conspiracy to convey drugs  heroin, cocaine, Suboxone  to prisoners on the inside. Inmates paid guards $500 per bag of narcotics; payment was rendered over contraband cellphones, using PayPal.

The routinization of criminal enterprises within state prisons cannot continue. Tougher reforms are necessary, including and especially to state legislation that makes it difficult for corrections officials to investigate, discipline and fire prison guards. Hiring procedures for corrections officers, already the subject of scrutiny after the Baltimore debacle, must be further toughened. And security screening at prison entrances, now clearly too porous, should be beefed up.

And what of the union representing prison guards? Its response to the latest scandal was to complain about understaffing at prisons, unfilled guard positions and too much overtime, as if fatigue had compelled officers to smuggle drugs and have sex with inmates. That risible response suggests how little the union is interested in reform in its own ranks.
Steven Petrow writes the Civilities column for The Post and is the host of The Civilist podcast produced by PRI and WUNC.

I tried to keep track of how often Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) interrupted Gov. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) during last Mondays vice-presidential debate, but I couldnt keep up. Fortunately, ABC News provided the final tally: Kaine racked up 70 interruptions to Pences 40. It was a fitting bookend to the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, in which the GOP candidate cut off his Democratic rival 51 times to her 17, Vox reported. Nearly 180 examples of what I call candidatus interruptus add up to one sad fact: We the people have lost the art of discourse.

I sense this loss everywhere, every day, in my role as arbiter of good behavior. So I wondered, are we quantifiably interrupting more than before? Are men more likely to let loose with their crossfire than women? Is social media to blame  yet again  for the decline and fall of our civilization?

Writer Sarah Frostenson helped with the first question by revisiting the first presidential debate between President Obama and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in 2012. As Frostenson reported in Vox, Obama stepped on Romneys answers seven times to Romneys four. Yes, the Kaine-Pence debate was an astounding 10 times worse on the interruption scale. On the qualitative side, both Obama and Romney displayed a much higher level of civility as measured by their vocabulary, body language and overall demeanor than did Trump (and, to a lesser extent, Kaine).

Whether we admit or not, we take many of our behavioral cues these days from the terrible role models on our screens, handheld and otherwise  especially when it comes to interrupting and its first cousin, listening. This is the result of decades worth of brawling daytime talk shows, now exponentially amplified by social media. Last year I watched two co-hosts of The View  Kelly Osbourne and Rosie Perez  in a shouting match that hastened Perezs previously announced exit from the show. Good TV perhaps. Enviable role models, no way. (Although let me be clear: Osbournes racially charged comments are a much greater violation of the ancient code of Emily Post than a shouting match.)

Personally, Im astounded by those who jump in over me as Im telling a story, to tell me theirs. Or if Im arguing a political point, to cut me off and give me theirs before Ive made mine. I want to know: Is it too much to ask that you listen first and formulate a well-reasoned (rather than knee-jerk) response? As Sherry Turkle, MIT professor and author of Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age, told me recently, its important to reveal how you got to what youre saying, which comes from talk  meaning real talk, the back-and-forth kind. This, she rightfully says, is where empathy and intimacy are born. Talk, as Turkle describes it, is not happening on the political stage, nor in our personal lives. Amen, Sherry Turkle.

This years political discourse is even more complicated by gender, as evidenced by Clintons pathbreaking nomination. After watching the first presidential debate, journalist Katie Hawkins-Gaar coined a phrase to describe Trumps constant interruptions  manterrupting. Meanwhile, that same night, novelist Laila Lalami tweeted: There is no working woman in America who doesnt recognize the pattern of interruption that Trump is using against Clinton.

It doesnt have to be this way. George H.W. Bush learned his lesson after he was pummeled in the press for his patronizing tone in the 1984 vice-presidential debate with Geraldine Ferraro. In 2008, the former president told then-Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) before his matchup with then-Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska): Youve got to be very careful, and youve got to be sure you dont seem overbearing and rude. Biden took his advice, and as Emile Kossen wrote in Joe being Sarah, Sarah being Joe: Gendered Adaptiveness in the 2008 Vice-Presidential Debate: There were no aggressive rebuttals or interruptions during the debate. Trump, perhaps not surprisingly, took us back to last-century mores.

Can we blame this uncivil trend on the Internet? Can we point the finger at social media, where flaming and unfriending are the rule? No one can interrupt us online, so were full of fire and ire in our posts and tweets. Why talk or listen when we can just rant? Turkle agrees that the lack of talk is an example of where the Internet has not been helpful. But she added quickly, Its also not helpful to lay our current problems at the feet of the Internet.

Thats right: We need to take responsibility for our public conduct and relearn the lost art of discourse. We need to reveal our own thought processes and explain how they help formulate our opinions. Of course, someone needs to listen, and we need to listen in turn. So by all means interrupt me if my house is on fire or my fly is open. Otherwise, please let me finish telling you what I think before you jump in to tell me Im wrong. I promise Ill do the same for you. Candidates, how about you?
In this video from 2005, Donald Trump prepares for an appearance on "Days of Our Lives" with actress Arianne Zucker. He is accompanied to the set by "Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush. The Post has edited this video for length. (Obtained by The Washington Post)

In this video from 2005, Donald Trump prepares for an appearance on "Days of Our Lives" with actress Arianne Zucker. He is accompanied to the set by "Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush. The Post has edited this video for length. (Obtained by The Washington Post)

Republicans are shocked  shocked!  about Donald Trumps caught-on-tape remarks boasting in vulgar terms about sexual assaults on women.

GOP Sens. John McCain, John Thune, Kelly Ayotte, Mike Lee, Mark Kirk and Mike Crapo, two Republican governors and a dozen or more GOP members of the House either said they wont support Trump or called on Trump to quit, while many others, including Trump running mate Mike Pence, expressed their disgust.

What was on the 2005 video tape, first reported by The Posts indefatigable David A. Fahrenthold, was beyond what weve known before of Trump  that he grabs the genitals of women without their consent and tried mightily to seduce a married woman. But its worse only by degrees. If this is the straw that broke the camels back, this dromedary was already overburdened and suffering from arthritis, spinal stenosis and ruptured disks.

Republicans may be dismayed by the super-predator they saw and heard in the video (just as they purported to be stunned by Trumps racist attack on Judge Gonzalo Curiel despite Trumps long history of racism), but they have no business being surprised. Whats on that tape is entirely consistent with what we already knew.

Even before this tape emerged, we knew that his wife Ivana accused him at the time of their divorce of raping her (Trumps lawyer asserted that there is no such thing as spousal rape). Weve known for months that makeup artist Jill Harth filed a 1997 complaint accusing Trump of attempted rape and of groping her in his daughter Ivankas bedroom. Weve seen complaint after complaint about his lewd behavior on set at The Apprentice and at his Miss Universe pageants.

Donald Trump has a history of controversial comments about women that began long before the 2016 election. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

But while people can question the he-said, she-said allegations against Trump, its harder to dispute the meaning of his own words.

Here, for the benefit of those Republicans feigning surprise about Trumps video, is a partial catalogue of reported remarks Trump has made about women  remarks which, by embracing Trump as the GOP presidential nominee, office holders in the party have already condoned:

You know, it doesnt really matter what they [the media] write as long as youve got a young and beautiful piece of ass.

I think that putting a wife to work [in the workplace] is a very dangerous thing. . . . I dont want to sound too much like a chauvinist, but when I come home and dinners not ready, I go through the roof, okay?

Fox viewers give low marks to bimbo Megyn Kelly.

You could see there was blood coming out of her [Megyn Kellys] eyes, blood coming out of her wherever.

My daughter, Ivanka. Shes 6 feet tall, shes got the best body.

1 of 28 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  These Republicans cut ties with Trump after lewd remarks View Photos Following a Friday report by The Washington Post on a 2005 video of the GOP presidential nominee, various Republicans have said they no longer plan to vote for him and some call for him to drop out. Caption Following a Friday report by The Washington Post on a 2005 video of the GOP presidential nominee, various Republicans have said they no longer plan to vote for him and some call for him to drop out. Sen. John McCain Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) joined the cavalcade of Republicans withdrawing their support for Trump. There are no excuses for Donald Trumps offensive and demeaning comments in the just released video; no woman should ever be victimized by this kind of inappropriate behavior. He alone bears the burden of his conduct and alone should suffer the consequences, McCain said in a statement. Susan Walsh/AP Wait 1 second to continue.

If Ivanka werent my daughter, perhaps Id be dating her.

Avoiding STDs is my personal Vietnam. I feel like a great and very brave soldier. . . . This is better than Vietnam. Its more fun.

All of the women on The Apprentice flirted with me  consciously or unconsciously. Thats to be expected.

If I told the real stories of my experiences with women, often seemingly very happily married and important women, this book would be a guaranteed best-seller (which it will be anyway!).

Frankly, I wouldnt mind if there were an anti-Viagra, something with the opposite effect. Im not bragging. Im just lucky. I dont need it.

The boob job [on Carmen Electra] is terrible  they look like two light posts coming out of a body.

Does she [Kim Kardashian] have a good body? No. Does she have a fat ass? Absolutely.

Ive known Paris Hilton from the time shes 12, her parents are friends of mine, and the first time I saw her she walked into the room and I said, Who the hell is that? 

Someone asked me how Rosie ODonnell would like these chairs. Theyre not strong enough.

Can you imagine the parents of Kelli [Rosie ODonnells partner] when she said, Mom, Dad, I just fell in love with a big, fat pig named Rosie?

 Rosie ODonnells disgusting both inside and out. You take a look at her, shes a slob.

To a lawyer who needed to take a break during a deposition to pump breast milk for her infant daughter: Youre disgusting.

Written on a photo of New York Times columnist Gail Collins: The Face of a Dog!

To Celebrity Apprentice contestant Brande Roderick: It must be a pretty picture. You dropping to your knees.

On his penis size: I guarantee you, theres no problem.

I wont do anything to take care of them [children]. Ill supply funds and shell take care of the kids.

Theyll [women] walk up, and theyll flip their top, and theyll flip their panties.

At a gala, referring to an attendees 14-year-old daughter:  You shouldnt mess with her . Fourteen will get you 20.

To Cher:  I promise not to talk about your massive plastic surgeries that didnt work.

I fully understand why [Arianna Huffingtons] former husband left her for a man  he made a good decision.

26,000 unreported sexual assaults in the military-only 238 convictions. What did these geniuses expect when they put men & women together?

A retweeted message: If Hillary Clinton cant satisfy her husband what makes her think she can satisfy America?

Of Carly Fiorina: Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that? . . . Can you imagine that, the face of our next president?

Speculating about whether his then-infant daughter would have large breasts: We dont know whether or not shes got this part yet, but time will tell.

For women who have abortions: There has to be some form of punishment.

Of former Miss Universe Alicia Machado: Miss Piggy. Miss Housekeeping. Check out sex tape and past.

On the allegations of sexual harassment by Roger Ailes that led to his ouster at Fox News: All of a sudden theyre saying these horrible things about him. Its very sad, because hes a very good person.

On former Playboy model Victoria Zdrok: She looks like a f---ing third-rate hooker.

 Hillary, who is very shrill. Do you know the word shrill? . . . She can be kind of sha-riiiiill.

I havent quite recovered, its early in the morning, from her [Hillary Clintons] shouting. . . . I know a lot of people would say you cant say that about a woman.

 Without the womans card , Hillary would not even be a viable person to even run for a city council position.

A person who is very flat-chested is very hard to be a 10.

On the Miss America competition: Theres only one talent you care about, and thats the look talent.

She said he [Ted Cruz] is a p---y.

I would never buy Ivana any decent jewels or pictures. Why give her negotiable assets?

Anyone who knows me knows these words dont reflect who I am, Trump said Friday night in his non-apology apology for the video.

But thats just the problem: If you dont think the words in that video reflect exactly who Donald Trump is, you havent been paying attention.

Twitter: @Milbank

Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
In our introduction, we introduced six Emerging Trends Driving the 2010 China Auto Industry:

 Sustainable demand growth fueled by urban economic development

 Shifting preferences for increasingly savvy consumers

 Hyper-competition across the automotive market segments

 Adaptive brand innovation to extend product reach and grow share

 Increasing focus on the automotive aftermarket

 Accelerated drive to globalization

We will cover each of these trends in depth in this series of articles.

Hyper-competition across the automotive market segments

Chinas vehicle market has nearly tripled in size from 4.56 million units (in 2003) to 13.64 million units (in 2009). Global Insight has forecasted that the Asian markets represent the largest growth potential in the global auto industry - with a combined 4.7% compound annual growth rate over the next 10 years (compared with 2.9% in NAFTA). Within Asia, 54% of that growth is expected to come from China. With the promise of tremendous growth, many international firms as well as Chinese firms are encouraged to allocate resources to seize the opportunities presented by the Chinese market.

While many Vehicle Manufacturers have enjoyed strong sales growth, what may not be understood or appreciated among those who are observing the growth in sales is that this is a market where quantity of sales should not be confused with quality of sales. The China market is now experiencing what many companies doing business in globally have come to understand for many years: hyper-competition.

In 2010 we have seen even more intense competition among the foreign and domestic brand vehicle manufacturers as they attempt to capture growth opportunities in China. As this is happening, the local manufacturers will strive to upgrade their brands and product portfolios to meet the more upscale image aspirations of Chinese consumers.

For the early stages of the development of the China market, the multi-national brands and Chinese brands were for the most part not competing directly with each other. Foreign brands enjoyed a tremendously high share of the passenger vehicle market, with overall share of more than 70% as recently as last year. Until recently, China's automotive market was largely driven by the more affluent Chinese consumers who tended to shop for foreign branded products. However, first-time consumers entering the market have largely driven the recent sales jump. The Chinese local brand manufacturers have typically focused on these first-time buyers.

This is changing quickly. Attracted by the tremendous growth of these segments, many multi-national brands are expanding their product portfolio into smaller segments. Examples include the Ford Focus Hatchback, Chevrolet Cruze, PSA 207 Hatchback, Hyundai i30, VW Polo Sport, Toyota Yaris, smart Fortwo, and Kia Soul.

Attracted by the desire to raise their brand image, and achieve higher margins, the Chinese carmakers are also expanding their product portfolio  into larger segments. Examples include Cherys Rely V5, Riich G6, Dongfengs S30, BYDs S8 and M6, Geelys Dihao and Yinglun and the Brilliance Zunchi.

Since China has become the most attractive area to invest for growth, it seems that Chinese consumers will be enjoying even more choices and even more attractive pricing as a result of hyper-competition. Structurally, vehicle manufacturers must adapt to compete profitably in this hyper-competitive market.

................................

About the authors:

Bill Russo, Gasgoo.com's columnist, is a Senior Advisor with Booz & Company as well as the Founder and President of Synergistics Limited. He lives in Beijing and has more than 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, most recently serving as Vice President of Chrysler's business in North East Asia.

Jeffrey Zhao, is an Advisor with Synergistics Limited. He lives in Fairfax, Virginia and has more than 10 years of experience in the automotive industry, most recently serving as Senior Manager for New Business Development for Chrysler's business in North East Asia.
Details of the surgical strikes carried out by Indian army's special commandos show that Lashkar-e-Taiba was hardest hit in the operation as around 20 operatives of the Pakistan-based terror outfit were killed in action.

By Press Trust of India: Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashker-e-Taiba(LeT) suffered the maximum damage in the cross-LoC surgical strikes on terror launch pads carried out by Indian army with assessment reports of radio intercepts indicating that around 20 of its militants were killed.

The assessment reports available from Indian army field units which included radio conversations between various Pakistani formations showed maximum damage was inflicted on LeT, a banned terror group, at Dudniyal launch pad in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, opposite to Kupwara sector of North Kashmir, according to sources in the know of details of the recent surgical strikes.

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READ: Surgical strikes in PoK: How Indian para commandos killed 50 terrorists, hit 7 camps



FIVE SURGICAL STRIKE TEAMS

The sources said today that five teams culled out from the army division in the area were tasked to destroy launch pads of terror groups located at Kail also known as Kel and Dudniyal.

In a well calibrated operation, which started on the intervening night of September 28 and 29, Indian army moved across the LoC and smashed four launch pads that were under the guard of a Pakistani post located 700 metres from the LoC.

READ: How India's para commandos used flame throwers, night-vision glasses to strike terrorists behind enemy lines



The sources said that the terrorists were not expecting an action by the Indian army and therefore were taken by surprise.

The terrorists, mainly belonging to the LeT, were seen running towards the Pakistani post when they were killed by the Indian troops, according to the assessment reports.

READ: Inside story of Indian Army's daring surgical strikes against Pakistan

PANIC AMONG TERROR CADRE

After the successful strike inside the PoK, an effective radio monitoring and strict vigil was maintained, the sources said, adding the wireless messages from radio intercepts of Pakistani army indicated that at least 10 LeT terrorists had been been killed during the multiple and near synchronised surgical strikes on four launch pads.

There was heavy movement of Pakistani army vehicles till the break of dawn and all the bodies were cleared off and taken away, the sources said, adding as per the radio intercepts there was a mass burial in the Neelum valley.

READ: Surgical strikes: Crossing a red line

Similar blow was dealt to the terrorist launch pads located at Balnoi area opposite of Poonch in which nine people belonging to LeT were killed as per the radio intercepts of Pakistani army, the sources said.

Two Pakistani soldiers belonging to 8 Northern Light Infantry were also killed in the strike in this sector, they said.

However, the sources said that post 8.30 am of September 28, radio and wireless intercepts between various formations of Pakistan have fallen silent.

ARMY ACTED ON INTEL INPUT

According to the sources, there were intelligence reports that terrorists were planning to enter into India from various directions in Kashmir as well as Jammu region.

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The sources said that the army waited for the opportunity when the terrorists were in the process of gathering at one place before giving them a bloody nose.

READ: Operation Ginger: Indian Army carried out surgical strike across LoC in 2011 to avenge Kupwara attack

Pakistan has contested the claims of Indian army and said that there was no surgical strikes carried out. They only admitted that two of their soldiers were killed in cross border firing.

However, after the operation was over, the sources said, duty officer at the Director General of Military Operation in Pakistan was informed about the strikes carried out by the army in PoK.





ALSO READ:

Behind surgical strikes: How special commandos of army are trained







--- ENDS ---
The remarks by Hillary Clinton during the paid speeches show a politician at ease with the lexicon and mandate of international finance and a realpolitik approach to world events. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

For progressive Democrats, the release of hacked emails suggesting a tight relationship between Hillary Clinton and Wall Street and her dream of open trade and open borders was an uncomfortable reminder of where she stood when her presidential campaign began.

During her primary contest with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Clinton moved to the left on both issues, pledging tougher oversight of the big banks and announcing opposition to a trade pact she had previously called the gold standard.

The question going forward is what Clinton would do upon reaching the White House. Democrats close to Clinton said on Saturday that the remarks are clearly a political problem, but they insisted they are probably not an accurate guide to how she will govern.

Republican nominee Donald Trump sought to use the comments to paint her as an out-of-touch elitist. Republicans also hope the leaked comments can mitigate damage from Trumps vulgar remarks about women and drive a wedge between the Democratic nominee and liberals.

Both the Wall Street speech remarks and the Trump comments came to light late Friday, and both are expected to figure prominently in the second presidential debate on Sunday evening in St. Louis.

Hillary Clintons secret Wall Street speeches prove what we have known all along  that Clinton is a self-serving Washington insider who has continued to deceive the American people for 30 years, Trump senior communications adviser Jason Miller said in an email to reporters that outlined several potentially unflattering quotes or subjects from Clintons addresses to the Wall Street banking giant Goldman Sachs and other finance groups.

The comments are drawn from an email describing speech transcripts that Clinton has refused to release despite months of intense criticism, especially during Clintons unexpectedly difficult primary battle with Sanders.

The remarks were made during paid appearances after Clinton stepped down as President Obamas first-term secretary of state and before she launched a second presidential campaign. They show a politician at ease with the lexicon and mandate of international finance and a realpolitik approach to world events.

Clinton was paid more than $20 million for speeches between 2013 and 2015.

Several liberal activists acknowledged discomfort Saturday upon seeing some contents of speeches they had long sought as evidence of Clintons ties to Wall Street. But they suggested that the timing of the release  long after the primary campaign and as Trumps political fortunes appear to sink  will blunt their effect. The language will help liberals hold Clintons feet to the fire on Wall Street reform and on the selection of Cabinet secretaries, some activists said.

Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, said the speech transcript highlight where Clinton was on trade and Wall Street rather than where she wound up after a campaign in which she was pushed by Sanders and other progressives.

If these were things she said last week, it would be a bit different, Green said. Instead, these reinforce concerns that predated the primary that she attempted to address.

Sanders issued a statement Saturday seeking to contain the political damage and reinforce the policy shifts Clinton has made.

Whatever Secretary Clinton may or may not have said behind closed doors on Wall Street, I am determined to implement the agenda of the Democratic Party platform which was agreed to by her campaign, Sanders said.

During the primary campaign, Sanders frequently raised the issue of Clintons paid speeches to corporate interests as a way to question her judgment, sometimes employing a snide tone.

The way I see it, if youre going to give a speech and get $225,000, it must be a really brilliant speech, Sanders told a crowd at the University of Illinois in March, for example. It must be opening new vistas of human thought.

The Clinton campaign has refused to authenticate the hacked emails or comment on the substance. It warned Friday of the potential for documents to be faked and passed off as material pertinent to the U.S. election.

The email released Friday, apparently hacked from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, is an exchange with a campaign staffer who had reviewed transcripts of the speeches. The staffer flagged excerpts that could be politically problematic.

Among them, Clinton said she dreamed of open trade and open borders throughout the Western Hemisphere, a reference to her views on open markets among allies but a phrase the Trump campaign said Saturday connotes catastrophic plans for completely open borders and a diminishment of American influence.

The leaked transcripts show Clinton saying that successful politics can necessitate having both a public and a private position on hot-button issues. That leaves room for arm-twisting and leverage out of the public view, she suggested.

And in 2014 she mused that her own familys relative wealth  she and former president Bill Clinton were earning millions annually from books and speeches  left her kind of far removed from the middle-class economic angst and social upheaval wrought by the 2008 financial crash.

Clintons campaign was founded on a pledge to return stability and opportunity to the middle class and to help small businesses.

Neil Sroka, a spokesman for Democracy for America, said he saw little surprising about Clintons past views in the hacked emails.

I dont think there was anyone who was paying attention during the primaries who is going to be surprised by these, said Sroka, whose group backed Sanders in the primaries but now supports Clinton. Whats in those emails is exactly what you would have expected her to say.
The release of a hot-mic tape in which Donald Trump is featured saying lewd things about women looks to be a catastrophic moment for the presidential nominee, who is already struggling to stay on message in the final month of the campaign.

Dozens of Republican elected officials  including prominent senators such as John McCain of Arizona and Rob Portman of Ohio  have disavowed Trump since news of the tape was broken by The Washington Post on Friday afternoon. Strategists for Republicans trying to keep the partys majorities in the House and the Senate are apoplectic about what Trumps seeming collapse means for their chances and what, if anything, can be done to salvage things.

[GOP consumed by crisis as more Republicans call on Trump to quit race]

Lost amid all of that scrambling is what Trumps demise will mean for those Republican candidates who are positioning themselves to run for president in 2020. Although that jockeying has been an almost entirely out-of-sight effort to date, the size and scope of Trumps problems may force these 2020 aspirants to actively grapple with their position vis-a-vis the Republican nominee sooner rather than later.

Given what Trump has said and done during this campaign  and coupled with the increasing likelihood that he will lose badly on Nov. 8  the time looks to be now for the Class of 2020 to make some hard decisions about its nominee.

In the wake of a new Washington Post report showing Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaking in very lewd terms about women in 2005, some Republicans are calling for Trump to step down as nominee. (Thomas Johnson/The Washington Post)

Heres a look at where the potential 2020 contenders have come down on Trump to date:

Sen. Tom Cotton: The lawmaker from Arkansas has not been quiet about his plans to run for president  regularly visiting Iowa and New Hampshire. But he has been more vague about Trump. Donald doesnt have much choice at this point. He needs to throw himself on the mercy of the American people tomorrow night, Cotton said Saturday. He needs to take full responsibility for his words and his behavior, he needs to beg their forgiveness, and he needs to pledge to finally change his ways. That line of argument reflects the broader way in which Cotton has and will probably continue to deal with Trump: right message (populist, anti-elite, anti-Washington), wrong messenger.

Sen. Ted Cruz: The Texan had successfully staked out his place as the principled conservative who never gave in to Trump  especially with a controversial refusal to endorse the partys nominee in a speech at the Republican National Convention. Then Cruz endorsed Trump  for reasons that continue to baffle me. Cruz aides have said he is reconsidering his endorsement after the hot-mic tape, but I wonder whether the damage is done: Pro-Trump forces already hate him, and now lots of the Never Trump people regard him as a traitor.

Gov. John Kasich: If the party is looking for a candidate in 2020 who was consistently and outspokenly against Trump from the start, the Ohio governor is sitting in the catbird seat. Kasich has refused to endorse Trump for president and didnt attend the GOP convention, even though it was held in Cleveland. Kasich has declared Trumps words on the hot-mic tape disgusting but hasnt called on the nominee to step down.

Gov. Mike Pence: The Indiana governor and Trump running mate said yes to Trump because he had an eye on national office and figured this was his best path onto the big stage. Pence did himself quite a bit of good in the eyes of donors and party activists with his performance in the vice-presidential debate last week. But no matter what Pence does between now and Election Day  short of walking away from the ticket, which I cant imagine he would do  he will be the Trump candidate of 2020. That might not be as terrible a thing as it seems today; there are still lots and lots of people  most of them dont live in Washington or work in politics  who back Trump and will continue to do so no matter what he says or does.

Sen. Marco Rubio: Aside from Kasich, Rubio has probably played the Trump game the best. He skipped the Republican convention, offering a brief taped endorsement of Trump and then disappearing. In doing so, he avoided the Cruz-ian confrontation with the Trump forces and largely kept himself out of that whole morass. Soon after the hot-mic tape emerged, Rubio tweeted out a condemnation  calling Trumps comments egregious and impossible to justify. Rubio still has to get reelected to his Senate seat in November, but if he does, the lawmaker from Florida is well positioned to prosper in the post-Trump Republican Party.
The Washington Posts Jenna Johnson explains what the stakes are for Donald Trumps presidential campaign following the release by The Post of a 2005 video in which he makes vulgar comments about women. (Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)

The Washington Posts Jenna Johnson explains what the stakes are for Donald Trumps presidential campaign following the release by The Post of a 2005 video in which he makes vulgar comments about women. (Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)

With less than a month to go before the election, a major political party is poised to walk away from its own presidential nominee  a situation with few precedents in American political history.

There is little to guide Republicans, collectively and individually, except the growing realization that they have risked their partys survival by tying it to Donald Trump as he has led them into a crisis that is both extraordinary and utterly predictable.

Now the challenge is how to isolate and quarantine their standard-bearer so that GOP candidates up and down the ballot will not be infected by the public revulsion toward lewd comments he made about women in a newly revealed 2005 recording.

Grim GOP strategists now worry that Trump could suffer a bigger loss on Nov. 8 than they previously feared, causing spillover into down-ballot races once thought secure for Republican candidates. That means their control of the Senate is in even greater jeopardy; some doomsayers have begun to speculate that even their House majority may be in danger.

They also fear further bombshells before the election, given how much of his adult life Trump has spent within range of a microphone. You think this is the last piece of oppo theyve got? one GOP strategist fretted as he contemplated the mountains of material that might be out there and available to Trumps foes and the media.

In the wake of a new Washington Post report showing Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaking in very lewd terms about women in 2005, some Republicans are calling for Trump to step down as nominee. (Thomas Johnson/The Washington Post)

Republicans realistic options for putting a hygienic distance between the party and the man who will represent it at the top of the ticket, however, are limited.

And doing so raises the danger of igniting an intraparty civil war and alienating Trumps legions of passionate supporters, who are drawn to the incendiary outsider in part because they are disenchanted with mainstream GOP leadership.

Republican leaders have been nearly unanimous in their denunciations of Trumps vulgar language and his boast that he felt entitled by his celebrity to make unwanted sexual advances.

But many party elders, elected officials and donors are arguing publicly and privately that Republicans must go further in isolating or even abandoning Trump.

Growing numbers of prominent GOP figures are publicly revoking their support for the partys nominee, and some are urging that he be replaced at the top of the ballot by his running mate, Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana.

Donald Trump should withdraw and Mike Pence should be our nominee effective immediately, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) tweeted from his official account early Saturday afternoon.

In doing so, Thune became the first member of the Senate Republican leadership to urge Trump to step down. Thune serves as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, the third-ranking position in the partys leadership team.

1 of 28 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  These Republicans cut ties with Trump after lewd remarks View Photos Following a Friday report by The Washington Post on a 2005 video of the GOP presidential nominee, various Republicans have said they no longer plan to vote for him and some call for him to drop out. Caption Following a Friday report by The Washington Post on a 2005 video of the GOP presidential nominee, various Republicans have said they no longer plan to vote for him and some call for him to drop out. Sen. John McCain Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) joined the cavalcade of Republicans withdrawing their support for Trump. There are no excuses for Donald Trumps offensive and demeaning comments in the just released video; no woman should ever be victimized by this kind of inappropriate behavior. He alone bears the burden of his conduct and alone should suffer the consequences, McCain said in a statement. Susan Walsh/AP Wait 1 second to continue.

The South Dakota senator had endorsed Trump in May, saying: We have to get it right in 2016 because the future of our country is hanging in the balance in so many different ways.

Other Republican lawmakers also joined the chorus for Trump to drop out. Among them: Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Mike Crapo of Idaho and Reps. Martha Roby of Alabama and Jason Chaffetz of Utah.

Im out, Chaffetz said in a televised interview Saturday. I can no longer in good conscience endorse this person for president.

Carly Fiorina, a former Republican presidential candidate, tweeted: Today I ask Donald Trump to step aside and for the RNC to replace him with Gov. Mike Pence.

For those who must share the ballot with Trump this year, the rallying cry has become everyone for himself  or herself.

I think each person running for election has to make his or her decision about what is best, and act accordingly, said Fred Malek, a major fundraiser and finance chairman of the Republican Governors Association. I dont think there is one formula that works for all.

Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), who is in a difficult reelection battle, issued a statement Saturday declaring that she plans to write in a vote for Pence as president.

I wanted to be able to support my partys nominee, chosen by the people because I feel strongly that we need to change the direction of the country, Ayotte said. However, Im a mom and an American first and I cannot and will not support a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting women.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the partys 2008 presidential nominee and a candidate this year for a sixth term in the Senate, announced that he and his wife, Cindy, also will write in a candidate  some good conservative Republican who is qualified to be President  rather than vote for Trump.

Practically speaking, there is no way for the party to rid itself of a nominee this late in the election season, short of Trump voluntarily dropping out of the race  something the celebrity real estate magnate declared Saturday that he would never do.

Many states have printed their ballots, and 400,000 early and absentee votes have already been cast, according to a tally by the United States Elections Project. The party would have to persuade states to put the new nominee on the ballot by appealing to secretaries of state and seeking emergency injunctions through the courts  no easy lift at this late date.

And even if Trump did withdraw, its not like Pence automatically becomes the nominee, said Nathaniel Persily, a constitutional law expert at Stanford Law School. Remember poor old Ted Cruz, the senator from Texas who came in second in the GOP primaries.

Major donors and party leaders are privately  and frantically  looking for options to salvage the GOP congressional majority, which is their largest since the New Deal era.

One longtime party fundraiser put it this way Saturday: The entire donor community is pulling back from Trump, redirecting efforts and resources to Senate and House races.

Former Minnesota representative Vin Weber was blunt in describing the mood of the series of conversations he has had with fellow Republicans.

The presidency has been lost, but the Congress and the party can be saved, he said in an interview with The Washington Post. We need to immediately focus all resources on the Congress, try to replace Trump and, failing that, settle on one alternative for principled Republicans to vote for, be it an existing third party or an agreed upon write-in candidate.

He hailed reports that the Republican National Committee has started to halt spending on some Trump-related election efforts, at least temporarily.

Thats a very good sign, Weber said, hoping it would be one factor of several that might lead Trump to resign. It means that regardless of what happens [to Trump], we will immediately shift resources to Senate and House races. He said that focus would inspire a discouraged donor base to provide resources and call attention to real strength that still exists in the GOP.

Weber has been talking with RNC members and others about encouraging Pence to resign temporarily from the ticket, in hopes it would lead Trump to quit. He called it the nuclear bomb.

For many in the party, however, it feels as if the bomb has already gone off. Now, the question is how to deal with the fallout.
A Palestinian gunman, known to Israeli police for violence and incitement on social media, killed two Israelis and wounded several others while shooting a rifle from his car in Jerusalem on Sunday.

The assailant, who could not be named due to a court order, died after motorcycle police opened fire on him.

At his first stop, a busy light-rail station, the assailant shot Lehava Melihi, 60, killing her and wounding others. He was then chased at high speed by police along the seamline that joins Jewish and Arab neighborhoods of the city. As police officers on motorcycles closed in on him, he shot and killed one of them, Yosef Kirma, 29, before he was killed in turn.

Israeli media reported that the suspect had been set to enter an Israeli jail Sunday after being convicted by an Israeli court several months ago. The Palestinian news website Maan said that in an interview conducted with the shooter Saturday, he had said he would turn himself in to Israeli authorities.

In a recent article about extremist activity among Palestinians in East Jerusalem, Shaul Bartal, a former major in the Israeli military and lecturer in Middle Eastern studies, cited the assailants Facebook page, where he displayed clear support for Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules the Gaza Strip. Hamas is viewed by Israel and the United States as a terrorist organization.

An officer documents the crime scene. (Abir Sultan/European Pressphoto Agency)

Immediately after the attack, Hamas released a statement saying that it mourned the death of its son and calling his attack in Jerusalem heroic.

The group confirmed that the assailant, from the neighborhood of Silwan, was one of its outstanding figures in Jerusalem.

[New attacks against Israelis show Palestinians have lost hope, some say]

Since October 2015, there has been a steady stream of stabbings, attempted stabbings, vehicular attacks and shootings by Palestinians against Israelis in Israel and the West Bank. The attacks have killed 38 Israelis, two U.S. citizens, an Eritrean and 230 Palestinians. Israelis say the majority of Palestinians killed were carrying out attacks.

The violence tapered off during the summer months but suddenly increased again two weeks ago.

[Israel steps up home demolitions to punish Palestinian attackers]

Some Israeli lawmakers said the attackers family home should be demolished, a common punitive practice that Israel believes helps to deter further attacks. Others called on authorities to revoke the blue identity cards, IDs held by most East Jerusalem Palestinians, of all his family members.

Israels internal security minister, Gilad Erdan, said there had been no warnings that an attack was imminent but blamed Facebook for allowing incitement on the social media network to continue unchecked.

The U.S. State Department released a statement condemning in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack that took place today in Jerusalem.

We also condemn the statements glorifying this reprehensible and cowardly attack, read the statement.

Hazem Balousha in Gaza contributed to this report.

Read more

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Protesters in Kachin state, Burma, hold placards saying For a more peaceful day, war is not the way and Stop civil war in Kachin state. (Seng Mai/European Pressphoto Agency)

Angered by the death of a 2-year-old girl, thousands of protesters marched through Myitkyina, capital of Burmas Kachin state, last week, demanding an end to Burmese military offensives. Protesters called for the Burmese army to withdraw its troops from the Kachin region, give unhindered access to humanitarian aid and stop human rights abuses.

Two separate protests, on Monday and Thursday, came after months of escalating clashes between the Burmese military and ethnic armed groups, and the death on Oct. 1 of a 2-year-old girl who was hit by mortar fire.

Because of the reckless offensives of the Burmese military, children are killed and injured, said Tsa Ji, of the Kachin Development Network Group, one of the organizers of Thursdays protest.

It was 6:10 Saturday morning, as the children were outside playing, when six mortar grenades landed in Pu Wang village in Mung Koe Township in northeastern Burma, close to the Chinese border, residents recounted. Zung Myaw was hit by shrapnel in her head and neck. Her playmates, two boys, ages 3 and 4, were hit in their stomach and thigh. One mortar round reportedly remains unexploded in the village.

The parents of the children rushed them to hospitals across the border in Yunnan province, China. On her way there, Zung Myaw died from her injuries. She was buried in the village the day after.

After decades of conflict, insecurity, forced displacement and lack of development, public protests have been gathering strength in Burmas ethnic areas. Tsa Ji said theyll keep up the demonstrations and continue to demand an end to the fighting.

We want genuine peace. Children are getting killed, families destroyed, women raped and innocent civilians tortured, he said. We have realized we, the public, need to start acting.

When asked to comment on the shelling of Pu Wang village, Maj. Gen. Aung Ye Win, a spokesman at the Ministry of Defense, said, The Myanmar armed forces were not involved in any clashes on that day, as far as I know. He refused to give any further comments on the events.

A spokesman for the Kachin Independence Army said there were no rebel troops stationed in or around Pu Wang village at the time of the shelling.

It definitely was the Burmese army, said Lt. Col. Naw Bu of the KIA. They often use the same type of mortars that we have seen from the incident.

On Sept. 30, the day before the shelling, the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon released a statement saying it was deeply concerned by the ongoing fighting and urged relevant authorities to adhere strictly to their responsibility to protect civilians.

The embassy statement also said the increase in conflict has the potential to undermine the progress and goodwill generated by a recent peace conference that brought together the countrys ethnic armed groups, the military and the government.

Col. Lahpai Zau Raw, the general secretary of the Kachin Independence Council, said the increase in clashes is evidence that the Burmese military, which according to the 2008 constitution is beyond the control of the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, does not share the Nobel laureates ambitions for peace.

As we met for the first round of peace talks in the beginning of September, the military attacked several of our outposts with heavy artillery and helicopter gunships, he said. Weve seen how theyve reinforced their presence here in the north, and we expect an even bigger offensive sometime soon.

Since renewed fighting broke out between the KIA and the Burmese military in 2011, more than 300 villages have reportedly been destroyed. According to the United Nations refugee agency, an additional 100,000 people have been internally displaced in Kachin and Shan states.

Over the past couple of months, the Burmese military has intensified its attacks on rebel groups in north and northeastern Burma. According to rebels, the military has been trying to drive a wedge between the different KIA brigades that protect the rebel headquarters in Laiza. At the same time, in western Kachin state, the Burmese military has focused its forces on the mining town of Hpakant, where the Kachin rebels have their main source of income through the mining and trading of jade.

On Friday, President Obama formally announced the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Burma. The countrys former dictator, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, was removed from the U.S. Treasurys blacklist along with another 16 senior military officials. A number of businesses with ties to the military also were removed from the list, including Myanmar Economic Holdings, Myawaddy Bank and Burmas state-owned arms and ordnance manufacturer, the Directorate of Defense Industries.

Read more:

Jade from Burmas rapacious mines was long banned by Washington. Until now.

White House lifts trade sanctions on Burma after Obama meeting with Suu Kyi

Suu Kyis visit with her family is a poignant reminder of what she has sacrificed

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
The Jewish New Year is supposed to be a time of joy: apples and honey, family and faith.

But in France  home to Europes largest Jewish community  the High Holidays are also a time of metal detectors and full-body pat-downs, ID checks and security interviews on the streets outside synagogues.

In the France of 2016, this is the new normal. But contrary to widespread reports of a possible Jewish exodus from France to Israel, French Jews are still very much here, adjusting to a new, arbitrary terrorist threat that targets people not just because of their religion but even for the cafe terraces they choose.

Whats important is to know that today  even if the Jews remain a target  they are not the only ones, said Francis Kalifat, the president of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions, Frances largest Jewish advocacy organization.

For years, anti-Semitic violence has been a mainstay in French headlines: stabbings, shootings, slurs. After the January 2015 attack at a kosher supermarket outside Paris, Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, urged French Jews to move to Israel.

French President Francois Hollande, right, and French National Assembly Speaker Claude Bartolone, center, attend a ceremony during a visit to a Jewish cemetery in France last year. (Vincent Kessler/Pool/European Pressphoto Agency)

[In France, an uncertain future for Jews]

Some did. In a community of roughly 600,000, about 8,000 decamped to the Jewish State last year, an all-time high.

Although many among that 8,000 left for reasons unrelated to anti-Semitism  economic prospects, retirement and rejoining family were all factors  the optics were terrible. In the eyes of the world, France, the first European country to recognize Jews as equal citizens, no longer seemed safe.

This was an idea widely disseminated in international media, especially in the United States. In a provocative April 2015 cover story largely focused on the situation in France, the Atlantic magazine went so far as to ask: Is it time for the Jews to leave Europe? Many began to think so.

But then there were the November attacks in Paris and the July attack in Nice, the deadliest on French soil since 1945.

The more than 200 victims murdered in both attacks were chosen entirely at random: teenagers who happened to buy tickets for a particular concert, children who happened to be watching fireworks on a seaside promenade.

Neither attack discriminated among victims; both posed an equal-opportunity threat. France today may not be safer for Jews, but it is now equally unsafe for everyone.

For too long, French Jewry was denounced and disregarded by society at large, which tended to observe from faraway the victims of bombings and attacks, says Haim Korsia, Frances chief rabbi.

Immediately after the January 2015 attacks  on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper and the kosher supermarket  the French government created Operation Sentinel, a squadron of 10,000 heavily armed soldiers dispatched to guard sensitive sites. These included many Jewish schools, synagogues and community centers.

Almost immediately, military officials, analysts and some politicians criticized the operation as a costly expenditure without a clear mission.

They thought they were not targets and could never be hit by such violence, Korsia said. But now that everyone is aware of being a potential target, I have the feeling that everyone became more responsible and caring about each other.

In a time of nondiscriminatory attacks, a more united national community may be more than a political platitude. The mass exodus of French Jews never happened.

[A French synagogue is being converted into a mosque after Jews abandoned the neighborhood]

Immigration to Israel has significantly slowed this year  by some estimates as much as 40 percent. And some of those who left France are starting to come back.

In July, the French newspaper Le Monde released a lengthy investigative report suggesting that between 15 and 30 percent of French Jews who move to Israel end up returning to France every year. The actual figure remains unknown, as Israel does not keep statistics on those who leave.

In the words of one woman interviewed by Le Monde: In Israel, I missed the idea of the Republic  meritocracy and the principle of equality. I realized in Israel that I was French before everything else, whereas before I had the impression of being Jewish first.

Anti-Semitism in France has far from disappeared. A steady stream of small-scale attacks on religious Jews has continued despite the extensive security protections in place. In August, a 62-year-old Jewish man was stabbed in Strasbourg on a Friday night; in September, a car containing gas canisters was discovered outside a synagogue in Marseille.

You shouldnt be shocked, Kalifat said. We have a menace to protect against. Hence the metal detectors and pat-downs during the High Holidays.

For Korsia, this is simply a fact of life, especially in a France increasingly in the crosshairs of the Islamic State.

Yes, we would all like to be able to wander around, go to the service or drop the kids off at school without being escorted, he said. But as paradoxical as it can be, French Jews have gotten used to it.

And now, so must all of France.

Read more:

Frances burkini debate: About a bathing suit and a countrys peculiar secularism

France to open first of 12 deradicalization centers for at-risk youths

Foiled Paris attack near Notre Dame deemed intelligence success by France

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Thousands took to the streets of Yemens capital, Sanaa, on Sunday to protest a Saudi-led coalition airstrike that had killed more than 100 people and injured hundreds a day earlier.

The U.S.-backed coalition initially denied carrying out the air raid, which targeted a funeral attended by hundreds, but it released a statement on Sunday calling the bombing regrettable and painful and pledging an investigation. It also expressed its deepest condolences and support to the families of the victims.

The coalition said that its pilots have clear instructions not to target populated areas and to avoid civilians and that American experts would join in the investigation.

The reversal came hours after a White House National Security Council spokesman said in a statement that the Obama administration was deeply disturbed by the reports of the airstrike.

The United States has launched a review of its already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led coalition and is prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with U.S. principles, values and interests, Ned Price, the spokesman, said in the statement.

Yemenis joined a rally in Sanaa, the capital, on Sunday outside the offices of the United Nations to protest a Saudi-led airstrike on a funeral hall the day before that killed more than 100 people. (Yahya Arhab/EPA)

U.S. security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check, he noted.

In recent months, the Obama administration has faced mounting criticism for its backing of Saudi Arabias air campaign in Yemen. Lawmakers and human rights groups have urged a ban on U.S. arms sales to Riyadh, declaring that Washington bears some responsibility for the civilian casualties in Yemen.

[Civilian casualties in Yemen bring charges of U.S. responsibility for Saudi actions]

The coalitions campaign has added to the civilian toll of the nearly two-year-long conflict between the Saudi-backed government and Shiite rebels. More than 10,000 people have been killed and millions are in the grips of a worsening humanitarian crisis.

In Sanaa on Sunday, many of those protesting outside the offices of the United Nations were supporters of the rebels, known as Houthis, who control the capital and much of northern Yemen, and loyalists of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. They chanted slogans against Saudi Arabia and its royal family, according to local news reports.

After this massacre, we are more determined to confront the assailants, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a well-known Houthi leader, told the protesters, according to the Agence France-Presse news agency. Open the fronts with the Saudi enemy immediately.

[A cluster bomb made in America shattered lives in Yemens capital]

The Houthis and Salehs supporters are fighting against President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who was driven from the capital last year. Sunni Saudi Arabia has long been suspicious of the Shiite Houthis, who are widely suspected to be supported by Irans Shiite theocracy, Riyadhs regional rival.

Estimates of those killed in Saturdays airstrike ranged from 104 to 155, with more than 500 wounded, many of them critically. The funeral that was targeted was being held for the father of the Houthi-appointed interior minister, who is also a key ally of Saleh. The mourners included high-level officials but also thousands of civilians, according to witnesses.

On Sunday, senior officials from the United Nations also condemned the attack, with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon demanding a prompt and impartial probe.

Those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice, he said in a statement.

In a separate statement, U.N. Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen OBrien said he was horrified and extremely disturbed by the attack and called for an investigation.

The attack highlights once again the disproportionate risk for civilians when explosive weapons are used in urban areas, OBrien said.

Human rights groups have accused the coalition of gross human rights violations, including possible war crimes, claims that Saudi Arabia has denied. The Houthis have been accused of recruiting child soldiers and carrying out forced disappearances of opponents.

Read more

Yemen is turning into Saudi Arabias Vietnam

Who are the Houthis?

Saudi Arabia appears to be using U.S.-supplied white phosphorus in its war in Yemen

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
The lovely Lauren Gottlieb is having a blast in Italy and setting some serious travel goals for us.

By India Today Web Desk: The lovely Lauren Gottlieb, who is known for her stunning dance performances, has taken some time off from her hectic schedule. The actress-performer is having the time of her life in the beautiful locales of Italy.

The actress has been roaming around the country and taking beautiful pictures of herself and the place.



Posing in front of the The Colosseum; drinking fine Italian wine; let us just put it this way; the stunning performer is hell bent on making her followers on the social media jealous.

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Also read:Lauren Gottlieb's writing on her grandfather will tug at your heartstrings, and not gently



Lauren has been posting pictures from her vacation to the country on her personal Instagram account.

The gorgeous actress is currently having the time of her life in Italy and setting some serious travel goals for all of us.

Why do you have to be so amazing Lauren? Or should we say, why is your life so amazing, Lauren?

Don't believe us? Have a look at these pictures and let us know if you don't feel like packing your bags immediately and heading off to some exotic location.

Be honest!



Imagination running wild! Taking it all in ???????? #BirdsEyeView #Colosseum A photo posted by Lauren Gottlieb (@laurengottlieb) on Oct 8, 2016 at 7:09am PDT

When in Rome @thefourexplore turns into The Five Explorers ??????????????+?????= ?? #Italy #Travel #Bloggers #TheFourExplore #Follow #Like #Love A photo posted by Lauren Gottlieb (@laurengottlieb) on Oct 8, 2016 at 6:59am PDT

The Colosseum!!!!! ??? Bucket list ? A photo posted by Lauren Gottlieb (@laurengottlieb) on Oct 8, 2016 at 6:54am PDT

#Rome ???????????????????? A photo posted by Lauren Gottlieb (@laurengottlieb) on Oct 8, 2016 at 6:49am PDT

Living the dream...in Italy ???? A photo posted by Lauren Gottlieb (@laurengottlieb) on Oct 6, 2016 at 1:04am PDT

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Cholera cases were breaking out by the dozens across a hurricane-devastated swath of coastal Haiti on Sunday, forcing families in isolated villages to carry their ailing relatives out on grueling backcountry hikes to reach understaffed hospitals, where patients were swooning on the floor.

North of the Dlo Mulet River, an area of southwestern Haiti reachable now only by four-wheel-drive vehicles and motorcycles, mile after mile of shoreline tourist towns and fishing villages have been reduced by Hurricane Matthew to a brutalized landscape of smashed homes, crumbled churches, broken trees and tipped-over telephone poles.

In some of those villages, and especially in the more remote and inaccessible mountain towns above them, flooding and contaminated water have ignited an outbreak of cholera that is spreading rapidly, according to hospital staff, aid workers and residents.

In the Port-a-Piment hospital, dozens of cholera patients spilled out of operating rooms into hallways and courtyards Sunday, mixing with relatives and harried volunteer staff. Children were crying and retching on the tile floor. Babies were lying catatonic with dark circles under their eyes, sprawled on T-shirts and rags, while their parents held up their bags of intravenous fluids.

Ninety to 95 percent of these patients have cholera  diarrhea, vomiting, said Missole Antoine, the medical director at the hospital, standing amid the throng of patients. The hospital had no isolated ward for the highly contagious disease. If everyone keeps coming here, well all be contaminated. We need a new space as fast as possible.

1 of 31 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  See photos of Hurricane Matthews aftermath in Haiti View Photos Devastation and death toll continues to rise, while clean-up and aid continues. Caption Devastation and death toll continues to rise, while cleanup and aid continues. Oct. 12, 2016 A U.N. convoy drives by destroyed houses after Hurricane Matthew hit Jeremie, Haiti. Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters Wait 1 second to continue.

Since the storm struck early Tuesday, Antoine said she and a nurse have run the hospital largely alone, without sufficient medicine, staff or supplies. Staff from Doctors Without Borders were pitching in to help treat the crush of patients, including45 new cholera cases Sunday morning. Four people have died at the hospital from the disease.

We almost have no medicine, Antoine said.

Cholera was introduced to Haiti in 2010 by Nepalese peacekeepers, stationed at a United Nations base, whose latrine drained into one of Haitis major rivers. Since then, government officials estimate that more than 800,000 people have contracted cholera and that 10,000 people have died. Aid workers had feared that the waterborne disease would spike after the hurricane, when access to clean water is limited. That now has begun.

The overall death toll in Haiti from Hurricane Matthew is still unclear. In Grand-Anse Department, north of Port-a-Piment, officials said 522 were confirmed dead, the Associated Press reported. A nationwide tally by Reuters put the figure at more than 900.

One cholera hot spot is an isolated village called Randel, set in a ravine roughly a four-hour walk from the Port-a-Piment hospital, where more than 100 cases have been reported since the storm, as well as some 25 dead, according to residents.

We had some cholera cases before the storm, but it has gotten much worse, said Roosevelt Dume, a 37-year-old painter who made his way here Sunday from Randel. The only people now in the village are the ones with cholera. The others have left.

Dumes house, like many others in the village, was destroyed in the storm, his livestock washed away. His family took shelter under a hastily erected wooden lean-to.

As we were preparing to escape, the house fell on us, he said. I was able to rescue my stepmothers son from under the rubble, and we made it out.

His family has had little food since then. The only source of water in the village has been a communal spring. On Saturday night, Dumes 3-year-old son, Roodley, began to vomit and have diarrhea. At 4 a.m. Sunday, Dume began the hike out of the mountains carrying his son, with the dirt road to Randel blocked by trees, rocks and water. Four hours later, his son catatonic, Dume walked into the hospital and got an IV drip into Roodleys right hand.

Hes doing better now, Dume said, as his son lay on a Sam Diegos Surf and Skate T-shirt on the hospital hallway floor.

A few feet away, Pierre Donald, 30, held his 22-month-old daughter, Pierredeline, on his lap, an IV running out of her hand, her eyes closed and head lolling back.

She cant sit up yet, he said.

He is a bean and cassava farmer from the outskirts of Randel; the storm swept away his goats and sheep and home.

Ive lost everything, he said.

He also hiked to the hospital with his sick daughter on Sunday, leaving behind those too weak to leave Randel. Asked if he worried about contracting cholera himself, he said no.

I was told if you worry, you have it. If you dont worry, you wont get it, he said.

Along this coastline, where people are stuffing their shirts in their nostrils to avoid the wafting smells of animal carcasses, a sense of order has started to erode. Large-scale relief shipments have yet to arrive. Residents are still cleaning up the wreckage and few have started to rebuild.

The first two cargo planes of humanitarian aid from the United States arrived on Saturday at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in the capital, Port-au-Prince, the Associated Press reported. Three more American planes are expected. But distribution remains a problem.

In Aux Coteaux, another coastal town, residents said that people have been looting damaged homes, and stealing farm animals that floated away in the floodwaters. On Sunday morning, Mackenson Jean-Baptiste, an aide to the mayor wearing white cargo shorts and a Yankees cap, stepped out of a truck at the end of Funeral Street and read a letter from the mayor into a megaphone.

The mayors office is aware of the misery of the people in this moment, his voice boomed through the streets. But that is not an excuse to steal other peoples belongings. So the mayor is asking everyone who is doing that to stop and to return things to their proper owner that dont belong to you, such as chairs, solar panels, and generators.

Jean-Baptiste declared that the city council had issued a deadline of Monday afternoon to put stolen property into a public space so people can find their things.

Thank you very much for your understanding, he concluded.

Afterward, he said Haitians along the coast have not reckoned with a disaster of this scale before. At least 20 people have died in the village, he said, and others have disappeared.

We have people who are 70 and 80 years old who have never seen anything like this, he said.

We havent received even a bottle of water from the government yet, said Francky Bernard, a 35-year-old computer technician in town. Food, water and shelter are what we need.

Read more

In Haiti, at least 470 dead and hundreds of thousands left with no relief in sight

There is nothing left to live on: Haitis hurricane survivors cope with despair

Gallery: Hurricane Matthew devastates parts of the Caribbean

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Photo: Getty Images

Believe it or not, Asian blepharoplasty, also known as double eyelid surgery, is more popular than rhinoplasty. In 2015, 1,264,702 eyelid surgeries were performed, making it one of the top three procedures in the world, behind breast augmentation and liposuction, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Its the most popular form of plastic surgery in South Korea, with 101,985 procedures performed last year.

However, that number may soon be dwindling, thanks to Asian influencers who are embracing the eyelids they were born with. Seeing K-Pop stars such as Son Ga-in from Brown Eyed Girls and Ahn So-hee from the Wonder Girls, who both have natural eyelids, has helped many Asian women accept their appearance, and makeup artists are starting to teach young women how to enhance their lids without surgery.

This wasnt always the case, unfortunately.

I definitely grew up hating my eyes, Francesca Tanmizi says. She has monolids, also known as epicanthic folds, a common eye shape among people of East Asian and Southeast Asian descent, where the lids cover the inner corner of the eyes, making them appear to have no crease.

She considered going under the knife because of pressure from her relatives and peers  surprise, surprise  who made her feel as though having a double eyelid would make her more beautiful. However, when she was 16 she met a makeup artist who would change her life (weve all been there); he taught her makeup techniques that complemented her features. That was the day she stopped trying to conceal or alter her eye shape and started embracing it, she says.

Twelve years later, Tanmizi is one of the influencers responsible for changing the way we see eyelids. Her Instagram, Working With Monolids, where she posts daily makeup tutorials for different eye shapes, has nearly 20,000 fans. Im hoping that, with more and more monolid girls doing their own makeup, people wont think its weird, she says.

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Her posts range from pictorials on accessorizing your lids, like with googly eyes or glitter, to videos of creating the crease without surgery.

Pam Sugiman, the dean of arts at Ryerson University, whose research focuses on gender and race, says that a lack of makeup products geared towards people with monolids has contributed to womens desire to modify their features, according to Broadly. Most makeup products are not for Asian eyes, she says. On top of that, there arent a lot of women with monolids featured in mainstream media, Michelle Cho, an East Asian studies professor at McGill University, points out, which contributes to the desire for double eyelid surgery.

Kar Yi Lim, who works as the beauty editor at Mochi magazine, loves that the monolid is becoming mainstream. It was nice seeing those different kinds of styles, in contrast to a lot of the famous pop stars who had very prominent big eyes, she says, referencing K-Pop stars Ga-in and So-hee.

Lim hopes to create a more diverse representation of beauty and style through Mochi.

Of course, this will take time, which is why Tanmizi still gets offensive comments. People still suggest she do double eyelid surgery, saying that if she had bigger eyes maybe her makeup would be less shit.

Im more flabbergasted than hurt, because I cant believe people still do this in 2016! she says of seeing negative comments.

And many young girls are still considering the surgery. Usually I tell them, If youre even having doubts, dont go through with it, Tanmizi says. Dont do it because of peer pressure. Its a horrible, horrible feeling.

However, the impact Tanmizis having is clear in the comments. One user tagged a friend in a smokey eye shot and wrote, @joannee.m You could do this instead of wishing for double eyelids ???????????? On another post of a yellow and black design, a user was excited to see this style for hooded lids, which is another type of eyelid structure. @missymeow_ there you go boo wing liner for hooded lids! they wrote.

Tanmizi is opening peoples eyes to a whole new world of makeup.
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
A man did not want to lose the house he was living in so he kept his 85-year-old grandmother's dead body wrapped in garbage bags for 5 months.

By India Today Web Desk: A 30-year-old man was arrested for keeping his 85-year-old grandmother's dead body wrapped in 16 garbage bags for 5 months.

Christopher Fuhrer, living in Queens, New York, was charged for not reporting death to a health officer, burial/body removal without permit and improper burial. He was terrified that his grandmother's death would leave him homeless.

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The woman was identified as Erika Kraus-Breslin and had died in May.

Fuhrer, who was considered to be quiet and a little strange by neighbours, masked the smell of a decomposing body using air fresheners and a fan. He told the police that he did not want to lose the house and that's why did not announce his grandmother's demise as reported by Washington Post .

After moving from Germany to New York, Erika lived in a two-story house where even Fuhrer joined her years later.

The neighbours got suspicious after noticing Erika's absence on the streets. Even her daughter, Fuhrer's mother, got worried after not getting a call from her so she called the police and ask them to check on her mother.

When the police visited Erika's house, Fuhrer answered the door and the police investigated the house only to encounter a disturbing sight. They found Erika's body wrapped in 16 layers of black plastic bags.

An autopsy of the body is yet to be done to find out the cause of the death.

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Seoul (AFP) - Analysis published Sunday of recent satellite images fuelled concerns that North Korea may be on the brink of another nuclear test or long-range rocket launch.

Speculation that Pyongyang is preparing such a show of force has been linked to Monday's anniversary of the founding of the North's ruling Workers' Party.

Past nuclear tests and missile launches have often coincided with key political dates. Its fifth nuclear test last month was conducted on the anniversary of North Korea's founding as a state,

The latest satellite imagery analysis posted by the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University noted increased activity at the North's Sohae satellite launch station.

The pictures taken on October 1 showed crates on the launch pad next to the gantry tower, vehicles near the fuel and oxidiser buildings, and work continuing on the facility's vertical engine test stand.

"However, since both the gantry tower and the assembly structures on the launch pad are covered, it is unclear whether this activity is related to launch preparations or other operations," the analysts noted.

Two days ago, the institute had posted similarly dated images of the North's nuclear test site that showed activity at all three of its tunnel complexes.

But again its analysts could not be certain if the activity was related to an imminent test or other work.

Sunday marked 10 years to the day that North Korea carried out its first nuclear test on October 9, 2006 -- an underground detonation with such a low yield that it was widely seen as a failure.

But the North's weapons programme has progressed in leaps and bounds since then -- despite rounds of increasingly tough international sanctions -- and has notably accelerated under current leader Kim Jong-Un.

Since taking power following the death of his father Kim Jong-Il in late 2011, Kim has overseen three nuclear tests -- two of them in this year alone.

Each has shown a significant level of progression, with September's fifth test the largest to date, and Pyongyang also claims it has mastered the miniaturisation technique to fit a nuclear warhead on the tip of a missile.

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The final goal of the North's programme is a credible nuclear strike capability against the US mainland.

While most experts don't believe it is there yet, they generally agree that the level of bomb and missile testing -- especially over the past year -- has brought it much closer.

The North carried out its last successful satellite rocket launch in February -- a month after its fourth nuclear test.

Pyongyang insists such launches are purely scientific, but the international community has condemned them as disguised ballistic missile tests.

Last month, North Korea successfully tested a new, high-powered rocket engine, a move Seoul said was designed to showcase its progress towards being able to target the US east coast.

And in August it carried out its most successful test to date of a submarine-launched ballistic missile that would allow deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula.
Johannesburg (AFP) - Several South African universities plan to resume classes this week after crippling protests by students demanding free higher education which sparked violent clashes with police, officials said at the weekend.

The prestigious Wits University in Johannesburg, where lectures have been suspended for three weeks, will start functioning again Monday despite students' warnings they will block any such attempt.

The university said the goal of securing "free, quality higher education" could be "done at the same time as finishing the academic year."

On Friday, student protesters at Wits threatened they would continue the shut down until their demand for "free quality decolonised education" was met.

"No student should see a year's worth of work come to naught, along with the financial sacrifices that they, and their families have had to make," Wits University said a statement.

It added that students would be allowed to protest but only in "specific identified areas."

Any person who intimidates students and staff or is seen "carrying rocks, stones, weapons," could be suspended.

Officials from Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria announced that classes would resume on Wednesday, while the University of Free State in Bloemfontein said it would open on Monday.

However, the University of Cape Town -- where the student movement has been particularly active -- said it will remain shuttered.

Pretoria University will also stay closed, but staff and students will meet on Monday to seek an end to the crisis.

The universities have been closed for up three weeks during protests over tuition fees, with violent clashes regularly erupting between students, police and private security guards.

South African police fired rubber bullets, stun grenades and teargas at student protesters in Johannesburg on October 4 as authorities tried to re-open Wits.

As police opened fire and protesters threw rocks, television footage showed several minor injuries to students and police.

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The wave of protests was triggered by a government announcement that universities would set their own fee increases but that next year's hikes should not exceed eight percent.

Student protesters say the fee increases force poorer, often black, pupils out of education.

Last year, students -- many of them so-called "born frees" who grew up after apartheid -- staged a series of huge demonstrations which forced the government to abandon planned fee hikes for 2016.
Aleppo (Syria) (AFP) - As bombs rained down on Aleppo, White Helmets volunteer Abu Hassan rushed to join the search for survivors, as usual, never imagining he would find his son's body among the dead.

The two of them had worked side-by-side in scores of harrowing rescue operations in rebel-held districts of Syria's battleground second city over the past three years.

But Abu Hassan said that rescue mission was one he will never forget.

"About two weeks ago, I heard SOS calls on the walkie-talkie about heavy casualties in Salhin," the 50-year-old former carpenter told AFP.

He said he knew his son Hassan had been heading to the eastern neighbourhood to refuel a White Helmets ambulance.

"When I got there, I saw bodies lying on the floor. One of the volunteers told me there were more behind the building that was hit. That's when I started to feel afraid.

"I found the body of a young man lying face down, with severe wounds to his stomach, leg and head. I turned him around to see his face. It was my son."

- 'I can't stand remembering' -

Abu Hassan said he spent the rest of the night sitting next to his son's body on the floor of the White Helmets branch where they both worked.

At dawn, he buried Hassan himself.

"It was the hardest moment of my life," he said, struggling to hold back tears.

"I asked the branch chief to move us to a different building, because I couldn't stay in the same place and see his name and the words he wrote on the wall."

"I can't stand remembering that night."

The 26-year-old left behind a wife and two children of his own.

Abu Hassan pointed to a photograph of him -- a sandy-haired, grinning young man -- on the memorial wall of the now-disused branch headquarters in the Bab al-Nayrab district of the city.

Three other volunteers from the branch who lost their lives are commemorated alongside him.

Their signature hardhats have not been reused but instead preserved as a tribute.

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- Branches 'targeted' -

Across Syria, more than 140 of the White Helmets' nearly 3,000 volunteers have died in the line of duty.

Their mission is to save the lives of others but sometimes they need to be rescued themselves.

Mohammed Wawi described one operation last week, when bombing began as he was searching for survivors of an earlier air strike.

"The fire and rescue team was hit and six members of our branch were wounded, one of them seriously," Wawi said.

"We had been trying to save people, but then the residents saved us."

Wawi was smearing mud on the branch's fire truck in an attempt to camouflage it, protecting it from the view of warplanes overhead.

Since government forces launched an offensive to recapture east Aleppo last month, the rebel-held sector has been subjected to devastating air strikes.

Whole streets have been levelled and the White Helmets' own infrastructure has taken a heavy hit.

"Our branches have been directly targeted in air strikes," said Bab al-Nayrab branch chief Bibars Mashaal.

In the past two weeks alone, three branches have been put out of action and a third of the White Helmets' ambulances, firetrucks and bulldozers in the city destroyed, Mashaal said.

- 'They are my family' -

Often, the damage to rescue workers is more than skin-deep.

Louay Mashhadi, 25, who heads another White Helmets branch in Aleppo, recalled one rescue operation earlier this month that left him so traumatised he stayed home for three days afterwards.

"I pulled an infant, four or five months old, out of the rubble," said Mashhadi, whose own son is around the same age.

"He had lost his legs and part of his stomach but he was still alive. There was no one around from his family, so the baby stayed in my arms for about 15 minutes. He died when the ambulance came."

Mashhadi said the volunteers relied on each other for the strength to continue their work.

"Because we're on call all night together in the same centres, we're more than just colleagues or friends."

But that makes it all the more painful when fellow members are killed. Four of Mashhadi's team have lost their lives in the past two months alone.

"I cried for them all, because they are members of my family."
Renowned Polish director Andrzej Wajda died Sunday in Warsaw after a short illness. He was 90. His death was confirmed by the Associated Press and Polish media outlets.

Though best known in the U.S. for his realistic WWII trilogy A Generation, Kanal, and Ashes and Diamonds from the late 1950s, the always controversial and politically vital filmmaker continued working into the 21st century and was considered Polands preeminent filmmaker. His latest film, the biopic Afterimage, had recently been selected as Polands foreign language Oscar submission. In 2000 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences honored Wajda with an honorary Oscar in recognition of a lifetime of work.

Through his bold use of imagery, Wajda was able to circumvent state censors during the Cold War years and create stinging indictments of war and political oppression in the postwar years.

Polands history under the Soviet Union was the basis for two of his most acclaimed works, 1977s Man of Marble and 1981s Cannes Palme dOr winner Man of Iron, which details the countrys famous Solidarity labor movement and featured Polands real-life hero Lech Walesa. (He returned to the subject of Walesa for the 2013 biopic Walesa: Man of Hope.) For a time, however, the Polish government became too restrictive and Wajda was forced to emigrate to France, where he lived until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. When he returned he was elected to the Polish parliament and appointed head of Warsaws leading theater, where Wajda was also a leading light, much like Ingmar Bergman in Sweden.

In his book Double Vision, written in the mid-80s, Wajda lamented the lack of interest in Polish movies in the West. But in his native country he was regarded as one of its most important artists. Several of Wajdas films were never released in the U.S., where he never enjoyed the popularity of countrymen Roman Polanski or Krzysztof Kieslowski.

Wajda, who served in the Polish resistance movement in WWII, while still a teenager, broke through with 1955 feature film A Generation, about the resistance movement during the war, and received his first serious acclaim for 1957s Kanal, about a group of resistance fighters attempting their escape after the 1944 Warsaw uprising through an underground sewer. Harsh and realistic, both films prefigured one of his great works, 1958s Ashes and Diamonds, starring Zbigniew Cybulski as an anti-Communist assassin. Cybulskis untimely death in 1967 inspired one of Wajdas most poignant films, 1968s Everything for Sale.

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While many of his works dealt with political subjects, like Lotna, Man of Marble and Man of Iron, Polanski told the New York Times that Wajda also possessed a 19th century Romantic spirit, which surfaces in several films like Siberian Lady Macbeth, the British-made Gates to Paradise and the sweepingly historical Pan Tadeusz, made in the late 90s.

His ties to the theater are most evident in another of his more celebrated films, 1972s The Wedding, based on a famous Polish play.

During his exile in Paris, he directed another historical epic, Danton, starring Gerard Depardieu, and the tragic romance A Love in Germany, dealing with the affair between a German woman and a Polish prisoner of war. Time and again he returned to WWII themes in films like 1990s Dr. Korczak, the tale of a Jewish teacher who dies in a concentration camp, and 2007s Katyn, about a WWII Russian massacre of Polish troops that was, for many years, blamed on the Germans. Wajdas father died in that massacre. Even films dealing with other wars, like Ashes and After the Battle, echo the tragedy of WWII and its long-term impact on Poland.

Other films he made after returning included two additional WWII tales, Holy Week and The Ring With a Crowned Eagle, and a small emotional film set in a girls school, 1997s Panna Nikt.

In 2009 he made the film Sweet Rush, which was reconceived in the midst of lensing as a film about filmmaking.

Wajda was born in the town of Suwalki in the north of Poland. After the war he attended the Cracow Academy of Fine Arts to study painting. However, in 1949, he transferred to the new state-run film academy in Lodz, which would spawn other important filmmakers including Polanski, Krzysztof Zanussi and Kieslowski. He began his career assisting director Aleksander Ford on the film Five Boys From Barska Street and, in his early years, he turned out short films such as Ceramika Ilzecka and Kiedy ty Spisz in 1953.

Wajda is survived by his fourth wife, theatre costume designer and actress Krystyna Zachwatowicz, and by a daughter from his third marriage to popular actress Beata Tyszkiewicz.

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Poland Enters Andrzej Wajda's 'Afterimage' Into Oscar Contention

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'Walesa. Man Of Hope' Becomes Poland's Oscar Candidate
Mayawati was addressing a Bahujan Samaj Party rally on the 10th death anniversary of party's founder Kanshi Ram at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar ground in Lucknow, in which more than one lakh people were present.

By Kumar Abhishek: Three people including two elderly women died and several people got injured today during a stampede at Bahujan Samaj Party's supremo Mayawati's rally in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Hours after the incident, Union Home Minister spoke to Uttar Pradesh DGP and took stock of the situation.

The incident happened when a large group was trying to force its entry from gate number 1 at the Kanshiram Smarak Sthal, the rally venue.

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Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of people who died in the stampede.

Also read:

Allahabad: VHP official caught harassing woman dressed in a burqa, thrashed





Mayawati was addressing a Bahujan Samaj Party rally on the 10th death anniversary of party's founder Kanshi Ram in Lucknow, in which more than one lakh people were present.

The two women fell down in the melee and got crushed by others. The injured were taken to the Lokbandhu Hospital where the condition of one person was said to be critical.

However, according to BSP UP state president Ramachal Rajbhar, the woman died due to humidity and not the stampede.

Watch Video







With inputs from agencies



ALSO READ:

Modi government spreading hatred in Uttar Pradesh, says Mayawati





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Theres another Spider-Man reboot coming and we seriously cant keep track

We ~love~ the Spider-Man franchise, and yesterday at New York Comic Con, it was announced that Disney XD and Marvel Animation will premiere a new animated show, Marvels Spider-Man, in 2017, reported Gizmodo.

Our minds are blown.

Ultimate Spider-man

And we are beyond excited.

Excited

But, dont get confused with Marvels Ultimate Spider-Man thats already on Disney XD.

Thatll end in January and have Spider-Man face villains, like Doctor Octopus, and try to prevent them from destroying all the superheroes in New York, according to Gizmodo.

So what can we expect with the new animated series?

Spider-Man is the biggest action hero in the world, Disney XD senior vice president Marc Buhaj said in a statement, reported TVLine. Were thrilled to continue our partnership with Marvel in this new original series that offers a fresh take on a beloved classic that will engage both new and existing Spidey fans with its compelling drama, exciting action, and the signature sense of comedy.

We. Cant. Wait.

According to the press release, Marvels Spider-Man will be about an unsure (but courageous) teen who has to figure out how to be a Super Hero from the very beginning, according to TVLine.

Sound familiar?



Again: We. Cant. Wait.

In the meantime, well just have to watch all the other Spidey films and shows out there. Brb.

The post Theres another Spider-Man reboot coming and we seriously cant keep track appeared first on HelloGiggles.
By Mohammed Ghobari SANAA (Reuters) - Saudi-led warplanes struck a funeral at a community hall in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, the country's Houthi-run administration said on Saturday, but the coalition denied any role in the attack. More than 140 mourners were killed, according to local health officials cited by the United Nations, in an attack that prompted a strong rebuke from Washington, a key Saudi ally. Jamie McGoldrick, a UN official in charge of humanitarian efforts in the country, said more than 525 were injured. The death toll was 82, according to Ghazi Ismail, the administration's acting health minister. The reason for the discrepancy in numbers was not immediately clear. Ismail said the air strike occurred in the southern part of the city, where a wake was taking place for the father of the administration's interior minister, Jalal al-Roweishan, who had died of natural causes on Friday. The death toll was one of the largest in any single incident since the Saudi-led alliance began military operations to try to restore President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power following his ousting by the Iran-aligned Houthis in March 2015. "The Saudi aggression committed a major crime today, by attacking a mourning hall for the al-Roweishan family, targeting residents in the hall," Ismail told a news conference in Sanaa. In a strongly worded rebuke, the White House said it may consider cutting its support to the Saudi-led military campaign. "U.S. security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check," said U.S. National Security Council spokesman Ned Price in a statement. "In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led coalition and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with U.S. principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemen's tragic conflict." Sources in the Saudi-led coalition said there was no Arab coalition air role in the strike. "Absolutely no such operation took place at that target," one of the sources said, citing what he described as confirmation from the coalition air force command. "The coalition is aware of such reports and is certain that it is possible that other causes of bombing are to be considered. The coalition has in the past avoided such gatherings and (they have) never been a subject of targets." The Saudi-led coalition has been providing air support for Hadi's forces in a civil war that has killed more than 10,000 people since March 2015 and displaced more than three million. Fighting has intensified since August when U.N.-sponsored peace talks in Kuwait ended without an agreement. Iran, Saudi Arabia's main regional rival, described the attack as a horrific and inhuman crime, and called for the resumption of peace talks among all Yemeni parties. To resolve the crisis in Yemen there is no solution but the end of aggression by the brutish Saudi rulers and start of new round of talks that includes all Yemeni sides, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency. SCENE OF CARNAGE Residents said aircraft fired two missiles at the hall, where hundreds of mourners had gathered to offer condolences. One missile tore through the building, setting it on fire and sending a large plume of smoke above the area. The other landed nearby. Witnesses described a scene of carnage, with charred or mutilated bodies strewn around. Ambulances raced to carry the wounded to hospitals, which sent out urgent appeals for blood. A spokesman for Yemen's Houthi group condemned the strike as an act of savagery. "The aggression continues to shed blood in an uncommon savagery and with international collusion that reaches the level of direct participation," the Houthi-run Saba news agency quoted the group's spokesman, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, as saying in a statement. At least two local officials were among the dead. It was not immediately clear if Roweishan was in the hall when the strike happened. Roweishan had sided with the Iran-aligned Houthi movement when President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi fled Yemen after the Houthis advanced on his headquarters in the southern port city of Aden in March 2015. The Saudi-led coalition had been blamed for several attacks on medical centers, including some run by international aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), schools, factories and homes in the past 18 months that has killed scores of civilians. In August, MSF said it was evacuating its staff from six hospitals in northern Yemen after a coalition air strike hit a health facility operated by the group killing 19 people. The coalition, which says it does not target civilians, has expressed deep regret over the decision and said it was trying to set up "urgent meetings" with the medical aid group. (Additional reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, and Yeganeh Torbati, writing by Sami Aboudi, Editing by William Maclean, Andrew Roche and Bill Rigby)
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The appearance of creepy clowns has been reported across the U.S. in recent months, starting in South Carolina, where children told police that a group of clowns had tried to lure them into the woods.

Thanks to the law of the internet, it was only a matter of time before the phenomenon showed up Down Under.

SEE ALSO: Creepy clowns are now terrifying children in the UK

On Sunday local time, Northam Police in Western Australia announced on Facebook they'd arrested a 19-year-old man for allegedly terrorising teenage girls while in a clown costume. He has been charged with disorderly behaviour and possession of a disguise.

"It is alleged that he chased a group of teenage girls while dressed as a clown," the police wrote. The man apparently chased the women to the door of a police station and tried to run away when officers opened the door.

It is not illegal to wear a clown costume. As police noted on Facebook, you will only be charged with wearing a clown disguise "if it is in connection to committing an offence."

The Western Australian police are not the only local force aware of the issue. On Friday, Victoria Police said it had heard reports of clown events in the state.

"The clown purge appears to be a copycat of incidents being seen in the US," the organisation said on its Facebook page. "Any intimidating or threatening, as well as anti-social behaviours will not be tolerated and will be investigated."

In New South Wales, where people in clown costumes were apparently spotted on Thursday night, Campbelltown police Inspector Tara Norton told the Daily Telegraph no arrests had yet been made.

"There's the potential for retaliation or people could be seriously hurt or could die by trying to get away," she said. "Don't get involved with a group of people going out to do something so ridiculous and dangerous. If you do, be prepared to face the consequences which will be serious."

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Anonymous Facebook pages warning of dangerous clowns abound, from "Melbourne Clown Association" to "Clown Purge - Adelaide."

The Facebook page "Australian Clown Purge - Aint Clownin," which has more than 58,000 likes, recently suggested locals should expect sightings around the country, starting in New South Wales.

It also seems to take a break from terrifying Aussies to dabble in politics, most recently targeting right-wing senator, Pauline Hanson.

Image: facebook/Australian Clown Purge - Aint Clownin
Australia's richest woman and a Chinese property developer joined forces Sunday to bid for one of the world's largest cattle estates, despite Canberra's rejection of previous foreign offers.

Australia's biggest private landowner, cattle firm S. Kidman and Co, has attracted keen interest from Chinese firms wanting to secure the sprawling pastoral empire.

But the government has previously rejected two Chinese-led bids, citing the national interest.

Under the new offer announced late Sunday, mining magnate Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting will acquire 67 percent of Kidman and Chinese property developer Shanghai CRED 33 percent for some Aus$365 million (US$277 million).

Shanghai CRED was part of a Chinese consortium involved in the previous bids. The Chinese stake in the current bid would be significantly smaller than previously.

Kidman chairman John Crosby welcomed the "significant investment proposed in addition to the purchase price and (we) are confident that the Kidman business will be in good hands".

The first bid was rejected last November since part of the holdings contained a weapons testing area. After that, the Anna Creek station in South Australia next to a rocket testing range was separated out and is no longer included in the sale.

The new bid will be partly funded by the sale of Anna Creek and will be subject to approval by Canberra and Beijing.

Apart from the continued Chinese interest, the offer also reflects a further push by Rinehart -- who is worth more than Aus$6 billion according to The Australian Financial Review -- into agriculture.

Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting owns 70 percent of the massive Roy Hill iron ore mine in Western Australia, and has also bought cattle stations in that state and in the Northern Territory in recent years.

Kidman, founded in 1899, holds around 1.3 percent of Australia's total land area, and 2.5 percent of the nation's agricultural land. It is currently 33.9 percent foreign-owned.

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Even without Anna Creek it represents two percent of agricultural land.

It is a key source of beef for export to Japan, the United States and Southeast Asia.

Canberra has become increasingly concerned about the purchase of Australian infrastructure and land by overseas interests, and in August blocked the sale of its largest electricity network to foreigners.
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's richest woman Gina Rinehart and Chinese developer Shanghai CRED have agreed on a deal to jointly purchase S. Kidman & Co, the country's largest private land holding, for A$365 million ($276.8 million), the companies said on Sunday.

Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting will own 67 percent and Shanghai CRED 33 percent of Australian Outback Beef Pty Ltd, a new joint venture created to buy Kidman in a bid to overcome government concerns about foreign interests buying the cattle empire.

In April, the Australian government rejected a A$371 million ($281.3 million) bid by a consortium headed by Shanghai CRED and Hunan Dakang Pasture Farming Co Ltd , alongside a minority 20 percent Australian interest, the group's second rejection in six months.

Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison said the sale of Kidman's vast holdings - about the same size as South Korea - to the Chinese buyers was not in the national interest. Domestic ownership of agriculture is seen as crucial for Australia to cash in on global food demand and to keep tax revenues onshore.

Rinehart, who has close ties with ruling conservative lawmakers, said Kidman "is an important part of Australia's pioneering and entrepreneurial history".

Founded more than 100 years ago, Kidman has an average beef herd carrying capacity of 185,000 cattle and pastoral leases covering 101,000 sq km (39,000 sq miles).

The company has already agreed to sell its Anna Creek Station in South Australia, which makes up a quarter of its land holding, to an Australian buyer to help assuage government concerns. Anna Creek is adjacent to the Woomera weapons testing site, a concern noted by Morrison in rejecting the sale.

The Hancock deal is reliant on the separate sale of Anna Creek being completed. Proceeds from the sale of that and another station will be paid to Kidman and retained in the company for the benefit of Australian Outback Beef.

We welcome the significant investment proposed in addition to the purchase price and are confident that the Kidman business will be in good hands,' Kidman Chairman John Crosby said.

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A source familiar with the Dakang bid told Reuters in late August that it was considering a fresh bid of its own with potential domestic investors.

Rinehart would be a formidable opponent if Dakang pushed ahead. She is Australia's richest woman with assets worth $11.1 billion, according to Forbes, largely tied to iron ore assets.

In August, she named former lawmaker Sophia Mirabella to a senior role at Hancock Prospecting. She is also close to Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.

($1 = 1.3187 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Jane Wardell; Editing by Paul Tait)
Goa Police today arrested one of the accused in connection with the murder of perfumer Monika Ghurde from Bengaluru.

By Mayuresh Ganapatye: Goa Police have arrested one person from Bengaluru in connection with the murder of perfumer Monika Ghrude. The accused has been identified as Raj Kumar Singh. He used to work as security guard at Sapana valley where Ghurude lived. Few Months back he was fired for stealing Monica's Umbrella.

Director General of police (DGP) Dr Muktesh Chander said "From day one we knew it & kept him on our radar. His frequent withdrawal of money using Ghurde's ATM card helped us to locate him and nab him."

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After her murder Raj Kumar Singh went to Manglore and later to Bengaluru from where the Goa police arrested him. The arrest comes in a day after Goa police identified two people in connection with the murder. Reports stated that two men were seen in a CCTV footage withdrawing cash from an ATM using Ghurde's card. Ghrude's body was found naked with her hand and legs tied at her apartment in Sangldan on October 7. Her post-mortem report confirmed that she was strangulated and smothered using a pillow.



Goa Forward spokesperson Durgadas Kamat congratulated Goa police for this success but also raised questions about other cases that are yet to be solved.

NO DEVELOPMENT ON OTHER SIMILAR CASES



"Young girl Sunita Lamani was murdered in broad day light a month ago from North Goa's Povorim area. There has been no development in this case. No development in the murder of Shobha Karmali in Kakoda area of south Goa on the same day when Monika was murdered. Just because Monika's case was high profile and there was Media pressure that's why police acted promptly. Police should not discriminate," said Kamat.

Now police are further investigating to find out how accused knew the ATM pin of Ghrude. The police will focus on questions like did he hack her ATM pin with anyone's help? How did he get access to her home?

Ghurde was an independent perfumer based out of Goa and founded 'MO Lab'. She set up her first lab in Chennai. Before turning to perfumery, Monika was a photographer and graphic designer. She also co-founded Graf Publishing, design and publishing company. She was known for conducting smell workshops in various part of the world and was involved in collaboration projects in Europe, India and New York.

Monika believed one's choice of fragrance reveals a great deal about their personality and mood. "Nobody knows what the nose knows, despite the fact that for centuries human beings have used fragrant materials to pray, to heal, to make love and war. It has always been a part of our legacy. We recognise that our sense of smell plays an important role in the formation and expression of human consciousness," reads her website.

Watch Video





Also read:

Naked, bound body of famed perfumer Monika Ghurde found at Goa home; robbery, rape suspected

Goa: Perfumer Monika Ghurde's killers identified, caught on camera



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Before the Universal Post Union was created in 1874, the exchange of mail across country lines was messy, complicated, and inconsistent. Historical records indicate mail may have been delivered as early as 255 B.C. in Egyptyet it took millennia before even uniformpostage rates were introduced (in 1840).

It just so happens that the first known picture postcard was mailed that very same year.

October 9 is World Post Day, and we're tipping our hats to the Universal Post Union, which has been responsible for maintaining a global mail network for more than 140 years.

In celebration of World Post Day, the Belize Tourism Board wants to breathe new life into the tradition of the picture postcard. At the peak of paper correspondence, in 1951, some 4.5 billion postcards were received in the United States.

That number wasjust 838 million in 2015.

Nothing beats the excitement of opening the mailbox to find a handwritten postcard from a far-flung place, said Belizes director of tourism Karen Bevans in a statement.

Postcards from Belize

The Belize Tourism Board promises to respond to any postcard they receive between World Post Day and November 9 with a handwritten postcard from Belize. Locals will include in their penpal-style note fun facts about the country and tips for visiting.

And one person will receive a second postcard, congratulating them on winning a four-night trip to Belize, round-trip airfare included.

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Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have returned to their Boston roots!

Well, not really, but they did resurrect their Boston accents and Good Will Hunting roles for a special one night only live read of the script on Friday in New York -- and we have John Krasinski to thank for it.

WATCH: Ben Affleck Fights With Matt Damon Over Who's Closer to Tom Brady

The Office star hosted and served as guest director for the live reading, which benefited Film Independent, announcing to the crowd that the film was "unbelievably important to him," and that it was his lifelong dream to play Will Hunting.

Krasinski then introduced the cast, which included his wife, Emily Blunt taking on the role of Skylar, played by Minnie Driver, Daveed Diggs took on Casey Affleck's part as Morgan O'Mally, and Margot Martindale stepping in as Robin William's iconic character. Keegan Michael Key and Tom McCarthy also had roles.

It wasn't until later in the performance that Affleck and Damon appeared on stage, surprising the audience as they read their roles in the Oscar-winning drama.

"First John started reading Matt's part and you heard Matt off stage say, 'I have a problem with that,' and he walked out and sat down. So John moved over and sat in the seat for Ben's role, and he read two lines and then Ben walked out," an eyewitness tells ET. "People went nuts! Everybody screamed and jumped up with a standing ovation."

RELATED: Matt Damon Gets Candid on Tacos, Ben Affleck and the Late Robin Williams in Reddit AMA Session

While the night's cast had the dialogue down, they did go off script a few times to the delight of the audience.

"Every time Emily read Minnie Driver's part and her character and Matt's kissed John would make a comment like, 'They did not!'" the eyewitness recalled. "It was really fun! It was like an Oprah's Favorite Things reveal when they each came out, especially when Matt read the 'How ya like them apples' line -- the crowd went nuts!"

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This wasn't the first time Krasinksi has been surprised by the Good Will Hunting actors.

In fact, Affleck showed up during Krasinski's interview on Thursday's Good Morning America.

RELATED: Ben Affleck Celebrates National Best Friends Day With Adorable Pics of Matt Damon

See the sweet surprise in the video below.

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Bertrand Taverniers ambitious documentary, My Journey through French Cinema, explores Gallic cinema from the 1930s through to the early 1970s, inspired by Martin Scorseses Personal Journey through American Movies (1995) and My Voyage to Italian Cinema (1999).

Taverniers love affair with French cinema first began when he suffered from tuberculosis in post-World War II Lyon. He says that cinema gave him his inner strength to recover. With a great twist of irony, while making Journey he underwent an operation to remove a tumor, and says that his love for cinema was once again his savior.

Journey had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, followed by screenings at Cannes Classics, Telluride, New York and San Sebastian. It will have its first French screening since Cannes on Oct. 9 at the Lumiere Festival in Lyon. It will be released theatrically in France on Oct. 12, and in America in March-April 2017, distributed by Cohen Media. It has been sold to multiple territories, including Spain, Portugal, Italy and Mexico.

In this exclusive interview with Variety, he talks in-depth about the project and French cinema.

What have been the initial reactions to your film?

In Telluride, the audience for the film included two extraordinary documentary filmmakers whom I greatly admire  Ken Burns and Charles Ferguson. Ken later wrote to me saying that it was the three fastest hours of his life. I thought that was a really nice statement from such a great director.

The film historian, Leonard Maltin, whom I greatly admire, said that the film was so alive and so funny and filled with energy. He said he learned thousands of new things he didnt know about French cinema.

Its great to receive such positive reactions. Then there have been more personal reactions. At Telluride, I met a young student who told me that Id said in my documentary that when you make a film you should have the arrogance of wanting to change the world and the humility of wanting to touch two or three people. He added: You just met one. I think your film changed my life. That was a wonderful moment for me.

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How difficult was it to get this project off the ground?

Its quite daunting when I think back at the many problems I experienced to fund the film. It was pretty desperate until the people at Gaumont and Pathe decided to support the project. They saved the project. But before that. I had been waiting 14 months to be received by an official at another group. I had no chance to explain what I was doing. Experiences like that are humbling. You see how you are viewed by people at the top of the large media groups. At first you have the impression that there is no consideration for you. It makes you modest. But once Pathe and Gaumont came aboard it changed everything.

What problems did you face in tracking down archive films?

Pathe and Gaumont have already restored many classic films and as a result of this project have decided to restore many more. My film has been very useful in this process. Some films were not available before the start of the project. There were many archive films at Gaumont that I needed for my project, such as Jean Delannoys Le Garcon Sauvage and Ca Va Border, starring Rene Chateau, which had never been restored before. The clips in my documentary are very beautiful, including excerpts from great classics such as Jacques Beckers Casque dOr and Rendezvous in July which have now been restored. Other titles include Julien Duviviers Panique, and Voici le temps des assassins.

More titles in the libraries of Gaumont and Pathe will soon be restored, such as Le Grand Balcon by Henri Decoin. Pathe and Gaumont already had a great policy for film restoration, now its even more dynamic.

Have you already received some feedback in France?

Ive received some very beautiful e-mails from various directors, such as Xavier Giannoli and Philippe Le Guay and also a wonderful e-mail from Serge Toubiana, former editor-in-chief of Les Cahiers du cinema, who expressed his admiration for the film. Ive received some very moving messages.

But Ive heard nothing from Frederique Bredin, the lady at the head of the French CNC. Apparently she never said a word to Pathits seems that for Pmoving, well the film. Iady received some feedbackjc films and as a result of this project haved. In tellue and Gaumont. It seems that for her its not sufficiently interesting to express an opinion. But Christophe Tardieu the CNCs director-general said it was a masterpiece and said I should have a statue built in my honor. To be honest, Id prefer to have a money to finish my series  I would trade a statue for the money

Tell me more about the accompanying 8-hour TV series

In addition to the film, I will make a TV series, with a further eight hours, filled with many things I wasnt able to put in the film, including sections about Tati, Bresson, Pagnol, Ditri, Clouzeau, French cinema during the occupation, foreigners working in the French cinema etc. And also the people who have been forgotten  such as Raymond Bernard, Maurice Turner, Anatole Litvak, many underrated directors, and also many women directors who are less well-known. The TV series will include almost 40 minutes on Julien Duvivier, one of my pet directors.

With the film and the series we can release a DVD or a complete VOD version. I have to finish the series by the end of 2016. Most of it has already been edited. I have the first cut with over 75% already in place. In a few days time, I will record an interview for the film, adapting the voiceover etc.

Has this been an interesting experience?

The problem is that I keep discovering new things. Its a bit of a nightmare. It has no end. But its very exciting. Its really exciting to be in editing room and observe my closest collaborators becoming totally excited when they discover a film that theyve never heard of and it surprises them. Even for me, Im continuously uncovering new works that surprise me. Or Ive watched some films Id seen before and I fell in love again. This sense of admiration has a genuine healing effect. You known, I had a cancer while making the film. I worked very quickly after the operation. My editor came to the hospital. I was rewriting on the bed. Looking at clips on the computer, the surgeon said that I was three months ahead of my normal recovery progress, in terms of what he had expected. He said that maybe it was due to my passion for cinema. That had given me so much excitement and hope. Medicine has a lot to do with this film. Even when I first became interested in cinema as a child it was when I was bed-ridden due to illness.

You have said that this project was inspired by Martin Scorseses personal journeys into Italian and American cinema. Has he seen your documentary?

Scorsese saw the rough cut of the 90-minute documentary, with me translating it into English as we watched. He reacted immediately. He said that by looking at the film he understood why he had originally wanted to become film director. I was showing a clip from Jean Delannoys Macao: LEnfer du Jeu  a great tracking shot. The film shows a scene during the war between China and Japan. Japanese planes are bombing the city. We see explosions, in the tracking shot, as houses are being destroyed. The shot ends on the legs of a beautiful woman trying to patch her stockings. Martin stood up and said: What a great shot! I want to see that film. I succeeded in my goal, I think.

My project is indeed a tribute to what Martin Scorsese has done before me with his two documentary projects. It was amazing to have such an important director talking about American and Italian cinema. In a world where everyone only fights for himself. But my film is totally different from his projects. He devoted only about two minutes to any one film, to give a broader picture. I wanted to study fewer directors. So I spent 25 minutes on Becker. I try to go deep.

But I remain inspired by what Scorsese did, talking about his youth and his parents and how his life was linked to watching films. I found that wonderful and very, very moving. I think that very often creators are better than the historians or critics to talk about works of art. For example, I think the best text on Alexandre Dumas was written by Robert Louis Stephenson. Admiration is something that is inspiring, healing, comforting. I felt so good after making this film. This is the ambition behind my film. Im not a guide in a museum. Im not a film historian, or a film critic. Im not someone from a university. I am a film director. I want to talk like a director, as Scorsese did in his projects. I want to show what is both creative and has a lasting effect in those films. What inspires me as a director. The use of a certain lens by Marcel Carne, or in Jean Sachas This Man is Dangerous, where everything is shot with an 18.5 mm lens, like in Orson Welles, or films with great depth of field, like in the films of Renoir, or the way that actors are handled by Sautet and Renoir. I want to show what lives on in each film many years later, its still alive.

Is this just a project about film history, about the past?

Not at all. Most of the films deal with subjects that are still on the front pages  crime, immigrants, workers, people killed by the police. Todays working class lives in very different conditions, but you still find the same spirit of trying to help each other. Many directors were interested in how women were treated in society. The condition of women workers. They were combatting the cliches of the time. You just have to look at the way that prostitutes are depicted in Marcel Carnes Hotel du Nord  without any moralizing. In the same film, a homosexual is shown with great warmth, at time a time when many films made funs of homosexuals  they were shown as being ridiculous. People tended to laugh at them. Hotel du Nord was very much ahead of its time. Many great French films talked about fascinating characters, very often female characters. They talked about the country. Scorsese shows how Italian films describe the Italian mind. I tried to select films that talk about France. In a very different way. With hundreds of visions, but related to something that is very French. That is rooted in the soul of the country. Thats how films have a lasting effect. Like Paisan, or Rome, Open City, all those great Italian films. It made them so alive. Jacques Becker shows working class women in Antoine and Antoinette. These issues still move the audience. The French continue to support the fight of workers. They are moved by the same themes.

What do you think the project reveals about French cinema?

Obviously there are hundreds of characteristics to define French cinema. One is the long-standing relationship between French cinema and American cinema. Jacques Becker loved Ernst Lubitsch and Henry Hathaway. He grabbed what was interesting for him from American cinema. Questions of rhythm. But he rooted his films in the context of his country. He kept dialogue to a minimum. Instead of copying the American cinema, he made real French films. Melville also adored American cinema. But his films are very different from the American model. I dont think he realized how different his works were from the films that he so admired. For example in his film, Army of Shadows, he used sound and music in a very innovative manner. In my documentary, I show a scene, that any American director would have put to music. But Melville doesnt. We see a long sequence, with a series of two-to-three shots with Lino Ventura running. You hear the noise of his steps, nothing else.

Or in another scene when the character is burying some stolen jewels in a deserted place under a lamppost. He suddenly hears footsteps, of someone running. He stops, freezes, until they go past, and then he goes on digging. Any American director would have done a reverse shot. But Melville didnt do this. He maybe wanted to make a film in the style of William Wyler but ended up doing it more like Bresson.

Do you think a project about film history can appeal to younger audiences?

When you make any film you have to ignore such fears. I know that a lot of people dont want to watch black and white films. But if I was always worried about peoples reactions, I wouldnt be making films, I would be running a TV channel.

I hope that this film will overcome some peoples prejudices towards classic films. Maybe their friends or parents will take them to watch such films, or introduce them to such works. In general, Ive had a great reaction from young people, whove told me they now want to buy DVDs of classic titles. If I thought about the audience before making a film, I would never get any project off the ground. For example, nobody wanted to fund Round Midnight or Life and Nothing But. For example, when I was trying to get the funding for Round Midnight the guy who was above my producer, who was the head of the Hachette group, offered me a check NOT to make the film. But it turned out to be a huge success in France. Won loads of awards. But he had told me that there wouldnt be a single spectator for the film.

Has making this documentary changed your own filmmaking style in any way?

No. When I direct a film, Im not a film buff. I only think about the characters. I stop thinking about how Carne or any other director made their films. Its very different with a director such as Tarantino who is always quoting from other films that inspire him. Its not other films that inspire me. Its life. Its like for any writer. Any novelist who reads great novels. Inevitably it has an influence. It helps in some way. The great jazz pianist Thelonious Monk once gave a great answer to this question. Of course Ive been influenced by all the people who were good before me.

What previously undiscovered films emerged over the last two years of producing the project?

There has been a whole episode about directors I never thought I would include in the film. For example, Jean Boyer who in the 1930s made wonderful musical comedies, including Prends la route and Un mauvais garcon, for which he wrote the songs, writing the lyrics himself while shooting on location. He had everyone sing, like in a Jacques Demy film. They were not based on stage plays. Unlike most musical comedies that were adapted from stage plays. They were written for the screen. He made at least two wonderful films without any pretension. Very simple, very funny, with marvellous songs. He was a target of critics during the 1950s because his films had lost their edge. But his films from the 1930s and 1940s were very funny. He wrote around 50 songs, He was one of the great lyricists. Hes been completely underrated. I also rediscovered the films on Anatole Litvak from the 1930s, including two masterpieces. I included many films that had been forgotten.

French cinema is often seen primarily in terms of the Nouvelle Vague, does this project help change that?

In America, people were only asking about the Nouvelle Vague. I said that if Id only covered that period it would be like talking about American cinema and only talking about Scorsese, Coppola, Spielberg, Altman, Pollack etc. and never mentioning Billy Wilder, Fritz Lang, John Ford, Ernst Lubitsch, Frank Capra etc. That would be ridiculous. You cannot reduce a national cinema to an 8-year period.

I never talk about artistic movements or schools in my documentary. Mostly because I dont know what that means. I greatly admire Godard, Chabrol, Varda, etc. and I talk a lot about Godard in the film. So I cant be criticized for this. I was asked why I never mention the fight between the journals, Cahiers du Cinema and Positif, and the fight between Pauline Kael and Andrew Sarris. Im much more interested in the fight that some directors had to wage in order to get their films done. The fight against censorship. The fight against the financiers. Renoir had to fight to make Grand Illusion. Becker had to fight for many of his films. Im more interested in that. I loved being able to show a film by Breville called Menace, that the Germans wanted to destroy. The negative had to be buried to save it. Im more interested in that. The battles waged by some directors that have hurt their careers. Some films were never made because of these struggles. When critics wage a war theres much less at stake, less at risk. The only risk is not to be invited to a dinner. Im not examining the views of the critics. For me, its only the film that matters.

How has the project changed your view of French cinema?

This project also has the benefit of hindsight. With the passage of time we gain a broader perspective. Its not just a question of immediate reactions. Its very important to have that distance for this kind of project.

When I watch films I now see more connections. There are clear links between Jacques Becker and Claude Sautet. And a link with current directors such as Philippe Lioret, who is an heir of the tradition of Becker. And between Xavier Giannoli and his predecessors. I can really see how some present-day directors have been nourished by Renoir, Becker, Max Ophuls.

It has made me proud to be French. As much as I admire Italian, American or English cinema, working on this project has made me feel proud. When I saw the tremendous fight of some French writers against censorship to get the right to final cut. Claude Autant Lara sued his producers. He even organized a general strike. I really admired this. The way they fought against everything imposed on them  like exhibitors cutting their films. This all ended with a law in 1957 that you dont have in the U.S. It considers that directors have the final cut. Its because of those people  Duvivier, Clouzot, Renoir, Becker  that I and others of my generation owe a debt to.

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UPDATED with NBC confirming suspension: NBC has suspended Bill Bush pending further review, after WaPo published audio/video tape the Today show host in a lewd, sexually predatory conversation with now GOP candidate Donald Trump back in 2005 when Bush was host of Access Hollywood. The news was announced to the shows staff this evening by SVP Noah Oppenheim, a copy of which was obtained by Deadline:

Dear TODAY Family  I know weve all been deeply troubled by the revelations of the past 48 hours. Let me be clear  there is simply no excuse for Billys language and behavior on that tape. NBC has decided to suspend Billy, pending further review of this matter. If any of you have any questions or concerns please reach out to me directly, anytime day or night. Best,

Noah

Previous, 3:20 PM: Billy Bush will be off the air Monday, an NBC News rep confirms. Today shows 9 AM host will be MIA on Monday, three days after the Washington Post released audio tape of Bush in a lewd, predatory conversation he had with now GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2005 about women, including Bushs then Access Hollywood co-host Nancy ODell. Bushs absence from the morning program illustrates the awkwardness of NBC News situation as it deals with the embarrassment of getting scooped on a huge political story regarding a tape it had in its own vaults, and the behavior of its Today heir.

One industry source reports Today host-in-chief Matt Lauer had lobbyied to banish Bush from his 7-9AM turf in the wake of the tape cataclysm.

Bush hosts the 9 AM hour of Today, and is perceived to be the person the news division is grooming to succeed Lauer at some point. Sources had been spreading word Bush would apologize for a second time, on Mondays show, for his remarks in a 2005 conversation caught on audio/video tape by Access Hollywood as the two men were working on a segment about a Trump soap opera cameo. Though the tape made by Access Hollywood, that show being part of of the NBCU family, the Washington Post broke the story, revealing the tape contents on Friday.

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Washington Post subsequently reported NBC News was aware of the audio and video footage, but held back on reporting it until lawyers finished reviewing the material.

For four days.

And, who knows how much longer it would have been  maybe after tonights debate  had not the tape been leaked to WaPo, which was able to publish its report within hours of getting it. After which, Access Hollywood and NBC News published their reports posthaste.

The general news industry consensus is that the explanation of NBCs delay does not pass the smell test.

Either way, it only compounds the awkwardness of NBCs situation in the final month of the election cycle.

Lauer got widely panned for the job he did moderating that Commander in Chief forum in early September. He grilled Hillary Clinton on her emails for so long he had to then instruct her to cut short her answer on a national security question posed by a member of the military in the audience. Lauer also got dinged when he declined to challenge Trump when the candidate repeated some inaccurate assertions.

Meanwhile, NBCs late-night star Jimmy Fallon was criticized, unfairly some of his late-night competitors say, for declining to ask Trump tough questions during a recent Tonight show guest gig, instead mussing the candidates hair for the sake of creating a viral late-night moment.

Thats quite a trifecta, remarked one industry exec, echoing the sentiments of others. In fairness, NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt got high marks for his moderation of the first presidential debate between Trump and Clinton.

If Bush eventually gets to apologize a second time, and Today, he would be following in the footsteps of Trump, who also issued an initial statement when the tape broke in WaPo on Friday, and followed with a televised one late that night.

In his first whack at a mea culpa, Bush said Friday in a statement, Obviously Im embarrassed and ashamed. Its no excuse, but this happened eleven years agoI was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along.

Jeb Bushs cousin was 34 at the time of the recording. Donald Trump was 59.

Im very sorry, Bush added.

Bush is expected to survive the ordeal, but, like Lauer in the wake of Ann Currys Today show exit, likely never recover with women viewers  a big problem for a program that targets them.

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Billy Bush will not appear on Monday's Today show after all, an NBC News spokesperson confirmed Sunday. He's unlikely to return to the show this week, if he returns at all, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.

Bush was scheduled to be in his anchor seat for the 9 a.m. hour of the Today show and had planned to address his vulgar comments made during a 2005 hot mic conversation with Donald Trump for a segment on Access Hollywood, which Bush was then hosting.

"The plan is for him to have a chance to apologize," an NBC source said earlier Sunday. But the situation remained fluid. And apparently the outcry was loud enough - externally and internally - that NBC News could not let Bush appear.

Read more: Giuliani Agrees Trump's Comments Described Sexual Assault: "That's What He Was Talking About"

Another issue for Bush and NBC News executives, beyond viewer defection, is the very real possibility that celebrities, and particularly actresses, that the Today show books to appear on the 9 a.m. hour, which is feature- and entertainment-heavy, would balk at being interviewed by Bush.

NBC executives stressed that once they learned of the Access Hollywood tape, they "immediately decided it was newsworthy," said a source. "There was never any question that we need to protect Billy or that it would see air."

The tape came to light internally on Monday, when an Access Hollywood producer unearthed it. And Bush is clearly an enthusiastic participant in the lewd and misogynistic conversation. The news division then spent the week legally vetting the contents. They gained clearance from the NBC legal department on Thursday. NBC News also had agreed to let Access Hollywood air their piece first. But by Friday, it was leaked to the Washington Post, which broke the story.

"NBC News did exactly what you would expect from a great news organization," an NBC spokesperson said in a statement issued Sunday afternoon. "As soon as we saw the tape and made the assessment it was undoubtedly newsworthy, we moved quickly and deliberately to get it published and to do so in the most responsible way."

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Bush has already rubbed some people the wrong way at the Today show, say sources, including Al Roker, with whom Bush clashed on air over Bush's handling of the Ryan Lochte interview. Once source described him as "unliked" even before the Trump tape. There is ample proof on social media that Bush's objectifying conversation with Trump has outraged many women - the show's core viewer constituency.

Bush's Facebook page is currently filled with critical comments from women. According to The New York Times, a call to his office went to a voicemail message recorded by an assistant saying, "You've reached Billy Bush's office. He's busy making America great again."

New York Magazine writer-at-large and Veep executive producer Frank Rich and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof are among those calling for Bush's ouster. Rich tweeted Sunday, "If @NBC keeps Billy Bush, a cheerleader for sexual assault, on air, @TODAYshow is done for a generation."

If @NBC keeps Billy Bush, a cheerleader for sexual assault, on air, @TODAYshow is done for a generation. https://t.co/0LQRnaeNXf

- Frank Rich (@frankrichny) October 9, 2016

NBC has great journalists. I wish it would empower them, rather than celebrity interviewers and sexual assault apologists like Billy Bush. https://t.co/EnicPzQPWF

- Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) October 9, 2016

Even if he hadn't participated in harassment of a colleague, hasn't Billy Bush shown he lacks the news judgment to be part of a news org?

- Anil Dash (@anildash) October 9, 2016

NBC you need to do something here. How Billy Bush behaved was not OK. You need to make that very very clear. https://t.co/aPz7glA8bJ

- Rachel Sklar (@rachelsklar) October 9, 2016

If Billy Bush had been thinking like a reporter (or not hoping to avoid embarrassment), he would have shared w NBC News during primaries

- David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) October 8, 2016

I never understood the Billy Bush hire for TODAY anyway. I prefer Willie Geist. Would love to see Geist get an expanded role

- Shawn Reynolds (@ShawnWTVM9) October 9, 2016

He better not --> Billy Bush will not return to work at 'Today' show on Monday https://t.co/nRFHL67yWe via @BostonGlobe

- Marcela E. Garcia (@marcela_elisa) October 9, 2016

Read more: Trump Tape Fallout: Concern Over Billy Bush Grows at 'Today' Show
Slavery in the United States was a cruel abomination under which millions of people suffered, and its scars linger to this day. It inevitably provoked resistance and reaction, of which one striking example was the rebellion led by Nat Turner, an enslaved Virginia preacher, in 1831. That rebellion, the subject of the new movie The Birth of a Nation, killed 60 white men, women and children, most of them families sleeping in their beds, and led to the execution of a roughly equal number of black rebels and the reprisal murders of many more black people.

Few famous criminals have left behind a more detailed record of their thoughts than Nat Turner, who was deposed at length by a local lawyer after his capture about six weeks after the rebellion. His confession is an extraordinary historical document, but filmmaker Nate Parker chose to disregard a great deal of it making his movie. Though the changes may make Turner more sympathetic, they do not, in my opinion, help Parkers fellow citizens understand this horrifying event from our past. To outgrow the worst aspects of our history and to avoid reviving them, we would do well to understand it as it really was.

Turners confession reveals him to be an intellectual prodigy, a man of truly aristocratic temperament, and a religious fanatic. Turner, who was born in 1800, had begun to read voraciously at a very early age, and was the wonder of all who knew him, white and black. Indeed, as he explained to his interlocutor Thomas Gray, his fellow slaves had deferred to his judgment even in his childhood. He was obsessed with religion and the Bible, and as he explained, he heard the voice of the Holy Spirit and had visions more than once. He became convinced in early manhood that he was destined to do great things. Though Turner ran away from an overseer for some weeks at one time, he returned, much to the surprise of his fellow slaves, to pursue that destiny. In the film, Turners sense of his own great destiny is missing.

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The film shows Turner driven to rebellion by repeated acts of cruelty, including the gang rape of his wife by white men and a severe beating from his master. His confession not only says nothing about any such incident, but instead states, Since the commencement of 1830, I had been living with Mr. Joseph Travis, who was to me a kind master, and placed the greatest confidence in me; in fact, I had no cause to complain of his treatment to me. But a year and half earlier, in 1828, Turner said he had had his greatest visitation from the Holy Spirit, who commanded him to fight the serpent, for the day was fast approaching when the first should be last and the last should be first. He interpreted that as a signal to kill white slave owners and their families, and he interpreted a total eclipse of the sun as a final call to action.

Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter

He gathered a band of conspirators, which the film shows. They initially had hoped to begin their rebellion on July 4, 1831, but were delayed until August. The rebellion began with the murder of Turners master Mr. Travis, his wife, and three children by Turner and his confederates. Parker chose to conceal this entirely, showing Turner killing his masterwho in the film is still his original master Mr. Turnerbut showing the wife weeks later, having survived the attack, and saying nothing about the children. The conspirators then went from house to house, killing every white inhabitant and recruiting more co-conspirators. Turners confession described each killing in horrifying detail.

By morning there were about 60 of them, and they set off for the town of Jerusalem. The alarm had been spread throughout the neighborhood by then, and a party of armed white men confronted, attacked and scattered the rebels before they reached the town. Thus there was no climactic battle in the town square such as the movie depicts. The battle allows Parker to give the impression that a large number of the white casualties were armed men killed in a fair fight, and the closing caption states only that 60 family members were killed by the rebels. The killing of women and children is never shown.

Turner did not, as the movie shows, surrender himself to stop the reprisal killings of black people, only to be fallen upon by a white mob. He was discovered by two black men after hiding in a hole in a field for six weeks, and they apparently alerted a white man, who came upon Turner armed but accepted his peaceful surrender. His confession made a great impression upon his interrogator, who asked him to say if other insurrections had been planned elsewhere. He assured them that they had not. (Of the slaves who were tried or examined in the wake of the insurrection, 17 were discharged or acquitted, and some of those found guilty were transportedpresumably sold elsewhererather than hanged.)

Slaves resisted in many ways, from random acts of violence to running away to the North. Turner passed up one chance to do so, and he might easily have become a prominent abolitionist like Frederick Douglass or a clergyman in a free state. But instead, as he explained in his own words, he believed himself chosen by God to bring about the Day of Judgment, by leading a massacre of men, women and children. The evil of slavery was bigger than all the men and women, black and white, whom it touched, and Turners rebellion was one of its consequences. But if we deny either the barbarism of the institution or the barbarism of Turners response, we increase the chances that we might sink into barbarism again.

The Long View

Historians explain how the past informs the present

David Kaiser, a historian, has taught at Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, Williams College, and the Naval War College. He is the author of seven books, including, most recently, No End Save Victory: How FDR Led the Nation into War. He lives in Watertown, Mass.
"Blood and water can't flow together," India's Prime Minister says. This is no cliche - shared water resources are a key issue in the increasingly fraught relationship between India and Pakistan.

The South Asian neighbors have been at loggerheads since September 18, when four gunmen killed 18 Indian soldiers in an army base camp in Uri, a town in the disputed territory of Kashmir. New Delhi claimed the attackers were members of the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, and accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, a claim the Islamic republic denied.

Tensions were further inflamed on September 29, when India said it led " surgical strikes " on suspected terrorist bases in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir - strikes that Pakistan then insisted did not occur.

"While India has likely launched such raids in the past, those were kept under the cover of secrecy," Rebecca Keller, an analyst at geopolitical intelligence firm Stratfor, told CNBC. "This was the first time New Delhi openly announced such an action, which marks a break with precedent."

She forecast further strains on ties as Islamabad mulled an appropriate response to India's more open aggression.

"This means we may see an uptick in cross-border firing between both sides across the Line of Control," she said, referring to the de facto border through Kashmir that separates India and Pakistan.

Experts largely agree that a full-blown war between the two nuclear-armed states is unlikely, as it would damage India's international reputation and Modi's efforts to turn the populous nation into an economic powerhouse.

New Delhi would instead likely look for other economic and diplomatic measures to pressure Pakistan, Indian officials told Reuters, and this is where shared water resources are key.

The Indus Water Treaty, a 56-year old water distribution pact between India and Pakistan, sets out how the two countries will share the Indus River and its tributaries. The main Indus River flows through China, India and Pakistan and has multiple tributaries .

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Under the agreement, India has control over the eastern rivers in the Indus system of rivers, while Pakistan has control over the western rivers, which flow through India first. The treaty allows India to use 20 percent of the total water carried by Pakistan's section of the Indus River for irrigation, transport and power generation There is also a permanent Indus Commission that manages the terms of the treaty and resolve disputes over water-sharing.

"Blood and water can't flow together," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on September 26 in a meeting to review the treaty, according to the Economic Times of India, effectively putting the pact on the table as a potential tool for retaliation against Pakistan.

India has said it is looking at maximizing its water usage by accelerating the construction of hydropower plants along the western rivers that Pakistan relies on. It has also hinted at reviving the Tulbul project, a dam that has been a source of dispute between the two countries since 1987.

Pakistan was described as one of the world's most "water-stressed" countries in a 2013 Asian Development Bank report, and the possibility India could suck more water from Pakistan's sections of the river are a serious threat.

"The greatest threat to Pakistan's economic livelihood would be the increasing threat of water scarcity and water stress along the Indus basin," Stratfor's Keller said.

The Indus River supports nearly three-quarters of Pakistan's total irrigation of agricultural land, according to Stratfor. Factors such as pollution and an expanding population are already weighing on water availability per capita, even as demand is forecast to rise nearly 30 percent by 2025.

The potential risks inherent in India using more of the shared water resource have not been not lost on Pakistan.

Sartaj Aziz, foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said in an national assembly address on September 27 that Pakistan would treat a violation of the Indus Water Treaty as "an act of war."

But Stratfor's Keller told CNBC that India did not need to violate the World Bank-brokered treaty in order to leverage water supply as a tool to pressure Islamabad.

"Under the treaty itself, India is allowed the use of 20 percent of the western rivers, the Indus, Chenab and the Jhelum, and it currently does not take full advantage of this allotment [so] India has room to use water as a rhetorical tool while still staying within the parameters of the agreement," Keller said, adding that she did not expect India to disregard or formally dissolve the deal.

Pakistani politician Mohsin Leghari echoed this sentiment.

"The Indus Water Treaty has survived hostilities and even wars over the five decades since it was inked ...Breaking an international treaty would be a dangerous precedent for a country aspiring to be a major global economic power," Leghari, member of the Pakistan Senate, told CNBC.

"I take Modi's threats as rhetoric to drum up support for his party in the forthcoming state elections, as Pakistan bashing goes well with the Indian voters," he added.

India's government did not respond to CNBC's request for comments. But aside from using water resources to pile the pressure on Pakistan, there are also domestic considerations at play.

"India is clearly keen to improve its hydropower capabilities to satisfy its growing hunger for energy," Jan Zalewski, senior India analyst at global risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft, said. "With the Indus Water Treaty now on the table as a bargaining chip, public pressure for the Indian government to seek revisions [to the treaty] will increase."

-- Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook.


Steve Einhorn

The hedge fund world is a little like a dog show.

Breeds are distinct and judged separately from one another: You can be a macro guy, a fundamental type, a quant.

And as with dog breeds, certain kinds of funds can come in and out of fashion. Occasionally, a crossbreed emerges that captures the imagination and becomes the latest fad.

These days, the new hybrid breed everyone is into is something called "quantamentals."

And yes, as with the cockapoo, not everyone is fond of this name, either.

Quantamental managers combine the bottom-up stock-picking skills of fundamental investors with the use of computing power and big-data sets to test their hypotheses. For example, while a look at financial statements and a visit to a retailer's outlets might help predict future profits or ability to repay the company's debt, a portfolio manager could also test a theory with algorithms that crunch through data on millions of credit-card accounts.

"Big data and quantitative analysis can help identify those items, but so can, and so will, fundamental security analysis," Steve Einhorn, the vice chairman of Omega Advisors, told Business Insider last month. "There will always be, in my opinion, an important place for the traditional analyst and portfolio manager, but over time it will certainly be complemented by these quantitative approaches."

(Einhorn's comments were made before Omega's founder, Leon Cooperman, was charged with insider trading. Einhorn hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing.)

Quantamental investing has been driven in part by the rise of so-called alternative data. Fund managers can now study everything from social-media data (to predict footfall in a location or sentiment around a new movie) to the number of cars in a mall parking lot.

A Chipotle Mexican Grill is seen in Los Angeles, California, U.S. on April 25, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo

The number of data sources doesn't stop there; it's endless, with new possibilities coming out all the time and making the constant influx unlikely to become commoditized.

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That said, a lot of the new data doesn't have a long history or enough info points that computers alone can draw from.

While that may hurt pure quant strategies, those that use a human element to parse through the info will have better luck, some say.

"The main skill set that humans can bring to the table, which quantitative trading strategies can't really perform, is the ability to reason based on small data sets," Manoj Narang said at The Trading Show conference in New York on Thursday.

Narang, who made his name in high-speed trading before launching the hedge fund Mana Partners, called the mix of quant and discretionary strategies "one of the most exciting growth areas."

New 'masters of the universe'

Even if 10 analysts were to parse through the same data sets, they'd all come up with different predictions based on it, according to Gene Ekster, who advises hedge funds on how to use fresh data and believes he was the first to coin the term "alternative data" within the institutional investment context two years ago.

"Your kings of the universe are no longer the folks wearing suits and going to galas," Ekster said. "It's the folks that are crunching Python," the programming language, "and going to meet-ups," Ekster said. "These are becoming the new masters of the universe."





steve cohen

Getting the staffers to crunch through the numbers is one thing  sometimes this requires data scientists who command a premium salary. Gathering the data is another, and it grows more expensive depending on how niche the request.

"This alternative data approach is in a way making the hedge fund industry less sexy, not more sexy," Ekster said. "It's decreasing the margins of the bigger operations."

At the same time, there's a disconnect between the type of people needed for these jobs and the applicants in the market. Quants  those who use computer-driven models to trade  have become a hot commodity in the hedge fund world, recruiters say.

And some legendary hedge funders, like Paul Tudor Jones and Steve Cohen, are expanding units focusing on algorithmic trading.

Business schools haven't caught on yet as much as needed.

"Data scientists and computer science students are learning data science but not about Wall Street or investing," said Michael Gantcher, the head of sales at RS Metrics, which sells data based on satellite and aerial photographs, among other things.

CS programmer man computer work tech

At Cohen's multibillion-dollar shop, Point72 Asset Management, recent recruits are getting schooled in programming alongside fundamental stock picking. Older analysts are getting classes on data science and stats that they can weave into traditional financial modeling, Matthew Granade, Point72's chief market intelligence officer, told Business Insider.

A decade from now, a hedge fund portfolio manager will look very different, with a background in data and computer science, Granade said.

"In a seven- to 10-year time frame, the portfolio managers at the top of these things are going to be trained in all the different pieces," he said.

That doesn't mean that everyone will be a genius in all the subsets of skills needed, though.

"You're probably not going to have a person on top of this who is a whiz at programming and a whiz at Excel modeling," he said. "But I do think in the timeline we're talking about, they can have a deep appreciation of company fundamentals coupled with an understanding of how this data works and how statistics work and how to think of all these data sets."

Ekster, the hedge fund consultant, said he was recently contacted by a University of Michigan professor looking to revamp the curriculum, a sign of a slowly shifting tide. For the analysts at the fundamental hedge funds, it'll mean doing the same job and learning how to weave in the fresh data into models.

"I wouldn't say that it's taking away from the fundamental approach," added Erik Haines, the director of data and analytics at Guidepoint, which provides funds with data. "It's just becoming another tool within the toolkit."

NOW WATCH: 7 inventors who were killed by their own inventions





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By Press Trust of India: Alleging that minorities were facing bias under Modi government, BSP Chief Mayawati today cautioned Muslims that voting for Samajwadi Party or Congress will only help BJP and sought their support "to stop" the saffron party.

Muslims should not waste their vote as there is infighting in Samajwadi Party and Congress lacks a voter base in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati said while addressing a rally here on the occasion of party founder Kanshi Rams 10th death anniversary.

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"Ever since the BJP government has come at the Centre, Muslims and other minorities are being subjected to bias. The minority status of Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia is being snatched away.

Also read:

Opinion: With an eye on Muslim-Dalit vote: Mayawati's back with a bang



"Communal forces are becoming stronger and Muslims are being targeted in the name of love jihad, gau raksha (cow protection) and religious conversion," the BSP supremo alleged launching a scathing attack on the Modi government.

BSP TARGETS UTTAR PRADESH, UTTARAKHAND AND PUNJAB

Mayawati also made it clear that her party will go alone in the three states going to polls early next year-- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, and cautioned the people against any canard that BSP might enter into an understanding for forming as government with the BJP in case it fell short of majority.

She said there was no truth in these rumours which were being spread to divide Muslim votes and asserted that such a situation will not arise.

Also read: 3 dead, 22 injured in stampede after BSP Chief Mayawati's rally in Lucknow



Coming down heavily on the ruling Samajwadi Party, Mayawati said because of "rampant crime and anarchy" incidents such as Muzaffarnagar, Dadri, Mathura and Bulandshahr have occurred and promised to restore rule of law in Uttar Pradesh.

"There is a tussle for supremacy going on in the SP between Mulayam Singh Yadavs son Akhilesh Yadav and brother Shivpal Singh Yadav and its result will be that the Yadav vote will split as each will try to ensure the defeat of candidates owing allegiance to the other," Mayawati said.

MUSLIMS SHOULD WASTE THEIR VOTES



"In such circumstances Muslims should not waste their ballot by voting for them or else it will help the BJP.... Similarly Congress does not have a vote base and voting for it will also benefit BJP," Mayawati said.

"To stop the BJP, the vote should not go to either the Samajwadi Party or the Congress as with every Assembly seat having 22 to 23 per cent dalit votes, BSP can sail through with the help of Muslim votes or else the same scenario can emerge that was seen in 2014," she stressed.

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Mayawati, who had faced criticism for spending hundreds of crores of rupees in setting up memorials of herself, Kanshi Ram and B R Ambedkar, said her party will not construct any more memorials.

--- ENDS ---
SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgarian presidential candidate Tsetska Tsacheva kicked off her campaign on Sunday with the support of the ruling GERB party, as the Balkan state faces growing tension between Russia and the West and Europe's biggest migrant crisis since World War Two. The vote will indicate the level of support for the government of Prime Minister Boiko Borisov ahead of general elections in 2018. Borisov has repeatedly said his cabinet would resign if the 58-year-old parliament speaker Tsacheva loses the first-round vote on Nov 6. Tsacheva, a former member of the Communist party, appears likely to face a two-way runoff vote for the largely ceremonial post, however, against the Socialist party BSP's candidate Rumen Radev. A survey by pollster Market Links showed that of those who plan to vote in the first round, 19.8 percent support Tsacheva and 14.9 percent back Radev, a former air force commander who has said he would work to lift EU sanctions on Russia and increase funds for the army. Twenty-three percent of respondents to the survey said they were undecided, and 15 percent said they planned not to vote. Tsacheva, the first female speaker in parliament and a former legal adviser and lawyer, is bidding to become Bulgarias first female president. "Bulgaria needs stability, national unity and the rule of law," Tsacheva told 15,000 GERB supporters at an event to launch her campaign at the Armeets Arena in Sofia. Borisov said he was confident that GERB would achieve its 11th consecutive win in presidential, parliamentary, European and local elections in the last decade. "I must say that I am optimistic because the more I listen I understand that we made the right choice," Borisov said. Two years after coming to office, GERB is still the most popular political faction in the EU and NATO member country, praised for stabilizing the economy and ensuring steady inflows of EU aid, recent opinion polls showed. But pollsters have also registered increased activity among leftist voters frustrated with the slowing pace of improvements in living standards in the EU's poorest country and with rampant corruption. For the first time, voters will also have the option of ticking a box labeled "I do not support anyone". (Reporting by Angel Krasimirov)
iQiyi has sold 10,000 Miles to five territories, the Chinese online streaming giant said Monday during the Asian Film Market. The South Korean event is the first regional trading zone for iQiyi since it made its market debut at Cannes earlier this year.

The romantic drama, directed by Simon Hung, has sealed deals with distributors across Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia and Singapore, said iQiyi's sales rep Bryce Tsao. Company names have been not revealed at this point.

Executive produced by Taiwanese superstar Jay Chou, 10,000 Miles is about a competitive high schooler trying to join the track team like his older brother. Romance blooms as he receives the help of a senior student. Darren Wang, Sean Huang and Megan Lai play lead roles.

iQiyi launched the international rights sales for the film in Busan along with Unexpected Love, a romantic comedy starring K-pop stars Krystal Jung of f(x) and Zhang Yixing (a.k.a. Lay) of EXO in the lead roles.

"Both titles have been receiving a lot of attention from buyers and we expect to conclude some deals here," said Tsao. "We have a range of titles, from our very own self-produced content such as web series, web films and variety shows to Mandarin-language films that we acquired for international rights."

Since the first quarter of 2016, iQiyi's paid subscription rate crossed 20 million, surpassing other competitors to top the Chinese market, according to Tsao.

The Asian Film Market wraps Tuesday, while the 21st Busan International Film Festival continues through Saturday.

Read more: Busan: Asian Film Market Attracts Chinese Filmmakers in Spite of Geopolitical Tensions
BUSAN  India and Tajikistan do not have many ties by way of film co-production, but Bollywood films dubbed in the Tajik language are immensely popular in Tajikistan. More than 500 are dubbed every year.

A battle sequence in Yash Raj Films The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey (2005), starring Bollywood icons Aamir Khan and Rani Mukerji and British actor Toby Stephens, was shot at Tajikistans Aychi village, close to the Afghanistan border.

In 2013, the Tajikistan foreign minister requested Bollywood filmmakers to shoot films there, positioning it as a cheaper and geographically and culturally closer alternative to Switzerland, and promised to make the process smooth. Nothing has come of that proposal so far.

Parvona, a film project at the Busan Film Festivals Asian Project Market, aims to change this scenario. The film is about a pregnant, young Tajik woman, Parvona, who searches for a family willing to buy her unborn baby. Tajikistan-based filmmaker Sharofat Arabova will direct.

Arabova is an alumnus of Busans Asian Film Academy. Her debut feature Tasfiya won the Tajik Film Experts and Critics Award at Tajikistans Didor International Film Festival in 2014, and has seen considerable festival play. In 2015, she was on the NETPAC juries at the Moscow International Film Festival and Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.

Pushpendra Singh is producing via his Indian outfit Marudhar Arts. He has put in the initial equity and is looking to begin raising the rest of the $300,000 budget at Busan. Thereafter the project will apply to European funds and grants.

Singhs directorial debut Lajwanti was a Berlin selection in 2014 and he is in negotiations with Netflix on it. Singhs directorial venture Shifting Lines of the Desert has been awarded the Asian Cinema Fund for documentary from the Busan Film Festival this year.

Singh and Arabova met while studying at the Film and Television Institute of India, in Pune. When I read the story, to me it was like an Indian story, says Singh. A woman, whose husband abandons her, she realizes shes pregnant. What does she do?

Story continues

There is no market for such films in my country, says Arabova. There is no industry and distribution for this kind of story. So the release will be in the countries that provide the funding. Singh adds that with the proliferation of streaming services, the whole world is a market.

Arabova heads the Creative Union of Young Filmmakers at the State Tajikfilm Studio in Dushanbe. The studio is expected to board Parvona either as a co-producer or as a partner. The project will be developed for a year before commencing principal photography in late 2017.

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TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's federal government and its provinces have agreed they need emissions-cutting measures beyond the minimum price on carbon unveiled last week, and the government will announce those measures in the fall, a senior minister said on Sunday. Speaking on the CTV broadcaster's "Question Period" politics talk show, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said the measures may include regulating energy efficiency in housing. Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took power last November promising to do more to protect the environment, and last Wednesday Parliament ratified the Paris agreement to curb climate-warming emissions. But Canada's 10 provinces, which enjoy significant jurisdiction over the environment, have been wary of Ottawa's intentions and have said they should be allowed to cut emissions their own way. An announcement by Trudeau last Monday of carbon pricing prompted one energy-producing province to threaten legal action and another to demand approval of an oil pipeline in return. In Montreal on the same day, McKenna met provincial counterparts to work on a carbon pricing deal, and three ministers left early in a sign of protest. But there was consensus at the meeting with regard to measures beyond carbon pricing, McKenna said on Sunday. "There were these working groups that met, and in Montreal this past week ... everyone agreed that we needed to take other measures," she said. McKenna said the government is looking at how it can make sure houses are being built in energy efficient ways. The plans may include investing in social housing and retrofitting old buildings, she said. It is unclear if the measures will force regulatory changes on sometimes unwilling provinces, as will be the case with the carbon pricing. McKenna said the government will unveil "a range of measures," but declined to elaborate further. She did not directly address questions on how the federal government will force unwilling provinces to comply with the new carbon pricing regime. McKenna's ministry, Environment and Climate Change Canada, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta, Canada's four most populous provinces, either already have a price on carbon or are implementing one. But data show Canada has little chance of meeting its climate change goals, in part because of booming emissions from the energy sector. (Reporting by Ethan Lou; Editing by Alistair Bell)
Ottawa (AFP) - Canada called Sunday for a prompt investigation into the air strikes that killed more than 140 people and wounded hundreds of others at a funeral ceremony in Yemen's capital.

The Iran-backed Huthi rebels blamed the Saudi-led coalition for Saturday's attack, one of the deadliest since it launched a military campaign against the Shiite insurgents in March 2015.

After initially denying any involvement, the coalition later said it would "immediately investigate" the incident.

"The Saudi-led coalition must move forward now on its commitment to investigate this incident," Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion said in a statement condemning the attack.

"Canada calls on all parties in Yemen to avoid an escalation of violence as a result of this incident."

Dion said "Canada urges all parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, and to commit to political dialogue and to a lasting cessation of hostilities to halt the tragic loss of civilian life."

The Huthis swept into Sanaa in September 2014 and advanced across much of Yemen, forcing the internationally recognized government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee.

The conflict has killed more than 6,700 people -- almost two thirds of them civilians -- and displaced at least three million since the coalition launched military operations, according to the United Nations.
BEIJING (Reuters) - China has sentenced the former Communist Party boss from the southwestern province of Yunnan to death for bribery with a two-year reprieve, the latest official to fall in President Xi Jinping's sweeping war on graft. A court said Bai Enpei, 70, abused his posts, including as party chief in Yunnan until 2011 and earlier as the top official in the western province of Qinghai, illegally amassing more than 247 million yuan ($37 million) in assets. Bai was handed a two-year reprieve as he had admitted his crimes and expressed regret, and because the assets were recovered in full, the court said. Typically death sentences be converted to life imprisonment subject to good behaviour. "The amount of bribes Bai Enpei accepted was huge, the details of his crimes extremely serious, and their social impact especially pernicious," the Anyang city intermediate court in the central province of Henan said on its official blog. Bai went on trial in June, but the court statement gave few other details of his case. He could not be reached for comment. Courts are controlled by the party and do not challenge party accusations, especially in corruption cases. China is in the midst of a crackdown on graft launched by Xi after he assumed power almost four years ago, warning the problem was so serious it threatened the party's survival. Dozens of senior officials have been jailed in the campaign, including former domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang. China's anti-graft watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), said separately on its website that Yang Dongliang, the former head of the State Administration of Work Safety, had been charged with corruption. Yang was removed as the agency's director shortly after the massive explosions in a warehouse in Tianjin last August left more than 170 people dead. He was a former vice mayor Tianjin and has been accused of abusing his positions and accepting bribes in "huge amounts". Another former senior official, Zhou Benshun, who was party boss of the northern province of Hebei, was also charged for corruption, the CCDI said. (Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Stephen Coates and Raissa Kasolowsky)
Rudy Giuliani was briefly stumped Sunday morning on Meet the Press when host Chuck Todd confronted him with a devastating line of questioning.

The former New York City mayor tried pivoting away from recently surfaced 2005 comments Donald Trump made about women by discussing leaked excerpts from paid speeches Hillary Clinton gave to Wall Street bankers.

Hes not, one thing he's not is what came across in WikiLeaks, and that is two people, Giuliani said. Hillary Clinton actually specifically described that she's two different people, to the financial people who were giving her millions of dollars, she's on their side and she wants to be a big part of the government. But she tells them she has to pretend to everybody else that she isnt.

This moment on @MeetThePress is really something. Just watch pic.twitter.com/zhQEI41PoP  Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) October 9, 2016

Todd then fired a brutal question to the Trump surrogate.

If you believe that Hillary Clinton says one thing in private and that means what she really is is what she is in private, should we assume what Donald Trump did in that Access Hollywood buzz is really what Donald Trump is like in private? the NBC anchor asked. I mean, that's what you're implying here with Hillary Clinton.

Giuliani was left briefly stumped before saying that the reality is that in both cases, both people have things in their personal lives that maybe if they could redo it, they would do it differently.

And the reality is that this is a situation in which neither side should throw stones because both sides have sinned, he added.

The Washington Post on Friday published a 2005 hot-mic moment in which Trump boasted about kissing and groping women. At the time, Trump said he could "grab" women "by the p---y" because "when youre a star, they let you do it."

Trump apologized for the remarks in a video published just after midnight on Saturday, but also signaled hed fight back attacks by pointing to former President Bill Clintons history with women.

Story continues

An avalanche of prominent Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and Priebus, have condemned Trumps comments. Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, said he was "offended" and could not defend the hot mic remarks.

Some Republicans, including No. 3 Senate Republican John Thune of South Dakota, went as far as to call on the billionaire to step down as the nominee and hand the ticket over to Pence. Trump tweeted Saturday that he would "never" drop out of the race.

NOW WATCH: Letterman rips Trump, calls him a 'damaged human' who should be 'shunned'





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(Adds background on Citi's operations in the region)

Oct 9 (Reuters) - Citigroup agreed to sell its consumer business in Argentina to Banco Santander Rio for an undisclosed amount, a day after it sold some of its Brazilian retail banking assets to Itau Unibanco Holding SA .

The U.S. bank had said earlier in the year that it plans to exit retail banking and credit card operations in Brazil, Argentina and Colombia to cut costs and boost profitability.

Citi said on Sunday that the sale would include about $1.4 billion of its assets, including credit card, personal loans and retail brokerage business in Argentina.

Citi also agreed to sell its Brazilian assets to Itau Unibanco Holding SA for 710 million reais ($220.43 million) on Saturday, four days after it had announced that it will invest another $1 billion in its Mexican bank Citibanamex.

($1 = 3.2210 reais) (Reporting by Parikshit Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Crosby)
Sanaa (AFP) - Nineteen months into Yemen's war in which civilians have paid the heaviest price, an air strike has killed over 140 people at a funeral ceremony in the capital Sanaa.

The United Nations says the conflict has killed more than 6,600 people -- almost two-thirds of them civilians -- and displaced at least three million since a Saudi-led Arab coalition backing the internationally recognised Yemeni government launched military operations in March 2015.

UN rights office spokesman Rupert Colville said Tuesday that from March 2015 through September 30, 4,014 civilians had died and nearly 7,000 had been injured.

Casualties climbed steeply in August and September, following the collapse of a ceasefire, with the coalition held responsible for six times as many civilian deaths and injuries as the rebel forces, Colville said.

The coalition said it is ready to investigate together with the United States the air strike Saturday on the funeral ceremony in the capital.

President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government is battling Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels and allied forces who have seized control of large parts of Yemen since 2014 and still hold swathes of territory including Sanaa.

The following is a list of alleged human rights violations in the Yemeni conflict and incidents in which civilians have been targeted.

- On August 15, a coalition air strike killed 19 people at a hospital in northern Yemen that is aided by the French charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF). It was the fourth strike on an MSF-backed site in a year, the group says, and raised concern in Washington, which supports the coalition.

The coalition, which says it does not deliberately target civilians, vowed to conduct an internal investigation, as UN chief Ban Ki-moon stressed that attacks on hospitals, medical personnel or civilians were "a serious violation of international humanitarian law".

- On August 4, the coalition acknowledged "shortcomings" in two out of eight cases it had investigated of air strikes on civilian targets. They took place in 2015 and involved a residential complex in Mokha, where 65 people died according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

- On March 15, air strikes on a market killed at least 119 people, including 106 civilians, of which 24 were children, in the northern rebel-held province of Hajja.

- On September 28, 2015, a suspected coalition air strike killed at least 131 civilians at a wedding near the Red Sea city of Mokha. The Saudi-led alliance denied involvement.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) To meet the high cost of Light Water Reactors, the government has decided to bring in such projects, which currently involve foreign collaborators, as joint ventures (JVs)with public sector undertakings (PSUs).

This will also allow the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) to focus on financing Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) that are coming up in the country.

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NPCIL is a PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) that builds and operates nuclear power reactors in the country. It is currently in talks with two other PSUs, the Indian Oil Corporation and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for JVs.

The government has recently amended the Atomic Energy Act 1962 to enable such JVs with PSUs.

"It has been decided to push future LWR projects for JVs. However, it will not be extended to Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) which the NPCIL is currently building and we will be managing the equity on our own," said a senior NPCIL official.

The primary reason for such JVs is that the LWRs not only involve high cost, but also require the much needed equity. The PHWR have less capacity and are less expensive in comparison to LWRs. More importantly, the PHWRs are indigenous.

The official, however, added that the JVs will take place if both the parties agree to go for it.

Also, the LWRs Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant unit 5 and 6 will not come under the purview of this new JVs as negotiations for getting soft loans for these reactors are already on.

However, it could be applied for the future LWR projects. India currently operates four LWRs---KKNPP unit 1-4--- while work for the 5 and 6 is on.

"We are currently in negotiations with banks for getting 70 per cent of funding in the form of debt financing while 30 per cent of the equity will come from JVs," the official added.

In near future, some 18 LWRs reactors are to come up in the country. French Company EDF will built six LWRs with a capacity of 1650 MW each in Jaitapur, Maharashtra while WestingHouse Co is expected to build another six units of 1000 MW each in Andhra Pradesh.

Six more of 1000 MW each are to come up with the help of GE. The Russians too have been marked another site in Andhra Pradesh for building more LWRs. The NPCIL is currently building two reactors of 700 MW each in Gorakhpur in Haryana, Chutka in Madhya Pradesh, MahiBanswara in Rajasthan and Kaiga in Karnataka.

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India currently generates 6,780 MW of nuclear electricity. PTI PR RT

--- ENDS ---
Paris (AFP) - Clermont returned to the top of the French League with a tight 29-25 victory over Toulouse in the Top 14 on Sunday.

They had briefly been replaced at the league summit on Saturday when La Rochelle held Toulon to a 17-17 draw.

But Clermont opened up a three-point lead as tries from Arthur Iturria and Remi Lamerat, alongside 19 points from the boot of Morgan Parra, gave them a vital win.

Toulouse outscored Clermont by three tries to two on the back of a dominant pack that forced a penalty try after scores from Samoan pair Census Johnston and Joe Tekori.

But indiscipline cost the 19-time French champions who had to content themselves with a losing bonus point that leaves them sixth.

"We got off to a good start but then we were under quite a lot of pressure," admitted Clermont captain Damien Chouly.

"We were weak at the breakdown which allowed them to stay in it throughout the match. We tried to sort it out in the second half but we got two yellow cards and we were chasing the ball."

Toulouse coach Ugo Mola said his team's forward domination was due to the state of the pitch at the Stade Marcel Michelin.

"Unfortunately we weren't on top of certain sectors of the game, like our kicking. On the other hand we showed our strength in the scrum," said Mola.

"But that was also due to the excellent condition of Clermont's pitch!"

Clermont were off to a flyer after a glaring error from Toulouse scrum-half Samuel Marques in the fifth minute.

His pass deep in Toulouse territory was intercepted by Clermont fly-half Camille Lopez and although he was tackled inside the visitors' 22 by Kiwi Luke McAlister, he managed to offload to lock Iturria to score under the posts.

Toulouse hit back on 17 minutes from a close-range line-out. They got the rolling maul into gear and prop Johnston barged over to score, although Portugal's Marques hit the post with the conversion attempt.

- Pendulum swung -

Story continues

A mazy, darting run from Wesley Fofana took Clermont right up to the Toulouse tryline, and although Australian hooker Nathan Charles was held up a few centimetres short, a few plays later Lamerat managed to burst through.

Parra converted but Toulouse got back into the match before the break as lock Tekori bulldozed over from close range, through Parra and wing Noa Nakaitaci, after the visitors ran a succession of penalties after the half-time buzzer.

The pendulum seemed to be swinging in Toulouse's favour as Clermont's No.8 Fritz Lee was sin-binned for a high tackle on Jean-Marc Doussain with Marques kicking the penalty.

But almost immediately Parra replied to stretch back the hosts' lead to 23-15.

Clermont were struggling at the set-piece, though, and prop Thomas Domingo was yellow-carded after collapsing a scrum five yards from his own line, leaving Clermont with 13 players.

Their seven-man scrum couldn't handle the pressure and soon gave up a penalty try, with Marques converting to make it a one-point game.

Yet almost immediately, Toulouse's Fijian wing Semi Kunatani stupidly got himself sin-binned for trying to kick the ball out of Parra's hands and the scrum-half made the visitors pay by landing his fourth penalty as Lee returned to the fray.

With both teams back to full strength, Florian Fritz kicked a monstrous penalty from inside his own half but Parra had the last word with his fifth penalty.

In the day's other game, Lyon moved up three places to ninth with a 27-22 win over Pau.

On Saturday, champions Racing 92 brushed off allegations their players had tested positive for cortisone after their victory over Toulon in last year's final by winning the Paris derby 29-22 over 2015 title-winners Stade Francais, although both remain in the bottom half.

Montpellier moved up to third with a 28-19 win over Castres, while Toulon's draw at La Rochelle left them fourth.
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton during their first presidential debate. (Photo: Rick Wilking/Reuters)

Hillary Clinton will respond to rival Donald Trumps recorded boast that he can do anything to women for the first time during Sunday nights debate, after her campaign made the strategic decision to lie low Saturday and let the bad news pile on Trump.

Clinton expects to have an opportunity early on during the town hall debate at Washington University in St. Louis to respond to the controversy, according to a campaign aide who asked not to be identified. The moderators  ABCs Martha Raddatz and CNNs Anderson Cooper  may bring up the topic, or the undecided voters asking candidates questions may, or Trump himself may address his remarks head-on. Either way, Clinton will be ready to pounce with her prepared reaction in front of tens of millions of viewers.

Clinton has not done an interview or even released a statement since the Washington Post reported on audio from 2005 in which Trump bragged about how he could do anything to women, including grabbing them by the genitals. Dozens of GOP officials had condemned or withdrawn their support from Trump as of Saturday night, and his own running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, said he could not defend Trumps comments.

Instead of responding, Clinton spent hours Saturday in debate preparations with a small circle of aides in Westchester County, N.Y. Campaign leaders made the decision to have Clintons first reaction come during the town hall, which they expect to draw one of the largest audiences theyll have between now and Election Day. Meanwhile, her official campaign Twitter account called the comments horrific and her staffers released a video inserting Trumps remarks with other offensive comments about women hes made in the past.

Its unclear how Trump will address the controversy Sunday. In the video apology he released Friday night, the GOP nominee lashed out against President Bill Clinton, saying he has actually abused women and that Hillary Clinton has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims. This suggests Trump could try to deflect attention from his own comments by bringing up Bill Clintons past infidelities and Juanita Broaddricks rape accusation against the former president. (Trump retweeted Broaddrick on Saturday.) Clinton has brushed off Trumps comments about her husband in the past, but shes never before had to react to them in real time as she stands next to Trump.

Story continues

The badly wounded candidate could be even more unpredictable than usual on Sunday, according to Aaron Kall, director of debate at the University of Michigan and the editor of a book about Trumps debating style. Clinton needs to be prepared for an outside-the-box Trump Hail Mary during the debate, including the announcement of a multimillion donation to Planned Parenthood or another womens group, Kall predicted. He said Trump could throw the kitchen sink at Clinton and her husband, or try to deflect from the subject altogether. This makes her debate preparation extremely difficult, Kall said. Clinton doesnt know which version of Trump will show up and how much time this explosive subject will take up.

Clinton must also prepare for Trump to bring up leaked emails from her campaign chair, John Podesta, which were posted on Wikileaks Friday night and were almost entirely overshadowed by the Trump news. The emails include excerpts from Clintons paid speeches on Wall Street and other venues, where she talked about her vision for unfettered free trade and the need for policy decisions to happen in private as well as public.

The town hall style of the debate makes it risky for either candidate to spend too much time addressing the scandal or defending themselves at the expense of answering questions from undecided voters. The intimate setting also means the candidates will be physically closer to each other than at the first debate in New York, making any conflict potentially more awkward.

During the first debate, Clinton baited Trump into a dayslong feud with a former Miss Universe over her weight after mentioning his treatment of Alicia Machado near the end of the 90-minute match-up. This time, the onus is already on Trump to redeem and defend himself, which means Clinton could take more of a backseat. David Axelrod, a former top adviser to Barack Obama, tweeted on Friday that the Trump video speaks for itself, advising the Clinton campaign to lay off the tweets on the matter.
A concentration camp survivor just celebrated his bar mitzvah100 years late!

Get some tissues ready, guys.

In what can possibly be described as one of the most uplifting stories this week The New York Times has reported an unusual bar mitzvahone thats 100 years late! Yisrael Kristal might be 113 years old but that doesnt mean he wanted to skip becoming a man in the Jewish faith. It just took him a little longer to get his party at last, but for pretty good reasons.

Born in Poland in 1903, he missed his bar mitzvah at 13 due to World War I breaking out. By age 16 he was an orphan. He had later established a business with his uncle selling sweets in a candy store, but lost everything during World War II, when he was forced to move into a ghetto with his family. His children both died in the horrible conditions, and Kristals wife died when the couple was sent to Auschwitz.

By some miracle, Yisrael survived and managed to move on from the horrible events of his youth. He remarried and had more children. According to his daughter, Shulamith Kristal Kuperstoch, Kristal remained a very religious man, and held onto one wish throughout his life:

My father is a religious man, and it was his dream his whole life to have a bar mitzvah, she told the New York Times.

After Guinness World Records declared Yisrael Kristal to be the oldest man in the world last March, it was really time to celebrate. Surrounded by two children, nine grandchildren, and 30 (!) great-grandchildren, Mr. Kristal at last got to experience the ritual hed missed for so many years.

Were not crying, youre crying.

The post A concentration camp survivor just celebrated his bar mitzvah100 years late! appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Could Jon Snow be getting a new red-haired girlfriend on Game of Thrones?

As much as we loved Jon Snows Wildling lady love Ygritte (who, by the way, was played by Kit Haringtons real-life girlfriend Rose Leslie), we have come to terms with the fact that she is no longer part of his life  and subsequently, our lives.

But rumors are floating around the internet that Snow might be meeting a brand new redheaded love interest in season 7, which is currently in production in Northern Ireland.

Since Snow is the newly appointed King of the North, this could mean that a Queen of the North is on the horizon.

On-set pictures have surfaced showing a brand new Game of Thrones cast member filming a scene with Harington and Gwendoline Christie (AKA Brienne of Tarth) set in Winterfell.

The mysterious new redhead is 19-year-old actress Megan Parkinson, according to GOT fan site Watchers on the Wall. The Daily Mail identified Parkinson as being Sophie Turners (AKA Sansa Starks) body double, but Parkinson (who goes by Meg Parker on Twitter) herself seems to have confirmed her bigger role.

A Northern Girl Joins the Cast of Game of Thrones - https://t.co/RIwEmPUfZN #casting #news pic.twitter.com/Qj3luXhWF4  Watchers on the Wall (@WatchersOTWall) October 3, 2016

IMDB also confirms it, so were pretty sure its happening.

Theres no doubt she definitely has a Sansa look going for her, but it could just be the long red hair (the dress is definitely not something Sansa would wear as, you know, royalty).

If shes not playing Snows love interest, then who could she be playing? According to Watchers on the Wall, the character is a 16-year-old Northern girl mentioned in a casting breakdown for season seven. The actor needed to have a northern accent and would feature in a high-stakes scene with leading cast members. Considering she was seen with Harington and Christie, and her Twitter bio describes her as being a Yorkshire lass, were pretty sure she fits the bill.

But hey  if we know one thing about Game of Thrones, its that anythings possible.

Literally anything.

The post Could Jon Snow be getting a new red-haired girlfriend on Game of Thrones? appeared first on HelloGiggles.
More Celebrity Appearances Added to Growing List of Fall Convention's Activities

DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2016 / Dallas Fan Days - one of the best comics, sci-fi, horror, anime and gaming events in Texas - returns Oct. 14-16, 2016, at the Irving Convention Center. Just in time for the spooky holiday itself, Dallas Fan Days announces its agenda for the entire 3-day convention: a full schedule packed with celebrity panels, cosplay contests, gaming and more.

While fans love wearing their costumes all weekend long at this event, it's also the perfect time to test out Halloween costumes in the costume events taking place. Saturday will include a Cosplay Red Carpet at 2 p.m. and a costume contest for adults at 5:30 p.m. On Sunday, kids can jump into the costume fun with a kids costume contest at 3 p.m. Gaming rooms and a Doctor Who activity room where guests can dive deep into a fan favorite Sci-Fi show will be open throughout the weekend.

In addition, celebrities such as Harry Potter's Matthew Lewis and Star Trek's John de Lancie and Michael Dorn, along with many others, will participate in panels and Q&A sessions where fans can get to know their favorites even better.

Click here for the full list of programming or see below.

Joining the list of visiting celebrities is The Flash star Danielle Panabaker and the recently announced Christian Slater.

Panabaker began her career in Disney Channel films and transitioned her passion and skills into the hit show The Flash. She has also appeared on a variety of television shows such as Bones, Justified and Arrow.

Christian Slater's debut in The Legend of Billie Jean paired with roles in The Name of Rose and Heathers propelled his acting career. He is now most known for his role in Mr. Robot for which he won his first Golden Globe Award.

Other headliners at Dallas Fan Days include:

 Christian Slater (Mr. Robot)

 Elizabeth Henstridge (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D)

 Brett Dalton (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D)

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 Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things)

 Scott Wilson (The Walking Dead)

 TJ Thyne (Bones)

 Ian Ziering (Sharknado, Beverly Hills, 90210)

 Tori Spelling (Beverly Hills, 90210)

 Mick Foley (WWE)

Comic Guests include:

Jim Calafiore, Ty Templeton, Sam de la Rosa, Ben Dunn, Steve Erwin, Scott Harben, Andrew Magnum, Danica Maguire, Jason Metcalf, Lawrence Reynolds, Marlin Shoop and Jamie Tyndall.

Full Programming

Friday

6 p.m., Gaming Rooms Open Until 9 p.m.

6 p.m., Doctor Who Activity Room Open Until 9 p.m.

6 p.m., Celebrity Q&A with Beverly Hills, 90210's Ian Ziering & Tori Spelling

7 p.m., Celebrity Q&A with Wrestling Legend Mick Foley

Saturday

11 a.m., Gaming Rooms Open All Day

11 a.m., Doctor Who Activity Room Open All Day

11 a.m., Celebrity Q&A with Harry Potter's Matthew Lewis

12:30 p.m., Celebrity Q&A with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Brett Dalton & Elizabeth Henstridge

2 p.m., Celebrity Q&A with Bones' TJ Thyne

2 p.m., Cosplay Red Carpet

3:30 p.m., Celebrity Q&A with Hollywood Star Christian Slater

4 p.m., Costume Contest: Sign-ups

5:30 p.m., Costume Contest

Sunday

10 a.m., Gaming Rooms Open All Day

10 a.m., Doctor Who Activity Room Open All Day

11 a.m., Celebrity Q&A with Stranger Things' Millie Bobby Brown

12:30 p.m., Celebrity Q&A with Star Trek's John de Lancie & Michael Dorn

2 p.m., Celebrity Q&A with The Flash's Danielle Panabaker

2:30 p.m., Kids Costume Contest: Sign-ups

3 p.m., Kids Costume Contest

3:30 p.m., Celebrity Q&A with The Walking Dead's Scott Wilson

For the full list of appearances and family-friendly activities, tickets and other information, please visit www.dallascomiccon.com. Stay connected with the show for announcements and updates by registering for their newsletter, and following them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For vendor information, please click here. Those interested in volunteering can find more informationhere. Accredited media can request press passes by applying for accreditation at http://dallascomiccon.com/press/.

Media Contact:

Dana Cobb

dana@trizcom.com

972.247.1369

Cell: 972.955.9747

Nikki Darling

nikki@trizcom.com

972.247.1369

Cell: 469.667.9371

SOURCE: Dallas Fan Days via Submit Press Release 123
By Parmita Uniyal: If you have seen the first season of Naagin, you would remember the gripping first episode that sets the tone for the entire season--Ritik's haunting dream about getting killed by a snakewoman, Naagin Sesha's entry into the Raheja household and the mystery around the real identity of Shivanya. Besides, it was a revenge drama, something that the viewers have loved from time immemorial.

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If we talk about Season 2, the first episode moved at a leisurely pace, establishing the new characters of Shivangi (Mouni Roy) and Rocky (Karanvir Bohra) and showing Shivanya's fears about her daughter turning out to be an ichchdhaari Naagin. It appeared more like a regular soap than a fast-paced drama that Naagin fans are used to watching. However, the episode started off and ended on a nail-biting note.

The chase drama, the birth of Shivangi and a miracle

The episode starts with Ritik (Arjun Bijlani) and Shivanya (Mouni Roy) running for their life, as a gang of goons chase them. They reach a safe spot soon, but they have no time to sit back and relax. Shivanya gets a severe stomach cramp and the couple rush to a hospital, wherein doctors declare that she is already in a labour. A bewildered Ritik tells them that Shivanya had conceived only 3 months back and the team of doctors call it a miracle when they bring a bonny baby into the world. She is named Shivangi and Shivanya starts wishing she's not a naagin. And we understand her fears; she surely doesn't want Shivangi to get into this whole 'Naagmani Ki Suraksha' mess.

Shivangi and Rocky fall in love at first sight

The story then takes a leap of 24 years and 11 months. Whether Shivangi is a Naagin or not will be revealed after she turns 25. Naturally Maa Shivanya vows to get her daughter married in one month. As she is making this resolve, Shivangi who works in a bakery, has a pahli-nazar-ka-pyaar sequence with Rocky in a garage. Rocky falls in love with the sweet, chirpy and attractive Shivangi at first glance and the wooing drama begins. Their love story is heading just in the right direction, as Rocky saves Shivangi's life. More filmy drama ensues, when Shivangi has to spend a night with Rocky in a jungle, since she can't get back home due to a snow storm. The episode ends with Shivangi discovering something important about her real identity, when a wild animal attacks her.

While the storyline holds a promise of entertaining sequences ahead, the first episode has left many questions unanswered. What happened to Ritik? Is he dead or alive? How will Sesha re-enter the show and does she have any connection with Rocky? How will Yamini, who is shown dead in the first season, come back to life?

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Performances

Mouni Roy, who won hearts with her portrayal of Shivanya has a dual challenge this time, as the actress is playing both mother and daughterShivanya and Shivangi. Good news is she's able to pull off both the characters with ease in the first episode. While it is simplicity and innocence that defines Shivanya, Shivangi is more lively and chirpy than her mother. She has worked hard to add these nuances to her characters and she is successful in making a clear distinction in the two characters. Karanvir Bohra too has a pleasant screen-presence and his chemistry with Shivangi is natural.

In all, the first episode was not as engaging as the premiere episode of the first season and if Naagin wants to continue its run as the top show and beat its competitor Brahmarakshas, it will really have to work hard.

--- ENDS ---


Credit: Courtesy

When Nasiba Adilova and Miroslava Duma launched The Tot two years ago, they did so with the intent to solve issues and address concerns that affect mothers everywhere through smart editorial and a curated inventory of tried-and-tested products. One of those issues? The absence of a chic diaper bag on the market. They took matters into their hands and teamed up with designer (and fashion industry darling) Mary Katrantzou to launch what they consider the dream diaper bag. It boasts all the elements of a luxury designer tote, but with the added benefit of being incredibly versatile, with practical compartments designed to hold everything, from diapers to binkies.

"When I was pregnant, there were many beautiful choices for a diaper bag, but none of them would fit everything I needed," Adilova explains. "I wanted a simple bag, like Louis Vuitton or Goyard; basically, a fashionable tote for fashionable moms that didn't look like a diaper bag."

The bag underwent three redesigns until it met their criteria--a wider, roomier shape (to hold a lot more stuff), an additional longer strap (that you can hang every kind of stroller), a more durable, water-resistant leather (the inside lining is water-resistant as well), a bigger zipper (to help you zip, even the bag is stuffed to the brim), and a larger waterproof changing pad (that you can unclip from inside the bag). As for the print, Adilova and Duma went through Katrantzou's design archives and selected two styles: a Mongolian stamp from her collection, where she replaced the original text with "The Tot," and a white horse (that they call a unicorn in-house).



Credit: Courtesy

With a $1,700 price tag, the diaper bag isn't cheap. But Adilova insists that it's not expensive, either. In fact, she says Katrantzou had wanted to mark it up even higher. And compared with other high-end diaper bags (made out of nylon, FYI), which start at $2,000, this one is considered to be on the affordable end of the designer bag spectrum. "Yes, you can find very cheap diaper bags, but they don't look like fashion bags. They're not very well made, you'll use it only for a couple of years, and you'll probably throw it away," she says. "The great thing about this one is that it makes a really great travel bag after. This one will last you forever."

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RELATED: 10 Chic Diaper Bags for Stylish Moms

And only a week after its launch, they've already been receiving positive feedback. "The result is fantastic," Adilova says. "People have bought it, written to us to say there's nothing else like it on the market. They love it."

Only 180 of the limited-edition Mary Katrantzou diaper bags were made, so head to thetot.com to grab one for yourself--even if you don't have a child.
Across newspapers and televisions in the worlds largest democracy, theres one business message being blasted by the ruling party: 70 years after the end of British colonial rule, it is time for India to start making things. The call to create is both for a global audience and uniquely Indian, converging the maker movement with Mahatma Gandhis once-revolutionary cry for Indians to boycott British-made goods in favor of the homespun. It is, in this sense, a romantic, seemingly people-powered moment for the country.

Ozy sarees 18

An example of Benarasi sari with additional machine embroidery.

Source Smita Sharma for OZY

And yet, the Make in India initiative, as the manufacturing call to action has been christened, has been largely about bulking up big industry such as automobiles, ports and shipping or biotechnology products and far less about the kind of hyperlocal industry Gandhi championed. Though textiles and garments is listed as one among several sectors that Make in India hopes to electroshock, a vibrant and beloved element of that sector is under threat by advancing manufacturing techniques  that of the unique, regionally specific brands of saris, traditional attire worn by Indian women.

In a small Muslim neighborhood on the periphery of the north Indian city of Varanasi, we encounter a locality undergoing a tide shift.

Sari weavers have long made their wares by hand, spending weeks weaving cotton and silk, embellishing the 6-foot-long pieces of cloth with zari, or fine gold- and silver-colored thread onto the borders  a technique as old as the Mughal Empire, and once performed with actual gold and silver. A handloom-spun sari made in three weeks might go on the market for $150 to $180. But today, as power looms become increasingly available and upper middle-class women relegate their saris to the special occasion cabinet, sari connoisseurs are disappearing. Those who still wear saris, preferring price over quality, are choosing power loommade products, which require a tenth of the time to make and could go for under $15. Theres a serious threat by these power looms, says Suresh Bhagavatula, professor at the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore, who has studied the sari handloom industry.

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Ozy sarees 16

Arib Ansari, owner of a handwoven loom, weaves a sari.

Source Smita Sharma for OZY

And its a threat that is surprisingly unassuming. To watch these power looms in action is to witness what is hardly recognizable as automation. These are not robots or heavy factory machinery. A power loom, invented in the 18th century during the first Industrial Revolution, is an underwhelming wooden structure, almost the same as a handloom, but which relies on harnesses and cloth beams to speed things along. Indeed, the dark rooms where these are operated by boys who nearly always look too young to be at work recall the kinds of conditions that inspired Marx  not those gleaming Jetsons dreams launching us into our highly automated future.

Top Destinations for Indian Exports FindTheData

***

The textile industry, Indias second largest after agriculture, accounts for 14 percent of industrial production and 30 percent of exports, according to the industry site Fibre2Fashion. Handlooms are 20 percent of the textile sector and 35 percent of manufacturing employment, according to a 2015 report by the Centre for Handloom Information and Policy Advocacy. These numbers take shape in the neighborhoods where handloom trades have been passed down by caste. In a small Muslim neighborhood on the periphery of the north Indian city of Varanasi, famed for its silk zari-embroidered saris, we encounter a locality undergoing a tide shift. The alleyways are filled with thunderous power looms at work; these machines are large and distinctly nonfuturistic  two of them take up an entire room, monitored by one worker performing the drab task of ensuring no tangles arise in the fabric. Some buildings house buzzing, humanless embroidery machines that drill computer-generated patterns onto low-quality cloth.

Ozy sarees 5

A sari shop in one of the popular markets of Varanasi.

Source Smita Sharma for OZY

Arif Khan, 32, is a new entrepreneur in this business. He and his father recently spent all their savings  $1,500 or so  on a couple of power looms staffed by a life-worn man named Mohammed Nassim. Nassim works 12 hours a day earning less than $4 a day for Khan; the low labor costs and electricity subsidy of a few dollars per month that Khan receives from the state allows him to bring in about $230 monthly. Around the corner, Arib Ansari is rattling away, alone, in a sunken pit of a room at the front of his house, weaving an orange sari on a handloom. His progress is spasmodic as the fabric repeatedly becomes ensnared in the loom. This is all his family has done for generations, he says, and he doesnt have the money to buy a power loom, as he makes about $60 a month. Of course the power loom is bad for me, he shrugs. But what will I do?

But really? What is the point of fighting to save this?  Abdul Gani, sari weaver

Power looms are pushing out older weavers more than their younger counterparts, Bhagavatula says, meaning the skill of making handmade saris could be lost in a generation. Young people opt for jobs as security guards or household help in big cities. Indeed, Ansari has no intention of passing on his craft to his kids. Power loom saris masquerading as handlooms will creep into stores, Bhagavatula guesses, and distinguished taste may disappear from daily shopping. Many women are unable to distinguish between silk and polyester. But a high-end market for wedding saris will remain, Bhagavatula predicts. The most vulnerable are those who make plain saris, like the weavers of the south Indian state of Kerala, where the favored style is a simple white look.

Across town, in the heart of the city near some of the most famous sari shops around, Saiyyad Nishat Ali is still comfortably occupying a large space where he and his workers do the intricate zari embroidery that adorns high-end handloom saris. Hes noticed silk coming from China rather than Bangalore, which he disdains, and he hadnt wanted to touch the polyester nonsense, but even he stocks some. Now, the sari craze is over, he says. All the same, new brides and foreigners still traipse into the shop here and there, and employee Tallu Gulangars is posted up, sewing with gold thread in public view, a kind of premature museum display for the curious passerby.

Ozy sarees 1

Imtiyaaz Ahmed embroiders a pattern over a sari.

Source Smita Sharma for OZY

Ali invites us to try our hand at the sewing. Its so easy, he swears. He hands over a tiny, delicate needle. I cannot even thread it, so inept am I in the ways of domesticity. With help, I pass the thread through the eye of the needle and attempt to make a stitch. Over and over, the needle penetrates and then nastily rips the thin silk fabric. I am killing it, centuries of tradition. No one seems much bothered, though. They laugh. There is more fabric nearby. And they can fix it. This is their trade.

***

The tale of an old industry facing modernity, technology and changing taste is perhaps unsurprising, but in India it stings all that much more because of the colonial past. Under the British, Indians were economically discouraged from buying home-brewed goods by high taxes and tariffs  hence Gandhis swadeshi (national self-sufficiency) movement, an economic insurrection as radical as his nonviolence. The government, whose Ministry of Textiles didnt reply to request for comment, is not cold to the shift and is keenly offering health insurance schemes and training to preserve artisanal industries. The handloom brand is incredibly strong, Bhagavatula says. Khan knows this, and doesnt pretend that his power loom saris are works of art. Theyll just go to different customers, he says.

Ozy sarees 17

An automatic embroidery machine that is used to create patterns over saris.

Source Smita Sharma for OZY

And not everyone is nostalgic. Automation, economists predict, will eliminate some jobs and create others. Near Ganis shop are other artisans, hard at work sewing little badges that will sit on the blazers of schoolchildren in India and even England. Their work is hardly recognizable as fine handcraftsmanship, and the parents who dress their kids in the work these creators made for as little as 20 rupees (30 cents) a pop will certainly not treat the work with the kind of tenderness with which a new bride would caress a Varanasi sari. And yet, Bhagavatula identifies that sort of trade as a creative solution to an industrys decline. Others are quietly making their way into the new territory. Abdul Gani has made the switch from handloom to power loom; squatting on the floor of his workshop, he watches as a young man handles the machine in a desultory fashion. He wanted to become his own boss, he says, and finds this work more challenging and rewarding because of the new technology. This is also a Varanasi sari, he says, inviting me to finger the mediocre, rough cloth that will soon be fed into the power loom.

But really? he asks. What is the point of fighting to save this? Years ago, politicians were saying handlooms would die, and they are. The times are changing, and Gani suggests weavers hop on the train to the future. He sits back to watch his employee work. He is 75 years old.

Ozy sarees 10

Mohammed Nassim at work at one of the power loom factories in Varanasi.

Source Smita Sharma for OZY

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In the most beleaguered moment of his campaign, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is done trying to make friends in his own party.

With his past comments about sexually assaulting women drawing widespread condemnation from Republicans, and a multitude of defections, Trump is rejecting pleas from Republican leaders to demonstrate contrition, as he turns his fire on those who are no longer comfortable being associated with him.

In a series of tweets Sunday before he boarded a flight with RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and other advisors to the second presidential debate in St. Louis, Trump took aim at the growing list of GOP leaders who have unendorsed his candidacy.

Retweeting one supporter, Trump spread the message that the already more than a dozen GOP members of Congress and one governor have revoked their support of Trump, are traitors. Meanwhile, while former primary rivals Carly Fiorina and Ohio Gov. John Kasich have called on Trump to step aside.

Trumps campaign encouraged surrogates to drive the message that They are more concerned with their political future than they are about the future of the country, according to talking points forwarded to TIME by one surrogate. Mr. Trump won the Primary without the help of the insiders and hell win the General without them, too.

The tweets and talking points came just 36 hours after Speaker of the House Paul Ryan disinvited Trump from a planned unity rally in Wisconsin. Trump was supposed to send his running-mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, in his stead, but was informed by Pence that his comments couldnt be defended.

But Trump is seeking to exploit the same divide between the party establishment and its grassroots that enabled his candidacy from the start, as he tries to rally his base by using the GOP leaderships criticism to his advantage.

"@maidaa17: @realDonaldTrump GOP traitors! Not supporting U is voting for her, destroying America.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2016

"@eericmyers: @realDonaldTrump "Republican leadership" should have only one job: Help elect the nominee we voted for, Donald J. Trump."  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2016
Getty Image

Trump In 2005 With Miss Teen USA Allie LaForce, Miss Universe Natalie Glebova, and Miss USA Chelsea Cooley

On Friday, the The Washington Post released damning hot mic footage of Trump making extremely lewd comments while Billy Bush whooped and hollered. The grab them by the p*ssy comment bears repeating as a singular example that summarizes decades of Trumps degrading comments about women. The search is on for more media outlets to uncover more Trump footage, and word on the street is that they exist (including a rumor that Trump drops the N-word in one of them).

For now, easy pickings come in the form of Howard Stern archives. In the past, these conversations have involved Trumps support of the Iraq invasion (though Trump has continually denied this). The raunchier conversations featured Stern and Trump discussing how Melania doesnt poop.

More conversations surfaced on Saturday, thanks to CNN. There are so many of them, and much of the initial rush focused on Trump being cool with Stern referring to his daughter, Ivanka, as a piece of ass. But another conversation from 2005 is creating a stir, for it involves Trump talking about hell improve the Miss USA pageant by only including beautiful women instead of the educated ones favored by the previous owners. He promised Stern that the women would wear less clothing (almost thongs) and skirt up against network rules. In a particularly eye-raising moment, Trump discussed how he gets away with inspecting the contestants while theyre getting dressed:

Well, Ill tell you the funniest is that before a show, Ill go backstage and everyones getting dressed, and everything else, and you know, no men are anywhere, and Im allowed to go in because Im the owner of the pageant and therefore Im inspecting it. You know, Im inspecting because I want to make sure that everything is good. You know, the dresses. Is everyone okay? You know, theyre standing there with no clothes. Is everybody okay? And you see these incredible looking women, and so, I sort of get away with things like that. But no, Ive been very good.

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The funniest. Trump also explained how it was his obligation as the pageant owner to do this inspection, but former Miss New Hampshire Bridget Sullivan spoke with Buzzfeed about how Trump performed this sexist charade in 2000, and she wasnt amused. Sullivan called him a creepy uncle whod hug you just a little low on your back. And she confirmed that, yes, it was as bad as it sounds: The time that he walked through the dressing rooms was really shocking. We were all naked.



You can hear the boastful clip from Trump below, where he also discusses how sleeping with contestants could be a conflict of interest, but you tend to think about the conflict a little bit later on. This clip arrives with a major language warning, for Stern and Trump discuss explicit sexual positions involving Tiger Woods and his mistresses.

(Via CNN & Buzzfeed)
Conservationists are celebrating after two critically-endangered rhinos bred in the UK then released into the wild gave birth to healthy babies.



The pair of female eastern black rhinos, Grumeti and Zawadi, were bred at the Aspinall Foundations Port Lympne wildlife park in Kent in a bid to save the critically-endangered species.

They were released into the wild in Tanzania in 2012 where they mated with a male and have now given birth to healthy calves, each weighing around 36kg (5st 9lbs), according to conservationists.

New arrivals - the babies could live for up to 50 years (Pictures: PA)

Grumetis new arrival is called Mobo, while Zawadis calf, who was born second, has yet to be named.

They will stay with their mothers for three to five years and could live for up to 50 years.

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Damian Aspinall, chairman of the Aspinall Foundation, said the births are a remarkable and vital breakthrough in the foundations efforts to protect the one of the most threatened sub-species of rhino.



Only around 700 remain in the wild, and conservationists say demand for rhino horn in Asia is pushing the species to extinction.

Breakthrough - the births have been hailed as a breakthrough in efforts to conserve the species

Mr Aspinall said: This is what modern conservation should be about and is the culmination of decades of effort and commitment by the Aspinall Foundation.

The Aspinall Foundation has seen 36 eastern black rhinos born at Port Lympne in the last 20 years, with the newest arrival coming just last month and two more on the way this month, the organisation said.

Eight rhinos have been returned by the foundation to Africa as part of its "back to the wild programme which reintroduces endangered species to the wild.
By Aaron Maasho ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn declared a six-month nationwide state of emergency on Sunday, saying months of unrest threatened the nation's stability. Rights groups say more than 500 people have been killed in protests in the Oromiya region since last year, when anger over a development scheme for the capital turned into broader anti-government demonstrations over politics and human rights abuses. The government says the death toll is inflated. "A state of emergency has been declared because the situation posed a threat against the people of the country," Hailemariam said on state-run television. "Vital infrastructure, businesses, health and education centers, as well as government offices, and courts have been destroyed," he said. He also repeated earlier promises of reform and plans for dialogue with the opposition. The state of emergency was effective from Oct.8. The violence in Oromiya, Ethiopia's largest and most populous region which surrounds the capital Addis Ababa, and to a lesser extent in the Amhara province, has put a shadow over a nation where a state-led industrial drive has created one of Africa's fastest growing economies. But the government also faces rising international criticism and popular opposition to its authoritarian approach to development. The unrest has included attacks on businesses, many of them foreign-owned, including farms growing flowers for export. Attorney General Getachew Ambaye said the decree would permit authorities to stop and search and also detain suspects without court authorization, as well as carry out house searches. It also bars the "preparation, distribution and exhibition of material that could incite chaos", he said in an official announcement. The measures did not contain curfews, but Getachew said the command post set up to oversee the implementation of the legislation and chaired by Hailemariam would determine where and when to impose curfews "should the need arise". "Failure to observe the measures would lead to imprisonment for a period of five years," he said. Mulatu Gemechu, deputy chairperson of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress, told Reuters that the unrest could worsen if security forces were to be granted more powers and expand their presence in Oromiya. "These are peaceful protesters who have been demanding that soldiers are pulled out. This could intensify anger," he said. Last Sunday, scores of people were killed in a stampede triggered when police used teargas and shot in the air to disperse anti-government protesters at a religious festival in the town of Bishoftu. A U.S. researcher was killed on Tuesday when her car was attacked by stone-throwers near Addis Ababa. (Editing by George Obulutsa and Hugh Lawson)
Beirut (AFP) - The Syrian jihadist group Fateh al-Sham Front said on Sunday that it had taken under its wing the radical Salafist Jund al-Aqsa group, recently labelled a terrorist organisation by Washington.

The announcement, on Fateh al-Sham Front's Twitter account, came as Jund al-Aqsa fighters are locked in fierce clashes with other Islamist rebel groups in northern Syria's Idlib province.

"In a bid to avoid shedding the blood of Muslims and overcome the internal fighting between us and Ahrar al-Sham, which only profits the regime, we, Jund al-Aqsa announce that we have pledged allegiance to Fateh al-Sham Front," said the online statement.

The statement was handwritten and bore the signatures of the heads of both groups.

The powerful Ahrar al-Sham group which has close ties to Fateh al-Sham Front has accused several members of Jund al-Asqa of links to the Islamic State group.

The jihadist IS is the key rival of Fateh al-Sham Front, formerly known as Al-Nusra Front and Al-Qaeda's affiliate on the battlegrounds of Syria.

Analysts said that Sunday's announcement was expected to complicate things for Fateh al-Sham Front, which changed its name from Al-Nusra Front after renouncing its ties to Al-Qaeda.

"Fateh al-Sham Front has pitched itself as a part of the opposition mainstream, but by taking Jund al-Aqsa into its fold, it has joined forces with a group that every single key opposition faction in northern Syria declared a front group for IS," said Charles Lister.

"That declaration was made as opposition groups, led by Ahrar al-Sham, were engaged in a substantial offensive to force Jund al-Aqsa out from all opposition territories.

"So in short, Fateh al-Sham Front has illustrated that the protection of jihadists, even those so extreme as to acquire the (IS) label, are more worthy of protection than the very opposition groups it has tried so hard to embed itself within," said Lister, an analyst from the Middle East Institute.

Syrian government ally Russia has accused the United States of "protecting" Fateh al-Sham Front -- which is also considered by Washington a "terrorist organisation".
By Mehreen Zahra-Malik KUCHLAK, Pakistan (Reuters) - For 15 years until his sudden disappearance in May, the new leader of the Afghan Taliban insurgency openly taught and preached at the Al Haaj mosque in a dusty town in southwestern Pakistan, associates and students told Reuters. Details of Haibatullah Akhundzada's life in Kuchlak, near the city of Quetta, have not previously been reported, and could put further pressure on Pakistan to do more to crack down on militants openly living there. The row over how far Islamabad will go to get rid of jihadi fighters and leaders has hurt relations between Pakistan and Washington, in part because nearly 10,000 American soldiers are in Afghanistan supporting the war against insurgents. A spokesman for the U.S. State Department's South Asia bureau said it was not "not in a position to confirm Haibatullah Akhundzada's whereabouts, past or present." Akhundzada is now believed to be in hiding after crossing the long and porous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, but not before going untouched in Kuchlak, located in Baluchistan province, as he rose up the ranks of the Afghan Taliban. He was promoted to "emir" in May after a U.S. drone killed his predecessor, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, in another part of Pakistan, a strike that infuriated Islamabad but reflected growing impatience over what Washington sees as ambivalence toward its enemies. Five years earlier, U.S. forces stormed a compound near the Pakistani capital and killed al Qaeda's leader Osama bin Laden. "Once he became Emir, he left with his whole family," said Hafiz Abdul Majeed, who runs the Al Haaj mosque, adding that he himself studied for several years under Akhundzada. "You can't teach religion and run (the Taliban's) government at the same time. And it would of course have been dangerous for us and the students and the mosque if he remained here." Pakistan says it does all it can to go after militants. The Interior Ministry did not reply to written questions about Akhundzada's time in Kuchlak. A military spokesman said the army would not comment. Analysts say Pakistan has historically backed the Afghan Taliban as a hedge against the influence of arch-rival India, with whom Pakistan has fought three wars, in its backyard. Pakistan denies this. "I strongly reject any organized presence of Taliban in Baluchistan," Sarfaraz Bugti, home minister for the province, told Reuters. "MAN OF FAITH" At the Al Haaj mosque, scores of teenaged boys wearing turbans and traditional "shalwar kameez" robes attended classes at a religious school, typical of remote parts of Pakistan, where they provide education for millions of boys. On a recent visit, the metal door of the room where Akhundzada is said to have rested between lessons was padlocked and the curtains on the windows almost fully drawn. But Akhundzada's name could be seen painted on a wall inside in large calligraphic text. Colleagues and students described Akhundzada, thought to be in his mid-50s and originally from Kandahar in Afghanistan, as a studious disciplinarian who slipped out of Kuchlak two days before being named Taliban chief. Majeed, the mosque administrator, said Akhundzada taught students from 8 a.m. to noon every morning at the mosque, and was paid a monthly salary of 10,000 Pakistani rupees ($100). "We are sad that he is gone because he was a great teacher and a great asset for this mosque," he said. Several other people at the mosque confirmed his account, although they did not want to be quoted. Asked how someone closely associated with the Taliban could live so openly, Majeed replied: "He was just a man of faith. He was a 'Sheikh-ul-Hadith' (scholar of Islam's Hadith texts). And when he became Emir, he left here. That's all we know." Several associates said Akhundzada lost family members in the Afghan war following U.S.-led military intervention to drive the Taliban from power in 2001. One former pupil at Al Haaj, Pai Khan, says he heard Akhundzada speak at a public rally in Quetta in 2014 commemorating the death of an Afghan Taliban commander. "He spoke with a lot of force about the U.S. and the war and that we would not give up our jihad, that we would never negotiate with the puppet government in Afghanistan or talk to the U.S.," said Khan, now an activist for a pro-Taliban party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, in Quetta. Reuters was unable to confirm this account. Khan said Akhundzada taught him at the mosque for several years nearly a decade ago. "If you met him in the street you would never think he would be one of the world's greatest leaders one day," Khan told Reuters in a bustling Quetta bazaar. "DEFENDERS OF ISLAM" Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that, after fleeing Afghanistan, Akhundzada lived for years in the Kuchlak mosque and religious school while he was the movement's shadow chief justice. However, he disputed the timeline given by Akhundzada's associates, saying he left Kuchlak soon after being named deputy leader in 2015. "Do you believe a most wanted figure like ... Akhundzada would live in a prominent place like Kuchlak and run a madrassah there when U.S. and Afghan forces and their security agencies are desperately trying to either kill him or capture him?" There are no known photographs or written records of Akhundzada's tenure in Kuchlak. Reuters could not independently verify the accounts given of his time there. Elsewhere in Baluchistan province, supporters of the Afghan Taliban said Akhundzada was well known. "Akhundzada lived for many years in Kuchlak. I met him many times. He used to come to Quetta often," said Syed Abdul Sattar Shah Chishti, spokesman for the hardline Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Nazriati political party in Quetta, another pro-Taliban group. Western diplomats believe some seminaries in the Quetta area have long been fertile ground for Islamist militancy. In Quetta itself, pro-Taliban jihadi ideology is openly embraced, and Taliban sources say the group's "Quetta shura", or council, has met sporadically in recent years to make important decisions including choosing new leaders. Pakistan, however, denies the Taliban leadership operates openly. Bugti, Baluchistan home minister, said Pakistan had taken measures to stop militants criss-crossing the frontier, including tougher checks that would stop Taliban fighters using fake Pakistani documents to travel, as Mansour did before he was killed. He said authorities cannot keep track of up to 4 million Afghan refugees who have lived in Pakistan, some for decades. "It is not possible for us to predict who among the refugees will become the president of Afghanistan or the leader of the Taliban," Bugti said. (Additional reporting by Jibran Ahmed in PESHAWAR, Kay Johnson in ISLAMABAD and David Brunnstrom in WASHINGTON; Writing by Mehreen Zahra-Malik; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
By Utpal Kumar/Mail Today: It all began six months ago when Sanjaya Baru was in Hyderabad for a lecture. He asked his audience what they remember about 1991. They all said in unison that the year was significant for economic reforms. But when asked about who initiated these reforms, most people took the name of Manmohan Singh. Some even credited P Chidambaram and Kamal Nath.

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"No one mentioned PV Narasimha Rao. Ironically, this incident took place in Hyderabad, which was Rao's own city," recalls Baru explaining why he wrote the book, 1991: How PV Narasimha Rao Made History. "After the lecture was over, several business leaders present at the venue urged me to write a book on Rao's role in India's economic reforms."

Baru believes Rao's contribution is forgotten due to two factors. "One, he faced several corruption cases, especially towards the fag end of his rule. But most importantly, the Congress decided to erase the memory of Narasimha Rao, to make the point that no person from outside the family can ever be a successful PM. After all, what did Rao prove? He proved that someone doesn't need to be related to the Nehru-Gandhi family to be a successful prime minister. By becoming the first PM outside the family to run the country for full term, he effectively challenged this notion."

The author, however, says that acknowledging Rao's role doesn't in any way belittle Manmohan Singh's contributions. "Singh was the intellectual face of the reform process. Rao had repeatedly said how much he depended on Singh. When Chidambaram resigned, Rao accepted it. When Madhavrao Scindia resigned, he accepted it. But when Singh resigned, not once but three times, he refused to accept the resignation. That shows Rao's regard for him.

1991: How PV Narasimha Rao Made History by Sanjaya Baru; Aleph, Rs.499. Photo: Mail Today

But the author emphasises that a finance minister-or for that matter any minister-can work as much as the PM allows him to do. He quotes Narasimha Rao as saying that a "finance minister is like the numerical zero. Its power depends on the number you place in front of it."

Also read: Arundhati Roy announces new book 19 years after The God of Small Things



Baru believes that Rao's time had come. "He could have been PM even if Rajiv was alive. It's based on some data analysed by India Today and PTI of the 1991 elections. Both came to the conclusion that if one takes the voting result of the first phase of polling, when Rajiv Gandhi was still alive, and projects it in the second and the third phase, then the Congress would not be able to form the government. Rajiv would not have got the numbers. Such was his image that no one from outside the party would have supported him either. In this scenario, Rao would have been the best bet to lead the Congress-led coalition."

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According to Baru, Rao's family background also helped him initiate economic reforms fearlessly. "Rajiv Gandhi, born in an affluent, illustrious family, was worried about his image of being pro-rich. Rao had no such dilemmas. He was not afraid of being called pro-business or pro-rich-because he wasn't rich. This explains why Rao is the only PM who has given Bharat Ratna to a business leader, JRD Tata," explains he.

One more field where Rao hasn't been given his due is foreign affairs. "Very few people acknowledge that Rao was the first PM to visit South Korea. Today, Indian market is being flooded with South Korean companies and products. Rao's pragmatism can also be gauged from the fact that his first foreign trip was to Germany. And his was the first Indian government to recognise Israel," says the author.

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Baru has one final regret, though. "Rao should have been given Bharat Ratna by now. Sadly, even Manmohan Singh failed to get him this," says he. One hopes when this "reluctant liberaliser", as some of his critics call him, gets this award, it's not politicised. For, Rao is vastly misunderstood and he still awaits his Boswell.



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The super PAC dedicated to blocking Hillary Clintons presidential bid is moving from an online-only campaign and inching into broadcast advertising.

Defeat Crooked Hillarys first traditional 30-second broadcast spot is rooted in the premise that an African American actress, hired to record a pro-Clinton ad, cannot make it through a script calling her honest and trustworthy. The message is that even demographics that poll overwhelmingly in Clintons campshe enjoys a 14 percentage point advantage among women and a 47-point gap among minorities in the latest CNN pollare not really with her.

An adviser to Defeat Crooked Hillary, incorporated with the Federal Election Commission as Make America Number 1, said the ads have about $350,000 behind them and will appear on stations in Ohio and Pennsylvania. While the ads are not explicitly meant to help Trumpwho needs all the help he can get these daysthe spill-over effect will boost him.

I cant say these words, the actress says after stumbling while making the case for Clinton. Off-screen, someone asks her why. I just dont believe what Im saying, the woman responds.

The no-frills ad continues with the off-camera man reminding her that shes an actress. Her reply? Im not that good of an actress. Honest and trustworthy? Give me a break. Its one of the more amusing attacks on Clinton, who has been savaged in more serious ads by her conservative critics.

The super PAC was originally started as a way for donors who backed Republican nominee Donald Trumps rivals during the primaries to have a sway of the general election. Before Sunday, the messages were digital, broadcast on social media and emails. The move toward broadcast is an attempt to increase its presence and to boost Trump.

The effort is backed by billionaire Robert Mercer, who started out a supporter of Ted Cruz but has quickly established himself a power center of the Trump campaign, as TIMEs Alex Altman detailed in the magazine.

As Trumps campaign appears nearing meltdown and Republicans are rushing to abandon him, Mercer has expressed his continued support. We are completely indifferent to Mr. Trumps locker room braggadocio, Robert and Rebekah Mercer said in a statement. The ads, which were planned before a tape of Trumps lewd comments became public late Friday, were going ahead as planned.
By Souleymane Ag Anara KIDAL, Mali (Reuters) - A Tuareg militant leader in the volatile north Malian city of Kidal was killed on Saturday when his car exploded barely 300 meters from a U.N. base where he had been talking with French and U.N. troops, a Reuters witness and officials said. A Reuters cameraman saw the car still burning after the blast that killed Cheikh Ag Aoussa. A spokeswoman for the U.N. Mali mission, Radhia Achouri, confirmed the incident, which is likely to further ignite tensions between rival pro and anti-government factions of ethnic Tuaregs in Kidal. A spokesman for French forces in Mali did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Tuareg-led Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) and rival pro-government "Gatia" militia fighters have clashed sporadically since a power-sharing deal, in place since February, began to crumble. Up to 20 people were killed in two days of fighting between them in July. Aoussa was a senior commander in a CMA-allied group. A security source suggested Aoussa's death was the accidental result of running over a land mine. But Almou Ag Mohamed, spokesman for his HCUA militant group, said "it is clear an explosive was attached to his vehicle inside the camp." The Tuaregs, nomadic pastoralists who have for centuries survived off trade crossing the Sahara and connecting Africa's interior with its Mediterranean coast, were at the heart of a 2012 uprising that threw Mali into chaos. Their rebellion was swiftly hijacked by jihadists whom the French then intervened in 2013 to chase out. A U.N.-backed peace deal between a plethora of Malian armed groups was supposed to draw a line under the violence that has torn apart Africa's third largest gold producer. Yet it has failed to stop worsening violence in the north and center of this vast, desert nation. Mali's military pulled out of Kidal after clashes between the army and Tuareg rebels killed 50 soldiers there in 2014. (Additional reporting by Tiemoko Diallo and Adama Diarra in Bamako; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Bernard Orr)
By Tom Bergin

LONDON (Reuters) - Facebook said its main UK subsidiary generated an 11-million-pound tax credit in 2015 even as revenues soared, thanks to its tax efficient structure, accounts published on the weekend showed.

Analysts say Facebook generates hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue from UK clients each year but until this year all transactions were booked in Ireland, minimizing the social media group's UK tax bill.

Facebook UK Ltd is funded by affiliates such as the main Irish unit. It received over 210 million pounds ($261.14 million) in 2015 from these affiliates. But that wasn't enough to cover its costs and the UK subsidiary reported a loss of 52 million pounds.

A spokeswoman said Facebook paid all the taxes it was required to under UK law.

We are proud that in 2015 we have continued to grow our business in the UK and created over 300 new high skilled jobs, she added.

UK politicians, spurred by public anger about corporate tax avoidance, have criticized the tax arrangements of Facebook and other U.S. tech giants in recent years. The companies exploit loopholes in U.S. and international tax rules to pay almost no tax on non-U.S. profits.

Last year, the UK government introduced a new tax to target structures like Facebooks. In March, Facebook said it would begin to report some UK revenues in Britain from 2016, although its unclear what impact, if any, this change will have on its tax bill.

Facebook's UK loss was swelled by charges for share incentive schemes, which have not yet vested.

Facebook wont get the benefit of the tax deduction until this happens, which means the company may still have to pay tax for 2015. Excluding the deduction for share schemes, Facebook would have a tax bill of 4 million pounds for last year.

However, the spokeswoman declined to say if Facebook had paid any tax in respect of 2015.

Facebook reported worldwide net income of $3.7 billion last year, on turnover of $17.9 billion, according to its annual report. European revenue jumped 34 percent last year to $1.4 billion.

($1 = 0.8042 pounds)

(Reporting by Tom Bergin; editing by Clelia Oziel)
By Tom Bergin

LONDON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Facebook said its main UK subsidiary generated an 11-million-pound tax credit in 2015 even as revenues soared, thanks to its tax efficient structure, accounts published on the weekend showed.

Analysts say Facebook generates hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue from UK clients each year but until this year all transactions were booked in Ireland, minimising the social media group's UK tax bill.

Facebook UK Ltd is funded by affiliates such as the main Irish unit. It received over 210 million pounds ($261.14 million) in 2015 from these affiliates. But that wasn't enough to cover its costs and the UK subsidiary reported a loss of 52 million pounds.

A spokeswoman said Facebook paid all the taxes it was required to under UK law.

"We are proud that in 2015 we have continued to grow our business in the UK and created over 300 new high skilled jobs," she added.

UK politicians, spurred by public anger about corporate tax avoidance, have criticised the tax arrangements of Facebook and other U.S. tech giants in recent years. The companies exploit loopholes in U.S. and international tax rules to pay almost no tax on non-U.S. profits.

Last year, the UK government introduced a new tax to target structures like Facebook's. In March, Facebook said it would begin to report some UK revenues in Britain from 2016, although it's unclear what impact, if any, this change will have on its tax bill.

Facebook's UK loss was swelled by charges for share incentive schemes, which have not yet vested.

Facebook won't get the benefit of the tax deduction until this happens, which means the company may still have to pay tax for 2015. Excluding the deduction for share schemes, Facebook would have a tax bill of 4 million pounds for last year.

However, the spokeswoman declined to say if Facebook had paid any tax in respect of 2015.

Facebook reported worldwide net income of $3.7 billion last year, on turnover of $17.9 billion, according to its annual report. European revenue jumped 34 percent last year to $1.4 billion.

($1 = 0.8042 pounds) (Reporting by Tom Bergin; editing by Clelia Oziel)
By Lizbeth Diaz TIJUANA, Mexico (Reuters) - The havoc wreaked by Hurricane Matthew has strengthened the resolve of thousands of Haitians stuck on the U.S.-Mexico border to make it to the United States even though new rules mean they will likely be deported to their shattered homeland. A surge in the number of Haitians seeking asylum this year prompted the U.S. government to end special protections dating back to Haiti's last major disaster, a 2010 earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people. That means migrants like Naomi Josil, 29, are now far more likely to be deported home if they cross the border from Mexico. But as news filtered in of the death of some 900 people from Hurricane Matthew and the loss of family homes and property, Josil and her friends refused to give up. "We can't go back, we want money to rebuild the houses taken by the hurricane, said Josil, a 29-year-old mother of two. "There is no turning back, my family needs the money more than ever. We have to reach the United States." Despite tighter U.S. controls, dozens of Haitians show up in Tijuana every day, almost all of them arriving after an arduous three-month trip traversing jungles and mountains from Brazil where they sought refuge following the earthquake. This time they are on the move to escape Brazil's economic recession which left them without jobs. Having spent thousands of dollars to get this far with her two children, husband and brother, Josil refuses to entertain any suggestion she will not be allowed into the United States, Indeed, the disaster back in Haiti may provide a ray of hope for her and thousands of others amassing on the border since the tougher rules were introduced, with activists now pressuring the Obama administration to reverse the measures as a humanitarian gesture. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said it is monitoring the situation and "will assess its impact on current policies as appropriate." The crisis comes at a sensitive time for the U.S. government, wary of fanning Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's accusations that President Barack Obama is soft on immigration, or worse. On Friday, Trump said the Obama government was fast-tracking applications for citizenship for electoral gain. "Theyre letting people pour into the country so they can go and vote," Trump said during a meeting with representatives of the National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents Border Patrol agents, at Trump Tower in New York. He did not present evidence to back his claim. 'EVERYTHING ENDED' Josil made the journey from Brazil to Tijuana mainly by bus and at times on foot, walking through the Darian jungle between Colombia and Panama for five days with her youngest child wrapped across her body in a sling. In Nicaragua, they were robbed of all their money. They arrived two weeks ago. Every day since then, more have turned up, some like Josil's group sleeping in tents on wasteland near the border crossing, others spilling from packed migrant shelters. Mexico's human rights ombudsman last week said 300 Haitians and Africans were now crossing Mexico's southern border every day, and that 13,000 had arrived this year. Some Haitians tell migration authorities they are from Congo or other French-speaking African nations with which Mexico has few diplomatic ties, making deportation from this side more difficult. They are given a 20-day pass to leave the country, which they take to Tijuana with the plan of crossing to San Diego. Costa Rica and Panama on Friday asked for international support to help them cope with the flow of Haitians, saying there were some 8,000 of them between the two countries seeking their way north. The latest news of the hurricane spread quickly through the shelters in poor neighborhoods and the tent villages where messages reach Tijuana's newest arrivals over social media. Nobody wanted to hear of deportations. "Everything ended," when the storm crashed through Normilus Mondesir's hometown of Miragoane on Haiti's north coast this week, he said. "I have no house, nothing," Mondesir said, adding that his mother's livestock had all died. "I feel dreadful, first traveling all this way and then not having any money to help. When my mother arrived home, she had nothing, her hope evaporated." (Writing by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Kieran Murray and Bernard Orr)
Authorities had made over 100 swift water rescues in Fayetteville, North Carolina, since Hurricane Matthew made landfall on Saturday, October 8, according to local reports. At least four people were missing in Fayetteville on Sunday, as officials scrambled to respond to hundreds of pending emergency calls.

Fayetteville police filmed a water rescue in which a mother and toddler were pulled from their flooded vehicle.

Mayor Nat Roberson declared a mandatory curfew from 7pm to 7am in response to the number of rescues carried out by emergency workers. Credit: Facebook/Fayetteville Police Department
London (AFP) - The proportion of Russian airstrikes in Syria targeting the Islamic State group is falling, suggesting Moscow's priority is to help the Assad regime rather than to combat terrorism, according to analysis published Sunday.

In the first quarter of 2016, 26 percent of Russian airstrikes in Syria targeted IS, according to the IHS Conflict Monitor.

That dipped to 22 percent in the second quarter, and 17 percent in the third quarter.

"Last September, President (Vladimir) Putin said it was Russia's mission to fight international terrorism and specifically the Islamic State," said Alex Kokcharov, principal Russia analyst at IHS Country Risk.

"Our data suggests that is not the case.

"Russia's priority is to provide military support to the Assad government and, most likely, transform the Syrian civil war from a multi-party conflict into a binary one between the Syrian government and jihadist groups like the Islamic State."

This had the effect of "undermining the case for providing international support to the opposition", he said.

Russia on Saturday vetoed a UN draft resolution demanding an end to the bombing of Aleppo, which has escalated since the Russian-backed Syrian army launched an offensive against rebels in the city last month.

IHS also confirmed that territory controlled by the IS group in Iraq and Syria continues to shrink, from about 68,300 square kilometres (26,370 square miles) in July to about 65,500 square kilometres last week.
Havana (AFP) - Former Cuban president Fidel Castro is keeping an eye on the US presidential race, saying that Democrat Hillary Clinton "discredited" Republican rival Donald Trump in their first debate two weeks ago.

"The first debate two weeks ago caused a stir. Mr Trump, who presents himself as having expert ability, was left discredited as much as Barack (President Obama) is in his policies," wrote Fidel Castro, the father of the Cuban revolution who turned over the presidency to his brother Raul Castro a decade ago.

The ex-president's article appeared hours before Clinton and Trump hold their second debate Sunday, less than a month away from the US election on November 8.

In their first debate, on September 26, the media and analysts mainly agreed that Clinton had won.

Their second showdown comes as Trump's White House campaign and the Republican Party as a whole were thrown in disarray over the release of videotaped lewd boasts about groping women he made in 2005.

Cuban authorities, who in 2014 began a historic diplomatic thaw with Cold War-era enemy the United States, have until now given no indication of their preference for a successor to Democrat Obama.

But Fidel Castro's article was seen as a signal on Havana's leanings.

Clinton is openly campaigning on a continuation of the Obama warming policies with neighboring Cuba, which resulted in the restoration of diplomatic relations in 2015 after more than a half century of chilly ties.

Trump appears to favor a more restrained approach to the Cuban government.

A highly influential voice in the Caribbean island nation, Fidel Castro, 90, never has questioned the diplomatic strategy of his brother, who repeatedly notes his wariness toward Washington and Obama, who nevertheless was key in moving the diplomatic thawing forward.
Bamako (AFP) - A leader of a former rebel group in northern Mali was killed by a mine explosion in Kidal in the country's north, military and ex-rebel sources said Sunday.

Cheikh Ag Aoussa's car "was hit by a mine and he died on the spot" after he left the office of the UN's MINUSMA mission on Saturday, according to an African military source who is part of the deployment.

"He was attending a meeting, then as he went to go home he was accidentally killed," the source added.

The former rebel Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), which controls Kidal, confirmed his death and called for an "independent inquiry into this odious and clearly premeditated attack".

"Among the theories, there is that of an attack and a car bombing," CMA member Mohamed Ag Oussene told AFP.

"It was a targeted assassination," the CMA said.

An official in Kidal also said Aoussa was killed by a mine.

MINUSMA spokeswoman Radhia Achouri said the incident happened after a routine security meeting between the mission, the CMA and the French Barkhane force held every 15 days.

She said the blast occurred about 300 metres (nearly 1,000 feet) from the camp.

- Appeal for restraint -

MINUSMA called for restraint and to "avoid speculation and unfounded allegations". It also urged "quick action to ensure that those behind the attacks are identified and brought to justice."

A Tuareg from the Ifoghas tribe, Aoussa was the number two in the High Council for the Unity of Azawad (HCUA), one of a myriad of armed groups in northern Mali.

The HCUA was formed mainly by dissident elements of al-Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine, one of the jihadist groups that occupied parts of northern Mali in 2012, throwing the country into chaos.

Aoussa had joined Ansar Dine as the rebellion broke out and served as right-hand man to its leader Iyad Ag Ghaly.

He broke away in 2013 -- just after the French-led intervention to halt the jihadists' onslaught -- to join a different group that would later become the HCUA.

Story continues

Mali last year concluded a peace deal between the government, its armed proxies, and Tuareg-led rebels who have launched several uprisings since the 1960s. The deal's implementation has been patchy.

Kidal has been rocked by deadly fighting for control between armed groups which were party to the peace deal.

The fresh unrest has sparked international concern, with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon saying in a report published this week that the pro-government groups and former rebels involved in the clashes should potentially face sanctions.

The report warned of serious failings in the UN's mission in Mali as it loses vital equipment and faces a rising threat from militants.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is on a visit to Mali, on Sunday called for northerners to be integrated into the army "so that Malian soldiers consider themselves as a single army for a single country."

The ongoing international military intervention that began in 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.
By PTI: Heads of top central medical institutions in Delhi,

Heads of top central medical institutions in Delhi, however, said, foreign students in their colleges are admitted through embassy nominations and as such "their candidature should not be affected".

"We have foreign students from Maldives and Nepal. But these are nominated candidates and not coming through competitive examinations, so their situation is different," Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital Dr A K Rai said.

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Vardhman Medical College is attached to Safdarjung Hospital for clinical teaching. The college is running under the umbrella of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.

Authorities at Lady Hardinge Medical College, which has about 15 foreign students, said, "These students are nominated and dont come through competitive procedure unlike NEET."

AIIMS conducts its own entrance examination and, therefore, foreign students admitted at its Delhi campus will not be affected.

DCI monitors over 300 dental colleges in India a large number of which are private. PTI KND SKV SK

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Hong Kong (AFP) - Reigning Formula E world champion Sebastien Buemi threw down the gauntlet to his rivals as he won the first ever Hong Kong ePrix after an incident-packed season-opener on Sunday.

The Renault e.dams driver started fifth on the grid but he powered through to win the 45-la city-centre race by 2.477sec from Lucas di Grassi, who started second-last after a crunching crash in qualifying.

Di Grassi and Robin Frijns both came to grief at the same chicane in qualifying, forcing the cancellation of the usual Super Pole shoot-out for the first time in the all-electric series' short history.

In a race with plenty of wheel-to-wheel action, NextEV drivers Nelson Piquet Jr and Oliver Turvey were leading until lap 17 when they came off at the same troublesome chicane, bringing out the safety car.

After the drivers had switched to their second race cars -- as their batteries are not powerful enough for a full race -- Switzerland's Buemi emerged on top and put his foot down to the chequered flag.

Formula E, which aims to raise the profile and technological abilities of electric vehicles, is entering its third season, which consists of 12 races and also includes Buenos Aires, Paris and New York.
- Nico Rosberg warned that Lewis Hamilton was still capable of fighting back to retain his Formula One title despite dealing his British rival a crushing blow in Japan. The German roared to victory at Suzuka with Hamilton trailing in third, stretching his cushion to 33 points with just four races left. Hamilton complained he had been the victim of sabotage after suffering an engine fire in Malasyia, ruffling feathers in the Mercedes garage. He then snubbed media in Japan after being criticised for fiddling with his mobile phone and uploading photos to Snapchat during a press conference, leading to one British tabloid dubbing him "Snap-Prat". "I haven't seen any self-destruction," he insisted after powering to his ninth win of the year.

AFP
As the Republican Party tries desperately to retain its grip on the Senate, Donald Trump is biting its fingers like Sonny Corleone when hes beating up his brother-in-law in The Godfather.

Related: How Trump Could Bring Down Senate Republicans in 2016

At a town hall in New Hampshire on Thursday, Trump said that one reason Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois is losing his re-election race is that he has disavowed the GOP presidential nominee. Hes not doing well, but, hey, thats his problem. He wasnt for me, Trump said.

Kirk has called Trump unfit to be commander in chief in the past. But he holds one of the most vulnerable Republican seats in the Senate. Kirk is a moderate who served five terms in the House, but he is up against a potent rival: Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth has opened up a seven-point lead against him, according to Real Clear Politics. Duckworth lost most of two legs when the helicopter she was piloting was hit by enemy fire in the Iraq War, but she went on to become the first Asian-American woman from Illinois elected to Congress.

On Friday, Kirks campaign manager slammed Trump, telling Business Insider that the Kirk is outperforming him in Illinois by 13 points.

Related: Trump and Pence Snub GOP Senators, Roiling the Party Yet Again

This kind of public scrap between Trump and Republican senators struggling to hang on to their jobs is exactly what the GOP doesnt need right now. Last summer, the man at the top of the ticket withheld endorsements of Sen. John McCain of Arizona, whom he once said wasnt a war hero despite five years in captivity in North Vietnam, and Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire because they had been slow to support him.

While Trump eventually relented, Ayotte may have gone overboard in calming the waters. Her 2.3-point lead against Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan could dwindle as she struggles to walk back recent comments calling Trump a role model for children. And a 2005 tape recording of Trump making lewd, lounge-lizard comments about women to Access Hollywood host Billy Bush in 2005 could make Ayotte seem even more clueless.

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With 47 seats likely for the GOP and 47 likely for Democrats on the Real Clear Politics map of the Senate races, Ayotte is one of the stronger Republicans vying for the six seats in the tossup column. In Pennsylvania, Republican Sen. Pat Toomey holds just a 0.6-point lead over Democratic challenger Katie McGinty; North Carolina Republican Sen. Richard Burr is in a statistical dead heat with Democrat Deborah Ross; and in the open race in Indiana, Republican candidate Todd Young is four points behind former Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh.

Related: Mike Pence Is Giving a Lot of Trump Supporters Buyers Remorse

Even veteran Republican politician Roy Blunt of Missouri is looking vulnerable. The incumbent senator has a 2.5-point lead, but Democratic rival Jason Kander, a former Army captain who served in Afghanistan, could be catching up, according to The Wall Street Journal. When Blunt accused Kander of being soft on gun rights, the Democrat ran an eye-catching ad in which he assembles an AR-15 assault rifle blindfolded (watch the ad below). And the nonpartisan Cook Political Report has moved the race from being a likely win for the GOP to a tossup.

The struggle for control of the Senate seems so tight right now that more intemperate remarks from the Republican Party standard bearer could tip the scales.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
In the fiercely competitive FMCG (acronym for Fast Moving Consumer Goods) space, where even well-entrenched players find it difficult to hold on to their market share, Indias self-styled godman and yoga guru Ramdev has scripted a path-breaking success story. His company  Patanjali Ayurved Ltd.  raked in a whopping INR 5000 crore in revenue in 2015-16 and is on its way to double that next year, giving global industry giants like Unilever, P&G and ColgatePalmolive a run for their money.

This growth story appears all the more eye-popping when one takes into consideration the fact that Patanjali scaled these dizzying heights by swearing off the marketing rulebook. Minus erudite honchos, market research and big stars endorsing its products, to find out how the high priest of yoga doubled as a savvy purveyor of a wide array of consumer goods, read on

Success by serendipity

It all started circa 2004. The story goes like this: In a bid to help farmers struggling to offload their produce like gooseberries (amla in Hindi) and aloe vera, Ramdev started buying from them at a fair price. The breakout sales of its amla juice product soon resulted in Patanjalis profits soaring. Encouraged, Ramdev, along with the companys co-founder Acharya Balkrishna, started launching products left and right.

Today, Patanjali, Divya Pharmacy (the Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing company set up in 1995) and Patanjali Gram Udyoga Unit produce close to 800 products ranging from dairy and beauty products to textile, noodles, cornflakes and cookies.

Organic Growth Overall

Companies that make it big in a short while, mostly do so by swallowing smaller companies, or merging with competitors, or both. The process is called inorganic growth. But in case of Patanjali, it grew all on its own, i.e. organically, by upping profits through product development and increasing its customer base. Patanjali launched every conceivable product it anticipated would have demand at ultra-competitive prices for the mass market. And it clicked! What was established in 2006 as a cottage industry grew to become a force in the FMCGs sector.

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Acharya Balkrishna: An Unusual Billionaire

Though Ramdev is the poster boy for Patanjali, he does not own any share in the company, since he is a self-proclaimed Hindu ascetic. It is his childhood friend, close associate and co-founder of Patanjali, Acharya Balkrishna, who owns 97 percent stake in Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. He has even featured in Forbes magazines rich list in India this year at the 48th position. His net worth was pegged at US $2.5 billion. Interestingly, Balkrishna does not draw a salary and devotes 15 hours every day to the company without taking a single day off.

The remaining shares in the company are held by Sarwan Sam Poddar and his wife Sunita, both residents of Scotland.

Offbeat Marketing Strategy

Patanjali steered clear of multi-million marketing strategies of big corporate houses. Instead, it relied on old-school methods like word-of-mouth to popularise the product initially. It helped, of course, that that Ramdev pitched the initial products to the multitudes that throng his yoga camps across the country and the millions that follow him on television.

Further, unlike corporate giants, Patanjali just launched a flurry of products  sometimes even simultaneously  without any market research. Ramdev and his lieutenants just went ahead with their gut instinct, which paid off.

Two of its unique selling points are chemical-free products and dirt-cheap prices. The latter is achieved by buying raw materials directly from farmers without middlemen.

Patanjali started advertising its products after a point in time though, but no celebrity has been roped in. Instead, its Ramdev who is at the centre of these ads. Swadeshi (Indian made) is the buzzword and it has caught the popular public imagination. The current BJP governments campaign on Make in India is also helping Patanjali position itself at the forefront of this movement, further helping its sales.

Till 2011, Patanjali products were sold through exclusive franchise stores and health centres where free ayurvedic consultation was provided. Post that, it started retail outlets resulting in multiplied sales and compounded profits.

Goods Galore

An estimated 800 products today come under brand Patanjali. While listing all is not possible, some of the runaway hits are definitely worth a mention. Clarified butter (ghee), for example, is the top revenue generator. Next in popularity are toothpaste and hairoil/shampoo. In fact, Patanjalis toothpaste Dant Kanti has almost knocked the breath out of a Goliath in the FMCG sector  Colgate. To regain its lost market share, Colgate is being forced to launch a toothpaste this quarter using all-natural ingredients.

Besides, there have been products that dont quite tally with the brands image like instant noodles, and beauty products. But Ramdev claims they all have a swadeshi twist, something that sets them apart. Patanjali now plans to expand further into other mass markets such as apparel  with the launch of denim jeans  and baby care products.

False Claims?

However, it seems that not all of the yoga gurus claims about his company are true. Patanjali outsources manufacturing of certain products, which is contrary to Ramdevs assertion that everything is manufactured in-house. Biscuits, for example, are made by Delhi-based Sona Biscuits that also purveys biscuits under Sobisco brand. The aloe vera unit, reported an English newspaper, uses pulp supplied by Dhandev Resorts and Health Care Pvt. Ltd, a Jaisalmer-based company owned by a Congress politician, for aloe vera juice. This is against statements that the company uses produce from its own aloe vera plantations.

Over 200 scientists, who research and develop Patanjali products at the companys Haridwar headquarters, are forbidden from interacting with outsiders. Security is also tight, with Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) jawans deployed at the manufacturing unit in Haridwar, and media being denied access to several parts of the campus.

Work Culture at Patanjali

Unlike its competitors, Patanjali does not recruit from B-schools. It procures talent from its network, or by advertising. And so far it has created direct and indirect employment for around 15,000 people. Payscales are not on par with others, though. And most join the company driven by some voluntary zeal. But, notably, Patanjali Ayurved boasts of a gender diversity ratio of 30:70.

The work culture at Patanjali is unique too, in keeping with the image of the brand. Instead of the staple corporate world greetings, people are greeted with 'Om there. Smoking, drinking and eating meat are prohibited.

Future Plans

Emboldened by the phenomenal success and flush with funds, Ramdevs immediate plans are to achieve a turnover of 10,000 crore! For that, the company needs to add to its manufacturing capacity. Its Haridwar campus  an industrial zone named Padartha  already has 28 factories, and research and development facilities.

Ramdev and his team now plan to set up food and herbal parks in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and even Nepal as a next step.

Imitators



Inspired by the roaring success of Patanjali, a couple of other self-styled godmen too have forayed into business with ayurveda-based products. Sri Sri Ravishankar, founder of Art of Living, has launched consumer goods under the brand name of Sri Sri Ayurveda. Again, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the Dera chief popularly referred to as Rockstar baba, has founded a company promoting organic products. None, so far, have tasted success anywhere close to what Baba Ramdev has.
FX screened the first half of the pilot for its upcoming Legion series at New York Comic Con, giving X-Men fans their first taste of the eight-episode first season, set to premiere in early 2017.

For the uninitiated, Legion is set in the X-Men world, following mental patient and mutant David Haller (Dan Stevens). He doesnt know whats real, so you dont necessarily know whats real either, showrunner Noah Hawley told the audience.

The Legion cast also includes Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) as Davids batty friend Lenny and Rachel Keller (season 2 of Fargo) as Syd Barrett, a mysterious young woman David meets in the Clockwork Psychiatric Hospital.

Unlike Netflixs Marvel entries, the Legion is a far more ephemeral story, a trippy piece that feels period at times, modern at others, with the audience never truly sure of what is and isnt real  or whether that matters.

Its not necessarily racing toward a battle with an enemy as much as dealing with the enemy within, said Hawley, who is also the creative steward of FXs Fargo franchise.

That doesnt mean Legion takes itself too seriously. I was drawn to the genre because of the pure creative wonder you can find in it, Hawley said. We want the show to be fun.

But at the same time, it reflects real-life issues that are in the headlines every day. We live in a world where diversity and uniqueness and whether we fit in or dont fit in is on our minds 24/7, said Jeph Loeb, Marvels head of TV. The X-Men have never been more relevant than they are right now.

Making a series set in a Marvel world can be a complicated affair, particularly when the rights to the characters lie with Fox through a long-term license even though Disney has owned Marvel since 2009. Legion is co-produced by Marvel Television and FX Productions.

The fact that Im sitting here is an indication that bridges are being made, Loeb said. Marvel heroes at their core are people who are damaged, people that are trying to figure out who they are in life, and that doesnt matter whether theyre X-Men characters or Matt Murdock or Tony Stark or Peter Parker. Were much more interested in the person thats inside the mask than the mask or cape.

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That bridge might end up bringing the Legion characters into the X-Men cinematic world, or vice versa. But for now Hawley has a simpler goal: Hes been a fan of the X-Men world since he was a kid.

There are a lot of corporations with a lot of agendas, Hawley said. All we can do is make the best show possible.

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Chemnitz (Germany) (AFP) - German police were on Sunday hunting a Syrian man suspected of plotting a jihadist bomb attack, placing his flatmate under arrest and raiding a contact's home, after finding explosives in the fugitive's apartment.

Security was stepped up at airports, train stations and other critical infrastructure as it was unclear whether the chief suspect, Jaber Albakr, 22, was still in possession of bomb-making material or weapons.

"We do not know where he is and what he's carrying with him," police said on Twitter, advising citizens to "be careful".

Albakr was carrying a backpack, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) newspaper reported, when he narrowly escaped police commandos at dawn Saturday from his apartment building in the eastern city of Chemnitz, 260 kilometres (160 miles) south of Berlin.

Police on Sunday questioned Albakr's Syrian flatmate, who was formally remanded in custody as a suspected co-conspirator of a "serious act of violence", after he was detained the previous day.

Police commandos also raided the Chemnitz home of another suspected contact of Albakr, blasting open the door as they stormed the premises, and took away a man for questioning, a police spokeswoman told AFP. She stressed that the person was not Albakr.

Albakr was believed to have had internet contact with the Islamic State group, SZ reported.

According to security sources quoted, he had built "a virtual bomb-making lab" in the flat in a communist-era housing block and was thought to have planned an attack against either one of Berlin's two airports or a transport hub in his home state of Saxony.

- Narrow escape -

Controversy is growing about how Albakr was able to narrowly escape police as they prepared to arrest him around 7:00 am on Saturday.

Officers fired a warning shot when they saw the man, but he managed to get away, in what Spiegel labelled a possible "police failure".

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Police spokesman Tom Bernhardt rejected the criticism, saying officers had to be cautious because "it was unclear whether the man was carrying explosives and a detonator" and they had to worry about the safety of other residents.

Police later found several hundred grams of an "explosive substance more dangerous than TNT" hidden in the flat and said that "even a small quantity ... could have caused enormous damage".

Local media reported that the material was TATP, the homemade explosive that was used by jihadists in the Paris and Brussels attacks.

A bomb disposal squad destroyed it in a controlled blast just outside the building.

Police rounded up three of Albakr's suspected associates Saturday, including the flatmate who remains in custody. The other two have been let go.

Meanwhile, federal prosecutors in the western city of Karlsruhe have taken over the case against Albakr.

- Cross-border search -

A police spokesman said the search for Albakr has been extended "beyond the borders of Germany", with police in contact with their counterparts in other EU countries.

Spiegel said Albakr had entered Germany on February 18, 2015 and two weeks later filed a request for asylum, which was granted in June that year.

Police said they were following some 80 possible leads against the fugitive, who was shown in a wanted picture wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt.

In one false alarm on Sunday, police led a passenger who they thought resembled the suspect off a Eurowings jet about to take off from Berlin's Tegel airport.

Germany has been on edge since two IS-claimed attacks in July -- an axe rampage on a train in Wuerzburg that injured five, and a suicide bombing in Ansbach in which 15 people were hurt.

The bloodshed has fuelled concerns over Germany's record influx of nearly 900,000 refugees and migrants last year.

Heightening public fears, German police say they have foiled a number of attacks this year.

In late September, police arrested a 16-year-old Syrian refugee in Cologne on suspicion he was planning a bombing in the name of IS.

A week earlier, they detained three men with forged Syrian passports who were believed to be a possible IS "sleeper cell" with links to those behind the November Paris attacks.

German authorities have urged the public not to confuse migrants with "terrorists", but have acknowledged that more jihadists may have entered the country among the asylum seekers who arrived last year.
BAMAKO, Oct 9 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged more support to fight against drug and people smuggling from Mali, on the first day of a trip to Africa where she will try to work towards curbing future waves of migration and to repair her reputation at home.

She gave no details on what form the support would take.

Merkel, who has yet to declare if she will seek a fourth term as chancellor next year, has seen the popularity of her conservatives slump after her move last year to allow almost one million migrants - most from the Middle East - to enter Germany.

Mali is among the top 10 countries of origin for migrants arriving in Italy this year, the International Organization for Migration says, and smuggling routes for migrants from other parts of West Africa also cross its desert spaces.

Merkel, who visits Niger on Monday and Ethiopia on Tuesday, did not say whether Germany would also provide more helicopters for the United Nations' MINUSMA mission in Mali.

Germany has more than 500 soldiers in Mali.

Merkel said Germany would intensify its support for the agriculture sector as well as for the security of the northern part of the country, where Islamist groups are still active.

She told reporters after meeting President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita: "We have a strong interest in stabilising the country."

"We want to contribute to the stabilisation of Mali."

The Malian army is still largely absent from Mali's desert north despite a peace agreement signed last year that aimed to speed its return, placing great pressure on MINUSMA forces to keep roaming militias and Islamist militants at bay.

Merkel has described Africa, with its population of 1.2 billion, as "the central problem" in the migration issue, and last month said the EU needed to establish migrant deals with north African countries along the lines of a deal with Turkey.

Under a pact with the EU, Ankara has agreed to take back all migrants and refugees who cross the Aegean to enter Greece illegally, including Syrians.

Germany, France and Italy have said they want to develop particularly closer relationships with Niger and Mali, which they see as important partners in solving the migration issue.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke; Additional reporting by Emma Farge in DAKAR; Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Louise Ireland)
tesa (Shanghai) Trade Company, Ltd. Marketing Director Thomas Gassner

As one of the worlds leading producers of self-adhesive solutions for industry, trades, and consumers, tesa possesses more than 120 years of experience in coating technology. The company markets over 7,000 products and system solutions in over 100 countries around the world. tesa is one of the best-known consumer brands in Europe and a worldwide technology leader in the industrial field. tesafilm is even listed in the authoritative Duden dictionary of the German language. In 1995, tesa expanded its company footprint in Chinese mainland. By 1999, it had not only established an independent enterprise in Shanghai, but also become a domestic market leader in many application fields. tesa currently possesses branch offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Suzhou, Changchun, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In order to have a better understanding of tesa's operation in Greater China and its business development in the future, Thomas Gassner, Marketing Director of tesa Greater China, has agreed to be interviewed by Gasgoo.com.

Gasgoo:Many believe that the current market for automotive in China is influenced by heavy competition, with domestic sales falling short of expectations and exports still very low. Do you agree with this perspective?

Thomas Gassner :Of course, competition in the Chinese Automotive Market is fierce similar like in many other markets or countries in the world. But the Chinese market dynamics still offer additional opportunities to companies willing to invest. We would not agree that the domestic automotive sales are falling short. We believe that a market growth of around 5% is more sustainable than the growth rates we saw in the past. Currently the International JVs are strong but we see mid- to long-term growth from the domestic OEMs as well. Exports are low due to current capacity constraints with JVs in Greater China. This picture could change dramatically after all planned investments in new productions lines have been realized and led to the challenging situation of over-capacity in China.

Gasgoo:Industrial adhesive products developed by tesa are widely used in the production of automotive, electronics, household appliances, smart cards and other fields. What portion of tesa's overall market operations does the automotive industry operations? What goals does tesa have for the automotive market over the next two years?

Thomas Gassner :Due to its global footprint, Automotive business is one of the biggest and most important market segments of tesa worldwide. Our Chinese operation is influenced mainly by the strong growth of the electronics market but we see also excellent chances to develop our Chinese Automotive business over-proportional in the next 2 years.

Gasgoo:According to reports, 79 percent of tesa's global profits come from industry purchases, while the remaining 21 percent come from customers in the aftermarket. As far as the automotive industry in China is concerned, what are tesa's primary customers? How have the company's profits been over the first half of the year?

Thomas Gassner :We dont target every Automotive customer in China but have a strategic focus on global OEMs and OES. This makes sense as our global organizational set up matches very well with global players and their requirements. An additional approach in China is to bring the benefit of our global expertise to all successful local domestic OEMs. And by doing so, we achieved profitable growth in the first half of this year.

Gasgoo:Thanks to its high-quality products and comprehensive customer service, the value of tesa's products has been increasing globally. In regards to the automotive industry, what primary products do you supply for Chinese customers? When ensuring high product quality and supplying outstanding customer service, do you have any personal experiences or thoughts you would like to share?

Thomas Gassner :tesa offers a broad range of tape and process solutions within 4 different modules: Exterior, Interior, Body and Temporary Applications. Within these modules we cover applications like Attachment Part & Cable Mounting, Mirror Assembly, Hole Covering & Security Labeling, Permanent & Temporary Surface Protection or Design- & Paint-Masking.

We recognized in the last years that, beside a competitive price, factors like localization and reliable quality are getting more and more important for all OEMs in China. tesa is able to meet these requirements and is ready to serve more quality and brand focused customers.

Gasgoo:Following the establishment of the tesa Limited Company's Chinese headquarters in Shanghai, the company has since opened branches in Beijing, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Suzhou, Changchun, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Which of these locations are primarily focused on the automotive industry and what is the state of tesa's operations in the country? What steps is the company taking to further develop its industry operations in the country?

Thomas Gassner :Currently we have branch offices with automotive business in Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Changchun and Chongqing. We are developing and producing tapes in our plant in Suzhou. With strong network of local partners we are able to fulfill all logistic requirements of our OEM and OES customers  now and in the future. We are planning to invest in additional production capacity and in local R&D and Sales Resources to be prepared for future challenges in the demanding China market.

Gasgoo:tesa first entered mainland China in 1995. What prospects do you have for the company's development in the country? In regards to the automotive industry, what prospects do you have?

Thomas Gassner :tesa Greater China has been very successful in the past and there is no reason for us to expect something different from our future. We have established stable business and good relationships with strong customers in all market segments that we are focusing. Additionally the China market will continue to offer the unique combination of an attractive market size with comparable high and stable growth rates. By taking this in consideration it is tesas strategic target to invest over-proportional in its China operation and in product solutions that fit the local requirements. We see a bright future for tesas overall industrial business in China based on continued strong growth in the automotive market.
It was not immediately clear if the work train was stationary at the time.

By Reuters: A Long Island Rail Road passenger train derailed on Saturday near the community of New Hyde Park, New York, injuring as many as 29 people and halting service on the key transit line in both directions, railroad officials and police said.

Official details were not available on the precise circumstances of the incident, which occurred at about 9 p.m. local time (0100 GMT) when a passenger train struck a work train about 20 miles (32 km) east of Manhattan, according to police.

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It was not immediately clear if the work train was stationary at the time.

Also read:

One killed, 100 injured as passenger train rams into station in New Jersey



Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano told a news conference 29 people were treated in hospitals for non-life threatening injuries such as broken bones and concussions. Scores more were evaluated or treated at the scene for scrapes or bruises.

A statement from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, citing "early reports," put the number of injuries at 11, "none of which are considered to be serious."

HOW THE MISHAP HAPPENED

According to Cuomo, the 12-car train was heading eastbound on the railroad's main line carrying about 600 passengers when the first three cars derailed a half mile east of the New Hyde Park Station.

Photos from the scene of the wreck posted on social media showed at least two of the derailed train cars leaning upright but askew and partly off the track.

People riding on the train told local media they saw sparks or fire outside the windows after the train, which had been moving at a normal speed, began shaking mildly, then more violently before striking something and coming to a halt.

The New Hyde Park stop is just east of the border with the New York City borough of Queens. The rail line, one of the busiest commuter routes into America's largest city, said the derailment had forced suspension of service in both directions.

Saturday's accident on Long Island comes nine days after a passenger train crashed into a terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey, a major commuter route from New York City's western suburbs. That crash killed one person and injured more than 100.

Also read:

Odisha: 1 killed, 22 injured as passenger train rams into goods train at Cuttack railway station



--- ENDS ---
JEREMIE, Haiti (AP)  Survivors of Hurricane Matthew put on their Sunday finest and picked their way through downed power lines to sing praise and pray in ruined churches, while desperation grew in other parts of devastated Haiti and international rescue efforts began ramping up.

Haitian authorities were still unsure of the extent of the disaster, with some communities still cut off. But tens of thousands of homes were obliterated and the dead number in the hundreds.

Guillaume Silvera, a senior official with the Civil Protection Agency in the storm-blasted Grand-Anse Department, which includes Jeremie, said at least 522 deaths were confirmed there alone  not including people in several remote communities still cut off by collapsed roads and bridges.

National Civil Protection headquarters in Port-au-Prince, meanwhile, said Saturday its official count for the whole country was 336, which included 191 deaths in Grand-Anse.

Despite the loss, families packed what remained the citys churches, many seated in pews under open sky because Matthew ripped away roofs and even walls of the sanctuaries. At least one was so badly damaged that worshippers set up an altar and prayed outside.

Elise Pierre, who said she was about 80, said she believed it was a divine miracle that she and her loved ones survived.

If God wasnt protecting us wed all be gone today, blown into the ocean or up into the mountains, said Pierre, whose straw hat almost concealed a gash on her forehead she sustained when her sheet metal roof collapsed during the height of Matthews fury.

The sound of hammering could be heard on nearly every street in Jeremie, a city near the tip of Haitis southwest peninsula, as people patched their roofs as best as they could.

On one corner, Jameson Pierre was mixing cement and making them into blocks. The 22-year-old storm refugee whose family was stuck in an emergency shelter, saw at least one bright side.

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There will be lots and lots of jobs since so many homes were knocked down. Ive been working for the last three days straight, he said in the fierce morning sun. He said he was getting about a dollar a day.

The first two cargo planes of humanitarian aid from the United States arrived on Saturday at the Toussaint Louverture airport in the capital Port of Prince. US Ambassador, Peter Mulrean, said that three other planes are expected to arrive in the next few days with a total amount of 480 metric tons of humanitarian supplies.

But there were chokepoints in getting aid to the needy, including the fact that the airstrip in Jeremie is unable to accommodate large cargo planes, and only operates in the daytime.

Many of the villages in the southwestern peninsula are difficult to reach. And people are growing increasingly desperate after losing everything when the storm ripped through the area on Tuesday.

Dony St Germain, an official with El Shaddai Ministries International, said young men in villages off the road between the southern city of Les Cayes and Jeremie were starting to put up blockades of rocks and broken branches to halt the convoys.

They are seeing these convoys coming through with supplies and they arent stopping. They are hungry and thirsty and some are getting angry, said St. Germain.

Government officials estimate that at least 350,000 people need assistance, and concern was growing over an increase in cholera cases following widespread flooding unleashed by Matthew. An ongoing cholera outbreak has already killed roughly 10,000 people and sickened more than 800,000 since 2010, when the infectious disease was introduced into the countrys biggest river from a U.N. base where Nepalese peacekeepers were deployed.

Maria Sofia Sanon, a health worker overseeing the open-air cholera treatment center in a corner of Jeremies main hospital, said they were ill-equipped to deal with patients. The area was strewn with broken tree branches, and a group of young mothers sat outside holding up the arms of their glassy-eyed children being rehydrated via IVs.

Theyre not supposed to be in the sun, but we have no more beds, Sanon said.

The World Food Program says there has been massive destruction of crops. Hospitals and clinics have been damaged or destroyed as they struggle to deal with an increase in patients with injuries sustained during the storm as well as an apparent increase in cholera. UNICEF said that in Grand-Anse alone there were 66,000 houses destroyed and 20,000 heavily damaged.

Information gathered from various sources in the field suggests that the human toll (dead and injured) will be heavier than the current official figures, the agency said in a report.

Jocelyne Saint Preux was part of the crowd that lined up in an orderly fashion to get food as aid began to arrive, including shipments of food and other emergency supplies from the U.S. Agency for International Development carried by waves of military transport helicopters.

The mother of three children whose home was destroyed said officials were handing out wheat, beans, oil and salt.

Yes, they brought food, but its not sufficient, she said. Theres no water. Theres no charcoal.

__

Fox reported from Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Here's everyone and everything #MoreElectableThanTrump

It wasn't outright racism or tax troubles that finally caused Donald Trump's campaign to implode. Instead, it was a hot mic video, revealed by the Washington Post, which exposed the Republican presidential candidate talking crudely about sexual assault in 2005.

Since the video emerged Friday, rumors have been flying about whether the GOP would dump Trump from the ticket. As Mashable has reported, it's a near legal impossibility, but if they do manage to kick him to the curb, the internet has helpfully provided some suggestions about who and what could take up the mantle.

#MoreElectableThanTrump began trending Saturday. Almost any of these things could make some pretty decent policy decisions by comparison, probably.

Literally any of the Friends

A simple plank of wood

The famous beachball that kept Tom Hanks company

A minty candy that was already, bizarrely, forced to weigh in on the 2016 election

"Make America Grate Again"

This block of cheese is #moreelectablethantrump. (Bonus: The slogan doesn't need to change much, at all. Make America Grate Again.) pic.twitter.com/Q18RowNlNX  Frankp (@FrankJPaladino) October 8, 2016

A different type of orange dude

The infamous pizza rat. Both New Yorkers. Both grubby.

The bulbous Plumbus

The head of a dead president in a jar

Your old mate Clippy. So friendly. So cyber.

Trash, both on fire and not on fire

Cats. Any number of cats.

Or even this notorious party animal

How about it, GOP?
Clinton Women's Health 4x3

On Tuesday, November 8, Americans will have the chance to go to the polls and elect the next president of the US.

Women's health is usually a particularly divisive issue between Democrats and Republicans, but presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump actually agree on a few issues.

There are others that they split on completely, however.

Here's where Clinton stands on key issues, based on positions outlined on her campaign website and public statements.

Abortion

Clinton has come out strongly in support of reproductive rights and a woman's right to choose.

She secured the endorsement of Planned Parenthood during the primaries and has continued to gain the support of a slew of reproductive-rights groups, like NARAL, which is heavily involved in repealing anti-choice laws on the books and Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers or TRAP laws. TRAP laws have been criticized by pro-choice groups for imposing undue legal burdens on doctors and medical facilities that provide abortions.

Clinton has criticized Republicans for attempting to defund Planned Parenthood, noting that it "would restrict millions of womens access to critical health care services, like cancer screenings, contraception, and safe, legal abortion," according to her official campaign website.

"I am not only against defunding Planned Parenthood, but I would like to see Planned Parenthood even get more funding," Clinton told Fusion in January.

Clinton_Women's Health

She has also promised to work to repeal the Hyde amendment, which pro-choice activists criticize for restricting access to abortion for lower-income women.

And she expressed strong support for President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, which, among other things, "bans insurance companies from discriminating against women and guarantees more than 55 million women access to preventive care."

The vice presidential candidates discussed abortion at length during the debate Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence had on October 4.

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Kaine is personally pro-life, but said he would uphold the constitutional right women have to make their own choice to get an abortion if they need or want one.

"I think you should live your moral values. But the last thing, the very last thing that government should do is have laws that would punish women who make reproductive choices," Kaine said at the debate. "And that is the fundamental difference between a Clinton-Kaine ticket and a Trump-Pence ticket that wants to punish women who make that choice."

Sexual assault

Hillary Clinton

In the US, one out of five women will experience sexual assault in their lifetime. For women in the military, 85% of those assaults go unreported.

Clinton has proposed a number of ways to curb sexual assault, which include providing "comprehensive" support to survivors of sexual assault, like counseling and healthcare  both of which should remain confidential and cooperative. She has proposed reforming the criminal-justice system and reporting systems across college campuses to ensure that the process is smooth, transparent, and fair to victims of assault.

She also supports increasing sexual-violence-prevention programs across high schools and colleges to train students to identify and prevent sexual assault. Clinton has pointed to her previous work in curbing this issue, such as her support for the creation of the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women, her cosponsoring of the Violence Against Women Act in 2005, and her leadership on a UN resolution "that established guidelines for an international response to sexual assault in war-torn areas."

Paid family leave

Hillary Clinton

The US is the only developed country that doesn't guarantee paid family leave, and both candidates want to change that.

Clinton wants the federal government to require 12 weeks of family leave  for both mothers and fathers  to care for a new child or a sick family member, or to recover from a personal severe injury or illness. She plans to pay for the change by raising taxes on the very wealthy.

"It's clear that there are so many challenges facing young families today that we have to come to grips with, and we have to work together to try to find the best menu of options," Clinton said at a campaign event in July. "Because there is just no 'one-size-fits-all.' People have different needs."

NOW WATCH: 'Is abortion murder?'  Watch Trump's latest garbled response





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Trump Women's Health 4x3

On Tuesday, November 8, Americans will have the chance to go to the polls and elect the next president of the US.

Women's health is usually a particularly divisive issue between Democrats and Republicans, but presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump actually agree on a few issues.

There are others that they split on completely, however.

Here's where Trump stands on key issues, based on positions outlined on his campaign website and public statements.

Abortion

Trump has expressed a strong opposition to abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and when the mother's health is endangered.

At a Republican presidential debate in February, Trump acknowledged that Planned Parenthood "helps millions and millions of women" who go for services like breast and cervical-cancer screenings. However, he also said that he would defund it because a portion of its services go toward providing abortions.

The businessman has vacillated on his position on abortion in the past.

In 1999, he told NBC's Tim Russert that he was "very pro-choice," and said he would not ban late-term abortions if he were president. In 2000, he said he changed his mind and would support a ban on late-term abortions. In 2010, he told ABC's George Stephanopoulos that Stephanopoulos would "be very surprised" by his position on abortion; he did not elaborate.

In 2011, Trump came out as pro-life. In 2015, he said he was pro-life, with certain exceptions  in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother was at risk. In July of that year, he said he supported a 20-week ban. In March 2016, he told MSNBC's Chris Matthews that women who have abortions should face some sort of legal punishment, but quickly walked that claim back after facing backlash.

Trump_Womens Health

The vice presidential candidates discussed abortion at length during the debate Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence had on October 4.

Pence insisted that Trump did not want to punish women for having abortions, chalking it up to the fact that he's not a "polished politician" like Clinton. But he did reiterate their pro-life platform.

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"A society can be judged by how it deals with its most vulnerable, the aged, the infirm, the disabled, and the unborn. I believe it with all my heart," Pence said at the debate. "And I couldn't be more proud to be standing with a pro-life candidate in Donald Trump."

Sexual assault

Military sexual assault

In the US, one out of five women will experience sexual assault in their lifetime. For women in the military, 85% of those assaults go unreported.

Trump has not issued an official campaign statement on sexual abuse, but he has made a number of public remarks on the subject. In 2013, after the prevalence of sexual assault in the US military became a topic in the media, Trump issued a tweet that said, "26,000 unreported sexual assaults in the military-only 238 convictions. What did these geniuses expect when they put men & women together?"

NBC host Matt Lauer brought up the tweet at the Commander-in-Chief Forum September 7, and asked Trump if the only solution is to take women out of the military.

"It is a correct tweet. There are many people that think that that's absolutely correct," Trump said. "Not to kick them out, but something has to happen. Right now, part of the problem is nobody gets prosecuted."

Paid family leave

donald trump ivanka paid maternity family leave

The US is the only developed country that doesn't guarantee paid family leave, and both candidates want to change that. Trump even mentioned their consensus on the issue at the first presidential debate.

"As far as child care is concerned and so many other things, I think Hillary and I agree on that," Trump said. "We probably disagree a little bit as to numbers and amounts and what we're going to do, but perhaps we'll be talking about that later."

Trump proposes six weeks of guaranteed paid leave only for mothers who have just given birth. Women would get the same amount of money they would get if they were on unemployment benefits, which is less than their full salary. He wants to pay for it by eliminating fraud in unemployment insurance.

"Government policies are stuck in the past, and make already difficult choices regarding care arrangements even more difficult," Trump's campaign site reads."Outdated policies in many cases cause women to make choices that are not the best for either their families or the economy."

NOW WATCH: 'Is abortion murder?'  Watch Trump's latest garbled response





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PARIS (Reuters) - French President Francois Hollande said he was unsure whether to see his Russian counterpart when he visits Paris on Oct. 19 and condemned Vladimir Putin's "unacceptable" support for Syrian air strikes, in excerpts from a TV interview released on Sunday. Asked about the visit, Hollande told TF1 television he would "probably" receive Putin. "I'm still asking myself the question," he said. "Can we do anything that will make him stop what he is in the process of committing with the Syrian regime, which is supporting the bombing of Aleppo's population by its air forces?" Hollande said. The population of heavily bombarded eastern Aleppo "are today the victims of war crimes", the French president said. "Those who commit these acts will be held responsible, including before the International Criminal Court." The full interview is to be broadcast on Monday, TF1 said. (Reporting by Laurence Frost; Editing by Louise Ireland)
Port-Salut (Haiti) (AFP) - A week after being devastated by a hurricane, Haiti faces a growing cholera outbreak that threatens to turn its disaster even more deadly.

In Port Salut, a smashed-up town on Haiti's southern peninsula that was among those that bore the brunt of Hurricane Matthew -- the Caribbean's most powerful storm in a nearly decade -- fears are rising.

The town's sole hospital on Sunday recorded its first death from the disease, a man of undisclosed age.

Another nine patients brought in within the past two days are being treated for the illness, which is caught from contaminated water.

Other cholera deaths have been reported in different parts of southern Haiti.

The outbreak is especially alarming for this destitute tropical nation. In the wake of a catastrophic earthquake in 2010, cholera was inadvertently introduced by UN peacekeepers and went on to kill around 10,000 people.

Civil defense officials have put the death toll from the hurricane itself at 336, although some officials said it topped 400.

- 'Fatal danger' -

Dr. Stevenson Desravines, the director of the Port Salut hospital, told AFP that cholera was rapidly becoming a "fatal danger" for the town and surrounding area.

"It's something that is starting," he said, adding that his facility lacked personnel, medicine and equipment to tackle that and other health problems.

"Since the storm, we are receiving around 100 patients a day, with 85 percent from storm-related injuries," mainly broken bones, bleeding and concussions from falling trees, roofs and other objects, he said.

The remainder had other, regular illnesses such as asthma and high blood pressure.

Before the cholera death, the hospital had registered three patients deceased from their injuries sustained last Tuesday when the storm struck with tremendous fury.

The hospital, standing intact on a street of destroyed and damaged houses and fallen trees, has a staff of 55 -- a third of them Cuban, who are operating under a years-old cooperation agreement.

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One of the Cuban personnel, who declined to be identified because he wasn't authorized to speak to media, said storm-related injuries were currently the health priority for his team.

There were very few cholera cases right now, relatively, he said.

But after he spoke the cholera death occurred in the hospital, galvanizing staff and focusing attention on the new threat.

AFP journalists saw the covered body of the deceased patient in a hospital room, and Desravines confirmed the death was from the disease.

Outside, sheltering in the shade from the bright sun, another cholera-afflicted patient, a weak-looking woman, received fluid intravenously.

Inside and outside the hospital, used soda bottles filled with diluted chlorine hung from handrails, encouraging staff, patients and visitors to regularly disinfect their hands to avoid catching the disease.

A sign pointed those with suspected cholera to use a separate entrance.

Desravines said that so far he had received no help from the United Nations or other aid organizations in the country.

"We are waiting for more personnel, more supplies, including intravenous bags, medicines and cleaning products," he said.
By PTI: Lodhi claimed the Kashmiris have risen again in unison

Lodhi claimed the Kashmiris have risen again in unison against occupation through the "ongoing indigenous uprising".

She alleged that Indian forces have injured thousands of Kashmiris, calling it "the worst form of state terrorism and a war crime, which India has perpetrated by its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir for decades".

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Lodhi said the UN has a moral responsibility to people suffering under colonial domination and foreign occupation.

"There is an urgent need to bring the work on this unfinished agenda to closure and eliminate the last remaining vestiges of colonialism. We hope that we will be able to achieve this shared goal sooner rather than later," she said. PTI YAS KUN

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Jacksonville (AFP) - Matthew and Margo Tobin took in a tiny dog named Star from an animal shelter when Hurricane Matthew was barreling down on northeastern Florida.

But this Sunday, when it was time to give her up, they found it hard to let her go.

"I'm not sure we are returning her... we'll see how the next few days go," said Matthew Tobin, petting the little mixed terrier.

On Wednesday, when Hurricane Matthew was approaching the coast, authorities ordered the evacuation of some million people, about half of them in the Jacksonville area.

Some crisis shelters accepted pets, as long as they were accompanied by their owners. But orphaned animals were not welcome.

The Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS), a pet rescue and adoption center, put out a call to the public asking for temporary shelter for about 200 dogs and cats.

People responded. Before Matthew arrived Friday, hugging the coast with Category 3 sustained winds near 120 miles (195 kilometers) per hour, all the animals were ensconced in temporary homes.

Braving winds and rain, people took time -- while also scrambling to find gasoline and food, water and other supplies ahead of the hurricane -- to pick up one or more animals at the center and provide it a home for a few days.

The storm was long-gone Sunday. The sky was blue and city workers cleaned up debris and fallen tree branches from the streets. Authorities were still working to restore power to about 1,000 customers.

And the sheltered animals' foster parents were supposed to be giving them back. But that was not so easy.

Nine-year-old Scarlett Banks sadly hugged six kittens on a sheet that was their home for three days, wanting to keep them.

"She won't let me," the little girl said, referring to her mother.

But other animals had better luck. A cat named Lark, missing one eye and blind in the other, is staying because his foster parents think it will be difficult to find him a forever home.

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JHS workers were busy filling out paperwork for numerous unexpected adoptions.

Lindsay Layendecker, the center's manager, is not at all surprised that people put all their plans on hold to make time to help an abandoned animal.

"When we heard the hurricane was coming and we knew we absolutely had to get them out, we knew instantly we could rely on Jacksonville's community," she told AFP.

Layendecker said that some people came from the neighboring state of Georgia, driving more than an hour to temporarily adopt a pet.

The shelter was emptied of animals and some people who showed up had to be turned away with empty arms.

- 'A great experience' -

Layendecker was not surprised that some foster parents couldn't part with their new furry friends.

"They chose to adopt because they took them home and they saw how well it went for their families and it was a great experience," she said.

Hurricane Matthew clobbered the Atlantic coast of Florida late Friday and move northward as a weakened storm to the states of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, leaving a US death toll of at least 17.

The tropical storm, which became a hurricane on September 29, barreled through the Caribbean before lashing the United States.

It hit Colombia, Jamaica, Cuba, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, where it wreaked the worst devastation and left hundreds dead, with the death toll officially at least 336 and expected to rise.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund said on Sunday it is still fully engaged in talks to join the Greek bailout program and has not yet decided on what role it will take.

The IMF's comment came after two sources with direct knowledge of the Greek bailout talks told Reuters on Saturday that negotiations for the fund to commit financial resources to the program are making little headway and the IMF likely would accept a special advisory status with limited powers.

"We remain fully engaged, with the aim of reaching agreement on a program that the fund can support with a new arrangement, as requested by the authorities," IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said in an emailed statement on Sunday. "In this regard a mission team will visit Athens soon."

Poul Thomsen, the IMF's European Department director, said on Friday an IMF team would visit Athens in about a week or two to discuss a new program.

The IMF has been holding out for more than a year over the terms under which it would participate in any new Greek bailout, arguing that the fiscal targets set in the European bailout are unrealistic without major debt relief for Greece.

The sources told Reuters the IMF is increasingly resigned to European resistance to further Greek debt relief and is now in talks to accept a newly created role that would keep it at the table and let it play a part with limited formality.

The sources said the exact nature of the IMF's role has not been decided. Under the proposed special advisory role, it would have more powers than a simple adviser but would not be doing the regular monitoring that comes with a formal role, they said, adding that this would maintain IMF involvement while effectively sidestepping the issue of debt relief.

A spokesman for the European Commission declined to comment on the matter.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble told reporters on Saturday that he was confident the IMF would take part in the Greek program. Schaeuble, however, has resisted further debt relief for Greece and has insisted that Greece's fiscal problems are not the result of an unsustainable debt level, but because the country's economy needs to regain its competitiveness and begin growing again.

(Reporting by Balazs Koranyi and David Lawder; Editing by Bill Trott)
By Alister Doyle and Valerie Volcovici OSLO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - India will face pressure to speed up its plans for cutting greenhouse gases used in refrigerators, air conditioning and aerosols when governments meet this week to hammer out what would be a third key deal to limit climate change in a month. About 150 nations meet in Rwanda, from Oct. 10-14 to try to agree a phase down of factory-made hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gases. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will be among those attending. A quick phase-down of HFCs could be a big contribution to slow climate change, avoiding perhaps 0.5 degree Celsius (0.9 Fahrenheit) of a projected rise in average temperatures by 2100, scientists say. But India wants a peak in poor nations' rising emissions only in 2031, to give industries time to adapt. More than 100 other nations including the United States, the European Union and African states, favor a peak in 2021. "It really does matter how early the agreement kicks in," said Jake Schmidt, of the U.S. Natural Resources Defense Council, which reckons India's proposal would add the equivalent of almost a year of global carbon emissions to the atmosphere. "We must get enough time before the phasing out period starts. We are very clear," Indian Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave said on Oct. 1, according to the Times of India. Use of HFCs, which can be 10,000 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as greenhouse gases, is already declining in many rich nations. An HFC accord would be the third big step this month to curb global warming after the 2015 Paris Agreement for a global shift from fossil fuels gained enough backing to enter into force and governments agreed a deal to limit emissions from aviation. President Barack Obama, hailing the Paris Agreement at the White House last week, said HFCs and aviation would also help "build a world that is safer and more prosperous and more secure". The U.S. president has been keen to secure global climate agreements, meant to limit rising sea levels, droughts, floods and heatwaves, as part of his legacy. Last month, 16 governments including the United States, Japan and Germany and private donors such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates agreed an $80 million fund to help an early phase down of HFCs, hoping to persuade developing nations to sign up. Many industries are already moving. "Unlikely as it may seem, a global HFC phase-down is backed both by leading environmental groups and the industry that makes and uses these chemicals," said Frank Maisano, of the U.S. Air-conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute which represents companies such as Carrier Corp or Honeywell. "We and many others in the industry have started to phase out HFCs. But the process is not completed," said Daniel Frykholm, spokesman for Sweden's Electrolux which wants to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 from 2005 levels. The HFC talks are part of the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which succeeded in cutting the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to help protect the ozone layer, which shields the planet from ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer. But the HFCs that have often replaced them, while better for the ozone layer, are powerful greenhouse gases. (Reporting By Alister Doyle; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The oil ministers of Iran and Iraq will not attend informal talks between OPEC and non-OPEC producers in Turkey this week, sources familiar with the matter said on Sunday.

OPEC sources and the Russian energy minister had said on Thursday that ministers from the two countries would be among representatives of OPEC states at the meeting in Istanbul, which is hosting the World Energy Congress.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed on Sept. 28 a deal to limit crude production and is looking to secure the cooperation of non-OPEC members such as Russia to help support oil prices.

The meeting in Istanbul is expected to be more bilateral gatherings rather than one single meeting of both OPEC and non-OPEC states, one OPEC source said on Sunday, dismissing prospects of any decisions being taken in the Turkish city.

Energy ministers who will be present in Istanbul as it hosts the congress include those of the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Venezuela and Qatar, which holds the OPEC presidency.

The agreement reached in Algiers is expected to be implemented this year and OPEC ministers will next meet in Vienna on Nov. 30 to set the group's supply policy.

(Reporting by Parisa Hafezi and Rania El Gamal; Writing by Daren Butler; editing by John Stonestreet)
Sleepy Hollow goes into its fourth season after some major changes that essentially constitute a soft reboot, but though nearly the entire cast has been revamped and the premise somewhat adjusted, a familiar face will be returning to the Fox show: John Noble, who played Henry Parrish/Jeremy Crane/The Horseman of War in the first and second seasons.

No details on how Henry Parrishs return is possible  the character was killed off at the end of season 2  but Noble was revealed at the end of a still-unreleased season 4 sizzle reel showed to fans attending the shows New York Comic-Con panel that brought the convention to a close this afternoon.

In attendance for the panel were stars Tom Mison (Ichabod Crane), Lyndie Greenwood (Jenny Mills), Janina Gavankar (Diana Thomas), and Jeremy Davies (Malcolm Dreyfuss), as well as Executive Producers Len Wiseman, Albert Kim, and Raven Metzner.

In what might have been a response to the fan controversy over the death of Abbie Mills and the departure of her actress, Nicole Beharie at the end of season three, the producers were careful to make it clear that despite the changes, the show is getting back to basics in many ways. What is important, said Kim, is that that we stay true to what the spirit of the show was. That means everything we thought was important the humor, the horror, and other elements underpinning the supernatural series.

Part of that will come through new character Diana Thomas played by Gavankar. As the producers put it, shes there in part to bring back to be sort of the grounding force to reintroduce this idea of how weird this universe is.

Gavankar also talked at length about how her character came together. Were all very complex people and we dont have to constantly talk about their race, she said about her character, an Indian-American single mother. However, Gavankar did want to represent the vast diversity of the Indian community worldwide, which influenced how her characters name came about. There are over a billion Indians on this planet, we have a diverse set of last names. And since were talking about biblical histories, it would be interesting to make this girl Christian. Noting that there are millions of Indian Christians, Gavankar said we changed her last name to [give] her a very Indian Christian last name.

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Among the panels other highlights:

* At the start, Lost and Ant-Man star Evangeline Lily came out on stage with the cast of Sleepy Hollow. It wasnt a reveal that shes joining the show, however, as Lily was there only to show support for my good friend Jeremy, meaning Davies, with whom she appeared on Lost.

* It was announced that Benjamin Banneker will be a character on the show. A freeborn African American almanac author, surveyor, naturalist and farmer, Banneker was an important but oft-forgotten figure of the Revolutionary War period who was part of the survey team that helped create Washington, D.C., opposed slavery, and corresponded with Thomas Jefferson on the subject. Hell appear in the shows flashback scenes.

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Gary Johnsons steady stream of bone-headed comments appears to be catching up with him as the Libertarian Party nominee has begun to seriously falter in the polls.

Johnson, the former businessman and two-term Republican governor of New Mexico, had set off alarm bells in the Clinton campaign as he drained support away from Democratic presidential nominee. His support had grown among independents, young people and disenchanted Democrats and Republicans looking for an alternative to Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Related: Johnson Says the GOP and Democrats Are Dinosaurs Headed for Extinction

Although he has consistently fallen well short of the 15-percent threshold in average national polling needed to take part in the nationally televised presidential debates, Johnson has loomed as a spoiler, especially in a few battleground states that Clinton must carry to defeat Trump in November.

But Johnsons third-party mini-surge began to subside after a remarkable recent string of verbal blunders, including his inability to identify Syrias war torn city of Aleppo, his confusion over the details of terrorist attacks in the U.S., and his failure to name a single foreign leader he admires without prompting.

On Friday, a new Quinnipiac University national poll showed Johnson falling further behind, while Clinton  still beaming from her thumping of Trump in the first presidential debate two weeks ago  claimed a five-point lead over Trump, 45 percent to 40 percent. Johnson attracted just six percent of likely voters, barely ahead of Green Party nominee Jill Stein with three percent.

The latest polling results confirms a continued turn around in the race in favor of Clinton since shortly before the first presidential debate in mid-September when Clinton and Trump were virtually deadlocked. Trump led 42 percent to 35 percent among independent voters, while Johnson was attracting 15 percent in Quinnipiacs survey in September. Now the tables have turned and Clinton leads Trump among independents, 46 percent to 32 percent, while Johnsons support among the unaligned voting bloc dropped to just 10 percent.

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The biggest shift is among independent voters, according to the Quinnipiac analysis. Meanwhile, Republicans back Trump 87 percent to five percent while Democrats back Clinton, 89 percent to three percent.

Related: Abolish Social Security? Gary Johnson's Libertarian Party Gets a Closer Look

Post-debate, Hillary Clinton checks all the boxes, said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, in a statement. With her base of women and non-white voters now solidly behind her, and independent voters moving into her column, Donald Trump gets a wake-up call. "The Indies are leaving in droves. Can Trump make a come-back in Sunday's debate or will Clinton score another W?"

Johnsons success alarmed many Democrats who feared a reprise of the 2000 election, when consumer advocate Ralph Nader ran as the Green Party nominee and proved a factor in helping Republican George W. Bush defeat Democratic Vice President Al Gore in the general election. Johnson is on track to vastly exceed his showing in the 2012 campaign when he received barely one percent of the vote. This time around, he is currently polling at about 7 percent nationally. But he is doing better in a small handful of swing states, including Ohio, and could influence the outcome in the states, one way or another.

Clinton has benefitted from Johnsons verbal missteps and decline, and she has nearly doubled her lead over Trump in the RealClearPolitics average over the past three weeks. According to the latest compilation, Clinton is leading Trump nationally by an average of 44.1 percent to 40.9 percent, with Johnson at 6.5 percent and Stein at 2.3 percent. Trump, meanwhile, has been hit with a series of controversies, including his failed business deals, the likelihood he hasnt paid federal income taxes in over 18 years and his unflattering and vulgar sexual comments about women.

Related: Libertarian Gary Johnson Scores a Major Victory in His White House Bid

If he fails to bounce back against Clinton in tonights second presidential debate, the race may well be over  regardless of how well or poorly Johnson ultimately performs.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Jon Voight, who endorsed Donald Trump last spring, is defending the GOP nominee and lashing out at actor Robert De Niro for saying hed like to punch Trump in the face.

Voight wrote on Twitter that Trumps lewd remarks in a 2005 audio conversation with Access Hollywood host Billy Bush were common among young males. I dont know of too many men who havent expressed some sort of similar sexual terms toward women, especially in their younger years, he wrote.

He continued, Donald Trumps words were not as damaging as Robert DeNiros ugly rant. Trumps words did not hurt anyone. Can you imagine if any Republican said words like Robert DeNiro used  against Hilary Clinton or Barack Obama? All hell would break loose. I am calling for all Trump supporters to express their outrage and anger against DeNiro and all of the Republican turncoats against Trump. Let Donald Trump know we are completely behind him, and may God give him the strength to continue his calling.

Trump is 70, and the Access Hollywood recording was made when he was 59.

De Niro appeared in a video, released on Friday, in which he lashed out at Trump. His video was shot before the release of the 2005 Access Hollywood recording as part of a get-out-the-vote project.

Voight said that he was so ashamed of my fellow actor Bobby DeNiros rant against Donald Trump. What foul words he used against a presidential nominee, who has worked harder then any other man I know in the past year and a half to get a good message to the American people.

Voight did not attend the Republican National Convention in July because of a production scheduling conflict, but he did narrate a biographical video about Trump.

Another Trump supporter who spoke at the convention, Scott Baio, also defended Trump , writing I believe every Liberal should give @realDonaldTrump a pass. 11 years ago he was a Democrat. He went on to slam Bill Clinton for his sexual indiscretions.

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By PTI: From M Zulqernain

Lahore, Oct 8 (PTI) A lawmaker from Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs party has questioned the government over its continued patronage to JuD chief and mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack Hafiz Saeed, describing it as a reason for international isolation of the country.

"Which eggs is Hafiz Saeed laying for us that we are nurturing him? The efficacy of our foreign policy speaks for itself when we could not curtail Hafiz Saeed," PML-N parliamentarian Rana Muhammad Afzal said during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

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"India has built such a case against us about the JuD chief that during the meeting on Kashmir, foreign delegates mention Saeed as the bone of contention between Pakistan and India," Afzal said.

He recalled his recent trip to France, where he had been tasked to explain the worsening situation in Kashmir and said that the name of Saeed was brought up time and again by foreign delegates as he is considered a notorious character in international circles.

Furious over Afzals remarks, Saeed asked Sharif to take action against such people in the ruling party.

"I caution Nawaz Sharif to be aware of his foolish friends who are hurting the Kashmir cause. They must have some hidden agenda which the premier should dig out," Saeed said in response.

He said such elements are trying to create differences between the Pakistan army and the civilian government and this will be very dangerous for the country.

Saeed also asked the prime minister to give extension to Army Chief General Raheel Sharif who is retiring next month. PTI MZ NSA

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Jon Hamm, Gal Gadot, Isla Fisher and Zach Galifianakis reunited on Saturday as Fox brought Oktoberfest to Los Angles to celebrate Keeping Up With the Joneses.

The film stars Gadot and Hamm as two undercover spies who move in next door to a boring couple played by Galifianakis and Fisher.

"It was always who was going to make whom laugh first, who is going to have the best punchline, who is going to break the take because they burst out laughing," Gadot told The Hollywood Reporter.

While Hamm plays a spy who is trying to save the day in the film, he revealed to THR that he once saved the life of his real-life neighbor offscreen. "My neighbor here in L.A., one weekend I heard this ruckus next door, and I looked over this wall, and he had fallen off of a ladder and thrown his head onto the driveway and was bleeding all the way down the driveway. It's this 90-year-old man. I was like, 'What happened!'"

And that's when Hamm kicked it into hero high-gear. "I just [jumped] over the thing and I'm thinking, 'Cub scouts, what do you do?' I got him untangled from the ladder and all of the tree branches off of him, and I undid his collar and I put some stuff on his head to put pressure on it," he said. "He didn't speak English so I was having a hard time explaining to him, 'Breathe, breathe, breathe.' And the ambulance came and took him away. He was fine, thank god, but it was terrifying. I have very good relationships with my neighbors. They like me a lot."

Read more: 'Keeping Up With the Joneses' Trailer: Spying Couples Face off in Jon Hamm, Gal Gadot-Starring Action Comedy

While Hamm gets the approval from his neighbors (after saving a life), his co-star Isla Fisher told THR she is idolizing one of hers. "I actually live next door to Eric Idle! Growing up I was just the biggest Monty Python fan, and I remember he once sang, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" and it was just an epic moment in neighbor history!"

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The film is one for everyone, Hamm told THR, "The good thing about this film is there's really something for everyone. It's a family film. You can bring your kids, you can bring your cousins, nieces and nephews. It's not like, 'Earmuffs! You can't see that!"

And such comic relief seems to be a needed distraction from the 2016 presidential election. Hamm opened up about Trump's recent offensive comments against women: "There's nothing to say. It's unbelievable. I can't at this point understand it." And what does Wonder Woman herself, Gal Gadot, think of Trump? With a smile Gadot joked to THR, "Who?"

Also in attendance at the premiere was the film's director, Greg Mottola, Fisher's husband Sacha Baron Cohen, Martin Short, Larry David, Jack McBrayer, Maribeth Monroe and Matt Walsh.

Keeping Up With the Joneses hits theaters Oct. 21.
Kosovska Mitrovica (Kosovo) (AFP) - Kosovo Serbs on Sunday said they would boycott both parliament and government over Pristina's decision to transform mining conglomerate Trepca into a state company, a Serb minister said.

A bill adopted on Saturday gave the government an 80 percent stake in the Trepca mine complex.

But Serbs claim that Trepca, in the Mitrovica area, is Serbian property, arguing that Belgrade invested in it while Kosovo was its southern province and opposed the company's transformation.

"Following this wrong decision... we decided to freeze our posts," Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister, Serb Branimir Stojanovic told AFP.

"It is unacceptable that our voice was not heard nor taken into account when the draft was debated in government. We expect a minimum of consensus in our cooperation with the government on all important things, which now is not the case," Stojanovic said.

Kosovo Serbs are part of ruling coalition and without their cooperation the government does not have the two-thirds majority needed for decisions necessary for the territory's integration into the European Union.

The Trepca industrial complex was one of the biggest companies in the former Yugoslavia employing more than 20,000 workers in 40 lead, zinc and silver mines and factories.

Nowadays it employs only a few thousand people and comprises only seven lead and zinc mines, three concentrators, one smelter and one zinc plant.

Control over the resource-rich Trepca mines has been a bone of contention between Kosovo's rival Albanian and Serb ethnic communities since the end of the 1998-1999 war.

The ethnic Albanian majority proclaimed independence from Serbia in 2008. More than 100 countries have since recognised Kosovo, but not Serbia nor its ally Russia.

Since 2011 Belgrade and Pristina have been negotiating under EU auspices to improve their ties, but a number of issues remain unresolved, including disputed state property and an international telephone code for Kosovo.
TOKYO (AP) -- Nick Kyrgios claimed his third, and biggest, title of the year, when rallying to beat David Goffin at the Rakuten Japan Open on Sunday.

The big-serving Australian won a tight match, in which there were only three breaks, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Goffin was left to rue five spurned break points in the third game of the second set, when he had Kyrgios 0-40. Kyrgios held, with the help of three aces, then broke in the next game.

The Kyrgios serve proved crucial, as he fired 21 of his 25 aces in the final two sets.

In contrast, Goffin's serve fell apart in the third set, when he double-faulted six times.

Fittingly, Kyrgios served an ace down the middle to take the title.

''In the first set he was not serving like he did in the second and the third,'' said Goffin. ''Then he was serving at 215kph with a lot of precision. I had to be solid on my serve and wait for my opportunity. I didn't take it.

''He tried to go big on the second serve because he didn't want to play a lot of rallies. He knew if he wanted to win he had to serve well, and that's what he did. That's his best weapon.''

Both had plenty of opportunities to seize control of the match. Goffin took only one of his 12 break points, and Kyrgios two out of 13.

''It was physically pretty tough, we had a lot of long rallies,'' said Kyrgios. ''The way I returned today got me a lot of break points. If one of us had taken more of their break points it would have made it a lot easier for both of us. There was just a couple of points in it.''

Marcel Granollers, of Spain, and Poland's Marcin Matkowski, beat the second-seeded Raven Klaasen, of South Africa, and American Rajeev Ram, 6-2, 7-6 (4) in the doubles final.
ATHENS (Reuters) - The last survivor from the right-wing junta that staged Greece's 1967 military coup and ruled for seven years has died at the age of 103, the state-run Athens News Agency reported on Sunday. Born on the island of Crete, Stylianos Pattakos was a brigadier general who commanded armored tank forces when he took part in the April 21, 1967 coup led by Colonel George Papadopoulos. Pattakos's tanks were pivotal in the junta's seizure of the capital Athens. He served as interior minister as well as first deputy prime minister. After democracy was restored in 1974, Pattakos and Papadopoulos were arrested and sentenced to death. Their sentences were later commuted to life imprisonment. Pattakos was released in 1990 for health reasons. He remained unrepentant to his death on Saturday, insisting that the coup had saved Greece from communism. Papadopoulos, who refused to seek his own release, died in prison in 1999. (Reporting by George Georgiopoulos; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Vilnius (AFP) - Lithuania's leftwing government was struggling to survive Sunday in round one of a general election, with voters bitter over economic inequality and mass emigration from the Baltic eurozone state.

Official results expected early Monday could deal a blow to Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius's Social Democrats ahead of the decisive October 23 run-off round.

No exit polls were issued after the close of voting at 1700 GMT. The election commission tallied turnout at 50 percent of the 2.5 million eligible voters.

Five to eight parties are expected to enter parliament, signalling complicated coalition talks.

Vilnius university analyst Mazvydas Jastramskis told AFP Sunday he expected those talks to get into full swing between the two rounds, but no coalition deal was likely to be sealed before the final vote.

A pre-election opinion survey by local pollsters Spinter Tyrimai showed two parties running close behind Butkevicius's leftists, which have 15.6 percent support.

The farmer-backed centrist Lithuanian Peasant and Green's Union (LPGU) led by popular former national police chief Saulius Skvernelis would take 14 percent.

Analysts point to him and his party as potential kingmakers in coalition talks.

"We're talking with everyone, and after the first round more specific talks could start," Skvernelis told reporters after voting in Vilnius.

The conservative Homeland Union enjoyed 13.7 percent backing in the pre-election survey.

Its leader Gabrielius Landsbergis, 34, has said he is keen to forge a coalition with the LPGU and analysts tip him as a favourite for prime minister.

"The core of the coalition can be either LGPU with Social Democrats, or LGPU with conservatives and liberals. Today, I would bet on the latter," analyst Jastramskis said.

- 'Reduce emigration' -

Wage growth and job creation have been key rallying calls for candidates in the country of 2.9 million people, plagued by an exodus of workers seeking higher wages.

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Since Lithuania joined the EU in 2004, nearly half the estimated 370,000 people who have left went to Britain, where concern over eastern European immigration was seen as a key factor in the Brexit vote to leave the bloc.

Butkevicius, 57, has promised further hikes in the minimum wage and public sector salaries, but a new labour law which makes it easier to hire and fire employees could eat away his party's slim lead.

Voting in Vilnius Sunday, Butkevicius vowed to "live up to expectations" if his party wins.

But President Dalia Grybauskaite has said she voted "for changes" in an apparent swipe at him.

Presenting himself as the face of change, Landsbergis has vowed to fight emigration and poverty by creating jobs, reforming education, boosting exports and foreign investment.

Lithuania's economy staged a remarkable recovery after taking a nosedive during the 2008-9 global financial crisis, and is slated to grow by 2.5 percent this year.

But average monthly wages of just over 600 euros ($670) after taxes are among the EU's lowest, while inequality and poverty remains comparatively high.

"The most important thing is to reduce emigration," Vilnius pensioner Danute Tonkuniene told AFP after voting for Landsbergis.

"Though all of my grandchildren are in Lithuania, I don't want them to leave."

- 'New faces' -

Public sector employee Dale Adasiune said she voted for "new faces" from the LPGU.

"I returned from Spain four years ago and I don't want to leave again. I found a job, engaged in volunteer work, but if nothing changes, I'll leave again," she told AFP.

Vilnius pensioner Jonas, who declined to reveal his surname, also chose the LPGU saying he had been won over by party leader Skvernelis.

"I used to vote for the Social Democrats, but they've disappointed me," he said.

Skvernelis, the 46-year-old ex-police chief popular for clobbering corruption in the force, has become a hot political commodity since taking up politics two years ago.

Russia's latest deployment of nuclear-capable Iskander missiles to its neighbouring Kaliningrad exclave jangled nerves just a day ahead of the vote.

But the reassurance provided by NATO's beefed up presence in the Baltic state -- a move that all major parties endorse -- means that voters are more worried about their wallets than security.

Seventy lawmakers were elected Sunday by proportional representation from party lists, while another 71 will be elected in single-member constituencies in the decisive run-off in two weeks.
We live in very tumultuous times, things are polarizing and there is a lot of intolerance, said Noah Hawley today at the Legion panel at New York Comic-Con. This isnt about battling the enemy but dealing with the enemy within, he added of the tormented Dan Stevens-played character of David Haller AKA Legion. It will make you laugh and make you cry, said Marvel TV boss Jeph Loeb of Legion, in praising the efforts of Hawley and cast and crew of the show.

jemaine clement june 2016

In a panel that included a screening of the first half of the Legion pilot, Hawley also revealed on Sunday via Twitter from the stage that Jemaine Clement will be joining the first season of the show. While no details were given about the role the Flight of the Conchords co-star will play, Ive learned it is a multi-episode arc for the actor. No premiere date was announced today but Legion is set to debut in 2017 on FX.

Besides the Fargo EP and Loeb, Sundays much anticipated panel at a near full Hammerstein Ballroom included fellow EP Lauren Shuler Donner and Downton Abbey alum Stevens. Also onstage were cast members Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza, Katie Aselton, Jeremie Harris, Bill Irwin and Amber Midthunder.

Based on a multi-powered and multi-personality character from The X-Men comics, which Hawley today called his book growing up, Stevens David Haller/Legion has been diagnosed as schizophrenic for the voices and more he hears and sees. Set in an alternative universe from the Marvel franchise, Stevens character has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years but an encounter with a new fellow patient reveals the diagnosis might have been a bit limited, to put it gently.

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I wanted it to feel like a 1964 Terrence Stamp movie, Hawley said of the look and feel of the show on the panel.

To that point, before Hawley and the rest of the Legion gang came on stage, the crowd was shown the first 25-minutes of the Legion pilot. Highly stylized, the episode started with the Who tune Happy Jack playing on the soundtrack as a highly stylized sequence showed the idealized suburban life of mutant David Haller, with scenes of a prom gone wrong, street rioting, early manifestations of his powers and the institutionalization of the character due to a mental health diagnosis.

As seen in the trailer released at San Diego Comic-Con, Stevens was dressed in a retro-style tracksuit while being visited by the Katie Aselton-played Amy, his older sister, hanging out in the main room of the facility with a rough looking junkie Lenny (Aubrey Plaza) and the introduction of Syd (Rachel Keller) on to the ward. Do you want to be my girlfriend, he asked her at a group session. OK but dont touch me, Syd replies to his surprise. Why are the hot ones always crazy? Lenny whispers in Davids ear after he and Syd arrange to have dinner that night. Over that and flashbacks to Davids younger years, the Rolling Stones Shes A Rainbow perfectly played on the soundtrack  so we know three things for sure abut Legion, it looks great, has top notch pacing and a killer choice of music. This show should feel like Dark Side of the Moon, Hawley told the crowd of the classic Pink Floyd album, which he sees as the soundtrack of mental illness. And Yes, Hallers powers and, in the Marvel tradition, his acceptance of them are full of conflicts.

A subsequent one-on-one therapy scene, parts of which were seen in the SDCC trailer, postulates that everything that happened before was an illusion. We also learned that a lover of Hallers was killed and the now heavily medicated character tried to hang himself before being institutionalized. In the narrative packed preview, the audience was shown that the facility Haller is being held in is a revamped high school being run by the military and high level government officials. Or, as one of those officials says, Heller may be the most powerful mutant that weve ever encountered,

At the end of the preview, the crowd in the 34th Street venue went crazy.

New York Comic-Con wraps up today.

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Suzuka (Japan) (AFP) - Nico Rosberg warned that Lewis Hamilton was still capable of fighting back to retain his Formula One title despite dealing his British rival a crushing blow in Japan on Sunday.

The German roared to victory at Suzuka with Hamilton trailing in third, stretching his cushion to 33 points with just four races left this season.

Hamilton complained he had been the victim of sabotage after suffering an engine fire in Malasyia last weekend, ruffling feathers in the Mercedes garage.

He then snubbed media in Japan after being criticised for fiddling with his mobile phone and uploading photos to Snapchat during a press conference, leading to one British tabloid dubbing him "Snap-Prat".

But despite evidence to the contrary, Rosberg denied that his team-mate had lost the plot.

"I haven't seen any self-destruction," he insisted after powering to his ninth win of the year.

"The Lewis I saw was massively motivated. I can tell you behind the scenes he's as focused as ever.

"He always is, especially after a setback like Malaysia," added Rosberg.

"He was working the longest hours I've seen him working in many, many months with the engineers. Anyways, it's about getting the best out of myself and not focusing on what Lewis's state of mind is."

Rosberg, whose Finnish father Keke won the Formula One title in 1982, was refusing to count his chickens after finally winning at Suzuka.

"Lewis is my team-mate so he's always going to be fighting, always going to be tough to beat," said Rosberg, who clocked the quickest practice times and qualified on pole in an utterly dominant weekend at Suzuka.

"I'm well aware of the 33 points of course, but there are still many races to go so I'm just keeping my head down."

After playing bridesmaid to Hamilton the last two years, Rosberg is in the form of his life and will take some catching after recording his fourth victory in five races.

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"From the get-go I felt really comfortable," said the German. "It's one of those old-school, legendary tracks and a big challenge because you can't put a foot wrong anywhere.

"But I was able to push all the way through and I got everything right so it's really been a perfect weekend."

Asked to divulge the secret of his ice-cool demeanour this term, Rosberg shrugged.

"For me it's just a process," he said. "(I'm) pushing in all directions just trying to be better every time. I love pushing myself to higher levels."

Rosberg could not resist the slyest of digs at Hamilton, however, when asked how he dealt with jet-lag with the next race coming in Austin, Texas in two weeks.

"Actually Lewis should be the master," he said, seemingly referring to Hamilton's famous playboy lifestyle.

"If you need advice on that you need to ask him because I think he's a genius."
The way this presidential campaign has been going, do we even need Saturday Night Live to parody it anymore?

Its been a crazy week of political bombshells  hey, seen any good Donald Trump videos lately?  and the SNL writers had to be licking their chops at the thought of tearing into all the scandals. Plus, this weeks host was Lin-Manuel Miranda, who gave us all a U.S. history lesson in the Broadway sensation Hamilton, so hes used to dealing with very extreme political situations. (At least we havent seen a pistol duel to the death yet.)

VIDEOSMargot Robbie Hosts SNL Premiere: Watch the Best and Worst Sketches

In his monologue, Miranda poked fun at how timely his musical has become in light of the current campaign nuttiness. He joked that Hamilton is about two ruthless New York politicians fighting tooth-and-nail for control of the country: You know escapism. He took a musical trip through SNLs backstage with backup dancers in tow  and even got to sing never gonna be President now to a picture of Donald Trump.

This weeks episode took advantage of Mirandas musical chops, with him singing and/or rapping in nearly every sketch. But did the writing rise to the occasion? Lets take a look at the best and worst of this weeks SNL:

BEST: VP DEBATE COLD OPEN

The cold open gave us a head-fake by starting out with this weeks snooze of a VP debate. But the sketch quickly cut to Alec Baldwins Trump in front of that familiar cityscape, bellowing, Are you not entertained? He did his best to app-la-gize for his crude behavior, saying he was just a young, childish 59-year-old man when the video was recorded. He also promised this nations women: If you give me a chance, I promise I can do a whole lot more than just grab it. (Ew.) But the highlight, as always, was Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton, grooving to Kool and the Gangs Celebrate and chugging Champagne. She had a message for all the female voters who still supporting Trump: My babies ya brain broke.

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BEST: DENISE AND DOREEN

Weekend Update got a visit from two old friends: former anchors Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon, who donned fleece vests and pink turtlenecks to play Denise and Doreen, a pair of undecided Philadelphia voters. (Fey: Im torn from a scooter accident.) Feys thick Philly accent was absolutely on point, and she got a chance to slip in a meta joke at Fallons expense, making fun of his character for secretly liking Trump and messing up his hair. But they didnt seem to like Hillary much, either  especially the fact that she never got revenge on any of the women Bill cheated with: At the very least, you gotta cut off the ponytail.

WORST: CAMPFIRE SINGALONG

Its a little alarming that this was the first sketch after the monologue; it felt like one of those weak 12:45 am sketches that no one laughs at. Cecily Strong and Miranda played a cute couple sitting around a campfire and harmonizing together on Blowin in the Wind. Unfortunately, they were joined by Kyle Mooney and Vanessa Bayer playing a couple of unwelcome guests who insisted on singing a horribly off-key a capella version of Footloose. Over and over again. It was supposed to be funny annoying; it was just annoying.

BEST: STRANGER THINGS

For fans of Netflixs supernatural 80s drama, this sketch answered one of Season 1s burning questions: Where is that black kids family? A fake sneak peek at Season 2 had Leslie Jones and Kenan Thompson playing Lucass mom and dad, with Mrs. Sinclair scolding the boy: I told you not to hang out with these little white kids. When Lucas whined about the Upside Down, she had a stinging response: People who look like us already live in the Upside Down. And once again, McKinnon stole the show as an intense, Eggo-devouring Eleven.

BEST: CRUCIBLE CAST PARTY

The raunchy music video (Do It on My) Twin Bed is one of the best things SNL has done in years, so it was great to see Aidy Bryant and company go back to that well again. After a successful high school production of The Crucible  we didnt mess up at all  the cast is excited for the horniest event of the year: the cast party! The hormonal young actresses were determined to rip it up until 11:45, seducing hot dudes with the choreography from Chicago and taking a guy into the closet to watch a DVD of their play. Miranda even got a chance to add a rap bridge; too bad his mom had to come in and ruin the party.

WORST: THE MUSIC MAN

Did we mention that this episode bent over backwards to give Miranda a chance to sing? They staged a production of the classic musical The Music Man  but forgot to add any jokes. Miranda played a man from Wells Fargo who came to give everyone in town a bank account or three. The Wells Fargo scandal is certainly a worthy target of satire, but this attempt felt half-baked and under-rehearsed. Its sad when the sketchs biggest punchline is a kids heavy lisp.

What were your favorite sketches of the night? And what missed the mark? Hit the comments and make your picks.

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By Manjeet Negi: Immediately after the terrorist attacks, the Pakistan Army swung into action and shifted terrorist leaders in the safe custody of Pakistan Army cantonments and bases. LeT Chief Hafiz Saeed and chief of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Sayyed Salahuddin were shifted into formations under the Lahore-based IV Corps, according to top government sources.

Pakistan Army Special Forces commandos in plain clothes are providing them close security, sources added. Middle-rung terrorist leadership has also been held under close watch in Pak Army bases in Bahawalpur fearing surgical strikes against specific terrorist leaders. Pakistan Army has also shifted back the terrorist launch pads from approximately 600m-1.5km near the LoC to 7-8 km deep inside.

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HEAVY COST FOR PAK'S ARMY LEADERSHIP

During the surgical strikes, there were atleast 10-15 terrorists and Pakistan Army handlers in each location. Highly placed government sources further said, the cost of such attacks for the Pakistan Army's leadership would be very heavy. The assessment reports available from Indian army field units which included radio conversations between various Pakistani formations showed maximum damage was inflicted on LeT, a banned terror group, at Dudniyal launch pad in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir (PoK) , opposite to Kupwara sector of North Kashmir, sources said.

After the successful strike inside the PoK, an effective radio monitoring and a strict vigil was maintained, the sources said, adding the wireless messages from radio intercepts of Pakistani army indicated that atleast 10 LeT terrorists had been killed during the multiple and synchronised surgical strikes on the four terror launch pads.

There was heavy movement of Pakistani army vehicles till the break of dawn and all the bodies were cleared off and taken away, the sources said. The Sources further added that as per the radio intercepts, there was a mass burial in the Neelum valley in PoK. As per fresh interception recorded by intelligence agencies, terrorists targeting soft targets like police stations are still active in Kashmir after the surgical strike.



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Pakistan accuses India of sponsoring terrorism at Brussels conference







--- ENDS ---
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian police said on Sunday they have arrested 16 people for suspected militant links after a two-week operation across the country. The arrests were made between Sept. 21 and Oct. 6. Fifteen were Malaysians and the other was a citizen of a North African country. The suspects were aged between 20 and 38 years old. Fourteen were arrested for suspected links to Islamic State and channeling funds to Muhammad Wanndy Muhammad Jedi, who was responsible for a grenade attack on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur in June, police said in a statement. Wanndy is a Malaysian known by police to be fighting with Islamic State in Syria. Another suspect, a Malaysian student, was arrested on arrival at Kuala Lumpur international airport. The police said he had traveled to Istanbul with an intention to enter Syria, but was detained by Turkish authorities at the request of Malaysian police. The police also said they arrested a citizen of a North African country for suspected links to Jahbat Al Nusra, an Islamic group in Syria. They did not specify which North African country. The grenade attack on a bar on the outskirts of the Malaysian capital in June is seen as the Islamist group's first successful assault in the country. Authorities in Muslim-majority Malaysia have been on high alert since Islamic State-linked militants carried out an armed attack in the capital of neighboring Indonesia in January. In late August, Malaysian police arrested three local supporters of Islamic State who had allegedly been planning several attacks in Kuala Lumpur ahead of independence day celebrations. (Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi and Emily Chow; Editing by Susan Fenton)
Organiser weekly disclosed that the chosen targets were across the areas under the jurisdiction of 19 Division (in Uri), 28 Division (in Kupwara) and 25 Division (in Rajouri).

By Reema Parashar: Accoring to an article published in the RSS weekly Organiser, two Pakistani army posts were destroyed and all occupants killed in the cross-LoC surgical strikes on terror launch pads carried out by Indian army para commandos on the intervening night of September 28 and 29.

Indian Army commandos moved across the LoC and smashed five terror launch pads that were under the guard of the Pakistani posts near the LoC.

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Organiser weekly disclosed that the chosen targets were across the areas under the jurisdiction of 19 Division (in Uri), 28 Division (in Kupwara) and 25 Division (in Rajouri). The H-Hour (in military terms the time of day at which an attack is to be launched) was half past midnight on September 28, the cover story published in the latest Organiser said.

ALSO READ | Fresh details on surgical strikes: Major setback for Lashkar-e-Taiba as 20 of its militants killed

HOW INDIA PUNISHED URI ATTACK PERPETRATORS



RSS mouthpiece Organiser.

The report in the RSS mouthpiece said, "On September 28, the CCS was presented with the plan. The basic aim was to hit the terrorist infrastructure in PoK and send a message that India will not allow the attacks to go unpunished. It was immediately approved. Defence Minister Parrikar and NSA Ajit Doval were tasked by the Prime Minister to oversee and coordinate the operation. The MO Operations Room (mistakenly described by many as the War Room) became an intense hub of activity between September 28 noon and early morning of September 29. By noon on September 28, the strike teams had been staged forward from three directions. The chosen targets were across the areas under the jurisdiction of 19 Division (in Uri), 28 Division (in Kupwara) and 25 Division (in Rajouri). The H-Hour was half past midnight on September 28. A couple of hours before the H-Hour, the Kupwara division opened small arms and mortar fire on posts opposite its area of operation. This was a diversionary tactic. As Pakistani forces began to react to the firing, Special Forces teams began to slowly cross the LoC into PoK. A couple of teams slipped out between the Beloni and Nangi Tekri.

ALSO READ | Terror masterminds Hafiz Saeed, Syed Salahuddin moved to Pakistan Army camp

battalion areas in Poonch sector south of the Pir Panjal and across the Tutmari Gali in the Nowgam sector.

By 2 am, the teams were on target. Five launch pads and two Pakistani Army posts-which were co-located with the launch pads-were destroyed and all occupants killed. The Indian Army has refused to put a number to the fatal casualties among the terrorists so far. As the DGMO said in the press statement, the operation is over and India has no further plans at the moment."

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4 times Indian commandos crossed the LoC for surgical strikes: All you need to know

Govt redesigns social media strategy to combat Kashmiri separatists' propaganda

--- ENDS ---
A video that shows a man kicking a homeless person in Sao Paulo has stirred outrage among Brazilians on social media. The video was posted by Maicon Campos on Friday, October 7. I was on a car when I look around [sic] and two guys start kicking a homeless person who didnt do anything, he wrote. When I left the car to talk to them they walked away. Unbelievable!

The original post earned more than 105,000 views by the time of writing, although one scraped copy had earned 1.8 million views and more than 50,000 shares. The second post compared the scene seen in Sao Paulo to Nazi Germany.

Campos said he told police officers about what he had seen, but they told him they couldnt do anything. Credit: Facebook/Maicon Campos
We cant show you the show, we just finished filing this morning, said Marvel TV boss Jeph Loeb today at the Marvels Iron Fist panel at New York Comic-Con. Then the Marvel TV boss showed the packed Main Stage at the Javits Center the new trailer for the March 17, 2017 debuting Netflix series.

Todays panel for the 13-episode first season of the series saw Loeb, Iron Fist himself Finn Jones and showrunner Scott Buck onstage. Fellow cast members Jessica Henwick, David Wenham, Jessica Stroup and Tom Pelphrey.

Rosario Dawson was also on-stage on Saturday in NYC. A veteran of Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cake as Claire Temple, the actress was a surprise guest and new addition to the Iron First cast  to the delight of the crowd. It looks like the Temple character will be getting involved in some fisticuffs herself as Loeb and Dawson teased on stage.

The fourth Marvel series for Netflix, Iron Fist has Game of Thrones alum Jones as once missing billionaire by day and martial arts master and possessor of a mystical force by night Danny Rand. Like many a Marvel hero, Rand is trying to find himself amidst the conflicting responsibilities and burdens of his abilities. Rand is riddled by contradictions, Jones told Deadline earlier today.

With the countdown clock and chanting fans that Marvel has had at many a panel, the Iron Fist event started with a montage of Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage footage to get the already energized crowd pumped up. Then the teaser for Iron Fist appeared the big screens. Several clips were shown throughout the panel including a hallway fight scene, a Marvel fave, that sees Jones character leave no man standing and Henwicks Colleen Wing send two giant thugs to the ground in a schoolyard bare fisted street match.

This wasnt the first time fans got a glimpse of Iron Fist, of course. A short first look at the series and the plane crash that found 10-year old Danny Rand lost to the world among the mountains was revealed at the Luke Cage panel during San Diego Comic-Con this summer.

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With Punisher and Defenders reveals as well, Saturdays jam-packed panelcomes literally just hours after Iron Fist finished shooting its Season 1 finale in NYC  with Loeb giving shout out to the hardest working crew, many of whom were in the hall. There will be little rest for Jones now filming on Iron Fist is over. While no premiere date has been set for The Defenders, the Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist team-up series starts filming in November  also in the Big Apple.

Also on the Main Stage today before the Iron Fist panel began was Erik LaRay Harvey, who plays Luke Cage villain Diamondback on the most recent Marvel series to launch. Kept under wraps until the Cheo Hodari Coker EPd series debuted on September 30, the actor got big round of applause from the fans.

New York Comic-Con runs until October 9

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sEJeWB3RA8&w=605&h=340]

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(Photo: Getty Images)

Melania Trump has responded to the 2005 videotape showing her husband, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, making vulgar comments about women.

The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me. This does not represent the man that I know, she said in a statement. He has the heart and mind of a leader.

She continued: I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world.

In the leaked tape, Trump  newly married to Melania at the time  tells former Access Hollywood host Billy Bush that he tried to move on Bushs then-cohost Nancy ODell.

Related: Nancy O'Dell Reacts to Donald Trump Recording

I did try and f*** her, she was married, Trump said in the tape. Thats huge news there, Bush responded. Trump also made comments about ODells body.

Both Trump and Bush also commented on the physical appearance Days of Our Lives star Arianne Zucker, who showed the men around set after the conversation took place. At one point, Bush asks Zucker if she will hug Trump  just moments after he called her hot as s*** before she arrived.

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Im automatically attracted to beautiful  I just start kissing them, Trump said in the tape. Its like a magnet. Just kiss. I dont even wait. And when youre a star they let you do it. You can do anything.

Grab them by the p***y, he added. You can do anything.

Nancy ODell interviewing Donald and Melania on the red carpet. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ivanka Trump has yet to comment on her fathers lewd remarks, but regarding her reaction and what she will do next, a Trump source says that neither of the candidates daughters should be accountable for being loving and caring daughters who each respect their parents accomplishments, while keeping their differences of opinion to themselves in order to not embarrass themselves or their parents.

Trump apologized for his comments on Friday, saying he is not a perfect person, in a Facebook video released after hours after the tape went public.

Ive said and done things I regret and the words released today on the more than decade-old video are one of them, he said in the video.

Anyone who knows me knows these words dont reflect who I am, he continued. I said it, I was wrong and I apologize.
By Ben Hirschler COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Merck & Co scored a double hit on Sunday with new clinical data showing its Keytruda immunotherapy offered big benefits in previously untreated lung cancer patients, either when given on its own or with chemotherapy. As a monotherapy, Keytruda halved the risk of disease progression and cut overall deaths by 40 percent compared to chemotherapy alone in pre-selected patients whose tumors had been tested using a biomarker. And when given with two older chemotherapy drugs in non-selected patients, it was almost twice as likely to shrink tumors as chemotherapy alone. Another similar drug from Roche also demonstrated broad efficacy as a so-called second-line option in patients who had received prior treatment. "Remember this day. It's a new day for lung cancer treatment," Stefan Zimmermann of Lausanne's University Hospital told reporters at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) congress as the results were presented. An editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine, where the Merck monotherapy results were published, said Keytruda could become "a new standard of care". The various findings suggest that treating lung cancer - the biggest cancer killer globally - with powerful new immune system-boosting medicines is going to involve more permutations than some experts originally expected. Rival drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb had tried a catch-all approach with its Opdivo drug but it failed to help previously untreated patients when given on its own in a trial that included people with low levels of a protein called PD-L1. Keytruda, as a sole agent, was targeted only at patients with high PD-L1, making them more receptive to immunotherapy. Lead researcher Martin Reck of Germany's Lung Clinic Grosshansdorf predicted that testing for the PD-L1 biomarker would now become standard "from today". U.S. regulators are expected to decide whether to approve Keytruda for first-line non-small cell lung cancer, the most common type, by Dec. 24. Merck had already said in June that Keytruda worked in the trial but the scale of the benefit was only disclosed at ESMO. COMBINATION THERAPY The second trial, mixing Keytruda with chemotherapy, was much smaller but was notable because it was the first time that a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy has been shown to work in a randomized Phase II study. Many experts have been skeptical about this approach and investors' expectations, up until now, have been quite low. In the event, researchers reported that Merck's combination cut the risk of disease progression or death by 47 percent compared to chemotherapy alone after 10.6 months, while 55 percent of patients saw their tumors shrink versus 29 percent. Patients in this trial were not selected by PD-L1 expression but the study did find that those with higher PD-L1 had a higher response. Roger Perlmutter, Merck's head of research, said both trials suggested Keytruda could offer a broad array of patients meaningful improvement over standard platinum-based chemotherapy, which is now more than two decades old. Drugs like Keytruda and Opdivo work by taking the brakes off the immune system and allowing the body's natural killer cells to home in on tumors. They are expected to sell tens of billions of dollars in the years ahead, with lung cancer the largest market. Up until now, Bristol has dominated the field but investors have started to shift their bets, with forecasts for Opdivo declining while those for Keytruda have risen. The current consensus forecast among analysts is for Keytruda sales to reach $8 billion in 2021, with Opdivo selling $10.5 billion, according to Thomson Reuters data. Results of Bristol's failed Opdivo trial, which included patients with tumors testing only 5 percent or higher for PD-L1 against the 50 percent cut-off used by Merck, were also presented at ESMO. These showed progression-free survival was 4.2 months with Opdivo and 5.9 months with chemotherapy, although the difference was not statistically significant. Overall survival was 14.4 months with Opdivo versus 13.2 months. The failure of Opdivo to work for "all comers" in lung cancer was first announced in August, without any details. It was a major setback for Bristol, wiping out around a quarter of the company's market value, and it has caused investors to rethink prospects for immunotherapy treatments. Many now believe that combination therapy is the way ahead, with Bristol and AstraZeneca working primarily on using two immunotherapies together, while Roche and Merck look at adding chemotherapy. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Stephen Powell and Susan Fenton)
Bamako (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday warned against Africa suffering from a "brain drain" as she arrived on a three-day tour of the continent focused on security and stemming the migrant influx to Europe.

Merkel also underscored the need to "establish coherent cooperation" in development policy and military support in Mali, her first port of call.

"The military cannot alone bring security and peace," she said, addressing a news conference with Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

"It is important that Africa does not lose its best minds," she added.

The International Monetary Fund this month said skilled workers were leaving sub-Saharan Africa in rapidly increasingly numbers, producing a "brain drain" that causes long-term social damage.

The IMF said that the number of sub-Saharan migrants living in developed countries could increase from about seven million in 2013 to about 34 million by 2050.

Merkel earlier told Die Zeit weekly that bringing more stability to Africa and improving living conditions on the continent would help reduce the numbers of people seeking to leave.

In Mali, Merkel is due to visit German troops taking part in the UN peacekeeping operation MINUSMA and the European Union Training Mission in Mali.

The ongoing international military intervention that began in 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.

Merkel later heads to Niger and then Ethiopia where she is to visit the African Union headquarters in the capital Addis Ababa.

The Malian president pledged to try and limit the number of migrants leaving for Europe.

"We want our youths to remain here rather than drown in the Mediterranean," he said, adding that the area had "become an open cemetery."

Since 2014 more than 10,000 migrants have lost their lives in the Mediterranean, according to UN figures.

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The German chancellor has said that she wants the European Union and North African countries to do deals modelled on a controversial agreement with Turkey to curb migrant flows to Europe.

Under the EU-Turkey deal, Ankara agreed to take back Syrians who made it to Greece in return for being allowed to send refugees from its massive camps to the bloc in a more orderly redistribution programme.

The pact also pledges billions of euros in EU aid for Turkey and visa-free European travel for Turkish citizens.
Berlin (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday left for Mali, the first stop on a three-day Africa tour focused on security and stemming the migrant influx to Europe.

Merkel later heads to Niger and then Ethiopia where she is to visit the African Union headquarters in the capital Addis Ababa.

Her talks with leaders of all three countries are to focus on migration issues and the battle against terrorism.

"I believe we must take a far greater interest in Africa's destiny," Merkel said in her weekly video podcast Saturday.

"The well-being of Africa is in Germany's interest."

She earlier told Die Zeit weekly that bringing more stability to Africa and improving living conditions on the continent would help reduce the numbers of people seeking to leave.

In Mali, Merkel was also due to visit German troops taking part in the UN peacekeeping operation MINUSMA and the European Union Training Mission in Mali.

Next week, back in Berlin, Merkel will host Chadian President Idriss Deby and Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari.

The German leader has said that she wants the European Union and North African countries to do deals modelled on a controversial agreement with Turkey to curb migrant flows to Europe.

Under the EU-Turkey deal, Ankara agreed to take back Syrians who made it to Greece in return for being allowed to send refugees from its massive camps to the bloc in a more orderly redistribution programme.

The pact also pledges billions of euros in EU aid for Turkey and visa-free European travel for Turkish citizens.
Michael Bisping was dropped twice early in his rematch with Dan Henderson but found a way to survive. (Getty)

It was almost deja vu for Michael Bisping. In almost identical fashion to their first meeting at UFC 100, a Dan Henderson right hand landed and Bisping went downtwice in the first two rounds. But this time, Bisping managed to keep his senses and survive. The Count refused to allow a fairy tale story come to fruition and outworked a retiring Dan Henderson to retain his UFC middleweight title by unanimous decision in front of a rabid hometown crowd in Manchester, England, in the main event of UFC 204.

Seven years ago, Michael Bisping ended up on the wrong side of the highlight reel when Henderson landed his patented H-Bomb right hand on the Brits chin to score one of the most brutal knockouts in UFC history. A lot has changed since then with Bisping becoming the middleweight champion and Henderson at the tail end of his career. However, the rematch was necessary for Bisping considering that he had been haunted by that knockout punch for many years  not to mention that it would be Hendersons final opportunity to claim UFC gold as he announced that he would be retiring, win or lose.

It was a fight that many mocked considering that Henderson was ranked outside of the top 10. However, with it being his final appearance in the Octagon, and the multi-layered storyline, the fight made sense. And when the fight happened, it ended up being a memorable affair where the active Bisping had to summon everything he had to survive a pair of vicious knockdowns and outpoint the lumbering 46-year-old with scores of 48-47, 48-47 & 49-46.

This man is incredible, Bisping said. He just kicked my ass. All the trash talking, you gotta respect that guy, hes a legend.

The fight started as many expected with the active Bisping prodding the methodical Henderson with jabs, leg kicks and combinations. But at the end of the first round, the H-Bomb found a familiar home. A collective gasp swept through the crowd as Henderson nearly pulled off a career finale that could only be written for a Hollywood blockbuster.

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However, this time, Bisping refused to stay down. Henderson dove in just as he did in their first meeting and sought the finish. Bisping survived a frantic flurry from Henderson as the bell sounded and both smiled with the knowledge that history nearly repeated itself.

As the second round began, Bisping went right back to work and used movement to keep Henderson off balance and unable to uncork that right hand. A hard right hand from Bisping wobbled Henderson and The Count swarmed in. In the midst of the tornado of strikes, one of Bispings kicks strayed low. Unfortunately for Henderson, referee Yves Lavigne didnt see it and Henderson had to do his best to survive. Not only did he survive, but he also caught Bisping asleep at the wheel yet again and sank Bisping to the canvas yet again with a right hand before the round came to a close. Once again, history threatened to repeat itself and the one title that eluded Dan Henderson was near.

But Bispings heart was on full display as he refused to be put away.

Fortunately for the champion, thats about all Henderson had in the tank. After making some adjustments, the next two rounds were all Bisping circling, putting together combinations, landing leg kicks, darting out of firing range and snaring away rounds three and four with little resistance. His face was a bloody mess with his left eye swollen shut but Bisping wasnt about to let down the fans that were packed into the Manchester Arena for a main event that happened at nearly 5 a.m local time.

Henderson would put together a spirited effort in the fifth round and scored a late takedown as the crowd roared to the fights conclusion. But it was too little too late, as the 37-year-old had deposited enough offense in the bank to sway the judges scores in his favor.

After the bout, Henderson confirmed that this would be his final fight.

This is the last time that anyone will see me fight live, Henderson said as the Manchester crowd that booed him earlier showered the arena with Hendo chants. I appreciate all of the support throughout the years. I gave my heart and soul to this sport and fans like you made it worthwhile to compete every night. This was my last for the belt. I came up a little short but not bad for an old man.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) The parents of two of the 59 victims of the Uphaar Cinema fire have come out with a book about the trauma and their long fight for justice.

"Trial by Fire" is the story of how the system failed them one step at a time and how, despite the odds, they still refuse to back down, according to publishers Penguin Random House India.

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Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy, who lost their children Unnati (17) and Ujjwal (13) on June 13, 1997, decided to fight for justice to bring those who were responsible for the tragedy to book.

Their fight, which began 19 years ago, continues till date.

On that fateful day, a swirling mass of thick smoke entered the balcony section of the well-known cinema hall Uphaar located in posh south Delhi at 4.55 p.m. during the screening of the popular movie "Border". With most exits unavailable and no ushers to help, the people seated in the balcony found themselves trapped.

By 7 p.m., 57 people had died and 103 were seriously injured in the ensuing stampede. Two more persons died later in the hospital.

Real estate barons Sushil and Gopal Ansal in August escaped being jailed in connection with the tragedy with the Supreme Court asking them to pay a fine of Rs 30 crore each and restricting their jail term to the period already undergone by them.

The apex court had overturned the pleas of CBI and the victims association. While Sushil had spent over five months in prison, Gopal was in jail for over four months immediately after the tragedy.

Earlier, the Supreme Court in 2014 had held the Ansals guilty but differed on the quantum of sentence to be awarded to them.

It had concurred in holding that there was "contemptuous disregard" of civic laws on part of the Ansals that led to the tragedy as they were "more interested in making money than ensuring safety of people".

The Delhi High Court in 2008 had awarded one-year jail term to both Sushil and Gopal. PTI ZMN MG

--- ENDS ---
Michelle Williams just made our jaws drop in this gothic vampire romance dress

Michelle Williams is not afraid to show her darker, goth side, and she really pulled out all the stops this week at the BFI London Film Festival premiere of her film Manchester By The Sea, where she wore a glamorous and shimmering Louis Vuitton snake-skin chiffon gown that makes our jaws drop with envy:

'Manchester By The Sea' - International Premiere - 60th BFI London Film Festival

Notice she doesnt busy the outfit with any jewelry  she lets the outfit stand on its own. And she looks amazing, doesnt she? Look at the way tiny bits of gold and blue and orange shine through the black of the outfit; its totally gothic while still retaining an incredible modern flare. Plus THOSE SHOES.

And that hair! Her signature blonde bob is slicked to the side, giving her an altogether sleek and sophisticated look. Very Audrey Hepburn.

'Manchester By The Sea' - International Premiere - 60th BFI London Film Festival

Manchester By The Sea is the story of a man named Lee (played by Casey Affleck) who is made legal guardian of his nephew when his brother dies. Lee returns to his North Shore hometown to deal with his separated wife Randi, played by Michelle Williams. After watching the trailer below, we expect very heated, powerful performances:

We cant wait to watch the film. Until then, well make due with admiring Michelle Williams fantastic fashion sense.

The post Michelle Williams just made our jaws drop in this gothic vampire romance dress appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Media got undie-bunched this afternoon when Donald Trumps campaign website scrubbed all upcoming campaign events from Veep candidate Mike Pences schedule.

Please check back later for an updated schedule, the site advised, sending reporters into speculation fifth gear.

The days news cycle was peppered with calls for Trump to drop out, and be replaced by Pence  some of them coming from inside the Republican party, according to press reports.

Fueling the speculation, Pence bailed on plans to fill in for Trump today at a campaign event in Wisconsin, where he was to have joined House Speaker Paul Ryan. Ryan had uninvited Trump from what was supposed to have been their first joint campaign appearance. This, after WaPo released that 2005 audio and video tape of Trump making extremely vulgar/predatory comments about women.

Pence did attend a fundraiser today, but his pull-out from Ryans unity event was widely perceived as an own-it, Donald! gesture. Especially given the statement Pence issued this morning blasting Trumps assault-talk:

This evening, two Pence campaign events were put on his schedule. One is in Charlotte, Virginia, and one in Fayetville, North Carolina. Both are set for Monday morning, however, so that Pence can see if Trump does, in fact, use tomorrow nights debate as an opportunity to show what is in his heart  and likes what he sees there.

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TOKYO, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is planning to stop taking new orders for large passenger ships, downsizing its shipbuilding operations due to a slump in orders, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Sunday.

The plans by Japan's fourth-largest shipbuilder come as new shipbuilding orders have declined 80 percent so far this year, the Nikkei said. Citing unidentified sources, it said the company was considering splitting off its planning and design division and sharing shipyards with other companies.

A spokesman for Mitsubishi Heavy, which also builds aircraft and defence equipment, said the report was not based on information provided by the company and declined further comment.

Mitsubishi Heavy took a 103.9 billion yen ($1.01 billion) loss on its cruise ship construction operations in the year ended March, having delayed the delivery of a cruise ship produced for Carnival Corp by more than a year.

The Nikkei said Mitsubishi Heavy was planning to reduce risks in its shipbuilding operations by focussing on building smaller ships, which have simpler specifications.

($1 = 102.9000 yen) (Reporting by Naomi Tajitsu; Editing by Paul Tait)
(Refiles to correct byline) By Abhishek Takle SUZUKA, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Max Verstappen once again found his driving the subject of discussion in the stewards office, following Sunday's Formula One Japanese Grand Prix. The Dutchman clashed with Lewis Hamilton while defending second place in a hard-fought duel between the pair in the closing stages of the race. The world champion tried to dive down the outside of the Red Bull at the final chicane in a last-gasp move near the end of the penultimate lap. But Verstappen doggedly hung on for second place, rebuffing Hamilton's attempt with a robust move that sent the Mercedes wide onto the run-off. The Briton complained about Verstappen's driving on the radio, which Mercedes followed up with an official protest to the stewards after the race. "Already the laps before he was closing quite a bit," said Verstappen. "But I saw already out of turn 14 he had a good exit so yeah, I was using a bit of energy and I defended into the last chicane. "All good," the 19-year-old added. Both Verstappen and Hamilton left the track shortly after the race and as they weren't available to present their version of events, the stewards decided to leave it to their colleagues at the next race in Austin to look into the matter. Mercedes, though, later withdrew the protest "in the interests of establishing a final official result," a move backed by Hamilton. "There is no protest from myself. Just heard the team had but I told them it is not what we do. We are champions, we move on. End of!," he said on Twitter. Verstappen has been a breath of fresh air for the sport since he arrived as a 17-year-old with Toro Rosso last season but his uncompromising attitude and aggressive tactics have caused controversy. He clashed with Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel following August's Belgian Grand Prix after defending aggressively against the Ferrari pair following a collision between the trio at the start. The governing International Automobile Federation's race director Charlie Whiting had a word with Verstappen about his driving on Sunday. But his move against Hamilton won the praise of his team principal, Christian Horner. "I thought it was firm but fair," said the Briton. "I didn't really see any issue with it. Lewis didn't seem to have any problem after the race, apparently he said well done to him." (Editing by Neil Robinson)
Nine police officers were killed during coordinated ambushes in Myanmar's strife-torn Rakhine state on Sunday with authorities saying the attackers hailed from the Muslim Rohingya community, a persecuted minority.

The night time raids hit three posts on the border with Bangladesh and have sent tensions soaring in a region battered by sectarian clashes between Buddhists and Muslim Rohingyas.

Rakhine has been effectively split on religious grounds since bouts of communal violence tore through the state in 2012, killing scores and forcing tens of thousands to flee.

The Muslim Rohingya are largely confined to camps and face restrictions which rights groups have likened to apartheid.

Despite their plight, the Rohingya do not have a known militant faction fighting for them and have eschewed political violence.

But at a press conference in the capital Naypyidaw on Sunday evening, authorities said the attackers were Rohingya.

"According to our force members who are working on this case, those who attacked and raided were shouting that they were Rohinghyas," police general Zaw Win told reporters.

He did not elaborate on the attackers' motivations or whether they were from a specific group.

Nine police were killed alongside eight attackers, with two assailants captured alive, he added.

- Knives and slingshots -

Although the attack was coordinated with lethal effect, the weapons used were rudimentary.

Police said the attackers were mainly armed with knives and "ginkali", a type of homemade slingshot that fires iron bolts.

But they made off with more than 50 guns and more than 10,000 bullets from the border posts.

Tin Maung Swe, a senior official within Rakhine's state government, told AFP that those behind the ambushes were "RSO insurgents", a reference to a group known as the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation.

The RSO was a small Rohingya militant group active in the 1980s and 1990s but has not been heard from in nearly two decades.

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International Crisis Group described RSO as "essentially defunct as an armed organisation".

Analysts and local leaders have previously warned that the community's continued persecution might persuade some members to take up arms.

Several complex ethnic conflicts have been rumbling across Myanmar's borderlands for decades.

But compared to the country's civil war-ravaged eastern and northern border states, Rakhine has not boasted a significant rebel militia presence.

In the last few years the Arakan Army, a small Buddhist militia which wants an independent homeland in the state, has fought sporadic battles with the military.

In a statement they denied being involved in the border ambushes.

In May assailants stormed a security post at a camp for Rohingya refugees in southern Bangladesh, just across the border from Sunday's assaults.

A Bangladeshi camp commander was shot dead and the attackers made off with weapons.

Police at the time said the Rohingya themselves could be suspects.

Bangladeshi police have also alleged that Rohingya refugees are involved in criminal activities including human trafficking.

Any rise in violence in Rakhine will be a major concern for the new civilian-led government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

She has asked former UN chief Kofi Annan to head a commission tasked with trying to heal sectarian divisions in the state.

The move was largely welcomed by Rohingya community leaders but angered Buddhist nationalists.

Anti-Muslim sentiment has been fanned by hardline Buddhist nationalists who revile the Rohingya and are viscerally opposed to any move to grant them citizenship.

They insist the roughly one-million strong group are intruders from Bangladesh, even though many can trace their ancestry in Myanmar back generations.
Im erasing myself from the narrative, Eliza Hamilton sings in Hamilton. At one point, the title characters wife torches his letters and denies future generations insights into the scandals that surrounded his career.

But as much as NBC might want to erase itself from the story of Donald Trumps rise, or at least clean up its role in propelling the presidential candidate to the national stage dating back to the launch of The Apprentice in 2004, the last few days have proved there was no Eliza to erase the tapes. And were left with too many questions about the relationship between the candidate and the network.

Of course, NBC is not the only media organization that has some soul-searching to do when it comes to abetting Trumps rise and normalizing his positions, statements, and behaviors, which are often extreme, offensive, or, at the very least, troubling. CNN president Jeff Zuckers decision to give Trump hours and hours of free air time essentially any time the candidate wanted it has been unfortunate, of course (inflicting Jeffrey Lord on us is a lesser misdeed, but one worth noting). And of course, Fox News devoting more time to Hurricane Matthew on Friday instead of the Category 5 Trump story, is unfortunately telling, if predictable.

One of the core themes of Hamilton revolves around the malleability of narratives, and Trumps ability to get much of the media to dance to his tune has revealed many alarming flaws in Americas news-gathering ecosystems. But clashing ideas about image and media manipulation are particularly suited to the core mission of Saturday Night Live, which, at its best, skewers the powerful and the pompous, no matter who they are. As it happens, Hamiltons creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, hosted this weekends installment with a great deal of enthusiastic energy.

SNL did what it could to join the narrative about the implosion of Donald Trumps campaign following the release of an audio clip in which he matter-of-factly described the sexual assault of women; in that sickening clip, Billy Bush, formerly of Access Hollywood and now of the Today show, joined Trump in objectifying women, including one of his then-colleagues, Nancy ODell.

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SNLs cold open captured some of the surreal quality of the last 48 hours since the tape was revealed. Even if Alec Baldwins Trump is too broad to truly work, Cecily Strongs anchor character conveyed the sense of stunned, disbelieving outrage that has coursed through many Americans. If nothing else, it was certainly weird to hear the word pussy on live television, even though its been all over cable news during this bizarre weekend.

The high point of the whole show may have come during Mirandas monologue, when he paused to sing the line Youre never gonna be president now at Trumps photograph. It was turned into a GIF before the broadcast was even over.

Though pundits are declaring the election over, theres still a month to go before the votes are officially counted. Although NBC cant be blamed for everything Trump has become, history has its eyes on NBC, to steal another Hamilton lyric. There are many questions worth asking.

Such as:

How is that NBC News and Access Hollywood, a product of an NBC subsidiary and distributed by NBC Universal, had the bombshell footage of Trump and Bushs comments, and did nothing with that tape for days? My colleague Cynthia Littleton and others have explored this question, but so far, the answers are still not necessarily satisfying and the reasoning not fully explained. What is clear is that NBC News knew about the tape but sat on it, and it must have been mortifying for the networks reporters and producers to be scooped by the Washington Post, which broke one of the most important stories of the election.

So what did NBC know and when did the top brass know it? More importantly, why didnt they release it? The fear of a lawsuit, which has been floated in some corners as a rationale, seems like an odd excuse, given that the Washington Post took only hours to vet and publish the conversation.

How could NBC have had a relationship with Trump after he made these comments about women? NBC might not have been aware of this specific tape, but his attitudes about women have always been crystal clear, as a listen to any of his appearances on Howard Sterns show would reveal. Theres also a recent AP story that dove deep into the misogynistic remarks he made during the production of The Apprentice.

As for The Apprentice, will the shows creator and exec producer Mark Burnett address the controversy? Will NBC pressure him and MGM (which now owns the show) to do so, despite the fact that Burnett is appears determined to keep any and all Apprentice recordings from reaching the public? Theres apparently a lot of material to choose from, according to former Apprentice producer Bill Pruitt: As a producer on seasons 1 & 2 of #theapprentice I assure you: when it comes to the #trumptapes there are far worse. #justthebeginning. (By the way, if we need more proof of Trumps attitudes, here is a clip that made it to air: In it, Trump jokes about a female contestant dropping to her knees and that being a pretty picture.)

Yes, Saturday Night Live has effectively skewered Trump in their past two episodes, but why did it go soft on Trump less than a year ago? One of the worst shows SNL has done in four decades aired last November, when Trump himself hosted: The sketches were lame, neutered and basically glorified Trump, as either a wily titan or an eccentric uncle. Keep in mind that this hosting gig took place five months after NBC officially cut business ties with Trump over his offensive comments about Mexicans being rapists, and yet the network still allowed him to burnish his image as the host of SNL. And the pageants Trump owned and his Apprentice hosting duties were part of the networks offerings for years after he began peddling birtherism.

How much of Jimmy Fallons appearance on Weekend Update was image-polishing meant to distract viewers from Fallons embarrassing encounter with Trump last month? And was anyone else irritated by the fact that Fallons inability to remain in character nearly ruined what was otherwise a perfectly acceptable skit with Tina Fey?

Will Billy Bush still have a job on Today come Monday morning? I have always found Bush to be about as charming as a root canal without novocaine, and his recent bombastic and embarrassing defense of self-serving nitwit Ryan Lochte didnt help matters. Lets not dance around what also occurred on that Access Hollywood tape: After the sickening remarks on the bus, Bush encouraged the actress Arianne Zucker to hug both him and Trump. That might have been the most demoralizing moment of the whole tape  not to mention the fact that the two men objectified and demeaned one of Bushs colleagues (ODell). Yet Bush defended himself the way Lochte did: It was just immaturity at work (Lochte is 32; Bush was 33 when he made those comments). Even if Bush apologizes again on Monday, that tape and Bushs behavior are deeply troubling. Are employees of Today expected just work with him like nothing happened? Could it really be true that Bush is perceived by some within NBC to be the next Matt Lauer? I find the idea that NBC may protect him rather than fire him appalling. Theres really no other experienced TV host who could occupy Bushs Today chair? (Update: NBC has suspended Bush for an undetermined amount of time.)

In summary, sitting on that explosive audio tape, in the context of Trumps long history with NBC, is far from a good look for the network. The overall question is, does NBC think it has to answer for any of this? If so, when will we get a fuller accounting?

To quote Aaron Burr, Im willing to wait for it.

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No other generation is as closely associated with liberal social activism than the Woodstock set, so it was a mild surprise when Day 1 of Desert Trip -- a stacked lineup of rock icons from the hippie generation -- passed with nary a political statement (save, arguably, Bob Dylan's "Masters of War" closer).

But "Ohio" scribe Neil Young picked up the slack on Saturday (Oct. 8) night, taking a few swipes at beleaguered Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump while simultaneously referencing a classic rock album (yes, it was a peak liberal dad moment).

Nodding to Desert Trip's Sunday night headliner Roger Waters, and Pink Floyd's landmark LP The Wall, Young told the crowd, "Come back tomorrow night -- Roger is gonna build a wall and make Mexico great again."

Neil Young & Paul McCartney Jam Together at Desert Trip

After that, Young and his stylistically adept backing band Promise of the Real -- a legit band in their own right lead by Willie Nelson's son Lukas Nelson -- launched into his grungy 1979 song "Welfare Mothers" with the tongue-in-cheek chorus, "Welfare mothers make better lovers."

"That's Donald Trump's new campaign song," Young quipped. "'Welfare Mothers.' You heard it here first, folks."

Even though that Trump diss was the first contemporary political moment of the entire weekend, it didn't sit well with everyone. "Save it, Neil," one middle-aged man yelled.

Well, if that guy wanted Neil to stop talkin' and start rockin', he got his wish. But really, asking Neil Young to stop preaching and start singing is like telling a priest to stop sermonizing and get back to singing those Gospel songs. (Perhaps it just means this man has successfully listened to Neil Young songs for decades without ever listening to any of the lyrics.)

Desert Trip Day 1: Bob Dylan & The Rolling Stones

Case in point: Young's next and last song was "Rockin' In the Free World," which now has additional lyrics to reflect contemporary concerns:

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Got a water cannon for the standing man

Got misinformation from the corporation

In the endless search for a drop of oil

People's lives get shattered while we suck it from the soil

Gotta show the children

We just don't care

So we keep on burning it

And put it in the air

So yes, the disgruntled 'shut up and play the hits' dude got his rock fix -- and a helpful lesson about blood-for-oil wars in the process.

Elsewhere in the night, Young sang four newer songs, some of them inspired by the ongoing Native American protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline. He also extended "Down By the River" to a bone-crushing 22 minutes, and tweaked the lyrics of "After the Gold Rush" to reflect contemporary environmental concerns. Later in the night, Young joined Saturday night headliner Paul McCartney for a three-song collaboration -- read all about that here.

Check out his full Desert Trip set list below.

After the Gold Rush

Heart of Gold

Comes a Time

Mother Earth

Out on the Weekend

Human Highway

Hang Gliders

Show Me

Harvest Moon

Words (Between the Lines of Age)

Walk On

Powderfinger

Texas Rangers

Down By the River

Seed Justice

Peace Trail

Welfare Mothers

Encore

Rockin' in the Free World
Tollywood superstar Nagarjuna has heaped praise on the Telugu film Premam, which stars his son Naga Chaitanya in the lead role.

By India Today Web Desk: Akkineni Nagarjuna has appreciated the team of Telugu romantic-drama Premam for doing justice to the original.

Premam, which released on Friday, is the eponymous remake of a Malayalam blockbuster.

ALSO READ: Pulimurugan movie review- Mohanlal's film is ambitious, but falls flat

ALSO READ: Rekka movie review- Vijay Sethupathi's film doesn't take flight

ALSO READ: Remo movie review- Sivakarthikeyan's film has rich visuals and CHEAP content

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An elated father took to Twitter and wrote, "It's not easy to remake a cult classic like Premam and make it a success. Take a bow Chandoo Mondeti and team Telugu Premam."



Its not easy to remake a cult classic like #premam and make it a success/take a bow #chandoomondeti and team telugu #Premam???????????? Nagarjuna Akkineni (@iamnagarjuna) October 8, 2016

Directed by Chandoo Mondeti, Premam stars Naga Chaitanya and Shruti Haasan in the lead.

The film, which is produced by S. Naga Vamsi, tracks the three phases of romance in the protagonist's life.

The makers have retained actors Anupama Parameswaran and Madonna Sebastian, who essayed pivotal roles in the Malayalam version.

Meanwhile, the happening couple of Tollywood, actors Naga Chaitanya and Samantha are likely to come together for the Telugu remake of the Hindi hit 2 States, said reports.

While the Telugu industry is abuzz with the rumoured relationship of Naga Chaitanya with Samantha, the former admitted that he's in a relationship with the latter and that the wedding date is yet to be finalised.

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Jerusalem (AFP) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken by phone to US Secretary of State John Kerry in a bid to calm Washington's anger over new Israeli settlement plans, an official said Sunday.

The plan to construct what activists say amounts to a new settlement in the heart of the occupied West Bank provoked an unusually harsh response last week from the White House, which accused Israel of betraying its trust.

US President Barack Obama's administration has accelerated its criticism of Israeli settlement building in the West Bank in recent months, warning it is destroying hopes for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Such criticism has added to Israeli concerns Obama may seek to lay out parameters for a solution to the conflict or even support a UN Security Council resolution Israel opposes before leaving office in January.

The Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Netanyahu told Kerry the new settlement plan was intended only as an alternative "if no other solution is found" to house residents of a nearby Jewish outpost that is under a court order to be demolished.

The official said the two men also discussed regional issues but could provide no further details on their phone call.

Israeli media reported that the conversation took place on Saturday.

The plan that provoked US anger involves 300 units in the heart of the West Bank, roughly halfway between the Palestinian cities of Ramallah and Nablus.

Settlement watchdog Peace Now says the plans amount to a new settlement.

Israeli officials dispute that and say the homes will be located in an existing settlement, although Peace Now says the site is up to two kilometres (1.2 miles) away.

Israel has so far advanced plans for 98 of the 300 units -- even though only around 40 families live in the outpost, known as Amona, that must be demolished.

The plans emerged days after Obama approved a $38 billion Israeli military aid package and attended former president Shimon Peres's funeral in Jerusalem.

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The White House railed at the construction of 300 housing units on land "far closer to Jordan than Israel".

Settlements in the West Bank are viewed as illegal under international law and major stumbling blocks to peace efforts as they are built on land the Palestinian see as part of their future state.

Netanyahu says he remains committed to a two-state solution to the conflict, though prominent members of his right-wing governing coalition say openly that they oppose a Palestinian state.

Settlements are a key political issue within Israel, with those in favour advocating that Jews must return to their biblical homeland, including in the West Bank.

Education Minister Naftali Bennett said last week that "we must give our lives" to the cause of annexing the West Bank, according to Israeli media, though he later backtracked on his comments.
Politicians, by their nature, will always strive to make a virtue of necessity. But that doesnt mean the rest of us have to make it easy for them.

Unfortunately, thats what many seemed determined to do this weekend, after the Friday afternoon release of video that showed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump saying his status as a celebrity allows him to grope women with impunity.

Related: After Calls for Trump to Quit, He Vows to Stay in Race

On Saturday, Republican lawmakers up for election next month began a mad scramble for the exits, throwing off a blizzard of rescinded endorsements, statements full of disgust and horror and high-minded sentiments about how women ought to be treated. A common, but not universal, suggestion was that Trump step down and allow his vice presidential nominee, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, to take his spot at the top of the ticket.

Many were greeted like heroes taking a brave stand on principle. Supporters thanked them on Twitter and Facebook. Websites kept running tallies of which members of Congress had come out against the Republican nominee for president.

Congressman Jason Chaffetz of Utah gave a heartfelt television interview in which he explained that, as the father of a 15-year-old daughter, he could no longer endorse or vote for Trump.

Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, whose too-cute-by-half support but not endorse stance was already the object of ridicule, said Saturday that Trumps comments had made it impossible for her to vote for him.

Related: Mike Pence Is Giving a Lot of Trump Supporters Buyers Remorse

The list kept expanding all day, as politician after politician took the chance to get out while the getting was good.

But there is no honor left in abandoning Donald Trump now.

In a year in which the bar for acceptable behavior has been lowered a little more every day, its now fallen below sea level if we give an iota of credit to people who took this long to denounce him. At this point, its not a demonstration of moral courage. Its not taking a stand on principle. Its not a statesmanlike decision to put country above self.

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No. There is nothing brave about jumping off a train thats headed straight over a cliff. If anybody deserves recognition, its the ones who were standing on the platform, begging their friends and colleagues not to get on board in the first place.

Because lets face it. We all knew who this guy was a long, long time ago. Listing all of Trumps assaults on civility, good taste and common decency has become tedious and repetitive. But suffice it to say that there was plenty of evidence long before Fridays revelation  and before the Republican National Convention, before the primary voting began, even before Trump descended the golden escalator in Trump Tower to announce his candidacy  that he was not fit to serve as president.

Related: Trump Gets New E-Mail Ammunition Against Clinton

There were plenty of people with impeccable conservative Republican credentials practically shouting it from the rooftops. The 2012 Republican nominee, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, forcefully denounced Trump. Sitting senators like Arizonas Jeff Flake and Utahs Mike Lee were never willing to get behind The Donald. Many of his competitors for the GOP nomination  former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, Ohio Gov. John Kasich  couldnt bring themselves to back him.

These folks made their call about Trump long ago, and they did it with information that was available to anybody with even minimal curiosity.

Contrast that with the people jumping ship today. Deciding that his most recently revealed verbal atrocities, reprehensible as they were, is what disqualifies Trump from office is to tacitly admit that you were effectively willing to tolerate everything else the GOP nominee has said or revealed about himself over the past 15 months. That includes barely veiled appeals to racism, outright misogyny, a stunning lack of knowledge about virtually every realm of public policy, repetition of demonstrable lies and worse.

Related: Heres the Map Keeping Team Trump Awake at Night

In a way, its the last of the Trump loyalists at this point  people like House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus  who are being, if not honorable, at least consistent here.

They have, all three of them, released statements deploring Trumps comments but not rescinding their endorsements. Its clear that while they dont like everything Trump represents, they are willing to tolerate it if it helps the party retain power.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Washington (AFP) - President Barack Obama condemned the Republican vying to replace him in the White House, Donald Trump, for his "demeaning" lewd boasts about groping women that have thrown his campaign into crisis.

"Are we really going to risk giving Donald Trump the power to roll back all the progress we've made?" Obama asked during a campaign event for Democrats in his adopted home state of Illinois.

"I don't need to repeat it. There are children in the room... Demeaning, degrading women, but also minorities, immigrants, people of other faiths, mocking the disabled... He puffs himself up by putting other people down."
President Obama said Sunday that Donald Trump had revealed his insecure self in a 2005 videotape leaked to the press on Friday.

It tells you that he is insecure enough that he pumps himself up by putting other people down, Obama said at a fundraiser in Chicago, Ill., according to a White House pool report.

Not a character trait that I would advise for somebody in the Oval Office, Obama continued.

Trumps campaign has been caught up in a maelstrom of controversy since the videotape was published by the Washington Post. In the tape, Trump was caught on a hot microphone using shockingly crass language while describing his attempts to grope and have sex with women.

President Obama speaks at the Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicago, Ill. (Photo: Susan Walsh/AP)

Among other things, Trump boasted that as a celebrity, women concede to his sexual advances.

Im automatically attracted to beautiful I just start kissing them. Its like a magnet. Just kiss. I dont even wait. And when youre a star, they let you do it. You can do anything, grab them by the p****, Trump said in the tape.

He subsequently apologized, but that has done little to quell the controversy. A number of high-profile Republican leaders have either withdrawn their endorsements or called on the GOP nominee to drop out of the race.

Trump insists hes going nowhere.

The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly  I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN! #MAGA  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2016

Obama criticized Trumps comments at a fundraiser for Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a leading Senate candidate this year. Obama also said the tape showed why voters should back Hillary Clinton, who was set to face off against Trump on Sunday night in the second presidential debate.

Are we really going to risk giving Donald trump the power to roll back all the progress weve made, Obama said, according to the pool report.


Credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

After ripping through the Caribbean and killing more than 800 people in Haiti, Hurricane Matthew is pummeling Florida's coastline on its way up to Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. As Haiti begins a massive recovery process and the United States braces for the worst from this Category 4 hurricane, celebrities are sending prayers and help to the victims.

"Thinking of my beloved Haiti today as this mother of a hurricane hits land. Help if you can," Olivia Wilde wrote earlier this week as the storm made landfall. "My heart absolutely breaks for Haiti," Rihanna wrote. "Prayers up for my brothers and sisters who've fallen victim to this tragic event!"

Meanwhile, stars like Pink and Heidi Klum pointed fans toward UNICEF, asking those who can to donate to the organization, which is providing lifesaving help to those in need. "In 2012, I visited the kids of Haiti w/ @UNICEFUSA. They need your help now. PLEASE Support #HurricaneMatthew relief," Klum wrote.

RELATED: Victoria Beckham Embarks on a Philanthropic Trip to Kenya with Son Brooklyn--See Their Touching 'Grams

Keep scrolling to read prayers from the stars, and donate to UNICEF's relief efforts on unicefusa.org.

Thinking of my beloved Haiti today as this mother of a hurricane hits land. Help if you can. https://t.co/5twfewycSr

-- olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) October 4, 2016

My heart absolutely breaks for Haiti !!! Prayers up for my brothers and sisters who've fallen victim to this tragic event!

-- Rihanna (@rihanna) October 5, 2016

In 2012, I visited the kids of Haiti w/ @UNICEFUSA. They need ur help now. PLEASE Support #HurricaneMatthew relief: https://t.co/psR9k8Azst pic.twitter.com/L1tExZoGYE

-- Heidi Klum (@heidiklum) October 6, 2016

Brothers and sisters of #Florida be safe. https://t.co/Q88OqAX8nm

-- Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 6, 2016

Prayers to those in Florida -

-- Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) October 6, 2016

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UNICEF is ready to provide lifesaving aid to the areas hardest hit by #HurricaneMatthew. You can help: https://t.co/8IXLcHjrAv pic.twitter.com/WNh1Fpgpkg

-- P!nk (@Pink) October 6, 2016

Hang in there, Floridians #HurricaneMatthew

-- josh groban (@joshgroban) October 6, 2016

This is so sad. Sending love to everyone around the world who's being affected. https://t.co/49k78dZHgP

-- NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) October 7, 2016

Prayers for everyone in the path of #HurricaneMatthew Stay safe!

-- Melissa Joan Hart (@MelissaJoanHart) October 7, 2016

Thinking of all in the path of #HurricaneMatthew, including my fellow Floridians. Stay safe!

-- Mandy Moore (@TheMandyMoore) October 6, 2016

Sending prayers up. #HurricaneMatthew

-- kerry washington (@kerrywashington) October 5, 2016
OMG OMG Sigourney Weaver is going to play a HUGE Marvel villain!

This years New York Comic Con was a huge hit as always, with the biggest draw being the Netflix-Marvel panel which debuted the first trailer for the series Iron Fist (out March 17th), as well as information for their next series The Defenders, which will include the characters Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Charlie Cox (Daredevil).

And it was when discussing The Defenders that Marvel TV Head Jeph Loeb then announced the biggest news of the day:

We have not told you who the villain of The Defenders is. She is Golden Globe-, Emmy-nominated, Oscar-nominated Sigourney Weaver.

According to The Nerdist, the crowd erupted in cheers and more than a few Holy sh*ts.

Sigourney Weaver is the original badass female. After all, shes most well known for her role as Ripley on Alien.

ripley

Not to mention as Dana Barrett in Ghostbusters (though personally, we adored her cameo as Kate McKinnons nutty mentor in the new version.)

ghostbusters

Whatever the role, she is always an icon and we just know shes going to knock her big Marvel debut out of the park!

While Loeb wouldnt release any specific details as to her character, we can only expect Sigourney Weaver will play her with her usual panache and we are pumped!

The post OMG OMG Sigourney Weaver is going to play a HUGE Marvel villain! appeared first on HelloGiggles.
(Reuters) - A man was killed and eight other people were wounded early Sunday in a shooting at a party at a strip mall in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the suspect was still at large, police said. Officers responded at about 3:45 a.m. EST (0745 GMT) to a call complaining about noise coming from a large party inside a store at the mall and were notified of the shooting while en route, the Grand Rapids Police Department said in a statement. A man in his early 20s was found dead inside the store from an apparent gunshot. Eight other victims were taken to hospitals where they were also treated for gunshot wounds. None of the victims were immediately identified. About 60 to 80 people had gathered for the party, a CBS affiliate said on Sunday. A police spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the conditions of those injured and the investigation. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee and Gina Cherelus in New York; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
By PTI: Meanwhile, Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, who is also the Guardian Minister of Nashik, today visited Talegaon and met the victims family members.

He assured the girls family that stern action will be taken by police against the culprit.

The minister also asked people to remain calm.

"The girl has been examined at Nashik Civil Hospital by lady doctors, and it was clear that only an attempt of rape was made by the boy," he told reporters.

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Special Inspector General of Police, Nashik Range, Vinaykumar Choube also visited Talegaon this morning even as some people threw stones on his car, a rural control room official said, adding that Superintendent of Police (rural) Ankush Shinde was keeping a close watch on the situation.

The situation was under control but tense, the official said.

Taking precautionary measures, the city as well as rural police have beefed up security. PTI HVJ GK PMS

--- ENDS ---
Vatican City (AFP) - Pope Francis said Sunday he would appoint 17 new cardinals from across the world next month, 13 of whom are under 80 and therefore eligible to succeed him.

Known as "princes of the church", cardinals who are not yet octogenarians are eligible to vote in the papal conclave that picks the next pope.

"I am happy to announce that on Saturday, November 19... I will hold a meeting of cardinals to nominate the 13 new cardinals (aged under 80) from the five continents," said Francis.

"The fact they are from 11 countries shows the universality of the church," the Argentine pontiff added.

The other four include former bishops and archbishops over 80, and in a rare move, 87-year-old Albanian Ernest Simoni who has been promoted to cardinal from his current position as a parish priest.

Heading up the list of new cardinals is Mario Zenari who is currently the papal envoy to Syria -- a "martyred" country, according to the pope.

Second on the list is Dieudonne Nzapalainga, the archbishop of Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic, who is the youngest of the 13 new cardinals aged just 49. He met the pope when Francis visited CAR at the end of 2015, a trip he was instrumental in organising.

Among the other senior church leaders from developing countries being promoted to cardinal are Patrick D'Rozario, archbishop of Dhaka and Maurice Piat, the bishop of Port-Louis in Mauritius.

- 'Honour of the red cap' -

Sergio da Rocha, archbishop of Brasilia and the archbishop of Merida in Venezuela, Baltazar Porras Cardozo will also become cardinals, signalling the importance of Latin America to Francis' papacy.

The region has 40 percent of the world's Catholics in contrast with Europe, where the Catholic population is ageing and declining fast.

Three of the 13 who will have conclave voting rights are from Europe, three from Latin America, three from the US and two each from Africa and Asia.

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Albanian parish priest Ernest Simoni, 87, was imprisoned by his country's communist regime in 1963 and sentenced to death, although that was later commuted to 25 years' forced labour, according to a Vatican profile. He spent a total of 18 years imprisoned.

In February 2015 Pope Francois created 20 new cardinals, greatly accelerating the internationalisation of the church in which European cardinals are no longer in the majority.

The pope's choices echo his desire to emphasise the pastoral side of the Church -- choosing for the most part leaders engaged with the problems affecting their local communities rather than administrative heads.

Francis, the first non-European pope in nearly 1,300 years, is the son of working class immigrants.

He frequently shuns the trappings of papal office choosing simpler and less costly alternatives instead.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Britons' vote to leave the European Union is already affecting German exports to Britain and a drop in sterling, which hit a 31-year low on Friday, is making things worse, Germany's DIHK Chambers of Industry and Commerce has said.

"Brexit is already weighing on the German economy," DIHK managing director Martin Wansleben told German daily Welt after the chambers of commerce surveyed 5,600 German firms.

"Faced with the decline of the British pound, German products in the (United) Kingdom will be much more expensive, and our export growth to the UK will also fall below zero this year," Wansleben added.

The DIHK survey also showed German businesses were losing their appetite to invest in Britain. Wansleben said that until there was clarity on how Brexit would unfold, Britain would be "unattractive as a place for foreign businesses to invest."

In July, the DIHK said it saw a 1 percent drop in exports to the United Kingdom in 2016, down from a previous forecast of a 5 percent rise.

(Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
President Barack Obama on Sunday addressed for the first time a leaked video tape from 2005 in which Donald Trump made lewd comments about women and said he can grope them because he is a star.

Obama called Trump insecure and said his remarks show character that does not belong in the White House. In the tape, Trump brags to Billy Bush, then-host of Access Hollywood, that he can do whatever he wants to women.

Grab them by the py, Trump says. You can do anything.

The president, speaking at a Democratic fundraiser in Chicago, said the comments were disturbing. One of the most disturbing things about this election is just the unbelievable rhetoric, he said, adding, I dont need to repeat it, there are children in the room.

Obama said Trumps remarks were demeaning to women, degrading women, but also minorities, immigrants, people of other faiths, mocking the disabled, insulting our troops, insulting our veterans.

It tells you that hes insecure, Obama added. He pumps himself up by putting other people down. Not a character trait that I would advise for somebody in the Oval Office.
The Black man is coming! ONegus is coming! Damn him! the village kids shouted as guards neared the turquoise waters at Santa Maria beach on the Italian island of Ponza. The men were escorting prisoner Ras Imru Haile Selassie for his daily swim and stroll.

Every day between 1936 and 1943, the Ethiopian soldier-prince captured by Mussolini during the second Italo-Abyssinian War was allowed some physical activity away from his jail dwelling. He became such a fixture  and, supposedly, a nuisance  to the bathing youths that the now elderly people of Ponza still remember him.

We were frightened because he looked scary. We had never seen a Black man like him before. A Ponza local

The kids nicknamed him UNir, Black One in the local dialect, says 87-year-old island native Silverio Mazzella. Whenever they saw him coming, they jumped out of the water. We were frightened because he looked scary. We had never seen a Black man like him before. The prisoners skin color stood in contrast to the long white tunic he wore. Ill never forget those baggy pants, the white turban and earrings he wore, and the fact that he walked around barefoot made him even more exotic, Mazzella says, noting how they hated the Ethiopian because he spoiled our summer fun.

Tafari belew,lij tafari makonnen, beru, imru haile sellassie

Imru Haile Selassie as a boy, on the right.

Source Public Domain

The Negus, a title used back then for Ethiopian leaders, had been made regent in 1935 by his cousin, the emperor, who appointed him commander of the resistant Ethiopian army. Ras Imru bitterly fought till the very end against Mussolinis colonial troops, but he eventually succumbed a year later and was made a prisoner by the fascists. Mussolini decided to take him back to Italy as a trophy of war and exiled him to the breathtaking tropical paradise of Ponza in the middle of the Tyrrhenian Sea. There he was held prisoner at a merchant familys boarding house that has since been turned into a cozy beach resort. Ironically, when the fascists were overthrown and Ras Imru was freed, that same dwelling with elegant stone columns briefly became Mussolinis prison in 1943.

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Ponzas children of the time spun tales and played mean tricks on the evil Black man for allegedly spoiling their beachy adventures. Ponza had long been used for exiling white political dissidents and anti-fascist intellectuals, but the locals regarded Negus as an outsider and a second-class prisoner. Mazzellas mother had cows and brought milk to the confined prisoners, but she refused to go near the Ethiopian.

The tale of the Black man eventually became part of Italian folklore  so much so that mothers still warn babies that the Black man will come take them away if they dont stop crying. To boost the success of the Abyssinian colonial campaign and denigrate the defeated side, the regime composed nationalist songs. Beautiful Abyssinian girl with the little black face, we have come to conquer you, chimed one. Fascism even launched the Negus Lollipops, made of licorice and coffee and decorated with the image of the fiery prince. And then there were the so-called Negus Farts, firecrackers that proved popular with Italian youths.

Over time, the Ethiopian prince came to symbolize the grandeur of fascist Italy. Mussolinis Ethiopian war occurred at the climax of fascist colonial power. It was an element of national pride back then to have defeated what were perceived as barbarian and primitive people in need of civilization, says Ponza historian Silverio Capone, a former culture councillor who has organized exhibitions about the atolls colonial prisoners. One of Capones uncles took part in the fascist siege against the Ethiopian rebels in 1936, boasting of how Ras Imrus soldiers still used arrows and spears to fight and therefore had been vanquished by Italys military supremacy.

Gettyimages 607228173

You might not mind being exiled here.

Source Getty

Ponza still reflects a strong colonial heritage, and a hint of fascist nostalgia. Popular newborn girl names on the island include Adwa, after the Italian colony in Ethiopia, and Victoria, a typically fascist name meaning victory in Italian. The most popular evening drink spot is Bar Tripoli, one that has forever echoed the Italian invasion of Libya.

Yet one of Ponzas greatest tourist attractions is Ras Imrus beach hotel, which lures history lovers longing to spend a night in the Black mans bed and sun themselves on the picturesque beach against a backdrop of fishermens boats and seafood taverns. Hotel owner Silveria Aroma, granddaughter of the couple who hosted the Ethiopian prince, says her granny used to put her to bed with tales about Ras Imru. Gran was just a little girl mesmerized by his looks, the long beard and mustache and especially this hole he had in his nose where a ring had been, Aroma recalls, noting how the Ethiopian prisoner had it pretty good  with a floor all to himself, a cook and a cleaning lady. But most of all, Aromas grandmother remembered him as a sweet and kind person who threw candies at children from his balcony.

After liberation, Ras Imru resumed his aristocratic role, becoming Ethiopias ambassador across the world. He often visited Italy, setting aside any bitterness he felt over how he had been treated in order to embrace better bilateral ties.


A radioactive leak that was reported in the cargo area of New Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport turned out to be a false alarm as it was found to have been caused by cancer medicine being imported from France.



The pharmaceutical drug (Molybdenum-99) arrived in a consignment aboard an Air France carrier and was reported as suspicious by a private employee after he took a radiation reading from the sample, sources in the aviation ministry have been quoted as saying.



The leak was detected in the T3 terminal area, which was subsequently evacuated and cordoned off with teams of the National Disaster Management Authority and National Disaster Relief Force swooping in to investigate the site.

The cordoned-off area was also inspected by officials of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, who later gave an all-clear stating that the source of radiation was a low-grade radioactive substance found in some anti-cancer drugs.






As the marijuana business gains legitimacy, ideas are popping up like weed(s) and flourishing. From partnerships and drone delivery to franchising and prison ventures, cannabis innovators are flying high.

Below is just a quick look at some interesting developments in the marijuana industry from late this week.

Damian Marleys Prison Venture

Bob Marleys youngest son, Damian Marley, was recently portrayed in "The Guardian," explaining his idea of transforming a decaying California prison into a medical marijuana manufacturing plant, revitalizing a depressed rural town in the process.

Its a statement [...] to grow herb in a place that used to contain prisoners locked up for herb, he said, challenging outdated views on marijuana and incarceration.

Related Link: Marijuana Arrests Declining, But Still High: Who's Working On A Solution?

It should be noted that the prison in question, located in Coalinga, California, is empty and no longer operational. The project would also include Ocean Grown Extracts, a cannabis concentrates company that would work alongside Marley, as it does already.

This is symbolic and a big middle finger to the drug war and to a broken system that hasnt worked for a long time now, Marleys manager Dan Dalton concluded.

The Franchise Pot

Franchise Expo West, the franchising event held annually in Denver, came with a surprise this year: cannabis related franchises. While dispensaries are still not in the lineup, other businesses are.

For instance, among this years exhibitors, we can count Sun Valley Certification Clinic, a medical marijuana card clinic based off Arizona, with four branch offices so far.

Related Link: Out With The Old, In With The New: State Agencies Seem To Prefer Marijuana Over Opioids

Now that states are going rec, people are done with the little doctor in a box, that it is a joke, co-owner Dustin Klein explained. Its about making patients feel comfortable and not that theyre in some type of seedy, back alley office, his wife and business co-owner Andrea Klein added.

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Those folks dont have the same regulatory hurdles [than those handling the plant], Taylor West, deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association expounded. They dont have to have all the same licenses or approvals from the state.

Also included in the expo was Hops & Haze, a vape shop-brewpub hybrid, Denver Post author Emilie Rusch wrote. Right now, their locations only allow vaping of the e-cigarette variety, but Kwaterski said they are positioned for future law changes allowing social cannabis consumption in regular businesses or private clubs.

The Celeb-Boost

Canopy Growth Corp (CVE: CGC) (OTC: TWMJF)s subsidiary Tweed Inc. recently announced it was launching a suite of products in partnership with legendary rapper-turned-businessman Snoop Dogg. The firm is set to roll out three strains of weed by the end of the month, and anticipation is building  and driving the stock up with it.

Shares traded as high as c$5.85 on Thursday after news that the Leafs by Snoops product would become available in Canada. While the stock gave up all of the gains toward the end of the session, to close at c$4.98, below the opening price, the move caught the eyes of speculators and potential investors.

But, the company needs more than Snoops endorsement to get it stock price up, it needs real or potential future earnings and revenue growth, a Fool Canada article explicated.

However, the piece went on, how much revenue the partnership generates is not central to the stocks performance. What is important is the message it sends. Canopy Growth is the leading marijuana producer in this country. Its serious about its business and has the wherewithal to bring partnerships like the one with Snoop Dogg to fruition.

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By India Today Web Desk: Veteran Hollywood actor Robert De Niro is the latest famous face to join the anti-Trump campaign which labels him the worst candidate for the job to become the president of the United State of America. In a series of toxic insults, the Goodfellas actor called the presidential nominee a dog, a pig and a con artist.

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Watch the video here:

And that was the good part, he launched into more calling him an idiot, and quoted Colin Powell calling Trump a national disaster and an embarrassment to the country. He also humiliates Trump for not doing his homework and for not caring.

Even though De Niro's insults went viral, fellow actor Jon Voight has come to Trump's defence saying what De Niro said about a Presidential nominee was shameful. This comes shortly after Avengers director Joss Whedon brought together a 'shit ton of famous people' to urge the electorate to make their vote count by NOT voting for Trump.

Trump has been at the recieving after a video surfaced where he makes sexist remarks including one which says, "Being a rich man you can get away with anything. Grab them (women) by the p***ies." Absolutely not something would want to hear from a presidential nominee.

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* Tecentriq works in all patients in second-line lung cancer

* Study shows 4.2 months survival benefit vs chemotherapy

* Drug may win U.S. approval in lung cancer this month

By Ben Hirschler

COPENHAGEN, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Lung cancer patients on Roche's immune system-boosting drug Tecentriq lived on average 4.2 months longer than those taking chemotherapy in a pivotal study, pressuring Bristol-Myers Squibb's dominant position in the field.

The trial involved second-line patients, who have already used chemotherapy, and it found the Roche drug worked even in people with low or no levels of a protein called PD-L1, which is often used to test suitability for immunotherapy.

The study results were presented at the annual European Society of Medical Oncology congress on Sunday.

Bristol's Opdivo is currently the only immunotherapy drug approved without a PD-L1 test for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common form of the disease. Merck & Co's Keytruda requires a test.

That has favoured Opdivo and fuelled its sales, but the arrival of a rival with the same broad effectiveness now promises increased competition.

U.S. regulators are due to decide whether to approve Tecentriq in lung cancer by Oct. 19. The Roche drug is already cleared for use in bladder cancer.

Tecentriq, Opdivo and Keytruda are the first of a highly promising class of immunotherapy drugs that are revolutionising cancer treatment and are tipped to generate huge sales. Lung cancer, the biggest cancer killer globally, is the top commercial opportunity.

Analysts believe Tecentriq sales across all cancers will reach $4 billion in 2021, according to consensus figures compiled by Thomson Reuters.

In the 1,225-patient Roche study, the mean survival for patients on Tecentriq was 13.8 months, which was 27 percent better than the 9.6 months seen among those on docetaxel chemotherapy.

The benefit of the new drug was greatest in patients with high levels of PD-L1 but even in people with no PD-L1 expression there was still a significant improvement.

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Martin Reck of Germany's Lung Clinic Grosshansdorf said the findings suggested doctors had a problem if they planned to use a negative PD-L1 reading as a reason to exclude second-line NSCLC patients from treatment.

Companies are also racing to prove that immunotherapy can help in first-line NSCLC, where it would replace chemotherapy as the initial drug given. Here, however, the idea of giving immunotherapy to all patients has proved problematic, as evidenced by the failure of a recent Bristol trial.

Roche has eight late-stage Phase III lung studies under way evaluating Tecentriq alone or in combination with other treatments in patients with early and advanced stages of lung cancer.

(Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Stephen Powell)
Suzuka (Japan) (AFP) - Nico Rosberg will move a step closer to usurping Lewis Hamilton as Formula One world champion if the German converts pole position into a first victory in Japan on Sunday.

Rosberg, who has a 23-point lead over Hamilton in the title standings with five races to go, pipped his British foe by just 0.013sec as the two Mercedes rivals went toe to toe in Saturday's qualifying.

Hamilton's fragile state of mind after his heartbreak in Malaysia last weekend was encapsulated when he snubbed journalists over what he called "disrespectful" coverage earlier this week.

The German had been chipping away at Hamilton's veneer of invincibility by winning three successive races before Malaysia, where a battling third place for Rosberg added insult to injury for the Briton who had to retire with an engine blaze.

But Hamilton's meltdown after qualifying will be music to Rosberg's ears as he chases a maiden win in Japan -- one which would leave Hamilton's hopes of retaining the F1 title hanging by a thread.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen starts third in Sunday's race, alongside Dutch teenager Max Verstappen's Red Bull.

After securing his eighth pole of the year -- the same number as Hamilton -- Rosberg refused to get carried away, saying: "It's been a great weekend but I know I have a lot of work to do to complete the job."

Rosberg claimed pole at Suzuka for the third year running, but will be acutely aware that on neither previous occasion did it lead to victory in the race.

Hamilton came roaring back both times to win the Japanese race on his way to lifting the title.

- Rush of blood -

But Rosberg is in the form of his life and barring a first-corner error or collision, the German will be favourite to turn the screw on Hamilton.

A defiant Hamilton insisted he could still halt Rosberg's momentum by winning Sunday's race, having done exactly that in Japan the past two years.

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But he appears to have lost the plot since his Malaysian disaster, blaming his engine blow-out on a team conspiracy, and a rush of blood going into turn one could spell trouble for Mercedes.

Hamilton backed away from remarks hinting at sabotage but caused another storm by playing with his mobile phone throughout Thursday's FIA press conference.

And after he was widely criticised for his behaviour, he reacted snootily.

"I don't plan on sitting here many more times at these kind of (media) things," he said.

Ferrari and Red Bull will look to pounce if Mercedes suffer more technical trouble.

Sebastian Vettel set the fourth-fastest qualifying time for Ferrari but a three-place grid penalty for smashing into Rosberg in Malaysia means he starts seventh.

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, who inherited victory in Sepang after Hamilton's misfortune, lines up fifth ahead of Force India's Sergio Perez.

"I'm doing pretty good in the corners and just bleeding on the straights," said the Australian, complaining of low power.

McLaren will have a job on their hands to score points in engine supplier Honda's home race, meanwhile, with Fernando Alonso starting on row eight and Jenson Button a further row back.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a leading Donald Trump surrogate, on Sunday downplayed the GOP nominees 2005 comments that are now engulfing the presidential race.

It was 10 or 12 years ago. He wasnt at that time, you know, running for office, he wasnt thinking of office, Giuliani said on Meet the Press, according to an NBC transcript.

He understands the responsibility is on his shoulders now, which wasnt there back then, he added.

Giuliani was among the inner circle of advisers who have been with Trump over the last 24 hours, which have been the most difficult moments yet of the celebrity businessmans campaign. The former mayor said he was with Trump all day Saturday.

A slew of Republican governors, senators and House members have called for Trump to exit the race since Friday afternoon, when the Washington Post published audio of Trump crassly bragging about groping and trying to have sex with women, saying that, as a celebrity, they let you do it. You can do anything.

Trump apologized in a video published Saturday morning, but vowed to remain in the race.

Two top Trump surrogates  Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway and RNC Chairman Reince Priebus  pulled out of Meet the Press, and Giuliani appeared in their stead

Are you the only one in the campaign that was willing to publicly defend him? host Chuck Todd asked Giuliani.

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Meet the Press. (Screenshot: NBC News)

During the interview, Giuliani insisted that Trump was not pulling out of the race. He was selected by more Republican voters than anyone has ever been selected in a Republican primary. He owes them the duty to run, he said.

He repeated that assurance later Sunday morning in a second round of questions with George Stephanopoulos on ABCs This Week.

To Todd, Giuliani said Trump feels terrible for having made the comments, which were made several months after his 2005 wedding to Melania Trump.

When he was confronted with it, he was pretty darn shocked that he had said such terrible things, and he feels terrible about it. He feels terrible for his family and how embarrassing it is for them. He feels terrible from his own point of view. But he also realizes he has a responsibility, he said.

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Giuliani further suggested that Trump may have been exaggerating when he bragged about groping and kissing women without waiting for their approval.

Well, the actions would be even worse if they were actions. Talk and action are two different things, he told Todd.

Todd pointed to a recent New York Times interview with Temple Taggart, a former Miss Utah who said Trump inappropriately kissed her. Todd asked Giuliani if he was implying that Taggart was making up her claim of sexual harassment.

Giuliani pivoted back to the 2005 audio.

Im not implying it was made up. I said were talking about things that he was talking about. I dont know how much he was exaggerating, he said. But I do know that this is unfortunately the kind of talk that goes on among a lot of people, and they shouldnt talk about this. This is wrong.

He added: Hes running for president, he realizes that hes got the weight and the responsibility of all these people on his shoulder, and this is something hes not going to do in the future.
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It's almost impossible to defend the leaked video that surfaced Friday in which Donald Trump makes repulsive comments about groping women  but Rudy Giuliani is going to try.

The former New York City mayor appeared on NBC's Meet The Press on Sunday morning when host Chuck Todd delivered a question which left Giuliani speechless.

"One thing he's not is what came across in WikiLeaks, and that is two people, Giuliani said to Todd, attempting to shift the conversation away from Trump. Hillary Clinton actually specifically described that she's two different people, to the financial people who were giving her millions of dollars, she's on their side and she wants to be a big part of the government. But she tells them she has to pretend to everybody else that she isnt.

Todd saw his moment, and delivered the following blow.

SEE ALSO: New York's 9/11 mayor conveniently forgets about 9/11

If you believe that Hillary Clinton says one thing in private and that means what she really is what she is in private, should we assume what Donald Trump did in that Access Hollywood bus is really what Donald Trump is like in private? asked Todd. I mean, that's what you're implying here with Hillary Clinton.

Giuliani sighs and looks off camera.

"You know, Chuck, the reality is that in both cases, both people have things in their personal lives that maybe if they could redo it, they would do it differently," Giuliani responds. "And the reality is that this is a situation in which neither side should throw stones because both sides have sinned."

On Friday, the Washington Post published a leaked video in which Donald Trump was caught on a hot mic saying he tried to sleep with a married woman, among other lewd comments.

The topic will likely come up Sunday night in the second presidential debate.
Tbilisi (AFP) - The ruling Georgian Dream party won Georgia's parliamentary polls, results showed Sunday, though accusations of vote fraud from the opposition sparked fears of political instability in the Caucasus nation.

Georgia's Western allies are watching closely to see if the strategic nation -- praised as a rare example of democracy in the former Soviet region -- can cement gains after its first transfer of power at the ballot box four years ago.

With votes from almost all precincts counted, the electoral commission said Georgian Dream was leading main opposition force the United National Movement (UNM) by 48.61 percent to 27.04 percent.

In a proportional ballot, no other party cleared five-percent threshold to enter parliament.

Western observers said polls were competitive, though they noted procedural problems during counting.

After voting closed on Saturday the Georgian Dream was quick to declare victory based on exit polls which gave it a strong lead over the UNM.

"This was a truly free and fair election, which firmly cements Georgia's democracy," Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said after the vote ended.

But the UNM accused the government of attempts to "steal elections" and held a protest rally outside the electoral commission.

"Votes have been stolen from us. We will defend our votes," Nika Melia, chief of UNM's campaign and an MP candidate, told protesters.

Most opposition parties, including Democratic Georgia, the Labour Party and the State for People, also cried foul, accusing the government of "massive vote rigging".

- 'Competitive' elections -

But international observers from the OSCE, NATO, Council of Europe and European Parliament said the elections "were competitive, well-administered and fundamental freedoms were generally respected".

"The calm and open campaign atmosphere was, however, impacted by allegations of unlawful campaigning and some incidents of violence," the monitors said in a joint statement.

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The European Union said in a statement: "We look forward to working with the democratically elected new parliament and government to deepen our political and economic relations."

Ahead of the vote, monitors and opposition politicians noted that Georgia's electoral environment and financing give an unfair advantage to the ruling party, which could potentially affect the vote's outcome.

Georgian Dream, led behind the scenes by billionaire ex-premier Bidzina Ivanishvili, and the UNM founded by exiled former president Mikheil Saakashvili, had previously been neck-and-neck in opinion polls.

Politics is still dominated by Saakashvili and Ivanishvili, even though neither holds an official position.

The voting percentages that have so far been released are for a proportional ballot that will decide 77 of the 150 seats in the legislature.

The figures may not necessarily be reflected in parliamentary seats because almost half will be determined on a first-past-the-post basis rather than by the proportional representation system.

Due to Georgia's complex election rules the final makeup of parliament may only become clear by late November, after second round runoffs in most of the single-mandate constituencies.

- 'Climate of hatred' -

Tensions rose ahead of the vote in the ex-Soviet republic -- which fought a brief war with Russia in 2008 and is seeking EU and NATO membership -- after a car bombing and a shooting incident at a rally.

Last Wednesday a UNM lawmaker suffered a murder attempt when his car exploded in central Tbilisi, injuring four passers-by.

The bombing prompted the UNM to accuse authorities of "creating a climate of hatred in which opposition politicians are being attacked".

It came after two men were injured when unknown assailants on Sunday fired shots during a campaign rally held by an independent candidate in the central city of Gori.

The poisonous atmosphere around the vote followed years of what the opposition sees as political witch-hunts and retribution against Saakashvili and his team.

Saakashvili, a charismatic reformer who took over in the Rose Revolution of 2003, was forced out of the country after prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for abuse of power. He now works as a regional governor in pro-Western Ukraine.

The crackdown on his allies has prompted concerns among Georgia's Western partners that the country could backslide after its sole orderly transfer of power in 2012.

The ex-president has pledged to return after the elections but the authorities warn they will detain him if he steps foot in Georgia.
Politics  and Donald Trump  certainly do make for strange bedfellows: Fridays leak of Trumps vulgar Access Hollywood campaign-exploding outtakes and the subsequent potential bombshell of looming (and worse) footage from NBCs The Apprentice have inflamed everyone from Ted Cruz to Julian Assange.

And online speculation about the nature of the outtakes and the possibility of multi-million-dollar penalties awaiting leakers will keep the NBC show buzzed about long after tonights presidential debate ends.

Following the hot-mic leaks that rocked the world, in which the GOP nominee boasted about his sexually predatory skills to then-Access Hollywood host Billy Bush, former Apprentice producer Bill Pruitt tweeted yesterday that there are far worse Trump outtakes around.

As a producer on seasons 1 & 2 of #theapprentice I assure you: when it comes to the #trumptapes there are far worse. #justthebegininng  Bill Pruitt (@billpruitt) October 8, 2016

Last night, Assanges Wikilieaks posted a Twitter response to Pruitt, apparently a request for additional information about the outtakes  maybe even requesting the outtakes themselves.

Texas senator Ted Cruz, newly (and tepidly) supportive of Trump after a vicious and personal rivalry for the Republican nomination, then publicly (and mistakenly) wondered why NBC didnt release the outtakes earlier. Why wait till October?, he tweeted, with a hashtag that suggests he sees media bias in the timing.

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NBC had tape 11 yrs. Apprentice producer says they have more & worse. So why not release in 2015? In March? Why wait till October? #MSMBias https://t.co/WCEEHhZKd6  Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 9, 2016

Cruzs tweet is as confused as it is self-serving (guess who might have benefitted from a Trump scandal last March?). Is he suggesting that NBC released the Access Hollywood hot-mic footage? Is he predicting that NBC will release release the rumored Apprentice tapes this month? Both suppositions are preposterous, and NBC has explained that the network merely licensed footage from Mark Burnett, The Apprentice producer, and has no legal claim to any tape that didnt already air. The Washington Post, which broke the hot-mic story Friday, has said that NBC News was aware of the Billy Bush tape but took so long on legal parsing that the newspaper had time to make the scoop.

Given Burnetts support for Trump, the producer himself wont be releasing new footage anytime soon.

A leak, though, cant be ruled out. Industry rumors and speculation are rife. Chris Nee, an Emmy Award winning TV producer who says shes familiar with Burnetts contract procedures, suggests a $5 million penalty could await anyone leaking tape from a Burnett production. Nee, the Peabody and Emmy winning Creator/Executive Producer of Doc McStuffins and other childrens programming, also went public with what she says is industry scuttlebutt about the nature of the Apprentice tapes  which, if true, would add racism to the scandals misogyny.

I don't have the tapes. I've signed a Burnett contract & know leak fee is 5 mill. Hearing from producers/crew N word is the "much worse".  Chris Nee (@chrisdocnee) October 9, 2016

Nee clarified later that she has never worked on The Apprentice, but didnt retract her speculation.

Folks, I have never worked on The Apprentice. I don't know what's out there. Or what still exists. I've heard rumors. Would love to know.  Chris Nee (@chrisdocnee) October 9, 2016

Nees posts set off a mini-eruption of their own. Producer Brian Koppelman (Billions) weighed in:

I know Chris Nee. If she says this, it's true. https://t.co/ZIKbbHQL4J  Brian Koppelman (@briankoppelman) October 9, 2016

The emergence of additional tapes seems likely to at least one formerly staunch Trump supporter. Conservative radio host and TV pundit Hugh Hewitt has called for the nominee to quit.

For the benefit of the country, the party and his family, and for his own good, @realDonaldTrump should withdraw. More and worse oppo coming  Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) October 8, 2016

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MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday a draft French U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria would have helped Islamist militants in the Aleppo area by protecting them from aerial bombing. In a statement, the ministry also said the French text was politicized and one-sided. Russia on Saturday vetoed the resolution, which demanded an end to air strikes on Aleppo and military over flights. "An explicit attempt was made, by banning flights in the Aleppo area, to provide cover for the terrorists of Jabhat Al-Nusra and associated militants," the ministry said. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
It was the fifth time Russia has used its veto on a UN resolution on Syria during the more than five-year conflict.

Russia Ambassador Vitaly Churkin and Venezuelan Ambassador Rafael Ramirez vetoes a draft resolution that demands an immediate end to air strikes and military flights over Syria's Aleppo city, at the UN Headquarters in New York, on October 8, 2016. Reuters

By Reuters: Russia vetoed a French-drafted UN Security Council resolution on Saturday that would have demanded an end to air strikes and military flights over Syria's city of Aleppo, while a rival Russian draft text failed to get a minimum nine votes in favor.

Moscow's text was effectively the French draft with Russian amendments. It removed the demand for an end to air strikes on Aleppo and put the focus back on a failed September 9 US/Russia ceasefire deal, which was annexed to the draft.

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British UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin: "Thanks to your actions today, Syrians will continue to lose their lives in Aleppo and beyond to Russian and Syrian bombing. Please stop now."

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces, backed by Russian war planes and Iranian support, have been battling to capture eastern Aleppo, the rebel-held half of Syria's largest city, where more than 250,000 civilians are trapped.

"Russia has become one of the chief purveyors of terror in Aleppo, using tactics more commonly associated with thugs than governments," US Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations David Pressman told the council.

He said Russia was "intent on allowing the killing to continue and, indeed, participating in carrying it out" and that what was needed from Moscow was "less talk and more action from them to stop the slaughter."

A UN resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes to be adopted. The veto powers are the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China. The Russian text only received four votes in favor, so a veto was not needed to block it.

The French draft received 11 votes in favor, while China and Angola abstained. Venezuela joined Russia in voting against it.

It was the fifth time Russia has used its veto on a UN resolution on Syria during the more than five-year conflict.

The previous four times China backed Moscow in protecting Syria's government from council action, including vetoing a bid to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court. China voted in favor of Russia's draft on Saturday.

'STRANGE SPECTACLE'

China's UN Ambassador Liu Jieyi said some of the content of the French draft "does not reflect the full respect for the sovereignty, independence, unification and territorial integrity of Syria," while the content of the Russian draft did.

"We regret that the (Russian draft) resolution was not adopted," he told the council.

Russia only gained the support of China, Venezuela and Egypt for its draft resolution. Angola and Uruguay abstained, while the remaining nine council members voted against.

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Churkin, who is council president for October, described the dual votes on Saturday as one of the "strangest spectacles in the history of the Security Council."

"Given that the crisis in Syria is at a critical stage, when it is particularly important that there be a coordination of the political efforts of the international community, this waste of time is inadmissible," Churkin told the council.

Syrian government forces recaptured territory from insurgents in several western areas on Saturday.

Both the French and Russian UN draft resolutions called for a truce and humanitarian aid access throughout Syria.

"If we don't so something this town (Aleppo) will soon just be in ruins and will remain in history as a town in which the inhabitants were abandoned to their executioners," French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said. "If the international community does not wake up it will share the responsibility."

The council negotiated for a week on the text drafted by France. Russia circulated its own draft on Friday and said it would be put to a vote after the French text on Saturday.

Angola's UN Ambassador Ismael Gaspar Martins said his country abstained on both votes because it did not want to be drawn into the acrimony between the United States and Russia.

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The United States on Monday suspended talks with Russia on implementing a ceasefire deal in Syria, accusing Moscow of not living up to its commitments to halt fighting and ensure aid reached besieged communities.

A crackdown by Assad on pro-democracy protesters in 2011 sparked a civil war and Islamic State militants have used the chaos to seize territory in Syria and Iraq. Half of Syria's 22 million people have been uprooted and more than 400,000 killed.

ALSO READ:

US upset with Russia, China exercising veto power to blunt peace efforts for Syria

John Kerry says Syria peace efforts must continue despite break with Russia



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MOSCOW (Reuters) - Police shot dead eight militants in Chechnya in southern Russia around midnight on Saturday after the men, traveling in two cars, opened fire when asked to stop at a checkpoint, the Interfax news agency reported on Sunday. Moscow has fought two wars with separatists in Chechnya since the 1991 Soviet collapse and still faces a low-level insurgency in the mainly Muslim region in Russia's volatile North Caucasus area. Citing the Chechen Interior Ministry, Interfax said the militants had opened fire with automatic weapons and thrown grenades at police officers who tried to stop them. The agency quoted a law enforcement source as saying the gang had planned to carry out a series of attacks in Chechnya, which is ruled with an iron fist by Ramzan Kadyrov, the Moscow-backed president. The armed group was led by Ali Demilkhanov, who was on a federal wanted list, Interfax reported. It said authorities had received advance intelligence about the militants and had deployed 200 men to try to intercept them. Four policemen were injured in the shootings, Interfax reported. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
While there has been an outcry over the last 24 hours for Donald Trump to step aside in the race for the White House after the leak of his lewd comments on an Access Hollywood bus in 2005, the makers of Saturday Night Live better hope that doesnt happen. Donald Trump might well be the best thing to have happened to that show since John Belushi.

Last nights episode began with a rather racy opening skit that began with an encore of the vice presidential debate and devolved into a Trump apology, which you can see here:



Truthfully, were it not for the Trump scandal, the episode hosted by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda would have been pretty uneven and it was well worth the producers tearing up whatever they had planned for the opener to do something in the moment. Colin Jost and Michael Che also tore up their Weekend Update pseudo newscast to focus on the Trump bombshell. The results were pretty sharp. Among the best: Che saying that Trump called Mexicans rapists, but then, there you are on tape explaining how you assault women. The only way you could be more hypocritical is if you said it in Spanish.

After reading a pro-women Tweet from Tic Tac mints (Trump said he needed a mint in the leaked bombshell yesterday), Jost showed a package of orange Tic Tacs with a suggested ad slogan  Grab bad breath by the pussy  and then said bad breath wasnt Trumps biggest problem and that in fact, those orange mints might be the reason his skin was turning that citrus-hued color.

They were joined by former fake newscaster team Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon, as undecided Pennsylvania voters Denise McDonough and Doreen Troilo. In keeping with his long run on the show  Fallon once guest hosted and recounted all the classic SNL skits that he ruined by laughing, like the Chris Walken/Will Ferrell Cowbell gem  Fallon flubbed lines but the affability of the Tonight Show host still allows him to get away with it.

There was a rather barbed Melania Moments, where Mrs. Trump (Cecily Strong) wakes up in a cold sweat, realizes her replacement was just born somewhere in rural Latvia, and takes steps to banish the future Mrs. Trump  not for my sake, but hers.

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The other standout segment was A Day Off With Kellyanne Conway, Trump Campaign Manager. Kate McKinnon, whose profile coming off her Emmy win continues to grow into a dominant force, played the bubbly campaign manager, as she took advantage of her day off, to the strains of the ebullient Katrina and the Waves tune Im Walking On Sunshine. Only to be interrupted from her leisure time activities like yoga, painting, and even a romantic bathtub encounter by texts that required her to go on CNN and explain the latest Trump gaffe. Very sharp.

Miranda began his monologue by reminding how successful his Broadway creation Hamilton is, which meant most TV viewers had never heard of him. He hip hopped his way through an opening number that led him through the SNL corridors  the inevitable encounter with exec producer Lorne Michaels ended with Miranda making no promises to Michaels request for show tickets, even after Michaels concedes he would take a matinee  and there was even more Trump bashing.

Excluding Trump, the rest of the show was very Broadway-centric, and those bits were hit and miss. In the latter category was an afterparty for a high school performance of The Crucible, one where a Wells Fargo agent took over a Music Man production to sell balloon mortgages to the townsfolk, another where Miranda played a substitute teacher trying to impress an advanced class of kids with his hip hop abilities (theyd heard it all before), and another, purportedly from AMC that showed footage from a WWII film called A Degree of Valor. A dying soldier (Pete Davidson) makes his commanding officer agree (Miranda) to go to his house, tell his girl he loved her, and find and remove from the garage hiding place his oversized butt plug.

Like I said, thank heavens for Donald Trump.

Here is Mirandas heartfelt opening number, a riff on the song My Shot, from his towering Broadway show:

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JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A Palestinian who was due to begin a prison term in Israel next week went on a shooting spree on Sunday, killing a pedestrian and a police officer in Jerusalem before being shot dead by police, medical and law enforcement officials said. The incident, near Israel's national police headquarters, began when shots were fired from a vehicle at people waiting at a tram stop, a police spokeswoman said. The assailant, who the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas said was a member of its organization, then drove off and was shot dead in an exchange of fire with police, she said. Medical officials said six people were wounded in the attack, and that two of them, a woman and a police officer, died in hospital. Police identified the assailant as a 39-year-old Palestinian from East Jerusalem. A spokeswoman for the Israel Prisons Service said the attacker had been ordered by a court to start a four-month jail sentence next week after being convicted of assaulting a police officer. In the past year, Palestinians, many acting alone and often with rudimentary weapons, have killed at least 35 Israelis and two visiting Americans in attacks. During that period, at least 220 Palestinians have died in violent incidents in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Of those, 149 were identified by authorities as assailants while others were killed during clashes and protests. Israel says anti-Israeli incitement by Palestinian officials and on social media networks is stoking attacks. Palestinian leaders say assailants are acting out of desperation over the collapse in 2014 of peace talks and the expansion of Israeli settlements on occupied land that Palestinians seek for an independent state. (Reporting by Jeffrey Heller; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Jerusalem (AFP) - A Palestinian opened fire from a car in Jerusalem Sunday and again as Israeli police chased him, killing an officer and a woman, officials said, as fears grew of a new spike in violence.

The gunman, reportedly scheduled to begin a prison term the same day, was killed soon after carrying out the attack near police headquarters, close to the line dividing mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem from the city's mostly Jewish western sector.

Police officer Yosef Kirma, 29, was killed in the attack, police said, while Israeli media identified the second victim as 60-year-old Israeli woman Levana Melihi.

Five people were wounded, medics said.

It was among the deadliest attacks in Jerusalem over the past year.

The shooting rampage came two days before the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, which begins on Tuesday.

Police said the 39-year-old assailant fired in the direction of a tram station in the area, seriously wounding a woman and then continued at high speed and shot at a car, leaving another woman badly hurt.

The attacker then headed toward the nearby neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, where a number of upscale hotels are located, and got out of his car, police said.

As officers approached him by motorcycle, he opened fire on them.

Police returned fire and killed him, but two officers were wounded, including the one who was killed, they said.

- Due for prison term -

Police said the attacker was from the Silwan area of east Jerusalem.

Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, said he was a member of the Islamist movement and praised the attack without claiming responsibility for it.

Palestinian media identified the man as Misbah Abu Sbeih and said he was due to begin a four-month prison term on Sunday for attacking an Israeli police officer in 2013.

The reports said Abu Sbeih was a well-known figure at Al-Aqsa mosque and was banned from entering for several months.

In his last public Facebook post on October 7, Abu Sbeih wrote about his longing for the holy site and said "Al-Aqsa is a responsibility you have been entrusted with."

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the police, saying they had "acted rapidly and very firmly against the terrorist, who was eliminated."

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called the attack "a natural reaction to the crimes and violations of the occupation against our people".

The UN special envoy for the Middle East peace process, Nickolay Mladenov, and the United States, condemned the attack and slammed Hamas for "glorifying" it.

"There is absolutely no justification for the taking of innocent lives," US State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said. "We also condemn the statements glorifying this reprehensible and cowardly attack."

"It is deplorable and unacceptable that Hamas and others choose to glorify such acts which undermine the possibility of a peaceful future for both Palestinians and Israelis," Mladenov said in a statement.

France echoed the condemnation saying it was opposed "to any form of terrorism".

- Concerns of fresh violence -

Al-Aqsa mosque compound is holy to both Muslims and Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount.

The site is central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Palestinians fearing that Israel may one day seek to assert further control over it.

Last year's Jewish high holidays led to clashes and marked the start of an surge in Palestinian gun, knife and car-ramming attacks.

Violence since October 2015 has killed at least 232 Palestinians, 36 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese national, according to an AFP count.

Most of the Palestinians were carrying out attacks, according to Israeli authorities.

Others were shot dead during protests and clashes, while some were killed in air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

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 fed the unrest.

Israel says incitement by Palestinian leaders and media is a leading cause of the violence.

The vast majority of the attacks have been carried out by lone-wolf assailants, Israeli authorities say. Many have been young people, including teenagers.
For a moment there  right at the beginning  it looked like tonights Saturday Night Live wasnt going to address Trumps grab them by the py remark. It looked like the cold open was going to be about the Vice Presidential debate  which would have been Sistine Chapel of sketch comedy if they had managed to make that snore-fest funny.

But then, all of a sudden, there was Alec Baldwin, doing his demented o-face Trump and flapping his hands obscenely opposite Kate McKinnons sassy Hillary, and all was right with the world. None of us are going to miss the bitterness and rancor of this particular election season, but we may shed a tear that we wont get to see the Kate and Alec duo anymore.

The cold open feels as solid as anything on the show, even though obviously it was written at the last minute. The only way youd be able to tell is because A Day Off, a sketch that airs later in the episode, is essentially the same joke  forced apologies for offensive Trump statements.

Best Sketch: Monologue

Its a bit of a cheat to give the win to the hosts monologue, but this one belongs among the shows very best. Stage performers are the best prepared of any guest host to shine on SNL. Having Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of one of the all-time great Broadway smashes, Hamilton, is a guaranteed slam dunk. His parody of the Hamilton hit My Shot blew the doors off of 8H. Theres a reason the show doesnt feature intricate, rapid-fire dialogue: Actors routinely flub the easy lines when theyre reading off of cue cards after only a day or so of rehearsal. The lyrics of this song are so dense, it requires multiple viewings  and every time, he nails it.

Runner Up: Stranger Things

Leslie Jones and Kenan Thompson are the ultimate straight man team. As the no-nonsense parents of Stranger Things Lucas, Jones anger counterbalances Thompsons goofiness, and they zero in on the absurdity of whatever premise theyre presented with. Demogorgons? Telekinetic kids? Jones and Thompson know that the only real threat their child faces is the sheriff. Baby, people who look like us already live in the Upside Down.

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Worst Sketch: Campfire

Every episode of SNL requires a sketch where the host plays the opposite of what theyre known for: Gorgeous actors play schlubs, gifted athletes play uncoordinated buffoons. Clearly, thats the intent behind this sketch. Whats not to love about Lin-Manuel Miranda howling old 80s movie theme songs off-key and with a weird accent? Well, when thats the only joke in a four and a half minute sketch, quite a lot, actually.

Best Use of Lin-Manuel Miranda: Diego Calls His Mom

In the early days of SNL, when the format was looser, there were often short films. They werent slickly-produced 3-minute nuggets intended to go viral. Sometimes, they were like this: A sweet story of a Spanish-speaking transplant to North Dakota. There are no hard jokes here  just gentle observations of Midwestern charm from an outsiders perspective, and Miranda is at his charismatic best.

WTF?: Denise McDonough and Doreen Troilo

Hey! Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon said they could do Weekend Update! What should we write for them? Eh, put them in frumpy outfits and tell them to do accents. Fallons terrible with accents. Well, make the segment twice as long as it needs to be and maybe hell figure it out.

Episode MVP: Kate McKinnon

Its going to be a crushing blow for the show when she leaves to do movies exclusively. There is no close second Hillary Clinton impression in the cast and she does everything from the put-upon Kellyanne Conway in A Day Off to the teen doing choreographed dance routines at a party in Crucible Cast Party.

Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays at 11:35 p.m. on NBC.
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Most South African universities will reopen on Monday despite on-campus clashes between police and students protesters earlier this week, though some, including the University of Cape Town, would remain temporarily shut, media reported. Demonstrations over the cost of university education, which is prohibitive for many black students, have highlighted frustration at enduring inequalities more than two decades after the end of apartheid. Nationwide protests erupted last week while universities were on a study recess, with students demanding all universities be shut down until the government provides free education. The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg saw the worst clashes on Tuesday, with students overturning a police car and throwing stones, while police fired tear gas and rubber bullets. During the protest students danced the "toyi-toyi" - a common display of protest throughout decades of struggle against white rule. Wits said in a statement on Saturday that it would reopen on Monday on several conditions, with students allowed to protest peacefully only in designated areas. "We are committed to completing the 2016 academic program and to ensuring that examinations are written," Wits said, adding that it has revised its calendar for 2016. The academic year in South Africa lasts from February to December. Other universities set to reopen on Monday after extended recess include Tshwane University of Technology, University of Venda, North West University, University of the Free State and Sol Plaatjie University, according to newspaper City Press. The University of Cape Town will remain shut down, according to media reports, while the University of Pretoria said in a statement it will conduct a meeting between staff and students on Monday in a bid to resolve the standoff. The government, grappling with a budget deficit of nearly 4 percent of GDP, has capped 2017 fee increases for next year at 8 percent, but warns that education subsidies should not come at the expense of other sectors like health and housing. (Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
Sanaya Ardeshir is gearing up for the release of her new album, and the live shows she'll perform to support it.

By Srijani Ganguly/Mail Today: Over the course of six months, Sanaya Ardeshir a.k.a. Sandunes mixed, tweaked and produced what would become Downstreams, her nine-track electronic album.

Ardeshir describes the album-making process to be an "awesome" one. She says, "I really tried to have as much fun in the making as I could, and I felt a bit bolder with certain risks and musical decisions with Downstream, than I have been in the past. I'm really excited to play the album out live!"

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For her live shows in support of the album--she will perform in Delhi on October 14 at Bandstand--the musician has plenty in store for the audience. "I've collaborated with Jivraj Singh, who is creating the visual narrative for the album through the gigs. His concept was to flip the idea of 'suspension of disbelief' and he uses an array of tools to perform and play the visuals out live. It's as far away from a 'VJ set' as one can possibly get," says Ardeshir.

Also read: This Kolkata-based duo's Wes Anderson-inspired music video just got a nod from the maestro himself!



Her ongoing India tour comes on the heels of a series of gigs she performed at in the US. "My tours In the US," she says, "are usually really hectic! It's a lot of fun to be a lot of work staying on top of things and living out of a suitcase. I usually try and get a healthy balance between studio collaborations and gigs when I'm touring. Something that stood out for me was playing in an amazingly music focused town called Asheville. They're known for their blues and rock 'n' roll but also have a great music-consumption culture."

Her own home had a similar culture. She says, "I grew up in a home where music was always playing, and my dad being a musician himself was a big influencing factor. I grew up listening to jazz and blues."

Listen to the album over at https://soundcloud.com /sandunes









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Paris (AFP) - Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday attempted to revive his flagging campaign to reconquer the French presidency next year, vowing to defend the common man if returned to the top office.

"My aim is the resurrection of the French people," Sarkozy told a packed rally in Paris as his main rival for the conservative nomination, Alain Juppe, stretched his poll lead.

Sarkozy accused the ruling Socialists of presiding over the "downgrading" of the economy and vowed he would not "stand by and watch".

The right-winger, who showed a taste for the high life as president between 2007 and 2012, cast himself as the champion of the suffering "silent majority" against an "elite for whom everything is fine".

He promised to hold two referendums within days of taking office if elected.

The first would ask the French if they backed suspending the right for non-EU nationals to join family members in France -- one of the main channels for immigration to the country.

The second, Sarkozy said, would ask whether the state should be allowed to jail suspected Islamist radicals, without the prior authorisation of a judge.

Bordeaux mayor Juppe, a moderate who served as prime minister in the mid-90s, argues such a move would create a "French-style Guantanamo".

A poll published by France 2 television Sunday showed 61-year-old Sarkozy trailing his 71-year-old rival in the November primary.

The Odoxa-Dentsu Consulting survey showed Juppe taking 39 percent of first-round votes compared with 31 percent for Sarkozy. Juppe is also tipped to soundly beat Sarkozy in the run-off of the two frontrunners on November 27.

With the ruling Socialists in disarray the winner of the conservative primary is forecast to be the next president, with far-right National Front (FN) leader Marine Le Pen predicted to be runner-up.

A number of leftist voters opposed to Sarkozy's return have announced plans to take part in the primary. They have said they will back Juppe.

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- Beach 'provocations' -

Sarkozy's proposal to hold referendums -- a little-used political tool in France -- contains echoes of the National Front, which has also called for more plebiscites, including one on France's membership of the European Union.

Sarkozy has been accused of aggressively courting FN voters with a campaign that plays on widespread fears about immigration and Islam following a string of jihadist attacks that have rocked France in the past two years.

On Sunday, he hit out at the "provocations" of a minority of Muslims whom he accused of trying drive an Islamist agenda in "schools, universities, companies, swimming pools, on beaches".

But in a noticeable departure from recent speeches his address focused mainly on France's economic and social malaise.

The rally followed two difficult weeks for the divisive ex-president.

A spurned ex-advisor tore into him in a tell-all book and he was hit by fresh allegations that his 2007 presidential campaign was bankrolled by Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

Sarkozy has persistently denied any wrongdoing.
By John Davison BEIRUT (Reuters) - Russia vetoed a French-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution on Saturday that would have demanded an immediate end to air strikes and military flights over Syria's Aleppo city and called for a truce and humanitarian aid access throughout Syria. Meanwhile, a rival Russian-drafted resolution that aimed to revive a failed Sept. 9 U.S. and Russia ceasefire deal on Syria did not garner the minimum nine votes. Fighting continued in the almost six-year conflict with Syrian government forces recapturing territory from insurgents in several western areas. President Bashar al-Assad's forces, backed by Russian air power and Iranian, Lebanese and Iraqi fighters on the ground, hold the upper hand around the key battleground of Aleppo, whose opposition-held eastern sector has been encircled for all but a short period since July. The government side's bombardment of Aleppo since a ceasefire brokered by Washington and Moscow in September collapsed after a week has drawn condemnation from the United Nations and countries supporting the Syrian opposition. France, which opposes Assad, demanded in its draft resolution an end to air strikes and military flights over Aleppo city. Russia has backed Assad with a year-long air campaign against the rebels. French President Francois Hollande on Saturday had urged United Nations Security Council members not to use their veto against a resolution that calls for an end to bombardments of Aleppo. Russia's draft, which does not include that demand, urges Moscow and Washington to revive the ceasefire deal. Syrian opposition negotiator Asaad al-Zoubi said on his Twitter account that its High Negotiations Committee would not accept any new ceasefire deal without guaranteed monitoring of it by European and Arab countries. Rebels also suffered setbacks further northeast near the Turkish border on Saturday, in fighting against Islamic State militants, British-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. Syrian government forces and their allies, backed by air raids, took over an area on Aleppo's northern outskirts on Saturday, state media and the Observatory said. The advance in the Awaija area strengthened their hold on areas surrounding rebel-held east Aleppo, the Observatory said. Rebel official Zakaria Malahifji of the Aleppo-based Fastaqim faction denied there had been a government advance there. But he did confirm government advances further south in Hama province, reported by pro-Damascus media and the Observatory. The Syrian army and its allies recaptured several towns and villages from rebels in Hama's northern countryside, reversing recent insurgent gains in the area. Rebels had seized towns and villages north of Hama city after launching an offensive at the end of August in rare advances while insurgent factions were pressed elsewhere. The government's Hama advances were their first in the area since then, the Observatory said. It said the government side had taken advantage of recent infighting between two Islamist insurgent groups in the countryside of Idlib, north of Hama's provincial boundary. In a separate government advance against insurgents near Damascus, the Syrian army and allied forces seized a large portion of the town of al-Hameh to the northwest of the Syrian capital, the Observatory said. ISLAMIC STATE ADVANCES Russia's air power has been crucial for strengthening Assad's position in the past year, pounding rebels including foreign-backed factions. Washington accuses Moscow and Damascus of war crimes for intentionally targeting civilians, aid deliveries and hospitals which have been hit particularly around Aleppo in recent weeks. Moscow and Damascus say they are targeting terrorist groups. The ceasefire deal brokered by Washington and Moscow in September was meant to pave the way for joint U.S.-Russian targeting of extremists including al Qaeda and Islamic State. All sides in the multi-sided Syria conflict, now in its sixth year, are fighting a number of separate battles against IS. Members of the jihadist group recaptured several villages from foreign-backed rebels in their counter attack near the Turkish border, the Observatory said. The rebels, whom Turkey has supported with tanks and air strikes, had been pushing towards the IS stronghold of Dabiq, a village of symbolic importance to the militants. The stiff resistance the insurgents have encountered in recent days shows the challenge they face in capturing Dabiq and flushing the jihadist group out of more areas it controls in northern Syria. (Reporting by John Davison; additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations and Daren Butler in Istanbul; editing by John Stonestreet and Bernard Orr)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - A powerful Syrian Islamist insurgent group on Sunday pledged allegiance to former al Qaeda branch Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, a statement circulated by rebel officials and reported by a monitoring group said. The Jund al-Aqsa group said it was trying to settle differences with Ahrar al-Sham, with which it has been fighting for days in the northwestern Idlib province, so as not to weaken rebel fighting against President Bashar al-Assad's government. Government forces in recent days have captured territory from rebels taking advantage of infighting, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported. On Sunday they made further gains, recapturing the villages of Maan and al-Kabariya, which rebels including Jund al-Aqsa fighters had seized last month. The Observatory, which also reported Jund al-Aqsa's announcement, said the group was seeking the protection of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. Jund al-Aqsa's statement - circulated by rebel officials from other groups and carrying the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham stamp - did not say how pledging allegiance to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham would mend its relationship with Ahrar al-Sham. The British-based Observatory said the two rebel groups were still fighting late into Sunday evening. The move appears to formalize Jund al-Aqsa's ties with Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly the Nusra Front, which changed its name in July and said it was breaking from the al Qaeda network founded by Osama bin Laden. Jund al-Aqsa, which is on the U.S. State Department's list of terrorist groups, has been heavily involved in fighting in the west and north of Syria including around Aleppo in the most recent months of the five-year-old civil war that has killed hundreds of thousands of people. Syria's Islamist insurgents have eclipsed more moderate and Western-backed nationalist rebel groups in the conflict. Nusra Front's breaking of ties from al Qaeda appeared aimed at assuaging Syrians who had misgivings about its links with foreign jihadists. Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri said at the time that the split would help unite Syrian insurgents. (Reporting by John Davison; Editing by Louise Ireland)
DAR ES SALAAM, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Tanzania has secured $258.82 million from the African Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency for a high voltage electricity line to connect its national power grid to Kenya's, its power utility said on Sunday.

The 400 kilovolt (kV) line will be completed within two years and is part of efforts to deepen integration between the two countries' economies, Tanzania's TANESCO said in a statement on its website.

Kenya has already agreed to pay $50.45 million for work on the link on its side of the border.

Bouygues Energies & Services, Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd and Energoinvest have been awarded contracts to build the line, TANESCO's statement said.

(Reporting by Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala; Editing by George Obulutsa and Louise Ireland)
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Tanzania has secured $258.82 million from the African Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency for a high voltage electricity line to connect its national power grid to Kenya's, its power utility said on Sunday. The 400 kilovolt (kV) line will be completed within two years and is part of efforts to deepen integration between the two countries' economies, Tanzania's TANESCO said in a statement on its website. Kenya has already agreed to pay $50.45 million for work on the link on its side of the border. Bouygues Energies & Services, Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd and Energoinvest have been awarded contracts to build the line, TANESCO's statement said. (Reporting by Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala; Editing by George Obulutsa and Louise Ireland)
The death toll was one of the largest in any single incident since the Saudi-led alliance began military operations to try to restore President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power following his ousting by the Iran-aligned Houthis in March 2015.

People stand at the site of an airstrike which witnesses said was by Saudi-led coalition aircraft on mourners at a hall in Sanaa, Yemen, on October 8, 2016. Reuters

By India Today Web Desk: Warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition dropped bombs on a funeral at a crowded community hall in Yemen's capital Sanaa, killing more than 150 people and injuring more than 500. The coalition, however, has denied its involvement and said that it does not target civilians.

OVER 525 PEOPLE INJURED

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in its statement said that it was "shocked and outraged" by the airstrikes adding that, "Initial reports from health officials in Sana'a indicate that over 140 people were killed and over 525 injured."

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The airstrike occurred in the southern part of the city, where a wake was taking place for the father of the administration's interior minister, Jalal al-Roweishan, who had died of natural causes on Friday.

The death toll was one of the largest in any single incident since the Saudi-led alliance began military operations to try to restore President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power following his ousting by the Iran-aligned Houthis in March 2015.

US THREATENS TO WITHDRAW SUPPORT TO SAUDI

The White House condemned the airstrike, with US National Security Council spokesman Ned Price saying in a statement, "In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led coalition and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with US principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemen's tragic conflict."

Iran expressed its strong disapproval over the "inhumane and heinous crime."

Witnesses said that the fighter jet bombed the community hall twice, where hundreds of mourners had gathered. One of the missiles set the grand hall on fire, and the other landed nearby.

SCENE OF CARNAGE

Witnesses spoke about the charred bodies, several cut to shreds, with children among the victims. Ambulances rushed to the spot and have appealed to the people to donate blood.

A spokesman for Yemen's Houthi group condemned the strike as an act of savagery.

(With inputs from agencies)



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BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's 88-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest reigning monarch, is in an unstable condition after receiving hemodialysis treatment, the palace said in a statement late on Sunday. News about the king's health is closely monitored in Thailand, where King Bhumibol is deeply revered. The king has been treated for various ailments over the past year at Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital - his home for much of the past year - and was last seen in public on Jan. 11, when he spent several hours visiting his palace in the Thai capital. Anxiety over the king's health and an eventual succession has formed the backdrop to more than a decade of bitter political divide in Thailand that has included two military coups and often-violent street demonstrations. Sunday's statement was the second health bulletin this month after the palace said on Oct. 1 that the king was recovering after a respiratory infection. On Saturday, he was given hemodialysis - a way of cleansing the blood of toxins, extra salts and fluids - which made his blood pressure drop occasionally, the palace said. Doctors gave him some medicine and put him on a ventilator to bring his blood pressure back to normal, it said. They continue to monitor his condition closely, the statement said. "His condition has yet to stabilize," the palace said. News about the royal family is tightly controlled in Thailand, where laws protecting the royals from insult make it a crime to defame, insult or threaten the king, queen, heir to the throne or regent. (Reporting by Khettiya Jittapong; Editing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Louise Ireland)
The number of war-displaced civilians in Kunduz has more than doubled to 24,000, the UN said Sunday, as street battles persisted a week after the Taliban stormed into the northern Afghan city.

Terrified residents facing a growing humanitarian crisis have been fleeing explosions and gunfights to neighbouring provinces of Balkh, Takhar, Baghlan and the capital Kabul.

"Initial reports indicate that around 24,000 internally displaced persons" have fled Kunduz, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement.

"As assessments are ongoing and families are still on the move, this figure will almost certainly change."

The UN had earlier said up to 10,000 people had fled the city, which briefly fell last year to the Taliban in a similar assault.

Kunduz residents have faced crippling shortages of food and medicine after the Taliban launched an all-out assault last Monday, capturing parts of the city.

Afghan forces have struggled to flush them out of residential neighbourhoods, with the government saying the clearance operation was being carefully conducted to prevent civilian casualties.

At least three civilians have been killed and more than 290 wounded, according to the Kunduz general hospital, but local residents say the actual toll is much higher.

"Key parts of the city have been cleared, with 52 insurgents killed in the last 24 hours," the interior ministry said on Sunday.

The Taliban attack on Afghanistan's fifth largest city a year after it was overrun by insurgents has raised serious concerns about the capacity of NATO-trained government forces to protect large urban centres.

"Kunduz is a tragedy caused by the government's failure to stop the Taliban from entering the city," Kunduz MP Fatima Aziz told local TOLO TV.

"If the senior officials of Kunduz had been held accountable last time we wouldn't be facing this renewed crisis."

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US forces are supporting Afghan troops in clearance operations inside Kunduz, with at least six air strikes against Taliban positions since Thursday.

"Military reinforcements have reached Kunduz, and the enemy will be defeated and punished," President Ashraf Ghani said in a televised speech on Sunday.

After their assault on Kunduz, the Taliban have also attempted to overrun other provincial capitals, from Baghlan in the north to Farah in the west, but Afghan forces have managed to repel the attacks.

Afghanistan on Friday marked 15 years since the US invasion of the country which toppled the Taliban from power.

The country has become Washington's longest military intervention since Vietnam -- and the most costly, now crossing $100 billion.
(SANAA, Yemen)  Thousands of Yemenis marched in the capital Sanaa on Sunday to protest a Saudi-led coalition airstrike a day earlier that hit a funeral hall packed with hundreds of mourners, killing over 140 people.

The casualty toll, given by a U.N. official, also mentioned over 525 wounded in what was one of the deadliest single attacks of the countrys civil war. The rebel-controlled Health Ministry gave a lower figure, saying that 115 bodies had been counted but that the number will likely rise because charred remains were still being identified. Of the 600 wounded it tallied, it said many cases were serious and at least 300 would need treatment abroad.

Some of the demonstrators who marched outside the U.N. building in southern Sanaa blamed the organization for not ending the conflict and urged an independent investigation. Some protesters brandished automatic weapons and rebel supporters in the crowd called on people from the region to rise up and attack Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi military announced early Sunday it would launch an investigation into reports about the regrettable and painful bombing in Sanaa, without acknowledging that its coalition battling rebels in Yemen is the only force with air power in the conflict.

It is the latest in a string of bombings by the coalition that have struck hospitals, markets and other places where civilians congregate.

The place has been turned into a lake of blood, said one rescuer, Murad Tawfiq.

Yemeni officials said the dead and wounded included military and security officials from the ranks of the Shiite Houthis rebels and their allies, loyalists of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Houthi leader Abdul-Malek al-Houthi decried the attacks in a televised address, saying that they had been done with U.S. weapons and with a green light from Washington. Saleh also took to state TV to call on citizens to head to the Saudi border and attack soldiers there to avenge the deaths. The rebel alliance is battling the internationally-recognized government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

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Saturdays funeral was held for Sheikh Ali al-Rawishan, the father of Galal al-Rawishan, the interior minister in the rebel-led government. Among those killed was Maj. Gen. Abdul-Qader Hilal, head of the capitals local council, officials said, while Galal al-Rawishan was seriously wounded.

In the aftermath of the strike, hundreds of body parts were found strewn in and outside the hall. Rescuers collected them in sacks. The strike left the building little more than a shell, with most of its walls and roof gone. Cars parked outside were mangled by the blast.

Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the Houthi spokesman in Sanaa, angrily denounced the airstrike as the latest act of genocide by the Saudi-led coalition.

The silence of the United Nations and the international community is the munition of the murderers, he said. Those murderers will not escape divine justice.

In a statement early Sunday, Saudi Arabia said an investigation would be launched into the strike. Previous investigations by the Saudis have blamed Houthi or rebel forces for gathering near the sites of their attacks.

The coalition supporting the legitimate government in Yemen has announced that it is aware of reports about the regrettable and painful bombing of the Great Hall in Sanaa today, which led to the killing and injuring of casualties, as reported, the statement read.

It added: The coalition confirms that its troops have clear instructions not to target populated area and to avoid civilians.

Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, said in a statement that the relief community in the country is shocked and outraged by the airstrikes. He condemned the horrific attack and reminded all parties that under international humanitarian law, they are obliged to protect civilians and civilian infrastructures. He called for an immediate investigation into the incident.

The international community must exert pressure and influence on all parties to the conflict to ensure civilians are protected, McGoldrick said. This violence against civilians in Yemen must stop immediately.

Initial reports from health officials in Sanaa indicate that over 140 people were killed and more than 525 injured, McGoldrick said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the bombing in a statement Sunday, saying that any deliberate attack against civilians is utterly unacceptable  Those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice.

The strike also prompted outrage in Hadis government, with Foreign Minister Abdulmalik al-Mekhlafi taking to social media to condemn it as a crime.

The incident has led the U.S. to initiate an immediate review of its already reduced support for the Saudi-led coalition, White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said. He warned that U.S. security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check.

The United States has backed the coalition with multi-billion dollar arms sales and provided logistical and intelligence support, though it reportedly began pulling some soldiers from that task in August over concerns about civilian casualties in Saudi-led airstrikes.

The Saudi-led coalition backs Hadis government which, together with its own allies, is fighting the Houthis and Saleh loyalists in a civil war that broke out in 2014. Its a war largely overshadowed by the conflict against the Islamic State group elsewhere in the Middle East, though rights groups have mounted increased criticism of the Saudi-led airstrikes in recent months.

Saturdays attack comes after a Saudi-led coalition March 15 airstrike on a market in Yemens northwestern city of Mastaba that killed at least 119 people. Saudi forces reportedly used U.S. munitions in that strike, which at the time was described as the second-deadliest of the Saudi campaign, after a July 2015 attack near a power plant in Mokha that killed at least 120 people.

A recent report by the U.N.s human rights chief, Zeid Raad al-Hussein, estimated that 3,799 civilians have been killed since the Saudi-led air campaign began in March of last year. The U.N. and rights groups estimate the conflict has claimed the lives of at least 9,000 people and displaced nearly 3 million more in the Arab worlds poorest country.

According to the report, coalition airstrikes were responsible for 60 percent of civilian deaths over a yearlong span starting in July last year. Just under one-quarter  475  civilian deaths were attributed to rebel forces like those loyal to Saleh, and another 113 to affiliates of al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

___

Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Wind gusts and storms lashed the Australian state of Victoria on Sunday, killing one woman and disrupting power supplies to more than 100,000 people. Roughly 120,000 homes were without power across the country's second-most populous state and Melbourne's International Airport closed one of two runways, causing significant delays. A woman in her 50s died when a tree fell on her home in the town of Milgrove, east of Melbourne, Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said. Falling trees injured several other people. The electricity outages come a week after severe storms and lighting strikes left all of South Australia state without power for nearly 24 hours, grinding industries to a halt. An independent review into the South Australian blackout was launched on Friday, after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, of the conservative Liberal Party, blamed the state's high dependence on renewables for the outage. Turnbull's assessment drew criticism from state leaders, who accused the prime minister of letting ideology drive his comments. (Reporting by Jarni Blakkarly; Editing by Stephen Coates)
Saturday Night Live veterans Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon made a special appearance during the "Weekend Update" segment on Saturday's episode, appearing as female voters from Philadelphia.

Colin Jost introduced them as part of a story about the election's swing states, saying that after the lewd tapes were released with presidential candidate Donald Trump making offensive remarks against women, female voters in the area have become the most important voters of this election.

Fey and Fallon appeared in full Philly gear and sporting local accents (that Fallon kept slipping out of).

"You love Trump," Fey said. "You're always like, 'Oh, his hair's real, ya know,'" referencing Trump's appearance on The Tonight Show, when Fallon was playful with the Republican candidate, mussing his hair and joking about the election.

Read more: Alec Baldwin's Trump Addresses Tape Controversy on 'SNL': "Are You Not Entertained?"

"I don't like that he called Alicia Machado fat," said Fallon.

Fey quipped: "He looks like someone who opened a quesadilla to pick the chicken out."

She added that she also had problems with Hillary Clinton, however, because when her husband cheated on her she "didn't finish the job," suggesting she should have "cut off [Gennifer Flowers'] ponytail."

"Men are always gonna be gross," Fallon said, when Jost asked them to clarify that their opinion was that Trump "is like a drunk clown."

The duo weren't big fans of Trump's running mate, either. "He seems normal because he's next to Trump - he's really Biff from Back to the Future," Fey said. "Also it's 2016, what old white man still thinks he's in charge of gays and women?"

Read more: Lin-Manuel Miranda Spoofs 'Stranger Things,' 'Hamilton' on 'SNL'
By Chris Michaud

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Long Island Rail Road passenger train derailed on Saturday near the community of New Hyde Park, New York, injuring as many as 29 people and halting service on the key transit line in both directions, railroad officials and police said.

Official details were not available on the precise circumstances of the incident, which occurred at about 9 p.m. local time (0100 GMT) when a passenger train struck a work train about 20 miles (32 km) east of Manhattan, according to police.

It was not immediately clear if the work train was stationary at the time.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano told a news conference 29 people were treated in hospitals for non-life threatening injuries such as broken bones and concussions. Scores more were evaluated or treated at the scene for scrapes or bruises.

A statement from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, citing "early reports," put the number of injuries at 11, "none of which are considered to be serious."

According to Cuomo, the 12-car train was heading eastbound on the railroad's main line carrying about 600 passengers when the first three cars derailed a half mile east of the New Hyde Park Station.

Photos from the scene of the wreck posted on social media showed at least two of the derailed train cars leaning upright but askew and partly off the track.

People riding on the train told local media they saw sparks or fire outside the windows after the train, which had been moving at a normal speed, began shaking mildly, then more violently before striking something and coming to a halt.

The New Hyde Park stop is just east of the border with the New York City borough of Queens. The rail line, one of the busiest commuter routes into America's largest city, said the derailment had forced suspension of service in both directions.

Saturday's accident on Long Island comes nine days after a passenger train crashed into a terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey, a major commuter route from New York City's western suburbs. That crash killed one person and injured more than 100.

(Additional reporting by Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Bill Rigby and Paul Tait)
New York (AFP) - A New York commuter train derailed outside the city late Saturday, authorities said, without immediately confirming reports that dozens have minor injuries.

"The 9:22PM train from Penn due Huntington at 10:28PM has been canceled due to a train derailment near New Hyde Park," the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) said on Twitter.

Earlier service had been suspended on the same line due to the train's collision with a smaller service vehicle.

Passengers were evacuated, the LIRR showed on its feed.

The local ABC television affiliate reported there were four injuries; other sources said there were dozens, none of them serious.

Just last week, a commuter train slammed into a New Jersey train station.

The morning rush-hour collision at the Hoboken terminal killed one person and injured 114, causing major destruction at the transit choke point and gateway to Manhattan.
Its been pretty clear for a long time now that Donald Trump would be willing to burn the Republican Party to the ground if he believed it would serve his purposes to do so. On Sunday morning, having spent the last few days loading up the Grand Old Party with gasoline cans and oil-soaked rags, he finally lit the match.

The Republican presidential nominee had watched dozens of Republican lawmakers rush to rescind their endorsements of his candidacy and express their shock and horror after a video surfaced in which Trump explicitly discusses sexually assaulting women. Trump claims that his celebrity status means there is nothing they can do about it.

Related: There Is No Honor Left in Abandoning Trump Now

Bleeding support and deserted by most of his usual stable of enablers and apologists, he raged on Twitter about So many self-righteous hypocrites. Watch their poll numbers - and elections - go down! He claimed that he still has Tremendous support (except for some Republican leadership). Thank you.

And then, according to New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin, his campaign began distributing talking points to the dwindling number of surrogates willing to speak for him, urging them to go on the attack against other Republicans who have abandoned him.

They are more concerned with their political future than they are about the future of the country, the campaign argued, according to Martin. And, Trump won the Primary without the help of the insiders and hell win the General without them, too.

Trump further telegraphed that tonight, when he takes the stage to face Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, the topic of her husbands infidelities, and unconfirmed claims that he sexually assaulted women, will be front and center. He retweeted an account from a woman who claims Bill Clinton raped her, and tweeted out a link to an exclusive interview with the woman published by the Breitbart.com website.

Related: With Friends Like Trump, Senate Republicans Dont Need Enemies

As the list of Republicans publicly repudiating his candidacy continued to grow on Sunday, Trump was getting little assistance from those who have been closest to him during the campaign.

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Campaign manager Kellyanne Conway and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie both cancelled appearances on the Sunday talk shows, and Trumps own vice presidential running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence backed out of making an appearance on Trumps behalf.

The campaign could only trot out a beaten-down-looking Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, who made the rounds of all five of the major shows. He had to ritually listen to and condemn Trumps statements, admit that what the nominee was describing in vivid detail was actually sexual assault, and then go on to make the case that people should vote for him anyway.

The thinning of his ranks of surrogates makes it unclear just how many of his erstwhile supporters will be willing to turn their guns on the GOP establishment just 30 days from a general election. However, Trump has more than enough of a megaphone himself to make sure that the message gets out to his supporters that he feels he has been betrayed.

Related: Mike Pence Is Giving a Lot of Trump Supporters Buyers Remorse

It is the ultimate nightmare scenario for the Republican Party. Not only has its headline candidate now alienated many potential Republican voters, he also appears prepared to convince even those who stayed loyal to him that the broader GOP is unworthy of their support -- a move that could cost the party control of the Senate and perhaps, if things get ugly enough, the House of Representatives.

What its not is a strategy that will win him the White House. His chance of seeing the inside of the Oval Office, outside joining a tour group, now seem minimal. But at this point, its not about the presidency. Its about aggrandizing and justifying Donald Trump.

In fact, thats all his campaign has ever been about.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
By PTI: From Anisur Rahman

Dhaka, Oct 8 (PTI) At least 11 suspected Islamists militants, including the new leader of a banned terror outfit, were killed in three separate raids carried out by security forces on their hideouts here today.

Seven militants were killed in Gazipur citys Afarkhola area in a raid at a two-storey house by the counter-terrorism unit of police.

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"Seven militants were killed in our encounter with them at Afarkhola area of (suburban) Gazipur," additional police chief of the district Russel Sheikh told PTI.

Dhaka regional commander of reconstituted Jamaatul Mujaheedin Bangladesh or Neo-JMB, Akash, was also among the dead militants, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told reporters.

Akash led the Neo JMBs Dhaka city unit after the death of Tamim Chowdhury, who was killed during a raid earlier in Narayanganj. The identities of other militants, however, could not be ascertained immediately.

The law enforcers, using a loudspeaker, asked the militants to surrender but they traded gunfire, ignoring the call, said Monirul Islam, chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), The Daily Star reported.

The development came hours after elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) killed four militants in near-simultaneous raids on their hide-outs in Gazipur and central Tangail district.

"Four members of the neo-JMB (Jamaatul Mujaheedin Bangladesh) were killed in two separate encounters in (suburban) Gazipur and Tangail," RAB spokesman Commander Mufti Mahmud Khan had told reporters.

An AK-47 rifle, dozens of bullets, bomb-making explosive substances, four laptops, three machetes and a laminating machine were also recovered from a hide-out, an official said.

Neo-JMB is said to be ideologically linked to the ISIS which had claimed responsibility of the attack on Dhakas Holey Artisan restaurant on July 1 in which nine Italians, seven Japanese, an American, an Indian and five Bangladeshis, including two police officers, were killed.

Todays anti-militant clampdown was the second massive crackdown since July 26 when nine suspected militants were killed in a pre-dawn police raid at their hideout here.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at that time said that a major terrorist attack was averted in Bangladesh with the security raid as the militants had hatched a plot to stage another July 1 like assault. PTI AR MRJ

--- ENDS ---
(Editors Note: Attention language that may be offensive to some readers in paragraphs 22, 23, 24) By Emily Stephenson and Ginger Gibson NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With his campaign in crisis, U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump vowed on Saturday to stay in the race despite calls from more than two dozen prominent Republicans for him to drop out following the release of a recording of him making lewd comments about women. Both Trump's wife and his running mate criticized his words, saying they were insulting and indefensible. "The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly - I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN!" Trump wrote on Saturday afternoon on the social media website Twitter. The video was the latest calamity for Trump, who had hoped to revive his flagging campaign in the face of a recent drop in polls with less than a month until Election Day. Trump is due to appear alongside Democrat Hillary Clinton on Sunday in their second debate in the run-up to the general election. Clinton is not expected to address Trump's video before then. The 2005 video of Trump talking on an open microphone showed the then-reality TV star speaking about groping women and trying to seduce a married woman. The video was taped only months after Trump married his third wife, Melania. In a statement, Melania Trump called her husband's words "unacceptable and offensive to me." "This does not represent the man that I know," she said. "He has the heart and mind of a leader. I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world." The backlash over the video was swift and widespread. More than 60 prominent Republican current and former officeholders issued statements condemning Trump's remarks about women, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and John McCain, the party's standard bearer in 2008. More than 20 called for Trump to end his presidential bid. In an unusual move, his vice presidential running mate Mike Pence issued a critical statement of Trump's words, saying on Twitter that he "cannot defend them." "As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump," said Pence, who is governor of Indiana. Pence indicated he would continue to support Trump, despite calls from several Republicans for Trump to step aside and let Pence be the nominee. There is no precedent for a major party to replace its nominee this late in the campaign and it was unclear if there was an avenue to force him out. Voting has begun in several states, including swing states Virginia and North Carolina. A recorded apology by Trump early on Saturday did not stymie an avalanche of calls from members of his party to quit. Trump huddled on Saturday in Trump Tower with senior advisers, including New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Despite previous scheduling, Giuliani will appear on five major Sunday morning news programs, a rare round robin reserved for major news events - replacing Republican Chairman Reince Priebus on CBS's "Face the Nation" and campaign manager Kellyanne Conway on "Fox News Sunday," a last-minute switch. No reason was given for the bump of Conway. A CBS news release said the RNC asked to replace Priebus because Trump's operation wanted "a campaign person" to appear on the program. Trump left the building briefly to greet a small crowd of supporters, saying "100 percent" he would remain in the race. Before returning to a bank of elevators, he told reporters, "Tremendous support." He quickly moved to do damage control in Saturday's video in which he declared himself a changed man and attempted to shift the focus to his opponent Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton. On Twitter, Trump posted critical statements from Juanita Broaddrick, a woman who has accused Bill Clinton of sexually assaulting her. "Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize," Trump said in his video statement, posted on his Facebook page. COMMENTS CONDEMNED Trump has struggled to win over women voters, and the video was expected to further feed Democratic criticism about his past behavior toward women. Trump's support has suffered among suburban women and white, college-educated women, groups that Republicans have traditionally won. In the recording that triggered the firestorm, Trump said of one woman, "I did try and fuck her. She was married." He went on to discuss his attraction to others. "I just start kissing them," he said. "And when youre a star they let you do it." "Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything," Trump said. On Saturday afternoon, CNN published a separate report detailing remarks Trump made over the course of several years while appearing on Howard Stern's radio program. The remarks included discussing the size of his daughter's breasts and that he once had sex with three women at the same time. Trump was asked if he would have sex with a black woman and responded, "It depends on what your definition of black is." The remarks were the last straw for some Republicans who have stuck with him through a series of controversial remarks, including calling Mexican immigrants "rapists" and "criminals," calling for a ban on Muslim immigrants, attacking a judge of Mexican descent, attacking the Gold Star family of a Muslim soldier killed at war and saying Senator John McCain was not a war hero because he had been a prisoner of war. House Speaker Paul Ryan disinvited Trump to a scheduled appearance on Saturday in Wisconsin. Pence declined to speak in his place. The list of Republicans announcing they would not vote for Trump or calling on him to step aside grew on Saturday: Senators Kelly Ayotte, Lisa Murkowsi, Dan Sullivan, Mark Kirk, Jeff Flake, John Thune, Mike Crapo, Shelley Moore Capito and Mike Lee; House members Jason Chaffetz, Mia Love, Joe Heck, Bradley Byrne, Martha Roby and Barbara Comstock; and Governors John Kasich, Dennis Daugaard and Gary Herbert. Additionally, former presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Carly Fiorina and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Trump to quit. "Donald Trumps behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy," McCain said in a statement. While Democrats largely remained silent, opting to let Republicans attack one of their own, Vice President Joe Biden wrote on Twitter, "The words are demeaning. Such behavior is an abuse of power. Its not lewd. Its sexual assault." Some prominent Republicans indicated they would stick with Trump. Ralph Reed, head of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, and Tony Perkins, head of the conservative Family Research Council, said they would continue to support him. "I think 10 years ago he was a different man," said Representative Jack Kingston, a Republican from Georgia. "I am very glad that he quickly apologized." (Additional reporting by Grant Smith, Amy Tennery, Jeff Mason and Emily Flitter in New York, Ayesha Rascoe in Chicago, Steve Holland, Amanda Becker, Eric Beech and Mohammed Zargham in Washington; Writing by Ginger Gibson, Steve Holland and Roberta Rampton; Editing by James Dalgleish, Toni Reinhold and Bernard Orr)
By Gina Cherelus (Reuters) - A suspect arrested in the fatal shooting of two California police officers had high-capacity ammunition magazines and concealable soft body armor when he was captured, law enforcement authorities said on Sunday. John Felix, 26, was taken into custody by a SWAT team in Palm Springs, California, early Sunday morning after an hours-long standoff that began when four officers arrived at the home to investigate a report of a family dispute. He was not armed at the time of his arrest. The officers came under fire soon after arriving at the residence in response to a call from a woman who said her son was causing a disturbance, police said. The officers killed were Jose Vega, 63, a veteran of the Palm Springs Police Department who planned to retire in December, and Lesley Zerebny, 27, who was on the force for a year and a half and had just returned from maternity leave after giving birth to a daughter. A third officer, who authorities declined to identify, suffered non-life threatening injuries and is expected to be released from a hospital shortly. Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes said at a news conference that the officer was providing details about the incident to investigators. A neighbor, Juan Graciano, 67, said on Saturday that he heard angry shouting between a father and son who live at the residence before the older man emerged from the home, crossed the street and asked another neighbor to call for help. After the initial shooting, dozens of officers in tactical gear and backed by an armored vehicle set up positions outside the home where the suspect had barricaded himself and continued to fire shots. Police deployed robots inside the residence but failed to pinpoint the suspect's location. They then released "chemical agents" inside of the home and Felix came out shortly after. Ray Wood, the Riverside County Sheriff Department's chief deputy, said officers used "less lethal ammunitions to subdue the suspect" when he still refused to surrender. Felix was treated at a hospital after his arrest. He will be booked on two counts of murder of a police officer, authorities said in a statement. He could receive the death penalty if convicted. Police would not comment on the suspect's criminal record but The Desert Sun newspaper reported Felix was previously sentenced to four years in prison in an attempted gang-affiliated killing. (Reporting by Gina Cherelus in New York; Additional reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Bill Trott)
SEOUL (Reuters) - Washington will use all available means outside the U.N. Security Council to isolate North Korea over its nuclear weapons program and counter its growing threat to world order, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations said on Sunday. The United States will also use its military as a deterrent to the North's threat, Ambassador Samantha Power told a news conference in Seoul, after visiting the heavily armed Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) border between the rival Koreas. "While Security Council resolutions are one tool in our tool box ... we are committed to using all the tools in our tool kit to address this serious threat including the diplomatic pressure that we are mobilizing around the world to convince other nations to isolate the regime," Power said. Power's visit to the region, which included a stop in Tokyo last week, comes amid a push for tougher Security Council sanctions after the North's fifth nuclear test last month in defiance of a series of U.N. resolutions. The United States and South Korea have been pushing governments around the world to take unilateral action including discouraging countries from using North Korean workers and ending visa waivers for North Koreans. North Korea conducted its fifth and biggest nuclear test on Sept. 9 and South Korea has said it believes the North is ready to conduct another test at any time. An increase in activity at the North's nuclear test site could signal preparations for a new test, a U.S.-based monitoring group, 38 North, said on Friday. The North has defied U.N. sanctions since conducting its firth nuclear test in 2006 and has pressed ahead with the development of weapons programs including a range of ballistic missiles, which it says it needs for self-defense. (Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Stephen Coates)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will review its support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, a U.S. National Security Council spokesman said on Saturday, after an air strike killed at least 82 mourners at a hall in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. "U.S. security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check," said NSC spokesman Ned Price in a statement. "In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led Coalition." (Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati; Editing by Bill Rigby)
London (AFP) - British UKIP MEP Steven Woolfe was discharged from hospital on Sunday, a spokesman said, three days after collapsing in the European Parliament following an altercation.

"Steven Woolfe has today been discharged from hospital in Strasbourg," a spokesman for the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) said in an emailed statement.

"He is focused on continuing his recovery and will not be making any further statements today."

Woolfe, a favourite to win the party's forthcoming leadership contest, was taken to hospital with a suspected head injury after he collapsed in the parliament on Thursday.

He had earlier been involved in an altercation in which he claimed that fellow UKIP MEP Mike Hookem had hit him -- an allegation Hookem denies, saying it was more of a "scuffle".

Investigations are under way by both UKIP and parliamentary authorities into the incident, which has plunged the already divided party into fresh turmoil.

UKIP was one of the driving forces behind the June referendum vote to leave the European Union, but its success has left the party facing an existential crisis.

Party leader Nigel Farage, its most recognisable figure, resigned after the referendum and his successor, Diane James, quit earlier this week after just 18 days in the job, saying she did not have the full support of UKIP MEPs.

The row between Woolfe and Hookem reportedly came after Woolfe admitted that he had considered joining Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party, which made a clear pitch for UKIP voters at its annual conference this week.

UKIP was the third largest party by votes cast at the 2015 general election, but has just one member of parliament.

Some in the party have suggested that Woolfe should be barred from continuing in the race to lead UKIP following the altercation in Strasbourg.

On Saturday night, Woolfe put out a statement saying that an independent medical examination found that injuries to his face, head and body were "inconsistent with just a seizure, or a fall as a result of a seizure".

"The team of experts also examined other pieces of evidence including clothing and images relating to those injuries. Their report will shine a different light on claims currently being made in the media," the statement said.

But Hookem stood by his version of events, posting a photograph on Twitter of his hands, saying: "Can you see any bruising or abrasions?"
Geneva (AFP) - UN chief Ban Ki-moon called Sunday for a swift, independent probe into the air raid that killed more than 140 people at a funeral in Yemen, demanding the perpetrators face justice.

"The Secretary-General condemns the attack on an event hall," said a statement from Ban's office. "Any deliberate attack against civilians is utterly unacceptable."

The Saudi-led coalition, which is fighting rebels in Yemen and has been blamed for the Saturday strikes, has promised to investigate the incident it described as "regrettable and painful".

Ban said the probe must be "prompt and impartial."

"Those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice," he added.

Ban's statement said that the attack was "said to have been airstrikes by the coalition", but the UN leader did not directly assign blame.

The attack, one of the deadliest since the coalition launched a military campaign against Yemen-backed Huthi rebels in March last year, also wounded more than 525 people, according to the UN.
CBI claims it has more evidence concerning Peter, which also attests to him being the conspirator in the murder.

By Vidya : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) strongly believes that former Television head honcho was deeply involved in the plan to kill Sheena Bora in 2012. He did not partake in the killing, but according to the CBI, apart from knowing about it, he was an active conspirator in the killing of Sheena Bora.

According to CBI, the relationship between Indrani and Sheena was strained especially after Peter and Indrani had willed a Delhi house to Sheena but later sold it. Sheena had started asking for some property in Mumbai to be willed in her name after this. Rahul, on the other hand had no source of income. He sold off some property that Peter had willed to him and the money received was used to procure interest from bank. However, Sheena was earning Rs 30,000 a month from her job but had to pay rent worth Rs 25,000 a month.

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CBI officials attest to a crippling financial situation burdened by expenses considering the fact that the young couple had a lavish lifestyle of partying. Sheena started pestering and blackmailing Indrani for a flat in Mumbai which did not go down well with Indrani and Peter. Indrani and Sheena could not stand each other but to execute the plan Indrani started advancing friendly ties with her and prior to the plan of executing Sheena, Indrani had come down to Mumbai from UK where she stayed with Peter to do the ground work of planning the murder. Even during this time Peter and Indrani spoke but the conversation lasted for a short duration.

According to the Additional Solicitor General of India, Anil Singh who has been handling the case since the first few days of remand, there is a pattern in the call records. He says, Indrani calls up Peter immediately after conversations with Indrani. Its not just evident during the first visit but also on the second visit when the plan to murder Sheena was going to be executed.??

CBI believes that they have ample evidence against Peter as well. Police officials confirm that the biggest proof of his involvement can be found in Indrani's call records, already perused by CBI in the court.

A close look at the call details shows that many numbers of calls and messages between Peter and Indrani were exchanged after Indrani interacted with Sheena over messages or calls. CBI is not in the favour of terming it a sheer co-incidence.

Former HR executive Indrani Mukerjea had been spending time with her husband Peter Mukerjea in London and she often came to Mumbai for work.

CBI has so far perused the call details of Indrani for a few days in Januray, April and October. It is the April conversations though that are significantly relevant. From the records, it was found that Indrani started conversing over messages with Sheena and after many exchanges, she called Peter twice who was in England at that time. The second call lasted for a longer duration, comparatively.

On April 8, Indrani messaged Sheena and Peter one after another, apart from texting a few more people. Next day, Indrani had also called Peter after exchanging a message with Sheena. Indrani also made a call to Psychiatrist Yusuf Machiswala later in the night on the day Sheena was murdered.

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When Sheena was murdered, number of calls and the duration for which the Indrani and Peter were conversing is quite high and went beyond 25 minutes at a time, CBI observed. The defence lawyers on the other hand had told the court that since, the two are husband and wife, they can talk for number of times and for whatever duration they wish, citing that this evidence cannot be held against the couple. CBI, however, even after months of interrogation is not willing to buy this co-incidence.

READ| Peter Mukerjea on Sheena Bora audio tapes: Helped Rahul with transcripts



CBI goes ahead and points out that after Sheena's fiance and Peter's son Rahul did not meet Sheena and was not able to contact her, he reached Peter Mukerjea's residence at Worli.

On April 25, when Rahul reached the Worli residence Marlow, he didn't find anyone there except the servant, Waghmare. Waghmare immediately called Indrani and informed her that Rahul was there. Indrani then called Peter who called Waghmare asking about Rahul's visit.

According to the agency if Peter was not involved then the entire circle of call and enquiries made about Rahul's presence at Marlow does not add up.

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READ| Sheena Bora murder: No objection to Indrani's driver Shyamvar turning approver, says CBI

CBI claims it has more evidence concerning Peter, which also attests to Peter being the conspirator in the murder. Further information will be revealed by CBI and shared with Peter's lawyer as the investigation stands at a crucial stage, as of now.

ALSO READ: Sheena Bora case: CBI court to pass order on Peter's plea to delay trial

ALSO READ: Sheena Bora murder: Driver says Indrani strangulated daughter, silent on Peter

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Riyadh (AFP) - The Saudi-led coalition fighting rebels in Yemen said on Sunday it is ready to investigate together with the United States an air strike on a funeral ceremony in Sanaa that killed more than 140 people.

The Iran-backed Huthi rebels have blamed the Arab coalition for Saturday's attack, one of the deadliest since it launched a military campaign against the Shiite insurgents in March last year.

But after initially denying any responsibility, the coalition said it was ready to launch a probe into the "regrettable and painful" strike, which a UN official said also wounded more than 525 people.

"The coalition will immediately investigate this case along with Joint Incidents Assessment Team in Yemen and experts from the United States who participated in previous investigations," it said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

"The coalition is also willing to provide the investigation team with any data and information related to its military operations today, at the incident's location and the surrounding areas," it said.

"The result of the investigation should be announced as soon as it's completed."

The UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, said aid workers were "shocked and outraged" by the attacks that hit a community hall in the Yemeni capital where mourners had gathered.

Following the report, the United States said it would review its support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

"We are deeply disturbed by reports of today's air strike on a funeral hall in Yemen, which, if confirmed, would continue the troubling series of attacks striking Yemeni civilians," White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

"In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led coalition and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with US principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemen's tragic conflict."

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Price stressed that "US security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check", and called on all sides to implement an "immediate" ceasefire.

In August, the US military announced it had slashed its number of intelligence advisers supporting the Saudi-led coalition following concerns over civilian casualties.

In its statement, the coalition expressed its "deepest condolences and support to the families of the victims of hostilities since the coup takeover of power in Yemen during 2014".

"The coalition confirms that its troops have clear instructions not to target populated areas and to avoid civilians," said the Saudi-led alliance.

The coalition -- which also comprises Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Qatar, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates -- has faced repeated criticism from rights groups over civilian casualties in its campaign in Yemen.
Kuwait City (AFP) - A collision between a truck driven by an Egyptian and a vehicle carrying three US soldiers in Kuwait was a "terrorist attack," not an accident as first thought, the embassy confirmed Sunday.

"US Embassy in Kuwait confirms that what at first appeared to be a routine traffic accident involving three deployed US military personnel... was in fact an attempted terrorist attack," the mission said in a statement posted on its website.

The statement said the attack took place on Thursday and that the US soldiers escaped unhurt.

The soldiers also rescued the Egyptian driver when his truck caught fire, it said.

The Kuwaiti interior ministry said on Saturday that authorities arrested the Egyptian driver and found with him a hand-written note in which he had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State jihadist group.

It also said that the driver, identified as Ibrahim Sulaiman, 28, also carried a belt and material suspected of being explosives.

The ministry said the attack was on five Americans without saying they were troops.

The US embassy said it was not aware of specific, credible threats against private US citizens in Kuwait at this time.

But it warned that the attack serves as a reminder to maintain a high level of vigilance, advising US citizens to review their personal security plans and remain alert.

Kuwaiti authorities announced in July they had dismantled three IS cells plotting attacks, including a suicide bombing against a Shiite mosque and against an interior ministry target.

An IS-linked suicide bomber killed 26 worshippers in June last year when he blew himself up in a mosque of Kuwait's Shiite minority, in the worst such attack in the Gulf state's history.
By William Maclean DUBAI (Reuters) - An air strike on a funeral gathering, widely blamed on Saudi-led warplanes, poses more trouble for a Western-backed Arab campaign against Yemen's Houthis that has long been criticized for civilian losses. The White House announced an immediate review of Washington's support for the 18-month-old military push after planes hit mourners at a community hall in the capital, Sanaa, on Saturday, killing 140 people, according to one U.N. estimate and 82 according to the Houthis. The statement from Riyadh's main ally, noting for the second time in as many months that U.S. support was not "a blank check", sets up an awkward test of a Saudi-U.S. partnership already strained by differences over wars in other Arab lands. The reproach also indirectly hands a propaganda win to Riyadh's arch-rival, Tehran, a Houthi ally that has long seen the Sunni kingdom as a corrupt and domineering influence on its impoverished southern neighbor, diplomats say. Sources in the Saudi-led coalition denied any role in the attack, but Riyadh later promised an investigation of the "regrettable and painful" incident, with U.S. expert advice. The move was apparently aimed at heading off further criticism of a military campaign already under fire for causing hundreds of civilian deaths in apparently indiscriminate attacks. PRESSURE "There will be pressure on the campaign," said Mustafa Alani, a security analyst close to Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry. While the coalition followed very careful rules and understood human rights concerns, "there will now be pressure to end the whole operation, or to restrict the operation". An estimated 10,000 people have been killed in the war and the United Nations blames coalition strikes for 60 percent of some 3,800 civilian deaths since they began in March 2015. The outcry over civilian casualties has led some lawmakers in the United States and Britain as well as rights activists to push for curbs on arms sales to Riyadh, so far without success. The coalition denies deliberately targeting civilians and says it goes to great lengths to ensure its raids are precisely targeted, with explosive loads calibrated to limit the risk of causing damage beyond the immediate target area. Saudi officials said the kingdom did not want to fight a war in Yemen. "But we cannot stand by while insurgents overthrow a legitimate government in a neighboring state by force, while Yemen becomes a lawless state and terrorist haven, and while we are attacked across our border," one of the officials said. "Saudi Arabia will continue to provide military support to Yemens legitimate government while the insurgents continue their illegal campaign. ... But we will also continue to support and promote a negotiated settlement." The coalition accuses the Houthis, who seized much of the north in a series of military advances since 2014, of placing military targets in civilian areas. The Houthis deny that. Fury in Sanaa at Saturday's raid was echoed internationally. A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said any deliberate attack against civilians was utterly unacceptable. Ban called for "a prompt and impartial investigation of this incident. Those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice", the spokesman said. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a letter to Ban that the Saudi-led coalition and those who had supported it should "be held accountable for the war crimes perpetrated in Yemen over the past year and a half." Yemen and Saudi Arabia blame Shi'ite Iran for supplying weapons to the Houthis. Tehran views the Houthis, who hail from a Shi'ite sect, as the legitimate authority in Yemen but denies it supplies them with weapons. U.N. emergency relief coordinator Stephen O'Brien described the attack as obscene and heinous. France called it a "massacre" and said it wanted an independent inquiry. There was dismay, too, in the ranks of the internationally recognized Yemeni government that the coalition is defending. 'DIRTY WAR' "It's shocking to see that a target like this was hit," said a senior official in the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. "It's the latest in a series of attacks by all sides on civilian targets like homes and public gatherings that are turning this into a dirty war." "If anything positive can come from this, it would be increasing the will for a ceasefire that is needed. But incidents like these before have just fueled a desire for revenge." Yemen's powerful former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, a key Houthi ally, called on Sunday for an escalation of attacks against Saudi Arabia, demanding "battle readiness at the fronts on the (Saudi) border". Saleh's remarks reflected the febrile political climate in Sanaa, but it was not clear what concrete effect they might have. Houthi forces regularly fire rockets across the frontier, occasionally killing or wounding Saudi civilians, and bands of Houthi fighters stage border incursions almost daily. Thousands of Yemenis, many of them armed, gathered at the U.N. headquarters in Sanaa on Sunday calling for an international investigation into the strike. The funeral wake was for the father of the interior minister of northern Yemen's Houthi-run administration, Jalal al-Roweishan, who died of natural causes on Friday. Yemenis say the Roweishan family is widely respected and has good ties with many groups and tribes across Yemen's political spectrum. Mokhtar al-Rahabi, a spokesman for Hadi, condemned the attack on his official Facebook page on Saturday. "Bombing a mourning hall in which there were dozens of civilians is not acceptable, even if leaders of the (Houthi) putschists were present. Our war is a war of morals." A statement issued by the alliance after Saturday's raid reiterated that its forces "have clear instructions not to target populated areas and to avoid civilians". But the eventual prospect of a more limited military campaign - perhaps through tighter targeting parameters for air operations - and a possible reduction in Western support could deliver a blow to Riyadh's efforts to confront perceived Iranian expansionism in its southern neighbor. The Houthis and powerful local allies hold most of Yemen's northern half, while forces working for the exiled government share control of the rest of the country with local tribes. COMPENSATION Peace talks have made little headway. Hadi's government insists on compliance with U.N. Security Council resolution 2216, which calls on the Houthis to withdraw from cities seized since 2014. Riyadh has long accused Hezbollah's ally Iran of backing the Houthis and seeking to transform the group into a replica of the Lebanese militia to use as a proxy against Saudi Arabia. While Washington has long expressed understanding for Saudi concerns about Iranian activism in Arab lands, the U.S. military has distanced itself from the coalition's targeting decisions. In June, the U.S. military withdrew personnel from Saudi Arabia who were coordinating with the Saudi-led air campaign, and sharply reduced the number of staff elsewhere who were assisting in that planning. U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the lower staffing was not due to concern over civilian casualties. But the Pentagon also said that in its discussions with the coalition, it pressed the need to minimize civilian casualties. (Additional reporting by Noah Browning, Mohammed Ghobari, Michelle Nichols; Editing by Philippa Fletcher and Peter Cooney)
Music mogul Simon Cowell admits to increasing his personal security following the robbery of reality television star Kim Kardashian West.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Music mogul Simon Cowell has beefed up his own security following the robbery of reality TV personality Kim Kardashian in Paris.

The 57-year-old, is currently filming the UK version of The X Factor alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne, and has pledged to protect the show's contestants at the TV studios in Wembley, north London, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

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"Yeah, we are (increasing security). We are. You have to nowadays. It's just gone a bit nuts. There's a really dark side out there and Christ you've got to be careful," Cowell told The Sun newspaper.

Kim Kardashian was robbed a few days ago in Paris. Picture courtesy: Instagram/kimkardashian

In December last year, Cowell was robbed while he, his partner Lauren Silverman and son Eric were asleep in their London mansion.

Earlier this week, the name of the outspoken TV personality appeared on a spreadsheet of potential victims of an alleged murderer.

Also read:Simon Cowell signs a 25 million pounds contract to keep Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor up and running on ITV



"It's the crazy world we live in.

"I opened up a newspaper and you've got one guy who's in court because he's robbed my house, second guy has murdered somebody and I'm number two or three on his list. It's like 'this is getting a bit nutty'," he added.

However, Cowell also insisted he did not wish to become unduly concerned about security issues in light of recent incidents.

"At the same time you don't want to get too paranoid. Because it is what it is. I only mentioned what I said because in terms of perspective that was about as bad as it can get yesterday. Not so much for me, but for Lauren and Eric. I'm very conscious now," Cowell said.



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Just a few months before his high school graduation in 1945, Abner Simon was drafted into the U.S. Armed Forces to fight in World War II. Finally, after 71 years, Simon has received his high school diploma.

Simon, now 89 years old, stopped by the Orangefield Independent School District in Texas on Friday to get a copy of his transcript, which revealed that officials had actually marked Simon as a graduate in 1945. Sadly, it took Simon 71 years to receive the message.

after 70 years, this WWII veteran finally received his diploma.

It was an honor to attend his graduation & be in his class picture  pic.twitter.com/iPHX8mED4Q  abs (@abbydale_) October 7, 2016

According to WFAA, when superintendent Dr. Stephen Patterson heard about the mishap, he rounded up the school band and threw Simon an impromptu graduation in the high school's gymnasium. Simon even got to wear a bright orange cap and gown, making the whole thing very official.

SEE ALSO: Celebrities everywhere are getting down for the 22 push-up challenge

"As a Bobcat you have set the standard that all of these Bobcats are striving to achieve, and we appreciate that," said principal Zach Quinn. "So, as principal of Orangeville High School, it is my great pleasure, pride and honor that I certify you as a graduate."

Simon then made a small speech, telling the students in attendance to "choose your friends wisely."

"Don't stop until you get your diploma," Simon told the audience.

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Simon is now officially accepted as part of the graduating class of 2017, and has been invited back to speak at the school's graduation in May.
DUBAI (Reuters) - Yemen's powerful ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, a key ally of the country's dominant Houthi movement, called for an escalation of attacks against their common enemy Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Saleh, a politician who retains influence over Yemen's military, spoke a day after an apparent Saudi-led air attack on a meeting hall in the capital Sanaa killed at least 140 people, according to local health officials cited by the United Nations. Sources in the Saudi-led coalition denied any role in the attack. "I call upon all the sons of this nation ... to face this aggression with all their strength and you must proceed to the battlefronts," Saleh said in a televised speech. "The defense ministry, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and the interior ministry must put in place the necessary measures for battle readiness at the fronts on the (Saudi) border." (Reporting by Noah Browning; Editing by William Maclean and Susan Fenton)
Sanaa (AFP) - Yemen's rebel-allied former president Ali Abdullah Saleh called Sunday for mobilisation along the border with Saudi Arabia to avenge deadly air strikes on a funeral blamed on a Saudi-led coalition.

"I call upon all members of the armed forces, security and popular committees (militia)... to head to the front, to the borders, to take revenge," he said in a televised address.

Saleh, who stepped down in 2012 following nationwide protests and a Saudi-sponsored peace initiative, commands troops that have defected and sided with Iran-backed Shiite rebels, who overran the Yemeni capital in September 2014.

"We should avenge our casualties... those killed in army bases as well as in markets, including heinous massacres, and the greatest of those is the massacre of the (funeral) hall," which was struck on Saturday.

More than 140 people were killed and at least 525 others were wounded in air raids on a funeral hall in Sanaa.

Saleh urged measures "to receive fighters on the fronts with Najran, Jizan and Assir" across the frontier with "backward" Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition has pledged to probe the strikes, while UN chief Ban Ki-Moon urged an "impartial" investigation into the attack.

The coalition has been repeatedly criticised over the civilian casualties in its campaign in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi against the rebels, which began in March 2015.
Ubisoft co-founder Yves Guillemot poses for a photo at the company studios in Montreuil, outside Paris, in 2013 (AFP Photo/Martin Bureau)

Paris (AFP) - Nothing in the farming background of the Guillemot brothers, who hail from the remote Brittany region, destined them to one day do battle with France's most feared corporate raider.

But that was before they conquered the gaming world with titles like Just Dance and action game Assassin's Creed, attracting the voracious attention of fellow Breton businessman, Vincent Bollore, head of the Vivendi media conglomerate.

The Guillemot brothers are already one-nil down against Bollore.

Vivendi succeeded earlier this year with a hostile public offer for shares in Gameloft, the developer of games for mobile devices including the Dungeon Hunter and Modern Combat series, that was founded by Michel Guillemot.

And now Bollore also wants Ubisoft, the prized jewel in the Guillemot crown.

He has already taken nearly 23 percent in the company that is led by Yves Guillemot.

That sounded the alarm among the tight-knit and discreet brothers, who own just 13 percent of Ubisoft's shares with 19 percent of the voting rights.

Moreover Bollore will soon benefit from a new regulation in France that gives long-term shareholders double voting rights, to have 27.5 percent of votes.

Vivendi's pledge in June that it would not launch a hostile public offer for Ubisoft for the next six months did little to calm their worries, as Bollore has made no secret of his desire to unite Gameloft and Ubisoft.

Concerned that Vivendi's next step may be a push to get its representatives on Ubisoft's board of directors, the Guillemot brothers circled the wagons ahead of Ubisoft's general shareholders meeting at the end of September, causing Vivendi to back off.

But Vivendi said in a statement later it "considers that it would be good corporate governance for it to be represented on the company's board of directors considering its level of equity interest".

"Vivendi's statement should feed the fear of management to a creeping takeover by the media group," said a client note from the Gilbert Dupont brokerage.

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Vivendi also blocked measures at the meeting which would have the given the board the right to distribute free shares or offer share options to managers or employees, which would have allowed the Guillemot brothers to cheaply strengthen their control over Ubisoft.

Yves Guillemot said after the meeting they had "won an important battle for the company" but not the war.

"The tension may re-emerge next year," he said, recognising the threat of a hostile offer for Ubisoft.

Gilbert Dupont said it considered a public offer unlikely at this point, given the opposition voiced by employees at the shareholder meeting to the prospect of a Vivendi takeover.

Another broker, who asked not to be named, noted that a public takeover would require an additional outlay of 3 billion euros ($3.4 billion), and that given its debt levels, Vivendi may not want to fork out the cash.

- Commodities to computers -

The company that was the top game publisher for consoles in the first half of 2016 in the key North American and European markets traces its origins to an unlikely place.

The five Guillemot brothers -- who also include Gerard, Claude and Christian -- grew up in the tiny Brittany town of Carentoir.

Their business adventures began in 1984 when Claude and Michel turned their parents business in trading agricultural commodities towards the burgeoning computing sector, in particular the distribution of video games.

After creating two games for the Amstrad and Commodore 64 personal computers, they launched Ubisoft in 1986.

Ubisoft scored a breakout success in 1995 with Rayman, featuring the limbless humanoid known to throw his floating appendages at his enemies, on the first Sony Playstation console.

It quickly emerged as a major firm in the industry, generating 1.4 billion euros in annual sales and employing 11,000 people across 20 countries.

The brothers, who all sit on the board of directors, hold equal shares in Ubisoft and the other family-held companies.

They speak each week in sometimes stormy conference calls, and gather regularly for trips on the family yacht anchored in the Brittany port of Trinite-sur-Mer.

"The Guillemots are a clan of discreet visionaries," said Laurent Michaud, an expert at the Idate technology consultancy.

"They take risks with small teams on projects off beaten paths."

But their propensity to invest in numerous projects could end up being their undoing.

To raise funds to invest the Guillemots listed Ubisoft on the stock exchange in 1996, and have gradually seen their stake diluted to where they are now no longer the top shareholder.

The brothers have, however, successfully defended Ubisoft against a hostile takeover attempt before, seeing off the giant US game developer Electronic Arts in 2004.

But with Bollore, they have an experienced corporate raider and in Vivendi a media company with interests in film and television that could gain additional value from Ubisoft's game franchises.

Ubisoft has, in fact, been moving in this direction itself. Its movie unit, Ubisoft Motion Pictures, will be coming out with its first full-length feature film, Assassin's Creed, in December.

Ubisoft teamed up with Fox for the film, but Vivendi has film unit StudioCanal.

Ubisoft has also moved quickly to catch up in the mobile game segment, announcing last month it had acquired Ketchapp, a French start-up behind smartphone games 2048 and Stack.
Last weeks Dreamforce, the annual traffic-clogging, product-hyping vision quest held by in San Francisco, wasnt big on news. The big reveal would have been an announcement of Salesforces planned acquisition of Twitter, but that didnt happen. And the product news--that Salesforce is sprinkling its Einstein-branded artificial intelligence like fairy dust over its existing sales, marketing, e-commerce and service software--was carefully pre-leaked (er announced) in dribs and drabs over the past month.

Lack of hard news aside, here are five things that resonated.

1: Marc Benioff could sell sawdust to the lumber mill.

Reporters were skeptical that this AI capability, much of it from Salesforces acquisition of Metamind announced just six months ago, can really be integrated with Salesforces core offerings so soon. The company says its Demandware-based Commerce Cloud already incorporates a bunch of it, with other AI capabilities to be folded into the software next year.

But Salesforce chief executive Marc Benioff & Co. are selling an idea as much as a product. That idea is that smart software should be readily accessible to business people in a way that they can make use of it without an assist from some data scientist somewhere. So a sales person will be presented with a list of sales leads that are most likely to write a check, for example, without having to pore through their email and messages.

Thats compelling. The knock on IBMs trailblazing Watson early on was that it was more science project than product and needed a ton of help from customers, integrators, and techies to make it work in business context. Hence all those business units to make Watson applicable to normal humans.

2: Companies want to know all about you, but the feeling may not be mutual

There was a ton of talk about how Salesforces ever-smarter software will help its business customers track their customers or prospects from their first visit to a company web site, to online product demos, to customer comments and queries on social media, to a purchase, to follow-up service calls. This so-called 360-degree view of the customer is the holy grail promised not only by Salesforce but Oracle , SAP, and IBM to their business customers.

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But, while that might be great for companies wanting to sell as much stuff as possible, many would-be buyers arent so hot on the idea of being followed around during the course of their daily on- and off-line activities. Many consumers are already sick and tired of being queried to death after purchases so it s not clear that they will welcome even more prying if there is no discernible benefit to them.

@gigabarb Say I awake at 1:42 AM, can't sleep, decide to put on a VR headset to rock climb. Why does a company need to know that?  Exponisity (@exponisity) October 7, 2016

The most telling moment of the show for me came when a top executive of a large Salesforce retail customer first stressed how much he wants all that customer data, but two minutes later said he himself has zero social media presence. Not on , Twitter , Instagram, or even the more business-focused Linkedin . Why not? He doesnt want to give anything away about himself for security reasons.

So while he wants to track others, he himself does not want to be tracked. Hmmmm.

3: Dreamforce blends philanthropy and business brilliantly

As usual, the show emphasized the notion of doing well by doing good. Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was a speaker.

Does anyone really think Gates would show up at a sales automation software conference? asked one former Salesforce exec. For Gates and other do-gooders, this is about Benioffs outside work like funding the UCSF Benioff Childrens hospital.

RED, the Bono-led charity which wants to end AIDs, was on hand, and for every dollar raised at the show up to the first $1 million will be matched by the Gates Foundation. Other featured speakers included civil rights icon and Congressman John Lewis, RED chief executive Deb Dugan, and National Domestic Violence Hotline chief executive Katie Ray Jones.

4: This show is good for the city

The trade-off for all that annoying south-of-Market gridlock is that Dreamforce brings lots of dough to San Francisco, the companys home town. On Wednesday morning, Mayor Ed Lee said the city reaps some $200 million in revenue from the event, from hotel and meal taxes and the like.

5: From furry mascots to Buddhist monks

Salesforce has a thing for furry (some say creepy) mascots. This year a puffy Einstein joined the SaaSY No Software blob. Theres also Codey the bear and some sort of squirrel/raccoon/marmot (?) hybrid called Astro all of which were dancing and prancing around the Moscone Center.

On the other end of the spectrum were the Engaged Mindfulness Zones manned by Buddhist monks, set up on Howard Street. Theres something endearing about an event sponsored by a hyper-competitive software company that also promotes the idea of slowing down and taking stock.

The shows funniest moment came during Benioffs keynote he touted the need for mobile software, and being connected. When he asked attendees to raise their hands if they have a smart phone, 98% did, only the few dozen brown-clad monks did not follow suit. Oh, the monks are not raising their hands. Saddest moment of the keynote, he noted, tongue in cheek.

See original article on Fortune.com

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Samsung is being accused of staying silent after it was made aware of yet another incident involving a newer Galaxy Note 7 handset that was issued to a Kentucky man as a replacement.

It seems as though each time we think Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 debacle can't get any worse, things do in fact get worse. Much, much worse. This time around, a "safe" Galaxy Note 7 that was given to Michael Klering of Nicholasville, Kentucky as a replacement for his potentially faulty device supposedly caught fire. Unfortunately, if Klering's accusations are indeed true, the fire wasn't even the worst part.

DON'T MISS: Note 7 fallout: Survey says 34% of current customers wont buy another Samsung phone

Klering told local news station WKYT that he was asleep in the middle of the night when he woke to find his bedroom filled with smoke. His Galaxy Note 7, which is a newer model that had been issued to him as a replacement as part of Samsung's global recall, had exploded and was on fire, spilling smoke out into the room.

"I was scared to death for a minute," Klering said in an interview with WKYT. "The whole room just covered in smoke, smells awful. I look over and my phone is on fire."

The man ended up extinguishing the fire before it caused too much damage, but he had to go to the emergency room later that day to be treated for acute bronchitis caused by smoke inhalation. He says he was vomiting up a black substance at one point before he ultimately decided to go to the hospital.

According to Klering, the phone wasn't even plugged in and charging at the time it combusted. "The phone is supposed to be the replacement, so you would have thought it would be safe," Klering said. "It wasnt plugged in. It wasnt anything, it was just sitting there."

Unfortunately, the worst was still to come.

This incident happened on Tuesday last week, according to Klering, and he made contact with Samsung soon after. Samsung representatives asked the man if they could take possession of the phone in order to conduct an investigation and he refused, though he did let Samsung pay to have the damaged phone x-rayed for analysis. He says he was happy to work with Samsung as the company investigated the incident, but then he allegedly received a text message from a Samsung representative that wasn't intended for his eyes.

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"Just now got this," the message said. "I can try and slow him down if we think it will matter, or we just let him do what he keeps threatening to do and see if he does it."

Klering says at that point he decided to take matters into his own hands and contact WKYT. "It made me think you know they're not taking this serious enough and it's time to move on," he noted. Klering said he is concerned that these replacement Note 7 handsets are "in kids pockets, people's cars, all kinds of things," and he believes that Samsung should recall all Note 7 phones, old and new.

The incident in Kentucky is the third alleged occurrence of a "safe" replacement Note 7 exploding. The first reported incident took place aboard a Southwest airplane that had to be evacuated when the phone began smoking in the cabin, and the second replacement Note 7 fire caused an injury to a 13-year-old girl.

BGR on Thursday published an opinion piece recommending that no one under any circumstances should purchase a Galaxy Note 7. In light of these new reports, we have no choice but to take things one step further: if you own an early model or even a replacement Note 7, you should return it immediately. All four major wireless carriers in the US are now accepting Galaxy Note 7 returns regardless of when the handsets were purchased or received as replacements. For their own safety and the safety of people around them, we recommend that all Galaxy Note 7 owners take advantage of these policies and return their phones immediately.

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See the original version of this article on BGR.com
Finn Jones as Danny Rand in Marvels Iron Fist (Photo: Netflix)

Marvel Television head honcho Jeph Loeb opened the New York Comic Con panel for Netflixs latest Marvel-based series, Iron Fist, by quoting not comic book legend Stan Lee, but movie legend Ferris Bueller. I urge you, in the Ferris Bueller of it all, that until I say Its over, go homedont go home.

Now we know why. At the end of the panel, Loeb introduced the Defenders to the world for the very first time, and Netflixs corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will never be the same. Coming in 2017, the team-up series unites all four of the streaming services heroes: Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and Danny Rand (Finn Jones). The quartet took the stage in the Javits Center to deafening applause and cheers, which rocketed way past 11 when Loeb brought out the only villain capable of battling this super-team to a standstill: Sigourney Weaver.

The Aliens star didnt get a chance to say anything, but then she didnt have to. The mere thought of Ellen Ripley  or whichever Marvel-ous nemesis Weaver ends up playing  delivering the beatdown to a ninja, a detective, a man of steel and an iron-forged warrior was enough to make this Marvels most anticipated production since The Avengers assembled for the very first time at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con.

The uniting of the Defenders capped what had already been a heavy-hitting panel, coming right on the heels of the announcement that the solo Punisher series had just started production on Monday. Frank Castle himself, Jon Bernthal, was on hand to confirm the good news and introduce a surprise co-star: Deborah Ann Woll, reprising her role as Karen Page  former legal secretary to Matt Murdock a.k.a. Daredevil. Page shared a number of scenes with Castle in Daredevils second season, and Woll said she didnt hesitate about the chance to reunite with Bernthal for The Punisher. When they asked me to do this, I said yes in a heartbeat, she told the audience. The love in this room [for Jon] is so huge. But you guys dont love him as much as I do.

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Related: NY Comic-Con: BBC America Teases Dirk Gently, Doctor Who Spin-Off

In case you were worried that poor Danny Rand and his alter ego Iron Fist got lost amidst all these announcements, Netflix made sure to stoke anticipation for the series  which hits the streaming service on March 17  by previewing five clips, plus an all-new trailer. Not bad for a series that, according to Loeb, literally filmed its last scenes that very morning at 9 AM. Since this was the first time that the shows cast  including Jones, Jessica Stroup, Tom Pelphrey, David Wenham, Rosario Dawson and Jessica Henwick  had seen any frames of the footage, they watched these scenes as eagerly as the audience. And if Jones looked a little exhausted in between clips, its understandable considering the amount of punches he has to throw as the title character.

Two of the sequences that audiences got to see were filled with kung-fu fighting; in the first, Danny Rand  back in Manhattan after being missing and presumed dead for decades  enters the headquarters of the company his father built, only to be escorted out of the building by securityprobably because hes dressed like a homeless man. But hes not about to take his ejection lying down; Danny promptly demolishes the Rand security corps, fighting his way onto an elevator to find Harold Meachum, his fathers business partner. Later on, we watched the Iron Fist version of the hallway battles that Netflixs Marvel shows have become known for, this one involving dudes with tiny axes and Danny striking martial arts poses that come straight out of the comic book.

But Jones isnt the only one who gets to have all the fun; a third set-piece focused on Marvel newcomer Henwick, who plays Colleen Wing, a superb fighter who uses her skills to take out two roided up muscleheads in a brutal cage match. (Henwick and Jones are both Game of Thrones veterans; he played the dearly departed Ser Loras Tyrell, while shes one of the surviving Sand Snakes, Nymeria.) According to Loeb, Colleen will impart some of her martial arts mastery to Claire Temple (Dawson), the nurse who has provided the connective thread between all four Marvel shows. I have a good sensei, Dawson said, laughing as she reached over to give Henwick a high five.

The last two clips screened during the panel were quieter in tone, but full of bruising implications. In one, Danny confronts his childhood friends Joy and Ward Meachum (Stroup and Pelphrey), who appear to have conspired with their father Harold (Wenham) to seize his own dads business and legacy. I have Hogarth now, Rand says. You cant deny whats mine. And if you watched Jessica Jones, you know the kind of prizefighter that Jeri Hogarth (Carrie-Anne Moss) is in the legal world.

The other depicts a hallucinatory encounter between Danny and Harold, where Rand gives us an idea of where hes been for the past dozen years (short answer: training to become a mystical warrior) and his true purpose in coming back: Its my duty to destroy the Hand. Thats a pointed reference to the army of ninjas that played a major role in Daredevils second season, and who are currently in possession of the lifeless (but maybe not for long?) body of Elektrathe Man Without Fears former lover. Does this mean well be seeing a resurrected Elektra in The Defenders fighting alongside Sigourney Weaver against our heroes? If so, were prepared to call that series a total knock-out sight unseen.

Iron Fist premieres March 17, 2017 on Netflix.
By PTI: Warangal (Tgana), Oct 9 (PTI) Smaller districts will pave the way for faster growth and boost development, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said here today.

"(Creation of) smaller districts will boost development and take administration closer to the people. Moreover, all the welfare programmes undertaken by the government will reach every citizen," Rao told reporters here.

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According to KCR, smaller districts will also reduce "pilferage" of funds.

"The decision to form new districts was taken about one year ago in the Cabinet meeting. A Cabinet committee was formed to study and create new districts," he added.

Rao further said opinion of all the parties was also taken on the issue.

"A high power committee was constituted under chairmanship of MP K Keshava Rao which took opinion of MLAs and MPs and other public representatives in this regard," he said.

As per the Chief Minister, "an emergency" Cabinet meeting will be held tomorrow and final draft of notification regarding creation of districts will be issued.

From October 11 onwards new district will start functioning, he added.

Rao maintained that there is no political gain in creation of the new districts.

Hitting out at Opposition parties, the Chief Minister said, "In 1985, the then Chief Minister (of undivided Andhra Pradesh) N T Rama Rao introduced Mandal system, which was opposed by the Congress, but it worked well and people are happy with the system".

"In the same way, the new district will show good results and there is a need to have a district for four lakh population," the Chief Minister added.

KCR also said his government is considering to name the new districts after well-known personalities like Chakali Ailamma, Doddi Komuraiah, P V Narsimha Rao, Suravaram Prathapa Reddy and others.

He also said a detailed plan will be prepared for integrated development of Warangal city and Rs 300 crore were allotted in the Budget for its development.

A big textile park will come-up near Gorrekunta in 1,200 acres of land, for which land has been acquired, KCR added. (More) PTI COR NRB BSA

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The special commandos, who carried out surgical strikes in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, were trained to eat glass shard to survive on a mission.

Picture for representation: Special commandos are different from other jawans of the army.

By India Today Web Desk: Eight days after the terrorists attacked Uri army base, where 19 soldiers lost their lives, a team of special commandos of Indian army carried out surgical strikes in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir crossing the line of control. Heavy casualties were inflicted upon the terrorists during the targeted strikes at the terror launch pads in PoK.

The soldiers, sent on this mission, are considered the best among the Indian army jawans. They are part of the 'special force'. According to one estimate, about 400 to 500 soldiers apply every year to join the special force, but only a few ultimately make it to the elite group that carry out a mission like surgical strike.



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When a person joins the Indian army, he/she is given an option to join the special force as well. If the new recruits show interest, the army examines the individual's strength and takes a final call.

READ: Operation Ginger: Indian Army carried out surgical strike across LoC in 2011 to avenge Kupwara attack

TRAINING OF 20-22 HOURS

Soldiers willing to join the special force are kept on a probation period of two months. They are put to toughest training and examined if the individual jawan is capable to carry out surgical strikes as part of the elite commando team.

The soldiers undergo a training regime that spreads over 20-22 hours every day. The training involves walking on one's fists on the concrete road and rolling for 3-4 kilometres on road among other tasks.

The trainees are also subjected to mental torture to ensure that the commando is not only strong physically but is mentally tough as well.

For example, if a soldier is tired, the trainer would ask trainee to read a book and two hours later the jawan would have to write a review of the book. So, actually there is no let up for a soldier, who wants to be part of the special commando team.

READ: Surgical strikes in PoK: How Indian para commandos killed 50 terrorists, hit 7 camps

TRAINED TO EAT GLASS SHARD

During the probation period, the soldiers are tasked to eat glass shard among other things to survive. They can't expect regular food while they are on a mission. They are also trained to catch snakes with their hands.

The soldiers have to run for over 40 kilometres carrying a load of 25 kilograms and finish the race in stipulated time.

For example, a jawan is expected to cover 10 kilometres in 1 hour 10 minutes; 20 km in 2.20 hours, 30 km in 3.45 hours and 40 km in 4.40 hours. This means that over a length of 40 kilometres the trainee soldiers have to maintain their speed, which should increase in the final 10 km tract.

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Besides, the probationers are required to finish two five-km run twice a week and complete a 2.4-km run every alternate day.

READ: Inside story of Indian Army's daring surgical strikes against Pakistan

A DEMOLITION MACHINE

During this training, a soldier of the special force acquires enough power to demolish any kind of enemy. They are trained broadly under four categories of skill sets- in driving, demolition, battle-field nursing assistance and communication methods.

At the end of it, the officers examine every trainee to see who is qualified in driving and who is an expert in demolishing enemies with ammunition and explosives.

Similarly, those who are better in attending to the injured and giving them first aid, are identified. Finally, the trainees, who excel in communication using radio sets, GPS and other advance technologies, are identified.

READ: Surgical strikes: Crossing a red line

THE TOUGH LAST LEG

Before the end of probation period, navigation skills of the soldiers are tested. Every jawan is left 40 kilometres deep inside the forest and they are tasked to locate their target and complete the mission.

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The jawans are not provided with any compass or GPS device to find their respective routes. They are expected to do carry out this task using their commonsense and tips learnt during the training. They also have to make sure that they are not found out by anyone.

If any soldier failed to accomplish the mission, he would be put back into the deep forest and asked to do the same exercise all over again.

READ: How India's para commandos used flame throwers, night-vision glasses to strike terrorists behind enemy lines

When training is complete, separate teams of special commandos are formed, each comprising 12-15 soldiers. The special forces are divided into three categories. One category specialises in fighting in hilly and mountainous terrain. Similarly, other teams specialise in accomplishing their missions in desert and plains.

The commanding officers decide as to which team is to be sent for a surgical strike. When, thus prepared, commandos go on an operation, each one carries around 75 kg of weight on their shoulders.

- Based on conversation with a former army captain (on the condition of anonymity)

Watch video





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A parade was held at the Army Parade Ground in New Delhi to commemorate the Territorial Army's 67th Raising Day.

By Manjeet Negi: Territorial Army celebrated it's 67th Raising Day today. To mark the occasion, an impressive parade was held at the Army Parade Ground in New Delhi. In a befitting ceremony, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh, reviewed the parade and complimented the Territorial Army fraternity for doing yeoman service to the nation.

IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY

Territorial Army made a spectacular display of their capabilities during the parade which was commanded by Colonel Krishnandu Barker and comprised of ten marching contingents, fifteen bands and three tableaus of Railway Engineers, Oil Sector & Ecological Territorial Army units.

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Tableaus of Ecological Task Force, Railway Engineers and the Oil Sector units showcased the valuable contribution of the Departmental Territorial Army units to the nation in the fields of environment conservation and in maintenance of essential services like Railways and Oil production and supply.

WITNESSED BY DIGNITARIES

The parade was witnessed by other civil and military dignitaries, including military and defence-attaches from friendly foreign countries. Several prominent personalities have come forward to join the citizens' Army and have not only enriched it organisationally but have contributed immensely in enhancing its image amongst the youth of the nation. Territorial Army has grown into a force with multi-dimensional capabilities.

Army chief General Dalbir Singh applauded the good work done by the Territorial Army personnel in various fields and wished all ranks and their families good luck for a glorious future.

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Akshara Haasan has been roped in to play a pivotal role in actor Vishal's Thupparivaalan, which is directed by director Mysskin.

Akshara Haasan to team up with Vishal in Thuparivaalan

By India Today Web Desk: After working as an erstwhile assistant director, Akshara Haasan made her acting debut alongside actor Dhanush in the Bollywood film Shamitabh.

ALSO READ: Pulimurugan movie review- Mohanlal's film is ambitious, but falls flat

ALSO READ: Rekka movie review- Vijay Sethupathi's film doesn't take flight

ALSO READ: Remo movie review- Sivakarthikeyan's film has rich visuals and CHEAP content

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Akshara, who landed a role in actor Ajith Kumar-starrer yet untitled film, has been roped in to play a pivotal role in actor Vishal's Thupparivaalan.



Confirming the news on Twitter, Vishal wrote, "Happy to announce another addition to our 'Thupparivaalan' cast. A warm welcome to Akshara Haasan."



Happy 2 announce another addition to our #Thupparivalan cast.a warm welcome to @AksharaHaasan1 aka akshu.gna b damn exciting n rivettiing.GB Vishal (@VishalKOfficial) October 7, 2016

Directed by Mysskin, the film is an investigative thriller, and features Vishal as a suave detective.

Also starring Rakul Preet Singh and Prasanna, the project went on the floors recently.

Bankrolled by Vishal, the film stars Rakul Preet Singh and Prassana in important roles. Thupaarivaalan, which went on the floors recently has music by Arrol Corelli.

Meanwhile, Vishal, who is currently shooting for his upcoming actioner Kaththi Sandai, is collaborating with director Lingusamy for Sandakozhi 2, a sequel to the 2005 hit of the same.

He also awaits the release of Madha Gaja Raja, which was suppose to release in 2013. Vishal's yet-untitled Tamil remake of Telugu film Temper is expected to go on floors. He also has another project under his belt with director Bala.

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In a suspected hate crime, a young woman's hijab was ripped off on a busy London street. Scotland Yard has initiated a probe in the incident.

By Press Trust of India: In a racially-motivated attack, a young woman's hijab was ripped off on a busy London street in broad daylight, prompting Scotland Yard to launch a probe into the assault.

The force is treating the incident in north London as a racially motivated assault on the victim in her 20s, who was described as "shocked and distressed" by the incident.

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"This was a shocking attack in broad daylight in the middle of a busy street. Racially and religiously motivated crimes will not be tolerated. I would appeal to anyone who witnessed this attack to contact police," said Detective Constable Ben Cousin of the Metropolitan Police's Haringey Community Safety Unit.

The woman was walking with another female friend on the evening of September 28 when the attack took place.

TWO MEN ATTACKED THE WOMAN



As they crossed the road, she was approached from behind by two men.

The Met police said one of them pulled down the hijab she was wearing before both fled the scene.

The first suspect is described as white, in his late 20s or early 30s, with blonde or ginger shaved hair and stubble.

Police said he was about 5 feet 6 inches and wearing a burgundy hooded top and carrying a Tesco bag in his right hand.

The second suspect was of Mediterranean appearance, in his late 20s or early 30s, and clean shaven, with spiky hair. He wore a grey hooded top.

Also read:

Bangladeshi Muslim woman stabbed to death in US, hate crime suspected



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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, "We have witnessed a fundamental change of circumstances when it comes to the aggressive Russophobia that now lies at the heart of US policy towards Russia."

By Reuters: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Sunday he had detected increasing US hostility towards Moscow and complained about what he said was a series of aggressive US steps that threatened Russia's national security.

DETERIORATION OF US-RUSSIA TIES

In an interview with Russian state TV likely to worsen already poor relations with Washington, Lavrov made it clear he blamed the Obama administration for what he described as a sharp deterioration in US-Russia ties.

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"We have witnessed a fundamental change of circumstances when it comes to the aggressive Russophobia that now lies at the heart of US policy towards Russia," Lavrov told Russian state TV's First Channel.

"It's not just a rhetorical Russophobia, but aggressive steps that really hurt our national interests and pose a threat to our security."



RUSSIAN GRIEVANCES

With relations between Moscow and Washington strained over issues from Syria to Ukraine, Lavrov reeled off a long list of Russian grievances against the United States which he said helped contribute to an atmosphere of mistrust that was in some ways more dangerous and unpredictable than the Cold War.

He complained that NATO had been steadily moving military infrastructure closer to Russia's borders and lashed out at Western sanctions imposed over Moscow's role in the Ukraine crisis.

He also said he had heard that some policy makers in Washington were suggesting that President Barack Obama sanction the carpet bombing of the Syrian government's military air fields to ground its air force.

"This is a very dangerous game given that Russia, being in Syria at the invitation of the legitimate government of this country and having two bases there, has got air defense systems there to protect its assets," said Lavrov.

Lavrov said he hoped Obama would not agree to such a scenario.



TREATY ON CLEANING UP PLUTONIUM SUSPENDED

Russia suspended a treaty with Washington on cleaning up weapons grade plutonium earlier this month in response to what it said were "unfriendly acts" by the United States.

Lavrov said both countries had the right to pull out of the treaty in the event of "a fundamental change in circumstances".

"The treaty was concluded when relations were normal, civilized, when no one ... was trying to interfere in the (other's) internal affairs. That's the fundamental change of circumstances," said Lavrov.



ALSO READ:

US upset with Russia, China exercising veto power to blunt peace efforts for Syria

US suspends bilateral talks with Russia over war in Syria





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By PTI: Death market opposite Malis Parliament a unique sight

From Zafri Mudasser Nofil

Bamako, Oct 9 (PTI) A death market in front of the Malian parliament -- one selling decayed body parts of hyenas, dogs, hedgehogs and hippos that are used for making traditional medicines -- is a unique sight for a visitor to this west African country.

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The items found in this market just opposite to the National Assembly range from dead birds to heads of dogs, monkeys, crocodiles to feet and legs of various reptiles to porcupine quills.

According to one of the sellers, most of these items are used for medicines or traditional healing making these a witch doctors delight.

"Bamako means back of a crocodile," he said.

There is also a persisting stench of decayed flesh as one takes a round of the 15-odd stalls.

Mali is perhaps the only country where one can witness such a sight near the Parliament.

The National Assembly of Mali is a unicameral institution whose origins date back to the colonial period.

The 147-member house has three women parliamentarians.

After the 2013 elections, President Ibrahim Bubacar Keitas Rally for Mali (RPM) became the largest parliamentary force, winning 66 seats. Overall, parties supporting Keita won a total of 115 seats.

Next to Bamakos death market is the Grand Mosque of Bamako and the Maison des Artisans du Mali or the artisans market.

The Grand Mosque, inaugurated in 1976, was built with funds from the Saudi Arabian government.

Its two concrete minarets are closer to the architecture of the Arabian Peninsula than that of West Africa.

Ninety per cent of the people of Mali practice Islam, 4 per cent Christianity while 6 per cent are of indigenous beliefs.

The congested artisans market is full of shops selling Mali and Bamako souvenirs; masks; wooden decorative items, particular of ebony; leather goods and also silver jewellery.

Shopkeepers approach visitors at every turn some carrying items vouching for their uniqueness.

One of the shopkeepers Wacar deals with souvenir items, hand-woven cotton garments and wall hangings and also prayer mats.

"Tourist inflow to Bamako is less. One is more interested in Timbuktu when you talk of Mali," he told PTI.

Mali is famous for its music and musicians, the most popular being Salif Keita who is called the Golden Voice of Africa.

Mustafas shop has various musical instruments.

One can find different types of drums like tama, djembe and dunun, the harp-like instrument called kora and xylophones called balafones.

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Truly the area in and around the Malian parliament is a happening place unlike other countries which are mostly out of bounds for people. PTI ZMN UZM AKJ UZM

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Yaaron Ki Baraat is old wine in new bottle, but it tastes great, and that is all that matters.

By Anvita Singh: A new chat show, Yaaron Ki Baraat, hit the Indian television last night, and it started with a big bang, thanks to its guests, Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha.

The show, hosted by Riteish Deshmukh and Sajid Khan, is slightly reminiscent of another older chat show which used to air on the same channel, Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, which was hosted by the late actor Farooq Sheikh.

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Also read:Don't Miss: Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha come together for Yaaron Ki Baraat



This might be because unlike other chat shows, Yaaron Ki Baraat was largely conducted in Hindi as far as the first episode is concerned, or maybe it was because of the fact that the episode focused on the relationship that the two superstars shared, and didn't indulge in any controversies or gossip just for the heck of it.

Whatever the case might be, we just want to say that we had a good time watching the show. Here are the 5 moments from the show's first episode that stole our hearts:

Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha's anecdotes about each other

Big B and Shotgun Sinha share a bittersweet relationship. And that became all the more evident when the two appeared on the show together last night.



Shatrughan and Amitabh hinted at each other's numerous girlfriends while recounting a story about how they used to hang out together in one flat when they were fairly new to the Hindi film industry, and the two even revealed where they first met each other--at late actor and comedy genius Mehmood's house.

Shatrughan Sinha is always late

Big B also revealed that Shotgun Sinha is also popularly referred to as Late Lateef Sinha by those who know him closely. "He always used to reach the set late, and not just for work, but he is also late for parties and other functions," Senior Bachchan said about his former co-star on the talk show.

"Ye ek late lateef hain. Bas aaj pata nahi kaise yaha mere se aadha ghanta pehle pohoch gayein," the Shehenshah of Bollywood added. (He is always late everywhere, but god knows how he managed to make it here 30 minutes prior to the call time).

Shatrughan Sinha wants Big B as the president of India

The Khamosh actor said that Amitabh Bachchan would make a good president as he is a legendary superstar, has a wonderful personality, and great oratory skills; he has all the makings of a great leader.

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The Senior Bachchan laughed and said that Shatrughan Sinha is just kidding, and that that the president joke is something they have been making light of for years now.

When the superstars revealed which movie they wished they had done of each other

When asked which role of Shatrughan Sinha he wished had come his way, Big B honestly replied that he was a fan of the actor's Kalicharan, and had wanted to do the movie during that time.

When the same question was put to Shatrughan Sinha, the actor revealed that he had admired Amitabh the most in Ramesh Sippy's Sholay. The actor also said that he had in fact been approached for the movie, but had declined at that time.

When Shatrughan Sinha stole Amitabh Bachchan's thunder

Big B revealed that during filming the hit classic Bombay to Goa, Shatrughan Sinha had interrupted a scene of the Senior Bachchan and veteran actress Aruna Irani by blowing a smoke ring right in front of their faces.

Amitabh Bachchan also said that Shatrughan Sinha loves attention, and will do anything to get noticed. Of course, Shotgun Sinha accepted this claim about himself, and the two had a good laugh over it.

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Basically, the first episode of Yaaron Ki Baraat was a fun-filled affair. And of course, Riteish and Sajid's natural camaraderie helped the show to flow smoothly in a big way.

Yaaron Ki Baraat will air every weekend at 8 pm on Zee TV.



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"I call upon all the sons of this nation ... to face this aggression with all their strength and you must proceed to the battlefronts," Yemen's powerful ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh said in a televised speech.

Forensic experts investigate the scene at the community hall where Saudi-led warplanes struck a funeral in Sanaa (Photo: Reuters)

By Reuters: Yemen's powerful ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, a key ally of the country's dominant Houthi movement, called for an escalation of attacks against their common enemy Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Saleh, a politician who retains influence over Yemen's military, spoke a day after an apparent Saudi-led air attack on a meeting hall in the capital Sanaa killed at least 140 people, according to local health officials cited by the United Nations.

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Sources in the Saudi-led coalition denied any role in the attack.

STATEMENT



"I call upon all the sons of this nation ... to face this aggression with all their strength and you must proceed to the battlefronts," Saleh said in a televised speech.

"The defense ministry, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and the interior ministry must put in place the necessary measures for battle readiness at the fronts on the (Saudi) border."



ALSO READ:

Yemen airstrike: Death toll crosses 150, Saudi-led coalition denies involvement



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OPEC reportedly overcame this impasse last week, although Iran did not alter its position regarding ongoing increases in oil output. Quite the contrary, recent reports have placed Irans long-term target output even higher than the initial figure of four million barrels per day that the Islamic claimed as its pre-sanctions level. Tehran continues to insist upon being able to at least re-claim such levels before participating in any collective agreement. And last weeks supposed breakthrough came after Saudi Arabia backed down on this point, allowing Iran to be exempted from an OPEC output freeze, along with fellow member states Libya and Nigeria.

The rest of the OPEC members seek to collectively reduce output by up to 700,000 barrels per day, and the Istanbul meeting will aim to codify Russias participation in the same scheme. But despite the forward progress on this particular issue, Irans continued intransigence suggests that the meetings do not represent much hope for improved relations between the Saudi Arabia and Iran, two major regional rivals. In fact, several reports since last weeks meeting have underscored the continuance of severe tensions.

This week, Saudi Arabia began large-scale military exercises in the Persian Gulf, and the Islamic Republic of Iran responded by threatening the Saudis against getting too close to Iranian territory, and accusing them of fostering instability. Then, Stars and Stripes reported on Thursday that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had further added to the discord, with Quds Force commander General Qassem Suleimani making speculative statements about the Saudi royal family.

Of the Saudi defense minister, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Suleimani said he is very impatient and might kill his king. Although Stars and Stripes notes that there was no immediate reaction in Saudi state media, it also concludes that Suleimanis suggestion of regicide can be expected to stoke anger among the Saudis, who were deeply affected by the assassination of King Faisal by his nephew in 1975.

Suleimanis comments were presumably made with the express purpose of soliciting an angry response. Iran and Saudi Arabia have been in a war of words for some time, with each countrys state media exchanging propaganda about each others involvement in regional sectarian conflicts, and about such things as last years deadly stampede during the hajj, which Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei used as grounds to challenge Saudi stewardship of Muslim holy sites.

But Irans propaganda statements have been directed not only against Saudi Arabia itself, but also against its Gulf Arab allies and fellow OPEC member states. In one example of this, Eurasia Review noted on Thursday that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bahram Qasemi had accused the United Arab Emirates of supporting radicals and destabilizing forces in the region.

Interestingly, these remarks came less than a week after rockets fired by Iran-backed rebels in Yemen struck a UAE auxiliary ship off that countrys coast. The Shiite rebels known as Houthis sparked a civil war in Yemen last year in an effort to oust the elected and Western-backed President Abed Rabu Mansour Hadi. Although Tehran denies supporting the rebels, it is generally understood that the IRGC has been providing extensive support, as partly evidenced by an Iranian ship that was repelled by US naval forces last year while openly carrying weapons in the direction of Yemen.

After months of war, Saudi Arabia took leadership of an Arab coalition with the intention of counteracting Iranian influence in the conflict on the Arabian Peninsula. This proxy war has, of course, become a major contributor to the overall tensions between the Saudis and Iranians. And so too has their backing of opposing factions in the Syrian Civil War. But Iranian animosity toward Arab rivals dates back much further than that. The UAE in particular has for years been vying with Iran for three Persian Gulf islands that both claim to own.

In the midst of all these tensions, it seems clear that next weeks meeting will not be much of an opportunity for improvement in Arab-Persian relations. Instead, from Irans standpoint, the more important factors in that meeting will be the participation of Russia and the meetings location in Turkey. Both of these are countries to which Iran has been growing increasingly close, and these sorts of alliances could provide Iran with greater leverage in defying both Arab and Western interests.

In this sense, the meeting once again calls attention to the prospects for the formation of an Asian bloc of nations that might represent a unified front against the US and its closest allies. Such a bloc would involve closer Iranian relations not only with Russia but also with China. And on Thursday, an article appeared at Forbes that reaffirmed that both these trends are ongoing.

The article noted that China and Russia have both shown interest in cooperating with Iran over nuclear development in the wake of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. It also pointed out that Iranian and Russia interests in Syria are increasingly convergent, leading on the one hand to their mutual confrontation of ISIS but also to the strengthening of mutual alliances with other entities including the Taliban and Syrias Assad regime itself. Similarly, Forbes observes that Russias relationship with Turkey has been taking the same trajectory as Irans formerly antagonistic relationship with Turkey. Although Forbes argues that these two trends could work against each other, it is also easy to see how the pursuit of similar alliances is leading to a more tight-knit network of nations and non-state actors in Asia, which could over time come to appear more monolithic.
Two more abandoned makeshift boats  also apparently vessels used by Cuban refugees  washed ashore on Hatteras Island between the villages of Avon and Salvo on Saturday morning.

That makes three apparent refuge vessels to make it to the shores of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in not quite two weeks. All have been without passengers, but have provided good evidence about where they originated.

The first Cuban refugee vessel landed on the Avon beach off Greenwood Place on Sept. 27. It had been reported by charter boat captains and commercial fishermen who had seen it floating around in the Gulf Stream for a few days before it washed up.

This mornings first boat was spotted by National Park Service law enforcement staff off Ramp 32 just north of Avon, and a second vessel washed ashore just five minutes later near ramp 27, according to Hatteras Island District Ranger Joe Darling.

Park Service surveyed the scene and called in Jarvis Williams of Jarvis Towing, who took the vessels on a trailer to his impound lot in Buxton They will remain there until they are inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard, which was contacted this morning and plans to send personnel to investigate the boats later today.

One of the vessels was marked with orange spray paint that read 9/11/16 and OK, which is an indication that the boat was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard at some point during its journey, and the people onboard were rescued. This vessel was heavily damaged and looked to have been tossed around in the ocean for a long time before finally coming ashore.

It was built like a pallet, and then on each side of it was about 2 feet. or so of Styrofoam, but not much else, so we cant tell which way was upside down or right side up, said Williams. There were also four straps on each side, like the kinds of straps that you would hold on to.

Williams estimated that the heavily damaged marked vessel was roughly 12-by 6-feet.

The second vessel, which was not marked by the Coast Guard, was in much better shape and had an engine, containers of extra diesel fuel, a rudder, and an air-cooled motor. This vessel was built with a makeshift floatation system of Styrofoam and inner tubes, with a tarp that was wrapped around the entire boat.

A number of leftover items were still onboard the vessel, including several tools, packages of hot dogs, a pair of sunglasses, ball caps, and giant bags of crackers. The food on board was made in Cuba, indicating the vessels origin. Williams estimates that this boat was about 15-by-6 feet.

Though the boats were found together at the same time and in roughly the same spot, theres no way to tell if they were at all connected.

The marked one, there is nothing to it  its almost like they were floating behind [the intact] one, said Williams.

Its hard to tell [if theres a correlation], said Darling. The boat at ramp 27 had no motor and was just a skeleton  it looked like it had been washed pretty hard in the ocean for a while. The other boat was in great shape  there was a bent exhaust pipe that looked like it may have taken a wave, but it didnt roll over.

While abandoned boats have washed ashore on Hatteras Island before, three refugee vessels finding their way to the local beaches is unprecedented, according to both Williams and Darling. I dont think its ever happened before, as far as I know, said Darling.

Darling also theorizes that the boats arrival is due to recent tropical storms, and most likely Hurricane Matthew.

Its very likely, especially considering that this storm is coming straight from Cuba, said Darling.

NPS Outer Banks Group Superintendent Dave Hallac spent many years working as the lead biologist for Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks and several months as the acting park manager at Dry Tortugas.

He forwarded photos of the boats that washed up on Hatteras to a colleague who is now the park manager at Dry Tortugas.

Specifically, Hallac said, I was interested in his opinion on whether or not they were likely Cuban chugs, or homemade boats that are typically used by Cubans who are coming to the Florida Keys or Dry Tortugas National Park.

He said it is very common to have Cuban refugees come to the park because, like Key West, it is only about 90 miles from Cuba.

Additionally, Hallac added, there was speculation that the waters between the park and Cuba were less patrolled than those between Key West and Cuba. One year that I worked there, we had over 800 Cubans arrive at the park.

Hallacs colleague at Dry Tortugas said the boats were very likely Cuban chugs.

And as the ocean continues to churn over the next few days, and debris of all sizes washes ashore, Darling advises visitors to use caution when exploring the beaches.

Were had two military flares  marine marking flares  wash up in the past two weeks, said Darling. So if the public is out there looking for treasure, be aware that there are other things washing ashore, and use caution.
There is nobody so irritating as somebody with less intelligence and more sense than we have. - Don Herold

Sometimes the appropriate response to reality is to go insane. - Phillip K. Dick

In the fight between you and the world, back the world.- Frank Zappa
Earlier this summer, Francis Thackeray published a short paper in the South African Journal of Science suggesting that lichens had deposited manganese upon the surfaces of hominin bone from the Dinaledi Chamber. Knowing that lichens depend upon light for their growth, Thackeray suggested that the Dinaledi bones had once been exposed to light for long enough to explain the lichen growth and manganese deposition.

Thackeray proposed that the geological evidence was somehow wrong, and that the Dinaledi Chamber had once been open to the surface. He elaborated on this view in an essay written for The Conversation:

I strongly believe that there was possibly a temporary entrance into the chamber, in addition to the one used by explorers today. This temporary entrance may been covered up by a rock fall that also trapped the individuals whose bones were found some time later.

Our team, including geologists and geochemists, has now published a response to Thackeray. We review some of the ways that manganese and other trace elements from dolomitic limestone can be deposited on fossil bone, and present additional evidence from the bone surfaces that rules out lichen involvement.

The Dinaledi bones bear traces of manganese and iron oxides. Some of the staining is dendritic, with very tiny features that suggest microbial involvement. The deposition process happens within sediment, in the dark

Several of the hominin fossils have linear tide marks of manganese or iron oxides. These mark an interface of air and sediment in which these bones were embedded.

Detail of DH2 skull, showing tide marks of manganese and iron deposition on surface

Looking through a microscope, the bones bear many different patterns of mineral staining and calcite deposition. Some of the fossils have calcium carbonate deposition on top of manganese staining; others have manganese deposition on top of calcium carbonate. Some have successive encrustations of iron oxide, manganese, and iron oxide, as visible in this photo:

Figure 4F from Randolph-Quinney et al. 2016, showing manganese stain formed on surface of iron oxide staining, with additional iron oxide encrustation overlying the manganese.

Additionally, some fossils have manganese deposits that have been removed by gastropod activity; others have manganese formed on top of old gastropod markings. All of this evidence is consistent with a long history of manganese and iron oxide deposition on the fossils within their current sedimentary environment.

None of this geochemical activity requires light.

One of the things that we have kept at the forefront of our papers describing the Rising Star cave system is that we must not set aside or ignore any of the geological evidence.

The geological evidence from the Dinaledi Chamber shows that it was an isolated depositional environment during and after the bones of Homo naledi entered the chamber. The sediments with the bones of H. naledi are very different in their chemical composition and particle characteristics from the neighboring Dragons Back Chamber. Dragons Back sediments have some input of surface material, the Dinaledi Chamber doesnt. With articulated skeletal parts, complete representation of skeletons, and abundant fragile juvenile material, the bones of Homo naledi reject the hypothesis that the Dinaledi deposit could be a secondary accumulation from some other source. This is all compatible with the ceiling of the chamber, which is a chert layer with at most small thin fissures and no substantial openings, except for the vertical crack called the Chute.

Although the bone has been within the Dinaledi Chamber, that doesnt mean it has been static. There has been erosion of the deposit since it began to form, with sediment and other material exiting the chamber through floor drains and some of the hominin bone being reworked along with the chambers surface. Bone within the Dinaledi Chamber was modified by gastropods and other cave-dwelling organisms, and minerals were deposited on its surfaces. The surfaces of many bones have been etched by the slightly acidic groundwater. Within parts of the deposit that are mere centimeters apart, the chemical circumstances differ.

Its a very complicated picture, and whenever we make a new observation we must integrate it into the entire body of evidence. That work continues. This summer, members of our team published a review of the teams 3D data collection strategies, including some mapping data from the cave. And our original research article on the context of the fossil assemblage remains open access in eLife, with detailed maps and analyses.

From earlier this year: Deliberate deposition and Homo naledi

References

Dirks, P. H., Berger, L. R., Roberts, E. M., Kramers, J. D., Hawks, J., Randolph-Quinney, P. S., ... & Schmid, P. (2015). Geological and taphonomic context for the new hominin species Homo naledi from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa. eLife, 4, e09561.

Dirks, P. H. G. M., Berger, L. R., Hawks, J., Randolph-Quinney, P. S., Backwell, L. R., & Roberts, E. M. (2016). Deliberate body disposal by hominins in the Dinaledi Chamber, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa?. Journal of human evolution 96: 149-153. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2016.04.007

Kruger, A., Randolph-Quinney, P. S., & Elliott, M. (2016). Multimodal spatial mapping and visualisation of Dinaledi Chamber and Rising Star Cave. South African Journal of Science, 112(5/6) doi:10.17159/sajs.2016/20160032

Randolph-Quinney, P. S., L. R. Backwell, L. R. Berger, J. Hawks, P. H. G. M Dirks, E. M. Roberts, G. Nhauro, J. Kramers. 2016. Response to Thackeray (2016)  The possibility of lichen growth on bones of Homo naledi: Were they exposed to light? South African Journal of Science doi:10.17159/sajs.2016/a0177

Thackeray, J. F. (2016). The possibility of lichen growth on bones of Homo naledi: Were they exposed to light?: scientific correspondence. South African Journal of Science, 112(7-8), 1-5. doi:10.17159/sajs.2016/a0167

Val, A. (2016). Deliberate body disposal by hominins in the Dinaledi Chamber, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa? Journal of Human Evolution 96: 145-148. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2016.02.004
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a technological shift that is opening communication between the world's devices, and it looks poised to change the way the world operates -- and generate tremendous value along the way. While increasing device connectivity and insights stemming from data analytics are already having an impact, the IoT revolution is still in its early phases, and 2017 looks to be an influential year in the progression of the tech.
I got to spend 10 minutes on the Rise of the Rest Bus on Monday.

After AOL co-founder Steve Case visited Hudl, one of his spokeswomen told me I could have 10 minutes to interview him if I rode on the bus to the Rococo Theater, where Case was scheduled to speak and then help judge a pitch contest.

Even though I could have used the exercise of walking six blocks to the theater, I jumped at the chance to ride on the tricked-out bus.

Though it looks like the bus would be a luxurious way to travel, I was told Case and his entourage aren't actually traveling on it between cities.

A spokeswoman said they have traveled on the bus on previous tours when the cities were closer together, but the distance on this tour (Lincoln to Denver to Salt Lake City to Albuquerque to Phoenix) makes it logistically impossible to travel by bus.

So when we got to the Rococo, everyone was told to make sure they grabbed all their stuff off the bus, including luggage, because the bus was heading off to Denver that afternoon.

While the bus left Lincoln around 3 p.m., Case and Co. were in Lincoln until well after 8 p.m.

Theater chief in town, too

Case wasn't the only big-time business figure in Lincoln last week.

Greg Marcus, CEO of Marcus Corp. was in town Wednesday and spoke to members of the Young Professionals Group at a get together at the Grand Cinema downtown.

Marcus's talk was mostly about the history of his family's company, which started with one theater in Wisconsin. The company later was a major restaurant franchisee with hundreds of locations and also created the Budgetel limited service hotel chain, which later became Baymont Inn & Suites.

It now has around 700 movie screens across the Midwest as well as 17 full-service hotels, with an 18th on the way in Omaha.

During a Q&A session, Marcus was asked what he thinks of possible efforts to change or repeal the city's so-called "theater ordinance" that prevents complexes with more than six screens from locating outside of downtown.

He reiterated what he told the Journal Star in April, that he would not want to see the policy go away.

Marcus of course has selfish business reasons for supporting the policy, but he also said it has been good for the city.

"You have a great downtown theater that's healthy," he said. "I can count the great downtown theaters on one hand."

Marcus also said that there's no evidence the company is taking advantage of the ordinance, noting that it doesn't charge higher prices in Lincoln than it does in other cities where it competes against other theater chains, and it also has invested millions of dollars to improve Lincoln theaters, including the Grand, SouthPointe and East Park.

"This has really worked out well for everybody," he said.

Startup home run

Most of the coverage I give to startups is those in Lincoln and Nebraska. But there also are people and firms in the state investing in companies elsewhere.

The Nebraska Angels, a group of investors from Lincoln and Omaha, was one of the first locally based firms investing in startups, having formed more than a decade ago.

The group has been pretty quiet and doesn't seek much publicity, but last month they announced their first investing home run.

In 2012, the Angels participated in the first outside run of funding for a company in the Kansas City area called EyeVerify.

Last month, the company was acquired by a a subsidiary of Chinese web company Alibaba, reportedly for more than $100 million.

Though it's unclear how much equity the Angels had in the company -- they provided about 30 percent of the 2012 round of funding -- it's clear they walked away with at least several million dollars from the acquisition and a tidy profit.
There was a time during early efforts to undo the Legislature's repeal of capital punishment in 2015 that longtime death penalty opponent Sen. Ernie Chambers was confident.

He said he had no doubt Nebraska voters would uphold the decision of the Legislature to stop executions.

Now, because of the way the ballot referendum will appear to voters, he just doesn't know.

"It's so confusing to people," he said.

He even gets confused trying to explain it to those who call him and ask.

The simplest way to think of it is to focus on what the Legislature did, and then to decide if you want to retain the law senators passed to eliminate the death penalty for first-degree murder and substitute it with a life sentence, or if you want to repeal that bill (LB268), keeping the death sentence intact.

Senators voted 32-15 in May 2015 to repeal the death penalty. The governor vetoed the repeal, saying it was an important safety tool and vital to good prison management.

"If the death penalty is not in place, then an inmate has no concern about receiving a more serious sanction," and would be fearless, Ricketts said.

He pointed to the killing of two inmates, presumably by other inmates, during a riot in May 2015 at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. No one has been charged in those deaths.

Senators voted 30-19 to override Ricketts' veto.

But soon after the session ended, Nebraskans for the Death Penalty conducted a successful referendum campaign, funded in part with large donations from Ricketts and his father, Joe Ricketts. Enough people signed the petitions to put the repeal on hold.

Now, both sides have lined up their arguments for and against abolishing the death penalty.

Costs

Senators argued during debate on the bill the state was wasting millions of tax dollars on death penalty trials and appeals.

Then in August, they introduced a study of the costs of Nebraska's death penalty by Ernest Goss, a Creighton University economics professor, who found the state spends $14.6 million per year to maintain its capital punishment system.

Nebraskans for the Death Penalty, Ricketts and Attorney General Doug Peterson, have denounced the study, saying there are no fiscal savings to eliminating the death penalty.

They say the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy defends indigent people facing the death penalty at no additional cost to taxpayers.

While Goss cites excessive costs of appeals for death row inmates, advocates for the death penalty say eliminating the sentence will not reduce the number of appeals available to convicted murderers.

Death penalty drugs

Retain A Just Nebraska, which wants voters to retain the law that abolishes the death penalty and substitutes life in prison, has argued that Nebraska is unlikely to ever carry out an execution even if voters bring back the death penalty.

The state has been unable in recent years to get two of the three lethal injection drugs, sodium thiopental and pancuronium bromide.

Peterson said last week he is confident that if the death penalty is preserved, Nebraska will be able to "model a protocol" that will allow it to implement the death penalty.

But even if the protocol is changed to include different drugs, said University of Nebraska law professor Eric Berger, who opposes the death penalty, pharmaceutical companies are balking at allowing their drugs to be used for executions.

Some states have shrouded their death penalty protocol in secrecy or used smaller compounding pharmacies to supply the drugs.

Death penalty opponent and Lincoln Sen. Colby Coash said that to hide the protocol would take a change in state law. And the Legislature values transparency.

"The stakes on this are just too high," he said.

Deterrent to crime

The two sides disagree on whether studies show the death penalty is a deterrent to violent crime.

"It's important for Nebraskans to realize that they would be spending a lot of taxpayer money on a system that there is no evidence that it makes us any safer," said Berger, the Nebraska law professor.

Bob Evnen, one of the founders of Nebraskans for the Death Penalty, said he thinks there is good evidence it is a deterrent, that innocent lives are saved by the existence of the death penalty and that the state is morally compelled to have it in place.

Religious groups differ

Faith leaders and their followers have split on the death penalty.

The Nebraska Catholic Conference, priests, nuns and other leaders spoke out last month on their opposition to the death penalty and said they would urge 375,000 Catholics in more than 350 parishes to vote to retain the Legislature's decision.

Catholic catechism teaches that if there are bloodless means to defend human lives against aggressors and protect public order and safety, the death penalty is not needed, said Nebraska Catholic Conference Executive Director Tom Venzor. The bishops stand firm in their opposition.

The conference is taking an active role in advocating for a vote Nov. 8 to retain the abolition of the death penalty with videos, a social media campaign, radio and TV ads and speaking events.

Meanwhile, Stu Kerns, pastor of Zion Church of Lincoln, supports the death penalty and repeal of the law.

If the death penalty is inappropriately applied, he said, then people ought not to do away with it but rather should argue for its reform.

"For me, as I read the Bible, the Bible indicates that all human persons are made in the image of God and therefore they are of incalculable worth," he said. "And when someone treats human life casually, the only response to that kind of brutality is to take their own life. There's no other cost that's appropriate."

That is the duty of the state, he said.

"My personal calling is to forgive and to exercise grace," he said. "The state's calling is to execute justice, whatever's just."

Hearings next week

The Nebraska Secretary of State's office will hold hearings on the death penalty beginning this week.

The first will be Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center, 6400 University Drive South.

The second is Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Nebraskan Student Union, 1013 W. 27th St.

The last hearing is Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m. in Room 1525 at the Nebraska State Capitol.

Early voting begins Monday

You can complete the early voting ballot application and ballot in person at your county clerk/election commission office.
Madeline McManus is, officially, a senior at Lincoln East High School, but her heart and most of her time over the past four years has belonged to the small building near downtown that houses the Arts and Humanities Focus Program.

She is one of 69 students enrolled at one of Lincoln Public Schools' first forays into offering alternatives to big, traditional high schools -- smaller half-day programs that emphasize a particular subject area.

As a freshman, McManus chose the arts program and says it's a perfect fit for her: a close-knit community with more freedom to explore subjects she and her fellow students love, and more opportunities to experience things they never would at their home high schools.

I love it, said senior Marissa Maxwell, a Southeast student who joined the Arts and Humanities Program last year. This is probably the most fun Ive had in school. We learn so much more here about the things that interest us, so much more here than in regular high school.

In 1997, LPS opened the Science Focus Program at the Lincoln Childrens Zoo, where it became known as the Zoo School. A year later, the district started the Arts and Humanities Program in the old Coca-Cola Bottling Co. at 643 S. 25th St.

The programs serve 2,267 of the districts 11,677 high school students.

And theyll likely be an integral part of discussions about how LPS will deliver education as the school board begins to update its strategic plan.

It wasnt part of our last strategic plan, but I think its going to emerge for the next five years and beyond," said Superintendent Steve Joel. "How do we organize education in a way we can deliver it so more and more kids are being connected.

Finding ways to connect students to things theyre interested in is part of a national conversation, particularly with magnet and charter schools, he said, and LPS officials are interested in thinking of new ways LPS can give students different options.

The process will involve asking the community to think about the type of schools theyd like to see, Joel said. That might mean more online education or a middle school International Baccalaureate program, like the one offered to students at Lincoln High, for instance.

We are just real interested as we roll out these strategic questions, he said. Im pretty excited about what they represent. Anything we talk about that represents change we can come from a position of strength.

Last school year, LPS expanded its options for students with the Career Academy, a partnership with Southeast Community College that offers dual-credit courses in a variety of career paths.

Today, 392 juniors and seniors take a bus to the SCC campus in east Lincoln each day and spend two hours there. They're from all LPS high schools, with the most, 87, coming from Southeast. Sixty-five North Star and 63 Lincoln High students attend the academy.

When the Career Academy opened, it absorbed two other focus programs, Information Technology and Entrepreneurship.

LPS officials also have begun calling Bryan Community, the longtime alternative high school, a focus program. While it offers a smaller environment for students, it doesnt focus on one particular subject area. Instead, its often an avenue for struggling students to graduate.

Enrollment at Bryan has ranged from 91 to 221 since 2006; this year, 159 students go there.

The Career Academy and focus programs may play a part in discussions on how to handle the districts burgeoning growth, although Joel said such programs wont make a huge dent in overcrowding.

The district added nearly 1,000 students this year. It grew by 4,450 over the past five years and saw a 24 percent increase in student enrollment over the past decade.

I dont know anything we can do with a program that can mitigate what 1,000 students mean, Joel said. For us its really for offering alternatives to kids.

Enrollment in the districts original two focus programs has remained fairly steady in recent years.

The science program had 102 students four years ago and 98 this year. Arts had 80 students four years ago and 69 this year.

Since 2006, enrollment has ranged from 43 to 80 at arts, and 58 to 104 at the science program.

Probably because both programs are near Lincoln High, about half of the students at both programs come from there.

In May, LPS began offering busing to the two programs, hoping to increase attendance from other schools. So far this year, 38 students -- 26 in the science program and 12 in arts -- are riding buses.

LPS officials have said they need to let busing continue for more than a year before evaluating its effectiveness.

Both programs have more girls than boys, although its nearly an even split at the science program. At Arts and Humanities, girls outnumber boys by more than 4 to 1.

Forty percent of the students in the science program are identified as gifted, as are 23 percent in arts.

Chloe Nore, a senior at Arts and Humanities, said she thinks classes there better prepare students for college and the freedom they have to explore their own interests. It reminds her of the Montessori schools she attended in grade school.

"They definitely dont look at you like a student ID number, she said.
Protesters gathered Saturday afternoon at the north end of the Nebraska Capitol building for the sixth annual Lincoln SlutWalk.

They held signs protesting rape culture and the victim blaming of women who've experienced sexual assault.

But this year an additional theme permeated the event: Donald Trump, Republican presidential nominee.

It would be remiss of me to not talk about the video of Trump, said speaker Morgan Beal, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln victim advocate with Voices of Hope.

A video released Friday revealed lewd comments Trump made in 2005 about groping women.

The kissing, groping and trying to have sex with women -- these actions are the federal definition of sexual assault," Beal said.

According to the United States Department of Justice, the definition of sexual assault is "any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient."

The 2005 recorded conversation exposed by The Washington Post took place on an Access Hollywood bus with TV host Billy Bush, nephew and cousin to former presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, respectively. The two were arriving at the set of Days of Our Lives."

On the bus, he and Bush discuss one of Trumps failed attempts to sleep with a married woman, and how he better use a Tic Tac in case he starts kissing one of the women on the show.

You know Im automatically attracted to beautiful -- I just start kissing them, he said in the recording. Its like a magnet. Just kiss. I dont even wait. And when youre a star, they let you do it.

Trump later apologized for the leaked audio. "I was wrong and I apologize," he said.

SlutWalk participant Asher Well is a 16-year-old trans person who prefers to be referred to in plural gender pronouns. They wave a sign that said Not your fetish with words scattered on the cardboard with many demeaning words theyd been called as an Asian woman before their transition.

If our politicians dont value women as human beings and think its okay to assault women like how Trump said something about grabbing her by the p---y, if they think things like that, were going to uphold a culture that lets that happen, Wells said.

Do you know how many women have been grabbed by the p---y,' said Beal in her speech at the rally. Its our job to change that.

For the participants in the SlutWalk, thats the goal: to change the culture of sexual assault.

Wells says its not only a walk and it shouldnt be just a womens issue.

Men get raped, Wells said. Cisgendered men get raped and trans men get raped. While its important to realize that its not just women walking, there have been studies shown that the most dangerous thing to women is men.

While the event was mostly comprised of women and some children, there were a few men in attendance. One man sat on the steps with a sign saying, Men; take responsibility.

Speaker Abbi Swatsworth, president of Outlinc, called on the audience of roughly 50 people to recruit their friends for next years walk. She says its important to expand to women and men who want to expand their gender role and not be toxic masculinity.

Folks, this should be a huge event, she said emphasizing the word huge. This event should be huge, she repeated.

When a giggle came from the crowd, she said, Thank you, you got it.

Swartsworth walked the event with a sign offering voter registration at the SlutWalk. This is the election when your vote matters more than ever, she said.

The SlutWalk originated in 2011 when a Toronto Police officer said that in order to avoid sexual assault, women should avoid dressing like sluts. The backlash from that comment sparked an international movement of marches protesting rape culture.

I hope we dont have a decade of SlutWalks, Swartsworth said. I hope one day women can walk down the street wearing whatever they want.
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WASHINGTON -- Only amid the most bizarre, most tawdry, most addictive election campaign in memory could the real story of 2016 be so effectively obliterated, namely, that with just four months left in the Obama presidency, its two central pillars are collapsing before our eyes: domestically, its radical reform of American health care, aka Obamacare; and abroad, its radical reorientation of American foreign policy -- disengagement marked by diplomacy and multilateralism.

Obamacare.

On Monday, Bill Clinton called it "the craziest thing in the world." And he was only talking about one crazy aspect of it -- the impact on the consumer. Clinton pointed out that small business and hardworking employees ("out there busting it, sometimes 60 hours a week") are "getting whacked ... their premiums doubled and their coverage cut in half."

This, as the program's entire economic foundation is crumbling. More than half its nonprofit "co-ops" have gone bankrupt. Major health insurers like Aetna and UnitedHealthcare, having lost millions of dollars, are withdrawing from the exchanges. In one-third of the U.S., exchanges will have only one insurance provider. Premiums and deductibles are exploding. Even The New York Times blares "Ailing Obama Health Care Act May Have to Change to Survive."

Young people, refusing to pay disproportionately to subsidize older and sicker patients, are not signing up. As the risk pool becomes increasingly unbalanced, the death spiral accelerates. And the only way to save the system is with massive infusions of tax money.

What to do? The Democrats will eventually push to junk Obamacare for a full-fledged, government-run, single-payer system. Republicans will seek to junk it for a more market-based pre-Obamacare-like alternative. Either way, the singular domestic achievement of this presidency dies.

The Obama Doctrine.

The president's vision was to move away from a world where stability and "the success of liberty" (JFK, inaugural address) were anchored by American power and move toward a world ruled by universal norms, mutual obligation, international law and multilateral institutions. No more cowboy adventures, no more unilateralism, no more Guantanamo. We would ascend to the higher moral plane of diplomacy. Clean hands, clear conscience, "smart power."

This blessed vision has just died a terrible death in Aleppo. Its unraveling was predicted and predictable, though it took fully two terms to unfold. This policy of pristine -- and preening -- disengagement from the grubby imperatives of realpolitik yielded Crimea, the South China Sea, the rise of the Islamic State, the return of Iran. And now the horror and the shame of Aleppo.

After endless concessions to Russian demands meant to protect and preserve the genocidal regime of Bashar Assad, last month we finally capitulated to a deal in which we essentially joined Russia in that objective. But such is Vladimir Putin's contempt for our president that he wouldn't stop there.

He blatantly violated his own cease-fire with an air campaign of such spectacular savagery -- targeting hospitals, water pumping stations and a humanitarian aid convoy -- that even Barack Obama and John Kerry could no longer deny that Putin is seeking not compromise but conquest. And is prepared to kill everyone in rebel-held Aleppo to achieve it. Obama, left with no options -- and astonishingly, having prepared none -- looks on.

At the outset of the war, we could have bombed Assad's airfields and destroyed his aircraft, eliminating the regime's major strategic advantage -- control of the air.

Five years later, we can't. Russia is there. Putin has just installed S-300 antiaircraft missiles near Tartus. Yet, none of the rebels have any air assets. This is a warning and deterrent to the only power that could do something -- the United States.

Obama did nothing before. He will surely do nothing now. For Americans, the shame is palpable. Russia's annexation of Crimea may be an abstraction, but that stunned injured little boy in Aleppo is not.

"What is Aleppo?" famously asked Gary Johnson. Answer: The burial ground of the Obama fantasy of benign disengagement.

What's left of the Obama legacy? Even Democrats are running away from Obamacare. And who will defend his foreign policy of lofty speech and cynical abdication?

In 2014, Obama said, "Make no mistake: [My] policies are on the ballot." Democrats were crushed in that midterm election.

This time around, Obama says, "My legacy's on the ballot." If the 2016 campaign hadn't turned into a referendum on character -- a battle fully personalized and ad hominem -- the collapse of the Obama legacy would indeed be right now on the ballot. And his party would be 20 points behind.
Abraham Lincoln summed up my view when he said, "If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for all other business."

Nonetheless, occasions arise when inaccurate published remarks warrant a response. Such an occasion was engendered by LJS's Sept. 17 editorial ("Chambers' memos offensive and harassing").

Referencing my "Kintner-grams," 18 of which I've written and intend to continue writing in the same style and mode, the editorialist opined:

"One particularly harsh memo included a blurred out image of Kintner's wife, Lauren, and references to personal and medical situations. Kintner asked Chamber to 'be a man and apologize to my wife.' He should."

(Why? I didn't tell her to marry the reprobate. The harshness was directed at Kintner and obviously hit the mark: that's the only reason he yelped.)

"Attacking Lauren Kintner was inappropriate. She was a bystander to her husband's betrayal and shouldn't be targeted or demeaned by others, especially in such a public way."

(If depicting her, correctly, as a victim and Kintner as the victimizer, is construed as "attacking" her, I plead bafflement).

"If Chambers wants to push Kintner out of the Legislature, he should do so through political and legislative means, not by humiliating and harassing the senator's family."

The misguided editorial was spawned by self-serving press release sent by Kintner to the media, but never to me. In its entirety:

"It was absolutely inappropriate for Ernie Chambers to attack and make fun of my wife and her serious medical condition. I have said nothing about Chambers' vile attack on me --"

(Quite the contrary: both the LJS an The World-Herald reported his yelping about my excoriation of his vile misconduct, facilitated by the criminal misuse of a state laptop.)

"--but my wife has done nothing to him. Using her to try to score political points, is a new low, even for Chambers. I expect Chambers to be a man and apologize to my wife."

If he was a man, he would have delivered the demand to me personally. To this day, he has said nothing to me. He cravenly is trying to create a diversion by hiding behind his wife's skirts and deflecting attention away from his misdeeds to drum up some sympathy.

To help determine how much "care" and "concern" he has for his wife, consider a few direct quotes from the transcript of his Skype "encounter" -- some of which he juxtaposed to his invocation of his wife. To "the other woman," he rhapsodized in part: "You are smoking hot." (Twice.) "(Y)ou are a dream girl." "I'm sorry I let you get so horny." "You have a great body." "You are not the devil." The explicit, obscene conversation progressed to the point where they both masturbated "on camera."

I emphatically and categorically deny having "attacked," "made fun of (his) wife and her medical condition," (I never mentioned it) -- or "humiliat(ed) and harrass(ed)" Kintner's family. Chalk up such ugliness to his own deviant, shameful, "on camera" misbehavior with another woman. Attacking the vulnerable and defenseless is Kintner's schtick, not mine.

His press release articulated nothing to substantiate his bogus claims nor did it allege that anything in the poem was untrue.

The only true victim in this sordid affair is his wife whom every one of my "Kintner-grams" depicted as a victim and him as the victimizer -- three times over: (1) his salacious Skype encounter, (2) his ploy of invoking and dragging his wife into the fray in several interviews, as well as in his belated non-apology "apology" to his disenchanted constituents and (3) his refusal to resign, thereby subjecting his "seriously ill" wife to the strain of ongoing controversy and elevating his interests above hers.

I must, however, "give the Devil his due" in one regard. His barebones, no-facts press release left it up to the gullible media to speculate, surmise, imply and "fill in the gaps." And, so -- they did. The speculative, misleading stories and the off-the-mark editorial are examples of less than competent journalistic professionalism.

My first "Kintner-gram" included the sentence: "A man who would put his wife through ongoing public outrage is not a man." My most recent contains the words: "on his wife (he) cast aspersion." I place her among the "downtrodden) I have pledged to defend.

I shall remain as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar in my quest to remove the "Kintner blight" from the Legislature by my choice of means. If others know a better way, come on with it.
The hail storm last spring damaged many roofs in Lincoln, which is going to keep roofers busy for a long time. Most of the people doing the job are folks from the south of the border. As I watch them, I am terrified envisioning the Donald Trump wall dangling over their heads.

Walking around on UNL campus, I notice some young ladies wearing hijabs and I am terrified envisioning their safety in the Trump world.

I am terrified envisioning Trump bullying people and mocking our handicapped citizens with his bigoted remarks.

I am terrified envisioning a pathological liar hiding his tax returns as the person in charge of law and order and making America great again.

I am terrified envisioning Mr. Trump inciting violence which on a global scale would end the world with a nuclear war.

I am terrified envisioning someone to be our president who has not contributed to his own charitable foundation since 2008 according to the Washington Post reporter David Fahrenthold but has no qualms about using it primarily for his own personal benefits, which is illegal. Furthermore, he has no compunction accusing the IRS in public for auditing his income tax returns every year.

Sitaram Jaswal, Lincoln
Satisfied that new procedural safeguards insured that capital punishment would be fairly applied, Justice Harry Blackman concurred with the high courts 1976 opinion in Gregg v. Georgia, reinstating capital punishment. The new procedures came at a great cost and caused delay in imposing capital punishment. For the next twenty years, he witnessed first-hand whether the new safeguards would work.

I litigated capital cases in Nebraska during those 20 years. I witnessed first- hand that the process remained flawed. After 20 years of reviewing the effectiveness of the new procedures, Justice Blackman concluded in 1995 that the flaws remained, declaring, "From this day forward, I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death," because the death penalty was "doomed to failure."

Twenty years later, our Legislature was fiscally and morally right to repeal it. Reinstating a flawed and expensive process makes no sense. I was heartened that retired police Chief Allen Curtis agrees (Death penalty no longer good public policy, Sept. 23). His insight is spot on. It is not a deterrent. It is enormously expensive. It is flawed beyond human repair. There is a probability that the State will execute someone who was innocent. Nebraska will be just as safe, more fiscally responsible and morally just, if we vote to retain the end of our broken death penalty.

Bob Creager, Former President, Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorney's Association, Lincoln
Doug Peterson is hitting the road and bringing his office with him.

On Tuesday, Nebraska's attorney general and a handful of staff members will set up shop at a senior center in Seward, where they will accept in-person complaints about potential fraud or other illegal activity.

They will also teach people how to protect themselves against identity theft and share information on emerging scams.

It's the first in a series of "mobile office" appearances Peterson plans to make across the state.

The following day he'll work from the firehouse in Central City, and another mobile office event is set for Oct. 27 in Norfolk. Peterson's office plans to schedule additional stops next year.

"I really do think it helps communities to have face-to-face (interaction) with the offices that represent them," he said.

Peterson spent much of his first two years in office traveling to meet with local law enforcement, learning about criminal activity across the state. The goal of the upcoming visits is to engage with people who might fall victim to consumer fraud, he said.

Scammers often operate abroad, and recovering money from them can be challenging.

"Our efforts are far more productive if we can do preventative education than trying some type of collection or prosecution on the back side of the fraud," Peterson said.

Consumer protection is among the attorney general's primary duties.

In May, Peterson's office unveiled a new website  Protect the Good Life, at protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov  where people can learn about consumer threats or report issues they've experienced.

The Seward visit will take place at Lied Senior Center, 1010 Manor Drive West, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Central City visit will be at 414 H St. from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Both will include an opening appearance by Peterson, followed by assistance from consumer protection staff and the directors of the attorney general's mediation center and constituent services.
Don Walton Political reporter/columnist Don Walton covers politics and the Legislature along with writing a weekly column. Follow Don Walton Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Somebody's already ahead.

Nebraska voters already are casting their ballots through early voting and it's likely that one in four voters will have marked their ballots before Election Day on Nov. 8.

In the last presidential election in 2012, some 26 percent of those who voted cast early ballots by mail or in person, Secretary of State John Gale says.

Ballots were mailed to in-state voters who requested an early ballot last week. In-person early voting will begin at county election offices this week.

So, Trump or Clinton already is out front.

Either Brad Ashford or Don Bacon has moved ahead in the hotly contested House showdown in metropolitan Omaha's 2nd Congressional District. Some 42,000 early ballots were mailed to Douglas County voters last week.

The votes are piling up for death penalty retention or repeal -- but be sure you read the ballot language carefully before casting that vote.

Early voting no doubt helps increase voter participation and that is good.

But casting a ballot this early, about a month before Election Day, means a voter cannot react to what might occur in the final weeks.

Something occurred during the last few days.

And no doubt there's more to come, and probably not just about scandal or personal issues.

A candidate may stumble badly, a candidate may take positions that become more attractive, events may occur that alter the landscape, new issues may emerge.

But some votes remain locked in by party alone.

And some votes are cast against one candidate more than in favor of his or her opponent and that reckoning is less likely to budge.

This certainly has not been an uplifting or inspirational election year.

Not like Kennedy in 1960 or Reagan in 1980 -- or Obama in 2008.

This election has been more like an alley fight often waged near the garbage cans.

Based on what people say to me, there are going to be a lot of write-in votes for president next month.

Many of them apparently will be cast for Mike Pence after this weekend's revolt of elected Republican officials.

But it also looks like a banner year for Mickey Mouse.

* * *

During a recent luncheon conversation, President Obama told New York Times columnist David Brooks that he spends "way more time on cybersecurity than you can imagine."

And what has Brooks learned about Obama's post-presidency plans during those occasional luncheon chats, he was asked last week during a media availability prior to his E. N. Thompson Forum on World Issues address at the Lied Center?

It's clear that the president intends to direct some of his attention to "issues dealing with African-American men," Brooks said.

And Obama is focused on the book he will write about his presidency.

Brooks said he expects the president's memoir to be "honest and reflective."

Asked to assess the Obama presidency, Brooks quickly noted that "I'm to his right" before handing him "decent marks for dealing with the financial crisis" he inherited, but suggesting that in foreign policy the president may have "created a vacuum for (Vladimir) Putin and the Chinese to try to fill."

Obamacare represented "a good effort" to extend health care coverage, Brooks said, "but it is slowly fraying."

Brooks said he gives "a lot of credit" to the president and First Lady Michelle Obama for "their grace and elegance (and) personal behavior" during their eight years in the White House.

* * *

Nebraska Young Republicans Chairman Spencer Head says his organization has withdrawn its support for Donald Trump.

In an emailed statement, Head said: "Today, (we) find ourselves in the unique position of condemning our own party's nominee for president and asking him to step aside.

"As Republicans, we have strong core convictions and values, such as honesty, integrity and respecting women," he said.

Head urged supporters of Hillary Clinton to "do some soul-searching, as we have, to decide if their values can allow them to continue to support her candidacy."

Finishing up

* Nebraska Right to Life has endorsed all three Republican House candidates and incumbent legislative candidates Tommy Garrett of Bellevue and Al Davis of Hyannis.

* Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin filled in for Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina at a Nebraska Republican Party fundraiser in Omaha. Haley needed to remain at home to deal with an unwelcome guest, Hurricane Matthew.

* Donna Brazile, veteran political strategist and the interim Democratic national chairwoman, will speak at UNL on Thursday evening. The event in the Nebraska Union is part of the Hearst Speaker Series on Diversity and Modern Media.

* Moment of truth: Washington, 70; Oregon, 21, at Eugene. Huskers no doubt overrated, but you can't do better than 5-0. Just keep winning.
RACINE  Over the past year, major construction projects for the Racine Unified School District have put many people to work.

The construction of two new schools, Knapp Elementary and Olympia Brown Elementary, and renovation and expansion of a third, Gifford School, were built on time.

With "99.9 percent" of the projects completed, the Unified School Board was presented with the near-complete results of the labor and contract goals on Sept. 26.

Goals regarding local and minority workers, along with minority contracts, were set before construction began.

"We exceeded the minority labor goal," Barb Riley, executive vice president of Kenosha-based Riley Construction, told the board. "However, on the local, we did not make goal."

The goal for the number of labor hours for minorities for the schools' construction was set at 31,604. The actual number was 31,924 minority labor hours.

For local labor hours, the district set a goal of 79,000 hours but fell short by only achieving 71,298 hours.

"As we looked at the board's requirements  local, minority  we also had to look at price as well as availability of the labor force to get the work done on time," David Hazen, Unified's chief operations officer, told the board.

The district, according to Riley, saved money by not pushing to reach the local-labor goal.

"Ultimate decision-making on selection of subcontractors was made by Racine Unified staff," Riley said. "Had you spent another $576,000 on some contractors that would have contributed to the making of the local goal, we would have made the 79,000 Racine district labor hours."

Riley added the goal could have been surpassed "had you spent over a million dollars."

Part of the reason for the underachievement in the local-labor hour goal was due to other construction projects in the area, Riley and Hazen stated.

"There are enormous projects going on in Milwaukee and Chicago, and being in this corridor, many of the resources of subcontractors and labor has been absorbed," Riley said. "It was important throughout the process that we made sure that qualified, quality subcontractors were hired for this project  people who could perform and do a good job."

Minority contracts

The district has only met 54.6 percent of its goal regarding money spent on minority contracts. The goal is $3,883,702 and only $2,122,385 has been awarded.

"There would have been a substantial premium to pay for reaching 100 percent of that goal," Riley said.

It would have been difficult for the district to award more minority contracts without taking work outside of Racine, Hazen said.

"Part of that would have been, we would have lost the local (labor hours)," Hazen said, adding that the district put a strong emphasis on hiring local workers.

Again, construction projects around Racine could have had an impact in which company was awarded each project.

"When contractors get busy, they will continue to bid work and they will, many times, raise their price because if they do get that job, they have to pay overtime or do whatever in order to get the work done," Hazen said. "It wasn't that local people weren't working  they were; they didn't always get our project."

Referendum money available

In 2014, Unified residents approved a $128 million referendum which, among other things, helped pay for the construction of the new school facilities.

Hazen told the School Board that in all, the district only spent $47 million for construction, which was less than what was expected. The board authorized $49.3 million to spend on construction.

"We only planned on spending $47.5 million all along, and if we needed to go up to the higher number, we would have tapped into more of the referendum money, but we didn't have to do that," Hazen said. "What that means is that money is still there do do other referendum projects."

Hazen said some of those projects include various roofing and flooring jobs, along with work on Park High School's electrical infrastructure and improvements to the Horlick High School fieldhouse.
MOUNT PLEASANT  A 20-year-old man was killed early Sunday morning after he was struck by a vehicle on Highway 32.

The incident happened at about 4:30 a.m. just north of the Chicory Road and Highway 32 intersection and just west of the Lake Park neighborhood. Authorities said the man was crossing Highway 32 from east to west when he was hit by a northbound vehicle in the right lane.

The man suffered severe trauma to the head and body and was pronounced dead at the scene, Mount Pleasant Police said in a news release Sunday.

Police noted that the roadway, a divided four-lane highway, was dark and without street lighting.

The operator of the vehicle, a 27-year-old Racine woman, was cooperative with police at the scene, officials said in the release.

The mans name was being withheld while family members were notified.

Mount Pleasant Police and the Wisconsin State Patrol are investigating the incident, which shut down Highway 32 for about 3 hours on Sunday morning.

The South Shore Fire Department, Racine Police Department and Racine County Sheriffs Office assisted at the scene.
KENOSHA  WGTD (91.1 FM) is owned and operated as a public service of Gateway Technical College and is an affiliate of Wisconsin Public Radio. For an updated schedule, visit its website at www.wgtd.org.

The Morning Show airs every weekday morning between 8:10 and 9 a.m. Following is a schedule of show topics for the coming week:

Monday  Two interviews about Pearl Harbor with the authors of Pearl Harbor: from Infamy to Greatness and Fields of Battle: Pearl Harbor, the Rose Bowl, and the Boys who went to War. The former is an overview of Pearl Harbor. The latter tells the story of some of the young men who played in the 1942 Rose Bowl (which because of security concerns was moved from Pasadena, Calif. to Durham, N.C.) and went on to fight in World War II.

Tuesday  Carthage College professor Mark Miller discusses his memoir My Confessions from Viet Nam.

Wednesday  University of Wisconsin-Parksides Fay Akindes and Roseann Mason discuss Diversity in the College Classroom: Knowing Ourselves, Our Students, Our Disciplines. The book gathers together essays from 15 different UW-Parkside faculty members.

Thursday  Nan Calvert and S. Rejane Cytacki, executive director of the Eco-Justice Center in Racine.

Friday  Part One: a preview of the KSOs new season, which begins this weekend. Part Two: Carthage College piano professor Wael Farouk, who plays his first faculty recital at Carthage College this weekend. Part Three: pianist Karine Poghosyan, who is playing an all-Khachaturian recital Friday night at the Siena Center.

Saturday  Programming includes Financial Overview at 9 a.m., Breakfast Bytes at 9:45 a.m., Education Matters at 10:30 a.m. and Community Matters at 11:15 a.m.
RACINE  Officials are trying to ease neighborhood worries about an overnight homeless shelter planned on Domanik Drive.

Segue Inc. plans to open a temporary homeless shelter during the winter months on the second floor of the former Lincoln Lutheran headquarters, 2000 Domanik Drive, where the United Way of Racine County is located.

At a neighborhood watch meeting Saturday morning, several voiced concerns about the impact of the shelter and what they felt was a lack of notice for residents of the area.

Officials have said they expect 10 to 30 people per night, many of whom suffer from drug or alcohol addiction issues and are not eligible to stay at the Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization, the citys principal homeless shelter at 2000 DeKoven Ave.

Some residents worried the shelters residents will bring more problems to the neighborhood, which they said is plagued by crime.

The biggest concern that Im hearing from people is security, said Pastor Holly Anderle, a co-founder of Segue Inc., a group organized to find a location for a short-term shelter.

Anderle said the facility will not take sex offenders and that staff, which will supervise the shelter throughout the night, will ensure residents do not enter with drugs, alcohol or weapons or gather outside and cause problems in the neighborhood.

For the most part, there would really be no reason for our folks to want to hang around this area, Anderle said at the meeting at Prospect Heights Community Living Center, 2015 Prospect St., where about 10 people gathered.

The services that they need to access  the Hospitality Center, the Hopes Center, the library, places where they might be able to eat and stay warm during the day  those are all in the Downtown area.

The shelter would be open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Nov. 1 through March 31. Transportation is being arranged to take those staying at the shelter to the facility each night and then away from it in the morning.

Permanent shelter soon?

Officials stressed the shelter is only temporary and said a permanent solution could come as part of a newly-proposed Racine County Health Recovery Campus Center, which would be established near the Dennis Kornwolf Service Center, 1717 Taylor Ave.

County Executive Jonathan Delagrave called for creating a campus for mental health and social services in his budget address Tuesday. The county hopes to acquire a nearby property and have the center operational next year.
4 Chinese companies interested in Kathmandu-Kerung railway project

Four Chinese companies have shown interest to conduct feasibility study of Kathmandu-Rasuwagadhi railway network after Nepal sought the northern neighbours help to conduct survey and detailed project report (DPR).
Agencies press govt to review visa-ticket rule

The Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (Nafea) has asked the government to reconsider its free visa free ticket policy arguing that the low cost recruitment scheme has done more harm than good to the foreign employment sector.
Bangladeshi forces kill 11 suspected militants

Eleven suspected militants have been killed in a series of gun battles with Bangladeshi security forces, officials say.
Equipment to trace big cats given to police

A police team mobilised to tame man-eater leopards that have been terrorising people of Talloswaorad area in Baitadi district has been provided some equipment to trace the big cats.
Ethiopia declares state of emergency amid protests

Ethiopia has declared a state of emergency following months of anti-government protests by members of the country's two largest ethnic groups.
Germany calls for a ban on combustion engine cars by 2030

A proposal to stop sales of new combustion-engine cars by 2030 has gained cross-party support in Germany's upper house of parliament.
Goats for Dashain

Lets hope Nepalis will get to celebrate Dashain in the future with domestically produced goat meat
NEA to sign performance contract with officials

Senior officials of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the state-owned power utility, from now on will have to sign performance contract with the management
NRB urges govt to channel remittance to specific projects

The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has recommended that the government channel funds raised through sales of foreign employment savings bonds to specific infrastructure projects.
Over 2 million leave Capital for Dasain celebration

As many as 2.2 million people have left the Kathmandu Valley by road to be home in time and join their families for the Dasain celebration as of Saturday evening.
Sixty five injured in Makwanpur bus collision

As many as 65 passengers were injured, 25 seriously, following a head-on collision involving two passenger buses at Ramantar in Makawanpur along the Hetauda-Narayangadh road section at around 4 am today.
This Election Day, Democrat Jim Driscoll will face independent Danny Thomas in the race to succeed Coconino County Sheriff William Pribil, who is retiring after 12 years in office.

The winner will be responsible for law enforcement in Coconino County outside city limits and Indian reservations, and will be in charge of the Coconino County Detention Facility and its inmates, as well as the jail's Page holding facility.

Thomas, a former Arizona liquor control agent, has a platform primarily focused on what he contends are morale issues within the department tied, in part, to low staffing and pay.

The improvements I would fight for are including but not limited to: supporting my patrol staff, administrative staff and corrections officers, which I currently do not believe is being accomplished by the current administration except at the top administrative level, Thomas said.

Driscoll, who is Pribils chief deputy, takes a more optimistic approach. He has said he plans to build upon the current sheriffs successes rather than enact sweeping changes.

My experience, leadership skills and community understanding have prepared me to lead the Coconino County Sheriffs Office as the next sheriff, Driscoll said.

STAFFING AND MORALE

Thomas said if elected, he would add more deputy and reserve deputy positions. Right now, the Sheriffs Office has 62 patrol officer positions, and about seven of those are vacant. Thomas said the shortage of deputies reduces the safety and security of residents and deputies, alike.

Coconino County Sheriffs Department has not added one deputy position to increase patrol of our neighborhoods since 1999, while the population has increased significantly, Thomas said.

Driscoll agreed the Sheriffs Office needs more deputies and said he would hire more if he could get more funding for the department.

This increase in staffing is necessary for the safety of our residents as well as the safety of our deputies in more remote areas, he said.

The current sheriff confirmed the department has not added officer positions since 1999 but said it is not for lack of trying.

About five years ago, Pribil eliminated four vacant officer positions and used the money that was budgeted for them to give officers a 7 percent pay increase. He asked the Coconino County Board of Supervisors to increase the Sheriffs Office budget to restore those four positions this past budget year but the board only granted the request for two.

Both candidates have also said the Sheriffs Office needs to increase pay. Currently, new deputies make $6,000 less in their first year than their counterparts at Flagstaff Police Department.

Thomas said morale at the Sheriffs Office is at an all-time low because the current administration is not taking care of employees.

I would restructure the department and redistribute the wealth among employees and/or change job classifications to accommodate appropriate increases in pay and steps, Thomas said.

The Board of Supervisors would have to sign off on those changes.

Driscoll said increasing employee compensation would be his top priority if he could get more funding from the county.

JAIL ADMINISTRATION

The candidates take different positions when it comes to the Coconino County Detention Facility.

Driscoll commended Pribil for taking a jail that was projected to be $3 million in the red and turning it into a solvent jail district with approximately $30 million in reserves last year.

He also said he would build on programs like the jails veterans services, civil attorney services, job training, religious programs, inmate work crews, addiction treatment programs, mental health services, and health and well-being classes, which are all meant to reduce recidivism.

In addition to providing a safe and secure facility, we recognize we have a unique opportunity to help make positive changes in the lives of the people in our custody, Driscoll said.

Thomas, on the other hand, suggested the inmates have it too easy.

As far as the jail is concerned, my opponent indicated recently at a meeting on the Reservation that he is proud of the fact our inmates are some of the best-fed inmates in Arizona, Thomas said. I personally dont want anyone thinking that Coconino County Jail is a good place to go because they feed you very well.

He said he would cut the jail budget and redirect its funds to other uses.

PROGRAMS AND EQUIPMENT

If elected, Thomas said he would create a burglary, theft and drug task force. He also wants to offer free firearms training and self-defense classes for the public.

He also called for a grant writer to get funding for new equipment.

The current equipment is substandard compared to other law enforcement agencies within the state of Arizona, Thomas said.

Specifically, he said, he believes the current radio communication system limits deputies ability to communicate with FPD officers.

However, the Sheriffs Office and FPD have a designated radio channel that allows them to communicate if they need to. The Sheriffs Office can also communicate with FPD through their shared 911 dispatch center.

Driscoll said he plans to move forward with plans to equip deputies with body cameras. He also said he would continue to develop cultural awareness training for officers and expand training programs that help Sheriffs Office personnel recognize and respond to individuals with mental illness.

EXPERIENCE

Both candidates have approximately three decades of law enforcement experience.

Thomas has never worked for the Coconino County Sheriffs Office, but he did serve 10 years with the Pima County Sheriffs Office and 1.5 years as a corrections officer in the Tucson area. After that, he spent 20 years with the Arizona Department of Liquor before opening Northern Arizona Expert Liquor Consultants and Training in 2007.

Driscoll, who grew up in Flagstaff, has worked at the Coconino County Sheriffs Office for most of his career. He has worked in almost all areas of the Sheriffs Office, including patrol, detectives, jail, and search and rescue, and has worked in most of the county's major population centers.
Terri Schlichenmeyer has been reading since she was 3, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 11,000 books.
Last winter at the Wagon Wheel Saloon, just a spit over the border from Mexico, Jesse Sensibar hunkered down for a swath of time with the watering holes most famous guest.

Jim Harrison, author of such iconic novels as Legends of the Fall, agreed to appear at this years Northern Arizona Book Festival. But in late March, he passed away at the age of 78.

Now the book festival  ready to kick off a week full of readings, signings and workshops for writers at all levels  is dedicated to the late author of a canon of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

From childrens literature to wild adventure tales, there is a satiating read for varied tastes as nearly 50 authors from Arizona and far beyond convene Monday, Oct. 10 through 16 for a week full of readings, signings and workshops.

Events are free except the Coconino Center for the Arts reading Thursday, Oct. 13 featuring Diana Gabaldon, Erin Stalcup, William Trowbridge and Nicole Walker; and A Tribute to Jim Harrison Friday at the Orpheum Theater featuring Harrisons author-friends Doug Peacock, William Pitt Root and Pamela Uschuk.

See a full calendar of events, scattered throughout Flagstaff and on Northern Arizona University and Coconino Community College campuses, and at NazBookFest.org.

Apples to apples

Book fest president James Jay and executive director Sensibar rebooted the festival, on hiatus since 2013, and migrated the non-profit under the umbrella of the Narrow Chimney Reading Series. Last years run proved successful to the organizers, now able to compare apples to apples heading into year two.

The methods have worked, said Jay, noting, We were thinking about more local-regional [authors], but at the same time were not going smaller by any means  and I think this year is a good example of that.

The team tossed their net out wide, reeling in writers with both regional and international acclaim, and who have recent works to celebrate, Sensibar added.

For example, NAU professors Stalcup and Walker recently published books while Flagstaff-born writer Diana Gabaldons best-selling page-to-screen series, Outlander, has been picked up for a third Starz season premiering in 2017.

Sensibar first crossed paths with Peacock and Uschuk because of the mural on the side of his home in Tucson. All 16 feet of Harrisons striking black-and-white portrait by Flagstaffs Jay Willison are hard to miss, and brought the famed authors over for a visit.

Solid support

One of the organizers main goals since reconvening the festival was to act as a fiscal agent for smaller nonprofit adventures. Last year, the book festival received a small one-time grant from Coconino County. Jay recounted that since it was not eligible again, they helped the Telepoem Booth collect it instead.

New funds have also poured in, and a grant from Full Circle Trade & Thrift has contributed to other free readings such as Barley Rhymes and Poets Den  two events, incidentally, looking for new host venues. Jay and Sensibar encouraged any interested parties hoping to foster mutual support between locations and these events to contact them.

Jay noted, too, that for the first time in festival history, direct support came from the Presidents Office at NAU. And, after last years state-level budget slash, NABF received an Arizona Commission on the Arts grant.

Jay and Sensibar also commended small business and a contribution from the Arts Council-distributed Arts and Sciences Fund.

Reading time

Many may note a change in the festivals timing, too. The main reason the book festival is setting up in October, Sensibar said, is to encourage teachers at both FUSD and university levels to incorporate Book Festival authors and events into their curriculums.

It is also unexpectedly aligning with NAUs unsanctioned Homecoming party, Tequila Sunrise. Controlling this organic event, NABF organizers said, was outside their capacity, but offers room for creative scheduling.

Jay also noted the book festival's strong attendance  expected to increase from last years 1,100 attendees  that could spur beneficial partnerships with downtown businesses, separate from events like Tequila Sunrise.

Saturday, instead, will see a cadre of events from a publishing workshop at Barefoot Cowgirl Books to the Young Reader Fest at the Downtown Public Library and a Writing from Place workshop with Mary Sojourner in Buffalo Park.

Evening readings with NAU alumni Sean Carswell and Miles Waggener will celebrate the Return of the Writer as U of A letterpress demonstrates how books are printed.

Every twist thrown at the Northern Arizona Book Festival machine has allowed the organizers and participants to rally for the sake of high-caliber literature available at home and beyond.

Jay added, Im amazed by what we can pull off.
By Mark Leonard

LONDON  People used to think that the most important decisions affecting Europe were made in Paris, Berlin, or Brussels. But in recent months, as the European Union has confronted the refugee crisis, and the Syrian conflict that is fueling it, Moscow and Ankara have come to the fore. And the EU is divided on how to deal with its two disgruntled neighbors, Russia and Turkey, both of which feel increasingly snubbed by the West.

The EU-Russia relationship has long exposed EU member states' varying historic, geographic, and economic interests. While all EU countries agreed on sanctions against Russia after it annexed Crimea in March 2014, this temporary unity belies member states' fundamentally different views about the kind of relationship they want for the long term.

Europe's new cold warriors, such as Estonia, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, have stood up to Russian aggression; but Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, and other countries only signed on to sanctions reluctantly, and are more open to engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin's government.

Turkey is in a different category, because it is a NATO member and a candidate (at least in principle) for EU membership. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been no less a source of division in Europe than Putin has. In the past, Turkey was seen as a potential EU member state and a model for Islamic liberal democracy; today, it is mainly seen as a geopolitical buffer zone.

For countries such as Germany and Greece, Turkey absorbs Middle Eastern refugees, as well as the spillover violence from which they are fleeing; in other EU countries such as Austria and France, however, mainstream political leaders tend to criticize Erdogan to attract voters from the political right. This will make it more difficult to implement the deal  brokered by German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier this year  that gives Turkey financial support, and its citizens visa-free travel to the EU, in exchange for its cooperation on containing refugee flows.

The coming weeks will test Europe's resolve on both sanctions against Russian and the deal with Turkey, especially now that Merkel's authority is waning. A breakdown in these arrangements would cause a major crisis for the EU, which is already divided between north and south by the chronic euro crisis.

Both Putin and Erdogan are leaders who have been shaped by their domestic insecurity and the need to project strength. Europeans, however, have trouble maintaining relationships that pit their geopolitical interests against their desire to defend human rights and uphold international law. In fact, the EU seems to have no conceptual framework for accommodating neighboring countries that aren't actively importing its norms and regulations.

But the EU's problem with both Turkey and Russia is about more than difficult personalities or inadequate policies; it is rooted in the European order itself. When the Cold War ended, the EU and NATO were at the center of an expanding unipolar order that, it was assumed, would establish the conditions for European security. In fact, this was far from guaranteed.

Six years ago, Ivan Krastev and I wrote a paper for the European Council on Foreign Relations warning of the specter of a multipolar Europe, wherein the rules and institutions affecting European countries would not all be decided by the EU. That specter has become a living reality.

Today, the EU is just one of several European projects. Russia is now as hostile to the EU as it is to NATO, and has created a Eurasian Economic Union to serve as an alternative regional unification effort. Russia is also doing its best to hollow out from within European institutions such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe.

Turkey, for its part, no longer considers its regional aspirations satisfied by its role as a NATO member or its EU accession candidacy. Its own regional policy has changed significantly, from "zero problems with neighbors" to "zero neighbors without problems." But Turkey is now a critical player, because its geopolitical reach covers regions where the EU and Russia are both actively engaged  from the Balkans and Central Asia to the Middle East.

With Turkey's accession process stalled and the conflict in Eastern Ukraine still raging, the EU is beholden to countries with which it has increasingly complex political relations. There is much handwringing in Europe over the possibility that Turkey and Russia could form an alliance against the EU.

That worry may be premature. The Turkish-Russian relationship has warmed recently, but not by much. The two countries are still divided on many issues, from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's future to Black Sea security and the annexation of Crimea.

Still, the EU needs to develop fresh thinking so that member states can agree on how best to manage these relationships. If it does not, it could find itself increasingly isolated and alone in a neighborhood where new powers have moved in. From Eastern Europe and the Balkans to Central Asia and Syria, Europe's periphery could shake its core.

Mark Leonard is Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate.
North Korea's state radio station on Sunday resumed the broadcast of mysterious numbers after a two-week hiatus, with the content of the transmission different from what was sent in the past.

North Korean watchers in Seoul have speculated that the broadcasts could be some kind of coded message to its agents, although it could just be a kind of deceptive strategy aimed at sparking confusion within South Korea.

An announcer at Radio Pyongyang started reading a series of messages shortly after midnight, calling out both pages and numbers.

The announcer said she is "giving review work in metal engineering to No. 21 expedition agents."

Since June 24, North Korea sent out a total of eight encrypted numbers broadcasts, with the last one broadcast on Sept. 25.

Broadcasts of mysterious numbers are a kind of book cipher that was often used by North Korea to give missions to spies operating in South Korea during the Cold War era. Spies could decode numbers to get orders by using a reference book, although many intelligence agents believe this form of sending orders to be outdated.

Pyongyang had initially suspended such broadcasts in 2000 when the two Koreas held their first historic summit.

Tensions are already running high on the divided peninsula after North Korea carried out its fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9 and warned it could launch preemptive strikes against Seoul and Washington. Seoul is on high alert for additional provocations by the North as the country gets ready to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea on Monday. (Yonhap)
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Foggy with light rain developing this afternoon. High 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 48F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Two decades after he started the business, Al Louis and his wife Brenda are excited about their Designing Jewelers store in La Crosse being named one of Americas coolest independent jewelry stores.

Al opened the jewelry store at 314 S. Fourth St. in downtown La Crosse in 1995, and extensively renovated it in 2008-09. Brenda began working there in 2000 and she and Al were married in 2006.

The couple also own and operate River City Gold and Silver Exchange next door at 316 S. Fourth St. That business buys, sells and trades gold and silver coins, proof and mint sets, rare U.S. coins, gold and silver bullion, scrap gold, estate jewelry, watches and diamonds. And it offers appraisal and estate services.

The two businesses together have nine employees.

The Louises decided to enter the annual Americas Coolest Stores contest held by INSTORE, a monthly magazine for U.S. jewelry store owners. The contest is for independent jewelry retailers, whose stores were judged on story, exterior appearance, interior appearance, advertising and marketing, online presence and individuality.

The top three winners in two divisions (based on number of employees) were featured in the magazines August issue. Honorable mention winners are featured as monthly Cool Stores in issues from September through next June.

Designing Jewelers received an honorable mention award in the Small Cool category, and is featured in the October issue of INSTORE. Much of the story was on the stores history, its major renovation in 2008-09 and the revitalization of downtown La Crosse.

Im just ecstatic about the recognition, Brenda said.

Its pretty exciting to think that La Crosse is on the map, Al said of the award.

He also said downtown La Crosse has changed a lot  for the better  since the 1980s. Look at whats going on downtown, with the four new hotels, the (Don) Weber buildings and other things, he said.

Al, a Milwaukee native, said the downtown had a number of empty storefronts when he moved to La Crosse in 1983. In early 1984, he started what today is River City Gold and Silver Exchange.

Both of the Louises businesses are in what is known as the Frederick Rehfuss Building. Rehfuss was a meat dealer and former butcher shop owner who had the building built after he retired for commercial rental, according to a 1997 study on the buildings history and architecture.

The south part (316 S. Fourth St.) of the building was constructed in 1881. The north part (314 S. Fourth St.) was added in 1883 and initially was rented to the Bosshard and Doerflinger Dry Goods Store. That business later occupied the entire building, before moving to another downtown location in 1888. It later became known as Doerflingers Department Store, which closed in 1984.

Hanging on the north and south brick walls inside Designing Jewelers are five original oil paintings from the days when the building was home to the Odin J. Oyen interior design firm, which was established in 1888.

The paintings depict such things as Grandad Bluff, American Indians and cowboys and a Middle Ridge harvest scene.

Al Louis wanted to give a more historic feel to his Designing Jewelers store, so he undertook the major 2008-09 renovation. There were some surprises along the way.

For one thing, Al planned to take out the dropped ceiling and put in a synthetic tin one. As work progressed, he discovered there were actually three dropped ceilings, which after being removed exposed the original tin ceiling  which Louis restored.

We had to take out five layers of wall to expose the original bricks on the north and south walls of the jewelry store, Al said. When we did that, we found a small room that we didnt know was there.

With the renovations, the stores ceiling went from being about 8 feet high to about 20 feet high. And removing layers of interior walls added about 12 feet of width to the stores display floor.

During the renovation, Al discovered a transom window above the stores entrance that he hadnt known was there. And he found it had been left wide open before being covered over years ago, which was allowing cold winter air into the building. That prompted him to find another covered-over, but wide-open transom window in the River City Gold and Silver Exchange part of the building.

Al said his heating bills now are about one-third what they were when the two transom windows were open.

The renovated store has brick walls and wood trim that matches its display cases.

Its a soft, warm, comfortable and inviting environment, Al said of the jewelry store, which features custom-designed jewelry as well as a large selection of jewelry that isnt custom-designed.

Besides having a large selection of jewelry for sale, Designing Jewelers offers appraisals, complementary jewelry cleaning and inspection, custom jewelry design, estate jewelry restoration, jewelry repurposing and watch repair.

Al said he and his wife believe in giving back to the community. For example, each year they create and donate a ring for the Oktoberfest fest master and for Mrs. Oktoberfest, as well as jewelry for Miss Oktoberfest. They also donate a ring for the Riverfest commodore and on occasion have supplied jewelry for Miss Wisconsin.
The applicants work history and references seem in order and that Ivy degree catches the eye. But how can you be sure  really, really sure  theyll be a good fit?

Company culture is an amorphous, almost undefinable concept for the chemistry among workers and their colleagues that evolves in sometimes unpredictable ways.

When its right, the result is a stable, productive workforce. Get it wrong and that new hire youd hoped would rocket the firm to a new level can turn the office into a Real Housewives episode.

Making sure its right is a key focus for a South Carolina executive recruiter.

Joachim Joe Woerner, founder and managing director of Q Works in Fort Mill, S.C., says his company pays particular attention to the culture issue as it plays matchmaker for client companies and mid- to upper-management candidates in the U.S. and internationally.

It starts with a comprehensive assessment of how the company works: How are decisions made at the firm? What steps does the company take to retain employees? And for the applicants: Are they comfortable collaborating with groups of people or do they prefer to work solo? Are they more interested in the jobs potential for advancement or their starting salary?

There are companies who hire people based on a resume alone. They look at their experience and their technical skills. But a lot of companies overlook their own culture and their own branding to find people that fit into that culture, Woerner said.

But the questions need to be asked: If a Google tech wizard wanted to try her hand in a more corporate setting, is that likely to work? Will the department manager of a major national bank thrive at a smaller financial institution where he has more influence but fewer resources?

If its not a good fit, They could do the job but it would take a lot of emotional energy to do that job. They are either going to burn out or leave, Woerner said.

That means absorbing the time and expense of making a new hire sooner than expected or possibly paying to retrain the problem employee, all while productivity lags. Some estimates put the cost of a bad hire as equivalent to a one-time annual salary while the job search site Monster.com has calculated that making a new hire will take about four months and cost the company $1,872.

Assessing the cultural fit between company and applicant is not a perfect science, Woerner acknowledged. No candidate is perfect and a companys culture is continually subject to change.

Every person you add changes the culture, he said. Our job is to reduce the odds of a bad hire.
New U.K. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt has reversed most of an economic package announced by the government just weeks ago, including a planned cut in income taxes. Hunt said Monday he was scrapping almost all the tax cuts announced last month by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, and also signaled that public spending cuts are on the way. It was a bid to soothe turbulent financial markets spooked by fears of excessive government borrowing. The move raises questions about how long the beleaguered prime minister can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. She vowed to lead the Conservatives into the next general election, but many in the party want her gone.
Hungry people looking to spice up their afternoons flocked to Riverside Park on Saturday for the 25th annual State Bank Financial Chili Cook-off, where samples were plentiful and even the pickiest of palates found a match.

The fall tradition, founded by former State Bank Financial president Steve Hamilton, benefits local DARE programs and the La Crosse Public Education Foundation, with $200,000 raised in the past 24 years.

Our goal was to have 25 cooks this year for 25 years, and we got 27, said Lori Raabe, business development operator for State Bank. This is a really important cause. The work being done at DARE and the La Crosse schools is amazing, and were thrilled we can support this.

The State Bank booth served employee Lance Hausers bit of everything, high veggie/low bean chili, which ran out by 1 p.m. with one customer chiding, The only problem with your chili is its gone!

Ramazan Balci let grateful dog Yogi polish off his cup of chili at their table for two, explaining,My wife is at home with our newborn, so I brought the dog. He likes chili. He likes lots of things.

This was Balcis first year at the cook-off despite being invited for years by friends Mario Youakim and Gary Rudy, whose dishes he was torn between.

I love Marios and Rudys, Balci said. They have rivaling chilis.

Balci was also impressed with the batch from the Onalaska Police Department, going back for seconds.

They used a lot of fresh veggies, it gives it a little texture and flavor, Balci enthused. Its been great to taste everything, and its nice that its a little chilly so the chili warms you up.

Fellow first-time cook-off patrons Amber and Matt Lange were equally impressed with the diverse selection.

Im going to try and make it around the whole loop, Amber said, citing the Escape Room chili as an early favorite. Its interesting to see peoples takes on their chili. I have two kids in school, and its a great cause.

Chili cook-off aficionado Rudy, four-time winner of the Harley Davidson Chili Cook Off, was glad to offer his support, calling the event a win-win.

Rudy served Rootin Tootin Shootin Chili for his second year at the event, which he described as spicy on the front and sweet on the backside. The blend was a favorite among many and drew in some familiar faces.

I really enjoy getting out and seeing people and recognizing customers, Rudy said. Its fun and raises funds for the community.

Friends Chau Nguyen and Meagan Waddell brought their young children for the kids first tastes of chili. Nguyens son Andre and Waddells twins Kylee and Lucy were fans of the La Crosse School Districts white chili, with the crackers being a close second.

The event featured plenty of kid friendly activities and cotton candy for those favoring sweet over salty, and several of the booths got creative with costumes and clever names such as Netflix and Chili and The Devils Slaw.

The staff at Cleary Management went for a classic smoked turkey chili whipped up by maintenance worker Kurt Lichthardt, the offices resident chef.

We love his cooking, gushed Lois Martin, a part-time worker in administrative support and former 20-year employee with State Bank. Well eat anything he makes for us. People at the other end (of the cook-off) are coming down here after hearing about it.

Martin herself is a cook-off regular and was present for the inaugural event at Mt. La Crosse.

Its grown a lot since then, which is great, Martin said. Its an excellent cause, and the programs are badly need in La Crosse. The more we can raise for the schools and the community the better.

Matt Lange agreed, summing up the afternoon in eight words: Beautiful weather, good food, good day, good cause.

Beautiful weather, good food, good day, good cause. Matt Lange
CALEDONIA, Minn.  Camp Winnebago is good for the environment.

Just ask the sixth-graders from La Crescent, Spring Grove, Houston, Caledonia, St. Marys or St. Peters. Two hundred eighty-three students came to the campgrounds outside Caledonia for its annual environmental day on Sept. 27.

With stations focusing on everything from electroshocking fish in a stream to learning to live with rattlesnakes, eight presenters taught the rotating sections of students more about their environment, habitats, species, soils, forestry, wetlands, aquatic invasive species and electrical safety  in a hands-on way they couldnt have experienced in a classroom.

Dave Walter is district manager of the Root River Soil and Water Conservation District in Caledonia. It was 27 years ago, Walter said, when Terry Nelson of Spring Grove started bringing his class down to the campground to talk about natural resources: the creeks, the streams, the habitats.

He actually kept the students overnight, Walter said.

After a couple of years, Nelson went to the district office and said he had a good thing going for Spring Grove. How about doing it for all the schools?

So, weve been at it for about 25 years, Walter said of his district office. I tell you what: Its a great location for a couple of different areas  theres good space, and we have a few shelters in case the weather gets a little tough.

Another location was tried once, but it was too spread out, with too much walking. Compact Camp Winnebago is ideal. In fact, oscillating on the fine Tuesday morning, it was easy to see all of the students, separated into groups, at each of the eight stations around the campground.

At each of the stations, a wide variety of knowledge and safety skills are taught, keeping them outside and busy from 9 a.m. until nearly 2 p.m.

Stations, which operate like environmental classrooms, are led by members of the Lanesboro Department of Natural Resources fisheries; Tri-County Electrics Caledonia crew; Jed Chestnut, wetland specialist with Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources; Sara Holger, naturalist with Whitewater State Park; Jen Whals, AIS coordinator with the Wabasha Soil and Water Conservation District; Gary Larson, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Lance Klessig, Winona Soil and Water Conservation District; Ron Meiners, retired district manager from Root River Soil and Water Conservation District; and Jason Bland, DNR Forestry Caledonia.

Bland, who had one of three groups of middle-schoolers from La Crescent near his site, told them he works on nearly 15,000 acres of state forest land, and he wanted to know whether any of the students might guess what he does as a forester.

One girl noted his truck, which had various fire-fighting pieces of equipment on display  from a fire-resistant tarp to all manner of hoses that spray water.

You can see all the fire stuff, Bland said. Part of my job is we put out wildfires. Forest fires, grass fires, stuff like that.

There may not be a lot of wildfires in the area  although in Minnesota, there are more than 3,000 per year  but they can happen.

Fires a natural part of the landscape, he said.

The key is to be prepared for it, and that includes fire-resistant clothing, known as Nomex, which he duly showed them.

Fire isnt always a bad thing, as Bland pointed out, and several students were quick to point out why it might be useful for a forester to use fire, notably to help manage the woods, as well as regenerate them. Certain cones only release their seeds under extreme heat. Other plants have adapted to fire.

But theres also much more to his job, from planting to cooperating with other agencies for the preservation of wildlife.

I get outside a lot, Bland said.

And, as the sixth grade moved on to a stream where fishery workers were shocking for fish, Bland took a moment to talk about why hes spent eight years coming to this student day.

One, its educational, Bland said. Its part of my job, what I do, because its exciting for me.

Hes been all over the nation fighting fires, he said, and most of them are started by humans. One of the things he teaches the kids is how to build and maintain a safe campfire. And making sure its out.

We used to do tree I.D., he said, but this is maybe a little more interesting.

Will Stuart, 11, would agree. In fact, Stuart said his first visit to Camp Winnebago has reinforced an important lesson for him.

You should learn about Minnesotas natural resources, Stuart said, because if we ran out of our natural resources, there wouldnt be really any ecosystem.

Down at the stream, DNR experts were showing the class what electro-fishing, also known as sampling, involves.

A magnetic field is sent out into the stream, and it will safely catch various samplings of fish, which then can be used to determine the size of their current schools, as well as population estimates, including how many new babies there might be. Over many years, the information can help determine the health of the fish and the overall aquatic habitat.

The students are not allowed near the water, but their eyes are alert to the practice from the bank. And asked what kind of fish they think theyre likely to find, one student didnt hesitate.

Brook trout! he said.

Which only served to underscore the importance education, both indoors and outdoors, can have on inquiring young minds let out in the wild.

You should learn about Minnesotas natural resources, because if we ran out of our natural resources, there wouldnt be really any ecosystem. Will Stuart, 11
Northern Arizona University sophomore Jami Donaldson had gone out with friends and stopped to get some food before returning to her dorm the night of Oct. 8, 2015. When she arrived at the Mountain View Hall parking lot just after 1 a.m. Oct. 9, she saw a group of people she recognized.

Something was wrong.

We pulled into the parking lot, and I thought it was a fist fight, Donaldson said this past Tuesday, standing in that same parking lot. I got out of the car and ran toward it. I went up to Colin (Brough) and my friend, Nick Pletke, grabbed my hand and pulled me away. Then, Steven (Jones) started firing again. I saw all of it happen.

Exactly one year has passed since 18-year-old NAU freshman Steven Jones shot four 20-year-old students in a Mountain View Hall parking lot after an early morning confrontation outside a Delta Chi fraternity party at 262 E. Franklin Ave.

Jones and some friends interrupted an alcohol-fueled party, and during the ensuing fight he retreated to his parked car, where he retrieved a handgun and returned to the fight. None of his victims was armed with a weapon, although their blood tests showed high levels of alcohol while Jones tested clean.

The case has stirred intense debate over a number of issues, including:

--gun access on campus

--the first-degree murder indictment vs. a stand-your-ground plea of innocence

--the student party culture and underage drinking

--the release of Jones to his parents home pending trial.

Hundreds of news stories across the country have been written about the shooting, with more to come as the April 2017 trial approaches.

For most people, its just a turn of the page, said Kimberly Prato. Its different when it happens to your own child.

Her son, Nicholas Prato, was shot in neck in the second burst of gunfire after he ran to Colin Brough, who was drowning in his own blood after being shot in the shoulder and chest.

"He was holding my son when he got shot, said Colin Broughs father, Doug Brough. He was trying to help him.

Nicholas Piring was hit in the hip and arm. Nicholas Prato was hit in the neck. Kyle Zientek was shot twice in the back and ended up losing a kidney.

Colin Brough died.

WOUNDS NOT HEALED

A year later, the emotional wounds his death left on the people who loved Colin Brough have not healed.

I just wanted him to be safe, have fun, be a good person," Doug Brough said, his voice shaking. "He was going to be the first in our family to graduate from college. He had everything in front of him. That was all taken away.

Donaldson still lives in Mountain View Hall, which she said was difficult following the shooting. She said all the community events, like the candlelight vigil, the prayer circle and the march across campus, helped her grieve while knowing she had the support of the community.

Nicholas Prato, Piring and Zientek also came back to NAU. Kimberly Prato said they are all marked physically and emotionally from the shooting.

Normal is a funny word, she said. I dont know that normal exists for any of us right now. I dont know that there will ever be a normal again.

Kimberly Prato said she wished she could thank all the 911 operators, first responders, medical staff and therapists who, she said, treated the victims like they were their own children, as well as the NAU community, which has stood by them. This week, NAU President Rita Cheng issued a statement saying her sympathies continue to be with the victims and families.

Im very grateful to the Flagstaff community for really circling these boys with love and support, Kimberly Prato said. I dont think that any of these students would have continued to stay there if the community wasnt so loving and so supportive and just so helpful in so many ways.

LIVE FOR COLIN

After his son died, Doug Brough said, many strangers came forward to tell him Colin Brough had helped them.

He took really after his mom, Doug Brough said. Even when they were young, she would take the boys and they would go and help the homeless. I guess that just kind of carried on in his life. He seemed to be always there for people who needed help.

The family has set up the Live for Colin Foundation to keep his memory alive. So far, it has raised money to give scholarships to two young men in need.

Donaldson said Colin Brough's death was a wake-up call.

We are trying to move on, but the only way we can do that is if everyone looks at the positive, she said. I realized I should be living life to the fullest because life can be way too short. The foundation is Live for Colin, and Im trying to live every day to the fullest, whether its for him or its for me.

But the Live for Colin Foundations primary purpose is to get guns off college campuses.

GUN CONTROL

The Arizona Board of Regents Student Code of Conduct prohibits the use, possession, display or storage of any weapon, explosive device or fireworks on any of the three state university campuses and property owned by them. An exception allows guns to be kept in personal vehicles if they are locked and the firearm is not visible from the outside.

Two bills were sent to the Arizona House of Representatives this year regarding gun laws. Arizona House Bill 2072 aimed to allow students and faculty members with a permit to carry concealed weapons on campuses, but it died in committee. HB 2338, which would allow concealed weapons on public roads and streets at universities, passed and was signed into law in the beginning of May.

"Colin would never have gone to NAU if we had known about the gun laws, Doug Brough said. It's nothing against NAU, it's just the Wild West there (in Arizona)."

A report by the National Conference of State Legislatures states lists 18 states that outright ban concealed weapons on college campuses. Doug Brough said it is time for all states to pass legislation banning guns on college campuses.

He also plans to meet with Delta Chi members in the coming weeks to launch an effort to expand Safe2Tell.org to Arizonas universities and, eventually, the entire country. Right now, the program lets K-12 students in Colorado anonymously report potential safety threats.

CASE UPDATE

A grand jury indicted Jones on six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of first-degree murder. The trial is set for April 4, 2017.

His attorneys have insisted from the beginning that he acted in self-defense. The Coconino County Attorneys Office has argued in court filings that Jones had only been punched in the face when he started shooting unarmed people, not facing an imminent threat to his life.

Jones has been awaiting his trial at his parents house in Glendale since this April, when Coconino County Superior Court Judge Dan Slayton eliminated his $2 million bail requirement, saying Jones was not a threat to the public or a flight risk. He is now under the supervision of Maricopa County Pretrial Services, undergoes 24-hour GPS monitoring, has a curfew, and has to meet the judges release conditions.

The past year has been a tremendously stressful time for Steven and his family, said Jones attorney, Joshua Davidson. While they remain confident that he will be exonerated of these charges, they are taking things one day at a time and finding solace in their faith.

The year has not been stressful for the Jones family alone.

Were all still totally shocked and shaken, Kimberly Prato said. Were still reeling at the fact that this even happened  its a bad dream that just is incomprehensible. Its still incomprehensible to me that this student decided to take four lives into his own hands and fire a gun at them.
Logan High School junior Ben Smith is up to the challenge.

Smith will be one of more than 40 student musicians taking the stage today to perform in the Reed Music Studios Honors Recitals at the Annett Recital Hall on the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus. A skilled piano player, Smith will play the challenging Etude Op. 8 No. 12 by Scriabin.

Its the hardest piece I have ever played, he said.

Studio owner David Reedy said more than 100 students competed to perform in the recitals, which are in their 26th year and will highlight the talent of students playing the piano, string instruments, guitar and the flute. Vikram Ailiani, an eighth-grade student at Onalaska Middle School and student of Rita Schuman, is the second headliner of the recitals and will perform Chopins Waltz Op. 64 No. 2.

Its a showcase of the dedication of our students, Reedy said.

Smith has been playing the piano since he was 4 years old and also plays the trumpet and sings in the Logan choir. He said he prefers the piano because it is a versatile instrument that lets him play a lot of different types of music including classical and jazz.

He has received a lot of accolades for his piano skills, having placed first in his age group at the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association Badger State piano competition numerous times, including this year. He also received second place in the 2016 La Crosse Symphony Orchestras Rising Stars Concerto Competition.

Despite the awards, Smith said he enjoys the emotions and feelings music can inspire in people and looked forward to hearing the music his fellow students would create at the recitals. One of the reasons he chose the Scriabin was its great melody and the drama of the piece.

Smith has been preparing for the recital for the past four months, trying to practice an hour or more each day he can and has been cramming in some extra sessions this week. Watching others perform the piece on YouTube, Smith said he has seen some master pianists make mistakes, which just motivates him to try harder.

He takes these pieces apart, his father and UW-L professor Stefan Smith said. He will go through the piece measure by measure until he finds out how he wants to express them musically.

Stefan Smith, Bens father
Before she shows social work students a video about post-traumatic stress disorder that includes graphic images, UW-Madison professor Angela Willits warns them about the upsetting scenes.

When she discusses topics such as dating violence and family abuse, professor Sara McKinnon says she tells her class, The material were going to talk about this week may be troubling.

These advisories, known popularly as trigger warnings, are one piece of a contentious national discussion over free speech on college campuses. They have spurred debates among professors, students and administrators over whether the warnings should be made mandatory  an idea that professors say runs afoul of academic freedom  and questions about whether their use, even when voluntary, could inhibit classroom discussions.

But several UW professors who use the warnings say those fears exaggerate what trigger warnings actually accomplish. For those professors, the warnings are simple notices that let students know what to expect from an assignment or a discussion.

It gives them a little bit of a heads-up, Willits said.

UW-Madison does not have a policy on trigger warnings, a spokesman said, and the university does not track how widespread their use is on campus.

While demands for trigger warnings from student groups at campuses such as American University have made headlines, mandatory trigger warning policies appear to be rare nationwide  less than 1 percent of professors in a recent survey said they are required to use them. Still, the University of Wisconsin System last year approved a resolution reaffirming its support for free speech and the open exchange of ideas, prompted in part by the national debate over trigger warnings.

Proponents insist, though, that the advisories do the opposite of what critics claim: Rather than shut down classroom discussions, they say, trigger warnings make them more accessible to people who have had traumatic experiences, because they have had an opportunity to prepare for challenging conversations.

People have this misconception that you have to avoid this material or avoid hurting peoples feelings, said Ann Fink, a visiting professor who uses trigger warnings in her course on biology and gender. Thats actually not the point. The point is to be more thoughtful.

Its to have better conversations, its to actually engage people more  not less  and students want that.

Improving learning

The phrase trigger warning refers broadly to statements that seek to advise people who have experienced trauma about material that may be distressing.

Veterans or survivors of sexual assault, for instance, could be triggered by images and descriptions that reawaken those memories, such as depictions of combat in a film or a novel in which a character is assaulted. Trigger warnings give audiences prior notice about content that could affect trauma survivors  allowing them, proponents say, to prepare for the material, or decide not to interact with it at all.

Like other professors, McKinnon said she offers the warnings because she expects some of the students in her courses could be affected by classroom material.

You just know that if you have 80 students in your class, it is likely that some of them have experienced violence or family abuse at some point in their lives, McKinnon said.

Critics have questioned the need for warnings, however.

The presumption that students need to be protected rather than challenged in a classroom is at once infantilizing and anti-intellectual, the American Association of University Professors wrote in a 2014 statement on trigger warnings. It makes comfort a higher priority than intellectual engagement.

Willits said she was also skeptical about the warnings when a colleague suggested she use one several years ago.

But Willits, a mental health professor who teaches courses on trauma, said she realized they can help students learn to their full potential.

If a student is triggered in class their learning is diminished, Willits said.

Warning use unclear

While the debate over trigger warnings has swelled in recent years, there is little data on how common they are on college campuses, or whether their use has become more widespread recently.

In a 2015 survey of 800 humanities and arts professors conducted by the National Coalition Against Censorship, 57.9 percent of respondents said they used some form of trigger warning.

Joan Bertin, the coalitions executive director, acknowledged the unscientific survey did not track whether the warnings are becoming more common. And she noted it doesnt delve into the details of how those warnings are employed.

The coalition opposes university-wide policies that would make trigger warnings mandatory or restrict their use, saying the decision should be left up to individual professors.

Only 0.5 percent of the surveys respondents said their institutions required trigger warnings, while 7.5 percent said students sought to mandate them.

Strategies vary

UW-Madison professors employ trigger warnings in a variety of ways, though some said they avoid using the term because of its connotations.

The warnings often come as professors are laying out a courses theme, such as in a syllabus or at the first class session.

In this course, we will discuss a variety of difficult topics, including descriptions of discrimination and harassment, and various forms of violence, reads part of a content notification on the syllabus of one of Finks courses.

As courses progress, professors said they let students know when challenging materials are coming up with warnings in class.

Ramzi Fawaz, an English professor, mentions potential triggers in the syllabi of his courses on the history of sex and sexuality. During the semester, Fawaz said he spends several minutes at the end of each class giving students a preview of the images, experiences and ideas  both positive and negative ones  they will encounter in the next batch of assignments.

Some decide against

But Fawaz said he avoids detailing every potential trigger in his course material because he wants students to have organic reactions to the texts they read.

There is also value in the experience of not always being warned and not always being told exactly what youre going to encounter, he said. I try to find a middle ground.

Touching on a concern raised by critics, Fawaz said he also wants students to learn to engage with the real world, which is full of differences that dont come with warnings.

Students in Christy Clark-Pujaras African-American history courses hear a primer on the first day of class about the often disturbing material they will engage with as they learn about topics such as slavery, reconstruction and the civil rights movement. Clark-Pujara also gives a warning before students watch a documentary that includes graphic photos of lynching victims.

But otherwise, Clark-Pujara says, she doesnt give trigger warnings  even in classes covering the horrors of slavery and American racism in full detail.

I want my students to be shocked by that, she said.

And as visceral and stomach-turning as the images in the lynching documentary are, Clark-Pujara said she does not allow students to opt out of watching it, in part out of an obligation she feels to the subjects of the history she teaches.

I think its important to share the whole of their experiences, and I dont think that we should edit it for our own comfort, Clark-Pujara said.

Students appreciate

Clark-Pujara said she has not heard any complaints about the lack of advisories in her courses.

Nor has Fink gotten any complaints about including warnings. Most students didnt seem to notice, she said, while others told her they felt a lot more prepared to deal with the material as it came along.

Unlike Clark-Pujara, some professors said they are open to making accommodations for students who fear they will be affected by certain material.

McKinnnon, for instance, said she has talked with students and given them alternative readings and assignments so they can avoid certain triggers while still learning her courses themes.

Willits recalled changing her plans for a lesson after a student told her about a trauma she had recently experienced. The student worried she wouldnt be able to participate in the class discussion of post-traumatic stress disorder, so she and Willits worked out a solution: The class would split into groups for the discussion, so the student could talk with friends rather than unfamiliar classmates.

The change, prompted by Willits warning, did not limit that days classroom discussion, she said. Instead, it opened the course to a vulnerable person.

She may have just skipped class that day, or left class, Willits said. She didnt  she figured out a way to hang in there, so that she (could) learn.
Republican and Democratic politicians across the country are deeply divided over restoring the right to vote to felons, a political fracture that affects millions of convicted criminals.

In Iowa and Kentucky, Democratic governors issued executive orders to restore voting rights to many felons  only to have them rescinded by Republican governors who succeeded them.

Democratic legislators in 29 states proposed more than 270 bills over the past six years that would have made it easier for some felons to vote but very few passed, especially in legislatures controlled by Republicans, News21 found in an analysis of state legislative measures nationwide.

Debate and decisions about restoring voting rights to felons often follow partisan lines because felons, particularly African-Americans, are viewed as more likely to vote Democratic than Republican, voting rights experts told News21.

Nationwide, 1 in 13 black voters is disenfranchised because of a felony conviction as opposed to 1 in 56 non-black voters, according to The Sentencing Project, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on criminal justice sentencing policies and racial disparities.

In Wisconsin, the disenfranchisement of both black and white voters is even more stark. Statewide, about 1 in every 9 African-American adults is barred from voting because of a felony conviction. That compares to 1 out of every 50 residents in Wisconsin overall, the American Civil Liberties Union has estimated.

Wisconsin prohibits voting by felons until they are no longer under the control of the state, including parole, probation or extended supervision. People who are charged but not convicted of a crime, even if they are in jail, are allowed to vote, under state law. The League of Women Voters of Dane County recently prepared information packets including an absentee ballot and registration cards for the 900 inmates at the Dane County Jail, volunteer Marian Matthews said.

Former prison inmate Joseph Frey, 57, who served a 22-year sentence for crimes including eight years on a rape in Oshkosh for which he was wrongfully convicted, said it was life-changing when he could begin voting again in 2013. As a person whose voting rights were stripped from him, Frey is frustrated that many people do not even bother to go to the polls.

We have to make sure that these politicians are accountable to us  they work for us, said Frey, who now lives in Madison. If we dont stand up for ourselves, then shame on us.

Back in 2009, Democratic lawmakers in Wisconsin who ran the Legislature unsuccessfully proposed restoring voting rights to felons upon release from prison. That year, the Brennan Center for Justice estimated that 62,343 Wisconsin residents were ineligible to vote because of felony convictions; more than 37,500 of them were out of prison and living in the community.

Across each correctional population, Wisconsins racial disparities in disenfranchisement are significantly higher than the national average, concluded a 2012 report by researchers from the University of Minnesotas Department of Sociology. Overall, as a percentage of the voting-age population, African Americans are disenfranchised at a rate that is more than 9 times greater than it is for whites in Wisconsin.

Handful of bills pass

News21s analysis of data from the National Conference of State Legislatures found 316 bills nationwide that would have allowed more access to voting for felons. Republican-controlled legislatures blocked 137, another 101 failed to pass in states with divided control, and 65 were unsuccessful in Democratic-controlled legislatures. Marylands Republican governor vetoed one bill.

Democrats are probably going to like it (felon voting) because they are going to expect a draw of votes, and Republicans tend to object, said Lynn Sanders, a University of Virginia professor and expert in American government.

This issue is very politicized because some Republicans associate the expanding franchise with more Democratic votes, agreed Nazgol Ghandnoosh, a research analyst at The Sentencing Project. The organization estimates nearly 6 million felons are disenfranchised nationwide.

Most of these people are not currently incarcerated, Ghandnoosh said. Theyre living among us in their communities, but because of restrictions and laws that prevent people from being able to vote, until theyve gone through a number of hurdles, they are not able to engage and be a part of our democracy.

Maine and Vermont are the only states where felons never lose the right to vote, even in prison.

You dont lose your citizenship when you get incarcerated, said Foster Bates, an inmate at the Maine State Prison and president-elect of its NAACP chapter.

Bates, who was convicted of murder, said more than 1,200 inmates are registered to vote in Maine. Voting in here is everything to us, he said.

Laws include lifetime bans

Florida, Kentucky, Iowa and Virginia impose the strictest laws that can permanently disenfranchise felons, regardless of the offenses. Virginias Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe issued a blanket restoration of voting rights to felons earlier this year, but the Virginia Supreme Court struck it down. McAuliffe charged the decision was made for political reasons.

Florida requires those convicted of nonviolent offenses to wait five years and those convicted of more serious offenses to wait seven years before applying for clemency. Floridas Board of Executive Clemency, which currently includes the governor, state attorney general, chief financial officer and commissioner of agriculture, decides whether to grant or deny the request. Members of the board could not be reached for comment.

Over the past six years, Floridas Democrats have introduced nine bills that would have made it easier for felons to vote, but none passed in the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Orlando-area Democratic U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson said Floridas law, which affects nearly 1 in 4 African-American residents, is the modern-day equivalent of a poll tax. This is the most effective disenfranchisement tool in the country, Grayson said. Other efforts are amateurist.

Virginia debates felon voting rights

Without a vote, advocates say people are disconnected from politics and society.

Richard Walker, founder of Bridging the Gap in Virginia, a nonprofit organization that helps the formerly incarcerated re-enter society, spent 14 months in prison for possession of cocaine and writing bad checks to purchase and resell stamps. Since his release in 2005, hes been traveling across Virginia to convince felons their votes matter.

It gives them a voice. It gives them the opportunity to say I am a citizen because I do vote,  Walker said. Without that, folk have the feeling that theyre marginalized and that theyre not a part of society. Thats a gut-wrenching thought to say that I have no voice and I cant vote.

Even before his sweeping executive order, McAuliffe said he had restored voting rights to 18,000 felons by granting individual pardons. McAuliffe told News21 at the Democratic National Convention that his actions were for moral reasons, not political reasons.

Im committed and passionate, he said. It isnt about Election Day  its about letting these folks come back in and vote and feel good about themselves.

McAuliffe issued his executive order April 22 restoring voting rights to more than 200,000 felons who had completed the terms of their sentences, including probation and parole.

Less than a month later, major players in the states Republican-controlled General Assembly  including House Speaker William J. Howell and Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr.  challenged McAuliffes order with a lawsuit, arguing that the governor violated the state constitution.

The Virginia Supreme Court agreed. In a 4-3 decision in July, Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons said the court respectfully disagreed with McAuliffes belief that the governor holds the power to make blanket restorations. Howell and Norment could not be reached for comment.

Michelle Fisher of Norfolk, Virginia, had waited 30 years to have her rights restored. Some people change, she said. They dont keep going (down) the same road, and its an awesome thing that he (McAuliffe) did. Its going to help a lot of people.

However, felons like Fisher who received their rights under McAuliffes order will be removed for now from the voter registrar list because of the courts decision.

Everyone is disappointed. They thought they were giving them a chance to vote and be a part of society, said Brandon Polly, an employee at New Virginia Majority, a grassroots advocacy organization. Its like a slap in the face all over again.

Iowa restores, then revokes, voting rights

In 2005, Iowas Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack also issued an executive order restoring voting rights to felons who had completed their full sentences  a move that enfranchised more than 115,000 felons, according to The Sentencing Project. The order was rescinded six years later by Republican Gov. Terry Branstad.

Today, any Iowan convicted of an infamous crime must submit an application to the governor for an individual pardon. And according to an Iowa Supreme Court ruling in June, every felony is considered an infamous crime.

This ruling goes in line with 150 years of precedent and has been reaffirmed by the people of Iowa and their elected representatives on multiple occasions, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said in a statement.

Kentuckys fight over felons

In Kentucky, felons must also submit applications to the governor. Each is reviewed on an individual basis.

Last year, Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear tried to establish automatic restoration procedures before leaving office, issuing an executive order that would have granted voting rights to more than 140,000 nonviolent offenders who completed their sentences and paid restitution. A month later, newly elected Republican Gov. Matt Bevin rescinded the order.

Tayna Fogle, a Kentucky felon, had her rights restored 10 years ago in a process that included three character references and an essay. It took her 15 years to get there, and she hasnt missed a chance to vote since. In 1991, Fogle was charged with possession of a forged instrument and possession of cocaine. She served six years and nine months of a 10-year sentence.

Did the crime, did the time. Im back, she said. Im supposed to be embraced. Im supposed to be able to vote.

The Kentucky Department of Corrections received 16,016 applications from felons between 2002 and 2015  about 72 percent of applicants were granted their rights.

Sarah Grady, an attorney who leads the Prisoners Rights Project for Loevy & Loevy civil rights law firm, has researched the history of felony disenfranchisement in Kentucky. Grady called the restoration process a silly draconian law that really has no place in modern society.

Lexington native Mantell Stevens has tried unsuccessfully to complete the restoration application multiple times. Hes been unable to vote since being convicted of felony drug possession in 2000, serving 30 days in jail and three years probation.

If I pay my taxes and I abide by the law, I want all the rights as any other citizens, Stevens said. Thats not too much to ask for  to be treated like anybody else.

This report is part of a project on voting rights in America produced by the Carnegie-Knight News21 program. The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism contributed to and distributed this report.

ABOUT THIS PROJECT

This report is part of the project titled Voting Wars  Rights | Power | Privilege, produced by the Carnegie-Knight News21 initiative, a national investigative reporting project by top college journalism students across the country and headquartered at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. For the complete News21 project, visithttp://votingwars.news21.com. For coverage published by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, visit http://wisconsinwatch.org/series/voting-wars-by-news21
Environmental groups are criticizing the final draft of a plan released by the Bureau of Reclamation Friday to manage the operations of Glen Canyon Dam for the next 20 years.

The plan calls for a more even monthly water release pattern from the dam and a continuation of the high-flow releases aimed at washing sand from tributaries into the mainstem of the Colorado River to build up sandbars.

It also allows for the mechanical removal of trout near the Little Colorado River confluence and experimentation with various water release patterns aimed at limiting juvenile trout populations, improving aquatic insect production and creating warmer waters downstream to benefit native chub.

The action chosen by the agency ensures Glen Canyon Dam will continue to meet its purposes while improving downstream resources and recreational experiences, the Bureau of Reclamation stated in a press release on Friday.

It said the plan has received letters of support from the seven Colorado Basin states, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Western Area Power Administration and the Navajo Nation.

Representatives with Save the Colorado and Sierra Club, however, said dam managers failed to analyze flow regimes they say would do more to benefit vegetation and aquatic life downstream, didnt fully analyze methane emissions from Lake Powell and chose a plan that wont put endangered species on track to full recovery.

Basically the Park Service and the Bureau of Reclamation did not try to find an alternative that would improve the floodplains, the vegetation or improve the ability for the Colorado River to be a living river. They have surrendered to the fact that the river is declining and they will do their best to slow that decline, said Alicyn Gitlin, with the Sierra Clubs Grand Canyon Chapter.

In previous comments to the Bureau of Reclamation, the Sierra Club asked the agency to analyze other proposals for Glen Canyon Dam operations, including one to consolidate much of the water from both reservoirs in Lake Mead and another to adjust dam releases to mimic the Colorado Rivers historic flows. Making river levels peak in June and then decline between September and February, as they would have pre-dam, would better align flows with the times when plants are releasing their seeds or fish are laying their eggs, Gitlin said.

But in its response to comments, the agency said such alternatives wouldnt allow compliance with water delivery requirements and other federal regulations, including the 1992 Grand Canyon Protection Act. Bureau of Reclamation officials who worked on the dam management plan were not able to respond to requests for further comment on Friday afternoon.

The agency said in addition to meeting obligations for water delivery and hydroelectric power generation, its plans for water releases from Lake Powell are expected to improve conditions for humpback chub, trout, and aquatic insects eaten by fish and other animals.

Gitlin countered that the agencys report also notes several places where the management plan wont improve the downstream ecosystem. The overall extent of riparian area in Grand Canyon is expected to continue to decrease as are key native species in those areas, while river conditions will continue to be poor for native humpback chub, the report said.

The recovery of native fish species as well as the methane emissions attributable to Lake Powell were a concern for the Colorado-based nonprofit Save the Colorado, Executive Director Gary Wockner said.

He cited an October study that found manmade reservoirs contribute about a billion tons of annual carbon dioxide equivalents to the atmosphere, which is about 1.3 percent all greenhouse gases produced by humans.

Bureau of Reclamation admits (the emissions) exist but is not accounting for them in its environmental impact of the project, he said.

In its response to comments, the agency did acknowledge that Lake Powell and Lake Mead would be expected to produce greenhouse gas emissions at levels similar to other reservoirs in the semiarid western United States but said those emissions arent anticipated to vary among the alternatives it analyzed.

Gitlin and Wockner said their organizations are still considering how to respond to the Bureau of Reclamations final plan and evaluating whether they will file comments against it. A final record of decision is expected to be issued after a minimum 30-day public review period.
ELKHORN  It was supposed to be a display of Republican unity to kick off the final month of a long and fractious presidential election.

Instead, House Speaker Paul Ryan was heckled and state Republican leaders mostly avoided mentioning their embattled presidential nominee Donald Trump Saturday at the 1st Congressional District Republican Party of Wisconsin Fall Fest in Walworth County.

There is a bit of an elephant in the room today, the Janesville Republican told a crowd of more than 500, never uttering Trumps name as several hecklers shouted Where is Trump?

Ryan was referring to a 2005 recording that surfaced Friday of Trump making lewd and demeaning comments that appeared to condone sexually assaulting women.

It is a troubling situation, said Ryan, who had reluctantly embraced the nominee while distancing himself on numerous occasions. Im serious. It is. I put out a statement last night. I meant what I said and its still how I feel.

Ryan said Friday he was sickened by Trumps remarks.

That is not what were here to talk about today, he added Saturday before urging Republicans to help U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson defeat Democratic challenger Russ Feingold.

Within hours of reports about the recording on Friday, Ryan disinvited Trump from the event, which had been moved to the Walworth County Fairgrounds in expectation of a huge crowd. State and national Republicans condemned Trumps remarks, and some supporters withdrew their endorsement.

Saturday morning, Trumps running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, withdrew from the event, further disappointing those who paid between $30 and $1,000 per ticket to support the local Republican party.

Attendees said a much larger crowd turned out earlier in the morning hoping to see Trump or Pence, only to learn after arriving that neither would appear. Many of them left.

Jean Stanley, 50, an online educator from New Berlin wearing a pink T-shirt saying Wisconsin Women Love Trump, said she was upset at Ryan for not welcoming Trump.

To me, I feel like hes kind of a traitor, Stanley said of Ryan, dismissing Trumps comments as something he said in private when he was a Hollywood celebrity.

Ethan Mikos, 21, a student at UW-Whitewater, defended Ryan. He said Trumps comments were totally disqualifying and have persuaded him to vote for Libertarian Gary Johnson.

Trump represents everything thats wrong with our culture and Hillary represents everything thats wrong with our government, Mikos said.

The event featured very little mention of Trump from the speakers, who included Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, Attorney General Brad Schimel, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, Gov. Scott Walker, Johnson and Ryan.

When Schimel began talking about Trump saying some bad things and that as a father he doesnt like hearing anyone talk about women that way, someone in the crowd shouted: It was 12 years ago. Get over it!

Sensenbrenner, R-Menomonee Falls, scolded hecklers in the crowd after he urged Republicans to support Ryan and Johnson, prompting shouts of What about Trump? and Shame!

Paul Ryan is the top elected leader of the Republican Party nationally, Sensenbrenner said, adding that there has been a lot of disrespect in the campaign and telling the hecklers to clean up your act!

Most of those in the crowd were supportive of Ryan and the other Republicans, who focused mostly on Johnson and re-electing a Republican-controlled state Assembly and Senate.

Ryan, Walker and Johnson didnt take questions from the large contingent of state and national media afterward.

While some leading national Republicans, including Arizona Sen. John McCain, have said they would withdraw their endorsement of Trump, Wisconsins three top elected officials have not done so.

Trump issued a rare video apology for his comments just before midnight Friday. His wife, Melania, also issued a statement Saturday calling Trumps statements unacceptable and offensive and urging others to accept his apology as she had. And Trump also made clear that he would not step down as nominee despite calls from some Republicans to do so.

For his most ardent supporters, Trumps apology appeared to help cool off some of the initial shock of Trump describing in vulgar language how he tried to f- a married woman and how as a star he could grab women by the p and kiss anyone he wanted.

Theyre harmful when you have to hear them, but theyre not physically harmful, said Charlotte Rasmussen, president of the Wisconsin Federation of Republican Women.

Were just going to let this all wash in and see how it goes. At the end of the day the policies hes set forward are so much better for Wisconsin and America.

Brian Fraley, a Republican strategist who has refused to support Trump, said the revelations about Trumps past comments, part of a pattern of reportedly lewd and misogynistic things he has said about women, are exactly the types of flaws he has warned Republicans about since the primary.

It reinforces what people think of this guy, Fraley said. It could dissuade suburban women who were going to give him a second look.

Brian Westrate, 3rd District Republican Party chairman, said Trumps attitude about women was already baked into the equation for many of his supporters, so he doesnt think the latest revelation will change their opinion of him.

I mean, the guy owns beauty pageants, Westrate said. They understood who he is and if theyre voting for him, theyre doing so in spite of it.

Ryan Solen, the Democrat challenging Ryan in the 1st Congressional District, on Friday night issued a statement challenging Ryan to withdraw his endorsement or he will have lost all credibility as a leader, as a Congressman, and as a 21st century man.

Solen also attended the GOP event in Elkhorn.

I think it is pretty despicable, Solen said of Trumps comments. It just shows who he really is deep down. The fact that Paul Ryan is still endorsing him says a lot about Paul Ryan.
Editors note: This is the first article in a series examining depression, suicide and mental health awareness in Chippewa County.

Now.

Thats the time to act when your child is suffering from depression, feeling anxious or considering suicide. There isnt time to wait until the psychiatrists office opens or the next national walk on suicide prevention is held.

There are only the precious seconds between finding out and acting  if youre lucky enough to find out at all.

Debbra Cobb, owner of Debs Cafe in Chippewa Falls, found that out the hard way when her daughter, 15-year-old Janna Cobb, took her own life in May.

It was devastating, something she said she wouldnt wish on my worst enemy.

Janna told her mother in 2013 that she didnt feel OK and thought she needed help. Cobb always had a good relationship with her daughter and said she was lucky in that respect.

Cobb and her fiance, Jason Judnic, spent nearly three years driving her to day treatment in Menomonie, PTSD training at Trinity Equestrian Center, a psychiatrist at HSHS Sacred Heart and classes at the YMCA.

In early 2016, Janna seemed healthier than she had recently. But the thing about depression, Cobb learned, is how suddenly that can change.

I was fortunate Janna would tell me when she was not OK, but thats not common, Cobb said. Mental illness is a disease. She had a disease, and it got the best of her.

Rather than letting Jannas death overcome her with grief, Cobb came up with an idea to prevent other children from experiencing the same pain that debilitated her daughter.

Our kids around here need something right now, not waiting and trying to orchestrate things like a walk, Cobb said. Those are amazing, theyre there for a reason. But theres not a kid whos going to wait to go on a walk to get help. Thats not how it works.

How it works is getting them the connections they need when theyre sitting there at midnight and cant sleep. Thats when bad things start happening.

Within days of her daughters funeral, Cobb came up with Journey on Janna, a nonprofit organization that has become a safe place for children and adults to participate in fun activities, take walks through Irvine Park and generally be there to support one another  and show they arent alone.

She has fielded those late-night texts and phone calls, shes offered to wake up early and get breakfast with someone who just needed to talk.

There are days she still struggles to cope with her daughters death, but working with those kids  and being able to help even one person  is what keeps Cobb going.

As a mom, you never stop protecting your kid, ever, Cobb said. You will fight for them whether they are here or not.

Rising numbers

Each year in Wisconsin, suicide claims 6 lives per 100,000 people between the ages of 10 and 19, said Laura Baalrud, HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Josephs hospitals community health educator.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, throughout the nation 17 percent of students in grades 9 to 12 seriously considered attempting suicide, up from 15 percent in 2010, and just over 13 percent of students made a plan about how they would take their life. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 15 to 34, and third among children ages 10 to 14.

While medical attention, hospitalization and therapy are all good options, Cobb said in her case the resources were limited. She would call, and Janna would go on a waiting list. She made an appointment for a therapist, but Janna was hospitalized before the month-long waiting list for therapy was up.

Journey on Janna connects children with 24/7 support and friendship, mainly through the groups Facebook page. Cobb said she has seen it form friendships between kids who probably would have never met.

Theyre getting a therapy that does not involve doctors, nurses, having parents or school officials pry into their personal life  just a few hours to have fun being a kid, Cobb said.

While she respects institutions working to help children, Cobb also says its important children form good relationships with people who care for them.

Over the summer, Cobb and Judnic had kids over for crafts and recreation. This fall shes holding a game night at Debs Cafe on Oct. 15, a Journal Your Journey event to use writing as a form of release on Oct. 17, and Spookable, a Halloween-themed Scrabble night on Oct. 28.

Cobb said she attends all events and is available if the kids want to confide in her, but the goal isnt to force them to talk about their troubles. Its simply to provide a safe space to interact with others and be a kid.

It has not cost us anything to do what were doing. We didnt have to have a thousand board meetings or committees. We just acted now where we thought we could help, Cobb said. If we can at least prevent one child from going through this, were going to do it. Thats been the motivation the whole time.

Cobb isnt the only one taking on this challenge. After several suicides of Chippewa Falls School District students in recent years, the schools are getting those conversations started.

Lifting the silence

Jennifer Andress, director of the school districts Voyagers Community Learning Center, said school leaders instituted Question, Persuade and Refer training for students and teachers last fall.

Typically, QPR teaches people how to ask the right questions of people who are contemplating suicide, persuading them to think differently and seek help, and finally referring them to a treatment center, hospital or other resources to get them the help they need. Volunteers from HSHS hospitals teach QPR to interested businesses and organizations, as well as offer public sessions.

Chippewa Falls High School teachers, staff and students received this training in the past year. The only difference when teaching students is to refer their friend to an adult who can help.

Weve gotten really good response from the students, Andress said. I was flabbergasted by the insight they had to improve the training. It showed me they cared about the training and they think this is important enough to take time away from class.

The goal is to make students better prepared to talk to a friend who is struggling, which is difficult for anyone, but especially a teenager whose brain has yet to fully develop.

A big part of the training is reminding students its not a fail-safe method.

QPR is like CPR. You can administer it and it may save a life, but it also may not, Andress said. If you came upon someone having a heart attack, you do CPR and they might live and they might not, but you still need to try, and thats really what QPR is. Asking that question is trying.

Starting this fall, QPR was incorporated into a two-day course as part of the health curriculum for freshmen so no students are missed.

It takes a village

Baalrud said the hospitals perform a community health assessment every three years. In 2014 they found the No. 1 community health need in both Chippewa and Eau Claire counties was mental health.

One of the biggest needs as far as mental health is to have more practitioners, she said. Were trying to get more in the area, but its really difficult. There just arent enough nationwide.

Residents may not be able to help lower the practitioner-to-patient gap, but they can help each other. Part of the equation is realizing this issue is bigger than anything the hospitals alone can tackle. Everyone needs to be involved in the conversation.

In addition, the training aims to make more people aware of how important this issue is in Chippewa County.

We really want to reduce the stigma around suicide and mental health disorders by starting the dialogue, Baalrud said. The more you talk about it, the less scary and stigma is involved with it.

Andress said its also important to realize asking are you thinking about taking your own life? is OK. The common belief is asking will make it happen, but thats absolutely not true.

Baalrud, Andress and more than a dozen others attended the school districts conversation about suicide meeting in early September, which brought together school staff, hospitals, church leaders, funeral home directors, county workers and police officers to come up with a plan to address suicide, both before and after it happens.

They discussed what resources are currently available, from free sessions offered by L.E. Phillips-Libertas, to programs through churches, and the crisis and texting hotlines.

Its not just suicide, but mental health needs in general, Andress said. We know from surveys we do that mental health issues are really on the rise, but we also know the school cannot be the only answer. Thats why we brought that group together to talk about how we as a community can address these needs.

The hope, Andress said, is that if everyone can come together in the same room, they can see viewpoints they may have missed before.

A changing demographic

Toni Simonson, L.E. Phillips-Libertas Treatment Center director, said in her 30 years in the mental health field that the people who seek help for treatment of depression and suicidal thoughts are becoming younger.

Exposure to social media, stress about academic studies and going to college are much more complex for students than they were when she was a teenager, but she doesnt think seeing more kids is a bad thing.

You might see more kids in treatment, but that doesnt mean there are more problems  it means youre intervening at an earlier age, Simonson said. If youre waiting until youre 30, 40 or 50 (to get treatment) for something that has been bothering you youre entire life, youre not living as fulfilling a life.

Today, schools are more likely to conduct screenings and communities more likely to provide resources; however, Andress said theres no one way to pinpoint who is more at risk than anyone else.

It isnt like you can say, this teen with these characteristics is more likely, Andress said. We see all demographics, all income levels, kids who are really involved in school and kids who are not. All teens are at risk, she said.

Andress is working with school districts in the county to take a comprehensive Youth Risk Survey. Several school districts already are on board, and she is working on the last two.

The goal is to have all districts in the county participate so we can get some county-wide data, she said.

Although mental health affects everyone, of every age, Andress is confident, with the whole community involved, they can make a difference.

Theres something different here where people really do work together and theres a lot of networking, she said. When theres a problem, people in our community come together to try to address it.
All American Do it Center was one of six hardware retailers nationwide honored as part of an industry awards program.

All American received a Beacon Award for Best New Store Over 20,000 Square Feet for its Richland Center site during an awards banquet held during The Hardware Conference in Marco Island, Florida, Sept. 9.

The Beacon Award is a national industry awards program developed by The Hardware Connection magazine and The Hardware Conference to recognize the best of the best independent hardware/home improvement retailers.

There are so many outstanding retailers around the country, so to be recognized for an award like this is just amazing, said Brian Buswell, owner of All American Do it Center. We very much appreciate this honor and were humbled by this recognition. And it certainly wouldnt have been possible without the incredible support of our customers and community here.

Buswell, who also owns and operates stores in Tomah and Sparta, opened All Americans Richland Center location in late 2014. It features a 32,000-square-foot showroom and 25,000-square-foot warehouse with drive-through lumberyard.

The store features departments for rental and outdoor power equipment, a 2,600-square-foot nursery and a home decor department showcasing flooring, lighting, doors and windows. High ceilings, wide aisles and visible signage give the store an inviting feel for pro and DIY customers. All American Do it Center utilizes an exterior design featuring two prominent entrances to increase customer access and efficiency. It also incorporates several local- and community-themed images throughout the stores interior to highlight the companys history and place in the community.

All American Do it Center is part of an outstanding class of Beacon Award winners this year, said Chris Jensen, editor/principal of The Hardware Connection. Their beautiful Richland Center location has become a success and important resource for the community  and it exemplifies what it means to be a beacon of growth and inspiration for our industry.

Profiles of the Beacon Award honorees will be featured in the Sept/Oct 2016 issue of The Hardware Connection magazine. For more information, go to thehardwareconnection.com.
PHOENIX -- John McCain has finally jumped off the Donald Trump train.

McCain, who stuck with the Republican presidential nominee even after Trump said he's "not a hero'' for being captured in Vietnam and a "loser'' because of his 2008 presidential campaign against Barack Obama, said Saturday he finally had enough after hearing Trump's sexist comments about women. McCain said he and his wife, Cindy, won't vote for Trump and instead will write in the name of some "good conservative'' on the ballot.

The state's senior senator joins counterpart Jeff Flake who had said months ago he could not back Trump. And that was before the disclosure Friday of audio tapes of a 2005 conversation Trump had with Billy Bush who at the time was hosting "Access Hollywood.''

Trump talks about grabbing women by the crotch, using a far cruder word, kissing women without the consent and trying to have sex with a married woman.

The billionaire issued both a video statement and a tweet saying he still has support and does not intend to withdraw. But Flake, in his own tweet Saturday, said Trump is "wrong about his level of support.''

"He needs to withdraw from the race,'' Flake wrote.

It took McCain much longer to reach the same point.

"I have wanted to support the candidate our party nominated,'' said McCain. The senator said he thought it was important to follow the party rules that resulted in Trump's nomination.

"But Donald Trump's behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer the even conditional support for his candidacy,'' McCain said.

A parade of federal, state and local GOP officials and candidates has abandoned Trump in the wake of the release of the audio tapes.

But not everyone who was condemning Trump was ready to jump ship.

Gov. Doug Ducey added his voice Saturday to the chorus of Republicans blasting the candidates for his comments.

In a prepared statement, Ducey called Trump's statements "insulting and terribly demeaning to women, and I disavow them 100 percent.''

"They are completely unacceptable,'' the governor said.

"Angela and I have three boys and we work hard every day to raise them the right way and to have the utmost respect for women,'' Ducey said in his statement. "We should demand the same from our leaders, especially those who want to occupy the White House, the highest office in the land.''

But the governor, who has endorsed Trump for president, stopped short of saying he would not vote for his party's nominee. Gubernatorial press aide Daniel Scarpinato said there would be no further comment Saturday.

Also stopping short of saying she will not vote for Trump is Congresswoman Martha McSally, seeking another term.

"Trump's comments are disgusting,'' she said in a statement.

"Joking about sexual assault is unacceptable,'' McSally continued. "I'm appalled.''

And Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said late Saturday he also remains a Trump supporter, saying an earlier tweet saying he won't support the candidate was sent by a staffer without his consent.

But Yavapai County Sheila Polk said she's heard enough. Polk became among the first Arizona Republicans to abandon Trump in an early Saturday tweet.

Former Gov. Jan Brewer pronounced herself "repulsed by the detestable language'' Trump used -- but not so repulsed as to cause her to yank her support.

"There is too much at stake if we elect Hillary Clinton,'' Brewer said in a Facebook post, saying the Democratic nominee's actions "have literally put our national security at risk with her emails, illegal basement server and destruction of evidence.'' Brewer said Clinton implemented "pay-to-play,'' trading access to her as secretary of state for donations to the Clinton Foundation and then, "at the end of the day, she just lies about all of this.''

Also sticking with Trump is Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, another early Trump backer.

"He's got good policies,'' said Arpaio, engaged in his own reelection campaign. "What happened 10-11 years ago his is his problem.''

Trump, traveling on a bus with Bush and apparently unaware that his comments were being taped, spoke of being "attracted to beautiful (women).''

"I just start kissing them,'' he said. "Just kiss. I don't even wait.''

Trump then boasted that, being a star, "they let you do it, it you can do anything,'' saying that includes grabbing them by the crotch though using a more vulgar term.

He also talked about hitting on a married woman, being rebuffed, and then making comments about her "big phony (breasts)'' but, here too, using a different term.

"I'm not condoning what he said,'' Arpaio said, but added that the statements are what "everybody does in bathrooms and locker rooms.''

The comments, however, were enough to finally drive Sen. John McCain off the Trump train.

McCain said he and his wife, Cindy, will not vote for Trump but also will not cross party lines. Instead he vowed to "write in the name of some good conservative Republican who is qualified to be president.''

The senator did not say who that is.

But Matt Roberts, spokesman for the secretary of state's office, said Arizona law allows the tallying of only the votes for write-in candidates who pre-register with the state. A total of 16 met the deadline which passed last month.

That list also does not include Pence.

Robert said his boss, Republican Michele Reagan, has no one to un-endorse as she never endorsed Trump in the first place.

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said he can't announce he's abandoning Trump because of the latest comments because "I never got on the Trump train to begin with.''

"I couldn't take his candidacy seriously,'' Montgomery said, saying Trump offered no positions that were consistent with his conservative values.

Republican State Treasurer Jeff DeWit, who also is chief operating officer of Trump's national campaign, did not return a call seeking comment.

There also was no response from Attorney General Mark Brnovich, also a Republican. Brnovich had hinted earlier this year he was not a Trump supporter, declining to be a delegate to the Republican National Convention where he would have to vote for Trump, saying he had other commitments.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas also did not return a call seeking comment. Douglas earlier this year used a staffer and the state email system to announce her endorsement of Trump. Douglas said at the time that Trump "shares my belief that the federal government's role in education needs to be reduced rather than expanded.''
As damage totals grow, Wisconsins federal representatives are asking the president to give the state any help it needs in responding to floods that killed two people and caused more than $21 million in damages last month.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency dispatched teams Wednesday to the 12 affected counties of western Wisconsin to assess damage to roads, bridges and other public infrastructure. Their reports will help Gov. Scott Walker decide whether to seek a federal disaster declaration, the first step in requesting federal assistance.

Under the Public Assistance program, the federal government pays 75 percent of the cost to clean up and repair infrastructure, with the balance split between state and local government. Some nonprofit organizations also are eligible for aid.

Preliminary damage assessments  $14 million public and $7.2 million private  do not meet federal disaster thresholds.

Monroe County sustained the least amount of damage among the 12 counties. Emergency government officials reported $162,000 worth of damage to structures and $7,300 in damage to roads. Emerson Road north of Tomah was closed and has been reopened after a temporary gravel patch was installed. Permanent repairs are expected to be made next spring.

The eight House representatives and two Senators sent a letter Tuesday asking President Barack Obama to promptly approve any requests he might receive from the governor.

After touring the severe weather damage and speaking with those impacted it has become abundantly clear that help is needed, which is why I am calling on FEMA to move as quickly as possible, working with the state of Wisconsin, to evaluate the damage, said Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse. It is important to avoid any undue delays that could further exacerbate the damage. The people of Wisconsin cannot afford to wait.

Walker declared a state of emergency after a series of storms Sept. 20-22 dumped three to seven inches of rain on parts of the state.

The worst damage reported so far was in Vernon County, which incurred nearly $10 million in damages, including 44 destroyed homes and businesses. Two Vernon County residents died in flood-related incidents.

Mudslides covered roads and washed out bridges, and damage was reported to another 204 private structures.

There was nearly $5 million in damage reported in Crawford County, where raging streams washed out land beneath BNSF railroad tracks, leading to the derailment of a freight train and the Kickapoo River flooded communities of Soldiers Grove and Gays Mills. There were two private structures destroyed and another 67 damaged.

Tomah Journal editor Steve Rundio added to this report.
Starbucks is always looking for great locations to better meet the needs of our customers, she said. Were proud to be part of Tomah, and look forward to acting as gathering place for residents of the community as well as the surrounding areas. ... We look forward to being active members of the community.
Flagstaff City Council candidates have been given the chance to answer a weekly question in no more than 150 words. This weeks question: As a border town, what obligations does Flagstaff have to its tribal neighbors  and what are theirs to Flagstaff?

Mayor

CORAL EVANS

Flagstaff isnt so much a border town as it is a diverse community in the middle of native lands. Indigenous people are part of the fabric of Flagstaff. When we talk about the citys relationship with neighboring tribes we seem to forget that the families making up those tribes have lived, shopped, worked, and gone to school here longer than most of us. Im grateful to live next to these mountains. Frankly, I cant say that our tribal neighbors owe us anything.

Our obligation is to make sure everyone has a seat at the table. There should be a productive relationship, cooperation, and mutually beneficial public policy.

Flagstaff is not an island unto itself. Soon we will no longer be able to ensure our water supply. Multiple lawsuits are currently pending between the city and area tribes. We need to settle them and move on as equal partners. As your Mayor I will prioritize rebuilding these relationships.

JERRY NABOURS

Every other year I chair the Mayor's Bordertown Summit in Flagstaff. We gather the leaders of the cities that border the Navajo Nation along with various Navajo representatives. We discuss the benefits and responsibilities of being a border town. The next summit is later this month.

One of the benefits is economics. Obviously the residents of the Navajo and Hope nations spend a lot of money in Flagstaff. Another benefit is the cultural diversity that Flagstaff gains from Native American artisans and writers.

I believe Flagstaff is obligated to work with the Navajo and Hopi leaders to solve problems that Native Americans encounter in town. We have an obligation to see that Native Americans receive the same opportunities that are available to any other citizen... including shelter, safety, education and job opportunities. The last summit focused on issues surrounding alcohol treatment. We continue to work on all issues.

Council

JEFF ORAVITS

Flagstaff is a hub for many surrounding communities including several Native American Nations. My goal is to ensure Flagstaff works with our neighbors and continues to serve as the education, transportation, economic, medical and entrepreneurial hub for all of NAZ.

As a community and as a council, weve worked together to ensure that the legislature provides funding for a Veterans Care Home that will serve all of NAZ, including the many Native Americans that have served our Nation. I am committed to finishing this project so that Veterans of NAZ no longer have to travel to Phoenix for care.

Flagstaff and its neighbors can also work together towards housing and job opportunities as well as continued work on long term water sustainability issues.

Northern Arizona, Flagstaff and our tribal neighbors have great opportunities ahead and I look forward to a cooperative and prosperous future.

JAMIE WHELAN

It is clear that we should be partners with our tribal brothers and sisters. I will work very hard to shift our current relationship to one of a partnership, one that will support our mutual interests.

Snowbowl set an unfortunate precedent. It gave way to the idea that federal land could not be considered sacred and now we see the repercussions of that in the Dakota Pipeline Dispute. Some support the contract made with Snowbowl and justify this action by telling of the financial gains made by selling reclaimed waste water. All actions of Council must be framed by using the cities vision statement, it is a good one!

It is time to work together to create a partnership based on respect and reciprocity. We must act responsibly and honor all our relations.

KARLA BREWSTER

Although we are a border town next to Native American lands, there are no formal agreements as to obligations either direction  from us to them or the reverse, them to us. I think we depend on a mutual respect between the two cultures, which for the most part, works. Many of the younger generation of Native Americans have taken advantage of programs, both at Coconino Community College and at Northern Arizona University, to further their education, which allows them to get training and skills for jobs. Many non-profits help with areas of need on Native American land, such as items of necessity (clothing, training and skills in particular jobs). We are directly tied together in economic development, such as Twin Arrows and Camp Navajo. Many of Flagstaffs downtown buildings are owned by Native American tribes, furthering the economic tie. Helping out someone is a human need, not tied to who you are, whether Native American or some other culture.

JIM MCCARTHY

Flagstaff and the tribes have an obligation to be respectful of each others values. Flagstaff should celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day.

We can form partnerships to accomplish common goals, such as attracting cultural tourism. Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff was a joint project with the Hopi Tribe. We successfully removed the pumice mine from the sacred San Francisco Peaks. The Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and Flagstaff should collaborate on water issues, including the Colorado River water negotiations.

Many Hopi, Navajo, and non-native peoples are concerned about the proposal to build a gondola ride to the confluence of the Little Colorado and main Colorado Rivers. Many tribal people consider the confluence area sacred because of their emergence traditions. Many from Flagstaff consider it sacred because of its unique Grand Canyon beauty. All these people have come together in a grassroots campaign to protect this unique cultural land from inappropriate development.

ADAM SHIMONI

Before Flagstaff was the border town it is today, it was home to Native American tribes. Public officials need to familiarize themselves with the history of Native Americans, both nationally and locally, and understand the historical context in which we live today. Given that context, we have an obligation not only to our tribal neighbors on nearby reservations, but also to tribal members who have chosen to reside in Flagstaff. We are obligated to foster respect, exercise cultural sensitivity, promote collaborative efforts, and most importantly work to combat discrimination and racism. Council needs to create tangible policies to ensure true representation of Native American values as well as address pressing issues. With the majority on City Council struggling to even pass Indigenous Peoples Day, a symbolic act commemorating the history of Native Americans, I feel we have a very long way to go.

CHARLIE ODEGAARD

Flagstaffs tribal neighborsthe Navajo and Hopihave many other identities. They are friends, employers, employees, land owners, students, and relatives. The main thing Flagstaff can do for them, besides being aware and respectful of their cultural heritage and values, is to continue being a strong economic, medical, and educational hub for Northern Arizona. By doing those things we will provide attitudes, services, and opportunities that can enhance the lives and activities of our Native American neighbors.
A new public opinion survey shows that more than 76 percent of Filipinos approve of the job President Rodrigo Duterte is doing.

The survey found 76 percent of those questioned were satisfied with Dutertes performance during his first three months in office. Only 11 percent said they were dissatisfied. Thirteen percent said they were undecided.

The organization Social Weather Stations questioned 1,200 adults from across the Philippines September 24th to 27th. The group released the results Thursday.

Duterte has been sharply criticizing opponents of his deadly campaign against suspected drug dealers and users. He has openly insulted American President Barack Obama, European Union officials, the United Nations and others.

Anti-drug campaign pushes on

American, E.U and U.N. officials have spoken out against the anti-drug campaign, which has killed more than 3,600 people. Duterte reportedly has permitted death squads to kill accused drug offenders.

Duterte took office last June. He won the election largely on a promise to end crime and corruption within six months of taking office.

This week, he told reporters his anti-drug campaign had cut crime in Manila by 50 percent. He said he does not expect Obama or E.U. officials to understand, in his words, the pain we are suffering from the countrys drug problems.

Duterte said of the U.S. president, Mr. Obama, you can go to hell.

The United States and the Philippines have a long history of strong economic and defense ties.

But Duterte recently said his country had reached a point of no return in relations with the U.S. He promised to seek closer ties with Russia and China to open up the other side of the ideological barrier.

The countrys Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Perfecto Yasay, wrote this week about the state of relations. The first line is America has failed us.

New direction in US ties

Yasay said Duterte is compelled to realign Philippine foreign policy and not give in to U.S. demands and interests. He said the United States has used a carrot and stick policy to guide relations with the Philippines for many years. He said the policy was used to, in his words, force Filipinos into submission to American demands and interests.

Yasay wrote that the Philippines had learned from this experience. He said the country would no longer permit China or any other nation to bully us or deal with Philippine interests under another carrot and stick policy.

Molly Koscina is a spokeswoman for the U.S embassy in the Philippines. She told Reuters that U.S. officials do not believe Yasays comments reflect the current ties between the two nations.

Frankly, it seems at odds with the warm relationship that exists between the Filipino and American people, Koscina said.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Joshua Fatzick wrote this story for VOANews.com. Bryan Lynn adapted it for Learning English, using additional information from the Associated Press and Reuters news agencies. Caty Weaver was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

death squad  n. a group of people given the task of killing others, usually with the indirect approval of government

compel  v.  to force to do something

realign  v. to change the position or direction of something

carrot and stick  adj. a policy approach that offers both a reward and threat of punishment

submission  n. act of accepting that someone else or something has control over you

reflect  v. to show (something); to make (something) known

at odds with  phrase. not in agreement with


This is the sound of a fish "singing:"

Hmmmmmmmm.

It is a male fish  a plainfin midshipman, to be exact  from the Pacific Ocean. He is singing, or humming, a love song to get female fish to come and visit the nest he built for their eggs.

Scientists have wanted to know why the male plainfin midshipman sings only at night. A study published in the journal Current Biology provides some answers.

Laboratory experiments showed that the fishs song, that low, fog-horn-like sound, is controlled partly by a hormone, melatonin.

Hormones are natural substances that influence how bodies grow or develop. In the human body, melatonin tells us when it is time to sleep.

Andrew Bass is a professor of neurobiology and behavior at Cornell University in New York State. For nearly 30 years, he has been studying the plainfin midshipman, and the sounds they make.

Bays 'alive' with sound

"It was always remarkable how right after nightfall, if you are recording from a bunch of nests in a bay, the bay just comes alive with this sound. Its like it suddenly turns on at night...

Plainfin midshipmen are olive-brown in color. They grow to be up to 38 centimeters long.

The fish gets its name from rows of organs lined up on its underside. These rows are bio-luminescent. They produce light and shine in the water.

Long ago, people thought they looked like the buttons on navy clothes.

In the late spring and summer, the males move from waters deep in the ocean to more shallow waters close to land. There they build nests for females to leave their eggs under rocky shelters.

Then, during the night, the males produce their sounds. Often a group of them gather together and start humming.

But how do they make these sounds?

Unlike people speaking, or birds singing, you cannot see the fish making the sound. It comes from organs inside. Their gas-filled swim bladder and their vocal muscles help them sing.

Bass says the vocal muscles are hidden deep inside the fishes bodies.

Good vibrations?

And they contract those muscles at very high rates, and that vibrates the swim bladder, and that in turn generates a vibration in the surrounding water that makes the sound.

They can make that sound, non-stop, for hours at a time. But once a female arrives, mating begins, and she leaves her eggs, the male stops singing for the night. It is the male that then watches over the eggs until they hatch  and the young fish can swim on their own.

The fish experiments were done in a Cornell laboratory by then-student Ni Feng, who is now at Yale University. It was her idea to study how melatonin affects the fish. The researchers had no idea how the hormone might affect the fishes ability to sing and hum.

All about the rhythm

The fish were kept in rooms where lighting could be controlled. When it was always dark, the fish hummed as they would at night. They followed their internal timing or circadian rhythm.

But in bright lighting, a condition that lowers melatonin production, humming was suppressed. When kept in normal light, but given a melatonin replacement, they continued to hum but at unpredictable times.

So unlike humans, and even birds, the melatonin did not put the fish to sleep. It had just the opposite effect.

Andrew Bass says the study shows how incredibly versatile hormones are.

So here we study melatonin in our animal, right? And instead of suppressing calling, or putting them to sleep, essentially, it somewhat acts as a stimulant. Again, its the go signal that says ok, make more hums...

He says that by studying how different animals react to melatonin, researchers will get a better understanding of how it works.

We will reveal very fundamental mechanisms of just how this hormone in fact controls daily sleep/wake cycles in all animals.

The hum of space aliens?

The midshipman fish are not the only ones making sounds. In fact, long ago, fishermen would listen carefully to hear where the fish were. Bass says he even found a report written in 1924 about the plainfin midshipman and how they hum at night.

In the 1980s, people living on houseboats along the California coast did not know what to make of those sounds. Bass said they thought the sound came from either an underwater power line, a nearby water treatment center, a U.S. Navy experiment, or maybe even beings from other planets.

The boat owners found out the sound was coming from the male midshipman, looking for love in the night.

Like whales and dolphins, other sea creatures, the midshipman fish make different kinds of sounds for social communication. For example, the sound they make when protecting their nests from possible invaders is different than the one they make when calling a mate.

Bass says that in the end, humans and other animals are similar in certain behaviors -- in this case, the ability to produce sounds. He says these fish, and the things he learns about them, never cease to amaze him.

Im Anne Ball.

Anne Ball reported this story for Learning English with information from Reuters News Service. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

nest  n. a place where an animal or insect lives and usually lays eggs or takes care of its young

hormone  n. natural substances that influence how bodies grow or develop

bio-luminescent  adj. something that glows and produce light in the water

swim bladder  n. a gas-filled organ in fish that help them move up or down in the water

larynx  n. muscles in a humans throat that produce sound, also called a voice box

vibrate  v. to move back and forth or from side to side with very short, quick movements

hatch  v. to come out of an egg

circadian rhythm  n. physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle, mostly connected to light and darkness in an organisms environment

amaze  v. to surprise and sometimes confuse someone very much
disclaimer

I have received the books on this blog for review from the publisher or author or I have bought them. I have no financial interest in any book featured on this blog.
Is Flagstaff safe?

Its a broad question that depends in part on whos asking  and answering.

The city council candidates answered it last week and largely came down in the affirmative.

But an informal show of hands at Thursdays mayoral debate turned up quite a few who answered no - especially women students at NAU.

The issue has taken on a higher profile of late as the rash of police-involved shootings nationwide has included Flagstaff. Three suspects have been killed since late spring in incidents involving city, NAU and county law enforcement. In a city where, until this year, just 10 police-involved shootings were recorded since the departments founding nearly 60 years ago, thats bound to raise questions about use of deadly force policies and how much threat the suspects posed to public safety.

DRUGS AND VIOLENCE

And this week, Flagstaff police teamed with federal agents to arrest dozens of area suspects on felony drug, weapons and assault charges, among others. Its a reminder that even though Flagstaffs gangs are petty hoodlums compared with the career criminals operating in many major cities, the narcotics trade is a violent one  even if many of its victims are dealers and drug runners themselves. It can also turn tragic when prescription opioid users turn to cheaper illegal heroin that may not be safe  24 persons died last year in Coconino County from opioid abuse that is abetted by a black market in the drugs.

The question of safety also comes on the first anniversary of the NAU fatal shooting involving a gun kept by a student in his car on campus and a fight spilling out of an alcohol-fueled Thursday night party. Police have a stronger party crackdown ordinance at their disposal, but residents of neighborhoods around NAU and outlying student housing complexes are asking NAU itself to hold off-campus students accountable for alcohol violations.

Then there is the annual boozefest known as Tequila Sunrise coming up this Saturday that is either a harmless rite of passage or an excuse for irresponsible behavior, depending on whether you participate or not. When national statistics on campus sexual assault invariably tie it to alcohol abuse, its no surprise that female college students might raise their hand when asked how unsafe they feel as Tequila Sunrise approaches. And when NAU gives most first-offenders on underage drinking and other alcohol violations a pass on criminal prosecution, there is a mixed message being sent on just how safe campus dorms really are.

ASSERTIING RIGHTS

That is not to say that Flagstaff in general is unsafe. The vast majority of reported crimes are nonviolent and usually involve property. And as the recent sting shows, police are making a dent in a criminal class that does use intimidation and violence in the illegal drug trade. Domestic violence and date rape are being reported in increasing numbers as victims assert rights that, although on the books, were not recognized in a previous era. We are waiting for rules of evidence and procedure to catch up with a reality that victims and their advocates say can no longer be ignored.

As for the most extreme cases of violence  lethal shootings and other killings  they are thankfully rare in Flagstaff and vicinity. The county attorneys office handles fewer than a half-dozen homicide cases a year, and the local criminal justice system, including citizen juries, acquits itself well in what is often a difficult and thankless task.

Two of the most recent killings involving law enforcement have resulted in no findings by outside reviewers of criminal misconduct  a third is still under review. But we are still awaiting the internal reports on whether department procedures on the discharge of weapons and use of lethal force were followed and, if not, why not and what will be done about it. Transparency in an age of police body cameras and citizens equipped with smartphone video recorders has arrived, whether police departments want it or not. Wed expect nothing less than a full accounting in Flagstaff and from the county sheriffs department  we will all feel safer for it.
The family of Rebecca Lewis, 4, is begging for her safe return. The little Lakeland girl went missing Saturday morning at her home in the Lazy Daisy Mobile Home Park.

Updated: Officials: Credible sighting of missing Rebecca Lewis in Tennessee

AMBER Alert issued Saturday for 4-year-old Rebecca Lewis



Deputies believe she's with a former family friend, West Wild Hogs

Hogs might be driving a 2012 grey Nissan Versa, Alabama handicap plate 4-J-L 26



"We just want our baby back home," said Oma Mae Lewis, Rebecca's grandmother. "So if theres anyone out there, anywhere that can help us bring Becky home, please bring her home to us."

According to reports, Rebecca was last seen in her home around 9 a.m. on October 8 by her 16-year-old sister. She was wearing a pair of blue shorts.

Also missing was a former family friend, West Wild Hogs, who showed up unexpectedly and spent the night with the family.



Hogs, 31, legally changed his name. Hes formerly known as Matthew Clark Pybus.

Investigators say theyre trying to make some sense out of this senseless abduction, but theyre confident Hogs and Rebecca are together.

Our working theory is that somehow he has picked up 4-year-old Rebecca and that they are together, said Scott Wilder with the Polk County Sheriffs Office.

Hogs is known to be driving a 2012 grey Nissan Versa, Alabama handicap plate 4-J-L 26.

Investigators said the Lewis family searched the area for over an hour before calling law enforcement. Polk County deputies then conducted multiple searches for Lewis, including a house-by-house search of the surround mobile home park and a search utilzing a K9 unit.



Anyone with information about the missing child or her whereabouts is urged to contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 863-298-6200.
Coimbatore: The high-level technical team constituted by the Supreme Court to assess the situation in Cauvery Basin in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, inspected the Mettur Dam, about 150 km from here.

Headed by the Chairman of Central Water Commission, GS Jha, the team took stock of the situation including water level, inflow and discharge in Mettur Dam, an official, part of the team, said.

The 13-member team, which is in the state, after its two-day trip of Karnataka, held discussions with officials of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. Tamil Nadu Minister Edapadi Palanisamy submitted a memorandum to the team, even as a group of farmers made a representation for the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board, stating that only it could resolve the vexed issue, the official said.

The team will inspect the Bhavani Sagar dam in nearby Erode district before proceeding to Cauvery delta areas on Monday, the official said. It will inspect the situation in Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam and submit its report, containing their assessment of both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, to the Supreme Court on 17 October, he added.
Villupuram: Five labourers were killed and 11 injured on Sunday after an explosion at a firecracker unit near Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, flattened the small building which housed the manufacturing facility.

"There was an explosion and in the impact, the building collapsed, and five workers were trapped in the concrete rubble and they were dead," a senior Villupuram District Fire and Rescue Services official told PTI.

Eleven workers were injured, he said. "The injured have been rushed to hospital," he said adding of the wounded, six were women and five men.

"All the dead were men, and work is on to clear the remaining concrete rubble," he added.

The mishap occurred at Turuvai village, about 55 km from Villupuram on the Tindivanam-Puducherry route.

"It was a small building with three rooms. While one room was used for making firecrackers, other rooms were used for storing the finished products," he said.

On the reason for the explosion, he said it is being ascertained.

Following the mishap, top district, police and fire officials visited the spot and held inquiries.

Police said they have begun a probe.
Srinagar: Kashmiri youth on Sunday rescued a soldier who was trapped inside a mangled vehicle which had met with an accident on Srinagar Bypass road near Lasjan area of the city, police said.

An army vehicle veered off the road after the driver lost control at Lasjan and hit a tree, a police official said. He said one soldier was trapped inside the badly damaged vehicle and efforts of other army men to evacuate him did not fructify.

"Local Kashmiri youth rushed to the spot and managed to bring the injured army jawan out by placing a truck next to the damaged army vehicle," the official said. Some passersby shot the entire incident on their mobile phones.

The video of the incident has been widely shared on 'YouTube' and other social networking sites. The incident comes amidst the ongoing unrest which has claimed 84 lives and thousands others injured in clashes between protestors and security forces.

In July, local residents of Bijbehara in south Kashmir Anantnag district defied curfew to rescue over 20 Amarnath pilgrims whose vehicle had met an accident during the beginning of the current unrest.
A man has been arrested in Bengaluru in Karnataka in connection with the murder of celebrity perfumer Monika Ghurde, a senior Goa Police officer said on Sunday.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Vimal Gupta told reporters that suspect Raj Kumar, hailing from Punjab, was picked up from Bengaluru after he tried to withdraw money from an ATM card belonging to the 39-year-old deceased late on Saturday night.

Kumar was employed as a security guard at the residential complex the woman was living in, but was sacked after she complained he was not doing his job properly, Gupta told media persons.

The accused had withdrawn over Rs 1 lakh by using the victim's stolen ATM card in Goa, Mangaluru and Bengaluru, before he was arrested by a joint team of Karnataka and Goa Police on Sunday afternoon.

"He is being brought to Goa. We will then be in a position to question him and establish the crime motive. He has confessed his crime to the police team that arrested him," Gupta said.

The Times of India had reported that two persons were caught by CCTV camera at an ATM about 3 kilometres from the scene of crime on Saturday. They also withdrew money using her card in Bengaluru.

Ghurde, 39, was found dead on Thursday in her three-bedroom apartment in Sangolda village, around 10 km from Panaji. Her partially clothed body was found lying on bed, with her hands and feet tied. The post-mortem examination report suggested she was strangled.

"A probe at the crime scene revealed her mobile phone was missing. We put it on surveillance," Gupta said, adding that keeping a track of repeated ATM withdrawals from Goa, Mangaluru and Bengaluru and her mobile phone eventually helped police hunt down the accused.

With inputs from IANS
New Delhi: A grouping of Muslim women on Sunday welcomed the government's stand that Triple Talaq violated the issue of women's equality and must go.

"We ... whole-heartedly welcome the stand taken by the government in the Supreme Court," 16 women activists said in a joint statement.

"We welcome the clear statement in the (government) affidavit that practices such as Triple Talaq, Nikah Halala and polygamy are violative of womens' equality and dignity and therefore need to be abolished."

The statement said Triple Talaq took place in gross violation of Quranic injunctions and values of justice and equality enshrined in the Indian constitution.

"We further welcome the statement that gender equality is non-negotiable... There can be no progress without gender equality and justice.

"We also welcome the stand that the fact that these practices are legally regulated in several Muslim countries indicates these are not essential practices in the Islamic religion," the statement said.

"The Constitution allows for personal laws with the objective of upholding diversity and pluralism in our country. But it nowhere sanctions violation of the principles of gender justice."

The women said that Muslim women were entitled to legal justice just as Hindu women had moved towards justice through the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and the Hindu Succession Act, 1956.

"The Shariat Application Act, 1937 is incomplete and archaic and we urgently seek reform in order that Muslim women citizens are able to live a life of justice and dignity."

The signatories to the statement included Afreen Bano, Badar Syed, Farhat Amin, Khatun Shaikh, M Nasreen, Mariya Salim, Nasim Akhtar, Nishat Hussain, Noorjehan Safia Niaz, R. Jeibunnisa, Rahima Khatun, Safia Akhtar,Shadab Bano, Sharifa Khanum, Shayara Bano and Zakia Soman, co-founder of the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan and a petitioner in the Supreme Court.
A radioactive material leak was suspected in Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday morning with teams of firefighters and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) rushing to the spot.

However, BARC and NDRF teams cleared the anticipation of harm within hours. They said that there was no radioactive leak because the leakage was within permissible limits, reported ANI.

BARC,NDRF officers cleared there is no anticipation of any harm as there is no radioactive leakage as leakage is within permissible limits  ANI (@ANI_news) October 9, 2016

Flight operations have also resumed at the airport.

Air France confirmed the presence of the radioactive substance on flight AF226 from Paris to New Delhi, on Twitter, but denied any anomalies. "Air France confirms that the shipment of radioactive medical material on flight AF226 operated by an A330 from Paris CDG to New Delhi on 8 october 2016 did not reveal any anomaly. After several controls by the relevant authorities including Indians independent Nuclear Energy authorities at its arrival at the New Delhi airport its acceptation has been confirmed compliant. The transport of this type of material is subject to strict rules and carried out in accordance with the international regulations (sic)," it said.

At least seven fire tenders were rushed to the Terminal 3 at the Delhi Airport on Sunday following the reports.

"A call was received from the airport around 10.45 am regarding suspected radioactive leak from medical equipment," said Atul Garg, Chief Fire Officer, to the PTI. He said the equipment had come from Air France plane and was kept at the cargo terminal.

Authorities had cordoned off the entire area on T3 terminal as a precautionary measure.

"The area is 1.5 km away from passenger area and was evacuated and cordoned off," police said.

A team of doctors from Medanta hospital were also rushed to the spot.

Suspected radioactive material leak from cargo at T3 terminal at Delhi airport. NDMA and NDRF teams at the spot.  ANI (@ANI_news) October 9, 2016

However, different news reports have given different accounts of the nature of the leaked material, with both PTI and IANS stating that it's not exactly radioactive as suspected.

While according to PTI, the initial updates reveal that the material contains sodium molybdate, a senior fire official told IANS that it was Molybdenum-99, a medicinal isotope.

"We received a complaint from the airport authorities that Molybdenum-99 has got leaked from the cargo of some aircraft. The element though is not exactly a radioactive element but has some of its properties. It is also used in many medical procedures. We have sent seven fire tenders and the situation is under control," a senior fire official had told IANS.

According to NDTV, NDRF has given an all-clear to the area.

Delhi Police says the suspected radioactive leak at Delhi Airport is a medical equipment. (earlier visuals from the area) pic.twitter.com/9Q9rzmX0Ny  ANI (@ANI_news) October 9, 2016

There was no immediate response from Delhi airport authorities and Air France.

With inputs from agencies
New Delhi: BJP on Sunday accused Mayawati of "communalising" the Uttar Pradesh election campaign after she made overtures to Muslims at a rally, and claimed development is the main poll agenda over which people will vote for the saffron outfit as both SP and BSP have failed on this count.

It also attacked the BSP supremo over her jibes at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying she was practising low level politics and her comments reflected "mental bankruptcy and frustration" as her support base was shifting away from her while Modi's popularity was rising.

"She is a big zero on the politics of development. Now, she is communalising the state politics. But the poll agenda will remain development on which ruling SP, BSP and Congress have nothing to offer. For development, people will vote for BJP," its National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said.

He also asked her to refrain from speaking on the surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the LoC, saying there is a lot of enthusiasm among people over the army's action against terrorism and everybody was praising the soldiers.

Alleging that she is known for her "politics of money" practised in the name of Dalits, Sharma said people rejected her for this reason, besides her arrogance and wrong policies, in 2012 and will do so again in 2017. He said, instead of questioning Modi's performance, Mayawati and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav should give account of their work and asked the BSP leader to target her "nephew", a reference to Yadav who often addresses her as "bua" (aunty).

"The Modi government will give account of its works in 2019. It has launched more than 80 schemes aimed at the welfare of the poor. The UP government has failed to execute them. In his two-and-a-half years of tenure, the Prime Minister's credibility has only grown due to his work which has brought India laurels from across the world," he said.

Alleging that minorities were facing bias under the Modi government, BSP Chief Mayawati earlier on Sunday cautioned Muslims that voting for Samajwadi Party or Congress will only help BJP and sought their support "to stop" the saffron party.

Muslims should not waste their vote as there is infighting in Samajwadi Party and Congress lacks a voter base in Uttar Pradesh, she told a rally in Lucknow on the occasion of party founder Kanshi Ram's 10th death anniversary.
BEIRUT Syrian government forces and their allies recaptured more territory from rebels in Hama province in the west on Sunday, building on advances they have made in the last two days, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.They seized Maan and al-Kabariya, two villages in rural northern Hama, which the insurgents took control of last month, the British-based monitoring group reported.

(Reporting by John Davison; Editing by Louise Ireland)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Washington: White House candidate Donald Trump desperately needs a strong debate performance against Hillary Clinton on Sunday, with stakes sky-high amid intense scrutiny of his treatment of women, and a damaging video of him boasting that he beds married ones.

His unprecedented, outside-the-establishment presidential bid, and the embattled Republican Party with it, was thrown into disarray by the misogynistic comments, with growing calls from top Republicans for him to step aside.

Even before the latest fallout, Trump was already in need of a moment of political magic to reverse his slide in the polls barely four weeks from Election Day on 8 November.

Now his campaign has been rocked by its worst crisis, with the video echoing in voters' ears, day in and day out. National media have dug up some of his gems of bad and bizarre behavior, including agreeing with an interviewer that his daughter Ivanka was a "piece of ass". In a 2002 interview with Howard Stern, Trump also said he preferred leaving ladies as they age.

"What is it at 35? It's called check-out time," Trump quips.

At 9.00 pm Monday, the real estate magnate and the former secretary of state will face off in the second presidential debate at Washington University in St Louis.

The format poses its own difficulties for Trump: half of the questions will be asked by undecided voters.

He will want to build a personal connection with these everyday Americans and show his capacity for empathy, a quality that often has been drowned out in his large, raucous campaign rallies.

Despite an angry backlash threatening to destroy his campaign, over Trump's remarks boasting about his ability to grope women as he pleases without impunity, he insisted there is "zero chance I'll quit".

Late Saturday, the defiant Republican presidential nominee stepped outside of his Trump Tower skyscraper in New York, brandishing his fist to cheers from dozens of supporters.

Asked if he was staying in the race, he responded: "100 percent".

Trump's own wife Melania said she was offended by her husband's "unacceptable and offensive" comments, caught on a hot mic just months after the two married in the real estate magnate's third marriage.

But she urged American voters to support him.

"I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world," Melania Trump said in a statement.

The videotape, released Friday by The Washington Post, forced a rare apology from a campaign already peppered by controversies over Trump's treatment of women, roiling his Republican Party.

The Republican National Committee appeared to have halted part of its "Victory" program to elect Trump, with the RNC asking a vendor to "put a hold" on mail production, the Politico news website reported.

CNN said the RNC was considering ending a joint fundraising agreement with the Trump campaign.

Trump called the disclosure a "distraction", defiantly attacking the Clintons for husband Bill Clinton's past infidelities, and hinting strongly he would say more on the topic during Sunday's debate in St Louis, Missouri.

Enough!

Republican reaction to the videotape came fast and furious, with some calling on the bombastic billionaire to step aside, or allow running mate Mike Pence to take the top of the ticket, others simply withdrawing their endorsement.

Pence, the governor of Indiana, said that as a husband and father he was "offended" by Trump's remarks.

Yet the Trump campaign released a schedule showing Trump would be back on the trail for rallies starting Monday.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, the top Republican officeholder, said he was "sickened" by Trump's comments, and disinvited him from a political event in Wisconsin. Pence was to go in Trump's place, but he canceled without explanation.

By Saturday, about a dozen senators, a dozen members of the House of Representatives and three governors  all Republicans  had withdrawn their support.

Among senior party figures, Condoleezza Rice  a former secretary of state and national security advisor under president George W. Bush  said "Enough! Donald Trump should not be President. He should withdraw".

Senator John McCain, the 2008 presidential nominee with whom Trump has sparred repeatedly, said "Donald Trump's behavior... make(s) it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy".

Governor John Kasich of Ohio, a contender in the Republican primaries, said Trump's comments were "disgusting" and that "our country deserves better".

Illinois Senator Mark Kirk called for an "emergency replacement".

Actor-director Robert de Niro weighed in, saying "I'd like to punch him in the face".

But top Trump surrogate Rudy Giuliani, a former New York mayor, insisted that "there is nothing that would cause his dropping out."

"That is wishful thinking of the Clinton campaign and those people who have opposed him for a long time. He is in the race to win," Giuliani added.

Campaign in crisis

With the 8 November elections one month away and Clinton leading in the polls by nearly five percentage points nationally, the latest uproar has plunged Trump in the deepest crisis of his turbulent campaign.

He had already been seriously hurt by a sloppy performance in his first debate with Clinton on 26 September, a damaging Twitter war against a former Miss Universe and reports he may have paid no income taxes for 18 years.

Clinton, who is seeking to become the nation's first female commander-in-chief, is almost certain to call out Trump about the videotape during the debate.

"This is horrific," she said on Twitter. "We cannot allow this man to become president".

In the video, Trump uses vulgar and predatory language as he describes hitting on a married woman and grabbing women's crotches.
London: A British glamour model who was on an IS-related terror watchlist after she used social media to communicate with Islamic State extremists has now been arrested.

Kimberley Miners, who has posed topless for The Sun, is believed to have secretly converted to Islam and her "liking" and sharing IS videos had triggered an investigation by Britain's anti-terrorist police and MI5 secret service.

Exclusive: former topless model Kimberley Miners arrested on suspicion of possession of terrorist material. See @thesundaytimes #Isis pic.twitter.com/5FGgk5UByQ  Dipesh Gadher (@DipeshGadher) October 8, 2016

According to The Sunday Times, she was detained on Friday for alleged offences under the Terrorism Act 2000 after officers had repeatedly warned her about her contact with the extremists online.

Police also searched her home in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The 27-year-old was released on bail last evening pending further inquiries.

"As part of an ongoing investigation, officers have arrested a 27-year-old woman from Bradford on suspicion of the possession of terrorist material," a spokesperson for the NorthEast Counter Terrorism Unit said.

The newspaper had revealed last month that Miners appears on social media under the alias Aisha Lauren al-Britaniya and has posted images of Muslim women brandishing rifles and other weapons.

Pictures show her fully veiled or with only her blue eyes on display, but in public, she wears skinny jeans and leaves her long blonde hair uncovered.

Miners claims the accounts were "fake profiles made against me".

"I myself am not active on any social media and do not have contact with anyone in association with terrorism. I am a caring person and (have) a heart of gold," she said.
TWIN FALLS COUNTY

FELONY SENTENCINGS

Christian Elaes Gonzalez-Vargas, AKA Christian Elias Gonzalez, 26, Twin Falls; DUI third or subsequent offense, $536 costs including victim crime fund payment, Seven years penitentiary, three determinate, four indeterminate, one year drivers license suspension following release from penitentiary, then two year interlock device. Attempting to elude a police officer in a motor vehicle, $100 DNA test, Five years penitentiary, three determinate, two indeterminate, 87 days credited, 365 days retained jurisdiction, one year drivers license suspension, sentences to run concurrently.

Juan Carlos Palmer, 32, Twin Falls; theft by receiving, possessing or disposing of stolen property, $245.50 costs, $542.32 restitution, four years penitentiary, two determinate, two indeterminate, credit for time served, 365 days retained jurisdiction, sentence to run consecutively to 2015 case.

Richi T. Rojas, 20, Buhl; grand theft, $245.50 costs $100 DNA, six years penitentiary, two determinate, four indeterminate, credit for time served, sentence suspended, two years supervised probation. Five charges burglary dismissed.

Patterson Franklin, AKA Patrick Franklin, 38, Twin Falls; $245.50 costs, $500 public defender, $60 workmans comp program fee, five years penitentiary, two determinate, three indeterminate, credit for time served, sentence suspended, two years supervised penitentiary, 100 hours community service.

Michael David Collins Jr., 21, Tuolumne, California; possession of a controlled substance, $245.50 costs, judgment withheld two years with a plea of guilt, two years supervised probation.

Hunner Blake Castille, 26, Twin Falls; Major contraband introduced in correctional facility or to convey, possess, receive, obtain or remove contraband, $275.50 costs, $100 DNA, three years penitentiary, one determinate, two indeterminate, 365 days retained jurisdiction, sentence to run consecutive to 2014 case.

Nathaniel Edward Cano, 19, Twin Falls; possession of a controlled substance, $285.50 costs, $497.65 court compliance fees, $500 public defender, $325.95 restitution, $100 DNA, three years penitentiary, one determinate, two indeterminate, credit for time served, two years supervised probation, GED, 100 hours community service, TARC program.

Cruz Antonio Reyna-Chavarria, 29, Twin Falls; $285.50 costs, $467.38 restitution, four months penitentiary, two determinate, two indeterminate, credit for time served, seven years unsupervised probation, INS hold, if in U.S. within seven years probation is to be supervised.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE SENTENCINGS

Eduardo Cabello, 36, Twin Falls; DUI, $400 fine, $202.50 costs, 180 days jail, 178 suspended, one day credited, eight hours work detail, 100 hours community service, 180 days drivers license suspension, 24 months supervised probation. possession of a controlled substance marijuana, $100 fine, $197.50 costs, 180 days jail, 178 suspended, one day credited.

Gregorio Monreal, 22, Wilder, Idaho; $400 fine, $202.50 costs, 180 days jail, 175 suspended, one day credited, 150 days restricted drivers license, 12 months supervised probation.

Chanse Taylor Henstock, 25, Kimberly; DUI, $400 fine, $202.50 costs, 180 days jail, 178 suspended, one day credited, guilty withheld judgment, eight hours work detail, 175 days suspended drivers license, 12 months supervised probation.

Jodie Lynn Slagel, 36, Twin Falls; DUI, $400 fine, $202.50 costs, 180 days jail, 178 suspended, one day credited, guilty withheld judgment, eight hours work detail, 90 days drivers license suspension, 12 months supervised probation.

Wyatt Hipwell Davies, 29, Boise; DUI, $400 fine, $202.50 costs, 180 days jail, 150 suspended, credit for time served, 180 days restricted drivers license, 24 months supervised probation. Leaving the scene or failing to stop for damage accident, $100 days fine, $157.50 costs, 180 days jail, 150 suspended, credit for time served.

Austin Shawn Gardner, 21, Twin Falls; DUI second offense, $400 fine, $202.50 costs, 180 days jail, credit for time served, 365 days drivers license suspension, sentence to run concurrent with others.

DIVORCE CIVIL PROCEEDINGS

Aparecida Russell v. Russell

Robert Piersol v. Kimberly Piersol

Randalyn Hauser v. Mathew Dixon

Diara Webb v. Colton Webb

Juan Palomo Jr. v. Felicia Balboa

Olenka Bacanu v. Dan Bacanu

Logan Balli v. Bryan Balli

Monique Craig v. Dave Craig
TWIN FALLS  A Buhl man arrested this week for vandalizing property with graffiti plans to plead guilty and be sentenced Tuesday.

Jhoan Manuel Martinez- Melchor, 21, was arrested Wednesday after police got a call about someone spray painting a stop sign at Falls Avenue and Harrison Street in Twin Falls. Officers responded to the area and found Martinez-Melchor, who admitted he was the one painting the graffiti.

Martinez-Melchor also admitted to tagging other spots around town and said he did it because there is nothing else to do and we, as in the police, ignore him, an officer wrote in a sworn affidavit.

Martinez-Melchor was charged Thursday with two misdemeanor counts of vandalizing property with graffiti and a misdemeanor count of possession of paraphernalia. He was charged with three additional vandalism counts Friday.

During Fridays arraignment, deputy public defender Johannes Claus said Martinez-Melchor wished to plead guilty and be sentenced as soon as possible. Judge Ted Israel granted the request, setting a plea and sentencing hearing for Tuesday, the first day the court will be open following a three-day weekend.

The desire to quickly plead guilty matches up with what police reported from Martinez-Melchors arrest in which he was very forthcoming with information and confessed to tagging several properties around Twin Falls.

He told police his nickname was Lerk and he is part of a tagging crew out of Long Beach, Calif., known as the All Mighty Kings. He said any graffiti with the words AMK, Lerk, KW, FK or Kings was all his doing.

After he was arrested, Martinez-Melchor led police to the College of Southern Idaho where he pointed out a building he tagged, court documents said.

Citations on Friday showed Martinez-Melchor was also responsible for graffiti near the Lynwood Shopping Center on Filer Avenue East, on the Title Loans of Idaho building on Blue Lakes Boulevard North and near Premier Auto Group on Pole Line Road.
TWIN FALLS  Mark Peters, lab director at Idaho National Laboratory, will be the speaker at the College of Southern Idahos Herrett Forum later this month.

The event is 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19. Doors open at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to everyone.

Peters will discuss the future direction of the INL in meeting its vision to change our energy future and secure critical infrastructure.

Peters presentation will address a range of program innovation areas including advanced nuclear energy, cybersecurity and strategic partnerships to focus on grand challenges in energy, climate and national security.

The Herrett Forum is a monthly series of presentations generally held the third Wednesday evening of each month during the school year.

Topics are coordinated by the Herrett Forum Committee, a group of community individuals dedicated to bringing high-quality presentations to Twin Falls.

No tickets are required for this public lecture.

The Herrett Center for Arts and Science is on the north side of CSIs Twin Falls campus at the North College Road entrance.
PETA said its statue would pay tribute to the millions of gentle, intelligent sheep who are beaten, stomped on, kicked, cut and mutilated in the wool industry each year.
BOISE  U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo and Rep. Mike Simpson joined a chorus of GOP lawmakers on Saturday who dramatically turned against Donald Trump in the wake of the nominees taped comments about forcing himself on women sexually.

Crapo even urged his partys nominee to quit the race and allow the Republican party to put forward a conservative candidate like Mike Pence who can defeat Hillary Clinton.

Like the rest of Idahos Republican congressional delegation, Crapo didnt endorse Trump in the primary but announced he was backing him once Trump became the Republican nominee.

This is not a decision that I have reached lightly, but his pattern of behavior has left me no choice, Crapo said in an email. His repeated actions and comments toward women have been disrespectful, profane and demeaning. I have spent more than two decades working on domestic violence prevention. Trumps most recent excuse of locker room talk is completely unacceptable and is inconsistent with protecting women from abusive, disparaging treatment.

Simpson, whose district covers the Magic Valley, had never endorsed Trump either but previously said he planned to vote for him. That changed Saturday.

While Ive never endorsed Donald Trump, I find his recent comments about women deplorable, Simpson said in a brief statement. In my opinion, he has demonstrated that he is unfit to be president and I cannot support him.

Idahos other senator, Jim Risch, was out of the country on Senate business and unavailable for comment, his office said. The states only other House member, Raul Labrador, had not commented by Saturday evening.

News broke Friday of a 2005 tape in which Trump talks about grabbing at womens genitals and trying to sleep with a married woman, leading to widespread condemnation from Trumps fellow Republicans as well as Democrats.

Trump apologized for his remarks and said he had no intention to quit the race.

But throughout the day Saturday, more and more politicians sought to distance themselves from their partys nominee or altogether abandon him. The exodus began late Friday when Utah politicians, including some who had previously endorsed Trump, called on him to step aside.

Sen. John McCain, the partys 2008 presidential nominee, withdrew his endorsement of Trump, joining scores of other lawmakers in an unprecedented rebuke of their partys standard-bearer just weeks before the election.

Other Idaho state GOP lawmakers also weighed in on social media. Rep. Greg Chaney, R-Caldwell, called on Trump to tell his Electoral College electoral to vote for Pence, his vice-presidential nominee.

This election is between a sexual predator and an accomplice to a sexual predator, Chaney said. Mr. Trumps comments are bad, but the behaviors they recount are reprehensible.

Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, also called on Trump to step aside and for the Republican National Committee to force him out if he wont do so voluntarily.

This election is too important to win with an unsuitable candidate, or to hand over to the Democrats and Mrs. Clinton, he wrote on Facebook.

Crapo is running for re-election against Democrat Jerry Sturgill and Constitution Party candidate Ray Writz. Sturgill, who has criticized Crapo in the past over his support of Trump, tweeted Saturday morning that he was glad Crapo had withdrawn his endorsement but that it was unfortunate it had taken Crapo so long.

Sturgill also criticized Layne Bangerter, a Crapo staffer who is running Trumps Idaho campaign, for defending Trump.

While I am glad Sen. Crapo has pulled his endorsement, his own staff does not seem to understand the gravity of Trumps comments, Sturgill wrote.
BUHL  On a blustery afternoon in early August, Jesus Molina prepared land for alfalfa. Dust flew as he drove a giant John Deere tractor across a Buhl field.

Molina, from Sinaloa, Mexico, has worked at Armand Eckerts farm since 1987 on H-2A visas. The reason he keeps coming back? The economy, he said through an interpreter. Back in Mexico, the situation is tough. It makes sense to be here.

Eckert added: When he first came, neither of us had white hair. They both laughed.

But the old arrangement has a new wrinkle.

Nationwide, the number of temporary agricultural workers with H-2A visas has nearly tripled in five years. Employers are struggling with federal government delays in getting workers processed, resulting in their late arrival and an economic impact on the agricultural season.

Idahos congressional delegation is pushing for changes to H-2A visa processing. But immigration remains a hot topic nationwide, and the programs future could be affected by the outcome of the presidential election in November.

The temporary agricultural worker program is excellent, Eckert said, but its always held hostage to the greater immigration issue. Without H-2A visas, he added, we dont have the work force.

Eckert, who has employed H-2A workers since 1986, said his employees were eligible to come March 1 this year. But they didnt arrive until March 18.

Theres always delays in getting them up here, Eckert said.

In March, his H-2A workers typically pick rocks out of fields for a couple of weeks to prepare for planting, then repair and put in hand line sprinkler pipes, then start watering sugar beets and moving hand line sprinklers three times a day. If the workers arrive late, the rocks dont get picked or the Eckerts do it themselves. Sugar beet and barley planting are delayed.

Once his workers finish with the agricultural season in late October or early November, theyre required to go home to Mexico.

An April story in the Capital Press reported problems getting H-2A paperwork processed by the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which led to temporary agricultural worker shortages in more than 20 states this spring.

Across the country, fewer than 10 percent of seasonal agricultural workers are employed through the H-2A program. But a growing number of employers  a 40 percent increase over five years  have filed paperwork wanting to sponsor workers through the H-2A program, assistant U.S. Labor Secretary Portia Wu told NPR in May.

Idaho U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo wants legislation to reshape or improve the existing guest worker program, spokesman Lindsay Nothern said.

Theres too much uncertainty for legal workers who are coming in and for employers to make sure theyre following federal laws correctly, Nothern said. The whole program right now is too uncertain and needs to be improved.

The temporary agricultural worker program is also caught up in the overall immigration debate, Nothern said. The situation seems to get blurred.

Idaho U.S. Sen. Jim Risch wrote in a statement to the Times-News that the H-2A program is absolutely critical to the agricultural industries in Idaho where a skilled workforce is needed.

But he, too, involved the larger immigration issue in his praise of the H-2A program.

While I support the program and have called for improvements to make it more efficient, I also recognize the challenges we face with our current immigration system and vetting process, Risch wrote. Any solutions advanced must both keep our country safe and provide the workforce for the agriculture industries.

In 2012, Risch and Crapo signed a bipartisan letter requesting improvements to the H-2A program.

Idahos two U.S. representatives, Raul Labrador and Mike Simpson, were among 102 congressmen who sent a June 10 letter to the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, saying there are serious issues with administration of the H-2A program.

Its creating a growing number of delays in the timely processing of applications and visa petitions, the group wrote. This breakdown is impacting growers and ranchers who are trying to hire workers in time for the harvest and threatening millions of dollars in perishable agricultural products.

Labor shortages and demand for H-2A workers are growing, the group wrote. And more employers are receiving notices from federal agencies requiring them to prove that agriculture is in fact seasonal in nature.

These notices create an unnecessary and untimely delay in the process, the congressmen wrote. They also acknowledged a need for broader improvements to our legal immigration system.

A U.S. House bill  the Family Farm Relief Act of 2015  proposes streamlining the application process for H-2A visas, but its stalled due to a partisan divide.

The problem with the program is that its overly regulated, Eckert said.

Once an agricultural season is over, returning workers must apply again for a visa and go through another round of background checks.

Eckerts suggestion: Workers whove worked in the U.S. for at least five years should get a pass.

How many workers are here?

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 allowed farmers to hire workers through a legal program. Before that, many farmers hired illegal workers, Eckert said, but farmers want to do things right and correct.

Across south-central Idaho, 898 workers have H-2A visas, according to the Idaho Department of Labor. The region ranks second highest in the state, only slightly behind the Idaho Falls area.

About 150 employers in Magic Valley have temporary agricultural workers, according to the Snake River Farmers Association. The association provided data but didnt respond to multiple interview requests.

The workers most often fill farm, irrigation and equipment operator jobs, the Idaho Department of Labor said. Less common occupations include ones in the sheep industry  such as a herder, wool sorter or shearer  and working with bees or mink.

The Idaho Department of Labor handles job listings for temporary agricultural jobs. After that, applicant information is forwarded to the U.S. Department of Labors national headquarters.

Most agricultural producers use a recruitment company to help with H-2A paperwork and hiring, said Jan Roeser, regional economist for the Idaho Department of Labor.

Any U.S. workers who apply are given priority. After that, H-2A visas are issued to foreign workers to fill available jobs.

In 1973, Eckert put up a poster on a bulletin board at College of Southern Idaho seeking workers. There were pretty snide remarks written on it, he said.

It was the last year he had a U.S. worker as an employee. Nobody, he said, has been interested.

Running the farm

Outside Buhl, a bumpy gravel road just north of Miracle Hot Springs leads to the Eckert familys farm.

One early-August afternoon, Eckert got into his Ford Super Duty truck and drove along the property. He had been awake since midnight, baling straw until 10 a.m.

We cant bale this straw when it gets hot, he said.

When Eckerts family moved out to the land in 1958, it was all sagebrush. Eckerts father, Maurice, passed the property to his sons.

Now, the family farms 4,500 to 5,000 acres, growing sugar beets, barley, alfalfa and corn silage. During sugar beet season, sprinkler pipes are moved frequently to water the crops; its a labor-intensive job.

Sugar beets are a real pain in the butt to get going, Eckert said.

The Eckert family used to have 10 H-2A workers, but technology has become more efficient  such as circular sprinklers and tractors with GPS. Now it has eight.

Four brothers  including Eckert  run the business, along with two nephews. They labor alongside the temporary ag workers.

Many of Eckerts workers have been with him for many years. A stable work force is everything in any industry, he said.

Eckert attended Buhl High School, CSI and Boise State University. He learned to speak Spanish in school and went to Brazil through a Rotary Club program.

Most of his workers are from the original 1986 crew or are related to them, Eckert said. He said he treats workers like family and has visited each of their homes in Mexico. None of the men drink or do drugs, he said, adding theyre religious and are great family members.

A temporary agricultural workers spouse and unmarried children younger than 21 can apply for an H-4 visa to come to the U.S., according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. But none of Eckerts workers have family members with them in Buhl.

By midday on that August afternoon, workers were taking a lunch break. The Eckerts provide three small, three-bedroom houses on their property for the eight workers.

In the carpeted living room of one house, where three of the men live, mismatched furniture  brown and red sofas, a pink chair  faced a small box television. A ceiling fan ran overhead. Pots were stacked in the kitchen sink near a yellow refrigerator.

The housing units can be inspected anytime during summer by state, regional or federal labor officials, Eckert said, and must comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards. There are fees for violations  even if its just a light bulb that doesnt work.

And the farm is subject to audits, such as of payroll documents. The penalties they impose for making errors is substantial, Eckert said.

In addition to housing, employers must pay some worker expenses: visa application fees, transportation to and from Mexico, work clothing, housing and utilities. Eckerts workers are paid $11.75 per hour, the standard rate for H-2A workers in Idaho.

Irene Ramon Molina, who has worked for Eckert since the early 1990s, wakes at 5 a.m. and typically works until 8 p.m. During the peak season, he and his co-workers labor seven days a week.

By early August, they were taking Sundays off and, sometimes, part of the day on Saturdays. But even on a day off, the men move sprinkler pipes in the morning and at night.

Irene heard about the job at the Eckert farm from his brother, who came in 1987. Before that, Irene worked at construction jobs in Mexico.

Why does he keep coming back every year? Dinero, he said through an interpreter. Money. Unemployment is huge is Mexico.

All of the workers have previous farming experience, Eckert said, and thats a job requirement.

When theyre not working, the men use their cellphones to call home to Mexico. They also use Facebook to stay in contact with family members and friends.

On weekends, they go into Twin Falls to get food  borrowing a vehicle from Eckert or someone else. They also find clothing for their children to send home to Mexico.

But Molina and his co-workers will wait another month before seeing their families face to face.
TWIN FALLS  National Coming Out Day is about providing a safe place to share and celebrate.

It is also about advocating and educating the community.

National Coming Out Day will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday in Shields Building room 118 at the College of Southern Idaho. The event is organized by Magic Valley Pride, a social group that formed last year to reach out to LGBTQ community in the Magic Valley.

There will be 10 speakers from the Magic Valley including Jen Blair, of Twin Falls, a member of the Mama Dragons, a group for LDS women to support their gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans children. Blair will talk about her experiences as a parent of an openly gay son. There will also be a transgender speaker and a speaker who is nonbinary gender, or someone whose gender identity is neither male nor female.

Sarah Zatica, co-founder of Magic Valley Pride, said the event began as a way for people to share their stories. Magic Valley Prides Facebook event says, The foundational belief is that homophobia thrives in an atmosphere of silence and ignorance, and that once people know that they have loved ones who are lesbian or gay, they are far less likely to maintain homophobic or oppressive views.

Its about coming out, but also an awareness of different groups of people, Zatica said. We are all alike but we are not all alike.

National Coming Out Day started 28 years ago on the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.

National Coming Out Day as a reminder that one of our most basic tools is the power of coming out, the Human Rights Campaign website says. One out of every two Americans has someone close to them who is gay or lesbian. For transgender people, that number is only one in 10, the website says.

People can talk or come out or whatever they want to do, Zatica said. Were expecting a diverse group of people to attend.
Politicians have fought for decades over immigration, and what do we have to show for it? A border thats still porous, families whove lived here for generations still fearing they could be deported at any moment, and an agriculture industry in the Magic Valley that struggles every farm season to find enough workers to plant, water and harvest the crops that drive our economy.

Nearly 900 workers in south-central Idaho our here under what are called H-2A visas, which allow them to enter the country legally and work seasonal jobs on farms. After the harvest, they have to return to their native countries and reapply next farm season to get back. About 150 employers in the Magic Valley use the program.

These are the folks doing it the right way  legally coming into the country to work, filling out paperwork year after year. At one Magic Valley farm featured in todays edition, some of the employees have been through the process every year since 1987. These are the folks who pick rocks and move irrigation systems  the type of labor Americans stopped doing decades ago. Without their help, farmers say they wouldnt be in business.

But the government issues only a limited number of H-2A visas a year, and as many as 40 percent more employers are now seeking them. Thats caused a bureaucratic backlog. More than 20 states had agriculture-worker shortages this spring. Workers showed up at Magic Valley farms this year almost two weeks late, a huge delay in an industry with narrow windows to prep fields and plant.

There is bipartisan support for the H-2A program, but politicians are doing virtually nothing to fix the delays. Thats because theyre more wrapped up in big-picture immigration  what to do about the border and how to handle the millions of illegal immigrants in the country. Meanwhile, southern Idahos employers and workers following the law are caught in limbo, wondering if their seasonal workers will be able to enter the country again this year. The problem is even worse for the dairy industry because it needs workers year-round, not just when its time to plant and harvest crops.

Politicians could virtually solve the Magic Valleys immigration problems if they acted now to reform the H-2A program. Expand the number of visas available, and cut the reapplication process for workers whove already been in the program for years. The time limits should also be extended to allow dairy workers to stay in the country longer.

Those fixes would go a long way toward helping Magic Valley farmers, and theyd buy politicians more time to solve the larger immigration issues. The solutions are staring us in the face. Now, its time to act.
Published on Oct 9, 2016





Bill Clintons sexual escapades and rape accusation are once again taking center stage in the 2016 presidential election. The massive truth bomb just dropped by one of his mistresses might just shatter Hillary. (Read More)



Gennifer Flowers had a 12-year affair with Bill Clinton, During an interview with the Daily Mail, Flowers said she now regrets saying no to Bill begging for them to talk one last time before the split. Gennifer said she is sure the would still be together if Hillary had not gotten pregnant with Chelsea. Oh yeah, and Hillary is bi-sexual!

We have some unresolved issues that it would be nice to sit down and talk about now.



He was the love of my life and I was the love of his life and you dont get over those things, Gennifer Flowers said about Bill Clinton.



Flowers became the most well-known mistress of all time in America after her affair with Bill Clinton made headlines. Bill denied having cheated on Hillary for many months, but ultimately was forced to admit to the sexual relationship with Flowers.



If we had the opportunity to sit down and visit with each other in person, Im not saying the romance would be rekindled but we will always have something. Whatever you might call it. Bill and I would be together today if it wasnt for politics.



It was me, Bill, and Hillary. Then they had Chelsea and the stakes got too high, Gennifer Flowers also said.



Flowers was asked to pose for Penthouse magazine after the Bill Clinton affair. She was ultimately featured in the December 1992 issue of the magazine.



The One Video Hillary Didn't Want Released Before November 8th,



He called me back in 2005 in New Orleans. He wanted to put on the hoodie and jog on over like he used to, Gennifer Flowers said about Bill Clinton.



Before the alleged phone call she and the former president had not spoken for 13 years.



First I was just shocked. He was so adamant about wanting to sit down and talk to me in person, Flowers added. It almost seemed like what I had heard of people who were going through a 12-step program and wanted to atone to people for various things.



While Bill was trying to deny he and Gennifer Flowers had been a secret couple, Hillary went into attack mode. As previously reported by the Angry Patriot, Hillary has made a habit out of trying to demean any of Bills female sexual assault accusers and mistresses in public.



Gennifer really sent the Internet into a tizzy when she commented about Huma situation, stating, I dont know Huma or the Weiners. I just know what Bill told me and that was that he was aware that Hillary was bisexual and he didnt care. He should know. He said Hillary had eaten more p***y than he had.



Hillarys character assassination attempts are disgusting and prove she only believes rape victims should be believed and supported when they have not been victims of her husband.



The personal attacks on Flowers were repeated years later when Monica Lewinsky was also outed as a Clinton mistress



Donald TRUMP vs hILLARY Clinton,
In Photo: President Duterte gestures as he poses with Philippine Army officers during his visit to the Army headquarters in Taguig City on Tuesday, as US and Philippine forces opened their first large-scale combat exercises. An independent poll released on Thursday showed that more than three-quarters of Filipinos are satisfied with Mr. Duterte, even though he is under fire internationally for his deadly crackdown on suspected drug dealers and users. The survey was conducted from September 24 to 27 and was published on Thursday.





Former National Security Adviser Jose Almonte on Thursday described the first 100 days of President Duterte as exceptional, particularly in addressing insurgency, broken politics and monopolized business.

Exceptional, Almonte said, when asked during a Malacanang news briefing to describe President Dutertes first 100 days in office.

Almonte served as director general of the National Security Council under former President Fidel V. Ramos, who is now President Dutertes special envoy to China on the maritime dispute at the West Philippine Sea.

He said the Philippines has had an internal war since 1946, and he commended Mr. Dutertes move to declare an indefinite cease-fire to give way to the peace process with the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Almonte also noticed Mr. Dutertes unconventional approach when he appointed known leftists to his Cabinet.

This is the longest communist insurgency in the world. And we are, at the same time, having a problem of separatist movement in the South. So thats No. 1. No. 2 is our broken politics, Almonte said.

Almonte said Mr. Dutertes call for Congress to start immediately the discussion on the possible shift of government from the presidential system to federalism would fix the broken politics in the country.

The problem is this  only a small group, special group, in generalformulates the policies, national policies of this government, and it is implemented for the interest. And this happens, as you know, every after election. As we know, the center of political power, where we are in this country, is under the hands of this small group that funded the election, he said.

Almonte also praised Mr. Duterte for trying to break the unholy alliance between politics and business.

If we cannot solve these three basic problems, we can never build a Filipino nation the way we want it to be. So these three must be solved and President Duterte is confronting it. Thats the best for the nation, he said.

Almonte also said if Mr. Duterte could solve these three basic problems, other concerns, like corruption, inequality and poverty, will also be addressed in the future.

It just so happened that what hes doing is what I thought before. And that is why I am here to talk to you. I was asked. And the reason is I believe that he is doing the right thing on this, he said. - By Jelly F. Musico / Philippines News Agency
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Travel can sharpen our awareness, can keep us on the alert, and here's a poem by Patricia Traxler from her new book Naming the Fires from Hanging Loose Press. Traxler lives in Salina, Kansas.

Last Hike Before Leaving Montana

Late winter, almost spring. It's like finding a diamond;

now I don't want to leave. I sit in the dirt and put my hands

in your tracks. For the first time in a long time I don't

doubt. Now I know I always knew you were here. You

are the beginning of disclosure, the long-felt presence

***

Suddenly incarnate. Behind me my friend warns, If we

see the bear, get into a fetal position. No problem,

I tell her, I'm always in a fetal position  I was born

in a fetal position. Did you know, she says, the body

of a shaved bear looks exactly like a human man?

I skip a stone, feel a sudden bloat of grief, then laugh.

I ask her, Who would shave a bear? We climb

***

Farther up Rattlesnake Creek, watch winter sun glitter

off dark water. No matter how high we go I look higher.

Sometimes absence can prove presence. That's not exactly

faith, I know. All day, everywhere, I feel you near at hand.

There's so much to understand, and everything to prove.

Up high the air is thin and hard, roars in the ears like love.
In 1958, at the height of the Cold War, a gangly young Texan with an impressive mop of blond curls and an aw-shucks manner traveled to the Soviet Union to take part in the first International Tchaikovsky Competition. Sputnik had just been launched, and the Russians were swaggering.

The music competition was intended as Soviet propaganda, and there was almost no question that a Russian would win. The event took place in Moscow; most of the judges were from the Soviet bloc, and the music to be performed was mostly Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky and some Russian or Soviet composers  barely known in the West.

But the Soviets had not counted on the young Texan. His name was Van Cliburn, and the romantic Russian composers were his passion.

In his entertaining, delightful biography, Moscow Nights: The Van Cliburn Story; How One Man and His Piano Transformed the Cold War, historian Nigel Cliff gives a cradle-to-grave account of Cliburns life, concentrating heavily on the 1958 competition and its aftermath.

Cliburn, of course, won the competition, his performance stirring memories of the golden age of Russian piano playing with its sweep and its passions; its rich gorgeousness and its forceful personality. And he won over the Russian people, who went wild for him the way Americans went wild for Elvis Presley. Women fainted, staked him out, sent him presents and love letters, wept when he played, rushed the stage, screamed his name: Vanya Kleeburn! Vanya Kleeburn!

Time magazine proclaimed him the Texan who conquered Russia.

Cliff does a magnificent job of setting things in historical context, breaking away from Cliburns story to vividly recount the last hours of Stalin (his guards were afraid to check on him, scared at what might have happened and even more scared that they might have to disobey his orders not to disturb him ), as well as the rise of the voluble, roly-poly Nikita Khrushchev.

Cliff has a great eye for entertaining stories and lively anecdotes (all footnoted within an inch of their lives  a good thing), and he seems genuinely fond of everyone he writes about (even Stalin, sort of). At times, Khrushchev and his colorful escapades threaten to steal the book from the more one-dimensional Cliburn. During a visit to the United States, for instance, Khrushchev shouted in Russian from a New York City balcony. Passing drivers wound down their windows and booed. Khrushchev grinned, shook his fist at them, and booed back.

If the book has a flaw, it is that Cliff never gets inside Cliburns skin; the pianist is still the same curly-headed, aw-shucks guy at the end of the book that he was at the beginning. Cliburns homosexuality is dealt with only briefly; Cliff reveals little about Cliburns private life, focusing primarily on his public life. Cliburn stayed out of politics as much as was possible, playing for all of the U.S. presidents but also traveling frequently to Russia. His reputation rose and fell in the eyes of the American people, but the love of the Russians was steadfast.

The tragedy of Cliburn might be that he never moved beyond the Russian composers, never established a wider repertoire that would have established him as a truly important artist. Audiences at home and abroad were still clamoring to hear his prizewinning program, but the critics were beginning to gripe about the lack of a new repertoire, Cliff writes. Even though he had turned down (many invitations), it was impossible to find time to practice, polish, and perfect.

While one critic warned that Cliburn was becoming a flesh and blood jukebox, Cliburn earnestly saw himself as a service professional (like a waiter, he said), and he felt obliged to give listeners what they wanted. And what they wanted was the Russians.

And really, that was what Cliburn wanted, too. Russia, and the Russians, were with him to the very end. At Cliburns funeral in 2013  which he planned himself  a choir sang Moscow Nights, and the casket, Cliff notes, was heavy with white lilacs, like Russia in the spring.
The library concludes its celebration of the Big Read and the Big Read book Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich this week with two exciting events on tap. The first event is the Native American Traditional Food Demo, which is scheduled 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday in the Large Meeting Room.

During the program, Emily Walter of the Good Food Store's cooking school will give a presentation on traditional Native American food, and offer some examples for tasting.

The Big Read then comes to a close Saturday when the library has slated its Capstone Event 5-8 p.m. at the Montana Distillery, 631 Woody St. This finale will feature music by local musician Dan Dubuque, as well as a cash bar, featuring specialty drinks made for the themes of "Love Medicine."

For more information about the Big Read, please visit readmissoula.org.

Literary Trivia returns Sunday night

Bookworms and novel lovers unite for a night of brain tickling fun during Literary Trivia, a family-friendly trivia night in partnership with Zootown Brew scheduled 6:30-9 p.m. Sunday at Zootown Brew, 131 W. Broadway in downtown Missoula.

Trivia questions are based on literature or related aspects, and prizes will be awarded to the top three teams.

MPL participates in Teen Read Week

The library is pleased to announce that it is participating in Teen Read Week, a national literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association. Teen Read Weeks purpose is to encourage teens to be regular readers and library users, and this years theme is Read for the Fun of It!

From Tuesday through Saturday, teens can stop by the Young Adult desk to enter into a contest by guessing what book is featured in the book in a jar  a jar which consists of cut-up phrases from a popular book. A new book in a jar will be put out each day, so by the end of the week, teens can submit up to five entries for a chance to win the contest.

Then from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the Large Meeting Room, the library has scheduled the Teen Book Swap. It's an event where teens can bring books to swap with others. The event will include snacks, as well as the chance to decorate spooky treats while watching a Halloween-themed film.

Teen Read Week is open to those ages 13 through 19.

We Have It: Staff Reviews

Barkskins: A Novel by Annie Proulx (New York: Scribner, 2016) Call number: PROULX

Well-known author Annie Proulx has shared with us her historical novel, Barkskins, which follows two families from the beginning of the European conquest of North America to the present day.

Two indentured workers from France come to New France to earn a living as woodcutters, taming the new land and earning acreage for themselves. Duquet runs away, and Rene Sel stays to fulfill his time and start a family. Both families lives, bound by the forest and timber trade, become surprisingly intertwined and joined with the native tribe, the Mikmaq. As the years pass, the Duke (Duquet) family builds a large lumber empire and grows rich and powerful, moving their business base from New Brunswick to Boston, and to Chicago.

As we follow the story of the two families, we also follow the story of the changing philosophy of clear and till to forest management and conservation, from the belief that white ways are best, to recognition of the wisdom of native ways.

Reviewed by Marjorie Doyle

Hot Happenings

MakerSpace offerings

Computer Electronics: 3-6 p.m. Thursday

Open Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday

Open Hours allows visitors to explore the resources of the MakerSpace, learn how to use its equipment, or to work on a project of their choice.

Community Creative Writing Workshop: 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday

Watercolor Painting Class: noon-2 -p.m. Friday

Drop-in watercolor painting class for any level, featuring an individual approach for skill, and a group focus for subject and compositional techniques. Open to those ages 18 and up.

Computer Classes

Android Tablets and Smartphones: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Wednesday

Are you new to using an Android-based tablet or smartphone? This class will offer instruction on the features, settings, and apps that are common to Androids. Participants must bring their own tablets or smartphones to the class.

Registration is required to attend MPLs computer classes. Call 721-2665 to secure your spot.

The library will be closed Monday for Columbus Day. It will reopen at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
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."
Montanas prisons and jails are over capacity. What changes in statute and/or funding at the state level  if any  do you think are necessary? If no changes, why not?

Prisons and jails are essential to protecting public safety. Some people just need to be behind bars. But incarceration is expensive. So if jailing someone isnt absolutely necessary to protect our communities, we wind up punishing taxpayers along with the criminals. Providing adequate programs for rehabilitation and providing prisoners with a way to become productive members of society needs to be part of any comprehensive criminal justice system. More housing and employment opportunities, more services like 24-hour detox centers, community mental health programs and drug treatment facilities are important tools for reducing our prison populations. I support funding such programs.

Has the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission adequately guided the states hunting and fishing concerns, or does the Legislature need to give the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks more specific direction regarding topics such as land acquisition, wildlife management, predator control, and bison?

As a hunter and angler, I know Montana enjoys the best hunting and fishing in the country. This isnt because of partisan-political micromanaging. Its because the Legislature has generally set broad guidelines and empowered the commission and the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department to manage resources in a science-based way. The 2011 law regarding bison management is an example of bipartisan lawmaking that sets broad planning parameters. In contrast, in 2015, Republicans in a party-line vote, banned habitat purchases. The commission and FWP are best situated to decide whether easements, rentals through block-management or acquisition are the best tool.

Many Montanans depend on the extraction of fossil fuels for jobs, yet there is a strong demand for clean and renewable energy in the region, especially since prices for the latter are falling. How do you propose to help workers in the coal, oil and natural gas industries find jobs in this new economic landscape?

Changes in the economic landscape are always occurring but impacts fall most heavily on employees working in affected industries. When the Smurfit-Stone Container plant in Missoula closed in 2010, the state of Montana, working through the federal Trade Adjustment Act, secured retraining funds for laid-off employees. The state also used national emergency grants to retrain other timber workers and had a rapid response program for dislocated workers at the Columbia Falls aluminum plant. Similar programs need to be put in place for coal miners and others who are or will be impacted as our energy portfolio changes.

According to Montana University System records, as recently as 1992, the state funded 76 percent of the university system. Now, though, state support has fallen to 40 percent, which means tuition funds 60 percent of the system  putting higher education out of reach for some Montana families. Do you as a legislator have a responsibility to help and if so, how? If not, why not?

Keeping Montanas colleges and universities affordable is critically important, for our students and for Montanas economy. I am less concerned about percentages  which are affected by the tuition of out-of-state students  than I am about making sure that Montana students can afford tuition and graduate with little debt. There are many competing demands for tax dollars but I strongly believe that supporting education is one of the best investments the Legislature can make. I strongly support affordable tuition for Montana college students.

What do you regard as the most urgent problem facing Montana, and how do you propose dealing with it?

Montanas economy is doing well. Unemployment is low, wages are growing and Montana is highly ranked for business startups. This growing economy will make the Legislatures biggest challenge  balancing the budget  much easier. Even so, declining energy tax needs will challenge the Legislature to meet Montanas many needs. I know we need a lean and effective state government and I believe we can have one while still meeting the needs of Montanans for a great educational system, a strong safety net for our neighbors that arent doing well and access to health care for everyone.
Montanas prisons and jails are over capacity. What changes in statute and/or funding at the state level  if any  do you think are necessary? If no changes, why not?

First, reduce the population. In fact, the governor could start looking at that right now. According Biennial Report of Corrections the top offenses that land people in prison are: males  felony DUI, possession of drugs, criminal endangerment, theft, burglary, distribution of drugs. Only one of these, criminal endangerment, is a violent crime. We should consider commuting, pardoning, or paroling drug offenses, making the necessary changes in law if needed. Female assault does not even get to the top 10. We have too many women in prison. Then look other methods to provide a consequence for property crimes and DUI.

Has the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission adequately guided the states hunting and fishing concerns, or does the Legislature need to give the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks more specific direction regarding topics such as land acquisition, wildlife management, predator control, and bison?

Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) seem to being doing pretty well. However, the predator control program and bison around Yellowstone park are implemented by the Department of Livestock. The killing and harassment of bison has been poorly managed. The stated concern about the transfer of brucellosis from bison to cattle, leaves unstated the conflict about who gets to eat the grass. Bison are a native species of Montana and should be managed as wildlife. While FWP is trying to sort out the problem of brucellosis in elk, we have a different department dealing with bison.

Many Montanans depend on the extraction of fossil fuels for jobs, yet there is a strong demand for clean and renewable energy in the region, especially since prices for the latter are falling. How do you propose to help workers in the coal, oil and natural gas industries find jobs in this new economic landscape?

President Obama is the Oil President  realizing the unfulfilled dreams of the Bushes. The short-term mindset has led us to this problem. The fuel industry cycles like most commodity businesses. The falling prices are, in a fair part, due to the aggressive support of fracking by the current administration  and the slowing of the Chinese economy. The boom of the Bakken was bound to go bust. A boom to unleash a new technology to massively increase supply is bound to result in falling prices. When you push out that much oil and gas, prices fall.

According to Montana University System records, as recently as 1992, the stated funded 76 percent of the university system. Now, though, state support has fallen to 40 percent, which means tuition funds 60 percent of the system  putting higher education out of reach for some Montana families. Do you as a legislator have a responsibility to help and if so, how? If not, why not?

I read one report that 30 percent full-time equivalent goes to teaching in Montana's University System. This is backward. Thirty percent to 40 percent should be doing the administration and the rest should go to teaching  the university's purpose. But, it seems the trend is going in the wrong direction with 34 percent faculty laid off according to the November 2015 announcement. Oh! I will hear hand-wringing all the way to Hamilton. But, the state university system I went to is having trouble increasing enrollments! It is agonizing about how to solve a 50 percent faculty-to-administration ratio, not a 30 percent.

What do you regard as the most urgent problem facing Montana, and how do you propose dealing with it?

There are two: The need to lower the cost of labor while increasing pay for lower-income workers and the justice system, which I will respond to here. Both the criminal and civil justice systems are broken. The core idea of justice is "swift and sure." In Montana it is neither one of these. Instead it is expensive and grossly unfair. Civil litigation is like a game of Russian roulette. You can get sued anytime, by a plaintiff with a predatory law firm, spend years proving what you already knew was not true and spend tens of thousands dollars.
Montanas prisons and jails are over capacity. What changes in statute and/or funding at the state level  if any  do you think are necessary? If no changes, why not?

The state prison and also many county jails are generally at full capacity or over capacity. This is certainly the case in Lake County. Under Public Law 280 which is an agreement between Lake County, the federal government and the CSKT tribes, all tribal felony cases are investigated, prosecuted and defendants jailed by the county. While this works well for consistency in investigation and prosecution, Lake County taxpayers are funding this arrangement. Lake County Commissioners are seeking federal help in paying for the overcrowded jail, overextended courtroom and extra deputies need for investigations.

Has the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission adequately guided the states hunting and fishing concerns, or does the Legislature need to give the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks more specific direction regarding topics such as land acquisition, wildlife management, predator control, and bison?

While Montana FWP definitely has its issues it is not the job of the Legislature to micromanage departments. It is the Legislature's job to develop, debate and pass legislation which the departments will use as parameters for their management practices.

Many Montanans depend on the extraction of fossil fuels for jobs, yet there is a strong demand for clean and renewable energy in the region, especially since prices for the latter are falling. How do you propose to help workers in the coal, oil and natural gas industries find jobs in this new economic landscape?

Fossil fuels are still in demand even through the Democrats' war on coal marches on. Renewable energy sources are still undependable and too expensive to compete in the open market without government subsidies. Our nation still needs the consistent and affordable generation capacity from fossil fuels. While opponents of fossil fuels cannot make headway in the open market, they have made great inroads in putting in place very onerous regulations that are crippling Montana's economy.

According to Montana University System records, as recently as 1992, the stated funded 76 percent of the university system. Now, though, state support has fallen to 40 percent, which means tuition funds 60 percent of the system  putting higher education out of reach for some Montana families. Do you as a legislator have a responsibility to help and if so, how? If not, why not?

Montana's higher education system is controlled by and their budget comes from the Board of Regents. The State of Montana contributes to that budget. Montana's contribution has continued to increase with every budget cycle. The Legislature in its increase in funding the last two sessions has negotiated a tuition freeze for students each time.

What do you regard as the most urgent problem facing Montana, and how do you propose dealing with it?

I expect the state budget to be the biggest issue when the next legislative session convenes. Low prices for cattle and grain along with low oil prices have slowed Montana's economy. Revenue projections to the state are down and expected to continue. Until economy can kick in, it will be very difficult to spend state dollars on new ideas or raise budgets to the state agencies. I expect new spending on infrastructure to be a hot topic due to the failure to pass a bill last session. A state commission on education funding met during the interim between legislative sessions.
Not until Tuesday evening will an Iranian-born pastor who converted from Islam to Christianity deliver what he calls "a wakeup call for the world in Missoula.

But Shahram Hadian already has the attention of the locals.

SALAM, a pro-American Muslim group; the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center, and the refugee support group Soft Landing Missoula say theyll maintain a peaceful presence outside the Doubletree Hotel prior to Hadians talk, titled Unveiling the True Face of Islam.

Its not a pretty face. Hadian will provide his opinions on the fallacy of a peaceful Islam; Islams culture of death; its doctrine on beheadings, and  of particular import to Missoula right now  its agenda of refugee resettlement.

If they want to come and protest, come, Hadian said from his home near Spokane. I would encourage them to come and share their viewpoints. Thats usually not the way it happens.

SALAM, an acronym for Standing Alongside Americas Muslims and an Arabic term for peace, says it's open to dialogue as well.

We dont want this to be a confrontation, SALAM coordinator Eamon Ormseth said. We just want people in Missoula to know there are some of us who disagree with the way this group is portraying Islam. Missoula values diversity, tolerance and inclusion, and well win the day.

Hadian will travel to Kalispell for a Thursday night presentation on Chrislam and what he calls the seductive lie of a common God between Christianity and Islam.

The programs are sponsored by different chapters of the American Congress of Truth for America. The Missoula event is sponsored by the Lake County chapter, which Ed Kugler of Big Arm and Linda Sauer of Dayton started early this year. It was the second chapter in Montana after one in Kalispell, though several more have been founded across the state since.

Formed in 2007, ACT for America is either the nation's leading grassroots organization to promote national security and defeat terrorism or a spewer of "misleading, extreme and Islamaphobic rhetoric," depending on who's doing the defining.

Kugler said Missoula needs to hear Hadian's message.

Shahram does not attack individual Muslims. What he speaks to is the ideology that creates the things that are happening," he said. "He says this is an ideology and this is what it produces. Im sure its a fine line, Im sure its controversial. But we felt that Missoula would be a good venue for the discussion.

Soft Landing Missoula and the International Rescue Committee have yet to resettle Muslim refugees but have welcomed 27 Congolese over the past two months. While the IRC is prohibited from revealing religions of refugees, a fact sheet from the Cultural Orientation Resource Center says that 96 percent of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo are Christian.

Hadian was born in Iran and at age 7 was forced to flee an oppressive Islamic regime. He eventually made his way to the U.S. with his parents, whom he called lukewarm Muslims at best. He converted to Christianity 17 years ago and was a candidate for governor of Washington in 2012, finishing a distant second to Rob McKenna in the Republican primary.

Hadian calls his ministry the TIL Project with a mission to speak the truth in love on root issues facing our nation. Hes not against refugee resettlement in the U.S. per se, he said. But he disagrees with the federal program in which local and state governments have no say on who and how many refugees theyll get.

Resettlement, he claims, is a $2 billion a year industry from which the United Nations and the Obama administration shun Christian refugees in favor of Muslims, and in which refugees of his faith suffer from double persecution  first in their own countries, then in refugee camps at the hands of Muslims.

Islamic law itself has a migration strategy that Muslims use to seed and then transform U.S. communities, Hadian said Friday on the statewide radio show Voices of Montana. There are instances in other states and countries where Muslim groups establish enclaves and begin demands for Sharia Law.

Sharia is the major concern because it is antithetical to our Constitution, he maintained, adding that the God of the Christian Bible and the God of Islam are exactly opposites.

Is Montana in danger of an Islamic takeover?

Personally, I think it is, Kugler said. Its happening all over America. Theres a written plan, and their modus operandi is to come in, become part of your community and everythings wonderful. Then they get a little bit of critical mass and start making demands. Ive heard it called stealth jihad.

***

Sheila Mischke was driving to work in Missoula on Friday when she heard Hadian and "Voices of Montana" host Jon Arneson on station KMPT 930 AM.

It took a lot of courage for me get on the radio, but I was so upset, she said later. It was crazy.

Mischke told the radio audience that as a property manager in Missoula shes trying to help the IRC and Soft Landing Missoula find housing for incoming refugees.

Because of this hateful rhetoric we are having a heck of a time getting people to help us, she said. We have people coming to our meetings protesting and saying were trying to infiltrate the community with Muslim terrorists, and its just not true.

Hadian disputed that. What part of what Ive shared was rhetoric instead of factual information?

Responded Mischke: Its rhetoric because it has a political slant and it has to do with fear mongering and letting people think theres a big global conspiracy to seed our communities with Islamic terrorists. You equated it with the refugee program in Missoula and brought up Idaho and other places as well. And I just am calling to tell you that that isnt the case here. I dont know where you get your facts.

Housing for refugees is a valid concern, Hadian said later. People are concerned about whos moving into their neighborhood.

I feel bad that there may be a stigma, but this is the fruit of what theyre doing, he said. When you give a community 30 days or less of knowing whats happening, youre going to have mistrust. Its disgusting that those bringing in refugees cry wolf and say, Oh, you guys are being mean, when a community should have the right to say no.

Its not being mean, its being vigilant.

Should refugees living and coming to Missoula feel fearful in this atmosphere?

If theres any insinuation that my talks stir people to violence, that is outrageous, he said.

Hadian, who also spoke in Kalispell in December, has made several appearances in Idaho, including one at the state capitol in Boise that he said was boycotted by the local International Rescue Committee.

Luke Malek attended a Hadian talk in Sandpoint, Idaho, in the spring of 2015.

An attorney for a Coeur dAlene nonprofit health clinic, Malek is also a Republican state representative. Afterward he told the Spokesman Review he was extremely uncomfortable with how the pastors characterizations of Islam resonated in North Idaho.

We dont have good exposure to this minority religion here, so anything that he says, hes taken as an expert by those who dont know any other source, Malek told the Spokane newspaper. So if you want to seed hatred in a way that it cant be tamped down by facts, and feed fear and seed paranoia, he has an unchecked platform for doing that.

***

Ormseth, the Interfaith coordinator for Emmaus Campus Ministries at the University of Montana, helped SALAM put on Celebrate Islam Week in Missoula in April.

A lot of us in the group are either Muslim or we have Muslim friends, Ormseth said. We see these Muslims living their faith as Americans living normal lives. And we saw the need to engage (Hadian and ACT for America) in some of their hateful rhetoric against Muslims and to provide sources of information for people confused about this ongoing conversation in America.

That sounds similar to what Hadians goals are. He said he cant rely on the media to provide accurate information.

You guys have a pretty set narrative, Hadian said. Youre afraid to touch the subject about this lie that theres this peaceful, tolerant Islam out there. That narrative has to be exposed by looking at doctrine and what Islam says.

Ormseth countered that Hadian's appearances are "coinciding with this rise in our country with hate speech toward Muslims and Arabs.''

I myself have traveled to Jerusalem and Morocco, and I know Muslims who are peaceful people,'' Ormseth said. "So I dont think the true face of Islam is violence bent on world domination.
In the final debate between Democrat Gov. Steve Bullock and his Republican challenger Greg Gianforte on Saturday, the rules went by the board at times as some of their exchanges grew testy.

Each candidate for governor sought to accuse his opponent of politically convenient lies, with Bullock painting Gianforte as a businessman who aims to provide breaks for wealthy friends while Gianforte characterized Bullock as career politician who is reckless with the state budget.

But the live televised debate from the KRTV studio in Great Falls opened with a moment of partial agreement over the recent news that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump had made lewd comments and described sexually assaulting a woman during a taped 2005 conversation.

These comments are completely inappropriate and outrageous, Gianforte said.

What Mr. Trump said is not appropriate for a dogcatcher, let alone a presidential candidate, Bullock said.

Both also tried to distance themselves from their partys nominee.

I have previously said I would vote for Donald Trump. I reluctantly continue to believe thats the right of course of action, Gianforte said, listing concerns he had with Hillary Clintons policies. I wish I had a different choice but this is the choice were left with.

Bullock said he disagreed with Clinton on issues such as the Second Amendment and coal policy.

Whoever gets elected governor or president, that the end of the day, my job is the same: to make sure they understand Montanas values, Montanas interests and Montanas needs, he said, noting he had opposed emission reduction requirements proposed for the state under the Clean Power Plan and filed suit as former attorney general against efforts to implement a national REAL ID.

With that, Gianforte shifted the debate back to a common thread in his campaign attacks on Bullock.

I also believe we need a state administration that will stand up to Washington, he said. And yet ... the No. 1 issue Ive heard is that our state administration is not standing up to federal overreach.

He later argued Bullock had not done enough to fight federal policies that contributed to a loss of jobs in coal and timber industries. He also noted Bullocks campaign received contributions from the group that sued to shut down Colstrip, referencing a suit filed by the Montana Environmental Information Center and the Sierra Club, and voted against the Powder River Basin lease.

Bullock fired back that his campaign has received contributions from 7,500 Montanans including coal company CEOs.

I do have a plan to take our state forward and it does include coal, he said.

Earlier this year, he released an "Energy Blueprint" that suggested the state do more to diversify its natural resource economy with further investments in wind and solar energy. Bullock also has sat down federal officials who presented options for upgrading the technology at the Colstrip plan to keep it viable for years more even with stricter emission standards, although those proposals require securing billions of dollars in funding largely through federal loans.

Bullock did not address the comments about his vote as a member of the Montana Land Board. In 2010, he was one of two officials to vote against leasing public mineral rights in the Powder River Basin, often referred to as the Otter Creek tract, to Arch Coal for $86 million. He said at the time that the price was simply too low.

Gianforte has repeatedly said one of the biggest challenges to developing the states natural resources is simply bureaucratic.

Weve seen environmental extremists appointed to various boards across the state and at the (Department of Environmental Quality) where some organizations have waited almost two decades to get a permit that wouldve created jobs here in the state, Gianforte said, again referencing the Otter Creek tract that was never developed in part because it was still seeking final permits but ultimately died when the project no longer was profitable as coal prices dropped and the company filed for bankruptcy.

The most heated moments of the debate came after the candidates were asked about one of the longest-running campaign attacks: an accusation by Bullock that Gianforte blocked public access to an easement on his property along the East Gallatin River and sued the state to get rid of it altogether.

Heres the lawsuit, Bullock said as he unfolded a printed copy of a lawsuit filed by the Gianforte-owned East Gallatin LLC in 2009 against Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. He read a portion of it then leaned to his left as he tried to hand it to Gianforte.

I stand by my statement. Access was never blocked, Gianforte said, characterizing the incident as an example of poor state leadership that led to simple matter being drawn out for months.

As the State Bureau has previously reported, the suit sought to remove an easement that provided public access along the East Gallatin River, arguing that users were damaging adjacent land, the original 1993 agreement by a previous owner was invalid and that the public had sufficient access via two other nearby sites. Records show the complaint was filed to create a foothold for a case, but the papers were never served to the agency. Gianforte has said the filing was just to get the agencys attention after waiting 14 months.

The dispute was resolved after a department visit to the site in July 2009 led to trail and fence upgrades that did a better job keeping users off the rest of the Gianforte property and the agency updated records on the easement boundaries, according to state documents and emails.

As moderators tried to move the debate to the next question, Gianforte dinged Bullock for bringing the copy of the lawsuit into the studio.

I just want to note the governor violated the rules of the debate, he said.

I just want to note Greg Gianforte sued all of Montana, Bullock retorted.

Moderators also asked Gianforte whether he would support tougher restrictions on abortions or work to keep federal money for Planned Parenthood out of the state. He declined to answer beyond noting he is pro-life.

I dont have any particular plans, he said. Im running because we need more high-wage jobs and thats my focus.

Bullock reaffirmed his support for a womans right to make health care decisions by themselves.

The candidates also discussed figures showing that some state revenues have declined while others have grown more slowly than in recent years. By next summer, the states cash balance, which had been about $400 million in 2015, is projected to drop to $119 million.

Bullock said his good fiscal management means Montana is still in the black while neighbors like North Dakota and Wyoming have had to call special sessions to make steep cuts. He acknowledged, however, there will be some hard-fought decisions as the budget works through the 2017 Legislature.

Gianforte called the declining revenues proof of poor fiscal management. He noted that the states general fund spending had grown $800 million since Bullock was elected. The state spends about $6.2 billion annually across all funding sources.
Despite a contentious election, Gov. Steve Bullock and Republican challenger Greg Gianforte do agree on at least one matter: a belief that Missoulas new background check ordinance for gun purchases isn't in line with existing law.

During a meeting with the Missoulians editorial board Thursday, Gianforte said he supports the Second Amendment, and thinks the ordinance is unconstitutional and against Montana law.

Our Second Amendment is really clear. It says the right to bear arms shall not be infringed, he said. I dont think anybody would argue that the ordinance that was passed is a lessening of restrictions, its an increasing of restrictions.

The new ordinance mandates background checks before the private transfer of firearms in Missoula city limits, with some exceptions. Such checks are already required for the purchase of a gun at a store.

Jason Pitt, Montana Democratic Party spokesman, said Governor and former Attorney General Bullock believes the ordinance is against state law.

"Steve believes that while it's critical for local leaders to be able to make their own decisions for their communities, those decisions have to be in line with the laws of our state, he said.

Gianforte said Thursday it was not clear that local municipalities have the authority to pass such a regulation.

The challenge you have is when you put these sort of rules in place, the only ones they burden are law-abiding citizens, he said. Criminals in a gun exchange are not going to do a background check."

Municipalities that pass their own ordinances regarding firearms could create a patchwork of regulations that would make it difficult for gun owners to obey the law, Gianforte said, but he also doesn't support a statewide universal background check statute.

I believe background checks are a step towards a gun registry, which I am opposed to, he said.

***

The evening the ordinance passed at the Missoula City Council on Sept. 26, the speaker of Montana's House of Representatives, Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, wrote on his campaign Facebook page that he would ask Attorney General Tim Fox to issue a legal opinion on whether it conflicts with state law and the Montana Constitution.

John Barnes, director of communications for the Montana Department of Justice, said Friday that Foxs office has not received a request from Knudsen, who did not return a request for comment.

If issued, a legal opinion from Fox would would only be able to be overruled by a state district court or the Montana Supreme Court.

Knudsen, an attorney who graduated from the law school at the University of Montana, had said previously he felt the ordinance violated the Montana Constitution's right to bear arms and a state law saying that except in certain circumstances, local governments cannot regulate the sale or transfer of firearms.

Last fall when the City Council first took up the ordinance, Missoula City Attorney Jim Nugent issued an opinion that said the ordinance fell under such an exception. State law allows local governments the power to prevent and suppress ... the possession of firearms by convicted felons, adjudicated mental incompetents, illegal aliens and minors.

Nugent said Friday that is still the citys position, and it is prepared to defend the ordinance in a court if necessary, but declined to respond to the politicians questioning its legality.

I would prefer not to get in the midst of a political fight and thats what this is. Its politics season, he said.

Nugent said the proposal for the ordinance was brought to the city by local members from the nationwide group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and that public comment evenly split during a hearing last October, showing signficant support for the measure. Nugent said he thinks much of the controversy from opponents of the measure extending background checks to private sales is overreaction.

You cant prevent the City Council from giving consideration to a matter like this. That's what local governments are in part in place to consider, he said. "The courts will decide the law and the city is ready to defend the ordinance."
The Missoula County Risk & Benefits department has traveled at least once a year in the last five years for training retreats at Marina Cay resort in Bigfork, Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish and the Coeur dAlene resort in Idaho events that averaged about one-fifth of its annual training spending.

The department spent a little under $38,000 on training in fiscal year 2016, with more than $5,000 spent on a trip to the Grouse Mountain Lodge and just under $1,000 spent on a trip to Bigfork, as part of what former director Hal Luttschwager called a commitment to put, time, effort and compassion, into educating his employees.

In his 28 years as director, Luttschwager said around 10 of those included the training retreats. He retired on June 30.

County Commissioner Cola Rowley said she can understand, from a department heads perspective, the importance of giving employees training in that relaxed setting. But, as the department was spending taxpayer money, that training should have been done more responsibly, she said.

Rowley was not aware of the trainings until budget talks this summer, when the commissioners looked into Risk & Benefits operations budget in more detail.

Each department meets separately with the commissioners during the budget process.

Commissioner Stacy Rye learned during those talks that the Risk & Benefits budget wasnt looked at outside the department, something she pushed to change this September in a commissioners administrative meeting, when she asked County Auditor Barbara Berens to review their operations budget.

It shouldnt be that theres anything county-related that only one person has access to, she said, referring to Luttschwager, who as the department head was the sole person to review the budget. Its pretty egregious.

Once a year, Luttschwager would close the office for a couple of days and everyone would drive up to Bigfork, Whitefish or Coeur dAlene, for a sort of team-building training and seminar retreat, featuring speakers from Payne West, 5 Star Specialty Programs, or other agencies on various benefits-related topics, according to Heidi Fritchen, the plans benefit administrator and interim Risk & Benefits director. Among the trips:

In September 2012, seven employees traveled to Marina Cay resort in Bigfork on a training conference that cost just over $4,900, according to budget records from the Risk & Benefits office.

In April 2013, the department put down a $250 deposit at Grouse Mountain Lodge, in Whitefish. Eight employees traveled there that September, spending over $5,500, according to benefits department records.

The next year, in October 2014, more than $3,100 was spent for employees to attend training in Coeur dAlene, at the Coeur dAlene Resort, that time invited by a Tennessee-based insurance company, Fritchen said.

In the Fall of September 2015, a little over $5,200 was spent on a conference in Whitefish, again at Grouse Mountain Lodge, Fritchen said, with just five employees attending that year.

Most recently, at the end of June 2016, nine employees traveled to Marina Cay just before Luttschwagers retirement, spending just $913.58 on that fiscal years budget.

Most of the trips were for one night, according to the documents. Each included all the benefits department employees  ranging from four to seven people, depending on the year  and sometimes the Risk Management director and Workers Compensation director, and was paid from the Risk & Benefits training fund.

Those three offices all work in the same building, and form the countys self-insurance company, with a total of 13 employees. They submit separately for the yearly budget review.

The retreats would include an outside speaker or trainer, to give what Fritchen called intense training, to help their small team come together as a group in a more relaxed setting, without work emails or phone calls distracting them.

They were very nice and very educational, she said. When you come back you have a new perspective on your fellow employee.

Since the department is so small, Fritchen said, everyone, despite their job titles, inevitably helps with a little bit of everything, making it imperative that the whole department is well-trained in different areas of the job.

According to the county budget document for fiscal year 2016, the benefits department had the highest per-person training cost  if the total training budget is simply divided by employees in the department  at around $3,700 apiece.

Human Resources was next highest at $3,000 per person in their eight-person department, though their training budget is spent on all county employees, educating them on HR policies, not just their own department, according to Commissioner Stacy Rye.

The sheriffs office had the highest single training budget at $50,000, almost double the $26,000 budgeted for employee benefits, but with their huge staff of 64 people, it shook out to around $781 a head.

The upcoming years budget showed a $2,000 increase in budgeted training costs for Risk & Benefits from the budgeted costs in 2016.

Granted, the Risk & Benefits department does need training, said Fritchen, whos been with the department for 20 years. The six benefits employees serve around 1,200 people  or, more than 2,000 if their dependents are included, she estimated.

They not only serve county employees, but those with several other agencies as well, such as the Mountain Line bus system, Missoula, Frenchtown and Seeley Lake Rural Fire Departments and the Missoula Art Museum.

Risk and Benefits employees also have attended training for their software program, Trizetto, every year since 2012, as well as various conferences around the country, according to budget documents, from Orlando to Denver to Kentucky and Helena, on wellness, risk management or Affordable Care Act guidelines.

Luttschwager attended federal training seminars every year as well as the Public Sector Healthcare Roundtable Conference, a group of insurance and benefits directors who provide coverage to government workers.

As for the office retreats, Luttschwager said it "was not a secret" that his department did things differently, taking time off to focus on their internal workings and communication.

You sometimes have to spend money to get results, he said. It never became an issue until after I departed."

I was given the latitude, he continued. I did what I felt was reasonable and appropriate to give the county and the taxpayers a reasonable service.

Fritchen said the trips were always passed through audit before we did them.

The Risk & Benefits department was the only one in the county that didnt have its day-to-day operating costs reviewed by County Auditor Barbara Berens, until the recent procedure change.

The department head, formerly Luttschwager, now Fritchen, approved operating expenditures. This was done because the department uses its fund, made up from employee insurance premiums, to pay back settlement deficits as well as HIPAA-protected claims and their operating costs, according to Chief Administrative Officer Vickie Zeier, and didnt separate out non-confidential spending to be reviewed.

In September, the County Commissioners asked Berens and Fritchen to look into reviewing day-to-day claims in-house.

Berens said Tuesday that she was in her second week of reviewing their claims, which are now separated out manually by the Risk & Benefits department. The commissioners were briefed on the process before her reviews began.

Training costs will now be reviewed by her, as well as all credit card purchases (that goes for any county department). But as for reviewing past training expenditures, including specific trips?

Ive never done that, she said.

Commissioner Stacy Rye said no other county department that she knows of does retreat-type events.

Certainly not to places like Marina Cay, which probably dont meet the allotment for state reimbursement, she said.

Rye didnt argue with Luttschwagers logic of the trips as part of taking care of his employees and bettering their work, but rather took issue with one department spending on such trips when others cant.

No other department can hope to have such a thing, she said. Missoula County is funded by Missoula County taxpayers. Would they approve of one department getting substantial  what would you call it  preferential treatment? 'Cause it kinda looks like preferential treatment.
As refugee families adjust to Missoula, their children are entering another new world: the classroom.

So far, six refugee students have enrolled in Missoula County Public Schools in classes ranging from kindergarten through high school. By the end of the month, that will be up to 12.

They're children of the five families from the Democratic Republic of Congo who arrived in Missoula in August and September. The International Rescue Committee says that up to 150 refugees will move here over the next year. They'll represent as many as 15 nationalities.

"It's really new for all of us, but I think we're doing a mighty fine job," said Shirley Lindburg, director of MCPS' English Language Learner program and gifted education.

Missoula has the lone refugee resettlement office in the state.

When it was announced that Syrian refugees would be coming to Missoula, there was a public outcry from a segment of the population that fears that bringing Syrian refugees to Montana could also invite the terrorism that has plagued their home country.

Several protests in Missoula have decried refugee resettlement, saying refugees won't be thoroughly vetted, particularly those fleeing Syria.

Anti-refugee sentiment also has surfaced in political campaigns, from the presidential race to the contest for Montana governor. On Thursday, a group of Christian clergy members from Missoula, Billings, Great Falls and Bozeman sent a letter criticizing Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte and other politicians for "hawking fear designed only to win votes.''

Aria Peters, an ELL teacher, said the response to the Congolese refugees from the schools and students has "been very welcoming.''

"They've provided peer mentors and buddies for the refugee students. I have not encountered any negativity. I have not heard a negative voice, if it is there."

***

Peters was brought on this fall to fill a retirement. The ELL department was also restructured.

The previous teacher was stationed at Hellgate High, and ELL high-schoolers would go to there for ELL services.

Now, Peters travels to the students' home schools. Her position also includes more teacher support.

"There would be costs associated with any student," Lindburg said of the cost to take in refugee students.

School districts receive federal Title III funding for ELL and immigrant students. While the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement has Refugee School Impact Grants, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services has not applied for one, said DPHHS public information officer Jon Ebelt. As of October 2015, these grants had gone to 38 states.

The state's Immigrant Influx Grant goes to districts that have seen a "significant increase in immigrant students" over the course of a year. That means an increase of five or more.

There's $20,000 in that pot, for the entire state. It comes out of the state's Title III funding. Last year, the entire $20,000 went to Great Falls Public Schools. MCPS will qualify for that grant in the coming year.

"Some of it is waiting to see how many (refugee students) we get, and what impact those numbers have," Peters said.

But it would never get to the point where MCPS couldn't take any more, they said.

"At that point, we would hire more people," Peters said.

Lindburg and Peters are already working on a budget proposal for next year, asking for more staff. At the beginning of September, MCPS had about 108 ELL students, which is about 1 percent of the entire student population. The ELL department consists of Lindburg, Peters and three para educators.

"It's not like it's a one-year increase," Lindburg said.

The goal, of course, is for refugee students to move through MCPS and eventually graduate.

MCPS stays in touch with refugee center and, when a refugee family comes, they set up an enrollment meeting with the ELL department. There, the district handles paperwork (students have to have required immunizations before this meeting is set up).

As soon as possible after this meeting, the student has orientation day at his or her school. They tour the school, meet staff, practice basic communication skills and take assessments to gauge their proficiency.

The next day, it's time for school.

"For me, what I hear from the community is, 'Oh my god, they speak no English, what are you going to do?'" Peters said. "But this ELL program has existed for years. We've always had students with limited English, so this is not something new we're dealing with."

***

While the refugee resettlement experience is new for many in Missoula  Hmong refugees came in the early 1980s and Russian refugees in the late 1980s  its been a near constant in Idaho, particularly in Boise and Twin Falls.

In the 1980s, Idaho started taking in refugees, primarily from southeast Asia and eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. In the 1990s, they took in more than 5,000 refugees, more than half of whom came from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

By the 2000s and through today, refugees have largely come from Iraq, Congo, Burma, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Somalia.

The Idaho Department of Education takes a mostly hands-off approach, with efforts to support refugee students coordinated locally.

"The bulk of the work, effort and policies in place -- how school districts work with students to ensure they're provided a free and public education-- is certainly done at that local level," said DOE chief communications officer Jeff Church. "The assistance we would provide from the state ... is the director of English Language and Migrant Education being essentially a support mechanism for those districts to help facilitate and answer any questions they may have."

Montana's Office of Public Instruction is following suit.

Refugee students fall into existing programs, which will continue to exist and support all students, including refugees, OPI communications director Emilie Ritter Saunders said  such as migrant education, English Language Learner and the homeless student program.

"We have different types of folks set up to deal with students who might not be from within our system," she said. "Whether they're for a specific refugee population, I can't speak to that. We don't have a refugee coordinator as other states may have."

There is no discussion at OPI to create anything in response to a rising refugee student population, Ritter Saunders said. Montana is developing its state plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act, though, and efforts supporting Native American, migrant and homeless students will "get a second look."

"How things may shake out is yet to be seen," she said.

***

Since Boise School Districts first refugee students started coming in the 1980s, its refugee and ELL populations have skyrocketed  from 40 ELL students in 1987 to 1,700 in 2014.

Last school year, there were 2,692 immigrant students in Idaho schools, a figure that includes refugees. Nearly 60 percent of those go to Boise.

In total, the Boise School District has more than 26,000 students.

BSD broke it down further, finding that of its 1,585 immigrant students last year, 1,019 were refugees. They came from 45 countries and spoke 73 languages.

Its the largest ELL student population in Idaho.

Map of where refugee students in the Boise School District came from, and what languages they spoke, in 2015:

The Idaho Department of Education issued a statement on refugee students, saying that regardless of a student's situation or origin, they will be accepted into Idaho's public schools.

"Superintendent (Sherri) Ybarra will do all that she can to not let harmful perspectives negatively impact innocent refugee or immigrant students and their ability to learn and achieve in Idaho schools," according to the statement.

Because refugee students are a "special population" under ESSA, states must show they are growing academically in comparison to their peers.

"If you take it up one step higher, the conversation around refugee and immigrant students is in my opinion bigger than ESSA," Church said. "It goes up to essentially a fundamental look at the Civil Rights Act. OK, we're talking about refugee and immigrant students, but in reality we're talking about all students, and all students deserve and have a right to a free public education."

In Boise, refugee students are referred to the district's ELL intake specialist before they enroll. They go through paperwork and an orientation, then they head to school, where they're assessed on English proficiency.

For refugee students in grades 7-12, there are two bridge programs that provide a solid English language foundation before they transition to their home schools.

When Ybarra took office in January 2015, she ramped up the English Language and Migrant Education program, moving coordinator Christina Nava to director and adding more staff.

That was "not necessarily driven by the refugee population specifically," Church said. It was in response to rising needs in the program's entire population, which includes English learners, migrant, refugee and immigrant students.

Decades later, refugee resettlement still faces pushback in Idaho.

In March, members of Treasure Valley Citizens to End Refugee Resettlement asked Ada County commissioners, where Boise is located, to put an advisory question on the May ballot: Do you support the tax funded refugee resettlement programs in Ada County? The commissioners declined to do so, saying immigration is a federal issue.

Refugees have to not only learn a new language but grasp a new culture.

Its a steep learning curve, one that MCPS is peering up with its refugee students.

***

MCPS ELL staff create a five-year plan for their new students, since "it takes five to seven years to learn English and almost be a native speaker," Lindburg said.

"Refugee students, because they often haven't had formal schooling, it's more orientation to school culture," Peters said. "Many of our other ELL students, although they have limited English, they have been in schools in their home country."

One of the main goals is to make the refugee students feel at home. They spend most of their school day in a typical classroom.

"We don't want them separated or isolated," Peters said.

The Congolese students speak Swahili, French and tribal languages.

"For the most part, we only speak one language in Montana," Lindburg said, "and we have families moving here who often speak two, three, four languages.

"But it's back to the same challenge. We have a student from another country; it's not about them being a refugee."

At this point, it's about adjusting to numbers, Lindburg said, not where the students are coming from.

The ELL department met recently with Soft Landing Missoula and the IRC "to make sure each partner is clear what we're doing so there's no overlap," Peters said.

They hope those meetings continue, maybe every six weeks, as more refugee students find their desks in MCPS.
Montana Student Chapter of the Federalist Society

Supreme Court candidate forum

When: 6 p.m. Monday.

Where: Alexander Blewett III School of Law, Room 201, UM.

Agenda: Attending candidates include Kristen Juras and Dirk Sandefur and Chief Justice Mike McGrath and Justice James Jeramiah Shea.

***

Hellgate Elementary Board of Trustees

When: 7 p.m. Monday.

Where: School district 4 Board Room, 2385 Flynn Lane.

Agenda: canvas bond election results; sale of General Obligation bonds; Hellgate Elementary Facility Enhancement project; New West Health Insurance; National School Board Association conference.

***

Bonner Milltown Community Council

When: 7 p.m. Monday.

Where: Bonner School library, Highway 200, Bonner.

Agenda: consider for possible approval a letter to the Commissioners requesting attention to: a) Maintenance at the Bonner Development Group Memorial Park; b) Empty railroad boxcars on a Piltzville siding, which may be serving as camping places for transient persons; c) Possible public access to Montana State Parks land via the power line corridor at the eastern part of the Harris Thermal property, on the west bank of the Blackfoot River at Milltown. The Council will also consider for possible approval and public distribution a summary of the HDR Engineering wastewater feasibility public meeting. Council will receive any available updates for community projects including pedestrian trail extension from Tamarack Road westward and the wastewater treatment feasibility study

***

Seeley Lake Community Council

When: 5:30 p.m. Monday.

Where: The Barn, 2920 Highway 83, Seeley Lake.

Agenda: Sheriff T.J. McDermott speaks on recent law enforcement activities in Seeley Lake; Duane Cecil Schlabach follows with a report on the successful conclusion of the Councils two-year Traffic Project and the new speed limits; Mike Boltz outlines plans to convert the Wilderness Inn into affordable apartments. The November candidates for Justice of the Peace who have accepted the invitation to attend will introduce themselves and answer questions. Scott Stearns, chair of the Missoula County library bond committee, will explain the provisions of the proposed $30 million bond issue and what its passage would mean for the Seeley Lake branch library. Discussion of the status of Trails Committee.

***

Missoula Conservation District

When: 7 p.m. Monday.

Where: USDA Service Center Conference Room, 3550 Mullan Road Suite 106.

***

Parks and Recreation Board

When: Noon Tuesday.

Where: Headwaters at currents, 600 Cregg Lane.

***

Local Emergency Planning Commission

When: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Where: Missoula County Administration Building, B14, 199 W. Pine St.

***

Target Range Sewer and Water District

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Where: Target Range School library.

***

Lolo Community Council

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Where: Lolo Community Center

Agenda: candidate forum with House District 97 Representative candidates Brad Tschida and Nick Davis; Missoula County Commissioner candidates Dave Strohmaier and Todd Geery; Public Service Commissioner candidates Bob Lake and Gail Gutsche with special guests Sheriff TJ McDermott and State Senator District 49 Diane Sands.

***

Missoula Rural Fire District Board of Trustees

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Where: MRFD Station 1, 2521 South Ave. W.

Agenda: Resolution 16-5 MRFD Fee schedule; Clinton donation contract; 15/16 Budget vs Actual Review.

***

Missoula County Public Schools' Board of Trustees

regular meeting

When: 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Where: Seeley Swan High School cafeteria, Seeley Lake.

Agenda: available at mcpsmt.org.

***

Missoula Board of County Commissioners

public meeting

When: 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Where: Conference Room 151, Courthouse Annex.

Agenda: Seeley-Swan High School, school zone speed limit.

***

West Valley Community Council

When: 6 p.m. Thursday.

Where: Frenchtown Fire Station, 16875 Marion St.

Agenda: EPA and DEQ present an update on the Smurfit-Stone Mill site and the status of the ongoing risk assessment.

***

Missoula County Parks and Trails Advisory Board

When: 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Where: 323 W. Alder.

Agenda: request from Friends of Two Rivers for direct grant at match for preliminary engineering services for share-use path on Highway 200; priorities for FY2017 vegetation management; Weed Grant application for Friends of Two Rivers.

***

Open Space Advisory Committee

When: 4 p.m. Thursday.

Where: Headewaters at currents, 600 Cregg Lane.

***

Community Forum Leadership Team

When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Where: Jack Reidy Conference Room, 140 W. Pine St.

***

Energy and Climate Team

When: Noon Friday.

Where: City Council Chambers, 140 W. Pine St.

***
We can all agree with Greg Gianforte about one thing: the stuff is getting pretty deep in the campaign for governor. Unfortunately for Gianforte, most of the "fish stories" are being planted by his own campaign.

His recent ad about Syrian refugees is a good example and a masterpiece of deception. Immigration is a federal matter, not subject to state control. The federal court of appeals in Chicago just threw out vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence's anti-immigrant plan because it violates our Constitution.

So what would Gianforte do if elected to keep refugees out? The silence is deafening. But he's certainly done his best to scare Montanans about a Bullock "policy" over which the governor has no control whatsoever.

So quit your whining, Greg Gianforte. Those chest-waders are the only thing keeping you from getting soiled by your own garbage.

Chris Tweeten,

Missoula
Montanas Supreme Court is too important for us to allow out-of-state, extreme corporate groups to flood our airwaves and media with more than a million dollars on behalf of an unqualified candidate. Thats what is happening with the so-called Judicial Fairness Initiative and their pick for Montana Supreme Court, Kristin Juras.

Global insurance companies, banks and corporations are funding and effort to convince Montanans to elect Juras  an unqualified, extreme ideologue  to our Supreme Court. These wealthy special interests have tried it in the past and, unfortunately for Montanans, it has actually worked. Thats how we ended up with right-wing Justice Laurie McKinnon on the court.

Lets not let them get away with trying to elect an unqualified, extreme ideologue to our highest court this time! Vote for Judge Dirk Sandefur, the only qualified candidate running for this important position. He has the support of thousands of Montanans and is endorsed by every living retired Montana Supreme Court Justice. He will be fair, impartial, and will not be beholden to any special interest groups.

I am proud to support Judge Dirk Sandefur for Montana Supreme Court justice. The stakes are too high for all Montanans if an unqualified candidate gets elected to the highest court in our state!

Mark Savinski,

Sheridan
WASHINGTON  Republican leaders began to abandon Donald J. Trump by the dozens on Saturday after the release of a video showing him speaking of women in vulgar sexual terms, delivering a punishing blow to his campaign and plunging the party into crisis a month before the election.

Fearing that his candidacy was on the verge of undermining the entire Republican ticket next month, a group of senators and House members withdrew support for him, with some demanding that he step aside. Mr. Trump, however, vowed to stay in the race.

The list of party figures publicly rejecting Mr. Trump included a host of prominent elected officials, perhaps most notably Senator John McCain of Arizona, the 2008 nominee.

I thought it important I respect the fact that Donald Trump won a majority of the delegates by the rules our party set, Mr. McCain said in a statement. But Donald Trumps behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy.
As access and information to cut-off areas of Haiti increase after the hurricane, the news only gets worse. The death toll has climbed to nearly 900 people, while an outbreak of cholera in three southern towns has killed 13 people and infected 62 others, health officials said.

For now, though, there is no way to know the precise toll of the storm. There are still 500,000 people stranded in the south alone, officials said, because of extensive damage to an already feeble infrastructure. More than 170 people have been reported dead in Les Anglais, which for now is accessible only by helicopter.

Just as the impoverished island nation, bereft of resources and capacity, struggled to prepare for the storm, the recovery has been hampered by the same shortcomings. And communications have been scattered. Although news outlets are reporting nearly 900 dead, the government has for two days insisted on a figure less than half of that.

That gap is partly the result of how the deaths are reported. The government is counting only those it can verify, a formal process that cannot be completed until access to areas cut off by the storm is restored. But in towns like Port-Salut, many have already buried their dead or stopped searching for loved ones carried away in the storm surge.

Honestly, we dont even know how many died, said Sanite Moise, seated with a group of women washing clothes in a shallow flood pool. Small children bathed in the murky water.
WASHINGTON  Americans often assume that Chinese military aggression is increasing the likelihood of a clash between China and the United States. But many policy makers in Washington ignore that Beijing has good reason to be troubled by the United States military footprint in its neighborhood. President Obamas pivot to Asia  which includes doubling down on Washingtons already-robust military presence in the region  further stokes the potential for conflict between China and the United States.

If the United States wants to avoid strife in Asia, it should resist antagonizing China by encircling it with ever more military partners and bases.

True, China is bolstering its armed forces. Its military budget has risen 7.6 percent this year and grew at an average of 9.5 percent from 2005 to 2014 (it slowed this year along with Chinas economy). China is turning reefs in contested waters into islands dotted with airstrips and radar towers. This year, China has flown its jets close to Japanese and American planes over the East China Sea; in recent years Chinese boats have rammed and sunk Vietnamese vessels in the South China Sea. Still, the United States, with a military budget three times as large as Chinas, pours far more resources into the Pacific region than Beijing.

Washington agreed recently to deploy missile-defense systems in South Korea, a response to North Koreas nuclear program but also a provocation to Beijing. The United States will deploy 2,500 Marines to Darwin, Australia, and rotate troops through five military bases in the Philippines, despite President Rodrigo Dutertes anti-American rants.
To add your signature to this open letter in solidarity, please sign at <bit.ly/2dtPmzP>.

Open Letter to San Francisco State University

President Leslie Wong:

Uphold the MOU with An-Najah University and

Support Professor Abdulhadi!



Members of the Delegation

with faculty and students from An-Najah University.

In March 2016, nineteen of us were part of a multi-racial, multi-generational Prisoner, Labor and Academic Solidarity delegation to Palestine convened by Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi, a professor at San Francisco State University. A highlight of our trip was a conference we participated in at An-Najah University in Nablus in the Palestinian West Bank. Faculty and students from An-Najah and members of our delegation shared presentations about the marginalized histories of colonial repression, racism and resistance in Palestine and the U.S. A dynamic discussion ensued, laying the basis for future academic cooperation and public engagement. For us it was an exciting model of what international academic exchange between activist scholars should be.

The conference at An-Najah was facilitated by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which was established between San Francisco State University and An-Najah in 2014. The agreement was initiated by Dr. Abdulhadi, who grew up in Nablus, and it grew out of her close ties to both academic institutions. The purpose of the agreement was to encourage exchange and partnership between the universities and with the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas (AMED) Studies program, an important part of the College of Ethnic Studies at SFSU.

We were very disturbed to learn at the beginning of September that an online petition had been launched by the Middle East Forum, a neo-conservative, pro-Israel group led by Daniel Pipes and David Horowitz, named as leading Islamophobes by the Southern Law Poverty Center, calling on San Francisco State University President, Leslie Wong, to terminate the MOU with An-Najah. The petition accuses An-Najah of incitement to violence, anti-Semitism and the glorification of terrorism. It cites the opinions of other discredited Zionist organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as sources for these inflammatory allegations. The vilification of An-Najah, which is consistently ranked as a leading academic institution in the Arab world, is accompanied by an attack on Dr. Abdulhadi who is condemned for initiating the MOU and for her record as an anti-Israel activist. Some of the examples given include her role as a founding member of the US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel and her service as faculty advisor for SFSUs General Union of Palestine Students (GUPS).

Unfortunately, the petition is not an isolated diatribe but part and parcel of an escalating backlash by pro-Israeli, Zionist organizations to undermine support for Palestine which has been gaining momentum on college campuses across the United States over the past ten years, catalyzed by the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. The 2015 report, The Palestine Exception to Free Speech by the Center for Constitutional Rights and Palestine Legal explains how pro-Israel groups leverage their significant resources and lobbying power to pressure universities, government actors, and other institutions to censor or punish advocacy in support of Palestinian rights.

Multiple forms of pressure have been employed including the creation of an online hit list by the Canary Mission, a Zionist campus watch group explicitly founded to harass and target students and faculty active in the BDS movement. Dr. Abdulhadi as well as various SFSU GUPS student members are listed on this website in an attempt to derail their academic careers and invite attacks against them. Another significant pressure point is the spread of McCarthyite anti-BDS legislation which criminalizes businesses, organizations and individuals who participate in boycotts of Israel. Eleven states have passed such laws and dozens more, including California, are considering them. In June 2016, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order against boycott and divestment.

At the same time, a recent wave of Israeli raids and arrests in Palestine at the end of July have targeted An-Najah students and students in other Palestinian universities. Since it is illegal for Palestinian students to organize protests on campuses, and campus political organizations are banned, there is a constant pretext for the Israeli military occupation to arrest students arbitrarily. The suppression and increasing criminalization of free speech about Palestine on U.S. campuses represent a move in the same direction.

Recently the AMCHA Initiative, another Zionist campus-focused group, launched a campaign to cancel a course, Palestine: A Settler Colonial Analysis, at UC Berkeley. The effort was defeated due to widespread University and public pressure. A number of our Palestine Delegation members live in the San Francisco Bay Area and we expect SFSU to also uphold its commitment to academic freedom and social justice, values that are prioritized by our communities.

We are encouraged by a statement that SFSUs associate vice president of strategic communications, J. Elizabeth Smith, made to CBS San Francisco defending the right of SF State faculty to partner with An-Najah. The university supports the academic freedom of its faculty. Partnerships are initiated by faculty members based on their own academic interests, either for their own particular scholarly pursuits or to advance learning opportunities for their students. We encourage President Wong to publicly reaffirm this commitment as well.

In the face of the bigoted attacks on the MOU between San Francisco State University and An-Najah University in the Palestine West Bank and on Professor Abdulhadi, a leading Palestinian scholar, we the undersigned Delegation members and other concerned academics, students and community members, call upon President Wong of SFSU to:

Uphold the importance and validity of SFSUs historic agreement with An-Najah University.

Reject the defamation of Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi and support her leading intellectual and activist roles in the international justice for Palestine movements.

Support publicly and institutionally the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies Program (AMED) at SFSU.

Oppose the cyber-harassment and McCarthyite hit list tactics of the Canary Mission against students and faculty at SFSU and at other campuses across the U.S.

Signed by the members of the 2016 Prisoner, Labor and Academic Solidarity Delegation to Palestine:

*All institutional and organizational affiliations are for identification purposes only
Isakson joins home care

The Compassus program, formerly Rocky Mountain Home Care, serving Silver Bow County, recently announced the addition of Shannon Isakson as executive director.

In her role, Isakson will oversee day-to-day operations of the program and lead the care team, including a medical director, registered nurses, physical, occupational and speech therapists and other specialists to deliver the highest quality home health care to the communities the program serves.

The home health program provides a range of services, including pain and symptom management, medication management, and physical, speech and occupational therapies. Care is provided by nurses, therapists and social workers in a patients home or assisted living facility.

Isakson served as a registered nurse at St. James Healthcare. She attended Carroll College in Helena, where she earned her bachelors degree in nursing. In 2012, Isakson was recognized as the top nurse in Butte by the International Nurses Association.

Isakson is board certified in advanced cardiovascular life support, pediatric advanced life support and basic life support. She is a member of the Montana Nurses Association.

For details on Compassus in Butte or its services, visit www.compassus.com or call 406-221-3190.

Accounting firm promotes Carlson

Anderson ZurMuehlen announces the promotion of Linsay Carlson, certified public accountant, to manager in the Butte office.

Carlsons experience includes audit examinations, evaluation of internal accounting control systems, and internal audits of financial institutions. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Communication and a Post-Baccalaureate Accounting Certificate from Linfield College and joined the firm in 2011.

Since 1957, Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co., P.C. has provided financial solutions that create better communities. The Butte Office is located at 129 West Park, St. Details: visit azworld.com.

Credit union merges with Butte office

Rocky Mountain Credit Union is merging with Heritage FCU in Butte to provide access to members in southwest Montana, according to a news release.

The merger was to be completed Oct. 1. The merger originally started as a partnership between RMCU and HFCU to help Butte members with mortgages.

The HFCU membership voted in February 2016 to allow the merger with RMCU. Since then, RMCU and HFCU staff have been working to make this merger complete. A mortgage lender from Helena has been traveling to Butte regularly to help members with home lending needs.

RMCU and HFCU are not-for-profit financial institutions owned by their members. RMCU has branches in Helena, Bozeman, Belgrade and soon to be Butte.

Dillon hospital receives award

Barrett Hospital & HealthCare was recently awarded the Montana Rural Healthcare Performance Improvement Networks Quality Improvement Award for its work on Emergency Department Transfer Communications.

The awards were announced during the general session at the MHA Annual Convention in Billings in September.

The network is a voluntary membership of 48 critical access hospitals throughout the state. Through this network, member hospitals benchmark their performance with their peers on a variety of financial, utilization and direct patient care measures that encourage safe, effective, patient-centered care delivery in even the most remote communities of the state.
A Butte woman was killed late Saturday afternoon when the car she was in on Interstate 90 crossed the median and struck a semi-trailer and car going the opposite direction near Belgrade.

The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office identified the victim as Sarah Wixston, 40. Three people were injured and taken to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital following the accident, which occurred at 5 p.m., the Montana Highway Patrol said Sunday afternoon.

Troopers said Wixston and another person were traveling westbound on I-90 in a Ford Fusion a few miles west of Belgrade when their car for unknown reasons crossed the median into the eastbound lanes. It was not clear who was driving.

The car struck a semi-trailer out of Oregon then hit a Mercury Milan and finally came to rest in the median. The semi-trailer hit another semi out of British Columbia. The Milan and Oregon semi came to rest in the eastbound lanes.

The victim was reported dead at the scene. Road conditions were dry.

Another fatal accident occurred early Sunday morning on Montana Highway 278 in Beaverhead County, according to the Highway Patrol's incident report.

A trooper said Sunday morning he was still investigating the crash, but he did confirm one person was killed. Dispatch said it got a call about the wreck at 2:56 a.m.

Beaverhead County Sheriff Frank Kluesner said it was a rollover accident near Polaris on the Scenic Byway. One person was killed and another was seriously injured. Kluesner said the Highway Patrol is investigating.
HELENA  Montana's congressman Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke said Saturday that the way his party's presidential candidate Donald Trump talks about women in a 2005 video leaked Friday is wrong but did not say he was pulling back his endorsement of Trump.

"The language is shocking and wrong, and should never be used, ever," Zinke said in a statement. "My wife, Lola, and I have talked about it and we pray he has grown from his mistake."

Zinke's spokeswoman did not directly answer if the congressman still supports Trump, replying, "he and Lola will never vote for Hillary."

As the list of Republicans denouncing Trump and calling for him to drop out of the race continued to grow Saturday, the presidential candidate told the Washington Post he will not withdraw.

Zinke has been one of Trump's more steady supporters in an election where prominent party leaders even before the video have distanced themselves from the candidate or publicly said they do not endorse him. Zinke formally endorsed Trump on the cable news show "Fox and Friends" on May 25.

Zinke is running for re-election against Democrat Denise Juneau, Montana's superintendent of public instruction.

Juneau released a statement Friday night which said, in part, "I'm calling on Congressman Zinke to denounce Trump's violent remarks, withdraw his endorsement, and apologize for joking about Trump's consistently offensive language. Montana's 500,000 mothers, daughters, and sisters are watching."

Republican candidate for governor Greg Gianforte, who has said he will support his party's nominee for president, issued this statement:

"As parents of a young woman, Susan and I are deeply disappointed and offended by Mr. Trump's past remarks. As someone who is both a husband and a dad, this is not how women should be treated. Montanans are facing great uncertainty over the presidential election. This is all the more reason we need to have effective leadership at the state level."

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, released this statement:

"Mr. Trump's comments about women are appalling. This was much worse than a mistake, it's a pattern of behavior that demonstrates his utter lack of respect for humanity. Whether it's a Gold Star family, a reporter with a disability, or women across the country, Mr. Trump has repeatedly shown a lack of respect for the American people that is unacceptable for someone who wants to be the President of the United States."

South Dakotas Gov. Dennis Daugaard and Sen. John Thune said Trump should quit the race, as did Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, Alabama Rep. Martha Roby, and Nevada Rep. Joe Heck.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and Rep. Jason Chaffetz and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte said they will not vote for Trump.

Party leadership critical of Trump but still supporting him includes Speaker of the House Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who disinvited Trump from a campaign event there, as well as Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus, and former primary opponents Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

In the video published by the Washington Post late Friday, Trump uses vulgar language to talk about women, at one point saying he tried to have sex with a married woman and that he grabs and kisses women without first getting permission. He also says he gropes women, adding "you can do anything" when you are a star. The video was recorded in a bus with Billy Bush, then a reporter for Access Hollywood, while taping a segment of the program about Trump's cameo on a soap opera.

I moved on her, and I failed. Ill admit it, Trump said about a woman who is not fully named. At the time of the video, Trump was married to his current wife, Melania, though it's unclear when the situation he was describing occurred.

Trump also said: Ive got to use some Tic Tacs, just in case I start kissing her. You know Im automatically attracted to beautiful ... I just start kissing them. Its like a magnet. Just kiss. I dont even wait.

He continued: And when youre a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. ... Grab them by the p---y. You can do anything.

Earlier this year Zinke spoke at the Republican National Convention, telling attendees to rally behind Trump. He has also appeared on news programs in support of the candidate and at one point suggested he could be Trump's running mate, telling Montana radio station KGVO:

We talked about it, but he has not made up his mind.

He also told the conservative commentary site Breitbart he would be honored to serve in whatever capacity" and was open to being vice president or a member of the cabinet if asked.

Last month Zinke told the Lee State Bureau he supported Trump but didn't agree with everything he says.

"It's just time to shake it up, and status quo is not working for either side," he said. "I don't agree with everything Mr. Trump says, but I cannot support corruption."

Trump issued a video in which he apologized late Friday, saying he was not a perfect person.

"Ive said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more-than-a-decade-old video are one of them. Anyone who knows me knows these words dont reflect who I am."

The Montana Democratic Party on Friday night responded quickly to the video, releasing on YouTube the video with clips of Zinke's appearance at the Billings Gazette's editorial board cut in. In the clips, Zinke said, "I think Mr. Trump has been an equal opportunity offender. I don't think he offends women any more than he offends anyone else."
Their stories are heartrending. They are the victims of violent crime whose attackers got away with a mere slap on the wrist, or drastically reduced charges, or a single night in jail before posting bail. Instead of receiving justice, these victims feel unheard, unvalued and left out of the criminal justice process. The system failed them.

But Marsys Law, which will appear on Montana voters ballots as Constitutional Initiative 116, would not fix those failures. On the contrary, it has the potential to wreak havoc on Montanas criminal justice system and create even more trouble.

Montana law already entitles most victims to most of the 18 rights listed in CI-116, and most county prosecutors are obliged to involve victims to the fullest extent possible. Therefore, the initiative is not necessarily intended to provide victims with new rights, but to elevate existing rights to the constitutional level - which requires a constitutional amendment.

The rather lengthy (more than 800 words) addition to Montana's Constitution proposed by CI-116 defines crime as a felony, misdemeanor, or delinquency under state law and victim as a person who suffers direct or threatened physical, psychological, or financial harm as a result of the commission or attempted commission of a crime. Yet for all its attempts at specificity, the language is still both too broad and too vague, making the possible legal ramifications difficult to predict.

But who exactly is entitled to such recourse, within what time frame and in what form would be left entirely up to a judges discretion. Every court and prosecutors office in Montana would be facing an exponentially larger workload, especially given that Marsys Law would extend these rights to the victims of nonviolent misdemeanors as well, although again, it is impossible to gauge just how much more of a workload that would be.

It is also concerning that the financial costs of this proposal are likewise unknown; indeed, a note attached to the ballot reads: Fiscal impacts are expected for the Office of the Public Defender, Judicial Branch, Department of Corrections and local governments from passage of CI-116, but those costs could not be accurately determined at this time.

It is a significant undertaking to amend Montanas Constitution. Our Constitution is the result of painstaking deliberation over a number of years. Any changes made to it should be made with equal care and deliberation.

However, there is no improving the language proposed by CI-116. Should Montana encounter problems with the amendment right away or down the road, the smallest change would require further constitutional amendments.

Montana is not the only state weighing whether to make this substantial change to its constitution. Marsys Law, or variations of it, is also on the ballot in a handful of other states this election year.

The law is named for Marsalee Marsy Nicholas, who was a college student in California in 1983 when she was stalked and murdered by an ex-boyfriend. To compound the tragedy, her mother and brother were confronted by the suspected killer a week later at a store. They had no idea the man had posted bail.

That brother, Henry Nicholas, is a successful billionaire who is funding the national effort to pass Marsys Law in every state, with the eventual goal of amending the U.S. Constitution.

A version of the law was passed in California in 2008 and in Illinois in 2014. This election year, other versions are on the ballot in Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Nevada, South Dakota, North Dakota  and Montana.

According to Ballotpedia, as of Oct. 4 the group Marsys Law for Montana has raised more than $2.4 million, with 94 percent of that coming from Henry Nicholas. There is no organized opposition, although the Missoulian editorial board has spoken with state legislators, county prosecutors and others who oppose this initiative in the strongest possible terms.

They are in agreement that Montanas criminal justice system is far from perfect, and that some improvements may be warranted concerning victims rights. But thats no reason to completely throw out Montanas statutory protections for victims. Far better to exert our efforts toward improving those rights through the legislative process, to ensure that they are as exact as necessary and as effective as possible, so that fewer victims slip through the cracks.

Marsys Law proposes to paint Montanas Constitution with too broad a brush. In any case, it has selected the wrong canvas entirely, and Montana voters should reject it.
In the final debate between Democrat Gov. Steve Bullock and his Republican challenger Greg Gianforte on Saturday, the rules went by the board at times as some of the candidates' exchanges grew testy.

Each candidate for governor sought to accuse his opponent of politically convenient lies, with Bullock painting Gianforte as a businessman who aims to provide breaks for wealthy friends while Gianforte characterized Bullock as career politician who is reckless with the state budget.

But the live televised debate from the KRTV studio in Great Falls opened with a moment of partial agreement over the recent news that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump had made lewd comments and described sexually assaulting a woman during a taped 2005 conversation.

These comments are completely inappropriate and outrageous, Gianforte said.

What Mr. Trump said is not appropriate for a dog catcher, let alone a presidential candidate, Bullock said.

Both also tried to distance themselves from their partys nominee.

I have previously said I would vote for Donald Trump. I reluctantly continue to believe thats the right course of action, Gianforte said, listing concerns he had with Hillary Clintons policies. I wish I had a different choice, but this is the choice were left with.

Bullock said he disagreed with Clinton on issues such as the Second Amendment and coal policy.

Whoever gets elected governor or president, at the end of the day, my job is the same: to make sure they understand Montanas values, Montanas interests, and Montanas needs, he said, noting he had opposed emission reduction requirements proposed for the state under the Clean Power Plan and filed suit as former attorney general against efforts to implement a national REAL ID.

With that, Gianforte shifted the debate back to a common thread in his campaign attacks on Bullock.

I also believe we need a state administration that will stand up to Washington, he said. And yet ... the number-one issue Ive heard is that our state administration is not standing up to federal overreach.

Gianforte later argued Bullock had not done enough to fight federal policies that contributed to a loss of jobs in coal and timber industries. He also noted Bullocks campaign received contributions from the group that sued to shut down Colstrip, referencing a suit filed by the Montana Environmental Information Center and the Sierra Club, and voted against the Powder River Basin lease.

Bullock fired back that his campaign has received contributions from 7,500 Montanans including coal company CEOs.

I do have a plan to take our state forward, and it does include coal, he said.

Earlier this year, he released an "Energy Blueprint" that suggested the state do more to diversify its natural resource economy with further investments in wind and solar energy. Bullock also has sat down with federal officials who presented options for upgrading the technology at the Colstrip plan to keep it viable for years more even with stricter emission standards, although those proposals require securing billions of dollars in funding largely through federal loans.

Bullock did not address the comments about his vote as a member of the Montana Land Board. In 2010, he was one of two officials to vote against leasing public mineral rights in the Powder River Basin, often referred to as the Otter Creek tract, to Arch Coal for $86 million. He said at the time that the price was simply too low.

Gianforte has repeatedly said one of the biggest challenges to developing the states natural resources is simply bureaucratic.

Weve seen environmental extremists appointed to various boards across the state and at the (Department of Environmental Quality) where some organizations have waited almost two decades to get a permit that wouldve created jobs here in the state, Gianforte said, again referencing the Otter Creek tract that was never developed in part because it was still seeking final permits but ultimately died when the project no longer was profitable as coal prices dropped and the company filed for bankruptcy.

The most heated moments of the debate came after the candidates were asked about one of the longest-running campaign attacks: an accusation by Bullock that Gianforte blocked public access to an easement on his property along the East Gallatin River and sued the state to get rid of it altogether.

Heres the lawsuit, Bullock said as he unfolded a printed copy of a lawsuit filed by the Gianforte-owned East Gallatin LLC in 2009 against Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. He read a portion of it then leaned to his left as he tried to hand it to Gianforte.

I stand by my statement. Access was never blocked, Gianforte said, characterizing the incident as an example of poor state leadership that led to a simple matter being drawn out for months.

As the State Bureau has previously reported, the suit sought to remove an easement that provided public access along the East Gallatin River, arguing that users were damaging adjacent land, the original 1993 agreement by a previous owner was invalid, and that the public had sufficient access via two other nearby sites. Records show the complaint was filed to create a foothold for a case, but the papers were never served to the agency. Gianforte has said the filing was just to get the agencys attention after waiting 14 months.

The dispute was resolved after a department visit to the site in July 2009 led to trail and fence upgrades that did a better job keeping users off the rest of the Gianforte property and the agency updated records on the easement boundaries, according to state documents and emails.

As moderators tried to move the debate to the next question, Gianforte dinged Bullock for bringing the copy of the lawsuit into the studio.

I just want to note the governor violated the rules of the debate, he said.

I just want to note Greg Gianforte sued all of Montana, Bullock retorted.

Moderators also asked Gianforte whether he would support tougher restrictions on abortions or work to keep federal money for Planned Parenthood out of the state. He declined to answer beyond noting he is pro-life.

I dont have any particular plans, he said. Im running because we need more high-wage jobs, and thats my focus.

Bullock reaffirmed his support for womens right to make healthcare decisions by themselves.

The candidates also discussed figures showing that some state revenues have declined while others have grown more slowly than in recent years. By next summer, the states cash balance, which had been about $400 million in 2015, is projected to drop to $119 million.

Bullock said his good fiscal management means Montana is still in the black while neighbors like North Dakota and Wyoming have had to call special sessions to make steep cuts. He acknowledged, however, there will be some hard-fought decisions as the budget works through the 2017 Legislature.

Gianforte called the declining revenues proof of poor fiscal management. He noted that the states general fund spending had grown $800 million since Bullock was elected. The state spends about $6.2 billion annually across all funding sources.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  Muscatine Second Saturday was full of colorful costumes, from witches to monsters, and parents and children joined in the fun.

More than 100 parents and children walked in the Kids Costume Parade, moving down Second Street during the Second Saturday event. Ky Cochran, director of the Muscatine Convention and Visitors Bureau and an organizer for the event, said she was happy to see so many people in costume.

"There are so many and they are so fantastic, they're creative and fun," she said.

Cochran said the parade, also a new addition to the event, was a welcome addition.

"I am super pleased with the Halloween theme, the kids costume parade was so great, it was fantastic to see all of the kids in their costumes, and it was also fantastic to watch the faces of everybody watching," she said.

Nikki Fry walked in the costume parade with six-year-old Austin Hunt, and said she thought the Halloween theme was a good addition to Second Saturday.

"It's a really cute idea, it's kind of a good way to start off the month of October," Fry said.

Hunt said his favorite thing about Halloween, and the reason for his costume, was simple.

"Ghost Busters," he said.

Several families came dressed in the same theme, and vendors and musicians joined in the Halloween theme. Several downtown Muscatine businesses passed out Halloween candy, so children also had the chance to trick-or-treat early this year.

Amber Abernathy's daughter, Bella Abernathy, 4, was dressed as a dinosaur, and took every opportunity to roar at passers-by. Abernathy said her daughter was having fun with the Halloween theme at the event.

"It's fun, she really likes it," she said.

"Roar," Bella Abernathy added.

Leticia Trimboli Pozzi, a local artist, painted on the street dressed as Frida Kahlo, and said she said she enjoyed the Halloween theme.

"I really enjoy it, I think it also brought the families, and I really enjoyed that they did the parade with Second Saturday," Pozzi.
Important stuff you won't get from the liberal media! We do the surfing so you can be informed AND have a life!
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 []
"The Trial of Tom Horn"

By John W. Davis.

Its hard to imagine a more qualified guide through the events covered in "The Trial of Tom Horn" than John W. Davis. In addition to two previous books about Wyoming legal history, Daviss resume includes four decades of experience as a Bighorn Basin attorney.

Like a mystery novel, this nonfiction work begins when the body of fourteen-year old Willie Nickel, the son of a sheep rancher, is discovered at a gate north of Cheyenne. Range detective Tom Horn, employed by cattle interests, emerges as the central suspect.

Davis anticipates an audience generally familiar with these turn-of-the twentieth-century events. Readers encounter spoiler photos documenting Horns execution, for example, before the trials outcome appears in the text. Those less familiar with Horn and with Wyomings transition from violent lawlessness to a more diverse and civil society may find the significance of the case a bit obscure at first. But their patience will be rewarded. By the end of the book, the trials importance is evident.

Davis reconstructs the case through court transcripts, which, he admits, offer only a bare-bones impression of the actual events. To flesh out the legal proceedings, he excerpts generously from newspaper accounts and other contemporaneous materials. Working methodically through the coroners inquest, the trial itself, the appeal, and the last-minute plea to the governor, Davis necessarily revisits previously explained circumstances of the case, even repeating excerpts from witness testimony, as the attorneys themselves did in building their arguments and countering each others moves.

To offset the sometimes repetitive legal maneuvering, Davis enlivens the narrative by focusing on the noteworthy people involved, including not only Horn but the cattle baron who employs him, the lawman who outsmarts him, and a schoolteacher with whom Horn shares an inconclusive but apparently mutual romantic attraction. Davis provides a believable portrait of Horn, an accomplishment in its own right considering the frontier assassins erratic, contradictory character. At times Horn is sphinxlike and cool, while at other times he seems easily frightened or careless to the point of freely confessing his crime to a deputy marshal. As might be expected given the authors background, special attention is paid to the attorneys. Horn, bankrolled by cattle interests, puts together a dream team of the states most prominent counselors, but the prosecutor, Walter Stoll, proves to be up to the challenge.

The books epilogue demonstrates that Wyomings range wars are not as deeply buried in time as one might think, some principals in the case living well into the mid-twentieth century. Davis sets Horns conviction in a series of landmark steps linking the 1890s Johnson County War to the peaceful coexistence of cattle and sheep interests that characterizes Wyoming today. Drawing on a variety of sources, Davis shows that Horns conviction was widely recognized at the time as a turning point in the states legal and social coming of age. He convincingly portrays the trial of Tom Horn as a step toward the final triumph of the forces of law and order."